Disclaimer: Some characters are by RR, other are mine
Author's Notes: 10/1/15 - After a nice and necessary break, I am kind of back in business. I haven't written much. So far, I only have this chapter and the second are completed. Any idea is welcomed. I am taking a new approach: writing in 3rd person. I haven't done it in quite a while. I have no idea how often I am going to update at all... so follow so you won't miss any chapter. By the way, I took this day to launch this story since it's almost a year since I started with the whole Theo, Mer, Aida and Claire Jackson saga.
1. Bad News
For Claire, the first intake of air felt like life itself, vibrant and exuberant. The whirlpool created by Poseidon's pearl dizzied her a little but everything still felt right inside the water. It was unbelievable but she was close by the Aquarium. The sun was barely rising so her dad wouldn't be here until 2 more hours, if he was even coming today. It was New Year's Day after all.
Claire got out of the water in slow heavy steps as her clothes were wet. For the first time since probably ever, she couldn't dry herself. Her powers over water and light were still flicking, sometimes it was too much or nothing of power, some other she could move water or light, even both. This moment was a powerless moment as she couldn't dry herself by removing the water or heating herself. To top it all, she left her whip in her closet and her always awkward feeling sword wasn't enough. She felt so mortal and unprotected.
She found the front door obviously locked at such early hour. The gates and walls were tall enough and almost impossible to climb in such heavy damp attire. She circulated the perimeter looking for a way in and luckily she found one of the guards walking to her. He was older than her dad, silver curly hair cut in a military way, a little overweight, nice round face and dark skin.
"Miss Claire, are you alright?" asked the guard which name Claire couldn't remember "You are soaking wet"
Claire probably looked pale and cold as the winter sea air hit her constantly. She was shaking to her bones. She tried to say something but the chatter of the teeth wouldn't let her talk, so she nodded. The guard immediately understood and took her in where the security office was probably warmer and hopefully with the heater on.
The security office was like any office, painted in white, with a weird black cat clock, a calendar and bulletin board on the wall, a desk filled with papers, some arranged and some blown away as someone left a crack of the window open.
"Miss Claire, sit" said the guard with a pleasant smile. Claire looked at him unsure as she was already dripping water on the floor "Don't worry for the chair. Your dad owns us a new one anyway" Claire nodded and sat. She felt suddenly tired in the middle of relatively calmness.
Soon, the guard brought her an old blanket which Claire deeply appreciated and removed her extremely heavy coat dropping it next to the chair. She felt so much better wrapped in the old smelly blanket. She closed her eyes and fell asleep for what it felt just couple of minutes.
Once color was finally returning to her cheeks and her fingers didn't feel as numb as before, she woke up and the guard was sitting in the other desk where the security cameras monitors were. She saw him with a clipboard and a pencil making notes as he was staring at the monitors.
The guard noticed her looking at him as asked "Feeling better, Miss Claire? You slept for almost an hour."
"Yes" said Claire "Can I call to my dad?"
"Sure" said the Guard "The phone is under the papers, I hope. Nate is not exactly the neatest person in the world"
Claire smiled and cleaned her hands on the blanket before start carefully moving the papers in the search of the telephone. She found it under an old phone guide before she was even born. At least, the telephone was digital, she thought as she was petrified of the idea of using the rotary dial. She had heard of it and seen it in really old movies, but never in the flesh.
In a matter of seconds, she heard her dad talking on the other side of the line "Happy New Year. Josh, is everything okay?"
Claire smiled gratefully to know that the guard's name was Josh. It was starting to get awkward. She shook her head saying "Dad, it's me. Josh let me in to call you"
She heard her dad gasping surprised before saying "Claire, what are you doing at the Aquarium?"
Claire thought for a second of how to answer that. It was a long story and it was better in person. She said "Dad, could you pick me up?"
She heard a second of hesitation in his dad's voice. She could tell he knew and he was being heard when he lied "So you found your glasses on my desk. That's good but you shouldn't go out this early, no matter how much you want to read that book. Your mom and I thought you were in your room with Kate… I am going. Stay there. Say. Is Theo with you?"
"No, dad. He is not" said Claire bitterly thinking how she dragged her only brother there.
"Well, he is probably running" said her dad "See you soon."
"Okay, dad" said Claire and hung up the phone. She turned to see the guard looking at her. "Thank you, Josh. My dad is coming"
"Anytime, Miss Claire" said the guard.
Claire frowned saying "Don't call me Miss, please."
Josh, the guard, nodded and said "Do you want a soda from the machine before your dad gets here?"
"Sure" said the girl and followed Josh to the back room where there was a table for eating lunch, a small fridge, a microwave, a couple of countertops even a sink, and of course, vending machines.
Josh took out a coin from his pants pocket and gave it to Claire for her to choose her beverage. As he saw the teen picking a cola drink, he said "My wife sent me some turkey from last night for lunch. Do you want some?"
Claire said "No, I'm okay. Thanks" before the sound of the can falling down was the only sound in the room.
After Claire retrieved her soda, she followed Josh back to the office where she sat in the same damp chair. She felt drier and warmer than before she was still moist. Josh asked her about her holidays as he was still monitoring the cameras with his clipboard and pen. Claire answered politely and she asked him about his family. She knew Josh already had grandkids so she asked a lot of questions about them, just to pass the time.
The clock was marking almost 9 o'clock when the door opened and she saw her dad coming in with a strange smile. His coat was crocked and his scarf was touching the floor.
"Happy New Year, Josh" said Percy as he stepped in "Sorry, Claire. I had to greet everybody on my way here"
"It's okay, dad" said Claire and she was glad she was almost dry by now since her dad pulled her into a bone-breaking hug.
In their embrace, Percy asked concerned "Claire, what happened?"
Claire bit her lips before saying "Dad, let's talk at home, ok?"
Percy nodded and pulled away slowly. From his winter coat, he took out Claire's reading glasses which she hated but it was doctor's orders. He gave them to his daughter "Take your glasses. I found them on the roof by the way."
They said goodbye to Josh and walked to the parking lot where the family car was waiting for them. The air was still freezing and Claire was glad that she was dry and the air wasn't as harsh as before. As soon as they entered the car, Claire turned the radio on the local news. She didn't want to talk yet until they were back in the house. However, Percy didn't have the same idea.
Almost half-way home, Percy turned off the radio and said "What happened?" Claire looked at her dad with glassy eyes as she remembered the face of Lana screaming and her brother jumping. She shook her head, raised her legs until her knees were on her chin and turned to the window. Percy looked at her daughter and pleaded softly "Your mom and everybody is freaking out since Theo is not at home, no note and his backpack still in the room. Also Will woke up screaming and we both know that you know why."
Claire turned her head just to see her dad driving. She wasn't sure of telling him everything but she was curious, so she asked "What did Will dream?"
"Alice and the Mad Hatter were falling in the rabbit hole, the Cheshire cat grinning as he watched them fall, then roaring as the dormouse disappeared in a teakettle" said Percy. For Claire, it made sense for someone as young as Will to dream like that, to understand better. She wished she could see the truth like that, almost detached.
"It's kind of true" said Claire "Alice and the Mad Hatter, I mean Lana and Theo are gone... down under"
"Tartarus" whispered Percy as they both feared the same.
Claire whispered horribly scared of the truth "I hope you are wrong"
Percy nodded at her daughter as he wished the same, then he asked "The Dormouse?"
Unmistakable, Claire knew who was the Dormouse and said softly "I ran away with a Poseidon's Pearl that Theo gave me"
Percy breathed out of relief that Claire escaped. He was already sick of worry as he woke up that morning and two of his children were gone. When Claire called, he was definitely less worried but Theo was still missing. When he saw her at the Aquarium, he knew something bad had happened and didn't try to alarm her more than she already looked.
"The Cheshire cat? Who was it? What happened to it?" asked Percy.
"I don't know where Ewan is" said Claire and she saw no surprise in him as he was already suspecting it "Theo told me to run and I did."
"I am glad you listened to your brother" said Percy "Thank you for telling me"
Quickly, Claire's hand reached for the on bottom of the radio, but her dad's hand stopped her. She looked at him as he pulled over and looked at her. He was reading her and Claire didn't understand what was missing or wrong. She told him the truth, almost entirely.
Percy asked "Claire, what don't you want your mom to know?"
Claire bit him lips almost to point of start bleeding. She wasn't sure of start crying or yelling. She felt everything was her fault. Theo came with her and he was in danger, both were. She looked down where her hands were moving nervously. She tried to suffocate her tears but she was already out of breath as she tried not to cry. She said painfully "Dad, Lana is hurt. Ewan stabbed her before throwing her to the damn hole. I don't know if she is still alive, if they are alive"
Percy quickly pulled her daughter into his arms and let her cry freely. He was trying his best not to break down in pieces. He was scared and worried for his son. If Lana was hurt, she would be a liability as Theo wouldn't leave her side, just as Percy wouldn't leave Annabeth's. He tried to soothe her daughter by saying "Don't worry. Your brother will find a way for them to come back safely"
Claire stopped crying for just a second to stare at her dad. She said "Do you honestly believe that?"
Percy wanted to nod, to show how sure and hopeful he was, but there was a large part of him that was hopeless. However, this wasn't about him. Her daughter needed him. He whispered as he found hope "We must have faith in them, just like everybody did on your mom and me"
Claire nodded because he was right. She dried her tears the best she could as her dad started the engine and travelled what it was left to get home.
As soon as they passed the front door, almost everybody was in the doorway. Annabeth, Calypso, Kate and Aida stared at them desperate for good news.
"Any news?" asked Percy and the girls looked at him with crushed hopes as they quickly realized that Theo wasn't with them.
"No. I already talked to Grover and he is not at Camp" said Calypso with a worried voice.
Annabeth nodded weakly and said "I just talked to Hazel and she will tell us if he gets there"
"Where are Leo and Will?" asked Claire noticing the lack of boys in the room.
"Leo took Will for a ride to distract him a little and search the surrounding areas" said Calypso.
"Claire, did Theo tell you something?" asked Aida and her voice turned full of remorse "I knew I shouldn't have drunk that."
Claire looked at her big sister, her mom, her best friend and her second mom. She knew it had to quick like talking a band-aid out. She breathed out quickly before saying firmly "Will's dream is true. Lana and Theo…"
The face of everybody said all. This was the worst possible news. Annabeth quickly looked at her husband pleading with her eyes and saying "Percy, Tartarus? Please, no"
"We are not sure" said Percy and he saw his wife crumbling down in tears and loud sobs. He grabbed her and pulled her close. Annabeth was shaking as terror and torment was consuming her. "Annabeth, calm down"
"I am trying" said Annabeth as despair was crashing her down. She whispered "Our only son"
"He is with Lana. They will keep each other safe" said Aida quickly as she was trying to help.
Percy nodded to her daughter with a grateful smile. He said "Yes, Annabeth. Aida is right. Theo is smart and he knows our stories. He can probably map Tartarus by heart"
Annabeth felt hope in the middle of everything, just a little but it was too much pain already in her heart. She was barely recovering of the fact that Theo wasn't turning into a salt statue, now to lose him in the deeps of her most horrible nightmares. She said "I know, Percy, but we made a lot of enemies down there and he is our son"
"He will come back. We did, didn't we?" said Percy hopeful. Annabeth looked around and she knew that she had to be strong for her family. Everybody looked up to her like the strongest one. She looked at her heartbroken husband. He knew as much as she did, the dangers their son would face.
For the rest of the morning, they waited for anything good to happen. Calypso told the news to Juniper and they ended up crying for almost an hour. Grover wasn't in a good shape either. Annabeth and Percy retreated to their room where they stayed in bed holding in each other. Kate and Claire stayed in the backyard talking and reading. It was freezing but they didn't care. Aida was non-stop on the phone asking everybody she knew about her brother. She felt she needed to do something as she still couldn't believe where Theo was.
Around noon, everybody found their way to the kitchen to eat last night leftovers. Kate, Claire and Calypso grabbed their food and ate in the backyard. Annabeth, Percy and Aida sat together in the dining room table with reheated containers of turkey and mashed potatoes.
None of them talked as they ate slowly and not really caring neither what they were eating nor the taste. They could have been eating cardboard and it would have tasted the same.
"I talked to Sean. He was at the mall… He and Taylor are coming as fast as they can… probably by night" said Aida filling the silence. Before her parents could reply, her cell phone ringed and she took the call "Hello… Morris, is that you? Happy New Year. How is grandpa? I was about to call him but it has been one of those mornings" Then Aida's face turned pale and stuttered "What? I'm… on my way"
"What happened?" asked Percy dreading more bad news.
Aida looked at her parents for a second before she said "Grandpa is dead" She took a big breath as she wanted not to cry. Since the morning she felt out of tears as she couldn't cry for her brother but she was wrong.
Annabeth quickly stood up and hugged her daughter comforting the best she could. She whispered in her ear "Aida, I'm coming with you"
Aida, as stubborn and determined to keep her both families separated, couldn't find a reason to say no, so she only whispered "Thanks, mom"
