A/N: Hi everyone Agrippa here for another story hopes you like it =) and also ideas are welcome here and if I have some mistakes you are free to correct me, I'm also the kind that says DON'T LIKE IT DON'T READ IT this is fan fiction meaning unleash your imagination if this story does not suit your style you are free to get out and find another story
I Do Not Own Percy Jackson or the Hero of Olympus
WARNING: Some of the facts, events in this story is not accurate, ALSO the PLOT from here onward will change but but still stay close to the original
Rewritten as of 07 JUNE 2014
Chapter 1- AN OFFER I CAN'T REFUSE
I'm dying slowly…. Ironic isn't it? I survived the Gods, Titans and Giants just to be killed by my own family, well they did not kill me literally but figuratively they shattered me.
This torture started 1 year after the 2nd Giants war, the Romans and Greeks stayed separate because they still don't fully trust each other because of the blood of their ancestor flowing through their veins and too much blood has been spilled between them... us that just can't be washed (Despite the rift being healed by Reyna things have already been done, you can forgive but you can't forget), so the Gods created a law to make both camps have to visit at least once a week, it might not break the long hated rivalry but it will soften it
The Romans decided to always visited at Friday so that they can fight the Greeks in Capture the flag their animosity is far greater than us Greeks because we drove them out of their home, well they started it though, but I guess we can't judge a nation because of an action of one. Greeks visited on Sunday on where the Romans are having their day off, whether they did it just to spend time with them or to spite them is lost to me considering I'm literally both Roman and Greek now (As I have been born as a Greek but marked as a Roman).
Distrust and tension still hung in the air whenever each camp visited each other and it grows more when a son of both Jupiter and Zeus came to Camp Half-Blood accompany by Zeus himself (Dont know how that happened, sorry but I'm no Son of Athena and Damn.. special treatment much? Thalia and Jason is so going to be pissed, Oh wait they already are, wonder how Zeus survived both Juno and Hera's wrath)
They appeared after playing Capture the Flag meaning the Romans are here, looking troubled which led us totally kicking their podex which totally ruins the spirit of the fight, seriously who enjoyed a battle served in a silver platter before you, totally not me, despite always hating danger in my life, I can't fight my nature, one who always enjoyed the thrill of a battle (Blame my Father's Ancient blood) sorry getting distracted here so anyway the father and son appeared by the stage beside Chiron which made us all bow (I only bowed my head while others gave a kneel-bow which made Zeus glare at me but screw him I done so many things for his Pantheon that at least I can have some freedom), Zeus introduced his son Gladius The warrior (what? no surname? just title? and he really deserved his namesake, seriously Golden hair? amber eyes? short but stocky? sharp feature and add a golden tooth you have Gladius the Warrior, looked like something a pirate will trying to get) and said he shall be staying in Camp Half-Blood even though he's half Roman, so we Greeks were expecting a shout of outrage (Because the Romans want to show that they are superior to us Greeks) but what shocked us most is that they seem to be relieved hearing Gladius won't be staying for them which confused us more but ignored it and told Gladius is to be treated with respect because he have gone so many hardship *cough**cough* Thalia *cough**cough* if Zeus heard my 'discrete' message about his runaway daughter who have been attacked by hundreds maybe thousands of monster while protecting two other Demigod and a satyr toward Camp Halfblood and died protecting them on which he only turned her into a tree to preserve her life while he gave this son a safe and comfortable trip and add to that point is that he did it personally which I can be assured will piss Thalia but then again he paid it no mind (probably thinking that a God can do whatever he wants, choose favorites and shouldn't be afraid of us mere demigods).
As the introductions done (Which Zeus flashing away dramatically) Chiron told us to sleep because it's past the curfew we obeyed obediently because we were tired for today but before I even got a chance to walk to my cabin I saw something moved on the forest something big (and hairy with glowing yellow eyes) , I was about to uncapped my trusty thirty cent ballpoint pen/sword Riptide and kill that beast but Reyna called me (or rather yelled) at me to go to sleep (couldn't she just say go to bed? oh wait that will only sound like a mother to me), I was about to ignore her and continue on my intent on killing that beast but then Frank blocked my way with his arms crossed in his chest and rolled his baby eyes at me (I briefly wondered if puppy dog eyes can be effective but then again he can just shift in to a puppy and do it the Zhang way)
"Come on Perce I don't want to see you get beat up by Reyna today I suggest you follow her order" Frank said smirking at me
I just rolled my eyes at him and said "I really don't mind getting beat up by Reyna" if she can, ego alert! hey I can be smug of my experience at least "I am more worried on letting a huge unknown beast killed me while sleeping"
Frank just raised his eyebrow at me which made me glare at him, he just smirk at me and shake his head then laugh
"Dude doesn't the thought that Mrs. O'Leary might be the one you saw?" Frank said smiling at me; I turned my head to hide my embarrassment, truth to be told he did have a point a very good one at least but hey you can't blame me being cautious, years of being hunted like a prey does that to you (I guarantee it)
Frank has been getting closer to Mrs. O'Leary because she kept playing with Hannibal the elephant and Frank on his spare time always stayed with Hannibal (I wonder if he sometimes joins them in their rough playing, turning into a dragon).
I capped my sword returning it back to a pen (because it will be strange talking to Frank with a sword between us like an enemy) and looked at Frank "You can't make me sleep if there's something out there that is huge and probably dangerous"
"Perce there is something out there, that is your forest right? you know full of monster and lot"
"Yeah but nothing gets this close"
"You mean you guys sleep in your cabin with the forest beside you, open to any attacks?"
"Uhh no?"
"Is that a question or an answer?"
Well it just came to my mind that kind of point, so I really don't have an answer to Franks question which leaves a very awkward atmosphere but thankfully Chiron saves me from my embarrassment (Thank you Mentor)
"The Nymphs and other nature spirit keep track of the forest and alert us if any of the monster goes to close for our liking and also serves us a lookout whenever we play Capture-the-Flag, do you really think that I can watch everyone of you play and make sure you follows the safety rule?" Chiron said smiling at us
"The satyrs know of this because of their infatuation with the Nymphs but almost all of the Demigods took this for granted only the Athena cabin asked me of this and sometimes just those overly curious Half-blood also Monster wouldn't dare come this close" Chiron said looking at me (As if saying its my fault) "But enough chit-chat time to sleep the Nymphs reported nothing so it must be Mrs. O'Leary having a night stroll"
I trust Chiron about this considering he runs the camp so I just walk to my lonesome cabin saying goodnight to Frank and waving goodbye to Reyna.
Sometimes it's the smallest decision that can change your life Forever.
The months that follow the mighty Warrior introduction is just fine with me because all their attention shifted to him which made me happy because I don't have to handle the demigods paparazzi and trust me they're 10 times worst than the Mortal paparazzi.
As day passes some of my so called friends seem to have forgotten me (few of them and some campers just ignored both Gladius and me) and what is more shocking the Romans is the one who always stayed by my side (guess it has something to do with me for regaining their honor but nevertheless its nice to have someone treated me normal, as normal as Demigod can be) but only once a week I can actually see and chat with them we always Iris message each other but I guess it's not enough.
Annabeth seems to be seeing another man because she never sees me and always avoiding me, I might be clueless sometimes but I'm not an idiot… I guess I'm just waiting for her to have enough courage to tell me the truth no matter how painful it is, so that I can move on (Probably after destroying some properties).
All the lies she told me when I give her a chance to tell me the truth seems like an acid burning through my skin (Did she know how much I was sacrificing just by giving her a chance), why cant she just tell me and be done with it rather than prolonging it making me think that its just my imagination and then came crashing through it but I need to endure…. I HAVE TO. For God sake I'm literally a magnet for trouble, attraction for danger and Death's wish for my soul for him to reap (despite saving him from his icy prison but Nooooo... Death own no favor. Bastard)
But it's around the 3rd month that strikes a blow to me. I was planning on meeting Reyna by the Zeus fist because she said she wanted to show me something (Hope she let go off our conversation back then when she invited me to be a Praetor because despite Annabeth and I having a rift between us I'm still loyal to her. Stupid fatal flaw).
Walking through the forest I recalled everything that happens through the months.
Gladius is like his father proud, boastful and arrogant. He knows how to lead and powerful too he almost beat me on a battle keyword almost when he was about to deliver the winning blow he let his arrogant overrule him slowly walking toward me, gave me time to counterattack his move and win (And thank the almighty Neptune of his Father's arrogance because if I lose a battle with him I'll eat Riptide and spat the shards at him, I refuse to be beaten by an arrogant bastard and Thalia will probably skin me alive if I got beaten by him, their relationship is so tense that whenever they meet it always resulted in a battle until both of them ended up in the infirmary but when the Camp infirmary got destroyed it was in the best of everyone that Thalia was to be treated in the Huntresses camp while Gladius get treated in the bighouse, beside Chiron and Dionysus when Thalia go as far as attacking the Campers that treated Gladius, like a saying goes Hell hath no Fury as a woman scorned).
After that battle everyone seem to be intent on teaching Gladius especially Annabeth (What! they want me to get defeated by him? seriously people, what so special with him?)
Every day is making my worst fear come true but rather than feel deep hatred at them, I feel angry burst of monstrous fire in my chest kept raging everyday wanting to get out and let them pay for their treachery, I save their life, led them to victory, lost some of myself just for them to live another day and this is how they repay me?
Why am I feeling like this? I was never this violent except with Gabe... after probably destroying the 21st dummy I decided to go to the beach where the waters always soothe me giving me a clear mind.
No one ever go to the beach except maybe if there is an activity or some dates because when I came in Camp Halfblood this became my sanctuary, my territory and they knew full well what happen if they caught me in a bad mood like now
So imagine my surprise when I see a familiar man with a Khaki shorts, fisherman hat and a shirt that says 'A smooth sea never makes a great Sailor' looking at the ocean
"Dad? what are you doing here?" I asked as I stood beside him letting the waves splash at my thighs making my anger slowly disappear
"Oh you know relaxing and making sure my son is alright" Dad said grinning at me
"I'm fine Dad" I grumbled but can't help a smile appear in my face touched that my Dad here to comfort me (despite him breaking the rule, but were troublemakers so it's in our job description to break rules probably that's why Lady Athena/Minerva hates our guts)
"Hmph sure lie to your old man will ya" Dad said sitting in the sand
"Oh please Dad your an Almighty God" I rolled my eyes at this but continued "You know what's happening"
Dad gave me a sad smile "These challenges is a test to us Percy, if your strong enough to pass this it will make you stronger if not then it will shatter you, We are the sea my son always moving, always changing. We have to adapt fast in order to survive" looking at the horizon Dad stood up again and gave me his hat
"I need to go duty calls" Dad frowned as he said this "This old man can't have a break eh but nevertheless I will give you an advice as I have given to all of my child when its their time of the month" (I glared at him as he said this, what am I a woman?)
Dad lowered himself to look directly in my eyes and I just realized that Dads eyes held lightning continuously moving inside his iris radiating power, experience and intellect beyond measure (Who said Dad is an idiot? taming the Sea is a job that require both mind, will and strength)
"Brace yourself" after that Dad disappeared leaving a freshwater scent in his wake.
After that meeting (I was disappointed, seriously just 2 words? not a motivational speech or something?) I examined the hat Dad given me and found it change into ocean blue with bronze trimming with a gleaming golden Trident stood proudly in the middle with a yellowish green gemstone cut in square in the middle, bronze with silver outline flippers stretched on either side of the Trident like a wing and SPQR behind it in gold
I realize that while I wear the hat I feel calm, my emotions bottled up inside and I can trigger it to play certain emotions, a complete control of my mind (I was expecting invisibility like Annnabeth's hat but I guess I needed this more) which made me so happy I sacrificed my whole plate to Dad, add in an Ambrosia and Nectar, the horn of the Minotaur (I never used it anyway) and the tie I was to give him on Father's day (Wonder if it will appear burnt).
The hat did nothing to the fire that I feel on my chest on the contrary it only makes it bigger but strangely enough it never explode (Not in grenade way mind you but to lose control of emotion but I guess the hat helps). I never took it off always in my head even indoors which made some campers look at me weirdly.
I just ignored that fire but sometimes my body suddenly will have a mind of its own and move without my say but it saved me many times so I just ignored it thinking its my new instinct or something (You know 6th sense or something), I don't know how that happens I just remembered a feeling I can't recognize and my body automatically moves, but I have a feeling that it have something to do with the fire in my chest (Which I started to call Regire, you know because Rage + Fire, I know not creative but sue me, its my life so sod off and the answer on why I named it, is because it feels like another being is inside me)
I was brought back to my reminiscing of the past by being beach slap by a branch making me lose balance and fall to my back and landing on a comfortable rock (Note the sarcasm) but thankful enough I only felt a stinging pain (One thing I hate about that instinct is that it didn't save me from embarrassment like this for instance beach slap by a branch now, what happen to the hundreds of branch I passed off?)anyway one of the things I acquired when this instinct was started to form in my body I can endure the pain to the extent that I can only feel mild pain.
I stood up grabbing my hat as it fell off when I got attacked by the branch, dusted it off and put it back my head letting the soothing feeling washed over me. I looked around at the familiar surroundings, I'm almost at the Zeus fist (Just a few steps away yipee), when I was about to go to the clearing I heard a loud thud and my Instinct (Oh now you activate, I must be losing my mind talking to a part of myself) came to action.
The unknown feeling came and my body ready for a spring then jump to the nearest branch, my hand grab it and pull myself up and squat, the branch lowered at my weight and the leaves rustled a little, then I came back to my senses, I meant in control.
I looked around looking where the sound came from. My instinct (I know it's weird to call your senses like it have a mind of its own but that is what I felt, like another entity inside me) chose well, for the leaves covered me making me camouflage to my surroundings but still have some space I can look outside to
What I saw is my worst nightmare, Gladius straddling Annabeth (Sorry second worst nightmare the first one involved both of them in a horizontal tango and me catching them in the act), the sound must have come from them and I don't want to know how they got into that position (because if I did I might snap and make one of my cousin lose the ability to have a child as I shove it in his throat and for the record I don't hit girls except if they prove to be a danger to me but maybe Annabeth is an exception? but my mother taught me that and I shall uphold it).
My blood boil, my vision darken I tighten my grip on the branch and could feel it crumble slowly, splinters getting on my hand, my legs tensed ready to jump down, drew Riptide then slash first before asking a question but a voice cut through my mind like hot knife cutting through butter.
"Are you sure you're ready to face them in that condition Percy?" I didn't need to look to know that Reyna is standing beside me on the branch and leaning against the trunk probably with her arms crossed on her chest looking at the 2 people on the clearing or on me.
I wanted to say yes then start the slashing but my hat glowed and felt my mind go foggy for a second then cleared taking with them my anger, shaking my heads to clear my thought again I gritted my teeth, I wanted to be angry, I wanted to destroy, I wanted to kill but the stupid hat took away my reason, as my head grew clearer the sight that greeted me made me found my reason again, I saw both of them making out in front of me
I could feel my rage growing again but Reyna shifted her attention to me, her eyes looked through me and felt a primordial fear, instinct that was ingrained in my very being and recently taught by Lupa saying she's the Alpha female which ignited a reaction to me to submit making my head look at the ground
"What are you doing here?" I said (as I gathered my courage and pride and composed myself) as I started to go down clumsily making the leaves shook wildly hoping to stop the make out session in the clearing (I can't confront them yet, I'm not some compulsive, attack on sight children of Ares but that doesn't mean I can't have revenge, Oh they just wait, I'll show them on why you should not cross a Son of the sea, like what my enemies told me, Revenge is a dish best served cold) but the 2 persons did not even notice it I felt angry wanting nothing more than to see them hurt (Control yourself, breath in, breath out, now is not the time for me to lose control), I'm maybe no son of Hades who hold a grudge but I'm a son of Poseidon who can give a blazing storm of fury against them that will make them weary of any water near them.
When I was safely down I looked up waiting for Reyna to join me, the feeling never left me but it subsided a little now, the feeling in the presence of an Alpha.
She was looking at the Zeus fist then looked at me her face unreadable then jump down, her landing was graceful that I can say, her feet touch the ground with no sound at all making me raise my eyebrow asking a silent question 'where in the name of Neptune did you learn that?'
She looked at me rolling her eyes but did not answer my unspoken question instead she walks deeper in the forest looking back at me, waiting for me to follow her
I followed her and she continued walking, I ran to walk beside her (I wanted to yell for her to slow down but something is stopping me, the same feeling earlier) we walked for a bit in a tense atmosphere making me uncomfortable
"I ask you to meet me here didn't I?" she said
"Huh?" I said confuse on what she's talking about
"You were asking what I was doing here were you not?" she said looking sideways at me with her eyebrows raised without breaking her stride
I blushed, truth to be told I forgot my own question "Uh right" I replied but then I remembered what I saw in the Zeus fist and my face grew cold, sweet coral beach I feel... sadistic? brutal? violent? this negative emotions is storming inside me... changing me URHG! but the promise of revenge is the only thing I'm holding into
"So is the scene back there is the one you wanted to show me?" I said looking straight at her eyes challenging her at the burst of strength inside me
She smirked at me which made me irritated but before I could even comment she said "Partially yes but that's not all of it but I believe you already know that aren't you?" ('Of course I know that I'm not some stupid clueless boy, I've gone through wars and know the feeling of betrayal firsthand' is what I wanted to say but I kept quiet knowing saying that will be stupid considering Reyna was beside me when we got betrayed)
She looked straight in the forest not stopping and we walked in silence, remembering that this girl beside me lost too much that thing like relationship never bothered her, after a while I decided to break the silence
"What else do you want to talk about or we're just walking aimlessly around and attracting some monster" I said looking around me trying to forget the scene back in the Zeus fist fingering my ball pen wishing some monster to attack to get some steam of off me.
"I want to introduce you to someone and hope to give you an invitation" Reyna said
"Invitation to what?" I said looking back at her
"To a new camp I guess"
"There's another camp?"
"Yes, you ever wonder that if there's a group only for girls, The Huntresses of Artemis then out there is another group only for boys"
"Yeah but as far as I know it doesn't exist"
"No they exist they are just hiding"
"Why would they be hiding?"
"Because of their Origin"
"Huh?"
"Let's just say that if they are known to some Gods they will be immediately exterminated without mercy"
"And you want me to join this group?" I said amused that she will invite me in a group who could be very my own one way ticket to Hades
"Of course not, I'm talking to another group, MY group" Reyna said rolling his eyes at me
"Then why speak of it when it's not the group you wanted me to join" I said glaring at her, irritated at her misleading facts
"Nothing just additional fact" Her face unreadable making my glare intensifies
"Back to the point, I'm going to introduce to you the Lieutenant to asses if you can join us"
"Wait wait wait you didn't even ask me if I wanted to join this camp, sorry but I already have too much in my plate and things are progressing to fast" I said stopping for a moment but she kept walking which made me catch up to her again
"No you are already a candidate for recruitment the moment you ended up in Camp Jupiter, you just didn't know it, and it doesn't matter if you want to join or not, once the Commandant set her eye on something nothing in this world can stop her"
"What!? isn't that, oh I don't know.. Pushy?" I said looking at her like shes crazy
"No trust me on this Jackson, you won't regret this and also" she paused here for a moment looking at me "It's not permanent, you can do whatever you want as long as you finished your training or if there is Mission, isn't that what you want freedom to do whatever you want? Power?"
As she kept walking again I ponder her statement of course I want to be free not needing to hide my scent, wanting to spend my time to my Mother, acting like a normal teenager but what she says is not the freedom I longed for and what do I need power for, my Family and friends is all that mattered to me
"Of course not, what you want is what every Demigod wanted in their life, the freedom I spoke of is the ability to harness your power and use it to achieve the freedom you wanted or close to it anyway, I guess Power is the word"
"Wait!? How did you know what I was thinking" I said running again to catch up to her seriously can't we just stop to talk so that I don't have to keep catching up to her
"No, what Jackson can't multitask?" Reyna said taunting me
My pride as a man reared up "Of course I can, I just thought you need a break"
"Sureee" Reyna said prolonging the e''
"Stop sidetracking me and just answer my question" I said feeling irritated
"Are you stupid Jackson of course I can read mind, what else are you thinking about"
I gritted my teeth "I was thinking when did you get that kind of power"
"I manifested it in my training in this group, in the camp"
"Oh sponsoring something eh Ramirez-Arellano or should I call you RA-RA since were in last irritating name basis" She glared at me when I said this which made me smirk
"Of course I'm sponsoring Jackson considering I'm inviting you, what do you want me to do threaten you?" I sighed at this.
"Just give this group a chance Percy, for old times sake" Reyna said her voice softening making me look at her confused at the change of attitude and saw her eyes broken but determined and I smiled at this she never beg but she can plead and it touched me that she trust me enough to actually let me see this side of her
"Fine fine but if your Lieutenant hates my guts or if I don't like him, I'm out" at this Reyna smiled
"Don't worry I'm sure you're going to like him considering he is your brother" she said as she stop and grin at me while putting her fingers through her ears
I'm confused on why she's acting carefree all of a sudden but then her words finally registered to me and I stood frozen in the spot "SAY WHAT!?" I yelled to the top of my lungs making the birds fly away
I looked at her waiting for her to say 'just kidding' but she stood there taking her fingers of off her ears and then leaned up to the nearest trunk and crossed her arms in her chest still grinning at me but not saying anything. (Which made me do the incentive)
"You're kidding right?" I said still not recovering for my outburst; my expression must have looked funny because Reyna's grins turn into a chuckle which shocked me more because I never heard her chuckle (Smirks and grin but not that, but if she started to laugh I will draw my Riptide and ask her what she did to Reyna).
"Nope" she said popping the 'p' she stopped chuckling already and now she's only smiling (Since when did she turned playful?)
She just stands there smiling looking at me but when I recovered she turned serious and looked toward the sky
And that just shocked me, as far as I'm concerned it was still afternoon when we met near the Zeus fist but now it must be midnight and trees seem to be huge than the last time, the moons light shine through the thick jungle canopy making it looked mysterious and dangerous yet enchantingly beautiful (Alluring you so that will make you lower your guard but my experience with that kind of trap made me know when something fishy is going on)
I looked again at Reyna and she looked at me then smile softly though it didn't reach her calculating and cold eyes of the warrior, one that have tasted war and blood but if you looked deeper you can see that she is tired and weary the hidden eyes of a Leader.
"Beautiful isn't" she said still looking at me, I suddenly felt suspicious, something is going to happen, something big...
"It is but it is only the cover, we don't know what is beneath its beauty" I said narrowing my eyes at her backing away slowly at her
She just smiled at me and tilted her head slightly "Its nice to learn this kind of things isn't? because now we are not innocent, we can't be fooled by their outer appearance, for experience have strengthen us making us question everything around us, always weary, always suspicious, such as the life of a prey" I raised my eyebrow at her statement my senses tingling warning me.
Reyna saw my body tense which made her smirk... the smirk of a predator which made me automatically reach for my pen but before I could touch it Reyna TRANSFORMED! Not in the monster way but more like a Goddess meaning shining so brightly I have to look away and at the sudden change made me jump back bumping into something soft which made me look up and saw a Man.
There stood a masked stranger 6"8 foot tall making me look small beside him, he had a masked that covers his eyes like a masquerade mask but more of a hunter type because of the different teeth that a arranged like a tip of the crown and the different bones shifted together, it also cover around his face except his mouth, ear and hair though I can see his eyes, his piercing, calculating cold edge, silver eyes staring right through me like staring through my soul which made me froze the same feeling of primordial fear making me want to submit
He raised his eyebrow and grin at me and the spell broke I can move again and I ran toward the supposed to be Reyna and in my defense I rather go and stay with 'Reyna', it's not that I'm saying I'm preying on weak people (Or I'm racist because choosing Reyna meant that a girl is weaker than a man) it's just that… I rather fight a person I'm familiar with than an unknown man that has an aura that screamed 'DANGEROUS'
As I practically ran back on where 'Reyna' was standing I almost squeek in surprise and disbelief(almost I'm too manly for that) that is because I can't recognize her
She still have that long luscious black hair of her but tied in a ponytail and what's most shocking is that it has silver streak in it (I wondered if she took the weight of the sky sometimes ago) she wore no mask only a silver circlet similar to the one Thalia's wearing only this time there is some kind of a gem embedded in the middle, her shining obsidian eyes are the same as the man but without mask hiding her face so I can see strange marking in her face like a tattoo except the color of obsidian that shine through the light
She has a crescent moon on the center of her forehead with a staff and a torch crossed in it and 2 stripes that suspiciously shaped like a fangs under both of her eyes and end at the side of her lips and have a black collar with the same gem that is in her circlet in the middle, she was wearing a dark blue cargo pants with black tribal marking and brown cuff at the end (the one you see in the jacket of cold places like Alaska) with a plated combat boots
I blushed when I noticed that she wasn't wearing any shirt just in her black sports bra like her boots it has some black metal plates interlacing with the modern sports bra (One that act like a half shirt) with a protech snowpulse (search it) vest except dark blue and have black tribal markings (That suspiciously looked like its composed of runes), she have a plated finger less gauntlet that seems to glow, she also has a black scarf tied to her left arm which in my opinion she looked like an Amazonian huntress who became immortal (Ironic considering her sister is the Queen of the Amazon and her name is Queen is Spanish)
I just stood there frozen, looking at her, she grins at me then walk toward me like a wolf stalking to her prey, her every step are filled with grace and power because even at distance I can sense the power behind her legs, years of fighting and experience saved me as I regain myself
I grabbed my pen and uncapped it making Riptide appear in my hand my body automatically move to a defensive position ready to respond to any threat but then…..
"Whoa! Bro chill were not here to fight you" the man said his voice deep and husky (Like he overused it at some point but its timbre made me wonder if hes in the Army) Okay I loathe to admit I forgot that the man were still there but come on I'm ADHD I have the attention span of a gold fish so don't expect me to pay attention ,despite having experience in ambushes, it is always my instinct on which I relied on and probably my instinct just told me he didn't want to hurt me so it didn't think he need to be watched.
So I never took my eyes off the unknown girl who is still walking toward me but then my slow brain registered what that man said
My sword dropped a little at my surprise but that's enough for the unknown girl to jump toward me and disarmed me so fast that as I blink I'm already weaponless.
My instinct came again and I grabbed her hand to judo throw her toward the man but she counterattack it, she gripped my wrist cartwheeled behind me giving a light push on my knees with her boots not enough to physically hurt me but enough to bend and fall face first in the forest floor
I was about to get up but the girl sat at my back making it impossible to breath and get up trust me this girl is heavy (and I was surprised everything happened so fast).
She sent more weight on me making me choke and struggle up for air (She heard that?)
"I'm not heavy you dolt" She snarls at me getting comfortable in my back, I can't reply because I really can't breath (though my brain seemed to be more focused at her wriggling than on my lack of breath, UHG get your mind out of the gutter Jackson, you still have an Official Girlfriend)
"Reyna stop you're going to choke him both by your weight and by your beauty" the man said, in my position I can't see him but I can imagine him smirking at 'Reyna' (and is he having a death wish? telling a girl shes fat outright may lead to a one way ticket of pain though he did say shes beautiful...)
I heard a loud thud (Probably the girl smacking the man) and the pressure in my back lifted a little enough for me to breath (Thank Poseidon for that) but not enough for me to struggle or escape (Blast, maybe Riptide already returned in my pocket I just need to get it discretely)
"So you're saying I'm beautiful then Silver?" Reyna said (Good make a conversation so that you guys are distracted and I can focus more on getting out of here) shifting a little on my back to get comfortable (There goes that focus..) but I can guess she's grinning toward the man named Silver (Who named their child Silver?)
"By my Brother standard of course" Silver said (Oi don't get me involved in your argument I still want my family jewels)
"Real mature Silver" Reyna said which confuse me 'huh?' (Probably sticking his tongue out at her?, yeah if he's my brother I will also retort in that tactics)
Suddenly there were boots right in front of me the same with 'Reyna' except more silver than black (Probably reference to his name) and when it move it shone different color like the wings of Thanatos shades of blue, black and purple (Cool but please I don't like any reference with death especially when I'm vulnerable like this).
"Sorry we have to put you in that position Bro we can't let you go berserk now are we?" the man named Silver said (You don't sound so sorry and why would you even need to restrain me considering there is two of you and only one of me)
"What in the name of Hades is going on?" I said in a calm voice (No point getting angry when your trap, learned that lesson when I'm in Tartarus, it also help to conserve my energy and think clearly, speaking of clearly where is my HAT!?) glaring at the boots in front of me and I idly realize that I can see my reflection looking back at me which distracted me a little.
"Now that is my brother calm at the face of unknown danger" Silver laughed and I started to feel uncomfortable (though the girl sitting behind me is a great motivator to stay down, I still don't know her and I'm not some weak willed man who go after their looks)
"Ahhh but brother you already know her and she is quite comfortable sitting in your back, here's a hint she's the girl who had a crush on you when you saved her Home, you know a camp named after a God and bringing her sister back to her gave you points in her book" Silver said snickering before my weight in my back faded and the boots that was right in my face disappears
"HELP! OI BROTHER GET THIS AMAZONIAN HUNTRESS THAT TURNED INTO IMMORTAL TO STOP CHASING ME!" Silver said as I heard him shriek (That's what you get for getting in my head)
I tried to sit up but found myself drained from the lack of air (Strange I feel like something is draining my powers) so I just turn on my back and rest for a while watching the leaves rustles above me.
Seconds passed before I heard footsteps coming towards me and I saw the face of the man, in front of me his hair is a little messier than earlier so I assumed Reyna got him (And the shriek is also an evidence)
He pouted at me and said "You didn't even help me?" the sound of his voice made me almost feel sorry for him... almost
"Hmph, my Brother seems to be enjoying my misery" He said glaring at me but helped get into a sitting position but then I felt my body go slack which made me panic thinking he did something to me but the man just caught me and moving toward a tree letting me lean at it
"Calm down Perseus, nothing will go right if you're panicking, your lost control of your body is a defensive mechanism here in the forest, especially effective to those who are not marked" Reyna said, I looked at her and despite the slight change in appearance and personality I guess she's still the old Reyna I know (Her slightly aloof tone is the same as I remember I guess)
"So are you really Reyna?" I said just to make sure (Caution is one of the best habit I got from the Giants war)
Reyna give me a cold stare "Of course I am Reyna you know, the Praetor you left back then?" (Hey its not like its my fault duty calls in the form of Prophecy) is what I wanted to say but I just chose the safe option, the dress option.
"Why are you dressed like that and ho-" I questioned before I got cut off by Silver
"We can't explain it to you until you join us" Silver said smiling (The smile that says I know something you don't) at me now that I can look at him fully he wore the same outfit as Reyna the strange mix of knight and modern hunter suit, same as Reyna he is not wearing a shirt revealing his fully formed 6 pack abs and defined muscle in his arms but it looked like it can only use in super model not in battle because it look soft and lean I guess
His silver eyes glared at me which made me flinch, his eyes glint menacingly at me promising lots of pain if I continued my thoughts
"You think I look like a supermodel eh brother?" he asked smiling coldly looking ready to kill
"Oh God you just activated his irritating spee-"
"Do I look like a supermodel who just walk through the stage displaying the oh so wonderful body, the oh so wonderful dress, as a WARRIOR, PREDATOR and A HUNTER that is the biggest insult I HAVE EVER TAKEN IN MY LIFE" Silver said his voice going to snarls and growls, clicks and sometimes a hiss, the rest of his speech I can't understand as he seemed to have taken a different language altogether which made Reyna rubbed her temple and glare at me, her eyes telling me 'Its your fault I got to listen to this again'
After a while Silver started to slow down his speech grumbling and mumbling under his breath of things that I really wished I hadn't heard.
"Done now?" Reyna said looking at Silver with disdain
Silver was about to answer but Reyna sharply said "Never mind" making Silver glare at her
"Back to our original purpose in this meeting" Reyna said looking at me her face expressionless
"Perseus this is Argentum Romanian Lycian, Kalthar Lycian, Silver or Lycodon choose you pick" Reyna said shrugging her shoulder "He's the right hand of our Commandant, he handles the recruitment, training, Field activity, missions, Soldiers and their health, Silver and I will be the one to train you when you join"
"What kind of group are we actually talking here?" I said wondering if this group will interfere with my Family and Friends
"This Group is dedicated in protecting the very nature of the world, one that cultivate it and kill it if it has gone out of control" Silver explained
"Nature?" I asked thinking of the forest and green life
"Not that kind of Nature, Nature as in the very foundation of every living and non living things" Reyna said rolling her eyes at me
"Remind me again why you guys need me in this group and what kind of Foundation are we talking about here?" I said looking at the two beings who literally looked like they can kill Immortals
"To join us balance the Primordial life in which we exist and serve Lady Chaos" she said ignoring my second question and continued sitting down in front of me
"Who's Chaos?" I said looking at Silver (Hoping he also answer my second question) who is now looking at Reyna
"Chaos is the first being who emerged from the 3rd age as well as the most powerful at that time" Reyna said looking at me cutting Silver answer making him glare at her but despite that continued on where she left off
"All the things started to her, everything and everyone but she is also bounded by her power" Silver said analyzing me "She is busy and as a result she don't have time to check on everything she created making some rebellions to start and try to take over"
"So in order to fight this she created Lord Order but despite their joined efforts, the Rebellions still continued so both of them thought to recruits many living things" Reyna said looking at me again "But she just don't recruit random people no" she said shaking her head "Gods, If that happens, wrong people getting more power will results more Chaos so She chose best of the best both in fighting and heart"
She stopped and looked at me "And now she plan on recruiting you" she said
I looked at her straight in the eye and asked "And if I refuse?" (Despite the intensity of the glare Reyna is giving me that promise of pain and torture if I dare break my deal with her I still wondered if I can't really have any rest and I don't know what to make of this 'Silver' person)
"And why would you refuse brother?" Silver said looking at me "You have nothing left to do, a new generation have emerged and if you truly care for them you must know how to let go" He said looking at me, there's something there but I don't know what that look is.
Sadness overwhelmed me but I stood my ground, I knew he was right (like the saying goes 'It hurts to let go but it hurts more to hold on') but I just can't leave my Family and Friends….
"Do not worry Perseus they already know" Reyna said smiling at me "They already know from the day that boy appeared" She said
It took me awhile to realized that she's talking about Gladius I was about to ask so many question (Like how they read my mind, does my Family also know?, Why are they relived when Gladius didn't join them? Why did the Romans stayed by my side? This Silver who and what he is? Isn't Chaos want more chaos in order for her to grow more stronger? What nature of the world? too many question, making my head swim) but before I could even open my mouth Silver spoke
"We cannot answer anymore question unless you join us Brother because greater things is at work here, we need to stabilize the amount of information we let go" He said becoming serious but then he smiled "So what is your choice"
I swallowed my saliva and asked "Can't I have some time to decide?"
"No this is a split-decision making Brother if you won't accept, you wouldn't remember this meeting, if you did... well why don't you find out?" Silver said smirking at me
I ignored the trap and looked back at the day Gladius appeared, the day Annabeth cheated on me is still fresh but my family Mom, Paul would they be okay without me? hell they would be a mess if I suddenly disappeared without warning, it leaves a foul taste in my mouth as I think of abandoning them
I was quite aware that Reyna and Silver already stood up waiting for my answer but I can't decide why would they want me, a hero who always screwed up at some point and endangers all around him to join them powerful and smart people, I was about to reject their offer (also because I don't want to abandon my family and friends despite all their mistakes I will not stoop so low as do what they did to me to them) but then Silver offered me his hand
"We are cursed, we Children of the Sea... Our Flaw... Personal Loyalty... Lady Athena is right, it is both a blessing and a curse depends on how we look at it... but.. we should be proud to have that gift.. do you know why Brother?" Silver asked looking at me
I looked back at him waiting for his answer
"Because the fates deem us worthy to hold such burden" Silver said taking my hat out behind him and dusting it off "We always Braced ourselves whenever things got rough and even at time whined of why our life sucks, cursing our Ancestor, blaming anyone just to make our self better but in the end we realize" Silver looked at me as he said this placing the hat back to my head "Our Ancestor faced the same thing we are facing now and yet we are here, so that means our Ancestor triumphed in life and they died for us to live this life so don't waste it Perseus Jackson, don't waste what our Ancestors have worked so hard for" Silver offered me his hand and Reyna mimicked his action.
"We will visit those of whom you wished to say goodbye before we begin your Introduction to the group" Reyna said
"So answer our question,Son of the Sea, will you follow you Ancestor footstep and live your life, shoulder this burden and do your duty as the Son of the sea, fill the purpose fate has given you at the cost of you losing what you have worked so hard against,leaving the peace and normal life of a Demigod or will you stay here in a camp while you rots away?" Silver ask his eyes glinting, despite the change of color, I could see the stormy lightning inside his Iris the same with Dad and probably me as well
My shoulder tensed as if saying to me its ready to shoulder the burden, my eyes glowed and then and there both of them knew..
I knew they know that this is an offer I cannot refuse.