Chapter 7 ~ Brains and Punks
Pain.
That was all Percy could think about when he woke up. It felt like someone was running around inside his brain and pounding against his skull. He would have liked to open his skull now to let the pain out.
With a groan, Percy opened his eyes and looked around. He was lying on a hospital bed. Next to him was a small bedside table with nectar and ambrosia on it.
"Percy! You finally woke up!" squeaked a voice next to him and he looked to the source of the sound. In the doorway, Bianca had just appeared and rushed to his side.
"Hey Bianca. How are you?" asked Percy with a smile and tried to sit up.
Bianca pressed her hand against his chest and forced him to fall back down. As she pressed her palm against his chest, she blushed slightly, but then hissed, "You're asking how I'm doing? You're the one who caused a freaking explosion of shadows and then fainted."
In Percy's head, memories were slowly coming back. Images flashed before him. The fight against Ares. Clarisse. Luke. Annabeth.
"Clarisse, what about her? It looked like Ares hit her pretty hard."
"I don't know. I heard she had some broken ribs from the impact, but otherwise she's fine. You saved her, Percy."
Percy breathed a sigh of relief. "Chiron said you used too much of your energy when you unleashed that giant wave of shadows."
Percy nodded in understanding. "That's what I thought. It's happened to me before."
During one of their training days together, Tartarus had sent whole armies of monsters against Percy. That was the day Percy first unleashed such a wave of destruction. Percy still remembered how Nyx had rebuked Tartarus. She had yelled for hours about irresponsible uncles and plans to cauterize them in acid. Tartarus called such training moments family bonding time. Percy called them illegal torture methods. Oh sweet memories...
"So Percy. I ask again. How are you?" asked Bianca with an annoyed look on her face.
"What about the campers? Any casualties?"
"Dannazione." Bianca cursed in Italian, "They are fine. Some injured but no one died. What the hell, why do I even ask if you are okay? You'll just ask about someone else. Just drink that stuff. I think they said it was called Nectar."
She poured him a glass and Percy took it gratefully. He drank it and the taste of his mother's chocolate cookies filled his mouth. He groaned in relief as his headache slowly faded and this time when he sat up Bianca didn't stop him.
The two left the infirmary and heard two voices from outside.
"..the barrier. Chiron, we need to assign guards."
"I know Annabeth. It is weakening and I think another attack would result in heavy casualties." the centaur replied.
Percy and Bianca found Annabeth and Chiron talking on the porch.
"Hey what's up?" asked Percy, leaning on Bianca for support. She didn't seem to mind.
Annabeth and Chiron looked up. "Ah good you're awake again. I have to go, Annabeth please inform them of everything." With that Chiron put a hand on Percy's shoulder, squeezed it in a reassuring manner and then galloped off towards the dining pavilion.
"Hey you're not dead." noted Annabeth.
"Thanks, I hadn't noticed," Percy replied rolling his eyes.
"Hey, I didn't even mean that in a sarcastic way. You fought the damn God of War and not only won, but lived to tell about it."
"I had help from Clarisse. She saved my ass."
Annabeth gave him an intense look. Her eyes bored into his as if he were the most interesting lab rat in the world.
"Well, anyway, we have a big problem. The pine tree was on fire. We were able to put it out, but it was damaged and so far Chiron hasn't found a way to heal it. There was something special about the fire that the monsters used. Normally it shouldn't be able to burn like that," Annabeth explained.
"What's so special about the tree?" asked Bianca.
"Thalia's tree is the source of the magic shield that surrounds our camp. Now that the tree is damaged, the barrier has also become weaker. Monsters can now occasionally squeeze through and get into the camp," said Annabeth.
"Hence the guards?" asked Percy.
Annabeth nodded in confirmation.
"Why does everyone call it 'Thalia's tree'?" Bianca asked confused.
Annabeth's expression darkened and she looked as if she had to hold back a painful memory.
"A few years ago Luke, Thalia and I were taken by Grover to Camp Half-Blood. Just before we reached the border, everything went terribly wrong. Hades had sent a small armada of monsters including the Furies to kill Thalia," Annabeth recounted.
"My father did what?" cried Bianca indignantly. "I can't believe he would do such a thing."
"Don't hold it against him. The Big Three have always had each other's children killed. Have you already forgotten that it was Zeus who murdered your mother while trying to kill you and Nico? Hades avenged her death on Thalia years later." explained Percy calmly.
"But that's just it" Annabeth interrupted him. "Hades didn't get his revenge. Thalia wanted to sacrifice herself and got in the way of the rest of the monsters. She was badly injured and dying, but just before that Zeus transformed her into the tree whose barrier now protects the borders of the camp. Her sacrifice has ensured the survival of dozens of demigods, Luke included. But now he degrades her sacrifice by burning her tree." Annabeth closed her hands into fists and trembled with rage. "I can't believe he would do such a thing."
In the distance, the conch shell sounded.
"All right, let's have dinner," said Annabeth.
"Oh I was only knocked out for a few hours?"
"Nope, you were out for a full day and a bit longer." Bianca informed him.
"What? Why didn't you inform me sooner?"
Annabeth just rolled her eyes in annoyance as they went to to the pavilion.
A week later, Percy and Annabeth were standing on the perimeter of the camp. It was almost midnight and the two were illuminated only by the moonlight. The bushes were dark and rustled lightly in the wind. Next to them was Thalia's tree, which was losing a few needles as they stood next to it. A lone owl hooted in the branches of the pine tree. The night was humid and warm and neither of them had to wear thick clothing.
"Has Chiron made any progress on the cure?" asked Percy, interrupting the silence.
Annabeth snapped out of her thoughts and answered, "No, unfortunately not. The problem was not the fire. The monsters used a poison which continues to harm the tree and prevent it from healing."
"You mean Luke virtually poisoned Thalia?" asked Percy cautiously.
It did not escape Annabeth's notice that Percy had not separated Luke from the monsters.
"I can't believe he would do that. But I also understand his point of view. When we were on the run, he was always talking about how his father had left him. After a quest Hermes gave him that he failed, it only got worse."
"You were on the run?" asked Percy.
Annabeth nodded and said "I ran away from home when I was seven. Luke and Thalia found me and took me with them."
Percy wanted to ask more, but held back. If Annabeth wanted to tell him more, she would do it herself.
Percy tried a smile. "I find it hard to believe that my childhood in Tartarus was better than most demigods."
Annabeth smiled weakly. "What was it like growing up with your divine parent?" she asked.
"Honestly, I'm extremely grateful for it. Nyx doesn't give a shit about Zeus' rules, and I lived with her. I have a lot of siblings, but I'm only close with Thanatos and Lyssa and maybe a little bit with Eris. I mean come on Charon is my brother!"
Annabeth's face contorted slightly.
"Oh sorry I didn't mean to brag or anything about my mom." said Percy apologetically.
"It's alright. I just didn't have great experiences with Charon. But it's still unfair that the Olympians just leave their kids alone like that. That in the throne room was only the third time I've seen my mother."
Now it was Percy who grimaced. "And then me and my Mom come and beat them up. For what it's worth I want to say I'm sorry for that."
Annabeth sighed "I can't really blame her. Athena attacked Nyx and paid the price. And it's my mother and I, Percy."
Percy cracked up.
"Hey how bad is Tartarus really?" Annabeth asked curiously.
"For me? It's okay, monsters are running around everywhere, but a lot of them are smart enough not to attack me."
"Why is that?"
"Because they don't want to incur moms wrath. Besides, it would be pretty stupid to kill Tartarus' favorite nephew in Tartarus, wouldn't it?" said Percy with a slight smile.
Annabeth's eyes widened dramatically. "You know the Primordial God Tartarus?"
"Haha, know him? He's the reason I can live there normally at all. For you, the air would be pure poison and even children of Hades couldn't get out of there through shadow travel. But I have the blessing of Tartarus. It allows me to breathe the air and frees me from the pull that emanates from Tartarus that would pull anyone else in and never let them out."
"We were on an edge in our quest that led to Tartarus. The pull was incredibly strong. And then Luke must have really gone down after faking his death. And then he comes back up and poisons the tree. And we're helpless." The conversation quickly took on a depressive tone. Annabeth sighed in despair and slumped her shoulders. "It's like there's nothing in the world that can help us."
Percy froze and then snapped his fingers loudly. "Annabeth you genius! Nothing in the world. At least not up here. But I know something from down there that has healing powers."
"The Phlegethon?" asked Annabeth, and Percy could literally see the wheels rattling in her brain.
"Wow you're really smart if you could come up with that right away."
"Daughter of Athena, remember? But that's still insane, it would be way too dangerous for demigods. Chiron would never allow that."
"If it weren't for me, you'd be absolutely right. Most demigods would be dead after an hour. But with me as a tour guide, it'll be a walk in the park."
"We'll have to tell Chiron. First thing in the morning!" exclaimed Annabeth excitedly.
"And we won't have to wait much longer for that. Our shift is over. See you tomorrow then, Annabeth." said Percy, giving a quick wave.
Annabeth hesitated briefly, but then smiled and waved back as she walked toward Athena cabin.
The next morning, Percy and Annabeth met at the Big House after breakfast. The mood in the camp had fallen. Everyone was worried about the barrier and no one could blame them. After all, for many Camp Half-Blood was the only real home they ever had and now one of their former leaders was threatening to destroy it.
But there was also good news for Percy. He had started to show Nico and Bianca their demigod powers and to train with them. After the somewhat bumpy start on their first day, which ended in a life-threatening battle, the children of Hades could now at least assess their limits and develop a good feeling for their powers.
Annabeth was already waiting for him and together they entered the Big House. Mr. D lounged in an armchair, drank his Pepsi and threw small pieces of sausage to the leopard head on the wall named Seymour. Chiron stood at a table bending over a concoction of various herbs.
"Any progress?" asked Annabeth anxiously.
Chiron looked up and looked at the two of them. He seemed to have aged a bit with worry and sighed. "No, I've tried all sorts of things, but nothing helps against this poison. What can I help you with?"
"Annabeth and I have an idea how to save the tree."
Chiron widened his eyes beckoning them to explain.
"The water of Phlegethon," said Percy.
"WHAT? Children, you can't be serious. Annabeth you do know where the Phlegethon is located don't you? How in the world are you going to get the water?"
"In Tartarus, so what?" said Percy, shrugging his shoulders. "What's the problem? We'll just go down for a minute get a bunch of firewater and come back up." "Really. What is it about Tartarus that these people always have a problem with? Sure, it's a little warm down there and a little gloomy in the long run, but a quick trip can't hurt."
"What Percy meant to say..." interjected Annabeth, glared at him "is that while it would normally be madness, we have Percy with us. He knows his way around down there. With him, we have a chance to save the camp. We have no other option at all."
Chiron tensed and seemed to think. Then he shook his head. "But we don't even know for sure if the Phlegethon's water can heal the tree."
"We can test that right now. I have a small flask of it left. It's supposed to be for wounds, not trees, and the amount is probably too small, but it's enough for a test," Percy explained impatiently.
"Hmmm. All right. Percy please get the Phlegethon water and we'll meet right by the tree for the test." said Chiron when he finally relented.
Percy just grinned and snapped his fingers. Darkness immediately gathered in his hand and spat out a flask of stygian iron.
"Oh I love this pocket dimension of shadows. I never need a backpack."
The three reached the border of the camp and Percy took out the flask. Chiron whipped his tail nervously as Percy opened the cap and let the liquid fire drip onto the tree. Annabeth had a fire extinguisher in her hand, just to be safe.
The lava-like liquid, consisting of flames that fell down like real water, came into contact with the bark of the tree and hissed slightly. Then the bark began to glow at one of the many burned and damaged spots, and the two demigods and the centaur watched as fresh bark pulled itself over the damaged wood. It wasn't much, but the Phlegethon's water had clearly healed the tree somewhat.
Chiron breathed a sigh of relief, then said with a broad smile "I think it's time for a quest. It's probably the most insane and crazy idea ever, but I don't see any other way. We don't have a choice. Venture into Tartarus. But before that, go to the Oracle and get a prophecy."
Annabeth reached out her hand to Percy and pulled him up the last step to the attic. On the walls groaned many shelves with various objects. Many of them were the body parts of monsters. Small signs were attached to all of them, indicating the owner. On the Greek helmet, which seemed to be made of gold, was written: 'Helmet of Ares, obtained by Percy Jackson, son of Nyx.'
Percy looked to the end of the room and a musty and dusty smell filled his nose. Annabeth and he went to the far end of the attic and looked at the mummy in a batik dress sitting motionless on a stool.
"Um, how exactly do we do this now?" asked Percy, confused.
"Isn't an oracle supposed to be alive?"
No sooner had he finished the thought than a voice hissed in his head as if a hundred snakes had begun to speak. Green mist seemed to flow from the mummy's mouth and eyes.
"I am the spirit of Delphi," the voice said. "Speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach Seeker, and ask."
Annabeth gave Percy a reasuring nod and he swallowed hard, then asked "How do we get the water of Phlegethon and save the camp?"
The mummy looked at him out of green misty eyes and then spoke in her hissing voice without even moving her jaw.
Calling from the depths,
three face the trial of fire,
children from above and underground,
cursed by madness,
breaking the bronze.
With that, the mummy became silent again and looked as if it had been lying in the attic for centuries.
Annabeth breathed out and frowned. "Well that sounds like a fun trip down south." Percy said dryly.
Chiron met Percy and Annabeth at the bottom of the stairs and then escorted them to the room next door. Mr. D. had disappeared and Seymour was sleeping peacefully.
"So, do you have the prophecy?" asked Chiron, turning to them. He looked at them expectantly and Annabeth recited the prophecy.
Chiron stroked his beard in thought. "Who do you want to take with you?" he then asked.
"The prophecy mentions three participants. So we're still missing one."
"Children from underground. That could mean either me or Nico and Bianca as children from the Underworld." said Percy.
"Okay, then I would suggest we ask Bianca if she wants to come along." said Annabeth.
"What about the other lines?" asked Percy.
"I guess we will have to pass some kind of trial before we can get the water. Cursed by madness doesn't sound great."
"Hmmm. My sister is the Goddess of Madness, but she wouldn't curse us. At least I hope not, otherwise we're screwed. I've seen what she can do and it's really creepy. I'm not sensitive about physical violence but, yikes, when you see Lyssa turn someone's mind to shreds, you don't sleep for a few days."
"I always don't know if I want to be jealous of your closeness to your divine family or feel sorry for you because your relatives are so loopy," Annabeth said with a frown.
Percy just gave her his big grin and then asked "any idea about that last line?"
Chiron shook his head and Annabeth shrugged.
Chiron dismissed them both and Annabeth went to the Athena cabin to pack. Percy, meanwhile, searched for the Di Angelos and after a while found them in the arena sword fighting.
Bianca had some problems with the swords. They did not sit well in her hand and always felt too heavy. After a while, she switched back to the two hunting knives that Hades had given her.
Nico was a little too small and weak for his sword and had trouble holding it up, but he seemed very happy with his blade of stygian iron and you could tell he would grow into it.
Percy walked up to the two and pulled the children of Hades aside.
"Hey Percy what's up?" asked Bianca, putting her knives away.
Nico swung his sword and shouted "Look Percy!"
He almost decapitated him if it weren't for Percy's lightning fast reflexes. He dodged the blade and said "Careful Nico, keep practicing or you'll get us killed."
Nico just grinned and then leaned on his sword like a walking stick.
"So why did you come here?" asked Bianca.
"Annabeth and I received a prophecy for a quest and I wanted to ask you if you wanna come with us?" he explained to her.
"Can I come too?" asked Nico.
"I'm sorry, but only three people can come. But if you stay here you can train and then you'll be better than your sister when we return."
That seemed to improve his mood a bit.
"Alright, I'll go with you," said Bianca. "But where are we supposed to go anyway?"
"Oh just around the corner." said Percy "or rather down into the hell of Greek Mythology." he added.
He then quickly explained to her all about the water of Phlegethon and about the prophecy.
"You know, when you told us about this place, you used something along the lines 'only safe place for us' and not 'fighting an army on day one' and 'getting dragged down to hell'." Bianca told him with a frown.
"Are you complaining?" Percy asked.
"No, just wanted to mention it. When are leaving?"
"Tomorrow after the breakfast." Percy told her. "See ya then!"
At lunch, when Percy sat down at the Nyx table with Bianca and Nico, Chiron nodded to him and then thumped his hoof loudly on the floor. Immediately all conversation stopped and the demigods looked at him expectantly.
"Attention! Tomorrow Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase and Bianca di Angelo will go on a quest to find a cure for the pine tree."
"What is that cure?" asked a Demeter camper.
"The three of them will procure the water of the river Phlegethon. We have already tested its healing properties with a small amount that was available to us."
"Why are the newbies being sent on the quest?" shouted an Ares camper.
"You have a problem with that?" shot Percy back.
"What did this little annoying wanker think he was doing?"
"We can't leave the fate of our camp to this wimp. Especially not to a daughter of Hades. They will either betray us or fail."
"WHAT? Had he just insulted Bianca? Oh, you are so on! Wait why am I feeling so protective?"
"What makes you think you would be better? I don't even know who you are." Percy retorted angrily.
"Oh I could take you all day. I am going to make you remember my name. I, Mark, son of Ares challenge you to a duel for participating on this quest!"
Percy grinned. "Time to make shish kebab!"
Chiron groaned. He probably had seen this coming.
The entire camp had been tense for more than a week, and now some of them had lost their patience.
"I accept your challenge." Percy said confidently and gave Mark a devilish grin that promised nothing but pain.
"Just make it quick," Chiron said, shaking his head.
Then all the campers poured excitedly into the arena.
Percy entered the fighting area and continued to grin.
Mark had a chest protector and a helmet, as well as a round shield in his left hand and a medium-length sword in his right.
"No weapons wimp?" he asked mockingly.
"Nah, I'll try something different against you. Campers be ready for a show!" Percy retorted. He was wearing no armor, just his black hoodie and camouflage pants and combat boots. The raven pendant still around his neck. He let his knuckles crack.
"First fatal blow or unconscious wins!" Chiron announced and gave the signal to attack.
Mark came rushing up to Percy and let a series of jabs and blows come down on him. He was actually quite good, but Percy was in a different league. He dodged all the attacks with elegance and then came to a halt two meters in front of Mark.
Mark grimaced and then charged again. This time he didn't came running but place far more calculated strikes. Percy spun around and leaned to the side to avoid getting stabbed. Mark jumped back but Percy grabbed his sword arm and pulled the Ares camper towards him. Mark lost his balance and stumbled slightly.
Before he could fall to the ground, Mark dove into a roll. When he came up again he spun around and tried to send a jab with the edge of his shield. Against the chin such a blow with a heavy shield could knock you out in an instant but Percy had other plans.
Mark turned his shield sideways so he could start the jab. He brought the shield down to gain momentum and then wanted to swing it upwards. Before he could do so Percy bend his knees and jumped into the air with the speed of a feline predator. He landed and placed his foot on the shield Mark was holding like a platform to jump on. From then he pushed his foot up once more and flew over Mark head. While doing so he placed a kick with his other foot on Marks helmet.
All this happened in less than a second and the dumbfounded Mark stumbled from the force of the kick while Percy landed on his feet behind him. Both combatants slowly turned to each other and immediately the ranks exploded into cheers. Never before had a demigod delivered such an acrobatic show during a duel. Percy winked to the cheering Bianca, who was sitting in the front row of the seats. Then Percy turned his attention back to Mark who still didn't seem to able to comprehend what the hell just happened and how outclassed he was.
"My turn." Percy said with a diabolical grin. He concentrated and the shadows were drawn to him from all corners of the arena. The darkness gathered in his hands and solidified as black claws. Each was slightly curved and as hard as stygian iron. His entire hands were covered in the black mass and now looked like those of a monster. The spectators broke into gasps when they saw his display of shadow manipulation.
"What the-" was all Mark could say before Percy shot at him like a bullet.
Much like Athena in her hopeless fight against Nyx, Percy first dodged a poorly placed thrust from Mark's sword and then intercepted the next one with his clawed hand. The sword hit the hand and a "clonk" sounded as if the blade had struck metal and slight sparks were send flying to the side. Percy just laughed as he saw Mark's expression when the sword didn't do any damage to his hand. The blow still shook his bones, but this opportunity to be badass was just to good for Percy to let it go for the sake of some bones.
Mark barely had time to react as Percy lashed out his claws at him, giving him five long scratches on his sword arm. They weren't deep, but Percy hadn't intended to sever his arm from his shoulders.
"This is still a summer camp and not the depths of the pit." Percy had to remind himself.
Then he grabbed the edges of the shield and ripped it out of Mark's hand. Like a crazy cat he continued to send scratches all over Marks body who was know stumbling and weakly tried to defend himself while Percy danced around him and turned Marks skin to shreds. Percy finished the job by spinning behind Mark once again and focusing all his might in one last slash that ripped to the armor on Marks back with ease.
The latter then fell on his knees to the ground while bleeding all over his body.
"Go to Tartarus!" he screeched in a last attempt to preserve his dignity.
Percy stared at him for one second before laughing out loud. "Go there? Haha. Do you think I am afraid of the pit? Hehe, now listen well, punk! You might think of Tartarus as the worst place in existence, where you are good as dead. But I was born there."
Mark paled at his words which was barely noticeable because of all the blood streaming down his face.
"So I advise to not get in my way." Percy finished and then stalked over to were Mark was lying and shot his closed fist towards Marks chin and knocked the lights out of the son of Ares.
"Percy wins!" Chiron declared with a loud voice and the ranks broke into lout cheers.
"Now is there anyone else here who wants to discuss my authority, abilities or the chosen quest members?" asked Percy and slashed his shadow claws against each other which produced tiny sparks.
A lot of people gulped and Percy gave his loopside grin and then walked out of the arena without another word while to Apollo campers brought in a stretcher for the completely demolished remains of the camper who was known as Mark but had earned himself the nickname 'Scratchy' this day.
The next day Percy and Bianca were already waiting for Annabeth at the entrance of the Nyx cabin. After a nice breakfast, where Percy sacrificed a bunch of zucchinis to Lyssa while laughing slightly, Percy had essentially just helped Bianca packing since he had stored all his stuff in his shadow pocket dimension but Bianca had insisted on carrying her own supplies with her.
Lyssa absolutely despised zucchinis. As a revenge for a prank, Tartarus had once spend two months to create a living drakon made out of zucchini and then hunted down Lyssa with the zucchini juice spitting monstrosity. It was barely held together by magic and still leaked nasty rotten zucchini wherever it was walking. In the end Lyssa made the fruit drakon explode resulting in a mess inside the Mansion of the Night. To say Nyx had been less then pleased might be a tiny little understatement. An escalating never ending prank war had followed.
When Annabeth arrived Percy walked over ro her and Bianca followed slightly after him.
"So, how exactly are we doing this?" Annabeth asked Percy.
"I am gonna shadow travel us into Tartarus, but first I have to inform you about a few things." Percy answered.
"Time in Tartarus is working differently. It flows in completely randomly changing speeds, meaning we could return to camp within five seconds or five months. It makes absolutely no sense. We can only hope that the Fates are with us and we are able to return in time. Second the air down there is absolutely poisonous for you two. Shadow traveling with all of you at once will also be much more difficult then normal. To avoid accidentally landing in China again, I am going to travel us to the Mansion of the Night. It is far easier for me to go there. In there we should also be able to get you some spare Phlegethon water flasks, so you can survive the march to the river."
"Great! Let's get going." Bianca said and Annabeth nodded understanding.
"There is just some teeny tiny problem." Percy began. "If you look at anything inside my moms house you will turn insane to a point were not even Mr. D. would be able to cure it and you are most likely eating your own flesh. So close your eyes until I say it's save! Now hold on tight." With these words Percy placed his hands on the shoulders of the girls.
"Percy, wait what do you mean- aaargh!" Annabeth screamed and clenched her eyes shut as the group melted into the shadows of the walls of the Nyx cabin.
A black haired boy with two different eyes and two horrified girls with closed eyes reappeared inside a living room with a dark theme, located in the most dangerous place on earth known to demigods.
"Mom, I'm home!" Percy said loudly.
