Ch.26
Percy open his eyes and wield the current to push him toward the Argo with Andromeda on his hand. He's slowly losing his conscious again, he use too much energy at the fight, he could see the bottom of the Argo, he wield the sea to push him to the surface, the sea rose and gently set him off at the deck of the ship, the water went back to the sea and the moment the water left him he collapse. Haley and Sherry rush to him, to check his wounds, the cuts have mostly healed, his left hand is red but slowly healing and the hole on his lower right side stomach is still bleeding. He had no shirt, his jeans is burn and one side is torn up to his ankle, he has one shoe, but its burn too.
"You should get us out of here first" Sherry said, Haley nodded agreeing, she went to the helm and direct Argo away from Circe's Island.
She come back when the island is out of sight, both of them carry Percy inside the ship and put him on his bed, he was still holding his sword on his hand, so Sherry reluctantly touch the sword, and she let go immediately in surprise, the sword is cold like ice.
Sherry tried to pry off Andromeda from his hand but it wouldn't budge "would you help with his sword, careful its cold"
Haley touch the sword and yelp in surprise, and then finally he let go when she and Haley tried together. Sherry doesn't like touching the sword, so she gave to Haley. They decided to keep his current clothes on to keep his privacy and bandage his wounds, she found the compass on his packet, it was a gold square and when she open it, the zodiac sign surround the compass, Sherry put it on top his drawer and upbraided the feather, and clean his wounds. she clean the hole on his stomach and blush at the sight of him half naked, while Haley bandage his left arm. Who wouldn't blush she thought to herself, he was completely rip not those steroids rip but a natural muscles that build up from constant work out or in this case killing monsters, Sherry can't help but look at his six pack, they look hard but soft when touching them, she shook his head and continue treating his wounds while her heart beats as if its trying to burst out of her chest.
After treating Percy both of them sat at the lounges, completely exhausted, both of them agreed that its not safe to travel in the sea of monsters at night with Percy unconscious and so they stop the ship. Sherry stood up.
"I need some rest" she said weakly, Haley nodded "Go ahead, I'll keep watch"
"You sure?"
Haley nodded, and Sherry walk to Piper's room to sleep.
Haley Pov
I stare at the sword of Percy Jackson, I don't know why is Sherry so scared of the sword, sure its creepy looking and its strange that is cold, but I don't know what so scary about it, I examine the Katana. It has blood red smooth scabbard, hilt and handle, it also has small ice chain that's wrap around the scabbard and hilt as if to prevent anyone from drawing it. I reach for hit and as usual its cold as ice, I touch the handle and try to open it but it wouldn't budged, no matter how much I tried. I slam the sword down and sigh in frustration.
"useless"
I examine the sword again, I'm pretty sure its the source of his power, because no demigod can be that powerful without a help. I want to use that power, then I don't have to be afraid of him or anyone anymore, I don't have to take orders from someone else, I'll be the most powerful demigod, more powerful than the rest of the Seven War Lords.
I smile at the thoughts
Only if I could just figured it out how it works, maybe if I could just melt the chains of ice
"Good afternoon Miss Halloween" someone greeted behind me, I jump and turn around. Standing there is Percy Jackson himself, he's still half naked but he change his pants into a Pajama pants, he still has his bandage, he's barefoot and his hair is once again braided with the feather, his eyes glowing, not glowing like when he use his powers but his eyes are slightly bright in the dark like a cat. He smile kindly at me, and I smile back
"You scared me" I said as I put my hand to my heart and breath to calm it down, Percy look at the sword behind me and then he walk to the cup holder, and took out his favorite golden goblet. He sat down beside me and drank wine from his goblet.
We sat there silently as he drink and then
"That's not how it works you know, it's the opposite" He said as he stare at the wall
"how what works" I said calmly
he turn toward me with amusement in his eyes and raised an eyebrow, as if saying really you want to play this game?
"Her power came from me not the other way around"
I look at him innocently "I don't know what your talking about"
his hand shot to my neck and lift me off my feet, I hold his arms with both of my hands trying to pry his hand off me, and I struggle.
I thrash around wildly, I open my mouth to scream but before I could, my mouth suddenly shut and I couldn't open them, I started to panic and clawed my mouth.
"calm down" Percy said and drank wine from his left hand that wasn't holding me. I stop thrashing around and look at him with wide eyes. I could feel tears falling from my cheeks, my entire body tremble in fear, he set his goblet away and look at me. The amusement on his eyes are gone, replace by cold, hard and emotionless eyes, as if he wouldn't lose a sleep if he kills me.
"What the Hades are you doing smashing Andromeda down, huh?" he said in a voice only a monster could produce, I shook my head, to denied it, and his hand tighten around my neck
"Don't lie to me girl, Andromeda said so herself"
I tried to apologize but my mouth wouldn't open, tears falls from my eyes
he let go of me and I crumbled to the ground, I stood up and run to the door but before I could reach the doorknob my body stop moving on its own, I struggled telling it to move but it would not obey.
"Come here" Percy said, I slowly turn around, he patted where I use to seat "Sit down" he said without looking back. I slowly walk toward the chair, while I struggle to regain control, and fear taking over my mind. i cried silently as I struggled
I took a seat and put my hands at the table, he put his hand on my shoulder
"Consider this a warning" he said
Then I felt my entire body on fire. I tried to scream but I could not, and I tried to move but I couldn't. I could feel myself slowly being burn alive and all I could do is cry silently, and let horror eat away my mind. I pray to my mother and to all the Gods to save, as if reading my mind Percy lean in to my ear and whispered
"No Gods can save you from me" and laugh like a madman
Finally he let go of my shoulder and as soon as his hand left me, the fire disappear and relief spread through me but I still don't have control of my body. I felt my head turn toward Percy and I look at him, he has a wicked smile, his eyes filled with hate, fury and madness its. Everyone thought that Jason is the most dangerous of the seven but they were wrong, the man sitting next to me is worse than any monsters I encountered all my life, he's evil. No he's not, he's darkness itself.
"Don't ever attempt to control Andromeda again, it's useless and just like I said, her powers came from me" he stood up and pick up his sword "And I also know you're a spy from Octavian" he said before leaving and as soon as he close the door I regain control of my body and collapse to the ground, I curl into a ball and cry by myself
Percy didn't come out of his room until noon, he walk in the lounge as Haley and Sherry was eating their lunch
He yawn "What's for breakfast"
He was wearing a brown v neck shirt, jeans and blue sneakers, he hold his sword on his left hand
"It's lunch actually" Sherry said
Percy nodded and smile at Haley "hello"
Haley tense and said nothing
Percy took out the compass, he open it
"That compass doesn't point north, it points to the one you desire most" Sherry said
Percy nodded "I know how it works, we should be heading toward the book now"
They've been sailing for two days without seeing anything in the horizon, Percy spend his day sitting at his armchair and the others in their room.
It was night and the second day of sailing was just finish, Percy is sitting on his armchair looking at Andromeda
"It looks like those who have magic are the only ones who can sense you when you're coated in my blood" He said
the sword humm as if saying something
"Maybe you're right, we can't be sure until we encountered someone else but isn't Haley the prove of that?"
"I don't know about the gods but, the only way to make sure is to show you to them"
"I know it's risky but we have to try it"
Percy lean back on his chair and watch the stars "Beautiful, I wonder if Piper is looking at them right now?" he closed his eyes and remember his beloved, her eyes, her smile and her touch. He miss her terribly, not an hour goes by he's not thinking of her.
"I was hoping to finish this quest early but I can't see that happening with all this interference" he open his eyes again and find himself face to face with a man he only seen once and briefly in his life
"Oceanus"
He look just like the last time he saw him, with the horns and serpent sword but this time he has feet.
Percy smile at him "What do I owe the honor of such a visit?"
Oceanus examine him
"I am here to check if what HE says is true"
Piper sat on a judge chair in a court room in the same building as the council room, in there she listen to the Demigods complain, settled dispute and decide their punishment for breaking the rules they set up. Annabeth is suppose do this since her mother is the goddess of justice, but she's too busy designing the automans they're gonna set up for deffence. Piper sigh as she listen to a complain about the lunch, she can't wait until her lover gets back, its been a week since he left and she's going crazy of worry.
she sigh "I hope he's eating right" she muttered
"Ma'am?"
Piper look down "Oh yes, you request will be put into consideration" the demigod bow to her, Piper doesn't know when the bowing started, and before she knew she got use to it. They also found out what the others are calling them now the Seven War Lords, they all had different reaction, they ask Connor once why they call them that apparently It's because we give off and aura of obey us or die and our authority is second only to the gods.
"next" she called
she has to listen to their complaints and request for another hour, so to distract herself she rub her stomach and thought about what's her baby is gonna look like, Piper sigh longingly.
After long hours of torture
it was finally over, Piper walk back to their house to get some food. She open the door and found Annabeth sitting at their round table with the boy she have been hanging out with, and of course with Piper's encouragement
"What are you doing?" Piper said
both of them look at her,
"Piper hey, Riley and I were just looking at the blueprints" Annabeth said and gestured at him
The boy smile brightly at him "Hello"
Piper tilted her head "What are you doing sitting in our seat?"
"oh I'm sorry, I didn't know I'm not suppose to"
"Can't you see the marks, That means we're the only ones who is suppose to use them"
Piper pointed at t door behind her "Go"
Riley look at her confuse "I'm sorry?"
"I SAID GO" she yelled and Riley run fast her to the door
Piper look at Annabeth "Why are you letting a stranger sitting in our seats?"
Annabeth spread her arms "What's your problem?"
"We agreed nobody is allowed to sit in there but us and he was sitting on Percy's"
Annabeth sigh "I'm sorry" she turn away from her and look at the blueprints
she smile deviously, "I notice that you've been spending more time with him"
Annabeth tense for few seconds then continue on working "yeah, he's been helping me a lot"
"I see" she walk toward her seat and sat down "But I.." she look at her "Sense more than that"
Annabeth look up to her "What are you implying?"
She shrugged "Nothing at all"
Annabeth went back to her work
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Annabeth slam the blueprint at the table she buried her hands to her hair "I don't know, how I feel Piper, I love Percy but" she look away "I kinda like Riley too"
"Oh Annabeth"
"What am I gonna do?" she look at Piper pleadingly
"you can't ask me that, no matter what I say, in the end its all up to you"
"I didn't mean to like him, its just that Percy is always disappearing and we never spend time together"
Piper move next to her and put her arms over her shoulder
"Shhh, you have to ell Percy when he get back" she look at her "Why?"
"Annabeth if you're feelings are wavering he deserve to know or you'll be cheating on him"
She nodded "yeah your right" she smile at her "thanks"
Piper nodded "anytime"
Percy and Oceanus sat at the deck of the ship drank wine together under the moonlight
"So are you gonna tell me why are you being so nice?" Percy ask
"Someday this will all make sense do not worry"
Percy snort "I doubt that"
"I'm here to warn"
"Oh?"
"the goddess your chasing have a giant her side" Oceanus look at his reaction "it seems your not surprise"
Percy shrugged "I doubt that Gaea would leave such an important mission to a little goddess"
Oceanus nodded "The Giants name is Clytius and I will also warn you of the guardian that is watching over the book, he will not hand it over easily"
he frowned "if you know the guardian that means you know its location, why didn't you use it at the titan war?"
"That power is not for me, or anyone to use but the maker himself"
"Are you the one hiding us from the gods"
Oceanus nodded "My mother ask me to do it"
"keep it up"
Oceanus raised his eyebrow "If the gods doesn't know where you are they cannot help you defeat the Giant"
Percy wave his hand "Don't worry I already have that covered, tell me more of this guardian"
Oceanus shook his head "I have to go, my mother might know I'm here"
Percy nodded, and Oceanus jump off to the sea
Percy drank wine from his goblet thinking about the road ahead of him, "Looks like we'll be able to test if you could destroy Giant" he said to his sword
Andromeda humm and vibrated
Percy smile and watch the stars
Percy watch an island with three volcanoes, its not the forge of Hephaestus he seen with Annabeth, there is no sign of life in the area it, was all dark rocks and its covered in lava. and he heard a howl that can only belong to one thing
"What is that?" Sherry ask
"Dragons"
"Aren't we gonna go around it?"
he smiled "No, I always wanted a dragon for a pet"
Percy dive to the sea towards the island
Sherry waited at the deck and wonder why Haley doesn't want to leave her room. After waiting for few hours Percy shot out of the ocean landed with a tud holding a red egg and his sword on the other.
Sherry pointed at the egg "Is that what I think it is?"
Percy nodded "yup, a dragon egg"
"And you stole it!?"
he nodded again, a roar of a dragon came from the island and Percy made a huge wave carry the ship away
Night came in again
Percy stood on the deck of Argo half naked, and sweat covering his body. His eyes dark and Andromeda is in form of a spear, he stab, slash and whirled, knowledge of different technique flooded his mind.
even if he has the technique, he has to train his body to withstand them. He walk to his chair and and reach for his towel, he wipe his sweat of his back and then he tense as he felt the cold metal of a sword at his neck.
I know its a boring chapter, but I have another twist that would blow you minds away
Actually two but the other one is pretty far away in the story