May the fourth be with you!
This is the start of the new story, I hope you guys like what I've done with it. Get ready for a brand-new telling with my, hopefully, improved writing.
Warning: There will be a lot of heavy emotional tones being touched on in this story. I think that super powered teens that go through war would be heavily impacted and I hope to at least touch on that.
Disclaimer: This is not the owner you are looking for.
Arc One
~_ Life Goes On _~
Prologue- Definition of a Hero
Third Person Pov
"He defeated Kronos"
"I lost my brother"
"I don't believe it the gods had to have helped him"
"We did it… We actually did it!"
"He's strong… but not that strong"
"I can't believe he actually did it"
Whispers snaked around the room as demigods slowly trickled in. They shot glances at the black haired boy at the center of the room, muttering lightly to themselves; though words morphed into incoherent noise as the number of demigods grew.
The hero in question remained in the center of the ruined room; his knee embedded in a small crater on the marble floor. Cracks webbed outward from the crater, growing wider as the hero pulled his knee out, leaning heavily on his bronze sword while his legs trembled under his own weight. He grunted softly as he continued to use the blade as an impromptu crutch, his breathing heavy and slightly uneven as his left arm quickly, yet gingerly, enveloped his torso.
The boy shifted slightly onto his right leg, hissing sharply before he bit down on his lip and repositioned himself onto his left leg; putting the pressure on the glowing bronze sword in his right hand instead of on his right leg. He took a few shallow breaths as he lowered his gaze, grimacing at the sight of his tattered orange Camp Half-Blood jersey which revealed a few cuts across his lower abdomen, and his blood soaked jeans which clung tightly to his legs. He released himself from his own embrace as he let his hand fall to his right thigh; his thumb pressing lightly into his skin while he assessed the damage.
A sharp wince escaped his throat before a dry cough quickly followed; burning his throat as it did so. The boy wiggled his toes, smiling grimly in satisfaction when he realized that his leg wasn't broken; at least there was some reprieve to the situation.
The young hero then hopped quickly, giving his left leg a small break as he adjusted to using the sword as a crutch. He took a quick, pained breathe before he let his eyes roam over the throne room which had previously hosted his battle with the titan lord.
"Percy!" a worried voice called from behind the young hero. The boy swayed slightly as he breathed deeply, ignoring the owner of the voice as his eyes went in and out of focus. The grim smile continued to pull at his lips as he stared distractedly around the room.
A sandy blonde haired man strode quickly to the young hero, his sky blue eyes sparkling in concern as he drew nearer to the boy; his burgundy sandals slapping the floor softly with each step. The man stood beside Percy, standing a few inches over the younger boy as he sighed, shifting his focus to the damaged room.
"A bit croppy around the edges but that's some fine work you did today, cousin." the man spoke after a few moments of silence. The owner of the voice stood a few inches over Percy, his sky blue eyes staring around the room as he stood beside the boy, his hand running through his hair as he sighed. The man looked down at himself for a moment grimacing at the sight of the blue hemmed chiton that hung loosely from his body. A golden glow shrouded his body before a pair of light grey shoes, faded blue jeans and a casual baby blue t-shirt replaced the ancient attire.
"I didn't act alone, Apollo." The hero said stiffly, his words quickly followed by another cough which broke through his lips. He quickly cupped his mouth with his left palm as he let the small fit of coughing pass; absentmindedly glancing at the blood which now stained his palm before he smeared it against his already blood-stained jeans.
Apollo released a sigh though he couldn't fight the small smile that appeared on his lips at the boy's comment. His eyes flashed worriedly once he saw the blood in Percy's palm before shifting his attention back to the damaged room.
"Besides," Percy continued, returning his gaze to the thrones "Isn't this what heroes are meant for?" his rhetorical question tore the smile off of the blonde's face. The god beside him frowned slightly at the harsh undertone to the hero's statement.
"What you've done here is achieve greatness. So I suppose you are right, heroes are meant for greatness." Apollo replied slowly, bringing his right arm to his chin while his left folded across his body, providing an arm rest for his right elbow. Percy gave a dry chuckle at the god's response.
"Or die trying." Percy added, another violent outburst of coughs erupting from his throat, forcing the boy to double over in pain. He heaved heavily once the fit had died down before he spat blood onto the white marble floor. The god grimaced as he turned to face the son of Poseidon.
"In our world, the weak die and the strong live forever." The god stated as he took a step toward the hero, placing his left hand over his back as a golden glow washed over his body. "Every so often, the strong stand up for the weak and teach them of strength in numbers." The god concluded, distractedly as the glow slowly began to recede.
Percy remained hunched over, tilting his head to stare at the god beside him. Apollo paused at the feral state of the boy. The way his black grimy hair hung limply off his head; the way his green eyes stared back in Apollo's blues eyes with a sense of emptiness weighted by insurmountable loss rather than glistening with joy at his triumph.
"Death is inevitable," Percy hoarse voice breaking the god from his musing "The strong are immortal, and the weak are demigods." The boy slowly rose to his full height, wincing slightly as he capped the bronze sword, transforming it into a pen before pocketing it. He then turned his eyes to the thrones before him.
"The strong don't protect the weak; they lead the weak to each other then let them die for the strong." Percy commented before he coughed at the dryness of his own throat.
"That's dangerous thinking, Percy." The sun god warned as he too stared at the thrones "The last demigod to think like that caused this destruction." Apollo elaborated as his he motioned to the damage done to the room.
"The last demigod was bitter because he realized this," Percy quipped back garnering the cautious gaze of the god beside him "And because of him, I have a chance to see his true dream out without any more bloodshed." the son of Poseidon stated as he took an experimental step on his right leg.
"You're different than I remember." The god said as he placed is hand on the demigod's shoulder "Your mind has never intrigued me like this before." the sun god said, stunned as he looked at the boy.
"I suppose you've only ever stopped to glance then, instead of invading the privacy of my mind like you're currently doing." Percy snapped back, glaring at the Apollo, causing the god to remove his hand from the boy's back with a sheepish smile.
"Force of habit, I apologize." Apollo said as he stepped back a bit, his arms rising in surrender.
"I'm sure you mean it." Percy commented a bit harshly as he turned to face the throne again, shaking his head slightly.
"You'll forgive me for ensuring another Luke wasn't in the making." The sun god said with a sigh as he folded his hands behind his back again.
"I am Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon and Prince to his throne; not Luke the son of Hermes." Percy stated blandly, though there was a certain heated undertone as he turned to Apollo, his green orbs staring intensely into the god's blue eyes.
"I see you are capable of pride after all." The god smirked, his eyes locked with the demigod's.
"I'm just reminding you who exactly you're calling a potential enemy to Olympus" Percy whispered, his eyes hardening "Especially after said person almost died trying to save it not even an hour ago."
The pair stared intensely at each other for a few tense moments.
"My you really have undergone some intense psychological transformation." Apollo muttered sighing, while Percy cracked a smile.
"The most powerful weapon of man is his mind…" Percy stated as he turned to face the thrones again "And the most effective tool in war is surprise." the boy concluded, his smile still evident on his lips while Apollo chuckled beside him.
"It seems you are one the more interesting mortals, I have no doubt that we will talk a lot more frequently in the future." Apollo commented warmly as he stared at the thrones.
"I hate that you of all the gods said that." Percy quipped back as the pair shared a chuckle at the boy's response.
A comfortable silence ensued as the two stared at the state of the room, soft smiles on their lips, though it reached neither of their eyes.
"Ah" Apollo broke the silence "It seems that I am needed elsewhere, young hero." the sun god said as he turned to face the boy, who followed suit.
"I'm split between a few demigods currently, so I wasn't able to get rid of all your aliments and injuries." The god said before he lightly jabbed he boy in his ribs, causing him to wince harshly "Your rib is no longer in your lung, but it's most likely still fractured; also, your liver is still bruised," The god continued, a smirk on his face at the boy's reaction "And your leg will need further treatment seeing as there are a few hairline fractures along your femur." The god made to poke his leg, but the demigod quickly slapped his finger away, glaring at the laughing god.
"Visit the infirmary for a few minutes, you've already had too much ambrosia and nectar, but Epione offered to aid those who weren't in life or death situations while the other major healing gods took care of the more fatally wounded. Her magic will help ease some of your pain." Apollo instructed "However, I'll be sure to be the one to personally heal the hero of Olympus." The god stated with a soft smirk. Percy simply nodded at the god, his eyes softening as he returned Apollo's smile.
A soft glow shrouded the god of music, and when the light faded, Apollo was no longer there.
Percy shook his head lightly in wonder at the disappearing act before he glanced down at his body again; shocked to see that his tattered and bloodied clothes had been replaced. He grumbled slightly at having the same clothes, but he couldn't deny that if felt a lot better to be covered in fresh clothes.
The boy then gently placed his left hand on his ribs. He lightly patted himself before he abruptly tugged at the hem of his new jersey; shock dropping his jaw as he saw a lining of bandages wrapped around his torso. He smiled as he realized he wouldn't have to worry about his cuts leaking onto his new clothes.
The boy took deep breath "I've never realized how much I took air for granted." he said to himself as he let out the breath, relishing the lack of pain. He then closed his eyes, allowing his breathing to become even as he basked in the simple sensation of being alive. After a few moments, his sea green eyes revealed themselves from behind his eyelids; staring at the murmuring crowd before him.
He took an experimental step forward, wincing at the sharp tingling sensation that raced up his thigh. He took another easy breath, opting to limp onward to relinquish his leg from some of the pressure. His movements were slow and precise, though he still overextended his right leg occasionally, giving a wince or a grunt when it happened.
"Kelp head!" a feminine voice rang out, drawing his attention from his careful movements as his eyes rose to identify the owner of the voice. His curious gaze quickly shifted into delight as he saw the blued eyed daughter of Zeus running gracefully towards him. He noticed that her silver parka had also been restored or replaced, though it did little to hide the battle worn state of the girl. Her croppy black hair still held bits of marble and debris from their previous encounter with Kronos and bandages covered a large percent of her visible body
"Hey pinecone face." Percy offered a soft greeting as the girl came to a halt by his in front of him. She made to help him, but the boy placed his hand on her shoulder, earning himself a look of curiosity. Percy let his sea green eyes peer deeply into the lightning blue orbs of the Lieutenant of the Hunt for a few moments. He frowned slightly as her eyes quivered slightly under his scrutiny.
"How are you holding up?" the boy asked, leaving his hand on her shoulder as he continued to lock eyes with her. The girl finally glanced away, opting to leave her eyes on the floor instead, as she shifted from on foot to the other awkwardly.
"I've been better." Thalia replied, still gazing at the cracks in the marble.
"Thalia…" Percy chastised lightly as he gave her a gentle shove in her shoulder, drawing her eyes back to his "You don't have to do this alone." He said softly.
She let her eyes linger on the wrecked floor, until the boy before her squeezed her shoulder lightly. The girl flinched under the action and her eyes darted up to meet his, displaying her teary blue eyes.
"I wasn't strong enough." She eventually whispered; her eyes falling to the floor again as she quickly wiped the tears from her eyes, sniffling lightly as she did so. Percy gave her shoulder another gentle squeeze.
"The, oh so almighty daughter of Zeus couldn't even stay awake long enough to help the boy she dumped the entire weight of the prophecy on." the girl uttered harshly; scolding herself.
"And who else remained awake besides me?" The son of Poseidon inquired, gaining her full attention again.
"Well, no one else but-" the girl began, only for the young hero to interject.
"So are you calling Annabeth and Grover weak" Percy asked chidingly, to which the girl replied with a scoff.
"No, but they aren't children of the big three!" Thalia snapped back, her blue eyes narrowing challengingly at him.
"Was Luke a child of the big three?" Poseidon's son queried rhetorically. The girl fidgeted for a moment as her gaze softened. She opened her mouth to supply a response but it quickly died in her throat, forcing her lips to purse.
"You didn't get knocked out because of a lack of power, Thalia" the boy said as he raised her chin to stare into her eyes "You got knocked out because of superior tactics, cunning and deceit." Percy assured, removing his hands from her person and taking a step back.
"I'm surprised you can say something so eloquent and educated without Annabeth to guide you sentences." Artemis' lieutenant quipped lightly, giving the boy in front of her a smile.
"Are you calling me an idiot?" Percy asked, gasping as he leaned back, staring at her in mock shock, keeping the pose even as she giggled at his antics.
"No, I'm calling you a kelp head." the girl replied through her laughter. Percy huffed at her comment, placing his hands on his hip, opening his mouth to reply though all he managed was a grunt of pain as he stepped too heavily onto his right leg. Thalia quickly rushed to his left, slinging his arm over her shoulder as she allowed him to relieve some of the pressure on his leg by leaning on her.
"Easy there, Percy." Thalia said, placing her free arm around his waist to provide further support. The son of Poseidon grinned easily at her, though the edges of his eyes still crinkled in pain. "Didn't Apollo heal you up?" the girl inquired once he was steady.
"He had to split himself to tend to as many demigods as he could, so a few of the more serious ones…" The hero said, gesturing to his midsection and his leg "are still in bad shape."
"So I guess we're heading to the infirmary." Thalia stated, talking a small step forward forcing the boy to follow along.
"I was heading there anyway." Percy muttered, wincing lightly whenever he had to step on his right foot.
(15 minutes later)
Percy was granted a bed in a hastily set up tent on the streets of Olympus, instead of on a sleeping bag in the streets, for his war efforts. He lay on the bed, a small grimace etched onto his face despite the soothing humming which filled the air. The boy shifted lightly in the bed, grunting as he repositioned himself. A harsh cough tore through his throat for a few moments, causing the humming in the room to intensify. Once his coughs died down, a flash of gold appeared on the small stool to the side of his bed. The son of Poseidon glanced at the now adorned stool once the light dimmed.
"Crutches?" The boy muttered "No offense lady Epione but a blue wooden walking cane trimmed in black would be so much cooler." He whispered to himself, rolling his head to face the ceiling again as the humming morphed into a light, feminine chuckle. Another flash of light enveloped the stool, replacing the standard crutches with a cane of the exact specifications requested by the boy.
"My hero!" Percy cried as he looked back at the stool, inciting another round of laughter which reverberated around the tent. Soon the laughter died down as the melodious humming began again. Percy smiled softly to himself, slowly allowing Morpheus' realm to claim him as he closed his eyes.
"Percy." Thalia's gentle voice swallowed the silence. Percy shot upright, his eyes snapping open, a sudden outburst of coughs tumbling from his throat. Thalia quickly rushed to his side, staring worriedly even after he stopped coughing.
The son of Poseidon swung his legs over the edge of the bed, spitting blood onto the floor. Thalia stepped forward, offering to assist the boy as she did before, though the boy refused quickly; signalling to the motionless cane at the side of is bed.
"Still need more healing?" Thalia inquired, worry still evident in her facial features though she stood back to allow the boy room to get to his feet.
Percy gripped the spherical handle, pulling the stick off the stool and resting the base against the floor; momentarily focusing his attention onto the daughter of Zeus to smile reassuringly at her. Turning his attention back to the blue and black cane, the boy rocked off of the bed, allowing the cane to hold some of his weight as he stood unsteadily, but upright.
"The music eases the pain, it doesn't heal wounds." Percy grunted as he took a bad step in a futile attempt to regain his balance, resulting in his unceremonious tumble back into his starting position on the edge of the bed. Thalia chuckled lightly at his misfortune while shaking her head at his clumsiness.
"The gods want everyone to gather in the throne room before they start the meeting." The dark haired girl stated once she managed to stifle her laughter. Percy took a deep breath before he heaved himself onto his feet; wincing under the sudden pressure on his bad leg. He readjusted himself to rely more heavily on the cane before nodding at Thalia.
"Well, let's not keep them waiting." The son of Poseidon muttered, walking forward in a more controlled gait. Thalia stepped out of the tent, holding the flap for her companion until he had exited the make shift tent.
The pair began their trek towards the throne room; silence paraded around them, only interrupted by the constant thud of Percy's cane against the white marble path stones.
"So I guess I get a preview of what you'll look like as a grandpa huh?" Thalia chided with a mischievous grin as Percy chuckled at the ice breaker.
"I don't think us demigods get to live that long Thals." The son of Poseidon replied, instantly regretting his response as Thalia's grin receded. "But I'm happy to show you what I would look like as an old prune bag." Percy finished weakly, grinning sheepishly at her. Thalia gave him a half-hearted smile, though she quickly averted her gaze to the floor, the mood clearly dampened by his comment.
Percy's sigh was consumed by the thickening silence. He shook his head, allowing the thudding of his cane to yet again become his sole source of noise as they continued down the path. After a minute, Thalia began to fidget, clearly wary of the silence.
"Why didn't you just use crutches?" Thalia breathed out, turning towards Percy. The boy chuckled at the question, though he didn't respond for a few moments. Just as Thalia was about to speak, he suddenly turned to face her.
"I suppose the cane makes me look a bit more sophisticated," He replied, nodding to himself as he heard what he had admitted. The daughter of Zeus gave a strangled gasp as she choked on her laugh.
"Call me old fashioned." Percy shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips as he turned to face the massive doors which loomed over them; even with the great distance which stretched between the massive entrance and the pair.
"The old Percy would've definitely gone with two crutches and made a show out of being injured." Thalia stated once she composed herself, a smile still etched onto her face. Percy's smile fell, his face becoming void of emotion.
"Then imagine Kronos killed the old Percy." The son of Poseidon muttered, his green eyes narrowing into a cold glare at the humongous doors. The silence betrayed the boy though, allowing the soft uttering to be lofted into the keen ears of the huntress, who paused slightly once she heard.
"Did something happen while I was out?" Thalia inquired, though it sounded more of a command than a request for information. Percy, now a few paces ahead, looked over his shoulder at the slightly younger girl.
"Yes, something did happen." Percy said, his eyes stared intensely into her own for a brief second, flickering to the floor before his head swivelled back to face the doors again. He sighed, passing his free hand through his black locks as he took a few steps around his cane stopping only when he came face to face with his companion. He stared at the floor for a while, shaking his head before raising his wide sea green eyes to meet the narrowed, concerned sky blue eyes of Thalia.
"I defeated Kronos." Percy mocked, raising his cane and turning on his left heel before dropping the black and blue piece of wood to avoid stepping on his right leg. The daughter of Zeus now stared at Percy's back, her eyes widening in shock before she huffed in a mixture of shock and frustration.
"I hate your stupid sea weed filled brain and it's stupid humour!" Thalia cried at his back, inciting a round of laughter from the son of Poseidon. The demigoddess marched up to the boy, slowing to match his stride once she was beside him.
"You have to admit it was at least kind of funny." Percy prodded heartily while Thalia swung her fist at his left shoulder.
"The day I admit that that was funny is the day I've transformed into a kelp head like you!" The girl growled, shaking her head. Percy continued to chuckle at her as she muttered under her breath. They continued to close the gap between them and the large doors, the unnatural silence once again causing Thalia to fidget.
"Thalia, Percy!" a young voice called from behind the pair. Percy looked over his shoulder while Thalia let out a breath before turning to face the approaching figure.
The owner of the voice was a young boy whose black hair bounced lightly as he jogged. His dark brown eyes were still wide with his youth and they shined with excitement as they locked onto the older demigods before him. He slowed to a halt to avoid colliding with the older demigods; standing a few inches under Thalia.
The boy was about to speak, but was interrupted by a chorus of pained moans and groans which could be heard being emitted from his cloak as ghoul like faces stretched outwards from the fabric. The boy swatted a ghoul away, smiling sheepishly as he shrugged the apparel off, letting the cloak fall into his own shadow; where it promptly disappeared. The boy then dusted off his now visible black jeans while he straightened out his plain black jersey; letting his gaze return to the two before him.
"Hey Nico" Thalia greeted the boy, while Percy ruffled his hair playfully. Nico huffed indignantly at the gesture from the older boy, slapping the offending hand away while narrowing his eyes at the son of Poseidon.
"Do you know how long it takes to fix this mess?" The son of Hades grumbled, causing the pair to chuckle at his expense. They fell into a comfortable gait, the sound of Nico grumbling and fixing his hair providing a comfortable atmosphere as they drew nearer to the doors of the throne room.
A couple dozen yards away from the entrance, Percy broke the son of Hades out of his muttering.
"How's my mom, Nic?" Percy asked gently, a sheepish grin on his face as the younger boy shot him one last withering look. Nico sighed, as he let his hand comb through his black locks; his sharp gaze softening as he did so.
"She's good. Once the monsters were all dead or retreating; I shadow travelled her and Paul back to their home. I stayed for a bit to make sure they were alright and no monsters followed them then I came here where I met you guys." The son of Hades replied, a reassuring smile resting on his thin lips; to which Percy replied with his own crooked smile and Thalia sighed in relief.
"I owe you one Nico." Percy thanked the boy, the massive doors looming over them as they stood a few yards in front of the opposing structures.
"It wasn't any problem. She's like my mom too you know, so you owe me nothing." Nico responded earning a larger grin and a nod of appreciation form the son of Poseidon.
"Now let's get this meeting over and done with." Percy muttered as they passed through the doors.
In the Throne Room
The grand Olympian Throne Room was filled with incoherent words, tangled and carelessly thrown into the air which was heavily tinted with an odd concoction of grief and joy. The gods stood before their thrones, inspecting the large marble seats while raw power exuded from their bodies; covering the damages in the floors and the walls as they allowed their main focus to remain on repairing their own thrones. The three children of the Big Three stood in awe for a moment at the display of power from the gods, before looking around the room, their minds slightly bemused at the fact that the ceremony seemed to still be an upcoming and they weren't, in fact, being called upon.
"The gods are ready, huh Thals?" Percy mocked through his chuckle, staring at his long-time friend who scowled at him. Thalia looked for Nico's support, but she was quickly surprised to see the younger boy missing. She looked around the throne room, using her keen eyes to try and spot the missing son of Hades, but was broken out of her search by a light shoulder tap. She turned to find Percy pointing into the corner of the room, where Nico was waving at them, a shy grin on his face before he slinked back into the shadows.
"I suppose he's not yet too fond of the other's yet?" Thalia asked Percy who shrugged lightly.
"I think it's the other way around," Percy replied, tilting his head in amusement for a second "Though I doubt that will be a problem for much longer." Percy motioned to the corner where Nico resided, drawing Thalia's attention to where they both saw a few younger campers surrounding the son of Hades and chatting animatedly with him.
"I really hope this makes him a little less grim all the time." Thalia joked through her smile.
"Well then who would be the childish little Grinch of our bunch?" Percy added to the banter, a small smile pulling at his lips.
A comfortable silence enveloped the pair as they smiled at their younger companion receiving praise and adoration for his role in the war.
"I get it though," Percy's voice was soft "If I walked here alone it might've felt like reliving the moments before the fight." He turned to face Thalia for a moment, his small smile transitioning into a grimace.
"I hate how perceptive you've become." Thalia stated after a moment, shaking her head as her eyes locked with his own "But it really does feel good to know that I'm not the only one who feels that way."
"Thalia!" A voice called from a few feet away from them, drawing the attention of both the girl in question and her companion. It was another hunter; one that Percy couldn't recognize but knew would bring an end to their conversation.
"You're good to walk?" Thalia asked softly though she was still facing the hunter who had called her name.
"I'll be fine, don't worry." Percy replied, smiling up at the girl before nudging her to go to her hunters. Thalia smiled at the gesture before hugging the boy lightly, careful to avoid provoking his injuries.
Percy let the girl walk away, turning his attention to the gods who were still working. He stared in fascination for a few moments, letting his eyes roam the work of the gods until they fell upon Aphrodite. The goddess of love was the only goddess who was seated; though her aura still flared and added to the repairs of the throne room.
The goddess stared curiously at the young hero, her kaleidoscope eyes mesmerizing the boy as he leaned on his cane. The goddess tilted her head to her right, her lips beginning to move to speak to Percy. Before the goddess could finish her sentence however, the boy leaned forward, dropping his cane in the process as a few bloody coughs clawed out of his already sore throat.
"Are you alright, Perce?" A voice all but bleated at him in concern. Percy remained hunched over, smiling despite his condition as he wiped his bloodied lips with his right hand. A hand rested gently on his back, though Percy was making sure he had wiped all the blood from his face before rising. As he stood tall, he saw a familiar satyr holding out his cane for him, smiling lightly with concerned brown eyes.
Percy accepted the cane with his left hand, slipping his right hand onto the spherical handle to prevent his friend from noticing the blood. The son of Poseidon then tested the cane for a few moments, before retuning his smiling face to the satyr who stood in front of him.
"You're a sight for sore eyes, Grover." Percy said, opening his arms for an embrace, which the satyr warmly returned. As Grover stepped back, Percy couldn't resist his smile widening as he saw the ever present brown baggy pants and the forest green 'save the earth' jersey which adorned his friend. Grover smiled back at him, running his hand through his curly brown hair, careful not to hit one of his horns as he did so.
"I wish it were under better circumstances," Grover stated, "especially after everything that's happened." He motion to the almost complete repairs, sighing at the meaning behind each crack which marred the room. Percy's green eyes roamed the room before him, catching Aphrodite's eyes again in the process.
"There is always a price for every victory." Percy's eyes continued to roam the room once again after his philosophically statement left his mouth. Grover shook his head, though a smile remained present on his face.
"A few months in and the true extent of your intellect still surprises me." Grover joked softly.
The two remained silent for a few moments, allowing the melody of noise to be combined with the nervous clopping of Grover's feet shuffling on the floor; as they pondered their next words.
"You saw them together, didn't you?" Percy's query was the first to add to the incoherent noise of the room. The young hero let his eyes drift to his companion, waiting for the answer he already knew; which came in the form of a nod. Percy sighed and shook his head, his green eyes losing some of its intensity.
"It's not like we didn't know about it." Percy spoke his voice heavy with distraught "So let's talk about things we may not know of; how are the nature spirits?" He asked, in an attempt to change the topic. Grover smiled sadly for a few seconds.
"Well we lost a lot in the war, but I'm really glad you asked because…" The satyr was fully aware that the son of Poseidon had zoned out the moment he had begun talking, but he knew that his friend just needed to hear his voice to distract him form the harsh reality which awaited him outside the comfort of their conversation; so he continued to talk, slipping in useless facts to drag on the conversation for as long as Percy needed in order to collect himself.
Percy's eyes dulled slightly despite the smile on his face, when Grover told him that Annabeth was behind him. The son of Poseidon hugged his friend tightly, relishing in the embrace as he strengthened his own resolve. He pulled out of the hug, patting his friend on his shoulder before he turned, slowly making his way to the daughter of Athena.
Percy couldn't help but drink in her presence, his eyes brightening as he saw her. He wrapped his free arm around her and pulled her closer to his body, sighing as he felt her breathe into his chest. The two pulled apart after a few moments; a bright smile being sent his way from the daughter of Athena.
"I was beginning to get worried that you and Grover were going to kiss for a second there." Annabeth chirped, slipping her fingers in-between his. Percy stared away from the girl beside him, holding her hand tighter as a soft cough escaped his lips. He shook his head before returning his gaze to Athena's daughter.
"You were the one worried about me kissing someone else?" Percy inquired with a wry laugh while he took a step closer to her, his left hand still wrapped in the soft embrace of her right hand. Shock filled Annabeth's expression as she snapped her head in his direction.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Annabeth questioned sharply, her eyes narrowing with a mixture of emotions.
"Did I stutter?" Percy replied coldly, his eyes hardening as he stared intensely into her grey eyes. "How much of a fool do you really take me for?" The son of Poseidon mocked, tilting his head to his left as he peered curiously at her.
As he let his eyes rest on the girl, he realized just how exhausted she looked. Her golden locks were choppy at the base, and held specks of grim from where her quick inspections failed to clean. Her grey eyes were now matched by a plain grey shirt which seemed a few sizes too big and had replaced her orange camp half-blood jersey. Percy's eyes hardened under this realization, his grip lessening as he continued to examine the extent of her battle wear. He noticed that, aside from a few scraps and cuts in her jeans, the girl looked out of place among the other war beaten demigods; he could only marvel at the brilliance of having a cap of invisibility on hand.
"What do you mean? You're definitely being a seaweed brain right now. I don't know where this sudden accusation is coming from." Annabeth chided as she shuffled her feet, facing him to ease the strain on the right side of her neck. She raised her free hand and grabbed his cheek.
"Are you okay? Did you let Apollo check you properly? We'll get you back to the infirmary after the meeting and everything will be alright, baby." The daughter of Athena placated, gently caressing his face with soft eyes as he rubbed his cheek into her palm.
"I really can't believe you did this to me." Percy whispered, his eyes closed as he basked in the softness of her palm. Annabeth stepped closer to the son of Poseidon, shivering lightly under the touch of his warm breath on her skin.
"I haven't done anything to you, Percy." The blonde said softly, cupping his face in both her hands now as she leaned closer to him, kissing his chin lightly. Percy's eyes snapped open under the soft touch of her lips grazing against his chin.
"Did you ever love me?" He inquired, weariness vividly showcased in his green eyes. The weight held under the ocean's green of his eyes filled her soul with and intense and ugly guilt as they peered past her grey orbs.
"I… I always loved you Percy, what do you mean." Annabeth forced out behind a well-constructed mask of shock and confusion.
"Did you love me when you slept with Ephialtes in front of Juniper's tree?" Percy question cut through the clamour of the demigods, and suddenly Annabeth felt isolated with the boy before her.
His jet black fair, sun kissed skin and intense green eyes all stood before her, designed in such a way that decisively declared how godlike he truly was. Her breath hitched in her throat as her hands fell from his face, her grey eyes widening in a mixture of fear and panic.
"I… That never…" The girl began.
"Cut the shit, Annabeth!" Percy whispered harshly, his sea green eyes flashing with the raw power, which had so previously been called into play, as they continued to burrow their way deeper and deeper into the inner sanctions of her soul. The snarl that curled his lips upward in such an ugly manner ripped the façade off of the girl's face and out of her mind as she cowered beneath the mere presence of the sea's wrath.
"I really do love you." Annabeth uttered weakly, her voice coated with fear and desperation, tears springing from her eyes. Percy's left hand rose to her cheek, his thumb rubbing soft circles into her rosy skin as he stared down at his own finger with softening eyes. He let his, now, soft green eyes rise to her stormy grey orbs, pouring his anguish into her soul as he used his powers to evaporate her tears from her eyes.
"Don't waste your tears on me, Wise Girl. I've let enough go for the both of us." Percy's soft voice floated from into her ears, leaving the girl stunned out of fear. She stared back into his eyes, leaning into his touch. She noticed just how exhausted he looked and she finally realized the toll the entire war must've had on him. The toll her actions had on him.
"Percy… I" Annabeth started, though her words were drowned out by the thundering of Zeus.
"Let's begin with Grover!" Zeus' voice shattered the imaginary isolation which had consumed the demigods. Annabeth pulled away from the soft touch of her Percy, letting her startled eyes roam around the crowd of demigods who now stood behind her, looking on curiously at the two.
The clopping of Grover's hooves against the floor was slowly drowned out by another wave of silence which enveloped the couple. Annabeth slipped her hand into Percy's again, letting her feet shuffle her body closer to him.
"I'm so sorry." Annabeth whispered into the silence, blinking rapidly despite the fact that her tears faded into vapour the moment they left her eyes. "I could've gone about this better. I should've gone about this better." The girl paused, giving a rueful glance at the son of Poseidon before she continued.
"I thought it would be better if I didn't let you know until after the war. I didn't mean for you to find out this way! I didn't want to be responsible for you becoming suicidal and killing yourself in the war! I would never have been able to live with myself if I knew I had caused you to do something like that. I felt like I was protecting you."
Percy's stoic nature was new to her and she felt frightened at the sudden change of character. She had expected him to erupt into a fit of rage when he had discovered her affair; but here he was, holding her hand and staring with only clenched jaws and empty eyes to show the impact of her decision.
"Sometimes to truly protect someone you have to hurt them." Percy responded softly "I don't know what would've happened if you told me; but I became depressed, almost, ironically, suicidal when I found out the way I did." The hero of Olympus left his broken eyes fixated on the intricate blandness of the white marble floors.
"You destroyed me Annabeth. You utterly destroyed me. I was willing to sacrifice everything for you." Percy shook his head in dismay.
"Some days all I'd want is to wake up beside you every day; to kiss you in the morning and hold you so tightly when you sleep." Percy smiled lightly as his eyes rose to peer into hers again "Some days I'd think about watching you carry my child, and I'd see us with our beautiful little family in a place free from monsters and away from the god's rule." Percy untangled his hand from hers, letting the appendage wrap around the daughter of Athena's waist as he pulled her closer to him.
"Wasn't that our dream, Wise Girl?"
A cough broke free from his throat providing a moment of reprieve for the daughter of Athena. She let her grey eyes focus on her boyfriend's face, noticing the way tears would stroll down his face for a few centimetres before they suddenly evaporated. She let her head rest of his shoulder once he began to catch himself, grateful that he was considerate enough to evaporate her own tears before his own.
"Or was I just dreaming of you dreaming with me?" His hoarse voice cracking as he spoke. Percy cleared his throat, dropping his head to rest on top of Annabeth's.
Applause and laughter once again reminded the two that they weren't indeed alone. They noticed Grover lying on the floor, unconscious and immediately became curious as to what news had relinquished the satyr of his consciousness, though they were too engrossed in the severity of their own conversation, in their self-construed isolation, to truly care in the moment.
"I'll take that as a yes." Zeus chuckled, motioning for Grover to be taken away. Immediately a few nymphs and satyrs rushed forward to carry the unconscious Grover to the infirmary.
"Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades." Zeus called again. Slowly the world began to fade away into the silence. Bliss enveloped the couple as they held each other close to themselves. Annabeth smiled as she snuggled into the nook of Percy's neck.
"You know something that I realized?" Percy asked rhetorically, immediately continuing "Before Grover led me to your secret sex cave where I saw you with Ephialtes, I used to smile so brightly." As the son of Poseidon's words left his mouth, cracks began to form in the walls of their world.
"Now I smile emptily; secretly hoping someone would notice my pain and ask me if I'm alright. But I'd gotten so good at being broken that the pieces started to look whole." Percy shook his head slightly as he spoke, the cracks spreading further as the sounds from the room around them were now muffled, but audible, through the spreading cracks.
Percy raised his head from atop Annabeth's, kissing the crown of her head gently. Annabeth's eyes closed in serenity from the intimacy of the action, a smile stretching across her lips. Percy pulled his lips, a few strands of her blonde locks sticking to his wet bottom lip until he was far enough for them to fall back onto her head.
Annabeth's eyes fluttered open form the sudden loss of intimacy, staring as Percy slowly stepped away; their bodies now only connecting by the intertwining of their fingers.
"Do you know what hurt the most?" Percy queried, swinging their tangled hands playfully. "What hurt the most was the fact that random people saw through my façade quicker than everyone else. Why couldn't the people who are supposed to care notice?" Percy's voice cracked. He blinked quickly once before another heavy cough burst from his throat. He winced, shifting his cane slightly to alleviate the building pressure on his leg. Annabeth stared at him worriedly, squeezing his now motionless hand gently.
"Thalia Grace, my daughter!" Zeus crumbled the already cracked isolation which had swallowed the couple. Annabeth raised her head to smile in support of her friend, but the girl stared vacantly as she walked to the center of the throne room. Annabeth's smile slowly drained from her face as the repercussions of her actions began to dawn on her.
Soon the entire camp would know of her infidelity. Those who were loyal to Percy over her, which may well be the entire camp after his feats in the war, would slowly begin to alienate her for her betrayal.
More than just the people at camp; Thalia would find out.
She had already lost Luke to Kronos, now she'd lose Thalia to her selfish decision. She knew that the girl would've supported her relationship had she broken up with Percy first; but the hunter would never forgive her for hurting the boy she'd come to see as a brother the way Annabeth had done. All she'd have now is Ephialtes; no more Thalia. No more Percy.
She hated to admit just how much she enjoyed having the two boys wrapped around her fingers.
Now that one of them was wriggling free, she felt defeated.
She wanted to do anything to have the both of them by her side. She wanted to beg for Percy's intimacy while keeping the rough careless way Ephialtes handled her. She wanted the best of the both worlds; but one of her worlds was crashing and burning right in front her eyes and she had to accept what she had left. At least she'd have something after the mess she'd created.
"Look at us," Percy's voice broke her from her musing. She realized that they were no longer in their own world, and she was painstakingly aware of all the attention they had garnered from the curious demigods behind them. She heard the cooing from the Aphrodite cabins, the "aw's" from the Apollo cabin and the retching sound Clarisse made from time to time. Her eyes quickly shot to Percy's smiling face as she realized what he had done.
He had made their breakup inconspicuous to avoid the camp thinking they had ended on bad terms; he was ensuring she wouldn't be alienated. Even after everything that she had done, he was still trying to protect her.
"Only a few fingers left to hold together the 'perfect couple' for the last time." Percy pondered aloud, scornfully. He sighed, shaking his head contritely.
"This'll be the last time I get to hold you like this." Percy said, raising their joined hands to signal what he was referring to.
"This'll be the last time I can thank you for being my girlfriend." Percy's voice began to crack as he continued to speak. He pulled Annabeth closer to him, leaving their fingers intertwined as he pressed his forehead against hers. His green eyes peered deep into her grey orbs; leaving himself bare for her to witness his raw emotions for the first time since he found out about her betrayal. He showed her his pain, his suffering, his anguish, his anger, his fear, his confusion, his contempt.
"This'll be the last time I get to kiss you." Percy leaned in, softly pressing his lips against hers.
She didn't need to see it to know what emotion he was conveying; because she felt it. She felt the warmth that crept through every inch of her, igniting every fibre of her being. She felt it caress her heart, forcing the organ to skip a beat before beating in tune with the heart pressed against her own chest. She felt the raw love that the boy before her had for her. She felt herself heat up as the kiss intensified. She felt her mind slip away as they became isolated again. She smiled under the sensation of pure adoration.
She felt empty.
She felt completely empty as Percy pulled away, and with him all the warmth of his love. She stepped forward in desperate search for more, but a hand to her mid abdomen stopped her in her tracks.
"This'll be the last time I get to tell you how much I love you." Percy stepped back, his cane clanking heavily against the floor as he did so.
Annabeth stood still, stunned as she clutched her chest; trying desperately to supress the warmth inside her. Her grey eyes grew wide, the cold touch of grief filling her as the weight of the situation collapsed on her.
"Percy, we can-"
"Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena." Zeus called abruptly. Annabeth stared at the king of the gods, glancing back at the song of Poseidon desperately; her eyes begging him to say he forgave her, to tell her it was all a joke and that there would be more of everything he said would be the last of.
"Goodbye Annabeth." Percy said softly before nudging her towards the center of the room.
Annabeth felt numb. She didn't know how to function as the world she had worked so hard to build began crumbling around her. How could this same oblivious, loyal to a fault idiot ruin her in such a way? How could he possibly pick apart the world she had created?
"What is your wish, daughter?" Athena's sharp voice called Annabeth out of her reflections. Annabeth looked up at the goddess of wisdom, shock held her mouth slightly agape as she struggled to collect her thoughts. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, closing shut and staring at the floor as she bit her bottom lip.
"May I hold onto the wish until a later day, my lord?" The daughter of wisdom finally managed her voice weak and defeated. Zeus stroked his beard, his electric eyes dull with disinterest as he waved his free hand coolly.
"Very well, when you have decided upon what you wish to receive from the gods you may return and ask for it." The king of the gods stated, waving the girl away. Annabeth bowed in thanks, quickly walking back to Percy's side and doing her best to avoid his eyes.
"I don't think your boyfriend was too pleased with our little display of affection." Percy whispered to her, gesturing towards the door where Ephialtes could be seen slinking out into the streets of Olympus.
"Perseus Jackson, please step forward." Zeus called, interrupting the reply which Annabeth had begun to formulate. Percy smiled at the girl beside him.
"Don't let him do anything stupid." Percy said quietly with a wink. Annabeth sighed loudly, her eyes glued to the back of the son of Poseidon's back for a few moments. As he stood in the center of the room, she shook her head and slowly made her way through the crowd and out the door, careful not to draw too much attention to herself.
Percy walked slowly to the center of the throne room, his cane clanking against the marble floor with each step. With each clank which resounded from his cane, he stared another god in their eyes.
Clank. Athena.
Clank. Ares.
Clank. Hephaestus.
Clank. Dionysus.
Clank. He stopped, his eyes meeting the powerful gaze of Zeus.
The king of the gods allowed the boy to hold his eyes, intrigued at the boldness of his nephew. A few silent moments passed, King and Hero staring intensely at each other.
"I don't expect you to kneel in your current condition nephew." Zeus' voice broke the silence, an easy smile appearing on his lips.
"So please state your wish so we may move past this ceremony and into more festive events." Zeus requested, sinking further back into his throne.
"I am very grateful for your understanding, uncle." Percy replied, inclining his head slightly, careful to avoid straining his injuries.
"As for my wish," Percy spoke, slowly rising from his minute bow "I ask that every single child of the gods; both major and minor be claimed and allowed to live peacefully in Camp half-blood with a cabin dedicated to their parents." Percy finished as he stood upright once more.
"It is united that the weak are strong." the son of Poseidon let his eyes linger in Apollo's direction for a few seconds, slowly drifting back to the king of the gods as he continued.
"Alongside this wish, I beseech the retuning of Lady Hestia and Lord Hades to the council. Their presence would not only provide a more peaceful environment during meetings, but the immediate presence of a third army should another war occur could drastically turn the scales from the start, or even make a possible enemy think twice before attacking Olympus." A crooked smile pulled Percy's lips once he concluded; his eyes peering at Zeus in anticipation of his verdict. The throne room grew silent, the demigods watching on with barely contained excitement while the gods seemed to be mentally debating the wishes presented to them.
After some time, Zeus leisurely repositioned himself in his throne; sighing contently once he sat upright. A rumbling laugh tumbled from his lips, stunning the demigods.
"I am impressed with not only the wishes but also the outstanding presentation!" Zeus commented.
"These previous months have been long and trying. We've grown so much and lost so much." Zeus said before he took a moment for everyone to appreciate the gravity of his words "And it seems you are truly a hero of Olympus as you sacrifice even your wish before the gods to continue the growth of Olympus out of these dark times." Zeus said before he stood up, thunder rumbling overhead.
"So how could I deny such a wish, on such a day with such a presentation?" Zeus questioned with a smiled as the entire room began to cheer. Zeus smiled before he winked at Poseidon's son. The room began to quiet down after a while.
"Thank you my lord. I'd been told before to always ensure that I have an oath on the river Styx," Percy said as he stared at Hades who returned his gaze with a dark smile "But I believe that this era should be built with trust between the gods and their children." Percy concluded, shocking Hades while Zeus seemed even more relieved at not being directly called out himself, though he did have to admire the cunning manner in which Percy cornered Zeus into following through with his wish without having to use the Styx; losing the favour of his people would be twice as costly.
"What an excellent idea, Perseus." The king of the gods said with a smile. Zeus' body glowed with power as he raised his lightning bolt; releasing a massive stream of lightning through the open ceiling.
"Let the party to our new era begin!" Zeus decreed, inciting a larger round of cheers. Apollo quickly appeared by Percy's side, gripping his shoulder lightly and drawing his attention.
"A promise is a promise, and I refuse to go back on the opportunity to heal the hero of Olympus" Apollo spoke mischievously under the rambunctious cheering of the departing demigods. Percy gave the god a small nod, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"I suppose we'll wait until after the happy campers all leave for the party of the century before we go." Percy replied softly, his tired eyes not going unnoticed by Apollo.
"We can stroll at your pace once everyone is gone, Percy." The god chuckled back the boy, a bright smile on his lips.
The now synonymous clanking of Percy's cane followed him as he slowly made his way to the infirmary; a small smile playing on lips despite the harrowing events which he left behind him. He let his eyes briefly glance at the exuberant god beside him who sprouted a string of atrocious haikus in a jovial attempt to lighten the mood. Percy couldn't help but allow himself to laugh at some of the worst attempts the god had mustered, his spirits lifted now that the war was over.
Percy felt his mind wandering back to his breakup. Even with all the months of preparation for the moment, he still couldn't help the pain that tugged at his heart now that they were no longer together. The boy sighed, shaking his head as he zoned back into the middle of another childishly poor haiku from the god beside him; his smile and light spirits returning.
The air suddenly began to shimmer as mist constructed the terrified image of Sally Jackson.
"Percy!" Her eyes light up in recognition and relief, though it swiftly morphed back into fear.
"Percy I need your help now! Monsters…" His mother managed before the mist suddenly dissipated, stunning the god and the demigod out of their reverie.
"Percy," Apollo started raising his hands "Let's not do anything rash. I can send Artemis to help her, but you could die if you try to fight in your condition." The god reasoned.
Percy's wide eyes narrowed as he let the cane slip from his grasp.
"There's no time Apollo!" The stiff voice of the hero replied, limping quickly to the throne room.
"Percy, wait! You could die!" Apollo moved to intercept him until the sea green aura of the boy flared dramatically.
The air thrummed with power as the aura forced the vapour to condense into water. The newly formed liquid wrapped around Percy's body. Slowly, as the water continued to build up around his body, the hero began to walk, then jog and sprint to the throne room.
"That's badass" Apollo whispered to himself, astonishment rooting him to the spot.
Percy's hand dug into his pocket, fishing for the pen which concealed his trusty blade. He managed to pull the blade free from his pocket, though the bronze pen slipped from his grasp, clattering off the marble floor and earning a disapproving grunt from the son of Poseidon.
Percy stared back momentarily at the blade before quickly deciding there wasn't enough time. Shaking his head at his misfortune, he let his instincts take control as he ran.
Mid stride, the cocoon of water shot off of his body and separated into three separate blobs above his head. The blob in the middle remained in its liquid form, while the blob on the left evaporated into mist and the blob on the right hardened into ice. A green aura suddenly covered the running figure as he began to fuse the three forms of water.
A large mist burst forth form the collision, though it was rapidly being drawn into the extended right hand of the son of Poseidon. The mist veiled the boy's arm from his elbow down for a few moments, before it was pulled into the palm of his closed fist.
A few seconds later, ice trickled out on either side of his enclosed hand into a basic construct of a sword. The boy swung the sword and suddenly the sword changed its form.
The hilt burst into mist, wrapping around Percy's hand and snaking invisibly up to his elbow, making it impossible for the sword to be ripped from Percy's grasp. Extending away from his enclosed fist, the blade curved into the form of a katana.
The opaque white- blue edges of the icy blade crackled constantly. Cracks ran freely along the length of the blade, mist seeping out of them as the temperature fluctuated. The inner layer of the blade was filled water, covered by thin translucent ice on either side. As the temperature around the sword got hotter, the water gained a lighter hue of blue, but now, as the sword oozed chilly air, the water remained a deep blue colour.
Content with his newly created blade, Percy nodded to himself and picked up his pace. He quickly covered the distance and soon ran through the open doors to the throne room; the cold chill from his blade alerting the gods of his presence.
"Father!" Percy roared, his legs carrying him a few yards from the base of Poseidon's throne as water began to pool around his feet. As he drew nearer to the throne, he bent his knees and flung himself as high as he could. At the crescendo of his jump, the water slammed into the soles of his feet, pushing him the extra feet to reach eye level with the sitting god.
"My mother!" Percy cried again his eye meeting Poseidon's who nodded back at him. The god rose from his seat, grabbing his trident with his left hand before grabbing his descending son with his right hand and dissipating into mist…
The apartment door belonging to Sally Jackson was being guarded by three Cyclopes. Their massive figures stood menacingly, their eyes roaming either side of the hallway; expectancy shining in their eyes.
Abruptly, mist permeated the corridor a few feet away from the one eyed beings. The Cyclopes immediately focused their attention on the sudden build-up of mist, their eyes glistening in anticipation. That was until they saw Poseidon, the god of the seas step out of the mist beside his seething son.
The creatures instantly turned on their heels, sprinting away from the powerful entity and his wrathful son. Percy let his aura flare wildly before taking a step forward to chase the fleeing monsters, though the sudden rush of wind over his shoulders halted him. He saw the massive trident fly true through the air, each prong piercing through the fleshy necks of the Cyclopes before the majestic weapon ceased mid-air, flying back past him and into the waiting hand of his father.
A large group of monsters made their presence known with a variety of growls and snarls. Some poured of the elevator while others slipped through the doors which came from the stairway. Poseidon locked eyes with his son, rotating his right shoulder with an easy smile as he motioned to Sally's apartment door with his head.
"Just go son, I'm a fucking god." Poseidon snorted, pivoting on his heels and launching the trident at sonic speed towards the remaining horde of monsters brave enough to contest the god.
Percy nodded to himself, quickly bursting through the unlocked door.
His eyes bulged at the sight which awaited him. A huge hellish hound gouged into the corpse of a pale pepper haired man. The body twitched as the hell hound ripped through his torso, growling as it indulged itself on its fresh meal.
Percy took a slow step forward, the center of his drooping katana darkening into a deep midnight blue. The boy's lips curled into a vicious snarl, his slow deliberate steps remained unnoticed by the feasting creature. His green eyes turned a poisonous shade as he stood over the creature, a grunt passing through his lips as he dug his icy blade into the left hind leg of the creature.
It gave a pained whimper, raising its head to identify its offender; but all it saw was the bottom of Percy's shoes as the hero used the hellhound's face as a springboard, closing the distance between him and the second, alerted hellhound; which was silenced with a quick thrust through its skull. Percy stared at the claw marks on the door for a few seconds, knowing that other side contained his mother's bedroom.
Percy tore his gaze from the door, turning to face the creature that had dared to maul his stepfather to death. His sickly green eyes stared venomously at the creature, though he froze in curiosity upon seeing a thin layer of ice racing up the hellhound's leg; originating from its stab wound. A malicious smile tugged at the boy's lips as he raised his free hand, reforming the ice into thin yet sharp daggers before turning the whimpering creature into a pin cushion.
"Where's your mother?" Poseidon's voice broke him free from his sadistic reverie. The god stared at the mutilated corpse of Paul with sad eyes, understanding how traumatic such an experience would've been to his son. His eyes landed on the deadly acupuncture job on the hound, before they rose to meet the more neatly killed second hellhound corpse.
The god couldn't help but ponder why monsters were suddenly flooding in to attack one mortal in particular.
"She has to be in her room, this one was trying to get in." Percy replied, drawing his father's attention to himself. The god nodded at the boy, walking briskly to his side as Percy raised his leg; a grunt escaping his lips as his foot broke open the door.
"Percy…"
It was the sound of his own name, the most familiar thing that could've been whispered to him; but while he stared back at Annabeth, bloodied with a firm grip around the knife which stuck deep within his mother, it suddenly felt estranged.
Word continued to tumble out of her pink lips, though just as the colours drained from her face, colour left his world bleak and grey. He felt his heart clench, the sounds around him faded into silence as he found the bed with his dying mother seeming to levitate towards him; he couldn't even register his own legs propelling him forward.
His knees buckled under him, his newly created blade slipping from his grasp; shattering just as his knees collided with the floor.
The mute ringing of silence in his ears slowly grew louder. The room began to hum with danger as a sea green light bathed the room. When the sudden flash of light had passed, the son of Poseidon saw his father with a feral snarl on his lips, standing over the daughter of Athena.
As his broken sea green eyes glimpsed upon the crumpled form of his ex-girlfriend, he felt an ugly feeling brew inside him. His right hand clutched his shirt, clawing at his chest to tear the pain away from inside him.
Hadn't he had enough?
What more could the fates want from him?
How could they take his mother? After everything he had done for the world; they made the girl he could never stop loving rip the woman who never stopped loving him from his grasp.
The ringing grew louder in his ears, his eyes falling to the brown mahogany floors which resided below him.
"Percy." A warm voice tore through the silence. It soothed his soul with each dying note it held in its weak utterance.
"Come to mommy one last time, Percy." The angelic voice resounded in his head, cancelling out the ringing, and bringing the boy out of his shock.
The sound of cars honking and people shouting filled his ears from the streets below his apartment. He let his eyes rise slowly to the open window, blinking rapidly as a gust of wind brought the scent of New York, tainted with fresh blood, to his nose. Tears prickled his eyes while they moved from the greying clouds and settled on the pale yet radiant face of the woman who birthed him.
"How can we help, Poseidon?" A feminine voice questioned behind him; it sounded like Artemis. Apollo's voice stood out briefly though his words melded into the background noise as Percy focused his complete attention on his dying mother.
"Do you remember why I started putting blue in all our food?" His mother asked, her hands, cool to the touched, pressing lightly to his cheek. Percy leaned into cold palm of his mother, ignorant to its abnormal temperature as he simply longed for her comfort.
"I made everything blue to show Gabe that no matter what he said or did to me, I would always choose you." The words fell from her lips, soft in the weakness of her dying breath. Percy's eyes fluttered open, his sea green eyes locking with the glazing brown of his sweet mother.
"I will always love you, Percy. Not even death could stop my love for you." Her eyelid drooped; her words began to slur from blood loss.
"If your little siblings make it without me, teach them everything I've taught you and love them how I'll always love you." His mother's hand lost its strength, slipping from his face and to the soft blood-stained sheets beneath her.
"Mommy!" Percy cried, his hand reaching out and grabbing her limp hand. He wrapped his hands around hers tenderly as he pulled her cold fingers to his lips, kissing them softly.
"I love you mommy, don't go…" Percy whimpered behind the bluing knuckles of his mother.
"Please don't go!"
His soft mumbles spilled through his lips, he begged and pleaded for his mother, rocking slowly while his hands wrapped around her cold hand.
A strong, warm arm wrapped around his shoulder.
"I'm here son, I'm here." Poseidon whispered into his son's hair as the boy buried his face in his father's chest, allowing his emotions to seep freely from his eyes. The god of the sea let his chin rest on his son's head, his own eyes staring blankly at the prone figure of his mortal lover as he whispered sweet nothings to their weeping son.
An hour later, father and son stood on the sandy shores of Montauk beach. Their matching sea green eyes drew comfort from the ocean, but even the vast, seemingly endless, waters couldn't provide enough to console the younger of the two.
The tides pulled a large canoe deeper into the waves, green fire burning the two simple yet eloquent pyres which shrouded the dead bodies of Sally and Paul Blofis.
The two watched the boat sail into the waves long after it disappeared over the horizon.
Silence consumed them in their ever vigilant watch as the moon peaked through the clouds, emitting a dull white glow; mourning alongside them.
"I don't know how long I'll be gone, or if I'll be back." The younger boy said, his green orbs never leaving the horizon.
"I understand, son." Poseidon comforted, resting his large hand on his shoulder.
"Take your time to heal, I will watch over everything for you until you're ready to come back." The god said reassuringly. The older man sighed, squeezing his son's shoulder before trudging along the sand towards the water. He shook his head before turning back to his son, who remained peering into the distance.
"Water taken from the sea, eventually falls right back into it. It may not seem like things will get better, but just as sadness comes so too must happiness. As much as we may hate it, Percy, life always goes on."
Well, I'm a lot happier with this version of the story. It feels better, and I hope you all enjoyed it a lot more than I did writing it. Because this chapter beat my ass down to complete. If I told you guys just how long it took me to write this one, you actually wouldn't believe me.
I actually have a Pa/tr-eo.n page under the name 'Justyn Pierre' if you'd like to go and check it out. I have a dream of one day becoming an author and this is the best way for me to start my career; I'm really grateful to everyone who wants to help my journey from digital to paper!
Anyway, I hope you're all having a great 2018 so far and here is to actually finishing this story this year!
-Zed