Shattered

Fear

Zoe wheezed out the breath she had been holding. She was honestly glad that they were finally out of the underworld. A sense of relief washed over her when they emerged from the land of the dead. As much as she was reluctant to admit it, Percy had been right.

He had told her that maybe going to the underworld with Bianca and himself was not the best idea, but Zoe had been adamant and head strong to venture with the pair.

Percy had found her by her tent after he had supposedly spoken with Bianca. He had told her that he was going to take Bianca to the Underworld to meet her father and brother. Zoe had made a point of wanting to go with Bianca; not because she didn't trust him with her safety, but merely because Bianca was still fairly new, and while she suspected Percy Jackson more than enough to protect the daughter of Hades, Zoe had figured that her centuries of experience could be an asset as well as it felt like her solemn duty to protect the newest of her hunters.

Percy had argued that it probably wasn't the best idea for Zoe to be go into the underworld as she had recently just escaped death; and to add, she was technically supposed to be dead. Zoe, for some idiotic reason felt compelled to defend her pride and demand that Percy let her come with them. The boy refused, but she had merely asked the son of Poseidon out of politeness. The daughter of Atlas was already going to go, no matter what Percy's stance on the matter was going to be.

At the time, Zoe was only doing what she thought was the most rational choice. It blew up in her face.

There had been a moment of flaring anger between the two. The hunter might've succumbed towards the tension at the moment, sprouting out an outburst she now regretted. Her words had been something along the lines of: 'You insolent boy. You are now part of the hunt, and I, as your lieutenant demand that you allow me to accompany you along your quest.'

In hindsight, the words might've come out a bit harsh.

The boy had stiffened, staring towards the ground - refusing to make eye contact with her before stalking away. He did not even turn back to face at Zoe as the shock of what she had let out began to dawn upon herself.

The huntress felt ashamed of how she had behaved, but her pride refrained her from letting the two demigods venture off to the underworld by themselves.

After collecting her lady's permission, she did just that, much to the chagrin of a certain son of Poseidon.

The journey to the underworld had been a somber one. Zoe did not speak much to anything during their trek to Los Angeles, nor did Bianca or Percy. Even at DOA studios, she had stayed mute as they had caught up with the spirit of Annabeth Chase. But what had been even worse was the sense of dread, sailing over the river Styx as they made their way into the Underworld. The sense of dread had crept up her spine - a cool numbing that made her shiver. She felt naked and exposed. She was not supposed to be here. An overwhelming amount of dolefulness clouded her thoughts as images of countless deaths she had witnessed rung flashed by her eyes.

The river churned below her feet in anticipation, as if she was the river's favorite dish for dinner. And it was famished.

When they parted ways with Annabeth, the other spirits of the dead they encountered did not make her feel welcomed. They called out to her, her calling out to them. Her obsidian-black eyes met with the glowing eyes of one of the judges: King Minos. The dead king had a glint in his eyes, like he knew that she was supposed to be in line for judging as well.

She remained silent, even as Bianca wandered the grounds looking around in awe, and Percy keeping the daughter of Hades reined in along the correct path. She had lived thousands of years, many times narrowly escaping death. Being here on her own terms - felt simply wrong. She knew it was just her imagination, but it the place felt like it was saping upon her life energy. She like if she opened her mouth, she would end up screaming in fear - or worse.

Zoe had to bite her tongue down when they were confronted by the kindly one Alecto. Zoe bowed low when they met Hades, fearing the god may figure out why she was so nervous if their eyes were to meet.

When Percy had sparred with the son of Hades - Nico, she remembered, she didn't congratulate Percy like she wanted too. Instead, she remained a silent observer.

When Hades was showing Percy how to use his ring, the huntress spoke nothing. It wasn't until Percy placed his hand on his shoulder, did she finally take a sharp intake of air out of instinct, before her vision blacked.

Then, they were back at the hunters' camp. She breathed out, exhaling slowly.

It was late evening. The pleasant aroma of Phoebe's venison floated through the wintergreen forest air; which was a great improvement of the musk of the Underworld. They were safe.

"Ah, delightful, you have returned," Artemis spoke, making her presence known. The words broke Zoe out of her trance-like state. "Phoebe is just about done preparing dinner. You better come quickly to the table, before the others finish it without you."

Her best friend/mother figure's warm smile nearly melted away all the fear and discomfort that had consumed Zoe just moments ago.

The meal was fabulous as always. Phoebe was heralded yet again for her culinary skills. Rachel tried to not throw up at the site of her sisters pigging out on the meat, and stuck to her corner of the makeshift table munching on her salad quietly. It wasn't much long before she excused herself to the woods.

Percy ate with gusto and was raving about how Phoebe cooked almost as good as his mother. This, of course led the competitive girl to place a wager, a challenge: the next time the hunters were to go to Manhattan, Phoebe Wynters and Sally Jackson would have a cook-off. The hunters cheered; most having ignored the fact that there was a boy was among their midst.

The entire time, a false smile was plastered on Zoe's face. But luckily, her feelings of dread had completely faded by the time the hunters had been dismissed to go to sleep.

Zoe caught Percy just as he was making his way to his her mind, she walked up to him, fully intent on apologizing for her rude words earlier.

"Percy," she said. The boy turned around and smiled softly at the girl.

Zoe felt her heart flutter. Ignoring the butterflies in her stomach, Zoe attempted the speak but Percy cut her off before could begin.

"Before you say anything, I just want to say that I'm sorry for the way I behaved. If you wanted to come to the underworld with us, then I had no right to stop you."

Zoe choked, it had been her fault, but yet the boy was apologizing to her. Percy truly was different, it was no wonder she loved him...

The world around her froze.

Loved?

Her mind stilled. Did she really think...

No. She loved the boy as a brother. Yes that was right. She loved Percy like a sibling. Like how she loved the hunters and sighed in relief.

"No, I'm sorry. I should have listened to you. Y-you were right, I shouldn't have gone to the underworld. I-I was terrified."

Zoe hated how weak she sounded. She choked back a sob. No, she wasn't to cry in front of Percy. She didn't want to show weakness if front of him.

Zoe felt warm limbs wrap around her.

"Zoe..." he breathed into her ears, sending a chill down her spine, except it wasn't one of dread, like she had felt in the underworld, it was one of pleasure.

"You don't have to hold it in."Zoe gulped. Please don't say it...

"It's okay to cry." The floodgates had opened, next thing she knew Percy's silver tee was drenched in her salty tears. She let it all out into his shoulders, everything she had pent up inside her. All her pain, all the responsibility, everything. She let loose and released all of her pent up emotions. All that mattered now was the boy she had, held in her arms.

She was wrong.

Yet again, she was wrong.

She loved Percy Jackson. And it wasn't like how she loved the hunters.

She loved Percy Jackson.

Zoe closed her eyes and breathed deeply. The boys' sea breeze-esque scent filled her senses. When Zoe's eyes opened, her obsidian orbs met with those that were silvery yellow.