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Sally and Estelle were on their daily "naps aren't that bad" walk when they were ambushed. Her daughter's daily reign of terror could be ceased if she wasn't so stubborn, but no self-respecting toddler willingly admitted to sleep deprivation induced crankiness. To combat endless refusals to lay down, Sally faithfully sojourned on a walk through the park to trick the three-year-old into unconsciousness. The motion of the stroller lulled Estelle into the waiting arms of her dreams, and Sally silently celebrated her victory. A napping toddler meant writing time for Sally, and she was eager to use it. Right as she turned the opposite direction to begin the trek home, Sally paused. The park was eerily silent, as if it was suspended in time. The typically noisy birds were unnaturally mute, and not a single squirrel was visible on the tree branches. The lack of other people clued Sally into an important fact, The Mist was at work. The area her and Estelle were in was actively being shielded; danger was imminent. The gun clipped to her side felt heavier than usual, like it was reminding Sally of its presence. She resolved herself to use it if need be.
Before she could run, the shadowy canopy of the trees revealed several monsters. One after the other leered at Sally and her daughter, surrounding them with ill intent and wicked intentions. Sally wasn't a demigod or a legacy, their wasn't a drop of ichor in her or Estelle's blood. On their own, nothing could have them marked as targets. What they did have, however, was a connection to Perseus Jackson: the Savior of Olympus, The Hero of Heroes, and most recently, The Ascendant. They cannot reach Sally's son, it's impossible for these lowly things to hurt him directly. What they can do is harm him through his mortal family. Sally knew a revenge job when she seen one, what better way to spite Percy than ensuring his mother and little sister die a horrible death? Though she would love to get a few shots in, no amount of shooting could get her or her daughter out of this unharmed, let alone with their lives. The situation now called for a heavier touch.
All too soon, Sally and Estelle were surrounded on all sides, and they crooned prematurely for what they precieved as victory. Jagged teeth were bared and dirty claws were brandished, yet she did not panic. What these things did not know, was that Names have Power. It was the first thing Sally taught her son when he was introduced into the world of his father. You do not say names outright, unless you were prepared for the attention that came with it. Unfortunately for the hissing emposai in front of her, Percy always listens out for his mother. With a clear voice, Sally invoked the name written on the walls of her heart, that of her first child, and that of the newest god in the Greek and Roman pantheons.
"Perseus!"
In less than a second, wrath became near tangible in the air. If she tried to taste it she had no doubt bitterness would cling sourly to her tongue. A godling appeared in front of Sally, his rage written on his face and vengeance promised in his eyes.
"You Dare?" Perseus seethed. "You Dare?"
The monsters that were full of bravado moments ago, eager to torture Sally and her daughter to spite Percy, were silent and unmoving. Terror and hesitation tempered them, but by then it was far too late. He Who Destroyed has arrived, and he demanded his due.
"Wretched Creatures!" The words echoed around the park and lingered long after they were said.
Perseus' arm rose halfway before stilling, curling his fingers. The monsters were unnaturally still, yet one still had the will to wail in defiance.
"Silence," Perseus hissed, his eyes shining fervently in the midst of the sudden downpour. The sheets of rain were seemingly never-ending, yet Sally and Estelle never got wet. "You wanted My attention? Consider yourselves noticed. Never Again will you reform. Never will you live to torment the surface. Your brethren Forsake you. The Pit itself will Reject your essence."
The air seemed to reverberate with each word Perseus declared as the punishment was spoken into existence, and a weight settled over the park. The winds howled in excitement, and if Sally listened close enough, she could nearly comprehend the sound of drums surrounding them.
"This is the Price you Pay for your transgression." Perseus let the statement sit for five seconds, each one an eternity of agony for those he deemed his enemies. "Be Gone!"
Perseus' fingers squeezed into a fist, and the monsters were no more. Nothing was left in their wake, not a single grain of gold dust was left to tell the tale. They had been destroyed, utterly and whole, just as promised.
Percy inhaled once, then twice, before whirling around to Sally. "Mom! Are you okay, did you or Estelle get hurt?" The emotional bandwidth he has is truly astonishing. Not even 30 seconds ago he was enacting divine punishment on those who wronged him, and now he was fretting over his mother and sister with concern on his face and gentleness in his hands, ready to transport them to the nearest hospital if there was so much as a scratch on their bodies. Not for the first time, Sally was overcome with the staggering amount of pride she has in her son.
"I'm fine, and so is Estelle. She didn't even twitch," Sally smiled ruefully, shaking her head. "She just went to sleep 10 minutes ago, she'll be upset that she missed you smiting a bunch of meanies. Wait a minute!" Sally gasped, thrilled with her realization. "That was your first smiting! Oh, I'm so proud of you!"
Percy's cheeks tinted red before he dropped his gaze to a suddenly intriguing blade of glass. The rain eased to a light misting, a gorgeously vibrant rainbow appearing soon after. Sally will have to remember to pray to Iris in thanks later.
"Mom, please," Percy groaned, hunching over and putting a hand over his eyes. "I barely even remember what I said!"
"I do," Sally quipped impishly. "There was a lot of "You Dare!" and then you called them "Wretched Creatures!" Sally's voice imitated her son's with eerily similar accuracy, just as loud and absolute as his. "You could hear the capital letters." Percy's shoulders slumped further in mortification, now shielding his face entirely.
"I didn't even know I could do that!"
"Well now you do. I'll put the whole monologue on a shirt, there's websites for that you know."
"Mom, please!"
Sally laughed before hugging her son and rubbing the back of his neck. "Thank you, Percy. You did well."
Sally remembered when her son was small and furious at the world. He'd shake in anger and his eyes would spill tears of indignation, disappointed with his lack of ability to save Sally from the man who both hurt and covered them. Percy would hug Sally with thin arms, trying his best to protect her. Those same arms can now wrap around her whole body, and they hold her just the same.
"Cherished Mother, you and yours will always be protected." Percy's voice reverberated similarly to moments before. He was quieter, but each syllable was layered with divinity. Weight settled on Sally's shoulders. "Your peace is my own." He kissed her forehead, and the words sank into her bones. Baby's first blessing, Sally thought fondly, and held her son tighter.
"Let's go home. I'm in the mood for cookies."
Percy's face lit up the same way it did when he was 5, and Sally resisted the urge to pinch his cheeks. Truly, somethings never change.