Go to Tartarus

Chapter 1

The war with Gaea had ended just in time for Percy's seventeenth birthday. With the help of all the demigods still in good enough shape, the camp had been cleaned up pretty quickly. So now, on the eve of his birthday, Percy sits on the beach, one arm around Annabeth. They gaze up at the stars (Percy can make out the Huntress constellation, and he sends a silent hello to a lost friend). It's quiet; the only noises are those of the few campers who have yet to go to sleep and that of the waves peacefully lapping against the sand. Percy's mind keeps wandering back to the events of the past few months, finally taking the time to comprehend what had happened.

"Annabeth..." he starts, "I don't...these past few months...."

"I know," Annabeth responds, leaning her head on his shoulder and effectively shutting him up. "I know."

"So what happens now, Wise Girl?" Percy asks. "I told you my plans for New Rome -- I know that Camp Half-Blood will always be your home, and if you don't want to, we don't have to. I just thought, well, we'd be safe, and...that doesn't happen often in our world. But if you don't want, then...." He trails off.

"Seaweed Brain," she cuts him off again. "I would love to go to college and live in New Rome with you. And we'll figure out a way to make it work, I promise. But for now, let's just enjoy this moment together...it's the first one we've had in awhile. I've finally got you back, Seaweed Brain. The future can wait a little longer."

Percy smiles, happy to be back at camp, in the quiet, where he and Annabeth are safe. No more prophecies, Percy promises himself. Percy closes his eyes contentedly, resting his head on top of his girlfriend's, and in a few seconds, he is asleep.

*****

The rest of summer went quickly. Percy and Annabeth found out that in order to go to New Rome College, they would need to pass both the SATs and a special demigod test called the DSTOMP. The tests would be no problem for Annabeth, who always did well in school. But Percy was worried, especially since he had missed most of his junior year because of the war with Gaea. He would have to make up that work in addition to studying for his senior SATs. However, Percy vowed to do it: he would do anything for Annabeth.

All too soon, it is the last night of summer. Percy spends the evening with his girlfriend, snuggling on the couch and watching a movie. But Annabeth goes home pretty early, because they both want to get to bed for their first day of school. After she leaves, Percy kisses his mother good night, then goes upstairs to get ready to sleep.

It takes Percy ages to fall asleep, tossing and turning. When he finally does, however, his dreams are less than pleasant.

THUNK. Percy watches as Annabeth slashes down another one of the arai, the curse demons. He sees as she wanders blindly, calling for Percy but unable to see him, convinced he has abandoned her.

Percy feels power running through his veins as he controls Akhlys's poison. But then he catches a glimpse of Annabeth's expression, the most fear he's ever seen in her eyes. Worst of all, he realizes that she's scared of him.

He and Annabeth stand inside the Doors of Death. As the elevator doors begin to close, Percy looks into the eyes of his friend, Iapetus. Bob. Standing there, his hand on the button, sacrificing himself to save Percy.

"Tell the sun and the stars hello for me."

Those are the words echoing in Percy's mind when he starts awake, realizing a tear is sliding down his cheek.

Still shaking with the fear from his dream, he checks the clock. 4:30 in the morning. Percy is going to be exhausted on his first day of school, but he knows there's no chance of getting back to sleep now.

Sighing, Percy falls back into the bed and lays there, thinking about what he saw. This isn't the first time he's had these kinds of nightmares. They have been going on ever since Percy returned from Tartarus. He still can't believe that he and Annabeth have actually been there.

Percy is startled when his mom pokes her head through his bedroom door to wake him up for school. It's 6:30 already? Percy thinks to himself, already tired. He stumbles out of bed, grabs a t-shirt and shorts, and jumps into the shower. Once he's all ready, he heads into the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast, making sure to grab Riptide off of his nightstand. He slips it in his pocket, praying he won't have to use it.

When he arrives in the kitchen, Percy finds that his mom has already made breakfast, and has set out a plate of blue chocolate chip pancakes for him. He douses his pancakes with syrup (you can never have too much) and scarfs down the pancakes. "Thank you," he says to his mom through a mouth filled with food.

"I love you, honey," Sally says, "Good luck. You're going to do great. Just please, try not to blow up the school on the first day, okay Percy?" She ruffles his hair.

"Love you too, mom," Percy answers, batting her hand away from his head. "I'll do my best not to destroy the school."

With that, Percy shoulders his backpack, waves goodbye to his mother, hops in his car, and is off to school.