Chapter Sixteen

More Depressing News (What Else is New?)

Magnus POV

"So, how did you have sex?" I asked, realizing it was as dumb as it sounded. Alex looked over at me as if she wished she had never met me.

"We just met the first being ever in existence and you want to know about procreation?"

"Well, I mean, uh- "

"And in front of a child?"

My face turned the color of beets. Maybe not that exact shade, but it was in that color family. I could feel the heat pouring from my pores. Ymir seemed amused. I looked at Sophia who seemed puzzled and frightened at the situation. I gave as loving as a squeeze as I could on her hand to reassure her.

"I trust you realize that was a question of low-intelligence?" Ymir teased. "Naturally, I reproduce asexually. Grendel was born out of a nightmare. A nightmare that became real."

"Care you elaborate a bit more?" I asked.

Deities loved speaking in riddles and confusing banter. I wish someone could just get to the point sometimes.

"Well, Magnus, do you know of the old poem about Ragnorak?"

Ymir paused and glanced at me. Her blue skin seemed to reflect the candlelight in every which way, creating constellations on the hut's walls. She began reciting a poem:

In the midst of this clash and din the Heavens are rent in twain,

And the sons of Muspell come riding through the opening.

Surtr rides first, and before him and after him flames burning fire

He has a very good sword, which shines brighter than the sun.

As they ride over Bifrost it breaks to pieces, as has before been stated.

The sons of Muspel direct their course to the plain which is called Vigrid. . ..

The sons of Muspel have there effulgent bands alone by themselves.

Alex put the poem together immediately.

"Grendel is one of the sons! That's why we've always been able to stop Ragnorak! It hasn't actually happened yet! That explains why Surtr isn't guarding Muspellheim; he's gathering forces to march on the Bifrost."

The implications of that were huge. That meant that Ragnorak was definitely going to happen. I didn't like the sound of that at all.

"That doesn't explain why you created Grendel," I stated.

Ymir looked at me sadly.

"No, I suppose it doesn't. It was Surtr."

It took everything within me not to asked if she had gotten it on with Surtr. Ymir continued.

"He placed a Nidstang in Muspellheim that cursed me to bear an unspeakable evil upon the Realms. An evil only found in nightmares. Thusly, Grendel, and his mother, were then born literally out of my nightmares."

Now I was starting to get confused. A Nidstang, by the way, is a rune used for placing a nid on someone. Nid is just a fancy Norse word for "curse."

"Hasn't the story of Grendel been around for centuries? Plus, I thought Grendel was destroyed."

Ymir smiled coldly.

"History is written by the victors, Magnus. Grendel's mother was destroyed, yes. However, Grendel escaped. And Beowulf, oh. Now that man loved to boast. Rightfully so, too. He was a great warrior. After he defeated Grendel's mother and the child was nowhere to be seen, he got to twist the story however he saw fit. Beowulf, of course, bragged that he defeated both. The story was told through countless taverns. People mixed up the story. Some say he lay with the monster and bore Grendel. Some state that they existed when Beowulf arrived. Some might believe that neither existed, but I know the terrible truth. Grendel went into hiding and became powerful."

I shared a troubled look with Alex. I shifted my weight and bit my lip.

"Where is this Nidstang? Can we not destroy it or find a way to break the curse?" Alex pondered.

Ymir threw her hands in the air and the entire hut dissolved. We were suddenly back on the cliff where Percy fell into the fiery pit. Sophia whimpered and clutched my leg. Alex bent down and picked Sophia up, holding her tightly and patting her back. Ymir pointed at a glowing tree on fire in the middle of the river.

"There is the Nidstang, Alex. Now you tell me exactly how you plan on breaking the curse?"

Alex gripped my arm, causing a red mark to appear.

"Ow!" I exclaimed.

"Magnus. The Prophet's Son shall break the curse, that binds the giantess of the first. Only Magic and gods prevail, Lest Wisdom sever the mortal veil."

The Prophecy. Ymir clapped her hands and we appeared back in her hut.

"Prophecies are all fine and dandy, Alex, but they can have several different meanings. How many prophets do you know in this day and age? Not just you, Alex. Magnus? Sophia?"

Ymir stumped me there. I shook my head. I didn't know of any other than the Oracle at Percy's demigod camp. But I wasn't sure if that fit the description exactly.

"You can know what the Prophecy says, dears, but its another thing altogether to know what it means."

I ran my hands through my hair. This sucked.

"Well, seeing as you've got some things to think about, why don't you eat some supper and then stay here for the night?"

I glanced at Alex and shrugged. Seeing as there wasn't much else we could do, we agreed.

Annabeth POV

Iris Messages weren't going through to Percy, I couldn't find Sophia anywhere, and my gut told me something was wrong. I usually kept myself in check pretty well, but I'd been an emotional wreck lately. I think that's what love does, eventually. I didn't care about anything in the world as much as Percy and Sophia and now I had neither of them. I was riding the subway right now, trying to keep a low profile. I felt as though someone had been watching me since I left Camp Half-Blood. I couldn't tell whether it was friend or foe, but it was a familiar presence. Whomever it was trying to shield themselves from me. I was pretending to flip through a magazine when I noticed a figure out of the corner of my eye. They were looking around nervously and glancing frequently in my direction. I decided to get off at the next stop. Sure enough, they followed me. I walked swiftly through the terminal and up the stairs. There, across the street, stood the same figure. I gulped and reached for my dagger. The figure strolled towards me. I gripped the hilt of my weapon and took it out.

"No, Annabeth! It's me!"

The figure took of his cloak to reveal the face of Apollo.

"Good gods, Apollo, why are you stalking me?" I put my dagger away while he shushed me.

"Shut up! Shut up! Don't say my name. Names have power!"

He glanced in every direction frantically, like a scared bunny. He was jumpy, as if he shouldn't be caught talking to me.

"Ran is hunting the gods down. I'm the only one left. She even got your mother!"

I stared at him quizzically.

"I find it hard to believe that you are the only one left. My mother is the Wisdom goddess."

"It's her Hubris. She thought she could stand up to her, but she didn't realize Ran was that strong. But A-T-H-E-N-A has a plan. It's a bad one, though. Oh, its so bad. Gods."

"What is it? Blurt it out!" I exclaimed. His nervous behavior had me scared. If the Gods were scared, it was bad.

"She's going to use the Mist to destroy Ran and Grendel and whoever else is out there. But if she uses the Mist to accomplish that goal, then the Mist will cease to exist! Mortals will be able to see Magic. They'll go through old news reports and see that some of those natural disasters weren't exactly what they seem. They'll get onto the Empire State Building and see the 600th floor. It will be chaos. The weaker ones will go crazy, the stronger might grow bolder. Nothing will be the same. On the other hand, though, if Ran destroys the world, it will be just as bad. Both options are bad. We've got to stop both of them. Stop Ran and your Mother. You have to stop them. I've got to go. I've been in one spot too long!"

He started to walk off. He was being Cryptic and confusing. How could my mother eradicate the Mist?

"Wait, I need more information! Where is my mother? Do you know where Percy is? Or Sophia"

"Ran has her. I'm sorry. Percy is. . .Percy is dead. I hate to be the one who tells you, Annabeth. I'm sorry, I've got to go."

He disappeared with a flash of golden light. I stood amidst a group of strangers waking past me. The news hit me like an anvil. I didn't have anyone to share in my pain. A part of me didn't believe Apollo, but the feeling in my gut told me it was true. If Percy was gone, then what about Sophia? Then, I thought of Sally. Gods, why I hadn't I been in contact with her sooner? I turned in the direction of her apartment and started walking. My feet seemed to get heavier with each step I took. I finally understood the feeling of helplessness.

A/N I know I try to avoid these little notes, but I'm just providing a little apology. I have been very busy recently. I've experience 3 deaths recently. Two were my closest and oldest friends and another was my grandmother. I have also entered the last semester of college and will receive my B.S. degree this summer. Thanks for those of you who have kept up with the story. I promise I'm gonna finish this for you and give you some closure. Originally, it was supposed to be a three-part series, but I am re-writing it to be just one complete story. Don't know if you'll see much from me after this story, but if I have something to say, I'll say it.