✦ ༉‧₊˚⋆˚( ᵖᵉʳᶠᵉᶜᵗ ʷᵒʳˡᵈ )˚⁺✧₊˚.*♡

🍦— 012. leave them be.

VIVI, ANNABETH AND PERCY were on their way out when Percy spotted Vivi's father in a side courtyard of the palace. He was staring at an Iris-message in the mist of a fountain, his face that of distraught. Percy glanced at Annabeth and Vivi who were laughing and smiling, deep in conversation they even hadn't realized the boy had stopped walking.

"I'll meet you at the elevator." Percy said.

"What?" Vivi asked, smile dropping a bit as she looked to where Percy's eyes were trained at, "Oh, okay. Tell him I'll Iris-message him later."

"Sure,"

Hermes didn't seem to notice the boy approach. The Iris-message images were going so fast Percy could hardly understand them. Mortal newscasts from all over the country flashed by: scenes of Typhon's destruction, the wreckage our battle had left across Manhattan, the president doing a news conference, the mayor of New York, some army vehicles riding down the Avenue of the Americas.

"Amazing," Hermes murmured. He turned toward the boy. "Three thousand years, and I will never get over the power of the Mist. . . and mortal ignorance."

"Thanks, I guess."

"Oh, not you. Although, I suppose I should wonder, turning down immortality."

"It was the right choice."

Hermes looked at Percy curiously, raising his eyebrow as he looked the boy up and down, as if he was some kind of an interesting creature, "I hope you make my daughter happy." he said, glancing at the boy's eyes before returning to the Iris-message.

Percy's eyes widened and he felt warmth rushing to his face. It was weird how fast the god had figured his adoration for his daughter, something that took the boy some time, which he regretted.

"Look at them." Hermes said, "They've already decided Typhon was a freak series of storms. Don't I wish. They haven't figured out how all the statues in Lower Manhattan got removed from their pedestals and hacked to pieces. They keep showing a shot of Susan B. Anthony strangling Frederick Douglass. But I imagine they'll even come up with a logical explanation for that."

"How bad is the city?"

Hermes shrugged. "Surprisingly, not too bad. The mortals are shaken, of course. But this is New York. I've never seen such a resilient bunch of humans. I imagine they'll be back to normal in a few weeks; and of course I'll be helping."

"You?"

"I'm the messenger of the gods. It's my job to monitor what the mortals are saying, and if necessary, help them make sense of what's happened. I'll reassure them. Trust me, they'll put this down to a freak earthquake or a solar flare. Anything but the truth."

He sounded bitter. George and Martha curled around his caduceus, but they were silent, which made Percy think that Hermes was really really angry. Son of Poseidon probably should've kept quiet, but he said, "I owe you an apology."

Hermes gave Percy a cautious look. "And why is that?"

"I thought you were a bad father," the boy admitted. "I thought you abandoned Luke because you knew his future and didn't do anything to stop it." 

"I did know his future," Hermes said miserably. "But you knew more than just the bad stuff ─ that he'd turn evil. You understood what he would do in the end. You knew he'd make the right choice. But you couldn't tell him, could you?"

Hermes stared at the fountain. "No one can tamper with fate, Percy, not even a god. If I had warned him what was to come, or tried to influence his choices, I would've made things even worse. Staying silent, staying away from him. . . that was the hardest thing I've ever done."

"Which is why you also stayed away from Vivi," Percy said, "Because you know her fate too."

Hermes looked at him dangerously. His eyes held fury and anger, trying to hide the sadness that was hidden and locked away from the light of the world. A father knowing fate of his children ─ nothing worse could happen to a parent.

"I've seen the Fates cutting her string when she was a baby," the boy admitted, looking down at his feet before bringing his eyes towards the god, "Prometheus showed me the scene when he had showed me the scene of you and Luke in May Castellan's kitchen. You knew her fate since she was born."

"Percy," the god sighed sadly, "Don't speak of it now. There is time left until her fate is duo. She's still young, and I don't like knowing how her life will turn out. It's not her time. Once the time does come, she will experience the pain one couldn't do it alone. She may be strong, but that could end her. . ."

Son of Poseidon felt bad for the god. He couldn't imagine the guilt he feels everyday for sitting back and watching everything unfold in front of his eyes, things he couldn't change.

Fates were cruel. But no one could defy them.

"Could you do me two favors? Promises." Hermes said, looking at the boy.

Percy nodded, knowing he would do anything for the daughter of Hermes.

"When the day does come, don't let her fall alone. Be with her. Don't let her suffer alone," the god said with a miserable tone, not even wanting to think of the future, "And. . . Make her happy. Make my dear Vivienne happy, Percy Jackson. She deserves all the love that this world hold, something which I can't give. Love my daughter for who she is."

"Those are promises I'm willing to keep."

Hermes smiled softly, "You're a good man, Percy Jackson."

"No one steals my pegasus."

"Percy ─ "

"Who the fuck does she think she is!"

"Percy, darling ─ "

"I. . . what the fuck!"

It was their time to celebrate the win, but of course, something had to happen. And that something was Rachel Elizabeth Dare who stole Blackjack and thought it would be good idea to fly to Camp Half-Blood for who knows what reason.

Vivi could only describe the hippocampus as the most beautiful creatures, with multicolored fish tails, and the heads and forelegs of white stallions. Riding one was fun ─ water droplets splashing her face and the wind messing her hair but she didn't care. She may have splashed Nico with some water, resulting in her receiving a deathly glare from the younger boy, to which she had laughed.

It seemed like forever until we saw the beach at camp. The four demigods thanked the hippocampi and waded ashore, only to find Argus waiting for them. He stood in the sand with his arms crossed, his hundred eyes glaring at them.

"Is she here?" Percy asked. 

Argus nodded grimly.

"Is everything okay?" Annabeth said.

Argus shook his head. They followed him up the trail.

It was surreal being back at camp, because everything looked so peaceful: no burning buildings, no wounded fighters. The cabins were bright in the sunshine, and the fields glittered with dew. But the place was mostly empty. Up at the Big House, something was definitely wrong. Green light was shooting out all the windows, which made it look haunted. Mist ─ the magical kind ─ swirled around the yard.

Chiron lay on a horse-size stretcher by the volleyball pit, a bunch of satyrs standing around him. Blackjack cantered nervously in the grass. Rachel Elizabeth Dare stood at the bottom of the porch steps. Her arms were raised like she was waiting for someone inside the house to throw her a ball.

"What is she doing?" Vivi demanded.

"How did she get past the barriers?" Annabeth asked.

"She flew," one of the satyrs said, looking accusingly at Blackjack. "Right past the dragon, right through the magic boundaries."

"Rachel!" Percy called, but the satyrs stopped him when the boy tried to go any closer.

"Percy, don't," Chiron warned. He winced as he tried to move. His left arm was in a sling, his two back legs were in splints, and his head was wrapped in bandages. "You can't interrupt."

"I thought you explained things to her!"

"I did. And I invited her here."

"You said you'd never let anyone try again! You said ─ "

"I know what I said, Percy. But I was wrong. Rachel had a vision about the curse of Hades. She believes it may be lifted now. She convinced me she deserves a chance."

"And if the curse isn't lifted? If Hades hasn't gotten to that yet, she'll go crazy!"

The Mist swirled around Rachel. She shivered like she was going into shock.

"Okay, but. . . what the fuck is happening?" Vivi asked.

"Hey!" Percy shouted. "Stop!"

He ran toward her, ignoring the satyrs. The boy got within ten feet and hit something like an invisible beachball. He bounced back and landed in the grass. Rachel opened her eyes and turned. She looked like she was sleepwalking ─ like she could see him, but only in a dream.

"It's all right." her voice sounded far away. "This is why I've come."

"You'll be destroyed!"

She shook her head. "This is where I belong, Percy. I finally understand why."

The house rumbled. The door flew open and green light poured out. Mist curled into a hundred smoky serpents, slithering up the porch columns, curling around the house. Then the Oracle appeared in the doorway. The withered mummy shuffled forward in her rainbow dress. Vivi had never seen the Oracle herself, but that thing was scary. Her hair was falling out in clumps. Her leathery skin was cracking like the seat of a worn-out bus. Her glassy eyes stared blankly into space, but Vivi got the creepiest feeling she was being drawn straight toward Rachel. The redhead held out her arms. She didn't look scared.

"You've waited too long," Rachel said. "But I'm here now."

The sun blazed more brightly. A man appeared above the porch, floating in the air ─ a blond dude in a white toga, with sunglasses and a cocky smile.

"Apollo," Percy said. 

He winked at the boy but held up his finger to his lips. "Rachel Elizabeth Dare," he said. "You have the gift of prophecy. But it is also a curse. Are you sure you want this?"

Rachel nodded. "It's my destiny."

"Do you accept the risks?"

"I do."

"Then proceed," the god said.

Rachel closed her eyes. "I accept this role. I pledge myself to Apollo, God of Oracles. I open my eyes to the future and embrace the past. I accept the spirit of Delphi, Voice of the Gods, Speaker of Riddles, Seer of Fate."

Vivi didn't know where she was getting the words, but they flowed out of her as the Mist thickened. A green column of smoke, like a huge python, uncoiled from the mummy's mouth and slithered down the stairs, curling affectionately around Rachel's feet. The Oracle's mummy crumbled, falling away until it was nothing but a pile of dust in an old tie-dyed dress. Mist enveloped Rachel in a column. For a moment Vivi couldn't see her at all. Then the smoke cleared. Rachel collapsed and curled into the fetal position.

Everyone rushed forward, but Apollo said, "Stop! This is the most delicate part."

"What's going on?" Percy demanded. "What do you mean?"

Apollo studied Rachel with concern. "Either the spirit takes hold, or it doesn't."

"And if it doesn't?" Annabeth asked.

"Five syllables," Apollo said, counting them on his fingers. "That would be real bad."

Despite Apollo's warning, Percy ran forward and knelt over Rachel. The Mist sank into the ground and the green light faded. But Rachel was still pale. She was barely breathing. Then her eyes fluttered open. 

"Percy."

"Are you okay?"

She tried to sit up. "Ow." she pressed her hands to her temples.

Vivi looked at the girl in disbelief, her face morphing in one of outrage, "Rachel Elizabeth Dare that was so irresponsible of you! That thing could have killed you!"

Annabeth rubbed her temple as she knelt next to the redhead, "What were you thinking in giving yourself to the spirit! Think next time before you do crazy shit like this! I. . . just be responsible next time!"

"Rachel," Nico called out, "your life aura almost faded completely. I could see you dying."

"I'm all right," she murmured. "Please, help me up. The visions ─ they're a little disorienting." 

"Are you sure you're okay?" Percy asked.

Apollo drifted down from the porch. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce the new Oracle of Delphi."

Vivi turned towards the god, "You're kidding,"

Rachel managed a weak smile. "It's a little surprising to me too, but this is my fate. I saw it when I was in New York. I know why I was born with true sight. I was meant to become the Oracle."

Percy blinked. "You mean you can tell the future now?"

"Not all the time," she said. "But there are visions, images, words in my mind. When someone asks me a question, I . . . Oh no ─ "

"It's starting," Apollo announced.

Rachel doubled over like someone had punched her. Then she stood up straight and her eyes glowed serpent green. When she spoke, her voice sounded tripled ─ like three Rachels were talking at once.

"Nine half-bloods shall answer the call.
To storm or fire, the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."

At the last word, Rachel collapsed. Nico and Percy caught her and helped her to the porch. Her skin was feverish.

"I'm all right," she said, her voice returning to normal.

"What was that?" Percy asked.

She shook her head, confused. "What was what?"

"I believe," Apollo said, "that we just heard the next Great Prophecy."

"What does it mean?" Vivi demanded.

Rachel frowned. "I don't even remember what I said."

"No," Apollo mused. "The spirit will only speak through you occasionally. The rest of the time, our Rachel will be much as she's always been. There's no point in grilling her, even if she has just issued the next big prediction for the future of the world."

"What? But ─ "

"Percy," Apollo said, "I wouldn't worry too much. The last Great Prophecy about you took almost seventy years to complete. This one may not even happen in your lifetime." 

"Maybe," Percy said, "but it didn't sound so good."

"No," said Apollo cheerfully. "It certainly didn't. She's going to make a wonderful Oracle!" 

The rest of the day was as strange as the beginning. Campers trickled in from New York by car, pegasus, and chariot. The wounded were cared for. The dead were given proper funeral rites at the campfire. Silena's shroud was hot pink, but embroidered with an electric spear. The Ares and Aphrodite cabins both claimed her as a hero, and lit the shroud together. No one mentioned the word spy. That secret burned to ashes as the designer perfume smoke drifted into the sky. Even Ethan Nakamura was given a shroud ─ black silk with a logo of swords crossed under a set of scales. As his shroud went up in flames, Percy hoped Ethan knew he had made a difference in the end. He'd paid a lot more than an eye, but the minor gods would finally get the respect they deserved.

Dinner at the pavilion was low-key. The only highlight was Juniper the tree nymph, who screamed, "Grover!" and gave her boyfriend a flying tackle hug, making everybody cheer. They went down to the beach to take a moonlit walk, and Percy was happy for them, though the scene reminded me of Silena and Beckendorf, which made him sad.

Mrs. O'Leary romped around happily, eating everybody's table scraps. Nico sat at the main table with Chiron and Mr. D, and nobody seemed to think this was out of place. Everybody was patting Nico on the back, complimenting him on his fighting. Even the Ares kids seemed to think he was pretty cool. Hey, show up with an army of undead warriors to save the day, and suddenly you're everybody's best friend.

Slowly, the dinner crowd trickled away. Some went to the campfire for a sing-along. Others went to bed. The boy sat at the Poseidon table by himself and watched the moonlight on Long Island Sound. Percy could see Grover and Juniper at the beach, holding hands and talking. It was peaceful. 

"Hey." someone said from behind him, "Happy birthday, Aquaboy." 

He could recognize the voice anywhere. Vivi appeared out of nowhere, carrying a cupcake and slid in the spot next to him.

Percy stared at her. "What?"

"You lost your braincells in the battle," Annabeth's voice appeared on his other side, "It's August 18th. Your birthday."

Percy was stunned. It hadn't even occurred to him, but she was right. He had turned sixteen this morning ─ the same morning he'd made the choice to give Luke the knife. The prophecy had come true right on schedule, and the boy hadn't even thought about the fact that it was his birthday.

"Make a wish," Vivi said.

"Did you two bake this yourselves?"

"Tyson helped." Annabeth said.

"Yeah, we wanted to stick to a recipe, but he insisted on adding some ingredients."

"That explains why it looks like a chocolate brick," Percy said. "With extra blue cement." 

The two girls laughed. Percy thought for a second, then blew out the candle. They cut it in thirds and shared, eating with their fingers and enjoying their time together. Annabeth stood up after finishing her part of the cupcake.

"Well, I'm off to bed," she said, stretching her arms.

Percy held in laugh in as a thought came to his mind, "So, you and George?"

The blonde didn't say anything, a slight red tint appearing on her cheeks.

Vivi laughed beside him, "Oh gods, look her turning red in the face!"

"Shut up!" she hissed at her best friend, but there was a smile on her face. "But, yes we're dating."

"Does that mean I can give him the talk?" Percy asked innocently.

"No!"

"But why?" he whined.

"Because I said so."

"Not even a bit? Just to scare him off."

"No!"

"Let the kids enjoy their love for a little," Vivi said, nudging the boy, "They grow up so fast." she pretended to wipe away a tear.

"Gods! You two are just so. . ."

"Lovely."

"The best."

"Dumbasses!"

Vivi and Percy laughed. The blonde daughter of Athena walked away from the pair, leaving them in the comfortable silence as they watched the ocean. Crickets and monsters were making noise in the woods, but otherwise it was quiet. Vivi's head resting on Percy's shoulder.

"You saved the world," Vivi said.

"We saved the world."

"And Rachel is the new Oracle, which means she won't be dating anybody."

"You don't sound disappointed," Percy noticed.

Vivi shrugged. "Oh, I don't care."

"Uh-huh."

She raised an eyebrow. "You got something to say to me, Aquaboy?"

"You'd probably kick my ass."

"You know I would."

Percy brushed the cake off his hands. He looked down at the girl. Her hair was wavy, silky smooth, reflecting in the moonlight. Her puffy eyes from crying were gone and the black circles under her eyes as well, like nothing happened at all. Her eyes were the perfect color of melted chocolate with almost sparkles in them as she watched the ocean. But Percy noticed the hints of sadness in her eyes, something she didn't even try to hide.

She wasn't just beautiful. No, you couldn't use one word to describe her. She was everything above beautiful ─ alluring, charming, stunning, elegant, eternal. He could go on describe her but no words could depict the way she made him feel.

"When I was at the River Styx, turning invulnerable. . ." Percy begun and Vivi looked up at him, "Nico said I had to concentrate on one thing that kept me anchored to the world, that made me want to stay mortal." 

She hummed.

"Then up on Olympus," Percy said, "when they wanted to make me a god and stuff, I kept thinking ─ "

"Oh, you so wanted to."

"Well, maybe a little. But I didn't, because I thought ─ I didn't want things to stay the same for eternity, because things could always get better. And I was thinking. . ." Percy's throat felt really dry all of a sudden.

"Anyone in particular?" Vivi asked, her voice soft.

Percy looked over and saw that she was trying not to smile.

"You're laughing at me,"

"I am not!"

"You are so not making this easy."

Then she laughed for real, and inched a bit closer, her face coming close to his; he could clearly see the pale freckles dotted across her face, "Never going to." she said quietly before her hands moved to the back of his neck and finally, their lips touched.

Her lips were soft and warm, perfect against his cold and chapped ones. He felt her smile after a few moments and he couldn't help but mirror her. Her kiss is not at all the same as those movie stars but one steeped in a passion that ignites. It is the promise of realness, of the primal desire that lives in us all. The emotions they couldn't say out loud and unspoken thoughts sealed into the kiss.

Percy was almost stunned for a moment. Because Vivienne Wu was kissing him. 

A girl who was selfless.

A girl who put other people before herself.

A girl who would do anything to save her friend and family's life.

A girl who liked him back.

That girl, was kissing him.

And he couldn't be happier.

A loud cheers were heard behind the pair and the two of them broke apart, blushing. Percy grabbed her hand and squeezed it and she smiled at him.

"Fucking finally!" yelled Isa as she stepped towards them with Freya by her side, followed by a few others campers.

Percy held back a groan, "Oh, come on! Is there no privacy?"

"The lovebirds need to cool off!" Clarisse said with glee.

"The canoe lake!" Connor shouted.

"Connor, I swear to gods ─ ah!" Vivi begun, but was cut off as the campers hoisted them both onto their shoulders.

With a huge cheer, they carried them down the hill, but they kept they close enough to hold hands. Vivi was laughing, cursing her siblings, but was having fun, and Percy couldn't help laughing too, even though his face completely red. 

The pair held hands right up to the moment they dumped them in the water.

Afterward, Percy had the last laugh. He made an air bubble at the bottom of the lake. Their friends kept waiting for them to come up, but hey ─ when you're the son of Poseidon, you don't have to hurry.

Vivi grinned at said, "Kiss me."

And it was pretty much the best underwater kiss of all time.

niki speaks!

THEY KISSED!!!
FUCKING FINALLY!!
i'm also crying. . .