.||Subject Five||.

~*Chapter Eight*~

- - Annabeth's POV - -

I watched as my winged boyfriend collapsed at my feet. His wings were sprawled out at a weird angle which looked very painful. Everyone was shocked to see that the hero was Percy, and that he did have a mutation after all!

I fell to my knees with tears streaming down my face. I touched Percy's blistered face gingerly then his wings, which were twitching slightly. "W-what? H-how..?" Piper said as she put her face in her hands. "I-I don't believe it! Percy did have a mutation.." said Jason, who started removing the darts from Percy's wings and back. "I-I can't believe we did this to him! All for just to see his identity..." I cried.

Frank was unfolding Percy's wings to a more comfortable position, while Poseidon dried him off. Poseidon looked furious, but he tried to stay calm so we could handle the situation. "He needs serious medical treatment.. these burns look pretty bad." said Frank. Poseidon was about to flash us to the palace, but then Percy's eyes fluttered open. He started coughing and then yelped in pain when he moved his wings.

"Ow-" he said, trying to get up. "Percy don't try, you're injured bad enough." said Hazel, who reached towards him. He glared at us and smacked her hand away. "Percy, I-I didn't know.. I'm so sorry!" I pleaded. "You did... all of... this just.. to see... my identity...?" he rasped, gesturing to the palace, which now looked like nothing had ever happened. Percy raised an eyebrow when he saw the scene gone. "Y-You guys had me ...pretty worried... I-I.. thought tha-" He stopped short when he doubled over and started coughing some more. I watched in awe as Percy's broken wings mended. He then stopped coughing and stretched his wings.

"Percy.. Percy don't" I pleaded, grasping his hand. He gave me a pained look then stood up shakily. He shook off my hand and then flexed his wings to get ready to take off. "Sorry Percy, but I have to do this if you don't listen." Warned Athena, who was now holding the tranquilizer gun.

He ignored the warning and then took off, flying into the night. Athena sighed and then shot the gun. We all watched as Percy fell, with his wings struggling to stay afloat. Poseidon grabbed him with a water hand and held him tight. Percy was thrashing around, trying to get away. "P-Please.. n-no more dar-" But he was stopped short when a few more hit him.

Percy yelped then went limp. Poseidon sighed and set him back onto the grass. We all crowded around Percy and then we were flashed to Olympus.

"APOLLO!" Poseidon shouted worriedly while he was cradling Percy's unconscious body. Apollo flashed in and immediately took control.

"3rd degree burns and cuts... I'll need more sedatives... god these wings are big." muttered Apollo, who was gingerly setting Percy's singed wings. "I-is he going to be okay?" I asked.

Apollo sighed and fumbled with an IV. "His blood is showing that avian DNA was what was injected in him. His body seems to have accepted this."

I started sobbing into Percy's shoulder, while he unconsciously shivered at the touch while his wings relaxed. Apollo noticed this and encouraged me to stay with Percy.

I nodded and squeezed Percy's hand and mentally slapped myself when I gazed at his wounded wings. How could I have let this happen...?

Once Apollo had treated all of his wounds, Percy was wheeled away to another room, his beautiful black wings dragging behind him. Of course, I followed him. The entire way I held his hand tightly while Poseidon and everyone else followed as well.

I sat in a chair next to Percy's bed and positioned his wings comfortably next to him. The feathers were soft and silky, and I just wanted them to be wrapped around me.

"With rest, he will be alright. The poor boy has been through so much..." said Apollo, who went to talk with Poseidon. I started quietly sobbing again and Hazel comforted me.

"It'll be alright Annie... He'll be alright..." she said. Frank and Piper walked over and sat in other chairs in the room. " It's my fault that he's like this! My fault that he wasn't comfortable telling us! " I shouted, gripping Percy's hand tighter.

Tears rolled down my cheeks and dropped onto Percy. He stirred a little while his wings twitched. I glanced down at him and realized that his multicolored eyes were squinting at the ceiling. "P-Percy..?" I whispered. No response. He seemed to be listening for something.

After what seemed like minutes, his eyes widened and then he looked at me. He slowly sat up and flexed his wings. "Percy... are you alright?" asked Poseidon. "Hmm... interesting. He can't hear us. He's focusing his senses on something else." said Apollo , who was stroking his chin.

"A-Annabeth!" exclaimed Percy, who seemed to have noticed that people were here. I nodded eagerly and pulled him into a hug. I could feel his body relax as his soft wings wrapped around me. He kissed me tenderly on the lips, then released me.

Everyone was "awwwing" behind us. Percy rolled his eyes and then tensed. His wings stiffened as he cautiously got out of bed. "No...They're here...." he said, backing into the wall. His breathing started becoming quicker as his wings started trembling.

Zeus and Athena barged in. "It's MRL! We have to get him to safety!" they shouted. Percy flinched at the name but nodded. He folded his wings behind him, as there was no reason to hide them now.

I grasped his hand as everyone ran out of the room. We ran to the throne room were we were met with an army of people in white coats and black vests. There were naiads, nymphs, monsters, mortals, experiments, and even a few minor gods who had gathered.