Favorite : Change for the both of us

Chapter 29

Poseidon's POV

"I really don't want to do this..." I grumble under my breath, mainly to myself, as I follow my nephew into a private hospital room just a few corridors away from Percy and Annabeth's room.

"Shut up. You're making me anxious," Athena snaps, shooting me a death glare as her fingers find the end of her black ponytail, twisting and fiddling with the strands of hair.

I scoff at her, irritation flaring. "Well, I'm sorry, but possibly seeing my son being tortured isn't exactly a calm thought for me-,"

"Mr Olympia, Ms Chase," an officer interrupts, standing besides the table in the room where the laptop has been set up with the video - the CCTV footage - on pause. "I'll have to ask the pair of you to be civil whilst we do this,"

I glance sideways at Athena, biting back my dislike towards her. "Fine," I mutter, clenching my fists. I swear - the only reason I've been civil towards her is for Percy, and for Annabeth. When they're not around, however, there's little holding me back. Judging by the nasty snarl on her face, Athena is thinking the same thing, but she doesn't speak.

Hermes shoots us both a look - something of a comforting and worried expression - and sits down at the chair in front of the table. "Well, gather round," he says, voice lacking in his usual enthusiasm. "May as well get this over with..."

"They say that you've seen the start of the video - confirmed that Percy and Annabeth are in it," Athena says, standing at his shoulder.

"Yeah," Hermes nods stiffly. "And I won't lie to you guys...it's a little nasty,"

My jaw clenches. "Let's get this over with," I echo, not trusting myself to say any more. Crap, crap, crap, what if I can't do this? What if I freak out or something? What if I see something bad?

Pull yourself together, I give myself a mental slap to the cheek. Percy's lived through this. You can watch it. Man up.

I really don't want to do this...

"Mr Olympia," one of the officers says, holding a notepad in her hands and wearing an expression as serious and sombre as Hades and Zeus put together. "If you recognise any of the offenders in the CCTV footage, we'd like you to tell us straight away - only when you're certain, however. Is that okay?"

I feel myself nodding. "Sure,"

"Pressing play," Hermes mutters, clicking the video.

The footage seems to be taken from outside the building - the camera overlooking the entrance, most likely. For the first ten seconds, nothing happens. All we see are some concrete steps and a dirt-covered floor. Then, however, a van comes into view. It pulls up besides the steps and men jump out - mask-covered men.

"Annabeth mentioned those guys," I say quietly. Athena nods out of the corner of my eye, her grey gaze never wavering. I hear the sound of pens being scratched against paper, indicating that the officers are scribbling down the number plate of the van in order to track down an owner later on.

The men travel round to the back of the van, throwing open the doors. They both lean in and grab something from the back, hauling he apparently heavy objects over their shoulders and turning towards the building. My heart stops when I recognise the head of black hair, lying limp and certainly unconscious in one of the men's arms. I start to feel sick when I see Annabeth emerge from the van, and the pair are carried into the building.

"Those are your son and daughter?" asks the officer.

"Yes," Athena says, her voice slightly croaky. Honestly, I feel her pain. My throat feels like it's closed up and sealed or something.