Long chapter. Not so interesting but still, hope you enjoy :).

On the previous chapter :

"So he held her the entire night, his arms around her protectively. He wished this moment could last forever, but tomorrow the war will begin again and they will have to fight for each other, and for the mortals. But he stopped thinking about war, because she was here with him and nothing else mattered."

Chapter 9.

King of Darkness

ℂ

"Be not the slave of your own past - plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep, and swim far,

so you shall come back with new self-respect, with new power, and with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old."
― Ralph Waldo Emerson.

When she woke up in the middle of the night, the moon still glowing high in the sky, the first thing she felt was the emptiness surrounding her, as if something essential was missing. She turned on her back and found herself alone in the bed. She had hoped to see him lying beside her, just so his eyes would be the first thing she would see when she'd wake up. But he was already gone, the sheets cold and crumpled. She sighed and a little smile appeared on her face as she remembered the events of the day before. She hadn't forget their argument four days ago, but it felt so wrong to think about this when he was just a few meters away from her. It felt wrong to believe they weren't possible. The only thing that felt right was having him by her side and falling asleep with his arms around her.

But she also knew what kind of man he was. And he was not the type to give away his heart so easily. She knew she would have to earn his trust and love. But it would be worth it.

ℂ

She was in the middle of a council, a dozen of Roman and Greek demigods around the same table discussing war matters; how they should protect the camp and how they should defeat Gaia's army. But she kept her gaze on the Prince sitting at the other end of the table, his arms crossed against his chest and a bored look on his handsome features. He was wearing a crown made of diamonds and rubies, contrasting with the black of his clothes. The voices around her were a distant sounds, like the crash of waves against the sand, nothing more. He never met her gaze, too focused on the table in front of him or the floor. But he finally looked up when Patroclus approached, a deep frown on his face which looked a little bit too pale. He bent to murmur something in the Prince's ear whose head jerked to the side, his eyes wide and watching his friend and general, trying to decode his expression. Patroclus looked down as if he was actually regretting something and the Prince jumped on his feet, earning glances from every person around the table.

"If you'll excuse me." He muttered under his breath and walked away, "Patroclus, speak for me until I'm back." The interested nodded at his Prince and sat on the chair he was comfortably installed in a few seconds ago.

He didn't look pleased to find himself here, under all those pair of eyes watching him with curiosity, and even less pleased by what he had said to the Prince. But he still stayed until the council was over and during which, none decision was taken. It was always the same babbling, the same ideas but never concrete plans or decisions which made Reyna more and more frustrated. But her mind was elsewhere for the moment. And more precisely on Patroclus and the Prince who left the room about two hours ago. So she made her way toward a tired and concerned Patroclus, his eyes boring into the table.

"Something's wrong?"

He looked up at the sound of her voice, his eyes threatening the anxiety he was feeling. "No, everything's fine."

"You dare lie to me?"

He sighed in defeat, aware that lying wouldn't change anything at the situation he was in. "Sorry. It's just… Things are happening in the Kingdom."

She tilted her head to the side, and sat on the closest chair. "What kind of things?"

"Chaos is dying. People are asking for a new king and queen. They are also complaining about their life and so many other things. It's hard to keep up really."

"Wow, wow hold on. Chaos is dying?"

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Chaos was one of the oldest deities, one of the first Primordial, the origin of everything, surely he couldn't simply die. It couldn't just end this way for someone so important. It couldn't. But the hard expression on his face and the way his brows furrowed answered for him. Chaos really was dying. Which meant Perseus was going to be King. He would take the crown and the throne to rule the Kingdom. He would replace Chaos in his duties and responsibilities, toward his Kingdom but also toward the Universe. It was much to take in especially considering what happened between the two of them the night before, how he had held her until she would fall asleep and the way he had looked at her with such intensity in his green eyes. The same man who shared her bed was going to be crowned King of the Universe. She didn't know how to feel about this. Maybe she shouldn't feel anything at all.

"Where is he now?"

She didn't need to precise who she was talking about, Patroclus was smart enough to know what was happening between his Prince and the Praetor. He wasn't blind. He had seen the way he would glance at her with a glint in his eyes and the way he would protect her as if she was the most precious thing walking upon the Earth. He saw the way he would touch her, scared to hurt her and yet eager for more. He was treating her like he would do with a queen. And Patroclus hoped that one day, that's what she would become.

"By Chaos' side."

ℂ

He walked with a certain heaviness in his steps. His eyes couldn't focus on his surroundings, his feet guiding him to the royal chambers. His mind couldn't settle on one thing. It wasn't simply his King who was dying, it was his only father figure, his grandfather and the second most important member of his family for him. How could he just fade and leave everything behind him? Leave him? He wasn't a kid anymore and yet that's exactly how he felt every time he was beside the King. He had always took him as a model, always trying to look like him. And now he was dying.

He opened the doors and entered the wide room where a large bed was situated on the left. Chaos was lying on his back, as pale as a sheet and sweat gathered over his brow. He approached reluctantly. This was the man who had teach him everything. This was the man who showed him how truly powerful he was, who was here until he became the Prince he was today. He stood beside the bed, his eyes glassy and focused on the old man.

"Perseus." He whispered, his voice hoarse and broken. Even though he looked in pain and weak, he still managed to smile.

"Hey grandfather." He simply said back with a sweetness so unknown to him but so comforting for the old man. The Prince sat on the chair beside the bed, his hand resting on the older man's frail one. "How are you feeling?"

"Awful." He laughed a little but the sound came out stiff and choked. "I will fade soon, son. You know what you have to do now, don't you?"

"Yes, I do my Lord."

"Don't." He replied and coughed a little before meeting the Prince's green eyes again and the younger god could see determination and love in these black pits. "Before being your King, I am your family; your flesh and blood. You have always been a son to me, and you will always be. You understand me?"

"I do." And he couldn't help but hear how broken his voice sounded now.

"You will take my crown and throne and you will become a great King. I know it. I've always did. You were born for this, to rule and I never doubted you, not even when things went wrong for you. I still believe in you and the goodness in you."

The Prince looked up and tried to control his breathing, pushing back the tears violently and with hate. He hated being weak. But this was his grandfather, his only father. He had been here when the darkness changed him and turned him into a monster.

"I knew from the beginning who you would become. What you did in the past is nothing compared to all the good you'll do in the future. I believe in you, son."

"I'm no good, grandfather. I've never been and I never will. This is who I am and what I am. I'm not supposed to be good."

"That's where you're wrong, kid. You can always choose your destiny and if you'll do good or evil. It's your choice, and yours only."

"You don't have a single idea of what I did, grandfather."

"Oh, I do son. I do."

Perseus remembered all the blood and the darkness. The darkness enveloping him and controlling him. He remembered every single face, every single cry or plea when his sword pierced them. He remembered that time when he had killed a traitor's family in front of him just to teach him a lesson. He saw himself cutting his only lover's throat in bed because she had dared call him a monster. But that's what he was. Deep down, he knew it. It will always hunt him, the screams and begs. The darkness inside of him remembered it as if it happened the day before. There will always be this evil lurking inside of him, hiding somewhere in his heart, ready to jump out and show itself. It's a poison, a demon inside of him. But it's part of who he is.

"And I forgave you a long time ago. I always believed in redemption. And you will find it soon, son."

"There is no redemption for the things I've done."

He remembered that night he killed a mother's baby then her daughter aged of only 5 years old because his husband had deserted. He couldn't erase her screams from his mind, how she had fell on her knees and begged him to kill him too. And he had laughed.

"When I think about it, there's this part of me that want to do it again. I can't simply forget it and push it down."

"You can. You are powerful, Perseus. More powerful than this darkness inside of you." He inhaled with difficulty and continued, "you will find redemption in this Praetor's love. Cherish it and cherish her, for she will be the reason of your rise."

"How am I supposed to do this without you?" The Prince asked, ignoring Chaos's declaration.

"You have your mother and your general. They will help you until the end." He looked at his grandson's face, trying to remember every single feature of his face, how his cheekbones looked sharp and the violence in his lips. "Promise me one thing." He said weakly. "Promise me you will try to forgive yourself and move on."

Perseus looked up with surprise in his eyes but it faded away when his eyes took the old man's condition in. He was too pale and his eyelids were becoming heavy. He could feel his life force seeping away.

"I promise." He replied with difficulty as the King's eyes unfocused and his body relaxed.

A single tear fell from his green eyes. His only father was gone. He rested his forehead against the former King's already cold hand. And he let it go. The pain and rage inside of him. The grief and sorrow. The regret and guilt.

He knew he could never be the man he expected him to be. But he would try. He would make him proud and he would keep his promise.

Sobs shook his entire body and he wasn't ashamed anymore. The tears stroke down his cheeks and chin. He was weak only because he had been too strong for too long. How could a single man, god or not, could live with all this guilt? He couldn't sleep at night or close his eyes without hearing them. This was his punishment.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered against the man's skin.

He wasn't only saying sorry to him. But to every single person he had hurt. The child, babies and parents. The families he had destroyed and the dreams he had shattered. He felt his tears drying and the darkness coming slowly.

It started to pour inside his golden blood, dancing around his bones and igniting his nerves. It was coming and he welcomed it with pleasure. Because the only way to forget the pain was to inflict it. To give it instead of receiving it.

"My King."

He looked up and met his mother's black eyes. She was gorgeous with her red lips and golden crown neatly resting on top of her black hair. But the pain painted on her features made her look like a bad representation of the woman she really was.

"They are waiting for you."

She didn't sound like her either. There was too much respect and coldness in her voice, as if she was talking to a stranger. Because she wasn't addressing to her son anymore, but to her King. She could feel the difference in him, the power radiated by his body and the darkness in his eyes which turned black. She had seen this face before. A long time ago, when her son had turned into a bloodthirsty man. And he was standing right in front of her now. The violence in his eyes and features made her heart jump in her chest. This was the man she feared. This was the son she was proud of. She looked at him standing on his feet with grace and walk toward the doors then disappearing in the corridor. She left the room, giving a last look at the corpse on the bed.

"Gentlemen." He greeted and every single man stood up, their eyes fixed on their new king.

His voice was dark and cold, sending shivers down every person's spine. This was what was expected from a king. Being feared to not be conquered. Trust no one. Fear no one. The thirty men kneeled in front of their king, one knee on the floor and their fist against their heart. The King stood there, before them with absolutely no emotion showing on his handsome face.

"Us, members of the Council," started the men in unison, "will give our life to our King. Obey his orders and advise him until our last breath. We will give him our loyalty, wisdom and heart. We will guide him in war and peace." Then they stood, their backs straight and eyes looking forward. "Long may he reign!" Every person in the room shouted.

And then cheers erupted from every corner of the room. Soldiers started to scream their King's name, hitting the ground with their weapons. The Goddess smiled, watching her son becoming king.

A crown was placed on his head, with glinting rubies incrusted in the gold. It was the most gorgeous crown in the whole Kingdom.

"Sit, now." And they did, sitting around a huge wooden table. Silence fell over the room, every ear focused on the King's words. "Our time is difficult. War is knocking at our door and I have already gathered my army in New Rome, where the demigods are trained and prepared for the battle. But we will need every soldier and use every weapon to defeat Gaia in New York. I will take the most trained and most efficient soldiers with me and lead the battle in the West. I will fight against Gaia myself."

"No!" A loud voice roared and the King turned to face his mother, her eyes wide and fist clenched.

"I made my decision and there's no turning back." He watched her with challenge in his green eyes. "Do you dare questioning my orders?"

She wanted to snap at him, but he wasn't her boy anymore. He was the King. "No, my Lord."

"Good. Then everyone agrees?"

And everyone did.

ℂ

"Perseus!"

The King turned, stunned by the voice rising in the air. He faced a tall man with a black suit, black tie and black hair. He wasn't wearing the expression he used to show which was blank. Now he was furious. His brows were furrowed and his lips formed a tight line. Perseus had never seen him like this, no matter how few times he had faced him. The man walked toward him, anger in his steps and in his black eyes. His dark aura could have made everyone run away but he was the King now, and the man's power was nothing compared to his. But still, this man was his father.

"Erebus."

"How dare you!" He shouted while fisting the front of the King's shirt. "You fucking piece of shit!"

Guards ran toward their King, their weapons raised but were immediately stopped by a hand gesture from the King who simply smiled at his furious father. Oh, this was too good.

"I will kill you with my own hands. Do you hear me?" He yelled, his face centimeters away from his son's. "I don't care how I will do it or when, but I will!"

"Are you threatening me?" Asked the King with amusement and a little laugh in his voice. He was so enjoying this and it made the man even angrier.

"The throne was mine! I was supposed to reign when Chaos faded. It was mine and you took it away from me, you piece of garbage!"

"Oh, stop it, you're going to make me cry." The sarcasm was obvious in his tone and it made his father see red.

He didn't have the time to see it coming, but knuckles met cheekbones and the King stumbled back, surprised that his father hit him in front of his own guards and people. He looked up to see an elbow coming straight at his jaw. He spat the blood on the ground and finally met his father's eyes. About five guards were holding him and pointing their blades at him. But it was just him and his father. He remembered every single time he had hit him, humiliated him. And today was the day he will have a taste of his revenge. He focused on the darkness inside of him and the one inside of his father, connecting them. Both of their eyes were now only darkness and people staggered back, afraid of what was happening. And Perseus smiled with a devilish smirk.

He made the darkness boil inside his father's veins and blood, he made it turn into ashes and the man screamed at the top of his lungs. He made it burn slowly, so slowly. He made it fade away. People started to scream around them, but the King didn't care. The only thing that mattered was how his darkness was crushing his father's. It was like breaking every bone of his body and setting them on fire. That's what it felt like to lose his darkness for the father. But it felt so good for the son. It was liberating, freeing to see his father in pain and kneeling in front of him, begging to stop it. He felt the power swim inside of him, raw and beautiful. He truly felt like a king. And it was magic.

But it all stopped when he felt his mother's hand on his shoulder, her voice echoing in his mind, telling him to stop and calm down. So he let his father go and watched him crumble on the floor, exhausted. He looked at the horrified expression on the faces around him and he turned again, ready to keep going and forget what just happened. He had let his darkness take control, like in old times. And it had felt so good. It was like a drug, a voice in his head begging him to set it free. But once it was, it was like unleashing Hell.

And he wasn't sure if he was capable to let the door closed.

ℂ

"So wait, let me get this straight." Reyna started, her eyes fixed on Nico in front of her. "You knew about the Greek demigods but you never told us? Why?"

"If I told you about them, and vice versa, there would have been conflicts, even a war. I mean Romans and Greeks aren't exactly what you could call old friends. And it wasn't my place to tell you."

"Okay. Okay, I understand. But now that we know about each other and that we're living together, there's no reason to fear a war right?"

"Well of course not. The war united the two camps."

"Okay, I just wanted to make sure that everything would be good between us."

"What now?" She frowned and tilted her hair on the side, showing him that she had no idea what he was talking about. "What do we do? We wait until Gaia comes around and attack us?"

"The Prince's army is training the demigods and preparing them. Until then, yes, we wait. We don't know where her army is staying and what they're planning. So we have no other choice than to wait and see what happens. And when something does, we will be ready."

He inhaled deeply, his eyes closing for a few seconds. "Do you think we can win this war?"

"Yes, I do. We have defeated Kronos before her and we will do everything we can to win again."

"Well, it's good to see someone is optimistic about it all."

"Aren't you Nico?"

"Fuck no." He laughed bitterly, shoving his hands in his jean's pocket. "I think we're beyond screwed, but I have to keep that to myself right? Not to discourage everyone else and stuff, but I don't think less of it. I don't think we stand a chance Reyna."

"Then we will prove you wrong kid." She smiled warmly at him, and he laughed a little at the nickname.

Reyna and Nico weren't the closest friends, but there was something different in him that made her want to know him. To know his personality and his thoughts. He was captivating just like the Prince was and she couldn't help but see a bit of him in Nico.

"We should go now." He nodded at her words and they both walked toward the amphitheater where a council was organized in order to prepare the war and the defense of the city.

They entered in silence, Nico finding an empty sit at the back and Reyna installing herself in the chair in front of everyone. She looked at them all, with their anxious and fearful expressions. Some of them have never been in a war and have no idea what they're supposed to do. Some have been in camp for only a few months and aren't even trained properly. Some are too young to fight. This wasn't an army that she had; it was just kids fighting for their lives and city. Maybe Nico was right after all, they were screwed.

"You okay?" Jason whispered in her ear from his sit beside her.

She nodded stiffly and met Nico's dark eyes. The kid was smart and knew what war meant. He had fought beside the Greek to defeat Kronos. He knew what it was to see your comrades fall on the battlefield. He knew what death was, being the Ghost King and son of Pluto. He knew it better than anyone else. He was strong and a good fighter. And Reyna knew he would be a good asset in this war.

She stood on her feet, silencing every demigod in the wide room. They all turned to look at her with apprehension and nervousness.

"Demigods, Romans and Greeks, you are gathered today to speak about war matters. As you all know, Gaia has already an army behind her and is ready to attack us any day now. But we also know that this war will be fought on two different fronts. She will attack Camp Half Blood in New York and Camp Jupiter. This can be an advantage for us. Her army can be big, but it will split in two and we will make sure to benefit from this."

"She's right." Stood Jason, "they may be a lot, but Gaia has to worry about two things and no matter how powerful she is, she can't be at two places at the same time. Moreover, they can have the advantage of number, but we have something they don't have." He marked a pause to captivate everyone's attention, "Intelligence."

"We know monsters are strong. But sometimes strength isn't enough. Sometimes wisdom overtake strength. And you will have to remember this when you will train. Always think about your next move and your opponent's, and most of all, don't let emotions corrupt your acts."

"We believe, Reyna and me, that this war can be won. But we can't do this without you. The world's fate is resting on our shoulders and I know it can be scary, but this is our duty. And we will make sure to fulfill it."

"But if she attacks Camp Half Blood, we will have to protect it too right? So we're splitting too." Observed a boy who stood from his chair, the sunrays swimming in his golden locks. "In the end, it doesn't change anything."

"The Greeks will defend their camp and the Romans theirs." Replied Jason, his blue eyes meeting the boy's ones. "So we're not exactly splitting since it's how it was supposed to be, Octavian."

"But there are fewer Greeks than Romans. How are we supposed to defeat Gaia with such small number of demigods? Shouldn't you help us?" Asked a girl with blond hair and grey eyes which seemed to hold the world's entire wisdom.

"Unfortunately no, we can't help you on this matter. We're already helping you train and we will give you weapons. But the Romans will want to defend their city first, and I won't take that away from them." Retorted Reyna.

"It's not enough! She will crash us like vulgar insects and when she will be done with us, she will come for you. Don't you think we should have more demigods than you? Our battle will be more important!"

"This is stupid!" Shouted Octavian, his blue eyes sending daggers at the blonde girl. "We have to protect our city and you protect yours. End of the story. We won't lose New Rome to save your stupid camp!"

"This is not about our camp! This is about winning the war!"

Voices started to raise in the room and Reyna closed her eyes, feeling frustration and anger build in her chest. "Enough!" She yelled as loud as she could, and everyone stared at her with surprise. "Everyone sit down and calm down."

"We won't solve the problem by screaming at each other. We need to find a solution to defeat Gaia." Declared Jason who was massaging his temples.

"I can do that for you."

Her black eyes fell on the Prince. He stood there, in a beautiful uniform, with pride and beauty. His uniform was of a dark blue, the refinements of a beautiful red with golden buttons and many medals neatly fasten on his chest. Golden half-moons pins were placed on the collar and on the upper sleeves were embroidered golden wings. He looked like an officer with his back straight and his blank expression. He simply looked more handsome than she ever saw him before. But the most beautiful thing was certainly the crown on his head. He looked like a King.

"And how would you do that?" Questioned a voice, at the same moment six guards entered, wearing the same uniform as the Prince but with less medals and less beauty. They stood behind the Prince as he walked down the stairs, his eyes focused on Reyna.

He stopped beside her, his hand slightly brushing hers. "I believe I have the authority and the power to do so, demigod." The guards positioned themselves at his sides, their weapons drawn. "As the King of Chaos's Kingdom and of an army of four thousands of men, I truly believe I stand a chance."