In the moment that followed Bianca's untimely death, everyone froze. The monsters stalled, the birds' chirping seized, and the volley of attacks missed their mark. The ruckus muted as the monster army realized what happened. Triton's arms still extended with his trident's three prongs covered in blood, looked down upon the horde. 'I get it now.' The systematic shock of those capable of of conscious thought stood mouth agape with wide paralyzed eyes.
Triton took the chance and swung his trident in a downward arch flinging off Bianca's blood. All the while glaring at the beached army.
With no time to lose, Triton stepped away from the ledge and was immediately met with the newly anointed battle cry that rang off the cliffs. With a heavy heart Triton sprinted towards where the other's had gathered. Thankful that they didn't bare witness to his transgression against a comrade. He knew that they wouldn't understand no matter how much he explained himself. So, best to just get going while they still have the chance. While the monsters are still far below them. The odds aren't looking good anymore.
Triton leaped over a rock and saw the three gathered together looking no worse for ware. A few bumps and bruises, but that's okay. Thalia sat on the ground rubbing her head while Zoe and Annabeth talked to each other in hushed tones. The subject was clear enough to deduce. "We need to move before they catch up to us." Triton ordered slowing down to pick up Thalia bridal style. Leaving the occupant with no choice and the other two confused. Sure, he is usually quick to his feet, but this felt different somehow. It felt as if the air was constricting any air flow. This always preluded bad news.
"We're not going anywhere until we find Bianca." Zoe countered standing in front of Triton's way. A lot of good that did.
"She's dead." Trion blatantly said disregarding the sudden mood shift. Also the jolt from his passenger. His eyes focusing on the path in front of him that lead straight into the Garden of the Hesperides.
"W-wait. She can't be dead. We just saw her!" Annabeth didn't want to believe it. No one did. Especially so sudden.
"I saw it happen. And if we don't get a move on, her death will mean nothing." He pushed past Zoe without a second thought, walking swiftly on his feet. "We can discuss this later, or did you forget the army climbing the mountain? Or our prime objective?" He questioned, waving off any sense to clarify the circumstances behind Bianca's demise. If he says anything right now, it will only cause a rift. They need to focus on the two up top. They can hate him later. Not that they'd be willing to listen to reason anyway.
"...You can put me down now. I can walk." Thalia grunted. Triton completely unware that she was struggling hard to get out from his grasp. He let her go and muttered a quick apology before continuing. They will figure it out eventually, but for right now too many things are at risk to go wrong. And according to Murphy's Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Apparently that is unavoidable in the land of mythology.
Often what we see outside becomes reflected inward - on this still day it was not any different. For the two ladies the stillness of their souls quietly echoed how utterly freaked out they are. Not to only have a green comrade die on their watch, but also let them perish without being there to witness her finally moments. Thus the forest echoed that shrill feeling. The trees stood tall and proud, as if nothing in this gods forsaken world can go wrong. While hidden away in the greenery the winds screamed with agony hellbent on cracking the the trees open. To just let out the hidden affects of loss.
Trudge on. March on. Worry about the dead later. So that no one else follows.
Damn it! That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt any less! It doesn't mean forget about them! Yet, once that first step is taken without them, their heart betrays them. It shouldn't be that easy! It just can't be! And yet again, here they are moving on because they need to. Saving the tears for the day when nothing else matters. Except mourning.
If they mourn now, they'll mourn over more bodies later. That's too high of a price to pay. That would be too much to bare all at once. 'For gods sake don't let any more die!' Was the common thought shared. How unlikely that may be. It would be extremely fortunate if no one else took a one way trip to Hades. Such the dangers they face. May Lady Luck please bless them with good fortunes for the time being.
It's getting harder to deal with it, for Annabeth at least. She couldn't save Jessica in the final moments of their last quest, nor could she do anything about Bianca's demise now. She was there both times and yet death still lurks around the corner waiting to take a friend. Yes, a friend. Somehow they managed to become just that. 'Oh gods! What about Nico!?' The sudden realization struck Annabeth to the core. How could she possibly break the news? 'Hey Nico! Sorry your sister left you to fend for yourself. Now she's dead. Good luck!' No matter how she looks at it. That would be the basic points of any argument because that is exactly what happened.
Breaking the news to a more experienced demigod would be easier, but Nico is anything but. The young boy still believes in a more magical mythological world. The news will break him.
"RROOAARRR!" A monstrous cry reverberated through the gathered mist.
"Damn it. Someone woke Ladon!" Zoe cried out. It seems that Lady Luck didn't hear their prayer.
"We don't have a choice. We must go through the veil now." Triton ordered taking the first step into the actual garden. Annabeth and Thalia gulped down their fear and followed. As did Zoe, but she swallowed her unease instead.
Normally the view would be magnificent when the fog cleared. The four of them stepped past the fog and found themselves still on the side of the mountain, but the road was dirt. The grass was thicker. The sunset made a blood red slash across the sea. The summit of the mountain seemed closer now, swirling with storm clouds and raw power. There was only one path to the top, directly in front of them. And it led through a lush meadow of shadows and flowers: the garden of twilight, just like Zoe had remembered.
Normally that is, but now there is an enormous dragon drooling on the path before them. Ladon swung his tail side to side ready to defend the tree at a moments notice. The garden would've been the most beautiful place they'd ever seen. But Triton still prefers Amphitrite's garden. The grass shimmered with silvery evening light, and the flowers were such brilliant colors they almost glowed in the dark. Stepping stones of polished black marble led around either side of a five-story-tall apple tree, every bough glittering with golden apples, that left a fragrance of magnificence. Too bad the monster struck fear where beauty should have shined.
The serpent's body was as thick as a booster rocket, glinting with coppery scales. A multitude of heads that snapped at anything that moved, as if a hundred deadly pythons had been fused together. How in the hell were they supposed to beat this?
Suddenly an eerie, yet beautiful song was sung with four figures shimmering into existence. "I prefer Percy's singing." Triton said out of the blue. That was something they would have to put away for later. The newcomers all wore white Greek chitons. Their skin was like caramel. Silky black hair tumbled loose around their shoulders. They had eyes like volcanic rock, glassy and completely black. The Hesperides.
With their appearance Ladon seemed to calm down enough to let out a hundred deep breaths. The smell was like acid. It made their eyes burn, their skin crawl, and their hair stand on end. Along with a hundred hisses as they smelled the air. Still, he won't dare hesitate to attack if they step any closer. He must protect the Golden Apples from any and all who'd dare attempt to take one.
"Be calm, he is trained to defend only the tree." One of the Hesperides said putting her full attention to the questers. Zoe looked at her like she had gone mad. She expected neglect, harsh words, or a straight up fight. Not this... polite greeting. Or- what s it?- acceptance? She has no idea what to make of this? Other than her mental freak out, Zoe appeared utterly normal. Well, as normal as can be when she's been a hunter for two thousand years and before that one of the beauties known as the Hesperides. Yea... normal.
"I must say, I'm quite impressed at the brigade assembled to save a single soul." Another one of the Hesperides turned to get a good look at them.
"You're mistaken. I'm here to save Artemis." Zoe countered. She truly has no reason to care about the boy.
"And she won't leave without Perseus." The first sister responded by shifting her head to look at the summit. "Even though she can at this very moment." She turned her head back to her once sister, "It is that boy who's tethered her to this place."
"Bite your tongue you vile women! I swear, if that brat did anything to harm her. I will gut him where he stands! Damn the consequences!" Zoe screamed, her mind working overtime. Surely Percy wouldn't make some sort of act out of this just to get to Artemis. Right?
"You don't know? Surely you jest!" The fourth sister covered her mouth with her hand to stop a giggle.
"You misunderstand. She's free from her shackles, she can leave whenever she wants. But the dear ole moon goddess seems to have become infatuated with a man." The third sister mentioned solemnly. Like her own heart broke from the news.
"Now I know you're lying. Artemis would never stoop to such levels. If she were free, she would have taken her first chance to ensure her hunters were alright. She would let us know that she's alright. Because that's the type of goddess she is! She wouldn't abandon her ideals over such nonsense!" Zoe stepped forward leering at her family with her wolf stare. Yet, they didn't seem all that affective. The black volcanic rocks just stared right back. Zoe gripped her bow tighter, making it creak.
"Oh, but it's true. We saw it ourselves." The third sister clapped her hands together.
"Yep, we wanted to take a peek at the one our father felt threatened by with our own eyes." The second sister spoke with not too much care.
"That's when we saw the little show he put on when we thought he thought no one was around." The first sister they spoke to, opened her mouth in aw from the memory etched in her head.
"And poof. Perseus set her free." The fourth sister could hardly contain herself.
They are at a loss for words because they are not sure how to process what the Hesperides just said. Even Triton, the dear older brother who was supposed to know it all, didn't know what to make of it. The capability to break chains fitted for a goddess is beyond impressive. That takes a kind of skill and know hoe that they're still processing, hence the silence.
"What show? What are you talking about?" Annabeth was the first to verbally ask something. They need answers. Someone has to say something at least.
"Oh that? That's a little surprise. He asked us not to share." The first sister shook her head and brought her finger to her lips in a hush-hush action. She even winked! Zoe was beyond disbelieving at her sister's actions. This is utter madness!
"Alas, his selfless attitude sparked something within Artemis. A kind of fondness only shared with the tides." The third of the Hesperides fainted a sort of heartbreak.
"Watch your tongue! Artemis would never allow herself to become infatuated over a man! Especially over the lowlife known as Perseus Jackson! I should cut your tongue for spouting such blasphemy! The utter nonsense that hast befallen my ears most certainly are those of madmen." Zoe ranted gripping her bow tightly. This situation, all of it, was beyond stupid. And even more so disgraceful. There can't be any truth to their words. Yes, perhaps a mistake. They must be mistaken. Surely they are.
"If you don't believe us, then go and see it with your own eyes. You'll soon see... The Titans say that Perseus is a threat, and I'll be inclined to agree... Though perhaps I should leave thee with a warning. Prepare yourselves, throw out any expectations you have of the summit. And if luck be willing, spare you from the situation above." One of the Hesperides said bringing her hand over her heart as the four of them stood aside to let them pass. Around the tree. Otherwise Ladon will lay waste to them.
"Tch. We know Atlas awaits us." Thalia muttered crossing her arms.
"That isn't of whom I meant." They whispered, their voices fading in and out.
As they melted back into the shadows, they resumed their song. It felt even more eerie than before.
No one dared say a word because no word could be spoken. How can someone dare speak when an altercation such as that just came to be? It doesn't make any sense. Nor should. At least nor for the time being.
So the four turned and sprinted along the edge of the garden careful to stay away from the dragon guard. They kept running until the garden was no longer beneath their feet, and instead crumbling pavement from days past. As they approached the top of mountain there were ruins, blocks of black granite and marble as big as houses. Broken columns. Statues of bronze that looked as though they'd been half melted.
Not a good sign as this mountain was the other capitol of the world during the first Titan war. This wasn't here before. Which means the power of the Titans is growing and with it a deadly nuance of what is to come. Yet, they still kept going. Past broken archways, past broken house foundations, and past all the rubble that lay waste here.
But that hardly mattered at the moment. In fact, they felt quite cheerful at the moment as they slowly came upon their destination. That warning became little more than a tease at the back of their heads.
Even though their journey was a long one, there is a light in their hearts that was missing just yesterday. Right now it is a spark of hope, a ray of sunshine yet to be born, but it is there and they feel it. Perhaps that is optimism, the anticipation of good things to come. It is a feeling they longed for the moment their troubles began. And here they are to quench it.
The four quest members ran and let the happiness soak right into their bones. Why wouldn't they? They came to rescue those they care for and here they finally are! Triton closed his eyes and savored the moment, but didn't let hope overwhelm him. For the first time in forever his body and mind relaxed. In that moment he swore not to get overly excited. Sure they were closing in, but they still don't know the situation. Yet, here they are. The final destination. Their friends right over the crest of the path. So close!
"We're almost there! Just a few more yards and this will finally be over. Come on Percy is!-" Annabeth stopped short as they broke past the tops lip. Before her eyes, a few yards ahead of them, gray clouds swirled in a heavy vortex, making a funnel cloud that almost touched the mountaintop. Everyone came to a dead halt when they saw him themselves.
Their smiles melt right off their faces. Once again their emotions turn jagged and their insides tight. Optimism shattered. Hope crushed.
They stood there frozen, wide eyed, their stomachs hoping to make a grand entrance, it was sickening. Annabeth had hot tears, ones that spoke louder than any word could, falling fast and thick onto her sweater. She feel the wetness of her skin and each drop as it emerges from open eyes. Zoe and Thalia stood with mouth agape, sickened beyond belief. Triton, on the other hand, stood frozen to his spot. Unmoving.
That's when they realize. That's when the penny drops. The reason that they never saw Percy or his state from their visions. What are they to do about this? They swallow down the pain, push it as far down as it would go as fast as it could. Though no matter how much they feel they can push down, more just continues to pile up. More pain, more bitterness, more hatred. It... shouldn't have come to this.
Their emotional state was in turmoil.
It was whatever someone feels that is beyond scared. Scary is looking in the mirror and not liking what you see. Scary is knowing you haven't done your best to make the world a better place. Scaring is feeling like you let the ones you care for down, that you didn't make the right move at the right time. Scary is failing something when you are the only hope of getting it right. Scary is the fear of your family not being safe, happy and loved. Scary is the fear of what will happen to the natural world if the madness of consumption doesn't stop. Scary is seeing how the world can be fixed but knowing you are in no position to make any changes. Scary is the knowledge that psychopaths run the world and even if we all do our best lots more people are going to die horribly.
This was well beyond that.
With a mixture of shock, denial, and whatever negative emotions they could spare they stare. They let this happen. Whatever they see in front of them is nothing short of their fault... Because they know they could have prevented this if they did something sooner. If they decided to act sooner. All the what if's they fought to keep at bay, the dam finally broke. What if this, what if that. Because thinking they could have done something was better than what their eyes saw. If they chose to say something else, if they chose to act differently... maybe it wouldn't have led to this! Anything would be better than this! Anything at all!
Sweat used to be a source of pride, a sign that one is working hard, that in the end it will all be worth it. Not here though. Percy was drenched in sweat, clinging to his skin with no where else to go. No spot remained dry. He glowed as the sun bounced off the clear liquid, illuminating everything else. Every little speck. Everything his body went through.
Triton took the first step. He moved as slowly as the light itself, for though science teaches us that it is fast, to the eye it comes so slowly as if it is brightened and dimmed from sun-up to sunset. Until his body stood on the same level as his brother. Unconsciously, the others, too, began to move. Their bodies reacting in their own right... Even Zoe. 'So this...'
Triton slowly stretched out his hand, but stopped just a little ways past his side. He felt something. It's wet. His hand is wet. He looked down and noticed some few small droplets of rain. No, not rain. Tears. His tears. Triton was crying.
They saw a pool and in the center, the Son of Poseidon. The water gathered and swirled, caressing the son of the sea, climbing up his legs, but stopping short at his waste. As if the water, too, was getting tired from the burden. If only that were all. The water carried a red tint from the blood that poured at one point. Now, streaks of dried blood flaked tainting his tan skin leaving his chains red. The chains that tied his legs so close together, he was practically standing on one foot. The water that should be his saving grace, was nothing more than a prison of suffrage.
Their eyes crawled past his cut littered legs, past the puss ridden gashes that slowly attempted to heal, past the jagged cuts, and past the quivering. They settled on his torso for a second. His breathing was abnormal, it followed no pattern. His chest was bare, but covered in bruises both new and old. Some swollen, some swelling. That's when the saw it. His scar. One of his most recognizable features. Somehow in that mess of partially healed wounds, the star shaped scar on his lower left side was left untouched. Clean from the blood and muck that took refuge across his body. It left an eerie white glow in the fainting light. A singular long deep cut strung from his upper left ribcage to his lower right side. His flesh turned green around the wound. They couldn't see his back... That was a blessing.
The only blessing.
With his arms were stretched out wide, his legs wrapped tightly together, and bowed head it mirrored the image of a crucifixion. The sky lay heavy on his shoulders forcing his neck downward, his body clearly shaking. That, with the multiple cuts and scratches littering his body, each with varying depths, Percy resembled a corpse. In some parts the old blood coagulated and dried, leaving strange scabs that half peeled. The other wounds still weeping.
They didn't want to see anymore, but their eyes faltered and stuck to his head.
Slowly blood dripped from his bottom lip with each raspy breath, through clenched teeth. Every drop landed in the pool at his feet. The sound acted as a chime of death as it echoed across the mountain top.
His head. The usual black mess of shaggy hair was gone. Well... not gone, but... different. His hair clung to his forehead and neck, while the longer strands covering his eyes in a shadow. The black mess was replaced with a ghostly shade of white, almost translucent. At first they didn't believe it could be Percy, but the scar on his side was all the proof they needed. Dried streams of blood left trails down his forehead, down his face, across his skull.
The red clashed with the white of his hair. The unnatural white fighting for dominance over the red that caked his body.
Then they heard it. A soft attempt at making a tune. A hum.
Humming should be a soothing sound, dulcet tones creating a wordless melody, something to help one drift away to a reassuring Neverland. That isn't how it is going at the moment however. He hums like his nose is air-lock controlled and when he does breathe it makes a raspy pitched whine for half a second or so. Yet, a steady beat flowed from his throat. Unstopping. Unyielding. Almost pretty.
And it would have been if it was not coming from Percy at that very moment.