Ho ho ho! I kinda feel like Santa bringing this on Christmas day. I really hope you all enjoy this.
Okay, this is my first attempt at a two-shot. I just really wanted to do this. Before you start, there was a huge gap between the beginning part of the story and the part when I really picked it up, so there might be a change in style in between, but I've cleaned up most of it. Also, I've changed a few scenes from canon (so don't say that something is changed. It's meant to be that way), so as to better fit the narrative, and I've changed dialogues to better fit my theme. Also, I'm going to do a LOT of skips in the timeline, only highlighting the changes that have occurred. The rest is the same (until it's not).
P.S.: Rating is because I'm paranoid
Note: This is a non-profit fanfiction. PJO, HOO and other related works are all owned by Rick Riordan and affiliated publishing groups. Please support the official release.
He rushed towards the top of Half-Blood Hill, shoes crunching against the soil. Desperation clung to him. Please, please let Annabeth be okay. He finally reached Thalia's pine, only to freeze in his tracks.
Annabeth knelt by the roots of the tree, holding the unconscious body of a stranger. Her clothes were a mix of punk and rock, with black eyeliner tracing her closed lids. Her skin was unusually pale, seeming to almost gleam under the setting sun.
"Annabeth.. what.." Percy was lost for words, unable to fathom what had occurred.
Annabeth looked equally shocked, but with equal amounts of joy and worry mixed in her features. "The Golden fleece worked too well," she said. "It brought her back to life."
"Who.." Percy's question was cut off by the girl's eyes suddenly snapping open. She jumped up, her head snapping around, taking in her surroundings.
"Where the Hades am I?" Her voice was frantic, terror lacing it's edges. She looked as though she was expecting an army of monsters to attack at any moment.
Percy held his hands up, showing he meant no harm. "Whoa there, calm down. It's okay, you're safe here. My name's Percy, and you are?"
Her eyes locked on to his, blue on green. "I'm Thalia." And in that moment, he knew. He knew his heart now belonged with this complete stranger.
Percy felt like pure shit. He had seen Thalia after nearly four months apart, and the first thing they had to do was head out on a quest for a possible demigod pair from a military school. Even worse, he couldn't even talk to her, since half the time was spent with her asleep and the other half was his mother regaling her and Annabeth with her hand-picked 'Most embarrassing kid Percy moments'. Then they finally found the demigods, only to then discover that a manticore was also present on campus, and it was definitely out for their blood.
To further compound on his experience, the manticore had responded to them thwarting his plans by grabbing Annabeth and leaping off the ledge. He had almost gone berserk, wanting to blame the hunters of Artemis for not doing enough, but he knew that it was his hysteria talking. Yet what made him reach the depths of despair was the fact that a small part of him was secretly glad that Thalia hadn't been the one taken. Then again, she had taken her turn adding to his misery when she began to scream at him for causing Annabeth to be captured through his impulsiveness.
Somehow, he had managed to reign himself in, avoiding any confrontation for the rest of the time. But while they were boarding Apollo's sun chariot, he noticed Bianca in her brand new hunter garb, along with Nico's expression of heartbreak. Poor kid. His sister leaving him so suddenly must be hard on him. His mind went back to when he thought that his mom had been taken away from him, but at least that had been forcible. Here, she had elected to do so.
But even then, as he was resting against a window, waiting for Apollo to start the bus, and even as a small bit of dread settled into his gut when he passed the keys to Thalia, the same part of his mind whispered, at least they didn't take her too.
"Why can't you just listen to a simple order!"
He cringed as Thalia's fury washed over him, sending him a couple steps back. He noticed how his body was responding in the nick of time, before he pulled himself back. "I'm sorry, Thalia. I just saw an opening and had to take it. Even if I had stayed where you told me to, no one would have managed to reach the flag in time. What I did was the best shot we had at winning!"
His hand reached towards her in an attempt to placate the furious daughter of Zeus, but all he got in response was an electric shock, stinging his hand. For a second, Thalia looked regretful. "I'm sorry, Percy, I didn't mean to..."
But his body had already reacted. Two whole years of instinct lashed out before his conscious mind got a chance to respond. However, he must have managed to do something, since all it was reduced to was a quick splash of water on her face, an action which could easily be passed off as playful squabbling. That is, by anyone except Thalia.
Her face clouded over, and he knew he was about to be on the receiving end of something massive. But even he hadn't expected the bolt of lightning that arced down from the heavens towards her spear, before being redirected towards his chest. The impact knocked him clean off his feet, sending him flying for a good distance before he painfully crashed down, his t-shirt smoking from the impact. Slowly, he got up, his battle instincts now firmly in the driver's seat. The frustration from the cliff above Westover High had spilled over.
He focused, feeling the tug in his gut slowly intensify, but he finally got what he wanted. Behind him, the entire creek was lifted off its bed, hovering in the air under his control. The demigods who had gathered to watch the altercation immediately backed away, with even Chiron looking apprehensive. However, he didn't notice any of it. His vision had tunnelled, focused on the one person before him.
But just as he went to release the torrent of water, his mind finally kicked in, along with his heart. He knew he would be unable to do it, since doing so would hurt him even worse. Yet, the one thing that broke his resolve was the look on her face. For a split second, she actually looked frightened.
Frightened of him.
He was just about to release the water when his attention was diverted by a series of gasps from the other campers. His attention was instantly diverted, causing the stream to come crashing down into the river-bed, spraying him with water. Even Thalia was gaping in shock, and for good reason. The Oracle had descended from the attic.
"No way! I'm coming on this quest too."
His voice rang throughout the war room. Zoe glared at Percy like he had just personally offended her. As usual, he ignored the look. He was only concerned about joining the quest.
Losing his best friend to the manticore was bad enough. However, allowing Thalia to go on the quest to rescue her while he stayed at camp, constantly worrying about whether or not they would pull through, was more than what he could handle. He knew she could take care of herself, but he didn't care. After all, love is never logical in outlook.
Chiron sighed, clearly expecting the argument. "I'm sorry Percy, but it's up to Zoe to decide who comes on the quest. You can't influence it, no matter how badly you want to."
Percy took one look at Zoe's smug grin and stormed out before he lost his cool completely. No matter what, he wasn't going to stay behind.
He was in Aphrodite's limo, having just slipped past a glowering Ares. He somehow found himself holding up a mirror for the most beautiful woman on earth, with features that constantly shifted around, never settling down. But for some reason, there were multiple times that she seemed to resemble Thalia, and those were the times he felt the biggest pull towards her.
Aphrodite picked up on the trend, and gave a quick smirk. "I can see how you feel, Perseus. But just know that your love life will be complicated, to say the least."
That snapped him out of his stupor. He rounded on her, his eyes blazing. "Can't you leave me alone? I don't want to be part of your games." He knew he was walking a fine line, but it was what he did best.
However, for once, the immortal wasn't offended. Instead, she had a rueful smile on her face, throwing him off completely. "Oh, Percy. You and I are closer than you think. I wouldn't interfere with your love life, but I can't change what's destined to be. But if you ever need to talk to anyone, just call me."
He couldn't even formulate a response before she suddenly started telling him to avoid Hephaestus' junkyard, after which she didn't even give him a second before he was suddenly sitting on the road, with no limo or gods in sight. All that he could think of was, Please don't let her complicated mean what I think it means.
"I think Annabeth was considering joining the hunters," said Thalia, before walking away.
Percy watched her retreating form, confused as to why he had to know that. It's not like I'm against the hunters. If it makes Annabeth happy, why should I care? Also, why would Thalia think it's big enough to warn me about. It's not like I have a crush on... oh Hades no. She thinks I love Annabeth!
His blood froze. No no no no!
He was about to run after her and clear that misconception but he stopped in his tracks. Wait, what if she doesn't feel the same about me?
The conflicting thoughts warred in his tormented mind. By the time he snapped out of it, she was long gone.
Percy strained under the weight of the sky, his willpower the only thing keeping him going. Through his strained eyelids, he could see a silver blur surrounding Atlas. The titan was being pushed back by the violent flurry of attacks launched by the enraged moon goddess. Further away, he could faintly see Luke and Thalia trading blows, nearly equal in skill.
Come on, Thals. You've almost got him. His delirious mind was barely hanging on, but he persisted.
He could feel his resolve slipping, and he knew he couldn't hold out much longer. As he contemplated what were most likely to be the last moments of his life, his only regret was that he never told Thalia how he truly felt. But with just how strenuous the quest had been, he hadn't found an opportune time to do so, and even then, he had to think about the age difference between them. She was a day away from her sixteenth birthday, while he had only recently passed his fourteenth. It may not have mattered if they were older, but right now it was like a mountain in his eyes.
Just as he as about to finally give in, he noticed Artemis' style suddenly change. She had gone from trying to subdue the Titan to moving him towards where he as. His eyes met her silver ones for a split second, but he understood her plan, and was more than ready when she managed to throw Atlas in his direction.
He felt the Titan smash into his side, and he let go, tumbling away from the sky. He heard a mighty roar erupt from the titan, but Atlas was once again trapped in his torment, forever having to hold the sky.
He slowly raised himself off the ground, just in time to see Thalia push Luke off the edge. He faintly heard Annabeth's piercing scream in the background, but all he noticed was the pained expression the daughter of Zeus wore. That one look sent his mind into turmoil, with one part screaming that she only thought of Luke as a brother, while the other scoffed that her heart was already with another.
Thalia sobbed, holding Zoe's cold, clammy hand. "I'm so sorry, Zoe. You were right about Luke, about men. All they do is hurt you."
Percy felt his heart crack slightly when Thalia said that, but steeled himself, thinking, You know she doesn't mean you. But his mind kept replaying her expression when she had pushed Luke off the edge, following it up by interpreting her meaning of hurt in multiple different ways.
Zoe weakly turned her head, looking into his eyes. "Maybe not all men." And right there, he realised she knew about his feelings for the daughter of Zeus.
They had just escaped death at the hands of the Olympians thanks to a vote. For now, Percy would have been grateful to simply have some time off, or an hour long break to sit in a body of water. But for now, he was focusing on the maiden goddess who was about to speak.
"Before you go, I have an offer to make," said Artemis.
Percy smiled lightly at Annabeth, but all he got in return was a confused stare. Wait, isn't Artemis about to offer Annabeth a place among the hunters? he thought.
"Thalia Grace, do you accept the position of Lieutenant of my Hunters?"
Percy felt the bottom of his stomach drop into the depths of Tartarus. Oh no, please... anything but this. His mental pleading was cut short when he saw Thalia's radiant smile. His body felt as if acid had been pumped into his veins. His thoughts from earlier once again entered his mind. At least they didn't take her too. Ironic, in the end, since it happened, if only later on.
"I accept, Lady Artemis."
At that moment, Percy realised that his love would forever remain unrequited.
Partway through the celebrations, Thalia came up to him to talk.
Percy carefully masked his emotions, not willing to let her see how hurt he truly was. He had plenty of experience after living with Gabe for so long.
"So, you really went through all that just to save Annabeth, huh?" she asked.
Percy nearly flinched. If only you knew. But outwardly, he simply said, "You know I couldn't just leave her. She's my best friend, after all."
Thalia grinned suggestively, and nudges his arm. "I get the feeling that you can be more than friends, you know?" she raised her eyebrows at him.
For the first time that night, Percy felt genuine amusement. "Annabeth and I? There's no way that would work. We're just friends, that's it."
Thalia shrugged. "You really are a Seaweed Brain. It seems you can't see what's right in front of you." She walked away, her new silver tiara glistening in the moonlight.
Percy smiled ruefully. Usually, that's very true, but this time, it's you who can't see, Thalia Grace.
He sat near the edge of Mount Olympus, simply staring over the edge. Anyone who walked past would have thought that he was contemplating suicide, but he entertained no such notion. He just preferred to sit there in order to reminisce over his journey, and the cool air along with the incredible view pulled him into a state of calm that he usually only found near the sea. While he would have usually been worried about the height, he knew that there was no danger of falling. After all, he had seen drunken gods almost teeter off the edge before being pushed back by an invisible force.
His mind was fixated on the events of his quest, or more specifically his failures along the route. Bianca, Zoë, even at the very beginning, when he had allowed Annabeth to be abducted by the Minotaur. But even so, his mind kept returning to one point. Thalia.
Never in a million years would he have imagined that she would join the hunters. They were far too different in their outlook and approach, or so he thought. Their essence, however, lined up perfectly. A girl who prided herself in being independent would definitely feel the attraction of a group that kept to themselves as they raced across the country, hunting monsters.
That one damn line from her oath was playing on loop within the confines of his mind. I turn my back on the company of men. No matter what, there was no way around it. Thalia may have talked to him right after it, but he knew any future interactions with her would be sparse, and none of them would come close to what he wanted to have with her. He knew he had to accept that, but it was just so hard.
As he was lost in his thoughts, he heard someone approach him. Slowly, he turned his head, only to see Aphrodite herself approach him. In any other circumstance, he would have either hastily got to his feet and bowed or shot off a snarky remark. But at that moment, he wasn't feeling up to it. He simply stayed where he was, allowing her to sit next to him in silence.
"Is this what you meant by my love life being complicated," he whispered, staring out into the cloudy expanse before him. He could feel tears prick the corner of his eyes, but he clamped down on them, not wanting to show any weakness. But even so, he couldn't prevent the feeling of his heart being torn into shreds by invisible knives.
For once, Aphrodite wasn't smiling. She followed his gaze, trying to see if there was anything that had drawn his interest. A miniscule amount of worry flashed in her eyes when she understood that he wasn't really seeing anything. He was trapped in his thoughts, unable to escape.
She sighed. "Love is complicated. I know that better than anyone. And I've been in the middle of Ares' and Hephaestus' drama for millennia now. While it may be fun at times to have two gods vying for your favour, there are times when I would prefer for them to settle it once and for all."
Percy didn't react, even though he usually felt pity for Hephaestus, especially since his wife cheated on him after their marriage, even though he'd promised to try his best to be a good husband. Right now, he didn't have the will to pull up those emotions. "So if it came to a choice, who would you pick, and what of the person left in the dust?"
She pondered for some time, allowing the two to lapse into silence. It slowly stretched, verging onto five minutes, then ten. Usually, Percy would have broken it due to his impatience, but that was a day of anomalies. Finally, she responded.
"Truthfully, I don't know. I would prefer Ares, but he can be far too violent at times. And while Hephaestus is sweet when he wants to be, he lacks the self-confidence of his siblings. And that's the one thing that always makes me pull back from asking them to finally settle this among themselves. I know how it feels to have one's heart broken, after all, I've caused a few myself." She didn't have any joy in saying it, nor did she act ashamed. She simply stated it, as if it were a fact of life, which it probably was.
He should have known that the mission was bound to end in failure. The moment Hephaestus told him the mountain was being occupied by someone other than the god himself, he should have just turned tail and ran back through the labyrinth.
But of course, his gods damned loyalty had to kick in. With Annabeth being adamant on going there, he saw no entry option than to accompany her, in the hopes of keeping her safe. He only realized how bad the situation was when it all went to Hades in a handbasket.
The mountain seemed ready to erupt, telkhines streaming in from every direction. Percy pushed Annabeth away. "Get the Hades out of here, Annabeth! I'll handle it."
Annabeth was hesitant to just leave him at the monsters' mercy. "But what can you do? There's hundreds of them!"
Percy shot her a withering glare. "I know what I'm doing, now run! If I don't make it out... forget it, I'm coming back." The words, tell Thalia I love her, died at the tip of his tongue.
Annabeth seemed to want to add something, but decided against it, dashing towards the exit. Percy concentrated on that familiar tug in his gut. It steadily grew, his body wracked with pain. Blood roared against his eardrums. Just as it peaked, an image of a blue-eyed daughter of Zeus flashed across his mind. Then, the forge erupted. His body was flung into the air, the pain searing his skin.
His last memory was of him flying high, so high that he was sure Zeus was just about to smite him. The only thought on his mind was, I'm sorry Thalia. I won't be able to see you again.
The time he spent on Calypso's island was disjointed and hardly comprehensible, with half of it being spent in a state of delirium and the other half in his thoughts, reflecting on the future. Of course, some of that time was instead spent talking to the Titaness, trying to distract himself from the possible horrors that could be occurring outside the protective barriers of their island as they spoke. The prospect was far too frightening.
But finally, the day came when he had to leave. It was the hardest decision he ever had to make, having to give up the peace and comfort of Ogygia to return to the war-torn world waiting for him. Added to that was Calypso's revelation that she had fallen in love with him, and he would be lying if he said that he didn't have any emotion for her. For a moment, he actually was about to accept her offer, before a memory of two electric blue eyes flashed in his mind.
He sighed, knowing he couldn't leave her to deal with such a dystopian world if he could prevent it. There was always a possibility of shafting it onto Nico, but that poor boy had suffered far too much already. He wasn't about to compound his misery.
He got onto the raft, slowly guiding it using his powers. Calypso may have said that it would take him where he needed to be, but he didn't want to take any chances. The second he was far enough away from the island, he could once again sense his position in the sea. But behind him, he could not sense the direction of the island anymore. A by-product of the curse, he assumed. One that prevented even a son of the Sea from rediscovering it.
As the island receded into the horizon, he stole one final glance toward it, knowing that it would forever remain his biggest 'what-if'. Then again, he was going back to where the person he loved was. Once again, the image of a pair of blue orbs flashed across his brain, but this time it was accompanied by another memory. A silver tiara, resting atop her head. His expression froze, before he forced it back into a neutral one through sheer will. For now, he had an army to beat.
He stood on the bank of the Styx, shooting a distrustful glance towards Nico. The younger demigod had the decency to look ashamed, since he had been the one to sell Percy out to his father. But now, he had to focus on surviving his dip in the most famous river of the Underworld.
His focus narrowed down onto the small of his back, knowing that it would be protected, especially when he donned his armour. Taking a deep breath, he dived in, waiting for the pain to register.
It was far worse than he could have ever imagined. His very nerves felt as if they were simultaneously on fire while being doused in acid, multiplied by ten. Even worse, he couldn't breathe under water for the first time in his life. He could feel his very essence burning away, but he held on, praying that it would end soon.
Just as his body was about to give in, he felt as if he was being pulled by a string, attached to the small of his back. A jerk lifted him up near the surface, allowing his head to break free. For the first time in his life, Percy was glad to be outside water. He thrashed around, unable to get his bearings in order to swim back to the bank. He could feel his resolve flagging, but then a hand came into his field of vision, extended towards him in order to pull him out.
He grabbed hold of it, glancing up to meet the eyes that had captured his heart nearly two years ago. Thalia had a small smirk on her face, but what truly surprised him was her outfit. No longer was she wearing the silver parka and tiara of the Lieutenant of the Hunters, like she had been the last time he saw her. Instead, she was clothed in her old punk style, with her classic 'Death to Barbie' t-shirt. He had never seen a more beautiful sight.
She gave a small laugh, hauling him out of the river. "Come on, Kelp Head. You can't give up on me so easily. You still have a whole war to fight, and I'm not ready to give you up just yet."
He crashed into the bank, breathing heavily. His eyes shot up, trying to find Thalia once again. Instead, all he saw was an almost frantic Nico hovering over him, trying to see if he was still responsive. Percy closed his eyes, trying to hold the disappointment back. Of course she wouldn't be here. Why would you think so? Still, her words, even if they were simply something induced by his pain-riddled conscious, were enough to give him the drive he needed.
The forty demigods were trying to figure out a plausible strategy to defend Olympus against the oncoming herd of monsters with such paltry numbers when they heard the oh-so-familiar horn. As one, they turned around to see the hunters racing towards them, the daughter of Zeus in the lead. Without breaking stride, she made her way to Annabeth, crushing her unofficial sister in a hug as soon as she got within range. Turning around, she shot a bright smile towards Percy before bending over the map laid out before them, but that simple action was enough to make his heart flutter within his chest.
He shook himself, remembering the oath she had taken before being accepted into Artemis' hunt. She's sworn off men, Perce. There's nothing behind that smile, no matter what you may wish. However, a small part of him was vocal about its opinion. If she doesn't want me, then I'll stay alone for the rest of my life. I cannot move on, and I don't want to bring the danger of my life into anyone else's.
He turned back to their battle strategies, only half-listening. His mind was in turmoil, but he had to at least make an attempt to pay attention. It was the future of Olympus at stake, and he didn't want to – couldn't – risk it.
"We'll take Lincoln Tunnel. No offence, but we're the best equipped to handle it," said Thalia, gesturing to the other hunters milling about, keeping a fair distance between themselves and the male campers. Not that the guys were trying their hardest to approach them.
"None taken," Percy replied, despite the small sense of unease that settled into his stomach. She was going to be far beyond his line of sight, something that could easily terrify him. Before, he had been able to ignore it since he knew the other hunters would be more than enough to protect her, but now, with an armada of monsters bearing down on them, there were no guarantees.
Thalia grinned slightly. "Okay then. I'll see you after the first wave." She trotted off, heading directly towards the tunnel assigned to them. Percy stood rooted to his spot, his mind needlessly adding to the dialogue. If we're both still alive after this.
He was taking a quick rest in his tent, exhausted after the first round of attacks. All around him, demigods covertly moved out of his way, having witnessed him take down the Minotaur with almost ridiculous ease before sending the flying pig right into the waiting claws of the automatons. The sight was enough for his already formidable reputation to go through the roof, and he hated it.
Towards his right, he could see Thalia leading the hunters to a secluded spot. From what he saw, they hadn't escaped unscathed either. At least one in five hunters head some form of injury, with a few looking really serious. He couldn't be sure, but he felt as if they had suffered a couple casualties as well.
All he wanted to do was go towards them and talk to Thalia. If she handled her leadership like he did, she was bound to blame herself for the deaths. He desperately wished to comfort her, but he knew she would prefer to be left alone, at least for the time being. After all, he behaved in much the same way whenever he lost someone close to him. Right now, all that prevented it from overtaking him was the looming prediction of his death. He had to ensure that the war was irrevocably in the Olympian's favour before he turned sixteen, just in case.
He battled his way through the mass of bodies, Annabeth at his side. While his heart may have belonged to Thalia, he had to admit that while in battle, she was probably his best partner. They knew each other perfectly, and could react instinctively to whatever ploy was being cooked up in the other's mind.
He had just knocked a demigod unconscious when he felt his senses go haywire. Turning around, he noticed an enemy demigod lunging towards him, his knife extended to attack. Beside him, Annabeth was getting ready to move in between them, intercepting the blade before it reached him. He had to act fast.
He moved to the side, bumping Annabeth out of the way. She gasped in surprise, but he had already moved once again. Using his momentum, he had turned on his heel before slamming into the foe, sending the weapon skittering across the floor before it was lost in the heat of battle. All the better, thought Percy as he knocked the demigod unconscious. No need for them to find it. Probably coated with some sort of venom.
He grabbed Annabeth by her shoulder, forcing the daughter of Athena to look into his eyes. "Wise Girl, as much as I appreciate the sentiment, please don't go risking your life for me in battle again. We've already lost so much, don't make me lose my best friend as well."
Annabeth looked at him for a moment, before pulling him into a quick hug. "No promises," she whispered into his ear, before pulling back with a small grin. While he knew she was just trying to lighten the mood, all it did was hammer in the ramifications of such a massive war. We can never predict who lives and who dies. Except for me.
Pushing those thoughts aside, he nodded towards her, turning to the remaining monsters to begin the charge.
They made their way to Olympus, the sounds of battle fading behind them as the elevator rose higher and higher. Within the minute, for even it seemed to sense the latent urgency of the situation, they were already at the top, only to see the bridge to Olympus dissolving before them.
They had leaped from one point to another, almost slipping a dozen times. Finally, due to skill, strength and sheer luck, they managed to make it to the other side, only to see the lift hovering behind them, with no connection to the city of the gods.
They raced along the narrow, winding path, passing destroyed mansions, gardens and theatres. Kronos' scythe had carved a path of destruction wherever he went, so it wasn't that difficult for them to follow it. And they didn't like where he was heading: the Throne Room.
Even from a distance, they could see the damage that had been dealt to the structure. The landscape around it had been gouged by huge gashes that were akin to ugly scars. The doors to the Throne Room were thrown wide open, a few marks present on the massive structures as well.
They sped up, not wanting to waste a second more. Grover pulled ahead, his nature allowing him to run far faster than the rest, even if his walking was far slower. Thalia was beginning to get ahead as well, her year in the hunt proving to be quite effective. Percy was trying his best, but the exhaustion that he had accumulated over the past few days was finally beginning to take its toll. While he may have been in the zone during battle, he found that whenever he didn't have an enemy blade within five feet of him, his stamina wasn't as high as it used to be. All the wear and tear that was supposed to accumulate during the battle would instead make itself known some time after the fighting died down. Must be why it's called a curse, he thought, before pushing it out of his mind to focus on the open doors.
However, it seemed as if they were to run into one more hurdle along the way. As they were passing the vicinity of a massive statue of Hera, they could hear the sharp crack of something giving way. As one, they turned to see the gargantuan structure bearing down on them, the scowling face of the Queen of the Heavens prepared to crush them into pulp.
Percy froze in fear. He was outside the range of the statue, but Annabeth had tripped over something that he wasn't able to see, putting her directly in the area of impact. Instantly, he suspected foul play, but for now it wasn't his greatest concern. He needed to get her out of there.
He made to move forward, but Thalia beat him to it. She rushed towards the girl she had always considered her younger sister, even if Annabeth was now technically older, before pushing her out of the way, leaving her in the path of the statue.
Percy's heart stopped beating for a moment, unable to handle the amount of fear coursing through his veins. He turned around, incapable of witnessing what was to happen next. He heard the almighty crash behind him, signalling that the statue had hit the ground. And her, his mind whispered, sounding broken even to him.
He turned back, knowing that he had to face it head on. However, what he saw was enough to restore some hope into him. Thalia, by some miracle, was still alive. She was trapped under the statue, but she was still with them; with him. For a moment, joy exploded within him, before it was replaced by an all-consuming rage, one focused on the very queen the statue depicted.
Annabeth looked stricken, a hand covering her mouth. "It's my fault," she whispered. "Hera's had it out for me ever since I insulted her last year."
Percy didn't say anything, but his mind was whirring. No, Annabeth. She never meant it for you. She knew Thalia would rush to save you, putting her in the line of fire. She was always the target.
Thalia grimaced, turning to the others. "I can't get out of here. You guys go on without me, I'll catch up soon." Even as she said it, all four of them knew that by the time she arrived, the battle would have concluded in one way or another.
Percy turned back to the entrance, his burning rage re-focused onto the person who was the reason they were trapped up here, with no one left to help Thalia. The person who held the cursed blade that was fated to end his life. Kronos, I'm not going to die quietly. I swear, you will pay for what you've done.
Luke lay on the floor of the Throne room, coughing weakly. All of those present knew he wasn't going to make it, no matter what they did. While Percy may have hated him for betraying his friends and family to join Kronos, he couldn't deny that sacrificing his own life to stop the rise of the demented King of the Titans was one of the most honourable acts he had seen.
Annabeth leaned over him, gripping his hand tightly. "Please, Luke. You have to pull through. Don't you dare die on me."
Luke managed a watery chuckle at the words. "I... I'm sorry, Annie. I don't think I'm going to make it this time."
The dam finally broke, causing tears to stream down Annabeth's face. Even Grover was sniffling off to the side, while Percy stood still, his head bowed in respect.
Luke let out a slow breath, allowing himself to relax. It seemed as if he knew his time was short, and he wanted to speak his mind before he left the mortal plane.
Annabeth loosened her grip, the tears still cascading down her face. "Don't worry, Luke, I'm sure you'll reach Elysium." Her voice trembled, still unable to grip the fact that her oldest friend was dying in front of her.
Luke smiled weakly, shaking his head. "Think... rebirth. Try for three times. Isles of the Blest."
Annabeth sniffles, but there was a trace of a smile on her face. "You always pushed yourself too hard, you know that?"
Luke didn't respond, merely tightening his grip on her had. "Did... did you love me?"
Annabeth froze for a second, before shaking her head briefly. "I... I can't. Were five years apart, Luke. It would never have worked."
Luke didn't respond for a moment, before releasing a tired breath. "Should have known. Fates were never kind to me, anyways."
Percy almost flinched, sensing the emotions coming off both individuals. He was experienced in it, after all. The feeling of loving someone, but knowing it was impossible for the other to reciprocate the feeling.
Percy finally stepped forward, kneeling next to the fallen son of Hermes. Luke's eyes locked onto him, before he said two words. "Promise me..."
The demigod tried to say more, but he was overcome by wracking coughs. However, Percy had already understood. The only reason why Kronos had managed to get so far was because of the neglect shown towards the minor gods and multiple demigods. They needed to rectify it, if they were to ever have a chance of averting such a future occurrence.
"I promise," he whispered, but it was enough. Luke visibly relaxed, before a small smile appeared on his face, more genuine than any he had seen in the past four years. He closed his eyes, content.
The gods arrived mere minutes late, complete in their regalia. They thundered into the throne room, expecting a battle. However, all they saw before them was three demigods surrounding a fallen son of Hermes. The one who sacrificed himself to prevent the rise of Kronos.
The award ceremony was one of the biggest events he had ever attended. The gods had sat themselves on their massive thrones, looking down upon the heroes. While the mood may have been sombre at the beginning due to Luke's body being taken away by the Fates, the rest of the ceremony was nothing short of magnificent. He had watched as Grover, Tyson and Annabeth had been awarded incredible honours, ones that many only dreamed of.
Finally, his turn had come.
"Perseus Jackson, step forward," his father bellowed, quieting all other noise in the room. He walked forward, his knees trembling slightly. The moment almost felt surreal, yet he knew that it was no dream.
"Does anyone consider my son unworthy?" For once, the entirety of the Olympian council remained silent. His father continued, "Perseus, for your actions, you can request any gift you want from this council."
Her stared at his father, unsure whether he had heard correctly. "Any gift?"
Zeus tilted his head. "I know what you will ask for. The greatest gift that can be bestowed onto a mortal hero. The council is prepared to grant you godhood."
Time came to a standstill, as if Kronos himself had halted its flow. Percy's eyes widened to near comical degrees, before he turned behind to look at the others behind him. All the assembled demigods were looking at him in awe, with even the hunters holding a grudging amount of respect in their eyes.
He looked towards Annabeth, only to see her wearing a proud smile. She nodded her head, gesturing to him that he should accept his prize.
He turned back, breathing heavily. If he accepted, he wouldn't have to worry about aging. He didn't need to consider the problem of Thalia being partially immortal. He would have an eternity with her, something he had dreamt about for a long time.
However, those thoughts pulled his gaze towards said daughter of Zeus. She was at the forefront of the hunters, but her face was slightly turned, making it difficult for him to read her expression. However, from what he could see, she looked slightly troubled, even though he couldn't tell why.
Suddenly, the ramifications of such a course of action crashed into his conscience. He may be immortal, but the Ancient Laws would seriously limit his interactions with those who weren't true immortals, a jurisdiction Thalia fell under. He knew that he would prefer to spend a normal lifespan where he could interact with Thalia on a regular basis rather than an immeasurable one without her in it. And he also had to remember the promise he had made to a dying Luke, one he would always uphold.
He took a deep breath, readying himself to answer. The others leaned in, awaiting his response. They saw his mouth open, but none of them could have expected his response. One word they would never have said if they were in the same position he was in.
"No."
He was walking alone through the streets of Olympus, wishing to be alone for the moment. Sadly, it seemed as if his one request would remain unfulfilled as a bright glow filled the area. He closed his eyes as it reached a blinding intensity, before it slowly faded away. Opening his eyes, he turned to his right, only to freeze as he saw the King of the Gods himself before him.
For once, he decided to be respectful. Having just fought a massive war, he had no intention of dying anytime soon. Dropping to one knee, he whispered, "Lord Zeus."
Said God of the Sky looked down upon him, his eyes holding a slightly distrustful look. Yet, he also held a miniscule amount of respect for the demigod due to his services for Olympus. "Rise, son of Poseidon," he said, walking towards him.
Percy got to his feet, wondering what could have happened so soon after the award ceremony that Zeus himself would visit him. He hoped it wasn't another mission right after fighting off Kronos' forces.
"I see that you have feelings for my daughter." Whatever he had been expecting to come out of Zeus' mouth, that was definitely near the bottom of the list.
"Excuse me?" He was so shocked that he forgot to even add an honorific at the end of the sentence.
"I've seen the way you look at Thalia. Don't think I'm blind; whatever happens, I do care about my demigod children. And I need to know that you won't go ahead and rip her away from the hunt just because you want her." Percy's jaw dropped. Who knew Zeus would have such a protective side?
For now, he needed to somehow satisfy the god before him unless he wanted to be reduced into a pile of ashes. "My Lord, it's true that I have feelings for her. But I know that it can't be reciprocated. She loves the hunt, and while it may hurt, I cannot bear to take her away from it. I've made peace with it, and while I know there's a high chance that I will spend a the rest of my life alone, I have made peace with it."
Zeus looked at him appraising, before slowly nodding. "I will trust you this once, Perseus. Do not disappoint me. Now, I suggest you head towards the elevator. The other demigods are waiting for you." Instead of flashing away, Zeus began to walk down the street, having no particular direction in mind. It seemed even he enjoyed some peace and quiet at times.
The day had taken a slight downturn, even if it all evened out at the end. He was still slightly miffed that Rachel had risked herself like that, but in the end, he had to concede that it was an improvement. He hated the old mummy anyways.
He was leaning against the Poseidon table, gazing over the camp. The numbers were the lowest he had ever seen, but morale was definitely rising. They did sink during the burning of the shrouds, but after that the euphoria of managing to repel Kronos was finally setting in.
Annabeth slipped into the seat beside him. "It seems so surreal, doesn't it?" Her voice was soft, still harbouring the pain of losing her oldest friend, and the one she might possibly have been in love with.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "We'll move past it, Wise Girl. I promise you, we will recover from this."
She grinned weakly, appreciating the sentiment. "Well, at least I can be the first to wish you a happy birthday."
His eyes widened, realizing that in all the turmoil, he had forgotten about that part entirely. In returned, he gave his trademark smirk. "So, what's my gift, Wise Girl? And don't say it's a kiss, that would be wrong on so many levels."
For the first time that day, she laughed. Her voice rang throughout the dining area, empty except for the two of them. "Of course not. I may like you as a friend, Seaweed Brain, but we both know that neither of us have feelings for each other."
Behind them, they heard a number of disgruntled murmurs, causing the two of them to laugh even harder. The fact that most campers would hide behind the bushes to see if two campers would get together was one of the camp's worst-kept secrets, and they were aware that it would soon apply to them as well.
They didn't move as the others slowly slunk away, heading towards their cabins. After all the excitement of the day, even the most energetic of them decided that it was best to have an early night. Yet, the two of them remained seated, wishing to stay a little longer.
Once they were well and truly alone, Annabeth leaned into Percy. "But I know someone you wouldn't be adverse to receiving a kiss from."
Percy froze, but somehow kept his voice neutral. "I don't know what you're talking about."
She grinned impishly, her eyes holding a small trace of amusement. "Oh please, you're about as subtle as the Minotaur. You're lucky that the rest of the camp is still in the dark. And if Artemis and her hunters found out, I would really pity your luck."
A slight sweat broke out on his brow. You've got to be joking. "What are you trying to say, Wise Girl?"
She snorted, finding his attempts to evade the truth frankly hilarious. "Come on, Percy, I know you love Thalia. Don't even try to deny it."
He flinched. "Is it that obvious?"
She shook her head. "Well, for others, it might not be so, but for me, it's about as obvious as your love for blue food." However, her mood darkened in a second. "Percy, you know that it won't..."
"I know, Annabeth. I've known it ever since the winter solstice two years ago." He felt his mood slip for a moment, but he perked up again.
"We'll see how it goes, okay? Give it some time, I'm sure we'll adjust to it soon. We have our whole future ahead of us, and nothing can tale it away."
He woke up in an abandoned barn, disoriented and frightened. He looked back and forth, trying to find his bearings, but he was somewhere that was completely unfamiliar to him. Where am I? Wasn't I supposed to be in... in... where was I supposed to be?
He searched throughout his memory, only to draw a blank. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember where he should be, or even where he had been previously.
Suddenly panicking, he tried to remember anything else, something to give him a sense of comfort. Where was he from? Who were his parents? How old was he? For all those questions, he didn't have a single answer. The only thing he remembered was his name. Perseus, or Percy.
Then, he remembered something else. It was the briefest flash of two electric blue eyes, along with a name. Thalia. For some reason, it was accompanied by a dull thud in his heart, something he couldn't make heads or tails of.
He was grappling with his evident memory loss when he heard a low growling to his right. He reached into his pocket on instinct, only for his hand to come in contact with a pen. Really, of all the things I could have had from before, all I have is a pen. Still, something told him to uncap it.
He pulled it out before popping the cap off, then stumbling back in shock when he saw it expand into a three foot long glowing bronze sword. What? How? Once again, his memories remained silent.
But for now, he was more concerned about the growing number of growls around him. He dropped into a defensive position, his body falling into auto-pilot. He was ready to attack once more, when he heard something he never expected: a voice.
"Lower your sword, Perseus. We're not going to hurt you, if you live up to our standards."
He wasn't sure why he was doing it. After being assigned a near impossible quest in a camp he was barely a part of for two whole days, he was now standing before a blind old man, ready to gamble his life over two vials of gorgon blood. Phineas was standing a few feet away, grinning as he held his vial, while he didn't feel even a tenth of the confidence the other did.
For a second, he thought about backing out, but one glance behind him showed Hazel and Frank waiting expectantly, the former wrapping her arm around Ella, the harpy finally seeming to have calmed down. He knew he couldn't let them down, no matter what.
Steeling himself, he threw his head back, allowing the liquid to flow down his throat. Across him, the blind bastard did the same. Simultaneously, they slammed the drained bottles down, waiting for it to take effect.
For a long moment, neither of them moved, before he suddenly hunched over, feeling his veins burn. Oh, shit, was all he could think, his brain shutting down as he struggled to keep himself upright.
He could hear the cackling of Phineas, along with the frantic cries of Frank and Hazel. However, they seemed to be muted, as if coming through a thick layer of foam. He tired to speak, but his mouth refused to move.
So this is how I die, huh? Gambling my life away for information. He almost grinned at the thought, but he was in far too much pain.
Suddenly, the pain almost seemed to disappear in an instant. He didn't move for a second, shocked at the sudden change. His ears suddenly returned to their former acuity, only to be assaulted by a hideous shriek from Phineas.
He slowly righted himself, allowing his still sore body time to cool down. He almost felt as if a dam within his mind had fractured, but the flood behind it, namely his memories, were taking their own sweet time to trickle out.
The first memory was her face. Short, spiky hair, framing a pair of electric blue eyes lined with black eyeliner. Her lips were curved in a small smirk, while her skin was a few shades paler than his. She was beautiful.
The second memory was of a tiara on her head. For a moment, he was confused, before the next one slipped out. The day she accepted her position as the lieutenant of the hunters of Artemis. And once again, his heart felt as if it was being squashed under the weight of the sky.
He almost hunched over once more, but maintained his footing, watching as Phineas slowly buckled to his knees. For a moment, he wished that he had received the poisoned vial instead. At least he could have died in ignorance, instead of living with the excruciating knowledge. The thought passed as quickly as it came, but it did leave a mark, one that was to stay with him for quite some time.
He stood alongside the Roman legion, gazing into the sky as the Greek ship descended. A small grin broke across his face. Only a Hephaestus kid would make a flying warship and then bring it along for peace negotiations.
He watched as the structure slowly descended towards the earth. Finally, the people aboard began to dismount. First came a blond haired youth, who looked to be around the same height he was. After him was a girl who looked to have Native American blood in her veins, even if there were more than enough signs of her descent from a Greek deity. From her looks, he was willing to wager she was a daughter of Aphrodite.
Next was a scrawny Latino-looking boy with a rat's nest atop his head. His fingers moved quickly along the railing of the ship before he came down, as if he were afraid that it would suddenly be damaged the second he left it.
Finally, he saw the flash of sunlight on blonde. His eyes instantly locked onto her, a little bit of happiness coming to life. He may have suffered heartbreak once again, but seeing his friend coming down the ship, a familiar face in a sea of virtual strangers, was a welcome sight for him, no matter what anyone said.
Once they had reached the front of the legion, he stepped forth. Beside him, Reyna followed his lead, her eyes lingering on the blond demigod who was standing next to the daughter of Aphrodite. He could have sworn that he saw jealousy flash across her eyes, along with a trace of longing. He realized that there was definitely going to be some tension present, and he would have to take over the introduction before things spiralled out of control.
He spread his arms in a gesture of invitation, showing them that they didn't face a threat from him. The effect was slightly subdued since the entire legion behind him was armed to the teeth, but the sentiment was present. He smiled, the first genuine one in a long time. "My friends, welcome to New Rome."
The tension was still present, but it had decreased from an almost stifling intensity to something that simmered in the air, not that apparent at a quick glance but still slightly concerning. He, however, didn't notice it. All he cared about was catching up with his old friend, along with getting to know the other three, who he suspected would be accompanying them on the quest.
They sat before the low tables, allowing the food to be served. He had his hand around Annabeth's shoulders, but anyone with half a brain could see that it was only in a brotherly fashion. The two of them were laughing at one of their old jokes, while the others were looking on in mild confusion. The only person unaffected was Leo, whose eyes were trying to drill holes into Percy's back.
The son of the Sea God noticed the look he was receiving from the scrawny demigod, only to see the younger boy's eyes drift over to Annabeth, a fondness present in them that he hadn't seen before. He may usually be a little dense about such matters, but for once it clicked almost instantly.
"Wise girl, are you not telling me something?" His voice was completely innocent, only serving to make her all he more suspicious.
"What are you talking about, Percy? I haven't hidden anything from you." Her stormy grey eyes locked onto his sea green ones, instantly noting the mischief held within them and feeling a little bit of dread settle into her stomach.
"Would you care to explain how you managed to fall in love with Tool Boy over there in the eight months I've been gone," he asked, hiding the disappointment he felt at not being able to witness it first hand. Truly, what Hera – or was it Juno? – did was something that would forever leave their marks on him.
Annabeth's eyes widened in shock, before glancing at Leo, who instantly ducked his head. But even that small glance was enough to tell her how he had been watching the two of them. A blush crept it's way up her cheeks, causing Percy to bask out a quick laugh.
"For once, you can't hide it from me, Wise Girl. Don't worry, I'm happy for you. You deserve it. And you," he added, shooting a quick glare at Leo. "Treat her well, otherwise you may just end up facing off against me, got it?"
Leo nodded frantically, not wanting to get on the bad side of the demigod he'd heard so many stories of. At the same time, Annabeth simply hit him round the head, an exasperated smile on her face.
"Seaweed Brain, while I appreciate the concern, I can take care of myself. As for your question, it happened while we were building the Argo II." She gestured to the hovering warship. "We were halfway through it, and we just... kind of clicked, you could say."
A grin broke across his face. "Annabeth Chase unable to explain something? I never thought I'd see the day."
She sighed once more, but a small grin broke across her face. "Shut up, Kelp Head."
The name was said in passing, but it still brought him to a halt. It was the nickname she had given him, and hearing the reminder was enough to send his spirits plummeting down. Annabeth must have sensed it, because she suddenly turned around, a concerned look on her face.
He played it off, acting as if there were a few times when a memory would come back up after being locked away by Hera for over eight months. She still looked suspicious, but in the end, she decided to buy it and turn around to talk to Leo, scooting towards the young son of Hephaestus.
His eyes roved over the entire ensemble, noting who all were going to accompany him on the quest. To his left sat Hazel and Frank, simply talking but he could still see the shy glances they gave each other, courtesy of their reserved natures. Across the table, Jason and Piper were leaning against one another, eyeing each other every few seconds.
He still couldn't wrap his head around the fact that the demigod across from him was Thalia's brother, and that too on the mortal side as well. He wasn't really sure how being children of two different aspects of the same god affected them, but it was close enough in his mind. Silently, he made a quick vow to look after him. He may have been the praetor of the legion before Percy, but he wouldn't be able to face Thalia again if he was unable to save her brother.
To his right, Annabeth and Leo were lost in their own world, discussing gods-knew-what about some engineering project or architectural design. Frankly, he had no clue what they were going on about, especially when they started going into topics he'd never even heard of.
But it still didn't disguise the fact that he was the odd one out among the group. He was the loner, the one who sat on the side-lines while the others all had their partners. And he was okay with that. For now, he was content with simply watching the others enjoy their time. He may have missed out on his 'happily ever after', but he would be damned before he allowed the rest of them to suffer the same fate.
The words still echoed in his head, despite it being over three years in the past. "I accept, Lady Artemis." He resisted the urge to grind his teeth in sheer hurt and frustration. At that moment, he had to look after the six around him. No matter what, they were family, and he wasn't going to let them down.
He desperately clung onto the ledge, already feeling it begin to crumble under his grasp at an agonizingly slow yet unstoppable pace. Annabeth's wrist was firmly clasped in his other hand, no amount of grime or sweat able to loosen his grip. He wasn't about to let his best friend fall into Tartarus, even if it meant sacrificing himself.
He tried to swing her up to the surface, but the exhaustion had already set itself deep into his bones. The day had been far too strenuous, leaving him with barely enough energy to hang on as it was.
Nico leaned over the edge, pure terror etched into his pale and haggard face. Percy dearly wanted to tell his younger cousin that everything was going to be fine, but he knew he would be lying through his teeth if he did so. Instead, he said the only thing that was plausible in that scenario.
"We'll meet you at the other side, Nico!"
The son of Hades appeared to freeze for a moment before he finally regained his senses enough to respond. "No! We can do something! You don't have..."
"The other side, Nico. There's nothing we can do here." Percy flashed one of his trademark grins, even though the strain was getting to him. In his mind's eye, he could almost see how pissed Thalia would have been if she knew of his plan. A quick flash of humour went through his mind, before it was swamped by melancholy. Even on the brink of falling into the most horrific part of the Greek world, he couldn't keep his thoughts off her.
"Lead them there. Promise me!" His voice was heavy with desperation, begging the other to heed his one request.
"I – I will." Nico's voice trembled as he spoke. The two of them may have had problems in the past, but in the end, they were family, and neither of them ever wanted to see the other hurt.
His fingers finally let go, allowing the two of them to plummet down towards the bottom. Annabeth was right next to him, and he pulled her close as they fell deeper into the abyss. Just as the small pinprick of light finally vanished, he imagined that he heard her scream coming from above them. He closed his eyes, knowing that Tartarus had already started to toy with his mind.
He was kneeling before Akhlys, her poison slowly oozing towards him. On his right, Annabeth tried her best to move away, but they were trapped. Behind them, the deep chasm of chaos stretched out, an open maw ready to devour any unfortunate souls that fell into its grasp.
The Goddess of Misery cackled, her face twisting into a horrific imitation of a smile. She looked down on the two of them, ready to witness them either suffer in the grip of her poison or fall into oblivion. He could see that see drew some twisted form of satisfaction from their predicament. Maybe that was what pushed him over the edge.
Something inside him snapped, the break so sharp that he almost expected the others to hear it as well. His eyes darkened from their usual sea green to something that looked almost as black as the void below them. Tendrils of power, erupting in waves from his being, latched onto the deadly liquid making it's way towards them. With a sharp tug, he turned their direction around, sending them back towards their creator.
Akhlys balked for a second, shocked at seeing her own poison go against her very commands. However, she didn't have long to think about it before that very poison began to claw it's way up her body. A dreadful choking sound came from her throat as she was suffocated by her very own essence, now totally outside her control.
A maniacal grin tugged at Percy's lips, making the edges quirk upwards for a second. He tilted his head towards Annabeth, trying to see her relief at having escaped the clutches of death. However, all he saw on her countenance was abject fear. But it wasn't directed towards the goddess. Instead, it was aimed at him, or more specifically, what he was doing.
A memory flashed in his eyes. He stood before Thalia, both of them stewing from their loss to the hunters. She had blasted him backwards with the biggest bolt of lightning she had ever aimed towards him, and he had forced the entire creek to rise up in response, ready to reply in kind. The terror he had seen on her face, even if it was only for a split second, was forever etched into his mind. He had promised to never make anyone else feel like that, but here he was, breaking that promise already.
He allowed the poison to escape his iron-clad control, giving Akhlys an opportunity to catch her breath. She cast a terrified look in his direction before hurrying away, not even sparing a glance towards the two of them. He didn't notice. All he could see were a pair of electric blue eyes, wide and holding a heavy dose of fear, all of which was directed towards him. If only she saw me now, he mused, before almost collapsing under the strain.
The arai crowded around him, forcing him into a corner. The cliff ended barely five yards away from him, forcing him to stand his ground. He tried to push the demons away, but they stood firm. He snarled, knowing that they were almost vying for him to strike them.
He was already bogged down by the pain forced on him through so many curses applied on him by the monsters. Next to him, Annabeth was in no better shape, her eyes glazed over.
"Leo?" Her voice trembled, almost sounding like a little kid's. His heart skipped a beat when he realized that she wasn't even seeing anything. "Leo, are you there? Where did you go?"
His furious eyes returned to the arai, almost causing them to lose their gleeful snarls. Almost. Instead, one of them spoke, even though he hadn't asked for an explanation.
"The son of Hermes had almost wished that she would never be able to find her love," it snarled. "It may have been discarded almost instantly, but he wasn't able to completely purge it before he died. While he may not have meant it, it was enough for us to consider it as a curse."
He saw red right then and there. They had pushed him too far. Throwing caution to the wind, he charged, his sword becoming a bronze arc of destruction. With every demon he felled, he could feel the weight of another curse settle onto his shoulders, wounds opening across his body even though none of them could touch him. His feet became ever sluggish, unable to maintain the blistering pace he had set.
He fell to his knees, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. He couldn't fail Annabeth, not now when she needed him most. Unbidden, a desperate plea rose to his lips. "Anyone, please, help us." He knew no one would hear him down there, but he couldn't hold it back. He would take any possible chance to save his best friend.
Another arai launched itself at him, ready to take him down. Using the final vestiges of his strength, he moved himself to the side, stabbing Riptide in its abdomen. For a moment, nothing happened, but the harsh cackling of another demon told him otherwise.
"This is from the one you abandoned," she croaked. "You promised to release her from her prison, but you forgot, just like the gods."
His eyes flew open in shock. Calypso. He shook his head, unwilling to believe that she was capable of doing something so cruel. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ignore the comment, but when he opened it, all he saw was a figure standing before him.
His eyes slowly raised up, taking in her appearance. The black clothes, ones she hadn't worn since she had joined the hunters yet still so familiar to him, along with the spiky hair took his breath away. However, the look she gave him, one of exasperation but with mirth gleaming in her electric blue orbs, managed to make his heart stop for a moment.
"Come on, Kelp Head. Surely you won't fall so easily." Her hand stretched out towards him, inviting him to grab hold of it.
He forgot that he was supposed to be in the depths of Tartarus. All that was on his mind was the fact that she was standing before him, and he had a chance to reach out to her. He lifted his hand, trying his best to stop it from shaking so badly.
He was just about to touch her when her hand slid back, just outside his grasp. His frenzied eyes shot up, only to see her slowly slide backwards. He scrambled forwards, heedless of the scratches and scrapes his knees were receiving. All that mattered was reaching her, even if it was the last thing he did.
Alas, it was not meant to be. Just as his fingers were about to brush against hers, her hand became almost translucent, and his own passed harmlessly through, leaving no trace that they had even touched. His sea-green orbs were panicked and near-hysterical, especially when he saw that her whole body was slowly switching to a similar state.
The cackling of the arai rang in his ears. "You will never be able to be with the woman you love, Perseus Jackson. That is what she cursed you with."
The last vestiges of his strength gave out, causing him to land heavily on his back, his head facing upwards. He could hear some sort of commotion occurring behind him, but it almost sounded as if his ears were filled with cotton. He thought he may have heard someone say something along the lines of 'Bob', but at that moment, he didn't even care.
He watched as the apparition slowly faded away from existence, leaving not a trace in the rancid air of Tartarus. His weakened hand slowly fell down, but a part of him, almost having fallen off the cliff of insanity, was chuckling darkly. After all, unbeknownst to the demons, the curse was almost exactly the same as what he had to endure in reality.
Cut you off right there. Don't worry, second part is coming out on New Year. Won't be answering questions, since there won't be a point, would it? Anyways, check out my other fic, Road to Tranquility, if you haven't, or if you want some crack, my other fic is available, although be careful with that one.
Well, see you next week with the second half, or join the discord for instant updates (link in bio). Peace.