In Between Two Worlds (HP/PJO Crossover)

Chapter 165: Percy is Dead? Apparently Not!

I have no clue how we got back to camp. I'm sure Annabeth found a way. I was of no help. I couldn't think of anything other than Percy. I didn't want to believe that my best friend--no--my brother was really gone.

I was faintly aware of people hugging me and telling me that it was OK to cry, but I wasn't listening. All I could do was stare straight ahead, and try to wrap my head around it.

I didn't fully realize until Argus was driving me to mum's apartment. Someone had to tell her. And I didn't want to do it over the phone or Iris message.

As we pulled up in front of our apartment building I found myself trying not to cry. I pulled my keys out of my pocket and let myself in. I walked up the steps to our apartment. I knocked on the door before I let myself in.

"Mum?" I called. I heard two sets of footsteps and mum's head popped around the corner with a bright smile.

"Karlee!" Mum exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" She came towards me and grabbed my face, looking at the horrible state that I was in. "What's wrong? Are you OK? Where's Percy?"

I broke at her words. I fell to my knees and started sobbing.

"Karlee!" Mum exclaimed as she came and wrapped her arms around me. "What happened?! Where is Percy?"

"He's...he's gone, mum! He..." I couldn't continue, but mum got the message because mum held me tighter and I heard her crying too.

We sat on the ground for what must have been an hour, crying. Mum cried so much she passed out for exhaustion. I picked her up and brought her into her room. I gently kissed her forehead and closed the door behind me.

I made my way to my and Percy's room. It was hard to be in there without him. It felt weird. I went over to our closet and pulled out of Percy's sweatshirts. I held it up to my face and smelled it. It still smelled like him--seawater and coconut shampoo.

I pulled it on and grabbed a drachma from my drawer. I cast the rainbow charm before throwing the drachma in.

"O Iris, accept my offering." The drachma disappeared. "Bailey Lupin."

After a minute, Bailey and Uncle Rem appeared. They were sitting at their table eating dinner.

"Karlee!" they yelled happily.

"What's going on?" Uncle Rem asked. "I thought you were on a quest."

"I was," I said softly. "Um...can you guys come here? Percy...uh...Percy..."

"We'll be there in ten seconds," Bailey said. She swiped her hand through the message. A second later, there was a loud crack coming from the kitchen. I darted out of my room when I heard mum let out a small scream. I flung open her door to see her sitting up.

"What's going on?" mum asked. She looked at me and frowned. "It wasn't a dream..."

She started crying again. I rushed over and pulled her into my arms.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect him, mum," I said softly as I started crying myself.

"Oh, honey." She sat up of brushed the hair out of my face. "It wasn't your fault."

"It was," I cried. "I left him. I knew I shouldn't have...but I left him."

"Karlee? Aunt Sally?" I heard Bailey call.

"In here," Mum said. Bailey and Uncle Rem popped their heads into the doorway.

"What happened with Percy?" Uncle Rem asked carefully.

"He..." I looked down, "he's gone."

"Oh, Merlin." Bailey and Uncle Rem said softly. They came over and hugged us.