Abandoned- a pertemis story Ψ ☑️

Homebound. Chapter 22

I understand if the previous chapter was confusing. I also understand that it doesn't matter. Don't worry, dear readers, you will soon learn. -Internet Head.

ΨPercyΨ
I fiddled with the cap of Riptide as I watched the fountain in front of me spit water.
We'd left the workshop behind and we were pretty much just chilling out now.
We'd gone through so many states I'd honestly forgotten where we were now.
All I knew was that this bench, at this particular park, was really comfortable.
Artemis has forced Alexus to get rest before taking her and Carmen to gather more supplies as they had looked like crap. No offense to them.
So here I was, alone.
Again.
I didn't have much of a problem with being alone. It just made me alone with my thoughts which was scary.
I shut my eyes tight, trying to block out the images.
I ran my hand over my face. What's wrong with me? Why do I feel so...
I clutched my chest tight, right over my heart.
Why does it hurt?
It felt like I'd been stabbed and left to die.
I couldn't process why, I was fine.
I hadn't been hurt and I'd gotten over Annabeth.
Annabeth...
I missed her so much. If she was here she would have called me dumb and given me advice.
She was the smart one. She was definitely the hero. So why did I have to live?
What was up with that?
Why did the fates decide that she needed to die. Why her?
I tried to feel angry, to bring up a bubbling hate for the gods, but I couldn't.
I just felt sad, tired, and useless.
I shook my head "thinking like that won't help me..." I muttered to myself.
I looked to my left and picked up Carmen's new sword.
He's left it with me, not wanting to take it to the store.
The crystal blade reflected the sunlight, shining like any normal sword was.
I was pretty proud of it, having helped make it.
The entirety of the sword was cut out of that crystal, so it was all the same material, but we'd added other metals.
The grip was plated in Etherial Silver, coming up to the shoulder of the sword.
The design made it look like a lightsaber hilt, which was definitely on purpose, knowing Carmen.
The metal stopped near the pommel, digging into the crystal as though it was apart of it.
Small parts of the metal connected with the crystal, allowing the two materials to bond.
There were plenty more surprises this sword had and quiet frankly I didn't know much of them.
I peered into the blade, it's blue crystal seemed to swirl with power and mist.
I noticed it became considerably more navy blue when I touched it.
I was still confused at what exactly the material was. When Carmen and I had fought the crystal hadn't chipped once even though it was easily cut through with any celestial bronze blade.
It's properties were so confusing and inconsistent.
I set it aside and sighed.
Nothing makes sense anymore.
A hand clapped down on my shoulder and I almost took it off with Riptide.
"Woah! Chill!" A familiar voice said, the hand disappearing.
"Carmen... don't sneak up on me like that." I said, my grip relaxing on Riptide as he swung over the bench and sat next to me.
I handed him his sword "I like your new getup." I remarked, looking at his new outfit.
He'd switched out of his old clothes for fresh new ones, he looked somewhat uncomfortable in them.
"Thanks. I like them too I just wish I had my old enchantments back..." he said, his hand touching his new jacket.
He'd traded out his old jacket for a charcoal grey coat that hung down to his knees, a small triangular divide at the very bottom of the coat between the legs.
The collar was lined with fur, as was the inside of the coat except that fur was more artificial.
The fur inside was also a deeper brown than the fur on the collar.
He wore fresh dark jeans and a T-shirt that read Dark Souls with a depiction of a bone fire and a sword.
He had converse shoes on and, from what I could see, Pokémon socks.
"That must've cost a lot." I observed.
"The cost is considerably less when all my previous jacket could produce were infinite coupons." He said, his voice flat.
I smiled a little "you really like coats like that, huh?"
He nodded "it's always been a thing with me. Don't judge me, hoodie boy."
I held up my hands in a 'surrender' gesture "hey man, I'm not judging. I like hoodies, you like emo jackets that make you look like you should be in Equilibrium or something." I defended my hoodies. Just because Carmen had found and given me a blue SPQR hoodie didn't mean I'd allow him to insult it.
Carmen pursed his lips "that's just mean."
I chuckled "mean? Me? No, never." I looked around "where are the girls?"
My companion sighed and sat back "they're still shopping around. Apparently Alexus is a lot more injured than we thought so Artemis is going to patch her up."
I furrowed my brow "so you left because...?"
"When they find all the supplies they need Artemis'll help Alexus and most of Alexus injuries aren't visible." He gave me a look.
"What? Oh. Oh! I get it." I nodded, a little embarrassed
"Yeah. Seeing as they're both hunters... I left." He tried to hide the fact that he was red in the face, also embarrassed.
I nodded "a wise decision." My heart throbbed at that word. Wise Girl.
We sat in silence for a little bit, Carmen handed me a deli-sandwich after a while saying that he had an extra.
I bit into the sandwich while Carmen took out another one "hey. Why is your sword hilt like that?" I asked, just to see what he'd say.
Carmen sighed "your pop culture knowledge is depressingly low for such a legend. It's modeled after a lightsaber, Jaro Tapal's."
I blinked "I can't say I know literally anything about that. My Star Wars knowledge extends to the fact that big dark cape-y dude's name is Darth Vader."
Carmen wept "we're watching every single geek icon there is when this is over, mark my words."
I nodded "no need to get so desperate..." I said though I was smiling.
Carmen took a savage bite of his sandwich "stupid Percy... not knowing Star Wars..." he muttered under his breath.
I scoffed "right. We need to find your 'lightsaber' a sheath anyway." I said, searching for something to do.
He choked on his sandwich "come off it!"
He hacked out some chunks and I patted his back "your right though... until I can find a safe place to enchant I'll need to carry it around." He winced as I tried not to laugh.
"You became British there for a second, you okay?" I said, hiding a smile.
He groaned a little "just shut up and come on." He pushed off the bench and helped me up as well, taking my hand.
We walked around a bit, exploring the park as well as the markets and malls nearby.
After awhile I looked at Carmen and sighed "hey... where exactly do you think we're going to find a sheath here?" I asked, looking around
Carmen stowed away the new lock-pick set we'd bought in his sleeves "I'd say somewhere like...." he looked around, suddenly pointing at a small dinky shop squished between much larger shops "...there."
"How do you know?" I asked.
He pointed at the name which was in Latin "I recognize some of the words. It's something to do with sharp things and metal, sounds like swords to me." He headed towards the shop, hefting his sword.
I huffed "don't even wait for me, no I just love being left alone! It's the best!" I muttered under my breath as I jogged after him.
He pulled open the door and let me go inside first. It was definitely a shop having to do with swords, seeing as the walls were covered in a verity of them.
The store clerk looked ready to pass out but seemed relieved when we walked in.
"Finally, customers! Are you looking for anything particular?" He asked, sitting up and setting aside his book which, I could clearly see, was "The Arrest of Arséne Lupin."  Which was a book I didn't expect anybody of this decade to read.
I looked at Carmen "yeah actually, something that can fit-." He plunked the sword on the Counter, the old wood bending under its weight "-this."
The clerk's eyes widened "that's... an interesting blade you've got there."
Carmen shrugged "yeah, it's antique." He muttered.
The clerk touched the handle "it's... a lightsaber. I'm not dumb."
I gave Carmen a flat look "yeah, sorry. We just didn't know if you had anything for something, uh, recent."
Carmen scratched his head in embarrassment "yeah, sorry."
The clerk nodded and stood up, moving out from behind the counter and walking over to a big chest in the corner.
He moved aside some knives from the top of it and opened the chest, rummaging around inside it.
We slowly walked up, curiously peering into the chest.
Before we could see anything though the clerk removed something and slammed the lid shut.
The clerk turned around and handed me a tangle of Velcro straps and leather.
I held it up "what's... whats with this?"
The clerk sighed "it's a sheath. I don't have anything else. It'll strap to your leg."
I handed it to Carmen and the Clerk helped him attach it to his leg.
I grabbed the sword and handed it to Carmen who stuck it into the sheath.
I grunted my approval "looks nice. It suits you." I put my hand in my pocket, fingering Riptide.
"Thanks. It feels nice too, not very restricting." He nodded and looked at the Clerk "how much?"
The clerk examined the sheath and stood back up from his crouching position "how about you just owe me something later. Next time I see you I'll ask you for a favor."
I looked at Carmen, skeptical, but he shook the clerk's hand "sounds like a good deal."
I closed my eyes and I sucked in a breath. Was that wise in any way?
We thanked the clerk and left.
Carmen looked at me and patted his sword "that went well."
I furrowed my brow as I looked at him "you promised a random stranger a favor. How do you know you'll ever see him again?"
He shrugged "I do this all the time. I owe the Empire State Building Secretary guy like three favors. I'm pretty sure some of the Nymphs and Dryads owe me some stuff and vice versa..." he looked a thoughtful.
"What?" Now I was a little concerned.
"Do I owe Juniper for that one thing or...?" He muttered.
I inhaled "the more I learn about you, the more I want to stick you in a cardboard box, put you in a safe, hide you on a remote island off the coast of the UK, and never ever release upon the world again." I raised my eyebrows at him.
"That's fair." He smiled at me.
We turned down an alley "what else do we need." I asked aloud.
Carmen bounces on his heels "we could go out for some food? Want a blue pizza?"
I stared at him "do I want a blue pizza? Why on earth would I not want a blue pizza."
He smiled but immediately turned his attention on something else. He unsheathed his sword and twirled it. He nodded his head, gesturing down the alley.
I uncapped Riptide and got in a fighting position, ready for combat.
A man, looking really uncomfortable in his leather jacket which was definitely fifteen sizes too small, moved aside a dumpster and started heading towards us, grumbling to himself.
We looked at each other and back at him.
"You smell nice... like demigods..." his eyes flashed at us.
I cursed internally. This was bound to happen sooner or later.
The man charged us and I could see that his eyes was actually eye. He was a cyclops, and a mean one at that.
"I got left leg you got right." I said, lunging to the left.
"Got it." Carmen side stepped the cyclops who was now falling because I jabbed him in the knee and then slashed his sword clean through his right leg.
We looked at one another and sank our sword tips into his back.
The cyclops turned to dust. I capped Riptide and Carmen slashed his sword through the air, cleaning the dust that had stuck there on the blade.
He sheathed his sword "I forgot about our smell. With all the demigods we've got in our party it's insane we haven't attracted more monsters."
I nodded "we should probably check on the girls then. If we got caught, just the two of us, then they're probably having trouble."
Carmen looked worried "Yeah, Artemis is a goddess so that'll definitely attract attention."
I bit my lip "yeah." I tightened my grip on my Riptide.
"And Alexus is still injured." His voice was tight.
"We should go." We both turned out of the alley and started running.

We headed into the mall, swords drawn, only to find that nobody was there and the mall was severely beat up, the walls having deep scratches and gouges and potted plants turned over into broken glass.
"Over there." I pointed to one of the shops that didn't have a light on, I could hear something faint there.
We looked at one another in mutual agreement. If there were any other monsters, we'd dispatch them.
I crept forward to the room just as the rest of the lights went out. I smacked Carmen's arm and a few seconds later some fire lit up in his hand.
He raised it so we could see more, our swords only glowing faintly in the dark.
"Of course." I muttered. What monster wouldn't want to base themselves in Hot Topic?
We entered and Carmen stabbed his sword into the ground, grabbing something off the shelves.
"Look." He showed me a Pop Character "it's Joker from Persona 5."
I rolled my eyes "just come on."
He did as asked and we went further in, the sounds getting clearer.
Carmen pointed with his sword at a wriggling shape on the ground.
We crouched down "what in the Styx...?" I muttered, staring at the monster.
It's scaly skin was green and it had a single tail for legs. It's scales from its tail decayed and turned black the further up the body they were, up until it's head which was a grotesque skeleton, charbroiled muscles and tendons still on it.
The creature grasped at the ground with wickedly sharp clawed hands and it made screeching noises that, if were more audible, would be kind of painful to listen too. It gazed up at me, it's eye sockets empty, and made a horrible sound, it's rotting tongue flicking around decaying teeth.
I almost threw up "what in Hades is this thing?"
Carmen shifted away a little "a mistake?" He said, moving his hand up a bit to see more.
I now noticed that the creature had two celestial bronze knives pinning it to the floor, between its shoulder blades. I didn't see how it wasn't dead already.
"Alexus..." I muttered, moving down its body to see that the rest of its snake like tail was pinned down by arrows "... and Artemis."
I stood up and brought Riptide down on the monster, stabbing it in the abdomen.
It cried out but didn't die.
It took another four stabs to kill it.
It didn't fully disintegrate into dust, only the snake part, and actual green blood was left on my sword.
I wiped it off using a Harry Potter T-shirt from the clothing rack.
"What is going on here?" I complained. None of it made sense.
Carmen gripped my shoulder "it's not making much sense, is it? We've got to get to the bottom of this." A loud screech rang out and we both whirled around.
Another creature launched itself at Carmen and he stepped back, slicing it through the stomach.
It's tail wreathed around, spraying green blood everywhere.
The other, grey and dying, part was still clawing at our feet.
"Kill it! Kill it!" Carmen screamed, raising his sword with two hands just as I did.
We both hacked at it until it was dead.
"Glad that's over." He sighed.
I nodded in agreement as we searched the rest of the shop.
Eventually we made it behind the counter where we found both members of our party.
"Carmen! They're here... and they're not in good shape." I called out and he hurried over, throwing aside some pins he was looking at.
He almost moved away when he saw them "ohh no. Oh god. What happened to them?" He sounded afraid. He didn't sound like that often.
Artemis stirred, holding her arm. She opened her eyes, caked with dried blood, and reached out with a hand, obviously wincing "we've got to go to Camp-Half Blood." She choked out.
I swallowed hard "why? What happened? Are you okay?"
The counter was messed up, her arm was clearly broken and her bow was splintered next to her but she didn't tell me anything about that.
She just gave me a wild look "Camp, as soon as possible."
I sighed and looked at Carmen, dread creeping up on me "well. Looks like we're going home."