Not Everything Is As It Seems

Chapter 18 - Part A

I don't own Percy Jackson or any characters that you recognise from this universe. They belong to Rick Riordan. The plot is my idea though.

Percy's pov

I blink awake. I briefly wander how many times I have awoken since I sent my emotions out into the universe. I know that it has been at least 30 times, the most recent ones having the least amount of time between them then the older ones. At most just a few months, at least a month.

I blink my eyes open before scanning the room. I see that it is Pontus that is watching over me. I'm about to let him know that I am awake when I notice something. A small black bird with a few simple but elegant blue feathers. I take a quick moment to study and observe it. It's just nesting in the corner of the room, watching me.

"Hello Void." I say, projecting my mental voice throughout the room I am in, making Pontus jump.

I watch the black and blue bird take flight from its perch on a window sill and fly closer to the ground. Then the bird transforms before swiftly landing on its feet. In the used-to-be-a-bird's-place, Void is standing tall. Pontus is just staring at him in surprise.

"Good morning Perseus." Void telepaths back.

"What day and time is it?" I ask him. "Also, why do you keep reverting back and forth between my full name and preferred shorter name?"

"No reason." He answers the second question. "It is currently a Sunday at 4.26am. The date is the 28th of January in the year 13 039."

I stop myself from nodding.

"And why are you here?" I ask while Pontus is still staring at us.

Instead of answering right away, he tilts his head to the side slightly.

And this is when something happens, along with him gaining a small smile. A bright blue light – which makes me close my eyes until it goes away – appears, and then I give my most in an effort to glare at him. I then notice that he teleported all the Primordials, the Olympian council and the cabin/Cohort leaders into the room. Also, the Titan Council. After they all take in their surroundings, Nico, Hestia, Gaia, Nyx and Tartarus come over to me and sit on chairs surrounding the bed I'm in. Everyone else stares at Void.

"To answer your question, Percy, I'm getting that tube out of your throat – yes, you will still be hooked up to other oxygen/breathing machines – and I will be answering any questions." Void doesn't even acknowledge all the stares pointed at him, but I can tell that he is a bit annoyed.

"Okay. Uhh, how are you going to do that?" He pins me with a disbelieving, incredulous stare. "What? It's a sensible question with the current state I'm in!"

"Perseus –"

"There you go again, reverting between names." I interrupt, but he pins me with a stare silencing me as he continues as if he didn't hear me.

"I'm the oldest being in the universe. I'm the most powerful. I have abilities that no one in this room can even think of possessing. How do you think I'm going to do it?"

"You are going to use your abilities." I state it in the sound of an obvious tone.

"Yes." He replies before staring at Nico, who must know to get out of the road – he moves himself and the chair to the left a few feet and Void steps up to the place he used to be seated at. "Even if it may hurt a bit – it won't be as much as it used to be – I need you to breath in and out using your lungs. Do deep, steady breaths when I say: Go. You already have a Nasal Cannula – a medical device that is inserted up the nose and delivers fresh oxygen – helping you. Once the Breathing tube is out, I will magically place a breathing mask on your face giving you the least amount of discomfort or pain. First, I'll need to remove the mask so that I successfully get it out without causing you any pain." Void explains. "Alright?"