Honestly, I am so, so, so sorry that I almost forgot. I just got my braces and it is so weird. Can anyone relate? Still, this is not a good excuse and I am really, really sorry.

Andromeda POV

I quietly slipped through the Gates of Void. Prodido instantly vanished from where it was—no weapons inside. It isn't as impressive as it sounds really. As someone who has years to continue living, wouldn't you want your afterlife to be filled with parties and laughter and fun?

Maybe as a mortal. However, as an immortal, you only die if you fade. When that happens, all you want is peace. Doesn't really matter who you used to be.

The Void is what they all want. Rest. For Pan, the faded Lord of the Wild, what he sees is most likely his lands filled with the wild again. Selene would be the peaceful night sky. I wasn't sure what the others saw. As for me? I wasn't a permanent resident, I saw what Void truly is. The true home of the Mist. All the faded gods and Titans in their own secluded area, forever enjoying their peace. There was no light here, no special design or whatever. Just silence.

Chaos, ironic enough, keeps the order. He watches over them, makes sure they get what they want in their own sleep. When I come, I would be able to enter their dreams, see what they see in their eternal sleep. I never did though, ever since I saw Selene's. They deserved their privacy, the very least in the Void.

Chaos, in the body of a grown man, was leaning over one Titan who had sweat dripping down the side of his face. A problem in his world. I waited, standing at a respectful length as Chaos hummed and gently disengaged. He didn't turn around as he stated matter-of-factly, "it's unusual to see you like this."

"You know everything, My Lord. I'm sure you know why." I said playing with the key.

"I suppose so." He said with a kind chuckle. "What troubles you?"

"Percy claims to be my brother. I- I believe him. I think." I shifted from foot to foot. "It was just too much to process."

"I can tell." He turned to face me, galaxy eyes staring beyond me. "Why so sad then? You have a reason to go to the mortal world."

I smiled sadly. Chaos, while all-powerful and all-knowing, gave me the privilege of my own privacy. It was a gift I treasured greatly. "I know. It's just, what if I don't want to go? I'll miss the Void. And I still have so many questions."

"I know about your conversation with Annabeth Chase. Why don't you do as she suggests?"

"Camp Half-Blood." I recall. "Maybe it will be nice. But it can never be permanent. I will miss the Void. I will miss Crystal, Tellilah, and all the rest."

"You lose some things for better things." Chaos said. "The hellhounds are your friends, aren't they? Yet they are never truly like you. When I made you their leader, it was for you to taste the happiness friends can bring."

"If I leave Tartarus, they will become my enemies. I will have to kill them or watch them kill me."

"Is that so? Surely you can't believe that years of friendship will vanish because of it. Yes, you will lose the ability to communicate with them, but they will always remember you. They still recognise you as a friend of theirs, and some still consider you their mistress." Chaos said. "As for the Void, who says you can't visit?"

"The gateway is in Tartarus. You told me that once I leave, I won't be able to come back."

"I did say that." He agreed. "You, my sweet, have lived in Tartarus more than any half-blood. It would be cruel of my grandchildren to send you back. But who says the gateway is only in Tartarus? The gateway is anywhere, as long as you have the key and know how to activate it."

I glanced at the shadowy key that sat in my hands. "You mean I can visit anytime, anywhere?"

"Well, yes. Just not often, yes?" He said, settling down on an empty bed as I remained standing. "Now, are there any more excuses?"

"I am afraid, My Lord." I admitted, flushing red.

"Afraid? Nonsense. You are my champion, Andromeda Jackson. I gave you the powers and capabilities because I knew you were suited for it."

"I thought you gave me your blessings to make survival here easier?"

"Well, yes. At first. It did, didn't it? You don't have to constantly drink from the River Phlegethon, you don't go hungry, all your physical components have increased, and you have guards to help you. But I made you my champion because you were the most suitable. You are strong, physically, mentally and emotionally. You care about those around you despite having grown up with only the evils of my grandchildren and the harsh environments of my son. That's why instead of only giving you the powers you would need, I finished the whole ritual and made you my champion. Are you going to throw away all that by being afraid of, what? A world that is 10 times safer than Tartarus?"

"I won't." I whisper.

He gave me a kind smile. "Good. Now, shouldn't you find your brother?"

I didn't go immediately. "My Lord?"

"Yes, Andromeda?" Somehow hearing the name used so casually on his lips made me more comfortable with the fact that that was, indeed, my birth name. It will take some time to get used to it.

"Why me?" My voice was barely high enough to be considered as a whisper.

He knew every answer but just gave me a smile. "Why is your father a Big Three? Why you were forced to endure things not even most gods were meant to? Andromeda, those aren't something I can answer, they were just forced onto you. Why did I make you my champion? That you already know. The rest of your question, like Ms Chase said, must be answered by yourself."

"Thank you." I gave him a hesitant smile, twisting the key but Chaos called out to me. "Yes, My Lord?"

"I am the First, Andromeda." He said. "Remember that, won't you?"

"Um, yes My Lord."

"Good. Now go. Your brother will need you for what happens next." He gave me his contemplating look, considering whether or not to tell me. "There is a reason why you are twins, Andromeda. He will need you to balance him out. He has too much power, and too little control. He will need you to rein in his anger."

"Why do you tell me this, My Lord?"

"Because, you find yourself of no worth." I blushed red, because he was, as usual, right on the dot.

"Percy needs you, like you need him. He's not the only one with an unsteady temper. Remember that, won't you?"

"Yes, My Lord."

"Go then. He's waiting for you."

He… it still hurts to remember exactly why he could come and go. "I thought he was in Elysium."

"He was, but remember he comes to visit. Andromeda, how can you doubt that boy's genuineness? I told him you knew, and he wanted to check up on you. Now go. The longer he stays is a higher possibility Hades would realise he left."

By the previous conversation, I'm pretty sure you know this guy is dead. He is. And it hurts to know that he's dead. He died long ago. Well, not that long ago but long enough that I can't bear it.

I walked through a curtain, separating the place. Chaos could create whatever he wanted. Usually when he wasn't looking after the Faded, he would be watching the humans. When he gave me the Void key, he also gave me the freedom to create any room.

This room, especially, was a doorway for the dead who knew where to look. A doorway from Void to Elysium. So far, only one know this place existed.

He is the only person I care about enough to miss after he died.

"I didn't think I would be seeing you so soon." I kept the key, the doorway closing behind me.

"I had to." His arms crossed, he held himself perfectly. Like a war survivor. Except he wasn't a survivor. He died to stop it. "How you holding up, Andromeda?"

That name slipped out like he was used to it. I shouldn't have been surprised. "Before my encounter with Lethe, I told you about my family. But when I lost my memories, you never told me."

"Somethings should be found out by yourself. What is the point of me telling you when it would not have helped? You were stronger. You lost the only human anchor you had and you thrived in Tartarus. You survived. I will not apologise for that."

"No. It's hard to find things you actually regret, Luke." My anger steamed, and I inadvertently directed the conversation to him siding with Kronos.

Luke sighed, leaning against a foggy wall. Whatever it was. "Kiddo, we are not rehashing this."

"I'm sorry." I bit my lip. "When will you go for rebirth? You've been here for so long already. You told her—Annabeth—you would be going, and you told me. Yet you are still here."

A vein on his forehead throbbed. Usually we didn't mention the fact that he was dead. "I'm not saying anything. Not today. Today is about you. What will you do now, kiddo?"

I let it slide. "I do not know anymore."

His eyes softened and he approached me. I let him guide me to a chair. Magically appeared, of course.

"Life is filled with indecisions. Don't worry, kiddo. Until you're ready, I'm here." He placed my hands on my lap, covering them with his own.

It was like he had reached into my mind and knew I needed a break.

I landed near where Nico was captured. Since Iapetus would be taking them to Akhlys, I continued into the forest. There was a reason why I chose to tell the Titans he was here before we entered—this place was home to the Arai.

Something told me they ran into trouble so I took out Prodido and ran the rest of the way.

Maybe it was demigod instinct? I guessed correctly. The Arai were circling the three—and some adorable cat—closing in on them.

Percy, the loving idiot, looked eager for the fight. He seemed very confident. Perhaps no one told him what the Arai could do. He and Annabeth would get many curses. Iapetus? Doubtful. I think he would be the best shot for them getting out of this if I weren't here. I wonder how many curses I would get? Hmm… of course, there was the boy I told Nico about. There's the older sister of this young girl who the Titans killed. She hated me ever since the Titans killed her younger sister in front of her then killed her. I sympathise, I really do. And there's more.

I watch as the Arai introduce themselves and Percy, the idiot, destroys one immediately, wincing at his confusion. The kind that got you killed.

"Geryon," Percy mumbled, just loud enough for me to hear. "This is how I killed him..."

Geryon. Oh, the dude. I killed him in an archery accident just as one telkhine decided to try to stab one of his chest. Was it my fault the timing was impeccable? (Considering I did it on purpose, the answer is, in fact, yes)

I didn't stay to watch them try to kill the Arai. Instead, I made my way to Iapetus, waiting for the time.

Like I suspected, Iapetus helped them.

"SWEEP!" He yelled, using his weapon to destroy them all. I stayed quiet—going out there wouldn't help. I had the feeling Percy would prefer not seeing his sister out in a battlefield even he couldn't conquer.

"Bob, you okay?" Percy asked. "No curses?" He was so worried for others, even when he was the one who was bleeding out from several wounds. I am astounded.

"No curses for Bob!" Iapetus agreed. Just one, I wanted to say. They want you to lose your friendship, Iapetus, for they live on bitterness.

The arai snarled and circled, eying the broom. The Titan is already cursed. Why should we torture him further? You, Percy Jackson, have already destroyed his memory. I winced, it did sound bad by how they said it. Is it torture, though? No. I would know.

Iapetus's spearhead dipped, he was convinced.

"Bob, don't listen to them," Annabeth said. "They're evil!"

No such thing, Annabeth. The world isn't as black and white as you make it sound like.

Iapetus turned around, his back facing me so he could see Percy. "My memory... It was you?"

Curse him, Titan! The Arai urged, their red eyes gleaming. Add to our numbers!

Percy looked like a balloon deflating. "Bob, it's a long story. I didn't want you to be my enemy. I tried to make you a friend."

By stealing your life, the arai said. Leaving you in the palace of Hades to scrub floors!

Better than going back here! Their taunting makes my head hurt.

Annabeth huddled closer to Percy, her mouth moving but no words heard.

Percy just wouldn't give up. I rolled my eyes, yet a smile couldn't help appear. "Bob, listen," he tried again, "the Arai want you to get angry. They spawn from bitter thoughts. Don't give them what they want. We are your friends." It would've worked, if he didn't sound so uncertain.

The Arai also knew. You see his face? They growled. The boy cannot even convince himself. Did he visit you, after he stole your memory?

"No," Bob murmured. His lower lip quivered. "The other one did."

Nico di Angelo. That boy, despite his young age, seemed to be relevant in everything. "The other one?"

"Nico." Bob scowled at him, his eyes full of hurt. "Nico visited. Told me about Percy. Said Percy was good. Said he was a friend. That is why Bob helped."

"But..." Percy had no good comeback, not that it would've helped. The Arai lunged forward, but Iapetus didn't help.

I had to strike now. I imagined myself transparent, see-through. Mentally, I grabbed hold of the Mist, shaping it like my thoughts. When I glanced down, I saw nothing.

"Ia- Bob." I whisper as the Arai were distracted in chasing Percy. Iapetus glanced around in confusion. "Who's there?"

"Andy, as you know me."

"Did you know?" Priorities, right? Awesome.

"Like you, Bob, I just found out." Kinda.

"What do you want?" He asked, relaxed a little. I placed my invisible hand on his arm.

"Do you truly want Percy to die? He did try to help. He really tried to be your friend. But you have to remember, Bob, no one is perfect. Not a Titan like you, or a god. How can you expect Percy to be perfect? Look at him, do you think he doesn't feel remorse?"

"If you want to save him, you go."

"And what if after I save him? Do you think he will leave without talking to you? If you think that, you don't really know him."

I glanced over at Percy. He was separated from Annabeth, not a good thing. I had to hurry.

"Bob. In your past life, the one you do not remember, you were Iapetus, Titan of the West. He and you were enemies and he dumped you into the River Lethe because you were going to kill him." I said softer but a bit faster. "He didn't want to kill you after you lost your memories, so he took you to Hades because he would've helped you, and not send you here. That was 3 years ago. Yes, what Hades did was inexcusable, but can you blame Percy for not knowing? He tried to be your friend instead of enemy but he also made some mistakes by not being honest with you. True friends don't stop being friends because of a mistake, Bob. They help each other learn from it and continue going on. Help Percy, please. Forgive him like how he forgave you for trying to kill him."

Iapetus had a thoughtful look in his eyes. "You owe me, Iapetus." I said firmly. "Once you gain back your memories, you will know what you did to me. I can tell you now, I will forgive you. Question is, will you be strong enough to forgive your friend?"

I didn't wait for his response, instead ran to the Arai who had cornered Percy. He had collapsed and from the position he was at, I could tell he would die soon.

Prodido cut through all the Arai that noticed me—Mist has its limits too—and the pain was manageable. Sure, it brought back some unwanted memories, but I was focused on him. Just then, he spoke up. "I'm sorry."

He apologises!The arai shrieked with delight. He regrets his failed life, his crimes against the children of Tartarus!

I cut through the rest of them just as Percy said, "No. I'm sorry, Bob. I should've been honest with you. Please… forgive me. Protect Annabeth."

"How heroic." I said smartly, watching with some satisfaction as his eyes grew wide. "But I won't be letting you die anytime soon. So you can go protect her by yourself."

I could sense more Arai approaching. "Sephie." He groaned, forcing himself to his feet. I grabbed his arm, forcing him to heal, no matter how painful it was for his body. "Do not worry, Perseus. I trust him." Shocking? Yeah. But I realise, I didn't lie. Somewhere, somehow, I trust that energetic, enthusiastic, optimistic Titan.

"T- trust?" He stuttered just as the Arai exploded into dust. Iapetus had come through.

Bob seriously knew how to use a broom. He slashed back and forth, destroying the demons one after the other while Small Bob the kitten sat on his shoulder, arching his back and hissing.

In a matter of seconds, the arai were gone. Most had been vaporised. The smart ones had flown off into the darkness, shrieking in terror.

Percy wanted to thank the Titan, but his voice wouldn't work. His legs buckled. His ears rang. Through a red glow of pain, he saw Annabeth a few yards away, wandering blindly toward the edge of the cliff. So did Andromeda apparently. "Bob. Help Annabeth, please."

When she started using that name, Percy wasn't sure. But Bob listened, going toward Annabeth while his twin focused on him. Through his pain, he thought he felt something wet drip on his face. A warm glow spread through his entire body—not enough to heal but enough to make him feel good enough not to collapse.

"I suppose I should've helped you face all of them since it would be safer for me, I don't have many enemies." Andromeda murmured in his ears, a soft pant in her tone that she tried to hide. "But I couldn't. Sometimes, Perseus, I have to let you take the spotlight while I stay in the shadows, bearing the blame. Sleep. When you wake up, I can promise you, you won't find yourself dead."

"Uh." He tried to talk but only a grunt came out. It brought about an amused yet tearful laugh. "Sleep." She insisted. "Everything will be better. Let me handle things. You can continue protecting us all after this."

Percy slumped against me just as Annabeth came running, her sight all better again. "What's wrong with him?" she cried. "What happened?"

She took him from me, cradled his shoulders and wept into his scalp. I waited as she tried hard to calm down. He chose a good girlfriend. "He had to be the saviour." I said simply, never taking my hand away from his knee. "Right at the start, you were cursed for your sight, and he had to kill them for you. Too many. The last one will kill him if the loss of blood does not. Gorgon's blood, I think. Sounds familiar?"

Annabeth broke into tears. She took his face in her hands. She kissed him and tried to wipe the dust and sweat from his eyes. "When Hera took away his memories and he went on a quest, he had to make a gamble with Phineus with Gorgon's blood." I nodded. That made things clearer.

Iapetus loomed over us, his broom planted like a flag. His face was unreadable, luminously white in the dark. I didn't say anything to him, but offered a small yet thankful smile. "Lots of curses," Bob said. "Percy has done bad things to monsters."

"Can you fix him?" Annabeth pleaded. "Like you did with my blindness? Fix Percy!"

"No immortal likes to be ordered by, Annabeth." I said darkly. "Especially one who has his own troubles to deal with."

Annabeth tried again. "Bob—" I winced in spite of myself, not speaking up. Iapetus wouldn't like it.

"Iapetus," Iapetus said, his voice a low rumble. I kept my head low. "Before Bob. It was Iapetus."

"It was." There wasn't any need to confirm but I wanted to. "And I hated that name." Both looked at me in surprise at the amount of venom I had. "For the record, I prefer Bob."

"I like Bob better too." Annabeth's voice was surprisingly calm for someone whose friend was on the verge of dying. "Which do you like?"

The Titan regarded her with his pure silver eyes, before his gaze shifted to me. "I do not know anymore."

"No one ever knows." I murmur, though it didn't help with the situation. "But it doesn't matter now."

Iapetus leaned closer to Percy as I slowly walked back. I hadn't realised then, but the Mist covering my body was gone. Possibly when I started healing him.

"I promised," he murmured. "Nico asked me to help. I do not think Iapetus or Bob likes breaking promises." He touched Percy's forehead.

"Owie," the Titan murmured. "Very big owie."

That was the difference between a half-blood's healing and a Titan's. Percy's cuts instantly vanished. His breathing was clearer, not as haggardly. And I could tell the wounds that were still bleeding had faded into scars.

"Bob cannot cure this," Iapetus said, eyebrows furrowed. "Too much poison. Too many curses piled up."

Annabeth hugged Percy's shoulders. I smiled sadly from where I stood, none seeing me.

"What can we do, Bob?" Annabeth asked. "Is there water anywhere? Water might heal him."

"No water," Bob said. "Tartarus is bad."

Bring him to Damasen, Iapetus. Show me how much you have forgiven him by saving his life.

"No," Annabeth insisted tearfully. "No, there has to be a way. Something to heal him."

The love she had for him was plenty. I only wonder if I could find such love. Most likely, besides Percy, no.

"Tartarus kills demigods," Bob said. "It heals monsters, but you do not belong. Tartarus will not heal Percy. The pit hates your kind."

"I don't care," Annabeth said. "Even here, there has to be someplace he can rest, some kind of cure he can take. Maybe back at the altar of Hermes, or—"

"Hermes isn't a god of healing, Annabeth." I interrupted her false hope. "Besides, the altar gives him burnt offerings. By mortals or demigods. Would they be able to heal Percy?"

Her grief transformed to anger and was taken out on me. "Why are you here?! Didn't you go run off or something? We don't need your help, Andy, if that even is your name."

I narrowed my eyes. Percy hadn't told her. "I am willing to forgive you for your outburst, Annabeth, if you apologise now. If not, I will go."

"Go then! We needed you back then. Where were you? Now you come here, after Percy is poisoned. You're just a coward. Next, you're going to take the glory of this quest if we leave, aren't you?"

I was about to retort, but something chilled my bones. "I SMELL HIM!" roared the giant. "BEWARE, SON OF POSEIDON! I COME FOR YOU!"

"Polybotes," Iapetus said. "He hates Poseidon and his children. He is very close now."

"He would probably save Percy, only to torture and break him and kill him for Gaia later." I said bitterly. "His knowledge over poison is very, very impressive."

Annabeth shot me a glare and grabbed Percy, getting him to his feet. "Bob, I'm going on, with or without you," she said, ignoring me. "Will you help?"

"There is one place," Iapetus said at last. "There is a giant who might know what to do."

Annabeth almost dropped Percy. I took his other arm and secured him, ignoring the glare she gave me. "A giant. Uh, Bob, giants are bad."

"One is good," he insisted. "Trust me, and I will take you...unless Polybotes and the others catch us first."

"I do trust you, Bob." I said in a low voice. "And it is the only reason why I do not see you as an enemy now your memory is returning."