The Mark of Athena,Heroes of Olympus, Book 3

Leo XXXVI


Leo was in the dining room, basically feeling terrible about what he'd said to Annabeth, when the Incredible Hulk/Chuck Norris walked in.

Okay, Hercules. Heracles. Whatever. Leo was just thinking over the fact that one of his favorite Disney characters was standing in the living room. Well, maybe not the Hercules from the movie, but all Leo needed now was for Dr. Facilier to show up on the top deck, and Leo would be in animated heaven.

But Leo hoped that Heracles wouldn't be staying. He hoped that he would just be dropping by to say, "Hello," or give an ominous warning (okay, maybe not), but with Leo's luck, the strongest demigod alive would be rooming with Luke and breaking furniture when he got mad.

"Um, hi, Mr. Heracles, sir. Not to be rude but-" Leo began.

"What are you doing here?" Jason finished. Leo glared at Jason, who smirked back at him.

"By the way, in case you want to ask us to do something, we've already defeated the Nemean Lion, the Hydra, the Erymanthean Boar, the... ugghh... stables, and the Stymphalian birds," Percy said. "Anything to add, Jason?"

Jason's mouth was wide open, and it was obvious that Annabeth was laughing.

"Greek equivalent of me, my butt," Jason muttered. Percy cracked up. Annabeth said something to Percy and he shook his head.

"Very impressive. Oh, yes. I've heard of you. Perseus Jackson. Hebe is always discussing you with... erm, I forgot. Yes, the random psychotic goddess."

"Iris?" guessed Hazel, Frank, and Percy at the same time.

"No, wait, Iris wasn't random, just... crazy," Frank said with a frown.

"The one who's got all the black cats in her house," mumbled Heracles.

"Tyche!" gasped Victoria.

"Oh, yes, her."

"That's my mother!"

"Oh... yes... Um, please try not to attack anyone with a knife while I am here. That would be utterly tragic."

"Oh, we've already checked crazy-girl's-rampage off our to-do list for this quest. That actually happened before we left for Camp Jupiter!" Leo added.

"You didn't know me before you went to Camp Jupiter." Victoria raised an eyebrow.

"Wasn't talking about you. Or Piper. But it was definitely a girl on this boat who has been to Camp Half-Blood." Annabeth narrowed her eyes at Leo, but said nothing. That Leo could hear anyway. Heracles sighed and sat down on the couch. There was a cracking sound that made Leo wince.

"Oops, sorry," he mumbled. Annabeth scooted closer to Percy to avoid being crushed by Heracles.

"Umm... well... like Jason said, what are you doing here?" Percy asked, squirming. He seemed to find it scary that Heracles knew his name.

"I bring a message from Athena." Percy threw his head back and groaned.

"Seriously? Did it include the words, 'Stay away from my daughter?'" Percy muttered.

"Well... yes... sort of. I guess you could interpret them that way." Annabeth rolled her eyes and very visibly sighed. She said something, and Leo wished for the billionth time in the past two days he could read lips. Apparently, Annabeth had been addressing it to Heracles, because when Heracles spoke again, Leo couldn't hear him.

"Anyway," Heracles announced, "Lady Athena said, 'Perseus Jackson, you had better watch your back if you decide to break my daughter's heart-'"

"What world is she living in?" Luke asked.

"Nobody knows," Percy said mysteriously, but obviously ticked about what Athena had said. Jason, Frank, and Leo snorted, but Hazel blinked confusedly. (Is that a word?)

"She also said," Heracles said loudly, " 'Although it's called the mark of Athena, I had nothing to do with it and I don't know what it means.'"

"Was that you talking at the end or her?" joked Frank. Heracles cocked his head.

I guess that stereotype "strong people are dumb" is true! Leo thought.

"So, Mr. Heracles, is that all? Or did you need to give us a life-threatening mission before you left?" Percy asked innocently.

"That's all." Leo couldn't believe Heracles couldn't detect the sarcasm in that sentence. "Oh, and one more thing..."

Leo watched in shock as Heracles turned into an extremely hot goddess.

"Here you are, heroes," Khione said maliciously as she tossed a jar of green liquid at Leo.