Cabin 13

59| Inner Strength

"Oh, you're broken."

Percy involuntarily shivered at her words. His body was weak and numb, in fact, he wasn't sure he could even feel his body anymore. He felt so empty. So detached. 

"Many of your functions have been altered. How intriguing." 

Suddenly memories flashed as if he were watching them on a movie screen. Ones he could not place or recognize, but they faded just as quickly as they had come.

"All of these memories have been modified it seems."

New memories began flashing. Including those of his childhood, Gabe Ugliano, and his many expulsions. 

"Seems in these, you are all alone."

Memories of him fighting with his mother, begging her to leave Gabe. Memories of him running away, crying. Certain she must love Gabe more than she loved him. 

Tears began rolling down his face, "No, please." He violently shook his head.

The memory faded. 

"These memories are so raw. They still hurt you even now."

Another memory quickly took the place of the previous: Back at Camp when he received his first quest. Grover had been the only one willing to join him, but Percy refused. Everyone thought he was a thief trying to help his father overthrow Zeus. No one trusted him and he was certain soon enough neither would Grover. 

"And this hurt makes you push people away. Mistrust their intentions. Refuse to rely on anyone."

"Shut up! Shut up!" Percy screamed, clutching at his head.

"And it seems the second you let your guard down, you were betrayed again."

The memory of Luke's face flashes. 

"Always you are rejected. Always you are fighting alone."

Memories of his quests play. In the Sea of Monsters, Clarisse refusing his help and taking the glory for herself. At Camp, Zoë Nightshade refusing him on her quest to save Bianca because he was a boy. Calypso demanding he leave her island, urging him to continue on his quest. Fighting in the Titan War alone. Returning victorious alone. 

"Somewhere along the way you became quite bitter. You convinced yourself you didn't need anyone."

"I don't!" he yelled, "The only person who will ever be there for  me, is  me!"

"Appears true enough."

Memories of Tartarus began and Percy immediately screamed. 

"No! No, no, no, no... you can't!" his objections slowly get more desperate as the memory plays. 

The pain he had to endure. The lengths he had to go to for his survival. Lengths he said he would never speak of again. 

"But even after proving yourself against Gaea, it seems you are still not accepted. Certainly not trusted."

Now he sees Nico shaking his head, telling him they can't ever kiss again like that. Jason hitting him on the back of his head, dragging him on the quest. His fight with Jason later in the parking lot. His friends turning him over to Cupid, letting him invade his mind. Jason fighting him in the Gladiators Arena. He sees Piper giving him death glares as Jason vies for his attention. Leo looking at him in disgust, having to be held back to stop him from charging. 

"I don't need any of them!" he shrieks, "I don't need  their acceptance! I don't want  their trust! I am fine on my own!"

"You lie. I can see you want it, quite badly in fact. Is this why you push them away? Taunt them and pretend you don't care for them?"

His fists clenched. He could feel his fists again! He gritted his teeth.

"Isn't it time you gave up? Why continue fighting for those who don't accept you as their friend? Let me save you from all your strife."

He snapped. "All of this has only made me stronger! And I don't need acceptance— I don't need friends  to keep fighting!" His voice is shaky and breaking, but he doesn't care. He is in control now. "AND I DON'T NEED ANYONE TO SAVE ME!" he roars. 

Percy shoves the deity away, he can feel the waves now. They're close, and they are his. The water bends to his will, dragging the deity underneath as he uncaps his blade. He reaches to control her body, but he can sense no blood. He snarls. He was going to have to do this the old fashioned way. 

The waves drags her back to the surface, churning around her and he approaches her with blood lust. 

"Percy! Percy!" Will call to him. "Percy! Jason!"

Percy jerks his head back up. Jason. 

He makes a fist, forcing the water down the deity's throat, into her body. Allowing it to destroy her every bone, tear her every muscle. But this only frustrates him as her body immediately regenerates. She is not like a god nor a monster. More like that of a ghost. 

He releases his hold on her, growling, "Leave. Do not come back." Not even he recognizes his voice. 

Her image flickers and then she is simply gone. 

Percy turns his attention to the ocean, combing it for signs of Jason. He finds a waterlogged body limp on the sandy bottom a few yards away. The waves pull him onto shore and Percy pulls the water from his lungs. 

Will races over, throwing himself down on the beach, starting CPR. Pushing at his chest and breathing into his mouth. Percy can only watch. But he seems to be successful as Jason's lips begin to draw in shallow breaths. 

Percy reaches to pull away all the cold water on Jason's skin and clothes, easily drying him. 

"What the hell was that?!" Will demanded.

Percy looked back to the water, where Lethe had laid. "That's a poor thank you. Besides I thought it was your job to keep Lethe away."

Will frowned, "Yeah, I know I did a sucky job of that. But the second Lethe touched you she disappeared and the waves pulled Jason under. Your eyes started glowing and you were talking nonsense!"

Percy ran his hand through his hair, trying to put together what exactly had  happened. 

"And now you can control the uncontrollable water?!"

Percy blinked. But Will was right, the waves responded to him as if they were only an extension of his arm. 

Jason rolled over to his side in a coughing fit, his eyes finally tearing open. 

"Jason! Jason!" Will grabbed his cheek, "Jason, are you alright? Do you remember who you are?"

Jason shook off his hand. "Even if I couldn't, you've shouted 'Jason' at me three times. It'd take an idiot not to know who I was."

"So you don't know who you are?" Percy teased.

"Oh, haha. You're hilarious." Jason rolled his eyes, sitting up.

"So you're fine? Just like that?"

Jason shrugged, "I don't know. I feel pretty crappy, but I can remember everything."

"Huh, what about Percy? Do you still..."

"Wanna jump his bones? Absolutely."

Percy winced. 

Will sighed, cursing underneath his breath. "Well, either way we've solved at least one problem. Percy can control the water, and it looks like Lethe has been scared off for the time being."

Jason plops back down on the sand, groaning, "Can we go back to the hotel now?"

Percy chuckles, "What? You didn't have any fun in the water?"

Jason glared.

Will lets himself smile. They've won this battle.