I don't own PJO
Chapter 12
Austin's POV
"How is she Doc?" I asked Doctor Pallas.
"As of now she's stabilized, but she could get worse. Make sure you keep a close eye on her and if anything changes call me immediately." I nodded, "The only thing that will cure her is Aphrodite taking the curse away."
"Aphrodite?" I asked curiously.
The doctor nodded, "I've seen these symptoms a few times. This is one of her favorite curses. Zeus can take it away, but that is not very likely. Aphrodite normally uses it on someone who has made her extremely angry. Did you or Zoey do something?"
"I don't think so." I said slowly then I remembered Aphrodite's last words to me before I walked away from her. "Well now that I think about it, she thinks I did something, but I didn't." Dr. Pallas nodded.
"Make sure she takes her medicine. After a while she will begin to get stronger and she will be able to move around, but if she doesn't she will be right back to where she started, and this time I may not be able to save her." I nodded and walked the doctor to the door.
"Thanks Doc." I said. She put a hand on my shoulder in a comforting way and left. I sighed and went to give Zoey her medicine.
"Austin." She said feebly after she had swallowed the pill.
"Yeah Zo?" I asked.
"Will you make me some soup?"
"Of course, I'll be right back."
She nodded, "Don't try and make from scratch. There should be a bunch of cans in one of the cupboards."
I smiled my thanks and left her room closing the door behind me. "Soup. Where does she keep the soup?" I opened up most of the cabinets until I found the right one. "Ah ha!" I said triumphantly grinning. I quickly warmed it up a brought it to her.
"Thank you." she whispered.
"No problem. After you finish try and get some sleep ok? I'll pick up the bowl in the morning." I said turning on her lamp then turning off her overhead light. "Goodnight Zoey." I said closing her door. I heard her mumble a reply before it was shut completely.
I sat down on the couch in the small living room and turned on the TV keeping the volume down low. The only thing on was reruns of the Olympics of old, and I didn't really want to watch a bunch of dudes run around naked. So TV was out. I decided instead to put in a movie. Percy had a pretty good genre of them. Mostly action, but a few chick flicks which I assumed were either Zoey's or Annabeth's.
I was just getting to the really good part of Iron Man when the door bell rang. At first I was just irritated because it had interrupted my movie, then I remembered that Zoey was trying to sleep and my irritation rose higher. I quickly checked on Zoey to make sure she was still asleep then I went down stairs before the intruder could make any more noise.
I opened the door and to my surprise Zachery Jackson stood at the door with a backpack slung over his shoulder. I glared at him. "What are you doing here?"
Zach looked just as surprised as I was. "Austin." He said in disbelief. I grunted, "Is Zoey here?"
"She is." I crossed my arms and blocked his view of the inside of the store.
"Can I see her?" he asked becoming slightly irritated.
"No." I glared at him and stood my ground. We were the same height now, and I knew that if it came to a fight I could probably take him.
"Why not." He growled.
"Because." I answered. He can't just waltz in here and expect to see her. Especially after how torn up she was after he left. After how torn up the both of us were. I had looked up to him, but now he could grovel at my feet for what he's done to her.
"She's my sister. This is my father's store, and as I'm his son I have a right to be able to see her."
"No." I laughed in his face. I couldn't believe him.
"Let me talk to my father." He said glaring at me.
I laughed again mockingly, "Ok, go to Hades."
"Dude just let me talk to my father!"
"He's dead idiot! You can't see Percy, and I won't let you see Zoey! Especially not now." I yelled at him throwing my hands up.
"He can't be dead." Zach said staring at me in disbelief.
"Well he is. This is Zoey's place now. Not yours." I regained my cool.
"Let me see her." He said trying to push his way in.
"No!" I shouted pushing him back.
"She's my freaking sister! I have to see her! I have to know!" he yelled a crazy look coming into his eyes. I defiantly wouldn't let him in like that.
"In your dreams." I said coldly.
"I've already seen her there." He growled. "I have to know."
"Well come back when your dead then maybe I might let you pass through the walls, but there is no way in Hades that I'm letting you in now!"
"Austin?" a voice croaked behind me. I turned around to see Zoey in her pajamas clutching the railing on the stairs for dear life. Zoey stumbled and I left the door to go and catch her.
"What are you doing down here?" I asked pushing a strand of hair out of her eyes.
"I heard shouting. I wanted to make sure you were ok." She whispered.
"I'm fine." I said looking into her eyes. She gave me a weak smile and began to cough. I heard Zach's foot step through the door. "Stay right there." I growled to him as I turned to look at him. I picked Zoey up and started to walk up the stairs.
"Who's there?" she asked concerned.
"No one you need to worry about." I said calmly pushing down my anger.
"Who's there." She repeated forcefully.
I sighed, "Zach." I say her eyes begin to tear up, and her face contort in pain. My heart broke for her.
"Don't let him see me." She whispered as a tear slid down her cheek, "I can't bear to see him."
"I won't." I promised as I lay her back down in her bed, "Promise me you'll stay here this time. Not matter what happens." She nodded tiredly. "Night Zo." By the time I closed the door Zoey was already asleep.
I returned to the front door where Zach stood there waiting, "Do you see what you've done to her?" I hissed. Zach didn't answer me; he just stared at the spot where he had seen his sister.
"I didn't know." he croaked. "My dream…" he trailed off stunned. Then he sank to his knees, "It's all my fault." He kept whispering over and over. I wanted to comfort him, but at the same time I was still so angry with him. So I did nothing. Zach suddenly looked at me with tears dripping off his face. "Please," he begged, "I have to see her. I have to tell her how sorry I am for not believing. For leaving her, for leaving you both, you were my family, and I left you. I have to let her know."
I felt pity for the boy groveling before me. I wanted to say no. I wanted to send him away more broken than he had come, but I couldn't. "She doesn't want to see you, but I can talk to her in the morning. You can sleep on the couch in the living room."
Zach stood up, "Thank you. I'm truly sorry Austin." I nodded and led him upstairs. After grabbing him an extra blanket and pillow I went to bed myself. It takes a lot to make someone like Zach cry, I thought before drifting off to sleep.
Oooo tension! Mwahahaha! ;) what happens next? Review and find out! Thanks for reading!
~chocoyum4~
