#i think things like war your friend turning into kronos and people dying around you takes precedent to hair

[percexe]

PLSPLSPLSPLSPLSPLSPLSPLS ON MY KNEES I FUCKING LOVE YOUR ETHAN DESIGN PLSPLSPLSPLSPLSPLS

more.

YOURE IN LUCK! i was recently messing with the idea of his hair growing out a bit for the last olympian. turns out there’s not much time to redo your roots when you’re at war

[wasithard]

Percy wakes up on his seventeenth birthday in his own bed.

One year ago today, he’d woken up in a room at the Plaza Hotel from a vision of the Titan Lord Kronos planning his attack on Manhattan. One year ago today, he’d woken up in the middle of a war – and that’s not even the most recent war he’s fought.

Percy wakes up on his seventeenth birthday and immediately goes back to sleep.

**

His day goes like this: waking again to blue pancakes and waffles and eating them with his mom and Paul. Having a picnic lunch with Annabeth and Grover in Central Park, then driving with them to camp for dinner and a bonfire with their friends. Roasting marshmallows and singing songs and kissing Annabeth by the fire. Getting too lost in the way the firelight tinges her grey eyes red to notice the rest of the campers gathering around them before they pick them up and throw them in the lake, just like last year. Sitting around the dying embers of the fire, remembering the friends they lost in the war that ended one year ago today, the heavy silence of that moment burying itself in the middle of his chest, sitting there like a weight. Going to bed in his cabin, Tyson snoring in the bunk above him, wishing the love he’d felt from his friends that day would be enough to silence the voices in his head yelling it should’ve been me.

**

Percy wakes up on his nineteenth birthday, three years after the war.

He wakes up and wonders if he’ll ever stop thinking of it as the anniversary of the war instead of a celebration for another year he’s lived, or another year he’s spent with Annabeth.

Annabeth, who’s living on campus in the city they almost gave their lives defending three years ago now and comes over for breakfast that morning with Sally and Paul. He’s sitting at the table with them all, laughing and grateful to have them, but wondering if he should be worried that it’s been three years and he still wakes up on August 18th with a tightness in his chest at the thought of getting another year older than his friends who will never see another day. He knows they’re in Elysium. The thought should bring him peace.

Breakfast trickles into the afternoon and he and Annabeth go for a walk in Central Park before driving up to Camp. On the way there, Percy takes a detour to a small beach he’d scouted out a few weeks before and surprises his girlfriend with a picnic on the sand. He helps her build a sandcastle that’s almost taller than he is, holding the waves back so that they can use the hard, wet sand near the shoreline to make their castle stronger.

By the time they get to Camp they both smell of salt and seaweed and his spirits are high. It makes it worse, somehow, when they have their annual memorial to those they lost three years ago that he’s had such a nice day so far. Annabeth notices his change in mood, presses a kiss to his shoulder as she entwines their fingers.

After the campers start to trickle off to bed, Chiron catches his eye and Percy follows him to the Big House. They are sitting on the balcony, crickets chirping around them and a glass of cool blue Coke in Percy’s hand when Chiron fixes him with a stare that has seen countless tragedies and asks him if he still blames himself for being alive.

It’s jarring to hear someone so bluntly say out loud the thoughts he hasn’t dared to speak for so long. He swallows, can’t bring himself to hold Chiron’s gaze so flicks his eyes down to his feet instead, the only part of his body that doesn’t feel like it’s shaking. His fingers clench around the clear glass in his hand and he watches beads of water slide down the outside of it. Chiron doesn’t speak, but the silence is heavy and Percy feels like it’ll suffocate him if he doesn’t break it.

“I don’t– ” he clears his throat. It sounds too thick. “I don’t blame myself.”

He takes a sip of his Coke, swallowing it completely. “I don’t blame myself. I just don’t understand…”

He doesn’t want to finish the sentence, doesn’t want to say the words, I don’t understand why it wasn’t me, but when his eyes meet Chiron’s again he knows the centaur understands. How many other heroes has he seen feel the same way? Does he feel the same way?

“Percy,” Chiron says, his voice steady and deep with thousands of years of wisdom and loss and hope. “You help no one by holding on to guilt that isn’t yours.”

Percy exhales roughly, running a hand through his hair. In his head, he understands this. He just doesn’t believe it. If he had been a little bit better, in any sense of the word: faster, stronger, smarter. Maybe Charles wouldn’t have gotten caught in the engine room of the Princess Andromeda. Maybe Michael wouldn’t have been caught in the earthquake Percy had caused on the Williamsburg Bridge. Maybe Clarisse could have been convinced to fight in the war earlier, so Silena wouldn’t have had to impersonate her.

“Percy.” Chiron repeats, voice firmer. “You might be a hero, but you are also a person. And all a person can ever do is their best.”

Percy closes his eyes, bows his head. Chiron continues speaking. “The gods have done wonderful things, but they have also made many, many mistakes. More and far more devastating mistakes than the ones you have made in your short life. The benefit and curse of immortality is seeing how the actions of a moment can fade over time. How they can be made up for when a similar situation arises in the future. How it is not one’s past that defines them, but how they learn from it.”

Percy doesn’t want to look up at Chiron now, because there are tears in his eyes and it’s embarrassing, frankly. But he owes it to him.

He looks up. Chiron’s gaze is as steady as before, and Percy exhales one more time, releasing air all the way down to his belly. One tear slips down the side of his face and stops at his upper lip. He licks it away, using a hand to wipe his eyes as he turns his face to the now quiet camp. He can see the volleyball court, the rock climbing wall, the smoking embers of the campfire and the beginning of the circle of cabins. He sees his home: safe, intact. Filled with his friends, the survivors. He breathes it in.

“Thanks, Chiron.” He says, turning back to the centaur who gives him a soft, understanding smile in return.

Percy finishes off his drink and leaves the empty glass on the same wooden table he saw Chiron and Dionysus playing pinochle at when he first arrived at Camp, all those years ago. He stands up, wishes Chiron goodnight and starts walking back to the cabins.

Cabin 3 stands there: dark, alone and familiar. He feels tiredness tug at his eyelids and muscles but inside he still feels too wired to lay down just yet. He heads for the beach.

Annabeth is already there. Her legs are bent in front of her, arms tucked underneath them and chin resting on her knees. He sits silently beside her and they stay there, no sound between them except the gentle crash of the waves on the shore. After a few minutes she leans her head against his shoulder and he rests his atop hers, closes his eyes.

“Do you remember when we were in the Sea of Monsters and I wanted to hear the Sirens?” Annabeth asks, voice quiet. “I would’ve killed myself on those rocks swimming to their island but you dove into the ocean and pulled me out of their range, even though I was kicking and screaming at you to stop. We were thirteen.

“And remember in Mount St. Helen’s? I know you didn’t have a plan, but you made me get out anyway. You made sure that I was safe before even thinking about how you would survive.”

He feels her weight leave his shoulder then, glances over to see her sitting up and turning towards him, crossing her legs under her. The light of the full moon washes her in an ethereal glow, and her eyes are gleaming wide and bright as they lock onto his, pinning him in place. Annabeth is always beautiful, but when she’s determined – whether in battle or in convincing her boyfriend that he doesn’t deserve the pain he inflicts on himself – she has a face that could launch a thousand ships.

“And in Rome,” she says, her voice catching. “You wouldn’t let me face Tartarus unless we could face it together. I don’t know how many times you saved my life down there…” Percy sees her eyes begin to well with tears. “When we were fighting the arai…” She closes her eyes as a few tears escape them. Percy reaches forward and wipes a few away with his thumb. She opens her eyes into his again and gives him a small smile.

“My point is,” she continues, her voice thick. “Being a demigod is a high risk life that none of us asked for. An occupational hazard of us just being alive is death by monster attack. This is the first thing we learn when we find out who we are. All the friends we’ve lost over the years…they knew that too.

“And that doesn’t mean that their deaths were ok or justified or that we can forget about them, but I think that shouldering the burden of their deaths is stopping you from remembering the beauty of their lives. And it’s stopping you from remembering all the people who haven’t died because of you. Every single person in this camp owes their life to you, either directly or indirectly. Yes, a lot of people died on this day three years ago, but even more people were saved, and you had more to do with the last thing than the first.”

Percy’s getting teary again, but he doesn’t feel embarrassed this time. Annabeth shuffles closer to him on the sand and grabs both of his hands, squeezing them tightly, bringing them up and pressing her lips against them. “Percy Jackson, you have the purest heart of anyone I have ever met. It’s glaringly obvious to anyone who knows you – except yourself, apparently. I will spend the rest of my life trying to help you see it, but until then you’re just gonna have to trust me.”

Her face changes. It goes from open and pleading to playful, one eyebrow raised and a challenge in her eyes that makes his heart skip a beat, even when the rest of his system is in emotional overwhelm.

“Do you trust me, Percy?” Annabeth asks him.

He lets out a laugh, shaky from tears, and nods, “Yes, Annabeth. I trust you with my life.”

She beams at him, sitting up on her knees to bring her face closer to his, until it’s close enough that he can feel the warmth of her breath as she speaks, her eyes still locked onto his. “Then believe me when I tell you that you deserve forgiveness. And you need to give it to yourself.”

It’s too much. Percy swallows, jaw clenched and glances down. Annabeth releases one of his hands and grabs his chin, not letting him get away that easily.

“You. Deserve. Forgiveness. More than anyone in this world.”

He’s searching her eyes, frantically almost. It feels too easy. There has to be a catch.

“Ok?” Annabeth prompts, her voice still soft but firm, uncompromising.

He opens his mouth to speak but any words get caught in the knot at the base of his throat. Tears are leaking down his face and he can’t. He can’t. It can’t be that easy. It shouldn’t be.

Annabeth exhales, removing her hand from his chin and instead running it through his hair, stopping at the back of his head and bringing it forward until their foreheads touch. She doesn’t say anything else, just sits there with him.

With him, while he closes his eyes and thinks about the Minotaur choking his mom when he was twelve. Thinks about imaging Tyson drowning in the Sea of Monsters when he was thirteen. Thinks about losing Bianca di Angelo and Zoe Nightshade later that same year. He thinks about the campers that fell in the Battle of the Labyrinth whose names he didn’t know, and the campers that fell in the Battle of Manhattan whose names he made sure he did. He thinks of a Titan and a Giant at the Doors of Death, sacrificing themselves so that he and Annabeth could get to safety.

Percy sits on a beach at nineteen years old and thinks of all the death he’s seen in such a short time, all the death that’s been haunting him for years.

A cool breeze passes by him, coming from the water. As it brushes his skin, he comes back to the warmth of his best friend’s forehead pressed against his, her hands: one clutching his, the other tangled in his hair. He feels her soft exhale of breath and thinks about how she is alive, here, with him. Against all odds. He thinks of the campers asleep in the cabins just metres away: alive, here, with him. He thinks of his mom and Paul and Rachel, his friends from Camp Jupiter, all the people he cares about who are alive, here, with him. He thinks about the fact that they outnumber the dead, and realises he’s never really thought about that before.

Percy lifts his head and looks at Annabeth. She cups one side of his face with her hand, eyes still trained on his intently.

“I love you.” He says. “I’m so happy you’re alive.”

Her smile is small and bittersweet, her eyes wide grey pools of understanding.

“Me too,” is all she says.

It is enough.

[percyjacksonfan3]

The Last Olympian Thoughts

So because I have absolutely 0 self-control or restraint when it comes to this series and its characters, and for The Last Olympian in particular, I could not put TLO down. Because of this I figured I couldn’t do the usual photo reaction posts I have been so far, because the spam would just be ridiculous, so I am stealing the idea from @yourstrulytaaay​ to do a masterpost instead. (Adding a Read More cause this got ridiculously long)

Fun fact, TLO came out right after i finished reading the series for the first time so it's the first PJO book i bought  and my only hard cover one for the og series. I checked the year and turns out it was published 2009, which means i was actually 9 when i read the series for the first time. I realize this is not really a fun fact but i thought i was older when I first read the series so it's blowing my mind a little ‘cause now I’m 21 and everything hits different and i still have so much love for this series and the characters Okay onto book thoughts: - i was right that this book is gonna destroy me, the first line alone made me so excited and nostalgic it's ridiculous - I love Rachel and Percy sm tbh. Her being a bit of peace and normalcy in his life without always reminding Percy of who and what he is is so good for him. Just a little escape

- of course by the end of the book that's not the case any more but by the end he's lived his prophecy so he doesn't need it as badly, plus he and Annabeth are solid again - Percy saying Annabeth has been hard to be around lately... Ouch my heart. Luke really is the last thing that keeps them from being together and Percy is so jealous and Annabeth so torn and in pain, i feel so bad for them both

- Beckendorf 🥺🥺 - the telkhine with the Lil Demon lunchbox!! I forgot about him. Percy: 'i left him alive, partly because his lunchbox was cool' is one of my absolute favourite lines tbh - Paul taking Percy crabbing and being imperative in helping Percy kill the giant crab 💖 Paul Blofis is important and deserves the world, okay? - aw Percy, you can't save every demigod bb

- 'i had to fight him eventually. Why not now?... What difference would a week make?' Oh Percy you have no idea - real talk tho, the fact Kronos possessed Luke's body would also mess me tf up. Percy keeps forgetting it's not Luke anymore and yeah, that would be so so hard and confusing af, like what another smart little mind game for Kronos to pull on top of everything else - the fact Percy fights Kronos before getting the Achilles Curse and actually doesn't die within seconds is... Astounding. He kicks him in the chest! And yeah Kronos is weaker and still adjusting to Luke's body, but Percy is having trouble fighting Luke cause they used to be friends - Percy breaks Kronos' time magic!! Like?! Boy is POWERFUL.

- OUCH - honestly Luke, Thalia and Annabeth's family breaking the way it did... Don't talk to me. Poor Annabeth, Luke betrayed them, Thalia joined the Hunters because of Luke's betrayal so she's pretty much AWOL all the time and then Luke dies. Like Rick wtf, my heart can't take it? -Percy and Tyson having each others backs when talking to Poseidon in the underwater palace is the brother-brother relationship we love to see - Percy trying to stick a sand dollar in the vending machines at school 🤦🏻‍♀🤦🏻‍♀ - the whole underwater interaction at Poseidon's palace? Perfection. Awkward family drama and all - Connor falling out of the tree when he sees Percy because he's so excited 😂😂

- 😭💖

- k, ik Clarisse isn't perfect but tbh if i was a child of Ares whose father was disrespected and hated by my fellow campers (ares deserves it but still) and that disrespect trickled down to how the other campers treated ME (which if Percy is reliable here, it obviously does) then i would also be irritated at being used for muscle and nothing else? And just expected to fight with the people who act as if they'd rather not have Ares kids around the rest of the time. Like Clarisse isn't totally wrong - Percy reading the prophecy, seeing he's meant to die and just being like 'i do not see it' and refusing to outright think about it makes me so sad for him - (but it taints every action after and he's super reckless afterwards bc of it- including finally breaking and accepting the Achilles Curse) - (also him taking this as the last straw and finally beginning to show Annabeth how he really feels, cause fuck it, he's dying anyway) - Give me more info about Rachel's backstory and family Rick!! -  how did i forget Percy willingly eats chocolates that taste like cardboard because 'i didnt have anything against cardboard' like sir? Ik Silena didn't want them but still? - 'she'd always been cute, but she was starting to be seriously beautiful' STOP, MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT - Percy staring at Annabeth and forgetting what they're talking about cause hes so distracted 👌🏻

- hmm yeah... For some strange reason.... - i forgot how Percy totally bombs this convo bw them and now want to cry 😭 Annabeth is trying to talk about what's important and Percy, you sweet oblivious man, you're shooting her down without even realizing - love that they're both on the same wavelength tho. Percy two lines before, hmm it's cool to date ppl from other cabins, wonder why im thinking that around Annabeth, my best friend in the world, and then Annabeth a beat later, hmm, let me bring up Silena and Beckendorf and how it's important to be with the people you love when you have the chance, no way Percy will miss this huge hint right? - they're the best - k i honestly forgot Percy full on physically intimidates Leneus like that - luke telling his mom if he ran away the monsters wouldnt get her..i can just imagine luke crying when he says good bye before running away because he thinks it's his fault his mom is like that and he cant take care of and protect her anymore because it's too hard - uh oh now i have angsty pre-lightning thief luke fic inspo... Him, Thalia and Annabeth on the run... The ANGST -  Rick holds absolutely nothing back in this book and i am in pain - HESTIA!! 💖💖🥰 - actual loml - i love that Rick titled this book after her and that he wrote such a great series about the importance of family (biological, found or otherwise) and home, and that he said actually Hestia is the most important bc shes the most humble and keeps the peace and knows when to fight and when to yield and you protect what you love, which is your home - i just... Adore Hestia - Grover! Missed you babes - Hades is so so horrible to Nico, always comparing him to Bianca :/ - but i do love Hades, Persephone and Demeter together they make me laugh - oh god the River Styx - Achilles 🥺 - Annabeth being Percy's lifeline is, and continues to be, A Lot™ - 'my name was Percy Jackson. I reached up and took Annabeth's hand.' LOL Why am i crying? - Like the fact there is no Percy without Annabeth, and that remembering her literally reminded him of who he is in his very soul... It's fine im fine - i won't even get into the parallels of her being his lifeline now and then later when Hera takes his memories but leaves the memory of Annabeth for Percy to fight to get back to (anyone who wants to yell about it with me... Feel free to message) - badass Percy is my fav Percy tbh - him defeating Hades?? Like? Hades is arguably the most powerful god, okay - i feel bad for Nico but if i was Percy I'd do the exact same, Nico, sorry man but this is a high stakes time crunch deal and Nico is literally the only hope of persuading Hades and distracted by his own internal stuff - flashbacks to Luke, Thalia and Annabeth hurt, ow - George and Martha are the best - damn i forgot Hermes full on nearly kills Percy here, yikes - Luke stop cockblocking Percabeth challenge

- i love!! Percy's love for New York!! So much!! - Percy leaving to live in New Rome in HoO is a lie and this is all the proof i need for why - the fact the entire last half of the book is the battle and aftermath... Such great buildup and pacing. All the tricks and twists and battles in this War of Manhattan? I would not take out a thing, Rick, you legend - of course then the final battle in hoo with the gods is what? Two pages? Ugh, don’t talk to me about my hatred for BoO and HoO - 'no detours you two' is still the cutest thing!!! - THE HUNTERS!! Thalia i missed you - good job Percy, you finally spent your sand dollar - Minotaur!! - 'dont i get a kiss for luck? Its kind of a tradition right?' Percy finds out he's gonna die and is out of fucks to give and honestly I support him - also Michael just standing beside these two while they're flirting like umm 👀 👀 while a monster army marches towards them, nbd - Annabeth taking Ethan's knife meant for Percy!!! Cause she just knows his weak spot without him even telling her! They literally invented love - Feral Percy is so scary omg, i love how well Rick incorporates the Achilles Curse in this novel, with the whole heightened weaknesses and stuff ans the parallels to Achilles arrogance being what killed him and Percy's loyalty, fierceness and protective instinct being his own heightened weakness - the fact that Percy is the one who inadvertantly kills Michael Yew tho, I'll never recover from that - the fact Hades offers Maria di Angelo a golden palace by the Styx like how Poseidon offers Sally a palace under the sea tho. Let's talk about that parallel - the entire talk with Prometheus is so so good - not me picturing young Luke hiding in the closet to get away from his mom when she has an 'episode' -i love callbacks in stories and all of the callbacks to the rest of the series in this book make me very happy (medusa, minotaur, the underworld, Rainbow!! My baby!!, Daedalus and more) - Percy summoning a wholeass hurricane against Hyperion - the Party Ponies! They're so chaotic, i love it - Dionysus! 😁 I can't help it, i love him - Percy absolutely losing it when he sees Sally and Paul asleep in the car 🥺 - Rachel telling Percy he's not the hero screws with him so much :( poor bb - although i really really love how Rick wrote this, it's so refreshing to not have one chosen one save the world, but a combination of people - the drakon, Silena and Clarisse make me cry - the Patrochilles references, im not okay - Annabeth giving up on Luke after hearing what he did to Silena and Percy telling her that doesn't make him happy 😭 that whole interaction makes my heart ache - Percy giving Hestia Pandora's pithos 🥺 - and Hades, Nico and the others coming for a final attack is so badass, i love it - listen im glad the og trio were the ones to confront Luke on Olympus but the fact Thalia got so close and then pinned by a statue of HERA makes me so sad. Ik her and Luke were finished and she coped by cutting him off completely and giving up all hope but i would pay money to know what they would have said to each other to say goodbye - Ethan 🥺 - Poseidon joining the fight against Typhon is so cool, such a great scene - 'PEANUT BUTTER!' - Annabeth you brilliant badass you - RIP Luke, you werent great but you werent the worst either - the gods just rolling up seconds too late, wondering wtf happened in Olympus and who the dead body is - the chapter where the Olympians meet and give out rewards is one of my absolute favourites (again i am incensed we didn't get anything like this in HoO) - will Percy turning down immortality ever not make me scream in glee? No? Alright then - Annabeth being relieved like Percy was relieved at the end of Titan's Curse tho - oh Hermes :/ - its so hard reading all this and knowing what comes in HoO... Like it's such a cathartic, earned and mostly happy and peaceful ending and then HoO comes along and undermines it all - aww Rick let Paul see Olympus somehow pls, he deserves it, he killed a dracanae - (i would also love to see it) - Percy being more upset Rachel took his pegasus than her going to Camp and possibly dying, lol, priorities dude - i honestly think that Rick had other ideas for the second Great Prophecy and how things would go down in BoO, cause the prophecy like... Barely applies to BoO, Doors of Death are in book four, and explabations of it is all so unclear when Rick is usually pretty good with that stuff - PERCABETH - lol Percy complaining about privacy when he and Annabeth are caught kissing literally in the middle of the very open and public dining pavilion, okay - BEST UNDERWATER KISS OF ALL TIME - that's it and im a glass case of emotion - very happy to say that this series remains my favourite of all time 💖

 If anyone ever wants to come gush about anything Riordanverse related feel free, because as you can see I have a lot of thoughts about it all

[lukecastellandeservedbetter]

13. New Rome

a/n: and finally, the Two Idiots have been reunited at last. I am really excited for everything that comes after this chapter, I hope y’all enjoy!

Read the others!: Masterlist

Luke looked over the edge of the ship as they came into the borders of Camp Jupiter. It looked beautiful from up here, but Luke was a little wary of flying into enemy territory, snatching up Percy and leaving again. 

A statue popped up, instigating an argument with Annabeth, even having the audacity to insult her mom. Annabeth was desperate as she argued, her eyes going back and forth from the statue to the ground. Luke switched positions to follow her eye line and realized why- 

Percy. 

His whole body relaxed immediately, the feeling almost painful since his body had been on high alert from the moment he learned Percy had disappeared. Percy was okay. And he looked happy, calm, like there was no danger around him. He wore a purple robe like Jason’s- how did Percy keep managing to convince people he deserved to be in charge? The kid still couldn’t make grilled cheese sandwiches without burning the bread. 

The humour he tried to keep dropped, and Luke was suddenly a little worried. 

As far as he was aware, Kronos had never actually seen any of the Camp Jupiter campers. Which means there was a good chance they had not seen him. However, there had been times over the year that Kronos had possessed his body where Luke had found himself sinking into nothingness, his consciousness slowly dying as the Titan Lord grew in strength, so he wasn’t entirely sure. The Titan was wearing his face through the whole endeavour, and he didn’t want to risk the crew’s- his friends -safety if he went down there and all the Roman’s saw was Kronos. 

“I think Annabeth is negotiating the terms of our arrival,” Jason mumbled to him, falling into place beside Luke on the rail, looking down at the camp he called home. “Got any advice?” 

Luke looked at him surprised before looking back down at the crowd. “Just be you, Jason. It wasn’t your fault you left the camp.” He told him honestly. 

“I don’t think Reyna will see it that way,” Jason chuckled sheepishly. “Especially when she meets…” Jason glanced over to Piper who was standing behind Annabeth protectively, hand on her dagger. “The Romans don’t take deserting lightly.” 

Luke nodded slowly. “They’re still your family,” He pointed out. “Once you get a chance to explain yourself, I’m sure it’ll be fine.” He said, looking back at Jason. “The Roman’s probably missed you as much as Camp Half-Blood missed Percy.” 

Jason nodded and took a deep breath, relaxing his shoulders a little before glancing back at Luke. “Thanks, Luke.” He said softly. “I appreciate it.” 

“Of course,” He nodded as Leo waved them over. “Welcome home, Jason.” He patted his shoulder and headed over to the rope ladder, climbing down. 

The Roman’s parted for Annabeth as she led them to a little clearing where Percy was. Luke watched her stiffen, trying so hard to remain calm, cool and collected as Reyna took them all in. His eye line connected with Reyna’s, and he watched her try not to recoil back at the sight of his face. Her head turned, but her eyes took a moment to follow suit to Jason, who stood there a little awkwardly. 

“Jason Grace, my former colleague, I welcome you home.” She started, formal and regal. “And these, your f… friends,” She seemed to trip up on the word, glancing back at Luke before returning her gaze to Jason. 

Annabeth rushed forward and tackled Percy, kissing him firmly. Percy grinned as she pulled away. “Gods, I never thought-” 

Boom. 

Percy was on the ground, having gone over Annabeth’s head. Luke saw the sea of Roman’s serge forward, and watched Reyna call them all to order, to stand back as Percy laughed at Annabeth’s threats. 

“I missed you too.” He told her softly. 

Annabeth got up quickly and Luke stepped forward, offering a hand to Percy who took it quickly. 

“Hey man,” Percy grinned up at him as Luke pulled him up effortlessly. “I see your sorry ass got dragged along, huh?” 

“Yeah, you’re lucky the manager likes me so I have a job to go back to when this is all over,” He told him, ruffling Percy’s hair. 

“It’s good to see you,” Percy told him, patting his shoulder with bright eyes. 

“You too.” Luke nodded with a small smile. 

Jason cleared his throat. “So uh, yeah, it’s good to be back.” He motioned to the other demigods. 

He introduced Piper first, who waved a little awkwardly, and Leo who threw up a peace sign. “This is Annabeth, she doesn’t usually judo-flip people,” Jason told Reyna. 

Reyna inquired with Annabeth about whether she was actually a Roman, or Amazon, rather than a Greek, to which Annabeth chuckled with a little embarrassment, holding Percy’s hand, insisting she didn’t always greet people like that, just Percy. 

“And this is Luke, he’s a senior counselor at Camp Half-Blood, he trains some of the newbies who come into Camp when he’s actually at Camp.” Jason finished up the introductions. 

The introduction was a little… glossed over for Luke, but he appreciated Jason trying to paint him in a good light. 

As Reyna called for a feast to be prepared for, some stringy 16 year old who looked like he’d never picked up a sword in his entire life marched forward, arguing with Reyna about the ‘intruders in camp’ and the ‘looming war ship’. 

Luke felt like he was looking in a mirror from 5 years ago, Octavian’s eyes were lit with a certain hunger for power, and his disrespect and disregard towards Reyna, who seemed otherwise highly respected and revered throughout the group, and her orders that everyone else seemed to follow without question, rubbed Luke the wrong way. 

Percy looked between Luke and Octavian, and realized that when he saw Octavian for the first time, the person he reminded him of was Luke. But not this Luke, not the Luke that tried to sacrifice himself for the camp, who dropped the new life he was slowly building to come find Percy, and who insisted on helping Sally with the dishes every night. No, he reminded him of the Luke that held up the sky. The skinny, broken Luke that had looked like Thalia could snap him over her knee like a twig, and she practically did when she pushed him off the mountain. 

He could also read Luke’s expression when the taller blonde looked at Octavian. 

Luke didn’t trust him either, then. 

“Why don’t you make a sacrifice to the gods as a thank you for returning Jason home safely?” Reyna told Octavian impatiently. 

“Yeah Octavian, go burn some bears.” Percy couldn’t help but taunt him. 

Reyna fought a smile, but Luke could see it twitching at the corner of her lips. “You have my orders. Go.” 

Octavian glared at Percy, and gave Annabeth and Luke suspicious looks before stalking off into the crowd. 

Percy chuckled, throwing an arm around Annabeth. “Relax, most of these guys aren’t like Octavian. This is Hazel and Frank,” He motioned to the pair. “They’re pretty cool. We’ll be fine here.” 

Annabeth looked up at the ship worriedly and back to Percy, studying him, as if she was trying to commit his face to memory. “We’ll be fine.” She repeated quietly. 

“Luke man, you would love the armoury, the swords are crazy detailed.” He told Luke with a grin. “If we can swing it, I’ll show you after the feast.” 

Luke nodded. “That sounds great, actually, I’d love to see the difference between Imperial Gold and Celestial Bronze.” 

Reyna cleared her throat. “Right, well,” Her eyes scanned over the group, lingering on Luke for a moment before they landed on Jason, with an unreadable expression on her face. “I think it’s time we catch up? We have some things to discuss.” 

[theartofimaginaryfriends]

Sleepless Nights

Character: Percy Jackson

Premise: Percy can't fall asleep, and thinks about the friends he had lost in the battle against Kronos

Content warning: grief and loss, dealing with trauma

Masterlist

Word count: 1,067

A/N: This shit hurt to write and I'm absolutely not okay, so I gotta share it with the world. I do, however, really love this piece. We as fans often get so stuck in fanon that we forget how traumatized Percy actually is, and how he has never actively worked through everything. Song used for the fic is Empty Chairs at Empty Tables from Les Misérables

There's a grief that can't be spoken,

There's a pain goes on and on.

Empty chairs at empty tables,

Now my friends are dead and gone.

Percy found himself unable to sleep for the fifth night in a row, not being able to stop thinking about the sacrifices each of his friends made. He carried the burden of the prophecy so that Nico wouldn't, and was named the hero at the end of the day. Glory was supposed to come along with a title like that, but all Percy felt was hopeless and tired.

The Gods expected Demigods to do their dirty work, causing their children to be stuck with a heavy burden on their backs for the rest of their lives. Such grief and pain never truly goes away. That's why Percy turned down immortality. It wasn't worth it if he was going to be carrying that burden while he watched his friends die one by one. Instead, he found a wish that could be easily done. Now, the camp was filled with new demigods and more arriving every day.

Still, he couldn’t help the dread that came along with waking up every single morning, and facing the camp again. Every day, he didn't see the future of Camp Half-Blood, he saw loss everyone had to face collectively. The damage that the war caused both physically and mentally, not only on himself but on his fellow campers.

Here they talked of revolution,

Here it was they lit the flame,

Here they sang about tomorrow and tomorrow never came.

Staring up at the underside of the top bunk, he thought of Luke Castellan. The son of Hermes wanted to be recognized by his father, he wanted all the Gods kids to know who their parent was. Luke's anger towards the Gods drove him down a path that caused him to lose himself along the way. Percy knew that Luke understood a long time ago that he had made a mistake by helping Kronos, but he couldn't help but still feel angry with him.

Luke was a hero in the end. That was what Percy had told the camp. Did he believe it himself? He wasn't completely sure. His first friend at camp became the cause of countless people he considered to be family to fall to their demise. He was the reason Percy carried a burden that – quite frankly – no one wanted.

He recalled the months leading up to the final battle. The demigods were scared, but many were also excited for a battle. A motivation to win sparked through the whole camp, overpowering the general worry every kid had around death. Many were confident, and some had died because of it. These kids never got to see the success of the battle, and Percy hoped they were all in Elysium where they belong.

From the table in the corner,

They could see a world reborn,

And they rose with voices ringing,

And I can hear them now

The very words that they have sung

Became their last communion

On this lonely barricade, at dawn.

Voices were haunting him constantly. Of Luke, Beckendorf, Silena, and many others. Percy often felt like his friends would join him in the Dining Pavillion, despite them not physically being there. He remembered their voices vividly, as if he had just wished them a goodnight before heading to his cabin with Tyson. It worsened his pain, the demigod wishing to forget the sounds of their voices.

Visions of them training at camp wouldn't leave his mind, and he kept seeing their ghosts wherever he went. It made Percy feel even more lonely than before, reluctant to get close to anyone else at camp. In front of Annabeth and Grover, he put on a brave face. There was no way he'd admit to his true feelings, especially to his two best friends. Worrying them was the last thing he wanted to do.

Oh my friends, my friends forgive me

That I live and you are gone

There's a grief that can't be spoken,

And there's a pain goes on and on.

The worst part about the sleepless nights was the guilt that ate at him constantly. He felt like he didn't deserve to live, that he didn't deserve the title of hero. The people he cared about were in the underworld while he got the luxury of continuing to live. A luxury he hated having.

Training at camp was supposed to help the Demigods learn to keep going if a family or friend died in battle. It was supposed to teach them how to move on when experiencing a loss that great. What it didn't help the Demigods prepare for were the flashbacks and the nightmares. The fear that went along with the guilt. The pain that never left no matter how hard they tried to push it down. It was an unexplainable pain, one that Percy knew he would never be able to describe to anyone outside of the camp – especially his mother.

Phantom faces at the window,

Phantom shadows on the floor,

Empty chairs at empty tables where my friends will meet no more.

Oh my friends, my friends don't ask me

What your sacrifice was for

Empty chairs at empty tables

Where my friend will sing no more.

The few hours earlier when the campfire took place, Percy felt the pain and suffering that the campers experienced collectively. He could picture Beckendorf and Silena cuddled up as they sang along, and even Luke's smile as he tried to get the Stoll's to be at least somewhat serious. He could see the ghosts of the kids who's shrouds they burned that night, watching as the campers tried to hold back tears as they mourned for what felt like the millionth night in a row.

The Apollo cabin sat closer together than usual, the pain apparent in their voices as they led the camp through melancholy tunes. Even Percy joined in on the singing, too depressed to care that he sounded like a dying cat. The ghosts of his friends began to sing along to the songs with everyone, but Percy couldn't hear them. He wasn't even sure if what he was seeing was real.

He couldn't tell the difference anymore, but he didn't care. Percy just wished he could slip away, and forget about everything for a while.

[dumbledearme]

chapter four—into the woods

read Child of Land and Sea here

Act I — Storm At Sea

Part IV — Everything's newer, and brighter and bluer, and truer to life than before. Watch me soar.

Andy had never been so blue.

Just when she had started to feel accepted, she was moved (or removed) to cabin three where she was sentenced to be alone. The other campers steered clear of her as much as possible.

The only one who seemed to like Andy more, and dedicated her more of his time, was Luke. He pushed her harder and harder during each of their lessons. And, boy, he wasn't afraid to bruise her up in the process…

"You're going to need all the training you can get," he promised.

Anthony still taught her Greek in the mornings, but he grew more distant everyday. Every time Andy spoke, he would scowl at her like a mad grandpa. Even Clarisse kept her distance, though it was clear she still wanted revenge.

At night, Andy was summoned at the Big House and Chiron, surprisingly, offered her a quest. "Poseidon and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt.

Andy laughed, nervously. "A what now?"

"Do not take this lightly," Chiron warned. "I'm talking about a two-foot-long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives. Zeus' master bolt. The symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheared the top off Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs—"

"Okay, I get it," Andy interrupted with a nod. "It's powerful. It's important. It's missing."

"Stolen," Chiron said.

"By whom?"

"By you." Andy's mouth fell open. "At least, that's what Zeus thinks. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. Afterward, Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Poseidon. Now, a god cannot usurp another god's symbol of power directly—that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine laws. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it."

"But I didn't—"

"Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclopes are under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the maker's of his brother's lightning. Zeus believes Poseidon has taken the master bolt, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies. The only thing Zeus wasn't sure of was which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Until he claimed you."

"Okay. First of all, he can't claim me, I'm not a goat!" Andy exclaimed. "And also, I've never been to Mount Olympus... As a matter of fact, I don't even know where that is... Look, I didn't do anything. You know that, right?"

Chiron sighed. "Most thinking observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon's style. But the Sea God is too proud to try convincing Zeus of that. Zeus has demanded that Poseidon returns the bold by the summer solstice. That's June twenty-first, ten days from now. Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. Neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be war."

"So I have to find the stupid bolt? And return it to Zeus?"

"What better peace offering," Chiron said, "than to have the daughter of Poseidon return Zeus' property?"

Andy failed to see why she had to do something for Poseidon. It wasn't like he had ever done anything for her... She owed him nothing.

An image came to her. World War II, they had said. Massacre. Slaughter. Millions and millions of people dead because of a similar childish strife. Someone had to do something, right? It wasn't fair that the innocent always had to pay the price.

"Fine," she decided. Weird how it was so easy to agree to this because of people who meant nothing to her and, at the same time, so hard because of the one who meant everything. "But if Poseidon doesn't have it... where is the thing?"

Chiron's expression was grim. "I heard a prophecy years ago... But before I can tell you, you need to take up the quest. Go see the Oracle."

A mummy. That's what it was. A disgusting, ancient mummy that sent chills up Andy's spine. The moment Andy entered the attic, she heard the mystical voice. "I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker, and ask."

Andy swallowed hard. "I was just wondering... Where is the bathroom?" The mummy remained resolute. It was now or never. "Fine. Then... what is my destiny?" She heard herself say.

The verdict wasn't the best she'd heard:

"You shall go west, and face the god who has turned. You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned. You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend. And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end."

"Cheery," said Andy and went back downstairs after slamming the attic door shut.

Chiron and Grover asked and asked, but Andy refused to share the entire prophecy with them. She only told them the first two verses. The part about failing... well, how could she tell them there was no point to all of this? That she would fail anyway? No, they couldn't know.

Chiron didn't seem convinced and warned her, "The Oracle's words often have double meanings. Don't dwell on them too much."

But if she wasn't supposed to trust the Oracle, why did they need the thing anyway?

Andy changed the topic. "Where do I go? Who's this god in the west?"

"First you need to think," Chiron said. "If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in war, who stands to gain?"

She shrugged. "Somebody else who wants to take over?"

"Quite. Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided eons ago, whose kingdom would grow powerful with the deaths of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have now broken."

"Hades."

Chiron nodded. "The Lord of the Dead. You must go to the Underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth."

She shook her head. "Oh I feel used. Why do I have to do this? Why do the gods need to operate through humans? Why can't they talk it out like adults?"

"It is no accident Poseidon has claimed you now. He needs you."

"Yeah? What about the times I needed him?"

Chiron watched her silently. Andy didn't know whether to feel happy, grateful or resentful. She glanced at Grover who was trembling.

"You don't have to go," she told him. "I can't ask that of you."

"You saved my life, Andy," the satyr said. "If you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down."

Andy felt so relieved she almost cried. "Alright, then. Now where the hell is the Underworld? Literally."

"Always in the west," Chiron said. "Los Angeles."

"Ha ha." She waited. "Oh. You mean it."

"Two companions may accompany you. Grover is one. The other has already volunteered, if you will accept his help."

"Who?" Andy asked, hoping for Luke. The air shimmered behind Chiron and Anthony became visible. Andy made a face. "Ah."

"I've been waiting a long time for a quest, Seaweed Brain," he said. "Athena's no fan of Poseidon, but if you're going to save the world, I'm the best person to keep you from messing up."

Andy tried to hide her disappointment. "As long as you have a plan, Wonder Boy. I haven't made plans since I went to this stupid costume party dressed as a stuffed olive. I dyed my head and neck red—that was the stuffed pimento bit. I thought it was absolutely hilarious, until I tried to get out of my bedroom. I had to go down the stairs sideways. Then I couldn't fit in my mom's car so I had to walk. And when I got to the party everyone laughed. I did a bit of stuffed olive dancing until I nearly destroyed every ornament and bit of furniture in the place. In the end, I went home early—"

"We get it," Anthony snapped.

"I doubt it. Unless you've been a stuffed olive too...?" and she glanced at him expectantly.

Anthony didn't trouble himself to answer.

Andy didn't have anything to take with her but the backpack Chiron stored for her. Anthony was bringing his magic Yankee cap—which he told Andy had been a twelfth birthday present from his mom—a book on famous classical architecture and a long bronze knife, hidden in his shirt sleeve, that he seemed to carry everywhere. Some people had teddy bears, some had knives…

To Andy's surprise, he also came up with a cool leather jacket that he gave to her saying the weather could change drastically. She was strangely pleased with it. Grover wore his fake feet and his pants to pass as human, and his backpack was filled with scrap metal and apples. He also carried a set of reed pipes his daddy goat had carved for him.

Before they left, Luke came to say goodbye. Andy's cheeks reddened and she blushed even more when she realized Anthony had noticed the change. "Just wanted to say good luck," Luke told her. "And I thought... um, maybe you could use these." He handed Andy a pair of basketball shoes.

"Not exactly my style, but thank you."

He smiled and said, "Maia!" White bird's wings sprouted out of the heels.

"Awesome," said Grover.

"Those served me well when I was on my quest," Luke said. "Gift from Dad."

Andy didn't know what to say and felt extremely uncomfortable with the look Anthony was giving her. "Thank you."

"Listen, beautiful," Luke's tone softened. "A lot of hopes are riding on you. So just... kill some monsters for me, okay?" And he hugged her. Actually hugged her! Like, passed his arms around her and applied pressure.

Luke also hugged Anthony. "I will see you again, brother," he said before leaving.

Andy watched him go. Anthony leaned over her. "You're hyperventilating," he said, but he wasn't making fun of her, he was almost pissed off about it. "And you can't use those," he added taking the shoes away from her. "He meant well, but you shouldn't go in the air." And he handed the sneakers to Grover who put it on almost immediately.

Then Chiron showed up to say goodbye and to Andy's surprised he presented her with his ballpoint pen. "The sword has a long and tragic history," he told her. "It's name is Anaklusmos. Riptide. Celestial bronze, see? It can't harm mortals, only monsters." Chiron also told her that every time she lost the pen/sword it would magically reappear back in her pocket!

Argus drove them to the city. He was the head of security. He supposedly had eyes all over his body so he could never be surprised. Luckily, due to his clothes, Andy couldn't know how much of that was actually true.

"So far so good," she said. "Ten miles and not a single monster."

Anthony gave her an irritated look. "It's bad luck to talk that way, Seaweed Brain."

"Remind me again—why do you hate me so much?"

"I don't hate you."

"Mm. Could've fooled me."

He sighed. "You're annoying. If that's not reason enough for you, then let's just say that we're supposed to be rivals. Athena and Poseidon can't stand each other."

"Whatever, dude," Andy said. She was tired of his judgmental comments and the angry stares.

Argus dropped them at the Greyhound Station and Andy felt homesick, she was so close to her house. She wanted so bad to go there, go through the door and find Sally waiting for her…

"You know," Grover said, "she married him for you."

"What?"

"Your mom. You called him Smelly, but you have no idea... The guy has this aura... He smells so repulsively human he could mask the presence of any demigod. He covered your scent for years. That's why you managed to live for so long outside the camp." He said that as if it was suppose to make Andy feel better. It didn't. If anything, she felt worse thinking of the dozens of things her mom had done for her.

"How did you know I was thinking about her anyway?"

"Oh... Satyrs can read emotions. Guess I forgot to tell you that."

In the city, they got into a bus. They sat in the back for a while when an old lady boarded in. Andy felt the panic stuck in her throat—it was Mrs. Dodds.

Andy scrunched down in her seat. Behind her came two other old ladies. They all looked the same: triplet demon grandmothers. They sat on the front right behind the driver. The two on the aisle crossed their legs over the walkway, making an X.

The bus pulled out of the station.

"She didn't stay dead long," Andy whispered to Anthony. "I thought you said they could be dispelled for a lifetime."

"I said if you're lucky," he argued. "You're obviously not."

"All three of them," whimpered Grover. "Di immortales!"

"It's okay," Anthony said. "The Furies. The three worst monsters from the Underworld. No problem. We'll just... slip out the windows."

"They don't open," Grover moaned.

"A back exit?"

"Hey, they can't attack us with witnesses around, can they?" Andy asked.

"Mortals don't have good eyes," Anthony told her. "Their brains can only process what they see through the Mist."

"The Mist?"

"Yes. It obscures the vision of humans," he explained. "We can see things as they are, but humans will interpret it quite differently."

That moment, Mrs. Dodds got up. She announced, "I need to use the restroom," to the entire bus.

"So do I," said the second sister.

"So do I," said the third one. They all started coming down the aisle.

"There's no restroom in this bus!" Andy shouted feigning a male voice.

The Furies ignored that.

In a quick gesture, Anthony placed his cap on Andy's head and her body vanished. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"It's you they want. Go up the aisle. Let them pass you. Maybe you can get away."

"But you guys—"

"There's an outside chance they might not notice us," he said. "You're a daughter of Poseidon. Your smells might be overpowering."

"I can't just leave you."

"Don't worry about us," Grover urged. "Go!"

Andy's hands trembled. She felt like a coward, but she got to her feet and crept up the aisle. She went ten rows then ducked into an empty seat just as the Furies walked past. Mrs. Dodds stopped, sniffing, and looked straight at Andy. Her heart was pounding, but the monster didn't see anything. She and her sisters kept moving.

Andy made it to the front of the bus then heard hideous wailing from the back. The ladies weren't ladies anymore, they had turned into the winged monsters they truly were. They surrounded Anthony and Grover. "Where is it? Where?"

People on the bus screamed and cowered in their seats. They saw something alright…

"She's not here!" Anthony yelled. "She's gone!" The Furies raised their whips. Anthony drew his bronze knife. Grover grabbed a tin can ready to throw it.

And Andy... well, Andy pulled the wheel from the bus driver and everybody was thrown to the right. While the Furies were trying to stand, Andy had another great idea—she hit the emergency brake.

The bus wailed, spun a full circle and crashed into some trees. The door flew open and people rushed out of there, screaming.

Now there were only them. Andy took off the cap. "Oi, ugly," she called.

The Furies turned, baring their yellow fangs at her. "Andromeda Jackson," said Mrs. Dodds. "You have offended the gods."

"Yeah, but I offend everybody."

"You shall die."

"You know, I liked you better when you were dead." Andy took out Riptide. The Furies hesitated.

"Submit it now," Mrs. Dodds said. "And you will not suffer eternal torment."

"Are you kidding? Eternal torment is all I ever wanted."

Mrs. Dodds lashed her whip around Andy's sword hand. But Andy didn't drop the sword. Instead, she attacked and sliced the Fury on the right. She screamed and exploded into dust. Anthony grabbed Mrs. Dodds in a wrestler's hold and yanked her backward while Grover ripped the whip out of her hands. Andy hit the Fury on the left and she broke open like a piñata. Anthony and Grover managed to tie up Mrs. Dodds with her own whip.

"Zeus will destroy you," she promised. "Hades will have your soul!"

Thunder shook the bus and Anthony pulled Andy out of there. The windows of the bus exploded. The passengers ran for cover.

"Run," Anthony said and Andy didn't need any more encouragement.

They plunged into the woods together.

[palmnix]

Chaos's Assassin 3

“Three days ago we sent team 1 to Earth to get rid of an upcoming threat. Today they have all been reported missing. We need you to go find them and help eliminate the threat.”

I wasn’t upset. I wasn’t excited either. I had been to earth on missions before so I wasn’t surprised really. My only concern was getting Willow and Nico back to Lily.

“What’s the threat?” I asked Chaos, curiosity getting the best of me. I sat in Chaos’s bland office with only a glass table between us. He tended not to keep much in his office, only some weapons and a couple of books on a shelf on the right wall.

“Well… I guess you could say he’s an old friend of yo-”

"is it Kronos?” I cut in.

“No, let me fini-”

“It’s it luke?”

“No, he’s dea-”

"Gaea?”

“I just said it was a bo-”

“Then who is it? Octavian?” I joked.

Chaos rubbed the back of his neck. Glancing nervously about the room with a look of uncomfort on his face.

“It’s Octavian isn’t it.” I said with a blank expression. 

Chaos nodded.

“I am not impressed. I had rather hoped he would die.” I said truthfully, looking across the room to glass windows behind Chaos.

“So did we all. He’s more annoying than the most annoying person I know, and I know a lot of annoying people.” Chaos said.

“Ditto. Wait a minute, you said that they were reported missing. Who reported it?”

“Camp Jupiter and… Camp Half Blood” He said finding his nails very interesting.

I nodded, unsure of how to feel about his answer. I was happy of course. But it had been so long…

“I assume that I’ll be staying with either one.” I said, avoiding eye contact.

“Camp Half Blood.” Chaos said.

I nodded, internally sighing in exasperation.

“Is that it?” I asked him.

“Yup, you leave tomorrow.”

I nodded once more and stood up to leave his office. When at the door, I paused.   

“Chaos?” I asked, turning around to face him. “Did you do it."   

He looked me straight in the eyes and said,

"I don’t break my promises.”

“You ready?” Rebecca asked me as she passed me my backpack at the mouth of the woods the next day.

“I’m not too sure.” I replied, clipping my hood onto the leather jacket i wore. Luckily for me, my hood cast a dark shadow upon my face that no one could see through.

“Brace yourself.” She said to me.

I nodded.

“i’ll see you later then” I told her, reaching for the tree with the teleportation beam.

“Omega,” Rebecca said before I could leave. “Bring them back will you.”

“You can count on it.” I said with a tight smile.

The sun looked absolutely stunning on the horizon as it disappeared behind the forest of trees. The Camp appeared just as gorgeous as how it had been when I had left. Thalia’s pine tree still sat there with Peleus wrapped around its bark. Down the hill the Big house stood in all its glory with the twelve cabins, the amphitheatre, the climbing wall and of course the toilets being the first things in my line of sight. I breathed in the clear air and made my way down towards Chiron sitting on the porch of the, oh so mighty, light blue barn.

“Hello my son. Who might you be and what might you be doing here?” Asked Chiron once I had finally made it down the steep hill, his brown eyes glistening in the dusk atmosphere and his tweed jacket looking battered as ever as he sat on his little wheelchair.

“Ahh, you must be Chiron.” I stated.

“That would be I, but I ask again. Who might you be?”

“My name is Omega and I am Chaos’s assassin. I have come to get Chaos’s soldiers back and help with the upcoming threat.”

“I take it by ‘upcoming threat’ you mean Octavian.” Chiron asked.

“That is correct.” I replied. 

“Therefore your help is much appreciated.”

“Thank you.”

He nodded.

“The rest of the Camp is at the campfire if you would like to introduce yourself.” He told me. I shook my head.

“Excuse my rudeness, but I would prefer to stay out of sights at the moment and simply borrow a room in this lovely house for the night.”

“Please, that is not a problem, we have a room already prepared inside, if you would like to take it.”

“Thank you. I hope it is not inconvenient for me to suggest a war meeting tomorrow morning?”

“Not at all,” he replied, “it would be our pleasure.“

I began to make my way towards the doorway, until he stopped me before I could leave.

"I take it you’re not going to take off your hood.” He said.  

“I am the most known Assassin in the universe. I think it’s safer for both our sakes to keep it on.” I answered.

With that I turned around and walked into the Big House. I was home… For a while.

I had once been told that the worst part of being in a war was the actual planning. Who ever said it was right. Sitting at the ping - pong table in the rec room I felt completely at home. Completely comfortable. And completely bored. But I kept my guard up. I had toured the Camp with a clueless Chiron this morning and had learnt two things. One; the seven demigods I had gotten so close to all those years ago weren’t here. And two, last time I had been here I had known every single face in the camp. This time there was about 20 newcomers. May not have seemed like a lot, but it was a pain in the neck to not be able to refer to everyone by name. It was strange really. It hadn’t been long ago that I had left. At least not for everyone else.

“We had better get started then.” Chiron announced to the room, “We are missing some of our leaders at the moment as they are in Camp Jupiter making plans, but we can cope without them.”

“Personally I think we’re better off without those wannabe’s.” I heard Drew say. Dam, I had hoped she had left in the time I had been gone.

“Shut up Drew.” Malcolm spat.

“And what gives you the right to say that to me?” She replied, her face smothered in hate.

“And what gives you the right to be rude to any of us?” Conner retorted.

“All right, all right.” Chiron hollered. “Settle down. We don’t want to be rude in front of our guest now do we?” he asked, motioning to me. I smiled slightly under my hood. I had missed this. The bickering wasn’t quite the same with Chaos.

“Anyway Malcolm, you’re the best battle strategist present. What do you propose?”

“Well, it was obviously Octavian who took Chaos’s soldiers so we only have one option. We have to prepare for a full scale attack before they have the upper hand.”

“Wrong.” I interrupted, looking at my nails. Everyone’s heads turned towards me.

“Excuse me?” A daughter of Hecate asked.

“Your wrong.” I replied, “You immediately assume there was no other option other than a full scale war, something we up in Chaos HQ are avoiding, therefore, I don’t agree.”

“Oh really?” Challenged Malcolm, “and what do you suggest?”

“Octavian’s not stupid, he knows how to plan a war and he has spies everywhere. Going offence will kill us all. He’ll be rallying all of the monsters from Tartarus, and even some Titans, we don’t have enough people. They will crush us on our own. Even with Camp Jupiter we have no chance. We need the Chaos warriors.”

“So what do you think we should do, Einstein?” Katie asked, a mask of annoyance on her normally calm face.

“We need to give out a quest.” I replied, “only the people in this room and the ones actually on the quest can know about it, so as not to alert any spies.”

“So you think we should just send a couple of random Campers into the enemy’s base, and their deaths, just to save some supposedly Elite warriors whom had got themselve kidnapped?” Clarisse La Rue asked, playing with her knife.

“No, I suggest giving a quest to two of the seven to find Octavian’s plans and free the Chaos soldiers.” I replied.

“But if they go on this mission and die, then we’ll have lost two of our best soldiers!” Travis said alarmed.

“Then let’s all hope they aren’t that stupid.”

“Then who’s going to be the third person?” Katie asked, “I don’t know how it is on Chaos’s realm, but over here three people go on Quests together.”

“I distinctly remember you breaking that rule a couple of times.”

“Those were special circumstances.” Clarisse butt in, “and how do you know about that?”

“It doesn’t matter, because I was rather hoping it would be me that went with them.”

“Why?” Clarisse demanded.

“Because, Clarisse La Rue, Daughter of Ares, I made a promise to my favourite little girl that I would get her parents home in time for Christmas. And I intend to keep it. On my own terms.”

I couldn’t tell if they were shocked because I knew about Clarisse, or because I just showed human qualities.

“And whose ‘Them’ going to be?” Connor asked.

“Honestly, I couldn’t care less. As long as they can keep up, you can decide yourselves.”

“Fine,” Clarissa said “have it your way, i nominate myself and, i cant believe im saying this, one of the seven.”

“Hey, how come you get all the quests? I think it’s our turn this time!” Travis exclaimed, him and his brother both standing up at the same time. Determination masking their identical faces.

“What?” Shouted a voice from the back of the room.

It was like a lightswitch suddenly flicked up and the room descended into chaos. There were people standing and threatening others, I could even see some people with knives and swords out. Even a bow and arrow was present.

After a couple of minutes i got bored of all the shouting. Chiron was trying to calm everyone down but it wasn’t working very well.

“All right, i get it, you’ve all been deprived! Now shut up.” Luckily i had had lots of practise with screaming at Chaos.

Everyone’s heads turned towards me. The attention was flattering, but unnecessary.

“He has a point guys,” said Katie, the ever so peaceful one, “anyway, hadn’t we decided two of the seven would go? They can chose between themselves when they get back.”

“And when will I be able to meet the ever so famous 7?” I asked, trying not to give too much away with how much I was dying to see them.

“Well, technically there are only 6 of them. We lost one just a year ago.” Will said, pain evident in his voice and his shoulders sagging.

My stomach fell and for a moment i couldn’t breathe. The world around me faded into the background and all I could hear was the beating of my heart. Hadn’t it worked? Chaos said he had done it. He said he had saved her. I felt the world swim and could feel a panic attack surfacing. But I pushed it down. Not here. Not now. And so I closed my eyes and focused on one thing. Her face. Slowly my breathing leveled and my heart beat turned back to normal. It was then I realised that I had missed the end of the meeting and people were starting to leave.

I quickly grabbed Nyssa’s arm before she could leave. “I’m so sorry, but i spaced out for a minute and didn’t hear the answer to my question. What was it?”

“Oh, you’ll see them tonight at the bonfire.” She replied curiosity showing clearly.

“Thanks.” I said. Then I stood up and walked out the room.

[dumbledearme]

chapter thirty-one—love never dies

read Child of Land and Sea here

Act IV — To Stop The Tide

Part VI — I was so afraid, now I realize: love is never wrong and so it never dies.

The big ranch house was white. “Don’t break the rules,” Eurytion warned. “No fighting. No drawing weapons. And don’t make any comments about the boss’s appearance.”

“Why?” Andy asked. “What does he looks like?”

Before Eurytion could reply, a new voice said, “Welcome to the Triple G Ranch.” The man on the porch had a normal head but three bodies. His neck connected to the middle chest like normal, but he had two more chests, one to either side, connected at the shoulders, with a few inches in between. His left arm grew out of his left chest, and the same on the right, so he had two arms, but four armpits. The chests all connected into one enormous torso, with two regular but very beefy legs.

“Say hello to Mr Geryon,” Eurytion advised.

“Hello,” the four of them said together.

Eurytion made the introductions. Then Nico di Angelo came out of the glass doors onto the porch. "Geryon, I won't wait for-" he froze when he saw them. Then he drew his sword.

"Put that away, Mr di Angelo," Geryon snarled. "I ain't gonna have my guests killing each other."

"But that's-"

"Andy Jackson," Geryon supplied. "Anthony Chase. And a couple of their monster friends. Yes, I know."

"Monster friends?" Grover said indignantly.

"The man is wearing three shirts," Tyson only then realized.

"They let Bianca die!" Nico's voice trembled with rage.

"Nico," Andy tried to apologize, "what happened to Bianca was-"

"Don't speak her name! You aren't worthy to even talk about her!"

"Just put the sword away, Mr di Angelo, before I have Eurytion take it from you."

Reluctantly, Nico sheathed his sword. "If you come near me, Jackson, I'll summon help. You don't want to meet my helpers, I promise."

"I believe you," she whispered.

Geryon patted Nico's shoulder. "There, we've all made nice. Now come along, folks. I want to give you a tour of the ranch." He had a trolley thing – like one of those kiddie trains that take you around zoos. Nico sat in the very back with Eurytion beside him. Orthus jumped in the front seat with Geryon. Anthony, Andy, Grover and Tyson took the middle two cars. "We have a huge operation," Geryon boasted as the moo-mobile lurched forward. "Horses and cattle mostly, but all sorts of exotic varieties, too."

They came over a hill and Anthony gasped. "Hippalektryons? I thought they were extinct!" The animals had the front half of a horse and the back half of a rooster. Their rear feet were huge yellow claws. They had feathery tails and red wings.

"Rooster ponies," Tyson said. "Do they lay eggs?"

"Once a year," Geryon grinned. "Very much in demand for omelettes!"

"You can't do that!" Anthony said. "They must be an endangered species!"

"Gold is gold, Mr Chase," he said. "And you haven't tasted the omelettes."

"That's not right," Grover mumbled.

"Now, over here," said Geryon, "we have our fire-breathing horses, which you may have seen on your way in. They're bred for way, naturally."

"What war?" Andy asked.

"Any war," Geryon shrugged. "And over yonder, of course, are our prize red cows. Apollo is busy to see them, so he subcontracts to us. We breed them vigorously because they're such a demand."

"For what?" Andy asked.

Geryon raised an eyebrow. "Meat, Miss Jackson! Armies have to eat!"

"You kill the sacred cows of the sun god for hamburger meat?" Grover said. "That's against the ancient laws!"

"Oh, don't get so worked up, young satyr. They're just animals."

"Just animals!"

"Yes. And if Apollo cared, I'm sure he would tell us."

"If he knew, you mean," Andy muttered.

Nico sat forward. "I don't care about any of this, Geryon. We had business to discuss, and this wasn't it!"

"All in good time, Mr di Angelo. Look over here; some of my exotic game." The next field was crawling with giant scorpions. "And over here, my prize stables! You must see them!"

About a hundred horses were milling around in poop. The horses were really gross from wading through it, and the stables were just as bad. It reeked like you would not believe. Even Nico gagged. "What is that?"

"My stables!" Geryon presented. "Well, actually, they belong to Aegeas, but we watch over them for a small monthly fee. Aren't they lovely?"

"They're disgusting," Anthony said.

"Lots of poop," Tyson observed.

"How can you keep animals like that?" Grover cried.

"Y'all getting on my nerves," Geryon said. "These are flesh-eating horses, see? They like these conditions. Besides, my clients still pay me well for this."

"What clients?" Andy demanded.

"Oh, you'd be surprised how many people will pay for a flesh-eating horse. They make great garbage disposals. Wonderful way to terrify your enemies. Great at birthday parties! We rent them out all the time."

"You're a monster," Anthony decided.

Geryon stopped the trolley. "What gave it away? Was it the three bodies?"

"You have to let these animals go," Grover said. "It's not right."

"And the clients," Anthony said, "you work for Kronos, don't you? You're supplying his army with whatever they need."

Geryon shrugged. "I worked for anyone who pays me. I'm a businessman. I sell whatever I have to offer." He climbed out of the trolley.

Nico went after him. "I came here for business and you haven't answered me."

"Fine. You'll get a deal, all right."

"My ghost told me you could help. He said you could guide us to the soul we need."

"I thought I was the soul you wanted," Andy asked.

Nico glanced at her, disgusted. "Why would I want you, Jackson? Bianca's soul is worth a thousand of yours! Now, can you help me, Geryon, or not?"

"Oh, I imagine, I could," the rancher said. "But, pray, tell me. Where is your ghost?"

Nico looked uneasy. "He can't form in broad daylight. It's hard for him. But he's around."

Geryon smiled. "I'm sure. Minos likes to disappear when things get... difficult."

"Minos?" Andy exclaimed. "That evil king? That's the one telling you what to do?"

"None of your business, Jackson!" Nico said. "Geryon, what do you mean about things getting difficult?"

Geryon sighed. "You see, Mr di Angelo, Mr Castellan is offering very good money for half-bloods. And I'm sure when he learns who you really are, he'll pay very, very well indeed."

Nico drew his sword, but Geryon knocked it out of his hand. Before Andy could get up, Orthus pounced on her chest and growled.

"Nobody moves or Orthus will tear Miss Jackson's throat out," Geryon warned. "Now, Eurytion, if you'd be so kind, secure Mr di Angelo." Eurytion wrapped one huge arm around Nico and lifted him up like a wrestler. "Pick up the sword, too," Geryon ordered. "There's nothing I hate worse than Stygian iron. Now, we've had the tour. Let's go back to the lodge, have some lunch, and send an Iris-message to our friends in the Titan army."

"Get Orthus to back off," Anthony told him.

"Don't worry, Mr Chase. Once I've delivered Mr di Angelo, you and your party can go. I don't interfere with quests. Besides, I've been paid well to give you safe passage, which does not, I'm afraid, include Mr di Angelo."

"Paid by whom?" Anthony asked. "What do you mean?"

"Never you mind. Let's be off, shall we?"

"Wait!" Andy cried and Orthus growled louder. She tried not to move. She needed a plan. She needed to keep Nico safe. She owed him that much. "Geryon, you said you're a businessman. Make me a deal."

Geryon narrowed his eyes. "What sort of deal? Do you have gold?"

"I've got some even better. Barter."

"Miss Jackson, you've got nothing."

"You could have her clean the stables," Eurytion suggested.

"Yes!" Andy exclaimed. "I'll do it! I'll do anything, really!"

"But the horses might eat ya," Geryon observed.

"I don't care! If I fail, you can just... you get to trade us all to Luke for gold, I guess. But- But if I succeed, you've got to let us go, including Nico."

"No!" Nico screamed. "Don't do me any favors, Jackson. I don't want your help!"

Geryon chuckled. "I think not." Eurytion gave Andy a funny look. He whistled and Orthus got off of her. "What are you doing?" Geryon asked. Andy got up and drew her sword. "Eurytion, kill the girl. Now."

Eurytion studied Andy. "Kill her yourself."

Geryon raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Eurytion grumbled. "You keep sending me out to do your dirty work. You pick fights for no good reason. I'm tired of dying for you. You want to fight the girl, do it yourself."

Geryon spat on the ground. "You dare defy me? I should fire you right now!"

"And who'd take care of your cattle?"

"Fine!" Geryon snarled. "I'll deal with you later, after the demigod is dead!" He unsheathed two knives from his extra-large belt and threw them at Andy. She dodged one and deflected the other with her sword.

Andy attacked. Geryon dodged her first strike, but he wasn't much of a fighter. Andy got inside his next thrust and stabbed him right through the middle chest. "Aghhh!" He crumbled to his knees. Then he grinned and stood up. The wound started to heal.

"Nice try, child of land and sea," he said. "Thing is, I have three hearts. The perfect backup system." Geryon was about to attack her when he froze. Anthony had moved so fast Andy hadn't see him. He had thrown his knife into the side of Geryon's right chest. It had gone through each o his chests and flown out his left side.

Geryon's face turned a sickly shade of green. He collapsed to his knees and began crumbling into sand, until there was nothing left of him.

"Cool," Andy said, but Anthony looked extremely miserable. He picked up his knife without a word and avoided looking at her. Andy glanced at Eurytion who didn't seem upset at all. "How long until he re-forms?"

Eurytion shrugged. "Hundred years? He's not one of those fast re-formers, thank the gods."

"You said you'd died for him before. How?"

"I've worked for that creep for thousands of years. Started as a regular half-blood, but I chose immortality when my dad offered it. Worst mistake I ever made. Now I'm stuck here at this ranch. I can't leave. I can't quit. I just tend the cows and fight Geryon's fights. We're kinda tied together."

"Maybe you can change things," she told him. "Be nice to the animals. Take care of them. Stop selling them for food. And stop dealing with the Titans. Get the animals on your side, and maybe they'll help you. Once Geryon gets back, maybe he'll be working for you."

Eurytion grinned. "That would be worth being alive to see."

Andy turned to Nico. "Maybe you should stay here until we're done with our quest. You'd be safe here."

"Safe?" Nico scowled. "What do you care if I'm safe? You got my sister killed!"

"Nico," Anthony said, and he sounded strangely tired. "That wasn't Andy's fault. And Geryon wasn't lying about Kronos wanting you. If he knew who you were, he'd do anything to get you on his side."

"I'm not on anyone's side. Nor will I ever be. Everyone I've ever loved let me down."

"Your sister wouldn't want-"

"You didn't know my sister! And if you cared about her at all, you'd help me bring her back!"

"A soul for a soul?" Andy asked.

"Yes!"

Andy shook her head. "Bianca wouldn't want to be brought back. Not like that."

"You didn't know her!"

"Let's ask her then," Andy suggested and the sky seemed to grow darker.

"I've tried," Nico said miserably. "She won't answer me."

"But she will answer me."

"Why would she?"

"Because," Andy said, suddenly sure of it, "she's been sending me Iris-messages. She's been trying to warn me what you're up to, so I can stop you."

Nico shook his head. "That's impossible."

"One way to find out."

"Andy," Anthony said. "I don't think this is a good idea."

Eurytion scratched his beard. "There's a hole dug out back. You could use that."

And just like that, it was decided.

They did the summoning after dark. Andy was scared. It felt wrong, unnatural. The night air felt cold and menacing.

Minos decided to appear.

"You're disrupting the ritual," Nico told him. "Get out of the way."

"Yes, master. You keep chanting. I've only come to protect you from the liar who tries to deceive you with her womanly charms." Minos turned to Andy. "Child of land and sea. She has the looks, don't you see? Very pretty. Like the ocean. And like the ocean she will crush you with her waves, smother and delude you, letting you think that's love when in fact it is nothing but death."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Andy said.

"Because you're a woman. But we are men," he glanced at the others, one by one, defying them to argue. "They know what I'm talking about. They see it, too."

"Okay, enough with the sex-offender act," Andy mumbled. "Get lost."

The ghost chuckled. "I understand you once killed my Minotaur with your bare hands. But worse things await you in the maze, Andy Jackson. Do you really believe Daedalus will help you? He cares nothing for you, half-bloods. You cannot trust him. He is old beyond counting, and crafty. He is bitter from the guilt of murder and is cursed by the gods."

"The guilt of murder?"

"You are hindering Nico," Minos growled, ignoring her. "You try to persuade him to give up his goal. I would make him a lord!"

"Enough, Minos," Nico commanded.

The ghost sneered. "Master, you are blinded. Smitten. You must not listen to the siren! Let me protect you. I will turn her mind to madness, as I did the others."

"You did that to Chris Rodriguez," Anthony accused.

"The maze is my property," Minos said, "not Daedalus'! Those who intrude deserve madness!"

"Be gone, Minos!" Nico demanded. "I want to see my sister!"

The ghost bit back his rage. "As you wish, master. But I warn you. You cannot trust the girl. The sea is not forgiving." With that, he faded into mist.

Nico gave Andy this weird, pained look before resuming his chanting. It was like he wasn't at all sure if he should listen to Minos or not.

Then, with a silvery light, she was there. Nico's chanting faltered. Bianca smiled. "Hello, Andy." She looked the same as she had in life; there wasn't a trace of resentment in her face. Andy's eyes immediately watered up. The guilt threatened to crush her.

"Bianca," she said with difficulty. "I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for, Andy. I made a choice. I don't regret it."

Nico stumbled forward. Bianca turned toward him. Her expression was sad, as if she'd been dreading this moment. "Hi, Nico. You've gotten so tall."

"Why didn't you answer me sooner?" he cried. "I've been trying for months!"

"I was hoping you'd give up."

"Give up?" he shouted, heartbroken. "How can you say that? I'm trying to save you!"

"I can't be saved, Nico. Stop trying. Andy is right."

"No! She let you die! She is not your friend!"

"Listen to me," she said with urgency. "Holding grudges is dangerous for a child of Hades. It is our fatal flaw. You have to let go. You need to forgive. Promise me!"

"I can't. Never."

"Andy can help, Nico. I'm sorry, I... I've been avoiding you because I was ashamed. It's not Andy you're mad at, Nico. It's me. I left you to become a Hunter of Artemis. You're mad because I died and left you alone. I'm sorry for that, Nico. I truly am. But you must overcome the anger. Blaming Andy won't take you nowhere. It'll be your doom."

"I just want you back," he said, weakly.

"You can't have that."

"I'm the son of Hades! I can!"

"Stop trying," her figure shimmered. "If you love me..."

"Of course I do! That's why I want you back-"

"Nico..." her voice trailed off. "You may give me all your love and my heart won't quit being cold." She looked over her shoulder. "Tartarus stirs," she warned. "Your power draws the attention of Kronos. The dead must return to the Underworld. It is not safe for me to remain."

"Wait," Nico pleaded. "Please-"

"Remember what I said, Nico," Bianca told him. "And know that love doesn't die when the heart stops beating. Goodbye."