Chapter Ten

All Roads Lead to Monster Donut

What the Hades?

I pressed my palm against my temple, trying to think straight. Was I still on Olympus? I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. My vision returned, and I saw the most beautiful woman in the world sitting across the room. Her blonde hair shined vibrantly in the light. She sat, slumped, against the wall. I got a good look at my surroundings. Ah, Camp Half-Blood infirmary. My lovely home away from home.

"Annabeth," I croaked out.

Her head snapped up. Styx, she must have been sleeping. Annabeth's expression was a relieved one.

"Percy!" She scrambled over, pressing her lips firmly on mine. She pulled back, running her fingers through my hair, scraping her nails across my scalp. She kissed me again, and I soaked in her taste. "Gods, I thought you were going to die. He pummeled you. You looked like a rookie against him."

I groaned. "Great, I love looking like I don't know what I'm doing"

She gave a sympathetic smile.

"I'm sorry for waking you up," I apologized. She gave me the look she normally did when I said something stupid.

"Don't you worry about me, Seaweed Brain. You're the one who's hurt. Percy, he's too dangerous. You don't need to fight him unless absolutely necessary."

I sighed, exasperated.

"I know. He knew exactly what I was going to do next every time, so, I had to do the unexpected."

I took a deep breath. I remembered the gaze Bessie gave me before he died. It was pitiful.

"I killed Bessie," I confessed. Annabeth blinked.

"What?!"

"It, it was the only way. Grendel had the upper hand. He was going to do the sacrifice, and he thought I was going to try to stop him, but, I didn't. I killed an innocent creature."

Annabeth nodded, following along.

"You went completely against your nature. It's okay, Percy, you had to."

She rubbed my shoulder, reassuring me. She was troubled, though. She bit her lip and stared to the right, the way she always does when she's really deep in thought.

"You're going to have to change yourself to fight him. Percy, this might not be a good idea. What if. . . What if it changes you permanently?"

It took me a minute to realize what she was saying. What if you aren't the same caring person when this is all over? I started to have doubts. What if I was finally starting to break? I dismissed the thought.

"Nothing could ever stop me from loving you or Sophia," I told her. She nodded, trying to convince herself. I felt awful. Annabeth and I had been through so much together and we had always stayed strong. Annabeth more so. There were only two times when I had seen her vulnerable. Once, when she heard the song of the sirens in the Sea of Monsters. And secondly, when we were in Tartarus and she had been cursed, thinking that I had abandoned her. Annabeth had sounded so pitiful, calling out to me. I knew that if I died, or changed, it would break her. She had always been prideful of never being driven by emotions, but secretly, I knew her feelings control her more than she let on. She loved me (almost) as much as I love her. Annabeth was perfect. My guilt returned. I had to tell her about my dreams. I gripped her hand.

"Hey, we're going to be okay," I said. "And, uh, there's something I've been meaning to talk about."

I mentally kicked myself for starting my sentence that way. She studied me, a scared look in her eyes. That was a great phrase to use for a break up or to end marriage.

"Yes?" her grip on my hand tightened. She swallowed, her eyes flittering nervously.

"I've been having these dreams."

Annabeth relaxed a little. I told her everything in as much detail as I remember. After I was done, I told her about the quest so far and how I'd met with the Kanes. She was concerned, naturally.

"Percy, I know I've told you before you don't have to keep anything from me."

I was looking for more of an it's okay, but that was typical Annabeth to respond with a berating.

"It's just your fear getting the best of you," Annabeth said. "I don't like this Carter thing. We haven't seen the Kanes in years and suddenly they're back. There's something more going on. We're missing something. Maybe you're having those dreams as an offset of Carter ruining Rachel's mind."

Annabeth was irritated. I tried to see that as a possibility, but I couldn't. Annabeth was trying hard to believe it herself. She wrapped my head into a hug, pressing my face to her chest. I snaked my arms around her waist. I couldn't help but smile. Gods, how did she smell so good all the time?

"I love you, Percy." She sighed.

"I love you, Wise Girl," I responded, getting a smile from her. I hugged her for a moment longer, then pulled away. We had to get going.

"Where's Sophia?" I asked.

"Di immortales! Sophia!" Annabeth exclaimed, smacking her forehead. "Oh, gods, she's worried sick about you!"

She grabbed my wrist, tugging me out of bed.

"Can you walk?"

I attempted to move. Whew.

"Yeah, I'm good," I confirmed. Annabeth pulled out the door. I followed her through Camp Half-Blood to the big house. Halfway there, I was starting to feel fuzzy.

"Annabeth, give me a sec," I wheezed, slumping to the ground. She placed a hand protectively on my arm.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just moving too fast too soon, or something," I said.

She handed me a Ziploc bag.

"Here, take some ambrosia."

Ambrosia was food of the gods. It could heal almost anything for a demigod, but it was super deadly for mortals. I graciously gobbled it up, the fuzzy feeling fading fast. I stood.

"Alright, let's go."

We finished the walk, entering the front doors. Sophia was on the ground drawing pictures. Magnus and Alex relaxed on the couch. Sophia lit up when she saw me.

"Daddy!" she bounced into my arms. "Are you okay, Daddy? Mommy and me saw you being beat up."

Tears sprang to her eyes. She traced an outline along my face. Only then did I realize that I had some scars.

"I don't want anything to happen to you, Daddy. I love you and I'll miss you. I wouldn't have anybody to play with. Ugh, Daddy, I love you. You're my best friend!"

Gods, Sophia knew how to murder someone. She had just ripped out my heart. I held her close.

"Everything's okay, Baby. I'm here, I'm here. I love you, Sophie."

I nuzzled her nose. She squeezed my neck firmly. Annabeth rubbed circles approvingly on my back.

"I'm tired, Daddy. Can we go to bed?"

I laughed. Kids were great.

"Sure thing, Sophie." I kissed her cheek, setting her down. It's weird how being unconscious makes you tired. I mean, it's basically sleeping, right? You'd think you'd wake up feeling great, but you don't. I was exhausted. I turned to Magnus.

"Well, that sucked." I said, spreading my arms.

"Wish you would've told us your plan," Alex commented grumpily. I winced at her tone while she crossed her arms.

"Sorry about that. It was spur of the moment. I didn't want you to get hurt. I honestly wasn't expecting to make it down from there. I thought you two could at least survive." I explained. Alex softened a little. She pursed her lips.

"Well, still. Whatever. Thanks," she managed. Alex was definitely reluctant to say anything.

"I appreciate that, Percy, but we brought you into this fight, so we deserve the chance to die, too," Magnus said, placing his hand on Alex's thigh. Alex glared at nothing in particular. I made a mental note to include her in the future. Sophia squirmed at the mention of death. I rubbed the top of her head.

"Well, we've got a long road ahead of us," I said. "Let's get some sleep and we'll get back at it in the morning"

We split ways. I tucked Sophia into the top bunk in my cabin, while Annabeth and I shared the bottom bed. Twin beds were clearly not made for couples. I ended up hanging half my body off the edge to give Annabeth some room. That night, I had another fiery dream.

I stood atop a skyscraper. I wasn't sure where exactly. I was just standing over a city. And, as you probably suspected, it was on fire. A hand pushed me. I fell in slow motion, the flames growing hotter. As I neared the ground, I saw Annabeth and Sophia laying, dead, on the grass, the fire turning their bodies black. Next to them was my dad, Poseidon. His body was wrapped in a net, also burning. On top of Poseidon was my mother, a trident through her heart. I wanted to cry out, but my voice didn't work. My cheek smashed into the dirt and I woke up, shivering and sweating.

I was sprawled across the rug in my Cabin. Annabeth must have heard a thump or sensed the shifting of covers. She peered over the mattress, whispering.

"Percy, honey, are okay?" She sounded more like a mom every day. She rubbed the sleep from her concerned eyes. I crawled back under the covers, taking deep breaths to calm my throbbing heart.

"Talk to me, Percy." Annabeth demanded, placing her hand on my waist. We were facing each other. I kissed her, then told her of the brief dream.

"Gods, when the Fates give us nightmares, they really stick to the same themes. They're just trying to taunt you with this fire thing. It needs to stop." Annabeth lamented. I agreed. "Just go back to bed, Percy. Your dreams don't always come true."

She didn't believe herself. I could already see her writing my eulogy in her head. I just wanted to curl into a ball and die right then. My heart sank. I sighed, kissing her forehead, drifting back to sleep.

The next morning, Sophia didn't want me to leave again. She began crying, which made it even harder for me to want to leave. She refused to let me go until I promised her the impossible.

"I'll come back, Sophia," I promised, kissing the top of her head. She sniffled, letting go of my hand.

"Bye, Daddy. Hurry back. And stay away from the monster this time."

I told her I would and set off again with Magnus and Alex.

"What's the shield say?" I asked. Alex held it up for me to see.

"I can't make out what it says," she replied.

I squinted at the images. Grendel stood at the crest of a hill, looking at a building below him. I groaned. I recognized the building from my previous adventures. Man, history always seems to repeat itself. That must be where déjà vu comes from. Grendel was licking his lips hungrily, staring at a Monster Donut (trademark applied for).