A/N: Hey there, everyone! Thank you so much for waiting for this next chapter, though it isn't much, there is a development in this chapter that will define how this story's going to end.

RachelChaseJackson: Hi. I'm glad that you liked this story and thank you so much for providing me with a review. To be honest it was kind of annoying in the beginning but I just learned to ignore it. Like what I said before, though this is a PJO fanfiction, I don't want this to be just a shadow of the series. I guess readers have already accepted that it's my style to actually write the opposite of what's in the books. Take care!

ADayWithLaughterIsADayWasted: *grins* Don't worry, I hate me, too. Hopefully one day I will be able to do what you said but for now, I'm happy writing for awesome readers like yourself. Hey, have I ever told you I love your username? :D

bambino01, AlpaX14, miyame-chan: I'm very excited to write DEMONS for you guys, too. Please stick around. :D

TinaDaughterOfPoseidon23: I certainly hope to see your name under the longest review record. To be honest, my eyes nearly fell out of their sockets when I saw your review, but as usual, I loved it when I was reading it. Not just because it's long, but because you always find the time to tell me about what you think and breakdown the chapter.

Percy's choice. I agree with you. When i wrote this story, my main focus was family. Bring this people together but tear them apart for the same reason. I wanted to explore human emotions and the connection between people. His choice, however, which will be presented in the end, would kind of be relevant to what had happened. I guess you can say that I love symbolism; no question has to be asked because with one character's death, it's evident what Percy's choice in the end would be.

Pierre. This dude makes me curious. To be honest, I want to write a story focusing on him. TWO HOUSES would be an interesting title, don't you think? :D

The immaturity thing. I seriously laughed out loud when I read that and people looked at me like I was crazy, but hey, I am and I embrace it. :D

Darkness Arising. Nah, that has been placed on hold. I will admit that I suck writing that kind of story. I prefer dealing with emotions. But one day, I might continue writing it. :D

One again, thank you so much for this review and I hope I could meet you in person and we'll talk all day. Take care! :D

tim13ninjas: Wow. I really hope that that will happen. I'm glad you decided to give this story a shot and that you actually like it. Thank you for the time you spare to provide me with a review. :D

CimFan: Thank you! And I will try my very bets not to make DEMONS cheesy. :D

Nora Frost 'the crazy one: Umm . . . I didn't cause you your tablet, did I? And of course, you can use it, just let me see that project! Kidding. :D

And because I love torturing you guys, check out the last part for something Demons-related. :D

DON'T JUST READ, LEAVE A REVIEW!

NEVER LET ME GO

Chapter 32: THE LITTLE THINGS GIVE YOU AWAY

REYNA

"Please don't do this," he whispered.

Percy and I were sitting on one of the benches in Central Park, a few meters away from our family. I had just told him what I thought we had to do and that was his response. I wasn't surprised but I was half-hoping that he would just agree and tell me that he was feeling the same way, too.

Three months had passed since Noah died. We were all trying to deal with it in our own ways, but it was hard. How do you move on from someone you don't want to forget? We were all holding on to his memories, even each time that his name was mentioned we all found ourselves in a gapless void, trying to make sense of anything. Which way was up? Which way to moving on? It's harder starting over, than never to have change.

I knew that Noah's death was hardest on Percy and Annabeth. And me? The pain came in waves. One moment I thought I was okay, that for a second I could actually do this, and then another cold knife of longing and grief was plunged into my chest. But I couldn't just focus my attention to it. Noah had tasked me of providing the strength to our family. And provide it I would.

These past three months were hard. We tried to go back to our lives, to try and live without that boy whom we all loved. Each day we dragged ourselves out of bed, knowing that there was another unbearable day in store for us, but we continued. We went on with our lives, not because we wanted to but because we needed to.

Then there was this matter of my noticing little things.

In the beginning I thought it was just me seeing things, after all why wouldn't they seek each other's arms when they were the parents of the boy who just passed? But then I realized it was more than that. Annabeth was able to make him smile when I couldn't; she was able to keep him in one piece when every time that he saw me, he broke down; she was able to get him to talk about Noah when every attempt I made were disastrous. One would attribute it to the fact that they share the mutual grief of losing their child, but I was there. I saw things differently, for what they really were. Annabeth was the one who was able to reach into him when nobody couldn't.

There was that question: should I do it? Percy just lost his son, would he be able to take it if he lost someone else? I didn't know what to do until I realized that it would be cruel if I strung him along when I knew for a fact that it wasn't me he needed. Maybe he didn't see it because his sadness clouded his eyes; if he couldn't then it was my duty, too.

Because I knew that the decision I was about to make wasn't just going to affect me, but Pierre the most, I decided that I had to ask for his opinion. When he arrived from school that afternoon, I went to his room and told him about the changes that I'd been seeing.

"Tell me what I should do," I told him.

Pierre shrugged. "I don't know, Mom," he answered. "I think you know what to do."

"I do know what I need to do, the question is should I do it?" I asked him. "If this will just affect me, I would've done it already. But it won't. You will be affected, too. You're the one who will get caught in the middle, and I don't want that kind of life for you."

"Mom," Pierre said softly. "Are you still happy?" I fell silent. Was I still happy? I was still; I had Pierre. I had people who were my family. But relationship-wise, was I still happy? "Is Dad happy?" Pierre added.

That one I could answer right away. Percy wasn't happy anymore. I could see. Not just because of his lost, but because of me, too. I'd seen it ten years ago, but had been too weak to do something, to correct what should've been righted. This time I had the strength. It was Pierre that was holding me back. He was only ten, and he shouldn't suffer the consequences of his parents' faults.

"I want you and Dad to be happy," Pierre said. "Whatever you think is right, Mom."

I drew him into a hug. "I'm so sorry that this has to happen. You just lost your brother and I wish that I could tell you that things will get better but they won't; our life is about to get that much more complicated." I placed a kiss on his head. "Don't worry, though, I will always be with you and you can see your Dad anytime you want."

We stayed that way that night, with me reflecting the thing that I was about to do. Percy would hate me. I knew that. Pierre might, once he had grown up and wonder why he had two houses whereas a normal family should only have one. But this was more than that. When you're a parent, you always make your decisions based on what's best for your child, regardless of what you feel. This time, it wasn't just about my feelings. It was also about Percy's, and Annabeth's and more importantly, Pierre. We weren't happy the way we should be happy. What's the use of living if you're just stuck in a world where you can't feel happiness?

Maybe I wasn't as selfless as Percy made me to be. Here I was, thinking about leaving them when I knew they needed me as much as I needed them. What we all needed, I thought, was a fresh start. Percy and Annabeth were still dealing with Noah's death and couldn't think of anything else. I should be the one to give them the fresh start they needed.

Which lead me to speaking with Annabeth before our planned picnic to Central Park.

"Are you sure?" she asked as I placed paper plates in our basket. "Reyna, we all just lost someone and I didn't mean to keep him away from you but Percy isn't in a position right now where he can lose someone. Just give him time."

"You misunderstand me, Annabeth," I answered, looking her in the eyes. "I'm not doing this because I can't bear seeing you comfort him, but because what you two are doing - that's how it's supposed to be. Let's not kid ourselves that I'm just getting in the way."

"What about Pierre?" she asked. "He will be the one to be affected the most. Will you take away his Dad from him?"

"You can hate me, Annabeth, for what I'm about to do, but I didn't request for this conversation to ask for your permission; I have made up my mind. What I'm after is to tell you to look after Percy and give him time to realize that it's really you he loves." I paused. "Please don't think that I didn't think this through and just set aside how this might affect my son because I have, and what I think is that Pierre needs to get away from these memories for a while, that he needs - that we need - to have a chance to start over. This chance begins with me."

"I don't know," she said, shaking her head. "I - I still love Percy but he has you."

I gave her a small smile. "This time I'm not enough," I said. "Don't worry, though, I'm just ending what should've ended the moment you came back. And I'm just moving out; nothing has to change."

"That's impossible," said Annabeth. "You leaving will bring irreversible changes and I don't think this family is ready for that."

"This family is strong together," I told her. "You guys have made me tough and I can't tell you how grateful I am that you have welcomed me, but it's time for me to learn how to stand on my own." I reach forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're my best friend, Annabeth, and I know this might be confusing right now but I trust that you will understand."

"Will Percy understand?"

"That I cannot answer," I admitted. "I just hope that he wouldn't hate me so much that he wouldn't try to get why I have to do this." I closed the flap of our basket. "That should keep us fed on this picnic. Just remember, Annabeth, I will always be with you guys."

Annabeth sighed. "There's no talking you out of this, huh?" she asked. I shrugged. "Well, I just hope that you find what you're looking for."

"I hope so, too."

There was a knock on wood and we both looked up. Percy was standing against the counter. "Ready to go?" he asked.

"Sure," I answered.

The drive to Central Park was quiet. Pierre kept on looking at me, his eyebrows raised as though asking of I would be doing what we had talked about. Annabeth, who was riding shotgun, also kept on glancing on the rearview mirror, asking the same thing. The only clueless one was Percy. He was driving silently, the car's radio turned on to a very low volume.

Sally, Paul and Poseidon were already there when we arrive, a small barbecue already started. Sally greeted us all with a hug, smiling happily at the sight of our assembled family.

We shared small talks as the food was being prepared. Sally and Paul mentioned that they were planning on a trip to Hawaii, something that they had been planning ever since Noah died. Because of what happened, they decided to put it on hold, but now that it'd been months, they believed they could go on that trip.

Poseidon on the other hand was looking into expanding his company. He said that with his brothers' help, he was able to make an investment somewhere in the Pacific, and that he would be away for a year, which lead him into letting Percy know that due to his abscence, someone had to take over the company. He offered Percy the post.

He agreed. There wouldn't be many changes anyway. Percy never knew but the man he worked for, Mr. Lynn, was actually working for Poseidon. He would need to step up and I thought that the responsibility he would soon face would be enough to take his mind off of his lost.

Annabeth shared that the architectural firm she had started two years ago was doing well and that she just sealed a multi-million deal with a company starting in the city. And because she knew Poseidon, he told her that she would head the building that would be their base in the Pacific.

Everyone had their lives going on. I, on the other hand, also had a plan. Hylla's spa, The Amazon, had expanded and was about to open it's latest branch in Manhattan. Being the owner, my sister would be supervising it. She said she could only stay for a month and she still preferred to be in California. Her offer: I would take over once she left. And because I needed to be away, but not so far away that Percy wouldn't be able to see Pierre regularly, I accepted.

And I remembered what I knew I had to do. "Perce, can we talk privately?"

He looked up from giving Pierre instructions on how he can best defeat his opponent in this video game he had started playing. Percy was undoubtedly wondering why I would be asking him for a private conversation but he nodded, standing up and taking my hand. That was the first time we actually touched after Noah's funeral. I made a mental note on how his skin felt against mine because I knew that it would be the last time we would hold hands as a couple.

Those whom we left followed us with their gaze. I took Percy to a bench that was shaded by a tall tree towering it. We sat down and I started playing with his fingers.

I knew Percy sensed something was up but he didn't say anything and let me open our conversation. "How are you?" I asked.

He gave a nervous chuckle. "Rey, we see each other every single day; you know how I am."

"I don't," I told him. "We may be together everyday but we weren't really together. These past months I wasn't able to reach to you the way I used to - the way I should be able to."

He exhaled. "I'm sorry," he started. "It's just very hard, with Noah gone - "

"And it's harder because of me," I finished.

He looked at me, his eyebrows scrunched up in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

I let go of his hand and started playing with his hair. "Perce, ten years ago when Annabeth came back, I was scared because you two never really had a proper closure. I was terrified that her return would make you realize that you never really stopped loving her. And I was right. You never did. You loved her back then and you love her until now." Percy opened his mouth to speak but I stopped him. "You love her in a way that you will never love me."

I could see panic starting to show in his sea green eyes and for a moment I wondered what I was doing. Why was I breaking his heart that was never whole in the first place? But I steeled myself, knowing the importance of what I was doing.

"What - where are these coming from?" he demanded. "Of course I love you, Rey!"

I squeezed his hand. "I know, Perce, I know, but it's not going to change the fact that you will always love Annabeth; you were never mine." I paused and placed a kiss at the back of his hand before curling his fingers around mine. "I'm just sorry that I was too weak to set you free. I'm sorry that it took me ten years to gather the courage to let you go."

"But I don't want you to let me go," he said in a whisper. I want you to keep me. I want you to be selfish, Rey. Can't you be selfish for once?"

I shook my head. "Don't you get it, Perce? I'm being selfish by doing this. I want you to be happy; I want you to find real love again with Annabeth; I want you to have a life without me getting in the way - that's how selfish I am."

"You said before that everything happens for a reason," he said. "Why did you find me if you will just leave me this way?"

"Perce," I whispered. "I didn't find you; you found me, remember? When all I knew was pain and doubt, you stepped into my life. You fixed me and taught me how to love again. You took a broken girl who was pushed aside by the cold world and transformed her into a woman capable of weathering any kind of hardship." I paused. This is where I might truly lose him. When I made my decision to break up with Percy, part of it was because I knew that it was really Annabeth he truly loved.

The other part was that I wanted to get a chance to get to know myself better. I knew Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arellano from 24 years ago who was abused. I knew who Reyna Rivera was, who was Percy Jackson's girlfriend and the mother of Pierre Isaac? But who is present day Reyna Arellano? Who am I, really? I wanted to make peace with the girl from my past and this woman of my present to figure out who I would be in the future. And I couldn't do it if I stayed with Percy. I was too dependent on him, I draw my strength from him. For me to introduce me to myself, I had to do it on my own.

"But I also need to discover more of me," I continued. "I - we - need to make peace with chapters of our lives and we can't do it if we keep on holding on to each other. We need to learn how to let go and start over again"

Percy didn't reply right away and I knew that he was trying to digest what I'd told him. I didn't expect him to understand right away. Truthfully, I expected him to get mad; I expected anger and unkind words, but that wasn't what came out of Percy's lips when he replied. "I understand if you need me out of your way," he said softly. "I'm sorry if I'd been too focused on myself that I overlooked you." He exhaled. "What about Pierre? Are you taking him away from me?"

"No," I answered quickly. "God, no. I will never take him away. We're just moving to Manhattan." Then of course I had to share about Hylla's business. "You can see him anytime you want; take him with you and stay with you. Nothing has to change but our living arrangement. I'm not even going to request changing his last name because he will always be your son." I kissed his forehead. "And never ever think that you're holding me back, you moron; it's the other way around." A small smile played on his lips. "Will you be okay?" I asked.

"I guess," he said. "I just got my heart handed back to me but I get your point, as weird as that is. I get that we need a new perspective, a new start."

I shoved his shoulder a bit. "Does that mean you will finally grow a pair and ask Annabeth out?"

He shook his head. "It won't be easy moving on from you," he pointed out. "And I wat to understand first what I really feel. I don't want to be unfair to anyone anymore." He looked me in the eyes. "I'm so sorry it has to take me a long time to see that I'm just stringing you along, but you're free now, Rey, to become the woman this world needs you to be."

I grabbed his face and kissed his lips, one last time. This moment, right then, with just the two of us with the shade provided by a tree above us, would be something that will forever be imprinted in my mind.

I pulled away and smiled at him. "Had to do that one last time."

He shook his head. "You're really letting go of these awesome lips, is that you're final answer?"

"Yeah," I told him, standing up and offering my hand. "Ready to take the first step?"

He shrugged and took my hand. "I guess."

"Then welcome to the first day of your new life," I told him.

We found our family the way we left them. Pierre was lying down, head on Annabeth's lap; Paul and Poseidon were talking, wine glasses in hand while Sally was braiding Annabeth's hair.

I took a seat beside my son. He looked up and removed his headphones. "You okay?" he asked.

I smiled at him. "Yeah." And because I knew that I would never be truly alone, I believed that I would be.

[Next - Chapter 33: MY HEART'S KEEPER]

DEMONS

Untamed Emotions. Tormented Soul.

PART 1:

ANCHOR

Chapter 1: Dead Man on Campus

Chapter 2: I Know What You Did Last Summer

Chapter 3: The World Has Turned and Left Me Here

What do you think? Let me know! :D