Chapter 5, Heartbreak of a Demigod
Percy was honestly confused at what he was seeing. The last time he saw her she was a hallucination brought on by fear and dehydration. So he spoke his thoughts out loud to what he thought was an illusion.
"Annabeth? Is that really you? Or is this another delusion?" Percy wheezed out still in pain from his wounds. The specter in front of him was joined by two more specters. Wonderful, now he was imagining Jason and Hazel too. The hallucination wearing the form of his girlfriend stepped forward with a sad expression on its impression of a face.
"We aren't…I'm not a hallucination Percy, it's really me." The illusion of Annabeth spoke to him, huh that's new. Since when do the illusions of his mind speak to him? Percy pointed the tip of Riptide towards the specter and spoke in what he hoped was a threatening tone instead of a pained one. He wasn't really successful on the not sounding pained part.
"Stay back monster, what are you huh? A Kere maybe? Either stay back or get gutted like the monster you are!" Percy said as threatening as a wounded somewhat mad man could say. What? You try spending a few years in hell and not going at least a little insane. The Annabeth, Jason, and Hazel look alike looked shocked at his actions. Weird.
"Percy please put the sword down. We are not illusions or monsters or whatever the hell a Kere is. We are your friends. It's really us Percy." the Jason look-a-like said. Percy almost believed it. Almost. Percy bursted towards the trio of specters and went to stab the fake Annabeth in the gut, but was parried by the golden blade that suddenly appeared in the hands of the fake Jason. A loud clang was heard as the strength of Percy's stab pushed fake Jason back a few steps.
Percy jumped back and got into a battle stance which was mimicked by fake Jason. Fake Jason had a surprised look on its face. Probably not expecting the strength put into a single stab. Then it's face went calm and collected. Suspiciously like real Jason did during a fight. Interesting. Percy rushed forward and slashed his blade as quick as he could at fake Jason, who responded by blocking the strike though his next action was weird to Percy. Fake Jason broke his two handed grip of his gladius, which in doing so scored Percy a somewhat deep slash to it's chest, then it backhanded Percy with a electrically charged fist. How would a fake be able to use the abilities of the one it is emulating? Unless? Oh. Oh.
It is Jason he's fighting. Which means that is Annabeth. That is Hazel. Shit.
Present Time, Outside the Doors of Death, House of Hades ~
Jason has never blocked a strike from a sword that strong before. Just how strong has Percy become? Was his first thought, then he realized that he was going to have to fight his friend in order to snap him out of whatever hallucination Percy thought he was having. As he mimicked Percy and got into a battle stance he noticed the expression on his friend's face. It was dead. Completely emotionless. Jason has never seen Percy go into battle with an expression like that before. And honestly? It terrified him.
Jason calmed his mind as the injured and delusional man in front of him rushed him. Percy's blade was hard to follow, it was moving too fast for Jason to gauge when to block. So Jason did something the legion beat out of him and something Mother Lupa wished he trained more. Jason stopped thinking and moved on pure instinct. The golden blade of Ivilus met the bronze blade of Riptide in a shower of sparks, which was only thanks to Jason simply reacting. He knew he couldn't hold back Percy's strength any more, not with how strong the son of Poseidon had become, so Jason dropped his two-handed grip to a one handed grip and charged his fist with electricity before backhanding Percy as hard as he could. Still fighting on instinct alone Jason rushed the off-kilter demigod and went to slash across his chest when a golden spatha was thrust under the pommel of Ivilus and disarmed him.
Jason came out of his battle-focused state and realized he was about to kill the very man they had come to save. Then Jason also noticed the gash on his chest which hurt like a bitch. Hazel was standing in between Jason and Percy with her sword raised at Jason and Jason's own sword in her other hand pointed at the still recovering Percy.
"Stop it, both of you!" Hazel commanded as an influx of power pulsed around her off-setting the ground in her immediate area as well as some of the shadows at her feet slowly writhing around her. Neither Jason nor Percy have ever seen Hazel use her powers in such a display before. They both then noticed the mist building around Hazel as well. They both went still and nodded their heads like good soldiers do when a commanding officer gives them an order.
"Now. Percy we are not illusions, delusions, or hallucinations. We are real. Come give me a hug before I really get mad." The daughter of Pluto stated with a happy smile on her cute face. As Percy walked over to the significantly shorter girl, he capped Riptide and gave her a massive hug causing her to drop both of the swords she was holding. Meanwhile Jason was ripping off parts of his shirt in order to bandage both his gash as well as any of Percy's wounds while Annabeth stood frozen.
Jason watched as Percy let go of Hazel after spinning her around in a circle and planting a soft kiss upon her forehead. Then Percy approached his girlfriend and hugged her, which at first she didn't reciprocate the gesture, then wrapped her arms around him. Jason decided to let them have this moment and turned away. Though he was still worried about what would happen when the son of Poseidon found out the truth, Jason wanted his friend to be happy first and foremost.
Same Time, Outside the Doors of Death, House of Hades ~
Percy was grateful Hazel stopped Jason's blade from striking him. He didn't want any more scars. After setting Hazel down, Percy turned to Annabeth and hugged her and god did he miss doing that. At first she didn't hug him back and he got worried he upset her, or worse, scared her, but then she hugged him back and whispered in his ear.
"I missed you so much, Seaweed Brain." She said softly into his ear. He was sure she would feel him grin as he responded.
"I missed you too, Wise Girl." Percy said softly in response. He held the hug for a few more seconds before letting go…..Then promptly fainting there in the spot. Hey, he was in a lot of pain, alright?
When Percy awoke, he was in a totally different location from the one he fainted in. He did however recognize where he was, the infirmary of the Argo II. He also recognized the people in the room with him. Sitting in a chair with her head on his bed was his girlfriend Annabeth, and also sitting in a chair on the other side of his bed was Jason who was also passed. The last person in the room and the only one who was awake, through Percy off. He did not expect to see Thalia of all people leaned up against the wall next to the door. Percy didn't know why she was here, after all she hates him.
Thalia must have noticed him awake because she turned her head towards him and glared at him. The scowl on her face made him think she still did hate him, yet when it softened slightly Percy became confused. His cousin hasn't shown that much emotion towards him since Percy pulled her from the roots of her tree. Thalia opened her mouth to say something then scowled at him again and left the room, closing the door with a small bang that woke up Jason. Jason looked around groggily before his eyes locked onto Percy's face.
"Glad to see you awake Percy, it's been about a week since you fainted. Also before Annabeth wakes up I need to tell you something. Once you speak with everyone, meet me and Leo in the engine room, we need to show you something you are not going to like but we believe is important." the son of Jupiter said quietly to his cousin. Percy sighed. Then nodded at his cousin as he absent mindedly ran his fingers through Annabeth's golden hair. Jason then got up and left the room but gave Percy a sad smile before he closed the infirmary door.
The slight bang of the door closing woke the beautiful daughter of Athena up, so Percy smiled at her as he pondered what had upset perhaps his closest friend enough to request a private talk. Annabeth gave the Savior of the Greeks a resplendent smile.
"Percy you're awake! How are you feeling, Seaweed Brain?" the girl of his dreams asked with that same beautiful smile on her face as her golden curls framed her face. Percy looked down at his body to take in what was bandaged. His chest was bandaged front and back as well as wrapped down his left arm, his hip was surprisingly fine, same with his leg.
"I feel better than I have since I fell, Wise Girl." Percy responded with a small grin on his face as he started to stand up, only for Annabeth to grab him in a bear hug.
"Just do me a favor and be careful till you fully heal, yeah?" Annabeth asked softly into his chest in an almost broken tone. Percy returned the hug and mumbled a yes ma'am into her hair. 'I really do love this girl' Percy thought to himself as the couple broke their hug and left the room holding hands. The couple walked together in silence just enjoying each other's presence on their way to the Argo II meeting room, the son of Poseidon enjoying the walk far more than the daughter of Athena was.
When they entered the meeting room, Percy was met with the stares of the Seven plus Nico and Thalia's scowling glare. 'She definitely still hates me,' Percy thought. Everyone but Thalia was grinning at him happily. Percy was genuinely happy for the first time in 5 & half years. He was back with his friends. Though one thought was creeping at the back of his mind, why could he feel fear emanating from the girl at his side…..
7 years since the fall, 8th level of Hell, The Pit ~
Orpheus was quite excited. The call of his blade was getting closer as he fought his way through the swathes of monsters. Orpheus is covered head to toe in the blood of the Keres and his once pale skin was now a dark red. There was no clean portion of his body and if any sane being were to see him they would think his natural skin color would be blood red. Orpheus was whistling the tune of Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones as he casually walked through Hell spinning his cane in one hand. Just like they always do, Orpheus' thoughts returned to the love of his life, Eurydice. He knew that once he reclaimed his sword he could finally escape this Hell-scape, and perhaps see her again. The one woman who ever captured the heat of the first Demon.
As he was walking through the barren wasteland of the 8th level he laughed to himself as he noticed all the monsters on his plane were hiding from him. Orpheus almost wished they would attack him out of fear if only to cure his boredom. He stopped as he felt the subtle call of his sword moving towards him at an alarming rate. Interesting. Orpheus stabbed the tip of his cane into the ground and put his right hand on the handle of the rapier held within it.
Then he noticed why the pull of the blade was moving, a damned titan had it strapped to their belt like it was some kind of weapon they thought they could use. Ha. Good luck with that.
"So you're the reason why my sword is forcing me this way, aren't you?" Krios said with a frown on his face, no doubt sensing the power within the Demon. Orpheus was angered that anyone would dare claim his weapon as their own. In fact he was so angered that the hand holding his cane crushed the cane to dust and cracked the hard shadow blade within it. Krios actually took a step back instinctually as a pulse of pure demonic hatred exploded out of the man in front of him.
"W-w-what are you?" The titan asked while trying to hide his fear from the entity across from him. Orpheus grinned, you can't hide your fear from a being created to cause it.
"I am your death boy, for you hold my blade in your hands. I am the oldest Demon, and I have come calling." Orpheus snarled out with a bloodthirsty grin on his face, killing this titan would be fun. Orpheus dashed towards the titan of the south with his rapier out. The titan decided out of fear that his only way out would be to assume his true form. Unleashing a massive wave of titanic energy that slowed Orpheus down slightly, Krios took to his true form. He now had the appearance of a 8 ft. tall Greek hoplite made out of constellations with a spear and shield in hand.
The titans shield moved to intercept the shadow blade quickly, completely changing the course of the stab. Before Orpheus could recover from being offset, Krios landed a shield bash followed by a strong kick to the Demon's chest, sending him back a few feet. Orpheus grinned, he lived for this kind of battle, he rushed towards the titan of the constellations left side and right before the tip of the Demon's rapier impacted Orpheus swiveled to the right side and stabbed full force through the forearm of the arm holding the titans shield. Krios didn't even blink before dropping his shield and decking the oldest Demon across the face and jumping back to take a two handed grip on his spear.
"Impressive pain tolerance titan, that stab broke your ulna yet you disregarded the pain to punch me? I admire your conviction. Let's test just how well it will hold up." the Demon of Fear and Hatred snarled out. The titan kept his calm composure, yet a small smile shied through it. As both warriors retook their respective combat stances, Krios let out a few words that changed Orpheus' view on the titan.
"I must say, it has been far too long since I have been forced to fight this hard. I missed it! Have at me Demon, let us end this duel!" Krios said in a tone full of honor, before he launched himself forward and feinted a slashed from above into a stab to the chest. Orpheus fell for the faint and took a somewhat major stab wound to under his ribs. Orpheus responded by upper cutting the titan and knocking his helmet off along with breaking his jaw. Both combatants jumped back in sync.
Krios raised his good hand to his jaw to pop it back into place while Orpheus raised his hand to create a solid shadow to hold back the blood seeping from his chest wound. Both warriors now looked at each other with respect as they both realized what this fight was really about. Both the Demon and the titan seek battle, and now this battle has reawakened the spirit of honor in both of them. The two fighting entities dropped their respective weapons at the same time, they knew that this fight must be finished with fists over blades for they are no longer fighting over a sword, but for honor.
They dashed forward, the Demon landed the first blow, a solid right cross to the titans chest, Krios responded with a left knee to the spear wound he marred Orpheus with earlier. Both men reared back their dominant fists only to launch forward to hit the other's fist creating a shockwave of power that uprooted the earthen ground around them. As they jumped back from this collision, they both took in the damage caused from their last bout. Krios' ribs were broken and his knuckles dislocated, which happened to match Orpheus' knuckles. Orpheus had no new wounds but his spear wound was even worse.
This time, the titan struck first. Krios spear tackled Orpheus and as soon as they hit the ground he started raining blows upon the Demon. After taking a few hammer blows to the head, Orpheus grabbed Krios' broken forearm and squeezed till he heard it crack further. Instead of screaming in pain like the Demon expected, the titan head butted him which ended up breaking the Demon's nose. In a surprising fit of physicality, Orpheus threw Krios off of him, stood up and dropped the peoples elbow right onto the chest of the downed titan breaking his sternum and fracturing his ribs. Orpheus then fell to the ground next to the injured titanic being of the constellations. Then….They both started laughing…..
"Hahaha, that was a great fight!" Krios coughed out through his injured jaw and chest.
"That it was." Orpheus wheezed out while holding the solid shadow he created earlier to the hole in his chest.
"You two done fighting now?" a feminine voice filled with power called out from the surrounding darkness…
Present Time, Engine Room, Argo II ~
Percy was finally able to sneak away to the engine room after 2 hours of catching up with the Seven. Percy did not really speak of his time in Hell to them and they respected his lack of commenting on the matter, thankfully. Now Percy just wanted to find out what Leo and Jason had discovered that he supposedly wouldn't like. As Percy entered the room he saw sullen looks on the two who wanted to meet him in secret as well as a small TV system set up behind one the engines in a hidden compartment.
"Glad you're okay dude." the supreme commander of the warship they were on said. Percy smiled at his old Latino friend as Jason clapped him on the back and pulled out some chairs for the three of them. The son of Jupiter and the son of Hephaestus both glanced at each other before Jason started speaking.
"I am sorry we have to show this to you so soon after what you've been through but we believe it is important." Jason told the Prince of the Seas clinically, which immediately threw red flags up in his mind. Then, Leo turned on the TV and Percy knew why they were so secretive of this information. They had solid evidence that….that Annabeth has been cheating on him since Hera t-t-took him…
Percy heard his heart break, not just break, but shatter into pieces...….
