Chapter 21

A good song to listen to during the lacrosse game part of this chapter is Soldiers by Otherwise.

4 months after the last chapter

Stiles POV

Scott had gotten along better with Percy and Nico, but they weren't friends still. Derek is the new Alpha but he has no pack because he wants everything to die down for a couple of months at least before he adds more to his group. Scott and Alison are still together despite the fact that her father knows that Scott is a were-wolf. I think the reason he doesn't mind is because, Percy and Nico are both Alpha's and would kill Scott if he did anything to Alison.

Percy and Jackson were named co-captains which I think is awesome. However, it just gives Scott more of an incentive to hate Percy for taking a position that Scott wants. Good news is that I will be starting during this game. It was time for the state championship lacrosse game.

The game was scoreless after the first half, with Scott challenging Percy every chance he could get. Knocking him out of the way, blocking his shots, just being a pain in the ass in general. The coach was fed up with it, the others were too, as well as myself.

I have to stop this.

"Scott!" I yelled out after he had pushed Percy in an attempt to get the ball that ended with the other team scoring on us. He turned around and had shifted underneath his helmet. But I wasn't going to back down.

"Get your head out of your ass McCall! This is a team, we work together. I don't give a flying fuck how you feel about Percy's actions. This game is ours to take, and if you keep messing this up for everyone. I will put you on your ass in front of everyone without a care. You are acting like a child! This is your only warning, stop it or I'll show you just how serious I am! I may be your friend, but I will not stand for this!" I roared at him in front of everyone as it got quiet.

Scott looked at me took off his helmet and smiled "Yeah right, Stiles. You don't have the guts."

I narrowed my eyes and punched him in the gut so hard he dropped to his knees. After 20 seconds he stood up and swung a right cross at me. Which I dodged and followed through with an uppercut and knocked him to the ground. It got deadly silent as the others were shocked at my actions.

Everyone soon got over it as Percy clapped me on my back and whispered to meet him after the game at his house. He called for us to move and the game started back up again.

We were still losing by one until Percy intercepted a pass deep in the opponent's territory and flipped it to me as soon as he was surrounded. I fired it right after receiving it and it went in, tying up the game with 3 minutes left. I got all of us in a quick huddle, "Alright I'm only going to say this once. This game is ours! We will show everyone why we are state champions for the past three years. This is OURS! I has proven that I will not stand for this game to end in their favor. Will the rest of you?! FUCK NO, WE WON'T! THIS IS OUR GAME! WHO'S WITH ME?!"

That got everyone fired up as we got into positions and kept pounding their side of the field with shots that would just barely miss.

The game was still tied with 30 seconds left, Jackson had the ball, who passed it to Percy who faked a shot and quickly passed to me as the goalie went for his fake. I made that easy goal right as time expired. Our side of the stands jumped up as we had now won the state championship for four years in a row.

The entire team lifted Jackson, Percy and I up on their shoulders as they carried us into the locker room. Coach was talking to us about how proud of us he was and gave the game ball to Percy, who called for silence and said "the true game hero stepped up and showed all of us that he deserves to be with us on first line. That person is Stiles Stilinkski."

I was so shocked that I had to be pulled to my feet by the others and Percy brought me up to the front, pulled up my arm and yelled "STILES for the WIN!" The others started to chant "STI-LES!" I am so happy for having a friend like Percy.

After the game I met up with Percy, Nico and this woman who looked vaguely familiar but I couldn't place it. Percy spoke first "Stiles, I know that this may seem like a shocker, but I am here for support as you receive the gift I told you about when I was in the hospital after the attack at school. The woman next to us is Bellona, the Roman Goddess of War. Not only that, but she is your mother."

(I know right, such a good twist.)

WHAAAAT?!

I froze, that's why she looked so familiar. "Mom?" I asked as I faced her, tears racing down my cheeks. She nodded and pulled me into a tight hug. We held the embrace for another 3 minutes before we let go of each other and stepped back.

"Stiles, the time for your enhancement that I told you about a while ago. Your mother is a Roman War Goddess, the power you are able to receive from her, was shown tonight at the game. In that speech, you gave everyone hope, and courage to keep pushing through the challenge of that team. The power you have is called Empowerment: meaning you can share your strength and courage with others. The drawback is that you feel any emotions of those you grant your strength to. Your half-sister, Reyna is a close friend of mine has the same ability, alas you have not met her, nor will you be able to until you are fully trained."

"Wait, I need to know something." I asked, still letting tears fall. "I need to know mom, why did you leave? Was it because of me? Can I take your picture so I won't ever forget this day? Please, I have no memory of your face, I need this one thing. Please?!"

Bellona grasped my shoulders and spoke "my boy, I had to leave to protect you. That car crash that I made you believe I died in was necessary. It wasn't an accident at all, it was a monster that attacked the car knowing that I was there. I killed the beast, but I dampened your aura as it was increasing as you grew up. You are very powerful, you just are not aware of it. Stay with Perseus and Nico, they will show you your full strength and powers. They trained with your sister, Reyna and gave her the courage to become a fierce warrior. Hopefully you will get to meet her someday. And yes I would love to have a picture of you, but only if your father does not hear or see this, as it would only give him grief."

I nodded and pulled out my phone and snapped a quick picture of us and gave her another hug. She whispered "my boy, you will turn the tide in your friend's life towards a bright future. And don't worry, you will find love sooner than you think. But for now, I must go back to my duties. Be brave my son, for I am always watching over you." With that she flashed away leaving me with Percy.

I looked over at him and pulled him into a tight hug "don't worry, Stiles. She cares for you very much. When I was forced to leave, she approached me and asked for me to keep you safe. You will see her again, I will not allow it to not happen. Nico and I will help in any way that we can. War is coming, and you must be ready for it."

Time skip- 5 months later

Nico POV

Everything had died down a lot, there were no were-wolf attacks or weird nature disturbances. Plus it seems that the Gods were leaving us be as we were. Except for Athena, Annabeth and Thalia, those three were still causing some disturbances. No attacks, but they would show up at school and hang out with Scott and seem to always get under his skin and try to get him to mess with us.

Stiles was progressing in his training to master his new ability given to him by Bellona, his mother. He could also use a sword, and hunting knives very well. He was learning how to fire a bow this month. He was no longer intimidated by Derek which was good, but he seems to start hanging out with Leo as much as he can. Of course, it would be Leo. Those two are like peas in a pod.

Alison and Scott were still together, but not as much in love as they used to be. Scott still hates us, and Allison has already given him an ultimatum. Either he lets go of his hatred for us or Alison will leave him. He has a month to make his decision.

Lydia is the same as always, but unfortunately, Jackson is not. I have no idea how, but he got really sick. Then one day he showed up at school perfectly healthy and fine, but I knew better.

I quickly found him and pulled him aside into a custodial closet. "Jackson, what the hell happened to you man? You were really sick, but now you are healthy in the span of overnight. Tell me what is going on."

He looked at me with a sad look on his face, "I asked Derek to bite me because I wanted to feel powerful and so I could better protect Lydia. But I don't think that it is working because I started to bleed black blood and I got really sick. But this morning I woke up feeling perfect."

I nodded and looked down as I replied "Jackson, the reason you got sick is because the bite rejected your body. And you got really lucky that it didn't kill you. However it means that you cannot become one of us until you find your place with yourself. As I know, you are adopted and you never feel like you proven yourself to your friends or yourself, but know this, Percy and I accepted you the way you are when we got to know you. So does Lydia, Stiles and Allison. Scott is too much to deal with so don't worry about him." I finished with a small laugh that he returned.

The bell rang for first period to start in 5 minutes and we walked out of our hiding space to find Scott, Annabeth and Thalia standing in front of the door, arms crossed, staring intently at me.

"You go on ahead man, I'll be right there, tell the teacher that I had a flat." He nodded before making his way to class.

"What do you three want?" I snapped at them, my eyes glowing red, as my clothes started to steam. They didn't move until Scott moved in front of me and said "I didn't appreciate what you said to Jackson about me. So if I were you, I would apologize right now before we kick your ass." Scott threatened.

"You three, kick my ass…heh, please. I could use a practice spar after school the same place where Percy embarrassed you two." I said as I pointed to Thalia and Annabeth.

At this moment, Stiles had walked out of class to go to his locker and spotted our argument. He made his way over to us and greeted all of us before saying "I actually need to talk to Nico for a second. So could you finish this up later?"

Thalia got right into his face and sneered at him before remarking "No. And you can't make us daughter of Bellona." At that, Scott and Annabeth started to giggle, and I nodded to Stiles. He smirked and faced her before decking Thalia hard in the face and said "Says the daughter of Zeus that is scared of heights. Ironic, isn't it?"

I bust out laughing at the turn of events and pulled Stiles and I away from the incident. Once we got into an empty hallway, I clapped him on the back "dude that was perfect. Now they know not to mess with you again, you defended yourself while maintaining you anger. There is nothing more that Percy and I could teach you. You are ready for the upcoming conflict. We are very proud of you, as is your mom. Plus, your half-sister Reyna will be coming to visit you next week." I said with a smile on my face as his lit up as well. With one final hug, we separated and made our way to our classes.

The rest of the day almost went off without a hitch. You see, at 9:00 that night, I got a text from an unknown number that says if you want to keep your secret safe, then come to the school at 9:15pm with your friends.

Great, now there's a flashback to the Alpha attack that happened where Percy almost died.

I called everyone including Scott and told them about this warning I received, and got all of them to come. But before we walked I made sure that everyone had a silver knife for defense as we had a bad experience the last time we were here at this time.

We all walked through the entrance to find a man holding a detonator, with his thumb hovering over the button. Behind him were a group of hunters all holding shotguns.

"Who are you? What is going on?" Percy asked while aiming an arrow notched at the person with the detonator. I had my swords drawn, Alison had her bow drawn, and Stiles had unsheathed his knives, Scott and Derek were shifted, Jackson and Lydia were at the back holding the knives we gave them.

"Now, now, my boy, is that how you greet family?" The man said as he stepped into a light made by a reflection off the moon. It is Gerard, Alison's grandfather. Alison gasped and lowered her bow and stepped forward before remembering that he is holding a bomb detonator.

"Why are you holding a detonator, grandpa? Better yet, why are we here?" She asked keeping her bow still drawn pointing at the ground.

"I need to talk to Perseus Jackson alone. It has to do with the Alpha that he killed a couple of months ago. He has some questions to answer. We will return him alive if he comes peacefully right now." Gerard calmly said.

I stepped forward "there is no way that is going to happen. If you want him, I go too. Otherwise, you will leave or I will kill you without remorse." I snarled.

BANG! A gunshot echoed, and I felt nothing, no pain. I looked down and saw a gaping hole in the middle of my chest. I looked back up and smiled, I forgot to mention that when Artemis blessed us with our wolf abilities, she also made us immune to wolfs-bane.

Gerard looked scared, he pulled out his gun and attempted to fire at me before I melted into a shadow before appearing behind him and punched him hard in the back of his head, sending him flying back. I heard a roar behind me before I turned around and saw Allison being held in a chokehold by a duo of two guys. They looked at me and I saw the red eyes.

Great more Alpha's. Wait, Lycaon said that he killed the other Alphas. How are they here then?

I pushed that thought aside as Percy, Scott, and Derek shifted, and Percy roared at the Alphas. They backed up when they saw that Percy, Derek and I were Alphas but one dashed forward and grabbed the detonator that Gerard had dropped and held it up, before gesturing to look up. We did and saw that the ceiling above us was lined with wires and C-4.

Percy growled out at them "let her go. She has done nothing to you two. We can talk this out, my name is Percy. What are yours?"

They looked at each other before putting Alison down and letting her come back to us. Once she was near us, Scott tried to lunge forward, but I held him back. "Really? You want to provoke them further? You will get us all killed."

Scott refused to listen, he kept struggling. Percy looked at him and pulled me away and shouted "get back everyone! He is losing control." I looked towards the twins and saw them smiling, their eyes still glowing. Percy pushed himself between us and Scott, and shouted at Scott to regain control.

"He can't hear you, Percy. He can't even see your face. His will isn't strong enough to withstand two Alphas. But now it is time for your actions against us to be repaid. Have fun in Hell." One of them said as he pushed down on the detonator.

Right before his thumb hit that button, I found myself outside the school along with everyone except for Percy.

No! Please no!

"PERCY!" I yelled right as the half of the school collapsed on itself in a giant BOOM. I looked around and saw the faces of my friends. Scott was shocked, Alison was about to collapse, Jackson had a look of anguish spread across his face as he was holding Lydia up because she fainted. Stiles slicing at trees with his knives in a fury as he was crying out in anger. I didn't know what to think as I dropped to my knees crying.

Percy POV

I groaned out in mixture of frustration and pain as I barely pushed a huge piece of concrete off my chest. It was difficult to get a firm grip with my hands. I don't know if it's because everything is blurry or the fact that my hands are covered with my own blood. My body was in so much pain, I had broken almost all of my ribs, I had a shattered shoulder blade, my right leg is dislocated and my pelvis has several breaks in it.

I placed my sweaty forehead on the cold steps. It felt really nice. I just really wanted to close my eyes and just rest. But I couldn't stop because my friends need me.

"Wow, that doesn't look like nectar or ambrosia could heal that," laughed a very familiar voice. I wanted to pass out again. I know that voice. And I've known that person since we were 12.

"Annabeth?" I quickly blinked my eyes like that would solve my blurry vision.

Like she just pulled off her invisible hat, there she was, sitting a couple of steps in front me. Before, every time of just seeing Annabeth Chase, my heart would beat a thousand miles per minute and she would always take my breath away. But that was in the past. Now, just seeing her made me see red.

"What a shame. You and Nico made a really good couple," said another familiar voice.

I turned my head and I wanted to cry. There, sitting on the lap of Charles Beckendorf is Silena Beauregard. She was gorgeous, like all children of Aphrodite. She looked fine, healthy, and alive. There was no trace of her dying from the drakon poison. Not even a scar. Charles Beckendorf held lovingly to Silena in his arms like he was the luckiest man on earth. He's supposed to be dead from the explosion at the ship.

"Y-You're dead," I stammered. "Y-You're supposed to be dead. I saw you guys die."

"You think after our death and seeing him after so long, he would be happy to see us," Beckendorf chuckled in amusement.

Snorted a voice. "It takes a while for everything to click in. Just give him a minute."

My eyes watered as I stared at the person who was at the other side of the rail. It was Nico di Angelo sister, Bianca di Angelo. She looked so young. So alive. She wasn't wearing the usual hunting outfit that the Huntress of Artemis would wear. She was wearing the same clothes when I first met her at Westover Hall. I would rather break my other leg than to endure the emotional pain I am facing right now just seeing her.

"Bianca?" I whispered, afraid that if I said it any louder she would disappear. "I'm so sorry."

"Ugh, you and your apologies, Percy Jackson," said a male voice. "Just let it go. I guess people don't change."

I could never forget his short-cropped sandy hair and baby blue eyes that use to be pure gold. Or his mischievous smile that always made me want to keep my wallet close to me. Or that thick white scar that ran from just beneath his right eye to his jaw.

"Luke?" I murmured in disbelief. "You're not supposed to be here. I-I saw you guys all die."

"I'm not dead, Fish Breath," Annabeth piped up.

"Yeah," I narrowed my eyes at her. "Well, you are dead to me."

Luke gave out a booming laugh, clutching his side. "Man, I guess I am wrong. You certainly have changed, Jackson," Luke wiped a fake tear. "I like it. I like this new attitude. Reminds me of Ares."

I started to sweat even more as I could feel myself burning up. Which is ironic because I have the power to control fire and the heat never bothered me. I started to feel very light-headed that I was afraid my head was about to fly away.

"This isn't real," I muttered again as I painfully pulled myself to onto the stairs near me.

"Maybe you're right," he mused. "This could be all in your head. You're guilty conscience surfacing when you are about to die from blood loss. Who would ever thought the great Percy Jackson wouldn't die in battle? He would die from giving in to sorrow, guilt and regret."

"I'm not going to die," I defended in a feeble tone. "You aren't here. You aren't real."

He looked so real. I could feel his body when I pushed past him. I'm losing my mind. I gave out a wail as I hauled my body, my muscles shaking as I placed all my weight on my left leg.

"Kronos would have wiped the entire human existence if he ruled," I told him shakily. "He's even worse than the Gods."

"Look around you Percy," Luke jumped in front of me. "Why keep fighting? Just give up already!"

"Shut up!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. I started to catch fire, as bluish flames started to race up my arms. I started to breathe even more heavily. I was struggling to breathe. It was like trying to breathe in through a very thin straw into my lungs. Coughing violently, I watched with half of my right eye open as my blood splattered on the steps.

"This is all your fault, you know?" Luke kept taunting me. "You could have stopped Scott from turning into a werewolf. But no, you were too selfish to reveal your true self to your new group of friends."

"I couldn't interfere Scott's fate. It was forbidden," I breathed.

"That's bullshit. Here's my theory, you want to forget everything, don't you? Running away from your past? Oh, it doesn't work like that Jackson. The part will always come back to haunt you. It would forever be there until you take your final breath."

"Th-That's not true," I stammered as I blinked heavily.

"Want to forget about the death of Silena?" Luke pointed behind me.

I twisted my neck and gave out a gasp. Silena once smooth skin was all raw now. Her face was all blistered and pink. Half of her hair was gone, revealing her scarred scalp. Her lips were burned off, showing creepily to her pearly white teeth. Her entire face looked melted and undefined. She was wearing the same armor when she died faced the drakon on her own. Her body was steaming, like she just bathed in drakon poison. You couldn't even recognize her anymore.

"Beckendorf?"

I shook my head rapidly as I took another step, trying to get away from them. Beckendorf also changed. His entire body was burnt and crisped. His skin was all shriveled up. His ears were burned away. His fingers were barely attached to his hands. He looked as if he would crumble away into ashes if you so much as sneezed near him.

"Bianca? She was so young. She didn't deserve to die," Luke snarled in my face.

"I tried to stop her from sacrificing her life, but she pushed me aside. I did more than you did son of Hermes. You betrayed each and every one of us, including the ghosts that you brought here to make me see again. You have no fucking right to put that blame on me. She made her own choice." I snarled out as I faced him/

But, I didn't dare look at Bianca. It was too much. I felt like there was a balloon inside my chest, expanding and widening, pushing my heart and other organs, ready to just burst. I flinched when Luke grabbed my face tightly, forcing me to look into him. I winced when I stared into molten gold eyes. The eyes of Kronos.

"What about the death Luke Castellan? You could never forget about him, grandson," his voice was like a thousand knives were raking across a chalkboard. "You can't forget about all their deaths because it's all your fault!"

I weakly shoved Luke away from me and hastily crawled up the stairs, my entire body shaking in fatigue. "He made his choice, just like the rest of them did. Luke sacrificed himself to take you out, grandpa!"

"You killed us! You're a murder Percy Jackson!" Luke shouted in my ear, making me jump and pick up my speed.

"This isn't real, this isn't real, this isn't real," I told myself angrily as my eyes burned with tears but none fell. I screamed out in agony, both emotionally and physically, as I pushed myself up the stairs. I caught the eyes of a smiling Annabeth. She looked like an angel as she offered me her hand.

"Give me your hand Seaweed Brain," she giggled brightly, ignoring Luke screaming in my ear.

Looking at her in anguish, I shakily reached my hands towards hers. I gritted my teeth as my fingertips barely brushed towards her fingers. My hand slipped and the next thing I knew, I was rolling down the stairs. Each step banged against my body. The back of my head slammed brutally against the floor as I just laid there. I wanted to get up. I wanted to move. But it was like my body was shutting down on me.

Annabeth quickly covered my vision, her hair draping down that it tickled my nose. I breathed in the faint smell of lemon shampoo. Annabeth glanced down at me lovingly, her eyes shining. She leaned down and brushed her pink lips on my own which were coated in blood.

"I was your first love Percy Jackson," she whispered in my lips. "You can never forget about your first love."

I blinked my eyes and she was gone. My body started to arch violently as I started to cough up even more blood. Soon, I started to gurgle as too much blood started to fill my mouth. I could feel it go back to my throat but more just came gushing out. Choking, I tried my damn hardest to keep my eyes open. But I quickly found myself in complete darkness.

Updated: 01/01/2018