Chapter 10: Secrets Laid Bare
Percy
"Irresponsible! Stupid! Completely Idiotic! Unthinkable!"
Also uninterrupted, that's been going ever since Percy took the staircases to the top floor of the Chase penthouse, all the rooms and living quarters were located here. This was where Annabeth's room would be, the place where she spent most of her nights after school, and of course, presumably where Athena's room was located too.
For one reason or another, Percy's heart had been tugging rapidly. The idea of Annabeth's room, one he hadn't seen before… Despite seeing her room in the mansion many times, to even sharing the same bed that one night, it still felt terrifying. They might be dating now, but in the end, entering a girl's room just felt like something forbidden.
"Where is Annabeth? Is she okay?"
In front of him was his mother, she was leading him to speak with Lady Athena, but all Percy wanted was to be with Annabeth, or rather, he wanted to avoid diving into the storm. The hidden aura coming from the end of the hallway could easily freeze the underworld over and again.
"She's fine. Annabeth's a tough girl, you know?"
He sighed in relief. Percy knew Annabeth was more or less waiting to see him too, and the sooner he gets this done, the faster he gets to see her. But if he was being honest, Percy just really missed his girlfriend.
"I know… I just want to see her." Percy sighed, or to put it another way, he couldn't wait to be with her, just the two of them together.
"And I wanted to make sure she's okay too." Percy began to look around for signs on the doors that might suggest her room was behind it, "Is she in her room?"
With an abrupt stop, Sally turned around and gave him a resolute, firm look. Her arms reached out as she hugged him close with a motherly warm embrace, "Yes Percy. She's resting in her room. You don't have to worry too much. They have already taken care of her healing. Besides, she survived because you were there to protect her, isn't that right?"
Pulling away, she looked right into his eyes, "To be honest, I still can't believe half of what I've been told, but I am glad you found someone you'd want to protect no matter what, and I know you'll do what's right and treasure this feeling, Percy."
Percy felt his cheeks heat up.
Yet before he knew what was happening, Sally passed along a cheeky smile, "Tee-hee… My baby sea turtle is all grown up... I am getting teary-eyed just thinking about it."
"Ahem! L-let's go and see what Lady Athena wants…"
Letting go of him willingly, his mother wasn't dumb to know what he was truly saying. A bright subtle smile moved across her face as she resumed bringing him down the hallway once again.
Percy sighed.
Ever since that fiasco back in the infirmary wing, a relief couldn't be measured settled Percy for all it's worth. But even so, it wasn't easy trying to convince his mother otherwise, not when he was pretty much stripped nude, down to only his boxer briefs on the bed while Illya hurriedly took off. Ripe for misunderstanding, it was a miracle that his mother didn't question him any further.
Percy was glad she showed mercy, unlike Piper who bribed her way for a favor.
Speaking of the ex-couple, the only thing Sally said to them was a friendly reminder about using proper protection, and she wasted no time dragging him out with her after that.
All he heard was a resounding scream something along the lines of: "It's not like that, Sally!"
It was embarrassing, awkward, and everything Percy dreaded to hear, much less see with his own eyes when it came to those two's unconventional and logic-defying relationship.
A shiver rolled down his spine, but his chills weren't because of the close call with his mom, nor was it because Jason and Piper were always bickering like an old married couple. Rather, he was shivering because the cold atmosphere streaming behind the double doors felt deadly. It felt like he was heading straight to hell.
His body stiff and frozen half-solid, Percy didn't even need to hear what was happening inside for him to know about as much as he needed to know.
That bad, huh?
The shouting continued….
…
It was her room… Annabeth was in her room….
Laying on her bed and resting, both arms stretched out by her sides, Annabeth fixed her gaze on one overhead light with rapt attention. Something important was going through her head, yet everything started to wander, her thoughts were as aimless as a lost soul in an unfamiliar town.
What is it? Why am I just sitting here? I need to do something, right?
Tried as she might, she felt so hazy that nothing seemed to register. She could barely move either.
"Percy… Percyyy…"
The only thing she could do was whispered his name over and over.
…
Tensed like a brick, Percy sat in the middle of a study room, a powerful being before him and leaning back on her desk. Everything was quiet and unflinching, and even though there were two other souls in the same room, her imposing presence made everyone as lifeless and obedient as her neatly organized, end-to-end bookcase along the back wall.
An aura so thick and suffocating, no one was able to muster up a word. Meanwhile, a dark-haired girl who's been in the room way before he came in stood with her head hung down. Her usual liveliness was gone, replaced by a meek and submissive demeanor.
Percy still couldn't believe it.
"Percy,"
Upon hearing his name, Percy flinched and turned to the Goddess. She looked borderline irritated, but not to the point of smiting him down or something like that. For a divine being like her, erasing his existence would likely be as easy as snapping her fingers…
Not the point… Percy shook his head and chased that thought away. Instead, his voice spontaneously combusted and he started to babble mindlessly.
"It's not Thalia's fault! She was doing everything she can to help us out, and even though it ended up like this, she shouldn't be blamed for what happened, I can swear on my life that Thalia—"
"Don't-" Athena exclaimed, her stern gaze burning into his soul like he's about to make the biggest mistake of his life.
"Don't finish that sentence…." Athena sighed as her expression relaxed, "Never swear anything in front of a God or a Goddess. You'll never be able to take it back."
"Oh."
Percy drew a look at Thalia who looked at him pleadingly as if she didn't want him to continue. Percy did the exact opposite.
"Never mind that, I promise Thalia didn't do anything wrong, Athena. She was just trying to give us a better chance at fighting and defending ourselves. I don't think you should—"
"Thalia is not in trouble."
"Huh?"
Athena tilted her head and sighed, "I am not mad at Thalia, nor at Jason or Piper, and especially not with you or Annabeth for being dumb enough to follow with her reckless plan."
"Then what was all that shouting I heard earlier?"
Athena spoke calmly, "Venting my anger…."
A tough gulp went down his throat. If that's how a Goddess worked through her emotions, then Percy didn't want to find out what would happen if someone really piss her off; the possibility of being erased from the world with just a glare…
"Ah."
Percy saved himself the headache by not questioning it any further. Instead, he posed a question for the Olympian Goddess, looking for an answer that's been bugging him since he found out who was responsible for the attacks on his and Annabeth's life.
Namely, who Luke Castellan was, how he could be so overpowered in strength, and the reason why his identity had been kept a secret despite it being revealed. Before their fight, Percy didn't even know that a boy named Ethan had been obsessed with Annabeth, enough to drive him to kill. Now, he learned about Luke, the vile monster who…
The pit of his stomach burned hot with fury.
"Lady Athena, I need to know…"
But his sentence was cut off short.
"I am sorry."
Riddle with sudden guilt, Percy realized she read his thoughts without permission. Given that he had no counter for something beyond his understanding, there was no way to stop Athena from doing that whenever she pleased.
"So why didn't you tell me? Why did you hide it from Annabeth too?"
"Because you weren't ready to know the truth, you and Annabeth both. I just can't risk you two being in danger, but even so, it happened nevertheless." Athena passed a sidelong glance at Thalia, a quiet sigh quickly left her lips.
"But if tonight's stun had proven anything…"
Athena looked right into his eyes, "It's that you are ready to know the real truth."
What kind of revelation awaits him? What might he find? There were still plenty of questions he didn't know or comprehend fully. However, Athena looked ready to reveal everything.
"Thalia, Sally… I need the room with Percy for a bit."
Taken back, Thalia looked shocked by those words but given how timid she was at the moment, she quietly duck her head and dodged out the doors. Meanwhile, his mother pass him a slight smile, but Percy caught a moment of bewilderment when she shared a look with Athena.
Percy had thought they were close without any secrets, but that's obviously not the case anymore.
Promptly emptying the study, Percy was now the only one left. His body went ridge as his voice grew flat like a broken key on a piano. It was difficult being stare down by the Goddess who was ever more suspicious with each passing glance.
"Umm… I thought you were going to… reveal the truth or something?"
"In due time." Studying him was her main objective right now, "Right now, I want you to be honest with me,"
Accompanied by a slow stride toward his seat, Athena came real close and leaned down until they were facing very closely. Beyond what could be considered an invasion of personal space, Percy backed away as far as he physically could. She only narrowed her eyes more.
"How did you defeat the Nemean Lion?"
"Huh?"
"I've only heard the details from Thalia, but she wasn't there at the time that it happened. Plus, that dead zone offers no concrete way to verify what truly took place. You were the only one who made it out of the battle conscious."
Wait, so Athena didn't know what happened either?!
"So, I asked again Percy. What did you do to defeat the Nemean Lion? What happened with Luke? What did he say? Tell me everything."
From the very beginning, she never had the intention to reveal anything, it was all in an attempt to get rid of Thalia and his mother from listening in on what happened to him and Annabeth.
Scowled, Percy suddenly thought of a compromise, one that even Annabeth would have praised him for thinking of.
"Are you going to answer my question too?"
It was a simple but genius rebuttal. Athena's eyebrows rose quickly, "You never cease to amaze me, Percy. But like I've already said, I plan to tell you everything I kept secret, but on this, you'll have to swear to me not to tell anyone else."
Percy tilted his head like a curious puppy. Just what kind of secret did Athena hold? Why couldn't she just tell everyone the truth? Anyone who had ever read half a storybook knew lies and deceit only led down one road filled with nothing but despair, so why?
"I promise."
"No. That's not good enough. If you want to know, swear on me."
Percy hesitated, but his words carried the same weight, "I swear on you that I won't tell anyone what you're about to tell me."
As his words rang out loud and true, a thunderous boom echoed around them. The sky seemed to crack open in the next second. A satisfied look went over her face.
"It's done." Athena backed away from him and went back to the table, "It's an unbreakable seal, so know that trying to do otherwise will become extremely painful for you."
Percy couldn't understand despite doing this willingly. To keep his lips tight, Athena made sure to put a curse upon him, so in a sense, the weight of her secrets must be tremendous, enough that no one in this household knew anything.
"Start from the beginning, Percy… After Thalia was to teleport, I assumed that's when the Nemean Lion bare his fangs?"
Percy nodded. As he revealed the details bit by bit; how Annabeth got hurt by his counterattack, what he had to do to protect her, the many close calls he wouldn't have survived without his brief training and the life-saving mechanism wired deep in his body.
But then, something very faint appeared, it was barely noticeable yet he noticed regardless, a seemingly inconsistent pattern that told him something was off. In other words, Athena grew more and more impatient.
"But that's not important to you, is it?" Percy watched carefully at her reaction, "There is something else you want to know, something you don't want anyone to find out."
Percy read through the Goddess's intention when he neared the end. She bit her lip seemingly because he hit right on the dot.
"You want to know about Annabeth…"
There was no way to deny it. Her reaction betray every attempt to lie her way out of this one. Athena didn't care about how they survived. She was worried about Annabeth, or more specifically, the secrets and forbidden power hidden within the girl.
"… And what she did to defeat the Nemean Lion."
Everything was so obvious now. The things he saw Annabeth do when she was possessed by a strength beyond one's imagination… That's what Athena was most concerned about, and why she had to send both Thalia and Sally away.
"You know from the beginning, don't you?" Percy asked as he just figured it out himself, "Annabeth isn't just a daughter of Athena. She is also-"
"You are right." She cut him off and looked at him with cold piercing sharpness one step away from maiming him with her sword, but she sighed heavily in the end, "And you are not the only child foretold by the fates prophecy."
After a heavy pause, she spoke again but her voice echoed with an immeasurable pain that even she was troubled by, "It's you and Annabeth both."
The revelation took Percy off his seat, literally, "Why?! Why keep it a secret?! You have to know the truth would eventually come out."
"Percy…"
"And there is something else too, isn't there? Annabeth's been through hell working to fight this war you've dragged us all into, but you couldn't have at least told her about her real godly heritage. How can you be so unfair…"
Pulling strings after strings and hiding in the background… That was what Luke said. Percy hated himself for doubting the people he truth most, but after this, his doubts only grew.
Athena offered no words in reply.
"Does my mom know?"
A pang of guilt greater than lying about Annabeth's real identity moved across her grey stormy eyes, it had turned dark grey since Percy figured out the truth himself. When she shook her head, Percy's anger boiled over with clenched fists, "It's not fair, Athena. You can't expect us to fight for you when you've been keeping so many secrets from the very beginning."
Percy took his seat and didn't even know what else to say anymore.
Athena was the same, but a tired exhale escaped through parted lips, "I love you father, Percy, that much is true, but I never intended to hurt your mother. You don't have to believe me, but in fact, I've never admired anyone more than her. Her unweaving strength in her beliefs, doing what she thinks is right and best despite having doubts or what anyone said differently."
Something about her tone shifted.
"I am truly sorry, Percy."
Despite a range of emotions running through his tangled mind, Percy knew Athena was genuine. Her words came right from the bottom of her heart. It never made him feel better about the revelation though. It just sounded like an excuse.
"Then why? And why lie about it? Why did you—"
"It's not as simple as you think. Certainly, I didn't do it to steal your father's heart nor hurt your mother's feelings. I know he loves Sally, and she will always be his, but we are also aware of the prophecy as it spoke of a child of Poseidon who'd saved us from destruction. Everything that happened between me and Lord Poseidon since then, I've convinced myself that it's for the betterment of mankind, an insurance just in case something unforeseen happened."
Is that all we are? Insurances against the destruction of the world?
Athena cast her downed eyes over at the windows and sighed, "I can't regret that decision anymore. It's too late to try and remedy that, but I do regret not telling your mother who put every one of her faith in me. That's something I'll have to take to the grave with me, and I am sorry."
"What about Annabeth? Were you ever going to tell her?"
Athena looked back and Percy saw uncertainty hiding within her features, something that pained him more than the truth about Annabeth, "I- I don't know… I've never considered the possibility that she would be awoken by your father's genetics hidden inside her."
Percy didn't know what to say.
Athena paused and took a deep breath, "Or perhaps I've just convinced myself that day will never come as long as I keep her safe and away from danger."
Percy breathed out and looked away, "And now she did..."
What a mess of a reveal… Not only did it complicate things, Percy now realized Annabeth was his step-sister in a weird sense. That in and of itself was terrifying to even think about, and now he learned that she might be the one talked about from the prophecy and not him.
"Athena, what will actually happen? What did the prophecy say would happen at the end? How are we going to save the world?"
Those words carried a heavy burden that refused to leave Percy no matter how much he tried to ignore it. A sense of dread grew like a forest fire, extinguishing any hope he had for a better future. He wished it was all just a fluke nagging from his very core, but…
"To carry the world toward harmony, the strongest child of the sea will perish at the hands of a double-cross sword, hearts pure and strong will prevail for eternity." Athena spoke, "It was the prophecy's last words, which means…"
Percy knew then what it meant. There was no need for Athena to say anything anymore. All hopes and dreams he had, none of it seemed to matter anymore.
"Don't jump to conclusions, Percy." Athena said firmly, "You can never take the words of the three fates on surface value. It is always possible that there's a different outcome predicted."
Athena reassured him, "In the end, it's just a prophecy. It doesn't change the fact that Kronos is rising from the underworld, and it certainly doesn't change that fact that we can make our own choices in how we go about saving the world."
Percy kept quiet.
"Please, you have to believe that your interpretation is wrong. At least, you have to know that there are people who'd protect you and Annabeth no matter the cost… You can't—"
"The prophecy mentioned the strongest will perish, didn't it?"
Athena paused and looked at him. Surprised when he cut her off, she tilted her head in confusion, it didn't seem like she got what he was saying yet, "Yes, but…"
But Percy already made up his mind, "Then I'll just have to get even stronger than Annabeth. If I did that, then the chance of Annabeth being in the prophecy will never become a reality."
A sudden gasp escaped the Goddess. Her eyes went wide at his proclamation like a suggestion of a naive child too young to understand how the world worked, "You can't be serious…"
Percy shook his head like an idealistic fool, "I will get stronger than Annabeth, Athena. Even though I am only half a God by nature, I will surpass her even beyond what she's capable of."
"Percy," Athena said his name as her voice wavered a bit. She watched him, her eyes were somewhat glowing against the silver backdrop of gentle moonlight streaming into the room, "You really can't be serious. The possibility of that happening… Even if I were willing to let you do that, what would your mother say? Doing something impulsive like that won't…"
"I don't care." Percy stared right into the Goddess's eyes. The resolve he held was firm and nothing could change his mind, "I won't let Annabeth be a pawn for some prophecy or fate that holds no control over what I do."
He chuckled and grinned to himself, "Just watch, Athena! I will get much stronger than Annabeth and make sure to save the world while I am at it. I won't let anything happen to her, the prophecy be damned for all I care."
There was no way he would back down from this. In his heart, he knew this was the right choice, to protect her, he would sacrifice everything, even his own life if it meant Annabeth would safe and get to live happily for the rest of her life.
Athena studied him with eyes that resembled an owl honing in on a mouse roaming around an open field, ignorant of its danger: curious, skeptical, and full of admiration.
"You can't convince me otherwise, Lady Athena." Percy stayed firm and finally address her properly, "I won't stop until I am way stronger than Annabeth so that I can protect her."
Before long, curious skepticism morphed away from her expression. A thoughtful smile replaced it until Athena finally sighed, "You are a fool, Perseus, but I now understand why she loves you so dearly, more than anyone else. You've become more than just someone important to her."
It was very easy to make him blush like a strawberry field when people talk about his relationship with Annabeth, but this time, Percy didn't let it get the better of him and held his confidence, "She's important to me too. That's why… I have to protect her, no matter what."
Athena nodded expectedly as a resigned sigh left her lips, "I won't say what you are doing isn't admirable or pointless, and that's why I'll do everything in my power to help you get stronger, but for me, I want both of you to live, not just one or the other. You are both important to me, to Sally, to everyone else here."
Percy nodded in satisfaction at her answer.
"But I doubt your mother will ever agree with this."
Percy shook his head, "No. You are wrong. I know she'll agree with this. If you tell her about Annabeth, about you and Poseidon, I am sure she'll forgive you. She's my mother, and I know she's not one to hold grudges, especially against her family."
Athena shook her head and even cracked a sarcastic chuckle, "Your ideals are far from realistic, Percy."
Percy heard that many times before…
"But if you truly and sincerely apologize to her, there won't be a problem. My mother is the kindest woman in the world, and if it's any comfort, I forgive you too."
Wide eyes popped open for a second time, Athena studied him and even blinked twice as she was taken back. Percy nodded back and spoke with determination.
"I know our strings had been pulled many times even before we were born," Percy tilted his shoulder consciously, "But I don't regret any of it, whatever it was that you or my father had done to bring us together, I'll always think of it as a blessing. After all, I get to meet an angel like Annabeth and be a part of her life."
For the first time since Percy met Athena, the Goddess was speechless.
Even with her best attempt, she won't find him wavering because he had truly forgiven her. The truth might have stung a little, but it wasn't like he didn't understand her reasoning. One way or another, a Goddess was still a being capable of hope and despair like the rest of humanity, and sadly, even Athena wasn't spared from any of these feelings.
Falling in love with his father who must have supposed her for eons… Having Annabeth in secret to ensure a prophecy would be fulfilled… It was all driven by innate instinct, and there was no way Percy could fault someone for being human.
"Percy…" Finally, she whispered and a hopeless smile slowly moved across her lips, her cheeks grew wide and she shook her head in response.
"I might be the Goddess of wisdom having lived for more than a millennia, but your reaction was far from what I expected. You are not mad even knowing how I feel about your father, what I did to accomplish my goal, for lying to everyone about Annabeth's true identity, and you've forgiven me on the spot."
Athena brushed a strand of hair from her face and smiled, "If that's not naive, then I don't know what to call your hopeless optimism."
Percy shrugged, "I've been called dumb many times already…"
"I am sure." Athena smirked and wipe her face with the sleeves of her long dress, "Your virtue is too good for this world, Percy. Someday, you'll find that having such righteous principle will only lead to despair."
Percy recalled something similar, "Luke said about the same thing…"
The room went quiet.
"But I won't falter, Lady Athena. As long as I continue to live, I will hold this idealistic thought forever and be a fool for eternity if I have to."
Pure admiration ignited a fire in those grey eyes, "You are very much like your mother, Percy, and you carry the strength of your father. I—"
Words stopped on a dime, she pulled her lips in and smiled faintly away from him, her gaze reaching somewhere far away. She whispered something out of his hearing.
"Ahem." Athena composed herself and turned back all business-like, "In any case, I am curious, Percy. What kind of power was awoken in Annabeth? What did she do?"
"Yeah, about that…"
Percy told her the rest of the story, the unfathomable power emanating from Annabeth when she lost control of her armament, how Luke had been secretly watching and came out of the shadows to threaten them, the crucial details of the fight when he tried to take Luke head-on, and how Thalia fought like a demon to keep them safe.
Though there was one thing he kept to himself…
"I see." She contemplated, "I supposed it was luck that I managed to arrive right in time. That ability of his is not something to joke about."
Percy understood perfectly. After all, being able to stop time whenever he please almost felt like cheating in a video game.
"Is there a method of countering that attack? Having an ability like that makes it virtually impossible to defend ourselves. I mean, Thalia probably would have gotten hurt badly if you didn't save her."
"There is only one weakness of Kronos's time-accel ability." She spoke as if from experience, "A divinity could counter it by unleashing their true weapon. For example…"
Athena released a silver spear into her hand which was almost too long to be used with any precision or accuracy. Probably longer than ten feet in total, it looked almost like some priceless ornament instead of a real, battle-ready weapon. The entire shaft was adorned with fine and detailed carvings that depict a language Percy didn't understand.
"Every Olympian had their own, but in essence, our ancient form is embodied into a single artifact, and this is powerful enough to render Kronos's time-altering power useless, but doing so would leave one vulnerable from expending their strength, that's why it's a good idea to fight as a group."
Percy kept a curious gaze on her spear: Ancient form, huh?
"That ability of his is also restricted to exhaustion. Kronos himself can never keep time in stasis for longer than his mind could bear it, and his range is also limited by how many targets he's trying to freeze at the same time."
"As such, it's not an ability he could keep using if a whole group swarm him at the same time." Athena explained, "Plus, he hadn't fully taken over Luke Castellan's body just yet. He might be a host of his reincarnation, but the transformation is still in progress, meaning Luke can't use time-accel anymore than as a pinch. Most likely, he'll use that ability to escape, not to attack."
Percy sighed a breath of relief, "That's good to hear, but you said only a divine being can defend against it with their full power, so how do demigods do that? We can't unleash our full power to the extent that you can, right?"
"You are right." Athena touched her temple and craned her neck, "It will be tricky, but I'll come up with some ideas. The faster we figured out how to keep you all safe, the better it will be to take Luke on in the future. He's now our number one priority target to eliminate."
Percy nodded. Everything might still be in the beginning stages, but having a solid plan would better prepare them for any unforeseen attacks, just like how tonight had been.
However…
"But you never mention anything about Luke being a Half-Blood or the person orchestrating the attacks in the school, not even once…"
Percy hesitated, "Is it because of Annabeth?"
As much as he hated to bring it up, the one thing Percy put aside earlier needed to come back. The things Luke told him…. Percy needed to know for certain.
Fists clenched, anger rose from the pit of his stomach, "Is it true? The things Luke did to Annabeth?"
Athena passed him a solemn look, she heaved a long sigh and looked dejected.
"It's complicated. Let me start from the beginning…"
