Drowning in the Siren's Song

Chapter 22

"Here." Percy handed Zoe a few berries, popping a few in his mouth as well. She accepted them with a curious look and scrunched up her face immediately after, swallowing her berry with difficulty. 
"Bleh," She shuddered, wincing at the sour taste.

"That one was raw." Percy told her flippantly, his lips quivering.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She demanded, raising a brow.
"Hehe. I wanted to see you suffer." He teased, ducking under her outstretched arm, which would have strangled him if he hadn't moved. 

"Apologize"
"Nah, don't want to"
"Do it"
"Nope"
"I'll tell Milady"
"Sorry"

Percy had no choice but to apologize. Not because he was scared of Artemis (pfft) but because he was at her mercy, stuck under her while she held him by the neck, reminding him of how kittens were held. A very humiliating moment in the life of Percy Jackson. He could even feel Keria laughing at him. 

She had just come back from her hunt and had generously shared her bounty, even with the huntress. She was a bit on guard knowing the Zoe had tried to hurt Percy, but after observing and prodding Percy, she had accepted her in the flock. Things were pretty peaceful and calm for a while until Percy ended up in Zoe's hands. 

Keria was currently preening her feathers, a perfectly normal action if it wasn't for the fact that she was right on top of Zoe's head, clinging on to her silver circlet. Percy was shaking trying to suppress his laughter, watching her struggle with Keria, not knowing what to do and how to shoo her away while standing perfectly still. 

She tried to politely ask her to move and even tried to physically lift her, but it ended with Keria grasping her hair tighter, making her wince in pain. It was her way or making Zoe pay for the troubles she gave Percy and it was, by far, the most satisfying form of revenge Percy had ever seen. 

The prim and proper lieutenant was now in shambles, all because of one stubborn bird right on top of her. Her tight knot of hair was now a mess, with dark tendrils of hair escaping and tangling all over her shoulders and the expression of cold dignity he was used to was reduced to simple innocent confusion.

He wouldn't have been in a better state if he was in her place though. After several of first- hand experiences, he knew perfectly well how petty the wicked raven could be. Her form of anger was unusual and very weirdly effective. 

She wouldn't do anything grand or bold, but instead would choose to do little tenacious things which would, over time, drive him mad. If he were to give a recent example, he had forgotten that Keria hated getting wet and had splashed her accidently and days and days after the incident, she refused to let him forget it. She would ignore the covering on his arm and would purposely land on the other, digging her talons and flapping her wings right in his face. 

Since she was pretty big and heavy with nails as sharp as his knives, he had made it a habit of having his left arm covered in thick bandages from wrist to elbow so that whenever she wanted to, she could land on him. He had gotten used to the sudden weight and momentum her actions carried and made sure to get the balance right so that Keria wouldn't fall off or he wouldn't get hurt or smacked in the face with a face- full of feathers, but she had completely ignored all the practice and decided to land on his right hand, starting a chain or very painful and scary incidents. 

For weeks and weeks she would randomly switch between his arms, making him very on edge whenever she flew above him or told him that she wanted to land. Finally, after some very hard-to-find bugs and some berries, she was satiated enough to forgive him. 

In short, he knew that Zoe wasn't going to be released from her wrath anytime soon. He sympathized with her, but the fact that Keria was punishing her because of him made him feel all fluttery inside, outweighing the sympathy he held for her.

So instead of feeling bad for her, he took pleasure in her pain, and in all honesty, it was oddly hilarious to see the hundred year old lady squirm and beg a wild raven while she blatantly ignored her.