Chapter Text
Percy
“YOU REMEMBER ME?” Sophie’s voice blurted out in surprise.
The girl in front of them was a trembling mess, but she nodded her head. After a moment of silence, the girl's face seemed to twist in confusion. It looked like a pained look that Annabeth would get when working on a particularly hard Problem… Which was rare.
“I don’t understand… You shouldn’t be here.” The girl rubbed her eyes as if they were part of her imagination.
“Listen… Amy—”
“That’s not my name!”
“Right, I Meant—”
“Wait…” Not Amy mouthed her name a few times as if she was finally catching onto something she had forgotten long ago.
“It is, isn’t it? I’m… Amy Foster?”
Sophie nodded her head.
“Then who’s Natalie Freeman?”
“That’s… Also, you.” Sophie said carefully.
Amy/Natalie groaned and pressed her fingers to her forehead. The poor girl looked like she was in the middle of a Migraine. Percy Remembered those pains from when he was recovering from Hera’s Little stunt.
“Someone messed with her Memories,” Percy whispered to Nico.
“Looks like it,” Nico whispered back.
“I Know how confusing this must be… I Promis I’ll explain but –”
“Not right now.” Fitz cut in.
“Who are you?” Amy/Natalie asked, taking a few steps away from the group.
“That’s Fitz.” She paused before pointing at Keefe. “and that’s Keefe.”
“And them?” Amy/Natalie asked, glancing at Percy and Nico.
“That’s Percy and Nico,” Sophie said.
“They’re My friends… You can trust them.”
“I Don’t even know if I can trust you.” Amy/Natalie said, her eyes narrowed in suspicion…
“You trusted us enough to stop hiding, right?” Keefe asked.
“I Only came out because I heard you guys say you’d get my parents back.” Amy/Natalie corrected.
“I’m going to go inform Alden about what’s going on. Keep an eye on them for me?” Percy asked Nico.
“Yep,” Nico said, waving him off.
Percy left them to their conversation and headed downstairs and towards Alden.
“Well, her parents are definitely gone. But her sister managed to avoid capture, it looks like. She is telling the story to Sophie and the rest now,” Percy said, taking a cookie from a package left out on the kitchen counter.
“That… complicates things…” Alden said, with a complicated look on his face.
“As complicated as all three of them being missing and us having no clue about what happened?” Percy asked.
“No, but it's a different kind of complicated. We Can’t just leave her here.” Alden said.
“How is it complicated? Can’t we just take her with us?” Percy asked.
“It’s not that simple.” Alden tried to explain.
“I Mean… I understand humans and elves are supposed to be kept separate. Still, I think her knowledge about the kidnapping and connection with Sophie should be sufficient, right?” Percy asked.
Alden was silent for a moment, contemplating.
“Suppose you’re right, but we have to do this right,” Alden concluded.
“I Will follow your lead.” Percy Shrugged.
“You might not after I tell you…” Alden warned.
“Lay it on me.”
Alden told Percy his plan with a hushed whisper.
Percy’s mouth curved into a grind.
“Why would I Say no to that?” Percy asked.
“Well… you’re Friends with them, aren’t you?” Alden asked, a little taken aback.
“It’s not like you're planning on separating them. Besides, It’s a little payback for Drugging me when we first met.” Percy said.
“She is going to be really upset with you,” Alden said.
“Not as much as she will be with you. I’m not too worried about it.”
“What about your friend Nico? Isn’t he still in the room?”
“Are you trying to talk yourself out of this?” Percy asked with a grin.
Alden only shook his head. “This is serious.”
“Yeah, Which means it needs a little comic relief. Let’s do it.” Percy said.
They made their way up the stairs, Sandor and Grizel following closely. They arrived at the door to hear the last part of the conversation.
“Do you know how risky it is to light leap with a human?” It was Fitz’s rational voice.
“What do you mean a Human?” Amy/Natalie had snapped.
“Exactly what you think he means.” Alden decided to cut into the conversation right then.
Amy/Natalie looked like she was ready to bolt. She screamed when she saw Sandor and Grizel.
“It’s okay! They’re our bodyguards!” Sophie tried to assure her sister.
But that only made it worse.
“Wh-what are they?” Amy/Natalie stammered.
“Goblins,” Sandor said.
“And we mean you no harm,” Grizel added.
“Goblins… Like from the bank in Harry Potter?” Sophie’s Sister Laughed in an unbelieving way.
“She sounds like Sophie did when I first told her she was an elf,” Fitz told Keefe.
Amy/Natalie looked like she was about to go insane with the amount of hysterical laughing she was doing.
“Okay, so two things… One: How is she understanding us? I just realized we’ve all been speaking the Enlightened language, and she has too.” Keefe decided to jump in.
“I Gave her—and her parents—a Basic understanding of our language before we relocated them… In case something like this ever happened. Communication can be a powerful weapon and an essential defense.” Alden explained.
“What is he talking about?” Sophie’s sister shouted at her before turning to Alden. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BRAIN?”
“That’s the second thing…” Keefe said, fanning his face. “I’m betting your sister is about three minutes away from a meltdown of epic proportions…”
‘Probably sooner,’ Percy thought.
“I’d wager it’ll be sooner than that… This is exactly the worst-case Scenario I hoped we’d never have to face. Fortunately, I came prepared.” Alden said.
“What are you doing?” Sophie asked as Alden rummaged in his pockets.
He Pulled out a small silver disk and tossed it at the group's feet.
Nico looked at Percy with a ‘What the heck is that.’ Look, But Percy only grinned and mouthed ‘Sorry’ Before he held his breath.
Sophie’s sister hit the floor first with a loud thud.
“Please, She’s going to need me. You can’t erase me from her life again.” Sophie begged.
Keefe tried to help Sophie when she stumbled. But he hit the floor a second before he would have reached her. Fitz followed after him. Nico Gave an annoyed look over at Percy.
“Seriously, Percy?” He groaned, falling onto his knees.
Sophie fell to her knees as well, crawling for her sister. She continued to plead with Alden as she lay on top of her sister.
“Don’t fight the sedatives, Sophie. You can’t beat them.” Alden said.
Nico collapsed completely, knocked out by the sedative.
“Please… Please don’t take my sister away from me. Not again…” Sophie said, her eyelids closing.
Percy decided to crouch down next to her and patted her head before whispering into her ear.
“Don’t worry about your sister. You will see her again.”
He knew he Wasn’t supposed to whisper anything to Sophie, It would have made Amy/Natalie suspicious that they had planned this. But Amy/Natalie was asleep, and Percy saw no need to cause Sophie any more Mental trauma. Sophie was snoozing a moment later…
Annabeth
Annabeth was frustrated… Now, she had two missing Demigods to find. She had checked out all the usual haunts… His Room at Camp Jupiter… Cabin 13… a few of his secret hideouts… Nico Di Angelo was gone as well. She asked Hazel if she knew anything, but she had thought he was back at camp Half-Blood.
“Oooooo when I catch you two,” Annabeth said into the empty air. She held her hands out as if she were Strangling something.
Hestia and Calypso were still asleep in the big house. Nothing the Apollo kids did helped at all. Now, with Nico Gone, Will was on the warpath himself. He was as desperate to find Nico as Annabeth was to find Percy.
“Any news?” Piper asked, walking up behind her.
Annabeth had to force herself to relax and untense herself.
“Nope. No News Of Percy, No News of Nico… In fact, Other than Hestia and Calypso, No News from the Gods Either.” Annabeth complained.
“And the Oracle?”
“I ask twice a day… Nothing…”.” Annabeth slumped. She wasn’t giving up, but she was starting to feel the pressure.
“He’s only been missing for a week… After last time, I’m sure he will turn up.” Piper assured her.
“I know… But it feels different this time. There was a feeling that he was out there somewhere… But that feeling is gone. It’s like he just doesn’t exist anymore. With the reports we are getting, I’m starting to worry about what he is mixed up with.” Annabeth confided.
“What Reports?” Piper asked.
“Don’t tell anyone, I don’t even think I’m supposed to know. But I overheard Chiron and Coach Hedge talking. They think the Mist is Wavering.”
“Wavering?”
“Yeah, Not working anymore. More Mortals are being reported as clear-sighted. Either being clear-sighted is becoming normal at an alarming rate, or the Mist is failing.” Annabeth said.
“That’s troubling…” Piper said.
“Yes, Monsters Normally ignore Mortals. But if mortals start to attack the Monsters, they will not ignore them. I have a bad feeling about whatever is happening.” Annabeth said.
“Hmm… You might want to talk to Chiron about telling everyone about this. Everyone should know things are about to get messy.” Piper said.
Annabeth thought for a moment. All of this was distracting her from her Mission to find Percy.
“I’m sure Percy is already on top of whatever all this is. Maybe we can find some clues about where he is by investigating this.” Piper reasoned.
“You’re right. Thanks Piper.”
“What are best friends for? Right?” Piper said, grinning at her.
‘Stay Safe, Seaweed brain. We will find you…’ Annabeth thought.