Despite declaring the need to talk, Percy and Annabeth were both quite comfortable standing in silence as they held each other desperately, believing that if they let go the other would disappear. Annabeth rested her head against Percy's chest, listening to the comforting sound of his heartbeat. She hadn't felt this at peace since he had disappeared.
Reluctantly she pulled away. "How do you remember? Jason only just started remembering bits and pieces."
Percy shrugged. "I did something incredibly dangerous and stupid as usual and got them back. You should find out how in the book."
Annabeth smiled fondly. "Of course you did." She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out the ring. "And now that everyone knows about this," she slipped it on her finger, "I can wear it."
Percy grabbed her hand and kissed the ring before holding her hand against his cheek. He sighed. "I missed you so much."
Annabeth felt tears prickling her eyes. "I missed you too." She managed to choke out. She lunged forward and captured his lips with her own, her desperation bleeding into her aggressive kiss.
Meanwhile, younger Percy and Annabeth were having their own discussion away from prying ears.
The atmosphere between them was strained and awkward for once. Both refusing to look the other in the eye as they shifted around nervously.
"So…" Percy drifted off, his eyes finding a spot on the wall above her left shoulder.
"Yeah…" Annabeth bit her lip, her gaze drifting down to her shoes as she scuffed them on the immaculate floor.
"This is crazy!" Percy burst out, not able to stand the awkwardness any longer. "We are best friends, we should be able to talk about this."
"Talk about the fact that we apparently get together and are practically engaged within two months from now? Or about the fact that after those two months you get kidnapped by the Queen of the Gods, get put to sleep for months and have your memory wiped? Let's not forget that you then end up in a camp for Romans, the enemies of the Greeks. So, yeah. Let's talk about it!" Annabeth finished in a rush, her breathing labored. Her eyes were wide with panic over all the things that were going to happen to them.
Percy stared at her with wide eyes during her rant before yanking her into a hug. His hand cupped the back of her head as he pulled her close. "It's going to be ok. We received these books so that we could change all this. It doesn't have to be this way." He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat, knowing he had to get the next bit out or he would regret it. "Although… us getting together... not exactly something I want to change."
Annabeth froze. Her heart was beating erratically in her chest and her palms were suddenly clammy. Slowly she pulled her head away from his chest and stared into his eyes. "Do you really mean that? You're not just saying that because of what we read in the books are you?"
Percy shook his head. His heart was beating out a samba against his rib cage. "I really mean it. That is," he said quickly, "if you want. You don't have to. If you don't feel that way –"
Percy's rambling was cut off when Annabeth's lips crashed onto his. He embarrassingly squeaked in surprise before his eyes flew shut and he enjoyed the moment.
It was over sooner than he'd have liked. Annabeth gently pulled away, leaving both her and Percy slightly breathless. "Does that answer your question?"
Percy smiled before he gripped her neck and pulled her in for a repeated performance.
Ten minutes later everyone reconvened in the throne room to continue reading. Athena was glaring at both Percys with murderous intent as she had a feeling on what they were both doing during the break. Perce was snuggled up against Anna on the loveseat and seemed oblivious to the Wisdom Goddess's glare. Percy and Annabeth were squished together on a different couch, in between Grover and Thalia, both of their faces tinged pink.
Zeus cleared his throat unnecessarily. "Who would like to read next?"
Hades grunted, earning him surprised looks all around. If this young girl was indeed his daughter, then he wanted to be the one reading. Zeus passed the book to him as they all settled in comfortably.
VI Hazel
HAZEL WAS … kissed her on the cheek.
Nick stiffened. Who was Sammy and why was he kissing his sister?!
Percy noticed and had to stifle his grin. Nico really was acting like a big brother.
The day had … a lot of other names.
Both Percys glared at the book. They hated bullies.
That had been … spreading about Hazel's curse.
The school was … thin veneer of kindness.
"Aren't all schools?" Thalia asked jokingly.
Percy and Grover chuckled. Yancey Academy immediately came to mind.
Hazel didn't understand … approach them on the playground.
Perce, Percy, Nick and Nico stiffened in outrage. Nick and Nico because no one should treat their sister like that. Percy because he has always been against bullying. And Perce because Hazel was his friend. Someone he sort of considered family.
Despite how horrible … and that was enough.
Grover smiled unwillingly. He knew what that was like. He was always picked on whenever he had to go to school to protect a demigod. He normally just had to ride it out alone until it was safe for him to extract the godling. When he went to Yancey to protect Percy, he never thought that Percy would stand up for him from the bullies and then become his best friend. Of course he didn't know Percy that well then. He ended up making that year at school bearable for Grover.
Sammy liked to … double scholarship," he said.
Leo burst out laughing, earning him a few scolding looks from the Gods sans Hermes and Apollo who laughed along with him. This Sammy reminded him of the stories his mother would tell him about his great grandfather, Sammy.
He wasn't big … he made Hazel laugh.
That afternoon he'd … while they'd go riding.
Hazel loved horses.
Perce grinned. No wonder she took to Arion so well. Despite Arion's foul language.
They seemed to be the only living things that weren't scared of her.
Nico's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Horses don't like me much though."
Thalia smirked. "Maybe it's just you."
He glared while his friends tried to muffle their snickers.
People hated her. … She almost felt free of her curse.
"She makes gemstones appear?!" Leo shouted excitedly, momentarily forgetting they already had this discussion. "Dude, she must be rich!"
Piper smacked his arm. "Aren't you listening at all Repair Boy? Those gems are obviously not good!"
Leo pouted and rubbed his sore arm. "Dude," he turned to Jason, "your girlfriend hit me!"
Jason didn't bat an eye. "Good."
Leo crossed his arms and slouched down his seat. "I need to find better friends."
That afternoon, … a gorgeous black mane.
"Like Spirit?" Piper asked with a smile. She looked around at all the blank faces staring back at her. "You know? The movie? Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron? No?" Her cheeks turned pink and she slouched down low. Jason chuckled and put his arm around her comfortingly.
She galloped into … were both winded.
"What are you … that ugly, am I?"
"Leo is." Thals said with a smirk.
Leo playfully glared at her. "I'll have you know that this," he gestured towards himself, "is irresistible to the ladies."
Thalia raised an eyebrow. "Then what does that make us?" she gestured to all the females present.
Leo jutted out his chin mockingly. "Blind."
The girls snickered while the Goddesses narrowed their eyes.
It was too cold … it in half and shared it.
Perce and Anna shared a secret smile. They shared a birthday cupcake too.
Sammy talked about … a soldier going overseas.
"No one should wish to fight in a war." Perce said, his voice laced with sadness as he remembered all his fallen friends.
The others in the room all bowed their heads in an undiscussed moment of silence for those they had lost. The Gods, too, bowed their heads as they remembered all their children that either died fighting against Kronos, or died fighting for him.
"'Course, dummy," she said.
He grinned. Then, as if moved by a sudden impulse, he lurched forward and kissed her on the cheek. "Happy birthday, Hazel."
Nico and Nick glared. "Hands off my sister." They looked at each other in slight surprise before turning back to the book.
It wasn't much… never see him again.
The room grew somber at the declaration.
By the time … replaced by dread.
Hazel and her mother… the famous grisgris queen.
"Did you hear… voodoo woman is crazy!"
For a while… her tab with a ruby.
Annabeth had her hands over her mouth in horror. "Oh no! That poor girl is going to blame herself for all that!"
"How do you know?" Jason knew she was right but he wanted to know how she came to that conclusion.
"Because I know this one," she pointed to a sad looking Percy, "and he would blame himself in a heartbeat."
Folks started whispering … gave Hazel resentful looks.
Thalia glared. "It's not her fault! Hazel didn't ask to be cursed!" Hazel's mother was reminding her of her own. And that was not a good comparison.
Hades frowned. Marie had known what Hazel's powers were capable of. She had asked him specifically for Hazel to receive those powers. She had only thought of the jewels. If Hades could, none of his children would ever suffer having those certain abilities.
Hazel climbed … smell of melting butter.
When she got … as if in a trance.
Hazel had seen … doing a show for money.
Apollo looked stricken. "Excuse me?! Not real?! I'll have you know that it is real! She is despicable. How dare she?!" He looked angry which was not an expression usually found on his face.
But Hazel knew … she had made Hazel the way she was.
Hades paused so slightly nobody had noticed. Marie was the reason Hazel was the way she was.
"It was your blasted father,"
Hades scowled. He had warned Marie about the consequences of that ability, but she wouldn't listen. She wanted money. She wanted fame. And damn Hades and their daughter, she was going to get it.
Queen Marie would … turned out this way."
Hades ground his teeth together, the look on his face scaring everyone in the room. Even his own brothers.
She would never … made her mother angrier.
As Hazel watched… if she really were a queen.
"You'll be safe there," she murmured. "Far from the gods."
Hazel stifled a … a hypnotist giving orders.
Perce stiffened. He knew that voice.
Queen Marie tensed… He told me not to."
Perce scowled. "Alaska."
Heads swiveled in his direction, causing him to blush slightly. He said that out loud?
"Alaska?" Anna asked. "How would you know what she was talking about? What about Alaska?"
Perce bit his lip. "If I told you now, it would just ruin the book. Best to read it."
Anna narrowed her eyes but conceded his point.
The other … a queen at last."
Queen Marie winced. "But what about Hazel…"
"Maybe she does care…?" Leo asked hopefully.
Then her face … "A poisoned child."
His shoulders slumped. "Never mind."
Hazel fled down … strong, cold fingers.
"Easy, child… the folds of his clothes.
"Dad?" Both Nico's asked in surprise. Since when did he do house visits? Since when did he visit at all?
His tie was black … Hitler's twin—or his father.
"I was his father, actually." Hades grinned sarcastically.
Leo's eyes were wide along with Piper's. Everyone else barely reacted because they either knew that already or had suspected it.
Hazel tried … eyes froze her in place.
Nico shuddered. "They are pretty terrifying."
"Hazel Levesque… He bent down.
"Don't!" Hazel cried. "It's cursed!"
He picked up … I imagine you hate me."
Percy winced. He remembered the brief time when he was twelve and hated his father. He couldn't understand why his dad had been missing his whole life and only claimed him because he needed help. Of course, Percy now knew it wasn't that simple.
Hazel didn't understand. … and ruined her life.
Her eyes widened. "You? You're my…"
He cupped his … must make provisions—"
She pushed his hand away.
"You did this … You left us alone?"
Several of the Gods and Goddesses shifted. They understood what Hades must have been feeling at that moment. They all went through something similar when meeting their children for the first time. It never got any easier.
Her eyes stung … said he was sorry?
"You're evil!" she shouted. "You ruined our lives!"
Hades winced. True, he had been called evil countless times in his life, but hearing it from his own child?
Nico bit his lip. "You're not evil dad."
Hades looked up and gave his son and heir a slight smile.
Pluto's eyes narrowed… easier to blame me."
"Wait," Thals interrupted, her eyes narrowed as a thought formed in her mind. "Are you saying her mom was the reason she was cursed? Not you?"
Hades pursed his lips and gave a brisk nod.
Her lip curled and her hands clenched. Once more, Hazel's mom and hers bore great similarities. If Hazel's mom was still alive…
Nico tensed and turned to his father. "Tell me she was punished when she died." His voice was soft and cold, sending a small shiver down everyone's spines.
Hades said nothing and returned to the book.
"What do you mean?"
Pluto sighed. … not for many years.…"
"Well that can't be Percy because he is a son of Poseidon, not a descendant of Neptune." Annabeth mused, scratching her chin in thought.
Perce smirked. No he wasn't, but he knew someone who was… "I'm sure we'll find out later."
Anna glared at him suspiciously.
Hazel didn't follow … in another thirteen years.
Hades once more sighed. Unfortunately that was all he could offer her.
She was so … to reason with her.
"You, the voice of reason?" Poseidon asked with a playful smirk. Hades narrowed his eyes at his younger brother.
"Marie, it's insanity… Wh-where?" Hazel asked.
"Alaska,"
Suspicious glances were thrown Perce's way, he looked at what was left of the ceiling and pretended not to notice.
Queen Marie answered… ripped out of the past.
Nico was shaking her shoulders. "You did it again."
"Does that happen often?" Piper asked, worried about the girl.
Nick sighed. "Unfortunately. I've tried to stop it but it's impossible."
Hazel blinked… stung from crying.
"That poor girl." Aphrodite whispered, her eyes holding back tears of her own.
"S-sorry," she murmured… so much damage and misery.…
"It wasn't her fault." Jason said sternly, as though challenging anyone to say otherwise.
"You have to … what would happen.
Hades sighed. "And that is why it is forbidden to bring anyone back to life." He threw a stern glare at both his sons.
"I can't go north … good person to have at your side."
"Damn right he is!" Thals shouted, thrusting her fist in the air.
Those who knew and fought with Percy all shouted their agreement. Piper, Jason and Leo, while getting a better understanding on what made the great Percy Jackson so great, still had trouble grasping how important Percy is to everyone here. How they seemed to think the fight was already won just because they had Percy.
Hopefully they will learn more about why that is as they go.
Hazel remembered what … survive what was waiting in the north.
Thalia rolled her eyes. "Percy can survive anything," she smirked at him, "he's like a cockroach."
He rolled his eyes. "Ha-ha, very funny."
Thals smiled. "I thought so." She grinned at her younger self causing everyone else to groan at the lame pun.
"Where did he … are going to be interesting."
"With Percy there, you can bet on it." Nico said, rolling his eyes.
Percy shrugged. "It's not my fault."
Sally smiled, watching her son. She and Paul had decided to remain mostly silent during the reading. They were both in way over their heads with the Gods and everything, she wanted to just observe instead. The way her son acted around these people, his friends, was so amazing. He was truly carefree with them. Joking around and having fun. These people obviously meant the world to her son and she swore to herself that if any of them need anything at all, she would do her darndest to help them in any way she could. She then shifted her focus onto her older son. My, how much he has grown. His eyes seemed to have changed the most. There was a steely glint in them that she was unsure anyone else had seen. They seemed harder, not as filled with joy as they used to be. It made her sad that her son must have suffered so much that it changed him so.
Rachel, too, had been particularly silent this chapter. She had been watching younger Percy, her Percy, for most of it. Although, it looks like her Percy was no longer… hers.
She had seen the way he and Annabeth had acted towards each other since they got back from break. They were more affectionate. They sat so close together, Annabeth was practically in his lap. They were always touching each other in some way or another. His hand on her knee, her hand on his, his arm around her shoulders (stretching)… Obviously something had happened between them during break and her heart sank to her stomach knowing what most likely did.
She had lost him for good.
I'm back!
I'm so sorry for such a long wait! Honestly, I just had no motivation to write this chapter. It's not one of my favorites and I found it really hard to imagine how everyone would react to it. Hopefully the upcoming chapters won't give me so much trouble.
I'd like to thank everyone who stayed faithful to me and reviewed. Your reviews really do mean a lot to me. They are my true motivation.
*For those of you who are reading my other story, The Way to Victory, I need you to go to my profile page and vote in my poll! I'd really like to finish the chapter but can't until I have your votes! You can only access the poll on computer mode not mobile mode, in case you couldn't find it.*
I will try and get the next chapter done soon but I have no idea how long that will take. Don't give up on me people!
BTW: If you haven't seen the show The Good Doctor yet you need to watch it. It is my new favorite show and they are only 6 episodes in. It is amazing!
