How a Villainess fell in love

Chapter 36: Turning a new leaf

-----------Percy's POV:--------------

The night air was cool. My ears rung from the lack of sound, having been in that party for so long, with so many people, must've been a bit more than I thought. We'd left 10 minutes ago, continuing to walk till we reached the safe spot where we would all meet up.

My feet hurt from the heeled boots, an ache running through my legs and ending in my hips. Honestly though? All I wanted to do was lay down, maybe even sleep. But that wasn't in the cards for me right now, all I could think about was my interaction with the Joker.

"I hope that with you on our side that my collection will continue to grow." I felt some vomit roll up my throat as the memory of that memento came back. The blood. The chunks. I gagged, putting my hand up to my mouth as I paused mid walk.

I could hear Annabeth and Me'gan stop, their shoes stopping their clanking against the stone ground.

The place his warm breath touched still felt weird, gross and dirty. I just needed some water to scrub away at it. Anything to get rid of that space. Another gag came up but I held it down.

I just wanted to get out of here.

"Orca! Orca what's wrong?! What's happening!" Me'gan asked, her hands resting on my back. It was taking everything in me to hold back my disgust as my knees shook beneath me. Only a block or two more.

I tried pushing myself up again but I underestimated just how much affect these thoughts had on me as Annabeth and Me'gan's voices faded out, the world around me flickering.

Blood.

Blood everywhere.

In a way this scene was nostalgic.

My hands shaking as I held Riptide out in front of me, the cuts aching through my side. Golden dust mixed with blood caked my arms as I desperately held myself up.

The air in my lungs grew hot, burning and seeping into my throat. With shaking arms I looked down. My hair falling in my face reveals no white streak.

The ground was red, and yet, it was nothing compared to the crimson that bled through my orange camp-halfblood shirt. A massive hole where my shirt should be as the hissing laughter of Arai surrounded me.

I wasn't here. I wasn't here.

I WASN'T BACK.

This singular thought replayed in my head as I tried to stay still. I was on the street. Annabeth and Me'gan were next to me and there was no way I was hurting them due to previous failures. I had to stay calm.

I had surpassed this, and I'd do it again.

I felt wind blow on my face, the flapping of wings filling my ears as they circled me.

Like I was prey, something to be hunted and eaten.

I dropped the sword in front of me. Even now I couldn't tell if the blood on that sword was mine or not. The crimson substance glimmering in the dark light like a forbidden gem, luring you to grab the sword and prick your fingers in order to see more.

I closed my eyes. Placing my hands on my ears as I tried to count down from 10. I wasn't home so Hestia couldn't help me this time.

It's been so long since I've had one of these as well. I thought I was better. I thought I could finally function. To be useful.

The pain from my stomach grew, seeping through my core. The scar always hurt during these sessions but I never seemed to remember just how bad it really was. The lump in my throat was gone, instead being replaced with a dry feeling, taking any moisture from my throat and making it hard to breathe.