May Angels Lead You In
Part I
Hear You Me
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS BY: RICK RIORDAN OR THE SONG "HEAR YOU ME" BY: JIMMY EAT WORLD.
"You think you can actually beat me, little hero?" Kronos roared as Percy parried his sword swings. "You think you can actually beat a titan?"
Percy wasn't even tired. His new-found invulnerability seemed to have no limitations.
"You are a mere demigod, your power does not compare to mine!" Kronos taunted. "Join me, Percy, and together we shall tear down Olympus stone by stone!"
"Funny," Percy said. "You told Luke the same thing."
Kronos laughed with a might that seemed to rattle the earth. Luke's scar rippled. "Luke never could have the powers that you possess! He lived in constant competition with you!"
Percy hesitated for a brief moment, then he raised his blade. "Go rot in Tarturus!"
He lunged his sword at the titan.
"What a pity," Kronos replied with fake sorrow. "Then I guess I'll just have to kill you."
With a flash of his scythe, Kronos stabbed Percy in the small of his back, his Achielles heel. Percy fell to the ground, hollering in pain.
The titan lord gazed at Percy's broken form with a scowl on his face. His golden eyes glowed with anticipation.
"Foolish hero! The gods have done nothing for you!" He kicked Percy in the gut on the ground and Percy howled. "They let you suffer this pain! But there is no changing your mind. I shall destroy you!"
He advanced toward Percy, his blade raised.
"Percy!" Someone called from the distance. Percy managed to lift his head enough to see Annabeth sprinting out off the borders of camp.
"Stay back!" He tried to yell, but his screams were heard only as muffled screeches.
Kronos stopped in his tracks and chuckled. "Well if it isn't your little girlfriend. Annabeth, correct?"
Percy attempted to climb to his feet. He didn't even bother addressing the girlfriend remark.
"D-don't you dare touch her," Percy warned. "It's me you want."
"True," Kronos said. "But wouldn't it be nice to see you suffer even more in your last moments, Percy? You can think of it as a favor, if you both die, at least you'll be together, right?"
"Percy!" Annabeth was yards away, easily fighting off dozens of Kronos' demigod warriors.
"I won't let you hurt her," Percy spoke, his voice trembling.
"Yes, because you're in condition to protect her?" The titan lord laughed.
He squatted down beside Percy's broken, fading form. "You're a dead man, Percy. You don't stand a chance. I've found your weakness! You aren't in any shape to stop me from hurting anyone."
Percy hadn't even had time to wonder how Kronos knew where his Achielles heel was.
He could hear Annabeth's voice in his head, "Hold on, Seaweed Brain." She said. "You're not getting away from me that easily."
Somewhere, somehow, he found strength. He stumbled to his feet, clutching the bloody wound that leaked from his back. He looked straight into Kronos' golden eyes and said, "Watch me."
Ignoring his fire-like pain, Percy jumped at Kronos with Riptide readied in his hand and ended up tackling the titan lord. He went to raise Riptide in triumph and finish the job, but he found that he had miraculously managed to stab Kronos where his heart should be.
The titan roared in agony as he disintegrated into a beam of bronze light.
Percy collapsed to his knees, still gripping his wound. Annabeth soon appeared at his side.
"Percy!" She called. "A-Are you okay?"
She held his torso in her lap as he shivered. The blood from his back was spreading faster, staining both the ground and Annabeth.
His eyes drifted in her direction as he heaved in air. Her honey-blond curls were tangled and her orange camp shirt was tattered.
"I... I think..." He couldn't finish his sentence before crying out in pain.
She offered him her hand and he gripped it for dear life.
"Percy, you're going to be fine." She sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than him. "It's going to be okay. It has to be okay. I'll get you to camp, Chiron can heal you." She began to rise to her feet.
"Don't," Percy croaked, grabbing her arm. "This... this is it."
Annabeth cursed under her breath. She was angry now. "Percy, don't say that!"
"Annabeth, it's over," Percy said, his voice was a mere whisper. "I can... can feel that it's over."
Each word he uttered was a struggle.
"Since when have you been one to quit?" She scolded, tears appearing in her blood-shot gray eyes.
Percy met her gaze. "Annabeth, I'm sorry, I-I'm so sorry. As much as I w-want to stay... I just... I can't-" He was interrupted by his own screams.
Annabeth held him in her arms.
When he started to calm, he starred back up at her. "It's going to be okay, Annabeth. I promise." He winced before continuing. "Just promise me that you... and everyone else will get over this."
She shook her head, her lip quivering. She didn't know how to respond to his request.
This wasn't the hero who risked his life in hundreds of ways to save Olympus. This wasn't the real Percy, it couldn't be. Percy was invulnerable, invincible, the closest thing to superman she had ever seen.
"I can't promise that." She whispered.
"You have to," Percy pleaded. "Please, Annabeth. For me."
She starred at him and sighed. "I promise."
Percy attempted to smiled, but he was overrun by agony. His entire body was shaking, but he managed to pull off his camp necklace and place it in Annabeth's hand.
"Take it," He said.
Annabeth clutched the beaded leather and felt a single tear stain a course down her cheek.
By now, Percy was panting. He cheated death every second.
"You'll... be okay?" He asked.
"Don't worry about me," Annabeth said, sounding as though she were about to breakdown. "Don't worry about anything anymore. You saved the world, Seaweed Brain, and that's all that matters."
"We," He corrected. "We saved the world."
She smiled despite the situation. He gripped her hand tighter as his blood seemed to pour even faster.
"I love you," He said, his voice barely audible. "I always have."
Then something inside of Percy seemed to come to a stop. Annabeth felt his grip loosen.
"Percy," She said.
No response.
"Percy?" She said again.
No reply.
She moved her fingers to his wrist and searched for a pulse. There wasn't one.
"No," She whimpered, starting to sob. "No, no, no!"
She cursed the stormy sky as raindrops began to fall. "You can't take him! Not him, not Percy!"
Thunder boomed.
"Annabeth?" It was Thalia's voice. Annabeth could see her exiting the camp borders.
"He's gone!" Annabeth cried. "He didn't deserve this!"
Thalia pulled Annabeth up and hugged her, leaving Percy lifeless on the ground.
"Annabeth," Thalia spoke through tears. "It's gonna be alright."
But Annabeth couldn't hear Thalia's words.
Percy had told her that it was over, but he was wrong.
It had only just begun.
It had been two days after Percy's death, and ever since the camp held a mood of sorrow and grief for the fallen heroes of the war.
Annabeth spent her days cooped up in the Athena cabin. She didn't feel like she had a reason to come out without him. The entire camp reminded her of him, and it hurt her more than she'd ever admit out loud.
She never understood before how much she depended on him. He made her happy. She even felt safer when she was with him.
She hated herself for not taking the chance when she had it. She had tried so many times to tell him but there was always some sort of obstacle.
In a perfect universe she would've told him after the war, when the weight of the world was lifted off of his shoulders.
But life was far from perfect, and he wasn't there for her to tell.
There's no one in town I know
You gave us someplace to go
I never said thank you for that
I thought I might get one more chance
"No! Don't!" Annabeth woke up screaming in a cold sweat that night in her cabin, clutching her pillow as if a life depended on it.
The lights in her cabin flashed on and her siblings starred at her skeptically.
"Are you okay, Annabeth?" One of her half-brothers questioned, wiping his sleepy gray eyes.
"Yeah," Annabeth replied. "Just peachy."
"You were just screaming," Her oldest sister pointed out. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine," Annabeth assured. "I'm sorry for waking you. You guys go back to bed, don't worry about me."
They turned off the lights and returned to their slumbers.
Annabeth didn't want her entire cabin to fret about her, but the truth was that she was terrified. She had been having nightmares about Percy since his death, and they seemed to get more and more haunting.
She glanced at the clock; it was two in the morning. It had been three days since Percy's sixteenth birthday, three days since Percy died and it was the day that she was to burn Percy's shroud.
She buried herself under her covers.
What would Percy think of her? Disrupting her siblings and calling for him in her sleep?
She didn't even recognize herself.
What would you think of me now?
So lucky, so strong, so proud
I never said thank you for that
Now I'll never have a chance
"Annabeth," A voice called at her cabin's doorstep later that morning. "You ready?"
It was Grover. His eyes were blood-shot and his curly hair was tamer than usual, like he'd tried to straighten up.
Technically Percy's death should have killed Grover, but Percy thought of everything before his battle with Kronos. Somehow, Percy had managed to cut the empathy link with Grover before his last battle.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Annabeth replied.
The two of them left her cabin. They met Chiron by the beach where campers surrounded a camp fire. Tyson, Thalia and Nico sat towards the front.
Annabeth was utterly surprised when she saw a few chairs off to the side where some of the gods were seated. Poseidon, Zeus, Hermes, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, even her mother Athena had come to witness the burning of Percy's shroud. Normally, she would've been thrilled to see her mother, but today she had other concerns.
In front of the campers was a casket: Percy's casket. He was the only lost hero whose body had been retrieved.
Behind the coffin was a shroud. It was green with a majestic, blue trident beaming in the center.
Annabeth and Grover took a seat on the ground with their remaining friends.
Thalia glanced at Annabeth. "You okay?"
Annabeth noticed the tears in Thalia's sky blue eyes. "I'm fine," She answered.
Chiron stood in front of the crowd next to the shroud and the casket.
"Thank you all for coming," He said. "Percy Jackson was quite honestly the truest of all the heroes I have ever had the pleasure of training. He was loyal, courageous, and caring to everyone. Never have I been prouder of a hero's performance as I am with Percy's battle with the titan lord. It was Percy's bravery and compassion for doing good that defeated Kronos and sent him back to the debts of Tarturus. Long live Perseus Jackson: champion, son of Poseidon. I pray he has found his way to Elysium."
The crowd exploded in applause. A few riotous campers even started to chant Percy's name as if they were cheering him on.
Annabeth remained silent, starring at the ground with her hands in her lap.
"Thank you, thank you," Chiron said in attempt calm things down. When the noise finally died, he continued, "I have asked Percy's closest friends to say a few words about him."
Annabeth knew it was her and Grover's cue to take the stage.
May angels lead you in
Hear you me, my friends
On sleepless roads the sleepless go
May angels lead you in
Annabeth and Grover made their way to the front. She starred at the crowd wearily, wondering where she could even begin when describing what Percy meant to her.
She took a deep breath as Grover stood motionless at her side.
"Percy was everything a hero should want to be," She said. "He was strong and immeasurably brave, even intelligent. Somehow, he knew how to make things alright. He was my best friend and sometimes my most hated rival, and I love him all the same. I think most of us do."
She stopped and thought about how she would never have admitted this when Percy was alive. She couldn't help but think that she should have.
Her words had double meanings. It seemed as though she spoke of Percy as only a friend, when she really thought so much more of him.
"I owe so much to Percy," She admitted. "He saved my life countless times and he ended up saving Olympus. Because of him I realize that there is always good. I'm proud to have been his friend."
She wiped away a single tear.
She could go on forever. In the past three days she had done nothing but think of Percy, but she had to stop before she became someone she didn't want the crowd to see. She had to stay strong.
Now what would you think of me now?
So lucky, so strong, so proud
I never said thank you for that
Now I'll never have a chance
Annabeth glanced at Grover and he nodded.
"I had always admired Percy," Grover began. "Sometimes I wonder why a hero like him ever wanted to spend any time with a no-good satyr like me, but Percy was different from everyone else. Everyone praises Percy's strength and skill and bravery, but I always thought his heart was just a big as all his physical traits. He would've killed me for saying that, but it's true. After all, we shared an empathy link. If you were ever in danger, you could always rely on Percy to save you; everyone here can speak from experienve, and I know Percy wouldn't have it any other way. He knew that no one deserved to get in the mess he was in being the prophecy child, but what he didn't realize was that he didn't deserve it either. In Percy's eyes, it was about making sure everyone else was okay."
Grover ran his hand through his hair before continuing, "I can tell you there was never a doubt in Percy's mind as to who he was fighting for. Percy loved his friends and he loved his mom, and he loved Lord Poseidon. He had so much to live for and he was so much better than me. It makes me wonder why he had to be taken, but I know it's because he was so good that he deserves Elysium so early. Thank you, and thank the gods for Percy Jackson, he will always be my best friend."
As the crowd applauded, Annabeth starred at Grover.
"Grover?" she whispered.
He looked at her and blurted, "He loved you, Annebeth."
She blushed and took a nervous gulp, "You were his best friend, too. You know that don't you?"
"Yeah," Grover replied in a hushed tone. "I know."
May angels lead you in
Hear you me, my friends
On sleepless roads the sleepless go
May angels lead you in
Chiron handed Grover a fire-lit torch.
"When you are ready," Chiron said, and Annabeth nodded.
Annabeth gazed at Percy's shroud. She couldn't help but think about how lacking it was.
In no way did it display the warmth in Percy's presence, his charisma. It did not speak of Percy's idiotic grin or his ocean green eyes that seemed radiate with life. There was nothing stitched within the shroud that mentioned Percy's leadership skills, or his sarcasm, or even his inability to read English without stumbling over his words.
But the sea blue trident did represent one thing, his parentage. His father Poseidon. Who would've ever thought that Annabeth would build such a friendship with a seaweed brain, son of Poseidon?
She certainly never expected it.
Annabeth met Grover's eyes. "Let's do this," She said.
She shared the torch with Grover and held it close to Percy's shroud.
She glanced at the beach, then beyond the crowd. She half expected Percy himself to make an entrance again. To say, "It's okay! I'm right here! I just got lost again!" But Percy was already there. He was just behind her, lifeless in a casket.
They lit the shroud. The flames started out small, but grew larger. Soon, they could not see the shroud, just fire, and she could feel tears prying open her eyelids.
Grover wiped his eyes with his shirt sleeve. He looked at Annabeth, but said nothing.
When Grover and Annabeth rejoined the crowd, Thalia gave them both a hug while Nico stood awkwardly to her side.
They watched as campers and gods said their goodbyes to Percy.
"Are you guys coming?" Thalia asked as she and Nico readied themselves to see their cousin one last time.
Annabeth shook her head, "I'm going to wait it out a little bit."
"I'll wait too," Grover said.
With that, Thalia and Nico left to join the line of mourners.
Annabeth peered at the casket just in time to see Percy's father himself. Poseidon stood at his favorite son's side along with Tyson, who was sobbing uncontrollably on his father's shoulder and calling for his brother.
Annabeth gazed at Poseidon as he watched Percy rest in peace. His green eyes softened and the more she looked at them, the more she could see Percy himself.
Campers came and went. Annabeth watched as Nico and Thalia reached the front.
Nico just starred at Percy, as if his mind were flooded with images of his death. Thalia's electric blue eyes were misty, tears escaping like raindrops.
"The lines cleared out," Grover commented, interrupting Annabeth's train of thought. "Are you ready to go yet?"
Annabeth nodded and together they set off on a quest of their own.
A few feet away from Percy's casket, Annabeth motioned Grover to go on.
She paid no attention to Grover weeping at Percy's casket side. For a moment, she saw nothing but memories and could only prepare for her turn.
And if you were with me tonight
I'd sing to you just one more time
A song for a heart so big
God couldn't let it live
When Grover left, Annabeth stepped forward. When she saw Percy, she felt the undeniable longing to talk with him, to take him into her arms, to be with him, just like old times.
His skin was pale white, unlike his usual tan coloring. His jet-black, unruly hair was just as it had always been, shaggy and uncontrolled, much like his personality. He wore a black suit and tie and she figured Chiron must have dressed him according to tradition. His green eyes were closed, and she yearned to see them sparkle again.
All of her heart hoped that his eye lids would open, that he'd come back to her and they could continue to live like they used to, but her mind knew that there was no coming back.
Yet, she could almost feel his presence, for that salty sea smell that clogged her nostrils was all too familiar. It was like he was standing behind her, breathing down her neck, guarding her in her vulnerable moment, just as he had done when he was alive. Except now she actually felt like she needed protection.
She couldn't take it. The tears returned in her stormy gray eyes, the same eyes that had once appeared so powerful.
If Percy were really with her, she knew exactly what she'd say. So she spoke to Percy's body as if he were somewhere in there, because she knew that somewhere close, the real Percy lurked, watching her like a guardian angel of his own kind. She only hoped that her words would do him justice.
"I need you Percy," She whispered, quiet so that none of the spectators could hear her. "We all need you and we'll always need you. You held us together, and you deserve far more than you'll ever know. But you don't deserve this life, you deserve to finally be free. You don't have to protect us any longer and you'll never have to worry about the rest of the world again. I'll be alright; I'll live out my promise to you. I hope to see you again someday, maybe. But until then, I'll miss you Seaweed Brain, and I love you."
She put her hand on his cheek, pulled it away and left his side, remembering the feeling of knowing that he was with her.
May angels lead you in
Hear you me, my friends
On sleepless roads the sleepless go
May angels lead you in
Annabeth watched as they buried Percy in a field on looking the beach, just as he'd like it.
She starred out at the vast ocean, each wave providing her with a flashback of Percy's restlessness.
"He's in Elysium, Annabeth," She turned to find Nico, standing next to her looking out at the ocean. "There wasn't a doubt in Hades' mind that Percy didn't deserve anything less than Elysium."
Annabeth starred at Nico, shocked, "Y-You've seen him?"
Nico nodded, "I went down to the Underworld as soon as I heard he died. I saw him in Elysium, he's happy there but he can't stop worrying about you, Grover, his mother and all his friends. Some things never change, but I see him everywhere."
Annabeth returned her gaze to the ocean, "Sometimes I feel like he's with me. I know it sounds stupid."
"He's here, Annabeth," Nico assured. "I could see him standing by you the entire time at the funeral."
Annabeth looked back at Nico, "How is that possible?"
"I don't know everything, but Percy usually knows how to get his way. He doesn't like to be restrained." Nico answered.
Annabeth smiled, "Just like the sea."
"Yeah," Nico replied. "Same old Percy."
A familiar figure approached them, "Do you mind if I have a word with my daughter, Mr. di Angelo?"
Nico turned to the voice, then straightened, "Of course, um, Lady Athena." He scurried off to the burial.
The goddess stood beside Annabeth, "You really did care for the boy."
Annabeth met her mother's gaze, "I always had."
Athena nodded, "I fear I may have misjudged your friend Percy. He was as true as he was the son of Poseidon. Still, it is never wise to take risks. Forgive me for my interference."
"Would you have approved?" Annabeth questioned. "Would you have kept us apart just because he was Poseidon's son?"
"A hero is a hero, regardless of parentage. I am convinced that Percy was as true as they come. I suppose I would not have kept you. I am no Aphrodite, and I am not one to stand in Love's path. After all, I owe much to Percy Jackson. He saved Olympus, he saved the gods, and he saved my daughter." Athena answered.
"Thank you, mother," Annabeth spoke, grinning. "He really was all he is spoken to have been."
"Yes, he really was," Poseidon stood behind them, taking in his home turf. "He was my pride."
"As he should have been," Athena spoke. "You have reason to take pride in a champion like your son."
Poseidon nodded. "I may not have been the best father to Percy, but I do know my son, and I know that he would've done anything for your safety, Annabeth. I just thought I should take the time to thank you for befriending Percy, for saving him countless times, and for assuring his faith in the gods. Besides, I do know Percy was not the most quick minded of heroes. It must have come in handy to have a bright daughter of Athena like yourself to guide him through things."
Annabeth laughed for the first time since before the war, "Thank you, Lord Poseidon. It means a lot. Percy was proud to be your son. "
"Yes, well," Poseidon spoke. "Sometimes I wonder why. But no matter, I am proud to be his father. I will leave you, but first, know this, Annabeth. You have my son's blessing, therefore you have mine. The sea is with you, daughter of Athena or not."
"Thank you, Poseidon," Athena mused. "Perhaps we can withdraw our feud, for a little while anyway, for the sake of your son's memory and my daughter."
"I'd like that," Poseidon said and Annabeth's smile grew ear to ear.
If only Percy could see this. If only he knew what he had brought on. What would he say? She could only imagine his expression.
Then that sea breeze hit her again, and somehow she knew he was watching her. She could feel him standing next to her and for a second she thought she saw him, his black hair blowing in the fresh, ocean wind, his skin fully restored to a healthy tan coloring and his green eyes shining brighter than ever. He was back in his regular clothes; jeans and his orange camp T-shirt. He was flashing her one of his brilliant, idiotic smiles. She could almost hear him whispering her name in the breeze, but the image disappeared as quickly as it came.
May angels lead you in
Hear you me, my friends
On sleepless roads the sleepless go
May angels lead you in
Two years later on what would've been his eighteenth birthday, Annabeth stood at Percy's grave site.
She felt comfortable, for she could feel his presence, like he was sitting next to her, ready to listen.
"I miss you, Seaweed Brain." She said, starring down at his tombstone. "Don't ever think I've forgotten anything about you."
She sat down in the grass by his grave and looked out at the ocean. "I don't know if you're listening or not, or if you're too preoccupied living it up in Elysium, but I wanted to stop by, to say hi. I wanted to let you know that I haven't broken your promise. I'm at NYU, studying architecture, of course. I try to live the regular college life like you wanted me to, but there's something missing, and I can't help that."
She paused and fingered his name on his tombstone. "I'll always love you, Percy, even if I don't see you for the rest of my life. I try to go on, like you wanted me to, but I can't, not full-hearted anyway. The fact is, no one will ever be able to replace you, and I'll never love anyone like I do you, and I know that's not what you want, but that's how it has to be."
She stood up, glancing down at his grave. "May angels be with you, Percy, because that's what you've always deserved."
Author's Note: This is an edited version of my first story.
So what did you think? If you read my first story, which one did you like better? Please review but flaming isn't welcome. I tried not to make it too out of character, but tell me your thoughts.
If you have any ideas for the next few chapters or if there's anything you'd like to see happen feel free to tell me. I'm always open to new ideas.
Thanks for reading!
