"Hey ugly!"
A dark, evil sword plunged through the monster's head, blood splashing everywhere.
The twisted, distorted black monster collapsed into the darkness, seemingly melting away as the shadowed figure lowered his sword, wiping it clean with his jacket.
He shivered, and pulled his jacket tighter around his body, and stepped out from the shadows. A streetlamp from outside the alleyway shone into his eyes, almost blinding him.
Percy grunted in pain as he raised his hand up to block the light, allowing his eyes to adjust to the street lamps.
He was currently in Chicago, and 2 months had passed since his resurrection. Snow was still falling, and Percy was trying to find his way back to New York. He didn't know why, but he felt like he should tell his mother and Artemis he was okay.
A bright, blinding light shone from behind him.
Sighing, Percy turns around, still shielding his eyes from the man engulfed in the bright white light.
"I've been trying to talk to you for over 2 months! And you finally pop up out of nowhere? You're so getting a father of the year award!" Percy snapped, lowering his had slowly, showing off his face.
"Talking to you is not so simple, Perseus. I can't answer you every time, can I?" The figure answered bluntly.
"And to think you cared." Percy chuckled, raising his hands to tousle his now shorter hair, pushing the top back so it rested, similar to curtains.
"I do, you ungrateful -!" The man took a step forward, raising his arm.
"Then why did you drag me back to life?" Percy snapped, and his father stayed silent. "Huh?!"
Still silence.
"Just as I thought. I don't even know your name for crying out loud!" Percy exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air. The fourteen-year-old had matured a lot over the past few months, especially where he has had to blend in with regular mortals for the better part of his time.
"I cannot give you that information, it would –" The man began, and Percy cut him off.
"Oh, cut the crap! Just please, spare me of your bull shit for once, Dad!" Percy snapped, tears beginning to well up in his eyes. "You haven't even told me why I can't tell my Mom that I'm alive!"
"It would put you both back on the Demon's radar!" The figure argued.
"Right, and killing a whole bunch of their demons hasn't alerted them to the fact that I might still be kicking around? Sure." Percy remarked.
"If they thought so, they would have their assassin after you again. Please, son, trust me this once." He reached out and placed a hand on Percy's shoulder.
Percy shrugged him off, and took a step back, pointing a finger at him.
"I have spent the better part of two months alone – in a land I don't belong. I have stolen so much from people to keep myself going! And for what? A shower, and some food?" Percy's voice began cracking. His voice was going again. "I have to watch these complete families most days, enjoying themselves, and then there's me; a broken, bastard of a kid who doesn't know either of his parents?"
"HOW AM I MEANT TO FEEL OKAY? AT ALL?!" Percy roared at his face, tears freely flowing down his face now.
The man just stared at his son blankly, having no idea as to what to say. "You still cannot tell your mother, it will upset –"
"OH, FUCK OFF!" Percy shouted. Taking a few breaths, he continued. "You keep making these bullshit excuses up, well guess what? I've had enough of your shit. I'm telling them that I'm still kicking."
And with that, Percy turned on his heel, and began to walk off.
"A Legacy Moulded to Darkness," Percy's father began, and that caused Percy to stop and turn around.
"What was that?" Percy asked, and his father just blankly stared at him.
"Shall reach 16 against all weakness. And watch the world succumb and cease. A Twisted Soul shall reap with ease. A single choice shall end his days. The World to preserve or raze. As the 9 Circles take reign once more. Will the Hero fight or ignore...?"
"Don't make me ask again; what was that?" Percy demanding, taking a step closer.
"The 'Great Prophecy' as the Greeks call it. Predicting the rise of the greatest hero they've had – one of three worlds." He answered.
"What do you mean by that?" Percy asked.
The figure shrouded by light sighed. "You may tell Sally. But refrain from telling Artemis. I cannot resurrect you again."
And with that, he vanished.
"Arsehole." Percy cursed to himself. But not wanting to linger, he pulled his coat tight and pulled his hood up, warming his ears up as he breathed into his cupped hands as he walked away.
Time go get a burger before carrying on his journey. He was hungry and had a few bucks crumpled in his back pocket.
The Demon Rites
"This station is, New York City: Grand Central." Came over the intercom. Percy shot out of his seat on the train and out of the doors, and into the infamous New York station.
Walking through an enormous crowd, Percy could only look as to what was ahead of him. On his back he wore an enormous backpack to conceal his sword. Probably best for him to do that as it would be chaotic if he walked around with a huge, dark coloured sword.
He learnt that the hard way when he was passing through Michigan.
It was nearing mid-March now, and the trees were slowly beginning to develop buds. The snowfall had finally stopped, it was just chilly when out and about. Still wearing his thick, black coat, Percy emerged out onto the main station, and was looking directly at the clock tower in the centre of the station.
Rolling the backpack on his shoulders, Percy made haste for the exit to the train station.
Once outside, Percy looked around desperately, trying to find where he needed to go. He ruffled his hair and looked around, and in the distance, saw an enormous building with a needle-like top. A few hundred metres or so above that, he could see a faint shimmer shine across the sky, lighting it up with gold.
The sky then returned to normal, and Percy was confused. He had no idea what he was looking at, but it was clearly something that wanted to stay hidden. He had heard rumours about a city of immortals above New York City, making it a centre for mythological occurrences, but he never believed them. Until now.
Still scratching his head, Percy decided it was best to go closer to this city. Maybe then he could figure out where his mother was.
Hours passed, and the sun was beginning to hang low over the city, shining through the buildings and lighting everywhere the sun could touch in an orange hue. Percy was down Fifth Avenue, the glaring sun almost blinding him as he walked down the street. Looking around, Percy was trying to think of any indication that his mother was alive.
Percy was almost fed up of searching, and thought it was almost about time to go and find somewhere to get himself some food for the evening before continuing his search for a few more hours.
Walking down a dark alleyway to gain his bearings, mainly to get him out of the glare of the early spring sun, he finally stopped and put his arm down as he slumped against the wall.
Percy was exhausted. Mentally drained, even. His search had been fruitless so far. At this rate, he was never going to find Sally.
Then, thunder crackled above, and Percy looked up, and saw the dark clouds rolling in, blocking out the sun. The skies then opened, and rain cascaded down upon Percy, soaking him almost instantly. Sighing, Percy left the alleyway and began walking down the street, looking for shelter.
Then he noticed something strange. The water seemed to be following him, causing Percy to stop. The puddle kept on going, almost as if it was leading him somewhere. It carried on for a few miles, and then the puddle stopped outside a block of apartments. Percy looked at the door, which seemed to be glowing a little.
Entering, Percy was greeted with a shoddy staircase with a lift in the centre, that looked like a death trap.
Without wasting anymore time, Percy began climbing up the stairs, a strange sensation in his stomach beginning to build. It was like something was crawling around inside of it, and it was strange. It made him feel… Nervous?
He was unsure. He had not felt anything like it in a long time.
After climbing a few floors, Percy was greeted with a door that was slightly different from the rest. It had a slight glow on the door. It was eerie, and almost unnoticeable. But he noticed it.
Percy knocked on the door once, before following with a second one a few seconds later.
Half a minute later, the door opened to a dark brown-haired woman opening the door, a pair of sea green eyes looking straight at him, brightening when she recognised him. Then Percy noticed the aftermath of rescuing Artemis.
She was in a wheelchair, her legs a lot thinner than he remembered them due to the lack of usage.
"Percy…" She said, surprised. A tear ran from her left eye, and down her cheek.
"Hey, Mom." He said, a small smile gracing his pale skin.
She rolled forward in her wheelchair and wrapped him up in a massive hug, causing Percy to fall into her lap. She began to sob, and Percy's stomach twisted and began to jump up and down.
Before he knew it, the Legacy of Poseidon threw off his backpack and wrapped his arms around his mother's neck, and borrowed his head into her neck, and let the tears run free.
He had a mother – he had a family.
The Demon Rites
Percy had no clue as to what to say.
He was now sitting in the kitchen, eating blue cookie dough out of a mixing bowl while chocolate chip cookies were baking in the oven.
Who knew that they could taste so good?! And they were BLUE! Those two things were officially his two favourite things. The colour blue and cookie dough.
Sally sat at the end of the small round table in the kitchen, staring at her son. He was so thin, a little thinner than what she had remembered from before he had… died?
Sally was confused by that. She had seen him die. His heart… Sally refused to think about it. That moment was the worst she had felt in her entire life. More than when her mother and stepfather had died, more than when she had walked in and found Percy missing from his crib… She couldn't bear to think about it.
"What happened? How are you…" Sally chocked on her next word, "Alive?"
Percy put the bowl and spoon down on the table and looked at Sally, before sighing.
"It's still foggy. I only remember waking up in the field, my chest closing up, and then yeah." Percy shrugged.
Sally smiled, her eyes shining. She knew her son was lying. He was clearly very bad at it. Just like her, and her father, Poseidon.
"You were in Hell, wasn't you?" Sally asked, and Percy looked at her.
"Growing up? Yeah." Percy answered, not sure as to what to say. She knew he was lying, he just had a gut feeling that she did.
"What was it like? All fire and evil?" She asked, looking concerned as her son looked darkly at the wall, fixating on anything but the woman before him.
"You can talk to me, Percy." She smiled warmly, and reached across the table, placing her hand on Percy's.
He pulled his hand away and shuffled slightly away, almost like he was angry. That, and he was ashamed. He killed so many down there.
His eyes wondered over to his rucksack, where he could see the handle of the sword lightly poking out of the top of the bag.
"It was cold." He begun, sighing as he turned away from the sword. "It got colder the lower you went." He bit his lip in impatience. He wanted to tell her everything, but he couldn't at the same time. She would shun him if she knew all of what he had done.
"You can tell me. Please, I can see the damage that place did to you." Sally wheeled over to him, and turned Percy's head so that he faced her, and their sea green eyes met.
Percy looked away, a tear almost leaving his eye. "I killed people down there." He stated, "Some because I was told to," He looked her dead in the eyes. "But mostly because I wanted to. Because I wield the evillest weapon in all existence."
He nodded at the bag, where he saw the hilt of the sword gleaming evilly, as if it was mocking Percy.
Sally glanced at the bag, and then looked back at her son. He refused to meet her eyes, head hanging low in shame. She reached over the table as best as she could and took her son's hands into her own.
He looked up, and his eyes met hers.
"All I care," Sally squeezed his hands reassuringly, "Is what kind of man you become from here on out. Help us. Prove to yourself that you aren't the monster you believe yourself to be."
Percy bit his lip. She was giving him a second chance? But why?
"Why do you still love me? Why do you still want to give me a second chance?" He asked, and Sally smiled warmly.
"Because you are my son, and I will always love you." He smiled a little bit, feeling a tear trickle down his face when she said those words. "We all deserve a second chance my boy."
Percy pulled away and wiped his eyes when he was some mist forming in the corner of the room. He jumped out of his seat and backed away, familiar what was about to occur.
A rather muscular, white man with long, brown hair appeared through the mist, and Sally turned around to see the figure. He was heavily bearded and wore a tweed jacket. His lower half was that of a horse. A centaur.
"Chiron? What's wrong?" Sally asked when she saw how troubled he looked.
"I'm sorry to intrude Sally, and I know I am asking a lot, but I need you to return to Camp." He spoke, grimacing that he had to ask this of her.
"What for, if you don't mind me asking?"
"We have reason to believe that there is a secret entrance within Camp that can allow the monsters. I need you here to help train the campers." He seemed very panicked. But Percy didn't leave his place behind the door frame, out of view.
"Chiron, I'm a cripple. I'm more of a hinderance than anything." She argued, and he waved his hand in dispute.
"Sally, you still are an excellent sword instructor and respected among campers. Please, we need all the help we can get."
Sally nodded. "I'll get my things and will be over shortly."
"Thank you Sally. I'll meet you at the bottom of the hill with some campers to help you to Camp." He smiled warmly.
"You're welcome, Chiron. I'll see you soon." She nodded and then Chiron swiped his hand through the mist, ending the call.
Percy emerged from his hiding spot and looked at his mother. She turned and looked back at him.
"Come on, we're going to Camp." She said and began wheeling out of the room.
"I'm not joining you, Mother." Percy said, and Sally stopped.
"Why?" She asked, staring at her son.
"I have other things I need to do. And by the sounds of it, someone needs to look into this risk to Camp." Percy said, "I'll see if I can get any information from the Demons."
"Okay." She nodded, smiling sadly as she went off to her room, and then came back a few minutes later.
Percy helped his Mother get to the lift and out to the sidewalk and walked her to the parking lot where her car was parked. He could tell that it was adapted – a gift from Poseidon, most likely.
"Are you sure you won't join me, Percy?" She asked.
He shook his head. "I'm more use out here. I need to find answers." He said, and Sally smiled weakly.
She then pulled something out of her jacket pocket and pressed it into Percy's hands.
He looked down and saw a bronze, ball-tip pen.
"What is the pen –" He was about to ask before she uncapped the pen, and he watched in awe as it expanded into a three-foot long, celestial bronze sword. It was beautiful.
"I can't take this." He said, as he capped the sword.
"Yes, you can." She smiled. "It will never leave you and will always return to you. Promise me that you will use that sword, and not that evil one." She gave him a stern look.
Percy nodded. "Thank you, Mom." He smiled and hugged her. She returned the hug before Percy helped her get into her car and loaded it up for her.
"The sword is called Anaklusmos, or Riptide." She smiled as she started up the engine.
"I'll see you soon, and let you know if I find anything." Percy smiled, and she nodded.
After exchanging "love you" with one another, she drove off into the night, and Percy watched her drive off, before looking at the pen in his hands once again, before putting it in his jeans pocket.
He had some hunting to do.
The Demon Rites
Sorry I took a while to upload again, I have had a lot of work at University lately.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!
Leave a review on your way out!
The Prince of Souls