Chapter 36
"He's not breathing, Apollo," Poseidon snaps over to the god of medicine.
"Then help him," Apollo snarls, hurriedly searching through his medical supplies. On a bed only a few yards from the limp Titan, Rhea presses her lips together as she watches. It's completely unnerving, since she seems to stare searchingly straight past Apollo's eyes and into his divine soul. Mercifully, she moves her gaze back to her dying husband, white-knuckled hands tightening even further on the bed.
It was simple to heal Rhea's snapped bones and burns and gashes – it wasn't going to be simple to heal the mental aspect of her captivity by Erebus, but she currently seemed more worried for her husband than she was by the people around her, so Apollo didn't care about that. No, Kronos needed an antidote for whatever it was that had poisoned him.
Unfortunately, by the time that Apollo had been alerted and Kronos moved to the infirmary and then Rhea's visible injuries healed, there was no time to make a fresh batch of anti-venom for Python's venom.
"That's not good," Poseidon mused.
So while Poseidon was trying to keep the poison from spreading further through Kronos, Apollo had sent Zeus to grab the Golden Fleece.
When the air sparks and Zeus appears with two demigods in tow, Apollo isn't particularly surprised. He's in the middle of forcing a vile concoction down Kronos' throat even as Zeus tosses the Fleece over his father's body.
It falls to cover him like a shroud, so Poseidon shifts the golden fabric until it looks a little less depressing.
Zeus gestures to the mortar in Apollo's hand. "What's that?"
Emergency over, Apollo allows himself to relax as he waves the mortar in his father's direction. "Just something to slow the venom. Works against any venom, with varying degrees of success."
"Universal anti-venom," Apollo nodded.
Luke finally takes notice of the queen in the room and bows low to the wife of his liege lord. "It is an honour to finally meet you, my lady. Kronos has told me about you many times."
Rhea frowns slightly at Luke. "And you are…?"
"Luke Castellan, ma'am."
"I'm Percy Jackson," Percy adds cheerfully. "Son of Poseidon."
Rhea smiles faintly. She may be healed, but she hasn't had any time to clean herself up. With ichor and grime over her face, she doesn't particularly look the part of a queen. It's her eyes that set her apart from any other Titan, sharp and knowing as she looks the demigods over.
Kronos shifts slightly and lets out a low groan and instantly he has Rhea's attention.
Her eyes narrow very slightly at him.
"Oh," Percy smiled. "She's gonna give him a lashing."
As soon as his golden eyes flicker open, Rhea is snapping at him in rapid Old Tongue. From the look on his face, Kronos is struggling to keep up. When she pauses for breath, Kronos swiftly jumps in and murmurs a few words back at her, and just like that Rhea's obvious anger dissolves.
"Okay," Apollo says. "What did she say?"
Poseidon struggles to contain his amusement. "Oh just the usual," he promises.
Kronos moves to get up, but Apollo immediately moves to keep him down. "Ah, no. No, you're not doing that again. We're going to make sure all of Python's venom is gone before taking that off of you."
Kronos blinks down at the Golden Fleece draped over him. "Unbelievable," he mutters.
"What?" Luke questions.
"I spend years trying to get artefacts of power and here you all are just throwing them at me," Kronos grumbles. "If I'd have shown up to Olympus would you have grovelled at my feet and handed over the Master Bolt?"
"He has a point," Thalia mused.
Zeus lets out a sharp laugh. "Fat chance of that happening," he says.
Kronos smiles. "That's fine. I've got my own now," he says. His spear shimmers into existence beside the bed, humming excitedly as tendrils of electricity race up and down the shaft.
"Where did that come from?" Zeus questions, unable to hide his curiosity any longer.
Kronos' eyes flick towards Rhea. "Before we get into that, could you…" he trails off briefly, before gesturing to Rhea's bed and then his.
"What?" Poseidon asks. He mockingly copies Kronos' hand gestures, eliciting a scowl from his father. "What does that mean?"
Poseidon smirked. "Yes, it's not likely to be sign language."
Kronos frowns at his son. "It means can you move the beds together. I would do it myself, but-"
"I will cuff you down again," Apollo warns.
"Like that did anything last time, but you get my point, yes?"
Zeus waves a hand and the beds move closer together. Kronos smiles, looking immensely pleased as his hands find Rhea's. The Titaness is careful as she scoots closer to Kronos, and the two honestly look like they'll never again let go of each other.
Only after both of them look settled and calm, one of Kronos' arms holding Rhea close and the other lingering near her waist, does Zeus speak again. "So?"
Kronos smiles. "Storytime, children," he says. "Sit."
Zeus scowls. "Not a child anymore," he reminds his father, but he does sit. All of them do.
"During my escape from Erebus," Kronos starts, "he was able to get in a lucky shot and tore apart my calf. I was able to get away, but… at a price. I had flecks of Erebus'… essence, if you will, lingering from my extended stay with him. For lack of a better word, I was going insane." Kronos presses his lips together. "Rhea and I… we were able to keep each other sane, but without her…" Rhea murmurs a few words under her breath in the Old Tongue, and Kronos calms slightly. "I couldn't take Erebus on myself, I knew that much. A lone Titan can never take down a Primordial. Rhea was gone, and I couldn't let her stay gone. No matter the cost. So I prayed, I prayed and I pleaded and I begged Ouranos to just listen to me. He did. I slept to recover my strength and while I slept I met with Ouranos. He refused to heal me, but he did train me. Ouranos' grip on his domain had waned over the past years, so he returned a fraction of my former powers over the sky so I could assist him." Kronos smiles faintly. "Since I've always had his bolt since his death, he said I could keep it and he handed me a new suit of armour with instructions to not break them. He said he'd be in touch."
"A fraction of Kronos' former powers?" Percy demanded. "No way that's a fraction."
Zeus raises an eyebrow. "And Ouranos' master bolt would be where my bolt came from?"
"Yes," Kronos says. He tilts his head to the side. "So that's my story."
"Not quite." Poseidon smiles thinly. "After you destroyed your own palace – what happened then?"
Kronos brushes a finger over the Golden Fleece, frowning lightly. "Erebus didn't get me then, if that's what you're asking." He presses his lips together, eyes flicking over to Rhea. "When Rhea reformed, Erebus pulled in a favour with Tartarus to get her delivered straight to him. As I tend to do, I heard what had happened. I-"
"Was stupid," Rhea cuts in. Her many bruises are yellowing and healing already, mingling with the streaks of ichor over her face. "As usual. Nothing's changed there."
Annabeth smiled, faintly amused.
Kronos smiles indulgently. "Yes, love." He brushes his lips briefly over Rhea's forehead. "But he trapped me," he continued. His gaze flicks to Percy and Luke, the two demigods trying to keep quiet in the background. Kronos snaps his fingers and flashes the demigods back to Camp Half-Blood. "So?" He prompts.
"What have you told them?"
"Nothing." Kronos smiles. "Try not to worry, Zeus," he says to his youngest. "Everything will turn out fine. You have my word."
"Your word has never meant much," Hera says curtly. "That much will never change."
"Very true," Poseidon mused.
Kronos chuckles. "Perhaps. But I was never much of a gambler – that was Hyperion's forte. I've been setting all of this in motion back in the times of the Ancient Greeks, Zeus."
"I don't feel comfortable with letting you pull the strings," Zeus says flatly.
"You shouldn't," several of the gods drawled.
"Ah, you would rather be killed, then?"
"Those are the only options?" Poseidon questions.
"It depends whether you're willing to be enslaved to your grandmother or not," Kronos drawls. "But don't fear – I will ensure you are kept entertained if that is to be the case." The look Zeus gave Kronos was nearly enough to make the Titan shut up, but he didn't let it show and simply smiles. "Of course, it's entirely your choice."
"You are a foul immortal," Zeus accuses.
"I know."
"You're sure you know what you're doing?"
It's Kronos' turn to give Zeus a reproachful glare. "Boy, I've played this game since even before you were an idea. Just sit back and let the adults keep you safe, yes?"
Zeus grinds his teeth together, but he knows that what his father is offering is a good deal – a great deal, in fact. In return for solace, for a place to kick back and watch the world descend into chaos, Kronos – arguably the best of all the immortal masterminds – would guide Olympus and the gods through the coming storm.
"Through Gaea," Leo guessed darkly.
"He's the one to do it, if any," Athena mused.
Zeus exhales deeply. "Kronos, Olympus is not-"
"This is not about Olympus," Kronos seethes, eyes narrowing fiercely at Zeus. "This is about us. This is about the fact that our family has been torn apart before." His arm tightens fractionally around Rhea's waist. "I will not let that happen again."
"Promise?" Hestia questions.
Kronos smiles. "I swear it on Chaos."
"Oh that's not a good idea," Apollo muttered.
"It's sweet," Hestia defended. "He actually cares, despite what he always claimed."
It seems that Zeus is more similar to Kronos than the Titan had initially assumed after his birth. Kronos would be impressed if he was not the one that Zeus was aiming to manipulate. The King of the gods seems far too willing to smother his father with things he's never going to use.
"It's called electricity, father," Zeus sighs after he sees that the Titan has torn out all the cables the god had laid.
Zeus cracked a small smile. "He would be one to be dreadful when it comes to mortal technology."
Kronos sneers at him. "I don't need it. Take your foul mortal technology far away before I decide to incinerate it all."
The land that Zeus had arranged for Kronos and Rhea was utterly bare. Kronos had almost hit Zeus for pulling that foul trick, but now found that it wasn't so bad. He at least had something to keep himself occupied.
Kronos and Rhea had stayed on Olympus for a few days to recover upon Apollo's insistence before leaving. Oregon was peaceful, which was what Kronos had been going for. Until there was a roof over their heads – drawn straight from the earth by the two immortals – they were more than willing to sleep under the stars. A welcome sight for both of them.
It takes several months for the two immortals to be happy with their work. It's not Othrys, but it will do for the time being.
"It doesn't look that bad." Poseidon is the first to admit what they're all thinking. "Maybe you two should go into the building business."
"Yes," Annabeth muttered, "because that's a brilliant idea."
Kronos scoffs. "Oh sure. The mortals would certainly appreciate divine intervention."
Rhea smiles. "I like it," she says. "You didn't do too badly," she adds as she nudges Kronos slightly.
"Why are you all picking on me?" Kronos grumbles.
Rhea – as usual – ignores him. "There are rooms for all of you too," she informs their six immortal children. "If you ever decide to come and visit."
Hestia's already large smile widened even further. "See, he cares."
Poseidon nods slightly. "We will," he promises. Zeus scowls, looking slightly annoyed by his brother speaking on his behalf.
"What's the plan?" Hestia questions. "The two of you just stay here for eternity?"
Kronos shudders. The thought of staying here while there are wars being fought out in the world isn't an appealing one for him. "Not eternity. But a number of years wouldn't be unwelcome."
It's a sentiment shared between both him and Rhea. Neither of them want to stay in one place forever. There's far too much to see for them to be rooted to one place.
Rhea glances over to Kronos. "We were going to welcome in half-bloods," she says.
"Like a third safe house?" Percy asked curiously. "What would that be like?"
Kronos sighs.
"Not your idea, then?" Hades asks dryly, looking rather amused. It's only been a few days and already their mother evidently has Kronos doing what she wants once again.
"He's totally whipped," Apollo grinned.
"Of course not." Kronos' lips curl up in distain. "You were all enough experience of smelly and screaming children running around."
"Smelly?" Poseidon demands. "Excuse you, but if you've not forgotten, you ensured that we were never smelly."
"I tried," Kronos mildly corrects. "But it seems that young bastards are apt to never listen to me." His eyes narrow slightly at them. "Now, if you wouldn't mind, this had been more than enough socialising with you all and I wish to be able to fuck your mother on a real bed."
"Oh Chaos," Hades groaned, burying his face in his hands. His siblings looked just as horrified as him.
Percy's nose crinkled. "Ew."
Amongst the sounds of disgust, Rhea's shocked and horrified, "Kronos!" goes nearly unnoticed.
The gods are all gone within a matter of seconds. Rhea sighs. She's long since given up on trying to make Kronos have some manners. "You're uncouth," she accuses with disgust, nose crinkling up in that cute little way that Kronos loves.
"Aw," Aphrodite cooed. "They're sweet."
"Perhaps," he concedes. "But I went to a lot of effort to carve out our chamber and the bed needs to be tested."
Rhea looks highly unamused. "We don't need to sleep – why did you carve us a bed?"
Kronos chuckles. "Why not?"
"He's ridiculous," Hermes cackled.
"As if you're any better," Artemis sneered back at her half-brother.
Rhea has long been used to her dear husband's urges. "You're impossible."
He smiles, gently pulling her against him. "You love me anyway."
"Unfortunately." Eyes shining with mischief, she pulls back to look him in the eyes. "But I suppose it would be poor thanks to not use the bed, would it not?"
"Oh, Chaos, yes."
BethnPercy: the characters are from just after BoO.
thunderofdeath97: I believe that was Luke actually.
RowenaIsKween: Yeah, so do I :/
thegoldraven: No, I don't think you ever mentioned that. But that's nice to hear :). Yeah, Kronos is just so done at this point. Kronos was willing to try anything at that point, and Ouranos was still low on energy. Both of them won in the deal. Okay, well remember when the kids were younger, Kronos turned Gaea away when she tried to get him to kill them? With Kronos gone she saw her chance and the First Giant War still happened. Now Kronos is back - the favoured son who betrayed her - so yeah, she'll still be very angry. Just maybe only at the Olympians by extension.
Mystery0028: Remember when the kids were younger, Kronos turned Gaea away when she tried to get him to kill them? With Kronos gone she saw her chance and the First Giant War still happened. Now Kronos is back - the favoured son who betrayed her - so yeah, she'll still be very angry. Just maybe only at the Olympians by extension.
YuujouKami: Yeah, I love Rhenos. They're so comfortable with each other that they can insult each other all they want and still love them xD. I'll be delving more into the whole Kronos and Ouranos thing later in the story.
Lord Nitro: Ah, that would be a brilliant plot twist! Kronos acting like he's really helping Olympus, but actually siding with Gaea!
Ilamatecuhtli: More? Oh, yes. There will be more.
GuardianAngel1234567: Wasn't really making out in front of them, more of making them very uncomfortable. xD. Hope that was good enough.