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Nico was eating a meal with Jason, Hazel, Leo, Piper, and Frank when he felt it happen. His forked dropped from his hand. He felt tears threatening to drop. He's dead. Oh gods, he's dead. This couldn't be real right? Percy was one of- No, he was the most powerful demigod he knew. He couldn't just die.
The other demigods turned their heads towards him in surprise. Jason was the first to unfreeze. "Nico? Are you ok?"
"He's de-dead. Per-Percy di-died!" Nico cried, burying his face into his hands. The demigods were shocked to hear this. Everyone was quiet and no one could bring themselves up to break the silence. They all cried silently. No one was able to sleep later that night. They ended up staying up to make blue cookies in honor of their friend. They wondered how Annabeth was dealing with Percy's death. Would she even be able to survive by herself?
"Don't worry, Annabeth! I swear on the River Styx that we'll make it out of here!" Percy said softly after they drink fire from the Phlegethon once again.
'An Oath to Keep with a Final Breath'
"Together?"
"Of course. I'll never leave you."
Percy was dead. At least, he thinks he is. All he can see is black. What even happened to him? Oh. The Arai. The curses. The gorgon's blood.
Percy panicked. How was Annabeth? Was she ok? Is she still alive? Calm down, Percy. He thought to himself. She's with Bob. She's safe with him. Suddenly, there is a bright flash of light and Hades, god of the Underworld, appears.
"Is Annabeth-"
"She's alive," Hades says.
"Am I really.. dead?" Percy asks. Please say no. He needed to be there for Annabeth. He has to protect her (not that she needs any protecting). He has to make sure that they both make it out of here to reunite with the seven and save the world.
"It's a bit.. er, complicated. You are dead Perseus, but as your spirit is in Tartarus, I have no way of getting you to the afterlife. You would definitely gotten into Elysium if that soothes you."
"Then how are you here? An-and what going to happen to me?" Percy asks, thousands of thoughts racing through his head.
"I am here because this is a dream. At least, something like a dream." What? Wasn't he dead? How was he dreaming? "As to what's going to happen to you.. well it seems like your spirit has bonded with that blonde girl, Annabeth."
"What does that mean?"
"I was just about to get to that, boy. Basically, you are a ghost. Annabeth can command you if she likes. She dies, you'll be able to get into the afterlife properly along with her. Do you understand or do I have to dumb it down for you a bit more?"
"How is this even possible?" Percy asks the god.
"Perhaps because she was closest when you died or because you love her so much that you latched onto her automatically. I assume that if you didn't bind yourself to Annabeth you would be doomed to wander around Tartarus forever. Now, I must get going or Zeus will get mad."
"I'm sorry girl, but he's dead there's nothing I can do," Damasen said. Annabeth burst into tears ignoring the fact that there is a titan and giant watching her.
"Wake up, Seaweed Brain! You have to wake up! You said you wo-wouldn't leave me!" She cried.
"A-Annabeth?" Percy said weakly.
"Percy?" Annabeth said, wiping of the tears off her face. "I thought you were dead." She hugged him tightly. She didn't notice that Percy had looked a bit surprised that she had hugged him. (I thought I was a ghost? How is she not going through me?)
"I.. am. Dead that is. But it's a little weird since we're in Tartarus." Percy started explaining what Hades had told him. "I also have a feeling that I can't go too far from you and I'm not sure how you were able to touch me with phasing through."
Damasen coughed to get the demigods attention. Percy yelped and accidently phased through the bed he was lying on. "Uh who are you?"
After they got all introduced, Damasen said, "It appears that you can control whether or not you have a physical body."
They talked for a bit, helping Percy get used to his new form until they heard Polybotes heading their way. Annabeth had offered Damasen to come with them, but he ended up staying behind.
"Why won't you die, demigod scum!?" One of the monsters yelled after he jumped in front of Annabeth to protect her. She was busy battling a cyclops when an arrow headed her way. That arrow now stuck out on Percy's chest.
Percy simply pulled the arrow out and shrugged. "You can't kill whats already dead."
When Leo threw his screwdriver at the elevator button. He was not expecting two demigods to come out. He definitely was not expecting Percy to walk out carrying Annabeth. This.. had to be a trick right? Percy was dead! Nico had said so. Leo looked over to Hazel to see that she too was shocked to see their friend, but quickly unfroze to use the mist to get Percy and Annabeth behind them.
"Percy? Is that really you?"
"Percy?" Everyone except Annabeth said.
"Er, yes?" Percy said confused. "What's up?"
"What's up? That's all you say? What's up?" Nico said. "We thought you died! Were my powers wrong? I-I just, what happened."
"This is real right?" Jason asked. "You're actually here and I'm not just dreaming."
"Here let me check!" Leo said pinching himself. "Ow! This is definitely real."
"You're alive!" Hazel exclaimed throwing herself onto Percy. But he felt weird. His body was cold.
"So uh this is awkward," Percy laughed sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck after Hazel let him go. "But I'm like a ghost. I'm dead which is like the opposite of being alive."
"If you're a ghost then how am I not able to sense you with my powers and aren't you supposed to be in the Underworld then?" Nico asked.
"Tartarus does some weird things if you die there. Not even Hades knows exactly how this happened." Annabeth says. "Oh and look what I can do now!"
"Please don't," Percy said. Everyone waited to see what Annabeth would do.
"Slap yourself."
Percy slapped himself.