Chapter Two
What Belongs to the Sea
LUCAS POV
Andrew had a sword through his stomach. I'm talking all the way through. If people hadn't seen the battle, they might think his sister had stabbed him, since it was Andrea's sword. Well, I guess they wouldn't – if they really knew Andrea. I poured some nectar on Andrew's wound. That was all I knew to do. I wasn't sure if I should remove the weapon or not. I left that up to the medics for when they got here. Now that I had seen to him, I rushed to Andrea to inspect her. She was already unconscious. I assumed her back was the main problem since I had seen her land pretty hard. Carefully, I picked her up to lay her next to Andrew.
"Andrew! Andrea!"
Their mother ran towards us. Elizabeth led a group of campers down towards us as well. They carried weapons, but the fight was over.
"Oh gods, Lucas. What happened? Did they get in a fight with each other? Why did Andrea stab him?" Annabeth looked horrified.
"No, gorgons. They attacked Andrea. I guess they were summoned into camp somehow. Andrew noticed it first and signaled me. I got here right as Andrew was being stabbed by a gorgon. He had been trying to save Andrea from free falling to death. She fell a good twenty feet, I would guess, and landed flat on her back. My second guess is a spinal injury." I summed up.
"If we're lucky," she muttered. She was being sarcastic, but I heard the fear in her tone.
She took hold of Twilight and yanked it from Andrew's body. I grimaced, glad that he was unconscious. Next, she ripped Andrew's shirt off and wrapped it around his gaping flesh. I'd been waiting on the medics. Annabeth just went for it.
"So, what about you?" She asked.
I wasn't sure what she was talking about. "Huh?"
"Your arm."
I glanced at myself. Oh Styx! There was a giant scarred area with blood trickling out. I sniffed. Something was cooking. Ah, it was a burn.
"I must have burned myself summoning lightning. I don't know how I didn't feel that."
"Adrenaline," Annabeth informed me, "Sometimes blocks out pain when you focus really hard on something."
She moved aside as camp medics arrived, along with an entire Roman population. I must have missed something. Will and Kate also showed up in the frenzy of people.
"What happened?" Kate asked, pushing to the front, Will next to her. "I heard there was a- Oh my gods! Andie! Andrew!"
She covered her face burying it in Will's shoulder. She was shocked
"Why weren't we here, Will? We should have been with our family!"
"Shh, Kate, we didn't know! It's not our fault!"
His expression was just as pained. There was never a closer twin relationship than that one. Matilda finally made her way to the front and gasped as well.
"Will is right, Sweetie," Annabeth hugged her. "You couldn't have known. Besides, this isn't the only family issue we have. Your father has amnesia."
"What?"
Murmurs spread in the Camp Half-Blood crowd. I guess Camp Jupiter already knew this. Great day all around.
"He was attacked by Kronos. When he woke, he didn't even know his own name. I think he can eventually, slowly, regain the memories, but maybe not in time to fight in the war..."
Oh, bloody Hades. We were doomed. He was the main one spoken of in the Prophecy. Wait. The Prophecy!
"No, no!" I cried. "That is exactly what we need!"
Annabeth twisted around.
"What the Hades do you mean?" She asked sharply.
"The time of mindly loss shall show, the way to fight against the foe! From the Prophecy itself! Percy, uh, Mr. Jackson was supposed to lose his memory!"
Annabeth's eyes widened.
"Yes! Why didn't I see that!"
She hugged me tight
"Would you go to the infirmary with Andrea and Andrew?" She asked, "Unfortunately, I have other big issues to deal with."
She turned her gaze to Percy. I nodded and followed the medics in the direction of the infirmary.
ANNABETH POV
"Reyna, assign that Legion to the woods that you have, and you can come with me. Chiron will want to know you are here."
Reyna gave instructions to her legions and turned back to me.
"Lead the way."
"Percy, you come with us."
"Okay, darling!" He giggled.
Oh gods, I had to get him back to normal. We met Chiron in the Big House foyer.
"Reyna, Praetor of the Roman Legion." He paused, "Where is your second?"
I was taken aback. It had only now occurred to me that I hadn't seen a second praetor.
"Yes, who is it?" I inquired.
Reyna pursed her lips.
"Frank Zhang, believe it or not. However, he and Hazel took a leave of absence this week. A 'second honeymoon' or something." She made air quotes.
"Maybe we should have a second honeymoon," Percy said. "I don't remember our first!" He giggled again like he had told the best joke in the world.
Chiron glanced at Percy in a confused way.
"What ails him?"
I gave him the rundown.
"Annabeth, I know of one option. The River Lethe."
"Wh-no! That destroys memories! Besides, Percy can't touch the water!"
Chiron flicked his tail.
"No, child. He can if he does not know who he is. His soul has been reaped. And the River Lethe controls memories, Annabeth. It does not necessarily always compress. If memories are already hidden, then it brings them to surface. If the River accepts him, his soul might can be retuned to his body."
Reyna chimed in.
"So, we bring him to the Underworld and deposit him in the River and his mind will be restored?"
"Gods willing."
"Given the circumstances, I think they will," I said. "Percy, honey, come on. We're taking a honeymoon in Hell."
Luckily, we had found local entrance to Hades. Well, actually, after more thought, I'm not sure if being closer to a path to eternal damnation is all that lucky. Regardless, we did have the entrance to Hades. And naturally, we descended into it.
"It's dark in here," Percy whimpered. "Will you hold my hand?"
I held it, and he gripped my palm tightly. I wished I had someone else with me. I had come by myself with only Percy. Reyna needed to stay behind and lead her troops. And we were short-handed everywhere else. I checked my supplies bag again and made sure I had everything. A child of Athena is always prepared.
"Don't worry, Percy. We're almost there." I reassured him. Sure enough, in a few minutes we reached the River.
"That's a big river!" Percy exclaimed.
I nodded. I watched the waters churn, my stomach doing the same. Something felt wrong. Maybe it was just the fact that we were in Hades. I just had a feeling that we were being watched.
"Yes, it is! Do you want to go swimming in it?" I tried to sound enthusiastic. I trusted Chiron, I had no reason not to, but I really didn't like this plan.
"I don't have a bathing suit!" He complained. Thankfully, I had suspected this. I had brought one. I produced it from my bag.
"That's red and blue. I want a green Ninja Turtles one."
Un-thankfully, I hadn't suspected this. I groaned
"Listen, Percy. This is the only pair you have. Do you really want to forfeit a swim just because it's not your favorite swim suit?"
He curled his lips and furrowed his brow, his amnesiac, six-year-old brain power trying to make this tough decision.
"Okay." He grabbed the trunks. "But don't look while I change!"
I complied. Soon, he was ready.
"I'm gonna do a cannonball!" He announced.
"Okay, I'm watching!" I encouraged, holding my breath and staying hopeful. He ran, jumped, tucked his legs in, and...
SPLASH!
A cold wind blew past, sending shivers up and down my body. I felt weird. I searched the surface of the Lethe. Momentarily, Percy's head bobbed to the surface. He gazed about, scanning his surroundings.
"What the Hades..."
He saw me. He stepped from the water, dry. I swallowed. Had it worked?
"Percy?" I questioned, tentatively.
"What the Hades am I doing in...Hades?"
My spirits soared. My inner self was dancing. I attached myself to him in a hug. He knew enough to know where he was!
"Do you remember everything?"
"I-I was hit by Kronos. Where is he, Annabeth?" He scowled
I told him all the key parts of the story, leaving off the most embarrassing things out, but he still blushed. I was saving those for later. I also gave him my idea on defeating the armies.
"We need to get back!" He said. Stating the obvious. Oh, yeah, he was definitely back.
"I know. Lucas is with our kids. And do you think doing that with Kronos will work?"
"Well, you thought of it during the time of my mindly loss, so...odds are in our favor."
I laughed, but the darkness of the Underworld soaked it in. Deathly silence filled the space. I shivered again, feeling eyes boring through to my soul.
"Let's get out of here." Percy said, fidgeting because of the cruel silence. I agreed.
LUCAS POV
Both Jacksons were still out cold. I sat between both of them, holding Andrea's hand. I didn't really think Andrew would want me to hold his. The twins came around every once-in-a-while with Matilda, but they had trainer duties to attend. They were geniuses, and that's not putting it lightly. It had been hours since the attack. Andrea wore a back brace, while Andrew had giant patches covering his wounds. They were stained with blood, and they had to be changed every so often. They had given me a dressing for my burn. The medic, Will, came back, and began working on Andrew.
"Styx..."
I frowned.
"What's wrong with him?"
Will looked up.
"His blood finally clotted, but, he's lost too much. He won't pull through without a blood transfusion. O negative. The twins don't have that, and Percy and Annabeth aren't here."
I swallowed. I had that. I think.
"Uh, that's my type." I said
"Are you sure?
I nodded.
"Pretty sure."
My parents had made sure I knew every little detail. Normally, I would consider it over protective. But with parentage, you couldn't take chances.
"Okay, then come over here and lie down. I'll get the equipment."
I obeyed. Camp Half-Blood's infirmary had really upgraded and was now a full-blown hospital. Will returned and after a little bit of prep, took my blood.
"Normally, I shouldn't take blood from someone who has an open wound, because, well you know, infection and such, but we don't have any more options here. He'll be dead before I had enough time to find someone else. I'm not letting Percy's child die. The last time he lost someone he cared about…"
Will shuddered. I got a feeling that there was a lot more to Andrea's family than I had realized.
"Alright. You might feel a bit dizzy." He handed me a Coke. "Drink this slowly. Stand up only if you feel like it. Nothing strenuous for at least the rest of the day."
He moved positions and began the transfusion. I went back to my previous seat between them, and gripped Andrea's hand again. Just then, my parents entered. They both loved wearing solid black. If people didn't know better, they'd probably consider them "goth" or whatnot.
"Mom? Dad?"
"Lucas! We've been so worried! You were supposed to be home an hour ago! We get here, and they say you're in the infirmary!"
My mom hugged me tightly, oblivious to Andrew and Andrea. My dad noticed them.
"What happened? We tried calling."
I pulled my phone, well, electronic pieces, out of my pocket. I must have shocked it to bits.
I gave them my version of the story. They were not pleased.
"Next time let us know, Lucas."
"Yes Ma'am." I answered
"But, besides that, we're staying at Camp." Dad said. "The Third Great Prophecy has begun."
Suddenly, I felt a squeeze on my hand. I pivoted quickly
"D-Daddy?"
"No, Andrea. It's Lucas."
Her eyes opened fully, and she gave a weak smile.
"Lukey...thanks...for saving...me."
"Shh. Just rest, Andie."
She nodded and lay back down. Right when her head hit the pillow, Andrew gasped.
"Where is Andrea? Is she okay?!"
"Andrew, calm down. She's right here. You are both fine." I told him, moving out of the way so he could see her. He breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed. He winced, croaking his words out.
"Thanks, Lucas."
"No problem."
Will placed his hands on Andrew's chest, pushing him back down.
"You need rest really badly," he informed Andrew.
My mom was staring at me lovingly. She seemed to be in a dreamlike state.
"Mom..."
"When did we raise such a fantastic kid?" She marveled.
Dad coughed. "He gets it from me."
Mom snorted.
"You wish, Death Breath"
I smiled, wishing that the rest of my life could be simple.
PERCY POV
That was not a fun experience. I prayed I never had to go through that again. I've had amnesia before, but this time it had been different. It was like I had been given a different life. I had memories, but they were of someone else. I had no desire to remember anything else. I shuddered. On the plus side, we had an interesting idea to destroy the Titans and Giants. It had definitely never been done before. I was worried about my children though. I hated the gorgons more than ever, if that's even possible. We had my dad to thank for them...and Athena too, I guess. Why couldn't she have just killed Medusa instead of making a monster? Too late now. And Annabeth, how did she feel about- ugh! ADHD! I walked close to Annabeth on the way back to Camp. She seemed hesitant to be close to me. At the top of Half-Blood hill, my mom stood with Paul, trying to signal to somebody that they were here.
"Mom!" I exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
She twisted around. Her stomach showed underneath her top. I stared.
"We haven't see you in months, Percy!"
"I can tell...you put on a ton of weight!" I cursed myself for letting that slip out. I winced. I wished I thought before I spoke sometimes. Annabeth socked my arm.
"Percy!"
My mom laughed.
"It's okay, Annabeth, I'm pregnant."
Uh, what?
"No." Was all I said. "Impossible! You're like...sixty something!"
"It has to be a blessing from the gods! It's a boy. I am very old to be having another child, though. I mean, I might not be around long enough to raise him!"
My mom had a weird expression on her face. It was as if she was trying to warn us about something. Just as quickly, though, it faded. I was still shocked, as was Annabeth, who still hadn't said anything. I had a sister and brother already. Now, I would have another brother.
"Uh, well Mom... come on in. I'm sure the kids will want to know."
We hadn't seen her in so long that we didn't know she was eight months pregnant. I had an odd feeling that somehow, for some reason, we had been kept apart on purpose.
