𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐑𝐇𝐈𝐂 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

07 - second base is sharing daddy issues

𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪

ELIA WAS THANKING EVERY GOD SHE KNEW WHEN THEY STOPPED.

She didn't know how much longer she could have ran, especially after expending so much energy while using her powers against Kampe. Their group slowed to a stop, panting and sweating. 

Elia practically collapsed to the ground, her eyes half-shut with exhaustion. Her breaths were heaving as she panted out, "I do not have the stamina for this."

Looking around, the blonde realized they were in a strange room with water tumbling from pipes on all four walls. A tug in her gut pulled her gaze to the center of the room, where the floor dropped away into an enormous pit, surrounded by the slippery stone walkway that Elia was sitting on. Her left leg hung slightly over the edge, and a strange tingle traveled up the limb. 

Σκιά Αίμα.

Elia rolled her tired eyes as Briares slumped against the wall, scooping up water with a dozen hands to wash his face. "This pit goes straight to Tartarus," he murmured. "I should jump in and save you the trouble."

Elia stiffened, glancing back at where her leg hung over the pit. For a moment, she rallied what little energy she had left— hopefully to scramble back— but Percy grabbed her arm and gently hauled her to her feet before she could even move. 

"Don't say that," Annabeth told Briares. "You can come back to camp with us. You can help us prepare. You know more about fighting Titans than anybody."

"I have nothing to offer," Briares said, his eyes solemn. "I have lost everything."

"What about your brothers?" Tyson asked, his eye wide and hopeful. "The other two must stand tall as mountains! We can take you to them." 

Elia watched Briares's face drop, morphing into an expression so heartbreaking, you could feel his grief. "They are no more. They faded." 

The waterfalls thundered, echoing loudly against the stone. Elia frowned, struggling to keep her eyes open. Stupid fucking curse-powers, making me tired.  

"What exactly do you mean, they faded?" Percy furrowed his brows, bracing Elia against him to help carry her weight. "I thought monsters were immortal, like the gods." 

"Percy," Grover started weakly, "even immortality has limits. Sometimes... sometimes monsters get forgotten and they lose their will to stay immortal."

Elia could tell that Grover was thinking about Pan. She knew a little about fading, like how Helios and Selene had passed on and left their duties to her dad and Artemis. She studied Briares's face and realized how horrible immortality must be— to live on after everyone you love, all alone. 

All Briares said was, "I should go."

Tyson frowned. "Kronos's army will invade camp. We need help."

Annabeth had gravitated to Elia's other side, pulling a piece of ambrosia out of her pack and handing it to the blonde. 

"I cannot Cyclops." Briares hung his head, his low voice rumbling through the room. 

"You are strong."

The words seemed to echo through the room, hollow and empty; just like Briares's eyes. "Not anymore," the Hundred-Handed One murmured, rising from the floor. 

Elia saw Percy's eyes flash as he handed her off to Annabeth, stepping toward Briares and pulling him away from the group. Elia leaned on Annabeth, tiredly chewing the piece of ambrosia as she watched the son of Poseidon have a hushed conversation with their new, strangely large, friend? Ally? Acquaintance? Whatever.