It'd been three months since the Trojan Sea Monster. Percy still trained with Triton every day, inviting Reyna along with him for the ride. He often found time for himself, either trying to work with the tattoo, talk to this person in his head, or figure out the bracelets.
The damned bracelets. They'd made him angry at first, reminding him of his dad, but over time, they'd started to feel restrictive, like they limited how strong Percy could get. They just stuck around his wrists, almost like handcuffs. He'd told Reyna about his problem over breakfast one day, and she'd laughed at him, mocking his metaphorical handcuffs. He tried everything. He even asked Triton to try one day, but not even Triton could make them budge.
On another note, Percy had learned to completely utilized the darkness, or void energy as the voice called it, when he'd managed to summon the tattoo. He figured that harming himself did summon it very consistently, but he almost felt reliant on that method to do it, which annoyed him. He shrugged it off. He had to do what he had to do to win.
X
Percy, Reyna, Jason and his new friend Piper, a daughter of Venus, were all on a picnic in the Field of Mars, and Percy felt like it was time.
"Guys?" Percy started, and all 3 looked at him. "I want to show you something." He stood, brushing some grass off his shorts. "I wanted to learn to control this before I turned sixteen." He raised his hand to his mouth, biting into the piece of flesh right below his thumb, hard enough until blood started to drool out.
"What in Pluto's name Percy…" Reyna said, looking horrified, until he raised his other hand, where the darkness was starting to show.
"I learned that if I am harmed, it summons itself, and as long as I remain active or it finds a need to heal something somewhere on my body, it won't go away." He said, watching the black flame dance and crawl up his arm, feel it across his chest, and see it protrude from his right sleeve.
"That's like, the least sanitized or healthy way to do that, man." Jason said quietly. Percy stretched an arm out towards the open field, where the darkness danced up his forearm and onto his fingertips. His open hand, palm up, pointed out towards the empty field, before he closed his fist, and rocks started to come to him. Small rocks, large rocks, boulders, all started flying to them.
"Jupiter's balls, Percy!" Reyna growled, but before they reached them, Percy's hand opened, and they stopped.
"It has the power over every single element, somehow." He started, and his hang closed once again. When it opened, a flame stood in the center of his palm, resting. "I- I've tried to use other ways to really summon it, but it doesn't work." He turned back to them; his eyes watery.
"Percy?" Jason asked, removing his arm from around Piper, walking to him. Percy sniffled, and wiped his eyes.
"Sorry. This sixteen stuff really has me worried for us. I don't want to lose any of you guys, and I'll do anything I can to prevent that." He whispered, and Jason hugged him.
"We'll be right by your side. I promise you that."
X
Percy hated being woken up in his sleep. Especially for things that didn't matter. He minded less tonight, though. Reyna woke him up because and emergency senate meeting was called. She told him it was nearly six-A.M., so not at a horrific hour. He got up, brushed his teeth, threw on his clothes and walked out. Reyna waited for him.
"You look handsome."
"Not as pretty as you." He whispered into her ear, before giving her a sneaky kiss on the cheek.
"Stop." She said with a smile. "I don't want anyone to see."
"Reyna, we're going to have to tell people eventually. Jason and Piper are basically already public." He said, and Reyna rolled her eyes.
"They got caught almost fucking in the public showers the other day. Doesn't get more 'public' than that." Percy belly laughed, before walking to the senate house.
X
"Olympus has requested our assistance." Praetor Julia said, standing before the senate. "They have sent a report. The Titan Atlas has captured Lady Diana on Mount Othrys, and they request we send a team, led by Perseus Jackson, to rescue her." All eyes shot to Percy. "Legionnaire Jackson?" Julia asked. Percy stood.
"Am I allowed to take whoever this time?" he said with a smirk. Julia chuckled.
"Yes."
"I'll take Legionnaires Grace & Arellano." Percy said firmly, to no protest.
"It's settled. They'll set for Mount Othrys at their ready."
X
The journey sucked, per usual. Percy was just itching to fight. The thought of fighting another Titan made Percy want to jump, scream and dance. They sat around a campfire, eating hot dogs they'd prepacked.
"Percy?" Jason started. Percy's eyebrow raised to him. "Have you solved your bracelets yet?" Jason asked, and Percy shook his head.
"No, but if you're up for the task, give it a crack." Jason stood, walking around the fire to Percy, who held his wrist out. Jason tried, but to no avail. They didn't move.
"What the hell, dude." He growled, trying again. Percy shrugged.
"I've looked everywhere, asked anyone I've came across. Nothing." Reyna peeked up.
"Can I try?" Percy shrugged.
"Why not?" he offered her his wrist. She grabbed it, her slender, cold hands comforting him. She wrapped her fingers around the sides, and with all her might, pulled. To the surprise of the three of them, the bracelet had moved.
"Wha…" Percy said, dumbfounded. Reyna tried again, but it scraped against Percy's skin, who grimaced in pain. Reyna stopped.
"Sorry." She whispered, and Percy smiled at her.
"Don't be. It's improvement." He said, looking down at the bracelet. There was a clear tan line, from his normal tan skin to the two-inch wide piece of flesh that was as raw as freshly cut meat. He rubbed it, frowning at the feeling.
X
Mount Othrys was cloudy and unstable as the three trekked up the trail. When they reached the top, Percy was awestruck. A great green, nature-woven gate awaited them.
"The garden of the Hesperides." Percy whispered. The three went through, where before them stood a group, who were looking ahead of themselves, backs turned to the three. Percy turned to Reyna and Jason, and gave them a 'hush' sign, which was met with nods. They stalked forward, and Reyna took the lead.
"Surrender yourselves in the name of the Twelfth Legion!" She called, and the group turned. Percy summoned his trident. The girl in the middle held up her hand, signaling for her group not to fire.
"We are not thy enemies, Romans. Identify yourself." She spoke smoothly, and Reyna took another step.
"My name is Reyna Ramirez-Arellano, daughter of Bellona, centurion of the First Cohort, and beside me are Perseus Jackson, son of Neptune, and Jason Grace, son of Jupiter, Centurion of the fifth. If you are allies, identify yourselves."
"Grace?" the girl with spiky hair whispered, but Percy caught it.
"My name is Zoe Nightshade, Lieutenant of Artemis, I was in her service when the Twelfth was formed. Those behind me are Phoebe, a fellow Hunter, Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, and Nico Di Angelo, a son of Hades. State your business." Percy gulped. Three children of the big three, on top of him.
"We are on a mission designated by Olympus themselves to assist in the rescuing of Lady Artemis. We understand she is captured by Atlas." Reyna said, and Zoe hissed. "Why do you use the names of the Greek gods, Lieutenant?"
"The Olympians play a dangerous game, uniting us. Now is not the time to explain, daughter of Bellona. We must move."
"How can we know to trust you?" Reyna said, and Zoe stiffened.
"As a member of the hunt, we pride ourselves on honesty and keeping our word. You have our promise." She motioned to her and the other hunter, "to do as we say, and work together for a common goal." Reyna looked at Percy and Jason, who shrugged.
"If they turn on us, I've got us in a fight." Jason whispered. Reyna nodded.
"So be it." The group ahead of them walked forward, but one of them stood back. The same girl who whispered Jason's last name.
"Thalia!" Zoe snapped, and the demigod followed behind quickly. They walked forward into a large garden, where a tree in the center donned,
"The golden apples of immortality." Percy whispered. The Zoe girl stepped forward, motioning the group to walk around the garden, where Percy saw a large gate on the other side. He knew what awaited them.
"Ladon! Awake!" the garden rumbled, and Percy's eyes widened.
"Time to go!" He shouted, and the group took off towards the gate. Percy strayed, with Ladon distracted, managed to cut off an apple from the tree and store it into his backpack.
toot my horn in the reviews