chapter 12:
                                 lotus hotel
                           

  𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
  _______________________________

Asteria walked along side the group as they explored the hotel "This doesn't look age appropriate" She muttered taking in the view of people holding alcohol "It's a casino in case you forget"

"Right" She trailed on "This place is alot bigger than it looked from the outside" Grover mentioned everyones attention dividing towards him

"Let's spilt up" Annabeth suggested- Asteria just looked at her as if she was crazy, why on earth would they be splitting up "I thought we didn't do that anymore" Percy recalled almost as if he read Asteria's mind

"Also, you guys have seen him before, but i haven't" Asteria just looked at the group "We can split into twos?" Asteria questioned cringing slightly at her own voice

"Fine, I'll go by myself. You two go that way" Annabeth planned out "One way or the other we meet back in the lobby in twenty minutes"

"What do we say to him?" One of the teens asked "Nothing" Asteria scoffed hearing that "So you want me to ignore my father?"

"No, you just shouldn't start without us" Annabeth tried to save herself as Asteria crossed her arms "Whatever but if he talks to me first that's not my fault" She shrugged

Percy and Asteria kept exploring the hotel, Percy was slightly in front of her to protect from anyone who could approach them "Can i ask you something?" He seemed unsure almost afraid

"Yeah? Go for it" She agreed "What's the story between Hermes and Luke, and you" He asked looking back at her, he examined her face trying to see if he had bothered her in anyway

"You don't have to he afraid to ask me, your making it obvious" She whispered loud enough for him to hear as she fidgeted with her rings "Just making sure"

"It's a long story, i don't talk about it often though" She began as Percy walked by her listening to everything as they walked around "My mom well she's a steer. Some people like to say a human who can see through mist" She told him, That was the first him she had ever talked about her mother in front of Percy

"She's seen stuff, mostly stuff that hasn't happened but they know it going to happen" She sighed he could tell it was bothering her "Luke blames my dad for alot of things especially what we think happened to our mother"

"I blame him sometimes only because i have no one else to put the blame on. Our dad doesn't hate me and Luke. I know i shouldn't have anything against my father but sometimes i do. It seems like my dad would do anything to win us back, i would let him but it's complicated. But i know my dad loves me and Luke, and i love him too" She whispered the end seeming anxious after talking about it, she was worried Percy would look at her differently

"I never knew that. i can understand why you feel that way towards your dad. I've always held something against my father" That was the only thing he managed to say it was obvious in the way he looked at her, he didn't know how to react he was afraid she would take his words the wrong way.

Percy wrapped a hand around Asteria trying to comfort the best he could without making it awkward "Let's keep moving?" He suggested "Yeah" She smiled, holding onto his hand which was around her shoulder

"This is so stupid to say, but im so tempted to try a lotus flower" Asteria whispered as Percy just smiled before they both started laughing "Right, i thought i was the only one. But we can't forget everything that wouldn't be good" He reminded

"Okay now it's my turn, can i ask you something?" He asked "Anything" She replied instantly "What's your favorite color?" He asked she just stared at him "Seriously again? Thats what you're going to ask me" She tried not to smile but eventually gave in

"But if you're that curious. It's orange, like sunset orange" She admitted "What are you did you turn into Peeta Mellark or what?" He laughed "I know i quoted him but it's actually my favorite color" She smiled her cheeks turned pink "And you?"

"It's obvious it's blue" He told her "Well yeah i knew that i was just making sure" She stuttered slightly before running a hand through her hair "Come on" They kept walking "This place is actually freaking me out"

They approached a gambling area, it seems like Annnabeth had also found the area. Annabeth soon joined the teens "Is that-" Percy began "That's my dad" Asteria finished his sentence

Hermes looked up making eye contact with his daughter. His face dropped as Asteria's breath hitched "Hey Asteria, and demigods" He greeted, Asteria smiled she was panicking inside "We were sent to find you" She was relieved that Annabeth was doing the talking

"Well you found me, come on" He gestured for them to join "I'll be right next to you" Percy reassured "There your are" Hermes gave his daughter a hug which she returned awkwardly

"Yeah, it's been awhile" Asteria seemed hurt talking to her dad "Last time i remember you're hair wasn't this blonde" He moved hair out of his daughter face, she just laughed as she looked at her Father. when her father treated her like this, it was hard to remember why she even had something against him. She knew she loved her father it was just difficult after everything that happened in their family.

"Is he your bo-" Her father whispered but Asteria cut him off "No! no he's not" She breathed worried someone had heard, he only hummed not believing his daughter

"Look we don't really have alot of time, we need your help-" Annabeth interrupted "I know what you need my help for." He cleared up before facing Asteria again, it was obvious he was ignoring the other two teenagers standing there

"how's Luke" He asked, she should've prepared herself she knew he would ask "Luke well he's still the same. I haven't seen him in awhile since im stuck on this quest" She complained

"I missed seeing my kids" He sighed as her eyes glistened "Sorry" She whispered, she knew it was their fault that they didn't see their father often "Anyways, I had to talk to my daughter real quick" He turned towards the teen

"You want my help to sneak into the underworld" He stated "You're a really good guesser" Percy seemed impressed- Asteria snorted slightly "I exist beyond space and time, Kid"

"These kids are weird" Hermes whispered to Asteria- she held back her laugh "Look, you guys aren't the first demigods to ask and trust me and you won't be the first demigods to walk away disappointed"

"We're friends of Lukes" Annabeth blurted out "Yes i can see that, there's a reason you have my daughter here looking like she got kidnapped" Hermes mood changed after Annabeth mentioned Luke, but Asteria knew her father would give in knowing his children were involved

"Okay" Hermes began pushing Annabeth and Percy as Asteria walked in "Time and space are easy, kids"  Hermes began, Asteria sat down instantly spacing out she couldn't listen to Annabeth bringing up what happened last time she saw her dad

Percy interlocked their fingers slightly "I was warned away to stay away from Luke, Asteria and their mother" Hermes began "Warned that no matter how much i tried to help, i would just make things worse." Asteria breath got heavy "And i went anyway"

"And it wasn't just awful for Luke, It was awful for all of us" Hermes gestured towards Asteria "It was hard being so close to someone you love and knowing neither of you has any choice but to keep hurting eachother."

She knew what her father was going to do, Percy gasped as he had seen something "Should i remind you, too?" Hermes reached out of Annabeths hands but she pulled back "I remember just fine" Asteria crossed her arms looking back at her dad and shrugging "Are you gonna help us or not?" She asked once more

Hermes picked up the glass of alcohol "I don't get involved anymore" Asteria scoffed "It's just not worth it, sorry" He drank from the glass

"Then this was all just a waste of time" Asteria seemed amused hearing Annabeth talk that way "And we don't have time to waste" Annabeth looked at Asteria and Percy to see if they agreed

Annabeth got up, Asteria didn't budge as Percy stayed behind as-well "She's right to he angry" He sighed "It isn't fair, None of it is" He smiled "Tell me about it"

Percy seemed upset "This was all super helpful" Sarcasm lacked in his tone, he was about to get up "It was your father who warned me to stay away" Hermes said and Percy became interested

Asteria listened in "Dad we have to go" Asteria began to get up "Right yeah, Bye Asteria. Dont go away for to long again" He smiled she returned it slightly "Bye dad" She whispered waving, Hermes seemed hurt watching his daughter walk away from him again

"That was awkward" Asteria started talking but Percy got her hand and started running "Why the fuck are we running now?!" She groaned, as they made it towards the front of the hotel where annabeth was "We have a huge problem"

"Wasn't it just daylight?" Asteria questioned "Exactly it seems like we've been here for like twenty minutes but it's already Thursday! We've been here for days" Percy ranted

"No way" She muttered "I didn't even take the lotus flower" Asteria complained, Annabeth started blaming Hermes "You stole his keys" Asteria questioned in shock "Who cares, we have to hurry. This place is making us forget"

"Even if you don't eat the lotus flower they pump it in the air" Percy reminded "Well that explains why i was forgetting somethings" Asteria shrugged "Guys what ever happened to that kid that was with us?" She asked

"Grover we have to find him" Annabeth remembered "Who's Grover?" Percy seemed confused looking at Asteria "Dont even ask me, im equally confused"

"Did Grover turn into an old man?" Asteria pointed "I remember Grover, he got really old" He agreed with her, Percy and Asteria looked so stupid not remembering Grover

"Where is he?" Annabeth asked him before he ran "Oh you have to be kidding me" Asteria sighed before running after the strange man, Percy eventually tackled him "Where's Grover?" He asked before standing up after getting his answer

"I forget but i saw Grover earlier when we sat at the table with my dad, I kinda forget this air is really freaking me out" Asteria remembered, Annabeth led them towards a video game experience

Grover seemed confused as Percy called his name before removing the VR glasses "I hate saying this but it's really time to go" Percy was desperate to leave, Grover wanted to stay and finish the game, Asteria wished she wasn't there, and Annabeth just wanted to complete the quest

Grover couldn't remember them even though Percy was try to remind him "Let me try this" Asteria suggested walking up to Grover slapping his face slightly "Ow Asteria! That hurt" He groaned holding his face

"Well he remembered me, he just needs to remember you guys."

.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣
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                                    ❥༄     ─

𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐢 ⸻ speaks
the daddy issues hits hard, anyways this chapter kinda long but wtv