Cursed By The Divine

Chapter Eight: Percy

They wouldn’t let me see her, how could they! Persephone teleported us back to camp and Will took her away. The faint rise and fall of her chest is what kept me hopeful but I wasn’t allowed to see her. It'd been days since we made it out of the Underworld. I didn’t know why I cared so much about Elena, but I did. Grover had come back from his search when he got word of what happened to Elena. Also of the impending war Hades would bring on camp. He wanted to help as much as he could.

I was sitting on the field, thinking about Elena’s condition when Grover came over to me.

“Look...Perce I know you’re worried about Elena but, we need you to keep your focus on protecting the camp. W-we don’t know when Hades it going to attack and-”

“It’s okay Grover I get it I just….”

“You care about her.”

I sighed, “yeah but I don’t know why.”

He nudged me, “It’s because-”

“Guys!” a voice exclaimed from behind us.

Annabeth came running over and she sat down in front of us, “I think I just figured out Elena’s prophecy!”

“Okay, lay it on me.” I said leaning forward.

“Okay so child of light journeys to the dead- has to mean Elena I don’t know what the light part means but she did go to the Underworld which is where the dead are.” she said.

“She could be a child of Apollo.” I suggested.

“Maybe but wouldn't he have claimed her when she got here? There has to be something more.”

“What’s the next line?” Grover asked.

“Time’s essence in her head.” she said warily.

“You don’t think-” I started.

“Kronos is talking to her, remember when she froze right by the pit that leads to Tartarus. That has to mean something.”

“Okay next?” I asked.

“Truth shall unfold in the barriers of mind. Maybe she’ll find out who cursed her while she’s unconscious! That has to be it.”

“Is there any way I could help her get the information faster? She could die or go into a coma if she stays like that for too long!” I yelled. 

Annabeth shook her head, “I don’t think so Percy, she might have to do this on her own.” she said quietly.

“Is there more?” Grover asked.

Annabeth nodded, “A bond is what she shall find. I’m still working on that one.”

Then the ground started to rumble, everyone came to the open field in their battle positions. Chiron came bow and arrow ready. Will came rushing out of the infirmary to see what was going on. He ran over and stood next to me.

“Percy I'm sorry that we wouldn’t let you see Elena but Chiron said that if you saw her in the state she’s in, you wouldn’t be in the right state of mind to fight. You’re our best fighter, we can’t afford to lose your skills.”

I wanted to argue but he was right. I knew that if I saw Elena all broken and beaten. I wouldn’t have the strength in me to fight, “It’s okay Will just...go and keep her alive. Please.”

He nodded and ran back to the infirmary. The ground cracked open and monsters, skeletons, hellhounds poured out. Furies launched into the air, arches readied their bows and attacked. I ran head on into the battle, I sliced and jabbed at every monster and skeleton I could find. I heard the cries of campers in pain, I heard the screams of victory most likely from Ares kids. I stabbed a hellhound in the neck and watched it crumble into dust. Mrs. Dodds’s blood curdling scream caught my attention, I turned in enough time to dodge her yellow fangs. I stabbed and swung but she kept dodging. I saw Annabeth come up from behind her and then my old math teacher exploded. Annabeth and I fought back to back, I saw a chance and took it. I ran up the side of a tree and used some momentum to crush a skeleton to pieces. In a matter of minutes monster dust and bones littered the ground along with wounded campers. Thankfully none of them were dead. I was about to collapse to the ground from tiredness when Hades’s chilling laugh filled the air.

“Oh you think it’s over. Didn't you forget? Thanatos is under my wing.”

I watched in horror as skeletons started to reform and the dust of once destroyed monsters melted into the ground before they came back as well. All of the able half-bloods looked around and got ready to fight.

“Hades! Fuck off!” a voice yelled.

Everyone turned to the doorway of the infirmary, there stood a girl with golden hair and vibrant purple eyes. She looked vibrant and healthy, her skin was sun-kissed as if the sun gave her life again. There was a symbol above her head that looked like a lyre but it was engulfed in flames. Chiron stood there in shock.

“No way…” Annabeth murmured.

“Elena!”