965Percy Jackson
To say Percy was surprised when Blackjack suddenly burst into Bunker Nine was an understatement. They had just been catching up with Leo and Calypso, laughing about Travis's and Katie's messy breakup, when Blackjack, wings flaring and panic clear in his voice, came crashing through the blast doors. "Boss, boss! You gotta get back to Olympus, now!" the pegasus yelled, flapping his wings wildly.
Percy froze mid-laugh, his blood running cold. Annabeth, who had been leaning against him with a cup of coffee, immediately straightened, her gray eyes sharpening with concern. "What happened?" Percy demanded, already rising to his feet.
Blackjack pawed at the ground, his wings twitching nervously. "Your place! It was attacked. Big explosions! Fighting! Everything's gone crazy!"
Percy felt a surge of panic tighten his chest. Silena, Juniper, Sally, Paul, Estelle—his whole household was in danger. Without a second thought, he grabbed Riptide and bolted for the exit, Annabeth close on his heels. "Get us there, Blackjack! Now!"
As Percy and Annabeth touched down in the courtyard, the scene of devastation hit Percy hard. The elegant structure he called home was battered, windows shattered, furniture burned or broken, and scorch marks streaked across the marble floors. The Cyclopes guards stood solemnly by the entrance, their massive forms dwarfing the gods and huntresses who had gathered, while the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. The snow covering the courtyard was covered in blood and the mangled corpses of young women.
Percy jumped off Blackjack and landed with a thud, immediately scanning the crowd for familiar faces. Annabeth slid down right after him, her gray eyes quickly assessing the situation with the sharpness of a general preparing for battle.
He spotted a battered and bruised Silena standing with Athena and Artemis. Khione was standing behind her, and despite a few bruises and a slightly busted lip, she looked better than he had ever seen them. Her skin, radiant with cold, seemed to nearly blend with the snow and ice around her, and her dark eyes were deeper than ever. A glittering crown of ice rested upon Khione's brow, shimmering in the fading light, and the gently falling snow seemed to be swirling and a lot thicker around her. She looked every bit the goddess she had once been, a stark contrast to the sulky, reluctant guest he had been hosting so far.
"Lord Perseus," Zeus greeted him, his electric blue eyes sparking with annoyance.
Percy glanced around, taking in the destruction. His heart pounded as the sight of the wreckage sank in. His mother, Paul, and baby Estelle were huddled nearby, Sally holding Estelle close, while Paul stood protectively beside them. A wave of relief washed over him, knowing they were safe. But the sight of Silena—bruised and covered in what looked like both blood and soot—set his heart racing with anger.
"Lord Zeus," Percy greeted, trying to keep his voice steady despite the storm of emotions brewing inside him. "What the hell happened?"
Zeus's eyes narrowed, sparks dancing in the surrounding air. "Your home was attacked, Perseus. Mortals and sorceresses, led by Medea, attempted to free Circe. And you were... absent."
"There there, little brother," Hades chided him, stepping up to join them. Where Zeus looked seriously hacked off, Hades was visibly bemused.
"We don't want to be throwing around accusations around, do we? I am told Sir Perseus was pacifying a growing issue at Camp Halfblood on our behalf." Hades offered a wintry smile, clearly drawing immense satisfaction at needling his brother. "Wouldn't you be upset if our favorite nephew wasn't keeping the piece in your name? Besides, as we already know, our guests were expressly waiting for Lord Perseus to leave Olympus and we can't expect him to be here twenty-four/seven. Tell me brother, would that be a reasonable expectation?" Hades pushed the king of the heavens, his voice soft as velvet. "I recall you weren't watching yours when you were going after your side job, the coach of that high-school cheerleader group in Cleveland last week."
Zeus glowed at the Lord of the Underworld for a long moment. "Don't you have a wife waiting for you in the underworld? Olympus thanks you for your aid."
Hades raised his hands in mock surrender. "It was nothing but a pleasure. Nephew, reach out to me once you've cleaned this mess up. I shall take my leave." Then, after straightening his suit, the god of the underworld began to stroll towards the door, leaving Percy to deal with the rest of his miserable family.
"Now, your servant decided to unshackle Khione's powers on her own volition..." Zeus continued, but Percy cut in, not at all liking where this was going. "Both Silena and Khione are mine, so when all this is cleaned up, I will decide if punishment is required and, if yes, what that would look like."
He held Zeus glare, knowing that folding here was not an option. "You tasked me with holding Circe and Khione. Despite a large attack on my house hold, both are still exactly where they were supposed to be. How I discipline my women is for me to worry about."
Zeus's eyes narrowed, the crackle of barely restrained lightning flashing in their depths. For a moment, it seemed like he might press the issue, but he must have decided that now was not the time or place. Instead, he gave a curt nod, his jaw clenched tightly. "Very well, Perseus. I expect a full report on the details of this attack, including any lingering threats to Olympus and what you can learn from and plan to do with the Sorceress," he said, his voice like distant thunder. "This is not over."
Percy held his ground, giving a curt nod of acknowledgment. "You'll have it soon," he replied, his tone respectful but firm.
Hera, still looking at him with that critical gaze, gave a slow nod before turning to her husband. "Come, Zeus," she said, her voice smooth and regal. "Let us not waste our time here any longer. We have more important matters to discuss." She cast one last glance at Khione, her expression a mixture of disdain and suspicion, before turning away.
As Zeus and Hera turned to leave, Artemis stepped forward, her silver eyes locking on Percy. "You and I will speak later. I shall return before nightfall. Despite Lord Zeus seeming to have already forgotten, we have a bunch of sorceress's on the loose," she declared in a tone that brooked no argument. "There are matters regarding your residence and its security that need to be addressed. Sister, will you hunt with me?" she then asked, turning to Athena. The war-goddess grinned. "Oh, it would be my pleasure."
She turned on her heel and the goddess's marched off, her huntresses following in her wake leaving him in the shattered remains of his household, some being steadied after suffering some minor injuries during the fight, fortunately taking the few prisoners in any shape to walk with them. As if the day couldn't get any worse, it was then that he and Annabeth finally learned of Mrs O'Leary's and Juniper's disappearance. When he rushed to the atrium, he found Juniper's bush, the plant lying on its side and broken, connected only by a thin sliver of wood.
Percy felt like someone had punched him in the gut. He stared at the broken remains of Juniper's bush, the dryad's lifeline, lying shattered on the ground. His heart sank, his mind racing as he struggled to process what this meant. Juniper, who had been so gentle and supportive, was gone. All because he hadn't been here to protect her, to stop this attack before it could unfold.
Annabeth moved beside him, her face pale and grim as she placed a comforting hand on his arm. "We'll find her," she said softly, but Percy could see the doubt in her eyes. It wasn't just about finding Juniper; it was about what remained of her spirit, her essence. Dryads were bound to their trees, and if her bush was damaged to this extent, Juniper might be lost forever.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms until the pain grounded him back to the present. He had to focus. There was too much at stake to fall apart now. He turned to Silena, who was watching him with a mix of fear and guilt.
"You did good," he said, his voice rough with emotion but steady. "You kept things from getting worse, even when everything was stacked against you." He could see the relief flood through Silena's eyes, but she still looked haunted, like she carried the weight of every life lost in this attack.
Khione, now fully powered and standing tall, gave him a surprisingly respectful nod. The icy aura around her shimmered, the snowflakes in her presence almost glowing with cold light.
Percy's eyes narrowed slightly. "Khione, you saved lives today," he said, forcing himself to focus on the positives, even as grief and rage clawed at his insides. "I will not forget that."
Khione inclined her head, a ghost of a smile touching her lips.
Annabeth squeezed his arm gently and then stepped forward, her eyes hardening with determination. "We need to figure out what their endgame was. Circe, Medea, all of this—it wasn't just about freeing Circe. There's more to this, and we need answers."
Percy nodded, his mind already spinning with possibilities. "First, we make sure everyone here is safe," he said. "And then we interrogate Medea. We need to know who else is out there and what they're planning."
He turned back to Silena, who seemed ready to collapse from both exhaustion and adrenaline crash. "Go inside and take care of yourself. Get cleaned up and rest. You've done more than enough today," he said, his voice softening slightly.
Silena hesitated, then nodded, wiping a bit of blood from her face. "I'm sorry about Juniper," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "I should have—"
"You did everything you could," Percy cut in firmly. "This isn't on you. It's on the people who attacked us. We'll get them for this. All of them. Get yourself cleaned out and contact Katie and Grover. I will check in with Apollo too, see what they think. Khione, thank you for helping. We will talk more later, but I need you to go with Silena. The more you stay out of sight at the moment, the better. Keep an eye on Silena for me..."
He glanced over to where Sally, Paul, and Estelle were standing a bit off, all three pale and clearly in some shock. Estelle was still screaming her head off. Thalia, the only remaining member of the Hunt had had the good sense to stay with them.
Percy headed over to them, and after making sure every one was okay, he turned to Thalia. "Thalia, can you do me a favor?"
"Anything," Thalia simply replied unusually softly.
"Can you escort my mom, Paul, and Estelle back down to their apartment down in New York and stay with them until we are sure Medea's little friends come poking around?"
"Of course," Thalia said, her voice filled with determination and a hint of warmth that Percy rarely saw from her. She placed a comforting hand on Sally's shoulder, giving her a reassuring nod. "I'll make sure they're safe, Percy. No one's getting through me."
"Thank you," Percy replied, his voice softening as he met her gaze. "I trust you more than anyone for this."
Thalia gave him a small smile, the kind that said she'd defend his family with her life if need be. She gently guided Sally, Paul, and Estelle toward the path that led out of the shattered remains of his home, wrapping a protective arm around Estelle, who was still crying.
Feeling like he was slowly getting a handle on the situation, Percy leaned against one of the pillars and exhaled deeply. Annabeth looked over at him with concern. "Are you okay, Percy?" she asked softly.
"Yeah... yeah," he promised her, though the blond did not look very convinced at this. He looked around the courtyard again.
"You know, some of the Cyclops's I have on contract would volunteer to take these corpses of our hands," Annabeth announced thoughtfully. "Just saying."
He was about to argue the point when he realized that he didn't care either way. If they had wanted to be buried with care and respect, they should not have messed with his place. "So many?"
Annabeth shrugged, "Got a lot of Cyclopes, and you know the cost of living has gone up a lot faster than salaries..."
"Do it," Percy said. "I need to get Apollo over here."
After Percy gave the go-ahead to Annabeth, she nodded, already pulling out her phone to set things in motion. "I'll call in a few favors. It'll be taken care of quickly and quietly," she said, her voice steady and focused. There was a hardened edge to her that Percy was grateful for right now. She knew how to take charge when he was feeling overwhelmed.
Percy rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease some of the tension building there. He still couldn't shake the image of Juniper's broken bush from his mind. She had been one of the few in his life who had always been gentle, who had never demanded anything from him except kindness in return. Okay, and that he took her on, but that was neither here nor there, especially with how hard she had tried to make it worth his while. Now she was gone, and the weight of that loss felt like a punch to the gut.
Fortunately, once summoned, Apollo did not take long to arrive.
"Bro," he greeted Percy, strolling him wearing his fancy sunglasses and a Gucci suit. "Redecorating, are we?" he asked, looking around the courtyard. "I preferred it more when shit wasn't broken and you had that daughter of Aphrodite lying around with that pink bikini on. Corpses aren't really my kink."
"Glad you could make it," Percy said, a bit of sarcasm creeping into his voice despite the situation. He was trying to keep it together, but Apollo's laid-back attitude grated on his nerves right now.
Apollo took off his sunglasses and tucked them into his pocket, his golden eyes serious now as he took in Percy's expression. "Alright, lay it on me. What do you need from the most glorious god of healing and music today?" he asked.
"I need you to check on Juniper," Percy said, his voice tight with suppressed emotion. "Her bush—it got hit hard during the attack. I don't know if she's—if there's anything left of her to save."
Apollo headed over at the push and looked down at it with a 'meh' expression. "Honestly, a write off. She was cute and all, mind you, but you might want to just get a new nymph."
Percy felt a surge of frustration bubble up, and he took a step forward, his jaw clenched. "Apollo, come on," he said, his voice rough with a mix of anger and desperation. "There has to be something you can do. You're a god of healing. I can't just let her die like this."
Apollo raised an eyebrow, his casual demeanor slipping as he noticed the intensity in Percy's eyes. He sighed, rubbing his temple with one hand. "Alright, alright, chill. Let me see what I can do," he muttered, kneeling down next to Juniper's broken bush. He waved a hand over it, and a soft, golden light began to flow from his fingers, enveloping the damaged plant.
The light seemed to seep into the broken branches, mending some of the cracks, but it was clear that the bush was still struggling to recover. Apollo's face grew more serious as he concentrated, his brow furrowing in a way that showed he was putting in a genuine effort.
After a few moments, the light faded, and Apollo stood up, dusting off his hands. "Alright, here's the deal," he said, his tone now more respectful. "I've done what I could to stabilize her essence, but she's in bad shape. Mind you, Juniper's spirit is still tied to the bush, but plants are out of my area of expertise."
Percy swallowed hard, his throat feeling tight. "What does that mean? Is she going to make it?"
Apollo gave him a small, sympathetic smile. "She's hanging on by a thread and as long as she is stuck in plant form, there is very little I can do."
Annabeth placed a hand on Percy's arm, squeezing it gently. "We'll find a way," she said firmly. "We can save her."
Percy nodded, feeling a bit more focused now that he had a plan of action. "Thanks, Apollo," he said, his voice softening slightly. "I owe you one."
Apollo shrugged, the lighthearted grin returning to his face. "Yeah, yeah, just make sure you throw a killer party when this is all over," he said with a wink. "And remember, if you need me for anything else—preferably something involving music or beautiful women—don't hesitate to call. And Annabeth, be there too. You are also really hot."
With that, Apollo turned and gave them a wave before vanishing in a flash of golden light.
Percy sighed heavily as Apollo disappeared, the weight of everything pressing down on him once again.
"We're not losing her," Annabeth said firmly, her hand still resting on his arm. "We'll find a way to restore her."
Percy nodded. "Yeah. We will. We've been through worse."
But even as he said it, the enormity of what had happened weighed on him. His home had been attacked. People had died. Mrs. O'Leary was missing. Juniper was barely clinging to life. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to keep everyone safe when threats were coming from every direction.
"First things first," Percy said, rubbing his temple. "You get this cleaned up. I will make sure Medea and Circe are secure and then make sure we get Grover and Katie here. Maybe they can do more."
As it turned out, that has been taken care of. Amberly and Juliette were had conjured up camping chairs from somewhere and were keeping themselves amused by watching whom he presumed was Medea punching at the inside of the ice, and trying to melt it down with magical fire though it was hard to tell through the rough ice wall. Circe, as far as he could tell, had retreated to her bunk.
Once actually called, Grover, and also Katie, despite her current circumstances, immediately agreed to come, though both warned it would take them some time to arrive. Finally, after having played all cards remaining in his metaphorical hand, he joined Silena and Khione in the kitchen. Silena had rinsed the worst of the blood and grime of her hands and face off, but still looked rather rough. Khione, on the other hand, looked as pristine as ever, glowing softly as she stood, radiating cold. It got noticeably colder as he drew closer but then, Elsa deserved to have some fun.
"So," he finally said. "What exactly happened?"
Silena sighed, and after rubbing her temples she began to recite a blow by blow account of what had transpired, and how Juniper must have fallen victim to Medea and her band of angry lesbians breaching the front door while Percy leaned back in his chair, getting angrier and angrier with every passing sentence. Something of all this must have shown, because Silena visibly squirmed under his gaze and Percy forced himself to take a deep breath.
"Silena, you did amazing, like above and beyond," he said, trying to keep his voice from shaking. "Now, taking your collar off," he said, looking at Khione. "-was obviously a risk but given the circumstances...not sure what else you could have done."
"There remains another matter," Khione said calmly and pulled furth the collar, with the key still sticking out of the lock, and offered it too him.
Percy did some very fast and hard thinking. If Khione wanted to run, she would have tried so already. She had been provided with the perfect opportunity. "Thanks," he said, accepting the collar and putting it on the table. "So, now we come to you," Percy announced. "-quite frankly, I am surprised you are still here or bothered to help."
"Are you?" Khione mused, a cold smile curling her lips. She took off her icy crown and gazed at it. "You have been a gracious jailor, and Silena here has rather grown on me. Shall we leave it at that?"
"So, if we kept your collar off for a while, I can trust you won't make me regret it," Percy asked pointedly.
Khione's smile grew a fraction colder, but her eyes remained steady as she replied, "Regret is subjective, Lord Perseus. But yes, for what it is worth, you have my word."
Percy considered her words, studying her face for any sign of deceit. There was none, at least not that he could discern. He knew the danger Khione posed, especially now that she had her powers back. Still, the fact that she hadn't taken the opportunity to flee or turn against them spoke volumes.
"Alright," Percy said finally, picking up the collar and placing it back on the table with a decisive thud. "For now, I'll leave it off. But know this: if I see any reason to doubt you or if you step out of line, it's going back on, and it will stay on. Understood?"
"Perfectly," Khione said. She tapped the counter absentmindedly, rings of frost spreading where she touched the marble.
"Some ground rules," Percy continued. "None of that being in multiple places at once stuff. All if you are staying on this property and in once place unless I tell you otherwise. You are allowed to use your powers, within reason. You will cause me as little trouble as you possibly can. Use your best judgment on that. You are also to follow any orders I, Annabeth, or Silena give you. That being said, I can not guarantee that the collar stays off all the time, or even permanently."
Khione tapped the table, frost spreading out where nodded in acknowledgment, her cold eyes steady as she processed his conditions. "Understood," she said softly. "I will abide by your rules, Lord Perseus. I have no intention of causing you or your household any trouble, especially seeing as I am a part of it."
It did, of course, occur to Percy that if something else happened, having a goddess that actually knew how to use her power on hand might end up coming in handy.
As it turned out Annabeth was true to her word, within half an hour she led a platoons worth of Cyclops onto his courtyard. All of them were wearing yellow protective helmets and loin clothes. It was an interesting combo, especially because one of them was dragging a large wagon with reflective stipes and a yellow plastic horn after him. "So boys, if it is dead and lying around, you can take it with you free of charge," she announced proudly.
Percy watched the Cyclopes crew with a mix of bewilderment and gratitude as they got to work. They moved with surprising efficiency, despite their strange combination of protective gear and minimal clothing. The wagon, emblazoned with its yellow horn, seemed to be their version of a clean-up truck, and they wasted no time gathering up the remains of the fallen attackers.
"Well, this is certainly one way to clean up a mess," Percy muttered to Annabeth, who was overseeing the operation, her usual air of self-satisfaction beginning to reappear.
She flashed him a grin, her eyes twinkling with a mix of humor and determination. "Hey, it's practical. And besides, they're happy to do it."
"What the fuck happened here?" a familiar voice demanded, and they turned around to find Piper standing in the entrance to the atrium, her collage bag slung over her shoulder, as she stared around the courtyard dumbfounded.
With regards,
HJL over and out.