A/N: Chapter 21! There will be another short time skip, just so our main characters turn can turn 14. Thanks for reading and remember to leave a review!
NOTE: This chapter will be heavily focused on Percy, in order to accurately portray his internal struggle. In this chapter, Percy will finally reach an area that you should all be relatively familiar with due to the canon series. In this chapter, it seems Percy has discovered his path during the First Titan War. Some won't like it since he isn't in the spotlight, but Jason is the one who has to be the "hero" during this part of the story. I hope you all like it.
Also, I accidently forgot to answer reviews in the last chapter, so I'll try to most answered in this one. Hopefully. Enjoy!
The Sacred Panda: Yes, the pairing for this story is Percy/Reyna. I would've hoped you would have figured that out by chapter 20 haha. :D
RiptideFTW: Just the Roman side. Percy will never meet Kronos/Saturn in person, or fight him. That's the Greek hero's job (Bianca).
ScarredNephilim: Perhaps later on. Haven't thought about that much yet.
SamTheKingOfHell: I like your word choice. I laughed at this review.
The Sorrowful Deity: It isn't going to be quite like you expect if, but I'm hoping it will still be relatively badass. It's going to create some unique opportunities too.
Percyjacksonreader18: I post chapters only when the one after it is completed. For example, I'll only post this chapter when I have finished writing chapter 22.
888aaa22: It doesn't. But being a son of Poseidon made him terrible with it, so I'm imagining that he can at least be average when it comes to archery. Although I'm sure it's clear I like writing combat with the spear better anyway.
Malosi06: Thanks! And yes, eventually Percy/Reyna.
Preirpctyide: Damn it! Almost got the 100%. And I thought about making Percy the one to lose his memories, but I have a better plan for him. Plus, unfortunately, I've decided to make this story revolve around both Percy and Jason (although maybe a little more on Percy). I like Jason's canon character, although some of you don't since he sort of stole the spotlight.
Cronus the cookie thief: No idea, to be honest.
Chapter Twenty-One: Espionage
Time Skip: One Month Later . . .
Percy
"Perseus," the voice rasped, "your gods' days are numbered . . ."
Percy squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm dreaming. This isn't real."
The voice cackled in the darkness. Percy was floating in what seemed to be an endless void. He could see himself, but only blackness surrounded him.
"You might be dreaming, but I am very real," the voice hissed assertively.
The son of Jupiter tried to slow his heartbeat, which was currently pounding so roughly that he could feel it in his ears. Percy clawed at the gloom, trying to escape, but his efforts were futile. Whoever was speaking with him had complete control over Percy's dreams; the raven-haired boy couldn't escape unless the entity allowed him to.
"You're Krios, aren't you," Percy uttered, trying to keep his voice steady.
The voice burst into maniacal laughter. "No, Perseus. I am much more treacherous than my brother."
Percy was at a loss for words. The camp had been struggling against Krios for the past year, and he wasn't sure if they would be able to resist against a divinity even stronger than Krios.
Percy swallowed roughly. "Who are you, and what do you want with me?"
"Why should I tell you my name? I believe it will be much more entertaining if I made you figure it out on your own, young Perseus. But I will tell you what I want with you."
Percy's eyes scanned the darkness to locate a speaker, but it was fruitless. Percy had an eerie feeling that the speaker was the darkness.
"You have doubts about your fellow Romans. You think they are too harsh with those who are more . . . dangerous than the average child of the gods. I can sense the vacillation lurking in the deepest depths of your mind, Perseus."
"No," Percy argued. "I won't abandon the Legion."
The voice laughed again. "Maybe, but they would not show the same restraint if they discovered how powerful you truly are."
Percy remained quiet.
"Lycaon's words influenced you, didn't they? You agree with the ideals he spoke of, I can sense that as well. Perhaps you agree even enough to help make the world a better place for potent people like you," the voice suggested.
Percy shook his head furiously. "You know nothing about me! Let me out of here!"
"I know everything about you, Perseus," the voice told him. "Perseus Grace, born in San Francisco to Julia Grace, the declining TV actress who managed to woo the god of the sky not once, but twice. When you were four, your mother abandoned both you and your brother in the Wolf House. The standard age to be left for Lupa is ten, Perseus. Your mother could have kept you and your twin for six more years, but she didn't. You have never once met your father, or even spoken with him. In fact, the only true godly contact you have ever had is with a minor goddess who lied to you for years about having a child. How can you support the gods, when they don't even support you?"
Every word from the divinity was like a punch to the gut for Percy. Everything he had said was accurate; why did Percy even bother standing up for Olympus? Demigods were simply pawns to their parents—expendables. The gods sired them and then left them, not even caring enough to visit. Percy had never even spoken with Jupiter, not even in a dream.
"I . . ." Percy's voice trailed off helplessly.
"Join us, Perseus," the voice offered earnestly. "We can change the way the offspring of divinities are treated. You can make a difference."
Percy opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
"You don't need to decide now. If you find that you wish to join us, come to the summit of Mt. Tamalpais whenever you wish. You will know where to find Krios once you are there; the palace is hard to miss."
-X-
Percy sat up swiftly in his bunk, breathing and sweating heavily. His undershirt was stuck to his body, and the covers had been thrown to the floor. His electric blue eyes were wild and confused, scanning the room as if he expected to be attacked. Sparks hopped erratically off of his body, singing small bits of his bed sheets. His breathing slowed, however, when he finally recognized his surroundings. He was sitting in his lonely cabin.
Percy swung his legs over the side of the bed before putting his face in his hands. He sighed slowly, his mind stuck in a bloody feud between leaving and staying. The being that had spoken to him in his dream had made sense. The gods forsake their children to fight their wars for them, and Percy wasn't sure if he wanted to do that. If this divinity was telling the truth, then the son of Jupiter had a chance of improving the lives of demigods across the globe.
Standing, Percy examined his clock. It was 7:00 am, on the dot. Percy took a quick shower before changing into clothing suitable for the chilly weather. The son of Jupiter slipped outside, stretching as he gazed at the half-risen sun that was beginning to peek over the hills of the valley. The early risers in the camp were already milling about New Rome in search of a good place to eat breakfast. Soldiers were required to eat their meals in the mess hall, but Percy found himself walking for the small bakery that he and Jason used to eat at when they were little. He wasn't sure why he was heading there, but he knew that the bakery would be open, even this early. The bakery was a cozy place; it had a nice, maroon sign hanging above the door, and two potted ferns flanking the lone door. Outdoor tables surrounded the entrance area, but Percy always preferred eating inside.
A bell above the door jingled as he entered, alerting the barista behind the counter. He looked sleepy, but smiled nonetheless. The bakery was nearly empty, bar a couple eating with their young daughter. The adults were talking animatedly, but the little girl looked bored out of her mind. Percy ordered some coffee and one of his favorite blueberry muffins before taking a seat in the corner of the room. He had only eaten half of his muffin when noticed the little girl had left her parents and strayed over to Percy's table.
"You're a soldier?" She asked excitedly, pointing to Percy's SPQR tattoo. He had two stripes trailing down from his elbow to his wrist, indicating that he had served in the Legion for two years. Percy smiled at her, before nodding.
"Whoa!" She muttered, looking awestruck. "Mommy said I get to be a soldier too when I grow up. I'm going to be like you!"
Percy watched her carefully, sipping from his cup.
"I'm sure you'll be a great soldier one day," Percy assured her, giving her a small smile.
"Julia," the woman from the other table called, "stop bothering him and come back over here. It's time to leave."
"Bye!" Julia exclaimed, before dashing out the door to follow her parents.
Percy ate the rest of his muffin in silence.
-X-
After his breakfast, Percy found himself being drawn to the Principia. The door was already unlocked, meaning that Cassie was probably inside. Percy crossed through the opening room—where he had received an innumerable amount of punishments during his time growing up in the camp—and entered a door on the side of the room. After travelling down a short hallway, he found himself at the door of Cassie's office. He knocked twice before opening.
Cassie was at her desk, already working on paperwork. Her icy blue eyes flicked up from the paper to the son of Jupiter.
"Percy," Cassie greeted.
Percy quietly closed the door before sitting down in the chair across from Cassie. The praetor looked up from her work again, obviously perturbed by Percy's strange silence.
"Is something wrong?" She asked worriedly, putting her pen down.
Percy shook his head unconvincingly. "No, I just . . ."
Cassie raised her eyebrows for him to continue.
"I'd like to take advantage of an opportunity that was given to me."
Cassie frowned. "What does that mean, exactly?"
Percy ignored her inquiry. "This morning, I ate breakfast at that old bakery that you, Jason, and I used to eat at when we were little. You know the place?"
Cassie nodded, but her frown was still present. "Soldiers are supposed to eat at the mess hall, Percy, you know that."
The son of Jupiter continued, ignoring her once again.
"There was this little girl there." Percy's voice sounded wistful. "Her name was Julia—I think she was a legacy. She told me she wanted to be like me when she grew up."
The praetor still looked confused. "Percy, where are you going with this?"
"She didn't even know me," Percy explained with a small chuckle, "but she still said she wanted to be like me."
The red-haired daughter of Mercury was quiet, allowing Percy to say whatever it was he needed to say.
"It got me wondering what kind of person—what kind of Roman I wanted to be. I realized I wanted to be someone that younger kids like Julia would look up to," Percy told her.
Percy wasn't sure where all this was coming from, but he knew he couldn't hold in his darkest ambivalences anymore. He had to tell someone, or his inner feud was going to devour him whole.
"When Jason and I were captured by Lycaon, he tried to recruit us. Jason immediately declined, but . . . I'm ashamed to admit that I listened and was actually considering his offer. Then, last night, someone tried to recruit me in my dreams. I . . . I almost accepted his offer. He pointed out all the flaws of the gods and of Camp Jupiter, but meeting Julia reminded me that there were innocent people that didn't deserve to be caught up in this conflict."
Cassie stared at him wide-eyed. "Per—"
"I guess what I'm trying to say," Percy interrupted, "is that now I see that I am on the right side of this war. Krios, Lycaon—all of them—aren't working for the same future that I want to give to the younger generations in Camp Jupiter. And the guy who tried to recruit me in my dreams told me that if I wanted to join them, then I should go to the summit of Mt. Tamalpais, where Krios's palace is apparently located."
Cassie looked at a loss for words, staring blankly at Percy as he continued speaking.
"Cass, the real reason I'm here is to offer to be a spy. They think they have me wrapped around their finger. They'll accept me with open arms."
"No!" Cassie exclaimed quickly. "Absolutely not!"
"Why not? We are at war, Cassie, and this would give us a heavy advantage! I can communicate with you through Iris Messaging, and the camp would know every single one of Krios's moves before he made them."
The praetor opened her mouth, but no words came out.
"Please, Cassie. I need to do this to make up for nearly joining them. This is for my own redemption."
Cassie looked away, before sighing. Then, she gave in. "Fine. But tell no one, not even Jason."
Percy hesitated at this, but nodded in defeat soon after. "Thank you, Cassie."
The son of Jupiter made his way to the door, feeling wonderful after getting that secret off his chest. He felt so relieved that he couldn't stop a wide grin from stretching across his face.
"Percy," Cassie said before he reached the door.
Percy turned and raised his eyebrows.
"I'm proud of you, kid."
-X-
Percy left immediately, not speaking to anyone just like Cassie had ordered. He felt a little guilty for not telling his brother or his friends where he was going, and Percy knew that he would be gone for quite some time if his plan would work. He was prepared to make a personal sacrifice if it meant the camp's future would survive. Percy was an honorable Roman, and had been raised as a protector. Thalia used to shield him from his mother, and now Percy was shielding the camp from Krios. He had always known deep down that Jason was the one that was going to get all the prestigious positions and awards because he was the perfect Roman that the leadership (senate included) adored. For so long, Percy had been lost inside the camp, struggling to find his place in the society. And now, he had found it. Percy could now help his home.
Percy only packed a small bag, knowing that the trip to Mt. Tamalpais would be a relatively short one. Krios's headquarters were much closer to the camp than he had previously assumed, but it must have been well hidden for none of Camp Jupiter's scouts to locate it.
Cassie must have alerted the guards that he was leaving, because they simply nodded at him as he exited the Caldecott Tunnel. Percy shouldered his pack again, looking one last time at the tunnel before starting his trek to the mountain. The sun began to rise as he walked, warming up the frosty forest in which he was currently travelling. He was only fifty or so yards into the woodland when he heard a twig snap. Augustus was out in a flash, in bow form. Percy dropped his bag on the forest floor and nocked an arrow quickly, turning slowly to find the source of the noise. It could have been some simple wildlife, but Percy was never that lucky. The forest was eerily quiet now—not even the birds sang. It was if everything had paused to observe him.
He heard a snap behind him.
Percy whirled, aiming his arrow directly at the chest of a dracanae. She had her hands up, her weapon still in its sheath at her waist. The string of Percy's bow was taut, ready to fling the arrow straight through this unintelligent monster's body.
"Perssseusss Graccce?" It hissed questioningly.
"You have ten seconds to talk," Percy warned.
"Kriosss sssent me to wait for you . . . he told me to guide you to his palaccce," it explained.
Percy weighed his options before deciding that he probably wouldn't get on Krios's good side if he slaughtered his guide. On the other hand, monsters had always been the enemy. Percy felt like he was committing a crime by trusting its words, and lowering his weapon. The hands itched to stab or shoot the dracanae, but he controlled himself before nodding once.
"Alright," Percy said after picking his bag off the ground. "Let's get going then."
-X-
"Is this Krios's palace?" Percy inquired, his tone filled with grudging awe.
The palace was gargantuan, spanning across the entire summit. It scraped the sky at an alarming height, looming over Percy and his guide. The massive construct was made of some type of black stone that seemed as sturdy as it was spooky. Some towers looked immaculate, while others looked to be under slow construction. Percy could see large staircases wrapping around the main, finished towers of the palace. Monsters and turncoat demigods ascended and descended these stairs, heading in every direction imaginable.
The dracanae beside him chuckled. "No, this is not Kriosss's palaccce, boy. Thisss is Mt. Othrysss . . . base of all the Titansss."
Percy swallowed hard as he realized that Krios might not be the only Titan back in the mortal world. He recalled the voice that spoke to him in his dreams—that entity might be present at Mt. Othrys as well. This place was intimidating to Percy—it made him feel like an ant looking at the sole of a Titan's boot. And if the Titans learned that he wasn't actually on their side, then Percy may as well actually be an ant under a Titan's boot.
"Follow me," the dracanae ordered, before beginning to ascend the staircase that wrapped around the largest tower.
As Percy climbed the stairs, his eyes fell on an odd sight next to the fortress. A man sat on his knees, his arms up in the air as if we were carrying something. His face looked strained, and beads of sweat rolled down from his hairline.
"Who is that?" Percy asked curiously.
"That isss Atlasss," his guide informed him. "He—"
"Holds the sky on his shoulders to keep it from meeting the ground," Percy finished, recalling the information from one of the books he used to read as a kid. Atlas's punishment from the first Titan war was to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders—literally. He looked like he was struggling, which indicated to Percy that it must have been impossible for a mortal to hold it up.
"Thisss way . . ." the dracanae hissed again, beginning to ascend the stairs again.
After climbing what Percy thought must have been hundreds of stairs, the duo arrived at the base of a tall tower. Elegant fountains and statues covered the courtyard that spanned in front of them. Percy shivered as he passed a stone statue holding a scythe, but he ignored the uncanny sensation before heading towards the massive double doors. The dracanae stopped him, and the doors slowly opened by themselves. The throne room was spacious—multiple thrones dotted the area, yet only one was occupied.
A tall man rested lazily in a throne, sliding his thumb down the flat of one of his war axes. A horned helmet rested in his lap. His inexpressive, dark eyes stared interestedly at his weapon, seeming to ignore the two entering the throne room. Krios, like the day he invaded Camp Jupiter, was wearing his reflective battle armor. Percy's blood boiled as he thought about all the Romans that died on that day, but his facial remained passive. The son of Jupiter could feel electricity pumping through his veins, but he managed to keep it inside his body. The man looked up from his axe, before giving him a broad grin.
"Perseus Grace," he mused, "you have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment."
A/N: Chapter complete. This was only in Percy's POV, which I thought you'd all enjoy anyway. We see Percy end his internal conflict, choosing to spy on Krios for the Romans. I'm sure you all knew Percy had to leave the camp, but I'm sure this wasn't the way you had predicted. This will provide some interesting situations, since Reyna and Jason have no idea where he is and what he's doing. It will especially be fun to write when Percy has to face friends on the battlefield. How far can he take his charade? Anyway, thank you all for reading and remember to review!