In which Percy has a brighter outlook on life- but there will still be ups and downs. She's there like 'Yay, he's dead' but there's also the 'I killed someone with zero remorse what does that make me?' side of things that's yet to hit. Also the 'Yeah it was just manipulating him but I willingly kissed and let Alabaster touch me I'm dirty now' mindset that'll be an issue- it's not true but I mean, the brain isn't often kind.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Do you really think I'm that kind? And I love Bob, and Damasen, I guarantee that the way I've changed things is gonna have people yelling at me again- I do enjoy hurting my characters you know. Perhaps I should give you all an extract of that scene? Just a few lines. Let me know if you want a taste of the pain early.
DrizzleRain: He's very much dead at this stage- as for the Bianca/Reyna stuff, not exactly. But Percy is very much there like 'I ship this. I want this to happen'
Drizzle: They haven't figured it out at this stage but you'll have to wait and see!
Percy woke up slowly, buried in thick layers of blankets on a bed that was so comfortable that Percy was pretty sure she could die happily as long as she never had to move. And she did notice that the pain was gone- that was a very good sign.
She didn't move too much, mostly because she had two very familiar people cuddled into her sides, both of them snoring softly, and Percy didn't want to wake up either of her baby brothers- and gods but they were there, both of them were breathing steadily. They were safe.
Percy blinked back the tears that threatened to fall, resisting the urge to pull them close and never let go- if only because that would wake them up and they probably needed some sleep.
Then she heard voices- and Percy forced herself not to tense at the first voice- she didn't recognise it. In Tartarus that could be very bad.
"You haven't told them."
"No." that one was Bob's voice. "They are already scared.
"They should be. And what if you cannot guide them past Night?" the voice said Night as if it was a Name- and more than that, as if it was a name to be feared.
"I have to." Bob declared, and Percy kinda wanted to hug him for that, though it probably wouldn't be appreciated.
"Why? What have the demigods given you? They have erased your old self, everything you were. Titans and giants…we are meant to be the foes of the gods and their children. Are we not?"
"And why did you heal the girl?"
The other voice exhaled at that. "I have been wondering that myself. Perhaps I felt sorry for them. Knowing her wounds and being unable to heal her. Perhaps I find them intriguing. They are resilient to have made it so far. Admirable even. But how can we help them any further? It is not our fate."
"Perhaps," Bob said, uncomfortably. "But…do you like our fate?"
"What a question. Does anyone like his fate?"
"I liked being Bob," Bob murmured. "Before I started to remember…" And Percy felt a rush of guilt, and she blinked back tears- and gods was she going to be this teary all of the time? Was it just the relief and exhaustion making her more sensitive?
"Huh." There was a shuffling sound. And Percy had to resist the urge to peek and see what was going on.
"Damasen-" that must be the name of the other voice. "Do you remember the sun."
The shuffling stopped, there was another exhale and then, "Yes. It was yellow. When it touched the horizon, it turned the sky beautiful colors."
"I miss the sun," Bob said. "The stars, too. I would like to say hello to the stars again."
"Stars…" Damasen said the word as if he'd forgotten its meaning. "Yes. They made silver patterns in the night sky." He threw something to the floor with a thump. "Bah. This is useless talk. We cannot—"
Then there was a roar and Percy gasped- she couldn't help the noise- though Nico and Leo didn't stir, and she slipped her arms away from her baby brothers, managing not to wake them as she pushed herself so that she sat up- and her eyes focused on Bob- familiar and almost comforting and- and a giant, a red skinned giant. Okay- okay maybe that wasn't bad, he wasn't attacking them after all.
Both the Titan and the giant turned their gazes to her, and Percy swallowed hard, "I thought you weren't healing me?" that was directed at Bob. Who shook his head.
"I did not. Damasen healed you."
"I-" Percy turned her gaze to the giant, "Thanks? I think. W-where are we? What-" she shifted nervously, "What was that noise?"
"The Maeonian drakon." Damasen looked tired- Percy felt a rush of sympathy for him. He had that same resigned look she'd seen in the mirror on more than one occasion. Even if she didn't know what the Maeonian drakon was exactly.
"Are we in danger?"
"You will be safe from the drakon."
"Percy feeling better?" Bob asked, and Percy nodded.
"Yeah, yeah I am. Thank you guys." she hesitated, "Listen-" she shook her head, "Bob- I'm really sorry, for- for taking your memories away-"
"Nico told us the story." Bob spoke up, "You protected them. You lied to Bob to protect your family. To protect Nico."
"I did." Percy gave a tight smile, "I'd do whatever it takes to protect my family."
"Leo is your family."
"Yep. My baby brother."
"Leo told Bob about Calypso." Bob's eyes went distant. "My... granddaughter. I think I can forgive you for lying."
And Percy gave a weak smile, "I didn't plan on any of this. I dumped you in the Lethe because I was in agony and desperate and it was the only thing I could do at the time. And then- you didn't remember anything and I just blurted out the name Bob without thinking. I was half dead at the time."
Bob nodded at that, "You were hurt. I remember."
"I do-" Percy shifted "I do want to be friends Bob. I didn't mean- I didn't really think things through. I didn't mean to abandon you. I guess I should have visited I just- I had so much to deal with- there was a war and I- I was dealing with the whole idea that I was going to have to bathe in the Styx. It was-" it was too much for a fifteen year old to have to deal with. But she had never been given a choice in the matter had she? "And then there was the whole dying thing-"
"It was not your fault." Bob's expression was almost gentle as he looked at Percy, "I forgive you."
"I- that means a lot." Percy managed before she felt movement next to her, and then there was a voice.
"Percy?" that was Leo's voice, and Percy turned her head, letting out a relieved little noise as her baby brother sat bolt upright and tossed his arms around her, and then she received the same treatment on the other side.
"Percy you're awake!" Nico's face was pressed into her shoulder, and Percy awkwardly wrapped her arms around her brothers.
"What happened to you?" Leo demanded, "You were so hurt when Bob brought you back to us- Nico found a bracelet-"
"It's okay." Percy pressed her lips to the top of Leo's head, rubbing his back as she squeezed Nico tightly with her other arm. "I'm fine." she could heard Alabaster's screams echoing sweetly in her mind, faint and distant but there. And maybe it should scare her that she didn't feel upset or disturbed by that.
"Did he have you?" Nico's voice was small, "What happened to you Percy? You were so hurt."
"Run in with Dr Thorne." Percy winked at Leo when his eyes widened, "And there was a run in with Kelli- Both of them are dead now. And then it was the Arai, apparently a lot of monsters have cursed me, who'd have thought it?" she gave a wink. "But I'm fine now. And you guys don't have to worry about Alabaster. Not anymore."
"Is-"
"He's not a- I left him behind and- he's not a problem now." Percy told them, "Just relax okay boys? Everything is just fine now." and she couldn't help the little smile that formed on her lips- she wasn't wrong. Everything was fine. Alabaster was gone he couldn't hurt anyone any more.
Then Damasen spoke again. "There is no time little mortals. My enemy is returning and I fear its roar will draw the others- my brethren, hunting you-"
"Oh wonderful." Percy pulled a face, "Just what we need."
"They will be here within minutes. I have supplies for you but you must move,"
"What about you?" Leo frowned, "What do you tell them when they get here. They'll be angry."
Damasen's mouth twitched. "What is there to tell? Nothing of significance, as long as you are gone."
He tossed them three satchels made out of some kind of leather. "Cloths, food, drink."
Bob was wearing a similar but larger pack. He leaned on his broom, gazing at Percy as if still pondering Damasen's words: What have the demigods given you? We are meant to be the foes of the gods and their children.
"Thank you." that was Nico, who was watching Damasen almost sadly, "We really appreciate all you did for us. For Percy."
"Are you sure you can't come with us?" Leo asked, "It'd be much better than being stuck here for the rest of eternity."
"No child. I cannot come. My curse is here. I cannot escape it."
"I dunno what curse you're talking about." Percy spoke up, "But there's always a way." it was strange- despite being trapped in the pit she felt lighter than she had in a long time- oh she was well aware that her problems weren't all going to magically faded away now that Alabaster was gone but- the biggest source of her fear, of her trauma was no longer a threat.. For the first time in a lifetime she felt like there was real hope for the future. She wasn't sure what that future would look like yet- she still had a lot she needed to figure out but it was there. As long as she survived.
"You shouldn't give up." she paused, "But- you have to do it when you're ready. Screw your fate, you seem pretty cool you deserve to be happy." as she spoke the drakon roared outside again, closer.
And Damasen shook his head, "Even if I could... I cannot leave this swamp. It's the only destination I can picture."
"Yeah, and a day or so ago the only future I could imagine was pretty bleak. Now... if you let yourself have hope it can be pretty good." also if you let yourself torture your sadistic stalker, but hey, she didn't need to mention that part of the trick.
"But-"
"You have to be ready." Percy added, "But when you are. Picture us, come and find us and maybe we can take you to the mortal world with us. You can see the sunlight and stars."
The ground shook. The drakon was close now, stomping through the marsh, blasting trees and moss with its poison spray.
Then Percy heard a voice, a familiar voice.
"THE SEA GODS DAUGHTER! SHE IS CLOSE!"
"Uh oh." Percy blinked, "Huh, did not think I'd see Polybotes again so soon. Right, we should probably get going." though she didn't want to leave the giant behind- her gut well telling her it was the wrong thing to do.
But they had no choice- so the three demigods and the Titan left the giant behind to fight off his own battles- and Percy just hoped that maybe he'd listened to her plea.
