(A/N) Thank you guys so much for all of the ideas! My brain gears have begun to spin again and I present you with this new chapter of Death's Darkness!

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO

3rd Person POV

Exodus was breathing hard, clenching and unclenching his fists. He lay face down on his bed, burying his face into the covers in order to mask his groans of pain. In and out. In and out. That's what he was always taught so he could shove down resistant hosts. It wasn't working too well. He let out another guttural groan as pains racked his body and a monstrous headache split his skull. His jaw was clenched and his fingernails dug into his palms to the point where blood began to slowly trickle down.

Perseus didn't go quietly; once the son of Poseidon was aware that there was something invading his mind, he did everything in his willpower to get Exodus out, but to no prevail. He was now incredibly weak, but still very much alive inside Exodus' head, when he should have just faded away entirely. Exodus let out a stream of unflattering curses as Percy gave another wrench, struggling in the mental chains that bound him.

STOP THRASHING! he barked.

Screw you. Percy snapped and heaved against the barriers that Exodus had erected to restrain him. Exodus let a moan escape his lips as the agony consumed him. The first law of being a Dragonborn Crawler: never let your host become powerful enough to begin fighting. The problem was that Percy had already been strong to begin with, and he simply refused to fade away. In some aspects, Exodus admired the son of Poseidon's perseverance, but it was mostly an annoyance; he had to handle migraines 24/7 and could barely focus with Percy shouting and cursing at him.

You'll never win, sea spawn. I am here to stay, you know, and I didn't go through all of this trouble of taking over just to succumb to you. Exodus snorted.

Well I won't succumb to you! Percy hissed in reply.

Just give up. It's not like you're going to regain control by sheer willpower. the parasite scoffed and added silently, Though you're doing a pretty damn good job of trying.

I will never EVER have you in my body! Get out. Get out! GET OUT! Percy's voice rose into a harsh screech, causing Exodus' ears to ring with a shrilling pulse, even though his room was silent as a grave. He could feel the son of Poseidon's determination, but he could also feel his utter desire to just give up and lie in a heap of o the side. Exodus screwed his eyes shut and let out another puff as the splitting headache didn't cease.

Stop struggling now! he demanded, struggling to regain control. Percy fought back with an intensity that Exodus had never experienced in a host before. Frustrated, the Dragonborn crawler sought out Percy's small desire to stop struggling and give up and seized it, molding and contorting it, causing it to strengthen. Exodus began to coax the fear and willingness to relinquish his hold on his body out of the son of Poseidon, pulling it and pushing it to the breaking point. He hoped that it would work, because all of the other times he tried it didn't. Percy's thrashing became for effortful and Exodus could hear his labored breathing.

Why wouldn't the little twerp understand that this was his body now? He had lay claim to it, and now he controlled it. What more was there to ask? Of course, Percy had been the one to slay Kronos and strike fear into the hearts of every monster. His name was in the stories that monsters told their children and in the myths that they whispered around campfires. Perseus Jackson was the phantom of the monster world, the demon in everyone's closet and under their beds. All the fiends and specters in Tartarus feared him more than death.

Of course, you couldn't describe how many people feared death, dreaded the unknown that may follow it. Was there another life? Was there simply…nothingness? However, monsters did regenerate over time, and most of them didn't even stay dead for more than a week, a month if the puny demigods were lucky. But that was the thing; why did the god spawn keep fighting when they knew monsters would always come back, more powerful than ever? Monsters don't die easily, whereas demigods, they remain all too mortal.

Exodus pondered this and allowed Percy to wear himself down. The pains began to lessen as the son of Poseidon tired; it took much more energy to resist against an invading parasite than it did to fight back a resilient host. His struggling became feebler, his demands to be set free turning more into pleads. Pretty soon Exodus could feel Percy collapsing from exhaustion, and with a mighty shove he crammed the son of Poseidon back into the depths of his prison.

Percy let out a forlorn whimper of agony that echoed throughout Exodus' skull; it was painful to be stuffed into the back of someone's head. His heart protested, but Exodus shoved Percy even farther, imagining his hands and feet bound by thick chains and his chest constricted by ropes, along with a gag around his mouth. The parasite could make out faint crying in the back of his mind, grief-stricken sobs that signaled Percy's surrender. Even so, Exodus knew his host would regain strength and begin to thrash and thrash again. Percy always came back, no matter how hard Exodus tried to make him disappear, no matter how voilently he shoved him back, Percy always returned.

Despite this, every time the son of Poseidon was back for more, he became weaker and weaker and weaker. Exodus hoped that in a few days he would be too weak to gather up the energy to start thrashing again.

Why? he heard his host whisper. Exodus internally groaned; the mental gag never lasted very long. Please answer. The parasite was surprised that it didn't sound like a demand. All it sounded like was a homesick boy; his voice was hollow and broken, full of submission.

It's my duty. Now shut up. Exodus spat, though it was rather half-hearted. Can you crawl farther back into your prison if you can?

I can't. My hands are chained. Percy replied quietly. There was a pause. Are my friends safe?

What? Exodus spluttered, astonished.

My friends. Are they safe?

Um… Exodus hesitated as he thought of Travis and Annabeth, their lifeless eyes staring into his soul. He shook the cold feeling off and concentrated on what Percy was saying. What was he doing? He shouldn't be conversing with his host! This was an embarrassment to the entirety of the Dragonborn crawlers!

My girlfriend? How is she doing? Have you convinced her that you're me and are now dating her? Please tell me she's okay. Percy pleaded. Exodus then hatched an idea, a very sinister one, at that, but it just might be enough to get Percy to give up entirely. It didn't even cost that much energy; all he had to do was tell the truth.

They're dead. the parasite growled, even though his soft heart was crying out in protest. He didn't want to break the son of Poseidon, but it had come to that. If he'd just relinquished control immediately, then he wouldn't have gotten into this situation. Percy's horror crashed into him like a wave.

W-w-what?

They're dead. Travis and Annabeth. I killed them.

You're lying!

Try me.

Tell me the truth! WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM!?

THEY'RE DEAD!

It's not true…

They're in the Underworld now.

Please tell me it's not true… Percy bubbled into tears, his body racked by sobs. You worked so hard to get to this point. the son of Poseidon growled in between cries of mourning. So I guess you deserve it! With that, he was gone. Exodus felt around inside his head. Nothing. The headaches and pains had subsides, but it was nothing compared to the emptiness inside Exodus' mind. It was just him in his head and his head alone.

Exodus ought to be joyful, but he wasn't. For some reason the hollowness in his head was worse than any pain Percy had inflicted upon him.