15 The Gremory Family.(Edited)

Mark gave Percy, Annabeth, and Grover a full hour to pack anything they may need. During that time, he mostly kept with Chiron who gave him some advice on letting Percy and Annabeth deal with a good bit of danger themselves.

Quests were also meant for the demigods to gain strength, which Mark was fine with. When the three of them finished packing they met back up with Mark and Chiron. They had packed rather light which was fine with Mark.

Each one only had around a backpack worth of supplies which included a change of clothes and some other essentials. As they were gathered, Chiron handed Mark twenty golden drachmas.

"Use these when needed."

Mark looked at the coins which were as big as Girl Scout cookies and had images of various Greek gods stamped on one side and the Empire State Building on the other. Mark tossed them in the air before catching them.

"I got it."

"Now for Percy and Annabeth take these with you."

Then each had a canteen of nectar and a Ziploc bag full of ambrosia squares, to be used only in emergencies. It would cure almost any injury, but it was lethal to mortals. Mark cleared his voice as he looked at the three kids.

"As I said we will meet up with my girlfriend in New York. My house is warded so monsters will leave the two of you alone. However, we will only stay for a few hours to get ready. Then I will teleport us directly to Los Angeles."

The two demigods and Satyr nodded. Just as they were going to leave someone who should have no idea about the quest came over. Luke came running up the hill, carrying a pair of basketball shoes. Seeing him made Mark squint his eyes.

'How in the hell did he figure out about this quest?'

['Suspicious'.]

They kept this to themselves as he came up.

"Hey! Glad I caught you."

Even Chiron looked at Mark as he did not announce a thing about this. His look said that things were not normal for him to find out.

"Luke my boy, what are you doing here?"

Luke smiled which made Annabeth blush

"Just wanted to say good luck, on the quest."

Chiron squinted his eyes.

"What quest?"

He seemed to pause before speaking.

"I assumed the fact he met up here meant that he was being sent on a quest. It was not hard to guess, but I thought he could use these."

He handed Percy a pair of sneakers, which looked pretty normal.

Luke spoke a Greek word that caused them to change.

"Maia!"

White bird's wings sprouted out of the heels, startling Percy that he dropped them. They flapped around on the ground until the wings folded up and disappeared. Grover could not keep his excitement down.

"Awesome!"

Mark preferred Devil and Dragon wings over feathered wings, but he did not say that.

Luke smiled.

"Those served me well when I was on my quest. Gift from my Dad. Of course, I don't use them much these days."

Percy walked over and hugged Luke. The older teen had been his best friend here.

"Thanks."

Luke suddenly looked bitter, but he did hug Percy back.

"Listen, Percy just kill some monsters for me, okay?"

Luke stepped back and patted Grover's head between his horns, then gave a goodbye hug to Annabeth, who turned bright red. After Luke was gone, Mark spat on the ground.

"Liar."

Everyone turned to Mark as Luke had seemed honest. Annabeth instantly spoke up against it.

"No, he is not. What do you have against Luke anyway?"

Mark flicked her on the head causing her forehead to turn bright red.

"OWW!"

"Think for a second you love-struck girl. You know the truth behind me, how I am a partial dragon. If a dog can smell emotions what makes you think I can't? Every word he just said was a pure lie. He knew Percy got a quest, but we never said a thing.

Percy, I think we found the friend."

Percy wanted to deny it, but he trusted Mark and the oracle. He looked to Chiron who sighed.

"I believe Mark is correct."

Annabeth could not believe what she heard.

"But-"

Chiron silenced her though.

"Shush child and listen. We told no one of this quest and the meeting we had could have been for anything. Yet he specifically knew that Percy got a quest. For now, Luke is suspect number one as even Mark's sense of smell confirms it."

Annabeth looked down and ground as Mark prepared to teleport.

"Think on that just for the moment."

Mark waved his hands and in a flash of silver, the 4 of them were gone. They appeared outside in his driveway as Runeas had super warded the whole house. She did not like the fact that Poseidon found them so she doubled down to hide the house.

When Mark appeared with his three passengers they all healed over to puke. Mark laughed as he watched the three of them purge their stomachs.

"Teleporting does that. Your mom did the exact same and almost in my truck."

When they all stopped puking Annabeth was glaring daggers at him. Part of it was an annoyance and the second was pure curiosity.

"How did you do that?"

"Dragon Mana and space magic. A skill any good fighter or mage should have. As for you three get in the house before you draw in monsters."

Mark walked toward the door and walked inside. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover walked inside and saw that his house looked quite normal. Mark called out to Sally who was in her room.

"SALLY! PERCY IS HERE!"

Sally rushed out of her room as she had been missing her son since he had gone to camp. When Percy saw his mom and she saw him they rushed to each other for a long overdue hug.

"Percy, I missed you so much. How was it at the camp? Were you eating?"

Percy nodded as Mark smiled. He noticed Annabeth had a jealous look in her eyes before she looked away. As for Mark, he looked up as Runeas walked down the stairs. In her hands was a huge bowl of popcorn.

At her side was a giant black Caucasian Sheperd, which was actually the hellhound in disguise.

"Mark, you're back?"

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover turned to look at the new voice and they were confused. When Mark said his girlfriend lived here they expected her to be older. Annabeth felt that Runeas could not be older than 17.

Though they also looked at the huge dog at her side with some apprehension.

"Your Mark's girlfriend?"

Runeas blushed before nodding.

"Yup, I am Runeas Gremory, if you're wondering I am a Devil and have lived for countless millennia so I am older than all of you."

Hearing the term Devil reminded them of what Mark had spoken on. The Cristian Pantheon which meant he was telling the truth. To prove it she extended her large devil wings before retracting them.

"Now, tell me what is going on?"

Mark sat down on the couch as he told her the short version of it. Though he reached out and picked up the hellhound into his lap which flopped to show its belly.

"Percy is on a quest to get Zeus' lightning back and I am tagging along to ensure he does not die."

He scratched the fur of the hellhound which was quite warm. Runeas was not lying when she could train it for him fast. Runeas popped some popcorn in her mouth as she looked at Percy, Grover, and Annabeth.

"Alright, I get the picture. So, what is the plan?"

Mark said what was in his thoughts with a huge dog on his lap.

"We go to Los Angeles and find the entrance of the Underworld as the Lightning supposedly is down there. If I have to, I am willing to use the Juggernaut Drive. I got one minute of safe use before it gets dangerous."

She was not too happy about that, but she did not try to change his mind.

"Well then, how long are you staying?"

"A few hours. After that, we will be off, as I feel they deserve to get a mental break."

Percy appreciated that as he got to spend some time with his mom without Gabe around.

"Thank you, Mark."

Annabeth wanted to say something, but she didn't. She just walked off keeping to herself while Grover was happy to take a long nap. During that Mark lay down on the couch with a sigh. The huge hellhound cuddled up with him now much tamer than before.

"This is going to shit fast if I have to fight Hades. I am not strong enough, not even close. I doubt the Juggernaut Drive has what it takes to keep me alive."

[Partner, I know it seems hopeless now, but do not despair. There has to be a way without you dying. Though if you die, I think I will use my blood here to shatter the Boosted Gear. I might die, or be free. I do not want another partner after you so do not die.]

Runeas looked at Mark's left arm and smiled. He seemed to have missed one thing. He was dating her meaning he was related to Sirzechs in a way. If what he told her was true, Sirzechs could help them.

"You two are such good friends, but Mark. He is right. If you die, things will go back to being sad for me, and the world will fall to war between gods. If that happens what stops another Great War that could destroy the entire planet occurs involving every pantheon? We are all dead anyway, so why not ask Sirzechs for help?"

Hearing that made Mark think about it.

"He is in the top 10 of the World's Strongest beings and he could be the key. This is perfect, I can say when I am out of my league and I can't fight Hades, but maybe we don't have to. But he will know you are awake and make your work right?"

She shook her head.

"He won't. I am retired and I am just getting you in contact with him. As you are my boyfriend, the Gremory clan is your ally. This means Sirzechs is your ally. For now, I will call Zeoticus, as I met him before."

Mark sat up and spoke to Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Sally.

"Alright, who wants to see how we summon a Devil?"

Annabeth instantly got interested.

"Sure."

Percy, Grover, and Sally stuck around as they wanted to see how it worked. Mark turned to Runeas who smiled at him.

"Mind giving me some of your blood?"

Mark rolled up his sleeve and sliced his palm open with the Boosted Gear's claws. Runeas placed her hand on his cut and drew out enough blood for a small magic circle. She bit her tongue and a small drop of blood joined in with his.

She made the blood turn into a communication magic circle to Zeoticus himself. She had met him when he was a small boy so he would remember her. She activated it with an infusion of Demonic Power activating.

She held her hand flat as a projection of a red-haired man appeared in her hands. Zeoticus was curious as to who called him, but when he saw Runeas he was shocked.

"Ancestor? You are awake."

"Hi Zeoticus, you have grown since the last time I saw you."

The Red-Haired Devil laughed.

"I agree, it has been a long time since you were last awake. Give me a moment, I will descend to your chambers to lead you to our Manor."

Runeas shook her head.

"That is the thing, I am not in the Underworld. I am on Earth, in New York."

Hearing that confused him.

"Why would you be there?"

She moved the projection to Mark.

"Mark here can explain it better than me?"

Mark looked at Zeoticus and introduced himself.

"I am Mark, the Red Dragon Emperor. I tried to summon your son Sirzechs, but instead, I summoned Runeas. Though, I feel it was just fate."

Runeas cleared her voice and hugged his arm.

"He seduced me."

She laughed which made Zeoticus go silent for a moment before he too laughed.

"Such a turn of events. I should prepare a feast in celebration of your relationship."

Mark nodded.

"And I will gladly go to that feast, but we don't have a lot of time. If you are ok with it, I would like to discuss this more in length in person."

Zeoticus nodded.

"Of course. When will you arrive?"

Runeas spoke up.

"Right now. The feast can wait for the moment."

Hearing that made Zeoticus nod.

"I understand. I will be waiting."

When the call was cut Runeas looked up at Sally, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover.

"Get ready to teleport."

The 4 of the panicked and tried to stop her as she waved her hands. A large teleport circle appeared under them all and in a flash of red light they all vanished from sight.