Chapter 13: Release
The first School is the School of the Olympians. Olympus Academy, which is where a vast majority of our knowledge comes from. Several branches exist across the world, and more pop up as we discover more Enlightened. They all follow the basic Philosophy of Olympus, a philosophy of balance, summarized in the motto we are taught in our first lesson: Balance, Strength, Victory.
Poseidon's Notes, Page 3 on The School of Olympian Hunters
Percy sat in the cafeteria of the Academy wondering where Nico and Bianca were. In his thoughts, he began to think about the strange things that had been happening around him. He had been training with both Luke and Nico for the past week, and while he indeed found himself growing much better at sword fighting, there was still the other issue. His Enlightened powers.
He had seen Nico use shadows, and Luke moving at speeds that was almost impossible to see. He had trained with other Hunters and prospective Hunters too, kids from the House of the Sun that somehow seemed to perceive soundwaves or kids of the House of Fires who could control the flames. Even a few of the House of Harvests had shown Percy some of their Enligthenment as they had healed some of his injuries after his training.
He had learned that other members of the House would help the new Hunters coming in discover their powers, but since Percy was alone and his father was…yeah…it was up to him to discover it.
Deciding that Bianca and Nico would arrive whenever they did, Percy tried to replicate what he had felt in the Arena when he arrived. There was not a lot of people in the cafeteria for some reason, so instead he decided to slightly flare his Enlightenment and closed his eyes, focusing on keeping his emotions and his power in balance. He tried to search for that feeling inside of him, the power, and soon enough he began to feel…things around him. The air seemed sharper, moister; the presence of people around him felt sharper, and soon he began to feel strengthened as he tapped deeper into his power.
Percy's eyes widened. He could feel every single person around him, he knew where they were in relation to him, and while he couldn't feel their Enlightenment if he wasn't searching for the Aura, it still surprised him how he could sense lines to each person around him. What would happen if he pulled those strings, if he really pulled? It was a familiar feeling. Had he—
He felt two more people entering his range, and his head turned to the entrance of the cafeteria to see both Bianca and Nico, eyes cast down.
He let go of the Enlightenment, feeling suddenly tired. He filed in the back of his mind to experiment more with his power as Bianca and Nico sat nearby him.
"Hey where—wait, who died?"
Nico gave him a glare, and even Bianca's eyes hardened, but she simply sighed and leaned into him.
"Charon. He was an old family friend…"
"Oh…I'm sorry for that." Percy said, placing a hand on Bianca's shoulder in an attempt to be supporting, albeit with a bit of hesitation.
"It's not that he died that angers me, it's how he died!" Nico said. "Someone broke into Tartarus…"
"Tarta-what?" Percy asked, and Nico was about to go on his usual rant when Bianca stopped him.
"Each of the great houses has their own territory, both within the Enlightened world and the mortal world. The House of Skies owns air traffic, but within the Enlightened world they own New Rome, a city-state full of enlightened. Thalia's set to inherit it. Your father owns Atlantis and sea traffic, and our father…" Bianca sighed. "Our father owns Underworld. It's a great mass of land where most dead Hunters are buried, but it's also built to serve as the protection of an inescapable prison…at the centre of Underworld there's a great tower called Tartarus, it's a labyrinth within a labyrinth where the most horrible monsters are imprisoned, Hunters who have…gone over…and are too dangerous to be released."
"Why not kill them?"
"It's against the law to kill a prisoner, Monster or not." Bianca said, "Stupid law if you ask me, but apparently we're not savages. So, Tartarus it is for them, right into the slammer."
"And someone broke into it?" Percy asked, not knowing if to be horrified or impressed.
"Breaking into Underworld is not easy." Nico said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Even I cannot get into the inner levels, and the one time I visited Tartarus I thought I was going to go mad before I even arrived. There are two lines of defence of Underworld aside from Underworld itself. The Furies and Charon, the only people who know how to navigate through the corridors of Underworld and Tartarus."
"The furies betrayed father and Charon is dead." Bianca said, growing tense, angry. Percy tentatively moved his hand from her shoulder to her hand, and she gripped his as soon as his hand touched hers. She was deathly cold. "Charon is dead…"
"Was…was he powerful?" Percy asked.
"The most powerful Hunters in Underworld are Father and the Horsemen. Charon was a Horsemen once, one of Father's most trusted and most powerful leutenants, but he was promoted to the post of Jailer of Tartarus as he's one of the few who can completely incapacitate the monsters that are jailed within." Bianca sighed, leaning on Percy.
"He was powerful. Was. Now the Horsemen and Father are the only who stand between Tartarus and the rest of the Enlightened world." Nico looked at Percy, and his stare sent a shiver down his spine. "We might need to leave you, Percy. With father injured, Thanatos is leading the efforts to find those who escaped. He needs help, and Underworld is already in chaos."
"Then…then I'll go with you." Percy said, determined.
"What?" Nico asked, aghast.
"Percy…" Bianca turned to him, "Look, I understand you want to help, and I would like nothing more than to have you, but…"
"It's too dangerous for anyone untrained." Nico said bluntly.
Percy looked at Bianca, but Bianca simply lowered her head and nodded.
"I know I'm not trained and all…" Percy sighed, "But you guys have been my first friends, the first people who have ever helped me and looked at me as something other than a street rat. Thanks to you guys, I have my drug addiction under control. I haven't been tempted to consume thanks to Nico's training and Bianca's distractions. Look, you may want me there or not, but I won't stay here while the only two people who I can call friends risks their lives to protect their family. I know what is life without a family, you don't deserve that…"
Nico stared at him, long and hard through eyes that didn't betray his feelings. Bianca, on the other hand, threw her arms around his neck, pressing her face to the crook of his neck.
"Thank you." Bianca said, "Thank you"
Percy was shocked at the sincerity of her words, and he hugged her back. He saw Nico's eye twitch, but he eventually sighed and slammed his head on the table.
"When you talk like that how can I stay angry…" Nico slammed his head again on the table. "There's too much shit on the plate…Zeus' Masterbolt stolen, Underworld breached…"
"Wait what happened to Zeus?" Percy asked.
"His Symbol of Power, the spear Masterbolt, was stolen early this morning when they received the news about Tartarus." Bianca said, her head on Percy's shoulder. "It's bullshit though, there's only a handful of people who can touch a Symbol of Power, and aside from Posei—SHIT!"
Bianca jumped, causing both Percy and Nico to jump too.
"You cannot go!" Bianca said, her eyes wide.
"Wait, I just thought—"
"No Percy, look." Bianca said, rubbing her face, "There are Nine people who have a symbol of power, Ten if you count Nico's half-symbol. Everyone has an alibi, everyone but Poseidon, which means that Zeus is going to try and spin this to blame Poseidon, which would—"
"—which would give him probable cause to prosecute Percy under Olympian Law for treason and aiding a wanted criminal." Annabeth's voice said as she sat herself in front of Percy and Bianca. Nico turned to her, sending her a raised eyebrow, yet Bianca's eyes narrowed and Percy felt her hand grasping his under the table.
"What do you want, Chase?" Bianca asked coldly.
"I'm here on Chiron's orders. He suspects that Zeus will use the Masterbolt situation and request that Percy be sent on a mission outside Olympus. When he does that—"
"Percy will not be protected by the immunity of Olympus and he would be open to attacks from any of the houses. Fuck!" Bianca swore, she then turned to Annabeth. "And Chiron thinks you can protect him?"
"I'm the only person smart enough to." Annabeth said off handily, "Besides, I know that Athena is on Zeus side. I will be able to see through her plans."
"Odd enough to have you away from mommy's side, Chase." Bianca said.
Annabeth seemed to crack as she glared at Bianca.
"I am my own person, Di Angelo. I may be the daughter of Athena, but she has never controlled what I do. Can you say the same?"
"Why you little—"
"Hey, no fighting!" Percy said as he pulled Bianca down, grasping her hand. He looked at Annabeth, who was trying to hide a smirk, and he sent her a quick glare that seemed to wipe the feature from her face. Instead she looked at him with curiosity.
"Look, I appreciate the concern, but I will be fine." Percy said, "I can take whoever comes."
"No you can't." Nico said.
"No you can't." Annabeth agreed.
Percy turned to Bianca.
"Bianca?"
"It's cold here, isn't it?" She smiled innocently.
"I hate all of you." Percy sighed.
"Look, I think Percy actually has a point. It is not a question if Zeus will figure out the loophole, but with Athena it's an issue of when. If we anticipate the move, we can keep him out of trouble for enough time for Luke to find Masterbolt, clean Poseidon's name, and free Percy from suspicion." Annabeth smiled.
"Of course you have Luke on this, you can't keep him out of any powerplay, can you?" Bianca spat.
"Luke and the Watchers are the best for these types of missions. They move quick and are powerful, would you disagree with me that Luke is the best person to find Zeus' Masterbolt?"
Bianca seemed to not have an answer, for she only glared at Annabeth harder. Percy's arm began to hurt as Bianca grasped his arm harder.
"So what do you suggest?" Nico asked, "That he come with us to Underworld?"
"Exactly." Annabeth smiled. "Underworld is already a difficult place to enter, so Percy being there will only work for our plan to buy time. Besides, with Hades' two children beside him, and me, there won't be a lot of Hunters who would dare attack. It's perfect!"
"Bold of you to assume that you will be allowed in Underworld." Bianca said.
"You don't have a choice. Chiron wants me to have Percy on my sights, it's a Quest and you know I cannot turn away from it. Also, I can be of assistance in Underworld with the threat of Monsters escaping. You need me, and you can't get rid of me. Might as well use me."
Annabeth stood, watching Percy and Bianca with an inquisitive gaze. Percy, for some reason, felt uncomfortable under her gaze.
"I suspect that by tomorrow afternoon the Pantheon would have found the loophole, which means that they will send Percy on whatever B.S. mission they come up with in two days time. We can be gone by tonight and gain an entire day on the Pantheon. Think about it." With that, Annabeth left, leaving behind a confused son of Poseidon, a furious Daughter of Hades, and an indifferent Nico.
"You know," Nico said, "Annabeth is many things, smart, attractive for a girl, and now she's also right. Percy coming with us is the best situation we can hope for."
"Which makes me even more furious." Bianca said, "Why does she have to always be involved! She always ruins everything!"
Bianca stood up, running out of the cafeteria. Percy was about to follow her, but Nico stopped him.
"A word." Nico said to Percy, and Percy turned to the boy who, for the first time, looked absolutely serious. He sat down in front of Nico, trying to keep himself from lowering his gaze under the younger boy's stare.
"My sister likes you, I can see that." Nico said to Percy, who was about to retort but Nico's glare shut him up. "My sister has suffered too much at the hands of stupid girls, and more at the hands of stupid boys. She smiles more with you around, and for that I am grateful. But trust me, Percy, whatever your intentions with my sister are, better figure them out soon and make them clear. I know you liked Annabeth, and I know that finding out that she was with Luke hurt you; but I won't have my sister suffering because you chose her as a rebound.
"If you choose to come with us, you better have made a decision. And whatever you choose, if you hurt my sister, the Pantheon will be the least of your problems. Capisce?"
Percy stared at Nico, who was glaring at him through now bright dark-red eyes. There was no need to flare his power, or to do a show of force, for Percy understood that behind those eyes, there was seven levels of hell waiting to be unleashed.
"Crystal." Percy said, and Nico nodded and stood up.
"Whatever happens, you're a good person. Make sure to not ruin that." Nico began to leave, but before he left Percy's earshot, he simply turned to say a final word. "Library."
As Nico left, Percy recognized that he had told her were Bianca would most likely be, so he made his way through the halls of the Academy towards the great tower Library, one of the few buildings that was not completely underground.
Entering the library, Percy noticed that a few people were sitting, but no Bianca. He recognized Malcom, a kid from the House of Wisdom that always seemed to be looking over fantasy books.
"Hey Malcom," Percy called out to him, "Have you seen Bianca?"
"Oh, hi Percy, uh, I think I saw her going into the private classroom upstairs. She looked rather upset though, I wouldn't bother her."
"Thanks Malcom, and yes, I know she is upset, which is why I have to see her."
"Your funeral." Malcom said, turning back to his novel.
Percy walked up the stairs to the small private classroom, and without knocking he simply entered.
Bianca was sobbing, sitting on the couch on the window that overlooked a rather nice lake in the backyard of the Academy. When Percy entered, she jumped and tried her best to clean her face.
"Oh, Percy, wait don't come in!"
Percy simply closed the door and approached her.
"Mind telling me what has you so hurt?" Percy asked, sitting herself in front of her.
Bianca didn't answer for a moment, but Percy knew where to probe.
"It's Annabeth, isn't she?" Percy asked, and Bianca stiffening was all he needed.
"It's just…you know how I told you that I felt useless? That it looked like all the heirs had something to do? One of the few things that at least I knew was that I had a purpose, that I was the daughter of Hades and therefore Heir to the House of Dead…but Annabeth she's just…she always gets everything she wants! I have to work my ass off to meet my position, and can never really be me because of it! But then comes Annabeth and without even trying takes away everything! She took away my position as Chiron's aid, she took away Thalia, she even took away Luke!"
Tears were streaming down Bianca's face.
"She always gets what she wants. I get nothing." Bianca seemed to shrink onto herself, hugging her legs.
"You liked Luke?" Percy asked, and Bianca nodded.
"Who doesn't? Luke has always been the centre of everything. He's powerful, handsome, witty…he and I were in a relationship once. I knew that Thalia liked him, but for once in my life I just wanted to be selfish, you know? Just take something for myself for once, without politics and reasons behind…Thalia didn't take it well and left me, and then Annabeth came and charmed Luke almost instantly. He…he cheated on me with her, we broke up, and they've been together ever since. Annabeth got Luke and Thalia, I didn't take the breakup well so Chiron chose Annabeth to replace me after one too many mistakes, 'Take a break' he told me, right before he asked Annabeth to aid him…she took everything."
Percy didn't know what to say, so she simply reached for Bianca and hugged her. Bianca tensed, but melted into his chest and began to cry once more.
"S-she e-even took y-you…" Bianca said, her voice muffled with his chest and her tears.
"She didn't." Percy said.
He didn't know much about romance, or about liking someone. All his relationships had been based on need. He had slept with people for drugs, or for a place to stay or even a warm meal. The only real relationship he had had been with Rachel, a girl from his past, and even that had an element of need as Rachel used him as a rebound from a previous relationship.
He liked Annabeth, Percy knew. He maybe still did, but he also liked Bianca, really liked Bianca. Hearing her cries, seeing her pain…it hurt him. He realized then why she had been holding onto him so hard while talking to Annabeth, or why she felt so useless. She had nothing, she was almost like…
"She's like me." Percy thought in realization. Percy had lost everything, and now had nothing to lose, but Bianca had everything to lose, and had also lost everything. Yet that similarity made them the same. Both had a weight on their shoulders, something that they couldn't get rid off and dragged them down more often than not, both had a desire for freedom, at least freedom of choice.
Percy was an addict, a slave to his vices and traumas. Bianca was a slave to herself, her name, and her power.
He grasped Bianca's face, and pushed it up. His lips came down on hers, shocking her, and himself, yet before he could pull back, Bianca's arms reached behind his head and pulled him down.
They kissed, long and sweet. Percy realized that a few tears had begun to fall from his own eyes, and their kissed deepened. Tongues fought, bodies rubbed against each other, and lust began to overtake love.
Bianca pushed him back, looking at him through dark, lustful eyes. Yet there was uncertainty behind them too.
"Don't leave me." Bianca said. "Please…don't leave me, not you."
"I won't leave you, Bianca." Percy said, taking her hand.
Bianca smiled, a beautiful smile, and kissed him once more.
They separated after a few seconds, and Bianca hugged Percy's body. After a few moments enjoying each other, Percy began to chuckle.
"What is it?" Bianca asked.
"Nothing, just Nico. Before I came he said that I needed to figure out my feelings and stuff…almost as if he knew."
Bianca chuckled too.
"Nico has always been able to read between lines. He gave you the 'Don't hurt my sister or else' speech?"
"He did." Percy said, and Bianca laughed. Percy thought it was a melodic sound.
"He has always wanted to say that." Bianca smiled. "So I take it you're coming with us to Underworld?"
"Do I even have a choice?" Percy smiled, "Besides, I've been thinking. Perhaps I can also gain something off this. Think about it, the main reason we decided to leave our plans in the Game of the Seastone Chair was because my name is empty. Taking back Underworld and re-capturing escaped Monsters sounds like a good start to bring weight to my name. That way I won't need to depend on the House of Dead's support, or on the promises the other houses made to my father."
Bianca looked at him for a moment, and Percy was concerned that he had said something wrong.
Bianca chuckled, and her cheeks reddened. She took a step back and hid herself behind her long, dark hair, still chuckling.
"Is—is something wrong?" Percy asked, confused.
"No, its not it's just…" Bianca chuckled louder. "What you said was really…"
"Smart?" Percy tried.
"Attractive." Bianca looked at him between her hair, and heat rose within Percy as he stared at her with what he could only define as desire.
"I will protect her." Percy swore on that moment, seeing her looking at him with that gaze full of pureness and love. "I will protect her, and that smile. I will protect her…"
Their lips met, and for the next few hours, Percy Jackson felt true happiness for the first time in many, many years.