Chapter 6: Percy

The look on their faces was priceless. The total shock that registered when he had walked through the door was totally worth it. The moment of fun quickly faded though as the pair continued to stare at him. He was reminded of his condition and that whatever happened he would never be normal again, he would never spend another summer at camp, he'd never go on another epic quest with his friends, and he would never grow up. He'd be sixteen forever, if he was even technically sixteen anymore, it had been two years after all.
Can you age if you're dead? He thought.
Of course not stupid! You're dead you decompose. You don't age!

He was brought back to reality by Annabeth's voice asking "Percy?" the word was so tight and full of pain that it would have made Percy cry, if he'd still had tear ducts. He dragged his eyes away from the floor and looked at her properly for the first time in over two years. Gods but she was even more beautiful than he remembered! She'd grown, to the point that she was fully an inch taller than him, which was totally embarrassing. She still wore the silver owl earrings that were the symbol of her mother. She was paler than usual but still seemed to glow with beauty and although she wore makeup, though admittedly not much, he was sure that without it she still would have been gorgeous.

Then he looked into her eyes, those unusual storm grey orbs that had captivated him since that day eight years ago when he'd woken up in the infirmary. Immediately he longed to be able to feel again, to be able to caress her smooth skin and kiss like they had so many times, so long ago.
"Percy?" she said again her voice a little stronger this time. She walked forward raising a hand towards him "It-it's really you?"
He took a step forward as well "yea" his voice halting "yea it's me Annabeth". She took another tentative step forward hand upraised like she was terrified that the slightest breath of wind would cause him to vanish forever. Percy was fairly sure that wouldn't happen but he still wasn't entirely confident about what would affect him.

They were standing in front of each other now no more than an arm's length apart. He raised his hand and tried to touch hers but the moment he got close his hand dissipated like so much mist. Inside he died just a little bit more, he had been the Hero of Olympus, saviour of the western world, and yet here he was not even able to hold his girlfriend's hand. His eyes never left Annabeth's and he could see his longing reflected in her face, and as the tears welled up in her eyes he could see how hard she had been trying to hold it together and that she couldn't do it anymore.
"Hey, hey its ok I'm here now everything will be ok" as soon as the words left his mouth he wished he hadn't spoken at all. He was dead how could everything possibly be OK? He'd obviously only gone and made things worse.

Annabeth slumped against the wall of the corridor and slid down it to the floor sobbing uncontrollably. He wished he could do more to try and comfort her than talk but being ethereal means you can't do much else. To his surprise and anger Nico knelt next to her and began to hug her and whisper to her calming her.
Percy felt anger and jealousy rising inside him; that should be him not Nico! Annabeth was his Girl; Nico didn't even deserve to look at her!
Whoa, he thought, where had that come from?
Grow up you loser it's not as if you can help her right now!
"Shut up" he muttered to himself.

After several minutes awkward silence broken only by an occasional sniffle from Annabeth Nico asked "what is it?"
The question caught Percy by surprise "What is what?"
"This way to save you the gods offered, the one your mom was telling us about" Percy didn't answer immediately. What could he say?
Oh well the gods said I can either become an immortal or go straight back to the underworld, Nothing Major .Yeah that would be good. Until now he hadn't even thought about the full implications of what he was doing but seeing his friends' response to his appearance had brought everything into stark perspective.
"Percy, please" Annabeth had gotten to her feet and was staring at him again as if searching his face for the answer he didn't want to give her. "Whatever it is it must be good right? I'm sure…whatever it is I can handle it". He couldn't, he was too terrified of losing her again. He had to tell her though or it would tear him apart.
Here goes nothing he thought.

"Annabeth. I'm dead"
"No kidding" Nico muttered, Percy gave him the ghostly evil eye but Nico didn't seem to care
"The gods said they couldn't bring back my mortal form despite trying for two years".
Annabeth looked confused "they how can you be…?"
"They said that the fates would not allow it and that that part of my existence was at an end" The frown on Annabeth's face deepened. "They offered me two choices" this was the part that scared him "Hades said that I could say my goodbyes and go back to the underworld forever or…"
Realisation slowly dawned on Annabeth's face, she stepped back eyes widening.
"Annabeth I…" "Immortality? That's the choice isn't it?" she asked her voice soft and calm "Either you die or you become an immortal. A god."
Percy hung his head "yes".

Silence.

Percy looked up at them again Nico's mouth was wide open in shock, but Annabeth's expression was impassive, apart from her eyes. They weren't as wide as they had been before but Percy could tell, from having known her so long, that the way she was staring at him meant she was rapidly analysing all the implications of what he had just told her. When her face didn't change for over a minute Percy decided that he'd finally agreed to something so idiotic even Annabeth, who'd put up with his impulsiveness and stupidity for so long, couldn't forgive him.
He sighed dejectedly "Listen I know this is big but it's a chance and if you're not gonna hate me for it then…" he was silenced by the look in her eyes, a desperate sadness but underneath it a small sliver of pride shining there.
Then she spoke the words he should have been glad to hear but instead made his spirits plummeted even further "You should accept"
"what?"
"Come on seaweed brain you died and the gods offer to make you an immortal for a second time, which by the way has never happened in the history of like forever, instead of confining you to the underworld. And you consider turning them down?"

Percy's world spun. He hadn't expected Annabeth to hear him out let alone agree to what the god's wanted. What was worse he didn't agree with their plan as he knew what it might mean.
"Annabeth" he began carefully "you know the reason I turned down immortality in the first place. If I accept it now I would be bound by the ancient laws just as any god. If that happened I might not be able to see you. I couldn't lose you again" Annabeth looked away from him then whispered "but you've already lost me. And I've already lost you"
"Annabeth what are you talking about?"
She turned back to him tears streaming down her face again "I lost you in Nevada two years ago!" Percy scrambled backwards so fast he passed through the wall behind him, when he came back through he saw Nico hugging her again and felt a growl start in the back of his throat.
What are you gonna do about it? He thought you're dead. He was beginning to dislike himself.

Eventually she composed herself and stood straight looking him full in the face.
"Whether you like it or not that part of our lives is over. There is no point in you turning down this offer over me, and I have to stop being so selfish and be happy for you." The words hit Percy like hammer blows but he didn't interrupt her. He knew this must be killing her inside but when Annabeth decides something nothing will change her mind. "Go to Olympus. Accept their offer. I… it's the right thing to do" she choked out the words "You should go now. I need to get back to camp and tell Chiron what's happened." As she turned away Percy felt as though the Manticore was running him through again, only this time the spike was in his heart.
Desperate he cried "Annabeth wait!" yet again she stopped and turned her eyes meeting his "Come with me, to Olympus. I want you there when…I want you with me" he sounded totally pathetic but he didn't care he just didn't want her to leave.

She shook her head "Percy you can't ask me to watch…"
"Please Annabeth." He was practically begging now "Please". She still looked unsure but seemed to realise just how desperate he was, he didn't want to be alone for the most important event of his existence.
"Ok Percy, for you" the answer made him so happy that he literally floated off the floor which made Annabeth crack a half smile.

"Wait a minute Annabeth, what about camp? Chiron needs to be informed of what's going on" Nico ruined the moment by bringing them both back to reality. Percy wished he wasn't here as he had wanted to talk to Annabeth alone and every time Nico spoke to her Percy felt a pang of jealousy though he still didn't know why. Nico was four years younger than her and she wasn't paying him much attention, but still he still made him uneasy.
Then Annabeth said "You go Nico. Tell Chiron what happened but don't tell the rest of the camp in case Percy can't" she paused but only briefly "Come back" she finished. Nico didn't seem very happy about this course of action, he kept eyeing Percy as if he expected him to try and kidnap Annabeth. He gripped the pommel of his sword and said "Fine. I'll be waiting for you back at the big house" the way he said it, it sounded almost like a threat but to who Percy wasn't sure. Without another word Nico turned away from them and melted in to the shadows in the hallway.
"I thought he took to take it quite well" Percy joked and Annabeth almost smiled again.
"Come on seaweed brain we you don't want to be late. After all it is your birthday".