Thirteen
1140 Words
Arthur and Diana were leaning over the table studying a huge map in the Justice League Hall. Several countries and oceans were crossed out.
"Where else could the Princess be?" The Poseidon’s King grumbled, tugging at his hair.
"I'm not sure Arthur."
"Richard Robin Grayson!!" Bruce's voice echoed through the halls, "Where the hell have you been?!"
Dick had been missing for a month and no one knew where he had gone. Diana and Arthur hadn't really noticed because they were so focused on Perci's whereabouts and Nightwing had a bad habit of disappearing every now and then anyway.
"Geez Bruce calm down."
"No! Where have you been?!" Batman yelling was very rare. Him doing so, had now garnered Diana and Arthur's attention.
"I thought you were dead. I did. When the Joker blew up that building with you inside it?! You just vanished."
"I'm sorry Bruce. I am. But I washed up on an island in the middle of nowhere. There was a woman there who helped me and let me into her home. She took care of me."
Excited and hopeful, Diana rushed down the hall into the room where d**k and Bruce were in, "What did she look like?!"
Arthur was right behind her when she demanded an answer.
Dick was taken aback by Diana's abrupt question, but then stared off into the distance as he recalled her face, "Beautiful. She had long, wavy black hair. A gorgeous smile. And the prettiest sea green eyes, that sparkled every time she laughed," A soft smile appeared on his face.
Batman gave him a bewildered look and Aquaman said, "Awww. Nightwing is love!"
Wonder Woman cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow,"Did she give you a name?" The Amazonian Princess asked calmly, hoping she was right with who d**k was talking about.
"Yeah. Perci. She didn't mention a last name. But let me tell you, the first time we met she punched me in the jaw."
Arthur lost it. He doubled over in laughter, almost falling to the floor.
Bruce snickered and Diana nodded with amusement, smiling.
"Yeah that sounds like the princess," Aquaman grinned, wiping tears from his eyes.
The sss smacked his shoulder before looking back at d**k, "Did she tell you where you were?"
"Yeah. But why you are guys asking me so many questions?"
"Well, she's been missing for three years and her father wants her back."
"Who is her father?"
"Poseidon, God of the Sea, Stormbringer and Earthshaker."
"Then that's why..."
"Why what?" Bruce asked, curious.
"When she let me explore her house, I found her at the bottom of a pool. She just laid there and I thought she was dead. I pulled her out, and when I turned to give her CPR, Perci was fine, looking at me like I was crazy."
Arthur looked excited, "That's her!!"
"The last night I stayed, I woke up because the mansion wouldn't stop shaking. The walls were breaking apart. The wind spirits or the Aurai they called themselves, kept whispering her name and 'nightmare.'"
Diana nodded, "The Warrior has been through much. Too much."
"The island she said we were on was Ogygia."
Arthur and Diana's faces lit up and they looked at each other.
"Do you know her real name?"
They looked back at d**k. The two then nodded.
"Persephone Jackson."
Again d**k smiled, softly, "Persephone..."
Diana turned to Arthur and pulled him to the doorway, "Arthur we need to find that island."
"I don't think that's a good idea," d**k interrupted, shaking his head, "Hest, uh, her guardian said she needed to stay away from all this after everything she's been through. I don't think she wants to leave."
Diana frowned, thoughtful, "I will contact Artemis and ask for advice. She might know what the Maiden Warrior needs."
Dick, Arthur and Diana walked out of the room and left Bruce just standing there, his mouth agape, "What the hell is going on?!"
:3
Diana took a drachma from the pouch in her drawer. Her father Zeus had given them to her just in case of an emergency, but she hadn't used them for so long.
She walked into her bathroom and turned on the shower. Diana shone a light through the water, producing a small rainbow, "Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering," The woman flipped the coin into it, "Show me Artemis."
The Lady of the Moon spun around to look at the IM, hoping to see Perci again, "Per-oh! Diana! How nice to see you sister, how long has it been?"
"A decade or two Lady Artemis."
The goddess smiled, "How can I help you?"
"I have found Persephone."
Artemis looked surprised, then nervous.
"You knew where she was already, did you not Lady Artemis?"
"She needs time Diana. You needed time after your war. After losing so many. And having to leave your people. Perci has had two wars in two years and lost everyone. Even her mother. You of all people should know how this feels."
Diana bowed her head, "I do. Now I am asking for advice. Do I take her to Poseidon?"
Artemis hummed, unsure, "No. I think maybe you should take her under your wing. There is another war coming and I'd like to keep her out of it for as long as I can. You could both train with each other. And if she so desires, bring her to Olympus. When you see her well enough, ask to bring her to the mainland and off her island."
Wonder Woman's eyes widened, "Another war?"
"Yes. Chaos visited Perci and she had a dream about Order."
Diana looked fearful, but sympathetic, "And all of this is on our cousin's shoulders?"
Artemis nodded, "I will send you to Ogygia. You do know that you'll never be able to get there on your own."
The younger daughter of Zeus nodded.
"Alright then, little sister. Good luck. And take care of our cousin."
:3
Staring out a window, Perci watched as stars twinkled in the sky. She was in her room in New York, sitting on her bed.
The girl leant her head against the wall next to and sighed with content. She then swung a leg over the edge of her preparing to stand, but her foot was met with a warm liquid.
Perci frowned and looked at her floor and cried out.
Water was flooding in through the door, slowly rising.
The demigoddess switched her light on and screamed.
It wasn't water that was streaming down the walls into her room. It was blood.
Paralysed with fear, Perci could only look at the rising fluid. In a minute the blood was her throat, then she took her last breath.
Completely submerged, Order's words were whispered in her mind, "You will be forever alone."
- Writer
