The Darkness Within the Sea

by GallifreyanDemigoddess

Persephone Jackson, the two-times Heroine of Olympus, was not recovering well after the war(s) and Tartarus. She moves to a small town in Virginia with her family, hoping to have a normal life. There was only one problem: Mystic Falls was a monster-infected town. There, as new friendships are formed, she explores the darkness within the sea (within herself) in an attempt to heal.

7. Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson & the Olympians nor Vampire Diaries.

English is not my native language, so I'm deeply sorry for any mistakes I might have.

(All comments are answered via private message, but since these two are on guest...)

Guest #1: I cannot begin to say how much I loved this review, but I'll try. Okay, who am I kidding? I simply loved it too much! It really made me laugh, so thank you very much. I loved the small interaction between Hermes and Apollo, and the part with Zeus. Really, I loved it. Thank you so much. I'm very happy and flattered that you believe I'm talented, it means a lot to me. Also, thank you a lot for the advice you gave me, I really needed it. I try to improve my English as most as I can, but sometimes it all gets mixed together. Thankfully, I entered an advanced English course in my school, which I hope will help me more. I know! I'm comma-obsessed, I think I use them way too much. Thank you again for your kind words and your advice, it really made my day. Thank you! 3 And don't worry about that, I get you, most of the time I'm too lazy to log in, too.

Guest #2: Exactly, it's supposed to smell divine and alluring, but it will have severe consequences if drank by anyone un-godly. Your request will be considered, because I absolutely adore Nico.

Guest #3: I know I have grammar errors, I'm working on them.

Guest #4: I know! Elena and the "gang" believe themselves to be heroes yet refuse to see how selfish they actually are and how much they kill. Well, as for Percy and Apollo, we'll just have to wait and see.

...

Chapter 7

...

It was known to almost everyone that the daughter of Poseidon had diverse copying mechanisms. For example, she would snap at anyone if she was scared, and when she was stressed she usually over-analysed the importance of things.

And if she was both scared and stressed, it was a complete nightmare. She turned into a machine, working on almost anything that would give her a distraction.

Two weeks after her arrival in Mystic Falls, she started studying like there was no tomorrow. At first, her parents thought she was simply taking her time and worrying over her future. But as time went by, and she drowned herself in her text-books and her homework, they quickly grew worried.

"Percy, sweetheart, are you even sleeping?" Paul had seen her one night, sustaining herself on coffee and nutrition bars before carrying on reading.

"Of course I am." She wasn't.

"I think you need to take a break," Sally said firmly. "This past weeks you've barely been out of your room, I wouldn't even see you if it wasn't for you being hungry and coming down to eat. Please, Percy, dear, this isn't healthy."

"Are you seriously scolding me for studying?" Percy blinked.

"What you're doing isn't studying, Percy. You're obsessing over it-" Paul frowned. "Is there something you'd like to tell us?"

Percy felt like choking. Did they know...?

"We haven't seen you this focused on something since the First War. You're not just studying; you're obsessing over it. And that-that's not healthy."

She wanted to defend herself, to say that it was a lie. But it wasn't. The young demigoddess wasn't actually obsessing over studying, she just found in that the distraction she needed. It had been a rough couple of weeks, and she just wanted to ignore everything.

And if she had to drown herself in notebooks and old books to detach herself, then she would.

"Is this about Camp?" Paul asked gently. "Or any other demigod-related problem?"

Sally nodded. "I know you promised us to stay out of trouble until next year, but we also understand that it's your duty to take care of things like that, things that go beyond our comprehension and beyond us. You can go take care of those things, we understand. And we'll be here, waiting for you."

Percy had a very unpleasant lump stuck in her throat. They were so destroyed those months she was gone...she wrecked them, she hurt them...And yet there they were! Saying all those nice things and simply understanding that sometimes she had to choose her duty as a demigod over everything else.

But never over her own family.

Her small mortal family meant more to her than anything else. Her mother and stepfather...they were all she had for a long time. It was the only thing that she was sure she'd always have.

But she was a demigod. Poseidon's daughter. Half-mortal, half-goddess. As much as it was a complete pain in the ass, she was part of the Olympian family. It was eons and eons of bloodline she couldn't simply ignore. And believe it or not, some parts of her divine family were so messed up she wished she could forget discovering them.

But they were her family too. Gods, titans, the giants...everyone and everything was involved somehow. Messed up and dysfunctional. But family nonetheless.

It was often about choosing what part of her family she wanted to be loyal to.

She could be loyal to her mortal family, the one that was always there for her and that wanted what was best for her. Or she could be loyal to her divine family, the family that often cared more about themselves than about her own safety.

But she started to find out she couldn't be loyal to both at the same time.

However, not every part of her other side of the family was completely damaged.

Annabeth Chase, Nico di Angelo, Jason Grace, Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang, Piper McLean, Leo Valdez, Clarisse La Rue, Travis and Connor Stoll, Will Solace...all those campers in both Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter were her family too.

And she loved them.

She could never choose between them. It always tore her apart. She wanted to be loyal to the promises she made to her parents, but there was also the bigger problem there; being a demigod was never easy.

Blood was thicker than water. - Even more when it was golden ichor instead of blood what tied them together.

"We know you hate breaking promises," Paul added. "But we also know some things are more important than us."

Percy wanted to wail, to scream that nothing was more important than them, that she could never break another promise ever again.

But Kronos' golden eyes held her in place; she remembered the horrible glittering eyes that watched her every night. His words, always so taunting. His trick of stopping time...Everything that only seemed to be getting worse as time went by.

She promised her parents that she wouldn't disappear again, she promised she'd stay alive.

But she was starting to wonder if it would be best for her to go back to Camp Half-Blood.

She didn't like the idea of leaving them. Much less the idea of admitting she might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or "post-Tartarus syndrome". But it was easier to think that than to believe her hallucinations were more than that, and that Kronos was indeed regenerating.

It was easier to swallow her pride and admit that she was sick. At least it was something she could fix. But the thought of Kronos coming back...

She couldn't- wouldn't- go through another war.

It wasn't only Sally and Paul she promised to stay out of trouble, it was also Annabeth. The blonde demigoddess had been reluctant to leave Percy's side, as they had plans to spend their senior year together in New York, but when the issue with her cousin resurfaced...

She went willingly, yes. It was her family, after all. But she couldn't leave without making Percy promise not to get herself killed while she was gone.

...

"You're not getting away from me, remember?" Percy had said softly. "Not again. I'm not going anywhere."

Annabeth hugged her. "But you have to promise me you won't get involved in another prophecy while I'm gone. If you get hurt or die while I'm not with you...I'll personally kick your ass-"

"You know you can't kick me if I die, right?" Percy smirked at her.

"Smart-ass," Annabeth blew a raspberry at her. Then she sobered. "Promise me. Promise me you won't die. If you do...I-I can't follow you there."

Percy drew her into another hug. They'd gone through so much together...being separated again felt like a cruel joke. The daughter of Wisdom was leaving for Boston, and the daughter of the Sea to Virginia. It wasn't supposed to be like that, it was...it was...

"It's unfair," Annabeth huffed. "We were supposed to be together."

"And we will be," Percy said, voice full of confidence. "After you find your cousin, we can be together. I mean, we won't be together in New York as we planned, but I'm sure your father wouldn't mind you...you know..."

Annabeth suddenly smirked. "Are you asking me to move with you to Virginia?"

Percy's cheeks went red, a flustered look on her eyes that made her best friend chuckle. Annabeth tried not to look so smug at how easily flustered her friend was. Percy grinned sheepishly. "Well, yeah."

"I'll see what we can do about that," The blonde girl said, eyes full of mirth. "And before you ask me: no. You cannot know what I'm talking about just yet. Stay alive until I come back, and if you do...then I'll tell you."

Percy tried to look angry, but it was completely halfhearted. Annabeth's words gave her the motivation to stay alive until she came back. Her friend always used that tactic, but she learned that, in the end, the wait was completely worth it.

"Okay, deal."

...

If she moved back to Camp...it would be admitting she can't handle herself, admitting that she's sick, that she's unstable and that needs help.

She hesitated. Either way, she was going to lose. If she told Chiron of her hallucinations it would either be marked as PTSD, or her worst nightmares could come true and it would turn out to be real.

Percy would lose. Big deal. So she thought...that it was better to be in the dark, even if it was only for a little while.

"I don't break promises," Percy managed to say. "I won't, not again."

"Dear-" Sally started, sharing a look with Paul.

"I swear nothing's wrong," Percy added as an afterthought. "I just have a lot in mind, you know? New Rome University is very important to me."

"We know. But we thought you were granted a full scholarship and admission with all the benefits-"

"Yes, but they're still requiring me to pass all my high school courses and score well on the SAT. Not to mention I'm still currently playing catch up with all I missed last semester. And I have to pass the DSTOMP."

Sally and Paul shared a confused look. "DSTOMP?"

"An exam for Roman demigods," Percy frowned. "The Demigod Standard Test of Mad Powers."

"But you're not a Roman demigod," Paul pointed out. "You're Greek."

Her sea-green eyes roamed over the SPQR tattoo on her arm. "Technically, yes. But I'm glad to be accepted in their College. Besides, since our last, um, colossal thing together, there's been an unity between Romans and Greeks."

The Athena Parthenos united them, or as Percy liked to think, Nico and Reyna did. Without their efforts, it wouldn't have been possible to succes, they would've perished in the war, fighting against one another.

Sally's eyes roamed through her tattoo too. "I still do not like it."

"I do," Percy smiled sheepishly. "It's fierce yet cute, like me. Besides, I always wanted a trident tattoo. And it's not like I agreed to it, it was forced upon me."

Paul frowned. "Forced upon you?"

"Long story. For the Romans it's what for us Greeks this necklace is," She touched the beaded necklace around her neck. "It symbolizes our achievements."

"But it had to be a tattoo," Sally sighed in despair. "I was very happy with it only being a necklace."

"I agree," Paul said. "I like tattoos, but I believe she's too young to have one."

And just like that, the topic was forgotten completely.

They believed her very elaborated way of hiding the truth without actually lying. She had to study to take those tests for entering College, but she wasn't really worried about that. She knew she could do it, she had Annabeth to help her. She was only using it as an excuse to stay awake all night.

She turned into a professional liar, it came as easily as breathing now.

Hermes would be so proud of her.

"Talking about that, is there any news?" Sally asked, as if just remembering to. Percy felt another lump in her throat, this time one bigger and heavier. "From Annabeth, I mean."

Percy relaxed slightly. "Oh, no. Um, not since last week. She's supposed to arrive here in Virginia this week, but I don't know exactly when. A complication surged and she had to postpone the trip to Boston for a couple of days."

"A complication?"

"Family problems, I think," Percy shrugged. "Anyways, I'm going upstairs."

She started to walk away, taking a bag of cookies from the kitchen before continuing. She could feel the stare of her parents on her back, watching her intently. It made her feel uncomfortable and naked, as if they could read her. As if they knew she was lying.

But they probably couldn't know that.

She forced herself to think they were oblivious. It was easier to think that than to affront the thought that they might know the truth.

"Take a break from studying, Percy," Paul advised gently. "Don't exceed yourself that much, it's not healthy. Remember we're going out later."

For a moment she was confused, but then she remembered they were going to the Mystic Falls Historical Society Volunteer Day. She wasn't sure what exactly that was, but Paul had volunteered them to help.

Percy nodded, "Okay, sure."

But as she reached her room and locked herself there, she couldn't find anything to distract herself with. Wanting to take a break as her parents advised her to, she started to move around her room, distractedly looking for something to do.

She found herself by the window, watching the Salvatore's house. With a frown at her own actions, she tugged the curtains down and moved away.

Mason Lockwood was a werewolf. That much she managed to discover, thanks to another dream she had. The details were a little fuzzy, but she could make out most of it.

Mason was chained to a chair, Damon Salvatore taunting him, mentioning what he was, and the herb that could hurt him. And then Damon ripping his heart out.

She wasn't sure if it already happened, or if it would happen eventually. It was fuzzy, way too fuzzy, which made her believe it still had not happened.

She couldn't find it in herself to do anything about it, if it indeed was something that would happen in the near future. Mason was a monster. A werewolf, and there had always been a feud between vampires and werewolves. It had nothing to do with her, a demigoddess.

Besides, why would she stop him from killing Mason? It would be one less monster to worry about.

What worried her was the other Lockwood; Tyler.

He was still human. But one little push, one little mistake and he would become a werewolf too. The least Percy wanted was another monster roaming Mystic Falls.

She wanted to protect him, to prevent him from becoming a monster when he was still so human.

On other notes, school was just the same, with the exception that she ignored the vampire, doppelgänger and witch there, not seeing any relevance in them for her to bother herself with. They exchanged threats and marked down a small treaty of peace.

She knew they weren't happy with it, and that they still were searching for what she was. But in reality, she could care less. She was so scared of her latest hallucinations of Kronos that she couldn't really get herself to care about them.

However, she had been keeping a record of the citizens in Mystic Falls, and felt rather smug after noticing none of them had killed anyone else in the small amount of time she had been there. They were actually refraining themselves from killing.

They listened to her threat and believed her when she said that she'd kill them if they touched another mortal.

Good.

All was going well, which was usually a sign that something would go wrong in a matter of short time. Her luck was like that. The Fates loved making her suffer. She was sure they were up in Olympus- or wherever the Fates were- laughing loudly at everything that happened to her.

She could almost picture them, the three old ladies gathered around in Olympus Throne Room, sneering along with Zeus and Ares and every other god that despised her as they watched her life.

The young demigoddess was just so filled with positivism.

A voice whistled. "Jesus, girl. I know your father is Poseidon but you have to be so salty and bitter all the time?"

At the voice, Percy froze.

She turned, movements fast and wild. In front of her, a hologram fluttered. It wasn't that she was startled to receive a message in that way, because it had happened before. But it was more of who was in the hologram, looking impish as usual with his dark wispy hair, his mischievous grin, and his diminutive stature.

Leo Valdez, looking very much alive and healthy. His jeans, blue work shirt, and tool belt were speckled with machine oil. But he looked alive.

"Leo?" Percy gasped

The son of Hephaestus blinked, a small smirk appearing on his lips. "I mean, I don't know if you're currently salty but as you always seem to be...I thought it was the proper greeting." He scratched his neck, his smirk changing to a sheepish smile.

"Asshole," Percy whispered, forgetting for a moment that since it was a message he couldn't actually hear her. "How are you...you're alive?"

It was impossible. Both Nico and Hazel had felt his death. They saw his dragon explode in the air with him; he sacrificed himself for them! No one could cheat death like that!

Leo spread his arms for a hug. "Sorry to leave you like that. Bad news: I died. Good news: I got better! I had to rescue Calypso. We're both fine now. We're taking Festus to—" The image guttered like a flame in a strong breeze, disrupting Leo's voice. "Back as soon as—" Static. "Cook tacos when—" More static. "¡Vaya con queso! Love ya!" The image winked out.

A small parchment fell to the floor.

For a long moment, the dark-haired demigoddess simply stared at it, unable to move or to form a coherent thought. But then, slowly, she blinked out of her initial surprise. His words hit her like a truck, and she had to take a step back and lower herself into the bed.

"This fucking asshole," Percy breathed, only half out of her initial shock.

She tried not to think of Calypso. It always hurt her somehow, the immortal sorceress was her biggest 'what if'. But it went beyond that lately. All she could think about was the pain Calypso must've felt when Percy left her.

It must've been a great deal of pain for her to curse her. Because Percy could never forget the pain she felt when she watched Annabeth wander Tartarus, lost and broken because she thought she abandoned her. The curse of Calypso.

Hatred at her curse made her blood boil, but she forced herself to collect her emotions. Calypso was good, Percy convinced herself. She deserved the love Leo was offering her. She was finally out of Ogygia too, which was a good thing.

But where were Leo and Calypso exactly?

Was this message new or old?

Unconsciously, she looked at the plant Calypso gave her just before she left her island. She had put it on her desk, planning to move it away to the balcony so it could receive more sun, but she never actually did it. Now she looked at is as if she expected the plant to answer her questions.

"Percy! You have a call from Camp." Paul appeared on her door, startling her. "Your friend sounds..."

"Anguished? In pain? Hurt?" Percy interrupted him, her mind going over all the things as to why would anyone from Camp call her via cellphone and not via I.M.

"Angry," Paul stressed. "You should really hurry downstairs. I fear he'll melt the cellphone with his anger."

"Oh."

It was Nico di Angelo.

Camp Half-Blood also received a small parchment with Leo's message.

The son of Hades was angry at the son of Hephaestus. His supposed death had shook them all, even more to Hazel. He despised that Leo couldn't tell them his plan before, if he had...None of them would've grieved him so much.

Hazel wouldn't have been so destroyed with his death. Jason and Piper wouldn't have lost their faith. Frank wouldn't have felt guilty about their constant bickering. Percy wouldn't have felt bad for never actually knowing him much. Annabeth wouldn't have punished herself for not noticing his plans earlier...

They would've searched for him sooner, and maybe they would've found him already.

Piper and Jason were planning on making a small search party to look for them, and Percy promised to help as soon as she could escape her school duties. But she feared it might be more difficult than they thought. Ogygia was a place where no one could find twice- Leo managed to do it but he had died...

It was impossible to know where they could be.

It would be like searching for a grain of salt in mountains of sugar.

And since the Oracle stopped working...well, they couldn't receive help from Rachel Elizabeth Dare. No prophecy, no quest. That was the rule. Jason and Piper's small search party for Leo had to be done all by themselves. No small glimpse of the future to help them know where to look.

It was going to be hard, but Percy was positive that they would find him.

They had to.

"What was that all about?" Sally inquired when their phone call was done. Her daughter looked shaken, almost trembling. Somehow relieved, but with a hint of annoyance in her eyes.

"We thought we lost someone dear to us," Percy paused. "But it turns out he's alive. So...that's a good news to us."

"And the scary boy that called you?" Paul raised an eyebrow.

Percy's mouth twitched. "That's Nico. I understand his anger. Leo was a complete idiot, he made us mourn and he just sacrificed himself for us without any doubt and...I want to punch him."

"Sacrificed himself for others?" Paul stole a glance at Sally, who pursed her lips, thinking along the same lines as him. "Sounds like he was extremely selfless. Just like someone we know."

Percy blinked. "Yeah? Who?"

Her mother sighed, looking away. Her stepfather managed a smile, but looked away after a moment, thinking of all he'd seen her do for others. Uncomfortable silence covered them, and it took the young demigoddess a moment to understand.

"Oh." She cleared her throat awkwardly. "Yeah. Um. I'll be going upstairs again, so...bye."

"Wait. Someone came by this morning looking for you," Sally said. "I told him you weren't home, and he said he'd be back."

Percy's heart jumped painfully on her chest, almost as if it wanted to get away from her. A spark of hope igniting on her stomach, giving her energy and filling her with emotion. "Do we know him?"

Sally shook her head. "I would've called you down to meet him, but it was way too early and you were sleeping. Improperly early, so I said you weren't home. He refused to say what he wanted with you, said it was something important to be discussed between the two of you."

"What did he look like?" The demigoddess asked. It was pointless, if it indeed was him, he could look whatever way he desired. Still, she found herself yearning for the answer.

"Handsome," Paul raised an eyebrow in her direction, making Sally hide a smile. "And elegant. Sharp dressed."

"What if it's a monster?" Her husband asked rhetorically, folding the newspaper on his hands and moving it away. "Wouldn't be the first time they disguised themselves as attractive mortals just to be more successful at attacking."

It was a possibility, but the brunette lady shook her head. "I would've known if he was. I'm older now, it's not like it used to be, but I can still see through the Mist."

Percy had ignored their last statement. She was thinking of her mother's words. Handsome. Elegant. Sharp dressed. It could be anyone, it really could. But she could only think of someone that was handsome, elegant and usually very sharp dressed.

But she couldn't keep her hopes up. It would only crush her harder if it wasn't who she thought it was.

"Are you sure he didn't say what he wanted?"

"He didn't," Sally promised. "I'll tell you if he comes back."

Percy didn't want to wait. Even if it wasn't him, it was something different. Something new. Someone was looking for her. It could easily take her away from her miserable common life in Mystic Falls.

But then again, it could be another god wanting her to do their dirty work. And she was tired of being their slave, of being forced to do whatever they wanted, of doing all they were supposed to do but were too lazy to.

No.

Not again.

But still...

"Please do." She said, a little hesitant. "It might be important."

Sally nodded, so Percy took that as an ending to their conversation. She moved upstairs, wanting to be alone for a little while, even if it never made her any good. Whoever wanted to see her would come back, she was sure of it.

She could wait.

...

Later that day, they found themselves in Paul's car, on their way to the volunteer thing. Percy was completely confused as to what it was, but at least she would get out of her house.

That was a good thing, she was starting to feel that the walls would close on her if she stayed more time inside her room.

"I'm starting to realize this town consists mostly of events and parties. I mean, we've only been here for two weeks and there has been like five events?"

"Well, this is not New York."

Percy scoffed lightly. That was an understatement.

"It's nice," Sally smiled softly. "I like it. I heard there's a masquerade in two days."

Paul perked up at that. He gave his wife a look, eyes full of twinkling mischief. "Masquerade party?" His voice was suggestive, making Sally smile.

"I know," Sally chuckled. They shared yet another look before he had to look back to the road. "I loved it when we danced, you know. We should go."

Paul grinned. "Definitely."

"Our first dates were usually at home-" Sally started, looking back at Percy.

"It was more of studying together than dates," Paul grinned. "I liked you since the very first moment we saw each other. Of course, it only got stronger and stronger as I got to know you better. And look at me now, I'm completely smitten with you."

Sally's smile was so beautiful and so bright that she looked younger. A small blush covering her cheeks, eyes twinkling joyfully. "I love you too."

They shared yet another smile, before Paul looked at his stepdaughter via the rear-view mirror. "So, Percy, what do you say? Masquerade party. Sounds fun, doesn't it?" His tone was completely gentle and polite, yet his stepdaughter only cringed.

She'd been awfully quiet while they talked, almost hiding herself on the backseat of the car. Face a complete mask of emptiness, eyes lost on the view she had out of the window.

"Sure," Her voice came out sarcastic. "Sounds very, very fun!"

"You went to one before, right?" Paul asked nicely. "I remember you mentioning something like that a while back."

She tensed. "Yes. I did."

She had actually been to a couple of them.

One in Paris, one in Manhattan and one in Olympus.

All three of them were painful reminders of how her life used to be before Tartarus. She only wanted to forget she ever went to those events. But she couldn't, and some part of her, the part that had felt happiness while dancing and spending time with her loved ones, didn't want to forget.

Then there were two parties in Olympus. They weren't masquerades, but they could be cataloged as something very close to one.

The first had been when she was thirteen, a reward for rescuing Artemis. She had spent all the party dancing with Annabeth, and then she had her first dance with Apollo- but in those times they weren't even friends yet; she had been only a child.

And how to forget that in that same party that same day Athena had told her what her fatal flaw was? They never really got along. The goddess believed Annabeth deserved better friends. And all the while, Percy thought Annabeth deserved a better mother.

But she couldn't really speak, Poseidon hadn't been father #1 of the year. She hadn't heard from him from a very long time, and she didn't knew if she should feel worried or sad. All she knew is that some part of her was bitter.

Of course, now that the wars were over, now that he didn't need her, he wouldn't even pay her a visit.

The second party in Olympus was after the Second War.

It had been...more depressing. Lots of demigods died and they couldn't simply ignore that. Annabeth, Nico and Percy were fresh out of Tartarus, and nothing could distract them from that.

But the Nine Muses had done a great job trying to cheer them up with their music.

She danced all evening with Hermes, only stopping when Apollo took her to the gardens for a more private setting. They both were worn out because of the war. Percy because of everything but mainly Tartarus. Apollo for hiding when he should've fought, but that day it was mainly fear of what his punishment might be.

...

"Father always takes his anger out on me," He muttered angrily. Blue eyes betraying his anger by showing how tired he actually was, tired and pained. He had his head resting on her lap, finding comfort and how she gently caressed his golden curls. "I hate it."

As he rested, Percy couldn't help but notice those little details that had changed about him. It wasn't much, he really couldn't change unless he wanted to. But it had been nine months without him, nine months without her memories...She wanted to memorize every single detail of his perfect self again. "Your hair is longer. I like it."

"I like it too!" Apollo said. "Yet not even the thought of my undeniably handsome self makes me feel better."

"Remember your motivational speech," Percy said gently. "You are gorgeous and people love you!"

He chuckled softly. It usually cheered him up, but that day it was to no use. He was too worried. Too tired. Too scared. The sunny god tried to hide it, because he hated when anyone was able to read how he really felt like, but there was no use in hiding it from Percy.

She knew him too well.

Before, it would've make him laugh the thought of a mortal knowing him. It was simply baffling and ridiculous. He was as old as the world itself and even a glance at his real form would vaporize them. No one could really know a god, not completely.

Yet that demigoddess was different.

She came crashing like the sea. Slow at first, almost peaceful. Then the wave hit, and it knocked him out completely. Persephone Jackson was like that to him. Some mortals managed to surprise him, some managed great things and won his respect and admiration. He could never anticipate those special mortals.

He never anticipated her.

"It doesn't feel like my father loves me," Apollo muttered.

"I doubt he loves anyone," Percy pointed out, before trailing her fingers down his cheek and then his chin. "But I, on the other hand, do. I love you."

He felt like choking. To hear her say those words...it overwhelmed him in a way that couldn't be real. All his lovers always ended tragically. The fates loved to watch him suffer, and knowing how Zeus was, he loved to watch him suffer too. It was simply astounding to hear someone say those words so honestly.

He had almost believed he wouldn't hear those words in that way again.

Because yes, he craved love. He was tired of never finding anyone to come home to, to share his joy with.

Sure, he had fun seducing mortals and fucking anyone he desired, but at the end of the day, he was alone.

Completely and utterly alone.

Zeus had Hera. He cheated on her more times than it was possible to count, yet she always waited for him. She stayed by his side; she loved him.

Aphrodite had Hephaestus. She was used to say that she loved Ares more, but the truth was that when the lust went away, she had to come back home to her husband. And he was always waiting for her, even when he said he wasn't. They had a complicated love, but it was that. Love.

Poseidon had Amphitrite. They respected each other, he loved her more than anyone else, and she loved him back just as much. He had a million affairs, even more than Zeus himself. But his love for the sea nymph never wavered, and neither did hers for him.

From all the immortal couples, Apollo's favorite was Hades and Persephone:

Six months separated, yet their reunions were the stuff Aphrodite lived on. He respected her, never once disrespecting her nor forcing himself on her. Since the very beginning he was a gentleman to Persephone- or Kore, as she was originally called- At first she didn't love him, but once she did...it was a love worth envying over.

He wanted to be loved like that, to love and be loved unconditionally.

Nothing is more tragic than loving someone to the depths of your soul and knowing the cannot and will not ever love you back. And all his life he gave more amount of love than he received.

When he started to fall for that short tempered, sarcastic, green-eyed girl, he was worried of what her fate would be.

He didn't want her to suffer like the rest did. He could never forget them, forget all that happened.

Daphne- transformed into a tree just to escape from him; Hyacinthus- killed by a jealous god; Cyrene- having an affair with Ares while still dating him; Cassandra- feigning love towards him so he'd bless her with the gift of prophecy, later cursed by himself; Coronis- cheated on him while bearing his son; Marpessa- choose a mortal over him...

The list went on and on and on.

Four thousand six hundred and twelve years worth of tragedies.

The ones that hurt him most were the first two; the only two he ever loved to the depths of his very soul.

Not all his lovers were like that; some of his seductions were successful. But it was just that; lust, seduction. He wanted the real deal. And looking then at the young demigoddess leaning over him, offering him all she had to give and even more, he couldn't breath.

He was the worst of the gods, the most guilt-ridden and unfocused. He kept shifting from one skill to another, from one lover to another – distracted and dissatisfied. His golden life was a sham. His coolness a pretense. His heart a lump of petrified wood after Daphne.

He actually swore he would never marry. He claimed it was because he couldn't decide between the Nine Muses. They were beautiful, yes, and unique. But the truth was, it was because none of them ever had his heart like Daphne did...

...Like Percy Jackson does.

She loved him. Percy Jackson loved him in the way he always wanted someone to love him, and...he did too.

He was struck with the fact that he loved that mortal girl, loved her more than he'd loved anyone in a long time. He couldn't breath, he felt like choking, the lump of laurel that was his heart tightening and swelling.

Apollo was eternally heartbroken and lonely, yet with Persephone Jackson...he didn't feel alone or unloved.

He felt...different.

"And I love you too, my dear girl."

...

She was so distracted and lost in thoughts that when she finally came back to herself, she found that her parents had been talking for a while.

"-what changed then?" Paul frowned softly. "You went with your friend, right? Rachel?"

"No, dear. I'm fairly certain it wasn't Rachel," Sally added. "She would've gone in her personal helicopter, and I don't remember seeing the Dare Enterprises helicopter close to our apartment."

They both seemed oblivious to her cringing and tensing, until she spoke. "No. I went to a masquerade party in Paris. Hermes' reward for a special quest," She paused, her next words coming slow and hesitant. "The four of us went."

"And how was it?" Paul asked curiously. He didn't notice how Sally grimaced, only then remembering who those four friends were. At first she thought it was probably someone else form camp, but at her daughter's clear uncomfortable state, it was obvious who it really was.

She tried to give Paul a look, tell him silently to drop the topic, but he didn't look at her.

"Great," She tried for a smile, but it was halfhearted. "Annabeth and Hermes had a lot of fun together, they even forgot their small feud for the hours we were there. We explored the City of Love and went to a masquerade party. It was the first time I put on a dress willingly and felt completely pretty."

"I'm sure you looked beautiful," Paul said softly.

"It was fun," Percy shrugged, but it lacked energy and conviction. "We went to the Louvre museum. Annabeth and Hermes stayed back in the Eiffel tower. She wanted to admire its structure, and Hermes just plainly wanted to bother her."

Sally wanted to ask what the thing with Hermes and Annabeth was, because she was sure that it had something to do with Luke Castellan, but before she could, her husband interrupted her.

"I didn't knew you were interested in art," Paul was interested, eyes brightening at the mention of one of the most famous museum of Europe. "Did you see the Mona Lisa?"

Percy grimaced. "I don't like the Gioconda. I mean, I think it's some amazing painting. And I can't really judge since I can't even draw sticky figures. But I simply dislike it."

"Then what do you like?"

"I like Salvador Dali's paintings, but they make my brain hurt sometimes. I really like his work on 'The Persistence of Memory'. I like the theory that inspired it. But my number one favorite is and will always be Van Gogh, I just love 'The café terrace on the Place du Forum', and 'Sunflowers'."

Paul was impressed for a second. He believed her when she said she liked art, but she was just so distracted and so unfocused on some things that he was completely impressed and proud of her knowledge on those famous artists and paintings.

"You surprise me," He said. "You didn't mention 'Starry Night', it's usually everyone's favorite. And Salvador Dali? One of my personal favorite."

Percy beamed at him. "Thanks. And yeah, I like 'Starry Night', but I believe people focus too much on that one and ignore others that are as beautiful and important."

"Any other that you like?" Paul beamed back, excited for finally finding something else he had in common with his stepdaughter.

"I have conflicting feelings about Rousseau. I like most of his paintings, but there's just something..." She moved her hand in the air vaguely. "Something that I don't quite like."

"If you two are done," Sally interrupted, but she was smiling fondly. She loved seeing the two most important people in her life bonding. "We're almost here."

Startled, Percy looked out of the window again. She hadn't yet been to that part of town, so it was a new view for her. She had to admit that it could've the perfect place for a park, if that was indeed what this social event was for.

She saw some people painting and moving stuff, building stuff. Lots of tents with lemonade posts and food charts hung at the corners, along with some tents with other objects like books and jewelry.

Social event for both gathering money and building a park.

Percy wasn't sure where the name came from. "Mystic Falls Historical Volunteer Society Day." But okay. Sure. At least it would be distracting. She wasn't as good at helping build stuff as a Hephaestus or an Athena kid, but she could manage.

"I've got some buckets of paint, and some wood..." Paul loaded the trunk of his car, moving slightly to the side so Sally and Percy could help him.

Percy took some brushes and a bucket of paint while Sally took the smaller pieces of wood. The demigoddess dropped the brushed and bucket of paint by the side a small gazebo, where similar things were, and moved to help Paul with the biggest and heaviest pieces of wood.

"Are you sure you can do this?" Paul asked her. "I don't want you getting hurt because of this."

Percy waved a hand. "I'll be okay."

"She's stronger than she looks like, aren't you, Percy?"

Of course he'd be there too. She sighed in annoyance. "Paul, ignore him, please. He's a dick that doesn't deserve our attention."

"I thought our deal of peace still stood," Damon Salvatore feigned concern. "Now you're calling me names?"

He was getting on Percy's nerves. Neither Paul nor Sally were supposed to know their neighbors weren't human, and now Damon was threatening the little peace she had with thinking her parents were oblivious to the great dangers of Mystic Falls.

"Our deal stands. I'm not insulting you, I'm just saying the truth." Percy faced him. "Now if you're done here, move. We have to take this-"

But Damon took Paul's spot supporting the other side of the heavy wood. "I can take this, thank you. I want to talk with Percy for a while."

Paul looked at her, asking if she was okay with that. She wasn't, but she preferred it if Paul was safely away from any Salvatore brother, so she nodded.

Paul left, and Percy moved roughly, dragging Damon towards where the other people had put similar wood, only wanting to get it over with as quickly as possible.

"What? Not even a hello?" Damon pouted. "Did I do something to you?"

She was exasperated. "What do you want?"

"I wanted to say hello-"

"And you did. Are you happy? Yes? Great, bye." She turned and started to walk away, only to stop when his steps quickened and he fell into pace at her side. An irritated sight left her mouth, but she refused to look at him.

She was prideful and stubborn, Damon realized. She was keen on hating him, even when he accepted her deal of not harming mortals nor her. She wouldn't accept, he knew it. But he still had to try. So he went direct to the point, knowing that she'd only get angrier if he kept denying he wanted something.

"I need your help."

"Please, do tell," Percy laughed, not even stopping to think. "Why would I want to help you?"

But her curiosity was increasing. It was unusual to hear those words coming from the arrogant vampire. That much was obvious to everyone, even Percy, who was still new to town and to him. Damon Salvatore wasn't the kind of monster to ask for help.

So what changed?

"I'm surprised though," Percy continued before he could answer. She stopped in her tracks, turning to meet his eyes. "It must've taken you a great deal of effort to say that. So tell me, Dracula. What do you need and why do you think I'll help you?"

"You'll help me," Damon sounded confident. That didn't really fool Percy. She knew that tactic, it was the same one the gods used. They feigned confidence to give off an air of security and power, to seem like they were in control. "Because it's about the protection of this town."

"If you touch-"

"We went over that already," Damon snapped, losing it for a second. "I know, you'll kill me. This is not about that. So listen to me."

"Careful with your tone, sweetheart," She said icily, green eyes hard and full of hatred. He had the strange realization that her glare was talking to him, telling him that as much as he was dangerous, she was more dangerous than him.

More strong.

Damon felt uneasy, his stomach revolving as if having a stomachache. He felt the strange urge to throw up, bile accumulating its way up his throat. Groaning loudly, he grimaced. Then, as subtle and strange as it had started, it stopped.

Percy caught herself before she could continue what she accidentally started to do, and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to focus.

It was hard.

Her body was almost trembling with excitement at the familiar feeling. The power running through her veins begging to be released.

The sea doesn't like to be restrained, said Poseidon once. And the sea raging inside of her wanted to explode and crash and destroy.

It was overwhelming, but as she found Damon already speaking again, she started to control herself.

"- I tried to kill Mason Lockwood last night and I failed."

"Surprise surprise," Percy said sarcastically. She widened her eyes and feigned a shiver, leaning towards him in a mockingly scared way. "Didn't the silver bullets work?"

Damon's glare was hard, his eyes looking more like ice than ever. "Now he's going to drive a stake through my heart any chance he gets."

She nodded, "Yeah, I'm still not seeing what the big problem is."

"He's going to kill me, kill us-" Damon pointed distractedly around, letting Percy know his brother and the blonde vampire were somewhere around there.

"And that is my problem because...?"

"Because if we don't stop him, he's going to make a spell...a spell that will give him the power to transform at will and not only on full moons." He paused, letting his words sink in. "See now? Threat to every mortal around here."

For a moment, he waited. The young girl in front of him was plainly staring at him, the hardness on her eyes making him uncomfortable, which was ridiculous. A little girl couldn't possibly intimidate him. He shouldn't feel like that.

Yet he did.

"You're lying."

Damon almost stopped breathing. He wasn't lying, he was simply omitting information. But she couldn't possibly know that. It was only for a small second, but he showed his surprise. Only for a second. But she saw it, and she knew then her predictions had been accurate.

He was lying.

She gritted her teeth, right foot tapping the floor impatiently.

"Look, Percy. I just want you to help me kill him. You said you've hunted all your life or something like that," He waved his hand, not giving it much importance in the moment. "I don't care. Prove it now, and help me kill that werewolf."

Percy shook her head. "Hey man, I'm all in for killing monsters, but I don't side with them. You want to kill Mason? Do it. I won't stop you, but I won't help you either."

She turned and started to walk away. She had nothing to do with the death of Mason Lockwood, and she wanted to keep it that way.

Her demigod dream had been fuzzy, yet she was almost completely positive that she had no play in his murder. It was all Damon.

She wasn't going to get involved in that.

"Wait."

She gave another exasperated sigh, yet found herself turning slightly to look at him. He was hesitating, but in the end managed to speak. "Wait, I wasn't lying."

"Please, elaborate." Said Percy sarcastically.

"There is a spell and a moonstone. Aztec curse, I think. When the curse gets broken it will either benefits us vampires or the werewolves. It all depends on who breaks the curse first."

Percy shook her head, interrupting him. "Why are you telling me this?"

"I want to be honest with you," He said. "I want your help in this, and if I'll only get it for being honest, I will be."

She couldn't buy that, yet she found herself listening. Despite everything that yelled at her not to follow him on his evident lie, she found herself speaking. "Okay. What exactly does this curse once broken?"

"For the werewolves? It will give them- all of them- the power to turn whenever they want, and not only on full moons. For us vampires..." He hesitated again, knowing she couldn't possibly take it in a good way. "It will give us the power to roam the Earth on daylight."

"But you already do. I'm not the smartest girl around here, but I'm fairly certain I've seen you out in the day...oh, wait! Like right now." There it was again, the look of annoyance in her face that screamed danger.

"Yes, but we have these."

Damon raised his hand, waving his fingers. He was showing her his ring, something he never did. But he figured she already knew, it couldn't possibly hurt him to point it out. He was completely sure she knew what he was talking about, but as silence covered them, his confidence wavered.

She was looking at the ring, but there was not even a small speck of interest on her sea-green eyes. She actually looked bored. That made him scowl. Didn't knew know? She acted like she knew everything about them...

"You have...a ring. Wow, dude. I am so impressed! Wait, I also have a ring. Does that make me special too?" She didn't wait for an answer. "What does that has to do with my question?"

She had a small idea of what it was, but she was so overwhelmed by the loud conversations around her, and her ADHD was acting up, making her feel impatient and filled with adrenaline. She felt like she could hold the sky again, and it was all because she had way too many people around her talking and making noise and just existing.

It was annoyingly exasperating.

She wanted it to be over as soon as possible, starting with her conversation with the vampire.

When she concentrated enough on him, she found that the monster was smiling. A big, wide grin that was triumphant and arrogant. His whole self seemed to be joyful over something she couldn't comprehend.

What? What did she do? Why was he smirking like that?

"What?" She snapped, self-conscious for an unknown reason. "Why are you being all smirk-y?"

"I just thought you'd knew what this means," Damon couldn't keep the smugness off his voice. "It's good to see you don't know everything."

"I never pretended to," She gave him a look. "What's the deal with that ring?"

Damon then laughed. "No, no. Let me relish in the fact that I know something that you don't," He smiled, closing his eyes. "Ah. Yes. Anyhow, that's what the curse will do if broken. Since you see us and the werewolves as threat to mortals-"

"Because you are."

"- I thought you'd like to help us kill Mason and capture the moonstone to stop him from breaking the curse." He shrugged. "We kill the werewolf and solidify our truce. It's a win-win for everybody."

Except for the fact that you'd get the moonstone and finish the spell, Percy thought bitterly. All vampires will be able to walk in the sun. Meaning: more danger for mortals.

"You thought wrong," She wrapped her jacket tighter around herself, fighting against the impulse to grab the ballpoint pen inside her jean pockets. But his stench was getting more and more unbearable with every passing second. "I don't want to fight anyone. I just want peace, that's why I did this treaty of peace with you, that's why I moved here."

Percy walked away, sticking her hands on her jacket, eyes trailing down at her own feet. She could feel the penetrating stare of Damon on her back, but she didn't turn nor stopped.

"What did she say?" Stefan Salvatore appeared at his brother's side.

Damon shoot him a look. "You know what she said."

"I told you she wouldn't cooperate."

"I didn't ask for your opinion, did I?" Damon faced his brother. "She seems to be sincere on her desires to keep herself out of trouble. She wants peace with us."

Stefan looked away, forest-green eyes looking for the lithe figure of the black-haired teenager in a over-sized blue hoodie and ripped jeans. He found her walking alone towards the gazebo, where he could still see Elena and Caroline painting.

"How can you be so sure?" Stefan faced his brother again.

"She looks tired," Damon said. "And who wouldn't be?"

He walked away, making Stefan scowl at his retreating back. That last phrase had nothing to do with Percy Jackson, Stefan knew that quite well.

Before he could find himself bickering with his older brother, he looked away. He caught Elena's eye in the distance, something that Caroline Forbes noticed, making they break their stare.

Damon was right. Who wouldn't be tired?

...

"And how are you liking Mystic Falls already?"

Percy was about to take one big poster and write he words: MYSTIC FALLS SUCKS. Surely, they could come out with better questions for her, but no. All she was ever asked since she moved was that.

How are you liking Mystic Falls? Do you miss your old life? Where are you from? Are you staying all year? All they asked was bla bla bla.

"Oh, it's great." She forced a smile at those girls. She'd seen her somewhere in school, but still didn't knew who they were. Satisfied with her answer, they continued working without a second glance towards the 'new' girl.

Looking down at her own bucket of paint and brush, Percy rolled her eyes. It was the same in every school.

"How long are you planning on staying?" That voice was familiar. As she looked up, she met the doppelgänger's eyes across the gazebo. For once, she couldn't find any malice in those dark eyes. Just honest curiosity. At her side, the blonde vampire was watching her too.

"I moved here," Percy said slowly. "I live here."

As long as I don't blow up this school, She thought to herself. Or as long as I don't get attacked.

"That's not what I asked," Elena Gilbert shook her head.

Percy thought of snapping at her, of continuing her never ending bitterness towards supernatural creatures. But that doppelgänger girl looked off. Her lips were curled up in a grimace- which seemed to be a normal thing on her- but otherwise than that, she looked tired.

"I know. But it's what I answered,"

Okay. That wasn't exactly polite, but at least she tried. She wasn't going to be best buddies with the girl suddenly. But she could acknowledge that both of them were tired. For completely different reasons, but still.

Thankfully, after that, there was no need to feign politeness. The doppelgänger and the vampire stayed together into their side of the gazebo, and Percy did the same.

Rachel was right, Percy thought distractedly. Painting is relaxing.

"Just tell me something," Elena spoke suddenly. Percy thought she was talking to the vampire, so she ignored her. But then she insisted. "Percy,"

The demigoddess looked up. "What do you want now?"

"Are you planning on killing us?" Bonus points for being bold and fearless in asking that to someone who clearly stated that she wanted to kill them.

"We have a truce, remember," Percy moved away from where she was, approaching them so no one would hear them talk. Caroline tensed, looking between the two of them.

"And how real is that?" Percy raised an eyebrow at that question, but Elena continued. "How do we know you're not just waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack?"

"I've had the perfect opportunity, multiple times." The green-eyed girl shrugged. "I've told your boyfriends already, I intend to keep our peace. You stay on your side and leave me alone, and I do the same. Easy, even for you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I'd answer you, but you'd react in a way that will make me break the treaty between us," Percy fought to hide a smirk. Elena Gilbert was problematic. "I do hope you understand, I only want peace."

"Then leave us alone," Elena huffed.

"Dude! I'm the one that was calmly panting alone until you two called for me. Like please, you're searching for me as much as your boyfriends are."

Elena didn't want to admit that she was right, but she'd seen her there, so close to them, that she couldn't stop herself from trying to make something out of her closeness.

"Stefan and Damon are interested in you?" Caroline asked slowly. She had been looking between the two girls, but stopped on the figure of the dark-haired girl once she heard the mention of the Salvatore brothers. "What do they want with you?"

Percy scowled. "Ask them yourself."

And she was gone, walking away before they could ask her something else.

She recognized the look on that blonde vampire's eyes. It was the same look Luke Castellan and Ethan Nakamura used to have. And considering the fact that she'd gotten that look while thinking about the Salvatore brothers...

Well, it was fairly easy to decipher that Caroline Forbes was hiding something. She just hoped it wasn't as important as the things that Luke and Ethan were hiding. But then again, it was none of Percy's business.

And she was going to keep it that way.

Of course, she should've know that after two weeks without problems, something would happen.

As she approached her parents, who were speaking with the mayor, someone appeared out of nowhere in front of her, bumping into her. At first, she thought it had been her fault, she was usually very distracted, but as she apologized, she saw who it was.

She jumped, eyes wide. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was-"

"It's my fault," Mason Lockwood smiled at her. "Miss Jackson, right? I saw you some weeks ago at the Carnival."

Percy was slightly tensed, his stench being more bearable than the vampire's, but still annoyingly noticeable. Besides, how could she remember her? They hadn't talked, he had smiled at her, but she hadn't, too caught up in the fact that there were actual mortal monsters in Mystic Falls.

And now, out of nowhere, he was being talkative with her. Paranoia or not, she didn't buy it.

Why was it that every single monster in Mystic Falls was appearing out of nowhere to 'talk to her'? Did she had a poster that screamed: HEY! Possible food/chew-toy for monsters! Come meet me!

"Yes," Percy said stiffly. "But I fear I don't know your name."

"Mason," He extended a hand towards her. "Mason Lockwood. It's a pleasure."

"Likewise."

They shook hands, and just as the demigoddess was going to tell him to have a good day and continue walking, he moved his hand towards her lower back, guiding her gently. She wanted to slap his hand away, her heart racing wildly as she moved one hand towards her jean pocket and took her ballpoint pen out.

"I want to talk to you for a moment, do you have time?"

She gave him a look, slapping his hand away from her back. "Don't you ever touch me without my permission again."

"I apologize," Mason said. "Here, let me make it up to you with a drink." He didn't wait for her answer, he quickly paid the little girl behind the tent and took two glasses of lemonade. He drew one to his lips, and offered the other one to Percy.

She took it, but didn't drink from it. "What do you want to talk about?"

Before he could speak, she felt - and smelt- two dark presence' approaching. Mason looked over her shoulder, but she didn't need to turn to know who it was. The horrible stench of death gave it away.

It was funny, actually. She used to tease Nico, saying that he smelled like death, and know she knew monsters that actually smelt that way.

"Well, Mason. Working hard?"

"Doing my part," Mason answered curtly.

"I hear you talked to Stefan here," Damon slapped his brother on the back, something that was meant to be friendly. The demigoddess between both vampires looked on edge, almost about to attack them for being so close to her. He added more fuel to her fire by wrapping his arm on her shoulder. "I see you know Percy, too."

Why was it now that these monsters liked touching her without her permission? She felt like snapping. His whole monster powder making her throat burn with their proximity. She felt like choking in his stench.

She had to close her eyes.

Don't make a scene, Percy. Don't make a fucking scene.

"Nice guy," Mason looked at Stefan. "Too bad nice is overrated."

"That's what I thought. Huh!"

"You have a good day, Damon." Mason's eyes were positively dark and cold now. "Percy- it was completely divine meeting you." Their eyes met, his stare being one second longer than a normal one was supposed to be, and then he walked away.

As soon as he was gone, Percy stuck her fingernails on Damon's arm, making him hiss in pain as his arm was shoved back forcefully. She heard Stefan greeting her, but she was inmerse watching the retreating back of the werewolf.

Stefan watched her, watched her whole body took a defensive posture. Her lips tightened in a line, her sea-green eyes growing stormy and filling with such hardness and coldness that he was surprised she wasn't spitting acid.

"What did he want?" Damon asked her. The way he was looking at her angered her, like he expected her to answer him. As if he had the right to know. As if they were friends.

"I would known if you hadn't interrupted us," Percy snapped at him. "Stop looking for me! Just leave me alone."

"Percy, why are you so angry?" Stefan asked calmly.

At his question, she stopped. She turned to face him, anger on her features. Stefan felt an unpleasant stomachache building, a nauseating feeling that made him almost gag. He tasted bile on his mouth, surprising him. He hadn't throw up since he was human- what...?

"I'm angry because we had a treaty!" Percy snapped, voice raising yet keeping herself at bay. "You two keep appearing everywhere, and I just want to be left alone! Is it so hard? Leave me be. I won't help you, I won't befriend you, just leave me the fuck alone!"

"That's not what I meant," Stefan interrupted her, swallowing his uneasiness and the bile accumulated on his mouth. He knew that would come, her outburst. But it was partly her fault. She's the one that moved in the house next-door to them, she's the one that discovered herself to them. It was all her fault.

"I don't care what you meant," Percy spat, not quite as angry as to raise her voice, but still very agitated. "I'm tired of seeing you all the time, I just want to-"

Damon tried to ignore the little vein in her neck that was twitching, pulsating and vibrating with her blood. Rich blood that smelt so heavenly and so tempting...

He cleared his throat, forcing his eyes up to her face. "You seem almost scared. Did Mason say something to you?"

It was like talking to a fucking wall. Couldn't they understand that she didn't want to see them? That she didn't want to talk to them? She was fighting the very impulse to tear their throats out with Riptide, and they kept tempting her! They kept appearing and insisting in talking to her!

Were they suicidal?

Well, considering they attacked a werewolf- which could very easily bite them and kill them- without actually having an idea of ho to kill it, she had to believe they were idiots.

She felt like tearing her hair out.

"Nothing. He just guided me here and brought me a lemonade-" She stopped herself, only noticing that she was still gripping the glass he gave her. "Then you two appeared."

She omitted the part that actually fueled the fire burning inside of her. But the fire was starting to extinguish itself, being quickly replaced with anguish. Mason's words roamed around her head, disorienting her momentarily.

It was divine meeting you.

Divine.

He knew.

"What?" Damon frowned, noticing her hesitation.

Percy glanced at him. "I think he knows what I am." Both Salvatore brothers shared a look. She then looked over their shoulders, searching for her parents in the crowd of people all around them. But they were nowhere to be seen. "I have to find my parents and go."

"What?"

Stefan took her elbow, stopping her. She moved herself out of his grasp, but faced them again. "Don't you see? He might know what I am, if he decides to do something about it-"

"Please, girl. Vampires are stronger than werewolves," Damon pointed out. "You're stronger than me- stronger than vampires. You can take him down easily, don't you? Now you see? You have to help us kill him."

"You don't understand," Percy insisted.

"What don't we understand? You're completely confusing, Percy." Stefan spoke for his brother. "You first come here, acting like you have no care in the world. You act like you can kill anything you want, you say you're capable of hunting all of us down-"

Damon nodded. "You have a reason to attack now, he knows what you are. But you don't want to attack? It makes no sense-"

"Shut up," Percy groaned. "Of course you two don't understand. You don't know me. I have my reasons for wanting peace, and if I'm completely honest I never wanted this to happen-" The words kept blurting off her mouth, coming in fast sentences.

Stefan was right, as much as she didn't want to admit it. She was scared, but not for the reason they believed. It had been a while since she'd have the opportunity to attack like that, and all she could remember was Tartarus.

In one second, she felt like screaming and wailing. She actually had to attack now, to defend herself. It wasn't the same to start something because she craved the hunt and the kill- she did that to the vampires. But the werewolf knew what she was.

He knew and he intended to do something, that much was clear to her. If he didn't, he wouldn't have approached her.

But the thought of killing him...it brought back memories from Tartarus, memories she wanted to forget. She was scared, in that moment, of breaking down and turn back into that killing machine. She was scared of getting swallowed again in the darkness.

"Are you having a panic attack?" Damon asked, his voice sounding strangely worried. Her heart was thumping loudly, her breaths erratically fast, her face paling considerably.

The vampires were struck then with the realization that she was still so young. She was dangerous, scary and intimidating. But in that moment, while she looked so vulnerable and so shaken, she looked almost normal.

She looked young.

"Forget it," Percy said. "I have to leave, I need to find my parents. They could be in danger now."

But she wasn't even thinking straight. All around her, images of Tartarus flashed, almost like her hallucinations with Kronos. She was tired, sleep-deprived, and scared. That wasn't a good combination. She would've run into the lemonade tent had Stefan not grabbed her and stopped her from falling.

"Hey, easy," He moved her to a small bench just at their side. "Sit."

"I have to leave," Percy insisted, but she couldn't distinguish between both vampires and the pole of the tent. She wasn't seeing the flash of red she saw while thinking of Tartarus- that place made her think of that color for some reason- but she was feeling groggy and dizzy.

Damon knelt in front of her, taking the glass she had been gripping and guiding it to her lips, but she didn't open her mouth. She pushed it away, making him sigh. "Drink a few sips, liquid can help with your nerves- don't ask how I know that."

"I can't drink that," She moved the glass away. "The werewolf gave it to me, it might be-"

"Poisoned," Damon moved it away from her face, only to bring it up to his nose, sniffing. One second later, he grimaced, looking up at Stefan. "Vervain."

"So he doesn't know what you are," Stefan said. "Unless vervain hurts you too..."

"No," Percy scoffed. "I mean, I don't think so." Her eyes got lost behind their shoulders, her own sea-green eyes meeting ones in the distance. "There's a blonde woman looking at us."

"Liz," Damon said, not turning. "I saw her talking to Mason-"

"Do you think he told her?" Stefan seemed worried.

As both vampires discussed the probabilities of that, the demigoddess shut her eyes tightly. Her head was a complete mess. Both metaphorically and literally. She had a killer headache. It was so painful and so intense that she for once wished she could do what gods did when they had a headache- they opened their head and removed what caused them pain.

Sometimes she used to joke with Hermes that the god Ares had took his whole brain out. That was probably why he was such an idiot-

Wait, what was she thinking? Oh, yes. The unbearable pain she was feeling.

She felt embarrassed and weak for showing such vulnerability to the vampires. But she couldn't control how she was feeling, she just exploded. She'd had panic attacks before, but it was different. It got mixed with her ADHD, and then those vampires were pushing her and pushing her, and...

And then she thought of Tartarus, and everything collapsed.

It was slowly fading, the feeling of everything collapsing over her, but her headache stayed.

"So that's what he planned to do," Percy gathered enough bits of their conversation to know what Mason tried to do. "He told that woman that you two are vampires and tried to prove it by putting vervain in my drink..."

But she still wasn't sure why it was so dangerous for the blonde woman to know they were vampires.

"It's not your drink the only one with vervain," Stefan pointed to the tent. "All of them are."

"And that woman is waiting to see what happens when one of you drink-" Percy gathered herself, ignoring how her headache made her dizzy. She stood, ignoring how Damon tried to make her sit again. "Smart."

Stefan stopped Damon, one hand on his elbow. They shared a look, the younger vampire looking worried and stressed. "If we don't drink she's going to know."

They couldn't let that happen, it would be another problem to face. There was Caroline being a spy to Katherine, who was back and didn't want to say why. Mason wanting to kill them. The curse. The moonstone. Percy Jackson also wanting them gone...

They really couldn't have the council knowing that they were the monsters they wanted dead.

Damon scowled. "What are you saying, that we should poison ourselves? Please, we can't stand that, she'll notice and know for sure that we are indeed vampires."

"I have to go," Percy said softly. They heard her, and turned to face her. She took the glass of lemonade with vervain from Damon's hand. They watched her as she took a gulp, eyes closing in concentration. Then she handed the glass back to them. "Drink."

"We can't-"

"Just do it," Percy insisted. "And please, just leave me alone for a while. I know you guys are still wanting to know what I am and how to kill me, and I still want to kill you two. But we have a treaty. So please, please, don't look for me. It's better for all of us that way."

Damon moved to follow her, but Stefan grabbed his elbow. He was looking at the glass on his hand, wondering how it didn't had the same smell as before. "Let her go."

"Are you-" Before he could say more, Stefan drew the glass to his lips, taking a long gulp. Damon watched intently, waiting to see his brother coughing in pain.

But that didn't happen.

They shared a look of bewilderment, then Stefan passed the glass to his brother.

Damon took a long gulp, mentally bracing himself for the pain. But once again, nothing happened. It tasted like lemonade, sweet-common lemonade. Not a single drop of vervain in it.

"Did she...-"

"She did."

Liz Forbes had a look of relief on her face that afternoon, and Mason Lockwood was confused when she faced him, telling him that he'd been wrong. Damon and Stefan weren't vampires, or they would've been hurt by the vervain.

The werewolf looked confused, but the vampires were smug. Slowly, Mason looked away, not admitting he was wrong- because he wasn't- but not knowing how to prove it to Liz. His eyes met in the distance the retreating figure of Percy Jackson, walking alongside her parents.

He glared daggers at her back. She turned slowly, still in the distance. And what she did had the Salvatore brothers laughing for the rest of the day. Percy blew him a kiss, mockingly waving a hand in goodbye.

Then it clicked him. Of course, she could do that. She could clean water- she helped the vampires. But what kind of huntress helped the creatures she was hunting? Unless...

Of course. There's the impulsiveness I heard about, Mason thought.

...

When Percy arrived home, the sun was setting.

She stopped for a moment, closing her eyes and feeling the last rays of sun hitting her skin. The heat was comforting, familiar. She waited for a while, moving towards the garden where Paul had set up a nice hammock. She rested there, waiting for something she knew wouldn't happen- two weeks had passed...it definitely wasn't happening.

She stayed there even when the sky darkened. Truth was, she didn't want to enter her house just yet. Sally and Paul had left to buy dinner from the Grill, leaving the girl alone.

Percy was usually okay with being alone. She preferred it that way, she didn't had to feign anything to impress anyone or to protect anyone. She was just herself, a small weak girl trying to be strong.

"I can't believe I broke in front of them..." She whispered to herself, closing her eyes.

She still felt vulnerable. Those were monsters, those were her enemies. And she had a breakdown in front of them.

She broke down, having a panic attack over something that never happened. Sure, she'd been scared of facing some monsters. But never scared of her own powers. Not until last month anyways. Ever since the war she'd been scared of herself and her powers...ever after Tartarus.

But it was getting worse.

She'd nearly done the same she did to Misery to the Salvatore brothers. It had been unconscious, but she'd definitely done it. Her body felt it, the craving for more was definitely there.

She nearly made them choke on their own internal fluids, and in the end, she wished she had done it.

It was irrational, but she craved the feeling that came with it. Back in Tartarus, doing that to Misery...it had been a way of freeing herself. It was like...all her life, people had been limiting herself, telling her what to do and how to do it; forcing her to do things she didn't want to.

And doing that...it had been like throwing a big punch to all those that tried to control her. It felt like breaking free and forming her own persona. It was bad, evil. Even Annabeth had been scared of her.

But she couldn't understand it completely.

She could do that, she had the power to do that. If she could do it it couldn't be that bad, right? But it was. Everyone thought so. So her constant struggle consisted of trying to mend what broke in Tartarus.

She was trying to enter herself back into that cage of innocence and normality that she'd been at before Tartarus freed that part of her.

Because sometimes it felt as if Tartarus had freed a part of her that refused to be caged again.

Her whole meltdown earlier that day had been just because of that. It was very easy to take control of the situation, to attack and be in control. But Mason Lockwood had been in control, if even just for a second, and that had made that part of her fill with rage and the desire to show him who was actually in control- her.

Her meltdown was part of her trying to contain herself but failing miserably.

Percy didn't even want to think of how in her meltdown she started to have flashes of Tartarus. It only lasted a little, but it was there. She knew she was in that park, yet she saw herself in Tartarus.

All around her, she'd only been able to see that wretched place...

She hadn't realized she was crying until she tasted something salty on her lips. Surprised, she moved one hand over her cheeks and under her eyes, cleaning the tears, not wanting to be crying when her parents arrived.

"There's nothing wrong with crying, my dear girl. It only means you're human enough to get hurt emotionally," The voice was soft and gentle, almost carried by the wind. "And right now, that's a good thing."

Percy couldn't help but chuckle, tears still trailing down her cheeks. She moved slightly to face the goddess standing at the right side of the hammock. She was different, her hair another color and her eyes more bright. But the demigoddess could recognize her easily.

"Hi."

The goddess allowed herself a smile at the young girl at her side. "Hello, Persephone."

She forced herself not to feel happy about seeing her again, but she held a great deal of respect to the reasonable and collected goddess.

And it had been a long time since they'd been together alone. Sometimes, all one need is a conversation with a good friend- and that goddess was her friend. If gods could have mortal friends, anyway.

"You know why I'm here, don't you?" Artemis asked. At the girl's nod, the gorgeous goddess moved her head to the side, facing the demigoddess. "Very well. Then it's time we have a little chat, don't you think?"

Long silence stretched its way around them, as it usually happened after someone asked to have a little chat with someone. Percy was trying to collect her thoughts, all while the goddess waited patiently.

Percy could feel the stare of the goddess on her, almost studying her. She knew she probably looked horrible- that's how she felt. But for once, she did not cared. It was different with Artemis, she wouldn't judge her for having a moment of vulnerability.

"Can I ask you a question, Lady Artemis?"

"You may," Artemis corrected gently.

"Are you here because I-"

"No," Artemis interrupted. "I don't answer to prayers not meant for me, even if they were meant for my twin brother- specially if they're meant for him. I'm here because I want to be. I don't know if you're conscious of this, Percy, but you have the respect of many of the gods, myself included. I came because I want to know how you are feeling. I heard some things..."

"Hermes?" Percy swallowed. She wouldn't feel betrayed if he was the one that told her, at least it was a friend. What really made her uneasy was the thought of all the gods knowing.

"From whom I heard it it's not really relevant, dear. But no. It wasn't him," Artemis paused. "I'm worried about you, Percy." It was strange to hear that coming from someone that physically looked to be thirteen years old.

The green-eyed teenager bit her lower lip, a little bit hesitant. "I've been seeing things, and it scares me they might be more than just...flashes and hallucinations."

"You are conscious that the disease known as PTSD has exactly that as a side effect from suffering said condition, aren't you?" The silver-eyed goddess watched her. She looked nauseous. "I know it must be hard for you, my girl. After all you've been thorough it can't certainly be easy facing this-"

"It's not that," Percy interrupted boldly, only to then stop. "I am so sorry, Lady Artemis-"

But the goddess shook her head. "It's alright, dear. Continue."

She took a deep breath. It was still easier to talk to Artemis than it was to talk to any other of her friends.

Maybe it was because the goddess had a collected and stoic personality, or maybe it was because unlike her mortal friends, Artemis could choose to correct her and advice her wisely.

...Don't get her wrong, her mortal friends were great at giving advice, but Percy usually felt like she was bothering them with her troubles.

With Artemis she couldn't feel like that because it was the goddess that offered to guide her and advice her in what was best.

Whatever it was, Percy was glad to finally have someone to tell about Kronos.

"I've been seeing Kronos lately, and I know that it's could be a side effect of PTSD, if I even have that. But when I see him, he's...he did the trick of time he used to do-"

"He stopped time?" Artemis seemed suddenly more stoic and pragmatic than ever. Her cold eyes scanned the girl for any signal of dishonesty. "Are you certain about that?"

She nodded. "He keeps saying that he's back and...I'm honestly scared, Lady Artemis. I don't want to face him again, I...haven't been sleeping these past weeks only to escape from seeing him. I see him every time I close my eyes."

"Hallucinations, you say?"

"That's what we thought," Percy started to explain. "Nico had some of them after he left Tartarus, so I thought that it was just that. But then the time stopping trick happened..."

"Dear," Artemis stopped her. The goddess surprised the daughter of Poseidon by gently taking her hands on her graceful ones. It was meant as a reassuring contact, yet it was unusual given the fact that the goddess didn't like to be touched. "Hallucinations do that. They make things that are not real seem like they are. You have to considerate the fact that it might be just a simple hallucination-"

Percy swallowed. "I know that. I understand, but that feeling...it was just like old times. It felt just like when he actually stopped time. It felt real."

The goddess looked up at the sky, eyes getting lost in the stars. "I'll speak to Hades. He can take a look at Tartarus, see how our grandfather is doing. For now, we can't do anything," She looked down again, facing the other girl. "Have you considered taking medication?"

Percy felt like choking. Medication?. "My family doesn't know. I-I don't want to worry them."

"I understand," Artemis said. "I'll see if I can talk to my brother. Maybe he can do something-"

"But I've been praying to him," Percy said, unable to stop herself. "He doesn't care. He hasn't done anything to help me, to listen to my prayers."

"He listens," Artemis assured her. "But there's much going on, my dear girl. A lot of things are happening, things you wouldn't understand."

The demigoddess looked away, those words painfully alike the ones her twin brother had said once.

"And I assure you, Percy: He cares," The goddess sighed as thunder illuminated the place. "I'm afraid I've been discovered. I must go now, but know I will investigate if our grandfather is indeed regenerating. If he's not, then I'll speak to Apollo,-" She paused. "And if you're not comfortable with it, I'll speak to Asclepius."

"His son?"

"He's a great doctor, even more skilled than my hothead brother. He could help you," Artemis walked a few steps, waiting for Percy to join her. "Will you be okay?"

All the goddess received was a shrug, which didn't really reassured her much. "I suppose. Somehow I always am."

Artemis gave her a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead, somehow managing to while being shorter than her in the disguise of a thirteen year old girl. "Stay strong, Persephone. You're not alone."

"I know I'm not..."

"I'm serious, Percy. You've faced many things before, but the hardest one you will ever face is yourself."

A loud bark shook the whole place, followed by small yelps of happiness that the demigoddess recognized immediately.

Percy turned. In the distance, an enormous hell-hound raced towards where she was, a blonde demigoddess on its back.

A gasp left Percy's mouth as she was overcome with happiness. She turned to face the goddess, but she was gone already. She smiled, a sincere smile for once, looking up at the moon, "Thank you, Lady Artemis."

"Seaweed brain!"

Percy turned to face the upcoming girl and the hell-hound. Her joy helping her forget her pain for a moment. She started to run to meet them, "Wise girl! Mrs. O'Leary!"

...

"What's bothering you?" The demigoddess whispered softly, as if scared of the answer she could receive. "Is it about your punishment?"

"I don't know what my punishment will be," The sun god shook his head slowly, eyes distracted and unfocused. His long fingers wrapped around the mortal's hands. Playing with them like he would play with his ukulele. It was a nervous habit he'd developed, and the demigoddess knew it.

"The other times..." Percy started. "What was it?"

Apollo refused to answer. His past punishments were...gruesome. Unbearable. Impossible to repeat and completely humiliating. He didn't want her to laugh at him, even if he knew she wouldn't do it in a mean way.

"I'm scared," The god blurted out, hating himself for bearing her with his pain and mental turmoil. But she was his companion; the young girl offered him her honest companionship without expecting anything in return. Apollo knew he could trust her...

Yet he felt like a complete burden.

"Of what?" Her voice was soft, understanding. Never once judging him for his lack of bravery in that moment.

"Whenever I angered the other gods, those close to me were struck down," He said, voice too low for the demigoddess to hear.

He looked up, meeting her sea-green eyes. Eyes filled with humanity and passion, of fire and love.

She was so human. So filled with hopes and dreams, she was a sunny complexion to his darker state. As famous poets would say, she was the light to his darkness. The sun to his moon.

She was a flicker of light amid an ocean of darkness.

Truth was, he was terrified of losing her.

He could live without her, just as she could very easily live without him. They didn't need each other to be happy nor successfully, yet being together made them happy. They weren't dependent on each other like some couples were, for them that wasn't love, that was simply an unhealthy obsession.

But the thought of actually having her, as innocent as she still was compared to himself and to other gods, hurt in any way, destroyed him completely.

Apollo was terrified of what his father might do. Zeus couldn't hurt her directly, that would start a quarrel with Poseidon. But as usual, those he loved always paid the high price of doing so.

"Did you say something?" Percy asked softly. "I'm sorry, I couldn't heart you."

"I'm afraid of losing you."

She gave him a look full of compassion, taking his face into her hands and caressing him softly. Her thumbs tracing his cheeks in slow comforting patterns. It wasn't the first time that he'd said something like that to her, but it felt like the most important.

"You won't lose me."

"How can you be so sure? My father-"

"To Tartarus with Zeus!" Percy snarled, pent-up anger at the god growing stronger by every passing second. "To Tartarus with him, with all of them. Think about us," She kissed him, trying to control her outraged heart. But kissing the man she loved didn't really help control her heartbeat.

In his post-make out bliss, Apollo distractedly realized another strikingly comparison the daughter of Poseidon had with her father's realm: She had the power to drown him. Her kisses, her touch, her love...it crashed down into him and drowned all his doubts and his guilt.

"What was that for?" He chuckled, breaking their kiss. "Not that I'm complaining."

She joined their foreheads together, eyes still closed. "I'm finally happy with someone, I'm not going to let anyone take that away."

"You don't need me to be happy," Apollo reminded her gently.

"I don't need anyone to be happy," Percy smirked. "But that's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant," Apollo reassured her, leaning down to capture her lips on his own. "I love you, girl."

She laughed at his tone of voice, instantly lifting both their spirits with her next sentence. "Me too, dude."