[Third Person Pov]
Lucian sat tall upon his trusty steed, Sébastien, the horse's dark mane fluttering in rhythm with the breeze as they trotted down the dirt path. His crimson cape billowed behind him, snapping and dancing with each steady step. The faint scent of salt still lingered in the air from the nearby shore, and the sound of distant gulls faded as he drew closer to the group waiting ahead.
Lucian squinted, his eyes narrowing against the sunlight. For a brief second, he thought his vision was deceiving him. But no—what he was seeing was, in fact, very real. Scylla was now lying flat on the ground, bound from mouth to toe in thick rope. Her body was writhing helplessly as she screeched muffled curses through the gag tied around her mouth.
Standing triumphantly atop the squirming Nymph was Annabeth, arms crossed, one foot planted on Scylla's back as if she were posing for a victory painting.
Lucian exhaled a long, weary sigh. He muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple as he approached the group.
Thalia turned toward him, her electric-blue eyes narrowing. "What took you so long?" she demanded, her voice sharp and laced with impatience.
Lucian straightened in his saddle and answered with perfect seriousness, "Sorry, I had to take a massive shit."
The group collectively froze, several expressions twisting in horror. Lucian didn't even blink. "Trust me," he added in the same deadpan tone, "you don't want to go in there."
"Lucian…" Circe groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose as though his mere words had given her a headache. Around her, the rest of the group grimaced in disgust—except for Percy and Clarisse, who were doubled over laughing.
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "You two are made for each other if you actually found that funny," she muttered, glaring at the giggling duo.
"I was kidding," Lucian said, raising his hands innocently as he approached Circe. Two of Circe's attendants—Hylla and Reyna—stood just behind their mistress, their faces showing a mix of hesitation and curiosity.
Lucian stopped a few feet away and gave a respectful nod. "Well, Great Aunt Circe, it was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for not turning me or my friends into pigs, goats, or whatever's trending in curses these days."
Circe folded her arms beneath her chest, her lips curling into a smirk. "Just call me Aunt Circe, you chaotic brat," she said, her tone dripping with fond exasperation. "As much as I appreciate that you came all the way here to properly introduce yourself, you cost me two of my best employees. So you'll forgive me if I'm not entirely sure how to feel about you."
Lucian's grin widened as he leaned in just slightly, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Come on, admit it. Despite me being a guy, you totally like me. You just can't help it. Understandable, really—I do have my mother's charm."
Circe laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, you really are her son," she said with a smile that was half amusement, half resignation.
"Madame…" Hylla began softly, clutching the strap of her travel bag. "Do we… really have to go with him?" Her tone was uncertain, her eyes darting nervously between Circe and Lucian.
Circe sighed and placed a hand on her hip. "If you don't, you'll be making me a liar. I already agreed to hand you over to him if he managed to impress me with his witchcraft," she said, her eyes cutting sharply toward Lucian. Her teasing demeanor fell away, replaced by genuine pride. "And I must say—you do our name proud. Even for a boy, you're a phenomenal witch. A bona fide, Black-Blooded Witch… maybe a little psychotic and insane, but who among us isn't, hm?"
Lucian chuckled and bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you for your kind words, Aunt Circe. I promise not to dishonor the faith you've placed in me… despite my gender"
Circe smiled slyly before turning to the sisters. "Be at ease, girls. Lucian will do you no harm. He was raised by that naughty little witch—his mother. Knowing her, she raised him with enough sense to respect women, which is why I'm willing to tolerate him despite his disability."
Lucian blinked, caught off guard. "Oi! What disability?!"
Circe's smirk widened into a grin of pure mischief. "The one hanging between your legs."
Lucian's expression went flat, his tone completely deadpan. "I should have known."
The group erupted into laughter. Even Reyna cracked a small smile, trying and failing to hide it behind her hand.
"Anyway," Circe continued once the laughter died down, turning her attention back to her attendants, "just know that Lucian means well. He genuinely wishes to help you."
Hylla and Reyna exchanged confused glances but said nothing.
Circe went on, her tone softening. "I've placed funds and provisions in your luggage—new clothes, essentials, and enough coins to sustain you for the journey ahead. You've both served me loyally, and for that, you have my gratitude."
Tears welled up in both sisters' eyes as they bowed deeply. "Madame…" Hylla began, her voice trembling. "Thank you—for everything."
"Are you sure you're going to be alright without your two previous employees?" Lucian asked with a teasing grin, his voice carrying that familiar mix of mockery and charm as he adjusted the reins of Sébastien.
Circe rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively. "Please. Just take them. I have more attendants than I know what to do with. There's Valentina, Roselia, Raleigh—honestly, I lose track of them sometimes. Half of them exist just to gossip about the other half."
Lucian smirked and turned toward the sisters. "You hear that, girls? You're expendable~"
Both Hylla and Reyna shot him identical glares of annoyance, their lips curling as they huffed indignantly. Hylla muttered something under her breath in Latin that definitely wasn't a compliment while Reyna slung her bag over her shoulder with unnecessary force.
"Here, let me get that for you," Percy offered quickly, stepping forward and reaching for their bags.
Clarisse, who had been lounging nearby with her arms crossed, immediately glared at him. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, and she gave a low growl—like a guard dog warning a stranger away from its meal. Percy froze halfway through lifting the bag, blinking in confusion at her unspoken warning before deciding it was safer to pretend he hadn't noticed.
Meanwhile, Circe's attention had drifted elsewhere. Her sharp, eyes focused on Annabeth, who was currently struggling to strap the still-bound Scylla onto the back of Sébastien.
"You have remarkable magical potential, young lady," Circe said suddenly, her tone shifting to something almost approving. "I can feel the power sleeping within you. Do you have a teacher? Or perhaps a coven of your own?"
Annabeth straightened slightly, brushing a loose strand of blonde hair from her face. "Yes, Lady Medea has been instructing me in the ways of magic," she said with a polite smile. "And I'm also part of Lucian's coven."
Circe clicked her tongue and looked away with a faint scowl, while Lucian's laughter erupted almost immediately. "Hahaha! Hear that? I can take your women, but you can't take mine!"
Circe's head snapped toward him, her expression morphing into pure fury. "Lucian, I'm giving you five seconds to vanish from my sight before I turn you into a wart-covered toad, you rotting, wart-faced half-breed!"
Lucian winced theatrically and clutched his chest as if struck by an arrow. "Ouch! Message received, Auntie. No need to make it personal." He straightened and turned to the others. "Let's go, everyone. Clearly, we've worn out our welcome."
"You mean you've worn out your welcome," Thalia corrected dryly, stepping past him as they made their way away from the resort, "That was directed at you, not us."
Lucian scoffed. "Nah, she's just pretending. She still likes me. I'm irresistible, you'll see." He twisted around in his saddle, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted, "Bye, Aunt Circe! I'll come visit after our quest is done!"
Circe's voice echoed down the beach, sharp as a whip: "Do us both a favor and don't! I don't need you stealing any more of my employees!"
Lucian turned back with a smug grin, puffing his chest proudly. "See? She can't stay mad at me. I'm just that charming."
Thalia sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Yes. Absolutely charming," she said flatly.
Lucian leaned forward in his saddle with a wicked grin. "It worked on you, didn't it?"
Thalia froze, her cheeks coloring just slightly. "…No comment," she muttered before walking faster.
Hylla, watching the exchange with growing confusion, leaned toward her sister. "Wait," she said in a low voice, "I thought he was going out with her"—she pointed at Annabeth—"or at least that's what it sounded like."
"Oh right," Percy said in a tone of tired amusement. He gestured lazily toward Lucian. "Meet Lucian—the Harem King. He's dating both of them. And a few others I'm pretty sure"
Scylla, tied up and hanging from Sébastien's side, perked her head immediately and turned wide, astonished eyes toward Lucian. Hylla and Reyna, meanwhile, looked at Annabeth and Thalia, clearly expecting a denial.
Instead, Annabeth sighed and replied in the driest tone possible, "Percy's telling the truth."
Both sisters blinked in unison.
"I… see," Hylla said slowly, exchanging a meaningful look with her sister. "You know what, Reyna? I think I forgot something back at the resort. Let's go back."
Thalia caught her by the arm before she could turn around. "Hold on a second. Aren't you even a little curious to hear what Lucian has in mind for you two? Why he's so interested in you?"
Hylla's reply was instant. "No."
"To join his harem?" Reyna asked, genuinely puzzled.
"Ew, gods no!" Lucian said immediately, wrinkling his nose as if she had just suggested something unspeakable.
Both sisters spun on him, eyes blazing. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN EW?!" they shouted in perfect harmony.
Annabeth crossed her arms, eyeing him skeptically. "Maybe start explaining, because everyone here is starting to wonder the same thing. What's so special about them?"
Lucian looked genuinely surprised. "Have none of you figured it out yet?"
Annabeth frowned. "I know they're both demigods—but that's as far as I can tell."
Hylla blinked, startled. "We're what now?"
Lucian stopped and turned toward them, his tone shifting from playful to serious. "You're more than that," he said evenly. "You're Roman demigods."
Everyone froze mid-step. The sound of the waves crashing against the docks was the only noise that followed.
"THEY'RE WHAT?!" the group shouted in unison, their voices echoing over the water.
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A/N: I started a Superman Fanfic with over 30 chapters, go over, read it, give it your honest review and show support, please and thank you.
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