Rise of the King

Chapter 4

By Your Choice

"WHERE IS HE? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?" A high pitched and hysterical voice screamed. Shining black orbs glowed in power as the girl, hardly nine years old in age leaped forward and gripped the front of her mothers shirt. Tears flowed down her eyes as she glared fiercely at her mother, who was shivering under the power and revulsion shining in the same eyes of the man she fell for nine years ago. The shadows around the two darkened and thickened. Coiling around the two in response to the little girls anger and hate.

"Thalia..." The mother spoke shakily and nervously. The power that was radiating off of her daughter was making her skin itch and making her fearful of her wrath. "I... I tried..." She began, but Thalia snarled.

"SHUT UP!" She exclaimed, her face red with hateful anger. Her eyes bloodshot from crying. "Tell me where my little brother is." She roared, a shock wave of power rippled from her aura and hit her mother in the chest. Blasting her into the wall behind the two. Her eyes widened in surprise and she ran a hand through her short and spiky raven black hair.

Her mother groaned as she tried to rise, but her body screamed in protest. "Listen here..." She began, wagging her finger at her daughter. Rage building, but her daughter did not let her continue.

"Tell me where he is now. What did you do to him?" She sneered. Despite the fact she was nine years old, she was practically glowing in power. Her mother shivered in fright, the aura she was pulsing with reminded her of her fathers. But far more fierce.

"Hera." Her mother finally spat. "She took him in her jealously of me, Jason is dead." She said mournfully, saddened by the loss of her youngest child. "If only Zeus would help me, you bastard." She snarled at the sky. The crack of thunder exploded in the distance and she scowled.

"Shut up mother," Thalia spat. "This is no ones fault but your own. You didn't even protect your own child." She growled.

Finally Beryl Grace rose from her position on the ground, despite the harsh and powerful glare from her daughter she stepped forward and raised her hand as if to hit her. But before she could strike Thalia, a hand grabbed her wrist. She turned to the newcomer who dared to touch her. Her blue eyes met the shining star filled black orbs the exact same as her daughter. A silent but peaceful aura of power emanated from him, calming both Thalia and her mother.

Still by far the most handsome man she had ever laid her eyes upon, his face as if carved from stone, his spiky and raven black hair darker than the night sky itself falling to just before his eyes. Tan skin and shining black orbs filled with stars and galaxies. An occasional golden comet flashing through his irises. He wore the same clothes as he did when the two had first met, black jeans and a blue hoodie. Looking far too ordinary for the powerful being he surely was.

"Perseus..." She whispered in surprise.

Thalia's draw dropped at the man before her. Just as her mother had described, the most handsome man she had ever met. The most powerful being she had ever come across. Her mother assumed he was a god, but the only problem was, Thalia had searched and researched all of Greek mythology as she could, but not once was a god or immortal being named Perseus ever even mentioned.

"You're my dad?" Thalia asked in surprise, a strange glint in her eyes.

Perseus merely turned to her and stared deeply into her eyes, the exact same odd irises as she. He gave her a quick nod. She gasped and raised her hand to her mouth, her eyes widening in shock and awe. Before her excitement turned to anger. The darkness tightened and darkened, as Thalia had noticed often happened when she became angry, but the god merely smiled brilliantly and quickly flicked his wrist. The darkness subsiding.

"Please my dear," His tone was so endearing, so full of love and affection that Thalia was momentarily stunned, the anger that was bubbling in her heart ebbed away. His smile was so captivating and he seemed proud of her power over the shadows. "I will explain everything if you give me the chance." Thalia found herself unable to return the rage and anger that usually occurred whenever her mother mentioned her father. Her mother always spoke of him in reverie. The exact opposite of how she spoke of Zeus. Whom she always spat his name and always cursed the lord of the skies.

Thalia always wondered what was so great about her father that her mother cared for him deeply whiling scorning the King of Olympus when both had done the exact same thing to her. She was snapped out of her trance as Perseus gently cupped her cheek. "My dear?" He questioned, his eyes which pulsed with power and affection, seemed concerned and slightly nervous if Thalia could judge his emotions accurately. Was the being before her scared that she would reject him? Did he actually care for her? And if he did then why did he leave her alone for nine years with only her mother?

Thalia averted her eyes from his gaze and merely nodded. Letting the deity before him know she wanted him to continue.

"Perseus." Her mothers voice snapped both Perseus' and Thalia's attention to her face. "What are you doing here?" She asked, smoothing her pants nervously. Suddenly his eyes turned harsh and they glared fiercely at her.

"Other than to stop you from laying a hand on my child." He spat in contempt, the sneer on his face so spiteful and the tone of his voice so full of venom that Thalia flinched fiercely despite the words not being directed at her. "You dare to strike my child?" He hissed, a meteor exploded in his orbs as Beryl shook under his gaze.

"She is my child as well..." She tried to protest meekly, but Perseus merely raised his hand to stop her from continuing.

"I do not want to hear your excuses." He turned away from her and lowered himself onto a knee in front of his child, coming down to her height. "Your brother is alive my dear." He informed her. Thalia's eyes widened and her eyes filled with tears.

"Where is he?" She asked.

"He is safe, the queen of the heavens despite her shortcomings made sure of that. Please, I need you to trust me. It is not safe, for both yourself and I to be around your brother." Thalia began to protest, her eyes sparkling with fresh tears and her face turning red in anger. He raised a hand to silence her. "Please my dear, just listen." She shivered, every time her father called her dear, her heart warmed slightly. The words were so affectionate that she was beginning to believe he actually cared for her. "Five years ago, the King of Olympus came to your mother. Not because of her, but because of you." He told her.

Thalia's eyes filled with confusion, as did Beryl's but Perseus was hardly even recognizing her presence. "Your power was something he had not seen in such a long time he was curious. He wanted to know just who was your parent. He came to your mother to study your aura. He was scared and frightened of the answer."

"Why?" Thalia asked in confusion and wonder, the lord of the skies and King of Olympus scared of her power and aura? Was she truly that powerful? Was the being before her truly that powerful?

"Millennia ago, things were far different in the times of Ancient Greece. Different gods, strange mortals. But I was once an Olympian, stricken from history by my brothers and sisters. Jason's father," Thalia began to notice he was avoiding to say Zeus. "Cast me from Olympus because he was jealous of my power, jealous of me."

Thalia's eyes widened in stunned surprise, her father was not only a god, but one so powerful that the King of Olympus was jealous of his power. But, if Zeus was the King of Olympus, why would he be scared of Perseus' power. Surely if he had the throne, Perseus was not that much more powerful than he.

As if reading her thoughts, a sad smile crossed his face. "I was once the King of Olympus, I was also the eldest son of Kronos and Rhea."

"Was?" Thalia asked confused.

Perseus' eyes flared with anger, before he sighed. The sadness overcoming the anger. "The Olympians overthrew me, my little brother was jealous of my power. Jealous of my rule, he wanted the throne for himself. So, he plotted with my siblings and the other Olympians." Perseus spat hatefully. "Then he cast me into the worst place in all of Greek mythology."

Thalia gasped, her eyes widening in fear and sadness. "Tartarus?" She questioned.

Her father gave her a solemn nod of the head before he abruptly turned his gaze away as if he was ashamed. "Yes. I escaped the pit around a decade ago. The gods have no idea I returned and my little brother wanted to make sure you weren't my child. To make sure you were not a threat to his continued rule."

Thalia stared at her father, wondering why he was suddenly avoiding her gaze. He was hiding something. "Then why have me then? If I threatened your existence and your cover, if my life would be in danger, why have me then?" Her anger was beginning to rise again, but there was also a sense of confusion. As if he was regretful and in pain for having her in the first place, while also loving and caring for her more than what her mother had told her of the gods.

"I made a lapse in judgement, your mother was beautiful, she was kind and caring. I was lonely, so very lonely." His words were hollow, thick with remorse and regret, the sadness deep within his eyes made Thalia want to start crying. He had been alone for thousands of years in the worst place on earth. Struggling with the pain of betrayal at the hands of his family. "My family, I cared about them and they drove a knife in my back. I guess I needed comfort, something." He stated bitterly, tears beginning to form in his eyes. How was he supposed to tell his daughter the prophecy that laid over her head? Should he tell her the entire truth?

"Your mother was far different than she was now. She would have never struck a child." He growled, his eyes turning to Beryl's with a fierce glare that made her shiver. Before he turned back to his first and only child, reaching forward and gently cupping her cheek in his hands. "My dear Thalia." He said wistfully. "I am sorry that you were born. For the fate you could suffer because of my lapse in judgement, but don't think for one second I do not care about you. I love you more than anything in the world, you are my first and only child. I would rather be thrown in Tartarus again than let anything happen to you. But," He paused briefly and closed his eyes. "Your fate is yours to forge. But I will guide you along the way."

There were tears in his eyes and that was something she had noticed was far different in this god than Zeus. Emotion. The raw emotions that filled his face and eyes were far different than the King of Olympus. Zeus only had lust in his eyes whenever Thalia had seen him, no love, kindness or anything else. No emotion except the primal needs the gods had. Perseus was the opposite. He was regretful, and sorry she was born but he loved her.

She remembered a glow, a warm smile. The rush and flow of the shadows around her, eyes unnaturally black and filled with galaxies and stars staring down at her with a serene smile. The rush of warm emotions as she stared at her father was intense and captivating. "You..." She pointed her finger at him as if realizing he had been there to visit her before. "I remember, you visited me when I was younger."

A beatific smile crossed his face. Lopsided and perfect, she had his hair, his eyes and his smile as well. She was eternally grateful, as she wanted nothing to do with her mother.

"Yes. Often and quite frequently. You were my child and I wanted to stay with you, but I could sense my brother approaching. I had to leave in order to keep you safe. Otherwise, both you and your mother would be in danger at my hands. For if he ever found out you are my child. He would surely strike you down." He said, a scowl forming on his face briefly. "I am so sorry for leaving you. But I had to."

Thalia nodded, and gathering her courage, the young girl lunged forward and wrapped her arms in her fathers embrace. His arms immediately wrapped around her and brought her close. She sighed blissfully. Is this what a child feels when their parents love them? She wondered as a rush of warmth flowed through her body. His embrace was comforting and tingling, soft and inviting and tears filled her eyes as she started crying into his shoulder, despite him not being there she understood what he did was necessary to protect her. He was there for her when he was younger, he was also here for her now.

He kissed the top of her head softly. "I am so sorry my dear." He whispered sadly. But Thalia hardly cared for his words, she could feel his love and affection in his words and in his actions. They were far more caring and loving than anything that her mother had done for her.

Slowly, Thalia pulled away from his embrace and Perseus wiped the tears on her cheeks away with his thumb. Suddenly, her face scrunched up in concentration. "If I am so powerful, how come monsters never attack us, especially since my brother is a child of..."

Perseus cut her off with a smirk. "I repelled the monsters away from both you and your brother. My power is immense after all and I knew you would be in danger at all times."

"So what now?"

"You are the child of a god, Thalia. Your destiny is yours to decide. There is a safe haven for other demigods in New York. With others your age. You would be safe there." He told her.

"I'm safe here?" She asked him uncertainly, her eyes flickering towards her mother. Something Perseus noticed, he scowled.

"Safe from monsters yes." He growled at Beryl.

"Would Zeus find out about my parentage?" She asked nervously.

Perseus shook his head. "No." He stated. "He determined you were not my child the first time he visited, he would keep a close eye on you yes, wondering whose child you were. But, he would never piece together that you were mine. Many on Olympus believed I faded long ago, or that I was unable to escape the pit. You would be safe, and you would be with others who understand."

"How would I get there?" She asked curiously, wondering if he could just pop her there.

"You would leave this place behind and your mother and travel east. I would guide you in your endeavor but you must choose the path you walk yourself."

"I'm only nine." She said. "How am I supposed to get all the way to New York?"

Wassup my faithful readers.

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