XVI

Percy

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the horrible stomach ache, the second was the creepy zombie guy looking down on me. I blinked away the dizziness trying to make sure I was seeing things right. When my vision cleared I wish it hadn't. A hooded figure with milky white skin, slits for eyes, and a sewn up mouth was looking intently down at me. How he could see me when he had no eyes I have no idea. I started to panic, and I tensed up my hand reaching for riptide before I realized I was wearing different clothes with no pockets.

"Relax son of Poseidon I won't harm you." A sing-song voice rang in my mind that immediately calmed my nerves. I knew zombie dude was probably using magic on me, but I was in so much pain I didn't really care besides I was pretty much defenseless without riptide.

"How do you feel?" zombie dude asked. It felt weird to have him speaking in my mind, but I was so used to horses and fish speaking in my mind it didn't really freak me out that much. Besides it's not like he could use his mouth right? In my delusional mind I wondered what kind of horrible things you could have said in your life to get your mouth literally sewn shut. I guess soap didn't work in this guy's case.

I sat up into a sitting position, and immediately I felt the sting in my side, and tried not to grimace in pain. As I started talking to the expressionless monk, memories started flooding my mind.

"Annabeth!" I yelled suddenly tense again. "Where is she? Is she alright? I-I.." I started but was soon cut off by the monk again, as he reached out to hold a hand against my forehead as if checking for a temperature. His hand was icy cold, and made me relax again somewhat.

"The daughter of Athena is fine, we have her staying in another room. My name is Brother Nicholas one of the nephilim healers as you would perceive." He said. I just nodded, but on the inside I was still freaking out. I had to find her, and see if she was alright. Brother Nicholas seemed honest but we were still in enemy territory as far as I knew. The last thing I remembered was seeing those grinning gargoyles of the Institute staring at me.

"You are in the hospital wing of the Institute. You are very lucky to be alive seeing as we had to use some rather unconventional methods. Although it appeared as if your wound was already partially healed when you arrived, we suspected that you had already eaten some of your stash of ambrosia on your person." The monk mused. I just nodded what really happened was I used some of that river water to heal me. I wasn't sure if it would work or not considering how polluted and nasty it was, but apparently it did help.

"What kind of unconventional methods?" I asked curiously. Brother Nick (Nicholas is way too long) moved away from me towards the nightstand, and poured a glass of water.

"Normally we would use our steles and apply marks of healing, or other spells. Because you are not one of us the marks would harm you instead of heal. If we tried to use a stele on you it would have been like branding a cow. The stele would turn your skin black wherever it touched, and it would cause you an intense burning pain. The mark would be a permanent scar. Our spells would have no effect on you, and any other shadowhunter medicine has the potential to kill you as well. So we had to use mundane forms of healing, and lots of water seeing as you seemed to have an affinity for it." He saidas he gave me the glass. I took it gratefully, and downed the glass greedily as it quenched my dry throat.

"So what happens now? Am I a prisoner? Why did you even let us live?" I asked rapid fire questions.

'We nephilim are like your Gods in a way. Our way of life hasn't changed much over the millennia, and our actions have always been the same. When we fear, or fail to understand something we are quick to consider it a threat. When we are threatened we destroy, it is what we do to keep humanity and ourselves safe. In our misunderstandings we sometimes fail to adhere to our most basic laws and even human morale. Your friend Jace reminded us of that, and spoke much on your behalf." Brother Nick said thoughtfully. I swallowed I didn't know what to say to that. Jace actually stood up for me despite all the trouble he could get into. He always put off that aura of self-riotousness like he didn't really care about others, but I knew that wasn't all true. I was pretty hard on him that last couple of days. I was so angry and distraught I know I treated him pretty coldly and now I felt bad for that.

"How is he? He's not in too much trouble is he?" I asked uncertainly I really didn't want him to get in trouble because of me.

"I'm afraid that like you and the other demigod he is a prisoner. They have placed him in the Silent City where you and Miss Annabeth will join him when you're well enough. That is where you'll stay until your trial." He said gravelly. I narrowed my eyes Jace told me about that place once. It sounded just like your typical dark, creepy dungeon. Brother Nick started to leave.

"Wait!" I called after him. I still wasn't sure if I could trust him but considering he healed me and answered my questions he couldn't be too bad. "How do you think the trial will go? I mean I know they've had the change of heart to let me live and hear me out, but how much of a chance do I really have on coming up with a peaceful terms?" I asked doubtfully. If it was possible the monk actually looked thoughtful and took a while before answering.

"I have had the opportunity to look into your past Perseus Jackson. I personally believe that you don't intend to harm mortals, but to protect them as we do. However, the clave doesn't see it that way. They see a liability in you. A boy who is much too powerful and irresponsible to be allowed to live among mortals. You may be able to speak upon your kind's behalf and save them from our force, but you may have to be the one to pay the price. They'll want to make an example a martyr out of you. Let's just hope that you and your friend's tongues are as sharp as your weapons." He said and with that he turned and left.

I looked down at my hands, my mind mulling over this new information and just about everything. I really wanted to see Annabeth, and I thought about sneaking out to go find her but I figured that might ruin my already tainted image of being a good guy to these shadowhunters. Now all that was left to do was wait, and for an ADHD kid waiting was almost as bad as Tartarus.