The Animal Within

Chapter 55 - The Gift

Percy quickly fell into a routine. From mid-November, when he'd met Kronos in New York, he found his weeks split between school in New York and weekends in Alaska. Every Friday evening after he ate, he'd find Kronos in his room offering him a hand.

His weekends were torn between studying his work, which with his ADHD was a nightmare with everything that went on at the Titans' Camp. Percy found himself quickly talking with Luke again, sharing experiences with the gods, and their adventures. Percy realised Kronos wasn't around all the time, but he clearly made an effort to drop in on the weekends while Percy was there.

Percy didn't miss the sharp warning glares from the other Titans whom stayed at the Camp, or passed through to speak to Kronos. In one such time, Percy found himself face-to-face with Hyperion when the Titan had barged into the room with a heavy scowl on his face. It wasn't exactly a meeting Percy wanted – he could put up with Kronos, but he didn't really want to spend loads of time around his brothers. All of them – Kronos included – were psychopaths. One psychopath was enough for Percy to deal with.

Still, Hyperion had barged in the week after Percy just arrived, already glowering even before he saw Percy sprawled across the bed – Kronos' bed, apparently, not that he needed one – with his schoolwork spread everywhere. Hyperion ignored it, muddy boots spraying flecks of mud over the mostly-pristine white paper. Percy groaned. "Careful," he grumbled, trying to hide his unease. Kronos had at least already warned him that his brothers were poking around and were likely to visit Percy. He'd also mentioned in passing that if Percy actually intended to stick around, then he'd have to get used to their company... and them with his.

Hyperion just glowered at him. Despite it being nearly winter and freezing in late November, the house was warmed with magic – as Kronos had explained in an elaborate explanation that went completely over Percy's head – and Hyperion's presence just made it uncomfortably warm. "It seems you just don't learn, Perseus," Hyperion said darkly.

Percy gathered his schoolwork into semi-neat piles, trying to protect them from the Titan as the immortal's nose crinkled when he caught sight of an elaborate diagram. "I am a slow learner," Percy agreed nonchalantly. "Seems you guys aren't though. Nice little Camp. Like the Alaska idea," he said.

Hyperion just looked irritated by his answer. "We do not like you, half-blood. Make no mistake, the moment Kronos decides he wants to throw you aside, then we will kill you. I'll place your burnt skull on a pike myself," he threatened.

Percy shrugged. "Something tells me that if Kronos wanted to do that, he'd kill me himself." He grinned at Hyperion. "Just seems like his style." And Percy knew he wouldn't see it coming. But it gave him a decent rush at the danger of trying to have a relationship with Kronos... however it may turn out. Percy was fully aware that at any moment Kronos might decide to kill him. "So there will probably be a line."

The Titan stared at him. "He can kill you," he agreed. "But I will incinerate your body so nothing remains but ash."

The mortal evenly met Hyperion's gaze. Kronos had suggested to Percy that he not act like a 'terrified little mortal' if his brothers threatened him... and had reminded Percy himself that if any one of them were going to kill Percy, it would be Kronos himself. It was at least somewhat relieving to know that none of the other Titans would kill him out of respect for Kronos. "Put it this way," Percy said, putting down Riptide, which he was using to doodle with as he glanced at Hyperion. "If I do get what I want eventually – immortality – then you can kill me as many times as you want."

That gave Hyperion paused. He accessed Percy again, narrowing his burning eyes at him. But Percy could see that the Titan liked that suggestion. "I would prefer for you to die a horrible, agonising death," he finally said.