Chapter 9: Drops of Jupiter
The Garden of The Hesperides, A millennia ago
It was cold. So very, very cold.
The wind blew a soft breeze, sending waves through the gentle grass that laid at the foot of the mountain.
A smattering of trees bearing various fruits laid scattered, framing a well worn path that led up, up the hill to a tree. A tree that bore golden fruit. A tree that was protected by a hundred headed dragon. A tree that a legendary hero had just left towards.
Once he was done.
Nobody noticed her. Then again, who would? The hesperides were nymphs of the sunrise, eternally tied to the arrival of Apollo and eternally bound to the morning. They rarely were awake when the sun vanished from the sky, not unless they wanted to be, and she had.
Not anymore.
She sat in the grass, weeping. A young woman, just barely peeking out of her twenties. Her caramel skin covered in soft bruises, her onyx eyes filled with tears, her gentle facial features pulled tight as she sobbed.
The dress she'd worn had been torn at the front, right by the hem. It had been torn off, despite her pleading. Pleading for him to stop, that she didn't want this.
Pleading to him, but he wouldn't listen.
Men tended not to.
She cried gently to herself, lost in her own grief. So caught up in it that she didn't feel the wind start to falter, didn't hear the soft steps in the grass, didn't notice the figure until it cast a shadow over her in the moonlight.
She looked up, tears still dripping from her face as the figure sat next to her. It was a female, and that's all that was clear. It was naked, and thought it's form was beautiful it had no distinguishing features on its body, just a smooth form of gray skin. It's hair that sat on its scalp was a deep auburn, so deep it almost looked red, while it's eyes were a piercing silver.
A silver that glowed in the moonlight.
It was... a curious being, one distracting enough to pull the young woman from her sorrows, if only to ask a question.
"Art thou... a goddess?"
The being smiled at the stars, before turning to the young girl.
"To some... to others, though? I am much more."
The girl was silent for a moment before she sniffled and turned back to the floor, tears falling yet again as the figure watched, a curious look on its face.
"What seems to trouble you, young one?"
The young woman sniffled, feeling a sob work itself into her throat.
"He... he wouldn't stop. He wouldn't listen."
The figure let it's gaze raise, watching the stars above them as it leaned back into the meadow.
"They don't listen. Most, anyways. And considering how he handled the Nemean lion, I'll take it fighting him off wasn't an option, either."
The young woman let her hand gently flow through the grass, feeling the soft blades run over her skin.
"I thought he loved me. He told me he did."
The figure sighed, "They do that, too."
The woman looked over at the figure, "Do what?"
The figure smiled as it looked up to the stars, "They lie. They always do."
The young woman watched as the being ran its hand through the grass, before it let its fingers scrape against a familiar bush. With a familiar berry on it. A berry that, were the young woman to eat it, would have killed her.
Nightshade.
The creature smiled. A soft, friendly look that didn't match its inhuman features. It turned to the young woman, rolling the berry in its hand as it did so.
"I take it... you meant to sit next to this?"
The young woman took a shaky breath, letting her eyes meet the figures.
"I... I have nothing. Once my sisters find out..." Her gaze fell with her head, "...I'll be shunned."
The being nodded, pursing its lips slightly . It continued to roll the berry in it's hand, watching as the bud left a trail of black on her palm.
"What if I could give you something?"
The young woman felt her gaze snap in in an instant. Her eyes landing on the figure as they widened. She felt her breath hitch as the figure turned to the girl.
"Men are... fickle. They are rare in their worth and even rarer in their use." The being held the berry up, letting the glint of the moonlight shine off its surface.
"But. Give a girl enough time? She can find the right one. Find the man who is right for her, and personally?"
The figure let out a grin, with the girl catching a glimpse of the fangs that stuck out of her gums.
"...I find nothing quite washes away heartbreak like true love."
The young woman felt the words settle in her mind, before she turned to the floor with a sigh.
"I don't think I have enough time."
The figure smiled, scooting a bit closer to the girl before gently holding her chin and guiding her face to look at it.
"What if I could give you time? All the time in the world. All the time you could ever need."
The girl slowly looked back up at the figure watching as it held up its arm and reached toward it with a finger, a sharp nail now resting on the digit. The figure drew its nail across its wrist, leaving a shallow gash that a thin trail of blood glowed from.
"This mortal life, it has so many limits. So many questions left unanswered and so many possibilities left unexplored."
The figure turned to the girl, who watched her with tide eyes as she spoke. It smiled.
"You say you have nothing. You imply he took it from you..." The girl let her head fall, but the figure placed a gentle finger on her chin, raising her gaze back up.
"... I can give you so much more. Power. Strength. A life long enough to find what you desire, whatever that may be."
The girl let her lip quiver slightly, "What must I do?"
The figure smiled, holding her wrist up to the girls mouth.
"Drink."
The girl took a few deep breaths, collecting herself. Her mind wasn't clear, but then again, when would it ever be? What else did she have? She'd be cast out. Abandoned. Banished, the second her sisters found out what happened to her. She had nothing, and this... whoever this was. She was offering her something.
What did she have to lose?
She held the figures wrist, gently bringing it to her mouth and wrapping her lips around the wound. The figure smiled, closing her eyes as the young woman drank her blood. The woman pulled away, closing her eyes as she found herself bizarrely satisfied, licking her lips as she savored the taste.
She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, then letting it out. Then... she didn't. Her lungs stayed still as she didn't breathe again. Her eyes snapped open, different now. Alert, focused, glowing. She turned back to the figure, who's smile remained as she reached over and ran a gentle hand across the girls face.
"How do you feel, o' child mine?"
The young woman held her hands up, looking at the appendages as she clenched them, cracking her knuckles.
"I feel... alive."
The figure ran her hand down, towards the girls neck, before pressing a finger to her jugular.
"Not quite. But who am I to judge?" It removed its hand and let the girl stare out into the world.
"What is your name, young one?" The being asked.
"Zoe." The girl replied, still fascinated by the new world all around her.
"Do you have a last name, Zoe?"
The girl was still for a moment, before her gaze fell slightly.
"No, just Zoe. It's all I've ever known, for all the time I've ever had."
The being nodded at her words, before holding up its hand and showing it to the young woman. It was the berry, the nightshade berry.
"That woman, the one you were? She's as good as dead." The figure leaned in, pressing the berry into Zoe's hand.
"What say we kill her completely?"
Zoe held the berry in her hand, staring at its onyx skin as a soft breeze ran over her. A breeze that no longer felt cold, or felt like anything. She gave one last look at the figure, who smiled and gave her a nod, before she put it into her mouth and bit down.
She chewed it, swallowed, and waited. For something, for pain, for the end. It did not come. She turned back to the figure who bared her lips, showing off a smile.
"There. Nice and dead now, aren't we?"
Zoe looked at her, taking a shaky instinctual breath, before she responded.
"What happens now?"
The figure let out a soft chuckle.
"Now? Whatever you please. Whatever your heart desires..."
It let a serious look flash over its eyes as it met Zoe's gaze with a stern look.
"Anything you want, until the end of time."
Zoe was still for a moment, before a soft smile spread over her face. She rose to her feet, her bruises healed, her tears dried, her pose taught and ready. She took a breath, clenching her fists and feeling the power she held in them. Her eyes snapped open, and her gaze lifted upward, with the figure smiling as her gaze followed.
"I reckon..." The figure said, eyes still locked on the sky, "...that since you're dead, we'll need a new name for you."
Zoe paused, "I'd like to stay Zoe, if it's all the same."
The figure smiled a bit wider, "If you insist. But, at the very least, a last name. One that is fitting, one that is deadly, one that shows what you are now."
It looked about the field, with its eyes landing on the bush. The bush the girl had been sat next to, and had almost used to end it all. The figure smiled.
"Nightshade."
Zoe turned to the being, a small smile spread over her lips as the being met her gaze, their eyes flickering with light as they met. Zoe turned back to the stars, her smile having grown as she watched them sparkle overhead. Stars that she used to never get the chance to see, despite how she loved them. Stars that she had always regretted missing for years, but now had all the time in the world to admire. The figure rose to its feet, walking over to the girl to join her as she watched the sky twinkle overhead.
"Zoe Nightshade." Zoe said, turning her gaze to meet that of the figure.
"I like the sound of that."
Sundays were the worst.
Well no, they weren't. Annabeth was being hyperbolic, as she tended to be in the morning. Her mind was grumpy, and bothered, and frustrated at the fact that the oh so precious sleep she always craved had been ruined by Dea road dad storming in, all fire and pitchforks, and ripping the sheets off her, declaring it "Church time."
She didn't hate church. Really, she didn't. She'd been going since she was a little girl, ever since her mom died. It had always been a way for Annabeth and Frederick to bond, and to heal. A way for them to think they'd see her again, at least for a time, before it became a way for them to accept that she was gone, and move past their trauma together.
Now it was just an excuse for Frederick to get off the farm, despite how much he insisted he loved spending every waking moment there.
Annabeth didn't complain, she never did, even as they drive to church and she struggled not to fall asleep against the window of the car, she knew not to complain. Partially because it would be fruitless. She knew her dad well, and he knew her, and she always got the feeling they both knew they didn't really go to church to get close to God or anything like that.
Matter of fact, Annabeth always kinda suspected it was so he could talk to that Helen lady that sat near the front row. Which she didn't really complain about. It had been 15 years since mom passed, and she didn't want him on that farm alone forever.
She couldn't help but let thoughts of mom pass through her mind, though. She'd long gotten over it. Years of therapy and long nights eating ice cream and watching movies with dad had made her get over it, but still.
She missed her.
The thoughts were pushed from her mind as the truck pulled up to fhe church.
It was an old building. Not just old, Halfblood old. Ancient, decrepit, deserving of abandonment. The once white walls were stained brown with dust, the stained glass windows were darkened from years of neglect, the parking lot they had parked in was even covered in cracks. The steeple stood high in the sky, covered in ancient shingles that were practically melted onto the roof.
It was an old building, and Annabeth had a certain eye for buildings. One that didn't give her anything but bad feelings whenever she saw this one.
Frederick must have known, because he sighed just about the second he saw her.
"I take it you're not coming in?"
Annabeth gave her father a soft smile as he practically read her mind, "Probably not. I'll make sure to give a couple prayers from the lot though."
Frederick smiled, "Well, I'm sure the big man upstairs will appreciate the gesture."
Annabeth narrowed her eyes into a soft glare, her smile unwavering.
"Well how about you focus on the prayers too? Instead of focusing on Helen the whole time, pops."
Her father's face went a deep shade of red as he quickly turned towards the church.
"I'll see you in a few. Be safe."
Annabeth chuckled, "Don't have to be. Thalia won't let anyone dangerous near me anyways."
They both knew Frederick was smiling even without looking. He crossed the parking lot and headed into the church as Annabeth made her way to the back of the building, following the soft sound of voices.
She found the sources leaned up against the structure, cigarette in eithers hands and deeply embroiled in a conversation about Johnny Cash or something. Annabeth cleared her throat, getting both their attentions in an instant.
"What's up?"
Thalia was the first to answer, a smile on her face as she did.
"Well, my mood for one thing, considering what our pal here just told me."
She clapped a hand on Nico's shoulder and gave it a slight shake, "Why don't you tell Annabeth what her boyfriend did for you?"
Annabeth's face went red and a glare was shot Thalia's way, one she brushed off with a smile as she waved Nico on. The boy sighed as he turned to Annabeth.
"Remember that guy at the bar? The one who was hitting on Thalia?"
Annabeth felt a frown pull at her lips, "He's ringing some bells."
Nico nodded, "Well, I figured I'd give him some of his own medicine. Make him out to be just about as left of the dial as me, y'know? Make sure the jackass didn't score that night."
Annabeth nodded, crossing her arms as Nico went on.
"So he takes me outside, pissed as hell. Starts threatening the hell out of me, saying he's gonna bleed me dry and shit, and guess who comes by and saves me?"
Annabeth sighed, "Percy, right?"
Nico felt his smile fall as he turned to Thalia.
"She knows his name already. She's hooked."
Annabeth let her arms tighten over her chest.
"I am not hooked. He's just... friendly, is all, and a gentleman."
Thalia and nico shared a look, a knowing look, before they turned back to their friend with matching smiles.
"You're hooked." Thalia said.
Annabeth let out a long sigh as she met Thalia's eyes.
"Shut up Thalia."
The punk grinned, and gestured towards the cemetery plot behind them. It had become a bit of a tradition of theirs, ever since Nico'd had his second coming out (First being coming out as gay, second being coming out as goth), to walk through the cemetery, talk about their problems, smoke cigarettes and just generally do their best to look like an album cover for The Cure.
Problems weren't on Thalia's mind at the moment, as se opened with a ststement thay just about made Annabeth laugh.
"He's a vampire."
Annabeth sighed, a move Nico repeated.
"Not this shit again..." The boy mumbled, sifting through his pockets for another cigarette. Thalia shot him a slight glare.
"I mean it." She said, stuffing her hands in her pockets, "They're vampires. They gotta be."
"Oh I'll bet, Thals." Annabeth mused.
The punk shook her head, "The signs are all there you dicks. Think about it. They're always out at night, they're nailing boards on the windows, they seem to hate the sun..."
Annabeth let out an exasperated sigh, "Thalia, everything you said has a rational explanation. They're always out at night? They've got graveyard shifts. They're nailing boards on the windows? Yeah, a small hurricane is on the way, like it is every year. They hate the sun? Thals, it's Texas..."
The blonde leaned towards her friend, "It gets up to 110 in the summer, who in the hell likes the sun here."
Thalia was quiet for a moment, before her eyes flicked up to Annabeth's.
"He was scared of a cross."
Annabeth felt her brow furrow in confusion.
"Who? What're you talking about?"
Thalia's gaze didn't falter.
"Mr tall dark and handsome. Mom sold 'em their house, said he made a big deal out of the thing, asked her to take it out of the house. Then on top of that, asked if there had ever been a church on the land."
They were all silent for a moment, before Nico loudly blew a cloud of smoke into the air and coughed.
"Maybe they're just Jewish." He rasped out between coughs.
Thalia sighed and dropped her head, "Yeah, thats what he told mom." Her head snapped up just as quickly, "But I don't buy it for a second."
Annabeth and Nico shared a look. A frustrated, tired look, that put words in Annabeth's mouth.
"Look Thals, let's say for a minute you're right. Wouldn't the sun do a little more than annoy them? Wouldn't Percy be a pile of dust on the sidewalk right now?"
Thalia crossed her arms with a scowl, "I dunno? Maybe they've got Medea's spf 5000 sunscreen or something. Point is, they're weird."
She let her gaze narrow as ice cold thought crossed over her face.
"...and there's all those abandoned trucks they found on the highway a few days ago. Whole convoy on the side of the road, drivers were nowhere in sight."
That shut them all up, all while a chilly breeze blew over the group. Annabeth shivered and drew Percy's jacket closer over her chest. Yeah, she was still wearing it, and yeah, it was at least partially because it was his. Thalia let her gaze wander back in front of the group and she froze.
"Well speak of the devil..." She said, as Annabeth followed her eyes.
He was there. Percy. Back turned, eyes down, a bundle of roses in his hand that he was in the process of placing in front of the grave. Annabeth felt her heart nearly stop in its chest, partially because they'd just been talking about him, partially because she was still wearing his jacket, and partially because... well, because thats just how she felt whenever she saw him.
Mr tall dark and handsome.
She told the voice in her head to shut up as Thalia grabbed her arm and hissed words into her ear.
"See? He must've known we'd be here, and now he's gonna make us his immortal slaves or something."
Annabeth sighed, shaking Thalia's arm loose as she led the group up to Percy. He didn't turn to them. His eyes simply stayed locked on the plot in front of him, and the gravestone that sat on it.
Sally Jackson. Mother, wife, friend. 1929- 2019.
Annabeth was still for a moment, watching as Percy stared at the tombstone. She walked up beside him, sticking her hands in the jackets pockets as she looked at the tombstone as well.
It was quiet. Quiet and somber and dower and just about every other emotion you'd feel in a graveyard. Every thought you'd have practically radiated off Percy. She... didn't like it, didn't like seeing him this way.
In hindsight, she could've picked a better way to cheer him up.
"I'd say it's nice seeing you here, but here isn't exactly a nice place to see anyone." She said, regretting it pretty immediately when his face didn't budge an inch. She let out a nervous breath.
"Sorry."
He turned his head upwards, swallowing before he spoke.
"It's alright." He turned to her and offered a soft, clearly forced smile, "It wasn't the worst joke I've ever heard. 6/10 at worst, 7.5/10 at best."
"6/10?" She replied with narrowed eyes, "You're a hard man to please, Jackson."
He let his gaze flick back in front of him, the smile turning genuine now, "Oh, I ain't that hard to please..." His eyes wandered back over to hers, now drawn into a squint, "...but wouldn't you like to know."
Annabeth felt a blush spread over her face and Percy let out a laugh.
"Sorry, Chase. You just... you make it so easy."
Annabeth frowned slightly, "I guarantee it's this easy with everyone. You ain't exactly short on words to say, Percy."
His smile fell a bit, "I am with some people."
She took note of his change in tone, wondering what he could've meant, before she turned back to her group and gestured towards them.
"Percy, I've heard you've already met Nico."
Percy smiled, shooting a wave at the boy.
"How's it hanging, kid?"
Nico crossed his arms, his cigarette hanging in his mouth as his eyes narrowed.
"Thought we got past this... Four eyes."
Percy's smile faltered a bit at the name, if only for a second, before it picked right back up and he plucked the cigarette out of Nico's mouth.
"Yeah, well... you make it too easy." He said, drawing a deep drag of the cigarette, "...plus, only kids pretend to smoke."
Nico crossed his arms as Thalia suppressed a small laugh.
"I'm not pretending." The boy spoke.
Percy smiled slightly, "Alright then. Do this."
He French inhaled, letting the smoke drift out of his mouth as he breathed it into his nose, before exhaling out of his mouth. He handed the cigarette back to Nico, who hesitated before taking it.
"You're a real dick, y'know that, Jackson?"
Percy shrugged, "I sure do."
Annabeth took a moment to snap back into focus and out of whatever Percy-caused daze she was in to clear her throat.
"Well, you've already met Nico..." She held her hand up to Thalia, "...but I don't think you've met Thals, yet."
Percy turned to the punk, giving her a smile as he held out his hand.
"Percy Jackson."
Thalia held her own hand out with a tentative look in her eye.
"Thalia Grace."
They shook, and Thalia let her look turn from tentative to suspicious.
"Cold grip."
Percy's gaze didn't waver from hers, not even for a second.
"I get that a lot."
Their hands separated and there was a moment of silence in the group, a moment that didn't feel friendly but didn't feel hostile. Just tense, as a silent understanding waved over them. It was ended when Nico cleared his throat.
"Well, Thals. Why don't we go see if there's... anything cool over at church."
He gave up trying to hide what he was saying halfway through. Annabeth has on his jacket, let her handle this.
Thalia nodded, giving Percy one last side eye before she and Nico walked off towards the building.
Annabeth let out a sigh once they were out of earshot and Percy let his smile return.
"Well..." He began, "She's... lovely."
Annabeth stuffed her hands in the jackets pockets with a sigh, "Yeah, that's Thalia for you. Don't worry, she'll grow on you."
"I hope." He replied, drawing her gaze.
"Why's that?" Annabeth asked with a smile, "See a future bestie in her?"
"Meh." He replied with a shrug and smile, "More like she's your bestie, and if we're friends I can't be causing rifts, now can I?"
She let her mouth fall open a bit as she thought about his words. This guy. This fucking guy. How the hell did he just... always know what to say?
Percy turned to her and let out a small groan.
"I'm not getting that back, am I?"
She looked down, "What, the jacket?"
He nodded, "You're putting your hands in the pockets, and being all... personal with it. That usually means it's been claimed."
A small smile spread over her lips, "Claimed?"
He gave her a side eye, with a smile all his own.
"Claimed."
She sighed, reaching up to take it off, but he stopped her, putting his ice cold hand on hers.
"Hey now. I didn't say I minded it being claimed, now did I?" He gently took her hand off the shoulder of his coat, "Besides. It looks cute."
She couldn't help the blush that spread immediately, "You think I'm cute?"
"Well, I think the jackets cute on you..." He said, fishing his sunglasses out of his pocket and slapping them over his eyes before he turned to Annabeth and wiggled his eyebrows over the frame.
"Just like how you think these are cute on me."
Annabeth was silent for a moment, before she let out a soft sigh.
"You already know what I'm gonna say."
Percy stuffed his hands in his pockets, "That I'm slick?"
"No." She replied, turning to look at him with a gentle look in her eye, "...that you're cute."
His sunglasses covered eyes stared at her for a moment, before he visibly swallowed and turned back forward.
"Yeah, well... you're cute too." He mumbled, letting a small grin crack over his face, "...and not just because of my awesome jacket."
There was a moment there between them. A moment that just about made Percy pull those sunglasses off his face so he could stare into those eyes properly. He watched the blush spread over Annabeth's cheeks a little harder before she softly cleared her throat and turned to the grave.
"Someone you knew?"
He looked back forward and the smile fell immediately. He let his head dip a bit as he looked at the grave.
"Yeah, she was my... my grandmother."
Annabeth was quiet for a moment, before she tightened the jacket over her chest.
"I'm sorry you didn't get to see her, before she passed."
Percy was quiet for a moment, letting his eyes drift over the roses on the grave, "Yeah... me too."
The silence came over them again, suffocating in its presence, and Annabeth didn't like it. She didn't like seeing him like this. Sad, downtrodden, depressed. This grave was clearly getting to him and it hurt her to see him in this state.
It hurt her to see a man she barely knew sad in a cemetery. Pull yourself together, Annabeth, she thought to herself.
"I'm guessing you didn't know him, huh?" She said, pointing at a different grave.
Percy followed her gaze and felt himself stiffen a bit when he saw the grave she was pointing at. An old grave, much older than Sally's. It was a simple slab of stone, with most of the information still present, but the name having been scratched out.
P-- J-- Son, friend, light of many lives. 1949-1971
Annabeth shivered slightly as she looked at it and Percy noticed.
"Getting cold?" He asked, taking a look at the dark clouds that hung in the sky.
"No, it's not that..." She replied, pulling the jacket tight as she stared at the grave, "It's just that... that's so young. It's too young, too young to lose everything like that."
Percy stuffed his hands in his own pockets, toeing a rock from beside his shoe.
"I'm sure he had some enjoyment."
Annabeth shook her head, "That's not how life is supposed to be. People are supposed to do things, they're supposed to leave marks on the world. Not just... have it end at 22."
Percy let a small smile pull at his lips, "Is leaving a mark on the world something you want to do?"
She nodded, "More than anything." She shivered again, "I mean, this guy... I doubt he even ever got the chance to fall in love."
Percy was silent, abnormally so. His eyes glazed over, thoughts passing behind his gaze as he looked out over the horizon. He wanted to say something. No, he wanted to say everything. But he couldn't, not yet at least...
"What do you think about life, Annabeth?"
The question caught her off guard, very much so.
"I... I don't know what you mean."
He tensed his jaw, "I mean... do you think it has meaning? Do you think it has value?"
Annabeth swallowed, "Well, yeah... I mean, it has to, right?"
He was silent for a moment, his eyes trained out over the vast, infinite horizon.
"I think life is precious. It's an invaluable thing, something to be cherished." He turned to her, his glasses hiding his eyes, but the gaze still boring into her all the same.
"Do you wanna know why life is precious?"
She felt her mouth straighten into a line, the curiosity she'd always had getting the best of her.
"Why?"
He looked back out. Back over the massive, infinite stretch of land that made up her home state. He opened his mouth, ready to say something, before a thought danced over his eyes and he found something new to say.
"It's precious because it ends." He said, his eyes turning back to her, "...and there's only so much we can do with the time we have."
She was silent for a moment, letting his words sink into her, letting them settle in her heart and mind. She thought about what he said, and suddenly the unnamed gravestone in front of her seemed even more tragic.
Percy let out a soft laugh, "Im sorry."
She turned to him, confusion on her face, "What are you sorry for?"
"Two things." He replied, "The first is bumming you out, the second is cutting you off." His eyes pulled back into a playful squint as he looked at her, "You were just starting to talk about love."
Annabeth blushed and looked away, back to the grave as his smile faded a bit and his eyes took on a somber look behind the glasses.
"Do you think about love, Annabeth?"
She was caught off guard, and hard too. She looked back up at him, at his face as he stared off into the distance.
"I... I don't know." She answered, "I think about it more than I used to."
They were quiet again, before Percy turned to her.
"Have you ever been in love?"
He just about knocked her legs out from under her. She felt her heart start to hammer in her chest as those black sunglasses lenses peered into her soul.
"I... I thought I was, a long time ago. But I wasn't."
He looked at her for a moment, before he turned back to the grave, staring at it as the wind blew over the both of them.
"I was." He said.
She looked at him, a pang of something she was ashamed to recognize as jealousy shooting through her heart.
"You were?" She asked quietly.
He nodded, "A long time ago. It... it didn't end well, nor did it end on my terms. But... it should've ended, and the more I go on the more I think it's right that it did."
Annabeth stood for a moment, taking in his words.
"Yknow... I'm sure she was happy. At least for a while..." She looked at the ground as her heartbeat picked up a bit and her blush came in a bit harder.
"... I couldn't imagine anyone not being happy with you."
Percy was quiet for a moment, the breeze still blowing over his form. He didn't move, or speak, or do much else but think about what she'd said and, more importantly, why he thought she'd said it.
He reached for her hand, gently taking it in his and making her look up at him.
"Well..." He began, pulling his glasses off his face, "...I hope you're happy when you're with me."
He turned to her and she didn't know if it was what he'd said or what she'd been feeling or the conversation they'd just had but...
She wanted to kiss him.
She wanted to throw her hand up to his face and pull him in and press her lips to his. She wanted him to be caught off guard before he returned the kiss, pulling her close to him as he did. She wanted to feel his breath on her face and his hands grip her waist and, when they were done, press her hand to his chest and feel his heart hammer against her palm. She wanted all that, all of it. Just one problem.
She'd known him for three days.
She gripped his hand a little tighter as she turned back to the graves.
"My dad still wants to have you and your family over for dinner."
Percy smiled, "I think it's not just dad who wants me over..."
She felt her blush form over the frown she forced.
"Yeah, well... I could use a little more Percy in my life..." She turned to him.
"Think you could use a little more Annabeth?"
He smiled, letting his lips pull up high into his cheeks.
"I don't think I can get enough Annabeth, if I'm being honest."
If her heart could crack her ribs, it would. She smiled, giving his hand another squeeze as their eyes met. They met, and the thought of kissing him before was just about a necessity now. She felt her mouth open slightly, her breath hitch, and her hand involuntarily grab his other, free one. They were having this again, this little staring silent conversation that they'd already had twice before.
They looked int each other's eyes, and Annabeth could feel the thought going on behind Percy's. She could feel the conflict.
It made her a little nervous, and a little more insecure. Was he thinking about her? The girl he'd loved? Was he thinking about Annabeth? Was he thinking rhe same things she was?
She got her answer but at the same time didn't, when he let go of her hands and rubbed the tattoo.
"How about... I come over for dinner tonight?"
She blinked, her body pretty quickly getting over the sadness from a lack in Percy contact and being replaced by an excitement in a potential dinner with Percy.
"You mean it?" She asked, in a tone more excited than she wanted it to sound.
"Yeah," He replied, stretching his neck with a satisfying crack, "I'm free tonight, and I'd be lying if I said talking to you wasn't the highlight of my day every time it happens."
She felt her smile spread over her face pretty quick, "In that case I'll let dad know. You like steak? Because he loves cooking steak, and loves cooking it for guests even more."
Percy shuddered a bit, "I'm uh... not really in the mood for eating cows right now..."
He watched her face fall a bit and quickly added, "But I'll do it for dear old dad."
Her smile came back and his followed suit.
"Well... I'll let him know then." She said, turning away from his with a smile still on her face. She took a step, before she turned back to him.
"Wanna come in? I'm sure dad would love to meet you proper before dinner."
He looked up at the church, his smile on his face falling a bit as he looked up at the building. Taking in its steeple, it's siding, the stained glass windows. Taking in the fact he remembered when it had been built, and would probably burst into flames the second he stepped in...
He forced his smile back and met her gaze again.
"Maybe next time."
She let an emotion pass over her face, one Percy could yell was at least a little bit of disappointment, before she forced a smile all her own.
"I'll text you tonight with the details."
He slipped his phone out of his pocket and gave it a shake.
"I'll be waiting."
She gave him one last smile before she turned to the church and walked up, turning the corner and walking inside.
His smile fell the second she was out of sight. He slipped the phone back in his pocket and let his head fall, turning back to the grave. The Sally Jackson one. A small smile pulled at his lips.
"I can practically hear you laughing, you know." He said, looking at the tombstone as his smile grew, "You laughed when I stumbled over my first phone call with Rachel, and I'm sure, wherever you are, you're laughing now."
He was silent for a moment, before his head fell a bit.
"I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye."
He felt a small frown pull at his lips.
"I'm sorry you didn't get to say it, either."
There was a silence. A silence that he knew Annabeth wouldn't be there to save him from as he approached the grave and fell to his knees, running his hand over the name carved into the stone.
"I miss you, mom."
He waited. He wasn't sure what for. A voice? A sign? Maybe a dove landing on the grave and cooing at him.
Nothing happened, so he shifted over to the other grave, the one Annabeth had pointed out.
The one that had the name scratched out.
He ran his hands over the tombstone, over the grooves that he'd dug his steely fingers into all those years ago. He'd remembered leaving the initials, the first letters of either name, letting them remain so at least he'd have something to go back and look at years later. He let a soft scowl pull at his lips and chipped the initials off the tombstone, leaving it blank, with nothing but a date and a vague description, before he pocketed the two letters and left.
Last thing he needed was someone figuring out that P J stood for Perseus Jackson.
A.N. time. How we liking it?
Enjoying the characters? The story? Like how things are headed? I hope you are.
Wanted to say this quick, I've got my own page in a discord server. Use this link: Discord.gg/elibrary and you'll find my page in the dormitory tab. I'll answer questions and talk about stuff there.
On another note, I've gotten a couple dms recently from people asking about a very specific topic: Godless land part 2
Don't ask me about godless land part 2.
It will come out when it comes out. Frankly, I've only really got a couple sentences of planning and I don't really plan on doing much more for a while. I've got ideas, plenty of them, but I've also got stories I want to write first.
With that being said, a couple of shout outs.
Perzoe Forever (nice name): thanks for your props. I hope you're enjoying the story and... well, I guess I answered your question pretty quickly, didn't I?
Guest425: You're too kind, and thanks for enjoying my more mature story. I appreciate your praise, especially saying I'm one of the best writers here, but in my opinion the best writers in all of fanfiction are seaweedbraens, 1967Hogwartsgoddess, and the insane person writing apartment 305 (seriously, how is that thing still going and still as good as it is?) I am only a pretender to the throne, but what you said put a smile on my face.
Robotdocter: I love seeing comments like yours, from people who I feel are really in tune with the characters and story. I hope you're having fun reading it, becaus eim having fun writing it.
Dududuhehe: I will stay on this Thang till its done, G.
Hunter19941: You've left a lot of comments, very insightful ones. I appreciate your eye for stories.
Icecreamconewithacap: Thank you for your props. As for your prediction? Hmm, maybe. I guess you'll just have to wait and see ;).
A.N.s getting a little long so I'll stop here. Expect a new chapter soon. The burnout faded a bit when I took a few days off, but if it comes back I'll take another break. I'll work as quick as I can. Cheers everyone.
-Bronzeandsteel