Chapter 7: A feast with the Dead.
Amphitrite is a great woman, but she's not for me. I do not wish to marry her for two reasons. One, I love another, and I have already given her my vow that I shall never turn my back on her. And even if I did, there's a second reason why I cannot marry her.
Poseidon's Notes, Page 1.
Percy awoke from his sleep early in the morning, a ray of sunshine hitting him straight in the face.
He stretched his arms and wondered where he was for a moment. Then the memories returned. He was in long island, only a few minutes away from Manhattan, where she used to live.
"I need something…" Percy sighed, cursing his sobriety. He would find a way to escape into the city for an hour or two, maybe he could call some of his old contacts? He would worry about that later. The voices hadn't bothered him last night, and for the first time in a long time he had slept peacefully. Strange.
He got up, noticing that he was naked. Sighing he moved around the room, suddenly realizing that he had no clothes. Just as he thought that, he noted that on one of the closets he could make out several pairs of the same grey-ish uniform that Annabeth had given him. Thinking about Annabeth made him both smile and uneasy.
There was…something about her that seemed to call to him. Somehow, that calling seemed to ease his mind, pushing the voices away. When Annabeth was around, the voices were gone completely. Now they were simply muted, he could still hear them faintly, but when Annabeth was around, they were just…gone. He wondered why that was.
He walked towards a door that he didn't notice the night before, realizing it was a large bathroom with both a tub and a shower. It was decorated like the rest of the room, with depictions of sea creatures and corals. Even some small horse-like fish decorated the walls, adding a slight variety to the place.
Percy jumped in the tub, the water refreshing and invigorating him. He felt stronger, ready. He mostly relaxed, knowing that he was for the first time in a long time, safe. He still had the habit of looking around for escape ways every time he entered a room, and he already had found a few good hiding places within his room when he was inspecting it if he ever needed to hide drugs or money.
After a while he got out of the tub, drying himself with a towel, and proceeded to dress himself in that horrible uniform. Honestly, who wore a uniform these days? When he was fighting Clarisse, it had been hard to move in, and he ended up ripping the shirt and pants when he had lost control. He would need to ask Annabeth or Chiron about getting new clothes. There was no way he was wearing that silly armor to train.
He exited the room, noticing that Annabeth was walking down the hallway to his room.
"Oh, Percy!" she said, "I had thought I'd need to wake you up."
"Hey Annabeth." Percy smiled, "I'm alright for now. I had an early sleep and woke up an hour ago. Might need your help to wake up other days though…" he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'll remember." She smiled. "Come, lets head to the cafeteria. Breakfast is supposed to be good on Wednesdays."
"Hey Annabeth, I noticed out the window that we were in Long Island…" Percy said.
"Oh," she jumped, "Yes."
"But we were in Chicago when you picked me up…" Percy questioned.
"You're wondering how we got here?" Annabeth smirked. "Its very interesting how that works. Iris, the leader of the minor House of Rainbows, has this special ability to transport things between rainbows. With a crafty little trick from the House of Sleep and the House of Magics, when combined their power, they managed to find a way to teleport people all around the country, and even the world."
"Wait, how does that work?" Percy asked, trying to follow what Annabeth was saying.
"Well, the main problem that the House of Rainbows was finding when trying to teleport a Hunter to a different location is that their bodies were too solid. You can send a projection only, that's how we send messages across long distances, however an entire person is complicated. Now, the House of Sleep found out that when a person is asleep, because their brain activity decreases, there is a moment where your body is very susceptible to spells. REM sleep I think they called it. Either way, when you reach that point, your unconscious defences are lowered, and some forms of powers can affect you. So, the House of Magic devised a spell to make your body less solid for a few moments, allowing you to pass through a Rainbow. It's a rather crafty little trick."
"So, you literally created a Transporter." Percy whistled in awe.
"A what?" Annabeth turned to him, her eyes questioningly.
"You know, a Transporter?" Percy said, "From Star Trek? You know what, never mind."
"If you say so." Annabeth shrugged.
They reached the cafeteria, noticing several long tables holding hundreds of kids.
"People eat by House." Annabeth said. Percy noticed one that was perhaps the fullest, having kids even sitting on the floor around the table.
"What's wrong with that one?" he pointed towards the table in question. "Are they giving free samples or something?"
"Oh, that's the House of Thieves, although their official name is The House of the Lost. They take in all those who have not been claimed by a House yet, plus their own. Because most of the kids we get are either in abusive families or living in the streets, they tend to be rather quick with their hands. A habit that I'm sure you understand. Either way, like I said last night, try and get close to a few of them, but be careful of the Stoll brothers. They are trouble."
Percy nodded, looking longingly at the table. The kids, some as young as ten and others as old as eighteen or nineteen, seemed to be having fun. He felt a sense of loss, knowing that perhaps he would've fitted with them as they had suffered some of the same hardships as himself. Maybe in another life?
"So where should I eat? I don't see any open table." Percy said.
"Well…" Annabeth shifted uncomfortably. "That table over there is reserved for Jason, Nico, Thalia and Bianca. Because they are heirs of great houses and all that, it would be unfair to give them an entire table of their own to each. So the three Great Houses tend to sit there."
"Jason, as in the jock who wants nothing but to pummel me into the ground, and Thalia as in the girl that I casually beat up yesterday? And wait, let me guess, that's Nico sitting there who I also beat up and next to him I suppose that's his sister by the way she's glaring at me. Is it too late to turn back?"
"Um…yes." Annabeth had the gall to at least look sheepish.
"Bring it on." Percy sighed, "Thanks. I'll see you around."
He made his way to the table, noticing that Nico was sitting with a rather pretty dark-haired girl. She had tan skin, with a slight splash of freckles on her cheeks and nose, brown hair, and intense brown eyes. She talked amicably with Nico, and by the similarities Percy saw, he could tell she was Bianca, Nico's sister and…was it Heir of Hades? Damn, he needed to learn the whole hierarchy of this place.
"Um…" he approached them, noticing that Nico's face went rather pale and Bianca narrowed her eyes. "Can I sit here? I…Annabeth told me that Heirs tend to share a table, and there's no other empty table…" Percy rubbed the back of his neck.
"Su—" Nico was cut off by Bianca.
"Why would I let you sit here after what you did to my brother and Thalia?" she said dangerously. Percy felt something strange, like a pressure building within him, and he saw a dark silver outline to her figure.
"Bianca…" Nico said.
"No. Let me do the talking." She said towards her brother, turning back to Percy. "Well?"
"Um…" Percy sighed and turned towards Nico. "I'm sorry…I wasn't in control and…well…yeah…" Percy had never been good with apologizes. Gabe usually made him apologize for dumb things, and if he refused, he would get punished severely.
Bianca made a move to shift, but Percy read it wrongly and flinched. His heart began to race, his mind clearing. The rush pushing forward for a single second.
Something shifted in the air. Bianca looked taken aback, Nico, if possible, looked even more pale, and Percy noticed that the room was completely quiet.
He saw something in Bianca's eyes. Something unidentifiable, and…was that pity?
"It's alright Percy." Nico said, "You didn't hurt me much, in fact I think you unconsciously pulled your punches. Thalia is also alright, although you did go a little harder on her. It was impressive though; I don't know many people who can break Thalia's unbreakable defence."
"Yeah well…I've been told I'm rather good at breaking things." He had a flash from Gabe, but it was cut off by Nico's smirk. It was rather strange seeing him smile, even if it was a half-smile; Percy pegged him for the sullen type.
"You made Nico smile…" Bianca said.
"I'm…sorry?" Percy said.
"No, no. I mean…I've been trying for half an hour to make him smile, and you just come along…ah you know what? I give up!" she then noticed that everyone else was still staring at them, and she scowled. "What are y'all looking at? Get back to eating or imma' shove the food down those gaping mouths of yours!"
There was a quick shuffling of plates and forks, and everyone went back to chatting, muttering, and whispering.
Bianca simply sighed and looked back at Percy.
"I don't like that you hurt my brother." Bianca said, "In fact, if you were any other person, I would've turned you into a Halloween decoration by now. But I guess you did apologize to Nico, and you were also not in control…" she sighed. "I'm sorry. Sit down, I want to introduce myself properly."
Percy sat down next to Nico, who shifted a little away from him.
"My name is Bianca Di Angelo, Heiress to the House of the Dead, firstborn of Hades." She extended a hand.
Percy grabbed her hand hesitatingly. "Percy Jackson." He said. He tried to let go of her hand, but she grabbed him more firmly.
"Now that won't do." She smiled, "You're an heir, and not only that, an Heir to a Great House. You must learn to introduce yourself properly, it is rather important for us to maintain a status. You introduce yourself with your name, your title, and who your father or mother is. Try."
"Um…" he hesitated for a moment but decided to humour her. "My name is Percy Jackson, Heir to the House of Seas and…"
"And?" Bianca asked.
"…son of Poseidon…." He said in a darker voice. Bianca's hand loosened for a moment, and Percy took that opportunity to pull his hand quickly.
Bianca looked at him inquisitively.
"I take it you and your father don't get along…?" she asked.
"I hate the bastard. He abandoned my mother and I and…never mind. Chiron explained to me that I cannot simply wiggle out of my position, so I guess I will have to just take it and be happy about it. But don't ask me to pretend to like the bastard." Percy said darkly.
Bianca and Nico stared at him, Bianca once again showing pity for him.
"Is that why you flinch?" Bianca asked softly. Percy flinched again and glared at Bianca. "I'm sorry." She simply said. And returned to her food.
Percy was about to ask how to get food, but in a flash of flames a plate of omelettes, a mug of coffee, and a bowl of fruits appeared in front of him. He felt the rush flare within him at the sudden appearance of the food, but he calmed himself when he realized what it was. He was about to eat when Bianca interrupted him again.
"You really need to work on your Enlightenment." She said between bites.
"My what?" Percy asked.
"Your Enlightenment, your power. When you panic it leaks out, and its rather discomforting." She said, "Not in a bad way, but…let's just say is loud. Really loud. Some of us who can sense it feel like a sudden tidal wave crashing onto us…it's not pleasant."
"I'm sorry." Percy said.
"Its alright." Bianca said, "You're not the first person who has to learn how to control his or her emotions. That's how you control your Enlightenment."
"You mean its linked to my emotions?" Percy asked while eating.
"Yes." Bianca said, "Imagine it like…how was it that Chiron described it, Nico?"
"Like a water balloon." Nico said quietly between bites. "The power is the water within, and the balloon is your emotions. They encapsulate your power, protect it. When you draw from it, you're also straining those emotional walls, and the more you draw the thinner the walls are, and therefore the easier it is to lose yourself in emotion. That's dangerous, it means the walls are broken. Your power is totally unleashed, but without a wall to stop it…" he left the sentence hanging, but Percy picked up on what he was trying to say.
"What happened yesterday happens…" he simply said. Nico nodded.
"Don't look sullen." Bianca said while smiling, "You're not the first hunter who loses control in a fight. It has happened to all of us more than once, it's just that…"
"I hurt people." Percy said, "It's alright. I'm sorry."
"No, I don't mean that, I mean…" Bianca seemed to hesitate, and Percy knew that what was going to come out of her mouth was not going to be a pleasant breakfast chat. "Do you even know who your father was, Percy?"
"A prick. That's all I need to know." He said.
"Oh, so you don't want to know why people here will try to kill you?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
Percy nearly spat the coffee he was drinking.
"Kill me?" Percy asked, "What the hell did my old man do?!"
"Poseidon's official title is The Earthshaker." Bianca said, "And he gets that title for a reason. Not many people have fought him seriously and come out alive. In fact, the only person who has is Zeus…and he carries a reminder of that fight from eyebrow to cheek."
"What?" Percy asked.
Bianca sighed as she began to explain.
"Do you know the whole political drama behind the Seastone Chair?" Bianca asked, and Percy shook his head. "Well, your grandfather, Pontus, wanted to marry your father to Lady Amphitrite, the heiress of one of your houses most loyal vassals. Long story short, your father didn't like that much, and he decided to run away with the woman he loved, presumably your mother. Just as he was about to leave, however, he was confronted by our father, Hades, and Zeus. The three of them had been really close while they had lived here in Olympus as it is customary of the Heirs of the Great Houses, and Zeus and Hades tried to tell Poseidon that defying his father's wishes, as Lord of the Seastone Chair, was going against the Pantheon itself and could cause him several problems, the least of them being banished from Olympus.
"They fought. Father doesn't like to talk about it but…it was bad. I know that father suffers from chronical pain and had to have a piece of his lung removed after the battle, and Zeus well…Zeus had never lost to anyone. Father says that Zeus was, at least officially, stronger than Poseidon, but he was unconscious and does not remember the end of their battle. All they know is that when they found them, Father was gravely injured and Zeus had lost an eye and had a broken arm and leg, Poseidon was nowhere to be seen."
"So, you're telling me that people hate my father for that, and they want to take it out on me?" Percy asked.
"Well…you see, the Pantheon is not exactly fair. Zeus, after that battle, became bitter and rather entitled. Don't tell Thalia or Jason I said that. Either way, he has the official title of Leader of the Pantheon as the strongest Hunter out of the strongest Hunters. King of the gods, type of thing. He uses this authority sometimes to do things that benefit him, and he sort of intimidated more than one person on the Pantheon and got them to agree with him that Poseidon should be apprehended and tried for his actions against the Pantheon. Others simply dislike Poseidon him for going against tradition, and I'm sure Ares is only jealous that Poseidon's just more powerful.
"Many want to be on Zeus' good side, he is incredibly powerful, even without his eye. So, they will do whatever to please him. Bootlickers like the House of Wisdom or The House of Love, or those who constantly want to prove themselves like The House of the Moon or The House of Harvests, will have a special interest in you. They will surely try to capture you and deliver you to Zeus, or even kill you to force your father out of hiding. Politics is rather a tricky thing."
"And don't you hate me? I mean, it sounds like you out of all people should hate me more than anyone and should be jumping at the opportunity to capture me. With what my Father did to yours and all…" Percy said suspiciously. Nico narrowed his eyes at him, but Bianca only raised an eyebrow.
"If I did, I wouldn't be talking to you right now." She said, "Don't you think?"
"…that's fair." Percy said.
"Besides, our father is not the vindictive type. Oh, he can hold grudges like himself, the old hard-headed bastard, but he doesn't hold what happened against your father. He would kill me if he heard me saying this, but he has always regretted what happened between them. He only went through with it because he thought it to be the best option, but when he saw the fire Poseidon held for your mother…well, our father's not the emotional type, and he grew jealous that your father could express himself so openly. He said that he has spent the last twenty years paying for the mistake of betraying his friend, and encouraged us that if we saw him again, we should try and help him however he needs. I suppose that also falls to you, so you can consider us…allies, if you may."
Percy stared at Bianca for a long moment, and Bianca stared back. They seemed to share a moment of understanding. Percy could see her as an ally, a friend when he had none. He considered Annabeth a friend too, but, did she? Was she simply helping him because that was her job? He didn't feel that way with Bianca. She was nice and seemed to be open to talk. She was also another Heir, and so they shared similar responsibilities. Perhaps she could help him, he felt that Jason would not be so friendly towards him.
"Sure." Percy said, and gave Bianca a small smile. She blushed lightly and smiled back. He noticed Nico giving him a glare, and Percy kept his eyes on his food the rest of the time on the table.
As he was about to leave, he felt rough hands grabbing him and pulling him up. He panicked, almost freeing the rush, but he managed to keep his cool. He turned around to face a furious Clarisse, her face slightly bruised and one of her arms heavily bandaged.
"Morning…" Percy said, and Clarisse if possible, seemed to grow even angrier.
"You." Clarisse said, "My father has heard of what you did, you cheater." She spat the word with venom, "From this day onwards consider yourself an enemy of the House of War. You are lucky there are rules to this place, else I would have beaten you up right here and now. I also heard that Zeus is furious to know your existence, but because of his own rules he cannot harm you so long you stay here. But that doesn't mean other can't touch you during training. You should be very careful from now on, Prissy."
Percy knew this was a test. He had faced down bullies his entire life and had even bowed down more than once. No more, Percy was no longer the pushover he had been while living in the streets, while living under Gabe. He was a Hunter, whatever that meant. He had been pushed into a world that he didn't want to be in, but he would damn himself if he ran away like a coward.
He closed his eyes, seeking for the familiar feelings that came with the rush. He felt it then, anger, hatred, tempest. An ocean begging to be released, a storm with the power to shake the very earth. He drew it forward, almost loosing himself to the darkness, but he managed to hold on, albeit barely.
This was a show of strength, so he would push.
He opened his eyes, and Clarisse flinched. Percy didn't see it, but Bianca and Nico and everyone else did. His eyes glowed like they had in the arena, not sea green, but stormy emerald. He could feel heat radiating off him, tendrils of energy looking for a victim that they found in Clarisse.
"Bold words coming from a girl who already lost once, don't you think?" Percy said, "I wonder who the person is who should be careful. In my book, we're one to null, and I'm winning. I'd reconsider that offer of enmity, Clarisse. While not right now, you will find that the House of Seas could be a powerful ally in the future." He was bluffing of course, he knew not anything about the politics of the Hunters, not what it meant to be part of the House of the Seas, but he felt…right saying those words, and from Clarisse's expression he knew he had hit the nail on the head.
"You're just an untrained brat!" Clarisse spat once more.
"Not for long." Percy said, and he took a step forward. Clarisse immediately stepped back, showing weakness and therefore loosing once more to him. She could either start a fight, something that she knew she would end up losing, even if she won against Percy, or she could step back and sacrifice her pride. She chose the second, as she stared at him once more with so much hatred Percy had to stop himself from flinching.
"Mark my words, Jackson," she spat his name with venom, "I will not forget this."
"Good, that means you won't be stupid." Percy said, and he turned around, closing his eyes once more and pushing the rush back. He sat down, noticing that Bianca was giving him an approving look. Even Nico seemed in awe of what he had done.
The cafeteria immediately burst into whispers, some staring between Percy and Clarisse with fear and apprehension.
Bianca, on the other hand, was visibly vibrating in her seat.
"You alright, Bianca?" Percy asked, "You look like an old Nokia."
"A what?" Nico asked, and Percy turned around with his mouth agape at the young boy. He didn't get a word out, however, as Bianca burst into laughter.
"That—" She said between breaths, "Was the best thing I've seen in the ten years I've been here!" She laughed again.
"It was rather dangerous though." Nico said, "Antagonizing the House of War is not wise. They have the best fighters, and if it comes to it, I'd rather have them watching my back than fearing they might stab me in it."
"Percy handled it perfectly thought." She said, wiping a tear of her eye, "You need to practice more on the delivery, and you released too much Enlightenment, but for a hot-head like Clarisse it helped."
"What do you mean?" Percy asked.
"'You will find that the House of Seas could be a powerful ally in the future…'" Bianca said in her best Percy-voice. "Although bold words to say, it won't work if you want to negotiate or terrorize other houses. The House of War is not the most politically savvy, they merely value strength, and as you are quite powerful those words made sense to them. But others, like the House of Wisdom or the House of the Moon, look for more. They know you have nothing to offer, and therefore a phrase like that won't work on them as they cannot see gaining anything but an overpriced bodyguard from you."
"Damn…" Percy said. He had hoped that would at least give him some breathing space. His entire political knowledge consisted of watching too many tv-shows in the orphanage and reading a few loose books or newspapers. He had thought that would be something wise to say.
"Don't be sad." Bianca said, "Didn't you hear what I said first? It was a good first attempt, but you're no politician yet. That's where I come in. I can give you a few pointers, and if you pay attention, we'll make a politician out of you yet."
"Aaaand that's my queue." Nico said. Standing up and shaking a few breadcrumbs of his uniform. "I hate politics. I'm more of a fighting type of guy, I don't do well with words. If you want pointers with swords or other weapons, I'm your guy since Jason doesn't seem to like you very much. But if you want to hide behind desks and papers—"
"Hey!" Bianca said.
"Exactly." Nico said. "With that, I bid you addio" Nico gave a little bow, and he promptly turned into a shadow and left.
"That boy." Bianca said exasperatedly, "If something happened to me, he would need to take over the responsibility of heir. It's not good that he disregards politics like this…"
"Hey, you'll be alright." Percy said, recalling something he read from somewhere. "Nico may be the sword, but you are his shield. Without you he would be exposed."
Bianca thought about what Percy had said for a moment, and she gave him a smile.
"You're right. Thanks Percy." She said, "Now, I think Annabeth might die from exhaustion over there. She seems to want to talk to you."
Percy turned, and saw Annabeth awkwardly waiting for him by the door. His heart gave a jump and he smiled.
"Thanks for everything, Bianca." Percy said, "I'll take you up on your offer to learn politics and all that."
"Good." She said, "Meet me tonight in the library, and do try to keep out of trouble. At least until you can defend yourself without your fists."
"Will do." Percy said, standing up and running towards Annabeth.
Bianca followed him with her eyes, noticing the bright aura that seemed to emanate from Percy when he approached her.
"Oh…" she thought, noticing the bright smile on Percy's face. "Oh Percy…I hope it doesn't hurt you when you find out…although by the way you look at her, I fear it may already be too late."