Chapter 3: An Ultimatum

I walked to my cabin and collected my stuff. When I looked around the room to make sure I didn't forget anything, my eyes landed on pictures hung up on the walls. my heart hurt again when I saw a picture of Annabeth. I took it down and walked over to the trash can. When I let go, I let go of her. It was the end. I left my cabin and left a note on the door. There was nothing for me here, and now, my new life begins.

I took a step out of the boundary and walked down to the road. I took out a drachma and hailed the Grey Sisters to get a ride to New York, specifically, Olympus.

I entered through the doors of the Empire State Building and approached the doorman.

"600th Floor," I said.

"Ain't no such thing kid," the man said without looking up.

Suddenly all the anger and betrayal that I had kept inside all night burst. I picked up the doorman by the neck and smashed him against the wall.

"You would do well not to cross the Hero of Olympus," I snarled. I didn't usually use my title but this guy was a pain in the ass.

The doorman's eyes widened and he stuck a trembling hand in his pocket and placed a card in my hand.

"Thank you," I said coldly.

I entered the elevator and slid the card in a slot. The button for the 600th floor appeared and I pressed it. I remembered the last time I rode this elevator, when Annabeth, Thalia, and I rode it to face Kronos. Then I remembered what had happened to Annabeth and I remembered why if everything went well, this would be my last ride to Olympus.

When the doors opened I made my way down the streets of Olympus to the throne room. I kept my head down and hands shoved in my pockets. I got stares from the minor gods and nymphs but I just ignored them. I needed to do this and nothing could distract me.

I arrived at the hall of the gods and the Olympians were in an argument. Well, most of them. Ares and Aphrodite were making out in the corner which I tried not to notice. It didn't help that they were loud and obnoxious about. Honestly, can you keep your lip smacking to yourself?

My dad and Apollo were arguing about Apollo's haikus and whether Dad's or Apollo's chariot horses were better; Zeus was talking to Hera about the importance of mesosphere; Hephaestus was tinkering with something that vaguely resembled a robot chicken; Demeter was explaining the necessity of cereal to a Dionysus that looked like he would give anything not to be here right now, Athena and Hermes were arguing about something that Hermes did, something about "the decreasing of stock on Architecture Beat Magazine;" Hestia was calmly tending the fire while Artemis was playing with a dagger bored on her throne.

When I walked in she was the first to notice and perked up. She cleared her throat once and the Olympians continued talking, or in the War god's and Love goddess' case, sucking off each other faces.

Her eyes narrowed. "AHEM!"

The gods stopped whatever they were doing and looked at Artemis. She gestured to me and I felt 13 pairs of eyes on me.

"Here to collect your reward from the war hero?" Zeus sighed.

"Yes," I answered, eyes still to the ground.

Zeus sighed again. "What'll it be then? A lifetime of riches, godhood?"

"Actually I ask for two things," I said.

He glared at me then he sighed again. Seriously, does this guy have a breathing problem or something? "Very well."

"One," I said. "I wish that Hades and Hestia be given thrones on Olympus."

The gods looked at me bewildered. Then Zeus snapped his fingers and two thrones appeared next to Hermes and Demeter. Hestia beamed at me and sat on her throne.

"And two." I paused. I looked up and revealed all the sadness and anguish in my eyes. I swear Demeter flinched. "I wish to die," I finished.

The Olympians were in an uproar.

"But you're the Hero of Olympus!"

"You defeated Kronos and Gaea!"

"You're too handsome to die."

"Yay!"

"More wine!"

"You're leaving Annabeth!"

The last one struck a nerve. I turned to Athena. "Me. Leave Annabeth," I said softly.

"Yes, what good was it asking for my blessing when you're just going to kill yourself?" she questioned angrily.

That's when something snapped.

I let out a cold chuckle. Then my lips curved into a cruel grin. "ANNABETH FRICKIN' CHEATED ON ME WITH YOUR FRICKIN' SON!" I shouted, turning to Zeus.

I took a breath. "Fine, if you won't kill me then I shall resort to doing it myself," I growled quickly taking out Riptide and putting it on my chest.

Goodbye, I thought, tears in my eyes. I pressed on Riptide and just before the blade entered my body, my world went dark.

I woke in a white room.

"Where am I?" I asked groggily.

A woman dressed in a white dress walked in a door that appeared out of nowhere.

As she came closer I noticed that her eyes were a swirling white and black.

"You, my young hero, are nowhere," she said.

"Ah, and where is that exactly?"

She chuckled. "I speak the truth young one."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am Chaos, creator of the the Universe," she answered.

"Oh," I said. Then my face scrunched up in confusion. "Wait, I thought Chaos was a man."

The woman chuckled again. "My original form is female but due to many people thinking of me as a man I created a male version of myself."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense. Sorry My Lady," I apologised.

"It is alright. But now, onto more important topics. I am aware that you wanted to kill yourself. I saved you before you could."

"Why?"

"Because Perseus, I am willing to offer you a position in the army of Chaos."

My mouth opened in shock. "Why me?"

"Because you are experienced, loyal, respectable, and selfless. Your leadership capabilities are beyond your age. Now the question is, will you join?"

I thought. To do this would be giving up my world as I knew it. But then again I already committed myself to that when I tried to commit suicide.

I smiled. "I will join."

Chaos smiled. "Good. Brace yourself."

"Wait, what-" Chaos shot a beam of darkness at me and I was engulfed. When the darkness dissipated I was greeted with a smiling Chaos.

"Congratulations Percy, you have your wings. Now, push them out of your back."

I was still shocked that I even had wings, but I obliged and felt a pressure in between my shoulder blades. I pushed and I felt 100 times better, my wings free.

Chaos gaped at me. "Your-your wings. They're black."

I looked at my wings and they were indeed black with a gold trim on the edges.

I smiled at my wings and turned to a shocked Chaos. "What's wrong with my wings?" I asked.

"The prophecy. My soldiers have white wings. The legend foretold of a soldier with black and gold wings," she said.

"Great, another prophecy. Isn't two enough?" I groaned.

Chaos smiled. "Percy, you are the Commander of my army and my heir."

"What?" My eyes widened. Today was really weird.

"Yes, you are. Now, here's your uniform."

I was again engulfed in darkness and when the light returned I found myself clothed in a silver cloak with a black shirt. My cloak was trimmed in gold and my forearms were covered in silver vambraces. Around my waist were hunting knives. My shirt had a crescent moon on my chest and was trimmed in silver. My hood was up and I probably looked like some dark assassin/fallen angel.

"This is totally bad ass," I said grinning.

Chaos smiled. "Percy, many of my soldiers take another name when they join. Will you?"

I thought. I'm leaving my old life behind. This is my new life. With a new life comes a new name. I smiled. "My name is Nex, Nex Ultar. In other words, the Avenger of Death."