This chapter: Nico gets transformed- but I'm afraid there's a time skip. A trial is set to deal with the traitors. The demigods, magicians, and Avengers are finally catching up to the game.
Levo.Micheal: Well, there are mysteries that would take up an entire trilogy- which is why I may not be able to do it all at once. Even in Marvel Cinematic showing post-credits scenes of Thanos with the Infinity Stones and all. So I'll just sum it up for you or anyone else who wants it- I'm not giving you too many explanations. That would take the fun out (Haha!)! Just keep reading and read my little summary/explanations at the bottom
To sid.kush32: Thank you. I'm a uni student- think late teens, (very early) early twenties! Sorry, can't give too much details away! And thank you!
The arrow hit Nico and jabbed into his skin and muscle easily, never mind the blood. Nico was in shock. He could feel the thick liquid draining- being sucked out of the tube- and into muscle, vein, artery and blood which appeared to be sucking it in- as if hungrily feeding from it- though it was worse than a vaccine.
Almost immediately, he felt (though he didn't see) the rush- it forced- charging its way, even directly into the blood stream's direction and smashing forcefully into cells, some of the fluid grabbing onto the individual cells and beginning to eat their way into the nuclei, bursting open and flooding- eating its way out to consume the entire cells. It charged through, sticking- even papering the veins and arteries, while some gnawed their way, bursting out of veins and arteries, savagely- like werewolves- clawing their way out and hunting down every white blood cell, every organ, every bone- and charging their way, digging into them, and giving them the same treatment, spreading and flooding his entire body, whilst the ones left behind began to forcefully close and stitch up the damage. It spread everywhere. Even onto his brain. More savage than virus or bacteria- it was faster for one thing.
Nico shouted and screamed. Luke threw a dagger at the man and killed him. He flopped on the ground in a seizure, thrashing and shrieking in forceful agony.
"Nico!" Aglaia screamed. She grabbed his upper arms and shoulders pulling him to her, holding him close. "Nico," she cried. "Listen to me- Nico!"
But Nico couldn't listen. Aglaia heard that not every demigod could survive this- which was why the Agóna made a point to torture and impose intense physical and mental pain to their captives and volunteers- not just out of sadism- but to make it easier for them to endure and survive. A dead demigod was no use.
Nico howled. He thrashed more. Aglaia was starting to pin him down and the two other guys were holding down as well. "We need to get out of here- no- not together!" She said forcefully. When they started to protest, Aglaia gave them a look that clearly stated there was no time. "Who knows what they'll do if they recognise you both! Now go- hide!" Luke gave her a desperate look, but Alabaster- seeing sense- tugged his sleeve and off they went. Aglaia grabbed charm from her bracelet and squeezed it hard. It was a homing beacon for demigods. She prayed that Nico would survive- whatever it took.
Thankfully he would.
At their new- temporary- base, Leo jumped. "Guys! Aglaia and Nico!" He shouted, pointing to the computer screen in front of him. Nyssa, Jake Mason and some others ran to where he was, and Nyssa nodded. "We'll send a team!"
And they rushed off to tell the news.
A short while later...
Percy stared.
There were a large number of demigods. Romans and Greeks alike stared at the guys in front.
The Egyptian Magicians were there as well- stunned. Only the Avengers were there- no other S.H.I.E.L.D personnel.
Rebecca Buchanan and a number of others- done not through brute force but trickery, mastery, even magic and mechanics- sat bound in chains of Imperial Gold, Celestial Bronze and other metals. Magic was there as well- courtesy of the Egyptians and children of Hecate. Protective domes that prevented any one of them from using any means of escape.
Magnus frowned. "Blitz, what's going on?"
"I dunno, kid." Blitzen grunted. Hearth signed, Chained- prisoners- captured. Magnus' eyes widened. He moved and made his way towards the front followed closely by Blitzen and Hearthstone.
"Hey, what's going on?"
"Oh good, Magnus you're here," Annabeth said simply. "These guys are traitors," the big girl that reminded him of Gunilla- except she had brown hair and wore Greek combat armour- being the daughter of the war god- Clarisse, he remembered- jabbed her spear in their direction. The prisoners strained against their bonds, but it was useless.
"They're our prisoners now," Clarisse said harshly.
"I don't doubt that the least," Magnus said. He looked at them. They were a group of boys and girls, apparently from both camps, as some of them, he spotted, were sporting SPQR tattoos which Roman soldiers in movies wore- and these demigods wore too. Annabeth once told him that it stood for The Senate and the People of Rome- in Latin. Magnus didn't speak Latin. But it seemed a big commitment to tattoo your nation and your allegiance on your arm.
A commitment these people were clearly not ready for- unless, they were framed or something.
Magnus blinked.
"They're…"
"The ones who sold us out," snarled the magical demigoddess- the daughter of the witch goddess- what was her name again- Heca- something?
"Calm down," Percy said slowly. "As their crime extends to both camps, the senate and the council will decide their fate, along with Chiron- if they're guilty." He didn't like leaving things to the gods- all they seemed to do was blow things up, or throw them into Tartarus- or both.
"They're guilty," Eleana from the Apollo Cabin said bluntly.
"You won't hand us to the Olympians yourself?" A girl sneered. She had long, straight, dark brown hair.
Percy and Annabeth looked at her coolly. "As my sister said," Percy began. "The Olympians can take care of themselves. It's us you've betrayed- your own siblings among them whom you sold to be brutally tortured, experimented and murdered without their consent.
Everyone murmured in assent and glared daggers at the kids bound. Most of them seemed to shrink. The rest fought hard to keep their chins up but couldn't control their quivering.
"Is the Senate present?" Percy Jackson asked in a loud voice.
Murmurs and shouts of agreement penetrated the air. Magnus watched wide-eyed, as kids in togas- not bedsheets, like some crazy drunk's toga parties (which he had seen way to often) but actual togas, pristine, well-kept and pressed- appeared. They wore t-shirts underneath.
"Whoa," Blitz muttered. "I guess some things don't change after all."
Hearth signed, Apparently not.
Samirah Al-Abbas appeared, her eyes wide.
"Then take your seats," Percy Jackson announced formally. Magnus noticed something on his arm. His eyes went wide. Percy had a tattoo like them? He thought Percy was a Greek!
"Is the Council present?" Percy asked. There were more murmurs. "And the jury?"
"Is this a trial?" Magnus whispered.
"Yup," Blitzen said, popping the p. "Looks like it." Hearthstone nodded sagely.
"The Roman Senate and the Greek Council will decide their fates," Eleana, daughter of Apollo, announced.
Nearby Sadie Kane kicked a small pin with her foot. "Would have never guessed it," she muttered.
"What if they're not all guilty?" Magnus frowned.
"Present the evidence." A girl in a purple Roman toga embroidered with gold announced. "That's Reyna," Eleana said. "The other Praetor."
Carter frowned. "Like Roman Senate?"
Sadie Kane sighed. "Yes, brother-dear. I thought the nice girl mentioned as such." Carter flushed. "It's not my fault- I was just checking!"
"So, if this is a trial, where are the witnesses?" Natasha Romanoff came up to them, with Steve Rogers and Banner following closely behind, and Tony Stark just behind them, one eyebrow raised.
"This is quite the party," he muttered.
"Take some seats and keep out of the way," Eleana warned. "This is a trial- and a sentencing. This is also a political matter."
"Politics?" Tony's face scrunched up in displeasure. "Thought we'd seen the last of those personally, for now, with the end of Mr. Oh-so-Big-an-A**hole." He announced, looking thoughtful.
"You thought wrong." Another boy appeared. "This is Greek and Roman demigod politics. We have our own cities, our own laws and states. And in this matter, it crosses both."
Thor appeared out of nowhere. He frowned. "Shouldn't you ask your gods to come first?" He shook his head, looking like he'd just recovered from a migraine. Apparently he'd been losing control- again.
"If we ask for the Olympians to come, be prepared to wait for a very long time," Eleana murmured. Her neat, long fingers- those of a musician's and an archer's- twiddled nervously, though other than that she appeared calm. "The threat needs to be handled now."
"And besides," the boy added thoughtfully, stepping closer. "If they do get involved the likely chances is that these guys will get blasted with lightning and fire, or thrown in Tartarus- or both," he stated. "The punishment has to fit the crime." They both watched as Percy and Reyna camp leaders- of both in Percy's case- strode forwards on a small podium- which had been built for announcements- and took their seats. The Senate- sat on hastily erected Senate seats, like the ones in stadiums and the Senate building in New Rome. The cabin councillors- head of the cabins- sat neatly and calmly in the front row, on their own chairs.
But this was a very large hall. The Senate and Councillors were at the other end. The jury- specially chosen Egyptian magicians- and apparently, Sam was asked to join, much to her bewilderment- sat closer on chairs, to the left side.
The condemned were in the centre- still bound, still inside their domes.
"The Speaker of the House," Reyna announced. Someone came forwards. He was a flushed-looking guy- a demigod, obviously. He cleared his throat. "Hm-hm."
"Well, this should be interesting," Steve sighed. Tony and Banner agreed. Banner looked nervous. "You're not really gonna… You know… Try and sentence them are you?" He asked incredulously. These guys were kids.
Eleana and her brother- Austin Lake- stared at him as if he questioned their intelligence. "They are accused- and some have confessed of committing crimes against our city-states." The Avengers turned their stares towards Eleana.
"So this is an actual criminal trial?" Clint spluttered, his eyes bugging. Someone snorted. "Did you expect anything less? Our city-states, our people, our laws."
Natasha blinked. "But… You guys are in Greek territory now, surely you should-" They looked sternly at her, as if she was the kid.
"People in foreign countries sometimes extradite criminals, to be tried in the countries they are accused of committing the crime," a boy with grey eyes reminded them. "This is no different. It just so happens we are in exile, because we are at war. The Senate and the Council still has governing authority despite moving to a base overseas, over its citizens. And these are citizens." He nodded towards the criminals.
Tony barely managed to swallow through a dry throat. "You're going to try them?" He asked, though it sounded like a squeak. "What are you going to do with them?"
"We don't crucify, or do anything gruesome to these kids, if that's what you're asking," the grey-eyed boy said sternly. "The Greeks have never abided by such things. Not even the bloodthirsty Spartans. As for the Romans… They've moved on. The threat must be dealt here and now. Especially as the threat is against us. The crime- betrayal, murder, slavery, torture and high treason- is against us- the Olympians, they were aiming for, but the greater part of their crime is against us. We have this right."
"But…" Steve swallowed. "What are you going to do if they are guilty?"
"First we'll make sure that none of them are guilty," Eleana pointed out. "We have evidence- eyewitnesses. Confessions. And we have magic users and some children of Apollo who can determine if they're telling the truth. And Reyna's dogs." She added, nodding to the silver and gold hounds sitting at the foot of the podium. "And we have people who can manipulate the Mist and see if any memories have been altered or stolen in any way."
Wow, Tony thought. These kids are good. Still, it didn't make him feel any easier, that these kids were holding a full-on criminal trial for kids no less. And they weren't pretending or play-acting.
"First things first," the grey-eyed boy muttered.
"Present the charges," the boy announced.
Two people moved forwards. They were burly members of the Ares cabin. They flanked members of the Apollo Cabin- including Kayla Knowles- who carried trays of the serum. And the cell phones.
Kayla placed them on a table, which sprung out of a small box by itself. Tony's brows rose but he said nothing.
"The serum." She began. She began describing the serum- and the ingredients. Aglaia had made contact with them apparently. She and Nico had survived. She told them what the ingredients were filled with.
Everyone froze and whispered amongst themselves. Tony felt his face drain of blood. The others stood by him in horror and shock.
"Do you have proof of these claims?" Reyna announced.
"I do." Kayla answered. She went over to a crystal prism and turned it around. Her brother Austin on the other side of the room, used a mirror to reflect light from the ceiling above, onto the crystal. Rainbows burst, flashing. Kayla tossed a drachma in.
"O, Iris goddess of the Rainbow," she called out. "Show us Aglaia, Princess of Greece, and Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades.
In front of the astonished eyes of the Avengers, and Magnus, as well as the impressed nods by the Egyptians and Hearthstone, the rainbow shimmered and soon an image of Aglaia appeared. It looked as if they were viewing her with sparkly golden glasses.
Aglaia stood up. Nico Di Angelo was right next to her. They sprang up.
"Princess Aglaia," the speaker said formally. "The serum presented here on this tray," he gestured to the tray on the table. "You mentioned it came at the cost of your family's lives?"
Aglaia swallowed her face registered emotion- pain. Grief. Rage. She shuddered, trying to regain her composure. Nico's hand reached out. Percy looked pained. He wasn't the only one.
"Yes," she answered. "The serum contained compositions and fluids and tissue- including blood and organ tissue- from my dead relatives." Everybody gasped. Natasha felt herself going pale, and even Steve felt sick.
"Your Royal Highness, may we ask why?" The speaker asked.
She swallowed, then glared in rage- but in a cold way. "My ancestor was Alexander the Great," she replied. "Everybody knew that. During his lifetime he claimed to be the son of Zeus. However, he also claimed- since his 'father' Philippos- or Philip's- line intermarried through royal marriages a few times with his mother's- that through that family, he was descended from Perseus, Argeus and Heracles- the sons of Zeus." Shocked murmurs filled the air. "And through his mother's line alone, Achilles, son of Thetis." More whispers. "And during my time at camp, I found out that a few other relatives, including my great-grandmother- were demigods. She was a daughter of Aphrodite." More shocked whispers.
The speaker nodded seriously. "Can anyone attest to that?"
"Chiron," Aglaia said without hesitation. "Trainer of Heroes and teacher at Camp Half-Blood." Everyone nodded.
"There is more," the speaker sounded strangely regretful. He was giving Aglaia pitying looks. "You said that your cousins were demigods?"
Aglaia swallowed. "My uncle, Prince Leandros' daughter. A child of Aphrodite. My mother's cousin- her children were Hermes'. Apparently these were the ones she knew of." Nico clutched her hand, and held it tight.
Gasps. Mostly of horror. Tony felt his dread mounting. Magnus appeared to be sick.
"Is your mother willing to give her sworn testimony, as you did, prior to this trial?" Aglaia nodded tightly. "I have contacted her. She is." The speaker nodded.
"Present the witness, Princess Sereneia of Greece," Reyna announced. Kayla nodded. She picked up another crystal prism and contacted Princess Sereneia.
After swearing by the Styx, Sereneia confirmed this was the truth. She also told things she never told Aglaia. What had happened to the children's bodies. The whispers grew into agitated hissing and low cursing.
"Silence." Percy warned them.
They quieted down at once.
"Chiron the Centaur is on Mount Olympus," Reyna announced. "Which has closed itself off." The Avengers frowned. The Egyptians, Magnus and his friends looked puzzled. "But prior to this trial, he has given his sworn testimony."
The Speaker unfurled a scroll. He announced Chiron's testimony- though the Centaur didn't know there was going to be a criminal trial- by the Styx.
"So can anyone confirm that this serum was made by the organisation known as the Nekrikí Agóna?" Reyna asked.
"Alexander McDermott, son of Zeus." Kayla announced. "Alexander McDermott, son of Zeus, deputy head of Cabin One, please, come forth." The Speaker said in ringing tones.
Alex McDermott strode forwards, coldly as usual. The Ares guards stood aside to let him through.
He moved with ease, and stood in front of the Speaker. He gave his sworn oath, by the Styx.
"Yes," he said, in the witness stand, made by the children of Vulcan. "I can confirm it."
"Can you tell us about your personal experiences?" The Speaker asked hesitantly.
Alex's jaw tightened. But he told his story.
"I ran away from home as a young boy in Ireland." He said. "I had an abusive mother, who had many abusive boyfriends. They hated the sight of me, and the fact that I breathed. My school teachers hated me for my ADHD and Dyslexia. Most of them were mortal. But some were monsters. The children hated me as well, for my pathetic background. No one noticed- or cared- about any abuse. I ran away." Everyone looked stunned and astonished by his blunt words. They also couldn't ever imagine him as pathetic.
"Whereupon you were found by the Nekrikí Agóna?" The Speaker asked.
Alex's jaw clenched. "Yes. They found me. I didn't know how." That was only part of the truth. "Or rather- HYDRA did," he corrected himself. "HYDRA was sent to pick me up- they knew who and what I was- even before I knew it." He added.
"And they trafficked you?" The Speaker asked. "To Sokovia?"
"Yes," he answered. "To the alps. Not Novi Grad."
"What happened then?"
They beat me," Alex said bluntly. "They insulted me. I was used to that, so I learned to cope. Even so, with what I received at my mother's home, that was not easy. They said it would make it easy for me to cope, later on. But they refused to say what."
"And what else do you remember?"
"They made me fight- or they beat me up. Sometimes for the fun of it. Then I was strapped down to a gurney, once and they wheeled me away. The doctor- or officer there- told me that I was going for some sort of procedure. That was the last thing I remembered."
"And then?" The Speaker pressed.
"The next thing I remember was not pleasant," Alex said dryly. "I was sick. They refused to give me anything to help, saying that my body just needed to adjust to the changes."
"At that time did you understand what they were talking about?" The Speaker asked. "No." Alex replied.
The Speaker nodded. "Will you allow a blood sample to be taken from you?" Alex nodded, and rolled up his sleeve. Someone came in. Not any medic he recognised, with a syringe and a tube in hand.
After a while it was confirmed: Alex had been injected.
Aglaia was contacted. She swore- along with Nico- by the Styx- that they questioned a captive, just before he died- not by their hands- that the serum was used to create a new super-race. But first by means they had yet to determine- they had to wipe out the human race.
The mood became grimmer by the minute. Tony grimaced. He didn't like where this was going.
The cell phones were presented as evidence- with oaths sworn that they were not tampered with- and a child of Hephaestus and Vulcan examining each of them. Then some of the captives were questioned. When they were asked to give their sworn oath to tell the truth, most of them refused. A few were gloating. The mood turned against them. The children of Hecate had to strengthen the shields.
Then Mizuki came out- along with others- swearing by the Styx- again- and claiming that the gloating demigods were telling the truth. The Hecate Cabin members started to chant magic. Next thing people know, they were witnessing their memories. The children of Hypnos and Morpheus all came and testified, swearing again, that none of them had their memories altered or removed in any way. Austin had to slap Clovis several times to keep him from falling asleep, but they all saw clearly. There were no false memories.
"The jury will now deliberate." Percy announced. Lou Ellen nodded, and put a dome of silence, while the jury- including the Kanes and Samirah- who were chosen because they were unlikely to have links to the victims or accused- and were therefore, likely to be unbiased- talked amongst themselves.
Then after a few minutes- they turned around and Sam nodded to the Hecate Cabin. They let down the barriers.
"How do you find them defendants?" Percy asked them. "For slavery?
"Guilty." "Guilty." "Guilty as… Errr. Tartarus, you guys say?" "Guilty. "Definitely guilty."
Treason, murder and torture followed. It was the same. Killing your own kin. Same.
Percy nodded. His face looked drawn and pale. Aglaia and Nico's image had disappeared, Nico placing his arms around Aglaia as they had vanished
"So now it's time for the sentencing," Percy announced. "To the jury, thank you." Reyna added.
They nodded and moved away.
"Now the Senate of New Rome and the Council of New Athens will decide your fates." Reyna declared. Percy nodded, jerkily, standing to move with them. All the evidence was cleared.
"What shall we do with them?" Piper whispered.
"These guys are dangerous," Clarisse said harshly.
Dakota nodded vigorously. "I can't agree more."
"They need to be eliminated."
"We are not going to kill them!" Percy hissed.
"They wouldn't spare us," Clarisse argued. "They didn't even spare their own siblings!"
And so it went on. Percy looked down. They couldn't just banish them. "They're too dangerous to be let out of our sight," Nico announced, striding in.
Percy raised an eyebrow. "When did you get here?"
"Just now," Nico said sarcastically. "Your sister doesn't want to come in person," he explained. "I couldn't leave her." Percy nodded, his face pained.
He looked at the Avengers. Maybe they could hand this over to them? But no, this could expose them. They had already gone through a great deal of trouble to stay anonymous.
Then he stopped and started. He stared at Steve Rogers. Said captain raised his eyebrow. Percy's eyes widened.
"Guys," he said. "I think I have an idea.
"We can't let them go," he said. "But we can't kill them either." Clarisse frowned. "But let's compromise."
"They could break out of prison," Nico reminded.
"No." Percy stated. "Not this prison." He winced. "I don't like the sound of this, but it's better than the alternative."
Jason stared. "What?"
Percy took a deep breath and proposed his plan.
"Whoa-" Jason took a step back. "Are you serious?"
Clarisse stared at him. "Seriously, Jackson?"
Lou Ellen nodded slowly. "It could work. "We'll need extra strength and help from the Hypnos and Morpheus Cabin. But it could work."
"Not to mention, me," Nico put in. "I won't kill them," he added hastily, seeing their faces. "But I could put them in a sleep so deep- like what I experienced once-" he grimaced. "And I could lower their vital signs. So they wouldn't need much of anything."
Annabeth's eyes widened. "Besides," she said. "That's what Captain America went through. And they have the serum. It won't kill them.
Percy nodded. "Just my plan."
They turned around. "We have decided." Reyna announced.
"Defendants," Percy shouted. "For your crimes of High Treason, murder, betrayal and murder to kin, endangering your city-states, slave-trafficking, torture… et cetera, et cetera," he rolled his eyes slightly. "The Senate and the Council of New Rome and New Athens sentence you to… Being frozen."
The defendants jumped. "WHAT?!" Rebecca Buchanan spluttered.
"Hypnos Cabin," Percy ordered. "Morpheus. Hecate. And err…" He looked down at a magician kid who grinned. "Can you help as well? I saw you gave a pretty mean sledge ride to some guys?"
Felix grinned. "And Nico Di Angelo," Percy stated. Nico nodded.
They surrounded the bound prisoners. They ate and drank Nectar and Ambrosia.
Rebecca strained against her chains. "You can't do this," she shrieked. Nico held out his hands and began to chant. "You can't-"
She was cut off, unfortunately, as a thick, misty fog rose and swirled around her feet and the others.
The other prisoners thrashed, they sounded desperate. Some pleaded for mercy. Others roared and shrieked threats.
Too late. The mist rose, enveloping them, until they couldn't see the whole of them at all. Hazel moved her hand and the chains pushed the chairs aside, so they would fall and lie on the floor. The chains tightened. They held.
And the mist thickened further.
The Avengers watched in fascinated horror as the fog thickened and solidified, turning- somewhat- clear.
To reveal several sarcophagi of ice. Inside of which were figures that appeared to be sleeping, except they were chained and encased in ice.
It was over.
"No one must set them free," Percy warned. "No matter how hard they try."
"For how long?" Hazel frowned.
"Several decades to a hundred years," Nico muttered. No one was sure if he was serious or anything. Strangely, Nico didn't appear to be tired at all, as compared to the others.
The Avengers watched, many had their mouths hanging open.
"Frozen?" Tony gaped.
"At least they don't age, though demigods do age slower, apparently," Annabeth frowned. "We live longer than regular humans- if we survive."
Steve shook his head, aghast. "And how did you-" his eyes bugged. "Wait. You looked at me," he said to Percy, his eyes widening in horror.
Percy winced. "Yeah. I did."
Steve took an involuntary step back. "What? What the heck, man?" He gasped. "That wasn't-"
"It was necessary," Reyna said sternly. "The other two alternatives were banishment, imprisonment or death. And they were too dangerous to be exiled without us knowing where they were going- or who was going to come into close contact with them. Imprisonment- there's the risk that someone might break them free. So the other option was death. And well…" Reyna sighed. She and Percy exchanged uneasy glances. "Some nations might find it easier than we do."
Natasha's eyebrow arched. "So you guys aren't like the Ancient Romans?"
Percy snorted. "The Ancient Romans and Greeks never got this fair a trial."
"Nor something as accurate and efficient as the evidence, the oaths sworn by witnesses and mind-reading," Annabeth pointed out.
"Still," Tony found himself protesting. "Frozen?"
"It won't kill them," Annabeth insisted. "You know it won't kill them. Not when they were injected with the serum." Like you, but she didn't need to say that to Captain America.
Steve blinked and shook his head. "If that's the case, how did you know?" He asked sceptically.
"We checked, remember," Will Solace stated. "We took blood samples."
"We did several tests," Mizuki pointed out.
Natasha shook her head. "Still- how can you guys have the authority and jurisdiction to do this?" She protested.
Nico snorted. "We are citizens of New Rome and New Athens. You didn't see the city-states but they're hidden. Our city-states, our authority, our laws. We are independent city-states, with our own laws and governments."
"But you're in Greece," Natasha argued.
"And we are currently at war with the ones who did this," Reyna said firmly. "We have the right to court-martial anyone- or at least in our own way. Just as American soldiers in Iraq War, or during World War Two in Europe, had the right to charge and execute their laws and authority anywhere outside of their borders- amongst their troops- which we did."
Natasha shook her head. Steve looked helplessly at them. So did Bruce. Tony was still gaping like a fish. They couldn't deny this point of argument. But still- the fact that these people were kids- the ones who accused and tried, and the prisoners…
"They committed treason," another girl explained sternly. "Betrayal. Slave-trafficking. Murder. Torture. The list of crimes were very serious indeed."
"Not to mention, killing or causing the deaths- on purpose- of your own kin," Annabeth pointed out. "That's serious taboo in the Greek world."
"They're enemies of the state of Rome too, just like Nero was." A Roman demigoddess pointed out.
"Besides," someone stated. "We're not taking their lives away- or any years of their lives. In fact, they'll be unconscious. And frozen. So they'll still be the same age when they get released as they are now."
"And when they do get released?" Natasha dared to ask.
"They'll be confined to special housing units, and on parole- so they' can go out and about for certain periods of time if and when they want to go out- but they have to wear ankle-bracelets," someone sang.
Natasha tried not to scowl. She knew things like this. She just wanted to know how different the system here was and how these kids even had the authority to do these things.
And what methods they used to determine the accused's guilt. Who decided the verdict and the sentence. She wanted to be sure, but at the same time she couldn't help but be curious.
"Where will you keep them?" Steve asked weakly.
"Somewhere where few people will know," Percy assured them. "Only Chiron and Lupa for one. You don't know who will betray us."
"Yeah," The Stolls muttered together. They didn't look up. Nico winced inwardly.
"Urgh!" Thor gave a muted shout, and dropped to his knees, clutching his head. The Avengers were all at his side in an instant. "Hey, buddy, come on- you okay?"
Thor only groaned in response. His head looked up, his blue eyes weren't just hazy and unfocused- they were blurry. The outlines of his features and form began to shift and blur. Then he gave an almighty sound somewhere between a groan and a roar, and at the same time, transformed into his red-haired self.
The new Thor breathed heavily, then started convulsing and shaking again.
"Thor- Thor!" Natasha sounded panicked, but Annabeth ran and stopped her from getting any closer.
"If he's a god, he could very well harm you without meaning to," she warned her.
After shaking, Thor let out a sound- which with all the convulsions, made it sound like a continuous, animalistic noise. His whole body shuddered. Then he turned back.
Thankfully, most of the people had already left. Thor swallowed and stood up, feeling uncharacteristically weak.
He shook his head. He was pale. "I can't stop this," he whispered. "I am losing more control than I ever did, prior to this." He shook his head more angrily.
Annabeth looked grim. "This has got to be a sign."
"But clearly not a good one," Jason pointed. "What now?"
Percy heaved out a sigh. "Right now… I need to find my sister."
Aglaia was sitting in a secluded spot.
Everything was blurry. Like she had fallen half-asleep. There was a strange racking sound, and she felt like she was shaking- involuntarily. The racking sound, sounded like sobbing. Gasping.
A part of her that was still coherent was confused. Then she realised. Ah, that sound came from her.
Her face was warm. Hot, as a matter in fact. Especially in the area around her eyes.
And wet. Ah, she was crying.
She was aware of Nico's arms holding her tightly, close to him. Her head was on his shoulder. She must have been soaking his shirt but Nico didn't seem to care. A sane part of her thought that she would buy Nico a new shirt after this.
And then that crazy, out-of-body part of her mind crashed back down into reality- and the stress, shame, guilt, regret, rage and grief over what happened.
And she sobbed into Nico's front. Seriously, she had got to stop acting like a whatever-the-Americans-call it- was it a sissy or something?
She felt strong, warm arms envelope her gently from behind. But they were firm enough to make her realise that she couldn't push them away if she wanted to.
Not that she did. Aglaia felt completely drained of everything. Including all her energy.
"Aglaia," Percy's gentle but desperate voice rang through her ears.
"Aglaia," Alex's voice was softer and just as tender- but more calm, and therefore, seemed warmer to her. It made her think of fresh toast, hot milk and cosy beds for some reason. It almost made her want to laugh. Alex wasn't that type of person.
She sat up. Then, somehow, her sobs subsided. Inwardly, she frowned. It was as if she was on auto-pilot.
"I-" Her face was flushed already, and she was shaky, but if possible, she burned more with embarrassment and humiliation.
She should never show her weaknesses just like that. Not when everyone else needed her to be strong.
"Aglaia," it was Annabeth. Her stormy grey eyes looked sad and desperate. "You don't have to do this," Piper whispered. "You don't have to shut us out."
Aglaia stood shakily and took a deep breath. "We don't have the time." She gave an apologetic glance to Nico. "I'm sorry about your shirt."
He gave a small grin. "It's fine. I have plenty more- identical, even."
Aglaia rolled her eyes. "I'll get you a new one-no arguments," she said when Nico opened his mouth.
"Oh," he said. "That's cool."
She sighed and wiped her eyes, tiredly. "So, we have some news to tell."
"WHAT?!"
Everyone stared at him.
"YOU WERE INJECTED?!" Percy spluttered.
Alex's eyes were wide, staring at them.
"This isn't possible," he whispered running his hand through his blond hair.
His blue eyes and Percy's green eyes met, both sets wide and fearful, even. The Big Three.
Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.
Three offspring of the elder gods.
Alex shook his head. "But why?" Annabeth blurted.
"Surely they don't think this is going to help them? Surely…"
Nico shook his head. "Annabeth, you're talking about the goddess of discord, here. The one who started the Trojan War when she threw a nice-looking present to three goddesses." He grimaced. "A present that should have never been given," he muttered. He shook his head more forcefully. "This isn't good. They're definitely manipulating us in many different ways now."
Annabeth's eyes widened, like she just had an idea- which she did. "Nico's powerful. He's one of the most powerful demigods."
"Exactly," Now Thalia's eyes widened. "Oh, gods… She doesn't care so much about winning… As much as she's betting on creating a disaster."
"The Ultimate Disaster," Aglaia mumbled. "The Second Trojan War."
Everyone was silent.
"It all has a pattern. They've had decades, probably even centuries to plan something like this- even in the early stages. They slip someone within a long line of potential recruits. On all sides they want to play. Because they don't want two sides. Not like the old days. They train them. Get them to make friends with the others. Get them to look good. Get them to move up. But not too high up. They want someone on the inside, but no one to attract attention," Percy said slowly. Realisation dawned in his eyes.
"After years of experience, knowledge and working alongside so many people- they're used to the routine. Plus, they look good. That helps them enormously. Some of them are allowed to go public. Gain support, or at least sympathy, popularity." His green eyes became even more piercing. "Some of them- they give support. Encouragement. The worse flaws that a person can have- they encourage it," Percy realised.
"Like the president," Katie whispered, surprised.
"They give ideas. They give plans- support to help them. Be their number one fan. Make them look good, so they gain support, while everything else seems to crash all around." Percy snapped his fingers. "Like the time the US was having its last elections. Everything seemed to look bad. Especially the war in the Middle East- the consequences: floods of refugees, arriving into Europe and America. The aftermath of the Battle of Manhattan. The Chitauri Invasion. The economy crashing. Everything. It was all the right time and the right place to put someone like that dude on top," he went on. "They had someone- someone on the inside."
Annabeth's eyes widened further. "Like not just gaining popular support," she realised. "But inside… Sabotage."
"Sabotage," Percy repeated, grimly. "And making the guys already on top look weak. And stupid. The corruption- tax evasion."
"The papers," Annabeth whispered, too shocked to move. "Oh, gods… No one knows who leaked those things."
"Or that celebrity- that singer," Percy scowled. "I can't remember his name. He put all his trust in this dude. He trusted this guy to handle all his money- , so he could focus on his career. And not just him. Presidents. Royals. Singers and Movie Stars. Even athletes," Percy's mouth thinned into a grim line. "So they evade tax. Get sentenced- fined by the law. It makes them look bad- so people lose faith in the guys they trusted- even the celebrities.
"The Second Titan War. The Rise of the Apophis Monster. Ragnarök coming. The Second Giant War. Python. Even the Triumvirate- they must have supported them. The Civil Wars in Greece… They didn't just wait for the opportunity, after all. They created it. They knew the time was right. It's the turn of the millennia," Percy realised.
"They took the opportunity. They made things go bad. They put their people- their puppets and members up wherever they want them to be- the low ground for their allies. Like HYDRA. Lower ranks. The middle ground and upper-middle ground for their members," Percy went on. "People that were trusted by everyone."
"They're everywhere," Aglaia whispered.
"Loki's invasion of Manhattan… Just out of the blue. He wanted to impress your father," Percy's wide eyes turned to Thor. "That was before. He changed. He was supposed to have died. Someone told him to turn against Odin. And even if he did resent you- why all of the sudden, he tries to kill you? He might not have known it- but I'm willing to bet all my drachmas that someone's been convincing him of a lot of things," Percy continued. "And that someone belongs to them."
Thor was still and white.
"But some things… They had to wait for this as well," he went on. "The Infinity Stone. The one of attraction. They must have known about this." He looked at Thor again. "You said that it was a myth- right?"
Thor sighed. "Yes, we have long believed the seventh Infinity Stone to be a myth."
"But it wasn't…" Percy went on. "This isn't the work of one or many smart mortals who'd figured things out. This was the work of someone else. Or something. Or even someone who's lived for a very long time. This is many immortals- Eris couldn't plan something as complex as this. Someone who's as old- or even older than the gods. Than all the gods from the pantheons," he went on.
Percy looked at the Kanes and their friends. "Someone who recruited Kwai and saved him from being blown up when they knew he was about to fail- or at least, just in case," he corrected.
Sadie and Carter, exchanged wide-eyed, horrified, well, terrified glances.
"But who?" Carter blurted. "Who could have been powerful enough to get access different pantheons- and mortal governments and businesses?"
"Powerful and clever." Percy glared at nothing in particular. "And very ancient."
He looked at the Seven. "Remember Gaea? She was asleep, right? But part of her consciousness, someone said, was awake- keeping tabs of everything that goes on- even in her dreams," he muttered. "Someone must have had that much power- 'cause even the gods and Titans can't."
"The Egyptian gods were banished to the Duat," Zia Rashid said softly. "They can't have known anything about this. Or had the means."
"And why were they banished?" Percy demanded. "What made people turn against the gods? After at least a millennia of Egyptian civilisation- someone started to believe that the civilisation was dead- that the gods no could no longer save them. The House of Life started to say they were a threat. And people listened."
Magnus swallowed. "Uh- I don't get half of what you said, but I think what you're saying is, that someone can see and hear what's happening in all these different worlds…"
"And not just through spies," Percy interrupted. "Correct me if I'm wrong- which I sure hope I am- but I think there is a primordial at work."
Aglaia's eyes shot up.
"Gaea's dead though," Connor Stoll reminded him.
"Yes," Aglaia whispered. "But primordials can't like it when we destroy them like that- even someone, say Ouranos. Gaea dealt with him, but the Fates seemed to turn against the Titans that did it. The gods took over."
"But that was Ouranos' curse," Annabeth argued.
"Wait," Percy interrupted. He looked at Thor again. "You said… Four primordials made this- right? The Infinity Stones?"
Thor looked surprise. "The gems, yes," he said.
Percy stared hard at him. "You've been losing control over your forms- like the Greek and Roman gods did during the Second Giant War. What if the Primordials had more than one form? What if…" He trailed off.
Many people gasped.
"So… Wait…" Carter shook his head. "Wait up guys. So please refresh my memory of Greek mythology."
"Start with," Sadie suggested. "Who are these chaps 'the Primordials?'"
Silence.
"The Primordials," Annabeth began. "Ouranos- the Sky. Gaea- the Earth. Pontus- the Sea- male personification. Nyx- the night. And…" She frowned. "I always forgot this one. "Thalassa- the female personification of the Sea."
"Tartarus," Aglaia continued in a low, emotionless tone. Everyone shuddered. "The living embodiment of the Pit- as far beneath Hades as the heavens are above earth. Erebus- Darkness. And Chaos."
Tony cleared his throat- like chaos- chaotic?" He asked weakly. No one laughed at the joke.
"No," Aglaia said slowly. "Chaos does not mean disaster in the Greek world- not in that sense. It meant… Well. There really is no way to describe it. The void. The Chasm that was before there was anything. He was a living, sentient being. And the first of the Primordials- where all the others came from. A Chasm or a Cosmos where everything first sprung into being. But meanings change over time."
Sam's eyes widened. "Magnus!" She grabbed Magnus' arm. "The Ginunngagap!"
Magnus frowned. "Yeah, what about-" And his eyes bugged. "A void."
"A gap. A chasm." Aglaia repeated. "The Greeks and Romans believed everything came from it too. They just called it Chaos. Which eventually changed meaning- it came to mean disaster- the opposite of harmony."
Sadie gasped. "Carter! Isfet- Chaos!"
Carter's eyes widened. "Sadie- you're right! Isfet!" When everyone else looked confused, he explained. "Isfet- in Egyptian mythology, Ma'at- order and harmony- along with creation- arrived after something else."
"Apophis," Annabeth guessed. "Isfet- which meant, chaos," Carter said excitedly.
Natasha shook her head. "But that's crazy," she stated. "Different religions, different stories, different beliefs. These cultures had absolutely no contact with one another."
"Unless you believe in alien theories," Tony piped in. Nobody paid him the least bit attention.
"And the chaos in the sense of the beginning of the Egyptian world was different from the chaos in the sense of the Ginnungagap or the Greek and Roman myths of Chaos," Sam pointed out.
Aglaia shook her head. "And yet we're all here," she said forcefully. "All of us- Greek and Roman demigods. Demigods of Norse gods. Norse gods." She nodded at Thor. "Hosts of Egyptian gods. Even mortals recognise this pattern- this... Similarity." Her green eyes focused.
"The rule of three: three Fates, three Norns." She said even more forcefully. "An equivalent for Aphrodite- a powerful Greek goddess- with Freya- a Norse one. Tyr- the Viking god of War. Ares- a Greek god of War, called Mars by the Romans. The differences," she shook her head at this. "Between these stories, these myths," she said. "Are merely perceptions. The Romans perceived one god as being… Juno! The Greeks perceived her as Hera! It's like them adopting traits of the countries- wherever they go- Zeus likes pinstripe suits, Poseidon likes Hawaiian shirts." Tony got a really odd look but no one said anything. "And from the countries they stayed the longest- millennia- these traits- become entirely new personas- like flipping a coin," she continued, remembering what Chiron said to her on her first day at camp. "Did Western Civilisation die- no! Because the Greek and Roman gods didn't die! They simply moved. They gave out the source- the inspiration and ideas for Western Civilisation and Culture," Aglaia continued. "The famous demigods that created that culture. George Washington- son of Athena. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain." The Avengers' eyes widened. "The heroes- and opponents- of the American War of Independence- then the American Civil War. The leaders and heroes of the Second World War- Roosevelt, Churchill. And Hitler- the villain. Where would our culture- not just our history- be without these guys? And where did they come from?"
"From the gods," Annabeth answered dutifully.
"The Beetles," Aglaia went on. "Alfred Hitchcock. Even the New York governor, William Seward- the one you mentioned," she said nodding at Percy and Annabeth. Percy chuckled. "Elvis Presley," Sadie put in. When everyone stared, she shrugged. "Egyptian magician."
Tony's eyes bugged. "No way- Elvis- old records, rhinestone suits- hair puff with gel- that guy?"
"No way," Clint muttered.
"Leif Erikson," Magnus shrugged. "I know he's not a singer, but…" He looked sheepish. "Sorry, please continue."
"And where would our world- all these cultures and civilisations that still exist today be without these people?" She whispered. "Even the Statue of Liberty was modelled after Athena- her son made it," Percy put in.
"Ookay, mind-blow alert," Tony muttered. "And the point is?" Natasha asked, after shaking her head.
"That all these gods are the source, inspiration- of these cultures and civilisations," Aglaia answered. "And the manifestations. The gods are the personifications of all these cultures, beliefs and civilisations."
Annabeth stared at her in amazement. "It's like asking what came first- the chicken or the egg," she said impressed.
Aglaia nodded. "Who or what came first and created the other?" She asked. "The gods or the culture, civilisation and beliefs?"
Thor frowned. "The gods of course."
But a number of people caught the glances going on between Annabeth and Aglaia. A few were openly sceptical.
"Yes," Aglaia whispered. "Which means that the Primordials, as we Greeks and Romans perceive them, might not be the same as everyone knows."
Annabeth shot up. "Aglaia- Abrahamic religions!"
Aglaia cocked her head to one side. "You mean like- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?"
When Annabeth nodded her head excitedly, Aglaia took a step back in astonishment.
"God." Aglaia murmured. "Yahweh, Allah. Elohim. So many names. But in the beginning there was nothing. And He said 'Let there be Light.'"
Steve stared. "That's the Bible," he stated, moving forwards, "Genesis."
"And the Torah," Aglaia shivered. "And the Qu'ran."
"And in the beginning, we Christians, Muslims and Jews were taught one thing- that there was nothing in the beginning, except for God. He had always been there. And he would always be there. There was no beginning. There was no end. A circle." Aglaia looked at them.
"Like the which-came-first, type of circle," Annabeth guessed.
Percy's head shot up. "That's what Chiron said when I first came to camp. About God. One God- capital G- singular. The gods- lower-case g- he said it was a smaller matter." He winced. "Sorry," he said to Thor.
Thor grimaced. "No offense taken." He assured Percy.
"So this means," Percy said, connecting the dots together. "That a Christian, Jewish and Islamic God would work on a much higher level- that we can't see much of."
"And that He is omnipotent," Aglaia said, shrugging. "That's what the priest said." She considered carefully. "God always is there for us," she stated. "But someone told me a parable once- I think it was a Catholic," she said, looking at Alex. "That a person who is on top of his house, because he was threatened by the floodwaters rising. Boats come- they ask if he wants to board. They offer him a chance of escape. But he refused. He said- God will save me. And he keeps praying. Eventually, he died- drowned, while he still prayed. When he got to the Gates of Heaven Saint Peter was there- and God. They asked him 'Why did you refuse help?' He answered: 'I was waiting for Your help. Where were You?" And God answered: 'What happened to the three men I sent on the path to you, on boats to save you?'
"Kinda stupid." Tony muttered. Clint shrugged. "Apparently."
"You don't expect to see flashes of light from thunder and lightning from a God who operates on such a powerful level," Aglaia answered.
"But why?" Thalia protested. She frowned.
"Because power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Aglaia answered. "I don't think that will happen to God, but even the gods of these pantheons have interfered more directly than they should have- and they…" She shrugged. "Well, there was a reason why Christians were offended by them and people who worshipped them. And Jews and Muslims- they were definitely offended."
Thor looked somewhat hurt. "How offended?"
"You wouldn't want to know," Annabeth assured him. "But then why haven't we seen this God? Aglaia- you were baptised!"
"I'm a Greek Orthodox," She answered. "Even though I am the child of a Greek god." She looked down sadly. "But I haven't been a very good Christian lately. I've built a temple- or rather- I helped- gave an idea to do so."
Annabeth looked confused. "The idea was mine."
"Yes, but I encouraged you," she said sadly. "And what do the Ten Commandments say about these things? I'm not supposed to." She looked horribly upset.
"But we don't sacrifice chickens or bulls to the gods," Jason protested.
"Definitely not bulls," Percy muttered.
"No- we don't worship these gods in the same sense the neo-Hellenics and Norse neo-Pagans did." Aglaia agreed. "But still…" She looked down. "Jezebel- the wicked queen of the Bible- she was Phoenician. Her husband was King Ahab. And he built temples- on her request- to Ba'al. And persecuted the Jewish priests and prophets. Elijah spent years in hiding."
"Oh," Sam said softly.
"And God did interfere," Alex went on. "When Elijah put the test. Ba'al- that's a Phoenician god? And Dagon was Philistine- they were Greek, Bronze Age, at least. Some catastrophe drove the Philistines to leave their Greek homeland- they became sea peoples.
"And the Philistines were seen on an Egyptian temple- a tour guide in Egypt once mentioned it to me," Aglaia explained. "Those guys on the relief were definitely Philistine. And when they were defeated by the pharaoh and his army- they went to Israel. And they settled."
Sadie's eyes widened. "Moses," she turned to Carter and Zia. "Zia- didn't you say that Moses-"
Zia frowned. "I did?"
"The shabti," Carter corrected. At everyone's puzzled look, he said, "That's not important. Moses was mentioned as defeating the House of Life."
Annabeth's eyebrows rose. "Your magicians?" She asked.
"Yes," Carter remembered.
"And remember the battles," Aglaia murmured. "You mentioned Moses defeating the House of Life. They invoked and channelled the power of the Egyptian gods. The pharaoh must have even hosted one. Yet the Hebrew God defeated them all, through one man- Moses. The Plagues of Egypt, in order to free the Egyptian slaves."
Thor looked bemused.
Alex's eyes widened. "The Philistines. Like you were saying- Dagon."
"Yes!" Aglaia remembered. Back on track. "The Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines and placed inside the temple of their god Dagon. The statue broke. The head was on the floor."
Carter frowned. "We haven't met Dagon."
"Maybe he faded," Percy said quietly. "Because his civilisation did."
"And Elijah," Sam mused. "He had this test- the priests and prophets of Ba'al- all standing around a soaking wet altar- praying for their god to send down fire. But Elijah made another altar, soaked it in water-"
"And fire fell from the heavens," Alex mused. "And set the altar on fire. Answering Elijah's prayer to God."
Thor looked bemused. "Just how powerful is this god?" He asked quietly.
"God with a capital G," Annabeth answered. "As compared to a lower-case g- and the plural form."
Thor looked upset. "I've- well, other Me-" He grimaced. "Has been challenging Jesus Christ to a knife duel for centuries now, and how come there is no answer?"
"Because, no offense Lord Thor, but firstly no god wants to get into a fight with this God. And secondly, that's not the way their faith and belief works," Aglaia responded. "I read a book- if you had a child would you love that child?"
She looked around.
"Errr, yes, why do you ask?" "Of course," "Duh! I mean, of course I would!" Came the answers.
"Would you let the child skateboard or ride a bike?" Aglaia raised an eyebrow- and eventually, walk to school on their own? Or catch a bus by themselves?"
Percy frowned. "'Course, but I'll tell them to be careful." He said. Annabeth nodded with him, so did everyone else.
"So what happens if they fell over, while skateboarding or riding a bike?"
"Then they'll just have to learn to try it again," Annabeth answered. "Without falling. And to be careful next time." "It won't do them any favours if we coddle them," Clint said, surprisingly. Unbeknownst to them- he had kids.
Aglaia nodded. "There lies the answer- why we haven't seen the Christian, Muslim and Jewish God yet- and why he doesn't always interfere with lightning and fire."
"And He would know better than to engage in a knife duel merely for fun," she winced. "Sorry, Lord Thor."
Thor grunted, looking displeased.
"So what?" Thalia frowned. "Are we going to pray for help, in a church, a synagogue or a mosque?" She crossed her arms.
"No, but I'm saying that there are higher powers at work- which we don't realise- and not all of them are hostile," Aglaia realised. "But also- these things have a source. Primordials. The Rule of Three. The similarities between myths- from cultures that have absolutely no contact with one another. Chaos. The Ginnungagap. Isfet. Always, there was nothing, and yet something." She looked better now. "I think we've found out something the enemy hasn't yet- or at least they haven't known yet. They know there's a connection. That's their way in. But they don't know is that there is a source- for everything."
And for the first time in a long time, Aglaia suddenly felt a great load had been lifted from within her.
There was a connection- the enemy figured out the connections between all of these. But they didn't know there was a source. Something- or Someone, rather- even more powerful than the gods, Titans, Giants and Primordials.
And Aglaia felt much better- even if they didn't have that fact.
Okay:
Firstly: Loki was pulled out of a comatose state- being captured and all- By Eris and her bosses- including a primordial- or at least a being of that much power (can't say who just yet)- who isn't happy Ouranos, Kronos, Gaea and the Giagantes were defeated. They're planning something and that person has possessed Thanos- in fact he may even be behind Thanos' existence, 'cause Thanos was born to a subset of the human race- like inhumans- called Eternals- on the moon Titan. He was a misshapen, monstrous-looking boy who grew- like most if not all outcasts- lonely and vulnerable. Easy for the 'master' to take advantage of- even possess entirely- the same way Greger Andreadis- the guy Luke, Nico, Alabaster and Aglaia met with- was. They thought Loki would be useful to them, but unbeknownst to them Loki is secretly Loki is going his own way- he has motives because- well, he's feeling pretty lost and vulnerable right now- but he has nowhere to turn and no one to trust. So he wants something- or someone. Freya is desperate and heartbroken enough to want that too, making a deal with Loki. Plus, she's scared of losing her brother at Ragnarök. In her case she wants more than one and Loki looks at Aglaia and realising something no one else- except Astrid who later found out- has. Loki decides to help Aglaia- not out of pity, but desperation. He believes she would be what people like Freya, and Greger's possessor wanted. And she would help get what Loki wanted as well. Everybody would be happy- except for the Greek gods, Greek demigods and mortals, and the Roman demigods. So that will definitely cause a disaster.
Aglaia discovers the sole reason why her family still exists and remains in power- after at least a millennia- and why Greece is the way it is in her life (which contrasts the way things could have been). At least one or two of the Infinity Stones were used. But whoever did this can't have done this out of the goodness of their own hearts- could they? After all, Aglaia's famed ancestors included Perseus, Heracles and Achilles, as well as Alexander the Great (who claimed to be a son of Zeus- as well as a descendant of Heracles and Perseus- his father- and Achilles- his mother- it's true, look it up). And her great-grandmother was a child of Aphrodite. Her grandmother's family were descended from Aesir and Vanir. With all the royal marriages in Europe, Aglaia would have been descended from scores of gods from various pantheons. And as the daughter of Poseidon… This would have been a recipe for potential latent power awakened. Plus, she would have had Helen of Troy's curse. And that suited them just fine- her family- including the other demigod relatives- were targeted because they would have carried power of legacies and demigods- and parts of their organs, blood composition, and other things would have been used to create the serum for the 'super race'- and that's what she discovers. Any more yet?