Ξ Leo's P.O.V Ξ
I felt bad about storming out from the reading but I couldn't take it anymore. It was my fault they were in that place, I opened that fortune cookie to save Hazel and Frank and the price had been Annabeth and Percy falling into hell.
The guilt started at the beginning of the reading and it got progressively worse through the chapters as I heard the awful things they had to deal with, knowing it was my fault. But to know that Calypso had hurt them too and that I had been angry with Percy when he returned from that place for the very reason Annabeth had been cursed.
If I was being honest with myself, I was angry with myself not Calypso and I allowed what Piper calls my hot-headedness to get the better of me but I've never been great with people, like my dad I'm better with machines, I just needed a moment to release all that guilt and anger in flame.
Talking things through with Calypso really helped, she knew I wasn't really mad at her and I think that's probably why it was easier to talk through, I knew Percy and Annabeth didn't blame me for the fortune cookie price but it didn't mean I had stopped feeling guilty about it.
Nemesis had said I wouldn't find my place among the seven and romantically that was right, but she was wrong, they were like my family and I did have a place with them, I just had to allow myself to have it. Maybe through this reading I can learn to forgive myself the way Annabeth and Percy have forgiven me. I mean I'm Leo Bad Boy Supreme, Super-sized McShizzle, Flamin' Valdez! Ladies love me, well one lady in particular and I have awesome friends.
Ξ Poseidon's P.O.V Ξ
I had been watching this group of demigods throughout the reading; it was abundantly obvious how much they cared about my son and Annabeth. I think even Athena could see that with a little help from Artemis, I had tried as well, but let's be honest we're civil for Annabeth and Percy's sake, it doesn't mean she'll listen to me on other matters as I doubt I would if she tried to help me.
I had tried to accept Percy's way of dealing with this, he was better than me in many ways because of what he inherited from his mother. I admit when I heard that the curse was from Calypso I was very willing to blast her where she stood, but then I watched Percy follow her and what's his name ... Leo! Right Leo out of the throne room and I knew he what his intentions were it had nothing to do with the curse in the reading only making sure that his friends relationship was maintained.
Loyalty, my son had it in spades but he knew when to pull back well at least when it pertained to anyone other than Annabeth. That though made me nervous but also proud of him, he fell into Tartarus for her, I've always known how much he loves her, but I'll admit I was hoping it was a 'phase' she is after all a daughter of Athena. But, I'm no God of love, and the sea does not like to be restrained, what right, do I have not to approve? As long as he's happy and he treats her right that's all I care about.
Ξ Percy's P.O.V Ξ
I held Annabeth's gaze while Lady Hestia continued to read I knew even though her attack had passed that there was more to the curses trigger to come and I was so sorry for being the cause of it.
Chapter 16 – Percy
For one exciting minute, Percy felt like he was winning...
I saw Thalia roll her eyes at me out of the corner of my eye as I asked Annabeth silently if she was okay. She silently assured me she was at the moment.
...Each time a demon disintegrated, Percy felt a heavier sense of dread as another curse settled on him...
...some were harsh and painful...
...some were subtle...
I heard sobs coming from my mom and it broke my heart, I looked over and saw Paul hugging her, reassuring her that I was okay. I felt my eyebrows frown as I looked over, I'd told me mom a lot of things – ok so they were watered down but she knew it wasn't as peachy as I made out, and she'd always said that all that mattered was that I was okay. She was normally more okay with it that this, something else was going on with my mom, but I didn't know what it was and that bothered me.
...Percy knew that he'd killed a lot of monsters...
"If you do say so yourself hey Kelp Head" Thalia said and it caused the tension in the room to break and laughter to ring out. Say what you will about Thalia, but don't ever say she can't read a situation and relieve tension because it's one of the things she does best.
...He'd never thought about it from the monsters' point of view...
Thalia reached over and slapped the back of my head as did Nico from beside me.
"Ow!" What was that for?" I asked my two cousins.
"Do you want to tell him or should we?" Thalia asked Annabeth.
"You can" Annabeth said to her best friend, squeezing my hand knowingly in support.
Thalia rolled her eyes and said "You're not supposed to sympathise with the monsters, they certainly don't sympathise with you! Gods! You're head is so full of Kelp!" I could hear fear and anger in her voice, like she was worried I'd done something stupid because I was sympathising with the monsters and I suppose I had – I mean I attacked all of those curses and it had almost cost me my life if it hadn't have been for Annabeth well I wouldn't be here I think by now everyone here knew that.
"Sorry" I said, and Thalia huffed and settled back next to Annabeth, I knew she wasn't happy but I didn't know how to make that better right now.
...Now all their pain and anger ...poured over him sapping his strength...
I dared to glance at Thalia and saw her trying really hard to calm down. Annabeth noticed and took her hand and squeezed it, it seemed to help a little and I was thankful for that.
Ξ Thalia's P.O.V Ξ
Stupid Kelp Head being all sympathetic, he's going to get himself killed! I know he's sat right there but urg! What an idiot!
'Calm down Thalia, take a breath, you're hurting because there is nothing you can do but listen because this has already happened. You're hurting because the thought of losing your family hurts.' Poseidon's voice sounded in my head, the last of the Gods I expected because of my father, was trying to calm me down. I felt Annabeth take my hand as he said this too me and I tried my best to calm down.
'Why is it always him? Why can't they just be allowed to be together in peace?!" I thought back but I got no answer.
...The arai just kept coming for everyone he cut down more seemed to appear...
...He tried to make his way towards Annabeth...
... He blundered towards her...
I noticed Aphrodite and Piper, looking at Percy like her was the most romantic male in the room.
I knew he'd do anything for Annabeth, I've known that since I woke up from being a tree, it was obvious! So it did not surprise me that his default was always to protect her. I appreciated it and I found it oddly comforting as it was a normality even if what was happening in the reading was horrendous.
...a demon pounced...
...Percy roared...
...He sliced the demon to dust, but immediately he fell to his knees...
Annabeth tensed next to me and gripped my hand so hard it was almost as bad as last time. She was trying to ground herself again, something awful was about to happen to Percy and it was going to trigger her, I could feel it. I squeezed her hand to let her know I was here for her. Her head was resting on Percy's staring into his eyes and I knew he was silently trying to calm her down.
...his mouth burned...
...He doubled over...
...as a dozen fiery snakes seemed to work their way down his oesophagus...
Everyone in the room visibly cringed at the description and Annabeth's breathing became uneven again as the fear of losing Percy was starting to come through again. After losing him for six months and seeing what that did to her I knew why losing him was a trigger for her. I heard Percy whispering their mantra to help her and her breathing was starting to come back steadily.
Ξ Annabeth's P.O.V Ξ
"We made it out, we're safe and we're together." Percy whispered to me as Thalia squeezed my hand and my breathing steadied. I hated people seeing me like this, I prided myself on being the strong leader they needed me to be, what kind of leader was I now!?
Breathe Annabeth, don't think about that now, just breathe...
...you have chosen,...
...the curse of Phineas...
...an excellent painful death...
"Oh Gods!" Hazel and Frank said in unison, they clearly knew what that meant and I did now too, Percy and I had talked about it, Sally was going to flip when she found out. I got the impression one or both wanted to ask Percy about it but he was too focused on me, I felt bad about that but I hoped they understood. I couldn't lose him again and I knew he was here next to me logically I knew that but my brain was just not cooperating.
...He remembered the old blind king...
...Percy had challenged him to a contest...
...the loser had drunk a deadly vial of Gorgon's blood...
"Perseus Jackson!" Sally bellowed, told you she'd flip didn't I? I felt Percy flinch next to me, his mom never called him by his full name and I knew he hated it when she did. But, he should feel bad for that contest it was stupid and reckless and well Seaweed Brain-ish (Yes I know that's not a word but it's accurate).
Percy broke eye contact with me for the first time since he had returned from wherever Leo and Calypso had been to face his mom.
"I'm sorry mom; it was the only way at the time I had too." I could tell he was ashamed that he'd hurt his mom but I thought maybe it was more than that; he was ashamed about making a bet, taking the gamble. I wondered if it had something to do with what we had discussed the other night, I filed it away to ask him later.
Sally walked over with Paul, "Nico, would you mind overly if I sat next to my son?" she asked.
"Not at all, Aunt Sally" Nico replied and he and Will swapped seats with her and Paul and as she sat down she took my hand not Percy's.
"Thank you Nico, Will" She said as she squeezed my hand and I really appreciated her support and I knew I'd always have it, it was one more permanent thing Percy had given me.
...Gaia had warned him...
...When your death comes, I promise it will be much more painful than gorgon's blood...
Was that foreshadowing? Had Gaia known Percy would survive the pit? Or did it have to do with the contest that was mentioned? Questions started to pile up in my brain for later, as I worked on steadying my breathing.
...he watched his girlfriend stumble around...
...believing he'd abandoned her...
...his knuckles started to steam. White smoke curled of his forearms...
Breathe Annabeth, breathe 2, 3... He's here Annabeth. I tried to calm down but I was struggling my brain was taking me back into my nightmares where Bob hadn't helped, where Percy had died and as a result I had too not knowing where he was feeling abandoned.
"We're out Annabeth, I'm here, we're together, and we're safe." Percy's words penetrated my thoughts slowly bringing me back, before I went too far. He has no idea how grateful I am that he can do this for me.
...I won't die like this...
...Not only because it was painful and insultingly lame, but because Annabeth needed him...
...he couldn't leave her...
My thoughts cleared and I looked up at Percy, just knowing that he couldn't leave me even when he was dying, warmed my heart and sent my stomach into flips.
Piper and Aphrodite cooed, along with Hazel, while Nico, Thalia and Clarisse we're laughing.
The others were just looking at the three of them like they were mad, which in a way we all were I suppose. But, I'm reliably informed only the best people are.
"Insultingly... lame..." Nico spluttered out in between laughs and I didn't know if I had ever seen Nico laugh with such freedom before, it was nice to see.
Catching on to what they found so amusing, I leaned over to Percy and whispered "Someone sure has a big sense of his own importance." I teased and Percy smiled at me and although I didn't intend for anyone else to hear, Sally had and she let out a small chuckle and whispered something to Paul who also chuckled. It was nice to be able to offer her some comfort no matter how small it was.
Ξ Jason's P.O.V Ξ
I remember before I met Percy feeling jealous of him, and how much his camp missed him and appreciated him, hell even my own sister missed him more than she had missed me but to be fair she had thought I was dead, so I guess I can't totally blame her for that. Then Percy and I met and I'm not going to lie; it wasn't the best start to a friendship we were both used to being the leader but we'd managed to put our differences aside and become friends.
And after hearing all of this, any jealousy I had held on to, was gone. I did not envy his trip through that place and I admired how brave he was to make it.
"Jason, you ok?" Her melodic voice whispered.
"Yeah, I'm okay Pipes, you?" I whispered back trying not to interrupt the reading, I could tell she didn't either; as she just smiled and nodded, I returned her smile. Gods, she was really beautiful.
... The arai clustered around him...
...His head will erupt first, the voice speculated...
...No he'll combust all at once...
...They were placing bets on how he would die...
Annabeth noticeably flinched at the mention of eruptions and combustion and I didn't understand it. Why would that strike a chord with her? Percy looked really apologetically at her and she gave him a small smile in return to let him know he was forgiven for whatever it was.
'You might as well know, was the reason Mount St. Helens blew up a couple of years ago' My father's voice sounded in my head and I looked over at him, more questions than answers entering my brain.
'the first eruption it was Perseus' my father said sounding majorly unhappy about it, probably because it had set off a series of eruptions after that, I thought to myself. I hadn't known Percy had made a volcano erupt; I wander how he managed it.
..."Bob,"... "I need you"...
...Why should Bob answer his call twice?...
...his surroundings seemed to flicker...
Percy no! Don't call the Titan again it's not safe not down there! I thought, but then I thought about it some more what would I do if it was Piper down there with me and I was dying what would I have done? I knew if I had any last hope to save Piper I'd do it, even if it meant calling on a Titan for help again, no matter how dangerous it was.
Percy pulled a now sobbing Annabeth into his lab and encompassed her within his arms, kissing her forehead and muttering to her, trying to calm her down.
I had first met Annabeth when she was looking for Percy and she had terrified me, in her demand for him, her passion to find him. I had seen her stand strong and lead while missing him for six months before being reunited with him. What happened down there must have been so hard for her. Obviously he survives he's sat right there holding her, but how? How do you undo gorgon's blood? I thought it was fatal?
...Percy realised that what he saw of Tartarus was only a watered-down version of its true horror...
...the worst of it veiled...
...Now as Percy died he began to see the truth...
To the right of me Nico's breathing started to become uneven.
"Nico, I'm here, you're out, you're safe, look at me, that's it keep looking at me now match my breathing" Will whispered and if they hadn't have been so close to us I imagine I wouldn't have heard what Will had said.
I had a lot of respect for Nico; I wanted to help him, Percy and Annabeth. I just didn't know how I was supposed to do that. What good is being the son of the king if you couldn't help your friends when they needed you?
I didn't want to interrupt Will but I kept glancing over at him to make sure he was okay. Piper squeezing my hand, she knew how I was feeling and I could see in her eyes that she was feeling it too.
...The air was the breath of Tartarus...
...Monsters were just blood cells circulating through his body. Everything Percy saw was a dream in the mind of the dark god of the pit...
Nico was trembling but before I could move to help Percy's mom appeared.
"Nico, listen to Will's voice" She said encouraging Will as she took Nico's hands, Nico nodded as his eyes focused on her.
"You're out Nico, you're safe" Will repeated and added in the middle a few times "I'm right here with you"
I knew Nico had been down there, I mean we all did, he went in search of the doors of death and well he knew they were in Tartarus because he'd been there. He'd never spoken about it though and I'm starting to understand why. Nico was so much stronger than anyone gave him credit for.
Ξ Piper's P.O.V Ξ
The throne room was in silence as Annabeth and Nico respectively had their own attacks. Annabeth's was slowly coming to an end as Nico's started to get worse and Percy's mom noticed that.
Percy must get his observation skills from her, not that I'm saying Poseidon isn't observant he might be I just hadn't witnessed it, the gods tended to keep what they noticed to themselves.
I wanted to help my best friend, I made an impulsive decision to leave Jason to help Nico because I knew he was closer to him than I was and I got up and sat in Annabeth's vacant spot next to Thalia and Percy.
I instantly could feel the pain she was in and I didn't know whether my mom was helping me understand by allowing me to sense their pain when I'm close enough. I just knew it was heart wrenching. I grabbed her free hand, Thalia had the other as Percy comforted her and I let her know I was there, it was all I was able to do and I hoped it was enough.
Jason was sat next to Nico now letting him know he was there. I could see the others in the group wanted to help too but we couldn't all do it as much as we all wanted too.
As Nico started to calm down Percy's mom returned to her spot next to Percy after making sure Nico didn't need her to stay with him. He offered her a weak smile and said he'd be okay but I could tell he was immensely grateful for her help.
...This must have been the way Nico has seen Tartarus...
...Nico... one of the many people Percy hadn't treated well enough...
Nico suddenly got up and came towards us with Will and Jason in tow and punched Percy's free shoulder.
"You're an idiot!" He exclaimed, as Percy looked like he agreed with his thoughts in the reading.
"I'm sorry" he whispered and Nico looked like he was going to punch him again.
"Percy..." Nico tried.
"I know Nico, but I'm still sorry" Percy said, Nico knowing Percy wouldn't change his mind right now sat down in front of him.
Hestia noticing that this was happening a lot, people sitting in front of Percy, summoned bean bags for the three of them so they weren't sitting on the floor. Jason sat in front of mean and Will in front of Sally. Percy and the three boys looked at Hestia gratefully before she continued reading.
...He and Annabeth had only made it this far...
...because Nico di Angelo had behaved like Bob's true friend...
Annabeth let go of mine and Thalia's hands long enough to lean down and thank Nico before returning to the same place she'd been in before. Nico turned and nodded to the two of them. I was starting to see a different side to Nico that he had hidden while aboard the Argo II, it was nice to see this side of him, a side that wasn't closed off to friends and family.
...You see the true horror of the pit? Give up Percy Jackson...
..."I'm Sorry"...
...He apologises! He regrets his failed life, his crimes against the children of Tartarus...
"Kelp Head, so help me if that's true I'll shock you into the middle of next year" Thalia said next to me and Percy just raised an eyebrow at her in response, but that seemed to be enough to pacify her. I found their dynamic very interesting, my understanding was that Thalia didn't interact with boys because of her vows, I found myself wondering what Percy had done to gain such a close friendship with her, besides dating Annabeth.
... "I'm sorry Bob. I should've been honest with you. Please... forgive me protect Annabeth."...
I heard my mom 'Aww' inside my head, she could see the romance of a situation anywhere even down there.
I don't know if I'd have said aww exactly, I mean sure it was romantic that he wanted to protect Annabeth; it was part of what made them such a great couple. But, it didn't really feel like an aww moment to me even if it was romantic.
...He couldn't blame anyone else...
...Not the Gods. Not Bob...
...He couldn't even blame Calypso...
...He hadn't treated her any better than he treated Bob...
"You know you didn't treat her badly right?" Annabeth whispered "You did all you could for her, it was supposed to work out the way it did, otherwise Leo wouldn't have found her."
"I know I'm sorry" Percy whispered not meeting anyone else's eyes but Annabeth's.
To say my interest was piqued was an understatement. How did Percy meet Calypso? Why did he think he'd treated her unjustly? I wondered if Annabeth would tell me later.
'He landed on her island, she fell for him and he had to leave to return to Annabeth' my mom told me. 'He made us all promise to release her from her island, which we granted, but she needed to be on her island to help your friend Leo back to you, even we can't mess with fate my daughter. But it doesn't stop Percy feeling like he failed her.'
I knew Percy had a history with Calypso, but I didn't know he'd been to her island, it explained Annabeth's reaction to her when Leo introduced her to us. I was starting to realise there was a lot I didn't know about my best friend, that I vowed to find out.
...It took all his remaining effort, but he got to his feet...
...His legs shook. His insides churned like a volcano...
"Promise me no more volcanoes" Annabeth whispered and I detected a hint of teasing, but I could tell she was being serious. No more volcanoes? What did this pair get up to before Percy went missing?
"I promise, no more volcanoes" Percy responded smiling genuinely for the first time in a while and Annabeth returned it.
'It's how he got to Calypso's Island child, he blew up a volcano' my mom told me. Okay, when we get home, I'm going to get the complete Annabeth and Percy story from someone, even if it's not them, somebody; I wanted to know what they got up to that landed them in a volcano, that Percy then subsequently blew up.
...At least Percy could go out fighting...
...But before he could strike, all the arai in front of him exploded into dust.
"And, that's the chapter" Hestia said, "Let's call it a day and reconvene after breakfast." There were murmurs of agreement around the room and the Gods started to flash out as we all started to get up and make our way to where we were staying. I had so many thoughts going through my head as I made my way back to my room.
Ξ Zeus' P.O.V Ξ
I flashed out of the throne room to my temple. I had resented that Poseidon's son was so powerful for such a long time. I had demigod children too, they should be more powerful than him because, well, because I'm the king that's why and they're mine.
Now though listening to what Perseus went through down there, I can see he needed to be that powerful. I'm not happy about it; I still think he's dangerous but I can see it's a necessity for him to live and if he hadn't have lived would the seven have made it to Greece? Would they have defeated Gaia without him?
As much as it went against ever fibre of my being I suspected they would not and that thought only made me angrier.
What made his son so great?! Why wasn't my son good enough to lead the seven on his own why had he needed him?
Thunder boomed through the skies as a thunder storm settled over Manhattan to reflect my mood.
~Author's Note~
Hi All, sorry for the update taking so long, work has really kicked my butt the last couple of weeks I'm in the middle of a major launch but hopefully when it's landed I'll be less beat at the end of the week and able to update a little more regularly, fingers crossed! I'm not overly happy with this chapter but I hope you all like it and I'm sorry if it's not up to my usual standard!
Chriskidd2001 – Thank you for your review, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one too! I'm really glad you liked the POV's if there's one you'd like to see soon please let me know!
Jgaskins - Thank you for your review, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one too! Your words are flattering each chapter presents its own challenges and emotional arcs; let me know if you liked this one!
captianMcShizzle - Thank you for your review, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one too! I'm glad you liked the way the Calypso thing went down in the last chapter. Let me know what you think of this one!
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LilBumkin - Thank you for your review, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one too! It's not easy and as mentioned above I'm not totally happy with this chapter but if you've thought of a POV I'll try and include it!
Silverphoenix233 - Thank you for your review, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one too! I think Calypso gets a bad rep because she supported the titans in the first war, I don't know if Zoë did or not though. Is there a POV you'd like to see? Let me know!
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Guest Nov 21 - Thank you for your review, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one too! I'm still deciding how to handle the Akhlys section for Percy in terms of an attack or fear of his powers or a mix of both – I'm hoping it'll come to me when I get that far!
Guest Nov 23 - Thank you for your review, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one too! I've not forgotten your request for Sally/ Annabeth bonding and or Sally/ Frederick bonding. It's on my list I promise! It's on its way soon!
Cinder121 / SuzieSingh - Thank you for your reviews, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one too! Athena is one of my favourites too. Is there a POV you'd like to see? Let me know!
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Happy reading All!