I sighed...Percy...

She wasn't in the attic and Kendra and Seth got back fifteen minutes ago.

It's not that I'm worried...well I am but I know she can take care of herself.

But my parents on the other hand? They're completely freaking out.

"Did she go out into the woods?!" Mom's eyes were wide as she looked between me and my niece and nephew.

"We didn't see her Grandma."

I sighed. "She'll be fine. Percy's independent and I mean I've told her not to do stuff but..." I shrugged.

"Percy will do exactly what you tell her not to. Or if you tell her to do something she'll do the exact opposite." Paul spoke up, summarizing Percy perfectly.

"Still it's-"

"Hey guys what's going on?" Percy walked in the door, head tilted in confusion.

"Where were you?!"

"The pond. Really pretty. And I thought you guys said there was dangerous stuff out in the woods. I was just kinda uncomfortable." She grinned. "Then again my dad was lost at sea so I guess me being uncomfortable around water is understandable "

I'm just guessing the naiads were flirting with her.

Again.

"What would have happened if you fell in?" Kendra crossed her arms.

Percy rolled her eyes. "I can swim quite well thank you very much."

"Percy go get ready to eat." I looked at her, not wanting my parents to have any more time to question her.

I don't think she understood that though.

"I'm not hungry."

"Just go get cleaned up please." Paul walked over and put a hand on Percy's shoulder. "I think I have some of your clothes in my bag...why do you girls pack so much?"

My daughter smirked. "Because we take advantage of the space you men don't put anything."

Paul smiled and led her into our room...well.

Time to talk my parents out of whatever they think about this.

Percy

"Why'd you really want me to come get my 'clothes'." I questioned sitting on the bed.

Paul sat next to me. "You aren't okay Percy...you need to tell your mother."

"No!" I whisper yelled. "I don't want her to know...I don't know why I told Dad..."

"You told him?"

I slowly nodded. "I don't know why..."

Sighing Paul pulled me against him, running his fingers through my hair.

"I have a feeling that he'll end up telling her. Would you rather have her find out from him? From the father who-"

"I'd watch what you say."

I groaned. Great.

"Dad, please leave. I just dealt with a bunch of naiads..."

"And that should have no affect on you dealing with me." He crossed his arms before sitting on the other side of me.

"I-I'm sorry I-"

I elbowed Paul before he could finish his sentence. "Don't apologize, it's true."

"Percy...if you don't tell her, I will. And we all know she'll make Demeter look like the most unconcerned mother ever."

I swallowed pulling away from Paul so I could look at my dad.

He didn't let me respond, just pulled me against him in a hug of his own.

My body started shaking and I whimpered. "I don't want her to know."

"I know baby I know." He gently rubbed my back and I buried my face in his chest.

"I'm...just going to go..."

After Paul left, Dad sighed. "Don't you think she deserves to know?"

"She does but...does she deserve to have to deal with that?"

He apparently didn't have a response to that because he just went still for a moment.

"You should still tell her."

I chuckled darkly. "Tell her what? That I was tortured? That every nightmare I have is either watching my friends die or them blaming me for not saving them? Or should I tell her I've thought about killing myself?"

"What?"

This time I froze. Dam it.

"Perseus Psyche Jackson, answer me."

"Why the heck is my middle name Psyche? I mean she's-" I pulled away from Dad, looking at Mom.

"My suggestion." Dad spoke up. "She was one of the other heroes to get a happy ending...and she doesn't tend to pay attention when people say her name because of-"

"That doesn't matter. Answer my question Percy." Mom crossed her arms.

I sighed softly, not looking at her. "I'm fine Mom."

"I don't think thinking about suicide is fine." She said before walking over to the bed and pulling me into a hug.

"I want the full story honey. Not the short version you apparently gave us. And you Poseidon, I need you to tell me everything that she's told you."

A few tears fell down my face as I sat there, head resting on Mom's shoulder.

"Just tell me Percy..." She ran her fingers through my hair. "Please."

"It's all my fault Mom...I promised to keep them safe and I didn't."

She pulled me away, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "That doesn't matter Percy. It was their fate as hard as it is to accept it, you couldn't have done anything."

"I promised." I sobbed, wrapping my arms around myself. "I'd rather be dead than Hazel. Or Leo. Or Frank. Or any of them! They didn't deserve to die."

"And you do?"

If she knew what I did in the Pit...If she knew what I'm capable of...

What I can do to a goddess...

"Yes."

Well

ACT today guys

Wish me luck

(Please help with ideas for this book)

I'm gonna go finish getting ready.

See yah