Yo everyone, I live! Been forever plus one since I last updated but I will clarify and I will say this, sometimes when life gets you down, it comes back with a bat covered in nails, beats you again and then has its dog piss on you while talking about yo mama.
Long story short; Being full time in college and working part-time is a deadly mix but because of that a personal situations, i could barely make ends meet in payments, then I got into a car accident which took out my main means of income leading to being unable to pay rent or ironically, my car. Then I needed to scrounge up 2K for repairs on top of it all leading to me moving to a cheaper area, getting two new jobs to work 7 days a week plus get my car fixed.
So, as you can see, I am now proudly getting life on track. New place, already repaired car and got some in the bank account, working steady, taking a break year from college, the works. Still, since I will be pretty busy, updates will be inconsistent for a while but trust this.
I will NOT ABANDON this story. That said, please enjoy!
Disclaimer; I only own the plot.
Two Days Later
She sighed as he hovered around her, looking for each and every little thing to fuss about as she merely tapped her foot. Others would have been annoyed by being dotted over but she found it amusing and rather sweet that he cared so much. She glanced across the room to see a nurse nymph snickering into her hand as she also watched the winged god.
"… and if you're feeling faint or hot just let me know an-"
"Jason," she cut in as she placed a hand at his cheek, getting the god to pause as he looked into her sea-green eyes. "It's okay. Will said I check out just fine so relax," she instructed and watched as he took a deep breath and slow exhale. "Better?" she asked getting slight nod from him. "Good," she chirped before leaning up and kissing him on the cheek before turning to look at the nymph and waving goodbye as Jason grabbed her single bag and the pair left her hospital room.
The pair left, dressed in casual pairs of snug jeans and a dark shirt with his jacket of light for him while she wore a simple blue blouse. They gave passing greetings to other staff and attendants, pausing as some children passed them playing with one of the service wolves Percy assigned to the hospital.
"Hmm, I wonder what Percy had to do to convince Will to allow animals in his clinic?" she mused out loud getting a snort from Jason. Looking at the winged god with a raised eyebrow as he looked at her.
"He turned himself into a wolf puppy and followed Will around for a whole day while whining until Will gave in just so Percy would stop annoying him about it," Jason explained making Amphitrite giggle as she imagined her step-son(?) do just that and the picture was absolutely adorable. "What a silly king we have," she murmured getting a chuckle from Jason.
"That's a good part of why we chose him in the first place," he said as the pair exited the clinic and Amphitrite took her first breath of true freedom since her arrival to Mount Cartier.
Her view from the hospital room could only do so much and it was only in the last few days that she even had the energy to move around properly, thus getting better acquainted with the hospital staff and some of the residents. She couldn't help but recall some of the rescued children currently staying there, some having suffered from malnutrition and heavy bruising due to being shipped around like cattle by slavers … or even some of the more extreme cases. At least she could find morbid satisfaction in knowing the culprits were being personally attended to by Hades and Nico.
Still, knowing that many of them were going to be living in Leto's orphanage soon made Amphitrite wonder if she could help with it. She'd always liked children and considering how most gods had some sort of mortal job or roles within the city, she was wondering if Leto would need more hands around. After all, you could never have too many hands on deck when dealing with so many excitable rugrats and the sizable number of teens also present. Thoughts to consider, she followed Jason along in any easy pace as the pair made their way out of the clinic and into the calm streets of the city.
Amphitrite couldn't help but look around in wonder, having already heard much about the city from her son, Jason, and even Percy on his few visits but seeing it was just that much more. To see gods of all sorts, spirits, demigods, and even the mortal parents bustling around was something that she could only have dreamed of before. She even recognized some gods as they milled around, some running little stores and stalls or even walking around in business suites.
"I can't believe you all managed to get so many gods to find jobs and actually be responsible," she murmured getting an amused chuckle from Jason.
"Well, it wasn't easy, I'll tell you that. Lots have gods have literally been cruising through time and generally being pains in the ass for humanity so having to whip them out of it took a little maneuvering and just a little bullying," he answered to which she gave a confused look, but he explained on. "We know that everyone had their own reasons for not wanting to side with Olympus. Personal vendettas, uninterested in fighting, wanting a change and safer home, or maybe just jumping ship because it's new. That being said, not everyone came here for entirely wholesome reasoning, probably thinking a new order and government wouldn't have all the kinks worked out and let said gods find loopholes to do as they please."
The near predatory grin Jason sported could have made lesser men to duck under their mothers' skirts.
"But Nyx and Tartarus didn't drill us in politics and law during our years training for nothing and Styx especially took to it like a fish to water. We had already made several documents, our own form of constitution, and even the Oath of Citizenship just to prepare for our new home, all loopholes considered."
"Oath of Citizenship?" Amphitrite asked curiously getting a nod from Jason.
"Yeah, since you were in the hospital none of Styx's monitors came to interrupt. Basically, nobody in the entire city resides here without the oath aside from children under the age of 16 and then they have a lighter version until they turn 21. Basically it's an oath to follow the rules of the city to the letter as place by the council and before you ask, we are under the same oath with a second one sworn to Lady Chaos herself stopping us from abusing our power. She is essentially our check and balance. Anyways, this oath as the standard stuff for security and order of the city, and the only differences are some of the wording for gods versus mortals."
"What's the difference for gods?" she asked curiously as the pair strolled through a park on their way to the First District and divine temples.
"Gods have to swear on their immortality and Styx whereas mortals only swear on her," he replied before seeing her incredulous face making him shrug. "Hey, even if Styx is far more powerful, adding a term that can cripple lesser gods and terrify even the toughest ones guarantees that they don't get any ideas about trying to get around the rules. After all, you do know what happens to a god stripped of their immortality but not their domains right?"
She nodded slowly before answering, "For all intents and purposes, they become mortal gods or incredibly powerful demigods meaning that their lifespan mirrors that of regular humans and upon death, they are reborn. However, each time they are reborn as babies and initially have no recollection of what they are until they mature and the process goes on until they can regain immortality."
"Yep and to some gods, that's practically a personal hell so you can imagine how tricky it was to get them willing to take the oath. Honestly it just came down to them either taking the offer, which isn't even bad to begin with, just less freeing than some of the lifestyles some of the rowdier gods are used to, or stay out and possibly deal with the Olympians or other parties after this is all over. Some gods just needed a little more … thorough persuasion about the rules, mostly a clean ass-kicking via Percy and telling them to suck it up."
Amphitrite giggled as she pictured Percy grinning like a fool while standing atop a pile of groaning and beat-up gods.
"Now when Styx went about redoing marriage vows…" Jason trailed off as he shook his head. "Well … at least infidelity is zero in this city, unless of course, the couple in question is into that kind of thing and have terms for it."
"Really!?" Amphitrite asked, shocked that some couples would actually want to sleep with others outside of marriage and allow their significant other to do so. To a goddess who's kept her own fidelity for millennia up until her ex-husband's last straw, it was almost unthinkable.
"Yeah, I mean, Percy, Rhea, and Hestia's marriage is a type of variant to that with their harem," he answered.
That was another thing that Amphitrite needed to get used to. The idea that her step-son and his wives (a little odd but it happened before in Greece so she could accept that easily enough) had a collective harem for their own was not something much seen before. A king that got greedy and made one for whenever the wife was being pissy? Sure, it was all too common back in the days and gods frequently went that route even if the harems in question were usually 'secret' or simply not mentioned in polite company. But for all three royals to make use of it, and rather eagerly from the gossip heard, was something else entirely.
"Well, at least its mutual and their happy with it," she said after a moment with a slight sigh to which Jason nodded.
"Good thing most on the mountain can accept that. Can't wait for the more expansive public to be clued in on it," he muttered and noticing her unasked question, continued on. "Think about it, our king and queens practice polygamy and already taboo before Andy was added. Then you have Nico who is pretty much our version of the devil, openly gay or possibly BI thanks to Styx and will probably get into polygamy soon enough. Just those two cases alone will cause aneurysms for every religious fanatic to the moderate and even get hostility from all manner of opinionated social groups."
"So, a clusterfuck," Amphitrite eloquently put. Even her decorum and preference for proper vocabulary couldn't place a more accurate term for it.
"Essentially," Jason agreed with a sigh making the sea goddess to giggle at his expanse.
The pair resumed their walk with a pleasant silence to them, simply enjoying the atmosphere and passing greetings to those they crossed. Amphitrite couldn't help but get a slight eye twitch whenever she noticed how Jason was the target of coy giggles, blushing smiles, and shy greetings from all manner of females as they walked which led her to switching from merely holding his hand to simply hugging his arm to her chest and discreet glares sent out. At least Jason responded similarly whenever a male of the population eyed her a little too much.
Once the pair arrived up to the first district they made a B-line for the Primordial temple for business and also for Amphitrite to stay. She would be waiting in Jason's office since he had an important meeting with the council and later in the day Triton would arrive to pick her up and show her to her new apartment close to Triton's. Speaking of her son, last she heard he had succeeded in convincing Percy to allow him to fight as well and was currently training with the likes of Atlas and Hercules up in the Palace of the Sky.
Knowing that she couldn't help but worry about him but knew that she could do little to persuade him otherwise so in the end all she could do was support him. At least she could take comfort in the fact that he would be fighting alongside Percy or Jason so his back was well covered. Taking her mind off such thoughts Amphitrite glanced around the entrance hall to the Primordial Temple, lightly waving to a nymph stationed at a welcoming desk even as she flipped through several documents.
"Very efficient around here," she commented getting a snort from Jason.
"Twenty First Century, might as well," he replied before both chuckled as they moved towards the halls leading to the offices.
They quickly passed the doors that Amphitrite guessed lead to Percy, Rhea, and Hestia's offices, judging by the color schemes and designs on each. Percy's obsidian door with a deep blue wolf-head insignia resting on crossed blades, the very same Purgatory and Sin. Rhea's oak door with an emerald lioness over a shield, and Hestia's deep redwood door with ruby fire shaped to look like a dragon. Even as she admired the doors the pair continued on, passing what she believed to be Andromeda's door judging by the lavender color before continuing on but they paused as said door opened, causing both gods to glance back in time to meet two sets of eyes.
One, a familiar icy blue pair in a fair face and bordered by raven locks, identifying the veritable princess of the mountain, Raven, dressed in her 'uniform' of Andromeda's Valkyries as the group was called. A sleeveless, chiton-like dress pulled to a very snug fit along her figure and stopping to barely mid-thigh with slits along both sides with a specially woven, mesh-armor shirt underneath. Knee high leather boots with a slight heel, the tip and heel itself coated in Tartarean steel with a definite point at the heel. Lastly were finely woven sleeves reaching just to the mid-bicep and connected down to the middle finger of each hand along with a brace running from just behind the wrist to a rounded point just jutting out past the elbow. Lastly was the special short sword reminiscent of a tanto given to Raven by Percy strapped to her back, the handle jutting out over her right shoulder. All of it being predominantly black with lavender edges and embroidery, streamlined and elegant for light combat and maneuverability.
However, it was the second individual that caught both gods' attention, mostly at the surprise of seeing her. Amphitrite had heard that the girl's eyes had been almost kaleidoscopes of meshing color but now it was more proper to call them swirling pools of bronze, gold, and honey with a sheen that reminded the sea goddess of rare opals. Her skin was a perfectly tanned bronze, her hair lustrous and bold, with lips and a figure both seemed delectably full and last but not least, the sense of power that the demigoddess turned Valkyrie radiated. Dressed nearly identical to Raven aside from the honeyed edges rather than lavender and two large knives strapped to her hips, Piper Mclean stood tall and proud, her gaze unyielding as she looked to Jason.
Amphitrite also caught the slight tensing of Jason's body but gave him a reassuring hand squeeze which soon made him relax even if the atmosphere had lost its previous levity. Tense silence followed as the two ex-lovers stared off and Amphitrite shared a glance with Raven, the pair nodding as they understood Jason and Piper needed to talk, if however brief. So, with a sigh to draw attention, Raven spoke up.
"Jason, the council has a meeting soon, right?" At his nod, she continued, "And were you showing Amphitrite to your office?" Another nod. "Then how about I show her and you two …" she trailed off as she glanced between said pair.
Both of said pair looked at each other before murmuring, "Fine," in sync.
Nodding, Raven stepped past them and moved up to Amphitrite's side, taking her arm and leading her further down the hall and leaving the two to discuss whatever was needed to be said. Amphitrite didn't resist as, what was essentially her granddaughter, pulled her along to what was most likely Jason's door, all the while the goddess couldn't help but glance back at the pair that had moved farther off to speak. Hopefully everything would turn out okay between them…
Jason was feeling confused. Why? Because he honestly wasn't sure how to feel any more in regards to the woman in front of him. Anger was definitely there, it had been ever since that day and he still held some resentment for how everything turned out. Sadness was there too, after all, the way they broke up was horrible and he had been heartbroken enough at the time to develop a keen distrust of the emotion known as love and even became somewhat biased when associating with love deities. Nervous, mostly because he sometimes doubted himself in regards to what he could say or if even his emotions would get the better of him.
As much as he hated it, he was still the son of Zeus and that came with a tendency to hold grudges do to slighted pride and pride in of itself, paranoia to varying degrees, and a temper with a naturally short fuse depending on the situation, and, thanks to Zeus's very well-known tendencies, lust. Be it lust for power, wealth, knowledge, attention, or carnal, it was still there even if at the moment Jason had already reigned in his own desires for power both personally as well as socially. It was a highly volatile mix regardless of how you looked at it though and because of it he had nearly attacked Piper last time and only thanks to Percy's presence had he not done something that he doubtlessly would have regretted.
Being alone with said demigoddess now was basically putting him on pins and needles, mostly because he questioned his own self-control at times even if talking things out with Amphitrite and simply sparring with Percy to get things out of his system had done wonders. Still, knowing that he had to bite the bullet, he waited to see if Piper would begin after the pair had moved off from the halls to a more private one leading to the back gardens. Having stopped under an arch and with the greens of the garden in sight Jason sighed softly as his attention centered on Piper.
She met his gaze with an intensity that he hadn't seen since being in the middle of battle during the Giant's attack, her entire posture seeming taller and prouder than he could ever recall. Whether this was the result of having taken Andromeda's oath or something else remained to be seen. Still, they stared at each other for several minutes, Jason idly noting that he would be late to the meeting at this rate but he knew the others would understand why. Then, in a nearly musical yet firm tone, she spoke two simple words.
"I'm sorry."
Jason stared at her in slight surprise, wondering if that was all she really had to say as if it was that quick and simple, even going as to blinking owlishly at her.
"What?" he replied eloquently.
"I'm sorry," she repeated to his inquiry.
"… That's it?" he asked, feeling even more confused by the second.
He wasn't really sure what he expected. Maybe a defense of explanation of what she did and why? Perhaps it blame shift that he, admittedly, carries for having failed to communicate properly with her or be more straightforward rather than allow that distance to grow between them?
"What's more could I say?" she asked as she placed a hand on her hip. "Start crying and apologizing for what I did, for even listening to that goddess at the time or letting her play me so easily, or being stupid enough to not even recognize the bastard, or maybe even not having more faith in you?" She shook her head as she sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as she gave him a tired glance. "I already spent years just beating myself and drowning in a pity-party, throwing myself into work as my dad's agent, living the red-carpet life and just drifting by until I was basically stagnant. I might not ever forgive myself for what happened that night but it's pointless to harp on it and nothing can be done to change the past."
At her pause, Jason let his thoughts drift about as he absorbed her words. In the end she was right about that, what more could he expect and want? They had both been used and played in the game of the gods only to then leave rather than give said gods their satisfaction from their ploys. Both of them had suffered for it, going as far as to leave and renounced their very blood, a rather distressing event that left him feeling weaker than he ever had before, and he could only imagine what it had been like for Piper who had no one save her father to support her when she did it. Hell, unlike him she didn't even have another offer for power to replace what she gave up. It was meant to be a permanent sacrifice as far as Piper had known at the time.
Looking again at the ex-daughter of Aphrodite, he could see that, even with two such measly words, it's their intent that they carried. They were honest and solemn and her lack of adding more to try and justify or seek reparation meant even more. She acknowledged that what they once were could never be again but she wasn't striving for it and, that in apologizing, she was doing it just as much for herself as it was for him. It didn't even matter if he accepted it or not in the end, she had done her part and was at peace with that.
Sighing softly to himself, he looked her in the eyes and spoke.
"I accept your apology," he started, pausing for a moment before nodding to himself and continuing, "I'm sorry as well, for my behavior during those years and for reacting the way I did when I saw you again. It was excessive and unjustified. I know that I did my fair share of wrongs leading up to everything and could have done better but like you said, the past is just that, past. Holding a grudge to you even after you went out of your way to say sorry says enough to me … and I hope you can find it in you to forgive me as well…" he finished somewhat sheepishly.
"Apology accepted," she replied as her features softened with a small smile, the pair falling back into silence gain but with a more comfortable atmosphere between them this time around.
However, he then felt a mental probe giving him the impression that the others were still waiting for him back in the throne room. Glancing at Piper again he nodded before turning to leave but paused as he looked back over his shoulder.
"Thank you …" he said softly with his own smile before adding, "… and it's good to see you again, Piper."
"You too … Jason," she replied as he left, her last words being oddly soothing as his steps felt lighter as he left the hall to appear before the very doors leading into the throne room.
He quickly walked in, his size increasing with every step as he made it onto the floor and looked around to see the glances of his fellow council members. Giving a quick nod to the group he made his way to his throne and sat down to begin looking at the floating screens being projected by Phoebe this time around, making them look more like ghostly portals drifting about.
"Well, now that everyone is here," Percy began, shooting a heatless glare at Jason at the slight jab. "An update on the demigod forces and our o so precious Olympians." Taking a pause to glance around he then continued on. "From the looks of it the Argos are set to take off by noon tomorrow and will continue their trek to us though, considering the distance and metaphysical cut-off of the 'Land of the Gods' and the North, they'll probably land just a few miles short but within view of Mount Cartier."
"Think they'll actually try to personally attack?" Styx asked as a diagram of the area surrounding the mountain floated before her.
"Normally I would say no and that they would plan around sending the demigods as fodder to try and feel out our defenses," Nico spoke up as he tapped his chin. "But then again we've aggravated them beyond normal levels and they don't have their calming factors. Athena is here, Hades and Hestia are already known as traitors to them, and they already suspect that Poseidon abandoned them. Zeus is pulled thin trying to reign in Artemis and Hera, Apollo and Hermes have never been the sort to wait and strike in measured form, and Hephaestus generally isn't the type for front-line assaults. So far Bellona is their most leveled goddess and only one isn't enough to control an entire army so it's very possible they several gods will act independently, especially those foaming at the mouths for blood."
"Then you have to consider the newest problems coming in from New Rome," Hestia added as she seemed to stare into the hearth's flame, probably looking through into other hearths in said city. "Aphrodite is MIA now with every kind of theory being thrown around from her deserting to kidnappings and assassinations. She may not have mattered much in the organization of the city or war effort but the fact that as a god, her absence has been noticed and the reasons behind it could lead to their worst fears."
"And that unease is being relayed between the city and the army via IM's meaning that it's another blow to the morale of the army," Rhea surmised before frowning slightly. "But that might not be a good thing." At some of the interested looks, as well as a confused glance from Styx, Rhea elaborated further. "It's true that with less morale they will be easier to defeat or even force into submission rather than killing them but the danger is if they already start turning on the Olympians before that. The gods are angry, scared, and feel cornered making them dangerous to not only themselves but their allies and children. I wouldn't put it past them to strike out and make examples of any demigod wishing to retreat or surrender."
"Several of the older demigods are of a similar opinion," Percy spoke up as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Some are really starting to consider what we said during our attack and many of the younger, less experienced ones don't want to fight. Period. But they are too scared to speak up and the demigods themselves are divided in that sense as well."
"Let me guess, those of roman origin are more aligned to the Olympians?" Thalia asked as she flicked a tiny bolt of lightning between her fingers.
Percy nodded before giving a heavy sigh. "Their mind set is more in line with that of a large, unified unit and especially militaristic, not to mention they watched the execution of a patron god for them. Plenty of them are out for blood, both personally and due to their conditioning meaning …" he trailed off as Jason and his fellow former demigods grimaced at that.
It was one thing thinking about having to fight former allies, it was another coming to grips with it actually happening in the near future. Jason couldn't help but picture one tanned face with intense brown eyes, spear and shield in hand with the cape of a praetor billowing behind her. He could only hope that he wasn't the one to meet her in the battle field.
"Will we be attacking them again before they can settle out of the Argos?" asked Thalia as she waved her hand, portal projections of the nearly repaired ships from overhead appearing.
"No," Percy replied firmly. "Hitting them while disorganized might be beneficial but then again, the actual casualties might rise with the way they suffered friendly fire before. It might be annoying but letting them set up their own camps will let us pick out and separate certain gods easier."
That got some agreeing nods from the group, knowing that their targets were not above hiding behind their own forces or using them as meat shields if a similar attack is carried out. Besides, considering how they can't keep a track of Pontus or Poseidon at the moment, it was preferable to be close to their home. Silence reigned for a few moments before Nico cleared his throat to draw attention. Once he had it, he spoke up.
"What about things on the mortal front?" he asked, looking at Rhea and then shifting to the silent Andromeda, the goddess having focused all her attention onto a tablet in her hands while nervously biting her lip.
Though before he could call to get her attention Phoebe spoke up with a tone of amusement in her voice.
"Well I think things are going well, after all, someone has become a bit of a celebrity in recent days," she said, getting a sheepish chuckle and embarrassed blush from the reigning queen.
Jason snorted in humor himself, remembering the veritable wave of videos, pictures, and news broadcasts that came from Rhea's little visit. Her speaking to the Pope for an hour or two on that balcony with tea and cookies of all things, though only Rhea herself and the Pope are aware of what was discussed as far as the mortals were concerned. However it was the next few hours she spent in the square itself, giving greetings, healing minor things, and even playing with some children at a point was what really started to get all sorts of attention.
It stood to reason that Rhea's visit and undeniable proof of something mystic existing before them was both a great inspiration as well as a source of fear for the masses. Sure, Rhea's calming aura and friendliness won over many but many groups, especially those associated with power derived from the masses or those who have held hereditary power for generations were unnerved. It was no secret that a good chunk of popular vote for some countries was derived from candidates striving for the belief of their religious figure, whatever it may be. Now however, no empty claims could be made with there being actual physical proof of a deity being present.
How many could claim they follow the will of their god(s) in question without the presence and support of, as far as they are aware, Rhea in this case. How many will fear that their claims or any dealings done behind locked rooms will come to light and even suffer true divine retribution? After all, when Percy destroyed that illegal underground club with Ares' capture, plenty of politicians and members of the police force had been present and so met their ends. Then of course there are the groups that see a female deity as an attack on their own beliefs, thus making their reactions the most volatile as of yet.
'Fanatics,' Jason internally groaned as he noticed the others murmuring to themselves what could be the next step after Rhea's visit. Of course they settled down after a few minutes, deciding unofficially to simply keep an open eye and possibly contact yet another global figure or group to slowly adjust the mortals to their continued presence, having already obtained positive interactions with the Canadian and British government as well as leaving a rather amiable visage with the Pope.
That being said, it worried him if other gods or even Pontus himself would try to interact with the mortals as well. They were pretty sure that Pontus would only use them as fodder at best if he did but it was the diversion of their attention that could become problematic.
"Andy!"
Percy's sharp call brought Jason out of his thoughts as he glanced up to see Andy had jumped as well, almost dropping her tablet and looking at her king with almost owlish eyes.
"Y-yes?" she stuttered out at the beginning before clearing her throat and really paying attention.
"What's got you so worked up?" he asked as he glanced down at the tablet now resting on her lap.
Jason noted that it had the gold edges meaning it was noting for a god but curiously, the little heart icon on the side was slowly turning into a deep red inching towards the center of light blue and small cracks were forming on the sides. Just looking at him gave him a sense of worry as he brought his attention back to the now squirming goddess. She glanced around before returning her gaze to Percy.
"I was monitoring Athena …" she said before pausing and biting her lip more before continuing. "… And it's getting bad. If she keeps holding out the way she is, then … she'll break."
That got some frowns and grimaces all around, the others having discussed and known, especially the consequence should Athena fail Andromeda's test. It left a somewhat dry feeling in Jason's mouth, knowing what would happen should Athena break. The mention of which put a damper on the mood quickly, only for Rhea to clear her throat and try to move the conversation along to other avenues, even if at the back of several minds, it was a wonder what would happen with the captured goddess…
A Day Later, Medusa
Her gaze had been on the door for the last hour, almost unblinking and uncaring of some of the looks she got from the rare god that passed by. They didn't matter to her at the moment, only what was happening to the goddess behind that very door. Medusa chewed on her lip slightly as she thought on whether she would go in or not. Could her going in even do anything for the goddess? Would the sight be something that Medusa would be even willing to remember if she did?
All those questions plagued her mind and unsettled her more and more until she took a shaky breath to try and calm herself. 'Being out here doesn't do anything … but maybe …' she stopped the thought even as she looked more intently at the doors and before she registered it, her hand was already on the handle. She turned it and soundlessly opened the door to step in, the sound of pained groans and heavy panting reaching her ears.
She quickly closed the door behind her and turned, a frown in place, as she looked at the sight before her. Athena was still strung up by her wrists, her hair and dress plastered to her with sweat as her chest heaved with every breath, the smell of arousal being almost stifling. The tattoo-like collar around her neck glowing an almost angry red and flashing every few minutes making Athena wince or gasp. Athena had never seemed weaker and out of her element than now … and the sight brought nothing but pain to Medusa. Quietly she walked up to the distressed goddess, trying to keep her face blank even as Athena finally managed to focus her clouded grey eyes on her.
"W-what … do y-you … want?" she rasped out, looking as if it was exhausting to just move her head. "… Come to … mock me?" she asked, managing to just add a slight edge to her voice.
"Why do you think I want to mock you?" she asked gently, having stopped just before the goddess.
"What else … could you w-want?" Athena asked back before arching her back with a wince. "You a-already got … to spill ev-verything on me. What else i-is there until … I become a …"
"Don't!" Medusa cut her off sharply as she stepped closer. "You won't … you'll …"
Medusa trailed off, unsure what to say. The Athena she was currently seeing was almost a stranger to her. The Athena she knew was stubborn and proud but also sure footed, scrappy, thoughtful, the type of woman and person to always try and move forward. This Athena though seemed to only hold onto the last vestiges of her pride through sheer stubbornness, seemingly unable to even see the answer Andy wants from her. And worst of all, to Medusa it seemed like she was giving up. That she couldn't find her answer so she was resigning herself to her fate, a fate that Andromeda wouldn't allow regardless if Athena failed.
But Medusa couldn't tell her that. She couldn't give Athena the answers to end this torture, otherwise the lesson will never be learned but then again, this brought to perspective on what demigods and gods alike had to face on their own. Never before had the term 'fatal flaw' really driven such a sense of worry and fear in Medusa, especially as she watched her former idol suffer thanks to it.
"Why…?" Medusa found herself asking as she looked at the goddess. "… why are you just giving in?"
The goddess looked at her through strained eyes, grimacing slightly as she adjusted herself.
"You already know about Andromeda's offer to stop this… and the consequence if you keep holding out like this so why?"
"I w-won't … become her … tool," Athena tried to bite out as her eyes hardened slightly.
"You're lying to yourself. You know she wouldn't do that to you," Medusa retorted.
"Do I!?" Athena snapped, pulling at her wrists slightly as she leaned forward. "I won't … I won't serve her or anyone!"
"Is that it?" Medusa asked harshly as she stepped to barely an inch away from the goddess. "So the mighty and proud goddess wouldn't bow to anyone and is choosing her own destruction instead? So a glorified suicide just to try and keep your image intact!?" Medusa snarled back, watching as Athena almost reeled at her tone. "So is this all you really are then?" she asked, this time her voice coming out softer, almost disappointed. "Taken out of your element and control, and now you're just going to hang there and wait for the end? I know that you know what will happen if this keeps up, you're too smart to not figure it out. But that's what you want then? For you mind to break to your body, letting you 'die' and leaving behind a body that just looks like you? All for what … pride?"
Silence was her only answer as the goddess lowered her head, her entire body seemingly going slack. Medusa sighed as she looked away for a moment, feeling the stinging of her eyes as she wiped at them but to no success. She then looked back at the goddess, both enraged and sad at the sight.
"Then, if this is really your end, then I at least want some answers," she started, getting Athena to just barely raise her head enough for their eyes to meet. Having her attention, Medusa continued. "So why? All those years ago, why did you curse me, even if you couldn't truly attack Poseidon without causing backlash in Olympus? What drove you to hurt me when all I could have wanted and needed was your comfort and help?"
Athena turned her face away, unable to meet Medusa's gaze but the pseudo-goddess wasn't about to let her get away.
"Answer Athena! Why, after everything I did for you and dedicated my life to you, was I the one to be struck down!?" She snarled as Athena seemed to try and curl in on herself. "Or Arachne! She was your trusted friend and didn't even know about you being a god yet you punish her for something as simple as a weaving contest!? What could have possibly been going through your mind!?" she all but roared as the goddess trembled. "Answer me!"
"I don't know!" Athena suddenly shouted back as she finally looked back at Medusa, tears pouring down her eyes as she looked back at her one time priestess. "I don't know …" she repeated weakly through a muffled sob as Medusa remained silent, wondering if the goddess would add anything to it, however where once silence would have been was nothing more than Athena's choked sobbing.
Medusa knew at this point Athena could barely even keep her mind clear enough to try and find reason or explain something from millennia ago. She could already see the cracks and breaks increasing in her features as all the pressure and stress was finally getting to her.
It was only a matter of time before she broke.
"I … see …" Medusa mumbled out, clenching her fists as her hair obscured her eyes.
She turned around, away from the sobbing goddess.
"Then … I guess this is goodbye," she murmured, barely noticing how Athena's sobs tapered off. "… This is the last time I'll visit before you …" she trailed off with a thick swallow, unwilling to say what will happen.
Shaking her head as tears trailed down her cheeks, she made for the door, her hand reaching for the handle.
"… 'orry …"
However she paused as she barely caught the whisper.
"I-m … so-rry …"
She definitely heard it this time and was almost shocked into disbelief as she slowly turned to see teary grey eyes looking at her as Athena repeated, "I'm … sorry."
Medusa walked towards her, almost in a daze as she neared Athena. Stopping only a few inches away she looked into the eyes of the goddess, really looking and searching. Gone was glint or sheen of defiance and condescension, that hardened gaze used as a façade to keep so many others at a distance and away from finding her own flaws. Instead she found both fear and resignation to her own end but also more. A last determination to finish something, as if looking to right one wrong before it was too late.
"I'm sorry … for everything …" she whispered out, lips trembling and with an air of fragility even as Medusa detect no trace of lies within her voice. "Even if … I don't deserve …"
Athena didn't get the chance to finish her sentence as Medusa reached up to the shackles at her wrists. With a touch they snapped open, dropping the surprised goddess before her legs gave out but Medusa caught her. She fell to her knees with Athena in her arms, the blonde head resting against her shoulder as Medusa slowly wrapped her arms around the goddess making the blonde in question stiffen. She simply held onto the goddess for some time, trying to make sense of her own actions before she gently whispered.
"T-that's all I wanted to hear … I know we can't turn back time or change anything that happened, but's in the past and after days of seeing you like this, I believe you've already suffered enough," she said, one hand absentmindedly running over Athena's back, a twinge of guilt welling in her gut as her fingers traced the scars now marring the goddess' back. "And even in the end, you were always precious to me so I … I forgive you …" she completed, almost sobbing at the end.
By now Athena had been trembling as she held onto Medusa but with her last words, something seemingly snapped. In a torrent Athena's silence turned into agonized cries, babbling sorry and all manner of little words she could get in as she held onto Medusa for dear life. Like a mother tending to her toddler Medusa held her close and just let her get it out of her system. As the goddess cried Medusa saw the tattoo like collar flash one more time before crumbling with a snap, the last of the tension in Athena's body leaving her as the goddess' cries slowly tapered down into soft sobs and sniffles, still mumbling about being sorry in between.
Then, after what felt like hours Athena was finally silent, having cried herself to sleep after having been exhausted and stressed beyond reason while staying awake for nearly a week straight. Looking down at the peaceful face of Athena as the goddess subconsciously snuggled into her bosom, Medusa couldn't help but let a happy tear flow down as she lightly kissed the blonde on her head.
She then heard the small shuffle of clothing and looked back to see Andromeda leaning against the door frame, a sad smile on her face as she looked at the sleeping blonde as well. Shaking her head softly she stepped closer as she waved her hand, a soft looking blanket appearing in her hands before she draped it over Athena.
"Take her back to your apartment and once she's rested, get her showered and fed before bringing her back to speak before the council," Andy lightly ordered as she tucked some of Athena's hair out of her face.
"You would trust her to me?" Medusa asked, slightly surprised since she assumed Andy would take her into custody and have her sworn into an oath of loyalty. Seemingly reading Medusa's mind, Andy clarified.
"I have a feeling she won't try a runner once she wakes up and being near a familiar face will be better for her. As for an oath to keep things secure, I'm pretty sure she'll be open to the general citizen oath while we try to clear the air with her, though I will be keeping an eye on her for the time being."
Medusa nodded at the explanation before slowly standing, holding Athena in a princess carry before looking to Andromeda.
"Thank you for giving her a chance," she said earnestly though Andy just waved it off.
"I had a feeling she's one of the few we could still have hope for. Just take care of her for now," Andy replied before Medusa nodded, slowly dissolving into shadows, and precious cargo in toe…
Evening, Annabeth
The blonde goddess panted lightly as her running slowed to a light jog, her sword at the ready to her side. She'd been running none stop for over 24 hours now, making a steady way north and nearing the veritable beacon of divine power coming further ahead. She knew that was her destination, the home of the Primordials … and the location of her mother. Still, she could feel herself getting closer to the metaphysical border of what was known as the Land of the Gods and would soon start to feel her own power waning.
Thankfully she had been constantly training even after achieving godhood, making her one of the more powerful goddesses of Olympus, only coming short of key warriors like her mother, Artemis, Bellona, and if old books were accurate, Hestia once upon a time. That being said, once truly passed the borders her ability to recover power would tapper off so she would have to be efficient and limit the use of divine abilities. Luckily with her large stores of power and carrying a hearty amount of nectar and ambrosia should keep her functioning at a godly level long enough to reach the mountain.
Sighing to herself she finally came to a stop, able to hear the water running of a river a slight distance away, lightly wiping away the sweat trailing her brow as she glanced around to see if she had any form of company. Oddly enough she had several run in with monsters, mostly some hellhounds, a few dracaena, and even two frost giants which was especially odd considering it was barely even Fall yet. Shaking her head at the oddity of it, she reached for her pack to get a drink before halting, getting a prickling sensation at the back of her head and tipping her off that she was being watched.
Hearing a twig snap, she crouched lower, sword at the ready as she slowly scanned around her. Her heart slowly sped up as adrenaline started to course through her veins. All seemed silent for a moment and then, all Hades broke loose. With a booming roar nearly a dozen 10 foot cyclops, some sporting armor and banners of Poseidon leapt out from the trees and some covered in water having obviously come from the river.
"So he's a traitor too, figures," Annabeth grumbled as she quickly looked around the cyclops, waiting for them to attack.
She didn't need long as the first two rushed her, their height nearly doubling hers as both swung their clubs down together, intent on crushing the minor goddess quickly. However, if they thought they had easy prey, then they had another thing coming. With practiced grace Annabeth sidestepped the dual attack before twisting on her heel while bringing her sword up in an arc. One of the cyclops screamed as his hand was severed at the wrist, his partner in attack staring dumbly for all of two seconds as sludge like blood squirted out.
Two seconds too slow.
In that time Annabeth leapt like a gazelle, sword flashing before it cleaved through the second cyclops along the eye, making the monster burst into dust before so much as uttering a scream. Not losing any momentum Annabeth barely touched down on the ground before taking a two handed grip and swinging her sword like trying to hit a homerun, slicing through the first cyclops gut, armor and all, in two. As the monster gurgled something intangible and burst into dust, the goddess turned her gaze on the remaining nine monsters, her eyes hardening as she leveled both the pressure of her power and killing intent on them.
Several started to shake before some got the nerve to attack and the goddess rushed forward to meet them. Dropping to her knees and sliding along as one cyclops swung his sword, she simply raised hers as she passed between his legs. Ignoring the pained scream/squeal before another burst of dust, she jumped up, slammed a foot squarely into the chest of the next cyclops. The force of the blow launched the giant off his feet and into two cyclops behind him before she was forced to roll to the side, narrowly avoiding being crushed under an obscenely large mace.
However another cyclops had managed to get behind her and she looked up with the shout to see another sword coming down on her. Raising her own, she grunted as she blocked the blow even as the ground beneath her feet cracked from the pressure. Growling in annoyance, she pushed back and before the cyclops could try to swing again she spun around and stabbed her sword into the cyclops gut. Though before she could pull her sword back out another one tried to tackle her off all things, managing to actually land the blow while knocking some of the air out of her. Gritting her teeth at feeling the impact of monstrous muscle and hard earth beneath her, Annabeth quickly shifted her arms to lock around the cyclop's neck as it held onto her waist.
Feeling a secure hold she scoffed before arching back, squeezing, and adding a slight twist all at the same time. A satisfying crunch answered her as she snapped the monster's neck before it burst into fine gold dust, leaving her coated in the stuff. Standing up and spitting out a glob of it, she quickly counted the remaining opponents, six cyclops looking back at her while growling and snarling in anger at having seen their brethren taken out so easily.
She noticed however that her sword was closer to them than her making her sigh in annoyance, however, using the pause in combat, she decided to try and get some information from them.
"You, with the armor bearing Poseidon's coat of arms," she started, pointing to one of the largest and best armed of the cyclops. "Why are you attacking me? Aren't you a member of Poseidon's army? You do realize you're attacking a goddess of Olympus, correct?"
The behemoth scoffed before answering in a gruff voice, even if his speech was far better than a run of the mill cyclops. "Goddess of Olympus," he spat with clear distaste. "King is no longer a fool or lapdog, knows that the end of Olympus is near. Training to get stronger, much stronger. For now, under orders of another, weakening Olympus where we can," he said as he leveled a larger, clearly better made sword at Annabeth.
"Hard to believe someone would send such a large party just for little old me," she retorted even as she tried to plan a way to get her weapon back.
She could summon one to herself but that would act like a beacon to other deities and waste her energy, not to mention aside from her own symbol of power, anything summoned would probably be sub-par to the sword in the clearly experienced cyclop's hands. Also, there was the fact that her own symbol of power, while a weapon and dangerous in its own right, was something more suited to compliment other weapons or at a stretch, one on one combat. Here she doubted the other cyclops, probably the more experienced of the bunch, would try to pile on her in order to overwhelm her.
Sadly it didn't seem that they were willing to wait for her to think up a scheme as two charged again, both with swords this time around forcing her to backpedal. They worked in unison with stabs and occasional swings as she wove in and out of the attacks, her eyes taking in all movement. Suddenly, spotting a slight pause in attack Annabeth lunged forward, almost feeling the graze of one sword having stabbed where her head used to be.
Having closed in she managed to grab the wrist of one cyclops just as the second recovered after the miss and turned to her, a stab already in motion. However she reacted in tandem and pulled the cyclops she had by his arm right into the path of his partner's sword. Two cries, one of pain, the other of surprise met her ears as the cyclops burst after being impaled on his comrade's sword. Taking advantage of the shock Annabeth leapt up and over the cyclops, her hands grabbing onto his head all the while.
Landing squarely on the cyclop's shoulder's she grunted as she pulled up … violently. Another loud snap rung throughout the forest as the cyclops went limp and feel to his knees before slumping over with a slight twitch before bursting into dust. Annabeth took a quick breath as she turned her attention to the remaining cyclops before muttering, "Four to go."
The lead cyclops grunted as he held his sword. "You good." He then surged forward at a speed she didn't even know cyclops could move and swung. Only her reflexes and instincts trained through hours of blood, sweat, and tears saved her from being cleaved apart but she still suffer a gash to her side just above the hip on her left making her grimace. "But not unbeatable."
Growling in annoyance she leapt back to gain some breathing room as she eyed the clearly more dangerous commanding cyclops. She desperately wanted to conserve energy, as well as stay off the Olympian senses, otherwise her running off with only a few orders to the army would have been pointless. Still, it seemed she would have to get far more serious, at least to the point of channeling some of her power to go above her barest minimums of power use in order to kill the commander. However, when in a bad situation, she always had one fall back. Get the opponent talking while you plan.
"Tell me, you said you're following someone else's orders with Poseidon gone for training." Seeing the slight nod, she continued as she slowly inched around the commander. "Then what about Tyson, the Commander General of the Cyclops Army?"
"Commander doesn't like other leader but obeys for now. Leader tell him that Olympian make him lose brother," the commander answered making Annabeth frown.
'So Tyson isn't completely informed. I wonder if there is any way to reach him?' she wondered as she tried to move closer to her sword that laid behind three other cyclops. However, before she could get another word in, a new voice spoke up.
"I've been wondering about Tyson for a while now. Sad to hear that he's being lied to but hopefully I can get ahold of him soon."
"Wha-"
Annabeth didn't get to finish her statement as she and the cyclops commander both turned to the other three cyclops in time to see a blur of black pass through them. The three didn't even get to scream as they burst into dust, letting Annabeth see someone she's both hoped and dreaded to meet.
Lazily sheathing his black katana, hood pulled back to clearly show his face, and standing over the disposed of monsters was Percy. Only now did she truly register his presence, quite possible thanks to him no longer cloaking himself, and the sheer pressure of it already made her knees weak. She wasn't the only one suffering under it as the cyclops was visibly shaking as those eyes of writhing black fire and ice pinned him to the spot.
Then, before she could even blink, he moved. One moment he stood some meters away, the next he was already barely inches away from the mammoth of a cyclops, however with his back turned to the monster. She could hear the smooth sound of the black katana being re-sheathed at an agonizingly slow pace, seemingly carrying on forever until…
Click.
At the sound, while the commanding cyclops looked on in confusion, several black lines appeared along his body. Across his face, torso, neck, and hips. The noise from flesh rubbing and sliding nearly made Annabeth wretch as the cyclops slowly feel apart, only to burst into dust before he could even hit the ground.
Now all that there was, was silence. Intense grey eyes looked to swirling black, two legends in their own rights, trained and tested warriors, scorned lovers separated at the mechanisms of the gods, and now, enemies of an all new war. At this moment Annabeth couldn't help wonder if her choice to head north had been all that smart, feeling like a blonde bunny being stared down by the most dangerous wolf around…
Hope everyone enjoyed this loooooong overdue chapter. Finally some breakthroughs with key figures and time to move forward to others! comments, thoughts, ideas, let me hear them all! A pleasure, Jbubu