Yo fellow readers, I'm back.

Anyways, here is the next chapter.
Read on!

Chapter 8

After reaching Camp Half-Blood Argus and Phoebe immediately took out Percy from the van and carried him to the big house along with another hunter who carried the Sword of Hades. Thalia told the rest of the hunt to go to the Artemis cabin while she herself went to the beach to Iris Message Artemis about the current events.

When Chiron saw Argus and Phoebe come in with a masked man, and another hunter bring in a sword as black as Hades, he was surprised and shocked. He immediately kept down the book he was reading and went to the trio to help them set Percy on a sofa.

He then asked Phoebe, "Who is he? And is the sword the boy's?"

Phoebe replied, "Chiron, he is Perseus Jackson, the murderer of countless beings – immortal, mortal and semi-mortal. And yes, the sword is his."

Chiron's eyes widened in surprise and he asked, "How did you manage to capture him? Did any of you get hurt? And where is Lady Artemis?"

Phoebe recounted the whole incident and then spat, "This boymanaged to kill many of our hunters and injure yet many more. But after quite a battle we managed to capture him with this celestial bronze rope. Lady Artemis had gone for a council meeting to Olympus.

Chiron nodded, and then said, "We can't let the campers know about him. Take the body and dump it in the attic, nobody ever goes there these days. I will Iris Message the go..."

Phoebe interrupted Chiron's train of thought, "No need to do that Chiron, Thalia has already gone to Iris Message Lady Artemis. She will be back in a few minutes."

At that moment Thalia came in the big house, "I Iris Messaged Lady Artemis. She is coming here along with dad, Lord Hades and Poseidon. They will be here any instant."

Just as she spoke that there were 4 flashes of light and Lord Zeus, Lord Poseidon, Lord Hades and Lady Artemis appeared beside them.

Chiron and Argus immediately bowed to them and Chiron said, "Lady Artemis, Lord Zeus, Lord Poseidon, Lord Hades."

All the said gods and goddess nodded and Zeus said to Chiron, "Chiron, call the cabin counselors for a meeting. We have got another war on our hands."

Chiron's face was ash-stricken. He was completely white and didn't move until Poseidon banged his trident on the floor, leaving a small crater behind. Chiron snapped out of his trance and at once trotted out of the building, calling out to Thalia, "Thalia, you go to the cabins of the goddesses; I will call the male ones."

Thalia nodded and ran out. In a matter of minutes all counselors were assembled around the ping-pong table and at the head sat Zeus, Poseidon, Hades and Artemis on their ready-made thrones. Zeus then stood to address the table, "Children, I come with grave news. You all know about Perseus Jackson and how he was ….. sent into coma by Kronos?"

All the demigods nodded in assent. Zeus continued, "You also know that Perseus was declared missing on the day of the victory celebration?"

All the demigods nodded again. He then said, "Well, he was found." Katie then looked straight in the eyes of Zeus and he understood that she already knew.

Gasps of surprise, shock and anger rose in the room. Clarisse banged her fist on the ping-pong table and shouted, "Why weren't we told about Prissy's whereabouts earlier?" Then she looked at Chiron and asked, "Chiron, did you know about this? Why didn't you tell us?"

Chiron, unable to answer, just looked away and Hades spoke up instead, "Daughter of Ares, the condition in which we found Percy was not suitable for you all to handle at the moment."

Travis then shouted, "We fought a war. We saw our own brothers and sisters being butchered by monsters. I think we are pretty strong enough to handle any kind of news by now."

Artemis shouted at everybody to be silent before Hades recounted all events of the past few days, but skipping the events of that very day. Nobody said a word or uttered a sound as they all heard what Percy had done and what had been done to him, how Nico was dragged into Tartarus and how Styx was forced to fade.

"Where is Princess now?" asked Clarisse, after everything was said and done.

"Princess?" asked Zeus, puzzled.

"I mean, where is Annabeth?" repeated Clarisse.

"The last we saw of her was when she fainted after being granted immortality and Athena flashed off with her to somewhere." said Poseidon, who had been surprisingly quiet the whole time.

"And what about Percy, where is he now?" asked Jake Mason.

"Well about that ….. " Chiron signaled Argus and they both went towards the stairs and up.

After a few minutes, they came down with a body on Chiron's back. The body in question was wearing a mask on the face, a hunting coat which reached to the waist, a sweater beneath the coat and a shirt beneath the sweater as well as jeans and worn boots. All gods stood up and stared at the body in anger and surprise, except Poseidon who was very sad and miserable.

The demigods stumbled back in disgust and one or two of them even puked at the amount of ichor which was stained on Percy's shirt and which was still dripping out. They all were silent until Katie asked, "Is this Percy?"

Artemis nodded stiffly and said, "He is the male who killed many hunters and women alike. He even killed his own mother, the little …. "

"ARTEMIS, MY SON DID NOT DO ANY SUCH THING. HE WAS AND IS POSSESSED. YOU BETTER REMEMBER THAT BEFORE YOU STARTED POINTING FINGERS." shouted Poseidon.

"POSEIDON! Calm down and sit. It's of no use to shout at others. What's done is done. We have to concentrate on the present scenario." said Hades.

"OK, now that that matter is resolved, we have to do something about our young Perseus. Does anybody have any suggestions?" asked Zeus.

Nobody said anything. All the counselors were still shocked at seeing Percy's condition. They all truly loved Percy, even Clarisse, so they didn't want any harm to come to him. Suddenly, Hades looked at the couch and saw his sword.

He cried out and said, "My sword – there it is." He then jogged to the couch and started admiring his sword. Zeus coughed, "Perhaps you would like to enlighten the demigods about this new weapon of yours?"

Hades thought for a few moments then shrugged and said, "Thalia knows this tale better than me; after all she, Perseus and Nico went to the underworld to find the sword for me."

"WHAT! Why wasn't I told that my own daughter was used in a heinous scheme to help Hades' plot to take over my throne?" screeched Zeus.

Thalia came to Hades' rescue, "Relax Dad." Then she went on to tell everybody how the trio of Percy, Nico and herself found the Sword of Hades and ended by saying, "Uncle had no part in the making of this sword. It was actually Persephone who made this sword, without the permission of Hades. She wanted equal status for her husband which I say wasn't wrong on her part. After all, uncle has a;ways been considered inferior among the Big 3. In addition, Percy managed to 'defeat' Iapetus."

Zeus was surprised to say the least as Poseidon commented, "Leave it be brother, if you can have a powerful master bolt and me a trident, then Hades has full right to have a powerful weapon of his own. I approve."

"Of course you would, after all even you must be in line to take over my throne. I tell you, this sword can bring the end of Olympus, if in the wrong hands. It can easily make an immortal fade. Even if we set aside the fact that Hades won't use it for the wrong methods, we can all note how Perseus caused so much destruction with it. He managed to make Styx fade; which would have otherwise been impossible, for him."

Everybody was forced to think as Zeus actually made a good point. Hades himself thought that it was very unfair, so he said, "Well, if that's the case, then Zeus' Bolt should also be disposed off. Everybody must remember how much dispute it caused when it was stolen, even though it wasn't his own fault."

Everybody agreed and Zeus seethed that Hades had managed to save his sword, for now. Artemis scowled, "We should give eternal punishment to Perseus, he killed so many of my hunters. He doesn't deserve to live."

There were cries of protest all around the room as Katie shouted, "He saved all of Olympus mostly by himself. And you want to condemn your own savior?" Artemis was about to retort when Percy got up from the table and stood up. He then head butted Travis in the head and it burst open. Everybody stepped back in surprise and fear but the gods.

Artemis ran towards Percy and they both crashed into the wall, thereby breaking it. Percy rolled up tried to stand up but couldn't. So he started rolling away with the gods and Chiron giving him chase. Zeus fired his Master Bolt at Percy which resulted in a big explosion after which Artemis stabbed the back of his head with her knife. Percy lay still and didn't get up again.

Chiron carried him back to the big house and mumbled, "He is dangerous even when he is bound by ropes. I wonder what he can do when he's free. We need to do something and do something quick." He then said loudly, "Connor, take your brother to the infirmary and get him stitched up by the Apollo kids."

"He will be unconscious for a while. You put him back wherever you put him and a day later one of the minor gods will come with extra protection to take him to Olympus. I used a lot of my power in that strike, but it barely seemed to harm him." Zeus glowered.

Hades scoffed, "When the River Styx can't erode him and my sword can't absorb his life force, you think a lightning bolt will do any harm. HA!"

Zeus decided to stay quiet this time. "Chiron, get a better place to hold such meetings." said Poseidon, before flashing out of there along the other gods.

Chiron carried Percy back to the attic and the other demigods also dispersed. But they all had one question on their minds, "what now?"

In the Atlantean Library

Poseidon appeared in Atlantis and was going to his bedroom when he saw Athena sitting on a couch, reading a book. "I didn't expect you to be here. Reading another book?"

Athena raised her head and smiled, "Well, you did give me 24x7 access to your library, didn't you? So why not take advantage of it? And the books here are fantastic, as I have told you before"

Poseidon nodded, then asked, "Where's your daughter? Is she handling immortality well?"

"Well, she is currently in my palace on Olympus, resting. Once she's given the final okay by Apollo, she will be taken to Camp Half-Blood where she will have a vacation of sorts. After that, the designing and reconstruction of Olympus will begin." Athena explained.

"Looks like you have it all planned out. Anyways, did you find out any information about the identity of the entity in Tartarus? After all, you come here whenever you have free time." stated Poseidon.

"Well, I have reached to a few conclusions." said Athena. "That was the main reason I was here: waiting for you. Walk with me." Athena then got up and walked with Poseidon towards the library.

"As we both know, the titans weren't the first beings. Not even Gaea. It was completely different. I did have some trouble since I didn't know where to start, but now at least I can show something." explained Athena.

They had both reached the library by now and Athena led Poseidon to a shelf labeled 'Miscellaneous'. She picked out a book which was unnamed and opened a page. Then she handed the book to Poseidon, her finger on a certain paragraph and said, "Read".

"At the beginning there was only Khaos (Air), Nyx (Night), dark Erebos (Darkness), and deep Tartaros (Hell's Pit). Ge (Earth), Aer (Air) and Ouranos (Heaven) had no existence. Firstly, black-winged Nyx (Night) laid a germless egg in the bosom of the infinite deeps of Erebos (Darkness), and from this, after the revolution of long ages, sprang the graceful Eros (Desire) with his glittering golden wings, swift as the whirlwinds of the tempest. He mated [or fertilised] in deep Tartaros (Hell-Pit) with dark Khaos (Air), winged like himself, and thus hatched forth our race [the birds], which was the first to see the light."

"Now read this" said Athena, turning the page and pointing to another paragraph.

"Ere land and sea and the all-covering sky were made, in the whole world the countenance of nature was the same, all one, well named Chaos, a raw and undivided mass, naught but a lifeless bulk, with warring seeds of ill-joined elements compressed together. No Titan [Helios the Sun] as yet poured light upon the world, no waxing Phoebe [Selene the Moon] her crescent filled anew, nor in the ambient air yet hung the earth, self-balanced, equipoised, nor Amphitrite's [the Sea's] arms embraced the long far margin of the land. Though there were land and sea and air, the land no foot could tread, no creature swim the sea, the air was lightless; nothing kept its form, all objects were at odds, since in one mass cold essence fought with hot, and moist with dry, and hard with soft and light with things of weight. This strife a Deus (God) [Phanes or Thesis?], with nature's blessing, solved; who severed land from sky and sea from land, and from the denser vapours set apart the ethereal sky; and, each from the blind heap resolved and freed, he fastened in its place appropriate in peace and harmony. The fiery weightless force of heaven's vault flashed up and claimed the topmost citadel; next came the air in lightness and in place; the thicker earth with grosser elements sank burdened by its weight; lowest and last the girdling waters pent the solid globe. So into shape whatever god it was reduced the primal matter and prescribed its several parts. Then first, to make the earth even on every side, he rounded it into a mighty disc, then bade the sea extend and rise under the rushing winds, and gird the shores of the encircled earth."

"These are 2 theories concerning the formation of the world and of a being having much more power than anybody or anything. But this, Khaos or Chaos, faded after creating the world. It also would have no reason to attack Olympus." explained Athena. Poseidon just nodded.

"Chaos also created the Protogenai or the Primordial Beings like Gaea, Tartarus, Nyx etc. And the union between Ouranos and Gaea was the beginning of the titans. But we both know that. What we didn't know was that most of the Primordial Beings faded, giving the reins of the world to the titans.

Poseidon was quite and had a thoughtful look on his face, after which he asked, "Why exactly did the Primordial Beings fade?"

"Well, I'm not so sure but my guess is that because they felt they were not needed anymore, also they were too powerful to fully exist in their true forms and so had to fade. One Primordial Being can defeat the whole Olympian Council in minutes, without breaking a sweat." explained Athena.

"Then it's a good thing that Gaea is a very sleepy goddess." said Poseidon.

Athena laughed and then said, "The titans Kronos, Hyperion, Krios, Oceanus, Iapetus, Prometheus, and Atlas were defeated in this war. So the only options are Perses or Pallas. But Perses was locked up so deep in the depths of Tartarus and with so less power in the first titan war that not even Tartarus could bring him back. As for Pallas, well he is the husband of Styx who is a part of Hades, so even he is not an option."

"Well, I can offer you only one piece of advice: there is a whole library out there and this is just the one book. Keep searching." Poseidon then laughed and went away to his bedroom, leaving Athena in a frustrated mood.

"I think the entity is one of titans only, after all, only a few took part in the First Titan War and even fewer in the second. It is so confusing. Damn!" Athena thought to herself.

In Tartarus

"The son of Hades is now ready. He has no memory and no identity of his own. He just follows my orders and will do anything I say. As my champion, Perseus, has been captured, it is time to bring the knight into play." This was the train of thought of 'THE VOICE'.

Nico's sword had been broken by the fall in Tartarus; so he was given a new one made from the essence of Tartarus itself. But 'THE VOICE' also taught Nico to control shadows and use them as armor and to form weapons. 'THE VOICE' had also given Nico better control of shadows and ghosts. Now Nico could bend shadows to lift himself in the air. He could order ghosts to come out and absorb them to inherit their powers.

For instance, if he called out Achilles and absorbed him, then Nico would become a much better swordsman and have better skills with spears too. The experience would also come in handy. If Nico called out Theseus, then Nico would get intense knowledge which would rival that of Athena's. Bu the drawback was that the ghosts could only be absorbed for a short period of time, after which they would leave, and Nico would get very tired.

Also, Nico was still tortured everyday just for the amusement of 'THE VOICE' and also to keep him in control. Just a few hours ago, the manticore had stuck his finger in Nico's eyes and took them both out. Then he bought 2 snakes and let them in Nico's body through the eye holes.

After Nico screamed for a few hours, as the snakes ate his insides, Dr Thorn just pushed the eyeballs back in their sockets and Nico had to literally puke the snakes back out. The 'THE VOICE healed Nico and the torture was over.

Right now, Nico was sparring with the manticore with a sword made of shadows. He ran at Dr Thorn and formed 2 spears made of shadows and threw them straight at him. But the manticore just caught them and they dissolved back into shadows.

Then Nico used the shadows to raise himself in the air launch straight at the monster. He struck at Dr Thorn's head however the monster just caught the sword and threw it over his shoulder.

But Nico had already left the grip of the sword and formed a new one in his other hand. By the time the manticore looked back, Nico just touched the pointed end at the mouth - which was the vulnerable point. The manticore knew he had lost, after all Nico was standing on a big platform, formed by shadows with his sword, threatening to kill him with one strike.

The manticore blinked and punched Nico in the face before dissolving into black dust. In Tartarus monsters could travel anywhere they wanted and they used a method similar to that of the god's teleportation.

After the manticore was beaten, 'THE VOICE' said, "Bravo my demigod, bravo. I don't think anybody has defeated a manticore so quickly and easily ever. 7 seconds. Very good. But listen closely now because I have a mission for you. This is a very dangerous mission as you would lose your immortality the minute you left Tartarus."

Nico just knelt and said, "I would do your bidding no matter what, Master. Just say the word and I will be off."

"And that is what I expect of you. Then listen carefully, you have to go to Camp Half Blood and free my champion, Perseus. He has been captured and he is of vital importance to my plans. Free him and then join him on his mission."

Nico bowed deeply and said, "As you wish master. When do I go?"

'THE VOICE' just laughed and said, "Now my child, now." And then Nico transformed into a black swirl of dust (think of the death-eaters in Harry Potter flying in their forms of black dust) and flew up till he reached the surface, exactly from where he had been dragged into Tartarus. The black swirl again changed into Nico, who was left standing with his head bowed down.

When he looked up, he had a maniacal grin on his face and his eyes were fully black.

And that my fellow readers, is the 8thchapter. I have to say, this one was quite boring to write as there was not much action.

Anyways have patience, because the twist is coming very soon. There is a lot of action coming and it involves both Nico and Percy.

So until the next chapter.
Read on!