Responses to my awesome reviewers!
-ConnwaersonofThantos- It's okay if you discontinue it. Try deleting it and then take your time rewriting it. No one will judge ;).
-shadoweater22- *whiney voice* But I want to!?
-rider-84- Damn,?, that's a good idea. Maybe I will do that.
Hey Guys! This is a fair warning for the ones with a soft stomach, this story gets a little gory at points, if you don't like to hear this kinda stuff, I'd recommend you'd read this will extreme caution. Enjoy! Also a disclaimer- I don't own any of the PJO/ HOO characters. But I do own Isabelle, and Jonathan as characters. Thanks again.
Isabelle's POV-
I finally sleep happy. It feels like a sand bag was finally lifted off my shoulders. Percy is back and he loves me.
The light cuts through the curtains and hits my closed eyelids. I groan and sit up. It's early, but I usually wake up early.
I check my clock and it's 7:45. I smile and I get out of my bed. I look around, Jason is still knocked out, snoring quietly. He looks so innocent when he's asleep. All of his stress seems to melt away, his blonde hair hangs in front of his face, over his eyes and mouth as he sleeps.
I walk into the bathroom and I take a long, hot shower. I let my thoughts run wild.
For years, I was just another demigod, a hid in the shadows. No one barely spared a glance in my way. Music seemed my only friend.
Then Percy was saved from his eternal sentence to torture and we collided. I liked him, like really liked him. But from the hollow look in his eyes, I knew he wasn't capable of liking or loving anything, at least for a while.
But for some reason, I kept trying to get his attention. I wanted to talk to him, to just hear him. I was determined to help him get better.
I fell for him somewhere in the process of helping him. I was almost positive that he had no feelings back, and all that faded when he kissed me.
Before, I didn't understand what the big deal was about 'true loves kiss' I frankly thought it was bullshit. Then once his soft lips met mine, I knew the exact reason why everyone craved it. The electricity that sprang from him and into me was addictive, I wanted more. I wanted more of him. He was the exact person whom I wanted to share my first kiss with.
I knew he was heartbroken, fearful to love again. At that moment, I knew I had to prove that I would never break his heart. That he can trust me with anything, just as I do the same with him.
Then Annabeth, the bitch that put Percy in the state he was in, made a sudden appearance. I wanted to kill her. She damaged the goddamn love of my life, so I wanted to damage her for eternity. And I killed her, sliced her throat open as if I was cutting through butter.
Hyperion became pissed and attacked me, did the Titan take favor on Annabeth? I guess I'll never know.
The last time I saw Percy was him laying limply on Chiron's back as the centaur galloped to the Big House. I wanted to follow. I wanted to stay by Percy's side until he woke. But I lost too much energy, I collapsed in the sand.
Gods dammit, tears spring in my eyes. I turn the water off and I grab a towel. I quickly wipe my eyes and I hurry out to change. Jason was still asleep, thank the gods.
I grab my casual attire fall attire. A black leather jacket, worn jeans and a FOB t-shirt (I may be an adult, but FOB will always remain in my life.) I quickly change and then I slip on my mahogany brown combat boots. I throw my wet hair up in a ponytail with a dark blue ribbon.
I grin, ready to start another day with Percy by my side. The Fish Face is probably still knocked out cold weather in his cabin. Time for a wake up call.
I smirk at all of the possibilities I could do as I walk to the Poseidon cabin. Campers straggle out of their cabins, sleep weighing down their steps.
I stop at the door and I knock on it. No answer. I knock again a little louder, Nick must be up. He pretends to wake up early every day, 'working out' so that if a girl drops by he can answer the door shirtless. While he may be muscular, it's not appealing to me.
No one answers. I test the knob and it's unlocked. I twist it and I open the door. The door swings open and I step through, my steps echoing in the empty room.
"Percy?" I call, and no one answers. I walk through the cabin, searching for someone. Either both the boys are awake and somewhere else or something has gone very wrong.
A spot a piece of paper on what I believe is to be Percy's bed. I hesitantly pick it up and read it:
To whomever this concerns:
Fire, earth and sky shall be grounded
To where a couples love was challenged
Pain and loss was found, but they escaped as one.
Find the broken boy and he will be undone.
Damped darkness and evil spirits dwell
For one, this will not end well.
Want to find your 'hero of Olympus' crack the code and find us.
Love,
Nick and Annabeth.❤️
I reread the note once more. They have Percy, Nick works for the Titans. I knew it! I fucking knew it!
I don't waste a second longer, I sprint out of the cabin and to the Big House. I bound up the stairs and I pound on the door.
Mr. D opens the door. He sneers when he sees me.
"What do you want, Isabella?" He asks, bored.
I don't correct him. "It's Percy." I say and his eyes widen. "He's in trouble, serious trouble." I say and he opens the door wider. I quickly enter.
Apollo is sitting with Chiron, who is tear-stricken. They speak in soft voices. I catch "Percy" "danger" in between sentences.
Apollo sees me first and his grieved expression only worsens when he sees my panicked one.
"So you found out Percy was missing." He says and I nod.
"And I found this." I hold up the note and he looks at it in curiosity. I hand it to him and he reads it. His jaw drops and eyes widen. Chiron takes the note and reads it also.
"Clever boy." Chiron says sadly. "He slipped past all of us." I nod.
"We have to go now." I say, determined. Yes, all I wanted to do was break down and cry. I wanted to just cry and cry, but I was not about to show weakness. I have to save Percy, I have to.
"But we need to figure out who goes." Chiron interferes. A sudden flash of pure anger fills me.
"It clearly states that Jon, Kate and I are destined to go. I am sky, Jon is fire and Kate is earth. Okay? We figured it out, and we need to go." I say quickly, crossing my arms over my chest.
"I agree with Isabelle," Apollo interjects. "I am easily able to decipher this prophecy and that seems like the perfect trio." Chiron sighs.
"We must get the two in here at once. We need to leave as soon as possible." I say and everyone in the room nods in agreement. "I'll go get them, I'll be right back." I sprint out of the house without another word said.
I first run to the Hestia cabin. I pound at the door and, shockingly, Kate answers. She wears one of Jon's sweatshirts and it is huge on her, her hair is disarrayed. Her eyes widen in realization that she answered the door, even though she shouldn't be in there.
"I-" I cut her off before she can speak.
"Both of you get changed, and tell Jon to go to the Big House, wait five minutes and then follow after." I say quickly. Jon is now behind Kate, his arms wrapped around her waist as he rests his head on her shoulder.
"What's all this about?" He asks sleepily. I feel a pang of longing for Percy again. I need him. That just fuels my determination.
"It's Percy." I say and both of them watch me with identical shocked expressions. "Kate will fill you in on what you need to do. Hurry it up." I say and then I sprint to the Big House.
"They are on their way. They just need to change." I say smoothly, not mentioning that they were sleeping with each other in the Hestia cabin.
The adults nodded and remained quiet. Their expressions identically grim and depressed. We finally got him back. I got him back. And he was fucking kidnapped. I am going to kill each and everyone of those fuckers.
I sit down on the couch, starting to feel the absolute truth of this. Every second I'm not with Percy, is every second he is in pain. Tortured to the point of insanity. I don't know how much more of this he can take. He doesn't deserve this. He never deserved the amount pain and misery he got.
Why did he have to have this fate? Why? Why couldn't he have a good life for once. It's so much unfair! Like so fucking unfair! Not even the fates are this cruel to an innocent soul. Percy has a kind, gentle heart, and it seems the fates are doing everything in their damn power to shatter it.
"Isabelle?" Chiron's soft voice cuts through my dark thoughts. He kneels by me and places a hand on my arm. I realize that Jon and Kate are here, they've been here. I zoned out. My cheeks felt damp, I was crying, dammit.
"It's going to be okay. We're going to save him." He encourages and I nod, not trusting my voice. I sniff, allowing a moment of weakness. I wipe my tears away with my sleeve and I sit straight.
"So when are we leaving?" I ask, trying to change the subject. Chiron takes the cue to take his hand off and stand back up.
"Tonight." Jon says, he's pissed. There's only a few things that can pissed off a child of Hestia, the gentlest goddess known to mankind. Fire dances in his golden eyes and his features dark. He is usually so gentle, apologizes like crazy if he hurts a fly. But now, he will burn a building to ashes if that's what it takes to get to Percy. I hate to say it, but I need Jon to be mad. He's the best warrior that this camp has had beside Percy. But that's only when he's mad, when he is calm he tries for peace and treaties.
Kate keeps glancing at Jon, worry and concern for both him and Percy visible on her face. She is, surprisingly, war-crazy. She will be in the frontier of any battle we are in. Her powers with the earth are almost goddess level, they are so powerful. We need more like her, a kind person, but cold and powerful in battle.
Just like Percy. I think to myself. I feel the tears prickle and I blink them away. Percy is like Kate. But their fatal flaws are different. Percy's is loyalty, but Kate's is self-hatred. You can see it in the way she dresses, the way she never talks about herself, she considers herself crap. She pushes herself to the limits in hope of a better mind-set, but there's always something she could've done better. She could've killed the entire herd of hell hounds faster if she just tried harder, or something like that. It's a good thing she has Jon, who whispers encouraging things to her when she is bringing herself down.
Apollo and Jon start to speak about how we should get down there and they create a map of where we should look. Kate stands by Jon's side, giving his hand a light squeeze when Jon started to become agitated with the sun god.
Again, I felt a pain in my heart. I know Percy and I have only been technically dating for a day, but it went deeper than that. I can't stop seeing the difference of him when I first met the son of Poseidon compared to now. How much he grew, not only physically, but mentally.
I knew him too well. I could tell some of the laughs he made were forced. Even after all these years, Perseus Jackson, the Hero of Olympus twice, is still healing. Healing physically is quite fast compared to the process of healing the human mind. That can range from taking a year to taking decades. He is one of those rare cases that takes longer than 10 years.
I zoned out again. I could've been thinking for minutes, but easily hours. I look out the window and I see the sun is close the horizon. I'm not wasting a second more than I should.
I stand up from my spot, causing all conversation to cease. Jon looks up from the freshly drawn map Apollo and him drew. Kate gives me a small grateful smile. I think Apollo and Jon were at about breaking point.
"Then we better get ready. Pack for a trip to Hell." I say coldly and I walk out of the cabin before anyone can comment. I can't. I just can't give emotion. Even the slightest amount will cause me to shatter. I will fall to my knees and sob for days on end. Not again, I refuse to do it again.
I walk into my cabin and I see Jason woke up. I freeze, he doesn't know. Jason doesn't know that Percy's in Tartarus again. Do I tell him? No, he'll try to take my place in the quest. But if I don't tell him and he finds out on his own, he'll never forgive me.
He smiles at me. He's gotten so much better. More smiles and laughs ever since he found out he wasn't the only one who survived from the Seven. But I can't give him false hope, that would be cruel of me.
I sigh. "Jason, can I talk to you?" I ask quietly. His smile faded in an instant.
"What's wrong?" He asks, moving over so I can sit next to him.
"I-It's about Percy." I say, sitting next to him.
"Yeah, I heard the news." He says and I look at him surprised. "And I'm happy for you." He says and I have the urge to slap him.
"Happy for me?!" I snap. "You are happy for my pain?!" I scream and he looks at me appalled.
"I-I thought you were happy about dating Percy." He says quietly.
All of my anger drains. He doesn't know. He does not fucking know.
"Oh Jason, no. That is not what I wanted to talk to you about." I say softly, he looks at me confused. Like a lost puppy.
"Jason, Percy was kidnapped. He's in Tartarus again." I whisper and he shakes his head.
"No, no that's not happening. THAT IS NOT HAPPENING!" He exclaims, standing up and pacing. "No." He mumbles over and over, running his hand through his hair multiple times.
I stand up and I place a calming hand on his shoulder. He looks up at me. All of that hard work to make him happy has simply faded. His electric blue eyes stare into mine, filled with confusion and sadness.
"I'm going to get him back. I'm leaving tonight with Jon and Kate. We will get him back. And I will return, I swear on the River Styx that I am coming back with Percy." I say quietly but fiercely. Jason's eyes widen.
"Isabelle, you can't just go around swearing things that are impossible to predict." He says.
I nod. "I know Jason. But I know as of right now I'm going to get Percy back." I say. "I have to pack." I walk to my bed and I take out my backpack from under my bed.
I pack a light jacket and an extra pair of sneakers. I pack plenty of water and food. I grab two flasks of nectar and a pouch filled with foiled wrapped ambrosia. I place it all in the bag and I zip it up. I lift it up and it's reasonably light, perfect for traveling.
I grab my bracelet and I slip it on my wrist, immediately feeling safer.
I slip the bag over my shoulders and I look over at Jason one final time.
"Please be safe." He begs. "Just try your best. I have faith in you, Isabelle." I give him a hug, brotherly/sisterly hug.
"Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it." I say to him. I pull away and I walk out.
I walk to the Big House. Jon and Kate are already there, Jon in his stiff posture and pissed expression and Kate in her excited and ready position. She twirls her Olympian silver dagger with all the nervous energy she has.
They both have packs similar to mine on their shoulders. Jon has his sword strapped to his waist. A deadly mix of Imperial Gold and Celestial Bronze. A gift from his mother herself. He would risk his life to retrieve it, it was so important to him.
Chiron faces us all with a graved expression. "I beg of you to please be safe. I wish I didn't have to send you to such a horrid place." He says, I step forward and I place a hand on his shoulder.
"We will come back, Chiron." I say. How many people do I have to convince this to?
Apollo clears his throat so that we turn our attention to him. "Hades has agreed to transport you three to Tartarus." He says solemnly. I nod and so do the other two.
Apollo sighs. "Come on Uncle." He calls and Hades appears in a swivel of dark shadows. His icy pale skin and sunken eyes make me want to cringe.
"I wish you three the best of luck." He says quietly and without another word twists his wrist. Jon, Kate and I are enveloped in dark mist. I feel as if I'm dying again, my soul slowly fading into the shadows.
My vision clears and my body becomes solid once more. I thought for a second my sight was off, I kept seeing red. But that was Tartarus. I look around, my eyes wide.
The blood-colored clouds floating in the hazy gray air. It was like staring through a thin mix of tomato soy and cement.
A cliff stands to the side. The River Coycotus flowed in a lazy path to the left.
There are cliffs edging the terrain surrounding us. I look over at the two and they are taking in their surroundings also. Kate tries to hide it, but she's terrified. Jon is still pissed, his expression hard and cold.
Blisters start to form on my arms. I wince involuntarily. "We have to keep moving." I call to them, they nod and we start to walk towards the cliffs. The air is becoming impossible to breathe. My feet slow in pace.
I pull out my flask of nectar and I take a small sip. My lungs clear and I get a burst of energy. I pass the flask to Jon and Kate and they each take a small sip.
We reach the edge of the cliff and I look over the edge. The landscape was a bleak, ash-gray plain bristling with black trees, like insect hair. The ground was pocketed with blisters. Every once in a while, a bubble would swell and burst, disgorging a monster like larva from an egg. To the right, the Phlegethon split into branches that etched the plain, widening into a delta of smoke and fire. To the north, along the main route of the river, the ground was riddled with cave entrances. Here and there, spires of rock jutted up like exclamation points.
A ear-splitting scream comes from one of the caves. I know that scream all too well. Tears sting my eyes again.
"Percy." I whisper.
Percy's POV-
They knew it was going to be hard to make me scream again. They knew all along.
I finally woke up to the feel of me being dragged. The Titans each clasp my arms and drag me along the rough cave floor.
I kick and yell as Hyperion and Kronos drag me into a small room. It's dark and dank. I bite Hyperion's hand and he yells out. He hits me hard in the face. Pain explodes in my jaw, but I don't make any noise.
They clasp large chains around my wrists, forcing me to stand. The chains cut into my wrist, blood dripping down my arms.
Hyperion sneers at me. "Long time no see, Perce." He says. "And we finally get our toy back after all these years."
"We've been waiting for so long. So long to inflict pain." Kronos growls. I bare my teeth at him.
"I am not afraid of you." I hiss at them both.
"Boys, play nice." A feminine voice sweetly sounds from the entrance. Annabeth walks through. Her curly blonde hair tied back in a messy braid. She wears a grey t-shirt and jean shorts.
"I missed you Seaweed Brain." She fake pouts. I try to step forward, but the chains restrain me.
"Let me go." I snap and she makes a 'tsk' sound.
"After we just got you back?" She asks and saunters over to me. She grabs my left arms, digging her nails into my skin. I grit my teeth, but I don't scream. I can't give them what they want.
"You belong to us. And most importantly, you are mine." She grabs her dagger and cuts down the middle of my shirt. A thin cut lines down the middle of my abdomen. She traces the old scar that is her name on my entire chest. She cuts deeply into my chest, reopening every scar she passes. I have to bite back so many screams.
"I belong to no one." I say coldly, trying to remain calm. She finishes cutting and stares at the bloody dagger for a moment.
"Well that's too bad." She says sweetly before driving the dagger right through my left biceps. The feel of my muscles snapping and breaking is the final straw. I scream, and loudly. I can't feel my arm, it's so limp and full of pain. My vision is white.
"LET ME GO!" I scream again. Annabeth and the Titans are laughing hysterically. Hyperion has to lean against the wall he's laughing so hard.
I am going to kill these fools. I will get back to Isabelle. They can't break me, they just can't.
A/N- Heyyyyyyyyy! What's up?! Woo hoo! Finished earlier than usual! I applaud myself!? ﾟﾘﾂ? ﾟﾑﾏ