Chapter Ten

                                    

                                          
Cry. Forgive
Learn. Move on.
Let your tears water the seeds 
Of your future happiness
                          
-Steve Maraboli
                          
"Before we get to business," Piper said using finger quotes saying 'business.' "Who in Hades are the people in cloaks?"
                          
Silena cleared her throat. "We are the soldiers of Chaos's highest army. He sent us to Earth to help you in the upcoming war."
                          
"Why are you the only one with your hood down and-" Leo paused and tilted his head a little, "kinda look familiar?"
                          
"This is Silena Beauguard." Clarisse introduced. "She revealed her identity to get Annabeth to stop yelling at Mr. I-Like-Brooding-In-Corners over there-" She nodded in my direction. "About trust."
                          
"I'll have you know that this is a very nice corner!"
                          
"I really don't understand how you're our leader," Luke deadpanned. "Out of all of us, you were the most immature in your first life."
                          
"First life?!" Frank and Leo exclaimed.
                          
"Says the one who gave Chaos literal shit." I said with a bored tone, ignoring Frank and Leo. "I'm your leader because I bought you back from the dead."
                          
Nico gapped at me. "You what?!"
                          
"Well it wasn't really me who-"
                          
"Okay!" Annabeth shouted. "We are lightyears away from the topic we're supposed to be talking about."
                          
Luke smirked. "You made a galaxy reference."
                          
"Shut up. I don't know if you've noticed but we have a war, possibly the biggest one we'll ever fight, on our hands. Might I remind you that the reason you are sitting around this table is so you can help us in said war."
                          
After a few moments of silence, I decided to break the ice.
                          
"She's right," I said from my corner, causing everyone's head to snap in my direction. However my main focus wasn't on them. "Rachel, can you repeat the prophecy for those who haven't?"
                          
"Of course," Rachel said, standing up.
                          
"Earth and Time rise together in Rome
                          
Heroes of past must return home
                          
Masks reveal the eldest son, stars, and dead
                          
Loyalty of the leader marks beginning's end
                          
Proof of ancient rivalries destroyed decides the path
                          
Olympus to serve or end in bloodbath"
                          
"Earth and Time?" Jason said. "How in Hades are a planet and time supposed rise?"
                          
"They're not." Annabeth answered, looking slightly mad. "Unless the words represent something- in our case, a god and titan."
                          
In of the corner of my eye, Luke shifted uncomfortably as if he were the one who deserved Annabeth's glare.
                          
"Not sure who this Time is," Leo started. "But it looks like good ole' Mother Earth couldn't wait until we died to wake up. She just had to see us again."
                          
Jason rolled his eyes at Leo. "But what about Time? We haven't encountered a-"
                          
"It's Kronos."
                          
Every set of eyes in the room fell on Luke. Each pair that knew him as Alpha looked at him with curiosity. The Soldiers looked with sympathy.
                          
However, Luke's eyes only fell on me. "I can't-"
                          
I cut him off and led him outside, away from the others. We could've created a mind-conversation, but those took a lot of energy out of you on certain planets, including Earth.
                          
Once were behind the Big House and out of earshot, panic sept into Luke's voice. 
                          
"I can't be here," he was hyperventilating, "he's going to use me again a-and I can't do-" I grabbed his shaking arm to focus his attention onto me rather than the topic at hand. 
                          
"Calm down," I said to Luke in a reassuring yet firm manner. It only really made things worse. Now, Luke was aware of the fact that his breathes were uneven and that he was hardly getting any air.
                          
"Look at me," I tried again with the same tone. Luke listened. His eyes were pleading for me to help. Not being in control of his own thoughts was absolutely terrifying for him. The only other time sometime like this had happened to Luke was when Kronos was using him. 
                          
(A/N: 666 words when I wrote that sentence.)
                          
"I need to to listen to my voice. Do exactly as I tell you, got it?" 
                          
Luke nodded in response.
                          
"Close your eyes, focus on your breath..."
                          
(Flashback)
                          
"I need you to calm down, please!" Chaos shouted.
                          
Each and every part of my body shook in fear. In that exact moment, my past haunted the present. Everything I loved about Προέλευσης, became everything I feared in Tartarus. 
                          
My adoptive father transformed to the god himself.
                          
Αναστασία, who was hiding behind the corner, morphed into Annabeth dying beside me.
                          
My training partner/adoptive sister's (Order) terror-stricken face changed into Bob's and Damasen's final expression.
                          
The training area that looked similar to an everyday gym became the place of my nightmare come true; Tartarus.
                          
"Percy!"
                          
My breathes were as short and ragged as they were in Tartarus. I could practically feel the air of Tartarus trying to poison my lungs.
                          
Suddenly, Tartarus came closer to me. Nearly crushing Annabeth in the process. I went to pull Riptide out, but stopped. He had grabbed my arm, gently as a father would, and spoke in Chaos's voice:
                          
"Listen to my voice. Close your eyes," for some reason, I found myself following his instructions. "Focus on your breath,"
                          
Out of no where, Annabeth grabbed my other arm and spoke in Αναστασία's soft voice. Tartarus melted away and became Chaos once again. 
                          
"Breathe in slowly for the count..."
                          
"...of three," I repeated the words of my adoptive parents during my first flashback/panic attack to Luke.
                          
Like the words had done for me, Luke's shaking came to a slow and his breathes more steady.
                          
"Bring your mind's focus to your body, Luke. Feel the light breeze of the wind. Feel the sun's rays beating down on your face. You're safe, Luke..."
                          
"...And you're going to be okay. I'm here for you."
                          
***
                          
A/N: So school starts tomorrow and I'm already so behind on schedule. This isn't even edited. I'm just going to apollogize (haha) for my bad writing ahead of time.
                          
Word Count: 1015 words.