How Do You Say Gods- Titan's Curse

6: AN OLD DEAD FRIEND COMES TO VISIT

Next week's chapter might be delayed to Thursday instead of the usual Monday as I obsessively reread The Sun and the Stars a few (dozen) times.

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"Percy!" Jason grasped his arm firmly, the current around him was starting to pick up speed and it was a useless impulse not to be thrown into the wall more than anything. "No killing us all, remember?" His voice didn't shake one bit at the knowing impact though.

"Maybe I should!" I sneered and jerked his arm away as he got up, but took deep breaths all the same, his sword hand still steady, the wickedly sharp point at least still aimed at the ground. "Damn Oceanus and Poseidon, and Tethys, and anybody else keeping us in here! Where is she! Why isn't Annabeth here, or Grover! Maybe that stupid titan and god would learn their lesson about locking me up if I caused enough of a disturbance!"

His spiteful words had soothed his temper though, he was gasping and fell back into his seat with exhaustion for just getting that out of his system as the water stilled once more.

The awkward silence hung, the book was sitting flat against the wall soaking wet and with a cracked spine while Nico was sitting close to Will and watching him steadily. "Sorry," Percy whispered as the stares lingered. "I didn't mean that."

"We know," Rachel promised. "Annabeth means the world to you, it's shitty and awful they're keeping you two apart right now, but I believe it's for a reason Percy. We'll find out what's going on, I promise."

"I wish I could say something better," Thalia sighed. "I do know what you're going through Percy, I promise. I'm worried sick about her too, and I still remember where she is right now," she tapped pitifully at her temple. "The gods are up to something and I want to be there for her, but I promised her I'd do everything in my power to get you back, and I'm going to do that no matter how much of, ah, a disturbance you cause."

"You think a pile of bodies would be easier to help her find me?" He asked with an almost twisted smile, but he shook himself and got up slowly this time so as not to startle anyone as he went to grab the book. It dried, but the damage didn't revert itself, a few of the pages were already threatening to fall out as battered as he'd already made it when he sheepishly handed it to Will while looking at Nico. "I am sorry."

He looked ruffled, his black hair in his eyes and his jacket twisted up and oddly tucked into itself, but shook himself as if no worse for wear and gave him a shrug of indifference. "You've done worse to me."

"Um, okay," Percy had no idea what to make of that and went to go sit carefully back in his seat, gently on the edge like the bomb he was about to go off.

Nico and Thalia exchanged a miserable look. They wished they could explain it wasn't even really his fault, the curse of Achilles amplified his powers insanely high, more than he'd yet practiced before this happened to him. He was yawning, pale, and kept rubbing his back, but all he wanted as his eyes landed back on Will was to find out where his girlfriend was.

"Do you want a break?" Thalia still asked. "Get some food?"

"No," he muttered, crossing his arms as sullen as ever, and that more than anything showed them all just how upset he was. "Just keep going please."

Will gave him a promising smile to get on with that as he read the chapter title.

"My money's on Luke," Alex stage whispered. "Percy can kill across continents."

"I'm trying to think of any other dead friends," Jason was fidgeting with his fingers. "Gabe wouldn't count."

"Please don't be a zombie invasion, please?" Magnus muttered.