Percy woke the next morning, feeling better than he had in a long time. He hadn't had a nightmare, with Hecate taking over his dreams. The sun filtered through his window, landing straight into his eyes. He groaned, covering his face with his arms, before turning onto his side to look at his night stand. It was 7:45 in the morning.
He counted mentally how many days he had left. Four more. That wasn't a lot to learn everything about the wizarding world. His first lesson, he spent it learning history and culture, and he hadn't cast one single spell. Adding the emphasis Hecate had placed on him learning silent spells, it was going to be a tough week. Last night was his third lesson, and she said he was already learning second year spells, out of five. He had been gone from camp for two days already, enjoying the company of his step-dad and mom.
He swung his legs over his bed, rubbing his face. He stood up, walking into the bathroom. His steps made no noise on the wooden floors underneath him, an adaptation from his time spent in Tartarus. He turned the shower on the hottest setting, and stripped his clothing off as soon as the mirror started to steam. He stepped underneath the stream of water, and sighed in relief. Instantly, he felt energized. No matter how many times it happens, he will never fail to be amazed by it. He felt less tired, and more sharp and awake. As soon as the hot water started to cool and run out, he turned it off. He wrapped a towel around his body, letting the water droplets run down his chest and arms. He continued to get ready for the day, noticing he didn't hear Paul or his mom moving around. He pulled a shirt over his head, and looped a belt through his jeans. He dried his hair using his powers, and laced up his shoes.
He slipped into the kitchen to grab his keys, and read a note from his mother stuck to the fridge. She was gone out on a meeting with her editor for her newest book deal, and not to expect her for a while back. Paul was already at Goode, working on lesson plans for the first week of school. He stuck his keys in his pocket and locked the door on his way out. He took one glance at the elevator and veered towards the stairs. The sight of the elevator was enough to elevate his heart rate. He forced the thoughts out of his head as he took two stairs at a time. Great, he thought. Another thing to trigger my anxiety. He faced away from the elavtor, refusing to look at it as he walked out of the apartment complex.
He walked down the sidewalk of Manhattan. He lived close to the Empire State Building. His eyes veered towards the sky, and he could see the clouds that sat atop, and caught a glimpse of the beautiful, golden, glinting temples and statues that shined in the sunlight. He looked away, and towards the road. He heard the sound of early morning traffic, and vendors already selling food. He grinned at a passersby, and the vendors he walked by. He had no real destination in mind, just wanting to get out of the house. Maybe he would get some breakfast. He patted his pocket, feeling for his wallet. Yeah, there's a new place just down the street. He should go there. He passed a few buildings, seeing the sparkling sign of the new breakfast place before a feeling started to form in his stomach.
He passed an alley, his destination just a few steps ahead of him, before he froze. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and his internal sensor was tingling like crazy. He rolled his neck, and ducked into the alley, where he knew a monster lay. He grabbed his pen out of his pocket, twirling it between his fingers. Behind the trashcan, he spotted something- in this case, someone. The person stepped out from behind the dumpster. His fingers stilled, and he gripped his pen, his thumb inching towards the cap. It was a woman, with glowing green eyes that were shaped into a slit, like a cat. Lizard-like claws protruded from her fingers as she flexed them. She looked at Percy and smiled, a snakes tail slowly morphing from what used to be her legs.
"Oh, honey, I will take great pleasure in being your end." Crocodile teeth emerged from underneath from her lips as she bared them.
Percy flicked his thumb over the cap of his pen. Three feet of glowing gold sprung out, and he didn't need to follow the gold upwards to find it sharpened to a point. He gave an experimental swing. "You don't know how many times I've heard that." He murmured to her, rotating his wrist in the hand that contained the sword, warming up his muscles.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" She crooned, moving slowly towards him. "I am Lamia, daughter of Hecate! I was sent on a mission, and I intent to complete it." She hissed, moving her hands slowly around each other, a ball of light forming in between them. "You will see my magic, before I sent you to Tartarus."
"Already been there, not a huge fan." He murmured and swung his sword, intending to hit her mid-section. She danced out of the way, and thrust her hands towards him. A beam of green light shot towards him, and only his quick instincts saved him. He dropped to the ground, before falling into a side roll. He jumped to his feet, and attacked again, meticulously swinging his sword. She hissed as it barely grazed her, and she darted towards him. She raked her claws down the side of his chest, leaving blood pouring out of the wound.
He took a step backwards, barely feeling the pain coursing through his body. The wound pulsed and throbbed, yet he ignored it.
"Daughter of Hecate, huh? Did your mom send you?" He asked, dodging the way of her sharpened teeth. In his mind, he knew it was illogical. Hecate is training him, sharpening him so he could fight a war for her, she wouldn't dare attack him, would she?
"Gah!" Lamia lunged forward, swiping at him, before retreating backwards. "That dastardly goddess does not control me." She shook her head. "There is another war almost at it's height, young demigod, in that world of Hecate's. She isn't supposed to interfere!" She spit furiously. "Voldemort will reign true, just you watch, son of the sea." Percy and Lamia circled each other as she spoke. "I should have been the ruler of that blasted world, and it's all her fault!" She cried.
"Voldemort isn't much better, is he?" He questioned, his sword sliding across her claws. One of her claws got hooked on the end of Riptide. Lamia started to move her hand to rip it out of his grasp, but he pushed down, slicing the claw from her hand. She hissed in pain, before curling backwards.
"My lord is much better than those blasted gods," She cursed. "He will save the wizarding world. Me and my brethren will join him, and march against the old mortal-loving fool. He is just as bad as Hecate, a direct descendant of her." She spoke angrily. She darted forwards, plunging the nails from her left hand into his arm. He swiped at her arm with his sword, and stumbled backwards. She threw her hands forward, and another beam, this time colored red, shot out of her hands, and straight into his chest. He slammed against the brick wall, his head clacking painfully against it. He fell to his knees, grasping for his head with one hand. His ears rang and his sight blackened. His hold on Riptide slackened the tiniest amount.
He shook his head to clear it. Before he could attack, he was forced onto the defensive side. Lamia had stepped in close, and used her tail to grab hold of his ankle. She grinned and yanked with all of her might. A small yelp escaped from his lips as his back hit the dirty concrete. Riptide slipped out of his grasp, clattering uselessly on the pavement. Her slimy tail kept it's grip, and Lamia leaned down. "Oh, little hero, I am famed for devouring children. Perhaps you will be next," She whispered to him, opening her mouth wide. She leaned forward, but before she could very far, Percy brought his elbow up, and slammed it right into her mouth. She screamed, letting go of his ankle, and he rolled to safety.
Coming to a crouch, he spotted Riptide glinting in the sun. He dashed for his sword, scooping it up. Spinning around, he pointed the tip right at Lamia's neck. "You want to see the fight? Let's see if you're reformed by then," He narrowed his eyes at her, before stabbing forward like a Roman. A cruel twisted look sat upon her face, but before she could get out a word, she had disintegrated into a pile of golden dust. A gust of wind took away the glittery particles, leaving nothing but a single claw.
Percy capped Riptide, and shoved it back into his pocket. He stepped out onto the road, putting his fingers in his mouth, and blew, a sharp whistle echoing between buildings. A taxi stopped in front of him, and he slipped inside. "3.141 Farm Road, Long Island."
Percy trudged up the hill. He gave a firm pat to Peleus, as the dragon looked at him with his yellow eyes. He smiled gently at the dragon, petting him one last time before making his way down the hill. Only a couple of year-round campers have left already, leaving the majority still walking around camp. However right now, it was lunch time. He made his way towards his table, coming into view of everyone. Only a few noticed him, as he had come during the very beginning, and there were still a lot of people waiting in line to sacrifice a part of their meal. He grabbed his plate, filling it with meat, fruits, and salad, before joining the quickly-moving line. He scraped about half of it into the fire, before turning around. There was Jason, sitting at the Jupiter table. Ever since the last war, the children of the Big Three mostly sat at the same table while eating. First of all, it was lonely, and second, the gods didn't really care who sat at their table. Except maybe Zeus, but Poseidon and Hades were cool with it.
Percy plopped his plate in front of Jason and sat down in front of him.
Bright sky-blue eyes looked up at him, an exact replica of Thalia's. "Percy!" Jason exclaimed, and they shared a quick bro-hug. "I haven't seen you in a while." Jason was at Camp Jupiter when Percy had decided to stay at his moms. Even though Jason wasn't a praetor anymore, and most of the stress had been taken off of his shoulders, he was still a Roman, and he visited his friends over there about half the time, and spent the other half at Camp Half-Blood.
Percy shrugged, shoving a piece of lettuce in his mouth. "I was assigned a quest." At that, Jason nodded. The seasoned demigods were often sent on easy quests, such as a monster problem, or helping rescue demigods and take them to camp. "I- uh, wasn't that happy about it, so I decided to chill at my mom's for a few days, but I needed to come back here before I left."
"A quest, huh?" Jason questioned. "What type of quest?"
Percy ran a hand through his hair. "Not the kind you're thinking of. It's a really long quest. Chiron estimates it will take two years."
Jason sputtered and looked at Percy. "Two years?" He exclaimed, loudly. Nearby campers looked over, and Percy shushed him. Jason blushed, before repeating his words, this time quieter.
"I'm going undercover at a boarding school in England. But there's a twist. So you know the stories, about wizards and witches?" Percy asked him. Jason nodded, a look already on his face, as he could guess what was coming next. "Well, they're true. There's a war going on over there, and I'm being sent to keep the prophecy kid alive until the final battle, where I'm assuming Chiron's sending the Seven in."
Jason pressed his lips together. "Gods, man, that sounds awful. But hey, it's just a school right? You get winter and summer breaks, so I guess it's not all that bad. Plus, you'll be learning magic!" His eyes lit up.
Percy chuckled at his good friend. "Yeah, I've come to terms with it, it just kinda sucks."
Understanding filtered through Jason's expression. "I totally get it, you just want a break."
Percy agreed with him. "I need to tell the Seven I'm on a quest. It's kinda secret, as Lady Hecate doesn't want the two worlds to mix. The campers are used to me not being year-round anyway," he shrugged.
Percy sighed through his nose, putting a forkful of strawberry into his mouth. As he chewed, he listened to Jason as he gave updates on the Seven. Hazel and Frank were still going strong as Praetor and Centurion, respectively. Leo and Calypso's mechanic garage was a create success, and how him and Piper had spent the majority of the year looking for Leo, but then going to school in Los Angeles. He doesn't mention Annabeth, partly because Percy knows what she's been doing, and partly because no one really speaks of their break up.
Percy attempted a smile towards Jason as he picked up on the fact, but he knew that it looked like a grimace, before settling on just looking away. Together, they walked towards the camp fire, catching up on and just having a good time. They sung songs together, and acted like doofuses. Even with his bouts of pain, depression, and anxiety, his cheeks hurt from smiling so much with Jason. While Grover would probably always be his best friend, Jason was definitely a close second.
Percy found himself on his cabins porch, bidding Jason a good night, before sliding inside and toeing off his shoes. He quickly changed his clothes and flopped on his bed. He would tell the rest of his friends tomorrow. Today, he just needed a good break. He drifted off into another dream, Hecate already waiting for him.
A/N
QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT: THIS WILL NOT BE A PERCY/HERMIONE! I have mentioned in the first chapter, this will be SLASH. Which means Percy will be bisexual, just like the gods.