Ok, so Moros is the personification of Impending Doom and Inevitability. Brother to the Fates (the Moirai) and son of Nyx (in some versions of the real world myth Ananke is their mother but I'm going with the myths that exist in the books). He was believed to be omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, as he drove all things to their ends (Taken directly from the camp half-blood wiki). Much like his sisters the Fates, he was feared and respected by god and Titan alike. So basically, he's the male counterpart of the Fates.
Also, Arke is Iris's sister. Both were messenger goddesses, but Arke stayed loyal to the Titans.
Also, Iapetus was the original Lord of the Underworld before Hades as well as the Titan of the West. I can't remember if that was mentioned in the books so I figured I'd put it here to be sure.
Just a little background information for this chapter.
And to put the disclaimer I just realized I haven't been putting, I don't own anything affiliated with the Percy Jackson franchise. Though I really wish I did.
Artemis POV
Artemis was dreaming. She knew she was. The last thing she remembered was sitting in the council chamber talking to her brother and Hermes, then a flash of light and darkness fell. Now she was chasing game through her old hunting grounds near Othrys. This isn't real, she thought. I need to get back. Something had gone wrong. Maybe it was just one of her brother's dumb pranks gone arwy, or maybe it was a Titan attack. She didn't know, but she did know that drifting through unconsciousness would not help anything. With an effort, she forced herself back to consciousness.
Slowly, Artemis woke up. Her whole body ached. Whatever had happened, it had not been a gentle experience. Keeping her eyes closed, she listened. Her blood ran cold at the voice she heard.
A door opened and a single set of feet walked across a stone floor. A cold quiet voice spoke. "Well done Iapetus, Atlas," she hear Kronos say. "With any luck my granddaughter will have the answers we seek."
Well, she thought, I guess it was a Titan attack. So much for hoping her brother had done something stupid and injured her by accident. And I was stupid enough to get captured!
"Thank you Brother," she heard Iapetus answer. "The mystery being who attacked you was there when we took her. She should know who he is."
So this is about Percy, she thought.
"Good, wait outside," Kronos told him. Two sets of footsteps retreated across the room, and a door closed. "I know you're awake Artemis," Kronos said.
Artemis cursed under her breath before opening her eyes and looking toward Kronos. "Grandfather," was all she said. Kronos remained silent, studying her. That golden gaze was unsettling, and she couldn't bring herself to meet his eye. Instead she made a show of studying her surroundings. She was in a long black hall lined with marble columns. Green flames danced in braziers at the feet of statues of the Elder Titans. This must be the throne room Percy told us about, Artemis thought. She was chained to one of the columns beside the gaudy obsidian throne. Bronze shackles encircled her ankles and wrist. Kronos sat on the edge of the throne's dais still watching her. "You've redecorated," she said. Steeling herself, she took a deep breath and met his gaze. "What do you want?" she asked, knowing the answer.
Kronos was a long time in answering. "Who is he," Kronos asked in a soft, cold voice.
Percy didn't want his real identity made know, he wouldn't even let them tell their allies who he was, so Artemis was not going to betray his trust. She had to tell Kronos something though. Percy had told her of the original story Aphrodite planned to use on the Crete Council. If it was good enough for them, she hoped it would be good enough for Kronos too. "He's one of the Protogenoi," Artemis told him. "Aphrodite found him. His name is Perseus and he agreed to help our cause. Evidently you did something to annoy him Grandfather," she said with a smile. "He never told me who his parents are," she lied, "but his eyes make me think he's a son of Erebus or Nyx. Moros in disguise perhaps?" she mused aloud.
Kronos gave no sign of what he thought of the information. He sat silently, eyes never wavering, as he continued to stare at Artemis. She really wished he would stop doing that. Her pride forced her to try, but meeting that gaze was hard. Finally he spoke, "This Perseus spoke of his father's wishes. Moros has no father."
"Maybe he thinks of his mother's husband as his father," Artemis said. "I don't know what to tell you Grandfather, I just think it appropriate that Doom himself would appear at the end of your reign." She hoped Kronos was buying this story. If he thought he was fighting against a Primordial, especially one as powerful as Moros, it might buy them some time. Of course, she though, if he knew the truth he'd run to the ends of the Earth to hide.
"A pretty story Artemis," Kronos told her, "but I have spoken with the eldest Protogenoi. Nyx, Erebus, Tartarus, Eros, even my own mother…they will take no part. They care not who rules this world."
"Your father did," Artemis told him, "and fate and destiny belong to the Moirai and Moros. Perhaps they have decided you have ruled long enough." She smiled then, "not even a Titan can tamper with fate, Grandfather."
Kronos stared at her for a long time. "We shall see, Granddaughter," he said finally rising. "But if I find out you have lied to me, it will not go well for you." He snapped his fingers and Arke appeared at his side. "Gather the council," he told the messenger goddess. She nodded and flashed out.
Kronos turn and sat in his obsidian throne. He waved his hand and eleven lesser thrones rose from the black marble floor. The Titan council began to flash in. All but Iapetus seemed surprised to see her chained next to the Titan Lord. So Kronos doesn't trust his council, Artemis though. That could prove to be valuable information if she ever got out of this place. "I see you have captured our granddaughter Kronos, I am assuming this meeting is about the man who attacked you?" Koios asked when he saw Artemis. Artemis glared at her maternal grandfather, the Titan of Farsight, but the look did not seem to faze him.
Kronos directed his answer to the council, "Iapetus and Atlas captured her. We needed information, information only a member of my son's council would have. Iapetus, tell the council of the mission."
"There's not much to tell," Iapetus said. "Kronos told us to bring back one of Zeus's minions, it didn't matter which. My son and I flashed into the council chamber and Artemis was the closest person. Atlas knocked her unconscious and we left. The man who attacked Kronos last week was there talking with Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades."
"So who is he?" Themis asked looking sympathetically toward Artemis. Artemis had always been fond of Themis. The Titaness of Law and Justice was always fair when she judged. Artemis wondered how she could follow someone like Kronos.
"According to my granddaughter, he's one of the Protogenoi," Kronos said simply. Stunned silence filled the room.
"I had feared as much," Koios finally said. "Only a Primordial would have the power to restrain you as he did Kronos." Artemis smirked at the look on Kronos's face, he definitely did not like being reminded that Percy had bested him.
"What is his name?" Hyperion asked.
"Artemis says he has not revealed to them his true identity, and that he only goes by Perseus," Kronos told him. He glanced toward her then, "I'm not sure if I believe her, but she suggests that he might be Moros in disguise."
"The black eyes you described do suggest a son of Nyx," Queen Rhea said glancing toward Artemis as well. She was obviously nervous that Artemis had mentioned her betrayal to Kronos, but hid it well. "What else did she say?"
"Nothing," Kronos said simply. He sat silently for a moment before speaking again. "Krios, bring Perses and Pallas. Perhaps they will be able to get more out of her," he said. Artemis paled, the Titans of Destruction and Warfare were the last two people she wanted interrogating her. She wasn't sure how long she'd be able to hold out under their questioning before she gave them what they wanted.
Krios laughed, "She won't last long with those two." He snapped his fingers and Arke appeared again. "Bring Perses and Pallas. Tell them Lord Kronos has a task for them," he told her. She nodded and flashed out. "They should be here shortly," Krios cut off as lightning suddenly flashed overhead. The Titans looked at each other worriedly, obviously wondering if the gods were planning to attempt a rescue. Thunder suddenly shook the throne room, and something fell from the heavens.
A massive dark form wreathed in white light crashed into the center of the throne room floor, blasting the assembled Titans from their thrones, toppling statues and columns, and filling the room with a cloud of dust. Percy, Artemis thought. Queen Rhea landed heavily next to Artemis. Looking around quickly, she crawled over and whispered in Artemis's ear, "I'll do what I can to get you out of here. Just hold on as long as you can."
Artemis looked thankfully toward her grandmother, "I'll be fine, and don't worry, but you need to leave now!" Rhea's eyes widened, but she nodded and flashed out. Artemis looked toward the massive crater at the center of the room. The dust had cleared enough for her to see the form of a man standing in the crater with massive black wings spread to either side of his body and eyes glowing brighter than the sun. Panic seized her. Definitely not Percy, she thought. She didn't know who this newcomer was, but she suddenly regretted sending her grandmother away. Here was an unknown, extremely powerful, and obviously pissed off deity, and she was chained to a damn column! Maybe the real Moros has actually come, she thought. The figure in the crater certainly looked like Doom personified.
"Who dares!?" Kronos roared pushing himself to his feet. His scythe appearing in his hands.
The figure ignored the Titan King, and bellowed his own challenge. "Iapetus!" he screamed loud enough to shake the room to its foundations. A familiar sword of starlight appeared in the figures right hand. Artemis gasped, it was Percy, but it was a very different Percy than she had grown close to over the past week. For the first time, she realized just how powerful her new friend actually was. She guessed his iron tight self-control normally kept his power in his grasp, but now uncontrolled waves of destructive power were rolling off of him. She knew that if any lesser beings had been in the room, they would have been burned from existence by his very presence. As it was, she was having a hard time keeping her own form together. He stepped forward and the cracked marble beneath his feet crumbled to dust. "Show yourself!" Percy bellowed.
The offending Titan rose unsteadily to his feet as Percy's gaze fell on him. A look of terror crossed the Lord of the Underworld's face and a spear materialized in his hands. It did him little good. Percy raised his left hand and released such a torrent of destructive energy at the Titan that he was blasted completely through the wall behind him. "Father!" a voice cried from the doorway. Artemis turned to see Atlas, Perses, and Pallas standing at the entrance of the throne room. The clash of weapons drew her eyes quickly back to Percy. Kronos and Hyperion had both attacked Percy together, and were doing everything they could to stay alive. Kronos's scythe spun in his hands, barely able to keep Percy's blade of light from his body, and Hyperion was already on the ground clutching his side. The Titan of Fire crawled away before turning and raising a hand. A torrent of fire engulfed Percy.
"No!" Artemis screamed, struggling against her chains. Hyperion held the blazing inferno as long as he could before losing consciousness. When the flames died, Artemis saw Percy was crouched on the scorched ground, his wings wrapped protectively around his body. With a yell, he surged to his feet, striking Kronos in the chest with an extending wings. The Titan Lord crashed into the dais that held his throne. He's going to kill them all, Artemis thought shocked. She'd seen impressive warriors before, she thought of herself as one of the best at close quarters combat, but she had never heard of anyone who could defeat three Elder Titans in a matter of seconds. This was true power. This was the Heir of Chaos wielding the power of the Creator.
Atlas roared from the doorway and charged with Perses and Pallas close behind. Artemis broke from her shocked stupor as the three Titans closed on Percy. "Percy, behind you!" she screamed. He didn't need her warning. He spun, bright eyes shining, before the words had even left her lips and met the Titans head on. Back and forth the four fought. Percy opened a deep gash in Perses thigh before spinning and knocking Pallas off his feet with a swooping wing. Spinning again, his sword flashed at Atlas's neck, and froze inches from the Titan. Artemis saw from the corner of her eye Kronos extending a hand toward the battle.
"Finish him, you fool," Kronos forced out through gritted teeth. Artemis panicked when she realized what was happening. The time spell held Percy for only a moment, but it was all Atlas needed. He ducked under the sword as the spell broke, and thrust his javelin forward, through Percy's armor into his abdomen. He backed up quickly, narrowly avoiding a backhanded slash, and left his weapon lodged where it was.
"Percy!" Artemis screamed. Percy stumbled away from Atlas grimacing in pain and fell to his knees. Dropping his sword, he grasped the javelin and pulled it from his body. Silver ichor dripped from the weapon as he tossed it aside. An injured Perses helped Pallas to his feet behind Percy
Kronos struggled to his feet alone and approached Percy, using his scythe to prop himself up. He crouched down and looked Percy in the eyes, "I will have the answers I want from you," he said, voice like ice, as Pallas brought down his bronze club on the back of Percy's head. The lights in Percy's eyes went out as he fell forward, losing consciousness. His wings slowly shrank back into his back, and his armor returned to the stone in his necklace.
This can't be happening, Artemis thought as she stared wide-eyed at her injured friend. She felt tears form in her eyes and she fought them back. I will not let them see me cry! she told herself furiously, but on the inside she was breaking. Percy was their one chance at winning, what hope did they have without him? She saw the deaths of her whole family as he lay there in the rubble bleeding. She saw his death as well, and it affected her more than she expected it to. A single sob escaped her lips.
Kronos looked at her with contempt, "Tie him up and see to the wounded," he told no one in particular. "I'll question him once I've recovered." With that he flashed out. Atlas and Pallas drug Percy to the surviving column beside her, and began wrapping his body in bronze chains.
Come back to us Percy, Artemis thought. We need you. The tears finally started falling down her face.
Dun, dun, dun. Percy done gone and got himself wounded and captured. Hope you liked this chapter! Let me know what you think, and hopefully I'll get the next chapter out in a few days. I have research to do for the next few chapters, so it might take a little longer than this one did. It shouldn't take to long though. Again, let me know what you think. Questions, ideas, comments, concerns; I'd love to hear them all.
