The council chamber or considering how it looked it might be more fitting to call it a throne room, was empty when I opened them. But that didn't mean much considering that Zeus most likely felt me entering. And I was right. Within seconds each throne was filled with the possesors behind. Zeus and Hera appeared last.
Their "sudden" appearance didn't suprise me as I was able to see each of them teleport in. Seriously, even if they were being suppressed right now but the abilities of Fate were extremely underestimated. Actually why do I still have access to some of it? Because honestly I shouldn't. Or could it be that somehow it remained active because my father was originally the holder of prophecy? That would explain why it didn't feel like I was watching strings but instead seeing a fractured reflection. Interesting, I'm curious if that ability stays even after I lift the seal.
Anyway, Ares was here as well. But he didn't look or hold himself like he did at the beach. He seemed defeated. Like his life held no meaning anymore. Which was not really surprising. If I were in his place I would feel the same. After all, the god of War was just defeated by a child, even if not a simple demigod as he had suspected. And at single combat at that. Our fight couldn't possible feel more insulting really.
"Boy! Are you ready to confess? Or are you here to continue with the charade? Let me guess. It wasn't me! It was someone else. Or something similar to that."
Weired, I mean sure Zeus was never depicted as the brightest, not even in the original Percy Jackson saga but damn is this fucker dumb. If it were a regular human I wouldn't question his intelligence or the lack thereof but as a god, even if it was Zeus, I would atleast hope that he wasn't actually as dumb as he appeared to be.
It didn't help that Athena echoed after him saying that I couldn't possibly be stupid enough to actually hope that they would buy my excuses. And wow, like father, like son or more fitting in this case, like mother, like daughter. Damn she is dumb. At this point, even if I had just met her, I was desperately clinging to the hope that Athenas other children didn't actually inherit much from their mother. Annabeth however was already a lost cause, that much I knew.
Suddenly I feel like I was forgetting something. I quickly looked around and saw how the entire collection of deities was currently staring at me. Ah, now I remember, that entire bowing thing. Or maybe was it the talking bit? I decided to do both.
I bowed low, about as low as my respect for the wisdom goddess was. That means I was almost kissing my ankles. Sorry I'm just not tall enough to be able to kiss the floor while still standing. Of course only figuratively. In actuality I was merely inclining my head a little while leaning forward a bit. Basically the bastard version of a nod and a lean. "Father, Zeus." was all I could say before the later exploded in ager because how dare a below average demigod not greet the king.
I swear with every second I spent in that place I could feel myself get dumber and dumber. Something was off in here. I wonder...
Anyway, we all know how the meeting was supposed to go, mostly death threats and blind accusations without actual proof. But then, before the council could actually decide to do cursing or punishments, Ares spoke up.
Not Apollo who I had expected to since he could tell if I was lying but Ares. That didn't mean Apollo wasn't doing anything as I saw how Apollo had somehow left his throne and placed a hand on Ares shoulder from behind the gods own throne. For a second I thought I was seeing double since I had just seen Apollo sitting on his throne and a quick glance confirmed that he was still there. Then a thought came to mind and I understood what was happening or atleast how he was doing it. Because among the 13 gods and goddesses currently present, yes Hestia was also here, there were only two or three gods that might be able to figure it out.
Hard Light. That bastard had figured out how to make hard light constructs. And he was currently using it to appear as if he was still on his throne while stand behind Ares, probably unseen by the other gods because of the angle he had positioned himself in. I focused back at the conversation happening and was that music I was hearing?
"to do with the theft, father. As far as I know he didn't even know about us before he arrived at camp and he wasn't even near Olympus during it. His mother sent him to a boarding school where he was until the start of the summer break."
How the fuck did Ares know that? Because I sure as hell didn't tell him and neither did Grover.
"... with the campers during the visit."
Why am I constantly losing focus in here?
The meeting continued in that manner and at the end of it the only thing I actually knew with certainty was:
1. Apollo the bastard knew how to do Hard Light constructs.
2. Ares had for some reason defended me and even voted in my favor when they appear to be voting to kill me.
3. My Father was clearly defensive of me considering how often he argued with Zeus about me.
And 4. Something was off about this throne room and I didn't like it one bit. Something felt wrong.
Anyway, after the meeting was over, most gods and goddesses left. Ares stayed behind for a second and gave me a nod, weird but okay.
Athena dissappeared after frowning at me like I had insulted her intelligence, which I doubt existed in the first place.
And my father. He stayed behind in his Hawaiian shirt with flower patterns and waves. "So, uhm. Hi Percy?" God is he awkward.
"Hi dad, so what have you been up to?" I asked, trying to get rid of the awkward start my father had tried.
"Nothing much? Uhm, are you okay? No injuries, curses or other that I should know about?" he asked, clearly concerned if not for the rather obvious way he was trying to imitate some mortal family. But I wasn't going to deny him of that. Olympus knows I wouldn't mind.
" Nothing major. Got a couple cuts and bruises down below but they already healed and as far as I know I haven't been cursed yet."
The conversation came to a halt for a bit while he began to grimace slightly.
"Okay, uh. I'm sorry, Percy for missing your birthday. I would have liked to give you a present but some stupid idiot managed to sink an oil ship in the middle of the ocean. I was preoccupied. Sorry."
"It's fine dad, after all, you did send the Hephestus cabin materials for that now armor and trident they made me."
He stared at me like he didn't know what I was talking about.
"What materials, Percy?"
"You know, the black sea pearls and such? The stuff the Charles Beckendorf used to make this awesome armor?" I said while materializing the black armor and trident I got almost at the start of camp.
"Percy, I never did that. And as far as I know, I've never even gifted anyone black pearls."