Ξ Fredrick's P.O.V Ξ
Annabeth and Percy came to find me during the break, Annabeth had wanted to talk to us about how sorry she was about not returning home to San Francisco after the most recent war, and that it was to do with the nightmares and that she really had wanted to come home and see us all before starting school again. Helen and I had said that we understood and that we would see her around Christmas, she had smiled and agreed that that would be nice.
As we sat back down in the throne room for the continuation of the reading I was struck by how much my relationship with my daughter had changed over the past few years, and I knew I owed it all to Percy.
He had convinced her to write home when they were twelve and we had started to repair our relationship that fall we grew closer, we watched films together and we talked. She got on with her younger brothers and even her relationship with Helen had improved, and that was all within the first year that she had been home for.
Then we moved and it had caused another rift, before she was kidnapped, Percy again had somehow managed to fix that and convince her to come home again for the school year. As she had the following year as well up until the Titan war, where she had been given the job of redesigning mount Olympus, then she had stayed in New York to be able to do that.
But we had kept in touch, before that summer where she had met Percy we hadn't even been in touch. The magnitude of effect Percy had had on my daughter's life and in turn my life was larger than I had thought one person could have ever had. I was looking forward to Christmas with the two of them, and I vowed to myself that I would write to her every week, we were apart.
Ξ Percy's P.O.V Ξ
Annabeth had calmed down a bit, but I knew as soon as we started reading the next chapter, it would ramp up again for her like it had for me, earlier on in the reading. I wished I could take her pain away, wished I could make it okay for her.
Annabeth and I sat on a sofa on our own before Thalia, Nico and Will joined us. Thalia sat next to Annabeth, Nico sat next to me and Will next to Nico. I appreciated what they were trying to do and I knew Annabeth did too, but even letting them in this far, still it was only each other that could bring the other back round. But, having them all close by was nice, I couldn't deny that.
Chapter 14 – Percy
Percy was relieved when the demon grandmothers closed in for the kill...
'Oh good we're back to my point of view' I thought sarcastically to myself.
"Relieved? Really Prissy?" Clarisse asked.
"I'm sure it'll explain" I responded.
...he understood fighting...
...waiting to be attacked – that had been driving him crazy...
"See" I said and Clarisse nodded like she agreed with my thought process. If there was one thing a daughter of Ares understood, it was fighting, besides it wasn't like I actually had wanted to be killed.
... "Back off" Percy jabbed Riptide...
...but she only sneered...
...We are the Arai...
...You cannot destroy us...
"Want to bet lady?!" Leo said and the others close to him, Calypso, Rachel, Piper and Jason were all nodding in agreement. They didn't understand, not yet, but they would, the arai were right, I did not destroy them, but they had almost destroyed me.
... "Bob doesn't like curses"...
"Curses? Who said anything about curses?" Leo asked but his question was ignored.
...We serve the bitter and the defeated...
...We serve the slain who prayed for vengeance with their final breath. We have many curses to share with you...
"Schist!" Leo said now he had the answer to his question, looking around the room it seemed like quite a few of those present agreed with him. I looked at Annabeth, she was doing okay so far, but I could see it was starting again for her; I squeezed her hand gently in support as the reading continued.
... "I appreciate the offer,"...
... "But mom told me not to accept curses from strangers."...
Laughter erupted through the throne room; I hadn't even remembered saying that. But, it did alleviate some of the ever growing tension in the room, which I really appreciated.
Ξ Sally's P.O.V Ξ
My son always the comedian, it was something I'd always admired about him, his ability to make light of a situation. But, it was also what told me that this part was going to be really bad. Percy always used humour to cover up to try and cover how he was really feeling, he also used to use sarcasm as a defence mechanism especially when we lived with that pig of a man, though to compare Gabe to a pig I think is a little harsh on the pig.
Paul squeezed my hand, he knew like me, the worst was yet to come, and judging by Annabeth's demeanour this was one of her triggers not Percy's.
...Percy cut her in two...
A cheer went up from the children.
...as soon as she vaporised the sides of his chest flared with pain...
... "Percy you're bleeding!"...
...as if a javelin had run him through. Or an arrow...
'Oh Gods' I thought as I tried to control my stomach, but I couldn't hold on to the food I'd eat that morning not with the image of my son, my beautiful son bleeding out down there. Fortunately the Gods are prepared for such events and a bucket appeared in my lap to catch my food.
...vengeance. A curse from the slain...
...Feel the pain you inflicted upon Geryon. So many curses have been levelled at you, Percy Jackson. Which will you die from? Choose or we will rip you apart!...
"You shot an arrow and it killed someone?" Clarisse asked and I could hear the doubt in her voice.
"It was guided by a Goddess" Percy responded and the demigods who did not know looked to Artemis.
"It was not me" She responded and looked at the Queen of the Gods, Hera.
"What?" Hera asked them.
"Nothing" They chorused and started mumbling between themselves.
Percy had told me that Hera had guided his arrow once, at the time I was grateful. It had saved him, Annabeth, Nico, Grover and Tyson. Now I was fearful, all of these monsters my son has defeated, it was going to come back to haunt the two of them, down there of all places.
I realised it still did haunt Annabeth, which only made me worry more about her.
...Choose! ...
...Will you be crushed like Kampê? Or disintegrated like the young telkines you slaughtered under Mount St. Helens? You have spread so much death and suffering, Percy Jackson. Let us repay you! ...
'Not my boy, not my boy' I thought over and over and then thought 'Not Annabeth, please not her either.'
'Sally, they made it out they are okay, I know this is difficult trust me, I do, but our son is safe.' Poseidon spoke to me in my mind and as I looked at him I could see guilt marring his face, he felt responsible for our son and his girlfriend facing this fate, I realised.
'It's not your fault, y'know' I thought back trying to offer what little comfort I could to my son's father.
...They looked like furies but...
...These things were wild, and they just kept multiplying...
I closed my eyes and concentrated on Percy and Annabeth's mantra, 'they're out, they are safe, they are together.'
I looked at the two of them now Annabeth's breathing looked shorter more ragged like her attack was on the rise. Percy, I doubted was even listening to the book as he spoke to Annabeth to try and calm her down. I wished I could do something to take away their pain.
Ξ Annabeth's P.O.V Ξ
I tried to control my breathing, as Percy whispered in my ear, that we were out, we were safe and we were together. But as much as I tried to, breathe in for one, two and out for one two and repeat. What I was actually doing was more like this; breathe in On-Two, bre-One-Tw- Breathe.
I closed my eyes and focused on Percy, he was here and we were together.
'Come on Annabeth, get a grip' I thought to myself angrily which was only hindering my breathing process more.
'Daughter, steady your thoughts, it'll help.' My mom's voice sounded in my head but it sounded very far away, Percy, I had to get to Percy.
...one of the demons lunged at Annabeth...
...she brought the rock down on the old ladies head...
'Stupid, Annabeth, stupid' I chided myself.
"We're out, we're safe, we're together" His voice broke through my thoughts, it settled me a little but it didn't stop me feeling so panicked and useless.
...it wasn't like Annabeth had a choice...
Well that's true but still it was stupid, I tried to take in my surroundings, I needed to be more alert, where are the exits? Got to plan an escape for us, keep us safe.
... "I Can't See!" ...
"You were blind down there? But how can see now?" Someone asked I don't know who. I had to make a plan, I had to make us safe.
"It'll explain, I'm sure" Percy said, Percy where is he? I've got to keep him safe, we need to go.
...Polyphemus cursed you when you tricked him with your invisibility...Now you will not see your attackers...
I felt a strong arm pull me from my seat, my eyes were open but I wasn't seeing, arms wrapped around me, "Breathe Annabeth" he whispered to me, "I'm right here, I've got you, we're together, slow your breathing Wise Girl, I know you can do it."
'Percy' I thought as a breathed in, 'Percy' I thought as a breathed out, slowly my breathing became more normal. 'He's here, we're together' I thought fighting back against the instinct to flee I had gained from being down there. I tried to push the need to be hyper-aware of my surroundings to the back of my mind, as I tried to concentrate on Percy.
... Bob whacked one over the head and speared another...
... "Bob, you okay? ...No Curses?"...
...The Titan is already cursed. Why should we torture him further? You Percy Jackson have already destroyed his memory...
"I'm so sorry Bob" Percy whispered in my ear but Thalia heard him.
"You know you did what you had to do right? You saved me and Nico when you took his memory" Thalia said, Percy mumbled something but I didn't catch it, I focused my vision on him, I leant his forehead against mine.
Ξ Percy's P.O.V Ξ
Even though she was in the midst of an attack Annabeth was trying to comfort me, Gods! I am so lucky to have her.
I took her hand and squeezed it, I whispered a thank you.
... "My memory... it was you?" ...
... "Bob, it's a long story ... I tried to make you a friend." ...
A friend? I'm a terrible friend, I could never repay Bob for what he did for me, did for us.
...By stealing your life, the arai said. Leaving you in the palace of Hades to scrub floors...
... "Which way? ... If we have to run?"...
... "Don't give them what they want. We are your friends."...
...Percy felt like a liar...
Like I do now, I thought to myself. I would make up for being a horrible friend to Bob, by honouring his sacrifice, by taking care of Annabeth.
I didn't dare look up at the room, I knew I had disappointed everyone present, they were going to see just how horrible of a person I really was, I knew it was coming, and I was dreading it.
'Focus on Annabeth' I chided myself and started whispering our mantra to her over and over.
...You see his face? The arai growled. The boy cannot even convince himself. Did he visit you, after he stole your memory? ...
No, but I should have, thank the Gods Nico is better than I am.
"I'm sorry, but it's not like we visit all the people we've defeated, the only reason we didn't send him to Tartarus was because you wiped his memory and convinced him to be a good Titan!" Thalia raged next to me, I knew she was upset, I took her hand with my spare one and squeezed it, trying to offer some comfort but my main focus had to be Annabeth, her breathing was calm now but I knew as soon as Calypso's curse hit that was when her attack would take over her mind, like the Empousai had mine.
... "No... the other one did."...
... "Nico visited. Told me about Percy...said he was a friend. That is why Bob helped."...
"Thank you" Annabeth and I whispered to Nico, who nodded at us.
...He'd never felt so low and dishonourable, so unworthy of having a friend...
Kind of how I felt now, I looked Annabeth in the eye hoping to convey how sorry I was, it was my fault she had this trigger, it was my fault I wasn't a better friend. She seemed to understand as she squeezed my hand and I continued to whisper to her, to try and delay her attack as much as possible.
...The arai attacked and this time Bob did not stop them.
I'm so sorry Bob, so so sorry.
Ξ Clarisse's P.O.V Ξ
Only Prissy could feel bad for a Titan, okay so he took his memory, but he didn't kill him, which in my opinion was just stupid, hello! Did he learn nothing from the previous war we fought?!
Looking around the room, there were mixed reactions to Prissy's thoughts, pity was the front runner, shock was present, but the one which angered me the most was Prissy's own reaction. It was like he was feeling the emotions we were reading, I could see he was wallowing but trying to help Annabeth it wasn't going to work he couldn't do both, Princess for sure was going to have an episode if Prissy couldn't pull his emotions back.
I could feel my father trying to lessen my anger, but it wasn't working maybe if Percy wasn't being so stupid!
A voice sounded in my mind but it wasn't my father's as I had expected.
'Calm down child, you're angry because they are hurting and you can't help, it's unlike one of your father's children to want to help. My daughter taught you much.' Aphrodite.
Sometimes I forget how much Silena influences me every day; I wish I could say she didn't but her friendship will always affect every decision I make now. I knew Aphrodite was right I wanted to help, I just didn't know how.
~Author's Note~
Hi readers I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please let me know what you thought about it! I'm not entirely happy with it but I wanted to update the story for you guys and I'm sorry it's on a cliff hanger, I'll try and update again soon.
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