He had no idea how long or how far he ran. The air of the pit hurt his throat and lungs with every breath, but the pain felt more than deserved. As long as he could remember, Percy had always made it his personal mission to protect the ones he loved. He'd been made to do things against his will before like with the eidolons in Kansas, but this time felt different. The voices that had goaded him in his dreams hadn't possessed him but twisted what he felt deep down into the ugliest, most perverted version of itself.
All the unresolved tension and history with Annabeth, being stuck with only her in the most hostile place to mortals in existence had taken a toll over time. Adding Reyna into the mix only made things more complicated and confusing. After all he had promised, did he even deserve to make it back?
Suddenly, he felt his senses inverting, twisting around as he ran, his legs felt like lead and every honed sense screamed at him to turn back. Large footsteps thudded behind him and the disorientation and sinking feeling in his gut forced him to stop. He knew there was no outrunning what was behind him. He may have been faster than Annabeth, but he was no match for a Titan.
He heard smaller feet hitting the ground and a worried voice call his name, "Percy?". He opened his mouth, but no words came out, catching in his throat. There was no way he could bear to turn around and face them. Not now.
The footsteps grew closer behind him, and his breath began to catch as well. When they stopped, he looked down in surprise as a small skeletal cat was nuzzling itself between his legs. He jumped as a hand gently placed itself on his shoulder. Please don't do this to me. Percy thought desperately.
"Small Bob, come," Bob called from behind them, the cat running towards the Titan.
"Percy," Annabeth said again. "It's okay, we can talk about this."
Tears started welling up in his eyes. He didn't deserve this kindness after what he had done. For a moment, he forgot where they were until reality came knocking like a hurricane. It was like the pit sensed weakness as several demonic, spectral crones manifested from the shadows.
"Bob does not like old ladies," Bob said, brandishing his silver spear.
We are the arai. The crones hissed. You cannot destroy us. We will kill you and offer you to the Night Mother.
"Don't touch them," Annabeth whispered. "They're curse spirits. We need to leave."
We serve the bitter and the defeated. The arai said. We serve the slain who prayed for vengeance with their final breath. We have many curses to share with you.
Despite Annabeth's urging, Percy felt his hand grip onto Riptide again, drawing the Celestial Bronze blade. "You go," he said, finally finding his voice. "I'll keep them busy."
"No, I'm not leaving," Annabeth stated firmly.
"LEAVE!" Percy screamed as the first of the arain lunged for them.
He swung, cleanly bisecting his foe through her hideous face. She vanished into mist, but not without leaving a parting gift. Percy lurched backwards as the sides of his ribcage were filled with agony. It didn't take Annabeth's screaming or the warm, wet feeling to know that it was bad. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity that this injury wasn't random.
Vengeance. A curse from the slain. One of the arai cackled.
"Geryon," Percy said, the realization dawning on him. "This is how I killed him…"
A curse from the slain, the same injuries as Geryon. It was all beginning to add up in Percy's mind. A dark smile began to contort his lips. Finally, Tartarus had given him exactly what he wanted: penance.
He readied his blade for another attack, but Bob's sweeping spear point reached the arai first, turning three of them into smoke in the blink of an eye. Percy turned back in horror, but Bob seemed no worse for wear. He smiled as Small Bob skittered around him, trying to find its footing on Bob's enormous mass as it shifted for battle.
"Bob, you okay?" Percy asked. "No curses?"
"No curses for Bob!" The Titan agreed.
The Titan is already cursed. Why should we torture him further? You, Percy Jackson, have already destroyed his memory. The arai hissed back, still wary of Bob's effective range with the broom spear.
Bob's face went slack as he took in the truth. Percy turned away once again. Now his heart felt like exploding. It was true. He'd taken the Titan's memories and not given him a second thought since. The only reason Bob was here was because Nico had been visiting him, telling Bob that Percy was his friend. He had no words that could express how sorry he was.
The winged hags began to encroach, sensing that the Titan no longer posed an immediate threat to them. Just as he regained a bit of composure, Annabeth's scream broke through the stillness of the pit. Percy turned to see a puff of smoke rising from under a large rock and Annabeth clutching at her eyes. He rushed towards her by pure instinct, waving Riptide as the bronze glow kept the spirits somewhat at bay.
"I can't see!" She wailed, turning to Percy, her eyes milky white.
"I'm here," He said, though even saying that bit into his soul. "Just stay there, I won't let them near you."
It took every ounce of courage he had left to say that as he stood his ground against the oncoming onslaught. Curse after curse came flooding out from the dark, talons bared and bat wings flapping incessantly. Percy did his best, but the more he cut down, the harder it became to continue. His body was being ravaged by the accumulating wounds, yet he would not yield while his friend was in danger.
Over the years, both his mind and body had been honed through battle and training. Demigods were usually diagnosed with ADHD, but on the battlefield, hardly anything could break Percy's focus on the task at hand. However, though the blood of Olympus flowed through his veins, he was still only mortal. One mistake, one small lapse in concentration was all it took for one of the spirits to fly past him and rake its claws across Annabeth's arm.
"Percy!" Annabeth sobbed. "Why did you leave me?"
"I didn't!" He answered desperately, slashing at the demon who hurt her, but it had already flown out of range. "What did you do to her?"
We did nothing. It cackled back. This is a special curse – a bitter thought from someone you abandoned. You punished an innocent soul by leaving her in her solitude. Now her most hateful wish has come to pass
"Percy?" Annabeth called. "Thalia, Luke? Anyone? Please don't leave me alone again!"
"Who did I abandon?" Percy demanded. "I…"
His voice trailed as he understood what the curses were saying. Ogygia, Calypso, the beach, the crystals, the cave, Mount Saint Helens. It all came rushing back. It was too much. First, he had hurt Annabeth, then Bob, now even Calypso had turned her back on him because he had let them all down in some way or another. Athena had once told Percy that his fatal flaw was over loyalty to his friends. Some friend he was. It felt like he was back drowning in the Cocytus.
His shoulders dropped and the arai began to close in on him, savoring the experience of despair. Suddenly, his body began to squirm, and the demons began to hesitate. It grew more and more vigorous until it was clear that the demigod was laughing. However, there was no joy in his voice, it was a maniacal laugh of a broken man who had lost everything. Tears streamed down Percy's face as his stomach heaved. He clutched at his face as his body crouched downwards, the spirits finally resuming their forward march, but still unsure of what to make of the situation.
That was when he attacked. Screaming, Percy lunged forward, slicing like a whirlwind through the horde of ghouls. His face contorted in anger, tears spilling down his cheeks, he cut down arai one after the other. Rage, sorrow, despair, and loss were the only things fueling his advance. One by one, the curses accumulated on his body, each taking their toll, trying to slow his movements, but he would not be stopped. At one point, he swore he could almost hear Ares cheering him on which only made him fight harder to try and escape it.
"It's me you want!" Percy screamed. "I should be the one to suffer! Don't you DARE touch anyone else! Not Annabeth, not Bob!"
His movements were beginning to falter, but he kept going. "I'm the one who made them hurt! I failed them! You aren't going to keep them here. I'm getting them both out if it costs me my life!"
Before he had realized it, most of the group had dispersed or turned to smoke by his hand. A few remained, intent on finishing the job. Blood was pouring out from every limb on Percy's body. The fact that he was still in one piece was nothing short of a miracle. He could tell there was severe internal damage as well as he'd been coughing blood for a while now. His clothes were soaked red as the warmth of life left his body. He fell to his knees, Riptide clattering to the ground. In his dying moments, he began to see Tartarus for the eldritch horror it really was. They were trapped in a living body, everything in the pit was a part of this incomprehensibly large being.
Silver flashed across his fading vision as he lost consciousness. The last thing he felt were two pairs of hands, one large and one small. Reyna, I'm sorry. He thought. Looks like I couldn't keep my promise. A last glimpse of Annabeth's blonde hair and her grey eyes now back to normal, put his mind at rest.
"I love you," Percy muttered, his body going cold and limp.
Reyna was getting annoyed. Not for anything unusual, she just hated being around Octavian so much. Travelling from California to South Carolina then up to New York all with the pale, scrawny augur espousing his glory made her want to vomit. It was like a breath of fresh air to receive a message from Camp Half-Blood urging for a council. Being stuck in a building with Octavian and his goons was getting to her.
Unfortunately, as luck would have it, Octavian insisted he go to the camp. With the amount of backing he had, it was an impossible request to refuse. Reyna desperately hoped that this talk could buy them time while the seven completed their quest in the ancient lands. Holding off Octavian's lust for war with the Greeks was difficult as it stood. Many of the troops Octavian had already riled into a frenzy that Reyna could barely control.
As they marched towards the meeting building in Manhattan, dogs and several centurions, Dakota included, in tow, Reyna couldn't help but be amazed at how vast and sprawling the cityscape was. Skyrises gleaming in the sun, bustling streets, food vendors at every corner, electronic billboards, it was like an amusement park, and no one seemed to bat an eye.
So, this is where Percy grew up. She thought. It's nice here.
Lost in thought, and not used to the crowds, Reyna found herself running right into an unlucky couple and fell backwards on the ground. She rubbed her face, in a daze, partially because she couldn't believe she had been caught unaware. The couple were soon on their feet and asking Reyna if she was alright.
"I'm okay," Reyna said, her face red. "I'm very sorry about the trouble. I should've been paying more attention."
"No, it's quite alright dear," The woman said, squinting at her closely. "We should be careful as well, right Paul?"
"Oh, yes, of course," The man, Paul, replied, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry Sally, and sorry…uh…"
"Reyna," She supplied.
"Right, well," Sally said, clapping her hands together. "No reason to hold up the street. Here Reyna, take these, you look tired."
Sally handed her a wrapped parcel in a Ziploc bag and waved her goodbye as she walked off with Paul. Reyna stood there confused before Octavian rudely cleared his throat and insisted, they move on. They resumed their march and Reyna decided to put the bag away in her pocket. A faint fragrance escaped the plastic seal as she did, and her mind froze for a second. She turned back, but the couple were gone.
"Reyna!" Octavian shouted and she grimly resumed the trek.
The meeting was not setup as she had expected. They stood atop the roof an inconspicuous building in the shadow of the famous Empire State Building that Olympus sat atop. Orange and purple lights occasionally illuminated the venue, but it was an open space with few escapes. The breeze ten stories up felt rather nice, though it carried with it the scent of an approaching storm.
Creaking metal alerted the Romans to an approaching presence and the rooftop access door gave way to a scruffy satyr and an out-of-sorts looking redhead. Reyna studied the Greek ambassadors and noticed Octavian puff out his chest out of the corner of her eye. She sighed mentally at what a child the augur was to feel threatened by a goat and young Mrs. Frizzle.
"You got my message," The redhead said, staring directly into Reyna's eyes, her vision boring deep into Reyna's soul.
"That's the only reason you made it this far alive, Graecus. I hope you've come to discuss surrender terms," Octavian said pridefully.
"Let's not forget our manners," Reyna said, taking joy in undermining the augur's presence. "Reyna, and this is Octavian."
"Rachel," The girl replied.
"Grover," The satyr said, fiddling with his pipes.
"Reyna, will you at least search them?" Octavian cried out.
The praetor rolled her eyes at her 'colleague' and went through the procedure of showing that everyone was properly unarmed at the meeting, or at least had their weapons stowed. She was quite confident she could handle a satyr and his mortal friend should it come to it. Sad that Octavian didn't think the same.
Grover and Rachel proceeded to explain why they had called to convene with the Roman leadership. The wind from earlier had brewed a storm atop the Empire State Building as if the gods struggle was worsening by the day. Rachel dug out a note from her pocket and handed the napkin to Reyna. She took it cautiously and unfolded the napkin slowly.
Connor,
Give this to Rachel. Not a prank. Don't be a moron.
Love,
Annabeth
"Is this a joke?" Reyna asked, confused, but certainly amused by the message.
"Keep unfolding," Rachel urged.
Rachel,
Not much time. In Tartarus. Percy needs help. Athena Parthenos.
Reyna must take it back. En route to Doors of Death, Epirus, GRE.
Annabeth
"Certainly, a joke in bad taste," Reyna said, looking up, her lips now twisted into a frown.
"I wish." Rachel said, shaking her head. "They're really in Tartarus. That note appeared in the sacrificial fire at our dining pavilion. That's Annabeth's handwriting and she asked for you by name."
"Tartarus?" Octavian asked, stirring in his position. "What do you mean?"
Reyna handed him the note and waited for Octavian to go ballistic over it. Which he did. So predictable. Unfortunately, his reaction to Tartarus was justified. A place of unimaginable horrors where monsters were birthed, and nightmares came true. That was where Percy and Annabeth were right now. At the thought, Reyna felt her heart constrict in fear.
"Why ask this of me," Reyna inquired, collecting herself internally.
"Because Annabeth is wise. She believes you can do this, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano."
"How did you—" Reyna started.
"Your initials are RA-RA?" Grover asked, his smile soon extinguished when Reyna's hand conspicuously moved to her dagger while staring him straight in the eye. "But that's not important! Look, we wouldn't have risked coming here if we didn't trust Annabeth's instinct. Think about what it would mean if a Roman leader carried that back to Camp Half-Blood."
"It would prevent a war…" Reyna pondered thoughtfully, stroking Aurum's head. "You're not lying… the Athena Parthenos, so the legend is true."
Immediately, the conversation devolved into screaming and shouted courtesy of Octavian. Of course, the Greeks certainly didn't help as they did not take well to the accusations. While Reyna did her best to be the levelheaded one in the back and forth, she was taken aback when the Sybilline Books and cyclops-harpy romance were brought up. Instead of getting time to absorb that tidbit, Octavian had commanded the guards to advance with the satyr quickly responding by turning their pila into pine trees.
"Enough!" Reyna shouted, causing everyone to regain some sense. "Rachel, you're telling me Annabeth is in Tartarus, sent this message, and wants me to bring the statue back to your camp?"
"That's the gist," Rachel confirmed. "Only a Roman can return it and restore peace."
"And why would we want peace," Reyna asked, "after your ship attacked our city?"
She knew that it was eidolons that had perpetrated the incident, but it was a necessary question to appease the other Romans and Octavian for now. Keeping Octavian occupied and off her trail had been the priority the last few days and she had gotten very good at doing so. Playing to his fear and ego was the key to moderating his war effort and this was no different.
"We're trying to avoid war," Rachel said. "We must reconcile the god's aspects before Gaea destroys us all."
That was what Reyna had wanted to hear from the redhead. A girl claiming to channel the Oracle of Delphi and possessing the Books of Prophecy had just told these troops that Gaea was preparing her assault. That the seven headed to the ancient lands was no coincidence, therefore, Reyna deduced, that was where Gaea was planning to fight the deciding battle. She let the conversation drone on while deciding her course of action. If she left as asked, that would leave Octavian with full control of the Legion. If she stayed, war was inevitable anyway, Reyna twisted her silver rings and called for Marcus to bring her Scipio, the latter sending out a messenger eagle.
Octavian really had no sense of self-control as he began going on a tirade about how downright terrible and idea it was for Reyna to leave at the behest of some graecus note. She simply sighed and shook her head as she walked to the ledge of the building to await her ride. On and on he continued to babble and protest while the legionnaires stood and watched uncomfortably, save for Dakota who was happy for the distraction, taking a quick swig of Kool-Aid.
Finally, Reyna had had enough. Scipio was not getting here fast enough. "Octavian," She began, towering over him as he retreated. "I am praetor of the legion and so are Percy Jackson and Jason Grace. I judge this to be in the best interest of Rome. I know where Jason will stop, and I will find them in Greece."
The pale augur tried to get a word in, but Reyna cut him off. "You will not launch an attack without my orders. Keep the legion at the ready and maybe catch those dwarves while you're at it, but do not attack until I return."
"In your absence, I will be the one in charge," Octavian retorted.
"Please," Reyna scoffed. "You think I don't know that? Besides, you all heard me. And you all know that my dogs do not like liars or traitors. You two, go back and tell your leader what happened here."
Aurum and Argentum growled as Rachel and Grover took their leave. Scipio arrived soon after and Reyna quickly saddled up to leave. As she rose above the troops, she gave one last glowering look towards Octavian before setting off. As she raced through the skies towards the sea, she prayed that Percy and Annabeth were okay. Her heart felt as if it were miles away as she recalled her promise with Percy and the ocean loomed over the horizon.
"You'd better make it back," She muttered, cold wind biting at her face as she broke out soaring out over the vast blue Atlantic.