Poor Percy, she's a lil bit upset and stressed in this chapter.
Replies:
Rage2091: Hehehe, you'll have to wait and see what I have planned- but someone likes the fact that Percy's chaotic.
Guest: You can only use a secret name if you're told the name by that person, or the person closest to that person's heart. Both Sadie and Percy were told by Nephthys, Set's wife and the person closest to his heart- Carter and Zia have heard Percy use it but because they didn't hear it from Nephthys they can't use it if that makes sense.
Percy was unsurprised to find that she was dreaming again. She was surrounded by that familiar blackness that scared her more than anything else had lately. She took a deep breath, forcing back her panic- and she resisted the urge to look around- it would be pointless, there was never anything to see. "What do you want this time?" she demanded after a moment, crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes. "C'mon, where are you you annoying stinkhead?" because she was angry at the moment and she could use that. Better to be angry than afraid.
"I am all around you little one. You're filled with anger- and pain too. It fuels you, makes you stronger, more powerful."
"Are you gonna tell me anything useful?" Percy demanded, "Who are you? Why won't you answer any of my questions?"
"In time my little one, in time-"
"I'm not your little one." Percy huffed the words, "If you're not gonna be helpful then go away. I need to wake up to help Carter and Sadie-"
"Yes. You love your family, don't you little one?"
"Of course I do." Percy huffed, shaking her head, "Why are you asking stupid questions oh mysterious voice dude."
"What would you do to save your brother?"
"Anything." Percy didn't even hesitate, "He's my brother." she paused, "Do you- do you know how to save him?" she tried not to sound too hopeful- after all she didn't even know who she was talking to. But- if the voice knew how to save Carter she had to try.
"I cannot save him, not this time little hero." the voice whispered the words, twining around her, filled with understanding. "But I can delay his death." and suddenly Percy was holding a small vial filled with a pale golden liquid, "This will ease his pain- it will give him more time- it is his only chance little one. Your sister may well be capable of healing with him- even now she has friends and goddesses whispering in her dreams to help- but she won't waken in time to heal him, you can give him the time that he needs. You must give him every drop of that potion."
Percy felt hope rising before she faltered- because- it was almost too good to be true wasn't it? "What do you want in return?" she asked after a moment, pressing her lips together into a thin line.
"Nothing yet." the voice was gentle, "This is simply a gift to you- to prove my good intentions."
"Really?" Percy blinked, "Why? Most people want something in exchange for something like this." she looked down at the vial in her hands.
"Because I want only to help you little halfling. You're a child after my own heart." the voice chuckled, "Wild and free, why you may even have more chaos in your soul than Set-"
"Set's not someone I want to be like."
"Oh you're better than Set, much fiercer. Such power runs through your veins. There has never been a child of two world- the
merging of them- such a dangerously powerful mix. You will be great- that is all I want my child. Your greatness."
"I-" Percy opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before she bit her lip hard. "Can I really, really truly trust you?" her voice was soft, desperate.
"The true question here is do you have a choice?"
And Percy almost flinched at that question. "You won't tell me who you are. I don't- I don't trust you. I can't."
"Well then little one, we shall see what choice you make." and then- it was like all of the air had been sucked out of the- whatever the heck it was she was in- and Percy tried to suck in a desperate breath, her eyes going wide- and suddenly the darkness around her was pressing in, thick and cloying and she couldn't move- couldn't breath she was trapped- she was trapped she was dying she could feel her chest, painfully tight, and if there was anything to see but darkness she was sure that the world would be spinning- was she going to die?
The voice hadn't liked her answer, it had been angry at it. Percy could feel her tears becoming damp as she cried uselessly- and then suddenly she was sucking in a breath so fast that she started to choke on the air, her eyes snapping open- the ceiling above her was pure white- and a second later someone was at her side, a hand was on her back and Percy turned her head to focus on Zia- who looked exhausted but- well, she was alive.
"Breath Percy- what on earth were you dreaming of? One second you were fine and the next second you were gasping as if you couldn't suck in any air. You scared Bes and I."
"I-" Percy let out a slow breath, flopping back in the bed, "Where are we?"
"Well;" That came from the other side of the room- and Percy turned her head- Bes was stood in the doorway, he looked like a miniature tourist in a loud Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals.
Sadie was led in the bed next to her- and she really did not look good, the cut on her head stark and unpleasant looking against too pale skin, though at least her breathing seemed even and easy- Carter's was harsh, with an unpleasant rattling wheeze. He was in the room next door, Percy could just see him led on the bed through the open door. "We're in Alexandria, one of the hotels. You passed out after we got here-"
"I-" Percy winced as the memories flooded back, "I cause-"
"A freak storm that was near hurricane level?" Bes snorted, "Yeah kid, you did. It drained you so much that you passed out right after but you did."
"You've been out for like eight hours." Zia told Percy quickly, "Are you okay?"
"Eight-" Percy flinched, her eyes flicking towards Carter- he was wearing a plush hotel robe- and so were she and Sadie but she didn't dwell on that, his skin looked ashen and it was coated with sweat. "That means-"
"He has four hours left." Zia looked down, "I- I did what I could but healing magic isn't my strength." She admitted, her voice pained. "I've eased his pain. There- Bes doesn't know what else to do either."
"I'm sorry." Bes shook his head, "I don't have a damn clue kid. And I don't know anyone who would."
"Jaz gave Sadie a-" Percy swallowed hard, "Sadie might be able to save him when she wakes up-" she remembered that voice, whispering.
"Percy Sadie isn't a healer." Zia tried, "You know that-"
"No, no but-" Percy pushed herself out of the bed, her heart racing, "She's not having normal dreams- I think maybe Isis or someone is talking to her Ba." her eyes flicked towards Carter again. "I can't heal him but Sadie will. She just has to wake up within the next four hours and everything is gonna be okay."
"Percy how do you know that?" Bes looked concerned.
"I just do." Percy declared, "Have you tried to wake her-"
"Yes." Zia nodded, "We had no luck- you may be right. The sleep did seem unnaturally deep."
"I knew it." Percy took a deep breath, "We just have to wait. She'll wake up in time. She has to." and she pushed her hand into her pocket. She felt her fingers curling around a small familiar feeling vial- she forced back a shudder, pulling her hand out again.
"It's going to be fine." she took a deep breath, running her fingers through her hair. As he made her way towards the door, Bes stepping aside so that she could head into a beautiful living room, also bright white. Sliding glass doors led to a veranda that overlooked the sea from quite a height—possibly fifteen or twenty stories. The sky and the water were gorgeous blue.
On a nearby table a few of their things were carefully laid out- their old rumpled clothes, Carter and Sadie's magic bags the two scrolls from the Book of Ra, and Bes' bags from the Chocolate museum.
"Percy- you should probably sit down-" Zia's voice was concerned, "I don't think you're thinking very clearly-"
"I am." Percy glanced at Zia, "You think I should be more freaked out but I'm not." she declared, "Because Sadie will wake up and Carter is going to be fine."
"Kid-" Bes was shaking his head but Zia took a deep breath.
"Of course." her smile was strained, "So you just want to wait until Sadie wakes up?"
"Yep." Percy nodded, her eyes drifting to the veranda, "Are you guys okay if I go and sit outside?" she wasn't sure how she was so calm- maybe she was in shock or something. Usually she'd be freaking out she was sure but- there was nothing she could do to help Carter, and if Sadie was still asleep Percy knew she shouldn't wake her even if she could- Isis could be telling Sadie how to help Carter even now. If she woke her up she might miss something vitally important and the very thought of that made Percy feel like she was gonna puke. She'd be responsible for Carter's death and she just- she couldn't let that happen. So she'd be patient because she had no other choice."
"Of course." Zia exchanged looks with Bes, and she led Percy outside to the small white table- and Percy sat down at it, her gaze instantly shifting towards the sea, which was lapping at the shore below.
She let out a slow breath, letting the ocean air fill her lungs and letting herself just breath.
And she stayed there for three and a half hours- Bes and Zia came out to check on her- Zia brought her some water and food when she checked in, and they kept her updated on time time- and when there was only half an hour left Percy felt herself starting to panic and she headed back inside to where Sadie and Carter were- both of them were still unconscious- Carter's breathing was becoming more labored, it was painfully obvious that he was dying- and Sadie was still there, unwakable.
And Percy did try, she tried everything she could think of, she shook her, screamed in her ear, poured water over her- and her panic started rising as Sadie just wouldn't wake up- and Carter rapidly got worse and worse- they were running out of time- and it was only after Zia and Bes dragged her away from Sadie while she'd been screaming in the other girls ear that Percy cracked-because she could hear it- could see that Carter's breathing was getting more desperate- and Percy managed to elbow her way free from Zia and Bes, tears pouring down her cheeks as she rushed through the door to Carter's side, dropping to her knees next to his bed.
"Carter, Carter please you gotta wake up."
"He's not going to." Percy could hear the way Zia's voice trembled- she was trying not to sob. "Percy I am sorry. He- he's got minutes left if that."
"We failed." Bes whispered the words, "I failed you kids-"
"No-no-" Percy shook her head, her hand slipping into the robes pocket again.
She didn't want this- she didn't trust that voice- but- Carter needed to live and it was the only choice she had- she was lunging upwards, pulling the vial out of her pocket, flicking the little cork out with her thumb.
"Percy what-"
"Kid what are you-"
But Percy was already leaning over Carter, and she forced his mouth open with one hand and poured the liquid from the bottle into his mouth, ignoring Zia and Bes' panicked demands to know what was going on.
Finally the last drop was gone, and Percy could hear Carter's breathing easing up somewhat- not going back to normal but- it was better than it had been.
"What-" Bes' voice was stunned, "What did you give him?"
"I-"
"Percy." Zia's voice was shaky, "How did- what was that? Why did you wait so long to give it to him?"
"It's not a cure." Percy whispered the words as she lifted her head and looked at Bes and Zia. "I- I have a confession. Please don't be mad with me."