The Weight of our Lies

by MysticBlade

Summary:

You really just got to read it. Its 25 years after the unifying of Camp Jupiter and Camp Halfblood which ushered in a unprecedented age of peace to the demigod world. However, there is a catch. The new Mythological prison The Mountain is currently holding its most powerful prisoner, one it's had for almost two decades, and it's a familiar face...

Catch up with old friends as they figure out who is telling the truth, and who is lying. You will be happy, you will be sad, but most of all your need to see these characters live their lives and be amazing and awesome will be fulfilled.

Chapter 1

 

 

 

He could see her falling again.

He always did. Part of him thought it was a special curse from Hades, but the rest of him knew it was something far more permanent. No matter what he imagined with the endless time he had suddenly found himself with, he always came back to her. Different from him in every way, the curve to his edge, the frown to his smile, the hope to his defeat.

His favorite days were when the sky would turn gray. It was like she was watching him.

With the thought of her, he bent his knees and pushed upward, and the sky that enveloped him pressing him down into the earth raised a few inches.

It begins to rain.

 

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Chiron was getting old. He was of course an immortal centaur, but the recent years hadn’t been as kind as any of his friends would’ve liked. Camp Half-Blood prospered, the 25th anniversary of its union with Camp Jupiter approached, and Demi-Gods around the world had never been safer. Monsters had become almost a training exercise in the real world, exercises in learning, literature, and development had become more common-place than capture the flag. There was no question about it, this was, and had been for the last quarter century, a time of peace.

So what weighed on him, he often asked. He of course knew the answer, so he would never dignify the question with a response. Instead he did as they all had been commanded to do. He carried on.

“Call for you Chiron. The flaming bastard doesn’t want to talk to me”, a voice shouted from the cabin up the hill. The centaur turned to see the flaming yellow-haired head of Will Solace. Even in Will's adulthood the yellow had never left, similar to how he had never abandoned the camp. However, other things had changed. His boyish face had carved itself into a shockingly handsome jawline accompanied by other, seemingly permanently sunkissed features. His owl-frame glasses perched on his nose and accented his corded arms and shoulders well.

“Hurry up and take this Big C, I’ve got to supervise an outing tonight with Hermes Cabin, you know they always get injured first and fast.” laughed Will, as he stuck his head back into the Cabin to shout, “Babe come see me before you leave, I’ll see you off premises”.

With that Solace strode past Chiron who watched him go. Chiron hesitated before moving to the door, for he knew it would soon be occupied by-
“Solace, what did I tell you about calling me that. And of course I’ll come see you and you better believe you’ll get me off- Oh! Hi Chiron, good to see you.” shouted Nico Di-Angelo, pausing for a mere moment of surprise, and noticeably no embarrassment, at Chirons presence. Nico had changed alongside Will, but in much different ways. Once the scrawny sunken eyed boy of death that Chrion had known, Nico had quickly become a man far more reminiscent of a reaping angel. His entire body was toned with sharp and wiry muscle and his face while retaining its pale color had a slight life to it that lit his eyes on fire. Chiron laughed to himself, the magic of love it seemed. Nico’s hair had grown long, and a black goatee had grown on his once young face. While Will had remained heavily involved with the Camp, Nico only came back to see his husband.

Instead, he had done what he always did. Wander, and become a travelling diplomat for cultures, peoples, monsters, places, and everything in between that lay out there in the world. Chiron knew he had briefly been tasked with a heavier task, but had turned it down for it had been too much. “Here’s the call Chiron.” Nico said, his laughter faded away as his husband disappeared over the hill.

“It's about the usual concerns I fear. Tell them you won’t go.” Nico pleaded. Anyone else would’ve heard it as a command, but Chiron knew the man well enough that it was a plea.

“Still they ask for me? I have refused time and time again, how can they expect me to say yes now.” Chiron asked, more to the air than to Nico.

“The Egyptians are refurbishing their contributions. I’m sure they hope to convince you.” Nico said, his voice as sad as Chirons soul felt. Nico handed the phone to the Centaur and made one last look back as he stepped through the door,

“Do not offend the Gods.”

Chiron took the phone in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. If Dionysus had taught him anything, it was that he would need both.

“This is Chiron.”

“Hey Horse-Man, it's Leo. Look I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important but I need you to come tonight”

“Leo, I will tell you what I tell them every year, I refuse to participate in the senseless punishments they exact, I agree some are deserved however-”

“Chiron, Chiron, I know, listen. This isn’t them asking. Some old friends are going to be here, and I think it would help if you were there. Please.”

“It’s a long trip.” Huffed Chiron, mostly annoyed that he was now curious who these old friends would be.

“I know you think you hold responsibility for parts of this, but we need you. Call Iris at 6 and she'll make the trip quick.”

“Fine Leo. But I am getting quite tired of old friends who only call me when they think the world is ending.”

Laughter rings through the phone. “Me too Chiron. Me fucking too.”

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Piper ducked under the yellow tape, as her squad car's lights flashed behind her. It was a beautiful day in Los Angeles, which conflicted with the brutal murder scene in front of her. This was never the part of the job she loved. Not that the violence ever bothered her, she had seen and dealt her own share, countless times over. But the fun part was picking apart the livings minds and actions. Usually using her brain, but sometimes using her powers, to help save the world one killer at a time. She laughed at herself, it was not the usual daughter of Aphrodite path, but then again that had never really been her.

“Detective Mclean, we’ve got something over here,” one of the beat cops called over to her, and ushered her into the house. “We found this in the fridge ma’am, didn’t think much of it but we found some fingerprints on the handle.” the man said as he slid a knife over in a ziploc bag. Piper flashed him a smile, “Thank you Officer, uh Jones, amazing work.” The 55 year old man blushed, and almost tripped over his feet as he walked off. Of course, 55 was only about 15 years older than her but still. She glanced in the mirror, a reflex more than anything, and saw why he blushed. Her caramel skin glittered in the sunkissed air, and her brown hair which she currently had braided swayed hypnotizingly in the soft wind. Her detective uniform hugged her muscular figure and her eyes were as piercing and hypnotic as always. No forgetting who her mother was anytime soon. Speaking of mothers…Piper grabbed her phone, she had to make a call.

“Hey Sarah, yeah it's Piper. I know he’s got his conference today, but it should be done in time. I got stuck at a crime scene right now could you let him know he should pick up Chase and Tristain. Thanks, yes good luck as well I’m sure he’ll be great!” Piper shut the phone, and slid the knife towards the evidence men. She would look at it later, first she had to find a TV.

As if on cue she heard the sound of one from the living room in the house. She walked in to be greeted by a familiar face.

“This city is in desperate need of air quality reform. Smog from our cars, our homes, our places of work have made our lives worse. With the support of my bill that I pushed to our representatives in the house,” her husband, Jason Grace, Mayor of Los Angeles, said to a crowd of reporters. She smiled, it always made her giggle that Jason had gone into politics, but it made sense. If you could trust him to lead an army, surely you could trust him to run a city?

At least she hoped.

She turned away with a smile on her face, only for it to drop as another familiar face walked into the room.

“Piper, I need to talk to you.” whispered the god Hermes as he opened a side door away from the living room.

“For the Gods sake, what could possibly be so important as to interrupt my work.”

“Well it is for the Gods sake, we need your help at The Mountain.”

Piper's face dropped.

“What happened?”

“Nothing Nothing, everything is fine but we need some uh diplomatic oil.”

Piper shook her head, “Hermes, I can’t go back there. It’s hard enough seeing…” she broke off as her eyes watered. “Hermes, I named my son after her, I can’t…”

“Please, Piper. Do it for her then, this is important. The Egyptians are nervous and Poseidon and Athena are sure to make it difficult as ever.” Hermes pleaded with her.

“I wouldn’t come if it wasn’t important,” he continued, “Be there tonight, call my name and I’ll get you. Jason’s welcome to come as well but, he has to control himself as we can't have another last time.”

Piper opened her mouth to say something, but the TV blared and she turned her head for a moment. She didn’t bother turning back, for she already knew he would be gone.

 

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The rain was salty on his mouth. They almost never let it rain here, only when his father came. He smiled, so not everyone believed their stories then. For a moment, the rain was joined with a tear and a small smile.

 

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Leo hadn’t always imagined himself as a prison warden. He also hadn’t imagined it as such a mentally stimulating job. But of course, when you worked to keep the world safe from evil, it was good that it was also fun.

After all, the diamond hard hourglass turner he had forged to keep Gaea from reforming had been a stroke of brilliance. The mechanical eagles had been fun, combined with medical team for Prometheus that made the sick torture of the gods alot less, well, sick. Kronos’s maze inside his mind had been a difficult project, he had to work with magic from an old friend and some complex blueprints but it had worked. He had successfully created something more permanent than Tartarus, with a possibility of rehabilitation.

Of course the rehabilitation was hypothetical, the Gods had yet given him permission to try it but he was sure it would work. It had been done before after all. They had all heard the stories of Bob, once Iapetus the Impaler. If the River Lethe had done it once, it could surely do it again.

It didn’t help that the one time he had been allowed to try, it hadn’t worked. Leo didn’t even know that was possible but, if anyone could resist its effects… it would be his most dangerous prisoner.

That was a problem Leo couldn’t solve. No, wouldn’t solve. He had left that up to the Gods, point blank refusing to devise some torture method for their greatest threat. He promised his father he would ensure that their prisoner would never leave these walls again, and he had. Despite what crimes had been committed, Leo couldn’t bring himself to do what he had done to Kronos, Prometheus, the Giants, or any of the other 15-20 prisoners in The Mountain. He had told the Gods it was because the prisoner was mortal, but they all knew that was a lie.

Leo Valdez looked up at the soot stained mirror across from his work desk. He smirked, he sure was handsome. His curly black hair framed his face, and his welders goggles sat atop his soot stained forehead. He didn’t do much fighting nowadays, and Calypsos cooking and presence had made him quite comfortable so his wiry frame had filled out. His Dad-Bod came with love handles and all, but there was more than met the eye lurking below the surface. His shoulders were broad after years of forging, soldering, building, and more. His heavy hammer was not so heavy to him anymore. He didn’t know it, but the Gods all said it, he looked like what his father could’ve become before Hera’s intervention. Devilishly handsome, proud, strong, and the look of someone who could fix any problem in front of him.

And he had been given all of them. The Mountain held the combined mythology's greatest threats to peace. Set the evil egyptian God was locked away in a lower level of the prison, as was Loki and Fenrir, their prison overseen by a helpful but somber Magnus Chase. Other prisoners did shorter stays, until they were released back into the world after they were deemed to have been punished enough. Dionysus even did a stay once after a particularly nasty party went even nastier. Leo was even pretty sure there was an Aztec God on level 4, but he had never personally been in. The no nonsense prisoners were higher up: Gaea, Kronos, etc. There were 10 levels in the mountain, all had 5 cells except for the 10th and highest level. There was a spiral staircase that led to the top of the mountain that led to the final enclosure. Leo didn’t go up there.

“Hailing to The Mountain. This is Commander Grace, are we clear to bring the Egyptians in.” a voice echoed over a PA system in Leo’s office. Leo started out of his thoughts,

“Shit, FESTUS! You were supposed to tell me when it was 6:00 you old hunk of shit metal.” Leo screamed as he ran out of the office, his outburst was met with a bellow and he felt a spurt of flame hit him in the back.

“Oh shut up you big complainer, you’re going to get to go flying either way come on.” and with that Leo jumped out of the nearest window.

Festus soared up and caught him in his claws, the beautiful golden dragon hadn’t changed a bit, despite many attempted upgrades by Leo. Leo slid onto his back and stared out at the barren terrain around them. The mountain was unfathomably tall, so tall that Leo had stopped trying to take it all in at once. Thankfully the surrounding area was the opposite. The gods had found a perfectly melted circle of ice miles wide, surrounded by sharp craggy glaciers on all sides. It was perfect, as few people came to Antarctica, and certainly no one knew or came to this part. Leo rolled his eyes, but Gods it was boring he thought.

The skyline usually only pierced by the frozen craigs of the glaciers, instead seemed to be speckled with shapes in the west.
“Festus, magnify please,” Leo asked, and Festus snorted and produced a spyglass from his back scale.

“Thank you buddy, see that wasn’t that hard, now if you could start telling me the time with that kind of efficiency..” but Leo was interrupted as Festus rolled and he was forced to cling on for survival.

“Alright alright, you know I’m grateful. Valdez to The Mountain please open the barn doors. The Hunters are here.”

 

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Carter hated flying. It was fun when he was a bird with Horus, but as he had gotten older he had discovered that if he wasn’t in charge of every last bit of the flight his vertigo would kick in. Not very heroic but he couldn’t be perfect. Carter Kane had changed a lot in the last twenty years. He was a prosecution attorney in New York, and he was good at it. Not as good as he was a fighter, but only because he was incredible at that. The Demigod Intervention Board, founded a decade and a half ago, had stopped him from fighting professionally, even though he had sworn against using his powers but that hadn’t stopped him training. He struck just as fast as he had when Horus had helped him, but he was even stronger. His nerdy frame was gone, replaced by the brutal mass and kinetic energy of a predator ready to spring. Zia had compared him to the Horus of old, but with curly hair and a cute smile. That smile came only for her though. As a prosecutor he was as ruthless in the court as he was in the ring. Criminals faced no chance of escape or recompense once he found them guilty. He was lighthanded on those with petty crimes, but if he deemed them deserving he brought down the force of the law. Some, including his sister, would say too much force.

Carter stared out of the flying ship that he traveled in. His rock hard jaw tensed as he looked down at the glacier peaks beneath them. He hated coming here, not for the reasons the others did. No, in fact quite the opposite. He always had to be the bad guy. Well so be it. They were all so afraid of The Mountain, and the man it held at its peak. Carter never thought this, but Zia, proud of her warrior husband, would think it for him, who they should be afraid of is Carter Kane.

Carter Kane who had defeated the god Set, Carter Kane who had piloted the Sun-Boat of Ras and had survived, Carter Kane who had spent the last twenty years stopping every single mythological mishap in the middle east. They called him “The Falcon” there, the same as what his enemies called him in the courtroom. His eyes were sharp, and his claws sharper.

Carter's scythe-like blade was clipped to his belt, and his knuckles calloused and hard as rocks remained tense as he stared out the window. His suit is expensive, but if one looks closely you can see the magic gold fiber beneath it quivering ready to transform at moments notice.

Carter rips his eyes away from the window and looks over at Zia. Her sharp eyes stare back at him, but she has a smile. She rubs her enlarged stomach and pulls him close to her.

“Listen my love, I can feel his heart.” she whispers to him her face a sharp contrast of content to his own.

“He? I was hoping for a cute well-behaved little girl” Carter jests, as he rubs his wife’s pregnant stomach.

“Ha! What women do you know who are well-behaved hmm? Boring ones I assume.” Zia laughs as she covers his hand with her own.

“I wish you had not come my love. This is…harsh climate.” Carter said, for lack of a better word.

Zia looks at him, her smile gone. “Carter, there is no one else. Besides it will be quick, a few spells and I am gone. Despite my gift I am the best we have.” Zia laughs again as she hugs her belly.
Carter grins but only for a moment, “Have you reviewed the spells she used, are you sure you can-”

“Hush Carter. If you remember I taught her her first spell,”

“Yes but, she has learned-”

“Carter, Carter. I know her power. But I know these spells do not worry.” Zia reiterated, her brow furrowing.

“If you truly didn’t want me to come you should have tried harder to talk to her. Sadie is not so cruel as you make her out to be.” Zia reproached him.

“No she is not. But, she can’t be trusted. Not with this.” he responded, his eyes seeing her but looking somewhere else.

“You carry the weight of the world Carter Kane. You will have to rest soon. I will need you more than the world does.” Zia said, her eyes pleading with him rehashing a conversation they have had countless times.

Carter grips his blade. “Yes my love. Once this is done there will be no more weight to carry, I promise.”

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“For Gods sake Leo, why does it always have to smell like Coal everytime we come. The Pegasi hate it!” Thalia Grace’s voice booms out through the open cavern up at Leo who sits atop Festus. Her platoon of Hunters wait behind her, almost 30 young women on Pegasi who quickly dismount and begin feeding their mounts.

“Well maybe if your knock-off Unicorns didn’t shit everywhere I would do something about it.” Leo called back, a smile on his face as he slid down Festus’s tail. The two embraced and Leo held her at arm's length. “You know it never gets weirder, you make me feel old everytime I see you.”

Thalia laughed, “That’s because you are old, tell Calypso I expect to be at Meatloaf Monday next week.”

Thalia of course, looked the exact same as she did 25 years ago. She had become the leader of the Hunters, and Lady Artemis’s most trusted soldier and friend. The Hunters and the Amazons had taken turns being the guard force for The Mountain, and for the last five years it had been under Thalia's supervision. She liked the work, in fact, had requested it, and it had been nice to see Leo more than usual.
Landing behind the Pegasi the egyptian boat touched down, and the doors swung open. Carter Kane stepped out and smiled at Thalia and Leo. “Good to see you Commander Grace. When was it last, Moscow?”

“Something like that, Ice Giants I believe” she said, explaining to Leo.

“And Valdez! Always good to see my uglier twin.” Carter said a laugh in his voice to show it was jest. Leo laughed too, it was true they famously did have some similar features.

“Well, it's always good to see my dumber twin.” Leo said in return and embraced Carter. The pleasantries continued between Zia and Thalia as a voice called out from the door leading into The Mountain.

“Well, are you going to say hi to us or what?”

Leo spun around and his face split into an even bigger grin as Jason Grace enveloped him in a bear hug.

“Well hello Mr. Mayor quite handsy of you” Leo sputtered as he returned the hug with equal crushing force.

Jason laughed and then turned to Thalia and did the same thing.

Thalia never was bothered by her lack of aging until she saw Jason. It was strange watching your kid brother turn into a man while you stayed the same. His face was covered in blonde stubble, and his perfectly gelled hair and ice blue eyes went well with his royal blue suit. She could see the democratic pin on his lapel and smiled at the thought of him muddling through the paperworks and games of politics.

He was older though, she could see some of the wrinkles on his forehead, and watched as he picked up Leo a little lower than last time. He was obviously just as strong, if not stronger than ever, but he had lived and his body showed it. Something hers would never do. He was a reminder to her that all these family members would one day go.

She shook her head to clear it. Her younger hunters had come to her with these thoughts before, she herself had asked Artemis how one deals with it. There really wasn’t an answer. Death came for everyone is what Artemis had said. “It is up to us how we will help the ones we love on their journey. Immortality is no prize, you sacrificed because you chose to help, this is a pain you must bear so they don’t have to.”

Piper followed Jason and she smiled at Thalia and hugged Leo and the two began talking rapidly catching up on some gory detail from Piper's latest case. Thalia however watched Jason and Carter.

“Kane. I didn’t know you were coming.” said Jason, his back stiffening as he looked over at Carter.

“Grace. Looks like we both missed the memo as I was under the impression they don’t allow security risks back to prisons.” said Carter, his face completely neutral but his words with a little more bite than usual.

Jason's face twisted in anger, “I’ve always sworn I’d do what had to be done. But nothing more. You on the other hand you seem more than eager to punish, Prosecutor.” he said snidely as he stepped closer to Carter.

“And you are too eager to do nothing. How’s your climate bill coming? Do you think that’ll help keep down all the murders your wifes been investigating?” Carter asked, blandly once again but Zia and Thalia both noticed the slight redness in his face.

“Well, if slapping life sentences on car thieves left and right helps you sleep at night that’s fine but some of us are a little more secure than that-” Jason shot back a vein in his neck twitching as he stepped closer to Carter.

“Alright alright, that's enough.” Piper said her voice rippling through the two men who both paused their approach towards each other.

“Hermes said you couldn’t come if you did this” she said pointedly to Jason, “and you Carter we all know you’re trying to do what’s right but let's remember we are a team.” she said to Carter.

The men looked at each other and nodded.

When they were boys and less prideful they would’ve shook hands. But Carter Kane the head prosecutor of New York, the Falcon of the East and Jason Grace, the Mayor of Los Angeles, The Lightning of the Night would not.

Zia and Piper looked at each other each with a different expression of exasperation.

“Piper, can you walk me in? Let's get this business done. I want to go home and do some work tonight.” Zia said as she wrapped her arm around Pipers and the two walked into The Mountain, chatting all the while.

Thalia and Leo looked at Carter and Jason. “Can you two behave or should I have my hunters space you out like children.” Thalia said, a hint of laughter in her voice but the offer was serious.

Both the men grumbled and headed towards the door, followed by Leo. Thalia and her hunters were last and the group began climbing the spiral staircase towards the top.

Thalia looked up, and a drop of rain hit her nose.
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Hermes and Chiron stood next to each other looking out at the barren plateau at the top of The Mountain.

“They just sent you? I remember they used to all come.” Chiron said as he looked at Hermes.

“Oh, Athena's coming, so is Poseidon. They always do. The rest, no they won’t. They are scared I believe.”

“Still? It’s been twenty years. How could this be such a threat? Unless Zeus isn’t telling us something” Chiron said, staring at Hermes with his face incredulous.

“Zeus always isn’t telling us something. But let me tell you Chiron. This is a threat. He will always be a threat.” Hermes said, his usual light tone gone. “Quiet now, they’re here.”

The group made its way from the staircase, Chiron smiled at the site of Thalia, Jason, Piper, and the rest. Even Carter Kane, who he knew little of but had heard much about. Before he could say his excitement at their presence, a crack filled the air, and two figures appeared opposite the group.

Athena in her owl branded breast plate, and spear in hand stood proudly, the light spattering of rain sizzling off her glimmering armor. Poseidon stood next to her, his wild hair and beard seemed wilder than ever, he too had his trident in hand. Their respective greatness had one key difference though. Athena’s eyes were filled with rage, while Poseidon looked tired. Very tired.

The rain seemed to patter harder as the groups coalesced into one.

“It’s not supposed to rain here Valdez. That’s a clear security risk” Athena snapped her burning eyes falling on Leo who put a visible effort into not shrinking under them.

“It can’t rain here ma'am. This is uh, magic it would seem.” Leo said, his eyes fighting not to look over at Poseidon, but failing.

“Ah, so this is your doing, you cheat. How many times will you betray-” Athena began her voice rising as she turned on Poseidon.

Piper stepped in, “Please. Let's just do what we came to do.” whether her charmspeak had become so good it was undetectable or whether she hadn’t used it Chiron couldn’t tell but Athena fell silent and the group headed towards the center of the plateau, where they all had avoided looking.

The sky met the earth here, once the great Atlas had held it up, he now remained in a prison on a lower level of The Mountain. For the last twenty years, he had been freed of his burden.

The rain fell even harder now and as the group looked through it they saw the man who held the sky above them. He was dressed in what could only be described as rags, so dirtied and worn were they. But even with them you could see the almost impossible rippling muscles and shimmering power underneath his frame as he shifted under the weight of the sky.

His black hair glistened with raindrops atop it, and his long pitch black beard covered the bottom half of his face. His head stirred as they approached, but remained down and the celestial bronze chain locked onto his neck clanked. The chains connected to his feet and seemed to be staked to two huge boulders. Not only that but under closer inspection runes and symbols were drawn around him in a perimeter. Imprisoned thrice fold when most likely one would have done. But then again…nothing was allowed to be left to chance. As they came closer, his head finally rose and he stared out at them.

He remained as handsome as the day they had imprisoned him, but he had changed. His face was chiseled, and didn’t have the lines of laughter that anyone who once knew him would know that it should have. His eyes seemed to be sunken into his skull, but it only made his sea green eyes seem deeper and more intimidating than before.

One of them, maybe all of them, whispered his name.

“Percy Jackson.”

The rain stopped.

Chapter 2: Flight from The Mountain

Summary:

Some mysteries are unraveled, but they seem to bring more questions. Why is Percy Jackson Imprisoned? What has changed in the world we know during Peace Time? Where are Sadie Kane and Hazel Levesque? Does Leo Valdez look hot with his Dad Bod?

All these and more to come.

P.S. Answer to the last one is yes.

 

Reyna Ramirez Arrellano stepped out of the shower, her feet touching the cold floor of her Chicago penthouse. She slipped into an old Camp Jupiter shirt and some underwear as she padded towards the door to her bedroom. It was a large apartment, some would say too large for one person, but Reyna enjoyed her space. Besides, it was currently being invaded.
She paused in the doorway to her bedroom and looked at the woman laying in her bed, her face smushed into Reynas silk pillowcase. Clarisse La-Rue had been adding stops in Chicago to her crusades through the continents for the last decade. It was funny, Clarisse’s various conquests had been one of the largest points of debate among The Demigod Intervention Board. Ironic, for Clarisse’s commitment to saving people was what allowed her to keep coming back to Reyna’s bed.

Clarisse had fought down in Peru, there had been an upkeep in terrorist attacks and Clarisse had sworn it was mythologically involved. She later told Reyna she had no idea, but someone had to go do something. She ended up being right of course, a Norwegian witch had commandeered a platoon of Manticores. Her and Frank Zhang had saved a thousand lives in Machu Picchu, but Reyna had been unable to get the Board to back them. Of course, she always believed asking for forgiveness was the best policy, but she had been less influential than as she had now. Clarisse had been able to keep her questing license, but Frank had not. He hadn’t cared, and had told Reyna it wasn’t her fault. Hazel didn’t share those thoughts however, and Reyna had lost a friend.

Lost in her thoughts, Reyna stared down at the woman on her bed. They both had changed, but Clarisse remained the fiery spirit she had always been. Reyna laughed in spite of herself, the two had clashed with each other early after meeting. But as her relationships always did, their clash turned to love. Bellona and Ares had a similar root to them, as did Reyna and Clarisse, one they loved in each other.

Reyna slipped into bed, and Clarisse, still asleep, opened her arms to pull Reyna close into her warmth. Staring out at the Chicago skyline, Reyna’s worries stopped for a moment and she let her hands fall behind her and into Clarisse’s hair. Life was good.

 

And then the phone rang.

 

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Percy Jackson was very wet. Usually this wouldn’t matter, but it was the first time he had felt water in almost a decade. His father had made it rain once early on in his imprisonment before the chains had been added, Percy smiled at the memory. He was 40 years old now, past the prime of his life most of his enemies would say. He shook his head ruefully, and it seemed that all he had now were enemies. They would be wrong however. The sky as cruel a master as it was had trained him. Its burden, never relenting, had grown bearable. At first he thought he was accepting his fate, which he had fought hard not to do, but he realized it was because he was becoming stronger. He looked down at the water on the ground, and watched as a little bit began to pool at his feet.

“PERSEUS”

He was shook from his thoughts and looked back at the group in front of him. Speaking of people who hated him, they were all here. The worst of all had called his name,

“PERSEUS JACKSON DO MY CHAINS STILL HOLD YOU” Athena called again stalking closer her spear raised.

He looked at her, his eyes seemed to pierce her armor. The rest of the group faltered a step back, except for two. Athena did not falter and continued her advance and Carter Kane stalked behind her.

“For now,” he croaked. His voice seemed to carry over the rain and it shocked the rest. Thalia started shouting orders and her 30 hunters spread out in a circle, all with arrows trained on him.

Leo pulled out the sack bag he had been carrying and began walking forward, accompanied by Jason Grace who hovered above and looked at his old friend.

“Hello Thalia.” Percy said, his voice growing stronger after so long without its use. “Long time no see old friend.”

“You are no friend of mine.” she hissed, and her hand shook as she slid out a celestial bronze knife, holding it between the two of them.”What you have done it’s…How could you?” she starts, and breaks off again as the thought brings tears to her eyes.

 

“Zia, allow Leo to pass through the spells so he can change the manacles.” commanded Carter as he stood next to Athena.

Jason shared a glance with Piper, his face showing his distaste for Carter being in charge of the operation. An outside observer would see it as simple jealousy, but Piper knew her husband feared for his old friend under Carter’s hand. She didn’t. She looked over at Percy, and couldn’t even see the boy she once knew. Little knew this but Jason's one weakness had always been his heart. She loved it about him, but she feared, for a man like Percy Jackson was already beyond dangerous. But if you loved him? Well, that was another story.

Zia held her hands and began chanting, the symbols on the ground glowed for a moment and Leo felt something like a hot egg crack on his head and trickle down over his body.

“You’re clear to approach Leo.” Zia said, her breathing a bit winded as she completed the spell adjustments. “Do it quickly.”

Leo pulled his newest invention out of the bag, it glimmered, even in the rain.

“What is it?” Poseidon asked. It was the first he had spoken since Percy raised his head, he hadn’t even looked over at his son. Maybe he couldn’t.

“They’re living manacles. They can predict his every muscle spasm, contraction, how his blood flows in his veins and react to make sure nothing is done to escape them. They’re impossible to take off.” Leo said, against his will a note of pride slipping into his words.

“There’s a key, though correct. If he needed to be freed.” Poseidon asked, his tired eyes resting on Leos, seeming to plead for reason with him.

“He will never need to be freed, old man!” spat Athena as she whirled around on her godly counterpart. “He has done the unthinkable, he is a threat to all of us as we know it, he is-”

“HE IS MY SON.” shouted Poseidon. “LET HIM COME HOME. I will keep the world safe from him, but to be locked up like this-”

“WHAT ABOUT MY DAUGHTER POSEIDON? YOU GET TO KEEP YOUR SON? NO.” Athena Shouted her voice bellowing, as cracks of light seemed to emerge on her skin.

Jason beckoned to his friends to avert their eyes, as the power of God was too much for any mortal to behold.

“Athena, please. He is not like the rest of these monsters here. He is just a man.” Poseidon pleaded, his eyes smashing like waves against the unrelenting cliffs of her heart.

“He is worse than the monsters here, Poseidon. Hold your tongue so we can leave this place.” Athena snapped and she beckoned for Leo.

She turned back, and for a moment was taken aback by Percy’s stare. He hadn’t averted his eyes when she began to glow, and he stared at her now unafraid.

“Get this done, Valdez.” she commanded, her eyes not flinching away from his.

Leo approached Percy, and set the manacles on the ground next to him as he came close.

 

“I’m going to unlock one hand and replace it with this manacle Percy. If you make a single move any of the 30 hunters will shoot you, and I will just replace the manacle anyway.” Leo said, forcing a strength he didn’t know was there into his voice.

“You never come and visit Leo. Why do we always have to talk in these circumstances,” Percy said, a hint of a laugh in his voice. Leo looked down at him to confirm what he already knew to be true, there was no laugh on his face. Percy looked up and Leo froze. Percy’s black beard was as dark as night and his pale skin made his eyes seem even more penetrating as they locked onto Leos.

“Leo. She’s alive, I know it.” Percy whispered, and his face was no longer impassive, it was pleading.

Leo almost dropped the manacle, he had been adjusting Percy’s prison for two decades, and never once had Percy said anything more than a joke or nothing at all. But now…why now?

“Leo please, I’m telling you. She’s not gone, I need to find her.” tears filled his eyes now, water pooling in those green eyes as they stared at Leo.

“Yes she is Percy. You killed her.” Leo said, his voice quiet at first but as his anger grew so did his volume, “You didn’t just kill her Percy. You ripped her from existence. No one can find her, not Hades, not Magnus, nobody.” His hands began to glow, despite himself, his anger was uncontrollable. How dare Percy ask him for anything after what he had made him do.

“I was going to be a mechanic, you selfish bastard. Annabeth isn’t the only life you’ve taken. You think Zeus was going to let you free? Hera STILL hasn’t woken up and you think I’ll help you?” Leo said, the words he thought late at night spilling out of him.

 

“Leo, I didn’t..I swear I didn’t.” Percy whispered, his head bowing as his arms bowed behind him the manacles pulling him to attention under the sky.

Leo hesitated for a moment. Part of him believed Percy. But he shook his head, and his hands fire died. “Stay still Jackson.” he muttered as he unclasped the right manacle and moved to grab the new one.

Percy didn’t even react, his head bowed staring at the ground. He had no other tricks, Leo had been doubtful about his guilt once, he thought maybe if he could see the truth in his eyes maybe he would believe. But no. Staring down at the barren ground Percy shakes, as a sob wracked his body. But then he stops.

The ground is not so barren. A sole wildflower grows in between his feet.

Percy’s tears stop.

 

“Leo, is there anything I could say that would get you to release me.” Percy asks.
“What? No of course no-” but Leo realizes that Percy’s tone has changed too late. He is not pleading anymore. Leo has heard this voice countless times, it haunts his nightmares. This is the voice of the Slaughterer of the Seas. The Deadliest Demigod. The Hero of Olympus, the man every monster is afraid of, the most cursed soul in the universe. Percy Scourge of The Monsters in The Night Jackson. Leo turns.

Percy Jackson smiles. “Oh well.”

What happens next happens very fast so pay attention.

Leo turns too late, and Percy’s hand shoots forward grabbing his arm with impossible strength. Before Leo or the hunters can even react, Leo is underneath the sky and it is crushing down on him.

The hunters arrows shoot forward, but Percy throws himself away as far as his chains will let him. Most of the arrows miss, but two hit his chest.He laughs.

The rain water on the ground begins to swirl up around him and Leo, encasing them from further shots.

Outside his protective bubble, chaos runs wild.

Jason lands on the ground and his hands are full with lightning, his golden sword in one hand as he moves closer to the whirlwind. Carter Kane reacts no slower. His suit morphs, and armor of gold, donned with falcon wings, and chiseled head piece, and hieroglyphics and illustrations of his victories cover him. Jason has to admit, it looks badass.

Holding his curved blade in one hand, and what seems to be a glowing spectral fist in the other, Kane advances next to Jason. The two lock eyes, and as old soldiers too, quickly slip back into familiar habit. Athena advances between them, her spear ready.

“COME OUT PERSEUS. I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS.” and the goddess of wisdom laughs as she says it. Jason shivers, and his grip on the sword tenses. Nothing quite as scary as Athena with a bloodlust.

“Zia, re-engage the spells!” Carter shouts behind him, as he wraps around the left side of the water whirlwind that surrounds Percy.

“NO, Leo’s still in there!” shouts Piper and she too begins approaching the group in the middle.

For once, Jason agrees with Carter. Leo will have to wait, they had bigger priorities.

As if on queue the water explodes outwards. Jason uses a gust of wind to carry him and Carter above the deluge, but he watches as the hunters are shot over the edge of the mountain, their bows flying, useless, away from them. Thalia is in the air with him and she has grabbed Piper and Zia. He nods a thanks to her as he lands back on the ground.

Athena didn’t move, and two arrows followed the water shooting at her with incredible speed. Her spear cuts through the air slicing one in half, but the second knocks against her breastplate making her stagger back.

Leo remains crumpled under the sky, he seems unarmed besides the burden that has unexpectedly been placed on him. A mess of broken chains surrounds him, and it takes Jason a second to process the horror in front of him.

Percy Jackson stands, his chains broken except for the celestial bronze collar around his neck, which is disconnected but remains clasped around him.

“Pick up the Sky Percy.” Jason calls, his sword raised.

“Don’t bother Jackson. I’d love an excuse to kill you.” shouts Carter as his armor ripples as he steps back into a fighting stance.

“I’ll pass on both, thanks boys.” Percy says and dashes forward with shocking speed. Jason swings his sword and Carter rushes forward.

Jason swings his sword, but Percy grabs his wrist and flips him to the ground. Carter flies through the air, and his Horus infused punch cracks the ground where Percy was a moment ago. A wave of rain picks Percy high into the hair and he drops down, his elbow smashing into Carter’s back as he rolls away from the two of them.

But Jason is there as Percy lands. The flat of the sword connects and Percy staggers back. Jason moves to press his advantage but his feet are stuck. He looks down at the water pooling in the dirt, and the quicksand being formed that holds him.

“Gave me a long time to learn some new tricks Grace.” laughs Percy as he tries to wrestle the sword from Jason. The sword sparks and a bolt of electricity flies through it and sends Percy flying back 10 feet.

“You’re not the only one.” Jason grimaces as he shoots into the air, his feet squelching out of the quicksand. Percy laughs, and watches as Jason takes to the skies. Only for a moment though as he is tackled to the ground. Thalia straddles him and plunges a celestial bronze knife down towards him. Percy flips her under him, and grabs the knife from her.

“Thalia, you have to believe me-” he’s not laughing anymore as he holds the knife, “She’s out there I know it-” but he is cut off as Carter Kane soars into him plunging his scythe blade into his side.

Percy yells, and the rain water soars towards him preparing to heal him. “Kane, this isn’t your fight!” he yells, and his new knife slashes across Carter's face forcing him to stagger back. Before Carter can recover Percy is there.

“I hear you’re Mr. Bigshot now hm?” Percy mocks, as his fists swing left and right, shattering blow after shattering blow. But Carter blocks them, and his face raises as he begins to return them in equal force. With inhuman speed, Percy ducks as Jason flies back in, his fists crackling with lightning as he attempts to grab Percy. They are joined by Athena next, as he spear flashes forward, almost knicking Percy as he swings Carter into its path. Athen doesn’t hesitate as she bats him away. Nothing else matters but her prey.

Athena is swingist fast, faster than any mortal should be able to avoid. But Percy Jackson, with the water around him, seems to glide around them. He lunges forward, his knife parrying her blade as they seem to embrace in an awkward grapple. His eyes are not the ones she once knew. He is deadly serious as he fights her, for he knows that she will kill him no hestiation where the others won’t. She ducks, swinging the spear behind her and catching him in the shoulder. He hisses, but only for a moment as water quickly heals the wound. He jumps in the air, and his legs shoot out, impossibly forceful and even more impossibly fast and knock her back onto the dirt.

Thalia descends from above, landing atop Percy's head, her arms choking him forcing his knees to buckle. But they buckle only for him to spring forward at Athena. He rolls Thalia off him, blocking Athena's spear hand and Jason and Carter watch as his hand becomes encased in ice as he strikes Athena in the face. The goddess falls and is slower to get up this time, and Percy begins to move towards her spear. Lightning strikes down from above and Percy flies back towards the edge of the mountain. Before he can stand Carter is above him, but Percy is ready.

“Should’ve waited for your friends Kane.” Percy laughs and he grabs Carter and throws him at Jason, who barely moves out of the way so he doesn’t spear his ally.

Athena has gotten up and they surround him now, and Percy feels hot ropes lash around his feet and wrists. He sees Zia holding her hands, her face pursed in concentration as she tries to contain him.

“PERCY! RETURN TO THE SKY” shouts Piper. Her charmspeak so powerful that Carter has to shake his head so he himself doesn’t take the sky and it wasn’t even directed to him. Percy doesn’t move an inch.

“Sorry Pipes, that won’t work on me.” He smiled ruefully, “I only listen to one person nowadays and it doesn’t look like you’ve brought her.”

Athena staggers forward, her spear is pointed straight at Percy’s heart. “You took her from us, Jackson. You are mad if you think she would support you now. Let me put you out of your misery.”

Carter and Jason rush forward each grabbing a limb of Percy’s as the Goddess stalks toward him.

“Athena wait…” Jason starts but Percy looks at him and shakes his head, a sad smile on his face.

“Jason, remember what I said about new tricks?” and then Percy Jackson dissolves.

A pool of water where Percy once was slips through Zias spells, and Jason and Carter's grasp.

They all watch, even Leo who lifts his head from under the sky, as Percy rematerializes at the edge of the cliff.

“Your daughter is alive, Athena. You have kept the wrong man imprisoned here, and the right one is out there.” Percy shouted, and now he too is angry. He looked to Jason, Thalia, Piper, all his old friends.

“You all must know in your hearts something else is out there!” He screams and his eyes are bright as he faces all of them.

“I swear I will kill you Perseus Jackson.” Athena says, her voice ringing through the rain, spoken softly but reverberating in all of their ears.

Percy smiles, “You will try.” and he jumps off the cliff behind him.

Everybody seems to freeze, until Jason races towards the cliff side. There’s nothing to see, just barren land below and the hunters getting to their feet.

 

Percy Jackson is gone.

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reyna picks up the phone, as she sees the Greek fire shoot up from the center of Chicago. The warning flare.

“What is it?” she asks, her voice tinged with panic, tense enough that Clarisse wakes up from her bed. Clarisse watches as Reynas face falls, and then solidifies into one of resolve she knows too well.

“Yes, I’ll come in right away.” Reyna says, and hangs up the phone.

“What is it?” Clarisse asks, already reaching for her clothes.

“Percy Jackson.” Reyna says,

“He’s escaped.”

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Percy coughs in the dark, as dirt covers his already impossibly dirty clothes.
“Gods, can we get a light or something” he asks as he stumbles to his feet.

“You sure do a lot of complaining for someone who’s ass I just saved” grumbled a voice, but light filled the tunnel.

“Saved?? I had to fight all of them BY MYSELF, and narrowly escaped by the way” Percy grumbled as he got to his feet. He looked up, and despite himself smiled.

“So no thank you? Nothing?” the voice responded, coming from a figure at the end of the dirt tunnel.

Percy laughed, “You’re right where are my manners,”

 

“Thank you Grover.”

 

 

Notes:

There will be more chapters, would love to see what you guys think about it though! Thanks for the reads.

Chapter 3: A Walk With a Friend

Summary:

Lots of questions are answered.

Percy discovers the power of friendship. Reyna remains as tired as ever. Who to trust becomes more confusing. Who not to trust becomes even worse.

An old friend appears.

2 Months before Percy Jackson’s exodus from The Mountain:

 

Hazel Levesque was usually the last to leave the museum. Frank was rarely home before 8 anyways, the firehouse was his responsibility and he took it seriously. One of the things she loved about him, his dedication to his promises.

She used to leave earlier, when Em was younger. Nowadays though, her daughter, Emily Zhang-Levesque, would love nothing more than some more alone time. Hazel winced as the thought crossed her mind, she remembered when she was a teenager the fights with her mom. Of course, her mother had been possessed by an evil goddess, but still, it wasn’t hard to remember that teenage anger.

Distracted in her thoughts, Hazel stood up quickly, not even noticing the old cup of coffee spill on the unused desk. Maybe she was overthinking, maybe what her daughter really wanted deep down was some more time with her mom. Hazel could hope at least. She picked up the phone,

“Hey Em, it's mom. I’m wrapping up here at the museum and I’ll be home in about 10. I was thinking about wings tonight? I’ll grab some on my way home-”

KATHUNK.

Hazel stops talking and looks up. She’s in the museum's antechamber, she often comes here to think. It’s the Aztec section, the other one’s offer too much memory for her. Thankfully, these have yet to come alive in her waking days, so she can sit and take a breath here. But tonight…something is different.

Walking towards the double doors at the end of the Aztec wing, Hazel starts to concentrate. Demigods get old, but they don’t get weak. Her senses travel through the earth beneath her as she “feels” her way into the next room. Her hand still holding the phone, Hazel pushes the doors open.

It’s so dark…she can’t see anything…her hand fumbles for the light switch.

The phone hits the ground.

She screams.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Grover and Percy have been walking for what feels like hours.
“Grover slowed down, I haven’t moved this much in twenty years,” Percy painted, as he rested his back against the tunnel wall and rubbed his feet.

“Percy, we can't slow down. Not everything on the Earth is your friend, in fact, most things down here are decidedly NOT your friend.” Grover snaps back, his horned head looking up and down the tunnel. Percy squints, and hides a snicker as a mental image of a periscope flashes in his head.

“Grover come on, just for a second. We have to figure out where we’re going anyway. Where does this tunnel lead?” Percy asked, this time his face was a little more serious.

Grover looked down at his old friend. Percy had always been an interesting one. His golden retriever demeanor, his happy face, his love for things blue had painted him a non-threat. But, if you were a monster, you knew odds were Percy Jackson would kill you at one point or another. But now…Grover wasn’t sure but as he looked at Percy he felt more and more that he empathized with the monsters. Percy looked up at him, and Grovers heart panged for even thinking the thought. His best friend was hurt, but he was still his friend. What the name Percy Jackson meant didn’t matter, just like it hadn’t mattered 30 years ago when they met.

“It leads somewhere you can disappear, Percy. Things have changed…you don’t know what it’s like out there.” Grover stumbled over his words, as he pulled Percy to his feet.

“What do you mean?” Percy asked as he started walking again.

“You’re public enemy number one. Every single demigod knows your face, and the board will surely have authorized a hunt by now.”

“The board?? Annabeth was sure they would fade out of power. They haven’t after all this time?” Percy asked. Grover flinched at Annabeth’s name, and his eyes searched Percy’s face for some answer to the question Grover was avoiding asking.

Percy scrutinized him, those sea green eyes searching Grovers soil brown ones. “Ask Grover. Get it over with.”

“Percy I- They didn’t let me see you before the trial.”Grover sighed, but he pleaded his final sentence, “What the hell happened?”

Percy hesitated. And now Grover saw the reaction he had expected. Percy’s eyes dropped away from Grover. This wasn’t new, Grover remembered many nights on the west coast without Annabeth where Percy had done the same thing. His face a soft smile as he let himself get lost in his memories with the woman he loved.

This was different. Percy’s eyes got dimmer. The green wasn’t sea, it was sluggish scum water, as his face stared out past Grover, through the tunnel, out onto some unknown scene. Grover’s heart panged. 20 years this boy had been locked away, alone, with nothing but whatever horror story he was about to tell. For “boy” was the only word, because for the first time in 20 years, Grover saw the 11 year old kid who had been scared in his moms backseat, the kid who had taught him how to make a paper airplane in the back of history class, the kid who was his best friend. Grover smiled and he embraced Percy.

“Listen, uh if you don’t want to tell me you don’t have to. I know who you are, Percy Jackson. But if you want to start convincing others you’re going to have to tell the story.” Grover said his arms wrapped around his friend.

Percy had stiffened, his muscles tensing as Grover held him, but only for a moment. Percy melted into the embrace, and he clasped Grover back with equal ferocity.

“We were walking on the coast.” Percy’s first words were muffled into Grovers shoulder, but as the two separated, he said them again.

“It was a beautiful day, Grover. The sun was breaking on the waves, and we had slept in. She made breakfast, she was so proud as she figured out how to make the eggs blue, and she never cooked.” Percy laughed despite himself, his eyes watering a bit as he smiled.

“I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk, and she said she wasn’t sure if she had time.” Percy gasped, as if an arrow had struck him.

“I told her, we had all the time in the world.” he choked out, “We were walking and it was so stupid, her foot slipped. One of the rocks gave way, and I wasn’t fast enough. She fell Grover. I heard her skull crack when she hit the ground.”

Grover winced, and dared a look at Percy. He was looking determinedly down the tunnel, his eyes watering but refusing to break on his face. Grover supposed he had shed enough of them.

“I don’t remember much after that, at least not until the last moments.”

“Let me help you, they replayed it at the trial. I have a copy,” Grover said, wincing a bit as he said it, the memory of the trial still a sore one.

The tablet Grover pulls out blurs with mist for a moment, and then it clears revealing the scene below…

Percy looks like he’s flying. He’s younger, leaner back then than he is now, his black hair whips through the air as he lands on two feet in front of the Lethe. The surrounding underworld looks different. It’s angry. Charon, is in the background, and he watches impassively as Percy raises his hands, and parts the Lethe.

Two huge towering white waves on either side, held up by what looks like sheer will power. Percy sprints through, not because he is afraid of not being able to hold it, in fact anyone watching would believe Percy had been controlling the Lethe for his whole life, no he is sprinting because there is something he needs on the other side.

Cerberus is next, and Percy doesn’t even slow, vaulting over the two lower heads, to land on the middle one. A quick scratch to the chin, and Cerberus hits the ground asleep. Before his chins even smash onto the cold dirt of the Underworld though, Percy is off.

He’s sprinting through the fields, but they look different. The souls in them are agitated, they’re grabbing at the bars reaching for him. But Percy doesn’t stop, he sprints through them, and he looks up. The invisible camera filming the scene follows his sight, and catches a glimmer of the gleaming steeples of Hades palace up the hill. Percy’s moving at an impossible speed now, and the huge double doors in front of him stand no chance. They smash to the ground, splintered into pieces.

Nico Di-Angelo stands beyond them, his stygian sword drawn pointed at the door.

“Out of the way Nico” calls Percy, but this is not his voice. He is thundering, his anger palpable in the soundwaves, and they seem to buffet Nico who falters for a moment under the onslaught.

“I can’t do that Percy.” Nico says, his voice barely above a whisper. But Percy hears it, and his face contorts in a snarl.

“Fine.” and he waves his hand dismissively. Nico screams, and his knees buckle to the ground. Back in the real world, Percy pulls Grover tablet closer, as he stares horrified at the scene in front of him.

Back on the tablet, Percy saunters past Nico, who has collapsed. Nico tries to call after him, but he coughs, and what looks like ice chokes out of his throat. Percy has frozen the water in his blood. Nico’s breath shudders up and down, but beyond that he does not move.

Percy is sprinting down the huge anteroom now, and the view pans and we see Hades sitting on the throne. However, he doesn’t look like Hades. For Hades has never once looked afraid. Except for now.

Gold explodes out of Percy’s hand, and Riptide shines in the dark hall. Hades shouts, and a bolt of black energy shoots towards Percy, but with a casual flick of Riptide, it bounces away harmlessly. And then he is in the air. With one leap Percy clears the throne and flies towards Hades, business end of Riptide first.

Hades shouts, and tries to stand, but Riptide slams into him, piercing through his shoulder and pinning him to the throne. The scream is so loud, that the tablet Grover and Percy are watching on seems like it might explode.
“Where is she Hades. Give her back to me.” Percy screams, twisting Riptide as he pushes the Dark Lord deeper into his throne.

“You will die, Perseus.” Hades groans as he scrabbles at Percy’s unrelenting sword arm.

“Don’t we all?” He screams, and he twists harder this time, “WHERE IS SHE HADES?”

“The Fields, The Fields!” Hades shouts, his voice going an octave higher as Riptide digs deeper into his godly flesh.

“Of Elysium?” Percy asks, his grip loosening.

“No, no” pants Hades, “Of Asphodel.”

Holding the tablet, Percy almost drops it in shock. He turns to Grover, his emotions unreadable, “Grover how the hell does Annabeth Chase not make it to the Fields of Elysium”

Grover looks back at him, a hopeless look on his face, “Sadie always asked the same thing Percy. It was deemed “trivial” compared to your imprisonment.”

Percy’s face stewed, and instead of saying anything he turned back to the tablet,

On the screen Percy shouts, “Bring her!” and Hades grunts and holds out his hand.

A ghostly Annabeth appears next to Percy, her eyes seeing him, but no recognition upon them. But just the sight of her, and Percy smiles, and he lets go of Riptide to reach out to touch her.

“She comes with me Hades.” he says over his shoulder, and takes Annabeth by the hand and starts walking towards the door.

“You won’t leave here Jackson” Hades calls, his voice weak as he scrabbles at Riptide, pinning him to his obsidian throne.

“What? You’re going to stop me?” Percy call’s back, a note of laughter in his voice as he continues walking.

“No. They will.” Hades laughs this time, and watches as the throne room is filled with light.

Zeus, Hephaeustus, Hera, Poseidon, Hermes, and Ares stand before Percy and Annabeth.

Poseidon opens his mouth, presumably to say something to his son, but Zeus beats him to it. A lightning bolt flies towards Percy, and Poseidon closes his eyes so he doesn’t have to watch the destruction of his favorite son.

Percy flips out of the way, and Hades feels Riptide disappear from his chest, as it appears in Percy’s hand, reflecting the lightning bolt back straight into Heras chest.

The last thing the screen sees is the Gods collective faces. Every single one of them is terrified.

Grover looks over at Percy as the tablet sizzles after its use. “Do you remember it?”

Percy nods, his voice stutters a bit, “All of it. Poor Nico.” his face is even sadder than before.

“But that’s not the end of what happened.” Percy says.

Grover starts and looks up, “What do you mean? Zeus grabs you and while Ares tries to knock you out, you explode and kill Annabeth. They take you to trial. End of story.”

“No no..Grover think, how could I kill her, she's a spirit. Celestial bronze doesn’t work on them. Besides that’s not how it happened.”

Grover looks at Percy, and watches as Percy racks his memory.

“It's foggy, it feels almost hidden from me but…I remember. Zeus told me to let her go, and I refused. But then….She touched me grover. Her hand grabbed mine, and I looked over at her. She remembered me Grover, even in the fields, she remembered me for a second.”

“Then what?”

“She looked scared. And then she disappeared. I was so surprised, I didn’t even feel it when Ares grabbed me.”

“Where could she have gone, Percy? The only explanation is you sent her somewhere or destroyed her. I’m not saying you would but-”

Percy looks angry now, and he turns on Grover, “But that's what they all say right? I snapped and I erased my girlfriend from the fucking afterlife? Huh?”

“Don’t yell at me, I don’t know Percy. They all thought if anyone could…it would be you.”

Percy sighs, and his face drops, “I’m sorry Grover…but no I didn’t. I wish I did, maybe then I would know what to do. I don’t know of anything powerful enough to…erase…someone like that. Did they look everywhere after? Checked Valhalla and everything?”

Grover nodded, his face solemn. “Percy, half the reason the Board put so much security measures around you was they were scared. I mean, if you could…destroy someone’s essence, someone you were supposed to love…what couldn’t you do?”

Percy shook his head, it hurt, remembering had taken more out of him than he had liked. He had fought so hard not to remember for so long. “Why didn’t they just kill me?” He asked, more to himself than to Grover.

Grover answered though, “Sadie Kane. She wouldn’t let that be the board's first action, said it set a dangerous precedent for the demigod justice system. She was right of course, but it cost her any chance of power. She’s been almost as reclusive as you since then seems to keep to herself at some fortress in Egypt.”

Percy looks up, his mind contemplative, “Do you think she’s a friend?” he asks.

“You’ll have to decide for yourself, but I KNOW some people who are friends and they can help first. Speaking of which, we’re here.” Grover responded, as he pulled Percy through a hole on the side of the Tunnel.

Percy gasped, as the wind whipped his hair. They were standing on a large cliff outcropping, but it was absurdly high up, and freezing. Percy looked around, the tunnel had spit them out on the edge of one of the glacier mountains surrounding his prison.

“Listen Percy,” Grover was shouting over the wind, “Like I said things have changed. The Board is more powerful than you can possibly imagine, and recapturing you will be their, and the gods, number one mandate. Something is going on in the world. Annabeth's disappearance was the first, but it hasn’t been the last. Something is out there, and if you figure it out maybe you’ll get your answers and save the world while you do it.”

“I don’t know where to go, Grover. I don’t even know where I am right now for Gods sake. How the hell am I supposed to even start?”

Grover laughs, and he whistles over the wind. “Find Ella. If anyone can help you figure out what the right question to ask is, it’s her. Besides, Tyson will be overjoyed to see you.”

Percy smiled at the thought, his brother had come with Poseidon during one of the early visits to the prison, but had been unable to stay long, his big eye bawling the whole time.

“As for not knowing where you are right now, well…I got you someone who does!” shouted Grover, and he threw his arms around Percy one more time, “Good luck buddy. Once you know your question, go to Sadie's. I'll meet you there.” and the ever loyal satyr disappeared into the tunnel.

Percy stared after him, and turned to face the freezing winds, looking out at the barren expanse below. But he should have been looking up.

Four huge hoofs hit the ground, and Percy is knocked to the ground as a huge black beast hits him in the chest.

What's up Boss? Someone told me you needed a ride?

Neighed BlackJack, as his hooves pounded the snow to mist beneath him.

Percy started laughing, and he threw his arms around his old friend. The laughter was punctuated with a few tears, and his smile grew bigger and bigger as he stared at Blackjack.

Gods he had lost so much. 20 years, and even he hadn’t wanted to escape. Even he hadn’t believed in himself. But his friends, they had believed in him. And the ones who hadn’t? Well they would believe soon. Percy smiled as he saw Leo clasp him on the shoulder in his mind's eye. He laughed as he and Jason argued over who’s college football team would be better. He was stuck in the past, but what else did he have? There was no future without Annabeth. She had been his everything, and that life was gone. But his friends, they needed him. Blackjack had come for him. Grover had believed. Sadie Kane had spared his life. So even if he didn’t need to live anymore, they needed him too. And that was enough.

Boss quit the mushy shit, you’re freaking me out!

Percy laughed and hopped on. “Let's get the hell out of here.”

 

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Reyna rubs her temples with her hands, as she sits on the tallest chair in the center of the huge amphitheater. They had built it in the bottom of a Chicago liquor store, a location that got a little too much traffic for her likes, but any number of suspicious characters came in all the time so she supposed it offered some cover.

The amphitheater was packed, the most packed it had been in two decades. Demigods from around the world had filled the stands, as the news of Percy Jackson’s escape had traveled across the world and back in seconds.

“Please Please! Everybody calm down!” Reyna calls, as she half-heartedly bangs her wooden gavel. The crowd doesn’t even flinch, if anything the shouts get louder.

“SHUT UP” Clarisse shouts, and the amphitheater flinches into silence. It’s an unwilling silence though, and Reyna sees demigods stirring out in the pit. She turns and looks to her council members, Clarisse is the In-Field Liaison for the board, a position Reyna spent two years begging her to take. Alongside Reyna are four others. On her left she sees Connor Stoll, he’s older, an early gray taking roots in his beard, but just as mischievous as ever. Reyna is often grateful for him, as he provides a factor of chaos she begrudgingly appreciates. Past him, sits Walt Stone. Reyna’s face tightens, Walt Stone is very much not Connor Stoll. Reyna had liked him, but after Sadies flight from the board he had been different. He was hard where she would choose to be soft, demanding where she requested, and loud when she was quiet. The qualities of a leader, without any restraint.

On her right was another friend, Gleeson Hedge would go down in history as the best Board Council member in the history of the organization. Of course, a big part of this would be his general ineffectiveness, but what most would attribute to incompetence, Reyna knew it was just Gleeson following an old order.

An order, she too had once received. Annabeth had come to her, before the end of course, and told her she thought the Board was the beginning of the end. They had argued, staying respectful of course, Reyna had always thought the best of the warrior wise-woman. But Reyna loved the structure the Board brought. Annabeth feared it. Most of Reynas nights she spent awake, she always came back to the same question. What if she was right?

Gleeson had certainly believed her. He had spent the last twenty years making them as ineffectual as possible, red tape everywhere, and it had stopped some of Walts early advances and Reyna would always be grateful for that.

Finally, on the far right, her least favorite, Rachel Dare. Now Reyna would admit, this dislike wasn’t logical. She had listened to Thalia and Annabeth swear up and down on Rachel’s knowledge, and how important it would be to have a non-demigod member on the council. But Reyna swore sometimes, it seemed like she wasn’t even paying attention!

Her thoughts were interrupted though, as Clarisse turned to her. “Better talk quick Rey, they won’t listen for long.”

Reyna looked out at the crowd, “Everyone. It’s true. Percy Jackson has escaped.”

The response was louder than she could have prepared herself for. The uproar seemed to shake dirt loose from the roof, Reyna looked around and caught a glimpse of Connor who had plugged his ears. Noticeably though, his usual smirk was furrowed in concern.

“All resources will be dedicated, the council is supporting a quest. Open to all demigods, with the usual prize of honor, and riches along the way. Free range. Bring him back dead or alive.”

Reyna winced at the last few words. Her and Clarisse never talked about things like this, locking away old friends for the murder of other old friends. Once again though, her thoughts were interrupted.

“REYNA. What about my quest?” the voice boomed from the back. Coach Hedge glowered to her side and grumbled, “This again?”

Reyna turned, knowing the man she would see at the dais, mostly by the catcalls and boos throughout the amphitheater.
Frank Zhang stood at the dais. He looked terrible. The bags beneath his eyes were so dark they looked like permanent facial features. His hair was matted, and his beard was almost a month overgrown. But he was still Frank Zhang. He was the hero of the new age of demigods. He and Clarisse shared the record for the most Board sponsored missions. His body showed it too, his forearms looked like they stretched his flannel shirt to the absolute limit, and she could see a bicep vein pulse from here as he clenched his fist.

“Hazel is gone, Reyna. It’s been two months, give me a search party, give me more men.” he pleaded as he looked up at her.

“Frank, we’ve given you two now. I don’t know where she is but we can’t spare people on this.”

“Praetor, please listen.” He used her old honorific, and she knew it was more than just a slip it was intentional, a reminder of what she was to him and he to her, “You don’t think something powerful enough to take Hazel Levesque might be involved with Percy Jackson's escape?”

He glowered up at her for a moment, but the frown broke into something even worse.

“Please Reyna. My wife is gone.”

She saw the lost puppy dog he had been back at camp. Unclaimed, unwanted, she had watched him come from nothing and become one of the greatest demigods in history. But now, with his wife gone, he was back to pleading to his Praetor for hope.

She couldn’t give it to him.

“Frank, I will not command you into the search for Percy, but I cannot spare bodies for your quest.”

Before he could speak up she pounded the gavel, “If no objections from the council I will adjourn this meeting.” She looked around at her council members, none seemed to offer anything. Walt was staring at the back of the room, and moved to get up from his chair. Connor slouched even lower into the seat and Hedge reached for a pile of grapes in front of him. Only Rachel turned to her, she shook her head once, and if Reyna didn’t know any better she could’ve sworn she saw the faintest smile on the girl's lips.

Frank backed away from the dais, and stalked off towards the exit. He only made it a few feet before he felt a hand on his shoulder. A tall muscle bound blonde man stood behind him. His face looked familiar, and Frank recognized him almost immediately,

“Magnus. What can I do for you?”

“Frank, I’m sorry about your wife.” Magnus said, his voice gravelly as his grey eyes pierced into Franks. The golden sword of summer stood strapped to his back, and as he stepped closer to Frank, Frank became all too aware of the humming coming from the weapon.

“Frank, I will not be hunting Percy Jackson. Not yet. It seems like you could use a hand though, mind if I tag along?”

Frank was taken aback. Magnus had always been a friend of a friend, he was of course a hero, but this was…unexpected.

“I uh- Of course, that’s awfully kind are you sure you-”

“Yes yes. Her brother is a friend of mine. Besides, you’re not the only one who’s had someone disappear lately. This has been going on longer than you or The Board thinks, Hazel is just the most recent.”

Frank nodded his head. He had heard whisperings of these stories before, Sadie Kane had said a similar thing before she disappeared to Egypt. Frank stretched out his hand,

“Let’s go get my wife back then huh?”

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Walt slips to the back of the council chamber, his moves mostly unnoticed as he approaches a hooded figure.

“The blood spell worked. I have his tracking and the staff you want if you bring him back.” Walt whispers to the figure as he stands awkwardly next to him.

“Alive, correct?” the figure says, as he throws back his hood to look at the staff Walt is holding.

“I don’t care.” hisses Walt, as he presses the staff into the man's hand.

Nico Di Angelo grabs the staff, and slips it into the folds of his robe. He looks over at the magician, his eyes unfaltering as Walts darts around the room.

“Funny you say that Walt. Neither do I.”

Chapter 4: Family Ties

Summary:

Percy Jackson continues to suffer, but it gets a little better in this one don't worry! Franks daughter proves she's the coolest. Carter Kane makes a decision.

There's something else...someone else...But we'll save that for next time.

Blackjack had been flying for hours, Antarctica was hours away from everything, but a trip down to the Caribbean would take a lot out of anyone, even a pegasi. Percy had talked to Blackjack for the first half, the two reminiscing and Blackjack telling him what had happened over the last twenty years(Of course from the perspective of a mythical beast so less helpful than Percy would’ve liked). After a while though they both became quiet, and Percy was lost in thought. Simple daydreams, worries, the usual…until it wasn’t.

 

Sunlight shone through the crumbled arches of the Parthenon and glistened off of Percy’s slowly dwindling pile of monopoly money. Percy started, and looked up, and his breath caught in his throat. Annabeth sat in front of him, with a much more sizable pile of money, and she was laughing as she moved his racecar piece ever closer to her strip of hotels.

“You know Percy, everyone loves Broadway, but the true best property are the orange ones. I mean they’re so cheap, and your return on investment is so much higher than the other ones. Plus your chances of landing on them? I mean come on 3 properties versus two, on the statistically biggest corner of the board?” She presented her argument and then slammed his piece down with a laugh on New York Avenue, which she had a hotel on, “Anyways you owe me 1300 dollars Seaweed Brain.”

Percy was reeling, he remembered this. They had gone back to Greece, after Gaia was defeated, so they could truly visit all the places they had been. It had been just them, friends had popped up now and then, but they had spent a couple months together just enjoying the beauty of the world they had saved. But this was different. This was like a dream, he was actually here. She was in front of him, she was real.. And with that thought Percy threw himself forward towards her. Desperate to feel her with his hands, smell her again, hear her laugh shake against his chest.

But he didn’t move. He screamed inside his head, as he felt himself smile and roll his eyes at Annabeth. His mouth moved of its own accord, “Don’t you feel bad stealing from such a helpless rent-payer like myself? We should change Wise Girl to Greedy Girl.”

Annabeth mock pouted, trying to hide her evil grin, “Oh like you’re helpless, I remember you doing quite well in Catan back in Venice.”

“Oh right, like you didn’t let me get that far so you could have a challenge.” he laughed, as he forked up his final dollars towards her.

She laughed too, “At least you know! Want to get something to eat, we can declare my victory early?”

“What victory in fact - Oh My God Look at that!” Percy pointed, an exaggerated face of shock on his face and he sprang forward scooping up half her absurdly large pile of money.

Annabeth didn’t even turn for a second, she just smiled at him and as his hands touched the money she kicked her legs up around his shoulder and pulled him into an arm bar. “I take this very seriously, Seaweed Brain, I need this money to provide for my tenants in my expansive real estate empire.”

Percy was frozen, both in the memory and in his head. He looked out through his eyes in the past, and he could feel Annabeth wrapped around him, his head was close to hers and he could smell her shampoo in her hair. He finally relaxed, stepped away from pounding against the boundaries of his mind, and just breathed. She was here.

In the memory, Percy pulled away much quicker than the real Percy would’ve liked. “All right evil landlord, let's go get some food,” he said and threw an arm around her shoulder. The two walked to the edge of the huge dais at the top of the Parthenon and clambered down. The rolling hills of Greece were covered in beautiful flowers, the sky was clear and blue, and the smell of pastries rolled up towards them from the collection of houses down the road. Even as he looked back on the memory, Percy was shocked at how picturesque it all was.

“All right, I want a scone, and I’m sure you would love to eat another chocolate croissant so-” Annabeth started looking up at Percy. Her grey eyes were so warm. It was a strange thing to say, as grey was famously not a warm color, but it reminded him of storm clouds when the sun was behind them. You knew the rain was over and hope was just around the corner. Every fear had been washed away by the rain, and just as you started to feel cold, you could feel the sun and know that you would never be alone again as long as it was there.

In the memory, Percy turned away and a lump formed in his throat. Inside his own mind, Percy remembered this, and remembered the feeling that couldn’t even be described. The feeling that had caused his throat to close, his hands to sweat, and his heart to beat faster than it ever had fighting monsters.

Back in Greece, Percy reached towards his pocket, and looked down as his hands closed around a small box in his back pocket.

When he looked back up he was different. His head moved slower, his shoulders were tense after forty years of holding the sky, and his eyes were deeper as they swung upwards begging to lay upon Annabeth one more time.

She stood in front of him, looking at him. Not just looking, seeing, not his memory but him, he could tell she saw him now. Her face dropped, and her eyes softened as she stared at him. He wanted to say something, wanted to open his mouth, but he was frozen. All he could do was stare at the light behind her eyes, and pray she knew his heart.

“Percy…” she whispered, and she reached out her hand for him. He clenched his fist around the box in his back pocket, and started forward…but her hand never reached him.

There was no sound, no dramatic thunderclap, nothing to indicate everything had changed. But in a flash everything had. The picturesque sky above was gone, instead it was an expansive darkness that seemed to reach and touch everything. The sky seemed to be wrapping around them, and everything below it, Percy looked around his eyes straining to look through the shadows around him.

He could speak again, “ANNABETH!” he called, his hands reaching for where she was, just a moment ago, “ANNABETH PLEASE”. His voice cracked and his breathing sped up. The darkness, the air, the sky beyond the earth was so heavy. It was pressing down on him and the light…the light he had depended on was gone. She was gone.

 

Percy’s eyes shot open as he struck the water. He had no idea how long he had been falling, but he shot down through the waves at shocking speed, a plume of sand whirling around him as he struck the bottom. He sat there for a moment,the water surrounding him, safer than where he had been before. For a moment, he had the urge to rest. To simply lay back down, and let the sand flow over him. His father would never tell, no one would find him, he could lay back and dream. After all, all had left was his dreams.

As if to argue the point, a shout echoed from the top of the waves,
“BROTHER! BLACKJACK IS WORRIED GET UP”

Percy knew the voice and despite himself, his face split into a broad grin. He pushed off the bottom and rocketed upwards. His head popped above the waves, and he shot forward, until he could stand. Percy Jackson walked out of the sea towards the beach of what seemed to be an island in front of him. The beach was illuminated by a long winding column of torches, and a huge fishing hut lay behind them, its porch stretching out almost to the waves, and then connecting to a long pier that reached out into the depths of the ocean.

Three figures stood on the beach, silhouetted by the torches behind them. A pegasi, which Percy knew to be Blackjack, pranced nervously on the beach, his feet pawing at the ground as he watched Percy step onto the beach. Hovering a little above, was a soft and smaller shape of what seemed to be a mix of woman and bird. Her wings fluttered quickly but then she landed next to the man in the middle.

A huge man, even from here, Percy could see the boulder sized muscles, dinner plate sized hands, and one single blue eye staring out at him.

“YOU’VE COME HOME BROTHER!” Tyson called out at him, his laugh full as he pulled Percy in for a bone-crushing hug.

Boss I was so worried, I think you fell asleep and you must’ve fallen because-

“Brother Brother here. Percy Jackson, old friend, old friend. Welcome to my home. Ella’s home.”
The chatter was almost overwhelming, but Percy didn’t care. He threw his arms around Tyson, pulled Ella into the embrace, and then patted Blackjack reassuring him he was okay.

“We are about to have dinner brother. Come in, Ella tells me you have much to tell us and we have much to tell you.”

Percy was taken aback for a moment, Tyson spoke so…for lack of a better word…sophisticated.

Tyson saw the look and laughed, “Father made me learn. Apparently generals must communicate well blah blah.” his laugh died away though as he truly looked at Percy. His voice choked as he spoke, “I’m sorry brother. I- I couldn’t keep visiting they wouldn’t let me talk to you and- it was just too much-”

The cyclops one eye welled up with a huge tear, and he laid a hand on Percy’s shoulder.

“I am glad you knew this is where you belong. You are safe here.”

Ella fluttered next to the two of them and she smiled at Percy, but her face shifted, “Percy cannot stay. Nope. No. Nada. He has work to do. Check your pocket yup, check it.”

Percy cocked his head at her, but at her words his heart dropped as he felt the weight of something in his back pocket. “Ella, Grover told me you could help I’m not sure how but-”

“Pocket, Pocket, Pocket!” she called, fluttering closer to him.

Percy took an apprehensive breath, and reached his hand into his back pocket, his fist closing around a small box. He pulled it in front of him and looked down at it, he knew what was inside. He had no idea how it had got there, he hadn’t seen it, before his dream at least, in 20 years.

The box was seafoam color, with a small silver hinge at one side. Percy shuddered, and looked up at his friends. Tyson nodded once reassuringly, but Percy saw his hands tighten as he too steeled himself for the opening of the box.

Percy flipped it open, and stared down at what he already knew would be inside. The gold ring glimmered up at him. A polished marble stone, part of the first building Annabeth had built at Olympus, shone even brighter up out of the box. He had shown up to take it, six months before their trip to Greece. Athena had met him there, and had handed him the chisel to do it. She had nodded once at him, and he knew it was the best he was ever going to get from her.

But it was here. Back in the box. He had thought he would never see it again. She had worn it when she fell, and it was on her hand even in death when he had tried to bring her back.

He looked up at Ella. “How?” he choked out, his hand rubbing the stone on top subconsciously.

Ella looked grave now, “We must talk Percy. Must talk.”

 

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Emily Zhang Levesque loved Los Angeles. Her mothers museum job had always been interesting to her, and her Father had taught her the importance of cultural heritage. Both of her Chinese heritage, but her Roman ones too. No place was better for all of that than LA. Plus there were family friends here. Emily had grown up with the Grace twins, Chase and Tristain, their parents had made sure the three had known each other since birth. They had gotten into plenty of trouble, and had enjoyed the last few summers between Camp Halfblood and Camp Jupiter as most demigod kids nowadays. Truth be told though, attendance was less mandatory than it had ever been. Her dad always said how it had never been safer to be a demigod child. He said it with pride, but all she heard was it had never been this boring to be a demigod child.

Neither was fully wrong. Most demigod kids didn’t even see monsters anymore, and she had heard her mothers whispered conversations with Aunt Piper about why that was, Emily prayed that her mother was wrong. She usually wasn’t though.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the door opened, and she heard her father walk in talking to someone.

“Ok, I’ll grab my things and drive Emily over to the Grace’s. The basement has everything you might need if you want to get started on prep-” Frank called as he hurried into the kitchen to grab his keys and a jacket. Before he could continue his sentence he was interrupted,

“Hey Dad. What's going on?” Emily asked, though she was pretty sure she knew.

“Hey Em, I have to go take care of a few things, but first meet Magnus..” Frank said, pulling Emily in for a quick hug and then nudging her over to the blonde man in the corner.

He looked rather young, for someone her Dad would be hanging out with, she would guess only 25.

“Einherjar age differently. Nice to meet you Emily, I’ve heard a lot about you and your father. I am a friend of a friend.” he smiled, and despite herself she smiled back.

 

“Can you read minds?” she asked, still taken aback how he seemed to have answered the question she hadn’t even asked.

“No, I wish. It’s a common question, and Frank told me that he has told you a lot of stories. So I wanted to set the record straight.” Magnus said as he sat down at the kitchen island.

“Wait..You’re Magnus CHASE? Oh my god I have so many questions, how’s Alex? Is Thor hot in a grungy way? Like I know that sounds silly but-”

“EMILY! Do not ask our friend if Thor is hot in a grungy way.” Frank's voice called from up the stairs as he came down holding a suitcase.

Magnus laughed, “To answer your questions, Good and eh maybe?”

Emily turned to look at her father, “Where are you going with that?”

He laughed, “Oh nice try. This is for you, and you’ll be going to the Grace's house for a couple days.”

“Dad what?? I’m 13, let me come with you guys!” Emily pleaded, and she moved away from the suitcase, putting the kitchen island between her and her father.

“Absolutely not. Besides it will be boring we’re not doing anything cool-”

“You’re looking for mom aren’t you.” Emily asked, her voice quieter than before. She looked at her father, who had stopped talking when she said that. He studied her, and for a second she wondered if this is what all the people who had gone up against him saw. The calculation and strategy behind his eyes as he stared at her.

“Yes Emily. We’re going to get her back.” he said, after what was clearly some internal deliberation, “I need you to be safe Em. I can’t lose you.”

“Dad you’re not going to, but I’m 13. I’m old enough, Aunt Annabeth was even younger when she started-”

Frank's face twisted, “I’m not sure if Annabeth is the right example. Besides it’s besides the point, this will be dangerous and-”

“Dad, she called me when she disappeared. I heard it happen. I have to help you find her, I can feel it.” Emily pleaded, and without her knowing it, her father now had a chance to study her face and the determination scribbled all over it.

“Not to butt in, but three is a good number for a quest.” said Magnus, and he leaned back away from Frank, bracing for the rage he expected to come.

But it didn’t. Frank sighed. “Ok, go into the basement and grab your scythe. Gods only know why they let you use that thing. Get rations for a week and pack three bags. We leave in twenty.”

Emily sprang up, and sprinted towards the basement. She moved so quickly that she didn’t pause to think about how her Father knew that was her weapon of choice. And she definitely didn’t hear what Magnus said after she left.

“Frank…She could be very helpful. I can feel strength in her.” Magnus said, as he stared at the stairs Emily had disappeared down.

“I know. Hazel said the same thing, her enchantments have kept monsters away but… She is a rare breed nowadays, a powerful demigod.”

“We were already going to be targeted, her strength might help us more than hurt. Besides I think most of the monsters left will be occupied.” Magnus said as he grabbed his coat off the back of his chair.

Frank looked up and the realization dawned on his face, “Oh of course. They haven’t been able to hunt him in twenty years so…”

 

Magnus nodded, “So Percy Jackson will not make it a week before they kill him.”

 

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Zia gasped and called out from the bedroom, “Carter she kicked again!”

Carter was standing at the large bay window in Brooklyn looking out at the street below, lost in thought. Zia rolled her eyes, “Carter help I’m being attacked”

Her husband didn’t answer, but he started, “Huh? What is it love?”

Zia laughed, “Come to bed baby. Nico said he won’t arrive till tomorrow morning. Whatever you are thinking about can wait till tomorrow.”

Carter shuffled into the room, and stretched, his “I Heart London” shirt stretching and exposing his midriff. Zia bit her lip despite herself, and reached out her hand to pull him to bed. Her caramel skin glistened in the soft light from the lamp, and her belly, while sizable, was not large enough where she wasn't able to move. She flipped Carter onto his back and kissed his neck before whispering in his ear,
“What is it, my love? Talk to me.”

Carter smiled, and he turned his face into hers, returning the kiss drawing back a second to answer her question, “I just have a bad feeling. Nico is angry and reckless, he can’t defeat Jackson.”
“But that’s why he’s bringing you isn’t it.” Zia asked, her hands running over his chest as she placed her head in the crook of his neck.

“Yes but…Zia, Nico wants to kill him.”

Zia stopped moving, “What do you want Carter?”

“I think the only way he can be stopped is if we kill him. But…”

“But what?”

“He was a hero once. Just like me and you. I just dont understand what could’ve happened where this is where we have ended up. I mean if it can happen to him, what could stop it from happening to me? To our baby?” Carter started talking and he realized he couldn’t stop. His fears spilled out of him, and he pulled Zia closer to him, his hand rubbing her belly feeling the heartbeat of his daughter.

“Carter, Carter, but it didn’t happen to you. You are as good as you always were. I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you had you been a man who could do what Percy Jackson has done. Our daughter will grow up loved and safe, and she will be better than both of us.”

Carter sighed, and he kissed his wife. Their kiss deepened. The sheets rustled, and the house was loud for a moment. After, Zia was dead asleep, but Carter lay there his eyes wide open.

He had kept one thing from his wife to himself. Percy Jackson had once had a life like his. About to be married, and he had lost everything and done whatever it took to get it back. Carter didn’t want to admit it, but he was quite sure he would do anything for Zia if she was taken from him.

Annabeth had been a friend, and Percy was obviously involved with her disappearance, he told himself. But every day he grew more worried, would he help Nico kill Percy Jackson because it was the right thing to do? Or because he wanted to quiet the reminder of his fears that he too would do anything for the people he loved.

Carter didn’t know the answer. But he knew the problem. Blood would be shed, and he swore to himself it would not be his or his family.

With that thought secured, Carter Kane went to sleep.

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The stars looked down upon the world. They watched as Percy Jackson walked into the fishing hut, his fingers rolling the ring of his true love over his knuckles absentmindedly. They watched as Emily Zhang Levesque got into the car, her Scythe wrapped up in her knapsack sitting on her lap. They watched as Carter Kane steeled himself to kill. They watched as Nico Di Angelo sharpened his sword, watched as Clarisse hunted through the west coast, watched as monsters began to swim through the ocean, converging onto a small island in the Caribbean.

They watched.

He watched.

Chapter 5: Fatal Flaw

Summary:

Percy is faced with a prophecy, and then the consequences of his actions. Trouble is brewing.

Prophecy becomes simply word
True heroes falsely lured
All will be lost
But only one pays the cost
The path is obscured
The sky is cured
Word simply becomes prophecy
Ring around, and around the Ring.

Lured heroes falsely true?

 

The candle lighting Ella’s face wavered, as she finished her final sentence. Percy’s ears buzzed, as they alway did, when they recognized a prophecy. Night had fallen outside the cabin, and Percy glanced from the faces of Tyson and Ella to the silhouette of BlackJack outside.

“Ella-” his voice was hoarse, so he cleared it, “Ella what is that. Is it from the books?”

“Sibylline. Sibylline yes. The books.” the harpy squawked quietly, her eyes flitting nervously between Percy and Tyson.

“Why does it sound like that?” Percy asked,

“What do you mean brother?” Tyson responded, his big bulk settling into a concerningly small dining room chair as he absentmindedly stroked the feathers on Ella’s back.

“The prophecy, it doesn’t sound like it knows. I’ve never heard a prophecy repeat itself, let alone ask a question. Ella, do you remember anything else in the book, any other context, any line we’re missing?”

Ella stared thoughtfully, “No missing line but…”

“What?” asked Percy

“The words they were. They were written over and over again. Crossed out on top of each other, scratched. Multiple tries to write prophecy.” Ella said.

Percy stared at her confused, “Written on top of each other…over and over..why?” he asked almost to himself. He started pacing in the small cottage, an old habit that had returned quicker than he would’ve liked.

“You know Percy. When I have to write reports for dad, if I don’t understand what I need to write down it takes me a few tries. Maybe whoever wrote the books wasn’t sure?” Tyson grumbled,
“Those damn reports, Dad acts like I don’t know how to properly relocate a killer whale away from a beach I mean come on-”

“Wait Tyson! I think you’re right!” Percy interrupted, stopping his pacing to stride back to the table and start writing down the prophecy.

“Well of course I am, I know very well how to relocate a whale-”

“No, not that part. The part about them not knowing what to say. These prophecies have to come from somewhere. Maybe this one was one of the last ones? Before whatever connection they had access to died?” Percy said, looking from Tyson to Ella for some confirmation.

Tyson look befuddled but Ella looked up at him shrewdly,

“Smart. Very smart Percy Jackson.”

“But what does that mean? Why would this prophecy be their last? What makes it so special?” Percy asked.

“It does say all stands to be lost.” Ella said, fluttering down from Tyson’s shoulder, the brainstorming exciting her.

Percy laughed, “No no, they all say that. Every prophecy promises it means the end of the world and then we fix it and-”

Ella didn’t laugh with him. “Nope. Nope. Nope. Only once. ‘All will be lost’. Only once”

Percy stared at her, his mouth opened a bit, “What that can’t be true, what about with gaea it said-”

Ella interrupted him by reciting the line he knew by heart, “ ‘The world must fall’. Very different. Very different. ‘Olympus to preserve or raze’ very different. Not All. Never All”.

Percy stared at her. “How could it mean “All”? What even is All?”

Ella shrugged her shoulders and stared up at him.

“All will be lost. Who pays?” she asked him.

The small cabin was quiet, quiet enough that the sizzle of the candle as it finally died echoed throughout the room. Darkness took over for a moment.

Until everything burst into flames.

Percy was slammed back into the back wall of the cabin. He smashed through it, wood splintering around him as he rolled into a nearby sand-dune. Ears ringing, he rolled again, this time of his own will, throwing himself over the crest of the sand-dune, fumbling for the pen he knew would be in his pocket.

The golden blade extended, shimmering through the air. The air was quiet, and with a quick touch to the side of his face Percy felt the blood from his ear dripping down his face. He peeked over the sand dune and was met with his worst fear.

The cabin was gone. Where it stood was a scorch mark of burnt wood, and a crumbled stone fireplace. Tyson and Ella were nowhere to be seen, and Percy could only pray they had gotten away. Before he could dwell on the thought however, he suddenly had bigger problems. In fact, two big problems.

Two winged serpents seemed to swim through the air straight at Percy. They moved in tandem, and so hypnotizingly, that for a moment Percy didn’t react as they opened their mouths at him. Suddenly the air temperature spiked, and a moment too late Percy realized what was coming. He sprang from behind the dune and flipped from its crest down into the small crater that used to hold the cabin. The serpent's flames missed him but he watched them circle around him as he landed down in the crater.

He was ready. Fighting demigods wasn’t what he had signed up for. Killing monsters? That had always been his thing. It was all he had left of who he used to be.

Before his feet had even touched the ground, he was sweeping riptide up in a huge arc that caught one of the dragons wings, severing it clean off as it flew a little too close to its prey.

“Ha!” Percy yelled, “Alright, I’m going to call you Nemo, for obvious reasons, and you Dragon 2.”

In response, Dragon 2 bellowed, and twisted its long body into Percy’s chest, knocking him back down. Percy gasped, the air stolen from him and choked, “Alright alright, I’ll call you Dory that’s fine.”

Nemo, with his one wing, finished his circle, his screams coming to an end. His eyes glinted with malice and he flew straight towards Percy, well as straight as one can with one wing.

“Come on then!” yelled Percy who sprinted towards the dragon too, Riptide pointed forward like a skewer ready to do something terrible to Nemo that Pixar would not approve of.

But just in time, Dory swept in, a fang protruding from her mouth deflecting Percy’s blade. The force of her block turned him to the side, and he was barely able to jump to the side to avoid the snapping jaws of Nemo.

He used his momentum from his jump to grab onto a scale from Dory’s back, raising Riptide to plunge it down, but once again Nemo turned, almost as if he knew what was happening to his counterpart, and butted Percy from the back, sending him flying 15 feet across the beach.

Percy shook his head doggedly. “Damn” he thought, “I need Annabeth, I don’t know what the hell these things are.”

It seemed the pair of dragons could sense his thoughts, as they turned towards him, once again in their undulating, collaborative pattern as they swam through the air towards him.

“What would Annabeth do?” Percy thought, racking his brain, “She would see the game isn’t fair. And she would change the rules.”

“OK GUYS!” yelled Percy, “OR GUYS AND GIRLS I DON’T KNOW DRAGON ANATOMY WELL ENOUGH”

“NO MORE PLAYING FAIR!” he yelled, and he extended riptide down to his side, his leg stepping back to brace himself.

Nemo and Dory seemed to scream back, and they undulated quicker and quicker. Percy braced himself, his hand clenched around Riptide as hard as he could. The dragons got closer and closer, Percy could hear their breathing. It wasn’t close enough.

Ever closer still they drew, now he could smell their scales, and the hot air from their fire-breathing throats. Not close enough

Almost on top of him now, still he waited. Then he saw it. He saw Nemo’s eyes flicker to meet Dory’s and in that moment he acted. He threw his hand up and yelled. The beach exploded.

A huge geyser of saltwater shot up from the beach, slamming Nemo out of their flight pattern. Dory turned her head to look back at Percy in shock but it was too late, he slid underneath her, Riptide pointed up slicing down the middle.

He popped up out of his slide, the water swirling around him now pushing him into the air, as he flew up, he sliced down, and watched as Dory became fish food in the geyser beneath him.

Nemo shrieked, but Percy was ready. He funneled the geyser so it propelled him forward towards the dragon. They were both 30 feet above the beach now, Percy Jackson surrounded in a mini typhoon as he rocketed towards the beast, the dragon shooting a column of fire towards him but the water kept the heat at bay, Riptide a glimmering point in the night sky aimed straight towards Nemo..

There was no Dory to save him now. Percy thrust forward so strongly, the blade burst through the skull of the dragon. Nemo disintegrated before the pair even hit the ground. Percy landed, his clothes simmering from the hot steam water formed by the collision. Water plumed away from where his boots hit the ground, the tide coming up to the crater of the cabin lapping at the son of Poseidon's heels, waiting for his command.

It is grey on the beach, the barest hint of the sun peeks over the horizon. Just enough light to see our hero’s face. There is no smile on his face after his victory, no pause for breath, not a single indication of the feat he had just performed. Instead he stares at the cabin crater and calls out,

“I can feel you. Come out.” His voice is cold and quick. There is no falter now that he is returned to his element.

The shadows melt and contort and a figure steps out. Percy squints at the silhouette that appears on the beach. It isn’t a man, at least he doesn’t think so. Something is wrong, it seems to glide toward him, almost hovering above the ground. The greyish light of the morning strikes the shadow, at the moment Percy realizes what’s wrong. He can’t hear any footsteps.

Nico Di-Angelo stands in front of him. Or something that looks like him does, Percy doesn’t say anything at first, he just stares.

“Hello Percy. Long time no see.” Nico said, ascending from the crater, and he seems to swoop like a large bat towards Percy, stopping just in front of him.

“Nico…You look uh different.” says Percy as he stares at him.

“Oh well, I’m not really here I suppose. Your father gave his top general quite a lot of magical protection on his little island getaway.” scoffed Nico as he looked around. “I’ve learned some new tricks since our last encounter Percy, taking the form of a shade is one of many.”

Percy examined the boy he once knew. Nico had always scared Percy, but he had always had kindness in his eyes. Percy had always been able to rely on Nico caring for people to curb the anger that had always been in the boys heart.

Nico was not a boy anymore. He was a tired man just like Percy. Even as a shade he looked formidable, Percy could feel the energy radiating off him. “How did you get the dragons in then?” he asked, trying to buy some time.

“Oh the Mycenae Serpents? Well I can’t give away all my secrets, by the way I gave you their name for free, because I know you’re hopeless without some brain behind you. Do me a favor and look them up before you see them again.” Nico laughed, and he started moving back and forth in front of Percy, his hand gripping tighter and tighter on his sword with every step.

“Think I took care of them for good. If you’re done prattling on about how powerful you are I’d love to know where my brother is.” Percy sighed, relaxing back on one leg in direct contrast to Nico’s growing aggravation.
“Oh poor Percy, of course they’re not gone. As for your brother, well…” Nico says, and his hand gestures behind him. Percy’s eyes follow and on queue, a large boulder that lay behind the cabin splits in two. Inside the rubble, chained with bone white manacles, Tyson and Ella struggle frantically.

Percy’s hand tightens on his sword. “Let them go, Nico. They have nothing to do with this.”

“Oh really? Harboring a fugitive is a crime nowadays Percy. Not that you would care.” Nico says, his words twisting in anger.

“Nico please, Tyson is your friend. They know you-”

“How dare you speak about friends. They watched me choke on my own blood and they still helped you.” Nico spat back at him, his shade form crackling a bit in anger.

Percy’s back seemed to break, and his chest folded inward. He let out a long sigh and shaky breath, “I’m sorry Nico. I know that’s not enough or what you want but I didn’t want to hurt you, I would never want-”

His back hit the sand so hard his hand loosened on Riptide. Nico’s shade had moved so quickly Percy didn’t even see it. He saw him now though, standing above him, hand gripped upon the stygian iron.

“YOU DON’T GET TO APOLOGIZE” Nico screamed, and he threw himself down upon the man who had once been his everything.

Percy rolled, and instinctively threw himself at Nico to tackle him. His hand clasped around the solid wrist of Nico, where he held his sword, but the rest of him flew through Nico’s intangible form. A shiver ran through his spine, he felt like icy water had just been poured straight onto his scalp and was running down his back.

Nico grabbed his wrist and kicked out at Percy, his boot solidifying just in time to connect with his chest.

“Nico please-” gasped Percy, as he stood up his hands help up placatingly.

“No more Percy. I’ve let you do whatever you want my whole life, hoping you would see me the way I see you. But now I know the real you. You take anything and everything from everyone. You fight for what you need and nothing more. You are no hero, you are no friend, and you are nothing to me.”

Nico’s words punctured Percy harder than any blow could, and he stood there in shock.

Nico did not just stand there. He flew forward with the sword swinging over head. Percy, unfrozen, now tried to dodge, but it wasn’t quick enough. The black iron gashed into the side of his arm.

“Nico stop-” Percy started again, his voice quieter than before. It went unheeded. Nico swung over his head, the sword sweeping in a great arc at Percy’s neck. Percy jumped back, the blade only grazing the top of his chest. More blood though. The water around his feet seemed to reach up to catch it.

“NICO WAIT” bellowed Percy, and this time he acted. The ocean surged back on all sides. It surged out of the ground beneath them. Nico felt his mouth go dry for a second and was sure all the moisture from it had been taken. The water formed a wall between the two for a moment, and then exploded outward. It knocked Nico’s sword arm down, and while most went through his intangible form, it still put distance between the two. When the water was gone however, it was truly gone. Percy had created a 500 feet diameter circle of completely dry sand with him and Nico at the center. No water. No power for the son of Poseidon.

“I thought I got out because there was something I had to do. There’s something out there that needs to be stopped. I don’t know what it is, I don’t know who, I don’t know if it really is anything. Maybe it’s just an idea. But I thought I was the one to do it.” Percy said, his eyes deadly serious as they met Nicos.

“But maybe, I’m not. Maybe I got let out because it’s time I pay for what I did to you. So do it Nico. You think I’m not a hero? You think I’m the villain everyone else says I am. Kill me and send me to your father so he can judge me. I won’t fight you. I don’t have enough people I love left to spend my time fighting them.” with that Percy dropped Riptide. The blade shifted to a pen as it fell through the air, and landed with a soft plop on the sand.

Nico stared at him, his jaw jumping angrily. “You don’t get to do this Percy.” he strode forward, his hand dropping his sword too. “You don’t get to be noble now, after everything you’ve done.”

Percy opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it. He stood there waiting. Nico was in front of him now, and his hands solidified. His first blow struck Percy in the stomach, doubling him over. Percy’s head bent, almost in supplication, before him, Nico swung upwards. His second blow connected with Percy’s jaw and sent him reeling back.

“You think this is how it ends? You think I want some easy fight, Percy Jackson?” Nico yelled, striding forward his hand gripping the front of Percy’s shirt.

“I was dying, choking on my own blood, blood I had spilled for you. And you know what I saw when I thought I was going to die?” asked Nico, punctuating the question with a blow to Percy’s face.

Percy spit, and blood flew out landing on the sand next to him. “What” he gasped, his right eye starting to swell.

“I saw you Percy. My friend. The man who was going to kill me.” Nico whispered,his face deathly white. He looked down at Percy and was taken aback. Percy’s seagreen eyes were full of tears. His face was covered in blood, but Nico knew the tears were tears of regret. He shook his head. He didn’t care. He refused to care.

“AGHHH” he screamed again, punching Percy again and again. “Stand up and fight back! You owe me that! How dare you refuse me, how dare you choose honor now!” Nico dragged Percy to his feet and pushed him away, almost begging him to fight back.

Percy shook his head, “Kill me Nico. If that is what you want.” Percy held his hands up and shrugged, dropping them back down to his side. Fully exposed, waiting for his old friend.

“Nico, I loved her. More than anything more than you can understand. I did a horrible thing, but it wasn’t because of you. It was because of her. It’s always been her. That’s really what you hate isn’t it?” asked Percy. He asked like he was truly trying to understand and that’s what made Nico even angrier. And the fact that he was right. Nico had the question he had never asked answered: did Percy care about anyone besides Annabeth?

Percy looked at him, and the two saw each other's thoughts. “You can’t blame everything on me Nico. If you want to kill me because I almost killed you, do it. Fine. But I think you know there are things deeper under the surface. Something is coming Nico. Ella said ‘All will be lost’. Aren’t you afraid?”

Nico grabbed Percy and threw him. His back hit the hard sand dune, and his head bounced against a rock. Percy felt the warm blood from his scalp cover his hair, and his eyes swam as the endless punches started to catch up with him. Nico looked down at the man beneath him. Percy’s beard was covered in blood, his face slowly turning purple as he laid in the sand dune. He was completely at Nico’s mercy, but willingly. Not good enough, no not nearly good enough for Nico.

“To ensure you fight back next time let me tell you something.” Nico said, his voice deathly quiet now. There was no emotion as he strode towards Percy. He grabbed Percy’s hair and stared down at his battered face, “I know where Annabeth is.”

Almost immediately, everything changed. Percy’s face shifted, even underneath the blood and bruises his eyes sharpened and his hand on Nicos chest that was once pleading became calculating. Percy held up his hand, and Nico heard the sound of the entire ocean coursing down towards them, preparing to trap them together.

“Goodbye Percy.” and Nico disappeared, leaving behind a patch of darkness and scent of decay as the only signs he had ever been there.

Water crashed onto the son of Poseidon, seafoam spraying up into the air. Rays of the sunrise illuminated the blood in the foam. Percy staggered to his feet, his body aching, as the water lapped on his feet. It started to climb up his body healing him, he let it until it reached his neck. “No” he said, more to himself than anyone. “Leave it. I need to remember.”

The water stirred and Percy’s body ached as he staggered towards the rubble where Tyson and Ella lay, now free of the manacles that held them. He raised his hand in greeting, but then paused, something had caught his eye.

The still water in front of him was red. Whether it was dragon blood or his, he couldn’t tell, but something glimmered up at him. Embedded slightly into the sand, a shimmer of gold winked up at him, catching the light. Percy knew what it was before he even checked his back pocket. Annabeth’s wedding ring flickered up at him. He grabbed it and stared at it in the palm of his hand, blood covered it, slowly dripping off the edges circling in an engraving on the inside of the ring he was sure had not existed mere hours before.

An inscription, glowing red, circulating on the inner band of the ring.

 

“Hamartia”

Percy stared at the word around the ring. Around the ring…

He looked up at the sky, “Word becomes prophecy then. Fine. Promise me I get to say goodbye.”

There was no answer. He wasn’t waiting for one.

“Tyson, I need a boat!”

Percy called out, waving up the beach.

“I need to get to Egypt.”

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Reyna had delegated tasks all day, her least favorite thing, and had successfully secured the warship Clarisse wanted, better funding for the pottery class at Camp Jupiter, approved 4 new questing licenses, and sent a squad of up and coming Hermes and Nemesis demigods to various demigod locations as her listening ears. The council had once had an official “Spy-Master” position, but the problem with everyone knowing you are a spy-master is they stop to trust you. She had kept the position in title only and had quietly taken the role over 6 years ago. Perhaps a little unconstitutional, but it had been her primary tool for keeping the peace. Clarisse would argue that Frank, Carter, and herself had been instrumental in keeping peace and protecting demigods from threats for the last twenty years. Reyna didn’t argue as she wasn’t wrong, but only Reyna knew that the greatest threat demigods faced was themselves. Warring factions, young demigods with flawed ideology, and rich old demigods. Somehow the rich old ones were the worst of the three. To give the rich bastards credit, they always gave her more respect than she believed she deserved, she thought, as she sipped the incredible french wine that she would never be able to afford. She set the glass down, and looked out over the bistro cafe counter at the bustling streets of Paris, France. She had a modest white shirt on, with form fitting jeans and a pair of tortoiseshell glasses that perched on her nose. She matched the look with a small book bag that held a laptop and a book she had currently pretended to be perusing as they carefully eyed her surroundings.

“You know most clandestine meetings happen at cafe’s like this? Not very subtle Ms. Ramirez-Arellano.” a smooth seductive voice came from behind her. Reyna had been waiting for it, steeling herself not to react, and so she slowly turned and smiled at the older man behind her.

“Hello Julian. You look well.” She said sweetly, gesturing to an empty chair that sat next to her at the table.

The man laughed, his wrinkled face turning into a grizzled grin. Reyna couldn’t help but admit it, while he was older, he was shockingly handsome. His jawline had remained intact over his life, his grey hair was full, his wrinkles seemed to accentuate his eyes, and his tall lean frame showed no signs of back-ache or frailty. He really did look well, considering he was about 60 she would guess, twenty years her senior.

Reyna had first met Julian on one of her earlier quests in Camp Jupiter. She had been referenced to ask for his help, back when he owned a home in the upper mountains of Utah. Reyna had been sent to extract an old Roman artifact from the mountains that had been lost decades before. Julian had given her a place to stay, and had taught her about the intricacies of Rome and all its “artifacts”.

For Julian was perhaps the greatest thief the world had ever seen. He was a son of Hermes, he had attended Camp Halfblood for half a year, and then been brought into Camp Jupiter after being one of the only demigods to pierce its veil of defenses unaided. He was brilliant and dangerous, but now, he was one of Reyna’s greatest sources of information. He had stolen Van Gogh’s from art museums, demigod treasure troves across the world, international secrets from governments, and more.

Julian Deschamps, sat down, his hands gracefully skimming the top of the chair as he seemed to silently drop into it. “How can I help you, Reyna? It’s been quite a while since we last talked.”

Reyna looked at him, her smile slowly fading, “Julian I need what I always need. Information.”

His smile started to fade too, “Reyna I told you I am retired. I don’t do this anymore, I want my happy ending.”

“You quit stealing Julian. You know everybody on this side of the Atlantic, I need to know how people will react to Percy Jackson when he realizes his future is international.” Reyna asked, she took her glasses off and stared at Julian’s ice blue eyes.

Julian shifted uncomfortably, “Don’t say his name here. People are not fans, and we are not as secure as we could be.”

Reyna looked at him confused, “Julian who could be listening? I know the council has many benefactors here, but who would go to the effort…” her voice drifted off as she caught Julians face which was shaking vigorously to tell her to stop.

His shook his head quickly, and put his hand on the table, his thumb lightly brushing her hand. With that he stood up quickly. “Well Reyna, I have nothing else to say.” and he turned to leave.

Reyna was so taken aback she almost didn’t notice the napkin he had left behind, with words scrawled ontop of it.

“Trust no one. Percy Jackson is just the beginning”

Reyna stared down at the words, so taken aback by the strange behavior of her old friend.

“Wait!” she called and jumped from her stupor. She sprinted out of the bistro, just in time to see Julian’s navy blue coat flap around a corner. Sprinting after him, she swerved the corner into the alleyway. Two steps later, her back met the wall.

Julian had her pinned against it, his steely eyes looked panicked as they stared at her inches away. “Reyna, listen to me. Someone else is pulling strings.”

“Julian, what are you talking about? There are no whispers, nothing…” but then Reyna stopped. There were NO whispers. Half her spies had been dark for the past couple months, not that she had reached out but…

Julian nodded his head, “Reyna promises are being made. Your ‘heroes’ want what we all want.”

Staring up at him, it dawned on her, “A happy ending, right Julian? What did they promise you?”

Julian shook his head, “I leave tonight Reyna. I have stolen and sold much, but I will not sell my honor. If you pursue this you must tread carefully. People will kill to keep what they have gained.”
Slumping against the wall, Reyna put her hands to her head, “Where do I even start? I don’t even know who, what, where, why.”

Julian looked down at her and now he smiled, “That is not the Reyna I know talking. But if you want my advice…”

Reyna looked up. “You said trust nobody, but I can’t do that Julian. Tell me what you know.”

“It is no coincidence Percy Jackson has escaped now. He was not alone. I don’t even think he knows the full extent of help he received in his escape. Start there.” and with that, Julian Deschamps hurried down the alleyway. This time, Reyna did not follow him.

Walking back around the corner Reyna was lost in her thoughts. She turned right onto a small bridge over a canal, the midday sun beating down on her hair as she strode across the bridge.Her pocket buzzed, and Reyna checked her phone, it was a call from Clarisse.

Reyna sighed.

With a small splash the phone hit the water, its buzzing stopped as it sank to the bottom of the canal. Not breaking stride, Reyna slipped her coat on. It was going to be a long night.

Chapter 6: War! What Is It Good For?

Summary:

Children of Ares/Mars blow off some steam in different ways.

14 Years Ago

6 Years after the Imprisonment of Percy Jackson

Frank stumbled into the small apartment kitchen in Los Angeles and dropped into a beaten down wooden chair in his poor excuse for a living room. His face was covered in ash, and he dropped his boots, thick ones with reflective strips on their sides, at the door. His shirt, stretched thin across his broad shoulders, he took off and threw into a growing pile of laundry in the corner. The fading letters on the back caught the dim light of the bulb in the ceiling, “Los Angeles Fire Department”.

Dropping his head in his hands, Frank stared down at the floor, lost in thought. It took a few moments, as his eyes were unseeing, to notice the paper card that lay in between his legs on the floor. He picked it up, staring at the embossed photo of a bird on the front.

The caption under the photo read “The Arctic Tern, known for its incredible migratory period, the longest of any bird”

Frank flipped it over and scrawled in handwriting he recognized he read,

‘In war, as in life, the most unlikely allies can turn the tide in battle’ -Sun Tzu

Or in this case, turn the tide in your heart. You know who can help you.

Dad

 

Frank dropped the postcard.

 

Before it could even hit the ground, he was gone. The small window in his apartment revolving on its central axis that held it to the wall, the only sign he had been there at all was a small white feather with a black tip that lay on the sill.

 

Leo’s various mechanical probes, watchdogs, and magical sensors all picked up the small bird flitting around the peak of The Mountain. Poking out a spyglass, Leo identified the small body of the arctic tern as it soared around the peak. Turning off the alarms, he went back to the gearbox he had been fiddling with. A little nature never hurt anyone, and he wasn’t going to blast a bird out of the sky. His first mistake.

Percy Jackson watched the arctic tern land on the outskirts of the various spells, chains, traps, and barriers that surrounded him. The small bird landed, and took two hesitant steps forward, and then two hops back, slowly circumnavigating the radius of Percy’s enclosure.
Percy’s beard grew slowly, so even after six years, mere inklings of what would become a tangled mass of pitch black hair had begun to grow on his face. Unbeknownst to Frank or Percy at the time, today was Percy’s birthday. He turned 27. One of twenty birthdays he would have, indistinguishable from the day before or after, uncounted and ignored.

“Hello Frank.” Percy called out. His voice came out raspy after being unused for almost a year since his last visitor.

The arctic tern cocked its head at Percy, and shifted. The bulky figure of Frank Zhang stepped forward to the edge of Percy’s prison.

“How did you know it was me?” Frank asked, his voice quiet as he stared down at his old friend. It had been long enough into Percy’s imprisonment that he had accepted the finality of it, but not long enough for him to gain the second wind all prisoners eventually felt against their backs. The feeling of knowing you will never see the ocean again, or taste maple syrup on a pancake, or hold the ones you love again. Those locked away know the feeling all too well, they live the feeling. And at first it consumes them, completely destroying any essence of the person who once was, but eventually, inexplicably, this feeling of total loss reminds the prisoner of what they have to get back. And what was once despair becomes determination. Where there was loss there is now a quiet, but constant, flame of hope. Percy Jackson has not yet lit his flame, and so he remains a broken man as Frank lands in front of him. The bird’s feathers are a taunt to the freedom he believes he will never have, and his friend a spiked jab to the life he will never live again.

“What do you want?” Percy mutters, his face looking down at the dry dry dirt at his feet.

“I uh-” Frank was speechless for a moment. He had never visited Percy’s prison, he had been invited but had refused. People often forgot, in fact sometimes Frank even forgot, but Percy Jackson was one of his first true demigod friends. For the five years they had known each other, Percy had been nice to him since first meeting him, and had stayed by his side no matter what ever since. Percy had laughed with him, been angry for him, went toe to toe with him, hugged him when he cried, and picked him up when he fell. Frank would be so lucky to find someone like that ever again. But he had been so lucky. He had found 5 other friends in the seven. All of them willing to put their life on the line for him. Or so he had thought…

“Percy, did you kill her? Look me in the eyes and tell me.” Frank said. It came out so abrupt and so violent, interrupting even his own thoughts. As if possessed, maybe he was, he looked up and his steely eyes bored into the top of Percy’s bowed head.

Percy strained his neck and the two old friends locked eyes. Percy’s were full of tears.
“Frank I-” he choked out, and his back shook, not with the weight of the sky he bore on his shoulders, but with the weight of his grief.

His question answered, Frank didn’t hesitate and sprang forward. His knees bounced hard off the packed dirt at Percy’s feet. His hands sprung upwards and he braced as he pushed the sky upwards next to Percy. Percy crumpled down and Frank grimaced as the weight of the sky pushed down onto him. For a moment he thought his spine would simply snap and give way, he breathed in and out through his nose, telling himself that the next second the weight would be a little bit more bearable.

Percy twitched on the ground and crawled a few feet away from the sky and turned to look at Frank. “Frank, no. You can’t” he croaked, his green eyes swimming with the same tears that had convinced Frank he was doing the right thing. Frank shook his head stubbornly at Percy. He would carry this burden in protest for as long as he could.

Percy struggled to a sitting position, “Frank listen to me. It doesn’t get easier. Every second you think you have gotten used to the weight it will get heavier. The weight of the sky, of the world, of everything is too much for one person. No one soul can bear the weight of this life on their shoulders. You will fall.”

“Thanks for the encouragement” grimaced Frank, “You could at least say some nice things so I can pretend.”

Percy grinned despite himself, but the grin faded as he stared at Frank. “Tell me why you’re here Frank.”

“I uh- My dad told me to come” Frank said, almost sheepishly as he shifted the weight on his back a bit.

Percy cocked his head, “Mars? Why?”

“I’m not sure. I asked for advice and he basically told me he couldn’t give it.”

“So he sent you to me?”

“Well that is what I interpreted his rather cryptic message to mean, but maybe I was wrong. After all so far all that’s happened is I’ve doomed myself to eternal punishment.”

Percy laughed again, “Not eternal. You’ll die one day.”

Frank looked up, his eyes tightening in a hint of fear at the suggestion that he was truly trapped here until he died.

Percy smiled, this time more wryly. “No Frank, ask your question, and then be on your way. If I take too much of a break it will hurt that much more when I pick up the burden once more.”

“This is going to sound stupid but, I don’t know things have fallen apart Percy. I don’t know what to do. No one will answer my questions, and if they do they’re the wrong answers” Frank said sheepishly.

Tilting his head up at Frank, Percy opened his mouth, “So…”

“Me and Hazel split up.” Frank choked out, it was his turn to let his eyes well over.

“What? What happened-”

“That’s not all. I never see Leo, Jason, Piper, any of the Seven anymore, Camp Jupiter has become more and more bureaucratic everyday. More and more demigods come in, and more and more seek political power and less and less seek to go on quests and save the world.” Frank started and he realized as he started he couldn’t stop, “Every single day, the world gets more and more complicated, and I grow less and less sure of what matters. I can feel it getting worse and worse and I’m worried people won’t see until it is too late. But most importantly, and selfishly most importantly I’ll admit, most importantly I miss Hazel.” Frank let out a deep breath as he finished his dump, and rolled his shoulders back as he reset his stance holding the sky above him.

Percy stared at him and he laughed. “Poor Frank. I’m sorry I just can’t help but think of Annabeth and what she would say.”

Frank stiffened at the mention of her name, but Percy pretended he didn’t see and continued, “She would say I told you so. Frank just because we get older doesn’t necessarily mean things have to get complicated. Yeah some things will be different, but some things will always be the same. Do you love her Frank?”

Frank nodded.

“Sorry I couldn’t hear that could you speak up-”

“Yes you dickhead. I love her. More than anything.” Frank choked out a laugh through the frog in his throat as he said the words he had been trying to push down ever since she had left him.

“Why did she leave Frank, what did she say?” Percy asked, correctly reading the memory on Frank's face.

“I wanted children, and she wasn’t sure. Told me it was best for me to find someone else while I still had time.” Frank said, his eyes unseeing as he stared through Percy.

“Oh Frank you idiot. What children would you even want, if their mother couldn’t be her? What life would you even live if she wasn’t in it?” Percy asked. There wasn’t a smile this time, as he stared up at Frank. Frank stared back and stared in shock at the pity on Percy’s face. How could this man have pity on him? The world he had served for more than half his life had betrayed him, had destroyed everything he had fought to give them, and yet there he was with pity and sympathy on his face for Frank. Hurting because Frank hurt.

“Percy…Thank you, I don’t think you understand how much-”

Percy waved his hand and cut him off, “Frank listen to me. Things are changing, but the love you two have for each other isn’t. And if I can make you listen to anything then hear me when I say this:”

Percy slips up next to Frank, his hands pushing upward, and Frank feels the load of the sky lift off his back,

“We will never, ever, have enough time with the people we love. So go get her.” Percy’s eyes lock with Franks, and the two smile at each other.

“Come back sometime Frank. If you can stomach it.” Percy says, and his leg shoots out and sweeps Frank away from the crippling sky above. Percy’s back ripples as his hands take their customary places on the burden above him.

“Percy this isn’t right. I can’t leave you here, you don’t deserve this.” Frank said, dusting his pants off as he clambered to his feet.

“Nothing to do about it Frank. Leo will have figured out what happened, and he’s given us all the time he can. Besides, your wife is out there. You got things to do.” Percy said, and he winked.

“Get the hell out of here.”

And with that the arctic tern soars back into the sky, its shape fading away into the endless horizon that surrounds The Mountain. Once it is long gone, Percy lets out the thought he had held back,

“Please come back.” he whispers. His tears are quiet.

Leo still hears his tears, as he hears everything that happens atop The Mountain. Percy is not the only one who bears a burden in this prison, as the weight of guilt should not be underestimated.

Leo’s tears are less quiet, and yet go unheard.

 

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Clarisse paced the deck of her warship. Well, Reyna’s warship if they were going to get technical, but the soldiers on it were hers to command. She led the largest host of Demigods the modern world had seen since WWII. Even larger than the conflicts between the two camps twenty years ago, her ship carried 975 unified men and women across the Atlantic. The ship spanned 300 meters long, making it longer than The Titanic. It had huge billowing sails that, thanks to the work of the children of Zephyr, remained full at all times. It was covered in armaments of all origins, makes, and ingenuity. However, where its power came from was its mobility. Leo had designed an ingenious deployment mechanism, where the huge ship could quickly detach up to 20 smaller, just as well armed ships to surround whatever foe they faced.

The Owls Talon, as it was called, slid through the water at an incredible speed. Clarisse stood at the huge head of the ship. This was the primary navigation center, and Poseidon had provided two of what he called, “old geezers” saying that they knew these oceans better than any living soul. After taking one look at them Clarisse believed him, the barnacle clad humanoid figures barely talked, never slept, and perfectly directed the ship through the waves and storms. Despite this, Clarisse hated being out here. “Ah yes, hunt a son of Poseidon in the ocean, what a good idea!” she muttered to herself.

She wasn’t scared of course, no, she told herself, it was simply she didn’t like bad strategy. She had to admit though, Reyna had been right about one thing. Whatever was happening was worldwide, and the council, effectively the one true leading body of the mythical world nowadays, had to show their strength. She understood the politics, in fact she sometimes thought she understood it a little too well. Reyna had told her before leaving for Europe, the primary goal was to prepare as many demigods for conflict as possible. To warn and consolidate against whatever attacks Percy Jackson would bring to their new orderly world. Clarisse had called Reyna once before the ship had departed from its bay in Camp Jupiter. That had been 4 days ago now, and there had been no answer. Not that she expected her phone to work out here, but not even an iris message or a note or a dream. Nothing. Clarisse wasn’t one to worry unnecessarily, but lately it had dwelled on her…

Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout from one of the upper masts. “Movement on the Starboard side! 3 klicks out I’d guess.” the voice of Will Solace echoed down from the crows nest. Clarisse looked up, as the blonde man grabbed his bow, hooking it around one of the ships lines and sliding at what she could only describe as a concerning pace down towards the deck. At the last second the line turned rigid and he swung, with grace she wasn’t sure she would’ve been able to master, flying through the air and landing at his feet next to her.

“Show off” she grumbled and punched him in the arm.

He smiled, wincing a bit as he rubbed his shoulder, “Don’t hate the player, hate the game Clarisse. You’re just not as cool as me.”\

“Whatever Solace. What did you see up there?”

“Not sure, large movement off starboard though. Could be a harmless squid, could be a Sea Giant.” he said, slinging his bow over his back and falling into step with her as she started walking down ship.

“Not particularly helpful” she grunted, as she opened a door to a dark room. Inside sat a group of 7 figures, all clad in various amounts of shrouds and gowns. The room was hazy with some sort of scented smoke, and the windows had been blocked with shades. The light that came in through the door was blinding for a moment until Clarisse shut it. Will blinked his eyes as quickly as he could to get used to the new lighting as he looked around. A fair skinned woman with raven black hair pushed her hood back and stared up at the two of them. Will recognized her as one of the scriers from the House of Brooklyn that Carter had sent to join them on the ship.

“What is it General?” the woman asked, her voice very quiet as it went into Will’s ear, but painfully loud as his head processed it.

“We’ve seen something off the bow, starboard side about 3 klicks out.” Clarisse said, her voice despite herself got softer to match the woman's tone.

“Well then, let’s see what there is to see.” the woman said, her hand dribbling a bit of oil across the still bowl of water that lay in front of her. Will watched, entranced, as she chanted something over it, and the water changed to a perfect view of the exact section of water he had seen something moving in moments earlier.

The trio watched the water silently, waiting. For a moment Will realized Clarisse, despite her teasing, had never questioned his claim for what he had seen. As that thought crossed his mind, it was quickly overshadowed as the water in the bowl began to move.

The ocean view portrayed in the scrying bowl moved so quickly that Will thought something had gone wrong with the magic. No. This was worse. A huge tentacled arm shot itself from the water and crashed down onto the ocean surface, generating a huge wave. The trio watched appalled for a second, until Clarisse had the foresight to yell,

“BRACE.”

Half a second later the entire ship seemed to turn on its side. Will was smashed against the wall of the scriers room. Bodies flew by him as they too were upset by the huge wave that hit the ship. The only figures to not move were Clarisse who had planted her feet in preparation, and the head scrier who seemed to hover in the air and let the boat move and jostle around her.

Will stumbled to his feet and stared at the bowl and watched in horror as more tentacles emerged from the water, each one bigger than the first. Will turned and threw open the door of the room and sprinted out onto the deck. Clarisse was close behind him.

“SOLACE! GRAB A ROPE!” she shouted as she sprinted for one of the many ropes tied to the side of the boat and began tying it around her waist.

Will followed suit, but his fingers fumbled as he stared out into the ocean. He could see the tentacles from here they seemed to reach infinitely up into the sky. His hands had just finished tying the knot when another tsunami size wave hit the ship. It slammed into him with such force, he blacked out for a second. His hand scrabbled at the deck railing, and held on praying neither his rope or grip failed. The water subsided and he crashed to the deck, choking on the seawater that had flattened his hair to his head. Despite the water coating the deck, Will stumbled up and reached the huge horn near the main mast. With all the air he had left he blew into it, its resounding call echoing magically through the vast corridors of the ship.

“MAN YOUR STATIONS!” Shouted Clarisse, as she sprinted around the deck. She seemed to be everywhere at once, loading cannons, passing out spears, preparing boarding hooks. All with a smile at her face, this was finally something she could do. Kill a monster? Any day.

“Wait Clarisse! Let's just go the other way. That thing is going to kill a lot of us.” Will shouted, his hands pointing towards the open expanse of ocean away from the horrible sea monster.

Clarisse instinctively shook her head, she would not run from a fight.

“Clarisse, you are a general now! You don’t get to just sacrifice lives when you want a fight. Turn the other way!” Will shouted, anger growing in his voice as he staggered closer to her, fighting against the currents that buffeted the ship.

Grimacing, Clarisse knew he had a point. She reached for the bell to sound the all-clear, but a hand stopped hers. It was the head scrier. Her all-seeing eyes pierced into Clarisses.

“Your objective lies that way General.” Once again her words were quiet, but both Will and Clarisse heard her plain as day over the pandemonium around them.

“What?” both asked, in sync as they looked at the woman.

In answer, she slid her bowl along the deck, and it came to rest between the two of them. It showed an expanse of ocean beyond the tentacles, and they could see a small craft surfing atop the huge waves from the beast.

Will squinted, and as if on command the image zoomed. The small outrigger canoe came into focus. Its huge sail swept from side to side to catch the perfect eddy across the ocean’s surface. A figure stood at its bow, effortlessly commanding its direction as if they were born to do it. Will knew who it was before the image focused.

Percy Jackson's salt crusted beard and black hair, curled from the salt water, caught the sunlight and his smile shone through the bowl of oil as his canoe flew down a wave crest.
Clarisse turned to Will.

“A fight we will have then.” she shouted, the grin returned to her face.

The healer sighed. He was in for a long night.

Chapter 7: Love, War, and Car Chases

Summary:

Things continue to escalate. Jason and Piper run into unexpected trouble. A conversation between Gods sheds some light. Old friends and new foes meet.

Aphrodite claimed that she didn’t have favorite children, postulating to anyone who would listen that she couldn’t pick a favorite as they were all lesser copies of herself. She was concealing the truth, as love often does, easier to claim to be selfish. Fools believed her. Others who knew and felt the nature of love did not. Today though, Aphrodite was not talking to a fool.

She sat at a bar that overlooked the Aegean Sea. As always she was dazzling, her dark black skin glistened in the moonlight that flitted through an open window. She was wearing an emerald green cloak that seemed to effortlessly billow around her and drape on the stool she sat on. Her posture was ramrod straight, but seemed effortless. Her eyes were any color you could imagine, whatever color you needed to see. To me they were brown, like melted caramel. The warm salty breeze blew across the sea and up across her perfectly curved nose. Smiling up at the window, a smile that man and woman have killed for, she murmured to herself.

“Smells like home”.

Her whisper was met with a grunt. Sitting next to her, the seat of his stool bowing a little bit sat a large hunched man. His back was muscly, his shirt tight around it, and his toned biceps exposed by the tight fit. His long pants brushed the floor, but could not hide the obvious difference in length of his legs. Hephaestus sat across from his wife, his hand gripping a glass of Guiness that he had been nursing for quite some time. He looked contemplatively at Aphrodite, his hands twitching for a second as if he was going to reach out. Instead, he slid a coaster across the bartop to her. She looked down at the bubbling beer that appeared atop it. Smiling, she sipped it, not as delicately as she would normally. Hephaestus smiled.

“Can I tell you a story?” she asked.

He nodded.

“Good. One day, not long ago, I had a daughter…

 

As with all my children, I gave birth to her. Yes, Hephaestus that way. Don’t squirm, it's childish. Her father drove me to his fancy hospital. Of course, I didn’t need it, but he was sweet. He held my hand almost the whole way through, I let out a particularly loud scream at one point and he passed out the poor man. When he woke up I was holding my daughter in my arms, she was covered with parts of me. All I could see were the parts of her father, after all I, and love, change for whoever holds us close. Sometimes, I forget what is me and what is not. But I knew I had given her at least one thing, my heart. I could feel it beat when she was inside me, and I could feel it when she was in my arms. It is always hard to walk away from these children, leaving a part of me behind. I spend countless nights wondering if I am depleted because I cut these parts of me off and leave them behind. If I am broken because I will always yearn for a quiet night with the daughter I created.”

Hephaustus coughed, “Why leave then? Why give birth, why make the connection again and again?”

Aphrodite finished her beer, and another one replaced it and she sipped that one too, “Because Hephaestus. Simply because I ache, does not mean I will stop. The act of creation cannot be halted as a consequence of the hurt it may incite. Now let me keep going, I have quite a few more beers to drink. Where was I..oh yes…

I held my beautiful little girl in my arms. I wouldn’t again for 16 more years. But then and there, all I could think about was how proud I was, and all she had done was breathe. I stayed with her and her father that night, and in the morning I was gone. A kiss on the forehead, a whiff of her hair, a quiet creak of the bottom step on the stairs, and I was gone. I sobbed that next day, and as I usually do I kept my distance for the next few years. It was easier for me, and I can only take so much abuse. I am the goddess of love, but it is my master as much as the rest of the world. Anyways I did as much as I could to forget about my daughter out there. Give her a chance to grow up, I kept away from the house I had crept out of, kept away from the heart that was mine and the small hands that pulled me closer and closer.

One day I was sitting on a bench in a park. It was a quiet day, I had come there to see two butterflies mate. These butterflies mate for love, not for survival. They also happened to be the only two butterflies left of this species on the continent. That didn’t matter to them, they were choosing to mate because they loved each other. A meaningless romance, but one that I would bear witness too. The park was already empty, but I had instilled some magical deterrents just in case. No mortals walked into the park's gates while I sat on the bench, until she did.

Running around the sandbox, this little five year old girl jumped up in the air, her hands grasping at a monkey bar far above her reach. I stared at her, mostly confused, and she turned to look at me.

‘Butterfly!’ she shrieked, her face splitting into a toothy grin, her finger pointing behind me.

In a daze, I turned around, and there they were. Two beautiful butterflies. The male had almost fluorescent gossamer blue wings, and golden spots dappling upon his body. He was one of the biggest I’ve ever seen, and he drew one’s eye in a way that could only be described as magical. The female butterfly was a different story, her wings were grey, her body a darker black color. She sat perched on the edge of a leaf, and watched as the male threw himself into the air in patterns and rhythms.”

“Heh, sounds familiar.” Hephaestus grumbled, “I suppose the female was too ugly and the male went on his way?”

Aphrodite turned to look at him, her eyes unglazing as she stopped remembering the past and instead looked at her husband.

“No. He danced for her.”

Hephaeustus too looked up, and for the first time in as long as Aphrodite could remember he met her eyes. “Why would he do that?”

Aphrodite’s heart broke at the question. He truly wanted the answer, the most brilliant God of them all, and he couldn’t fathom any possible reason for something beautiful to indulge in someone so plain.

“Oh Hephaestus. It’s quite simple. Because he was in love with her.”

“Which butterfly was your daughter pointing at?” he asked

Smiling, Aphrodite thought to herself, He did always manage to ask the right questions.

“The grey one Hephaustus. Because to be loved, and to love,is the most beautiful thing of all.”

 

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Blood had never made Piper queasy. But even for her, this was a stretch. The basement was absolutely covered in it, there was so much that even without the help from the lab techs, Piper knew this was more than one person’s blood. Presumably, most of it belonged to him.

Laying on the ground, in almost a perfect starfish, lay an older man. His stomach had been torn to shreds, its internal contents so fully destroyed that they were unrecognizable. By contrast his face seemed untouched, almost intentionally Piper would say. No bruising, no cuts, no indication that there was a fight; the man could’ve died in his sleep if not for the gaping hole in his torso.

 

Piper examined his face, he was old, not old enough to die in his sleep yet, but old enough for silver hair. His chiseled jawline caught the bright glare of the crime scene lights. Snapping on her gloves, Piper approached the body. Despite the blood, she rummaged through his pockets. A wallet, a set of keys, and a pen. She held the pen away from her face, and hesitantly clicked it. The pen extended, no magic swords or secret assault rifle. Piper laughed at herself, she had been doing this job for almost a decade and a half, and had investigated 3 mythological related crimes in that time. No reason to believe this one would be any different, and that somehow this man would have a weapon similar to Percy… Maybe she was on edge, she thought to herself. It had not been an easy week. She had been there when Percy had escaped. She remembered going to that prison, thinking it would be easy. Her biggest concern had been whether Jason or Carter would tear each other’s heads off. She had watched her closest friends and family discombobulated, weakened, and beaten by a man she had once considered a friend. Looked up to. She remembered, when they had all seen the footage the first day Annabeth disappeared. Zeus himself had come to The Board. It was the first and only time most of the demigods who were present had or ever would see him. People bowed, supplicated, and chanted his name. Piper had stood there. Even Jason had bowed his head to his father, but Piper had stared at him unafraid. Zeus had stared back, and she had seen something she hadn’t expected. Fear.

The demigods all watched the footage projected from Zeus’s mind into theirs. Members of the Demigod Intervention Board would count attendance later and determine that meeting as the largest gathering of demigods ever recorded. They all watched. Piper, who had always hated Hera, let out a gasp as the lightning bolt struck her in her chest. Zeus tried to hide it in his mind, but maybe, because she was more intune with love, she felt a sliver of his pain as Hera’s eyes rolled back into her head. The force of the emotion almost knocked her over. She stumbled backwards and Jason had grabbed her, supporting her from falling.

She had seen the footage, she had seen her friend Annabeth disappear. She had agreed with Sadie that he had to be imprisoned. She more than any of the seven was certain that Percy was dangerous. But she too, more than any of the seven, had investigated. Annabeth’s disappearance didn’t make sense. How could Percy, no matter how powerful, just erase someone from existence. Spending months after his sentencing looking for clues, practicing her charmspeak. Spending nights awake next to Jason, sure that Percy was guilty, but the gnawing feeling that there wasn’t proof. The feeling that if Annabeth were here, she would tell Piper to keep digging. All of those sleepless nights, and reassuring both her and Jason that Percy’s imprisonment was the right thing, only to watch him breakout and escape right in front of her. And she had done nothing.

It had been a week since then. They had helped Leo and Hermes canvas the mountain after Percy’s escape. Thalia had started organizing her hunters and Athena had flown straight back to Olympus, her anger pulsating from her with such force that even Thalia had looked terrified. They had said their goodbyes, Carter and Jason exchanging a brief word before leaving. Piper had been saying goodbye to Zia and only saw the exchange of business cards. While she wasn’t Carter Kane’s biggest fan, she had told Jason he had done the right thing. Forces would have to unite if wrongs were to be righted. However, after that she and Jason had flown back to Los Angeles in silence. Jason had buried himself back into work immediately. He hadn’t even gone to the inner circle meeting of the council of the board, refusing to show his face behind a demigod sanctioned manhunt for Percy Jackson. Piper wasn’t sure if it was out of principle or out of pride; she hoped it was the first, but feared it was the second. She couldn’t be mad at him for throwing himself into work, she had done the same. In fact, between their jobs and their kids they had missed Reyna’s message asking them to meet with her about the manhunt.

Piper was getting ahead of herself. She shook her head side to side, an old habit designed to help clear her mind.

“Hey, can one of you guys pull a blood sample? Thanks.” she called over to one of the lab techs who had followed her in. The poor guy looked a bit queasy, and he reluctantly staggered over to the open wound in the man's body.

“Sorry Jack, but you’ll have to get a bunch. Looks like we’re dealing with more than one victim.” Piper said as she walked around the basement.

It was old, wood planks covered the floor, and more than half looked like they hadn’t been stepped on in the last decade. The corners of the walls had mold crawling up their damp crevices, and Piper was sure she could hear a leak through the roof. Snapping on her glove, the demigod detective approached the body. With perhaps a concerning lack of hesitation, she began to dig in the man's pockets. She pulled out a wallet, an old napkin, and a penknife. She checked the other one, mostly lintballs. She sighed, and pulled her hand out when her nail clinked on something.

She hooked her finger and pulled out her hand. Her mouth dropped open, as sitting hooked on her index finger was a gold ring. Its dusty purple stone at the head was old, but she could still see the four letters inscribed upon it.

S.P.Q.R.

Quickly Piper grabbed a bag, dumping the items into it. “Jack, I’m taking this back to the station. Grab the rest of your samples, start running them.” she yelled, not even looking over her shoulder as she sped to her car.

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Jason Grace’s phone rang, Thundertruck from ACDC blared out of his phone, which he hastily silenced. The ringtone had been at a suggestion from Leo and Percy. Jason had never had the heart to change it, and over the years Leo had slowly changed more and more of his contacts to the blaring song.

Jason looked down, and saw Piper’s profile flash across his screen. “I’m sorry gentleman, this will only take a minute. My wife is calling.” with a quick flash of his perfect teeth, and a mouthed, “So sorry” he stepped into the connecting, empty, chamber of his office.

“Hey Pipes what’s up?”

“Hey hun, I’m at the crime scene and found something interesting.” Piper’s sitting in her sleek department issue car, her right hand taking out her work ponytail, as she holds something up to the screen. Jason squints at it and his jaw drops.
“That's an old Praetor ring. They don’t even make those anymore, that’s probably thirty-forty years old. Where did you get that?”

She laughs, “Well that’s the fun part. Off this guy’s body.” She flashes the ID of the murdered man to the phone. Jason stares at the gray hair and piercing eyes, and his mind kicks into high gear. He knows this man, or he’s at least seen his face, the name is straggling on the edge of his tongue.

“Piper, call an Iris message to Terminus. His face is familiar, but I don’t know why.”

“Way ahead of you babe. Say hi!” Piper says, and the phone is obstructed with a rainbow for a moment. Jason is greeted with a puff of smoke and Terminus' head appears on the screen.

“AH Jason Grace! Well Well you decide to deem the rest of us worthy of your presence huh? Finally decided to say hi to old Terminus.”

“Shut it Term, we were there a month ago and brought you a scone. Look at this.” Piper interrupts, talking over an affronted huff from the boundary god.

“Oooh, quite a feat stealing Julian Deschamps wallet! How in the world did you come across that?” Terminus asks, his indignation momentarily forgotten as he stares at the wallet, “Hm haven’t thought of Julian in a while, you know that scamp was able to get a weapon into the senate once! Of course it was a water-balloon gun but some books could’ve been seriously damaged, they never really punished him enough-”

Jason’s face went pale at the mention of Julian’s name. “Piper”, he croaked, “Show me the ring again. Show me the inside of the band.”

Hearing his tone, she obliged, pushing aside Terminus’s form, ending the Iris message over his affronted cries. She turned the ring and the light caught the letter inscribed on the inside.

“R”

“Fuck.” whispered Jason. “It’s Reyna’s praetor ring, the first one she ever received.”

Piper shook her head in confusion, “How the hell did it end up on a dead guy in Los Angeles?”

“I don’t know. Reyna barely spoke about Julian. I know he’s helped her before. He helped us once when I was a praetor. We thought there was a takeover being planned from the third cohort, and he helped us weed out some of the bad apples in the rank. He’s a mastermind, the king of duplicity and manipulation. I can’t believe I forgot that name, I haven’t thought about it in so long.”

“Well if it’s Reyna’s ring that helps me put some pieces together. She went to Europe last we talked to her, well look what else I found.” Piper holds up a napkin, and sketched on the top right corner is a diagram of the Eiffel tower and a French name. “I looked it up Jason, it’s the emblem and name of a cafe in France. Maybe that’s where he got the ring?”

Jason ran his hands through his hair, breaking the gell that held it together. “This is bad Pipes. If she was talking to Julian something is going on deeper than a prison break. She must’ve been following a lead.”

Piper nodded in agreement, and started her car, “Alright well, I’ll keep this stuff on me for now, I’ll come to you we can get lunch and discuss. With traffic, probably be there in half an hour?”

“Sounds good, I’m talking to some business people.They run the big factories in Compton, trying to get them to back a clean carbon bill,” Jason said, only now realizing he might have been talking to his wife for a bit too long, “Should be done soon, I’ll give you a call.”

“Alright babe, I lo-” Piper paused, her connection was shakier now as she had started driving, all Jason could see was a couple frames a second of her and the road flying behind her in the window.

“Sorry love, I’m losing you-” he was cut off by her yell,

“What the fuck??” she sceamed, and he watched as she swerved sharp, the phone flying out of it’s holder.

“Piper! Hey!” He yelled.

The call dropped.

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Piper’s sharp turn took her across two lanes, and dangerously close to a poor woman on her bike. Waving a sharp apology, Piper sped back onto the road, only now taking a second to glance over her left shoulder. The large black SUV, with tinted windows, she had swerved so hard to avoid was speeding up. Good, she was going to give the lunatic a piece of her mind and maybe a ticket. She reached for her siren so she could slap it on the roof of her car, she likes to be discreet on her connection to the police. It was helpful for detective work, but right about now, maybe she could teach this idiot a lesson.

As she reached to roll down her window, the SUV pulled abreast with her. Something, Piper didn’t know what, made her pause for a moment. She stared across the lane, at the dark unrelenting tint of the window. So dark that it took her a moment to realize the window was moving. That is, until the barrel of an assault rifle caught the glint of the sun.

“Gods damn it this is going to hurt” she grumbled, as she slammed her foot down on the brake. Her car simply stopped, skidding a few feet on the hard ground as she flew forward, her seatbelt biting into her chest.

Spinning on its front right tire, the SUV swerved and braked, causing the back end of the car to rotate, spinning in a full 180. The two cars face each other in the middle of the intersection, as cars stream around them, drivers barely even slowing down.

Piper grits her teeth. Alright let's do this.

She guns it toward the SUV, putting her head down low just in time as the bullets fly towards the windshield, its curved surface splintering. The SUV races forward too, and at the last second Piper turns, dragging the wheel with her whole body. Her car barrels down a quickly converging side street. Her mirror clips a railing of one of the two buildings she is in between, but she doesn’t slow. Bursting through on the other side, she sees the ledge above the freeway a second too late. The car flies through the air, and she is turning the wheels before they even hit the ground. Her car drifts across 3 lanes with an ear-popping screech, and she hurriedly rights the vehicle. The 405 is quieter today, Thank God, she thinks, otherwise she would’ve killed somebody. Piper accelerates down the freeway, away from the cars who saw her ridiculous stunt. She lets out a quiet sigh. Her moment of peace is short lived.

The car next to Piper is a blue toyota. Made in 2012, a woman named Lisa Benet is driving it. She is on the way to pick up her twin sons from daycare. They are four years old. Today she will be telling them, perhaps more excited than them, about the new expensive elementary school they received admission to, on scholarship of course. Hamilton, The Musical plays on the radio, Lisa likes to listen when she’s in a good mood.

Lisa looks over at Piper, and is momentarily distracted at the elegant beauty of the woman driving the car next to her.

It is the last thing she thinks.

Piper watches as a shadow overtakes the road in front of her, and moments later hears the crash of the blue toyota as it hits the freeway ground from 6 feet up in the air. Piper yells, and swerves away, narrowly missing the huge earthen ramp that seemed to materialize and launch Lisa’s car into the air.

Piper stares shocked, as she passes by the ramp, and then in her rearview mirror looking at the seemingly unexplainable earthen feature. As she watches, it sinks back into the earth, and the cement seals above it. As it sinks down it reveals something much worse. The SUV is back.

Piper grunts and flips open the center console, a small crossbow handle up, loaded with 6 gold bolts, waits for her use. She smashes out broken remains of her windshield and in one clean motion drifts the car around and slams it into reverse. The car engine immediately begins to protest it but she ignores it and aims the crossbow.

Piper Mclean is flying down the 405 at 100+ mph, backwards, with a crossbow pointing at her adversary, who is gaining ground. Piper closes one of her eyes, anyone watching would call it a wink, and she fires.

The golden bolt flies forward and shatters the dark windshield of the SUV. She shot towards the passenger side, hoping to incapacitate whoever held the assault rifle. She watches as a large burly man falls back, clutching at his throat dropping his weapon. But the party of interest is the one driving the vehicle.

They are clad in an all black garb, cloth wrapped around their face, and tight fabric around the rest of their body. Piper would guess it was a woman, but the padding of armor underneath the robes and distance made it hard to tell for certain.

The woman driving raised her hand, and Piper guessed too late what would happen next.

She felt the wheels of her car leave the ground, and she immediately threw herself towards the door. Once again acting on the instinct that had saved her so many times over, she did the only thing she could: she threw herself out of the car.

She was 8 feet up in the air, as her car sped, backwards, up the earthen ramp that had appeared underneath her. As she flew out the side of the car, she let loose another crossbow bolt, and watched as it sunk into the woman’s arm. The SUV swerved and beared down towards her. Piper grimaced, and prepared to roll, not that a roll at this speed was going to do anything. She closed her eyes.

And then opened them. She was hovering in the air, four feet above the hard pavement of the 405. She turned her head and looked up.

Jason Grace, in his full blue suit, was hovering above the ground, his hand outstretched as he held her up. His face was twisted, not in exertion, but in fury as her car exploded into flames behind him.

“Piper-”

“I don’t know. They have weapons, the bullets were Imperial Gold. Something is going on Jason.”

The pair landed on the street, and quickly separated as they dived over the barrier. The black SUV slammed to a stop, scratching against the concrete barrier dividing the two sides of the freeway. Piper drew her knife, and Jason held his hand up, in less than a second, his golden sword flew to him propelled by the currents of the air.

Piper rolled her eyes, “Ok, Thor.”

He laughed, “Good, maybe they’ll get scared and let me kill them.”

“Seems unlikely.”

“You never know.” Jason strode forward and slashed open the front door of the SUV. The driver's seat was empty. Piper opened the back, her knife at the ready. It too was barren. Piper walked around the car, and tapped her foot on a spot on the concrete.

“Jason look,” she pointed down at the still growing crack on the ground, that appeared like the ground had opened and then resealed.

“Whoever it was, they’re gone now.”

“What happened Piper? You said they had Imperial Gold, I watched them control the earth, what the hell are we dealing with?” Jason asked, as he strode over to embrace her.

Piper shook her head, “I don’t know, but I do know what we have to do.”

“What?”

Piper looked up at him, “We’ve got to go find Reyna. Because whoever that was, whatever they wanted, they’re coming for her next.”

“How do you know?” he asked.

“Because they killed Julian.” Piper said and she opened the trunk to show Jason what she had seen when she checked the back. Sitting upright, almost taunting them, was a bloody scimitar. It was still wet with blood. Piper reached down and picked something up from the trunk next to it.

She turned to Jason, “We can read this on the flight to France,” slapping the thick file into Jason’s hands, “I’m going to call the nanny.”

Jason looked down, the folder was thick with post-it notes, documents of all shapes, sizes, and age, it had clearly been meticulously collected. The front said nothing, just a name.

“Percy Jackson”.

Jason rolled his eyes. “Of course.” he grumbled.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Will was not a fighter, but huge sea monsters were one of his growing list of exceptions. As soon as Clarisse had sounded her horn, the deck had become swarmed with demigods. Side ships deployed out of the machine laden depths of the ship, designed by Leo, to allow for the demigods to surround their enemies. Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Norse, and more piled into them, while even more took to the decks manning cannons, catapults, machine guns, and more. The ship that had almost been peaceful, was anything but.

“IGNORE THE SEA MONSTER. PERCY JACKSON IS OURS.” Shouted Clarisse, her maniacal grin that Will had seen was now gone. Maybe in her age she was wiser, or maybe her smiling muscles were out of practice. Will would guess the second one. He looked out on the ocean, ignoring the sea monster was easier said than done. The thing was huge, its 12 tendrils waving what could’ve been miles into the air, slamming down generating tidal waves that threatened to tear the ship in two. Will squinted out past the tendrils, and the glare of the ocean to look at the small craft that skirted the edge of the tidal waves, almost effortlessly surfing down and over them. Something was off though…

“Clarisse!” Will shouted, “He’s not running away, he's coming to help!”

“Help?” scoffed Clarisse, “I’m sure he summoned the monster. Wake up Will, if you can’t get your head in the game-” but she was cut off as another wave slammed into the ship catapulting her and the crew across the deck. Will went flying and grabbed onto the swinging handles of a huge crossbow. He steadied his feet, and his heart, and turned the long trapezoid of its arms and cocked string down the length of the deck. One of the monster's huge tendrils was flying forwards, already entangling stray lines from the upper masts. Will squinted, and with a quick prayer, let fly. Whether his prayer was answered, or his aim true, it didn’t matter. The bolt pierced into the tendril, exploding as it burrowed deep into the flesh of the monster. Flopping away, the tendril crashed back down into the water, sending another wave rippling across the body of the great warship.

Clarisse grabbed him and slammed him down onto the deck. He caught his breath quickly so he could yell at her, but then felt the huge force of a tendril sweeping over both of them. The wind from the tendril whipped so hard against his blonde curls he felt himself almost be pulled aloft. He scrambled up, offering his hand to Clarisse,

“Thanks,”

She grabbed it, “Whatever Solace. I’m going down there, to try and get some more shots like that.”

“Woah woah woah, going down where?? It’s a sea monster..SEA… why would you go where it’s strongest?” Will said, looking incredulously at Clarisse.

She laughed, “Water-boy out there isn’t the only one with tricks.” and with that she sprinted towards the edge, “You’re in charge till I get back.” she called back to him.

She jumped

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Water Boy was having a splendid time.

Percy watched from his outrigger canoe, as he effortlessly flew over the huge waves. He gave the Kraken a wide berth, for that was what it was. He wasn’t totally sure how he knew that, he sensed it more than anything, maybe a gift from Poseidon. Knowledge wasn’t usually his thing, but he appreciated it. In this case he knew, Kraken = Bad. Stay Away which was all he really needed. Percy had seen the ship coming towards him, and he had been delighted at the arrival of the monster putting itself between him and whoever was on the ship.

But then, gods damn it he had to let his curiosity get the better of him. He sent his ocean feelers out towards the ship, trying to sense it. He recoiled almost instantly. It was a beasty work of art, more advanced than even the Argo II, he could feel the deep machinations inside it of machines, weapons, magic, and countless demigods. He let out a frustrated sigh, only one person could build something like this. And if Leo had built it, it probably meant some of his old friends were on it.

He yelled, “Damn it!!” frustrated. It was another day to sail to Egypt, he was so close. Before he even made up his mind he was already turning the boat around. He had to, the Kraken would destroy the ship, and then Leo would truly never forgive him.

He twinged a muscle in his lower stomach, and the ship flipped around now coursing down towards the monster, and the ship behind it. Percy winced, the tendrils were huge and the waves were so choppy that even he had a hard time controlling them. A rather big one knocked the ship forward, and he almost fell off, righting his foot at the last possible moment. He bent his knees, almost like he was surfing the boat, and lowered his hand into the water skimming over the top. Clenching his eyes shut, he silenced the screams from the boat. He was the waves.

That lasted a few blissful seconds, until a cannonball slammed into the back half of his ship. Percy snapped his eyes open, and was staring straight at 3 ships that had deployed from Leo’s monstrosity, and they all had crossbows pointing at him.

“Guys we have bigger problems-” he started, and then was forced to dive off the shape as a volley of fiery arrows engulfed his small canoe.

“Damn it, where’d he go!” shouted a large buff centurion, about 20 something and in charge of the central boat.

“I can’t see him anywhere!” shouted a girl with a reedy voice, she was so beautiful it wasn’t hard to identify her as a child of Aphrodite.

“Lacy!” shouted the third ship captain, a Satyr, to the girl, “He’s behind-” but his voice was drowned out by an explosion of water. Riding atop it, in a shamoo-esque form, Percy Jackson shot into the air, his arms extended out. The force of the water slammed the two ships on either side outwards, toppling them over. Lacy let out a shrill shriek as her perfect hair was ruined by the sea-foam.

Percy landed, hands outstretched on the deck of the central ship, locking eyes with the buff centurion. He cocked his head, buff wasn’t a good enough word to describe the slab of concrete that led the ship. If Percy didn’t see it for his own eyes, he might not have believed the boat to support such a goliath.

“Listen, help your friends, the sea monster is a bigger issue you can arrest me after.” Percy said, and if on cue the sea monster swung a tendril down, generating a wave that pushed the little squadron of boats even further away from their mothership.

“Nice try son of Poseidon. That is your sea monster. I subdue you, and the threat goes away!” called the Centurion, as he drew the largest sword Percy had ever seen in his entire life.

“Now, I see where you’re coming from, but you have to believe me I am not strong enough to summon the literal Kraken.”

The concrete wall laughed, “Oh I know. But you’re Percy Jackson, you don’t miss a chance to fight someone like you.”

Percy sighed, “Well I am pretty awesome.”

“Let's see if you live up to it.” The wall levied his sword, and three smaller demigods jumped from hiding places along the deck all carrying blades. In a flash, Percy had uncapped Riptide. Stewing in grief and rage did wonders for your magical powers, it did not do the same for your sword fighting. Percy’s raw strength had done wonders for him so far, and he had been practicing with Tyson, but he wasn’t sure he could handle three attackers at once, even if they looked scrawny. Nico had been tough enough, for the few moments Percy had fought back, Percy wasn’t ready to face the disappointment of what time had taken from him.

So he didn’t.

“Sorry about this,” he winced, and he swung his blade at one of the attackers, pressing her back into the railing of the ship while twisting his hand. The entire ship pivoted, flying his two remaining attackers back and over the railing.

“Look out for the tendrils! As soon as I beat Wreck It Ralph I’ll come get you!” he winked at the warrior he had pressed up against the railing, “Bon Voyage” and pushed her over.

Turning around he leveled Riptide, hoping it wasn’t too obvious how little he had used it.
“So Ralph…what’s your deal? Did they pump you with steroids at Camp Jupiter, are you a science project?”

The wall laughed, “No. I’m part Cyclops, but good guess.” He stalked forward and Percy prepared to summon another wave, it was almost getting boring he thought.

“Won’t work. Cyclops come from Poseidon, no wave you pull can get between us…brother.” he said that last word with such velvety sweetness that Percy tried not to gag.

“Uh…Well good thing I don’t need that to beat you!” he shouted, trying to feel confident, maybe this young demigod would be so afraid of “The Great Percy Jackson” he would surrender.

“Nice try. I’m going to kill you.”

“Don’t you mean I’m gonna wreck it-” Percy’s quip was interrupted as the boy's sword came flying towards him with unearthly speed.

Percy dropped to the deck and rolled, springing back up with an amount of agility he wasn’t sure he still had. He raised Riptide just in time to parry a stroke. The force of the swing sent him back skidding along the deck another couple feet. How the hell was he going to beat this kid, he was strong, young, and not threatened by Percy at all.

Percy’s thoughts were interrupted as he dodged the way of another life ending swing, attempting to stab Riptide in what he thought was a gap in the boy's guard. Hint: It was not. The part cyclops lifted his sword with speed, hooking the cross guard of Riptide and flinging it upward with such force that when it flew out of Percy’s hand he wasn’t sure it would ever hit the water.

“Hmm… either all that time has you rusty, or you really were never all that good.” called the kid, who picked up his sword leisurely over his back as he slowly advanced Percy into a corner.

“Listen Ralph, let me grab my sword we can go for round 2-”

Rolling his eyes, Ralph swung his blade over his head and Percy dived around him rolling to his feet with his back to the mast now. He had to think, this kid was stronger and faster somehow. Percy needed a way to either level the playing field, or outthink him…

Outthink him…that could work. Usually Percy’s last choice of options but he was running thin. He looked up at the mast above him…it could work…

“Hey Cyclops. It’s weird you have two eyes, and somehow you’re still uglier than any Cyclops I know.” with those hurtful, and maybe a bit racially insensitive, words, Percy began to scramble up the mast.

“Rah!” shouted Ralph, and he chased at him. The mast began shaking too and fro as Percy heard the violent swings from Ralph’s huge sword. Good, he thought. As he reached the top he slowed, he needed for them to be as close as possible.

“Come on Fatso, is that all you got? Are Romans always slow and lazy or is it just you?” he goaded, his feet dangling just in reach of the warrior's sword. Swinging with a huge force, Ralph buried his sword deep into the mast. Percy grabbed a rope above him, and held onto it tight. Really hope this works, he thought and he jumped.

If the sea monster had eyes, it would have been impressed. Percy swan dived past Ralph, grabbing at the mast at the last second, pulling his rope tight across Ralph’s body and pinning him to the mast.

“Hey buddy, you should feel honored!” he called up to Ralph.

“Whamghdkh” came out, a sound that Percy assumed was “what” but smushed up against a mast.

“You might be the only Percy Jackson fight where you lost because you got outsmarted. And Annabeth isn’t even here! Come on, you can do better than that.”

Pulling his face away from the mast for a moment, Ralph called down, “You haven’t won anything yet.”

Percy laughed, “Oh buddy there’s only one thing you really need to know about me,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out Riptide, expanding it to it’s sword form as he did,

“The sword always comes back.”

And with that he swung it clean through the mast. Ralph’s muffled yell came out as the mast toppled into the ocean, swept up by a wave that carried it hundreds of yards away from the boat in seconds.

Percy looked around him, thankfully all the toppled boats, and the demigods that went with them were quite far away from the sea monster, so any immediate danger was minimal. Percy cracked his neck, man some of these fights were really adding up he needed a massage or something-

Thunk.

Percy felt his back up against the remaining stump of the mast, but didn’t register why at first.

“Notice how I didn’t deliver a corny one-liner before my attack. That’s called the element of surprise.” A familiar voice called out to him.
Percy looked down, bewildered, at the spear with red engravings on its shaft that had gone straight through his lower abdomen and pinned him to the mast. He stared at it for a second, too shocked to even register the pain. He looked up, and stared at the woman who had thrown it.

Clarisse gave him her best impression of a smile and said, “That’s for stabbing my dad you jackass.”

“You Mother Fu-” and then Percy Jackson passed out.

She stalked toward him, she wanted him awake when she finished the job. As she did an Iris message came through, it was Will.

“Clarisse! What the hell? Is that Percy?”

“Yeah, I got the bastard. Pilot the ship over here and let's get the hell out.”

“So…I don’t think that’s going to work.”

“What why??”

“Turn around you idiot.”

Clarisse turned around, and her jaw dropped open. She saw Will, his blonde hair glinting on the sun. He was maybe half a mile away, rowing desperately on the dingiest rowboat she had ever seen in her life. She stared past him though at the scene beyond. The Kraken had exposed its head, its huge maw gaping upwards as it seemed to stretch, stretch, and then stretch more, absorbing her entire brand new warship.

“The Crew…” she said, her voice shaky.

“Yeah. You might want to wake him up.” Will said, dry tone doing nothing to hide the shakiness in his own voice.

Clarisse looked at Percy, barely breathing against the mast.

“Please tell me he’s not dead.” Will called through the Iris message behind her.

“Not yet.” she grumbled and yanked the spear out.

Ralph could hear Percy’s scream from miles away as he drifted out into the Atlantic.

He grinned.

Notes:

Going to have a little summary of where everyone is at the start of next chapter I know chapter uploads aren't consistent at all lol so hopefully that makes it easier. Hope you guys are liking it tho!

Chapter 8: The Wedding Date

Summary:

What the fuck is going on???

Not sure if this question will get answered...ever.

The fluorescent lights hum in the empty room. The white stucco walls scream drab, matching the basic grey desk that sits in the center of the room. The door has just swung shut, and footsteps are receding down the hallway.

On the grey drab desk sits two things that conflict with the rest of the room. A gargantuan monitor, covered in camera feeds, magical visions, scrying bowls that have been HDMI’d into the screen. Everything. Complete surveillance.

And on the desk a small journal, with a grey binding sitting wide open lit up by the light from the monitors.. Scribblings are all over the journal, entries crossed out, rewritten, and then crossed out again. They read the following:

Reyna - In Europe, about to find the clue. Just need more time.

Piper + Jason - About to go find her, car chase worked, they’re scared.

Jason - His bill iis at a standstill. He will stop Percy at least for now. Too much to lose.

Piper - Dead body found, hasn’t tested blood yet. Damn it Piper.

These first few entries are clumped together, as if in a thought bubble. A line stretches out from them connecting them to another group of entries:

Leo - Guards The Mountain, magical blocking stops view…must listen to Calypso. His home is shielded, somehow I must find it.

Thalia - Hunters regrouped, need to be redirected to egypt…Get Clarisse to do it?

Grover - At Sadies so hidden from me. Hasn’t said anything about the nature spirits' silence to Percy… ? Maybe he doesn’t know?

These entries are grouped together with lines coming off them too. One of them traces down the page, connecting back to the line from Reyna:

Clarisse - Warship in motion, will make it to Egypt in days, hopefully after Percy?

That last part was crossed out furiously, and written in a shaky hand replaced with: STABBED PERCY??

Next to Clarisse are more names:

Will Solace - Healer, might trust Percy…But Nico…Could he betray Nico for what he knows is right?

Brooklyn House Scrier - Zia must’ve sent her. Zia’s child makes her step back…Carter Kane now has much more to lose…

Another thought bubble surrounds this group, and more lines connect around the page to more names

Nico - will never forgive Percy. Says he knows something…Dangerous. Supposed to meet Carter soon, has the Staff of Death, and that idiot Percy will let him get his revenge.

Carter - Teaming up with Nico is dangerous, as if he isn’t dangerous enough on his own. He would not hesitate to kill. Keep away from Egypt.

Zia - More powerful than we realize. Their child…

The writing trails off after Zia’s entry, a small tear smudges the space next to the word child. But then it picks up again, another line trailing around the paper to even more names.

Frank - Looking for Hazel, if he’s quick he can make it to Egypt

Emily Zhang-Levesque - ?? Powerful? Certainly a role to play

Magnus Chase - With Frank, playing a game that I don’t know. He knows something no one else does and I need to know what.

Hazel Levesque - Acquired.

Lines connect all these names, all connecting to bigger words like Egypt and The Mountain.

At the top of the paper is another name:

Percy - On his way to Egypt for Sadie. I know he will make the right choice. He must.

The backdrop of the monitor is constantly changing, reflecting scene after scene of real time. Little red dots cover a world map. Two in Los Angeles, three out in the ocean, three approaching the Oxford Museum, a lone dot in Paris, but the highest concentration is in Egypt. And it only grows by the day. The bait has been laid.

The door to this lonely little room swings open and a tall figure stalks in. They grab the journal, flipping it close and pick it up into their arms. They walk towards the door, clicking the lights off, but the monitor remains as bright as ever.

Its light glints off the cover of the journal as its owner stalks out of the room.

An Owl stares up off the cover, its wings stretching to either side. The door slams shut.

 

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

20 years ago

Exactly 3 Months before the death of Annabeth Chase

4 Months before the imprisonment of Percy Jackson

 

 

A cool breeze drifted in through the open window. The small Malibu cottage, a rare thing nowadays, sat in the center of a grove of palm trees. A small dirt path led out to the main road, branching out in different pathways down a sharp hillside that led to the beach far far below.

Annabeth shivers, and burrows deeper into the covers, her arm wrapping around the boy next to her. He looks up and his sea green eyes stare into her storm grey ones. He winces as a ray of sunlight glances off the ring on her finger and into his eyes. She laughs as her fingers rake through his curls, pulling his warm body closer to hers. His clean shaven face, its soft skin rubs against her neck and she feels the sigh of his breath on her nape.

“Ugh there’s something in your hair” he groaned, reorienting his head.

“Yeah, your drool Seaweed Brain.” she laughs, flicking him in the ear as he lets out a snort.

The boy runs his hands over her waist, and for a moment her breath catches. He notices, and a wicked grin crosses his face. She knows what is coming, and she could stop it, but she can’t bring herself to. His fingers dance over her stomach and she is consumed by giggling.

“If you don’t stop tickling me, I’ll break your arm Percy Jackson.” she huffs out through ragged breaths.

Percy Jackson looks down at her, he’s straddled on top of her now pinning her to the bed as he tickles her. His mouth agape in a constant smile as he stares down at her.

To him she is like the sun itself. Her blonde hair flairs out around her in loose curls sprawled out over their pillows. Her eyes glimmer with the color of sun peeking through clouds, a promise of a beautiful day to come. All the time he has made her spend with him on this beach has gotten to her. Her skin is a dark tan, and her hair is salty with the winds of his father. She has never been more beautiful, and he has never cared less. Her smile is what he stares at, praying that it will never leave him. The thought crosses his mind, and his smile fades for a moment. But just for a moment, because he remembers.

Her cool smirk when he woke up in that infirmary bed all those years ago.

Her laugh when he had told her what being a guinea pig was like.

Her smile at him when he had held the sky from Atlas. He hadn’t known it then, but he would’ve been dead without it.

Her furious hysterical laugh when he returned from Ogygia. Her smile that had kept him awake on his long raft ride back to Long Island.

And more. He remembers them all. Her smile is a part of him.

“What’s wrong? I told you we don’t have to figure out the New York stuff right now we can-” Anabeth starts, her smile dropping as a look of concern crosses her face.

“No, no, nothing’s wrong. Yeah we should talk about New York later I just…Let’s just sit here for now?” he asks, his eyes casting down in a poor puppy dog imitation.

She laughs, loving and hating that his tricks work on her, “Not too long, your mom is coming remember?”

“Ughhhh,” Percy groans.

“What?? You were so excited yesterday!” Annabeth asks playfully pushing him off of her

“Oh I am, it just means I have to put on pants and I really don’t want to do that”

“Hmm I see your point well, good thing we have a little time till she gets here…” Annabeth responds standing up from the bed.

Percy’s mouth drops open, as it always does at the sight of her. She smiles to herself, her back towards him, knowing what his silence means.

“I mean if you don’t think we have time, I can always put my pants on now…” she teases.

“No no no I’m sure she won’t be here for a while!” he yells, and jumps out of bed.

 

They barely get dressed in time, the doorbell ringing incessantly as Annabeth throws on a shirt.

“Your mom really doesn’t like to wait.” Annabeth laughs as she throws a pair of Percy’s socks at him.

He rolls his eyes, “I’m sure she’s only doing it because she knows exactly why we’re keeping her waiting. It’s her way of getting even.”

The pair walk towards the door, Annabeth fixing Percy’s hair absentmindedly as he dusts the lint off the back of her shirt.

“Hey as always that was great but, we do really have to talk about New York.” Annabeth said, her tone getting a little more serious.

“I know I know, it’s just we’re so happy here. I don’t understand why you want to leave?” Percy said, his face tightening a bit as well.

“Percy, it’s not always about being happy. There are things we need to do, and should do in New York-” Annabeth starts, about to continue the same perfected argument points she knows by heart.

“Annabeth, I only need one thing. And we already have it here. Together.”

“Percy that’s not fair, don’t make it seem like I need more,”

“Well that seems like what you’re saying.”

“Percy, there is so much we have left to give and help-”

Her words are interrupted by the turn of the door lock as Sally Jackson opens the door.

“Well, I see you two haven’t figured out the move to New York yet. But please, let an old woman into the house. It's hot outside.” she laughs, as she moves towards Annabeth to give her a hug.

“Mom,” protests Percy, “you are not old!”
Sally rolls her eyes, but smiles at her son. “Hello to you too darling.” and kisses him on the cheek as she walks past the two.

“I brought blue pancake mix, thought maybe you two would help me make some for brunch today?” she asks. Percy and Annabeth turn to each other, their fight not forgotten but delayed. Percy offers her a sheepish smile, and she returns his apology by sticking her tongue out at him. He smiles and the two brush their fingertips together for a moment, a silent promise to each other.

“Alright, Annabeth, can you measure the flour, and Percy grab the eggs? We'll need two.”

“So Sally, how’s Paul and Estelle?” Annabeth asked her eyes watching Sally, as her hands surreptitiously picked up a small pinch of flour.

“Oh well you know, Paul is still teaching. He loves it though, says he keeps running into kids that remind him of you guys, which is of course so sweet,” Sally turns around her back to Percy and Annabeth as she continues, “And Estelle is loving preschool so far. Her teachers say she likes playing with scissors a little too much but I suppose she takes after her big brother,”

Annabeth smiles and laughs at this, her fingers pinching the flour flick up and dust Percy’s face with the substance so quickly he almost drops the eggs he’s holding. He stares at her in outrage, but as Sally turns back around he quickly composes himself. He surreptitiously wipes the flour off his face, though most of it sticks to his hair.

“We’ll make a hero out of her yet, don’t you worry Mom.” Percy says, moving to Sally’s right positioning himself in between Annabeth and his mom.

Sally turns sharply and slaps his shoulder, “Oh no you will not! My daughter will be a good productive member of society WITHOUT being a sword toting teenager.”

Annabeth laughs at this, “Well she could be a knife toting one, you know Percy’s not the best role model but I am right here…”

Sally laughs at this, “Well she will certainly have a loving family. Which of course you already are a part of Annabeth, but I hear it will be official soon?”

Annabeth smiles, though her heart thrums with love at Sally’s casual affirmation of her acceptance into the Jackson family. “Yeah well, we still have a lot of things to work out but hopefully this year? Wedding planning takes so much work and hopefully,” she stops to look at Percy out of the corner of her eye to judge his reaction, “hopefully” she continues, “I’ll be really busy in a bit so we’ll just have to see how schedules all play out.”

Percy cracks two eggs into his bowl and begins whisking them, “There’s no rush mom, we’ve got so much time ahead of ourselves.”
Sally turns to him, “Wow a piece of wisdom from my own son? You’re getting so old.”

“A broken clock is right twice a day” grumbles Annabeth, though a smile dances over her face. Sally covers her mouth in surprise, trying to hold back a laugh.

Percy laughs, and hugs Annabeth, “Oh wise girl so silly” he says loudly, and then leans close as she feels the wet slimy fork he had used to whisk the eggs get rubbed all over her back and into her hair, “Looks like you really do have something in your hair now my love” he whispered, so quietly she almost doesn’t hear it. He pulls back from her and walks over to the fridge to get the milk, shooting a cocky grin back at her.

Sally doesn’t seem to notice any of it, and begins heating up the stove, “Yes well, life is all good back home. But that’s all fun and games, I want to hear about the demigod world? Even I know some things are changing and I’ve been waiting to get the scoop from you two-”

Annabeth interrupts Sally, which she feels bad about, but she can’t help it, “Here Percy let me help you with that” she says as she steps next to him and begins pouring the milk. Percy looks down at her and meets her eyes which seem to crackle with energy. He winces, certain that she is going to get him back for his little egg yolk trick.

“Yeah you know Mom, I’ve been enjoying retirement, most I’ve heard is through this one” Percy says as he points to Annabeth.

“Well that’s always the case isn’t it Percy.” Sally laughs, and she turns around to rub butter onto the heating stove pan behind her.

Immediately, and silently, both Annabeth and Percy act. Annabeth grabs the measuring cup of milk she’s been pouring and starts to whip it towards Percy. He shoots forward and grabs her wrist, the two pushing and pulling to pour the milk onto one another.

Annabeth grabs his other hand and twists, forcing him to fall to his knees, still silently, so as to avoid breaking his wrist. He grins up at her and throws himself into her knees sliding his shoulder under the bend of her legs and standing up, effectively picking her into the air. The measuring cup of icy cold milk teeters and totters between the two’s control.

“Ah what a picturesque scene!” a sonorous voice calls from the entryway. Percy and Annabeth freeze, Percy holding Annabeth’s arm from overturning the milk onto his head, he pressing her up against the wall of the cabin while she balances precariously on his shoulder.

Sally jumps, and drops the knife she was using to move the butter around the now simmering stovetop. All three of them stair at the man standing in the doorway. His Hawaiian pattern shirt and fishing pants give away his identity immediately. His salt and pepper beard and hair are perfectly trimmed, and his tanned olive skin glimmers with the shine of fresh sea foam. His eyes are sea green. Just like his son’s.
Percy drops Annabeth’s arm in shock, and with a splash, the cup of milk dumps itself onto his head.

Sally turns to look behind her at her son and future daughter in law, and almost falls down as she starts to laugh. Annabeth sits there, egg yolk all over her, frantically trying not to fall off of Percy’s shoulder. Percy with milk congealing with the flour in his hair, shakes his head like a dog to get the milk out of his eyes.

“Uh Dad?” he asks, “What are you doing here?”

“Do I need a reason to come see my family? You are near my home after all.” Poseidon smiles and gestures to the beautiful ocean just over the cliff in the backyard.

“Besides, I heard your mom was cooking and, well, I couldn’t resist. Smells delicious Sally!” He continued, shooting a wink towards the mother of his favorite son.

Sally blushed, and quickly went back to stirring the blue pancake batter, her cheeks flushing furiously as a giggle escaped her mouth. Percy stared in shock at his mom, and Annabeth stifled a smile as she slid down from her fiance's shoulder. Staring at Poseidon, Annabeth grows wary. She knows Gods, Poseidon, however much he might love his son, wouldn't come here without reason. Her heart stops for a second, as Poseidon's eyes catch hers and she knows that her scrutiny has been caught. Expecting the cold flash of power in his eyes, she is shocked with the slight smile he sends in her direction. He gestures his head at Percy, and his eyes turn pleading. Suddenly, she knows exactly where Percy gets his baby seal look from. Standing up on her tiptoes, she kisses Percy on the cheek.

“Seaweed brain, I want to talk to your mom. Can you give us a second?”

Percy looks down at her surprised at first, and then he looks back to his Dad, waiting patiently by the door to the backyard.

“Fine. But if you guys eat all the pancakes there will be problems.”

Percy falls in line with Poseidon as the two walk into the backyard. It is a beautiful green yard, full of palm trees, beautiful flowers, and an incredible view of the ocean far below. Annabeth had suggested they put up a fence by the cliff that overlooks the ocean, but Percy couldn’t bear the thought of obscuring such a beautiful view.

“Besides Beth, I’ll just catch you” he had said at the time. What a lie that was.

The man and the God stood overlooking the waves. Poseidon turned to look at his boy. God's love in a funny way, most assume that the endless life means the mortals beneath them mean that much less. But it’s the opposite. Only Gods are truly aware of how little time humans have on this earth. Only Gods create and create, only to watch their creations one day die and leave them behind, the same old and jaded God they were when they began. For the rest of us on Earth, love elevates us. To be so lucky as to find someone to love in the few moments we get to breathe means we must treasure and protect it. Poseidon has watched more of his loved ones die than waves he has made crash on the beach. Built up by love and then ripped away again, while all he can do is watch and then one day say goodbye. He is surrounded, loved, prayed to, and somehow completely alone. These thoughts rush through Poseidon's head as he stares at Percy, and for a moment his eyes swim with waves of love and regret.

“Percy, I uh came to offer some advice” Poseidon says, clearing his throat and staring back out at the horizon.

“Oh I uh- I didn’t pray for any so I was a little confused…” Percy responds, nervously as he is all too familiar with the unfortunate possibilities that come with “advice” from the Gods.

“Well, you are my son. You are exempt from some of the more strict prayer rules” Poseidon grins as he turns to face Percy, his eyes clear of his moment of emotion.

“Anyways, I’ve been hearing a bit about this New York business. Tell me what’s going on.” he continues.

Percy groans and rubs his face, “Oh man I uh…It’s a long story.”

Poseidon doesn’t respond and simply snaps his fingers. Two fishing chairs appear and Posiedon plops down into the slightly bigger one. He gestures benevolently, and Percy grins despite himself.

“Ok well, basically Annabeth wants to go back to New York. She’s found this incredible Architecture work, and the Demigod Board is finally up and running and they need someone competent to field the New York office. It would basically be perfect for her.” Percy said, sighing as he sat down in his fishing chair, nervously fidgeting with the frays on the armrest.

“Hm sounds wonderful. But what about you?”

“Well, that’s the thing right. I don’t care about the Board, I get what Reyna and Sadie want to do. I know Jason and Frank think it's a good idea too but that's not my game. I didn’t even want to be Praetor, I mean for God’s sake I’m a Head Counsellor of an empty cabin! I’m not going to play a politics game, so I’ve got to figure something else out.”

“Well Percy you have always been a leader whether you like it or not.”

“I don’t like it. I have been leading quests for almost half my life, and I finally have a chance to sit in my beautiful cottage with the woman I love and the world that I saved. Why the hell should I go back to the city that has brought me nothing but heartbreak? Dad, I have lost so many friends there. I see bodies every street I turn down.”
Poseidon touches his son gently on his knee, his presence calming Percy who’s voice had started rising.

“Yes I know son, and I’m not saying you’d have to do that per se but-”

“But I would!” Percy was yelling now, “Because that’s what I’m good at! Dad, let's be honest. I can help, I probably would be the best at whatever the Board wants me to do. They already tried to get Nico to run secret operations for them in Eastern Europe, some set of demigod Russian twins that were causing problems. I don’t know if I can do that? I don’t know if I can go out on quests, over and over again, having to wonder if I’m saving the world or helping clean up some politicians' mess.”

“Now you’re speaking my language. Percy, you are my son. You have the beauty of sea salt spray in your blood, the raging currents in your heart, and the reliability of the tides in your eyes. You can do anything you want, or more importantly, NOT do anything you want. I know you received Chirons letter, there are other things you can do.”

Percy starred as his dad, his face flushed from his yelling.

 

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Sally takes a step back from the window.

 

“Hm, looks like he’s done yelling.”

Annabeth smiled, “Knowing what they’re talking about, that’s probably not true.”

Sally turned to her, “You know Annabeth I was wondering, why don’t you just tell Percy you’re going to New York no matter what. Or even just really ask him to come, not just to think about. You know he would go, just for you.”

“That’s why I can’t Sally. I can’t just make him come with him. He needs to want to go too.”

“Why are you afraid he’d resent you?”

“No, I uh, I don’t think he could. I will love him forever, and he will love me but I can’t become like my mother or any of the other Gods I know. I can’t sacrifice love, I can’t make him do something just because it’s what I want.”

Sally stared at her future daughter in law, and for the millionth time thanked the Fates that they had delivered such an incredible woman to her hapless son.

“So, he must choose for himself. I see why he calls you Wise Girl." She jokes and shoots Annabeth a broad smile to show her approval of the plan.

It is not matched. Annabeth is staring out the window, and Sally is shocked to watch a tear trickle down the girl’s face.

“Annabeth, honey? What’s wrong?” She says and she walks over towards the young woman. She stretches out her arms to wrap around Annabeth but hesitates a moment, she doesn’t want to press her boundaries. As she is wrapped up in her thoughts of what to do, Annabeth leans into her arms and Sally pulls her close. Despite herself, Sally’s eyes well up for a moment, her pride and love for Annabeth sweep over her and almost knock her off her feet they’re so strong.

The two women embrace, and cry together, both unsure what the other one weeps for.

Annabeth speaks first, “Uh Sally, I said I needed to talk to you earlier so Percy would get some time with Poseidon but..I do have something I need to say.”

Sally pulls away, her hands resting on Annabeth's shoulder, “Of course hon, you can say anything to me. What’s going on?”

“Well I was going to ask my mom, but she uh doesn’t really have much experience with this plus she might be a little biased?”

“Oh well, I don’t know what the Goddess of Wisdom doesn’t know that I do, but I will try sweetie.”

Annabeth stares up at this wonderful woman in front of her, and her love for both Percy and Sally overtake her as another tear rolls down her face.

“Well uh. Sally I was uh” Annabeth’s throat closes up and she can barely get her sentence out. She takes a gulp of air and her eyes meet Sally’s, her resolve hardening.

“I was pregnant.”

 

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Percy stalks back and forth between the two fishing chairs, Poseidon, while slightly bemused, watches on in silence. Percy opens his mouth to say something, and then clamps it shut, shaking his head in disgust. Poseidon waits patiently, his hands slowly stringing the fishing line onto the fishing pole that sits in the armrest of his chair.

“Chiron offered for me to come back to camp. To teach.” Percy finally gets out.

“Hm sounds fun? Would you like to do that?” Poseidon asks innocently, knowing the answer.

“Of course I would! It’s too perfect, get to be in New York with Annabeth, help new demigods, remind them of all the magic and beauty our mythological world has as well as all the dangers. It’s perfect.”

“So what’s the problem?” Poseidon asking, once again knowing the answer.

“I- I’m too close. I don’t think I can stop myself. If something happens, and people are in danger, I don’t think I can not help. I can’t keep doing that to Annabeth. To myself. To the future family I want to have.” Percy said, his voice almost a whisper now, ashamed to admit why he doesn’t want to return to his homeland.

“Perseus, can I tell you something?” Poseidon asked, standing up with his fishing pole in hand, walking towards the edge of the cliff. Percy nods slowly, and follows him.

“Greek heroes are a funny bunch. Every day they are faced with new challenges thrust upon them, because of the oracle, or the will of the Gods, or the wrath of some monster, heroes are forced into being made. Your birth was prophesied, your adventures are prophesied, and your death will one day be prophesied.”

“Thanks Dad, great pep talk, I feel much better.”

“Oh hush boy. Hercules committed his 12 labors and they are revered as some of the most heroic acts of all time. But he did them because he was forced too by Hera. The greatest hero of all time, did not choose his path.”

“So what, you’re saying I don’t get to choose either? Me and Hercules one and the same? I don’t want that. I can’t want that.” Percy says, his head in his hands as he sits on the cliffs edge, staring out at the ocean below.

“You are not a very good listener. But I suppose I have only myself to blame for that.” Poseidon laughs. Then he continues,

“No Percy, you are not like Hercules. You do have a choice. You can choose to stay here, isolated and safe. No one will deny you have earned it, in fact you could make that choice and still make it to Elysium easily.”

Percy looked up, “Or…”

Poseidon smiled and stretched his hand out to Percy, “Or you can choose to help. For Gods and mortals alike there comes a time where we must decide what rules our lives. Your circumstances or your soul?”

Percy's voice catches in his throat as he opens his mouth, “What if I choose wrong Dad?”

“There is no wrong choice Percy. That is what makes whatever you choose so important. The Romans preach sacrifice, the Greeks preach faith, New Yorkers preach survival, we all have our own codes we live by. Today Percy, you get to choose for the first time in your life, what kind of man this world will make you.” Poseidon grabs Percy’s arm and pulls him up to a standing position and wraps him into an embrace. His beard tickles Percy’s neck and his next words, whispered into Percy’s ear, seem to hang in the air.

“No matter what you choose. You will always be my greatest creation. I love you son.”

Percy’s tears fall onto Poseidon's shoulders, and for the first and last time the two hold each other as father and son, man and boy, old and young, loving and loved.

Percy walks back towards the house alone.

 

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“What?” Sally says, totally unprepared for Annabeth’s declaration.

“I uh..A couple weeks ago I woke up super sick. I went to the doctors and I was pregnant.” Annabeth said, to her credit, meeting Sally’s eyes the whole time.

“Oh well, I uh I mean what do you want to do, do you want me to drive you somewhere? I mean I don’t want to influence your decision, but you’re so young honey-”

“No Sally, don't worry. I said I WAS pregnant. I was sure right away I wasn’t going to keep it, but I waited a couple days. I wanted to drive down there by myself, I didn’t tell Percy.”

“Oh baby, why?”

“I don’t know. I just…I couldn’t bear the fact that he would try and hide how excited the idea would make him. He would support me without question, and he would never hold it against me, but I just couldn’t bear the second of joy he would have before he could hide it from me.”

Sally’s face melted and she took the girl in her arms again, rubbing her back trying to comfort herself as much as Annabeth.

Annabeth continued, “Anyways I uh finally went to the doctor, and it turns out the embryo had died of itself. Something was wrong with my eggs, their fertility rate was much lower than normal.” She paused for a shaky breath, and then continued, faster now as if she was afraid if she stopped again she would never get it all out,
“At first I was relieved, it meant one less invasive procedure, problem solved itself. But then… I started having nightmares. All I could think about was this poor child that had been stripped from me and Percy. About how I wasn’t even sure if I would get a chance like that again? Sally, I was never going to keep that child, but after learning how much harder it would be for us when we one day wanted that…I was so scared. I want the family I didn’t have, and I know Percy does too and what if, what if by the time I’m ready to create that with him my body can’t do it?”

Annabeth took a deep breath, her fear finally voiced, and she relaxed back into Sally’s embrace.

“Oh Annabeth. I’m so sorry. That isn’t fair, children, especially the process of making them, are never as easy as anyone thinks.”

“Sally, I feel so silly because we aren’t ready for that. But…what do I do if I marry your son and I can’t give him what I know he wants?”

“Don’t even talk like that Annabeth. You are so much more to him and you know it. You’ve already proved you know it. Yes it’s normal to feel nervous about fertility, especially when you find out you have issues with it, but if you had aborted this baby like you had planned to we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. Percy loves you because of the woman you are, not because you are a woman. Whether you two have a million babies or none, won’t change anything for him.”

Annabeth was sobbing now, so angry at herself and at the world. She felt like a fool.

Sally felt it, and so she spoke again, “You know I asked my son once how he deals with being around such a brilliant woman like yourself. Do you know what he said?”

Annabeth shakes her head side to side in response, and despite herself Sally smiles,

“He said that with you, it is easy to be a fool. He said no matter what dumb thing he does next, you’ll be there. And just the fact that you’re there is enough. You are enough Annabeth.”

Annabeth muttered something into Sally’s chest where she was pressed up against in their embrace. Sally pulled apart and smiled down at her, “What was that?”

Annabeth wiped her eyes, “I said it’s easy for him to be a fool anytime.” she grumbled.

The two women laughed, and Sally kissed her future daughter in law on the top of her head.

“You are both fools” Sally laughed, “Fools in love, and there is nothing better than that.”

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later that night, Annabeth and Percy lay together outside under the stars.

“Annabeth, let's go to New York.”

“Percy, let's stay here.”

The two sit up and stare at each other.

“What did you say?” Percy asks, his face incredulous.

“No no, what did YOU say?” Annabeth asks, her face scrunching as she stares at him.

“I want to go to New York. You’re right it’s where we need to be.” he says, his eyes piercing into hers.

“I’m not so sure anymore.” Annabeth says, her voice trailing off as she looks around the beautiful backyard.

Percy shakes his head, “Yes you are Beth. We both have choices we’ve made, and they’re the right ones.”

She stares at him, her eyes sad, “How can you know Seaweed Brain?”

He smiles, “I chose you didn’t I? And that’s been right so far.”

She laughs and punches him, rolling into him on the grassy ground.

“Ok yes you’re right. We are going to New York, BUT, we spend three more months here first.” she says, sticking her hand out as if presenting a business offer.

He considers, “Hmm, ok fine, BUT, at the end of the three months we spend one more day here and get married.”

Grinning, she tackles him, kissing him on the lips.

“Deal.”

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grover is breathing hard, his body strapped down the ivory and gold chair he sits on.

He’s shouting, he’s past desperation, he’s furious, “See! How could he kill someone he cared about like that? Did you feel his emotions? It’s impossible-”

“Yes yes Grover. I believe you.” responded a feminine voice from a figure in a dark blue robe that stood in the corner of the room. She flicked her hands and the straps that tied Grover down flew off, and he straightened in the chair.

“Sorry about that” she says, “I can never be too careful these days, my own brother can’t seem to leave me alone.”

Grover stood up, shaking out his hooved legs grumbling, “Sadie, why the hell would I let you into my mind to see my empathy link with the most dangerous demigod of all time if I wasn’t being honest.”

“It’s dark times, you know this Grover.”

“Yes, dark times that you could have prevented!”

“I tried. People more desperate for power than me will always ignore my words, as you well know. Please Grover forgive me, but we have work to do.” the figure stepped forward, removing the hood of her head. Sadie Kane’s blonde hair glints of the torches in the room as she approaches Grover.

“It seems a variety of forces will be converging on Egypt, and we will need to be ready for that.” she continued, flicking her hands to open two huge doors behind Grover.

“We? Listen Sadie, that better include Percy because-”

“Grover, yes. I trust you, and I believe Percy Jackson has good intentions. However, his presence will bring a variety of uncontrollable factions to my doorstep, none of them particularly interested in my well being.” Sadie interrupted as she stalked through the doors. Her hands were a blur as she gestured which way as fires came to life in the room. Portals seemed to open out of nowhere, objects seemed to come to life, at one point Grover was sure Sadie started hovering above the ground.

“Sadie what…what are you doing?” he asked, letting out a little nervous bleat as he almost ran into a crane carrying a bow and arrow with flaming arrow tips. More and more confusing and interesting creatures ran across the hall, all sporting varieties of dangerous weapons.

“Well I think it’s obvious Grover” Sadie said, flicking her hands one last time and the huge cylindrical roof on the top of the building started to slide. Gears clicked, powered by the magic in her blood, a beautiful combination of innovation and power. The roof disappeared into the sides of the building as Sadie and Grover appeared at the top of the grand mansion. The streets of Egypt lay below, the great pyramids vast off in the distance, even from here their size took Grover by surprise. The snakelike streets of Egypt wound in all directions around the huge house of magic, the clamor of preparations seemed to ring through the whole city.

Sadie turned to her friend, and gestured her hands as if his question was a silly one,

“I am preparing for war.”