Act II Chapter XXXIX: "Family"

"This is going to be a bad storm," Percy began as he looked up at the sky. Dark clouds swirled above, and he could hear thunder in the distance. Luke glanced up at the sky as their taxi came to a stop. After paying, the four demigods got out of the taxi.

After another plane ride that lasted too long, they landed just in time to get lunch. It was followed by a long taxi ride to the house of Luke's mother. They stopped a block before and were ready to walk the rest of the way.

Percy glanced at his friends. Reyna wore her jacket with her breastplate peeking out underneath. Luke wore shorts and a shirt, though he looked hesitant as he kept glancing up at the darkened sky. Percy abstained from armor, figuring they would be in and out. He did have a jacket tied around his waist.

Annabeth wore not only her breastplate but also bracers. She had a smile on her face ever since receiving them from Beckendorf late in the night. Apparently, Tyson had made them. They were bronze with designs of an owl and wreath on it.

"We'll be out of it soon," Luke promised. He started to make his way forward. As he walked, his head stayed looking at the ground. His back was hunched. Not to mention how tightly his fists were gripped. All in all, Luke looked stressed.

Annabeth squeezed his hand, and the four of them continued to walk. Percy looked around the neighborhood to see various kids playing in different backyards. Cars drove nearby. But as they walked, the world seemed to get much quieter.

The sounds of kids playing died away, and Percy could only hear the occasional car horn. He didn't hear the chirping of birds or any kind of animal. Even the wind seemed to still itself. Percy almost held his breath, worried that he would break the peace that had fallen over the world.

A crack of thunder caused Percy to jump, and it shattered the moment. He threw his hood over his head as droplets started to fall. The others followed his example. Reyna seemed to focus up on the sky.

Luke headed toward a house, and Percy stared at his destination. It was only one story and wasn't fancy, but it had to have been beautiful once. The grass was beyond overgrown, going up to Percy's knees. Weeds went even higher, and he saw a small pile of newspaper in the corner.

"Home sweet home," Luke muttered as he walked toward the front door. Annabeth was right behind him. Percy and Reyna lingered further away. Luke placed his hand to the front door and tried to open it. As the knob didn't turn, he turned toward a large rock near the door that looked like a decorative piece.

Reyna looked around and spoke softly, "The other houses look abandoned. No neighbors."

"Is that a good thing or bad thing?" Percy wondered.

"Less likely of a chance for people to check in on her and find something they shouldn't," Reyna muttered. She had been quiet the whole plane ride, focused on the task ahead. Percy was focused too. They had to do right by Luke.

Luke grabbed a key from the decorative lock and used it to open the door. He took a deep breath and stepped inside. Annabeth was right behind him. Percy stopped for a moment and readied himself for whatever they would find. He carefully stepped inside.

His nostrils were instantly assailed with the smell of burnt cookies. He was grateful for the hood as he was able to cringe hopefully without being noticed. Luke slowly took his hood off and stared ahead. Percy slowly moved his gaze around the house.

They stood in a living room that was covered in newspaper. Some of them crumpled and some in a bag. Most of them were just thrown on the floor and had writing on them. Mixed among the trash were papers with all kinds of drawings.

A chair rested in the middle of the room, but it wasn't a chair like he expected. It was a tripod chair, just like the Oracle had. A small television rested in front of the seat. Across from them was a hallway that seemed to lead off into a few rooms. A large window that could have been mistaken for a screen door was across from the front door. Next to that was the kitchen.

And May Castellan.

May did not look like much of a woman at all. She was thin as a scarecrow, and her clothes practically fell off of her. She wore simple sweatpants, a white shirt, and a shawl that was ratty and torn. It seemed to be on backward as well. Her white hair was all over the place like she had stuck her finger in a socket.

The woman turned toward him, and her eyes made Percy pause. Her eyes were gray, but where the white of pupils should have been was a dull green. He had seen a color like that on the oracle before. A tray of burnt cookies rested in her hands.

Upon seeing them, May froze. Her head tilted slightly. Then, a beam lit up her face, "Luke, you're finally home."

May put the tray down and rushed to Luke's side. She placed the oven mitts to his face and studied him. As the hands were brought to his face, Luke flinched, but he did not move. May looked him up and down, "Where have you been? Lunch has been ready all day!

"But, no matter. No matter. I will make it fresh," May decided. She rushed toward the kitchen and opened a cabinet, pulling out peanut butter and bread.

"Should we look for the prophecy?" Reyna whispered. Annabeth shot her an angry look, and Luke shook his head.

"You brought friends," May said. She grabbed three plates from the sink. There was nothing on them, other than a few bits of peanut butter and bread. May placed the plates down and turned toward a radio turning it up. "Have a cookie. There is more than enough for all of you. I have Kool-Aid."

"Mom, wait," Luke began.

"You must be starving," May cut-in as she hastily threw bread onto the plates. Her hands grabbed a knife from a drawer, and Percy's eyes widened as he saw it wasn't a knife but a dagger of celestial bronze. It also had dried blood on it. Luke tensed up.

May turned up the radio even more and began to hum to the song. Annabeth squeezed Luke's shoulder as Luke let out a deep breath. Percy glanced to the side and saw that Reyna was looking around like she was casing the place out. He wasn't sure how she could find anything with a small pile of trash on the floor and items strewn all about.

"Miss Castellan," Annabeth began as she stepped forward. May turned toward her, throwing a blob of peanut butter off of her knife. It hit the ground, and a shadow darted toward it. Percy stared at the black cat that began to lick up the peanut butter. "I'm Annabeth Chase. Luke's friend."

"Annabeth Chase. Oh yes," May whispered. She grabbed Annabeth's hands and studied her eyes. May's eyes started to turn completely green, and she pulled away. "Oh dear. I see that path that you have ahead. Oh dear."

That seemed to rattle Annabeth, and she took a step back. May instantly went back to making the sandwiches. Her humming intensified as Annabeth looked back at them, face slightly pale.

"She's crazy," Luke whispered. He pulled Annabeth back behind all of them. "Don't listen to her."

"Are your garments all spotless?" May sung quietly as she slathered a large amount of peanut butter on a piece of bread. "Are they white as snow?"

"Can she really see the future?" Percy asked quietly.

"It doesn't matter," Luke began.

"May, do you know anything about an Oracle?" Annabeth began. The woman continued on like she hadn't heard a word. Percy took a careful step forward.

"Um, May. My name is Perseus Jackson, but you can call me Percy. I would like some Kool-Aid if that's okay," Percy said as he took another step forward, moving closer to the woman. May turned toward him. "And we have some questions for you. If you don't mind."

"Perseus Jackson," May repeated. She turned completely toward Percy and placed both hands to his face, studying his eyes. He winced as peanut butter was smeared along his cheeks. Unlike before, her eyes didn't turn any more green. They only narrowed. "You."

The tone alone was enough to cause Percy to step back, stumbling into Luke. The older boy steadied him. Reyna took a step closer to be near Luke and Percy. Annabeth was still at the back of the group and seemed to be trying to figure something out.

"I have to protect the world from you," May whispered. Percy took half of a second to register those words, and it was a half second too long. May lunged forward with a peanut butter covered knife raised forward. Someone pulled Percy out of the way, and he slammed into his savior, sending both of them stumbling.

The next noise turned Percy's blood to ice. It was the sound of a pained grunt, followed by a choked scream. Percy stared at his savior. Reyna wasn't looking at him, staring ahead. Percy slowly turned, and he felt his knees go weak.

May Castellan stood with the dagger handle clutched tightly in her hand.

And the blade embedded in Luke's chest.

Annabeth stood a few feet back staring in horror. While only a few seconds passed, it felt like a century slugging by. Percy tried to think of what to do. Luke's eyes were still open, face morphed in shock. But, the dagger was buried so deeply into his chest, past the hilt.

And it was right near where his heart was.

May let go of the dagger, and Luke took a step back. His legs seemed to give out as he collapsed. Annabeth caught him and grunted. She was dragged to the ground under his dead weight. Annabeth laid Luke on the ground.

"I am washed..." May sang as she stared at the blood covering her hand. Her head turned toward Percy, and her eyes started to narrow again.

Then, everything happened too fast.

Reyna moved with a speed that only a demigod possessed. She slammed into May, and the mortal hit the cabinet hard. Her skull cracked against it with a sickening crunch. Percy turned and ran to Luke's side. Annabeth was already placing pressure on the wound, but there was so much blood on her hands. Where did all the blood come from?"

"Hold on, Luke. Okay? Hold on," Annabeth whispered desperately. She looked at Percy. "Ambrosia and nectar. Now!"

"A...Annabeth," Luke whispered.

"No," Annabeth said as tears brimmed in her eyes. She blinked rapidly. Percy reached into his pockets and grabbed the ambrosia. He rapidly tore open the bag to get to it.

"No. S...save I...it."

"NO!" Annabeth yelled. She increased the pressure. "You're going to be fine, Luke! The food of the gods will save you!"

"Percy…" Luke whispered. His voice was so faint. His face was so pale. Percy ignored him as he gave Luke a square of ambrosia. Luke didn't eat it. Percy grabbed his canteen and handed it to Annabeth. "Protect her."

A breathy noise left Luke, and his eyes focused ahead. Only, he didn't blink. He didn't try to swallow the ambrosia in his mouth. He didn't even... breathe.

"A...Annabeth," Percy began. Annabeth paid him no attention as she opened canteen and poured half of it on Luke's chest. "H...he's..."

"Get the bandages," Annabeth ordered. Percy felt his eyes starting to sting, and his vision became blurry. Percy blinked a few times to try and clear the tears, but it didn't work.

"It's not..."

Annabeth paid him no attention as she took off her own pack with one hand and tore the zipper open. She grabbed bandages and dumped them on the floor. Annabeth placed the bandages to Luke's chest and quickly removed the dagger. She poured the rest of the canteen on Luke's chest.

"Come on!" Annabeth whispered. Tears were streaming down her face. "Please! Luke, you're going to be okay. This is going to heal you up. It's going to be okay."

"Annabeth," Percy whispered. The tears that escaped him started to mix with the blood on Luke's chest. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"No," Annabeth whispered. "No. No. No! Luke, you have to look at me! Luke! You said you would protect me. You wouldn't leave me!"

Annabeth's next words came out in a guttural croak as cries overwhelmed her, "Family, Luke. You promised."

Reyna knelt next to them and reached out. She closed Luke's eyes. Annabeth stared down at Luke, and tears poured down her face. Percy felt himself blinded by his own tears, and he buried his eyes in his shirt. A hand gripped his shoulder.

Percy didn't stop the tears that escaped him, and he cried miserably into his shirt. His cries were nothing compared to the howls of misery that left Annabeth. The radio continued to play in the background, but it was drowned out by the soft cries that Percy heard. And the breathing that he didn't hear.

"I'm sorry," Percy choked out between cries. "I'm so sorry."

Percy just wished that Luke could hear him.