Ghosts - A Percabeth Story

He's Gone. . .

Annabeth couldn't believe it had been a year since Percy's death. The rest of the Seven and demigods at Camp Half-Blood were still mourning as well, but his death had hurt Annabeth the most. She had hardly spoken to anyone since that awful, terrible day. She couldn't even enjoy studying architecture, which she used to have so much fun doing with Percy at her side, constantly asking questions and annoying her. But the teasing had been absent during the long hours she had tried to distract herself.

It hadn't been fair. First, Luke was taken from her. Now Percy. Who would be next? When would the death stop?

The answer was never. Being a demigod came in a package deal with death.

Finally, on the exact day of his death a whole year later, Annabeth forced herself to go down to the beach. The ocean waves lapped at the rocks and sand, and the breeze carried the salty smell to her nose. Percy had smelled like that, and she decided to breathe out of her mouth instead so she wouldn't be reminded. The whole beach was deserted, except for the occasional seagull that wheeled overhead. 

She and Percy used to sneak out of their cabins at night and meet down here, in this exact spot on the shore. Then they'd walk along the sand, hand in hand, listening to the waves crash and watching the stars blink at them from above. On the warmest nights, they'd go swimming. . .

"Poseidon," Annabeth called to the water, shoving the bittersweet memories aside. "I realize that Percy is probably in the Underworld, and you can't speak to him directly, but I was wondering..." Her voice faded. She had no idea what she was asking, all she wanted was to see him again. "I was wondering if he's okay down there, and if you as his father would know."

She fell silent. Nothing changed. A seagull squawked beside her, then took flight and soared away. Annabeth hung her head. She should've known she wouldn't get an answer. Percy was dead after all, and she shouldn't be one to mess with the deceased. Nico could do that, but he already tried and failed to find Percy down in the Underworld.

She turned to go, dragging her feet as she headed back up toward Camp.

"Annabeth?" A watery gurgle sounded from behind her. The voice was soft, but she could hear it over the waves.

She turned. A person made entirely of water stood atop the waves, looking slightly confused. She could just make out the faint colors of an orange t-shirt and blue jeans, as well as black hair and handsome sea-green eyes.

"P--Percy?" She stammered in disbelief. 

"Annabeth," the person said again. This time Annabeth was sure it was his voice, the voice she had missed so much and longed to hear. 

She ran back down the beach and splashed into the water until she stood before Percy. The cold ocean tugged at her knees, but she hardly felt it.

"It's. . . it's really you?" Annabeth whispered as she gazed up at him. 

"It's me," Percy confirmed and took her hands in his. Surprisingly, his hands were solid, though they shimmered and moved like a current. "I heard what you said to Dad, and Hades let me come and answer it in person. Well, sort of in person. It took me a while to get past Cerberus, then into the Judgement Pavilion. . ." He faltered. "I'm fine, and never stop thinking about you."

Annabeth choked on a sob. It was nice to see and hear his voice again, but it also hurt. It didn't hurt like how it had when he had died, it hurt how she wasn't able to see him in his original form. One that she could hold and would always be at her side.

"I can't stay long," Percy said. As soon as he informed her of that, the colors in his form faded to a fainter shade.

"Don't go," Annabeth pleaded, tears steadily pouring down her face.

"I would stay if I could--"

"I can't have you leave again. The demigods here at Camp Half-Blood and the ones in Camp Jupiter miss you. The rest of the boys are lost without you. I'm lost without you."

"Annabeth, I'm sorry, I don't have a choice. I swear on the River Styx that I will try to convince Hades to let me see you as often as possible." Percy bent down and kissed her. For a moment, Annabeth could close her eyes and forget what had happened and imagine he was alive. His lips felt real and solid enough.

But it was only for a moment. The water returned to its original blue and lost its form, splashing down to merge with the rest of the ocean.

"I love you, Percy." Annabeth whispered to the calm sea. 

The wind blew her hair and the sea tugged at her legs in reply. She couldn't decide if that was water nymphs, Percy, or just her imagination.