Heheheheh. You guys are gonna want to murder me. Poor, poor poor Percy. Also- she's a loyal girl, no kisses for Frank and Hazel! You'll understand what I mean at the end of the chapter. And I appreciate all of the understanding- hopefully it won't take long for everything to fully settle down again but what can ya do?
Replies:
Undeath9087: Octavian's loving it right up until the situation's sorted and then he's just all pissed off 'cause of it. Like, there he was thinking it was going to turn into a fight but nope, not yet!
The Official Clarisse: Thank you. It knocked me flat for a good few days and my dad's still not great but it's getting there.
Weirdhead: Yep, poor Frank, but hey he has great friends.
Guest: Thank you I really do appreciate that. You get the answer to one of your questions in this chapter! And it is an emotional one I must say- sorry not sorry! Hahahahah.
PJ Fan 285: Don't worry I'm not gonna push myself too far honestly.
Azuazu: Hm, I can consider it, I know what part I'd post if I did- would other people be interested in seeing another snippet of my KC au? It would be a cute scene I promise. I would say I'd just start posting but I only have 12 full chaps written so far- haven't been writing much over the last few days for obvious reasons lol.
Guest: She'll know her heritage earlier don't worry. She'll know everything before Sadie or Carter do- which makes things very fun, just imagine nine year old Percy with a twelve year old Sadie and fourteen year old Carter, and Sadie and Carter are just there like, 'We don't know what's going on ask her!' and pointing at the nine year old.

Percy would have never thought that she'd be grateful for the medicinal tea that Fleecy had given her, but she was. It had eased the feverish sick feeling she'd been suffering from. She felt horrible- utterly useless. Her friends had needed her to hold it together and she'd fallen apart.

It just all felt so wrong- seeing creatures that she was sure were good on the enemies side.

Percy didn't want to dwell on that- hopefully her memories would be back soon and she could understand why it had felt so wrong- and hopefully she didn't have to go anywhere near Polybotes ever again- she was sure the closeness to him was what had made her get so sick so suddenly.

And she was painfully grateful for Hazels support- the other girl had just looked sad when Percy's attempt to Iris Message her girlfriends had failed.

Though at least Hazel had managed to contact Reyna- Percy got the feeling that the other girl was not going to forgive them for that easily given the circumstances.

Then of course Iris had come to the back and told them that Frank was fighting off the monsters on his own. They'd had to rush out- though not before Iris had shoved a bag stuffed full of vitamin-enriched pastries, dried fruit leather, macrobiotic beef jerky, and a few crystals for good luck. Then she'd shoved it at Percy saying

"Here, you'll need this. Oh, that looks good." The purse was rainbow tie-dyed with a peace symbol stitched in wooden beads and the slogan Hug the Whole World. Percy wished it said Hug the Commode. She felt like the bag was a comment on her massive, incredible uselessness.

When they'd reached Frank he'd already dealt with them- he didn't seem willing to explain how he'd done it- Percy got the funny feeling that it was something to do with the spear.

At least he'd also gotten information from Iris- they knew where they needed to head next now, and once they got back to the boat Percy set them moving towards Portland- hopefully the blind man Frank wanted them to see would actually be able to help them.

They were all sat down on the comfortable blue benches, Percy gazing out to the sea as they sailed through the strong currents of the northern California coast- the wind might be cold but it helped clear her head.

She was quiet as Frank and Hazel traded stories about the events at Rainbow Organic Foods. Frank explained about the blind seer Phineas in Portland, and how Iris had said that he might be able to tell them where to find Thanatos.

When he was done, Hazel told Frank about their time with Fleecy.

"So this Iris-message worked?" Frank asked.

Hazel gave Percy a sympathetic look. She didn't mention her failure to contact Annabeth and Rachel.

"I got in touch with Reyna," she said. "You're supposed to throw a coin into a rainbow and say this incantation, like O Iris, goddess of the rainbow, accept my offering.
Except Fleecy kind of changed it. She gave us her—what did she call it—her direct number? So I had to say, O Fleecy, do me a solid. Show Reyna at Camp Jupiter. I felt kind of stupid, but it worked. Reyna's image appeared in the rainbow, like in a two-way video call. She was in the baths. Scared her out of her mind."

"That I would've paid to see," Frank said. "I mean—her expression. Not, you know, the baths."

"Frank!" Hazel fanned her face like she needed air. It was an old-fashioned gesture, but cute, somehow. "Anyway, we told Reyna about the army, but like Percy said, she pretty much already knew. It doesn't change anything. She's doing what she can to shore up the defences. Unless we unleash Death, and get back with the eagle—"

"The camp can't stand against that army," Frank finished. "Not without help."

There was a long silence after that, and Percy pressed her lips together, a pained look on her face as she reached up to her necklace, playing with the silver ring Reyna had given her. They had to try and get Reyna's sisters help- assuming Percy even got close enough to show her the ring.

She was drawn out of her thoughts by Hazel's voice.

"Percy. I- while you went to the boat I talked to Frank about- my secret. But- we need to talk to you too."

"What?" Percy turned her head to look at Hazel, frowning, "Sorry I- I'm here. What is it?" she tilted her head, "It's about where Bianca found you right?"

"Yes." Hazel swallowed hard, her face pale, "She found me in Asphodel Percy. I- I was born in 1928. I died, and I was in Asphodel for years before Bianca found me."

"Oh shit." Percy's eyes widened, "Hazel... I had no idea- is that- the black outs-" and Hazel's shoulders seemed to slump with a release of tension.

"They're my memories. Of- of my past." Hazel looked pale, and Percy shifted, wrapping an arm around the younger girls shoulder.

"That sucks. Is it because you died?"

"I-" Hazel took a deep breath, "That's what Bianca thought at first but now she's not so sure."

"Why?"

"Because of you." Hazel closed her eyes- and Percy felt her stomach sinking.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"When I talked to Bianca after you two left-" Hazel couldn't meet Percy's gaze, "she told me you were like me- it wasn't hard to figure out what she meant-"

"I-" Percy felt cold suddenly, "Are you saying-"

"She told me that she was ordered to bring you back to life. You- you were in Elysium."

"Oh gods." Frank's voice was about as stunned as Percy felt, and Percy opened and closed her mouth a few times, it was hard to take in what Hazel was trying to tell her, hard to understand it.

"I was dead?" she whispered the words, "I-" she remembered the look on Bianca's face when she'd asked about her family, and she slipped her hand into her pocket, curling her fingers around the photo. "I died? I was- I was in Elysium."

"Yeah." Hazel's smile was pained, "Bianca told me that you died a hero."

Percy swallowed hard- she wanted to deny it, to argue, tell Hazel that it wasn't possible. But- nothing Hazel was saying sounded wrong. "Did she- did she tell you how?"

"No." Hazel shook her head, "But- the- the story she told about her brother- she said that he found a new family-"

"Me." Percy breathed the word, tugging the photo out of her pocket quickly and unfolding it, laying it flat on the table with shaking hands, her gaze instantly moving towards the paler boy in the aviator jacket- she could see a resemblance to Bianca now that she was looking for it, brushing her fingers over his face in the picture, "I- my brother." her voice was strained, "Gods the looks you were giving me- you figured that out-"

"What does this mean though?" Frank's voice was worried- "We- you're both- but Thanatos-"

"Bianca hopes that Thanatos will let us be." Hazel's voice was nervous." I don't know if he will or not but-"

"If we free him we might die." Percy didn't lift her gaze from the picture, and then she folded it up with shaking hands and stood up quickly, sliding herself out from the benches and the table, her heart pounding in her chest as she did. "I- I didn't- Elysium is the happy place why-" she covered her mouth with her hand, "Why would I even-" she felt her eyes filling with tears as she stood with her back to her friends. "None of it makes sense. How did I die? Why-" she whirled around to look at them again- and Hazel and Frank were watching her with pitying gazes- she hated that. She hated that so much.

"Who am I?" her voice was loud, demanding- not quite shouting but close. "What the fuck sort of life have I lived? I destroyed Reyna's home-"

"What?" Frank's question was ignored because Percy kept talking.

"Apparently I have a son of Pluto as a baby brother- and- and Leo too- and- and Gaea said that- that I was Kro-Saturn's- she said that he called me his wife and Polybotes said I was his leftovers! Who am I?"

"Percy-" Hazel shook her head, standing up, "We'll help you figure it out-"

"What if Octavian is right?" Percy gasped the words, "What if- what if it's some trick? What if I remember and I'm- I don't-" she was shaking her head, "I don't think I'm on their side but- why is everything so confusing why can't I remember?" she let out a choked sob, pushing her hair out of her face and curling her fingers into it, tugging at it in her frustration. "What if I hurt you guys I don't want to hurt anyone-"

"Percy!" Frank was on his feet then, surging towards her and grabbing her arms, gripping them firmly, "Percy stop! I've known you for a couple of days and I already know you well enough to know that you'd never work for people like that-"

"Frank's right." Hazel was suddenly by her side too. "If Gaea came to you in a dream like that then she was trying to manipulate you- this is what she wants-"

"I just want to remember." Percy let out a choked sob, "I want to understand. I- the thought of being married to Saturn makes my stomach churn but- but I don't think it- I think- it feels familiar and I hate it-"

"We will figure it out." Frank was pulling Percy into a warm comforting hug as Percy let out a sob, "If- if you did marry him, if it wasn't just something she said to mess with you then there's got to be more to it right Hazel?"

"Of course." Hazel nodded, reaching out to lay a hand on Percy's shoulder. "It's going to be okay. I promise you Percy."

"I'm just tired." Percy's voice was suddenly small. And she felt small. She felt weak and broken. "I'm so tired and I wish it was all over. I- I'm sick of people- of-" she shook her head, "I- I can't remember it but- I don't- Polybotes, Alcyoneus too I think. I think it's because of whatever happened with Saturn and it feels like the past is repeating itself and that makes me- I just wish- I mean. Elysium must have been nice right?"

"Yeah." Hazel gave Percy a sad smile, "But Bianca said you agreed to come back because you knew it was the right thing to do. Because you care about people. And- she said it was Juno who took your memories. That means you probably haven't been sent from Gaea." the younger girl pointed out logically.

"I-" Percy swallowed hard, "Right- I-" she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself- and gods but she couldn't keep doing this. Her friends needed her to be strong.

As if reading her mind Frank spoke up, "You've been through a lot Percy." his voice was somehow soothing, "Cut yourself some slack- you too Hazel. Both of you- everything you guys are going through." he loosened his grip on Percy and she pulled back slightly to look at her friends- both of whom were smiling warmly at her. "I can't imagine how either of you are keeping going."

"Because we have to." Hazel stated softly- and Percy met the younger girls eyes and nodded.

"Hazel is right." she took a deep breath, standing straighter, "We have to keep going. All three of us. You're going through a lot too Frank. With your dad and all."

Frank flushed, "It's not the same-"

"Maybe not." Percy gave a small shrug, "I dunno, but, well-" she gave a wry smile, "It can't be easy either way."

"We'll get through it together." Hazel's voice was firm, "All three of us. Right. We'll go to Alaska, find the Eagle, stop Alcyoneus and save Camp Jupiter together."

"And who knows." Percy managed a grin, "Maybe I'll get to smack Octavian over the head again-"

"Now that is an appealing thought." Frank let out a laugh, "I wish I knew what happened to him afterwards- he looked so scared. I could almost kiss whoever did it."

"Honestly he had it coming so I'd join you." Hazel nodded, "He was so clearly the one who hurt Gwen-"

"No offence you guys-" Percy gave a sly grin, "You're both awesome but I believe I have two lovely girlfriends so I'd rather you didn't-"

"You-" Frank's eyes widened before he let out a loud laugh. "You are amazing!"

"Why thank you." Percy gave a mock bow, and it felt as if a weight was being lifted from her shoulders.

Sure she didn't know what was going to happen, she didn't know what her past included, but if there was one thing she did know it was that she wouldn't be doing it alone.