Percy Jackson: dark waters

Chapter 7

Percy's POV

I woke up in a cave. Well, more like a small bedroom in cave. I was laying in bed covered in silver colored sheet. The bed was stone, but mattress felt not bad. I remembered visit to Damasen's home. After I tired to stand up, I felt a torturing pain in my chest. I let out a small grunt trying to ignore it. I had no idea where I was, so I did not want to take any chances. I got riptide and uncapped it. As soon as I felt a familiar weight of the blade in my had, I felt a bit more confident. I still could not stand up because of the pain, but at least I was not defenseless. 

I started to look around. Now I noticed the food on bedstand next to me. Some meat I could not recognize and water. Yes. Clean water. I got suspicious, but I was too hungry to worry about it. 

After devouring the whole thing, I laid back. Riptide was still in my hand, but I decided to hide it under the cover. I was waiting for what felt like two hours (but probably was just 30 minutes). Finally, I heard footsteps outside. I braced myself. I know maybe I should not be so suspicious, but after being betrayed and then abandoned AND betrayed again I was not willing to die because of another betrayal. 

First thing that got my attention was a long silver duster. It kinda reminded me of Nemean Lion's pelt. Well, expect obviously this as silver and not gold. Then, I noticed the quiver attached to the belt. Although it was partially hidden under the coat, I was pretty sure piece of clothing would not interfere if this person tried to shot me. What struck me was that bow was nowhere to be found. Then I finally looked at the face and I froze. Standing in front of me soul and flesh was Bianca di Angelo.

I starred at her in complete shock. Through my mind crossed a thought that it might not be Bianca but some monster impersonating her, but my gut was telling me she was real. There was something different about her, but it was her. Definitely older though. She looked almost my age. Last I saw her, she was only 12. I heard that hunters of Artemis can choose their age, but before she died I am pretty sure she did not have that chance. Maybe after death the immortality is done and in the underworld you age as you would in mortal world. But that would make no sense. Hazel been there for 70 years and she is the same age she died... Ok. Getting out of tracks here. 

"BIANCA!" I shouted. Maybe it wasn't kindest and most polite greeting, but well... we are in Tartarus and she is supposed to be dead. 

"Hello Percy" She greeted me with smile. Now I noticed what was different. It was how she carried herself. She was no longer this insecure barely-a-teenager I met. There was this dark look in her eyes I knew far too well myself. I saw it in mirror every time I looked at my reflection. The sight of someone who lost someone close to them. When I looked closer, I saw something more. A sign of resignation. I met few campers who, after loosing everyone they cared about in one of two wars gave similar vibe. I heard a fingersnap and I realized I zoned out and kept staring at her. "I understand not every day you meet someone, who died four years ago, but I would appreciate if you stopped just piercing me with your eyes. Your glare is itsy bitsy intimidating". She smiled at me and I understood she was just joking to unload the tension. 

"yeah. Sorry. It's just that... I mean... Nico..." I stuttered, trying my best to expres what was going in my mind. "You died. We met your ghost in the labirynt. Nico told us you chose rebirth." I saw her smile disappear and get replaced by anger

"Oh! So that is what they told him? That is all they told? For Father's sake! If I get my hands on this three morons, they are going to be much sorry." I saw shadows in the corners start to form into... some things I did not want to meet.

"I think I am gonna regret asking, but... what are you talking about?" Immediately, I did regret asking. The shadows suddenly burst and created four wraiths that started to roam under the ceiling until going back into shadows in the corners. I watched it with a little bit of fear. I faced many different enemies, but children of hades are really frightening when they want to be. 

As Bianca calmed down, she sat on the chair made of shadows. Wow. That's a new one. "When I sensed that Thanatos has been captured and Doors of Death opened, I took my chances. I faked going for rebirth, while in fact I wanted to return to mortal world. Sadly, I had bad luck and got captured. Now my father was really busy with all the souls running away, so I was brought before the judges. Fates really hate me, because Minos was the leading one. I guess he wanted revenge on Nico for thrashing his great plan, but since my little brother is not planning on dying soon, he settled on putting all his rage on me. For attempting to cheat death, I was thrown into Tartarus." 

Throughout the story, her expression gradually changed from anger to sadness. By the end I could see that she was barely holding herself together. As much as I wanted to know more, I knew that if I pushed farther, she would crumble. 

"It's okay. You don't need to tell me if you don't feel like it." I said, trying to comfort her. "Maybe it was best for Nico to think that you are reborn and having new life. He moved on. Also, he opened himself. Now he is dating this guy named Will. Son of Apollo. He found happiness. Also, he became your father's general and immortal hunter of escaped souls. Quite an achievement, right?" While talking, I did my best to crook up a mischievous smile, but I failed and instead my smile looked like I was beaten by Clarissa and tried to hide it. Luckily, it was enough for her to cheer up a bit.

"Good. You've taken a good care of him. Thank you for that. I am happy for his success. It's just... I will never again see any of my friends. Any hunters. Anyone really." She was slipping back to sadness.

"Well, you have me. And I already got out of Tartarus once. I am sure we can figure it out together."  This only made her sadder. No no no. I won't let her close herself with this sadness. I made this mistake with Nico and I won't let it happen again. 

"You don't understand. I can't leave this place. I was condemned. You too. We are never allowed to exit this pit." I saw first tears forming in her eyes. I ignored the pain and got out of bed to hug her.

"I thought you know me. I always ignore orders." Yes. Being sassy definitely will help here, right?

"No. We really can't. I tried. Every possible way. I was even contemplating jumping into the void." Okay. That is really unhealthy. I just got Bianca back and I will not let her go. 

"We will figure something out. As long as monsters don't get to us, we can do it."

"No. We can't." She started sobbing. Tears going down her cheeks. "Because they already did. I died Percy. I died and I was reborn down here. Apparently Tartarus decided that after I abandoned my brother up there, being selfish and joining the hunters, only to die and leave him for ever, I was monster enough. I died and reformed already three times. I am a monster Percy. And I don't want to go back."

A/N sorry for late chapter, but I just couldn't write it. The climate is pretty serious and I had some troubles health troubles which stopped me. I am really sorry. I hope quality over quantity is good enough for you. I will also be starting much less serious PercyXAvengers crossover since I want to write something lighter.


QOTC (question of the chapter): what is the difference between zippo and hippo?

Peace out. Author.