Wrath of a Halfblood (A Percy Jackson Fanfic)

1.11

When the sun needed to set, Apollo took his leave. Percy couldn't help but laugh at his dramatic farewell and agonizingly over-the-top promise to return to her side after fulfilling his duties the next morning. 

Joining in on his joke she responded with a theatrical, "I'll be counting the minutes until your return." His eyes widened for a moment before his smile grew ten-fold and then he was gone. 

She continued for a while longer after the sun went down when she heard the distant sound of music. In the distance, she caught sight of the luminous flicker of a fire that danced along with the lively crowd. 

As she grew closer, Percy noticed flowers and fine linen decorating the village, the marketplaces filled with food and wine, and the air filled with music and laughter. 

Sandaled Feet stomped to the beat of the drum, their joy displayed in every coordinated step. Percy ensured her hood was comfortably in place, blocking the view of her face as she slipped through the masses. 

She glanced over the feast of delicacies but once more found she had little appetite. Still, she reached out and took a few grapes from the platter of fruit and a small piece of bread to eat. She felt nauseous the moment the flavor hit her tongue but she forced herself to continue chewing. 

"Princess Persephone Jackson of Manhattan! The heroic warrior maiden determined to thwart the fates and remain mortal! What an honor it is to celebrate in your presence." A booming voice startled her from her weak attempt at eating. 

"Mr. D... Why am I not surprised to find you here?" She nodded in annoyed acknowledgment as a dozen heads snapped in their direction. It had not taken long for word to spread about Percy Jackson's tale. Many found inspiration in a warrior maiden, not tied to a hero's love interest or promised to remain a maiden forever. 

"A nickname! You are so bold for one who refuses to become a god. Unless the hope is that one of us strike you down for your insolence." Dionysus grinned lifting his goblet and staggering over to her. He smelled like wine and a campfire as he took his place next to her and threw his arm around her shoulder. 

Percy still could not wrap her mind around the idea that this guy was the same god as her samp director Mr. D. Perhaps it was the lack of alcohol that made him such an Olympic-level jerk.  

"So... You and Apollo? You know you pissed quite a few people off with that choice." Dionysus smirked before drinking down another glass of wine and holding it to be refilled. 

"Apollo and I are friends. That is it." Percy scoffed before forcing another grape into her mouth. 

"Oh my sweet Persephone, the light of my day I must go and ride my chariot but I promise to return to you' 'Oh dear Pheobus I shall count the minutes!' Sound familiar." Dionysus cackled his face flushed with drunken amusement. 

"I don't sound like that and it was a joke. A platonic joke!" Percy rolled her eyes. 

"A platonic joke to you perhaps, but Apollo has not been platonic a day in his life. You have the unfortunate fate of having stolen his heart. He won't help you, you know. None of them will." Dionysus lazily hopped onto the table at her side, turning his eyes to the dancing crowd. 

"I don't know who or what you're talking about."

"Ah to think with the mind of a pure maiden. Let me reveal the nature of men, sweet Percy. Hermes, Ares, Apollo, and even Zeus, all want you. They know the others desire you too, so you have become not only the object of their perilous lust but a trophy to display before the others. Your maidenhood has become a prize to men and god alike." His words horrified her as she turned to catch the eyes of a dozen onlookers, eyes burning with desire as they studied her frame. 

"I have no interest in them. I just want to remain mortal." Percy hissed, turning from their burning gazes. 

"While they'd prefer you offer, they have no qualms with taking as well. They don't care about your desire to remain mortal. Each of them would benefit from your little quest to remain fragile failing. Aphrodite is practically shaking to select your eternal lover. Hera is no doubt choosing your husband as we speak." Dionysus scoffed downing another glass only to have it refilled once more. 

"Why are you telling me this? Is this your way of convincing me you are any different? That you have no desire to best your brothers and father by claiming me first?" Percy spat, glaring at his side profile.

"I'm not interested in you like that, girl. Beautiful you might be but my heart belongs to another. I might sample your fruits after all this nonsense is over, after all, eternity is a long time..." He smirked dodging the grape she threw at his head with a laugh. 

They both grew quiet for a moment and Dionysus seemed to sober up slightly, "You know... I was born a half-blood just like you. My mother was a mortal...I was raised here among the mortals, I learned here, I loved here, I was one of them... one of you... I never wanted godhood. I fought it, I ran... but there is no escaping your fate, Percy. You'll learn that soon enough, just like I had to." 

"Do you miss it?" She asked. 

"What? Being human?" His eyes turned colder as he looked out over the crowd of people, their smiles taunting him, "If I could go back... I would have thrown myself from Olympus before ever accepting this never-ending existence." 

Tears filled Percy's eyes and for the hundredth time, she cursed the fates for doing this. She wanted to go home. She wanted to see the sprawling strawberry field of Camp Halfbood. She wanted to hear the constant noise of New York from her Mom's apartment. She wanted to sing terribly around the campfire with the Apollo cabin and spar with Annabeth. 

She wanted to do McDonald's runs with Nico and Will. She wanted movie nights with Hazel to show her what she missed out on. She wanted to mess around with the Stoll brothers and Leo. She wanted to teach he little sister about the gods and eat her mother's blue chocolate chip cookies. 

She wanted to stay human!

"I pity you, girl... You are going to live forever whether it be as a goddess or as a tragedy." Dionysus offered her a glass of wine which she quickly declined. 

"Come on, Persephone. If dying is the good outcome, you might as well live first." He smiled, hopping down off the table and extending his hand. She looked at it confused which gave him the time to reach out and grab her wrist dragging her along to the dancing group of mortals. 

"War is on the horizon, the fates are closing in, and death is the best outcome. Life is misery and eternity is worse, so why not enjoy ourselves?" He laughed, forcing her to dance with him. 

Her feet quickly matched the beat as she gripped onto Mr. D's hand and fell into the rhythm. 

Her legs ached from a days-long walk, her arms were sore from her battle with Ares, and her heart was broken with the thought of the loved ones out of her reach. But still, she danced with the God of Wine and Madness, basking in their shared misery.