Alright, I couldn't help it! I love to write, and this story plays on my mind otherwise, so here is the next chapter of Everchanging.
PJOFan4Ever!
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN PJO! I'M NOT RICK RIORDAN!
Previously:
A small hint of remorse, a small twinge of regret. Something that only a sharp eye could spot.
As they walked down the cold street, firmly grasping the arm of the younger boy, he muttered:
"No you're not."
*****
"Hey, why don't you guys go eat something. I need to talk to the kid." he said to the other two teens. The younger boy was still firmly in his grasp. The other two looked to their companion and shrugged. They left the hotel room in search of food. He turned to the brown eyed boy. Strangely enough, he wasn't there. He was trying the doorknob. It was locked.
"Hey!" he cried out in alarm. They engaged in a fight. It ended when the older boy managed to subdue the younger one and shoved him into a chair.
"You're no different then when you left camp, Luke." they younger boy said. His voice was so soft, it might've been part of the howling wind outside. Barely audible, yet it captured the older boy's attention.
"What did you say?" he said. His voice was intimidating, but not out of anger, out of fear. How was it possible that a random twelve year old could've found out who he was. But that was just it. No random twelve year old could've found that out.
"You're right Luke, no random twelve year old could've found that out. But I'm not a random twelve year old." said the boy, smiling.
"Who are you?" Luke asked the boy. "You lied earlier, I know you did. You're a pretty good liar. You've practiced it a lot. But it's still in your eyes, that twinge of regret everyone has when they lie. And I saw it." he hissed. The smile disappeared from the younger boy's face. It was no longer a smiling face of a twelve year old, but the angry face of someone older. Someone who had lost more that he would let on.
"I can't tell you that. I have no desire what so ever to tell you who I am." he spat. Luke could tell, even if this boy tried to hide it, that he wasn't just angry. He was scared. Scared, of what? Luke thought.
"What are you scared of?" he unconsciously asked the boy. He was pleased to see that the boy was taken by surprise. Then he noticed something else. His hair became lighter, his eyes changed color, they were blue now. He can change his appearance, he thought. Then it hit him.
"You were the boy we were chasing in the alley!" he exclaimed suddenly, causing the younger boy to jump. "You changed your appearance. The boy we brought back was mortal, I should've guessed." he chastised himself. The boy was trying to get out of the chair. Luke noticed. "You still haven't answered my question."
"Maybe you should learn to answer it. There'll be a lot more questions that I won't answer. If you're going to want answers, you'll have to find them yourself." he told Luke. Luke just stared at him. Where had he seen him before? He seemed so familiar, he would know that face anywhere, but he couldn't remember it now. He unconsciously pulled out his knife. The boy shrank into his chair, his wrists still bound to the armrest on it.
"You owe me a few answers." he said, hoping it was threatening enough. Apparently, it was. The boy sank further into the chair.
"Well? I'm waiting." he said impatiently. But the boy gave no answer. Something came to Luke, a little later than he thought. The knife was made of celestial bronze, it wouldn't harm mortals, they wouldn't even be able to see it. But this boy could, and he acted as if it would affect him. It hit him, again.
"You're a half-blood!" he said. The boy neither confirmed nor denied it. "That's how you knew about camp, how you knew who I was. But the thing is," he continued, "I'm sure I've seen you before, how is it that I don't know you now?" The boy shrugged in response. Luke snarled, but this time the boy didn't shrink away.
"I'm not scared of you. I just wish we could've been friends. You hurt a lot of people when you left, not to mention you nearly killed one." he muttered. Luke looked at him. He knew about what happened to Percy.
"I was under orders. Percy was a good friend, but I was under orders to do it. I knew he would survive though. Takes a lot to take him out, he's brave, and strong-willed. I guess he got that from his mother." he said.
"Not any more." the boy muttered. His voice was barely audible. If Luke had been even an inch away from where he was, he wouldn't have heard it. His face blanched. Had something happened to him after he left?
"What happened?" he asked. The boy looked up, a fire of hatred burning in his eyes. Something had definitely happened.
"The day after you left, Chiron interrupted the celebrations. Camp went another few days, Chiron didn't tell us why. I guess we all know now, it was painfully obvious when he came, wearing that somber expression. Someone had died." the boy paused. He was restraining tears. Luke noticed. "Percy's name was called over the cheering crowd, and we all knew what was coming. But no one felt better. I went to the beach later that day. He was sitting in the sand, crying. He had been there for hours, so I left. No one saw him after that. No one knows where he is. But I do know one thing," he said, his eyes angry once again, "it was his mother that died." And he stopped.
Luke stared at the younger boy, a million things soaring through his mind. Each question more complicated and less understandable than the last. How come it gave the boy such emotion, it didn't affect him did it?
"Why did you try to kill him? I know you were under orders, but you used a pit scorpion! There was almost zero chance he would've survived." he said, anger stinging him like venom. Wait, Luke thought, pit scorpion? How on earth did he know that? The spy told him that only Chiron, Annabeth and Percy…and Percy…Percy…
"Percy." he said aloud. The boy paled unknowingly. Luke had him cornered. He grasped the handle of the knife firmly, the boy sank into his chair, a grin spread on Luke's face. He found a way to reveal him.
"Scared? I thought you weren't scared of me, Percy." he mocked, hoping the boy would momentarily forget his postion and rise to the bait. It worked. He forgot that he was under an alias, he forgot that he had a different appearance, he forgot everything. Anger had been building, and now it was coming out.
"I'm not scared of you!" he retorted. A moment too late, he realized his mistake. His eyes widened and he paled. Luke grinned.
"Welcome back Percy."