Two chapters in a day. What is this... burst of inspiration?!
By the way, I think I should also put in a little trigger warning. I think you all know the recipe now- Percy's hurt = Ray hating himself.
And BookishDreams, thanks, I'll watch myself for Percival's spelling from here on out. And thank you all who have favorited, followed, and reviewed this story. May Akatosh bless you all with his gift!
Disclaimer : I own nuffin'
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Night and Shadows
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Ray didn't know what it was. He felt it in his blood, in his bones, like he was expecting something... something. He dreamt about it, that... boy... and that girl... with... a younger girl and finally... a... young satyr. He could feel it, today, something was supposed to happen, but he didn't know what. Something... big? But what? And why was it him out of all people would be given this vision?
Shaking his head, Ray continued eating his lunch. Percy was sitting and laughing on the couch, watching a replayed episode of Spongebob. Ray didn't understood why Percy was so amused and interested at that yellow literal(?) sponge. Maybe it was because the stories took place in the sea? Well, highly unrealistic sea, yes, but a sea nevertheless. Gabe was somewhere in the house, minding his own business. Ray wasn't complaining.
"You'll be leaving in an hour, Ray," Sally said, smiling as she buttered a piece of toast for Percy. "I think you should prepare your things."
The laughter from the living room suddenly ceased, and Percy bursted into the kitchen. Ray sometimes wondered how sharp his brother's hearing were. One time he muttered "Cookies" under his breath and Percy ran down from the second floor.
"You're leaving again?!" Percy asked, eyes wide in disbelief. "Can't you just stay home for at least this summer, Ray? You always leave!"
Well... what could he say? That if he didn't go then there was a possibility he'd meet a giant five-headed serpent on his way home from wherever he was going? And since he didn't go and didn't train an ancient military training at the camp he wouldn't know how to kill the said serpent? And because of that he could actually die? Definitely not.
So he said the next best thing. "You'll find out about it when you're older," Ray replied, pointing his fork at his younger brother.
"What? You're only four years older than me!" Percy pouted.
Ray went back to his food. "Exactly. You're still seven." He then gave an amused look at his brother. "A kid."
"And you're just eleven!" Percy argued back. "You're still a kid too!"
"Boys, stop." Sally sighed. "Ray, eat. And Percy, here's your toast."
The youngest Jackson grudgingly accepted the bread and slowly nibbled on it, sitting on a chair beside Ray. It was obvious Percy didn't like his older brother was always leaving the house on summer, but really, what can Ray do? The camp provided essential knowledge to him about this dangerous (yet fun at times) life that he lived. Ray wished nothing more than bring Percy, or for that matter, even his mom, but he really, really hated that day when he had to make Percy drink that Lethe water three years ago. Ever since then, he didn't want to bring Percy with him. That is, until he was ready to go to camp.
Which was just a few years away. Now, Ray had learned patience. Though, Ray wouldn't think twice to give a gallon of Lethe water to Gabe. Okay then, time to change subject.
"Hey, Percy," Ray suddenly said.
Percy looked up. "Yeah?"
"Do you still have that stone I gave you?"
Percy looked offended. "Of course I do!"
Ray chuckled. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything by that. Anyway... can I see it?"
Shrugging, Percy handed his older brother his white stone half. Like Ray's own, Percy's white stone half glowed, but unlike his that glowed white, it glowed a dark purple light. Well, they were in the middle of the day, so the light didn't shine too bright. Percy had attached his stone half to a thick, leather string.
"Where did you get this?" Ray asked with a raised eyebrow and feeling the string's texture between his fingers.
Percy took a bite out of his toast. "I found it laying around. I'd figured it was easier to sling it over my neck than to carry it on my hand all the time."
Smart. "You figured it out on your own? I'm shocked!" Ray said, gasping dramatically and putting a hand over his heart.
"Hey!"
Ray laughed, and gave his pouting younger brother his necklace back. "You're so easy to annoy, you know that brother?"
Percy rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
Ray just chuckled again. "Yeah, yeah. By the way, why did you keep it?"
Percy frowned and bit his toast. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Well..." Ray furrowed his eyebrows. "It's been years since I gave you that. Don't you feel, oh, I dunno, that it's stupid or something?"
Percy looked offended again. Man, his little brother was so easy to rile up, wasn't he? "Your gifts aren't stupid, Ray! It never has, and it never will!"
Ray was surprised at this outburst. "Wow. I'm grateful, really, I am. But you can say the truth, Percy. You don't have to spare my feelings."
"I already am!" Percy retorted. "That's the truth, whether you like it or not." Percy huffed and looked away, munching his toast grumpily. Sally smiled, but she didn't turn around from the dishes she was washing.
Ray smiled and leaned back in his seat. Okay, good, Percy was keeping his stone half, which means he would be protected by it. Ray had no idea what happened whenever he used it to use magic, but everyone around him always said that he could either conjure up a shield or a barrier, or shoot projectiles. If that wasn't useful, he didn't know what was.
Ray was also pleased, and relieved, that Percy still genuinely liked the stone. Other than glowing a weird purple hue, the stone hadn't really done anything of significance to Percy. So maybe it did held a sentimental value to Percy. Ray let out a short chuckle and drank his orange juice.
They continued to eat in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Percy was focused on his piece of bread, and Ray on his food. Sally hummed a tune as she scrubbed the plate in her hands. After a while, Ray pushed his plate.
"Finished," he told his mom, then he glanced at Percy, who was eating his second slice of bread. Thinking that he didn't want to bug his little brother more than he needed, he chose to go to his room instead to inspect his things.
Since his previous bag was scorched years ago by a wyvern's fire breath, Sally bought him a new, smaller one. Ray didn't complain, because that meant he just needed to bring fewer things, and that meant he won't be running slow when he needed to run away from strong monsters or he wouldn't need to throw it down and risked it being destroyed.
Okay... stone? Ray pulled the item from his hoodie pocket. Check. Clothes? Ray rifled through his bag, and found several of them. Check. Alright, what was next... toothbrush? He found it when he was rifling through his things. Okay then, check.
He spent several minutes checking his things, and shrugged, deciding that it was enough. He then walked downstairs, and found Percy watching the Spongebob cartoon again, but instead of smiling and laughing, his face was glum.
Ray gritted his teeth. 'Now do you see what you have done?!' Ray yelled mentally at himself. 'Look! He's sad, and it's all your fault! He loves you, deeply, and you... what did you do?! You only make him sad! Stupid stupid stupid-!'
Not noticing his older brother's internal conflict, Percy turned around and smiled. "There you are, Ray! You wanna play something?"
Snapping himself out of his mind-screaming, Ray blinked and looked at Percy. But he put one hand behind his back, clenching his fist tightly, feeling, and accepting, the pain. Also hoping to draw out blood. That was what the least he deserved for making such a happy, pure, innocent soul like Percy be looking depressed because of him. "Uh... sure. What do you want to do?"
Percy grinned wider, and pointed a cardboard box at the corner of the room. "Let's play some Lego!" he chirped happily. At this, Ray couldn't help but smiled back.
"Sure." Percy's eyes lit up and he ran as fast as his little legs could carry him to the cardboard box. Ray unclenched his left fist then stared at it in disappointment, and annoyance, that not even a speck of blood had appeared. He gritted his teeth again, and using his right hand, he punched his left arm.
He kept punching his left arm furiously, channeling his rage and loathing on himself into fists that collided with his own limb. He kept punching it, ignoring his left arm that was now really, really hurting, and ignoring the tear that stung his eyes. He stopped to pant, and he unrolled his jacket sleeve. He saw that the spot he had been hitting had turned slightly blue. A bruise.
He sneered at it, then rolled the sleeve back down. What a pathetic, weak body. He was about to punch his right arm instead using his left hand, but he had forgotten that Percy asked him to play.
"Ray?" Percy said, frowning, the cardboard box tucked under the crook of his arm. There was confusion, worry, and fear in his bright sea-green eyes. But not fear of him, but instead fear for him. "W-what are you doing? W-why are you hitting yourself?"
Why did the gods gave Percy a brother like him? Him, out of all people! "Hm? Oh, it's nothing, Percy," Ray lied, "I felt like something was crawling down my arm. It was a bug. It's gone now."
Ray really hated lying to his brother, and he hated more that the lie flowed easily through his lips. "Oh! We should see mom! Maybe that bug was poisonous or something!" Percy offered, worry now dominating his features.
Ray sighed. "That won't be necessary. I'm fine, and that bug was just an ant."
"Oh. Poor ant."
Ray snorted. "I'm touched by your concern," he said sarcastically. Really, he was. Percy grinned brightly at him.
~0~
Ray silently walked up to the hill, his bag slung over his shoulder, his purple eyes glazed in boredom. He should've brought... well, he should've brought something that could pass the time. He wasn't allowed to buy an MP3 player, and now he understood why. Still though, he'd rather face monsters than face boredom.
Oh well. No time for regrets now, he supposed.
As he walked, he let his mind wander, letting himself remembering things that he had done and the things he should do. Percy's safety from Gabe while he was away? Check. Mom had hired a babysitter after she figured out that Gabe wasn't doing that good job of being a father. Several, after a few coaxing from Ray. Okay... what was next? Oh yeah, Percival had told him about his plan to tame a monster. Perhaps they should do it now? But what, though? A hellhound?
Ray shook his head. Hellhounds were agressive, and violent, and really liked to rip apart demigods. It would literally need a lifetime to tame one. He'll think about it later when he meets Percival.
Ray was musing things like what should he get Percy for birthday, and what would Percy bring him for birthday, when he realized he had reached the top of the hill.
Ray finally entered the camp boundaries, and Percival was waiting for him, reading a book underneath a tree. Percival seemed to be there for awhile, if that stack of books was any indication. Hearing Ray walked closer, Percival finally glanced up, then closed his book.
"You're late," Percival commented, standing up. Ray rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, sorry, I was busy fighting boredom," Ray said sarcastically, "Thank the gods I made it out with my limbs still attached."
Percival snorted, then he tidy up his books. Ray saw the books his best friend was reading; stories about Greek heroes. Then he glanced at the one in Percival's hand : To Kill a Mockingbird.
Percival followed Ray's line of sight then shrugged. "Absolutely no clue on how to kill a mockingbird whatsoever," he said, then stood up straight, carrying the stack of books like it was nothing.
"Why would you kill a mockingbird?"
"You'll never know when you have to kill one."
Ray snorted. "Yeah, whatever, owl head. See you later."
"Owl head? Seriously?" Percival raised an eyebrow. "Fine, see you too, fish face."
Ray grinned slightly and continued to walk to Hermes' cabin. The inside hadn't changed since the last time he was there. Well, it was a bit more crowded than before, but his space was still relatively empty. As he walked closer, he saw a girl around his age dropped a sleeping bag and plopped down.
Ray narrowed his eyes.
"Hey, you," Ray said, standing over the girl who closed her eyes. But Ray knew she wasn't sleeping. "That's my spot."
The girl didn't move. Instead, she cracked one of her eyes open and stared boredly at Ray, then closed her eye again.
Ray was about to speak again but the girl beat him to it, "So what if I took your spot, pipsqueak?"
Okay, so this was one of those bullies kind of girl. And Ray was hoping he would be able to take a nap before supper time. So much for peace and quiet. "So I'd appreciate it if you don't sleep there."
The girl fully opened her eyes and sneered. Which wasn't intimidating at all considering she looked younger than him (he was eleven) and plus the fact Ray had faced a wyvern when he was eight. "I don't see your name here," she pointed out, "So I can take this place. Why don't you go look for another spot?"
Oh right, she was correct. It wasn't technically his. Those beatings from Gabe and the lack of sleep from overworrying things was starting to catch up on him. Maybe he'd ask Chiron to let him sleep in for the first few days. "...You're right," Ray sighed. "It's not my spot. Sorry for disturbing you."
Ray turned around but the girl suddenly stood up. "Wait! You're just gonna walk away like that?!" she asked, eyes wide like she was surprised.
Ray frowned. "Well... yes," he said hesitantly. "What do you think I was going to do?"
"I don't know... I thought you were going to punch me or shoo me away or something."
"Why on Earth would I do that?"
"Because that's what normal humans do?"she said back with a raised eyebrow.
"Then it's a good thing we're half-human," Ray replied, shrugging. "Honestly, just keep it. This cabin had the 'Finders Keepers' rule anyway." And because of that Ray really needed to watch his things, in case he dropped it or it got stolen and one of his cabinmates would claim the item. One time he had lost his stone half and a guy claimed it was his. After a few seconds of intimidation from Ray (apparently not everyone felt comfortable near some guy who had purple eyes) he relented and gave the stone back.
She suddenly sighed. "This is not what I expected it would turn out to be," she said. She held out her hand. "I guess we should start from the beginning. I'm Alexa. Alexa Clayton."
Ray raised an eyebrow. This was not he thought would happen, too. Oh well. The more the merrier, he supposed. It was about time he made new friends, anyway. He couldn't rely on Percival all the time. "I'm Ray. Ray Jackson."
Alexa seemed surprised. "Wow. You're the famous Ray Jackson? The one that defeated a dragon when he was eight years old?"
He should've expected the news to spread. Or should've expected the news wasn't supposed to die in just three years time. Ugh, and he was hoping to stay under the radar. "Wasn't me. I merely shot down the thing. My friend Percival was the one who ended its life," he explained. "Oh, and call it a wyvern. Percival hates it when people call something incorrectly."
"Okay then. By the way, how did you do that? Are you a child of the Big Three or something?"
She's smart, Ray mused. But, then again, normal demigods couldn't really bring down a wyvern in one shot. Moreso an eight year-old. "Not really. Well, I don't know. I'm still undetermined."
Alexa put a hand on her chin, squinting at him and scrutinizing him closely. "Is that so? I'm a child of Hermes, by the way."
Ray was surprised. For a child of Hermes, she didn't look like someone who would steal something for someone else. More like threatening money from someone else. "Really? I honestly thought you were an unclaimed child of Ares or something."
"I get that a lot," Alexa replied, shrugging. She stared at Ray's eyes, so long that Ray started fidgeting. "Wow. Your eyes are weird."
"I get that a lot, too," Ray answered, shrugging. He took some time to inspect Alexa herself. Her long black hair wasn't tidy, or at least combed, but it wasn't like it was too messy or something like that. Her skin was tanned- just what he expected from a girl like her. "And you know, it's rude to stare. But I have a feeling you don't really care about such trivial things."
"I don't indeed," Alexa chuckled. "You're not worried I'm a child of Hermes, though?"
His hands suddenly shot to his pocket, where his wallet laid. He couldn't afford to lose the money. Not without paying Gabe money for his poker party. He didn't had the money to pay the money once, and as a result he got his teeth punched in. One fell. Thankfully, nothing his water healing abilities couldn't fix (well, except for sickness), but still, it didn't reduce the pain. What a nuisance.
Noticing this, Alexa chuckled, waving her hand. "Oh, don't worry. I won't steal your money. That's my brothers' duty."
Ray would admit that Hermes' boys were known for their pickpocketing skills. He himself utilised their abilities to gather money. Ray couldn't help but grin, though. "You seem like a decent fellow. I'd hate to be bullied by you."
Alexa smirked back. "You seem like a decent fellow. I'd hate to bully you."
They laughed at that for a few seconds, and when their laughter died down, they had smirks on their faces. This girl wasn't so bad, he supposed. Then, Ray nodded at her in greeting. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Clayton, but now I have to search for another spot to sleep in."
Alexa shook her head. "You won't have to do that. I was just about to go to a different spot, anyway."
Ray raised an eyebrow. "So you're telling me that you just laid there to annoy me? You're joking."
She shrugged. "See you later, Jackson. And don't let any of my brothers' got a hand on any type of cream."
"Why?"
"Do you want to get your sleeping bag to be filled with it?"
Noted. "I'll keep that in mind."
Alexa nodded again and picked up her sleeping bag, already wandering around to find an unoccupied space in the overcrowded cabin. Ray himself set down his sleeping bag and laid in it, letting his mind wander again before letting himself sleep.
So this was how it felt to make new friends. Interesting. He really hoped she wouldn't be his enemy in camp, though. The lesser he made troubles the more unlikely Zeus or any of his godly children would notice. He juggled his stone half between his fingers, a habit he always did when he was thinking.
Something was stirring inside of him, he noticed. Well, not stirring, but he felt that the 'something' he felt this morning was supposed to happen here. But what? Was the camp going to be attacked by monsters? Hmm... no, he didn't think so. In his dreams, he saw four children; a boy that seemed a few years older than him, a girl around his age, another girl around Percy's age, and a young satyr. Only four. Four monsters disguising as little children weren't a threat- just a minor annoyance.
Then his thoughts went to those children. Perhaps they were demigods? But why would he dreamt about them? Were they someone who would move the gears of fate? Setting things in motion? Now that was plausible, Ray thought. The world had a thing called a Butterfly Effect. Whatever happened, no matter how small, could inflict something huge in the future, sooner or later.
Ray thought about it for a moment, until he chose to take a nap.
~0~
After waking up in the afternoon and joining his cabinmates for dinner, Ray settled down in his sleeping bag once more. It was uneventful, and nothing worth mentioning, so he decided to sleep.
Then his eyes suddenly jolted open.
"What the...?" Ray sat up and looked around, but the entire cabin had fell asleep. So it wasn't a prank. He looked outside and saw the sky was pitch black. Which meant it was still at night. But he suddenly didn't feel sleepy at all. Did somebody put something in his food at dinner or something?
When he looked through the window, something caught his eyes. A crow, standing on one of the branches on a tree. And it was staring at him. Ray stared back. He could see intelligence in the crow's black eyes. Its feathers were pitch black, along with its beak and talons. It croaked at him, then nodded.
What...?
Ray frowned. The crow croaked once more and nodded, but its beak was like beckoning him. Ray blinked. He glanced around, but none of his cabinmates seemed awake at this. Shrugging, Ray got out of his sleeping bag and tip-toed outside, clutching his stone half just in case.
Outside, the crow nodded at him again. Good Lord this was confusing.
"You... do you want me to do something?" Ray hesitantly asked. He read fairy tales about magical animals that would lead the protagonist to something interesting, like a new world they had never seen before or a magical artifact. But Ray was a demigod. If a magical animal was beckoning him, there was a big chance it'll kill him.
The crow seemed able to read his mind, because it shook its head.
"Who... who are you?" Ray asked again. Maybe this was a messenger from a god or something. But crows weren't Zeus' sacred animals, so Ray felt relatively safe.
The crow flew down from the branch and landed on the ground in front of him. Feeling braver, Ray held out his arm. The crow perched on his shoulder, and pointed its talon at his hand. Ray frowned, but he opened his hand, revealing his glowing black stone.
Then the crow, using its talon, pointed at itself, then at the stone.
"Uh... you... want the stone? Sorry, but I think I'll keep it."
The crow shook its head, then flew down to the ground. It picked up a random rock and flew back to his arm, giving the rock to a confused Ray, then pointed at itself again.
"So..." Ray frowned. He was never good at playing pretend with Percy. "You were the one who gave me the stone?"
It shook its head again. The crow then made a giving motion to Ray, then pointed at the stone. Then made another giving motion using its talon at Ray once again, then pointed at itself.
"Wait..." Ray furrowed his eyebrows. This was weird, but... did it meant what he thought it meant? "So... whoever gave me this stone... also sent you?" he answered hesitantly.
The crow nodded.
"But... who?"
The crow didn't do anything. Ray decided to scratch its head, and the crow croaked. Was that the right thing to do, though? He never had a bird before, only a cat, and the cat, Cookies, died when she got hit by a truck when she was crossing the road. Percy and Ray cried at her death, but that was a story for another day. At least Cookied liked it when somebody scratched her head. What would a crow like?
The crow suddenly flew from his hand and perched on a branch, facing somewhere to the distance. It then turned its head slightly at Ray. The boy frowned at first, but then realization crossed his mind. After thinking for a while, Ray nodded.
"Okay then," he said, "Lead the way."
The crow nodded back and flew, Ray following it on the ground, already clutching his glowing stone half.
~0~
And that's it for today, mortals! Now, give me your reviews or I'll gut you like a horker!
-Yami Tensei
...Psyche.
~0~
Even at a distance, Ray could hear the sound of fighting. Weapons clashing and feet running, followed by heavier footsteps. Monsters. When Ray finally reached the top of the hill, the crow perched on his outstretched arm, squawking at something below. He looked down and saw the four children in his dreams.
Followed by a huge group of monsters. Hellhounds, cyclopes, and a few others he didn't quite recognize. The girl that wore punk things was limping. The one leading, a blond boy a few years older than him, noticed Ray standing on the hill.
"HEY!" he yelled, waving his arms. "HELP! SHE'S HURT!"
Ray gritted his teeth, and pointed his arm below- the one clutching the stone half. Memories be damned, these demigods needed his help. For a few terrifying seconds, nothing happened.
The group of monsters was getting closer, and futher observation showed that all four of them had wounds on them. Ray was starting to panic himself. How the Hell did do this again?! In his panicked state, a figure ran past him, his medium-length blond hair billowing past him.
"What are you waiting for, Jackson?!" Percival yelled at his best friend, a sword clutched in his hand. "Let's go!"
Ray growled at his stone, then pocketed it again. Stupid thing. "Right behind you!" Ray yelled back. After Percival ran downhill, Ray looked at the crow.
"You, call for help," he ordered it. "Go find Chiron in the big house. He's a centaur!"
The crow nodded, and it flew away. After a few seconds of just standing there, Ray was about to run downhill and join in the fight. But then he remembered something. He didn't bring any weapon on him.
Ray's eye twitched. This was utterly ridiculous. Now how should he fight? Running back to camp would just be a waste of time, but standing here with no weapon whatsoever was just idiotic. Then a thought passed him. Why not be a diversion?
"Jackson!" Percival yelled as he stabbed a hellhound, and it melted into shadows. He was standing on the back of the group, handling numerous monsters at once. "Just use the godsdamned stone! Quickly!"
Ray growled at his stone. This thing better work. He held out the stone again, and he felt it. A pulse of magical energy, humming in the middle of the stone. But Ray needed more. He let out a yell, and he felt the pulse bursted through his arm, and spreading to his body. A wave of pure force exploded in the clearing.
~0~
Little boy... the child of Athena...a voice mused. I have no use for useless children like you. However, we could train you to be a proper fighter, boy.
Percival looked down at the gaping pit. In his dream, he stood at the edge of a chasm so deep it was pitch black and Percival wasn't sure that the thing had a bottom. He instantly knew the dream brought him to the bottomless pit, Tartarus. And if the information he gathered from around the camp and the books he read, he was pretty sure that voice that called him was Kronos himself.
If he was in his physical body, Percival would be terrified out of his skin. But oddly, he felt only indifference. Uncaring. Cold. If this was how it felt to be a spirit, Percival was sure he'd find a way to relieve himself of his existence.
Boy... are you listening to me?
Percival's head snapped up. Oh yeah, there was the supposedly king of the Titans. Percival tried to speak, to ask if he was indeed in front of (or above) the Titan lord, but no sound came out. It didn't seem to be a problem, however.
Interesting... you are young. Too young. Yet your intelligence... it rivals your older half-siblings. The voice sounded amused, and slightly surprised. I am indeed Kronos, the Titan Lord! I could use someone with your talents in my army, boy. Join us, and your abilities shall be truly unleashed! Your intelligence shall pass even Athena, your mother!
Percival tried to ask, Why would I want that?
No interest in power, hmm...? How about join me to strike down those gods?! Those backstabbing, sorry excuses of immortal beings!
Percival narrowed his eyes.
Yes... I know many things, child. I know about your mother, who left you in the hands of the man you loath to call father! She betrayed you, like my youngest son who betrayed me! Together, we shall strike them back! Make them know how it feels to be betrayed!
Percival frowned, and tried to reply again, but something gripped his shoulders. Something cold, and ethereal. He turned around, and noticed that many white, wispy humanoid things were holding him were behind him. If this was any other situation, he would scream at the sight of ghosts (spirits), but he himself was one, so he didn't.
No... wake! The spirits whispered super-loudly, their voices trembling with fear. Wake! Wake! Wake! Wake up!
Suddenly, he now felt like something was gripping his entire body. And whatever it was, it started pulling him backward. The spirits also tightened their grips on him, try pulling him away from the pit.
Wake, boy!
Join me, boy!
WAKE!
JOIN ME!
Percival jolted up in his bed. He looked outside, and noticed that it was practically midnight right now. He sat on his bed, panting and rubbed his forehead, feeling beads of sweat on his fingertips. That dream... why was he there? Why did Kronos call him? What did he meant by 'Strike down those gods?' Why...
Percival blinked. Why on Earth did he woke up?
Did... did he dreamt about something? Weird... he... he didn't remember whatever it was.
Sighing, he dropped down from his bed, already thinking that he won't be sleeping anymore tonight. Deciding that he wanted some fresh wind, he stepped outside, only to see Ray running away from camp.
Eye twitching, Percival picked up a sword from a weapons rack and ran outside, already thinking how stupid could his best friend be sometimes. He ran, followning his best friend until Ray stopped on the hill, near where they fought and defeated their first monster, the wyvern.
Of course, he was surprised when he saw the battle. So when Ray stood still while holding his stone and a crow on his arm, Percival ran past him, already unsheathing his sword.
"What are you waiting for, Jackson?!" he yelled. "Let's go!"
Ray growled at his stone and yelled, "Right behind you!"
Percival had no idea how Ray was supposed to fight. He didn't bring any weapon with him. but, he supposed, that stone was a magical artifact of some sort.
Percival focused his attention at the group of kids below. The punk girl was limping, behind the group and fended off monsters. Then, in the middle was a blonde girl with intelligent, but also fear-filled, grey eyes and Percival instantly knew that this girl was one of his half-siblings. In front of her was a boy a few years older than himself, and right in front of the group was a half-human, half-don- goat creature. A satyr. Then this group was demigods, then? Being led here by this satyr?
Percival shook his head. Now was not the time to overthink things. He immediately dashed past the panting, limping punk and swung his sword downwards, making a hellhound howl in pain and staggered backward.
The punk girl looked at him in surprise, and gratitude, but Percival just glared at her. "What are you waiting for?!" he snapped. "Go!"
The girl blinked, then her face slowly morphed into a face of determination. "You're right," she said. "Thanks."
"Just go, godsdammit!"
Percival whipped around just at the moment the hellhound from before lunged at him. He drew his silver dagger from its sheath, and ducked under the underworld beast. He plunged the carved blade into the beast's chest and it dissolved into shadows just above him.
A cyclops swung its club at him, but Percival already moved to another place. He jumped and stabbed the cyclops face with his sword. The one-eyed humanoid screamed out in pain and dropped its club, rubbing its eye. Percival wasted no time and stabbed its knee. The monster dropped to one knee and Percival sliced off its head. It turned into dust instantly.
He dealt the same treatment with another hellhound that jumped at him, and it melted into a puddle of shadows. He turned at Ray who was just standing there on top of the hill.
"Jackson!" he shouted, irritated. "Just use the godsdamned stone! Quickly!"
That snapped his best friend, and he held out his stone again. Satisfied, Percival shifted his attention back at the group of monsters who were now watching him warily. Sneering, Percival drew his weapons again and was about to charge at the monsters again, but he, along with everyone else there, was blown forward by something.
Groaning, Percieval glanced up, and he almost dropped his sword. The other four children looked up, and their eyes widened in shock, the youngest dropping her jaw.
Ray stood there, glaring at the monsters, but his eyes weren't... well, weren't the usual purple anymore. They were black. Dark orbs with white dots, like stars in the night sky. And the ground around him... the shadows seemed to meld together behind him.
"Die!" Ray roared, but he didn't sound like Ray. It was heavy, ancient, powerful, and... feminine. Almost immediately, black tendrils shot from the swirling puddle of darkness behind him, and it sliced through monsters like it was nothing. Everyone there was awed, amazed at the sheer energy that reverbrated through the area. It was... it was godly.
Now Percival was wondering just what the Hell was that stone.
The monsters howled in pain, and one by one dropped to the ground, either dissolving into dust or melting into shadows. But it was too late.
The punk girl screamed out in pain as a spear went through her stomach, thanks to a last ditch effort by a snake woman, who immediately split in a half by the dark whips. The girl's companions turned their heads so fast Percival was surprised they didn't break their necks.
"Thalia!" they cried out, and rushed at her. The assault of those black sharp tendrils had stopped, and Ray dropped to the ground. Deciding that his best friend was better than a stranger he just met, Percival ran at him instead.
Percival checked for breathing, and he sighed in relief when he felt it. So Ray was just unconscious. Good to know. He looked up, and noticed that Chiron in his centaur form and some of the campers had run over there, faces confused, but turned to horror when they saw the cut off grass, an unconscious camper, and four wounded children. The crow that Percival had seen perching on Ray's arm was now perched on a branch above them, looking down at Ray.
"What the..." Chiron suddenly snapped out of his shock, then rounded on the campers he had brought with him. "All of you, get help!"
The campers scrambled away. Chiron trotted at Percival and asked the question, "How's Ray?"
"He's fine," Percival replied, voice stable. "He's just unconscious. I think you'd better check on those four."
Chiron nodded and trotted away. Percival decided that laying on dirt facedown wasn't a comfortable position, so he turned his best friend over and propped his back on a tree, then watched as the four children and Chiron talked frantically.
Percival frowned. Something was odd, though. When Ray did magic using the stone, he never fell unconscious before, except the first time they arrived at camp. Then again, Ray's eyes never changed before. And his voice... it was like another entity had possessed him and used him.
Percival winced when he felt a sting in his head. Damn, he should've never overthink things.
Sighing, he watched the punk girl- Thalia, he remembered- started to close her eyes. But then a blinding flash, accompanied by the sound of a thunderclap, engulfed the area.
Percival narrowed his eyes when the light faded and the dancing spots disappeared from his eyes as he saw a new figure standing there. The same man- god- who tried to kill his best friend years ago.
Zeus. Even saying that name left a bad taste in his mouth. Hmph. He noticed that the crow now perched on Ray's shoulder, preening its feathers. And this crow too, what was it? It wasn't a normal crow, that was for sure.
He switched his attention back when he heard Zeus saying something about 'forgiveness' and 'letting his daughter live longer' and BOOM! The place where Thalia laid was now occupied by a palm tree. What?
After another dramatic exit from Zeus, the children cried and wailed at the tree. At this, Percival surmised that whoever this Thalia was, she died. And by the way Zeus was saying he'd "let his daughter live longer" then Thalia was a child of Zeus.
Huh. So even Zeus' own children weren't save from monsters. But why didn't Zeus helped her, though? He came when she was dying, but when she was struggling to live, he was just watching. Observing. Practically, he was letting her die. Why?
Percival shook his head. He was getting cold. Someone died, for gods' sake! Even though Percival and this Thalia was just strangers, at least he should be mourning. But instead, Percival helped an unconscious Ray to his feet, and together, they stumbled back to camp. The crow from before squawked and flew ahead, heading to cabin eleven.
~0~
Now that's the real ending for this chapter. But seriously, please review.
-Yami Tensei
