Percy Jackson: The Firstborn

Chapter 115: Chapter 115: A Conversation and an Unexpected Surprise

The redhead had just finished speaking with Chiron about the capture-the-flag game. They had agreed to implement new changes, although it was clear that it would be easier said than done. First, they would have to coordinate with several people, speak with other gods, find creatures that could be controlled, and make sure the demigods did not end up dying because of poorly prepared training. Even so, with time, it would be done. For now, the campers would be fine doing what they could with the tools they already had.

That was the last thing Damon thought before teleporting to his temple. Although, to be honest, he felt that maybe he should have stayed at the camp a little longer. Percy seemed to have many questions, probably about his mother, and Damon could not blame him. If someone had told him that Rhea was alive after believing her lost, he would have wanted answers too.

”I think it would be a good idea to take the boy to see his mother,” the redhead murmured to himself as he walked through the halls of his temple. ”It also wouldn’t hurt to meet Percy’s mother.”

Damon stopped dead when he felt several presences inside his temple. First he recognized Gaia, still in his room, which made him raise an eyebrow. Wow. The primordial seemed to have gotten quite attached to him.

Then he felt two more presences approaching the entrance of the temple. He recognized them almost immediately as Rhea and Demeter. A small smile appeared on his face before his body disappeared in a quick swirl of air, appearing in front of the entrance just as the doors opened.

”I see you had a fruitful conversation,” was the first thing the two women heard as they entered, finding Damon standing in front of them.

”Damon, you’re back,” Rhea said, clearly happy to see him.

”No, Mother. This is my spirit you’re seeing,” the redhead replied while his eyes rolled back.... A drop of sweat fell down the back of both women’s heads at the childish sarcasm in his tone. Damon then moved his gaze toward Demeter, and his smile softened a little. ”I’m glad to see you, sister.”

”Ah, really? Thank goodness,” Demeter replied, crossing her arms and turning her face slightly with a small pout. ”For a moment I thought you had forgotten about me. You’ve been running all over the place, but you haven’t even visited me once.”

Damon blinked. Then he lowered his gaze a little, feeling somewhat guilty. ”I’m sorry, sister. I’ve been very busy these days,” he admitted. ”But you’re right. I haven’t spent almost any time with you. If you want, I can make it up to you right now.”

At those words, Demeter’s gaze immediately focused on him. ”Really?” the goddess asked, with a clear shine in her eyes.

”Of course. I don’t see why not,” Damon replied before looking at Rhea. ”Unless you have something to do with Mother. Do you mind?”

Rhea shook her head, smiling softly. ”No, it’s fine. You can spend as much time as you want with Demeter. I’ll wait for you here.”

Then the titaness brought a hand to her chin, thoughtful. ”Or maybe I should go visit Hygieia right now.” Damon let out a small laugh at how adorable his mother looked acting so naturally.

”Alright, Demeter,” the redhead said, turning his attention back to his sister. ”Actually, we can take advantage of this. I had some questions about the earth. Maybe you can help me.”

”About the earth?” the goddess asked, surprised for a moment before quickly shaking her head. ”Of course, brother. I can help you with anything possible. Just tell me what you need.”

”Good,” Damon replied, appearing in a blink beside Demeter and wrapping an arm around her. ”Let’s go to the human world.”

Demeter barely had time to open her eyes before Damon waved goodbye to Rhea and both of them disappeared in a gust of air. Rhea remained staring at the empty spot for a second before letting out a laugh.

Her children were truly peculiar.

XXXX

Human world, east coast of the United States

The place they arrived at was a remote forest on the east coast of the United States, where evening was already falling and the sky was beginning to be dyed in orange tones. Damon walked beside Demeter between the trees, letting the forest air pass around him while he slowly absorbed and purified the natural energy of the place. Taking the damaged energy, filtering it, and returning it cleaner to the environment through his body.

Demeter watched him with surprise. Of course, she knew Damon was blessed by Gaia, the primordial of the earth, but even so, the ease with which he manipulated natural energy continued to surprise her. It was something few could do, even among gods related to nature. Damon was not even a god of nature. His authority did not come from nature, and yet natural energy responded to him with an almost unsettling obedience.

”I didn’t know you were a sage, brother,” Demeter said, not hiding her surprise.

Damon let out a small laugh while continuing to walk. ”What can I tell you, sister? I’ve learned many things throughout my life,” the redhead replied. ”You would be surprised to know everything that can be done without needing to be a god. There is much more than it seems outside this pantheon.”

Demeter looked at him with curiosity. She was not unaware of the fact that other pantheons and other factions existed, but it was rarely a topic she thought about or that was spoken of within her family. Not even Zeus liked talking about it too much.

”I imagine,” the goddess said, a little nervous. ”I was always curious about life outside our pantheon, although our interactions were rarely fruitful.”

”Oh, really? Why do you say that?” Damon asked with curiosity.

Demeter looked away for a moment, a little embarrassed. ”Well, there was a meeting between pantheons where Zeus tried to get into the pants of an Aztec goddess and ended up being beaten pretty badly. Luckily, it didn’t go further, but after that, our contact with the outside world, if it was almost nonexistent before, became even worse.”

Damon raised an eyebrow at that. ”An Aztec goddess, huh,” the redhead thought. He was not surprised by what Zeus had done. At this point, few things related to his younger brother could surprise him. What did awaken his curiosity was the pantheon itself. He had never had any real interaction with them throughout his life. He only knew of their decline and little else.

The redhead left those thoughts aside before gently patting Demeter’s head. ”Let’s not think too much about that,” he said calmly. ”If you want, someday I can take you to the Shinto pantheon. Maybe you’ll like it. It has a lot to do with nature.”

Demeter blinked. That must be the pantheon where he lived when he left, the goddess thought, still a little taken by surprise. ”Ehh... yes, of course, brother. I would love to go.”

Without much more to say, both of them arrived at an open clearing surrounded by trees, with a stream slowly passing between several moss-covered stones. The sound of the water was soft, almost relaxing, and for a moment the place seemed completely normal. Damon sat down on a flat rock near the stream, followed by Demeter, who sat beside him while watching how natural energy continued moving around her brother.

”You know, I’m curious,” Damon said after a moment, trying to make conversation while focusing part of his attention on the earth, purifying it slowly. ”I was a little surprised to see you with Mother, although I’m glad you reconciled.”

”Yes, we had a small conversation,” Demeter replied with a small laugh. ”We were with Hestia, Hera, and Aphrodite. You should have seen Aphrodite’s face when Rhea started reminding her how she screamed when she was young and you brought her.”

Damon let out a low laugh at the thought.

Demeter smiled a little before continuing. ”Although Aphrodite had a pretty intense moment. She ended up admitting many things about herself.” The goddess paused briefly, still looking at the stream. ”And Hera offered to help her. She even spoke about breaking her marriage with Hephaestus if they both agree.”

Damon came out of his thoughts after hearing that, clearly surprised. ”Hera is finally going to break that marriage?”

In fact, he was surprised that Hera had taken the initiative on her own. He had not really confronted the goddess too much about her problems, but he always thought that sooner or later he would have to talk to her about that. However, it seemed Hera had reached that conclusion by herself.

I suppose I don’t have to be around everything for something to improve, the redhead thought.

Demeter nodded. ”It seems so.” The redhead remained silent for a few seconds before smiling slightly. ”I’m glad,” he said at last. ”I haven’t had much interaction with Hephaestus, but I certainly think he deserves something better. In fact, I’ve thought about helping him with his appearance.”

Demeter looked at him from the corner of her eye, surprised by his suggestion before nodding. ”Yes, the poor thing deserves something better. He has always been a good boy,” the goddess said thoughtfully.

Silence fell over the clearing for a few seconds, accompanied only by the sound of the stream moving slowly between the stones. ”I heard you have a daughter named Persephone?” he suddenly asked, with a calm tone. ”How is she?”

Demeter froze. Persephone was a delicate subject for the goddess. ”She’s fine,” the goddess replied with a doubtful voice. ”Or at least that’s what she says every time I ask.”

Damon let out a small sigh at what his sister said. ”I’ve thought a lot about the situation between you, Persephone, and Hades,” the redhead said calmly. ”I know you think he stole your daughter from you, and you’re not completely wrong. But tell me something, Demeter... do you really think Persephone is in a bad situation now?”

Demeter tightened her hands on her lap.

”Because I wouldn’t say the marriage between those two is bad,” Damon continued. ”In fact, if we put aside how everything started, it’s probably one of the most stable marriages in the entire pantheon.”

Demeter said nothing. She could understand what Damon meant, and that was precisely what made her uncomfortable. ”I suppose you’re right, brother,” she finally admitted, lowering her gaze. ”I just... felt lonely.”

Damon did not interrupt her.

Demeter let out a low sigh, looking at the stream in front of them. ”But now I understand that my daughter was not a trapped child. Persephone found love and found a place where she belonged, even if that place is not one where I feel comfortable seeing her live.”

Damon watched her for a moment before smiling softly. ”I’m glad you understand, sister,” the redhead said. Then he looked toward the forest around them and placed a hand on the damp earth. ”Come. Help me calm ourselves a little with nature.”

XXXXXXXXXX

With Rhea

The titan walked through her son’s temple, marveling at every detail she found. It fit perfectly with Damon’s style. ’That boy,’ she murmured with a smile as she walked down the hallways.

It didn’t take long to reach a large double door. Rhea stopped in front of it, feeling Damon’s energy around her. She didn’t need anyone to tell her to know that these were his quarters. The Titan was about to walk past until she felt a small presence catching her attention, which made her blink because she knew that presence very well.

Without thinking twice, she slammed the door open... and was left paralyzed at the sight.

Gaia, her mother, was completely naked, her voluptuous body displayed without shame. Her light green hair spread over the sheets, while one hand rested on her cheek and her green eyes shone with mischievous amusement.

Rhea raised her finger accusingly. ”—What the hell are you doing here, mother?! Wait—no—why are you naked in my son’s bed?!” shouted the Titan, surprised, her accusing finger trembling, as a golden tint covered her cheeks.

Gaia looked at her, smiling. ”It’s so nice to see you too, Rhea. How have you been?”

The titan grit her teeth. ”Don’t change the subject! Tell me what you’re doing in his room!”

Gaia tilted her head slightly, pretending innocence. ”Wow, is this how you treat your dear mother?” She let out a low laugh, stretching like a satisfied cat. ”What am I doing here? Can’t a grandmother... enjoy her favorite grandson?” she asked with a daring smile before winking at her.

Rhea’s face began to burn almost instantly. ”Mother!!!!”

Gaia couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, clearly enjoying her daughter’s reaction. ”I must say, Damon is certainly exceptional, undoubtedly, an admirable son.”

Rhea covered her face with her hands, imagining it—Damon and Gaia, together—and felt something between horror and... jealousy at seeing her mother take a significant place in Damon’s life. ”—When—how—? Damon is my son!”

Gaia slid to the edge of the bed, provocative, further reddening Rhea, who watched; not that she was a lesbian, but still... ”Come on, calm down a bit, don’t get too worked up, or we’ll be discovered,” she paused briefly, her eyes shining with mischief. ”Oh my, don’t tell me you’re jealous, do you have forbidden desires for your son?”

Rhea’s blush deepened, feeling embarrassed to be caught by her mother. ”Eh, what are you saying?—Y-you’re saying nonsense!” she stammered, while the Primordial laughed.

Gaia extended a playful hand. ”If you say so, Rhea... Come here with me.... It’s been a long time since our last conversation.”

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:)