This chapter was hard to write. I had a lot of potential ideas that all go down different paths that all started here. So I was stuck at a fork in the road and had to pick one. I hope you like what happens!
As always I do not own the Percy Jackson series but Chloe is my OC.
Will hated being a demigod sometimes. It's moments like these that he wondered why live at all when you are just destined to die young. How could he be a healer when he couldn't save Bianca?
When Percy pulled her body from the rubble, Will dropped to his knees next to her. Blood. So much blood. Will quickly ripped up pieces of his shirt as make shifted bandages. He felt a pulse. It was very faint but there. Placing his hands over the worst of the cuts he closed his eyes and started to sing one of the healing hymns. Zoe fell to her knees on the other side of Bianca, crying. Maybe even saying her prayers, Will wasn't listening.
Opening his eyes, he saw nothing had changed. Bianca was still pale and well… still. He pulled out his book of healing hymns and prayers, frantically trying to find the right one to save Bianca. When that one failed, he tried another. And another. And another.
"Di immortals," Will cursed, angrily flipping the pages to a new prayer. "Why isn't this working?! These should be working!"
"Will," Zoe said.
The Son of Apollo ignored her.
"Will, stop."
"No," Will shook his head. "I can do this. I just—"
Zoe coved Will's hands with her own, pulling the book gently from his grasp. Will's frantic blue eyes looked up into her tear-filled brown eyes.
"She is gone," Zoe whispered sadly.
'One shall be lost in the land without rain.' Echoed in his head.
"I failed," Will muttered, tears filling his eyes.
"No boy you did not. She was gone before we found her," Zoe gently said.
Thalia yelled in rage, impaling her spear into the giant's face. Annabeth and Grover were sitting on a piece of rubble sobbing. Percy was glaring at the sand as if the desert was responsible for Bianca's death.
"I'm sorry."
Zoe shook her head. "The blame is not on you. Bianca knew the risks. She sacrificed herself for all of us. She died a true hero."
"We can not let her death be in vain."
"No, we cannot."
Some vague forms of understanding passed between the Lieutenant of the Huntress of Artemis and the Son of Apollo. There has always been a rivalry between the huntresses and children of Apollo. Both claiming to be the better archers and patrons being close siblings. Even other demigods have always compared the two allowing this rivalry to span generations. However, there is also always underlining respect, even though neither side would admit it. And at this moment that respect grew some.
* line break *
Percy's hand clenched around the little figurine in his pocket. Bianca had given it to him right before she sacrificed herself. Sacrificed herself on his plan. It was his idea to go inside the mental monster to turn it off.
"It should've been me," Percy muttered. "I should've gone into the giant."
"Don't say that!" Grover panicked.
"Bianca made her choice," Annabeth said softly, taking his hand in hers. "Everything we do there is always risks. Bianca knew that."
"Did she though?" Percy asked eyes narrowing. "How long has it been since Westover? Five days? A week?"
"We went on our first quest a week or so after you arrived at camp." Annabeth reminded him. "You manage to go to the underworld and back. As well as kill medusa, win in a fight against the god of war, and returned both the Master Bolt and Hade's Helm of Darkness. With only one week of training."
"That doesn't mean I knew the risks we were taking," Percy muttered darkly, pulling his hand out of hers. He glared out the window.
The truck ran out of gas at the edge of a river canyon. Thalia got out and slammed the door. Immediately one of the tires blew. "Great. What now?"
Percy scanned their surroundings. All around them was desert with small clumps of mountains here and there in the distance. The river itself wasn't very big, but it's green rapid water carved a huge scar out of the desert.
"There's a path," Grover said. "We could get to the river."
Percy moved to see what Grover was seeing. Finally, he noticed the tiny ledge winding down the cliff face. "That's a goat path."
"So?" he asked.
"The rest of us aren't goats."
He's done cliffs before and wasn't a fan of them. Then he looked over at Thalia and saw how pale she was. Her fear of heights… she would never make it.
"No," Percy said. "I, uh, think we should go further upstream."
Grover said, "But—"
"Come on," Percy said backing away from the steep edge. "A walk won't hurt us."
* line break *
They stood on the river's edge, looking up at a curve of concrete that loomed between the cliffs. The people walking on the top of the dam looked like ants. Will felt like an ant himself seeing the massive size of the dam.
"Hoover Dam," Annabeth said in awe. "Did you know the dam—"
"Is seven hundred feet tall," Percy said, interrupting Annabeth. "Build in the 1930s."
"Can hold up to thirty million cubic acres of water," Thalia added smirking at the Daughter of Athena's glare.
Grover sighed. "Largest construction project in the United States."
"I hate you three," Annabeth muttered, crossing her arms.
Zoe stared at them. "What are you doing?"
"Being Annabeth," Thalia laughed.
"You're mad," Zoe decided. Will nodded in agreement. "But that's where the road is." She pointed to a huge parking garage next to the top of the dam. "And so, sightseeing it is."
They walked for about an hour before finding an old pathway that led up to the road.
Thalia walked in the middle of the road, far away from the edges. Grover kept sniffing the wind and looking nervous. He didn't need to say anything for them to know he smelt monsters. They all have spent time around satyrs to see the signs.
"How close are they?" Percy asked, putting its hand in this pocket.
Grover shook his head. "Maybe not close. The wind on the dam, the desert all around us… the scent can probably carry for miles. But it is coming from multiple directions. I don't like that."
Will didn't like it either. They have dealt with more than enough monsters already. It was also already Wednesday, only two days until the winter solstice. And they still had several days of travel to go. They didn't need any more distractions.
"There's a snack bar in the visitor center," Thalia said.
"You've been here before?" Will asked.
"Once. To see the guardians." She pointed to the far end of the dam. Carved into the side of the cliff was a little plaza with two big bronze statues. They looked kind of like Oscar statues with wings.
"They were dedicated to Zeus when the dam was built," Thalia said.
"A gift from Athena," Annabeth added.
Tourists were clustered all around them. They seemed to be looking at the statues' feet.
"What are they doing?" Percy asked.
"Rubbing the toes," Thalia said. "They think it's good luck."
"Why?"
"Mortals get crazy ideas," Annabeth said. "They don't know the statues are sacred to Zeus, but they know there's something special about them."
"Let's find the dam snack bar," Zoe said. "We should eat while we can."
Grover cracked a smile. "The dam snack bar?"
Zoe blinked. "Yes. What is funny?"
"Nothing," Grover said trying to keep a straight face. "I could use some dam French fries."
Even Thalia smiled at that. "And I need to use the damn restroom."
"I need a dam soda," Will said laughing.
All but Zoe and Annabeth burst out laughing. Will could have laughed for the rest of the day but suddenly Percy and Grover stopped. The smile whipping off their faces.
Grover looked around, confused. "Did I just hear a cow?"
"A dam cow?" Thalia laughed.
"No," Grover said. "I'm serious."
"I don't hear anything," Annabeth said.
Thalia stared at Percy, who looked like he was about to burst into tears. "Percy, are you okay?"
"Yeah," I said. "You guys go ahead. I'll be right in."
"What wrong?" Grover asked.
"Nothing," Percy said. "I… I just need a minute. To think."
They heisted but finally, the other quest goers left. Will stayed behind for a moment, studying the son of Poseidon. He was staring at the edge of the dam.
"Want to talk about it?" Will asked gently.
Percy shook his head. "No. Go ahead with the others. I just need a minute alone."
Will didn't want to leave him, not with the way he was staring at the edge. Percy gave him a small smile, one that was forced. "I'm not going to jump if that is your concern. Besides the water won't kill me."
Will sighed. "Fine. I will save you some fries okay?"
Percy nodded and Will went into the visitor center. As he reached the door the son of Apollo turned around, watching as Percy ran over to the north edge of the damn, looking over. Will shook his head and went inside.
"What wrong with him?" Annabeth asked. Will slipped into the seat next to her. She had one of those free informational pamphlets spread out Infront of her. Thalia, Grover, and Zoe were in the long line getting food while Annabeth saves their table.
"He didn't say," Will said.
"Nothing ever good happens when Percy is left alone, "Annabeth sighed. "Did you know he blew up the Gateway Arch in St. Louis? Grover and I left him alone up there, there was no room in the elevator for him. He got in a fight with a chimera and fell 630 feet into the Mississippi River."
"Are you suggesting he might do the same with the dam?" Will asked, eyes wide.
Annabeth shook her head. "He wouldn't do it because that would mean killing all the innocents here. He jumped into the river to save those still left at the top with him."
* line break *
Chloe watched in horror as the Princess Andromeda approached through the fog. The cruise ship was moving slowly to get into a docking position. She could see demigods and monsters standing on the decks.
"Impressive isn't?" Luke said standing next to her. "Our forces have grown since last summer. Soon we will be able to storm Camp Half-Blood. And after that Olympus itself. All we need is your help."
Chloe could feel Artemis's eyes on her back. But she couldn't take her eyes from the army down below. She knew it would take a few hours for the whole ship to disembark. That means her brother and the other questers need to get here now, there was no way they could fight through an army this strong. All of Camp couldn't fight a force this strong.
The reality of the situation made Chloe angry. How could they let this happen? While Luke was building an army all they have done was play capture the flag and held sword and archery practices. They had two summers to prepare for this and they wasted it away laughing instead of reading for war. A war they all knew was brewing.
"Why me," Chloe whispered. "Why not Thalia? You two were close once, right? Why do you need me?"
Luke shrugged. "Simple: you are the only one willing to listen."
"So, you have tried to recruited Thalia and failed?"
"Doesn't matter. Not when I got you here."
Chloe closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Her heart was thumping in her ears.
"No. You don't have me," Chloe said, slipping her ring off her figure and turning into a dagger. "I told you months ago that I would rather die than join the likes of you."
Luke frown, his face full of disappointment. "Such a shame." He sighed, turning away. "No matter. When Thalia and Percy get here everything will fall into plan."
Chloe glared at Luke's retreating back. How dear he turns away from her as if she wasn't a threat? She was the daughter of Poseidon, not some weak daughter of Aphrodite.
Chloe no! Lady Artemis yelled in her mind.
Chloe ignored the goddess's warning. She charged at Luke sinking the dagger into his shoulder. The Son of Hermes screamed out as the celestial bronze cut his skin. Before she could react, Luke had spun around knocking the dagger out of her hand.
"You will regret that," Luke growled, Backbiter appearing in his hand. Not his dominant hand, Chloe noted as she ready her sword Rapids. Luke's eyes a blazed with fury and pain. "I have shown nothing but kindness to you and this is how you repay me."
"Kindness? I doubt you even know what kindness is!" Chloe spat.
Luke growled charging at her. She raised Rapids, blocking his attack sending sparks between the two metals. Chloe quickly realized she was outmatched as she was on the defense blocking Luke's swift attacks. She tried to find holes in his defenses but Luke wasn't letting his guard down. Even though he wasn't using his dominant hand but he was still older and more experienced. She was also still extremely tired and weak from holding up the sky. When was the last time she ate?
Luke moved as if to slash to her left so Chloe moved to dodged the attack only for it to be a fake. Chloe screamed as Backbiter sliced at her right side. The burning pain was so intense she collapsed. Luke stood over her, Backbiter still in his hand with her blood dripping off the ends. Chloe tried to scramble away but she didn't make it very far with the pain flaring up at her side. With shaky hands she pressed at the wound, warm blood pooled under her hand.
"Such a shame. You had a lot of potentials," Luke said. He turned, walking away. Chloe got a surge of satisfaction seeing Luke's back covered in blood and him holding his arm close to his body.
A wave of pain hit, Chloe closed her eyes. She could feel her life slowly slipping away with every pulse of blood spilling past her figures.
Chloe, take my blessing, Artemis pleaded in her mind.
Will's face flashed in Chloe's mind. I don't want to be a huntress.
You won't be. However, if you want to see that son of my brother again let me help you.
Chloe opened her eyes and looked over at that trapped goddess. Artemis's silver eyes were tired but had a fire in them. Silver eyes burned into sea-green ones. Chloe gave the faintest of nods.
The daughter of Poseidon felt a surge of strength flow through her body. It didn't heal her wound completely but she didn't feel like dying anymore. Artemis's head dropped, auburn hair covering her face. Chloe didn't know if the goddess was passed out if that was possible, but she gave what little strength she had left to Chloe.
"Thank you Lady Artemis," Chloe softly breathed.
I bet none of you saw that coming! I sure as hell didn't and got myself back into a corner. Then after re-reading previous chapters I realized this could work. Will's prophecy stated a "healer's hand gives life to the Sea's daughter again" will save Chloe. I also assumed it was going to be Will. But as I was writing this I found myself wanting Artemis to help Chloe and that as a goddess she can heal but most importantly: give life.
I hope you enjoy this chapter!
