Percy POV-
Breaking down wasn't something new to me. I've even done it in school a few times, however its easier to control my emotions their. No one ever really sees.

The point is though, Ive been losing control. My living quarters water system is evidence of that. So when I took a shower this morning, I saw the true extent of it.

It started okay.

But then a memory came back. And my memories have some...horrifying effects.

"This is what you deserve Perseus."

Tartarus's voice boomed inside my skull. It was not a pleasant.

"You killed my family." He sneered, "So I let them kill yours."

I was gasping for breath. The poison dripping down my back was driving me crazy. My back was soaked with the water like substance. To the normal eye, thats what it would look like.

Its almost funny, something so damaging looking like something so harmless. Something that heals me.

It was soaking into my skin, messing with my mental state. If my body hadn't built up a resistance, I would have passed out already.

Tartarus seemed to triple. I wasn't sure which was the real one.

"I hope you like the poison, it came straight from my veins."

"Go—" I gasped from pain, breaking up my words. "Piss—"

I took one final breath, enough to say one more word, before I was brought back to reality.

"Yourself."

I opened my eyes, gasping for air that wasn't filled with poison.

My back still burned, as if the poison was melting my insides. But at the same time, it felt freezing. To cold to bear. Like it was freezing my insides and using them as weapons to hurt me.

Don't ask me how, thats just how it is.

The water from the shower quickly washed most of the poison away. But some wouldn't come off, and most had already soaked into my skin.

I stumbled out of the shower, almost falling on the floor.

I managed to find my balance despite the searing pain. I knew there was nothing I could do about it.

So, I took a deep breath and looked at my back in the mirror. The best I could at least.

What I saw freaked me out more then the poison.

My tattoo was moving.

But not just any moving, it was expanding.

The cracks grew, getting closer to the owl.

But then they stoped. Not yet touching the owl, but closer then it was before. And more cracks then their where before.

I wondered if it was just the poison, but I had a gut feeling it wasn't.

The next thing I knew I was sprinting out my apartment, only stoping to put shorts on.

I was sprinting, despite the pain. To onlookers, I probably looked a little drunk. I was definitely not running in a straight line. The poison was messing with my vision.

I couldn't have made it to the tattoo shop any sooner. The pain was excruciating.

I bolted into the shop and ran straight to the tattoo artist.

I was seeing three of him, so I wasn't sure if I was talking to the right one. I could probably tell if the only thing wrong was seeing multiples, but unfortunately my mindset was pretty off to.

From what I could tell all three of him looked shocked, but also had the look a police man would give a child when they told them their parents died.

I managed to get out one thing before I passed out, the poison reached my brain.

"What the fuck did you do—" I started to see black spots. "To me."

--
Hello everyone! I bet you didn't think id update today when I said at least by Monday. I didn't think I would either, so I guess were both surprised.

Im still deciding on a cover and title, and MistyEarth pointed out that splintered would be more accurate. You can read her comment on the last chapter to get the full explanation, so, what do you think? Splintered or Shattered?