Eventide
part one: civil

ch. one: twilight

The memories flashed by behind his eyelids. A part of his brain told him, Dude, it's not real, but it felt real. He couldn't remember where he was, or anything in general, really, just this increasing pressure as something hot engulfed him.

His hands were sweaty, but he gripped Annabeth's hands like they were his lifeline. Maybe they were. If she could save him, he'd kiss her until the world stopped spinning.

He was barely aware of a cool hand, caressing his face, touching his forehead. Percy knew he should probably get up. He didn't move, though.

Athena was glowing with anger. Literally. Not the I'm-an-immortal glow, but the you-are-so-dead glow, sort of like Annabeth's eyes when she was seriously pissed. He had never noticed how similar they were, but , now he did. They had the same stormy eyes, the same curly hair, and unfortunately for he and his girlfriend, the same look of rage. He'd faced Annabeth before when she was angry, and that had been terrifying enough. If he was facing her mother now... well, he was screwed.

"Wake up, Perseus," someone said. "They're just memories."

"You," Athena hissed, jabbing a finger in his direction. "You should not be touching my daughter, should not be looking at her, should not be loving her." A sharp gasp came from the girl next to him, and he turned to see Annabeth with her mouth open, ready to fight back. The rage inside him came out now, bubbling up and filling him like a helium balloon.

"I love him, Mother." Annabeth's eyes flashed dangerously. "And he loves me. You don't know what we've been through, how much we suffered, how much we went through together." Percy pulled her closer, as if he could shield her from the goddess with his body.

There was a sigh. "I was afraid this would happen. It's been too long." Something cold and hard was pressed against his lips, and he was tipped back, a cold concoction forced down his throat. He swallowed.

"You have no right to love him," Athena snarled. "He isn't good for you, daughter. Don't you understand?" Her voice was pleading now. "I just want what's best for you. He's holding you back. He's messing with you, clouding your thoughts."

"He makes me better. He makes me good, makes me whole, makes me feel happy and real." Percy couldn't speak. He just stared at the arguing duo numbly.

Wake up, his mind gently prompted. Annabeth, he thought back.

He dimly remembered the night before. Annabeth had pounded on his door, coming in to ask if she could stay with him. Nightmares. There were always nightmares, every single night. So he had nodded and let her in, let her curl up in one of his old T-shirts next to him, sharing his warmth. They hadn't really done anything wrong that he could think of.

"Well, Perseus, I suppose I'm going to have to wait. You're a stubborn one, for sure, if I cannot wake you up." What was her name? He struggled to think of it, of the face the voice belonged to. Chaos. Her name was Chaos. He slipped back into the realm of memories.

"I'm not letting her go," he stated, meeting the goddess' eyes.

"You will," she insisted, glaring. "You're turning my daughter, Perseus Jackson. I thought that you were a hero, maybe you would be different. I thought that maybe once, you could do right what others have done wrong. But no. You take this trust and sleep with my daughter! You're a no good troublemaker who will just hurt my daughter until she can't take it. You're exactly like your father." Another deity stepped out of the shadows.

"Oh, no you don't." Aphrodite pulled out a tube of lipstick or whatever and applied it, pursing her lips. "Don't you break them apart, girl." He blinked. Since when had the love goddess been sassy?

"I will. Mark my words, Perseus Jackson-"

"No thanks," he said. "I'd prefer not to." Athena roared.

"Then listen closely, sea spawn. You as so much even look at my daughter, touch her, talk to her, or contact her in any shape or form, you. Will. Die." He felt himself pale, Annabeth and Aphrodite both as shocked. Aphrodite stepped forwards, confronting Athena, her beautiful, porcelain face twisted with an expression of anger and confusion, like everyone else in the room's was. They disappeared in streaks of light, falling golden stars that dissolved into the air. It was a beautiful mark of doom.

"Almost over." The pressure decreased, and Percy could breathe again, the frigid air sucked in gratefully past his lips.

"Annabeth," he said, his voice trembling. She wouldn't look at him. "Annabeth," he said, again, more urgently, and finally, she looked up. His girlfriend, in that moment, looked frail, scared, nothing like the girl he had known for years and everything like the girl in Tartarus. She reached up, pressing their lips into a desperate kiss.

"I- Percy, I love you," she whispered, crushing their lips together. And then she pulled back, staring at him, before she turned and ran out of the cabin.

"Annabeth," he gasped, shooting up and doubling over. His vision cleared, and he could see again- though he didn't quite know what he was seeing. Fear pulsed through his veins. Where was Annabeth? His chest moved up and down, and he panted, putting his head in his hands. What had happened?

"Perseus," someone said. Chaos. A small girl crouched in front of him, her hair dark as night and her skin pale. He blinked, wondering if he was off his rocker. This was Chaos?

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"What happened?"

"The sheer amount of raw energy was too much for your brain to process all at once. Does that help?" He shook his head numbly. Where was he? What had just happened. When he closed his eyes, thinking about it, he dimly could see himself, running away from Camp, crashing through the trees. He remembered Chaos, coming to him, remembered talking to a tall man- wait, a tall man? So Chaos could choose both gender and appearance, he guessed. What was he supposed to say, then? Then Chaos had told him of a plan to keep an army that would... What had he said? That would keep the balance of the cosmos or something.

Then, they had appeared here- Thrae. There had been no buildings except for one, a large temple rising out, in the very center. It was a solid grey color, the pillars undecorated. He had been asked to go inside, where he would find stone steps leading to a cavern. Chaos had told him the cavern was where the true Chaos dwelled. He gone down the steps alone, and when he had entered, the world had flipped upside down. There was nothing, yet there was everything.

Percy had realized it now, what this was- it was Chaos. Chaos wasn't a being, and it most certainly was not an entity. It was everything and everywhere, endless and boundless, up and down, left and right.

"Woah," he breathed. The little girl had faded into the background, Chaos' physical form no longer needed.

You see, Perseus? The creator hummed. He could feel it vibrating through him, echoing in his mind. What I strive for most is balance. But the Void, where we are now.. It is unstable. The Old Ones are stirring.

"Oh-kay," Percy said, feeling a little oblivious. Was there something here he wasn't getting? "Then why am I here?" There was a chuckle that rippled through the air.

Too much, Chaos hummed. There are too many.

"What? Too much of what? Too many of what?"

Too many disturbances. Too many of the Old Ones straining to break free of this prison that they are trapped in. That I am trapped in.

"Excuse me?" There was, without a doubt, something that he was missing here.

I wish to stop it, but I cannot. I am confined to being myself, to keep hold of these prisoners inside of my walls. But not only are the Old Ones stirring. The Void itself is waking, its eyes opening as its children wake. Very much like your Tartarus, child, except much larger than you think. He winced at the reminder.

"So," he said, trying to change the subject. "Why can't you stop the Void yourself? How come you're asking me to do it?"

The Void is like a giant prison, where those who have fallen return. I am but the warden keeping it at bay. I can create. I can only make things and watch them grow, stoke them with power, influence them with thoughts. But once something has started, it cannot stop. It may be delayed, and it may be slowed, but there can be nothing destroyed.

"So I just have to stop this Void thing? That's what you want me to do? That's it?" Okay, so it sounded kinda easy. Get everyone to stop fighting or stop some evil bad guy? Psh, this was a routine Percy had gotten used to. Saving the world? Already on his checklist. Saving the universe? Couldn't be much harder, could it?

It is harder than you think, child, the voice chided. I am not fading, of course, but my power is weakening as they grow stronger takes over. I was not careful enough, and it has cost us dearly.

"Um, so, I just have to ask this, but why can't you just make them disappear? Aren't you the all-mighty Chaos?" A laugh.

Of all the questions, Perseus, you ask this one? The voice paused thoughtfully. I suppose it is because I cannot destroy, as I said. I cannot stop what has been done. I am only allowed to change things, to create, to breathe new life, but never may I destroy. There are many rules in this universe, child.

"Okay, so now what? Like, I know we're talking about the importance of this army thingy; great and all, but I missed breakfast, you know?" Right on cue, his stomach growled loudly.

Yes, food. I forget sometimes the importance of this. Out of nowhere, a plate seemed to appear, filled with- yes! Percy cheered. Excellent, greasy, fried food no one would dare dream of at Camp. Now, this was food. Burgers, fries, chicken, and a blue shake; oh, gods, he hoped Chaos wasn't a stalker. That would be creepy.

"Oh. My. Gods. This is so good. If this was gonna have another name, I'd call it heaven-cooked-on-a-grill-and-served-on-a-plate." It was, without a doubt, the best food he'd ever eaten, next to his mom's blue cookies. Mom. The thought twisted in him. He'd left her behind, too, hadn't he?

Good, yes? I thought you would enjoy this meal. Was the creator amused, or simply teasing? The tone seemed to get more serious, though. He could practically feel the change in his bones.

Perseus, when you have finished, I must train you. There are some things in this place you would not understand. You will be pushed, tested, because I have chosen you for this, and I must make sure you are the right choice. A sudden thought popped up in Percy's head. He swallowed.

"Why did you choose me?" he asked, quietly. "Why not anyone else? Perseus means the destroyer, you know. So why did you choose me, over all the tons of other choices?" He was a son of Poseidon, god of the seas, stormbringer, earthshaker. He was dangerously powerful.

I chose you, the creator mused. Not because you were powerful, child. Not because you are powerful.

"Then why?" he cried, all of a sudden frustrated. "I've let so many people die," he whispered. "So many are dead because of me."

Because I know you will make the right choice in the end. You would do anything for your friends. And you have not much to lose, but much to gain. You will be the leader of my army, the best, because you have a good heart. Now, come, hither, child. We do not have all day.

"Wha-" Percy started. But Chaos had already taken the form of a dog, for some reason, and was now nudging him out towards the steps into the planet of Thrae.

It was beautiful, in a weird sort of way, Percy decided. The first time around, he hasn't paid attention to his surroundings, numb and tired. But now, he took it all in. The grass reminded him of the Underworld, a dark color, dry-looking, tall, and thin, but it seemed more like a deep green. Skeletal trees grew upwards, but he didn't know- Were they roots or were they branches? The sky was in both sunset and sunrise, with thirty moons, waxing and waning across the sky, like one of those moon calendar charts. There was no sun. The ground itself was bone white. In other words, it looked like it was the opposite of Earth.

Earth. Thrae. How could he have not spotted it earlier? It wasn't Earth spelled backwards, not completely, but Percy had just enough brain to guess that it was because they were not total opposites.

Indeed. I did not think you would notice. The dog next to him wagged its tail and grinned at him innocently. He snorted. As if.

"You said you would train me. Didn't you?" he asked. "Or test me or something." The golden retriever barked once, twice, growing until it became a boy no older than Percy. The sight reminded him strangely of Frank. Percy drew out Anaklusmos, the familiar weight of the pen comforting in his hand.

"No," the boy said. "We will not be doing a physical test." A chair appeared out of the ground. "Sit." Percy took one look at the guy's face and thought it would be best for him to sit. Chaos handed him a small syringe, filled with a clear liquid. He eyed it. Percy wasn't very good with unknown liquids. He had exploded half of the ones he'd come in five miles of.

"Here," Chaos said, handing him the thing. "Inject it here." He tapped a vein in Percy's neck.

"Isn't this from a book or something?" Chaos shrugged at the question.

"Would it matter if it was? Should you succeed, Perseus, then you shall be the one to set things right. Be brave, Perseus, and remember to do as your heart tells you to." Percy closed his eyes as he let the liquid into his veins. And then he was falling, falling, falling into a darkness all too familiar.

Rocks larger than Mrs. O'Leary fell with him. His chest hurt, and he couldn't seem to get enough air no matter how hard he tried. The red Maserati was somewhere below him, apparently.

"Percy!" someone cried. "The water!" Everything hurt. He couldn't think. Doom, doom, doom, doom, his heart pounded. He looked down. Instead of Annabeth, Leo was frantically waving his arms as he fell. There was so much pressure, so much evil, every fibre of his body screaming, No! Leo. There was water below them. Water and fire do not mix, he faintly recalled. Reaching out, he grabbed Leo's wrists. Percy had to save him. He had to. They slammed into the dark waters of misery, and everything dissolved.

He woke up, panting. He looked around. Trees. Snow. It was cold; winter, he guessed. His feet felt like blocks of ice, and when he looked down, he saw that he had no shoes. Name, he thought. Who am I? For a scary second, he didn't know. Perseus, he thought. Perseus Jackson. Then, he frowned. No, it was Percy. Okay, so his name was Percy. Now for a limb check. Arms? All there. Legs? Done. Male body parts? Still whole. He stared at the sword in his hand. Anaklusmos. What belongs to the sea must return to the sea. The name rose to his mind, unbidden. Son of Poseidon, something whispered in the back of his head. Greek god of the seas, earthshaker, stormbringer. The information didn't surprise him. It was familiar, like he had known it all his life. When he tried to go back further in his mind, it was like walking into a brick wall. He couldn't get past it. He couldn't remember anything.

Annabeth. The name came to his mind easily, naturally. He saw her, a beautiful girl with blonde hair and stormy grey eyes, staring at him. Before he could think, giant wolves the size of horses slunk out of the woods and lunged. He raised his sword and attacked. Something pinned him down, and he struggled. Annabeth, he thought groggily. I have to find her. Somehow, he found the strength and the courage to push off the wolf before the woods disappeared.

"You must choose." A cold voice made Percy's head snap up. Kronos. The sight made him want to snap his grandfather's neck. There was Annabeth, bound with ropes, a sword at her throat. And there were innocent mortals, screaming in fear as they stood in a line, nooses knotted around their throats. It wasn't tight, but if they fell, it was a sure death.

"Who will you save?"

"I can't-"

"Percy, save them, please, Percy, you have to save them!" Annabeth begged, her eyes filling with tears. "Don't worry about me."

"No- Annabeth, I can't- no..." He had to save both of them. He had to choose one or the other, a part of himself or innocence, who over who. He couldn't help but scream. He threw his head back and screamed at the sky, letting out whatever was inside him. Rage. Fear. Love. Pain. Everything. The sky darkened.

Annabeth met his eyes, and he shook his head, knowing what she wanted.

"I can't let you leave me," he told her. She looked at him, the tiniest of smiles playing on her lips.

"Then don't." He knew what he had to do. With a heavy heart, he turned away from the girl he had known for four years. Percy ran forward and cut all the ropes, freeing the mortals. He didn't dare look back at Annabeth. She would have never forgiven him if he had saved her. He heard Annabeth's gasp, a cry of wild freedom, and then he plunged the sword into his stomach, red swirling at the edge of his vision.

Percy was running. He kept looking back, trying to dodge the creature tracking him. There was a pinpoint of light in the distance. He knew he had to reach it. He didn't know why, but there was voice inside his head, telling him to keep going. Branches slapped his face. He tripped over rocks, slipped on wet ground, and jumped over holes. Percy wasn't getting any closer. It stayed where it was, just out of reach, but he had to get there. He had to. The burning urge licked at his heels, a fire burning so bright he could feel it. He was going to get there even if it took an eternity.

So he kept running.

Percy woke up blearily. It had felt so real, the tests. It had all been in his mind, but it didn't feel like it. His throat felt hoarse from screaming, his muscles complaining from use. He hissed with pain. And what had happened... Annabeth. Percy choked back a sob. He had let her die, and he could still remember the cry her lips had emitted. But he had done what she wanted, right? He had held on.

Chaos, now back to girl form, offered him a hand. He took it, groaning as he stood up. That had not been fun; Percy would have rather gone to detention. She smiled.

"Welcome, Commander," she said. "-to the Fellowship of Chaos."