Betrayed But Never Forgotten

My Undead friends come back alive

Annabeths pov

I jumped off my throne, my heart pounding in my chest as I ran to Percy. We collided in a fierce embrace, his arms wrapping around me so tightly I could hardly breathe, but I didn't care. Tears sprang to my eyes as Piper joined our hug, the three of us clinging to each other like we were afraid we might be torn apart again.

"I can't believe this is happening," Percy choked out, his voice thick with emotion. I could feel his body trembling against mine, and when he pulled back slightly, I saw that his sea-green eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

"Yeah, me too," Piper whispered, her kaleidoscope eyes shifting with the intensity of her feelings. "After everything... to end up here together..."

As we held each other, the warriors who had been seated on their thrones approached us. There was something hauntingly familiar about their movements, about the way they carried themselves, that made my heart skip a beat.

"So, who are you guys anyway?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nervous flutter in my stomach.

"Friends," the one in front said, and the voice sent a jolt of recognition through me—a voice I'd thought I'd never hear again.

One by one, they each lowered their hoods, and the world seemed to stop spinning. I had to clamp my hand over my mouth to stifle a scream, my knees nearly buckling beneath me. 

Standing before us were the ghosts of our past: Luke, with his scar and apologetic smile; Bianca, her dark eyes warm and alive; Zoe, regal as ever with her silver circlet; Charles, his strong hands no longer burned; and Silena, beautiful as the day she died.

The last girl I didn't recognize, but my mind was reeling too much to focus on her.Percy's hand found mine, squeezing so hard it almost hurt. I could feel him shaking, could hear his breath coming in short, uneven gasps. "How...?" he whispered, the single word carrying years of grief and loss.

"Since you guys know us, I'll let Claire introduce herself," Luke said, his voice exactly as I remembered, sending a pang of both joy and old hurt through my chest.

The unfamiliar girl stepped forward and said, "I am Claire, daughter of Chaos, first in command of the Chaos warriors." Her eyes, swirling with cosmic energy like her father's, studied us carefully.

"So... my sister?" Percy asked, his voice cracking slightly on the word.

"Yeah," Claire confirmed with a small smile. "Surprise, big brother."

Before anyone else could speak, Percy and I rushed forward as one, throwing ourselves into the arms of friends we had mourned and buried. My vision blurred with tears as I felt Luke's arms around me, smelled the familiar scent of metal and leather that I'd thought I'd never experience again. I sobbed openly as I moved from one embrace to another, unable to believe that they were real, that they were here.

I noticed Piper awkwardly standing there, wiping away her own tears as she watched our reunion, and I realized I hadn't introduced her. Pulling back from Zoe's embrace, I tried to compose myself enough to speak.

"Oh, Piper, this is Luke, Bianca, Zoe, Charles, and Silena," I said, my voice breaking as I pointed to each person. "Guys, this is Piper McLean."

Everyone exchanged greetings, giving us a moment to try to process the overwhelming emotions coursing through us. I watched as Percy wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, his shoulders still shaking slightly.

"I thought you all died," he said, vulnerability raw in his voice. "I watched some of you die. I... I carried your shrouds."

"Chaos brought us back," Zoe explained, her ancient accent as melodic as ever. "He said we needed a second chance, that our stories weren't truly finished."

I had never met Zoe or Bianca in life, but the stories Percy had told me painted them as heroes who had sacrificed everything for others. Seeing them now, alive and whole, made my chest ache with a bittersweet joy.

Percy smiled through his tears, and I linked my arm with his, feeling the need to anchor him—and myself—to this moment, to make sure it was real. His skin was warm under my touch, grounding me in this impossible reality.

"How did you guys get here?" Claire asked, her brow furrowed with concern. "Usually, when Chaos brings someone, it's if they were in dire need."

I exchanged glances with Percy and Piper, seeing my own pain reflected in their eyes. They nodded, and with a deep breath, I told our story—from the aftermath of the war to our current exile. As I spoke, my voice occasionally faltered, especially when recounting the betrayal of those we had considered family.

By the end, my old friends all looked ready to commit murder, their expressions darkening with each word I spoke.

"I can't believe they did that," Silena said, her beautiful face contorted with anger. "After everything you three did for them..."

While everyone was ranting about the injustice we'd faced, Percy leaned close, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, "I wonder why Hazel didn't get asked to join." His voice carried such profound grief that it made my heart constrict.

I shrugged my shoulders, unable to find words of comfort. I knew Percy blamed himself for Hazel's death—she had been killed by Gaea when the earth goddess was aiming for Percy. The guilt had eaten at him ever since, and I could see it still haunted him, even here in this place of second chances.

Suddenly, a black portal materialized before us, and Chaos stepped out, his presence immediately calming the emotional storm in the room.

"Percy, Piper, and Annabeth, your rooms are down the hall," he said, his voice gentle. "Get some rest. We start training tomorrow."

He disappeared as quickly as he had come, leaving us to say our goodbyes for the night. We exchanged tearful hugs and promises to talk more in the morning, each embrace lingering as if we were afraid our friends might vanish again while we slept.

As we headed toward our rooms, I felt Percy's hand find mine again, his fingers intertwining with my own. The simple touch conveyed so much—fear, hope, love, uncertainty. I squeezed back, trying to communicate without words that whatever this new life had in store for us, we would face it together.

For the first time since we'd left Earth, I felt a genuine smile spread across my face. I didn't know what challenges awaited us in this strange new world, but with Percy by my side and our lost friends returned to us, I was finally ready to embrace whatever came next.