Author's Note: Hello everybody and welcome back! Loving the reviews and feedback, helps me improve just for you all. And extra long chapter for you all (I won't be updating during Thanksgiving week so it'll have to do). Just for the sake of it I'll say that I know some of the characters will feel off but there are reasons for that so bear with me please. Now, without further delay, onward!

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Uncle Rick but the plot!


3 Years Later (15 in Tartarus)

Percy slowly opened his eyes as an annoying ringing was going off somewhere to his left. He turned his head in that direction and spotted the damned alarm clock marking it as 7:30 in the morning. He sighed as he looked at it and willed a hand of shadow to press the snooze on the infernal device. 'Why did morning have to come so soon?' he grumbled before he tried to get up … key word, tried. He glanced down to see two heads of brown hair on his chest, one tipped with pinks and purples while the other was a full, darker tone. He smiled as he leaned down and kissed each head before slowly sitting up while ignoring the whines of protest. He almost chuckled as one head reared up to pout at him, a pair of goldish-hazel eyes locking onto his orbs of black flames.

"Morning," he nearly chirped before pecking her on the lips.

That earned him a smile before she yawned as she threw her arms back and let the sheets fall off her. His eyes couldn't help but stray to her bosom barely hidden by her snug shirt. The sight only got better as she slowly crawled off the bed while giving him a prime view of her panty clad rear. He had to bite the inside of his lips to resist trying to cop a feel so he turned his head the other direction while muttering, "Rhea you tease."

"Hmm?" she hummed as she glanced back at him before giggling innocently. "Percy, what a naughty boy. Ogling your girlfriend while your sister is in bed with you … pervert."

Percy started choking on air while his face did an impression of a golden tomato, all the while Rhea started to laugh at him. Percy was about to fire a retort but then a tiny fist lightly hit his chest while its owner mumbled, "Too loud."

The couple looked at the offended 5 year old as she sat up from Percy's side, her purple and blue eyes looking at them with annoyance.

"Did we have to get up?" she asked with her infamous puppy dog eyes.

"Yes," both replied without looking at her eyes. They knew that if they looked they'd lose otherwise.

Andromeda whined while stuffing her face back into a pillow and trying to throw the blankets on but Rhea came up and pulled them away.

"No little missy. Today's a big day and you are not going to miss out on it when it's about you," Rhea said in a motherly tone as she picked up the child and headed to the bathroom, Percy watching in amusement as Andy gave a sigh of defeat. He never got tired of seeing how that pair interacted in these last couple of years. They'd bonded nearly as much as Percy was with his sister though at times the relationships were a bit odd due to a surprising ability Andy discovered days after getting the blessings of Eros and Phanes.

Since she was connected to pure love rather than the lustful version Aphrodite did to over the millennia, her abilities changed to reflect that. While Aphrodite would subconsciously alter her appearance to get the best chances of attracting who she wanted, Andromeda's appearance could change according to the types of love she felt or someone near her needed. With Percy and Rhea, she was usually in the form of a child, usually 5 to 8, and ended up getting treated like a daughter most of the time or turn into a teen and be their little sister. With Nyx and Tartarus she would look her actual age of 21 and be far more serious since it usually involved training.

With Eros and Phanes she would go through just about every age of development to adjust and understand the types of love and how they affected her or those around her. One shocking discovery that Eros made was that thanks to Andromeda sneaking into Percy and Rhea's bed so often, during the night time in the mortal world sibling and motherly love would increase thanks to Percy and Rhea's connections to their domains. That alone made Eros and Phanes ecstatic that they chose Andromeda to be their heir … which she was going to become today.

As for Percy, he was also focused on the thoughts of Rhea. Fifteen years of awesome dating with plenty of kissing, cuddling, and heavy petting. After all that time together, training and simply getting to know each other to the point neither kept a secret from each other (save for one), he could safely say that he loved her … and was pretty sure Andromeda knew since she always snickered at them and winked when Percy looked at her. Still, he hadn't been able to actually say it since there was one thing holding him back and those were his thoughts on Hestia. His heart still yearned for her as well.

It was the only thing he feared bringing up with Rhea … but he knew that he needed to tell her soon. 'For another time though,' he thought as he got out of bed and quickly changed into his usual black leather jeans, muscle shirt, steel toed boots, and hooded cloak of darkness. His blades in ring form on each index finger was his last piece before his attire was complete and all he had left was to wait for Andromeda and Rhea. 'Why those two always prefer morning showers, I'll never know,' he mused as he sat of his bed and looked around his joint room with Rhea.

They'd move in together after 5 years of dating and the décor hadn't really changed much aside from Rhea choosing gold sheets rather than black and a vanity for her beside his desk and bookshelf. He waited around for another 20 minutes or so before both ladies stepped out of the bathroom fully dressed. Rhea had her knee-length black dress with golden trimming, a gold with green trimmed sash around her waist, Greek styled sandals, and her hair pulled into a braid over one shoulder. In one word, Percy thought she was gorgeous without a speck of make up on her face.

Next to her was Andromeda, looking her actual age now. She stood almost as tall as Rhea at 5 foot'8 with a voluptuous figure fitting of a demi-primordial of love, her long hair spilling over her shoulders and down to her mid back in waves. She was dressed in a similar attire to him. She had on a long sleeved red shirt with a black corset top over it making her bust look even bigger than it already is, black and purple plaid skirt that reached mid-thigh, and thigh-high, Tartaren steel toed, high heeled leather boots. All of it came together with a black cloak meant to mirror his coat of darkness … just not as cool.

'Good thing every male around here is either taken, interested in someone else, dead, or Tartarus,' Percy thought, knowing his sister's looks could give immortals heart attacks. Thank Chaos that her personality wasn't anything like Aphrodite. He shuddered at the thought.

"So, ready to go?" he asked as he got up and gave Rhea a quick kiss.

"Yep," she chirped back as Andromeda snickered at them while walking out first.

Percy took Rhea's hand as they followed after her. They made quick work of exiting the House of Night and entered a rather nice courtyard … as far as Tartarus can go anyways. It was decorated with obsidian statues of famous heroes and monsters alike, flowers made of shadows and ice curtesy of both Percy and Nyx's efforts, and a large, pure white oak tree in the center. Standing by the oak was Eros, Nyx, Phanes, and Tartarus as they watched Andromeda approach, her gate becoming nervous as she got closer.

Once she stood before them and Percy and Rhea stood a bit to the side, they began, "Andromeda Jackson … are you ready to become a primordial heir?" they said in unison.

Andromeda looked around before her eyes fell on Percy, looking for the last bit of courage needed to do this. He gave her a firm nod of support and she smiled back before she looked straight at the protogenoi before her.

"Yes," she said in a strong voice.

"Then begin!" commanded Eros as he stood at the center of the protogenoi.

Andromeda took a deep breath before speaking in a voice laced with power, "I, Andromeda Xena Jackson, state my claim and right to being the heiress of Eros, primordial of Love and Attraction, and Phanes, primordial of Desire and Procreation."

With her words completed, Andromeda glowed a bright pink and purple, making everyone have to look away for a moment. Once the glow died down they looked again to see Andromeda standing there with a faint glow coming off her skin. Though what was new was a purple glove with a pink gem over the wrist on her right hand. 'Most be her pure manifestation of power,' Percy thought as he glanced at his own cloak that left trails of darkness wherever he walked.

"Impressive," Eros said, breaking the silence, as he walked around Andromeda while inspecting her. "It truly seems that every new primordial that came from … lesser origins gains greater strength and potential."

"True," Phanes added as he also looked her up and down. "She almost feels as strong as us at our primes and she hasn't even claimed the domains for herself yet."

"Ah … thank you," Andromeda said while blushing thanks to the compliments.

"You're welcome," Nyx said as she glanced at Tartarus, "And we have a surprise for you."

"Really!?" Andy asked excitedly to which Tartarus responded by bringing a wrapped package from under his cloak.

He handed the gift to the hopping primordial heiress who eagerly started to tear the wrapping off. Soon her gift was revealed and she gasped at the sight while Percy whistled in appreciation. It was a pair of two foot knives, the one blade being purple while the other was pink with fine, nearly unnoticeable serrations running the length with a Tartaren steel guard and leather grips. Andromeda looked at them in awe before giving a devilish smirk as she spun them in her hands like a true master of knives and short swords.

Percy would know, he helped train her. Even Artemis, with her millennia of using knives, didn't compare to Andromeda now since Andy had spent the last 15 years brutally training to fight other intelligent, significantly stronger combatants rather than just chasing after monsters. Hell, his sister's reflexes were nearly on par with his and she was definitely as fast though he still won out in overall skill and strength. He had no worries now about her getting into a fight with an Olympian … or several for that matter.

Andromeda then started doing several practiced maneuvers, the knives singing in her hands at her effortless movement. After a few moments Nyx clapped her hands to get her attention.

"As exciting as it is to see you playing with the blades, I believe there is more to show you," she said making Andy's eyes widen in excitement.

"Try bringing the butt ends together," Phanes suggested with a barely hidden smirk.

Andromeda looked at him funny but did as he instructed. At their joining the grips seemed to fuse together as each blade grew to double the length while curving slightly. Then, a string of glowing purple energy appeared between the ends to form a completed bow.

"What!?" Andromeda shouted as she gawked at the new bow in her hands.

"You like it?" Eros asked to which Andy nodded numbly. "Good. Tartarus took one feather from Phanes and I for the blades and one hair from you too make the string before forging it with Tartaren steel. Like Percy's Sin and Purgatory, only you or those you allow can wield your weapon which undoubtedly will become your symbol of power."

"Awesome!" Andromeda squealed in delight, momentarily shifting into a kid again before returning to normal.

Percy chuckled at his sister's enthusiasm before Eros cleared his throat to get her attention.

"Well, why don't I get showing you some perks of being connected to our domain?" he asked to which she eagerly nodded.

Eros smiled as he walked off to the side with Andromeda and Phanes in toe, Rhea being dragged along by Andy in her excitement. Percy stepped beside Nyx and Tartarus as he watched in amusement while Eros started to explain about how to 'feel out' the domain and its focus. Then he felt Nyx poking him in the side to get his attention, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes.

"Hey Percy …" she said a little too sweetly, "I was wondering something …"

"… Yes?" he asked suspiciously as he glanced around for any shadows moving oddly.

"Andromeda is really pretty, right?" she asked randomly.

"Of course," he answered while wondering where she was going with this.

"And you want her to always be beside you, right?" she continued on making his eyes narrow.

"Okay, what's up?" he finally asked, knowing that with Nyx it is always best to bite the bullet.

"Oh nothing it's just that I've noticed how close you two are, with her sneaking into your bed all the time with even Rhea accepting it, and all," she said as she played with her hair while smirking slyly at him. "And you know us Greeks … me and Erebus, Ouranus and Gaea, the dramatic duo currently in power … I was just wondering …" Nyx trailed off with a suggestive wiggle of the eyebrows while glancing at Andromeda.

Percy followed her line of sight before looking back and forth, his eyebrows furrowed in thought before they shot up and his eyes widened in realization. Nyx started to giggle in his face while Tartarus (totally forgot he was listening in) chuckled dryly with his red eyes glowing in amusement under his hood.

"Wow, wow, wow!" he shouted while waving his hands in a 'back it up' motion. "Is my name Jamie Lannister? No! I love her, sure, but not like that!"

"And what if she feels that way?" Nyx asked with that damned smirk.

"We both know that her form shifts to the kind of love she feels when completely relaxed or asleep. If that was the case she'd wake up as an adult with me," he retorted while quelling his racing heart. Nyx nearly gave him a heart attack with her thoughts dammit! Is she trying to kill her own heir before he can even claim the domains?

"True …" Nyx conceded before she suddenly went 'aha!' while taping her fist into an open palm. "What about Hestia? Are you going to talk to Rhea about it?" she asked in a whisper.

Percy gave her a troubled frown as he thought about it. Of course he wanted to tell her … but he was scared to see how she would react. Would she be angry? Disgust? Feel betrayed or cheated? He would do anything to spare her that kind of pain but letting it linger would only hurt more in that end. He sighed as he mentality kicked himself to man up about it. He looked at Nyx with firm eyes before answering.

"I'll tell her after I get back. I do love her and she deserves to know …"

Nyx looked at him intently for a few tense seconds before a soft smile appeared on her face.

"You really have grown into a fine man," she said fondly while caressing his cheek. "I know things will pan out as they should, no Fates meddling in this time. Just trust her with the full truth and who knows … you might be in for a surprise."

"Thanks," he said softly as he leaned into her touch.

He'd never really said it but Nyx had become like his mother throughout the years he's spent with her. Tartarus and the other protogenoi like odd uncles and aunts. It was a family, a quirky one, but a family nonetheless.

"Good, now getting going while the night is young," she said as she got on her 'aloof commander' face on making him chuckle. He nodded and was about to shadow out but stopped abruptly as he heard a sharp gasp.

Him and Nyx snapped their heads to see Andromeda on her knees with Rhea kneeling beside her in worry. Percy and Nyx were by their side in an instant, scanning over Andromeda for any signs of injury but nothing was wrong. However, Percy noticed that Andromeda was silently crying while starring at the ground.

"Andy?" Percy asked softly as he tapped her shoulder.

She gasped as she turned to look at him before launching herself at him and hugging onto his neck, shifting into a child form and crying all the while. Percy held her while looking at the others in confusion. He noticed that neither Eros nor Phanes looked surprised but rather, a sad and almost resigned expressions.

"What happened?" he asked softly as he ran his hand through Andromeda's hair while Rhea rubbed soothing circles on her back.

Eros sighed while running a hand through his hair. "It's her connection to her domain. She tried it out for the first time … and obviously didn't like what she found."

"Where did she look?" Percy asked, knowing that at first they could only focus on one area until their connection grew once they claimed their domains.

His connection was already enough to get a general sense of the continental United States at night and in clear detail within a mile radius of his focus or if he's actually in the mortal world.

"She picked New York … the area around the Empire State specifically," Phanes answered.

Percy grimaced at the thought, getting an idea of just what 'love' she found there. He looked down at his sister as she finally stopped crying but kept her head resting against his chest while sniffling slightly.

"Andy, are you okay?" he asked gently making her look up at him.

"Big brother," she said softly as she looked at him with her mesmerizing purple and blue eyes. "It … it … was horrible. So much lust mixed with broken love, betrayal … and hate. It was so vile … like swimming in drakon intestines."

Percy shuddered at the description. That happened to him once. Don't ask … Nyx could be a bitch of a trainer by the way.

"But the worst part was the focus of procreation and lust … completely devoid of actual love. Someone there was thinking of making more babies but not to love them like a parent. Just have them for … trophies. Memories and proof of who she slept with."

"Her?" Percy asked only for Eros to answer.

"Aphrodite," he spat in disgust.

Percy growled at the name of the mentioned goddess. Of course it had to be her, who else? In his years here several of the protogenoi had explained to him what they'd seen that made them come together to decide on finding heirs and moving on. Their disgust with the ruling gods and the state of the world had finally proven too much for them to truly remain on the side lines yet they knew their time was past. It was up to the next generation to fix the wrongs … and Eros had explained in detail just what Aphrodite had truly thought of his 'love' with the spawn of Athena.

Turns out while his was genuine, Aphrodite had pushed Annabeth's friendship beyond platonic forms to amuse herself and also get back at Athena for being a maiden goddess. Of course that had changed when he proved to be such a hero that she herself had begun to want him. To claim him. He had become a prized buck in her hunting game and keeping Annabeth interested would have only gotten in the way so she stopped meddling and allowed Annabeth's true emotions out … not that they were any better than the fake ones.

Turns out the blonde girl he'd met when he first arrived, the one who saw herself as above others thanks to her 'wisdom', who sought the attentions of those in the spotlight such as Luke had been as the best swordsman at the time, were her real 'romantic' ambitions. He even learned who had helped her 'relieve' the stress when she was 'desperate' to find him. He knew seeing Apollo looking so happy at her godhood had been odd. Well, another reason to toss said god into the deepest pit of darkness he could create.

Still, his thoughts returned to Aphrodite and how she seemed to only care about the children that did something noteworthy … otherwise she cared nothing for them. Piper had become her golden girl while the rest of her cabin laid forgotten. Hell, the worst bullies of Aphrodite's cabin had always been their own siblings with how, 'unless they learn to break a heart, they aren't worthy to be her children,' and such. Piper had brought out a loving, nearly forgotten self of the goddess … but she was only one daughter and it was only a matter of time before Aphrodite returned to her ways … and it looks like it happened recently judging by how Andromeda reacted to her presence.

'It's like every Olympian is personally giving me a reason to skin them alive in particular,' he thought as he looked at his sister's face and grew worried. Before she'd looked shocked and scared but now, there was only anger and disgust. He didn't resist as she pulled out of his arms and stood up, shifting into her adult form as she looked at Phanes and Eros.

"Am I powerful enough to curse someone like an Olympian?" she asked in a cold tone.

"Yes," Eros replied without hesitation. "But you lack experience so I would have to focus it for you."

Andromeda nodded before taking a deep breath and speaking in a voice laced with power. "I, Andromeda Xena Jackson, curse Aphrodite to an eternity of sterility. May her womb become barren, her breasts forever dry, her ability to give new life in any form stripped, till the day she is nothing more than dust and ash."

A loud thunder crack sealed her curse as her body flashed with power. Percy looked in awe at his sister, marveling at what she just did to the goddess of love. To take away one of the key known aspects of that goddess … it was brutal. Percy was sure that it would drive the goddess insane and the only worse would have been taking her ability to have sex … could his sister actually do that? It seemed that Nyx had the same curiosity.

"Hey, why didn't you just forbid her from having sex or something?" she asked while tapping her chin.

Andromeda looked at her silently for a moment before answering, "I don't care about how much she sleeps around … I just won't allow new lives to be used like that. I could have taken away all her physical desires leaving her like a stone slab but that could get the Olympians too curious about how it happened. It should be a year or two before anyone notices something fishy."

"Now I know where most of their mother's brains went," Nyx said with a smirk while glancing at Percy.

"Hey!" he shouted indignantly much to her amusement. "I'm plenty smart."

"Yeah, after years of me teaching you to think on your feet and plan ahead and even then sometimes you rush in, guns blazing," Nyx chuckled back.

All Percy could do was pout at her, getting a giggled from not only Nyx but Rhea and Andromeda while Eros and Phanes chuckled at him.

"No support whatsoever," he grumbled for a few moments before he sighed as he looked at the group. "As much fun as horsing around like this is … I do believe I had a mission."

That got the group sober quick as they looked at him. This mission's importance could not be understated, as it could become the basis for some of their biggest possible allies. Sure, Percy would have preferred fighting this entire war himself, but even once he becomes a full primordial, he was still one man. He might be able to win in the end … but only after decades, possibly centuries of battle against the Olympians and their hundreds of allies. He would need his own forces … and it was time to start gaining some.

"Be safe Percy," Andromeda murmured as she hugged him quickly.

Rhea soon followed up with a kiss before pressing their foreheads together and whispering, "Come back in one piece."

"Hey, it's me we're talking about here," he replied with a smirk. "It's not like I'm going to start a war right now."

"Exactly," several voices answered him making him deadpan.

"Love the vote of confidence," he replied before pecking Rhea one more time and then, seamlessly dissolved into shadows as he left Tartarus.

'I wonder if flashing will be any different to my shadow traveling,' he mused for the second or so it took him to leave Tartarus and arrive in the mortal world. He looked around his arrival, Mount Tamalpais, and noted the entrance to a certain garden. He smirked as he pulled his hood up, completely hiding his features aside from his chin and the glow of his eyes within the shadows. He closed up his coat as well, keeping even his body hidden and with the current night and shadows slowly seeping off him, he looked like a shade as he nearly glided along the ground.

His movement was soundless as he entered the Garden of Hesperides with a familiar tree and dragon in sight. He doesn't even bother giving it a second glance but soon stops as four girls materialize before them.

"Who are you?" one asked as they look him up and down.

"Just someone passing by," he answers in a deepened voice.

"To try and steal an apple, no doubt," a second one said with narrowed eyes.

"No need," he retorted while subtly turning one finger in a shadowed claw and pricking another finer with it before bringing the finger up to show the ichor. "I simply wish to speak with someone."

"And how do we know this isn't some sort of trick?" a third asked before the fourth continued, "We should report an unknown immortal to Olympus."

"Sorry," he said with a faint smile, "But I can't let you do that."

"Wha—"

She never got to finish her sentence as Percy rushed forward, driving a sucker punch into her gut. She coughed while doubling over before her eyes rolled in the back of her head and she slumped to the ground. Before the other Hesperides could react he continued his attacks with practiced precision. A sharp jab to the head of the second, before he flipped while driving his heel against the temple of the fourth. When he landed he dashed to the third, got behind her and grabbed her into a choke hold specifically limiting her blood flow to her head. She struggled in vain for several seconds but with the lack of air and proper blood movement, soon blacked out in his arms.

He set her down beside her sisters, chuckling softly before murmuring, "Mnemosyne, if you would?'

At his words a soft white glow surrounded the heads of the Hesperides, wiping their memories of encountering him.

'Done!' a peppy voice chirped in his head making him smile.

Now that was one happy Titaness, it was no wonder that she was one of Rhea's favorite little sisters. When Mnemosyne and Andormeda got together, the atmosphere was so overly positive that Percy sometimes looked for Tartarus and tried asking him for jokes. Nothing was more depressing that his uncle's sense of humor and it was the perfect balance to his sister's antics. He shook his head at the thoughts before he continued on his way, easily making it past Ladon since they'd been too far for the dragon to properly hear without their being an explicit call for his name and Percy kept some distance from the tree just to be sure.

He soon made his way up to the top of the mountain, taking in the sights though they weren't really much to begin with. At one point he looked in the direction that he knew Camp Jupiter was and wondered how some of his old friends were? Jason, Piper, Frank, and Hazel had stayed there but with his disappearance, he hadn't really thought to check on them. He knew they were strong so he wasn't worried about them in that sense but he was just more curious to see how their lives were going.

He thought finally paying a visit sometime after he finished the mission, though he wouldn't be able to greet them … not yet anyways. 'But if I made them choose … who would they side with in the war?' he wondered as he continued to walk. They were his friends and fought with him, sure, but at the same time three were loyal romans and Piper probably wouldn't do anything without Jason. Reyna was a most likely no as well but he could hope. 'Thoughts for later then,' he mused as he arrived at his true destination.

He stood a few meters away from the person he sought out, Atlas, Titan of Strength and Endurance. He stood at a hulking 8 feet, body packed with dense muscle and lightly tanned skin. His hair was a yellowish blonde from the constant sun and his beard had grown shaggy from lack of care, his arms held up to lift the skies.

Percy observed the monument meant to serve as the powerful Titan's punishment with distaste. Many forget that the sky and earth were not originally meant to be connected like this but was done by the Olympians with the help of the Elder Cyclops. With the banishment of Hyperion, Iapetus, Krios, and Koios, the Titan lords of the North, South, East, and West, the sky was naturally destabilized and so, this meeting point was formed to keep Atlas imprisoned … but Percy needed to destroy it. Balance needed to be restored … and adding Atlas to his ally side was a big plus if he managed it.

It brought a bitter taste to his mouth, helping him when it was thanks to him that Zoe died but then again, Percy had a plan for that as well. So, with that in mind he walked up to the weary titan and made himself known by clearing his throat. Atlas lifted his head up slowly to look at him, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Atlas," Percy began as he walked closer.

"Who are you?" Atlas asked in a tired voice as he shifted his shoulders slightly.

"One who has come with a deal," he answered, not wanting the titan to know his identity for now.

"A deal?" Atlas echoed with a bitter tone. "And what sort of deal could you offer me mortal?"

Percy chuckled at the titan thinking he was mortal. He really needed to thank Nyx for giving him that charm to hide his presence though it wouldn't work anymore once he ascended to being a full primordial.

"I offer freedom from your burden," he said, watching the titan's reactions.

"How …?" Atlas asked slowly as he looked him up and down. "You can't take the burden yourself without dying so what would be the point? And I doubt you have another god in reserve somewhere looking for a workout," he added with a scoff.

"Oh, I do plan on taking your burden … just not at this moment," he answered getting a surprised look from Atlas.

"Just … who are you?" Atlas asked suspiciously.

"Someone who will see Olympus fall," he answered darkly, his eyes glowing in agreement.

Atlas chuckled at his claim before saying, "Many have made that claim. What makes yours any different?"

"Oh I don't know …" he said with a shrug as the darkness and shadows around him started to writhe and move like hungry claws as frost spread from his feet, a modicum of his power and killing intent aimed directly towards the titan.

With satisfaction he noted that Atlas shivered slightly with a new unease in his stony grey eyes.

"Just … trust me on this," he said as he reigned his power in. "I will swear on the Styx to take your burden from you if you swear to follow the next order I give you to the letter once I free you. Deal?"

Atlas looked at him silently for some time, keeping his thoughts rather well hidden with a poker face and blank eyes. After nearly 5 minutes passed Atlas sighed as he nodded.

"Very well … I swear on the river Styx to—"

"Ah-ah," Percy interrupted with a raised hand. "Swear on the Styx … and your immortality …"

Atlas' eyes nearly shot past the crown of his own head as he looked at Percy incredulously. Percy just shrugged before saying, "Got to make sure you don't go back on your word in any way."

Atlas grit his teeth while looking at him before he nodded tersely. "One order, that's it?"

"Yep, one order from me," Percy replied easily.

"Fine, I swear to your terms," Atlas said and a thunder crack sealed his oath.

"Then I swear on the Styx to return and free you from your burden when the time is right," Percy replied with another thunder crack. "Whelp! Better get going, lots of people to visit after all."

He didn't wait for Atlas to answer before he dissolved into shadows again. He appeared in a dense forest near the borders of Canada on the state side in North Dakota. He sensed around him for the presence he hunted down several days ago but was surprised to find two this time … and conveniently both were people he was looking for. 'Now this night is just getting better and better,' he thought as he walked towards them. It didn't take him long to arrive at a clearing, just outside the light of a campfire to see two very particular women.

One wore a shawl to cover her hair and large sunglasses even in the middle of the night to hide her eyes, dressed in white dress that just reached her knees. Her frame was petite small, her form slouched over as she stared at the flames while speaking in hushed whispers with her companion. The other woman … or more like monstrous woman, had the lower body of a large, black scales serpent just below her hips. She had raven hair spilling over her shoulders and from Percy's view, he could see her bright blue eyes looking at the fire sadly as well. Her upper body was dressed in a tank top with a small jacket over it, a small bow and quiver strapped to her back.

'Just who I was looking for … Medusa and Lamia,' he thought as he stepped close enough for both to notice him. With speed faster than most mortals could hope to move or react, both were up, their backs to the fire and Lamia had an arrow trained at him.

"Who are you?" Lamia hissed as she looked him up and down while Medusa kept one hand to her shades, ready to take them off in a moment's notice.

"A friend," he answered while wondering if Medusa would remember him and how he took her head last time. Maybe apologizing about that could help? Or maybe he could offer her a child of Athena to torture? Hell, he could probably get her the Athena if he played his cards right.

"A friend you say," Medusa muttered as she watched him intently. "What are you? You smell like a demigod … only … different."

"True," Lamia agreed with narrowing eyes, "I can't place the scent either."

"I assure you I mean you no harm and you can trust me," he tried as he raised his hands to show he was unarmed … at the moment."

"Then show us your face," Medusa said.

"You first," he shot back making them both start in surprise.

"Y-you do realize who I am, don't you?" Medusa asked while pointing a finger at herself.

"Yes," he answered as if it wasn't a big deal.

Medusa and Lamia glanced at each other before Lamia shrugged while muttering, "Your funeral."

Medusa then removed her shawl and shades to reveal a face that Percy honestly found beautiful. Her coppery skin gleamed with the campfire behind her, her emerald green eyes glowed while her narrowed pupils gave her a semi feral air. As Percy stared into her eyes he felt the curse trying to affect him and it honestly hurt. Sure, her curse was powerful but not absolute, otherwise all she had to do was chance a glance with an Olympian and she would be their end. Athena wasn't stupid enough to give her that sort of power and in truth, any curse given by an immortal can only be as powerful as something below the immortal in question.

In other words, if Athena had given Medusa's curse the strongest potential, at best Medusa would have been a threat to anything of minor god power or lower, monsters included. Thanks to already having enough power to outdo several Olympians or Titans, the curse was only a painful annoyance at best. He felt like he'd been exercising for days without stopping while his muscles strained and at the same time he was moving through molasses. 'Damn now this is a curse. Got to give lady 'wisdom' credit where credit is due,' he thought as he kept a grimace from his face.

Medusa and Lamia were looking at him in shock, having expected for him to turn to stone but obviously wasn't. Lamia had to also awkwardly keep her right shoulder up to avoid accidentally looking at Medusa. Seeing that Percy decided it was best to get her shades back on and get talking to the two. He willed a tendril of shadow to gently pick up the shades (which Medusa dropped in her shock) and brought it to her face. She looked at it dumbly before taking them and putting them on.

"Now can we talk?" he asked before glancing at the fire behind them.

"S-sure," Lamia said as she slowly lowered her bow and put the arrow away.

"One quick thing," he said and formed a wave of darkness that overlapped and snuffed out the fire without so much as a hiss much to the two lady's surprise. Only some moon light illuminated them now, much to Percy's distaste. "Now then, I have an offer for the both of you."

"And what would that be?" Medusa asked as she glanced at Lamia beside her, as if looking for reassurance considering her usual ace in the hole wasn't going to help her here.

"Freedom from your curses," Percy started as the two gasped at the thought, "and revenge for your suffering."

"That's an empty promise," Lamia said bitterly. "Not even the titans offered that during their little war. What makes you any different?"

"Well, for one I keep my promises," he retorted while crossing his arms. "And I'm not in any hurry. I can afford to use the energy necessary to free you both and even offer you a chance to get your revenge for the injustice of the gods."

Lamia and Medusa remained silent as they looked down while biting their lips. Percy knew that they were on the fence with this. They could say no and remain cursed forever, left as monsters that would be hunted by demigods or they could side with him in the hopes of being free. Knowing that they were close to agreeing, Percy gave them that final push.

"Medusa … you were once one of wisdom's most dedicated followers and a beauty beyond most mortals. That beauty lead to the ever lecherous sea god to forcing himself on you, after you rejected him, in your mistress' temple. What did your devotion get you? You were cast aside and cursed for something you didn't do and in her pride, she hasn't removed her curse or apologized for unjust punishment. Do you truly want to remain like this forever?"

At his words he could see some tears running down Medusa's cheeks as she hugged herself, probably recalling that very event. How he cursed the god he once called father as he looked at this. So many of the monsters demigods feared now were created by the Olympians and both made to suffer while the gods watched on. He then turned his attention to Lamia.

"And you Lamia, once a lover of the drama queen. You bore him children and his wife, in her jealousy, slaughtered them herself before cursing you while your lover remained silent about it. She knew you were a caring mother that adorned children so what better way to get to you than making you a child-eating monster? Isn't it time that she paid for this? That is what I offer both of you. Revenge but most importantly, freedom from your curses and the power to choose how you'll live the rest of your lives."

By now both were openly crying as they looked at him. He didn't need to see Medusa's eyes to know what was in them. The hurt and pain of betrayal, abandonment, and feeling powerless. Turned into the very abominations they once hated and all for the petty jealousy and grudges of the gods. He sighed as he slowly approached them before resting a comforting hand on each of their heads, much to their surprise.

"I think you've both suffered enough," he said softly. "So please, give yourselves a chance," he said as they continued to cry harder. In the heat of the moment Percy pulled them both into a light hug, both going ridged for a moment before relaxing in his embrace.

'Andy was right,' he thought as he looked at the two as they continued to cry. His sister had visited the mortal world occasionally with Rhea and with her domains, had been able to find those whose hearts were in the most pain. She pointed both of these two out after a chance glimpse of them when they were running from being hunted by a band of demigods a year or so back. In the momentary close vicinity, she'd almost fallen over at the overwhelming pain held within them. She'd then come straight to him and Nyx and asked if there was any way to help them much to Percy's surprise.

In the end he'd told her he'd give it a try. And now here he was with both, comforting them for the first time after millennia of suffering alone with the occasional support from each other due to the similarity of their pains. He waited as both stopped crying before pulling back and looking at them intently.

"So, does this mean that you'll join me?" he asked softly.

Both nodded and Percy smiled before removing his hood so they could see his face. It took a moment before Medusa gasped as she recognized him but Percy placed a finger to her lips to silence her.

"I know, I have a lot to explain but for now, I'll send you somewhere safe," he said as he stepped back and started to gather shadows around them. "Mind you this will feel odd the first time but don't worry, Nyx will explain a few things."

Both had their mouths open in shock at the name of the night goddess but he didn't give them time to respond as the shadows enveloped them, sending them straight to the House of Night. He sighed once they were gone, his body still feeling heavy from the remains of Medusa's curse. He wanted to take a nap but still had a visit or two left.

"Oh well … Gibraltar, here I come!"

And with that, he dissolved into shadows as well …


Surprised? I would hope so! And more will keep coming. Let me know what you think. Much love, Jbubu