Nothing is mine.

Last chapter of this half of the story!

The Song of Achilles

Annabeth lay upon the stacked bundles of sticks, two silver drachma gleaming upon her eyes, her golden curls tumbling across the dark wood. Blue veins snaked across the pale skin of her clasped hands and her necklace of worn, chipped beads rested beneath them, wound around the nicked battered bronze blade of her knife.

Don't regret. Percy swallowed hard and reached out, straightening the line of the knife until it lay along the exact centre of Annabeth's stomach. She chose well. And now she's in Elysium. A hot lump stuck in his throat, raw and hot as the guilt bubbling beneath his breast. She followed me. I chose to be brave. And she bravely went up there with me and died.

He stepped back, drifting through the circle of pyres surrounding Annabeth's to where the sombre silent huddle of demi-gods watched Chiron make his way over the ruins of the arena. Dionysius sat upon a piece of marble at the far side of the arena's fallen walls, staring down into the can of diet coke in his hands with a strange gleam in his purple eyes.

'There is a list of names I could read,' Chiron said, glancing down at the ball of paper crumpled in his fist. 'But we know all the names written on it. They were your brothers and sisters and cousins and friends. And they were my dear students.' He drew himself up. 'As we mourn their loss from our lives, we know they surely find themselves on the distant shores of the Blessed Isles or walking the evergreen lands of Elysium. For they all died with great courage and valour, laying down their lives to preserve our world from the darkness Kronos would surely have plunged it back into.'

Life without choice. Without consequence. Without Fate. Percy slipped his hand into his pocket and clutched Anaklusmos tight. Life without freedom.

Chiron cleared his throat. 'I think, perhaps, it would be best if we repeat those names to ourselves, and let the silence mark the magnitude of their sacrifice.'

Percy stared up into the pale blue sky at the fading outline of the morning moon; between his shoulder blades the phantom handprint tingled, prickled and stung.

A quiet step came at his shoulder.

Clarisse stood tall and proud beside him, staring dead ahead across the still bodies of her fallen brothers, the scarred cleft-crested bronze helm gleaming in her white-knuckled hands.

Chiron's hooves rang across the remaining marble steps. 'I believe, among us, there is one above all who ought to light these pyres.'

His gaze fell on Percy and the silent stares pressed down on Percy's shoulders, grinding him down like all the weight of the waves driving a single grain of sand into the sea floor.

Why does it always have to be me?

Dionysius's purple eyes flicked up.

A small torch appeared in Percy's left hand, crackling with soft yellow flames.

He stepped out and laid the torch down upon one of the empty pyres marked with a bunch of poppies.

Demeter's flowers.

The flames caught, spreading across the wood and away along the lines of oil to the other pyres. Atop the first, the red flowers wilted into the fire, curling up into glowing embers, and Annabeth's pyre in the heart of arena burst into flame; the bright orange tongues flared up over her silhouette, swallowing her shadow up.

Percy turned away and stepped back alongside Clarisse.

'Strategos,' she whispered, dipping her head as she stared across at her burning brothers. 'I heard my father pause in battle against Typhon to smile as my brothers fell. They died glorious beautiful deaths and he was so proud of them. Of us. Of… me, for leading them. And I… I was just following you…' Her eyes flicked sideways and she twisted away, swiping at her eyes with her bandaged forearm. 'The vegetable-obsessed psycho is staring at you.'

He blinked. 'Katie?'

'Do you know anyone else here who's caused multiple concussions with a marrow?' Clarisse asked. 'Go talk to her. She looks like she's about to burst into tears or snap and murder us all in our sleep with some kind of carrot dagger.'

Percy glanced back over his shoulder and glimpsed Katie's blonde hair in the corner of his eye. 'I really don't think she wants to talk to me right now.'

'Well you'll find out when you talk to her.'

'I—'

Clarisse dug her elbow into his hip. 'Go. I don't want to survive that drakon and the battle on the bridge only to be killed with a zucchini in the back because she thinks I'm your new girlfriend.'

'I didn't even have an old one,' he said.

I don't really want to talk to anyone right now. Percy caught Katie's green eyes and the quiver of her lip. But I should. Every act of kindness, right, Zoë?

He made his way through the quiet crowd, ignoring the hushed voices and whispers as they all drew back to let him pass, dipping their heads.

'Hey Percy,' Katie squeaked, the colour rising on her cheeks. 'I'm sorry. I promise I wasn't staring at you, well, not more than anyone else was staring, because everyone was staring...'

'Are you okay?' Percy asked.

Her lip trembled. 'I'm fine, it's just so sad. All my brothers and sisters, they were so quiet and kind and sweet… and now they're gone. Like stolen strawberries. Next time I lead the Mysteries and think about Hades, I'll only be able to think about how they're down there in the dark.'

'Not in the dark, Katie,' he murmured. 'Chiron's right. They died without regret and passed into Elysium, into green fields and warm sunshine. Sounds like their sort of place, really. All that green.'

'You said…' Katie stared at her hands. 'You said you thought you weren't coming back.'

'I didn't.' Percy stared across the flames at where Annabeth's body burnt. 'I was so sure it was me. I thought it ought to be. That I just had to be brave a little bit longer… But it was never me.'

'What are you going to do now?' she asked. 'Go home to your mom or…?'

He blinked. 'I hadn't thought about it. I was so sure, I just… it never occurred to me there'd be a now.'

Katie chewed her lip, worrying at it with her white teeth. 'I decided to stay here. I'm no good with numbers or school stuff, I just want to look after my babies in the fields here and be with my family. Someone has to take care of the fields here, too, because they need a bit of work all year around. Chiron said it was fine, he could pay me and if I wanted to go get a fancier job somewhere later, I can.'

Percy turned it all over in his head, memories of classrooms and the mortal world hung flat and still and far away, bobbing like a boat floating out to sea. 'I don't think I can see myself back there.'

If I went back, if I abandoned all this, I'd disappoint you both, wouldn't I, Zoë? And then I'd die. Or worse.

'Maybe talk to Chiron?' Katie said. 'He'd let you stay and do whatever you wanted to. You're… you're a real hero. Like Heracles.'

'That's what Zeus said.' Percy curled his fingers around Anaklusmos. 'That if I wanted, I could face the same challenge of taking a golden apple without punishment from the Gods.'

'From the gardens at the top of that mountain?' Katie asked. 'Mount Tam-something?'

'No mortal can actually get an apple themselves, it's impossible,' he said. 'But… it's not really impossible. There are ways around if you choose well. Heracles found one. If I did it and found one, there'd be no consequences from the Gods for trying to reach the divine. I'd be up there—' he pointed at the sky '—forever.'

Katie's green eyes widened. 'You mean, like, a… god?'

'Something like that,' Percy whispered. 'Part of the nature of the world.'

'Are you—'

He shook his head. 'I said no, you… you can't choose if you're part of the nature of the world, you just… are what you are, I think, or something like that. And I… I need to be able to choose.'

'I think Chiron's going,' Katie said. 'You should catch him and speak to him about it now if you're going to stay here with us.'

Percy glanced up. Chiron turned away from the pyres, picking his way across the rubble of the arena from the burning pyres toward the Big House.

'I will.' He wrestled with his tongue. 'Are you going to be alright?'

Katie nodded. 'Come find me—' the tips of her ears turned pink '—if you're staying, you know. It'll pretty much just be us and a couple others, so…'

'Okay.' Percy watched the colour rise in her cheeks, hunting for words. 'I'll, er, see you about, then.'

'Bye.' She gave him a little wave and flushed, turning back to the pyres as the smile slipped from her face.

The crowd melted away before Percy, parting like the sea before him as he hurried after Chiron.

'Percy…' Chiron paused with one hand on the door to the Big House. 'What can I help you with?'

'I don't want to go back,' he said.

I don't. The weight of truth in the words hung on his tongue like a shell suspended on the swirling waves. I can't.

Chiron's brow wrinkled. 'I suppose that's your choice to make. It will be quiet here though, Percy; the satyrs, like your friend, Grover, have all gone out to find as many of the younger demi-gods as possible. The remnants of Kronos's army have scattered from Manhattan and will likely seek refuge or revenge across the country. The aftermath of war is a more dangerous time for the vulnerable than during it.' He opened the door. 'Let's talk inside, Percy.'

Percy followed him through into the council room. 'Kronos's army, what's being done about that?'

'Before I answer that, I should pass on a message from Grover,' Chiron said. 'He wanted me to tell you that he's sorry he won't be here for the funeral, but he felt that it was more important to go out and watch over the younger demi-gods who are at risk. And he wanted me to tell you goodbye; I think, perhaps, he was not expecting your return from Olympus, as the few of us who gleaned what the Gods might offer you were not.'

'I came back.'

'So you did.' Chiron sighed. 'Grover said that it felt like a late goodbye, that you left him behind a long time ago and haven't needed his guidance or help since you left to aid Artemis.'

'I found my guidance,' Percy murmured.

'A star to follow,' Chiron muttered. 'I suppose you did.' He patted the back of the nearest chair. 'Most of the older demi-gods have elected to leave camp despite the danger of Kronos's routed forces, I daresay they want to feel that it's all over and wish to leave this war behind. Clarisse is staying to take Annabeth's old role at camp.'

'And Katie.'

Chiron nodded. 'And Katie.'

'And me.' Percy clutched Anaklusmos tight in his fist, cap of the pen digging into his palm. 'I'll go back to Manhattan with Blackjack and track down what's left of Kronos's forces, but when I'm done, I'd like to stay here and help out where I can, like Katie is.'

'Camp can always use a few permanent councillors to help teach and train,' Chiron said. 'Have you told your mom?'

'No…' He winced, sharp cold waves of guilt slapped against one another in the pit of his stomach. 'She'll be pretty upset, I guess, but she must have known my fate wasn't going to be in the mortal world. '

'Chasing down Kronos's forces is still a very dangerous task even after his defeat, who will you take with you?' Chiron asked. 'Clarisse?'

'No.' Percy shook his head. 'I'm not leading anyone after me to die. Not ever again.'

A sad tired gleam rose in Chiron's brown eyes. 'I don't believe you will change your mind even if I try to persuade you otherwise, will you?'

'No. This way, if it's meant to be me, it will be, and if it's not, it won't be anyone else,' Percy said.

And I can't die. Not unless I abandon everything Artemis and Zoë showed me and fall from grace like Achilles.

'Call your mom,' Chiron said. 'Use the Big House phone next door, it's a landline and a bit old, but it'll work.'

'I will,' Percy replied. 'But she'll understand. You only get to make your own choices and this is mine.'

'You are less and less the impulsive boy I tried to teach history every time I see you,' Chiron murmured. 'Good luck, Percy.'

'Thanks, Chiron.' Percy pointed at the wall, his stomach a churning mass of heaving cold waves. 'Is the phone through there?'

'Yes,' Chiron said. 'Do you know her number?'

'She made me memorise it for when I get in trouble at school and never changes it,' Percy said. 'She always picks up.'

He stepped next door, his hand hovering over the phone. Be brave. Percy snatched it up and pressed the numbers one by one. I have to tell her.

The dial tone beeped in his ear.

She's probably been worrying I've been eaten by something with an unspellable Greek name this whole time.

'Hello?' His mom's voice wavered down the line. 'Who is this?'

'Hey mom,' Percy said.

Something banged at the other end of the phone and a flood of static crackled in his ear.

'Percy?' His mom's voice shook. 'Is that you? Are you okay? Where are you?'

'It's me. I'm fine. I'm at a camp. I don't have a scratch on me. I'm actually really hard to scratch—'

'Oh thank goodness,' his mom whispered. 'I was so worried, we hadn't heard anything and that huge storm swept right up the coast toward New York a few days ago. I thought Posiedon might be furious because—' her voice trembled '—because…'

A rush of static filled Percy's ears. 'Are you okay, mom?'

'It's okay. I'm fine, sweetie,' she replied. 'Oh, I have so much good news to tell you now you're back! Paul and I are having a baby!

Cold shock crashed over him like a breaking wave. A new baby.

'You're going to have a little brother or sister,' his mom said. 'And, well, we had to get married, because his family is quite traditional and there might have been issues if I had a big bump under my wedding dress — we had to ease them into the shock that I already had a son and had been sort-of-divorced — but we have loads of photos we can show you.'

A baby. And married. Percy pictured his mom with a small pink armful of baby, Paul beside her, and a small smile crept across his face. Of course you are. I've chosen to stay in this world, so now mom finally gets the normal baby and family she always deserved to have.

'Percy?'

'Yes, mom?'

'You're being really quiet.'

'Oh. Sorry, mom. I was just thinking, you know. I wasn't expecting any of that. Does this mean you're Sally Blofis now?'

'I kept my own name, we double-barrelled, actually.' His mom hummed. 'I know it's probably all a bit of a shock for you, we weren't expecting it to happen either, really. Not so quickly, at least, we were trying, and, well, even with your biology test scores I'm sure you know what I mean. Paul nearly choked on his cereal when I told him and he kept asking me if I was sure all day until I did a test right in front of him and then he just sat there and stared out the window with a huge grin on his face. I just - I hope… I hope you're as excited as we are.'

'I'm really happy for you,' Percy promised. 'You're getting what you were always meant to have at last. A real normal family.'

'And you.' His mom laughed. 'I'm sure you'll get yourself into some trouble still.'

'I'm not coming back, mom.' Static crackled in his ears. 'Mom?'

'Percy, you have to come back,' she chided. 'You need to go back to school and finish your exams and live your life.'

'I can't go back to that, mom,' Percy murmured. 'It's just not possible anymore.'

'What do you mean not possible? What are you going to do then?' his mom demanded. 'How will you pay for things? Where will you live? When will we see you?! Percy, it's been months since I've seen my own little boy…' Her breath rattled on the line. 'Are you going to go and do more dangerous things? I will drive up to that camp and drag you home, Percy.'

'They're probably a bit dangerous,' he said. 'But dying well isn't something to be scared of, mom.' Percy took a deep breath. 'And I won't be at camp, so… Look, mom, you only get to make your own choices, and this is my choice to make. If I just left it all behind when I could help… that wouldn't be right. I… I can't do that.'

'You're not an adult, Percy. You can't make this choice.'

'I can. I have. I was old enough to choose to die, so I'm old enough to choose how to live.' A soft tingle crept across the skin between his shoulder blades. 'This is the right choice, mom.'

His mom sighed. 'Well, at least you have Annabeth and Tyson to keep you from doing anything too stupid.'

Percy's heart sank. 'We burnt Annabeth's body today, mom,' he murmured. 'And Tyson's gone too. I don't think if I see him again, he'll be my brother anymore.'

The static rushed down the line.

'It's okay, mom,' he said. 'Annabeth's in Elysium, because she was brave and died well without any regrets.' Percy stared through the window at the fading morning moon. 'I have to go now, Kronos is defeated, but there are still a lot of monsters that followed him fleeing Manhattan and I don't want to give them too much of a headstart. I don't know when I'll next be able to call, because I won't have a phone, of course, but I'll send you postcards or something if I can—' he held his breath in the silence on the other end '—mom?'

Quiet little sobs came in stabs of static; they tore at his heart, tugging it down deep into the darkness beneath the waves, a single speck of sand sinking to the bottom of the ocean beneath all the weight of the icy waves.

I'm sorry. But you've got the normal family you deserve now, mom. And I can't disappoint you or Artemis, right, Zoë?

Percy sucked in a deep breath. 'Bye mom.'

'Bye Percy,' she whispered. 'I love you.'

AN: Very happy chapter, but after this one, nobody will die for, like, at least two chapters. Probably. And, to prove it, you can read the next one or two on Discord if you follow the linktree.

linktr . ee / mjbradley