Chapter 3: I Mist you.
The whole school was talking about Nico. Of course they didn't know his name but they all liked to guess his godly parent, what his powers were, how good he is at fighting. It reminded me of when Nico had been obsessed with a game called Mythomagic.
Sometimes I'll hear people talk about him, how he looks scrawny, probably not a good fighter, not very powerful. It makes me so angry. They have no idea that he is an amazing fighter. That he is very powerful. I would just love to see the looks on their faces. But I can't. School is unbearable.
Luckily it's Friday! And Friday is a half day. I'm walking out of the school building with Tucker.
"Seriously, I swear Mrs. Chesney hates me!" He was saying.
"She hates everyone." I reminded him. Mrs. Chesney is our science teacher. She is a nightmare. She hates you for getting something wrong (Which is stupid because she's a teacher and that's what she's there for.) She hates you for getting something right (Which is even stupider because she's a teacher and she's supposed to reward you for getting something right.)
"Hey guys!" Aspen said as she and Carrie came over. "What are you talking about?"
"Mrs. Chesney." I told them. They both groan.
"She really hates me." Tucker said as convincingly as he can.
"She hates everyone." Carrie said rolling her eyes.
"Not just you – Aiden!" Aspen cried as Aiden poked her side.
"Mwahaha! Hey do guys wanna do something today?" He laughed while being smacked on the arm by Aspen. We all agree after calls to parents. I don't need to, my mom's cool like that.
"We were just talking about Mrs. Chesney." Tucker said. I roll my eyes and turn my head towards the front gate. I only glanced over but I saw a head of blonde hair near the gate. I took a double take. No way.
I took off running with my friends yelling behind me. I ran up to Annabeth as she launched herself at me.
"Oh gods I missed you Seaweed Brain!" She said as I swung her around. I leaned down and kissed her. Gods it had been so long!
"Mr. Jackson! No PDA on school grounds!" Mrs. Chesney herself shouted. That also meant everyone turned and looked at me. I tried to ignore them but I couldn't help but notice their shocked faces when they saw Annabeth. Gee thanks. I then saw my friends.
"Um... Percy?" My friends were all staring at me as if I'd fallen from Mars. Or maybe from Olympus.
"Oh! Right yeah. Guys this is my girlfriend Annabeth. Wise girl these are my friends."
They looked at her blinking a lot as if they couldn't quite believe it. Oh wow. I can accept that from others but my friends? Gee thanks guys. Then again I don't blame them, Annabeth is beautiful and amazing.
"Hey." Annabeth said with a little wave.
"Uh... I'm Carrie." Carrie said coming out of her stupor.
"Aspen." Aspen said with a little disbelieving laugh.
"T-T-Tucker." Tucker stuttered.
"Aiden." Aiden said, he was the only one who seemed cool with it. Then again he only had eyes for Aspen. "We were just about to go out for a while. Do you want to come?" He glanced quickly at the others to see if it was OK for him to invite Annabeth. They all smiled which told me they didn't mind. Annabeth's eyes flashed toward me for a second telling me she needed to talk to me.
"Sure." She answered. We all headed out of the school with no real plans about where to go but we ended up in Central Park.
"So... Annabeth. How did you two meet?" Aspen asked smoothly as we all sat in a large green patch of grass. Annabeth and I shared a look.
"Well..." I said while picking grass and putting it all in a pile.
"It's a long story." Annabeth continued making her own pile.
"But we met when we were twelve." We grinned at each other.
"Aw, finishing each other's sentences." Carrie said sarcastically. Thanks Carrie. Aspen elbowed her.
"Did you guys like each other straight away?" Aspen asked.
"HA!" I burst out. "She hated me at first!" Carrie looked at Annabeth with new found respect. Thanks again Carrie. It then dawned on me they might be thinking she was just a dumb blonde. I frowned and looked at Annabeth, the look on her face told me she'd already figured that out.
"I didn't hate you! I just thought you were slow and stupid, and hey, look, I was right!" Cue laughter from my former friends.
"Ouch. That hurt." I mocked. "That hurt real deep."
"And I mean you can't blame me. Look at our parents–" She stopped short.
"You're parents?" Aiden asked confused.
"Yeah they um, don't like each other." Annabeth said lamely.
"But everyone likes Sally and she likes everyone." Tucker looked bewildered that anyone could not like my mom and I couldn't blame him. She's awesome.
"Yeah well my parents are uptight" Annabeth said in a tone that said "End of conversation" That was kinda true (Please don't kill me!) her mom was very much like that in some ways.
"So what changed?" Carrie ventured. Another dangerous topic. I thought about telling her we were kidnapped (Which is what the media had said Ares had done to us.) But then decided not to in case they looked it up and saw the footage of me and Ares fighting.
"I'm a rebel." I said. That got a laugh. Yay! Friends finally back on my side! "And besides it was more of her mom not liking me than it was my mom."
"Don't blame it all on my mom." Annabeth defended. "But yeah it's kinda true." She relented.
We both knew these questions were getting dangerous and I tried to think of a change of topic. But Annabeth came up with a distraction instead. All of a sudden it was raining grass. My friends laughed and started throwing grass at each other.
"Good distraction." I told her. She grinned.
"I know." She said smugly.
"But you know we're gonna have to make this look a whole lot more real."
"Wait what? What do you mean Percy?" She then caught the evil glint in my eye. "No. NO!"
"You are so dead!" I yelled as she got up and ran away. I chased after her. I could hear muffled laughter behind us. I ran as fast as I could and managed to catch her around the waist. She turned into me laughing. I may have misjudged how fast I going because we went flying. I turned in the air and caught the fall then turned again so I was above her.
"Surrender!" I commanded.
"Never!" She cried. Then before I knew it she rolled so she was above me, straddling me with her hands pinning my hands down. "Haha! Athena always has a plan!"
"For the price of your freedom I'll be requiring two kisses!" She continued. She proceeded to lean down and kiss me. "One." She mumbled.
"Athena always has a plan?" I heard the voices of my friends say. Crap.
"Rain check?" I sighed. Annabeth got up and brushed herself off. I got up too.
"Did you just say "Athena always has a plan"?" Tucker asked terrified. I understood why. His dad would probably kill him if he knew he was associated with demigods. My other friends looked slightly awed.
"Percy do you trust these guys?" Annabeth asked. My friends all looked at me.
"Yes. I trust them with this." I replied. Without another word she led us towards the trees for some coverage.
"Okay so –" She started.
"You're a demigod?" Aspen smiled.
"Like an actual demigod?" Carrie asked excited, her impressed level for Annabeth went up like a million.
"Yeah –"
"Who's your parent?" Aspen was practically jumping up and down in excitement.
"Is it Aphrodite?" Tucker asked, and then blushed. Annabeth blushed too.
"No –"
"No I bet it someone big like..." They all started arguing about who they thought Annabeth's godly parent was.
"GUYS" She shouted. They stopped and shut up. "My mom is Athena. Goddess of wisdom and battle strategy." She said proudly.
"Athena!?" All their eyes widened. She frowned.
"Yeah so?" Her voice was powerful, daring them to argue.
"Nothing!" They yelped.
"I can't believe you trust us with this! This is... This is wow." Aspen shook her head in disbelief.
"Yeah well Percy said he trusts you guys so..." They all turned to look at me.
"So Percy... How long have you known Annabeth was a demigod?" Carrie bubbled.
"Did you figure it out?" Aiden asked.
"Nah I bet she told him. He'd never figure that out." Tucker argued. Thanks Tucker.
"I bet she didn't tell him to protect him and then when the news broke she was too scared to tell him but he figured it out and loved her anyway! AW!" Aspen squealed.
Annabeth was laughing uncontrollably now while I frowned at my friends.
"What?" They all demanded.
"Nothing!" She gasped. "I just love you automatically think he's not cool enough to be demigod!" They frowned at her confused. I watched their faces as it dawned on them what she was saying and soon I was laughing along with Annabeth. Their faces were priceless!
"What – Percy – no – he – what?!" They stuttered.
"Meet Perseus Jackson Son of Poseidon,Retriever of the Shield of Ares and the scarf of Aphrodite, Zeus' Master Bolt and Hades' helm of darkness, Defeater of the Furies, Defeater of Ares, Sailor of the Sea of Monsters, defeater of the Cyclops Polyphemus and sorcerer Circe, retriever of the Golden Fleece, Finder of the Orphiotuarus, defeater of the Nemean Lion, Rider of the Erymanthian Boar, Defeater of Talos, Capturer of Nereus, Saviour of Artemis – and me –" She gave me a smile and kissed my cheek. "Bearer of the sky, Defeater of Atlas, Wanderer of the Labyrinth, Finder of Briares, Cleaner of the man-eating horse's Stables," She smirked at me. "Defeater of Antaeus, Finder of Pan and Daedalus, Saviour of Camp Half-Blood, Ex- bearer of the Curse of Achilles, Defeater of Hades, Bearer of Hope (Elpis), Defeater of Hyperion, the Clamazonian Sow and Kronos, Denier of Immortality, Defeater of Phineas and Alcyoneus, Releaser of Thantos, Defeater of Polybotes, Praetor of Camp Jupiter, Sailor of the Mare Nostrum, Defeater of Chrysaor, Ephialtes and Otis, Survivor of Tartarus, Closer of the Doors of Death (*please insert the stuff that happens in House of Hades and the fifth book.) Plus a constant Visitor of the Underworld." She said proudly. I rolled my eyes.
"Annabeth you did basically all those things with me and you're the Official Architect of Olympus." I glanced at my friends, their faces were positively priceless.
We watched and waited until my friends composed themselves. Carrie was the first to recover.
"So... You... found Aphrodite's scarf? I bet it was pink, was it pink? I bet it had a smell too like... I dunno, probably what attracts you most or something like out of Harry Potter." I stared at her.
"The scarf? Seriously the scarf?" I asked incredulously.
"Well I don't know who half those people are... But like really? What's your weapon of choice? I can imagine a sword, is it a sword? You'd look good with a sword. If you haven't tried a sword I suggest you try a sword. Or a dagger! Daggers are all smooth and stylish! But not a gun! Never a gun! There so boring and mundane! And I personally think it requires less skill, I mean yeah shoot straight! But with a sword – or a dagger – you need to be thinking on your feet, not only that but it's a close range weapon. Close contact. More skill required –" She spoke at the speed of light as we just stared at her.
"Carrie!" Aspen Shouted. Carrie blinked at us. "Calm your socks." She blushed.
"Did you do all of that together?" Aiden asked.
"Yeah. Mostly except for the times we got kidnapped." I said vaguely as their eyes bulged.
"Kidnapped?" Tucker gulped.
"Yeah, this was way before the whole 'mortal trying to capture us' thing." Annabeth replied. "I was only gone for about, what a week?" She raised a brow. "Percy was gone for eight months!"
"Yeah but I was taken by Hera and had all memories taken."
"I was taken while saving you guys!"
"I was kept asleep for months."
"I had to hold up the sky!"
"Okay, okay guys." Aiden raised his hands in a calming way. "Cool it." We blushed.
"Is it OK for us to ask you questions?" Tucker asked.
"Of course it is!" Annabeth laughed.
"But how can you trust us with this... I just can't understand that." Aspen shook her head.
"Percy trusts you, so I know you're trust worthy." Annabeth shrugged.
"Wait, you trust us because Percy said it was OK?" My friends looked at me more awed about this than they had about my title.
"Yeah." She looked into my eyes. "Percy has a knack for finding good friends." I sighed and wrapped my arms around her waist.
"How does Percy know he can trust us?" I frowned, I am right here.
"I think it's the little things. He says he can 'just tell'" She said with air quotes. "But I think he's drawn to people who are genuinely kind and there's always a certain look in the face of a friend of Percy. The look of someone who may not have always had the easiest life," They all fidgeted at that. "But can still put on a brave face, still smile and find good in others. Just by looking at peoples face I can tell if they're a friend of Percy if they have the brightest smile but the saddest eyes." Annabeth blushed. "That sounded like really bad poetry."
"Not as bad as Apollo." I murmured to her.
"You can tell all that by someone's face?" Tucker asked worriedly. She pinned him with a look. A look that said, Yes, I understand how you feel, I can see it. I won't tell. I know what it's like.
"I don't mean to sound whiny, but can we sit down?" Carrie whined. We all sat down in a rough circle, I stretched out my legs and Annabeth sat between them leaning back on me.
"So what is your weapon of choice?" Carrie asked. I smiled.
"A sword." She grinned in triumph. "It's call Anaklusmos, which is Greek for Riptide."
"Do you have it with you?" Aiden asked excitedly. I shifted so I could get riptide out of my pocket. I pulled it out.
"Percy, that's a pen." Aspen the 'pacifist against violence' told me. I rolled my eyes and uncapped it. Riptide grew in my hand into a celestial bronze leaf shaped sword. Their eyes widened.
"It also magically turns into a pen and will always return to me." I smirked.
"Percy stop showing off." Annabeth rolled her eyes. Me? A show off? Never!
"So cool." Tucker breathed as I put riptide away. Annabeth sighed.
"You guys are gonna give him an even bigger head." I poked her sides.
"Percy!" She squealed then giggled. My friends glanced at each other. Annabeth had taught me how to read people I could practically hear what they were thinking.
I can't believe we never knew this side of Percy.
I thought we knew him but there's just so much we don't know.
That made me sad. They did know me. I was the same, right?
He never even told us about his girlfriend.
He's still the same old goofball; it's just hard knowing he has done so many amazing things.
Thanks... I think.
I saw Annabeth glance at me worrying. I'm fine. I told her.
"So... Yeah." I said awkwardly. I glanced at Annabeth again.
Oh gods I hadn't seen her in so long I couldn't help but just look at her. And after all we'd been through we deserved some down time.
First we'd gone through the whole I-like-you-but-do-you-like-me-even-though-I-know-y ou-like-someone-who-we're-also-at-war-with phase but at least we'd been near each other.
Then we got together! Woo yay! Then I got kidnapped. I remember her and we both knew we liked each other but couldn't be near each other. The opposite of before.
Now we knew we liked each other and staying so near to each other but we still couldn't be together! And it was driving me insane!
I huffed out a breath scowling. Damn my brain for making me angry.
"How did you guys meet Percy?" Annabeth ventured seeing the scowl on my face and knowing exactly what I was feeling.
"Oh no that's boring! Tell us about your adventures!" Carrie begged. Annabeth and I wrinkled our noses.
"Carrie." Aspen scolded. "It's not boring. I have been friends with Aiden since forever." She glanced at Aiden who grinned at her. "He and Percy are on the swim team and they made friends instantly, both being complete weirdos." She smirked. "Then he and Tucker met in some kind of rodeo?"
"Haha, very funny Aspen." Tucker pouted while the others all cracked up. "No we met when he spilled chemicals all over me in science. Thanks buddy."
"Yeah Mrs. Chesney was really angry with me."
"Mrs. Chesney is always angry." Aspen rolled her eyes.
"Didn't you and Tyson ace a test by spilling chemicals?" Annabeth asked.
"Yeah. Hey that was school you came and punched Sloan!" I love it when Annabeth does stuff like that. You know, punch people as long as it's not me that is.
"And you blew up the gym." Annabeth smiled remembering.
"I know P.E. sucks Percy but you're not supposed to blow up the gym." Aiden joked to mask his shock.
"What about you Carrie? How did you and Percy meet?"
"Jonathon pushed me in the school's pool. I'm not a very good swimmer. Percy saw me struggling and jumped in to help me. At the time it was almost as if the water was trying to keep me up and know I know Percy was in fact making the water do that." She smiled at him.
"Always the hero." Annabeth smiled.
"You didn't tell us how you guys met." Aspen reminded us. I sighed.
"I didn't fully know who I was yet. I had just seen the Minotaur kill my mom and I killed him back. I was in shock and was having to pull Grover over the boundary line of our camp." I sighed remembering. "I stumbled up to the Big House and there was a girl with princess blonde curls. She said 'he's the one. He must be.' And then I passed out." There was a moment of silence.
"You suck at telling stories." Carrie said. "More details!"
"Well it's not exactly a pleasant memory." I retorted.
"Why?" She said tactlessly.
"I had just seen my mother killed." She look down in shame.
"Oh, yeah. How is she alive?" She frowned.
"She wasn't dead but being held captive by Hades, I went to go free her. Well that wasn't the actual quest but that's why I went on the quest."
"Huh." Annabeth said. "Not because –"
"I smell three demigods. Maybe a few mortals. But they're not important." A voice hissed. We all went silent.
"Guys get out of here now." I commanded. Annabeth slid out her dagger as she stood. Carrie stared at it.
"They said three demigods." Carrie said her eyes darting around. Me and Annabeth shared a look. We knew it meant one of my friends was a demigod.
"It's Percy." Annabeth said. "He has the aura of a god."
"Bit of exaggeration there." I rolled my eyes. "Now get out of here." My friends frowned at me.
"We'll be fine –" Aspen started just then two emposa (A/N sorry if I spelled that wrong.) came through the trees.
"PERSEUS JACKSON!" They shrieked. "WE WILL HAVE YOU BLOOD! YOU KILLED KELI, NOW WILL KILL YOU! COME HERE!" My friends backed up against the trees.
"No I'm good." I replied casually. They shrieked again. I took out riptide to keep their attention on me. Suddenly Annabeth appeared behind them and she struck the taller one.
The other came towards me and I swung my sword. She dodged easily and slashed at me will her talons.
"Well that was rude." I said as I rolled forwards and ending up back to back with Annabeth. One glance and we knew how we were going to play this.
"Perseus you know you don't want to do this." Ever since the Mist left, emposa (A/N Emposi?) hadn't been able lure men into doing their will. When they did that it was just their way of manipulating the Mist. "Come here."
"No." I said then I bent at the waist as Annabeth flipped over me. I twisted and struck out with my sword. I just clipped her shoulder but unfortunately it wasn't enough to get rid of her. I heard Annabeth cry out a half laugh – half battle cry and I knew she was fine.
"Nice trick boy." This one hissed.
"Why thank you!" I said as I slashed at her donkey leg. She easily skittered out of the way. I feinted back towards it then flipped backwards bringing my sword in a deadly arc as I saw Annabeth fly below me and slam into the tall emposa as I sliced the smaller one.
A shower of yellow sand showered us.
"It's like when my sand castles get destroyed." I said sadly.
"Oh wow Seaweed brain." Annabeth shook her head. I heard ragged breathing and turned to my friends. They looked at us with wide eyes.
"That... was –" Aspen croaked.
"Amazing!" Carrie finished. "I knew you'd be good with a sword!" Even though she showed bravado I could see how shaken she was.
"Let's get otta here and quick." I said. They all hastily agreed.
We walked in silence the whole way to the edge of the park. I didn't know what to say to them. I had lied to them, put in the way of danger and half expected them to be completely OK with it. I chewed on my lip unsure of what to do or say. Annabeth saw my expression and took a firm hold of my hand. The look on her face was clear. Don't you dare blame yourself. You haven't done anything wrong. I sighed. If only.
"You guys should probably go. Together me and Annabeth attract a lot of unwanted attention." I grumbled. Annabeth glared at me but then sighed.
"Unfortunately he's right. It was nice to meet you all. And remember if you do anything to my Seaweed brain I'll kill you." She smiled nicely as if she had just said, "I wish you safe passage! Now be on your merry way!"
They smiled at her as if it were perfectly normal.
"Good." Aiden smiled. "Good luck you two." They all waved as they walked away from us. Annabeth and I walked back to my apartment. Fortunately my mother and Paul were out.
Annabeth turned to me with an evil glint in her eyes which I recognised as my own. "Alone at last." She said once we were in my room. She leapt at me. I caught her in a wild embrace as we laughed and swung around the room.
"Gods I missed you!"