It had been too long since Percy had felt the warmth of a family. Nearing 12 years, if he was remembering correctly. Really, the only family he ever had after his mom died were the campers back at Camp Half-Blood. But after seeing Annabeth give her love to someone else, and watching as his friends turned their backs to him, he did the thing that would probably cause him and the campers less pain. He ran.
He ran as far as he could, before settling down in LA. There, he used his skills as a former... hero... to help those in need. He guided lost Demigods to the camps, without revealing his identity to either of them. Currently, Percy Jackson was sitting in the small house he bought, drinking a soda while over looking a map that showed the location of wandering Demigods.
Demigods that were already arranged to be picked up were left alone, as Percy only helped those who had not been discovered yet.
Over the course of 5 years, Percy underwent a personalized training regimen, which was arranged by himself. This regimen turned Percy into a cold-blooded killer, yet he was warming and kind when he needed to be. His hair had grown down to just past his ears, but had that wild look to them that made them seem untamable. He had built a small amount of muscle overtime, but not enough to make them overly noticeable. He was 6'1, and he had a swimmers body, as he swam at least 8 times a week. His eyes were now dark brown, due to his father disowning him for running. Funny, he somehow managed to keep his powers over water.
Really, Percy thought it was ridiculous to disown your son for running, but he didn't really mind. It was nice to live his own life without the gods watching his every move.
Percy was looking through the map to find the nearest group of endangered Demigods. To the south was a group of Demigods, traveling through San Diego.
He looked through the map again to make sure and suddenly began packing his stuff. He walked straight out of the door after locking everything up.
San Diego, CA:
Percy walked out of a pond in San Diego, where a group of wandering Demigods seemed to be making their way to Las Vegas. He took out the map again and found that the group of Demigods were no more than a mile away from him. Seeing how slowly the cursors were moving on the map, Percy assumed that they were walking.
There was something odd about them though. Instead of the usual green or red icon, they were silver. He counted 15 icons in total, but decided to brush off the silver icons until he got there. He ran full speed towards the group, which was around 85 miles per hour. The training really did help a lot.
After running for a good 10 minutes, Percy arrived in a large forest and calmly walked behind a tree, as silent as a phantom. A few meters away from him were a group of girls wearing silver hunting dresses. Only one thought came to mind.
"Hunters." Percy breathed out. He made a low growl before silent stalking away. Unfortunately, his luck had abandoned him that time, as a twig snapped underneath his feet.
Already knowing it was pointless to be quiet anymore, he ran. "Crap! To hell with my luck!" He yelled as he ran at full speed. He could hear the shouts of the female hunters behind him, but Percy paid them no mind.
"I need to get out of this forest!" He said to himself. He ducked underneath an arrow that whizzed past his head and imbedded itself into the tree ahead of him. He ran around the tree and continued to escape from them. Percy looked to his sides and found that there were two hunters on each of his sides, limiting his only chance to run ahead. He noticed that they had gotten a look at his face as they stared at him in shock.
Percy turned back to the front and saw a cliff with a lake below not far ahead.
Suddenly a shout came from behind him.
"Oh no you don't Kelp Head!" The female voice said.
Percy recognized it as Thalia's voice and ran even faster. She was right behind him and was trying to reach out to him with her hand. But she was pulled back by one of her hunters as Percy leaped into the lake. He splashed into the water and vanished.
Thalia growled.
"Dammit! Stop running from us Kelp Head!" She yelled at the lake.
They saw his head pop up from the water and turn slightly as he swam away. But he lifted up his arm and flipped her off, before turning back to swim.
Thalia growled as she was about to leap into the water, but she was stopped by her fellow hunters. "Don't Thalia. We haven't begun the swimming training yet."
Thalia growled. She looked at all of the hunters in front of her, all of them new. The original hunters died during the Second Great Titan War. They had yet to receive the full training regimen, so they did not really excel in the swimming department.
"Argh! Why hasn't Poseidon grabbed him yet?! Can't he sense that he's in the water?!" Thalia yelled.
"I don't know. But whatever the reason, we're not getting him here." One of the hunters in the back said.
"Does he even know how dire the situation is right now?" Another Hunter asked.
Thalia turned towards the Hunter and shook her head. "No. He doesn't. Which is why we need to find him. And we need to find him fast."
Los Angeles, CA:
Percy stepped out of the pool at the back of his house. He sighed, and went back into his house after drying somewhat damp hair with a towel. Once inside, he took out his map again along with a pencil. To the left side of the map, he wrote: "Silver Icons = Hunters".
He looked through the map again and saw that the hunters were the only group of demigods in any actual danger.
Percy sighed and went over to the couch and turned the TV on. He grabbed the soda bottle that was still beside the couch and continued to drink from it. His thoughts drifted away from the screen and into his memories. The day Annabeth broke up with him for the son of Zeus, Collin. The weeks when his friends began to ignore him, and finally, the day when he had the vision.
Percy shivered at the thought. It still haunted him to this day. He remembered the lines that floated in front of him during the vision:
The moon shines bright over the battle of Gods,
the lightning, striking down with their rods.
The lost hero, who's name's now unknown,
will return to their family, or leave them on their own.
Six will go down into the Darkness of the Pit,
or else Olympus will fall, and the world will be split.
Images of blood, gore, and other disturbing things flew around in his mind that night.
Percy slapped himself.
"Stop it." He commanded himself.
He turned his attention back to the TV, which was playing a little kid's cartoon. Suddenly, a loud warping sound resounded throughout the house. Percy took out his sword and jumped out his chair. He found the source of the noise sitting at the dining room table in the form of a very beautiful woman, with black hair and electric blue eyes, wearing a blue dress with streaks of lightning seemingly flowing grouch the fabric.
"Perseus Jackson." She said. Her electric irises stared straight through him.
"That would be me. But please, do tell who you are." He replied, unmoving. His sword was in one hand, while his other was at his side, ready to apply a counter, should that even be possible. This woman radiated power. A lot.
"I am Arcana, the living embodiment of arc energy. I have come to you with an offer of endless power." Arcana said, crossing her left leg over the other with her hands on her lap.
"And why, may I ask?"
Arcana sighed. "This world is falling deeper and deeper into ruin. Honestly, Chaos, my sisters, and I have gotten tired of the Olympians abandoning their duties, and merely sitting up in Olympus. Well, at least Hera, Hades, Hestia, Artemis, and Hermes are doing their jobs." Arcana replied. She absentmindedly held out her hand and created a ball of blue electricity, which made the hairs on the back of Percy's neck stand up straight.
"Huh, so four H's and one A." Percy said jokingly
"Yes. Now, to explain why you have been chosen. It was simply because of your strength, an your personality. Strength, loyalty, and friendliness are very important factors to us. However, we also take into account of how they react in serious situations. You are serious when need be, and we find that a very approving trait." Arcana explained, still twirling the ball in her hand.
"And I hope it is not out of pity as well." Percy said.
"No. Although we do pity you, we would not let that be a deciding factor. Now, to continue. Will you accept our offer?" Arcana asked, her hand outstretched.
"And what will my job be if I do accept?" Percy asked suspiciously, his gaze locked onto Arcana's eyes to detect any hostile intentions.
"Your job will be to ensure that the world does not burn while the gods laze around. You will be our personal soldier. Of course, you will still be treated as a person, and you will have a free will." Arcana added that last part rather quickly.
Percy sighed again, something he seemed to do a lot now since he left Camp. "Will I still do my job of escorting Demigods to the camps?"
Arcana nodded with a smile. "Of course. But you will get paid for you deeds as well."
"I'm not doing it for the money, but I guess it's just a bonus." Percy muttered.
"So. I ask again Perseus. Will you accept our offer?" Arcana asked again.
Percy hesitantly looked at her outstretched hand before taking it and giving it a firm shake. "I accept, Lady Arcana."
Arcana suddenly laughed. "Oh enough of that! You don't know how hard it is to act serious!"
Percy now had a confused expression plastered over his facial features. "Huh?"
"Well, before I explain myself more thoroughly, let's meet Chaos and my sisters, Solaria and Viodia"
"I can only imagine what elements your sisters are in control of." Percy said sarcastically.
Arcana nodded in agreement with a small chuckle, a beautiful sound. "Yes. Chaos was very creative with our names."
Arcana opened a large portal of blue electricity in front of Percy. Arcana walked around the portal and stood at Percy's side. It was revealed to Percy that Arcana was a little bit shorter, probably at 5'10 agains his height of 6'1.
"This portal will take you to our realm. Please step inside." Arcana said, making a sort of pointing gesture with her hand toward the portal.
Percy stepped in without a thought.
Unknown:
Percy appeared in a pitch black room, with a white door a few yards away. Arcana appeared next to him and walked forward. "Follow me."
Percy obeyed and walked next to her, trying not to get ahead. She led them to the large white door, which seemed out of place in the dark room, and pushed it open.
Inside the doorway was a large white room, easily over 8 stories high, and four tall thrones at the very back of the room. Sitting in the middle throne to the right was a tall man with a grey business suit and dress pants. His eyes and hair were a midnight black, the former feature daring anyone to defy him and show his power. He wore a calm expression as he analyzed Percy.
Sitting at the middle throne to the left was a woman with golden hair and flaming red eyes. She was wearing a red dress, similar to Arcana, but had fire within the fabric. She was smiling at Percy, but he could tell the lady was sizing him up.
The woman sitting in the throne next to the man had black hair with purple highlights and swirling violet irises. She wore the same dress as Arcana except she had waves of purple energy rolling off of the purple fabric.
She wore a neutral expression, but the calculating gaze was obvious.
Arcana quickly went to her throne and sat on it, which was next to the flaming woman.
At this point, the man spoke. "Perseus Jackson. Do you know who I am?" He asked, his booming voice echoing throughout the large room.
Percy got down to one knee. "Lord Chaos. It is an honor to meet you."
Chaos nodded. "The feeling is mutual. Now, I assume you have met Arcana already?"
"Yes, Lord Chaos."
"Good. Now, these two are Viodia," Chaos gestured to the purple dressed woman, "and Solaria." He gestured to the woman with the flaming red dress.
Percy smiled in his position, and replied humbly. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Solaria, Lady Viodia."
"Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you as well, Perseus," Solaria said, before turning to Viodia, "c'mon Viodia, say hi."
Viodia merely waved with a nod.
"Now, before we begin, I would like to ask you if you are absolutely sure that you accept our offer. You will have to give up your old life." Chaos asked.
Percy hesitated. But he really had nowhere else to go, aside from helping demigods, but that was it. Maybe he could try to live a normal life? No, a Demigod's life is never normal.
"I... I accept, Lord Chaos." Percy stated firmly.
Chaos nodded in satisfaction, before cracking a smile. "Then, welcome to our little family, Perseus Jackson. You may decide what your powers will be, but I would like you to think long and hard about them before you decide. Until then, Arcana will lead you to your room here. Solaria will be in charge of your combat training afterwards. And Viodia will be your educational teacher."
"Thank you Lord Chaos, you have my gratitude and honor. I will get back o you when I have decided my powers. Also, I have but one request." Percy said, standing up.
"It will be granted as long as it is within our parameters." Solaria replied.
Percy fidgeted while standing. "C-Can I have a piano in my room? I don't want to completely give up my old life."
Chaos and, oddly enough, Viodia smiled. Viodia spoke this time, to everyone's surprise. "I can give you piano lessons, should you decide to accept them." She said.
Percy smiled at her. "It would be my pleasure."