(How do you guys like the new cover? Too bright? Too dark? Just right? Let me know how you feel! But, let's get back to the story.)
Harry knocked on the door and waited. There were shuffling noises and the sound of something banging against the wall. A string of muttered words replaced those sounds and finally, the door opened inward, revealing a tired Percy.
"What." He asked, yawning loudly.
"I need your help." Harry looked around, "Can I come in?"
Percy scratched his head and stepped aside, making way, "Sure. Why not? It's not like I was sleeping or anything."
Harry scurried inside, "Sorry about this."
Percy waved his hand, "It's all good. I'm not really a morning person so if you hadn't woken me up, Grover might've poured water all over me."
"You're the son of Poseidon. Water shouldn't startle you." Harry chuckled, sitting down on the sea blue couch.
"You'd be surprised." Percy rubbed the back of his neck, "So, what can I help you with?"
Harry stopped smiling, "The quest they're about to go on, I have to go with them. But Chiron won't let me."
"So you want me to help you follow them." Percy guessed.
lHarry nodded his head, "My magic can only do so much. It's not like I can apparate to their destination ahead of them. They don't even know where they're going, just heading West."
"Alright, alright." Percy put a hand up, "I'll get Annabeth's cap and find out where they're going." He stood up to leave.
"Wait!" Harry held him by his arm, "Annabeth can't know it's for me."
"Why not?" Percy raised an eyebrow.
"She just can't." Harry pursed his lips, "I hope you understand."
Percy scratched the back of his head, "Not really, but whatever."
"Thank you." Harry nodded, letting go of Percy's arm.
"Don't mention it." Percy walked out of the cabin, shutting the door behind him quietly.
Harry leaned against the window, the sun slowly starting to rise. He took deep breath in an effort to calm himself and the silence was broken.
"You're still alive?" It was the female voice who had spoken to him when he had first fallen off the cliff.
"Who are you?" Harry said out loud, looking around wildly.
"Hmph. The half-bloods have not told you yet? No matter, all will be revealed in due time."
"Just tell me your name!" Harry yelled.
"Foolish boy. Don't you know that chaos comes chronologically? It can't be clear skies one minute and then stormy the next."
"Not unless you live in Britain." Harry told the joke without thinking.
"Be happy while you can. I have aided my son in bringing the worst strife between your comrades in the other world. Mark my words."
"What did you do?" Harry felt his heart beat quicken.
There was no response.
"Answer me, damn you! What did you do?!" Harry stomped his foot, looking up at the sky.
A yellow apple with something carved into rolled to him out of nowhere. He picked it up and put it in his bag.
A hand touched his shoulder and Harry pulled back his fist to punch the owner.
"Harry!" Annabeth put her hands up, "It's me!"
Slowly, Harry lowered his fist, his guard still up, "Why are you here?"
"Percy told me he needed my hat and before I could say anything, he took it and ran. I figured he'd be here." She explained.
Harry fell back into the sofa, "Well you can see he's not."
Annabeth crossed her arms, "What's with you? You've been so...rude ever since yesterday. First, you didn't want to tell me about your weapon and now you're just being a jerk."
"I have a lot on my mind, okay? And you whining in my ear isn't helping." Harry mumbled.
"Oh, I'm whining?" She scoffed, "Ever since you got here, you've been whimpering about your stupid magic school."
"It is not stupid." Harry sat up, glaring at her.
"If someone like you can get into it, it definitely is." Annabeth countered.
"Take that back, right now."
"Honestly," Annabeth threw her hands in the air, "I don't even know why you're trying so hard to go back. Your parents are dead, your aunt and uncle don't even care about you. Why don't you just~"
"SHUT UP!" Harry yelled at her, "You don't know a thing about me, so stop acting like you do!
Annabeth stepped back, "I didn't mean~"
"I didn't mean," Harry mocked her, "Just get out."
Annabeth clamped her mouth shut and nodded, turning around. She looked back at him, "I'm sorry."
"Get. Out." Harry said firmly.
Annabeth left the cabin and silence returned. Boiling, Harry punched his knee in anger.
"You anger. Why?" A male voice asked him out of the blue.
"Not another one." Harry muttered.
"My question has not yet been answered, mortal."
Harry sighed, "I'm angry because I don't know what I'm doing here, where my friend is and whether or not she's alive."
"You're to embark on a quest?"
"I'm not supposed to," Harry admitted, "But I know I have to."
The male voice seemed to gasp for air, "I have been sleeping for many millennia and of all the anger in the world, yours stirred me from my sleep."
"What does that mean?" Harry found himself look up at the ceiling.
"I am a forgotten god. My existence has slowly been fading away. If you truly are the reason for delaying my eternal slumber, I would think it dishonorable not to instill a piece of myself within you."
"You mean to merge with me." Harry slowly realized.
"Yes. But, I will not enter you without permission."
Harry went over their conversation in his head before speaking, "You mean to tell me that you're dying, right? Well, god or not, I wouldn't just let someone die, not if I can help it."
"You understand that if I /merge with you, you will no longer be human. Monsters will come after you. Trouble will always find its way to you."
"That's fine." Harry waved his hand, "I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me."
"Very well. I thank you."
Harry watched a red light surround him, enveloping his arms and legs "Wait. I don't know your name."
"I am Perses, the god of destruction and peace, father of Hecate."
The light disappeared and Harry felt as if the weight of the world had been put on his shoulders. He fell to the ground.
Swearing to himself, he struggled to get up. A hand grabbed his arm and pulled him up. It was Percy.
"You okay?" Percy looked concerned.
"Fine, fine." Harry nodded, "What did you find out?"
"Three of the hunters that were supposed to go are sick, thanks to the Stoll brothers." Percy grinned, "Now it's just Thalia, Zoë and Bianca going. They're heading out in an hour. We can follow them on Blackjack."
A clattering sound came from the kitchen and the two boys turned.
"A thief?" Harry whispered.
"Not likely. Percy whispered back, uncapping his pen, "There's nothing here that would interest anyone. I'll take the right side, you take the left."
"Got it." Harry nodded, taking out his wand.
The two slowly entered the kitchen from opposite ends. Harry met Percy's eyes and Percy mouthed the words, "on three."
"One, two...THREE!" Percy yelled out the last number and jumped into the kitchen.
Harry was ready to yell Experlliarmus, when he stopped to look at the intruder.
"Nico?" Harry lowered his wand, "What are you doing here?"
Nico looked from Harry to Percy, then down, "I...was eavesdropping." He confessed.
"Why?" Percy was the one asking questions now.
"Because I wanted to know where my sister was going. I was going to follow her." Nico twiddled his thumbs.
Harry placed a hand on Nico's shoulder, "It's too dangerous for you."
"Then it must be equally dangerous for Bianca!" Nico yelled with new-found confidence, "I have to go!"
"Listen to me Nico." Harry looked him in the eyes, "You have my word that nothing will happen to Bianca."
"You swear?" Nico asked him, his eyes serious.
"I swear on the River of Styx." Harry nodded.
(Hey Readers, this chapter was short and I apologize for that but my laptop is giving me problems, which is why I'm going to get anew one. In the meantime though, there are three options.
1. I type on my phone[if you guys don't mind shitty grammar and auto correct messing me up.]
2. I wait for my laptop[it'll be here in two weeks.]
3. I use a library computer.
Please let me know what you believe is the best option. I write for you guys! Peace out!