A/N (I recommend reading this): I'm going to MAKE THIS CLEAR. Just like I mention on my bio page about every other fanfiction I done: I DON'T OWN THE PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIAN SERIES OR IT'S CHARACTERS as the rights goes to Rick Rioran. Also I suggest you guys start paying attention to the Author notes and my warnings that I left on EVERY chapter of EVERY story.
Sorry if this chapter is too much like the book.
Due to the limited number of characters posted, I'm forced to post only the names of the characters telling their tales in this story. When I get to the House of Hades and Blood of Olympus, I'll list off the first four characters listed in the order they tell their tales. I'll post the pairings if the two of the four characters listed are a pair. Other than that, the Pairings stay the same for this story.
Jason x Piper
Percy x Annabeth
Frank x Hazel
If you haven't figured it out, each of the members of the Prophecy of Seven practically has a position. Keep in mind in the original series Juno started this when she told Percy he was the glue that holds the group together, so I thought to give the rest a title. But no matter what title they have they still depend on each other. Titles will be added for some as the series continue
Jason: Leader of the Group
Piper: Peacekeeper
Leo: Mechanic, Admiral, and Seventh Wheel (by Nemesis)
Percy: Glue that holds everyone together
Hazel: Mist Manipulator
Frank: Muscles
Annabeth: Battle Strategist and Consultant
Lastly I want to make clear that once 'The Tales of the Heroes of Olympus' is done I won't start immediately on 'The tales of...' version of the Trials of Apollo until that part of the Percy Jackson series is done. Just as I waited for the end of the Blood of Olympus to start 'The Tales of...' series. By waiting until that series ends, it might help me come up with something to add to it.
Warning: Certain ancient Greek names matches words use of foul language but no foul language was intentionally used. Also I dropped the '& the Olympians' in 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians' as well as replaced the '&' with ':' in the short stories of that part of the series. So if you haven't read them yet read before reading this story as stuff that happened in them will be mentioned:
The Tales of the Son of Poseidon: the Early Adventures
The Tales of the Son of Poseidon: The Lightning Thief
The Tales of the Son of Poseidon: The Sea of Monsters
The Tales of the Son of Poseidon: The Titan's Curse
The Tales of the Son of Poseidon: The Magical Labyrinth
The Tales of the Son of Poseidon: the Stolen Chariot
The Tales of the Son of Poseidon: the Sword of Hades
The Tales of the Son of Poseidon: the Bronze Dragon
The Tales of the Son of Poseidon: The Last Olympian
The Tales of the Son of Poseidon: the Staff of Hermes
The Tales of the Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero
The Tales of the Heroes of Olympus: The Quest for Buford
The Tales of the Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune
The Tales of the Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena
Lastly, any one who wants to do a Demigods and Olympian reads story using 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon' is allowed as long as you inform me about it.
Full Summary of this chapter: Separated from their friends, Percy and Annabeth must travel through Tartarus against all odds to find the Doors of Death while facing monsters, Titans, and all sorts of enemies of the gods with a help of an amnesiac Titan and Rogue Giant. Meanwhile Argo II must find away to make it to the house of Hades is at while facing all sorts of new trouble and making new allies along the way. This is the Tales of the Prophecy of Seven.
Jason's POV Part IV
I learn quickly that riding the wind is not the same as being the winds.
I felt out of control, my thoughts scattered, no boundaries between my body and the rest of the world. I wondered if this as how monsters felt when they were defeated—bursting into dust, helpless and formless.
I could sense Nico's presence nearby. The West Wind carried us into the sky above Split. Together we raced over the hills, past Roman aqueducts, highways, and vineyards. As we approach the mountains, I saw the ruins of a Roman town spread out in the valley below—crumbling walls, square foundations, and cracked roads, all overgrown with grass—so it looked like a giant, mossy game board.
Favonius set us down in the middle of the ruins, next to a broken column the size of a redwood.
My body re-formed. For a moment it felt even worse than being the wind, like I'd suddenly been wrapped in a lead overcoat.
"Yes, mortal bodies are terribly bulky," Favonius said, as if reading my thoughts. The wind god settled on a nearby wall with his basket of unripe fruit and spread his russet wings in the sun. "Honestly, I don't know how you stand it, day in and day out."
I scanned our surroundings. The town must have been huge once. I could make out the shells of temples and bathhouses, and half-buried amphitheater, and empty pedestals that must have once held statues. Rows of columns marched off to nowhere. The old city walls wove in and out of the hillside like stone threaded through a green cloth.
Some areas looked like they'd been excavated, but most of the city just seemed abandoned, as if it had been left to the elements for the last two thousand years.
"Welcome to Salona," Favonius said. "Capital of Dalmatia! Birthplace of Diocletian! But before that, long before that, it was the home of Cupid."
The name echoed as if voices were whispering it through the ruins.
Something about this place seemed even creepier than the palace basement in Split.
I had never thought much about Cupid. Despite the fact that Cupid not just being a son of Venus but also a son of Mars, I never thought of the god as scary. Even for Roman demigods, the name conjured up an image of a silly winged baby with a toy bow and arrow, flying around in diapers on Valentine's day.
In fact, before we left Charleston, I would of thought that was what Cupid's Roman form look like. But after learning from Piper's Annabeth's and Hazel's chat with Piper's mom Aphrodite that love is universal and that Venus and Aphrodite were one being, I wondered if it's the same for Cupid as well.
"Fair warning, Cupid isn't what mortals normally think of him as," Favonius said. "He's not a winged baby with a toy and arrow, flying around in his diapers."
"Is he affected by the war, or is he like his mother?" I asked.
Favonius seem taken back by my question.
"So you know Lady Aphrodite isn't affected by the war due to her domain?" Favonius asked.
"That love is universal, just like revenge and fate, and thus Venus, yes," I replied. "Some of our friends had encountered Aphrodite and Nemesis."
Favonius nodded. "Well, to answer your question, Cupid is immune to the War thanks to his domain. So you may call him Cupid or Eros if you choose. Just know he's not that Valentines gimmick mortals created.
Nico braced himself against a column, his legs still trembling visibly.
"Hey, man…" I stepped toward him, but Nico waved me off.
At Nico's feet, the grass turned brown and wilted. The dead patch spread outward, as if poison were seeping from his shoes.
"Ah…" Favonius nodded sympathetically. "I don't blame you for being nervous, Nico di Angelo. Do you know how I ended up serving Cupid?"
"I don't serve anyone," Nico muttered. "Especially not Cupid."
Favonius continued as if he hadn't heard. "I fell in love with a mortal named Hyacinthus. He was quite extraordinary."
"He…?" my brain was still fuzzy from my wind trip, so it took me a second to process that. "Oh…"
"Yes, Jason Grace." Favonius arched an eyebrow. "I fell in love with a dude. Does that shock you?"
Honestly, I wasn't sure. I tried not to think about the details of godly love lives, no matter who they fell in love with. After all, my dad, Jupiter, wasn't exactly a model of good behavior. Compared to some of the Olympian love scandals I'd heard about, the West Wind falling in love with a mortal guy didn't seem very shocking. "I guess not. So… Cupid struck you with his arrow, and you fell in love."
Favonius snorted. "You make it sound so simple. Alas, love is never simple. You see, the god Apollo also liked Hyacinthus. He claimed they were just friends. I don't know. But one day I came across them together playing a game of quoits—"
"Quiots?" I asked.
"A game with those hoops," Nico explained, though his voice was brittle. "Sort of like a combination of ring toss and horseshoes."
"In away," Favonius said. "At any rate, I was jealous. Instead of confronting them and finding out the truth, I shifted the wind and sent a heavy metal ring right at Hyacinthus' head and… well." The wing god sighed. "As Hyacinthus died, Apollo turned him into a flower, the hyacinth. I'm sure Apollo would've taken horrible vengeance on me, but Cupid offered me his protection. I'd done a terrible thing, but I'd been driven mad by love, so he spared me, on the condition that I work for him forever."
"I guess Aeolus wasn't too happy about that," I responded.
"Well, I still do small stuff for Aeolus and other gods, like helping Athena send her half-blood children to their mortal parents once in a while or defending Olympus from any air invasions by the Titan army," Favonius said, "But when it comes to orders like destroying heroes that comes to ask for my favor—well, I have to get it through Cupid first since helping demigods that comes to him is his job."
CUPID.
The name echoed through the ruins again.
"That would be my cue," Favonius stood. "Think long and hard about how you proceed, Nico di Angelo. You cannot lie to Cupid. Heed Bianca's warning about grudges. If you let your anger rule you… well, your fate will be even sadder than mine."
I felt like my brain was turning back into the wind. I didn't understand what Favonius was talking about, or why Nico seemed so shaken, but he had no time to think about it. The wind god disappeared in a swirl of red and gold. The summer air suddenly felt oppressive. The ground shook, and Nico and I drew our swords.
…
So.
The voice rushed past my ear like a bullet. When I turned, no one was there.
You come to claim the scepter.
Nico stood at his back, and for once I was glad to have the guy's company.
"Cupid," I called. "where are you?"
The voice laughed. It definitely didn't sound like a cute baby angel's. It sounded deep and rich, but also threatening—like a tremor before a major earthquake. A voice you expect from a godly child of war and love.
Where you least expect me, Cupid answered. As Love always is.
Something slammed into me and hurled me across the street. I toppled down a set of steps and sprawled on the floor of an excavated Roman basement.
I would think you'd know better, Jason Grace. Cupid's voice whirled around me. You've found true love, after all. Or do you still doubt yourself.
Nico scrambled down the steps. "You okay?"
I accepted his hand and got to my feet. "Yeah. Just sucker punch."
Oh, did you expect me to play fair? Cupid laughed. I am the god of love. I am never fair.
This time, my senses were on high alert. I felt the air ripple just as an arrow materialized, racing toward Nico's chest.
I intercepted it with my sword and deflected it sideways. The arrow exploded against the nearest wall, peppering them with limestone shrapnel.
We ran up the steps and I pulled Nico to one side before another gust of wind toppled a column that would have crush him flat. Nico tensed but he didn't say anything. I guess it's hard to complain about being touched when the person just saved you.
"Is this guy Love or Death?" I growled.
Ask your friends, Cupid said. Frank, Hazel, and Percy met my counterpart We are not so different. Except Death is sometimes kinder.
"We just want the scepter!" Nico shouted. "We're trying to stop Gaea. Are you on the gods' side or not?"
A second arrow hit the ground between Nico's feet and glowed white-hot. Nico stumbled back as the arrow burst into a geyser of flame.
Love is on every side, Cupid said. And no one's side. Don't ask what Love can do for you.
"Great," I said. "Now he's spouting greeting card messages."
And yet I can't help but think how ruthless Cupid seem to be like Ares or Mars.
Movement behind me and I spun, slicing my sword through the air. My blade hit into something solid. I heard a grunt and I spun again, but the invisible god was gone. One the paving stones, a trail of golden ichor shimmered—the blood of the gods.
Very good, Jason, Cupid said. At least you can sense my presence. Even a glancing hit at true love is more than most heroes manage.
"So do I get the scepter now?" I asked.
Cupid laughed. Unfortunately, you could not wield it. Only a child of the Underworld with the power over the dead can summon the dead legions. And only an officer of Rome can lead them.
"But…" I wavered. I was an officer. I was praetor. Then I remembered all my second thoughts about where I belonged. In New Rome, I'd thought of offered to give up my position to Percy Jackson. Did that make me unworthy to lead a legion or Roman ghost?
I decided to face that problem when the time came.
"Just leave that to us," I said. "Nico can summon—"
The third arrow zipped by my shoulder and I couldn't stop it in time. Nico gasped as it sunk into his sword arm.
"Nico!"
The son of Hades stumbled. The arrow dissolved, leaving no blood and no visible wound, but Nico's face was tight with rage and pain.
"Enough games!" Nico shouted. "Show yourself!"
It is a costly thing, Cupid said, looking on the true face of Love.
Another column toppled. I manage to scrambled out of its way.
My wife Psyche learned that lesson, back when she was mortal, Cupid said. She was brought here eons ago, when this was the site of my palace. We met only in the dark. She was warned never to look upon me, and yet she could not stand the mystery. She feared I was a monster. One night she lit a candle, and beheld my face as I slept.
"Were you that ugly?" I finally caught onto the direction of Cupid's voice—at the edge of the amphitheater about twenty yards away—but I wanted to be sure.
The god laughed. I was too handsome, I'm afraid. A mortal cannot gaze upon the true appearance of a god without suffering the consequences. My mother, Aphrodite, cursed Psyche for her distrust. My poor lover was tormented, forced into exile, given horrible tasks to prove her worth. She was even sent to the Underworld on a quest to show her dedication. She earned her way back to my side and became immortal for it, but not before she suffered greatly.
Now I've got you, I thought
I thrust my sword in the sky and thunder shook the valley. Lightning blasted a crater where the voice had been speaking.
Then an invisible force knocked me to the ground. My sword skittered across the road.
A good try, Cupid said, his voice already distant. But Love cannot be pinned down so easily.
Next to me, a wall collapsed. I barely managed to roll aside.
"Stop it!" Nico yelled. "It's me you want. Leave him alone!"
My ears rang. I was dizzy from getting smack around. My mouth tasted like limestone dust. I didn't understand why Nico would think of himself as the main target, but Cupid agree.
Poor Nico di Angelo, the god's voice was tinged with disappointment. Do you know what you want, much less what I want? My beloved Psyche risked everything in the name of Love. It was the only way to atone for her lack of faith. And you—what have you risk in my name?
"I've been to Tartarus and back," Nico snarled. "You don't scare me."
I scare you very, very much. Face me. Be honest.
I managed to pull myself up to see what was going on—at least with Nico.
All around Nico, the ground shifted. The grass withered, and the stones cracked as if something was moving in the earth beneath, trying to push its way through.
"Give us Diocletian's scepter," Nico said. "We don't have time for games."
Games? Cupid struck, slapping Nico into a granite pedestal. Love is no game! It is no flowery softness! It is hard work—a quest that never ends. It demands everything from you—especially the truth. Only then does it yield rewards.
If Cupid represents a type of love, I figure it's the dark side of it—the harshness and cruelty. And to be honest, I'm starting to prefer Piper's version—considerate, kind, and beautiful.
"Nico," I called, "what does this guy want from you?"
Tell him, Nico di Angelo, Cupid said. Tell him you are a coward, afraid of yourself and your feelings. Tell him the real reason you stayed away from Camp Half-Blood, and why you are always alone.
Nico let loose a guttural scream. The ground at his feet split open and skeletons crawled forth—dead Romans with missing hands and caved-in skulls, cracked ribs, and jaws unhinged. Some were dressed in the remnants of togas. Others had glinting pieces of armor hanging off their chests.
Will you hide among the dead, as you always do? Cupid taunted.
Waves of darkness roll off the son of Hades. When it hit me, I almost lost consciousness—overwhelmed by hatred and fear and shame…
Images flashed through my mind. I saw Bianca Nico and Annabeth at a cliff in Maine watching Percy along with my sister Thalia and the satyr from my last dream vision Grover fighting a Manticore. Nico was focus on Percy as he managed to create a hurricane wall of defense around him and Thalia. It was as if Nico realized Percy was real deal powerful demigod like in his mythomagic games.
Later, at Camp Half-Blood, I saw Percy promising Nico that he wouldn't treat Bianca any different when she was claimed. Nico stared into Percy's sea green eyes and believed him.
After that, I'm guessing it was when Nico first ran away, because he was in some kind of tunnel talking to some kind of ghost.
You think that boy would treat you any different than those Campers did? He will hate you for your heritage just like all the rest.
Nico seemed to believe the ghost, but at the same time question if it was true or not. He seemed to wonder if it was for the best to stay away from camp.
I saw a dozen more scenes like this from Nico's point of view… and they stunned me to the point I was unable to move or speak.
Meanwhile, Nico's Roman skeletons surge forward and grappled with something invisible. The god struggled, flinging the dead aside, breaking off ribs and skulls, but the skeletons kept coming, pinning the god's arms.
Interesting! Cupid said. Do you have the strength after all?
"I stayed away from Camp Half-Blood because of love," Nico said. "Annabeth… she—"
Still hiding, Cupid said, smashing another skeleton to pieces. You do not have the strength.
"Nico," I manage to say, "it's okay. I get it."
Nico glanced over, pain and misery washing over his face.
"No, you don't," he said. "There's no way you can understand."
And so you're running away again, Cupid chided. In order to stay away from your friends and your feelings.
"I don't have friends!" Nico yelled. "I left Camp Half-Blood because I don't belong! I stayed away because I'll never belong!"
The skeletons had Cupid pinned now, but the invisible god laughed so cruelty that I wanted to summon another bolt of lightning. Unfortunately, I doubt I had the strength. I'm also wondering if I should as what Favonius said earlier rang through my head: Are you shock? As a thought rang to my head before Nico even spoke up.
Nico's voice was like broken glass. "I wasn't in love with Annabeth."
"You were jealous of her," I said. "That's why you didn't want to be around her. Especially why you didn't want to be around… him. It makes total sense."
All the fight and denial seemed to go out of Nico at once. The darkness subsided. The Roman dead collapsed into bones and crumbled to dust.
"I hated myself," Nico said. "I hated Percy Jackson."
Cupid became visible—a lean, muscular young man with snowy white wings, straight black hair, a simple frock and jeans. The bow and quiver slung over his shoulder were no toys—they were weapons of war. His eyes were red as blood, as if every Valentine in the world had been squeezed dry, distilled into one poisonous mixture. His face was handsome as expected from a son of Aphrodite but harsh as expected from most children of Ares. He watch Nico with satisfaction, as if he'd identified the exact spot for his next arrow to make a clean hit.
"I had a crush on Percy," Nico spat. "That's the truth. That's the big secret."
He glared at Cupid. "Happy now?"
For the first time, Cupid's gaze seemed sympathetic. "Oh, I wouldn't say Love makes you happy." His voice sounded smaller, much more human. "Sometimes it makes you incredibly sad. But at least you've faced it now. That's the only way to conquer me."
Cupid dissolved into the wind.
On the ground where he stood lay an ivory staff three feet long, topped with a dark globe of polished marble about the size of a baseball, nestled on the backs of three gold Roman eagles. The scepter of Diocletian.
Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded me, as if waiting for an attack. I'm guessing that it was hard for him back in the 1940s in ways most of his siblings wouldn't understand either, so he kept it a secret.
Then he said, "If the others found out—"
"I swear on the River Styx I won't tell the others without your permission," I said. "Besides, it's not my secret to tell. But know this, if you tell them, they won't shun you. You will have many more people to back you up."
Nico looked unsure but he nodded. "I don't feel that way about Percy anymore," he muttered. "I gave up on him. I was young and impressionable, and I—I don't…"
His voice cracked, and I could tell the guy was about to get teary-eyed. Whether or not Nico had really given up on Percy is hard to tell.
I found myself no longer scared of Nico, but rather want to help him so he would no longer feel scare about who he really is.
"Nico," I said gently. "I've seen a lot of brave things. But what you just did? That was maybe the bravest."
Nico looked up, still uncertain. "We should get back to the ship."
"Yeah. I can fly us—"
"No," Nico announced. "This time we're shadow-traveling. I've had enough of the winds for a while."
A/N: I'm not on break yet because my grandpa is still alive, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.