Hey guys, welcome back.
Shadowhunter2077:"Man Matt is gonna go berserk when he sees what is happening in the camp, not only that but his father the god of strength is with him, and I think Ouranos will be pissed with Levi, because I think his orders were to destroy the camp instand he basically was glorifying himself in front of the campers and gove enough time to Harper, Malachi, Talon and now Matt and Hercules, so I think Ouranos should give Levi the same treatment that Megatron gives Starscream in Transformers.
And once again I can't side with Matt in the argument he had with Zeus, because Zeus have good reason to be worried about Viribus, and that's related in how Primordials manifest, a primordial will never be truly destroyed because their existence is their domain, but they can only use their full power when they take a physical body and that makes them vulnerable because if they get out of their domain they will get weaker, Zeus can fight a primordial in his domain with dificulty, but now imagine if Ouranos gets the club he will have the power of two primordials and he will have his full power in both the Sky and the Earth, so Zeus has point if Ouranos gets this club everything will be on Matt.
And will there be more foreing demigods on Ouranos side, because right now he only have the Big Four and The Sons of Thor, and even then the the Norse demigods don't seems the kind to follow Ouranos orders, and it would give a more variety to the bad guys because let's be honest in this book the main characters will surpess the Big Four in power and they will need help if they want the be alive after what they did at the camp.
And I really liked the bonding moment between Hercules and Matt, truly a Father and Son moment."
Response: Thanks for the review, I appreciate it. And we will see about Ouranos and Levi. Yeah, I think Matt was in the wrong too, that'll be touched on soon, don't worry. And yeah, you'll see more foreign demigods on Ouranos's side, at some point.
thesuperone342: "Oh uh, Matt's good mood is going to get so fucking ruined lol. Good chapter as always, with both the fight and the Olympus scene. I like the consistency with all the Olympians and their characters, it makes them feel like they are real. I'm surprised that Zeus is letting Matt keep Viribus, as it would probably be way smarter to just take it for himself and keep it safe, but Matt needs his weapon so I can just let this one little tiny thing slide lol. Anyway, good job on the fight as well. Feeling more and more like Invincible the longer we go on, huh? Anyway, good fight and good chapter, can't wait for the reunion between Matt and Harper and for Levi to die.
P.S. I figured out what my next fanfic will be. It's gonna be something Invincible related. I fucking love that show."
Response: Yeah, you'll see Matt's reaction next chapter, he's gonna be enraged. Thanks for the kind words man, I personally find it kind of hard to write the gods and their dialogue, but I'm glad it turned out alright. And Invincible? Sounds like it will be good. But be sure to finish Zane first lol. By the way, when will the next chapter be out? I need it soon lol.
NiHaR OP: "thanks u for ur kind words and yes I've already finished the first book of never bow down, so it basically works like I write a new one and then I post a pre written one, because otherwise I fall behind on it, kinda think the gods should know about camp, since their children are being killed and all Apollo must have sensed wills death because as shown in the Tower of Nero he van sense stuff like that, Adam tree is like the Norse Yggdrasil, Maybe you add a guardian to it like ratatosk or the dragon or eagle like the Norse, also why didn't Hephaestus directly give the club to Ouranos instead of Matt"
Response: No problem man, I can't wait for the new chapters. And yeah, the Adam Tree is similar to Yggdrasil, I intended that. And about Viribus, Zeus keeps a closer eye on gods, so it wouldn't have worked as well.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters (except the OC's) Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Heroes Of Olympus, or Trials Of Apollo. All of that belongs to Rick Riordan.
Now then, on with the tenth chapter.
10. Things Go From Bad To Worse
Harper
(Seven Years Ago - Third Person POV)
"Got ya, kiddo."
Levi stood in front of the downed Harper, his sword in hand, leveled at her nose. She looked at it, cross-eyed, then slumped on the ground, groaning.
"Ughhh, I almost had you!" She whined.
Levi sheathed the sword and laughed, offering his sister a hand.
She took it and he pulled her up, she autonomously wiped off the red leaves that stuck to her.
"You really did, kiddo. I was on the ropes there!"
She pouted at him, "Are you lying?"
He shook his head, wide eyed. "Of course not, I would never let you win. Then how would you get strong?"
The two had been sparring for months now, under the red leafed tree that Levi had found. Nearly every day the two came down here to train, or duel. Harper had gotten increasingly better with her knives, Levi having to use more and more of his skill each time, showing her how she could improve in some places, and she would work on them, quickly overcoming whatever obstacle stood in front of her.
Today, they came down for their usual sparring match, Harper had begun more aggressive than previous matches, pressing Levi with all she had. Levi had to use everything to overwhelm her, which he did after several minutes. Harper loved training and sparring with Levi, but she hated the fact that she had never beaten him. She felt like she hadn't improved at all, and that she would never catch up to her brother.
She registered Levi's words, and tilted her head. "You're really giving it your all?"
"Totally. You'll be able to beat me pretty soon, kiddo. I gotta step it up."
Her heart lifted a little. She believed him, she believed in his belief that she had improved, even if she didn't believe it herself. Levi's opinion was absolute to her, he was older and smarter, after all.
She smiled, "Okay! I'll beat you next time, Lee!"
Levi chuckled, "I don't doubt it, kiddo."
She started to walk back to the house. Usually at this point that's what they would do, near dark, in the middle of sunset. Their father would either be drunk or knocked out, from being drunk. He wouldn't make dinner, and if he did it would be something to keep his mind off of his self loathing. Levi did most of the cooking, he had to learn, or else both he and Harper would starve. He was even teaching her to cook, and she was turning out pretty good. Levi smiled at the thought of her husband, he's gonna be a lucky guy, whoever he is.
The thought was wholesome, happy even.
But in a world so cruel? So impure? Full of monsters, both human and non-human?
These thoughts caused Levi's smile to fade, his eyes grew with concern, watching his little sister walk happily back to their home. Would she ever live to see twenty? Or even fifteen for that matter. Would she ever fall in love? Go somewhere besides their small town? Make friends?
Not in the state she's in.
Levi called out to her, "Hey, wait up!"
She turned, an eyebrow raised, "What's up?"
His face was serious, Harper knew that he had something important to say. Everytime his lips turned indifferent, his face not crinkled with a smile, his eyes locked with hers, she knew that he would impart wisdom with her, or tell her something she needed to know. It had happened enough times that Harper knew immediately to listen.
"Kiddo, I need to talk to you about something. Something...important."
"Okay..."
He hesitated, trying to figure out the best way to put it without scaring her.
"Harper, do you remember that monster we had to fight a few weeks ago. The first monster you fought?"
She nodded uneasily, "Yeah, it was scary."
"I know, and it's okay to be scared. But unfortunately...we're demigods. You know what that means, right?"
Her lips tightened, she made an angry face, "Yeah, it means that our mommy is a bitch!"
Levi's jaw fell, "Whoa! Where did you learn that word?"
She shrugged, "School."
He grabbed her shoulders, "Look at me. Don't say that word again, okay? It's not polite, and it's um...icky." Levi internally cringed at his attempt to scold her. He had never heard her curse before, and he couldn't disagree with her opinion on Nemesis.
"But, our mommy is one though, I know you think so too, Lee."
Levi held back a laugh, "Yeah, she is. But still, don't say that word."
She nodded, "Okay, fine."
He forced his face to return serious, as much as he hated telling this to her, he had to. If he didn't, reality would hit her one day, and it wouldn't be good.
"Harper, there might be a time where you'll have to fight on your own. And...you're gonna have to be able to do what it takes."
She still looked confused.
He sighed, "Not everyone is nice, you know that. But there are people...and monsters, that will try to really hurt you. And...you gotta be tough, you have to be able to finish them if needed."
"Finish them? You mean like, kill them?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, it's not nice, I know. But, this world is all about survival, Harper. You have to be strong."
"Me?"
He nodded, "Of course. Look, the point is, as a demigod...you're going to see some bad things, you're going to face many challenges. But you're strong Harper, you can do anything."
She looked at herself in slight surprise, "But I'm small."
He scoffed, "Doesn't mean a thing, you're the strongest person I know, and I mean that."
Her eyes widened at him, and after a few moments, she smiled.
"Thanks."
"It's the truth, kiddo. Now, I know you're hungry, let's get to the house."
She nodded, and ran up the hill.
Short and to the point, Levi had to let her know. He hoped she would take it to heart.
(Present Day - Harper's POV)
CLANG!
Our blades met again, the metal grinding with a loud screech, the ground beneath us cracking.
Our faces sat inches apart behind our weapons, eyes locked in a glare, I pressed against his force, both of us not giving in.
Chaos ensued all around us, monsters raged around the Camp, several campers attacking them with various weapons. Roars, bellows and explosions could be heard for miles.
Yet I could still hear Levi's growl, "Is that all you've got? Thought you never stopped training?"
I gritted my teeth as he pushed hard against my knives, forcing me back ten feet. I landed on one knee, never letting my eyes leave him. I kept my knives low, ready to take him by surprise.
But I never got the chance, the ground rumbled so hard I felt myself nearly tip over, I saw a large crack form in the soil next to me, making it's way to Levi like the shark in Jaws.
Levi was quick to react, a giant black spike shot up from the ground and tried to impale Levi, but it was unsuccessful as he lopped off half of it with his sword.
I looked around for the attacker, to find Nico behind me, his face murderous.
"FIGHT ME! I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Nico, wait!" I tried, but I understood his anger, he had just watched Will die, at the hands of my brother. I shouldn't stop him.
He ignored me anyway, and ran at Levi, who brought his sword up in defense against the Son of Hades's Stygian Iron blade.
I got up to help Nico kill him, but Nico was no longer there when I looked. A giant blur had come out of nowhere and tackled him, rolling on the ground.
I twisted my body to see what the heck happened. I barely noticed Axel, both hands gripped around Nico's neck, lifting him in the air, the latter had a hand outstretched, for whatever reason. A few seconds later, I found out, as several thin white arms jutted from the Earth. Skeletons.
"Don't get distracted." I heard in my ear, before feeling a force slam into my side, my body completely in the air, heading straight for the Nemesis cabin.
I crashed through the wood, skidding hard on the cabin floor before stopping against the back wall.
I had to blink a few times to regain my vision. I was on my side, head slumped against my shoulder, knives no longer in my hands. They must have slipped when I got...well, I don't know what happened.
I tried to get up, but a throb shot up my entire right side, like my kidney had exploded or something.
"I warned you, Harper." A voice said above me.
It was Levi. He stood in the cabin doorway, his large sword in hand. He quickly slashed the walls next to the door, immediately bringing down the wood, destroying the entire frontal part of the cabin. He smirked at the action and stalked towards me.
"Such a silly thing, these cabins. I can't believe you'd actually stay here. I guess your feelings for mother have changed."
I gritted my teeth again, the anger of him being here, gloating in his own infuriating way, it fueled me to ignore the pain in my side.
I brought up my boot quicker than he could react, catching him in the chin. His head coiled back, mouth facing the ceiling. I heard him grunt and stumble, I took this chance.
I kipped up, and advanced on him, delivering a side kick to his face, only to be blocked by his glove, which strangely felt like metal. I tried again on the other side, and yep, his gloves were made of a thin metal, I felt no skin in contact.
Of course he found yet another way to avoid damage. As if having his goons fight his battles wasn't enough, he had to use concealed armor.
I tried to kick again, but this time, it wasn't successful. He caught my leg and bashed the hilt of his sword against my forehead, my vision turned white again, an intense sting pulsing in my forehead, I fell back to the ground.
I couldn't let him win, I couldn't let him gain the satisfaction of beating me. I wasn't that little kid anymore, he couldn't push me around.
I raised my head and hands in an attempt to summon my knives back to me, but as soon as my shoulders left the ground, half of the vision in my right eye turned to black, a grip-like feeling tight on my forehead. It pushed my head against the wooden floor with so much force, I felt the back of my neck go through the wood and hit the grass beneath.
I pushed against his arm, but it didn't budge, he was too strong.
"You think you can beat me? You think you're the only one that's been training this whole time?" With each word he pressed my head further into the ground, his palm feeling like a hydraulic press against my skull, I winced in pain, futilely attempting to kick and punch at him, but I could barely see, my one good eye nearly blinded by his black glove.
"Fight me fair, coward." I managed to say. I felt his arm strain and my head lift up from the ground, only to be slammed again.
I yelled in agony, my skull felt like it was being run over by a pickup.
"Coward? You really think so?" His fingers tightened, encompassing the entire top of my head, I felt the thin metal in his glove press against my skin, only making the pain worse.
"I gave you the chance. And now look at you! Rethinking things? I bet-AGHH!" His grip loosed from my head, I felt immediate relief, the skin stretching back to it's normal size, blood rushing back into my veins.
I opened my eyes, and although it was blurry, I could make out Levi grabbing his shoulder in pain, and something sticking out of it.
"GO, HARPER!" A boy's voice yelled. It sounded familiar...
After another second, my vision cleared, and I saw Logan Barnes, the dude I had half-dated for like a day, his bow drawn, firing at Levi. My brother was deflecting each one, albeit barely. One of Logan's arrows had reached Levi, sticking through his shoulder.
"Bastard!" Levi snarled and closed the distance on Logan, as he was running out of arrows, and Levi was quicker than them.
But just as Levi raised his sword, yet again he was caught by someone. Out of the blue, Aiden rushed from behind Logan and disarmed Levi, smacking the sword from his hand and jabbing at his gut.
It hit Levi, but he must have been wearing the same armor underneath the cloak, because he didn't bleed or yell in pain, he just grunted and stepped back.
I took my chance, they had tried to distract him long enough for me to attack him, I couldn't let it be in vain.
I ignored the pain shooting through my body and got up, putting all of my weight into my leg, I did a one eighty and planted my boot in Levi's back, full strength, like sending all of my hatred into his very soul.
It proved triumphant, his limbs shot behind him and he flew forward, landing on his face in the battle outside.
I quickly ran up to Aiden and Logan, the pain starting to return, but this wasn't the time. I could heal after I had killed him.
"Thanks guys." I said, "I got it from here."
They exchanged a nervous look, but they knew I wasn't kidding, so they just nodded at me and went to help the other campers.
I walked out of the cabin, standing parallel to Levi. The battle had turned in our favor, majorly. The monsters were nearly gone, the number and power of the campers overwhelming them. Most of it was Malachi, the Demi-Primordial blasted a monster one by one, including the Elder Cyclops that Chiron fought. I saw this one happen to my left, Malachi summoned a large bolt and it hit the monster in between it's shoulder and neck and shot straight through, disintegrating it. Percy, Annabeth and Talon fought the other members of the Big Four, Axel had somehow moved away from Nico to Percy, Grayson on Annabeth of course, both of them not making any progress, and Talon tanked hits from the light speed Cherry. She darted around him and hit him relentlessly, but apparently Talon can't feel pain, so he just remained standing, trying to spot her blur.
Levi's face tightened, I could tell he was furious. This had not gone to plan, and he was pissed. I relished in that fact.
"I told you Levi, not to underestimate us." I said with my arms outstretched, my knives luckily returning to my hands. If they hadn't, that would have looked pretty dumb.
But they did, and I spun them around skillfully, stopping them at my hips.
He scanned around him, and back at me. "Looks like this is going to end sooner than I thought."
"End?! This is not over! You and I are going to settle this today!"
He shook his head, motioning in the direction of Grayson, Axel, and Cherry. What was he doing?
"As much as that would be beneficial, Harper. I'm afraid it's time for us to go."
I reared my head back furiously, "Afraid? I thought you were confident!"
"I'm not afraid of you. I am simply taking a strategic leave." Then he pointed at Chiron, "But there's one last thing I must do."
I looked at Chiron, fighting a legion of storm spirits, firing his arrows with skill and precision, knocking three more immediately after. It was amazing to watch.
But looking back at Levi, the look of intent on his face, I knew what he was thinking...
"NO!" I yelled, and leapt at him, my knives about to connect with his neck. But he didn't move, not even to block, or dodge, he just stood there. Why wasn't he moving?
I didn't care, I had to stop him from getting near Chiron. But when I slashed my knives, they went right through him.
I'm not kidding, they literally went through him like he was made of mist.
Mist...
Oh gods...
I caught my balance and skidded a few inches, turning back around, I saw the image of Levi ripple, and soon, fade.
I felt a chill behind me, then a gust of warm breath against my ear, the feeling made me extremely uncomfortable, but I couldn't move, I stood there like a deer in headlights. He had gotten me, a mist trick that not even I could see coming. All of those classes, and a mirage trick is what gets me.
"I have to cut the head of the snake, Harper. No hard feelings, but he is in the way." Each word sent a heat against my ear, I roared and stabbed at his body behind me, quicker than he should have been able to react, but again, I hit nothing.
Instead, Levi was mere meters behind Chiron, far away from me. He motioned to the other Big Four, they nodded.
"MASTER!" He yelled, and the sky shook, gray clouds could be seen, swirling, coiling together with energy and darkness. What was happening?
Whatever it was, I couldn't let it happen, I couldn't let him...
"TALON! MALACHI!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, and thank gods they heard me instantly, I motioned my head at the clouds and then at Levi, their faces became urgent. They leaped from their positions and landed next to me, we broke into a run.
"PERCY! ANNABETH!" I yelled again, the more the merrier, we needed them, we needed to kill them before they got him. No way could it happen, we wouldn't let it. Never.
They immediately saw the situation and came bounding towards us. I took it a step further, Malachi and I by trying to use full speed, but it was too late.
As soon as I left the ground, a lightning bolt crashed into the Earth, right behind Chiron and next to the Big Four. It spread, forming a gate of electricity, high enough that we could still leap over it, and see everything that was happening inside.
Levi nodded to them, and the Big Four surrounded Chiron in a rectangular trap, Chiron unsheathed his sword, looking at all them seemingly simultaneous, waiting for their move.
Malachi and I hit the gate hard, it felt like I had thrown myself at a Celestial Bronze wall. I was immediately thrown back, along with Malachi, we both fell to the ground.
Malachi shook his head, "That's my father's aura, it's too strong to break through!"
"No!" Percy said, "We have to help him!"
"CHIRON!" Annabeth cried, the Campers took notice, all of the monster's gone, they rushed over and tried to help, beating against the gate or blasting at it, but nothing worked, it only threw them back or ate their attacks.
Inside Chiron did the best he could, but even he was outpowered by the four above average demigods. The Big Four circled him, Grayson made a move with his sword first, to which Chiron deflected, but then Cherry tried to hound him, to which Chiron dodged. Axel threw a heap of lava, Chiron dodged again, Levi made a jab with his sword, Chiron parried, always keeping his eyes in every direction, holding his own against them for a bit. Trying to buy us time.
Percy threw waves and waves of water against the gate, to no avail.
"COME ON!" He yelled, and threw another massive whirlpool at it. It did nothing.
"Let me try!" I said, and bent down. Chiron couldn't last forever, as his movements were starting to slow and the Big Four began to attack in unison more. I jumped as hard as I could, reaching well over the gate, I had my knife in my hand, ready to attack Levi with it and help Chiron, but as soon as I came close, It was like I had hit the wall again, thrown back with insane force, I thought I was going to splat on the ground, but luckily Malachi stopped my fall.
"It's no use" I said.
Malachi glared at the Big Four, "Stand back."
The Campers listened, all stepping away with uneasiness. But things were getting worse inside, Cherry disappeared from where she stood, and reappeared behind Chiron, his back leg being swept out under him, he fell on his front hooves, and Grayson took his shot, swiping Chiron across the chest. Blood fell out on the ground, Chiron barely managed to dodge his next attack. Axel shot lava at Chiron's back while he was concentrated on Grayson, the fiery liquid splashed everywhere, the centaur yelled in pain, and quickly shook it off, but it left a nasty spot. Charred fur and blood.
My concern was at it's peak, we really had to do something. "Hurry!" I yelled at Malachi.
His eyes glowed blue, and he raised his hand at the gate, his fingers began to dance with a bright crackle, and after a second, he fired a charged bolt at the gate. It immediately blew open, a swirl of lightning burst all over Camp, a path opened up enough for one person to fit.
I knew that it would close within the next instant, so, me being the second fastest, other than Malachi, I darted at the opening, but once I got there, I couldn't do anything.
The blue path closed behind me, snapping shut and sending a shockwave inside of the circle, disorienting me. I caught sight of Chiron on the ground, facing Levi. The latter held his sword in his hand behind his head, ready to bring it down on the Camp's director.
I shook my head, clearing an disorientation, "NO! DON'T!" I yelled, and began to jump, but Cherry caught on too quickly, and zoomed behind me. Even If I was aware, I wouldn't have been able to get away from her, she was too fast. She caught me by the arms and firmly planted me on my knees.
"Let go of me, you bitch!" I struggled and thrashed, but she held me tight, chuckling in her creepy Harley Quinn manor. She was stronger than she looked, because I couldn't get up.
Chiron tried to get up, "Unhand her!" But Grayson struck his back leg, nearly cutting it completely off. Chiron grunted in agony, buckling and dropping back on his front knees, blood dropping from his mouth.
"CHIRON!" I yelled, my eyes stinging. This was not happening, this was not happening, this was not happening.
I bucked as wildly as I could, throwing all of my weight around to break free from this bitch's grip.
Cherry grunted in frustration and quickly elbowed me in the back of the head, causing my ears to ring and my brain to rattle. Just as quick, I felt one of her slim arms wrap around my neck, and the other rest on my head, grabbing me in a sleeper hold.
"Don't struggle, babe. It'll all be over soon..." She breathed in my ear, chuckling lightly like a clown.
"I'll kill you, all of you." I growled, glaring death at every one of them. Explosions rang outside, slightly muted due to the barrier. The other campers were frantically attacking it.
Grayson nudged Levi nervously, "Hurry this up, Levi. They'll get through soon."
"Let them! If you're all so powerful, why not fight?!"
Cherry twisted my neck a little, popping it a few times, I felt a sting shoot up my nervous system, making me stop in the middle of my next taunt, I gasped.
"Shut the hell up." Cherry said, "Or I'll snap your neck!" She looked dubiously at Levi, "Can I kill her?"
Levi studied me for a moment, then sighed, "Not now. She is of lesser importance." He turned back to Chiron, "We have to take out the head of the serpent."
Chiron spat out blood, "We are the serpents? Please."
"Chiron, don't!" I tried, a tear escaping my eye, Cherry tightened her grip, but I didn't care, I was not going to let this happen, no matter what it took.
The barrier outside crashed open, another small path emerging.
Levi urgently shouted, "No! Stop him!"
Axel thought quickly, and shot his entire barrel of lava at the opening, hitting someone right in the face, a loud yell ensued outside as the barrier closed again.
Grayson shoved Levi hard this time, "This is no time for gloating! Finish him!"
Levi pushed him away, "I will take as long as I please! This is the leader of these miserable children, the one they put their faith into."
Chiron raised his head and looked directly into Levi's eyes. I was surprised to see that it wasn't a glare, or a look of rebellion, it was...sympathetic.
"This Camp, and these miserable children, will never give up, they won't fall to Ouranos. And...you shouldn't either, Levi Pierce."
Levi's eyes widened a little. For a moment, Chiron had broken through his shell for a moment.
He continued, his tone desperate, "You have been through so much, child. You are misguided, delusional, and angry. Understandably angry, indeed. But it is not too late to see the truth. You can turn away from this path."
Levi bent down, not sure of what to say to the centaur, his expression morphed from confusion, to anger.
"You don't know me old man, and you don't know what I'm thinking. The path I'm on, is the correct one. You are the fool!"
Chiron shook his head, "Don't let your bitterness blind you, Levi. Don't focus on the god's shortcomings...focus on your own."
That sent Levi over the edge, Axel, Grayson, and I imagine Cherry looked at each other uneasily, unsure of what to make of Chiron's words.
Levi stood up, a furious look on his face, the scar looked uglier than ever.
"I know who I am. And you...the great Chiron, trainer of heroes. This is where you meet your end."
"NO! CHIRON!" I yelled, "STOP! LEVI, STOP!"
He ignored me, more explosions rung throughout the area, the barrier holding up by a thread.
Grayson looked very nervous now, "Levi, Ouranos can't hold much longer! You have to kill him!"
Another tear dripped down my cheek, I screamed, "NO, WAIT! K-KILL ME!"
Levi raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Harper, don't-" Chiron started.
I raised my voice over his own, "Kill me instead! Or better yet...I'll join you! That's what you want, right? You want us to be together? Brother and sister, just like old times, right?"
"You have made clear that you want nothing to do with our cause." He raised his sword to strike at Chiron.
"NO! I-I'm serious! WAIT!" My heart was beating a mile a minute, blood rushing through out my veins, my body tingled and stung with anxiety. I would not let this happen. I would do whatever it took to keep Chiron alive.
"Levi, no...Lee. Lee, look at me, please."
Levi lowered his sword, and locked eyes with me, seeing the desperation in them, his face softened.
Another tear streamed down my face and dripped off my chin, my voice nearly broke with a sob, but I managed to croak, "Levi, please. I-I'll join you, Ouranos, whatever you want, I'll do it. I...promise. Just don't kill him, please don't kill him."
Cherry laughed, "Listen to her, she's pathetic!"
Axel guffawed, "Kill her and the horse, Levi."
Grayson huffed, "The wisest move, would be Axel's suggestion, and fast."
"SHUT UP!" Levi barked, the others shut up and minded their own business, other than the bitch Cherry of course, who still held my head in a snapping position.
Levi stepped toward me, his face softer than usual, resembling the brother I once knew.
I tried to use this to my advantage, maybe I could get Chiron out of this, somehow.
"I'm serious, Lee. Whatever you want, I'll do it. I'll go with you, work with you, we can be siblings again, just like you want. All you have to do, is...let Chiron live."
"You would seriously do that?" He asked in a small voice.
I nodded vigorously, sniffing from the crying. "I swear, just let him go."
He leaned closer, "And you would go against Matt...to keep this old centaur alive?"
I started, but hesitated. Fighting Matt? Oh gods...that would break my heart, ever attacking him seriously, with malice or intent to kill. Not that I could hurt him even so, but still...just the thought...I hated that. But maybe if he were here, if he were in the same situation...he would understand.
"I-I would. Just let him go."
"Harper, don't!" Chiron said.
"I'm sorry, Chiron. I can't let this happen. I just, I can't"
Levi forced me to look at him, "You're telling me, that you would fight the boy you obsess over, try to kill him, and leave all of your friends behind, just so this...creature, can live?"
I hated him so much, I wanted to kill him right now. Making me feel this way, threatening the lives of everyone, of Chiron, who was like a second father to me. But I had to play along, I would do whatever it took. This camp needed him, I...needed him.
"Yes." I answered.
He studied me, for several seconds just analyzing me, I did my best to make it look convincing. If Ouranos had taught him how to use the mist, then he could probably tell when someone was lying. And...I wasn't, technically. I actually would do everything I promised, if it meant keeping Chiron alive, but would I be happy about it? Hell no, I would probably plot ways to eradicate the Big Four and make it as painful as possible all the time.
Levi saw this in me, and shook his head. He got up, and walked back over to Chiron.
"If you won't join me out of genuine belief...then you won't join me at all, Harper. The lines are drawn, we are enemies, and this is war."
He raised his sword.
"NO! STOP!"
"And war..." He said.
"LEVI, PLEASE! I'M BEGGING YOU! DON'T!" Each word brought out a choked sob, my cheeks stained with tears now. I wanted nothing more than some force to just stop this, to end it, to somehow save Chiron.
But I knew that wouldn't happen.
Levi held his position for a moment, and finished his sentence, "And war, requires extreme measures."
He brought his sword down in a stabbing motion, it connected with Chiron's chest, going through like a knife to butter.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" I yelled, my voice as loud as I had ever heard, it echoed around the barrier, so loud that the others even held their ears. After that, my mouth hung open, I shot blanks of air out my mouth as I tried to produce more pleas, more cries, but they wouldn't come. I was forced to watch Chiron get stabbed, right in front of me.
He immediately spat up a cup of blood, it fell down and caught on Levi's sword, it was stuck in over a full foot of length, all the way through Chiron's chest.
Levi looked at the centaur, "Goodbye, old man." He withdrew his sword, and swiped it in the air, any blood coming off.
Chiron fell limp to the ground, cries and wails could be heard outside, Annabeth's louder than anyone else.
Levi motioned at the others, "Time to leave. Goodbye, Harper."
Cherry slammed my head into the ground, I couldn't move anyway, my shock and grief overtaking me, my mouth was still open, saliva strings on my teeth, snot in my nose from the crying.
Axel spat at Chiron's body, the wad of spit connected with Chiron's half charred fur. Grayson grabbed his nearly severed leg and ripped it off all the way, holding the bloody leg and hoof like a trophy, I guess as proof to bring back to Ouranos.
"You brought this on yourself." He said to the limp Chiron, and to me.
With that, the gate faded, and the Campers came rushing down, their footsteps rumbling the grass beneath me. They tried to attack the Big Four, but individual bolts of lightning shot down and enveloped them, sucking them back up in an instant.
No.
I would not let them, him, escape.
I would kill him. I would kill all four of them.
I pushed myself up with such ferocity that I nearly fell on my ass, but I kept standing, pure, raw death in my head, in my eyes, all directed at them.
"OH GODS! NO!" Annabeth cried, breaking down in sobs at Chiron's body, many campers also cried and tried to turn over Chiron frantically.
Talon found me, "Harper!"
"Malachi." I growled.
He heard me, "Yes?"
"Shoot him down."
He leaned closer, "What?"
"Shoot. Him. Down." I ordered, my voice a dangerous growl.
Thank Olympus he understood, he nodded and stepped back, looking up at the sky. I heard thunder boom, flashes lit up the sky. They were still up there, somewhere. If I could just get ahold of him, of them, any of them.
Finally, Malachi closed his fist with force, a shockwave erupted, causing my hair to blow wildly. In the sky, a blue explosion could be seen, a shadowy figure fell from the gray, tumbling towards the beach in front of Camp.
Good.
"I'm going to kill him." I said, to no one.
Talon tried to grab my shoulder, but I shook it off, and broke into a sprint towards the beach.
I put all of my speed into it, and near instantly, I appeared at the sandy plain, scanning the white area for a sign of a black cloak.
There.
He was fifty feet from the ground, flipping and tumbling the air like a frisbee, yelling as loud as he could.
Soon enough, he caught his senses, and roared, swiping at the ground with the giant sword. The wind surge caused his descent to slow, but it didn't help stop it, because another two seconds passed, and Levi crashed into the sand, leaving a wide crater.
I hoped that didn't kill him. No, that would be too easy, too quick and painless. This monster needed to suffer, this...man, this thing that was no longer my brother.
I stormed over to the hole, each step filled with anger and grief, I held my knives tightly in hand, so tight that my knuckles were probably showing through my skin.
I made it to the crater, and stood at the edge, glaring at Levi below me.
He groaned in pain, his sword lay next to him. He was facing the sky, the black cloak and hood spread all around him like a blanket.
"I am going to kill you." I announced to him, in between a snarl and an emotionless mutter.
He looked up, wincing, "Had to be done, Harper. He was in the way."
I gritted my teeth, I can't describe the amount of anger that filled me. If I had a red aura, it would encompass all of New York right now, that's how bad it was.
"SHUT UP!" I screamed and dove at his downed form, my knives planting in the sand.
Sand?
No.
"NO!" I yelled, he had done it again, my knives, instead of planting in Levi's body, planted in the sand. Levi had used the mist again, to evade me.
"FIGHT ME! WHY WON'T YOU FIGHT ME, YOU TRAITOR! YOU FUCKING COWARD!" My voice echoed across the dunes, bouncing back and repeating, no response.
I looked around, frantic and wild, like a crazed animal, my eyes wide and murderous, my knives gripped so tight that it hurt.
"COME ON! LET'S END THIS! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Nothing.
More tears.
Weakness.
"NO! I AM NOT!" I yelled, and looked around faster, frantic, begging for him to return near me, so I could kill him, so I could put him out of his misery, forget who he was, forget everything.
They fell like a river now, flying all over the place as I spun and ran around, looking for any sign.
"COME ON!" I screamed again, my throat stinging, my chest heavy. I couldn't do this, no more, not anymore.
I turned around and looked ahead, noticing a figure thirty feet or so above me. I glanced slightly upward, and saw in the distance, a single large crow, flying away.
"No..." I croaked, and fell to my knees, knives falling in the sand. I gripped the sand, hundreds of grains escaping the gaps between my fingers.
"No, no, no, no, no. This can't be real, this can't be real." I shot my head up, completely zoned out, the white sand became a simple color, any texture or detail gone, the waves a murky blue, nothing more, the sky, gray and black, nothing more.
The noise faded, I was stuck in my own miserable world. In this world, only three things existed, Chiron's dying body, Levi escaping my clutches as a crow, and me, on my knees, pitiful and broken.
In a flash, my world shattered, and I was brought back to the similar reality, the material reality.
"Ch-Chiron."
I had to get back, maybe there was a way, maybe he could live. Maybe...just maybe.
I sheathed my knives and broke into a frantic run, tripping over myself at one point and faceplanting into the sand. When I connected with the rough sand, I whined like a child, beating my fist against it.
This was all a dream. That's it, all a dream. I was still back on the beach, right after that first quest, in Matt's arms, everything was okay.
That fantasy broke, when a voice called my name critically.
"HARPER!"
I looked up, it was Logan.
"L-Logan?"
"Oh gods..." He ran over and helped me up, picking me up by the arm. "Are you okay?"
"Chiron, wh-where's Chiron, how's he-"
"Harper...we need to hurry. It...doesn't look good."
I lowered my head in absolute defeat. That's what I thought he would say.
We trudged back to Camp, not prepared for any scenario we would face once we got there.
Logan let me go when we spotted everyone.
I ran toward them, the sight split my heart completely open. Every camper surrounded Chiron, who had been placed against a log that the campers usually sit on at the sing alongs. Percy and Annabeth were knelt right next to him, the latter a complete mess, even more tears littered her face than mine, her hair was a bit frizzled, and her body was paler than usual. Nico and Aiden stood near them, in a crowd of people.
I ran up to Chiron's other side, Talon, Sera and Malachi stood behind me. I hadn't seen Sera for the entire battle. She must've been hiding somewhere, I wouldn't doubt it.
I looked at the assassin, he shook his head grimly. I turned and knelt next to Chiron, like Percy and Annabeth.
"H-How is he?" I asked.
Annabeth sobbed, clinging to Percy like a lifeline. The Son of Poseidon didn't look good at all either, he was close to tears, but he probably wanted to stay strong for Annabeth, and he probably still had hope that his former mentor would live.
His voice broke, "A-Ancient Poison. The chances...aren't likely."
Logan spoke up, "I have some healing knowledge. The Apollo kids and I...there's nothing we can do."
I looked at Chiron desperately, silently begging him to open his eyes.
To my delight, he did, and immediately winced.
Annabeth's eyes lit up a little, she let go of Percy and leaned to Chiron.
"Chiron! It's okay! Y-You're gonna be okay!"
Chiron lazily smiled and touched her hand, "No, child...like Percy said..." He coughed and hacked, a horrible sound to hear, "Ancient Poison. I have less than a few minutes."
Annabeth's hopeful smile melted, and she began to cry again. Percy held her.
He sat up a little, and I tried to stop him, "Chiron, no. Y-You need to rest."
"Harper, I...I don't have long. I need to say something before I pass."
"No! You-" My voice broke, "You can't go! You...Y-You-"
He held up a hand, "I must say this." He sat up a little, and coughed some more.
"Campers!" He managed to get out, a little energy in it. It saddened me so much, he was giving it his all for one final announcement.
"Listen to me. I-I will no longer be around to help you...to guide you. That pains me more than you will ever know. But...You are strong, all of you, and I know that you will win. You will bounce back, as you always have. I believe in every single one of you. And I..."
We all leaned in, listening closely. Many campers cried, including me.
"I am happy to have been the director of this Camp. I am happy to have known all of you."
Some sobs broke out after that, campers hugging campers, comforting each other. He was literally saying goodbye, to Camp, to everyone.
He looked at me, and motioned for me to lean closer, I did.
He said lowly, "Harper, you have endured and endured. One day, I promise you...it will pay off."
I nodded, "I-I know."
He smiled, "You are a smart, brave girl. I know you'll make the right decisions."
It took all I had not to cry like an ugly mess, I had to keep it together, for him, for Chiron. He believed in me, even if I didn't believe in myself.
I nodded at him, "I will, Chiron."
He turned to Percy and Annabeth.
"Annabeth...Percy..."
"Chiron, don't..." They begged.
"Please children, just listen to me...one more time, okay?" He smiled.
They nodded, holding back even more tears.
He gazed at them, love in his eyes. "You two have been through so much, you have learned so much in this life. All of your experiences, all of your victories, your losses, they have molded you into what you are today. Fine young adults...and the greatest demigods I have had the pleasure of training."
Percy began to let his tears flow, finally. Annabeth had no more, so she was left with dry sobs.
"I am eternally proud of you both, and I know that you will take on the future with stride."
They nodded, their hands interlocking. Whether they knew it or not, I didn't know.
"I only ask one thing-" He coughed more, and breathed in to regain breath, "I ask that you keep this Camp alive, both of you. No matter what it takes, or how hard it gets...you must keep this place alive, you have to take care of the future generations, the young demigods. All of this, I know, is a lot to ask. But I can only trust it with you two."
Percy and Annabeth's eyes widened, looking at each other, they registered the gravity of his final request, the responsibility, the weight.
"I am sorry to give you such a burden, but I can only entrust it to you. Just please...make sure it lives on, pass it through the lifetimes, the generations. Only...to a demigod fit to run it. When you two retire, it can only be trusted to another, another that fits your idea..."
I was in shock, passing the Camp down through generations of demigods? A demigod would be running things now?
That was the way it had to be though. This place had to stay alive, it was the home to so many, a refuge, a haven.
Percy and Annabeth looked back at Chiron, and they understood it too, and they knew what they had to do.
"We will. We...we promise." Annabeth half whispered.
Percy nodded, "We'll take care of it. Whatever it takes."
Chiron smiled, and his eyes began to close, slowly. His breathing became shallower and shallower, his chest rose and fell slower than before.
Finally, his eyes closed all the way, and with his final breath, he muttered the words...
"Thank you."
And he spoke no more.
Cries and silent sobs broke throughout everyone in Camp. Annabeth fell into Percy's chest, crying uncontrollably, the latter letting his tears fall as well, face stricken with sadness. Malachi held Sera behind me, who was in as bad a shape as Annabeth in terms of tears, the Demi-Primordial himself had no tears, but a look of intense grief all the same.
Talon's lips were tight, his sunglasses had been taken off, and his eyes read sadness, and admiration at the centaur. He nodded at me, and I knew that he was hit just as hard as the rest of us.
We all stayed like that for a few minutes, just surrounding our fallen teacher, crying and grieving. Letting it all out.
After a while, in some kind of mass understanding, we all stood up in near unison.
The next thing that happened was so amazing. Somehow, we all had the same thing on our mind. Everyone looked at each other, and we knew what to do.
I brought out one of my knives, everyone grabbed their weapons, including Annabeth with her Drakon sword, and Percy with Riptide. Talon with his revolver, and Malachi with his spear. The entire camp was armed with a single weapon. But we weren't about to fight.
Instead, we all raised them above our heads. It was like soldiers in the army, all moving together, everyone silent and serious. We all raised our weapons above Chiron, in a show of respect, and gratitude.
We all stayed like that for a minute or so, just standing there, each of our weapons raised, a final sign of respect.
When that beautiful moment passed, we decided to bury him and the other dead campers, including Will, all together. Everyone helped out, and we buried them by the lake, in front of Camp. We would figure out a monument or stone later. Right now, we just needed to let them rest.
When we were done, everyone walked by and paid their respects, moving on to their cabins, or any sleeping place since most of them were burned, for the night.
I was third to last, Percy and Annabeth behind me. I knelt down and placed a hand on Will's grave, Nico didn't stay for that part, he immediately went back to his cabin. I couldn't blame him. I then did the same to Chiron's grave, remembering his words of comfort, his words of wisdom, how they helped me more than I ever realized. I remembered the first day of Camp, how he understood, how he let me take my time, how he let me heal in my own way, how he had guided me to get better.
Never again would he do those things.
I stood up, and walked away, letting Percy and Annabeth take their time.
I took one more look at the sight before going to the Nemesis Cabin.
Goodbye, Chiron. I thought. A father figure to all of us, the greatest teacher, the best leader this Camp will ever have.
I didn't sleep much.
Aiden didn't either. At about six in the morning he left the cabin. I didn't try to stop or talk to him, he was probably depressed.
I wasn't quite that way. I was more angry than anything. The entire night, I thought of all the ways I was going to make Levi suffer, make all of the Big Four suffer.
What now?
What was there to do now? I had no idea what the next move should be. We had to make one, that much I knew, we had to stop this, we had to end it and defeat Ouranos. This time, for sure.
I rolled on my side, sighing. How? Where would we go?
Then a thought hit me, something that Chiron said.
Scandinavia...
If Ouranos was trying to bring back Norse beings, and since the Cursed Island, their previous HQ is destroyed...maybe they set up a new one in a Scandinavian Country.
It was a long shot, but maybe it would work. I mean, something has to be done. I'm not just gonna sulk here while those bastards are still out there, trying to destroy the world little by little. I wanted nothing more than to end this myself.
All of a sudden, for some reason, I thought of Matt.
Oh gods...he has no idea.
A part of myself felt angry at him, for leaving, for not being here. If he had been here, things would have been different, maybe Chiron, Will, and all those Campers would still be alive.
I groaned, staying angry wasn't going to help. It wasn't him I should be mad at, it was Levi, Ouranos, all of them.
I threw off the covers and sat up on the edge of my bed, feeling completely drained, yet invigorated at the same time. I had a plan, but would I act on it?
I couldn't just go to Scandinavia by myself, could I?
I have to do this alone. I won't let anyone else get hurt. I thought.
But would it even work? I'm not powerful enough to do all of that. I hated to admit it, but even enraged, I can't beat all of the Big Four, let alone Ouranos.
But I thought about Sera, Malachi, Aiden, Talon, Matt. I couldn't let anything happen. I had to do this.
Really though?
I sighed. I would have to think about this. It was a big decision after all. I mean, for one, I could stay here and help out where I could, supporting Percy and Annabeth.
Or...I could take a solo quest to a place I had never been, far away from home, and try to end this war. Really helping the Camp out.
Hard decision.
I knew the right one, so why am I hesitating? Am I scared?
I huffed, looking at myself in the mirror. No way was I scared, I can't let myself get scared. I have to be strong, I have to avenge those that fell, I have to get my revenge.
I looked awful. My makeup was gone, my hair was a mess, and my skin was even paler than usual. I didn't even care, I wouldn't even try. I had too much to think about.
I simply put on my usual attire and walked out of the cabin. The entire Camp looked like a slum. It had rained last night, the grass and trees were damp, dripping dew and mist everywhere. The clouds were gray, the sun hiding behind them, giving an even more depressing feel to the atmosphere. Campers walked around somberly, either helping with repairs or just walking with each other, trying to offer some comfort. I stood there for several minutes, just taking in the foreign feeling of gloom. Never had I seen it like this. Even when I was bitter about my situation, the Camp never seemed to be, it was always bright, warm, and welcoming. Now, it looked cold, dead, condemned.
I looked to the left and saw Nico by Will's grave, bent down in front of it. To my surprise, he wasn't alone. Aiden had a hand on his back, seemingly consoling the Son of Hades.
It nearly made my cry again, thinking of Will. He was such a good guy, such an inspiration to the Camp. And Aiden too, he had nearly died as well, but no, thankfully he was alive. That was a big factor in my thought process, whether to go on this solo quest or not. I had to keep him alive by ending this war, because if it didn't end, I was afraid something bad would happen to him.
I stepped away from the broken doorway, walking in a straight line towards the Big House, considering telling Percy and Annabeth about my plan.
I went inside and found the Son of Poseidon in the living area, leaning on a table. He looked stressed out of his mind.
"Percy." I said.
He turned around, almost startled, but he unclenched as soon as he knew it was me. He sighed, "Hey, Harper."
"Um, how are you?" Dumb question, I know.
He shrugged grimly, "Not good, I'll be honest. I'm just..."
He didn't want to talk, I could tell, so I decided to hold off the plan.
"It's okay, you don't have to say anything. Is there...anything I can do to help out around Camp?"
He nodded, and I noticed his eyes were baggy, he probably hadn't gotten any sleep last night.
"Yeah, you can help out with repairs if you want. That's pretty much all there is to do."
I nodded, "Sure." I was about to walk away, when I stopped myself, the question on my lips, "Is Annabeth...?"
He shook his head, "No. She's uh...not doing so good."
I understood, not saying another word. I walked out of the Big House, and went to the group of Campers.
Throughout the rest of the day, an internal battle raged in my head. Go or don't go? Risk it all or stay secure? It was so difficult, like my brain was being put in a blender. I just couldn't decide.
Finally, after hours on end of removing debris, putting up places for people to sleep, and a variety of other things, I stood out at the lake, next to Chiron's grave, and thought about it, really hard.
It was a huge risk, but it was a necessary risk.
I knew what I had to do.
I had to end this.
With a boost of confidence, I walked back up to the Big House, and stepping inside, only to find no one there.
"Percy?" I called, looking around the area, but no one replied.
I waited another few seconds before closing the door and going to his cabin.
I always thought the Poseidon cabin looked better than most. It had a sea blue color to it, a wave pattern on the outside, and a cool ocean breeze smell inside. But as comfy as it seemed, I knew Percy had been alone in their for years, and I knew he didn't like that. Personally, I wouldn't either, at least now. Back then I would have welcomed solitude.
I hesitated, not sure how he would feel about it. But I had to tell him, I had to tell someone at least, otherwise they would be worried about my random disappearance. I would be just like a certain Son of Hercules...
I threw caution to the wind and softly knocked on the Cabin door. I heard rustling inside, so he must be in there. Another few seconds passed before the door creaked open and Percy stood before me, his eyes half lidded.
"Oh, hey Harper. Did you guys get done?"
I motioned to the other side of Camp, "We did the best we could. Not exactly a lot to salvage."
His face darkened as he looked at the ground, "Yeah."
I shifted nervously. Percy and I didn't hang out or really talk as much as the others. The only one of the "group" that I conversed with less would be Malachi. It wasn't because I didn't like Percy. That wasn't the case at all. It was just that there wasn't much time, and the opportunity never placed itself, I guess.
Finally he broke the silence and opened the door wider, motioning with his at the interior.
"You wanna come in? Or..."
I nodded, "Yeah, if you don't mind."
He let me through and I walked in. I had seen the interior a couple of times before with Annabeth, and it still nearly took my breath away. I knew that Percy had a Cyclops relative named Tyson, and that he was good with tools and design. It showed, because each thing around the walls and roof were amazing, detailed waves and art of sea creatures littered the area, and even a large fountain in the center, softly spewing water like a fall.
He closed the door behind us, "So, did you have something on your mind?"
I looked around awkwardly, debating whether I should sit or not. There were only two beds in here, one for Percy and one for Tyson. I wasn't a shy person, and didn't care about all of that stuff, but for some reason, I just felt it would be strange to sit on either bed. So I remained standing, and he did too, leaning against one of the pillars.
"Yeah, I needed to tell you something."
"Go ahead."
I sighed, "First of all, I just need to say...I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"You know what I mean, my brother..."
He waved me off dismissively, "Harper, that's not on you. You aren't responsible for him."
"But I could've stopped him. I could've convinced him somehow, but I didn't. I failed."
"I'm gonna be honest, Harper. And I'm not saying this to discourage you, but...he's too far gone."
My shoulders sagged a little, "Yeah, I know."
"All of this is on Ouranos, him, and the other three. Their the ones to blame. Not you. Okay? Nobody here blames you."
Maybe so, but I blame myself. I thought. But I didn't' say that. Instead I just forced a smile and nodded.
"So..." He continued, "Was there something else?"
"Yeah. I have a plan."
"A plan?"
"Yeah. It's something that Chiron told me." I barely kept my composure, saying his name, but I managed to get the rest of the sentence out, "He told me about the other pantheons."
"Norse?"
"Yeah, he said that they're most powerful in their native countries, lands, territories. And you know, Norse is in Scandinavia..."
He furrowed his eyebrows, "What are you getting at?"
I gestured my hand in a circular motion, "What I'm saying, is that I think Ouranos set up a base in a Scandinavian country, to bring back Norse beings. And if a demigod were to go there...maybe she could end all of this, and kill the source."
Percy registered what I said, then his eyes widened, "Wait, she? You're thinking of going by yourself?! All the way across the world?!"
I shushed him frantically, "Shh! I don't want everyone to know! I just figured I'd tell you and Annabeth, so no one would be worried."
He shook his head and started pacing, "No, no way. That's too dangerous, Harper."
I internally winced, expecting this reaction. I wasn't just going to sneak out, I needed Percy to be okay with this. So I...decided to lie.
I'm not proud of it, but I had to do this, I had to take this quest, and I did in fact plan on going alone. But Percy didn't need to know that.
"Look, I'm not going by myself. I'll take people with me, it'll be okay."
He didn't look convinced, "All the way to Norway, or wherever it is? Harper, that's just...I don't know. I mean, what about Matt?"
My heart dropped at the name. What about him? I mean, yeah, he might come back the moment I leave, with my luck. But it's been a year, and he's been with his father, doing his own thing.
I had to let go of it for now. I had to do this, with...or without Matt.
"I'm not waiting around for him, Percy. I have to get on with this. Who knows what that psycho will do next?"
He stopped pacing and leaned on the pillar again, the back of his head touching near the top.
"Harper, I just don't know. I've got a lot of pressure on me right now, and I don't know if this is the right decision, I really don't"
I stepped forward, "Percy, I have to do this. And I won't be alone, I'll have Talon and Malachi with me. You should understand. Think about Kronos, all of those adventures you had to go on. Authority figures got in the way all the time, but did that stop you and Annabeth? No. You knew what you had to do, and you did it anyway. How did that war end? You won, Percy. You won, because you acted on your own, and made the right decision."
He was stunned at my mini speech, the words hitting home, because they were true. Annabeth had told me how they weren't allowed to leave Camp many times, but they went anyway, because they knew that if they didn't, things would only get worse. And right now, any worse would be pure hell.
He sighed, "Yeah, I get where you're coming from. And...you're definitely old enough to know what you want. So...alright, you guys can go, I guess."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Just...be careful, and make sure they pay for what they did."
He had a dark expression on his face, an expression that didn't fit Percy. It hit me that he was having the same thoughts I was, the same thirst for vengeance.
The words escaped my tongue before I could stop them, "Do you wanna come with us?"
He looked at me, and thought about it seriously for a moment, but finally he shook his head, "No. Annabeth needs me, the Camp needs me. I have to stay here."
"What will you tell the Campers?"
"I doubt they'll even notice, Harper. Everyone's understandably distraught. But...if they ask, I'll tell them the truth. It might even give them a little hope, in a way."
I nodded, silently relieved. I planned on doing this alone really, but I couldn't help but offer. Percy undoubtedly wanted to do something, to have a part in defeating Ouranos. But he was right, Annabeth did need him, and so did the Camp. He was their leader now.
"Alright then. I guess...this is it for a while."
He waved, "Good luck, Harper. Be safe."
"I will."
With that, I walked out of the cabin, and headed towards my own, one more goodbye in my head.
I found Aiden laying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.
I walked in and the floor creaked, alerting him of my presence. But if he knew I was here, he didn't show it. He just kept his eyes fixed on the ceiling above.
"Aiden?" I called out.
He didn't turn his head, "Hey."
His hair had grown out a little, unkempt in the front and back, resembling a skater. Right now he was laying on top of the covers, wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. His sword leaned against the nightstand.
I walked over to him, "I saw you with Nico. That was...really nice of you, Aiden."
He made no expression, not even a nod. I didn't even see his mouth move to reply, "Yeah, he's been through a lot. Figured someone should be there with him."
I suddenly felt like an idiot. Lying to Percy and now about to tell Aiden I was going off on some dangerous quest. Seeing him now, all sad and empty, it made me feel conflicted. What would happen to Aiden while I was gone? I couldn't just abandon him.
The other side of my brain argued, He'll understand. He's not that young, you know.
You'll be just like Matt, leaving abruptly to the other side of the world.
No, this is different, I'm telling him that I'm leaving, and I'm not leaving for the same reason, I'm leaving to end this.
The other part of my brain didn't argue, so I decided to just tell him and see his reaction.
"Aiden, I need you to listen to me for a sec. It's important."
He didn't hear me, he just kept staring at the ceiling.
"Aiden? Can you hear me?"
"What's the point, Harper?" He asked abruptly, his eyebrow raised slightly with inquiry.
"What?"
"What's the point of all this? Life?"
I was stunned, Aiden sounded so broken, so empty. I couldn't believe he had actually said that. What was he thinking of doing?
"Aiden, why are you asking that?"
"I mean, it just...all seems pointless. Ouranos is too powerful, we're gonna lose, Harper. We're all gonna die."
I immediately grabbed him by the shoulders and yanked him up, "What the hell are you saying right now? You wanna die? Is that it Aiden?"
"I just don't want to see anyone else die, Harper."
My grip tightened, I felt my eyes sting a little. I would not lose him, I would not let him think this way.
"You listen to me, Aiden. Nobody else is going to die, except for them, okay? They'll pay for what they've done. Nothing will be in vain."
He just stared at me, and sighed, "I hope so, Harper."
"It's going to happen, I promise."
"How do you know?"
"I..." I let him go and faced the floor, nervous at his potential reaction. I knew I had to go, but if he wanted me to stay...I wasn't sure I would be able to resist.
I finally let it out, "I have a plan to stop them. And...it involves going to Scandinavia, the source of the Norse pantheon."
Now he opened his eyes all the way, and sat up with me. "What?"
I nodded, "It's the only way, Aiden. I was...afraid to tell you, because I know you probably need me here. But I just..."
"No!" He cut me off, "Hey, no, no, you go ahead. If you have a plan, then go for it!"
I was more than surprised at his reaction. I looked at him, and he even had a small smile on his face, eyes wide with hope.
"Really? You don't mind?"
He shook his head, "Hell no! All I want is for those bastards to go down! And...hey, if you have a plan for it, then do it!"
"But, what about you?"
"Me?" He scoffed, "Look, I know it seems like I'm depressed and shit, and well...I mean, I am. But I'll be fine, I just need time, some stuff to take my mind off of it."
I turned to him so that my leg was half crossed, the other still on the floor. I raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you're okay with it?"
He nodded, "Of course. You're strong, sis, and I believe in you."
I smiled, touched at his words. I realized then that he looked up to me, the same way that I had looked up to Levi.
I would never let him down the way he did me. I would be the role model that Levi should have been.
"Thanks Aiden, and...I believe in you too."
He opened his arms for a hug, and I obliged, gripping his back tightly. This would be the last time I saw him for a while.
After a few moments, we pulled away and I stood up.
"You going now?" He asked.
"Yeah, It's a long way, so I'll need to get moving."
He nodded, a smirk on his lip, "Alright then, get going."
"I'll be back soon, okay?"
He shoved me lightly, "I know. Now get out there, hero."
I laughed, and then stopped abruptly at the doorway. Something was missing, I had to tell him something else.
The three words were on my tongue. I had never said them to him, ever. The only person I ever said it to was Levi, and nobody else. Not even my father.
I turned around slowly, and looked at his back nervously. He was making his way back to his bed.
"Aiden." I said, barely a small voice.
He caught it though and turned, "Yeah?"
I swallowed, this was a big deal. But I knew how I felt. Aiden was my brother, not my half-brother anymore. He was family, and I did love him.
"I love you." I said, clearer this time.
His eyes widened a little, his mouth in a small O.
I was afraid I had ruined the moment by making it mushy or whatever, and I was about to apologize, but he cut me off.
"I love you too, sis." He said, and he had the biggest smile on his face.
That smile, I mentally clicked the camera in my head and kept it there, remembering it the best I could. That smile would keep me going, it would give me hope to see this through.
With that, I smiled at him, and left the cabin.
It was now or never.
I walked to the edge of camp in stealth, nobody noticing me. That was good. I had to do this alone.
After a minute I found myself at the edge of the woods on an overlook, the road just below me.
"This is it." I muttered, the start of it all. I was going to do this, I was going to end it.
I was going farther than I ever had, waters that I have no experience in, and to be honest, I was nervous, and pretty scared. But that didn't matter, I had to use that fear to keep my drive up, to stay alert.
Scandinavia. The Big Four, Ouranos, the Sons of Thor...they were all in my sights. I was going to end them, this war, everything. And maybe one day, things would return to semi-normal.
Just as I was about to step off and jump down to the road, a gruff voice stopped me.
"Goin' somewhere?"
I nearly tripped and fell on my head thirty feet down, the voice hit me like headlights to a deer. I was sure I wasn't followed. Who the hell...?
I turned and saw him, the idiot assassin. Talon.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
He was leaning on a tree, his arms crossed. He had on the usual getup, a black leather jacket, sunglasses, dark blue jeans, and cowboy boots with skulls on the tips.
"Could ask the same of you."
I sighed, "Just came to get some air."
"While jumping on the road? Looking like your ready to go on a quest?"
"Maybe I am, so what?"
"Well, what's the plan then?"
This sucked, I had planned on going alone, so nobody else could risk getting hurt. But of course, this guy had to catch me.
I told him the plan, he had already got me, so I might as well.
When I was done, he whistled, "Sounds damn dangerous."
"It is. That's why I'm going alone."
"Whoa, whoa. What?"
"I'm going alone, Talon. And nobody's stopping me."
He grabbed my shoulder, "Wait a damn minute! You realize how deadly that is? This whole idea? And you're going solo? You'll get killed!"
"I'll be fine."
"No, you need help. I'm coming too."
"Forget it." I said, and shook his hand off. I started to walk away.
"Harper!" He called.
I ignored him.
"Harper!" He called again, a little louder this time.
I continued to ignore him, at the edge now.
"STOP RIGHT THERE, DAMMIT!" He yelled. The volume made me nearly jump. I turned around, and he had taken his sunglasses off, his eyes were wide, and his teeth were gritted.
He walked up to me, a finger in my face. "You listen good, dammit. I am not letting you go out there alone!"
"I'm-" I started, but he interrupted.
"NO! Okay, just no." He started to yell but he stopped, and backed away, running his hands through his short hair.
He looked at me again, the most serious I had ever seen.
"You think you're the only one affected by this? You think you're the only one that wants to stop them?! You don't think that I care?!" His voice escalated with each question, effectively shutting me up and stunning me.
He shook his head, "Y'know, when I look at our childhoods, I see a similar pattern. When we were both kids we had someone we looked up to, and now they're gone. My master is dead, and your brother...well shit, he might as well be dead. Mateo, well I guess that wasn't real from the start, and Mary..." His voice broke at the mention of the girl's name. I could tell right away that it was his old girlfriend.
He sniffed, keeping it together, "Well, she's gone. She's...gone and I can't change that. No matter how much I want to, I can't"
Sadness riddled his tone, heartbreak. I had no idea about this Mary girl, I never knew he lost someone he loved like that. It was all so shocking, I just stood there, mouth agape like a fish.
He clenched his fists, "But I've moved on from that. I kept telling myself to look at what I have now, in this moment. I asked myself, what did I have right now? Well, I figured it out, and you wanna know what it consists of?" He held out a hand and started counting on his fingers, "You, Matt, Malachi, Sera, Percy, and Annabeth!" He threw his arms up, "I'm finally not alone anymore! For years, I've searched for a purpose in life, and now...I think I'm finally fucking finding it."
I was speechless. He spoke with such sincerity, I never knew Talon could sound like that.
"Talon-" I tried, but he interrupted again.
"So don't stand there and act like you're the only one with things to protect! And I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you take on this burden alone!"
I tried to respond, but the words wouldn't come out. I was so stunned. Here was Talon, who last year I thought of nothing more than a dumb assassin that liked his job too much. But now...he was so loyal to this Camp, and he was a good friend.
How could I not let him come?
I changed my mind right then and there. I did need help, I did need support through this. I needed to have faith that no one would get hurt.
"Okay." I said, "You can come. I'd...be glad, if you did."
He nodded, "Not up for discussion, Green Day. You'll need someone to save your ass." He teased the last part.
I chuckled, "We'll see about that."
"We're coming too!" A voice said from the forest.
Talon and I looked at the source and saw two figures running through the trees, right at us.
Within a few moments, we finally figured out who it was. Malachi and Sera. He wore a gray hoodie with blue jeans and sneakers, she wore a short blue dress that came above her knees, held together at the waist by a thin greek rope. Her hair was in a ponytail, something I had rarely seen it tied in.
They burst through the last set of branches. "Not too late, are we?" Malachi said.
"How did you see me?" I exclaimed, "I was sneaking!"
"We followed Talon." Sera said, matter of factly. "The black clothing gave it away."
"What are you doing here?"
Malachi frowned like it was obvious, "Didn't you hear me, we are coming with you."
Well, if Talon was coming, I guess Malachi should come too. He was the strongest besides Matt after all. He would be a big help.
But Sera?
Talon had the same idea and motioned towards Sera, "Princess? No, no, no. This is gonna be dangerous. She could get hurt, Malachi."
"I will keep her safe."
I protested, "No, this is exactly why I wanted to go alone. I can't have anyone getting hurt. Especially Sera." I couldn't even think about it. She was so sweet and gentle. The thought of her dying...it made me feel very uneasy.
"She ain't going." Talon said.
"HEY!" Sera yelled, and we all looked at her in shock. Her eyes were furrowed in anger.
"Doesn't anyone care what I have to say?!"
"Of course Sera, but-"
"When the fight broke out..." She said, and looked at the ground shamefully, "I hid. I didn't even help out, when I could have. I was so useless. I want to change that, I want to prove that I am strong, I want to help save Camp and stop Ouranos!"
Talon tried to mediate, "We ain't denying your strength, Sera. It's just-"
"I can do it, Talon! I want to help!" She stamped her foot to the ground, "I am going!"
Her tone was so unlike her, usually shy and light, now she was determined and annoyed. An underlying sound reigned within her voice, and even her face. The wind became a little colder, like she was controlling it.
Talon knew it too, she was powerful, but she never showed it.
Maybe that would change...
She wanted to help, both of them. Her and Malachi. They were just as much of Campers as anyone.
They deserved it.
"Okay." I said.
Talon turned on me, "What?"
"She wants to go, she can go. We'll need all the help we can get, anyway. It's not going to be easy."
"Exactly, so that's why-"
Malachi held a hand up, "She will be okay. We all will. We can do this."
Talon looked at him, then back at me, and we both had the same expression on our face.
He sighed, "Fine then. But princess, there won't be any room for shyness here. You got it?"
Sera nodded, "I know."
I turned and looked at the road below, the beginning...it was here.
"Now then" I said, "If nobody else is gonna come out of those trees, then I'd say we're ready to go."
Malachi held a hand up like he was in class, "Where are we going exactly?"
I started to tell him, but Talon interrupted me with a groan, "We'll tell them on the way! Come on!" He jumped down before any of us could, already a coin in his hand. He flipped it on the road and it morphed into a four door truck.
He motioned for us to come down, "Well? What are you waiting for? Get down here!"
I chuckled, this was going to be a long trip. But with this group of demigods at my side, I suddenly thought that my idea of going alone was lunacy.
I needed them.
"You heard him." I said to Malachi and Sera, and jumped down myself.
The moment I hit the asphalt, I knew there was no turning back, this was my life for the next...well, who knows how long.
But that was okay. We had a shot at saving the world, at defeating Ouranos, and ending this once and for all.
And with Talon, Malachi, and Sera?
I wouldn't have it any other way.
(000)
Goodbye, Chiron.
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and be sure to stay tuned for the next one.
Until Next Time.