Summary: He didn't want it to happen, it just did. Everything that meant something to him just left. Vanished. Disappeared. He threw everything meaningful aside. He ignored society, the community and his 'so-called-friends'. He ruined his own life, built up a mask to protect himself, to protect others. But he wasn't happy. Not at all.

DISCLAIMER: YET AGAIN, I DO NOT OWN THE PERCY JACKSON AND/OR THE HEROES OF OLYMPUS CHARACTERS. ALL THE CREDIT GOES TO RICK RIORDAN.

Harsh Words

He Who is Empty

After Calypso's chore of doing the shopping, the two went to sit outside Percy's house. Percy revealed that he stole some chocolate bars from the convenience store, which Calypso nudged at him for doing. At first, Percy was worried she'd lecture him about stealing but instead, she took a bar and grinned. No one's ever been cool with Percy doing stuff like that. Not even Luke, who was always about the "bad shit".

"I don't know how you're capable of doing sly things like this." Calypso said, giggling as she munched away.

"It comes naturally to me."

It was an absolute, big fat, mega lie. The Stoll brothers were the ones who taught him. It took him weeks to finally steal without getting caught on camera or by people, but of course, he couldn't say that to Calypso.

"What school do you go to?" Percy asked.

It was bothering him a little. She couldn't have gone to his school or any of the other schools local to their neighbourhood because she didn't know about him. Almost every student and teacher of every school were informed about his behaviour issues.

"I actually do not go to school. I'm home-schooled." Calypso answered.

Her eyes looked sad, as if not going to school was a bad thing. She probably would have had fun if she did go, though. Percy saw that she would fit right into the pretty, smart and social groups. She even reminded him of someone.

"What do you learn at home?"

Percy didn't want to say more to upset her but it was going in that direction anyway.

"My father hires tutors and private teachers to teach me subjects of his choosing. I learn very few subjects. He expects me to be a housewife. Labour is for men."

Oh dear. He wanted to punch himself. Calypso looked depressed. Of course she would! Who in their right mind would want to have someone else choose their life for them? As if reading his mind, Calypso smiled and pat his knee as she stood up.

"It's okay. I've learned to be accustomed to his strict rules. He treats my sisters and me fairly and equally." She glanced over at her house before back at him. "And I must leave now."

Percy waved her goodbye. He wanted her to stay some more, try to cheer her up the way a friend would, but she refused him. The last he saw of her that day was when she gave him a small wave before entering her house.

~O.O~

The next day, Paul left early for work. He left a note on the kitchen counter and a plate full of an English Breakfast. Percy, like always, took his time to get ready and get changed. He didn't care if he'd get a tardy. School was stupid and it was a reason why people stressed out too much. He wished he was a billionaire so that he didn't have to go to school or go to work. Every now and then, Percy would gaze out one of the windows, wondering if she'd come out and pop over to tell him to have fun at school. He knew he wouldn't but just having someone like her say that would at least make him feel better.

The school bus arrived again, and again Percy didn't take it. He walked to school, passing through the same neighbourhood and streets he did every day. Only, today things were different. A boy who looked fourteen but seemed too short for his height was standing in the middle of the road. His face looked blank with his shaggy black hair covering most of his forehead and eyebrows. Percy found it rather strange to see a little guy like him in the streets. Worse, he looked creepy too. He decided to just leave the boy to his own business.

"WATCH OUT!" Someone screamed.

Percy whipped his head back to the voice and it came from a truck driver. He was driving downhill and it seemed like he wasn't- no, couldn't stop. The boy stood still, not fazed by this.

"—don't do anything foolish…okay?"

"Sorry, dad." He muttered before dashing to the boy and dragging him out from the road.

The truck zoomed past and Percy's heart was beating fast. The rush of adrenaline made him excited but he had to contain it. A boy, much smaller than him, was here and it could damage his already bad reputation. He bit his lip and took a step back.

"Kid, you alri—"

"Nico!" Suddenly he was pushed to the side by a girl, much older than the boy. "Where have you been?"

Percy stared blankly at the girl. She was beautiful but not as much as Calypso. Her olive skin matched the younger boy, so he assumed they were siblings and Italian? Her hair was slightly lighter than the boy's, and much longer. They did have the same eyes too; black. Percy knew many girls, seen many girls but those who he considered pretty, only reached the number of fingers on his hands.

"I can't believe you'd leave the mansion without any supervision, whatsoever!"

Percy's eyes widened at what the girl said to Nico. Mansion? Supervision? Were these two rich? What in hell's name would they be doing here?

"Who the hell are you?" Her words snapped him back to Earth.

"Is that the tone you use to thank someone for saving that kid?" Percy snapped at her.

There was always a catch to pretty girls, though this girl seemed to be a lot less rude.

Her eyes widened with sudden realisation, and although Percy saw the hesitation and regret in her eyes he knew better than to argue.

"Thank you."

Percy nodded and began walking away when he felt a pair of hands grab onto his shirt.

"Wait." He turned back to find the girl, looking away for a brief moment before looking back into his eyes. "The respectful thing we do for someone who saved a member of our family is to offer the saviour to come…to dinner."

Percy knew that her pride was on the line and since she spoke in a posh, lady-like tone, it meant something pretty big. It's not like he liked school anyway, and he was actually in a much better mood than yesterday. What harm could happen if he went to dinner?

~O.O~

To be honest, he should have declined. Just seeing the front gates of their mansion was already mocking his peasant life. Nico and his sister – whose called Bianca – were frickin' loaded! They had a gate to protect them from zombies and another gate to protect them from thieves!

"Percy, was it?" Bianca asked, glancing at him.

Percy nodded, looking between the siblings. She talked for most of the ride and Nico hadn't said a single word. Was he mute?

"Like I said before, I really appreciate you saving my brother, Nico. And, with regret, I want this to be a secret between the three of us." Bianca said.

At these words, Percy narrowed his eyes at her. "Why?"

Bianca sighed and opened the door, right after the car parked up in front of their home. She gestured to her surroundings before pointing back at him. Her eyes told him the answer. Her eyes were the same as everyone else's; she looked down on him.

"Look at you, and look at us. The difference between us is our class. You'll bring my family's reputation down, Percy."

This was definitely a different response to what he was usually used to. Bianca was talking about money, presentation and fame instead of who he actually was, but then again, she didn't know him. She didn't hear the rumours and lies people spread. However, that didn't make it any better.

Percy scoffed. "It's not like I wanted to be thanked by a family full of snobby rich kids."

It wasn't loud, but he knew she could hear him. Judging from her facial expression, she heard him. Judging from the sudden pause in Nico's dull face, they both did. Good.

"Excuse me but we are not snobby! We just have pride, unlike you commoners!" Bianca shouted back, obviously offended.

Percy raised a brow, not liking that she insulted him. "Pride in what? I see no pride. You're shameful. Bribing a person with dinner and forcing them not to say shit. Do I look like I'm poor? I don't even know why I came. I'd rather spit on your food than eat it!"

There was silence for a minute. Percy looked at the two siblings who had similar expressions in their face. They were shocked and highly offended by the insult. It was actually pretty funny to see rich kids speechless.

"Th…" Nico, who hadn't said a word was stuttering.

Percy couldn't make out what he was saying but it was probably a rare sight. Bianca was shaking her head in what looked like fear and slight disappointment.

"Th…Thank…you."

It wasn't loud but it was audible and it made Percy less angry. The boy was obviously a selective mute because afterwards he ran straight for the mansion. Bianca had started opening the gate of hell through her mouth, stalking after him. It was really funny seeing rich kids like that, and with that thought, Percy went in after them. He was invited so he should be allowed in.

~O.O~

He should have left the moment he had noticed the way the mansion looked. He knew he should have. Otherwise, he wouldn't have run into scary things. In front of him was a dog the size of a drawer, snarling and biting at him. The dog had black fur and eyes that were searching for your soul. The dog wasn't the only creepy thing. The whole house looked like the dark ages, covered in blood red and black decorations. The floor was marble black and the furniture was vintage and dark. The room was so big and spacious that it made Percy feel so small and open. The lighting made every worse. He could see everything in sight, how the dog ruined a lot of the chairs and tables, how abnormal the statues were placed. Percy would have searched the whole place if only Bianca hadn't dragged him with her, the moment he entered the mansion.

"Come with me. I need to inform you of certain matters." She said in a stern voice. "I can't believe it was you, though."

Percy immediately got out of her grip but kept on following. He wanted to see more dark and weird things. Plus, Bianca was interesting him with those last few words.

After what seemed like hours, they arrived to an old yet shiny looking door. It was surprisingly more uplifting than the surrounding. Percy assumed that this was Bianca's bedroom. It didn't seem like Bianca had any other siblings – other than Nico – and the silent kid would in no way have a door room so modern. His assumptions were confirmed when the door smoothly opened. The interior was much, much brighter than the exterior. Though her carpet was red, cream covered the walls and stars claimed the ceiling. Percy could tell she grew up in this room; horizontal lines carved the wall, probably to check her height, a couple of drawings that were badly drawn, covered some parts of the lower walls and her windowsill had scribbles and doodles all over. All her things were normal for a teenage girl: a desk, patterned bedsheets, a drawer, a wardrobe and other things. This all made Percy feel…scared.

"Ugh. Nico!" Bianca cursed under her breath as she clutched a toy and card in her hand.

In that moment, Percy froze. He recognised that toy. It was a boat, a very small and similar one to his…

He wanted to puke.

Luckily he didn't. Percy didn't want to be fined with a ton of money for just puking on some rich kid's carpet that probably costs $1000.

"What did you want to talk about snob?" That was his new nickname for her.

Bianca glared at the pet name. She obviously didn't like it; however, she didn't respond to it. Instead, she went over to her bed and looked at him, indicating for him to follow suit. With a sigh, Percy did. In doing so, Percy made himself comfortable, much to Bianca's dismay.

"Well, Nico, my younger brother has…a mental health problem."

Percy had no idea why she was telling him this. To be honest, he just wanted to leave and never see her again but being in such a rich and honourable home, there was no way he could.

"He's a selective mute," Percy rolled his eyes by accident at this because he guessed it correctly. "And it's the first time in years since he's spoken to anyone. I don't know why he chose to speak to you."

Bianca looked at him directly in the eyes. "But, if this is the gods telling me that you might be able to help with his problems, I'm willing to plead- beg."

Percy was taken aback by this. The snob wanted help just because she wanted her brother to be better? She was willing to put down her pride for Nico? She was taking a chance on him to…help?

The boy who is empty, I wonder who that person is referred to…Hmm.

And Jackson encountering the all-famous Di Angelo family? Bianca is actually asking for help?

Wait, why has Jackson not left yet? Could it be that…

It sucks for him, being dragged into something he didn't want to be apart of. :P At least it wouldn't get any worse than that…right?

Thank you for the patience, reviewers! I hope you liked this chapter, the previous chapters and the chapters to come!

R&R

ThinkStupid (~.~)