XXIII
Percy widened his eyes. That name. Hasn't heard that name in a long time. Percy shifted uncomfortably in his seat, not knowing how to respond to that. Zeus, Percy bore hatred for that name. Percy clenched his fists, he didn't know what to expect of this. He wanted to beat the ever living crap out of Zeus for making him suffer this way. He wanted to shove Excalibur up his sorry arse. He wanted to drag him down to hell and leave him there to die.
"And this here is Percival." Chiron introduced. Percy eased the grip on his palm and raised his hand shyly, trying to hand the small droplets of blood that formed in his palm. Thankfully no one noticed.
"Now, let's officially start." Chiron said with a small smile.
A few hours later
"So now that we are all here and the meeting is adjourned, I forgot to inform you that we all are being requested to go to Olympus. The recent appearance of the Vaporsnare is causing the Olympians confusion. They want us to explain to them what happened, along with all the witnesses." Chiron stated. The cabin leaders stared at Percy once Chiron mentioned the witnesses. Percy cursed internally.
"Fuck."
Percy hasn't even processed fully that he was in the Greek world, Percy knew almost every pantheon existed, be it Norse, Egyptian, Arthurian, Celtic, Roman. All of them did, and Percy experienced it all. Percy knew, he knew inside that he would eventually meet the Olympians again. That he would come crashing back inside the Greek world. It was bound to happen. But even after thousands upon thousands of years, he still hasn't gotten over it. Percy was disturbed.
"Hey, you okay?" Lynn asked, turning towards Percy. He gulped, not really knowing how to answer.
"Okay then, meet me at the Camp border, we're leaving in a few hours. Freshen yourselves up, you're meeting the gods." Chiron said. The rest nodded and exited the Big House, all of them murmuring excitedly. It wasn't everyday you're invited into Olympus. Percy however was pale, Merlin took a notice of this and decided to confront him about it.
"What's wrong?" Merlin asked touching Percy in the shoulder, "You look pretty pale."
Percy gave off a small shrug, not really knowing how to answer, hell he didn't even want to answer. Over the course of a few hundred years, Percy perfected his ability to block mind readers out. Sure Merlin is his best friend, but he couldn't let him know all of his thoughts, some are best to leave it at that, thoughts.
"It's-" Percy stopped right in the middle of his sentence, he contemplated whether or not to tell him, it was his chance to let it all out-"nothing, it's nothing."
"I-" he said, his face scrunching up in confusion. He rubbed his temples, as if suffering from a migraine-"that's weird, I can't read your mind."
Percy flipped him the finger. Merlin chuckled a bit. Merlin shook his head and turned towards Percy, cancelling his mind reading.
"Anyway, since you don't want to tell me and you don't want me to read your mind, we better get ready, we're meeting the Olympians later." Merlin said turning on his heel and walking towards the direction of the Hecate cabin. Percy sighed, rubbing his temples, he wasn't prepared mentally for this. His past was crashing back onto him, in just the span of a few hours. A lot of things happened.
Percy couldn't help but give off an exasperated sigh. This lifetime was a first for Percy. Everything was happening too fast. First he had to reveal Excalibur which had hadn't used. Ever. Second he realized that he was tampering with the Greek gods. Third he had to actually meet them. Percy couldn't stop the huge migraine that came his way, maybe he was overthinking it, but maybe he wasn't. Nothing managed to help him soothe the massive brainfuck that he was experiencing right now.
Percy sighed. He didn't want to go, he loathed going to Olympus, it reminded him of his past too much. It would resurface memories that he preferred to forgot, memories that he buried deep down. Percy paced back and forth not really knowing what to do. So he did the only logical thing possible. He went to the beach.
Percy sat down on the sand, his worries taking over. He needed to be calm in this situation, or else he might actually explode. Some people might think he was overreacting. Percy however didn't care. He remembered his friends, his family, his father, the gods, everything. He remembered Zeus casting a crude upon him for killing one of the gods. He remembered the seal being placed upon him, he remembered the curse, everything. Percy shook his head and stared into the water. He calmed his beating heart and stared blankly as the waves overlapped one another. Calm before the storm.
An hour later
Everyone gathered at the border of Camp Half-Blood, all of them chatting like normal. Percy was beside Merlin who was standing beside him silent.
"Want to bet on what the Greek gods are like?" Merlin asked. Percy shrugged.
"Probably some arrogant bastards that feel like they own everything." Percy signed, even though he already met them, Merlin still hadn't.
"Hey guys!" Elizabeth waved, Percy jumped a bit, his heart racing. He was nervous to say the least. Even a sudden hello was enough to spook him. Merlin shook his head and waved at Elizabeth.
"Hello." Merlin smiled, giving a small wave.
"I see you guys are ready to go," she said with a faint grin. Percy nodded.
"Seeing as everyone is here, let's go meet the Olympians." Chiron said beckoning everyone forward.
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Percy arrived at the Empire State Building. To the mortals, they probably looked like a bunch of teenagers along with a man in his mid thirties. But in reality, it was far weirder than that. After Chiron confronting the desk clerk, the group headed to the elevator and entered. Slowly in groups of six, they entered the elevator. Everyone stepped in, all but two.
"Hey." Elizabeth said, beckoning Percy forward.
"You ready?" She asked. Percy shook his head as Elizabeth gave a small smile.
They entered the elevator, with Percy entering alongside Elizabeth albeit nervously. The two were met with horrible elevator music that Percy was extremely spiteful about. As the elevator kept rising and rising. Percy couldn't help but get more nervous by the second, his heart beating faster and faster.
Elizabeth turned towards Percy who was a bit pale. Percy wasn't scared about meeting the Olympians, he was scared about the memories that would resurface.
Elizabeth bit her lip, sensing Percy's stress. She slowly wrapped her hand around his and clutched it tightly.
"Don't worry, whatever it is you're going through, you'll overcome it." Elizabeth stated.
Percy couldn't help but smile, his heart beat skyrocketing to outer space. Slowly the two let go of each other's hands, albeit awkwardly.
The elevator opened up, giving a slight ding signifying their arrival. Percy gulped a bit as Elizabeth stepped out of the door beckoning him forward. Percy nodded and followed. He pretended like he didn't now the place, he followed Elizabeth through Olympus as some gods trained their eyes towards them. Percy couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Percy remembered the times where he used to visit Olympus, the times where he used to run around as a kid and cause mayhem all the time, even if he didn't want to. Percy shook his head, those were the few happy memories he had. Olympus was still as beautiful as ever, though Percy didn't recognize some of the buildings and the architecture, he could still manage to remember some buildings.
At the massive golden double doors of the Olympian throne room stood the counsellors, ready to enter. Chiron gave a small smile to both Percy and Elizabeth.
"Are you ready?" Chiron asked.
"Yes."
Percy gave off a small nod, but inside, his head was screaming fuck no.
"Let's go already, I'm starving, I haven't even eaten lunch yet." A counsellor shouted. A few of the counsellors chuckled s little.
"Okay fine, lets go." Chiron said softly.
He trotted up the big double doors and opened it. Instantly Percy could hear the sound of bickering. Percy couldn't help but roll his eyes again.
The Olympians were arguing as normal. Zeus and Poseidon were arguing, Hades would sometimes pitch in to shut the two up. Hera would argue with Zeus because of his affairs. The usual Apollo flirting and Artemis hitting Apollo upside in the head. Dionysus was asleep. Aphrodite was doing her makeup.
"They haven't changed a bit." Percy thought, shaking his head. Even though he didn't recognize a few of them since they were probably born after the First Titanomachy, he still knew their names.
"Enough!" Zeus boomed as a lightning bolt came crashing at the center of the room, effectively shutting the gods up.
"Demigods, have you got any information on what the monsters are doing?" Zeus asked.
"Actually we do." One of the counsellors stated as the Olympians perked up.
As the meeting continued, more and more gods began to stare at Percy, as if wondering who he is. Percy couldn't help but stand uncomfortably as their eyes kept training onto him like an auto lock scope. As the meeting went on, Zeus asked the question that Percy didn't want to hear.
"Who are you?" Zeus asked, pointing at Percy. Percy gulped a little as he remained silent.
"He's a demigod that witnessed the recent attack of the Vaporsnare so we tagged him along." Elizabeth stated.
"What is your name, demigod?" Zeus said stoically. The whole room was silent, gods and demigods alike were watching Zeus question the enigma called Percy. He remained silent, unable to speak. A few minutes go by with no answer as Zeus' temper was flaring a bit.
"Bahahaha, I like this demigod, he has spunk." Ares laughed.
"He's mute father, he can't speak." Elizabeth said.
"Very well daughter."
"What's is his name?" Zeus asked.
"Percival father."
Zeus eyes him a bit but gave off a slight nod. As if approving Percy.
-------------------
"Thank you campers for being here, you may leave now." Poseidon stated, the campers nodded, giving a small bow before leaving. The counsellors leave, the golden double doors shutting as Percy left with Elizabeth, Percy couldn't help but feel the eyes of the Olympians gods on the back of his head as the doors closed.
"What do you think of Percival?" Zeus asked, his face scrunching up in confusion
"Well I think he is hot." Aphrodite said with a lovesick smile.
Hades stayed silent, a small suspicion of who Percival might be.
"The boy has got courage or a death wish," Ares said, "And I can respect that."
"He is an enigma for sure." Hera stated.
"He's a mysterious puzzle piece that I am going to solve." Athena stated proudly.
"That's weird." Artemis said rubbing her temples.
"What is it daughter?" Zeus asked.
"I couldn't access his mind, I tried, but I was locked out and had a migraine." Artemis said rubbing her temples from her ongoing migraine. Zeus gave off a small nod.
"Interesting."
A Few Months Later
"I am so fucking bored." Elizabeth groaned. Percy couldn't help but give off a chuckle.
"Like, I know we are at war and should be ready for anything but come on, nothing has happened for a few weeks now, yeah the occasionally monster attacks here and there but nothing too much out of the ordinary." Elizabeth vented.
"I'm so tired of the daily wake up, eat, then sleep routine."
"You just suck at fighting." Percy signed and looked away with a small grin. Immediately he could feel himself get electrocuted. Percy jumped a bit as Elizabeth laughed.
"What was that for!" Percy signed.
"That was for your trash talking you piece of shit!" Elizabeth said with the same ferocity.
"Well you started it!" Percy fired back.
"I was just venting!" Elizabeth shouted, "You're the one who called me bad at fighting!"
"Well fuck you!" Percy signed.
"Later. Now listen here you little shit." Elizabeth said, Percy couldn't help but blush at her statement. Elizabeth saw this and couldn't help but smile.
"I got you!" Elizabeth said with wide eyes as she jumped happily in the air.
"Finally!" Elizabeth shouted,
"I've been trying to make you blush for so fucking long."
Percy blushed even harder as Elizabeth laughed at his red face.
"Don't worry, I think you're cute when you're embarrassed." Elizabeth said, giving Percy a light peck in the cheek.
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Percy walked beside Merlin who was reading a book. For some reason, every time a person was in front of him, he would magically move out of the way as if he had a seventh sense of sensing whether or not a person was in front of him or not. His eyes were so trained on the book he was reading that Percy tried snapping his fingers and it didn't even make him flinch.
"Okay." Merlin said closing the book and turning towards Percy.
"So I've done some reading, I think I know how to strengthen the camp borders." Merlin said with a small smile. Percy gave him a thumbs up.
"So what's with the war?" Percy signed.
"Well, I'm not sure here but all we know is he is more powerful than all of the gods combined. He has amassed a monster army bigger than the Second Titanomachy and the Gigantomachy combined." Merlin said.
"And you are sure about this?" Percy signed with wide eyes
"Well, this is from Athena since I read her mind a few seconds ago." Merlin explained.
"You read her mind from here to Olympus?" Percy asked again.
"Yeah, of course." Merlin said. "Why wouldn't I?"
"You are awesome."
"I try my best."
The two continued to converse whilst walking, talking about all the random things that were happening, sometimes delving into the topic of the Olympians, the war, the Norse gods, basically random stuff.
"Hey craphead, duel me, now!" A voice shouted. Percy sighed and turned around seeing David with his sword out. Percy rolled his eyes. Merlin sighed and snapped his fingers, a sword appearing in Percy's hand. Percy mouthed Merlin a small thanks.
"You won't beat me this time." David said. By this time, Percy was plain old annoyed. Every time David would come running to him demanding him to duel. Percy of course always accepted it to try and lessen his ego, of course it doesn't work, it never works, he keeps coming back for more.
David lunged at Percy ready to end the fight here and there. Percy quickly sidestepped and disarmed him in an instant. The sword came skidding across the ground. Percy turned to Merlin with a raised eyebrow.
"New record. 1.6 seconds." Merlin stated, Percy smiled a little as the sword in his hand slowly disappeared.
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Percy sat beside a small patch of flowers slowly plucking out of the ground. Percy got a small red flower and stared at it with a sigh. He was bored. Percy saw it in movies, but only now did he think of doing it. Slowly Percy began plucking the petals one by one.
"She loves me, she loves me not." Percy said mentally as he was plucking the petals. Percy grabbed a flower and started again.
"She loves me, she loves me not, she loves me." Percy continued. Percy picked another flower and plucked it.
"She loves m- huh? Wait, this is..." Percy stood up and walked towards Elizabeth who was on Thalia's pine tree petting Peleus.
"Hey I found this for you!" Percy signed.
"Awwwww thanks, you know I love four leaf clovers." Elizabeth said with a small smile. Percy smiled too and went back to the flower patch.
"They love me, they love me not..."
-----------------
Percy and Elizabeth walked around the borders, just having small talk. They were pretty comfortable around one another.
"Have you ever had a boyfriend?" Percy signed. Elizabeth looked at Percy with an incredulous look.
"No." Elizabeth replied.
"How?!" Percy signed genuinely surprised. Elizabeth shrugged.
"Dunno, never asked, never got asked."
"But you're so beautiful." Percy mouthed whilst looking down.
"What?"
"What?!"
Elizabeth shook her her head at Percy and kept walking. Percy was looking at the ground as the two walked in comfortable silence. Percy was thinking about his past lives, and those would always bring about bad memories. Elizabeth turned towards Percy, a worried look on her face. Percy couldn't help but remember his friends, everyone, and all of the events that happened. Those memories resurfaced like a tsunami, Percy hated himself.
"Hey, can you smile for me? You always look down in the dumps." Elizabeth said. Percy sighed and gave a small smile.
"Like this?" Percy signed still smiling.
"Y-yeah, exactly like that." She said, her voice cracking.
"Um, are you okay? Why are you blushing? Percy signed. Elizabeth couldn't meet Percy's eyes and looked away.
"No reason, no reason at all." Elizabeth said, still unable to meet his eyes. Percy sighed silently and gave off a small shrug. They walked along the border of the camp. Still conversing like normal.
Percy raised an eyebrow as his ears perked up. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow as she stared at Percy with a confused glance. In the distance, Percy could see a massive monster army approaching Camp Half-Blood, all of them in organized ranks. Elizabeth widened her eyes in response. Percy straightened himself and turned towards Elizabeth. She gulped a bit and signaled the horn. It was a monster attack.
Word Count
3207
Words
A/N
Hey hey hey.
So, been a long time yeah?
Corona virus fucking sucks. At least I don't have school. So good news and bad news. I have no school so more writing time, bad news is I got addicted to a game which isn't uncommon. So I'm trying to find time to write. Also, LordGuy I was supposed to update a few days ago but I forgot to press publish, only now did I notice it was actually not uploaded. Also, the reason for the delay was because I was supposed to upload back to back chapters. But I miscalculated the amount of work needed.
So right now I wrote I'm 1.5K words Chapter Twenty Four which is good, it's not a whole lot but it's a start.
Anyways, not that much to say other than sorry. But see you on the next chapter. The next chapters after this aren't filler, it's plot driven.