Bella... that was the name of his daughter. Annbeth had named her that after getting the name from a cartoon show.
Annabeth had passed soon after giving birth after suffering complications. But he was blessed in one aspect.
No mythologies. No monster's. No quest. Nothing.
The last time he or Annabeth had heard of the gods or camp was an iris message for Annabeth's funeral, and that's it.
"Dad. Daddy look," Percy heard his daughter's cute giggle as she showed him a hand drawn picture of him and her holding hands.
"Its beautiful sweetie," percy said with a smile. Percy ruffled her hair as she pouted, but she wasn't mad, merely embarrassed.
"It took me forever to do my hair," Percy chuckled when Bella said that before grabbing the brush to fix it.
Though he was useless when it came to the hair itself, he just cheated. He would wet the brush and control the temperature of the water to do her hair perfectly. He never burned her, and she never noticed, so that was his go to start for messy hair.
"Do I smell weird?" Bella asked her father who chuckled before giving her a sniff.
"Not Particularly. You smell like shampoo. Why what brings this on," Percy said as he took a kneel in front of his daughter.
Bella looked at Percy and sniffed, which Percy gently wiped the tear from her eye.
"My teacher... he was weird. He said I smelt delicious," poor bella shivered as percy pulled her into a hug.
Just like that it was like a switch was flipped. Percy's eyes which were normally kind turned icy. Murderous you could say.
"And what's your teacher's name sweetie," Percy said as he looked into Bella's eyes, his fury hidden behind the care of his eye.
"Mr Thorn. That's his name,"Bella said.
Percy smiled warmly as he picked her up and tucked her into bed. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Dont worry, daddy will take care of it," Percy said smiling before turning off her light.
Percy's steps were heavy as he entered the garage and leaned over his workbench.
"Fuck," he yelled as he threw random tools to the ground. His tantrum didn't end there, as one of the PVC pipes exploded.
With a sigh, Percy waved his hand stopping the water from making a mess. Percy sighed and adjusted the pipe to me a rainbow.
"Oh fleecy, do me a solid. Show me sally jackson somewhere in the world," Percy smiled as it connected. Fleecy really did take her job seriously, he would have to tip her if he ever met her again.
The rainbow shimmered and Sally was on the other side making dinner, and percy could hear paul in the background teaching.
"... mother," Percy said, finally breaking the silence.
The way her head snapped to the iris message made Percy's heart churn.
"Percy, you... look awful," Sally said as the worry entered her eyes.
Percy sighed before looking his mother in the eye.
"It's happening," he said in response.
"But I thought-" Sally began saying, but Percy shook his head no.
"I thought so too. But her scent is growing stronger. Her teacher was a manticore mother," Percy said as he sighed.
Percy watched as she bit her lip, her eyes drift over to Estelle and Paul in the kitchen. Finally she turned the stove down and went to her room.
"Tell me what happened," she said as she sat on her bed.
And he did.
...
Percy helped Bella into the car before driving her into the school, but he held her hand even as they made their way to her class.
After dropping her off, Percy closed his eyes and went to the roof. 3 minutes was what it took for the prey to fall for the bait.
"You're a difficult man to find," Percy heard the voice of thorn coming from the doorway.
"And your kind don't seem to stay dead," Percy said standing still, but at the ready.
Thorn stood a distance away, far enough that he could defend himself should Percy attempt to make a move on him. Thorn wasn't taking any chances, since the last time he underestimated Percy.
"I came to give you an offer. My... employer said to deal with you as I pleased. Whether it be killing you, or making a deal," thorn said.
Percy smiled thinly, not even entertaining the idea.
"And who's your new employer? Kronos is dead, and the other titans are disposed of, reforming in tartarus, or imprisoned," percy said, though his smile died upon seeing thorn smile.
"Let's just say he was very angry when you left his home. You didn't even finish the tour. Tartarus has so many more things for you to see," thorn said.
Percy's lips thinned again upon hearing, but then he let out a sigh.
"Its always something to do with you guys. I left your kind alone already, there is nothing left to say," Percy said.
Thorn's smile grew wider, but his eyes looked down to Percy's chest.
"I see we aren't the only ones to pick up new things," he said looking at the cross Percy wore proudly, though Percy saw the way he looked smug, as if he knew something he didn't.
"I will give you one chance for my mercy. Leave now, leave my daughter alone and tell your boss he holds no power over me," Percy said.
Thorn though, had the audacity to laugh, and Percy sighed.
'Forgive me lord for what im about to do,' Percy prayed quietly as he looked into the distant sky.
"I have warned you, given you the chance of peace. Instead you choose to continue with your obsessions. Have you ever heard of Luke... the bible Luke, not castellan ?" Percy asked thorn.
Thorn tilted his head, curiosity seemed to win, but he didn't speak.
"Luke chapter 15, verse 5. " Percy said with a small smile.
"And your point is?," thorn said impatiently.
"I am a lamb, thorn. Heaven Rejoices when a sinner who repents, i know im a sinner thorne. But you? Do you repent?" Percy asked with a sad smile.
Thorns snear was all percy needed. The distance he crossed was enough to appear in front of thorn, and the bronze dagger impaled itself into his chest, surprising the manticore as he began to dust.
"Warn the others. My daughter is off limits. Should your boss ignore my warning, I promise you thorn i will RAZE the entire Greek mythology," percy said.
Thorns body finally disintegrated and blew into the wind, to reform elsewhere in the world.
Percy looked sadly at the knife he held in his hand, a fond smile on his face. Percy holstered the knife before looking into the sky.
"Is it my time lord?" Percy prayed silently. It was like a test, but Percy smiled as if knowing as if he knew the answer already.
(End of chapter 1)