Percy Jackson's New Side (Book 2) - Destruction: The Dawn of the Forgotten

Chapter 23: Prisoner

Back in Time

Third POV

Percy was breathless.

He'd woken up.

He was sure it was a dream, a terrifying nightmare. But the fear creeping up in his stomach, the goosebumps lining his skin... It all told him it was just as real as he thought it was not, which was very high.

He shook himself, rubbing his eyes. 

He looked around.

The sun was above the horizon. Blackjack and Katastro were still asleep. Since they did the labors just a few days ago, he decided he'd give them a break, which gave him a break as well to ponder over things and figure out a better plan.

He was joking with his companions just yesterday, but now he was serious after the dream.

He didn't notice Athena staring at him until he took in his surroundings again.

"How long..." his question trailed off.

She was leaning against the cave mouth, arms crossed in front of her chest and legs crossed in front of one another. The wind was in her hair, letting it flow freely and shimmer in the rising sun. Her gray eyes glimmered, part of her face in the sunlight, part in the shadow. 

She sighed, getting off the wall and walking towards him slowly. His eyes wandered around her body before she spoke up with an edge in her voice, snapping his hazy gaze back to reality. Her gray eyes were stern, noticing that he had been checking her out.

"Long enough to see something is troubled with thee. I wake up early. What's wrong?" She asked, finally reaching him.

He pulled on her waist, wanting her to sit down and completely ignore the question, but Athena wouldn't have it.

"No, Perseus." She said, standing up straight and firm so he wouldn't be able to pull her down.

He looked pointedly at her. She sighed and gave up, sitting down beside him. He immediately pulled her close, kissed her curls, and placed his head in the crook of her neck.

"Perseus..." she murmured in his ear.

He held her closer to him, and she hugged him back fiercely. She could tell something was seriously bothering him.

"Thou can tell me." She said.

He shook his head in her neck, tears falling down freely.

She didn't respond. She simply rubbed his back, tracing his shoulders and back with her finger. She did not say anything at all, realizing he would have preferred a moment of silence.

Finally, after what seemed like thirty minutes and gallons of tears, he spoke.

"She's dead. They're all dead."

Athena simply kept him in her arms, stroking his hair and letting her hand detangle it.

"My mother. My step-father. My sister. Her unborn child."

"How art thee aware of this?" She asked quietly.

"Dreams. Nightmares. I cannot tell which one is which. It all seemed so... real."

She sighed deeply. "I am here, Perseus. If I must stay with thee at night to prevent thee from having dreams then I shall."

Percy smiled at her as he lifted his face. His eyes briefly glance down at her dress, where he could see the bite mark from not long ago. It wouldn't be visible if someone was standing in front of her, but it would be visible if you stood above them and peeked at their cleavage like he was doing to Athena.