Here we go into another chapter. Also if an author has not orphaned the work it most likely means they have not updated or found the motivation to continue or have writer's block.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE PERCY JACKSON SERIES!


Hermes pov

I was checking my phone for new orders and emails again as the other gods yell at each other…again. Honestly, 80% of these meetings are pointless, plus they backlog my orders meaning I had more deliveries to catch up on. I'm mean, yeah thanks to Percy's suggestions I had some nymph and spirits to help but not a lot. I sighed waiting for Zeus to dismiss us when Thanatos appeared. Perking up on my throne I gave the God of Death my attention. This should be interesting.

"Thanks, why have you interrupted the tour meeting?!" Zeus boomed. Hades glared at his younger brother for yelling at his subject. Said god kneeled.

"My apologies, Lord Zeus. but as I was retrieving the last of the rogue souls. I noticed that one was lost long before and I cannot locate it."

That piqued my interest. It is rare when a soul manages to hide from Thanatos as he is death personified. My blue eyes darted around the council seeing similar looks of interest, concern, and wariness, before landing on Apollo's empty Throne, making my heart ache. He did not deserve to be punished for his descendant's choice just as our children did not deserve to be punished for our mistakes. But Zeus always ignores that fact until it's his children then the rules go out the window. Hypocrite.

"Who is this lost soul?" Hade asked. I could tell he is disappointed in his subordinate.

"Luke Castellan."

I felt my world stop as the council erupted in chaos. Ichor rushed to my ears as I froze in my throne. My son is alive again. My son, who betrayed Olympus, poisoned Thalia's Tree, and almost destroyed the world, is alive again.

"Why is that damn traitor still alive?!" Zeus thundered. I stayed quiet, my mind racing. Thanatos was not intimidated by Zeus' theatrics.

"I did not know. I was not made aware of his existence till a few months ago. I was tracing him but he vanished into thin air one more time." the death God calmly explained. "I believe he was forcibly taken from the Underworld by another."

And just like that, I felt my heart shatter. My son got kidnapped and I didn't even notice. I stayed silent for the rest of the meeting. Thanatos was ordered to leave. Zeus orders a hunt for Luke. Artemis, Ares, and Athena were ordered to search on land, Poseidon was assigned to keep a lookout on the water, and Hades was told to keep an eye out in case he died again. As well as to put him in the field of punishment. Everyone was dismissed but I didn't move. Till I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turn my gaze to gentle red amber eyes. Hestia.

"Are you alright Hermes?" She asked softly. It was at that moment I realized I was shaking. No, I was fucking far from alright. I lost my best friend for millennia because of Zeus' paranoia. My son was kidnapped... Even though he is a traitor, Luke is still my son. With that in mind, I told the truth,

"No aunty. I am not alright." I whispered softly. She wrapped her petite arms around me and I couldn't stop the tears from falling down my face as I soaked up her comfort.

Oh, Luke. I'm so sorry.

—-line break—-line break—-

Annabeth POV

I desperately ignore the pain in my chest as I focus on my designs. Ever since I and Percy broke up, I haven't seen him in camp. I said awful things I didn't mean. And I regret it. I did love him, I still do but he wouldn't listen. All he had to do was listen to time. I thought he wanted to move to a new Rome with me and we could go to college but then that conversation ended our relationship.

"Percy! Open this door!" I hissed as I pounded on his apartment door. I can't believe he went to his mother's after I told him not to. The door opened and closed as he slipped out. I immediately began tapping my foot and waited for my apology. Honesty, how can he be so reckless?

"Annabeth, what are you doing here?" He asked as his eyebrows furrowed.

"What do you mean what am I doing here?" I asked incredulously. "I came to bring you back to camp." quickly grab his arm but Percy ripped it out of my grasp. I stared at him like he was crazy.

"Annabeth, I told you I was going to spend time with my family and that is what I intend to do." He said firmly. "What has gotten into you? Lately, you have been controlling, our friends try to avoid you, and now you're trying to keep me from my family. What the fuck?"

I took a deep breath because I knew he was right. Since the Giant war and Tarturas, I have been on edge. I just couldn't risk any more mistakes. If I had planned a little care when I went to get my mother's statue. Maybe he was right. But a nagging thought held me back.

"I'm trying to keep you safe. Don't you trust me?" I whispered softly. That was the wrong question because Percy's sea-green eyes went wide with shock and anger. Percy never liked it when his loyalty was questioned.

"Of course I do but that isn't the problem. The problem is you don't trust me. Like I'm always wrong." He snarled slowly looking more like a wolf.

"You are wrong! You were wrong about a lot of things over the years ok?!" I snapped, my hubris showing. I didn't like feeling like I was wrong or dumber so I lashed out. "You broke your promise to Nico and this sister, you almost got us killed when retrieving the lightning bolt, you tried to kill misery herself, you forgot our one-month anniversary in favor of going off on some stupid job for Hermes dragging me along and you wanted me to abandon Luke who saves our lives! Need I go on? You are wrong. Now you need to listen to me. I am trying to protect you!" I hissed hatefully.

For a long moment, nothing could be heard except my heaving breathing. My heart caught in my throat as I realized what I said. Then Percy spoke as a crashing wave calmed before the storm.

"So that's it." it wasn't a question. It was a fact. "You don't trust me. You stopped loving me. I get it. I'm a lot to handle. I understand if you are scared. But I never realized I was a replacement for Luke. even after everything he did. After he betrayed you and almost killed you. He never loved you, at least not near the end and not the way you wanted." I recoiled when he said that. Before I could say anything he interrupted me. "I should have known you stopped caring. Do you think I forgot about that little oath Chiron made you take before we went to the sea of monsters? Well, guess what Chase? I don't need your help. I don't need your protection and I don't need nor do I want you. We. Are. Done. So go back to camp."

The worst part was the fact he didn't yell at me once during his speech. He just stated it like it was a simple fact. But looking at his face, I didn't recognize the man I was looking at. His face was like a black canvas, his eyes betraying no emotion hand-held tightly at his side like if he moved he would do something he would regret. I swallowed the lump in my throat, turned on my heels, and took off heading back to the pegasus that was waiting for me.

After I got back I was summoned to the big house where Chiron was waiting for me. He promptly relieved me of the oath. Percy connected him through an iris message, made him revoke it, and told him that we are done. I and Percy broke up. After almost three years of going on multiple quests, fighting two wars, and walking through hell itself, it was over just because I couldn't control my fatal flaw. I still can't fucking control it. I lost the greatest thing in my life and I gave it up. That was months ago.

With a snarl of rage, I swiped everything off my desk onto the floor. I took a deep breath as I tried to get myself together. I will not cry about this. Before I could get my things off the ground, Malcolm walked into the cabin.

"Hey Annabeth, Chiron called a cabin meeting for all of the councilors in the Big House." He said. I immediately grabbed my items and placed them on my bed before I headed out. When I arrived, the look on everyone's faces told me it wasn't good. Chiron and Dionysus were at the head of the room.

"We have some news." the Wine God spoke. For once, looking every bit like the deity he is. "As you know when Mother Earth rose, she had Death chained, making it so no one could die. In doing so, some of the souls in the underworld have escaped. Thanatos managed to retrieve most of the but one certain soul has escaped long before. Luke Castellan"

The entire place erupted in shouts of rage, fear, and betrayal. I stayed in my seat, silently. I had no clue how to feel about Luke being alive. My mind flashed back to the conversation. Percy claimed that I still loved him but I felt…nothing. Knowing Luke is still alive didn't bring me anything but confusion. I had no clue what to feel.

"As you're all aware we do not know if he plans to attack Olympus or not. So we shall increase border patrol and send out a message to Camp Jupiter to keep an eye out for him or any suspicious activity. You're all dismissed." Dionysus vanished leaving behind the scent of freshly pressed grapes. Everyone began to live one by one until it was just me and Chiron. I felt his hand on my shoulder, making me turn my gaze to him.

"Annabeth. Are you right?" I wanted to tell him, yes but his whiskey brown gaze told me not to lie. Chiron trained thousands of heroes, good and bad, from Hercules to Luke to Percy, of all genders and ages. He knows someone tries to hide their emotions. I include. So I told the truth.

"No, I'm not alright. I don't know what is happening. Why is this all happening to us?" I said shakily as everything finally crashed into me. Feeling my trainer's arms wrap tightly around me I began to cry and grieve for everything I lost. My childhood, my family, my friends, Percy. I broke down as everything came pouring out of me.

Percy, seaweed brain, my love. I am so sorry.


I had to get this chapter out but I had no clue how to write it. It took me a long time but I managed to get through it so there's that. Plus I got another story updated. Nice! Anyway, in the next chapter, there are some changes in Percy and Luke's relationship. I hope to get another chapter out this month.