A.N As always i own nothing i see nothing i hear nothing! I hope you enjoy this chapter, love it, hate it, or have a suggestion that may or may not be taken just click that review button please and leave me some comments. Anyways on with the story!
CH.36 Percy & CO. (POV will switch a few times in this chappie ye be warned)
A feeling of unease settled on Percy after his conversation with Reyna. While he was thrilled that they were now officially in a relationship something was causing him unease...or rather someone. He knew that Tartarus would not give him a false warning and that above all else troubled him. If Tartarus believed it was almost time then Percy was going to cover all his bases when the switch occurred since once it happened communication with anyone topside would be down for a while. And then there was Sophie there was no way Percy was considering telling her he was going on a siesta in hell for two weeks while the Devil was cavorting around freely. Her staying here with Hecate was a given no place would be safer for her than this bastion she would be surrounded by allies and his servants.
A light clicked on in Percy's head bingo. He wouldnt be here to ensure her safety and while he trusted Hecate with his life sometimes you have to do things yourself and by having his servants..Percy grimaced at the thought of referring to them as servants definitly need a name for them besides servants. Having them serve as a guard of sorts would definitly help with easing his mind. Reaching out with his mind he tugged at the shadowy threads that connected him to his minions and pulling them to himself through the shadows. As they appeared before him Percy shifted his form to accomadate them.
" Not that I'm annoyed or anything by being randomly grabbed and -OW!" Caleb yelped as Natasha had none too gently kicked his shin.
"What Caleb meant to ask was what can we do for you my Lord?" Natasha asked kneeling before him with Mordred and Bruce. Caleb seeing them quickly moved to follow suit.
Perseus nodded his approval to her then stared hard at Caleb "You should be thankful Natasha dealt with your impertinence before I did anything drastic.' Seeing Caleb gulp and bow his head even lower he looked back at the others ' Soon Reyna and I will be leaving here and while we are away I am ordering the four of you to guard Sophie my heir with your lives. Am I understood?"
'Yes my Lord." The four of them replied respectfully.
"Good, normally Reyna is in charge over you but as she will be with me, I am leaving Natasha in charge. If any fail to obey her the consequences will be as if you defied me. And let me assure you I can be very...creative in my judgments." Perseus smirked as Caleb started to sweat heavier than he did before.
"My Lord how long will you be gone for?" Bruce enquired.
" I will be gone for two weeks so you should expect us to return at that time if we are held up you all are to continue with this duty until I say otherwise. Clear?"
"Perfectly my Lord." Bruce replied nodding his head in acknowledgement.
"One last thing from now on Sophie is to never be alone at least one of you will guard her at all times never leave her by herself, day or night. If shes doing things of a personal nature Natasha shall be the guard present." Perseus intoned.
"My Lord will your daughter approve of how intrusive this will become for her?' Seeing Perseus' eyes darken Natasha hastily continued' I don't mean to question you my Lord just that if we are always around your daughter may endeavor to slip away from us that much more and endanger herself."
Perseus was silent for a moment and when he spoke it was soft "You raise a...valid...point. Very well you may keep your presence concealed at times to give her her own space. But you must always be in range to act on any threat to her person. And if anything unwanted does happen to her because of your idea my dear Natasha' as Perseus said this he lifted her head from its bowed position to look him in the eyes ' you will know true terror before the end."
"Ye..yes m..my Lord." Natasha stuttered out as Perseus removed his hand letting her bow her head again.
"Good now go all of you observe her keep her safe, and make preparations for when I am gone." Perseus commanded before fading into the shadows as a chorus of "Yes my Lord." followed him.
Natasha, Bruce, Caleb and Mordred stared at each other for a few seconds "Well you heard the boss lets get cracking." Caleb said standing up quickly.
"Caleb I suppose I shouldn't have to warn you about being flippant in our Masters presence ever again?" Natasha asked steel in her voice.
"I'm just trying to lighten the mood up and..." Caleb started to say but was cut off.
"NO! Do you think he was joking about what he could and would do if you act out again?' Her tone started going down being more gentle' I know that all of us had heard that our Lord was a more carefree god and such but we all need to remember that that is his Greek form. With us hes Roman and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Until such a time as he orders us otherwise treat him as you would Mars back in the old days clear?"
"Understood." Bruce replied Mordred nodding along with him.
"Caleb?" Natasha asked wanting to make sure he understood the message.
"Understood ma'am." Caleb replied gruffly.
"Good Bruce, Mordred you have first watch on the Heir send Mordred back at the end of eight hours with your report and analysis of her behavior. After Caleb and I have read it we will come and replace you." Natasha ordered her mind now totally bent on their directive.
"Yes Ma'am." Mordred and Bruce chorused together before fading into the shadows.
"Now Caleb lets go get rested up for our shift."
"Yes ma'am' Caleb stated loudly and then after Natasha faded he muttered' killjoy."
Perseus sighed as he switched back to his greek form. While having his focus point did make his personalities merge to an extent being in either form, each side still was dominated by the specific attributes in that form. I should check in on Hecate see how her and Sophie are getting along. Percy thought to himself reaching out to Hecate with his mind he froze his mind numb when his mind had connected to Hecates he felt a surge of depression, anger, and revulsion. Hecate?
What do you want Perseus? Hecates voice came back frigid.
Whats wrong Hecate? Percy asked confused If I offended you I didn't mean to just-
I don't want to do this right now Perseus we can talk later. And with that Hecate cut the connection.
Percy was stunned speechless for a few minutes he never had provoked Hecate to the point of being ignored entirely. Percy's stomach clenched in fear as a thought took him she would treat him this way if she had learned of Tartarus. No Percy shook his head as if to throw the thought from it aside from Reyna none who were here knew about his pact with Him.
Suddenly a sharp tug on his back yanked him out of his ponderings looking around Percy realized that Hecate must have pulled at him with her magic since he was no longer in his rooms but outside the castle and in the center of the training grounds. Simultaneously he felt the magic keeping him from talking about Tartarus lifting very disoriented from all that was happeneing it took him a few seconds to recognize that he was not alone. Standing across from him a Stygian iron gladius in hand stood Pluto the wind blowing a shadowy cape out behind him his pitch black armor glinting in the eerie light emananting from the castle. After taking his eyes off Pluto he noticed that he was in the center of a ring of gods and goddess' all of them armed for war and none of them looking happy with what was going on. Especially Nemesis who had tears leaking from her eyes even as her face was set with determination. He noticed also that his father was absent from the gathered group.
"Perseus Ultor." Pluto called out loudly drawing Percy's attention back to him.
"What do you want Pluto? What is this all about?" Percy asked his voice not betraying his nerves.
"Don't play coy Perseus. Surely you did not expect to keep your secret hidden forever? It is time for you to pay the price for your mistake." Pluto replied calmly as he stood watching Percy.
"Which mistake are you referring to here Pluto? I've made quite a few." Percy spoke his mouth forming a faint smile.
Pluto's eyes narrowed "We all have made mistakes but the one I am referring to is your service to Tartarus."
If anything that one sentence turned Percy into a statue his fear being realized finally. But what were they planning to do? Looking at his surroundings again he realized he wasn't just in the training grounds. Inscribed onto the grounds were the Runes that were etched into every dueling arena whether for judgment or entertainment. Closing his eyes briefly Percy opened them and let out a breath. "How long have you known?"
At this statement a gasp arose from the onlookers some of whom had not believed the charges against him till that moment. Percy refused to look out into the crowds to see the reaction from them instead focusing on Pluto.
"I found out not too long ago after seeing Mars memory of the battle at New Rome.' Pluto remarked eyeing him' I know that the Greeks have no hand in this aside from you so my neutrality will remain. But you are a threat to us all. You must be removed so that the world does not have to suffer another primordials wrath."
"So all of you are here to kill me?" Percy asked his breaths becoming shorter as his chest tightened.
"No. They are here to observe the Duel between us and to ensure that no matter the outcome you are not able to leave here freely. If I fail another will take my place until by sheer numbers alone your energy is spent and you are dealt with."
"Does my Father know any of this?" Percy asked softly.
Pluto's eyebrows shot up "Are you hoping to hide behind your Father for this? I assure you he would not help you."
"No I am not all I want is for him to know the truth of this as well. It is only fair and if my victory here is as impossible as you say you should grant me this at least, one last favor for saving Olympus and all that." Percy spoke slowly his words beginging to leak with his emotions.
Pluto tilted his head to the side considering the request before nodding slowly. "You make a reasonable request one that I find heartless to ignore...but since this is about honesty your daughter is coming down with Hecate as well."
Percy's eyes widened before he nodded in acceptance of the compromise. With a flash of light Poseidon, Hecate, Reyna and Sophie appeared before him looking around where they were at for a explanation. He saw Bruce and Mordred appear from the shadows behind watching them. Poseidon seeing his sons face reached out with his hand to hold Percy's shoulder "Son what is wrong? Hecate would say nothing to me about what was happening down here tonight."
Breathing deeply Percy replied "Back when I was in the pit saving Anna..Annabeth I made a mistake of sorts."
"You don't make mistake Pop's...right?" Sophie asked uncertainly.
Squatting down Percy took hold of Sophies hands squeezing them gently. " We all make mistakes Soph, but to answer your and my Fathers question I struck a deal with Tartarus to save Annabeth."
"No!" Poseidon's voice came out quick and guttural filled with his raw emotions as the implications of what was going on hit him.
"Whats so bad about this Tartar..Tartarus guy?" Sophie asked not understanding.
Poseidon answered her "Are you familiar with the Christian faith how they believe their is a devil a being that is pure evil?"
"Yes." Sophie replied still not understanding.
"Tartarus is our version of the devil Sophie." Poseidon spoke soflty tears lining his face.
Sophies eyes widened " Pops made a deal with the devil?"
"Yes he did now that you all are in the know it is time to begin unless you wish to submit yourself to your fate Perseus?" Pluto interrupted waving his hand causing the trio to be pushed back into the ring of onlookers.
Percy considered it for a moment when Tartarus' voice spoke in his head Fight him my regent. Fight until you no longer can lift your sword I command it. Breathing out deeply Percy unsheathed his sword calling upon the darkness that inhabited his mind. The armor from New Rome appeared in its medieval form his head remained bare and harbinger hummed with anticipation. Raising his sword in the traditional salute he took his stance.
Pluto seeing Perseus' decision nodded returning the salute before leaping towards him closing the distance between them. Slashing down at Percy while at the same time conjuring a shield on his left arm. Percy deflected the blow down only for Plutos shield to smash into his ribs throwing him back into a tumbling roll. Rising swiftly from the ground Percy swung his blade at Pluto aiming for his neck then changing its course to hit his side midstroke. Pluto caught the blade on his shield shoving back and thrusting around the edge of his shield hitting Percy's armor with a clang knocking the wind out of fell to a knee raising his left hand and channeling his power into it a bolt of darkness leaping from it smashing into Pluto's shield which dissolved under the attack.
Pluto shot a blast of energy off at Percy but Percy had already moved around and to the side of him. Lunging forward Pluto hacked parried and battered away at Percy giving Percy no chance to go on the offensive. Percy desperate for any chance dove away from Pluto fading into a shadow feeling a boundary that would prevent escape he instead reappeared behind Pluto lunging forward only to realize that no one was there. A realization that came to late. Plutos blade smashed against his back throwing him onto the floor.
"Tell me you didn't forget that I am perfectly capable of shadow travel as well?" Pluto asked mockingly.
Percy groaned before biting out sarcastically " Its all part of my evil plan to make you overconfident and ensure my victory."
Pluto chuckled "If this is all a ploy to win you better start on the next phase of that plan." Pluto lunged forward looking to impale Percy only for him to have rolled out of the way. Thus causing Pluto to imbed his blade into the floor as Pluto looked over he saw harbinger descending towards him forcing him to abandon his blade that was imbedded within the stone. Eyeing Percy with a renewed wariness Pluto tried to circle around back to his weapon only to be blocked off by Percy.
"Lost something old man?" Percy asked the humor in his voice dry and lifeless.
Instead of replying Pluto let out aspray of dark energies that emitted from him like a shockwave blasting Percy to the other side of the ring. Rushing forward Pluto grabbed his sword and wrenched it out of the ground. Raising his other hand a helmet fell into it out of thin air which he quickly donned. As soon as the helmet was on Plutos head Percy realized it for what it was as all of his fears began flashing before his eyes. He saw his mother butchered by Gaia, his daughter enslaved to the giants a toy for their cruel whims, he saw Reyna impaled on a stake unable to die or to heal being tortured. The images in his mind caused him to stumble as it felt like he was living through each moment. Pluto slashed casually at Percy's prone form scoring a cut across Percy's face from above his right eye down to his lower jaw barely missing the eye itself. However it woke Percy up from his stupor and awakend his wrath in its full might. Shifting his from into that of a hellhound he propelled himself onto Pluto ignoring the blade stuck in his hindquarters as he clawed at Plutos face scoring several clawmarks before being thrown off by a gigantic surge of power coming of Pluto. Plutos face was dripping ichor badly his left eye torn apart the claw marks traveling down to his chin splitting his nose and lip as they went. Percy shifted back into his greek form suffering from his torn leg and his own head wound. Pluto leapt forward kicking Harbinger out of Percy's hands before kicking Percy's bad leg causing him to fall again.
"I can't say you we're unworthy as an opponent' At this Pluto spat a globule of ichor out of his mouth onto the ground' I will say that this should never have happened, you should never have allied with Tartarus or done his bidding!"
"Maybe so...' At this Percy wiped his hand across his face keeping the ichor out of his eyes' But I wasn't going to let you Roman gods get away with punishing Her for all time for nothing!"
Pluto snorted "So you help evil incarnate rise from the pit? You save one soul and punish the whole world along with the romans just to satisfy your vengeance?"
"Not the whole world..." Percy said as Tartarus' voice sounded in his head it is time.
"Not the whole world ? Pray tell how that works out?" Pluto scoffed.
"BE GREEK! " Percy shouted just as he was sucked into the abyss and Tartarus surged forth.
A blast of power that made Plutos shockwave feel like a gentle breeze threw Pluto against the castle walls laughter echoed in the grounds as Tartarus stalked towards him.
"Be greek.."Pluto muttered to himself looking at Tartarus as he approached a ball of darkness rising in the fiends hands that glowed with hellfire. Using the last of his strength Pluto switched to his greek form just as the ball of Hellfire was about to consume him.
Not feeling intense burning Hades looked up straight into the enraged eyes of Tartarus as the ball of Hellfire retreated back to his hand.
"That fool may have saved your life, but he cannot save everyone starting with that snivelling excuse of a roman war goddess!" Tartarus raged turning around and hurling the hellfire at Bellona who screamed as the flames consumed her flesh leaving nothing but her symbol of power, her sword behind. Reyna seeing her mother die ran towards Tartarus scooping up her mothers sword in her mad dash for blood only to be frozen by a wave of Tartarus' hand.
"Ah yes, Percys slave girl or should I say girlfriend now?' Tartarus asked his eyes alight with dark amusement' It matters not but you should be joining your master wouldn't you say?' At this statment Tartarus' stepped forward his eyes boring into hers' And before i do that do be so kind as to tell Percy this. I never swore to a time limit in our arrangement."
Reyna's eyes widened in horror "But you said that it would only last for two weeks you said-!"
"I Lied." Tartarus interrupted her snapping his fingers causing Reyna to vanish into Tartarus with Percy.
"Now I must be going I have a pantheon to obliterate." Tartarus' voice boomed as he vanished from Hecates realm without a trace.