Tyrant King - A Percy Jackson FanFic

Chapter 15

Percy woke in the middle of the night. He cringed as he remembered his episode in the dungeons. He'd gotten vomit everywhere! He looked down at his hands to find that someone had cleaned him up, and a glance at his clothes told him someone had changed him too. By the gods he hoped it was his mom that had done these things. It would be rather embarrassing if it wasn't. Although, he supposed, Leah had seen him naked before. As had Kelli. 
Speaking of the empousa, she chose that moment to sneak quietly through the door, carefully closing it behind her so she didn't make too much noise. 
"What are you doing?" Percy asked, and she yelped, the flame in her hair flashing brighter. 
"Don't do that!" she hissed. Percy chuckled, "Is there a reason you're visiting my room at this ungodly hour?"
"I came to see if you were okay," she said, "Leah told me about the dungeons."
His jaw clenched, "I'm fine."
"What happened?"
"I..." he couldn't lie to Kelli. He looked away from her as he said, "It was just a flashback."
"What kind of flashback?" Kelli pressed. When he didn't answer, she sighed, "I'm just trying to help you."
"I don't need your help."
"Please just tell me what you saw?"
He took a deep breath. This was Kelli. He could trust her. 
"I went back to when I was in the gods cell."
Kelli nodded. She was the only person in the world, other than the gods and primordials, that knew what happened to him in that cell. Not even Leah knew. They had all seen his physical scars, but no one except Kelli truly understood his mental ones. Too late, he realised he was slipping into another flashback.

~Flashback~

Kelli found Percy by the Phelegethon. His shirt was off, and he was staring into the fire. Tears were running down his cheeks. Kelli took in his scarred back and wondered once again who did that to him.
"Hey," she said, sitting down next to him. He wiped the tears from his eyes and offered a weak smile, "Hey."
"Whatcha doing?" Kelli asked. He shrugged, "Just thinking."
"About?"
"Gods can't you leave me alone for one second?"
It came out as a shout, and he heaved a sigh, "I'm sorry. It's just been a tough week."
Kelli nodded, "That it has. Gaea getting you to do anything crazy yet?"
He shook his head, "Not yet. I'm kinda scared to see what she comes up with."
Kelli laughed, "Don't worry, so am I."
They sat in silence for a bit, before Kelli worked up the nerve to ask, "What happened to your back?"
Percy's eyes darkened, and she instantly regretted opening her mouth. The scars did look reasonably new. But to her immense surprise, he answered her, "The gods left me in a cell for three days before they decided what to do with me. Zeus granted Ares permission to torture me for information. I was innocent, of course, but that didn't change anything. On the second morning, Ares came in with his whip and proceeded to shred the skin on my back. He let Apollo mostly heal me, and then came back the next day to do it all again. On the fourth morning, he was cut short by Hermes coming in to say that my "interrogation" was in a hour and I needed to be cleaned and dressed for that."
Kelli put her hand on his, sending whatever comfort she could. He huffed a dry laugh, "You must think I'm weak."
"No," Kelli said, "You're a good, strong person. It's always the good people who go through the worst ordeals."
Percy smiled at her, "Thanks Kelli."
She grinned, "And no matter what, you'll always have me. No matter what happens next, I'll be there."
"Thanks."
She sighed, "I wish I was born a good person. Like you and Leah."
Percy frowned, "Who's Leah?"
Kelli grinned, "Wait until you meet her! She's the shapeshifter Gaea told you about."
"Right. Okay then."
"Percy!" Gaea called from the house, "Come here now."
Percy winced, "Gotta go."

~End Flashback~

Percy smiled sadly, "I just had another flashback."
Kelli frowned, "Just then?"
"Yeah. It was the time we talked about my scars."
Kelli smiled, "I meant what I said then. You'll always have me."
Percy smiled gratefully as Kelli stood up, "I know you're a god and you don't need sleep. But I think sleep is a very good idea right now."
Percy laughed, "Okay. Thanks for being here, Kel."
She smiled, "Anytime," and walked out the door. Percy lay down on his bed with a sigh. Before long he was fast asleep. But sleep brought dreams...

***

Percy knelt before Gaea, who was pacing around her office. She glared at Percy as she yelled, "You failed me again!"
"I'll fix it," he desperately promised. 
"NO!" Gaea shrieked, "This you cannot fix! Not even Leah can fix this! You destroyed everything!"
Percy began to shake, and Gaea noticed this. Her face twisted into an evil smile, "You're still scared. It's been a year, and you're still scared of me!"
Percy remained silent as she crouched down in front of him. She grabbed his chin and forced his face up, "I think I know the perfect punishment for you this time."
Percy trembled as she lifted him off the ground as though he was weightless. Her eyes glowed, and he felt himself beginning to crumble.
"Please!" he gasped. He had often seen Gaea put Leah in the Earth State. He knew that it was very painful, as you were trapped within your own mind. It was like sleeping painfully. Gaea only sent someone into Earth State if they had done something very wrong, as Percy had. 
Leah chose that moment to burst into the room.
"Stop!" she screamed, "It was my fault he failed!"
"You will close your mouth," Gaea hissed at her. Leah's mouth was forced shut. 
"Let her go!" Percy growled. Gaea laughed, "You can't do much while you're dissolving."
He was beginning to lose conciousness. He concentrated hard on the fire river beside the house. He roared, the sound deafening, and the Phelegethon exploded, shooting upwards into the sky. Gaea grinned, "Now that's what I'm talking about..."
Percy slipped into nothingness. 

***

He woke covered in sweat. He jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. He just made it to the toilet bowl when he threw up again. 
You failed me again. He retched again.
You destroyed everything! Retch.
It's been a year and you're still scared of me. Heave. He clutched the toilet bowl with white fingers as he vomitted. He wished his mother was with him, like she was when he was younger. As if he could summon her with his thoughts, she burst through the bathroom door, leaning down next to her son and rubbing his back as he hurled. 
"It's okay," she whispered, "It'll be okay."
A mother's love must thwart everything, if she could still say it was okay even after he'd become a tyrant, a monster. After he'd destroyed Zeus. 
He heaved again. Sally just kept rubbing his back, whispering in his ear that everything would be fine. Once he was done, she walked him back to his bed, changed his shirt, and stayed brushing her hand soothingly over his forehead after he eventually fell asleep. When he awoke, it was to his mother sleeping soundly beside him, her fingers still tangled in his hair.