Demigods In Highschool, Trials of Demigods and Mist, The Prison of Magic

Chapter 9

||Percy Jackson||

I had made hard decisions before. But none were as hard as this. I knew that if I were to stay with Semystra, I would possibly get information on where Hecate would be. How to get back was the main problem.

"Percy?" Annabeth took my hand, tears in her eyes.

"How long will I have to be with you?" I asked, looking straight into the nymph's eyes.

"Hm... for as long as you can complete the task. You'll experience a lot of pain with no medication. It'll gain you information, though," Semystra looked at me.

"How will I get back to my friends?"

"Stop right there. There is no guarantee you'll be able to complete this task. It hasn't been recorded in Greek mythology or Roman mythology because the scumbags in Olympus don't think they would include any tale of Heracles failing at his tasks," she scowled, "Not even he could stand the pain you'll go through. Not even Tartarus himself could go through the pain. You may not survive, but you'll get information. The only catch is if you can survive, you'll be able to send the information forward because when you're done I'll treat you and send you straight back through the rivers. I know where your next destination will be and your friends have to find something else anyway. What's it gonna be?"

I looked at my friends, who were all looking at me with the same look.

It's your choice. If you wanna come back to us, we'll be relieved. If you don't... well, it'll make this quest easier.

I looked to the nymph and then to Annabeth. She was crying but she held my hands with a brave intensity in her eyes.

"Go," she choked out.

"What if I never see you again--"

"You know we'll see each other someday," she smiled, teary-eyed.

"I love you," I felt hot tears running down my cheek.

"I love you, too," Annabeth wrapped her hands around my neck and kissed me.

I kissed back and after a while, we pulled away.

"I know you'll survive whatever she's gonna put you through. I know you will," Annabeth nodded, looking at me.

"I know," I replied.

"Bye, Percy," Thalia hugged me, tears soaking my shirt.

"Bye, Pinecone Face," I smirked and she slapped me.

"We're saying goodbye Percy. Not hello," Thalia rolled her eyes.

"I know."

"Bye, guys," I said, going over to the nymph.

"Bye, Percy," they all looked at me with their watery eyes.

"Come along, dear. We've got a lot to do," Semystra smiled kindly, "He'll be in good hands."

"Yeah... good hands," Annabeth muttered.

That was the last I saw of my wise girl before they headed back to the ship.

"Now. Here's what we're gonna do," Semystra gave me a sympathetic look as I wiped my tears.

"I'm ready," I nodded.

"Good."

||Annabeth Chase||

For once, I envied Reyna, Thalia, and Rachel. They didn't have someone to lose.

But they don't have anyone to love, either, I reminded myself.

"Okay... we'll have to keep going to our next thing," I said, earning shocked glances.

"Annabeth," Piper said gently, "We're gonna rest first, okay? Then we'll figure out what to do without Percy."

"But--"

"Annabeth you can't go on faking forever," Hazel nodded gently, taking my hand and pulling me in for a hug.

"I know, but still--"

"Annabeth. We don't even know where we'll go next. We have to rest and you need some time alone," Thalia said, resting a hand on my shoulder.

They eventually got me to my room where I was supposed to be with Percy.

"Sleep," Piper charmspoke me and I closed my eyes.

||Piper McLean||

As I heard soft snoring coming from my best friend, all I could think was... wow. She had lost her best friend and boyfriend today. She had lost someone so special to her and she could think about moving on. The moment I saw her face I knew she was hurting. We all got out of the room, leaving her in peace.

"Jason. Let's walk," I said, grabbing his hand and moving him to the deck of the Argo II

"What, Pipes?" he asked, looking puzzled.

"Jason, look," I said, leaning on the railing of the ship.

"What?"

"Just... look at the horizon and how beautiful it is," I sighed, staring at the sunset, which was a mixture of pink and blue.

"Blue... like Percy's favorite color," Jason's voice cracked, looking at the clouds dotting at the beautiful scenery.

I knew how much their bromance meant to him and I felt a pang of sympathy for him.

"Hey, it's okay to cry," I said, holding him closer to me.

He buried his head in my shoulder but the tears never flowed down.

"At least... At least I didn't lose you," he said and my heard fluttered with happiness.

"Jason! I think we're headed for some turbulence!" Leo's voice rang out through the ship as we rushed inside.

A loud BOOM sounded in the ship and Leo came out with black smoke all over him.

"Prepare for emergency landing!" he panted, pulling out a parachute backpack.

"What--" I began to say before the ship lurched and I flew against the ceiling, a knot twisting in my stomach as we began to free-fall.

"Prepare for impact," Leo said, trying to make his way to where a button was.

I screamed as a mug of coffee shattered next to my face. The Argo II was plummeting down from the sky.

||Percy Jackson||

I stared at the woman in front of me. She held out a vial of weird clear liquid.

"Do you know what this is, young man?" she asked.

"Um... no," I said, looking at it.

"It is the blood of a gorgon. From the right side," she said.

My mind traveled back to my bet with Phineas and I shivered.

"Don't worry. You'll need it for you to withstand the pain," she said.

I drank it like Gabe used to shoot a whiskey at home. Immediately, I felt a little warm tingle. Then, I felt a thousand knives stabbing into my stomach.