Royals

XIV ~ The Broken Ledge

XIV ~ The Broken Ledge

For a moment, Percy was stunned. "You-you-"

"Yes." Leo smiled wearily. "It's me."

"B-but you disappeared ten years ago!"

"That's what everyone thought." Leo explained. "But I was lonely. An orphan. So I ran away to Olympus. They didn't want me so I travelled to Alantis where I stayed until I left for here. You all assumed I was dead." He hung his head in shame, curly brown hair sticking out like a bush.

"Like they must think about me." Percy murmured. "I have to go home!" He sprang onto his feet and turned to Calypso. "When can I go?"

She worriedly glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's almost midnight. Wait here until dawn and then you can leave. Have some rest, it's a long journey home." Percy nodded and sat down on the bed again, unsure of what to do.
"Sleep." Leo told him. "I'll wake you up in the morning."

For about the third time that day (at least he thought he'd been there a day) Percy drifted off.

•••

SPLASH! Percy bolted upright to Calypso and Leo clutching their stomachs and laughing hysterically.

"What was that for?" Percy demanded, looking down at his soaked clothes.

"You-you would-wouldn't wake up-up." Calypso choked, doubled over in giggles.

"I don't have a change of clothes!"

"I made you another pair." Calypso finished laughing and grabbed the small pile off the table. "And then you can leave."

Percy grabbed the clothes-and a towel-before heading out. He quickly got changed before going onto the small boat. 'Small' was the right word for it. It only had one deck with a steering wheel and sail, plus a tiny room with a bed in it.

Calypso and Leo had packed enough food for at least a couple weeks, and had given him plenty of clothes and a few bottles of water.

Percy watched from the deck as they waved goodbye, and he sailed away into the unknown.

•••

Annabeth splashed some water on her face. She was tired-extremely tired, and hadn't left her room for weeks. Thalia and Rachel occasionally bought her food, but the only other visitor was Nico. Annabeth didn't really mind him. All he did was sit in the corner and stare at her-that was the only creepy part.

It had been three months since Percy had gone missing and the others had returned, meaning that Annabeth was around six months pregnant. Her stomach had grown a lot, and she could sometimes feel her little child moving around.

One day, something happened. Annabeth stood out on her balcony, staring at the sunset when she heard Nico come up behind her. He grabbed her waist and spun her so that she was facing him. Then he kissed her. It wasn't like how Percy kissed her, it was more forced.

Annabeth squirmed around and pulled away, then punched Nico in the face and pushed him towards the balcony barrier. It happened so suddenly, she only had time to blink before Nico was falling over the edge.