Indigo Eyes

Chapter 90

The mountain had blown up.

Percy had blown up.

Percy was dead.

For two weeks, Percy had been dead and Cressida didn't know how to handle it. She was glad to be back with her brothers who were the only ones she really spent time with anymore. She just couldn't process what had happened.

Clarisse knew that she wasn't in any condition to help Chris, who had actually been doing pretty well except for the setback he had when he saw Mrs O'Leary and he thought he was back in the Maze. Turns out that Cressida had said to keep him away from monsters for a reason.

Annabeth was also overcome by grief, but not as much as Cressida. Cressida who had barely spoken to Annabeth because she was the one who pulled her away - she saved her life yeah but, they'd left Percy behind to die. And that thought made her sick to her stomach.

Chiron had been extra apprehensive of the girl since hearing the news and she knew it was because of the prophecy and she hated it even more. She didn't know what to do or say and gods above, it had killed her on the inside to have to tell Sally what happened. Sally still believed he could be out there somewhere, but Cressida saw the explosion, she didn't have hope. All she had was a lot, a lot, of confused feelings and a beautiful shroud of blue silk and silver embroidery that was about to be burned. 

After two weeks, the camp had given up hope as well. Chiron had asked her to do the final speech at the ceremony, but she'd said no, very, very, very clearly said no. Chiron had asked again a little while after and that was when her brothers had stepped in, asking the centaur to respect her wishes because she'd been through enough pain and if she didn't want to do it, she didn't have to. And her father wouldn't be happy to hear about this when he got back.

So then that fell to Annabeth.

Chiron stood before an assembled crowd in the amphitheatre, a fire burning in front of them, as Annabeth, Cressida and her brothers stood next to him.

"After so long a silence," he announced. "It is unlikely our prayers will be answered. I have asked his surviving best friends to do the final honours."

With a supportive squeeze on her shoulders from her brothers, they watched as Cressida walked forward with the shroud in her hand and set it on the flames, watching as it burned.

She looked...heartbroken. At least that's what he thought it looked like. Her lips were dry and chapped as she watched the silk burn. And there were dark circles under her eyes, she hadn't slept in a while. And her eyes, it was like the life, the joy had been sucked out of them. They seemed dull and dark as she took Annabeth's hand. Yeah, she was a little annoyed at Annabeth, but they needed each other right now, especially as Annabeth began to speak. 

Annabeth looked just as bad as Cressida, except her eyes were puffier as if she'd been crying as she said, "'He was probably the bravest friend I've ever had. He...'

Cressida looked up as her friend trailed off and her face turned red. "Books? Are you-"

"He's right there!"

And Cressida's jaw dropped as heads turned and people gasped.

People began crowding him and clapping him on the back as the Ares cabin cursed, Clarisse seeming almost furious as if he had the nerve to show up and survive after everything she saw Cressida and Annabeth go through.

"Well," Chiron sighed with relief as he made his way over, the crowd parting for him. "I don't believe I've ever been happier to see a camper return. But you must tell me-"

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Annabeth interrupted, shoving aside the other campers. He looked as if she was going to punch him but instead, she hugged him so tight she nearly cracked his ribs as the camp fell silent.

"I – we thought you were dead, Seaweed Brain!"

"I'm sorry," Percy said. "I got lost."

"LOST?" she yelled. "Two weeks, Percy? Where in the world –"

And Annabeth cut herself off as Cressida walked over, her face blank, her steps slow as the crowd parted for her and her eyes never leaving Percy, almost as if she didn't believe he was real.

He gave her a small smile. "Hey, Cress," he said and he definitely expected a hug from her, maybe even another kiss if he was lucky.

What he did not expect was falling to the ground as she punched him in the face.

Some of the crowd gasped, others making impressed noises and expressions, and the Ares cabin hooting appreciatively.

Percy spat blood from his mouth from where he'd involuntarily bitten his cheek before he looked up at her. And she didn't say a single word to him as she turned and marched out of the amphitheatre, her brothers behind her as Castor grumbled as he handed Pollux some drachmas.

"Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more private, shall we?" Chiron suggested as Annabeth helped him up, his cheek already beginning to bruise. "The rest of you, back to your normal activities!"

And as he picked up Annabeth and Percy and plopped them onto his back as he headed towards the Big House, Percy turned back the way Cressida had gone. One string of hope, just one, that was all he needed.

She hated it. She hated him and she hated herself because as much as she fought against every single fibre of her being, she just had to look. Just once. Just to make sure he was real.

But when she turned to see his eyes already on her, it only fuelled her anger as she spun around and continued onward to the arena. She needed to hit something. Again.