DISCLAIMER

The following story is a not profit fan based fanfiction.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, The Kane Chronicles, Magnus Chase & the Gods of Asgard, and The Trials of Apollo all belong to Rick Riordan.

Please support the official release!

Prologue

You know what sucks about being in a business? Being in charge of that said business. That means that you have to be responsible for all the dull and boring business meetings that happen almost everyday. The boring discussions about how the company's doing, the dull meetings with other corporations and agencies, but the most boring and dull of them all were those wretched business improvement meetings. Lucius hated them all.

Who are they to tell me how to improve my organization that I helped to create? I've been leading far worse for years! Before any of them were even born, or even conceited! They have some nerve.

After finishing a horrendous and dreadfully boring meeting with some members of the board of directors, Lucius walked out of the room and headed down the hall to the nearest elevator. When he reached it he looked around and saw no one else. He smirked, now he had the elevator all to himself without any distraction from his employees.

As a CEO of a corporation, he had many employees under his foot which gave him many pro's and cons to being the boss. One of the cons of being in charge of a corporation was that he had to deal with his annoying employees, especially on the elevators. Whenever he had to share an elevator with any of his employees they would usually be too nervous to even speak to him, which for the most part was a pro, or had the guts to try and ask for a raise or even a vacation. That was a definite con.

Thankfully most of them were either heading home, or had other work to do elsewhere. Knowing this Lucius quickly pushed the button, the elevator automatically opened and he walked inside. Without hesitation he pushed the button for the top floor.

After soon as the doors closed and the elevator started to ascend, the music started to play. It was the kind of music that was played during the days of ancient Rome. It had a calm soothing tone that would always brighten Lucius up whenever he was feeling down. In fact, this was also similar to the music that his mother would sometimes play for him when he was a still a child.

It brought back some good memories he had of her.

Ah mother... He thought to himself. If only you could see me now. I've become quite the rising star ever since you were forced to depart from this world. He could still remember her beautiful smile and encouraging voice.

It was shame though that she died. If only she did not keep on getting in the way...if only she had just let things stay the way they were and stop interfering with his work. If she had, her life wouldn't have come to an early end.

He clenched his fists with anger. If only she had just let him do what he was destined to do he wouldn't have been forced to do what he did.

His arm shook with rage and his eyes narrowed as the memories came flooding back. If only she had just stayed out of his way and quit interfering with his life and trying to control him like he was some damn puppet, he wouldn't have had to-

Ding!

The elevator doors opened, and the music had stopped. He had reached the top the floor. Lucius sighed. He walked out of the elevator
and headed to his office.

There was only one room on the top floor and it was off limits to all of the employees. To all except some members of the board, and of course the CEO himself.

Lucius casually walked down the hallway and finally came to a door. He reached into his pocket, grabbed his ID card, and slid it into the card scanner. It immediately beeped and a small light glowed green. It then made a 'clicking' sound meaning that it had unlocked. Lucius opened the door and walked in.

Like most offices that are used by CEOs, it was rather large and roomy, with a window that was just as big and wide as the wall showing the twinkling bright lights of New York City that shown in the nighttime. It basically looked like a penthouse sweet. Viewing down on the city and all of the people below him, made Lucius feel powerful. Like a king.

No not a king, an emperor. That suited him much better. After all, his office decorations reflected that. His office was decorated with visual arts of the past, specifically those from the Renaissance and Ancient Roman time period. All types of paintings aligned the walls, each one showing beautiful artwork.

Some of them were replicas of famous paintings from some of the most well known artists from history. Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa', Sandro Botticelli's 'The Birth of Venus', and Raphael Sanzio's 'The School of Athens'. The others that Lucius had were very different.

Along the other side of the wall were classic paintings that were showing scenes from the play called 'Iphigenia in Aulis' which of course was based on the Trojan War from Greek mythology. It was one of Lucius favorite stories. The tragedy surrounding it was absolutely beautiful.

One of the finest tales ever told. And it all started due to those foolish gods. He smirked to himself. Looking around the room he found his display case, inside of which was pottery that looked as if it were made back in the ancient days when people worshipped these gods.

They showed the gods and well known heroes either fighting monsters or other deities, or just them posing as if to make them look cool and amazing for people to worship and look up to. Although in reality these so called gods were nothing more than immature fools who couldn't even do their own respective jobs rights. They were idiots. Idiots who didn't deserve to rule over mankind.

He calmly turned away from the display and went to sit at his desk. Speaking of which, Lucius considered that his desk was what definitely brought the whole room together. The prime jewel. The icing on the cake I guess you could say.

It was made of the finest oak that money could buy. It was solid, sturdy, and it was painted solid brown with gold highlights that glowed when it was shined with light. On top of it were regular things that you would usually find on a desk. A cup filled with pencils and pens, a stack of some paper for work, As well as a bowl of strawberries, his favorite snack. And last but not least, was a nameplate with his name in bright gold letters.

Lucius Redbeard

Of course this wasn't his actual name, not entirely anyway. His actual last name was longer and in another language, but he didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention so he changed it. Although technically he just translated it into English, but details weren't important.

Some might say that all of these artifacts, possessions, and decorations would be a waste of money but hey, when you're in charge of a multimillion dollar company you can spend a couple thousand dollars on some Roman knickknacks. It reminded him of home.

As soon as Lucius sat down on the oh so comfortable chair, he took in a deep breath and exhaled. Behind him on the wall, there was a fairly large self portrait of himself. He was posed as most other important people would look, with one hand on his fancy purple suit and the other on his side. The expression that was painted on his face was stern and full of pride. The representation of a true leader.

And on his desk there was a small miniature bust figure that matched the painting, minus the arms and lower body of course. He reached out over to the bust and picked it up, and brought it over to his face.

"You know..." He said to statue, as if it were alive. "It's usually around this time of the day, that I would simply relax after enduring a dull, boring, and terribly long business meeting and just head on home. But I have one more meeting to attend to."

Lucius smiled. Using his thumb he flicked the statue's head. It opened, revealing inside a small red button. He pushed down on it, and chuckled.

"And this one shall be quite interesting."

There was the sound of gears turning and clicking. and just like magic, a section of the wall behind him parted open, revealing an elevator. He casually walked inside.

Just like any elevator it was small and cozy, with enough room for a few people. But instead of a row of buttons on the side, there was only a keyhole. Lucius reached into his pocket and grabbed his I.D card. He turned it over three times, and on the third time it was no longer a card, but instead it was a solid gold key.

He inserted the key into the keyhole, and turned it clockwise. The elevator doors closed and Lucius felt the elevator descend. Elevator music began to play, however it was not the same music he had heard before. It was more of a somber, foreboding tune.

It was the kind of music that made you think of hard times, or those that had fallen from grace and how you desperately wanted to regain your former glory. To Lucius, if seemed to be the perfect choice of music, considering how it matched his feelings and his past perfectly.

He could remember the good old days, back in Italy when he was still lived his life to the fullest. Back at his very own palace. Back when he was in charge of everyone and everything. Where he was truly happy.

But he could also remember how it was all lost to him all those years ago. How he was forced to leave it all behind. If he had stayed, then he most likely would of been killed. And all because of his rise to power.

I should have stayed. Lucius thought to himself. I shouldn't have been afraid. I should have stood my ground and not run like a cowardly brat!

He remembered when he discovered the secret to becoming amazing, to be remembered for all time for his accomplishment. But he was forced to leave despite what he had gained. What he had lost.

And it was all because of that cursed 'family' of his. It was because of them he had fallen from grace. It was because of them, he had lost what he had rightfully deserved.

"Damn you..." He muttered bitterly. "Damn you, you wretched bastards! You just treat us like garbage! Like pawns...you will pay, and you will pay with your own demise. I swear to it."

He raised his clenched fist, and looked at it with a stern expression. No, a furious expression. "I swear to it upon the Ri-!"

Dong!

And just like before, the elevator doors opened. Lucius momentarily forgot what he was doing and stood there with a envious expression. That is until he heard a gruff voice speak to him.

"You're late, Beast."

Lucius quickly regained his composure and walked forward into the dark room.

The room itself was almost the same size as his office. However it had circular design compared to the more rectangle design of his office, as wall as the rest of the building in general. It did however match its design and decorative choices.

On the wall there were three paintings, these paintings showed certain people. These people, like Lucius were once respected and feared. They too had it all and more, but they had fallen from grace a long time ago.

On the floor was a carpet colored a royal purple, with the initials SPQR in bright gold surrounded by leaves. And to finish the design, were to golden swords crossed in the shape of an X. The symbol of Rome, and the ceiling had the same design.

In the center of the room was a table in the shape of a triangle, and three chairs at each side. two of these were currently occupied. Lucius quickly, but calmly walked towards his seat.

The other two people in the room were sitting in the dark, they looked like they had been waiting for him for quite awhile. Well at least he think he did. He couldn't see there faces, he could only guess by there body language.

The one on the left had his arms crossed, his head tilted to one side. His eyes gleamed in the darkness with an angered expression. The one on the far right however, seemed calm and normal. He was laid back casually with his hands on his crossed knees. His eyes were stern, but they to had the glare of impatience.

As soon as Lucius sat down, the one on the left spoke, with the same gruff voice from before. "What took you so long, Beast?" He asked with a tone of annoyance. "We agreed to meet here at eight o'clock sharp! You're over ten minutes late!"

Lucius sighed in annoyance. His 'partner' was always like this. If he wasn't on time exactly he would demean him like a servant. If he was early, he would belittle Lucius for making it seem he was better than him despite the fact that they had been working together for years. And when he would call him 'Beast' that means he was really unhappy.

Oh the joy.

"Well I apologize friend." Lucius said, "But the last meeting lasted longer then expected. If I had left early it would of raised questions with our associates and political partners. But then again..." He smirked. "You were quite infamous for your 'elimination' of politicians back in your tyrannical and crazy days. Perhaps I should of followed your example and killed every one in the room just like you would have done...Little Boot!"

He honestly should of known better than to insult his partner, but hey, he had long day and wasn't in the mood to take any crap from anybody. Especially from 'Little Boot', who did not take that comment likely. He growled furiously, his eyes burning with detest and anger at his nickname. One could even feel the temperature in the room drop a few degrees.

"You do not ever address me that way Beast!" He declared with hatred. "Need I remind you, it was I who discovered the way to become eternal before you two were even thought of!" He said as he pointed to both Lucius and there third partner, who just sat there and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Lucius just sighed in frustration. He always had to brag about 'that'. The one thing that brought them together in the first place. "Again with this? How many times do I have to tell you it doesn't matter that you discovered it first! At least when I did I still had my dignity."

His partner just scoffed. "Dignity? Oh yes, you still had your dignity when you tucked your tail between your legs and ran away like a frighten dog. Oh yes, a man of dignity you are indeed."

Lucius' anger reached its peak. He quickly rose from his seat and pointed angrily at 'Little Boot'.

"Don't you dare pretend to know what happened to me Gaius!" He yelled with anger, calling his partner by his name. "At least when I left, I left behind a legacy of someone to be respected and feared. You left behind a legacy of lunatic who just sat on his throne and murdered people left and right!"

"Oh is that so?!" Gaius rose from his seat and glared with hatred and loathing from the darkness. Lucius could almost see his angry features on his hidden face. His crazy, lunatic face. "Maybe I should murder you, you cowardly excuse for an emperor!"

"Bring it on you cross-dressing mad man!"

As soon as they were both about to make there move however, they were stopped by a cold, stern and loud voice.

"Silence!"

Both Lucius and Gaius froze in place, and turned to look at there third member. He had stood up from his seat, with his hands on both there shoulders. It was cold, strong and firm to the touch, just like him. His eyes were narrow and stern.

"Lucius and Gaius," he began, "The two of you are acting like children! Let us remember that we are partners, and as partners we must work together to achieve our supreme goal! So can we please begin this meeting already? I want get back home as soon as possible, and I'm sure you two would like to do the same."

He sat down and motioned for Lucius and Gaius to sit as well. They both looked at each other momentarily, and nodded. He was right, this was no time to argue. They both once again took there seats.

"Now then," He said as he leaned back in his chair. "I presume we all know why we are here today?"

Lucius nodded. "Of course my dear Aurelius." He said, calling him by his name. Or rather his 'false' name. Just like Lucius and Gaius, he had changed his name to avoid suspicion. Well actually it was his middle name, but it didn't really matter. "We three agreed to come here to discuss the dreams we've received recently."

Gaius chuckled. "Dreams? These weren't just mere dreams Lucius. These were something much more...real. Meaningful even." He paused, as if he were thinking. "These were visions." He said with a gleam in his eyes.

Visions...? A few nights ago, Lucius had a rather strange dream to say the least. It had felt and seemed so real. He didn't seem to think much of it at first, but that changed the next day when he got a call from Aurelius who stated that he and Gaius had the same dream as Lucius did. They talked and agreed to discuss it at the end of the week where they had the time to have a meeting.

"I agree." Aurelius stated. "The very fact that we each had the same one, at the same time as well proves this to be true." He turned to Lucius. "We only get visions when something important is about to happen."

"Indeed." Lucius replied. "In fact, the last time we each received a vision was around the time when we all first met each other, and that was so many years ago. And given that it's only happened after the Earth Mothers defeat must mean that this one shall prove to be quite valuable to our cause."

"Yes, but what do the visions mean though?" Gaius inquired. "I've been wrapping my head around it but I still don't know what they mean."

Lucius rolled his eyes. Big surprise there. "Well I've been thinking about them, and after piecing together what we saw, I think I know what they were meant to be."

Aurelius' eyebrows raised. "Really? Well then please do share with us Lucius, tell us what you have learned."

"Oh but of course. You both know how much I love discussing details." Lucius leaned forward, and began. "From what I know, these aren't just mere visions my friends." He began. "Oh no, I do believe that these are something much akin to more of a...summoning. A plead for help if you will."

"A plead of help?" Gaius asked. "From whom?"

"Ah I'm afraid that's the part I don't quite know yet." Lucius replied. "But I believe that the visions can tell us from where. If you recall, we were shown a brilliant column of fire, the brightest that I have ever seen in my opinion."

"Yes, yes we already know." Aurelius stated impatiently. "Why does it matter?"

"It matters because of what it represents." Lucius said. "Lets all think back to it." He then closed his eyes, and remembered his dream.

He was floating in complete darkness, there was nobody there but himself. That was until out of nowhere, a great column of fire erupted below him. It was spinning like a twister, with the flames swirling within incredible heat and enormous power.

With the light of the fire, Lucius could see the ground below him, and it appeared to be the very earth himself. But instead of seeing the blue marble that was the Earth, he could only make out some of the continents. But his attention was toward fire.

To his shock, the twisting inferno was growing bigger, and it didn't look like it was going to stop. It looked as it if wanted to consume the entire world with its blaze. The heat he could feel from it was immense.

That was when the dream began to change.

Just as soon as the vortex was to consume everything in sight, four bright lights appeared within the flames. They were spinning in rotation within the vortex of fire, almost as if they were trying to compete with it.

But instead, the orbs of light spun faster and faster. They were spinning so fast they looked as if they had become a ring of pure light. Lucius could feel the pressure he felt from the lights, from their power. It was incredible.

The tornado of fire didn't seem to like it, because it was disappearing. Or rather it was shrinking. It seemed as if the lights were sucking all the fire into a single area like a vacuum.

Within mere seconds, the vortex had shrunk and was now inside the spinning ring. The light from it grew brighter and brighter, and the small spark that was the fire had extinguished.

It was at this point Lucius heard something, but he couldn't quite make out what it was. But before he had an idea what the noise was, the ring had once again become four orbs of light, and just like bullets fired from a gun they shot off. They flew in four opposite directions and landed in different locations on the flat earth.

There light faded away, and everything once again became dark...

Lucius opened his eyes, and looked at both Gaius and Aurelius with a face of what he knew was stern, but full of pride. The face of a true leader.

"That flame was to represent power." He stated. "Pure amazing power. Power that can benefit us all!" He reached into his pocket and brought a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it, revealing a it to be a map of the entire planet. He placed the map on the table. "And as you recall, four lights appeared within, and they managed to control the fire from spreading. But not only did they subdue that flame, they absorbed it!" He said with amazement.

"Absorbed it?" Aurelius asked

"Yes! Absorbed!" Lucius responded with awe. "And when they did, they separated from each other and landed in four different locations." Lucius then reached into his coat pocket and brought out a pen, which he then used to circle four different areas on the map with. He then passed it to Gaius.

"As you can see, the locations I circled are the same ones that I believe where the four lights landed." He continued. " I believe that the vision was to tell us to find whoever or whatever the lights were."

"But that doesn't sound like a plead of help." Gaius said as he passed the map to Aurelius. "It just sounds more like a treasure hunt of some kind." He put a hand to his chin. "Maybe its some kind of weapon perhaps?" He asked. Aurelius nodded in agreement as he looked at the map. "It's certainly possible."

"Well, I thought so to as first." Lucius said. "However, you two are for getting an important detail." "What detail?" Aurelius inquired.

"Why the voices of course."

This must have caught the both of them by surprise, because Gaius actually look interested for once, and Aurelius leaned forward from his seat. "What voices?" He asked.

"I don't recall hearing any voices!" Gaius exclaimed. "I heard something yes, but it definitely wasn't a voice, and definitely not one I'd recognized." He then put hand to his chin. "Come to think of it, it just sounded like gibberish to me."

"That's because you did not listen to what they had to say." Lucius berated, causing Gaius to growl. But before he could rebuke him Lucius continued. "After a few days of research and extensive thinking, I was able to recognize what the voices were saying. Apparently they were speaking in another language...Ancient Greek." He said the last two words with emphasis.

"What? Ancient Greek?" Gaius asked in surprise. "You can't be serious Lucius."

"Are you positive that was the language you heard in the vision? That we all heard?" Aurelius asked with urgency. "Because if you are, then whatever it is we witnessed must be something quite old. "

"And most likely powerful too." Gaius concurred

"Oh absolutely, my dear friends." Lucius replied with the outmost confidence. "Like I said before, I had recognized what the voices in the vision were after doing some research and investigation. And I believe I now know what they were saying."

"You have?" Gaius asked with shock.

"What did they say then?!" Aurelius demanded, dropping the map onto the table. "And more importantly why didn't you say so sooner?! I told you I wanted this to be over quickly!" He said as he banged his fists on the table with rage.

Lucius winced. He hated when Aurelius got like this, he was the most impatient one after all, even more so then Gaius. And that's saying something.

"Because I wanted to go through everything that we knew first." Lucius explained. "And to be honest, I still don't think that's everything there is to know about the vision. There is more to this then meets the eye my friends, and what those voices said is only going to prove my point."

"Well what did they say then?" Gaius questioned.

"They said...Eléphthero mas." Lucius stated. "And when translated to the English language, it says...free us."

"Free us?" Gaius repeated. He and Aurelius looked at each other with what Lucius assumed was confusion on there faces. "What in the world could that mean?"

Aurelius closed his eyes. For a few seconds he was silent, probably contemplating the information that was given to him. He reopened his eyes and looked back at Lucius with understanding and determination. "I think I understand what you're saying Lucius." He said. "And I agree completely."

Gaius looked back and forth between the two of them. "What? Agree with what? what are you two talking about, you're not making sense!"

Lucius held back a sigh, did he seriously have to explain what was going on? It was so obvious! "He agrees with me of what we are going to do next." He explained. "Like I said before, the vision was a summoning, a plead of help if you will. Something, or rather someone sent us that dream because they require our assistance. And whoever or whatever they are, they have power. Incredible power. So much power that we can use it to our benefit."

"So it, or rather they, are some kind of weapons then?" Gaius asked.

Lucius shrugged. "In a matter of speaking, yes. But since they spoke in Ancient Greek, that means that they most likely are sentient in some way. Since they were saying 'free us' that means that they are locked up and sealed away, most likely for hundreds of years. If not even more. If we can find out where they are and set them free, then the power that we saw will be ours!"

Gaius eyes gleamed with eagerness and delight. "Of course! And going by what that vision showed us, that power could be just what we need to make our reign supreme for all eternity!" He laughed maniacally.

Aurelius chucked at Gaius enthusiasm. "I couldn't agree more Gaius! We can finally regain what is rightfully ours!" He slammed his hands on the map. "The entire world will bow to our will and power!"

"And do you know what the best part of all this is?" Lucius asked. "We will finally be able to snuff out the flame of Western Civilization, and the gods of Olympus will finally get what they deserve for there damned rule over humanity!"

He looked at the map, and pictured the flame he saw in his dream, that powerful blaze that was capable of engulfing the entire world. Once they obtained that flame, once they gained control of that power, nothing would stop them.

They would be eternal.

They would be immortal.

They would become the true gods to rule over the universe.

And the Olympians would finally meet there fate at long last.

That accursed family of his would finally and truly die.

"Well then," Aurelius said as he stood up. "I do believe this meeting is finished, and our objective is certain."

"Indeed." Gaius said as he stood up as well. "We must all head back and begin making the necessary preparations." He looked down at the map, and back up again. "We must find these 'weapons' before anyone or anything else can."

"Worry not my friend." Lucius said as he also stood up. "If someone were to get in our way, they wouldn't be able to stand up to our might." He then brought out his arm and clenched his fist. He raised it to his partners, and they did the same.

They then spoke in unison, speaking in their native tongue.

"Nunc autem regnabit, quem sacratissimo et praestantissim!"

"Here we will reign, most excellently!"

"For the glory of the Triumvirate!"

Next time...

Percy covered his eyes. The light was blinding, overwhelming! He couldn't take anymore pressure!
It was at that moment when he was completely consumed by the light, when he heard the screaming voice.

...Eléphthero mas...

...Eléphthero mas...!

...Eléphthero mas!

ELEPHTHERO MAS!

Percy eyes flashed, open. It wasn't until he caught his breath that he realized that he was in a cold sweat.

"What...what was that...?"