Hey guys, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, there'll be a second update today as I probably won't be updating tomorrow- I will try but there's a chance I won't manage. Anyway, please review, I always enjoy reading them. Also, Rachel is a badass and I love her.
Also, please do remember that in this chapter Percy's still very traumatised, and it's not gonna be easy for her to admit what happened, and she will have some wildly swinging emotions because it's very fresh.
Percy really should have known what Luke's way would be- it included him grabbing them both by the backs of their shirts and half dragging them up the steps leading to the top of the amphitheatre at the back, like he was carrying puppies by the scruff of the neck- and as they reached the top Percy could hear Chiron speaking.
"As you all know there has been no news from the gods since Percy and Leo were caught in the eruption of Mount St Helens-" and his voice was thick with grief. "I have asked their mother to do the honors- and she's asked for the help of Annabeth."
And as they came up to the top of the Ampitheatre Percy could look down in the the centre- no one had seen them yet because everyone was staring at the pyre, watching as Sally and Annabeth set the shrouds on fire. Percy was surprised to see that Rachel was stood next to Annabeth holding her hand, clearly comforting her as they did it- and they were beautiful shrouds- Percy's was a long green silk one embroidered with a trident- and Leo's was a beautiful red orange color that looked almost like flames embroidered with the hammer and anvil of Hephaestus.
Percy felt frozen as she watched the shrouds burn and there was a long moment of silence- and then Sally opened her mouth to say something- but she didn't, because Leo blurted out, "Oh wow crashing our funerals is so weird-" And all around the Amphitheatre people twisted to look and their were gasps and shrieks- and Luke grinned slightly, almost lifting them both off their feet.
"Special delivery, arrived just today. Two idiots." He was treating them like they were unruly puppies- and then Sally was gasping and running as Luke released them both and Percy and Leo bolted down the steps of the amphitheatre- and Annabeth was moving too, rushing forward as chaos broke out.
Sally reached them first- throwing her arms around them both, hugging them close, tears pouring down her cheeks, "Gods you two what happened to you?"
"It's a real long story." Leo grinned, and Sally released them, a wide teary smile on her lips.
"Oh I am so glad to see you both-"
"Leo-" Charles was suddenly grabbing Leo and yanking him into a tight hug- and then Annabeth was there and she was throwing her arms around Percy, sobbing as she hugged her, and Percy hugged her back tightly, pressing her face into the comfortingly familiar soft curls.
"Where were you I- I thought-" And Rachel was suddenly there too.
"Percy- oh thank the gods-"
"Rachel- oh this is perfect-"
"Everyone-" Chiron's voice cut over the chaos that was bubbling around them, "Quiet. Please. Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more private, shall we? The rest of you, back to your normal activities!"
And without waiting for people to protest Percy and Leo were being yanked up and slung onto his back as easily as he'd lift a kitten. "Annabeth, Sally, Luke, Rachel and Thalia, you can meet us at the Big House."
Then he was galloping off towards the white house, and he didn't let them off his back until they were inside, and then he let them off of his back, looking at them both carefully.
"Where were you?"
"Uh- I was on an island." Leo blushed slightly, "With Calypso-"
Chiron nodded, "That would explain how you survived-" his gaze swung to Percy, "And you Percy?"
Percy hesitated, and Leo reached out quickly, grabbing her hand and squeezing it reassuringly.
"I was in Atlantis." Percy said after a long moment- ignoring the sidelong look that Leo shot her. "I got really, really badly burned up but I was lucky- I landed in the water and Triton was nearby, some fish alerted him to my sudden arrival and he found me- took me back to Atlantis. They weren't sure I'd wake up because of how badly I was hurt."
Chiron's eyes narrowed slightly, "Lord Poseidon didn't send word-"
"Like I said, they weren't sure I'd wake up." Percy resisted the urge to rub her wrist- that would just be painful. "And dad didn't want to send word until they were sure either way." she could see from the look in Chiron's eyes that he didn't fully believe her- and Percy felt her stomach twisting uncomfortably but- the thought of having to explain it all again made her stomach feel heavy and uncomfortable. She was just so tired, so drained even after sleeping for so long.
"Percy-" Chiron's voice was heavy, "If your father had you for that long and you'd started to recover then you'd have woken up before now-"
"There is nothing to discus."
"Persephone-"
"What do you want me to say Chiron?" Percy demanded, "I- there's nothing to discus okay I'm not- I was in Atlantis and now I'm not. I'm here now and I'm fine that's what matters!"
"Leo. Can you give Percy and I some privacy?"
"I-" Leo was glancing between them frantically, his eyes wide, "I-"
"It's fine." Percy gritted out, looking away. "There's nothing to talk about." she blinked rapidly to clear her stinging eyes as Leo almost bolted for the door, and it shut behind him with a click that almost made Percy flinch- it reminded her of the noise the door made every time Alabaster or Drew locked it behind them.
Once they were along there was a long moment of silence before Chiron spoke again, "Persephone. Child I'm not trying to upset you-"
"There's nothing to discuss." Percy's voice was barely more than a whisper, "I got hurt- really, really hurt okay. But I'm- I'm fine now." she stared at the wall behind Chiron's head.
"You cannot lie to me Percy." Chiron's voice was heavy. "I know you well enough- and I know that you're not a naturally angry person. Your reaction to being asked tells me that there's more to your story- something you clearly don't want to talk about."
"Then why are you asking?" Percy's voice was tight. "Why are you asking if I clearly don't want to talk about it- not that there is anything to talk about."
"Because I am concerned. I believe that you were in Atlantis- but I don't believe Lord Poseidon would have waited this long to at least tell us he had you- a week perhaps but no longer than that, even if he wasn't sure if you'd survive."
"Well he didn't."
"Persephone-" Chiron closed his eyes, "I understand that wherever you were might not have been pleasa-"
"Might not have been pleasant." Percy's voice was monotone. "Might not have been pleasant." She shook her head, closing her eyes. "I don't want to talk about this I don't- there's other more important things we could be talking about right now!"
"Percy-" Chiron sighed heavily, "Just answer my question, and answer it truthfully and I will leave the subject. Were you in Atlantis the entire two weeks you were gone? Just answer my question and I won't push it anymore- but I need to know that much at the very least."
Percy opened her eyes and turned her head to look at Chiron- staring at him for a long moment before she spoke.
"Triton found me sinking nearly a week ago." she admitted. "He rushed me to Atlantis and dad saved my life but they weren't sure if I'd wake up or not so they didn't want to contact anyone until they knew how much damage had been done."
Chiron let out a breath, "I will not push you to tell me what happened. But I needed you to at least be honest with me and tell me that something happened."
"I don't want to talk about it." Percy's voice was small. "What happened- I don't." she swallowed hard, "I've already talked with my dad and Amphitrite I'm- I'm not just-" she was cut off by a knock on the door and Chiron sighed.
"I would like to talk to you properly about this once this quest is over."
"We'll see." Percy looked away as Chiron then called out.
"Come in." and the door was almost flung open and Annabeth burst in, launching herself at Percy and throwing her arms around her tightly.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again Seaweed brain!" And Percy hugged Annabeth back tightly, taking comfort in the familiar warmth- the familiar smell- somehow Annabeth always seemed to smell like old books and sunshine- if that even made sense, but she did. And it was something Percy had come to associate with happiness and safety-"
"Hey! Don't hog, I need to strangle hug my best friend!" that came from Rachel, who barged in just after Annabeth, with Sally and Thalia close behind them.
"Rachel." Percy beamed at the red haired girl, who instead of waiting for Annabeth to move away, just darted forward and wrapped her arms around both of them.
"The strangle part can wait until after." Annabeth's voice was shaky but joking. "Gods Seaweed brain you scared us-"
"How are you even here Rache?"
"I had a dream- I knew what happened even before Annabeth showed up and told your mom."
"Rachel told me she saw you and Leo getting blown out of a volcano and then it was on the news." Sally's voice was shaky, "We all thought the worse." and she wrapped her arm around Leo's shoulder when he darted back into the room, with Luke a step behind him. "We thought you were both gone-"
"I am so sorry Percy- I swear I didn't see Leo following me-"
"It's fine." Percy gave a tight smile, "Leo's a pain in the butt- it's not your fault."
"Hey I resent that-"
"Leo, I love you but shut up." Percy shot him a light grin and Leo grinned back.
"Gods I've missed you guys." Luke spoke up, a smile on his lips as Thalia swung an arm over his shoulder.
"It's a good thing you guys are back- this guy's literally not stopped moping at all since we heard you went and blew yourself up-"
"At least we went up in style." Percy gave a wry smile as Rachel and Annabeth pulled away slightly, though Annabeth kept one arm wrapped protectively around her waist and Rachel kept a hand on Percy's shoulder
"Not funny." Rachel slapped her shoulder, "You scared the crap into me. Seriously I woke up screaming- I was shaking by the time I reached your house."
"I'm sorry Rache." Percy gave the red head an apologetic smile, "I really am sorry that I scared you guys- I'm fine. Really. I was pretty beat up from it but Triton and my dad rescued me-"
"I've never been more grateful to your father in my life." Sally breathed out the words, "Honestly Percy you need to stop scaring us- and you too Leo. Don't think we've forgotten you-"
"Eh, I was fine. Percy was sleeping with the fishes while I relaxed on an island with a beautiful lady-" he winked and Sally raised an eyebrow as Thalia laughed.
"Oh yeah right-"
"No, no he was." Percy grinned slightly, "I saw her, very pretty," and Leo flushed with pride as Thalia blinked.
"Does that mean that you'll stop flirting with everyone-"
"I'm afraid so- a terrible loss for the ladies around here I know but-"
"No, no." Luke held up his hands, "Truly I'm sure they'll recover-"
"As I was saying-" Leo poked his tongue out, "My heart belongs with Calypso."
"Leo- honey-"
"Don't worry mom." Leo smiled at Sally, "I'm not gonna pine away. I'm gonna rescue her. I don't know how but after this is over- the war and all, I'm gonna go back there somehow and find her."
Sally blinked, looking worried for a long moment before she sighed.
"Well, I suppose if anyone could do it it's you- but you still have to do your school work-"
"Yes mom." Leo rolled his eyes and grinned. "I'll keep my grades up."
"Good." Sally ruffled Leo's hair. "Gods I have to admit I wasn't expecting the funeral to go quite like that-"
"How do you think I felt." Luke snorted, "I was sat on the beach and suddenly I had Percy and Leo there rushing at me."
"Truly traumatic." Percy snickered. "Much more traumatic than blowing up a volcano-"
"Don't joke about that." Annabeth shifted, resting her head on Percy's shoulder, "What happened to your hair by the way, did it get burned?"
"Yeah, something like that." Percy reached up to touch her hair, brushing her fingers over it gently. "I kinda like it though."
"You look cute." Rachel declared.
"She's right." Annabeth piped up, "So cute." she poked Percy's shoulder. "Though it'll be weird not having to constantly blow it out of my face when we cuddle during movie nights."
Chiron coughed at that, "As much as I wish I could allow you all to relax, I feel the need to point out that the situation is still rather worrying. We still have no way of knowing if Alabaster has Ariadne's string or not- which means your quest is not yet over."