For a split second, Hestia considers not telling Percy who exactly is with Annabeth and Clarisse. She considers letting him find out on his own. But deep down, the Goddess of the Hearth recognizes that consideration comes from a place of irrational and altogether illogical irritation. She's annoyed that Percy didn't just take her virginity despite her words to the contrary, especially now that Clarisse La Rue has successfully returned with the Golden Fleece.
That's not Percy's fault though and Hestia is self-aware enough to realize how dumb such a temptation is. In the end, she lets out a sigh and gives Percy forewarning.
"That woman is a Greek Goddess of Magic, Percy."
Whipping around, Percy looks at Hestia with wide eyes.
"Wait, seriously?!"
Nodding gravely, Hestia frowns as she gets off the bed, easily cleaning herself up and reconstituting her clothes before joining him at the window. Not that she needs to see things with her eyes to know everything and everyone within her Domain, of course.
"Yes. That is Circe, the Immortal Sorceress. Daughter of Helios, Titan of the Sun, and Hecate, the original Goddess of Magic."
Percy frowns and Hestia can see the worry entering his eyes. Good, it seems she won't have to explain things to him entirely.
"Uh… isn't Circe infamous for her hatred of men?"
Hestia tilts her head to the side at that.
"She is, yes. Though it's less hatred and more contempt. There might not seem to be an appreciable difference on the face of things, but it does matter. Still, do not fret too much. Circe knows better than to do anything untoward to anyone under my protection while within the borders of my domain. She is a Goddess of Magic… but she is not an Olympian."
Hestia can see her words having a calming effect on Percy. She means every word as well. She has no idea why Circe would leave behind her Island Paradise in order to come to Camp Half-Blood with Annabeth and Clarisse, but here she was all the same. That said…
"Do you remember what I told you earlier, Percy? About Athena?"
He furrows his brow at that and it's obvious he hasn't quite made the connection yet. Hestia just sighs and spells it out for him, since they don't really have time to beat around the bush.
"Athena blocked the Gods from witnessing your conquest of her, but she invited every Greek Goddess to watch if they so chose. Not just the Olympian Goddesses either."
Now Percy's eyes widen in understanding as he finally gets it. Hestia gives him a slightly sympathetic smile.
"Given Circe's disposition, you should be prepared for Annabeth and Clarisse to already know what happened between you and the Goddess of Wisdom."
Going very, very pale, Percy swallows thickly and then looks around the room.
"Ah… maybe I could just stay here? Forever?"
Laughing lightly, Hestia shakes her head in amusement.
"Get dressed and let's go, Percy. It's time to face the music."
Percy groans and hangs his head, before reaching for his clothes. He moves like a man going to his execution, but he moves all the same. Hestia just watches on with a rueful smile, wishing she could ignore her responsibilities and duties for once and just toss Percy on the bed and ride him until the cows came home. Alas, it wasn't to be… for now anyways.
-x-X-x-
They step out of the Big House together, walking towards the rather large crowd that has already begun gathering around the returning heroes. Hestia can tell that most of the demigods don't recognize Circe for who she is. Nor has she been introduced to them all properly either. Instead…
"This is C.C. She helped us on our quest and has agreed to let me apprentice under her."
Annabeth's introduction of 'C.C.' goes over well with everyone. Both the males and females alike are clearly in awe of the Goddess of Magic's beauty. And Circe isn't even giving it full blast either. She's hiding a lot of her divinity right now. As Hestia and Percy arrive, she and Hestia make eye contact for a brief moment.
Circe dips her head in acknowledgment and deference to Hestia's greater power… but also offers a coy smirk and a wink. Hestia stares back evenly, recognizing that whatever deal Annabeth and Clarisse made with 'C.C.', it's not her place to interfere. Though she's glad to detect a hint of deceit in Annabeth's voice as she introduces the disguised goddess. There's no doubt in Hestia's mind that Annabeth knows exactly who Circe really is.
There's also no doubt in Hestia's mind that Circe told Annabeth what happened between Percy and Athena, because no sooner have the returning heroes noticed her and Percy's arrival before Annabeth is suddenly moving towards the Son of Poseidon.
S-SMACK!
The moment she reaches Percy, Annabeth rears back her hand and slaps him across the face hard enough to turn his head. Hestia notices how this brings an expression of wicked delight and glee to Circe's face. However, immediately after slapping him, Annabeth then grabs Percy by his shirt and yanks him down into a deep, tongue-tied, passion-filled kiss.
The delight and glee on Circe's face immediately drops, replaced by an angry scowl that lasts a handful of seconds before she quickly schools her expression so that no one else notices. Hestia notices though, even as Annabeth and Percy exchange a few quiet words that go unheard by all but those with divine words.
"I'm sorry Annabeth, I know I crossed a line…"
"You did Percy, but I'm used to it by now. And knowing you, you're probably going to end up doing something braindead and reckless again any day now."
"You're… really okay with it?"
Pulling back an inch, Annabeth looks Percy in the eye and snorts derisively.
"What do you think I'm mad about, exactly?"
"… Well I slept with… her."
But Annabeth just shakes her head.
"I'm not mad about that, Percy. I'm mad that you put our relationship on the line. Even for a year and a day… it would have been torture."
Percy looks surprised and then even more apologetic than before if anything.
"Right… I'm sorry about that."
Annabeth just smiles at him.
"I know you are, Percy."
With that, they turn back to the crowd… who are mostly busy crowding around Clarisse anyways, all of them watching a chance to touch the legendary Golden Fleece that the victorious Daughter of Ares is holding aloft in her hands with a smug smirk. And as well she should, honestly. Hestia had long bemoaned Clarisse La Rue's attitude. To be fair, Ares' demigod offspring were almost always difficult.
They weren't the MOST difficult in Hestia's very long experience… no, that distinction lay with some of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades' more… aggressive demigod spawn. When you came from the loins of one of the Big Three, you had a higher than usual chance of developing a certain overly inflated sense of superiority that led to egomaniacal tendencies.
But not every single Son or Daughter of the Big Three was like that. Percy was a great example of a well-adjusted Son of Poseidon, and Bianca was a solid example of a similarly down to earth Daughter of Hades.
However, every single Son or Daughter of Ares was… challenging. Not to the point of egomania every time necessarily, but it was simply in their nature to be rough, brutal, and constantly seeking conflict. They were born of the God of War, after all.
In Clarisse's case, Hestia had been able to see the blonde's potential. She knew deep down inside that Clarisse could be more than just the bully she had typecast herself as. In the last year, Clarisse has grown leaps and bounds… and despite having been a woman grown for years, she's also matured beyond even Hestia's wildest dreams.
That was why Hestia knew she was the right person for the Quest to save Thalia's Tree. And now, Clarisse has proven her right.
"Let's go put this Golden Fleece to good use, shall we?!"
Basking in the praise and adulation of her fellow Campers, Clarisse boisterously begins leading them all to the edge of the camp and Thalia's poisoned tree. Percy and Annabeth join her in leading the charge, while Hestia and Circe take up the rear, just far enough back to have a little chat.
"I'm surprised to see you away from your island. You've always been such a homebody."
Circe hums and then shrugs.
"The salon will continue on just fine without me. In every way you can imagine."
Hestia narrows her eyes at that. The Goddess of the Hearth is well aware of the latest scheme Circe has been running over on her island with the turn of this century. Running a magical beauty salon called "C.C.'s Spa and Resort", she happily serves any women who wind up on her island to a glorious spa treatment, completely free of charge at that. And if that was all she did, it would even be laudable.
Hell, even if she simply went so far as to turn any men away and refuse them service, Hestia wouldn't mind. Everyone was entitled to their freedoms, and nobody should be forced to serve anyone, really.
But Circe didn't stop there. She allowed men into her little beauty salon. She refused service to no one. And once the males had let their guard down, she turned them all into guinea pigs via her magic. It had once been actual pigs, centuries ago, but from what Hestia had heard, Circe found those too annoying to care for.
It would seem that even in Circe's absence, her little operation would continue to lure in and trap unsuspecting men in it's clutches. Irritating to say the least… but Hestia had more important things on her plate, admittedly.
"You've taken on Annabeth Chase as your apprentice."
It's less of a question and more of a statement… and one bordering on a condemnation at that. Circe just hums and nods, a small smile playing across her lips.
"She has the makings of a great sorceress. I see myself in her. When she and her somewhat unruly friend arrived on my island… well, I couldn't help myself, I suppose. I decided to lend them my aid. One thing led to another and here we are."
Talk about cutting a story short. Hestia knows there must be a lot more to it than that, but Circe isn't wrong… here they are indeed, and that's the most important bit.
"You will behave yourself while in my domain."
Circe doesn't even hesitate to dip her head.
"Of course, Lady Hestia. I wouldn't dream of upsetting you."
Hestia isn't sure that she buys that. Not really. Side-eyeing the Goddess of Magic, she lets her tone turn distinctly frigid.
"If you harm a single hair on Percy Jackson's head, there will be grave consequences."
That gets Circe's full attention. The immortal sorceress turns to her as they continue walking, her eyes narrowing and a grin playing across her lips.
"Oh? I know the boy already got to Lady Athena, but is it possible he got to you as well? No… you're still a Maiden Goddess, Lady Hestia. I would be able to tell if you weren't. And yet you care for him all the same."
Suddenly, Hestia is very glad that Percy didn't take her virginity half an hour ago. Her divinity would have been in turmoil at this point, and who knows what Circe might have tried to do with Hestia in a weakened state. It would have been true weakness as well, not the sort of façade of weakness that preserving Thalia's Tree and Camp Half-Blood's borders had given her.
"Still, please don't take this the wrong way, my Lady… but a threat from the Goddess of Hearth, Home, and Family just doesn't have the same… weight to it. More than anything, you make me curious as to exactly what sort of grave consequences there would be if I DID go after Percy Jackson."
Hestia is not normally one to rise to such obvious bait and provocation. In this case however, she can't help herself.
"If you wish your curiosity sated so badly, go and ask Zeus what happens when you cross me."
It's not that she wants to be invoking her dead brother's name in such a way… the brother she effectively facilitated the murder of. But Circe needs to know not to fuck around because sure, she'll find out quickly if she does… and yet, Hestia doesn't want to deal with that bullshit right now either way.
Silence falls as Hestia feels Circe staring at her from the side while they keep walking. Finally though…
"Duly noted."
Hestia allows a small smile to grace her lips at that. She can tell the message was received loud and clear. Circe will play nice… within reason. As her next words prove.
"Of course, the boy clearly has developed a taste for Goddesses at this point. Do you really think he'll be able to resist trying to add me to his collection for long?"
Now, Hestia looks at Circe with a raised brow.
"You do not understand who Percy Jackson actually is. You saw what happened between him and Athena and no doubt you've extracted some information on him from Annabeth and Clarisse. Because of this, you think that you have his measure. You do not."
And then, because the idea amuses her more than she cares to admit, Hestia smirks.
"He knows who you are. If he decides to bed you anyways, I will not intervene so long as you do not seek his death."
Circe perks up at that, her eyes glittering with malice.
"I will be sure to hold you to that, Lady Hestia."
Before Hestia can respond, there's a shout up ahead and both Goddesses pause their conversation and look to see what's going on. They've reached Thalia's Tree and Clarisse has placed the Golden Fleece upon the pine tree and stepped back. Right before all their eyes, Thalia's Tree has healed of its poison, the miasma surrounding it already starting to dissipate.
While this has left the assembled demigods in a state of awed, happy wonder, it is NOT the reason for the shout that drew Hestia and Circe's attention. No, the shout is for something else, albeit still tree related.
There, in the center of the tree, a hole is opening. Brow furrowing as she reaches out to feel the tree through her Domain, Hestia purses her lips and begins striding forward. The pine tree itself feels fine… more than fine, it feels stronger than ever before. So then what is this hole? What's happening?
The hole in the pine tree's trunk grows and grows until it's the size of a person… and then, just as that thought is crossing Hestia's mind, a person is exactly what's expelled from the tree. Her eyes widen as a raven-haired, freckle-faced young woman suddenly drops from the tree right into Percy's waiting arms. He'd been right up there with Clarisse, so he was the only one in a position to catch her.
Hestia arrives just in time for Thalia Grace, Daughter of Zeus to blink open electric blue eyes and look up at her and Percy.
"Wha-… what happened?"
Well shit.
(Author Cambrian. Find him on Scribblehub!)