The Rise of Gaea

Percy 23

     Though it wounded him worse than any torture Tartarus could dish up, Percy knew that he shouldn't have been hugging Annabeth. She was with Jason now.

     A look of complete bewilderment was on Annabeth's face, and distant confused choking came from Jason.

     "Get between me and Jason? Percy, what are you talking about?"

     Percy felt a spark of hope. "In the Mansion of Night, you told me that you and Jason were together now, and-" He peered at Annabeth's midsection, and horror sprung through him. "Did you lose the baby?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.

     Annabeth's eyes bulged out of her head. "What baby?"

     "You were pregnant." Percy said slowly. "When you came to get me, you were pregnant. And it was Jason's." More confused choking. "You said you came for me because I would be more useful here than there."

     He watched tears run down Annabeth's face, and hurriedly reached out to wipe them away. "It's okay Annabeth, I shouldn't have brought this-"

     "Percy, stop talking." Annabeth burst out.

     Percy stopped, staring at her in surprise.

     "I'm sorry, Percy. I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted you to listen to me, okay?" Annabeth wrapped her arms around him. "I was never in Tartarus. Jason and I are not together, and I am certainly not pregnant, nor have I lost any children. Only a week has passed since you fell."

     Percy didn't know what to think. Only a week? It had felt like a month! Obviously, any time away from Annabeth felt stretched, but this was different. His hair had grown out, for Olympus' sake!

     Annabeth squeezed him tightly, which hurt his ribs, but he didn't mind. "I did everything I could to get you out. I flew home as fast as possible, united the Greeks and Romans, and got the gods to help us get through the House of Hades to get to you. I would never have left you down there, Percy." Her voice broke. "Please believe me."

     "Of course I believe you." Percy relaxed against her, exhausted, breathing in her strawberry scent. It reminded him of camp.

     "LUKE CASTELLAN!!!"

     Percy turned his head. Thalia was facing Luke, her eyes blazing, her fists clenched.

     "TRAITOR! HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOUR FACE HERE!"

     "Technically, I'm not a traitor." Luke explained helpfully, completely calm.

     "YOU WOULD'VE SOLD US TO KRONOS!" Thalia stormed.

     "However, I saved you all from Kronos." Luke reminded.

     Lightning crackled around Thalia's hands. "SHUT UP!" she shouted.

     "Make me." He dared.

     Thalia grabbed Luke and kissed him, hard, before breaking down into sobs. Luke held her close, whispering soothingly in her ear.

     "How... how is Luke here?" Annabeth asked hoarsely.

     "He snuck into Tartarus, and we got out together." Percy explained, leaning his head against her shoulder.

     Artemis was furious. "She's a Hunter! She's breaking her vows!" she complained to Zeus.
He shifted uncomfortably.

     "But it's true love!" Aphrodite cried. "You want your daughter to be happy, don't you?"

     Zeus thought for a moment, and then seemed to come to a decision.

     "Thalia Grace, you are no longer part of the Hunt."

     Thalia glowed silver for a moment, and then went back to normal. She and Luke didn't seem to notice.

     "WHAT??!!" Artemis protested.

     Zeus looked sternly at her. "And Artemis, you will not get revenge on either of them."

     Then, his gaze swept over all of them. "Let's get these demigods... and Titans..." Calypso, who Percy was surprised to see there, raised an eyebrow. "back to camp."

     Hades heaved a gusty, dramatic sigh, but waved a hand, and everyone vanished into shadow.

     Percy stumbled as they landed in the middle of camp.

     "They're back!" someone shrieked. Footsteps pounded towards them.

     Percy had a mental image of the thousands of monsters he had controlled in Tartarus. He felt dizzy with fear, and realized he was hyperventilating.

     Tartarus himself seemed to swim into view in front of him. "You'll never truly kill me, Perseus."

     Percy felt like he was going to vomit, or pass out, or both.

     Faint voices sounded around him, muffled as if he were underwater. Was he in the lake? But he could breathe in the lake. It was so hard to get oxygen...

     "Give him space!"

     "What's happening to him?"

     Annabeth's voice cut through the mental water like a propeller. "Percy, I need you to breathe."

     Percy strained to see her, his lungs burning.

     "Breathe, Percy. Please." She was begging him now, Percy could feel her hands on his shoulders.

     With a massive effort, he forced air into his lungs.

     "Good. Now match your breaths with mine."

     Percy obeyed, feeling his racing heart slowly calm. Tartarus faded from sight.

     Annabeth was leaning over him; somehow, Percy had ended up on the ground.

     She slid her arms under his shoulders, and lifted him easily to his feet.

     "We're going to your cabin, alright?"

     Percy nodded, and allowed Annabeth to lead him through the gaping crowd of demigods to the Poseidon cabin.

     It was just as he had left it: a complete mess. Luckily, Annabeth didn't seem to mind as she half-carried him to his bed.

     Percy collapsed on it wearily, grateful for the softness on his aching body.

     Annabeth smiled, and then walked away.

     "Annabeth! No, please!" Percy reached for her, terrified that she was going to leave him alone.

     "I'm just getting you a change of clothes, okay?" Annabeth reassured quickly. "I'm right here, see?"

     She searched through Percy's drawers, Percy watching her closely to make sure she was still there. His heart was thumping painfully in his chest.

     She returned with an orange Camp Half-Blood shirt and jeans.

     Percy struggled to sit up, and then removed his tattered, bloody, dirty shirt.

     Annabeth's eyes widened in shock.

     "Percy!" she stammered. "What happened to your chest?"