{𝟒) 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 | 𝙻𝚞𝚔𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚗

37

⚔︎Ψ 𝐅𝐢𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰 Ψ⚔︎

𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨'𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲. I was annoyed and upset but not at him but more at everyone trying to hurt us.

Why did the Gods have to have us? They know the shit we're all going to be put through, why did they do this to any of us? Why couldn't they just think with their brain and not their dick. No offense to the female Goddess, why couldn't they use their minds as well.

Guess Artemis is the only realistic one, along with Hera. Artemis was guilt ridden after Zoë's death and even Hera wasn't guilty of betraying Zeus.

Ehhh...that could now be honestly debated...

It doesn't matter, why the hell does this have to happen to us?

"I'm sorry Poseidon did that, I can't wrap my head around it, but I want to believe you." Percy spoke

I sighed at his attempt to mend wounds, "it doesn't matter Percy."

He spoke again, "yes it does. Especially after last year and what you told me. I'm sorry you and your mom went through any of that. I thought my life was bad but from what my mom tells me...Poseidon at least visited her. He didn't abandon her like he did to your mom-Sorry! That's very-"

I held up my hand to him to stop him from speaking as he stared at me and I responded with, "it's okay. I've...had to learn that trauma will always be there, but just to surround yourself with good people. Which is why I've always been so close to my mom; she is the person who took care of me my entire life. I owe everything to her, and I will give her the happiness she had taken from her."

We both continued to walk and slowly Percy began to open, "I had a stepdad. His name was Gabe..."

Never would I expect his mom to marry someone or never pictured Percy having a 'dad'.

'He was abusive. Very abusive, screaming, yelling. Maybe even a few blows."

I almost wanted to stop walking to be sure I heard correctly, Percy and I stared at each other, and he frowned, "sometimes I have nightmares that he might come back to destroy my life all over again. My mom only stayed with him for me. He wasn't so nice to my mom either."

This time I swallowed and chewed on my bottom lip and said, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know you were in that situation."

In that moment I felt that pain, the pain of being forgotten, of being tormented and tossed around like a sack that couldn't find back.

Because we couldn't...we were children and all I thought in my mind if I would've had the chance to meet this Gabe...

Kill him, how dare he hit a child? How dare he abusive Percy? How dare he hurt my brother and not think twice? Use him for god knows what...

I would torture Poseidon for allowing it continue, I want them all to pay and yet I have to bite my tongue the and sit back down or else god knows what I'm capable of.

But I felt the guilt of thinking I was so hurt while Percy hid this trauma for god reason and I still don't know the full extent. I was guilty and ashamed of myself...

And all I wanted to do was cry, hug him and apologize over and over again for being so spiteful just because of Poseidon, it's not fair to him...

He frowned and looked at me saying, "you told me what happened to you, and how you blame the Gods for all of it. I guess I blame Poseidon for that. For allowing my mom to marry an abusive guy, to let her settle for something so awful just to protect me. Just because he couldn't himself."

We both looked at each other and all I could do was smile at him, maybe there was hope after all...maybe there is hope for us in the future. Maybe we can be brother and sister if we continue our journey like this.

"I don't know what you went through growing up homeless, spending some time in an asylum because people thought you were insane. None of the Gods helping you...no one being called to get you. But I don't want us to fight anymore. Poseidon probably wants that. But I don't."

Percy and I walked but it almost felt like we were standing still, just looking at each other. I smiled at him for one of the first times in a while.

After so long of rejecting him and then Poseidon's indecent manipulation, here we were. We are now here...together. And maybe there was hope for a brother and sister bond.

Poseidon would find a way to break that for one final time...

For right now we were okay, and I said, "I would really like to finally have you not only as a friend but my brother Percy. No more of Poseidon's manipulation, just us and our words."

He nodded in agreement, and I smiled at him.

***

Now settling everything with Percy I turned to Nico who mostly stayed quiet, and he looked at me and I asked him "hey, you okay?"

He sighed and just shrugged slightly looking ahead with a blank expression.

"I just thought that maybe I would be able to see Bianca again, Daedalus dying would've made the odds greater and yet...he's not dead." Nico's expression hardened slightly with a hint of sadness still underneath all that anger."

"Don't worry alright? I know you don't want to go back to camp, but I'm sure we can figure something else out. I'm not gonna let anybody cast you out like others did to me." I reassured him and he smiled, gripping my hand tighter.

Like I said, no child deserves any of this. But especially one like Nico, the Son of the God of the Underworld...

While I never lost everything I ever loved when I was younger, I had my mom and survived by her side. Nico doesn't have much and doesn't have the innocence a child should still have; he's seen all the ugly and all the bad. Bianca was gone and there was no going back...

I'd be proud to say Nico lives on in my heart for as long as I will live. He changed my life and attitude when I needed it.

Even if I wouldn't always be there for him throughout his life, I always hear.

I always listen and know, and I am proud of him every single moment and day.

Suddenly we came to a crossroads. Rachel and Annabeth had paused and in front of us continued straight ahead but a side tunnel T'd off to the right-circular shaft carved from volcanic rock.

Percy asked, "what is it?"

Rachel stared down the tunnel and she seemed stunned a bit. "Is that the way?" Annabeth asked.

"No" Rachel spoke nervously, and I sensed the hairs on her neck shoot up.

"Why are we stopping?" Percy asked as Nico shushed him quickly and we began to hear something.

There was wind, the sound of it whistling and a familiar scent coming closer towards us.

Percy let out in a timid tone, "Eucalyptus trees, like in California..."

The memories began to come back of Atlas and his revenge, but not only that it was the day I lost sight in my right eye and gained a white streak.

However, Percy, Annabeth and Luke had a white streak temporarily...mines were...forever...

"There's something evil down the tunnel, something very powerful..." Rachel spoke in one breath. Nico and I looked at each other and he grew concerned, giving me a look of grave danger coming to us.

"The smell of death" He spoke as everyone looked at him frightened.

Annabeth apple once again, "it's Luke's entrance. The one to Mount Othrys-the Titans' palace."

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Were gonna see Luke again!

Or...or is it Luke...