"Wake up!" Percy jolted awake, eyes widening as he looked at his new surroundings. He was in the air, chained to...what felt to be a large icicle. He blinked blearily before he noticed the large, giant in front of him. He was sitting down but was still ginormous.
They were in a large cave. Percy's feet dangled as he looked at the ground beneath him, trying to find his friends. Was he the only one taken? Large snow banks were scattered around the cave, probably seats for the giant, Percy rationalized as he looked at his kidnapper.
The giant's skin looked to be made of metallic gold-like material. His legs were rust colored...dragon legs? His arm appeared to be made of platinum links and he held a large iron staff in his hands. The large man/monster thing was covered in nice stones and metals, his braided red hair included. He scratched at his long, red beard as he stared at Percy quizzically.
"W-Where am I? Who are you-" Percy began but the redhead cut him off effectively with a bout of laughter.
"BAH! I forgot!" He boomed as he gave Percy a grin,"You are but a child! I am your brother, Alcyoneus, bane of Pluto! And you, you are Percy! Mother told me about you, you're the first of your kind, a demigiant!" Alcyoneus said rather excitedly, looking at Percy in awe,"You're so small! Tell me, brother, how are you fairing? Uncomfortable? Hungry? Thirsty? I apologize for the restraints, but mother said you could be rather unpredictable at times. One can never be too careful." He explained as he looked at Percy curiously.
The son of Gaea was speechless for a moment before regaining his bearings,"I uh...you're my brother? You're really...nice." Percy commented cautiously and the giant looked somewhat offended at Percy's statement as he frowned.
"I'm a son of Gaea just as you, different fathers...obviously. And of course I'm nice, you're family! Our mother takes family very seriously! By nature, so do we, it's not everyday I see one of my brothers. Being isolated in Alaska will do that to you." He shrugged before grinning at Percy once again.
Percy smiled slightly at this. Despite the dangerous circumstance he was in, he felt rather fond of the giant. Alcyoneus was supposed to be a blood thirsty, terrible giant, yet he treated Percy better than the Romans ever had. The irony wasn't lost on Percy as his half brother continued talking to him with enthusiasm.
"I've never met someone quite like you...tell me, would you like some food? I have some humans..." He trailed off once he noticed Percy turn green at the thought of eating people.
Alcyoneus chuckled at this,"My apologies, brother, I forgot you're half human." He smiled gently at Percy,"I'm going to release you from your chains, I have faith you won't attack me." He said confidently, removing Percy's chains with a flick of his wrist.
Percy yelped as he plummeted to the earth, squeezing his eyes shut, not knowing how the impact would affect him. But he hit the ground and felt nothing. He opened his eyes and frowned at his unscathed form, huh, nifty.
"Uh, thanks." Percy stammered as he dusted himself off with a frown,"Alcyoneus, it's been mighty nice meeting you, but I really must get back to my friends-" Percy froze as shadows surrounded his half brother, they then flew around Percy, they whispered quietly amongst themselves before vanishing.
Alcyoneus noticed Percy's surprised look,"Those are the Roman, fifth cohort warriors, loyal to me," He explained,"They died on their quest for the Twelfth Legion's Eagle and have sworn allegiance to me. They brought you here, but have no fear, they seem to like you." Percy watched the shadows wearily as one crept closer to him. The shadows looked like men and women, but there was something sinister about them, they moved like snakes and there was a wicked nature about them.
"Erm, that's nice. Alcyoneus, what do you plan to do with me?" Percy asked, looking up at his half brother nervously. The red haired giant frowned thoughtfully before shrugging.
"I'm just supposed to hold you captive, seeing as you're rather complacent, make yourself at home. Don't bother trying to fight me, Percy, I know you're strong but in Alaska...I'm invincible." Alcyoneus smiled slightly at this while Percy paled,"Not to mention, we're family! I know you have none left so I hope you'll be content with just me for a bit, you haven't met all our other brothers yet." The giant stood to his feet, towering even more so over the demigiant.
Percy smiled politely, not sure what to think,"Thank you, but I must ask, if my friends find me what'r you planning to do to them?" Nervousness crept in his voice and Alcyoneus shrugged as he began to lumber out of the cave.
"Kill them, can't have you all escaping with the Eagle now, can I?" He laughed, Alcyoneus's laughter boomed throughout the cave making Percy shiver. The boy's eyes widened as the shadows circled him once again,"Don't worry, brother, my warriors will take care of you. And once I take care of your friends, I'll introduce you to mother, she's dying to see you again!" He said rather excitedly before vanishing from sight as he disappeared into the snow covered wasteland.
Percy felt his mouth become dry as he looked at the various shadows encroaching upon him. They whispered amongst themselves and Percy felt panicked as he attempted to leave the cave. The shadow warriors blocked his path, her found that he physically couldn't get passed them; one shoved him into a nearby snow bank making him yelp.
Something sharped poked his back and he squirmed out of the snowbank. He shivered slightly at the cold before his eyes widened. A large, gold eagle lay in the snow; it's red eyes glowing and wings outstretched as it lay there. The staff. Percy was quick to grab it, feeling power course through him, a small smile graced his lips at the feeling before he whirled around to the shadows.
"Drop it, Roman scum!" One of the shadows snarled and Percy frowned in confusion.
"Aren't you all Romans-"
"They have forsaken us!"
"They abandoned us!"
"They let us die!"
"WE ARE NOT ROMANS!" The whispers grew louder and Percy flinched at the sudden crescendo of voices. He took a step backwards as the warriors advanced on him.
"G-Guys, I'm not actually Roman." Percy stammered and this caused the shadows to stop,"The Romans...they've forsaken me too." Percy empathized, holding his hands up, trying to sweet talk the shadows,"They sent me on this quest, hoping I'd die-"
"Lies!" The angered uproar began once again and Percy gritted his teeth.
"No, it's the truth!" Percy's voice rang with authority, making all noise cease,"I'm a son of Gaea, and the Romans hate me, all of them hate me for what I can't control. I'm nothing like the Roman demigods. Look." He pulled his sleeve up, showing his lack tattoos; he had refused to get one when offered.
Of course, the Romans were happy to avoid branding the boy. No son of Terra was welcomed there; he wasn't a brother in arms but a freak of nature. Percy disliked tattoos. Call him old fashioned, but he hated the thought of marking up his skin in such a way.
The shadows were frozen, looking at the clear arm in surprise,"Why do you travel with the Romans?"
"I uh...I'm forced." He lied quickly,"If I can get them their Eagle then they'll let me leave. I've been held prisoner for a while now." If he could get them to sympathize with him then he could get out of here.
"Why not escape? You are stronger than them!"
"They're holding my little sister, Thea, hostage at the camp. If I get them the Eagle then she and I can leave. Please, let me go. I'd let Alcyoneus take care of them but they'll kill Thea if I don't get back with the Eagle. The Romans have destroyed your lives and I'm sorry, but don't let them destroy mine as well. Let me go, and I can set you all free from your shadow...prisons." He promised, feeling bad about blatantly lying to the warriors.
"Y-You'd help us? How?"
"My girlfriend, she's a daughter of Pl-Hades, if anyone can get you guys to the Underworld it's her." Percy vowed and the shadows erupted into more hushed whispers amongst themselves. Percy waited, inwardly pleading that they'd let him go. If he could make it to his companions than they could quickly get back to camp.
"We'll escort you to our Master, we'll tell him your story, and we'll see what he thinks of this." Percy's eyes widened as they swept him up, Eagle and all, and flew to catch up to Alcyoneus. Crap, this wasn't what he needed. This was the exact opposite.
"Wait! If you do this, you'll never be freed! He won't let you go if he finds out about my girlfriend. Just take me to her." Percy pleaded,"She can free you without Alcyoneus finding out! He won't know of your deaths." Percy yelped, this made the shadows pause. They murmured amongst themselves quietly, Percy squeezed his eyes shut, praying to any god that his plan would work.
"Okay, but you better be telling the truth."
Suddenly they flew forward, traveling at a speed that was equivalent to an automobile. Percy felt sick to his stomach as shadows whizzed past them at unimaginable speeds. With a yelp, Percy was thrown from the shadow warriors. He tumbled to the ground and groaned at the sudden impact.
"Percy!" A hand gently cupped his face and the boy flinched. His eyes were still shut and he let out a groan. The warm hand was comforting, he sighed at the familiarity and his eyes flickered open. Hazel. He was too enraptured with the girl to notice the shadow warriors had vanished.
She kneeled over him in a way that made it so she was upside down. Brilliant gold eyes looked down at him with worry, light brown curls created a curtain that shielded the two from the outside world, and a large smile brightened her features when she saw Percy's eyes. The two were at the camp that the quest members had set up last night. Jason and Frank were gone and the couple was alone.
"Oh thank Pluto!" Hazel breathed, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead,"Where have you been, I was so worried!" Percy felt his cheeks turn red at the sudden affection. A soft smile escaped him as he grabbed her cheeks and pulled her closer, planting a kiss on her nose. This earned him a tinkling laugh as he buried his hands into soft curls, smiling stupidly up at Hazel Levesque.
It's been more than fifty years and she could still make him blush with the simplest of actions. It was so easy for him to forget his anger, their past transgressions, her slight change in personality. Hazel had always been good at making him forget about the bad times. She had a remarkable gift of putting his mind at ease no matter the situation.
"Hey dollface, sorry I was gone for so long. Seems I got lost in your eyes again." Another laugh escaped Hazel and Percy joined her, he smiled so widely his cheeks hurt as curls tickled his nose.
"Why, Mr. Jackson, are you flirting with me? And in such a whacky way? I expected better." She teased softly, grinning as she did so. Percy grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles affectionately.
"What can I say? I'm dizzy with a dame." He winked, reverting to his old slang. Hazel, though not noticeable, blushed at Percy's words. Dizzy with a dame meant, in love, and Percy knew that she always loved that saying.
Hazel hummed at this a gave him a quick peck on the lips,"And I'm dizzy with a dork." She murmured, mirth twinkling in her amber colored eyes. Percy felt his heart flutter slightly at this and a breathless laugh escaped him.
"Well, I don't know who this dork is, since I'm certainly not a dork. Oh gods, were you talking about Sammy?" Percy groaned in mock disgust as Hazel shrugged slightly, the grin never leaving her face.
"I didn't want you to find out this way." She sighed,"There was just something about the way he tripped over his own feet every two seconds...it was just beautiful to me." She said seriously and Percy felt his lip quiver as he tried to contain his laughter.
"I thought it was his obsessions with machines that really got you." Percy offered with a smirk.
Hazel shook her head,"No, I think his grease covered clothes first attracted me to him."
Percy hummed thoughtfully,"And the way his voice cracked when he cursed." The couple looked at each other stoically for a moment until Percy broke the silence,"It showed he was growing into a man." Percy nodded and Hazel bit her lip in an attempt to keep from laughing.
"But his baggy overalls, talk about attractive."
"And to think I thought you preferred his wonderful personality and scraggly mustache." Percy tutted,"Not to mention his terrible jokes." Percy recalled fondly, a pang of sadness struck him at the thought of Sammy, he missed him.
Hazel only shrugged,"Actually...when he ran around your house cheering about his first chest hair, that was when I knew I was in love with him." Another moment of silence fell upon the two before Percy erupted into laughter.
"And then he tripped and broke dad's vase!" Percy crowed and Hazel laughed loudly at this, breaking her serious composure. Resting her head on her boyfriend's chest, she continued to laugh uncontrollably. The two hadn't felt this close to one another in a long time and it was nice. Percy loosely wrapped his arms around her neck and buried his face in her shoulder, shaking slightly from laughing.
And for a moment Percy forgot about everything else. He forgot about the troubles that plagued his and Hazel's relationship. He forgot about the anger that clung to him. He forgot about the pain inflicted upon him by the Romans. He forgot that Hazel was slowly drifting away from him. Instead, he was absorbed in euphoria and affection for Hazel. It was as if nothing had ever changed between the two of them, it was as if they were back in the 40s.
But, alas the moment couldn't last forever,"Percy, where have you been?" Frank's distinct voice made Percy freeze. The rush of bad memories clouded his once happy mindset. And while he no longer felt anger towards Frank, it didn't stop him from growing agitated about all that had happened in the past two days.
"Are you alright?" A concerned Jason was suddenly kneeling over him as well, making Hazel scoot back.
Percy instantly sat up, angry that their moment had been ruined, angry that he remembered his detachment with Hazel. As if reading his thoughts Hazel turned away from him, biting her lip and closing her eyes briefly, she knew that things weren't the same between them. But for that one moment, everything was okay. Percy looked away from her and turned back to Jason.
He opened his mouth to speak before shaking his head as he looked around. The Eagle...a silent curse escaped him, the warriors still had it. They were smarter than he gave them credit for.
"Fine, we just have to get out of here." Percy urged, staggering to his feet as the world around him began to spin. Frank was quick to steady him as he stumbled about, trying to regain his balance.
Jason frowned,"Not without the Eagle-"
"Alcyoneus, he's guarding it. In Alaska he's invincible. This is a fight we can't win. Please, this Eagle isn't worth our lives." Percy's steady gaze met Hazel's, the daughter of Pluto bit her lip in thought, but she mostly seemed concerned about Percy's wellbeing. He could see the numerous amounts of questions she wanted to ask him. Was he okay, where did he go, did he forgive her, were they okay. So many questions, such little time. They needed to get out of there, now.
"And uh, how would you know about this?" Jason asked curiously, brow furrowing as he examined his companion.
Percy shook his head,"His shadow warriors captured me-"
"How'd you escape?" Frank interrupted and Percy balled his hands into fists.
"We don't have time for this! I'll tell you all later." Percy grabbed Hazel's hand and looked at her pleadingly,"We need to go." He said quietly, eyes flickering around nervously. They were out in the open; Alcyoneus could be in their location at any minute.
Jason shook his head,"No. We need that Eagle-"
"What for?" Percy challenged,"For pride? Want to show off to your Roman friends, do ya? Want another war story to tell? Alcyoneus didn't do anything to us, no reason to fight him, let's just leave-"
"You're not calling the shots." Jason snapped, eyes narrowing,"I won't let your cowardice ruin our quest."
Percy looked at him incredulously,"Cowardice? This coming from the guy who waited until my guard was down so you could win in the arena?" Percy shot back, eyes glowing with rage,"I'm not being a coward. I'm a brawler, Jason, and if there's one thing we know best it's when to pick our battles. I'm being smart." Percy snarled lowly, letting go of Hazel's hands and standing tall in front of Jason.
Jason's face turned red in humiliation,"Listen, rookie, you've been at camp for a couple of months. Don't act like you know everything-"
"Shut up, Jason." Hazel interjected,"He may not be as experienced as you, but at least he knows when to swallow his pride." She took a step forward,"If what Percy says is true then he's right. We've got no business risking our lives for something that the camp doesn't need." Hazel's eyes hardened slightly,"Percy and I have Thea and Nico waiting for us back at camp," She grabbed Percy's hand, flashing him a smile,"and I believe it's best not to keep them waiting." Percy grinned back, relief washed over him as Hazel began to tug him away.
Frank looked hesitant,"But the Romans-"
Jason sighed, looking at his sword wistfully,"We tell them it wasn't there. Let's move out." The quest members began to walk away before Percy froze.
"Brother! You thought you could leave without saying goodbye!" Alcyoneus stood behind them, grinning widely at the boy. His arms were crossed over his chest and he looked down right menacing.
Percy let go of Hazel's hand and smiled nervously at the giant,"Ah, brother, I'm glad we get to say goodbye. It was nice meeting you-"
"Percy," The giant cooed, a smirk on his lips,"who are these...mighty tasty people with you?"
Percy gulped; fear creeping into him,"Now, no need to be gumming the works. I didn't steal your Eagle or do anything to mess with ya. I think if you let me go, we'll be square, ya dig?" When Percy got nervous he tended to revert to his slang heavily, it was what he always did when he got in trouble.
Frank glanced at Hazel,"What did he say?"
Hazel shrugged,"He said, 'No need to be gumming the works-"
Frank sighed,"No, I mean, what exactly did he say...I didn't get all that." Hazel and Percy spoke like they were from a different era.
Hazel coughed in slight embarrassment,"He said that Alcyoneus shouldn't make things run less smoothly. And if he lets him go they'll be fair, and then he asked if Alcyoneus was fine with that." She explained and Frank nodded slowly, muttering thanks before glancing back at the children of Terra.
"Tell you what, you let me have those other demigods and I'll let you go." The giant bargained, a wicked grin played on his lips as he looked at the boy.
Percy shook his head,"Sorry Al, can't let that happen." The earth beneath him began to tremble; his usual rock gloves covered his fists. The brawler cracked his neck, taking a protective step in front of the other demigods,"Just you and me, let's go." He challenged,"If you win you can take me and the Golden Eagle back, if I win you let all of us walk, deal?" He offered, a small smirk adorning his lips.
His half brother looked at him curiously,"And how do you expect to defeat me in Alaska?"
Percy shrugged,"First one to fall on the ground, on their back or stomach, loses." He suggested while the giant looked at him suspiciously.
"A strange challenge-"
"I don't want to kill family." Percy smiled easily,"I've grown rather fond of you, Al." Alcyoneus smiled at the nickname before nodding slowly.
"Well...okay, and if I win I take you to mother. She's been dying to see you again!" He said enthusiastically while Percy chuckled a bit uneasily. Hazel looked at her boyfriend as though he was crazy; she grabbed his arm and looked at him pleadingly.
"Percy-"
"It'll be fine, dollface, I won't die I promise." He winked at her and Jason took a step forward.
"Percy this is nonsense, let us help you-" Percy's eyes flashed with anger, Jason saw him as weak and incapable, just because he didn't make a good Roman. But Percy needed to release his pent up anger on something, and while he wouldn't mind punching Jason or Frank, he really just needed to blow off his anger. Jason and Frank and the rest of the Romans had been driving him crazy, they drove him to his breaking point, it was nearly impossible to get him there but they had somehow managed.
"I don't need your help." Percy growled,"Though if you fight as dirty as you did in the arena then maybe you'd be useful." There was absolute silence as Percy turned away from the blonde and to the giant,"Are you ready to fight?" Percy asked, earth leapt to his hands, forming his usual rock boxing gloves. The giant smirked and twirled his staff in anticipation, looking at his half brother with slight pride.
"I can see why mother likes you so much. You're so much like her." Percy's eyes widened slightly,"So protective of your own yet harsh when you need to be." Alcyoneus continued and Percy turned rigid as his brother spoke,"She loves you, you know." Percy scowled at this, if his mother had loved him she wouldn't have tried to kill his father and Hazel. His mother was the reason he was stuck in this terrible predicament with the Romans.
No. That wasn't true. And maybe that's what made the boy even more furious. He knew that the Romans hated them because of their own prejudice, the Greeks didn't hate him for his heritage, they were rather understanding. Channeling all his rage into his power he was suddenly airborne, fist cocked to punch the giant, jaw clenched in rage and concentration as he focused on his large target.
Alcyoneus merely smirked and swung his spear. Percy's rock fist struck the spear making a loud bang. A slight pain radiated from his shoulder but he couldn't afford to pay it any mind. Percy flew backwards, with a quick swing of his arm earth rose to meet him, a slide of rock was created by the boy, his feet struck the slide he created and earth formed around his shoes. Controlling the earth with ease he quickly moved on the slide, making it rise higher so he was moving in circles around the giant.
With his free arm Percy launched large rocks at the giant. Alcyoneus was quick, however, and was crushing the rocks with a meager swing of his staff. Sweat beaded down Percy's forehead as he leaped from his slide and onto a boulder he had shot at the giant. Right when Alcyoneus swung his staff, Percy launched himself off the boulder hearing it explode behind him, with a raised fist he let out a yell.
Percy was certain he had him; the giant's eyes were wide with surprise as Percy flew towards him, but that would have been too easy. The staff slammed into Percy's side making him scream in agony. A loud snap was heard, his ribs undoubtedly were broken, and that was something the earth couldn't heal. Percy flew high into the sky, his insides were on fire, blood spewed from his lips, and he was struggling to breathe.
And, as if the situation couldn't get any worse, he was hit into a flock of geese. Loud honks pierced his ears and sharp beaks broke skin. Percy yelped in pain as he lashed out blindly, managing to grab a goose on his way back to earth. Percy held the goose firmly by the neck, ignoring it's panicked flapping and pecking. Even though he was bruised and bloody, he knew he had to keep fighting.
An idea struck him harder than Alcyoneus did with his staff. Percy wasn't skilled enough to try to fight in the air, it was just a fact, he wasn't powerful enough for that. Alcyoneus was crazy fast but Percy knew a way he could beat the giant. Speed wouldn't get him anywhere; he had to think about this, he had to be patient and strategic. He could practically hear Reyna yelling at him to use his head and the thought almost made him laugh.
Percy let out a pained laugh as he looked at the goose,"I'm so sorry about this." He said sincerely as he adjusted himself. He dove towards the earth and just as he touched the ground he disappeared in the ground. Alcyoneus looked around in confusion, holding his staff tightly in preparation for his brother to reappear. But there was only silence. He shifted around uneasily, tired of waiting for his brother to reappear.
Suddenly Percy erupted from the earth, goose in hand, boulder flying towards Alcyoneus. When the giant swung his staff at the boulder, Percy launched yet another, knowing he was fast enough to deflect it. The second the first rock was smashed, Percy was airborne again, and with a hefty throw he threw the goose at his brother's face.
Alcyoneus demolished the second rock but was unprepared for random goose that struck his face. It honked loudly and pecked angrily at his face. The giant roared as his vision became obscured by the animal. Percy landed on the ground swiftly before stomping his foot, dust erupted into the air, making himself completely invisible. Alcyoneus finally got the goose off of him before looking around frantically for Percy.
Instead there was a large dust cloud that cloaked the smaller son of Gaea. Percy laid low momentarily, sliding around the giant with ease, bending the earth to his will. Rocks sprung up from every direction and with a small grunt Percy launched them all at once. Alcyoneus's eyes widened at the various rocks that flew towards him from the fog.
With a laugh he smashed them with his staff while nimbly avoiding others,"Little brother! Is this the best you can-" A scream erupted from Percy as he lifted the very earth the giant stood on. The dust cleared as Alcyoneus was launched into the air, three earth columns followed the giant, Percy squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, his power waning.
Percy was covered in sweat and he was shaking violently at the extreme usage of his power. His muscles screamed in agony as he continued to manipulate the earth. Black dots danced in his vision as his eyes snapped open, the world was beginning to spin, he couldn't keep this up much longer.
The earth columns wrapped around Alcyoneus's wrists, ankles, and torso. With another snarl Percy brought the rock shackles down to the earth. Alcyoneus slammed into the ground with a large thud, creating a large crater below him. Percy stood there, breathing heavily, wobbling side to side with a large grin on his face.
"Now that, is the best I can do! HA!" Percy cheered before his world went black.
Aye what's up guys! Sorry it's been forever but I've been updating other stories and whatnot. I was stuck on this chapter forever and I didn't want it to suck so hopefully it was aight.
Guest: Thank you so much for updating again:) I had this story bookmarked for so long, and I just love it! I am mostly Norwegian, but consider myself part New Yorker, and this really makes me happy because it not only portrays people like me with a lighter skin tone as the bad guys that you learn about in History, but also as victims themselves. In History, when we went over Americas history, I was in a mix of being embarrassed and angry. In racial disputes, we are always the "bad guys" ( even if in the past some of us were jerks) but in truth, it goes both ways, and we're all human. So for anyone who disagrees with this, believe what you believe, just try to broaden your viewpoints on history, and remember, We All Are Human. We All Are Mortal. Remember this, and you will succeed in life, and beyond
What up yo! Glad you like the story. And yeah I didn't want this whole, in the past story, to be attacking one race consistently. While I will say in American history, colored people got the brunt of racism (I feel like that's obvious) racism went both ways.
Youdontseethis: I find this weird myself, butwhen I imagine Hazel fighting in the Coliseum,Centuries (Song) seems to fit in perfectly.
Ooh I like that. It does seem to fit her pretty well.
Dantehy11: Hey back to reading again. I initially didn't want to read this story but after a while of reading randomly I decided to and I'm happy I did. I thought you portrayed the past well, it's hard to portray it without seeming racist so you did fantastic in that regard and I like the approach you took on it. This story is turning out great and I thank you for writing it as I know time is hard to come by. It's just great if I'm having a bad day to come by and read stories. Without knowing you all too well you have my gratitude. I hope you continue to write and make others happy with what you've written.
Have a fantastic day/night.
What up yo! I'm glad you like the story and you have my gratitude for the baller review and for taking your time to read it. Also, that's a nice lookin 11 you got there! Thanks for being baller! This review made my day, have a nice day/night.
Thanks for everything guys! Hope this chapter was okay, been stuck on it so I'm a little unsure.