Guess who's back? Back again…
Hello, my lovelies. It has been a very long time. These past four years have been very nice (COVID aside)- I graduated twice by now (got my bachelor's in psychology and my master's in Autism) – and I always remembered this story fondly. I want to say a big 'thank you' to all of you that have stood by my side and given love to this story. This particular piece of fanfiction has always been my favorite to write.
I started writing this when I was around fifteen / sixteen years old and now I am twenty-four, which makes me feel like I grew up with this fic. It has also been the cause to some of the stuff people complain about in the comments, which I will be addressing shortly…
1) I know now that it was beyond weird to have Apollo befriend and later get into a relationship with fifteen-year-old Percy Jackson. Needless to say, it didn't seem weird to me when I was fifteen (which explains why I wrote it) but I know better now. It is a little too late to change it, but I will try to rectify it as I keep writing more chapters. I wrote that they were together – as problematic as that might have been given her age – and it is something that can't be erased (since every other chapter mentions it) so she might continue thinking about him now and there (he was special to her – he was what Annabeth is to Percy in the Riordanverse) but it won't be the main focus. I will admit, however, that I love Apollo's character, even more so after reading the beauty that is Trials of Apollo, so I might be biased there…. In a similar note, I would like to address some of the people that left quite nasty comments about that by saying this: aren't all the characters in the Vampire Diaries also underage while dating centuries old vampires?
2) I try to keep my characters as close to canon as possible, but my Fem!Percy is bound to be a little different since I'm trying to explore a darker character concept with her, which we all know will never happen with Riordan's character (because he writes for middle schoolers). Her slight distaste while thinking about the gods is due to all the trauma she has recently experienced (since both wars were only months apart) but it does not necessarily mean that they are just plain evil. The gods are complex characters – Percy is just starting to discover their darker side.
3) Percy is a little alienated from the main plot of the Vampire Diaries (getting involved only when necessary [like when killing Katherine and now dealing with the Originals]) because I don't particularly love crossover fics where they follow all the chapters in the series while integrating their lead, as though she had always been there with them. I like a more subtle approach. She lives in Mystic Falls, befriends the Salvatore brothers, but she won't follow the exact plot. However, I will say that in the following chapters she will be more involved – you'll see why in this chapter.
4) Some people were concerned about Emma's part in the story since she is an OC. I understand that OCs are always boring to read about and it might have been a little off-putting to read and discover I made her 'important'. Truthfully, I planned to make her Klaus' daughter to not have to do all the plot of The Originals (which is my fav series btw) and it didn't seem to me to be a too far-fetched idea since Klaus had done a very similar thing with Marcel Gerard. I love Hope's character, don't get me wrong, but it pained me to see they separate countless times and all the enemies that resurfaced because of her existence. I wanted to make Emma be the Hope that makes way for Klaus' development, but – honestly – we'll see about that as I continue writing. It might happen – it might not.
I will admit that, for a while, all the negative comments got to me (you can read them in the comments section – some of them are still there) but I will not deny myself the pleasure of writing what I like. And I love this story, I love these characters, and I love all the support you guys have given me throughout the years!
Hopefully, I'll be able to keep updating soon. In the meantime, I hope you guys haven't given up on this story. Enjoy this new chapter!
As always….
Disclaimer: PJO, HoO, ToA, TVD, TO don't belong to me.
English is not my native language, so I apologize for the mistakes I might make.
…
Chapter 21
…
"Ms. Jackson," Elijah smiled pleasantly. "To what do I owe this surprise?"
"We have to talk," Percy blurted out, her thoughts spiraling around all the different topics she needed to discuss with him. Adrenaline still coursed through her veins at the reminder of her encounter with Niklaus, but she managed to keep a stoic face for the time being. Her heartbeat, however, gave her away.
Elijah seemed concerned, his smile disappearing as a frown made way into his young-looking face. "Is everything all right, Ms. Jackson?" He moved aside and welcomed her into his apartment. She could hear his siblings inside, and she found herself distracted by the thought of all of them together, then forced herself to focus. "Please, come in so we can talk more comfortably. Would you like something to drink?"
"He told me," Percy said impulsively, stopping his pleasantries as she made up her mind on the matter. Elijah stopped, curious. Just as he started to turn around to acknowledge her words, the young girl continued, a troubled look on her face. "About the ritual- about Elena."
Elijah's face remained as unreadable as always, but his eyes seemed to be almost lost in memories, something the young demigoddess found curious, but couldn't understand.
After a moment, he gestured for her to follow him, but she moved away from his hand, which he had intended to place on her lower back, and crossed her arms over her chest as she followed him into what seemed to be a living room. Momentarily, she caught the modern decorations all around the apartment and wondered, distractedly, who he had to compel to find a nice place in Mystic Falls so easily.
She glanced around briefly- making sure they were truly alone- then met his eyes.
"You met my brother."
"That's not the point."
"Is it not?" He countered back, scowling. "Because your state right now- your agitated heartbeat and the anxiety I can literally feel coming out of you- allows me to deduce you did something incredibly stupid."
"Perhaps the only stupid thing I did was trust you."
Elijah seemed wounded, then his face became devoid of emotion once more. "Is that what you really think?"
The young girl looked away, hating the fact that she had grown to like him, just like with Damon and Stefan, and it seemed to have been a mistake. "I don't know what to think, Mr. Mikaelson."
Elijah pursed his lips. "And I'm afraid I don't know what to tell you, Ms. Jackson."
Percy couldn't believe his words, his easy acceptance of Elena's role in his brother's plans. "She's just a child."
"She's a doppelgänger," Elijah corrected, just as Niklaus had. "It's her fate."
"Don't speak of things you don't understand," Percy scoffed, shaking her head as she took one step forward and into the Original's personal space, desperate to make her point known. "You know nothing- nothing- of fate."
"Perhaps not in the way you do," Elijah agreed, his eyes boring into her own. "But you must remember, Ms. Jackson, that you're not the only person whose fate has been compromised or tempted with."
"I know we all have fucked-up lives, I'm perfectly aware of that," Percy hissed, narrowing her eyes. "You can't expect me to be all right with the thought of a seventeen-year-old girl being sacrificed," She stopped, only then being able to realize the ironic resemblance between her and the doppelgänger. Then the young girl closed her eyes tightly, exhaling through her nose. "I don't understand how you can be okay with it."
I thought you were different. Although she did not say it out loud, he knew.
"Ms. Jackson…" Elijah desisted against explaining his point of view, for he knew that she, having known other immortals throughout her life, knew already of the detachment that came with immortality. "There's nothing to be done about it. In order for my brother to become a hybrid, she has to die. The doppelgänger, one way or another, has to die."
"Family above all, is it not?" Percy wasn't as angry as he had expected her to be, but he could see that something was troubling her.
"I thought you, more than anyone else, would understand about loyalty," Elijah countered back, eyes once again boring into her own, making her feel cornered.
Percy looked away.
Elijah paused for a moment, then continued. "I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed," His words made the young girl look at him, and, only when her green orbs had settled over his brown ones, he continued, "Do you think so lowly of me, Ms. Jackson?"
Percy cleared her throat, keeping her eyes on the ground, and expressed what had been bothering her since discovering the doppelgänger's role in the ritual. "Can you blame me, Mr. Mikaelson? She's just a kid, barely seventeen, and will be forced to die for things she had no control over because she certainly didn't choose to be a Petrova doppelgänger."
"Just as you didn't choose to be what you are. I'm aware of the similarities between your situation and Elena's, Ms. Jackson."
Percy thought about her life and the way she had been forced into two wars because of a prophecy that foretold her future. Throughout the years she had come to realize that her fate as a demigoddess had been decided before she was even born. That particular detail - the acknowledgment and understanding that ultimately, she had no freedom and no choice but to serve her immortal family - often made her feel cornered, trapped.
She had begun to feel that she had no freedom to live her life away from the gods' grasps, that she had no choice or opportunity to explore the world and enjoy the simple things it offered, that she even had no freedom to fall in love…
But she had fallen in love.
Apollo came to mind. As a demigoddess, Percy knew that she had no possible future by his side, but ultimately, they had been forced to end their relationship when Zeus gave the last ultimatum along with his sentence to punish his son for his influence in the war. Her love life had been deeply influenced and shaped by her status as a demigoddess and her destined fate.
She wasn't free to live, she had never been free.
I will never be.
The realization hit her like a wave, and she found herself closing her eyes, aghast by the truth in her thoughts.
When she thought about Elena Gilbert and the fact that she was destined to die for being a doppelganger, Percy felt sick to her stomach.
Elena's fate had also been decided before she was even born, and it would probably influence the way her life carries on as she grows older.
She won't ever be free, either.
A bittersweet feeling rose to Percy's chest.
No one had been there to prevent Percy from being the demigoddess of the prophecy. Instead, she had protected Thalia and Nico (the other candidates for the role that the prophecy foretold) by choosing to keep going and thus saving Olympus and their immortal family in the process. She had done that because it was the right thing to do – it was an act of kindness towards her cousins, towards the girl who wanted to be a huntress and the kid who had lost his sister. She had prevented them from suffering but had lost her freedom in the process, acquiring more suffering than she ever thought possible. Two wars. She had lost her memories, many of her friends, and even some family. She had even fallen into Tartarus in an attempt to prevent her best friend from falling…
Throughout her whole life, she had tried to save those around her.
It was part of who she was, of what made her feel like a heroine.
Even as she would not change any of the instances in which she had sacrificed herself for her friends and loved ones, she sometimes wished that someone had been there to save her from all the suffering being a demigoddess had caused her.
She imagined that Elena, whose greatest tragedy was her adoptive parents dying and then discovering the existence of vampires and her role as a doppelganger, probably felt the same way. In her case, Damon and Stefan were her constant saviors, the people who would sacrifice the world to save their beloved girl….
But the daughter of Poseidon knew, deep down, that they didn't stand a chance against someone like Niklaus Mikaelson.
And she wasn't going to let them die trying.
Elena's mortal, Percy reminded herself, that if well-played, she could manage to overcome her destiny.
That was what Percy wanted. She needed to prevent Elena Gilbert - as insufferable, annoying, and self-centered as that young girl was - from suffering in the same way that she had. That way, her friends would not suffer on her behalf.
"Am I mistaken, Ms. Jackson?"
"Don't turn this on me," Percy scowled, looking up to meet Elijah's stare, pushing her thoughts aside. "That's not what this is all about."
"Is it not about your savior complex?" As soon as those words left his mouth, Elijah regretted them.
"I don't know why I even bother with you," Percy chuckled to herself, moving to stand from the couch. Her eyes, which had never looked upon his own with anything that wasn't fondness, were now portraying all the hatred and the resentment that a haunted sea could bear. "You're immortal."
There were a million things she could've said to insult him, but none would've stinged as much as that one did.
Detachment, selfishness, emptiness… it all came with immortality. The elegant vampire knew that she held resentment towards the gods – or at least he imagined as much. Being compared to them due to their shared ability to live throughout the ages was nothing but an elaborate way of calling him an asshole.
"You really think I don't care?" Elijah frowned, moving to stand dangerously close to her. Percy didn't move from her place, settling her eyes on him. "You think I don't know what it feels like to want to save everyone you love? You think I don't understand –"
"You're an Original vampire. Your destiny is not controlled by any force, prophecy, or even ritual. You're the one in control. So yes, I do think that you can't understand what it feels like to lose everything to 'fate'. I don't have it in me to let Elena Gilbert, a normal teenager with a bright future ahead of herself, die for your brother," Percy paused, softening her voice as she added, "And I don't have it in me to let my friends suffer on her behalf."
Elijah remembered what he had heard about Persephone Jackson and her fatal flaw. Demigods all around the world murmured about her unbreakable loyalty and how she would risk her life (and even the world) for her friends, family, and even strangers or enemies she empathized with. The elegant vampire knew then that nothing he said could change her point of view on their current situation. For that reason, he took a step back and gestured for her to sit once more, choosing a different tactic.
He broke the silence surrounding them after a short pause, "I understand your reasoning, Ms. Jackson, but I have to admit that I am deeply hurt to have heard what you think of me," Elijah looked away from her, deciding to shift his focus. "I take it you're worried for the Salvatore brothers and their reaction once they find out."
Percy pursed her lips. "Among other things."
"I'm sure you, out of everyone in this town, are the only one capable of convincing the Salvatore brothers to be patient while we find a way to prevent Elena's death," Elijah smiled to himself when he saw the way that Percy startled after his words. The elegant vampire tilted his head to the side, addressing the young demigoddess directly as he continued, "I gave Ms. Gilbert my word I'd protect her against my brother. And, most importantly, I gave you my word I wouldn't let my siblings wreak havoc in town."
"I-" Percy met his eyes, hesitating. "I don't understand."
She couldn't understand how he seemed keen on her destiny as a doppelganger being imminent death but had claimed to follow up on his words regardless of his feelings on the matter at hand. How could he, a vampire, honor a promise over his own beliefs?
"Ms. Gilbert has to die, but that doesn't mean she has to stay dead."
Percy's stomach dropped. "You want her to become a vampire?"
Elijah raised one eyebrow. "There are other ways of evading death, as you may know."
Before the young demigoddess could reply, he gestured for her to sit (once again) and told her he would bring her something to drink. It was an excuse, they both knew it, but he could hear his siblings growing impatient in the other room, clearly eavesdropping on them- he needed to appease them before they could barge in on them and demand to know what was happening. The least he needed was for the demigoddess to be under more pressure than she already was.
Percy waited patiently, though her fingers played with Riptide (on its pen disguise) and she remained extremely tense. She could hear Elijah's voice, followed by his siblings, but she couldn't hear what exactly they were saying.
After a moment, Elijah came back, a glass of water in his elegant hand. The demigoddess accepted the drink out of courtesy but found comfort in the fact that the Original vampire had given her something that he knew could empower her.
Water. He's showing me, once again, that he is not my enemy.
With a sigh, Percy opened her mouth to speak after a small pause. Instantly, Elijah's eyes rose to meet hers, but she looked down at her sneakers. "I think it's time we all have a conversation regarding what's about to happen in Mystic Falls."
"And when you say 'we all' you mean –"
"The Salvatore brothers and their Scooby Gang, you, and me."
Elijah raised one eyebrow. "I thought you wanted to stay out of it."
"Yeah, well, I never get what I want, do I?" Percy bit her lower lip, wondering if she was making the right choice. Immediately after that thought crossed her mind, she realized that there were no good or right choices to be made, only strategic ones.
She was not a fan of Elena Gilbert and- if she was honest with herself- she didn't think she would ever be, but the young demigoddess could not let the doppelganger die when she mattered to the people that Percy cared for.
It was time she got involved in Mystic Falls' drama, although the mere idea of it made her stomach turn.
The Salvatore's protection had been guaranteed by Niklaus (for as long as she served him) and her parent's safety had been guaranteed by Elijah (indefinitely, as he seemed to like her enough to extend his promises for as long as she was on his good side).
To guarantee Elena's survival, Percy had to find a way for them to work together.
"Elena's shadowed by Damon and Stefan constantly," Elijah reminded her quietly, as though he knew what she had been thinking about. "It won't matter if she agrees to our plan (which we are yet to form) or if she agrees to make a deal with Niklaus. The Salvatore brothers will always come in and fuck it all up by playing the heroes, breaking previous deals, and betraying our trust all for the sake of their beloved doppelganger."
Percy raised her eyebrows. "I didn't think it possible for you to say fuck. I have to admit that word sounds a little too hot in your accent, Mr. Mikaelson," Her words got the vampire to offer her a devious smirk, "But you're right, Damon and Stefan won't ever trust either of you…"
Elijah's features bore a look of understanding. "But they trust you."
Percy nodded, moving one hand through her hair as she accepted what she had to do. "They might trust me, but their love for Elena blinds them. In order for them to fully see that I am committed to helping them keep the doppelganger alive and unharmed (at least this time) I have to give them what they've always wanted."
"And what is that?"
"My trust."
In order to have the Salvatore's trust, Percy Jackson had to come forward and trust them with the truth about herself.
It seemed the time had come for the vampires in Mystic Falls to know that there was a demigoddess among them.
They'll kill you, Kronos' voice called from behind the Original vampire, laughter in his voice. Your so-called friends will destroy you.
For the first time in months, Percy found herself successfully blocking Kronos and his never-ending taunts. The young girl knew, as certainly as she knew that the sea was a part of her, that Damon and Stefan would never harm her.
Throughout the months she had come to accept the fact that she cared deeply for them and that, if the occasion called for it, she would kill for them. She believed, trusted, and loved them.
Foolish girl…
"Ms. Jackson?"
Percy's eyes rose to meet Elijah's, successfully focusing on the vampire in front of her and pushing that voice aside. "Yes?"
"About your intentions on telling the Salvatore brothers your secret…" Elijah hesitated. "Forgive me if I cross a line, Ms. Jackson, but I believe you should be careful when doing so. Their friends don't appear to be very understanding when it comes to the unknown."
A brief, almost imperceptible creaking sound resonated through the hallway, followed by a groan of annoyance from where the young girl imagined the kitchen was located.
Percy's shoulders tensed, her eyes hardening instantly, something that Elijah noticed. The sea reflected on her eyes seemed to cast turbulent waves upon any sudden sound or movement. Before he could assure her that his siblings were not going to enter the room, her cold voice stopped him.
"Forgive me if I also cross a line, Mr. Mikaelson, but how are your siblings holding up? I don't think the Salvatore brothers would take their presence (or their existence overall) lightly. I also don't think it would help our current situation."
Elijah wondered how such a young girl's voice could be laced both with sarcasm and silent anger. "They're still adjusting to our modern world," He answered, nonetheless. "Most of them were daggered for centuries. Although we plan on facing Niklaus, all of us as the family we are, I'm giving them time to recover. They won't interfere with the doppelganger nor the Salvatore brothers."
For the time being. The elegant vampire seemed to say those words without actually doing so, something that the demigoddess did not miss, her stomach dropping once more. Her friends would not mix well with a bunch of older and far more dangerous vampires – they would clash and burn and loathe each other. The imminent encounter of the Salvatore brothers with the Mikaelson siblings was one that the young girl did not dare to even imagine.
"Do they know –" The young girl raised one finger, almost delicately, and the water inside of her glass rose in the air, following the invisible trail the demigoddess traced with her finger. Her question went unsaid, but he understood it loud and clear. Do they know I'm the daughter of Poseidon?
Elijah shook his head, although his eyes curiously watched her actions. He hadn't seen her abilities in action more than twice, it always brought him immense curiosity. She stopped, the water going back into the glass with an echoing splashing sound. "No, and they don't have a valid reason to know. When the time comes, if the situation calls for it, it will be your choice to tell them. Just as now it is your choice to tell the Salvatore brothers."
"Do you think they'll help?"
Elijah didn't even have to consider it. "With our intentions of finding a way to resurrect the doppelganger after Niklaus' ritual? No. With keeping our brother at bay? Also no. However, they will be an active part of the punishment I intend to give to him."
Percy didn't dare mention that she didn't want to know about said punishment – she had offered her services to Niklaus Mikaelson in exchange for protection towards the Salvatore brothers as well as a normal ritual without many innocent casualties around town. The young girl was now, quite literally, in the middle of it all.
Double-crossing Niklaus Mikaelson was something she did not look forward to. Percy wanted to evade it as much as possible, peacefully remaining with her loyalties divided for as much as she could.
"Brother?" A voice called from the hallway. "Could you please come here?"
"Oh, don't bother," Another voice, this time a feminine one, replied loudly, "He's too busy playing with his food to care about us."
Missing the sheepish look on Elijah's face, Percy swiftly stood from the couch, their conversation being cut short by the vampire's siblings' impatience. "Anyways, I should be leaving now, Mr. Mikaelson, thank you for your continuous hospitality," The demigoddess paused, then nodded to herself, "I'll let you know how it all goes."
Elijah guided her to the door, his hand on her lower back. "Take care, Ms. Jackson. I'll start working on theories and ideas to make the young doppelganger cheat death."
The handsome vampire didn't tell her that he already had a possible solution prepared (a potion meant for Katerina Petrova) since it would make her inquire about his relationship with the diseased vampire; that was a story for another time.
With a fond smile that he didn't need to force, he said, "Until we meet again, my dear."
Percy returned the smile, although part of her wondered how she had come to enjoy and appreciate his company in such a relatively short amount of time. It was one thing to befriend two vampires, but to befriend an Original one, too? The young woman wasn't sure how it had happened, but there was no turning back from the connection she had made with them.
"Hey…" Percy hesitated, "I'm sorry for comparing you to them. I – I know you care," Despite her clumsy wording and the embarrassment that came with apologizing after being proven wrong, the young girl offered her sincere apologies.
Elijah nodded, accepting her apology. "In turn, Ms. Jackson, I hope you can forgive me for presuming to know things I do not, both about your world and your life."
"Of course."
…
As the young woman walked towards her stepfather's car, which she had borrowed, she found herself raising one eyebrow. Lounging by the car's side was a young dark-haired boy, frowning deeply at the apartment complex behind her back.
"What's wrong, death-breath? Too much undead aura around?"
Nico wasn't in the mood for jokes, his dark eyes meeting her sea-green ones with intensity, "One of them has been looking at you since you walked out."
Although her nerves were rattled, the young demigoddess didn't turn to see who it was. She knew – or rather imagined – which Original sibling it had to be. Elijah had mentioned once, before everything was set into motion, that one of his siblings was obsessed with her kind. The daughter of Poseidon didn't have to be exceptionally smart to figure out which one it had to be.
It wasn't Elijah and it certainly wasn't Klaus.
It couldn't be Finn since he had been asleep throughout his whole life.
It wasn't Rebekah, whose main concern she was yet to discover.
It had to be him. The psychopath. Kol.
"Nice," Percy said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "That way he can tell me if my ass looks good in these jeans."
The son of Hades inwardly face-palmed, having almost forgotten how prone and almost eager she was to anger dangerous beings. The daughter of the sea always had a sarcastic retort towards the gods, rarely showing them the respect they demanded. It seemed that in the absence of the gods from her life, she had taken to disrespect mortal monsters.
"You have a death wish."
Percy shrugged, "What can I say? Maybe I just miss my uncle H."
Nico snorted. "You missing my father would be like saying I miss our uncle Z. I can't say I miss having him messing up our lives on a daily basis."
Immediately after his words, thunder rumbled in the distance.
Nico rolled his eyes.
"Now who has a death wish, huh?" Percy laughed, entering the vehicle, and ignoring the never-ending feeling of being watched. On top of all of her current worries and problems, she was not going to add to the list being stalked by an Original vampire.
On the way back to the Jackson residence, the two demigods discussed the next part of their plan after she told him how the conversation with Elijah had gone.
"I know it might be a little hard for you, Percy, but you have to be smart about it. I know you trust the Salvatore brothers – and being honest, I can see why you do – but their friends misguide them often if what you've told me is true, and it would not be wise for them to know about our species. We don't need to add a couple of mortals to our vast lists of enemies."
"I know, Nico. I understand and acknowledge that I'm taking a gigantic risk by trusting them enough to tell them what I am, what we are," The daughter of Poseidon paused as she recalled that the Salvatore brothers had met a few demigods without knowing so, and even a satyr. She wasn't sure when they had gotten so involved in her world – or rather, when had she allowed herself to get involved in theirs. "But if I'm being honest, I have wanted to tell them for a very long time now."
"Them? Or just Damon?"
Percy sighed. "I love them both, Nico. They're both my friends."
"But Damon is your best friend."
Her hold on the steering wheel tightened slightly. "He is."
"If he reacts in a bad way…"
"He won't," Percy promised quietly, part of her wondering if she was right about that assumption. She couldn't imagine him reacting in a bad way, especially not when she recalled all their moments together, all the comfort and intimacy that their friendship had brought them both. With more dread than she would've liked, she realized she was scared of what his reaction would be.
"If he does," Nico continued, as kindly as he could. "You know what you have to do."
Percy nodded, still tense. The Mist.
"We don't have the luxury of wondering what to do or how to proceed if he reacts badly," She added after a small pause in which she tried to ignore the guilt starting to build up in her stomach at the thought of having to use the Mist on her friend if he tried to divulge her secret. "We need to be quick, Niklaus might act soon, for all we know. We need to find a way to have Elena come back to life after the ritual, and we need to find a way to get her to trust me enough to convince Niklaus to make a deal with her."
"You think he'll need more from her after the ritual?"
"I'm almost sure of it. That's why it's so important for them to make a deal. If they don't and he tries to take whatever it is that he needs from her, Elena's protectors will react very badly. When that happens and Niklaus sheds blood, innocent blood, the treaty I have with him disappears and we go to war."
Nico winced.
The daughter of Poseidon pulled into her driveway, noticing that the lights on her parents' room remained off. Relaxing lightly, they both realized that Sally and Paul hadn't noticed that the two teenagers had left the house in the middle of the night.
"Leave the 'coming back to life after dying' task to me," Nico said after a moment, none of them exiting the vehicle yet. His dark eyes seemed to harden at the thought. "I am, after all, the son of Hades. If I can't find anything useful in the next few hours, I'll ask Persephone for help."
Percy's frown deepened. "Your stepmother?"
Nico didn't seem to like addressing her as such. "Yes, her. She started to turn me into a plant whenever I visited my father and she was with him, claiming that my presence annoyed and bored her. After a while, my father grew angry and made her swear to stop doing that. Needless to say, when he turned his back on us, she turned me into a plant again," He rolled his eyes, "For the inconvenience, my father made her swear to grant me a favor whenever I asked. I have yet to ask her for one."
Percy nodded in understanding. Demigods had to be careful when demanding favors from deities. Nonetheless, having the son of Hades and the Queen of the Underworld looking for a way to cheat death sounded tempting.
It gave her a short-lived sense of triumph.
There was no way that they, combined, wouldn't find something good to give to the doppelganger to ensure her safety.
As she was getting out of her stepfather's car, she said: "At least your stepmother grants you favors, all mine ever did was dramatically declare that my presence brought her shame and pain. Then she tried to forbid me from ever entering my father's kingdom."
Nico laughed without mirth, sarcasm lacing his voice as he added: "Ah yes, those are perks of having a godly stepparent."
They walked side by side towards the house, quietly venturing into their home and making sure the doors were closed behind their backs as they started going up the stairs.
It took them about ten minutes to change out of their clothes and get comfortable enough to sleep. For the young demigoddess, it meant getting into her bed and wrapping herself in a thick blanket, almost to the point of suffocation. For the son of Hades, it meant settling into the slightly uncomfortable mattress by Percy's bed and trying to lose himself in the shadows to feel comfortable.
"I'm sorry if the mattress is uncomfortable," Percy called out to the darkness, knowing that her cousin was still awake. "You can sleep here with me, but I don't know how my parents would take it."
"You can just tell them I'm gay and they'd be okay," Nico snorted, then grew quiet after realizing what he had said. Although he had spoken to the young demigoddess about his encounter with Eros (which had gotten him to admit that he wasn't sure about his sexuality) he had never said those words out loud before. "I-"
The darkness in the room intensified to the point that it felt suffocating, a space of nothingness that momentarily reminded the daughter of Poseidon of the darkest, most bizarre part of Tartarus. Instead of focusing on her slight trigger, she realized that her cousin needed her help, her support. He's scared.
Percy's right hand tried to find his through the darkness, clumsily finding the top of his head instead. "Nico, I know. I love you. You don't have to be scared."
The darkness started to retreat.
"I- I don't know," Nico breathed out. "-if I fully am gay. After all, I had a crush on you when I was a kid. But now all I can think about is-"
"A blond man with a stunning smile and vibrant blue eyes? I know how it feels to fall for them, their warmth, their energy, their passion."
Nico sighed quietly. "He's literally a ray of sunshine." The son of Hades, the boy always surrounded by shadows, loved it.
Percy smiled to herself, thinking about her own ray of sunshine.
"We're dating," Nico added after a small pause. "Will Solange and me. I've learned to accept myself, even if I don't know for sure what label to use on myself. I haven't ever used that term on myself before now, even if I think it's the right one. I know it's been years since I left the Lotus Casino, but it's still a little hard since I was born in a time when not being heterosexual was deeply frowned upon."
"I understand," Percy said quietly, not wanting to force him to say more. "I'm here for you, Nico. And I'm really happy and honored that you trust me enough to tell me."
Nico leaned into her hand, which had been gently caressing his curls, and sighed quietly. "Thank you, Percy."
"I like having you stay in my room with me," Percy admitted suddenly, a small blush appearing on her cheeks at the admission. It was nothing compared to his confession, but it made her feel better to share her feelings with him in the same way that he had. "It makes me feel safer when I have nightmares."
Nico's hand came in contact with her own, "I like the company too," he admitted quietly, "My cabin in Camp can get quite lonely and sad, especially when I have my own nightmares. It's nice to have you now."
"It really means a lot to me that you're staying here with me, helping me, keeping me company, caring for me…" Percy's voice broke, something that embarrassed her greatly but that her cousin chose to kindly ignore.
"We've had a rocky friendship, kelp brain," A brief reminder of Bianca passed through them, but the young boy continued before guilt could fill both their senses, "But I'm here for you, always and forever."
Percy smiled to herself, her eyes watering.
…
The next morning, the two demigods had breakfast together before parting ways for the day. The son of Hades was shadow-traveling to his father's kingdom, intent on finding something that would allow them to keep the doppelganger alive after the sacrifice. The daughter of Poseidon headed to school (because, as much as she worried about the possible outcomes of her plan, her education came first) and tried to have a normal day.
When she inevitably met Stefan, Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline in the History classroom, she offered them a tentative smile.
"Hey," Percy smiled at Stefan, who had animatedly approached to say hi to her. Using a soft tone of voice so that the doppelganger wouldn't hear her words, she said: "Can you text Damon and tell him to pick me up after school? I want to hang out, but Paul is staying late to grade some tests so if he doesn't come pick me up, I'm all by myself here."
Stefan seemed amused but nodded, swiftly taking his phone out and shooting his brother a text. "I can give you a ride home if he says no, though realistically he won't miss the opportunity to spend time with you. He's been moody these past few days, claiming that you're rarely around."
Percy couldn't hide her amusement. "I've been busy. You know, trying to graduate and all."
Stefan snorted. "We know, but he's still a drama queen."
It seemed like such a long time had passed and so many things had changed since they had first met. There had been times, before they had learned to trust one another, that Damon couldn't even stand to hear her presence across the street from his house. Similarly, Percy had loathed the idea of seeing her vampire neighbor everywhere since it was a small town. Mere months later, they both constantly missed one another whenever life got too busy to be around each other regularly.
Before more could be said, Stefan looked down when he felt his phone buzz, unlocking the phone to read the text. He chuckled after a moment, then settled his green eyes on his raven-haired friend. "It's Damon. He'll be here to pick you up."
"Thank you," The green-eyed girl smiled at the vampire, then looked away when she felt the doppelganger's stare focused on them.
Right on time, Alaric entered the classroom and students started to move to their respective seats, which prompted Elena to grab Stefan's arm and pull him to his seat by her side.
The demigoddess inwardly laughed at the vampire's sheepish look, "See you later, Stef."
…
Time passed faster than Percy would've liked.
Before the young girl knew it, she found herself walking towards the parking lot, having finished her classes of the day, and having nothing else to do on school grounds. She had told her stepfather that she had plans with their neighbor and in turn, Paul had texted Sally to let her know Percy wouldn't be going home directly after school.
It wasn't difficult to find Damon's car since she could hear some girls giggling to each other about his presence there. As she approached, her shoulders tensed when she realized the Petrova doppelganger and her friends were scowling as they watched Damon, whispering to each other as they seemed to try to decipher why he was there.
"Ah," Elena rolled her eyes, seeing Percy walk towards his car. "Obviously."
The demigoddess ignored her, opting to direct a grin toward the smirking vampire gesturing for her to enter his car. She obliged, although her heart was beating furiously against her chest and her stomach had dropped.
"Hello, kitty," Damon's smirk only increased when she rolled her eyes at his pun. "Where do you want to go? We have the whole day for ourselves," He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, mischief dancing in his eyes, "As for today, I have no commitment to anyone that isn't a raven-haired vixen with pretty eyes and a thick ass."
The handsome vampire seemed to be in a good mood for once, something that the demigoddess couldn't help but chuckle fondly at. She didn't miss, however, the way his eyes momentarily moved to search for his forbidden love in the crowd of students walking toward their cars.
Percy met his eyes, "Oh, is that so?"
Smirking widely once more, he said: "I am completely yours today, baby."
A smirk pulled at Percy's mouth, "Why do I like the sound of that?"
A laugh erupted from Damon, "You call the shots, hot stuff. Where are we going?"
An idea came to mind, and before she could convince herself to desist, she told him the address and watched as he drove them around town and away without many questions. He trusted her enough to know that it would be a nice place.
Throughout the trip, they talked for a while about their day but ultimately ended up vibing to the music, comfortable silence covering them.
It hadn't passed more than an hour and a half when they arrived at their destination, Damon carefully parked his car away from the entrance – away from the sand.
"A beach?" The blue-eyed vampire seemed thoroughly curious. "Babe, if you wanted to see me half naked you just had to ask."
Percy rolled her eyes. "Don't be stupid. If I wanted to see you like that I would just have to cross the street and go to your porch."
Damon groaned. "That was one time! I was drunk!"
"It was literally ten in the morning! On a Sunday. I was traumatized."
"Were you? Because I saw you staring."
Percy laughed, slapping his bicep, "Shut up."
As they exited the car, Damon took it upon himself to carry her backpack, to which she silently thanked him with a smile. She could feel him looking around, for which she proceeded to wrap her arm around his own and guided him towards the entrance.
The moment her sneakers touched the sand, the wind blowing her hair out of the way and filling her senses with the comforting smell of the sea, of her home, Percy's eyes watered. She took a deep breath, taking it all in, and found herself content with her decision to bring the blue-eyed vampire to her favorite spot.
"Oh, this is nice," Damon noticed the way she moved around, the way her face had brightened, and she seemed to have relaxed considerably. She looked younger than he had ever seen her, and part of him wondered if it had to do with all the water around them – after all, she seemed to be weirdly connected to all bodies of water.
"I'm glad you like it. It's my secret spot. I haven't seen anyone else here the times I've visited."
Damon seemed amused. "You have a secret spot in this godforsaken town?"
A snort escaped her mouth, but her answer was raw and sincere. "I come here when I need to ground myself. It reminds me of my roots." She didn't want to think – or rather remember – that the last time she had been there, she had committed a crime against the hippocampi.
Damon hummed thoughtfully. "Thank you for sharing your spot with me," He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "Show me the good stuff, sweetheart."
Percy hesitated, carefully moving away from her friend. If she did as he asked and showed him around, she would never get to tell him the truth. The young woman had to force herself to find the courage to be honest with her friend, with no delays, and no chances to back down.
"Kitty?" Damon questioned, starting to sense that something was wrong. He tried to meet his friend's eyes, but she didn't glance at him, instead motioning for him to follow her towards the open sea. As she took one tentative step and entered the water, he saw her chest weave up and down, as though on the verge of panic. "Percy?"
"Come," Percy called, turning back to offer him a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I want to show you something."
"In the water?"
The demigoddess cocked one eyebrow in his direction, "Are you scared?"
"Of course not."
To prove his point, he accepted the hand she held for him to take, entering the water. She gave him a moment to collect himself, then she dove down with enough strength to pull him with her.
Before Damon could understand what was happening, Percy had pulled him into deep waters. As he started to panic, feeling the need to breathe even though he was quite literally dead, the water around them morphed until a bubble surrounded them both, shielding them from the ocean that stretched far and deep around them.
The blue-eyed vampire coughed, trying to regain his breathing as he found himself trembling on his feet, trying to step on the bubble that surrounded them but finding it almost impossible.
"It's better if you sit," Percy chuckled, unfazed as she looked at the fishes starting to approach their bubble.
Percy!
Percy!
You're back!
She laughed softly, waving at them, "Hi little ones, it's nice to see y'all."
"What the actual fuck?"
Percy's smile died away. Hesitantly, the young woman turned to see the blue-eyed vampire watching her – and the sea around them – in complete shock, his mouth open as he tried to form a coherent sentence.
"I wanted to talk to you in private," She explained gently, "I thought it would be best if it was in my domain, away from prying eyes and ears. No one can hear us here, except for these cute little fishes."
Two small fishes circled the bubble, excitedly telling one another: Did you hear her?! She called us cute!
"I hope –" Percy continued, a little sheepishly, "I hope that this isn't too much of a shock to you. I can breathe underwater and, as you might have seen by now, I can create and hold an air bubble over us so we can talk and breathe inside the s –"
Damon gave her a look, "You just talked with those fishes."
Percy chuckled, "Well, yes, I can talk to sea animals, too. And horses."
It took the raven-haired vampire a moment to get used to his surroundings and the slippery bubble that contained them, but once he did, his eyes trailed over the vast, beautiful ocean that they were submerged in. Although not many fishes seemed to approach them – to which he had to wonder if she had instructed them to go away – it was a beautiful view. He didn't think he had ever seen so much blue.
"Percy, this is…" Damon couldn't find words. "Wow."
"You're so eloquent," Percy teased him.
Damon relaxed after a few moments in silence, choosing to lounge as his eyes trailed over their surroundings. His initial adrenaline had worn off, but he couldn't shake the slight tremble of his hands at the unexpected and strange situation. "This is nice. I've never seen anything like this before."
"Takes your breath away, doesn't it?"
The older vampire could feel the tension leave his friend's shoulders, her heartbeat slowing into a steady, calm beat that enthralled him.
She's never been this at peace, Damon thought ruefully. This is a Percy I've never seen before.
"So," She started carefully, looking at him out of the corner of her eyes. "Do you want to know my story?"
If he had been standing, those words would've made him stumble. Although they had gotten to the point in their friendship that he didn't actively try to discover what she was, curiosity was still as vividly present as ever.
"Do you want to tell me?" Damon retorted carefully, hesitating before continuing, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, kitty. I don't care anymore. All I care about is that you're here with me, by my side, and I know I can count on you."
At the raw truth vividly present in his words, something snapped inside of Percy. She breathed deeply, her eyes closing as emotion overcame her senses.
Damon really cares about me and not about what I could be. He's not trying to use me as a pawn. He is… a real friend.
The young woman waited a couple of seconds for Krono's voice to taunt her, as it often did when a positive thought crossed her mind, but it never came. There was only silence and peace. The water around them remained undisturbed.
With another visceral reaction, Percy realized that her thoughts hadn't turned negative ever since submerging herself in the water. No auditory or visual hallucination. No impending sense of doom breathing down her neck. Nothing.
The daughter of Poseidon knew that water healed her body, but did that mean it could also heal her mind?
You could've felt better a long time ago, a smaller voice on her head whispered annoyingly at her, but she recognized it as her own. If only you hadn't refused to get into the water just because of your daddy.
No, Percy reminded herself, what she had couldn't be healed magically. Her cousin was helping her to control herself and master her abilities. She was doing better, she was healing. She wouldn't allow her father's domain to take the credit for her growth.
She would not deny, however, that being back in the water, after all that time had passed, made her feel safe.
"I love you, Damon," There was a vulnerability in her voice as she uttered those words, not for the first time, but certainly feeling them more than ever. She wanted to make the most of their time secluded from everyone, wanted to say all that she couldn't say on land. "I trust you."
Emotional at hearing the words no one else dared to say to him, Damon clumsily wrapped his arms around the young girl across from him, then startled when their bubble moved along with them.
"I don't deserve you," He breathed out, leaving a soft kiss atop her forehead.
Percy didn't dare to tell him that it was the other way around – she didn't know what good she had done to deserve to have a friend as caring and loyal as he was. He was the closest thing she had to an Annabeth on Mystic Falls, even though their personalities were strikingly different since she couldn't recall ever connecting that much with someone else.
"You have to keep my secret, though," Percy's gaze bore into his own, her voice denoting the seriousness of her request, "No one can know."
The young demigoddess knew that – even though they claimed to hate each other – there weren't many secrets between Damon and Stefan Salvatore.
It wasn't as though Percy didn't plan to tell Stefan, too.
She was going to tell him – it was what she needed to do to ensure both of the Salvatore brothers trusted her enough to follow her plan to deal with Niklaus Mikaelson without things escalating into an actual problem – but she needed to find a way to tell him without the doppelganger hearing. She had planned to do the same she had done to Damon but didn't know how she could get Stefan away from Elena if just for only one hour, to be able to speak freely.
"If Elena finds out –" Percy started, bravely addressing by name the person she didn't want to know. The mention of her name made a scowl form on Damon's forehead, "You know it would take her mere minutes to tell the whole town."
It wasn't an exaggeration. The daughter of Poseidon knew that the doppelganger would immediately share it with Jeremy, Caroline, and Bonnie. In turn, those would share it with Tyler and Matt. Alaric already knew. The only person who would remain oblivious would be poor Jenna, who didn't even seem to know that her boyfriend was a vampire slayer.
No, Percy couldn't allow that. Telling two friends wasn't that bad, but a whole town knowing? She didn't know if that was even allowed – would the gods punish her if that happened? Or would whatever refrained gods from entering Mystic Falls shield her from them?
Damon's voice interrupted her spiraling thoughts. "I won't tell anyone," He said, surprised to find that he meant it.
However, he had to admit that if she had asked him before (before becoming friends – before learning to care for one another) he was sure he wouldn't have listened. After all the green-eyed girl had done for him and all the work they had put into their friendship, Damon realized he couldn't – wouldn't – risk it.
There was no one – no one – he would tell.
Her trust meant too much for him. Nothing, not even Elena Gilbert, was worth losing the one person who chose him, time after time, and who cared for him without expecting something in return.
"Promise?"
"I promise, kitty. I won't say anything." The blue-eyed vampire could only stare at her, a little mesmerized by the sea around them. The more he looked around and got used to being inside an air bubble, the more strength he could actually feel coming from the young woman. By allowing him to see what she was capable of, Percy was silently showing him a part of who she was – a part of her power – and he hadn't noticed before. Unable to tear his eyes away from her, he breathed out, "You are the sea."
"That sounds very poetic, but not quite."
A quote (by Dave Barry) that Stefan liked came to Damon's mind at that moment: There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Thus, he realized that he wanted –needed – to know Percy's story if he wanted to be able to truly know her, to be able to understand her.
"Will you tell me?" Damon cleared his throat, carefully seeking her hand through the short distance that separated them. When her sea-green eyes focused on his icy-blue ones, he continued, "Your story. I do want to know it."
A soft smile crossed her young face.
After a moment of consideration, Percy started talking, her tone of voice denoting a slightly concealed melancholy that the older vampire couldn't place. "I always knew I wasn't normal, and I don't mean just because of my ADHD and dyslexia. There was something inside of me that wasn't normal, an ache for something more that wasn't usually found in kids."
Damon considered it for a moment, "But is it something usually found in kids with, um… with those that are also your kind?" He received a shrug in response.
Percy continued, "As years went by and I started to get older, I started to see things other kids couldn't see. These impossible things that felt like they walked right out of the stories my mom always told me, so real one minute, and then the next… anyways, doctors claimed I had an overreactive imagination."
Damon observed her. "You didn't, did you?"
Percy shook her head. "I was seeing things from my world, things that normal people couldn't see due to The Mist."
A sinking feeling made its way into Damon's stomach, remembering the stories he had heard that contained mention of The Mist. It wasn't the first time that his friend mentioned something alluding to mythology, but it was the one time he couldn't shake the feeling that Percy was part of that inexplicable, ancient world.
He often told himself that it couldn't be. His friend just a kid, she was mortal…and yet this time he couldn't bring himself to believe it, not when they were several feet underwater with only her abilities to shield them, not when she was showing him a part of her he had never known.
Not when he could sense her power.
"Percy…"
Percy must've seen the despair on Damon's face because a mirthless smile adorned her features. "When I was twelve, an attack from a creature only I could see forced me to learn the true nature of what I was," She remembered the desperation she felt when no one else could remember Mrs. Dodds, and then the sudden relief after finding out she wasn't crazy – there was a Mrs. Dodds, only that it was a fury sent to punish her for a crime she didn't commit. "A half-blood."
Damon's eyes closed as he exhaled deeply through his nose. "Percy, what are you saying?"
"I'm a half-blood."
"You're a –"
"A demigoddess," Percy nodded carefully, looking away from her friend in an attempt to collect her thoughts. She didn't know how much to tell him without losing herself in her memories – how much to tell him without overwhelming him. "My mother is mortal. My father is a god. I am a little bit of both."
Damon thought of all the evidence that had presented itself to him regarding what she was, realizing that it was always in plain sight. Persephone Jackson was anything but unremarkable. Everything she did was done with bravery, honor, and loyalty – qualities that often described heroes. She fought like a demon, with enough power to make any man tremble and kneel before her.
She caused an earthquake, Damon reminded himself through the messiness of his thoughts. She's always been stronger than us vampires and even werewolves; she's proven to be immune to even Bonnie's powers…
It had always been right there, in front of him, but he had never allowed himself to see it.
Percy was only seventeen years old, yet she had the eyes of a soldier who had seen too much destruction, too much death. He had to admit – after hearing her say out loud what he had begun to suspect – that he hadn't wanted to indulge that ridiculous idea because those myths always spoke of demigods that were more monsters than heroes, and, looking at his best friend, he couldn't imagine her (not for one second) as a monster.
I never thought myths to be real, either, Damon thought,which now that I think about it is a little ignorant. I ama vampire after all. Werewolves and witches exist, why can't other creatures also exist?
"That explains why you think you're better than everyone," He tried to joke after another long moment in silence, finally meeting her eyes. She seemed different now that he knew, special in a way he hadn't imagined before. "It's in your blood."
Percy managed to laugh, "And you're – you're okay with that?"
"With you treating us like lesser beings? Nah, but I'm used to it by now. Now, am I okay with you being the daughter of a literal god from those mythology stories Stefan likes so much? That's taking a little more time to process, honestly."
Percy looked away from him, a little wounded although having expected as much. "I understand," It was never easy to learn that the world wasn't quite as you thought it was. The existence of gods, in particular, was extremely hard to explain to someone who never once thought of them to be a thing.
"When you say your father is a god, and that you see things from your world that no one else can see…" Damon blinked as his thoughts continued to spiral all over the subject. "Does that mean everything we know about myths is real?"
"Everything you mortals know and more."
Damon seemed to breathe deeply. "And what god gave you your daddy issues?"
Amused by the wording of his question, Percy opened her palms and gestured around. "Isn't it obvious by now?"
"Triton?"
Percy startled. "You don't know much about myths, do you?"
"No," Damon conceded easily with a roll of his eyes. "Mostly the very basics taught in school and other fun stuff shown in movies – " He wiggled his eyebrows, making her roll her eyes as she understood what kind of fun stuff he mentioned. "– and in movies, Triton is always the ruler of the sea – you control water. Duh, case solved."
"Triton is the ruler of the sea in The Little Mermaid, Damon," The green-eyed girl giggled lightly. "He's my half-brother. My father is Poseidon, ruler and god of the sea, storms, earthquakes, droughts, floods, and horses."
Damon grimaced, saying: "That's a big name," because it was, perhaps, one of the names of Greek gods he had heard most. It came to his mind then what she had told him about being a forbidden child. "Is that why your existence was a controversy? Because your daddy was powerful?"
"Is," Percy reminded him, out of a knee-jerk reaction. "The gods are very much alive. But yes, that's basically it."
"Persephone Jackson, daughter of Poseidon," Damon observed her, curiosity in his icy-colored eyes as he tested her title on his tongue. He didn't miss the way a current seemed to crash against their bubble, as though the sea had awakened by the outspoken confirmation that their heir was there, but Percy seemed unfazed. "Tell me more."
Memories of her past threatened to overwhelm her, but Percy found herself wanting to talk about them. She couldn't remember the last time she had – talking with Annabeth and Nico felt different since they had gone through very similar things – and she realized she longed to find someone to share her stories with, someone who could listen to her without knowing the burden that demigods held.
Briefly, Apollo's face crossed her mind, but Percy pushed it aside, surprised to realize that the longing she felt – deep in her soul – didn't seem to yearn for the handsome god to state it anymore.
She pushed her thoughts aside, coming up with the perfect way to start her story. "Well, you already know that there was a prophecy that foretold a child of the Big Three (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades) would either save or destroy Olympus, which alarmed the Big Three enough to swear an oath to never have more demigod kids. As you can deduce by my presence here on this Earth, they didn't keep the oath."
"I remember. You told me you saved them."
"Some would debate whether or not I was the one to save them, but yes. Do you want to know how it happened?"
Thus, the daughter of Poseidon proceeded to tell Damon Salvatore a shortened version of the first war she fought in, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders after realizing she didn't have to spare him the gruesome details – he was a vampire, he could handle death and torture – and speak freely about what had happened.
Damon barely interrupted, but he did get to ask: "What exactly is the difference between gods and titans?"
Basically none, Percy wanted to say, but resorted to replying: "Titans are older, slightly more dangerous beings. While gods have specific domains, the Titans have a broader range of domains. For example: Oceanus is the titan of the ocean while my father Poseidon is the god of the sea, droughts, storms, etc."
"They came first?"
Percy shook her head. "The Protogenoi came first. They're the primordial beings, the first ever immortals to exist, born out of chaos itself. From them came the Titans, and from the Titans came the gods."
"How come a species is able to birth another?" Damon frowned, "Shouldn't they all be primordials then?"
Percy shrugged, unabashedly, "Fucked up genetics, I guess? I don't know, man. I've never really given it much thought. Those concepts might be a little too abstract for my brain. All I know is that that's the order in which they came into existence. If you're truly curious, I'm sure Annabeth could explain it better to you. There's nothing she doesn't know."
A smirk crossed Damon's face at the reminder of the gorgeous blonde but promptly gestured for his friend to continue talking.
By the time Percy had finished the first part of her story, the sun had long settled, an almost stifling darkness covering their surroundings.
The blue-eyed vampire had lowered his head into his hands, shaking with the terrifying realization that his best friend had been on the verge of death more times than he could count. His head was drowning with names – both of creatures and of other demigods – and places he had never even heard in the old myths that mortals often fancied.
"Four years," Damon breathed out, unable to hide his horrified expression, "They groomed you to be their proverbial pig for slaughter for four years." As more information seemed to process, the more disgruntled the handsome man looked, "They forced you to fight an eons-old Titan – " She winced at the reminder of Kronos, but managed to hide it, "While never quite caring about you?"
Percy sighed, moving one hand through her hair as she tried to explain her world to someone who had no idea of the way things worked. "The gods are awful parents, but some of them do care, in their own way. All demigods – whether we get to actually fight or not – are raised, as you say, like pigs for slaughter. We have extensive training, from the moment we find out we're half-bloods, to fight for Olympus. It is who we are."
Damon's handsome face bore a frown. "But demigods are mortal, gods clearly aren't. Why do they make their mortal kids fight for them when they are supposed to be all-powerful? Why make their kids fight creatures far more powerful than they are?"
Percy recalled Apollo mentioning that it was due to a law made back in ancient times, but she hadn't exactly focused on his retelling, deeply invested in the feel of his lips on her neck. The blond god always had an annoyingly addictive way of distracting her when she questioned something about their ways. Shrugging, she realized she didn't have an answer for that specific query other than: "It's just the way things are."
"But it's not fair –"
Percy's lips turned into a sad, mirthless smile. "Which is why so many demigods joined Kronos' army. The old Titan promised recognition and equality and promised to make the gods pay for their sins. The prospect of retribution allured demigods, but it also blinded them to the truth. Titans are worse than gods in the sense that they want us all gone. Gods tend to let us be, seeing us as entertainment or, as you can deduce, their soldiers." They also like to fuck us, but he doesn't need to know that.
"What happened afterward?" Damon demanded, his eyes widening as he recalled her words. "You said that all demigods that fought on their side got rewarded. I don't see how anything they could offer you could make up for all that you – and all other demigods – endured."
Luke would've liked you, Percy thought, but promptly pushed it aside. It was never good to think that way. "The rewards were actually nice. Annabeth got to be Olympus' Architect. Grover got appointed as Lord of the Wild. I got offered immortality."
Damon's eyes cut to hers. "But you…you seem mortal."
The handsome vampire thought of all the times he had seen her in action– realizing that while she seemed to grow tired as any other human would, the green-eyed girl never quite looked worried about the outcome. Beyond confidence, it bordered on knowledge; she always seemed to know she would win.
Was she immortal? Damon's eyes observed her, trying to find something to answer his doubts. Her heartbeat sounded just like any other mortal girl's heartbeat. Her smell had always been too alluring, so he didn't pay it much attention until he realized that, perhaps, that was why her blood smelt so damn good.
Percy noticed his roaming eyes and raised one eyebrow, "That's because I didn't accept."
"What?"
"I would've become a minor goddess," And although the prospect had been more than tempting – considering that she had started to secretly date one of the Olympian gods by then – she couldn't bring herself to become one of them, not after seeing firsthand the deprivation and selfishness that came with immortality. "But I asked for something better in return. I asked for all the unclaimed kids to get claimed, and I asked for the minor gods to have cabins in Camp. I wanted to make sure no demigod ever felt unloved and uncared for enough to side against the gods."
Damon could only stare at her. "So, you were selfless?"
At the time, Percy hadn't seen it like that. The young demigoddess hadn't even tried to be neither brave nor impertinent by turning down their offer, she had only been able to focus on all the death that surrounded them, all the betrayal and heartache. The war had just ended, she had lost many fellow campers in the battle, and the shock of it all hadn't allowed her to fully consider if she wanted to become a minor goddess.
If they asked her now, after all that she had endured, the answer would still be a 'no', but she would be more inclined to actually, fully consider it. Gods were forbidden from meddling with mortal affairs – which meant that if she accepted, they couldn't keep using her as a pawn every time something came up.
…but that also meant they would find another innocent demigod to use. The young woman, although very tired, couldn't bring herself to find that acceptable.
"I did the right thing," She answered at last. "My wish made sure fewer demigods sided with Gaea when she threatened to emerge."
Damon's face fell. "What? You mean that Kronos wasn't the only threat you faced?"
"Oh, no. That was the first war. The second came a few months later," Percy forced a smile into her face. "I could tell you what happened next, but I don't know if the darkness unnerves you," She gestured around, to the vast emptiness around them that could make any man nervous. "If it does, we can come back tomorrow and continue our chat. I cannot speak these words on land, we both know how nosy people in this town are."
Damon, who had remained lost in thought after hearing the immense sacrifices that demigods had to endure to ensure Olympus' safety, only realized the darkness around them when she gestured it.
"No, I – I don't mind. Just don't let a shark eat me."
"Sharks don't eat people. They're the sweetest."
"Sorry," Damon grimaced, interrupting her before she could get to give him one of her usual 'sharks are awesome' rants. He had never quite understood her passion, thinking that it was just a weird quirk, but now that he knew she was the daughter of the sea, it all made sense. "Tell me more."
"Shortly after the war was won, the Oracle of Delphi gave another great prophecy. One that said that seven demigods would try to save Olympus (and the world) from a great foe. As you probably already deduced, judging by the horrified expression on your face, I was one of them."
"Of course," Damon rolled his eyes. "Why wouldn't you be?"
"To stand a chance against Gaea, both Greek and Roman half-bloods needed to unite. That was a problem, because, at the time, we didn't know there were other kinds of demigods. We didn't even know that gods could easily change between being Roman and being Greek – I still don't quite understand it, but I think it's better if I don't. How – you ask – did they ensure an alliance between us? Well, the Queen of Olympus decided that the change had to come from within. Thus, she took two demigods (one of them of Roman descent and the other of Greek), wiped their memories, and did a 'Parent Trap' with them."
Damon's face denoted confusion. The handsome vampire believed that he had started to understand Percy's world, but knowing that – somehow – the Greek gods were also the same ones that the Romans believed in? That was harder to understand. As he opened his mouth to ask a question, something about the way she spoke made his shoulders tense.
"The Queen of Olympus switched them?" He had seen the 'Parent Trap' movie, but he couldn't be sure what she meant by referencing it. "The Greek in place of the Roman and vice-versa?"
Percy nodded, her shoulders tense as she skillfully mastered their bubble towards a less populated area. Although the vampire couldn't see them, quite a few fishes had started to approach them again. They were all harmless – not even mythical creatures from her world – but she didn't want them to eavesdrop and go running to tell her father she had divulged their secrets.
"Hera took two demigods who were important to their respective camps and that held, to a certain degree, leadership over the others, be it for having an actual title or for simply having their trust. The goddess stole their memories and switched them. The Roman demigod, a boy called Jason, went to Camp Half-Blood. The Greek demigoddess," A sarcastic smile crossed her face as Damon's heart sank, "A girl named Persephone Jackson, went to Camp Jupiter."
Damon watched her, unmoving and almost unblinking. "You lost your memories?" All that went through his head was Sally's face, the devastation she must've felt by her disappearance.
"I have them back now, obviously, but yeah. For months, no one knew where I was. I didn't know anything about who I was other than being a half-blood and in danger." That wasn't quite true, but she wasn't going to tell him that she remembered the name 'Apollo', knowing, even through the haze that were her thoughts, that he must've been someone important. It was something that often plagued her – she hadn't remembered her name, not even her own mother, but she had remembered him. "Anyways, as I was saying, our switch, among other things, allowed our camps to unite."
It was easy to tell Damon about the little missions that made up the big quest to defeat Gaea. Those side-quests were gigantic steps into finding a way to defeat Mother Nature, but they had also helped her bond with her 'coworkers' whom she had yet to see again. The seven of the prophecy weren't as close as the gods would've wanted them to be, but they had done their job.
"So, you didn't defeat her directly, like you did Kronos?"
The young demigoddess winced, her friend-turned-enemy's lifeless eyes coming back to her, something she pushed aside once more. She wanted to remind her friend that Luke had been the one to defeat Kronos by sacrificing himself, but she knew that Damon wouldn't see it like that… no one ever did.
Everyone treated her like a heroine (due to the prophecy) but while she had fought bravely, nothing would've happened if Luke hadn't decided to make the final sacrifice. He was forever the traitor while she was forever the savior. Sometimes, when she thought about it for too long, it bothered her.
"No, I had a role in her downfall by closing the Doors of Death, but ultimately I wasn't the one to directly fight her," She said, a glimpse of Leo's dragon exploding and taking Gaea down with them in glorious flames crossing her mind. Momentarily affected by the visage, she shook her head to push that memory away, "You do understand what I told you about the Doors of Death, do you not?"
Damon nodded before hesitating. "I don't understand what you said about Tartarus. You said no mortal was ever allowed there, that they couldn't survive it… but your tale narrates you and Annabeth being there."
We had each other, Nico was alone, Percy thought, allowing sadness to engulf her for a moment as she recalled that part of her story. "We had to find the Doors of Death on Tartarus' side, but being in Tartarus was not a choice freely taken. Annabeth was falling and I… I couldn't let her go alone."
She allowed herself to be sucked into her memories, if only just this once, as she felt Damon take a shocked breath.
Nico leaned over the edge of the chasm, thrusting out his hand, but he was much too far away to help. Hazel was yelling for the others, but even if they heard her over all the chaos, they'd never make it in time.
"Percy, let me go," Annabeth croaked, her voice full of pain as the web continued to pull at her leg – pulling at them with far more gravity than it should have. "You can't pull me up," Even through her pained state, she could easily see that Percy knew it was hopeless.
"Never," Percy looked up at Nico, about fifteen feet above from them. "The other side, Nico! We'll see you there. Understand?"
Nico's eyes widened. "But – "
"Lead them there!" Percy shouted, holding Nico's wide, frantic stare. "Promise me!"
"I – I will."
Below them, the voice laughed in the darkness. Sacrifices. Beautiful sacrifices to wake the goddess.
For one moment – just one – Percy allowed herself to see beyond her friends frantically trying to help them. Her eyes caught the sunlight far, far above – maybe the last sunlight she would ever see, and she prayed with all her might.
Give me strength for what I'm about to do, Apollo.
One solitary ray of sunshine hit her directly in the face, for which she smiled sadly.
Hold fast, Persephone, Apollo's voice carried a sadness that reverberated through her skull. Brave the storm.
She wasn't surprised to hear Apollo's voice in her ear, knowing – before he could even begin to say it – that he couldn't help them; not anymore, not after all the laws he had broken for them – for her. There was no other way.
The daughter of Poseidon caught the daughter of Athena's terrified look, her heart breaking at the sight of the usually collected girl losing her control over the situation. "We're staying together," She promised, being brave for the sake of her best friend, "I'm not leaving your side. Never again."
Only then did Annabeth understand what would happen. A one-way trip. A very hard fall. "As long as we're together," She replied.
Behind them, both girls could hear Nico and Hazel still screaming for help, but the was nothing they could do for them.
I'm sorry, Persephone. You have to be brave now,Apollo's voice came back, raw emotion in his tone. I love you.
It was the first time he said those words to her, yet it felt like it would also be the last.
Feeling her eyes burn with tears, Percy found the strength necessary to let go of her tiny ledge, and together, holding hands, the daughter of Poseidon and the daughter of Athena fell into the endless darkness.
"Hell? You went through hell? Literally?"
Percy grimaced. "Not quite what you mortals call hell. In the Underworld there's Elysium (for heroes), there's the Fields of Asphodel (for ordinary people who achieved nothing important throughout their lives), and the Fields of Punishment (for bad people). Realistically, your hell is my Field of Punishment. Tartarus, however, is a whole different thing. It is the place where monsters go to 'regenerate' after dying, the place the gods send their enemies."
Damon had grown pale. "But the gods' enemies are your enemies too. You two were down there with them –"
"Yes. I'll spare you the gruesome details, though. Just know that down there were all of the monsters we ever slain, waiting to get their revenge. We managed to close the Doors of Death, with a little help – " She choked out, the reminder of Bob and Damasen's kind actions breaking her already shattered heart, "Then soon after the battle began."
It didn't take her long to finish the story. Telling Damon about the second war was harder, and the young girl found herself fighting against the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. She had wanted to spare some details but found that her lips continued moving without her approval, the words hurriedly coming out of her mouth as though needing to be spoken.
When she was done, silence covered them. She allowed herself one moment to breathe, happy to have gotten all the story out without breaking down. With more melancholy than she would've liked, she thought of her mother and how she deserved to know the truth too, even when Percy knew it could hurt her. This thought, unlike the others, wasn't one she could push away.
"You've been through so much," Damon breathed out, his voice barely above a whisper as he met his friend's gaze, his icy-colored eyes reflecting a depth of understanding that burnt Percy's heart. "More than anyone should ever have to endure."
The young demigoddess offered him a small smile, her eyes failing to portray the easiness she tried to convey. "It's the price I have to pay for being so awesome," She joked lightly, then grew serious as she added, "It is the price we demigods have to pay for being born."
And as Damon looked at Percy, her gaze steady and unwavering despite the shadows that lingered in her eyes, he found himself clumsily moving towards her, crushing her against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her; the abrupt movement of the bubble not bothering him this time.
Percy breathed out, crushed on his chest – finding that he was warm even though she had always thought vampires to be cold since they were walking corpses – but allowing herself a moment to be vulnerable in his arms.
Although no tears left her eyes, she did find a profound sense of peace in the hug.
"Thank you," She said after a moment.
Damon allowed her to separate from him, his eyes gently following the multiple scars that adorned her body – scars he had never quite noticed before. "Are you okay?"
Percy wondered how he had been able to see through her façade when no one else had. "I will be," She replied instead, finding that she believed those words. After months of cluelessly grasping at invisible straws, she finally found the strength within herself to believe she would be alright.
The fates wouldn't allow one of us to have more power than we're supposed to, Nico had said. She believed him.
Damon's lips curled into a devious smirk as he leaned in, mischief vividly present in his eyes. "Here's a question, kitty," He paused for dramatic effect, only continuing when she glanced at him curiously. "Did you fight your Titans before or after they auditioned for Attack on Titan?"
Percy couldn't stop the booming laugh that escaped her throat, a sound that made a genuine smile cross Damon's face. "Oh, definitely during. I must tell you; it was quite something to battle titans while they rehearsed their anime auditions," She retorted sarcastically, her eyes alight with amusement. "It's a shame they never quite liked my audition to play Captain Levi. They missed out on demigod-level talent."
"You're such a nerd."
"Blame Stefan, you know he made me watch that show."
"Whatever, Captain Levi, Let's head home." As Damon's eyes scanned their surroundings, he found nothing but darkness stretching endlessly in every direction. It hadn't bothered him at first, but now a deep sense of unease overwhelmed him. It felt like being cocooned in a void, one that could swallow him whole without advice. "I can't see shit beyond our bubble. And while I'm all for admiring your pretty face, kitty, it's starting to feel a tad eerie."
"Pussy," Percy replied with a smirk but obliged.
With a gesture of her hands, she directed their bubble towards the surface. As it breached the water's edge, the bubble burst, the darkness that used to cover them dissipating slightly. Around them, the gentle glow of the moon seemed to cast its ethereal light upon the beach, providing a much-needed relief from the suffocating dark.
"That was quite the experience," Damon quipped, "We should definitely do it again sometime."
The raven-haired girl chuckled, though she couldn't discern if her blue-eyed friend was referring to hearing about her world or simply the feeling of being underwater in a bubble.
As they made their way towards the shore, the daughter of Poseidon had the strongest urge to look back down. Without giving it much thought – thinking that perhaps a sea creature or a little fish wanted to say goodbye – she glanced down, bringing her head below the waves to have a better look, distantly hearing that Damon continued swimming, unaware of her actions.
Forcing her eyesight to look around the darkness – the mortal side of her being quite unable to see much of the sea at night – her eyes caught a glimpse of brightness coming from the sand below them, hiding amongst the corals and seaweeds.
Her heart stopped.
There was a face, barely discernible in the dimming light that had alerted her, staring right at her. Although its features were shrouded by the shadows, Percy managed to recognize a pair of sea-green eyes – eerily similar to her own – piercing through the darkness and into her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine and stole her breath away.
Out of a knee-jerk reaction, Percy's head bolted to the surface, her body swimming towards the shore with an urgency she hadn't felt in a long time. As soon as her feet touched the dry sand, she was by Damon's side, looking back at the sea, waiting.
"Where were you?" Damon was drying himself with a towel he found in Percy's backpack, pushing the towel towards her when he was done. At the silence that followed his question, he turned to look at her, "What's wrong?"
Her eyes remained peeled on the sea, a frown covering her face. After a moment, the young woman shook her head and turned to meet Damon's inquisitive gaze. "I thought… it's nothing," She caught the towel he was offering her, but smiled without mirth, "Neither I nor my clothes ever get wet, but thanks."
"Oh, that's freaky."
They walked towards the car, comfortable silence covering them. While Damon contemplated all that Percy had revealed about herself, the young demigoddess found herself unable to ignore the restlessness that had settled, deep in her bones, after seeing someone down there.
For a moment back there, as she gazed into those sea-green eyes – so similar to her own – the young demigoddess had noticed the strikingly handsome features that accompanied the mysterious figure, taking in the slightly curled hair, darker than the night itself. Although she recognized those features, she hadn't been able to distinguish whether they belonged to Triton or Poseidon.
What troubled her most, however, was the reluctance that had made it impossible for her to hold his gaze long enough to discern whether those eyes held pride or disappointment as they looked back at her.
"Babe?" Damon called, tilting his head as he watched her hesitate, her hand frozen on the car's door. "Is everything okay?"
"I – yes, of course," Percy forced a smile into her face, entering the car. She wanted to look back and check if whoever was down there – be it Triton or Poseidon – had emerged to watch her. Instead of allowing herself to glance back, she pushed through the impulse and turned to smile at Damon, "Let's go home."
…
When they arrived, Damon offered to cook her dinner, but the young demigoddess declined. As much as she enjoyed his food, she wanted to spend time with her mother and stepfather; wanted to see if she could muster the strength necessary to tell them what she had told her vampire friend.
There weren't many secrets she kept from her mother, but after the war ended she had never gotten around to telling her about Tartarus. It was the one detail she couldn't bring herself to share with her – it was the one detail she knew would destroy her mother almost as much as it had destroyed her.
But, Percy reasoned with herself, it wasn't fair that everyone knew but her mother.
She could see through the living room's window that her parents were inside, laughing at something Nico was telling them; that sight alone made her feel excited, looking forward to joining them.
However, as she approached the front door of her house, the familiar sensation of being watched caused her to pause.
Instantly, the young woman guided a hand towards her pockets, feeling for Riptide, only to stop when she caught a sniff of the smell that lingered in the air. It wasn't as disgusting as the smell normal vampires emitted, but it wasn't either as overwhelmingly attractive as Niklaus' had been. It seemed to be a middle ground that didn't particularly repulse her.
A soft smile appeared on her face. Elijah.
"Mr. Mikaelson? Isn't it a little too late for a visit?" Turning with a smile, Percy expected to see a well-dressed vampire standing by the gates, but there was no one in sight. Confused, the young woman whirled around, "Elijah?"
A chuckle drifted from her right, prompting Percy to instinctively reach for Riptide, her fingers poised to unsheathe it in case something came towards her. "Late-night visits can be rather enjoyable, darling," An unknown voice remarked, "But I'm afraid you've been expecting the wrong Mr. Mikaelson."
Fuck. Percy's shoulders squared up, her heart missing a beat as she realized that danger had all but knocked at her door – and her parents were awake and consequently in danger. She took one step towards the gate, trying to distance herself from her porch, but there was a movement coming from her right, and before she could blink, a man was standing right in front of her.
In a second, the man had a sword to his neck.
Standing tall and lean, the man in front of her stared down into her eyes, amusement clear on his features – even when threatened with a sword to the neck, unwavering confidence carried his every movement. Tousled, dark hair framed what seemed to be a chiseled face with sharp angles, his face denoting a youth that didn't particularly characterize his siblings.
Percy's first thought was: By the gods, why are all the Mikaelsons such perfect eye candy? Then recognition made her pause, Oh no, it's the brother that likes to play murderous games.
Kol Mikaelson looked down at the sword resting against his neck, interest vividly present in his stare. "That's some nice celestial bronze right there, darling. One might say too nice for such a nice, cute girl like you to have."
Percy's heart dropped again, a shiver going down her spine. He must also be the brother who was obsessed with demigods.
"Who's to say I'm a nice girl?"
That seemed to be the wrong thing to say because Kol's eyes gleamed almost hungrily at her words.
After a moment, Percy lowered her sword but didn't sheathe it. I'm sure that if he wanted me dead, he would've attempted something by now. And I'm working with two of his siblings, I shouldn't threaten him.
Not ruling out the possibility of him being there to drink her blood until she resembled a crushed human Capri-Sun, the young demigoddess watched him intently. "Is there a reason for this impromptu meeting, Mr. Mikaelson?"
"Just Kol, darling."
"I don't see why I should call you by your first name, Mr. Mikaelson," Sarcasm dripped from her voice as she added, "After all, we don't know each other at all."
Kol's eyes hardened, a clear sign – Percy thought – of never being refused, even in simple things such as polite introductions. "Oh, but darling, does our previous meeting not count?"
"Should it? If I recall correctly you tried to drink my blood."
His gaze lingered on her exposed neck, but as the demigoddess swiftly moved her free hand to conceal it with her hair, he shifted his focus back to her eyes and let out a low chuckle. "Can you blame me, darling? You have such a divine smell."
Percy's shoulders tensed, "What do you want?"
"Oh, darling, there are many things I desire in life," The vampire's voice had dropped into a purr that had the young demigoddess shuddering, not exactly out of disgust, as his dark eyes sought hers. "Right now, I would love to know your name so I can properly thank you for undaggering me."
"Seph Blofis," Percy replied instantly, not caring that he could easily find out it was a lie since two of his siblings knew her. "There you go; you can leave now."
Before she could say more, the young-looking vampire in front of her chuckled darkly, adding: "I also came to tell you that indeed, your ass looked astonishingly good in those jeans. I believe you wanted my input."
Disrespecting the psychopathic brother of Niklaus and Elijah would not be the right step to take, no matter how much the young girl wanted to resort back to sarcasm and aggression.
"Very funny –" She started but was promptly interrupted by the sound of a door opening behind her back. Out of a knee-jerk reaction, Percy turned, accidentally giving her back to the very dangerous vampire. With trepidation, she caught her mother's inquisitive gaze. No, no, no. Get back inside.
"Percy?" Sally asked. "Who is your friend?"
Kol started to approach the older woman, a charming smile adorning his face. "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am, my name is Kol Mikaelson," and just as he offered a hand for Sally to shake, Percy acted on impulse and grabbed his arm, pulling him back until he stood by her side instead.
Kol's eyes cut to hers, anger swimming around his irises at the interruption. Percy's fingers twitched on his arm, briefly noticing how strong he seemed, before letting go of him as though burnt by the contact.
"Get back inside, mom. Mr. Mikaelson's gonna leave now."
"Am I?" Kol smiled innocently at her, "But we're having such a nice chat, Percy."
Fuck.
"It's late," Sally agreed, noticing that something was wrong. "Get inside, Percy."
Percy turned to comply but was interrupted by Kol's hands clasping her arm, mirroring her earlier action. Adrenaline surged through her veins as their eyes met, but before anything else could happen, she shrugged off his touch violently.
Kol's amusement seemed to grow. "I'll see you soon, darling." His smile was as captivating as it was unsettling. It held a dangerous allure, both a threat and a promise wrapped into one.
Percy despised it with every fiber of her being.
