Bet y'all didn't expect another chap this early!
CHAPTER EIGHT: MAGICKS
The minivan rumbled to a stop, the dull hum of the engine fading into the cool evening air. Percy stepped out, his legs still wobbly, as if Sobek's voice had shaken him to his core. He felt the lion's pelt draped across his back.
Embrace your power… why shouldn't he be able to use magic? If magicians who hosted gods could, why couldn't a literal half-god do it?
He glanced at the others, all moving ahead, focused on their mission, their next steps, but Percy's mind was somewhere else.
Egyptian magic. Sobek had said he could control it, that it was his birthright. He'd always thought that being a demigod son of Sobek was enough, more than enough, but now… now things were different.
The others hadn't noticed his momentary lapse, his internal struggle with Sobek. But Percy knew it wouldn't stay hidden for long. Sooner or later, Sobek's power was going to rear its head again - and when it did, he needed to be ready.
They followed Zoë down a path to the National Space and Air Museum,
As they approached the museum, Percy let his eyes drift to the sky. The thought of controlling Egyptian magic sent a chill down his spine, but it was more than just fear - it was excitement. What if he could? What if he could speak the divine words and command the forces of the Nile, just like those magicians in the House of Life?
"Percy," Drew called, snapping him out of his thoughts. She was waiting by the entrance. "Are you coming?"
"Yeah, right behind you," he muttered, jogging to catch up.
As they entered the museum, Percy couldn't help but glance around at the exhibits. Planes hung from the ceiling, their metallic frames gleaming in the dim light, and spacecraft lined the walls like ancient relics of a forgotten time. Zoë led them further inside, moving through the exhibits with a determined stride.
But Percy's thoughts were miles away. Could he really do it? Could he learn to control Egyptian magic? What would it even look like?
Before he knew it, they were deep within the museum, moving past the Apollo displays and into a darker wing, where the air felt heavier, like the weight of history pressed down on them. Bianca stopped in front of the canteen.
"Why here?" Thalia asked.
Bianca shrugged. "I thought we could refuel before we move on. This place has some decent snacks."
Percy raised an eyebrow, glancing at the dusty vending machine in the corner. "You mean this thing?"
"Hey, don't knock it. It might have something good," Drew said, stepping up to the machine and inspecting the selections. "I could go for some chips."
Zoë rolled her eyes but joined them. "Thou believe they have any ambrosia-flavored options?"
"Only if you're lucky," Thalia replied with a grin, already fishing for change in her pocket.
"Okay, what's everyone getting?" Drew asked, her fingers hovering over the buttons.
"I'll take the chips," she said finally, and pressed the button.
Thalia opted for a granola bar, while Zoë surprisingly went for a pack of peanut butter crackers. Percy picked out a can of soda.
As they waited for their snacks to drop, the earlier tension faded away. For a brief moment, they were just kids grabbing food, not demigods in the middle of a dangerous quest.
"Let's hope this stuff doesn't taste like dirt," Thalia joked as she pulled out her granola bar.
"Not like I'm picky," Drew replied, grabbing her chips. "As long as it doesn't explode or anything."
Suddenly, the lights flickered overhead, casting long shadows across the floor. A deep rumble echoed through the museum, and the temperature dropped. The hairs on the back of Percy's neck stood on end.
"Did anyone else feel that?" Drew asked, glancing around nervously.
Before anyone could respond, a chilling clatter rang through the hall. From the shadows of the exhibit, skeletal soldiers emerged, their bony forms gleaming under the dim lights. Their hollow eye sockets glowed with an eerie blue light, and their jawbones clacked ominously as they moved.
"Great," Thalia said, her voice low but steady. "Just what we needed."
"Zombies?" Bianca asked incredulously, eyes wide.
"Not quite," Zoë replied, stepping in front of the group. "These are animated skeletons bound to serve their master. We must fight them!"
Percy felt a rush of adrenaline as the skeletal soldiers advanced, brandishing rusted swords and shields. He instinctively reached for his sword, but it wasn't there.
Right. He'd left it at the gas station.
"Stay close!" Zoë shouted, her voice cutting through the rising tension.
As the first skeleton lunged at Thalia, she sidestepped and swung her spear, but the creature was quick, dodging her attack. With a battle cry, it swung its sword, but Thalia blocked it with her shield. Another charged at Percy from behind, but the pelt blocked its blows.
"Percy, now!" Thalia shouted, her focus split between the skeleton and the rest of the group.
Percy took a deep breath, feeling the pulse of Sobek's power thrumming beneath his skin. "Ha-di!" he shouted, the Egyptian word spilling from his lips with surprising ease.
A surge of energy erupted from his hands, sending a shockwave that knocked the first skeleton off its feet. It crumbled into a pile of bones, but there were more coming - dozens of them, pouring out from the shadows of the exhibit.
The voice in Percy's head—the deep, rumbling presence of Sobek - spoke again. "You have the power, my son. Use it. Call upon the words that bind the gods to your will."
Percy hesitated. Egyptian magic wasn't his thing, right? But what choice did he have? The monsters were closing in fast, and they were out of options. He could feel the ancient words on the tip of his tongue, strange and heavy in his mouth, but natural all the same.
"Use the divine words," Sobek's voice urged. "Speak the names of power."
Percy took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't understand how it worked - he just knew it did. Raising his hands, he shouted again:
"Ha-di!"
A blast of energy erupted from his palms, golden and crackling like the power of a god. It slammed into the front line of skeletons, sending them flying backwards. The bones fell, disintegrating in the wave of divine energy.
The others stared in shock, but Percy wasn't done. Another word surfaced in his mind, ancient and commanding, and he let it flow through him, feeling the connection to Sobek strengthen.
"Wepwawet!" he yelled, invoking the Egyptian god of war and death.
As the divine name left his lips, the ground beneath the remaining monsters cracked open, and ghostly figures - warriors from another age - rose from the earth, their spectral weapons cutting through the enemy ranks.
Hey, fighting fire with fire - or skeletons with skeletons, in this case - always worked.
Drew's mouth hung open. "What the - how are you doing that?"
"I have no idea," Percy admitted, breathing heavily, but it didn't matter. The divine words were a part of him now - an extension of Sobek's power. He could feel it, surging through him like the currents of the Nile.
One last wave of monsters approached, their red eyes gleaming with rage. Percy grimaced, letting the words rise from the depths of his mind.
"Sa-nekht!" he roared. In an instant, his skin shimmered with crocodile scales, the strength of Sobek flowing through his veins.
"Focus on their eyes!" Zoë yelled, dodging another skeleton's blade.
With renewed determination, Percy charged at the nearest skeleton, ducking under its swing and aiming for its glowing eye sockets. He swung his fist, and with a well-aimed strike, shattered the skull of the skeleton, sending it crumpling to the ground.
The monsters lunged, but Percy met them head-on, his fists colliding with their bodies with crushing force, smashing them into dust.
But there were still more skeletons advancing, and the room was filling with the sound of clattering bones and the metallic clash of swords. Percy's heart raced as he fought side by side with his friends, the thrill of battle igniting something fierce within him.
He had to find a way to finish this. Getting the words, the voice of Sobek spoke at the same time at him. He raised his hands high and shouted, "Sahu!" The invocation sent a shockwave through the room, and the last of the skeletons crumbled, their bones scattering like leaves in the wind.
Panting and exhilarated, Percy turned to his friends, who were staring at him with a mix of awe and disbelief.
The others stared at him, wide-eyed. Thalia stepped forward, lowering her shield. "Since when can you do that?"
Percy wiped the sweat from his brow. "Since about ten seconds ago." He grinned, though he could still feel the lingering weight of Sobek's presence. "Egyptian magic... I guess I'm full of surprises."
He laughed to himself. Sobek was right after all.
But with great power came great responsibility, right?
As the others finally got up and started moving again, Percy lingered for a moment, staring at his hand. Egyptian magic. His birthright.
This was going to get interesting.
THE SON OF SOBEK
The group was back in the van, the atmosphere buzzing with adrenaline and disbelief. Percy sat in the back, his mind racing as they pulled away from the museum. The streets of D.C. blurred past, the city lights flickering like stars in the twilight.
"Seriously, Percy," Bianca said, glancing back at him. "That was insane. You just destroyed the skeletons like it was nothing."
"Yeah, it's kind of a big deal," Drew added, her voice tinged with awe. "What else can you do?"
Percy shrugged, the excitement of the fight still coursing through him. "I don't know. I guess we'll find out together?" He flexed his fingers, still feeling the aftershocks of power in his veins.
Zoë leaned forward, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Tis not just that thou used the magic; thou commanded it."
"That sounds really deep," Percy said, laughing. "But I guess it does mean I need to learn how to control it. I can't just go around blasting skeletons all the time."
"Why not?" Drew smirked. "That was awesome!"
Percy grinned back but quickly shifted his gaze to the window, watching the cityscape morph into shadows and streetlights. The lingering presence of Sobek weighed on him, a constant reminder that he was stepping into a role he hadn't fully embraced yet.
The van turned a corner, and suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The air felt heavier, almost electric, and the lights outside dimmed as if the city was holding its breath.
"What's happening?" Bianca asked, concern creeping into her voice.
Percy frowned, his instincts flaring. "I don't know, but it feels... familiar."
Zoë's voice cut through the tension. "We need to be on guard. If Sobek's power is truly awakening in you, it might attract attention."
"Attention from who?" Thalia asked, gripping her spear tightly.
Zoë didn't answer, merely giving Percy a meaningful look.
As the van continued down the street, the air grew thick with an unsettling energy. Percy could almost feel the weight of unseen eyes watching them. It sent a chill down his spine, and he instinctively shifted in his seat.
"Something's not right," he muttered, glancing at Zoë.
Before anyone could respond, the van pulled to a stop. As they pulled into a gas station, the flickering neon lights illuminated the worn pavement and the familiar scent of gasoline wafted through the open windows. Zoë parked the van near the entrance, and the group piled out, eager to stretch their legs.
"Another gas station," muttered Percy.
"Let's take a quick break," Bianca suggested, glancing at the gas station's convenience store. "I'll grab some snacks."
"Good idea," Drew said, her eyes darting around the parking lot. "I could use some water."
Zoë didn't speak, choosing to follow Bianca.
As the three girls disappeared into the restroom, Thalia turned to Percy, who was leaning against the van, his thoughts still swirling with the recent battle.
"You okay?" Thalia asked,
"Yeah, just thinking about everything that happened back there," he replied, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't expect to… y'know, tap into that power so suddenly."
"It's a lot to process," Thalia said, crossing her arms. "But you handled it well. Not everyone can summon ancient magic on a whim."
"But I can, and it's… a lot to take in, I guess."
Thalia nodded. "I feel you. You know, when I first came to camp, everyone treated me like a princess. It wasn't as fun as you'd expect. Being the daughter of Zeus put a lot of expectations of me."
Percy looked at her, surprised. "I never thought about it that way. I mean, it must come with some serious pressure."
Thalia shrugged, a faint smile breaking through. "It does, but it's not just about expectations. It's about what you're capable of, too. People think I should be able to handle everything perfectly because of who my dad is. It can be exhausting."
"Yeah, I can relate to that," Percy said, thinking about his own struggles. "Everyone expects me to be this hero, but I still feel like I'm figuring things out as I go."
"Exactly. It's like, no one sees the doubts that creep in when you're supposed to be invincible." Thalia sighed, her expression softening. "But we keep pushing through, right? We're not defined by what people think we should be."
Percy nodded. "The expectations… they get to you, y'know?"
"Exactly. And it's not just the expectations. I mean, my mom…" Thalia hesitated, the tension in her voice evident. "She had a lot of issues. She'd been through a lot herself and took it out on me. Growing up, it felt like nothing I did was ever good enough for her. I always had to fight to prove I was worthy."
He frowned. "That sounds rough. I'm sorry, Thalia. You didn't deserve that."
Thalia looked away. "I know it wasn't my fault, but it still hurt. I've had to learn to stand on my own two feet and not let her problems define me. It's tough, especially when I'm expected to be a hero."
Before he could say more, she said: "I had a brother. Jason, that was his name. He was two when he went missing. We looked for him all over but-" her breath hitched. "We couldn't find him."
Percy felt his heart sink. "I can't even imagine what that must have been like," he said softly. "I'm sorry, Thalia."
She nodded, a shadow crossing her face. "Yeah, it was… hard. When I couldn't bring him back, I felt like I failed him."
Percy shifted uncomfortably. "You didn't fail anyone. Sometimes, things just happen that are beyond our control. You fought for him, didn't you?"
"Yeah," she said, a bitter smile touching her lips. "I fought for him, for us, but it was never enough. After he disappeared, I learned to survive. I learned to be strong, but there's always this nagging doubt that I could've done more."
He shook his head. "But you're here now, fighting for others. You're not that scared little girl anymore. You've grown into someone amazing, Thalia."
"Thanks, Percy," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It helps to talk about it. I guess we all have our battles, right?"
"Absolutely," he replied, his own memories of struggles bubbling to the surface.
Thalia laughed, her earlier tension dissipating. "Let's show them what we're made of."
A few minutes later, Drew, Bianca, and Zoë came back from the gas station. Soon, they were back on the road.
Whatever awaited them, Percy was ready.
THE SON OF SOBEK
Desert.
A lot of desert.
As the van rolled along the winding road, the landscape outside transformed from the familiar scenery of civilization to the vast expanse of the desert. Golden sand dunes stretched as far as the eye could see, the sun beating down relentlessly and casting long shadows behind them.
"Welcome to the desert," Drew said, leaning against the window, her eyes scanning the horizon. "It's kind of beautiful in its own way, isn't it?"
Percy nodded, captivated by the endless sea of sand and the stark blue sky overhead. "Yeah, it's something else. A little… desolate, though."
Bianca, seated beside Drew, stared out at the dunes. "There's a kind of freedom in that, I think. No roots to hold you back."
"Or no monsters to chase us down," Percy added. "But that's never the case, is it?"
The group shared a knowing silence, the unspoken reality of their lives hanging in the air. Percy could feel it - the weight of their experiences, the battles fought, and the dangers still ahead.
"Let's hope we can make it through this stretch without any surprises," Percy said, attempting to lighten the mood. "I'd rather not deal with more skeletons right now."
"Agreed," Zoë replied, her tone earnest. "But we should stay alert. Desert areas can be deceptive. It's easy to let thou's guard down."
As they drove deeper into the arid landscape, the sun began its slow descent, casting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Percy felt a sense of calm wash over him.
After a while, Drew broke the silence. "So, what's the plan once we reach our next stop? Any ideas?"
Percy furrowed his brow, recalling the vague whispers of their mission. "I think we're supposed to find some sort of answers. The prophecy did say that."
Zoë nodded.
"Not to mention, we're in the middle of nowhere," Bianca pointed out, glancing nervously out the window.
"We've faced worse," Thalia reassured them, her voice steady. "And whatever it is, we'll face it together."
As if on cue, the van hit a bump, jolting them all. Drew let out a small squeal of surprise. "Maybe that's a sign we should take a break?"
Percy chuckled. "You might be right. Let's find a place to stop for a bit."
"Look!" Bianca shouted, pointing ahead.
In the distance, a massive figure loomed on the horizon, its metallic body glinting in the fading sunlight. A bronze giant stood vigil at the edge of the dunes, surrounded by scrap metal and other junk.
"Talos," Thalia murmured.
"A copy," said Zoë. "The original was destroyed centuries ago."
"Are we sure it's friendly?" Drew asked, her brows furrowing.
"Only one way to find out," Thaloa replied.
As they approached, the ground vibrated beneath the van's tires. Talos's eyes glowed ominously, scanning the vehicle. Percy could feel the weight of its gaze.
The van came to a halt, and the group cautiously stepped out, forming a tight circle around the imposing figure. Talos didn't move; it merely observed.
"Okay, we need to be smart about this," Thalia said, gripping her spear tightly. "We know he's a guardian. If we don't provoke him, maybe he'll let us pass."
But before they could make a decision, Talos's eyes flared brighter, and he took a menacing step forward, his gears grinding and clanking.
It was clear he perceived them as intruders.
"Time to fight!" Bianca shouted, pulling out her sword.
"Focus on its joints!" Thalia yelled, charging forward, spear raised.
Percy felt his heart race. "Right! I'll distract him!"
He sprinted toward Talos, channeling the power of Sobek deep within him. "Ha-di!" he shouted, summoning a burst of energy that knocked Talos back a few feet. The guardian staggered but quickly regained his footing.
Talos swung his massive arm, aiming for Thalia. She ducked just in time, rolling away as the blow hit the ground with a resounding crash, sending sand flying into the air.
"Percy! Now!" Thalia shouted, trying to create an opening. With a swift motion, he focused on the power surging within him, drawing upon Sobek's essence. "I need you," he whispered, channeling his will. The magic built up, coiling around him like a living thing. He raised his arms, summoning a combat avatar.
A brilliant light enveloped him, and in an instant, a giant holographic shell appeared, taking the shape of a massive crocodile-headed warrior, its form echoing the ancient strength of Sobek. The avatar mirrored his movements perfectly, standing fifteen feet tall, radiating an aura of power.
Percy grinned, feeling invincible. "Let's see what you've got, Talos!"
The bronze giant turned its attention to him, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. With a thunderous roar, Talos charged forward, heavy footfalls shaking the ground beneath them.
"Watch out!" Drew shouted, ducking to the side.
With a powerful leap, Percy activated his combat avatar's enhanced abilities. "Come on!" he yelled, directing the avatar to engage Talos. The avatar responded, its massive arms swinging with the force of a hurricane, colliding with the bronze giant.
The impact sent shockwaves through the air, but Talos didn't falter. Instead, it swung its massive arm, aiming to crush Percy. He ducked, his avatar's agility surprising even him as it mirrored his movements flawlessly.
"Keep it distracted!" Bianca yelled, shooting arrows from a distance.
Percy's heart raced as he landed a few solid blows, the sound of metal on metal ringing in his ears. But he knew he couldn't maintain the avatar for long. The energy required was immense.
Talos kicked him, and the avatar faltered, then went out. He fell into the sand.
Note to self, he thought, work on combat avatars.
He could still use divine words, though.
Percy felt the ancient words bubbling up inside him. "Wepwawet!" he yelled, invoking the Egyptian god of war. The ground beneath Talos cracked, summoning ghostly warriors from the depths of the earth, their spectral forms flanking the giant.
"Ghosts? Really?" Drew exclaimed, eyes wide.
With his fists shimmering with divine energy, Percy landed a solid punch against Talos's knee joint. The bronze guardian staggered.
"Get up!" Thalia shouted, blocking another of Talos's strikes with her spear. "We can't let him regroup!"
Bianca leaped forward, slashing at Talos's ankle, her blade sparking against the metal. Talos roared, swinging his arm again, but Thalia ducked and weaved, thrusting her spear toward the joint of his arm.
Percy sprang to his feet, feeling the energy from Sobek pulse through him. "Sa-nekht!" he cried, summoning the protective scales of the crocodile. His skin shimmered, and he charged forward again, determined to strike.
Talos's gaze locked onto him, and the guardian swung a fist in his direction. Percy dodged, adrenaline pumping, and landed another hit to the giant's leg. With each blow, he could feel Talos weakening, but they needed to finish this.
"Focus on his eyes!" Thalia yelled, ducking another swing. "Aim for the glowing spots!"
As Percy joined the others in their assault, they pushed Talos back, driving him closer to the edge of the sandy dune. With one final surge of energy, Percy summoned the words of power again, "Sahu!" The invocation sent a shockwave through the ground, causing Talos to falter and stumble.
The guardian reeled, and the spectral warriors surged forward, wrapping around his limbs. Talos struggled, gears grinding in protest, but it was too late for them to do anything… Talos shrugged them off.
Thalia got right next to the giant's foot, trying to balance herself on the metal scraps that swayed and shifted with his weight.
Zoë yelled, "What are you doing?"
"Get it to raise its foot!" she said. Zoë shot an arrow towards the monster's face and it flew straight into one nostril. The giant straightened and shook its head.
Percy shouted "Sa-mir!" Pain. It appeared to work, as Talos creaked and raised it's foot.
Talos looked down at Percy and raised his foot to squash him like a bug. He didn't see what Thalia was doing.
The foot came down right behind him and Percy was knocked into the air. I hit something hard and sat up, dazed.
Thalia was inside the machine. Blue flickers of electricity shot up Talos' body.
The giant began to fall apart. It's metallic body collapsed, falling lifelessly to the ground, scattering sand and dust around them.
"Thalia!" Percy shouted. But there was no answer. They saw the giant's carcass just as it finally collapsed, sending up a cloud of sand that enveloped them.
Percy stumbled to his knees, his heart in his throat as he frantically scanned the area. "Thalia? Thalia!"
Silence.
"Thalia!" he shouted, desperation clawing at him. He pushed through the settling dust, feeling an ice-cold grip of dread.
It wasn't long before he saw her, lying motionless in the rubble. The sight hit him like a punch to the gut. "No… no, no, no!" he gasped, rushing to her side.
He knelt beside her, shaking her gently. "Thalia! Wake up! Please!"
But her eyes remained closed, the spark of life gone from her face.
Drew and Bianca rushed to his side, their faces pale. "Is she-" Bianca began, but the words caught in her throat as she took in Thalia's still form.
Zoë knelt beside him, her expression darkening.
"No!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "She can't be gone! We just fought together! We were supposed to win!"
The loss settled in the pit of his stomach like a lead weight, each breath becoming harder to take. Percy felt tears sting his eyes.
He wanted to scream, to fight against the unfairness of it all.
"Percy," Zoë said gently, placing a hand on his pelt-adorned shoulder, but he shrugged it off, unable to bear the sympathy.
He could feel the energy of Sobek flickering within him, the connection they had forged feeling suddenly hollow. "Why couldn't I save her?" he whispered, the weight of his failure crashing down.
Vaguely, he remembered the prophecy - one shall be lost in the land without rain.
They were in a desert, and Thalia Grace was dead.
Boom! Bet you guys thought Bianca was gonna die. Nope, I'm too evil. Keeping you on your toes.
Also, Percy has Egyptian magic, finally! Combat avatars will be used more later (and be a lot more powerful), but I don't want him to be too OP just yet.
Review responses:
Joseph Marin: Thanks!
Godisideas: If you want Perzoe, I might actually do that for my new fic The Wisdom of Water. Sadly, not for this fic. Thank you!
fugy: Egyptian magic is insanely underutilised. Percy isn't physically rejecting his heritage, it's more like he's apprehensive to use magic.
Jettshay: Thank you!
Anaklusmos404: Thank you so much! Percy as a modern Egyptian Heracles sounds epic ngl. And he now has the lion pelt, so that's cool. I can't wait to give Percy and Sobek a relationship, but not yet. Thanks again.
Umbra Lycan: Thanks! I've sent the behind the scenes, how'd you like it?
ayden762: I don't think he is.
Robotdocter: I don't think you read it right lmao. Percy definitely killed the lion. Dude, could you tell me the fic where Percy uses combat avatars? I've never seen it outside of my own fics. Thank you!
WhiskeyTangFoxtrot501: Dude, thanks! Carter and Sadie will make an appearance, and Zia won't be as prominent.
Guest: Nice!
BloodandFire-2-1-8-7: You got me, lmao.
Baahubali: Thank you, glad you like it! Hope you like this chapter as well!
merendinoemliano: Really appreciate it!
Fathom: Can't thank you enough!
That's about it! How do you all think the fight with Atlas is going to go?
Over and out!