Chapter 14: Baseline
Demise was calm as he synched his arm guards tight to his skin. The son of Hyperion was ready... He grinned at that more in vein than happiness. To be honest after holding back for so long he wasn't sure if his past abilities could be harnessed... Much less used. His mind flashed back to his first true fight. Demi'se focused on who he was fighting and why as renewed strength coursed through him. He clenched his fists tight as they ignited. He willed his strength onto the flames which grew golden with heat.
Demise willed the sensation of revenge into his flames wincing as the flames grew cold biting at his nerves. Finally the flames became green.
"Good I still have it..." The son of Hyperion sighed casting away the sickly green flames and the pain they brought. Demise sighed popping his neck as he pulled his sleek Ancient silver blade from its scabbard on his back. He reminisced on the blades history with him.
"Ready brother?" Diana's voice asked as she entered the tent. "The troops definitely are."
"To answer your question Diana... I am ready." Demi'se said calmly as he could hear the troops calling for battle. "And we will always lust for war even our foes. The only difference... We are tired of defeat which is a fruit they've held tight for too long."
"Good then meet those words and claim victory." Diana said knowing Demi'se's opponent was dangerously close to taking her brothers position. "And remember an army has one heart and one leader."
"And I am that leader." Demise growled as he walked from the tent and into the chaos of cheers from his soldiers. He pumped his fist into the air as they cheered. The soldiers chanted his name as well as Yin's name. The boy and Demi'se's foe stood on one side of a circle holding his blade Neck Lacer. Demise grimaced knowing that blade had a wicked bite even going all out the blade had earned its name. "Lower the Flag!"
A group of three demititans moved to the flag pole in the center of the circle where they lowered the flag of Kronos. Demise watched as it was lowered to grabbing height. The larger of the three flag men saluted Demise. "Sir ready for the test."
"Of course Matix." Demise sighed pointing his blade high to the stone roof of the mountain.
"And you son of Prometheus?" Matix asked Yin who nodded. "Good then Demise tell him the rules."
"Listen up Yin I'll only tell you this once." Demise said brushing his hair from his eyes. "Your goal is to take that flag from its post and rise it back to full height. If you succeed you will receive a perfect score."
"Sounds easy enough." Yin called from across the ring making Demise grin. "At least in theory."
"On the count of three we begin." Demise called his voice echoing.
"Just like old times..." Yin sighed gripping Neck Lacer tight.
"Sadly... No." Demise growled as he pointed his blade at Yin. "On my count... THREE! TWO! ONE! Now!"
The two surged forward as one meeting each other's blades in a shower of sparks.
"Still slow on your first strike!" Yin called spinning around with Neck Lacer. "And your right guard is still-"
"Better than yours!" Demise growled ducking low as Neck Lacer sailed over his head. "And you still talk too much!"
"Dammit!" Yin cursed as he jumped over Demise's blade. The son of Prometheus stomped down aiming for the blade beneath him all as he lashed out with his own blade. "Taste this!"
"Nice try!" Demise roared rolling forward as Yin came down hard his blade sinking hilt deep into dirt. Demise let loose a jarring kick to Yin's rear. The son of Prometheus cursed as he used his momentum to pull his blade from the ground. Yin rolled from the ground evading Demise's strikes. "Oh come now, do try to entertain!"
The crowd roared in agreement as Yin surged forward Neck Lacer dancing. "I'll give you some entertainment!"
"So slow!" Demise Laughed as he let loose a jarring punch to Yin's nose. The son of Prometheus cursed as he stumbled backwards his nose bleeding. The crowd cheered for more. Demise straightened up changing stances. "Another attempt perhaps?"
"AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!" Yin roared rushing forward again bringing his blade down upon Demise who let loose a quick strike. In an instant Neck Lacer flew out of the ring. "How the hell did you do that?"
"I was taught." Demise answered eying his own blade before tossing it aside. "Sadly we come from two very different stock."
"So this is a fist fight then?" Yin asked wincing as he snapped his nose back into place.
"No you're trying to raise the flag." Demise laughed as the two surged towards the pole. Yin jumped up grabbing the pole as he swung around with a kick. Demise reacted fast rolling out of the way forcing Yin to let go sliding across the ground. The two jumped to their feet surging forward letting loose a barrage of jarring blows. "Stop playing around!"
"AAGGHH!" Yin cursed as Demise parried his kick and planted a punch into his left cheek. "Where the hell did you learn to fight like this?"
"Poor little Yin..." Demise laughed. "Rhea chose poorly with you!"
In a blink of an eye Demise grabbed Yin by the back of the neck and pulled him into a brain jarring head but the son of Prometheus fell to the dirt ground knocked flat out. The soldiers cheered as Demise dragged Yin by the leg to flag pole and tied his leg to the rope.
The son of Hyperion pulled on the other rope and rose Yin high above the ground. "This was your punishment for underestimating me Yin... When you wake up you can tell me of this Spear of Fire."
Chapter 15: Across the Pond
Percy sighed as he sat by Annabeth on the docks of Camp Half Blood. They had just been sitting there watching as the day passed by. Percy had been cursed with nightmares of the Demititan who had nearly broken him.
"I don't get it Annabeth..." Percy said aloud breaking the calm silence.
"What don't you get Seaweed brain?" Annabeth sighed looking at her boyfriend with an inspecting gaze.
"Why would my Father kill Blazes mom? In front of him too!" Percy growled knowing the pain well. Annabeth caught on fast.
"Percy you can't possibly think that he was telling you the truth... Can you?" Annabeth asked looking at Percy more closely seeing pain in his eyes. "Percy-"
"No Annabeth he wasn't lying... He had the same look as me when I first got here." Percy sighed as Annabeth hugged him.
"No wonder why he loathes you." Annabeth said softly. "But he is still a threat Percy."
"Yeah but Annabeth I would have given anything to get my mom back." Percy said solemnly.
"Yeah but the difference is you didn't. When the Master Bolt was stolen you chose to take the quest even if that meant never seeing her again." Annabeth scorned. "Besides that he was three right when he watched his mother die? By Poseidon's monster Percy. Not his child."
"I know it's just I don't want to believe it..." Percy sighed closing his eyes as he breathed in the scent of the ocean before him.
"What the son of Hyperion said is true Percy..." The voice of Poseidon said from behind Percy and Annabeth. Percy was in shocked silence at the sight of his father since the last time they met Blaze was about to skewer him.
"Dad..." Percy said as he mock bowed.
"Lord Poseidon!" Annabeth jumped to her feet giving a deep bow. "Should I leave?"
"No you must hear this as well." Poseidon sighed looking out over the ocean. "When you fought in Alaska did your Foe tell you who they were?"
"Yes..." Percy started cautiously. "Demititans... But that can't be right can it?"
"Sadly we the gods have over looked them for far too long and now they are poised to strike." Poseidon said slowly. "And what the son of Hyperion told you is the truth... I did send a sea monster to drown his mother."
"It just never ends does it?" Percy growled glaring at his father. "The gods just keep killing and making enemies while their children have to clean up?!"
"Percy that boy will be the downfall of Olympus you must realize this." Poseidon sighed trying to comfort his son.
"Yeah well that was my job right? Or was it Luke? Oh no it was Kronos right? But yeah there were the giants too!" Percy snapped making Poseidon glare at his son. "No matter what I do Olympus still has a new threat! Tell me when will this end?"
"Percy... It's okay." Annabeth said trying to calm Percy down.
"No Annabeth it isn't..." Percy sighed as Poseidon regarded his son.
"Percy you have no idea of the pain we gods feel as our children fight and die for us... Do not ever think us as selfish. We feel far too much pain for that." The god said walking into the ocean leaving Percy with a pained grief for lashing out at his father. He shook Annabeth off and walked back to his cabin ignoring the sound of the conch he wasn't hungry.
...
"Max!" Thea yelped as she jumped from her motel bed she had been reading on. The young women was dressed in a blue pea coat and jeans and smiled as she looked her guest over. "It has been too long!"
Thea rushed forward hugging her mentor who patted her back sending shivers down her spine. The feeling intensified as he spoke.
"Perhaps a drink is in order... It is your birthday after all." Maxwell said with a bow. He was dressed the same as Thea had remembered him last. A black trench coat with navy blue T-shirt black jeans and black polished boots. She fiddled with her dark hair as she looked him over again. He had long ragged black hair which covered his left eye and pale white skin. His eyes were deep and dark but had a light of fun somewhere in them. "It will be on me."
"You know I wouldn't say no to a drink with you." Thea said with a smile as a knock came from her door. Maxwell reacted fast pulling his wicked Stygian Cutlass from his jacket. The blade brought a chill to the room as he advanced towards the door.
Thea brought up his rear with her concealed ancient gold knife. The trespasser knocked again much faster as the two took positions at the cheap motel door. Maxwell nodded as he unlatched the door pulling his prey inside and pinning to the wall with his Stygian blade to Demi'se's neck.
"Well Maxwell, is that how you say to a fellow Op?" Demi'se said smugly.
"Don't you have a cam to say farewell to?" Maxwell asked making Demi'se sigh.
"Yes that is why I am here." Demi'se said dully as Maxwell backed off sheathing his blade beneath his trench coat. "I am also here to learn of my replacement. That Intel has been closed off from me."
"You don't need to worry Demi'se, she is quiet capable." Thea said with a sarcastic grin. "But what did you find me, exactly."
"How did Maxwell find you?" Demise countered making Thea turn to her mentor.
"How did you find me?" Thea asked with a confused look.
"How does a wolf find his prey?" Maxwell said simply noticing confused looks from his comrades. "One of the Perks of being a child of primordial god is a good rang of senses I followed your scent."
"Hmmm seems legit." Thea sighed having come to terms with Maxwell's abilities long ago. Though she turned back to Demise. "So how did you find me?"
"I have lived here in Alaska for a while, now I think I know every Demititan friendly motel on this slab of ice." Demise sighed cursing himself as he remembered neither of them were true Demititans. "Either way I cannot leave camp Kronos we have a chance of locating the Spear."
"Listen... Demise." Thea said carefully as Maxwell rolled his eyes. "We know where the Spear is. Trust me it's no secret."
"Wait so why don't we go and get it?" Demise pressed.
"For one it lays in Egypt." Maxwell sighed. "And secondly it requires two objects to access."
"Okay you got my attention now continue!" Demise said in a rush.
"The first item is the blade of Helena..." Thea sighed knowing well where it lay. "And the second is the blood offering of a child of the sun."
"Okay..." Demise mumbled. "Where do I find this blade?"
"The Greeks have it." Maxwell said indifferent to Demise's sickly appearance. "A daughter of Aphrodite."
"A charm speaker?" Demise asked raising an eyebrow.
"Naturally." Maxwell said suppressing a grin.
"Titans hate me!" Demise growled fishing around in his pocket as he turned to Thea. "I refuse to leave my post until these terms are met and we can safely say we own the Spear. Oh and happy birthday Thea."
The son of Hyperion tossed a large locket her way as he erupted into flames ashing away. Thea examined the locket which had been carved from a rather large fang. The demigod knew well of its origins.