Don't Let It Happen Again...

[lightningthief]

Like many stories begin, I was just sitting around minding my own business. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that the jukebox turned on for me as it often does. I mean, hanging around in the rec room is just asking for trouble, isn't it? But instead of the usual songs it dumps on me, I'm surprised to hear it cut into Percy's voice, and he's telling a story. I can't imagine this is meant for me, because why would he tell me anything related to the battle that's about to happen in New York? This has got to be some kind of recording from the future, but how can that have happened? Percy's going to die in that battle. Maybe someone talked to his spirit in the Underworld? Hades' kid Nico could've done it. I sit back in my chair as the story goes on and give the thing my full attention. I'm amazed at the level of detail Percy is going to. He's not normally so focused on details, which makes me think this has got to be a spirit conversation.

As it plays, I see Percy and Thalia walk in. Before they can blame me for being up to something, I just put my hands up in a universal sign of hey-not-my-fault and motion over to some unoccupied chairs. If they want to hear about the end of all our lives, I'm not stopping them. It may be good for them to come to grips with the truth of how everything is going to end. I don't acknowledge the others coming in and out of the room. I'd rather hear this alone, but I don't really care too much about the other people around me, just as long as they keep their distance from me during this. Even Gabrielle. A brutal look and a glint of Backbiter's blade are all I need to keep them from smothering me like some lost puppy. I will NOT be pitied or consoled during this, PERIOD.

I'm not exactly liking the parts with Hestia in it. Who does she think she is explaining the details of my life and why I did what I did? Does it matter? Really? And when it talks about how I met my dad at home, I'm expressionless except for the iron grip I have on the armrests. Why is Hestia even bothering? Maybe she's just explaining to them why they're all about to meet in the Underworld together. Hestia should've joined Kronos. There's no point in her supporting Zeus needlessly.

As the narrative of the battle goes on, I hear about the sudden arrival of Ares cabin led by... Clarisse? Something is wrong. I can tell. As the voice goes on, a horrible idea forms in my head. No. She didn't! Tell me she didn't! Oh gods, Silena! I was going to protect you! All you had to do is stay out of it! Oh, gods!

”...Finally Annabeth managed to remove the girl’s helmet. We all gathered around: the Ares campers, Chris, Clarisse, Annabeth, and me. The battle still raged along Fifth Avenue, but for that moment nothing existed except our small circle and the fallen girl.

Her features, once beautiful, were badly burned from poison. I could tell that no amount of nectar or ambrosia would save her.

‘Something is about to happen.’ Rachel’s words rang in my ears. ‘A trick that ends in death.’

Now I knew what she meant, and I knew who had led the Ares cabin into battle.

I looked down at the dying face of Silena Beauregard.”

I turned her into my spy, and she just goes and sacrifices herself for their side. Somehow I manage to sit through it all without saying or doing anything. I struggle to shut it all off like I used to be able to. But I can't.

The battle rages on and then, finally, I appear in Percy's narrative. I'm the indomitable, invulnerable deity I imagined I would be. It's terrifying. I felt what it was like to be fully taken by Kronos last Halloween, and I can't even imagine what I'll feel like after having to house him for so long.

“...”YOU!” Annabeth turned on Luke. “To think that I...that I thought –"

She drew her knife.

“Annabeth, don’t.” I tried to take her arm, but she shook me off.

She attacked Kronos, and his smug smile faded. Perhaps some part of Luke remembered that he used to like this girl, used to take care of her when she was little. She plunged her knife between the straps of his armor, right at his collarbone. The blade should’ve sunk into his chest. Instead it bounced off. Annabeth doubled over, clutching her arm to her stomach. The jolt might’ve been enough to dislocate her bad shoulder.

I yanked her back as Kronos swung his scythe, slicing the air where she’d been standing.

She fought me and screamed, "I HATE you!” I wasn’t sure who she was talking to – me or Luke or Kronos. Tears streaked the dust on her face.”

My gut wrenches. My iron grip on my emotions is breaking. I want to yell out for it to stop, but instead I sit there silent and wait for the end. I'm no innocent kid. I've known our end would be more than horrible, but hearing about it like this is almost more than I can bear.

Annabeth!

I'm sorry, Annabeth! Gods, I never told you all these months we were here on this accursed island. I'm SORRY! But the main reason I never said anything is because 'sorry' isn't enough. How could it be?

I try to keep calm as I reach Olympus. Percy's description of me starting to level Olympus is hollow comfort. I don't want revenge anymore. Make it stop! My stomach is in knots. I feel like I might puke, but I've got to hear this to the bitter end. I close my eyes and turn slightly away from Thalia as Percy describes Hera's statue coming down towards Annabeth and Thalia getting trapped.

And then the end nears. I feel a pang of regret as I hear Kronos kill Ethan. Another person gone. I wanted you to live, Ethan! Then Kronos goes for Backbiter, and Hestia's hearth burns my hands. I'll never wield a sword right again. Then, in the story, Kronos and I turn on Annabeth to finish her.

"No!"

The word escapes my mouth right there in the rec room. My will is breaking. I raise my head and see Percy and Thalia taking in my haunted look. I shake my head fearfully. I don't want this, and I just can't keep up a mask anymore.

"Not Annabeth!"

”Luke,” she said, gritting her teeth, “I understand now. You have to trust me.”

Kronos roared in outrage. “Luke Castellan is dead! His body will burn away as I assume my true form!”

I tried to move, but my body was frozen again. How could Annabeth, battered and half dead with exhaustion, have the strength to fight a Titan like Kronos?

Kronos pushed against her, trying to dislodge his blade, but she held him in check, her arms trembling as he forced his sword down toward her neck.

“Your mother,” Annabeth grunted. “She saw your fate.”

“Service to Kronos!” the Titan roared. “This is my fate.”

“No! Annabeth insisted. Her eyes were tearing up, but I didn’t know if it was from sadness or pain. “That’s not the end, Luke. The prophecy: she saw what you would do. It applies to you!”

“I will crush you, child!” Kronos bellowed.

“You won’t,” Annabeth said. “You promised. You’re holding Kronos back even now.”

“LIES!” Kronos pushed again, and this time Annabeth lost her balance. With his free hand, Kronos struck her face, and she slid backward.

I summoned all my will. I managed to rise, but it was like holding the weight of the sky again.

Kronos loomed over Annabeth, his sword raised.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She croaked, “Family, Luke. You promised.”

Perseus Jackson is not the hero of the prophecy. Neither is Thalia. We always assumed it had to be one of them. When Thalia joined the Hunters, it HAD to be Percy. In all my life, I've never been as shocked as I am right now. I, Luke Castellan, son of Hermes, am supposed to be the hero of prophecy!

I see it too, Annabeth! Gods, you're so smart! I'll do it! Please! I'll do it! I swear I'll save you all! But, oh Gods, you'll never give me a weapon! I can't say anything. I cup my hands around my eyes like a visor and sink into my chair. I know the others in the room are looking at me now. I can't bear to look back.

”...The line from the great prophecy echoed in my head: ‘A hero’s soul, cursed blade shall reap.’ My whole world tipped upside down, and I gave the knife to Luke.

Grover yelped. “Percy? Are you...um...”

Crazy. Insane. Off my rocker. Probably.

But I watched as Luke grasped the hilt.

I stood before him – defenseless.

He unlatched the side straps of his armor, exposing a small bit of his skin just under his left arm, a place that would be very hard to hit. With difficulty, he stabbed himself.

It wasn’t a deep cut, but Luke howled. His eyes glowed like lava. The throne room shook, throwing me off my feet. An aura of energy surrounded Luke, growing brighter and brighter. I shut my eyes and felt a force like a nuclear explosion blister my skin and crack my lips.”

I don't want to die. I've never wanted to die. But what's being told to me sounds like a much better end to my life than I could have hoped for. The last words I'll ever speak will be directed to Percy.

He gripped my sleeve, and I could feel the heat of his skin like fire. “Ethan. Me. All the unclaimed. Don’t let it...Don't let it happen again...”

His eyes were angry, but pleading too.

“I won’t,” I said. “I promise.”

Luke nodded, then his hand went slack.

I struggle to keep myself together as I hear myself beg Percy to not let what happened to me and Ethan happen to anyone else. Then I'm dead. Gods, I’m DEAD. I destroyed Kronos. I really destroyed the bastard! I suddenly look up and glance around the room. They're all looking at me. I'm sure my eyes are all red now and I must look like I'm about to lose it. Just as suddenly, I turn back to the radio and hold out a hand. I want to hear every last word of this. Delaying everyone's reaction is just an added benefit.

The gods offer Percy immortality. I'm not surprised. Percy has accomplished more than any other hero, including the ones from ancient times. But he refuses. I can see why. The way Percy describes Annabeth has shown everyone how he feels about her. I can also understand NOT wanting to live as an immortal, especially with the Olympians. Instead, he makes them swear on the River Styx that they claim their children and honor the minor gods. He's using his hero's reward to fulfill my dying wish. Percy! I can't even describe how I'm feeling. I just try and keep my face blocked from view and breathe. It's only my need to hear everything that keeps me together.

Percy tells me about my own funeral.

My father leads the procession, and the Fates themselves deliver my remains to the Underworld.

Then finally the jukebox falls silent.

[OOC: Gathering-style. Excerpts are from “The Last Olympian” by Rick Riordan.]

Comments

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

It's too much. Way too much. Immediately after the jukebox falls silent, I take Kronos' sword and I'm already out of the room. I walk outside the front doors of the Compound, and go around the corner. I just can't get over what I just heard! I don't know what to think of it all. But I had to get out of there. I couldn't take all that attention at once.

I look up at the darkening sky. My back finds the wall, and I feel myself sliding down it as the sword falls out of my hand.

[percy_jackson]

Luke walks fast. He was halfway down the stairs by the time I'd reached the rec room door, and I had to run so as not to lose him in the crowd. I lost him anyway when I stumbled out of the Compound doors. I looked around, wondering where he could have gone.

Then I hear a clink to my right. A sword has fallen to the ground from behind the wall. Luke's sword. I guess he'd stopped running.

I walked forward, gathering my breath. I turned the corner, and I saw him. There I stopped. I had no idea what I was going to say. I hesitated a long moment, thinking of something wise and pithy. In the end, all I could start with was a quiet, "hey."

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

Percy's sudden appearance shakes me. Percy came after me! He came! I uncharacteristically scramble to my feet and give him a pleading look.

"Percy. Please. Will you give me Annabeth's knife like the jukebox said? I'll do it, Percy. Please."

I desperately need him to verify that everything I just heard could be true.

[curiously-cora.livejournal.com]

"No, no you can't." Coraline whispered. This was his fate. This was how it ended. He was a hero, she had been right all along. And he would died because of it. She wouldn't let him die not ever. "No. Luke!"

Coraline watched him slowly sink down the wall and she was running towards him before she even realised. Throwing her arms around him tight. He was her friend no matter what he had done.

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

Oh, Coraline...

There's no way around it. I let her hug me as my tears begin to fall. I even wrap an arm around her.

"The Oracle of Delphi is never wrong, Coraline. Never."

[itellthetaleof.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle had been in the kitchen cooking when she heard the jukebox start up in the rec room. At first she ignored it but then she realized she recognized the names being mentioned and the situation sounded vaguely familiar. She glances into the rec room and sees Luke, Percy and a girl she doesn't know. It seemed like a private situation so Gabrielle went back to cooking.

Bit as she listens to Percy describe Luke's death, Gabrielle stops what she's doing to hold back tears. Thankful she was still in the prepping stages, she automatically put her ingredients away and stored them for cooking later. She finished just as she saw Luke dash out and she quickly grabbed her staff to follow him.

When she finally catches up, she sees Luke fall to the sand. It's only a moment later and she's dropping to her knees beside him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a hug. "I knew you were a hero Luke..." She said softly, finally letting the tears fall.

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

All those times I berated Gabrielle for 'invading my space' are gone. I want her arms around me. I need her now, and what she says triggers a sob as I pull her close to me. I need a bit before I can even answer her. My answer comes out shaky.

"Thanks for believing in me. Especially when I had given up hope."

[noblerworld.livejournal.com]

Seifer hadn't been anywhere near the rec room. He was only just heading on his way to the compound, when he stumbled upon Luke sitting against the compound wall and he paused both in recognition and in uncertainty.

He hadn't been prepared to see that look on his face. Luke was older, and stronger and for all Seifer was unwilling to consider himself an inferior, he had recognized in Luke the leader to his lieutenant. The man had earned enough respect to not be insulted or dismissed for a single moment of weakness but he still wasn't prepared to see him in that sort of state.

"Hey," he said simply, slightly embarrassed and not sure exactly where to look.

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

I bring my head up and look at Seifer. I'm not ashamed of him seeing me like this with my eyes red and a bit watery. His reaction is a bit funny. Seifer seeing emotions is kind of like a little girl crying 'eek' over a worm.

"Hey."

One corner of my mouth curls a little.

"I am half human, you know. I'm not made of stone. Sit with me?"

[arrowette]

Cissie hadn't meant to overhear anything, she really hadn't. She had just peered into the rec room to see if anyone she knew was there and had her attention caught by the voice from the jukebox. One look at Luke and Percy's faces and she knew it was their story she was hearing and even after everything with Luke, she couldn't tear herself away.

She was still trying to process everything when Luke rushed past her and without even thinking about it, she followed him. What she was going to say - what she could say, she didn't even know but she felt like she had to do something.

"Hey," she said uncertainly. "I'm - well, I'm not going to ask if you're okay because I'm guessing you're kind of not."

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

All I can manage is, "Hi... Cissie.."

I feel like a bit of a fraud. That whole time I was in Cissie's world, I had this huge chip on my shoulder about all of them being heroes. Then I go and die a Hero's Death. I had patted myself on the back for calling the whole hero mythos a load of crap. But it's not, is it?

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya had heard.

She'd been in the rec room just earlier, just in time to catch what was recorded.

She didn't know Luke beyond their first few meetings and in passing, but she couldn't deny that listening to that would've been hard. She understood why, but she also understood that it wouldn't have been easy.

Sonya followed him outside and placed a hand on his shoulder, but for once she said nothing-somethings were better left unsaid.

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

It was humiliating having my life story bared out in public, but at least Sonya seemed to care. Her hand was appreciated. I take some time to recover a bit before I'm ready to talk.

"Hey, Sonya."

[slowspeedster.livejournal.com]

Bart had listened for a while, surreptitiously. He hadn't wanted to impose on something that looked to be really personal. But when Luke rushed past at the end, blind to everything but what was going on inside his head, he had to follow.

And he relaxed a little when he saw the guy hadn't gone far. Because he knew that Luke could be trouble, had been trouble. He hated Cassie because she was related to a god, and now Bart had a slightly better idea why. Cissie disliked him because of the pain he'd caused Cassie.

The ex-speedster was certain it had never been so cut and dry. Nothing ever was. He stepped out, but just leaned against the wall, waiting to see what happens next. He wasn't close enough for an easy attack, even with the sword, but if it came to that, Bart wouldn't stand much of a chance and knew it.

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

Turning my head, I see Bart looking at me. It seems like Bart's scared of me. I sigh. I don't have any fight in me after all of that.

"Bart. What?"

If he's got something to say, I want him to say it and not stare at me like I'm some kind of spectacle.

[just_hormones]

Aphrodite's all set to breeze on by the rec room and head outside, but as she passes, she hears Percy's voice, sounding like he's telling some kind of story. It makes her stop and turn, and when she sees the three of them sitting there listening she almost says something, but the looks on their faces make her wisely stay silent.

By the time the story reaches its end, and Luke's funeral is being described, Aphrodite's never been more ashamed of her grandfather.

Luke is heading out of the room almost before she realizes what's happening, and Aphrodite hurries after him, pushing her way outside just in time to see him disappear around the corner. There are tears in her eyes as she moves silently to lower herself to the ground next to him. "Luke," she says softly, no pity in her voice at all, only compassion as she puts a gentle hand on his shoulder.

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

I watch Aphrodite come up to me, sit down and lay a hand on my shoulder. This was an enemy? Was I blind? If Dad were here, would he act different to me?

"Aphrodite. I'm sorry."

There are tears in my eyes, and I don't care about hiding it.

"I'm so sorry."

[endlessdel]

"Stay here and play with your brother," Del ordered placing Abby down and kissing her temple soft. Abby looked up at her with a soft Mama before Del moved quietly, swiftly to Luke. "It's okay, it'll be okay now."

Del slid down beside Luke wrapping her arms around him and tugging her to him. Like a mother would.

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

I flinch when Del comes to wrap her arms around me. She still reminds me way too much of my mom. But Del seems like a good mother, and... I really need a hug right now.

So I let her.

I sit there and let my tears fall and let her hold me.

[not-so-smooth.livejournal.com]

Sam had heard nearly the entire thing and when Luke had gone out of the room he almost rushed out after him. He held back though, knowing that people closer to Luke than him had more of a right to go comfort him right now. That, and he didn't want Luke to think the tears that were threatening to fall from Sam's eyes were any form of pity.

After a bit though, he want and found Luke leaning against a wall, still looking somewhat numb. He slid down next to him, just staring at the ground. Sam wasn't sure what to say though, it seemed like everything all at once or nothing at all was appropriate. In the end, he decided to go with a little humor, his usual way of easing into difficult situations.

"I figure this can go one of two ways," Sam said after some silence. "Either I can say something along the lines of 'I told you so' about you being a decent guy or I can give the 'let's hug it out, bitch' offer. Not really sure which to go with at the moment, so if you could give me some sort of sign..."

[luke-castellan.livejournal.com]

I turn my head to Sam with a small grin and reddened eyes.

"I don't like to be proven wrong, so you can keep the 'I told you so.' If that means a hug, it's a good thing nobody's around."

[findherwayback]

Thalia had been just outside the rec room as the recording starting. The jukebox was ba enough when it was just playing music but that had been something else. It had rooted her to the spot. It wasn't until it was over and she saw Luke running. Following after him was thoughtless, instinctive and Thalia ran after him until he stopped.

"Luke," she called as she came to a stop a few feet behind him. "Luke stop. Just stop."

[percy_jackson]

When I entered the rec room and saw Luke, I stopped. It wasn't that Luke's appearance put me on edge anymore. We'd moved past that. It was the look on his face as he stared at the jukebox. And as I stared at him, I became aware that I was hearing the jukebox speaking. In my voice.

Which is deeply creepy, let me tell you.

I shrug an apology at Luke, but then I start to figure out what's going on. I'm narrating something. It's like a story. Or a history. I'm reading into the record the history of my life -- a life interrupted by my time here on the Island.

"This is-- I think this is from our future," I muttered. I grinned a little. "I have a future. How about that."

But how? Given the battle that was coming, how--

Thalia walked in and saw us then. She gave me a look of confusion which I met. Then I realized what it was I was narrating. And I had to sit down.

So, this is what I missed, on that sixteenth birthday when absolutely nothing happened. This is what I was in for when I returned. And it was hell. Silena killed. Demigods, my friends, dying horribly in battle. A battle I was leading them into. They were dying because of me. I felt sick to my stomach.

The battle went about as well as I'd expected, with the forces of Olympus driven back into the Empire State Building, driven back to the thrones of the gods themselves. Thalia trapped under a statue. Annabeth facing Luke-Kronos one-on-one. How the heck was I narrating this? Was I a prisoner or something?

But then comes Annabeth's appeal. The stupid prophesy. Except that it starts to make sense. Luke speaks up, breaks through Kronos' control. And I take a leap of faith -- one that seems utterly foolish here and now, but what was there to lose -- and Luke proves to everyone that I, and Grover, and Thalia had been wrong about him. Dead wrong. And Annabeth was right. No wonder she loved him. Hearing her comfort him, tell him her true feelings for him, brings a tear to my eye, and a choke in my throat.

And then it was over. We'd won.

Because of Luke.

I looked up. I suspect I'm white as a sheet. I couldn't tell what Thalia was thinking from the way she looked, but Luke made me stand up. He looked bad. He was barely holding himself together as he turned away from the Jukebox. I should say something, do something, but what? Then he marched out of the rec room. I stumbled to my feet and ran after him. I had no idea what I was going to say or do when I saw him again, but I knew I had to do something.

[[OOC: Will thread directly with Luke and then with Thalia. Anybody who wants to catch up with Percy later will find him on the beach, looking at the waves.]]

[curiously-cora.livejournal.com]

She was right, she was right about Luke but she couldn't be happy not when he would die. He was going to be a hero and then he would be dead. And Percy had helped him, Percy had saved the world. And Coraline felt like her whole world was falling apart. Black was white, white was black and all of it was bloody grey.

Coraline walked towards the beach, crying as she thought about Luke and about his fate. Looking up she spotted Percy staring at the waves and she felt- everything. Angry, sad, hurt, betrayed. He had saved the world. And Luke would die by his own hand.

"You! How could you?" Coraline said pushing Percy in the chest.

[just_hormones]

After she leaves Luke, Aphrodite goes to find Percy. It takes her a while longer, but she eventually sees him on the beach. It seems fitting, she thinks, the son of Poseidon coming here.

Aphrodite kicks off her sandals and walks up behind her cousin, her hands settling at his biceps as she rests her chin lightly on his shoulder. "Hey, Perce," she says softly, and she can imagine a little of what he's going through right now.