IX
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover
Percy reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out Riptide as he clicked the end of the pen and it shifted into a sword. Annabeth and Grover too pulled out their respective weapons as they stared at the giant scaled beast in surprise, horror, fear, and everything else in-between.
"Uh someone want to explain the dragon!" Percy yelled back at Annabeth as the high pressured wind roared through the shattered tower. The cold air was fridged as it chilled their bones, whipping hair and jackets around, muffling any noise. Their voices raised to communicate, but even then it felt like the world was going deaf.
"Cronus must of sent it." Annabeth yelled back. "We have to get to lower ground, we can't fight it up here with all of these people. Someone's going to get killed."
"Come on!" Mrs. Bishop led them to the emergency exit. They started down the stairs at top speed, all of them feeling the tower creak ominously.
"It wouldn't knock over would it?" Grover asked looking up at the ceiling, unsure, as the plaster around them began to crack.
"The way it's going at it, I wouldn't put it past it." Percy said tugging on his best friends sleeve.
They finally got to ground level as the whole structure was being evacuated. They were getting lost in the crowd, and soon separated in the mass. When Percy tried to look for Annabeth or Mrs. Bishop it was hard to distinguish any faces in this chaos. Percy looked up to see the dragon dragging a paw on the inside of the resteraunt and then let out a deafening roar. It was like watching a dog try to lick the peanut butter out of one of those hollow toys. Except the dragon was doing an excelent job of tearing the toy apart.
"It's kind of like Godzilla." Grover said as he stopped and tilted his head to the side.
"Except it's not a movie...this is real." Percy rang out as he tugged his friend along then. "Come on we have to find Annabeth and Mrs. Bishop."
"In this mass...no way."
"Head towards the carousel!" Percy nudged Gover along as they sprinted towards the building that housed the carousel. Percy was moments away from reaching it when the air pressure built around them and a roar echoed throughout the sky. He looked up to see the dragon sniff and look down at him and then dive off the top of the tower and straight for him. "Not good, not good, not good!" he chanted as he sprinted into the building, only to lose his balance in the quake.
The dragon had collided with the side of the building and now was on the ground as it was snaking it's head through the opening of the warehouse-like structure. Grover had found himself diving behind some video arcade machines whilst Percy was underneath an air hockey table. They both made eye contact as the dragon sniffed. It forced more of it's body into the building as, the high ceiling could take it. It was one of those moments where time slowed down and got painfully slow as they had no where to run, and their hiding places were limited.
"Hey, pea-brain!" a voice yelled and Grover and Percy looked to the side entrance to the arcade as they saw Annabeth standing there, cross bow raised. She fired two shots, getting the beast in the eye with the second. It roared in pain but it didn't stop it from charging. "Percy, Grover run!"
And Annabeth was gone the next instant, her long legs running at top speed as she hopped over planter boxes and started for the main road.
Percy and Grover took this opportunity to make a break for it as they went out the rear entrance of the place and too started for the main road. They hopped over bike rails, and pushed people aside as they saw a white mercedes pull up in front of Annabeth as she came to the street. The door opened and Annabeth hopped inside, clamboring into the back seat and both Percy and Grover dove in the next second.
Mrs. Bishop made no effort to wait for them to close the door, she merely tore down the street the next moment, racing around cars, breaking about eight traffic laws in the span of a minute. Grover climbed into the back with Annabeth, leaving Percy the passenger seat. Percy pulled the door shut and sank in his seat as he disengaged Riptide. They all where taking full even breaths, trying to calm themselves.
"Is that what it's been like for you three?" Mrs. Bishop asked exasperated.
"More or less." Annabeth shrugged.
"I'm sorry, but I hate your lives. Dragons! There's dragons, and what else is there that I have been totally blind to! Oh, my-I sent my daughter off to face that...I'm a horrible mother! I-I am a complete and utter failure. William would be so mad at me, he'd hate me...I hate me."
Mrs. Bishop at that point had started to hyperventalate as she looked frantically at the road, leaning forward a bit as her hands grasped the steering wheel so hard that her knuckles turned white. Percy reached over as he pat her back gently.
"It's okay, really it's fine. You're not a bad mom...Arina didn't think so at least and neither do we." Percy consoled and Mrs. Bishop glanced at him and nodded but she still was tense.
Percy sat back in his seat as he sighed.
"If we have to face another large creature like that, I am opting for life insurance and an early retirement." Grover said as he shook his head in the back seat. Annabeth smacked his shoulder as she gave him a reprimanding glare and that silenced Grover's sarcastic remarks for the remainder of the journey. In fact it was silent all the way to the Bishop home.
Four and a half hours later, they were in the middle of nowhere. Sure there were a lot of trees and such, but there was just absolutely a whole lot of nothing. Everyone looked around, in wonder, their eyes scanning curiously for some sort of civilization that wasn't a gas station. Just then, Mrs. Bishop drove off the road and onto a gravel path that headed furthur West. They suddenly were taken through a denser part of the forest, and Annabeth looked behind her to see the path dissapearing in the trees as they went. It was like the everything was erasing behind them.
Twenty minutes passed until it opened up again and they were greated with a blue horizon, where in the distance you could see ocean for miles. A Workmans house sat on a hill, and acres of land lay around it. There was a quaint brown barn and a few cattle and animals roamed around. A garden was out front with a white picket fence surrounding it and an old tire swing attached to an old redwood tree.
Mrs. Bishop parked the car and they all got out to be greeted by a fresh sea-breeze. They smiled looking about and Percy heard a animal whine coming from around the house.
"Ah, he's gotta come and sniff you guys out." Mrs. Bishop chuckled.
Just then a beautiful white stallion came rounding about the house, his long blond main flowing back. He galloped around them in a circle, and around the car as he came to a trot and then a shaky halt right in front of Percy. Percy stared at him, looking deep into those chesnut eyes. The stallion lowered it's head and brushed it against Percy's face and nudged him a bit and Percy raised a hand and pat it against the horse's firm neck.
"He likes you." Mrs. Bishop smiled. "And he never likes anyone, guess your father has something to do with it though."
"What's his name?" Annabeth asked.
"I am Arion, the very same which was created by your father, Son of my Maker." the voice itself echoed like smooth silk from the horse, though the horse didn't cartoonishly move it's lips. It was as if it echoed in all of their heads. Everyone's eyes widened except Mrs. Bishop's.
"My father made you?"
"Indeed. I have walked this earth a many lifetimes and have come to find a home here. I came into the care of Arina when she was just a foal herself. I was not asked by any God to remain here, but I remained because one day I knew I'd meet you. We are brothers in a sense...we come from the same parentage."
"I'm going to go start on dinner. I'll be up at the house." Mrs. Bishop said as she started up the hill.
"Oh we'll help!" Grover said as the thought of food excited him. "Come on Perc."
"Be up in a second." Percy said as he pat Arion's neck soothingly.
Percy and Annabeth shared a look as Annabeth nodded and followed Grover and Mrs. Bishop up to the house.
Percy turned back to Arion and the horse bent down on his knees looking up at Percy expectantly.
"Come, we have much to talk about. I wish for you to tell me about my Arina. I miss her terribly...I have not seen her for a long, long time."
Percy nodded as he grabbed the mane of Arion and swung himself over the shoulders and soon Arion was rising and taking flight across the acerage. They glided across grassy hills and soon where on the beach, as Arion came to a walk. There was much for them to talk about, and it wasn't often Arion talked to anyone that wasn't of Bishop blood.
Alcander
Night had befallen this small platoon once more. They had to steal another car, but this time two seperate ones because some of the Aries bretheren didn't want to be in the same vacinity as the body. This time they had wrapped Arina up tight, hiding her in the backseat as they drove along the interstate. By now they were already halfway through Ohio. It was hot in the car, and the AC was on full blast as Alcander sat back casually in the drivers seat.
"What do you think happened?" Sherman asked again as he glanced in the rearview mirror with apprehension. He was half expecting a dead arm to pull back the sheat and the dead body to rise just like in one of those horror movies he had seen during the summer.
"I've heard certain theories about when demi-god or half immortal children die. If they are endowed with powers, then it remains in the shell after the soul has departed. So in theory even though Arina is gone, her body can still control water. If the vessel is in any way in distress or in anyway threatened, it reacts and spontaneously uses the power."
"What purpose would that serve?"
"Prevent from happening what we're trying to do, except there was no grave robbing involved."
"Wouldn't this be advantage to the home team if she can still...you know...move?"
"I guess." Alcander sighed. "It's just, kinda freaky."
"Yeah...tell me something I don't know. I just can't believe we've been attacked like this in the span of three days. It's like...come on."
"I know...but, you signed on."
"I know I did, but you have to admit this is overkill."
"Hence the word, kill."
"All I'm saying is that, Arina is dead. Why would they still be coming after us?"
"Cause I'm not dead." Alcander said softly. "Dea knows I'll do anything at this point to get Arina back. They know that the body will rejenerate if given the opportunity, and if Dea knows then Cronus knows. Arina was killed by the influence of mystical energy and it wasn't natural she was murdered. This gives us a greater chance of getting her back."
"Well it'd be easier if we can fly to Los Angeles rather than drive. It's just gonna get us attacked more often than not."
"You wanna try explaining to baggage claim why a suitcase weights the equivilant to a body?" Alcander looked at Sherman skeptically.
"Well what if we just...you know, say she passed out?"
"She's cut open!"
"Well what if we teleport her there somehow?"
"Who would meet the body on the other side?"
"I don't know...what if someone went with?"
"It's hard to teleport anyone, we'd need a god to do it or a nymph."
"Wish Hermes was on our side." Sherman said offhandedly and Alcander's brow froze in a quizical way as if in deep thought. He then roughtly pulled over on the side of the road, as did the car behind them and got out as he walked a distance aways. "Hey Al?" Sherman yelled getting out of the car.
"Hermes!" Alcander yelled up at the night sky. "Come down here and show your face, by right you have to respond upon being summoned by the blood of an immortal wether it be demi-god or titan."
In an instant, there was a flash as Hermes; Luke's father, descended from the sky and came to a skidding halt on the dirt beside the road. He pat his tunic down and turned looking at Alcander very annoyed and irate looking.
"You called, Son of Hyperion?"
"Yeah, I got a bone to pick with you." Alcander said glaring at the god.
"Well pick away sooner rather than later, I haven't got all night. Contrary to popular belief I am a very busy man. Got things to deliver and Gods to see."
"You can make time for me." Alcander said angrily and Hermes sighed.
"What is it?"
"I need a favor."
"Oh a favor?" Hermes scoffed as he waved a hand in the air and then placed his hands on his hips as he stared off in a particular direction, a condescending and bored look to his face.
"You owe it."
"To whome?"
"The woman your son got killed."
Hermes froze as he stared at Alcander, his eyes looking very forelorn and distressed. Luke nowadays was a touchy subject for the Messenger God. He knew just what his son was doing, and had no power to stop it. He couldn't face his son, himself, and Zeus has forbade him to get a hand in it.
"I am forbidden to associate with anything concerning my son."
"Your son killed a champion of the people of this earth. Your son influenced Dea to kill Arina. You owe it to Arina to at least help someway. Or you owe me, her last living, and caring kin."
"What would you have me do, assuming I would even get involved in the first place?"
"I need you to transport us to Los Angeles."
"One, why on earth would you even want to be in that city right now? Two, what is so important in that city? I assumed you would just want to be sent to Olympus or, wherever the Son of Poseidon may be."
"How do you know where Percy is?" Alcander asked suspiciously.
"Zeus. Don't think I'm playing both sides of the field here. I like having my head intact thank you, and have no desire to piss Zeus off any more than he is right now. If it came down to it I'm more afraid of Zeus than I am Cronus...so."
"Doesn't explain..." Alcander started but Hermes held a hand up.
"I have to keep watch, deliver news of any large changing events...it's my job."
"You're job, is to help us now. Sherman-," Alcander looked back at Sherman who was still leaning against the passenger side of the car. "Bring Arina."
"I'm not touching her-,"
"Bring Arina!" Alcander ordered.
Sherman's jaw locked and he nodded as he slammed the door shut and opened the back passenger doors. He grunted as he pulled the body halfway out by the feet and then hauling it over his shoulder he walked towards Alcander.
"You've been carting the body around?" Hermes asked as he stared at the wrapped up body in horror. "How savage."
"You're going to transport, Arina and the rest of us to Los Angeles. Preferably to the entrance of the Underworld."
"I can't do that."
"Uh yes you can." Sherman protested as he handed Arina to Alcander. "You're the god of travel as well. You were summoned by immortal blood and therefore you have to conceded."
"I have nothing to be offered in return for such a large service."
"How about the reward of me not kicking your ass." Alcander said dangerously low.
"Oh boy, do you need a rude awakening." Hermes face darkened a bit. "I am a god, I will not be talked to in such a manner."
"I'm half titan, try me."
"We ripped apart Cronus, I don't think it'd be too hard to rip apart a halfling." Hermes made a few steps forward but Sherman stood in the way.
"How about this, if you help us, you will be credited for helping save the world, the gods, and every human. You will be written in History, Hermes. Hermes the great, came in and rescued the daughter of Oceanus from a eternal torment in hell. Helped put the Titan's back in their bonds." Sherman watched carefully as Hermes took in the words in thought and then sighed.
"You will testify to Zeus of these matters. I will not be blamed for the atrocities my son as committed."
"Just do it." Alcander said and Hermes glared at the young half-titan.
Hermes took an orb out of his leather pouch and crushed it as it turned into fine powdered dust. He tossed it in the air and suddenly the world around them started to spin slightly. The ground took new shape, their bodies felt cool and warm at the same time as the sensation of time changed. Soon, daylight was stretching over the horizon and they were no longer in Ohio. Now they stood in front of the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.
Hermes looked around at his handywork and sighed.
"Don't call upon me again or you shall suffer great consequences Son of Hyperion." and with that Hermes dissapeared in a flutter of smoke as his body dissapated in the air.
Percy, Annabeth and Grover
The wind swept over Percy's face as he and Arion walked along the beach. He took a deep breath of the cool salt air, and for some strange reason was brought back home. He was brought to a time when he didn't even know about his powers, and even though his life then was nothing but miserable...he had his mother, and he was blissfully ignorant. He wished in some ways it stayed that way. And though he never regrets meeting Annabeth or Grover or hell even Arina, he wished he didn't. Arina might still be alive if it weren't for him, and the world might not have become so catasrophic. He closed his eyes and squeezed them tight.
"You're in pain." Arion said and Percy sighed as he opened his eyes.
"I guess."
"You can't hide your true feelings from me. We are brothers after all."
"Yeah."
"Please, tell me of Arina. How is she?" Arion's voice was thick and rich and it calmed Percy some, and it made it okay to say what he was going to say next.
"She died."
There was silence and distress now in the air and Arion lifted his head and tossed his mane a bit.
"How?" was the only thing the legendary horse asked and Percy pat Arion's neck gently.
"Saving the lives of everyone she cared about. Dea stabbed her in her weak spot."
"I never liked that girl. There was something always so bloodthirsty about her. Her thoughts were dark and impure and I knew, and thought I always told Arina, Arina refused to believe it. She saw good in others, that people refused to see."
"She gets it from her mom."
"That she does." Arion agreed. "But Arina also has much more to her, a power in her that even her father feared."
"What do you mean?"
"The potential to become a God, like your father and like Oceanus himself. The ocean was always apart of Arina...she was birthed at sea. Her name is of a given greek root meaning of the sea. She is surrounded by clarity, and good judgement and power. She is a champion...you know this term?"
"You mean like a Hero...like Achilles and Hercules?"
"Like yourself as well." Arion chuckled. "You all have the potential for God-hood. But Arina, it was aparent from her birth she had such a potential."
"Is that why she had such control over her cousins?"
"It's exactly why she has so much control over any situation. There is a part of her personality that is very much her mother and her father. You can't get angry with her because she holds so much love like her mother, but you can't question her either because she commands so much respect like her father. She is half human, half titan and there she lies in both worlds."
"But Oceanus isn't a god...so Arina can't..."
"She can." Arion said carefully. "Titan's in their own way were Gods. Indestructable, powerful, creators and destroyers...but they did not want to be gods they wanted to be controllers. Even to their children, the Olympians. The first war was about freedom, the right to live and to choose. The second war, was about revenge and the third act...well, it's about choosing a side. Arina chose hers, the moment she forfeit her life in exchange for others. It's what makes her a god...to have those that follow you willingly and passionately, who utter your name in reverence."
"And if she is ressurected and becomes a god?"
"Heaven and Hell, there will be no place for Cronus to hide. I feel the change in the air as we speak. I feel...I feel a switch in the destiny and fate of everyone. I feel her, calling us all to rally to her. Can't you?"
"I can't feel much of anything anymore." Percy admitted solemnly.
"Maybe you need to let go, and allow yourself to not think of death as permanence for those like us. More along the lines of an extended vacation." Arion chuckled lightly though it was only to cheer him up. Percy smiled slightly at the attempt but still he couldn't let it go.
He wasn't ready to let his anger and his sorrow go.
"Do you love Arina?" Arion asked and Percy looked down at the horse as Arion's head was turnd looking back at him. The chesnut eyes bore so much soul, that Arion seemed more than human instead of horse in that moment.
"I do."
"What kind of love?"
"What other kind is there?"
"There is love of kin, love of a friends, love of a lover, and then a unique kind."
"I don't know how to answer this..."
"Do you feel as though when Arina and yourself are standing in the same room, that you feel a tug in your chest. You have to be close, in order for anything in the world to feel right. When you fight with one another, do you feel the bloodlust to charge but at the same time want to desperately drop to your knees and surrender? When you both are in your element, can you almost feel each other's feelings and thoughts?"
"How do you know-,"
"It's a once in a lifetime occurance for a demi-god or titan. It is the person you are genetically meant to be with. It doesn't mean you have to be with them, but for a future generation this person would be the most compatable to make strong, powerful, children. You and my little Arina have this bond."
"So it's not love?"
"I didn't say that. The feelings are most certainly your own, but you are not bound to be with her. You may want her, you may crave her, and every moment of sleep is filled with her face...but the more you deny it the more it fades and soon you will become your own person again. It is a fleeting thing, this bond...most embrace it, others deny it."
"You sound like you've had one?"
"In my human form, I had loved a woman. The bond we shared was perfect. But time took her from me, and the bond faded. I could have given up my immortality to live a mortal life with her, but, I was young and I was afraid. I gave up perfection for a life of lonliness. I wish to tell you not to make the same mistake I did, but, it is your choice."
"I do love her. But, I do love someone else as well." Percy admitted to himself. He always knew he loved Annabeth, but burried it because he felt so strongly for Arina. Now with this knowledge he was once again very much confused.
"Now I sense great confusion."
"I don't know what to do. I know I'd be happy beyond belief if Arina was alive again...but I can't imagine myself marrying her, having children with her or, hell anything like that with her. I just feel so happy though when I'm around her, and when she's smiling and happy. I have such a desire to be the perfect man for her it's maddening. I waited...and was that all for nothing?"
"Maybe it's something that time needs to run it's course to fix."
"We don't have much time."
"After everything is said and done, you need to talk with Arina."
"Assuming that the ressurection works."
"It will."
"You sound confident." Percy scoffed and Arion sighed as he came to a halt in the sand. Arion turned his head and looked out at the ocean, seeing dark clouds in the distance as they came towards land.
"Like I said, I have lived many years on this earth Percy Jackson. You learn to feel things, you learn to hope and what's more...you see miracles beyond your wildest dreams."