Percy

"i haven't quite figured your sky out yet-

Ive never known a storm to look so much like a sunset"


Percy lost track of time.

Once it was Annabeth's turn to ask him her own questions, he'd become completely absorbed in her.

He couldn't help but watch the way her lips moved while she spoke, listening to the way her cool, controlled voice rolled over the words she said so easily and smoothly, piquing Percy's interest and blocking out anything else that would come to mind, all attention put onto this Angel.

Annabeth had asked him what his view of the nighttime was, what was so compelling about the light he seemed to admire so much, and what he usually did throughout the day.

And Percy answered honestly.

Although he held back. He told her the truth, he didn't lie, he just didn't say all of it. He didn't say the things he wanted to the most.

Percy knew Annabeth kept things as well when she gave her answer. He could tell there was more to everything she said, to every word she spoke and every detail she described.

Everything in him yearned to find out what it was, what she was hiding, what words she was holding back from saying.

But although he knew Annabeth knew he was holding back as well, she didn't ask. So neither did he.

Now, Annabeth's eyes widened a fraction, a smile like a flash of a blade lighting up her face as he finished telling her a story of when Nico and Thalia and Bianca had decided it'd be a great idea to play tag in Iniquity and ended up causing several Demons to topple over each other in the process, leaving many angry and confused.

"Really?" she asked, a grin that did not match her Angel wings threatening to break out. "And then what happened?"

Percy sighed and shook his head, recalling the details from that day. It had not been good.

"Well," he said, crossing his legs and placing his hands over his knees. "A lot of the Demons hadn't known who exactly had caused all that, but when they gathered together and talked they all found out it was Nico, Thalia and Bianca, resulting in the three being chased around the city for the rest of the afternoon."

"And what did you do?" Annabeth inquired, eyes glinting with genuine interest. Percy fought a smile, oddly endeared by the fact that she of all beings was intrigued by his story.

"There wasn't much I could do, really," he replied, feeling a pang at the deeper meanings hidden behind those words. "I pretended to act bored and disinterested after following after them for a while and went back home, where I panicked and begged internally for them not to have gotten their wings ripped off."

A laugh escaped her lips, a sound raw and broken, hoarse yet filled with a genuinity like no other.

And Percy loved it the second the sound left her throat.

Annabeth seemed to realize what exactly she had done and backtracked, quieting down and clenching her jaw. She pressed her lips tightly together and glanced down at the grass before looking back up at him, something he could not describe dancing in her eyes.

"You seem to care for them," she seemed to state, voice quiet and tone almost disbelieving.

Percy swallowed and nodded once. "More than anything," he said, voice full with more emotion than he wanted it to be.

Annabeth's piercing gaze drove into him, sending goosebumps along his skin and making his canines threaten to snap out.

"Who else do you care for, Percy?" she asked softly, eyes locked onto his.

Percy, caught off gaurd by her questioned, spluttered. "I'm sorry?"

"You seem to be the type to care for those no matter how bad they are," she said without skipping a beat, and Percy could practically hear her gears turning. "So tell me, who else do you care for?"

Alarms were ringing in Percy's head, making his heart pound with every quiet breath he took, pulse pumping and blood pounding in his head as the voices behind his blockaded heart and body practically screamed that she was overstepping everything, that this was too much, this question was too much, too hard, too- too-

"My mother," he croaked, feeling a fire rise up inside him as the words tumbled out of his mouth with no restraint, as if his own body was drawing the words out of him into her ears. "And my father."

"Both," Annabeth said bluntly after a heartbeat"s pause, looking almost bewildered.

Percy opened his mouth to say something- he wasn't even sure what, but all that came out was a garble of words. He cleared his throat and looked the Angel in her beautiful gray eyes. "Who is it you care for, Annabeth?"

Annabeth caught her breath, gray eyes glittering as she opened her mouth and closed it, clenching her jaw and looking out towatds the rest of the Meadow.

She was quiet for so long Percy thought she might not answer his question, and he was fine with that. If she didn't want to answer, he was able to respect that.

Because he knew exactly how she felt.

"Piper," she finally said, her cool tone startling him. She looked back at him, eyes darker than he'd ever seen them before. "My friend Piper is who I care for most."

Percy found it odd that she didn't say, "mother" or "father" as people she cared for, but then again, when he'd asked her about her family her eyes had flashed and face had crackled over with a look of such pain Percy almost felt his heart split in half, and she'd ended the topic by saying, "I don't wanna go there," and that was that.

And Percy was fine with that. He could give her all the time she needed. He could respect her not wanting to tell him, for he was no better. But that didn't stop him from aching about wanting to know about her, from learning about what caused her such hurt and how he could help her.

"How long have you known her for?" He questioned carefully, tone taking a gentle turn. He could tell this was a sore spot for her, and he decided cautious inquiring would be best.

"Forever," she said, a frostiness in the undertones of her voice that made Percy's skin prickle. Her gray orbs glittered. "Your cousins- you've known them since childhood?"

Percy tried to calm his beating heart, nodding and giving her a shaky smile. "Thalia and I were together on our own up until I turned three, which is when Bianca came along. A year after that, Nico was born."

Annabeth's lips twitched. "And trouble since then?"

Percy sighed, shaking his head at the thought of the three dark-haired Demons. "You have no idea. Demons tremble at the sight of all three of them."

Annabeth gave him a faint smile, gray eyes steady. "They sound like fun."

"Well," Percy said, offering her a lopsided smile. "'Fun' isn't exactly the word I would use to describe them, but to some extent, yes, they are."

A look of anger and pain flashed across Annabeth's face, making Percy's heart thump against his rib cage and head fill with odd wonder at the sight.

"What is your idea of fun up there, Annabeth?" He breathed, getting his senses together.

She let out what seemed like an unintentional laugh, a sharp laugh that seemed to stab straight into his chest, taking the very breath out of his lungs.

"Not much I can do up there," she said, shaking her head, curls moving across her shoulders. "My definition of fun isn't exactly what the beings up there call it."

"And what is your definition of it?" Percy asked, genuinely interested in her answer.

Annabeth pursed her lips, streaks of moonlight making her eyes glow. "Just... it's not the way they all see it."

"And how do they see it?"

Annabeth blew out a breath, biting her lip. "Their fun is sending smiles to everyone they see and starting new projects on how to make the mortals go-lucky idiots that care about the well-being of everyone and everything."

"And... you don't see it that way?" Percy asked, the words almost strangled.

"No," she said softly, and Percy could feel the air crackling around them, his emotions heightened so much he felt it in the very air. "Not one bit."

"Have you thought of a way of doing things differently?"

Her soft lips spread into a brittle smile, thunderstorms rolling around in her very eyes. "I always have," she replied vacantly, anger burning in her voice. "It's just not possible to make those thoughts come true."

"Perhaps one way or another they will," Percy suggested, voice hoarse and scratchy even to his own ears

"Maybe," Annabeth said, eyes sweeping across the valley. "Just maybe."

They were both quiet for a moment, settling themselves in a comfortable silence that held so many words to hang between it, so many things he felt that both of them wanted to say.

But couldn't.

"Tell me more about this Piper girl," Percy said at last, smiling. "She must be wonderful if she sticks around with an Angel like yourself."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, lips suddenly dancing with a smile that stole the air from his lungs. "I'm not sure whether I should take that as a compliment or an insult, but very well."

Annabeth's smile dimmed, and she took in a slow breath, looking out into the Meadow, princess curls moving as the wind gently fanned across her. "Piper... Piper may as well be just like the rest of them. She's sweet and kind and generous... And she's gorgeous, might I add. She tries to downplay her looks, but the moment she steps into a room, all eyes fall on her." Annabeth smiled half-heartedly. "She's funny as well. Somehow, she can twist kind words around so they're sarcastically humorous, and while others don't notice the hidden messages in her jokes, I do. Sometimes, even Piper herself doesn't realize it.

She has a beautiful singing voice as well. Just hearing a single note of her voice instantly puts you at an ease that's almost unbelievable. She won't take any praise at all, brushing it off with a shake of her head and telling you to stop lying. She's stubborn, that's for sure. Piper always manages to find a way to-"

Annabeth abruptly cut herself off, cheeks flushing scarlet. Her hands clenched around the grass, knuckles white. "Sorry," she muttered, shaking her head. "That was way more than you wanted me to say about Piper-"

"Oh no," Percy intervened, voice gentle. He smiled at her, stomach pooling with warmth. "I don't mind at all. I'm here to listen, and if you'd like to say more, I'm all ears."

Annabeth's eyes flashed, and she opened her mouth to say something before snapping it shut. Then, her gaze softened just a fraction. "Okay, thank you."

And she told Percy more about Piper. She described her friend so vividly Percy could practically picture her in his own mind, down to her very last strand of hair.

She told him about how smart Piper was, about how she'd known her since she was a baby. They've been friends forever, he now found out, and not once did Piper ever threaten to leave Annabeth, caring after her as if she was her very own sister.

Annabeth spoke about the Angel with such vulnerability, he felt his throat clog up at every sentence, heart leap with every word, and stop with every breath she took to speak.

Yet there was an anger that lay beneath her tone as she spoke, a pain that rivaled no wound he'd ever seen or felt before.

But by the end, Percy felt like he'd practically met Piper McLean.

"She sounds beautiful," Percy said at last, smiling genuinely. "Both in soul and looks, from what I hear."

"Yes," Annabeth said, a sudden panicked and guarded expression on her face. "I suppose you're right."

"Tell me, Annabeth," Percy said softly, the question coming to mind like a red flare. "Why is she so important to you?"

Annabeth licked her lips, gray eyes darker than the sky before a thunderstorm hit. "She's..." Annabeth started, voice strained. "She's the only once I could give even an ounce of my trust to. The only one I could let even some of my true colors show to. The only one I could give what little love I have in my heart to."

Percy tried to swallow, only to feel like he was about to choke when he did so. He cleared it, watching with odd fascination as she ripped up blades of grass from the ground, each tendril quickly charring into ash.

"Is there at least any other person who could relate to those things?" Percy asked cautiously, a refreshing sort of fear rising up inside him, a fear that was based off of pure wonder.

Annabeth was quiet for a moment, eyes glittering like a shark's. "My mentor, Chiron."

"Mentor?" Percy asked, bewildered. "What does he teach you?"

Annabeth pursed her lips. "He's a teacher at the school I attend. He teaches the class of the Guardians- Angels whose job it is to help mortals go in the path of good."

She spoke the last words with venom in her voice, a spite that sent a shiver up Percy's spine.

"And... you're in that class?" Percy questioned, watching as her jaw clenched so tight he thought she might break a tooth.

She smiled poisonously. "Unfortunately."

Percy held his breath for a moment. Annabeth looked ready to destroy something, a wistfulness in her expression, almost as if she was thinking of doing exactly what Percy thought she would do.

"Tell me more about your cousins, Percy," Annabeth said suddenly, startling him. "What are they like?"

Percy cleared his throat, tongue dry. "I mean, there's not much left to say about them after you heard how much they just love to scare Demons pantless and wreck everything in their path."

"Well," Annabeth said, eyes glinting with a fiery amusement. "Describe them for me."

So Percy did. He told Annabeth of how Thalia used to have hair that reached down to her waist with half of it dyed blue, only to become so fed up with it she literally had grabbed a knife and chopped it all off, much to Percy's mother's horror. He told her of the splash of freckles across her nose, of the kohl that outlined her eyes and made her electric blue orbs look more intimidating than they already were.

He described both Bianca and Nico and how they had hair as dark as the shadows themselves, along with eyes the color of coal. Percy told her of the similiarities and differences of the two siblings, which soon led him to go into further detail about their personalities

"Nico's the one always getting Thalia and Bianca angry like no one else," Percy said, smiling both with humor and sadness. "He's always saying some stupid or sarcastic comment that will make them both go livid. Poor Bianca, having to put up with him all day everyday. I give props to her the most."

Annabeth shook her head, teeth glinting with a smile.

"Bianca has the more snappish attitude, but she's also very thoughtful, in a chaotic way. She'll take any excuse to hit her brother, and when she's angry, which is often, she rants and cusses quite a lot. If I got a penny for everytime she said a swear word, I can assure you I'd be rich."

"Enough to make a sailor proud, right?" Annabeth filled in, lips curved upwards into an amused smile.

"Exactly like that," Percy said, grinning softly at her. Annabeth's eyes widened a fraction, and he could hear her catch her breath before clearing her throat

"And Thalia?" She questioned, voice slightly raspy.

Percy smiled faintly at the thought of her. "Thalia can sometimes act like her age, but most of the time she acts like she's Nico's age. She has no sense of responsibility whatsoever and takes whatever chance she gets to piss someone off." Percy sighed. "Thalia has a free spirit, and there's certain things you can't touch on without her ripping your head off. She's dangerous, and if I wasn't her cousin and close with her I'd be terrified of her. But I love her- all of them, as a matter of fact. They've given me a chance to feel what it's like to have a heart."

"No one else seems to have one?" Annabeth inquired, shifting on the grass as interest piqued her features.

"Not from what I've seen," Percy said softly, voice filled with more melancholy than he wished it was. He shook his head softly. "And oh, Annabeth, can I just tell you that I've seen so much down there. So much destruction and darkness."

He heard Annabeth mutter something, so quietly that he couldn't quite catch it. But her face was so full of a sort of angry yearning that he decided it'd be best not to ask.

Suddenly, a light started to clear over the sky, making Annabeth squint and Percy's breath catch as he watched the sky fill up with a million colors, the sound of birds chirping happily slowly start to surround them.

"Shit," Annabeth muttered, frantically grabbing her white heels that she'd started to get tired of wearing once they'd began to talk, nose scrunched as she tossed them to the side.

"Morning already," Percy breathed, bewlidered as he continued to stare at the sky in amazement, insides bubbling with warmth as he watched the pastel colors light up the firmament around them

Annabeth strapped on her shoes and stood, honey colored hair swishing around her, the light catching it and turning it a blazing gold that made his heart thump in his chest.

Percy registered her current appearance, the thought of how beautiful she really was coming to mind once again. She was dressed in a white flowered dress that made her skin shine, a lopsided flower crown lying atop her head, the pinks and whites making her eyes stand out.

"I should get home," Annabeth said, biting the inside of her cheek. "Before my Father finds out I'm not there."

"I understand," Percy said, smiling at her once he was standing. "I need at least a few hours of sleep as well."

Annabeth nodded, gray orbs glittering with what looked like irritation and a smidge of a dangerous calm.

"Once again, I enjoyed talking to you, Percy," she said, voice like clinking glass, the shards seeming to pierce right into his heart. "Thank you."

"Of course," Percy said, warmth fanning across him. "But can I guarantee an answer when I ask if you will be back tomorrow?"

A hint of a smile tugged at her pink lips. "I'm sure you'll be able to feel it if it is a yes. I'll leave that as my answer."

And with that, she walked past him, shoulder lightly touching his, his whole body lighting ablaze at that one simple touch. He turned and watched her with parted lips as she fluttered over the lake and out the barrier between the two dimensions, soon out of sight.

And it was only when he swallowed that he registered the fact that when she'd flown over the reflection of the water, her wings had not been white, in fact, but a black that was darker than midnight itself.


Percy was too tired to change his clothes or do anything for that matter. Halfway up the stairs he had slumped to the floor in exhaustion before slowly standing up and starting his descent upstairs once again.

The moment he closed the door and his head hit the pillow, he fell asleep.


Percy quietly walked downstairs, bones aching with a tiredness that he wished wasn't there. He tried to shake off the weariness, blinking rapidly and rubbing at his eyes once again, clenching his jaw shut to keep from yawning the twentieth time that morning.

The moment he walked into the dining room, his father's voice made his whole body jolt wide awake.

"Where were you last night?" Poseidon rumbled, carefully watching his son over the rim of his coffee cup.

"Must you really know?" Percy drawled, taking a seat at the long, black sleek table.

"Yes, given the fact that you look ready to take a hit to the floor at any moment," Poseidon snapped, green eyes watchful.

Percy rolled his eyes, insides wrenching with disgust at his own behavior. "I was at Drew's."

Poseidon hummed, nodding as he relaxed the slightest. Across the table from him, Sally gave a slight wince, one only he noticed.

His parents knew all about Drew Tanaka and what he did to her, and though Poseidon could care less and was rather proud of his son for his womanizing ways, Sally disapproved completely, reprimanding him only when they were in private. Otherwise, she remained emotionless and impassive.

It hurts me too, Mother, he wished to say, sparing her a meaningful glance. Don't think it doesn't.

"And how did that go?" Poseidon questioned, raising an eyebrow as he took a sip of his black coffee.

Percy shrugged, trying to play it off as meaningless, when inside he was filling up with sorrow at the memories. "Not much I can say about it, since it's Drew. Good, I guess."

His father's lips hinted at a smile to rival the Devil's. "Atta boy."

Percy smirked, leaning back in his chair, stomach knotting with an uncomfortable feeling. His eyes met Sally's across the table, her own blue orbs glinting with sympathy and understanding. She knew how much he hated doing all of that. She knew the smallest details of it, yet not all of it.

Percy had to keep reminding himself that she was a Demon. She was not exactly like him, the idea of darkness and chaos as revolting to her as it was to him. He couldn't share all of what he really wanted to with his own mother, the person he should confide in most.

The image of Annabeth flashed in his mind once more, erasing the feelings of disgust at his own actions and words and replacing it with a fuzziness that made him feel almost light.

All night, his dreams were filled with the blonde-haired Angel, flames surrounding her as she sat on the grass in the Meadow of Reflection, licking and flickering all around her, turning her gray eyes to a blazing molten gold. Yet when the fire touched her wings, her eyes had turned obsidian, the flames charring away the white from the wings until they were a black darker than he'd ever seen before.

It was enough to wake him up that morning, gasping and breaths coming out in ragged staccatos, sweat clinging to his shirt.

She was strange to figure out. Throughout those hours of only conversation, he couldn't pin down who she was, for the way she looked like a storm caught up in a sunset, beautiful yet deadly, confused and intrigued him beyond measure, drawing him to her like a fish caught in a hook.

But the only difference was that Percy wasn't so sure he wanted to escape.

"Perseus," Poseidon said sharply, making Percy jump in his seat.

"What?" Percy looked at him with irritation, gritting his teeth.

"I've called your name three times already- what the hell is going on with you this morning?" Poseidon inquired, voice edged with steel.

"Nothing," Percy ground out, narrowing his eyes at him. "What did you want?"

"I was going to question you about that little... brawl you had with Ares at the meeting," Percy's father explained, green eyes dangerous. "What caused that, exactly?"

"The fact that Ares can't keep his goddamn mouth shut for a second, that's what," Percy replied, voice as sharp as ice.

"And this is one of those times when you must take charge, Perseus," Poseidon said, jaw set. He smiled in a rather vicious way. "I'm quite impressed by the way you pinned him down at the meeting."

"The bastard was asking for it," Percy said with an easy grin, one that spoke of blood and a hunger for pain. The only pain he felt now, however, was glancing at his mother to see her looking down at her plate still full of the breakfast the servants had prepared, barely anything eaten.

"And he will continue to do so," Poseidon said, lip curling into a look of disgust, green eyes glittering. "That's when your leadership skills come into play. This is just the beginning, Perseus. When you become leader there will be threats coming at you from every side. Not only will you have to have security follow you everywhere, but you will not be able to trust anyone. Not even your cousins."

Percy clenched his jaw, the reality of it all slowly seeping into his mind, making his throat clog up with panic. "I know," he said tightly, mouth dry.

Poseidon licked the flat of his front teeth, eyes flashing red momentarily. "I have to be careful with my own brother, for fuck's sake. In the Infernal Province, you cannot become too attached to anyone. I hope that's not the case with you and Drew-"

"God, Dad, no," Percy said, rolling his eyes. "Drew's just a needy bitch begging for my attention. It's not like I care for her. She might, but the day I do is the day that this land becomes filled with sunlight."

Poseidon smirked, the gesture like the flash of a blade, winking as he picked up his coffee mug. "That's my son."

Percy offered him a devilish smile, bile rising up his throat as he hurriedly grabbed the cup of cranberry juice at his side, washing down his emotions with the cold liquid.

"Sally, dear," Poseidon acknowledged, knitting his eyebrows together. "You've barely touched your food. Is it not good? Those stupid maids don't know how to cook something to save their lives-"

"Oh no," Sally said, reaching out to grab his arm. She shook her head at him, mouth set. "That's not the problem, darling. I'm simply not that hungry this morning, is all."

Poseidon relaxed momentarily, the lines around his mouth softening an ounce of a fraction. "Well if that's the case, still try to get some food into your system. I don't want you becoming sick with this baby still in you."

Sally smiled at him. "Of course, dear."

Content, Poseidon leaned back in his seat, picking up his fork to begin eating, when a scream came from the kitchen, followed by a crash and laughter. Then, the doors to the kitchen burst open and three dark-haired figures came walking through, devilish smiles on all their faces.

Poseidon rose up from his seat, expression bewildered and angry. "What the fuck do you think you're doing-"

The doors opened again, and one of the two guards that stood outside their house came running through, clearly out breath.

"I'm... sorry... sir," he wheezed, holding his knees. "They were too... fast."

Poseidon pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly trying to keep calm.

"Thalia, what the hell are you three doing here?" He snapped, narrowing his eyes at his nieces and nephew.

"We came to pick up Percy to go watch a fight in the city," Thalia replied, grinning cheekily, eyes glinting mischievously.

Poseidon turned his gaze onto Percy, who had his arms crossed and a jaded expression on his face. "Don't look at me," he said, shrugging. "I didn't know these idiots would come barging into our highly secured home."

Percy's father glared at the gaurd. "Where is the other one of you?"

The guard shot Thalia a look, who grinned wolfishly at him. "That one knocked him out."

"Me?" Thalia gasped mockingly, pressing a hand to her chest. She gave Percy's father a wide-eyed look. "Uncle Poseidon I would never!"

"For fuck's sake," Poseidon sighed, shaking his head. He gave a sharp laugh, making the guard flinch. "Clearly then, I need new security, since you and the other idiot can't seem to keep three teenagers from coming in-"

"Correction," Thalia said, holding up a finger. "Two teenagers and one adult, legally speaking, of course."

"Thalia," Poseidon growled. "Shut up for a moment, will you, my dear?"

"Gosh, Thalia," Nico shook his head, expression mockingly disapproving. "Will you never learn?"

Thalia elbowed him in the ribs, emitting a grunt from him and causing Bianca to snicker.

"You," Poseidon snapped, fixing a pointed stare at the gaurd that would make anyone freeze in place. "If this happens again, you're fired."

The guard gulped and nodded, face pale.

"Now leave," Percy's father growled.

The guard was gone in a blink of an eye.

"You three." Poseidon narrowed his eyes at them. "Percy will be out in a moment, but for now, if you could get out of my house, please and thank you."

"Geez," Nico muttered. "Looks like someone spit into his coffee this morning-"

"GOODBYE, NICO," Poseidon shouted, and the three jumped, quickly turning and walking out of the dining room, laughing hysterically.

Percy looked down, not being able to help the smile that crept onto his face and the affection that spread over his heart at the sight of his cousins- sarcastic remarks and all.


"Damn," Bianca said as they walked through the streets, his three cousins purposely bumping into pedestrians, making them growl and open their mouths to say something, only to see Percy's threatening glare and have them snap their mouths shut. "Why was Poseidon in such a pissy mood this morning?"

Percy snorted, shaking his head. "He wasn't, actually. He was in a rather good mood. Then you guys showed up."

"How rude," Nico sniffed. "I would have thought our presence would have sent his joy through the roof."

"Yes, Nico," Thalia drawled, rolling her eyes. "Because Uncle P loves us oh so much."

"Given the way he kicked us out of his house, I would think so too," Bianca said, smiling dryly.

"You should've seen the way Thalia knocked out that one guard, Percy," Nico said, snickering. "One minute he was complaining about how he slept with his ex-girlfriend and the next he was knocked out cold."

"How'd you do it?" Percy asked, sighing. It was the last thing he wanted to hear about, but one way or another, he knew he'd find out.

"I threw a rock at his head," Thalia said breezily, as if this were the most normal thing in the world. Her blue eyes glittered with a chaotic sort of joy. "Nothing too bad."

"Yeah right," Bianca snorted. "There was blood coming out the side of his head. I'm pretty sure you won him a trip to one of the ten hospitals we have in Iniquity."

Thalia sighed almost wistfully, stuffing her hands in her backpockets. "Lucky him."

Given the high violence rate in the Infernal Province, there was an obvious reason to have hospitals in their land. Most of the time however, when someone was literally dying on the street, they were ignored. Calling help for the individual was too kind of an act for a Demon.

So practically no one ever bothered.

It was one of the most horrific things that ocurred in the Demon World, Demons crying out in the streets for help or simple assistance, only to be walked past as if they weren't there.

But some were helped, as to not kill off the population in the Infernal Province. Numbers were the only thing the Demons had left on their part. But as much as there was good on Earth, there was the equal amount of bad.

"And here we are," Thalia said with a flourish, presenting the abandoned-looking building with a grand wave of her arms.

Percy winced, looking at all the cracks in the cement and the faded sign that hung above the door, the only letters visible being DAM.

He wondered what it was called before it was deserted.

"How'd you hear about the fight, anyway?" Percy asked, voice strained as he watched a drunken Demon stumble out the door and collapse the second he stepped out.

"Reyna sent me a fire-message about it," Thalia said, smiling as her eyes swam with an unidentified emotion.

Percy was pretty sure there was something going on between the two. He just couldn't figure out if it was the real deal or not.

But regardless, he was happy for his cousin.

"So," Thalia said, walking over the passed-out Demon and opening the door wide, allowing Percy the sight of swarmed Demons hollering and laughing, drinks in hand as they talked and bantered over who would win. Thalia grinned at his pale expression. "You ready?"

"No."

"Perfect! Come on in, Percy."


Thalia pushed her way through the crowd, yelling over all the loud noise, saying, "Move aside peasants! Perseus Jackson coming through- hey, jackass, if you wanna keep your vision I suggest you look elsewhere. Move the fuck over everyone! Bitch, what'd you say? Nothing? That's what thought. FUCKING MOVE!"

Once again, Thalia Grace had put on a show.

Many Demons shot her irritated glances and snarled at her, and the moment they did Percy was forced to growl at them and will his eyes red, making them step down instantly.

"Hey, Percy! My man!" A familiar voice exclaimed as they finally reached Reyna, who was in midst of it all, two boys sitting beside her as well.

Percy nodded at the two brothers. "Hey Travis, Connor."

The look-alike siblings grinned their signature devllish smiles, glinting eyes and all. The only tell-difference between them was that Travis was about an inch or two taller than Connor, but besides that, they almost looked like twins, both with chestnut-curly hair and sky blue eyes.

"Wow, long time no see, man," Connor said, shaking his head. "Where've you been, dude?"

Reyna made a noise of disgust and rolled her eyes. "Thank god you guys are here. I don't think I could stand another minute alone with these idiots. What took you so long?"

"Percy drags ass," Bianca said, taking a seat. "It's practically impossible to ever take him anywhere."

Reyna smirked, obsidian eyes an even darker shade under the dim light of the room. "Sounds like Perseus."

"Oh fuck off," Percy said, shooting his cousins a look. "These morons thought it'd be a great idea to come breaking into my house and putting our security through a trauma they'll never forget."

"They have Thalia to thank for that," Nico said, holding up his hands defensively as he sat beside his sister. "Bee and I did nothing."

"Nico," Bianca snarled, presumedly kicking her brother in the leg given his pained expression that followed the words. "How many times have I told you not to call me that?"

"It's cute though," Travis said, smirking.

"Haha, well I don't exactly do cute either," Bianca retorded sarcastically, scrunching up her nose.

"Well, fortunately you guys made it," Reyna said, nodding, yet the way her eyes strayed towards Thalia did not go unnoticed by Percy, making him smile internally. Reyna raised an eyebrow at Thalia, face impassive. "Also, quite the entrance you made there."

Thalia winked at Reyna, making the daugher of Bellona's pupils dialate for a fraction of a second. "I try my best."

Nico snorted, clearly taking notice of the interaction as well, and Bianca quickly pinched him in his side, making him yelp in protest.

Reyna cleared her throat, regaining the cool composure she was known for. "Yes, well, you came with about fifteen minutes to spare before the fight starts. In the meantime... Travis?"

The curly-haired boy grinned devilishly. "Apparently they've set up a bar here now. So before it begins, who'd like a drink?"


HEY GUYSSS! I apologize profusely for this taking so long, but really I should be thanking you guys for patiently waiting and giving me your full on support. Thank you all x

But anyway, I loved writing this chapter! I know I say that with every chapter, but this one got to me. And Annabeth and Percy are talking and getting to know each other a bit more now, which is great and exciting to see. They're still guarded however, so they still have to both get past the walls each other has built up for so many years. And that will be hard.

I added some Theyna in there as well, because I love them together? Since I saw Rick announce that it was cannon, I'd flipped out and loved the idea, so here we are ((:

You guys rock and HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! I hope you guys have an awesome one (:

~Kat xxx

(PS: Happy belated birthday to our favorite son of Jupiter *sobs*)