Part One
2008
"The tales of the Huntress?" The voice echoed through the attic as two boys stepped into it. One was a blue eyed boy with sandy blond hair and a tall muscular build. The other, a black haired boy with sea green eyes. Both had sun kissed skin and were wearing jean shorts and Camp Halfblood orange T-shirts.
"Yeah, it's a story of a son of Poseidon like you, and a son of Hades." The blue eyed boy spoke as he led the boy through the attic and over to a old satchel. "And, ironically enough he was named Perseus Jackson." The green eyed boy blinked a few times, frowning some but opened the satchel. Resting on top of the four books below it was a cloth, Percy pulled it back to reveal an obsidian and jade necklace with a silver chain. It was big, and didn't look comfortable to wear in the least bit. Next to it was a bronze ring. Percy picked up the necklace and examined it.
"What do you think? Does it match my eyes?" He asked teasingly, fixing it so it looked like it was resting on his neck. They both laughed and Luke moved, taking the necklace and putting it on properly. The moment it was on it transformed, the silver chain shrinking, and the pendent changing shape to that of a skull and crossbones. It glowed purple and Percy gasped, stumbling a little and making Luke catch him. His eyes were glowing a dark purple until he blinked, the colors returning to normal. He was breathing heavily and blushed some when he noticed how close they were. "S-Sorry." He gasped and moved to give him space.
"Don't be," Luke flashed him a smirk and the blush on his cheeks grew darker. "I think it likes you."
"Likes me?" Percy asked skeptically.
"The necklace, it reacted to you." Luke moved closer and hid the pendent under his shirt, winking a little. "Just don't tell anyone."
"We're stealing the books anyways… I don't see how taking the necklace would make it any worse." Percy said quietly.
"And the ring." Luke picked it up and inspected it. He then took Percy's hand and fixed it on his middle finger. "Perfect fit, it's like you were born for these items." Luke looked up at him, not letting go of his hand and a predatory gleam in his eyes. "You're really alright with running away with me?" He asked quietly. "Leaving camp and Nova Initia?"
"Everyone treats me like an outcast just because I'm a son of Poseidon." Percy said quietly. "I don't belong here." He said quietly. "I'd rather be somewhere I'm wanted then somewhere I'm not." Luke's smile grew and he cupped Percy's face, kissing him. Percy's eyes widened as he kissed back, slowly wrapping his arms around the older boy. "B-But-?"
"No." Luke cut him off. "This is what I wanted, you coming with me, staying with me. Being mine and mine alone, and even if we don't last we can count on each other." He whispered. "You and me Perc, that's how this started. It's always been you and me." Percy shivered a little at the words. He was right, that's all they had from the start. Luke was a runaway, he had found his way to NYC when Percy was younger. Percy had been living with his mom (the best person in the planet) and his stepfather, the most abusive man Percy ever knew. One night his stepfather took it too far, he was five and he had been raped. Luke took Percy from his home, and they lived on the streets together for nearly five years before finding their way to camp and Nova Initia. Luke had fit right in, while Percy was an outcast, even after five years of being here. But the two of them had each other. And Luke was the only thing keeping Percy here, so if he was leaving, Percy would follow right after.
"Okay," Percy agreed, Luke smirked and kissed him again. The sun was set and the campfire blazing brightly when the two of them left camp. Taking a small rowboat and a few bags, they vanished into the ocean. Luke took out a flashlight and opened the first of the four books, Percy sitting close to him and looking over his shoulder to see the map.
"The camp's here." He said, pointing at a spot on the map, "that means we're right along the coast." He traced their general area.
"And we want to find The Hydra." Percy guessed, Luke nodded and let his finger fall on the island.
"Legend says that The Hydra sank back into the ocean not long after the death of the Prince of the Sea." Luke told him, "But the book says otherwise. The island was abandoned, and because it was shrouded in mist, to keep monsters and mortals away… and it was forgotten about by most demigods, the island should still be floating right here." Percy took Luke's hand away from the book and held it. His eyes scanned the paper for a moment before he looked out at the ocean, numbers and lines fixing themselves in place and a compass like arrow pointing in the direction he wanted to go.
"Okay," Percy nodded, the boat adjusting itself and setting course.
"You're amazing." Luke told him, Percy blushed again and shook his head.
"I'm just… me, there's nothing amazing about me." He said sheepishly.
"Everything's amazing about you." Luke countered, brushing the hair from his face and behind his ear, his finger lingering on the birthmark stained to his skin and hidden from normal sight. Percy shivered some and a pulse went through the water. Neither noticed as the older kissed his boyfriend again. Luke set the book back in the bag and the flashlight down before pulling the boy closer, Percy's arms wrapping around Luke's neck and his fingers curling into the blond hair.
A trembling in the water pulled them apart and Percy frowned, looking over the edge. A giant eye met his and he yelped, stumbling back into Luke's chest. "What is it?" Luke asked with a frown, but his question was answered moments later when the beast surfaced, a tentacle reaching out of the water and grabbing hold of the blond.
"Luke!" Percy reached for him, "let him go!" He demanded of the beast and to both of their surprise, he was dropped back into the boat.
The master wants the thief. The voice vibrated in Percy's head, he winced a little. The thief shall stay. The master is not safe in this puny ship. The master shall be taken to safety.
"W-What…?" Percy managed to say before the Kraken grabbed the boat, knocking them both back, and taking off.
"Percy…? What's going on…?" Luke asked in a slightly panicked voice.
"I… I don't…" He cautiously looked over the edge, they were moving in the direction of the arrow.
"Can you talk to it?" Luke questioned.
"Where are you taking us?" Percy asked, feeling quite stupid.
The master must be brought somewhere safe. It answered.
"Safe? Where? And who's the 'master' you're talking about?" Percy demanded.
You are the master, silly master. It's chuckle vibrated in his mind and he clutched at his head. This voice was much louder than the normal voices he was used too. Master is the son of Poseidon who bares my father's mark. You are my master. Percy frowned, trying to understand what he was talking about. The master will be brought to the island he once walked. The place he once called home.
"New York?" Percy questioned confused. "That's in the opposite direction."
Silly master, New York is not safe.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Where are we…" His voice faltered as an island came into sight.
The island master once called home. The Kraken said.
"I've never been here before." Percy managed. "That's… this is…"
"Thy Hydra." Luke finished as he spotted the island as well.
The land Master called home. The Kraken stated. Master is younger than he had been when I last saw him, but Master is now safe. Master is now home. The Kraken brought them to the beach, staying in the deepest part he could while pushing the boat inland.
"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm not your master." Percy said desperately.
Master is marked by my father, I was ordered to serve and protect the son of Poseidon that was marked by my father. The Kraken told him. Master holds the mark of my father. Percy's hand went to his birthmark, he could feel the cool skin that always surrounded it. Luke jumped onto the beach and grabbed their things while Percy looked out to the beast in the water.
"So you're like… my guardian?" Percy questioned skeptically. Luke gave him a look and he shrugged, still not quite getting all of this.
I am whatever Master needs of me. It answered. Now Master should rest, Master has work to attend to when he wakes. Master has an island to restore. It left them, but Percy could feel it swimming around the island, as if it was a guard to a castle. Percy grabbed the satchel filled with the books and his bag before following Luke up the beach.
"So, Mr. Kraken thinks I'm it's master." Percy commented. "And that it has to protect me."
"Dude, if you have a pet Kraken you're officially the most powerful Demigod in the world. With, or without being a son of Poseidon." Luke stated, he smiled at Percy and wrapped his arm around his waist.
"We have an island to ourselves." Percy commented, looking around at the streets that once housed buildings. The overgrowth of trees and weeds.
"I think we could easily bring The Hydra back to it's former glory." Luke commented. "We just… need a little help."
"Maybe we should've ran away with a larger party of Demigods?" Percy teased. They walked over to the only remaining building. It was large, and a sign was dangling off of it with grape vines wrapped around it. "We have fruit for when we run out of food." Percy commented.
"We can check it out in the morning." Luke said quietly, leading him inside. The room was dark, tables and chairs danced across the floor. Some of the chairs were knocked over. A bar in the back held beer kegs and there was a room leading to a kitchen, and staircase leading upstairs. Percy could imagine this place bustling with life, laughing pirates, the legendary story-teller sons of Hermes spinning their tales of The Huntress. They walked up to the second story and found the rooms of the inn and made their home in room '1'.
"This is Mr. D's Drink and Dinner isn't?" Percy asked Luke as the older looked around.
"I think so," Luke nodded. "Won't be sure until tomorrow though. We have to set up food source and start repairs, this place isn't exactly in living condition. But for now this will do." He looked at the younger boy as Percy set down his bags on a table. "For now we rest, use what rations we have cautiously until we know what's on the island. Once we have the basics set up we can see about starting to recruit people."
"What cause are we recruiting people too exactly?" Percy asked.
"Freedom." Luke laughed. He pulled back the sheets on the bed, checking it and making a face. "At least it's warm out. These blankets are unusable and I'm not trusting that bed." Percy laughed a bit and they made camp on the floor. Percy curled into Luke's side and the older boy held him close.
So the story starts with some minor Luke x Percy, but because you know me and I ship Nico x Percy it won't last. (And for future reference, I'm not focusing on the romance of their relationship, so it's whatever you want them to be. If you're a Perco shipper then the story is Perco in your mind, if you're a Nicercy shipper than that is the story cannon.) Yes, we will have romance moments but I fear it will be more of a slow build than in The Huntress.
The next chapter will be posted when I have time to post it, there has recently been a death in my family so I am otherwise occupied and honestly posting my story isn't top priority. Eventually I'll set up a scedual again, but for now just bare with me please. I can say that I have at least 14 chapters already written and ready to post but because I like to spread my stories out I don't post daily. And again, family matters cutting in.
One last note before I go: and this may be a tid bit of a spoiler but whatever, this is going to be concidered Percy and Nico's 3rd life. I may or may not post a short oneshot based on their first life, if I ever get around to deciding exactly what that will be like. I do have a small idea with it but not much else to go on. (And it's a later chapter thing.)
So, here's your preview into the new age of The Huntress, and welcome back to the Hunt
Love ya, ~BA