Percy Jackson: The Shadow Hunter Chapter 2
This is in Percy's Point of View.
"Ugh…"
I opened my eyes only to close them again because the first thing I saw was the bright blue sky. Then, whilst closing my eyes, I sat up with my arms supporting me and stood up shakily. Opening my eyes carefully, I looked around me. I looked at my surroundings cautiously; I was in a middle of a clearing in a forest.
"…Oh, jeez, how did I end up here?" I mumbled, checking myself for any injuries. Fortunately, there were none. Well, there would be none if you don't count his past ones. And by 'past ones' I meant pain and suffering from my battles, including the hurt I received from her.
"I see that you are awake now, son of Poseidon."
I immediately whipped around to see a hooded man with black wings. I reached for Riptide but the man raised his hand and my hand instantly went behind my back. How was that even possible? Unless…
"He's not my father," I growled, "and what the Hades?" As soon as I said that, someone replied.
"You know I don't appreciate that my name is being used as a curse word."
I looked behind me only to curse my luck. Hades just entered the party. Well, not literally, but eh.
"Lord Hades," I greeted, slightly bowing while hoping I wouldn't be thrown to Tartarus. "What are you doing here?"
The Lord of the Underworld smirked as if he knew something I didn't. If he did know something I don't, I wouldn't be surprised since that happens very often. And my 'very often' I mean almost all the time.
"Well, can't I visit my own nephew, especially after a recent… incident on Olympus earlier?" he asked, the smirk still on his face. As much as I would love to run away from these two people, I don't want to be disrespectful. I already angered Hades once. Or was it twice?
I shuffled my feet nervously. "Are you here to send me back there?"
Hades laughed. It wasn't a 'ha-ha-that's-funny' laugh. It was more like a 'what-a-fool' laugh or something like that. "Dear me, of course not, nephew, I'm here to give you a… present." he said, the smirk on his face widening. "But before that, the man behind the mask would like to introduce himself."
I then slowly turned around to face the man with wings who seemed to be staring holes through my head. I gulped and asked, "Who are you?"
As soon as I said that, the man with wings chuckled as if I told the funniest joke in the universe. "Why, you don't recognize Night's own consort?" he said. I could practically see him smirking.
It took me a while to actually remember who was this 'Night' person and the fact that I did not know what the word 'consort' meant didn't help. Then, realization dawned onto me. "Erebus?" I asked nervously. I hope I was wrong.
My hopes were immediately crushed when Hades clapped nonchalantly. "Took you long enough."
Erebus removed his hood to reveal his face. He had midnight black eyes and same goes for his hair. He looked like a 24-year-old! Well, he is immortal.
"What are you going to do to me?" I asked them, gulping. Erebus slowly grinned, "Why, we just came here to give you a present." he said, basically repeating what Hades said earlier. I raised my eyebrow. "What kind of present? I don't plan on accepting any gifts from the gods nowadays. I bet they're searching for me right now." I told them.
"Ah, but Perseus," said Erebus, "that is why we are here, to aid you."
"And just how are you going to do that?" I asked, starting to gain my courage back.
"Hades, if you may?" he said, gesturing to me like he was doing some kind of magic trick. Hades then nodded and put his hand on my shoulder before saying something that made me think I was hallucinating things.
"Perseus, I give you my blessing."
As he said that, I was engulfed in a black aura. I felt power surge through me. It was like stepping into the River Styx all over again, except with no pain.
"Percy, you should know that when I give you my blessing, you have the ability to shadow-travel, communicate with Underworld creatures, and summon the dead and a few more that you will discover on your journeys." Hades explained.
I was about to nod until I heard something that immediately caught my attention. "Wait, journeys? What do you mean?" I asked him.
"Journeys, plural of journey. I said that because you're not going to die just yet. You have a long life to live. And I take it that you still want to…to… save people." Hades told me. He looked like he was about to kill himself when he said the word 'save'. I couldn't blame him. He is the god of the Dead after all.
I nodded slowly. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go to Erebus." he said
I did as he told and was now standing in front of Erebus, the primordial god of darkness.
"Perseus, you may be thinking why Hades just blessed you, correct?" he asked me. I nodded my head. "Well, let's just say we don't like arrogant pricks, like your brother. And I have heard that he ruined your life, a shame for such an innocent demigod." "Yeah…" I muttered, agreeing with him. But I couldn't help but get the feeling that he was hiding something from me.
"That is why we are helping you, Perseus Jackson." said Erebus.
"But I still don't get it why you're helping me." I said. Oh boy, I really am a Seaweed Brain. I thought before mentally wincing. That was what she once called me.
Erebus sighed. "Because, Perseus, we know that you want to die yet you still have the urge to save the world. Well, specifically United States. So, we're giving you a chance to do that without the help of the Olympians." He said the word 'Olympians' like it was an insult.
Well, what he was saying was true. Hades wasn't an Olympian but he's a major god. Erebus isn't an Olympian but he's a primordial.
"I think I get you now but what are you going to do?" I asked Erebus.
"I will make you my Champion." he replied. I looked at him quizzically. What's a Champion? As if reading my mind, he said, "A Champion is a person who serves a certain god or goddess, whom which is called the patron of the person. That particular person will have his or her patron's powers. If mastered, he or she will be as strong as their patron, is not stronger."
My jaw dropped then I quickly closed my mouth, at least not a god.
"Perseus Jackson, are you willing to become my Champion?" Erebus asked me. I thought about it and replied, "I accept."
As soon as I said that, a black aura that was similar to the one that engulfed me earlier when Hades blessed me surrounded me and I felt two times stronger. My legs buckled and I fell on the grass. My head throbbed.
"Ugh, my head hurts." I groaned. Then something caught my attention. My right arm. It had black tattoos and it looked AWESOME! There was a raven on a branch, fire, tides, a bone, and a sword.
"Oh this is seriously cool." I mused. Erebus and Hades glanced at each other before Erebus said, "Perseus, being my champion means giving you 1/2 or more of my powers. Meaning, you should be cautious. But, I shall explain your powers. You have more control over shadows and can make shadow illusions. You will be more powerful at night considering shadows are made of darkness. I will leave the rest to you." said Erebus.
Either I was having a cool day (excluding the suicide thing) or it was just the Fates messing with me because Eris and Nemesis flashed in.
I immediately bowed to them and I realized I hadn't bowed to Erebus. "It's alright, Perseus, you're my Champion anyway." said Erebus in my head.
I stood up and faced Eris and Nemesis, the goddesses of discord and revenge, a "perfect" combination. Not to mention that they were also daughters of Erebus, my… What was it? Ah yes, patron.
"Lady Eris and Lady Nemesis, not to be disrespectful or anything, but what are you doing here?" I asked them politely and at the same time nervously.
"We are here to help you." said Eris. "And bless you." finished Nemesis. Wow, first Hades, then Erebus, then Eris and Nemesis. What a weird but nice day.
"Wait what do you mean by help me? And bless me?" I asked them. Eris and Nemesis rolled their eyes at me. I shuddered slightly, twins.
"I'll just cut to the chase. Perseus, I give you my blessing." said Eris. I was suddenly engulfed in a purple aura and for some odd reason, I feel like I'm in a mood in creating chaos. "My blessing is much like charm speak but used for creating chaos." She said. "Ooh." I mused.
Then Nemesis stepped forward and said, "I give you my blessing as well." I was once again engulfed by a red aura but I cocked my head to side when I didn't feel anything. Nemesis sighed. "With my blessing, when something happens unfair, you will know it and when you want to have revenge, your senses will heighten. And lastly, you could change your form to anything you like at any time but be wary, it will also take energy." She said. After that, Eris and Nemesis flashed away, not giving me a chance to say thank you to them.
"Perseus, be aware that the gods and goddesses that blessed you can mostly cost destruction," said Erebus, "Also, even though you have powers of a few gods and goddesses, you aren't as strong as neither me nor the other primordial. Well, you can defeat few of the Major and Minor ones but not all. What I'm saying is that you're going to need to have a title that suits you when you go on missions to save people and for the sake of the safety of your identity."
Okay good. I'm not over powered because that will be a little off the line.
Then Erebus snapped his fingers. When he did, some kind of black mist swirled through me and whatever clothing it passes through, it changes it.
After a while I looked so cool. So cool, I looked like some kind of assassin.
I was wearing black gloves, and knee-high boots. I was also wearing brown pants but it was barely noticeable considering I was wearing a gray and purple coat mixed with stygian iron armor except it was gray. I had a black belt across my chest and behind it was a quiver with arrows. I was wearing a hood on, covering my face and what was awesome was that I had hidden blades strapped on my wrists, and etc. (OOC: Just look at the fan fiction cover photo and you'll see.)
Because of my new awesome clothes, my tattoos on my right arm weren't seen, sadly.
"Wait, why do I get a bow? I suck at archery." I said as a bow appeared in my hand and Riptide was nowhere to be seen.
"That has changed a while ago, Perseus. You don't know me, but I know you. I am good in archery and since you are my Champion, you are too. You'll be using a bow instead of a sword. This bow is made of darkness while the arrows are made of shadows. The arrows are unlimited, if you are wondering. The bow is unbreakable as well. As for your hidden blades, they will come out at your own will." said Erebus.
I nodded my head. I'm like an assassin or something!
"But how will I make them appear? What do you mean 'at my own will'?" I asked him. The god of darkness sighed. "You will learn soon, very soon actually." he replied.
"Perseus, I take it that you want to be a secret?" asked Hades. I nodded again. "Think of a name and you may be called that." said Erebus.
I thought about a name that would suit me and snapped my fingers. "Well, how about Dragon?" I suggested with a grin and then watched as Hades and Erebus nodded approvingly at the choice.
"Very well, from now on, you shall be known as Dragon, the Shadow Hunter, the Champion of the consort of the Night and primordial of darkness and the holder of the blessings of Hades, Eris, and Nemesis, the gods and goddesses of the Dead, discord, and revenge."
