Author's acknowledgments and Q&A: What's up you guys? I've been absent for a while, and owe you guys an explanation. There have been a few issues going on in my family. Primarily with my mother. When I left NC to go to Japan with my father for winter break, she and I really didn't part on the best of terms. Not to mention when I told my father the truth about the BS I had been experiencing while living with her. Upon my father confronting her about it, she called me a liar, and I legit hadn't spoken to her since the 13th of December. Then I find out she is terribly sick, and Bed ridden, which tore me up when I found out about it. She's having major problems with blood clots behind her eyes, and there have been some issues going on with her health. She's only 39. She is going to be on a medication injected into her blood for the next year. That, plus school, and the Air Force, its all a bit much. There has been a lot on my plate, managing it all has been a challenge, and I haven't had much free time. But believe me, this story stayed on my mind at least once every couple hours. So, I will be getting back into the swing of things. Many people have been messaging me, and encouraging me, cheering me on to continue, and I want to say that I really appreciate everyone's support. Thank you for all the PM's, they have helped a lot. When I really thought about the 300+ people who like the story, vs the bad review here and there, there honestly is no comparison. You guys are the truth. I'm just rambling now, so let's dive into these questions, and get the adventure rolling once more. Thursdays are still the days.
PMQ: How old is Macaria? & Is Melinoe in the story?
A: In this story, Macaria is 14 in mortal years, 28 in godly years. & Melinoe is a few years older than Macaria, but yes, she is here.
PMQ: Will we get to see Khione? Will she be evil or friendly? If she is friendly, could she be a romance option?
A: Khione will actually have her own key role in this prophesy. She was one of the minor gods at the domain ceremony. Her domain being snow and winter, ties her to our main hero in his domain of Ice. & Khione is still young, younger than Perseus. She has no reason to be evil this early on. & Could she be a romance option? Personally, I never gave it any thought, but yes. It would definitely open yet another direction this story could go. However, do not worry about her significance. She is most certainly important.
PMQ: What weapons does Macaria fight with?
A: She has a sword and shield in this story.
PMQ: Is Bralis the main bad guy/girl, or is it her father? Will we have a show down between her and Percy?
A: This is one of those scenarios, where our hero, and the bad guy you keep seeing will be clashing for quite some time. However, the person the hero really needs to get to, remains in the shadows, and pulling all the strings. & Most definitely. And I will make it so very brutal on them both.
PMQ: Is Bralis Egyptian, Greek, or Roman?
A: Oh, how sweet the answer is. It is a question that will be answered in time.
Chapter 11
Perseus and Apollo had to hand it to her, the terrible Egyptian monster goddess was quite ravishing. She stood maybe 5'6, with a slender, but fit shape. Her eyes, the front of them looked almost transparent, but became a deeper yellow the further you looked into them. Almost like looking into a tunnel. At the front of that tunnel, her eyes appeared clear, but half way, and beyond, it became a captivating yellow. Her skin was tanned perfectly, and her black hair was longer than most Egyptians had it. Her hair was too long for the normal bangs. It was brushed off to the side. Her armor, was form fitting, and hugged her body, but left all the right mobility areas free. It was gold, white and black. On each of her limbs, a different monster represented. Her lips were almost as pink as Artemis's, and her voice was as strong as a Roman commander.
Perseus was holding his Trident, Kilironomia in his right hand, fork facing the ground, the back behind his head. He stayed standing, unlike the rest of his companions.
The Egyptian goddess took her own observation of the group of four. The three on the ground. The goddess to the far left, had long curly auburn to red hair, that was tied into a shorter braid. Her eyes a piercing silver, and her face, gorgeous enough to enchant any man unintentionally. She had the aura of a precise warrior. This one seemed to be the second in command.
Next to her in the middle, laid the other female, this one a brunette. Her hair seemed to be long, straight, and darker than mid night. Her skin was ever so slightly pale. Physically, she was definitely among the most 'Gifted' women in the world. Her powers seemed to be of death. This one was a power house.
The one to the far right was a male, with hair like the sun that came down to the top of his shoulders. His eyes were a strong orange and looked like two fireballs. He was tanned, tall, and light. Even under his armor, she could see he was build well, and his balance was unchallenged except by the red-haired girl. This one was an observer, and likely provided mandatory support.
Then there was the one standing in front of her. The younger son of Poseidon. His hair was black, and shorter than the rest, keeping it clean cut. His eyes were an unforgettable gold, his skin just as tan as hers. He wasn't the strongest or buffest she had ever seen, but she could tell he was fit, quick, deadly, and powerful. This was the alpha. He was leading them.
"Your name," the Egyptian goddess asked the son of Hera, "What is your name?"
Perseus kept his body calm, and untense. She had his companions and friends in her hands right now. If he tested her, who knew what she could do. He felt the only option was for him to say, "Perseus."
"Perseus," she said, testing the word on her tongue.
"And you are?" He asked, eager to put a name to this Egyptian.
She stared at him, her expression furious, but her eyes showed curiosity, and interest. It also showed something he could not quite put his finger on.
"I am known as Akila." She said.
"Pretty name" Apollo said to his sister.
"Shut up," she said back to him.
"What?" Apollo said, somehow still able to crack jokes with his life hanging in the balance, "You cannot tell me that isn't a nice name. Akila."
Artemis rolled her eyes. And went back to listening.
"—are you here?" Artemis heard most of the sentence.
"We didn't mean to cause so much trouble. It wasn't our intention. We only meant to come and leave quietly."
"So, you wished to deceive us," she said, "Come under the cover of disguise, learn our secrets, and take them back to your lands."
"No," Perseus responded, "We are not here to take anything back to anybody."
"Liars!" One of Akila's comrades said from behind her. There were around 10 surrounding them in a circle.
"Filthy chells!" Another one said to Perseus's left.
"Silence!" Akila commanded to them all. No one in the circle dared challenge her, not with her massive monsters all around her. She looked back to Perseus and said, "What is it you want?"
"We…" Perseus started saying, knowing the response he would get would be less than acceptable, "Just need to get inside pyramid Khafre."
The words had barely left his mouth before every Egyptian God around him drew their weapons, and aimed them at him, ready to run him through. They spat barbaric words at him and flared their powers. Some controlled sand, air, stone. All wanted to kill him before, but now, their blood itched to end his life.
"SILENCE!" Akila yelled, eventually shutting everyone up once more. "The next man or woman to speak another word without my authorization shall speak it from within my spider's belly. If she doesn't tear up your vocal cords on the way in."
That even chilled Apollo to the bones. He then began to realize what was really happened, and noticed, she could very well do the same to him and the others. They had to get out of this somehow. They had to get up.
"What is this?" Akila asked, "Some way to taint the Egyptians? You wish to defile the hearts?"
Defile…what? Perseus thought. The hearts?
"I don't know what that means." He said truthfully.
"Lying is not going to save you Greek." The goddess Akila said.
"My lady," an extremely muscular Egyptian god said from behind her, "If I may."
The man was huge with no hair on his head, but his eye brows were blond, and his eyes looked wild. Feral almost. His armor was mostly on his lower half. He had something protecting majority of his upper chest, but his core was exposed.
The goddess Akila leaned her head to the side, indicating she was listening to whatever he was saying, while maintaining constant eye contact with the son of Hera.
Perseus saw in her eyes, whatever it was that he couldn't identify, it was becoming greater. He still didn't know if it meant he was in trouble, or if it would play in his favor. He accessed the situation once more. Three of his companions, friends, and Olympian born were currently held onto the ground, and helpless to get up. Currently, he was the one on display for all the Egyptian gods to see. No doubt, they were already livid he was in Egypt period, but they had caused quite a bit of trouble. How many of their people had they put down and deathly injured. He figured it wouldn't do him much good to inform them that he specifically told his companions "no kill shots." Especially Apollo and Artemis. They never missed. Ever.
On top of the gods and goddesses surrounding them, there were multiple monsters on the outskirts of the ring they were in. What were the mortals currently seeing? He knew Egyptian gods made themselves known to mortals, but Egyptians were magic. Perhaps they were blocking mortal sight, or put all of them to sleep.
The god that had been whispering to Akila now backed up to his place in the circle surrounding them. Perseus made a note that whoever this man was, must be her right hand.
Akila kept her head leaned to the side for a few seconds longer before straightening. She looked straight into Perseus's very being. Her eyes were piercing, and unforgettable. How long they stood like that, he didn't know. Its possible she didn't either.
She's thinking something over, Perseus thought. To kill us or let us live maybe.
"Why do you seek entrance into one of our Pyramids?" She asked.
Perseus thought his answer over. He couldn't say he didn't know. Truthfully, he didn't know what the prophecy wanted him to find in there, but he needed to get himself and the others in that pyramid. However, he felt he had one thing he could say, that would throw her off balance at least.
"My magic," he said carefully. "draws me to it."
He saw her eyes widen almost immediately, and noticed she was breathing heavily. He noticed she had been holding her breath. What he had just said knocked it out of her.
Perseus kept his eyes locked on hers, and she kept hers locked on his. Even with the unrest sounds coming from all around him, he didn't turn to any of them.
Numerous accusations were made all around him, but he paid it no mind.
Just look at the girl, he told himself, her first instinct is not to kill us.
"What magic is this?" Akila asked, slamming her axe on the ground, shutting everyone up once more, "We have confirmed only two of your kind have ever possessed true magic. And one of them has perverted her sorcery."
She speaks of Circe the same voice that told him of the sphynx spoke into his head. Hecate's daughter.
Perseus knew of Circe. She was the one Hecate had sent to his harrowing to "help" him.
"My magic is unperverted," Perseus said to Akila, "It is pure, and still growing."
Acknowledging his magic, the whispers in his head suddenly became a little louder. He still couldn't understand most of them. Much of it must have been in a tongue he never learned. Hopefully the magical voice that had been speaking to him up until now would one day make sense of everything he was hearing.
Akila turned behind her to her right hand and said, "Watch the beast." She meant Hestros.
Perseus felt his instincts attempt to take over his actions as she approached him, but he put them in check.
I don't need to give her any reason to attack us. He concluded.
Artemis, Apollo, and Macaria had the same instincts as she moderately took steps to Perseus. They all once again attempted to get up, but were still held down. What was keeping them pinned?
Akila stopped a foot in front of Perseus. The yellow deep within her eyes began to glow slightly brighter then they had been. She smelt of a well ripened melon. Slowly, she closed her eyes, and focused.
Perseus at first felt confused, before a force within him told him to close his eyes as well, and so he did. He felt the magical presence within his body become even more conscious.
This magic is growing fast enough to interact. He spoke in his head.
Akila's eyes shot open, followed by his. She looked at him, the earlier look increased even more than before.
"Almukhtar…" She said quietly.
"What?" Perseus asked not catching all she said.
"I know what you are." She said quietly.
"What I am?" He asked.
Without warning, Akila swept his legs out from under him. Perseus bent backwards, and flipped himself backwards, over his companions, and landed with both legs, and one hand on the ground. Kilironomia was still clutched tightly in his hand.
She will regret that, Perseus thought.
"What are you doing!?" Artemis yelled to Akila.
Akila was coming out of the leg sweep, and stood up straight. She turned behind her, nodded to her right hand.
"We will do this now. But that one," she said pointing to Perseus, "Is mine. Bring us down. Now."
The right hand made a noise, and swung his curved blade over his head, indicating for all the forces around him to move and take action.
Perseus stood up, and took a ready position. Akila noticed this, and gave him a knowing, and threatening smile.
"Soon Greek. You especially." She said.
Perseus stayed where he was, and looked around him. All the Egyptians took on a wider perimeter, and kneeled onto the ground. Each had a hand on the ground, and the other on their weapon as they chanted deep magic. From what he knew of the Egyptian gods, each of them held very small amounts of Magic. None like Isis, Hecate, Circe, Akila, and now Perseus. But they held enough to be useful in large groups such as this. It would also seem; even more Egyptian gods joined the circle. There were too many for him to count now, as more joined the circle.
The ground shook once more, and Akila's monsters moved into the circle. The giant bird however stayed high above them, flying in circles. The Elephant stood behind Perseus and his companions.
"Macaria," Perseus said, "What do we need to do to try your idea?"
"Time. And you need to be close by." She responded.
He nodded, and watched as the circle the Egyptians were standing in, broke from the ground outside of them, and lowered them into the earth itself. They kept chanting.
Perseus wanted to attack, but it wouldn't go well. He could fly out, but that would mean leaving his companions and sentencing each of them to death. He couldn't call any Greeks for help. The only ones the prophecy would allow were the ones locked into this first portion of the prophecy right now. And for good reason. It spared the possibility of more deaths at its hands.
The ground stopped sinking at 16 feet. The perimeter of the hole was quite massive.
Perseus stayed where he was, his companions still on the ground, and looked towards Akila.
She sniffed the air deeply, and let out a satisfying breath of relief before saying, "Just as before."
Akila turned back to the pair of Greeks, and looked at Perseus. "Choose one." She said.
Perseus looked confused until again Akila spoke, "Choose one of your people. They will fight. Then we will fight."
The Egyptians around the now sunken circle began yelling, and banging their swords against their shields, or their bracers.
"What is this all for?" Perseus asked her.
"The winner will hand you or I the prize. Which is picking which piece of armor the other is to fight without."
Hestros attempted to roar, but his body was still tightly held down in the cage. Akila's monsters dug into the walls behind the minor Egyptian gods, and made themselves ready in case they were needed.
"So, what we fight? And then what happens?" Perseus asked.
"If I win, you die here and now. There will be no bringing you to our Highs."
They meant Higher ups.
"And if I win?"
"If by the curse of the gods you Greeks win, I will allow you to choose one of you to live, go back to Olympus, and inform the rest of your kind to stay out of Egypt. The rest will die here."
"Screw that." Apollo said from the ground, "Your out of your mind."
Akila gripped her axe tighter, and the crushing weight of Apollo's Armor began suffocating him.
"Ape," Artemis said with worry in her voice, "Ape!"
"Decide now Perseus, son of Poseidon."
"Don't..." Apollo tried to say, but clenched his jaw at the crushing paid of his armor.
Perseus knew in the end he probably didn't have a choice. They'd make him fight regardless.
"Alright." Perseus said, defiance in his voice. "Let him go."
Bralis loosened her grip on her Axe, and Apollo took in a massive breath. Then two, until he got his lungs under control.
"Oh lady," Apollo said, "For someone with such a pretty name and face, you have a really ugly attitude."
Akila ignored him, and said, "Choose."
Perseus asked, "Who will they be fighting?"
"Choose…" is all she said in response.
Perseus looked down to his companions, and thought it over.
Artemis. When it comes to combat, she's as quick.
He wanted to pick Macaria, as Apollo and Artemis were Archers first and foremost. They were definitely prominent when it came to close combat, but not as Perseus and Macaria who were more accustomed to it. But Apparently Macaria needed him close by.
"Artemis." Perseus said aloud.
Akila looked down at his companions and this time, waved her hand across her body once.
Her hand, Perseus thought as it began to make sense. The axe isn't holding them down. It's magic.
The others noticed this as well, and must have drawn the same conclusion. Perseus felt his own magic within himself. It was increasing every second, growing with every breath he took.
Artemis felt the weight of her armor holding her down, release. Her armor consisted of her hunter garment, with a form fitting breast place, bracers, and arm guards, all of which held precious gems inside. Her right leg which was exposed, also had armor all along it. Her left within the garment was armored ass well. The garment itself was indestructible.
Artemis got up, and stretched her limbs, hiding her mouth moving, and asking, "What are we gonna do Percy?"
"Buy us some time," Perseus said, "Macaria has a plan. I do too. Just take it easy on your opponent."
Artemis finished stretching and walked into the circle, silver hunting knives drawn.
Akila smiled at her and said, "Tenu!"
She turned around, and walked closer to the edge of the circle, as her right hand began to walk forward, and into the middle of the circle. But for each step he took, he grew. He was already massive, but now, he was enormous. His entire body was muscles, and power now.
Take it easy on my opponent? Artemis repeated in her head, Don't think that's necessary now.
Tenu threw his sword to the side, and took a ready position with just his fist. Artemis herself crouched down, and held both her Hunting knives backwards.
"Begin!" Akila yelled.
Tenu began by stomping on the ground, causing a big piece of earth to rise from the ground. He grabbed it with broth massive arms, spun, and flung it straight at her. The massive piece of ground came in fast, and barely gave Artemis enough time to leave the ground, and jump over it. As she came back down to land, she realized, the now massive Egyptian known as Tenu, used the bolder as a way to block her sight for a second, and was waiting for her to land. Artemis was grabbed by her leg, and slammed into the ground, before being thrown the other direction. She attempted to recover, but was still slightly thrown off balance by the blow to the left side of her body from being slammed. So, she rolled on the floor sideways, until she got her bearings, and took a defensive stance once more.
"I bet Artemis thought she'd blow right past whoever her challenger was," Apollo said, "Don't you think?"
Apollo wasn't worried. After seeing her and Perseus take on Lapetus and Hyperion, he knew she'd be fine. Most likely.
"What do we need to do Macaria?" Perseus whispered.
The pressure from all three of them was gone. They were allowed to sit up, but Akila made sure to keep their legs restrained to the ground.
Macaria gestured for him to sit next to her. He did, and upon sitting, she took his hand.
"I can usually do it on my own, but there is to much distraction here, and our lives are nearly over." She whispered. "Just lend me the part of you that is connected to the underworld."
"I don't know how to do that." He said.
"You don't have to do anything. Just look as normal as you can. Don't react to anything."
Perseus went back to watching Artemis.
The goddess of the moon dived, and rolled to her left, as the ground beneath her seemed to break everywhere she was standing. Tenu approached, and began slamming the ground everywhere she was standing. But Artemis kept back up, and flipping out of the way. She was running out of room, and he planned on pinning her to a wall. She had attempted dodging to the right, but the mans reach was too great, it wouldn't do her much good. The minor gods parted the closer they got to the walls, and as she came into another back flip, she saw the wall as she was upside down, mid-flip. Tenu saw this as the perfect time to strike. As Artemis's legs came down, he launched his fist straight at her, but Artemis was clever. Instead of landing back on the ground, she planted her feet against the wall, kicked up and out, spinning and summersaulting. Tenu's fist became embedded into the wall, as he had put all of his force into that last punch. Artemis on her way down, stabbed both her hunting knives into the Egyptians exposed back, and pulled outwards, causing him to holler in pain.
"Get him Arty!" Apollo yelled.
Artemis pulled back one of her knives, and looked at the arm that was embedded in the wall, and stabbed it in the arm pit, earning another growl from the big God. Golden blood fell forth from his back, and arm pit.
In a fit of rage, Tenu instead of pulling his arm straight out, wretched it to his left, and broke a streak of wall upon releasing his arm. Debris flew straight out of the wall. Artemis was able to lean back, and dodge most of the debris, and his arm that flew over her head. But he then stomped on her, pinning her to the ground with a massive leg. Artemis managed to bring her arms in front of her, but the weight was crushing. Worse than the magic that was holding her down earlier. Tenu was pushing so hard, a small crater was forming in the shape of Artemis's body, as she was pushed down into the earth. She only had one idea, but it would sacrifice a way of keeping the pressure off her, for a chance to get him off. But screw it. It was that, or die, right?
Artemis knew she had to move quickly, and hit hard. Tenu was standing on her upper body, attempting to crush her skull. Golden blood was slipping down his body. Artemis also noticed she had blood around her eye, and in her nose. She counted in her head, and executed. Lifting her lower body, she felt the weigh on her upper body increase greatly. She threw her legs forwards, in, and kicked in Tenu's back knee. The lock on his leg broke as he leaned forwards, and Artemis took the shift of weight to slip out from underneath him. She ran against the wall again, kicked off, and readied her hunting knives. Tenu was smarter this time however, reached his hand back, caught her by her arms, and threw her in front of him, and many feet across the arena. Artemis landed her recovery this time however, and brought her arms up. She seemed to already be charging at her, and Artemis, quick as could be, ran straight for him too. Tenu brought back right arm, and swung straight for her head. Artemis wrapped her arms around his massive shoulder, and kicked off the ground. She snaked around his body, bringing her legs down on the other side of his body, still holding onto the arm she wrapped hers around. She stabbed that arm pit as well. He screamed in agony. She released that arm, and stabbed both of her knives into his back. She took one massive step back, her knives still plunged into his flesh, her still gripping them. She then pulled, with the might of a true Greek. She sent power to her arms, and her muscles, and flung Tenu across her body, and he went skidding across the floor. Artemis wasn't known for her strength. That was Zagreus and Michail, but she knew very well how to use someone's weight and strength against them.
"Almost got it," Macaria whispered to Perseus.
He nodded.
Artemis crouched again and readied her blades in a stance. Tenu seemed to be feeling he wounds deeply. Artemis lined her knives with a painful poison. It wouldn't kill a god like this one, but it was delaying the healing process, and was able to cause increasing pain.
Tenu stood up, turned around and saw the moon goddess running straight for him. She attempted to stab him in his core, but instead, he grabbed her clean by the throat and squeezed. Artemis felt her wind pipe would be crushed in seconds, so she acted on instinct. She twisted her body, so it was sideways into the air, and slammed her knee into the front of his elbow. It caused him to bend it, but he still hadn't let go. Artemis then kicked out with her legs, and connected one leg with his eye, the other with his jaw. This caused him to release her. Artemis then decided this is when it had to end. She utilized her incredible speed, and stabbed him three times, anywhere he bent, she stabbed the exposed areas, and finally upon his lunging at her, she bent backwards, and kicked his head upwards, as he crumpled onto the ground defeated.
Artemis on instinct took one last defensive stance, before lowering her blades finally, and standing up right. She stared down at the unconscious Egyptian god, and spoke.
"You are no match for an Olympian born." She said out of breath, but confidant and defiantly. She then looked at Akila. "None of you are."
Akila stood, unfazed on the outside. Perseus could only guess what was truly going on, on the inside. However, she smiled, and spoke right to Artemis.
Artemis walked over to her group, and said, "Was that enough time?"
"Macaria?" Perseus said.
But Macaria wasn't responding. Her violet eyes were glazed over with pure white. She was in a trance. Whatever it was must have been working. The question was, could she accomplish this, once he let go of her hand?
"Hey! Get up and fight, filth!" An Egyptian god said from behind them.
One of them attempted to hit him over the head, but Perseus swiftly ducked under it. He stood up, and let go of Macaria's hand. It didn't seem to disturb her trance. He then walked into the enter, where Akila now stood.
"You care a lot for that one?" She said, nodding towards Macaria.
"Sure." He said, making sure she didn't think she could use that against him one day.
"Well Greek, you may choose a piece of my Armor for me to remove." She said very sternly.
Perseus didn't want her, for any reason, to think he won because of such a thing. Which prompted him to say, "Keep it all."
"Pardon?" She asked, taken aback.
"Keep it all on. I'll defeat you with all of it, as I have all of mine."
"Very Honorable. Quite new." They were speaking out enough for everyone to hear.
Perseus didn't say a word, just readied his trident. He got into position. He saw once again, Akila locked her eyes onto his again. And once again, she had that look in her eye. It was a trick. Just like last time. To throw him off balance. But just before the fight started. Just before someone else called "Begin." Just before things sprung into action, Akila whispered the last two things he ever expected to hear.
"I know of your prophecy Eklektos," She said, her mouth barely moving.
Perseus nearly let go of his Trident, but held fast to it before stuttering, "You…what?"
"And," she said readying her Axe, "I can get you into a Pyramid."
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Author's last thoughts: Thank you guys again who have been really patient with this chapter, and this whole story. It feels good to be putting these out again. Dealing with family situations has been rough, but we are all good now. Oh, and someone asked if Perseus with have sex, and children. Yes, he will have numerous children of his own, and yes, though sex. Relax bro. And, I do know that in Ancient Egypt they spoke Coptic, however, I don't really have access to a wide range of words I need to use in that language, so, Arabic will have to suffice. Also, thank you for the 300+ followers!
