Warning dear readers: ANGST ahead! ANGST, ANGST, AND MORE ANGST. Major character deaths. please read at your own risk. And don't hate me. XOX
Percy's hands shook with anger as he tried to push his key in. After several attempts, he shook his head in disgust and appeared beyond the door as a tidal wave of water. He didn't even care if he got the room wet. He straightened up and threw the keys into the bowl beside the door.
"Annabeth?" He waited but he knew she wasn't there. He knew where she was. And he was furious.
Who the fuck did he think he was, he thought angrily. That selfish, lightning-loving, no good son of a-
"Percy?" He whirled around, his anger forgotten as he rushed to his wife's side.
"Thank the gods!" She muttered muffled protest as he picked her up and smashed her against his chest.
"Percy, I'm fine!"
"I asked you not to go, didn't I? I asked very nicely, Annabeth, please do not go to that meeting."
"You expect me to refuse an order from the gods? Really?"
"I'm a god! I can say yes, refuse them!"
"Percy," she shook her head. "I have to do this."
"Jason is teetering on the edge of death right now! And you HAVE TO DO THIS?"
"Apollo himself said this was my destiny! What if I'm the only one who can finish this mission?"
"You're not. And I don't care what he says, I'm going with you."
"You can't," she shook her head. "It's exactly like Jason told Piper. You can't be there."
"Piper is mortal. I'm not. I am not letting you do this alone."
"Let's go take a bath." She shrugged out of her jacket and he watched her as she hung up her scarf. It had been a cold day despite it only being September. The weather was steadily getting colder and the mortals all said the seasons were abnormal now a days. Percy knew differently.
The seasons were changing because the earth was stirring. He didn't want to think about the days to come but he knew he needed to. The gods were afraid of the forces under the earth reuniting for one common purpose: to destroy the gods. So they did what they were best at: they had delegated quests for particular demigods, claiming they were the only ones. Jason had been given a quest and it had almost killed him. It still could, Percy thought bitterly, his eyes stinging. And now Zeus had passed the same task to Annabeth. Percy was livid and had left Olympus before he'd said something that could have gotten him blown up. The way the gods spoke about demigods was disgusting and Percy was ashamed to even be associated with them. Most of them thought that demigods were dispensable and had no qualms about sending them to their deaths.
Percy wouldn't let that happen to his wife. He didn't care if Apollo had said it was Annabeth's destiny; he could change it. He would visit the Fates if he had to.
He would not let her go on this quest.
"Percy? Aren't you joining me?" He wanted nothing more than to hold her warm naked body in his arms and allow the water to soak away his troubles. But he knew what he had to do and knew that she would protest if she knew.
"I need to have a word with my dad. I'll be back later."
"Percy-"
"I'll be back later, love," he quickly kissed her forehead and disappeared, trying his best to ignore the hurt look on her face.
Percy straightened up and looked around the room. They had changed it since the last time he'd been here. The combination of light and dark made him smile.
"Ugh...oh gods yes!" He froze, slowly turning on the spot. His eyes went to the ajar door and he bit his lip.
"Will! Please!"
"Yes baby… are you close?" Percy groaned internally and squeezed his eyes shut, as if that would block out the impassioned moans. He didn't know why he hadn't learned his lesson; he'd appeared in Piper's and Jason's living room and found them going at it right there on the carpet. He'd avoided them for weeks and now it looked like he'd be doing the same with Nico and Will.
"Ah, fuck Nico!" Shaking his head, he decided to come back later. Whatever thought he'd had when he'd invaded their living room had completely disappeared by now. He would have to do everything he could to remove that image from his mind forever. Instead, he took out his phone and fired a quick message to Nico.
Grimacing at the deep grunts coming from the bedroom, he quickly disappeared and didn't even think of where he wanted to go. Just get me the hell away from here, he thought.
He wound up on the bottom of the ocean.
"Ok...now what?" He glanced around, uncertain of his exact location. He guessed he wasn't too far from his father's palace. He started to walk and saw that he was wrong.
He was standing in front of his own underwater palace. Where he had lived before he had moved in with Annabeth.
The place looked abandoned now and he supposed it basically was. He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked inside.
The walls were made of coral and pearl, with photos of him and Annabeth lining the halls. Framed pictures of his other friends were above the staircase and great stone tridents flanked the stairs. Annabeth had designed this for him and he'd loved everything about it. Except that she didn't stay with him often enough. She'd told him it was a strange sensation, having to move around in a bubble so that she could stay dry and most importantly, breathe. She'd tolerated it on several weekends but when she told him she didn't want to come down here anymore, he'd started to think of other places they could live together.
That's where their current home had come from. Poseidon had built the perfect beach house and it had been their pre-wedding present. Percy and Annabeth both loved it but Percy found himself missing his palace.
He walked through the lonely halls, wincing at the silence. As he headed into his old bedroom, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
"Great reception," he said in awe as he took it out. His eyes squinted at the tiny screen before his fingers flew across the keyboard to type out a reply. The phone pinged again and he sighed as he cast the room one last look before shoving the phone into his pocket and disappearing in a tidal wave.
Nico's head snapped up when he heard a splash and he scowled when his friend straightened up.
"That had better not leave any water on the floor!"
"Good to see you too, Di Angelo," he shook his head. "Sorry! Solangelo," he corrected himself, grinning broadly. Nico blushed, as he always did when someone used his new surname. Will had offered to take Nico's last name as his own but it had been Nico's idea to combine the names and keep them both. Percy personally liked the sound of Solangelo. It had a nice ring to it.
"Hey Percy," Will entered the room, pulling his shirt down. Percy hid a grimace. If you weren't finished why did you message me," he wanted to yell at Nico but they didn't know he had been here when they were going at it in the next room.
"How are you doing, Will?"
"Can't complain! Can I get you something to drink?"
"I'm good, thanks."
"Here babe," Will passed a glass to Nico.
"So what's up, Percy?"
"I need your help with something, Nico." Nico frowned at Percy's tone and glanced sideways at Will. Luckily, the son of Apollo understood.
"It's cool. I need to finish my painting anyway. I'll be in the next room if you need me." He gave Nico a peck on the cheek, smiled at Percy, and disappeared into the bedroom. Nico set the glass down and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"You look like shit, Jackson."
"Can you say that to a god?" Nico shrugged.
"You know I don't really think of you as a god."
"Well I guess that's a good thing," Percy sighed. Nico cocked his head.
"Ok, what's going on?" Percy's eyes remained on his shoes as he quietly told Nico all that had been happening on Olympus. He was sure the son of Hades knew a bit but wasn't sure if he knew about Jason yet.
"I already know about Jason," Nico cut him off. "I felt it when… he's holding on but Piper is worried."
"Do you think he'll make it?"
"It's hard to say. He's a son of Ze- Jupiter, so naturally I would like to say yes. But we hardly know anything about what attacked him. We can only guess. And Will has already been to his house to try to cure him. Nothing that a child of Apollo is giving him has worked." Percy winced and turned away, running his fingers through his hair.
"Percy? You didn't come to talk about Jason, did you?" Percy was stiff and silent and Nico watched him with a furrowed brow.
"They've passed the quest to Annabeth." Nico barely heard him and took a step toward him.
"What did you say?"
"They fucking passed the quest to Annabeth! The quest that might have cost Jason his life! They're convinced Annabeth can do it!" Percy turned back around and Nico swallowed. His father was the Lord of the Dead but the look in his old friend's eyes was colder than anything he had ever seen. Percy's usual sea-green eyes had turned the color of a violent ocean with tossing waves of fury. His smile was completely gone and Nico hated the expression on his face. Right now, he was terrified of the day when Percy would lose Annabeth. He was terrified for the world and all of its inhabitants. He was certain Percy would rip the heavens apart.
"Why are they convinced she can do it?"
"Who knows," Percy threw up his hands. "Why do the gods do anything? I sat there while they talked about how they were ready to close the doors to Olympus again and leave this to the demigods."
"Yeah, haven't they done that before?"
"Too many times to count," Percy spat. "Except they are trying to recall me to Olympus with them." Nico blew out a breath. It made sense, of course. Percy was a god, after all.
"So they want you to stay up there while Annabeth tries to defeat the Great Stirring?"
"Is that what demigods are calling it," Percy's nose wrinkled. "Sounds like something Apollo would come up with." Nico shrugged.
"Frankly I think Chiron is terrified to call it what it really is. So we give it a stupid name to try to dumb it down. No matter what we call it, we know it's Kronos and Gaea uniting."
"The gods are scared," Percy nodded. "And I remember when Gaea was stirring the last time. Hell, I remember the Battle of the Titans as if it was yesterday."
"Oh those were the days," Nico smiled gingerly. "Swims in the River Styx. Rachel throwing blue hairbrushes-"
"You resurrecting an army of skeletons," Percy nudged his friend. "Good times."
"You're screwed in the head, man," the son of Hades scoffed. "So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know yet. All I know is that I won't let Annabeth go on this mission by herself. I'm tempted to kidnap her and hide her somewhere. Think Calypso would mind if we used Ogygia?"
"I don't think hiding her is going to work, Percy. She's a daughter of Athena. She won't take kindly to you fighting her battles for her."
"I won't fight her battles for her! I'll just keep her away from the battle!"
"Same thing. She won't be ok with it. And the gods won't let you go with her."
"Watch me," his eyes flashed angrily.
"Look Percy, I'm not sure what kind of advice I can offer you. I'm worried about Jason. I'm worried about the demigods that are being sent out on these quests. I'm worried about my father and my stepmother because I know the gods are the first targets. I'll admit it, I'm scared. And the son of Hades isn't supposed to be scared. But I am. Chiron wants Will to go on a medic run, in one of the worst possible places he could go, and I begged him last night not to go."
"Is he going?"
"Of course he is. He's a Healer. He just wants to help people. Whereas I prefer to just...talk to the dead."
"Night and day," Percy scoffed. "The Son of the Sun and the Prince of Darkness. It's got to be the weirdest thing I've ever heard. But," he held up a hand when he saw Nico getting angry, "I'm happy for you, Nico. I'm glad Will makes you so happy. You may not remember the kid but I do." Nico scowled.
"What kid?"
"The smiling happy kid who would not shut up, the young demigod I helped rescue and transport to Camp Half Blood." Nico's eyes widened.
"Careful Percy. You know how I am about bringing up the past."
"I'm just saying that with Will, I see a glimpse of that happy little boy. You smile more than I've ever seen you and… gods, Nico, look at your clothes!" Nico frowned, pulling his shirt to study it.
"What? What's wrong with my clothes?"
"Are you wearing red? You're wearing a red shirt!"
"Oh shut up Jackson."
"It's not black! Will got you to wear a colored shirt!"
"You know I'm about this close to punching your face in." Percy chuckled and pulled Nico in for a hug, which made the boy scowl even harder.
"Stop it! I'll just tell you this, Percy. Be careful. Don't try to throw the universe out of balance for one person. Isn't that what Athena was telling you so many years ago, when she talked about your fatal flaw?"
"I fell to Tartarus for her, Nico," he muttered. Nico nodded in understanding.
"I know. That's why I'm saying, be careful. Just remember that you're a god now. You have a duty to your people, the people of the earth, to protect them all."
"This coming from you?"
"I know. Crazy, isn't it? Doesn't make it any less true. I get that Annabeth is the most important thing to you. And I've always known you're different. You're a special kind of crazy."
"Yeah, which isn't your type apparently." Nico rolled his eyes.
"Let it go, man!"
"It's just fun to see you riled up. Ok, I can't hide Annabeth away from the world. Do I go on the mission with her which would defy the gods?"
"For what it's worth, I think my Dad sort of admires you for how far you've come for her. He would help you if he could. That being said, I'm not sure if Zeus would blow you up if you defied him."
"He'd have a war with Poseidon if he did, that's for sure. Still, I'm not sure if defying them directly is the best choice. But what else can I do? I won't stay locked away while my wife is trying to save the world."
"I haven't heard anything about this quest. Did the Oracle deliver it?"
"Rachel hasn't had a spare second to even pick up a paintbrush in ages! She's spitting out prophecies every few minutes. No, this quest came from Zeus himself."
"Wow," Nico shook his head. "That's...hard to refuse."
"That's what she says but I say, refuse away," Percy cast an angry look at the ceiling.
"Just be careful, Percy. Tell Annabeth… I'll go with her, if she wants." Percy's eyes widened.
"You...you'd do that?"
"To be honest with you, you kind of terrified me just now. Seeing you like this… makes me really scared for the whole world if something happens to her. And what will happen to YOU. I don't know how much help I can be but if she'll have me, I'll join her quest. Is Zeus still playing by the usual rules? Three on a quest?"
"Didn't we break that tradition with the Prophecy of Seven?"
"Ah. Point taken. So she can take whoever she wants."
"I don't think the gods gave her any specific rules. They're just hoping she will find...whatever this stupid treasure is, that will supposedly stop Kronos and Gaea."
"That's disturbingly vague," Nico muttered.
"Welcome to my world!"
"Alright, well, I'll do whatever I can to help. Do we even know where the gods are sending her?"
"Jason's last known location was Delphi but we don't know if that's where he was attacked. Piper said she spoke to him the day before he went missing. I'm not sure how Rachel knew where we would find him but Piper and I got to him just in time. I hope."
"Jason's a survivor," Nico said with more certainty than he felt. He could feel his friend's spirit getting fainter but he didn't want to tell Percy that. "So we will start at Delphi and search from there. I will talk to Dad, see if he knows anything about this treasure."
"Be careful, Nico," Percy squeezed his shoulder and Nico was too surprised to shake him off. "I can't lose any of you."
"Don't get sentimental on me, Jackson. Go home and tell your wife to meet me in New Rome tomorrow morning. We can talk to Reyna before we leave and see if she knows what Jason found out. I'm going to get in touch with Hazel too."
"The more awesome demigods you can wrangle, the better. I spoke to Frank after I found out about Jason and he's pretty furious. See if they will join you."
"Just like old times," Nico sighed, picking up his glass again. "Now get out of here. I want to have sex with my husband before I face certain death again."
"Ugh, Nico," they heard Will cry exasperatedly from the other room. Percy chuckled and clapped Nico's shoulder.
"Thanks Neeks."
"Get out of here before I punch you."
Percy appeared back in his own living room and Annabeth looked up from her book, her eyes widening. She leaped off the couch and ran to fling her arms around him.
"Gods I was so scared you wouldn't come back."
"What are you talking about? Of course I came back. I just had to talk with Nico."
"I've been calling your phone for hours," she shook her head, chewing on her lip and looking oh so adorable, he thought. "I thought you were angry with me."
"I'm not angry with you, baby, I'm angry with them," he jabbed his thumb toward the ceiling. "But I know that I can't stop you from doing this. You're Athena's child and you've got her stubbornness."
"Careful Percy," she grinned, her eyes drifting toward the ceiling. Percy shrugged and scooped his wife up in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled.
"And where are you taking me, Mr. Jackson?"
"To bed, Mrs. Jackson. If you insist on leaving me for a death-defying quest tomorrow, I will just have to make the sweetest love to you all night long and hope that you are unable to move tomorrow." She shook her head and his hand moved to the band in her hair. He pulled it loose and ran his fingers through her blonde locks before fisting it and tugging lightly, knowing that turned Annabeth on more than anything else. She gasped and slammed her lips against his, their teeth clashing painfully.
"Ow," Percy chuckled, rubbing his mouth. "Anxious much?"
"Shut up Seaweed Brain and make good on your promise." Percy tossed her onto the bed and slowly stripped his clothes off. She bit her lip at the sight, leaning back onto the pillows and crossing her legs. With a growl, he tugged on her ankles and had her out of her clothes so fast, she was sure he had done it by magic. She cried out as his tongue swirled around her nipple, then cried even louder when he gently sucked at the sensitive skin on her breast. She glanced down and glared up at him.
"You're marking me?"
"Babe you're going to be covered in my marks when I'm done with you," he said slyly, his hands moving to push her legs apart.
She couldn't complain. Not when her handsome godly husband was determined to make her come undone multiple times that night.
True to his word, Percy loved her body exquisitely, for hours and hours. She didn't know how they could keep going but when they finally stopped, Annabeth could hear the seagulls welcoming the morning. She fell asleep in his arms, their bodies still connected in the sweetest way.
When Annabeth woke, she felt sore all over. She stretched and glanced down at her body.
"Oh for the love of gods, Percy Jackson!" He hadn't been lying; she was covered in bite marks and purple bruises. How was she supposed to lead a quest, looking like this?
"Just great," she shook her head as she reached for a ponytail holder and quickly put up her hair. "Percy! Get out of the bathroom right now so I can yell at you!" She waited, her ears pricking at the silence. She frowned at the closed bathroom door.
"Percy?" When he didn't answer, she padded to the door and knocked.
"Percy, are you-" the door pushed open but it was empty. Frowning, she looked around the room. His side of the bed was still warm, so it hadn't been long since he'd left. But where did he go? He knew she would be leaving for Delphi today. They hadn't discussed the quest last night at all. Every time she tried to bring it up, he distracted her with his hands and his tongue. She strode through the house, calling his name.
He wasn't here. Panic started to set in as she ran out to the patio, where he often liked to watch the waves.
"Percy!" She stifled a sob as she realized he wasn't here. What if she didn't see him again before she had to leave? What if she never saw him again?
Pull yourself together, Annabeth, she told herself with a scowl. She straightened up and wiped her face with the back of her hand.
"You've got work to do." She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then returned to the house to get ready.
"LET GO OF ME!" His angry cries echoed off the beautiful thrones and the King of the gods threw him an angry look.
"If you don't settle down this instant, Percy Jackson, I will have you thrown off of Olympus!"
"Go ahead! Since you kidnapped me from my bed and are holding me here against my will!" Percy jerked against the gods holding him.
"Can I PLEASE run this punk through with a poisoned blade," Ares asked, the flames dancing in his eyes.
"Get your hands off my son, Ares," Poseidon's voice boomed. Ares and the two minor gods released Percy and took a step back. Poseidon approached his son, shifting his trident from one hand to the other so he could grasp Percy's shoulder.
"Percy, please conduct yourself in a civilized manner-"
"Civilized?! Dad, he stole me away before she woke up! What is she going to think when she wakes up and finds me gone? She will think I left her!"
"Give my daughter a little credit, Percy," Athena said sternly. "She is no fool. She will be sad, yes, but she will not think you have left her. However," she turned her eyes to Zeus and Hera, "I agree that bringing him here before she leaves for her quest is somewhat...cruel."
"Cruel, daughter? You think she should not concentrate on the task before her?"
"She will, My Lord. But her love for her husband is a motivator for Annabeth. And if you recall, he has gone missing once before," she said with a pointed look toward Hera. The Queen of the gods sniffed and turned away. "I am just concerned that she will be distracted if she does not know where he is."
"I didn't even get to talk to her about the quest," Percy said desperately. "Please, Lord Zeus, if I could just return for an hour-"
"You have ten minutes, Percy Jackson," Zeus said, holding his hand up. Percy's eyes flashed and he started to protest but Poseidon gripped his son's wrist. Percy yanked his hand away and turned on his heel. Slowly, he turned and lifted his chin.
"If anything happens to Annabeth on this quest," he said in a deadly whisper. "I hold you all responsible. You who sit on your thrones and watch as demigods are slaughtered, all in your service. For the greater good, you say. Not one of you would last one day as a mortal, without the help of a demigod."
"Hey," Apollo waved his hand in the air and Percy's eyes narrowed.
"As I recall, Lester Papadopoulos had help. You wouldn't have made it out of that alleyway without a demigod's help, would you Apollo? And where is that demigod now?" Apollo fell silent, his hands lowered to his lap and his eyes closing. Meg Mcaffrey's death still weighed heavily on his mind, even after all these years.
"That's what I thought," Percy spat before stomping from the throne room.
"Hades, I swear, I want you to find a way to claim that boy's soul and rid us all of a rogue god."
"Watch yourself, brother," Poseidon snarled. "You stay away from my son. Or you will have a war on your hands unlike anything you have ever seen."
"We already have a war on our hands," Athena said impatiently. "So now is not the time for this family drama! Percy is right. We have left this to the demigods too many times."
"And if we do not defeat this new threat, there will not be a next time," Artemis said softly. "We have to aid the demigods on this quest."
"I forbid it," Zeus said through gritted teeth. "We are safe as long as we are in our thrones of power. If we leave Olympus, we are at risk. The death of one god means the death of us all."
"Well I do wish you had mentioned that before you let Perry Johnson run back to his girlfriend," Dionysus said, looking bored.
"Hermes, follow him. Bring him back here in ten minute's time." Hermes looked vastly unhappy with this task but he nodded and gripped his caduceus.
"As you wish, My Lord." The gods all glared at one another in silence. Athena's eyes traveled around the room, certain that if Kronos and Gaea didn't destroy them, their own ignorance would.
Percy straightened up and frantically looked around.
"Annabeth? Annabeth, are you here?" She peered around the corner and he exhaled with relief as he ran to her. Her arms remained by her sides but he didn't care as he picked her up and crushed her to his chest.
"Oh thank the stars you're still here."
"Where were you," she said in a small voice, muffled by his shirt. He put her down and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Zeus summoned me...ok no, he kidnapped me from our bed. He is closing Olympus and has decreed that all of the gods have to remain there, on our thrones. He says as long as we are there, we are safe. I'm so sorry, love, I fought and screamed to get back to you."
"I thought...I wasn't sure if… I mean…" she glanced at the floor and Percy saw a red backpack, all packed up. His lips thinned and he took her hands.
"I don't have much time. We just...didn't talk much last night. Nico says he is going with you. You need to meet him at New Rome."
"I just spoke to Piper. She is coming too."
"Really?" He assumed she would want to stay close to her husband, lest anything else happen but he knew Piper was as fierce as his own wife. She would undoubtedly be seeking revenge on whatever had attacked Jason.
"Rachel says that there is a cave in Delphi...she has been dreaming about it. I think that's where I will start."
"Annabeth…" he trailed off, looking at his shoes. How many times had they gone off, possibly to their deaths, never knowing if they would see each other again?
This was different, he thought. They hadn't separated and now only one of them could actually die.
It was worse. So much worse.
He pulled her into his arms and lowered his face. She felt his tears streaming down her hair but she said nothing, only holding him as tightly as she could.
"Come back to me," he whispered. She pulled away and nodded.
"I love you, Percy. If anything happens-"
"No," he cut her off. "Come. Back. To. Me." He cupped her chin and gazed into her eyes. She couldn't make that promise. She had never been able to promise that she would survive. But she knew she had to. She could see how broken he would be if she didn't.
"I will." He kissed her with everything he had, determined that she would feel his kiss on the coldest, loneliest nights of the quest. They heard someone clear their throat behind them and jumped apart. Hermes looked sheepish and Percy scowled.
"Gods, really?!"
"I'm sorry, Percy. I gave you an extra three minutes. But it's time to go." Percy closed his eyes and Annabeth stroked his cheek.
"I love you."
"I love you, Annabeth. You've got this. I know you can do this." She nodded and picked up her backpack.
"Lord Hermes, mind giving me a lift to New Rome?"
"With pleasure, Mrs. Jackson."
Percy sat on his throne, watching it all unfold, as if it was some sort of horrific television show. But it wasn't. It was his life and he wept into his hands as he watched his friends fall. Poseidon's face remained impassive but he kept reaching over and patting his son's hands. Hestia had curled up at his feet, leaning against his leg like a puppy comforting its owner. The carnage went on for months. Kronos and Gaea both rose to power and nearly wiped both Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter off the map. Percy could not understand how the gods could sit here, for thousands of years, and watch as their children were slaughtered. Ares growled but did not move when Frank sacrificed himself to save a building full of demigods. Percy watched through his tears as his friend held the burning piece of wood in his hand and went up with a blaze that blinded the monsters completely, scattering them in all directions. When Nico stepped in front of Annabeth and took a poisoned blade to the chest, Hades gripped his throne tightly but did not say a word. Apollo's children fell to poisoned arrows and Percy glanced at the god, who was one of the few who showed emotion. Tears streamed down his fair cheeks as he watched the horror. Artemis wept silently as her Hunters were struck down. Athena watched with narrowed eyes and tightened lips, as Annabeth was captured and tortured. It was bad enough having to watch all of it, but Zeus forbade any god from leaving the throne room. Nymphs and muses brought them food and drink. Aphrodite kept glancing at her reflection, grimacing, then rolling her eyes and turning back to the live feed of the war. Percy had nearly bitten through his tongue to keep from throwing out bitter words to all of them. They knew how he felt. They could feel his rage. Hestia and Poseidon were the only ones brave enough to come close to him. Percy's eyes remained locked on his wife, silently willing her to keep going. To keep fighting. Not to give up.
And in the end, somehow, the good side had won. The gods hadn't lifted a finger to help but the demigods had triumphed. So many lives were lost, so much of Earth had been destroyed, but Gaea and Kronos were gone for good at last. Zeus waved his hand and the images disappeared. No one spoke. The silence was deafening.
"Artemis, Apollo, Hebe, Persephone, and Athena, you all will go to the Infirmary at Camp Half-Blood and help with the wounded. Iris, Demeter, Persephone, and Hypnos...HYPNOS! Would you wake, oh forget it. You all go to the Infirmary at Camp Jupiter and do the same. Poseidon, you and your son help with the damage in the West. Hades, you and-"
"I'm going to see my wife," Percy said in a hollow voice. Zeus's eyes narrowed.
"You are needed elsewhere, Percy Jackson."
"I just spent months watching my friends be slaughtered and my wife endure torment, all because you are a lazy asshole who wouldn't help your own people." Poseidon stepped between his son and his brother, lifting his trident but Percy looked as if he had no fight left in him. He was exhausted, his entire body pale and drooping, his hair hanging in his sad eyes. His voice held no malice, just defeat.
"I'll come help later. I need to see her first." Zeus looked like he was about to erupt but Hera lay her hand on his arm.
"Go to your wife, Percy," she said gently. "Join us when you can." Percy would have been surprised at Hera's understanding, if he had any feelings left. He felt dead inside. He nodded to his father, turned, and walked out of the throne room.
Annabeth desperately wanted a shower and then bed. It had been months since she had actually slept in a real bed. She brushed her choppy blonde hair out of her face and sighed.
"May you reach Elysium," she muttered to the deceased demigod, before pulling a sheet up. She had been doing this all morning. Chiron insisted that the survivors help with the injured and do their best to give the deceased proper burials. That meant collecting their bodies and transporting them to the Big House, where shrouds would be burned. She turned away from the bed and nearly fell to her knees with a wince.
"Annabeth, I told you to go rest," a voice said irritably.
"There's no time for rest, Will. Too much to be done."
"Just because I was able to remove the poison from that leg doesn't mean you can keep walking on it. You need to go lie down."
"I can't, I have to-" he put his hands on her shoulders and cupped her chin.
"It's over, Annabeth," he said softly. "You did it. We've won."
"At what cost," she said slowly. She waved around the infirmary, her eyes filling with tears. "How many lives were lost? Was it worth it?"
"If you have to ask that, then why did you just spend the last seven months searching, and crawling through Tartarus to save your friends, and trading yourself for Hazel and Nico? Why did you do all of that, if you think it wasn't worth it?" She sighed and almost fell forward. Will was fast and caught her before she hit the floor.
"Even the Mother of Earth needs to sleep."
"Ugh, don't call me that. I don't know why they chose that title. It makes me sound like her."
"She was Mother Earth. You're the Hero of the World, the Savior, and the Mother of Earth. You were willing to sacrifice yourself again and again, for the world. For your people." He pulled her in for a hug and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek.
"I know he's so proud of you," he whispered in her ear. She sucked in a breath but held back her tears. She hadn't spoken his name in months. She knew he was always watching her but saying his name was like a knife to the heart. The pain ran deep.
She inhaled deeply and turned to Will's patient.
"How is he?"
"Better. I have to be careful with the nectar and ambrosia but we managed to extract most of the poison."
"Most?"
"Yes. I'm afraid he won't be able to use his arm ever again. The poison just got there too fast and we've done everything we can. He's so stubborn though, we'll see what happens."
"Would you quit talking about me like I'm not here," the demigod grumbled. Annabeth smiled and shook her head.
"Nico, you amaze me, you know that?"
"Oh is that my title? The Amazing Nico? You got Mother of Earth, so I want something like Father of Death or something cool."
"How about Grumpy Husband? How's that sound," Will dabbed Nico's forehead with a wet cloth. Nico sighed and shook his head.
"Not cool enough."
"I'll let you rest," Annabeth rested her hand on Nico's arm. The one he possibly would never use again. "I never got to thank you."
"He would kill me if anything happened to you," he said weakly. Annabeth frowned and Nico opened his eyes.
"You're my friend, Annabeth. And you mean everything to me. So there's no need to thank me." Will looked up at Annabeth, smiling and she kissed Nico's forehead.
"Get some rest."
"Rest. That sounds nice," the son of Hades said, already falling asleep. Annabeth gave Will another smile before she continued her rounds. She avoided looking at the line of bodies, covered by a blanket. There were so many, and they continued around the porch outside. That didn't include the bodies back at Camp Jupiter. She was no stranger to losing people. She had watched Luke die in her arms when she was still a girl, she'd lost friends in the Titan War and the War with Gaea but this was something else entirely. Too many lives lost, and for what?
She braced herself against the wall, wincing at the pain in her leg. Maybe Will was right. She should go lie down. Just for a minute though.
"Why are you up," a disapproving voice on her left made her grimace.
"Not you too."
"Me too? Oh, Will must have already yelled at you. Good. Annabeth, you need to rest!"
"I will, Piper, I will."
"Now!"
"Alright!" Piper steered her friend back inside the infirmary and toward the back of the room, where she had privacy. She stood over Annabeth until she pulled the covers back and waited while she got into the bed.
"I should be helping," Annabeth mumbled.
"You've already done that," Piper said gently. Annabeth looked up at her friend and blinked back tears.
"I'm so sorry, Piper."
"Don't Annabeth. He knew what he was doing. We all knew. He sacrificed himself so that we could actually live our lives. No more monsters. It's what we've always dreamed of."
"But-"
"Just rest," Piper said gently, kissing her forehead, the way her father used to when she was little. Annabeth could see Piper was fighting tears so she didn't protest when she turned and fled from the room. Annabeth lifted her head and saw her collide with Hazel, the two girls holding each other and crying. Annabeth lowered her head back to the pillow and closed her eyes, allowing the tears to fall. So many friends lost. Sacrifices and torment and anguish. She saw their faces in her mind. People she had come to think were invincible, because she never thought what it would be like to live without them. Thalia. Jason. Frank. Reyna. Ella. Tyson. Hylla.
What was left? What was left to live for?
She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. She leaned up and buried her face in the pillow. She didn't try to hold back her sobs. She had been putting on a brave face for too long. She now allowed her tears to soak her pillow.
She barely registered the blue light glowing beside her or the way the bed dipped. She hardly noticed a pair of arms scooping her up as if she weighed nothing and pulling her into his lap, his lips finding her hair, his hands moving up and down her back. His shirt was soaked in her tears but he couldn't have cared less. She held onto him and he to her. It wasn't the reunion either of them had planned on, as she fell asleep only a minute later but Percy held her and refused to look away. She was here, with him again after so much time apart. She had been through so much and his sad eyes raked over her battered form. Her beautiful hair, chopped away while she was Gaea's prisoner. Too many bruises and injuries to speak of, her jaw discolored and her eye swollen. Her leg still stuck out at an odd angle and Percy remembered how his heart had stopped beating when he'd watched the monster rip into her flesh. The anguished cry she had released, her frail prayers. His tears fell into her hair as he held her close, whispering how much he loved her. He tenderly pressed his lips to her wrists, where flaming chains had held her captive. He wept for all he had lost and he wept for what he held in his arms. His whole life, right before him. The grief would be deep, he knew, when he actually faced it. Right now, however, all he wanted to do was focus on his love and hold her until the end of time.
Annabeth slept for nearly two days. Percy frantically asked Will if she was ok but the son of Apollo assured him that she was just fine and that she needed the rest. Percy found it difficult to leave her side but he wandered around the infirmary, stopping to check on the wounded. He could sense the resentment and aggravation from the campers. His friends. He couldn't blame them. He had sat up on his throne while they had fought with everything they had. Even Piper avoided his eyes. Percy couldn't bring himself to speak Jason's name but he knew Jason would be in Elysium. He might even try to be reborn, to try to reach the Isles of the Blest. If anyone deserved that place, Jason did.
Will shot him sympathetic looks as he moved around, tending to the wounded but Percy returned to Annabeth's side fairly quickly. He felt as if he didn't belong here anymore. Camp Half-Blood had always been his home and now, people were staring at him as if he were an invader. He felt that he was. He was tempted to take Annabeth home but Chiron gently told him she was better off here in the infirmary.
Percy wondered if any of the other gods were feeling the same way. If they even noticed the disgusted looks they were receiving from the campers. Apollo tensed as he offered to help one of his sons and was brushed off. Artemis tried to bandage a demigod's leg but the girl had scoffed and done it herself.
OK, so the demigods had saved the world but what kind of world would it be if the gods were despised? It was clear that the demigods had not fought for the gods this time. It was for their own freedom, the freedom to live life in harmony unlike anything a demigod had ever experienced.
Percy watched his wife sleeping, feeling his heart shattering into a thousand pieces. He knew she hadn't spoken his name in months. Would she still want to be with him? Had she changed as well?
He would have gone back to Olympus if he wasn't so scared of letting her out of his sight. Still, he cleaned her wounds and brushed her hair and let her sleep as much as she could.
When she finally opened her eyes, Percy was sitting on the edge of the bed, squeezing her hand. He started when he noticed she was awake and he bit his lip.
"Hi," he said softly. She blinked, as if she didn't quite believe he was really in front of her. His hand hovered over her cheek, clearly afraid to touch her.
"Hi." She struggled to sit up and winced at the pain in her leg.
"You're, um. You're here." He found it difficult to swallow.
"I can leave if you want."
"That might be a good idea," she nodded. He inhaled sharply but when she looked back at him, he forced his face into a neutral expression and he stood up.
"I'll, um… I'll leave you to rest. Just… just call me if you…" Need me? He scoffed to himself. She had been praying to him for ages. He hadn't been able to do a single thing to appease her suffering. Why should she call for him now?
She didn't need him. And it seemed she didn't even want him anymore.
Percy felt like he was made of stone as he stiffly walked out of the infirmary. Artemis shot him an apologetic look but he ignored it and kept walking.
The cabins had been destroyed, the lunch pavilion was now a large crater in the ground, the arena was still smoking, and the strawberry fields were brown and dead. He saw death and destruction wherever he went. He didn't know where he was walking to, but he kept on walking. He walked past the stables, which were empty, of course. Most of the pegasi had died in the battle. His friend Blackjack had perished while trying to defend Hazel and Arion from titans. He didn't know what had happened to Jason's horse Tempest, but perhaps the storm spirit had disappeared when it felt its master slip away. It had really been Jason who had saved them all in the end. He had distracted the enemy long enough for Annabeth to escape and to mutter the incantation that had destroyed Kronos. Jason had saved hundreds of demigods and nymphs before he finally fell. Percy blinked back tears and changed course, away from the stables.
He noticed a shock of black hair, someone sitting on a smoking tree trunk. The person was tinkering away on some sort of machine, muttering to himself. Percy
stopped in his tracks.
"Leo?" Leo spun around and his brow creased.
"Oh. Hi Percy."
"Are you…" he was about to say alright but that was stupid. Leo had been right there when his best friends had died. Percy wished he had been there too.
Jason would still be here, he told himself. And Thalia. Stupid noble Thalia. Tyson. My little brother. What am I going to do without them?
"Leo, do you need anything or…?"
"Yeah. I need you to leave me alone," the boy spat. "Please." Percy didn't blame him for his rage. He nodded and kept walking. Leo lifted his face to the sky and closed his eyes.
He walked into the trees and rested his hand against the bark.
"Percy," a faint voice said from deep within. He spun around and his eyes widened.
"Oh thank the gods," he ran to his friend, nearly knocking the satyr down. Grover hugged him tightly, his rasta cap knocked askew.
"It's so good to see you, Perce."
"I'm sorry, Grover. I'm so sorry."
"Percy," Grover stepped back and nudged his friend. "You had no choice. We know that. No one blames you."
"Everyone hates me, Grover."
"No they don't. They just… it will just take some time before they're…before they trust the gods."
"She hates me. She told me to leave."
"She will need the most time," the satyr said sadly. "What she went through… I'm amazed she's survived it all."
"I watched it," Percy didn't hold back the tears this time. "I watched it happen and I didn't do a damn thing to stop it! I should have attacked Zeus. He could blow me up if he wants. I should not have sat back and watched that happen! Tyson… that big guy was my brother! And Thalia, she was like my sister. And Jason-"
"I know," Grover squeezed his wrist. "There was nothing you could do. You're a god, Percy. You answer to the King of the gods. If Zeus forbade you from interfering, that means it wasn't your fault. And I know you won't believe me but no one really blames you. Annabeth still loves you, you know."
"I wish I could believe that," he shrugged. "But I just don't know anymore."
"Percy, I know we lost a lot but… think about it. A world without monsters. That has honestly been so far beyond anyone's realm of belief that it's just… too good to be true! Demigods can grow up in the mortal world with their families if they wish. They don't have to be taken to Camp Half- Blood or Camp Jupiter to train. They don't have to fight for their lives. That's what they died for, Perce. That's what we have been fighting for."
"I should have been fighting beside you all," Percy shook his head. "I still feel like a demigod. I have never thought of myself as a god and I should have been fighting by her side, like I always have."
"Things change, Percy," Grover said sadly. He glanced around at the trees and waved his hands. "We have to rebuild. We have to plant new life. But we keep going on. We are no strangers to sacrifice." Percy stared at the ground. Sacrifice. He had wanted to sacrifice his soul to the Fates in order to keep Annabeth safe. Grover placed his hand against a tree and the bark began to glow. He gave Percy a sad smile.
"We will endure. We always have."
"Where's your wife, G-man? Shouldn't she be here, helping you rebuild?"
"She's at our home, rebuilding." Percy's brow furrowed and Grover chewed his lip anxiously.
"She's giving birth as we speak."
"Grover!" Percy's hand clapped to his mouth before he pulled his friend in for a hug.
"What the hell are you doing here then?"
"The Council of Cloven Elders is all spread out, visiting the forests. We are making sure rebirth is possible and that many of our friends who have passed on, are being reincarnated."
"Grover I know that's important but dude, your wife is having your baby! Get the hell out of here!" Grover grinned and bleated nervously.
"I hope I haven't missed it." Percy made to kick his behind and Grover laughed, shoving him away.
"Tell Juniper I said…" he trailed off, unsure what to say. Juniper had sacrificed much so she probably felt the same way towards gods as the demigods did. Grover
raised a brow and Percy sighed.
"Tell her thank you. I hope I get to see your little satyr-nymph baby soon."
"Come see us soon," he made Percy promise. When he was gone, Percy smiled at the tree Grover had touched.
"Rebirth," he said to himself, touching it briefly before disappearing.
For the next few days, he didn't stray far from the infirmary. Annabeth might not have wanted to see him but he needed to be near her in whatever way he could. He helped Will with the wounded, he helped the cabins make burial shrouds, and he served the most delicious foods he could find. The campers gingerly accepted his gift, throwing him wary looks but he simply nodded to them and continued to pass out the food.
He appeared at Nico's side with a Mcdonald's bag clutched in his hand but the son of Hades was fast asleep. Percy shook his head.
"I know you're faking it, ghost king. I have food for you."
"Go away."
"Mcdonald's? Big mac and fries?" One eye opened.
"And I brought you one of their apple pies."
"Ok give it here, Jackson." Percy grinned as he handed him the food, then pulled a chair to his side. Nico chewed the burger happily, took a sip of the coke, and stuffed a few fries into his mouth before he was ready to speak again.
"Why are you bugging me? Your wife is right back there, isn't she?"
"She, um… she doesn't really want to see me." Nico slowed his chewing.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like, Nico. She doesn't want to see me. And I don't blame her."
"Oh gods, Jackson, are you blaming yourself now?"
"Well don't you?"
"No. Because I never thought of you as a god. Neither did she. We both know Zeus is lord of control and you have to obey him. Neither of us ever thought you were staying away because you wanted to."
"She prayed to me, Nico. She prayed for me to help her. She didn't even use my name, she just...she prayed to the minor god of water. She prayed to her mother and to me that entire quest and neither of us could do anything. She thinks we abandoned her."
"Percy, she doesn't blame you for any of it. I'm sure she despises Zeus right now, and I can't blame her, but she doesn't think you are at fault."
"I asked her if she wanted me to leave and she said yes," Percy shrugged miserably. "That was two days ago. She hasn't called for me and I know she knows I'm still around."
"Then quit feeling sorry for yourself and go comfort her! Some of her best friends died in front of her. She needs time, Percy. She just saved the damn world! What would you do if you had been part of the quest? If you had both survived, what would you be doing right now?"
"Holding her," he said without hesitation. "I wouldn't leave her side."
"Then why are you still here, irritating me?" Nico gave him a pointed look and Percy stood.
"Enjoy your lunch, Father of Death."
"I'm gonna kill that husband of mine," Nico growled. Percy grinned and headed toward the back of the infirmary.
Annabeth was sitting up in bed, reading a book. She looked much better than when he had first arrived. She was clean, her injuries bandaged and medicated. Her hair had been cut evenly (Piper, he suspected) and she even looked like she'd had a few good meals since then too. He stood back, watching her for a moment, chewing on his lip. Annabeth saw movement and raised her eyes. They widened and her lips parted.
"Hey," he shifted from side to side uncomfortably. "I just wanted to check on you and see how… how you're feeling."
"I'm alright," she shrugged. "Will and a few of his sisters were here this morning, fixing me up. And I had some of your blue cheeseburgers for lunch."
"Oh I'm… I'm glad you enjoyed them."
"I would have enjoyed them a lot more if you had brought them to me," she said pointedly. Percy gulped.
"I thought I should… give you time. You know, stay away until… you decided you want to see me again."
"Come here." Her voice was stern but not angry. Percy warily approached her bed, his hands clenching by his sides. He remembered well when Hera had removed her memories and he had reunited with her in Camp Jupiter after nearly eight months apart. She had kissed him, then judo-flipped him over her shoulder. She didn't look strong enough to flip him now but he would never underestimate her.
"Closer." His eyes were locked on hers and he gulped at how stoney her gaze was.
"Closer Percy. Gods, I'm not going to bite." He sat beside her and kept his hands in his lap. Annabeth sat up and tugged on his shirt, pulling him forward until their lips met. Percy's eyes shot open then drifted closed as he relaxed into the kiss. He had gone seven months without touching her, something he had vowed never to do after the first time they were separated. His hands moved up to cup her face and her hands covered his. She whimpered against his mouth and he allowed her to thrust her tongue past his lips. Percy noticed she was crying and they were finding it harder to breathe but neither of them wanted to pull away. Finally, as she almost started to gasp and choke, he broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. She sobbed into his shirt, twisting her fingers in the soft material. He pressed his cheek to her hair and held her.
"Thank the stars you're still here," he whispered. "I didn't lose you."
"You almost did, Percy."
"I know. Annabeth, I know and I… I love you. I love you so much."
"I love you too." They kissed again, though it was softer and less rushed. He didn't leave her side again, helping her walk around when she got restless and making sure she ate her meals.
Several days later, almost everyone had been released from the infirmary and Chiron had a team of healers wrapping bodies in their shrouds. They all gathered around the lake to pay their respects. Friends wept together as they muttered the deceased's names, saying a prayer for them, speaking about how wonderful that person was. Percy himself burned Tyson's and Ella's, making sure they were together as Tyson had died trying to save the harpy. Percy was the only god present at the ceremony, which was fine with the other campers. When he stepped forward to touch Tyson's shroud, there were mutters but the campers fell silent when Annabeth and Grover shot them angry glares. He may have been a god, but he had lost his brother and some of his best friends. In that moment, Percy Jackson was just like the rest of them.
Percy had asked Artemis if she wanted to come to burn Thalia's shroud but the goddess had declined, saying she was not wanted. She had created a constellation to honor Thalia that stood near Zoe, another fallen Hunter. Annabeth stepped forward to burn Thalia's shroud as Piper burned Jason's beside them. On the other side, Hazel burned Frank's.
Chiron cried the names to the heavens and Percy winced as it took so long. Finally, the old centaur lowered his head and turned back to the Big House. The campers slowly dispersed, some of them staying to watch the shrouds smolder. Percy wrapped his arms around Annabeth, Piper, and Hazel while Nico hid his face in Will's jacket. Leo remained at the back of the crowd, watching with glassy eyes. Percy was afraid he would never see that impish smile again.
"Has anyone spoken with Leo," he muttered to Annabeth. She glanced back over her shoulder and shook her head sadly. Leo saw them watching him and his eyes narrowed before he spun on his heel and walked back toward the trees. Piper sighed heavily, not having the strength to go after him.
Leo kicked aside a silver helmet but all that did was cause a sharp pain in his toe. He cursed the heavens as he stomped away from camp, heading toward Bunker 9. He froze when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye and caught sight of the edge of a white dress. He lifted his eyes and they immediately started to fill with tears.
"Please let this be real," he whispered. "Please don't let this be a dream."
""You're not dreaming, Leo," she said softly, her voice carrying on the wind. He ran to her, crushing his lips to hers and her arms draped around his neck.
"I missed you, Sunshine."
"I missed you too, Valdez." Calypso's soft hand rested on his cheek and he blinked back tears.
"They're gone, Cal. They're all gone."
"We are still here, Leo," she said gently, pushing his dark hair out of his eyes. "We are still breathing. And we are together." He nodded and kissed her again.
Leo took Calypso away that night and only returned to the camp every few months. Piper made him swear he would stay in touch and of course, he obeyed.
Life went on, as life does. The victims of the war were never forgotten but life had improved dramatically for demigods. New Rome was no longer the only safe place for families of demigods. Not a single monster had been sighted since the war.
Percy didn't return to Olympus unless it was for the Solstice meetings. Otherwise, he stayed away from the gods and only spoke to a few of them. Zeus knew better than to summon him, though he politely asked him to oversee the creation of headstones for his son and daughter. Percy agreed to the task and made sure the spot he chose was one both Thalia and Jason would have loved. Poseidon visited his son a few times; they honored Tyson together, both under the ocean and near Percy's beach house.
For the most part, Percy did not see the gods much. And he was just fine with that.
Whew, I did warn you. No this isn't the end but we have just a few chapters left! Hope you all don't hate me and that you stick around for the last few! :) XOXO