Percy stood for a moment, staring at the emptiness where Luke had disappeared. His heart still hammered in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. Mount Elbrus. Russia.
Blackjack's voice, who had approached at some point, broke through his thoughts.
"Boss! I didn't want to interrupt your dramatic moment and all, but I gotta say… you were just awesome back there! Like, wow! Did you see that? The waves, the thunder, the lightning! If it were a movie, I swear it would've won an Oscar for best battle!"
Normally, Percy would have laughed, maybe even made a sarcastic comment. But now… he wasn't in the mood.
His gaze shifted to the water humanoid holding Silena's body. The soft glow of the aquatic bubble that enveloped her reflected the light from the sky, but it didn't hide the cruel truth before him.
She wasn't moving. She wasn't breathing.
He approached slowly, feeling the weight of what had just happened settle in his chest. The fight, the fury, it all seemed distant now.
What mattered was her.
Silena Beauregard.
She didn't deserve this end.
All the adrenaline from the fight drained away in an instant. The weight of what had just happened hit him with full force, and Percy felt his strength abandon him. His body, previously driven by pure instinct and fury, now felt like lead.
The oceanic pressure he'd been controlling, the absurd speed he'd reached—it all vanished at once.
And then, he fell.
The wind whistled around him as he plummeted toward the ocean below. He tried to react, but his muscles were locked, as if his own body had given up the fight.
The surface of the water was approaching fast.
But before he crashed against the waves, something black and swift dived toward him.
"Oh, no you don't, boss!"
Blackjack appeared suddenly, catching Percy in midair with a powerful beat of his wings. The pegasus arched upwards, stabilizing the fall before they could hit the sea.
"Got ya! But hey, next time, try not to fall like a sack of potatoes, okay?" Blackjack neighed. "You know I'm fast, but come on, don't give me scares like that!"
Percy blinked a few times, the world spinning around him. His breathing was ragged, his muscles ached as if he'd run a marathon and been struck by lightning at the same time.
He swallowed hard, trying to compose himself.
"Thanks, Blackjack…" he murmured, his voice weary.
The pegasus snorted. "Always, boss. Now, where do you wanna go?"
Percy didn't answer immediately.
His gaze found the water humanoid holding Silena's body.
He closed his eyes for a moment, then pointed to her.
"Take me there."
Blackjack didn't question. He just beat his wings and followed the order. He landed gently on the calm waters, flapping his wings to keep his balance. The water humanoid, still holding Silena, floated nearby, waiting for Percy's command.
With a heavy sigh, Percy slid off the pegasus's back and walked towards the liquid silhouette. He extended his hands, and the figure responded, handing Silena to him with an almost reverent care.
She seemed so… small now.
With the utmost care, Percy arranged her body on Blackjack's back, making sure she was secure.
He looked around, realizing the other pegasus that had brought her was no longer there.
It must have left a long time ago.
Percy didn't blame it. Not after what had happened there.
But now, he had another mission.
He mounted behind Silena, holding her firmly so she wouldn't fall.
"Let's go, Blackjack," he said, his voice heavy with something difficult to name. "Time to go home."
Blackjack neighed softly and beat his wings, rising into the sky.
The wind cut across Percy's face as Blackjack climbed higher and higher, passing through the clouds that still trembled with the remnants of the battle.
Blackjack maintained a steady pace, flying carefully so Percy didn't have to worry about anything but his own thoughts.
Percy looked ahead, but his mind was far away.
Mount Elbrus. Russia.
Luke had said that Kronos and his allies would be waiting. The way he'd spoken… so confident, as if he was absolutely certain that even if Ikki tried to interfere, it wouldn't make a difference.
Percy felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
He didn't like to admit it, but Luke… wasn't wrong.
Ikki was incredibly powerful. Everyone knew that. But, if Kronos really had a way to face him, then things were even more serious than Percy had imagined.
And now, Silena…
He looked at her, her hair falling over her serene face, as if she were just sleeping.
She died a hero.
Percy knew that. But knowing didn't make things any easier.
The silence was broken by Blackjack's voice.
"Hey, boss…" The pegasus hesitated, his tone calmer than usual. "It's gonna be okay, right?"
Percy opened his mouth, ready to respond with an automatic phrase, a "of course it will" that he himself didn't know if he believed. But then he stopped.
He couldn't lie to Blackjack.
"I… I don't know." He admitted, his voice lower than he intended. "But we'll keep trying."
Blackjack beat his wings with a little more force, accelerating the flight.
"Yeah. We always try."
The rest of the journey continued in silence.
On the horizon, Half-Blood Hill was already rising.
The beat of Blackjack's wings echoed through the sky as he descended upon Camp Half-Blood. The noise caught the attention of the campers, who began to gather around the Dining Pavilion and along the training field, watching Percy's arrival.
When he landed, silence fell over the place.
Percy dismounted slowly, holding Silena in his arms bridal style. Her body was light, but the weight of the situation made his arms tremble. He no longer felt the pain of his own injuries. It didn't matter.
The campers began to approach, murmuring among themselves. Many widened their eyes at the sight of Silena, some covered their mouths, others looked away, as if wanting to deny reality.
Chiron arrived quickly, his hoof beating firmly against the grass. He looked at Percy, his face filled with concern, and then his gaze fell to Silena.
"Oh, my boy…" he murmured. His tone of voice said it all.
Percy wanted to speak, to explain, but the words wouldn't come.
It was then that Clarisse pushed through the crowd, her face filled with expectation.
"Silena!" Her voice was firm, but there was something broken in it. When she finally saw her friend's body in Percy's arms, her face paled. "What… what happened?"
In an instant, she snatched the body from Percy's arms, holding her as if she wanted to protect her from something that had already happened.
Clarisse and Silena had a friendship that many found unlikely. The daughter of Ares was known for her brutality and explosive temper, while Silena was a daughter of Aphrodite, always graceful and kind. But they complemented each other. Silena helped Clarisse understand her feelings and express herself without resorting to violence, while Clarisse offered protection and unwavering respect for her friend's quiet strength. They were inseparable.
And now, Clarisse looked at Silena as if the world were falling apart.
Percy tried to speak, but his throat seemed to have a knot in it.
The silence that followed was heavy, laden with the weight of loss and pain.
It was then that Annabeth appeared, pushing some campers aside to make way. Her gaze found Percy first, quickly scanning him for injuries. But then, she saw Silena in Clarisse's arms.
She froze.
"No…" Her voice came out as a whisper. Annabeth had never been particularly close to Silena, but the daughter of Aphrodite was part of the camp, part of the family. Part of the fight.
She clenched her fists and looked at Percy, seeking an explanation. But seeing his empty gaze, the guilt and the weight of responsibility stamped on his tired expression, she realized that, at that moment, he wouldn't be able to speak.
More figures emerged from the crowd.
Nico di Angelo stood at the edge of the group, his dark eyes analyzing the scene with a closed expression. He didn't know Silena that well, but he understood the pain of loss. He had felt it before. The grief of others around him seemed almost tangible to him, and his connection to Death made his stomach churn.
Beside him, Bianca di Angelo seemed equally disturbed. Even without knowing Silena personally, she felt the collective pain of the camp. Seeing Clarisse holding her friend's body so desperately, seeing Percy exhausted, almost collapsing on his feet, all of it affected her in a way she hadn't expected.
She exchanged a look with Nico. They didn't need to speak to understand that they were thinking the same thing.
It never got easier.
Clarisse, still holding Silena, took a deep breath and turned her eyes to Percy. Her expression was now one of pure fury.
"Tell me who did this," she repeated, her voice a little lower, but much more dangerous. "Now."
The silence became even denser.
Percy felt his throat dry. Every part of his body ached—not from the injuries, but from the weight of guilt that clung to him like an anchor. He wanted to speak, but the words seemed trapped in the depths of his soul.
Finally, he took a deep breath.
"I saw her leaving camp," he began, his voice hoarse. "She mounted a pegasus and left in the middle of the night. Something seemed wrong, so I went after her."
The campers listened in absolute silence. Percy felt Annabeth's gaze burning on him, but he couldn't face her.
"She went after Luke."
A murmur went through the crowd. His name was still a taboo there, especially after everything that had happened.
"She wanted revenge," Percy continued, closing his eyes for a moment. "For everything he'd done. For the camp. For what he did to Ikki."
Clarisse's eyes widened, clutching Silena to her chest.
"She thought… if she killed Luke, she could redeem herself."
Shock went through the group. Percy saw Bianca and Nico exchange a tense look. Annabeth seemed to have stopped breathing.
"I tried to stop her," Percy said, his voice faltering. "But when I got there, Luke was already waiting. He knew she was coming."
His jaw tightened as he remembered Luke's gaze, so confident, so certain that everything was under control.
"He was stronger. Much stronger than before. But he wasn't alone." Percy swallowed hard. "There was a Titan with him."
The air seemed to grow colder.
"I fought. I swear I fought." Percy shook his head, feeling the adrenaline returning, as if he were still in the middle of the battle. "I managed to defeat the Titan. But Luke escaped."
Clarisse was trembling with rage.
"She… she didn't have to go," Percy murmured. "I tried to bring her back. But it was too late."
He closed his eyes, seeing again that horrible moment when he realized he couldn't save her.
Guilt crushed his shoulders.
Clarisse took a deep breath, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Luke did this." Her voice was low, almost a growl. "He will pay."
Percy didn't disagree.
Because, deep down, he felt the same way.
Chiron, who had been watching the scene in silence, took a deep breath. His eyes were somber, reflecting the weight of the loss everyone felt. He looked at Percy for a long moment, as if acknowledging the guilt the boy carried, but knowing that this was not the time for it.
Then, he straightened up, adopting the firm and respectful tone he always used in moments of great importance.
"Someone go call the campers from the Aphrodite Cabin," he said, his voice laden with solemnity. "Silena deserves a proper burial."
There was a hesitant silence before one of the campers ran off to carry out the order.
Chiron then turned his eyes to Clarisse, who still held Silena in her arms, her shoulders shaking with contained emotion.
"We are so sorry, Clarisse," he said, his voice softer now. "Losing someone like this… it's never easy. But we must honor Silena in the best way possible. She was part of our family."
Clarisse didn't answer immediately. Her gaze was fixed on Silena, her eyes filled with tears that she refused to shed.
"She deserved more," she murmured, anger and pain mingling in her voice.
"She was a hero," Chiron said, his voice firm. "And she will be remembered as such."
The surrounding campers nodded slowly, absorbing those words.
As much as it hurt, as much as it seemed impossible to move on without the lively girl who always helped everyone, they had to continue.
After a few moments of silence, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed across the lawn as the Aphrodite Cabin arrived at the scene. They came together, a cohesive group, but different from their usual relaxed and graceful manner. There were no smiles, no haughty glances. Just anxiety and a silent fear that grew with every step.
Drew Tanaka was at the front, which was expected, she loved being the center of attention, but this time, her expression was far from her usual arrogance. Her face was rigid, as if trying to maintain her composure, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of concern.
The other Aphrodite campers stopped around the scene, and then they saw.
Silena.
In Clarisse's arms.
The shock was instantaneous.
One of the boys, who always followed Silena like a younger brother, let out an audible gasp. A girl covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes already filled with tears. Someone behind murmured a quiet "no," as if trying to deny the reality before them.
Drew took a hesitant step forward, her gaze moving from Silena to Percy, then to Chiron. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
It was Valentina, one of the youngest in the cabin, who broke the silence. Her voice trembled.
"She's… she's just hurt, right?" she asked, hope evident in every syllable. "She'll wake up, right?"
No one answered.
Valentina's eyes widened as the truth settled in. She shook her head slowly, taking a step back, as if she could escape the weight of reality.
Drew clenched her fists, her jaw set. When she finally spoke, her voice was filled with a feeling few had seen her display before: genuine pain.
"Who did this?"
It was Clarisse who answered, her voice sharp as a blade.
"Luke."
Anger swept over the Aphrodite group. But, unlike the explosive anger of the children of Ares, theirs was cold, sharp. A bitter pain disguised under sharp gazes and clenched jaws.
"She can't be dead..." murmured a golden-haired girl, tears streaming down her face.
The sky was beginning to darken as the Aphrodite Cabin finally joined the rest of the camp around the funeral pyre. The silence was absolute. No whispers, no audible cries—only the sound of the wind through the trees and the distant crackle of the camp's central bonfire.
Percy stood still, feeling the weight of Silena's loss deepen in his chest. He held his sword, Riptide, without really noticing. His fist ached from gripping it so tightly.
The Hephaestus children had worked quickly, assembling the pyre with the same dedication and respect with which they forged their most precious weapons. The wood was stacked perfectly, and on top, on a starry blue cloth, lay the body of Silena Beauregard.
She looked peaceful. As if she were sleeping.
Clarisse stood next to the pyre, her body tense as a bow ready to be fired. Her eyes were red, but no tears fell. Her jaw was clenched, and her hands trembled slightly at her sides. Percy didn't need to be a son of Hermes to know that she was holding back her grief with all her might.
The campers were gathered around, forming a respectful semicircle. Even the camp's satyrs and nymphs came to pay their respects. Some campers held torches, the fire reflecting in their solemn faces.
Finally, Chiron stepped forward.
He cleared his throat, his expression filled with sadness and respect.
"We are here today to honor a true hero." His voice was firm, but laden with emotion. "Silena Beauregard, daughter of Aphrodite, leader of her cabin, and one of the bravest people this camp has ever known."
A murmur of agreement passed among the campers. Percy saw Valentina, the youngest of the Aphrodite Cabin, clutch the arm of one of her older sisters, as if trying to find some stability in that moment.
"Many saw Silena as someone kind, graceful, a daughter of Aphrodite in the most classic sense." Chiron paused, letting the wind carry his words through the camp. "But those who truly knew her knew she was much more than that. She had a strong heart. An unwavering courage. And when the moment came, when we needed a true hero… she didn't hesitate."
Percy closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of those words.
Clarisse stepped forward, her breathing heavy. When she spoke, her voice was firm, but broken at the edges.
"Silena always cared about everyone. More than herself." She looked at the pyre, her jaw tightening. "She was strong. Stronger than any of you could imagine."
There was a long silence.
And then, Drew Tanaka stepped forward, her posture erect, as if she were holding an invisible weight on her shoulders. Her gaze was fixed on Silena, and when she spoke, her voice was low, but filled with something Percy never expected to hear from her: genuine respect.
"She showed us that being a child of Aphrodite doesn't mean being weak." Drew took a deep breath. "She showed us that love is also strength."
The children of Aphrodite looked at each other, some nodding, others simply pressing their lips together to hold back tears.
Chiron waited a moment before looking at Percy.
"Would you like to say something?"
Percy took a deep breath.
He didn't want to speak. He wanted all of it to be a bad dream. But Silena deserved more than silence.
So, he stepped forward.
"I saw Silena fight." His voice was hoarse with exhaustion. "I saw the determination in her eyes. The will to protect the people she loved."
He looked at Clarisse, then at the children of Aphrodite.
"And I saw how loyal she was to you. How much she was willing to sacrifice for this camp."
He hesitated, feeling a lump in his throat.
"She didn't deserve this end." Percy lowered his eyes for a moment, before facing the flames. "But, if there's anything I learned today, it's that Silena wouldn't have accepted a different fate."
There was a long silence.
Then, Chiron nodded.
"May her soul find peace in the Elysian Fields." His voice carried solemnity.
The campers raised their torches.
The fire was cast onto the pyre.
The flames rose quickly, illuminating the night, reflecting in the teary eyes of the campers. The smell of burning wood and flowers filled the air.
The children of Aphrodite stood together, some hugging each other, others simply staring at the fire, letting the flames carry away the pain in a way words couldn't.
Clarisse remained motionless, watching the pyre with a blank expression.
Percy felt Annabeth approach his side. She didn't say anything, just stood there, sharing the silence.
Bianca and Nico stood a little further away, their faces somber. Percy knew that, for them, death wasn't just a ceremony, it was a constant reminder of everything they had lost.
The fire roared loudly, sending sparks into the starry sky.