TW: Non-consensual kissing
xXx
Oizys' visit had shaken me, but… it had also, surprisingly, knocked me out of my depressive stint. A little ironic, but not something I could be too upset about.
I'd written to camp again, asking Piper to hold onto the letter I'd written to Annabeth until she came back. Surprisingly, I also got a long letter from Grover, who was also apparently visiting the camp. I smiled. It felt good to hear from him. Our empathy link still existed, but it felt so stretched and thin… and I didn't really want to expose him to Tartarus. I was, after all, in near constant pain. Reading his letter brought the realization back to my mind, but it had just become part of my daily life. I'd wake up and think, 'Oh, yay. Another painful day. Woohoo,' and just kind of go on with it. I wondered, briefly, if that was how it felt for people with chronic diseases and… really hoped not.
But I pushed that aside to write back to one of my best friends and… it felt good. I also wrote letters to Mom, Paul, Estelle and my new baby brother (whose name I couldn't remember, and I felt kind of bad about that, so I asked Mom to tell me in her new letter).
Then, slowly, I packed up and left. I wished I could stay longer at the shrine, but I knew I couldn't. I didn't dare even sleep there. I did ice over the whole thing, though, to give it some protection. I hoped that would be enough. I also hoped I hadn't lowered the sea by several feet by that point. Not that I'd change anything—I needed water, and I'd do what I had to survive, but…
I fought my way back to my home base on the side of the Phlegethon and, after a decent rest, I went back to my routine. Basically, I continued building my new… well, fortress, I supposed. Though I didn't like the idea of having my own fortress in Tartarus. Still, it was something that could give me a better sense of safety. Also my saltwater pool. If I could get to that without having to fight my way to it or worry about acid rain ruining it every other month (ish) that would be a load off of my shoulders. I could actually set up a bedroom under water without having to worry about being more or less a sitting duck.
Besides, building kept me busy. And I needed that.
After a day of working, fighting, and training, I'd go back to my cave and relax as best I could, usually by pulling out Apollo's scroll and checking the list Annabeth had made for me in our first notebook. By that point, I'd read through most of the classic books in Greek and was working on some of them in English. I'd definitely read most of the Greek myths, the Odyssey, the Iliad, The Hobbit books… Harry Potter. Okay, so sue me. I liked those. His luck was almost as bad as mine. It was cathartic.
I'd also spend a lot of time just reading mine and Annabeth's notebooks from the beginning. It helped me feel closer to her. I also loved to read any updates she gave me, whether it be about her life or ideas for me. Sometimes I could close my eyes and pretend I was there with her.
Which was why I was surprised when I got a note not too long after my visit to the shrine and Oizys.
My girlfriend began writing while I was looking over some of the plans she's sent me and I read along as she told me how interesting my information on the goddess of Anxiety was. Apparently she was only mentioned in a couple of the surviving myths, and little was known about her.
She was also so excited about the 'cheat codes' Oizys spoke of. According to Annabeth, apparently Kronos (and the other Titans) did have a true form at one point, but those powers were bound when they were tossed down to Tartarus—not stripped of them (she didn't think that was possible), but their access was just removed. They hadn't recovered their true forms, obviously, or they could have used those true forms to decimate the demigods during the Olympus attack, theoretically. She theorized that Oizys hadn't been clear in her wording—likely due to stress—and if Kronos would have won the war, he and the Titans may have been able to get those back which was they would have become more powerful. After all, Oceanus had had a true form, and he hadn't been cast into Tartarus.
I wondered why Kronos seemed to be the linchpin for all their powers, if Annabeth was right. Maybe as a reinstated king, he would have been able to unbind them or whatever? I felt a little lost even following Annabeth's stream of consciousness written in Greek, but that just made me smile. It felt familiar, safe, and so warm.
Then Annabeth wrote something that made my heart stop.
Percy… I need to tell you something.
I gulped. I really hoped she'd gotten a promotion or an amazing freelance architecture job or something like that… but I had an uneasy feeling. The fact that I was reading as she updated kind of made my anticipation of what she was saying worse.
I've been taking classes in psychology recently. I think I told you. I've been so busy because of it, and I'm sorry I haven't been writing as much. At least it's fascinating. It's given me such a different perspective on so many things that I never realized… I think I'm beginning to understand why my fatal flaw is, well, fatal. I missed so much…
My heart sank. This was where she said she couldn't wait for me. Not that I could blame her. I wouldn't want to wait for me either. I mean, I'd totally wait for her…
I frowned. Something seemed off about that thought, but before I could think on it more, she went on.
I won't lie, this is one of my assignments, to write how I feel about different people in my life and find out the best way to tell them. Just so you're aware.
I swallowed. Okay, I could work with that…
I think about you down there all the time, Percy. It's been bringing up memories and problems. I've had to actually see a therapist about my trauma, and it's been helping. I wish I could get you some help too. It's one of the best decisions I've made. And when you get back, I'd really like to go to couple's counseling when you're ready.
For a moment, I thought I'd read her Greek wrong. Couple's counseling? When I get back? Those words eased the ball of worry inside of me. This wasn't her breaking up or anything. Thank the gods.
Every time I think about you, though, I worry. I remember how painful it was just to stay alive down there—just to breathe. I know you've adapted a little, but Percy, I hate that you've had to live with that for so long. I remember the pain and I'm sure it's only gotten worse for you and…
This is not me pitying you, Seaweed Brain. This is me empathizing. Which is okay. People can share your burdens, you know. I know you hate seeing other people in pain, but we—those of us who love you—hate seeing you in pain. We hate knowing you're living in literal Hell. And the worst part about it? It's not even necessary. I know you're not the child of this prophecy, and if the gods could ever remember anything from their own myths, they would know that too! Them throwing you down there is literally the worst thing they could have done regarding the prophecy. But, of course, tell them that.
That's why I'm changing things. I'll do whatever I have to, follow whatever rules they put down, just to have the chance at rescuing you—at righting the wrongs done to you. To all of us.
I love you, Percy Jackson. I love you and I want you to know I will never give up on you.
I guess I'll be your knight in shining armor, huh? Though I never pictured you as the damsel in distress type.
I actually laughed at that one, albeit wetly. I didn't realize how much I needed to hear those words. Or, well, read them. The letters blurred through tears and I had to take a deep breath. After a moment, I was able to go on.
I also want you to know that I'm thankful. I realize that one of the easiest ways to get out of there would be to die. It probably wouldn't be that difficult to find some sort of "glorious battle" in which to do it.
I'm… not going to lie. I told you I feel selfish, asking you to stay alive for me—to risk your human soul. But while I know I could get by without you and you could get by without me, I really, really don't want to, and I'm pretty sure you don't want to either. Even now, without you here… it hurts, Percy. I can't imagine how much it hurts you too. When we were down there before, at least we had each other. I'm sorry I'm putting you through that… but I know that's silly because if you didn't want to do it, you wouldn't. The fact that you would do it for me… I can't put into words how grateful I am.
I feel like this is just becoming a mess. Which I kind of hate because I like being pragmatic and logical and this is anything but (although going through the psychology classes are helping me realize that it is, but there are just different rules that apply). But love is weird like that, I suppose.
(If Aphrodite ever gets ahold of these words, I will deny them.)
Anyway… please, just remember I love you, Seaweed Brain. Your family does too, and your friends from both camps… We love you so much. And whatever you decide to do, we'll support you, okay?
Yeah… okay, that's enough emotions for now. This was… a lot harder than I thought it would be. I'm going to go finish some work. Maybe sketching some designs and figuring out some of the building materials will help me calm down. I hope everything's going well with the bunker.
Later, Percy.
—Annabeth
P.S. When you get back, I want to ask you to marry me, but I know that we probably shouldn't jump right into it. You'll need time to adjust and get counseling and recover. Just… know that that's my goal, okay? As long as you're okay with that too. XXX
I hadn't felt the kind of fluttering in my stomach those words induced, like miniature Stymphalian birds attacking each other over and over again, since we'd first gotten together. It wasn't something I felt often, even when I'd been above ground.
I liked it.
And I liked that Annabeth could still make me feel that way, even when we were apart like this. That made my entire week (ish) better and became my go-to when I found myself feeling down after that.
I was just putting the finishing touches on my bunker (digging through nearby hills that didn't house my cave and laying the rocks and dirt over the top of the bunker so as to disguise it—not that half of Tartarus hadn't seen where it was by this point, but it was part of Annabeth's plan and made me feel more secure) when another unwanted blast from my past stopped by.
"Well, you've certainly grown up. No longer the murder child? Hmm."
I froze. I knew that voice. Doubted I'd ever be able to forget it.
"Medusa," I said, resisting the urge to turn around and face her.
"Oh, it's quite alright. I have my sunglasses," she said as if reading my mind. She sounded so smug. Did she expect me to believe her? I needed a way to see her to check but didn't exactly have anything that shiny on me. I did have a mirror one of the Aphrodite children had sent me in my cave but…
Maybe if I froze dark sand on the back of a slab of partially melted ice?
She laughed when I didn't move. I still held Riptide in my hand as I flattened the sphere on the ground, picking up grains of black sand that I forced in place on the back before freezing the entire thing. It wasn't a perfect mirror, but it wasn't too bad either. It did the job of showing me that she hadn't been lying. She was wearing sunglasses. She also wasn't approaching.
I tried not to think of how easily she could have killed me. I destroyed hoards of monsters on the regular and maybe had gotten a little complacent because so few things could really make me go all out, but if she'd startled me and I'd turned around when she didn't have her glasses on…
From the smug expression on her face, she knew it too.
Slowly, ready to close my eyes at the slightest move, I turned to face her. Behind her glasses, I could practically see her eyes rake up and down my body, like I was a piece of meat or something. To be fair, to her, I was a piece of meat. Though I did have to wonder (not for the first time), if she ate demigods like most monsters did, why did she turn so many to stone?
"Hmm," she said, almost appreciatively, "grown up indeed."
I grit my teeth. "What do you want?"
She snorted. "Well, some things never change. Still brash and… what was the word, impertinent?"
I narrowed my eyes. "You were dead when we said that." It was one conversation I remembered clearly.
"Was I?" she asked innocently. "Simply because I cannot move my head doesn't mean I don't remember things that happened in its presence."
I frowned. "Answer the question."
"I came to offer… companionship, actually."
Well, I certainly hadn't been expecting that.
"I'm sorry, what?" I asked. That was when I noticed her snake-hair had been put into an updo and she was wearing… an evening gown? A very low cut, bright red, modern evening gown that did very little to hide her… assets. (Wasn't she supposed to be old and ugly? She certainly wasn't now…) I blushed a little and turned my head away. She looked so… out of place against the backdrop of the dark sand and ash and glowing Phlegethon. How did she do that? Look so good—clean and put together—down here? (Or was this another thing I did not want to know?) Honestly, I had my money on a glamor of some kind. I remembered her being old and ugly before…
"Oh, quite the gentlemen. Rather like your father… but more innocent. How adorable."
I coughed, trying to force my blush down through sheer will and maybe a little bit of my own blood manipulation. "I'm not my father."
She chuckled. "You most certainly aren't. But that just makes you more appealing."
Taking a deep breath, I shook my head. "I have a girlfriend." Maybe a fiance? I liked the sound of that. "And even if I didn't, I wouldn't be in the market for one. Especially not one that would kill me with one look the moment I let my guard down."
She laughed. "My dear boy, we both know I could have killed you just now if I'd wanted."
I shook my head. "No deal. If you leave now, I won't kill you." Probably a bad idea to just let her go, but I really didn't want to fight if I didn't have to.
"Do you really not find me… attractive?" she asked, twirling around slowly, seductively.
I swallowed and looked away again. "That has nothing to do with it." That… sounded like a wrong answer the moment it left my mouth.
She laughed again. "Nice to know I haven't lost my… charm."
Frustrated, I tried to think of what I could do. I really didn't want to turn my back on her, but honestly, facing her was just as bad. Should I just try to fight? But I couldn't get there before she lowered her sunglasses…
"Honestly, if it bothers you that much, we don't even have to do anything, you know," she said, pulling me out of my thoughts. "We can just talk. There aren't many great… conversationalists down here."
That… sounded far more appealing than I wanted to admit, even to myself. I desperately wanted some company but… this was Medusa. I'd killed her once before. I knew I couldn't trust her. And yet…
My hesitation seemed to annoy her because she huffed. "You are quite devoted, aren't you?"
"I value loyalty," I said, hoping I could hide my hesitation, and how much her offer appealed to me.
"Hmm," she said, looking at me again, this time like I was a puzzle to be solved.
"If that's all," I started, but she cut me off.
"You know, Tartarus tends to give monsters boosts in power," she said.
I did not like where that was going. I stiffened and lifted Riptide again in warning.
"Indeed," she said casually. "For instance, you do not see me, you see your beloved."
I felt so dizzy. My eyes closed on instinct and I put a hand to my head, gritting my teeth. What had she just said? And wait, was that an attack? How could I have been so stupid to take my eyes off of her?! (Off of who again?)
Snapping my eyes back open, I looked around… and my heart stopped. Instead of a threat, I saw…
"A-Annabeth?" I asked, blinking rapidly.
"Percy," she whispered, her voice harsher than I was used to hearing, but that could easily be the air. Abandoning everything else I rushed down to where she stood, mid-way between the cave and the Phlegethon, in her typical camp outfit, beaded necklace and everything. Except for the sunglasses. She didn't normally wear those but… I could ask her about those later.
"Annabeth!" I rushed forward, scooping her up and holding her tight. It felt so, so good to hold my girlfriend in my arms. "You came."
"Of course I did," she said back.
I frowned. She still sounded off. "What happened to your voice?" I knew that voice… didn't I?
She smiled sadly. "I grew up."
I wilted. "Without me there."
"That wasn't your fault."
"Yeah," I muttered, nodding and putting my forehead to hers and closing my eyes, just taking in her presence. "I know. Thanks."
"Hmm," was all she responded with. That… seemed a little off, but we had been apart for a long time. Too long. Maybe she'd changed a little. That broke my heart, but I'd just have to get to know the new her.
"Do you have a way out?" I asked. She didn't answer, staring in confusion. My stomach dropped. "I told you not to come unless you had a way out!"
Annabeth shook her head. Funny, did she always have her hair up like that? It looked a little strange. Not bad, but… I was used to her tying it in a pony-tail, or letting it loose around her shoulders. It made her look older, more like her mother. I wasn't sure how I felt about that.
"The gods, Percy. They found out I wanted to come after you and… and…"
I took a deep breath and let it out. It did little to calm my rage. "They tossed you in here too."
She nodded, sniffing.
"I'm so sorry. You had so much going for you."
"Yeah," she nodded. "But… at least I get to be with you again."
I smiled and opened my mouth to say something when she leaned forward, kissing me. It surprised me, but I happily returned the kiss…
Except… it felt off. Different. Annabeth's kisses had always been… soft. Sweet. Intimate. Like she was giving me a part of herself she'd never shown anyone else. This was… needy and kind of harsh. Not unpleasant, but… not right either. She deepened the kiss but I couldn't reciprocate anymore.
I backed off, frowning.
"Percy?" she breathed.
"You're not Annabeth," I said. And that… hurt. She was right there. It felt like my chest had been ripped out all over again because it wasn't her.
She laughed. "So devoted, little sea spawn."
Wait… that voice…
And like that, it shattered. Whatever hold she had over me cracked away like glass and I saw Medusa standing there in her red evening gown. How had I forgotten that? Wait, she had her charmspeak… and she got a power boost in Tartarus. I swore silently.
"So innocent," she said, touching her lips. The lips I'd just kissed. I felt sick. "And yet passionate. That was quite the breath of fresh air. It seems you got more from your father than just looks and power."
I felt… violated, honestly. Hurt and… a little disgusted, both at myself and at her.
And I really, really wanted her gone.
"Leave."
She raised an eyebrow in amusement. Amusement. "Oh, come now. I could be her, you know. Or anyone you want me to be."
I clenched my fists so hard they started shaking at my side. I felt Riptide in my pocket. I must have put it away when she used her charmspeak. I contemplated bringing it out again, but that seemed too obvious and too… neat of a death for her now.
"You have ten seconds before you'll wish I'd taken your head again."
"Are you really passing up—"
"Nine."
She snapped her mouth closed, scowling.
"Eight."
"So be it," she said, turning and waltzing away. "It seems you still have some growing up to do anyway. However, if you change your mind…"
"Seven."
She just snorted and continued to saunter away. Once she was gone, I bent down, hand over my mouth and the other clutching my stomach. I still felt so sick… Trick or not, I'd just kissed Medusa.
I wanted that feeling gone. And I knew just the thing. Turning, I rushed over to the river, dropped down and scooped the burning water into my hands, then shoved the whole thing onto my face, burning the phantom sensation of the kiss away. I preferred it, honestly. I slurped the rest of the water in my hands down, wanting the pain over anything else at the moment. It… helped.
Once the burn had faded I slumped and ran a hand through my hair. What would Annabeth think? Part of me didn't want to tell her but… part of me knew that was a bad idea. To be fair, she might actually want to take Medusa apart herself once she heard. The idea made me feel a little better about the whole thing.
A little.
Deciding I was done with my bunker for the day, I went back inside my cave. Annabeth had recommended some books I wanted to read. Maybe that could help.
It did. Didn't fix everything entirely, but getting away to a world where ash fell constantly and metal had magical power was… relatable and cathartic in its own way.
If I ever saw Medusa again, though, I'd probably drop her in the Phlegethon… or drop the Phlegethon on her.
That thought helped a lot too.
xXx
I finished my bunker and began to move into it the next day. I had gathered more things than I'd realized over my time in the Pit. Lots of skins and pelts, a fair amount of clothing (though not much of it very good) and more tools than I'd realized. Hephaestus' hammer had come in very handy when making them.
I was happy to leave the morbid, bone wind-chimes (as I'd called my noise traps) behind. I still kept the cave as it was, though. I'd put a lot of work into it and had lived there for nine (ish) years. I was proud of it. But I was also proud of my bunker, especially as I'd been able to create an actual room underwater and was very much looking forward to moving in, even if it would constantly be cold due to the ice, but I doubted it would bother me. I could warm it up and refreeze anything that melted after all.
So, with one final look, I bid my cave farewell and walked outside. More monsters had gathered, but I expected as much. I dispatched them easily and made it to my new home. My new home that no one could get into unless I wanted them too… (or they could teleport, but I couldn't do much about that). I had to melt the ice to get inside the bunker, and there were no actual doorways in the first three walls. The hallways in between those walls had traps in them as well. I had to know the place inside and out to safely navigate it, but that wasn't a problem. I had built it and all.
Honestly, while architecture would never be my strong point, I was definitely beginning to appreciate it and why Annabeth loved it so much.
That 'night', I went to sleep in an ice bed covered in pelts under water.
It was the best sleep I'd had since my unjust exile.
xXx
AN: So, I don't subscribe to Ovid's ideas on Medusa. In case that wasn't apparent. ^^;
Thank you so much for reading! And thanks to Asterius Daemon, Ajax, StarlightLuv and Quathis for their help on this.
Next week's chapter: The Monsters Level Up, Because Of Course They Do
Discord: discord. gg/xDDz3gqWfy (no spaces)
