Too Many Memories

We Trade Parts Of Our Souls

We Trade Parts Of Our Souls

We had a somewhat normal day at Camp Half-Blood. Minor repairs were being made to the cabins and training areas, but there weren't many. When we weren't helping to fix the place, we resumed our normal activities.

Bob had decided to stay at Camp Half-Blood. He would help with the repairs and he wanted to help train the new demigods that the satyrs brought in. I still wasn't completely sure that he was on our side, so I made sure that Chiron would keep an eye on him.

I tried not to focus on the fact that Percy was leaving later, and so was I.

I had to choose a new lieutenant. Of course, Kinzie was more than happy to take up the job, which is why I wasn't too quick to assign the role. Eventually, I decided on Tammy. I regretted it immediately, but I knew that she would do what needed to be done if the time ever came. But for now, I prayed it wouldn't.

Percy re-immobilized the Primordials Beckendorf, Silena, and Daedalus had become. Luke decided to stay at Camp Half-Blood with them, so Chronos and Kronos were immobilized. Nico and Percy were outnumbered by girls, having one less boy with them now. It only reinforced the truth that they were going to leave soon.

The Amazons and I, as well as Percy and his team, were scheduled to leave after the campfire, which was when we would have the bead ceremony. I hadn't seen the new bead yet, but I was sure it would be great.

The day passed quickly and I walked to dinner. I sat at the Amazons' table and pushed my food around my plate. My appetite had vanished. Chiron let me leave dinner early and I stuck my hands in my pocket as I walked. My hand closed around something in my pocket. A ballpoint pen. I pulled out the pen and studied it in the firelight. It looked familiar . . .

I had never found my dagger when Gaea took it. I hadn't seen Riptide since Percy gave it to me and it had flown off of the roof of the taco shop.

Sure enough, when I uncapped the pen it elongated. Soon, a sword I recognized well sat in my hand. As if it belonged there.

"That's because it does, now." Percy leaned casually against the side of a cabin. "Sorry about reading your mind, I won't do it again."

"What do you mean, it belongs there now?" I asked.

"Exactly that. Riptide is my possession, so I can do with it what I want. It belongs to you now. Riptide is yours."

I stared at the sword in shock. It was Percy's sword. All these years, I had only ever thought of it as "Percy's sword." It was never in anyone else's hand--only his, only used by him. He wielded it with ease, gracefully. He was born to fight with that sword.

And now, he was giving it to me. It would slice monsters to bits, in my hand. The pen would return to my pocket. It belonged to me.

"Really?"

"Yep. Really. I want it to protect the person I love. I think it will. It's a part of me, and I want you to have a part of me." He grinned and walked over to me. "What do you think?"

"I don't know what to say. Thank you." I fumbled around my neck, feeling the need to give Percy something I cherished. Finally, I found it. My father's college ring. I slipped it off the cord and dropped it into Percy's hand. "Now you have a part of me, too."

His fingers curled around the ring and he made a fist. when he opened his hand, the ring was gone. He pulled his camp necklace out of his shirt and held it out for me to see. My father's ring was now strung on it, along with his beads from each summer. "Thank you."

He held my hand and we walked around camp, sneaking kisses every once in a while. The conch horn blew and it was time for the bead ceremony at the campfire.

We sat down on our own log together, my head on his shoulder and his arms wrapped around me. Chiron enlisted the help of a few of my half-siblings to pass out the beads. I took mine and thanked them, examining it in my hands.

It was simple. Twin daggers and a peace sign, above a pile of junk. To honor Hylla and Damasen, and the battle at the junkyard. I smiled at the bead and added it to my necklace.

The campfire and dinner had been held earlier than usual, because the Amazons and Percy's team had to leave. The sun was still visible in the sky, but it was starting to sink lower and lower. Slowly, we made our way to Half-Blood Hill, where Percy's team and he would leave. Us Amazons would leave on our boat afterwards.

I clung to Percy's side as we walked up the hill, not wanting him to go. We stopped halfway up the hill while his team continued up, to give us time to ourselves.

Percy ran his hand down the side of my face. I touched his scar and eyepatch. He flinched, not used to feeling pain yet. I took off his eyepatch, wanting to see his eyes. His left one was still as bright as ever, but his right one, his blind eye, was a little duller, and stared at nothing.

I looked into both of his eyes. "Why do you have to leave?" I muttered.

"Because if I stay, I'll become mortal and the world will be literally chaos," Percy replied.

I shook my head with a small smile on my face, looking down. "It was rhetorical. I just wish you didn't have to." I paused and raised my head. "Take me with you. I'll join your team. Tammy can be the Queen of the Amazons. Don't leave me here, you can't put me through that again."

Percy sighed, "Annabeth, I want that as much as you do. But you're needed here. You would be in more danger if you came with me. Chaos has been talking to me. Technically, I never should have been able to join his team since I wasn't dead. That was a one-time thing. It can't happen again, ever. I can't risk it. I won't let you get hurt."

"I know," I said, defeated. "I just wish there was a loophole." He rested his palm on my cheek and I leaned into it. He bent down and our lips met.

It was a flurry of passion. We both poured everything we had into the kiss, knowing that it would be the last one we would share for a while. Possibly a few years, like last time.

Reluctantly, we pulled away. Both of our faces were wet with tears. My heart clenched, and I replaced Percy's eyepatch. Our hands dropped to our sides, and Percy forced himself to walk up the hill. I went in the other direction and stood with the Amazons. Tammy hugged me, knowing that I was on the verge of falling apart.

I gripped Riptide in my hand like a lifeline. Percy created a portal and his team started to step through. He turned and locked eyes with me. We communicated a silent message through our eyes, I love you.

We broke eye contact and Percy left, for the second time in two years, leaving me to watch him disappear and take my heart with him.

A/N: Well, that's the end. Too Many Memories is officially completed. There is a third book, which is why this is part of The Memory Trilogy. Go check out Awakened Memories, please.

I hope you liked the first two books in the series, and that you'll like the next one.

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