Percy slogged through the rainy streets of Manhattan. His boots splashed against the puddled sidewalk. In his left hand he carried a large, wrapped object. The young demigod walked a little farther before stopping in front of a rickety, old door with a worn 'Keep Out' sign hanging precariously from it. At least, that's what Percy assumed it said. Below it, in Greek letters, the words 'The Cemetery of the Demigods' was etched into the woods.
With his right hand, he reached into his pockets and pulled out a dull golden coin. He inserted the drachma into a small slot in the door and waited. A whirring sound echoed from behind the door, and the coin rolled back out. He pocketed the drachma and opened the door. When he stepped inside, the door clicked shut behind him.
The rain stopped the minute he stepped inside the door. With a distant thought, Percy dried his soaked clothes. The half-blood gazed at the sight before him. Even though he had been here many times before, it never ceased to amaze him. The scene lying before him was the exact opposite of what one would expect from a cemetery.
The sun was shining happily upon the rows and rows of graves. The grass was green and healthy. Flowers bloomed colorfully across the expanse, and bushes lined the outskirts. Trees littered the area, providing shade for any weary visitor.
Percy tilted his head up with a soft sigh, basking in the sun's warmth. He was glad his dad had listened when he wished for this. Poseidon had brought Percy's request to the Olympian Council, and they had granted it. This cemetery housed graves for all the demigods that had died, even before Percy had arrived at Camp Half-Blood. Even though most of the graves did not have any bodies in them, there were still markers commemorating the fallen demigods, Greek and Roman alike. The cemetery could be accessed from anywhere in the world.
And, to top it off, it was even a monster-free zone with a barrier similar to the one at camp.
Percy slowly walked through the place, passing grave after grave, before stopping in front of the ones he came for. The grass crunched under his feet. He stopped, sinking to his knees beside the first grave: Jason's. He pulled out a golden wreath from his bag, hanging it on the left side of the newly minted tombstone. He flinched as an image of his electric blue eyes popped into Percy's head.
Second was Piper's. He used a bright purple wreath for hers. He couldn't help but smile as he remembered how Piper despised pink, which set her apart from all of her Aphrodite siblings.
Hazel's was third. He put the dark purple-blue wreath on the left. Percy still couldn't eat chicken nuggets without thinking of her.
Fourth was Frank's grave. His wreath was colored a blood red. Sighing, he pictured the aura around Frank after Hazel was killed - Mar's blessing.
Leo's was fifth. His wreath was a bright red-orange, a symbol of the blazing destructive fire that surrounded him until his life was snuffed out during the Giant War.
Annabeth's was sixth. Her wreath was sparkling silver, much like her gray eyes that held so much joy and life. . . until they dimmed right before his own eyes.
Too late he realized his mistake and was sucked into a flashback.
Percy panted, his limbs growing heavier by the minute. Shouts and roars echoed across the field. He coughed, wiping the dirt and sweat out of his eyes. Monster dust and demigod blood mixed on the ground. He dodged an attack from a cyclops. With a quick swipe, he cleaved the monsters head off.
"Kelp head!"
An arrow buried itself in the chest of a harpy near him. Percy turned to the voice with a weak smile. "Pinecone Face," he greeted tiredly.
Thalia smirked at him, her bow hanging loosely in her hand.
Percy raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were with the other Hunters protecting the healers' tents."
"Well, I had to go save this idiot over here." Thalia jerked her thumb to a girl behind her. She swiped the legs of an incoming satyr.
"I didn't need any help," Reyna fumed, chopping off the horned monster's head. "And you can't call a Praetor an idiot," she huffed, wiping dust from her eyes. One of her dogs barked in agreement, circling her legs. Percy didn't see her other hound.
Percy shook his head slightly, deciding it best not to get in between the two scary women's argument. He did not want to anger either of them off. He quite liked having all his limbs.
A roar resonated across the field. The trio spun around, immediately locating the source. A red drakon flapped its wings. Its blood red eyes surveyed the field before picking its unfortunate target. Percy's eyes widened from across the area. He recognized the brown-haired victim looking into the monster's eyes even from here.
The drakon dove for its paralyzed prey, snapping his jaws shut around her.
"Piper!" Percy screamed at the top of his lungs.
His yell was echoed by another demigod. The sky quickly darkened, ominous clouds gathering over one spot. Lightning struck an area near Percy. Percy glanced over, staring at Jason.
And Jason was pissed.
His blue eyes were glowing white, and his face was contorted in rage. He floated above the ground, the wind circling around him violently. He flew at the flying serpent with a war cry. The drakon reared back, spitting acid at the hovering demigod. Jason easily dodged, though the monsters and demigods below weren't as lucky judging from the subsequent screams and howls. Lightning struck the monster. Jason stabbed out one of its eyes, careful not to look very deep in it. The monster reared back with an earth-shattering roar. Jason quickly took the chance and swiped at the other ruby eye. The drakon thrust its sharp tail at the flying half-blood. Jason narrowly dodged it. Even without its sight, the beast was still a formidable foe. However, Jason wasn't one of the most powerful demigods of his time for nothing. It may have took a few minutes but even the tough, plate-like scales of the drakon was no match for the son of Jupiter and his imperial gold gladius. The dead drakon had barely fallen from the sky before Jason turned to fight other monsters.
Percy finished off the centaur he was fighting. He paused, a hollow feeling in his chest.
Piper was gone.
It wasn't like it was the first time someone he had known had died on this bloody battlefield. But... it didn't get any easier.
Percy took a quick breath, surveying the landscape with a puzzled look. He was surprised that he hadn't seen a massive burst of flames or a giant angry dragon when Piper...
Either Leo didn't see it... or...
"Percy."
He glanced over at Thalia. "We're going back to the Apollo kids," she stated.
Reyna grimaced with a nod. "We don't need a repeat of last time."
Percy tilted his head in agreement. A large group of monsters had banded together a while back and tried to destroy the healers and their patients. Luckily, Percy and a few other demigods who were close by had been quick enough to stop the Hunters from being overrun.
The duo ran off, easily destroying any monsters unlucky enough to be in their path.
Percy's gaze scanned the field again. His dull sea-green eyes landed on something. The air whooshed out of his chest. He battled over to the wreckage, killing a cyclops and two dracaenas on the way there.
He stopped, panting, in front of Festus' crash site. Parts were scattered everywhere. Festus' head sparked, the dim eyes flickering in and out sporadically. Percy frantically dug through the smoking pieces, hissing as they burned his hands.
He inhaled sharply and stared at the bloody, motionless hand sticking out of the wreckage.
"Ugh," he heaved, pulling a large smoldering scrap away from the arm.
The raven-haired demigod fell to his knees. "No," he whispered, eyes wide.
Leo was dead.
His limbs were twisted at odd angles, and a large part had impaled his chest. His head was turned unnaturally. His brown eyes, normally so full of laughter and life, were dim and glassy.
Percy gagged, bile rising up his throat. He shoved it back down with seasoned practice. He leaned over and shut the impish demigod's dull eyes.
The son of Poseidon stood, rage building in his chest.
He would get revenge for Leo, and Piper, and every other demigod who had been murdered in this pointless war.
He dove back into the battle with a cry, Riptide raised high.
A little while later, Jason joined him, harsh-faced and angry. Neither half-blood spoke, but they worked in perfect tandem. Wind picked up around them, and lightning struck the ground near them. Many monsters avoided them in fear.
It was then they heard the shout.
They both turned. Frank stood nearby, cradling a bloody and tattered girl. A red aura began to surround him as he sobbed over Hazel's broken body.
"Di immortales," Percy muttered, his sword slack at his side. Jason stayed silent at his side. But from the way the Praetor's hand shook, he was not a happy camper.
Percy shifted his attention away when a pair of dracaenas attacked him. When he finished them off, he glanced back at Frank. Percy swallowed.
Frank was on a rampage.
It even rivaled Jason's earlier rage. Mars' blessing encircled him, and Frank was a force to be reckoned with. His spear destroyed any near him, and many monsters shied away from an encounter with the angry son of the Roman war god.
Percy grimaced and turned back to his own battle with renewed vigor. The hole in his chest kept getting bigger and bigger. Hazel hadn't deserved that.
None of them had.
A cackle echoed across the great expanse. Every demigod paused in their frantic fighting.
"Little half-bloods." Her laughter sent shivers down Percy's spine. "You think you can defeat me? I am Gaea, the Mother of All. The almighty primordial of the Earth. I will not be bested by a few mere mortals."
Percy's frown deepened as he stared silently at the giant primordial.
How were they supposed to defeat the literal Earth?
"Percy." Annabeth's hushed whisper had him and Jason looking away from the goddess and to her.
Annabeth hurried over to them, a distraught Frank behind her.
"Wise Girl," Percy muttered, quickly embracing her in relief.
She pulled away after a second and gave him a sad half-grin. "Hey, Seaweed Brain." Her eyes drifted to Jason, and her smile slowly disappeared. "Jason."
Jason just nodded in greeting, his gaze flickering over the field wearily.
"I think I know how to stop Dirt Face." Annabeth's declaration drew the three boys' attention instantly. She pulled out a ratty tan bag and handed each of them a square of ambrosia.
"What?" Percy breathed with wide eyes. He quickly devoured the snack, exhaling as the taste of his mom's delicious blue cookies coated his mouth. He turned quickly, swiping at a centaur who had gotten too close for his liking.
Annabeth nodded. "As long as she's standing on the earth, she's practically invincible. So we need to separate her from the ground. Percy. Jason." The two boys looked at her. Frank killed a nearby cyclops with an expertly-timed swipe. "The two of you need to work together and create a hurricane strong enough to lift her off the ground." Annabeth's eyes turned to the other distracted boy. "And Frank."
Percy started. "Wait, we're lifting Frank too?" His energy was already starting to return because of the godly food.
"Yes," Annabeth nodded. "With Mars' blessing, Frank may be able to defeat Gaea. Or injure her enough that she won't be able to heal."
"May?" Jason muttered.
But Percy stared at Frank, who watched him back with cold eyes. "Annabeth, that's basically... a suicide mission."
Annabeth nodded grievously. "Yes." She frowned, looking annoyed that she couldn't do anything. "I've already discussed this with Frank, and he agreed with me."
Jason gazed at Frank gravely. His jaw clenched. "Fine," he muttered curtly. The demigod stalked off angrily to kill a close monster.
Percy opened his mouth to argue. But...
"Okay," Percy finally whispered. He was tired of all the fighting, all the death. And he wouldn't dishonor Frank by fighting his sacrifice.
Jason returned, an angry scowl on his face. "Are we doing this or not?"
Annabeth tilted her head before managing something between a smile and a grimace. "I'll see you guys on the other side," she said, eerily echoing Percy's words to Nico before the couple fell into the Pit.
She turned to Percy. "And don't do anything stupid, Seaweed Brain," she whispered softly. She pecked him on the lips, and then she was gone.
The three teens looked at each other before nodded in agreement and started their journey across the battlefield and toward Gaea.
Fifteen minutes later, the trio stood in front of Gaea. She smiled sardonically down at them. "Hello, little half-bloods. Have you come to die?"
"Only if we bring you down in the process," Jason snarled. Percy nodded quickly in agreement.
Frank wasted no time and launched himself at the goddess with a snarl.
Jason and Percy both focused inward, calling on all their remaining power. The winds picked up, circling around the two fighting figures.
If you ever cared about me, dad, then help me, Percy prayed silently. The nearest water source was just too far away. His gut felt like it was about to burst, but then he felt a surge of power flow through him.
He smiled. Thanks dad.
The winds swirled faster and faster. But it still wasn't enough. And then suddenly, Frank and Gaea were lifted off the ground. Percy's gaze flickered to Jason, whose face was screwed up in concentration.
He must've also prayed to his father, Percy realized with a start.
As Percy and Jason were in the eye of the cyclone, they could see the whole fight.
And what a fight it was.
With Mars' blessing, Frank was an unstoppable beast. He hacked and slashed mercilessly, landing hit after hit. Gaea landed just as many, but Frank didn't even seem to notice his injuries. His bloodlust was just too strong.
Percy and Jason panted, exhaustion painting their figures. Neither could hold this whirlwind for much longer.
And then Frank's blessing started to disappear. The boys' eyes widened as his red aura started to flicker in and out. Gaea leered happily when she, too, realized this. Percy grimaced.
Frank needed help.
Percy turned to Jason. "Do you think you can hold this by yourself?" He hollered over the howling winds. It had to be Percy that went. Percy couldn't hold the hurricane by himself. But Jason may be able to. The winds were Zeus'—Jupiter's—domain, not Poseidon's, after all.
Jason met his eyes with a frown. He had already been thinking along the same lines. "Yeah," he yelled back. "But not for long."
Percy tilted his head. "I'll make it quick then." He turned. "Give me a lift?"
Jason nodded and with a thrust of the demigod's hand, Percy was flying through the air.
"Aye, Dirt Face." Percy twisted, swiping at Gaea's chest. She roared in pain and backhanded him. Percy flew back with a gasp, spots dancing in his vision. Frank grabbed his arm, so Percy wouldn't fly out of the raging cyclone. The fall would've killed him for sure.
"Percy," Frank whispered to him, releasing his arm.
"Hmm?"
"I'm gonna distract her. You finish her off."
Percy nodded.
Frank lunged at the goddess with a final war cry. Gaea snarled and swiped her earth sword at him. But instead of dodging, Frank took the blow, and using his momentum, plunged his spear into the primordial's chest. Gaea roared in pain, and Frank's blessing finally sputtered out. The son of Mars slipped off the dirt weapon and fell to the ground far below, his spear still buried deep in Gaea's torso.
Percy charged the primordial with an enraged shout. Gaea, who was trying to pull out the spear, reacted too slow.
Riptide cleaved straight through Gaea's head.
Percy panted, lowering his sword. Gaea's body slowly dissolved into dust, which was quickly swept up by the hurricane and scattered. The raging winds slowly dissipated. Percy was lowered a little before they vanished entirely. He fell the rest of the way and landed with a yelp. "Ow."
Percy debated between falling asleep and getting up. Getting up finally won out, but only because he was worried about everyone else. He stood up with a soft groan, his muscles creaking. The ground had felt awfully comfy.
Percy glanced around, his eyes lingering on a fallen figure. He staggered over to Frank and dropped to his knees.
Frank was already gone.
If the gaping hole in his chest hadn't killed him, then the fall certainly had. Percy sighed and closed his eyes for a second. He finally stood, surveying the area for someone else. When he finally found him, he half-stumbled, half-ran to his friend.
"Jason," he breathed, slumping over the motionless body. He checked his pulse, relieved when he found one, albeit faint. It seemed Jason had simply overexerted himself. Percy hoped that was all it was. Jason may have used too much of his power. Two Apollo kids quickly approached him. "We'll help him," the brown-haired one said, kneeling next to Jason. Percy nodded in agreement, slowly standing up. He prayed to the gods Jason would live.
He would learn days later, when he woke up after the battle, that Jason hadn't survived the night.
"Percy," he glanced at the other healer. He recognized the black-haired girl. What was her name... his sluggish mind sputtered for a second before springing back to life.
"Ariana," he greeted, happy to have remembered something.
The girl just frowned. "You should go look over there," she finally said, pointing to his far right. Ariana searched his eyes sadly. "I'm sorry, Percy."
Percy frowned. He was too tired to question her and slowly stumbled right. It seemed that with Gaea's defeat the remaining monsters had fled.
He'd only been walking for a couple minutes before he came across a young girl sobbing over a fallen figure. An Apollo child was on the other side of the figure. His lips turned downward sadly. He'd seen many sights like this one. But a healer was with her, so the girl would be fi—
Percy paused on his way past them. He'd recognize those blond princess curls anywhere.
"Annabeth," he whispered.
The two demigods glanced up at the sound. "Percy," the blond healer said in surprise.
Percy didn't respond, too busy staring at his prone girlfriend.
"P-Percy," the tearstained girl started, her voice cracking. She lunged at Percy, desperately grabbing at his shirt. "It's my fault," she sobbed out. "The cyclops... I didn't see it... and she just..." The brown-eyed girl wailed louder. "She jumped in front."
"...she saved me," she finished in a quiet voice.
Percy broke out of his reverie to glance at the crying youngster. His arms went around her in automatically. "Shh," he muttered, rubbing her back. "What's your name?"
"B-Bethany," she replied, sniffling.
"Well, Bethany, it's not your fault. She chose to do it. And she wouldn't want you to blame yourself or stand around sobbing."
The girl glanced up at him with her big, doe eyes. "Go help the others who are hurt, Bethany," Percy told her. "Don't let her sacrifice be in vain."
She nodded a few times and untangled herself from Percy. Bethany scampered off with a sad backwards look.
Percy's gaze returned to Annabeth. He knelt beside her.
"Percy," the Apollo camper said again, watching him carefully. His hands were covering Annabeth's chest, trying to stem the blood flow.
Percy thought for a second. "Benjamin," he finally greeted.
Yeah, he knew the names of most of the Apollo kids.
What could he say? He got hurt a lot.
Benjamin tilted his head, his stare returning to Annabeth. Percy followed his gaze, his heart pounding loudly.
"The sword is poisoned," the blond explained softly. Percy stared at the sword protruding from her chest. He swallowed, running his tongue over his teeth anxiously. Blood pooled on the ground. "There's nothing I can do," he finished sadly.
Percy's jaw muscled twitched. He lowered his head sadly, petting her curls slowly. "I-I understand," he cleared his throat.
Benjamin nodded, the boy looking much older than his mere fifteen years of life, and grabbed Percy's hands with his own bloodstained ones. He placed Percy's palms around the sword and over the gushing wound. The healer stood wearily. "I'll let you say your goodbyes."
Percy tilted his head in thanks as the healer walked away. "Hey, Wise Girl. Heard you ran into a little trouble earlier." His chuckle turned into a sob. He pulled one of his hands away and stroked her cheek, ignoring how the blood sullied her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered open. Percy's heart stuttered. Annabeth smiled weakly at him. "P-Percy," her weak voice cracked.
"Annabeth," he whispered, laying his forehead against hers. He pulled away slowly. Annabeth's hand came up, softly stroking his cheek in an weak imitation of Percy's earlier move.
"Seaweed.. Brain," Annabeth whispered, her voice laced with pain.
Percy leaned into her touch. "Yes, Wise Girl? I'm here."
I'll always be here, love.
"I don't... wanna... see you... in Elysium... anytime soon. Or... I may have to... kill you again... yeah?"
Percy chuckled softly, tears streaming down his face. "You're using your dying words to threaten me?"
Typical Annabeth.
His voice broke. "Some things never change, huh?"
Annabeth rewarded him with a pained smile. Her hand slowly slipped from his face. She coughed out blood, gray eyes dimming.
"I've got you," Percy whispered, cradling her broken body."I've got you. You're safe. You're fine."
Annabeth's head lolled to the side. Her last breath exhaled from her lips, and her chest stopped its erratic motions.
Percy stared into her lifeless gray eyes. "I'll see you in Elysium, Wise Girl." He kissed her forehead softly, stroking her bloody golden hair once more. "But not too soon."
Percy gripped her limp body tighter, whispering softly.
"...not too soon."
The story gets more interesting, I promise!