Chapter Twenty

Agony

PERCY POV

(Twenty Years Later)

I grunted as I propped myself up on my mattress. The doorbell sounded again.

"What the Hades do you want?" I yelled angrily. "I don't want any damn visitors!"

There was a moment of silence before the bell rang once more. I muttered some more curses under my breath, forcing myself out of bed and towards the door. I flung it open. The mailman stood there looking up at me through his thick-rimmed glasses.

"Uh, Mr. Jackson, I found this letter shoved behind one of my seats. It was supposed to be delivered a few weeks ago."

I snatched the envelope and slammed the door, stalking into the kitchen, clutching the letter hard, wrinkling the paper. I smacked it down onto the table before ever reading the outside of it. I swallowed when I did, reading over the all-to-familiar cursive.

"Oh, gods, no, no, no, no," I groaned, gingerly picking it back up and attempting to straighten the wrinkles. I had just ruined one of the last things Annabeth had left me. I didn't know what this was for. Annabeth hadn't written a letter in years. She hadn't been able to. This had to have been lost in the mail. A wave of emotion hit me as I carefully opened the envelope, making sure to not tear the writing.

Hey, Percy!

The most amazing woman in your life here. Rome is great! I know we've been here before, but I still act like a child discovering new things every time I come. Reyna is here with me and so is Andrew. The Prophecy Ella was talking about turned out to be bogus, but Tyson was relieved. Anyway, I can't wait for you to get here next week after you finish with Camp training. (seriously, though, I've been telling you to "retire" from that. You're getting old!) Also, I hope you don't mind me writing this. I didn't think about your dyslexia until after I started writing, so I'll keep it short. I love you and I miss you!

As if you didn't already know,

Annabeth

More than a single tear found its way to my cheeks, anger flooding all over me again. Annabeth had expected me to meet up with her, but I never made it in time. She had been killed and my son, who had been with her, was unable to help her. Andrew blamed himself and ran off. I hadn't seen him since. No one had, actually. It wasn't his fault, I knew that. It was the Fates. They promised me agony, and what better way to bring that upon me except my having my wife die at the hands of the Minotaur, thus breaking up my family. It was an ultimate slap in the face. I remember what Calypso told me when I was younger. The Fates are Cruel. I sank to the floor, crying. I had lost my mom and Paul a few years back, and now this. I hadn't even seen Andrea since their death, or even the twins. I was alone in the world. It seemed almost as if I would rather be in Tartarus, so there would at least be some company. Oh, and Grover. He and Juniper had moved to another country all-together, even though he still Iris-messages me every once in a while.

The floor grew warmer as I sat there rocking back and forth. The only thing that snapped me out of my daze was the sound of the doorbell again. I composed myself and went to answer.

"G-Grover?" I stuttered, "Wha-how?" He cut me off with a large embrace.

"I'm so sorry, Perce" He said

"How do you know? Did you hear from Camp or something?" I asked bitterly.

"No, Percy! Our empathy link! I can detect your emotions, and they were further off the charts than when your mom died, so I could only assume..." he trailed off. "Aw, Styx, Percy, I didn't mean to bring that up."

"It's fine."

"Oh, gods, I'm an awful Satyr. An Awful friend"

"No," I said. "Don't beat yourself up."

He groaned. "Let me get my stuff. I'm staying for a few days." He headed back outside and I watched him leave, grateful that I had a friend.

I stood, staring emptily at the gravestone. It was beautiful, just like Annabeth was. She would have been proud. That seems like such an odd sentence to say, that the deceased would be proud of something they're to be buried in. The sky was dark. I shouldn't be out this late. But I knew that the time didn't matter to me anymore.

"Hey, Dad."

I flinched, startled by the voice. I turned, to see who spoke.

"Andrea?" I questioned. Realizing I was right, I grew angry. "Where the Hades have you been? You missed the whole damn thing!"

I stepped closer to confront her, but my anger melted when I saw her. My baby girl, tear-stained cheeks, red puffy eyes, and the most sorrowful look I had ever seen.

"Oh gods, Daddy!"

She flung herself into my arms. I held her, sobbing also. I couldn't stay angry.

"I've missed both of you so much, and...and now..."

"Sh, sh, baby. It's alright. You're here now, and I love you. It wasn't your fault! You can't change anything...no matter how much we want to."

She held onto my waist, her head buried in my chest. I kissed the top of her head.

"Where's Lucas? And my grandkid?"

"I asked for some alone time. I just-".

"Dad? Andrea?"

We both turned to meet the newcomers. The twins stood in the doorway.

" Will, Kate!"

"I blamed myself, Dad, but I figured out it wasn't my fault, yet, I still feel like I should have been able to do something. I mean, I had been with her the whole day, but right when I decide to leave..."

My entire family embraced for a hug. We didn't speak for a while, apologies being made silently, just by being in each other's presence. Andrea broke the quiet.

"I'm so sorry, Daddy! I made Lucas and I leave you and Mom. I was selfish, and I should have listened to you!"

She broke down into sobs.

"Now, Andrea, don't cry anymore on me!"
I wasn't sure how to comfort her anymore, but I tried. I placed my hand on her back and rubbed small circles.

"There, Andie, it's all going to be fine now."

"Oh, Daddy, I'm not a child anymore."

I smiled for the first time in a while. But it was bittersweet.

"You'll always be my baby."

"Dad, we're all sorry. We want to be here for you from now on." Kate said. Everyone nodded in agreement. I smiled again as nostalgia flooded back to me. Everything really was going to be all right.

Kate started to cry with Andrea. I comforted them the only way I knew how.

"Hush, little baby, don't you cry,

Daddy's Gonna bake you an Apple Pie...

I continued singing. I saw Annabeth's smiling face.

Well, Seaweed Brain, what are you waiting for? I'm right here!

I smiled, my arm growing stiffer, and colder, with every verse.