Persephone stood next to him on the borders of Erebus. The location was perfect; Percy could feel the call of the Shadows and decipher their words. The Underworld was never separate, but there was something special about the borders. It was as though the very essence of pure shadow could sustain him, just as the ocean could.
The Queen of the Underworld shot him a smile as she poured a handful of seeds into his waiting palm. The tart aroma sharpened his senses as they sat in his hand. Little tendrils of shadow wrapped around each, flickering in and out of Percy's vision as he raised them to his mouth. The juices flowed over his tongue as his pupils flared, the currents of shadow crescendoing their enticing call.
"I'll guide you there. The first time is always the hardest," Persephone said. "Poseidon said it was okay to use your cabin. He's furious for you."
Percy nodded and closed his eyes, allowing the energy to flow through him. The once dreaded shadows reached out to him, but instead of their usual icy edge, there was a soft warmth, as though they had accepted him as one of their own. Slowly, his body began to slip away. He melted into them, aligning his thoughts with the pulsing rhythm of the darkness.
He recoiled as his heart thrummed in beat with the shadow, his desires united with them for the first time. Something had changed since his explosion on Mr. D, and ever since, the shadows were no longer scary. Instead, their song of vengeance had turned pleasant in his ears. In many ways, they were the only ones who could truly understand.
Instead of fighting the ghastly hands that reached for him, he allowed them to caress his skin, their chilling touch sending shivers down his spine. Despite the still uncomfortable sensation, a sense of security washed over him. In his mind, a map of the inner workings of the shadow current appeared, with Thalia's shining face breaking through the oppressive darkness that nipped at him.
Picturing the Poseidon cabin as clearly as possible, a final burst of energy and a push from those hands had a light appearing at the end of his shadowy tunnel. His heart skipped a beat, a sensation that felt suspiciously close to giddiness filled him. Thalia was waiting for him. His Thalia.
He stepped through the edge of the shadow and into the room, the familiar aroma of sea salt air tickling his nostrils.
The thick air of the Underworld seemed to slough off from him as his feet found firm ground once again. A breeze blew past him, nearly corporeal as it ruffled his hair affectionately, seeming to leave him with a moment of praise before the pomegranate scented air dissipated from the cabin.
In his first moment of privacy he hastily scanned the cabin, desperately searching for Thalia, hoping she hadn't left.
His heart dropped into his stomach as he examined the bed adjacent to his. It was pristinely made and undisturbed. Hurrying over, he ruffled the neatly made covers, searching for any sign of life. Even Thalia's hairs, which were occasionally left on her pillow, were absent. It looked like his Father's, completely abandoned without remorse. He choked back a sob as he realized what that meant. His bed, still unmade and messy from his fight with the Eagle, stood, the only sign of life in the room. His other half had been ripped from him.
Searching the cabin's private bathroom, he found it nearly empty. Thalia's clutter, a comforting sign of homeliness, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, lonely bottles of shampoo and body wash stood on the shower ledge, the only disruption in the stark linoleum facilities. He fell to his knees on the cold bathroom tile. She was gone, left to deal with the horrors of the Zeus cabin or the Big House.
His hands fidgeted as his mind began to race. He needed to see her. He had to. Of course she'd be upset with him for vanishing. Now that he was persona non grata to Dionysus, none of his mail had been permitted to reach her either. With agonizing clarity, he could feel the crushing loneliness she must have endured after she woke up from her badass fight with the Eagle.
He jumped to his feet, pacing as a hand rubbed absently at his chest. The weight of her absence was crushing. And he couldn't even go looking for her; he could only wait inside the door and hope she walked by. The cabin was the only place free from Zeus's eyes, and leaving would be a death sentence. Even then, seeing her one last time might be worth it.
"Damn it!" He yelled as he brought his fist down on the bathroom counter. A massive crack formed on impact, spider-webbing through the cultured marble finish. Percy winced as fiery pain shot up his hand, protesting the violent outburst. The skin had already turned an ugly shade of purple, bruising as it began to throb. Grumbling, he slowly backed away from the sink. The walls were already shaking violently, and the last thing he could afford right now would be to accidentally bring the cabin down. Plus, if Thalia happened to wander by, she couldn't see him like this.
A vibrant flash of light the color of the sea lit up the cabin and Percy jolted to shield his eyes. The strong, comforting smell of the ocean filled the cabin, overpowering all else. Percy's eyes were still averted, fixed on the now seamless marble of the bathroom counter, when a strong pair of arms embraced him.
"My son," Poseidon's deep voice rumbled behind him. "Are you alright? What happened?"
Percy turned as the arms holding him fell away. One glance at Poseidon's face and his heart dropped. His usual self assured expression was gone, replaced with worry. More wrinkles than Percy remembered marred his face, and his countenance lacked the vigor of immortality.
"I'm fine, Dad," Percy said. He wasn't sure if Poseidon counted as his father, but the term rang true through him as surely as it did the day the God of Tides had claimed him in front of the entire camp. "It's a long story."
"We've got time," Poseidon said. His eyes flickered with barely contained agitation, but he inhaled slowly, like he was calming himself. "Please, tell me everything you can."
Memories roared through Percy's mind as he did his best to settle himself. He thought back through the past month before settling on the cause of his banishment from camp.
"I kicked Mr. D's ass." He joked, cracking a smile. "He deserved it, though."
Poseidon's eyes glowed with pride, but not surprise. "I have heard about the Eagle. You and Thalia did well, though the circumstances were inexcusable."
The air around the god darkened with his gaze. Storm clouds gathered on the ceiling of the cabin, bringing wind and rain with them as they raged. Poseidon turned and thrust his trident upward, channeling the storm effortlessly up through the ceiling and to the sky beyond. The violent storm was gone as quickly as it had appeared, a gentle breeze left in its wake.
As Poseidon turned back to his son, deep-seated hatred blazed in his eyes. He smiled, almost cruelly, as his gaze flitted skyward. "I believe my brother has forgotten who I truly am. He never really forgave me for the whole Storm-bringer thing. The only difference is that I am willing to wield those storms on behalf of my family rather than myself." He looked at Percy, a fierce glimmer in his eye. "Do not fear the storm. Although I expect you don't, considering your choice of friends."
"Thalia's not dangerous, Dad," Percy said, overcoming his awe at the rare show of godly power. "Don't bring her into this."
Poseidon quirked an eyebrow as he smirked. "Not dangerous, huh? I'm a little disappointed. My dear Amphitrite is quite dangerous to all who oppose her."
Percy flushed red, his Father's words finally clicking. "Wait, I didn't mean…"
A laugh escaped Poseidon's lips, a booming sound that rivaled his storms. "Oh, my boy. It's all in good fun. You are quite like me, after all. Do not fret; I will not abandon the girl after I've saved her. She is loyal to you, and that is good enough for me."
The pit in Percy's stomach began to reopen. Why should she trust him after he left? Pressure built behind his eyes at the thought of the inevitable, vicious glare she'd be giving him when she saw him again. She'd already been abandoned so many times before, and he'd gone and done it to her without wanting to. He needed to explain everything.
Percy was startled from his thoughts by Poseidon placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "I understand it is difficult and may take some time, but I believe she will find it within herself to move forward. She, more than anyone, knows of the cruelty of the gods." He gestured to himself. "Every god is cruel. The difference between us is only to whom we turn our ire. Heroes are much the same way."
Percy winced, and he held up a hand to explain. "The world will forever be hostile, and the only way we can survive is to do what we must. Every enemy spared is another opportunity for that enemy to shed more blood. An enemy slain will never bother you again."
Percy's stomach churned, but he understood what that meant. Posedao had promised the same thing: mercy only meant prolonging the conflict, and more conflict meant more death. He wouldn't let anyone hurt Thalia. Even in the time when she wasn't talking to him, he still would have killed Luke, or anybody, for her. Anyone who could make her feel broken or convince her she was less-than deserved to suffer.
"What should I do?" Percy asked, fighting his quavering voice. "I'm stuck in the cabin. Zeus will smite me where I stand if I leave. Thalia probably hates me, and Kronos is getting closer to rising." He let out a shaky breath, his onslaught of worries caught in his throat.
Poseidon gave a small sigh as he ruffled Percy's hair. "There is but one option, I'm afraid. But it would allow you to peruse Camp safely again, for a time."
"Tell me," Percy said, tendrils of anticipation weaving up his spine. "I need to see her."
One moment turned to two, the air heavy as Poseidon's eyes bore into Percy's, studying him deeply. Poseidon pursed his lips as he looked towards the ceiling, seemingly deep in thought.
"It is a little sooner than we were planning…but if I were to officially offer you a quest, you would then be designated a hero by the Ancient Laws. Then Zeus can't just strike you down wherever or whenever he pleases."
Percy rapped his knuckles against his thigh, the comforting impact ebbing his worst worries. His eyes flitted to the door once more, desperately hoping that Thalia would come through it at any moment.
"What would the quest be?" He asked cautiously. "Where would you be sending me?"
Poseidon sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. "You are familiar with the Labyrinth, yes?"
Visions of the old man's maggot-infested corpse squeezed their way into Percy's mind, unbidden. He shuddered over the man's cryptic message at the itching on his skin in the maze. Without thinking, he began scratching his skin, phantom ants crawling through as his mind warped around the horror of that place. Still, he nodded jerkily.
"Considering the Eagle, I highly doubt that morale for defending Olympus is very high," Poseidon began. "And frankly, even I don't care much for my brother at the moment for endangering my son and future daughter-in-law. Anyone willing to discard their own children so callously has clearly lost their way–"
Percy cut him off, sensing another rant about the King of Olympus. "Preaching to the choir, Dad. Why is the Labyrinth important? What do you know?"
Percy didn't even try denying the daughter-in-law bit, and Poseidon gave him a knowing look. Percy fought the heat rising on his cheeks as pleasant memories from Aphrodite began to weave their way through. Most involved him and Thalia on a bed, either snuggling or stripping. Gods, he'd kill to see that, to do that with her. His soul was drained without its other half, and the stony walls of isolation loomed larger every day.
"While my brother has endangered Camp with his foolishness, the Labyrinth remains an enigma to the Olympians. Hecate has turned on Olympus, and she alone knew the magic far better than most," Poseidon said. "We have strong reason to believe that Kronos will use his forces to attack Camp. So while people like me can politic with Zeus, the Camp must be protected in the meantime."
"So, you just want me to investigate?" Percy asked. "Is that it?"
"More or less?" Poseidon shrugged his shoulders. "I suspect there is far more at play, but our hands are tied. I suspect the Prophecy will guide you more." He cracked a smile. "But at least this time, you won't need to fight the Minotaur. Unlike Theseus, you managed to separate the tasks."
Percy laughed, although it was emptier than he would have liked. The Labyrinth loomed over him, its menacing walls a prison though he had not yet entered. His Father's sincerity was apparent, and even though his relationship with most gods left much to be desired, heading to a magical place that even they couldn't track felt like a disaster.
Deep inside of him, he knew that his destiny was to be found there. It was the only possible outcome in which he, Thalia, and his other loved ones were saved. The haunting words of the old corpse scratched at his mind again and again. Your destiny shall be found in the endless maze.
Percy steeled himself, his jaw tense. "I accept." He said. "I shall go into the maze on your errand as a hero."
Poseidon relaxed, some of the tension lines leaving his face. Once again, the sea felt free, and Percy could feel many ocean storms around the globe dissipate, leaving sailors to traverse the calm seas once more. His heart panged as he realized the worry he gave his Father. In its absence, however, his corrosive anxiety over confronting an angry Thalia was heightened.
Poseidon's gaze softened, his pupils swimming like the sea's currents. "As a hero, I hope you succeed in defending your friends. It is what I want. However," he pulled Percy into a brief but firm hug. "As my son, I want you to remain safe."
"I will be," Percy said. His voice caught at the end, his Father's warm arms causing his heart to swell. "I will be," he repeated. "For her."
Breaking from the hug, Poseidon clapped Percy on the back. "Forgive me for the theatrics, but since we're doing this the old-fashioned way, I believe you have an entrance to make."
Percy stood in the center of the pavilion, his expression carefully neutral, and his skin crawling from the inquisitive, piercing gazes of the Campers. None of them were fiercer than Thalia's. Her expression had morphed from relief to frustration, anger, and something else that Percy couldn't name. She'd bite her lip occasionally and then avert her gaze like she was embarrassed. He couldn't really blame her; he wasn't sure what to do either, and of all the things he wanted to say, it wasn't the time.
Her once sparkling blue eyes were now dull and lifeless. The first time he'd caught sight of them, he'd nearly flinched away. Her movements were sluggish, and she looked like she hadn't slept since he'd left. In her brooding moments, her eyes would go wide, almost imperceptibly. Her fidgeting hands made signs that only Percy could recognize. Her breath would hitch, and the desire to cradle her nearly consumed him. He tried to get her attention and she averted her gaze, hurt flashing across her features.
"Camp Half-Blood," Poseidon's booming voice echoed through the space, his dulcet tones slicing through the tertiary discussion. "I am here to announce a quest that has been given to Perseus Jackson."
Raucous applause broke out among the Campers, although they still looked befuddled. Of the three quests issued in the timeline of most attendees, Chiron would pull the heroes aside privately and explain things. Then, he would send them to the Oracle with as little fanfare as possible. Percy remembered his first quest exceptionally vividly. Clarisse didn't discuss it, but it was still a relatively private affair, even with the pressure on Tantalus. Considering he was unconscious during the Hunters' Prophecy, Percy wasn't sure, but he imagined that it was nothing like this.
"As you know, Kronos rises shortly," Poseidon said. "It is a threat that…some–" he shot a threatening glare at Mr. D, who was scowling in the corner but saying nothing. "–believe is nothing more than a minor incursion on the sovereignty of Olympus. However, I am not here to stand idly while many of your parents seek to play games with your lives. Therefore, as Percy has already agreed, he will enter the Labyrinth and dispose of the threat within."
Murmurs of anxiety rippled throughout the crowd. The younger ones looked outraged at the implication that their parents were using them as tools, gambling with their lives. The older ones looked dejected as they explained that Poseidon was not lying. They bore the fact with quiet resignation, and Percy's blood boiled.
"As is custom, Percy may select two quest companions." Poseidon's storm swirled just past the beach bordering camp. Winds blew through the pavilion, making the torches flicker dramatically. "But first, the Oracle awaits, my son."
There was no more applause as Percy stepped down from the makeshift podium. Heavy silence hung over them, the kind that no one dared break. Gods didn't show up to Camp without a reason, and the magnitude of the threat was beginning to sink in. His eyes caught Thalia's, but she scowled and turned her head, though he swore he saw them glistening. Sighing, he headed towards the Big House to receive his Prophecy, trying to keep Thalia's broken heart away from his mind.
"I will be making sure Mr. D knows his place," Poseidon said with a wink as Percy continued through the crowd. "And please ensure that my future daughter-in-law hears why you left her for a month."
"I didn't leave her," Percy growled, trying to add some bite into his voice. Guilt bled through instead. He tucked away that giddy part of himself that sang as Poseidon called her his future daughter-in-law. "I'll talk to her as soon as I can."
It was mostly silent as Poseidon walked with him to the Big House. The calming presence of the sea radiated from his father, washing over Percy. The moment they reached the front door, Poseidon stepped aside, flashing him a grin.
"I should really get back to the party," he said. "The Oracle doesn't like to speak if other people are around, and–" he gestured behind Percy, who's eyes widened as he realized Thalia had followed them "–I think someone wants to talk to you."
Percy nodded, his heart doing a little flip. Poseidon walked off, whistling and muttering to himself about 'teaching the young'uns how to make proper quest sacrifices'.
Thalia's normally sweet face was scowling as she glared daggers at him, eyes narrowed and flickering with electricity. Not just her eyes, her whole body seemed to be electrified.
Her nostrils flared as she stomped up the steps and got in his face.
"You better have a fucking explanation," she grit out.
Percy held his hands up placatingly, the gesture not doing a thing against her simmering rage. He could feel the heat from her body even from this distance, her warmth soaking into him. His heart swelled at their proximity, and he couldn't keep a little smile from crossing his face.
Thalia noticed, and he took a step back, trying to speak quickly before her rage could boil over. He backed up again, but she followed him, pushing him against the side of the house and pinning him, her forearm pressed just below his throat.
"Er–I mean, I kicked Mr. D's ass?" Percy's words rushed out, trying not to wilt beneath her threatening glare. "What did he tell you?"
Her gaze lightened nearly imperceptibly, although she did not look away. A massive spike of electricity flowed through her arm and into his chest, but it was hardly enough to make him flinch. She scowled. "I'm asking the questions here, Jackson. You don't get to disappear without a trace for a month."
Percy clenched his jaw, trying to avoid a repeat of the Westover apology. "It's not my fault that Zeus wants me dead. Apparently, I have a 'kill-on-sight' order. And Mr. D wouldn't let any of my messages get to you. I tried to tell you what happened, but none of my IMs went through either. I had to pester Persephone for over a month just to let me try shadow travel."
Thalia began to glow, her body shaking as her lightning bolts slowly covered her body more and more intensely until she was practically covered in blue.
She took a deep, shuddering breath. Tears streamed down her face and Percy felt his heart crack, even as she pinned him beneath her volatile stare.
"Do you know how it feels to wake up from a nightmare and find that the one person who has always been there is gone? To worry for you, cry for you? To be convinced you were dead or worse?" A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "I was forced to choose between following my fathers orders, or being killed. Do you even know how fucking shitty that is?"
"If I came back, I would have been killed!" Percy matched her volume, pushing against her and putting some distance between them. "Of course, I wished I could have come back. I thought about it every single day!"
"You left me!" Thalia screamed, her voice breaking. "You promised you wouldn't."
The retort died in his throat at the raw hurt on her face. Her lightning was sputtering out, like she was too tired to keep her anger up. He sighed. Why couldn't she just listen to him?
"Like I said, it's not my fault your dad's a whiny little bitch," Percy grit his teeth as he tried to keep his tone in check. "You think I wanted to leave?"
"I think you did leave!" Her lightning flared to life as she advanced on him again, all her hurt replaced with anger.
As she opened her mouth, Percy assumed to continue yelling at him, a small but fierce growl came from Percy's feet. Percy looked down, blinking away his surprise at Spot, standing between the two, guarding Percy protectively as three little heads growled menacingly at Thalia.
His little legs were trembling, but his teeth were all bared, and all three heads looked as vicious as Percy had ever seen.
Thalia's eyes darted down to the three-headed Rottweiler puppy, and her lighting flickered before dying again.
When she looked at Percy a few moments later, some of the anger was gone from her expression. Instead, she just looked tired and deeply hurt. She took a deep, shaky breath before sitting on the porch, her back propped against the railing.
"I'm going to give you five minutes," she said tersely. "Explain everything from the beginning. Your head may be full of Kelp, but I know you won't lie to me."
"Okay," Percy said softly, sitting down with his back to the Big House. Spot, who had stopped growling, climbed into his lap, although one head still eyed Thalia warily. "For what it's worth. I'm sorry."
Thalia nodded slowly. Her face was torn, emotions dancing across her features like she was trying to piece together what happened before Percy began.
As he regaled her with his tales of kicking Mr. D's ass and his sojourn with Persephone, her expression slowly began to soften. The daggers shooting from her eyes had not dissipated, but their blades had dulled such that Percy could see she was starting to crack. Starting to believe him.
"In conclusion," Percy said, miming checking his watch, "Poseidon gave me this quest so your dad can't kill me."
An uncomfortable silence fell between them. Thalia shifted, curling her knees to her chest as Percy rubbed his hands together nervously. Neither could hold the other's gaze. Questions of his own began swirling in his mind. He wanted to ask about the empty bed, where she was staying, and what Mr. D had told her. Every thought he had fled from him as Thalia spoke.
"I believe you," she said, her voice shaking. The venom in her glare had long since vanished. Now, the girl before him simply looked…broken. It was an expression that Percy hoped to never see again.
"Do you know why the Eagle attacked Camp?" Thalia asked, her voice small.
Percy had suspicions but shook his head no. It was her turn to talk now.
She took a deep breath then began. "Well, basically, my dad decided to be a dick and demanded I sleep in his cabin. I said no. I know Mr. D threatened me in front of you, but I guess he got sick of it." She shrugged, but the tension in her frame made her attempt at nonchalance look pitiful. "So, he decided to try and kill my friends because he's a whiny little bitch."
Percy sighed, consumed with the urge to pull her into a hug, but he didn't know if that would be welcome. Instead, he gave her a gentle smile.
"You looked like a badass fighting that Eagle, though. It was less of a whiny bitch than your dad."
Thalia smiled weakly. "Thanks," she said. "The other part is just…I've just…had some bad dreams. And I wasn't sure where you were."
She scooted across the porch, close enough that Percy could feel her warm breath against his shirt. Spot shifted, but didn't complain as she sat thigh to thigh with him.
"It was awful…and I wasn't sure what to do." Her voice broke, little more than a whisper. "I don't want to do things by myself. I mean…what can we do against the gods?"
Percy's heart shattered as her lower lip began to quiver. More guilt gnawed at him as he realized how worried she must have been. It morphed into a deep-seated frustration. He was sick and tired of the gods and their petty games. Zeus, most notably.
He focused on her again. Her big blue eyes were filled with unshed tears, her lip wobbling as she sucked in deep breaths, trying to calm herself. In that moment, he knew his decision was made. It was the same decision he'd made with his father just before he'd faded.
He pulled her into him, letting her warmth calm the frustration that threatened to boil over.
"I'm never leaving you again," he whispered. "I'm sorry that I couldn't come see you."
"Shut up, Kelp Head," she said. She burrowed into him, though he could feel her fidget restlessly. "Don't make promises you can't keep."
"I'll keep this one," he said. "I won't allow anything else."
A comfortable silence overtook them. His heart slowly pulled itself back together as he held her in his arms, just to break again at the implications behind her words. She must have moved back to the Zeus cabin, unwilling to endanger Camp. As defiant as she was, she would never jeopardize the other demigods, especially if the only cost was herself.
Holding her tighter, he hoped to convey the message that words could not. Alone, they were strong, but together they were unbeatable. He quite liked the mental image of Thalia as his queen, restoring the throne unjustly taken from his Father. Of course, he wanted the other things that being his queen would entail, too…
"I'm sorry your dad is a whiny little bitch," Percy said. "But I think we'll be okay. You aren't alone anymore."
"You better not be fucking lying," Thalia said, though all the bite in her voice was gone. She had relaxed in his arms, and was even absentmindedly scratching Spot behind the ears of his middle head. He sighed contentedly. In that moment, not even Zeus himself could have broken them apart.
"I could never lie to you, Pinecone Face," he grinned, giving her another squeeze. "You're welcome to come back to my cabin, you know."
Thalia sighed, hiding her face even deeper in his shirt. She was silent, save for the way her breathing hitched. "I'd really like that…but you know I can't."
The answer wasn't surprising, but it still stung like she had driven a dagger into his heart. It wasn't her fault, and given their dual self-sacrificing nature, he completely understood. He just selfishly wanted her for himself, willing to fight whatever monsters threatened her. No one would get between him and his girl.
"I know," he said, hiding his hurt. "I just…thought I'd offer."
Thalia gave him one more squeeze as she slowly pulled away. Her eyes were red and puffy, and the front of his shirt was soaked, but in a way, it was comforting that she could slip into a similar ease they had held since before he had left. Her brash anger was replaced with a tentative cautiousness, and she gazed at him as though he would disappear if she looked away.
"You better take me on your quest," she said seriously. "You just promised you wouldn't leave."
Percy nodded, grinning at her again. "Of course. I figured we'd need a bit of greenery down there anyway, Pinecone Face."
Thalia flushed, sending a shock through him. Percy just smirked as his body absorbed the harmless energy.
"G-good," she stammered, climbing to her feet. Percy followed suit, Spot jumping from his lap. Thalia looked down at her shoes, her jaw tense. "And, uh, I'm sorry for puking on you."
Percy blinked, the memory wholly forgotten. "Oh, it's nothing," he said, waving her off. "Only takes you down one notch on the badass meter."
Her eyes narrowed, but the corners of her lips turned upwards. "Come find me after you're done, Kelp Head. You're going to have a Prophecy to share."
Oh, right. The Prophecy. He always hated getting one of those things. "Wouldn't dream of doing anything else," he muttered. "I'll see you in a few minutes."
With a nod, she left the porch and started walking down the hill. Percy couldn't help the way his eyes followed her, drinking in the lines of her perfect body as they drifted lower…
He shook himself out of that particular train of thought. With a blush on his cheeks, and one more glance back at Thalia, Percy hurried inside of the Big House.
At the center of the dusty, dim attic sat the Oracle. Her skeletal form was the same as he remembered it. Of course, that's how dead people usually were. From her empty eye sockets, green smoke billowed, her lifeless body looking remarkably like the old man from the maze.
Approach, seeker, and ask. The Oracle's dead, hollow voice reverberated in Percy's mind. He shuddered at how much the intrusion felt like a misty snake coiling around his brain. He braced himself and stood firm. The Labyrinth and all its horrors was the only key to unlocking the future he so desperately craved.
He said simply, "What is my destiny?" A long moment passed, and the Oracle remained silent. He could feel Aphrodite's magic itching at the back of his mind. Percy sighed, knowing exactly what she wanted. "How do I save my love?"
The Oracle seemed to smile gruesomely, billows of green smoke now filling the attic. The scene before him churned his stomach. On the floor were Annabeth, Rachel, Grover, and Thalia, sliced open by some unseen force, and bleeding heavily. Their eyes were empty and lifeless, but they still bore into him. He choked back a strangled sound.
It's not real. It's not real, he told himself. But he could see them, could smell the metallic tang of their blood.
Just like when it was Gabe and his poker buddies, one by one, they opened their mouths and spoke a line. First was Annabeth, turning her head with a jerk as though her body were not hers. From the ashes reborn, the old one's rage.
Then, it was Rachel's turn, green smoke billowing from her mouth as she spoke, Lightning and Ocean dawn a new age. Percy shuddered at the familiar cocked his head, his voice sounding like it was coming through a distortion filter. A cursed blade forged, crafted through stone. Thalia was last in the sequence, her visage tearing Percy apart as her eyes filled with tears. Shattered through breaking of flesh and of bone.
Annabeth opened her mouth again, and Percy frowned, trying to calm his racing heart. This was going to be a long prophecy; that was never a good sign.
Lightning shall fall, the ocean will rise.
Grover continued. Justice shall reign, the King belies.
Of choices, of pain, sacrifice unjust. Percy scarcely breathed, praying Rachels line was penultimate.
His gaze turned to Thalia, whose lifeless eyes had filled with tears. Her amorphous form began to shift, her bleeding torso ripping itself open even further. Percy swallowed the bile that crawled up his throat as her organs sat there, exposed to the air, steaming. From her chest, a knife appeared, flickering a heavy red. Her expression, previously neutral, shifted into one of agony and dejection. As she spoke the lines, she gestured to herself.
Choose O hero, the world, or your trust.
The scene dissipated as Thalia finished the Prophecy, leaving only green mist skirting about the room. Gasping for air, Percy felt the cold, damp wood of the attic floor against his face. He didn't remember falling over. The only thing he could see was the horrific image of Thalia being ripped open, playing again and again in his mind.
Shuddering ripples of power and shadow lapped at his body. The icy chill shocked him from his mental prison. He pushed himself up onto his arms enough to look up at the Oracle. That ghastly smile still stretched across her skeletal face. He steeled himself and met her gaze unflinchingly. Determination filled him, desperate to avoid the future he had just seen, at any cost.
Choose wisely, hero.
Stepping through the front door of the Big House, the first thing he saw was Thalia, leaning against the railing of the porch. Waiting for him.
She straightened, walking to him.
"How'd it go? Are we all going to die?"
"What do you think?" Percy asked, trying to keep his voice steady. A vision of Thalia's broken body flashed in his mind, and he winced.
Thalia rubbed his arm softly. "I'm sorry," she said. "That bad, huh?"
Percy nodded, trying to shake the horrific image from his mind. "In a way. But I guess that's about all we can expect, huh?"
"Don't get cold feet on me, Kelp Head," she scolded. "You already promised me that I'd be going with you. If you think I'm letting you do this by yourself, then you're a dumbass."
Percy chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Thanks." A lump formed in his throat as he kept his gaze squarely on his shoes. "I'm going to guess you want to know the prophecy now, huh?"
Thalia raised an eyebrow. "Did you hit your head or something in the Underworld? What do you think?"
"Right, right," Percy responded. "Of course."
She was quiet as he relayed the Prophecy, her brow furrowed. Her hands moved as she processed the lines, and Percy caught signs here and there. Trust. Choice. King.
He repeated the Prophecy when she signed for him too, and he could practically see the gears whirring in her mind as she went over every possibility of what the lines could mean.
"There's a repeat," Thalia said eventually. "I've never heard of that before."
"The same line that I thought wasn't complete from yours," Percy said with a sigh. "I guess we'll get to find out what it means, though? Considering both of us are going, I bet it means something referencing us."
"If I fall, I hope it isn't from very high up," Thalia smiled a bit weakly. "Heights aren't really my thing."
Percy smiled. "The Princess of the Heavens afraid of the sky? That's like me being scared of the water."
Thalia's eyes narrowed, clearly unamused. "Don't call me princess."
"Whatever you say, princess," Percy said, sticking his tongue out. "By the time this is all over, you'll be a queen anyway."
"You're insufferable, you know that?" Thalia groaned, though her cheeks turned a cute shade of pink. Percy was expecting an insult, or maybe for her to punch him, but she pulled him into a hug instead. He swallowed his shock, wrapping his arms around her ash she buried her face in his chest.
"You better not break your promise," she said, her voice muffled. "No more vanishing on me, okay?"
"I promise," Percy said. "I'm not going anywhere."
Even as the words left his lips, a seed of doubt bloomed inside of his chest. He wasn't entirely sure how the Labyrinth worked. It was completely possible that they'd get separated, even despite his best efforts. Besides, quests never went according to plan.
Thalia pulled back. "Percy-"
"Ahem."
Her mouth snapped shut as they both whirled around. Percy groaned, already dreading this conversation.
Persephone stood with a raised brow, arms crossed over her chest and looking entirely displeased with him.
"Your training isn't done," she said firmly. "To fulfill your legacy, we need to–"
Percy cut her off. "I'm staying. Besides, I have a quest."
Persephone flickered briefly, her eyes narrowing, but she spoke quietly. "It's suicide, what Poseidon wants you to do. You aren't ready."
"I don't have a choice," Percy said. He gave Thalia a meaningful look. "And I made a promise to stay. I'll be safe at Camp."
An exasperated sound escaped Persephone's lips. "You aren't thinking straight," she protested. "The Labyrinth is suicide, it is unknown to even myself and Hades."
"If we wait any longer, Camp will be attacked," Percy shot back. "Sure, we maybe have a couple more months, but do you really think Mr. D would allow anything from me? I want to DO something!" He was shouting now, the earth shaking almost imperceptibly beneath them. He took a deep breath. "I'm sick of Zeus' shit, and I'm not going to hide away like a coward."
Persephone pursed her lips, looking every bit the disapproving older sister.
"Nothing I say will change your mind, will it?"
Percy shook his head. "I'm sorry, but no," he said firmly. "I made a promise that I intend to keep."
The Queen of the Underworld shot a look at Thalia, but Percy could not decipher what it meant. Thalia, however, nodded in approval.
"Then I will leave you to your quest," she said. Her icy demeanor from a moment ago was beginning to thaw. "Remember, you can always pray for assistance, and I will help you, though the Law of Heroes prevents me from doing anything too directly."
Percy nodded. "Thank you, I'll be careful. Although there is one more thing."
"And what would that be?"
"Nico. Take him with you. He's miserable here, and he needs to learn how his powers work."
Persephone's gaze found the large group of campers gathered around Poseidon, who was still going on about sacrifices. She zeroed in on the boy with black hair and olive skin, her eyes narrowing.
"Him, yes?"
Percy nodded. "Yes. He's been struggling since his sister was killed. I'm not doing the dirty work of the gods and telling him. That's Hades' job. He needs to claim him. Either that or you can train him and force your husband to claim him."
Persephone's nostrils flared with annoyance. "I have never loved my husband's escapades, though godly fidelity is fickle. Gods create demigod children in many ways, sometimes by accident. I mean, Athena is a great example of this. She somehow has children despite never violating her oath."
Percy nodded, though he could feel irritation lapping at the edge of his skin. "I know. I will never understand the gods. Even ones I enjoy seeing," he said. "But Nico needs the help, and I won't be around to teach him what you've taught me. So will you do this as a favor for your lovely brother?" He batted his eyes dramatically, and Persephone laughed.
"Of course," Persephone smirked. "Though you are the furthest thing from lovely I've ever met. I'll go fetch him and explain everything. I'm sure he'll enjoy not wearing the orange. That color definitely does not suit him."
She gave Percy one last, soft look before turning and starting down the hill, towards the Underworld's newest prince. Percy sighed as he turned back to Thalia, who was already looking at him.
"What?" He asked, a bit self consciously. Thalia just smiled softly.
"That was a nice thing you just did." Her eyes dropped to her shoes. "And, uh, thanks for staying with me. I know it's not easy to say no to the gods."
"It is when you've done it your whole life," Percy said with a tight laugh. "What did you and Persephone talk about with that look?"
"Just girl stuff," she winked at him.
"So I'll never get to know."
"Nope," Thalia said with a smirk. She linked her arm through him, pulling him towards the steps. "Now come on. Let's go find someone crazy enough to head into this maze with us."
AN: Hey ya'll! Happy March. Not a whole lot to say other than the entry to the death maze is imminent. Also, school sucks. I've averaged like 3 hours of sleep per night due to homework stuff, so I'm glad I got the backlog built up a bit. Also, my wife wanted to convey that she started bawling at Spot standing between our two lovers. He is officially her favorite character. As always, Likes, Favorites, and Reviews are always appreciated. Feel free to make your guesses on the new Prophecy and what it means, or just yap. Yapping is always peak. Now, time for review responses.
pjowriter27: Glad to see you're still following this. I've been following yours and I absolutely love it. Just about time to see my own Labyrinth arc. (spoiler, I have leaned HEAVY into the cosmic horror portion). Excited for more from you as well.
Ginocide02: I was more thinking about the homunculi Percy summoned when I came up with the chapter title, but the idea of equivalent exchange works as well. Peak anime IMO.
anakusosdude16: I'm a political science major so I need to learn R. It sucks but it's whatever. Thanks for reading!