The Beginning of a War

Londinium was an old Victorian age city built on an island that was raised from the depths of the North Sea by Poseidon. The British pagans worshipped Poseidon in various forms but not in his Roman or Greek avatar. This was chiefly because Poseidon never appeared to them in these forms. He was the only Roman God that the British worshipped for he was the only one who had appeared to them. However with the rise of Christianity the British natives were frowned upon for worshipping a Pagan God. The British however didn't give up on their faith and continued to worship the God of Seas and Storm.

In return for their loyalty Poseidon blessed them with longevity and strength of world domination. Over the centuries the British rose to power. It was during the late 19th century that they were at the height of their power. With several colonies across the globe under their rule it seemed that Poseidon's blessing ran its course over the next century, for at the end of the 20th century Britain's influence was reduced to its foundation isles and few islands in the North Sea.

Londinium however had a different beginning. Londinium was the City of Legacy, the legacy of the Gods. It was founded with the same idea of Camp Half-Blood however as the populous grew instead of leaving the island they settled on it and there began the foundation of the Legacy City. Over time the flame of west travelled to the American continents and with it the gods. Nevertheless the city of legacy stood on its foundation with a self-sustaining populace of several thousand legacies and few hundred demigods.

Had it participated in the Second Titanomachy and Gigantomachy, it would have played a crucial role but the City of Londinium chose to stay out of both wars and instead concentrated upon protecting its own borders. However, when the Olympian council approached it to become a part of their democracy it was an offer to good to refuse and therefore Londinium was re-established as the City of Legacy and became the centre of the Olympian nations.

It was the City of Legacy in true sense. Whether it be art and architecture or trade and commerce, the divine genetics had been used to their maximum potential to produce the best of the best. It had become a city of chief importance and a city such as Londinium required to be preserved and for that very purpose it was also home to two Roman legions. The 9th Legion which had gone missing in the glens of the North had found its way to the mystical island. The other legion that played homage to the City was the 13th Legion. Disbanded soon after its creation, the legion too found its way to Londinium courtesy Poseidon.

Thus an army of about 10, 000 soldiers were dedicated to protect the city with 5400 soldiers in each legion which in turn was made of ten cohorts of six centuries each.

I, Maritime Tortelle am a part of such a legion. As a matter of fact I was the Commander of the 9th Legion and the captain of the 9th Legion's first cohort, Sea Storm but now it seemed that I had been upgraded to the rank of Councillor of the Order of Sentinels.

I was never the one who wished to hold a seat of power. Content in my world and what I had it seemed that I couldn't escape my destiny of being the daughter of Poseidon, his only daughter on the surface to be exact.

I wasn't cut out to lead nor was I cut out to fight but being a demigod it seemed that I had inherited it. I simply hate to fight and try to avoid it as much as I can but it seems that a demigod's life revolves around war and that's why we are created. No, we are created out of mistakes but we tend to become highly useful at the end of the day. We are mistakes that are divine parent's commit purposely but then again I'm not the one to complain. Those who do don't achieve anything and lead lives of sorrow and I surely don't want to do that. Had it been up to me I'd be back in Londinium having a gala at Londinium's marble Amphitheatre, alas I was stuck in the Crystal chamber at the top of the Central tower in Fort Olympus with the other Councillors, all of whom found it difficult to crack a smile.

Even Travis Stoll, the person who had a smile permanently etched on his face wore a grim expression that resembled Nico's.

On second thought, they all wore similar grim expressions.

James Lowell and Alec Blackwood had started looking like Nico when it came to wearing masks of indifference. Even my cousin, Talen wore a serious expression. The others I'd rather not mention. Currently we had all lent our ears to one, Erida Psyche and Execution in the Order of the Sentinels.

"It is our duty to increase the number of Soldiers required to defend Fort Olympus. We cannot always count on the other cohorts and the sentinel corps to lend us warriors for guarding the Fort. We must establish a legion and start initiating soldiers as soon as possible." She said, putting her point forward with conviction.

"And where do you suggest we bring these soldiers from" asked Aaron Madonna, another Sentinel and clearly her rival.

"Yes, we can't recruit from Themiscyra and New Constantinople." She said, in support of her comrade.

"I know that." Said Erida acidly, glaring at the warriors who sat opposite her.

"I was going to suggest that we recruit from New Rome, Londinium and Byzantium." Erida said, her eyes focussed on Nico and Travis who sat at the head of the council.

A smirk crept its way on my face. This woman needed to be shown her place.

"You can't recruit from Londinium." I said in a loud and clear voice, getting up from my throne.

She turned away from Nico to face me, "And why is that?" she asked sharply.

"Reason being that Fort Olympus doesn't hold any jurisdiction in Londinium." I said, maintaining the pitch of my voice.

She narrowed her eyes, glaring at me.

"It's the Olympic council that approves Jurisdiction over the various domains. Surely we can appeal to them for extending our jurisdiction over Londinium." Erida said.

"I doubt the council will approve of such a thing." I said my expressions neutral but I was sure that my eyes were gleaming.

"And why pray tell, would they have a problem?" Erida asked, exasperated.

"Poseidon won't allow it. Londinium is exclusively his domain. After all, he is the patron god." I said, maintaining the level of calmness in my voice.

"Impossible." Erida muttered, she seemed taken aback by the revelation.

"I think it's time that you go back to the history books chère" I said, in my French accent.

Talen who was sitting beside me sniggered but he was able to control it before her got the evil eye from Nico.

"I think we have debated enough on this." Nico said in his unusually calm but shiver inducing dark voice.

"While it is true that we need a legion exclusively for Fort Olympus it is also true that there are not many places we can recruit from. Like Londinium, Byzantium too cannot be considered and as far as New Rome goes they don't have enough to spare for our Legion." Nico said, his voice followed by a wringing silence.

"But you believe that we need a legion?" Erida asked him intently.

"I do" he said nodding gently.

"So, how are we going to get at it?" Travis asked him.

Nico looked to Malcolm and soon the other councillors trained their gaze at the Son of Athena.

Malcolm rose from his seat as Nico took his throne.

"Considering Erida's petition and the fact that we don't have many centres for recruitment, the only we can deal with this situation is to initiate all students and apprentices into the Legion." Malcolm said, but his voice was drowned in an uproar by the various commanders of several cohorts.

"There is no way that I'm letting go of the demigods that have been apprenticing with my cohort for the last year." Shouted James Lowell, his brown eyes were flickering a dangerous red with anger.

"I agree" Said Alec from beside James, although his voice was calmer than James their tempers were running on the same level, "My cohort has already initiated fifteen new demigods and has assigned them on duties and missions. I'm not giving them back even if their release orders haven't come back from the Academy."

"Nor am I." said Talen, rising from his seat beside me.

I was glad that I didn't have to worry about the situation as I didn't recruit from Fort Olympus anyway. My home ground for recruitment was Londinium and most of the demigods came to my cohort.

"Silence" Shouted Nico, without getting up from his throne.

A cold shiver hung in the entire chamber. This was Nico exhibiting his powers. Even though it was just a fraction of his strength, it was strong enough to silence all of us.

"Those who have already initiated a fledgling or have completed the selection process may initiate the apprentices in their cohorts however those demigods who haven't been initiated will form the cohorts of the Legion of Sentries." Nico said, putting an end to the arguments.

He then turned his gaze to Malcolm, "How many demigods have already been initiated or in the process of initiation?"

Malcolm sighed and brought out a data pad, "Close to a hundred have been selected, and most of whom have already been initiated. Another two hundred initiates are waiting to be recruited by the Camps at New Rome and Hadrian's Fort."

"We won't outsource them." Nico cut in, "They along with third year neophytes, who I assume will be around three hundred in number will form the Legion."

The way Nico spoke it was evident that what he had just said wasn't a suggestion but a direct order. He wasn't willing to consider or hear another opinion.

He then trained his gaze on the two councillors sitting at the very end of the circle, Aaron Madonna and Laura Lacour.

"Aaron, Laura; I want the two of you to take command of the council on a joint basis. Go to the academy now and inform the masters." Nico said.

Aaron and Laura both got up from their seats and walked out of the chamber at a swift pace.

I sighed, they were lucky to have been sent away. At least they won't have to attend the rest of the session which seemed to be never ending. I was so screwed. I just wanted to get out of here. I wondered why I was even here. What did Nico see in me to make me a councillor? But the answer was obvious and was glaring me in the eye.

It wasn't me that he wanted on the council. No, he wanted the Commander of the 9th and 13th Legion on the Council of the Order of the Sentinels.

"Commander Tortelle, can you tell us more about Londinium's Auxiliary garrison" Nico said unusually loud with a smirk on his face.

It seemed that he had caught up on my underlying emotions. Nonetheless I got up from my seat to address the remaining council but my eyes were trained on Nico.

Sighing, I began what I knew was going to be a long conversation, "The Londinium defence forces comprises of the 9th and the 13th Legion each of which have close to 6000 soldiers. In addition, to the legions we have three auxiliary cohorts of hundred soldiers each, an equestrian cohort and a cohort of Pegasus riders with an equivalent number." I continued to stand as I knew Nico wouldn't have asked me to spell out defence details without any purpose.

"That's more than required won't you say?" He asked me.

"It's what we the forces of Londinium have been comprised of over the last 18 centuries." I said my reason supported with conviction.

Nico seemed to consider for a minute before he spoke, "I'd like to request you to return to Londinium and analyse the situation. I want you to send back any additional neophytes from the Londinium Academy."

I was astounded. Wasn't he listening when I told Erida why they couldn't recruit from Londinium?

I didn't want to repeat myself but it seemed that the situation demanded it, "Lord Nico, I'm sorry to repeat myself…" but he cut in before I could say another word.

"Commander Tortelle, you and I both know that those neophytes would end up staying in the academy for quite a few years before room can be made for them in the existing legions. Here at least they'd be put to good use. Think of it as a field assignment. You can have them back as you create space for them in the existing legions." He said, without faltering and speaking in a no-nonsense taken clear voice.

There was nothing I could do. I couldn't put up an argument, he would refute me instantly. I couldn't deny a reasonable demand and I couldn't deny him in any case.

No, I'd have to carry out his demand and on second thought it wasn't unjust. At least he didn't demand an entire cohort from the auxiliary garrison.

"I'd depart with the wind my lord." I said, bowing to him. Whatever anyone said and despite the fact that I was a councillor, I didn't forget that Nico was senior to me by several years and he did rule the roost in Percy, Jason and Thalia's absence.

"Not with the wind." He said meekly, he then turned his gaze to Alec Blackwood, "You'll take Alec and the Dealers of Death along with you. I assure you it'll be much faster."

Alec got up from his seat and bowed to Nico as well. He didn't contest Nico's decision and never questioned his decisions but I wasn't made of the same material, "I'm sorry my lord but I don't see the need of an entire cohort accompanying me. I'm quite capable of riding a Pegasus and travelling on my own."

"I insist." Nico said and that's all he needed to.

Nico wasn't a dictator, not yet but he knew how to enforce his command and I knew better than argue further.

With another bow I walked out of the crystal chamber with Alec Blackwood on my heels.

"How long would it take your cohort to prepare for the travel?" I asked him as we climbed down the stairs.

"An hour but you and I can leave as soon as you are ready. The rest shall shadow travel to Londinium as they prepare." Alec said in a neutral tone.

Nodding, I asked him to meet me in my chambers in about half an hour. He accompanied me to the barracks from where we went our separate ways.

I headed to my room to gather my few spare belongings and put them in a duffel bag. I then opened my cupboard and pulled out my armour of the hanger. I traded my linothorax for a shirt and a corset. With my corset in place, I donned my breastplate and back plate finishing the uniform with my ceremonial bracers and greaves. I then unfolded my cape which was painted in several shades of blue and fastened it around my neck.

With my sword on my waist, I slung the duffel bag on my back and walked out the door to my room to be greeted by the Commander of the Dealers of Death, Alec Blackwood. I have to say, he cleaned up well.

Dressed in black and grey steel he did look like a Death Dealer.

"Shall we proceed?" he asked in a silky voice with his eyebrow quirked. To be honest I liked what I saw and I think he realised that. Although I knew him enough about him to fall for him but how the hell do you not fall for such a good looking guy? If it's stupid to fall for him, I'm ready to take a sword through me.

"Anytime you are ready." I said slipping my hand in his outstretched palm. Carefully and slowly he locked his fingers with mine. Firming his grasp on my hand he turned his full attention to me. I felt the intensity of his gaze as his eyes looked into mine. Cold, hollow eyes bore into my bubbling sea green.

"Brace yourself. It isn't a pleasant feeling." He whispered but I couldn't even respond. It seemed as if I had frozen in the moment, mesmerized by his eyes and before I could say anything I felt a shiver run down my spine electrifying my being. Had I not been so focused on his eyes I'd have observed the shadows rising to take us into their veil and the dark overtake us.

I was supposed to be cold but I wasn't for I was lost and all I knew was the eyes that bore into mine and it wasn't long before it became the last thing as I saw as my eyes rolled back into my head and I knew no more.

My head throbbed with pain. It wasn't severe but just enough to irritate me. I was coming to my senses now and the first thing I knew was that I was home.

Although my eyes were still closed I knew I was back in Londinium and in my quarters overlooking the sea. Slowly, I opened my eyes and took in the familiar surroundings. Not much had changed in the last few weeks that I had been at Fort Olympus.

I noticed that I didn't have my armour on. I was wearing a light cotton shirt and that was about it. I remembered passing out and I also remembered the last thing that I saw but I surely didn't remember coming into my room and changing into my light clothes.

"Miss me much?" asked the person who I was thinking about.

I turned my head in the direction of the voice. Standing in the corner and looking out of the window, Alec stood looking out at the sea. Night had almost fallen as the horizon was now painted a dark inky blue strewn with several twinkling stars.

"Why do you think?" I asked him, with a slight laugh in my voice.

He turned to look at me with a lopsided smile on his face. He had taken his armour off and wore only his combat trousers and a black vest. Now that I looked at him he was pretty lean with slight muscles. His black hair was cropped short and his pale skin seemed to shine in the candlelight. There was no doubt that he was handsome.

A smile came to my lips as I took his divine form in. There were times when I expected him to sprout fangs and his eyes to turn bloody. I half expected him to be a demon from Hell but it seemed that he was not so.

I propped myself on my pillows and sat up.

He started walking up to me, taking each step like a wolf hunting his prey.

"You want to know why? Strange, don't you remember?" He said with the same lopsided smile on his face as he walked.

"Should I?" I asked with a quirked eyebrow, while I haggled with my mind to remember what he was hinting at.

He came to a halt on the foot of my bed but didn't stay there and came and sat beside me. Closing the distance between us he looked in to my eyes, "You really don't remember do you?" he whispered, a smile playing on his lips.

Is that what I wanted? I asked myself. Did I really? I contemplated.

I looked at him once again and taking his divine form in I made my decision. Why not?

He had made his move and now it was time to make mine, "Why don't you remind me?" and with those words I closed the distance between us with a kiss and it seemed that's all I needed to for him to take control of me and surprisingly I let him.

I couldn't concentrate. Let alone think properly. All I could do was to feel; I could feel his calloused hands, touching every inch of my body in a gentle, yet possessive way. I could feel his breath hitch at every kiss. I could hear his moans and groans at each contact. I could feel how much he wanted me at that very moment.

M RATED (Minors Please Avoid)- Third Person POV

She spread her legs and his growing arousal made a painful contact with her heating core. They both groaned at the given pleasure and torture. And because of that simple contact, their clothing was taken off in a blink of an eye.

It was agonizingly slow. She could feel his hands everywhere. His lips left a fiery sensation at each contact it made on her skin. Her breasts were perked in responsiveness to his massaging hands. She felt his hot tongue twirling on her mounds and she couldn't help but gasped his name out, which only fuelled his growing arousal.

Her hands, unconscious to her, move to touch the man with the God-like body on top of her. Through her finger-tips, she felt the hard structures of his stomach. Even though she was unconsciously feeling around her, she was still too shy to go any lower than his waist; therefore they wound their way around his abdomen and towards the top of his head, where his ebony locks were located. Her fingers intertwined with his hair as she pulled him to her to join them in a heated kiss.

His fingers left feather-like touches on her skin. Through all the beautiful sensations that she was feeling, she could feel his long fingers playing on the inside of her thighs. She grew nervous. Suddenly her back instinctively arched forward, her chest making contact with his.

His fingers, they were inside her. It was uncomfortable. She herself had never touched herself in that way ever before. She groaned. Her body had finally gotten used to the penetration. Instead of whimpering due to it being uncomfortable, she started to groan in absolute pleasure. She had no idea that there were places inside of her that can provoke such feelings of pleasure.

And then it came. That feeling in her gut, slowly building up to its highest peak before it was ready to burst. She screamed, and felt waves of desire, familiarity and comfort wash over her, but that's when she felt it. It was a tight snap. A great heave of force. Pain. She screamed again. This time, it was void of pleasure, just pure pain.

She calmed down after a few breaths, also because of his comforting words created by his baritone voice, whispering lightly on her ear. It wasn't as painful as she thought it would be. When she finally calmed and had gotten used to him being inside her, she felt him move, ever so unbearably slow, and when she felt the pain go away only for pleasure to take its place, she started to moan. She couldn't believe she was moaning. She felt like she was a completely different person, making such seductive noises.

Her arms automatically wrapped around him when she finally urged him to go faster which only made him happy to comply. His strong hands gripped her thighs, to a point where she was sure marks were going to develop. She felt it again, that erupting feeling in the pit of her stomach. She screamed her release with her back arched high and her mouth open even as the sound of her scream withered away. And when she was coming down from her natural high, she could still feel him moving within her. She looked at him. His face was contorted in concentration, his usual pale face was tinted a bright red, and then he grunted, and then moaned out his release, his mouth opening as an uncontrollable gasp escaped his lips. She gasped out after him, and then feeling his warm release within her, now conjoined with hers.

M- RATED ENDS

With a feathery kiss on her forehead, Alec moved off her and lay by her side, heaving and gasping for breath.

Maritime was still in a state of ecstasy, oblivious of what had just happened. There was only one thing that was swirling in her mind, "I knew I'd remember" she said with a smile on her face as she turned to face him.

A laugh escaped Alec's mouth and he closed the distance between them with his lips. However he broke it quickly as he was still a little short of breath.

Maritime dimmed the lights and blew out the candles. Pulling the sheets up to her neck she closed her eyes to sleep but for the first time in several weeks there was a smile on her face.

There was one on Alec's face as well but for a completely different reason.

I woke up with a groan and a throbbing head ache. I didn't wake up on my own too.

Someone had been knocking at the door for the past several minutes and shouting my name.

With a hand to the head I got up from the bed and headed to the door but before I moved to open it I realised the state I was in and decided to at least button my shirt. Once I did that, I unbolted the door to reveal the face of my Second-in-command, Nick Andrews, Son of Summanus and Ex-Sentinel.

I had offered Nick the job only a few days back when he had been rotated here for guard duty. Boyish in many ways, he was mostly intoxicated but he fought well without his inhibitions. Hell! He fought like a monster without his inhibitions.

Seeing the state I was in, Nick quickly looked away.

"Why are you knocking my door at this ungodly hour?" I shouted at him.

But before he could answer I heard the familiar sound of the warning signal. The sound of a conch horn reverberated over the skies of Londinium. That couldn't be right, we hadn't been attacked in ages but before I finished that thought. The conch horn was blown again.

"What's the meaning of this?" I asked Nick, bewildered.

"I think you know." He said, his eyes still averted.

For once in my life I didn't know what to do. My head was a swirling mess but I had to do something.

"Summon the commanders and man the walls. Prepare all the primary defences and send scouts. Send word to Fort Olympus. I will see you at the Guard Tower." I said, I could hear the urgency in my voice and also the slight fear.

As I closed the door the conch horn was still being blown.

"What's all the noise about?" Alec groaned, his face buried in his pillow.

However, instead of waking him up, Maritime walked to her window to look out at the sea.

Normally the sea would be a beautiful shade of Cerulean early in the morning but today the cerulean waters were marred with gigantic ships, with black hulls. There were still far away to count but she knew each ship was roughly the size of an air-craft carrier.

She stood rooted to her floor, looking at the enemy armada as it proceeded to sail towards Londinium. She heard the blaring of the conch horn and the sound of the warriors as they ran to their posts. She knew she had to get ready for war but she couldn't move. It seemed as if her feet had taken roots.

I had never liked the sea, it made me sick however larger the ship the lesser the sea sickness and in case of my flagship, Catastros. I didn't feel sick at all.

Standing on the observation deck I looked out at the beautiful city we were about to make shore at. It was beautiful, yes but we were here to destroy it and I was the one who was going to burn it to ashes.

A strong wind blew from the sea to the walls of the City of Londinium. The warriors of the 9th and 13th legion thinking it of as a sign from Poseidon rejoiced but little did they know that the winds was created by the flapping of wings. In Particular, the wings of the Angel who was third in strength to the creator of the universe.

Gabriel, the Might of chaos and in earlier life Zeno Leonidas Spades.