Second Chances

Chapter 20 - Preparations

(Stella's P.O.V.)

It had only been a few days since we've been spirited away to the formerly cursed island of Ogygia. The nymphs who had most likely preferred to stay permanently on the island, informed us that Calypso was about seeing the world, but she would return shortly.

“Shortly, right. They're only immortal, so a couple hundred years might be rather quick for them.” I couldn't help but whisper to Sam, who was next to me.

She was basically my only active company. Theia, Brock and Kathryn hadn't recovered themselves yet, and were all in varying states of health. The only conscious one we had, was Tajima. Boy could he be a real pain at times too.

I felt a vague pain of sympathy for him though, knowing that his family had been wiped out by our parents. It made being around him slightly uncomfortable, with his unforgiving silver eyes and that terrible stench of death that constantly hung off him.

“Stels, try to just be patient with the guy... Hana suspects he might be mentally unstable or something.”

I forced myself not to roll my eyes at the comment, Sam was just trying to help after all. Just some of the stares and glares he gave me, screamed that he wanted nothing more than to rip my throat out and eat my heart. I shivered at the mere thought of such actions.

“Think he'll be alright til morning?” I puzzled at Sam, who just gave a slight nod yes.

“He might seem hostile, but I suspect that he's a bit hurt and scared some.” I wasn't fully sure if she was trying to convince herself or me. I let the issue go and we both headed away from the makeshift medical shelter that the nymphs had helped build with us.

I had a rather difficult time catching those sheep, hoping vainly that I could drift into a decent sleep. Instead, I was fully jarred awake by the shadows crossing across the beach. My insides burned violently, alerting me that something was going wrong and quickly.

“Sam..” I tried to whisper back to the redhead. “Sam, get up please..” Another whisper, but she just rolled away from me defiantly in her sleep.

Oh gods. This surely can't be something pleasant.

The thought burns through my head as I catch the slightly limping figure head inside the shelter, and I know that I must get a closer appraisal of this. It takes some time for the person to resurface, which confirms my fear of it being Tajima. I had managed to sneak to the back of the shelter, where I can clearly see and hear the commotion.

Tajima drags a small, lithe body a few yards away from my hiding spot. The next few moments seem to drag endlessly into the night. Tajima gives a squeeze to the victim's throat, popping their eyes open. It's Kathryn. She seems groggy and dazed but awake, and the startled expression indicates that she hasn't fully realized what is taking place yet.

“Ah, sweet Kathryn, it's been such a long time since we've seen each other.” I could hear the boy speaking in louder tones, making sure he was well understood by her.

“Not long enough, you asshole.” Kat snaps back indignantly at him.

“Is that any way to treat someone so close to you?” He snarled back into her ear, which caused a slight nervous jerk from her.

“If I remember correctly, you ditched me when you learned about my parents.” Kat hissed with a touch of scorned malice.

Tajima spun the girl around, and before she could regain her growing balance, he planted a deep kiss on her lips. I nearly guffawed out loud, which would have surely blown my cover. Still, I was rather amazed to see the interaction between the two. As he pulled back from the kiss, he was greeted with a loud slap across his cheek.

“You really are such an asshole. You think because we're on some island getaway that you can just pick things up from so long ago?” Her voice was nearly seething, but her left hand made a slow attempt to grasp his.

“No, I unfortunately don't have time to be romantic. Especially not with you.” Tajima paused slightly for dramatic effect before smirking darkly in the pale moonlight. “I'm here for your head, my love.”

I blinked wide eyed in astonishment, seeing Kat take a noticeable step backwards from her former lover. Her voice trembled slightly as she tried to address his sentiments.

“For my head? You mean to kill me?”

“No, not just you, but everyone else.” Tajima smiled back as he spit out the venomous words.

Quicker than lightning, his right knee lifted and landed into Kat's stomach. As she began to double over herself, he withdrew the hunting knife from the right boot. It had been such a fast sequence that I don't think she ever saw it coming. The knife firmly planted into her chest as she bent forward to catch her breath.

I had replay the image in my head multiple times before it actually made full sense. His speed was frightening, more so than I could ever recall glimpsing or hearing about from others. Kat staggered into him, as she coughed up a waterfall of blood into the sand.

“Why..” she coughed again, another gush of blood drained from her mouth and lips. “At least.. tell me why..”

I cringed and wished I could tear myself away, but I stayed fixated on the events unfolding in front of me as he began to confess everything.

“It was nearly three years ago, when your family wiped out the Roman demigods camp. I'm sure you remember those events well enough, I repeat them every night I sleep.” Tajima gave a small pause before continuing. “I made it out with my brother and Knights, but no gods ever tried to lend a single finger to help us or ease the pain. We were nearly crushed under the weight of everything, the pain was excruciating and unbearable at the best of times.”

Kat was slumped against his body, clinging onto his shirt tightly. He stood there like a statue as she fought for just a few more moments in the moonlight.

“I have to do my family justice, to even the scores. I must take my revenge on your family now..”

His words were heavy in the air, as we both figures absorbed the fleeting seconds of night that were left to them. Kat reached up with a bloody hand and ran it over his cheek slowly.

“Do they know how much you suffer for them?” She asked but gained no response back from the stoic boy. “No, I'm sure none of them do. Yet you still descend deeper into the nightmare, why?”

Another cough, more violent than the previous escapes and causes a last fit of blood to gush from her mouth and chest. Before the darkness consumes them both, they share one final moment of peace together.

“Kathryn, I'm so sorry.. I couldn't ever let you witness what I must do next. I'm sorry for all of the pain I've caused you, even now.”

A slow, steady stream of tears dropped onto the increasingly pale face of the dying girl. She just looked up and smiled lovingly.

“Tajima, it's okay. I forgive you.”

Kat dropped limply into Tajima's arms, as he crumpled onto the sand with her. I stayed motionless as he held onto the dead body tightly, before softly whispering a final goodbye.

“Kathryn, please wait for me.. I promise it won't be long before I come to be with you at last.”

I slowly paced towards the figures on the blood stained beach. As I got within a few feet, he turned slowly to meet my gaze. Those once silver eyes had seemed to have died with Kat. They appeared dull, faded and black. I was shocked to see him so lethargic, but it was unnerving to say the least.

“I'm not sure what to really do with you.” I stated more bluntly than I meant.

He just nodded and stayed kneeling in the sands, blood having drenched his clothes and body thoroughly. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him in way.

“Go and wash up before the sunrise.” This was met with a soft no, before he stood up slowly and carried the body up a hill, towards a grassy hill that overlooked the endless sea.

“The least I can do, is bury her properly.” I waited silently as he refused any help with the task, taking a good half hour to complete his private funeral.

He left for the beach, I presumed going to clean up and then I could contain him to prevent any more mishaps while Theia and Brock healed. I was still slightly shaken by the events, but I approached the grave marker and a sad realization slammed into me as I read the inscription.

Kathryn Rothe and Tajima Kou. Sumus littore aeternam. Finis tantum inchoata.

“We stand eternal on this shore. Our end has only begun.” I couldn't help but read the latin scribble, out loud, as I felt a hand rest kindly on my shoulder.

I turned to find Sam standing beside me, with a solemn look on her face. After a moment of consolation for our fallen friend, I remembered the shore and turned to look at where Tajima was last.

“What is it, Stels?” Sam asked curiously.

I could only point, open mouthed at the empty beach, and the lone figure making an attempt to swim off into the sunset.

“Tajima.. he's going back to confront Atlas. I believe.” The words flew out of my mouth, as I thought of everything exchanged on the beach this night.

“It's possible to make it there, by water I mean, right?” Sam looked at me, slightly worried.

“I think so. The island's curse was lifted, so we should be somewhere in the pacific really.” My reply left me shrinking away from the next incoming question.

“We won't see him again, will we?”

“No, I don't ever suspect we will.” I told Sam back sadly.

We both sat on the beach silently until the sunrise transformed the water with vibrant colors and hues. I clutched at the hand of my friend, the feeling I was sure that was inside both of us was simple. As the dawn crested fully onto our borrowed island, the shore blazed up in a hazy silver light and I remembered the new blackness of his eyes. That boy was going to embrace his peace, and die doing so.

(Artyom's P.O.V.)

I sat silently as our makeshift council met in the furthest corridor that felt comfortable, for us at the moment. Hana, Jace, and Trevor were waiting to see if Cassie or Amara would show up before we got down to the latest surge of information. At what seemed like the last possible moment, Cassie arrived with a small entourage. Amara and Aaron paced quietly on her heels.

“We don't need this to be a full blown secret.” Trevor snapped impatiently as they got situated around the small room.

“This is our whole remaining court, plus the only other male we have.” Cassie shot back with a hint of irritation.

“Now, everyone is a bit on edge, but we need to address out matters in the correct order.” Hana interjected with her usual diplomatic approach. “So then, you've presented some potentially disturbing news, Cody.”

I shifted with a touch of nervousness, gulping down the dryness in my throat. This was a now or never moment.

“Atlas is bringing back dead heroes.” I stammered my small phrase out, as I had earlier informed Jace and Hana.

“What exactly, do you specify a dead hero to be?” Aaron asked with a hint of doubt.

“I assume that you mean, as zombie type resemblances.” Trevor smirked with a twist of worry on his face.

“No, those weren't zombies.” I stated back flatly, making many expressions rush into a state of shock.

“Fully functional beings, right?” Hana asked as she rubbed her palms fiercely.

“Yes, but they didn't totally seem like themselves.” I managed another struggling answer, as we all worked to piece together the truth.

“You mean like Alchemy?” I hear the gasp from Amara, at her implication, but it's Hana who replies back.

“In a basic sense yes, but this seems to be more on par with a darker kind of ritual...” The words were simple enough but left the ominous meaning in the small room.

“That's the not quite the part that entirely bothers me most.” I blurt out after a few moments of silence and thought.

“Well, what is the thing that bothers you more?” Jace finally voiced his concern.

“Brian.. or whoever he really is, is an Empousa.”

The room grew a faint chill, the faces of my friends seemed to ice over before Cassie broke yet another silence.

“You mean to say, that the weird looking Brian we have, is actually one of those vampire things?”

I nodded and Hana and Trevor both seemed to agree on my proclamation.

“Given the things we recently learned about our impostor, this actually sheds a lot of light on many things. Such as Atlas, and our undead-friends.” Trevor replied snarkily.

“I wouldn't really call any of them friends, and we still have to figure out how to deal with the lot of them.” I added to Trevor's outburst.

“Especially with a good portion of us trying to recover and our overall power a bit limited right now.” Cassie said with a smile, finishing my thought for me.

“Okay, so I think it's best if we pair ourselves together for the time being.” Hana announced as she sought to divide us into partner teams for the time being. “The obvious teams of Amara and Aaron, and Cody and Cassie will hold in place. We’ll have to bet on the younger girls relying on themselves for the moment. I'll stay here, and Trevor and Jace can alternate paired with me and each other. I think at least three of us should remain in this chamber at all times though.”

We all consented to the hasty, but sound plan. Without the girl pledges, we had a total of seven, but hopefully we could find them before the Nega managed to sink his teeth into them. Our best option now was just to collect information, stay as invisible as possible and just wait.

“Now would be the best time to rest, we might not be getting a whole lot of it later on.” Jace said dryly, but understood and agreed.

(Percy's P.O.V.)

After everything that had happened since the last time I had set foot at Camp Half-Blood, or even back on Olympus, the rushing week since we'd arrived back was far hectic than any kind of modern or medieval war. I was a bit taken back at how everything just kept on functioning so smoothly around camp, despite our long departure.

The demigods were scattered all over the place, quite literally. The Hunters were staying in Artemis's cabin eight, and the Knights had volunteered themselves to take up residence within our expansive forest. A forest that seemed to magically stretch to sometimes outrageous sizes, but since godhood I now understood the entire borders for it. It was true that the Knights had suffered some serious and heavy setbacks, but that didn't seem to phase them very much, and they camped just on the edge of the woods with ease.

I made out the newer cabins as I passed them on the way towards the big house. I honestly hadn't paid a great deal of attention as I scanned over each one, making note for future reference to the additions. Aside from the original twelve and the more obvious cabins like Hestia, Hades and Persephone, I paused a moment to think of which they were and count them up. Iris, Hypnos, Hecate, Eros, Nemesis, Heracles and Hebe were all the final inclusions, which put the count at twenty-two cabins total.

I grinned to myself with a slight inward pleasure, feeling glad that camp was no longer exclusive to just the Olympian council of gods. As I crossed the last threshold of the cabins territory, I ran into a fairly younger boy with medium tanned skin and a slightly dirty appearance. He looked as if he had just gotten finish working in a garden or rolling around in a field of dirt, but he smiled energetically at me.

“Lord Percy?” He asked with a mild note of hesitation.

“I certainly hope so, but the lord bit still is slightly uncomfortable to me.” I tried to offer kindly.

“Right..” he shifted for a moment, but once again broke into a friendly smile. “Lady Clarisse, she asked me to come fetch you.”

I couldn't help but laugh as I placed the boy as one of the younger demigods from Ares. “So what's your name then, and what did she need to see me about, exactly?”

The smile was replaced by an overly nervous look, as if someone might be eavesdropping on us.

“She wanted you to meet her in the arena, said it was urgent.” The dark haired boy paused and silently poked into the ground with his foot. “My name is Carlos.”

“Well, care to join me on the way to the arena then, Carlos?”

He agreed with a slight nod as we changed direction, and destination, heading away from the big house. Clarisse was sparing with a whole group of Ares kids, making me just a little on edge when I arrived.

“Took long enough, punk. Pops told me that we're to serve as an honor guard of some sort, with all the crazy activity brewing up lately.” She half-snarled but in a friendly manner, if that is at all possible.

“Who exactly is included in this?” I found myself instinctively asking.

“Myself, of course. As well as Katie, Nyssa, Drew, Adara, Kayla, Carmen and Annabeth. We're meant to accompany you for the wedding, and all that other stuff.” She looked rather irritated with the position.

“Uh, why are you all girls, though?” I shifted back and forth on my weight.

“Aphrodite's idea. Thalia's group is made up of a bunch of boys, but that idea didn't go over entirely well with Artemis. So her guards have to remain a good distance away from her.” She stated back smugly.

“Wow, that's confusing.” I couldn't help but admit, but made me wonder for a moment nervously. “So, you're my escorts.”

“You always make things sound so girly, Prissy.” Clarisse snapped back with a smile.

“Okay, okay. Lead the way then.” I gestured, getting a shove as she walked past me.

“Now, onto the big house. We have to get you up to Olympus.” Clarisse wasn't wasting any time, making me hurry to catch up.

We had arrived at shortly after, to find the before mentioned collection of girls in various states of annoyance, debating with Chiron as to why they had to undertake this task.

“This is humiliating, Chiron.” I could hear the familiar voice of Annabeth trying not to yell.

“To you, maybe, but some of us actually might like the thought of escorting Percy.” Drew added back dryly, which I'm sure caused Annabeth a bit more distress.

“Don't get me started on you, Drew. You're only out for the glory of attaching yourself to the best available opportunity that comes along.” The fight seemed as if it was going to escalate before Chiron and some of the other girls were trying to break it up.

As I neared the porch steps, a gloved hand pulled me off the side abruptly.

“Stay quiet for a moment.” The voice calmly informed me, before I could around to confirm my suspicions on who it was.

“Clarisse, it took you long enough.” One of the girls called out, who I assumed to be Katie.

“Yeah, now let's get this mess over with.” This reply was met with a couple of groans, which prompted a few quiet inquiries.

“Aren't you missing someone?” Annabeth mocked lightly at Clarisse.

“Gah.. that brat was just behind me. Where could he have gone off to already.” Clarisse fumed, before Chiron instructed the makeshift team to go search and retrieve me.

As the girls scrambled back off away from the big house, I turned around to meet a sheepishly smiling Thalia.

“Looks like I caught you just in time. I gave my group of annoying escorts the slip only a short while ago. It's good to finally be able to see you.” She said, while softly wrapping her arms around my waist, protectively.

“It's been rather frustrating with not being able to spend much time with you lately, since we've gotten back.” I admittedly gushed, giving her a playful kiss on the lips.

“Alright, you two.” Chiron called out to nobody in sight, but directed at us in hiding. “I think you’ll have an easier time hiding in the house.”

We both laughed as we snuck up to see the camp director and trainer. Chiron led us both into the house and through to a back study type of library room.

“What's with all the theatrics?” Thalia asked, clutching on my hand tightly.

“I suspect Aphrodite might be trying to spice up the events for the wedding a little.” He calmly offered with a mock indifference.

“That doesn't explain why we haven't really been given much time to see each other.” I remarked with some exasperation.

“I know, but if you both hurry up and get ready, then you can depart before the other can catch back up.” Chiron said with an apologetic smile.

I pulled on Thalia's hand tightly as we raced up the stairs in a hurry, and burst into the room to began grabbing a quick supply of items and changing clothes. In the midst of everything crazy that had been laid out in the last couple months, I couldn't help but smile and watch the girl for a few silent moments before she caught notice.

“Percy, what's the matter?” she looked and asked with a smile flicker of worry in her eyes.

“Nothing.” I said while taking a step closer to her and softly cupping her cheeks. “I just thought.. that maybe this is one of those moments, that I don't want to ever let go of.”

She looked confused for a brief moment, in which I planted a soft kiss on her forehead. This caused her to start smiling before we both began to laugh quietly. It was ideal, the moment of just us together, but it wouldn't be one to last very long. A very boisterous and noisy group of girls erupted downstairs.

“Chiron, we've checked all over camp.” Katie started in.

“With nothing to show for it, except to find that Thalia is missing now too.” Clarisse continued, with more irritants in her voice.

“We think that you're harboring them. So fess up, you got them hiding, right?” Annabeth demanded accusingly.

“Now, now. Children, please.” Chiron was about to start in, when we both rushed down the stairs and out of the big house.

Everyone stood in the big meeting room, stunned, as we had forced our way quickly through them while laughing and taken off towards the fleece and camp borders. I took a glance back to see the pursuing party, yelling for us to come back and behave properly. We were both slightly out of breath when we reach Peleus, but took the moment to rest as the girls started to make up ground in our direction.

“Thalia, close your eyes and hang on.” I smiled to her, before shouting down towards the approaching mob of escorts. “You might want to all look away.”

I laughed a bit more before I willed us to transport to the the Empire State Building in New York. I didn't want to just suddenly arrive atop Olympus just yet, and father had already warned me to arrive slowly so preparations could be made first.

“Well, once we go up, I don't think I'll get to see you again until tonight.” I said with a soft kiss.

I swiped the key for the elevator and held onto Thalia tightly before the mayhem would ensue. As the doors dinged open, Aphrodite and her cohorts were already awaiting us eagerly.

“Now, let's get you two separated so we can begin to get everything ready.” She started in, leading Thalia away from me as I stood there watching them head off to Aphrodite's palace.

I didn't notice Apollo clap me on the shoulder, smiling broadly. “Couldn't have picked a better girl, it's a bit of a shame she's going to be off the market now.”

I glanced in a bit of disbelief before smiling at him. “She was already off the market to begin with, or did you forget that she's Artemis's lieutenant.”

We both laughed at both our remarks, as Hermes came up with a message from Poseidon. “They want you to get ready at Poseidon's palace here on Olympus, everything is already setup for your big moment.”

“Big moment, right.” I said, aware that I was becoming more nervous by the moment. “This totally trumps saving the world from Kronos and the Titans.”

We all laughed again, Apollo heading with me to my dads palace. Once inside, Aphrodite checked on how things were momentarily before whisking away again. Apollo stood there with Poseidon and Dionysus, as we all made small talk about how things were doing. After about an hour, Aphrodite returned, ready to doctor me up as she had so kindly put it.

“Alright, everyone out of the room while I work on the young groom for a bit.”

A moment later, a small group of attendants began fussing over me left and right. All I could do was sit and bear it, while Aphrodite prepared me for my wedding.

(Thalia's P.O.V.)

This was absolutely dreadful. The makeup, dresses, all the fussing over every possible detail of how I looked and what I would wear. I couldn't wait to be done with it all and just be able to by myself and with Percy, away from all this calamity.

“Absolutely, definitely not.” I scolded Aphrodite in her attempts at putting me in pink, yellow, bright blue and other assorted colored dresses.

“We will continue this shortly, I must see to the mess of a fiance you have.” I couldn't help but sigh in relief, when she said this and left to deal with Percy.

The Hunters kept poking and fussing over my appearance for a little while longer until Artemis came into the room, tired looking.

“My lady, how are you?” I asked her politely, as she pulled over and chair and sat down next to me.

“This is all so exhausting.” She stated flatly, looking at me solemnly.

“I know what you mean entirely. I wish this could just be done and over with.” I realized after stating it, that she meant something a bit different that my trouble with preparing.

“It's somewhat of a break, having a wedding between two heroes. It has actually been a while since we've had one to celebrate.” She paused a moment, the tone in her voice dropping. “What concerns me, is that I'm losing a very good lieutenant, and at what might be a crucial time as well.”

I couldn't help but gulp before she reassured me that everything was fine. I pulled on her hand as she got up and started to leave.

“I know it won't be the same, but you aren't losing me entirely.” I searched for the words, smiling at my sister kindly. “If the girls don't mind me sticking around, someone has to watch your back after all.”

She smiled and leaned back in close for a moment to whisper to me. “I left you a present in the closet, a dress that I'm sure you’ll find much more to your liking.”

I hugged her before she left again, and went to check the closet and present from my lady. I was completely taken back by the dress, nearly gushing at the sight of it.

“Everybody, you have to see this.” I nearly squealed, causing an influx of Hunters to poor into the bedroom and all admire the dress with me. Hanging itself up in the over sized closet was a black lace wedding dress, that stopped at knee length, with a new pair of black combat boots resting underneath it. “It's so perfect. Thanks a lot, Lady Artemis.”

A/N: I know there might be a few grumblings, but the next chapter will indeed have the wedding, plus a little extra more. I decided to split the chapter into two parts, due to the overwhelming potential size it would bear, but hopefully the final chapter presents itself quickly. Thanks for everyone still keeping up with the story, and hope you all enjoyed the chapter and the next one to come.