What's up Percy Jackson fans? How have you all been? If you're happy about another chapter then you might not feel as chipper when you read this one. We have finally reached the moment we've both expected and dreaded...Sally Jackson's funeral. This chapter takes place just after the last one. Please send Percy your condolences in your reviews.
Disclaimer, I don't own Percy Jackson all rights belong to Rick Riordan.
With Annabeth's constant prodding Percy finally called up Paul using a phone Chiron provided him with. The teen remembered trembling so badly that he almost dropped the phone onto the floor. As soon as Paul had heard his voice the man started worrying, demanding to know where Percy had been for the last few days. 'Do you know how terrified I was? I lost Sally and then you...'. For the longest time Percy remained quiet, letting Paul ramble on sadly about how much he cared about both Percy and his mom.
"Percy, I tried to hold off the funeral, but it's coming up soon..." Paul continued on softly. "I can hardly imagine what you're going through, and when you disappeared for so long I thought I had lost you as well."
The son of Poseidon rocked nervously on his heels, trying to focus on what his English teacher was saying while also trying not to collapse in a messy heap on the ground. Paul started questioning Percy when the teen hadn't said anything. Every question asked went unanswered. It was almost as if Percy's lips had been sewn tightly shut with a needle and thread. Each time he tried to open his mouth Percy found that he could not. Paul asked something about how bad the pain in Percy's arm was from the gun shot wound.
Percy knew that Paul was only interested in knowing his health, but Percy could see flashes of his mother's dying face, the color leaving her skin, the sound of her last breath. He bit his lip trying to keep his hiccupping hidden and silent. The marbled world around him suddenly seemed to grow infinitely larger. Percy pressed his free hand over his eyes, as if the action would quell the tears or protect him from the troubles surrounding him. He hadn't realized his legs had given up on him until he felt himself hunching over and curled up on the floor, his back was pressed up against the cold wall.
"I...I'm...alive Paul." Percy murmured into the phone. He kept his hand pressed into his face. "I'll be at the funeral...where is it?"
Paul told him rather rushed before trying to ask again if Percy was alright, Percy interrupted him, "Okay, bye..."
The teen hardly bothered to hang up the phone before he wrapped both his arms around his legs and pressed his face into his knees. Percy didn't know how long he had been sitting, apparently it had been long enough to make him fall asleep because the next thing he knew he was back in his room. Someone had carried him there and tucked him into the blankets on the bed. Percy blearily sat up and looked around the room, despite the luxurious comforts, he didn't feel like he was home or safe, not like he had when his mom was alive.
"It's not a wise idea to fall asleep in the hallway, Percy." Poseidon seemed to materialize from nowhere. He came and sat at the end of the teen's bed. "Those son's of Hermes will take any chance they can get to pull a prank, even if it is on the son of Poseidon."
Percy looked sadly over to the fish tanks where the fish seemed to be swimming slowly to match his mood, "I didn't mean to fall asleep."
Poseidon laughed slightly and looked as if he wanted to comfort the teen in some way, but Percy was grateful that the god hadn't tried to hug him or something. It would have been too weird despite how badly Percy could have used one. The sea god didn't seem to know what to do with a heartbroken kid. Percy wondered if his dad would say anything about the funeral. For a moment he even thought about having Poseidon come with him to say goodbye, it would be a start to fixing their dysfunctional relationship.
"I understand, losing a loved one does take a toll on you physically." Poseidon sympathized, his green eyes reflecting years of pain and loss to Percy. "I've watched my children, your siblings, die either painfully or of natural causes. Your mothers death has been the most painful thing I've experienced in a long time...I truly did mean it when I told you I loved her."
"Then come to the funeral." Percy told the sea god and smiled slightly when he remembered the wistful look she'd get on her face when she talked about his dad. "I know she'd love it if you came."
The sea god frowned slightly, "I'm afraid, I'd draw too much attention to you Percy. Monsters will already be attracted to your sent, me being there with you will only put you in more danger."
Percy had a feeling that his dad's refusal to come was more than just for his safety. The pain in the god's eyes had become even more visible to the teen, Percy then realized that Poseidon wasn't ready to say goodbye either. It was weird for Percy to be able to tell that despite just meeting his dad earlier that day. Though Poseidon's visible anguish had just made the man seem less like an aloof god and more like an actual human. Poseidon gave Percy's smaller hand a squeeze before the he began to leave.
"You might want to go and get your dinner." The sea king called over his shoulder. "You slept through lunch."
And with those final words, Percy was once again alone in his large and lonely room. He thought about going back to sleep but his growling stomach ordered him to go and get some food. The teen begrudgingly did.
The days leading up to the funeral had passed too quickly for Percy's liking. He woke up that morning to find a tuxedo had been hung over the edge of his bed, Percy figured that maybe Silena had decided to set it out for him while he had been sleeping. Percy clumsily went around his room, combing his hair, brushing his teeth, washing his face and getting dressed. He refused breakfast because he was sure he was going to throw up whatever he ate. By the time he was ready to go the rest of his small group had arrived to go with him.
Annabeth was the first one he noticed. She wore a black dress that came just below her knee and her curly hair had been brought up into a bun. Grover was wearing a tux and he had somehow managed to tame his curly head of hair. Chiron, who was in his wheel chair, also wearing a suit and tie. The three of them insisted that they were going to come with him and Percy felt grateful that they were coming.
The service was outdoors in a large cemetery, the field was crowded with tombstones, and nestled in a small area was an open coffin that had yet to be lowered into the ground. Percy felt himself become frozen, but Annabeth grabbed his arm and led him to where Paul stood waiting. As soon as Percy was within arms reach Paul pulled the teen in for a back breaking hug and he refused to let go for the longest time. Percy could smell the typical cologne that Paul wore as his face was pressed into the fabric of the man's tux.
Finally he released the teen, "Who are they?"
"I run a home for teens, like Percy here, who were in need of a safe place to stay." Chiron lied smoothly as he held out his hand. "My name is Mike Brunner, it's nice to meet you Mr. Blowfis."
The teen tuned out the rest of their conversation, he felt his legs unconsciously take him to the beautiful oak coffin where his mother was resting. Percy's whole body began to quiver like a leaf caught in a gale. Gabe's bullets had killed, but they hadn't maimed her. The boy was greatful to be able look upon her peaceful face one last time. Even in death she was a beautiful woman. His mom was wearing a navy blue blazer and skirt, the undershirt she wore was stark white aganst the color and her hair had been set gently around her. Over where her heart was, Sally Jackson had a silly little macaroni necklace that Percy had made for her when he was little. Some of the elbow noodles were colored blue because he had insisted that his teacher let him paint some and in the center of all the noodles was a seashell that Percy had looped onto the string.
Percy felt his throat catch when he remembered the shell was from their last trip to Montauk
He looked back at the modest group of guest, it was just him, Paul, Annabeth, Grover, and Chiron, the Priest hadn't arrived yet. Other than the five of them the graveyard was pretty vacant of mourners crying over lost loved ones. Percy thought painfully about how lonely his mom's final goodbye was, he reached into the coffin and grabbed her cold hand as if it were a consolation to the meager service. She was the kind of person whose death should have brought the world quaking in tears. Sally Jackson deserved to be mourned like a celebrity, not as something insignificant like a squashed bug.
Percy tried not to cry, he really did, but the flood gates that he had been struggling to keep shut opened at full force. His mom deserved so much more. He sobbed more than he had when he had fallen off his bike and scraped his knee badly, he cried even more than he had when he was kicked out of his first school, when bullies and teachers had called him dumb and useless. The teen was willing to take on any number of bullies if it meant that he could have his mom back. Despite being blinded with loss, agony, and loneliness, Percy remembered the Drachmas Annabeth had given him. She said that they would guarantee his mom safe passage across the river Styx and to the afterlife.
"I...It's not m..much." Percy stuttered as he placed the three coins in her limp hand and pressed them into her palm. "Heck, they're not even from me exactally, but Annabeth says they will give you favor with Charon. I...I'm sorry it's not much..."
More sobs continued to hit him like lightning strikes. He had to grip the side of the coffin to keep himself upright. Percy wasn't sure if it was sorrow that had been building up since her death or if it was all of the miserable moments in his life catching up to him in one tragedy. A hand was placed on his shoulder, Percy half expected it to be Paul, but it was Annabeth.
She gave him a weak smile. "You have more guest."
A large group of teens and adults clad in black tuxes and dresses were making their way up to them. Silena and Beckendorf were at the lead, Silena hadn't stayed at her boyfriend's side for too long as she rushed to Percy and gave him a hug that rivaled Paul's. Percy could hear her sniffling as he hugged her back. He was still in awe at all of the other demigods in the area. Wouldn't they all draw attention to the cemetery?
"I hope you don't mind that we're late, but we all had gifts we wanted to give. That and both mom and Hermes had taken forever to get their gifts in order." Silena apologized as she let him go. "And don't get me started on Apollo and his hair issues."
Percy looked back at the crowed. He could see that many of Annabeth's siblings had come, the blond hair was unmistakable, Jason had also come with a rose in his hand, though his single flower seemed to pale at the assortment that Aphrodite had brought. Hermes had apparently broken into Percy's old home because he had a box full of old pictures and family things that the teen hadn't been able to grab.
"It's to my understanding that you lost some pictures." The messenger god smiled. "I figured you could choose one to give to your mom and I'll take the rest back to...uh...your room at the home. And both Travis and Connor, liberated some campers of their Drachmas."
The Stolls both lifted bags heavy with coins.
"And we've brought some as well." Malcolm smiled at Percy. "I guess you're mom will have enough to make it into Elysium."
Apollo smile and held forward a thick book for the son of Poseidon. "Heard your mom had a way with words, I found this on a laptop, finished, and I took the liberty of publishing it and sending it to every retail store I could. Your mom was a wonderful story teller, this way she will never be forgotten, little cousin. If you ever feel the need to hear her voice just read this, she is in every word. And don't worry it's in Greek, you'll be able to read it without any hassle."
The sun god said the last part a little quietly so Paul wouldn't be able to hear it. To say the teen was overwhelmed wouldn't begin to cover how he felt, he couldn't believe people he had just met were going out of their way for his mom, for him. Percy read the dedication in the book and felt his heart stop, 'I dedicate this book to my beautiful and wonderful son who reminds me that anything is possible, even when things seem bleak. I love you Percy, my sweet prince'. He closed the book and held it to his chest, it had just become the most valuable thing he owned. Everyone began to set their bags of coins into the coffin with his mother and Jason set the flower over her hands.
The demigods all gathered around him and Paul as the funeral started. The service was brief and ended with Percy describing his mom as the most beautiful and kind person any one could have known. And with his final words the casket, now heavy with coins, was lowered into the ground. Percy had to be the first to throw a handful of dirt onto the wooden box. His hands trembled as he let the Earth slip from his fingers and down into the ground. Paul followed along with the others and soon the area was shoveled full.
"And these flowers." Aphrodite began as she showed Percy her assortment of white and blue flowers that had been woven into a blanket. "They will last forever and protect her, Percy. They are as beautiful as her and will never die, just like the love the two of you have for one another."
Percy smiled sadly as Aphrodite placed the flowers over the dark dirt, like magic they instantly took to the ground. His mom's grave was the most festive out of all and for a moment it felt as if it were the warmest place in the whole grave yard. The son of Poseidon wanted to voice his gratitude to everyone but he was almost positive he would start crying because this, this was more than he ever expected for them to do for him.
Silena smiled, knowing what he wanted to say, "You're welcome Percy."
Okay, I'm going to stop beating you guys over the head with feels now...Please comment and send Percy your love