Ch. 10
Last Chapter….
Without warning, she closed the last few inches between them and pressed her lips to his. She knew this was not like her but at the moment she didn't care. In this moment, it felt right and she wasn't going to argue right now as his hand came up and landed softly on her cheek. The kiss deepened a little as Reyna's hand found its way into his messy dark hair. She felt his tongue gently on her lips she involuntarily opened her mouth as she lost herself in the moment, her other hand finding its way into his hair as well and she pulled him closer.
The need for oxygen forced them to grudgingly break apart but they never broke eye contact, neither able to deny the intensity of what had just happened. Percy opened his mouth to speak when the sound of wires snapping and something crashing to the ground caused them both to shoot to their feet, their eyes immediately going to the woods behind them where the sound came from.
Out of the woods emerged a creature that made Reyna gasp and Percy to curse loudly as he realized how utterly screwed he was.
Now….
Percy put himself in between Reyna and the creature as he backed up a bit forcing her to do the same.
"What in the name of the gods is that?" Reyna asked nervously as she looked at the vaguely humanoid creature gawking at them from a dozen yards away.
Percy let out a humorless laugh, "Funny you should mention those gods, I don't think the Olympians would know much about this one."
Reyna was confused by his response. She stepped out from behind him and drew her gladius.
"I don't care what it is, it's going to die now."
"Reyna don't," Percy warned. "You don't know what you're doing. This isn't a monster you know how to fight."
"If it can bleed, then it can die." Reyna replied stepping towards the monster as it stalked forward.
"Don't!" Percy yelled as a huge gust of wind came in and knocked the Roman demigoddess right off her feet.
She looked up from her back to see 'Jack' with a pained expression on his face. He looked at her apologetically, "I am sorry about this but I don't have a choice anymore."
Reyna's face twisted into a confused expression as 'Jack' chanted a few words in a strange language. The air around him seemed to shimmer a bit before she gasped. There stood the teen she had met years earlier with Jason, the one that had saved them from Lycaon only to disappear never to be seen again; the teen she had never forgotten since that fateful day when he proclaimed they would need him on day. She noticed how this Perseus and Jack did look slightly similar now that she saw him again. His hair was darker and his eyes were a bright blue but instead of whites, his sclera were tinted yellow making his eyes all that more terrifying and appealing at the same time.
His face looked upset as he looked at her before it turned angry as he turned to the monster.
"So, the son of Thor comes out of the hiding." It grunted gruffly.
Percy's hand went to his bracelet as Mjolnir appeared his hand. Thunder rumbled loudly overhead and lightning flashed across the skies lighting up the starless night. A bolt of lightning dropped from the sky making Reyna gasp when it hit Percy but when the bright light vanished, he stood unharmed but now decked out in strange looking armor.
"Grendel, I believe," he growled back. "Hel brought you back did she? Then I suppose I will have to rectify that now, won't I?"
Grendel gave an amused grin before charging at the last child of Asgard. Percy hurled Mjolnir at the beast but Grendel dropped to the ground as it flew over him harmlessly before he jumped to his feet resuming his charge.
Percy smiled evilly Grendel closed in on him. He was about to lunge at the demigod when Mjolnir cracked the large gremlin like creature in the back sending him stumbling towards Percy who stepped aside, his hand reaching out as Mjolnir flew back to him.
Grendel crashed hard to the ground as Percy raised his hammer to attack again when a scream stopped him in his tracks. He turned to Reyna to see her being held by the hair by an even larger looking monster.
Percy eyes widened in realization and he cursed loudly.
"Damn it. Grendel and his mother. I should have known that." He growled at himself.
"I would drop that weapon son of lightning." The creature hissed at him.
Percy narrowed his eyes but glanced at Reyna who still had her gladius gripped tightly in her left hand. He dropped Mjolnir as he stared at her, shaking his head slightly, pleading for her to not do anything but the stubborn daughter of Bellona twisted around and drove the blade straight into the monster's stomach.
Reyna's eyes widened in disbelief when the weapon passed through the creature harmlessly.
Grendel's mother looked down at the weapon and smiled evilly as she yanked Reyna up off the ground by the hair.
"That wasn't very nice little girl. I think you need to be punished!"
Percy panicked. He glanced to see Grendel making his way up to his feet again while his mother had her fangs barred as Reyna tried to struggle but it was useless. He looked around as he felt his entire world crashing down. He was about to lose the first girl he ever kissed and one of his only friends and he was powerless to stop it.
As if responding to his sense of mind, thunder cracked overhead so loudly the very ground seemed to shake making Grendel and his mother stumble, the latter losing her grip on Reyna's hair as she fell roughly to the ground. Percy looked at the sky in shock, unsure of what exactly had just happened.
Despite his confusion, Percy didn't hesitate as his hand shot up, Mjolnir flew into it just as it reached its peak as Percy took one step forward and hurled the mighty hammer at the still disoriented monster. The weapon caught the monster in the chin and sent her flying backwards landing in a heap.
Before he could turn the Norse demigod was smacked hard from behind and sent flying into a tree a few feet away, Mjolnir slipping from his grasp when he collided. His armor protected him well but the impact left him slightly woozy. His eyes came back into focus just in time to find the monstrous ogre standing over him. He tried to roll aside but Grendel snatched him up by the armor and tossed to the left where he slammed into another tree.
Percy rolled over, his left arm bent in an unnatural direction. The son of Thor gritted his teeth and put his knee on his hand before jerked his arm to the left and snapping the bone back into place as he let out an agonized scream. He looked up to see a giant foot slam into his chest and send his sliding across the ground.
His mouth filled with the taste of his own blood and he knew he wasn't going to last much longer unless he somehow turned the tables.
He glanced up at Grendel who stood over him before the ogre raised its giant foot to stomp the demigod into the ground. As he prepared to roll the side, the monster grunted in pain and stumbled to his left as a large rock clocked him upside the head.
Percy looked up at Reyna who was searching for another large rock to use as a weapon, unaware of Grendel's mother stalking up behind her. Percy glanced around as saw Mjolnir a few yards away.
Grendel lumbered towards him again as Percy snatched up a handful of loose dirt and tossed it into the monster's eyes sending him staggering back temporarily blinded. The Norse demigod's hand shot up as Mjolnir answered his call, flying into his hand before Percy hurled it towards Reyna whose eyes went wide.
The might hammer of Thor flew over her head and caught the female ogre in the jaw for a second time, sending her to the ground in another heap.
Percy spun, holding his hand out behind him as Grendel cleared his vision and lunged at him. Percy dove forward just as Mjolnir hit his hand. He somersaulted forward, jumping to his feet again now behind the monster and swung Mjolnir with all he had, slamming it into the back Grendel's knee sending him to the ground with a sickening crunch of his knee. Grendel bellowed in agony as he looked down at his now disfigured knee before looking up and turning pale at what he found.
Percy stood over him and raised Mjolnir as clouds filled the night sky. Lightning flashed before a monstrous bolt dropped from the sky, connecting with the godly weapon as Percy drove the weapon into the chest of Grendel lighting up the area in a blinding light. When the light and dust cleared, Grendel was reduced to a pile of ashes.
Percy's head snapped to the monster's mother who was slowly coming to a few feet behind where Reyna was just staring at him with an unreadable expression. The look on her face broke his heart as he thought about everything he was going to lose now that she knew who he was; everything he worked for, the trust of the Romans, his friends Frank and Jason and what he had hoped would be a chance to get to know Reyna better.
His eyes moved from Reyna to the monster as his sorrow turned to anger and then rage. He stalked towards the monster with lightning dancing across his eyes.
"You will regret coming here, I promise you that." He growled at her as she finally seemed to come to and saw the son of Thor standing over her with Mjolnir in his hand as pure hatred in his eyes.
"We didn't have a choice. She made us." The monster pleaded.
Percy's eyes flashed and sparks danced off his skin.
"And now I will show you how much of as mistake that truly was."
He raised Mjolnir and the monster turned its head expecting death but screamed in agony as Mjolnir slammed into her knee with a sickening crunch.
"I had a home here!" Percy snarled raising his arm again and slamming the weapon into her other leg. "I had friends!" He yelled before crushing her arm she tried to raise it to defend herself. "And now I have nothing because of you and this stupid war! Hel will pay for this just as you will pay for it now!" He said raising the weapon up again. Thunder cracked so loudly overhead that Reyna flinched from her spot behind him before she watched him bring it down on the monster's head flattening it to the ground as blood, bones and brain shot out in every direction before the monster dissolved at last.
Percy stood over the spot where the monster had been lying breathing heavily as his anger and rage slowly started to subside. He knew what was waiting behind him but refused to turn around and face it knowing how much it was going to hurt.
After a moment he gathered his courage and turned around to face the inevitable.
Reyna was just staring at him. Her face didn't give away any emotion. She just stared, not saying a word as he waited for her to gather herself again.
After a minute her eyes narrowed, "You. I remember you. You saved Jason and I years ago from Lycaon and his pack. This is what he meant when he recognized you."
Percy just nodded but didn't reply. He wasn't sure if she would even let him explain but he waited for her to continue.
Reyna glared for another minute before she took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Why?"
Percy shook his head, "Why what?"
Reyna's grip on her gladius tightened as she held it at her side.
"Why the lies? Why deceive us? Make up this fake identity to infiltrate our camp? Are you an enemy?"
Percy shook his head, "I had no other options. What I told you about my experience on Mount Othrys wasn't the whole truth."
Reyna stayed in her spot and just looked at him expectantly.
"This is going to be hard for you to understand Reyna. The gods of Olympus have been keeping a secret from you for a long time. If you wish to know the truth I will tell you but the answer is not likely to be one you like."
Reyna didn't waver and continued looking at him with her gladius still gripped tightly.
"When I was on Mount Othrys, I did not rescue the goddess Diana." He began as Reyna narrowed her eyes. "I rescued the goddess Artemis."
Reyna's expression turned confused, "What?"
"The gods, they have a secret." He explained. "They have two aspects. A Greek one and a Roman one."
Reyna's eyes widened but he continued before she could interrupt.
"They are the same gods but they aren't. It's like they have split personalities, a Greek one and a Roman one. And both sides make demigods. Across the country is another camp, a camp full of Greek demigods."
"Impossible." Reyna interjected. "We would know about them."
Percy shook his head, "During the American Civil War, it wasn't just North versus South. It was Greeks versus Romans as well and it was bloody. Hundreds of demigods were killed and even more injured badly. After the war, the gods wiped the minds of both sides and have taken great effort in making sure the two groups don't know about each other. When I was on Othrys, it was with two Greek demigods and two hunters and we rescued Diana in her Greek aspect Artemis. After she was rescued, I went to Olympus with the goddess."
Reyna's face was a little pale but she regained her composure, "How does this explain why you lied to us?"
"I wasn't finished. When I got to Olympus things did not go well. When Jupiter or in that case Zeus got a look at my weapon he demanded I give it to him. I set it on the ground and told him if he wanted it he could take it. When he could not lift the weapon, he became enraged and tried to kill me with his master bolt. Things kind of escalated when it didn't work so I fled. I didn't know what to do. I am on this world because the mistress Lycaon spoke of is the Norse goddess Hel. She is going to try to take this world over. My family is cut off from the world but I am supposed to be destined to be maybe be able to stop her. I was lost until I remembered you. I knew the gods paid far less attention to their Roman children so I entered camp as one so I could join the fight and not have to deal with Zeus until as late as possible." Percy explained hoping she would understand his reasons.
Reyna shook her head, "What do you mean Jupiter couldn't lift your hammer? Of course he could if you can."
Percy sighed and dropped Mjolnir on the ground. "Pick it up."
Reyna looked wary but Percy just sighed, "Please, just humor me."
Reyna hesitated for a minute before reaching down to pick it up. She was shocked to find it unimaginably heavy. She tried using two hands but the weapon did not budge, only increasing her frustrations.
"What does this prove? I am obviously not as strong as a god!"
Percy nodded, "Okay, now try again, please."
Reyna looked irritated but reached down with one hand to try. She almost fell on her butt as the weapon felt as light as a feather. She looked at it confused before turning to Percy, "Explain!"
He nodded, "In your hands is my father's godly weapon Mjolnir, the most powerful weapon ever in existence. Before my father was forced to leave Earth, he left this with me. It is mine now and it does as I wish it. If I want you to be able to wield it, you will. If not, then not even the King of the Gods can move it an inch."
Reyna looked at the weapon in her hands in awe, "You have the weapon of a god?"
He nodded slowly, "I've never met my father but I suppose he must care for me a lot if he was willing to part with his most prized possession just to aide me on Earth."
Reyna looked at for another minute before tossing it at Percy's feet. Before the weapon could touch the ground, Percy opened his hand as it flew back to its master before glowing faintly and reappearing as a bracelet on his wrist again.
"So what, all those things you said were so we would accept you? That you wanted a place where you belonged?" Reyna asked harshly.
Percy shook his head, "Other than my parentage and family life, I have never lied to you. Or to Frank or to Jason. I wish this war would never start, I would give anything to go back to Camp Jupiter and live my life as a Roman demigod."
Reyna's face was expressionless as she stood silently. Percy wasn't exactly sure what to do but after a minute he assumed she wasn't going to let this slide. He held out his hand as Mjolnir reappeared in it before looking Reyna apologetically.
"I never wanted to lie to any of you but I didn't have a choice. Where is a Norse demigod supposed to go when he is the only of his kind in existence? Bring Frank back to camp. I will deal with Hel and whoever else is on Mount Othrys."
Reyna looked at him oddly as he raised Mjolnir above his head. Her eyes widened when he shot up into the sky without so much as a gust of wind to propel him.
"HEY! WAIT! I WASN'T DONE TALKING!" She screamed loudly but he had already gotten out of sight in starless night sky.
Reyna cursed loudly in Latin. This was not how she wanted the conversation to end. Now he was gone and she was stuck alone with Frank and no idea what they should do next. She turned towards Frank's tent when a thud behind her caused her to whirl around with her gladius out. She froze when she saw it was Percy again.
"What else would you like to ask or are you going to try and kill me? I wouldn't hurt you but I won't allow myself to be killed either. I am stuck here in this wretched realm to do one thing and one thing alone, kill Hel and then perhaps I can find a way back to my family."
Reyna looked at him with an irritated expression, "So what? I get mad and you run off to get yourself killed in the middle of the Titan's base? Are you honestly that stupid or were you just trying to make a point?"
Percy raised an eyebrow, "What would you have me do? I'm not a Roman so I'm no longer welcome in Camp Jupiter. I am not going with those foolish Greeks either. I have a duty to live up to the name of my father. I can't just…."
"Will you please shut up for a minute!" She interrupted with a growl. Percy's eyes widened a bit but he nodded nonetheless.
"When we first met those years ago when you helped Jason and I from Lycaon and his pack of wolves, you said one day we would need you. If that's true then why are you running away?"
Percy's face had a look of confusion, "I just assumed you would want me to go since you know who I really am. I mean I can't really go back to New Rome, they'll execute me for being a spy or something."
"Yes they would," Reyna agreed. "If they found out who you really are. But since I'm the only one who knows, then I don't see why that's going to be a problem."
Percy's eyes widened, "You would keep my secret?"
Reyna's face had no sign of happiness but she nodded, "I believe you when you say you are here to help. If you truly are destined to beat this Norse goddess then it would not be wise of me to send you away now, would it?"
"I can't ask you to do that, it's too much to ask of you."
Reyna rolled her eyes, "I'm doing it for the legion not for you."
Percy didn't reply right away causing Reyna to become impatient. After a moment, he nodded, "Thank you Reyna."
She nodded but her face was still serious, "What you said to me, that was because you were trying to gain my trust so you could stay in camp, correct?"
Percy frowned a bit, "That I think you're beautiful and that kiss? I would not do that just to gain your trust. I did it because I meant it and I wanted to."
Reyna narrowed her eyes a bit and stepped closer, closing the distance between them until they were face to face. Reyna leaned a little closer making Percy smile he was about to get kissed again.
Before he could even try Reyna drove her knee into his groin dropping him to the ground gasping for breath.
"You lie to me again and it won't be my knee hitting you in the junk." She growled.
Percy nodded from the ground, his hands clutching his groin as he tried to catch his breath, "Noted."
Reyna smirked, "Good, now get up, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." She said offering him a hand.
Percy took it as she pulled him to his feet. He took a deep breath and nodded, "I am sorry for lying to you. I hated doing that."
Reyna nodded her head stiffly, "Why did my weapon pass through that monster as if they were air? It was a monster and Imperial Gold should be able to kill it, right?"
Percy shook his head, "But it's not a Greek or Roman monster. It was a Norse monster, they were killed by the Norse hero Beowulf many centuries ago but Hel is like the Norse version of Hades and thus can bring monsters like that into this world through whatever means she got to this realm. To kill a Norse monster, you need a weapon made from Uru metal, which is kind of like our version of Imperial Gold."
"Then what are we supposed to do? Let you fight every monster she throws at us?"
Percy shook his head as his hand went to his belt loop and to the keychain beside his silver sword. He unhooked the key chain and held it out of Reyna who took it with confusion. It was a tiny keychain of a sword. She looked back up at Percy who winked as the keychain elongated into a three foot long sword colored terrifying black with different Asgardian runes emblazoned on the blade and the leather hilt.
Reyna eyed it in awe for a moment before looking at Percy to explain.
"That is the first sword my adoptive mothers gave me. It was a gift to my mother Eir from the Norse God of War, Tyr. He gave it to her as a gift for bringing one of his sons to Vahalla to become a einherjar."
Reyna stared at him with wide eyes, "Um, what? You were raised by Valkyries?"
He nodded, "My grandfather Odin, King of the Norse Gods, asked for three volunteers to give up their lives and raise me here on Midgard after my mother passed giving birth to me. Eir, Brynhildr, and Sigrún volunteered for the job and since I could first walk, they have raised me and trained me to be the best I could be."
"Those were the relatives you said that raised you?"
Percy nodded, "They have sacrificed much for me, something I can never repay them for."
Reyna's eyes turned back to the beautiful sword held in her hands. He held it out to Percy, "I cannot take this, it was given to you by one of your guardians."
Percy gently pushed the sword back towards her, "Eir gave it to me when I was a small child but before I came to camp, she said if I found someone I truly trusted that I should pass it on to them."
Reyna looked down at the sword and then back at Percy, "And you want to give it to me?"
He shrugged, "Well Octavian isn't here so you'll have to be my plan B."
Reyna glared at him but he just cracked a small smile causing her glare to falter. She shook her head, "You drive me crazy sometimes Ja…." She paused. "You're name was Perseus, right?"
Percy nodded, "Yeah but you can call me Percy if you want. Percy Jackson in case you were wondering. My mortal mother's name was Sally Jackson before she passed so that makes me a Jackson. Not very Norse I guess but she must have been something special to catch the eye of my father who almost never had demigods while he was here."
Reyna nodded before she glanced at the tent in which Frank was still sleeping peacefully, "And what about Zhang? What happens if we come across more Norse monsters?"
Percy sighed, "I just have to hope he is willing to accept me like you have. He's been my best friend in camp, I just have to hope he'll forgive me for the lies."
Reyna face softened just the slightest, "He cares for you a great deal. You have made his life a lot better since coming to the legion, I think he will understand."
He glanced at Frank's tent and nodded, "We'll see." He said before looking back at Reyna with a serious expression, "And what about you? I know you'll keep my secret but do you understand why I had to do it?"
Reyna was quiet for a minute as she thought about how to answer.
"I can see you didn't have many options and coming to Rome was your best chance to stay off the gods' radar while also being in the middle of the war. I can understand."
Percy smiled, "Thank you."
Reyna nodded her head stiffly before she grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the tents. She shoved him towards his tent.
"Now sleep Centurion. That's an order."
Percy smiled a bit, "As you wish my lady."
Reyna rolled her eyes and climbed into her tent as Percy did the same unaware that Reyna's face had the same smile that his did as they both retired for the night. Percy looked at Frank's slumbering form and smiled a bit that he hadn't lost his friends or his home, at least not yet anyway.