Where the Shadows Meet the Sea
Chapter 3
The Thing is He's Back but There's Still a Prophecy
Annabeth
Jason had taken Percy below into the room that had served as his own before… Before, because there would always be 'before Tartarus' and 'after Tartarus'. Annabeth honestly didn't know how she had been so foolish in her hopes of finding Percy to never have even considered what he would be like after. The thought was dismissed as Jason rested a hand on her inner elbow.
"He's resting. Coach Hedge is going to try some nature magic to help with his wounds."
"I'll join him." Calypso nodded to Reyna before slipping into the room.
"It's probably better we give them a little bit of space."
Annabeth swallowed and nodded. Her hand came to rest over his and gave it a brief squeeze. When she looked up, his blue eyes were focussed on her but she didn't feel the need to say anything or to explain the million things that were running through her mind. And Jason didn't ask that of her. Instead, he gave her a moment to stand there in peace. She suspected, too, that he'd given her a choice she wasn't positive that she had— to stay out in the hallway. To let the others take care of Percy for a moment (when there was nothing she could do).
The moment was broken when Hazel stormed down the hallway towards them.
Annabeth can feel the dark aura emanating off of her. Frank was hot on her heels but he doesn't look like he's exactly going to stop her, but he also didn't have his brows and jaw set with the sort of determination she did.
Jason dropped his hand from her arm and stood tall. He might not be a member of the legion or the Roman camp any more, but there were mannerisms she was sure that he would never lose. He lifted a hand palm outwards in the silent gesture to stop. "He's unconscious. Calypso and Hedge are doing everything they can for him. When he wakes up we can question him."
"If it was Thalia, would you wait?"
Annabeth had never seen anyone pool shadows around them in the way that Nico did and whilst it wasn't quite that, there was a dangerous edge to her voice and her words. The air around her crackled with energy, not at all like Jason's lightning. Magic, Annabeth realized. If she weren't already so exhausted from the fight with Clytius, the daughter of Athena didn't want to imagine what she would do to get at Percy.
"He's my brother, Jason. If It weren't for him… if it weren't for him I wouldn't be here."
"I know. Believe me, I know, Hazel. But you saw him— he's not in any shape to answer any of our questions."
"He didn't even look like himself. I didn't recognize him." Annabeth added, her voice barely a whisper as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"He had Nico's sword."
"I know."
"How is Nico supposed to protect himself without his sword?"
Annabeth watched as the daughter of Pluto's legs went out from under her. Frank caught her just in time to keep her knees from hitting the floor. The daughter of Athena turned to Jason as tears sprung from her own eyes. As her shoulders heaved, Jason wrapped her in his arms and for a moment she let herself break down.
There wouldn't be time later.
When Calypso finally emerged it was the first time that Annabeth could say she had seen the goddess look tired. That, and she nursed a healthy number of claw marks up along her arms. Her hair, normally immaculate in the french braid that hung over her shoulder was beginning to pull out of its plaits and her eyes were just a little less bright. She glanced down upon seeing Annabeth staring and with a few notes hummed her arms appeared immaculate once more. "The good news is that he's going to make it."
Tension she wasn't even aware she had been carrying released from her shoulders and Annabeth let out a sign of relief. Her arms wrapped around Jason and she hugged him tight. When she pulled back, she shared a brief smile with him, and then turned back to Calypso.
"Thank you so much. Honestly, I can't even begin to thank you—"
"Before you thank me, let me finish."
"Will he wake up?" Hazel beat her to the punch. As concerned as she was about her brother, the daughter of Pluto was also kind and whatever conflict she was feeling in the moment, she was not cruel.
"Yes—" Annabeth's knees feel weak as she continued. "What you need to understand is that Tartarus wasn't made for demigods. And I don't mean that in a 'it's ill advised you go there' sort of way. I mean your bodies weren't made to withstand it. It's taken a toll on him. Frankly, I'm not sure how the atmosphere didn't melt the skin from his bones—"
Annabeth clapped a hand over her mouth.
"—and coming back wasn't any less of a strain. It would be challenging if he were in prime condition and frankly he's not."
"But you said he would wake up." Jason spoke because Annabeth's voice was locked somewhere in her chest. She squeezed his hand in thanks and watched Calypso for even the smallest gesture that her words were meant to soothe like her songs and masked the truth of the situation.
"He's malnourished. Whatever they were doing to keep themselves alive, well, it worked, but Percy isn't well. There's no telling what the long term effects will be… physically or psychologically."
"He's strong." Annabeth whispered but she wasn't sure if anyone could hear the words.
"Then there are the wounds— varying ages, varying stages of healing. So far as I can tell he's been bitten by empousai, hellhounds, stabbed, scratched, and very likely cursed. The worst of it, though, is his shoulder."
She didn't need to close her eyes to picture the way it had hung at his side even as Percy ducked and dodged, engaging the monsters in the Necromanteion. It had not slowed him down.
"Some of the muscles were removed."
"W-what do you mean?" Annabeth finally whispered. "Removed?"
Frank shared a look with Jason. The son of Mars looked green and not in a I'm-turning-reptilian sort of way.
"What do you mean removed?"
"There are many things in Tartarus that eat flesh. Most of them are monsters… and some of them simply enjoy the taste. The extraction was… clean…"
"You mean someone cut him like—"
"Like a fillet." Coach Hedge appeared from the bedroom into the hallway. His arms didn't boast the same red welts and scratches that Calypsos had. Perhaps as a satyr was able to charm the demon kitten. He lacked his normal bluster and gusto and from the way he was rubbing his hands, Annabeth was sure he had just sanitized them against.
Probably had to wash all the blood off.
"There was further damage after that, likely from another attack. It's a weak point. We cleaned it, applied a few layers of ambrosia and nectar directly to the wound. I've enchanted the bandages to remain sterile."
"It will heal but I'm afraid he'll never have full use of that arm ever again. Maybe if we had some children of Apollo here they might be able to think of something that we missed, but I think it's doubtful. I can't be certain if there is any sensation in the arm itself, or how much he might be able to move it, if at all."
"We tried pricking his fingertips but," Coach Hedge shrugged. "No luck."
"And the blood?" Hazel looked like she was going to choke on her tongue.
"Most of it wasn't his. But it wasn't a demigod's either."
There are other things to think about. Annabeth knew this. Percy won't wake up any time soon and they need to figure out what to do about the Athena Parthenos. The statue needed to be returned to Camp Half Blood before a war can begin between the Greek and Roman camps. The size and weight of her didn't exactly make moving her an easy task. But what if he does wake up and I'm not there? At the very least she should see him. Then she can join the planning.
"Can I go in?"
Calypso and Coach Hedge nodded. The daughter of Athena ignored the looks they gave her and focussed on putting one foot in front of the other. Jason released her hand and she hovered in the doorway for a moment to steel herself. Frank, Hazel and the others were forgotten as she took a breath and dared to glance in. She just needed a moment and she was glad that Hazel didn't follow after her making a scene to wake the other boy up, though if the situation was reversed she knew herself well enough to know that not even the dead could keep Annabeth from prying answers out of Nico. It's not like she was blind to her own hypocrisy but there was also nothing she could do about it as her fingernails bit into the wood frame of the door and she snuck a look.
Percy laid scrubbed free of the blood and covered with blankets. His cheekbones were sharp, prominent in a way they had never been before. Percy had always had thick dark eyelashes and they fanned across his cheek in his slumber but they stood out more prominently because he was pale to the point of being sickly. Not quite grey and not quite green, but his tanned skin was sallow. The spartus was curled up by his head, tiny chin resting on the son of the sea's ear.
From where she stood Annabeth could see Percy shivering and quickly crossed the room to pick up another quilt and lay it over him. They'd removed his shirt because it was covered with grit and grime and hadn't bothered with another, probably in part because of the special bandages they had wrapped around his shoulder. Where Percy's collarbone protruded it was so sharp and exposed, she could have filled the hollow of the skin with something and drank from it. A chill ran up her spine.
"What happened to you, seaweed brain?" Annabeth tucked the quilt tightly around him along the length of his body in an attempt to preserve some of his warmth. She lifted a hand and carefully brushed a few strands of his black hair out of his face (aware the whole time that the empty black eyesockets of the spartus was watching her).
A knock rapped just outside the door and when she looked up Jason's blue eyes met hers, his head popped around the corner.
"We need to decide what to do with the Athena Parthenos."
She turned back to Percy and swallowed. What did it say she was glad for the escape?
"I'm coming."
"She needs to be returned to the Greeks. You said you dreamed it, Annabeth."
"I did. My mother spoke to me. She said that the Roman needed to bring her back to Camp." Grey eyes landed on Reyna. "You were there. Not Hazel or Frank or Jason but you, Reyna. You may not be part of the prophecy but you have a crucial role to play in ensuring peace between our camps."
"There is no guarantee that they will listen to me. I've broken our laws."
"Caesar broke Roman laws."
"Sometimes a great leader has to think outside the box." Leo added.
The praetor didn't look convinced with her arms folded across her chest, but she also did not argue against the point. "I'm not denying that I should be the one to return her to your camp, but I think it is foolish to assume that peace will be so easy as returning even the most worthy of treasures."
Coach Hedge argued the point about bringing the statue with them to Athens. It was, after all, the giant's bane. The remainder agreed that time was precious, but that they couldn't afford a potential conflict between the two camps.
"We need a united front. If Gaea rises and demigods are too busy fighting demigods, we have no chance. We need to mend relationships because at the end of the day, we're all on the side that's against Gaea, right?" Piper spoke up, her voice sweet and bubbling butterflies in Annabeth's core. It wasn't the most obvious charmspeaking she had been on the receiving side of but the satyr didn't seem to realize what was happening as his shoulders relaxed and he began to nod along with them.
"So we're agreed then," Jason confirmed. "Reyna will take the statue back to Camp Half Blood."
Annabeth plucked grass from the ground and blew it back out across the landscape and away from her palm. She couldn't sit still no matter how important the meeting was and even though Piper had laid out everyone's favorite sandwiches and snacks her stomach didn't feel quite her own. "One small problem, though… how is she going to get the statue back to camp?"
"If we turn around we'll never make it back to Athens in time," Jason agreed. He surveyed the group looking for suggestions.
"I could help her." The goddess piped up drawing the eyes of each of them onto her.
"How? No offense, Calypso, you did an amazing job helping us before but unless you can turn into a dragon and fly the statue back at light speed I'm not really sure how you're going to be able to do a whole lot." Piper said bluntly.
"I don't really see any other gods or goddesses coherent enough to offer us a hand, Piper." Annabeth shot the daughter of Aphrodite a look and the other girl shrank. "The least we can do is hear her out."
Calypso didn't let that stop her. If being trapped on an island for a thousand or so years forced to fall in love and lose her heart's desire every few decades hadn't totally messed her up or given her a massive case of social anxiety then Annabeth was pretty sure the goddess could do anything. The goddess sat up straighter when Reyna gave her a nod to continue. Even without discussing it the praetor had found herself at the head of their circle with everyone else filling in around her. "There's a dock not too far away. Docks have boats. And I can control winds… we could sail back to camp. It would take me a fraction of the time it would take any of you. And although I wasn't in the good books with the Olympians," she said with a wave of her hand, "the other divine beings of the sea are my friends. We would be safe."
"So you're suggesting that we steal someone's boat?" Leo asked for clarification.
"I mean, I hadn't thought about logis—"
"Which one of us gets to steal the boat? It's me, isn't it? " From the impish grin that was tugging at his features, it was clear he was on board.
"I don't know that stealing is—"
"It's totally me." Leo confirmed.
No one had any better ideas. In the end they decided that Coach Hedge should go along with them. It was not only the optimal number of people but he was a certified protector and neither Reyna nor Calypso belonged at the camp. There was no guarantee that the Greeks would listen to them, even with the Athena Parthenos in tow. When evening fell, Leo would hot wire the biggest privately owned boat. He took more pleasure in scoping out the yachts than was strictly necessary. Grand theft wasn't normally allowed (although the occasional petty theft for food or clothes seemed a small matter when saving lives) but mortals would have to forgive them this once. It was for the greater good, after all.
Annabeth had been more hesitant in agreeing both Calypso and the satyr should go given Percy's condition but when she'd voiced her concern Reyna had helpfully enquired: what other choice was there? Everyone else was needed to fulfill the prophecy.
"Thank you." Annabeth wrapped her arms around Calypso as the goddess. "Honestly, without you, I don't know how any of this would be possible. And Percy—"
"Please, I should be thanking you." Her almond eyes crinkled at the edges and a mischievous grin tugged at her lips. "I have to admit, I had hoped you'd be uglier. But you're beautiful and ruthless—"
"I'm sorry about lying to you—
"—No, don't apologize. Without you I would be imprisoned in paradise. Do you know how frustrating it is to be in hell but also have it be heaven? It'd almost be more tolerable if it'd been disgusting! What I was trying to say is, I can see why he couldn't stay while he had you waiting for him."
When she finishes, Annabeth can't help but think there is more left on the tip of her tongue. From the way she chewed on her bottom lip and dropped her eyes to the side, the demigod waits. When she doesn't, she bumps the goddess with her elbow.
"Spill."
Calypso opened her mouth and then closed it again. After a second of scrunching up her brows she finally reached out with a handful of drachmas and handed them to Annabeth. "It's nothing… but if you need me, Iris message. Any time day or night. If you need anything, just call."
Her fingers closed around the coins and slipped them into her pocket with a 'thank you'.
The satyr, daughter of Bellona, and goddess waved them goodbye from the massive yacht. The Athena Parthenos looked briefly like it was reclining on a cruise ship ready to enjoy some time at sea. Of course, Leo had strapped the thing to high heavens to ensure it wouldn't fall off. Coach Hedge had then enchanted it. Calypso didn't seem the least bit concerned with the ancient artifact being tressed up like it was so Annabeth figured it wasn't worth worrying about.
"Be careful!" She called to them.
"Where's the fun in that?" Calypso waved and with a few beautiful melodies the engine started and the boat sped away throwing water as it rocketed away.
"You did it."
Annabeth turned to face Jason as he came to stand beside her.
"What? Accidentally get blown away and bring back a Roman and a goddess?" She snorted. "It could have happened to any unfortunate soul."
He laughed and shook his head. His blonde hair was beginning to grow out and fell across his forehead. "No, I meant the Athena Parthenos. You got it back and it's on it's way to camp. You made that happen."
She turned away back towards the horizon where the stars were beginning to come out and shrugged.
"It doesn't feel like enough."
"Percy is a fighter. He made it back. Gods only knows what he saw or what he went through but he made it back and you were there just like he needed you to be."
"I don't feel like I've done enough. I just have this feeling, this knot in the pit of my stomach, like it's not quite over. He's back but I won't be sure he's back until he wakes up." With that she sighed and brushed a few blonde strands behind her ear. "Speaking of waking back up, I'm exhausted."
"We should get some sleep. I have a feeling that it'll be awhile before we get any more."
"I didn't know clairvoyance was a child of Jupiter power."
Jason's brows knit in confusion
She flashed Jason a smile and he laughed as he rolled his eyes at himself.
