3. I talk with gods

Percy POV

I managed to convince Calypso to come to camp with me. I wanted her to live her life after more than two millennia on her island. She was nervous about going just because she was the daughter of Atlas but changed her mind when I said that whoever messed with her will have to deal with me, and the rest of the seven. Calypso saved me two years ago, and Leo just recently. It was the least I could do to return the favour. Maybe her healing skills will come in handy.

As we were walking towards the elevator to exit Olympus, I saw a female figure standing in the middle of the pathway leading to the elevator just outside the throne room. My smile faltered as I realized it was Athena. 

I eyed her warily as I made my way towards her with Calypso. It was pretty obvious she wanted to have a word with me.

Probably because I was the main reason her favourite daughter got killed.

I turned towards Calypso. 'Go ahead Calypso. I'll meet you at the elevator.'

She nodded silently and walked ahead, Athena not even acknowledging her presence.

As I approached Athena, I saw the sadness in her grey eyes. At that moment, her eyes reminded me of Annabeth's whenever I was close to dying. I saw the same look in her eyes just before I blew up Mount Saint Helens, when she was kneeling over Luke's dead body, and when I suffered the curses of the Arai. 

I stopped a few feet away and dropped into a bow. 'Lady Athena.'

'Perseus.' Athena spoke softly. 

'Lady Athena, I am so sorry,' I started still bowing 'You were right. I was not enough to protect your daughter. I was...'

I was stopped abruptly when Athena gently pulled me up to a standing position and locked me in a hug. 

I was beyond surprised. I was not expecting that.

We stood there for a whole minute before either of us spoke.

'Don't say that Perseus,' Athena said when she finally released me 'I was not right. Despite being Poseidon's son, you are a nice man. You were by my daughter's side for five years. I should not have interfered with your friendship with her in the first place. You saved her life countless times, even jumping into...Tartarus with her so she could live. You were, and will always be, the only one I would consider worthy of being with Annabeth.'

Athena stifled a sob when she said Annabeth's name. I was on the verge of tears but I stopped them from escaping my eyes.

'Thank you, Lady Athena,' I said as I bowed again.

'No, I should probably thank you, Perseus,' she spoke softly 'I am glad that Annabeth had someone like you in her life. Your wish for the gods to see their children is the most selfless thing I have ever heard in my entire immortal life. I should also thank you for allowing me to see my children at camp.'

I shook my head. 'No need to thank me, Lady Athena. I did what was necessary for my friends to be happy. A lot of demigods feel a bit bitter that they have never even met their godly parent. I am sure the gods don't know their kids all that well either.'

Athena looked at me in stunned silence before her lips quirked into a smile. 'Please, call me Athena. You have earned my respect long ago.'

I just nodded in reply.

'You truly are a great hero, Perseus,' Athena said as she made her way to her palace 'Nice to see my daughter chose her friends well.'

I watched her retreating form as I thought over her words. Never in my life would I have thought I would get a hug from a god other than my dad, certainly not Athena! She hated my guts ever since I returned Zeus his lightning bolt because I was the son of her biggest rival. I guess being able to talk to an Olympian without referring to them with 'Lord' or 'Lady' was a huge honour. I honestly don't know. 

I snapped out of my trance and made my way to the elevator. I did not even take ten steps when a flash appeared to my left. I internally groaned. 

Another god. Great

I averted my eyes until the light dimmed down but when I looked over, I was blinded all the same by a fifteen-megawatt smile. I recognized that smile.

Gods damn teeth whiteners.

'Dude, mind closing your mouth?' I said as I shielded my eyes.

'Oops sorry.'

The light levels dropped down to normal and I saw Apollo standing there in a T-shirt and jeans, his blond hair back to normal and his blue eyes shining. He was smiling without showing his teeth, thank gods.

To make myself feel better, I dropped down into a bow. 'Lord Apollo.'

I could hear Apollo scowl. I was already struggling to contain my laughter as I imagined his face. It took all my willpower not to start rolling on the floor. 

'Get up, Percy,' he said as I straightened myself while also trying to keep a straight face 'You of all people need not bow to me. You did me a lot of favours.'

I waved him off. 'Don't worry about it. Just promise me you would change your ways of being...you.'

'Of course, man! You saved me from being punished by my father. Who knows what he was planning to do?' Apollo stated incredulously 'I swear, if he was planning on making a mortal again, I would-' 

I stopped the ranting god. 'Hold up, what do you mean 'again'?'

'Long story. The point is, not only did you save me from harsh punishment, but you also freed my mother! I can't thank you enough!' He walked up to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, leading me to the elevator slowly. Really slowly. Painfully slowly.

Did I mention how slow we were walking?

'Your mother?' I asked confused.

'Yeah. You know, titan of motherhood,' Apollo said casually 'I haven't seen her in ages. She was one of the titans freed from your wish. I know I've said this a lot, but thank you, Perce.' 

'Uh, no problem.' 

It was starting to get really awkward. For me at least.

'I should probably go turn in for the night,' Apollo said yawning 'I have to drive the sun early tomorrow.'

Before he could leave, he turned towards me with a bright smile. 'If there is anything you need, Percy, anything at all. You know who to call.'

I hesitated. 'Anything?'

Apollo nodded. 

'Actually,' I said with a small smile 'There is something you could do for me. It's not even a big favour, too.'

Apollo looked at me curiously. 'I'm listening.'

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

After a long talk with the god of the Sun, I finally made my way to the elevator. Successfully.

And Calypso was not happy.

When she saw me, I swear it was one of the scariest things I have ever seen. She reminded me of her father Atlas when I fought him on Mount Tam a few years back. Minus the spear. 

'Where have you been?' she hissed at me 'I've been waiting for thirty minutes!'

I backed away from the titaness. Who knows, maybe she'll turn me into another guinea pig. Or a clump of moonlace.

'Sorry, Calypso,' I said fearfully 'Athena was not the only god that wanted to talk to me.'

Her murderous gaze lessened down just a tiny little bit but I was still wary. 'Alright. I'm not even going to ask.'

As we entered the elevator, I told Calypso about camp. Apparently, she knew about most of the stuff but was surprised when I told her that the minor gods had cabins now. I told her that I had used my wish to release her and get the minor gods recognition in camp after the Titan War. To say Calypso was surprised would be an understatement. Luckily, I didn't mention that I turned down godhood, or I would have to help her pick up her jaw from the elevator floor. Only when we reached the lobby did I remember what I forgot.

I didn't ask for better elevator tunes. 

We exited the building and I saw Calypso looking around in awe. I guess she really missed a lot in her solitude.

'So this is that 'Manhattan' you told me about,' she said 'And those are the, what did you call them? Apartments?'

I smiled. 'Yeah, apartments. It's like multiple homes in a single building. They usually have many floors for people to live in.'

'Wow.' 

A thought suddenly entered my mind. 'Hey Calypso?'

She took her eyes off the buildings around us and turned to look at me. 'Yes?'

'You up for a pegasus ride?'