AN: this is chapter one of Percy Jackson and The Gauntlet of Chaos: Wrath Of Atlas.
This is the first time I have considered writing a series after being away from FF for almost a good year. It had been a while since I had written something. This series is the brainchild of me wanting to write. So please if you could R&R so I can look to see how I am doing. And for fans a new chapter shall be up soon so stay tuned
Mischief Managed
The car ride was talkative. More so from Percy's mother than the Demigod occupants. Thalia and Annabeth rode in the back, Thalia leaning towards Ms. Jackson while Annabeth was grinning while looking out her window as Percy rode shotgun in front with his mother. For the past 6 hours she had been going on and on about Percy as he was little, Thalia and Annabeth were laughing hard as they heard at how Percy for three years couldn't sleep without his plushy blue dolphin, and how cute he looked as he slept with it. While they laughed Percy just sank deeper and deeper into his seat groaning, wishing his mother didn't get more talkative when she became nervous. But it did slightly break the nervous tension about the mission Percy and his friends were embarking on.
It had been months since Percy had seen Thalia and Annabeth. Soon after that day where Percy and Thalia got lost in the forest after a verbal dispute Annabeth had been busy catching up with her long lost best friend. Percy couldn't help but feel a little jealous about how much time he had Thalia had spent together but he couldn't blame Annabeth, it isn't everyday your thought to be dead best friend is resurrected.
But whenever Thalia could she and Percy managed to hang, their friendship bloomed and soon they became even closer. They managed to keep in touch after camp ended and they went their ways. Percy went back home and to a school in Manhattan. While Thalia and Annabeth went to an all girls' boarding school in Brooklyn, they Iris messaged each other every other week to keep up on Demigodly things. They were planning to spend their winter break together when Grover had called with an emergency. He said it wasn't safe to say over an Iris message and had to go to Westover Hall as soon as possible.
That call was the day before today and now the Demigods were ten minutes away from their destination, bags packed with their Demigodly needs and ready for anything. Well, almost anything. Percy wasn't ready to be embarrassed by his mother with baby stories. Then again who is ever really mentally prepared for the laughing and mocking when it comes to those stories.
Thalia's laughter died down as she finally saw what Westover Hall had looked like. Normally when you think of a boarding school you think of a college like campus, welcoming and friendly. Well, Westover hall was the complete opposite of that. In the blizzard it looked like an evil knights castle, all black stone, with towers and slit windows and a huge set of wooden double doors. It stood on a snowy cliff over looking a churning ocean and a big frosty forest.
"Oh this cant be too fun" Annabeth muttered.
"You sure you don't want me to wait?" asked Percy's mom, now really nervous at the sight of the school. Percy turned to her and gave her a reassuring smile "No, thanks mom, we don't know how long this'll take," he then looked to the castle, "We will be okay though." Thalia hoped Percy would be right about that. The castle gave her an uneasy feeling.
"But how will you get back? I'm worried Percy." And Thalia put a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry Ms. Jackson, Me and Annabeth will keep him safe"
" 'Annabeth and I' " corrected the daughter of Athena. Thalia rolled her eyes and Percy chuckled. "See, not even into danger and she's correcting, my grammar. As safe as can be" Thalia reassured. Thalia removed her hand and saw Ms. Jackson relax a little better, she turned to Percy and asked "Do you got everything you need?" and the whole car agreed in unison. Annabeth opened the door and started stretching her legs. "You sure? Extra sweaters? My cell number?"
"Mom-" Percy started
"Ambrosia and nectar? And did you make sure you guys have enough golden drachmas in case you need to contact camp?"
Thalia could see Percy tense and answered before he did "We are all wearing our extra sweaters so not to get cold, your cell is saved on wise girls phone. And between all of us combined we have a lot of Nectar and Ambrosia and Drachmas to feed a small old Greek colony and keep it in wealth for a good three years"
Annabeth heard and giggled from outside the car, muttering something about how Thalia never changed. Percy on the other hand slowly turned and looked at Thalia like she was some kind of alien, but that didn't last long as his look of shock turned into on of bemusing. "Well you heard Thals mom, we will be fine" he gave her a kiss on the cheek and exited the car shouldering his bag. Thalia looked towards Ms. Jackson and said "Don't worry, I got him covered, as long as I'm around he's in safe hands" she then patted her shoulder and exited the car closing the door behind her.
Ms. Jackson rolled down the passenger side window and then muttered, "Oh girls by the way, remind me next time to show you the baby photos of Percy next time you're by the house" and Percy looked like he wanted to toss himself into the snow while Thalia and Annabeth laughed. Ms. Jackson then motioned Thalia to come near, when she did she whispered to her "by the way, between you and me. I feel really glad Percy found you. Once he talked to me about you he couldn't shut up about the times you two had, Thank you Thalia"
Thalia tried to hide her blush and simply said "No Problem, bye!" and walked away from the car. She didn't like when people pointed out their interest in each other, it filled her stomach with butterflies but those butterflies always ended up dying a slow acidy death. The moment she thought about the son of Poseidon a certain son of Hermes popped into her head.
"What's a matter Pinecone face?" she looked up from her thoughts to see Percy and Annabeth waiting for her. She shook her head and walked towards them, "Nothing, its just that… you have a pretty cool mom Percy" she half lied. He only shrugged and turned to walk with her towards the doors. "Yea she's pretty okay" the cold air was like tiny frost daggers digging into their coats and exposed faces. "Hey what about you?" Percy asked to Thalia, "You ever get back in touch with your mother?" and then Annabeth shot out her arm and punched Percy in the shoulder "Ow! What?!"
Percy then looked to Thalia and then understood, she didn't mean too but she had an evil look on her face. He couldn't help think that because of what she wore- a ripped up army jacket, Black jeans, Chain jewelry, black eyeliner and intense blue eyes- that she would rank a perfect ten if their was a contest for rating evil stares.
"Oh sorry Thals-" he started but then Annabeth cut him off by punching his arm again. "Ow! Again?!" but she merely shrugged it off, "Annabeth I promised his mother he'd be back in one piece, don't kill his arm." Thalia muttered, she then looked towards the castle, as did Percy and Annabeth. They all shivered at the sight of Westover.
"We should head on in quickly. Grover must be waiting for us." Thalia said.
"I wonder what he found here that made him send a distress call" chimed in Annabeth
Looking up to the dark towers Percy said "Nothing good I imagine"
And with that they made their way to the big wooden double doors.
The oak doors groaned opened as the Half Bloods stepped in with a swirl of snow. The entry hall was as gloomy as the outside had been, out of all of them Percy could only mutter "Whoa"
Weapons from every time period lined the walls. Civil War muskets and swords, Battle axes, and almost every American flag from every era lined the walls. "You know, for a military school this is really kinda overkill" whispered Percy. Thalia and Annabeth couldn't help but nod in reply. Percy's left hand wandered to his pocket to grip it hard. Thalia followed suit by placing one hand near her magical mace canister on her hip. They sensed something was very off about the castle.
Annabeth broke the silence, "Wonder where Grover is…" and then the big wooden doors slammed behind them making her jump. Percy turned pale slightly, "Something tells me we'll stay a while"
Now that the wind had stopped howling all of them could hear music echoing from the other end of the hall. Sounding very similar to dance music. Thalia was the first one to say anything about what they had came for. "Alright, lets stash our bags then head our way to the dance, we need to find Grover" she looked around and decided to hide her bag behind on of the pillars nearest to the big oak doors. The others followed suit then started walking towards the music. Halfway to the music Percy noticed another set of footsteps and looked ahead. Near the dance's door two figures emerged from the shadows to intercept them.
They both had grey hair and wore military-style uniforms with red trim. The woman had what looked like a wispy moustache while the guy was clean-shaven. Percy couldn't help think that they looked kinda backwards to him. Thalia noticed that the way they walked was as if someone had put brooms to their backs and duct taped them there. It was kinda funny to her.
"Vell? Vhat are you doing here" the woman demanded, she had some kind of a German accent. Thalia couldn't help but bite her tongue at the cliché. But besides holding her tongue she couldn't help but feel a little surprised. All of them were, they were so concentrated on getting to their satyr friend that they didn't plan on what to do if confronted. "Um-" Percy started. "Ma'am we were just-" Annabeth tried to finish but got cut off
"Ha" snapped the man, which made Percy jump. "Visitors are not allowed at ze dance! You three shall be eeeejected!" he said with a French accent. Now it was Percy's turn to bite his tongue. He couldn't help himself. Some part of him found this all too comical. When he looked at him Percy couldn't help notice the different colored eyes he had. Somewhat like what an ally cat had.
Thalia decided to can her laughter and use what Chiron showed her. Stepping forward she concentrated on the truth she decided to go with and snapped. A breeze soon followed and then spoke " um but we're not visitors? You don't remember us? We go to school here. I'm Thalia and this is Percy and Annabeth. We are all in the eighth grade"
While the man didn't seem to believe her, the woman did. She looked like she had just awoken from a nap but nodded in agreement. The man looked astonished and looked like he was about to make an objection but then rushed footsteps filled the hall. "Guys there you are!" yelled a voice.
Everyone looked to see Grover running up to them. The man raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Grover reached them and held up a finger to have us wait as he caught his breath. "Hey you guys, I've been looking all over for you" he lied. He then looked over to the woman, "Thank you Ms. Gottschalk and Dr. Thorn" he thanked them both, he even shook Dr. Thorn's hand, but looked tense doing so.
Thalia and Percy both bit their tongues; Annabeth couldn't help but take off her hat to help cover her smile. "Mr. Underwood, I understand a dance can be fun but please make sure your friends do not sneak off again!" Dr. Thorn almost growled. He looked very annoyed, this couldn't be too good. "Now head back to the dance before I take disciplinary action at once Mr. Underwood"
Without another word they all rushed to the direction of the music. Percy couldn't help but feel like Dr. Thorn's eyes were digging holes in the back of his head as he walked away. He walked close to Thalia and asked in a low voice "What was that snapping thing back there?" and then Thalia looked at him one eyebrow raised, "You mean the mist? I thought Chiron had taught you that by now?"
Percy couldn't help but feel a little annoyed by that tid bit of information. They approached a door with the words "Gym" on the glass door and went in. "I swear I thought I was going to faint a little back there" Grover moaned as we were on the other side of the door. "So glad you guys could come" Thalia smiled and hugged him, as did Annabeth. Percy gave him one with a complementary slap on the back and a quick handshake. "It's been too long G-man!" he said smiling and Grover smiled and agreed in return. Grover had grown a little bit the last time they had seen him. He stood an inch or two taller; his face had finally grown a few more whiskers too. But he dressed the same as always, red rasta cap to hide his now sprouting horns, baggy jeans and shoes with fake feet to hide his hooves and hairy hind legs.
"So what was the emergency?" Thalia asked
Grover took a deep breath and looked around in worry, "I found two" and all of the demigods were dumbstruck. They all knew what he meant, he had found two Half-Bloods, which these days is a rarity since they've been either more scarce to joining Luke's side.
"Two?" Percy asked. Grover nodded "Yep, a brother and sister, they're around here somewhere" he pointed vaguely to the dance crowd. Thalia stepped forward and asked "Did you let them know who they are?" but Grover shook his head and looked worried. "No, not yet. Theirs a monster here too that's caught their scent as well. I doubt he knows their true identities but he's close. I didn't want to risk telling them because you know once a Half-Blood knows who they are their scent gets stronger"
Grover also thought about something for a minute, "By the way I have a plan as to get them home free, I mean we got three very powerful Half-Bloods here. So you guy's stench should be able to confuse the monster. So I suggest dancing and mingling to blend in and confuse the scent"
Percy couldn't help but wonder what a Half-Blood smells like. The idea was always weird to him. Thalia put her hands on her hips and sighed. She cringed when she realized who was now playing on the dance speakers. "Ewwww who picked the Jessie McCartney?" she asked. She scrunched her nose like she smelled the world's worst diaper. Grover couldn't help but looked offended and protested "Hey! I picked the Jessie McCartney!" he crossed his arms and huffed "He has the voice of an muse thank you very much" Thalia just snorted, "Sure, and I'm the queen of England" she retorted. "That's it I'm not dancing with goat boy because of his choice in music-" Grover protested a "hey" again. And then turned towards Percy. "Looks like your stuck with me kelp for brains"
"Wait but Grover has two left feet! Why am I stuck with him?" protested Annabeth. Grover just rolled his eyes and sighed "I'm standing right here you know" Percy couldn't help but smile and move over to him to pat him on the back. "It's alright G-man you'll be some lucky girl or nymphs first choice one day" Grover's only response was a mock cry and fake bawled into Percy's shoulder. Percy laughed and embraced him, patting him on the back as his friend faked cried it out. They all ended up laughing, then Annabeth spoke again "But Grover what do the kids look like?" which was a good question. He raised himself out of Percy's shoulder and wiped away his tear from laughing. "Oh, they both have black silky hair, and are as pale as Thalia, maybe whiter-" Thalia was about to protest but then Percy whispered into her ear "Don't worry Thals they cant be that white, otherwise they'd blend into the snow" and laughed. He was soon punched in his shoulder for the comment though.
"- The older sibling is a girl, looks about you guys age, she's also wearing a big green cap. The younger one is a dude, looks about 10ish or so. He should be face down in a pile of trading cards. As for the Monster? You guys already met him. Dr. Thorn" Grover finished, no one was surprised at the fact that Dr. Thorn was the monster. Annabeth nodded then took Grover by the hand and led him to the dance floor, "Alright lets blend in, come on goat boy"
Percy could only chuckle at the look on Grover's face. He was mouthing, "help" as Annabeth had walked off with him. Percy merely shrugged, Grover replied by giving a fake look of defeat then willing turned and walked with Annabeth. Thalia couldn't help but feel kinda bad for Annabeth; her shins would be bruised by the time this was all over. She turned to Percy to see him smiling at his friends. She also couldn't help but notice he had grown a little since the last time she had seen him, granted it was only a couple inches but now Thalia had to look slightly up when looking at him. She looked to Annabeth and had another pang in her chest, unknown to her friends, Percy especially, Annabeth let it slip that she was starting to feel something more than friendship towards the son of Poseidon. Thalia felt guiltier of her feelings towards Percy. Everything just hurt when she thought about him nowadays.
"What's the matter pinecone face?" he asked looking towards her. She then looked towards him, "Oh nothing, just thinking" she half lied again. He looked at her as if trying to read her. But before he could say anything she took him by the hand and took him to the dance floor. "Come on fish boy, time to blend in" and reluctantly he followed suit. They did have a mission to do after all. She found a spot near the outer part of the dance crowd and started Dancing with Percy there. Or as Percy would call it, holding each other back and forth to the beat of the music. "So-" he began, "Did Chiron ever figure out who let the Minotaur in?"
He was referring to an incident a couple months back. Thalia remembered that day better than no ever. It's not like everyday you get a chance to defeat the Minotaur. Even though it was Percy who did all the fighting sadly. Thalia was sidelined after he was thrown at her. "Sadly no, he said whatever it was had to be very old. He didn't say much after that. He looked very worried though." She said. Percy merely raised an eyebrow and sighed. "I think I may know who" he said
Thalia looked up at him, one eyebrow rose "What?" she asked. "Are you sure?" Percy shrugged. "I have a guess. But it seems pretty out there, I guess I'll tell you later. I just wanted to finally say something about it." she saw a worried look on his face but chose not to call him out on it. He was right. The mission
Thalia began looking around for the Half-Blood siblings; she focused more on the people not dancing. She figured if the younger one always had cards he would be one not dancing. It didn't take too long to find him; she was sitting on some bleachers on the far end of the gym. His sister was easier; she was right next to him talking to a group of girls her own age.
"Found them," she whispered to Percy. He started looking, "Where?" he asked, "Near the bleachers on the other side of the gym, can you see them?" she replied. Thalia began trying to look for Annabeth and Grover but they were nowhere in sight. "Ugh goat boy and wise girl vanished." She broke away from dancing, "Stay here and keep an eye on them. I'm going to go look for Annabeth and Grover. Whatever you do, do not and I mean do not go after them alone. We don't know how powerful the monster is." And she then walked off.
Percy watched as Thalia walked off and then proceeded to scan the crowd for the siblings again. Worry filled him even more than possible, they weren't at the bleachers anymore, and the only thing that was left was a green floppy cap and playing cards lying on the bleachers. "Crap" he said. He walked closer and bent over to pick up the cap, he inspected it while he was crouched down. It was slightly ragged; this must've been a favorite hat he thought. He then reached and picked up a card. The label on the back read Mythomagic, He turned it over and dropped it in shock and fell backwards. He looked around, no one noticed him thankfully. He slowly crept and picked up the card again, the man on the front looked like a business man but his hair was crazy and unkept like he had never heard of a comb. His beard was dirty looking stubble that connected with a moustache. This man was the one Percy had seen months before. The one who said Percy had past the test with flying colors. He looked to the name label and in big bolded words and old style font it read: Chaos.
Percy's heart and stomach plummeted.
This knocked his theory of it being a titan right out of the park.
"Help" a voice yelled in the distance.
Percy broke his concentration of the cards and looked up. Around the corner of the bleachers was a door leading outside into the blizzard. He looked back to see if anyone was coming to aid but it was just people dancing and enjoying their time. Percy half wished he could be dancing along with them, sadly that life wasn't for him. He pocketed the hat in his back pocket and picked up the rest of the cards and pocketed them in his jackets inside pocket. He looked at the Chaos card one more time; he left it in his chest pocket rather than have it back with the rest of the cards.
He had to act now. Against Thalia's orders he ran off towards them. The cold engulfed him immediately as he stepped out, the wind stung against his face but he ignored it. Reaching in his pocket he dug out Riptide and uncapped it, holding it at the ready. "Dr. Thorn! Release them!" he yelled into the wind, but no response came. "Ugh" he grunted. Out of the corner of his eye a figure fluttered, turning fast he held up his sword in front of him to protect himself. But the sight in front of him made the blood from his body drain.
There in front of him stood the man from the card. The one who tested him.
Lord Chaos
"You and your mother have a knack of pointing that celestial toothpick at me" he grunted sounding a little annoyed. He waved his hand and the blizzard around him stopped. But not in the way where it stopped snowing, time stopped all around them.
Percy's heart kept pounding in his chest. The Primordial God, creator of all was standing in front of him. He was speechless; this couldn't be happening he thought. "What do you want?" was all he could mutter.
Chaos looked up and down at Percy. From what he could determine their only needed to be one last mental task for Percy to withstand in order to be ready. "Young Perseus, you may know who I am. I am Chaos. I am here to tell you the same bit of news that I had told your mother 12 years ago."
Percy tensed, "What news?" he asked. He lowered Riptide, he didn't want to piss off Chaos simply because his sword was raised. Then he thought, Chaos had visited him when he was two?
Chaos walked to Percy until he was right in front of him. "I assume you have heard of Kronos rising again?" Percy nodded, "Well, Kronos isn't the only thing rising. My daughter, Gaea, the Earth goddess is awakening from her deep sleep put upon her by the gods and their Demigod children. It is referred to as the Giants War." He then placed a hand upon Percy's shoulder. "Percy, I believe that the Gods will be to weaken and ignorant to prepare for my daughters return. I feel a need to lay a hand in the war against my daughter" Percy felt confused. It was a rule for Gods never to step in when it came to wars unless it was a danger to them. Where is the danger to chaos?
"I thought Gods had strict rules when interfering?"
Chaos smiled, "Percy over three millennia have I grown to love you mortals. Always looking for new horizons. Goals to become better then how they were yesterday. I will always step in to protect the humans. Gaea is a huge threat to Mortals, even now you are standing on her domain." Percy looked down and worried at the snow he stood on. He then looked to Chaos again, "Well, what am I needed for? From the sounds of it you can do this easily"
That's when Chaos smile faltered. "Because young Perseus, I cannot produce a physical form of that equivalent to the Gods and Titans." Percy raised an eyebrow, "But then how are you here?" he asked.
Chaos reached a hand to Percy and let is pass right through him, "I am merely a hologram of sorts. I cannot posses a physical form like the Gods and Titans can. I need a vessel of sorts." And Percy nodded.
"Lets go find your vessel then." He spoke. He didn't know what a vessel was but if Chaos needed it to defeat Gaea then he was all for helping him.
A frown filled Chaos's face. "I am afraid you are the Vessel Perseus Jackson"
What.
"I-I-I… I am the vessel?" Percy faulted. He then connected the dots to what Chaos had said earlier. "You…" Percy looked down as he started. "You are the one, the voice I had been dreaming about, you….you have been looking out for me" he looked up. The dreams he had been having since that day he returned from his Sea of Monsters quest. Now they all made sense, they were about the future. He then held his chest when he remembered a certain dream. "You had been testing me all this time" and Chaos nodded in reply.
"I am afraid there is one more test though." Chaos warned with a grim look. "You must be captured by Kronos's men. You must endure whatever they put you through, your heart and soul must be plunged into darkness and survive it. To be my vessel Perseus, hell must be endured"
AN: I'm going back and fixing chapters before i upload new ones, dont worry, im continuing. 1/26/2016
Mischief Managed