Chapter Text
Percy chokes on Misery’s poison and sees Annabeth suffering the same. He fell into Tartarus with her to protect her, to save her, yet finds himself powerless to help.
Annabeth dies and suddenly something in Percy breaks.
He can feel the poison choking him as if it were water, he feels the poison Misery wields and takes control of it, bending it to his will. He chokes Misery, Akhlys, with her own poison. She tries to struggle free, but he feels the ichor in her veins as blood and immobilizes her with it. He feels no remorse as he chokes her to death; she killed Annabeth.
He cradles Annabeth in his arms and tries to will her heart to beat once more, but it is too late, she is gone. Yet, he cannot leave her behind in this terrible place. Would her soul even be able to pass on the Elysium if her body were left in Tartarus? He can’t take that chance.
Percy carries Annabeth’s body in his arms, not sparing a glance for the goddess he had slain in his grief, and he continues on towards the doors of death.
Percy makes it to the doors of death with Annabeth in his arms. His hands were not free to fight the monsters, but any who approached he willed for their hearts to stop, for them to die, and they faded to dust accordingly. He exuded an aura of such intimidating power and ruthlessness that most monsters quickly fled rather than try and face him.
It felt like forever riding the elevator up out of hell. He held Annabeth close and finally allowed his tears to fall.
He sees his friends at the end as he loses consciousness, the exhaustion finally catching up to him.
Percy woke on the Argo II to the sight of Nico watching over him.
Nico noticed him wake. “How are you feeling?” Nico asked awkwardly. Percy stared blankly, feeling empty. Nico sighed, “It’s Annabeth, she….she didn’t make it.” Nico watched Percy carefully, uncertain of his reaction.
“I know,” Percy replied, “She died earlier, I just, I couldn’t leave her behind in that terrible place.” Percy sat up on the bed.
An uncertain silence filled the room.
“I failed,” Percy spoke at last, “I fell into Tartarus with her on purpose so that I could protect her, so that she wouldn’t be alone, and in the end I wasn’t good enough, I failed to save her.”
“You might not have saved her, but at least you ensured she wasn’t alone down there,” Nico spoke, knowing personally just how terrible it was to be in Tartarus all alone.
“Yeah, I guess,” Percy said despondently. Nico slowly sat down next to Percy and opened himself up for a hug. Percy leaned into him and started to cry.
“I want my mom,” Percy whispered as he cried. Nico held him in comfort.
The next day they held the funeral. They had prepared shrouds for each of the seven and kept them on the Argo II. Percy took Annabeth’s camp necklace to keep and placed drachmas in her eyes before wrapping her in her silvery shroud. He was too choked up to give an eulogy.
Nico said a prayer in ancient Greek, wishing her soul safe passage to Elysium. Percy lit the shroud mournfully. It burned bright through the rain.