Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Chapter 13
"Oh my gods," Thalia whispered, crouching beside her (once again) unconscious cousin. "What the hell happened to you?"
It seemed that it wasn't actually normal 'throw up.' More like some sort of blood-fest, that looked like throw up than the actual thing itself. A tub that was filled with tons of red could be seen, and it actually looked like the rest of the occupants would want to vomit. Quite the irony.
"Shit Percy," Nico swore quietly, hoping Sally hadn't heard him.
Even if she did, she wouldn't have minded at that specific moment. It was like she turned off her hearing and the only thing she was focused on was her son- perfectly understandable.
Artemis watched mostly from the sidelines, managing to squish in the small group to look at the son of Poseidon. Her eyes didn't narrow, but her usual sharp and dangerous look in the silver orbs softened by a fraction. Her mind wandered, and she imagined what would happened if Percy would die. The funeral, the family, and the people. The grief. Depression. And herself as well. A blink, and the thought was attempted to be gone.
"Are you alright?" A voice told the goddess.
It was Apollo. The goddess of the hunt smiled wanly, but it didn't reach her eyes. It was most probably fake. The 'older' sibling god, hugged her, and she surprisingly hugged back.
"I thought you were getting misty eyed," Apollo said out loud in concern, because if there was one thing he knew, it was that his sister almost never cried.
All the sun god got for a reply was a little shake from the smaller form. Whether it was because of laughter or crying, he didn't know. Maybe it was both. Artemis herself didn't know what to think. She respected him- admired Percy as a man himself and that was all there was to it.
"Apollo," Thalia called, her electrifying eyes looking up at the god. "What's happening?"
The hug broke apart, and said person (or god) immediately strode forward to the tub. Out of habit, he placed two fingers on the teenager's neck to check the pulse. A sigh of relief, and an uncertain twitch of the lips.
"Artemis, I need you to see what this is," Apollo asked his sibling, gesturing towards the tub.
Without complaint, Artemis made a small container that probably looked stronger than it looked. She had on gloves that weren't there before, and closing her eyes for a second, she opened them and carefully scooped up the red substance that was laying there without moving.
"What is that?!" Nico couldn't help but whisper and yell at the same time.
"We're trying to figure it out," Artemis responded quickly, placing the substance in the container before closing it shut tightly.
"Unfortunately..." Apollo trailed off as if he was afraid of what he was going to say.
"Yes?" Sally finally got in the conversation, but her voice cracked slightly.
"Well he has to wake up first," Apollo answered after some time, biting his lip.
"And what's so bad about that?" Thalia asked curiously, not seeing any problem with the statement. "It's easy waking him up."
The sun god sighed deeply, putting his head in his lap. It seemed impossible with Percy. Just as they had saved his life, he seemed unconscious again, and in the next few hours, he would be getting a flashback.
"You don't get the point," Apollo said in frustration, wanting to vent his anger on something. "It's like something's triggered in his head. Maybe it's because of his time in Tartarus, and some sort of curse has been cast on him. I don't know, just wake him up, but do it gently."
The only mother in the small space that was the living room paled slightly, her face looking a few years older than she was. A sob racked her body, and she sat down on a chair as the salty water fell and splattered on the ground.
Most occupants looked at Artemis as if she would do something to comfort Sally. The goddess let out a small breath, and nodded.
"Sally," Artemis spoke softly, turning to the mother. "I swear on the River Styx, that your son Perseus Jackson will be healed and alright in the end."
Thunder rumbled, and Sally had a smile that wavered in and out. She nodded numbly, some tears still escaping out of her eyes. Thalia looked slightly shocked at the promise but recovered quickly enough to let a smile cover her face.
Nico wasn't one for mushy stuff. He crouched down next to his cousin, wondering what had happened to Percy. He tried hard to not let himself get emotional but it was hard. Seeing his older cousin like this, weak and gaunt. Blood bled profusely out of the open wounds that were slowly cracking open. It looked nasty, almost evil, as if the wound was saying 'I can never be healed, go away.' And maybe it couldn't.
Eventually, Thalia came to join her cousins, one unconscious, and the other alive and well. She stared at the son of Poseidon on the floor, a pool of blood surrounding him. Her mind cleared. Sadness was one thing. Anger was another. Her clear and sharp tone rang out in the apartment room.
"We should try putting dynamite in Tartarus," Thalia said solemnly.
"We don't have the dynamite-" Nico responded, but got interrupted.
"Apollo can supply the dynamite, Kronos should die, that sorry little bastard should go rot in Tartarus, all his limbs being sliced off, and his stupid head eaten by the hellhounds, and-"
"Thalia!"
"Then that Titan king can scream so loud that I can hear it, we'll be like the mafia, chopping off the fing-"
"THALIA!"
"Okay, fine, but tell the truth Ms. Jacks- Sally, wouldn't you be thinking the same?"
Sally looked at the ex-daughter of Zeus carefully. "Less harsh."
"See that's the problem with grownups," Nico whispered to Thalia. "Something bad happens, and even if it's truly bad, they'll still want the kids to think that it's alright and that they don't deserve to be punished. Absolute bullshit."
Thalia nodded, agreeing to the 'well said' statement, it was an opinion however, and Apollo frowned slightly. The goddess of the hunt stared at her (former?) lieutenant as if saying 'you know that I can think of way worse than you.'
Sally didn't hear, since she didn't have those 'enhanced hearing' that the demigods and gods had. She just shook her head as she marveled of their imagination. Her eyes wandered all over the space that they were in until they landed on a figure that looked to be waking up. A smile graced her features.
"Stop... Don't..." A hoarse voice spoke quietly.
All current activity that was happening stopped as if Kronos had stopped time. Heads turned like some celebrity was walking, and finally the reactions.
"Perce, why the hell is it always you?" Were the words that tumbled out of Thalia's mouth. "You're the one that the Fates love aren't you?"
"I'm sure the word you're looking for is 'hate,' I'm like their puppet," Percy replied, trying to sit up but failing dramatically.
The son of Hades noticed the failed movement and helped his cousin up. "Damn. You used to do sit-ups..."
Silence. Percy just smiled without the tips reaching his eyes. "I used to, maybe I'll try one today."
"No don't, you'll break your back," Apollo added in hurriedly, his blonde hair messed up from his hand always running though it. "And I don't think you'll want that."
"You've had enough injuries already," Artemis stated firmly. She saw Percy staring at her in a hint of surprise. "And yes, I will be staying here until my brother decides to leave."
"I'm leaving until he's healed," Apollo said in reply to his sibling's unasked question. "You should all get some sleep; two professionals are going to work on our patient."
"I'm very honored," the son of Poseidon responded sarcastically, as he supported himself on a chair.
A flicker of a rainbow-water message appeared above on the ceiling. The lighting of it all was dim, so none of the occupants could see it. A few faces appeared on the IM out of curiosity and either anger or hatred. Sally found herself looking up at the face of Zeus, the king of the gods.
The gods are here now, they look at your face, thinking you are just a waste of space, now that their in the ceiling, learn to appreciate your home, because the voice you're hearing is like an atomic bomb. They just want you to suffer, why can't you see that Perseus?
"Because I don't want to," Percy replied softly through gritted teeth.
The others were freaking out once Sally nearly jumped up in the air. She pointed towards the ceiling, and the occupants could see the image that was now gone.
Well now they know your secret that you've been hiding for how many hours...? It was only yesterday when you were at home, nicely getting whipped for what you said. Beautiful and insane...
"Who are you?" It had to be the first time Percy asked that question.
Why I'm surprised you haven't figured it out before Seaweed Brain. A flinch at the reminder. You know, to escape pain, usually for a regular mortal, there are four options. One is to take drugs, get addicted. The second way is to drink everyday in the pub to forget. The third way is to kill yourself, and the fourth can be to cut yourself. You, as a demigod, can have a fifth option. GO TO TARTARUS!
It was sadly the truth. Percy realized the fact easily. He swallowed and licked his dry lips nervously. "You still haven't told me who you are."
You don't get it do you? I'm the insane part of you. The 'conscious' everyone has. That's me. I was created in Tartarus by you. I'm the only one you have left now. I won't betray you. Look around you. Sally? She sees the best in everyone; she might even learn to forgive Poseidon. Artemis? The maiden goddess that hates males could turn you into a jackalope, and EVERYONE will laugh. Apollo? The healer can also be a destroyer don't you know? And then there are your dearest two cousins.
"Shut up, and don't tell me," Percy told the voice, feeling his stomach do handstands.
They might betray you. It could be the Fates' plan all along. Betrayer's betrayal lost in the betrayer world of betrayal. Everyone that you hold in your fatal flaw heart will betray you eventually. Just like Annabeth did, and exactly how your daddy dearest did as well. Thalia and Nico sitting in your apartment, K-I-L-L-I-N-G, first target is Sally, then comes you, and then comes themselves in their twisted marriage!
"Technically I'm a bastard now," Thalia spoke, not even ashamed to admit it.
"Good for you," Nico responded absentmindedly, fiddling with something in his hands.
See? You're too naive Seaweed Brain. Drop the niceness you have in yourself. Become fiercer. You're an idiot if you think that they'll trust you. They think you're insane. Look at Sally's face right now, just look in her eyes and tell me what you see.
"Call me Seaweed Brain again, and I'll kill you."
Kill yourself is option number three. What I've been telling you is to go to option number five. You just won't listen. Oh well, she's looking at you now.
The son of Poseidon stared at his mother's eyes. They looked haunted and pale, but it still had the same light from a few years ago.
She prefers Paul over you. Without you, she could actually have a normal life. That's all she wanted. You just ruin things as always. She didn't hug you or anything, did she? Oh look, she's standing up, walking in your direction and... She's going to her bedroom. To sleep I suppose. Goodnight Sally.
"Night Percy," Sally told her son, as she hugged him tightly, careful not to hurt him. "I love you."
"... I love you too mom."
Sally must have noticed the hesitant tone, because she frowned slightly, her expression bemused. She didn't press the matter further, and gave a small smile, releasing the hug and going to her bedroom.
Even your mother is beginning to doubt you. I thought she would sick by you till the end, and then betray you, but looks like I'm wrong. Maybe she'll be the first. You should do option five. Or two, just drink alcohol until you pass out. Very effective, but five is the best. You don't believe me? Go there yourself, maybe you'll find the news that no one told you yet...
A/N: I was supposed to do 3,000 words, but I didn't have the inspiration. Sorry for the late update, I was really busy. I hope you all enjoyed the filler chapter, next one will probably be more exciting. Thanks for all the support!
Percy-God-Time (Guest): This isn't really a romance story, so I really don't know.
Dancing With The Clouds: Thanks!
mosgem: Thanks, and I suppose the wait isn't really worth it this time.
TheDeadOne28: It was an illusion and a dream.