[Medalion Rahimi as Selah Young]

I 01. I

𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒐𝒓𝒆

❝ note ❞

     TEARS DOTTED THE LOVE LETTER IN HER HAND. She couldn't resist the salty water flowing down her cheeks, nor the sudden urge to sob her heart out and hug the wrinkled paper to her chest. It hurt her to no end now that he was gone. But it had been forty-eight hours since Percy Jackson had gone missing that fateful December night, two days since she had last seen him or heard his voice.

Her hands were shaking tremendously while she sat on the dark maroon couch covered in velvet pillows that had small birds embroidered into them. The lights were dim, most of the windows shrouded by cream colored curtains and a large amount of plants in the room.

Ariadne hadn't ever thought she would lose him again. After he went missing for two weeks during their quest in the Labyrinth, he was presumed dead, and she hadn't been able to tell him everything she had wanted until a later.

Now, he was gone again. And with everyone out searching for him she has no clue if they would find him, because frankly, whatever had taken him would do a good job of hiding him from anyone on the lookout.

The letter in her hand was found tucked away in a notebook, one that she had seen on his desk in his room a million times. Ariadne would never go through his stuff, but she knocked it over and it slipped out. She couldn't help but read it.

Her heart had become stuck in her throat  the entire time she ran to that apartment. Showing up on their doorstep, sobbing in the rain, her hair matted together while others ran for cover on the streets below. Ariadne had been covering her face while the paper tucked out of her pocket for safe keeping, and she was dragged inside and forced to change into warmer clothes.

Ariadne hadn't slept in a day. Not with the thought of telling Sally on her mind. The woman had been heartbroken, and Paul had held her while the girl sat on the couch, pursing her lips to try and stay strong for the loving woman. Percy wouldn't have wanted his mom to cry, and the brunette felt terrible that she was the cause. Some part of her heart dug itself deep and was taunting her with what she could've done differently. Being nice to Hera, for one.

Now, reading those words he wrote to her, pouring his heart and soul out, in what was meant to be a Christmas present was breaking her to pieces. If she could, she would've done everything in her power to find him, but Chiron and ever other camp counselor agreed that she needed to stay far away from the search unless accompanied by another person.

It was all because of what she has done when she found out he was gone.

First, the girl had gone into an utter rage. Vines seemed to trees out like they were nothing. Pollux had to battle them, but even his strongest couldn't battle her blink of an eye. Campers had to take cover and she was eventually calmed down by Annabeth, who was pleading with her to stop.

Second, Ariadne left camp. Many thought it was to tell Sally the news, but she took Blackjack to the Empire State Building, wanting a visit with a few all-powerful deities.

Wind spirits hovered around the marble palaces that looked exactly like Annabeth's sketches, and if she wasn't there on such an important mission, Ariadne would've stopped and stared at everything in the City of the Gods. The spirits created a shield around the gods home, and she rolled her eyes.

Blackjack was an expert enough flyer to dodge them. This was the one and only time that they were working together. Percy would never believe it, even if he saw it. He was always convinced nothing could make the pegasus and his girlfriend have a good relationship, but when he was on the line they would fight a hundred battles together if it meant seeing him again

Ariadne swept her sword through the spirits, and the one parted for it. The gold glistened in the early morning light and seemed to catch the deadly gleam in her eyes. Landing on the marble bridge leading to the throne room was tedious, and the walk seemed longer than it usually was. Like a never ending hallway.

Nymphs and satyrs and dryads watched her with extreme caution. They huddled themselves in their homes, barricading themselves in while watching her walk down the marble bridge way and head toward the gods.

They seemed to know she was coming, and that infuriated her even more. None of them would face her and take accountability for Percy's disappearance, and she wanted to feel ichor run over her hands while she punched Hera. Poseidon made no effort to worry for his son.

She spit on a shrine to the Queen of the Heavens. It's what she deserved.

Magic seemed to push her away from the doors. To It's surprise, Ariadne was prepared for it. Her powers created a shield. Her own father's powers weren't enough to stop her, and he was only using half of his power because it was his own blood. That wasn't enough to steer her away.

Her fist slammed against the large doors, resulting in a loud rumble to settle across the city. It echoed for a few split seconds. They wouldn't open unless you were a god of some kind, and no matter how much power she had, she did not have the immortality and ichor running through her veins.

There was pain in her voice once she yelled out to the twelve Olympians. "You cowards! I want Hera! I want to know where he is."

No one responded.

Lunacy clenched in her hand. Her jaw tightened. "I want her out here in five seconds, or I'll break these doors down myself and fight every single one of you. Don't think I won't!"

"FINE!"

She raised her arm. Her purple eyes seemed to lose its pupils, and a dark look crossed her face. With a yell, she brought her arm down—

BOOM!

The doors bust down in a flurry of energy. Static stuck in the air, and it felt as if the largest lightning bolt had struck down right there—and it had. Zeus sat on his throne while smoke curled around the spot where she once had been.

Dionysus and Aphrodite launched into an intense fight with the god. The others joined in, not noticing how she wasn't gone, but on the back of a black pegasus, ring on her feeling while she clung onto his neck, covered in soot and ash.

Ariadne blinked her tears away while she ran down the street. She told Sally and Paul, who at first were worried when it had looked like she escaped a housewife, but that thought was dropped the moment she told them he was missing. And in her running she blamed herself for everything.

Blackjack went back to camp, while she sat on that maroon couch, in dim apartment that had enough plants to fill an entire greenhouse.

That note she had read over and over. For an hour she said nothing, just imagining him sitting behind her, arms around her waist, while she read the letter and blushed and smiled at his words. Percy was never one for big speeches about how much he was grateful for her—that was her job—but that note meant the world to her.

Those sweet, simple words built her palaces of gold and passion, ones that she would never sell, even if it was for the world.

Percy Jackson could make her fall to her knees with a simple kiss, and she would gladly fight for the rest of her life with no stop if it meant to hold him again. He was all she wanted. She knew he was her other half, and with or without that prophecy, in some way or another, they were destined to have met.

His note had words falling off the page, leaving behind music notes of their laughs and small talks in the moonlight. Those countless conversations on quests, sitting under a tree while hiding out from monsters. Their friends breathing around them, they would just listen to the world, and for a minute their heartbeats would become in synch, and that seemed the most beautiful tune anyone could hear.

With him she never felt hopeless or lost. Like she had her whole life, searching for something to hold onto, and to not fall off that cliff. No matter how long they would hold on or if their arms burned from the strain and pain, they would continue to hold together, until they could fling themselves onto solid ground again and live in peace.

Somehow it all made sense to her, that they would meet. In a twist of time they existed at the same moment, and would find each other. That was the greatest thing the Fates had ever done for her.

Even if she only knew him for a day she would've felt complete.

Reading his words she felt a bit close to him despite him being gone, and could hear his voice in her head, and his laugh. She could imagine his scent surrounding her while seeing his warm, crooked smile that always made him seem like a troublemaker—which he was, unintentionally, of course.

But he still was.

Ariadne began reading his note for what seemed like the hundredth time:

Aidan

I hope this isn't cheesy. Scratch that—I can already imagine you making fun of me for starting it out this way, or how shaky my hands were while writing this. You have the better handwriting, anyways.

Merry Christmas!

Our first Christmas together. As a couple. The first Christmas where I can wake up and be holding you, wearing our matching Rudolph hoodies, surrounding by candy wrappers and a forgotten Christmas movie on the TV. I'm writing this a few days before, so bear with me, but I'm getting all giddy just thinking about you.

It's been tough. Our life has been tough. For the most part—it's sucked. I never thought that I would ever figure out my best friend was half goat, and bleated every time he was scared or nervous, which was often. I never expected to end up fighting a Minotaur and waking up later on to hear someone saying how annoying I was ( insert your twelve year old blabbing ).

Ariadne smiled sadly at his words. She was quite annoying when she was younger, and so was he.

I've spent a while trying to figure out a good gift for you. There's so many things you missed out on in your many years at camp that we need to catch up on, but we have a while for that. But most importantly, I knew the gift had to be something you could have and hold onto for years to come—but with our lives who knows how long that would be.

My mom was insistent I get you some sweatshirts of your own, but we both know you would still continue to steal mine. You're hard to shop for. First because you don't want anything! 'All I want is your affection' I clearly remember you saying.

And yes, I know you're shaking your head at me right now. Future me is probably thanking my brilliant mind for writing this letter and making you laugh a lot.

But eventually, I found out what I knew you would love. Hopefully, you'll love it and I won't have to return it because that's embarrassing.

You mean the world to me, Aidan. I've never met someone more passionate, or loving, or strong as you are. Everything you do is selfless. And I know that no matter what you will fight for what's right, and that's what gets me. No matter how much terror you see in our lives you still learn to smile through it and treat everyone with the highest kindness.

Ariadne.

I don't use your name that often. It feels odd coming out of my mouth, and you know that I'm mouthing along while writing this because I can't help myself.

Your nickname has always stuck itself where your name should be. But I need to appreciate it for just a moment. Because it was made out of spite from your mom, and I know that's hurt you these past years. But, Ariadne—I love your name. I really do. It's beautiful. And I'm not talking about the goddess, I'm talking about you.

You don't understand the amount of happiness you give me when you laugh or make some crack joke in the middle of a sparring session. Ariadne may mean pain and spite to you, but to me, it means the strongest, most powerful, most understanding person.

Now, I hope you like your gift. And I really hope you don't slap me when I tell you what I've wanted to say for what I think had been years. It's hard to swallow, but I'm ready.

I hope I don't cry.

Your 'lovable-kissable-best boyfriend in the whole world-amazing-awesome-' Kelp Head,

Perc

She never knew what he was going to say or give her for Christmas. Wiping away her tears, she smiled and laughed quietly. No matter what he could make her smile. And yes, he was the best boyfriend in the whole world. She couldn't have asked for anyone better.

A knock sounded on the wall across the room. There stood Selah Young, Bea's girlfriend. Her cat coco rested in her arms, tail flicking back and forth, purring while the older woman ran her fingers through its soft gray fur.

Selah was an Indian immigrant. She had moved to New York with her parents when she was eight, and the woman has learned to take every opportunity she could, and her parents were open minded in a lot of ways. Bea and her still had dinner every Saturday with the older couple who lived a few blocks down.

Bea had never been happier when they had told Ariadne about the woman. It made the brunette smile seeing her friend so happy.

Coco jumped from her arms and ran off to who knows where. Probably to find food.

Selah gave her a smile. She walked over, passing by the harp laying against the wall. Bea would play the instrument for her girlfriend ever night. With her stimming to music most often it was an occurrence to hear the beautifying notes of a harp out the window. Ariadne would listen in and just close her eyes as Selah would tap her fingers, her feet, and her fingers would dance along the air as if she was playing it herself.

Ariadne moved over for her to sit down comfortably. She always laughed at how quaint their apartment was. Percy and her would make a wreck of everything. Selah usually kept the plants watered, and she would often make sure Bea didn't bump into any of the hanging pots when she would rant constantly find odd projects to keep her busy with.

Two lesbians in a cottage core apartment.

It was beautiful.

"How are you doing?" Selah asked quietly. She shuffled awkwardly. The brunette took no offense.

"I've read this note over and over, but I still can't understand what he was wanting to say to me." She tugged a the grey streak in her hair. "It's just... hard without him. I'm so used to him being here after a quest or after we have to fight. And now..."

Selah nodded. She knew of Bea's demigod life. It wasn't hard to notice the signs, and with the woman always being hyper fixated on Greek Mythology and what not, she got the memo.

It was a tense moment. Ariadne shuffled her feet along the floor. The fluffy socks Bea had forced her into made a slight noise against the hardwood. Selah tapped her fingers.

"Do you remember when Bea went on that mission two years ago?"

Ariadne's eyebrows furrowed. She pursed her lips. "Yeah. You called me every night asking if she had contacted me," she said quietly. "You were so worried."

"Chiron was annoyed with how many times I messaged. But Bea had promised me that they would call and answer to make sure they were okay," Selah continued. Her eyelashes fluttered over her brown eyes, allowing them to catch the light and turn them into pools of honey. "With her gone I was so worried I could barely sleep or eat."

"Because you thought she would never come back," the girl nodded while muttering. "That's demigod life for you."

She sighed. "We fought the night before they left that it was dangerous. I can't understand your life, and frankly, I don't really want to, but it's scary. Terrifying. You guys have to fight everyday. But they left me a note and they were one with no calls or anything."

"But they came back."

"And I knew they would." Selah smiled brightly. She reached up and tapped her heart. "I felt deep inside, that somewhere, they were still out there. That they would come home to me and it would all be okay. Call that a sign of Aphrodite."

The brunette swallowed harshly. She didn't exactly want to talk about the gods again.

"Now," Selah tilted her head, "do you, Ariadne Phoenix, believe that he's out there. Do you believe that he's okay? That he'll come back to you, safe and sound."

There was a warm feeling in her heart. It tingled, and somewhere, she imagined his laugh and his eyes, and that was enough.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Yes, I do believe he's out there. I just haven't found him yet."

"Then he's just lost, not gone. There's a difference—always remember that."

Ariadne smiled for the first time in a while. Not a sad smile, but a small, hopeful one. Maybe he was okay. Maybe Aphrodite was still looking out for her.

But her Percy Jackson was still missing and lost.

And she would do anything to find him again.

authors note:

IM SORRY THIS IS SO LATE IM TERRIBLE

I HATE SCHOOL SO MUCH SO FUCK ALL THAT SHIT

ALSO! IM BOW MAKING A SOENCER REID BOOK WITH DAKOTA JOHNSON SO YEAH AND I ALSO BINGED ALL OF DRAGON PRINCE ON NETFLIX AO IM NOW OFFICIALLY IN LOVE WITH CALLUM TGANK YOU

I'm screaming I'm sorry

On a side note:

Drivers license by Olivia rodrigo is soooo good! Stan her!

But I do have to say that all the hate toward Sabrina and Joshua is really bugging the shit out of me. Like fuck that. All three of them are talented. I watched Josh's lie lie lie premiere and the song is a bop! Sabrina is a queen! We don't know their personal life nor what is going on, and people are allowed to move on if that's the case. I pick no sides but stan all of them and stream their music. Because it's wrongs to hate them over a song, like did any of us hate Harry after Taylor made songs about him? I FUCKING DIDNT!

Please be kind of your words because they're people too!

I've also been desperate to cuddle with someone but I know no one so what a bummer and everyone inside of my county and school are stupid and annoying 🤡

Anyways!

Thanks for bearing with me and my life! Hope you guys liked this chapter!

Question: What's your favorite Sabrina Carpenter song? And if you don't have one, give me a favorite song in general I need knew music

My Answer: Either Paris, Diamonds are forever, or the middle of starting over

second! it may look like there's not a lot if you read on a laptop but i promise there is on the mobile app! I just now realized that so fuck

Anyways! my mom found this account and now i'm scared so if she starts reading shit expect nice chapter endings and i'm removing anything incriminating. so thats fun

I also sent my friends a small snippet of me singing part of driver's license and they said it was good and i wish I could attach a video but i can't and i'm not willing to make a youtube for it so if anyone knows how help a bitch out PLEASE

Tell me your favorite part of this chapter and what you're most excited for. Next chapter we actually get into Lost Hero!

As always, I love you guys!