ANOTHER TIME SKIP, PERCY HAS BEEN CHECKING VARIOUS MOUNTAIN RANGES, IN HIS PURSUIT OF LYCAON. SO FAR, HE HASN'T CHECKED THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. ALSO, HE HAS GOTTEN EVEN STRONGER, AND CAN USE HIS EXPLOSIVE STORMS AT LEAST THREE TIMES UNTIL HE COLLAPSES. HE AND ARTEMIS HAVE BEEN TALKING AND MEETING REGULARLY AS FRIENDS (ARTEMIS IS IN DENIAL, AND PERCY IS COMPLETELY CLUELESS). THE HUNT HAS BEGUN TO PASSIVELY ACCEPT HIS PRESENCE AS A BOY AROUND THE HUNT. MEANWHILE THE GODS HAVE BEGUN TO THINK THAT PERCY IS A TRAITOR. ONLY THE GOD THAT KNOW OF HIS AFFLICTION ARE ON HIS SIDE. AFTER HIS BATTLE WITH ARES, AND SUBSEQUENT ESCAPES FROM THE HUNTERS, ZEUS GROWS MORE PARANOID BY THE MINUTE. LITTLE DOES HE KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WHISPERING THE FEAR TO HIM…
PERCY POV
I smashed my fist into the empousa's jaw and it exploded. I shook my hand free of the dust, and yawned. I took out a map I had managed to "get" stared at the looming mountains ahead of me. I sighed and pulled some water around me boiling it, I began to hike up the mountain. Even with the water warming me I could feel how cold and sharp the wind was, my intuition flashed and I used the water in the snow to push myself into a leap and landed a few feet away as I heard a loud CRACK. I looked behind me and saw several venti, surrounding a smoking crater that flickered with electrical discharge. I took out snow drift and let my shield spiral out. I didn't know if I could beat them, I figured snowdrift might be able to damage them so I launched myself at them. The roared forward lightning crackling. I swiped one with snowdrift, and frost crept along the shallow cut I had made in its side. It neighed and blasted me with lightning which I caught with my shield. It didn't hurt but the force was strong enough to send me tumbling. I skidded face down in the snow and desperately tried to slow myself down. I formed ice and managed to stop an avalanche before it happened.
I looked at the venti who were circling me. I shifted and tried to dash past them, they shot at me with lightning and I dodged and reflected the blasts back with my shield, dissolving the spirits who had tried to kill me. I sighed, I needed to be more careful, I had forgotten that not every problem can be fixed with a slash. I was about to move when the snow shifted under me, "eh?" I said.
I fell sideways and hit the snow with a small crunch. I got up grumbling. Stupid unstable snow. I began walking up the mountain and let me senses roam out. They didn't pick up any werewolves, and I sighed. I reached the top of the mountain and stretched, might as well have some fun. I leapt of the top of the mountain and skidded on the ice, I began to laugh as the speed picked up and I slid down the slopes. I have got to do this again, when I have got some free time.
POSEIDON POV
I watched in silence as Percy slid down the mountain's sides grinning like a daredevil. I sighed, he looked happy but I knew he was so sad on the inside, I am thinking of getting him some company soon…maybe a date, he is nearing being 21…I should make preparations, he deserves a good wife, I wonder who would be a good fit for Percy? Someone obviously beautiful, perhaps from this realm, no not perhaps, definitely from this realm…
PERCY POV
I landed with a small thud as I hit the end of the slope. I sighed, I wished I could see ome of my old friends too, I wonder if they even remember me? I shook off my doubts and inhaled, I looked around and saw nothing and began hiking towards another mountain, when an Iris message shimmered to existence in front of me. I skidded to a stop in front of it, Thalia face appeared, "Yo,Percy."
"Hey Thalia, what's up?" I said cheerily.
"Artemis wanted to speak to you, about Zeus."
I sighed ," Look Thalia, I already told her-"
Thalia cut me off, "She says it's different, and much more serious."
I got serious, "Any other gods there?"
"Just Hermes, Apollo, Your dad, and Dionysus."
"Yeah…" I said remembering what I was thinking about.
"Something wrong? You seem unhappy."
'Nothing just wondering if any of my friends even remember me anymore…" I sighed.
"Cheer up Perce! They can't forget you!" she said.
"Anyway I'll be… where are you guys anyway?"
"Colorado."
"Ah okay."
I dissolved into vapor.
PHOBOS POV
I whispered in Zeus' ear, "He is getting stronger and he is a loose cannon. You must take care of him."
Deimos chimed in, "Yes," he hissed, "Percy Jackson, A savior of Olympus? We all no he thinks he is better than you, he will be a threat…"
Zeus face darkened and we both flitted away from his shoulder. We flashed over to the chamber of Gaea. Erebus sat there idly twirling his black spear, his armor was etched with pictures and depictions of pain and suffering. He emitted a dark constant pulse of energy. Long black hair flowed down his face, giving him a regal look. Lyssa sat in the corner, smiling at an animal she had inflicted with rabies.
"Is it working?" he asked, sitting up.
"Yes, Lord," I replied bowing, "Zeus grows ever more fearful of Perseus Jackson, It is only a matter of time."
"Good," You have chosen wisely in following me," he got up and pointed the tip of his spear at my throat, I gulped. "Had you decided not to I might have had to do some rather unpleasant things, and you would have joined anyways."
Deimos asked, "Why not just kill Jackson outright? Why must we have Zeus kill him?"
He smiled, "We need the Council of the Olympians to lose their most powerful allies, but if he is killed by a monster there is less strife, it was bound to happen eventually. With Zeus wanting to kill Jackson we can create a division among the Olympians. Jackson won't die quietly, and he may be able to damage a god or some number of demigods. Then we gather Lycaon, and his wolves, along with the most powerful monsters and hidden titans. Finally, we charge for the Olympians. We won't even need to travel to Greece, though it would be much more entertaining…"
Erebus turned his spear point away and turned to his throne. He smiled chillingly as he sat down.
PERCY POV
I materialized in the hunter's camp and flexed my body trying to get a feel for the strain which hurt like hell. I began walking towards Artemis' tent and nearly bumped into Phoebe, who was carrying a stack of boxes which contained equipment. She nearly dropped them when I walked by her.
"Woah! Watch it Jackson!" she hissed.
"Sorry Phoebe! I was looking down!" I apologized sheepishly. I took some of them, "Here let me offer you a hand with these."
She put them in the tent armory, "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Eh, meeting with Artemis, you know the usual." I shrugged.
She nodded, "You have been meeting with her a lot, haven't you?"
"We are good friends and we both are after Lycaon, she hunts using traditional methods, I go after him using contacts, we collaborate often. Though we usually end up chatting rather than work." I laughed.
Phoebe let out a small chuckle. I beamed, "So I can make you guys laugh!"
She jabbed at me and I jumped away laughing, suddenly, someone grabbed my ear and started dragging me with it.
"Agh! Ow! Ow! Let go!" I protested.
It was Artemis, "Stop flirting with the hunters!"
I turned red, "The hell? I wasn't flirting at all! Why would you think that!" I said.
"Just get inside the stupid tent."
I got in and was greeted by Apollo, Hermes, Dionysus and my dad. They all asked me how I was doing. I replied well and sat on the bed. Artemis walked in and sat next to me. Apollo and Hermes sat opposite of me and Dionysus and Dad sat on chairs next to them. I made to get up but Artemis put a hand on my shoulder, making Apollo raise his eyebrows. I gave Artemis a look but she shrugged.
"So…" I began, "Why am I here?"
"We are worried about Zeus." said Hermes, "Something is off about him."
"More so than usual?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
Apollo snickered, "Yeah, dear old dad has been freaking out more than usual! He has been changing and turning darker."
I sat up a bit straighter, "As much as I like Zeus bashing I think that this is a serious, otherwise you wouldn't have called me."
Poseidon coughed, calling everyone's attention, "Percy's right. We called him to warn him." He turned to me, "Percy, listen, the monsters are becoming stronger and Olympians are worried. You need to watch out, something is stirring, something, and it is more dangerous than you know."
I gulped, "What aren't you telling me dad."
"If I knew, I would tell you Percy." He sighed, "But whatever it is, you need to be careful."
I nodded, "Is that all?"
"No, about Zeus, we think something is influencing him. He was never this hung up on you, you may not believe this, but ever since you beat the giant and Gaea, he holds-er-held a great deal of trust in you. All the Olympians trusted you." said Artemis.
"Zeus should know that you aren't going against us, but it's like something is convincing him otherwise." murmured Apollo.
"It's strange…" agreed Hermes, "he spends less and less time out of his house and the throne room. Even Hera cannot reach him nowadays."
"Even with all the relationship stuff and by that I mean all their hot se-" Apollo began.
"SHUT UP!" I blasted his face with water, while Artemis flung her bow at his head.
ARTEMIS POV
Idiot brother! Thankfully Percy helped shut him up as well. Apollo yelped and rubbed his head where I had hit it. He apologized and sat on a chair. We ended our little council session and just as Percy was about to get moving his father put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey son, can I talk to you?"
"Yeah sure, can Artemis come? I need to tell her about Lycaon, and well, it'd be easier if she was already there you know?"
Poseidon mulled over this for a moment, "Fine, it doesn't matter to her anyway."
We all walked outside and Poseidon turned to Percy, "Son you are getting older."
Percy gave him are-you-serious look, "Okay either I am really old looking, or I think you have been out of science for the more than the last millennia, Dad."
'He doesn't at all look old, he looked fine, strong, handsom- no stop the thought right there, Artemis…' I chided myself.
My hated inner voice spoke up, 'No continue, you know you want to. You like him stop denying yourself, it never helps.'
Poseidon chuckled and then looked more serious, "Perseus you are nearly 21 and I think it is an apt time to well, find a…-erm-love or wife. I know you may not be ready but, it's time you've moved on from her Perseus."
My world flipped upside-down and righted itself in a moment.
