Chapter 4
Percy POV
Gods these mortals are so annoying now I have to think up of some cover story. I wish Annabeth was here…No. No Percy don't think about that. I shove the thought out of my mind and head to the beach to clear my head. Being near water always calms me and helps me think.
I near the water and kick off my shoes and socks allowing the water to lap at my ankles. I feel at peace here, I wish I could freeze this moment forget all the tension, the sadness, the pain and just sit here staring at the ocean.
"Hey Dad." I say to my father who just flashed here and he plops down beside me.
"Hello Percy." He replies, for a moment we sit in silence both of us gazing at the ocean. Then I ask, "So dad why are you here?" He replies, "I saw the encounter with the mortals Percy and great job beating them up." I detect the hint of pride in his voice.
He continues, "Son I know it isn't my place to tell you but just hear them out and if you trust them tell them the truth. We don't mind. And it will do you good to get some new friends. Those mortals are good people Percy in the end it is up to you but think on it son. You have a new chance at making friends. Be wise."
I ponder on it for a moment. And for a second I want it. I really do. Someone who will help me, understand me and just hold me when I have nightmares. But then the darker thoughts cross my mind. I remember Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo, Frank, Hazel, Luke, Zoe, Silena, Beckendorf, Ethan, Lee all those people who died and got hurt because of me. All the people who are close to me always get hurt. I can't let anyone else die, if I lose another person close to me I'll snap and destroy everything. I can't let anyone else get hurt.
Dad's voice breaks through and I hear him asking, "Percy, son? Are you alright?" Then I realize that there is wetness on my cheeks and my vision has gone blurry.
I silently look at him and shake my head. I hate admitting this. Admitting that I'm not okay. Because I've always been the leader, the strong one and if anyone else sees me break they'll all break too. So I learnt to shut down my emotions, bury them inside me.
But right now I just need someone to hold me. Someone who will not tell me it will be okay, just hold me close to them and allow me to break and that person right now is the God sitting beside me. I never had a father figure when I was young but now I have him and it feels good.
He pulls me onto his lap and starts running his hands through my hair an action which always calms me down. Slowly I drift off to sleep right in my father's arms.
Poseidon POV
As Percy is crying softly into my chest I notice an Iris-message in front. It has his cousins Nico and Thalia and the Roman Praetor. I shush them quickly because I know Percy wouldn't like them to know he was crying.
They all look at him at first they are shocked. I guess they've never seen him crying before. Of course they haven't Percy is the unanimous leader of both the camps and I couldn't be any prouder but that means he can't break down. At least not in front of the others. If he breaks the rest will break too. A leader's burden is always heavy.
I wave at them to let them know everything is fine and they give me understanding looks before ending the message.
I sigh and look down at my son, Percy. The greatest hero of them all. He has had perhaps the most tragic life too. Everyone he loves dead, killed right in front of him.
The rage and raw power he had emanated during the final battle rivalled the God's. We had all looked upon in terror and awe as Percy killed the primordial. He survived through Hell. Not even Gods dare to go near the place but he survived. I can't even imagine the toll everything has taken on his health. He looks so much thinner like he has not been eating and the bags under his eyes conform that he hasn't slept much either.
I look down at the now peaceful face of my son. He looks so much younger when he is asleep. He looks his age. 17 years old and already led two wars in two years. I see the mask he has created and perfected. It could fool anyone except for one's who look closely enough.
I carefully pick him up worried about how light he is. At that moment I vow to myself that damn the Ancient Laws I will look after Percy and be the father I never became. With that thought I tuck him in blessing him with a dreamless sleep so that he can have some peaceful sleep.
Thalia POV
Ugh, when I get my hands on kelp head he is so dead. He hasn't contacted anyone since he left about two weeks ago. I remember how he arrived that day.
*Flashback begins*
The Greeks and Romans stood face-to-face neither side backing down. All ready for battle but I could sense some reluctance on both sides except for that freak Octavian who was riling everyone up to fight. Gods how I would love to kill him now.
Suddenly there is a flash and in our midst lands the one and only Percy Jackson. His clothes are bloody and in tatters. His face is scraped and gaunt and fresh scars cover practically every inch of his body. But the most frightening things are his eyes usually they are light sea green with mischief twinkling in them but today, his eyes are stormy like he has hurricanes trapped inside them. They look broken, shattered and full of pain.
Then he looks over understanding the situation and shouts out stop in his commander voice. I swear it is sometimes powerful than charmspeak. Instantly everyone turns to face him. Then I notice that his aura has changed. Power is literally radiating off waves from him. His aura has become almost as strong as a God's if not stronger.
Then he continues in the voice, "Greeks and Romans do not fight. You are one. If anybody dares to fight step forward and fight me. Believe me campers you do not want to be on the receiving end of my wrath today."
Everyone immediately lowers their weapons most look relieved and I too do not want to cross him today you can literally feel the anger along with power radiating off of him.
Then the stupid Roman, Octavian challenged, "Why should we fear you son of Neptune?"
Percy threw him a death glare and it was so terrifying that literally everyone from both armies took a step back, Octavian himself backpedalled two steps. Percy smirked at him and continued, "Today I watched my friends and the love of my life murdered in front of my eyes, by the Earth Mother, Gaea. You want to know what I did to her, Octavian?"
I gasp and mutter, "No!" Tears start forming but I push them back. I have to stay strong right now. Jason and Annabeth both of them are dead. I had just got my brother back and lost him again.
But more importantly I'm sad for Percy. He loved Annabeth more than anything else. I can't imagine how devastating it must have been for him. Gods he can never really get a break, can he?
The next sentence sends chills down my back. Percy says in an emotionless tone, "I duelled her to death and killed her. So if you want to mess with me right now by all means be my guest and we'll see how long you last."
Nobody even dared to speak for full two minutes. Percy, the kelp head, had battled a Primordial and killed her. I wonder how powerful he is if he could do that and then realization strikes me about the change in his aura.
Then he says, "I thought so." And turns away going back to his cabin slamming the door behind him. The rest of us are still shocked and then Reyna breaks out of it by stepping forwards extending her hand in a peace sign saying, "I have wanted peace too. Let us discuss an agreement."
Chiron still shocked agrees and the counsellors are called to the Big House for discussion meanwhile the rest head back to their cabins.
*At the rec room*
The counsellors and the Roman officers are all seated around the ping pong table. Most of us are still in shock but we somehow manage to work out an agreement between us. Reyna who I learned had grown closer to Percy was worried about him too.
So Reyna, Nico, Will and I went to his cabin. We knocked, banged, shouted but he never opened. He locked himself in there for 5 complete days. We stopped trying after the third day. We knew he needed time to grieve. After all he had just lost most of his friends and Annabeth.
I tried to distract myself during the day but at night I couldn't help it. I went to the pine tree and sat there eventually I ended up crying my heart out.
After 5 days Poseidon came to collect Percy as he had been called to Olympus when he came back he looked stressed but wouldn't say why. I was afraid it was something to do with Percy but Poseidon told me he was sleeping.
Reyna, Nico and I went to check on him and sure enough he was. I chuckled when I saw him drooling on the pillow. He looked so peaceful right now that it was hard to believe that he had lost anyone. He looked so thin and his arms were covered with scars. I just hoped that he would heal but I knew it would take time.
Next day he said he was leaving camp as there were too many painful memories but he would be in contact.
*Flashback ends*
Camp has never been the same without him. He was the unanimous leader of both camps. Everyone looked up to him and he never once cried in front of us. I sadly sighed that is the fate of a leader. If you break, the rest will too.
We decided to IM him and give him a piece of our mind but when we IM'ed him what we saw shocked us.
Poseidon was sitting on the beach and on his lap was Percy, his face hidden in Poseidon's shirt. I saw his shoulders shaking and suddenly it struck me that Percy was crying. Nobody had ever seen him cry before so it shocked all of us. I'll admit I felt a bit jealous of him when I saw Poseidon stroking his hair and holding him but I let go of that thought because if any one of us deserves someone like that, it's Percy.
He's been through Hell, literally. I don't blame him for finally cracking under pressure. Poseidon notices us and waves indicating that he will take care of him. I'm glad Poseidon is being helpful. Nico dissolves the image and we look at each other coming to a decision that we will check up on him soon.