Chapter 7-

Persephone wondered if this was what death felt like. An eerie calm settled around her, for once, she didn't feel the need to move, she didn't feel fear or anger, or disappointment. Nobody would bother her here, she was safe.

"Safety is an illusion." Lupa's voice echoes throughout her head. "It's a good lesson to learn." Persephone opened her eyes and was surprised to see herself lying in a beautiful field filled with wildflowers and a soft, billowing breeze.

"Where are we?" Percy questioned, looking around herself in wonder. Lupa chuckled and Persephone brought looked at her, surprised to find the goddess in human form.

"We're in a place your head created." She answered, standing and holding out her hand for Percy to grab. Lupa was dressed in a dark, silver dress and Persephone looked down to see that she was in a light teal dress.

"Why are we dressed like this?" Persephone questioned lightly. The goddess shrugged and began walking in the direction of a giant mountain.

"We need to talk," Lupa spoke lightly, and Percy looked at her mentor in surprise. "You left Rome in a hurry, I was never able to say goodbye." Percy shrugged at her words.

"I never knew you cared." At her words, Lupa pulled her to a stop, spinning her around.

"Of course I care. I care about every single one of my pupils." Lupa answered. Percy nodded her head and looked to the sun, watching its streak through the clouds onto the dark, green grass.

"Okay, so what are you here for?" Persephone questioned, eyeing the mountain in disdain, knowing that she would be climbing one exactly like it soon.

"I'm here to warn you." Lupa replied anonymously. Persephone glared at her before sighing and shaking her head.

"About what?"

"Kronos is rising even faster than he did several years ago. He already has an extensive army at his fingertips and will use them as he wants." Lupa glanced at her.

"I know-"

"No, you don't know. Reyna sent several of our older, more experienced demigods out and only a few came back. They reported that massive amounts of monsters are moving towards Mount Orthys." Percy hissed at this news and Lupa looked at her with worry.

"Anthony and I'll be fine." She growled, walking away a little quicker then she meant too.

"Persephone, wait!" Lupa called, her voice was urgent, and Percy turned around angrily.

"How do I get out of here?" she questioned, madly searching for a door or something that would help her to get back to the real world.

"You just wish for it." Lupa answered sadly, turning to walk away from the demigod she loved like a daughter, in sadness.

Xxx

For a moment, all Persephone could do was listen to her surroundings. People yelled and feet scrambled up and down stairs, towards and away from her. As she went to inhale her first breath, pain flared through her side and she realized what it felt like to drown. The water in her lungs was evil, unable to be controlled by her. It prevented her from breathing the cold, calm air and swirled in her lungs, spiraling the pain upward. She began to cough, a deep, hacking sound that brought odd relief to her lungs. She threw herself sideways and water streamed from her mouth and onto the hard floor. A hand touched her back, murmuring soft words. It was then that Persephone realized her fear. It trembled through her, forcing energy that wasn't there into making the storm around them.

"I'm okay." She was surprised by how rough her voice was. It clicked in and out and only half of each word was actually said. She rolled onto her back and too deep, shuddering breaths, closing her eyes and letting the storm within and around her calm.

"Easy, don't talk. I think you ruptured your vocal cord and probably did some damage to your lungs." Apollo's voice came from somewhere above her. She tried to breathe deeply, noticing that she could catch her breath and it came with a harsh, rasping sound.

"You think?" she growled. It was more like air passing through her throat then anything and she winced. Opening her eyes, she saw Apollo frowning down at her.

"Seriously, don't talk." He growled back. She nodded and closed her eyes again, knowing that he'd probably do something to make it better. For several moments, she just breathed, the pain began to fade and she was able to think clearer than before. "Alright, that's all I can do for now." He sighed deeply and she opened her eyes, sitting up. "Keep talking to a minimum for at least the next two days and try not to overexert yourself." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair as she gave him a pointed look.

"Really?" she rasped, he rolled his eyes at her and held out a hand to help her stand up.

"With the quest and all, I doubt you'll be able to do that." He nodded with a sigh and she grinned at him.

"Maybe it'll give me an excuse not to talk to Anthony." He looked at her in surprise, understanding what she said although half of it was broken by air whistling through her throat.

"Right." He paused and tilted his head to watch her for a second. Persephone looked around, realizing that the storm had died down and nobody was down in the living room but them.

"Do you have a drachma I could borrow?" she questioned. Apollo raised an eyebrow at her, but didn't question it as he flipped it towards her. In an instant, she created a fine mist in the room and let a little sunlight burst through the clouds she had created. "Camp Half blood, Anthony Chase." She hissed. Apollo stood behind the rainbow, watching her, but not questioning her motives.
"Glad you finally decided to show your face." Anthony's voice came from somewhere to the left of the screen before he appeared. Percy rolled her eyes at his sarcasm and glared.

"Hordes of monsters are heading towards Orthy's. We leave from here at five a.m. tomorrow, bring lots of nectar, we'll be hyping ourselves up for a long run." With that, she slashed through the message, not waiting for his answer. The last she saw was him staring in surprise at how hoarse her voice was and of what she had just said.