Hey guys sorry for the wait! Gotta say I've really been digging this story lately. I think I enjoy writing the seriousness of it, the feeling of war.
Anyway thank you to all who reviewed.
So I went to a wedding today so this chapter is a little all over the place. I'm still in a lovey mood so that should explain the ending. But I needed to introduce it somehow so I just got it out of the way.
Annabeth Chase:
I followed Percy quietly up the steps and into my room. I had a mug of hot tea (thanks to Ernie) in my warming hands. I was still colder then I should be. When we walked in Percy shut the door behind me.
In the car ride I explained to everyone how Kronos's power works and what creatures he has in his army. Everyone stayed silent and listened as I told them how I was treated by Luke and Kronos, Percy stiffened when I mentioned Luke's choice of shape shifting. When we got back to the pizzeria Percy sent everyone home, except for Nico who's going to come back later.
I moved to sit down on my desk chair as Percy walked over to the drawing.
"We went to Grover's friend Rachel to get help on finding you. She's the oracle, she was able to show us images of the future and where you were." He turned to face me. "When I was begging her, wanting to know if you were safe. She told us that you had not yet seen the light, your flame is forever bright."
My eyes darted over to the picture and he nodded.
"Nico knew where to go obviously. He punched in the code and we were able to get the Amulet. The code is your Mother's birthday. The same day this drawing was made right?" He asked quietly. I was as stiff as a board, not knowing what to do.
Percy moved the picture and opened the safe. He carefully grabbed two items, a dirty, brown leather book and a slightly burned photo. He walked over to me and spun the desk chair around so I was facing the two items. His warm breath was on the back of my neck, his arm around the chair touching my shoulders. Annoyance and fear surged through me as he pointed to the picture.
"I saw the picture first; that's you isn't it? Probably around the time you were getting your powers?"
"They aren't powers; they're a curse." I spat out. Percy smirked and shook his head.
"So you've been saying. I never understood how someone could think that way. I mean I certainly don't. I feel blessed to have my water. Then I took a look at the book." I flinched as he opened the first page.
"Property of Athena Chase. Your Mother?" I bit my lip but nodded slowly. He rolled his lips but picked up the book.
"I only scanned the pages but the last two entries really got me. Wanna take a look?" I shook my head.
"No. Percy…This isn't your business." Percy shook his head.
"No but it's yours." I stayed silent and Percy set the book down before spinning my chair to face him. He crouched so he could be eye level with me. His hand slowly, hesitantly found its way to my knee. His green eyes and icy stare froze my skin, something I wasn't used too. He was staring at me softly, caring. I haven't seen a look like that since Mother.
"When we first found out about the Amulet…I remember no matter how mad or scary you got you would always have these guarded looks never showing emotion. But when you think you're alone, or when no one is looking you let a look slip. This look is something I've never seen before. It holds such an.…unbearable sadness. Like you've witnessed something no one else has."
I could feel the wall starting to break; my emotions starting to fight against me wanting to be seen. I took a slow breath to calm myself. Percy's hand gave my knee a squeeze.
"Annabeth it's okay to feel something; whatever you're feeling it's okay to feel that way. Most of the time you're either unfeeling or mad. I feel like I'm friends with the Hulk." He chuckled lightly when my lips twitched upwards. Leave it to the water to be an idiot.
"I'm not a big green monster." I said quietly; trying to turn the conversation somewhere else. I would gladly talk about superheroes with Percy if it meant he wouldn't ask about Mother.
"No you're not. You're not a monster at all Annabeth." I nodded as a silence fell upon us; Percy was staring down at the desk. I glanced at the book before sighing.
"What did you read?" I asked gesturing to the book.
"I know what your fath-"
"That…That thing! Was not my father." I cried out harshly. Percy flinched before nodding.
"Okay fine. I know what that man did to you; I know he punished you for your gift." He took my hand in his, gently running his finger over the glove. He slowly started to remove it, glancing at me as he did so.
"I know you're Mother loved you more than life itself and I know what she did to protect you. She put up with…the man so you could live a nice life." I bit my lip, hard enough to draw blood when my glove was fully off. Percy set it on the table.
I was surprised. Normally looking at the scars would make my PTSD act up and I would see the…memories. But now I'm staring right at them but nothing is happening. Percy's slightly chilled hand keeps me…here.
"I know you developed your powers early and that caused problems. And I also know…about the fire." He said quietly, he gestured to the laptop on the desk. It looked nice; must be new. The web page was open and a news article from that day was on the screen. That's when everything happened.
I stood up enraged and ripped my hand from his. The gloveless hand burned brightly as Percy stared at me. I pointed it at him, but I couldn't hurt him so I left the threat in the air.
"You weren't supposed to find out. None of you were! Why would you snoop into my personal life like that you idiot!?" I shouted. Percy stayed quiet; he didn't seem fazed by my outburst. He seemed to…expect it?
"Don't you all get it? I'm bad news! I ruin almost everything I touch!" Looking around I noticed we were still in my room, my room that held many burnable things.
I gasped and started to sprint down the stairs, a confused Percy on my tail. If something is gonna happen and I can't control the flames I need to be away from people. I'll only burn them.
0~0~0~0~0
After running as fast as my legs would carry me I found myself in the field. I have no idea why this place comforts me as much as it does. The first time I ever came here I had just gotten away from Luke…Maybe that's why I like it. It's my sign of freedom.
I sprinted over to the small river, my lungs burning with every breath. Good news is I was finally warm but maybe just a little too warm. My hands were still burning; the flame was even starting to move up my arm, going over my skin like a jacket.
I could hear Percy's shouts behind me the entire way here, the heavy panting behind me let me know he made it.
"Gods Annabeth! Don't just run out like that!" He panted out. I ignored him and quickly thrusted my arms into the river hoping to put out the fire, it didn't work. My arms were still burning and I gasped in horror as I pulled them out.
Percy's eyes widened when he saw my arms completely covered in flames, after being placed in water. I held them in front of him, a safe distance away.
"You did this! You caused this!" I shouted. Percy stood mesmerized by the fire's light. I rolled my eyes and brushed past him to stare down at my arms in horror.
"What is this?" I whispered. I could hear Percy behind me and my emotions went crazy again. I don't know what's happening. I'm normally in control, I can't stop myself. I turned around sharply startling him.
"What's wrong with you!? Why would you go through my things because of a look in my eye? Newsflash Percy! Not everyone can be as happy as you are all the time! Not everyone has the life you do! You have a home! I had to live on the streets for five years before Ernie found me." Percy stood there, a gleam in his eye as I ranted on. I could feel my legs and upper thighs catch fire too.
"You didn't have to be beaten and abused when you didn't do something right! Luke controlled me with fear for years before I could get away! Do you know what that feels like? No of course not!"
"You have a family! A Mom and a Dad who love you! I barely remember my Mom and the man I was supposed to call a Father hated me! Because of an ability I didn't even want I ruined my life! I killed my Mom! I burned down my house! All because I couldn't control my emotions! I deserve to die with Kronos! I should have burned out. Why should I go on when I'm responsible for my own Mother's demise?" I finished off weakly, steady tears rolling down my face.
I almost never cry; not since Mother. As the memories came back I started to cry harder, my hand coming up to cup my mouth. That's when I noticed. In my rant of the past my body…turned into a flame. My hair, my arms, my legs; my entire body was engulfed in flames. I stared at Percy; the only sound was the river's steady flow and the crackling of the fire.
I felt so mentally weak. Here we're about to have a war and I'm crying in a field scared, confused and upset. What happened to me?
Percy eyes connected with mine for a minute before he whispered quietly out into the night air.
"You're beautiful."
Percy Jackson:
"You're beautiful." I whispered, breaking the silence. Annabeth's fiery eyes snapped up to meet mine.
Now I know what you're thinking. She's literally the human torch right now. How could that be attractive? But that's the thing; looking at Annabeth right now, when's she's vulnerable, showing herself completely I've never found anything more breathtaking.
I know now why she has that look in her eye and I know why she can get so scared of her own fire. Annabeth made a mistake that she's had to live with her entire life. How can that be fair?
Her body's flame grew and in the back of my mind I wondered if her clothes burned away. Not that I would try and look or anything! I just needed to know if she would be warm after this.
"Are you insane?" She shouted, her flame becoming hotter. I could feel it on my face as I walked closer.
"No, you're beautiful Annabeth." Small tears were flowing down her face only to turn to smoke seconds later.
"You're wrong." She spit out. She bent down to the ground and placed her flat palm on the grass. It instantly started to burn into ash and she frowned angrily. I shook my head and gestured to the darkness she was surrounded in.
"Look at what you are Annabeth; Really look. You and I are surrounded by darkness and yet I can see you clearly. You have the power to create light" Annabeth held up her hand and glared at me. The orange fire on her palm burned brighter until it was a scorching blue. She held her glare.
"I have the power to create destruction." She stated, sadness laced in with all the anger.
"You're beautiful." I repeated. She needs to know.
She burned a little brighter. I wonder how hot she can get; will she just burn through the Earth?
"How can you find something that does nothing but destroy beautiful?! Look at me Percy! Look at what I am! Look at what I do!"
"I am looking at what you are! You're Annabeth. You're fire…It fits you perfectly! It's natural."
"We-"She said gesturing to the two of us "…are not natural." I shook my head and walked closer.
"Fire sucks in oxygen and breathes like humans. It can show us beautiful colors…from a deep ocean blue to the deepest blood red…and everything in between. It has no bounds. It can touch the ground but reach as far up as the stars in the sky. Fire is embedded in your genes. It's magnificent and warm…Beautiful and bright."
I stepped closer.
"It's you Annabeth. Fire is you. It's so fragile yet so powerful. I don't know if you could tell but that's an attractive combination. One minute you're gentle, emotional, and sensitive then you can become ravenous, fired up, determined and to be honest a little scary…"
Another step.
"Fire is fascinating…It's really just pure energy, light and heat together. I guess it makes sense that the mortals would find it enchanting…Something so bright and pure, so fragile we can extinguish with a breath but powerful enough to burn down an entire forest."
One final step and I was in front of her, my face felt like it was burning but I held my ground. I held out my palm, water encasing my skin.
"Something so…unattainable and yet you hold it in your hands."
Annabeth was quiet for a minute, than very slowly she extended her fire palm closer to my water covered one. She hesitated when they were about to touch but looked up at me before pressing her fire against my water.
Smoke appeared instantly, its loud hiss burning my ears. The grey mist took a couple minutes to subside but when it did I was able to see her.
She wasn't burning anymore, though her skin still felt hot. Her hand slid down mine until it was back at her side.
She slowly walked over to me and placed her finger on my shoulder without uttering a word. I winced when I felt the sting of a small fire, it carefully burning my skin. Annabeth slowly pulled her finger back to show me the small fire she created. I looked down at my shoulder and saw a small burn there. Annabeth frowned sadly and whispered,
"I could hurt you…"
I could sense how broken she was. She had to finally face her past after running away from it for so long. She needs me now more than ever and this little burn is her last test. If she knows I won't leave when she becomes the human torch, loses control of her emotions or burns me she knows she won't be alone.
I won't ever let her be alone.
I placed my water covered finger on the burned shoulder. I mentally sighed as the glowing water covered the burn, healing it slightly. I shrugged nonchalantly. Her burning me on purpose would normally be a big deal but in this situation it was needed.
"I can heal."
Annabeth sighed and nodded slowly, accepting I was here for her. I grinned and quickly tried to pull out the paper from my back pocket.
"I uh…I found this in the abnormal book we took from the library." I left it at that and handed it to her.
Annabeth Chase:
"I uh…I found this in the abnormal book we took from the library." He quickly handed me the paper and looking at me expectantly. I'll yell at him later for tearing out a page, the words at the very top have caught my attention.
Abnormal Love. Can they be tamed?
I looked up at Percy confused but he just gestured to the page. My eyebrows rose but I quietly read the page out loud.
"Normally the life of an abnormal isn't long. So many threats come across them it's no wonder they no longer walk the earth in large numbers. Evil seems to seek out these special few, wanting nothing more than their demise. If you're an abnormal you might be thinking. 'Can we ever stop running?' Or 'Is there anything to look forward to?' And the answer is yes."
Percy slowly took the paper from my hands and stood next to me, our shoulders touching and finished the paragraph.
"Even Abnormals can find their special, the one that makes all the fighting worth it. Sometimes powers can be unstable and hard to control. When Abnormals find their special they find the one who tames them, makes them sane again. Some Abnormals may even feel…human around their special. Love seems to find anyone, even the people who may not deserve it." He finished quietly.
My first thought was the last line. The questions running through my mind almost gave me a headache. Do I deserve love? After all I've done? Percy cut off my train of thought when he held up my open palm against his.
He stared into my eyes as he intertwined our fingers.
"You may think you don't deserve to be on this Earth anymore. You may think you don't deserve love but you do. What happened when you were younger was an accident Annabeth, your Mother is watching over you smiling. Her love will never leave you. Death takes a life, not a relationship. You're still her daughter and she still loves you."
I took a shutter-y breath and squeezed his hand, trying to gather strength from it.
"Time is a mean thing…While it erases the bad memories it also erases the good ones. I can hardly remember the man and what he said to me. But I can't remember the way Mother's laugh sounded or her voice….Death takes and cares for no one else's feelings and I haven't been able to cope after all these years." I said quietly. Then as if I found myself again my eyes hardened and I frowned, angry with myself.
"Do I sound weak? Useless?" I angrily asked Percy. He smiled easily and tightened his grip on my hand.
"You sound human Annabeth. How we deal with tragedy defines who we are. You'd be as happy as I am if…the man hadn't treated you the way he did. I'm sorry you had to endure that." I blinked a couple times; honestly not expecting that answer. He's supposed to tell me the fire is my fault, that's what Luke would say.
Percy made his hand form water around his skin, soon seeping onto mine.
"You're my special Annabeth. There's no way you aren't. We tame each other. Since coming here and meeting you I've learned to actually care about my powers, and when not to use them. They are a serious gift and need to be treated as such. I've changed, become more mature since meeting you."
He moved closer, our lower halves are touching, our hands intertwined on his chest. He leaned down to gently kiss one of my knuckles.
"I tame you. No matter how bright you burn, how hot your flame may be I won't leave your side. You're our savior Annabeth, your gift isn't a curse because you're going to use it to save the city next week." I finally moved my gaze from our hands to his face, his smile bright.
"You may think I'm crazy, you may want to burn my hands right now but Annabeth you need me as much as I need you. You're special because you're my special."
This boy will be the death of me. Not even ten minutes ago I was one big flame ready to burn down a forest, my rage fueling me. Then I was miserable because my past came back to slap me in the face, reminding me it's still behind me and will be forever. Then I was content because Percy won't leave, he isn't afraid of me.
And now my heart won't stop pounding against my chest because he loves me.
I didn't have the slightest idea what to say. I know my heart is going crazy and I feel light headed right now but I don't enjoy crushes. But looking up at Percy's never ending smiling face I couldn't help but smile back timidly and nod. He seemed to realize that's my way of saying I enjoyed the moment he created.
He leaned down to give me forehead a soft kiss, cold shivers spreading throughout my body. I should feel uncomfortable, I'm a fire and feeling cold doesn't work for me. But when Percy's the one causing me to feel this way I don't mind it.
"You've had a long day, let's get you home. We can talk about this after we've dealt with everything." He started to tug gently at our intertwined fingers so I would walk with him. The feeling of war, the dread was settling in me so I let him wordlessly take me back to Ernie's.
When we got back the place was quiet, and dark. Knowing the power wasn't going to work so late at night without Ernie here I lit a small flame so I could lead us up to my room without tripping over anything.
Nico wasn't anywhere to be seen when I turned on my lamp light. Hmm, he must have found another place to crash for the night.
I started to lead Percy to my bed but he tugged me back.
"Annabeth I know you're scared and probably a little freaked out with everything that just happened but just because you're my special doesn't mean you have to sleep with me." I stared up at him sadly.
He's right I don't want to be alone. Nico isn't here and Ernie's gone. The six of us need to find a way to get everyone out of the city and I need to see the Oracle. So much is changing in such a short amount of time. I'm scared I'm not going to be here, holding Percy's hand next week.
"Please don't leave me alone here." I whispered to him, begging him to stay with me.
His green eyes softened instantly and he nodded slowly. He took off his shirt and pulled back the covers for me. I sat on the bed and waited for him to get behind me. When he was laying down, the covers over him I curled up next to him. My face was pressed tightly into his chest, his arm wrapping around me.
As the darkness started to find us both, luring us to sleep I felt it. With Percy everything can disappear, if only for a moment. Right here cuddled up in my bed we look…Normal. We look human. Next week we'll be abnormals, scarred from battle forever. Percy's arm tightened around me and I sighed.
Rachel Dare:
I stared down at the glass sadly. Annabeth and Percy lay down quietly together, fearing it's their last moment together like that. Piper and Jason seem to be in the same position, holding each other tightly. Thalia and Nico lay awake but silent as the movie plays on. They don't seem to notice the screen. Thalia stretches on her couch as Nico rolls over on the floor.
All six fear for the future and what it holds.
That fear will destroy them if they aren't careful.