The Darkness Within

Chapter 8

Alpha/Percy POV

Holy Hades I did not expect that.

Beta told me her last name was O'Neal. That her mother was a drunk and never paid attention to her.

I looked at Beta and she gave me a glance. Later. Not here. Not now.

Everyone was as shocked as I was. Annabeth staggered forward.

"Can't be. Luke was...only child. Mother...didn't have..." she muttered.

Beta shrugged. "Well it's the truth. We'll be off to the Hades cabin. Shall we, Alfie?"

And on that happy note we strolled down to Cabin 13 with half the demigod population staring at her.

We entered the cabin and Beta quickly locked the door. I punched her in the gut.

"Ow! What was that for, Seaweed Brain?" she gasped.

I glared at her. "You know perfectly well. Why didn't you tell me?"

Beta sighed and told me her story

~ ~ ~

I was the second child of May Castellan and Hermes. Hermes knew his son's terrible fate and tried his hardest to save him. Yet he was a god and could not do much. Ironic isn't it?

Anyway my dad decided to have me as a last resort. If he could give Luke a sane family member, then perhaps he would stay.

My name...it means peace. I was meant to be a peace offering to convince Luke to stay.

Luke hated me. He viewed me as a replacement of him. Not only was his mother crazy, but his father replaced him with his sister. At his first chance he ran away.

I was only five when Luke left. When Thalia, Luke, and Annabeth came to our house, he pushed me into a closet. He hated me with a passion.

When I figured out how to pick the lock and get out, they were already gone.

I was ten when I was brought to camp. I asked everyone about my brother, but I was told he betrayed camp. So I changed my name.

You don't remember me because you went to the Sea of Monsters that year. I heard all about you at the campfire. Mr. D and Tantalus told everyone that you were a snake of a hero, but they couldn't make anyone else believe that.

The next few years I spent training. I wanted to save my brother. A part of me felt guilty. If I hadn't been born, then Luke might've stayed. I had to save my brother, from himself.

During the Titan War, I was foolish enough to attempt to slay the drakon. A little part of me knew only a child of Ares could kill it, but I thought that if I put myself in danger and could overcome it, then Luke could see me and... feel something. It was stupid.

You stepped in front of me before it could kill me. The next thing I knew the Ares campers arrived. Then the world turned back.

I was still unconscious when Luke sacrificed himself. I couldn't do a thing. I was naive for thinking I could save him.

I still did not reveal my last name. The time was not right. I was Pax O'Neal until the day I found you in Tartarus, but I still could not bring myself to tell you the truth.

~ ~ ~

I was in shock. I did not know who was that camper I saved. I sympathized with her. We both felt as if we were not good enough.

We both sat on top of a bed and cried in each other's arms. Both of us lost a brother that day in Manhattan.

We did not realize that Nico shadow-traveled inside.

"Care to tell me how you managed to escape Tartarus, Perce?"

A/N I love cliffhangers, don't you? That is all for today. This special chappie is dedicated to percybecool. Thanks for your support!

- Sapphy