HUNTRESS OF THE SEA
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Disclaimer: I in no way own any recognizable works from the Twilight or Percy Jackson series.
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Okay, guys, here it is; the last chapter.
I want you guys to know that this chapter was super hard for me. I didn't want to write the battle, because we already know what happened. Just know that Bella is doing whatever Percy did in the book, alongside him.
Also, if something is bolded, that means I took it straight out of the book.
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BPOV
It was pretty obvious that we were nearing the meet up spot with Percy. I mean, it's not every day that you see a hellhound lick a car before bounding over to sniff a nearby hot dog cart. And I knew that there was a war looming over our heads and all, one that would determine if Olympus would fall or rise, but I still managed a smile.
Annabeth, on the other hand, increased her leg shaking tenfold. I swear that the whole van was shaking by now. There was no way to actually tell, what with Mrs. O'Leary causing mini earthquakes as she pranced along the street.
Our van slammed to a screeching halt so sudden that I didn't have time to brace myself and so I ended up whacking my head against the passenger's head rest. Annabeth let out a grunt as her seatbelt locked. I glared at the harpy driving our car. They were good for cleaning and curfews but let them behind the wheel and all you could do was pray to the gods, hoping that they were listening.
We tumbled out of the van, some faster more than others. Percy's eyes traveled over our group, taking us in. I could see him hide a small grimace. It was understandable. I didn't have to look around to know that some of the campers weren't looking so hot. There was enough groaning and almost puking on the ride over to last me a lifetime.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose to attention. I don't have to turn around to know that the Cullen's and werewolves are forming a protective half circle around me. Apparently they still hadn't realized that I am more than I look, that I am fully able to take care of myself.
Or maybe it was because of my moment of weakness last night. I should never have talked to them when I was so vulnerable. I was tired, worried, and scared. But it was also more than that, more than I'd like to admit to myself beyond the comfort of my blankets. There was a need to tell them everything, to let them know that I had no intention of lying to them, and to let Jasper know that I didn't blame him. Honestly I meant to say all that. When I opened my mouth – well, what came out is the complete opposite of what I wanted to say. Jessica would have called it word vomit. I call it battle nerves. The sense of urgency that had followed me ever since I woke up was worrying me. I knew it wasn't about the battle specifically, but that I had to say something, because if I didn't – I would never get the chance to again.
Like I said, I had hoped to have left that urgent feeling under the covers at Camp Half-Blood.
Percy was leaving Mrs. O'Leary with Argus. The poor guy didn't look too pleased about that. Chiron and Percy shook hands before the centaur took off at a gallop.
"Let's go," Percy said.
Annabeth rushed forward to walk beside him. I narrowed my eyes at her. So much for sticking by my side to ward off the vampires and wolves; which Annabeth understood completely the need for me to avoid them. But I had to smile at the same time. They couldn't see it yet, but they were going to make a cute couple.
Just as I suspected, as soon as Annabeth walked away the Cullen's and wolves encircled me. My fists clenched of their own accord.
"I don't need your protection!" I hissed under my breath.
Alice's petite hand appeared on my shoulder. It took all of my will to not automatically judo flip her. "Just humor us, Bells."
I turned back to glare at Alice. "Humor me, Alice, and leave me alone."
We followed Percy into the lobby of the Empire State Building. A group weirder than ours there never was.
"I don't think Olympus can fit in here." I heard Emmett wonder. My mouth twitched despite my annoyance. They were still standing too close for comfort around me. Damn the God who made vampires so stubborn and thick headed. A few of the demigods in front of us turned to glare at Emmett. He didn't notice. He was too busy gawking at the building.
Percy tossed the security guard a golden coin. The guard nodded his head towards the elevators. I moved forward to place a hand on Percy's shoulder.
"Percy, you guys go ahead."
His sea green eyes questioned mine. "Are you sure?"
I nodded my head. "They don't think I heard, but I know they're planning on taking turns playing my bodyguard."
Percy glanced back at them. He rolled his eyes and then smiled. "You tell them, Bells."
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EPOV
Everybody watched as the second and last group piled into the elevator. Everybody that is, except for me. I was watching beautiful Bella. She had the most prominent look of determination on her face. I was starting to fear I would never get her back. As she was telling us her story last night, the real story of Isabella Swan, daughter of Poseidon, I had let hope spread throughout my body. She was letting us in. She was starting to trust us again.
My hope was near completely shattered shortly after. She pushed us away, didn't talk to us. I understood to some extent, there was a looming war.
"So," she said, whipping around to face us. Her eyes cut to the security guard, but he was busy reading his comic book. "I want you all to promise that you will protect the campers. They need it more than I do."
Emmett guffawed. "How did you know?" He blurted. Rosalie jabbed him in the ribs with her bony elbow.
Bella smirked.
Alice's face shifted into one of determination. "I understand why you hate us so much and why you don't want us around, but Bella, we're still going to protect you the best that we can."
Bella froze, her sea green eyes wide. It had been a shock to learn that she did not possess the chocolate brown eyes that I had come to love, but they were still so her. They were as insightful and brilliant as ever. In fact, I had come to love her green eyes even more.
"I don't hate you –"
The wave of happiness nearly made me stumble to my knees. Jasper was feeling everyone's happiness and he was hard pressed to contain it. Bella glared at him, but he didn't even bother hiding his smile. Alice is happy again, he thought. It was true, Alice was practically vibrating out of her armor.
"I did hate you, for the longest time. But for the most part I got over it. Hate is what got us into this war in the first place; it's a wasted emotion at this point."
Alice rushed forward with a squeal. I myself would have barreled Bella over, her oath be damned, if she had not just side stepped Alice.
"I may not hate you, but that doesn't mean that I trust you. In time maybe I will, or I may never trust you again."
Rosalie snorted. "That's rich coming from the girl who lied to us about who she was."
Bella's bow appeared.
"Rosalie, we've been over this," Esme said. And we had been. Not being able to sleep meant that we had plenty of time to wonder why Bella had kept her secret from us. Did she not trust us? Was she sent to kill us? There were many scenarios that we thought of in those endless nights. But in the end we decided that it was because she was protecting us. Our first day at camp, the campers had nearly stabbed us because they believed us to be Empousai. And we were sent by the Goddess Artemis herself. What would have happened to us if Bella had shown up at camp with us? Because Gods know that Alice and Rosalie would have wanted to see the place themselves; Alice because she is always curious and Rosalie because she would have wanted proof.
Bella looked between Esme and Rosalie for a second before shaking her head. Her bow disappeared. "Think what you want, Rosalie. But I had my reasons. The only thing I care about now is that you promise to not send a bodyguard to protect me. If Percy says you go one place, then you follow his orders."
"But, Bell –"
"No, 'but,' Alice. I want all of you to promise, on the River Styx, that you will protect the campers. Because I sure as Hades can take care of myself."
She stared us down, one by one.
Leah and Seth were the first to promise.
"On the River Styx, I promise to protect the campers," they said one after another. Thunder boomed twice, shaking the Empire State Building, accepting the two werewolves' oaths.
After we had all made the same promise, myself and Alice grudgingly, Bella gave us a small smile. I felt my heart jump back to life (if it were possible).
"Thank you for helping to protect my home. I know that you were forced, but you have trained hard to defend Olympus."
Esme stepped forward. She put both her hands on Bella's shoulders. "There isn't anywhere else we would rather be right now, Artemis or not."
Bella stared into her eyes and smiled. I heard Alice let out a small squeal in her mind and I couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face. Hey, your smiling, little brother! Emmett then clapped me on the back.
"Bella!"
The moment was ruined as Bella bolted to Percy's side. Demigods poured out of the elevator before it went back up for the second group.
"It's starting," he said. He gestured to the front doors of the building. Bella ran for the doors, shoving them aside. She immediately stopped.
Oh no, Esme thought. Her hands covered her mouth in shock.
This is awesome! And a little freaky, Emmett told himself.
"Morpheus," Bella's voice came out in a little breath. Her head whipped around to Percy. "How far?"
"All of Manhattan," Percy responded, his voice devoid of emotion.
I felt a shiver run down my spine. A single god had just put all of Manhattan to sleep. What were we going up against?
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JPOV
I didn't care if I looked stupid or paranoid. My head whipped back and forth searching for Bella. She had disappeared not long after everyone made it down from Olympus. Where the hell could she have gone? It wasn't hard to find everyone else; Percy, Annabeth, even the vampires. Besides the demigods and us, everyone else was asleep in their cars or on the ground.
Why wouldn't she have stayed to help her brother plan on defending Manhattan?
Edward looked at me with his annoyed face. In other words, he just looked at me. His eyes narrowed at me, so I smirked at him - serves him right for reading my mind. Where did Bella go? I asked him. It surprised me that the leech hadn't been the first to notice her gone. He was like a stalker with how much he watched her.
A groan arose from most of the campers. It looked like the Hermes cabin was not happy about something, about what I wasn't sure, I was only half paying attention. Percy was splitting the group up, telling the cabins where to defend the open tunnels and entry ways of Manhattan.
"Cullen's!" Percy shouted. All of the leeches looked at our teenage leader. "Alice, Carlisle, and Emmett are with Conner, you'll be covering the Manhattan Bridge. Edward and Esme will go with Travis to cover the Brooklyn Bridge. And Jasper and Rosalie will go with the Apollo cabin to defend the Williamsburg Bridge."
"But-"
Percy cut Emmett off. "Wolf Pack, Leah I want you helping the Aphrodite cabin in covering the Queens-Midtown tunnel."
Leah wrinkled her nose, but didn't say anything. A first on her part.
"Jacob and Seth, I want you guys helping the Hephaestus cabin at the Holland Tunnel."
Now that, I agreed with. Ever since we had gotten to camp, I had felt a pull towards the Hephaestus cabin. The guys in there were cool. They had shown me a couple of the things they were working on and let me take a tour of their cabin. The Hephaestus kids knew how to live.
Seth eagerly nodded his head next to me. Crazy kid was more excited about helping out in this battle than anyone. If he could have chosen to be a demigod, I have no doubt that he would.
Percy stopped short when one kid reminded him that he had forgotten a tunnel. A rookie mistake. I didn't know Manhattan, but even I wouldn't have forgotten all of the tunnels that led in and out of this place, especially if the fate of the world was at risk. This was starting to look like too much responsibility for Bella's brother. And as far as I had learned back at camp, he hadn't fought in a war before either. Even the leech Jasper would have been better suited to be the leader.
Percy bit his lip. The Lincoln Tunnel - that was the tunnel that we had looked at in that strange shield. Yeah, we saw an army of monsters and a Sherman tank through a shield. Not weird at all.
"How about you leave that to us?"
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EPOV
My mouth fell open. After Jacob had alerted me that Bella had disappeared, I had been trying to locate her. Her scent was still around, but I just couldn't see her anywhere. Could she have turned invisible? I was working with a bunch of children who were the offspring of Greek Gods and Goddess. Bella being able to turn invisible was a rational option.
But then there had been the girl; the one who we had first met back at the field in Washington; Thalia, the daughter of Zeus. She was leading the same band of girls that we had seen in the field as well. And standing right there next to Thalia was Bella. Somewhere between the time Bella had disappeared and then reappeared with this group, she had changed. All thirty girls were wearing white shirts, silvery camouflage pants, and combat boots. Bella's weapons were now strapped to her person as opposed to… wherever Bella kept her weapons when they weren't in plain sight. The three shape shifters seemed to gravitate forwards to the group of adolescent girls; I assume it had something to do with the white timber wolves that were milling around. Even more impressive were the falcons that rested on some of the girls shoulders.
Thalia grinned. "The Hunters of Artemis, reporting for duty."
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Third Person POV
It turns out that while the Hunters of Artemis were ready for battle, they didn't see much action. The spy in the camp had alerted Kronos of their weakest barricades and that is exactly where he hit. The Hunters were fairly safe, to Edward's relief.
He had made a promise to Bella, that he would protect the other campers. And he knew how important a promise on the River Styx was, how binding and sacred it was. So he would protect them, but he would still watch out for Bella.
Jasper and Rosalie saw most of the action that first wave. They were helping the Apollo cabin defend the Williamsburg Bridge and coincidently that is where Kronos decided to make his stand. They were able to hold their line well, Michael Yew yelling out commands every now and then. A few times Rosalie and Jasper missed what he said; they couldn't understand ancient Greek after all. The Apollo cabin had some wicked arrows in store for the enemy. One of them screeched so loud that the two vampires dropped their bows and covered their ears just to lessen the sound.
When Rosalie glared at him, Michael shrugged and said a halfhearted "Sorry" before blindly shooting the eye of a hellhound.
They celebrated their victory too early. After they had defeated the first legion of monsters… more shortly followed, Rosalie felt like it would be never ending. Michael ran around trying to find out who was still capable of fighting and who wasn't. Rosalie and Jasper were fine, having only used bow and arrows. They still hadn't tested how their skin would hold up against celestial bronze.
"Jasper," Rosalie breathed. Michael scurried behind her, tending a demigod who had taken an arrow to a shoulder. Jasper, who had been surveying the chaos that was Manhattan bridge, moved over to Rose. "What the hell is that?" She pointed to a figure just across the bridge. It stood taller than the other figures around it.
Jasper swore. "A Minotaur." He wheeled around and dug for a cell phone.
The most impressive and terrifying part of that battle came when Percy battled Kronos. Michael Yew had ordered them to retreat, but Rosalie felt horrible while doing so. She hated Bella for lying to her family, but she would never want anyone to lose a brother. And for a while there, that's what looked like was going to happen.
Sure, they had heard that Percy had bathed in the River Styx and was now immortal save for one spot on his body, but it still was nerve wracking to watch him fight against a Titan. Jasper was like a stone though. He stood back and watched Percy without as much as a wince. Even when Annabeth took the dagger for Percy, Jasper didn't blink an eye.
They helped search for Michael Yew, but it was useless. And if two vampires couldn't find him, then there was no where he could possibly be.
The vampires and werewolves didn't see much action after that.
Leah had actually warmed up to the Aphrodite cabin. Despite their vain appearance, some of them were actually fighters. They had held their own against the small army that dared approach them quite well.
Seth and Jacob had a blast with the Hephaestus cabin – literally. They helped set traps of Greek fire and happily watched the enemy set them off. It sounded gory, but the monsters just disappeared in a cloud of smoke and ash. Jacob didn't feel the need to cover Seth's eyes.
Compared to the Seth, Jacob, Rosalie and Jasper, everyone else had a fairly normal battle. The vampires were mostly placed behind the action and told to shoot down any enemy that got to close. The demigods were still afraid of what would happen if one of them got a nasty cut around the vampires.
Carlisle was able to test how celestial bronze would work on their skin when he broke orders and rushed into the midst of action to protect a girl from being dragged into the shadows by a hellhound. The hellhounds were appearing inside the line they were trying to hold and disappearing with a demigod faster than anyone could catch them. Carlisle rammed into the hellhound right as the young demigod slashed her sword at the beast. The celestial bronze sliced through Carlisle's skin as if it was butter and deep red blood started oozing out.
Esme had fretted over him for hours after, even after his skin had healed. The opportunity had proved to them that they could be killed by the celestial bronze swords. Carlisle's skin healed at a slower rate than normal, but it healed all the same. He told his family to watch out. If one of them were to be stabbed in the heart, that would be the end of them, he was sure.
They stayed inside a lot after that first wave. For the most part, they felt pretty useless. Carlisle, a healer at heart, wasn't used to the ambrosia and nectar and was therefore afraid that he'd give a demigod too much of the stuff. The rest of the vampires were forced to sit as still as possible. Their pinecone scents were starting to wear off and not a god was in sight. They didn't want to risk too much exposure to the demigod's blood.
Percy, Bella, Thalia, and Grover disappeared a lot, to the horror of the Cullen's and Quileute's. Every time they asked to tag along they were shot down instantly. It had occurred to Edward to follow them one time, but Alice had furiously whispered that she would never talk to all of them again if he did that. So he stood at the window and watched them leave, and didn't budge an inch until they got back.
He would protect Bella at all costs.
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"Rosalie, duck!"
Rosalie hit the ground so hard that the cement cracked just a little. She groaned. Edward ran over to pull her to her feet.
"What was that?" she asked, out of breath.
Edward's head whipped back and forth. "I'm not sure. Whatever it was, one of Bella's siblings took care of it."
Edward gently helped Rosalie to her feet. She brushed off the dirt from her pants even though she had a nasty cut running from her temple to her cheek and her left arm was lying limply at her side. She sighed and looked at Edward. "I don't know how much longer I can go on," she confessed.
Edward nodded.
He was tired too. They hadn't had any animal blood in days. Esme was forced back to defend the Empire State Building when she had received a nasty cut in her leg. Emmett was putting up a good fight, but even Edward could tell that his strength was waning. Jasper and Alice were working as a team and were the only ones of the group to not be cut yet. Edward, himself, had gotten sliced in the shoulder. It was still trying to heal.
"Edward, Rosalie," Carlisle appeared at his side. He bent forward to rest his hands on his knees, taking in deep breaths. "Percy and Bella want us to retreat to the Empire State Building."
Edward scrambled forward. "Why?" He couldn't very well protect Bella from there. He was having a hard time as it was watching out for her.
Carlisle stood up. "There are too many monsters. We're being pushed back anyways, but Bella wants a strong last front at the entrance to Olympus."
"I won't go. I need to protect her, Carlisle."
Carlisle nodded. "Understood, Edward. But there's also the fact that these pine trees are fading. Bella and Percy are helping out where the fighting is more intense. How are you going to help if you can't control yourself?"
Edward's body sagged. It was true and he knew it. Carlisle wasn't being mean, just telling the truth. Even right now Edward was having a hard time controlling his urges. He promised Bella to protect the campers, and the only way he could do that now was by falling back to get a breath of fresh air.
"Okay."
Before the big battle even happened, everyone was already spent.
Leah and Seth had been taken out of the game by a bunch of telkhines. Leah emerged with a broken arm and Seth with two broken legs. Carlisle had snapped them right, but they were so tired from all the fighting that their bodies were healing at a slower rate.
Esme could not fight any longer, not after she had seen their once strong army dwindle into smaller numbers. The gash on her leg wasn't healing anytime soon either. Emmett had been frozen in a block of ice by one of the giants. Edward, Rosalie, Alice, and Jasper had taken to picking up the wounded demigods off the street as their siblings continued the fight. The vampires were faster than anyone else and able to pick up an injured demigod and get them help just in time. And Carlisle had been promoted to field medic when Apollo's entire cabin had done as much as they could. He zipped from bedside to bedside, feeding injured demigods small bits of ambrosia and small sips of nectar. They were running out, and if the battle didn't end soon, they would have nothing left to heal the sick.
Fortunately for Carlisle and those injured, the battle was getting closer to ending.
Edward rushed outside when he heard the horn. The Hunters of Artemis raised a call just like it when they appeared. But Thalia said that her Hunters were already there, which Bella confirmed.
Edward was too exhausted to even be shocked when he saw Chiron ride to the rescue with a bunch of other centaurs racing behind him. PARTY PONIES, according to a banner. Edward glanced to his left and saw another demigod on the ground, this one moaning and holding his forearm. He really wanted to stay and watch the Party Ponies, but he knew what was more important.
"Are you sure about this?"
Carlisle nodded his head. What remained left of his family stood behind him. Esme was in the lobby of the Empire State Building, nursing the gash in her leg and helping the injured. She would give them a small bit of ambrosia and a sip of nectar before sending them up to Olympus, where the injured were taking shelter now. Emmett was still encased in the block of ice, though a few able demigods were working on getting him out. "We could be a lot more help, if we could get just a little of our strength back."
Percy looked at Bella doubtfully. Bella glanced at the vampires. She wasn't sure if she told them, but she was glad that they were keeping their promise to her. She looked at her brother and nodded "We're hurting, Percy. We need some sort of a plan."
"And you think this is our best plan?"
"Yes," Carlisle said. Even his voice sounded tired. "I've done all I can with my limited knowledge of healing. But I'm afraid to put more ambrosia and nectar into anyone's body. We won't be much help for the big battle that is sure to come. The blood will rejuvenate our bodies and help control the bloodlust."
Percy stepped back. "Bloodlust?" He looked at the other vampires. Edward, Jasper, Rosalie, and Alice; they all had pitch black eyes. It was sort of creeping him out.
Bella's hand appeared on his forearm. "Let them go, Percy. There's nothing happening right now anyways."
Even though they hadn't known each other long, Percy trusted his sister's opinion above everything else. "Okay, go ahead and find a hospital."
It didn't take them long. Thirty minutes tops to scout out a hospital and to all meet up there. But Bella had been wrong about something, or maybe she just hadn't known, there was something major planned for the demigods.
They were trying to figure out how to get the blood when they heard the most terrifying screech of all.
"What was that?" Alice asked.
Jasper shook his head. None of them knew, they had only just been introduced to the Greek world.
"Doesn't matter," Edward said. He sped up his movements. "It sounded big and that means its trouble."
They made it back in time to see Nico walking into battle all by himself.
Edward's senses were on high alert once again. He could ignore the smell of the demigods. It felt like he had taken a power nap. Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Carlisle all felt the same way.
Whatever the screech had been, it was gone by the time they arrived back on the scene. It didn't go unnoticed that a bunch of Ares kids were now there. Kronos was in front of them as well. They had come out of a side alley, ending up standing in front of Bella, Percy, Thalia, and Grover.
Edward spun around to make sure she was okay. Despite having no arrows and looking tired as he was old, Bella stood tall. Edward had never felt more proud of her. He had forgiven her for lying to them a long time ago, forgiven her for saying she was older than she actually was, and forgiven her for fooling his family with the mist. But would she forgive him? Would she let him back into her life? She had to. Because she was his and he was hers. He knew that she knew that, could feel it. They were meant to be.
If he had to fight off a hundred more monsters to prove that, then so be it. He was proud to be fighting alongside her.
It was a short lived pride though. Edward watched in horror as Kronos raised his scythe and drove it straight into the ground. His senses, regenerated from the blood, picked up on the barrier seconds before Hades drove his chariot into it. He had just been cut off from Bella.
"Bella!" he yelled.
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BPOV
I was proud to see Nico walk into the battle like that. And even prouder still when Hades, Demeter, and Persephone showed up. I would have liked to fight alongside the child of the underworld, and I would have if it were not for Kronos.
As soon as he struck the ground with his scythe and encircled the Empire State Building, I knew that the real battle was just getting started. Thalia and I shared a glance. We were just cut off from everyone else. And sure enough it was like Manhattan just had their play button pushed. Cars came back to life and people woke up from their sleep.
"No, don't…" Percy stared wide eyed ahead of him. His mom and stepdad had woken up as well. He had told me that his mom could see through the mist. I believed that even more now. She was looking around all wide eyed and serious. I admired her bravery and dedication to her son as she and Paul took off straight for Percy.
Hades ran straight into the barrier. It knocked him off his chariot and he cursed, shooting black energy straight at the thing. But the barrier was of Kronos' doing, and if anyone would make a strong enough barrier it was him.
So Hades roared, "ATTACK!" and the armies of the dead clashed with the Titan's monsters. Fifth Avenue exploded into a full out battlefield. The humans that were unfortunate enough to be on the street ran away screaming, ducking for cover, but not fully knowing what was happening around them. Nico was in the midst of it, trying to protect the humans as best he could. I swelled with pride watching him attack with such conviction.
My eyes found Edwards. He was staring at me in horror. I'm hoping that it wasn't from the blood running down my face but because of the barrier. If I knew him as well I once thought I did then I knew that it was killing him to have been cut off from me. Jacob had backed up against the barrier and placed his paw on it. He too threw me a look of despair. But what could I do? The magical barrier wasn't of my making. Not to mention that I still didn't appreciate them thinking so lowly of me. I may be hurt, but I can still battle.
I ended up proving that to them sooner than expected. Percy took out the first giant easily, stabbing him in the back quite literally. I distracted the second giant while Thalia used her knives to slice the giant's neck.
"Bella! Take cover!" Carlisle shouted. He used his sword to slice through a hellhound. It disappeared in a pile of ash.
There was blood running down my forehead. I was tired and out of breath. But when Percy yelled, "Bella, come on!" I didn't for a second doubt that I would follow him. I turned to follow him.
"Bella, no!" Edward roared. He plowed into the barrier, but it didn't budge. I think he knew it wouldn't. I stopped and met Edward's gaze. He was pleading with me. To stay put and stay safe. To let my friends continue the fight on their own. Well, screw him. He could leave someone he cared about behind, but I wouldn't. The rest of the vampires tried running into the barrier as well, but it was no use. There was only one way it would fall; either Kronos would succeed and take over the world, or the demigods would win. I watched them; their faces looking so panic stricken. I knew it was for the best, that the vampires shouldn't enter Olympus. And yet, I felt a sort of tightness in my chest. For a few glorious months, they were my family. Between my mom and Percy, I've only ever known having one person around that was family.
I made a vow right then and there. If by some miracle I made it out of this battle alive, then I would give the vampires another chance. It would be a hard earned chance, but they would get it.
"Bella!" Percy yelled from ahead.
Without another thought I whirled around and ran for my brother and friends. It was easy enough to leap over Esme's prone figure on the floor of the Empire State Building. She was weak, making it easy to dodge the hand she reached out at me.
Percy was holding the elevator door open for me. I could feel the eyes of the Cullen's watching me, could almost feel them pleading with me to not go. But I wasn't weak and I didn't appreciate being told what to do by them. So I ran and not once looked back. Only later would I regret not getting that last look of them.
The first problem came when the bridge collapsed around us. We would have lost Annabeth if Percy wasn't quick to grab her arm. The elevator was now no longer an option, it was completely isolated.
The city looked like the underworld. Buildings were on fire, trees were destroyed, and even the statues had been torn apart.
"Well, Kronos has been here," I said. As we ran, I averted my eyes from the strewn bodies of the fallen; the last few who had braved fighting Kronos and lost. Still, we ran. There wasn't anything we could do about the injured.
I tasted vengeance after watching Kronos blow up a shrine to Artemis. He wasn't going to get away with that.
The second problem came as we passed under the Zeus and Hera statues. The entire mountain moved, rocking sideways and throwing off our balance. Grover gave a yelp that I didn't fully process. I was too busy watching a twenty-ton Hera fall over, aiming right for Annabeth and Percy.
"No!" I yelled, rushing forward. Thalia was on the move as well, she shoved Annabeth out of the way and I bulldozed Percy over, just barely managing to escape the fallen statue. When the dust cleared, Thalia was underneath the statue still alive.
"Thalia!" I ran over to her, sliding into place by her side. Her legs had been pinned under the statue. "Help me lift it." But it was no use. It would have taken a god to lift the stupid thing and when we tried to pull her out, she only yelped in pain.
Kronos laughed as he blew up more buildings and got closer to the hall of the gods. Thalia yelled at us to go, but I stayed put.
Percy tugged on my shoulder. "Let's go, Bells."
"You go ahead; I'll be there in a little bit." He hesitated. "Go!" I yelled as another building blew up. Percy, Grover, and Annabeth took off running.
"Go help your brother, Bella. I'm not going anywhere."
I watched their retreating backs. "I know." And then I took a deep breath and faced my best friend. "But I am." Thalia's face crumpled. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew it was true. I had just been ignoring it until the moment when statue Hera had nearly taken Percy out.
"You don't mean that," she said. But her voice wavered.
I smiled softly at her. "Thalia, I've been having this dream."
"So? Dreams are overrated."
"It's a demigod dream." That's what we called them, 'demigod' dreams; dreams that only demigods could get. Percy told me that he hated getting demigod dreams.
Thalia shook her head. "Those are overrated too." She shoved at the statue and must have instantly regretted it because she whimpered in pain. I watched her battle the thing. Finally she huffed, punched the statue, and turned to me. "Fine, I'll bite. What's it about?"
There is no easy way to put your death, so I said, "I die."
Thalia immediately started shaking her head. "No, no, I don't accept that. Bella, you are a Lieutenant of Artemis, there is no way that you just die. What's the full dream? Those blasted dreams are never what they seem."
I let out a sigh. Thalia is so stubborn. "I'm back at the Lotus hotel. Bianca is there and looking for Nico –"
"You've had this dream before, Bells. And you always said it was a memory."
I glare at Thalia and hope my stare tells her to shut up so I can finish talking. She glares right back but doesn't open her mouth. "This is different. This time, the fates are there –"
Thalia sucks in a breath.
"-and they cut a string. My string."
Thalia is shaking her head again. "How do you know it's your string? Bella, we lost a lot of demigods in this war. Anyone of them could have been that string."
I stare at her hard, trying to make her understand. "I can feel it, Thalia, okay? That string is either mine or Percy's and I won't let it be Percy's." I would do whatever it took to make sure it wasn't Percy's lifeline. I might be younger than him now, but I am still his older sister. And maybe this was my punishment for trying to escape the prophecy, for putting such a burden on my little brother's shoulders.
"Why are you telling me this? Why now? Why when I'm pinned under a freaking statue of Hera?!"
"Because I need you to do something for me if I don't make it out of that hall." I cut her off before she can open her mouth to protest. "I need you to tell the Cullen's that I'm sorry. They were right, I lied to them. Maybe if I had just told them about who I was and what I was capable of, then they would have known that I could have protected myself against them."
"Bella, no, that's not your –"
"Promise me, Thalia. Promise that you'll tell them."
"Fine! I'll tell the vampires what you said. But I'm not swearing on Styx because you are going to tell them yourself."
I smiled at her. And because I didn't trust myself to not break down in front of her, I took off running for the hall of the gods.
::: ::: :::
Third Person POV
Bella scrambled into the hall of the gods and froze.
Hephaestus' chair was screaming defense mode and Percy was standing on the seat. Before she could yell at him to move though, the son of Poseidon jumped off the chair right as tendrils of electricity shot in all directions. One managed to hit Kronos in the face, traveling down his body and up his sword. He fell to his knees and dropped the sword.
Annabeth who had been fighting Ethan, charged before Bella could take a step. With a flick of his hand, Kronos sent Annabeth flying right into her Athena's chair. Annabeth crumpled to the floor.
Bella decided that it was best to stay put. Run to Annabeth's aide and she would let Kronos know that she was there. She had to wait for the perfect moment. Besides that, Percy now had two to one odds. Ethan Nakamura got to his feet and Kronos rose to one knee. Percy had told Bella of Ethan. How his mother was Nemesis, and he resented the fact that she wasn't as honored as the other gods were.
Kronos called on him to prove himself, to kill Percy.
Bella's resolved hardened. If she had to, she would kill Ethan herself. She watched Kronos egg Ethan on and Percy who was trying to stop him. She had to wait for the perfect moment. Slowly Bella withdrew her sword. It wasn't anything special, like Percy's. It was just the standard Hunter of Artemis sword, but it had served her well.
Bella saw it a split second before anyone else did. Ethan had made his decision and Bella had as well. This was her chance. It was crazy and there was a high chance that it wouldn't work, but she had to try. For all of the demigods who had fallen.
She ran so fast that she caught up to Ethan, and together they charged Kronos. Ethan struck first, his sword going down on Kronos' neck. But what should have instantly killed him instead shattered the blade. Ethan and Bella were both blown back from the blow.
"Bella!" Percy yelled.
Her hand flew to her shoulder, blood dripping between her fingers. A piece of Ethan's shard had found its mark. Ethan lay a few feet away from Bella, grasping his stomach. Percy stepped towards Bella, but she met his stare and shook her head.
"Treason," Kronos snarled.
Bella kept her gaze on Percy. She had always wanted a sibling, ever since she was little. And while she had begged Renee for another sibling, she knew that it would never happen. Whatever Renee thought that she and Poseidon had, she thought it was special, that he would be back for them. And then, she told young Bella, and then you can have a sibling.
When Bella had found out about Percy, she had been so excited to meet him. Not to mention terrified. They had a shared father, but would they get along? She felt like she was in a dream that first time she walked into Camp Half-Blood. There was no Percy to greet her, but there were the stories of the boy with the sea green eyes and the dark black hair who had been a hero countless times since his own arrival. And Bella knew that even if he rejected her as a half-sister, she would always be proud of him. Except, he didn't reject her. He accepted her as his family immediately. Their bond was instantaneous. She could see the heartbreak in his eyes when she joined the Hunters. But they both knew her place was there.
And now the sea green eyes that she shared with her brother were staring at her in despair. He couldn't run to her without turning his back on Kronos. Bella managed a small smile. It's okay, she tried to tell him with her gaze, I understand.
Kronos stomped his huge titan foot and the floor around Ethan crumpled. He fell through a fissure, straight into open air.
"No!" Percy yelled again, taking a step forward.
"Stay put!" Bella shouted. She was far enough from Ethan that she didn't immediately fall through, but she was close enough that the wind was able to suck her down. Her good arm shot out to grasp the edge of the hole. But it was no use, and she knew it. She was tired, hurt, and the wind was pulling her down. Bella looked up one last time, a tear sliding down her cheek. From her point of view, she could just see Percy's eyes. She smiled at him, because he looked so scared. "I love you, brother," she said more to herself.
And then Bella gave into her pain and fell through the hole – straight into open air.
::: ::: :::
"Are you sure you wish to leave so soon? We wouldn't mind having you around for the rest of the summer."
Carlisle smiled gently at Chiron. He looked at Edward with sadness. He didn't have to tell the centaur. Chiron also looked and then nodded his head softly. Chiron moved forward and placed a hand on Carlisle's shoulder. "We will never forget how you helped us. You may come back here at any time."
"Thank you," Carlisle said. "But with all due respect, I do not think we will be back here for a long time."
Chiron's eyes searched Carlisle's. "I'm sure she would have been very proud of you."
Carlisle gulped.
Edward let out a strangled sob. He would have crumpled to the ground if it were not for Emmett and Jasper, who stood on either side of their brother and held him up. Alice let out a whimper. A single tear rolled down Jacob's face.
They had stayed at Camp Half-Blood to watch the burning of the shrouds. They watched Silena and Ethan's shroud burning, but none of them could make themselves watch Bella's. So they disappeared into the woods and made their way down to the beach. They were watching the waves, mourning their fallen sister when Nico diAngelo walked out of the shadows behind them.
He stood behind them in silence. When he finally did speak he said, "She loves all of you guys, she told me so. She also says don't mourn for her and don't do anything reckless, she's happy in Elysium now."
He disappeared back into the shadows before any of them could whirl around to talk to him.
Carlisle sighed back his tears that would never fall. He reached out with the opposite arm and placed his hand on Chiron's shoulder. "It was nice to meet you."
The vampires and werewolves turned around and left. Seth kept glancing behind him, Leah carrying a small card in her pocket, and Emmett still getting the shivers every once in a while from his time in the ice block. They had gone into Camp Half-Blood as sworn enemies, but left it feeling closer than ever to each other. They had made friends at the Camp, most who had died protecting the only place they felt safe. And they had come out realizing that family was everything, and hate was a wasted emotion.
On their journey back to Forks, together they mourned Bella Swan, daughter of Poseidon.
::: ::: :::
"Whoa."
Bella had never been to the underworld before. She knew there were ways for a living demigod to get in, but had not made it in herself. Percy had, he told her of his first quest after arriving at Camp Half-Blood.
She had already crossed on Charon's Ferry. It was surprisingly roomy for it being a time where she knew many demigods had fallen. As they approached Cerberus, Bella felt a chill run up her ghostly spine. She wasn't cold; it was more of a final chill. It passed as soon as they drifted past Cerberus, and she automatically knew that she was there for good. It had felt like she solidified just a little bit more.
Her judgment was fast. Faster than others, who were stuck standing in line. The difference between her and them though, was that she was a demigod, and she knew that was the reason why. Thomas Jefferson took one look at her application – she could only assume that is what it was – and said, "Elysium for you, Isabella Swan." He stamped her paper and before she knew it, she was standing at the golden gates of Elysium.
Bella took a deep breath and pushed on the gates. The gates swung open easily, the scent of a barbecue threatening to overwhelm her.
"Welcome to Elysium, Bella."
Bella quickly looked around the place. It was even better than she could have ever imagined. She turned and smiled at her greeter. "Hello to you too, son of Apollo."
Michael Yew smiled wide. His eyes were light and happy, the tension from the battle all but a memory now. He offered his arm to Bella, who took it without hesitance, and together they walked the land of Elysium, where Bella would later celebrate with the other demigods when word of Percy's victory reached the underworld.
::: ::: :::
That's it.
I can't believe that's it. It's the longest chapter I've ever written but it also feels the shortest.
I'm sorry if you don't like how I wrote the fighting scenes. I don't fully like how I wrote them, but that's how they are. I tried to think of something better (I read and re-read the book enough times), but I both like it and don't like it that way.
Thank you for sticking through this journey with me. I was a crappy updater at times, but I always knew I wanted to finish the story – for my readers :]
Leave me a review telling me what you think of this chapter, the last one. I'm very grateful to everyone who read, favorite, and reviewed my little story. Now how about just one more review?
Thanks for sticking with me,
Liv.