This chapter is rated T (Bad language)

Chapter 10: A New Kind of Pain

After dinner, I sighed and leaned against the railing of my balcony in my room. War was coming. It seemed too peaceful for war. Olympus was quiet. I could see the Acropolis where the Throne Room was. It was lit up with white and blue lights. I sighed again. I couldn't help but think that I could have done something to stop all this from happening.

"I know a heavy heart when I sense one." I turned to see Eros watching me.

I smiled sadly. "Just thinking about war."

Eros nodded and walked closer. "You look so much like her, it's almost frightening. I'm surprised that my mother has never mentioned it before."

I shrugged. "Honestly, she might have, but who is seriously going to listen to what she's saying when they're too busy staring at her."

Eros chuckled. "And me? Am I not handsome enough to turn your brain to goo?"

I smiled slightly. "You're very handsome, Eros."

He looked at me and tilted his head closer. "But…?"

I sighed. "You're too handsome. You're so handsome, you're intimidating."

He chuckled and moved closer. "I wish I had not made that vow. I wish I could make you mine. To take you into my arms, to kiss you, to worship every inch of your body, until you were breathless from pleasure. Until you had even forgotten your own name." He moved closer to me. I turned away. His words came faster the closer he got to me.

Our faces were too close for me to focus. I tried to inch away but ran into the railing. "Eros…" I was warning him.

He looked at me. "I stay awake cursing myself for making that vow. I curse myself for not just taking you and showing you how much I could make you feel." His hand rested on mine on the railing. "I am the god of love, Percy. Imagine what I could do!"

I inhaled and moved away from him. "No, Eros. Just no."

He growled. "No one has ever denied me."

I turned my back to him. "Sometimes you just have to keep it in your pants. We are at war, Eros. There is no time for love making during war."

"Helen and Paris had no trouble doing it."

I snorted. "Paris was a moron. Helen was a bimbo. You honestly want to model yourself after those two?"

He was silent for a few moments, and then, he nodded. "You are correct." He turned to me. "But know this, Perseus Jackson. I will always watch. I will wait. The second your love for Annabeth Chase falters, I will steal you away." He moved in quickly. "I will always be watching for that moment." His lips were millimeters away from mine. He exhaled slightly. I could feel his breath on my lips. I shivered. His hand moved up my arm slowly.

Suddenly, everything grew darker and colder. I could distantly hear Eros gasped as I collapsed. It wasn't a fainting spell. My body was no longer awake…no longer alive.

I found my dream self in on a beach of black sand at night. The water was red like blood. I sensed Kronos. I heard him chuckle. "The younger gods are enamored by you. The older gods lust for your power. Olympus is dissolved. My plan went so well, I scarcely can believe it." He sounded very smug.

I turned silently and regarded him. "You've grown bolder."

Kronos laughed. "And why not?" He moved quickly up close to me. "I have nearly won the battle."

I growled. "You will never win." I stepped closer to him. "You will never win."

Kronos jeered. "And why not?"

I sighed. "Because I simply can't let you win." I stared at him. "I will do anything and everything to stop you."

Kronos smiled. "While you're busy deflecting my son's attacks? I'm getting closer and closer to my goal, Perseus Jackson. You will not be ready when I am."

I closed my eyes and jolted when I felt his hands curl around my throat. For some reason, I had the impression that he couldn't touch me during a dream sequence.

Boy, was I wrong.

I choked and struggled. Kronos laughed. In my struggle, I fell to my knees.

"Stop!"

"Why?" He smirked. "Why would I ever do that? I am not a good being, Perseus." He released me and regarded me. "No matter what you do, no matter how often you think you defeat me." He smiled and tilted my head up by placing his hand under my chin. "I will always come back."

I hesitated and then spoke. "That means the possibility of you losing to me has occurred to you?"

He glowered at me and kicked me across the black sand. I hissed and clutched my stomach. Kronos grabbed my throat and lifted me up. "Insolence." He smirked. "Perhaps, I shall let Ares survive and convince him to rape you? That would be nice to watch. Your screams of pain. Your cries for mercy." Kronos licked his lips. "Enticing idea…"

I hissed and shot my legs out and kicked his stomach. He dropped me, and I rolled away. Shooting upwards, I turned to face him, ready for another attack, only to dodge a sword swipe from behind me.

He laughed when I couldn't find Riptide. He gave me a look of mock pity. "You should always wear pants that have pockets, Jackson. That would be a healthier choice."

I gasped and ducked again, searching around me for something I could use as a weapon. I flipped out of the way and by chance my heel hit the water. I smiled and twisted the black water. I shaped the water into a sword and blocked Kronos' overhead stroke. His smile faltered in one of surprise. I pushed him back and launched an attack of my own.

"I will never let Ares touch me. I will kill him before that happens. I will kill you before I let you gain power, or I would die trying."

Kronos kicked me back into a pillar of a pavilion. He slammed his forearm against my throat, pining me against the marble. "That's the idea, little god." He grinned and stabbed me through my gut.

The metal of his sword was cold. Very, very cold.

I groaned.

It sapped me of my strength.

Kronos let me slump to the ground. "If you cannot defeat me in your mind, what makes you think you can defeat me in reality?" He chuckled. "Such a naïve, little boy." Grabbing my chin, he leaned forward and whispered. "Give up my power, and this pain will end. Give in to me, and I will make you my lieutenant. That choice is always before you, Jackson." He looked me up and down and then tutted. After waiting a moment for me to call to him, he shook his head and vanished.

I hissed out as I tried to stand. Cold lanced through my legs, and I fell to the ground again. I blinked. Was it me, or was everything getting even darker.

I panted for breath and looked at my wound. It looked like one of those pictures on the internet showing a frostbite victim. The only thing was, it was spreading.

I looked at my hand. It was blackening as well.

The cold gave way to pain. It consumed my body, like fire would dry paper.

I stopped playing brave hero and started screaming.

My body twisting on the ground.

There was no respite.

My eyes rolled up and the world dimmed.

It was like going though a dark, lonely tunnel, in a car that only went ten miles per hour.

There was light up ahead, but it was a dark red, fiery kind of light, not a warm, happy, welcoming light.

I staggered closer, eager to keep walking before my condition spread to my feet. I stumbled and realized I could feel my legs. I groaned quietly.

As I got closer to the light, I faltered. Suddenly, the idea of going into the light didn't seem like such a grand idea. I turned my head and looked over my shoulder at the shadows. It seemed more comfortable. Darkness seemed less painful.

I turned to leave when I heard something.

Percy!

I gazed at the bright red light. I blinked and tried to see beyond it. Nothing

Percy, come back! Stay with me!

I knew that voice. My feet stumbled into the fire. The pain increased, but it was a good pain.

It's like the pain you feel when your muscles are sore, but you know it's a positive pain. It was worth it.

I kept walking. Every step became easier.

I glanced at my hands and found that they weren't black anymore. I smiled.

I gasped as I felt someone pumping my chest.

"Percy!"

My eyes opened. "Wha…?"

Apollo groaned in relief. "You're alive!"

Hermes shook his head. "For a second there, we thought you were a gonner."

I blinked. "What?"

Eros sighed and looked around at the gods. Most of them were present, but the few that were in other places, camps and whatnot, were absent.

"I was talking with you, and then suddenly, poof, you collapsed onto the ground. Apollo came and didn't find a pulse. He's been doing CPR and even inserted an IV of nectar."

I frowned. "What?"

Apollo sighed and rolled his eyes. "He's fine."

Hermes frowned. "How do you know?"

"Well, he has exactly the same amount of cluelessness as he did before."

I glared at him. "Screw you."

Hermes snorted. "Yep, he's the same."

Poseidon rushed into my room. "Percy! What happened?!"

I sighed and shook my head. "Assemble everyone, currently at my villa, to the library. We need another meeting."

I was about to get up, but Eros beat me to it. He picked me up and carried me, bridal style, down the stairs, across the main hall and into the library. I noticed Hermes frown at that.

I hissed at Eros. "I can walk, you bird brain."

He huffed at my nickname. "No, you can't. Your body is weak. You've been unconscious for four days now."

I started, causing him to almost lose his hold on me. "FOUR DAYS?!"

He winced. "Please Percy, my ear is near you mouth."

I growled. "Four days?! Four fucking days… What have I missed?"

Poseidon interrupted. "We'll exchange information at the library."

All the gods, as it turned out, were at the villa. They had come when they heard of my collapse. Iris and Hypnos were giving the demigods a play by play of what was happening. Currently, they were telling them that I was awake and okay.

Iris smiled. "Percy! Annabeth says that she wants to personally kick Zeus' butt because it's his fault that she can't be near you right now. She also wants you to know that she loves you and will find a way back to Olympus."

I snorted. "Sounds exactly like what she would say. Tell her that I love her too. I miss her so incredibly much." I felt Eros' hands tighten. I sighed. "Unhand me, you jealous god." He pouted but placed me gently onto a couch.

I sighed and rested my head on the arm of the couch. "Okay, what's happened?"

"Zeus has roused the monsters of the Underworld, and I am currently fighting a war in the world of the dead." Hades looked distracted as he spoke. "Nico is with me as my general." He winced suddenly. "Oh Styx, there goes my library. I must go." He vanished.

I stifled a groan. "Anything else?"

Poseidon sighed. "The wind gods and Zeus are trying to stop Leo's fleet at every moment from reaching Camp Jupiter. They've managed to triple the length of time that it usually would take getting there."

Athena shook her head sadly. "Minor gods have been harassing the demigods at Camp Jupiter for a long while. The Undead Armies have been split in half as Hades needed his troops to defend his realm. The rest are fighting the minor gods off, but the dead can only do so much."

Hestia sighed. "We must bring the fight to Zeus, or this war will become a war of attrition."

Athena nodded. "And we would most certainly lose."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Okay." I sighed. "I've…been experimenting with my powers and abilities. I think I might be able to do something, with Hades help of course."

Hermes nodded. "I'll go get him." He vanished.

I sighed and shook my head. "Zeus…why is he so pigheaded?"

Poseidon chuckled sadly. "He is Kronos' son."

I shivered. Those words were nearly identical to what Kronos said to me at the very beginning of this whole war.

Zeus was Kronos' son.

Whelp…the war is starting. Percy will have to fight two fronts. Kronos and Zeus. Father and son.

And Eros is getting…impatient… ; )

Ink…