Changing the Future

Chapter 51

I scrunched up my nose in disgust as I walked out onto the balcony where Will, Percy, and Annabeth were. To add to the fact that we all reeked from last night's battle, it didn't help facts that the poison was causing Annabeth's arm to create foul smelling pus, permeating through the first bandaged someone had applied.

I winced when I saw the wound as it was much worse than the description in the book. See, in the past, the poison had turned the skin around the wound a nasty shade of green and hadn't gone past the shoulder, but now that shade of green ran the length of Annabeth's arm from her wrist to her collarbone.

"This isn't good," Will muttered, pouring nectar over the wound, causing Annabeth to writhe in pain, gripping Percy's hand so tightly that his fingers had a slight purple tinge to them. He then spread a silver paste over the wound and began singing a hymn to Apollo, hoping that it would help heal the wound.

"What do you mean by that?" Percy asked, unable to mask the panic, and pain, in his voice.

Will winced. "Maybe it's best if you-"

"I'm not leaving, Solace," Percy said with conviction, daring Will to try to kick him out otherwise.

The son of Apollo heaved a resigned sigh. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Andy, do you mind?"

"Of course not."

I shed my armor in favor of latex gloves, handing a pair to Will as well. I swore when I saw the black band tied around Annabeth's shoulder, the skin there an ugly combination of purple and green, making it appear almost brown in color.

"Who put on a tourniquet?" I asked myself, quickly undoing the restraint and letting it fall to the ground, cursing that someone had been so naïve as to do that. When a wound contains poison – like a snake bite, for example – you're not supposed to tie off the area with any attempt at a tourniquet unless you're trying to amputate that person's limb. The poison just sits there and festers, allowing it to destroy the tissue much, much faster.

As we worked, I kept singing hymns to Apollo seeing that my endurance could last longer compared to Will, who had almost passed out after a single hymn. But I knew that the sun god couldn't do much at the moment, probably more concerned with trying to slow down Typhon than worrying over a single demigod's wound when almost everyone else was injured as well. Still, I could try.

After another thirty minutes of nectar pouring, ambrosia feeding, and hymn singing, Will and I slumped to the ground in exhaustion, the poison finally ceasing its spreading. For good measure, I gave Annabeth a few sips of a healing draught I had, making sure that her body could expel the substance as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible.

"You guys don't look so good," Percy said as he gently stroked Annabeth's hair, making sure none of the blonde curls were on her face. "Do you need me to call someone else for help?"

I struggled onto my feet, stifling a groan, blinking back black spots that danced in my vision. I bent down and helped Will up, who then started to sway on his feet, so I wrapped an arm around his chest to keep him upright.

"We'll be fine," I said, failing to keep the exhaustion out of my voice. Percy gave me a pointed look, one that said he didn't trust a single word that was coming out of my mouth right now. "Listen, I was going to get some shut eye anyways, and I'll drop Will off with Luke to make sure he gets some sleep."

"I like Luke," Will murmured in assent, his eyes already drooping shut, his head tucked against his chest. "Luke is my bestest best friend."

"All right," Percy relented. "If you say so."

"Hey, it was about time we gave you two some privacy anyways." I walked towards the door to the terrace, trying not to drag Will behind me like a ragdoll. "Good night, Percy, Annabeth. I'll see you later."