𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

117

So far, their death mist camouflage plan seemed to be working. So, naturally, Percy expected a massive last-minute fail.

"Hadrian-" He reached out to grab his elbow. 

Hadrian froze like he'd been turned into a statue and then turned around slowly. The Death mist made him look like a cross between a zombie and a ghost. Could a zombie and a ghost come from the same person? Percy wondered. 

For a second, his entire form flickered. Not in a death mist way, but in a way that made Percy worry. For a split second, it looked like Hadrian had vanished, though Percy was still gripping his elbow.

"Listen I-"

Hadrian flushed so red Percy could see it through his Death mist- the skull-like camouflage turning the color of Damasen's skin. "Focus on not dying," He said stiffly. 

Why did Percy ever try to kiss him? How could he ever think someone like Hadrian would like him? Regret and shame and embarrassment bubbled up inside him. Percy wanted Hadrian to call him baby again. 

"Mon cœur-"

"Gods, Percy" Hadrian huffed, "We're in fucking Tartarus! And you don't- you're not thinking straight"

Well you got that right. Percy thought.

"This isn't-" Hadrian stumbled over his words, "You're not thinking clearly, you don't-"

"You don't know what I'm thinking" Percy argued. 

"I don't give two shits what you're thinking" Hadrian clenched his jaw. Percy wanted to kiss his jaw. "I- I have a lot on my mind right now, I don't need you making fun of me-"

Making fun of him? Percy was so baffled he could barely keep track of the conversation. Why would Hadrian think he was messing with him? What straight guy kissed guys "For making fun of them"?

"I need-" Hadrian began again, "I need to find Kira"

And that was the end of the conversation. Percy didn't push it anymore. They walked in silence.

Fifty feet from the Doors of Death, Percy froze.

"What's wrong?" Hadrian asked, looking at him for the first time in half an hour.

"They're the same" Percy murmured.

Framed in Stygian iron, the magical portal was a set of elevator doors—two panels of silver and black etched with art deco designs. Except for the fact that the colors were inverted, they looked exactly like the elevators in the Empire State Building.

"They look like the entrance to Olympus" Percy explained. He wasn't sure if Hadrian had ever been to Olympus.

Seeing them, Percy felt so homesick, he couldn't breathe. He didn't just miss Mount Olympus. He missed everything he'd left behind: New York City, Camp Half-Blood, his mom and stepdad. His eyes stung. He didn't trust himself to talk.

The Doors of Death seemed like a personal insult, designed to remind him of everything he couldn't have.

As he got over his initial shock, he noticed other details: the frost spreading from the base of the Doors, the purplish glow in the air around them, and the chains that held them fast.

Cords of black iron ran down either side of the frame, like rigging lines on a suspension bridge. They were tethered to hooks embedded in the fleshy ground. The two Titans, Krios and Hyperion, stood guard at the anchor points.

As Percy watched, the entire frame shuddered. Black lightning flashed into the sky. The chains shook, and the Titans planted their feet on the hooks to keep them secure. The Doors slid open, revealing the gilded interior of an elevator car.