the weight of the world [a pjo fanfic]

chapter fourteen.

Percy had been running for days. He wasn't sure how many days, but he had been in water for as long as he could remember after leaving camp. Yes, he did feel guilty. But Jason could handle the attacks.

Jason. His name alone made Percy bitter. How could they betray me? I had only ever had their best interests in mind. I only protected them from day one. We were supposed to be The Seven.

And Annabeth. He continued to glide through the water.

Master. The fish cried. Our leader and ruler! The son of the King! O powerful one, we bow down to you. Percy felt uncomfortable with the attention. The fish followed him, as if in a trance. He tried to swim faster, but the fish only followed even more closely. Sighing, he tried to block the noise out. It reminded him of the campers back at his home. I guess I can't really call it home anymore.

Percy would sleep on the sea bed when he was tired and drank water straight from the ocean. He had refused to eat any fish and instead, ate kelp or whatever else he could find, until the kelp began to remind him of Annabeth's nickname for him, kelp head. From there on, he had just stopped eating completely. His throat felt empty and his stomach felt emptier, but he ignored the pain. Suddenly, he stopped swimming.

Where am I going? Percy looked up, lost and upset. Burying his face in his hands, he struggled to cry. No tears came out. "Ugh. What am I doing?" He swam to the surface and poked his head out. "Where am I?" It was quite a picturesque view; rocky mountains swept to the side of the crystal blue water. It was almost as if he was in a lagoon. He spotted a cave to the left of him, and decided to stay the night there. Where will I go? He waded to the side and crawled into the damp hole. It was pretty big, actually. Percy almost peed himself when he heard a voice behind him.

"Abandoned one." He let out an incoherent noise and stumbled backwards, falling on his arse. He looked up at a dark figure. When he stepped into the light, Percy almost doubled over in shock.

It was the hooded man from his weird dream.

"Enkataleimménos." He said, as if greeting him. Percy knew what that meant, even though he had never heard of the word. He looked into the man's face. Even though his startling eyes were familiar, he had never paid much attention to the rest of him. His skin was dark, glistening and as smooth as melted chocolate. He was, to put it simply, beautiful. His cloak flowed behind him, wrapping around his legs and his run-down sandals. As if seeing Percy watch him, he took off his sandals.

"Who... are you?"

"Perseus Jackson." His African accent was light, but Percy still caught it. "I have been waiting for you, Abandoned one."

"Waiting... for me?"

"Yes. Please, sit down." He held up two hands and Percy whipped his head around to watch as the rocks behind him shimmered. A mist of sparkles began to fall and a room was revealed. There was a couch, a small bed, more like a cot, and a fountain. A campfire brazenly burned in the middle, surrounded by a few pillows. A small table stood in the corner.

"Woah..." Percy walked towards the couch and the man followed him. He sat down, a little on edge, afraid and confused. "Uh, you still haven't told me who you are and what you want with me."

He didn't speak. Instead, he walked over to the table and chanted something incoherent. Two teacups appeared in his hand and he handed one to Percy, who knew better than to drink it. Instead, he eyed it suspiciously and set it down. "Thanks." The man didn't speak, again, and kneeled in front of the campfire on a pillow.