My Uncle, The Avenger

Chapter 1: Nothing Is Better Than A Hellhound In Your House

Percy

I trudged through the dark, towering maze of Tartarus. 

I dragged my feet through the sinking soil, clinging onto Annabeth's hand like it was the only way I would live. Which was true, somewhat, at least. 

I raised a hand and placed it on my parched throat, trying to blink back tears. I failed ever so miserably. 

"Why do you try?" a voice asked, sounding like a knife scraping on metal. I shuddered and Annabeth and I kept moving on. "You're going to die anyway. The both of you." 

Annabeth froze. I shook her, but her storm grey eyes were now a ghostly white. 

"No," I whispered, trying so hard to keep a sob in my throat. "No, Annabeth, come back, please." 

She pulled her dragon bone sword out of it's sheath and lunged towards me, but this time I was too slow to dodge...

---

I bolted up, panting. 

"Percy, Percy, you okay?" Annabeth asked, sitting on the edge of my bed, a hand on my chest. 

I blinked as I took in my surroundings. I was in a room - no, a cabin. My cabin, the Poseidon Cabin, Cabin 3. "You're-you're here," I whispered, throat hoarse. 

Annabeth nodded. "Y-yeah. You're here, I'm here. We're here - together," she said, her voice shaking. 

Ever since the two of us escaped Tartarus, nightmares plagued our sleep. The only way we could calm down was being together - the only way. 

I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding in. "You-you don't need to worry," I managed, every word hurting my throat even more. Annabeth gripped my hand and kissed me on the cheek. "I think I do." 

We both laughed softly, and I felt myself smile faintly. "Love ya, Wise Girl," I said, cockily, giving her one of my lopsided grins. Annabeth smiled, her curly, blonde hair bouncing up. I brushed some out of her face and pulled her into a hug. "Love you too, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said back. I felt her breath on my neck and I kissed her. 

Annabeth pulled away, frowning. "Why are your lips always salty?" she asked, crossing her arms. 

The two of us laughed. "See you tomorrow?" Annabeth asked. "See you tomorrow," I agreed. "Don't you dare leave me again," Annabeth warned, eyes flashing before smiling again. "Don't you dare leave me either!" I called back. 

I fell into my bed, sighing into my pillow. I closed my eyes, only one question haunting me as I tried to get to sleep:

Why were my lips always salty? 

---

When I woke up, I got into some shorts and a CHB t-shirt. I walked outside, and into the dining pavilion, sitting at the Poseidon Cabin. 

Where's Annabeth? 

I looked around, and saw the Athena Cabin at their table. 

Annabeth wasn't there. 

I felt my heart start to pound, but I walked on over before I made any assumptions. "Do you know where Annabeth is?" I asked Malcom Pace, a son of Athena. 

Malcom frowned at me. "Well...we woke up and she wasn't with us, so we thought she was with you," he explained. 

I stared at him. "W-w-what do you-do you mean?" I spluttered. "I mean," Malcom said. "Don't you guys sleep together and-"

"Shut up," I growled. "One, Annabeth was not with me and two, we do not sleep together." Malcom nodded, hands raised. "Okay, then, but Annabeth, was not with us." 

I don't think he understood the magnitude of the situating. Annabeth Chase was missing for the gods sake. "I'll go look for her," I mumbled, walking off, heart pounding. 

---

"Three hours have passed and Annabeth is still missing," I barely heard Chiron say. "We need some groups to search for her. Any volunteers?" 

I immediately put my hand up. "Percy," Chiron said. "Are you sure?" 

I nodded. "Yes," I said. Chiron raised his eyebrows and I felt my confident expression waver. 

"What is it?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. Chiron sighed. "I think-I think you need to take a break," he admitted. "From the searching, from the fighting, from the...questing." 

I raised an eyebrow. "Is that a real word?" I asked, confused. Annabeth would know, I thought. My heart ached. Oh god, I wish she was here.

"Yes," Chiron answered. "Mm-hmm," I said skeptically. "What do you want me to do then?" 

Chiron looked thoughtful for a moment. "Visit your family," he said. "I think you need that, now." 

---

Chiron had Argus take me back home. We drove in the 'Delphi's Strawberry Service' van towards New York. 

I stared out at the New York. It had been months, months, since I was last here, and gods, I missed it. I pressed my hand against the cold, hard glass of the van and gazed out wistfully at the city surrounding me. 

"At McDonald's please," I said to Argus, and he parked in the carpark. I got outside and Argus drove off. 

I made sure I had some normal money instead of Drachmas (I've made that mistake before) and walked inside. 

"Can I have a large cheeseburger, some fries, and a chocolate milkshake?" I asked, handing them the money. 

In less than ten minutes I was eating the food by myself. I felt a pang in my chest, remembering that Annabeth wasn't here. I blinked back tears and stared at the floor, suddenly not hungry. 

---

I arrived at my apartment (as well as my mom and Paul's) a little bit later. I pressed the doorbell and waited to be greeted. 

289, 290, 291, I thought, counting the seconds. I tapped my fingers on the wall, waiting to see my mom. 298, 299, 300.

Five minutes and no one had came out. 

I pushed on the door and it creaked open. Frowning, I pulled out my pen, and warily walked through. 

I lifted my foot and saw myself standing in a pool of sticky, red liquid. Blood, I realized, horrified. 

My heart started beating faster. I saw a creature with shaggy black fur standing in front of me. A hellhound.

"Mrs. O'Leary?" I asked. All I got back was a growl and a snarl.

 I uncapped my pen and swung my sword, and the creature disintegrated into ghastly, gold dust. 

I stared at what was in front of it in horror. 

My mom and Paul, surrounded by blood. I let out a sob and dropped to my knees, trying to find a pulse. 

"Mom, Paul, no," I whispered, sobbing and shaking them. "No, no, no. You can't leave me, no." 

Tears streamed down my face and I let out a scream of rage. Tremors were sent through the ground. It started to shake and I felt my sadness seep away, turning to anger - to rage. 

I stared at my mom's pale, limp body. I never got to see her, I thought. I never got to say a final goodbye. 

So, that was the first chapter, hope you enjoyed it.

If you have any feedback, suggestions or ideas (even though the last two are pretty much the same thing), tell me whenever, wherever, I do not mind! 

The story will get better from this point on (hopefully *winks*) and I hope you keep reading this fanfic. Updates'll happen once or twice (or maybe more) a week, so stay tuned.

Peace Out ✌

Daughter of Athena