Percy
"she wasn't afraid of my demons and i did not fear her madness.
we saw beyond those things that life does to a person. and underneath
it all there's a beautiful soul that just
wants to be loved."

"You still haven't told her?"

Percy swallowed hard, looking down at his hands, watching the sweat glisten on his palms.

Thalia scoffed in disbelief, running a hand for the fifth time since Percy had admitted his failure to warn Annabeth about his Father's potential plans. "Fuck's sake, Percy. It's like you actually want her dead."

"Please don't say that, Thalia," Percy said quietly, finally meeting her gaze hopelessly. "You know I'd never want that. Not in any life."

Bianca's dark eyes bore into him from across the table. "Then why haven't you told her, Percy?"

Percy could feel his hands shaking, and he put them between his knees to stop them, his heart seeming to sink further and further down his chest.

They'd been hanging out in Thalia's apartment house, and when questioned about Annabeth, he knew he couldn't lie.

"She's already under so much stress about the wedding," Percy said, voice like gravel. "I don't want to add more weight on her shoulders. One more thing and she'll break."

He thought of the haunted look in her eyes, the one she got every time she stared at something for too long. Her eyes would darken further, a blank look of torment and prickling resentment pooling in her gaze, and he could almost see what she was picturing. Herself, as the silent, pretty wife of the savior of the Realm of Angels. Her thoughts, her very voice- meaningless.

"I've been hoping he'll change his mind," Percy continued, rubbing his temples as his head began to throb. "Make a change of plans- something. Or that I'd be able to change his mind, in some stupid attempt. But he won't budge. He's hell-bent on going through with this. I just- I don't know how to tell her. What I'll do when it happens."

His cousins all stared at him, surely all thinking of ways to throttle him for his stupidity.

"Percy," Thalia said, her blue eyes blazing. "Her wedding is in five fucking days."

"I know," he replied, the pain in his head increasing further. "I know, Thalia. But just what do you suggest I do?"

Nico rolled his eyes. "I'm pretty sure you keep answering your own fucking questions, Percy."

"Just tell her, Percy," Bianca said, chewing on the end of a cigarette. "Talk it through with her. Then come back to us and we'll figure out a plan that won't leave us all mutilated."

Thalia sighed loudly and propped her feet up on the sleek black table, leaning back further in her chair. "For some reason I have a worse feeling about this than usual. I do. Does that not concern any of you in the slightest?"

"Thals, you have your head up your ass half the time anyway-"

"Shut the fuck up, Nico."

And though he felt like sinking into the pits of the very earth, Percy managed a smile. "You all realize, don't you, that you're being nice by agreeing to help me?"

They all shot him a severe look. "We will leave your ass in the fucking dirt if you so much as repeat those words again," Thalia threatened, voice clipped.

Percy laughed and leaned forward. "I love you guys."

From this, came more threats.

Thalia walked beside him, kicking at pebbles in the sidewalk and seeing which went flying the furthest.

She'd oddly volunteered to walk him home, and Percy had bitten back a smile at the offer, knowing it'd only earn him a spew of profanities and violent protest. Though his palms still became sweaty, and unease settled into his stomach as they continued to walk, knowing she had things she wanted to say to him.

"This is all strange, you know," Thalia finally said after minutes of walking silently. "Your situation. This- relationship of yours."

Percy stared ahead, keeping his hands in his pockets, trying to mask the grimace he knew his face beheld.

"I told her I love her," he said quietly.

Thalia stopped walking, and he turned to look at her, noticing the strange paleness set over her skin. "You..." she started, seeming at a loss for words. "You did what?"

Percy exhaled slowly, trying to calm the trembling in his limbs. "I did. And surprisingly enough, she'd announced it to me first."

Thalia seemed to blanch further, and he reached over to grab her arm, concern washing over him. "Thals- are you okay?"

"Perseus Jackson," she seethed, her blue eyes tinted with red, and he inhaled sharply as he noted the tears that pricked at the corners. "Do you have any fucking idea what you're getting yourself into with this?"

She gripped his wrist with force, her hold on him tight and sharp. Percy only stared at her, feeling his heart twist at the sight of her tears. "You could die you asshole. You could be sent to damnation- all for this stupid fucking charade you keep playing," she bit out, face pinched with anger.

"Thalia," Percy said gently. "Please calm down. We don't know what's going to happen yet. This is why we're going to figure it out. Don't be angry, Thalia. It's- it's what I feel. Something I never thought would've been possible for me. Ever. Please. I just need your help. That's all I'm asking for."

Thalia's eyes stared into his, relentlessly searching for what he guessed was doubt- any doubt he might feel about trying to stay with Annabeth.

But he knew she'd find nothing.

"Do you-" she started, then cut herself off, licking her lips. "Do you regret it? At all?"

"No," Percy said softly, knowing exactly what she was referring to. "Not for even a second."

Thalia's grip on him tightened for just a second, and she exhaled almost in anguish as she let him go, stepping back to stare at him further. "You make it so fucking hard," she said, voice subdued.

Percy rubbed the wrist she'd previously held. "Hard to what?"

Thalia began to walk again, hands stuffed in the back pockets of her black jeans, staring ahead at the broken glass that glittered along the sidewalk.

"You remember Jason, don't you?" Thalia said, and Percy almost choked on his saliva.

"Yeah- yeah, of course I do," he said, swallowing hard.

Thalia's blue eyes became dark, and Percy watched the muscles in her jaw shift as she clenched her teeth.

"He just disappeared," she said softly, though the quietness of her voice did not sound like something of submission, but of menace instead. "Gone. Just one random day. He was so small. I left him outside alone for one second-" she cut herself off as her voice became tight, and she kicked at a can of beer nearby, sending it violently ricocheting off the brick wall of a building.

"Thalia," Percy said gently. "You know that wasn't your fault. You didn't know that was going to happen."

Thalia's gaze hardened. "I should've had some sort of idea, knowing already what a shitshow of a world we're living in."

Percy remained quiet. He let her collect herself as she took some breaths, watching as she cracked her knuckles one by one.

"Mom went batshit crazy afterwards," she said bitterly. "Saying some shit about how the Angels had stolen him away."

This time, Percy couldn't stop himself from choking on his very breath.

"Percy- the fuck?" Thalia said, laughing slightly as she patted his back- a little too forcefully.

"Sorry-" he choked, gasping for air. He swallowed desperately. "Why would Beryl say that?"

Thalia shrugged. "Fuck if I know. My mother was never exactly too sane either. Besides, she was always drunk off her mind when she'd have those episodes."

Percy felt sorrow cut deep into his chest, realizing he'd never stopped to think about all Thalia had to endure during her childhood. She'd always masked her struggles by the mischief she'd create, hiding pain behind broken glass and a sharp smile.

"I'm sorry, Thals," Percy said quietly, albeit knowing those words to a Demon like Thalia were as useless as using any sort of manners in the Infernal Province.

And though he knew that, she bumped him with a shoulder, shaking her head.

"My point is," she continued, her voice holding a tone of hesitance. "When I see you- its like I have my little brother back. I don't want to lose him again."

Percy felt his very heart soften at the words, and he smiled tenderly at her. "I'm still here, Thalia. And I'm going to make it through this. I promise."

"Don't," she grimaced, shaking her head. "Don't promise me anything, Kelp Head. Cause if you break that promise and die, I will personally find you in your next life and kill you."

Percy laughed. "Noted."

Once he was home, Percy had instantly gone to check on his Mother, who after months time, was due to have her baby any day now.

There was this buildup of excitement that inevitably bubbled in his stomach at the thought of having a sibling. Arguably however, his cousins were his siblings in a way. He certainly loved them as such.

But a little sister or brother.

He smiled at the very thought.

A part of him couldn't wait to show him or her the beauty of peace and kindness the way he saw it. Though his other half knew the danger that would lay behind that- converting their mind into one that would be severely judged upon by the Demons in the Infernal Province.

He was torn apart by deciding which side of himself he'd show his future sibling.

Percy knocked on the door to his Mother's bedroom. "Hey, Mom," he said quietly. "Can I come in?"

He heard her faint reply and he stepped in, smiling as soon as he saw her propped up on her bed, keeping herself entertained by knitting.

"Hi, Percy," she greeted softly as he closed the door behind him and walked over to her, bending to give her a kiss on the head. "Where were you today?"

"Just at Thalia's," he replied, sitting on a sofa chair next to the bed. He looked up at his Mother, noting the fatigue in her eyes and the weariness in which she held herself. "How are you, Mom?"

"Oh I'm fine, dear," she responded, waving away at the question. "Though I do feel as if I may pop at any second."

Percy smiled, looking at the swelling belly she referred to. That excitement bubbled in his stomach again.

"Do you have any names in mind yet?" he asked, watching as she continued on the pattern of her knitting process.

"Actually," she said, smiling serenely. "I was hoping you could give me some ideas."

"Really?" he asked, surprise shooting pleasantly through him. "I don't think I'd have any good ones."

"Oh come on now," his Mother said, her smile widening. "I'm sure you must have some."

Percy leaned back into the chair. staring up at the dark blue ceiling of the room. His thoughts quickly shifted to Annabeth, and he couldn't help but bask in the warmth that instantly rushed through him. He thought of the Meadow of Reflection, of how bright the stars had been the night they'd confessed their love to one another.

"If it's a girl," Percy started, talking slowly. "I like the name Estelle."

Sally paused, setting down her tools. Percy quickly backtracked. "But if you don't like it then that's totally fine, Mom, I mean, it is your baby-"

"No," she said, shaking her head and looking at him, her blue eyes shining. "I love it, Perseus. I think its lovely."

Percy smiled in return, happiness gripping over him like a vice. He loved that feeling.

"I'll admit, I have no clue as to what a boy name could be," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Sally smiled warmly, her eyes like pools of honey. "That's quite all right, Percy. We'll just have to wait and see what turns out, I suppose."

"I guess so, Mom," Percy replied, his body relaxing from merely being around his Mother, who never failed to make him feel like the wide-eyed little boy he once was.

There was a knock at the door, and immediately, Percy changed his demeanor, slumping into the sofa in a manner of cold indifference.

Sally called to welcome in the Demon outside, and one of their maids- Amelia- poked their head in, though she kept her gaze on the floor.

"Mr. Jackson," she said curtly. "There is a visitor asking for you outside."

Percy's stomach turned. "Who?"

"Ms. Drew Tanaka."

The turning in his stomach escalated to a strong churn. "Tell her I'll be there soon."

Amelia nodded her head and quickly left, closing the door behind her.

Percy let his head fall back, looking up at the ceiling as he closed his eyes, and he immediately regretted it. He could see Drew again, the vulnerable shine in her eyes she wore when he'd been leaving her room, begging him to stay.

Don't leave me.

"Percy," Sally said gently, and Percy inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself. He looked at his Mother, trying and failing to give her a sincere smile. "What's wrong, dear?"

He waved her off, standing up and bending to kiss her head. "Nothing, Mom. Just something I have to take care of. You stay here and relax, all right? If you need anything from me, please, send for me. You know I'll be here the minute I hear of it."

Sally stroked his face, smiling gently. "I know, Perseus. Thank you. Go take care of what you need to do- just please be safe."

"I always am, Mom."

And oh, how it hurt him to lie to her.

Drew waited outside the gates, playing with her hair as she stared out into the neighborhood. It was astonishing to Percy, to see that she wasn't flirting with either of the guards.

That made him even more nervous, in a way.

As the gate opened for him, she turned to look at him, and the second her eyes landed on him, her pink lips curled into their familiar sensual smile.

"Hi, Percy," she greeted, voice as sweet as honey. "Did you miss me?"

Percy gripped her by the elbow and steered her away from earshot of the guards, pulling her around the side of the house. He let her go rather roughly, and he almost winced when he saw her stumble even the slightest.

He pushed it down, however, and crossed his arms, keeping his features impassive. "What do you want now, Drew?"

Drew leaned against the wall of the gate. She looked down at her black heels, and Percy became uneasy. Drew would've been touching all over him by now.

"I wanted to talk," she said, simply. She looked up at him, her demeanor more serious than he'd ever seen it.

Percy huffed in irritation. "What about?"

Drew shook her head, her dark hair falling around her face. She tucked it behind her ear. "See, its almost too hard to believe."

"Drew, I don't have the fucking time to be speaking in riddles-"

"Did you take me home? That day I passed out right in front of you?"

Percy froze, and he swore he could feel the very saliva in his mouth dissipate.

Though he laughed- he forced out a laugh, sharp and cold. "Took you home? Holy shit, Drew. You're starting to get a little too obsessed, don't you think?"

"But you did. You carried me home and took me to my bed and-"

"I don't know what the fuck you're going on about, Drew," he said, though the tightness in his voice betrayed his speech.

Drew laughed softly. "You can't fool me this time, Perseus," she said, her smile like one of a feral cat. "I remember it. I remember a completely different person."

Percy rubbed his forehead, feigning exasperation, even when his heart began to beat so loud he felt like she could even hear it. "Drew, you were completely shit-faced. Maybe some other Demon took you-"

"There is not another damn Demon in this land," Drew said, her voice shaky, "Whose eyes are even similar to yours."

She stepped up to him, close enough where he could smell the heavy scent of her perfume. Her dark eyes pierced right into his, with such intensity that Percy felt naked. In the most awful, terrible way. "You're hiding things."

Percy scoffed, though his legs felt like twigs. "Tell me, lovely Drew, what could I possibly be hiding, hm?"

Drew's expression remained calm, and she looked over him with a sort of twisted wonder. "You were kind, Percy. You made sure I was safe at home."

"Drew, this is bullshit-"

"And where do you run off to almost everyday?" She pressed, lips pursed in a tight line. "I wouldn't peg you for the type to find some poor Mortal woman to torment- not after the act you put up the other day-"

Percy gripped her arms and pushed her up against the gate, his breathing hard. "Listen here, Drew," he said quietly, and his nerves trembled. "I don't know what the fuck you think you're getting at, but if I were you, I'd get my own shit together before trying to figure out what's going on in my life. Going down that path wouldn't end too prettily for you. Do you fucking understand?"

Drew smiled, and she laughed. "Sure, Percy. I do understand. Perfectly."

Percy tightened his grip on her, and she felt her tense, and immediately, he let go, stepping back and almost stumbling on his own feet. He was breathing hard, and for a terrifying second, he felt the heat coursing through his veins- angry and hot.

Drew stared at him, watching him closely, almost observing him.

He pointed at her, his jaw clenched tight. "I fucking mean it, Tanaka. Stay the fuck away from me."

And with that, he spread his wings and shot up into the sky.

Percy ventured through the forest, fighting with the panic and frustration flowing through his very core- pounding at his insides and pushing down the desire for clarity and tranquility within him.

It hurt.

Percy almost felt as if his mind and body were at war with one another.

He reached a tree and grasped onto the cold, rough bark, pressing his back against it and slumping to the ground. He felt weak, and his head was pounding, and he was in the very last place he wanted to be.

He wanted to be with Annabeth.

He wanted his head to be in her lap, to have her stroking his hair, quieting his fears with the sound of her voice, taking his soul to that field of peace that only she could lead him to.

Percy breathed in deeply, yearning her presence so much he could almost smell her fresh scent of lemons.

Instantly, he felt his body seep into that safe space. The space where his mind and body could rest and feel so, so light and airless.

And for the first time in his life, he was able to enjoy that tranquility in the very lands of the Infernal Province, surrounded by darkness and the heavy weight of the Agares Ether.

A Demon, having a moment of peace in Demon lands.

Percy rested his head against the tree, and hollow as it was, he felt full inside. Full of light. Of love. Of this tender sensation that the quietude around him brought, seeping into his skin and resting in his very core.

It was a feeling he'd never experienced before.

He felt euphoric.

What I'd do to feel like this all the time, he thought, yet pushed away any anguish that came with it. He refused to feel negatively at that moment. He wanted to keep it pure, for his own sake.

Though he knew, he could not keep his impending problems at bay for very long. Any second longer and they'd drown him under a wave, no compassion to be felt in turn.

Percy picked up a dried up leaf, holding it gently between his fingers, careful not to crack it further.

He knew, no matter what, that he had to tell Annabeth about his Father's impending plans. It made his chest ache, thinking of the hardening her gaze would take on, the stiffening of her body and slight tremble of her hands.

Though he also knew, in a way, that she relished most in those sensations.

He just didn't want them to be brought on by such horrible news.

Nevertheless, she had to know.

If anything happened to her, anything by cause of him, he knew he'd feel his very soul wither away.

Percy just had to be there for her no matter how she reacted.

He was yearning to talk to her at that very moment, though he knew she was away at the Council meeting the Divine Land was having. His stomach twisted at the thought of it, having a good idea what would go down. But he knew how composed Annabeth was. She wouldn't make a mistake- not if it put either of them in harm's way.

He hoped everything would turn out well.

His heart swelled impossibly so thinking about the Angel. Thinking back on the night where she'd first told him she loved him made his head take on a dizzy haze, and even as he sat on the ground holding that crunched leaf, he couldn't believe it.

Both their souls, as messy as they were, he knew, just wanted to be loved. Not feared or judged.

Simply loved.

Percy sighed, shaking his head and setting down the leaf, his mind inevitably leading him back to both his earlier incidents with Thalia, and more terrifyingly, Drew.

Thalia had shown a side of herself to him he'd never seen before. A side that revealed how broken she still was over he little brother's disappearance.

And if Annabeth was right, it hurt him more seeing her that way when realizing that very boy may still be alive.

Except as an Angel.

Percy's head pounded at the possibilities. Beryl and Zeus.

No. Not possible.

Zeus was the very leader over the entire Divine Land. The Angel Realm. From Poseidon's biased description of him, he sounded like a strong-headed, powerfully rounded Angel. He of all would never take to any frolicking with Demons. Never to breaking the very Law.

It would be unheard of.

Percy felt his palms turn clammy again, and he hoped Annabeth had began to find information upon that situation, knowing she had more resources than he ever would.

And even as he thought about the slim chances of it, of an Angel and Demon having been together before, it terrified him.

And yet, gave him delightful hope at the same time.

Percy looked around, suddenly feeling nervous that someone might see him and come up to him.

Or rather, that someone being Drew.

The second she'd told him of what she'd remembered, it was as if the world had gone dark around him, and he was trapped.

And he was trapped- trapped as soon as she'd stalked up to him and pointed a long pink nail at him and called him on his bluff.

He was screwed.

"Damn," Percy whispered, his throat feeling incredibly tight. "Idiot."

He should've never taken her home. He should've flown away while he could. He should've left.

But as he reprimanded himself for all he could've done, a part of him felt pleasantly free.

Yet another Demon had seen that side of him. The only side that truly existed

Strangely enough, Drew hadn't seemed all too snarky about it. Instead, her dark eyes glittered with this look of peculiar wonder. This odd look of curiosity and astonishment. He'd expected her to have been much more forward. Pressing and persistent and rude. But she hadn't followed after him, which was what he'd been expecting to occur most.

And now, he felt both relived and wary.

Percy's head felt uncomfortably crowded. He felt his stress piling on his shoulders, and he needed to talk to Annabeth. They both needed to figure out what would happen next. The more they pushed matters aside, the more danger he knew they were putting themselves in. Anymore pushing and they would be caught. Punished. Dead.

They were walking on thin ice enough already.

The ice was beginning to crack.

Hey everyonneeeeee!

Its me! Kat! Im BACK!

Yes, yes, yes. This chapter is relatively short, and its more of a filler chapter to tie some things together in order to proceed with the plot. Boring, I know, but I felt like I wanted to just ease back into writing and play it safe. Also, adding to the fact that its been a long time since I've updated this story, so I thought it'd be necessary to just refresh everyone's minds!

The ice is really cracking y'all. Im not sure you're ready to fall yet.

But its coming!

Writing again felt so good. Gosh, I missed this.

But please, leave a review and tell me what you think! Comments, concerns, criticisms, questions, etc. Anything at all!

I love you all!

~Kat xxx

P.S- Thank you all for all your kind words on my previous author's note. They all literally brought tears to my eyes. So thank you so much. You all are so dear to me.