Chapter 2: Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
Halfblood, Texas. 2021
It was the crack of dawn when the caravan showed up.
They pulled up over the horizon, from the north. A smattering of various cars, R.V.'s, and motorcycles that drove down the highway that let into town.
The caravan pulled up towards the entrance of town, past the old sign that read Township of Halfblood in faded, red paint. The sign was old, and decrepit, like it hadn't been painted in half a century. Most likely because it hadn't.
The vehicles drove through town, undisturbed by any passerby as no one was awake to see them, before they pulled off down a back road towards ranch land.
The leading vehicle was a motorcycle, a black Harley Davidson rode by a tall man in an ancient leather jacket and a blacked out helmet, with a bandana over his mouth and thick leather gloves over his hands. He guided the group of cars, leading them down the road as they got closer to their destination.
As they got close to their stop, they passed by a ranch. The leader took note of a sign hanging over the entrance to the plot of land.
Chase Family Ranch
He slowed as he saw it, before a honk from behind him kicked him back into focus and he revved his engine, continuing forward as their destination pulled into view in the distance.
A farm house. A big farm house. It was tall, around 3 stories, with a broad gable roof and a wrap around porch and a massive lofted barn set just behind the property. The property itself was locked off, bordered by a long, faded brown fence that looked just about ready to collapse. A sign hung in front of the property, a listing sign that was unbelievably faded from years in the sun, and only made the bright red FOR SALE sticker slapped on it all the more apparent.
A woman stood at the property, a real estate agent by the looks of her, propped up right next to a silver BMW. She was well dressed, and put together, her hair in a tight bun on the top of her head. She looked to be in her mid forties, with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes and a face that, though clearly older, still shone with a youthful exuberance as she waited for the group to arrive.
They pulled up to the property, the various vehicles all parking on the plot of land and shutting themselves off, the lead motorcycle being one of them. The rider turned off his bike and took off his helmet, sliding down his bandana as he did so.
It was Percy Jackson. Still the same young man he'd been all those years back, just locked in time. He took off his gloves as he dismounted the bike and ran a hand through his hair as he did.
He looked... different, though that honestly put it lightly. Gone was the young farm boy he'd known all those years ago, replaced by what he'd become.
His hair was longer, for starters. It hung down his head and whipped around in the soft breeze of the morning, flowing in front of his sea green eyes as he eyed up the real estate agent from next to his bike. His outfit was even more staggering with how different it was. Black faded jeans, black belt, white t shirt, and that same black leather jacket he'd gotten from Zoe all those years ago. He slipped the bandana off his chin and ran his hand over his neck, tracing his fingers along the old bite wounds and the tattoo of a bat that covered them.
He walked towards the real estate agent, his spurs clinking as he did, was hung as the woman appeared to tense up at his presence. He could tell she was nervous, partially because 50 years of superhuman sight made him real good at reading people's faces, and partially because he could probably dance to the beat her heart was hammering in his ears.
He walked up to the woman, sticking his hand out to her, to which she gave it a firm shake.
The woman forced a smile as she did, meeting Percy's gaze as she commented on his hand.
"You've uh... got a strong grip, and cold too."
Percy didn't nod, or really make much or an emotional reaction. He just clicked his tongue and turned to the house as he answered her.
"I get that a lot."
The words dripped out of him, heavily faling to the floor as they floated off his Texan drawl. The woman took a breath, taking note of how people were climbing out of their vehicles and helping each other grab bags. She turned back to Percy, forcing a smile onto her face.
"I believe you're the man I spoke to on the phone? Mr, uh..." She sifted through her documents as she tried to find one in particular, but he'd cut her off.
"Jackson." Percy replied, "Percy Jackson. Yeah, that's me."
The woman let out a gentle smile, "We'll, I'm Beryl. Beryl Grace, though I'm sure you already knew that from our conversations on the phone." She turned to the house, following his gaze as he looked over the windows, and the doors.
"It's a lovely home." She said, "Plenty of rooms and 6 bathrooms. Designed in the 1890s for those massive, 12 kid families they had back then." She motioned with her clip board at she patio, "As a matter of fact, this-"
"How big is the basement?" Percy cut her off, eyes still locked on the home as he spoke. She looked up at him, taking note of the tattoo that ran up his neck as he stared at the home.
"Well... it spans the whole width and depth of the home. Most farm house back then were designed that way, especially those-"
"Does it have drainage?" He asked, cutting her off again. She lifted her eyes to his.
"I beg your pardon?"
He turned to her, those green eyes lazily floating over to her gaze as Beryl felt her heartbeat quicken a bit at his gaze.
"Does it have drainage? Drains, in the basement? For... water, and such." He asked, twirling his finger at the ground to emphasize his desire.
She was silent for a moment before she forced a smile, "Why yes, it does. There's a heavy rainfall that happens every year in this town, usually brings floods. Just about every home in town has drains in the basement."
He nodded at her words as he slowly turned back to the home, walking towards it as Beryl quickly followed. He walked up the steps, approaching the door before pushing it open. He stepped inside, taking note of the broad doorways, the lumber architecture, the multiple rooms that each had their own door. He flicked a light switch and the room was illuminated, immediately showing off the doorway to the kitchen.
And the crucifix that hung above it.
His eyes widened slightly at the crucifix, hidden by his sunglasses as he turned to Beryl.
"Mind getting rid of that, darling?" He asked in a sweet tone, the kind he always used when people needed convincing, "My family, they're, uh... Jewish." He said.
She turned to him with a look that quickly snapped into a smile, before she walked up to the doorway and reached up, taking the cross off the wall.
Percy made sure to keep his distance as she tucked it into her side bag and turned to him with a smile.
"So, are you interested?" She asked him.
Percy turned away, walking up to the fireplace in the living area as his spurs clinked loudly through the home. He squatted down, running his hand over the lumber that made up the hearth, as he took a sniff of the fireplace.
"Depends." He answered, standing up as he did so and turning to the woman, "I'd like to know a bit of history on the place."
Beryl shuffled nervously, forcing asmile as she did, "Of course, anything you'd like to know, just ask."
"Has this land ever had a church on it?"
She felt her brow furrowed at his question, the one that seemed completely out of nowhere.
"I beg your pardon?"
He took a step forward, placing his hands on his hips as his face pulled into an exaggerated one of concern.
"I'm sorry about that, it's just my grandpa, he's... very Jewish. Doesn't have a good history with Christians and doesn't like the idea of living on land that was occupied by them." He said, before raising a hand, "Not that I have any problem with them, of course."
Beryl was quiet for a moment, before she slowly nodded, a forced smile spreading over her lips.
"Well... it hasn't. Though, you should know, or I guess your grandpa should, that most people in town are Christian, though..." She leaned in a bit and put her hand up to her mouth, as if she were telling a secret, "...I'll make sure they don't pester your family with invites to sermons."
Percy smiled at her words, nodding as he did, before he slipped off his sunglasses, his intense green eyes meeting with Beryls blue orbs. He stepped forward, up close to the woman as he raised his hand, offering g her to shake it.
"I think we'll take it."
Beryl was frozen for a moment, not really able to do much but slowly raise her hand to meet his cold, steely grip as he shook it firmly.
"For the asking price? I appreciate your generosity, Mr Jackson." She said, to which he gave her a smile.
"For my family? Money is no issue." He flicked his lips up to shoot her a soft grin, "If you can finalize the payment by tonight I'll throw in another ten thousand for you personally."
Beryl's eyes lit up at his offer and her lips spread into the first genuine smile she'd had all morning.
"I'll get right on that, Mr Jackson." She said, turning to the door to go grab her paperwork from the car. She made it a few steps away before Percy spoke up again.
"Mrs Grace, one more thing."
Beryl turned back to the man, who's sunglasses had went back on as she was turned. She let her smile fall a bit as she replied.
"Of course, anything at all."
He stepped forward, his spurs jiggling as he approached her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"My family, they're... well they're very private." He said with a twirl of his wrist, "I have a strong sense this town is very close knit, but I'd appreciate if you left us to our own devices, if that's alright."
Beryl was quiet for a second, before she let a smile spread across her face again.
"Of course, Mr Jackson." She turned away, but stopped as she did, "Just so you know, though. Your neighbours, the Chases? Notoriously friendly. Strong chance you'll be getting an invite to dinner real soon."
Percy gave her a soft chuckle, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
He smiled at her and gave her a nod as she stepped out of the door. The second she was gone the smile fell from Percy's face. He turned around, looking back at the entrance to the kitchen, where the crucifix had hung, and took note of the fact that an outline of the shape was still on the wall, laid there by dust.
He grimaced and walked up to it, swiping his hand across the grime and trying his best to ignore now his hand burned and smoked slightly as he wiped the shape clean.
He gave his hand a shake and walked out the front door, stepping down the steps and approaching Beryl's car. The woman turned out of the vehicle, holding up a set of papers for him to sign, which he did, quickly flicking his pen across the paperwork. Beryl felt a grin pull across her lips as she shook Percy's hand again, before excitedly getting in her car and pulling out, giving him a soft honk as she pulled away.
Percy gave her a smile, waving as she left and taking note of the SOLD sticker that now sat on the sign. He turned away from the road, back towards the R.V. and started walking towards it, when he noticed something.
Something in the distance, far away from him but close enough for his eyes to pick up. Movement, from one of the windows of the farmhouse that sat on the neighboring property. The drapes behind one of the windows shifted.
Almost like someone was watching him.
He shook the thoughts from his head. He had more important things to worry about than nosy neighbours. At least for now, he grimly thought to himself.
He walked up to the main R.V., watching as other members of the clan (mostly girls in silver track jackets) piled into the house, before he knocked on the door with three sharp knocks. The R.V. door opened and out stepped the first figure.
Luke Castellan.
Luke was... well, Percy wasn't one to mince words so he'd just say it. Luke was a piece of shit. A silver-tongued, Bayou-born, Louisiana-bred piece of shit. A hustler, liar, thief, and killer and that was all before he became an undead monster. He was sly, and slick. Cunning, and devious. A lotharious, chauvinistic, lady killer of a man (both metaphorically and literally). He moved confidently, charmed flawlessly, and spoke with an accent as thick as the gumbo he'd never shut up about.
He was everything wrong with the world in walking form. Plus, on top of everything, and from how he'd described his life, Percy was pretty damn sure he'd fought for the south.
The 1860s, stars-and-bars south.
He stepped out of the R.V. with a sly grin and a chuckle, a Coca-Cola class filled with something too red to be cherry coke sitting in his hand as he looked up at the farmhouse.
"Alright. Not bad, Jackson." He said, lifting the bottle to take a swig, "Not bad at all. There a drain in the basement?"
Percy felt a frown pull at his lips as he remembered Luke's request.
"Yeah, there is, Luke."
The blonde man smiled, his lips drawing back as his fangs flashed into view for a second, before he turned back to the home.
"Well, I guess I'll score you some points for that one. Damn well better not have a repeat of Seattle. I mean jeez..." He said, shooting Percy a look he knew all too well, even through the sunglasses, "...I don't even know a woman could have that much blood in her."
Percy bit back his grimace as the blonde slipped out of the R.V. and made his way up to the house, slipping up the steps and waltzing on in. Percy turned back to the R.V. as other figures piled out of the vehicle.
The next two to come out were a lesser strain on Percy's conscience, Beckendorf and Silena.
They were... a refuge, in the chaos that was Percy's life. Teenaged lovers that never grew older, both born in New York in the 1940s, and raised there up until... this. They stepped out of the R.V., moving like an older, mature couple because, well frankly they were at least in their late eitlghties by now, and unlike most of the others in the clan they didn't let how they looked influence who they were.
Like how Percy let it...
Beckendorf stepped out first, lifting his hand to hold Silena's as she stepped out of the R.V.. Percy always made sure to take care of those two. Partially because they were the only ones who really shared his outlook on this plight, and partially... well, because Beckendorf was black, and Luke was an ex-confederate.
There were never problems before, but he sure as shit wasn't going to let any to start.
They walked up to Percy, hands held tight as beckendorf gave him a smile from behind his thin framed, circular shades.
"So... this is it?" He said, in a hopeful tone.
Percy nodded, glancing at the house, "Sure is..." He said, before his gaze flicked back to Beckendorf with a small grin, "... old man."
Beckendorf scowled at Percy, a familiar look that Percy knew wasn't serious, just the two of them keeping up their little five decade game they'd been playing.
"Well, it's got size, and character, I'll give you that..." Beckendorf said, before flashing a grin at Percy, "...son."
Percy shook his head with a grin as he reached out and clasped Beckendorf's forearm, giving it a firm clench. Beckendorf may have been 17 when he'd turned, but he was still a big 17 year old, standing a little taller than Percy at right around 6'1.
Beck looked around them a bit before his gaze settled on Percy, a serious expression spreading over his cheeks.
"Is there enough... supply?" He asked, picking the words carefully as to not disgust any of the three of them.
Percy let out a grim nod, "Truckers come through here all the time, so do drifters. Not to mention the odd road trip on the way to Dallas. Leave the townies alone and we'll be fine."
Beckendorf gave Percy a curt nod as he glanced up at the home, and the windows on the top floor, before turning to Silena.
"Think this place'll do, honey?"
Silena looked up at her boyfriend, giving his hand a firm squeeze while stuffing the sour expression she'd had while Percy had talked about food.
"It will, so long as I'm with you."
Beck's face pulled it self into a smile, and if he were capable of blushing, he would. Percy let out a soft breath as he watched the two lovers speak to each other, feeling a slight pang of envy at... well, the love in front of him.
"Alright, enough. Go inside and pick your room, alright?" He said, as Beck gave hima grin and led Silena up into the house.
Two more figures stepped out of the R.V., the Stoll twins, and they were... the Stoll twins. They'd grown up in the 20's, right at the height of the great depression, and their last name was... very fitting for who they were. Thieves, and damn good ones at that.
Most of the cash that the clan had was thanks to them. Burglaries, scams, credit card theft, you name it, they'd do it, and they were damn good at it. They'd never gotten caught, or even come close, save for one time, when they'd broken into a house in Los Angeles.
June 12, 1994, if Percy remembered correctly. Luckily they'd had a fall guy, but still...
The twins stepped out of the R.V., looking around with their matching aviator frames as they silently took in the space surrounding them.
"Credit cards still working, guys?" Percy asked, scratching his thigh, "Wouldn't mind getting new ones. Can't say I'm all too comfy having my real name on them."
"Yeah, well, that Percy Jackson's been dead for a half a century." Connor answered.
"And it's a much more common name than you'd think." Travis added.
Percy let out a breath, an unnecessary instinctual action that was mostly a remnant of his humanity, as he turned to the house.
"Go get set up, guys."
The twins didn't waste any time quickly entering the home.
Percy sighed as they did, turning back to the R.V. as he watched another figure step out. The last figure, the only one left, the one he knew was there and yet secretly dreaded to see.
Zoe. Still wearing his denim jacket, all these years later, while also having claimed his cowboy hat, that sat on her head as she stepped out of the mobile home.
She sauntered out of the R.V., dusting herself off as she gave him a smile, before turning to the house with her hands on her hips.
"So... this is it?" She asked him.
He nodded, "This is it."
"Don't look like much." She said in an unimpressed tone.
"Yeah well..." He shut the door behind her, "...that's the point. We don't want a lot of attention, 'specially not after last time."
He shuddered as he remembered last time, and why he'd probably never set foot in Alaska again.
She slinked her hands into his as he was lost in thought, and gave him a smile.
"Well, so long as I'm with you, I'm happy anywhere..." She said, tilting her sunglasses down to look him in the eye.
Percy was unresponsive, despite how much that 50 year old nagging voice in the back of his head told him to be. He just looked away from her, slipping his hands from hers as he turned to the house.
"Why don't you go get set up, Zo', I'll handle... him."
She let her hands fall to her sides, a slightly hurt look pulling at her features, before she caught herself and turned to the house, walking inside.
Percy didn't like it, but he watched her as she walked. Watched every damn step she took.
He sighed, again instinctually, before walking down the row of cars to the last one in the row. The one that had taken the rear the entire stretch of their journey.
A hearse. An old, black, worn out old hearse.
He opened the rear and reached in, pulling out a long, simple wooden box that looked to be about as old as the house they were moving into. It was a coffin, that much was obvious, but he also reached in and grabbed something else.
A wheelchair, the folding kind, collapsed flat as Percy lifted it.
He threw the coffin over his shoulder, lifting it with ease as he gave a couple knocks on the wood.
"Still in there?" He asked, to which he got back a weak knock in response.
Percy's face didn't change, he simply hefted the wheelchair in his right hand and kicked the trunk of the hearse closed. He walked up the row of cars before he got to the end, the R.V., and stopped, taking a moment to peek around the corner.
He checked the windows of the neighboring farmhouse, for the looky loo that had been watching them earlier. If there was a moment he didn't need nosy neighbours, it was now.
He checked for movement, for life, anything. He saw nothing, so he hefted the coffin and quickly shuffled up the steps, kicking the door closed behind him as he stepped into the building.
He dropped the coffin on the floor as members of the clan spread themselves about the living room, lounging on chairs and couches or easing themselves into dark corners of the room, especially the hunters.
The Hunters. They were... something. Percy never really asked, so no one ever really told, but he got the feeling they were really, really old. They behaved more traditionally, at least compared to Percy. They slept in coffins, hung from the ceiling, barely talked, and while Percy may have had a slight grievance with the sun, they actively hated it.
He always got the sinking feeling that that's what happened when you stayed like this for a very, very long time.
He ignored the creatures that scurried around the living area as he grabbed a fire poker from next to the fireplace and waltzed back over to the coffin, jamming it under the lid as he cracked the thing open.
There he was. In all his whatever you called it, so he guessed he'd call it glory. Chiron.
Most of those in the room bowed as Percy lifted the ancient man out of the coffin and set him in the wheelchair. Chiron shook slightly as he sat, letting out an instinctual wheeze as Percy clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"We're here, m'lord." Percy said to him, all while Chiron let out a raspy breath, grasping at Percy's coat and pulling him close.
"Hungry." The ancient man spoke. Percy let out a grimace and squeezed the man's shoulder.
"All in good time."
He pulled away from the ancient being and snapped his fingers, with two clan members immediately shuffling forward and wheeling him off to his room.
Percy put his hands on his hips, cracking his neck before he turned back to the clan members who sat in the living room.
"Everyone alright? Everyone settled?"
A few nods were shot in his direction, so he gave one of his own.
"Good." He said, turning to the stairs, "No one fuckin' bother me, then."
He shuffled up the stairs, his spurs clinking with each step he took. He walked through the upper halls, taking note of how there were already moans coming from certain rooms and groans coming from others. His kind tended to enjoy personal companionship, and didn't exactly like to wait to get busy.
And yes, their hearts may not beat, and their blood may not flow, but the men could still... get it up, so to speak.
Percy ignored the sounds as he walked into his room and shut the door behind him. He let out a deep, instinctive sigh and rested his forehead against the door.
Home. He was home.
It almost didn't seem real, like some dream that he was gonna wake from any second, but until he did, he planned to try his best.to enjoy it.
He stretched his shoulders, feeling his too old bones crack as he slipped Zoe's jacket off his shoulders and tossed it onto a nearby chair, slowly walking towards his bed and taking his boots off as he did.
He sat down on the bed, running ahand through his hair as he placed his sunglasses on his bedside table and stared at the wall.
He was here. Halfblood. He was finally here again. It had only taken him 50 fucking years, but he'd finally convinced them all to let him lead them here. Zoe had been the hardest to do so. She'd been adamant, no, determined that they stuck to a 60 year cycle. That gave people long enough to forget their faces, forget their names, forget who they were. Let whatever magic Zoe always left behind slowly blur the past until it may as well not even existed.
He sighed, realizing just how sore he was. They'd been riding for 48 hours straight, and Harleys didn't exactly have back support. He swung his legs over the bed and leaned into his pillow, staring at the ceiling as he did.
Right into Zoe's glowing eyes as she clung to the ceiling.
He shot out of bed in an instant, immediately at his feet with a "Jesus christ, Zoe." Ignoring how the words made his tongue burn and smoke as he said them.
She smiled, floating down from the ceiling and landing softly on the floor. She already had her boots off, and her pants too, and Percy was making a solemn attempt to maintain eye contact as she sauntered up to him.
"So... this is it." She said, standing right in front of him.
He cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced out his window, taking note of the sunlight he'd need to block out.
"Yeah. It is."
Zoe smiled at his attempt to play off her presence, and took a step forward, placing a gentle hand on his chest.
"You're cute when you're nervous, Percy. You know that?"
He cleared his throat again, keeping his eyes out the window as he mumbled out a "Thanks."
She paused, softly drumming her fingers on his chest, before removing her hand and crossing her arms over her jacket, no, over his jacket.
"You're thinking about things, aren't you?"
He turned back to her once she'd stopped touching him. "I'm always thinking about things, Zo'. That's why you keep me around, I'm the only one who thinks."
She was still for a moment, before a soft smile spread across her face.
"That's not the only reason I keep you around, Jackson."
He felt his eyes widen a bit as he took a step back, but it didn't really matter as she took a few forward, placing her hands on his chest.
"How long has it been Percy. A month? Two?" She let a grin tug at the corners of her mouth, "We both know you can't help yourself with me. Not for that long."
Percy clenched his jaw, keeping his mouth closed as he desperately tried to control himself. He didn't want this. He never wanted this. There had not been a point in the last 50 years where he could honestly say he wanted this. Yet, even as every single thought in his mind screamed at him to tell her to get out of his room, a small voice spoke in the back of his mind. Quieter than the rest and yet drowning them all out.
Yout throw her on that bed and you break the goddamn frame.
He felt himself take a deep breath, and that was it. He showed his hand and she knew it. Her tongue flicking across her teeth as she let her hand slide down his chest, down his stomach, and to the front of his pants, as she leaned up to his ear.
"That's what I thought."
She probably would've gotten busy tearing the jeans off him if it weren't for an intrusive noise that both their hyper sensitive ears picked up the second it rang out.
Knocking. At the front door.
Percy let out a breath, turning to his own door as the knocking continued, silently thanking whoever was there for saving him from this.
He slipped out of Zoe's grip and grabbed his sunglasses off the table, slipping on his jacket and his boots as he walked for the door.
"I'll be back." He mumbled.
"You'd better be." She answered. He could hear the grin on her mouth as he slipped out the door.
He stood outside of his room, clenching his fists as he grit his teeth, trying to collect himself.
He hated it, he really hated jut how easy he was for her.
He was pulled from his thoughts as a few more knocks rang out. He turned to the stairwell with a scowl on his face, mumbling out a "Yeah, im fuckin' comin'...", and marched towards it, jogging down the stairs before walking up to the door.
Luke was in the kitchen, leaned up against the counter as Percy walked past and watching him as he went, calling after him.
"Well, about fuckin' time, Jackson."
Percy didn't turn to him, but answered all the same.
"Shut your fuckin' trap, Castellan."
The blond man took a step back and held his hands up in mock surrender as Percy walked upnto the door, unlocking it and pulling it open to see two figures standing there.
The first of the figures was a man, probably in his late 40s or early 50s. He was tall-ish, and broad, with rough calloused hands and big but not massive arms. He had salt and pepper hair tucked into a truckers cap that read Chase Family Ranch on it in red calligraphy. He had on a flannel shirt, denim overalls, and leather work boots.
He was a farm man, through and through, just like Percy had been.
The figure next to him is who really caught his eye, because if Percy weren't so convinced his life was already hell.
He'd have thought an angel was standing in front of him.
She was average height, and looked to be Percy's age... well, physically at least. She was blonde, extremely so, with gentle curls that ran through her hair. Her skin was a deep tan, probably from years working on a farm, and her eyes were just the most piercing grey Percy had ever seen. Like someone had captured storm clouds and poured them into her soul.
She had on a simple outfit. Blue jeans, boots all her own, and an orange t shirt with a graphic too faded to ever make out. She looked slightly annoyed,but at the same time collected, and her eyes snapped up to Percy the second the door had opened.
He could hear her heartbeat raise a little when she saw him.
The man cleared his throat, stepping forward as he held out his hand for Percy to shake
"Nice to meet you, neighbour." The man said as he smiled a shining grin, "Name's Frederick Chase, I own the ranch next door. Just wanted to extend some hospitality, seeing as... well, we've never really had neighbors living here before."
Percy was silent for a moment, staring at the two of them from behind his sunglasses, before he reached forward, sticking his hand out into he sun to grip Frederick's.
"Pleasure's all mine." Percy replied, giving the man's hand a firm shake.
Frederick let his smile fall a bit, probably when he felt how cold Percy's grip was, but let it spread a bit wider once he got over that.
"Well... I'm sure Beryl already let you know about our hospitality." The man said, wrapping an arm around who Percy guessed was his daughter's shoulders, "Seeing as you're new in town and we're the closest neighbours for the next few miles, I'd be happy to have you folks over for dinner."
Percy was silent for another moment beforehand drew his hands up to his waist and rested his thumbs in his pockets.
"Well, Mr Chase..." Percy said, shifting his leg as he spoke and making his spurs jiggle, bringing the attention of the man's daughter, "I do appreciate the gesture. But my family are... very private. They don't really enjoy guests, or being guests."
Frederick's face fell slightly, "I see." He offered percya kinder, gentler smile, "We'll, if you ever decide to change your mind, the offer still stands."
Percy ran his hand over his bat tattoo, again drawing the eye of the man's daughter, before he brought his hand up to his face and pulled off his sunglasses, meeting Frederick's gaze with his own sea green stare.
"I'll let you know." Percy replied. Frederick gave the man one last smile before he turned away from him, leading his daughter away from the house. Percy let his gaze flick over to hers and caught her staring into his eyes, before she quickly turned away and focused on following her father.
Percy watched them walk out of sight before he sighed and turned back into the den shutting the door behind him.
He was immediately met by a bunch of the clan, all watching him as he entered.
"Who was that?" One of them asked.
"Prey?" Another said.
Percy shook his head, "Neighbours. Off limits, too close to home. Killing them will just draw attention."
The surrounding clan members nodded and let out soft sighs as Percy headed back towards the stairwell and scurried back up the steps. He admittedly took his time walking, seeing as how he had a good idea what was in his room. He got to his door, let a breath out of his nose, and opened it.
There she was. Zoe. Completely naked.
She had, at some point, drawn the drapes on all of his windows, but the darkness of the room didn't matter. The second he'd stepped in his eyes had adjusted to the darkness.
She was naked, and laying on the bed, in a very... suggestive pose.
Percy sighed as he slipped his coat off his shoulders. He knew himself. Very well. He knew who he was and what he was like and, more importantly, both those things when he was around her. This was gonna go one of two ways. Either he was gonna force a smile, strip himself down, and spend the hour after they were done running water over the gashes her fingernails left in his back...
Or she was gonna walk over to him, whisper in his ear, and he'd be a passenger in his body until she was done with him.
He chose the former.
It was in the evening by the time Zoe had finished with Percy, and the sun was just starting to dip by the the time he'd recovered enough to head downstairs. He got down to the kitchen and found Luke there, getting ready to leave.
He was dressed... well, the same way he always dressed when he was going out for a hunt. Grey blazer and slacks, button down shirt, snakeskin shoes, and an old Rolex he'd fished off some poor bastard at some point in the last hundred and sixty-odd years. He watched as Percy walked in, pulling his sunglasses off and flashing his blue eyes at him.
"Perce... I see you've finished your little, ah... session."
Percy didn't answer, he just walked over to the sink and ran his hand under the water, splashing it onto his neck and the wounds Zoe had left. They'd heal, and fast too, but that didn't make them sting any less right now.
He flicked his hand, sending the water down the sink before he turned to Luke.
"Got plans tonight, Castellan?"
The man grinned, flashing his fangs as he did.
"Go to town, find a girl, suck her dry." Luke said, leaning back into the counter and cracking his neck, "Then again, when's it ever been any different?"
"I'll join you then." Percy said. Partially because he wanted to get out of that house and away from Zoe, and partially because he knew what Luke was like. If he could save at least one of those girls from that fate... well, maybe he'd feel a little better.
Luke looked over at him, a nefarious smile spreading over his lips.
"Oh, feeling like finding a side piece, Jackson?" He asked, as his eyes flicked up to the ceiling, "Y'know, we all heard you and Zo's little session up there." The man leaned in, a grin drawing over his lips, "Then again, maybe you want two at once. Zoe and whatever townie you can find? What a dog."
Percy flashed a glare at the louisianan, and Luke backed off, cracking his knuckles in front of his face.
"We'll leave in a few. There'd better be some decent spots in this hole, Jackson."
Percy turned away from Luke, choosing not to answer as he walked out the front door to the patio.
Finding Beckendorf there, leaning against the railing.
Percy smiled, walking up to his friend and clapping a hand on his shoulder. Beckendorf turned to him, and gave him a sad smile. It was pretty obvious to Percy, he knew Beck well...
He'd been doing some thinking.
Percy leaned into the railing, watching as the sun went down over the horizon. This was a time Percy always liked to watch, and he knew Beck did too. Sundown. Dusk. It was the only time when they could watch the sun and not get their retinas burned out.
The only time where the two of them could pretend they were still human.
Beckendorf sighed, his shoulders slouching as he did, before he turned his eyes to Percy, showing a look that really stung when Percy saw it.
"I'm tired Perce..."
Percy was silent for a moment, before a friendly smile drew across his lips.
"Then maybe you should go get some sleep, old man." He wiggled his eyebrows at Beck, "What is it, 9 p.m.? Bit late for you old timers, eh?"
Beckendorf didn't answer, he just returned back forward, looking out over the horizon at the sun as he did.
"You know what I mean, son."
Percy's smile fell as he looked out over the desert plains, his eyes focusing on the ord of fire in the distance.
"I know, Beck."
Beckendorf hund his head, letting a soft chuckle escape his lips.
"Yknow what I was the most scared of when this happened, Perce?"
Percy turned to his friend, "What, being around Luke for the rest of your life?"
Beck shook his head, "No Percy, the sun."
Percy looked back out over the horizon as Beck continued.
"I loved the sun, Percy. Ever since I was a kid. I'd spend every second I could in it, playing and laughing and being surrounded by it. It was something I always enjoyed." He held his hand up, sticking it up into an errant ray of sunlight that had cast itself over the patio.
"When I turned, my biggest fear reason I'd never see it again. Then I realized I could, to a degree, and it almost felt like Heaven."
Percy let out a small smile for his friend, "Is it not still?"
Beckendorf shook his head. "I've enjoyed the sun for decades, Percy. Decades. Almost a century. Who knows how long I'll live, bit there a chance that..." He stopped talking for a moment, looking out over the horizon as he did, "...that I'll live to watch the sun go out. I'll live to watch the sun go out, and I ain't even old enough to drink."
Percy was silent, staring at his old friend as he took in his words, words he'd never heard from Beck, even when he was at his worst.
"Well..." Percy offered, "...at least you get to spend it with Silena."
Beckendorf shook his head, "People aren't supposed to live like this, Percy. People are supposed to grow old, have families, die. Not live out their lives like Luke."
Percy grit his teeth at the man's name, but stuffed his emotions and turned to his friend, "I'm... I'm sorry, Beck. I'm sorry this is what you are."
Beckendorf shook his head, "Not your fault Percy, it's Chiron's. We both know that."
Percy grit his teeth, suddenly feeling anger, but he didn't know who to. Chiron? Zoe? Luke? Probably all three. He squeezed the railing and felt the wood groan. Beckendorf noticed it too, and placed a hand on Percy's shoulder.
"Hey, come on now Perce. You're right in a way, it ain't all bad." He shot Percy a grin, "I do have Silena, and I don't know where I'd be without her."
Percy nodded, as Beckendorf continued.
"And you've got Zoe, she's gotta count for something, right?"
Percy's face fell, immediately at the woman's name. He turned back to the horizon, leaning in to the railing as he did.
Beckendorf watched this with a sad expression, taking note of how Percy reacted to her name.
"Percy." He said, drawing a look from the young man.
"Yeah Beck?" He answered.
Beckendorf was silent for a moment, before his brows pulled into a look of concern,"... do you even like Zoe?"
Percy was silent for a moment, his eyelids drooping slightly over his eyes as he stared into Beckendorf's face. He turned away from the man again, watching as the sun started to fade from view.
"I don't know, Beck..." He softly drummed his fingers on the railing as some honest words pulled themselves from deep within him. Words he didn't want to say, or want to hear, but were the truth either way.
"She's all I've got."
Beckendorf was silent for a moment, before he clapped his hand on Percy's shoulder and offered the young man a smile.
"I'll see you when you get back, alright?"
Percy nodded, still staring out at the horizon as the sun dipped below the the earth, out of view, out of sight, but for Percy and Beckendorf...
Never out of mind.