Percy Jackson: The Firstborn

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Queen’s Favorite Flower

Half-Blood Camp

”I think you’re the first person who isn’t a child of Aphrodite who doesn’t comment on her choice of cabin color,” Hestia said as she watched the rest of the campers finish what they were doing to prepare for dinner.

”I’m not going to judge her for that. Everyone has their own tastes,” the blond replied as he continued walking with her on his shoulders toward the campfire where he had found her. ”Honestly, one of my favorite colors is orange. It’s just as eye-catching as pink, if not more,” he added, making Hestia raise an eyebrow.

”Orange?” the girl asked, wanting to know more about him.

”There are many reasons, actually. I guess the most important one is the sunset,” he said, looking up at the sky, which was already darkening. ”It’s a magical moment where the sky turns into an orange hue, announcing the beginning of the night, bidding farewell to the sun and making way for the moon to start a new night.”

”I’ve never thought about it that way,” Hestia said, a bit surprised by his words.

”Right? If you add to that a place that means something to you and clouds reflecting the last rays of sunlight, it can become a view worth spending your time on, whether alone or with someone important to you.”

After that, they didn’t say anything for a while. Hestia now seemed more interested in the sunset—which was mostly hidden by the trees surrounding the camp—than in continuing the conversation.

That didn’t bother Damon at all; in fact, he was enjoying the time he was spending with Hestia, and seeing her happy expression was more than enough for him.

Until she remembered something.

”Where are you going to sleep?” she asked, concern in her voice, making the blond smile as he tried to reassure her.

”I was thinking of asking Hera if she would let me sleep in her cabin.”

Hestia didn’t expect that.

”Why Hera?” she asked. Honestly, she didn’t think Hera would give him permission to enter the cabin.

”Well, besides being empty, like you said, it’s more about honor than anything else, which means I wouldn’t be bothering any future occupants or anything like that.”

That actually made more sense than Hestia had expected at first.

”I don’t think she’ll give you permission anyway,” she said while lightly squeezing his sides with her legs unconsciously out of concern. She liked him and didn’t want to see him sleeping outside; if necessary, she would force him to go to Hermes’ cabin.

”I lose nothing by trying,” the blond replied casually, trying to calm Hestia since he had felt her concern. ”You told me demigods ask gods for favors through offerings.”

”But finding something she likes won’t be easy, you know that, right?”

”I don’t think it’s that serious. After all, I’ve got you,” he said lightly, making Hestia blush faintly at the importance he gave her, even though they had just met. ”Alright, we’ll take a detour and find something incredible to offer Hera,” he added with enthusiasm, earning a small smile from her.

Damon walked calmly toward the forest he had seen before meeting Hestia, searching for something that could earn the Queen of Olympus’s favor. While walking, he was stopped by a blond boy with blue eyes, accompanied by a honey-blonde girl with curly hair.

”You must be the new guy,” the boy said, extending a hand. ”Luke Castellan.”

Damon released one hand that had been resting on Hestia’s knee to keep her steady and shook Luke’s hand.

”Has anyone shown you around the camp yet?” Luke asked.

”If not, it’s a bit late now, but we could give you a quick tour before everyone gathers for dinner,” the girl added.

”No, thanks,” Damon replied, pointing his thumb at the girl on his shoulders. ”She’s been showing me around.”

That made both of them look up at Hestia, who was smiling kindly at them, causing both to raise an eyebrow since they didn’t recognize the girl who looked about eight years old.

”Still, thanks for offering to show me around, miss...?” Damon asked the girl in front of him.

”Annabeth,” she replied quickly after realizing she hadn’t said her name. ”Annabeth Chase.”

Damon responded with a smile, making Annabeth blush slightly.

”Well, if you need anything, just ask. Dinner will start soon—you’ll know when they call everyone. See you at cabin eleven,” Luke said kindly. ”Nice to meet you. Hope we see each other again.”

”Likewise.”

Damon continued on his way while glancing sideways at the blond who was talking to Annabeth.

”Damon” Kurama said in his mind.

”I know. That Luke guy doesn’t give me a good feeling either.”

”Don’t lose sight of him,” he added, receiving a slight nod from the blond.

They quickly lost sight of the pair and continued walking, heading into a nearby forest. Strangely enough, the ground was mostly covered in well-kept grass.

”You can put me down if you want,” Hestia said while looking around, curious about what Damon planned to offer Hera.

”I don’t mind carrying you.”

”Don’t worry, I like the feeling of walking on grass,” Hestia said again while unconsciously running her fingers through the blond’s hair, something she had been doing the whole time.

”As you wish, Hime.”

”Hime?” she asked, confused.

”It means princess, from a place I lived in for a while,” he replied as he set her down. The girl blushed slightly and looked away so Damon wouldn’t notice. ”Since you haven’t told me your name, I had to come up with something,” he added, ”and you look like a little Hime with that dress and being barefoot.”

Damon couldn’t help but smile when he saw Hestia’s ears take on a faint golden tone. He placed his hand on her head and gently patted it.

”Come on, I’ve got something in mind that might work.”

Hestia nodded and followed him deeper into the forest.

Soon they were surrounded by vegetation, and the sound of birds began to fade as night took over the sky. At that moment, Damon stopped.

Hestia watched as he crouched down and seemed to cut something from a plant she couldn’t identify, since his body blocked her view.

When Damon turned around, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes at what he was holding.

A red and white carnation.

Was this a coincidence... right?

Flashback

The battle ended in favor of Kronos’s children, but that didn’t stop Hera from being upset with Damon. He left... and yes, he said he was fine... but he never sent even a single message to prove it.

And after three long years... he appeared as if nothing had happened.

Alright, slapping him had been impulsive, she admitted. But that didn’t justify giving no sign of life whatsoever. She had been worried as hell about her stupid brother. Sleepless nights, unable to shake the thought that Kronos might have set a trap for him—it still made her skin crawl just thinking about it.

She was pulled out of her thoughts when someone touched her shoulder.

She turned.

Damon looked at her with sadness while holding something in his hand.

The most beautiful flower she had ever seen in her life.

A red and white carnation.

He extended the hand holding the flower.

”I’m sorry... I should’ve told you I was okay.”

Hera took the carnation carefully, her hand trembling as tears fell from her eyes. Unable to stop herself, she embraced him.

”Don’t do that again,” she said while holding him, being careful not to damage the carnation she still held.

From that day on, the carnation became Hera’s favorite flower...

And many years would pass before she received another one.

End Flashback

Damon held a red and white carnation in his hand, just like so many years ago, waiting for an answer from Hestia, who still hadn’t been able to say a single word.

She was one of the few who knew, along with Rhea and Demeter. Everyone knew Hera had an incredibly beautiful garden, but there had never been a carnation in it. Only three people knew why.

”So?” Damon asked. ”What do you think?”

Hearing his voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked into his eyes.

”I think... it might work,” she finally said, making Damon smile widely.

No one had ever dared to give a carnation to the queen, because they thought she hated them...

When in reality, it was the complete opposite.

It didn’t take long for Damon to pick Hestia up again so she wouldn’t walk barefoot, and they returned to the main campfire, which luckily was still empty. He threw the carnation into the fire and prayed to Hera, making his request—and then... nothing.

”So how do I know her answer?” the blond asked, watching the fire, expecting any kind of change.

”I don’t know,” she replied, not really knowing what to say.

”I guess I’ll go to the cabin and see what happens,” he said.

”I have to go...” she said, a bit sad to say goodbye. She had to fulfill her domains.

”Of course, Hime,” Damon said as he approached her and placed a hand on her head. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently, making Hestia blush.

”I’ll tell you tomorrow how it went with Hera,” he said casually.

”Tomorrow?” she asked, a bit of happiness in her voice.

”Uh-huh... I’ll be around. I’ll come see you.”

Hestia nodded as she watched him walk away. The blond raised his left hand in farewell, and at that moment the goddess noticed the strange ring-shaped tattoos on his fingers.

Today had been one of the strangest days of her life... a day she would never forget.

Unknown Place

”This wasn’t part of the plan,” a rough voice said from the darkness.

Only a man could be seen, his appearance covered by a strange cloak and the shadows of the place.

”He might become a problem in the future,” the same voice continued, as if it came from the darkness itself. ”Meet him, observe him... and if you get the chance, make him join us,” the male voice added.

”Having the Champion of Chaos as an ally would give us instant victory.”

Silence filled the place for a moment.

”If he refuses... kill him.”

The only thing visible from the man was a macabre smile, filled with bloodlust.

>>>>>

What would Hera do now that Damon left and came back after literally all those years 😂 a slap on the face would be an easy getaway.

Stones