creep | percy jackson

6 | stalker behaviour

Cora hadn't been part of the campers lined up for Percy to choose for the quest that he had been given, but she was chosen by him along with Annabeth and Grover.

Cora assumed Percy picked her because she was from the Underworld, where they had to go in order to retrieve Zeus' master bolt, that Percy had been accused of stealing.

She knew he hadn't taken it. He had only just found out that he was a demigod, it's not like he could have stolen something from Olympus. Also, there was no way Percy Jackson could have stolen something.

Cora was sitting at the graves of her parents, fixing every wilted flower into one that looked brand new and fresh.

"I know I just got back," Cora said softly, "but I have to go again."

Cora imagined a response from her parents. Her mother telling her to do she needed to, her father making sure she had what she needed to stay protected.

She pictured their arms wrapping around her and pulling her into one of the biggest hugs she could have ever received.

She closed her eyes as she thought of it, trying to feel what it would feel like.

Cora's eyes opened again and she looked down at the piles of white and purple flowers, putting her hand on the empty space between them, where she always pictured their hands being held together. "I love you, too."

"I'll be okay," she told them. "With Percy. And Grover, and Annabeth's coming."

Despite how much she wanted to fight it, Cora felt tears in her eyes.

"I don't want to go," she admitted quietly. "Honestly, I want to be home. I can go home. But I'm not a coward. And I can't leave Percy."

"I mean, I am going home," Cora shook her head. "We have to go to the Underworld. So, I can help. We've already run into Alecto, and she... she's something else."

"Some people think Hades has something to do with Zeus' bolt, but I know that guy," Cora laughed. "He couldn't care less about any of that."

Cora finished her quiet goodbye to her parents' graves and stood up. She went to turn around and yelped at the sight of Percy standing there.

"Sorry!" he said quickly.

"What the fu- dude!" Cora huffed, stepping closer to him. "What is wrong with you?!"

"A lot, according to you!" Percy responded, putting his hands up defensively as if she was going to hurt him.

"Yeah, cause you're weird and creepy!"

"I just wanted to talk to you!"

"How long have you been here, weirdo?" Cora said, hitting his arm.

"Ow!" he whined. "Like, two seconds."

Cora scowled at him and rolled her eyes. "What do you want, Percy?" she sighed, crossing her arms.

"I just wanted to see if you're okay with me picking you," Percy said, scratching the back of his neck. "For the quest, and stuff."

"You worried about me, Jackson?" Cora asked with a small smile, tilting her head. "Cause... that's weird. Emotions. Gross."

"Cor, you can't say emotions are gross," Percy sighed.

"Yes, I can, because they are," she shrugged. "Why'd you pick me?"

"You're my friend," he answered.

Cora smiled again at his words. She didn't know why it made her so happy. She knew that they were friends, but when he confirmed it, she just felt even better than she usually did around him.

♬

"She's really gonna miss that tree, huh?" Percy asked, looking at Annabeth pressing her hand to Thalia's tree at Half-Blood Hill.

"When Annabeth first arrived here with Thalia and Luke, they were being chased by monsters," Grover said. "Agents of Hades. Sisters. Furies."

"Mrs. Dodds?"

"Yes! One was our algebra teacher. Alecto," Grover said.

Cora nodded. She would have said something about her experience with the fury, but decided against it.

"Thalia turned back to fight to buy her friends some time," Grover continued. "Her satyr Protector tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen. So, at the last moment... Zeus intervened to save her life and... changed her form."

"The most powerful being in the universe's best idea to save his daughter's life... was to turn her into a tree?" Percy questioned as Annabeth joined them again.

"She was the bravest demigod I ever knew," Annabeth said. "She fought valiantly, and she met a hero's fate."

"She met a pinecone's fate," Percy commented.

Cora put her hand on Percy's shoulder and shook her head. "Percy, no."

"Forbidden children are always in danger," Annabeth said. "Even the strongest ones, even Thalia. And you are not Thalia. Do exactly as I say, and maybe you survive this. Are we clear?"