Ξ Will's P.O.V Ξ
Gods, this was just one problem after another. I was kind of glad that Nico hadn't had to face all of this on his own. I was glad he'd been captured, Gods how awful is that, that I feel he was safer captured than travelling through that place all on his own.
"Hey, you okay?" Nico whispered to me bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah" I whispered back weakly. "How are you dealing with all of this?" I asked just as quietly.
"Okay, the things I saw down there…" He trailed off and shuddered. "But it wasn't like what they went through."
"It doesn't belittle your experience, Nico. You still had to go through that place."
"I know."
"You'll tell me when you need help right?" I pushed.
"Yes" He replied rolling his eyes, but that was somehow less sarcastic than normal. I nodded and smiled. As long as I could help, he was letting me in.
Lady Hestia must have noticed the growing tension and continued to read.
Chapter 29 – Annabeth
"Annabeth!" Percy pulled her back just as her foot hit the edge…
I looked over to Annabeth, who was a few spots over, she seemed to be okay for the moment, so I concentrated back on Nico.
… "It's okay," he promised…
…She… kept her eyes closed…
…She was trembling…
Percy wrapped Annabeth up in hug almost instinctively so. I hoped maybe Nico and I could have a relationship like that one day, where we instinctively knew what the other wanted. But I'd have to tell him I liked him first and there was always the question of whether or not he liked me in that way.
Ξ Percy's P.O.V Ξ
"You okay?" I whispered to Annabeth while I hugged her.
"Yeah, just feeling a bit stupid." She whispered.
"Because you nearly ran out of the house of night?" I asked.
"Yeah, it's not the first time you had to pull me back from the edge while I literally ran blindly towards it."
"That doesn't make you stupid Annabeth. You're the furthest thing from stupid."
"Thanks Seaweed Brain"
I'd prove it to her if I had too, if there was one thing that I was sure of, it was that Annabeth Chase was not stupid.
…Percy's embrace was so warm…
…She wanted to stay…
…safe and protected…but that wasn't reality…
The Gods flinched at Annabeth's thoughts of not being safe or protected. It wasn't like they could change our fate. All demigods were fated to lead dangerous lives, it was our birth right. Lucky us.
… "Can you tell what's in front of us?"…
… "Water"…
… "I don't think it's safe yet."…
… "Agreed"…
I squeezed Annabeth closer to me in what I hoped was a comforting gesture.
"Water, of course it was water" Leo said shaking his head. I didn't know what to tell him, I knew where water was, I would always know where water was, thanks to my dad.
… "I can sense a river… It's blocking our path… The opposite side is about twenty feet away." …
… "Is there a bridge, or-"…
"With our luck?" Thalia asked her.
"Had to hope right?" Annabeth replied and Thalia nodded.
Hope. It had been so hard down there to hope, but still she was able to.
… "There's something wrong with the water. Listen."…
"Something wrong with the water, how is that possible?" Paul asked.
"Underworld rivers are different to normal rivers. Their magical properties make them different." My dad told him, and Paul nodded. I'd have answered myself, but I was struck by the memory of what was wrong with this river and I couldn't stop the guilt settling on me.
…within the roaring current thousands of voices cried out…
"Really? Another talking river?!" Piper asked and I felt myself nodding in response and pulling Annabeth closer to myself.
Ξ Sally's P.O.V Ξ
Something was about to happen in the reading that I knew I wasn't going to like. Percy had suddenly become very withdrawn again and his features radiated guilt. I hadn't seen him this way since last summer after the Titan war. He always felt so responsible for everyone that was lost in that war. Whatever was wrong with that river it had brought forth that guilt again. I hoped through this reading we could also help him let go of that.
… Help! They groaned…
…The Pain!... Make it Stop!...
… "The River Acheron,"…
… "It's the river of Pain"…
Of course it is. Have they not had enough pain for one life time? At least I now knew why my son had withdrawn into his guilt.
"One of the punishments for souls of the damned." Nico said.
"Great, that's just great." Thalia said sarcastically.
Nico smirked at her but didn't seem offended by Thalia's sarcasm. I think he also knew she was using it to deflect from her worries. She was so fiercely protective of Annabeth and Percy, almost like a mother would be.
…Murderers!...Yes, like you!...
…Annabeth's head was flooded with images of all the monsters she'd killed over the years…
"That doesn't make you a murderer Annabeth." Helen said.
"Exactly! They seek us out, it's self-defence!" Clarisse told Annabeth as she nodded to her step-mom. But I could see we were losing both Percy and Annabeth to their own guilt.
…Zoë Nightshade…
…Bianca di Angelo…
…Michael Yew and Silena Beauregard…
…You could have prevented it, …
…Luke Castellan…
Silence settled over the throne room as the children had tears streaming down there faces for their fallen friends and in some cases siblings. The gods had fallen silent too, I couldn't imagine what they were going through, to lose one of their children. I couldn't even think about losing Percy, him being missing had been hard enough, losing him, well that would be unbearable.
After a moment Lady Hestia spoke softly to the children.
"Their deaths are not your fault. You cannot bear the weight of that guilt. You must let it go, as hard as that might be." She spoke so softly.
"I'll try" Annabeth whispered, and Percy nodded next to her. Fortunately, if any of the Gods could get through to them, it was Lady Hestia. Either way she seemed happy with Annabeth and Percy's response and continued reading.
…Annabeth wrestled with the same thought…
…Luke had chosen his fate…
…She didn't know if he had found peace in the underworld…
"Has he?" Annabeth asked looking at Nico.
"I don't know. I can check next time I'm there?" Nico replied.
"Thank you, Nico."
Ξ Annabeth's P.O.V Ξ
I hated the reminder of that river and the crushing guilt it brought with it. I tried my best to listen to Lady Hestia's advice of letting it go but it was going to take more than just me deciding to take her advice. It was something I would have to work on.
…Percy gripped her arm. "Don't Listen"…
… "They're telling me the same stuff"…
… "if we get across, we should be okay." …
"There's too much 'just jump and hope'" Thalia grumbled beside me. I took her hand and squeezed in by way of apology, I was sorry that I made her worry about me.
… "You'll have to trust me."…
"Always" I whispered, and Percy kissed my forehead in response.
… "Kill the ungrateful tourists!"…
… "Go!"…
…Percy leaped with more strength than she would have thought possible…
…They were on solid ground again…
"Sorry" Percy whispered.
I turned in my seat to look at him, I knew the guilt from the first war was weighing heavily on him too, but he had to know if he hadn't controlled that river, even the small fraction that he had, we'd be dead. He had to know it wasn't an abuse of his power to control water.
"Don't be, you saved us." I said looking into his eyes trying to convey just how much I loved and trusted him. He pulled me in for a chaste kiss before I cuddled back into him.
"I love you" he whispered so softly that only I could hear him.
"I love you too" I whispered back.
… "You can open your eyes," Percy said, breathing hard. "But you won't like what you see."…
"Please tell me it's not about to get worse." Thalia said.
"I can't tell you that." I replied not wanting to lie to my oldest friend.
She wasn't happy about it, but she nodded.
… "It looks like…" … "Like a giant heart."…
I felt Percy's body move slightly away from me toward Nico. I looked up and Nico was paler than normal and his hand gripped Will's as if holding on for dear life. Percy and I had hoped that with it being only our thoughts that Nico would be spared an attack. Unfortunately, this was proving not to be the case.
"Nico look at me," Will said "Nico. Look. At. Me." He said slowly, and Nico turned his face towards Will.
Knowing it was easier for just one person to try and bring Percy or myself out we didn't interfere with Will trying to help Nico and neither did the others.
"You are not down there. You are out, you are safe. Say it with me you're out, you're safe." Will said.
"I'm out, I'm safe." Nico said in time with Will.
"Good. Now breathe in for me, that's it and out. Good." As Will coaxed Nico down from his attack, Hazel offered Nico her hand and Reyna moved closer to him as well.
"I'm okay, I'm safe, I'm out." Nico whispered his hand loosened its hold on Will's, but he didn't let go of it. He also took hold of Hazel's hand grounding himself back to where we were.
Nico looked up briefly to Lady Hestia and nodded and she continued reading.
… "The heart of Tartarus," Percy murmured…
"Oh Gods!" Frank whispered.
Ξ Nico's P.O.V Ξ
I fought down the urge to shadow travel away. Mainly because I knew if that didn't kill me, well, I knew Will would. I still wasn't ready to try it, but I was so ashamed of how terrified I was, all I wanted to do was hide myself away.
Will. Gods he probably thought I was a right freak, panicking over the mention of the heart of Tartarus. Yet he still held my hand and pulled me back from it. It didn't stop me from feeling ashamed.
Hazel's hand squeezed mine like she knew I needed it and I appreciated it, because as much as I didn't want to admit it, I did need it.
"I'm out, I'm okay, I'm safe." I whispered to myself.
Will's hand squeezed mine as I repeated the words that he'd told me to say. Maybe he didn't think I was a such a freak after all.
…it took Annabeth a moment to realise she was looking at an army…
Breathe Nico! You're not going back into that jar. I can't go back into that jar.
My breathing became more rapid as I thought of that prison. I hadn't had time to get more pomegranate seeds, I wouldn't survive this time. I can't go back into that jar.
"Nico, you're okay, you're out, you're safe." Will's voice cut through my thoughts of the jar. "That's it concentrate on my voice," he told me patiently. "You're out, you're safe, you're okay." He squeezed my hand on three times like I'd seen Annabeth and Percy do. I understood it now. Why they did it. I squeezed his hand back three times.
… "The Doors of Death."…
"I'm not in the jar. I'm not in the jar." I whispered.
Will and Hazel squeezed my hands.
"You're out Nico, you're safe." Will's voice told me, and he repeated squeezing my hand three times. I counted each one and squeezed back three times, counting those as well. I was out, I was next to Will, I was safe.
I looked up at Lady Hestia who kept silently asking me if I was okay to continue, I nodded once again. I can get through this. I am safe, I am out, I am okay.
… "What happened to Nyx…?"…
…Apparently even the minions of Night didn't like to cross the Acheron…
"Always doing the impossible" I managed to say at the same time as Thalia. Now we weren't talking about it I was able to steady myself and control my breathing. Thalia smirked at me and I returned it.
…She heard the skittering of a rockslide…to their left…
"What now?!" Rachel demanded, but no-one answered her.
… "Bob?" Annabeth was so happy she actually jumped…
… "Friends!"…
"Yes" Bob!" Piper cheered and the others laughed with her. I managed a week smile. Bob was a good friend.
… "I found you!"…
… "You look like dead people. That is good!"…
Laughter sounded again and Leo cried "I love this guy!" I tried not to roll my eyes. Will squeezed my hand once and grabbed my attention.
"How are you feeling?" He whispered the laughter covering or conversation.
"Better, thank you for y'know..." I said and then squeezed his hand three times.
"Any time Nico." He told me squeezing my hand once more, but he didn't let go and I resisted the urge to smile about that.
Ξ Paul's P.O.V Ξ
I could tell Sally was worried about Nico even though his boyfriend, or at least good friend, I wasn't sure of their relationship, I'd have to ask Percy later, had brought him out of his panic attack.
"He'll be okay, he's strong." I whispered.
"I know but he is, but none of them should have been down there."
"I know." I replied rubbing her back, I could tell she was resisting the urge to go and hug Nico, knowing how much he didn't like contact. Sally had kind of adopted Nico into our family as she did all of the demigods, hunters and oracles that came to our home. Her heart was enormous, and she kept finding space for all of these children who deserved to be loved and who mostly didn't receive it. I was so proud of her.
"I'm sure they'll call for a break after this chapter. They did when Percy and Annabeth had an attack, they will for Nico too. You can check on him then." I said and she smiled at me and nodded. It seemed to settle her for the moment.
... "How did you get here?"...
"Too scary for Titans, but fine for demigods?" Reyna asked sceptically.
"We did keep our eyes closed, and it was terrifying." Annabeth replied.
... "Let me guess," Annabeth said. "You went sideways."...
... "More... diagonal."...
Laughter erupted from the children. I chuckled a little too, I think people forgot how sarcastic Annabeth could be, she also had a wicked sense of humour, and it was nice that despite the seriousness of the situation of where they were, that people were getting to see that side of her. It had been lost for a time when Percy was missing. It was good to see that had come back.
...She was ridiculously glad to have Bob... with them again...
... "We stay together now?" ...
.. "Yes" ...
"Never thought that I'd see the day where Annabeth Chase kissed a Titan." Rachel teased but Annabeth didn't rise to it.
"He's our friend." Annabeth whispered. There was a hint of sadness in her voice. Sally and I already knew that Bob and Damasen were important to them. We were getting to see why now.
... "Time to see if this death mist works."...
...There was no point wondering about that...
...If they were spotted, they were dead...
"Fantastic" Thalia said sarcastically. She was so protective of the people she loved.
... "Doors of Death," She said, "here we come."
I looked over at Nico to see how he was doing. He seemed to be handling things.
"That's the chapter, let's break and have some food." Lady Hestia said.
The demigods needed no encouragement to eat as they raced out of the throne room to eat more food. The only one, who didn't, surprisingly was Percy who came over to talk to us and Annabeth's parents.
"Percy, is everything okay?" Sally asked him.
"Yes mom," he replied, "I was hoping to talk about Annabeth, she didn't get to celebrate her birthday because we were down there and I was hoping that maybe, since you wanted to invite everyone for dinner anyway, that we could turn it into a birthday celebration of sorts?" He asked and then turned to Annabeth's parents and asked, "Maybe you and the twins could come too?"
"I think that's a wonderful idea Percy. I'll start planning while we eat." Sally said. "Please come and bring Bobby and Matthew, it would be lovely to meet them." Sally said to Annabeth's dad.
"Can I invite Grover too?" Percy asked.
"Sure sweetheart." Sally said, it had been a while since we'd seen Grover.
"Thanks mom!" Percy said giving her a quick hug before rushing off to join the other kids.
I realised that Percy had provided Sally with the perfect distraction from the reading. I knew the planning for Annabeth's birthday would go on past the break. Though Percy knew that, he was always looking for ways to stop his mom worrying about him. What better way than having her plan a birthday gathering for her almost daughter-in-law.
As we followed Percy to the dining hall, I had a smile on my face, that boy sure did love his mom.
Ξ
~Author's Note~
Hi all thanks for reading this chapter, I hope you all enjoyed it, please let me know!
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