A/N: Reviews are appreciated. Thanks in advance. I'm open for any suggestions.
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson
Chapter Three
Percy's eyes crossed as he stared down at the familiar ballpoint pen. He read the words engraved onto the pen, Anaklusmos.
The word 'Riptide' flashed in the son of Poseidon's mind. A shiver travelled down his spine.
Someone knocked on the door. He heard Annabeth's voice on the other side, "We're leaving soon."
"Alright I'm coming. Give me a moment," he replied.
Percy threw the pen away carelessly, not caring about it's whereabouts. He did not want it. He got up and finished packing, placing the last jar of ambrosia inside his bag. He placed the bag on his back, his unpacked tent laid over the bag. Percy picked up a celestial bronze sword, sheathing it in between the supply bag and his back. The hilt jutted out over his shoulder. He preferred to use this one instead of Riptide at the moment.
Percy left the barracks. Outside he was met with the rest of his friends except Leo and Will, all packed up and ready to start their quest. The word quest left a bitter taste in his mouth. For what he had to do, it went more along the lines of kidnapping and assassinating.
Leo wasn't coming. Hermes had asked him to do a rather different request. No one knew what it was besides that Hermes said it was 'classified'.
Will had to stay behind, in case of an emergency. The duty of healing came with great pressure.
"Alright, where are we heading?" Percy caught Annabeth's glare. He followed it, landing on the extended hilt of his sword. The son of Poseidon shook his head ever so slightly just enough to let his wife know. She only huffed.
"Past the border? Hermes did say we needed to find the 'source'," Jason spoke, giving in his suggestion.
Annabeth nodded, "Sounds reasonable. There was no way that they could've arranged all of this within the border," mentally agreeing that it was indeed the mortal's work. The others did not say anything of it which probably meant they all thought similarly if not the exact same.
At the mention of some sort of arrangement, Percy thought of Georgia. His heart thumped hard. He felt betrayed and angry.
Percy looked at his wife's eyes, checking if she thought identically. Those grey eyes showed a hidden storm.
The rest of the team nodded in agreement.
But Percy was hesitant when he did. Perhaps, they were going to the wrong place? Perhaps… it wasn't an attack from the mortals. His mind shifted back to Georgia. The clear evidence weighed his decision down.
He shivered at the thought of the vast land beyond the god's powers. A place demigods certainly did not want to be. Even the gods needed to be careful. Stories of wild creatures and insane mortals lingered around for generations, each one of them originating from that very place. Of course his friends did not believe in these legends, hence the lack of hesitation.
But one thing Percy knew for sure was that fighting one of these supposed creatures before did not help convince such lack of cautiousness.
Linebreak
Percy stood facing a concrete wall. It rose intimidatingly ten feet tall as the trees protected it from the sun trying to cast down life into it. Long green vines dangled down, snaking through head-size holes and down to the floor. Crumbles of concrete littered the devoid land. Beyond the wall and border, Percy saw thick layers of trees covering the land as it dissolved into the dark and black horizon.
The son of Poseidon shuddered. The hair on the back of his neck rose. He felt as if someone was secretly watching him.
"Percy wait up," Thalia who was out of breath called out, making him turn around.
The others followed behind her. Upon arrival they all stopped for a pause. No one spoke as Percy felt their eyes gaze up the wall.
It had taken them three days of constant walking to reach the border. And now that he was actually here, Percy felt extremely uncomfortable. Something he tried to suppress on the way here. Apparently all for nothing.
"This is it," Luke said.
"Yep," Percy popped the 'p' and looked away towards the wall, hiding away his worry.
"Well then, what are we waiting for." Jason crouched down and slipped in one of the huge cracks.
They trailed behind him.
Once on the other side, Percy suddenly felt conscious of the weather around him. The air seemingly turning colder as the leaves shook from the oncoming breeze.
He looked at the others. They too seemed to notice the difference as well.
As they travelled further into the abyss, the cold started to take in effect. He could now see the burst of white fog when he exhaled.
They walked for awhile not really trying to reach a certain destination but instead looked for any clue that could lead them to one of the mortals.
Without any luck, they found a little clearing to set up camp as the sun returned into the treeline.
After talking for awhile, the team agreed on taking shifts for guard duty. Who knew how safe it was out here and no one wanted to take any risks.
Percy volunteered to take the first shift.
The dancing flames reflected off the son of Poseidon's eyes as he stared into the bonfire. He thought of the conversation he had with Annabeth two days ago. She had explained the situation leading to what happened after he got knocked out six days ago.
But that was not what bothered the son of Poseidon. They had gotten into a little argument, or at least that's what he wanted to think of it. Ever since that day, it was tense between the two of them.
Percy recalled the moment like if it had happened just a few minutes ago.
"Perseus none of this would've happened if you would just use Anaklusmos! You even let that son of a bitch get away! What is wrong with you?!" Annabeth shouted in rage.
Percy tried to explain everything as calmly as possible. It wasn't easy, "I told you Annie. I can't use Riptide. You out of everyone should know exactly why," he gave her a glare.
His wife huffed in frustration, "UGH! Why bother call me Annie if you don't even love me!"
She disregarded the mention of such sword seeing as he would never use it again. He already never did.
The commotion no doubt caught everyone's attention. But they all stayed in their tents, not knowing what to do or if it was their business to do anything.
Percy strode closer completely shocked, heart breaking. "Of course I love you Wise Girl," he looked her straight in the eyes, hand reaching for her cheek
Annabeth stepped back, "Then why did you let that excuse of a filth get away?!"
Percy saw the storm in her eyes. It was contagious. The ocean waves churned along the storm. "Why can't you just let that go?! I didn't have time; I was trying to save you!"
"I was perfectly fine! I didn't need your 'saving'!"
Of course Percy didn't know that at the time, but she said it anyways determined to win the argument. Like she always did.
A sudden change in his surroundings brought the son of Poseidon out of his thoughts. Sweat leaked down his forehead and his brows uncrossed as he looked around. His hair stood up at the aura. A very powerful one.
His pen pulsed in his pocket and he considered it for a second, gripping it hard in his pocket, until he felt a weird urge to calm down. Percy sat back down returning to look at the fire. He saw someone sitting across the bonfire but couldn't make out who it was. How in the world did he/she get there without him noticing? He squinted to inspect the person. What the son of Poseidon saw made him fall off his little makeshift seat.
A young girl around the age of eight wore plain and modest clothing. Although a hood covered most of her hair, Percy spotted locks of hair dangle down in ringlets. Her untouched pink lips curled up in a smile reaching her warm brown eyes.
It was breathtaking.
He unconsciously smiled back.
As the little girl got up, her chair instantaneously disappeared into the mist and the fire seemingly turned even more red.
Percy immediately bowed. A goddess, he thought.
She walked up to him, lifting his chin up and signaled him to sit down as she materialized a seat next to the fire. It didn't seem to bother her.
This time Percy got a good look at her eyes. Flashing orange at times, Percy noticed the woman hidden in those childish eyes.
All the clues aligned in his head. Hestia, he thought.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Lady Hestia?"
She looked at him in curiosity and only gave him a warm smile.
Percy felt nervous under her gaze, balling his hand into a fist trying to suppress the nervous tapping.
"Perseus do you ever feel like the world will ever change?" Hestia spoke softly.
Percy did not know how to respond. So instead like the idiot he was, blurted out an answer he himself didn't quite grasp on, "Well ya, when winter comes by the plants die and snow will begin to appear and…" His face was fully red of embarrassment.
This made the goddess let out a small chuckle, seemingly amusing her.
"When time seems to stop and everything turns upside down," Hestia looked up at the stars with a longing expression, "As you watch the worst of things become friends while the best of things turn enemies. Could it change then?"
"Milady I mean no disrespect, but why are you asking me this?" Percy asked in confusion.
Hestia ignored him, now looking back down. Her eyes lingered to his pocket for a second.
Percy suddenly felt conscious of what was in his pocket.
"Are the truths really worth knowing when you can live in a world where you choose what is true? Of course most people would already know the answer. But it only counts when they get it from the right place."
There was a moment silence. Percy pondered at her words.
Hestia placed her hand under his chin, making him look at her, "Just remember Perseus, everyone has a hearth but not everyone has the heart to tend it. Maybe that's when things can change."
She slowly dissolved into the air as her last words replayed in the son of Poseidon's head.
Linebreak
Percy woke up the next day still very tired and… painfully. Luke had to pinch him, seeing that he wouldn't budge. He silently promised his revenge.
The son of Poseidon had a hard time falling asleep. He couldn't keep the words of Hestia out of his head.
Reyna had suggested that they'd separate into groups so that they could cover more ground in a shorter amount of time and later return to an assigned rendezvous to share what they've acquired.
While Annabeth acknowledged her plan, she did not agree. They were in the middle of nowhere and it wasn't safe to reduce the amount of people in one's group. Not until they knew where they stood. Everyone accepted her reasoning, being the daughter of Athena and all.
So the group travelled together still looking for a clue. It could be anything, any sign of humans.
"You know... maybe they've all left to cross the border, seeing as most of the demigods were gone now," Thalia shrugged, "Maybe because they knew we were going to come here?"
The others shrugged as well. They hadn't found anything yet. It was something that really discouraged them.
They looked at Annabeth… except Percy.
Annabeth walked in lead at the front, not turning around even if she knew they were waiting for an answer. Something had caught her attention. She signaled them to come forth. The grass stained red.
Together they approached the tainted grass. Annabeth took a small twig lying on the ground and touched it. The, what they assumed was, blood smudged onto the stick. Something recently happened here.
As much as how excited they were to find some kind of clue, they tried their best to stay quiet as the trail of blood went further into the forest. The trail grew bigger with large spots of blood dotting around the ground. Even some leaves were touched by this substance.
Suddenly a cry discharged into the sky. It sounded horrible.
Percy trembled as he saw some birds fly away from the direction of such sound.
The team eyed each other and nodded. They continued towards the sound.
Finally they reached the edge of a clearing. They placed their equipments down, incase they needed to fight.
Percy who was now in front took lead, clearing a little opening quietly from the leafy bush so that everyone could watch what was going on.
There were four people. One man on a chair and three other people surrounding him; one big and bulky woman and two men. One of the men had an eyepatch while the other looked more built and had multiple scars on his face.
Percy couldn't see the face of the guy sitting because his head hung down. He noticed the man was tied up.
"I am going to ask you one last time! Where is he?!" The bulky woman lifted up a knife to his chest that was already all scratched up.
"I don't know," the man said tiredly, out of breath.
The woman struck her blade slowly and just close enough to leave a red line across his chest.
The captive bellowed in agony.
Percy flinched hard.
The knife holder gestured the two men by her side to shut him up. They pulled his hair back, bringing his face up and wrapped their hands over the guy's mouth and jaw, forcing him to close them.
The captive shook and wiggled helplessly.
Percy had enough.
As the woman brought her knife back up about to leave another mark, Percy jumped out into the clearing shouting, "I'm here!"
His fists were clenched so hard.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned around to the voice.
"You are?" The lady asked raising an eyebrow. The two men were already approaching.
"I'm your failure."
To Annabeth's surprise, Percy took out his old ballpoint pen and uncapped it.
The pen morphed into a three feet sword. Its double-edged blade curved like a leaf. It glowed blue before turning back stale.
Voices started to whisper in Percy's ears but he ignored it. Now was not a good time to be distracted.
In return, both men unsheathed their swords; probably stolen. Together they charged.
Percy stepped back and blocked both of their attacks.
Much to their surprise, Luke appeared out of nowhere and attacked the guy on the right. He had the eyepatch.
Jason also jumped into the mix, snaking his way to the guy on the left, the one with the scars.
The rest of the team stayed hidden.
Patch guy stumbled back, visibly surprised. While his partner couldn't give two shit and swiped, trying to kill two birds with one stone.
Percy parried the blow and Jason sidestepped to swing right back at him. His blade connected with the man's arm, leaving a gash of blood.
While all this happened, the man with the patch rushed Luke, hitting his blade as hard as he can.
Luke lifted his sword, blocking the attack.
His opponent quickly slashed again.
This time Luke barely caught the blow. The force staggered him back.
The man kicked him on the chest, knocking Luke down.
He swung down, only to be caught by Riptide.
Percy and the eyepatch man lifted their swords. They clashed together, weapons locked at chest level. Both forcefully pushed their muscles, trying to out strength one and another.
Just at the corner of Percy's eye, the woman picked up her spear and quickly ran to her soldiers' aides. Before she could reach them, Reyna rammed right onto her knocking both of them onto the ground weaponless.
Annabeth and Thalia went to go release the prisoner.
Jason slashed his sword. Scar face barely sealed it off with his injured arm and fell down. He stopped moving as Jason's sword touched the skin on his neck, daring him to move.
Luke quickly got up.
Patch guy used the last of his strength to push Percy back and regained his stance.
Luke and Percy circled him.
Reyna and the woman flew punches at each other. They kicked and yanked.
Until the lady rolled over her and locked Reyna down, using her weight to her advantage.
Reyna had a hard time breathing as the woman focused her sense of gravity onto her chest.
Thalia hurriedly came to the rescue and kicked the lady right off Reyna. She pressed her dagger closer to her throat.
The man with the eyepatch noticed that they were losing. He quickly made a choice and decided on a sudden tactic that would either get him killed or get one of his opponent killed.
He threw his sword at the Luke.
Luke dived away, barely dodging the sword as he landed down a ditch.
Patch guy hurriedly crouched down, grabbing some dirt in one swift motion. He threw it right at Percy's eyes before he took off.
Percy recoiled back and quickly wiped his eye. He ran after the bastard with a dirty yet angry face. The son of Poseidon raced with increasing speed.
The mortal seemed to find himself familiar with his surroundings as he hopped over roots of tree that grew out from the ground and ducked under overhung branches; leaves pushed behind from the force of his kicks.
Percy followed behind him, mimicking his every move. He came closer. The son of Poseidon reached for the guy's shoulder.
The target leaped.
Suddenly Percy jerked forwards as a hidden force gripped his feet. His face planted on the floor as something dragged him back, face tasting the dirty ground. He was then lifted up into the air by the feet as his head hung down.
It took a moment for Percy to regain his senses.
The mortal looked at him with a crooked smirk, "Such a shame," he took out a Swiss army knife. His grin reached his lit up eyes as he stalked forward.
Percy did not say anything. Instead he kept a neutral face and gawked at something behind the man.
The mortal turned around in curiosity, trying to follow his gaze with raised brows. He did not see anything out of place and returned his attention back at the hung up man.
Only to watch Percy use his leaf shaped sword to cut the rope that restricted him from escaping. The son of Poseidon fell down, flailing his limbs aimlessly.
With a loud THUMP, he landed hard on his back. Percy groaned.
The stranger had to give him props, good plan but poor execution. He chuckled and swiftly kicked Percy's hand, making him release his grip on Riptide. Just for good measure, he kicked him on the side of his torso, causing him to visibly grunt.
The mortal reached for his victim's sword. His hands wrapped around the hilt, he tried to lift the sword.
Key word 'tried'.
The sword wouldn't budge, making the man jerk forward at the unexpected weight. His expression turned to that of confusion as he attempted again to no avail.
He inwardly gave up in frustration and instead mentally agreed that his knife would do. Turning around, he was unexpectedly punched straight to the face. Shuffling back and tripped on the sword. He silently cursed himself for underestimating his opponent.
Percy kicked him, returning the gesture.
Much to the guy's surprise, the son of Poseidon picked up his sword with ease and threatened his life.
"Who are you working for? And where can I find him?!" Percy barked.
The stranger looked at the tip of the sword as it glowed blue. He flinched at the acidity in Percy's piercing eyes. It shined in sync as dark blue particles swirled, large tsunamis crashing around.
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple hovered up and down.
"WHERE?!" Percy shouted, trying hard to control himself.
The man did not test him, "Head north, look for a tall crooked tree. It's hard to not notice," his voice trembling a bit.
With a frustrated growl, Percy moved his sword away and turned around. He did not want to be seen even if there was only one person which he didn't even care about.
The stranger watched the light of his sword slowly diminish. And he saw his chance.
As silent as possible, he slowly reached for his knife not far away from him and stood up.
He lunged.
Percy swiftly spun around in a 360, slicing the man's head off.
A thud can be heard.
The son of Poseidon threw his sword away. It now radiated so strong that even he was scared of it.
Linebreak
Annabeth watched in worry as the others interrogated their captives. She glanced back at the person they had saved, Nico he called himself.
"So I was wondering," she paused for a moment, "Who these people were actually looking for?" She asked quietly, not sure if it was an appropriate question to ask at the moment.
Nico looked at her attentively, "Athena?"
Annabeth nodded, knowing fully well what he was talking about.
"Hades," Nico said.
Annabeth raised an eyebrow.
"They're looking for a son of the forge. I myself do not know his name," Nico looked a bit unsure.
The daughter of Athena noticed but didn't pry. He had enough of a day. Why should he even trust her?
They were interrupted by Reyna.
"Annabeth, the woman Clarisse says we need to head south."
A/N: Special thanks to my beta Yoshi117. If you like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, you should definitely check out his stories. And until next time have a nice day!