prince of the seas: excellent / I swear (on the Styx) you reviewed that last chapter too...
monkeybaby: AHHHHHHHHHHH I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! / Jeez... take off caps lock. No need to shout... :p
champion of the deities: yet again great, i can't wait for the next chapter. without a doubt you're one of the more talented writers here (no offence to others but woe is, you have to admit) update soon, thanks. / I'm surprised I don't look like a tomato with all of the flattery coming from this story... and i doubt i'm as good as Anaklusmos14 or Pluto's Daughter 11.
bambino01: Won't Percy break since he's out of Tartarus? / It will be a gradual process, it won't happen instantly, but his sanity will gradually deteriorate.
GuardianWolfman: Awesome chapter. / Thanks
Axcel: Then they arrive in the Pit and discover why Tartarus agreed and why Thantos requested it. Percy has made both of their realms his playground and all they can do is grovel when he passes by. They want him OUT! / Eh... not quite.
lupusadaquilonem: Love this story. The shipping? Is it Perlia? Because if it is I might just squeal. I love Perlia stories! It really is a shame that there are so few really good ones. Please update soon, don't leave us in suspense... / Nope, and i'm not gonna reveal what it is.
Guest: The dead should stay dead. / I completely agree... but Annabeth was never completely dead, as revealed in this chapter.
Matt: Will you hurry up with the next chapter? I want to know what happened to the other demigods. I'm betting Percy sacrificed them to Nyx and Tartarus. / I'm writing them as fast as i can... this story isn't my priority. The Lost Son is because it was up first. Percy's not going to be that cruel to his old friends.
Lord Romulus Malfoy V: Nooooo. I like seeing pairing's other then Percabeth with Percy. and I don't understand why people would stop reading your story. just 'cause Annabeth died. I mean they still read the books. after Rick killed off Bianca and Zoe in Titan's Curse. awesome story and chapter. and if you do Percabeth do it right please. can't wait for next update. / Who said this is Percabeth? And who said it wasn't? Haha... i have revealed that the pairing for Percy's not that common. Exactly! Thank you! If a character dies there's always a reason! And in this story, there was a very good reason for Annabeth's dead and apparent 'rise from the dead'.
Chrome Disaster: So here's what I know now. Percy is immortal and 3\4 titan, power of the titans rubbed off onto him, Lord Tartarus adopted him , he got Oceanus's sword, Krios and Iapetus are back to being good titans, and Nyx is helping. What did I miss? / Haha, I like you. That's pretty much it, though I wouldn't call what Nyx is doing helping... more like not getting in the way of them. As you'll see in this chapter, she can be a bit immature. As for Oceanus' sword... I think you'll find that it's Oceanus' symbol of power, and like the other weapons of the Titans that Leo picked up, it's sort of gonna resent being used by a demigod.
Guest: awesome... great story / Thanks.
godess bubbles: Update soon! / Of course.
I'll admit it... I finished this chapter several days ago, but didn't want to update so i can give myself more time to write the next one, because it's probably gonna be harder than this one.
PERCY IS NOT BEING PAIRED WITH VICTORIA (just thought I'd clear that up for some of you. He is being paired with a canon character. Victoria will become his mother figure because Sally has died from old age.)
Disclaimer: same as last chapter.
Chapter 14 - The Mansion of Night
The demigods' footsteps echoed around the long hall, rebounding back to them from the other side. Nico swallowed as he warily eyed the two immortals the other end of the room. Tartarus and Nyx had been talking very loudly when they first entered the room, but had quickly stopped which led Nico to believe that they were arguing about something they didn't want the demigods to know about.
Tartarus was twelve feet (the same height as the Titans) and purple, Nico noted. The Primordial had skin the colour of dark purple, and it oddly suited him, which was a look very few beings would be able to pull off. He had bulging muscles that looked like they could easily snap Nico's neck, and his nails slightly resembled clawed talons. He wore only traditional Greek battle armour and his face was a whirlpool of darkness. Beside him, Nyx wore a flowing black dress that looked like smoke and her skin was a startling white colour. Her eyes glowed brightly like stars in the darkness of the room, and wings formed from the shadows disappeared into her shoulder blades.
Percy stopped several dozen feet away from the two Primordials and to the shock of the half-immortal demigods, he lowered himself into a bow with his friends quickly following his example, not daring to look Tartarus or Nyx in the eye. Tartarus frowned as he looked at Percy. "What have I told you, Perseus?"
"I have no need to bow to you," Percy said calmly.
"Then why are you bowing?" Tartarus demanded.
"Out of respect," Percy replied, "not because you are a Primordial, but because you saved my life before, and you have done so again. I am in your debt, my Lord."
Tartarus sighed. "I apologise for not finding you sooner," he said, "however my foolish step-son had me backed into a corner."
"I know," Percy nodded. "It's fine, don't worry about it."
"I am pleased that-"
"That's it," Nyx announced, "you've had your turn, brother. Now give me mine." She practically flew across the room to haul Percy to his feet and give him a massive bear hug. "It's good to see you safe and well, Perseus. I missed you. It's a shame the Titan couldn't have slipped up."
Tartarus chuckled and it sounded like rocks colliding. "Now I have free reign to do what I wish to him."
"No!" Nyx exclaimed indignantly, "You can't do that."
Tartarus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Nyx, we have been over this many times before. You need to stop being so fascinated by insane and powerful immortals that wish to tear down Olympus. First it was Erebus, then Aether for a few centuries, then Eros, Pontus, and now it's Kronos!"
Nyx crossed her arms over her chest, and Nico frowned slightly when he saw Leo's eyes follow the moment. "I think this is none of your concern, brother. Kronos is cute, seriously, how can you not see that?"
Percy cleared his throat. "Okay, can we stop talking about that… please? It's making me feel sick."
Nyx sniffed. "Demigods," she sighed, "so unappreciative."
"Lord Tartarus," Nico said respectfully, "why did you wish for us to pass by here on the way out?"
"Ah, yes," Tartarus nodded, "right. Perseus should be aware of this, but – why are you still bowing? Stand up. – anyway… what was I saying?" He frowned.
"Something I should be aware of," Percy said helpfully as he stood up.
"Yes, thank you, Perseus. Immortals return to the Pit when they die, yes? And mortals go to the Upper Underworld where Hades rules. What, then, do you think happens when immortals die in Tartarus?"
"Uh… I don't know," Jason frowned.
"They reform in the same place they died," Percy grinned, "so that means the Titans you killed will get an earful from Lord Kronos when they reform."
Leo grinned, "Oh, good."
Tartarus shook his head. "What do you think happens to half-immortals when they die?"
The demigods immediately looked at him hopefully. "Wait, so Annabeth might not be dead?" Thalia demanded.
Nyx frowned. "That's debatable."
Percy cocked his head to the side. "She's either dead or she isn't. Which one is it?"
Tartarus sighed. "It is harder than that to explain. Her soul has essentially been cut in half."
Nico grimaced, "That's not possible… is it?"
"You are all half-immortal, yes? Well, as I've told you, immortals reform in the place they die if they die in Tartarus. Mortals go to the Upper Underworld. When you mix that together… you get half of the soul going to the Upper, and the other half being… stuck to the body. Annabeth currently has her immortal soul attached to her body, and so she is not completely dead. Her mortal soul is in Elysium with the son of Hermes, but the main part of her consciousness is here. An immortal becomes fully formed only once they have passed the Doors of Death-"
"So if we get her past the Doors she'll wake up?" Percy finished.
Tartarus nodded, "She should, if it happens soon."
"I'm going," Percy said firmly.
"What about Piper, and Clarisse?" Jason asked, "And we need someone to guide us to the Doors."
"Nico can do that," Percy murmured, "and I'm the one that will be able to get to the Doors sooner, so I have to go."
"You can't go alone," Thalia said firmly, "if you run into a Titan or Giant it'll be too dangerous on your own."
Percy immediately shook his head. "No. You'll just slow me down."
"Percy, listen to us," Clarisse sighed, "we all came down here to get you out, and if you die on the way Annabeth would have died for nothing."
Percy's eyes narrowed to slits. "She's not dead. Were you not listening to what Tartarus was saying?"
"We know," Hazel said in exasperation, "but take at least one of us with you. Please?"
"I'll go with him," Frank offered, "I can turn into an eagle or something, and then I won't slow you down."
Percy frowned and reluctantly nodded. "Fine. Small Bob will come with us, because I won't be able to carry Annabeth and fight off any monsters that attack us."
"Lord Tartarus," Jason said respectfully, "can you help Piper?"
"Ah, yes. The daughter of Love. I had forgotten her," the Primordial admitted. "Bring her here, and I shall see about waking her."
Jason nodded and gratefully brought Piper over to the God of the Abyss. Tartarus crouched as they approached and extended a hand towards Piper so he touched her on the forehead once she was close enough. "Deffro , merch Aphrodite , ymladd oddi ar y felltith a osodwyd arno chi gan y Arai ."
"Awake, daughter of Aphrodite, fight off the curse set upon you by the Arai," Percy murmured as a translation.
"Percy, how do you know that?" Leo frowned.
Percy shrugged, "Being around the Titans, you sort of learn to pick up their language. The Old Tongue – Yr Hen Tafod – is the language spoken by Chaos when it created the Universe."
"It?" Hazel asked curiously.
"No one's sure of Chaos' gender, so we call it 'it'," Percy shrugged, "it's safer than assuming Chaos is a certain gender and being wrong."
"It is done," Tartarus hummed.
"But she's not waking up," Jason frowned.
"She is a sleeping beauty, isn't she?" Tartarus asked dryly.
Jason looked down at Piper and scratched the back of his head. "Uh… yeah. What's that got to do with her waking up?"
"She looks like a princess, doesn't she?" Tartarus chuckled and Percy grinned, hiding his laughter behind his hand. "You are a prince, yes?"
Jason paused and his eyes widened. "Wait a minute…"
Percy laughed. "Tartarus has been obsessed with mortal fairy tales. He has been for nearly three centuries now, and it's still funny."
Jason grinned, ducking his head to try to hide his slight blush as he kissed Piper on the lips. "She will wake," Tartarus promised, "for now, you may all rest here until…" he muttered a short curse under his breath. "That fool." He turned angrily to face Nyx, his eyes narrowing dangerously to slits. "You left the drawbridge down," he accused.
Nyx shrugged. "Can you blame me?"
"Yes!" Tartarus exclaimed, "You left an open invitation for him!"
"I'll just go… send him away then," Nyx murmured sadly and started towards the door. Tartarus clenched his jaw and his body crumbled away, reforming in front of Nyx with one hand on her chest.
"I will go, sister. You will attempt sex with him, and we truly do not need the child of that encounter," he rumbled.
Nyx narrowed her eyes. "You'll kill him!"
"No, I shall speak with him and turn him away. If he attacks, then so shall I. But I shall not kill him." Tartarus said firmly.
Percy clenched his jaw. "After all that he's done, you would just let him go?"
"He is my step-son, Perseus," Tartarus said dryly.
Percy paused and he groaned. "But that makes him my adopted step-brother! What the Chaos!"
Tartarus chuckled. "Happy three-hundred and seventeenth birthday, Perseus."
"It's not my birthday yet," Percy said pointedly. "And I'd want a good present."
Tartarus just shook his head as his body dissolved. "What now?" Thalia asked.
"We go," Percy shrugged, "I'm not waiting around for Annabeth's chances of surviving this to drop to zero."
Frank nodded. "We should be leaving soon."
"Nico, you know the way, right?" Percy asked.
Nico slowly nodded. "Enough, yes."
"Good. Keep the laptop in case you get lost," Percy ordered. "Frank, come here."
Frank raised an eyebrow, but did so and the demigods watched in shock as Percy tapped his shoulder and black leather armor with red trim formed over his SPQR shirt. "This should be able to protect you from anything we run into. And you can keep it when we get out of here."
"Perseus, before you go, perhaps you'd like to reconsider your answer to a previous request of mine," Nyx called.
"No," Percy growled. "Before the answer was maybe. Now it's a definite 'no'. Go to Lord Kronos for it instead," he hissed angrily.
"Percy?" Hazel asked, "What?"
"Doesn't matter," Percy said as he shot a glare at Nyx. "We've got to get going whilst Tartarus is distracting Lord Kronos."
"Why do you call him Lord?" Leo frowned.
"Habit," Percy grimaced, "let's just say he didn't like me being disrespectful."
"Perseus, you must find Victoria Argyris for Krios. It could decide the Fate of Olympus in the coming war," Nyx said hurriedly before Percy could disappear.
Percy frowned. "Why did he want me to find her?"
"That is not for me to say, however Krios knew that you must find her before the Titans do."
"Why did you use past tense?" Nico asked warily.
Nyx smiled sadly. "Kronos has killed Iapetus and Krios. Their bodies lie in Damasen's swamp."
Percy's eyes widened. "What?"
"Go, Perseus," Nyx ordered, "Kronos has just attacked Tartarus. This is your chance. Do not waste it."
Percy nodded and grabbed Frank's arm, pulling the son of Mars along as he whistled for Small Bob to follow them. "Good luck, Percy," Nico called after his cousin.
Percy grinned as he looked back. "You too, Nico, be safe."
"Perseus, you know how to contact us if you need us, yes?" Nyx asked.
"Yeah," Percy nodded, "if I need your help – or Tartarus' – I'll tell you. Thanks, sis."
"Sis?" Frank asked with a frown.
Percy rolled his eyes, "I'll tell you on the way," he said as he pulled Frank along behind him. The two demigods quickly disappeared from the room as Small Bob ran after them.
"Young heroes, you must not be distracted by the front Perseus has put up. Underneath it he is hurting, Kronos did much to him. I fear he may never recover… unless he realises that someone that he has already met has the ability to find his true self again. Do not stop him and his match from joining, or else his mind shall snap completely," Nyx announced. "Good luck, demigods," she murmured before waving her hand and the demigods were swept up by the shadows in the room. It felt like they were on a high-speed roller-coaster, and strange sounds echoed around them as they were planted on the rocky ground of Tartarus.
Nico looked around for several seconds, noting the Mansion of Night several hundred yards behind them and the River Acheron flowing at their backs. "This way," he said firmly as he started to walk to where he knew the Doors of Death were.
And Iapetus and Krios are dead... Victoria Argyris plays a pretty important part in this story. See if you can think what her part it.
(Hint: Krios has been out of the Pit several times in the last decade.)
I also need suggestions for what Percy could name Oceanus' sword, preferably something that would fit well with Riptide.
Sneak Peek for the next chapter:
Percy looked at [Annabeth] blankly, "Iapetus is dead, Annabeth," he muttered, "He killed him. His own brother! He killed Iapetus and Krios as they helped us get away."
Annabeth's eyes widened. "WHAT! Iapetus is dead?"
"Yeah," Percy sighed, "and it's my fault."
"Perseus Jackson," Annabeth hissed, "none of this is your fault."