I am so bored. I think that's the only reason why I'm doing this now instead of 11 days later. Don't worry, there will still be an update on 3rd June. Also, it's now down to two more months for Andy's pairing. Do enjoy the story. I think quite a lot of you were waiting for this chapter especially.
Reviews:
Bboone: I actually said at the beginning of the story I won't do LGBTQ pairing because I have never done it before. However, if more than 5 people request for it, then I'll do it.
They'd only travelled a few hundred yards when Andy stopped. Annabeth, who was behind her, almost bumped head first but Andy's quick movements held her. She placed her finger to her lips before dragging her behind the nearest boulder with Percy crouching beside them.
Annabeth tried to steady her breathing. The voices sounded vaguely human, but that meant nothing. She assumed anything in Tartarus was their enemy beside Andy. For now. She didn't know how the monsters could have failed to spot them already. Besides, monsters could smell demigods—especially powerful ones like Percy, son of Poseidon. Annabeth doubted that hiding behind a boulder would do any good when the monsters caught their scent. But Andy seemed fairly calm so Annabeth forced her to relax.
As the monsters got nearer, their voices didn't change in tone. Their uneven footsteps—scrap, clump, scrap, clump—didn't get any faster.
"Soon?" one of them asked in a raspy voice, as if she'd been gargling in the Phlegethon. Annabeth briefly wondered if she sounded like that and Percy was too kind to point it out and Andy found no reason to say it. She shook her head. Damn ADHD.
"Oh my gods!" said another voice. This one sounded much younger and much more human, like a teenaged mortal girl getting exasperated with her friends at the mall. For some reason, she sounded familiar to Annabeth. "You guys are totally annoying! I told you, it's like three days from here."
Percy gripped Annabeth's wrist. He looked at her with alarm, as if he recognized the mall girl's voice too.
There was a chorus of growling and grumbling. The creatures—maybe half a dozen, Annabeth guessed—had paused just on the other side of the boulder, but still they gave no indication that they'd caught the demigods' scent. Annabeth wondered if demigods didn't smell the same in Tartarus, or if the other scents here were so powerful, they masked a demigod's aura.
"I wonder," said a third voice, gravelly and ancient like the first, "if perhaps you do not know the way, young one."
"Oh, shut your fang hole, Serephone," said the mall girl. "When's the last time you escaped to the mortal world? I was there a couple of years ago. I know the way! Besides, I understand what we're facing up there. You don't have a clue!"
"The Earth Mother did not make you boss!" shrieked a fourth voice.
More hissing, scuffling, and feral moans—like giant alley cats fighting. At last the one called Serephone yelled, "Enough!"
The scuffling died down. "We will follow for now," Serephone said. "But if you do not lead us well, if we find you have lied about the summons of Gaia—"
"I don't lie!" snapped the mall girl. "Believe me, I've got a good reason to get into this battle. I have some enemies to devour, and you'll feast on the blood of heroes. Just leave one special morsel for me—the one named Percy Jackson."
Annabeth fought down a snarl of her own. She forgot about her fear. She wanted to jump over the boulder and slash the monsters to dust with her knife... except she didn't have it anymore.
"Believe me," said the mall girl. "Gaia has called us, and we're going to have so much fun. Before this war is over, mortals and demigods will tremble at the sound of my name—Kelli!"
Annabeth almost yelped aloud. She glanced at Percy. Even in the red light of the Phlegethon, his face seemed waxy. Andy, on the other hand, looked bored and ready to fall asleep.
Empousai, she mouthed. Vampires.
She remembered Kelli. Two years ago, at Percy's freshman orientation, he and their friend Rachel Dare had been attacked by empousai disguised as cheerleaders. One of them had been Kelli. Later, the same empousa attacked them in Daedalus's workshop. Annabeth had stabbed her in the back and sent her… here. To Tartarus.
The creatures shuffled off, their voices getting fainter. Annabeth crept to the edge of the boulder and risked a glimpse. Sure enough, five women staggered along on mismatched legs—mechanical bronze on the left, shaggy and cloven-hooved on the right. Their hair was made of fire, their skin as white as bone. Most of them wore tattered Ancient Greek dresses, except for the one in the lead, Kelli, who wore a burned and torn blouse with a short pleated skirt... her cheerleader's outfit.
"That is one butt-ugly outfit. I don't even get fashion half the time but I know." Andy got up, stretching. "C'mon. Let's get going."
"No." Annabeth said. Andy froze. "What?"
Percy rose. "They're heading for the Doors of Death," he murmured. "You know what that means?"
"That you are being foolish at trusting you can follow them without being caught?" Andy said sarcastically—though Annabeth wasn't sure if she knew that. She hadn't had a teenage life like the rest of them. While they laughed and fooled around, she screamed in pain and kept imprisoned. Here.
"No," Annabeth pushed the sympathy out—Andy didn't seem like one to listen to sympathy. "We need to follow them. Andy, they're monsters. They have known Tartarus for a longer time, I think they would know."
To her surprise, Andy didn't put up a fight. "Alright then." She gave a roguish smile. "Lead the way then."
Annabeth moved. Percy went in step with her, holding her hand. She couldn't help but smile gratefully at him. "Why do you hold hands?" Andy's tone wasn't teasing or mocking—just curiosity. It was the closest Annabeth saw as Andy being a kid. "Err…" Percy fumbled with an answer.
"For comfort." Annabeth threw in. She was about to continue but Andy let out a "oh" which pretty much ended that conversation.
They followed the River Phlegethon, stumbling over the glassy black terrain, jumping crevices, and hiding behind rocks whenever the vampire girls slowed in front of them.
It was tricky to stay far enough back to avoid getting spotted but close enough to keep Kelli and her comrades in view through the dark hazy air. The heat from the river baked their skin. Every breath was like inhaling sulfur- scented fibreglass. When they needed a drink, the best they could do was sip some refreshing liquid fire that made Andy roll her eyes every time they gagged. "You're so used to the comfort of your nice, cool drinks above. Staying here should do you some wonders."
"Not going to happen. We aren't staying here longer than needed." Annabeth glared at the nonchalant girl who just shrugged.
Annabeth wasn't sure how much time passed as there was no way to be sure. It could've gone fast like how a weekend would be, but it could also be as slow as watching a timer go while baking. Fortunately the empousai weren't exactly speed walkers. They shuffled on their mismatched bronze and donkey legs, hissing and fighting with each other, apparently in no hurry to reach the Doors of Death.
Once, the demons sped up in excitement and swarmed something that looked like a beached carcass on the riverbank. Andy quietly told them not to look. Did they listen? Obviously not.
When the demons moved on, Percy and Annabeth reached the spot and found nothing left except a few splintered bones and glistening stains drying in the heat of the river. Annabeth shivered, thinking that the empousai would devour demigods with the same gusto. There was no doubt that would happen, she was regretting not listening to Andy.
"Come on." Percy led her gently away from the scene when she stood there, frozen. "We don't want to lose them."
"Does that even matter?" Andy kicked the water so casually, if they changed the background, Annabeth knew she would fit in with the demigods.
They stayed on the empousai trail for a long time. Sometimes, when they lose them, Andy would guide them, but eventually they would go back to the empousai, making Annabeth's ears bleed at the creative curses Andy murmured behind them.
Suddenly, Annabeth screeched as Andy pulled her and Percy back by their linked hands. "Don't be an idiot, Ann. Look." Annabeth scowled darkly and was about to tell her off when Percy gasped sharply. She turned to where Andy pointed and froze, horror curling in her stomach.
All the newly formed monsters were crawling and hobbling in the same direction—toward a bank of black fog that swallowed the horizon like a storm front. The Phlegethon flowed in the same direction until about halfway across the plain, where it met another river of black water—maybe the Cocytus? The two floods combined in a steaming, boiling cataract and flowed on as one toward the black fog.
"What's that?" She asked, shaking. "Your destination." Andy led them down the cliff.
"Wish we could fly," he muttered.
Annabeth rubbed her arms. "Remember Luke's winged shoes? I wonder if they're still down here somewhere."
"What shoes?" Andy cuts in. She really needed to learn boundaries. Another thing a mother should've taught her. The amount of things this immortal missed out was making Annabeth's heart sink.
"Few years ago, one of our friends was wearing these winged shoes. Turns out it was cursed and nearly dragged him in here."
"Would've splattered on impact." Andy said.
"I'd settle for a hang glider." Percy said.
"Maybe not a good idea." Annabeth pointed. Above them, dark winged shapes spiralled in and out of the bloodred clouds.
"Furies?" Percy wondered. "No. The Furies are rarely here. Besides, if they were, wouldn't you think they would've tried to close the doors?" Andy snapped.
"Could be some other kind of demon," Annabeth said. "Tartarus has thousands."
"Including the kind that eats hang gliders," Percy guessed. "Okay, so we climb."
"In silence." Andy remarked, reaching for another rock with her foot. "Although that might be impossible for you."
Time skip
Halfway down, Annabeth asked for a break. Andy waited impatiently as they compared how bad things could've gone. She nearly had a heart attack when they talked about Iapetus. She could still remember every word.
She was barely noticing, flexing her right arm as she readied for the fight she knew was bound to happen at any time. "—Lethe." Percy Jackson murmured. "Not my favourite." Andy paused, listening in. She was brilliant at multitasking, doing something while listening to conversations while pretending not to. That's how she learned of the Titans' schedule and how to break free.
"What was the Titan's name?" Annabeth had asked. Andy was confused. They were talking about Lethe, now suddenly the daughter of Athena was asking about some Titan's name?
"Uh…Iapetus. He said it meant the Impaler or something." Iapetus. Andy hadn't seen him around this past two or three years. He was the one who always complained to Kronos that they should get her to hold the sky. When Kronos pointed out it was only so Iapetus's son, Atlas could go free, Iapetus poured all his anger out at Andy. She hated that Titan more than most. She could never forget his silver eyes, shining cruelly as he told her mother to choose. Her or her brother.
"No, the name you gave him after he lost his memory. Steve?"
"Bob," Percy said.
Annabeth managed a weak laugh. "Bob the Titan."
"He lost his memories?" Andy couldn't help but say.
"Yeah. Long story short, he and Percy fought. Percy dunked him into the River Lethe and renamed him."
"Mercy. You showed him mercy then, since I haven't seen him in a long time. Iapetus deserves no mercy. You should've killed him." Andy said coldly. She didn't miss the looks the two exchanged behind her back. "If you're done resting, we should go."
Annabeth muttered to Andy, breaking her train of thoughts, "we're going to be completely exposed, crossing this plain."
"I know. You don't have much choice though. Mist won't help, it only covers humans and demigods, not monsters." To prove her point, Andy turned her eyes bright yellow that made Annabeth flinch.
Percy suddenly caught their attention. He grabbed Annabeth's arm, saying in alarm. "The empousai. Where are they?"
"I told you so." Andy sang as Annabeth's eyes went wide with realisation.
Percy drew his sword, and Annabeth took her dagger. Still, the five monsters emerged from the rocks, surrounding them in a circle. Andy briefly checked them out. The one called Kelli seemed determined to be the leader but it doesn't work like that. The five's alliance is weak, held together only by their want to get back to the mortal world. Right now, she limped forward, eyes fixed on Percy while baring her fangs. So cliche.
"Percy Jackson," she cooed. "How awesome! I don't even have to return to the mortal world to destroy you!"
Andy barely withheld a yawn as the monster hissed with laughter. A snake, really. "And your friend Annabeth is with you! Oh, yeah, I totally remember her."
Those were the words for she's the one who killed me. Andy was very familiar with monster talk, not that it was hard to guess.
Percy must've realised that it was going to be impossible to fight it out, so he decided on Andy's least favourite tactic: talking.
"So..." he started, "I guess you're wondering what we're doing in Tartarus."
Kelli snickered. "Not really. I just want to kill you." This, Andy could admire, straight to the point and not care for others.
"Too bad," Annabeth chimed in. "Because you have no idea what's going on in the mortal world."
The other empousai circled, watching Kelli for a cue to attack; but the empousa only snarled, crouching out of reach of Percy's sword.
"We know enough," Kelli said. "Gaia has spoken."
"You're heading toward a major defeat." Annabeth sounded so confident, if Andy didn't know better, she would've been convinced. Annabeth glanced at the other empousai, one by one, then pointed accusingly at Kelli. Andy rolled her eyes—she must've gotten her dramaticness from her grandfather. "This one claims she's leading you to a victory. She's lying. The last time she was in the mortal world, Kelli was in charge of keeping my friend Luke Castellan faithful to Kronos. In the end, Luke rejected him. He gave his life to expel Kronos. The Titans lost because Kelli failed. Now Kelli wants to lead you to another disaster."
"It is sort of true." Andy admitted. "I talked to Luke quite often before he died. Many times, he seemed very uncertain. Kelli's goading never helped, only made him rethink things." Annabeth and Percy turned to her in shock, she should've probably told them about those conversations. Was it her fault?
The other empousai muttered and shifted uneasily.
"Enough!" Kelli's fingernails grew into long black talons. She glared at Annabeth as if imagining her sliced into small pieces.
"The girl lies," Kelli said. Which girl? Andy was tempted to ask. She said no lies. "So the Titans lost. Fine! That was part of the plan to wake Gaia! Now the Earth Mother and her giants will destroy the mortal world, and we will totally feast on demigods!"
"Right…" Andy drawled. "Kelli, isn't it? You should know I just talked to Gaia today, before I met these two. She talked about how her monsters will kill the two camps. There won't be any for you if the monsters succeed. If they don't and you still go, do recall that the Romans and Greek have united." At least they will once they get the Athena Parthenos back. Andy still did not get what was so important about placating one goddess.
The empousai backed up nervously, hissing, "Romani."
Percy, for once, was smart. "Yeah, you bet Romani." He bared his forearm and showed them the brand Romans got at Camp Jupiter—the SPQR mark, with the trident of Neptune. Andy was impressed. One week, and he got it already, and he was Greek. Amazing. "You mix Greek and Roman, and you know what you get? You get BAM!"
He stomped his foot, and the empousai scrambled back. One fell off the boulder where she'd been perched. Andy smirked as they scrambled to close in again. Pathetic.
"Bold talk for some little demigods lost in Tartarus, guided only by the immortal who will betray all of you soon." Andy's smile vanished. "Where did you hear that?" Percy and Annabeth scrambled away from her as if she had some contagious illness, faces painted with betrayal. She didn't move, didn't show anything, as she listened to the arrogant monster talk.
"Who wouldn't hear the deal you struck with Gaia? That once she awakes, you will bring her the head of Zeus!" Kelli crowed and the other empousai laughed with glee. Andy was getting annoyed at this empousa. Percy and Annabeth share uneasy looks, holding up their weapons. It won't work, not like how they would plan. Tartarus may be a prison for monsters, but they are still relatively stronger here.
"She still has her part to fulfil. Right now, you are annoying me. Go. Or else I'll take out Prodido." One of the empousai, who looked rather familiar, let out a screech. "You remember then? The taste of cool steel against your skin. Stygian steel, a very powerful metal." Andy took out her sword, playing with it. "I'm bored." She declared, eyes shining. Just as the empousai moved, she had decapitated one. The empousa's body disintegrated as Andy pulled out her sword from behind, just above her legs. "Hopefully, that wasn't your friend." She ran to the next one. She put up a better fight than the last one, but Andy was better at dodging her attacks. Soon, she had Prodido wedged between her eyes. "Really, none of you can put up a good fight." She said in mock disappointment. "If I had a spear, I would show you what Iapetus drilled into me." Andy threw Prodido, which caught the one on Kelli's right unexpectedly. Before Prodido returned, the second last one screeched and attacked. "You two better be dealing with Kelli!" Andy yelled before busying herself with the empousa. She took a hold of her bronze leg and threw her off her body. She growled. "Tell me, before I kill you, what is your name?" Andy asked curiously. "I don't want to keep calling all of you empousa."
"You will die!" She ran at Andy but Andy got a hold of her shoulders and flipped herself up, landing behind the empousa as she ran forward. "Interesting name, you-will-die!" Andy called. As she turned though, she froze. Her eyes widened in fear, a pool of dread forming. Silver eyes. Silver hair. Wearing a blue uniform didn't change how she felt. She couldn't breathe, eyes darting from his face to his name tag that read "Bob" to the demigods who managed to kill Kelli. Percy's neck was bleeding but Andy couldn't care, not now. Iapetus had somehow arrived without her hearing him and killing the empousa. She stumbled back, forcing her face to remain neutral. He was many things to her. Torturer, kidnapper, teacher, enemy. Iapetus was the most creative out of all of them. He planned her abduction. And most of all, he taught her most of what she knows. Without his memories, he wouldn't remember her, but she knew him. The last time they fought was when she was escaping and he won. When two other Titans took her, she escaped. That was 3 years ago before he vanished. He had been the only one who knew how she fought because he taught her, thus the only one she couldn't win.
"—dy? Andy? Hello? You alright?" Annabeth snapped her finger at Andy who was panting. "What are you doing?" Andy asked, aghast. "You weren't responding. C'mere. Meet Bob."
"No need." Andy bit her lip. "I know him quite well." Annabeth still pulled her over to where Percy was thanking Bob for coming while Bob was… saying his name. "Bob, Bob, Bob." For someone whose memories had been taken, Iapetus seemed happy. "I am helping. I heard my name. Upstairs in Hades's palace, nobody calls for Bob unless there is a mess. Bob, sweep up these bones. Bob, mop up these tortured souls. Bob, a zombie exploded in the dining room."
"Nice…" Andy said in a sugary tone. "Now can we go?" The familiar weight of Prodido appeared. "Andy, don't be rude." Annabeth scolded. Somehow, she seemed sad rather than angry or annoyed. "He just saved you."
"I do not need saving. Not from him of all people." Andy protested. Bob didn't seem insulted. Instead, he frowned at her arm. "Owie. Many, many owies." Why he talked like a child, Andy could not fathom. She took Prodido out, staring discreetly at her compass. "We really need to go." She warned. "They're coming. They'll find you. You won't survive."
"Yes." Bob agreed. "Bob knows a way. Come on, friends! We will have fun!"
"We are not friends. And around you, I will never have fun." Andy hissed. Annabeth linked their arms and dragged her along. "What's got into you, Andy?"
"There are some things I keep hidden because I know you will find it horrifying. Iapetus and I have a past, Ann. It's best if we leave him." Andy said darkly.
"Firstly, don't call me that. Secondly, call him Bob. Thirdly, whatever happened between you can stay in the past. He doesn't remember anymore. You should let it stay that way." They shared a look but Andy wasn't convinced. "If what he did to me happened to you, you wouldn't say that." she mutters, softer for Annabeth's sake.
"Also, once we rest, you have some explaining to do. Especially with what you told the empousai about communicating with the enemies and also the part about giving her Zeus's head?" Annabeth raised her eyebrow sceptically. "Yeah, why didn't you mention it before?" Percy asked, joining their conversation.
"Firstly, it never came up. Secondly, you never asked." Andy said blankly, her inside in turmoil while staring at the Titan.
"We can't ask if we didn't know!"
"And I couldn't tell you because I didn't know you wanted to know!" Andy argued. Annabeth gave a seriously? look but didn't continue the pointless argument.
Other than that, their trek was mostly Percy and Iapetus conversing while Annabeth and Andy walked behind. Andy wasn't dumb, she knew whatever little trust Percy and Annabeth had towards her was destroyed by Kelli—and Annabeth only stayed with Andy to keep an eye out on her.
She didn't miss the shared lovers' looks Percy and Annabeth held often, or how they would reach for each other. It made her puzzled—affection wasn't something she saw at all, especially romance.
At one point, they had a weird conversation that, as always, started with Percy comforting Annabeth.
"Bob knows what he's doing," Percy promised.
"You have interesting friends," Annabeth murmured.
"Bob is interesting!" The Titan turned and grinned. "Yes, thank you!" Annabeth looked like she was kicking herself, Andy was probably supposed to tell her that the hearing skills of Titans were better than normal humans. But she was distracted by how weird it was to see Iapetus smile outside of torturing people and how perfectly peaceful it was.
"So, Bob..." Annabeth tried to sound casual and friendly but sounded like she was swallowing a rock instead. "How did you get to Tartarus?" Titans could enter Tartarus easily, Andy wanted to say.
"I jumped," he said like it was obvious. To Annabeth, it probably wasn't.
"You jumped into Tartarus," she said, "because Percy said your name?"
"He needed me." Those silver eyes gleamed in the darkness, so predatory Andy had the urge to run. "It is okay. I was tired of sweeping the palace. Come along! We are almost at a rest stop." Rest stop. Oh, Hermes' shrine. She was very familiar with that one, the only place in Tartarus that has normal, human food. Before she turned immortal, she relied heavily on it.
Annabeth, who probably didn't know it, looked ready to run there, which Andy did not recommend. Percy reached behind to squeeze Annabeth's hand when she suddenly started giggling softly. Andy gave her the side-eye but Annabeth didn't notice.
So, instead, she observed Iapetus. He was still as silent as before and just as deadly. His blue janitor's coveralls were ripped between the shoulder blades as if someone had tried to stab him. Cleaning rags stuck out of his pocket. A squirt bottle swung from his belt, the blue liquid inside sloshing hypnotically. Was it so wrong for Andy to feel like pouring that away? Or, better yet, pouring it on Iapetus?
They picked their way across the ashen wasteland as red lightning flashed overhead in the poisonous clouds. Just another lovely day in the dungeon of creation. Andy couldn't see far in the hazy air, but she didn't need to, seeing she had memorised most of Tartarus. After this part, it would just be a curve going downward, deeper into Tartarus, and closer to his heart.
Annabeth and Percy looked green under the pale light as they passed by a regenerating monster—a drakon. Andy, out of habit, leaned over to touch it and make the process go faster. However, a spear touched it first and it burst in a geyser of steaming yellow slime, and the drakon dissolved into nothing. Andy blinked. Iapetus continued on like he did nothing. Why was it that his memories were taken but his skills were still as good? Annabeth dragged her away as she scowled at Iapetus. "Andy, could you please just stay on the road and not touch those zits?" Annabeth asked, exasperated. "It's my job," Andy said. "I speed up the process as Chaos's champion."
"You speed it up for what? So we could waste time defeating it?" Percy asked, stating the obvious.
"You don't know how horrible it is for them," she said simply, walking faster.
"Here," Bob said. Andy blinked. She didn't even realise they had arrived.
They stopped at the top of a ridge. Below them, in a sheltered depression like a moon crater, stood a ring of broken black marble columns surrounding a dark stone altar.
"Hermes's shrine," Andy explained to the two demigods.
Percy frowned. "A Hermes shrine in Tartarus?"
Iapetus laughed in delight. "Yes. It fell from somewhere long ago. Maybe the mortal world. Maybe Olympus. Anyway, monsters steer clear. Mostly."
"Yep. Yet this is the best place to get food." Andy said, climbing into the crater like she did so many times.
"How did you know it was here?" Annabeth asked Iapetus.
Iapetus's smile faded. He got a vacant look in his eyes. "Can't remember."
"That's okay," Percy said quickly. What would be Iapetus's reaction when he found out he was helping the two demigods, one of which was responsible for his memory problem?
Andy decided to intervene. "Are you coming or not?" She waited for them to climb down, tapping her feet impatiently. The dress should have made her uncomfortable, too bad she's used to being uncomfortable. The bed she placed Nico on? She wasn't even sure if she had slept on it once.
Just then, a flopping sound, like someone collapsed, made Andy turn. Annabeth was lying on a broken slab of marble, too exhausted to take another step. Percy stood over her protectively, scanning their surroundings. Andy knew what he saw and how problematic their location was. The inky storm front was less than a hundred feet away now, obscuring everything ahead of them. The crater's rim blocked their view of the wasteland behind. They'd be well hidden here, but if monsters did stumble across them, they would have no warning. That's why, although it was convenient for her, she never stayed here too long. After she got a reputation, it was safer, but she already became the champion of Chaos. She leapt over the debris to join them.
"You said someone was chasing us," Annabeth said. "Who?"
Iapetus swept his broom around the base of the altar, occasionally crouching to study the ground as if looking for something. "They are following, yes. They know you are here. Giants and Titans. The defeated ones. They know."
Andy hummed, examining her fingernails. "Quite many. Luckily, for you, many have already left."
"How is that good news? They're terrorising humans and half-bloods!" Annabeth threw her hands out.
"Oh, you'll manage, I'm sure. Besides, I said for you, not them. Bad news though, his father's bane is leading." Andy said, hiking a finger at Percy who paled. "I heard his complaints many times, so annoying. Talking about the fight in New Rome and how this boy defeated him. I had half a mind not to heal him."
"Why did you then?"
"It's not like there are many things to do here, especially after Nico stole my key. Besides, as a daughter of Athena, you would know how horrible it is to be kept in the dark." Andy sighed. "You should rest. Iapetus is a, well you know, and doesn't need rest, neither do I. But you defeated Arachne and Percy, you and Jason defeated the twins. You need to sleep."
Iapetus rumbled in agreement. "Yes, good. When you wake, food should be here!"
They seemed to be won over by the food part. After some discussion, Annabeth curled up on the ground, falling asleep in a few seconds. Iapetus hummed.
"I should tell you, as demigods, our dreams are amplified. 99% Annabeth is having nightmares, maybe some kind of message from her mother." Andy said, amused. Percy yelped, staring at Annabeth who was softly groaning. "And you didn't think to tell us beforehand?"
"Couldn't be bothered. Plus, she needed to sleep. If I didn't think you could be dissuaded, I would be telling you to sleep. But I know you don't trust me with Iapetus." Percy moved Annabeth so he was cradling her head while giving Iapetus concerned looks. "He won't listen. Titans never seem to think anyone could be talking bad about them or work against them."
"You really hate them, huh?" He asked quietly, brushing a lock of Annabeth's hair to one side.
"You have no idea." She said coldly. "Imagine Hercules's life ruined by Hera alone. Now multiply that by the number of Titans who stay here in Tartarus. Besides Atlas, who holds the sky, Kronos, who only had his voice, the faded, and the neutral Titans, I know them all. Hercules, at least, got to experience the world with humans. He may have been a freak but I would have loved to be in his position. The only humans or demigods I have seen in Tartarus, besides you two and Nico, are those the Titans brought. They never last more than a day, either dead by the Titans or killed by my hands."
"I really am sorry for what you have gone through."
Andy sat down next to him, observing Annabeth's face. "Shall I tell you something? Why I didn't go through the Doors of Death?"
"Because you could use other entrances?" He suggested.
"Good guess." She shook her head, black hair swaying to the side. "But no. The other entrances are temporary. They are eternal. Like that chasm. It pushed me out of Tartarus but it also calls out for me once I reached. It is a temptation to return to Tartarus using the others. But the Doors of Death… once I use them, it is like renouncing my life from Tartarus. I will lose my ties to here. If I were to find a different entrance to Tartarus, they would not call me. It will be like they are shut to me. My Lord Chaos gave that gift to me. He said, once you travel out of Tartarus using the Doors, you will not be able to return. The thing is, I like Tartarus."
"What do you like about this place that the mortal world couldn't give you?"
"Do not mistake me, Percy, there are many things that I can hate. But there are things that I like. I love the Void, and the peace it gives me. I love the hellhounds of Tartarus. I love how nothing can touch me here, how Tartarus and I have learned to co-exist."
"Nothing? Really?"
"I was trained brutally, not to mention blessed by Chaos. The Giants stay away from me because they do not want to anger their Grandfather. The others stay away because I can kill them. I have killed them, even Hyperion who had harmed someone close to me."
"A hellhound?" Percy guessed.
"No. My biological older brother." Andy blinked back tears. Gods, this was weak of her.
"I don't think you mentioned him."
"I told Nico. Blame him for not telling you. Besides, I have nearly forgotten everything about him. I am not fit to be called a sister."
"Why don't you tell me what you know?" He asked. His left hand grasped her right one. Andy glanced at that. It was the second time someone beside Damason had touched her in a sign of comfort.
"He was kind. Funny. Loving. When I was three, someone had done something to make me cry, I do not remember what, my brother had punched the bully so hard, he had a bleeding nose. I can still recall the cry of pain and fear. My brother, to others, was someone violent, unrestrained. To me, he was a guardian angel. He tried hard to make me laugh. He held me when I cried."
"Forgive me for being curious, but how could you remember all that but forget the most important parts like your real name, their names and faces?"
"Let's just say the last time I met Lethe, we argued. Next time I see her, I'll spare her no mercy." Andy said in a pleasant tone, content when Percy laughed.
"You know, you look beautiful, you sound beautiful, but the words that come out of your mouth would make some faint."
"Good to know. Anyways, he was exactly like me, but while both of us looked like our absent father, I took on some of Mum's looks. He and I were literally the same age but he and Mum babied me. At times I hated it, it was so embarrassing. But when I was captured, all I could do was think of him. He would've thought I was dead."
"I'm sorry." His thumb brushed against her scars. "You couldn't have stopped it, Percy."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Do you hate them?"
Andy froze. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, do you hate your mother for not being able to save you before they took you away? Hate your brother because he wasn't the one taken? Your father for not being there to save you?"
She coughed. "Perhaps, when I was younger, I would've hated them. I think a part of me will always hold a grudge against my father. My mother is not to be blamed. However she loved us both, it would've been impossible to have saved us both. She made the logical choice. And how could I hate my brother? He was so young, like me. Powerless to stop it." She didn't mention they had been there when she was abducted.
That made Percy fall silent. Andy tilted her head, not meeting his eyes.
"I had a sister a long time ago." Those words stopped Andy from turning away.
"Mum… she had a photo of my sister hung on our wall. It was a long time ago but Mum treasured it because it was the last one we had of her. Other than that, we rarely brought her up. Even Annabeth didn't know about her. I like to call her Sephie Jackson because her middle name was Persephone, to placate Hades. Because our father had broken their pact and Hades sent monster after monster after Thalia, daughter of Zeus, and the first to break the pact. Mum didn't want that to happen to us."
"Why must the children bear the consequences?" Andy hummed.
"Beats me. Hey, would the gods be able to hear what we are talking about?"
"Even if they did, Percy, they wouldn't dare to come here. Speak as you wish."
"Alright, they're assholes. Fucking assholes who don't deserve our loyalties." However harsh his words were, there was no bite behind them.
Andy covered her mouth to muffle her laughter. "You are very casual with your insults."
"Yep. Zeus wanted to kill me multiple times because of it." Percy sighed, staring into Andy's eyes. It seemed to read something as his eyes softened. "My sister, Sephie, charmed everyone. She was adorable back then, which attracted the bullies in our neighbourhood. She never wanted to tell me or Mum about them, but when we found out, we were furious. Sephie was just there, huddled behind me as I kicked them in the groin."
"Wicked."
"Your brother? I also punched a boy hard enough for him to get a bloody nose. Only thing was, his parents were present and they hadn't been happy."
"Parents are very protective of their kids." Andy speculated. Her eyes didn't meet Percy's. "When I was four, my mother took my brother and me to play because I had just recovered from some sickness. I remember being restless. One thing led to another and I stayed in a haze of pain and loneliness for years."
"Your mother was with you? And your brother?" Something like horror and something Andy didn't recognise flashed on his face, too fast for her to identify the second one.
"My captors, they forced my mother to choose. My brother or me. She chose my brother. Like I said, she made the logical choice. He had been closer to her while I was literally held at knife-point. Worst case, they would've slit my throat. My mother chose my brother so she could at least save one."
"Is that why you hate Bob?" He asked softly. Andy turned to the Titan who was doing Chaos knows what. Tidying up was her best guess.
"He was the one who planned the whole thing. Iapetus may have been wearing something else and not as tall, but it was his hair."
"And his silver eyes." Percy finished for her, expression pained. Andy's eyes widened. "How did you know?" The look came back, the one she didn't know. Now she could apprehend, it was realisation, for something she could guess. She scrambled away from him. In the dark light, he looked almost evil, sitting there. He raised his head and she had the feeling he was looking beyond her disguise. "You may have had your memories taken, Andy, but I didn't. When I saw you, I guessed. Then I saw your eyes and thought, impossible, I must be hallucinating, then you talked about your control over Mist and your eye colour changed. You and I looked so similar. Then you talked about past experiences, how you were so embarrassed. Andy, don't you get it?"
Andy watched as he gently placed Annabeth down and slowly approached her, hands out in a placating way—like she was some wild animal.
"You said your name was Andy. It was close, just not close enough. Gaia used it as a mockery. It's Andromeda Persephone Jackson, or Andy Jackson as you like you like called."
"I- I- I can't." Andy ducked his hands, moving away from his touch. Her world was shifting. Percy was lying. He must be, right?
"Sephie." He pleaded. "Calm down." She wanted to say she couldn't. Her brother, she knew he must be alive but what are the chances it would be the Hero of Olympus? She thought it was a coincidence—that maybe it was just because their fathers were the same. It couldn't be him.
"It can't be you. Tell me, Perseus, tell me you are lying." She half shouted and half pleaded.
"Sephie… I can't lie about this."
Andy sank to her knees. "You cannot be my brother."
"Do you know how happy I am, Sephie? You are my sister—I thought you died!"
"And I thought you forgot so we're equal!" She choked out, her eyes brimming with tears. She made a deal with Gaia. Not to harm her family. Well, it's nullified now, isn't it? It was nullified the moment he fell.
"Sephie, how could I ever forget you? You're my baby sister, my twin." Somehow, hearing that made it more real. She cried for real now, and wouldn't stop. Percy kneeled beside her. "You cannot be my brother. It isn't possible." She shook her head.
Hope you guys have a nice day. I would love to know what you guys think.