Archive of Our Own

Annabeth could hardly believe it; Percy had survived his sixteenth birthday, he turned down immortality for her, and the surviving Hunters, Campers, and Chiron agreed to keep mum about Percy fighting as the Eye of Nephthys. As far as the gods are aware, the Egyptian gods (who the Greeks pretended to know nothing about) were in Brooklyn, and out of sight and out of mind of their children. 

Percy glowing blue, having a fifteen foot tall form, and blue wings was just something impossibly Percy and no one was going to snitch; not after all he had sacrificed for them.

She had known of course he was the host of an Egyptian deity since they were twelve; she had seen and watched over him when he turned into a kite last summer. 

It was still eerie watching his eyes glow a solid dark blue as he chanted ancient Egyptian to summon the dead Hunters and Campers to their makeshift headquarters at the Plaza - all with the same glowing, dark blue eyes - so he could give them their final rites. Watching Percy move on autopilot as he wrapped each Hunter and Camper in clean hotel bed sheets after placing coins on their eyes and hieroglyphics he scribbled on printer paper under their crossed arms was mesmerizing and oddly peaceful to observe. With each dead body Percy prepped, the blue wings of Nephthys were outstretched above the body until it was properly prepared and Percy finished his task. 

With each Hunter, Thalia and the remaining girls drew bows and arrows and the monsters the fallen Hunter had slain in sharpie on her sheets. 

With each Camper, their remaining siblings wrote their name and what traits they took after from their godly parents.

There was a macabre beauty to it.

Almost comforting.

“They’re prepared wherever they find themself.” Percy said upon Chiron’s curious look at the hieroglyphics.

“And your patron, I assume…” Chiron raised an eyebrow.

“On my cousins’ side, from Brooklyn.” Percy said, nodding.

“I see. Well, as far as I am aware, your Aunt is visiting from Brooklyn and you have developed a part of your father no one has seen since the Mycenaean period. No more, no less. My Lady.” Chiron said as he bowed his head to Percy. 

But despite it all, Percy survived. 

He survived for her.

He gave up immortality for her.

The past year had taught Annabeth that nothing was for certain and that if she wanted something, she had to seize it before the opportunity slipped by her. 

After the funeral pyres were lit and smoldered, while dinner was somber, Annabeth and Tyson slipped away to bake a birthday cupcake for Percy. 

This was the day. 

Annabeth had faced down a Titan, she could tell Percy that she had feelings for him. 

She gave him the cupcake and they made idle chit chat while they shared the blue monstrosity. 

“You saved the world.” Annabeth said, her heart pounding in her chest.

“We saved the world.” Percy gave her that grin she adored and set her heart aflame.

“And Rachel is the new oracle which means she won’t be dating anyone.” Annabeth didn’t feel bad about that at all. 

“You don’t sound too disappointed.” Percy said, his eyes twinkling.

“Oh, I don’t care.” Annabeth said, caring very much.

“Uh huh.” 

“You got something to say to me, Seaweed Brain?” Annabeth raised an eyebrow at him. 

“You’d probably kick my butt.” 

“You know I would kick your butt.” Annabeth smiled. 

He brushed the cupcake off his hands. 

“When I was at the River Styx, turning invulnerable… Nico said I had to concentrate on one thing that kept me anchored to the world, that made me want to stay mortal.” 

Annabeth pointedly looked out at the stars and found Andromeda to be very interesting. “Yeah?” 

“Then up on Olympus, when they wanted to make me a god and stuff, I kept thinking-”

“Oh, so you wanted to.” 

“No, because I thought- I didn’t want things to stay the same because things can always get better. And I was thinking…” Percy sounded unsure of himself. 

Oh.

Oh!

“Anyone in particular?” Annabeth asked softly, a smile curling her lips. 

She didn’t even care that the others threw them in the lake afterwards. 

Percy was hers. 

He was finally hers and no one was going to take him from her.

And by the gods, he was so sweet to kiss.

///

Nephthys was a goddess of Ancient Egypt. She has had many hosts of many genders and royal status before she and her siblings were locked away in the Rosetta Stone but none have wormed their way into her heart and become like a son to her quite like Perseus Jackson.

When the Queen of the Gods came into the Camp, where Percy was to be safest, Nephthys wrestled control of Percy’s body and frantically activated the hieroglyphics on the shabti that was to take on Percy’s likeness in case things went wrong.

Nephthys rolled it under Percy’s bunk in haste before Queen Hera appeared in Cabin 3 with all her glory. 

“Perseus Jackson, I have a quest for you.” The Queen left no room for argument or choice.

Nephthys felt Percy bristle under the Queen’s scrutiny.

“No thank you. I’m only here for a few days of Christmas break and then I go back home.” Percy said; Nephthys gave control back to Percy so Hera wouldn’t suspect another god’s presence.

“You misunderstand me, half-blood. This is not a request.” Queen Hera’s eyes narrowed and raised a hand. 

Nephthys had magic, sure, but Hera was a Queen of gods and an Olympian. 

Nephthys could only hold on tight to the amulet around Percy’s neck as her Host was stripped of his memories, his sense of self, and in a fleeting moment of desperation, the risk of discovery far outweighing the risk of what was happening, Nephthys wove protective magic around the memories of Annabeth; Annabeth, the clever girl who tied Percy to mortality, who was the reason her son in all but blood denied godhood, Hera may be stealing Percy’s identity but she could not steal Annabeth; Nephthys would not allow the Queen of Gods to take her from Percy.

Nephthys’ drained herself fighting against Hera’s magic and fell unconscious inside her Host’s mind.

No matter how much time had passed, whether it was a few minutes or a week, Percy never failed to light up when he saw Annabeth. 

So why was today different?

“I know I can always count on you.” Percy said.

“You can.” Annabeth was starting to feel a little confused and an odd feeling started to nag at the back of her mind but she ignored it. 

“Good.” 

Percy surged forward and kissed Annabeth with a ferocity that left her breathless. She was sure there were sparks flying and a choir of angels singing and somewhere, a love goddess was popping a champagne bottle because no matter how many times Percy kissed her, she had a feeling that the goddess of love was celebrating each and every time.

Annabeth probably let out a sigh of contentment but really, she was too distracted to care; her senses filled with sea salt, warm fire upon her lips, and strong hands cradling her cheeks and neck like she was the most precious of things to be held.

Annabeth was content to stay like this, her name and everything else forgotten, so long as Percy was kissing her. 

He pulled away and pressed his forehead against hers, their noses nuzzling, their breath mixed with desperation.

“I love you Annabeth Chase. And I know you will stop at nothing to find me.” Percy whispered breathlessly.

“What?” Annabeth pulled back in confusion before horror overcame her. 

Percy was cracking, lines causing deep fissures all across his body and he seemed resigned to the fact he was falling apart. 

“I’m counting on you.”

“Percy, stop it!” Annabeth didn’t know what was happening and she didn’t know how to stop it.

“I hope he remembers this kiss.” Percy said one last time before he shattered into a million broken pieces of dried clay.

“Percy?” Annabeth whimpered. 

She hesitantly picked up a piece that used to be his hand and screamed as it crumbled into dust.

///

When she awoke, Perseus was asleep under a spell stronger than Nephthys could break. 

Stretching her senses, left her exhausted. No. She had to save her strength. Nephthys would expend her magic to keep Percy safe from harm; no more until he awoke. 

While her Host slept, protected by Hera’s magic from outside elements, Nephthys protected his ba. 

She wrapped Percy’s sleeping body in woven fabrics with protective charms. 

Nephthys did not think anything of the way she wrapped Percy; it was how she guided the priests of old, how she taught them how to wrap the dead. It was how she wrapped Percy with only his head unwrapped. 

It took a few weeks, but Nephthys had saved up enough magic to bring about her second stage in protecting Percy’s body and ba: conjuring a watery sarcophagus to aid in rejuvenating her powers.

In the land of dreams, Percy slept still. The beating of his heart and the fact Nephthys hadn’t been banished to the Duat were the only indications she had that Percy still lived. 

Nephthys would reach out and stroke his hair comfortingly. 

As she stood guard, her blue-grey wings fluttered and extended over Percy’s body. 

The Nightmares would not reach her host. 

The Dreams were wild and terrifying but Nephthys would only allow the kindest to reach her host's unconsciousness; dreams that involved Annabeth. Dreams of a sweet kiss were the kindest. Dreams that were full of warm memories and feelings surrounding a grey eyed girl.

Sometimes, when Ma’at was kind, her Set would join her in this realm. 

“Nephthys, my life, who did this to you? Where did you go?” Set rushed to her side, kneeling beside her as he wrapped her up in his embrace; the sandstorm swirled around her and Percy in his protective fury.

“Hera. She did this. She said there was a quest and didn’t give Percy a choice.” Nephthys brushed Percy’s hair out of his face.

Set’s features morphed in anger, then fury, then stilled like the center of his storm.

“The Queen of the Greeks violated the boundaries set forth long ago. I can take this case before the Pantheons. Let all Norse, Egyptian, Greek, Celtic, and who else still lives know of the violation.” Set said. 

“My love, my storm, I don’t want any more problems than what we’ve already had.” 

“But a Greek goddess kidnapped you! Kidnapped your Host!” Set raged. 

“Stop and think, dearest; Hera must fear something is coming; else she would have stayed her hand. I do not believe she would hide Perseus away for much longer.” Nephthys cupped her once brother, now husband’s cheek.

“The Magicians are in a state looking for the kid. The Greeks and his mother too.” Set said, resigned. “I shall tell Amos that you and the kid are hidden away but together.”

“Please, it would put his mother at ease to know he isn’t without protection.” Nephthys smiled at him. 

Set sighed. 

“Of all Hosts, you just had to choose the unpredictable one.” Set looked down at the sleeping boy under his wife’s wings. 

“What can I say? I have a fondness for the unpredictable ones.” Nephthys kissed his cheek. 

///

Percy only knew two things. 

1. Annabeth was the only person Percy could remember. She was too entwined in his soul to ever forget her.  
2. Nephthys was the closest thing he had for adult supervision. 

She was the voice in his head; the gentle, motherly thoughts that would nudge him towards a safe shelter or where he could get unspoiled food for his dinner. 

She warned him of dangers both mortal and mythical. 

Lupa had no idea Percy had Nephthys in his head. 

Nephthys warned Percy not to let the Romans know about her or that he was Greek or else he’d be in even more danger. 

You are in danger, Little One. The Romans will kill you if you give them the chance. Do not give them that chance!

Why? 

 Rome hates Greek and Egyptians alike. They have conquered us and nearly destroyed your ancestors. You must be vigilant and you must keep your guard up.

Percy didn’t think Hazel could be dangerous or at least, she seemed the least likely to slit his throat in his sleep. 

///

Percy gazed down at the battlefield that was New Rome and Camp Jupiter against the forces of Gaia. 

“Hazel, Frank, pass out the weapons and provide reinforcements. I’m going after the giant.” Percy said. 

“Are you sure?” Frank asked him. 

“Go. I’ll be just fine.” Percy said, feeling the power that was Nephthys swell up inside him. 

Frank and Hazel looked as if they were going to protest but he could see in their eyes that they were in awe; Percy wondered what they saw that made them like that. They followed his orders, urging Arion into the fray and tossing Imperial gold weapons to any soldier who could still stand. 

Percy could feel the rivers in his veins. 

He could hear the voices of the unkept dead. 

He could feel the very foundations of the Earth that was trying to destroy them.  

“Polybotes!” Percy’s voice shook the ground, stirred the rivers, quieted the dead as he called out across the battlefield. 

The giant cackled as he found Percy. 

“Come to die?” He roared, his net and his trident held lazily in his grasp. “How I will enjoy sending your head to your father.” 

Are you with me, my Lady?  

To Ma’at and beyond, Little One.

God and demigod, fighting together.

Percy felt his body shift with each step. His senses heightened, allowing him to see through the Mist, through the Duat, through every soul of the fallen and the monsters clawing at the cracks in the foundations. 

He felt the familiar warmth that was Nephthys’ protection. 

Percy spoke the words that summoned earth elementals as well as raised the dead to keep fighting. 

With one thought, he was on the other side of the battlefield. 

With a raised hand, Percy sent monsters back to the Underworld. 

Each action was perfect. 

Each strike was precise. 

Polybotes looked almost afraid, then grinned cruelly. 

“I will enjoy killing you.” The giant lunged. 

Percy was already in the air; shimmering blue and grey wings, like the water and death magic he practiced, like the wings of his lady, pulled him into the air. 

The fight was over before it began.

Percy cut off the giant’s head and watched as the body dissolved into dust. 

The battle was over. 

Wounded Romans were staring at the son of Neptune in horrified awe.

Percy turned to face them. 

“What-how-” Octavian sputtered. 

“By the grace of Lady Nephthys, the giant is slain. Rome is spared.” Percy said, feeling his goddess’ pride in the back of his mind. “It is by her mercy that you survived the battle.” 

The legionnaires were silent. 

Then the roar was deafening. 

Instead of surging forward to deliver the death blow, they raised him up on golden shields. 

They named him Praetor. 

Before the Senate, they heard his council and listened. 

This might actually work.

Be wary, Rome is full of vipers.

I will; I won’t die this close to seeing Annabeth again.

Percy waited, side by side, with Hazel and Frank as they waited for the Greeks. 

He didn’t know what would happen, but he could live through whatever came next so long as Nephthys and Annabeth were by his side.