Hello everyone! Here's the start to the penultimate fic to the series. Will keep the limit to below 30 chapters, like Heroes, but let's see.

Check out the poll on my bio page: Pandora was the first human to have been created by the gods. And she's been reborn into a new life. The end of this fic will reveal who Pandora is. But who do you folks vote for?

A bunch of you have been guessing in the reviews. Keep 'em coming! I love all your speculations. Some of you are really close, and the best part is that you're all understanding the crux of the story and your reasoning is incredible!

Anguis Vasalias: Hi, just saw your notes on Heroes. Glad to know you have clear opinions. I wouldn't say Harry is fragile in a bad way. He's still growing into his desired ways. Honestly, I'm been on a Harry-whumping kick these past few years, so these stories really reflect that. Immortals will feature him really levelling up, but of course, that will come with pain and focused healing from it. Harry's arc is stronger and deals a lot with trauma and how to handle it.

Starhunter18: Here you go!

Moncef: Mr. Evans is an on-again-off-again clue I've been laying through the series, I'll definitely close that up this fic. While Harry can get upset about this, he's also prepared now. Our heroes and immortals will be ready to figure things out because they don't have to bear the weight alone. Yes, Harry is learning to deal with trauma of what has happened to him repeatedly. Percy's story is that he needs to learn how to have control over his powers so he doesn't affect/hurt everyone else. Rachel's arc is that she needs to accept the rules of her visions and learn how to gain control to affect the future on her terms.
I love that you noticed Sally's shortcoming. She isn't the perfect person or the perfect mother I'd like her to be, and that's absolutely fine, because it makes her real. She and Harry's relationship is a strong point of the series.
Your view on Pandora... :) I love it, it's so well thought out with a lot of the clues I've been dropping around the series! but I'll reveal the secret at the end of Immortals!
i saw your comment on ao3 (Magic and Love) will reply to that with the next chapter for it!

Listening to: All Eyes on You by Smash Into Pieces

14th November, 2013
10:40 am, Senate Building, Camp Jupiter

Sciron knew how to spin a story.

If there'd been any doubt about his verbosity, that was all extinguished. Percy sat there, hands faintly trembling at the onslaught of information.

Ajax had killed his aunt Kimberly. His mom's memories had been wiped to keep her safe. Percy had been exposed to the air of Tartarus but was protected by a mysterious force.

And the other hundred impossible things that happened in March of 1997.

The room was quiet save for the frantic typing of the stenographer. Reyna was the first to move, turning her head to check on her metal dogs, Aurum and Argentum. The canines sat on the floor, by the doors. Still as statues, it would have been easy to mistake them as inanimate, but their eyes met hers, put to ease by Sciron's tale of woe.

He was telling the truth.

At least, he believed he was speaking the truth. Even if the rest of the room agreed, Percy didn't want to, because Sciron was too good at speaking so somberly, too good at raising the stakes and lowering the suspicion.

Aurum and Argentum looked at Percy now, ears folded back. Four of Lupa's wolves also sat in the room, their attention now focused on him. Their tails twitched, hackles rising slowly. Percy realised his hands were glowing a soft blue. They felt hot and he rubbed them hastily against his jeans, checking to see if anyone else noticed.

As though sensing danger, Annabeth's eyes flickered to his, alarmed. Her jaw tightened and she looked over to the door as a warning.

Reyna spoke, "Attorney Durand, can I question the defendant?"

Assistant Attorney, Ivy Durand, quickly looked down at her notes, "This has been categorized a Level 2A interview, not a priority investigation. Please direct your questions to me."

Reyna and Jason immediately turned their chairs towards her and began whispering fast. Thalia and Annabeth leaned in as well, while Bianca, Nico, and Clarisse began their own rushed discussion. Percy looked across the table at Sciron who had a small frown as he gauged everyone's reaction.

Then he saw Percy's insistent glare. He swallowed but didn't look away, almost waiting for Percy to accuse him.

Go ahead, he seemed to say. You won't win against me.

Percy gritted his teeth. His hands felt hotter.

Annabeth's arm came down on his thigh and she gripped his knee, squeezing hard. Percy nearly jumped.

He cleared his throat. "I need some air."

Sciron's legal representative from one of New Rome's offices, Melvin or Merlin Tapahonso (Percy couldn't recall the name), spoke up, "I agree. May we reconvene after a short recess?"

Ivy Durand looked at her watch. "Twenty minutes, kids."

Sciron shot up and walked over to the window like he was in dire need of escape. None of the wolves or metal dogs moved as the people shifted. Percy was the second-fastest, out of his chair in a flash and nearly banging open the doors.

There was a blur of blonde head and purple robes. Percy nearly went for his sword before recalling that they'd all left their weapons with Lord Terminus and his adorable little six-year-old assistant, Julia.

Octavius? Octavian? The blonde dude was hiding behind the closest pillar, probably having tried sneaking in or listening in on the deposition. Percy frowned at the pillar before shaking his head and marching away.

Cold sweat covered his neck. The rest of his body was hot with tremours. Percy breathed in and out, placing a clammy palm over the healed wound on his torso. It ached with memory. He shakily reached for his inhaler. Steady, man, steady.

He came upon a wide balcony that overlooked a training ground of Camp Jupiter. There was a statue of Poseidon… or rather Neptune, holding aloft a trident and standing tall and proud in carved robes swaying from his battle pose. It was a grand sight, one Annabeth would have loved because it didn't look very Greek but had its own style and brilliance. He was sure even the walls had some kind of Roman artistry.

Percy just couldn't appreciate any of it, because his hands were glowing now, properly lit up in blue waves, weaving out from his skin and twirling around his fingers like a deadly dance.

Skorpios on Albert Bridge, London
The scorpion gave a roar of agony… Water was leaving its body. Whether evaporating or literally flowing from its mouth, Percy didn't care. He was just removing it.

The Minotaur in the Second Titan War
He watched as the light emerged from his hands again, flowing from his veins to light up his palms. He pressed his fingers into the Minotaur's neck and dug in, feeling the light eat away at the skin and muscles.

Percy had ripped them both apart with this new power, rather than controlling the available water.

"Just stay calm," he whispered. He reached for his inhaler and shook it rapidly. Leaning against the wall, he looked up straight, closed his eyes, and took a shot, letting the blast of air clear his lungs.

Stay calm, stay calm, dude. Cool it.

"Look who's being a tragic Greek hero in the heart of New Rome."

Percy silently groaned and opened his eyes.

Triton was on the other side of the balcony in civilian clothes. He was looking at the Neptune statue with a smirk before directing the expression to Percy.

"You're late for the deposition," Percy muttered, pocketing the inhaler.

"I'm not here for that," Triton said airily. "But I received enough prayers for a smooth event, so I dropped by."

Percy frowned, "You're a big deal here?"

As though affronted, Triton nodded towards the statue. "What d'you think?"

The demigod looked at the grand statue, back at Triton, then at the statue, and then back at his half-brother again.

"That's you?"

"Right down to the ten-pack," Triton grinned.

"Oh, please!" Percy said, turning away.

"Jealous? I wouldn't blame you. So, why're you being such a gloomy guppy?"

"I… really am not in the mood for a chat."

Triton cocked his head carefully evaluating him. "Do you believe Sciron?"

Percy clenched his jaw. They had to get into that, huh? The warmth in his hands flared up again and what was truly terrifying about it was that the heat was comforting.

"He said you were the last being to see my aunt alive before Ajax shot her."

Triton narrowed his eyes. "Technically… you were the last being to see her alive before Ajax shot her."

"You know I don't remember that!" Percy snapped. "You know my mom doesn't either! You knew more about that and you kept that from me!"

The god wasn't impressed by his ire. "Tone down, Perseus. I'm willing to share the memory with you."

"You're too kind!"

"Yes, I'm very kind," Triton warned. "I'll show you exactly what Kimberly revealed to me. And because I'm magnanimous, I'll also share a piece of advice."

Percy exhaled, trying to keep calm. He imagined one of the Aphrodite cabin's calm cards, wishing he had one right now.

"This ridiculous tough-guy, silent-sufferer routine of yours has to cease," Triton started. "You're not a hero, cursed by the Fates to lead a wretched life. So stop acting like one!"

"I'm not?" Percy blurted, half-laughing at him. "Are you kidding me, right now?"

Triton stepped forwards, deadly serious. "Look at you! Look what you're doing right now."

Percy watched Triton inspect his hands. His skin was hot, the blue trails of light pirouetting around his fingers.

"I'm trying to control it," Percy explained hastily. "I just got worked up in there—"

"Because you don't believe Sciron's story."

"Do you?!"

Triton chuckled, leaning back now. "I know what my mother has asked of you. If you have any self-preservation instincts, you'll follow her request."

"I am," Percy mumbled. "I'll catch him when he lowers his guard."

Triton shook his head. "You'll catch him if he's a traitor."

Percy looked up at the god. "You… believe him?"

A moment passed. Triton's hesitance put Percy on edge. "I believe he believes it's true. But there is a very obvious problem."

"He doesn't remember any of it," Percy agreed. "He fell in the Lethe… or the Lethe fell on him, whatever! That's a little too convenient. He could be changing some or all of the facts just to impress us or shock us."

"Or he's telling the events exactly as he heard it from Cass and Iphy," Triton shrugged. "And it may have been them who changed facts to keep Sciron safe."

Percy paused. He frowned at Triton, "Are you on a first-name basis with them?"

Triton blinked.

"Seriously?!" Percy groaned. "Why? Why d'you know them?"

"Because they've been working for the Olympians for several centuries to delay the rise of the Earth Goddess," Triton sighed.

Percy's jaw dropped.

Sciron was really telling the truth?

"You could have opened with that!" Percy said, furiously. "And why should I even believe you? If they're actually spies for us, you really shouldn't be revealing that at all."

Triton was annoyed now. "Use your head, Perseus."

"Don't call me that!"

"Sciron left his safe-house in Alaska, two weeks ago," Triton continued, adamant. "He travelled all the way through Canada to reach Camp Jupiter, even though he knew how dangerous his identity is! Cass and Iphy are on the run. They've been compromised. Someone found out and revealed to the Earth Goddess's host that they're working against her. The bounty on their heads is astronomical. Sciron may be under lock-and-key here at camp, but it's a far better fate than what would happen if the primordial's army catches him outside."

Percy took another step back. His hands were all-out shaking.

"When… when you say host…?"

"Yes," Triton was exasperated now. "The Oracle's mother. The woman who adopted her. Beatrice Dare, I believe."

Percy banged the meaty side of his fist on the balcony handrail. The stone cracked as blue light circled it, eating away bits of the beautifully carved railing. Percy stumbled back and Triton exhaled.

"You need to control that."

"How?! It keeps exploding out of me and I don't even know what this is—"

"For Athena's sake!" Triton whispered, but Percy's keen ears caught it. He stared up at the god, stunned into silence.

"Did you—"

Triton held out a hand and conjured a similar blast of light, dark green trails curling around his palm. It was strong and steady following the minute motions of his digits. He touched the bannister and let the light expand, covering the entire handrail. Percy's jaw dropped as he watched the solid stone crumble away, turning into a liquid that hung in the air slowly forming a large water bubble.

Triton touched it and the water quickly disappeared into his palm, his entire arm glowing momentarily before the light vanished.

"You're absorbing water out of matter," Triton said, exaggerating his tone. "That's it! There's no convoluted betrayal, you're just taking water away from the air, from the stone, from everything organic and not. And since water makes up so much of everything, there's only dust left behind."

Percy gawked at him. "Dad already told me all that! But why does it keep happening?"

"You're panicking," Triton pointed out. "Your magic is simply protecting you. It's stronger now because you're on Roman territory and don't have your weapons. Not to mention Sciron's incredible story."

"How do I turn it off?"

"Kill yourself."

The wind blew in from the west but not even the smell of the sea calmed the energy between the two immortals.

"I'm not actually kidding," Triton added, blithely. "If you lose all control, the best thing is to just kill you. Don't want you accidentally razing a building or all your friends."

"Your career as the Atlantean comedian must be in the pits," Percy retorted.

"Funny," the god smirked. "You don't turn it off. You merely practice wielding the energy. Learn how to control it so you can use it only when required. Absorbing too much water can leave you overpowered and delirious and nobody needs that."

Percy pressed his palms to the sides of his head. "It's not that easy! I've been trying to hold it back all this time because I can't control what turns to dust. How can I practice when I could just disintegrate the entire room by accident?"

Unexpectedly, Triton nodded. "That's the thing I actually wanted to talk to you about. I'll give you the memory I took from Kimberly. In return, you and your partners will request Lupa to train you."

Lupa. The wolf goddess? The Patron god of Rome.

Percy dropped his hands. "She has experience with this?"

"She has experience with unruly, dangerous children whose decisions routinely change the world," Triton corrected. "If there's anyone who can teach you and your compadres, it's her."

He didn't like the idea. "But none of us are Romans."

"None of you are heroes, either. That's my point. You're panicking about your powers, worried about the way the past comes back to bite you, and a whole band of things that heroes do. But did you forget you're not one of them anymore?"

Percy glared. Triton just scoffed. "Don't give me that, little brother. You're an immortal. You've been one for more than a decade. It's time you start acting like it."

He held out a hand. "Do we have a deal?"

Triton had the odd capability of bringing out the irritation in him, second only to Ares. Percy feared that Lupa could be even worse than the Olympians; her harshness and judgmental personality could trigger Percy to lash out.

Or… she could seriously help him manage the energy using the anger.

"Rachel's still… gone," Percy stammered. "And Harry's in the hospital with third-degree electrical burns, in case you haven't heard."

Triton didn't look too concerned. "I'm surprised he didn't die."

"They have very good healers," Percy said shortly.

"Yes… and the spirit?"

Percy frowned. "Eh?"

"The Spirit of Delphi," he inquired. "I hear she's taken charge of the host's body."

"Of Rachel," Percy said forcefully. "Once she's back the Spirit will go away. Probably."

Triton nodded before deliberately looking at his outstretched palm. Percy squared his shoulders. "The Styx works here, right?"

"Yes, but that's not necessary."

Another red flag. "Why?"

"Because your word should be as valuable as your promises. And if you break your oath on the river, your punishment may be temporary. No real point in that, if you ask me."

Percy made a face. Finally, he said, "You'll show me the memory of Kimberly Jackson right now, the one you took from her. And in return, Harry, Rachel, and I will request Lupa to train us and teach us to be like real immortals."

Triton nodded. Percy clasped his hand and they shook on it.

"Good," the god said, supremely satisfied. "Ready?"

"Go for it, slowpoke."

Triton huffed and reached close to touch his index finger to the spot right above the bridge of Percy's nose.

This feeling of falling was familiar. It felt like he'd dived into a Pensieve.

Prometheus had done this to him in the Second Titan War, during a respite. Percy had seen Luke's upbringing and the terrible fate of May Castellan.

Now, he was in an old mud house, its interiors brightly lit by the Mediterranean sun. Percy could almost feel the sand in the air and the pebbles underneath his shoes. The walls were solid clay and there seemed to be no obvious technology until Percy saw small box cameras embedded in the high corners near the ceiling.

"Can you stand, Pepe?" an unfamiliar voice cooed.

Percy spun around and forgot to breathe.

There was his Tía - Kimberly Jackson the first. Her reedy blond hair was dry and frizzy. She had comfort clothes that were meant for home wear, a stark reminder that she clearly hadn't belonged smack dab in the middle of a battle.

She sat on a thin mat on the floor in a cage. It was a corner cell with iron bars fixed in the floor and ceiling. Despite the dreariness, Tía Kimberly had a bright grin and a light voice, holding baby Percy under his arms and trying to balance him on his little feet.

The infant babbled, excited by the new position. His feet were curled and unable to properly find footing on the mat, but he kicked happily anyway.

Percy felt a lot of things welling up in him. His eyes burned a little till the tears tickled him.

He couldn't remember this girl, barely a woman. No, she was sixteen here. He was sixteen now. Tía Kimberly would never be older than him.

He didn't remember her love, but it still hurt.

"Look at you, big boy," she gasped. "If I let you go, can you stand?"

She placed her nephew fairly steadily on his still curled feet and carefully removed her arms from his little torso. Baby Percy immediately pitched down and landed on his bottom. He cooed up at her, giggling breathlessly.

"You fell on your butt!" Tía Kimberly teased him.

Both Percys grinned. One of them sniffled.

The large locked door clicked. Teenaged Percy heard faint sounds of people talking. All smiles in the room vanished. His tía swept the baby into her arms, turning away from the door to hide him. Percy faced the door, going on alert.

Triton walked in followed by Sciron.

Percy inhaled. This Sciron was different. He was way older, taller with broad shoulders, a real threat if there was ever one. His light stubble and dark bags indicated a sleepless night but the fire in his eyes showed no weakness.

Tía Kimberly was gobsmacked at the sight of the god. Even baby Pepe had fallen silent, eyes wide. Percy wondered if he could sense Triton's power. It certainly looked like he could.

"Ba!" the baby announced, pointing at past!Triton with unexplained strength.

Current day!Triton gave the teen Percy a wry look. "Oh, you definitely recognized me."

Percy choked. "You knew who I was? All this time!"

"Of course, now listen."

Past!Triton unlocked the jail cell and said, "Ms. Jackson. If you will allow me access to what you see, we can get this over quickly."

Percy didn't like it, folding his hands displeased. His tía reluctantly allowed the baby to reach for his godly half-brother, who in turn handed him to the demigod half-brother.

"What?" Percy burst out, watching Sciron gingerly hold up his younger self.

"What?" Sciron blurted in the same tone, unaware of the spectators.

Current!Triton chuckled. Percy shot him an annoyed look. He should just be glad that present-day Sciron didn't remember this.

"You may wait outside," Triton told the stumped demigod, before sitting on the floor in front of Kimberly. Sciron disappeared behind the door, still carrying the baby.

Triton stayed a safe distance away to keep Percy's tía calm. "Please look this way, Ms. Jackson."

Tía Kimberly gulped and nodded, facing him. She tried hard not to blink.

The air above them changed. There were literal clouds of thought taking over the space. Percy looked up in wonder, realising this was a representation of her dreams.

The image cleared up to show the underworld.

It was immensely large, stretching out in all directions, unfathomable. A river of white gooey liquid bubbled as it flowed treacherously. This was no ordinary place; it remained overwhelming and horrifying.

Percy tried to concentrate, but everything about the image set his hair on edge. This wasn't normal. No mortal should be aware of such a place.

A woman appeared in the cavern. She was holding up her dark robes, feet at the edge of the white river.

"What's she doing?" Percy whispered to Triton.

"Watch," the god instructed.

Tía Kimberly's eyes had glazed over as she repeated her dream to Triton. Percy couldn't look away from the unknown lady whose face was partially hidden in the shadows.

Clad in a shimmering black and blue-dyed robe, the woman gauged the river like it was a mere obstacle and not a one-way ticket to death. The gold bands in her brown hair looked like an intricate crown like she was a princess who'd wandered out of her safe palace into this piece of hell.

The woman hiked up her ankle-length robes even higher and strode forwards. She plunged right into the river.

"No," Percy whispered, slowly realising who this was.

The deadly water engulfed her. The woman gasped, writhing in it and struggling to wade through. Her body turned transparent, clothes burning away. She disappeared beneath the river and her soul ascended.

Percy had never seen a soul outside its body. It was too fragile and delicate, a mere breeze might tear it apart.

The unburdened soul was a soft, wispy thing. The soft translucent shape rose through the air gracefully. Like a cloud, the blue and black tinted essence of the woman drifted upwards. The rocky ceiling vanished and the soul flew up, slow at first before gaining speed and fluttering away into the distant star-studded sky.

The image of Tartarus disappeared and Percy sucked in a gulp of air. Even past!Triton looked troubled.

"Do you know who that was?" Triton asked Tía Kimberly. She shook her head, her face expressionless. She was still in a trance.

"Do you know who that will be?" the god whispered.

Percy's heart was in his mouth. But his Tía answered, "No."

Triton looked away for a moment, thinking hard. "Have you told others of this dream?"

"No… I told Sally, but that's all, I swear!" Tía Kimberly said, starting to breathe quicker. Percy glared at Triton till the god acknowledged him with a sigh.

"We are not meant to find her," she whispered. Percy shot to attention. Triton leaned in eagerly.

"Why do you think that?"

"She may be reborn now, this woman," Tía Kimberly said with unblinking eyes. "But if the Fates decree her to be hidden, she will be."

"And when will they let her be found?" Triton asked carefully.

"Narrow the search," she suggested. "Figure out potentials. Refine filters, and find clues. Can't find her using just magic, need to think and search."

The god's forehead furrowed. "Are you saying only a mortal can find her?"

Tía Kimberly looked up with a bare hint of surprise. "No god has a chance. You may assume she's a threat and eliminate her. No, they will figure out the truth."

Saying this, she raised her arm, index finger directed at the door.

Percy stared, not understanding. Was she literally pointing to people standing outside the door?

Triton sat up. "Those two?"

"They will find her," Tía Kimberly repeated, curling her arms around her legs. She looked distressed, eyes unfocused.

No, Percy thought desperately. Please let it not be who she says 'they' are.

"Perseus and Sciron; they'll find Pandora?" Triton asked, urgently.

Maybe it was the names, but Tía Kimberly blinked, now looking confused. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she frowned at the god. "I… I'm sorry, what did you say?"

The memory ended abruptly.

Percy was thrown back into the present. He grabbed onto the wall, barely missing the edge of the balcony which now had no handrail.

"What was that?" Percy said, furiously.

"She offered no other information after that," Triton answered mildly. "You were getting a little emotional in there, so I figured it was best to end it."

"Did you hypnotise her?" he asked, hands shaking yet again. His aunt had seen Pandora's decision of rebirth. No wonder people had been after them.

"Kimberly was a dreamer," Triton said firmly. "An uncommonly powerful one. It was clear she was only becoming stronger. All I had to do was put her in a half-sleep state and she immediately recalled the dream without prompting. Watching the inception of Pandora's second life is something that has avoided Seers and many other creatures for several decades."

Percy rubbed his hands to stave away the cold. "My mom's Clear-Sighted. Maybe it just runs in the family."

"It practically sprints," Triton muttered. "There was only one other person who'd seen Pandora's dip in the Lethe and that was Lily Potter."

Percy flinched. Was their meeting in 1997 prophecised? Was anything truly in their control? Triton seemed to be thinking along the same lines because he lowered his voice and asked, "How did you meet Harry?"

He swallowed. "My mom and I lived in Surrey for… for seven years. He was our neighbour."

The god smiled wryly. "Only a fool would believe that was a coincidence. The Potters owed a life debt to you and your mother. Failing to protect Kimberly is not a light punishment. Witches and wizards take their debts very seriously. It can live on in generations very much like magic and trauma. Tell me, did you find Harry or did he find you first? Or did Sally intercede on your behalf?"

"We were both babies!" Percy snapped at him. "There was no divine providence, no prophecy of our meeting!"

Triton shrugged, looking far too human. "Of course not, you both just ended up as neighbours. Right beside each other. No strange meeting of paths there."

Percy's shoulders went tense. "What're you trying to say?"

The god looked over the balcony, at his statue and beyond the grounds of Camp Jupiter. He snapped his fingers and bricks and flakes emerged out of the wall, borrowing its stone and metal before warping into solid material to form a new bannister to replace the one he'd neatly destroyed.

"Harry's so used to fixing everything you break," Triton said airily. "The two of you come in a set. So, my question is, why did Kimberly believe that you and Sciron would figure out the truth of Pandora, rather than you and Harry? Or even you and the Athena girl who could probably figure this out on her own? Or just her entire cabin working together? Why you and Sciron now?"

Percy made a face. "Not everything's set in stone. There doesn't have to be a cosmic reason why Harry and I met."

Triton looked disappointed.

"Fine," he huffed. "No use speculating things. Once Rachel and Harry wake up from their respective funks, the three of you can begin training with Lupa. And until then…"

Triton booped Percy's nose. Percy recoiled so violently that he reached for Riptide in his pocket, but of course, came up empty-handed.

Well, not completely. The blue light had come back, emerging from his palm now flickering between Triton and him.

The god shook his head. "You really need to control that, Jackson. And remember, play nice with Sciron!"

Watching him leave made Percy wanna hurl something at the god. Triton had known the Jacksons and about the Potters as well. He held those memories for over fifteen years.

How was Percy supposed to tell all of this to his mom?

Rachel woke up on a coast.

The sky burned into her retinas, a pale blue. She could feel the dry sand beneath her. Her body felt light, odd, and out of place in a way being alive never was. She felt light enough to be inconsequential here.

How did she get here?

Rachel pushed herself off the sand, sitting up carefully. There was no pain, but there was also no grainy sensation from the sand. None of it was sticking to her. In fact, her weight hadn't even left an imprint on the beach.

Rachel got to her feet, feeling like her heart should have been racing, but at the same time, not able to get a pulse at all.

Something was wrong. She didn't feel alive or real.

The place around her was peculiar too. There was no movement in the ocean. The water was still and silent with barely any waves or foam either. It formed a clear line over the beach separating the wet sand from the dry. She could see no plants either, no grass, seaweed, vines, or flowers.

But she recognized the place. This was Long Island Sound. Right behind the dunes would be Camp-Half Blood. But Rachel looked up and saw several plumes of smoke rising into the air from a distance.

She could distantly smell the smoke, but it wasn't real enough for her.

Rachel was beginning to panic. What was going on? She spun around and her non-beating heart jumped up to her throat.

Someone else was sitting on the beach, ahead of her. This girl was hugging her knees, just inches shy from the waterline. There was a long golden staff beside her.

It was her. Rachel was staring at Rachel.

Her red, unruly hair was uncombed and frizzy. She wore a faded and scorched Golden Girl t-shirt over her favourite denim trousers: the green one DJ had gifted her last Christmas.

The clothes were splattered in crumbling mud and her hands were covered in dried blood.

This wasn't Lily, she knew that. This had to be her.

Rachel approached herself, her footsteps making no sound. Was she the spectre here? Was this 'other her' the real Rachel?

Her answers were founded when the real-Rachel suddenly looked up from the sand and saw her. Her eyes widened, still green but drowning in grief and defeat.

"No," she mumbled.

"Who are you?" Rachel demanded. "What's going on? Why am I seeing myself? And is that blood?!"

The real-Rachel, still curled up on the sand, could only look up at her, unable to articulate anything else. She stared down at her dirty hands, picking flakes of crusted blood from underneath her fingernails.

"Who's blood is that?" Rachel repeated. "Is someone hurt?"

The real-Rachel grimaced, her face crumbling into tears. She bowed her head and resumed her quiet stupor.

Someone's dead. Rachel began to panic.

"This is a vision, isn't it?" she said to herself. "Alright, okay. No problem. I don't know what I was doing before. I think I was at home? No… no, wait. Annabeth and Will went on their quest, I'm subbing for her at Olympus… Bolt was there…"

She frowned. She couldn't clearly recall what exactly she'd been doing up there.

"Rach!" someone called out from camp. The real-Rachel shuddered and threw her arms over her head, trying to block out the world.

Rachel turned around and watched as Percy made her way from his cabin, presumably. His hair was longer, his clothes were dirty like he'd been soiling away in dirt and ash.

He looked just as wracked and deadened as real-Rachel. His eyes didn't even catch her, immediately going over to the quiet, lonely form near the waterline.

"Rach, we need to go," Percy whispered, quietly. He walked up to her and laid a hand on her shoulder but she flinched away. He retreated it, pained.

"This was always going to happen," the real-Rachel whispered into her lap. Percy swallowed and responded. "You don't believe that. We tried our best—"

"SHE'S HERE!" the real-Rachel screamed, looking up and throwing a finger at Rachel. "She's here from the past! I've seen this before! It's always going to end like this!"

Rachel stumbled back. "What're you talking about?"

Percy was stunned. "Who's… wait, are you talkin' about—"

"Percy can't see me?" Rachel asked. "Am I seriously from the past?"

Maybe it was the sound of his name, but Percy's head whipped towards her, eyes growing so wide she thought they'd fall off. He gawked at her and then back at the real-Rachel.

"Oh, gods," he whispered feverishly. "Rach?"

"That's me," she responded faintly. The more she stared at him and her future self, the more she realised that they truly did seem older than her. Percy's face was more defined, his cheeks more hollow. Even her future self had a slightly longer face, less chubby in the cheeks and more mass in her arms.

"What year?" Percy asked suddenly.

She squinted. "Huh?"

"What year are you from?"

Swallowing, the answer came tumbling out, "2013. It's November. I don't know the date. I can't remember what was happening before."

Percy grimaced and whispered, "Bolt."

Future/real-Rachel turned away, shoulders hunched.

"Tell me what's happening," Rachel pleaded. "I don't understand this. Is this one of the futures? I'm having a vision, aren't I? Where's Harry and Annabeth and everyone else?"

Percy stepped back as though she'd slapped him. Future-Rachel was just shaking her head frantically.

From beyond the sand dunes, Harry stepped into sight.

Like Percy and her future self, he was taller, more filled out, but severely gaunt and angry. He levelled a deadly gaze at Percy who backed away quickly, splashing into the water and making the first waves. The ocean began to move again.

Harry avoided future-Rachel completely and only looked at Rachel.

"Everyone's dead," he said evenly. "We lost. Gaia's going to hit here again, the earth's still shaking. I'm going to Frost."

Everyone's dead.

Rachel's jaw dropped.

No.

Everyone's dead.

That can't be true.

Percy looked pained. "You're going… home?"

"What d'you want me to say?!" Harry snapped. "That I'm going to an empty house, fingers crossed it's still standing? That I'm going to go grocery shopping, except there'll be nobody to sell food to me, so I'm just gonna pluck things off the shelves and make breakfast just for one?"

Rachel had never known Harry to cook anything for just himself. He always made enough to feed at least three others, a softer trait from Mrs. Weasley.

Everyone's dead.

"No. We didn't lose," she whispered, pleading for that to be the truth.

Harry's face softened by a degree. He stared at her long enough before gesturing at her to follow him.

She scrambled up the dunes, leaving the others behind.

"You died for the first time in November 2013," Harry told her shortly. Rachel stumbled even though her feet hit nothing.

"Every time you die, you'll see us here. This is your future. And it's set in stone," he said bitterly.

Future-Harry was angrier and louder than the one she knew. She didn't like him at all, but if he was going to give her answers—

They stopped beside Cabin 3. Rachel couldn't hold back her gasp.

Half of the Poseidon cabin was shattered, its walls were torn down, the fountain cracked open, plants ripped out and dead.

All the cabins shared the same fate. The ground between the cabins had split open from the Big House, all the way to the other end, cracked at four corners and leading down to a yawning chasm a hundred yards below.

Deadly white and black rivers flowed in the cavern and she could smell their stench from up. But the worst part was the pieces of marble strewn around the broken cabins. The pale gold and silver embedded in the marble didn't shine as they should have. Some pieces were half-buried in the earth, some had crashed into cabins, a large part of a marble shield had cleaved the Big House in half.

Everyone and everything's dead.

She could even see some of the pieces in the open cavern, a couple of them dissolving into the rivers. How long ago had this happened? Hours? Months? What actually had happened?

"The Athena Parthenon," Harry answered her silent questions. "Once she fell, we couldn't pick her back up. Gaia hit camp with quakes to break the statue."

A giant statue. Rachel didn't know about it but he'd said the Athena Parthenon. A statue of Athena? Annabeth and her siblings would know about it, right?

"How…" Rachel didn't even know what to ask.

He just shook his head. "We lost before Gaia even struck. The moment Elpis died, the future was set."

Rachel just stared at the largest piece of the statue, partially buried near the broken remains of Cabin 6. It was part of the head, with a beautifully decorated crown now covered in mud.

"Welcome to the wasteland," Harry murmured, turning to walk away. His voice was loud and ringing in her ears.

But what terrified her the most was the thick trails of smoke coming from the uprooted forest. Rachel headed there, slow at first but picking up the pace till she was practically flying over the broken earth. She didn't know if Harry was following her and almost didn't care. What was the smoke from?

In the middle of Camp Half-Blood's ruined forest was an enormous pit. It was neatly dug and cleaned out, several feet deep.

Pyres: hundreds and hundreds of stacked wood from the dead forest made for the final resting place for all the demigods. She could see the shrouds, charred and illegible, the glint of drachmas shining through the smoking wood.

Everyone and everything's dead.

There were graves dug to the right and left for others. Headstones covered the area and it smelled of death.

Everyone and everything's dead.

Rachel found the main headstone, planted into the dead earth in front of the mass grave. Unsteady words had been carved into it by the hands of someone who could not stop shaking.

Hope died with you and so did I.

Stay tuned! Updates will be sporadic since I'm concentrating on Ao3 for the next few months. I've edited the chapters there and also added images cause that's fun!

Cabba K.