Ghosts - A Percabeth Story

Punishment Lifted. . .

Percy swung Riptide again and the arai he hit exploded into gray ash. This was his eternal punishment, and it was just as agonizing as it had been when he was alive, if not worse. He felt like he was back in Tartarus, except the one person who had kept his willpower strong wasn't there. Yet, he couldn't stop fighting, no matter how much he wanted to.

He could feel the gorgon's blood and other mild curses burning at him, and his head throbbed from strain. It was only a matter of minutes before he "died" again.

He slashed at a whole swarm of arai, and collapsed once they vanished. He could hear the screams of the other tortured souls, but they were drowned out by the roaring in his ears and the arais' laughter. 

Percy closed his eyes, not wanting to look at them. Why does it take so long to die again? He thought in misery and swallowed back a retch.

After what felt like hours, the brief moment of relief washed over Percy and he reopened his eyes. He stood chained back at the familiar dead, gnarled tree where he always seemed to return after he "died" of gorgon's blood.

He brought out his pen, then uncapped it. Riptide appeared in an instance, ready to fight. He sighed and wearily looked around for the arai, who would appear at any given moment.

He heard the shouts of the falsely damned, but he thought he heard his name in the midst of them. He hesitated, then quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought as an hallucination. He heard the howl of an arai and gazed around again.

"Perseus Jackson, answer me!" 

Percy stopped short. He recognized the voice, but how could she be here? "Wise Girl?" He whispered in disbelief.

"Percy, are you here?" He was sure it was her. It had to be her.

Then, he saw her through the bars and haze of red mist. Her blond hair trialing down into her face and her fierce gray eyes searched all of the tortured faces. She held a knife out before her, while she dragged a black sword behind her.

Percy forgot about the arai and called out, though he wasn't sure if she would hear him. "Annabeth!"

She turned and her eyes widened when she located him out of the rest of the dead. She ran over, clasping the bars. 

Percy stumbled over, but the chain around his ankle snapped taught and he fell over. He quickly scrambled back onto all fours so he could see her.

"Seaweed Brain," Annabeth choked, tears dripping down her face. 

"What are you doing here?" Percy asked in horror. He didn't want her here. He could see she wasn't dead, but she would be shortly if she stayed.

Annabeth shook her head, gripping the bars even tighter. She let go, lifting the black sword she had dropped onto the ground. 

Percy finally recognized the Stygian iron sword. It was Nico's, but how did she have that? 

Annabeth planted her feet, then swung at the bars. 

The sword cut the bars as easily as if it were slicing butter. Annabeth continued to cut out a small square, then dropped the sword and hurried through the small doorway.

Percy retreated, though he longed to embrace her. He didn't know what would happen if a spirit touched a living being, and he didn't want to try if there were a possibility of harming Annabeth.

Annabeth stopped an inch from him, her beautiful gray eyes filled with tears. "Percy," she whispered and reached out, but Percy quickly backed away. "What did he do to you?"

"It wasn't Hades," he answered, his voice cracking. "It's--"

"I know it wasn't him. Are you--" She stopped herself before she could ask. Of course Percy wasn't okay, he still was dead. But some of his joy had returned against his will. Or was it his will? He wasn't even sure anymore.

"Look, Wise Girl," Percy had to force himself to say the next words. "You can't stay here. You have to get out of the Underworld, back to Camp Half-Blood. It's not safe here at all."

Annabeth opened her mouth to reply, but the first arai had appeared. It wailed, and Percy heard more in the shadows of the large cage. 

"Percy," Annabeth said, her voice breaking. "You've had to fight the arai by yourself over and over again?"

He didn't answer, just got back to his feet. "You have to get out of here." He answered and turned to face the demons.

He counted at least twenty, though he knew there were more than that. They would keep coming until he was overpowered again. 

Annabeth came to stand beside him, facing the arai and hefting Nico's sword. "No. I'm staying here with you."

"What? N--" Percy's response was cut short when an arai lunged at his head. He swung with Riptide, and the arai swerved to avoid the blow.

Annabeth leaped to the side and sliced it right down the middle. It exploded into gray dust and Annabeth stumbled as a curse was set. She quickly shook off her daze and continued to hack at the demons.

"Annabeth, stop!" Percy yelled at her as he slashed at another. "I'm already dead, you're not!"

The arai he fought burst into ash, and he turned back to Annabeth. She still attacked the demons, her face growing paler with each one she killed.

Percy started towards her, but tripped over the chain around his ankle and fell. He cursed and tried to stand, but the chains were wrapped too tight. He attempted to cut at them with Riptide, but to no avail. Just when he needed to help Annabeth, he couldn't. Watching helplessly as Annabeth fought them was even worse than him fighting alone.

"Annabeth, stop!" He cried out again in panic. She couldn't handle the curses for much longer, they were twice as bad as they had been in Tartarus and she alive. If he had to watch her die. . .

Finally, she seemed to hear him and turned, then ran over. She hacked at the chains, while Percy tried to keep the arai at bay from his spot on the ground.

"Hold still!" Annabeth grunted, visibly tiring. 

"Sorry!" Percy panted in response and swung again. He was exhausted and his arms burned from trying to swing upwards.

After a few moments, the chains cracked and fell in a heap. 

"You will come back here to these Fields, Perseus Jackson. The King will be sure of it!" All the remaining arai wailed together before disappearing.

As soon as the arai vanished, a weight seemed to be lifted off Percy's shoulders. He still felt like a ghost, but without the dread of curses. Was he really free?

"Are you okay?" Percy asked, looking at Annabeth.

Annabeth met his gaze, tears streaming down her cheeks. She nodded once, composing herself. "The curses are gone. And. . . and I got your message," she whispered. "I'm sorry I didn't answer."

Percy started. "What message?"

Annabeth's expression changed. "The one on the window of my Cabin. You told me to meet you down by the beach."

"I--I didn't send that. I've been here since when I saw you last."

Annabeth opened her mouth, then closed it and shook her head. "Nevermind. We have to find Nico. Do you know your way around Hades's Palace?"