The Only Exception
A/N:Sections of the Last Olympian and Mockingjay were used in this chapter. I don't own the stories or those sections. I used them to get the original plots back on line . . . sorta;) you'll see . . . they are a bit different and the thought processes differ a bit. Homework is a bitch -.- Doesn't help I'm in a college program thingy called IB either. But hey, I give you guys uber LONG chappies . . . that's something good . . . right? D;
•Katniss's POV•
December 25th.
I tumbled into a window out of no where; landing on my bed. I looked around in the darkness. The core.I turned to shut the window to prevent more snow from landing on my bed.
I stood up, making my legs made of jell-o twist, and went out my door. I heard mumbling across the hall. "We couldn't find her body." Oran.
"This isn't good." Sora growled.
"What should we do now?" Oran whispered.
"Oran! Sora!" Mitzuki's musical voice came from our guest room past my room. I went back in while I heard Oran's and Sora's footsteps creak by.
Taking a deep breath I got out and went toward out garage, which meant passing the guest room.
I peered inside for a sneak peak. There was someone on the bed. A blonde. With incredible frizzy hair. She coughed.
"My boys . . ." Her course voice said. A frail pale hand rose to caress Oran's face, then Sora's. He didn't even flinch, but instead closed his eyes in pure bliss.
Who is she?
Sora's icy eyes opened suddenly.
"Whoever you are . . . reveal yourself." His voice was threatening. I inched back from the door, making the wooden floor creak. I ran into the garage. A bullet shot across my face as I closed the door.
"Open up!" Sora's voice called as he triggered the gun. I was scared. I didn't want to trust anyone anymore. Who ever that lady was . . . I'm pretty sure she was in here even before I faded with Percy. And they hid her from me. The door banged harder. The knob furiously turned. My back was against the door. I clenched my teeth.
"Sora! Sora!" I face the door, pressing hard against it, my breathing is hard and hot.
"It's me! Katniss!" The banging from the opposite side ceased. I was sweating.
"Why did you run?" I panted and fell to the floor. My adrenaline rush ended.
"I . . . I'm not sure." He turned the knob and knelt next to me.
"You scared the hell out of me. Where did you plan to run?" His eyebrows creased.
"Baka, you have no where to go, remember?" I shot a glare at him. Which made me receive a smile. "I'm glad to see you, Katniss." He walked out the door. I struggled to get up and dragged my limbs to the guest room.
All eyes were on me; besides the eyes of the half-conscious lady. "Katniss." Mitzuki came up to me and put her arm over my shoulder, and helped walk me to a chair. "We have been worried sick about you." She put a soft fleece blanket over my shoulders.
The lady groaned and the attention on me shut off and directed itself on the lady.
"Who came in?" she asked. Her voice was irritating and raspy. Not nice to hear. I hope that's not her natural tone.
Oran grabbed her hand and motioned me over there. I walked over to her side with the fleece blanket dragging off my shoulders. "She's an addition to the family." I look at Oran. I'm part of the family. If the moment wasn't so dreadful, I would have smiled.
"Katniss Everdeen." I was waiting for the moment where my name got scrambled up but she never repeated it. Just acknowledgedit.
"You must be the Mockingjay everyone keeps talking about . . ." I nodded. Her eyes opened as I stood over her. They were electric blue; her face was also spotted with faint freckles. She gets into a sitting position slowly, letting her frizzy blonde hair droop over her shoulders. "My name is Penelope. Penelope Castille." I took a step back, I've seen her before.
She lets out electric sparks out of her hands and fortifies the explosion. The explosion finished within itself from there.
Sora, Mitzuki, and Oran are surrounding the person who falls after doing that. Oran catches her and Sora points downward.
Percy and I are being separated. Mitzuki gets me. And Sora grabs Percy. They drop us off back at the Empire State Building.
"Just what was
that?" Mitzuki asks.
Percy coughs and struggles to sit up. "A self-destruct unit." Sora nods and looks at Mitzuki with sad eyes.
"Who was
that?" Percy speaks up and still coughing.
Sora looks out from the railing toward the city.
"You guys should continue to chase down the Venus girl . . ."
She's . . . that woman . . .
Being speechless is more than an expression, it's the absence of emotion. When your only option is looking forward and hoping the next part won't be so hard. But we all know that would be impossible within itself.
•Percy's POV•
I forgotten how awesome/morbidly shadow travel was. Me, Mrs. O'Leary, and Annabeth had shadow traveled to Westport, Connecticut at three in the morning. Nico couldn't be that far behind us.
"I haven't been here since . . ." Annabeth trailed off. I honestly didn't want to know what she had to say. It was about Luke, that I knew.
Nico came out from an oak tree. He seemed drowsy, but shook it off easily.
I looked at Luke's ex home. His rusty swing went back and forth gently with the wind. He had a yard, a big yard full of grass and trees. I've lived all my life in a small apartment, or dorm. I also then noticed the eerily glow coming from his window.
Annabeth staggered. "I can't go in . . ." She mumbled. Mrs. O'Leary passed out not far back. Poor girl—er, girls.
"It's okay. Stay with Mrs. O'Leary, don't let her out of your sight, wise girl." Annabeth nodded. She didn't smile. I kissed her slowly to reassure her.
"So, we've got quality time in Connecticut." I stare at the white Colonial house while talking to Nico. "What now?"
"We ring the doorbell," he said.
The past couple months were strange. Chiron put everyone back on track to the war; and I mean the original war. I wasn't too happy about it, and some others weren't either. But we had no evidence to prove otherwise.
I stepped on a beanbag Minotaur in a diaper. A bunch of other beanbag monsters stood aligned next to the Minotaur. I picked it up slowly feeling the dampness in the creature; looks like they could've been here since the snow melted last spring.
"May Castellan won't be any normal mom . . . right?" I called to Nico on my side. He shrugged.
"Come on. We don't have much time; especiallywith your girlfriend possibly passing out." I couldn't even see Annabeth, the darkness was really thick out here. I put the small Minotaur down. It took me a while to get my gaze off from it.
We went up the creaky stairs of the front porch. It was infested with wind chimes. Metal and glass. A bronze ribbon tinkled and made me realize of my sudden urge to go to the bathroom. The front door was painted turquoise and had the name CASTELLAN in English, and the bottom in Greek.
I couldn't help but bare the same feelings I've been having all these months. Uncertainty. Hesitation. Ambiguity.
The door swung open before we got to even knock.
"Luke!" The old lady cried happily.
She looked like those types of people who enjoyed high voltage electrical shocks. Her white hair stuck out in tufts and her pink sundress had scorch marks all over. Her eyes looked transparent, as if she were blind.
"My dear boy!" She was thin as a scarecrow but that didn't prevent her from crushing me in a hug. "Come in! Come in! Lunch is ready!"
She ushered us inside. The inside was even stranger than the outside. Candles and mirrors replaced any spot available. I couldn't look around without my reflection looking back at me.
I turned to the table to see a picture of a nine year old Luke, I froze. It was the same one Rachel drew . . . he even had the same big smile and the two teeth missing. My stomach churned; I recalled why we were here in the first place.
It was mid-January when it happened. Rachel had called me a day before school resumed saying, "I'm going to fulfill my destiny, Percy. I finally know what I'm meant for."
I got an Iris message from the Camp a week later. Rachel had tried to become the Oracle. She went insane. Blasting and hitting everyone. She's being kept in an asylum at the moment. Her parents didn't want her to ruin their image. We couldn't fight against their wishes without getting a possible lawsuit.
My jaw clenched. I looked into the mirror closest to me. I could have sworn there was a gash under my left eye; but when I tried to focus on it better, it was gone.
"Luke!" May hooked her arms around mine, dragged me to the table, and then kinda forced me to sit down. "I'm glad you came for lunch!" She began making a Kool-Aid pitcher. Burned cookies and cookie trays were all over the floor. The smell of burnt pastry also rose into the air. I had a feeling charcoal chip cookies were on the way. Nico sat across from me with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "They had told me you wouldn't come back! I knew you weren't ashamed of me!" She hummed happily. I wanted to bolt. I had a bad feeling about this.
I looked around. Hundreds—and I mean hundreds of Tupperware—were on the counter, and filled with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The bottom ones were green and fuzzy.
"Mrs. C," I called out the old lady, "We need to ask you about Luke." She froze in her sandwich making and her eyes lost focus.
"He was so young when he ran away," she called wistfully, "Third grade. That's too young to run away! He said he'd be back for lunch, so I make his favorite foods—Kool-Aid, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and cookies. He'll be back very soon . . ." She turned to me and smiled, "Why, Luke! There you are!" I looked over to Nico and gave him the I-want-to-make-run-for-it look.
Rachel.
We're here for Rachel. Red hair. Green emerald eyes. Replaced by glowing purple eyes. She broke my nose last time I saw her, you know, when she punched me.
"When was the last time you saw Luke?" My voice stood strong.
"He came . . . he asked for my b—blessing." She caught my gaze. "Isn't that beautiful? He left to protect me! He said if he went away, the monsters wouldn't threaten me," she picked up a small medusa beanbag that was on the faucet, as if guarding the mess, "Isn't that right Mrs. Medusa? They sit all day out there on the sidewalk and don't mind me." Now time for the real question.
"Mrs. Castellan—"
"Mom," she corrected.
"Um, yeah, Mom, why do your eyes turn green? What happened before I was born?" She stood shaking and her eyes looked distant.
"You know the story, Luke." She cleared her throat. "They said I was special. I could see through the . . . whatever-they-call-it."
"The Mist?" Nico corrected.
"Yes, dear. They had an important job for me!" Her gaze turned dark, "They didn't warn me however . . ." There wasn't a second past before her happy gaze appeared again. "Luke!" Okay, I'm sick of this. How do we know that she didn't make the story up about seeing Luke? For all we know it could've been the mailman.
"Mrs. C," I stood up which seemed to startle her. "My name is Percy Jackson and this is my friend Nico Di Angelo. What job? Who made you do it? And why?"
She looked at me as I was a burglar. "Hermes warned me. The Oracle of Delphi is cursed and has been since World War II because of Hades. Maria Di Angelo was killed in a building collapse on behalf of Zeus and Hades cursed the Oracle. N—no one warned me." She quickly looked away and stared at pictures of Hermes on ads of Quickie Cleaners and FTD Flowers logo taped on the window.
"Now there's a good man!" She smiled as she touched the pictures with tenderness. "He comes to visit me, you know." Next thing we know, her eyes shoot a green light out.
"Not my child!" She doubled over. Nico and stood up in defense. "Hermes! Help! My child! His fate—no!" She took Nico by the shoulders. "Not his fate!" He made a strangled scream and pushed her off him. She began sobbing and she glued her glowing gaze onto mine. "You. You can save him." She banged herself on the counter and yelled. She looked back up. Her forehead bled miserably from banging herself. "Spring Equinox. Girl on Fire . . ." She mumbled and shivered. The blood dripped down her face. "Hope for him. Hope for Luke. Vathia, Aminta . . . Save him. The Princess Andromeda, go . . . Oh Hermes help us." She blacked out and I swung out to catch her.
I told Nico to bring the first aid kit while I called 911. We wrapped her forehead in a dressing once we cleaned the smeared blood, and set her on the couch and covered her in a blanket. We jumped through the window as soon as 911 came in. The beanbag toys seemed to be beaming at us as we ran. The Minotaur especially.
We ran to the forest where Annabeth and Mrs. O' Leary were at. They seemed fine, and had company.
There was a girl with brown mousy hair and a simple brown dress. She had a scarf over her head making her look like a ghost kid from Little House on the Prairie. She poked into the fire with a stick, making it glow even more richy red.
"Hello," she said in a sing song voice. My first instinct was to attack. A little girl in the middle if nowhere casually saying Hello was never a good sign. Nico seemed familiar with her so my guard went down.
"Hello again, Lady." He bowed. She studied me with red eyes. I decided it was safest to bow.
"Sit, Percy Jackson. Would you like some dinner?" Burnt cookies, moldy fuzzy sandwiches, and Kool-Aid really made me lose my appetite. Also the talk and accident with Mrs. Castellan ratted me really bad.
The girl waved her hand and a picnic appeared. Roast beef, buttered carrots, mashed corn on the cob, and other assorted food I haven't had in years were right before my eyes.
"I would like to advise you what destiny always told me to tell you," the girl began. "Do you know who I am?" I'm ashamed to say I don't.
I stare at her, leaving my food untouched. I wanted to scarf things down but I scrapped some food into the fire. "For the gods." She smiled.
"As tender of the flame, I get a share of every sacrifice, you know." Annabeth sat next to me.
"This is Lady Hestia, Percy." She told me. It makes sense. The eyes and hair—everything.
We began eating. Everything was fresh and delicious. Mrs. O'Leary herself got a five foot dog biscuit. Annabeth seemed to want to do anything but eat, considering the food was irresistible. It wasn't before a while when I remembered something.
"Lady Hestia," I began. She studied me with her red eyes. They seemed to be reflecting the fire but if you look closer her eyes were flames, just warmer and more inviting than Ares's. "Why are you here . . . really?"
She looked at me. Actually—she looked through me, as if she was reaping my soul. She still smiled though. Creepy combination if you ask me. "No one gives many offerings to me. No one remembers or sacrifices to me like the great Zeus or Apollo." She said calmly, her breathing was calm and steady. I doubt she needed to breathe though.
"I've seen you before. When I first went to camp, you were sitting by the bonfire."
"But you did not stop to say hello," she recalled sadly. "No one has time for the home and family anymore. Alas, Nico was the first in many years to do so." She smiled and her creepy gaze on me shut off. "So how was your visit with May Castellan?" It didn't take a genius to figure out she just changed the subject. I heard faint sirens in the back.
"She . . . tried to become the Oracle. The Oracle was cursed however . . . is that why Rachel—"
Nico interrupted. "Her eyes turn green, Rachel's are purple, my Lady. Could you explain why?" She smiled; she seemed to like being called Lady.
"May told you about the curse. Hades cursed the Oracle. That's why no one has become the Oracle after May. To why no one stopped Rachel is beyond me. The Fates made their choice and we must honor it." She took my hand, and it startled Annabeth. "To defeat your enemy you must know more about their past." She bit her lip. "Alas, I fear Luke isn't what you truly seek anymore. You seek someone else. But my advice goes both ways: Find out more about their hearth and home. Only until then will you understand."
"Understand what?" Annabeth spoke. Hestia kept her gaze on me.
"Yielding." She let got of my hand, which felt cold and empty without her natural heat.
"I gave up my throne on Olympus to prevent a civil war between the gods. You must remember that when you face your final decision." I didn't like the way she said final. "Sometimes yielding is the hardest power to master. And you, Percy Jackson, must learn it quick before you see the Mockingjay again. She does not know how, you on the other hand—do." She looked up into the orange pink sky. "This shall not be the last time we see each other." She looked at me again; her tone was ominous as if our next meeting won't be too pleasant. "Can you yield when necessary? Can you keep the peace by surrendering if need be?" She inched closer to me with every rhetorical question she threw at me. "Can you be the Last Olympian?" I'm not quite sure what that meant but she didn't seem to be looking for my answer.
"You're the Last Olympian, huh?" Annabeth spoke up to Hestia. Hestia smiled and nodded.
"When all the gods leave to war, I'll be the last one left, tending to the fire." She looked back to me. "Remember my words and don't be afraid of fading. Ever.You cannot stop what is happening now—it's too late. But you can defeat it when the time is right." She snapped her fingers and our picnic disappeared. "I will return you to your own hearth, Percy. Fare the well." She waved her hand and next thing I know is I find myself at my house.
Mrs. O'Leary took up the rest of the living room that Annabeth, Nico, and I didn't take up.
Paul and my mom struggled to get into the kitchen. They made it, though. Hopefully, we won't be getting any neighbor complains or SWAT team break-ins for possible terrorism.
Once we all sat around the table with blue lemonade; we explained to my mom what we planned to do. She laced her fingers uncomfortably on the glass.
"Percy, it's dangerous." She shifted in her seat.
"Mrs. Jackson," Annabeth spoke up. "If we don't do this, millions of people will die. The monsters will take over." Hearing Annabeth's voice seemed to calm her, but not change her mind.
"Percy I . . . I can't allow it." Paul cleared his throat.
"Now, Sally," The attention directed itself on him. I can tell he wasn't all that convinced about the whole demigod thing or Greek Mythology being real. My mom and I explained to him not to long ago, but since he can't see through the Mist, he relies on our word. "I don't know what you and Percy have been through all these years, but what I do know is that whatever Percy needs to do is a nobleact."
Silence drifted through the table. "Fine."My mom gritted her teeth. "I give you my blessing." I didn't feel anymore powerful or magical. No unicorns came to sweep me off my feet. "Promise me to be careful." My mom beamed. I don't know if it was with happiness or something else though. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Mom." That probably wasn't the best thing to say while your girlfriend sat next to you chugging lemonade. It didn't matter however.
I will make it right. I can be the Last Olympian.
•Katniss's POV•
"How peculiar . . ." Mitzuki called as she scribbled more notes on her clip board. "Let's see that again." Marissia sprouted a multitude of thorny vines from the ground.
We tested for more proof. Grapes. Fruits. Anything.
"Her parent is Bacchus." Mitzuki toppled herself over on her bed. "This is all wrong. How are we supposed to tell her parents?" She put her head under the aureate pillow.
"Mom," I corrected. "She lives with her mom and grandmother." I sighed. Honestly, I wasn't really concerned. I could have cared less. I pretended to care. "Besides, Bacchus hasn't officiallyclaimed her."
She shakes her head under the pillow. "You don't understand." She stood up and threw the gold colored pillow against her lap. "The gods. Something's wrong. They are not allowed to do this. This area is not supposed to be influenced by Greek or Roman Mythology. First Yoli, then Finnick and Venus, and I have my suspicions on that boy that they brought the other day, and now Marissa Knightly." She shook her head and sighed. "I better go report to H.Q." She got up and put the gilded pillow back in place according to the lilac quilts on her bed.
I heard her footsteps going up the stairs and into the attic. I stared at her colorful walls. Silver with gold splatters. Why have such a pretty room when saving the world?is something that streams through my head every time I come in here, or worse—into Oran's room.
I walk to my room and put on my combat boots. It's going to be muddy outside. I wander through the now semi-green central park. Flowers penetrate out into the open. I realize I intentionally ignore a particular tree. It has a minor blood stain. It's tempting to look, but I don't fall for it. The past will be the past. I want to make sure it literally stays like that.
••~Theres. A. Party. On. Your. Rooftop. ~••
"How is he doing?" Gale shrugs. We look back to Rory who remains sound asleep.
Rory survived. When we went back to look for his body—it wasn't there. It was on a tree; with Marissia. She nursed him back to health. Everyone rejoiced. Prim and Rory broke up a few weeks later. Marissia and Rory were the new couple. Prim wasn't as devastated as I expected; she even said she had another guy on her mind. Her 'hero'.After all that drama, Mitzuki and Penelope called Marissia in the core. They tested her to see if she was a demigod and after some more weeks . . . that leads everything back to today.
"Want to go hunting?" he asks. I nod. "I want to make goosling. Rory loves it." I smile.
"I'll help cool. You'll ruin the recipe." He smirks at me.
"Sure, let's go."
He went into the next room and got an automated bow. I froze. I blocked out memories as much as I could.
"Something wrong?" He asks as he loads the gizmo. I shake my head. I take off Paggos Fotia. Gale doesn't take his gaze of it. "You still use that?"
"Why wouldn't I? It was a gift from the—" I stopped. "Yes, I still use it." Gale was a lost believer. I'm sure he tries to believe, or just tells me he does so I won't feel insane. Either way, I know he's not all there.
He shrugs and we walk off. People point at me and whisper. The typical thing people have done since Peeta's death. I'm used to it; and I smile. They just don't know he'll never leave this place behind or his people.
Once in central park, we set up snares. I climb trees and await any incoming prey. Gale climbs in next to me.
"We haven't had a moment like this in a while," he whispers. I tense. "As in, hunting . . ." I hear a few faint branches cracking. I look ahead and see the shape of a small deer approaching.
I aim slowly. The breach of my bow feels attracted to the prey. The deer looks at me. I tense, fearing it might run . . . it doesn't however. It keeps its gaze. The eyes are abnormally silver.The deer began trotting along, but looked back every other second. I want to say it's calling me to follow it, but I think it's just my imagination.
However, I feel drawnto follow. I can't help but feel it might be a trap, or something else. I don't strap Paggos Fotia back on, though. I jump down gracefully, landing solidly on my two feet.
"What are you doing?" Gale whispers. I ignore it; the deer is a few feet ahead. It looks back and I swear it smiles. It trots a few more feet and I follow.
"Don't look back." A voice faintly called in the back of my head. "Keep following me." I get aim in case this really was a trap and I would be ready.
I keep walking almost alongside the deer for a good ten minutes. The deer keeps looking back and checking up on me, as if to see if I'm in danger or if I'm going to be a danger.
We both get to the edge of an enormous cliff I had no idea even existed in central park. It didn't take me long to realize my eyes deceived me, I havebeen here. Right under the cliff there was a reservoir.
I hear myself breathing deeply. "Why did you bring me here?" I look over at the deer. The deer begins morphing. I stand in defense, but I stand down as soon as I see a beautiful face; auburn hair and a sweet smile, with eyes of the size of the moon. "Artemis." I mumble. I bow awkwardly—I'm still not used to this. Never will be.
"Katniss, my huntress," I didn't like the way she called me hers, but I didn't show it. "You must retrieve the Mockingjay pin." She points toward the lake down below.
"That's all?" I ask unbelievably. She shakes her head.
"Your friend Finnick will happen to be walking by once you get the pin. Take him and go to the Underworld. There, you will go . . ." She bit her lip. I stare at her bewildered; the goddess of hunt and night—hesitating. If there's something she's taught me, it's to not hesitate.
I also haven't seen her—ever. I've heard her in my head from time to time when bickering in the subway with Haymitch and Plutarch, but I've never seen her. Unless you count that time so long agowhen I went to Olympus.
She blinked, as if she read my mind. Annoying me—of course. I cleared my mind. Once I did that, she spoke, "You will go follow Achilles footsteps." It took me a while to recall the story of Achilles, before I know it; fear hits me hard.
I nod. "Very well." I look at her briefly before turning away. "How do I enter the Underworld?" She points out into the open.
"North of the lake. Keep walking until you reach a pile of rocks. There, you will want to recall the story of Orpheus." At the moment my mind was a blank. I didn't dare ask either. Artemis seemed to trust what I was doing and asking her about one of the most basic Greek stories would be a stab in the back for her.
I nodded. "Thanks." She took my arm and slowly traced my veins.
"You're very brave." Her fingers felt strange to my skin. It gave me goose bumps. And they were cold to the touch like night itself. Though, no matter how strange the touch felt—it felt like home.
"I didn't have a say in it." I called modestly.
She smiled. "You would have come to your senses anyway." She stood in front of me. My back was to the cliff. "You always have." It wasn't until she grasped both my arms that I realized how much on the edge of the cliff I was on. "I need you to dive in head-first into the water. There won't be any other way for you to reach the bottom, you understand?" I felt the fear could be seen through my eyes. I nodded though. I needed my pin back. Artemis thought the same apparently.
She let go of me and stepped away. Her face had a trace of pride, so she smiled at me sweetly. It even made me jiggily on the inside. I felt something coming from her that I haven't felt from someone in a long time. She was proud of me. Our little moment ended when she morphed back into a deer and trotted off.
Gale came running from another direction as soon as I lost sight of the deer. "Katniss," he panted, "What . . . ? Why do you run off like that? Where exactly do you go off into? It's like I don't even know you anymore."
"Gale . . . I don't even know myself at times. Ever since Percy came into my life, and Peeta died—" He groans. Envy.That's all that his groan screams at me. "I'm sorry. I have . . . a mission to complete." I look down into the water. "I'm getting the pin back." I take a few steps back to get some inertia.
"Why can't things go back to the way they were?" I stop.
"I wish . . ." I stare into his eyes. "I wish the same, Gale."
He sighs. "The least I can do is go with you." Butterflies flutter in my stomach. The thought excited me; the exact same way when we were back in Twelve and we were going to make a run for freedom.
"Fine." I say. He stands next to me.
"I don't want to be blind to your world. And I already accepted I'll never be the one you'll love. At least let me be your best friend again." I look into his eyes.
"I wouldn't want it any other way." I feel better. I don't know how or why but I do. Gale is back, and I'm positive. He might not be able to see across the Mist, but he's here.
"What's the plan?" He asks. I point to the edge.
"We dive head-in." I know he wanted to say I'm crazy and that I'm being reckless. I know I'd loveto say the same. I don't even know why I'm trusting Artemis; but I do. She's almost like the godly parent I'll never have.
Gale grabs my hand. "We going?" I nod firmly and the end of my lip smiles.
"Let's." We run—feeling the air hit us. It doesn't compare to the air that hits me when we jump and fall.
"Percy . . . what if we don't make it . . .?" I mutter as Percy clings onto me. I look down at our fall and possible death. Percy looks up so he's lucky to not be seeing how we will land. The wind and snow burn against my skin.
"Oh . . . we will . . ." Percy mutters.
I blinked a few times to get the fading memory off my mind for good. I let go of Gale some time along the fall, I didn't even realize it until the water impacted me.
I opened my eyes. It was dark. I couldn't see or feel the bottom. That didn't stop me from swimming. I dived lower at full force, making bubbles from my nose to control my breathing. I can do this. I scanned the now visible bottom.
A glitter on the dull sand drew my attention immediately. I swept in to grab it. I would explain the relief of retrieving my pin, but not now. My lungs felt like solid rocks inside me, bringing me down. My throat burned.
I swam up with the pin. It was hard to move while holding the pin. My eyes faltered. That didn't stop my legs from kicking harder. I huffed out the remaining air in my system to make bubbles. That was a bad idea. My limbs slowly became paralyzed and strangled themselves with the slow rhythm of my heart beat. I did the worst action and swallowed water as an act of impatience.
I struggled for air. It didn't help that I couldn't move and slowly started going back down. The surface never seemed so far. I don't remember the rest, but something pulled me back up rapidly onto land—and made me strangely dry.
"Katniss!" Heyelled. My chest was being pounded on. My vision was distorted but I recognized that golden skin and bronze colored hair. I felt the compressions against my chest become harder until I eventually spewed the water out.
"What were you thinking?" Finnick yelled. Finnick.I smiled in satisfaction. Artemis never lies.
I reach for my Mockingjay pin and show it to him. "Artemis sent me to get this." He let out a breath of relief. I scanned the forest area for Gale. "Where's Gale?"
"He was here?" Finnick asked me.
"He jumped into the water with . . ." I looked into Finnick's eyes. I didn't have to even finish before he dove inside the water. I was about to go in but knew it was a bad idea. Finnick's came out after a few minutes and shook his head.
"I looked everywhere. Not a trace." I noticed he was dry, and that so was I. It must have been with his demigod powers.
"Did you just always become dry once you went underwater?" I asked him. He shook his head again.
"Only until I found out about me being a god's offspring. Though, I did always last longer underwater. Ten minutes was my record back home." He smiled with pride. He saw through my face that I was still worried though.
"Gale isn't down there, I promise." Finnick squeezed my wrist to reassure me.
"Finnick." He looks me in the eye. "We need to go to the underworld." He let go immediately as if he touched something hot.
"No one has ever come—" Yes, he knowsnow; I'm not Mitzuki's only student anymore thankfully. In fact, he sleeps in one of the unused guest rooms at times.
"Percy has," I automatically mentioned him. My stomach churned. Finnick sighed.
"Why do you need to go?" I sigh.
"I'll explain on the way." I gripped his wrist and dragged him along.
"Percy. Stupid Perseus Jackson. I hate you for making me miss you." Is all I could think about, even if a little tiny smile did creep onto my face.
Didn't you feel me lock my arms around you? Why did you turn away? That's when I decided, why should I care?
•Percy's POV•
We stood in front of the gates of hell. Well, sorta. We stood in front of a big pile of rocks that supposedly led in there. Orpheus's gate.Stephanie and Nico, Annabeth, and Mrs. O'Leary stood by my side.
"So I just sing?" Stephanie asked in astonishment. She added a smile. "Don't blame me if I destroy your ear drums."
"I doubt you'd do that. Nico on the other hand . . ." Annabeth joked.
"Hey!" Nico called out insulted.
"Just sing!" I yell at Stephanie over the two weirdo's conversation. She shrugs and begins singing The Only Exceptionby Paramore. She even brought her guitar. (Yes, we called her beforehand because clearly we can't sing and Grover is in who-the-hell-knows-where.)
Halfway through the song I couldn't help but reflect on the lyrics. Hah. Maybe Paul's English classes are actually rubbing off me.
"Maybe I know somewhere deep in my soul, that love never lasts.
And we've got to find other ways to make it alone or keep a straight face.
And I've always lived like this; keeping a comfortable distance.
And up until now I've sworn to myself that I'm content with loneliness."
Maybe it's true. Maybe love never happens. And who knows? Maybe being forever alone isn't so bad. Mrs. O'Leary looked like she was depressed. Poor girl. I ushered her over with me and she sat down and whimpered. She must miss Daedalus.
"I've got a tight grip on reality but I can't let go of what's in front of me here.
I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up.
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream."
I quickly glanced over at Annabeth with the corner of my eye. She noticed and smiled. She interlaced her fingers with mine.
"You are the only exception."She sang along with Stephanie. I realized her intention wasn't helping the-opening-the-door-to-hell-case, but instead looking at me. She beamed with glimmering radiance I've never seen.
I hate to say I don't understand why I couldn't bring myself to enjoy this moment properly. I didn't even manage to even kiss her once. I just stared at her blankly like some awkward lizard. (Yes, a lizard. Ever try having eye contact with one? No? Well, go have one.)
The rocks creaked slowly and by the time the song ended, the rocks parted completely. A triangular crevice.
"I'd be against going in there but," Stephanie looked at me. "It's all of us or nothing when we come back." I could tell her this was her first time into the Underworld, not a good thing to celebrate if you ask me.
"Let's go." Nico walked in. Mrs. O'Leary bounced in after him happily. I looked inside at the endless staircase enwrapped by a thick sheet of darkness.
"Come on, Percy." Annabeth went in and offered her hand. I took it.
"Um . . ." Stephanie awkwardly got in and I held out my hand for her. She took it.
I have a tight grip on reality.
•Katniss's POV•
We had found the door which led to the underworld. A pile of rocks; nothing extravagant.
"Now what?" Finnick asks as he touches the rocks with precaution.
"Well . . . I believe we create music." Finnick looked at me incredulously.
"Did you even plan this out?"
"It was Artemis's idea."
"Why is she even talking to you?"
"Why can't she?"
"Why can she?"
"I'm her huntress."
". . . then can you be my mistress?"
"Finnick!" He burst out laughing. I'll admit I smiled as well.
"Sorry, sorry. Your face was just toofunny." He looked away. Sometimes, (as I hate admitting it) Finnick is like my older brother. The sibling I can count on.
"Seriously, we need to find a way inside." A bigger smirk grew on his face.
"Don't look at me. Aren't you the singer here?" He gave me a playful look.
"I haven't sung since . . ." I looked away.
As if on cue, a mockingjay roamed by me. I looked right into its eyes. It sang a few notes and flew in a circle around me. Out of nowhere—Finnick yodeled. The mockingjay imitated his tune. He snickered, making me grow a smile. I closed my eyes.
"Are you, are you,
Coming to the tree?
Where they strung up a man they say murdered three.
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be,
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."
I opened my eyes. The mockingjay looked at me intently, as if motioning me to continue. Finnick looked just as surprised. I took a breath and closed my eyes once more. I held onto the necklace I wore. It had Peeta's pearl and Percy's droplet diamond.
"Are you, are you,
Coming to the tree?
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee.
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be,
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."
I opened one eye and saw a small group of mockingjays flying around me.
"Are you, are you,
Coming to the tree?
Where I told you to run so we'd both be free.
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be,
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."
This time I opened both eyes. Even the wind stopped. Peeta was right. Even the wind and birds stop to listen to me sing; just like they did to my father. I twirled slowly with the mockingjays like I used to do when I was little.
"Are you, are you,
Coming to the tree?
Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me.
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be,
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."
That's the last verse. The mockingjays seem disappointed but began singing my song again. A faint tremble was heard behind me. I smiled.
I remember when my father taught me that song. I was young. He was making me and Prim small necklaces with rope, like in the song. My mother got furious however, she told me to forget that song; and of course it immediately imprinted itself onto my mind for the rest of my life. I never did figure out what it meant. But I think it means something along the lines of dying with your lover, instead of suffering in this world.
If only things were that easy.
"That was beautiful, Katniss." Finnick's bewildered voice startled me. I forgot he was here. He was going to add on to his thought but didn't have time because of the rumble of rock movement in the background, while the soft hum if the mockingjays' song went on.
A triangular crevice appeared beyond the rocks. Finnick and I slowly crept up and peered into the crevice. Stone steps led into the eternal darkness.
"Hellooo?" Finnick yelled into the tunnel. The word bounced off the wall endlessly in a deep never ending echo.
"Well . . ." I looked at him. "Let's go." I went in first. The humid smell invaded my nose. It was like mildew and soiled humidity combined.
We went down the stairs with only Paggos Fotia being our light. It was an extremely tight fit and I hoped we wouldn't get stuck. Finnick almost fell a few times with the stairs being so slippery; and I think I've had to spit out five or more cobwebs.
After an hour, I finally began hearing the roar of a river. We emerged at the base of a cliff, on the plain of think charcoal black volcanic sand. To our right, the River Styx gushed from the rocks and roared off into a cascade of rapids. To our left, far away in the gloom, fire burned on the ramparts of the gates to Hades' kingdom.
"This is . . . hell?" Finnick looked around with awe. "It's unbelievable." He managed a small laugh to come out. "How are we making it out alive?" He was alarmed now. I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it.
"Calm down. We'll find a way."
I let go and began walking toward the river.
•Percy's POV•
I don't think Annabeth was too delighted with my idea of only holding Stephanie's hand, but she didn't say anything. Stephanie was practically taking my hand off. She was shivering up to her knees.
It was a tight fit, and it didn't help that the stairs were slippery and Mrs. O'Leary's barks felt like cannon shots through the walls.
After an hour or so, the roar of the river was faint, and we finally reached the bottom. We came out at a cliff. The river roared on my right and on the left lay the gates of Erebos into hell itself.
We walked slowly near the river. Homecoming corsages, collage diplomas, broken toys, floating by like broken dreams.
"This sand is pretty." Stephanie bent down to pick up some black volcanic sand. While that happened, I stressed out. A lot.
"Percy," Nico came next to me. "You need to focus on your mortal point because if you just jump in, the river will crush your body and soul altogether."
"Mmm, fun."
"Percy this is serious!" Nico was annoyed. He also turned to look at the gates into his father's kingdom every once in awhile as if he knew we weren't supposed to be here.
"Fine. What do you mean by mortal point?"
"Something that hold you back into this world. Someone you might care for and . . ." He cleared his throat. "Um, love." I think I turned a few shades of red.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply a few times. "Okay." I took off my hoodie and tossed it at Nico.
"Remember to knowwhere you want your mortal point before you step in." He reminded me as he caught my hoodie. I nod.
Before I could change my mind, I concentrated on the small of my back—a tiny point just above my naval. It isn't perfect, but it's something that feels right. It's even protected by my armor. No place was perfect, but it's a whole lot more dignified then per say, my armpit or something.
I pictured a string, a bungee cord connecting me to the world from the small of my back.
And I stepped into the river.
•Katniss's POV•
Strange objects floated within the river. Dresses, jewels, coal, broken toys, all these objects were lost dreams that the dead left behind.
The dead.
I didn't realize it until now, but, Peeta is here. He's somewhere here. I was ready to tell Finnick but I stopped myself. Peeta may be here, but so is my father, Gale's father, Madge, Cinna, Rue, Yoli, and the victims of this war. It wouldn't be fair. And I would most likely repeat Orpheus's mistake. I wouldlook back.
I clenched my jaw in frustration before concentrating back on the mission.
"You really plan on baring Achilles' curse?" Finnick asked sadly. I nod.
"It's the only way for me to survive this war." He and I both knew I wasn't talking about the rebellion anymore.
I take off my jacket and throw it to Finnick. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, but just jumping in like I did earlier back at the lake didn't seem right.
I concentrated on my mom, Prim, Gale, Finnick, Haymitch, and everyone I love. I automatically, with some random instinct in me, chose a point near my side hip where almost no one dares to hit me, being my most defended area. It seemed . . . right. It's not perfect and I'm most likely to get hit there but it didn't matter.
I looked one last time at Finnick before I stepped into the River Styx.
The pain of the river was awful. For the first time in months, I felt I was burning into ashes. I felt fire at its greatest. The fact that I was also drowning in acid water didn't help either. I was fading, no, dissolving.
I saw a series of faces, some I recognized, some I didn't. But they faded as soon as they appeared.
"Katniss!" Prim yelled at me.
"I always thought . . ." Gale turned away.
"Real or not real?" Peeta.
"I love you." I looked around for Percy but couldn't find him.
Strokes of more pain arrived like never before, I started feeling as if I didn't exist. Who am I? Where am I? What's my point in my life?
I felt like I had already lost this battle. And not the real battle I was supposed to face.
Kat. My eyes faltered as I looked around for the familiar voice. Remember who you are! Your history!My droplet necklace began shining strongly next to the beaming pearl.
With the blinding shine of the necklace, I felt I wasn't in Styx anymore. I was drowning elsewhere. My eyes faltered, I thought I wouldn't make it. Just when I lost hope, Percy appeared. His beaming eyes searching for me. He grabbed my wrist and I became dry. He carried me back up to the surface. I remember this now: It's when we fought Oran so long ago. Somehow, the water dispersed as I began breathing heavily on land. He tilts my chin and I stare into his green emerald eyes. You are who you choose to be.His voice rang harmonically through my mind.
I remember who I am. I am Katniss Everdeen. And I am the Mockingjay. I am fire.
"You are fine. You're safe with me." He tells me in his soothing voice. I reach out to embrace him.
Memories came flooding back, sharper and colorful. I can make it out. I willsurvive.
Something strange happened, however. My cord snapped. I began calling Percy again but a new golden cord appeared under my right eye instead.
"You may have been strong enough for this. But you didn't think you deserved choosing your own mortal point, did you? I'm choosing it for you." Aminta.
I struggled against the new cord but I couldn't. I knew I would die. My skin under my eye burned. I shut my eyes in pain.
I burst out of the river. I looked around for Percy but didn't see him. It had felt so real, he was so tangible. Finnick came running.
"No . . ." I say. I pound the ground. I feel the cut fizzing and dissolving how it usually does under my eye. I clench my teeth. "No!"Finnick holds me in his arms.
"It's okay, it's okay." I could have sworn he was on the verge of tears. "You're alive." I looked back at him. "You did it!" I was faintly moist. The pain of the river didn't hit me until now. My skin was hot red.
"Let's go." I say slowly. He put on my jacket and helped me to my feet. My shirt had been torn to pieces, hence why Finnick put my jacket on.
"Are you okay? How do you feel?"
"In pain." I manage to say. He helps me back out through the dim stair case until we reach the surface.
I almost kissed the ground. The sweet, sweetground. Finnick did that for me though. "I missed this place so much!" I smile a bit.
Whiteness suffocates me however. I looked around.
"Katniss?" Finnick threw his hand into the think fog. "Grab my hand." I didn't though. I didn't have my will.
I didn't recognize this feeling at first but now I do.
I was fading.
•Percy's POV•
I tried to go in the river heroically. Of course my legs turned to mushy jell-o and I fell face-first into the water.
For the first time in my life, I began experiencing the feeling of drowning. Panic rose rapidly. The water was like boiling acid multiplied by fifty. That's stillnot enough to describe this.
I began to see faces. Rachel, Annabeth, Tyson, Grover, my mom, Katniss.
"I give you my blessing." My mom said sadly.
"Big brother!" Tyson yelled.
"Enchiladas!" Grover yelled. That's it, no more enchiladas for Grover.
"Percy!" Katniss yelled.
I began forgetting who I was. Who am I again? Where am I? Who are you?I was being destroyed. My soul was being reaped by the river.
Percy . . . My eyes opened. I know that voice too well. Your lifeline, you might want to hold onto that. Or, you know, you die.I smirked at Katniss's famous rough humor.
An overwhelming memory came to me. I was rubbing muck off my face. The faint noise of crickets was in the background. It's as if I time traveled back to that moment. Even the smells and thoughts came back to me from that day.
"You just fell into the muddy pond, dummy." Katniss had an amused smile on her face. I remember this better now, it was the day we had gone to see Morpheus. "Give me your hand." Katniss extended her hand as she tried her best to hide her giggles. "Come on, we have to go soon, Percy." Her hand lay not far away from me.
By grabbing her hand, it means so many things I can't explain. Remember who you are. Her voice rang through my brain in harmony. I am Percy Jackson. And I will save the world, at all costs. I reach out to grab her hand.
The cord felt stronger. The image faded away but instead, colorful nurturing memories poured into my mind. Like when they say your life flashes before your eyes. I can make it out. I know I can.
My mortal point closed off jut as fast. The imaginary bungee cord with my back disappeared. It reopened under my left eye in a royal blue cord.
"You'll never learn, will you? I warned you, Percy! I warned you!" Aminta . . .? "I'm sorry." The strange cut under my left eye tore open. I yelled. "It's for your own good!" She yelled with sympathy. This isn't Aminta. It's Vathia.I know it. I kept my cool and mentally told her to proceed. I shut my eyes.
The river threw me up. I coughed and my skin was bloody red.
"Percy!" Annabeth raced next to me. I looked around for Katniss. That memory felt so real. "How do you . . . ?" I took deep breaths and gently pushed her hands away. I don't need anyone touching me right now. I feel sunburned, just maybe a thousand times worse.
"Feel?" I finished for her. "Um . . . I don't know." I just had my mortal point involuntarily changed to the worst spot ever, a spot that actually keeps opening up at ranndom times. Nico and Annabeth helped me up to my feet, which hurt like hell.
"Let's go," Stephanie called shivering. She put on my hoodie over my torn shirt. (Again, ouch.) Mrs. O'Leary looked just as shocked but went up last, as if she needed to protect us.
The sun had never felt so good before. "You are one brave son of a—" Annabeth began but was interrupted.
A glowing white mist appeared before us. Everyone was ready to attack but as the mist dispersed, Katniss's body was on the ground. I separated from Nico and Annabeth. "Kat." I leaned over her body, making mine ache.
"Percy," She groaned. I noticed her hair was a mess, and wet. Her skin was just as blood red as mine.
"What are you . . . ?" I began. She coughed.
"Why do I have a feeling I wasn't the only one who took an extreme bath?" She smiled. She got up and offered her hand. I took it reluctantly being how I was supposed to be the one to help her up.
"Katniss!" Stephanie yelled. She hugged her. Katniss flinched in pain but didn't push her away. I think I flinched more than she did, because I know I would have probably yelped if Stephi did that to me now.
"Why are youhere?" Annabeth asked Katniss. She looked over at Annabeth.
"Hey! It wasn't my choice. I was just taking a swim in Styx. No biggie," Katniss spat. I smiled. But a frown appeared on my face just as fast.
"Katniss . . ." She looked over to me and her expression changed. "Why are you here?" Her mouth gaped open in shock.
"By the gods . . ."
There you go! 9,462 Words of pure sweat—I mean amazingness. . .? LOL So yeah, I hope you liked it. I'm making the next chapter as we speak, but of course, I have to make them SUPER long. Its just the way I roll ;D MaxWaylanGray suffers for my long chapters since she IS my beta. This chapter is like 24 pages on a word document, I feel bad for the poor child….ANYWAYYY, the next chapter is called "Futuristic Lover" based on that song by Katy Perry E.T :D
Hope you liked it! You should flame if me if you hated it ;P OR just save your flames for next chapter. . .some things are as crazy and twisted as they seem.