A/N Hey guys! Back with another chapter, and I this one will be a bit longer. Let's get to the votes!
Pertemis: 14
Percabeth: 16
PercyxElectra: 17
Wow! Electra caught up with the other ships fast! Enjoy the chapter!
Percy POV
I awoke with a pounding headache that would've rivaled Zeus' when he had Athena in his noggin. I opened my eyes, seeing the sunlight that had flooded the room.
I looked around, and saw Electra standing with her back to me, rummaging through a bag. When she turned around, she stopped, eyes widened. "What happened?" I groaned, holding my throbbing noggin. Electra gazed at me worriedly. "When we came back to the cabin, we found you passed out on the bed. Zach tried to backstab you even after you won. You had to use…whatever that was to save yourself."
I winced, remembering what had occurred. "How long was I out?" I asked, trying to get up. She glanced at the clock, then back at me. "Roughly an hour or two." Wow. That was a lot less than I had expected. My thoughts were flying around in my head like fish in a pond, before I finally managed to concentrate on one. Zach. That cowardly no good arrogant fool. He had threatened my life with his action, and I had lost precious time. A broken nose was not enough. I wanted to kill him.
Electra seemed to read my thoughts, because she placed a hand on my forehead. "Relax Percy, calm yourself, we can deal with him later." Instantly, I felt peaceful, without a single trace of anger. I looked up at her in confusion "How…?" I asked, baffled. She smiled again, saying "Hestia learned of your condition. She thought it necessary to give me a quick blessing, so that I could calm you down when you woke up. I must admit though" She muttered, grinning "That being able to control fire is awesome. I now have flaming arrows!" To demonstrate, she caused a spark to dance across her palm.
I snorted. "Big deal. Look at this" I opened my hand, and splayed my fingers. A blue fire erupted out of the fingertips, collecting into one flickering tendril of flame at the center of my hand. She looked at me grudgingly. "When did you learn that?" She asked, comparing her spark to my flame. I laughed. "A little trick from Lady Void. Came in pretty useful."
She nodded, reaching for a cup. "Water?" She asked, handing it to me. I took it, not realizing until now how parched my throat was. "Thanks" I said, before gulping down mouthfuls of water. It felt good.
Electra got up, and said "Well, we need to get back to training. See you later, Perce" She waved her hand, and walked out of the cabin.
I laid back down, exhaustion consuming my body. Putting down the cup, I felt my head fall down onto the pillow.
Line Break
Opening the door, I looked out from our cabin. It was a little bit away from the actual camp, but any monster foolish enough to come near the building would regret that decision. I stretched, and felt my joints cracking. I must've been out for longer than an hour.
I walked toward the arena, ignoring the stares from other campers. I was regretting wearing my regular clothing. Its color was based off of my mood, and currently, it was rapidly swapping between light green, the color of the grass on the ground, to a dark crimson. I finally got it under control, and it settled for a white and black mix.
The sounds of swords and spears and other weapons clashing. Walking in, I saw a few campers who hadn't found suitable weapons still struggling. Finn looked up from studying a fourteen-year-old's weapon, and said "Hey, aqua man" I gritted my teeth at that name "We need you to look at this" His calm demeanor showed that he didn't give a crap about the insult. I took the weapon, which was a double edged battle axe, and tested it. It may have been light for me, but to the demigod in front of me, it was heavy. I handed back the axe, and said "Fight".
The camper rushed his opponent, and raised the axe, cutting down. The axe missed, and he pulled it free of the ground. He swung again, a wide slash this time, and cut his opponent's arm. I quickly stepped in to intervene. "That weapon is not suitable for you. Try this" I summoned a pitch black war hammer, with a flat side, and a comfortable grip made off…well, I had no idea. Leather? Fur? Fur made of Leather? Whatever. He held the hammer, and tested it. He tried again, swinging at his opponent, and would've caved in his skull, had I not stepped in. Snapping my fingers, he froze, and the hammer dropped out of his arms. "Good. That weapon suits you?" The boy nodded, picking it up. I looked at his adversary, who was wielding a short dagger.
I nearly laughed at how wrong that was on him. "Who is your godly parent boy?" I asked, staring at his mini-dagger. "Apollo" He replied back. I summoned a bow, and handed it to him. His aim was pretty good, but it wasn't right. I stood there, thinking. Then, I took out a knife, and scratched his opponent's arm. "Heal him" I said, droplets of blood coming out. The camper ripped off a piece of his shirt, and tied it around the wound. Then, he put pressure on it by pressing it. A few seconds later, he pulled the piece of cloth off, and the wound had closed. I grinned. This kid wasn't a fighter; he was a healer.
I walked away, out of the arena, to go look for the hunters. I needed to find my tent, and get to my magical plate. I was famished. I was nearing the camp, when I spotted him. The arrogant piece of hellhound dung himself: Zach.
I quickly walked over to him, and quick as blinking, I slammed him into the tree. "Did you think I wasn't going to beat the daylights out of you for that cheap shot?!" I hissed in his face. I flicked out a knife, and waved it in front of his face. "You see this blade?" I spat "I'll cut you open and stuff you like a dear for the trouble you've caused."
"Enough, Percy" A voice called. I saw Electra running toward me. "He's not worth it" I scowled. "And you expect me to spare him why exactly?" She returned my scowl. Hermes is here. He wants to talk to you. Inwardly, I was seething. "You're telling me that I should stop giving him the beating he rightfully deserves…for an Olympian?" She nodded. "Once you find the cause, you will listen."
I tried calming down, and Electra noticed. She grabbed my shoulder, and dragged me toward the hunter's camp. "Ha! You listening to a weak girl now?" Taunted Damien. "I guess you're too stupid to think for yourself." I grinned. When we reached the camp, I wrenched away from Electra, and shimmered out of visibility. I walked toward Damien, and smashed his face in while invisible. To everyone spectating, it would appear as if air had just run into him at 150 MPH. It was very amusing. His nose was broken, if not shattered, and he clutched it, groaning. I smirked, and walked away. Despite his injury, he still was as arrogant as ever. "What's the matter? You too scared to fight me head on Jackson?" He shrieked, walking back, looking around wildly.
I smirked again, and went back to the camp. Electra, Artemis, and Hermes were standing there, looking for me. My cloak shimmered, and I reappeared right next to Electra. "Hey" I said, surprising everyone. Hermes looked nervous. "Hey, Percy- I mean, Perseus, can you do a favor?" He squeaked. I arched my eyebrow. "And why would I do that? Remember, I'm not one of your pawns anymore. You can't order me around." Hermes seemed to regain some of his confidence, because he replied back "My daughter is somewhere in New York. I need you to go and find her. Please" I stood still, my face an emotionless mask.
"Why? Can't she find her own way back?" I asked, slightly confused, but not showing it. Hermes shook his head. "She's basically held prisoner at her house and-" I held up my hand. "Fine, but you now owe me a favor. And I have a very good memory." Hermes nodded his head, smiling gratefully. "Thanks Perseus." I gave a slight nod, and walked off. I knew I could've ran there, but I wanted to try something. Concentrating hard, I felt a slight tension at my back. Two pairs of black feathery wings sprouted out, and flapped once. I grinned in satisfaction; This was going to be fun
Line Break
After an hour of exercising my new wings (and several smashes into trees) I arrived at a very shoddy looking apartment. I don't know why, but I felt like this was the right place. That's 'cause it is whispered a voice in my head. Dammit Hermes I thought. Stop doing that. I walked in, and headed up the stairs. By the third flight, I noticed something: slight specks of blood on the stairs. As I walked, the specks became bigger. I tensed, before seeing a door marked 137. Through the door, I heard whimpering, and drunken slurring that I couldn't understand. Then, "This is the last time, you little bitch! Imma make you pay!"
I knocked on the door. All sounds stopped, and I heard the thudding of footsteps. "Who are you?" Asked a shaggy looking man who opened the door. The look reminded me of Gabe. That memory still follows me like a ghost. "I want…" I thought quickly. "To buy your daughter" I finished lamely. The lie must've worked, or he was just too drunk. His face split into a sweaty grin, and his breath came out like puffs from a cigarette. "How much you gonna pay?" He asked, holding out his hand. I reached into my pocket, and conjured up a few hundred dollar bills. Counterfeit, mind you. I handed the cash to him, and his grin widened. "Nice, man. You sure you want her now? You don't want to…try her out a little?" He gave me a small little conspiratorial smirk, and he winked. I caught his meaning, and was disgusted.
Keep up the façade I thought, returning his grin with a weak one of my own. "Sure…Bring her out here" There was a grunting and a shouting, and a few whimpers, and there stood the girl. She was rather short, maybe five feet. I grabbed her gently, careful to not harm her. Her dad, maybe, shoved her into my grip. She buried her head into my chest, crying. I kept up my façade, and put on an evil grin. "C'mere" I said, trying as roughly as I could to grab her without hurting her. She gasped, and burst into more tears. "Shut your mouth!" Shouted her father, spitting on her. "You should be glad that you're still useful!" This was too much. I whirled around, and introduced my massive fist into his head.
He was knocked unconscious, groaning. I turned around, seeing the girl cower from me. "P-please, no more" She whimpered, terrified. My gaze softened a little, and I said "I will not hurt you, but I need you to come closer."
She walked a little bit toward me, all traces of hope gone from her eyes. I grabbed her face gently, and she winced. "Stay still" I instructed, and she cowered from my gaze, which made me feel bad. I forced some of my energy into my hands, and it transferred into her face. Immediately all signs of injury and abuse vanished from her face, and she looked like a normal twelve-year-old. Her face, at least.
I couldn't do anymore for anything else. I looked at the mortal in disgust. "Listen…What is your name?" She was still shaking, so I quickly stepped in. "Okay, ground rules. As long as we are together, I will not harm you. Do you trust me? I already knocked out your father, and I've healed you. Trust me." She still had that flicker of fear in her eyes, but she nodded. "M-My name is Rose" I nodded, and waved my hand. Inside the little apartment room materialized a bed and a beanbag. I assumed Rose would want to rest.
I gestured for her to lay down, but she was still terrified. I guess she had a hard time trusting people. After a few minutes of coaxing, I finally got her onto the bed, and I plopped down on the beanbag" So, Rose" I said, "What has he" I gestured toward her "dad" "been doing to you?"
She bit her lip nervously, and I waited. She then began telling me what was happening for the past five years. After Hermes had left, the mother married someone who she thought was decent. Wrong. After a few months, their funds dipped really low because the dad was constantly gambling and drinking. Eventually, the mother left, leaving Rose with her dad. It started out with small things. The occasional yelling, the rare hitting, but as the days progressed, she was used as a plaything more and more. Her dad would sometimes invite his buddies, and they would also hit her. Then, when the bills couldn't be paid anymore, they moved to a dingy apartment and there they stayed for two months.
When Rose finished, she was in tears. All of the memories must've really hurt her. "Rose…do you know anything of the Greek Gods?" Rose looked a little confused. "uh…yes, when I still could go to school. Why?" I took a breath. This was going to be rather tricky. "Your dad is one of those Greek gods." She looked shocked. Hey, anyone would. "I have a hard time believing that" She said, then quickly covered her mouth. "I'm sorry!" I frowned. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I had a hard time believing it."
She looked at me curiously. "So…my dad is one of those gods?" She asked tentatively. "Yes" I replied. "Do you know who Hermes is?" She looked like she was deep in thought. "Yeah…isn't he the messenger of the gods?" She asked, and I nodded, a little bit relieved that I didn't have to explain.
"Well, how do I say this, your dad is Hermes." Her jaw dropped, and she looked at me in astonishment. "What?" She asked, mouth still agape. I nodded. "Yup, and you're a demigod." She still looked totally in shock. "B-But, I thought they were myths!" She exclaimed, excited. "This isn't a trick, is it?" Asked Rose, looking at me fearfully. I waved my hand. "No, no trick. Your dad is Hermes, and the Greek gods are real."
We sat there, discussing where she wanted to go. I wanted to convince her to go to the Hunter's camp, and so did she. Eventually, I convinced her that this wasn't a trick, nor was I going to beat her. So we left. With a snap of my fingers, we reappeared at the hunter's camp.
Good? Bad? If you think that I forgot about torturing the dad, just you wait. Next chapter, you will want to vomit from the scenes. The winner of the ships is PercyxElectra. Thanks for voting, and for those of you who wanted the others, I am sorry. Hope you enjoyed!
aVeryPissedOffDwarf, saying goodbye, for now