Perseus POV
"Perseus Jackson." I looked up at my accusers and allowed myself the brief respite of hate before I realized how horrendous I must look. I stand in front of a council of schizophrenic supreme beings and a motley collection of horror-struck heroes. My eyes were covered with a leather strap but even now, I could detect the awestruck faces of the youngest of the audience. I was a hero to them still. The kids had never seen the old me: impulsive, rash, disrespectful, and unnervingly strong, they had only seen this new me. Now I was kind, and well-respected and scholarly, teaching swordplay, refereeing games of capture the flag, and in general being a background character in someone else's novel. "Are you listening?!" I smirked at him, my thoughts had wandered, and it was pretty obvious that despite his complete control right now, he was still the type to demand respect rather than deserve it.
"Fuck you!" I snarled. Ouch, I didn't mean to say that. My lips were curled in disgust as I struggled against the fetters that bound me. I licked my lips and growled, knowing that death could come at me from anywhere, so I needed to be alert. "Do what you like with me, I've been to Tartarus and back, and then back again, you can't do shit to me!" I snarked, turning my head from side to side, blindly searching for a sound to tell me where I am.
Ares sucked in a breath and exhaled heavily, clearly trying to calm himself. "I say we imprison him, let me torture him for eternity, then we'll see if he's so strong." I snorted and turned to face away from Ares, flipping him the bird behind my back. He began to curse quickly in Ancient Greek and I could feel his footsteps getting closer despite my impaired sight and I quickly lashed out at his chest with a roundhouse kick, sending him back into his chair reeling.
"Go ahead, send me to prison!" I screamed, my head whirling about blindly, I stood up straight, pulling the chain around my neck taut. "You know what will happen?! I'll get stronger! You know it's true, it always happens! You sent monsters after me, I got stronger, you sent me up against gods and titans, and I got stronger! You sent me to Rome, to Hell, all in an underhanded attempt to kill me, but fire makes iron stronger! And now, I'm better than ever!" I cackled maniacally, dropping to the ground and rolling around for a while until a sudden shock caused me to black out.
I awoke to the sound of arguing, and discovered that my blindfold had slipped down my face and was currently covering my mouth. "Father, this is unwise." Athena.
"I agree." Apollo stated.
"Even I must concur father, this is definitely not right." Artemis said, crossing her arms as she widened her stance defiantly. I smirked, with all due respect Artemis, you are sexy as hell. My eyes flitted to Athena who also held her head high and her legs apart. Calm, composed, confident, and coincidentally kind. I smirked and thought about saying something, but for some reason, my better judgement won for once.
"I will oppose this father." Artemis said, sliding her shoulders back as she cracked her neck, her voice and demeanor speaking volumes, and suddenly, I felt something akin to mischief rise from my soul, and I stifled a chuckle. This would be fun.
I played dead for a few more minutes while I was lead to the base of Olympus before I heard the light footsteps of Artemis coming from the opposite direction. I opened my eyes and simultaneously with Artemis, lashed out at one of the guards escorting me through Olympus with a heavy axe kick to the collarbone, while Artemis shoved her palm into the face of the other guard, breaking his nose instantaneously. Artemis stepped toward me and slit my handcuffs, freeing my hands. I pulled the blindfold down my face and smiled at Artemis who cocked an eyebrow at me and gestured me to follow her on her sprint toward her temple. I followed, keeping my head on a swivel.
"So, you got a plan, or do you just want to run away together?" I asked, pushing my luck for all it was worth today. Fortunately it held, because otherwise, Artemis might slit my throat. In fact Artemis almost seemed to be contemplating my comment before she shook her head and pointed to her temple where Thalia and Reyna stood guard, obviously expecting someone but probably not me. Thalia shot up when she saw me, and I waved, slowing only long enough for the two of them to hop up and join us in our gallivant through the home of the gods. "Hey Thals, what's up?"
"Not much, you know, saving my best friend from being executed, running for my life from my father, the usual, you?" Thalia replied sarcastically. I smiled at her and punched her lightly on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, if we get caught, I can convince your dad that I kidnapped you, then we'll be fine!" I laughed at my own proposition, but the mere thought of being caught by her father made Thalia nervous, that I could tell. I then turned to Phoebe and waved briskly. "Hey Reyna, how's the arm?" I remember her with a cast after the war, but no cast now.
"Unless you want to see it firsthand, run faster." She growled. I smiled at her attempt to frighten me, but complied nonetheless. I went from carrying the back of the pack to taking point with Artemis, my legs long enough and fast enough to keep up with her preternatural speed. "goddamnit, fucking show-off."
"Right, now!" Artemis shouted, and all four of us turned in a split second, skidding slightly as we slowed down and then we were off again, speeding through a series of turns and staircases, until suddenly, we were at a dead end. The only way past this point was over the building, so without slowing down, I charged straight at the wall and slid to a stop with my back against the wall on one knee, holding my hands in front of me like a step.
"Three, two, hup!" As soon as Thalia stepped on my hands, I lifted with my knees and threw her up onto the roof. She rolled to a stop and reached her hand down, catching Reyna, who clambered up the wall and then continued to the other side of the roof. Finally, Artemis gracefully-though an ornery move- stepped onto my hand step, and before I could push her up, she stepped up onto myshoulder and finally, onto my head before vaulting onto the roof and calmly striding across. All of this happened in mere seconds as I leapt up as well, grabbed the edge of the roof and pulled myself up, rolling back onto the roof and following the other three through the narrow side street they found themselves on until they emerged into a courtyard, filled with statues, braziers, and...maidens. "Is it just me, or am I the only Y in the room of X's?" I asked, looking around and bowing slightly in reverence to any and all of maidenly looking godliness. Most of the women giggled when I smiled sheepishly, causing me to feel even more sheepish. I was extremely confused until I saw a familiar face.
"Zoe?" I asked, stepping toward a very sombre looking maiden who sat at a bench reading a very thick novel with strange lettering on it's front. She looked up and gave me a kind smile, before looking down again. "Zoe, it's me! How are you here? How did you survive? What did you mean when you said that I was different?" I paused and felt my knees grow weak. She wasn't responding. "Why did you have to die? Why won't you look at me?!"
I leaned my head on the bench beside her and felt a few tears slip from my eyes as her death finally began to sink in. I began to pray. I had never done it before, in a world where seeing gods and goddesses were commonplace, I was praying for something beyond even them. I was looking for something bigger, maybe something that Chiron would call...existential, but I wasn't feeling very respectful.
Give. Her. Back. I stood up and wiped away the tears, looking down at Zoe one last time, stroking her cheek. I turned around and saw the others standing a little behind me, their heads down. I walked up to Artemis, looked her in the eye and asked a question. "Permission to speak freely?" I asked,my head held high. Artemis took a deep breathe and responded.
"Permission granted, Perseus." I took another step even closer to the three and wrapped Artemis in a tight hug, my eyes shut tight.
"I loved Zoe." I stated, expecting to get hit, maybe even killed.
"I know, and she loved you." She patted me on the shoulder and took a step back, her face taut in a forced smile, trying to be kind, I knew I had seen the look before, but it was still unrecognizable, it was a confusing collaboration of sadness, guilt, and something that eluded me. Finally, she turned and strode toward the largest of the buildings in the pavilion. As she reached the door, it opened, seemingly on it's own before she stepped inside, calling for Thalia and Reyna to follow her.
Thalia looked back at me with pity in her eyes and grabbed my hand, dragging to my feet before placing a light, sisterly kiss on my cheek. "Come on Seaweed brain, I still believe in you."
"Thanks, but I don't know if I deserve it." I responded, shaking my head as I stood up and kissed her forehead. I followed Reyna into the largest building and immediately had to squint to save my sclera. The entire room was alight with a golden glow that permeated my eyelids. I tried covering my eyes, but it seemed like the light was moving right through my hand, which offered no relief. Suddenly the glaring brightness subsided and I noticed I was in a wide pavilion, surrounded by gods and goddesses galore. Apollo stood to the left of me, Athena to the right, to each of my shoulders there were goddesses, Aphrodite, Hecate, Nike, Iris, all lounged about the hall, and Artemis stood at the far side, facing me with an intense look in her eyes. I was tempted to gulp exaggeratedly at the look on her face, but the similar looks on everyone else's faces quelled that urge.
"Ah, the guest of honor is finally here." Apollo muttered, smiling inanely, his eyes never leaving his iPod. I stuck my tongue out at him in the most mature way I could manage and he finally looked up, smirking back. "Anyway, we don't have time for this banter. Poseidon! Your son is here!"
My father's head popped around the corner and I smiled at him kindly, the thoughts of him ever betraying me fleeing from my mind when I saw the hesitantly hopeful look in his eyes. He looked like he was expecting me to smite him, but hoping I wouldn't. He smiled back and let out a breath before disappearing back behind the corner. As he stepped back into my line of site, I noticed he was behind a cart, covered in a red velvet sheet. "I have some gifts for you Perseus."
"Is it Christmas already?" I asked, my smile wide. "And to think, I didn't get you anything!"
Poseidon quickly revealed the cart, and from below the velvet, shining brightly was a…
"...a briefcase…?" I asked, looking confused, undoubtedly. "Thanks dad, always wanted one of those."
"Go ahead, try to open it." Poseidon suggested, and I shrugged, stepping forward and picking up the briefcase, noticing that it was slightly...heavy. Not so heavy that it would be awkward, but heavier than a briefcase should be. "Got a bit of heft, eh?"
"A bit…" I muttered, opening it up to find it completely empty. "You didn't even get me a stationery set?" I mused, but Poseidon's smile simply widened.
"Now close it." Poseidon told me and I complied. "Think of a weapon you want and open the briefcase."
I looked at him in awe, not believing what I was hearing. "You're shitting me…" I said and closed my eyes, envisioning a sword, I was trying to focus on Riptide, but my mind kept on glimpsing back to Backbiter. I wonder what holding Backbiter would be like. I thought, and I opened the case.
"We shi- holy clusterfuck!" Apollo stopped himself mid-sentence. "That's…"
"Backbiter…" Athena muttered, stepping forward into the middle of the hall. "Do you understand what this means?" Everyone remained silent. "Anyone?"
"Nope, what does it mean?" Apollo replied, obviously still sweating.
"Perseus has been recognized by the blade. Perseus is...this is entirely unprecedented! Even Zeus didn't get permission to use Kronos' blade. I don't know what this means!" Athena muttered, kneeling in the middle of the floor, drawing complex diagrams on the marble. I stepped closer to the briefcase and drew the blade, swinging it in curiosity, it was well balanced. Not quite like Riptide, but still...it felt like it was connected to me.
"So, now what, this briefcase gives me whatever weapon I ask for?" I asked and Poseidon nodded. "So, how do I put the weapon away?"
"Just stick it back in, blade first." Artemis instructed and I nodded. I did as I was told and the blade disappeared. "Do you understand? You are now connected to anything you pull out of that box, you can call it anything you want."
I began to laugh and I knew instantly what to call it. "Oblivia!" I called out, and instantly, the box began to glow, Greek letters began to be carved into the wood and leather, πουθενά.
"So...what now? Do I just run away? Then what?" I asked, picking up the briefcase, but suddenly I dropped to the ground, gripping my head in pain.
"Come back to me, Perseus! I'm waiting for you. Come back to me and I'll lead you to your real home." The voice whispered into my ear, causing my knees to buckle. I felt the entire weight of the words, like the voice had just dropped me in a hole full of lead. I struggled for breath- and bang, it's gone.
"I've got a plan." I muttered. Athena's head popped up and everyone who knew me's eyes swiveled toward me. "It's not a good one, but it'll work, I know it."
"You're going back?!" All of the gods and goddesses demanded, already having read my mind, undoubtedly.
"You're insane." Athena called from behind me, not like she was mocking me, but more like she was honestly praying that I wouldn't go. "You've lost your mind."
Yes, I had, and I've realized that now that I'm standing at the edge of Olympus, but that hardly matters, I'm about to jump, and there's no stopping me now.
"Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite, it's been a blast. I understand why they call beautiful women goddesses now." I said with a bow and and took a step closer to the edge. "Dad, Apollo, I'mma miss you guys, but I'm going to come back, and we'll kick Zeus' ass. Finally, Reyna, Thalia, and uh, guys, tell everyone that they shouldn't bring me up, it'll only raise suspicions."
"You're an idiot, but you're a good idiot, and that's the worst thing I can say about you." Artemis said, and Thalia nodded both were smiling widely. "Good luck, you dumbass."
"Rome will miss you. Even if you prefer the Greeks for some weird reason." Reyna joked saluting Perseus mockingly. Athena just shook her head and smiled, laughing silently, while Aphrodite giggled at the wholly overwhelming sexual tension in the pavilion, undoubtedly. "Good luck, and may God have mercy on your enemies."
"Good luck son." Poseidon said, patting me on my shoulder. "There's a special gift from me in that suitcase, but you'll have to find it yourself." I smiled at him and put my two fingers in my mouth, taking a deep breath, smiling widely, and whistled a nice relaxing two hundred decibel screech of a whistle.
Then I jumped, placing more faith in my horse than the gods. You see, that's why I love horses, they're awesome. I had barely fallen sixteen feet when Blackjack was there, lifting me from my steep freefall and carrying me off into the sunset and closer to the gates of Hell, by the second.