Nice to see no one has lost faith in me. I'm still writing, and I have every intent to keep on writing. The gaps are the work of my job and whatever projects my parents throw at me. But then again, that's what I get for still living with them since I worry about my mom's heart condition and everything. Well, it is what it is. I'll try to not let the time gaps get so long again and write as often as I can. Though I have to say, sometimes, I can't believe how long these gaps end up getting because they don't often feel that long. Irritating how fast time goes by like that. Anyways, here's the next update.
I Have Myself Dreams/They're Two Dreams About Two Girls/They Both Cause Me Pain
(A/N: I have to say, I'm surprised I attempted what I did for the title of the chapter since I'm not a fan of poetry. I guess Rick's Trials of Apollo books are getting to me a little.)
Percy's POV
I hated this. I hated this so much. I was in yet another quest when I should be with my pregnant girlfriend, and I was practically being dragged everywhere I end up at now. It was all a fat load of shit. And the people I was stuck with weren't making it any better either. I hated how I was stuck with them on a train, going wherever the hell it was taking us. Even worse was that I had no way of getting off the train until the train reaches its destination. Not just because I was still recovering from the injuries I endured back at the museum from that general guy, but also because if I tried to jump out in the condition I was in, I would either be in even worse shape, or I'd be as good as dead. All of this going on, when I should be focusing on my girlfriend and my unborn baby. It was just irritating on how cruel the Universe can be for people like me.
"Hey Percy, you good?" Thalia asked as she came over and sat next to me.
"Well aside from the fact that I'm being forced to be apart of yet another quest that I don't want anything to do with, I was severely injured by a fucking psychopath, stuck hanging with people who have been getting on my nerves for the past few months, having no idea how my pregnant girlfriend and unborn baby are doing and left to be worried sick about them while not being able to do anything about it, yeah. I'm fan-fucking-tastic. I'm about as good as anybody can possibly be who ends up being in my position right now." I answered.
"Look Percy, I know things for you have been pretty rough over the past few months, but come on, you can always be so negative like this towards us. No one really appreciating any of your negativity towards them." Thalia remarked.
"I don't care. After how many times I've been let down by you guys, I've pretty much given up on you and decided to not bother to try anymore." I replied.
"Didn't Clarisse used to be a bully to you? With you being her main prey no less even? She was one of your tormentors back at camp. And yet you two end up in a relationship with each other, happily dating, and even getting ready for your future with a baby on the way. You're only being fair to her, more than what you should, I think. But not to the rest of us." Thalia pushed forward.
"Clarisse has made up for mistakes against me. The rest of you haven't." I countered.
"Because you don't give us a chance. Plus, the only reason you're with Clarisse is because she got pregnant from a night of her being drunk and taking you to her bed. Do you really think that you two would even be together if she wasn't carrying your baby in the first place?" Thalia countered.
Even though I wasn't going to show it or any sign of weakness, I knew that from her point of view at least, she was technically right. Would Clarisse and I truly be together if she wasn't carrying my child? I honestly didn't know the answer, and I wasn't too sure if I wanted to know the truth behind the answer to that question. But I'd like to think that we would be together even if she wasn't carrying my child. I mean, Clarisse could've tried to keep her pregnancy a secret from me. She could've just completely shut me out of her life and the life of our child. But she didn't. She came to me right after she found out and she even let me choose if I wanted to be in my child's life or not. That has to say something. Sure, she went back to bullying me after the quest to the Sea of Monsters. But it was different from before the quest. Before the quest, it seemed fully intentional. After the quest though, there were a few times I detected that she wasn't into it like before. I know I could be wrong, but I believe Clarisse truly is a great woman, she's just misunderstood and misjudged just because who she is and who's she the daughter of.
"You and the others don't know her like I do. You don't understand her the way I do." I answered.
Thalia looked like she wanted to continue to argue with me, but I could tell she wasn't able to think of a way to counter my answer. So instead of letting the argument drag on any further, she just sighed and took a big deep breath before replying to what I just said.
"Fine. I can't control how you feel and think about people. So just continue doing what you're doing. Keep letting your feelings drive you forward. It always seems to work out for you in the end anyways." Thalia said.
"You're damn right they do." I remarked.
"Anyways, I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay, also to inform you that we'll be traveling to San Francisco." Thalia said.
"San Francisco. The place where Lady Artemis traveled in search of the monster we're after, and where the Mist is at one of its thickest layers. And it also so dangerous for us half-bloods to venture to since monsters are so attracted to that corner of the country, even though I never really understood why exactly." I commented.
"Monsters are attracted to San Francisco because Titan magic, whatever's left of it at least, still lingers there." Thalia answered.
"From what I've seen and witnessed from Kronos, I'd be surprised if it wasn't getting any stronger, or not get any stronger as the days go by." I commented.
"It's also close to the Mountain of Despair." Thalia added.
"What's the Mountain of Despair?" I asked.
"Ask stupid Zoe, she's the expert." Thalia remarked.
"You two don't like each other, huh?" I stated.
"I have my reasons to not like her. You know kinda like you have your reasons to not like people." Thalia remarked.
"Let me guess, you turned down her offer to join the Hunt and she took personal offense to that." I guessed.
Her eyes got dangerously bright. That was enough to let me know that I guess correctly. It wasn't too hard with how the two of them always seemed to resent each other for a personal reason. With the way she was looking at me, which pretty much matched how I've been looking at her for the most of our conversation, I thought she was going to zap me. With how I was really looking for a way for the pain I was feeling to go away, I almost kinda wished she did, just for the sake of doing me a favor. But instead, she just sighed again.
"Luke, Annabeth, Grover, and I ran into them once, and Zoe tried to convince me to join. She almost did, but, . . ." Thalia started to explain.
"You had no intention to abandon the gang." I finished.
"Yeah, and that lead to her saying that I was stupid, and that Luke was going to let me down." Thalia explained.
"That's the first sensible thing I've heard come from her mouth yet." I commented.
I could tell Thalia had to try everything to not try to kill me after that one.
"He didn't let me down!" Thalis argued.
"Before Zeus turned you into a tree, no. After Zeus turned you into a tree, he did that and much more. He betrayed us all, sided with the Titans, and now he's become Kronos' bitch on a leash." I continued to comment.
"You're making it really hard to not kill you, you know." Thalia said.
"Look Thalia, I don't know what kind of connection you, Annabeth, or Grover had with Luke back then, nor do I really even care. He's now the enemy, and like all other enemies, he needs to be stopped. And like any other villain in his place, the only way to do so is to kill him. You three may not be able to do it, but I will do everything I must to end his miserable little life. And I will do whatever it is I must to those who get in my way. So I'll warn you only once. Don't get in my way to killing Luke." I declared.
Thalia's anger was mostly replaced with shock and disbelief at what I stated. I guess she couldn't be blamed for it. But I was dead serious. I intended to end this war for the sake of keeping my child safe. And I wasn't going let anyone get in my way of it.
"You're such an enigma to me Percy Jackson." Thalia stated.
"Good. Now do me a favor and leave." I replied.
Thalia looked like she wanted to talk a little more, but she seemed to get the message that I didn't want to talk anymore and wasn't going to take a different answer from her. So she just sighed and left without a word. After she left, I just laid in my seat, looking out to the window. I was very tempted to just crash to get some rest and not feel my pain for a little while. But I was afraid of having dreams if I did.
"Don't worry about dreams kid. Dreams like a podcast/Downloading truth in my ears/They tell me cool stuff. Get some sleep kiddo, and I expect some good haikus by the end of your quest." The voice of Apollo said in my head somehow, then I heard what sounded like someone snapping their fingers, and then I suddenly passed out.
-Beginning of Dream-
In my dream, I was somebody else. I was wearing an old-fashioned Greek tunic, which was a little too breezy downstairs, and laced leather sandals. The Nemean Lion's skin was wrapped around my back like a cape, and I was running somewhere, being pulled along by a girl who was tightly gripping my hand.
"Hurry!" The girl said.
It was too dark to see her face clearly, but I could hear the fear in her voice.
"He will find us!" The girl said.
It was nighttime. A million stars blazed above. We were running through tall grass, and the scent of a thousand different flowers made the air intoxicating. It was a beautiful garden, and yet the girl was leading me through it, as if we were about to die.
"I'm not afraid," I tried to tell her.
"You should be!" The girl said, pulling me along.
She had long dark hair braided down her back. Her silk robes glowed faintly in the starlight. We raced up the side of the hill. She pulled me behind a thorn bush and we collapsed, both breathing heavily. I didn't know why the girl was scared. The garden seemed so peaceful. And I felt strong. Stronger than I'd ever felt before.
"There is no need to run. I have bested a thousand monsters with my bare hands." I told her, making my voice sounded deeper and much more confident, like I was Batman or if I was in a Batman suit; because God knows how tight he made that damn thing.
"Not this one, Ladon is too strong. You must go around, up the mountain to my father. It is the only way." The girl said.
The hurt in her voice surprised me. She was really concerned, almost like she cared about me.
"I don't trust your father." I said.
"You should not. You will have to trick him. But you cannot take the prize directly. You will die." The girl stated.
"Then why don't you help me, pretty one?" I chuckled.
"I… I am afraid. Ladon will stop me. My sisters, if they found out, . . . they would disown me." The girl answered.
"Then there's nothing for it." I said, standing up and rubbing my hands together.
"Wait.'" The girl said.
She seemed to be agonizing over a decision. Then, her fingers trembling, she reached up and plucked a long white brooch from her hair.
"If you must fight, take this. My mother, Pleione, gave it to me. She was a daughter of the ocean, and the ocean's power is within it. My immortal power." The girl said right before she breathed on the pin and it glowed faintly in the starlight like polished abalone.
"Take it and make of it a weapon." The girl told me.
"A hairpin? How will this slay Ladon, pretty one?" I laughed.
"It may not, but it is all I can offer, if you insist on being stubborn." The girl admitted.
The girl's voice softened my heart. I reached down and took the hairpin, and as I did, it grew longer and heavier in my hand, until I held a familiar bronze sword.
"Well balanced. Though I usually prefer to use my bare hands. What shall I name this blade?" I asked, admiring the blade in my hand.
"Anaklusmos. The current that takes one by surprise. And before you know it, you have been swept out to sea." the girl said sadly.
Before I could thank her, there was a trampling sound in the grass, a hiss like air escaping a tire.
"Too late! He is here!" The girl said.
-Change of Dream-
Now I appeared as my normal self, and I was back at Camp Half-Blood. Only it looked like it wasn't recently attacked by those Chimeras. And it looked completely empty, like there wasn't anyone else there. I was confused as to what was going on. I just looked around the camp, only to find no one else here over and over again. But when I got to the cabins, I saw a girl at the hearth that was in the middle of the cabins, with her head in her arms and seemed to be crying. And it wasn't just any girl, it was my girl. The pregnant belly gave it away.
"Clarisse!" I said, running towards her.
She looked up shocked and confused, until her eyes landed on me.
"Percy!" Clarisse yelled, getting up and meeting me the rest of the way in a tight embrace.
I lifted her up in my arms and spun around, happy to have her in my arms. When I put her down, Clarisse brought me in for a heated kiss. The kiss went on until we needed to catch our breaths.
"Oh Percy. You're alive." Clarisse said with tears falling from her face still.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What about you? Are you and the baby okay?" I asked.
"We miss you." Clarisse answered.
"I miss you both to." I replied, bringing her back in my embrace.
We just stood there, not saying a single word, but in each other's arms. Me wrapping one arm around her back and the hand of my other arm softly combing my fingers through her hair, and her wrapping her arms around my back and laying her head on my shoulder. It was a moment I didn't want to end.
"Percy, please come back. I need you. Our baby needs you. I can't go on without you." Clarisse said, tightening her hold on me and clenching the back of my shirt in her hands.
"I will, I swear it. I will come back to my girlfriend and child, no matter what." I said, placing my head on hers and bringing her closer to me.
Unfortunately, the dream just had to be ended there.
-End of Dream-
"Percy, wake up. It's time to get going." Grover said, waking me and heading out.
I hated how I was being dragged in this again. But I knew the sooner I get this shit over with, the sooner I get back to Clarisse. Looking at myself, I saw that my wounds had all healed somehow. I didn't feel any pain anymore. Plus, I wasn't shirtless anymore. I had on a Fire From The Gods T-shirt. I suspected that this was the work of Apollo. This band was alright, though it wasn't on my top ten list of bands I liked. I just got up and head out of the train to meet with the other. They were all waiting for me outside the train. Outside the train were snowy mountains dotted with pine trees, the sun rising red between two peaks.
As we ventured forward, I couldn't help but dwell on the two dreams I had. The first one I had was a bit of a mystery to me. But I was certain of a few things. It was a dream of a woman giving someone a sword to a man. The said sword was my own sword, the very sword that I carried Riptide, or as it's known as in the Ancient Greek language, Anaklusmos. Taking out the pen in my pocket and just staring at it as I continued on with the others, I knew perfectly well that it was the exact same sword I saw in my first dream. And while I had no idea who the man was, I was more then certain that the woman was actually Zoe. As for my second dream, it was a little more pleasant than the first, but at the same time, also worse than the first. The good part of the second dream was that if I was right, and I had a strong feeling that I was and that my heart was telling me the truth, Clarisse and my child were still alive and okay. They weren't in any danger and were safe, for now at least. The bad part about the dream though was that it made me long more than before to see her and be back with her and made me hate me being on this quest even more than before, if that was even possible.
It could've been just for the hell of it or Apollo somehow getting deep in my head somehow, but I somehow ended up coming up with a haiku. I couldn't tell if it was a good one or a bad one though, not that it mattered much too me though. Here it is:
I have myself dreams
They're two dreams about two girls
They both cause me pain
I have myself two different dreams. One about Zoe giving me my sword to me, don't really know where that dream meant or came from really. The other about meeting up with my girlfriend for a brief while back at camp. And they both caused me a form of pain. One made me feel a little bad for Zoe and confused me as to what the dream had to do with all of this, which confused me and gave me a headache (the pain of sorrow). The other made me miss my girlfriend and unborn child even more than before and longed to be reunited with them again (the pain of grief).
Apollo better not get any funny ideas!
Clarisse's POV
(the exact same moment Percy wakes up)
I woke to find myself back on my guestroom on Olympus. I looked around, and saw the room looking the same as it was when I entered it. The Olympians got all of us settled into Olympus once news reached them as to what happened at camp. Feeling exhausted from all the stress and sorrow, I just went straight to the bed of the guestroom I was offered to stay in and starred at the ceiling until I fell asleep. I looked the same as I did when I can in the guestroom. But I felt different. The dream I had seemed just a dream, a very good and pleasant dream at that. But it felt more real than that. I even felt as if Percy was somehow just recently with me. While placing my fingers on my life for a quick second, I felt my lips tingle from Percy kissing me. I could even taste him in my mouth. I felt his touches all over my hair as if he was here with me, and I felt his warmth on my body as if he was holding me. Percy wasn't here with me, but I felt his presence all over me as if he was here with me. It was as if my dream wasn't really just a dream and was real. I wished it was real. While the dream did offer me some comfort in my grief, it wasn't good enough for me. I needed Percy with me. I needed him by my side and I needed his love. Just needing him was enough to make the tears begin to form in my eyes again. I turned my head out to the window and looked out into the evening sky. And I brought my hands to both my pregnant belly and the necklace Percy gave me that I keep around my neck. Percy, you swore you'd come back to me no matter what. I prayed and hoped deeply that you'd be able to keep your promise.
Hope you all liked the chapter. Thanks for reading and I'll update as soon as I can. And again, I'm not likely going to do the entire quests of the books. Not intentionally, at least. But I'll get in whatever I can and keep bringing my story to life.
