In which Percy admits everything to Zia and Bes, and Sadie and Carter wake up!
Replies:
Fugy: Yeah, Percy is nine at this stage, and it's a few years to the Greek stuff, don't you worry we'll get there.
Georgia: Yeah, she's got it pretty hard right now, but she'll be okay in the end.
Jason: Well, it's not a nice character lets leave it at that to avoid spoilers.
Guest: I mean, it's how gods and such work, I imagine it's pretty easy for them.
Guest: I can't say too much, but Percy's dreams are only with one being if that helps.

Once Zia and Bes determined that Carter was stable- for a little bit longer at least, they dragged Percy out to the living room, and Zia shoved Percy onto the couch, crossing her arms over her chest as Bes joined her, both of them looking down at Percy, stern expressions on their face. "What is it that you gave Carter?" Zia asked after a long moment of uncomfortable silence. And Percy winced slightly, ducking her head.

"I don't know-"

"You don't know?" Bes' eyes narrowed, "Kid you've got to tell us what's going on here."

"I-" Percy glared down at her hands, biting her lip, "There-" she swallowed hard. "I've been having dreams. Darkness- and a voice."

"What sort of voice?" Bes leaned forward, "Tell us everything."

"I- I don't know." Percy's voice was frustrated, "I don't- It's deep I guess? K-kinda terrifying." she shook her head, "It- it just talks at me. About what I'll do to protect my family- about- about making some choice, asks if I'll be strong enough. Talks about the fact that
I have power too but I just-" she exhaled sharply, blowing her hair out of her face.

"How long has this been going on." Zia moved-and Percy lifted her head as the older girl sat down next to her, laying a hand on
Percy's shoulder- which made Percy cuddle into Zia's side automatically.

"I- a few weeks. I didn't want to worry anyone." she shook her head, "I just- I wanted to pretend that they weren't happening. Last time I had a weird dream I told dad and..."

"Oh." Zia blinked, "Carter mentioned that you were the one who warned your father of the danger of Apophis. Persephone-"

"I know okay, I know it was stupid I know my dreams are even more risky than Carter and Sadie's sometimes 'cause of the whole demigod thing."

"Someone is clearly trying to reach you through your dreams." Zia looked very troubled as she said that, "Bes, do you know who it could be?"

"No." Bes did not look happy, "I don't. It's worrying to say the least. We need to keep an eye on this. And you had another dream while you were out?"

"Yeah." Percy nodded quickly, "It- he asked what I'd do to save Carter. And the voice gave me that vial of- whatever it was and he said it would buy Carter the time he needed for Sadie to wake up. I- I told the voice I didn't trust it but it said it was just trying to prove its good intentions-"

"Word of advice." Bes snorted, "If someone tells you they have good intentions they probably don't." he shook his head, "Whatever it is that's visiting your dreams- you can't trust it kid-"

"I know that." Percy said quickly, "I'm not stupid Bes! Why do you think I waited until the very last minute to give it to him- he was dying! He was dying I couldn't do nothing and- and the only thing I could do was give him that potion."

"Well it does seem to have worked." Zia wrapped an arm around Percy, rubbing her back soothingly. "That is a good thing at least- though- you cannot trust the voice- you know that yes?"

Percy nodded, "Of course I do." she muttered the words, "I know I can't trust the voice and I know it only gave me the potion thing to get me to trust it. But- I do think it was telling the truth- Sadie's being told how to heal Carter through her dreams. When she wakes up I she'll save him."

Bes and Zia exchanged looks at that and Bes spoke up, "Even the bad guys can tell the truth if it helps them I guess." he admitted, "And if whatever it is wants something from you..."

"It knows you well enough to know that the best way to get to you is through your family." Zia shook her head, "You should have told Carter and Sadie as soon as the dreams began-"

"Okay can we skip the part where you lecture me?" Percy asked sharply, scowling as she hunched in on herself and pulled a face, "I know I should have told someone about it okay? I know that you don't have to tell me-"

And Zia faltered at that, her expression going soft- a rare thing for Zia. "We're sorry. We know that it must be hard for you at times. But you know that you will need to tell them when they are well enough once more. You know that yes?"

"Of course." Percy shifted so that her head was resting on Zia's shoulder. "When Sadie's healed Carter I'll talk to them about it. I promise Zia."

And thankfully Bes and Zia seemed to decide to leave it after that- though Bes kept shooting them concerned looks as Percy stayed cuddled into Zia's side.

And it was almost two hours later that Sadie finally stirred- and Percy wasn't even sure how she felt- the voice had been right, if she hadn't used the potion then Carter would definitely be dead. Percy would have lost her beloved big brother, she hated thinking that she owed the voice anything but-she felt like she did. If the voice hadn't given her that potion... still, Sadie's awakening was a good distraction from those thoughts.

Percy and Zia had been eating when Sadie woke up- they'd ordered themselves some food from room service- a fruit and cheese platter when Percy heard the faint creak of the bed- a sure sign of movement- and she was on her feet almost instantly, nearly tipping over the table in her haste.

"SADIE?!"

"Percy calm down!" that came from Zia- though the other girl was just a couple of steps behind her as they burst into Sadie's room- and Sadie was stood up- she was paler than usual- and rather queasy looking but she was awake.

"Percy-" Sadie shook her head, clearly still waking up, "Carter is he-"

"He's in there." Percy pointed towards the other bedroom quickly, "He's asleep. You need to heal him as soon as possible."

"Right-" Sadie closed her eyes- she seemed out of it, distant in a way that made Percy's chest go tight with worry, "Right- Where's Bes?"

"He went to get some things." Zia spoke up, moving forward and taking Sadie's arm gently to steady her, "Sadie-"

"I'm fine-" she really didn't look it. "Just- I'm fine. How long was I out- you said he's- how long was I out?"

Percy and Zia exchanged worried looks at that and Percy bit her lip, "Around fourteen hours-"

"What?" Sadie's expression shifted to pure terror, "No- no Set said that- he said-"

"Percy had a potion that brought us time." Zia said smoothly, "She will explain that to you later but it does seem to have worked. Carter is alive- for now at least."

And Sadie's gaze flicked between Zia and Percy- clearly noticing the tension- then she let out a breath, swallowing hard. "Okay. Okay I'll ask later." she took a deep breath, "Percy, get me to Carter, Zia get me my wand and the wax figure in my bag."

Zia nodded, darting out of the room quickly, and Percy took Sadie's arm, helping her very unsteady older sister into the second bedroom, where Sadie crouched by Carter's side, her expression filled with concern as she brushed her fingers over Carter's forehead.

"He's stable for now but it won't last long." she muttered the words, giving Percy a sidelong glance, "Whatever you gave him saved
his life." Sadie paused, "Where are we?"

"The Four Seasons in Alexandria, I think that's what Bes said. In the Penthouse Suite, apparently Bes has some pull here."

"Right." Sadie nodded and lifted her head when Zia came rushing in- and she took the figurine and the wand quickly, pressing her hand against his forehead more firmly.

Percy watched as Sadie closed her eyes- and as still as she went there was somehow still an air of urgency around her, and Zia left the room again as Sadie leaned in closer, her voice almost so quiet that Percy couldn't hear, "You can do this Carter." and Percy swallowed hard, fingers curling into fists. "You're my brother. I love you. All the embarrassing bits, all the annoying bits, you're my brother. Me and Percy, we'll be with you forever, no matter what else happens. Us against the world, how it should be. But I need you
to tell me your name. So that we can stay together, so that I can save you."

And Percy felt as if the air was filled with electricity- something was happening- Carter's body tensed- his breathing turning strained for a second before his body relaxed- and Percy could see the way Sadie's expression went soft, then she lifted the wax figurine and spoke again, her eyes flicking to Percy- who's eyes widened- Carter's secret name. She'd never use it of course, but- Sadie had made sure that she knew it too- that was kinda heart-warming.

And Percy could see it- the wax figure turned green and melted in Sadie's hand as Carter suddered and took a deep breath, his eyes fluttering open slowly- and Percy let out a relieved little sob, scrambling onto the bed next to her big brother- who didn't hesitate to wrap an arm around her gently as Sadie exhaled.

"Right." her voice was stern- but there was a slight tremble in it "Don't ever ride another bloody snake monster again."

"Sorry-" Carter's voice was hoarse, "Did you just-"

"Yeah."

"With my secret name?"

"Yeah."

"And all my secrets-"

"Yeah."

And Carter groaned, pulling Percy in close so that he could press his face into her curls. And Percy gripped at his fluffy robe tightly, pressing her face into his shoulder.

"You're not allowed to scare us like that again." her voice was barely more than a whisper. "You hear me Carter Kane? Sadie agrees too right?"

"Of course." Sadie's voice was soft.

"Thank you. For saving me." Carter lifted his head slightly, "Where are we? And- where are Bes and Zia."

"Alexandria in a hotel." Sadie told Carter, "Long story, Set gave us a tip, if you can believe that." and Percy turned her head slightly to look at Sadie as her sister pulled a face, "I don't remember much after coming through the portal. But Bes is- somewhere, I
dunno, and Zia's just outside I think. She left while I was working on healing you."

"He went to get supplies." Zia was stood in the doorway, her eyes glued to Carter. "Clothes and such I believe. I think he wanted to get some air- he was worried." her gaze flicked to Percy, who shrunk under the look she was given. "I will go and fetch you both some fruits from room service." her voice was firm, "And some water too of course. Persephone-"

"Yeah yeah." Percy's shoulders slumped, and she didn't look at Zia, "I'll tell them?" and Carter's arm tightened around her slightly.

"Tell us what Percy?"

"There's- you're gonna freak out." Percy mumbled the words, "But I just didn't want to worry you guys- and I mean- it kind of helped in the end-" she winced, "Gods I hate this-"

"Hate what?" Sadie's brows furrowed as Zia made another hasty exit, and Percy resisted the urge to glare after her- the fact that Zia was right didn't mean Percy had to be happy about it did it?

"I've been having dreams." Percy forced herself to pull away from Carter slightly, her expression grim, "I didn't tell you 'cause last time I had a dream- I told dad and he decided to go freeing the gods and we all know how that went. But I've been having dreams." and so, with a heavy heart and shaking hands, Percy told them everything.