Greeks, Countrymen, Lovers, Monsters? (Sequel to Halfblood IsThicker Than Magic)

Rumour

Percy’s P.O.V.

“How on Earth are we supposed to get to Olympus that fast?” Annabeth exclaimed. “We’ll have to book plane tickets and that will take ages, except you can’t fly in case Zeus blasts you out of the Sky,” here she gesticulated wildly in my general direction before ploughing on with a manic tone, “so we’ll have to go on land which could take days and we definitely don’t have that much time before Skye-” Annabeth hadn't yet taken a breath and the hysteria in her voice was getting closer and closer to the surface. I didn't know what to do. She was right of course; there was no way we would ever make it in time, despite Grover’s help. A sense of overriding dread began to cloud my mind and I almost didn't notice Hermione’s exasperated, “We could always apparate you know.”

It took a moment for the words to register but as they finally penetrated the descending mists of panic my heart surged with a renewed feeling of hope.

“Yes!” I yelled, jumping up and hugging Hermione. “Di Immortales Hermione, I could kiss you.”

“Bloody don’t mate,” Ron said evenly, an eyebrow raised in warning. However the glint in his eye and twitch in the corner of his mouth gave away his amusement.

“Come on,” Harry urged, herding everyone into a tight circle. “The sooner we get this over with the sooner we get Skye back with us and these stupid tasks will be finished.”

We gripped hands and shared looks of excitement and hope as the wizards whisked us away into the darkness.

Something was wrong. Instead of reappearing in the bright light that surrounded Olympus, the feeling of being squeezed through a tube had been replaced by a terrifying sensation, as though my limbs were being torn from my body but at the same time compressed until I could barely breathe. I felt my grip on Ginny and Annabeth’s hands slipping and there was nothing I could do as I was yanked away from my friends into the consuming blackness. Suddenly pain shot through me and although it was still dark I was feeling relatively normal, despite the stabbing pain from what I guessed was a twisted ankle. Cursing under my breath and trying to remain calm I reached into my pocket with shaking fingers. A sigh of relief escaped me as my fist clenched around Riptide and I brought the pen up, uncapping it as I went, until the softly glowing bronze was held in front of me. The gentle light illuminated the room around me and almost made me wish I hadn't looked. The floor was covered in slimy feathers and in the midst of them was a small trembling bundle. It looked like a mutated bird or a harpy, with clawed feet and a shriveled, bitter face which was half hidden by the creature’s huge black wings. Its entire body was covered in feathers and I approached it slowly, trying not to startle it in case it spooked or worse attacked. However, as I got closer a feeling of dread came over me and a small voice began to echo in my head.

“She doesn't really love you, you know,” it whispered gleefully. “Annabeth, she doesn't love you. She never really loved you; you have to know that, don’t you Perseus.” I span round, sword extended in front of me but I couldn't see anyone. All the while the feeling of dread was getting worse but now it was tinged with paranoia. I turned back to the quivering bundle of feathers on the floor.

“What are you?” I demanded angrily, the warring feelings of despair and suspicion making my insides twist. I leveled Riptide at the creature. “Tell me who you are.”

The bird-woman said nothing but the voice in my head continued, “You were never good enough for her, never smart enough, never brave enough. You were always her second choice. You know that Perseus. Why would she pick you when she had Luke? He was better, braver, and stronger and she knew it. She loved him and you killed him. She loved him and she blames you for his death. Every time she kisses you she sees him and it breaks her heart-”