The long wait is finally over!
Yeah, I know, I took ages. Life got in the way though. Since my dad left at the end of July I had to help my mum a lot since she got depressed. But he's back now and everything's picking up again. So I decided to sit down and finish this chapter.
Anyway, I'm sure you're not interested in this, but only want to read the chapter.
Please, if you've not read Confused by Time yet, go and do that. It won't help if you read this first because there are spoilers in this first chapter.
Confused by Storm
Chapter 1 - Prologue
Boots sank down into the mud, still soaking from the storm that had passed over the state a few days prior. Slowly, she moved aside the leaves littering the forest floor to reveal the large impression in the mud.
A wolf's paw.
"I've found the trail," she called, scanning the forest around her. The Titans seemed to enjoy becoming beasts and leading them on merry chases around the forests of America. One such chase had lead them deep into the Amazon in pursuit. Though a wolf brought up memories of chasing Kronos through San Francisco. And thoughts of Kronos undoubtedly led back to Percy.
She takes a deep breath to clear her thoughts, jumping up when Thalia crashes through the undergrowth to stop next to her. "Where?" the immortal daughter of Zeus asks.
The goddess gestures to the paw print in plain view. "Look for yourself."
Thalia's eyebrows furrow as she bends over to inspect the ground, brushing aside a leaf half-covering the print. With a sigh, she stands after several long seconds. "Well, it's not Kronos. That's for sure. The prints aren't deep enough." She carefully brushes aside other leaves with her combat boot, revealing another print. "Yeah, not deep enough," she repeats firmly. "And the claw marks are too small to be Kronos' too."
"Whose do you think they are then?"
"I'd say a second generation, lean. The prints are pretty light too so-"
"Lelantos?" Annabeth guessed.
Thalia nods. "That's what I'd say. Unless there's another Titan who knows how to stay light on his feet. Considering the bulk on the majority of them, that's not many."
"Right."
"Good thing Jason's coming to meet us," Thalia murmured. "We could use him on this."
Annabeth peered up through the canopy above them, the light from the rising sun casting golden rays over the trees. "We'll lose the advantage of night soon."
"It was never an advantage to begin with," Thalia grumbled. "Tracking a Titan-turned-wolf in the night? Bad idea."
"It wasn't my decision," Annabeth shot back. "Zeus decided."
"Of course he did," Thalia sighed.
"Alright, fine. But can we wait for Jason before we move any further? In the current circumstances we shouldn't just charge in."
Annabeth knew exactly what Thalia was talking about. Since Percy's death a month ago the war had entered an entirely new stage, the shaky alliance between Othrys and Olympus crumbling. The Titans had fought with a savage glee that honestly disturbed Annabeth, their army a seemingly endless wave despite Kronos being forced to relinquish Tartarus back to the Primordial. Monsters were having to leave Tartarus the usual way, but they were still wide-spread over America.
"I know," Annabeth murmured. The Titans aren't holding back.
Lightning rips across the sky, and the two look up as Jason flies overhead, landing nimbly beside Thalia. "I got your message," he said. "One of them is here?"
"We think it's Lelantos," Annabeth informed him.
Jason nodded. "Okay," he breathed. "That's – well, that's better than one of the others if we're the only ones here."
They were lucky when they had managed to capture Kronos, that's obvious to Annabeth now. And he'd been wanting them to take him captive, for a reason that Athena can't comprehend.
A twig snapped among the undergrowth around them, causing Annabeth to freeze. She searches with her mind, concentrating as she remembers what Athena had taught her. It hits her with the force of a truck, slamming into her chest and forcing the air from her lungs.
"Annabeth!" Thalia exclaimed when she saw her best friend double over, gasping for breath.
"He's here," Annabeth choked out. "Now – the trees."
Instantly, Thalia turned, raising her bow as electricity sparks down Jason's hands. "Where?"
There are still enough shadows that they can't see the giant wolf stalking them from the undergrowth.
"He's here," Annabeth pressed, divine energy twisting around her fingers.
Thalia is the first to see the beast, instantly loosing an arrow towards the Titan. She's unsurprised when the arrow clatters harmlessly to the mud beneath their feet, but the Titan disappears into the darkness.
"Annabeth?" Thalia questioned, scanning the shadows.
Annabeth hesitated slightly, pausing until she nodded – her decision made. "We follow him."
Iapetus had to shield his eyes as he stepped into the throne room, casting his gaze to the ground to avoid the light emitting from his brother. It was like there was a fucking sun before him, but he knew it was quite the opposite. If anything, his youngest brother was a black hole, a void which festered and corroded further with every passing day.
The bright light abruptly lowered to a bearable level, and Iapetus turned to look at Kronos.
"You bear news?" Kronos prompted.
Iapetus briefly scanned the map of America on the marble table. "Yes. Lelantos reports that his operation is in progress – three of them are following him."
"Only three?"
"They evidently don't believe him to be worth the effort. Understandable, I suppose, considering there have so far been no opportunities for him to prove them wrong."
Kronos cocked his head to the side, studying his brother. Iapetus returns the favour, hiding his worry as he does so. The past month had been hard on Kronos, hard on all of Othrys.
Erebus seemed content to wait out the war between Othrys and Olympus, watching them batter each other apart, and Kronos was all too happy to oblige. And Iapetus found himself agreeing with his brother.
"Inform Lelantos that if no more show up within the hour, the plan is to go ahead," Kronos finally ordered. "We can waste no more time waiting."
Iapetus bowed his head. It was a simple yet well thought-out plan. Lelantos would get several immortals to follow him, and Hyperion would move through the gap created. By the time Olympus realised Lelantos was merely a distraction, it would be too late. Hyperion was to cause chaos, and Lelantos was to turn the hunters into the prey.
Once the three immortals were in Othrys' custody, Kronos could get the information he so desperately sought – the location of the Doors of Death which Olympus had secured. And, subsequently, the locations at which Perseus may return.
"How's our guest doing?" Kronos asked, his voice low.
Iapetus' jaw tightened. "He's settling down."
"The location?" Kronos demanded, sidling around the solid marble table to approach Iapetus, golden armour emitting a brilliant glow. His eyes were dark, the ever-present fury which fuelled him burning through his heart.
"Not yet known." When Kronos' eyes narrow, Iapetus continues. "But I will find out."
"See that you do. He is useless if he won't speak, and I see no reason to keep him alive." The King crossed his arms, eyes flickering back to the black marble table. "Everything is progressing as I have planned," he mused in satisfaction, eyes on the bright speck which marked Hyperion burning a path through the first defence of Olympus. Kronos glanced back at Iapetus. "You wish to join him," he remarked.
"It's boring simply standing back and watching whilst our brothers fight."
"Your task is far more important than theirs," Kronos said flatly. "You and Phoebe must find the Doors and secure them."
"I know our duty," Iapetus rumbled. "But it's one thing to locate a Door of Death, an entirely different objective is securing it. And there are dozens across the surface."
Kronos' eyes narrowed slightly. "Which is why we have the son of Hades to assist."
"Assist?" Iapetus repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That's what you call it?"
His brother merely smiled. "You have your orders – go."
Iapetus bowed his head and did as ordered, leaving Kronos to turn back to the table. The great doors dragged across the ground as they shut behind him, the loud thud echoing down the dark corridors and making the Greek fire torches waver, threatening to plunge Othrys into darkness.
There was so much to do, Iapetus mused, and so little time.
I have so many plans for this sequel! Let the games begin!