-Percy-

"Addie, what is he talking about?" I quavered. Orion looked around his sister, narrowing his eyes at me.

"You must be the great Perseus Jackson I've heard so much about. Thanks to my sister, you and your friend here escaped Tartarus," he acknowledged. His eyes raked over Annabeth, lingering on her. I put myself between them, a snarl erupting from me. Orion drew his sword, but Addie placed her hand on Orion's chest. He looked at her, confusion on his face.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she repeated to him.

"I came to meet you. I know you have it, Addie. Come with me, and Gaia can finish the spell. Polybotes will handle the demigods for us," he said grabbing her hand. I noticed something in Addie's eyes at that moment, something I saw in the dreams about her. They were full of fear, of what though, I wasn't sure.

"No, that wasn't part of the plan, Ry. Nothing was to happen to them. I was going to let you know," she uttered.

"What plan?" I muttered disbelievingly. Addie wouldn't...she would never…

"Percy, be quiet," Addie begged softly. She wouldn't meet my eyes. She kept looking at her brother, a pleading look on her face. "I will not let anything harm them, Ry," she told him firmly. Orion rolled his eyes, an exasperated yet knowing look on his face.

"You are too tender, my dear sister. Not everything in the world is as good as you are. You trust too easily, and look at the damage it has done to you. It's time you placed your trust back in me where it belongs, in your true family." Ry's hands brushed Addie's face, and she closed her eyes at the contact. She tried to turn her head away from him, but he gently held her chin, keeping her facing him. She opened her eyes, giving him a beseeching look. He sighed deeply. "If it means that much to you Addie, I'm sure Gaia will spare them. She has to have two demigods to rise, however. We will have to find replacements."

I couldn't stand it. Addie knew how evil Gaia was. How could she speak about saving us, just to find two more to sacrifice to bring her back? Addie loved her brother immensely, and I feared what he could get her to do. Her brother was the one that was crazy, the one that was manipulating her.

"Addie, he's tricking you, don't-"

"Do not speak to me of tricks, half-brother!" Orion bellowed. "You've bought into their lies as well haven't you? My sister should rule with me, and we will usurp the gods from thrones they do not deserve. No more will they torture my sister for their own selfish purposes. Gaia will rise, and the giants will take their place."

"Over my dead body," I snapped.

"That can be arranged easily," he retorted.

"Orion, stop!" Addie commanded harshly. He again looked at her, agitation on his face. She held her ground. "He is a demigod, just like we are. Remember that brother….If- if I go with you, will you swear on the Styx not to harm them, to let all of them go?"

"We will leave the demigods if you hand over the key," Polybotes commanded. "If you want your freedom back, you have but a few moments to decide. Your three-day window is drawing to a close, daughter of the earth-shaker."

Addie bit her lip and her hand went into her pocket, where the key was resting against her waist in her pocket. Orion's expression went from harsh to tender, and I saw the boy who loved his sister once again. He was the boy that I remembered from the memories, the one that risked his life to save his sister. He wasn't so far gone that he had lost that.

"Please, Addie," Orion begged. "I can't lose you again. You deserve so much better than what they have done to you."

Addie pulled out the key cradling it in her hands. She held it between her palms, holding it close to her chest. Orion's hands reached for her, settling on her arms.

"You left because you were freed," Annabeth muttered from behind me. "Gaia offered you freedom, didn't she?"

Addie looked towards us, tears swimming in her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, but Orion wrapped his hands around hers. She looked at their hands like they were strange and alien, like they weren't part of her.

"Polybotes, leave us. We will follow soon after," Orion commanded. Polybotes rolled his eyes and rose to his full height.

"My mother will not be patient, Son of Poseidon," he warned. Polybotes turned his gaze upon me and gave me the I-will-have-you-begging-for-mercy look. Polybotes gave a final grunt of displeasure, and I watched as he vanished in front of my eyes.

"Well, Addie?" Annabeth huffed. Addie nodded her head, her cheeks flushing with color.

"Temporary freedom, until she decided to join us. She only offered Euadne the life she was meant to have. The life she should have had if the gods had not interfered in hers," he affirmed. Addie was many things, but selfish or evil was not something I thought of her. Obviously, the gods did something terrible to her, but that didn't excuse her actions.

"I trusted you," I snarled. My words seemed to snap Addie out of her daze. She pulled away from her brother, staring into my eyes. Addie backed away, looking at me and Annabeth. Orion reached for her, but she shook her head.

"Addie, stop-"

"NO! You STOP!" she yelled. A wave of force flew from her, pushing all of us back a few feet. I was frozen in place. I couldn't move a muscle, not even my head to check on Annabeth.

"Euadne Cyra Aurelius, what do you think you are doing?" Orion ground out. He looked like he was straining to move, and anger dominated his features.

"Maximus. My last name is Maximus," she muttered to him. Orion's face fell, a somber expression taking place of the anger.

"I know, Addie. Tiberius should have lived."

"Don't," she whispered.

"Addie, please, this is the only way we can be happy. It's the only way for us. They will never let you go. You will never be able to be free as long as you are still cursed," he pointed out.

"Ry, there are always other ways. Working for Gaia-"

Addie paused once she saw the expression on Orion's face. Lightning flew down from the clouds, hitting between the two of them. I felt the surge of electricity, and every single hair on my body was standing on end. The force of the strike knocked me down to the ground. I found I could move once again, and I rolled over to check on Annabeth. She looked dazed, like she was trying to get her bearings. I cradled her face with my hand and helped her into a sitting position.

"I'm fine, Percy," she whispered quickly to me. "We need to get the others."

Addie was on the ground as well, curled up on her side. The key had flown out of her hand, landing a few feet away. She reached for it, grasping the chain in her fist. She propped herself up on her hands, staring at her brother with a pained expression.

"There is no other way for me, Addie! My die has been cast. I have sided against them! This is how you repay me? If it wasn't for you and the gods, I could have been a great general! I could have ruled Rome!" he screeched. He took a step towards Addie, summoning water in his hands. I could have stopped him, but I was in shock. He blasted Addie back into a column, the key once again falling from her hand. She coughed roughly, dragging breaths through her mouth. She was soaked, water dripping from her hair and clothes. The sky began to darken, and thunder sounded. This was not the same as the storm that raged that Addie had created three days ago. This storm was sadder, not the tempest the other was.

"Orion, I'm so sorry," she croaked. "I know it's my fault. I'd do anything for you, I lov-"

"If you loved me, little sister, then you will take my side. You will stand by me and not let those brainwashed fools have control over you anymore. The choice is easy, Addie. You are just too blinded to make it on your own," he spat. He walked over to her, and Addie's eyes grew large. She lunged for the key, just as Orion did the same. Her hand grasped around it just as his hands grasped hers. He slung her into the column, but she vanished from underneath his grasp. She reappeared on the other side of the Parthenos, panting for breath. I met Addie's gaze, and she nodded her head. Annabeth and I scrambled towards Hazel, who was tied on the column nearest to us. Annabeth pulled out her dagger and began cutting at the ropes. I ran to Nico, who was one column over, and began doing the same with Riptide. Orion howled in frustration, turning back towards his sister.

"Give me the key, Addie!"

"Ry, this isn't you, please. I'm so sorry, I'll do anything to fix it-"

"Liar!" he screamed, sending a wave of water in Addie's direction. The marble cracked in front of her, a slab lifting to block the water. "If you mean it, come with me! Join me then!" He said moving towards her. The slab fell, and Orion bounded over it and grabbed her arms. "If you would do anything, then give me the damned key!"

Addie shook her head, "Ry, why have me get it? You could have-"

"Because I needed to see if I could trust you still," he confessed as he let go of her and took a step back.

I looked around, and Annabeth had made it to Jason, cutting the binding away from him. I cut the last strand away, and Nico pulled his gag from his mouth.

"I'm getting Hazel away from here. Help Addie," Nico muttered to me. I nodded my head, and Nico bounded off.

Addie stuck the key in her back pocket and reached for her brother. His face remained blank as she reached to touch his face.

"You can, Ry. You can always trust me. Trust me now," she pled with him. Orion's gaze lifted to something behind her, and I followed his line of sight.

"Addie! Watch out!" I screamed. Ares hurtled a spear at her, with a couple of the other gods behind him. Addie pushed Orion out of the way, falling on top of him. The spear was planted in the marble, exactly where Addie's torso had just been.

"See! I told you," Ares addressed the others. "She's been helping him," he finished with a snarl. Hephaestus and Demeter were behind him, all glaring in Addie's direction.

"Wait, no," I called out. "You got it wrong!"

Hephaestus eyes flashed towards me, but it was too late. Ares was already sending a blast of energy in her direction. Addie looked up at them, and she closed her eyes, her hand raised towards them, just as the blast was let loose.

But it never hit them.

An invisible force had stopped it. The blast encircled us, but it caused no harm. Something, like an invisible force field was keeping everyone safe from Ares's blast. The light and power danced at it, like an explosion encased in a glass box. I ran to Annabeth and Jason, who were looking at Addie in wonder.

Orion had pulled himself free of Addie. She was clutching her chest, and gasps of pain were escaping from her mouth. He stood over her, his features carefully controlled. I could hear Ares bellowing, and other voices mixed in. The barrier kept them back. The sky was dark and angry, but no rain fell.

"You are out of time, Euadne. Have you made your choice?"

Addie looked up at him, sorrow etched on her features.

"I can't go with you. I'm sorry," she whispered.

"You choose them over me!?" Orion shouted back at her. Addie reached for him, but her face contorted in pain as she grabbed her chest. Orion's face filled with rage and hurt. "Rot in your own hell! You are no sister of mine. You are the evil one, not me. You will regret this."

Orion ripped something out of his pocket and threw it at his feet. It smoked around him, and when it cleared, he was gone.

Addie just stared at the spot where he had vanished, disbelief in her eyes. The barrier broke, and the Parthenon flooded with immortals. Zeus, Apollo, and Athena had joined, looking upon the scene. Ares pushed forward, his sword leveled at Addie's chest. She didn't turn to look at him. Her eyes were fixed on the ghost of where her brother had stood. He pulled back, intending to plunge it into Addie.

"Ares! Stop! What do you think you are doing?" Zeus boomed. Ares paused, the sword not even an inch from her. She finally turned, looking at the sword with detached interest.

"Taking care of a problem," he growled. "She was going to rebel against us, help her brother-"

"She was not!" I yelled at them. Annabeth and Jason were behind me, both in a shocked silence. Addie's hand went to her head, rubbing her temple. It started to rain, a heavy pour that was quickly soaking those around me. I willed myself to stay dry.

"You are going to learn to mind your tongue, Jackson," Ares started.

"Why? Want to make me shut up and behave just like you make her?"

I had put enough together. Even when Addie told me about her curse, I thought it was too heavy of a punishment. She had never deserved it, and apparently, Gaia had finally told her that. She looked at me, through the rain, the water around her face making her eyes stand out even more than they already did. Details were still missing from her story, but I didn't have to know them. What mattered is that I stood by my friend and sibling, who at the moment needed me.

"I'm sorry, Addie. I never should have doubted you."

She nodded her head in thanks. Addie didn't say anything, but I had a feeling that was on purpose. She was trying to hold it all in.

"Euadne, get up," Zeus commanded. Addie reluctantly obeyed, but she refused to look at them. She just stared at the tip of Ares's sword like she could will it into her herself. "Tell me what happened. And back off, Ares." You could hear it in Zeus's tone: There was nothing to worry about; she's back under our control.

Addie began her tale in a detached voice, recounting the events of the past three days. I could tell that she didn't want to, but it wasn't like she had much of a choice. She told of her meeting with her brother and Gaia, and how Apollo told her the truth. Honestly, she kept her story short and to the point. The look on Apollo's face told me that a lot more happened between the two of them than she let on.

"And what transpired here? The truth, Euadne," Zeus demanded.

Addie took a deep breath and continued. With every word, her voice got more pained and angry. Her cheeks flushed red, and her fists began clenching at her sides. Addie reached in her back pocket and pulled out the key. She pulled away from the column, looking at it like she could blast it to pieces.

"I needed to get to the key before my brother did. I could never come after it under your control; you would have never let me. He would have come, and I wouldn't have been able to stop him. Gaia would have had the key, and she would have destroyed Mount Olympus. His blood is just as full of the blood of Olympus as mine is, and that is all it took. You want the truth, Lord Zeus? You spent all those years questioning my character, making sure I was on a tight leash so I could never disobey you, and even when I had the chance to oppose you, I decided to stay true to myself and my morals. You took everything from me, and I just betrayed the only full member of my family I have left for a cause led by those who would never do the same for me. I did get my revenge, because it's etched on your faces right now."

She threw it at Zeus's feet, as lightning lit up the sky.

"I know my orders. If you wish to change them or just kill me, you know where to find me… You're welcome."

Addie disappeared, leaving everyone to stare at the spot she had just vanished from.


A/N: So... do you hate me?

Thank you to the reviews and new follows! You guys are effing awesome!

I'm sorry this did not get posted earlier. I was having a tiny bit of writer's block. This chapter strayed from its original outline, but I couldn't be more happy with it. I apologize for any typos I may have missed. It's past my bedtime. :P

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