A/N: If you recognize it, it's not mine. Simple as that.

Chapter 8

Perci POV

The weeks seemed to fly by after meeting the pack. Paul had told me what had happened in the impromptu meeting he had called in the woods after meeting Triton and discovering my secret, and I had been greatly relieved to find out that Sam had issued an order to make sure nobody in the pack told my secret to someone not allowed to know.

Paul had ended up meeting my dad as well in the days that followed the 'big reveal'. It had been interesting to say the least. Dad had spent an hour alternating between threatening him, and thanking him for ensuring that I wasn't alone in my new eternity, especially when we found out that as long as he kept phasing, he wouldn't age. He did thank the pack for helping to keep the beaches clean though, which was somewhat amusing when Embry nearly fainted at shaking hands with a god. Paul hadn't been able to stop laughing for nearly 20 minutes. I had told them all about camp, and even had the chance to introduce them to Nico, who had come by for a surprise visit.

He had ended up becoming friends with Paul after threatening the daylights out of him, and had left with Bella's fear, and Charlie's approval. Nico had terrified Bella simply by telling Paul within her hearing range that if Paul hurt me, he knew over 200 ways to kill him and make sure the body was never found. Ironically, that was also how he had gained Charlie's approval, and a job offer if he decided to take up law enforcement. Both Nico and I snorted at the thought, though my goth cousin did appreciate the offer. When the camp found out though, it had been a near riot, which Jared had found hilarious.

Flashback

Paul and I were cuddling on the couch in Sam and Emily's place since he didn't have patrol yet, enjoying the quiet when an IM appeared in front of us, startling Paul. I groaned inwardly and glared slightly at Annabeth through the rainbow.

"Your timing needs improvement, Wise Girl." I told the wide eyed girl.

"Why is that, Seaweed Brain? And who's that you're sitting very close to?" She asked, a suspicious gleam in her eyes.

"I'm Paul, Perci's boyfriend." My poor wolf said before I could warn him. Annabeth's eyes went as wide as dinner plates before she turned her head slightly to face the camp from the porch of the Big House.

"Perci has a boyfriend, and I'm talking to him right now!" She bellowed, making me sigh and pat him on the thigh.

"Good luck." I said simply, before getting up and walking into the kitchen. I knew I shouldn't but I would enjoy hearing all the threats my friends had for him, especially since they now knew he could see through the Mist, since he was speaking through an IM. It turned out, Aphrodite made him Clear Sighted when she talked the Fates into tying our strings together, and since he was, the pack was due to the pack mind. I still had no idea how that worked when they weren't wolves, but it helped, so I didn't complain.

It was only five minutes into the riot/interrogation/major shovel talk session Paul was receiving from everyone, even Chiron and Mr. D, amusingly enough, that the pack came in for lunch. I quickly signaled for them to be quiet, letting them hear the hilarity that was Paul being threatened by so many people. It was oddly touching to find out that so many people at camp cared, but funny as hell to see the hothead of the pack actually pale at some of the threats he was getting. I couldn't wait for Thalia to find out.

By the time everyone at camp had said their peace/threatened Paul with multiple forms of death and torture, Jared had collapsed to the kitchen floor unable to breathe, he was laughing so hard.

End flashback

Today though, I sat at the kitchen table, watching with amazement as Emily made such massive amounts of food for the pack, waiting for Bella. Ever since the pack found out that the redheaded vampire, Victoria, wanted to kill Bella, she had been told to spend as much time as she could at Sam and Emily's. I was there most of the time because I liked Emily, and I had told Sam that Celestial Bronze worked on vampires, since they were a creation of Hades and Aphrodite. Some mortal had insulted them, so they had cursed them to become a vampire that sparkled. That mortal bit another, and so came the vampire race. It was always funny to find a few that worshiped the Greek gods though, since they were technically created by two of them.

"Where's Bella, she should be here by now, shouldn't she?" The other woman asked as she mixed a huge bowl of muffin batter. I shrugged from my spot at the table, glancing out the window, and wondered where my idiot of a mortal cousin was myself.

"I have no idea, I think she stopped by the Black's place to hang out with Billy for a little bit. She did say she was going a little stir crazy here." I said, turning back to face Emily, who hummed and nodded. Before anything else could be said though, the phone on the wall rang and Emily looked at me from the bowl.

"Can you grab that, please? I've kinda got my hands full." She said with a joking smile, making me snort as I got up to grab the phone.

"Uley residence, how can I help you?" I said, putting on a fake receptionist voice, earning a small giggle from Emily.

"Perci, it's Sam. I need to talk to Emily please, it's important." Sam's voice responded on the other end.

I could feel my stomach drop slightly as I looked back at Emily.

"It's Sam, he says it's important. I'll take over the muffins, you take care of this." I whispered, handing the phone to her as I took the bowl and started mixing. I tuned out Sam and Emily's conversation, not wanting to be nosy, but nothing could have tuned out Emily's sudden heartbroken sob. I whirled to face her, setting down the bowl of muffin batter when I saw her sinking to the ground, rushing over to her.

"Emily! What is it, is someone hurt?" I asked, trying to get a response from the sobbing woman now on the floor. When she didn't reply, I gently pried the phone from her, and put it back to my ear.

"Sam, what's going on, who's hurt?" I demanded, hoping that it wasn't Paul.

"Harry Clearwater had a heart attack and passed away. He was Emily's uncle. Seth and Leah are with Sue up at the hospital, Charlie's with them." He said, and my hand flew to my mouth to stifle the gasp. I had met Harry Clearwater at a bonfire a few days after meeting the pack. He had been thrilled that Paul had imprinted, and we had bonded over stories of being on the water, despite mine being heavily edited.

"Oh no. Sam, I'm so sorry." I said, feeling the sea react to my sorrow. I knew my father and Triton would be concerned, but it wouldn't be bad enough to come check on me in person.

"I'll IM Nico and have him fast track Harry to Elysium. Mortals see what their beliefs allow them to see when they enter uncle Hades' realm, he'll go to paradise, I promise." I vowed, keeping my voice low so Emily wouldn't hear and become more upset. The pack had been allowed to tell other imprints the truth about me, so Emily knew, but I didn't want her to become more distressed at hearing the finality of Harry going to Elysium.

"Thank you, Perci. It's greatly appreciated." He said, before hanging up. I set the phone down and wrapped my arms around Emily, giving her a hug for support. Almost immediately, she wrapped her arms around me in a vice grip, sobbing into my shoulder. I allowed myself to shed a few tears before helping her to the couch, with a blanket, a glass of water, and one of the muffins we had finished half an hour ago to help with the shock.

"I'll be right back, I've got to make a call." I told her softly, not leaving until I saw a faint nod. I hurried through the IM, explaining to Nico what had happened, and giving a description of Harry to him. Once he understood the situation, he promised he would take Harry to Elysium himself, using his pull as Ghost King to bypass the line at the judgement pavilion, even calling back five minutes later to assure me it was done. I nodded before swiping through the message and returning to Emily's side.

"Sorry that took so long, I was talking to my cousin." I told her, avoiding mentioning which cousin it was.

"Did he get there safely?" Her voice asked faintly, as she turned to look at me with heartbroken eyes.

"Did who get where safely?" I asked, not quite understanding the question.

"Uncle Harry. Did he get to your uncle's domain safely?" She asked, her voice slightly stronger. I froze for a second before giving a sigh and nodding.

"Yeah, he did. Nico escorted him to paradise himself. Harry's soul is now residing in Elysium." I said quietly, only to have the breath knocked from me as Emily wrapped me in another vice grip.

"Thank you for making sure he went to paradise." She whispered, hugging me for all she was worth. Not knowing how to respond, I just hugged her back, staying like that for an unknown amount of time until Sam came back.

"You've got to calm down, Perci. The water's rough, and Bella nearly drowned because she went cliff diving." He said quietly as he took my place in Emily's hug. I winced for a second at the mention of rough seas, before my eyes widened at the rest of the information.

"Bella did what?! Is she suicidal?" I gasped, running my hands through my hair roughly, before focusing again.

"Where is she? I need to knock some sense into that moron." I asked, earning the quickest flash of a smirk from Sam.

"Jacob's got her. He took her to his place to dry off for a minute before driving her home. Paul won't be coming back for now, Harry was like a father to him." He said, and I nodded sadly before bidding him goodbye and running over to Jacob's place since I had caught a ride with Bella today. When I got to the Black's place I barged in, knowing even without Sam telling me that Billy was at the hospital with Sue Clearwater.

"Are you stupid or something? Harry Clearwater had a heart attack, and you decide that cliff diving sounds like a good idea?" I demanded the second I caught sight of Bella.

"It was for recreation. If the water had been calmer, she wouldn't have almost drowned." Jacob said, glaring at me. It was said casually enough not to raise Bella's suspicions, but I recognized the accusation for what it was.

"Whatever, the point is, I wasn't trying to kill myself. Can we go home now, I want to be there for Charlie when he gets back." Bella said, and I withheld the snort of disbelief that threatened to escape me, but allowed Jacob to drive the tank back anyway. I had only driven Bella's truck once, and had vowed to never do it again. When we finally got parked in front of the house, I threw open the door, wanting to escape the awkward, and slightly desperate flirting Jacob was doing with Bella.

"Oh, holy crap!" Jacob's voice shouted as soon as the door opened, sounding like he got hit in the gut.

"What is it?" Bella asked, her voice concerned, while I just turned to look at him, Riptide in my hand in pen form, ready for me to uncap it. Jacob glanced at it for a second before looking me in the eyes and speaking only one word.

"Vampires." He said, voice sounding like a warning.