Ancient History(PJO)

Chapter 2: Percy

Panic built in my throat as I stared at my reflection. No wonder people seemed terrified of me. I looked like I'd just finished a massacre. I shuddered and decided that before anything else happened I needed to wash myself off.

With a panicked sort of fervour I knelt beside the water and started to wash the blood away. The water turned a rust colour and I started using my powers to subtly speed the process along. After I was done I stared at the bloody water and my reflection within it.

Feeling nauseous I slammed my hands into the water, forcing the blood to disappear. Taking a deep shaky breath I stood. I did my best to shake the nausea off. As I started toward the bridge once more I straightened myself out. The people no longer looked so frightened when they saw me, but they still edged out of my way.

What finally cleared the last of the sick feeling was reaching the other side of the bridge and immediately having merchants call out to me. I welcomed the noise readily, I'd hated the morbid silence that had greeted me before.

Now that people seemed more respectful than fearful, I felt it would be alright to look around a little. I approached a merchant selling fruit first. Was hungry alright?

The man gave me a bright grin, one that made you feel compelled to smile back. "Hello, my lord. How can I help you on this fine day?" I smiled and shook my head slightly. "Just Percy is fine, please. Could I have an apple?" The man looked at me with confusion written clearly on his face. "Percy?" He asked.

I nodded before realising that if I was, hypothetically, in the past (I still wasn't ready to accept that) they'd likely never heard of shortening your name. After all names have power. "It's short for Perseus," I started to explain. "My mother named me after the hero for good fortune."

The man hummed thoughtfully before smiling and holding an apple out to me, "That will be one Obol, my lord." I sighed but decided to let it go. Although a new problem arose. I was fairly certain the 20 US Dollars I had on me, but I wasn't sure if the modern drachma from camp work either. For that matter, I wasn't sure worth an Obol had either.

After a small internal battle I dug out one of the golden drachmae still in my pouch and handed it over with a sheepish smile. "Does this work?" I asked. "It's the only currency I have with me." I quickly explained upon seeing him frown.

He put the apple down and carefully took the coin from my hand. Humming curiously as he inspected it, before shaking his head. "You'll have to exchange it." My face fell. "Lucky for you, my lord, I have an official exchange licence." As he said this his chest puffed up with pride. Obviously this was supposed to mean something to me.

"Congratulations." I decided on saying. He grinned and held out his hand, "Ifyou give me the rest I can exchange it for you, my lord. For a small fee ofcourse." I handed over my pouch. Feeling a little hurt to part with the coinsthat I had carried all the way from camp.

The man carefully poured them all onto a tray before looking at me slightly startled. I went to ask if something was wrong but he looked away and quickly started counting. I already knew how many there were.

I had started with 70. Now there were only 50 left. I couldn't help but watch the man like a hawk. Each coin had a meaning and I didn't want a single one to go to waste. After what had felt like an eternity the man poured 49 large golden coins in the pouch followed by two smaller silver coins.

He held the pouch and an apple out to me. "There you go, my lord. Forty nine Dekadrachm, one Triobol, one Diobol and an apple!" I thanked him, the Greek starting to feel less foreign on my tongue, and moved on.

While munching the apple I looked around. Annabeth would've called observing my surroundings. Grover would've disagreed and said I was just people watching. I hadn't been away from home for even a day and I already missed them. I shook the thought away and focused on the hustle and bustle of the people around me.

The merchants that called out to people. The women talking excitedly as they walked together. The children who ran past me, laughing happily as they played some sort of game. The sound of an old man telling a captivating story to anyone who stopped long enough to listen. The sound of a child crying.

I stopped. The sound of a child crying? I did my best to ignore the din of the busy people around me and focus on the sounds of the distressed child. I followed the sound with some difficulty. It led me to an alley to my left.

Carefully I stepped around the corner and I immediately found a young boy sitting on the ground. His arms were wrapped around his legs and his face was hidden by his knees but his entire body shook as he cried.

I approached him and knelt down, close enough to hopefully bring comfort but far enough that I wouldn't have scared him. "Hey," I said softly. "Are you alright?" I knew it was a stupid question as soon as the words left my mouth. Of course he wasn't alright, he was sobbing alone in an alley.

The boy looked up at me. It was clear he found my question ridiculous too. I gave him a sheepish smile. "No I'm not alright." He said, staring at me with sad electric blue eyes. "None of the other children want to play with me."

I frowned. "That's rude of them," I said as I shifted to sit more comfortably. "Do you know why they don't want to play with you?" The boy huffed. "They say my 'aura' feels off. But they're wrong. It's this city that feels wrong!" I could feel my skin prickling and my instincts ringing alarm bells the way they would around Thalia, but this kid couldn't be older than 8.

I hummed and nodded slightly. Obviously the kid didn't belong here... wherever here was. I still hadn't found out. I was about to ask when the kid interrupted me. "So you agree that Atlantis feels strange?"

I nodded slowly. Trying not to let my shock show. "Tell you what, why don't we stick together?" I suggested. It didn't matter that I was a few thousand years in the past, I would not leave my maybe cousin on his own. He looked a little thoughtful for a few seconds before he nodded.

"You feel strange too, but you're the first person to be nice to me. So, I'm Perses." He said as he stuck his hand out to me. I couldn't help but laugh as I took his hand. "And I am Perseus."

Chapter two complete! Constructive criticism welcome. I hope you enjoy the story.

~Dreamer