So, I'm getting lots of views and hardly any reviews. It's really not hard. Thanks for reading here's chapter 3!
GAEA
Gaea ordered Percy's cell to be moved under her room. When she looked out the window of her underground palace, she saw the most feared, hated and dangerous demigod of the century cowering and covered in wounds. Sometimes, if she was lucky, Gaea caught Polybotes with Percy and stopped whatever she was doing to watch. After all Percy put her through, it was invigorating.
A few days after her visit to Percy, Gaea was preparing her next step in destroying him. He had an obvious soft-spot for his friends and the Olympians, and Gaea was going to exploit that weakness to crush him from the inside before sacrificing him.
Gaea's form suddenly flickered and her eyes closed. Her mind tried to drift off but she held her ground and snapped her attention back to the waking world.
Mother Earth was not yet fully revived. There had been demigod sacrifices, yes – two nameless fools from Camp Jupiter – but their blood was not worthy. She needed Percy's heroic blood to wake her up entirely. But Gaea didn't want to kill him yet. She could live with being half-asleep for the time being if it meant suffering for the ones she despised. First, the gods. This would be sweet.
Gaea formed herself in the stone room in the middle of one of Polybotes's visits. Her son swung his hand backwards, wielding a sharp silver knife, and brought it down the side of Percy's temple. His screams were like music to Gaea's ears. But she needed them to stop for now.
"Poly-baby," she said, placing her hand on the giants elbow. Polybotes turned around, his face crimson.
"Not in front of Jackson, Mummy," he grumbled. Gaea shrugged and looked around her large son at the demigod. Percy was cowering against the wall, his eyes glazed and fearful.
"He is in no condition to care, my sweet. But I'm afraid you must cut your visit short."
Polybotes whined. Percy let out a breath of relief, then caught himself. Gaea smiled.
"Yes, we have an important trip to Mount Olympus planned, plus the time it takes to get our guest ready."
From behind the giant, Percy whimpered.
"N-Not Olympus, p-please. I-I'll do anything."
Gaea stepped around Polybotes and looked Percy in the face. Blood dripped onto the floor in front of her as he shakily met her eyes.
"I know you will, Percy. You don't have a choice. But we are going to the Empire State Building, and what kind of host would leave her guest at home alone?"
Tears cut tracks in the dirt and red covering Percy's face. Gaea tried to hide her smile. He was so far gone there wasn't enough life left in the rest of the world to bring him back. He was afraid of his own shadow now.
She clapped her hands and formed an earth-dome over herself while water cascaded down from the pipes in the ceiling. Percy and Polybotes were doused, the water starting to heal the son of Poseidon. But Polybotes began turned the water into poison, and Percy screamed wildly again as it touched him. Gaea sighed and made a dome over Polybotes, stopping him from contaminating the water.
More salty liquid filled up around Percy and his wounds healed. Cuts closed, bones remended and the poison was flushed out of his system. Though the scars still showed. There was no getting rid of them.
When all the water had drained out, Gaea melted the domes over herself and Polybotes, then went to inspect her captive. Percy's clothes were still clogged with blood and his body marred by scars, but he looked fine besides. Gaea motioned Polybotes forward again.
"Don't break any bones," was her only warning. The giant smiled and unsheathed his knife again. He stabbed it shallowly above Percy's temple and blood ran down the blade and Percy's cheek. He whimpered again. Polybotes slashed down the demigods arm next, creating a deep and long wound that stung Percy horribly. The giant continued to work until the desirable effects were finished. Gaea looked at Percy and nodded happily. He had hundreds of little and big cuts all over, and blood slipped from each one. There were only two lacerations on his face, which pleased the Earth Mother. She held Percy's chin her hand and smiled.
"Wouldn't want that handsome face to be unrecognisable now, would we?"
Percy avoided her gaze, but she didn't mind. They were ready.
I know it's kind of short but I didn't have much time. I'm going away for three weeks holiday and felt I should give you something as a kind of sorry gift because I won't be updating for a while. Please review!