Chapter 10

Annabeth POV

I couldn't believe it. The man that helped me find a family, that helped me survive on the streets, is the son of our enemy. I thought he was a son of Thanatos, but obviously, that's not the case as he lied to me.

But I was surprised to see one of the hunter's face change expression into understanding and concern. What was that about? I thought as I turned back to face Perseus.

"Why did you lie to me?!" I asked him, my tone showing that I was unbelievably angry at him.

Perseus turned back to face me, he still had some tears running down his face. But he brushed them off and got a stony expression on his face as his eyes met mine. "If I had told you from the start who my father was, would you have ever trusted me?" He asked, mockingly.

He had me there, and he knew it. "I never wanted to lie to anyone. But I knew that the second anyone learned of my parentage, I would be hunted relentlessly. For something that I have no control over, nor would I change it if I could. Even though he is my father, I know who he is. And he is not what you all believe of him to be." He ranted firmly with a roll of his shoulders.

"Did you also mean those things you said. About hating people?" I asked.

He smiled. "Of course not, it was just the adrenaline rush that made me say those things. It still stands about some people though." He said, as he glared at Thalia, who glared back.

"I am required to bring you to Olympus, on orders from my father, Perseus. Will you come with me peacefully, or not?" Artemis asked cautiously.

"I will not try to escape Artemis. I am still the man you knew from two years ago. The only difference is that you know who my father really is. I will not trouble you any." Perseus said as he kneeled onto the ground and held his hands out as Artemis placed cuffs on his wrists.

The goddess turned to her lieutenant. "Set up camp here. And make sure Chiron's campers are fed and given a tent for them to share. You are in charge until I get back Zoe." Artemis said as she said, placing a hand on Perseus' shoulder and teleporting them to Olympus.

Perseus POV

We appeared in the middle of the throne room, me on my knees and my wrists chained. Artemis on her feet and making her way to her throne. I don't hold any animosity towards her, as she didn't do anything wrong.

My problem was the cocky, arrogant, male in front of me, sitting on his throne as he sneered at me. "How did you survive my bolt?!" Zeus roared at me.

I got back onto my feet, and broke though off the cuffs without much effort, rubbing my wrists as the blood-flow continued back into my previously constrained fingers. I faced Zeus' shocked face. I was able to get out of celestial bronze cuffs, which I had been designed to bound demigods easily. Except I wasn't a demigod. I'm a demi-titan.

And a powerful one at that.

"Did you really not think that I didn't know you were at the door, and didn't have a handle over my time powers? But I guess it doesn't matter anymore. I'm here now." I taunted as I rolled my shoulders slowly.

"How did you get out of my cuffs?" Hephaestus asked, pointing at me curiously.

"Those bonds are designed for demigods. I am a demi-titan. And am much stronger than any demigod, no matter who their parent is; or how long they've been alive." I explained.

Then I made eye contact with Hestia and she smiled warmly at me. Then she pointed to her forearm, signaling for me to do the same. I didn't hesitate to follow her order and pulled up my sleeve revealing my 'SPQR' tattoo from the Legion.

All of the gods present gasped sharply before changing to their other aspect. Mars got up from his seat and pointed at me in realization. "You're the kid that my son, Mark, told me about. The son of Thanatos, who holds the swords of Leonidas and the original Perseus." The other gods gasped at the reveal and looked at my sheathed swords on my back, in shock.

"That I am." I replied with a nod.

"Back to the main reason why you are here. This boy must be killed as he is a powerful son of our enemy. He must be killed." Jupiter started to say.

But the throne room doors were thrown open by a very angry wolf goddess that glared fiercely at the Roman God of Lightning. "You will do no such thing, Jupiter. As Perseus is our best shot to win the war. He has been training the legion for three months now. And I can already tell the difference in their war games. He has made a tremendous impact for the Roman's fighting abilities. If I had not invited him into the legion, there would be no way New Rome stands a chance against the Titans." Lupa informed him sternly.

"He is still the son of our enemy." Jupiter pointed out.

"And whose son are you, Jupiter?" I snarled out. "By that point, half of this council would be questioned, just as I am right now. Even though I love my father greatly, I have not helped in any way to progress his preparations for war. That I swear on the River Styx." I swore, thunder rumbling all around the room.

But nothing happened to me, just as I already knew it wouldn't. It seemed to dawn on the council as well. But they obviously were 'still on the fence' about my loyalty.

However, Vesta spoke before anyone else could. "Then send him to both camps and have him further train our heroes for the upcoming war in the next two years." She reasoned.

I was nervous about being sent to Camp Half-Blood, because Thalia and Annabeth knew of my abilities and mentioned killings. But I was grateful to hear that I would also be going back to New Rome. "You may not trust me and I still hate you for killing my mother. But I am not your enemy." I said firmly.

Jupiter seemed to think it over before coming to a decision. "Then you will be training both camps in combat to prepare them for our upcoming war." He decided.

Then he seemed to remember something else, changing back to Zeus' form and faced Artemis as the other gods changed aspects again. "Where are the Hades children that I sent for? Are they at your camp, daughter?"

But I could feel her gaze on me to explain so I did. "They are with their father as we speak."

"And why would that be?" Zeus growled at me lowly.

"I swore an oath to your brother in order to keep his children safe. And don't you dare try to argue that he broke the pact that you and Poseidon forced him into. His kids were born before that time." I stopped for a second, before glaring at both male Olympians harshly.

"You two are the ones that broke the pact you forced your brother into. You two are the ones that continue to cheat on your wives. You two are disrespectful, and dishonorable when it comes to how you treat women. I've seen a lot of shit, and killed hundreds of disgusting males. But you two take the cake… And if either of you try to harm the children of Hades under my watch; I will not hesitate to join my father against you." I threatened lowly as I glared at both males.

I turned back around to Hestia and dropped my look, giving her a soft smile. Then I turned to Artemis. "I will be at the Hunt's location, waiting for your return, my lady." I informed as I shadow traveled out of the throne room.

I appeared back in the Hunt, in the middle of the campfire as it was at full strength. I'm sure it was a sight to see, as the hunters around the campfire stumbled back at my sudden appearance in the flames. But I raised my hands, 'surrendering' as I willed the flames to move off of my body and back to the previously burned pile of wood.

The lieutenant recognized me first and called for her hunters to lower their bows. I merely nodded back at her, not saying a word and turned away from the females.

But I was not apparently not being allowed to be left alone. Because the lieutenant came over to the tree I was leaning against and alerted me to her presence with a knock on the trunk. "Why have you come back without our patron?"

"Lady Artemis sent me back as I was no longer needed for the remainder of the meeting currently taking place." I informed her, partially telling her the truth, trying to be left alone.

She seemed to buy my response, but asked me another question. "How do you know Lady Artemis?" She asked, suspiciously looking at me in distrust.

"Three years ago, she came to the Underworld and asked Lord Hades for help in rescuing a maiden from a difficult situation. Hades called me forward and I took out the disgusting male holding the maiden hostage. After that day, Lady Artemis and I went our separate ways and haven't spoken since." I explained, not looking at the lieutenant.

But I caught her movement from the corner of my eye. She stepped back when she heard me say 'disgusting male' and looked back to her fellow hunters briefly before facing me again.

"Who are you really? Because your appearance, abilities with both powers and weapons, and the way you speak gives me a mixed answer that doesn't sound reasonable." She whispered confused.

"What do you think I am, lieutenant?" I asked, finally facing her gaze with my own.

"I think you are an immortal demi-titan, from the Roman era, that has been in hiding for the past two thousand years." She guessed, looking closely at me for my answer.

"I am only a fifteen year old, son of Kronos that was adopted by Thanatos. When Zeus killed my mother, he requested that she be sent to the 'Fields of Punishment', just because of who my father was. But I made a deal with Thanatos when he came to collect my mother's body. I swore to do anything in order to have my mother rest in Elysium. And Thanatos responded by telling me that I would forever serve him as the Epitome of Death. And I have served him faithfully, for the past three years." I explained gently as I looked away from the elder huntress nervously.

Artemis decided to show up just then, saving me from any more questions by her lieutenant. She pulled the huntress away from me and gestured that she would inform me later on what happened after I left the throne room.

I sighed deeply once they walked into a big tent together and I let my wings unfurl. Sitting down on a tree stump, I began to groom my wings of any worn and withered feathers wordlessly. But it didn't last long as Annabeth sat down on a stump across from me. "If you're here to yell at me some more, go ahead." I spoke first tiredly.

"I'm not here to yell at you. I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I was just angry that Grover was taken. And then it was revealed who your father really was. And I yelled at you, even though you didn't deserve to be yelled at. I'm sorry Perseus." She apologized, surprising me.

I didn't waste a second and enveloped her in a warm hug, letting my wings surround the both of us. "Its okay, Annabeth. I still care about you, and even if you want nothing to do with me; I will always be there when you need me." I promised as we hugged each other in a comfortable silence.

Welp, there's chapter 10. Let me know what you thought, and as always, this is Lolagejosh02 signing off!