Chapter 2: Percy

After a final check I was ready to go, prepared for what I was about to face. Riptide was safely inside my pocket but I knew I wouldn't be using it tonight. However I uncapped it one last time and started carving, tears falling as I wrote my final words.

The woods were dark and menacing. The branches seemed to be reaching over to smother me and as I walked further into the foliage it started to creep closer to me causing me to hack at them but to no avail.

I carried on walking, not with any real sense of direction until I came to a clearing and I knew that this was my final destination.

As the leaves rustled opposite me I tensed but made no move to arm myself. The figure kept moving forward until silhouettes turned into flesh and I was finally able to look at my opponent clearly. However I was surprised at what I saw.

'The mighty Perseus Jackson' echoed around the clearing louder than I thought was possible.

'Apparently' I replied coldly.

'Luke says his extremely sorry he couldn't make it as he would love to be here doing this himself, alas something stole his attention so he sent me instead.'

'And who's me?' I asked praying to the gods that my voice wouldn't shake.

'That is of no importance to you Mr Jackson' he said and his lips turned upwards into a half snarl, half smirk.

'You won't be around much longer to worry about it either.'

I nodded to myself and breathed deeply trying to relax and stay calm. I had planned this everything was prepared. Luke's minion was right. I didn't have to worry about anything for much longer.

We circled for a small amount of time; I might as well act the part while I'm here. Finally the stranger pulled his sword out staring at me and a look of confusion crossed his face.

'Is the famous Percy Jackson so sure of himself that he doesn't need a weapon?' he asked disbelievingly.

I pulled Riptide out of my pocket, uncapped it, and then threw it on the ground at my feet.

'I have no need for it' I muttered and looked down finally facing my fate.

'So be it'

I walked backwards until my feet found the roots of the tree and I leant against it.

The sword wielding soldier smiled, a sick sadistic grin, not believing that it could be this easy.

'Goodbye Perseus Jackson' he said and launched the celestial bronze dagger at me.

Just before it reached my stomach he shouted 'You are weak Jackson, and so very, very disappointing', shook his head and turned to the forest disappearing where he had appeared from only a few minutes before.

(3rd Person POV)

As the dagger pierced his stomach and pinned him to the tree his mind replayed all the great times in his life.

The birthdays his mum and him had spent together, the first campfire he ever went to at CampHalf Blood, the countless games of Capture the Flag. Meeting Annabeth and Grover as well as the countless others he had encountered over the years and became friends with. So many people, so many quests, so many good memories.

But the one thing that stood out was Nico. Their first kiss, the first time they had sex, moonlight walks down the beach, just staying in bed once in a while then getting told of by Chiron for skiving training.

The first time he said

'I love you Nico Di Angelo'

Percy's head slumped onto his chest a small smile on his face as his last memory was of his favourite person.

Somewhere in the distance a wolf howled, a baby cried and Nico Di Angelo turned in his bed.