When Percy came to, the blackness was closing in on him. His chest caving inward, spiraling into a deep state of hopelessness, like there was no such thing as light or happiness. Gods this place was sucking him dry, feeding off the dark thoughts and expanding them until there was no room for anything else. Closing his eyes tight, he tried to ward away these feelings of despair, clutching to that thread of hope in his heart. Gotta find Annabeth…
His jeans made a scratching sound as he slid along the rough surface of rock and dirt, sucking in a breath at the strong ache in his back, feeling skin pulled taught and stretch, ripping. He had to bite his tongue to keep from crying out, pausing in his movement, but he knew that if he stopped completely he wouldn't try again. Pushing through, he muscled himself into a sitting position; his fingers slid along a gooey mess and Percy was sure that if there was enough light for him to see that the tips of his fingers would be colored red. Gotta find Annabeth Gotta find Annabeth…
He pushed himself to his feet… but too fast. Even though it was pitch black he felt himself grow dizzy with vertigo and almost crumpled to his knees once more, however on instinct his hand snatched out and grasped solid surface, allowing him to stay upright. "Gods…" He whispered, his knees shaking. Desperate for light, Percy's free hand reached down and slipped into his right pocket, finding Riptide right where it always was. He let out a sigh of relief. He didn't know what he could count on anymore and so he had half expected Riptide to be missing from its spot. Uncapping it, Riptide grew into the sword that Percy was so used to holding at his side, the celestial bronze casting that golden glow similar to that of a candle, allowing him about five feet of light in each direction and along with that a little bit of comfort and security.
Using the light to his advantage, he did a quick survey of the area, and he was right about one thing. Approximately where he had been laying was a decent size puddle of red soupy liquid. Instinctively, he looked down at himself and sure enough his shirt was stained with the same color. Grimacing, images came to his head, of Annabeth… or whatever that thing had been… and the flash of pain that had erupted in the middle of his back and the glint of a razor sharp dagger. "Oh yeah…" He winced inwardly and bent forward, bracing himself on his knee as he took in deep breaths. At least he was still alive. He almost wished he had a mirror, so he could try and see the wound… but on second thought he was okay with keeping that picture out of his head. Using Riptide, he slit his shirt about four inches from the bottom before using his hands to tear a strip all the way around: a makeshift bandage. He looped it around his waist then, making sure it settled over the split skin in his back before tying it securely. That would have to do; he'd wasted enough time. With Riptide clutched tightly in his fist, he made his first painful steps into the dark.
When you're traveling in the dark with only a soft glow of light and everything around you looking the same no matter how far you go, you start to lose track of time. Percy only knew he'd traveled far enough that his legs protested against him and the knife wound in his back stung, as if holding him hostage and threatening that if he didn't rest soon the pain was only going to get worse. So Percy obliged. Moving to the stone wall he slid down to sit, his skin lightly coated with a thin layer of sweat. He was exhausted and even though the light from Riptide helped, that hollow sadness was beginning to creep back into his chest. How was he ever going to find Annabeth…? And if he did…how were they going to get out of this place? He groaned and pressed his fevered face into his clammy hands. "Wise girl where are you…"
Then, a sound: a high pitched shrill of pure agony in the distance. Percy's head whipped up as it reached his eardrums, sending his heart into a panicky pitter-patter. Annabeth? He could hope, but in truth it could be anyone… anything, but it was the first noise he'd heard in hours; at this point he would gladly head toward any noise that would penetrate this impeccable silence. Also, if there was any sign of life he would dash to it without a second thought. If there was any chance that he and Annabeth weren't the only ones stuck down here…
He sprang to his feet, ignoring the sting of pain that jolted from his back and reached out with spindly fingers to every inch of his body. He pushed himself to the extent, his feet carrying him as fast as they could until he could make out a light. The undulating scream still pierced the air in a constant spine-chilling shriek. Percy was so busy searching the chamber for the source of the shriek that he almost ran headlong into black waters, but was quick enough to come to a skidding stop inches from the murky liquid. The scream was louder then and when he looked up he could just make out something out of the darkness. Across the foggy waters, torches lit up a piece of land, an island, against a stone cliff that stretched up infinitely to the blackened sky. But none of these things mattered. What mattered was the figure he saw on the island; the figure was faintly lit by the glowing torches that lined the shores, but it was unmoving… or rather couldn't move because of the black chains that encircled its body and kept it restrained against the stone wall. However, that wasn't what sent Percy's heart into a twisted throbbing knot. No, it was something else that caught his eye. It was the golden wave of curls that caught the glow of the firelight so easily…
"ANNABETH!" Percy yelled to her, but if she recognized his voice, she didn't show it. Her tormented screams continued through, rising gooseflesh along Percy's body. I have to get to her. I have to get to her! His eyes moved to Annabeth to the blackened water at his feet and his gut gave a squeamish lurch. The last time he had touched the water down here...
This isn't your turf. This is Tartarus. It's tricking you, it wants you to jump in. It's tempting you…
"Well, it's working." He muttered under his breath. Seeing no other alternative, he knew he was going to have to swim the gap if he had any hopes of reaching his Annabeth. He never even thought about it not being her. It had to be. He couldn't risk leaving her there anyhow. He had to check. He had to know. "I'm coming Annabeth. I'm coming to get you!" Without another thought, he jumped.
The chill of the water took his breath away and the instant his body was enveloped by the water, he felt himself sinking. No! He kicked furiously. The water was just as black as it had been when he had come to hours ago, becoming discombobulated as he didn't know up from down, left from right. The scream was faint but still reached him from beneath the water in a gurgle. It was faint, but it was enough to give him headway. He kicked and parted the water with his hands, slithering through the water. On a normal basis the water would part for him, but this black soupy stuff that was supposed to be water slowed him down and drained him of energy. He could already feel the burn in his lungs that told him he needed to breathe. Dad help…please…
He spiraled downward, now aware of the intense sizzling sting in his back, feeling those black tendrils slither and dig into his back, making him gasp… except he couldn't because he was under water. He breathed in water and choked, his hands going to his neck as if that could help anything. His eyes bugged and his lungs burned as the brackish water flooded them. No… Annabeth I… I'm sorry…
His blood pulsed through his temples and darkness crept into his vision, his fingers grasping for one last attempt to make it to the surface.
"PERCY!" Her scream, distinct, reverberating through his sluggish brain, it acting like an adrenaline rush and snapping his eyes open. Annabeth! He gritted his teeth, clenching his fists tight, focusing… I controlled molten rock. I can control these feral waters as well. It took every last ounce of energy that he had. He made a simple motion with his hands, a flick of the wrist in a circular motion and it was moving, sluggishly at first, like a sputtering engine before it buzzed to life. Then he shot forward, erupting out of the water and landing with a sick splat onto the sands of the island, leaving the water reaching for him with seemingly ghostly talons.
Percy broke into a fit of coughing; black liquid spilled from his lips, flowing onto the sand until it was reduced to merely a drip, his gut quivering from the taste of the sour liquid. No time to lose. He fought to his feet, swaying, but he managed to stay upright, staggering towards Annabeth tied to the cliff. "Anne… Annabeth!" His voice was nothing but a croak; his skin stung in the cold air of the cavern and his hair was plastered to his face. He toddled toward her, chest on fire, but none of that mattered. Annabeth was here. She was right there…
As he made his way closer, he saw that her eyes were shut, her face set in a grimace of pain. What was wrong with her… He couldn't see any wounds that his eyes could pick out, but then again… if Tartarus was about making you suffer, then messing with Annabeth's mind would be the worst torture for her. Who knows what they were messing with in her mind, what they could be making her see…
"ANNABETH!" He yelled as he ran the last few steps to her. His hands automatically went to her shoulders, shaking her lightly as he tried to get those silvery-gray eyes to reveal themselves. "Annabeth… I'm right here… I'm right here!" She was still screaming, wriggling feebly to get free of the chains that restrained her. His eyes landed on a gleam of red that trickled from the corner of her mouth and down her chin to sink into her shirt. Blood. She must have bitten her tongue at some point… the smell of metal in the air. His heart pounded in his ears as he reached for Riptide in his pocket, uncapping it once more, the glow of the sword so near making him realize just how bad a shape she was in. Her skin was nearly white, a grayish tint beneath her eyes and the bright splotch of blood screaming on her chin. Her hair still shone a brilliant gold beneath the dirt and grime, flowing over her shoulder and ending about mid-waist. He recognized the clothes she wore even though they were in tatters: simple blue jeans, the orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt peeking out beneath a sodden olive green zip-up sweatshirt. It was everything that was Annabeth.
He hefted Riptide, sending out a silence prayer beneath his breath as he brought it down hard with a savage yell over his head, making solid contact with the chain and with a shink it was broken from all the raw emotional force Percy had put behind the blow. Sparks flew from metal against metal, but they soon faded as the chains fell from Annabeth's body which was limp and fell forward. Percy didn't hesitate. His fingers loosened around Riptide, the sword dropping from his hands and clattering to the stone below as Annabeth's quivering body fell against Percy's. "Annabeth…!" He gasped, his arms cradling her, falling to his knees with her, her hair splayed over his arm and shimmering in a waterfall along the stones. Her screams had ceased, but she was whimpering and tears he hadn't noticed were there streamed down her cheeks. He caught whispers beneath her breath… hushed letters put together to form his name. His heart lurched and he soon felt the sting of water behind his own eyes, his large calloused fingers moving and brushing her cheek, smearing dirt, blood and tears in the process. "I'm here…sweetheart I'm here. It's Percy."
A choked sob left his lips as he cradled her close to his chest, his hand rubbing her side as he tried to get some heat into her trembling form. Come on wise girl, wake up… I'm here and I'll never leave you again please wake up! As if she could read his mind, her eyes twitched, her breathing hitched and her eyes began to open. She looked terrified, confused, and bewildered all in one. Then her face broke into raw twisted pain and a mournful cry broke from her lips as she reached up with trembling fingers. "Nooo… No no nooooo…" She cried, the tears falling faster as she reached up and gripped the fabric of Percy's shirt in a death grip.
Percy's eyes widened in horror and he cradled her cheek in his large hand, shaking his head and leaning down close to her. "Shhhh, Annabeth it's okay… it's me… it's me…!" He gasped as the tip of his nose moved to her hair, inhaling deeply, the sweet alluring scent of lemons still there, making a quivering grin appear on his lips. "Nothing's ever going to hurt you again…" he whispered.
At his voice… his touch… Annabeth's grip tightened on his shirt her fist adding pressure, enough that he had to pull back from her. Her gray eyes stared up into the lively pool of green-blue that swirled in Percy's irises. "I-Is it you…?" She croaked, her fingers slowly unclenching from his shirt to slide upward and along his neck, tracing the strong line of his jaw and feeling the light prickle of stubble that was already beginning to grow there. Her eyes looked disbelieving, as if he would disappear before her very eyes. Her fingertips moved up into the thick dark waves of his hair, gripping for a moment before releasing, allowing them to travel along his strong brow, down his nose, and to his lips.
"It's me…" Percy whispered against the cool tip of her fingers as they traced the soft curve of his lips, his hand slowly stroking her hair out of her eyes. "It's Percy…"
Her eyes once again began to glitter with unshed tears, her lips trembling, and then as if she had never been hurt at all, she jerked forward, her arms sliding around him and then her lips were on his, fevered and urgent. Percy's chest jerked at the contact, feeling the electricity running through his body, giving him energy. His arms wound around her, pulling her taut against his chest, his lips returning the swift passion of her own as his fingers wound into her hair, their tears streaming and mixing with the others on their cheeks.
"Annabeth…Gods Annabeth.." Percy gasped as he pulled back for air, but his arms never left her. They would never leave her again if he could help it. He cradled her against his chest, feeling as she curled into him, her body fitting perfectly in his larger one. Her hard breathing sounded in his ears, hot against his skin as she rested her head in the crook of his neck, seeking refuge there, feeling safe.
"Oh Percy…" She whispered as her arms tightened around him, eyes squeezing tightly shut. "I was so worried I… I didn't k-know how many m-more times they could t-take you a-away from me." A harsh sob broke from her lips against his neck and Percy stiffened, wincing at the pain in her voice.
"Shh… it's alright. I'm here now. And nothing's going to take me away from you again." His fingers slowly stroked her back, feeling the spasm of her lungs, trying to get her to take deep breaths. "Shh…" He whispered, pressing a deliberate slow kiss to her temple. "I love you Annabeth…" Those words, so soft, so sincere, but they were the most terrifying as well. He remembered the day he thought he began to love Annabeth, yet the thought of actually telling her scared him shitless. However, all worries disintegrated as he felt her smile into the tear-slicked skin of his neck.
"I love you too, Percy…" She whispered as she gave him a slow kiss beneath his jaw, a kind of kiss that made a shiver run down his spine. A chuckle bubbled from his lips, but it stung, coming from his raw lungs. Not that he cared. He was so goddamn happy.
A soft raw laugh escaped from her own throat and her arms squeezed him as tight as they could, and at this Percy couldn't help the soft grunt of pain that bolted through his body, taking his breath away. Annabeth gasped and pulled back instinctively, looking at him with wide eyes. "What..? Percy are you…?" Then her eyes got the full view of what she hadn't seen before. She saw the huge blood stain on his shirt and peered over his shoulder to find the source of all the blood. She sucked in a breath and put a hand to her lips, eyes growing to large saucers. "Percy…you're hurt." She reached to gently touch the area of the wound when the ground began to shake.
Percy's body tensed and he frowned deeply, glancing back at the dark waters that had begun to bubble noisily, an immense inhuman screech sounding from those waters. On instinct, Percy drew Annabeth closer as he scooted back from the water, his arms staying protectively around her. "Stay close!" He yelled over the roar of the water as something large, black, and scaly burst from the black lake. It was impossibly huge and wavered at least five stories high in the air, a behemoth of a serpent. A hiss sounded from its mouth as steam curled from its nostrils and deep red glowing eyes stared directly at the two of them.
"Great timing. Really." Percy muttered as he picked up Riptide and scrambled to his feet with Annabeth, stumbling with her backward in an attempt to get some distance between them and the serpent. His body screamed at him to sit back down, but it's not like he really had a choice. Fight or die. That was the choice, and for people who knew Percy Jackson also knew that he didn't go down without a fight. "Stay behind me." He spoke lowly to Annabeth.
Then, the serpent struck.
Hello my readers :) I told you it wouldn't be long that I updated again! I'm full of ideas and I'm anxious to write them down so that you may enjoy them as well. Anyway, I figured I'll set a deadline for myself. I think I'm going to attempt at updating at least once a week and I thought that maybe that day would be Tuesday. So expect to see updates every Tuesday from me (sometimes even more than one chapter ;3) Or if I have time I'll do it some other time during the week. But I need the deadline just to make sure I get something out to you readers out there.
ALSO, I thought I'd share with you that I acquired the fourth book The House of Hades this weekend! I've been waiting for so long it's not even funny, but I just started reading it yesterday and I hope you all have been able to get your hands on it and are enjoying as much as I am! Just had to share my happiness with you all.
So, expect to see updates on Tuesdays and I shall post again real soon. Happy readings!