Percy

It was dark and silent as Blackjack flew over Athena's temple. His wings glided smoothly, slicing through the air as my eyes strained to find details of Athena's city that would help me and Leo. The moon was bright, and it left an ethereal shine on the ebony wings of Blackjack. Down beneath me, I could see the bustle of Athens: people moving around, even at this hour, venders shouting out to passing pedestrians, horses randomly around the town, and the sparring duos in small arenas placed about. I could see it all, but I couldn't hear anything. Up in the sky I was shielded from the view of the mortals underneath me, and I myself was shielded from the sounds. All I could hear was the whooshing of Blackjack's great wings as he lifted himself and I higher.

It would have been peaceful, just gliding about on the quiet night, but I was beyond nervous. To tell the truth, I had no plan whatsoever to distract everybody in Athena's temple. Annabeth, Hazel, Piper and Thalia needed me and Leo, who was on another pegasus not twenty feet behind me, to empty out the temple. When I told her that we would create the distraction, I had felt like Annabeth had a lot weighing down her shoulders, so I wanted to take some of her burden. Unfortunately, I did that without registering very thoroughly through what that would mean. I know, right. You're mind is saying, Percy? Not thinking all the way through something? Pssh. I know. Doesn't sound like me, huh?

Anyways. I had no plan. Correction: I have no plan. So I'm trying to come up with one. But still, I can't think of anything.

"Come on, come on," I muttered, racking my brains for something.

"Percy!"

I heard Leo call from behind me, and I whirled in my position to shut him up. We probably were out of hearing range to the people walking below us, but I didn't want to take my chances. I saw Leo on Guido, waving to get my attention. I rolled my eyes, but told Blackjack to slow down. If he had any sort of plan, I was welcome to hear it. Even though Leo's plans did tend to be even more risky than my own.

Once I next to Leo and his pegasus, I signaled for him to follow me, and then Blackjack dropped down towards the beach, the line of other pegasi following. We would be safe talking there. It was a rocky beach, and the horses had a tough time finding a place to land, but soon they all touched the ground and Leo was telling me what he had found.

"Nothing," he said. I sighed, biting my lip. We had very little time. Actually, we could only have about ten minutes to think of something. As far as I knew, Annabeth and Hazel were going to meet Thalia and Piper outside of the temple, sneak in, get the weapons, and get back out. When we had split, Annabeth and Hazel didn't have to go too far to get to the spot where they would meet the other two girls.

"Leo, we have to think of something!" I said desperately.

I was pacing back and forth on the sand when Leo piped up, "Hey, isn't Poseidon the earth shaker?" I nodded distractedly, still trying to think. "So... can I take a wild guess and say maybe you can create an earthquake?"

I paused. Then I turned and stared at him. "First, I've never tried to create an earthquake. Second, don't earthquakes, like, destroy cities? I don't think that'd be very safe, Leo."

"Well, then make a small one," Leo said simply. "I was overhearing some mortals from Athens the last time we were here, they were saying that they never had earthquakes. Athena always protected them. But just in case something like an earthquake or tidal wave happened, they had an olive grove, sacred to Athena, just outside the city. If any hazard like that happened, they were to all go there."

"So if I made a small one, they'd probably freak out," I said, my sunken hopes at finding a plan rising slowly.

"Exactly. Who ever said I couldn't make a decent plan?"

"I still don't know if I could make one, or if it would be effective," I reminded the son of Hephaestus. "I've never made one, mind you."

"There's always a first time," Leo said with a grin, then he hopped back onto Guido. I took a deep breath. Maybe this could work.

I was standing in the middle of one of the larger courtyards in Athens. There wasn't anybody here, Leo and I had made sure to pick the most deserted one, as to not hurt anybody when I caused the earthquake. I was going to try to make sure the earthquake didn't get too out of hand for any damage to happen, but you never know. Leo was on Guido flying above me, watching to see if the plan worked. As I looked up, I couldn't see anything but the dark sky. I just had to trust that he was up there with the other pegasi.

I inhaled. Exhaled.

Dad, if you can hear me, please help, I said in my mind, my fingers drumming nervously on my thigh.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale.

I raised my hand, holding it up, palm out. I closed my eyes. Exhale.

I imagined the ground shaking, earth trembling, the dirt under my feet not standing still. I imagined my powers reaching underneath the layer of stone tiles I was standing on. I squeezed my eyes shut, imagining in it clearly, and trying to make it come to reality. I thought it so well I could almost feel the earth moving below me. My eyes cracked open.

No, I wasn't imagining it anymore, it was actually happening. The ground was moving, almost imperceptibly. I took a deep breath, then urged the shaking to grow. There was a tug in my gut, similar to the one that happens when I take control over water, and the earthquake became bigger.

Too big.

Quicker than my heartbeat (which was going pretty fast), the earthquake intensified. The ground rumbled, like an upset stomach, just a hundred times magnified, sending a chill through the earth. I smiled. I could do this. I could move the ground, the actual ground, just with a little motion or thought. I had that power.

Power. My mind seemed to latch on that word. I had never realized what a beautiful and significant word that was. Power. I had this power, but with more, I could do things in the world. I could make everything better. A new world, with no hunger, no hurt, no poverty. My own world. That I was in charge of.

My smile grew, but I could almost feel the power-lust in me laced through it. I watched as a shack became collapsed, its foundation no longer stable. I watched as lights in buildings flickered on, as the people of Athens finally realized what was going on. I watched as the earthquake started to grow stronger, and screams started to pierce the silence of the night.

I had this power. My smiled had turned into a sneer. A shiver of dark glee went up my spine. Another building, this one bigger, fell to the shaking ground, and the shapes of mortals flew through the night, desperately trying to find safety.

I was enjoying this.

Somewhere in me, a resistance passed through me. This wasn't right. I shouldn't be doing this. The earthquake shouldn't be this big, people could get hurt, and I would be the cause of it. I shouldn't be liking this. Gods, I shouldn't even be permitting this. I should stop this, before the problem escalated. I needed to stop this.

The moonlight waned, becoming faint as the dust from the earthquake clogged the night air. The dust seemed to overtake my mind as well, fighting back that one feeling that was pure, the feeling telling me to stop. Another building fell, and a fire started. The flames licked at my thoughts, burning away the last seemingly sane part of me, removing my doubts, coaxing me onward. My sneer returned, and I kept looking at what I was doing. But it was like I couldn't control myself, my actions. I couldn't control it, but I didn't try too.

The night air was filled with shouts, people running, dust, collapsing buildings, and shaking. Men held their wives as the wives held the children, trying to comfort their wailing. I saw a beam fall, trapping a young man under it by his legs. A twinge went through me, but went away just as fast. The greed for power was the dominating action in me, it allowed nothing else to affect me. An elderly lady crumpled, coughing violently. The dust running through her lungs was too much.

More screams. My smile grew.

But then my eyes fell upon a lone figure standing about twenty feet away from me.

It was a little girl, with dark brown hair, big brown eyes. For a moment, Calista flashed before me, but I blinked and she was gone. It was just a little girl, the bright fire in the background lighting her up, so I could barely make out any features. But I could see shiny trails going down her cheeks. She was crying. Absolute fear was in her eyes as she looked at me.

I couldn't breathe.

My whole life, I've befriended the commoners, looked after them, hoped for them to see me as a friend and someone who would help. But now, I might have destroyed a life-time's work. I was creating all this destruction, and I could see it plainly in the eyes of the small girl before me. I didn't want her to look at me like that. I hated that look.

Again, Calista took the place of the girl in my mind, and instead of fear, I saw utter disappointment. She looked almost sad, as if she couldn't believe I would do this.

It was like a punch to the gut. I doubled over, my breathing returning in gasps. In the blink of an eye, the earthquake stopped. The fires were still going on, and some parts of the buildings were still falling, supports collapsed and gone. But that was all fading to me. I was looking at the ground. I had done this. And instead of feeling triumph, like I had before, I only felt disgust.

Now that everything had clicked off, the energy that had been used to make the earthquake suddenly disappeared, and I felt the ground rushing up towards me. My legs just wouldn't hold me anymore. I fell to my knees first, then onto my stomach, curling up on myself. My breath was ragged, my memory of the despicable feelings I had felt during the earthquake too vivid. Calista's brown eyes in my mind, full of dismay at my actions. The little girl... with a startled groan I opened my eyes, looking for her. She had to be safe. If I had hurt her like I had hurt the others, I would never forgive myself. But I couldn't see her.

I felt a tiny hand on my shoulder, and my head whirled around. It was the little girl, but instead of fear, she now had concern in her eyes. Her now dirty nightgown was resting on the dirt as she kneeled beside me, and a small doll was held tightly in the crook of her arms.

"Are you okay?" She asked timidly, in that soft musical voice that children had.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to a sitting position. "Yeah, I'm fine, are you?"

She nodded, looking at me through long, dark eyelashes. "I recognized you."

I frowned, "From what?"

"You saved my brother, a long time ago. Thank you, sir."

Again, I frowned, still confused. She noticed this look, and continued, her small hand still on my shoulder. "My brother was in an inn a long time ago, and it fell. He was stuck inside, with a lot of other people. But you save him, and all the others. You saved my brother. I was just a baby, but I know you, from people telling my family more stories, that you have done a lot for commoners like me and my family. You help us out. Even though a lot of people in Athens don't like you, because of our patron goddess, I still thing you're one of the best heroes in the world. I was scared just now, that you were going to get hurt."

She was scared for me. Not of me. She didn't believe I was the cause of this earthquake and destruction.

I looked at her for a second, relief rushing through me. But then I was stabbed with a blade of shame and guilt. Should I tell this little girl that I was the one who made this earthquake? Should she know?

No, I thought sternly. Some things are better kept secret to little kids, it was for their best.

Another wave of exhaustion raced through my body. It was all I could do to stop myself from falling asleep, welcoming the enticing darkness unconsciousness would bring. But I had to stay awake.

With the exhaustion came a heavy load of self-hatred and disgust. I did this, and probably hurt some people. It was another side of me, an evil side. And I hated it with every ounce in my body. I hated what I had done, I hated myself for doing it.

Leo had dropped down on Guido, running over to me. As he ran, I said to the little girl, "You're welcome, then. Now go to your parents, and get somewhere safe, okay?" She flashed me a small smile, then turned and ran off, her pattering footsteps leaving imprints on my brain. Another pair of footsteps came to my ears, and I turned as Leo knelt down beside me. He gazed curiously at the receding back of the small girl, but didn't ask any questions. Then his gaze shifted to me. In his countenance, I could see awe, but also wariness, the way someone might look at an extremely powerful but dangerous monster. My stomach contracted. I didn't want to be looked at like that, especially by one of the Questers.

"Are you all right?" The fire user asked.

I ignored my spinning vision, the exhaustion going through my body, and the multicolored lights dancing in my eyes. Instead, I just nodded, standing up to prove I was fine. Well, I wasn't, apparently. I could barely balance on my feet, and my legs threatened to give out when I put weight on them. I shook my head, trying to rid it of the constant throbbing jerking at my brain. Leo reached out a hand to steady me, but I shook him off.

"I'm fine," I said angrily. The anger I was feeling was directed at myself, but Leo didn't know that. I felt a pinch of guilt, and I softened my stern look as he took a step back.

"I'm just a little tired," I amended in a kinder tone, though there were still waves of self-revulsion racking my body.

I took a deep breath. "Come on, let's go get Annabeth and the others." Leo nodded once, then turned and jogged back over to Guido, mounting the pegasus. I paused for a moment, watching as more people ran south, towards the safety of the olive grove. I grimaced, then whistled for Blackjack. He landed seconds later, and I tore myself from the sight of the bedlam, swinging myself onto Blackjack. The black pegasus immediately sensed that something was wrong with me.

What's up, boss?

I sighed. "Nothing, Blackjack. Let's go find Annabeth." I knew he didn't believe that nothing was wrong, but the look on my face must've urged him not to pursue the matter. Blackjack spread his wings, then with a small running start, he lifted us both into the sky. I closed my eyes, letting the night air sweep over my face, which was beaded with sticky sweat. When I opened them back up, I wished I hadn't.

I saw collapsed buildings, people streaming to the olive grove, fires still burning through parts of the town, and heard screams piercing the air. The earthquake hadn't just affected the section of the town around the courtyard I had been in, but had gone way further than I had expected. At least a quarter of Athens showed signs of the earthquake. I cringed. I did this. I made all this destruction. If I could hate myself anymore, I did then. I bit my lip. Hard. I wanted to hit myself over the head repeatedly, but I knew that would accomplish nothing, other than giving myself an even bigger headache. I cursed myself. How could I have been this stupid?

Quicker than I expected, we had reached the courtyard in front of Athena's temple. The pegasi all hovered above it, looking for four girls in the dark temple. The earthquake, thankfully, hadn't reached the temple. I would never have forgiven myself if I had somehow hurt Annabeth inside. But the earthquake had done its job. I couldn't see any guards, demigods, nymphs, dryads, or mortals anywhere. Though that still didn't make me okay with it.

Annabeth and the other girls still couldn't be seen, however, so I told all the pegasi to just wait a few minutes. Maybe they weren't ready yet.

After about ten minutes, I was getting antsy, and thoughts were filling my head. What if they got caught? Just because there were no guards outside didn't mean there weren't any inside. My fingers drummed along my side. Just when I was abut to barge in there myself and make sure they were all okay, I saw figures appear, flitting in and out of sight as they walked through the columned hallway. I caught Leo's eye, and motioned for us to land. The pegasi all dropped to the earth, and I dismounted as the girls came out of the shadows of the temple.

But I couldn't see Annabeth, it was just Piper and Thalia and another girl I didn't recognize.

When the three girls reached the spot were I was standing, I immediately said, "Where's Annabeth?"

Thalia sighed exaggeratedly, her electric blue eyes rolling towards the sky. "It seems like every time we see each other after a fairly long period of time, you always demand to know about Annabeth. Gods, you two are so lovesick. You should just get married and skip the boring drama." I scowled at her, turning to Piper. I trusted she would be a better help than Thalia. I bet even Hypnos, who never wakes up, would be a better help than the hunter.

Piper's eyebrows were furrowed. "She's not with you?"

A cold hand touched my heart. "No. Weren't you supposed to be together? You, Thalia, Annabeth, and Hazel?"

"Well, yes," Piper replied, a hint of worry growing in her voice. "But then she told us to come get Silena." She gestured to the girl standing on her left. I may not have been familiar with the girl's face, but I knew her name. She was the one who had betrayed Annabeth, who led Luke to Annabeth so he could capture her. I narrowed my eyes at her, studying her suspiciously.

She was pretty, I guess, though not my type. Long, silky black hair floated down her back, and a servant uniform was clad to her slim body. Her blue eyes were shifting constantly, not meeting my gaze for more than a second. Her hands played with each other, and she was biting her lip. I looked back a Piper, who was giving me the it's okay, we've got it under control look. I shrugged.

"Well, any idea where Annabeth could be?" I asked anxiously.

Piper bit her lip, thinking. "I don't know, I honestly don't. But we can just circle around the temple, see if we can find her." I nodded; it was kind of the only thing we could do. I went back to Blackjack, remounting. The others did the same.

"Come on Blackjack, let's find Annabeth." I relayed the same message to the rest of the pegasi as well. They all took flight. Once we were in the air, we headed left. Piper and Silena rode together, and Thalia, after giving Leo a withering glare full of unspoken warnings, climbed onto Guido. But she demanded to be in front, and I think Leo was too scared by the hunter to contradict her, so he complied. I would almost smile at the sight of the two- Thalia focused on the temple, but casting a glower over her shoulder every once in a while, and Leo struggling to stay on the horse without touching Thalia in front of him- if the worry creeping up on me didn't force my face into a constant frown. I prayed to my dad that Annabeth and Hazel would be alright.