Η Κάθριν Χασέ (K.C. Jackson)

Chapter 16

*Percy POV*

I can't remember much. But what I know is I was being taken over by Manasseh, then a sharp pain erupted through my skull. Then blackness. Then I woke up. At least I think so. Then Annabeth was there. Her hair was dirty, along with her arms and legs. I swear I'd seen her like this before....wait. No, that's not possible.

I am not there. I can't be. Not again. But I was. The tortuous terrain, monsters everywhere, Annabeth clinging onto me for strength. But it was true. Almost too true. I was reliving my.........time in Tartar sauce. Oh, sorry I'm hungry. Tartarus. I could really go for a sandwich right now, but I'm in a coma so yeah. Huh. Interesting. So this is my torture, Manasseh? I guess so. But this is not the time. K.C. needs me. Annabeth needs me. Camp Half-Blood needs me. And I don't intend to let them down. Most of all, I needed to apologize to my daughter. She didn't deserve the burdens that were thrust on her because of me. She has great courage and should be fine, but at the same time, I've been in that position before. It's scary. No, terrifying. And I knew she needed and more or less wanted help, but how could I do anything? I'm currently, most likely, lying in a bed in the hospital.

And because of all this stress, covered in sweat. But now is not the time to worry about personal hygiene. Now is all about my mind. All of this is happening in my brain. It's not real. But it was. And even though I will never go back to that horrible place, the horror still remains. All of this has left a mark. Not visible, most of them. No, these scars for all the adventures I've been on. And they will never go away. Never. The least I can do now is stay alive. I have to, to help everyone, if it means dying in the process.

*Madelyn POV*

Madelyn obviously followed K.C. to the beach. She didn't see Madelyn though. Too wrapped up in her emotions and feelings. Then the water moved. Not small moved. Like a wave of color and blue. Then there was a conversation. She didn't mean to eavesdrop, but it just happened. "Percy we need to hurry-" The man was made out of water. They kept talking but she didn't hear. Why did this man seem familiar? Water. Water. Wait a second. Water! He's Poseidon, the sea god! Of course! But why would he be here? Madelyn thought they were all fighting up in Olympus like the bratty, selfish babies they are. A whoosh from the water interrupted her thoughts.

The setting sun was shimmering over the water. Tomorrow morning would be the so called war. But Madelyn didn't doubt Manasseh. She knew what he was capable of. And what he could do to her friends. That couldn't happen. She wouldn't let it. If she were to die to save her friends and the world, then that's exactly what she would do. Even though she was terrified for tomorrow.

*K.C. POV*

After Poseidon left, I really had no idea what to do. I knew that I needed to prepare for the battle that was coming tomorrow, but I still couldn't process and function with all of this confusion.

"KATHERINE CHASE! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" Annabeth roared as she approached. Oh gods was I in trouble. I was so scared, I couldn't move. Could not breathe as a matter of fact. Madelyn was right at her heels, looking nervous. This was going to end well. She grabbed my shoulder, making me spin around on the sand.

"K.C. honey, you look like you've seen a ghost. What happened? Please, don't shut us out. We are here for you. I didn't mean for our burdens- Percy's and I's to fall onto you. Demigods were never meant to have their powers fall onto their kids or even have them in the first place. Percy, and all of our friends were never meant to make it past 20 years old. But after Gaea and some other adventures with Apollo, we were really done. I needed to finish college and so did Percy. But when you were born and some other stuff happened, we needed to settle down, it was almost urgent. But-" She was in tears by now, making me feel incredibly guilty about feeling bad for myself.