Lost on Jupiter
Do I know you?
Red lightning laced the sky, though Percy wasn't surprise. He'd been seeing the annoying red zig zags since he'd come to the camp. As they entered the marble alter Percy came face to face with a large gold statue of the sky god himself. Dressed in an extra large purple toga, Jupiter held a classic lightening bolt you'd see a kindergartener make, only made out of solid gold.
Percy saw a two foot long cylinder that looked to be made out of bronze. "Do not presume to fly again. Do not let me find you here when I return. Otherwise you shall taste this bolt. And it shall be your last sensation." Thunder shook the building. In a flash of lightening, everything turned black again.
The male halfblood blinked. "It doesn't look like that," he muttered, deciding it.
"What?" Hazel paused, looking to her companion for an answer.
"The master bolt," Percy answered as if it was obvious.
Hazel raised her eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"
"I—" the demigod frowned as he tried to remember. A bronze cylinder? What that really the Jupiter's lightening bolt. Looking at the golden childlike zig zag the statue was holding, it seemed more than likely. "Nothing, I guess." Hazel wouldn't understand though. No matter how nice the daughter of Pluto was, she wouldn't get it. Though, to the amnesiac, the idea of the master bolt being Zeus's—Jupiter's—symbol of power was as obvious as the Triton being Poseidon's—Neptune's.
For the first time, Percy noticed the kid in the center of the alter. As he raised his hands, more red lightening flashed in the sky, shaking the ground. When he dropped his arms, the rumbling stopped as soon as it had begun, the clouds turning back to white, breaking apart.
"What's he doing?"
The guy turned around. He looked like a scarecrow in Roman attire, tall ans skinny in baggy clothes and a drooping toga. His straw-colored hair fell into his blue eyes. A sinister smirk broke out on his face, matching the crazed look glistening in his eyes. It didn't help that he held a knife in one hand and a dead animal in the other. Talk about animal abuse.
"Percy, this is Octavian." Hazel said it as if she would say "Percy, this is the scum of the Earth". It was obvious they didn't get along.
"The graecus!" Octavian announced. "How interesting." He examined the amnesiac as if he was another test subject.
"Yeah, hi," Percy muttered. His eyes kept wondering in between the blue eyes and furry creature. "Are you killing small animals?"
Octavian glanced down at the fuzzy mess and laughed. "No, no. Once upon a time, yes. We used to read the will of the gods by examining animal guts—chickens, goats, that sort of thing. Nowadays, we use these."
He tossed the creature to Percy. It was a teddy bear, with it's guts ripped out. Then, he noticed a huge pile of mutilated stuffed animals at the foot of Jupiter's statue. So a sadistic, stuffed animal serial killer. How lovely. Were the first thoughts that came to his mind.
"Seriously?" He raised his eyebrows, wishing he was cool enough to just raise one.
Octavian was probably eighteen, but looked so deathly pale and skinny that he could have been younger. To the untrained eye, the kid looked harmless, but Percy wasn't exactly untrained. He could see the deadly curiosity that glittered in his irises. A curiosity that said "I'll cut you open if I can get away with it." The termed "curiosity killed the cat" never seemed more real than that moment.
As he stared into Octavian's cruel blue eyes, the teen felt himself blacking out again, falling into a forgotten memory.
"So, son of the sea god, huh?" Those same sky blue eyes stared back at him.
Percy looked away from the older teen, blushing for a reason he didn't understand. "Yeah," he muttered down at his feet.
The older blonde sat down by the river bank, staring out into the water. After the preteen had sat beside him, he turned to grin. "Why so down? One of the big three claimed you, shouldn't you be excited? You get a cabin all to yourself now."
Percy shrugged. He stared out at the water, wondering if it was really worth it. "I don't know. I mean, I just stared to fit in, you know? Now that I got calmed by one of the big guys, I just don't feel like I'm welcome anymore." He tried to skip a rock across the water, only making it sink. "Everyone stares at me weird, like they are expecting something from me. My friends from the Hermes cabin don't talk to me anymore, Annabeth is watching me like some science project, even Clarisse seems scared to bully me." Percy throw his hands up in irritation. "I don't get what's wrong with me!"
"Nothing's wrong with you Perce." The blonde put his arm around the smaller boy, bringing their face's closer. "I still like you." He placed a gentle kiss on the preteen's lips. "Don't you forget it."
"You seem nervous." Octavian's curious words and narrowed eyes were what had pulled Percy out of his trance.
"You remind me of someone," he muttered as his eyes adjusted back into focus. That blonde boy, what was his name? It wasn't said, was it? As quickly as he could remember, it had been taken away. "I can't remember who." His voice was laced with disappointment, disappointment in himself and the world.
"Possibly my namesake, Octavian—Augustus Caesar." Not likely. Percy thought. ConsideringI have no idea who that is. "Everyone says I bear remarkable resemblance."
No, it's not that. It was the blonde boy from the glimpse of a memory. Though, the name wouldn't pop into his mind. As a way to get off the depressing topic of memories, Percy asked, "Why did you call me 'the Greek'?"
Octavian looked less eager to move on, maybe wanting to boost his ego more. "I saw it in the auguries." He waved the knife at a pile of stuffing on the altar.
Poor stuffed animals. Silena would have a fit if she saw this.
Percy blinked at the thought. Silena? A pretty blonde girl with warm brown eyes popped into his mind. Her smile was so inviting, it made him want to leave and look for her. Still, just thinking the name filled him with pain and grief. Why? He shook his head. Figuring he'd deal with it later, the teen toned back into the conversation.
Octavian, nor Hazel, had noticed his lack of listening.
"The Greek has arrived. Or possibly: The goose has cried. I'm thinking the first interpretation is correct. You seek to join the legion?"
Hazel spoke before Percy could. Though that was better, seeing as the son of Neptune wanted to make some sarcastic comment about Octavian's real "gifts". Hazel explained everything that had happened since they met at the tunnel—the snake lady, the fight in the river, the hippie goddess's appearance, the conversation with Reyna.
When Juno was mentioned, Octavian looked surprised.
"Juno," he mused. "We refer to her as Juno Moneta. Juno the Warner. She appears in times of crisis, to counsel Rome about great threats." The words "like this mysterious Greek, for instance" hung in the air as he stared at Percy.
"I hear the Feast of Fortuna is this week," Neptune's son mentioned, more the eager to get the attention off of him. "The gorgons warned there'd be an invasion on that day. Did you see that in your stuffing?" Percy grinned. Joking, it was natural for him, it put him back into a comfort zone.
"Sadly, no," Octavian sighed, taking it more seriously than Percy intended. "The will of the gods is hard to discern. And these days, my vision is even darker."
"Don't you have... I don't know." The image of an old hippie mummy popped into Percy's head. Green mist wrapping around you. Words spoke in your head. Oracle. "an oracle or something?"
"An oracle!" Octavian laughed as if the suggest amused him. "What a cute idea. No, I'm afraid we're fresh out of oracles. Now, if we'd gone questing for Sibylline books, like I recommended—"
"The Siba-what?" Ideas of 80s mummies left Percy's mind.
"Book of prophecy," Hazel explained, "which Octavian is obsessed with—" along with killing teddy bears and dissecting people—"Romans used to consult them when disasters happened. Most people believed they burned when Rome fell."
"Some people believed that," Octavian corrected. "Unfortunately our present leadership won't authorize a quest to look for them—"
"Because Reyna isn't stupid," Hazel rolled her eyes.
"—so we have only a few reaming scraps from books," Octavian continued, as if Hazel wasn't there. "A few mysterious predictions, like these." He nodded to the inscriptions on the marble floor. Percy stared at the lines of words, not really expecting to understand them. He almost chocked.
"That on." He pointed, translating as he read aloud: "Seven half-bloods shall answer the call. To storm of fire the world must fall—"
"Yes, yes." Octavian finished without even looking. "An oath to keep with a finall breath, and foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."
Percy blinked, eyes glazing over.
A redheaded girl doubled over like someone had punched her. Then she stood up straight and her eyes glowed serpent green.
When she spoke, her voice sounded tripled—like three people were talking at once: "Seven half-bloods shall answer the call.
To storm or fire, the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath, And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."
At the last word, the girl collapsed. Percy ran to her, along with the Italian man from his dreams. He caught her and helped her to the porch. Her skin was feverish.
"I'm all right," she said, her voice returning to normal.
"What was that?" Percy asked, bewildered.
She shook her head, confused. "What was what?"
"I believe," A man with blonde hair, a toga, and sunglasses—Apollo—said, "that we just heard the next Great Prophecy."
"I—I know that one." Percy felt his whole body shaking as his eyes focused again. He could feel his emotions so clearing that time. Fear, fear for the redheaded girl. More importantly, fear for what the prophecy could have meant. "That's important."
Octavian ached an eyebrow. "Of course it's important. We call it the Prophecy of Seven, but it's several thousands years old. We don't know what it means. Every time someone tries to interpret it... Well, Hazel can tell you. Bad things happen."
Hazel glared at him, and Percy swore he could see a growl forming in her throat. "Just read the augury for Percy. Can he join the legion or not?"
The amnesiac could almost see the gears in the blonde's mind working, calculating whether Percy would be useful, or need to be disposed of. He held out his hand for Percy's backpack. "What a beautiful specimen. May I?"
The teen had no idea what he meant, but Octavian snatched the Bargain Mart panda pillow sticking out the top of his back before Percy had a chance to blink. Sure, it was just a stuffed toy, but the teen had become attached to it. The pillow had gotten him through some rough nights. Still, Octavian raised his knife, slicing into the panda's belly.
"Hey!" But Percy knew his protests came to late as he watched the stuffing pour out.
The blonde tossed the panda carcass aside, muttering a few insane words over the fluff, then turned with a huge smile on his face.
"Good news," Octavian cheered, though Percy got the feeling it was fake. "Percy may join the legion. We'll assign him a cohort at the evening muster. Tell Reyna that I approve."
Hazel physically relaxed. "Uh...great. Come on, Percy." She seemed urgent, as if wanting to get away from the crazy man as fast as possible.
"Oh, and Hazel," Octavian said in a sickly sweet voice. "I'm happy to welcome Percy into the legion. But when the election for praetor comes, I hope you'll remember—"
"Jason isn't dead!" Hazel snapped. "You're the augur. You're supposed to be looking for him!"
"Oh, I am!" Octavian pointed to the pile of gutted stuffed animals. "I consult the gods every day! Alas, after eight months, I've found nothing. Of course, I'm still looking." I highly doubt it, Percy thought. "But if Jason does not return by the Feast of Fortuna, we must act. We can't have power vacuum any longer. I hope you'll support me for praetor. It would mean so much to me."
"Me. Support. You?" Hazel clenched her fist, readying herself to punch to blonde. For a spilt second, Percy hoped she would.
Octavian took off his toga, setting it and his knife on the alter. Percy noticed seven lines on Octavian's arm—seven years at camp? The mark above them was a harp. The sunglasses wearing man popped into his head. Was his insane, stuffed animal killing creep really a child of Apollo?
"After all," Octavian told Hazel, "I might be able to help you. It would be a shame if those awful rumors about you kept circulating... or, gods forbid, if they turned out to be true."
Neptune's son slipped his hand into his pocket, getting to tight grip on his pen. He didn't like the way this guy was talking to Hazel, the way he was blackmailing her. One sign from the girl, and Percy would ready bust out Riptide and see how Octavian liked being on the other side of the blade.
But Hazel took a deep breath. Her knuckles were turning white. "I'll think about it."
"Excellent." He said it as if he was a mad scientist from a movie. Percy wouldn't be surprised if that was Octavian's goal. "By the way, your brother is here."
The room went silent. "My brother?" Hazel finally managed, her voice stiff. "Why?"
Octavian shrugged. "Why does your brother do anything? He's waiting for you at your father's shrine. Just...ah, don't invite him to stay too long. He has a disturbing effect on others." Who was Hazel's brother? Percy found himself wondering. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to keep searching for our poor lost friend, Jason. Nice to meet you, Percy."
Hazel was storming out of the pavilion before Octavian had even finished. Percy followed, both because he feared getting lost and feared more the blonde having to show him the way.
Lost on Jupiter
Hazel cursed in Latin as she marched down the hill. Percy caught a few phrases such as son of a gorgon, power-hungry snake, and some creative suggestions of where Octavian could stick his knife. And, for some odd reason, Percy imagine a girl with pig-like brown and and stringing brown hair doing the same thing. Only cursing in some other language than Latin, and a few selected words in English as well.
"I hate that guy," Hazel muttered, pulling Percy back. "If I had my way—"
"He won't really get elected praetor, will he?" Percy asked, worried for everyone.
"I wish I could be certain. Octavian has lots of friends, most of them bought. The rest of the campers are afraid of him."
"afraid of that skinny little guy?" Percy was really shock now.
"Don't underestimate him. Reyna's not so bad by herself, but if Octavian shares her power..." Hazel shuddered. "Let's go see my brother. He'll want to meet you."
Percy didn't argue. He wanted to meet this mysterious brother, maybe learn something about Hazel's background—who her dad was, what secret she was supposedly hiding. The teen couldn't believe she'd done anything to be guilty about, way too nice. But Octavian had acted like she was a first-class criminal.
The two walked to a black crypt built into the side of the hill. Standing in front was a teenage boy in black jeans and an aviator jacket. His back was turned so Percy couldn't get a food look at his face.
"He," Hazel called. "I've brought a friend."
The boy turned and right then and there, Percy almost had a heart attack.
There he was! The Italian man from his dreams. He even had the same pained expression on his face, as if all the problems in the world had been thrown on his shoulders and he solutions to none of them.
When the Italian locked eyes with Percy, quite a few expressions crossed his face. The green eyed teen picked up shock, panic, even more pain, and one he didn't recognize. As fast as they appeared, they disappeared as well. Leaving Percy to his wondering thoughts.
They look nothing a like.
"This is Percy Jackson," Hazel said, not notice either of their strange reactions. "He's a good guy. Percy, this is my brother, the son of Pluto."
Hades. Percy's brain automatically correct, though he was unsure why. It's son of Hades. His brain clarified.
The son of Hades—Pluto—held out his hand, fake smile filling his features. "Pleased to meet you," he forced out. "I'm Nico di Angelo."
"Nico!" Percy yelled. He jumped into the Italian's arms, wrapping his legs around the other's waist so not to fall. "Thank gods! I thought I was going to be all alone here!" He could feel the tears threatening to fill his eyes as he looked up into those deep brown ones. "I thought I was the only living mortal here."
"Thank the gods Percy!" The Italian yelled, wrapping him into a warm hug. "I thought someone had taken you! I thought you were rotting away in a prison somewhere!"
"Too tight Nico!" Percy yelled.
Hades's son loosened his grip and brought them both to his bed. He sat Percy down beside him, refusing to let him get to far. "Tell me what the hell's going on now," Nico insisted.
Percy bite his lower lip. "You saved me," Percy admitted, face flushed. "If I'd spent another day here alone I'd have gone crazy. Thanks for that."
The Italian smiled, pulling Percy to his chest. "I'll protect you," he whispered, "I won't let anything happen to you. Then, one day soon, I'll get you out of here. I promise you that Perce."
The smaller teen nodded, relaxing into the warm arms. "I know you will," he whispered, closing his eyes. "I trust you Nico, I really do."
Slowly, Percy's eyes focused back on the sibling's in front of him. Nico. His mind whispered. Have I really found you?
I'm so horrible, leaving off right here. But, then again, it is the perfect place to leave off. So, anyways, he finally met Nico! Yah, cheer cheer. Don't think it will be all happy from here, though, I'm not that nice.
On a side note, I liked writing this chapter, and I did some fanart! One for My Weeks in Hell and one for this story, Lost on Jupiter. Here's the links if you wanted to see them.
My Weeks in Hell: h-t-t-p : / / c-h-i-l-d-o-f-t-h-e-b-l-a-n-k-p-a-g-e.d-e-v-i-a-n-t-a-r-t.c-o-m / gallery / # /d5400q5
Lost on Jupiter: h-t-t-p : / / c-h-i-l-d-o-f-t-h-e-b-l-a-n-k-p-a-g-e.d-e-v-i-a-n-t-a-r-t.c-o-m / gallery / # / d5478uk
Just take out the hyphens and spaces :D
Thanks for reading!
~Goddess of the Multiverses