Secrets Unvieled

Marcus woke up to Jaya jumping onto his stomach. Unfortunately, the same as most mornings began.

"Dad wake up. It's already 6:30, let's start training. Come on."

Marcus groaned before rolling out of bed. Jaya was the most enthusiastic person he had ever met when it came to training. Every second she wasn't playing with Percy she was practicing her fighting. She seemed to have unlimited energy, and she was using it to become strong and fast.

"Okay, meet me in the dojo. Be warmed up by the time I get there okay?" Marcus said as Jaya nodded running towards the dojo.

Marcus slipped on his shirt and grabbed a protein shake for breakfast and one for Jaya. He had installed a door between the dojo and his house for ease of access.

Jaya was jogging across the mats around the border of the dojo and Marcus sat there for a second watching his little firecracker with a very serious face bound across the mats. She was adorable.

Jaya continued to jog without acknowledging her father in the corner. After a few laps, she started mobility warm-ups. After a few minutes, she bounded over to her dad.

"All done," Jaya said proudly. Marcus handed the panting girl a protein shake and she chugged it. She was growing up way too fast in Marcus's eyes. It seem like just yesterday she couldn't even run fast, now she was learning martial arts.

Jaya was a head taller than most her age at around 3'9" and had a lot less baby fat. It was a combination of genetics helping her height as well as her healthy diet and exercise. She like to tell Percy since she was taller she was in charge.

"Alright Jaya, we've been working on Karate for a while. I believe you are ready to try out for yellow belt. So I want you to go over all the punches. Remember before you get into advanced techniques you must polish the foundations. With a foundation made of sand, no matter how what you build atop, no matter how fancy, it will come crashing down. Practice hard now, so that you can succeed later."

Jaya looked at him with burning eyes, before nodding sharply and assuming a straight punch with Karate while Marcus watched over her. "Jaya, I have to talk with Aunt Sally in a bit. So we will try out for that belt after I'm done. But Percy should be coming over and you can spar with him for a bit." Marcus and Sally had a lot to talk about after what happened yesterday.

"We can spar? Hell yea." Jaya grinned wildly.

"Language young lady." Marcus shook his head, wondering where she was learning this language. She was entering into school this upcoming year, in the same school and class as Percy. He was happy that way she had a friend going into the same class as her.

Jaya didn't respond except with a grin as she continued to punch, before moving into a few different stepping stances with Karate moving side to side. Marcus corrected her posture while watching over her. Even as Marcus grew bored she moved through the moves with practiced ease.

She had only been practicing for three or so months, but when watching her it felt like she had been practicing her whole life. During spars, Marcus had to pit her against 7 and 8 years olds as she dominated anyone younger than that. The only person who could compete was Percy. He was also extremely talented at Karate, but unlike Jaya, he didn't put his whole heart into it.

At 8 am Marcus headed back inside with a sweaty fuzzy-haired Jaya. "Jaya go ahead and take a shower, Aunt Sally and Percy are coming around soon for breakfast."

"Do I have tooooo? We're just going to the dojo to play anyway."

"Yes firecracker, you smell bad," Marcus pinched his nose with one hand before tickling Jaya and speaking in a nasally voice, "Or else the tickle monster will tickle you to death." Jaya ran to the bath in a fit of giggles the whole way as Marcus mock chased her.

Marcus smiled as Jaya jumped into the restroom before heading to the kitchen to make some blue pancakes. Sally had lent him the food dye because Percy just love any blue food.

As Marcus finished the first batch of pancakes and bacon, the doorbell rang. He opened it to see a very happy and energetic Percy who gave him a big hug as soon as he opened it. "Thank you, Uncle Marcus. You're the bestest. Where's Jaya?"

"She's finishing up getting ready, but she should be at the dining table soon."

"What's for breakfast?"

"Blue pancakes." And with that Percy was off past him to go get some pancakes. Marcus looked at the single mother still at the door. Sally looked like she had been through the wringer. Her eyes had bags under them and she looked like she needed some sleep.

"Come on in Sally, we can talk in a bit. But first, let's have a good meal. You deserve it." Sally let out a very warm smile before saying,

"Thank you, Marcus. For everything." Before making her way to the dining table.

Marcus served up the table to an eager Percy and coffee to Sally. Jaya came bounding around the corner in just a towel. "Daaaaadddd. I don't have any clothes." Marcus sighed before saying,

"You do, I just laid them out on your bed"

"Ugh, I don't like those clothes thougghhh." Jaya groaned. Marcus sighed. Jaya was in a fad where all she wanted to wear was her Karate Gi.

" I just finished washing your gi in the dryer. You should find one in there." Marcus served and sat down. Unbeknownst to him Percy was staring at Jaya as she ran away with a red face.

They all ate breakfast peacefully, at least until a hyperactive Jaya came back and brought a shining atmosphere to the table as they ate. After they ate the two kids took off running to the Dojo. Jaya dragging along Percy to go and make him spar with her.

At the dining table, Marcus and Sally sat across from each other each with a coffee. Sally was nervously fidgeting with their hands. Marcus spoke up first,

"Before I ask a few questions. I just want to assure you that Gabe will no longer bother you anymore. Don't even give him a second thought. You don't need to worry about an abusive prick." Marcus reached over and picked up her hand that she was fidgeting with. There was a small bruise on the inside of her forearm that Marcus hadn't realized was there before. "But I do want to ask. You're a smart woman Sally, smarter than most, so why did she agree to marry that douche?"

Sally smiled bitterly, her eyes a bit clouded, "He just seemed very nice at first. He wasn't rude or abusive before-" Marcus interrupted,

"Sally. if you are going to respond. Please at least respond truthfully. If you wish to keep it to yourself I can respect that. But, if you are going to tell me. Please be truthful. For my sake." They sat in silence for a few seconds with Marcus just holding Sally's hand, just trying to be there to support her. Sally had a conflicted expression as she said,

"I'm sorry I can't say."

Marcus nodded and he began to understand a little bit more, but he still had his suspicions. "I know I've never spoken about this. Once more, you don't have to answer, but can I ask who Percy's father is?"

Sally had an even more troubled face, she was no longer even looking at him. Just looking at him made Sally feel guilty. He had been there for Percy since Day 1, but even if she admitted everything, who was to say that he wouldn't call her crazy? Who on earth would believe that Percy's father was a god of all things? "I... I can't say. Please, there's a reason I'm no telling-"

"Is it a divine reason that you cannot say?" Sally's head shot up and stared at Marcus incredulously, "From your reaction, I can confirm my suspicions. Percy's dad is not human, but something more godly. I did some research last night and I have a guess." Sally's mouth was agape as she just stared at the man sitting across from her in complete disbelief. "Is Percy's dad Poseidon?"

Sally just looking at the man across from her, her mouth opening and closing akin to a fish. Her mind was going a million miles an hour. She tried to collect her thoughts as she spoke, "How... is Jaya a... yes, Percy is Poseidon's child." And at Sally's words, thunder rumbled above them. "Is Jaya... also... special."

Marcus nodded with a soft smile. "She's the product of me and Nike." Both Marcus and Sally looked at each for a second before Marcus burst out laughing much to Sally's confusion. Marcus recovered himself before bursting out in a little chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Sally asked a smile on her face. It was hard to not smile, Marcus's laugh was deep and contagious.

"I just find it hilarious. That we both have child demigods. Both of us attained the attention of the gods. Each of us has been trying to raise our demigod together for the past five years while trying to keep the circumstances of their birth secret." Marcus wiped some tears out of his eyes from laughing so hard.

Sally let out a chuckle before laughing brightly and saying, "I suppose it is pretty funny."

Marcus smiled before saying, "So how did you attract a major God, one of the big three if I remember correctly?"

Sally smiled as she reminisced for a bit, "We met at this beach on Montauk. I saw through the Mist and saw his trident." Marcus made a mental note to ask about Mist.

"It sparked a conversation. Over the summer we fell slowly fell in love," Sally laughed as she said, "He even offered to build me a sea palace. I considered it briefly, but then I found out I was pregnant. I wanted Percy to have a somewhat normal childhood. So I moved back here and bought an apartment before having Percy. I haven't seen him since."

Marcus looked at her, this time he was shook. Sally looked at his shocked face. "How did you and Nike meet?"

Marcus opened his mouth and closed it before coughing forcefully and recovering. "Me and you had very different stories. Nike just showed up in my apartment after I found out I had late-stage cancer and-"

Sally shot out of her seat and looked at him in shock. "You have CANCER? And never thought to mention it?" Marcus grimaced, he hadn't meant to mention that detail,

"I do, but it's not a problem. I'll get to the point as to why it's not a problem in a second." Marcus replied as Sally stared at him before slowly sitting down. Marcus smiled as he recalled. "Nike told me she had been watching me throughout my career as a fighter, and challenged me to a fight. Without explaining who she was or what was going on we got transported to a fighting ring and she attacked me. After a pretty vicious and long battle, I won. And for my victory, Nike gave me Jaya."

Sally just stared at the man in front of her. "So you're telling me you fought a goddess and won?"

Marcus flexed his biceps playfully, "Did you think a world champ like me would lose?" Sally just laughed in disbelief.

"You weren't wrong about the difference between our relationships," Sally said with a smile. "But what about your cancer? What happened with that?"

Marcus held up his golden watch. "Nike gave me this. As long as I have it on the cancer doesn't affect me." Marcus lied through his teeth. He was painfully aware that the watch countdown was halfway done. He made a habit of not looking at the watch, as it reminded him of his own mortality and really brought down the mood at a party. "While I'm glad you trusted me with this info. I swear to not tell anyone about it. But I do have a question unanswered still. Why Gabe?"

Sally grimaced before replying, "Because his scent covered Percy's demigod scent."

"Scent?"

"Yes, all creatures including demigods have a scent. And monsters are attracted to the scent of demigods. Even when Percy was a baby, I found him strangling a snake. I caught a glimpse through the mist of it not being just a regular snake. He has a very strong scent, and in order to cover that up I've been looking for someone who smelled disgustingly human and could cover the scent."

Marcus looked troubled at this news, but he was still a tad bit confused, "What is this Mist you keep talking about?"

Sally looked confused, "Did Nike not tell you about this?"

"Nope, she showed up, fought me, we did the deed, and then she disappeared. I only saw her once more when she dropped off Jaya." Marcus said with a slightly gloomy face.

Sally put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry she left you in the dark, I'm sure she had her reasons." Marcus just shrugged at this while Sally looked at him with pity. "Anyway, Mist is like a thin veil that separates reality from mythology. It doesn't allow mortals to see through it, and at the same time protects them. Monsters only pay attention to those who can see and operate within the Mist."

Marcus looked at Sally before saying, "Thank you for telling me this. A lot of things have been weighing me down and you really helped me out. And from now on, don't worry about monsters coming around. I can protect us. You said you can see through it?" Sally nodded, "Well, you can be my eyes, point me where to fight and I'll protect us."

Marcus stood up and kneeled beside her while looking her in the eyes. "You aren't alone anymore. We can work through this together." And Marcus chuckled before holding out a pinky finger. "I pinky promise."

Sally chucked a bit as she suppressed some tears in her eyes as she said "Together." And sealed the pinky promise.

At that moment they heard a squeal as Percy and Jaya burst through the door connected to the Dojo, and they both screamed together in excitement,

"ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED?!"

Marcus and Sally looked at the two little kids in shock, too stunned to speak.