The Son of Nyx

by Behindyu

When Gabe finally killed the only person who cared for him, he nearly lost it. But before Gabe can seal his fate as well, a certain primordial goddess came his to aide and recued him. Now, a war is coming and he was prophesized to save Olympus because of this Artemis was forced to hide him from Zeus' wrath.

20. For the Better

Chapter 18

-Zoe-

Everyone just looked at her questioningly, seemingly all having the same question in their mind. She made her way towards the gods. "You did it. You burnt the carcass of the Ophiotaurus. You burnt it didn't you."

All eyes then fell back to Percy. He said nothing and had his head lowered. We all waited for the answer to come from him himself.

"Well? Answer us." Boomed Zeus, the only thing he did this night.

I went to Percy's side and patiently waited for him. At some point, I even grabbed his and held it tight. This gesture didn't pass unnoticed by Milady who reacted at my action. After everything that happened tonight, I didn't want to leave his side. If I did, I feel like something bad was bound to happen to him.

I felt him squeeze my hand in his before he looked up. He stared down at the gods before he finally answered.

"I did."

There was a pause in silence like they were taking in what Percy just said. Even Percy patiently waited for their reaction, occasionally squeezing my hand that he was holding.

Athena was the first one to react. A flash engulfed her before she was covered in her battle armor as well. She held a sword in one hand and her famous shield with medusa's face, aegis on the other. "By burning the Ophiotaurus, you have committed treason against the gods." She walked with poise as she stood beside her brethren. "Surrender now or there will be blood spilled."

I didn't see Percy visibly react but I felt the sloshing of water beneath me before stopping. "Alright," he said simply. "But lemme talk with Zoe for a second."

They didn't wait. Athena rushed at us with speed that would have rivaled Milady. But Percy reacted faster. A water spire erected from the ground, incasing us within it. It was hollow on the inside, continuously swirling to the top.

"What on earth are you guys doing?" I heard the goddess of wisdom yell at the others before walking away from us.

"Hey." I heard Percy in the somewhat-dim dome we were in. "I-

I felt a stinging sensation on my healed hand as I whipped my hand to smack him in the face. "What the hades were you thinking? Challenging a god for his title then this?" I gestured at the whole room we were trapped in.

Despite the situation, he still had the nerve to chuckle. I just let out a sigh. He was never the serious type after all. "You really never change."

"But you did," he said.

I raised my eyebrow at him. " What do you mean?" I already experienced the rise and fall of Rome multiple times and experienced much more a normal mortal can handle. What would have changed in me in the last few years he was gone.

He didn't answer my question, verbally at least. He instead lifted his hand which showed our hand that was intertwined. I didn't quite get his point at first before it slowly dawned at me. I quickly took mine away before staring at the ground. I felt myself heating up but I didn't want him to see it. I was sure he would make fun of me... but why would I be affected though.

We fell into an eerie could hear the gods arguing something on the other side. Everything was gibberish except when they state the name of the other. Whatever they were talking about, it wasn't getting them anymore. If I were to guess, they were at the threats part of their conversation now.

"I'm going." he said, breaking the silence. "I need you to stay here with them, no... with the hunt. They're more trustworthy than the gods. If driven with fear, they'll become selfish bastards. You can't trust any of them." He then looked into my eyes, sincerity was all I can see in it. "What I'm gonna do... A very risky mission that-"

"Then take me with you." I said interjecting him. I sounded like a desperate kid trying to force my mother to buy me stuff but I couldn't help it. "We can do it together, whatever your mission is. You'll need more firepower if you're planning to take on an army."

He shook his head. "No, I'm not planning on fighting an army, I'm not that crazy. Think of it..." He paused for a moment to think. "Think of it as a reconnaissance mission. I'll just take at the titan's-"

"The Titans." I just blinked at him. "What are you planning on doing there? You can get killed there."

"Get in, gather info, find my target, get out." He said a-matter-of-factly. "I'm not going to get in fights if I don't have to. I-"

I couldn't control myself anymore. I did another sucker punch to his jaw, making him stumble back and lost his balance. "You st-stupid idiot. Why is it always you risking your life for the stupidest of things?"

I instantly regretted my words. He had a dangerous look on his face while nursing his jaw. "You can call me stupid any time you want but don't you dare..." he closed eyes for a bit as if to concentrate and opened them again. "Saving your own family isn't stupid. You know that better than anyone else." he said, with an edge on his voice.

I didn't say anything else other than just lower my head. 'Sorry' was becoming overrated at this point. I needed to say something else to him but there was nothing to say. Wishing him good luck was all I can think of doing but that would mean I'm just letting him go again. It would mean that he would have my consent and that I would agree on his mission but I agreed with nothing here.

I heard Percy let out a sigh. "I need to go." He strode towards me and engulfed me in a hug. "I'm sorry. It seems all I did was give you pain. You said sorry for all those times when I'm the one who's supposed to be sorry," he said. With every word he said, I felt myself hugging him tighter. I didn't want to let go.

"Goodbye." He broke off the hug and took a step back. "Oh yea, tell the gods, I forfeit that match, and therefore, my lost," he said. He gave me one last look in the eye. When I thought he was gonna do something else, he hesitated before shaking his head. He then turned on his heel before walking deeper into the darkness. Just like that, he was gone.

The hold on the water. It all came crashing down on me, but miraculously, I didn't get wet. All the water just slid past down me, as if my body didn't absorb water.

The gods looked as if they were on the verge of fighting. They were still arguing about something before everyone looked at my direction as if I suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It can't be anymore truer than that.

"Zoe. Where Percy?" asked Milady urgently. Her bow was loaded with an arrow but it wasn't particularly aimed at anybody. From the looks of it, she was ready to fire it at someone.

"Where's the traitor?" added Zeus. He didn't seem particularly upset at anybody, but that can easily change in a blink of an eye especially if he breaks to him the news.

"He's gone," retorted Lady Athena. Guess I didn't need to tell them albeit that was what I originally planned to do..

At the goddess' words, everyone looked around their surroundings. I would have done the same if I hadn't spotted him first. He was in the opposite direction from me. He already had his mask on hiding his features. He was still in the darkness that surrounded him but his eyes... It looked like it was despairing at something that it would never receive but despite that, it forces itself to move on. We held eye contact for a while before he just walked away and completely merged himself with shadows. .

It seemed no one else noticed him but me. I quickly looked away so no one would be suspicious of me staring at one spot. I instead focused on Lord Ares who laid still and crippled. His finger already stopped bleeding but I thought what if the whole hand was severed if I didn't act on time. The thought made me shudder. I saw enough battles to know what an amputated hand would look like. But that didn't mean that I was used to it.

I heard footsteps and the crunching of leaves approach me. I didn't need to look to guess who it was. She stopped somewhere behind me. "We need to talk," said Milady.

I didn't bother turning to her. "I have nothing to say to you," I told her. She acted rashly again. She said she'll help Percy escape from the gods but the first thing she did was shoot him at first contact. She didn't even bother asking what happened. She just jumped the bow and fired.

"Why would you trust that filthy male that nearly killed you over me." she said. "You don't know that he might be a traitor just manipulating you." She went closer to hold my shoulder.

I shrugged her hand off. "He saved me. If he was a bad person, then why would you do that," I said, barely containing my rage. I can't unleash my anger at a goddess, let alone my own mistress. All I can do is defend him and myself verbally from all of her accusations.

"He killed the Ophiotaurus," Milady said exasperatedly. "The Ophiotaurus. The weapon that kills any Olympian. That can kill all of us," she gestured to the other gods. "Don't you understand that?"

"I know Percy, he wouldn't do that without reason." I said, holding my ground. "Besides, he probably wouldn't have done that if you gods," I copied her gesture earlier. "didn't try to kill him when he was still a kid."

She sighed before grabbing both of my shoulders this time. "You're my lieutenant. I need you to disregard your feelings for the male and lead my hunters. If you can't do that then I was wrong to give you that position."

I just stared at her, shocked at her words. She was gonna put me down just because I helped Percy, the only male that the whole hunt trusts. And I didn't have any feelings, he's just my best friend and I care for his well being. I promised her dead sister that I would protect him no matter what. Percy was right, I can't trust any of them, even my own mistress.

I must have been putting a face for her to ask. "Why do you trust that boy over me? I'm your friend Zoe. I've been with you longer than he has?"

I looked at her straight in the eye. "At least he knows he's a friend who tells me stuff and knows how to listen." With that, I walked away from her.

The gods this time were still arguing, more specifically Lady Athena and Lord Hermes. I didn't notice Apollo's return who was just listening to the arguments with an amused look on his face. I needed some alone time, and I can't do that with them having their loud and petty talks. I continued walking and entered the forest. I didn't know where it would lead me but anywhere was better away from those gods.

It was eerily silent at first, but the farther I went from the clearing, the more lively the animals seem to be. Before I knew it, I was drowning in the sounds of the night; Leaves rustling against the cool winds; Birds and crickets chirping their melody away; even the frogs croaking was like music to my ears compared to where I was earlier.

My mind was completely troubled between two sides: Percy's and Milady's. Percy is just a demigod who's just completely doing his thing without affecting the gods in any way. But my Milady was right. Why would he kill the Ophiotaurus to gain its powers that can kill the gods? He can't have a drastic reason enough to resort to that can he? He did say that he was going to the titans to investigate something. That might be his reason, so he can be stronger when faced with a conflict.

You can't bias towards a male Zoe. My own thoughts countered. Even if it's Percy, you need to check on both perspectives before making an assumption.

Or, did he go to them to surrender himself and join their ranks? He has the skill to match the gods. All he needed was the power to kill them. For revenge. That was where the Ophio-

I physically shook my head and removed those thoughts. He wouldn't do such a thing. He said it himself. He was just gonna go there on a reconnaissance mission. Nothing more. Nothing less.

But he's a male, he may succumb to power he has and use it for his own deeds. said my own thoughts again.

I frustratedly scratched my hair as my own thoughts argued with me. "Damn it Zoe. STOP OVERTHINKING." I looked around for the nearest tree. I didn't care anymore and started venting my anger out on the poor undergrowth.

"Damn it. Damn it. Damn it." I cursed without holding back, punching everytime I did. Small chunks of bark flew away from the trunk as I unleash my wrath upon it. Finally, I just smash my forehead on it, wanting to just forget all of this.

My fist stung from punching the prickly trunk but didn't bled. Something itched on my back and I instantly reached for it. Throughout all of that, I still felt my bow on my back. Wait, didn't I throw that away.

I dislodged my bow and quiver. On top of the latter, there was a note attached to it.

'Brought your bow back to you in case you need it for something. You're probably gonna go on a hunt after all of that to vent that temper of yours. (JK XD pls. don't kill me when you see me next time)

-Percy'

I chuckled at his note. "You need to work on your handwriting."

This guy really knows me about me too much. I still can't believe that he would kill the Ophiotaurus... What the hades am I thinking, this is Percy we're talking about. Killing and revenge isn't his thing.

He's right. I need to go on a hunt. I inspected the bow. It really was mine that I threw away earlier. I tested the taut string and it was still fine after my carelessness earlier. I shouldered the quiver and stood up.

"Let's go on a hunt then." I said to no one in particular. With that, I took off towards a no particular direction. Hopefully I find a big game that can feed me through the night.

-Percy-

"That could've gone better," I said to no one in particular. Letting everything in place like that, it wasn't my plan. Especially about them finding out about the Ophiotaurus. I couldn't have easily lied to them but they would continue to press on the topic. Why delay the inevitable?

I just let out a sigh and let my thoughts freely flow as I stare at the slowly changing sky. It was now the brink of dawn and I still haven't gotten any rest since I rescued Zoe. And to add to that, I even faced a god and lost control, thinking it was Gabe I was fighting instead of the god of war.

The picture of the amputated finger was still fresh in my mind. I didn't what triggered me to see an illusion like that. The only thing I saw was red when I remembered him, I can only think of two causes of that, I really lack control or him...

"Yo," he said, welcoming himself into my thoughts. "At least you remembered about me. You keep ignoring me after all."

I just closed my eyes but remained awake for the most part. In the darkness, I saw him appear out of nowhere. His shriveled face and weird looking wings still look how I remember them.

He gave one of his evil grins. "So how was it?" he started. "Was it fun? Hopefully it was." He then look around our place before looking back at me. "C'mon, can you at least conjure a bar for us while we talk. It's not very comforting to stare at the weird abyss of your mind you know."

I just glared at him before complying. One by one, all the things I thought of. Bare concrete walls slowly appeared surrounding us. A bed appeared on his side while a comforting chair appeared on mine. I slunked down on mine before looking at him expectantly.

"What is this? I said a bar not a one block shitty room," he said complaining.

"Oh wait. I forgot the most important detail." In a second a row bar appeared from the ground and sealed him inside the room. "Now let's talk inner conscience."

"Inner demon." he corrected. "There is a difference you know," he let his hands hang outside like a real inmate of a prison. "So this is your idea fun huh. Gotta say, kind of dark."

"I prefer to think of it as having a symbol," I said to him. "It symbolizes you being trapped inside my mind forever.

"Oh I thought it symbolizes you don't like me," he said. He walked away from the bars and sat on the floor, his back against the bed frame. "Your heart knows about what I did to you right? Go ahead then. Ask away."

I shifted in my literally imaginary chair, at least it was comfy. "Not really actually. Just wanted to thank you for helping me back there. You saved me twice there." Now that I'm saying it aloud in my mind, it was starting to sound too weird.

I waited for his reaction or him to say anything. There was a pause of silence before he started laughing. "You really think I did it for you? No, I did it for myself so I can escape this wasteland," he gestured to my whole brain. "Don't mistake my intentions- "

"Yea. Yea I know. I wont forget that." I stood up and went in front of his prison and grabbed the door part. He just blinked at me before I pulled the door and swung it open. "But you're free you know. You just don't realize it." I joined him inside the prison and held it out for him to take. "Free to be my friend that is."

"Tsk. You're just lonely so you're saying that."

"Says the one who talks to no one but me," I said to him, smirking.

He looked at my hand before looking back at me. He just let out a sigh. "Don't expect me to be buddy-buddy with you." He then grabbed my hand before pulling him up.

"A friend who has your back is better than the sharpest sword."

"Sure, sure. And friends are those who haven't attacked you yet," he retorted with a vicious smirk.

"Oh but i'm pretty sure you won't do that," I said.

"Oh really?" He then pulled me towards him before punching me in the gut.

I instantly woke up and grabbed my stomach. "The hades?" Sunlight hit my eyes as I saw it rise up from the horizon. I was back on my perched tree. I didn't realize that I fell asleep during that.

"Get going." I heard him talk inside my head. "You still have an appointment with that girl right?" he said but I didn't remember what he was talking about.

"What girl." I then remembered the encounter two nights ago in my own home. "Oh."

"Percy?" I heard a familiar voice call my name. A voice that shouldn't be here right now. "Percy," it called out again.

I followed the source this time and saw a head protruded from underneath the branch I was sitting on. A certain volcanic rocky eyes stared back at me.

"Zoe?" I ended up ignoring her and looking away. A mistake, a fist connected with my rib making me reel back.

"What the hades. Zoe" She was now on the same branch I was on. "Why- How are you real? You're supposed to be back with the gods."

She then showed her bow to me and a rabbit's meat. It looked like it was well cooked despite using only primitive methods. "Hunting," she said simply. "Why are you back here? Didn't you say you have a place you have to be?"

I was still too baffled to find her here that I didn't even register her question properly. "No. I get to ask the questions here." I stood up to her height. "What are you doing here? Didn't the gods take you back to camp." I said, having trouble deciding what I should have been having right now.

"Not exactly." she said before taking a bite of a chunk of her rabbit meat. "I ran away before they could... if they even would really. But I don't wanna go back."

"What do you mean?" I asked. I followed her just off the edge. She sat down with her legs dangling above the long fall below as I waited for her to answer my question.

"Things happen when you help a supposed delinquent escape..." she said. "...And when you get into an argument with your best friend whom you've known for years," she added.

"Oh." It came out softer than I thought it would. It was all I could say after all after just leaving her there without any real consent from her. My plan was at least to let her know about this so she would have an idea about the risk of this mission and the possibility of my long absence.

She must have seen the look on my face before she said. "I wasn't talking about you," she said, a tone of sadness in her voice. "I was talking about Lady Artemis. She...She should have helped you instead of nearly killing you."

"Don't hold it against her. She might just have been pressured by the other gods. That's all," I said, trying to reassure her. "She's still smarter and better than any other gods out there. And, I still trust her."

She looked at me as if I was delusional. "How could you still say that after what she did last night. You nearly got captured because of her."

I glanced at the small figure of leaves below us. "True. But I know that she wouldn't turn against you and me without having any reason," I told her.

"No she didn't have any particular reason," she then paused as if she remembered something. "Wait she said that she was hearing voices."

They instantly got my attention. "Voices? Like someone whispering into her ear what to do?"

She thought for a second. "I don't know. She said that it told her... things. I'm sorry that's all I know."

That was more than enough to confirm my suspicion. Hecate has a spell that allows her to control the gods. Voodoo magic.

Hecate personally showed and told me that she wouldn't use her voodoos on the gods. She had a whole collection of the Olympians. The only one she hadn't created was the pacifist of the elder siblings, a Lady Hestia voodoo. She quoted, 'I didn't need to. She listens to us minor goddesses. '

The only misleading thing here, she never tested the voodoo dolls once. Even if she did, she wouldn't have any confirmation that it actually worked. So either Artemis was being voodooed by someone other than Aunt Hecate or it is completely something else entirely and I'm just overthinking thoughts.

"I need to go," I said finally. "Do you want me to drop you off at camp first?" I asked her.

She had her head lowered. "I dunno," I heard her mumble out. "It's my fault. It's my carelessness that lead us into this situation. If I was just more alert then we wouldn't have been wiped out by those gods. You wouldn't have given away your position just to rescue me. That's what they wanted to happen and I just fell into their beat."

She hugged her knees to her chest. "I failed them. After all of this, I don't know who I can trust anymore. I can't even trust myself anymore." She then turned to me. "If you're not taking me with you, Can you at least me leave me here. I-"

"Shut up." I had enough of her self-loathing.

"Wait what?"

"I said shut up. Enough of this self-pitying and 'it's my fault' crap." I said to her with my voice slightly raised. "Why can't you see the goodness in yourself after living for so long with a cause that protects other people." I grabbed her by the hands and pulled her up. She still had that sad look in her eyes and I need to change that. "You are one of the person's I have faith in Zoe. That will never change. Just because you had a fluke doesn't mean that you're a bad person. it just makes you like everyone else. it just makes you, more you."

Her eyes seemed to sparkle at my words as she stared back at me. Despite its appearance and usual intensity, I never knew it could be so mesmerizing and soft to look at. She looked away before I can fully fall into her trance-illusive eyes. "S-stop saying things to make me feel better." she said, sounding doubtful at her own words.

I went on. "You're the most amazing person I know. So have a little more faith on yourself." I said to her but she just refused to meet my eyes anymore. I sighed. "If you don't take it from me, take it from them instead." Using the shadow from the leaves above us, I opened up a portal to their camp. "See ya later Zoe and stay safe." Hopefully I do see her later.

"Wai-" she said, panicking. "Percy..." She wasn't able to continue as she was swallowed up by the shadow.

"Also you can't be the character with trust issues. That role was already taken." That's what I would have said to her if she was still here but I didn't handle any more of my dark thoughts. I just needed to finish this mission and that was final.

-XxX-

-Zoe-

Falling. It was the only thing I can feel right now. Physically and mentally speaking. I was falling through the abyss made for me faster than my self-esteem diminishing from every encounter. It seems that everything I did lately just led to fighting and chaos. All ending against my favor. And those choices were all made by me alone yet every one else was affected by it. Maybe Lady Artemis was right. I'm too preoccupied with Percy and it's slowly affecting me.

"Zoe." I heard a voice called out. I didn't even notice the fall ended and I appeared in the middle of the infirmary. It seemed that I popped up so suddenly that everyone just stopped what they were doing at that moment. All eyes were on me. More specifically, the team I came with me during the hunt and the one that got involved during the fight.

Cassie had bandages all over her arms but other than that she was fine. She was beside Kestrel - looked far better than her - who she was probably chatting earlier. Our medic, Atlanta, was holding on a tray that she was gonna serve to other patients. The only remaining patients were Lyra Alyssa and Gwen who were grouped together and sitting on their beds.

"ZOE" everyone screamed and rushed to me and engulfed me in a huge. Even

the ever-so-composed Lyra and Atlanta, dropping her tray, joined in.

"You're alright." said Kestrel. "See I told y'all she'll be fine."

"I'm sorry for worrying all of you guys." I said as the hug turned into a group huddle.

"Of course she was," Atlanta this time." She had Percy with him. They're unstoppable if they're together." Everyone just nodded in chorus.

"Wait, you guys know Percy?" I asked all of them.

Gwen, one of the newer hunters, spoke up. "Atlanta told us about him. When can we meet him?"

I eyed Atlanta who just looked back at me. "What? They deserve to know who their savior was and the greatest male out of the male populace out there."

"Greatest huh?" Lyra sounded doubtful and unconvinced at Atlanta's word.

Others started pouring in from the outside. They must have heard the commotion we were making and came to investigate. From the crowd, I could see Phoebe making her way to the front.

"Good to have you back lieutenant." said Phoebe before she pulled me into a quick hug. My title felt like an unpleasant noise that I didn't want to hear. After the blunders I made and my talk with Milady, I don't feel like taking up the title again.

I noticed Phoebe looking at me. "You worried about the attack?" she asked as if she knew what I was thinking. No point in hiding it then.

I nodded at her, numbly. " I can't lead the girls if all I do is make a blunder."

Her face of concern quickly turned into anger. When I thought she was gonna chew me one and add salt to the wound, she turned to the others.

"Did you hear that girls? Our greatest lieutenant that has led this group for two thousand years refuses to lead us anymore just because of one fluke." A silence came after her words that was until one girl started booing. That action led to a domino effect and everyone joined in as well. Phoebe held out a stop gesture and everything was silent again.

"Apparently she lost all of the self-esteem she built up through the years after the accident." They started murmuring with one another. "You guys know what she needs right now?"

Silence fell amongst them once again, anticipating what Phoebe was about to say next. "All the applause and thanks she deserves for taking up responsibility and tolerating our never ending insubordination. Let's hear it for Zoe."

Choruses of cheers and thank you's reverberated inside the infirmary tent. Everyone was clapping and whistling in an unlady-like manner and it was all for me.

I noticed Phoebe smirking at me. "Is that enough to fill up your ego again Milady." she said in half-mockery.

I was never really used to this kind of thing. Basking in all of their applause, adoration and kindness. But as I look at each of their cheering faces, filled with nothing but sincerity and genuineness, it doesn't feel so bad every once in a while.

-XxX-

-Percy-

"This is the place." I was back where I faced off against The General. It was as desolate as it was before. No signs of life seen on the top of the mountain anywhere except for the one who holds the sky himself. But I made sure not to be spotted by him or anyone else in this occasion.

"Ah yes. Where the earth meets the sky." said a particular in my head. "A kind of sad story but not really my type."He just pops in and talks whenever he feels like it. "I can hear you."

"That's better actually." I replied without missing a beat. "Now where is she? She said she'll meet us here." I find this place so barren that I hardly believe this is a rendezvous point. Worse of all, there was no protection from the blazing heat. It was scorching hot at 12 noon and there was no shelter anywhere.

I don't even know how she'll get here. Ladon guards the entrance to this place so...

"Hey." I heard a girl voice behind me. I instantly drew out my sword and faced. She looked at me with a curious eye before she raised her hands. "I didn't notice you have different eyes before," she said. I felt something tingle inside my head. I shook my head and pointed my blade at her throat.

"Never seen you before in my life. And I can make it sure it never happens twice." I said threateningly. "Care to talk about who you are?" I heard Gelo going 'oooh, scary' in my head but I just ignored him.

She backed away from my sword a bit before she started speaking. "Two nights ago, you faced an imposter yea?" she asked. I didn't answer her to which she got the message and just continued. "That was me. I used a potion given to me by Lady Hecate herself."

My eyes narrowed at her. She looked no older than me. Possibly the same age as me. She gave off a regal vibe and looked like she was from a Hispanic descent.

"Uhuh. What's your name and Why did you try to use the mist against me now?" I asked, not letting up.

"My name is Reyna." she said. "And I was checking if you were an imposter or not. I already concluded that you weren't." She had a steady gaze as if she wasn't faltered by my presence nor my blade. "Though I heard another voice there. Are you perhaps Schizophrenic?"

I can hear bursts of laughter ring inside my head. "Oh man. Haha."

'Shut up.' I mentally told him but he didn't listen. His cackles just went on before it sounded as if it was slowly fading away from the background and then it was gone.

"That's none of your business, Reyna." I lowered my blade but didn't hide it back into my sheathe. I still didn't fully trust her at all.

"Let's just get on with it already. Where are we heading?"

She nodded. "Follow me." She started walking in the opposite direction and I followed suit. "It's not that far from here."

I raised my eyebrow at her and just looked around the barren land and was nearing the edge of it. "Where is here exactly? There is nothing here but a wasteland."

She didn't answer. Instead she stopped and peered over the edge of the mountain. "Come here."

I did what I was told and followed her gaze. My eyes widen at the view. It was a castle underneath the mountain, more like beside it. It wasn't as big as the ones you read in fairytales but nonetheless still impressive. "Is that a castle? How come none of the Olympians found this?"

"No, they knew it about this. This served as the fortress of the Titans during the first Titanomachy," she explained. "When the titans lost, the gods tore it down to the ground and left nothing but ashes. My guess is that since there is a second Titanmachy, it was rebuilt and reused by the titans."

"And the gods don't know anything about this?"

"They suspect nothing. All they know is that this doesn't exist anymore," she pointed out. "And I'm certain that they are keeping Hecate here."

The fortress looked impressive even from afar. Spires protruded the four corners and in the middle of it. I squinched at my eyes as I noticed something. Everything was stark black. From the high walls that surrounded it to the roofs that barely absorbed any light at all. "If we're gonna raid that thing I need you to answer a few questions first."

She glared at me. "We don't have time to answer 20 questions." she said, irritated.

"I don't even know you. Let alone trust you yet." I retorted. "You wanna risk going on a risky mission with someone who doesn't trust you?" She tried staring me down with her glare but I returned it with one of my own. She just let out a sigh of defeat a few moments later.

"You're more hostile than what Lady Hecate said you were." she said.

"My personality is me." I said to her. "But my attitude depends on you." She didn't say anything else other than glare at me. I took the initiative to break the silence by asking her the questions now. "How do you know about Aunt Hecate?"

Her glare faltered. I guess it was a question that she didn't want to hear. "Circe's island. It was overrun by Pirates by now. When we-" she hesitated. "When I escaped them by fighting back, I had nowhere to go. That was when I found out about Lady Hecate, Circe's mother..."

I saw her hands trembling now. I guess I can't force the story out of her in one sitting. "You can stop now if you don't want to continue.

She nodded gratefully before turning away from me. If I keep on prying with questions, then this wouldn't end well for us and the mission.

-Line break-

"Okay I'm good now." she said.

I nodded at her. I now started thinking about the obvious questions. "How do we get down there?"

"You see that small pond of water over there?" she asked, to which I nodded. "The titans can easily just teleport inside and out of the fortress. For the demigods, those who get to go here anyway, need to do a leap of faith first."

"And this is all just your theory?" I half-guessed and half-asked. I placed myself directly above the pool and looked down. "It doesn't look too bad. Are you ready yet?"

I turned to see she was staring at me. She gave me 'are you mad?' look. "No. No way are we jumping there."

"Way." I grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her to the edge with me.

Of course I positioned myself properly before basking in the last moments of heat and sunlight. All the while hearing her bellowing screams and curses as we plummeted to the pond.

We hit the water with a loud splash and thankfully it was deep. Too deep actually that I couldn't even see the bottom of it. I quickly propelled myself upwards and broke the surface of the water.

I panicked when my companion didn't surface back up as well. "Reyna?" I looked around and waited until another figure broke the surface.

"I'm here." she said while panting and relief washed over me but it was short-lived. "You freaking son of dimwitted half-blood. Why did you jump off when you could have just shadow traveled us to the bottom?" she shouted in an angry tone.

I should have been more sensitive but my carefreeness always shone through. "At least admit it that it was fun."

"No it wasn't."

We swam for the shore and I used my powers to instantly make ourselves dry. Up close, the black fortress looked gigantic and menacing. But in the daylight, it stuck out like a sore thumb with its dark shade.

"C'mon," she urged and I joined her on the drawbridge. I looked at the supposed moat below us. Where there should have been water was nothing but dried ground. It was just barren as the mountain atop. The only difference was this one smelled, smelled of corpses and blood. I glanced at the holes on the sides and I could have sworn subtle movements. Maybe this really wasn't filled with water before.

She just kept on walking onwards and I just followed her. A thought then occurred to me. "Are we really just going to storm on inside?"

"Ssshhh." She then looked around to check if there was anyone around. "Are you an idiot? What if people heard you just now? And this was supposed to be an infiltration at night," she hissed, especially emphasizing on the last word.

I let out a sigh. "I was kinda busy the other nights. Haven't had a proper rest in awhile.

"Then you have no reason to complain then," she said. She did another round of glances. "Just follow my lead. Once we have her, you bail us out of there got it?"

I nodded. "Alright."

Weirdly enough, the front doors were left unguarded and wide. The vibe that I was getting was 'Welcome. Come in. Any who made that jump can just walk right in and join us.' We pressed on but proceeded with caution. The inside was as grand as the outside. By grand, I meant it was still fully drenched in black. Indescribable paintings hang on their concrete walls. I don't need to be an artist to know that these paintings are not your standard hang-on-the-wall paintings.

"Titans really have a weird taste," she breathed out. She wasn't wrong there. She suddenly went serious again. "If they had a dungeon, it would be in their basement," she suggested.

"You watch too many movies." I said to her.

"I do not," she pouted behind me as I continued onwards.

By now, we were just wandering aimlessly now. With every corner we turn, the more we get. No one came to meet us on the entrance and we expected to meet someone by now but no such luck.

"Where is everyone?" asked Reyna. We were just now propped against the wall for a quick break.

"Do you think if we shout, everyone will come rushing here?" I asked. She looked at me as if I was hysterical.

"Who are you guys?"

We instinctively turned to the voice. A scrawny asian boy stood in the last intersection of where we came from. He also had a distinctive eyepatch on his left eye.

"New recruits? And you are?" I asked Reyna in a calm tone.

"Oh." He sounded disappointed. I just narrowed my eyes at him but he refused to look at me. Everytime he looked at me, he quickly looked away. "I'm Ethan, son of Nemesis. I'm somewhat new to this as well but..." he paused. "At least I memorized the lay of the land?" He said proudly.

Me and Reyna glanced at each other. We seemed to have thought of the same thing before looking back at him. "So you know where everything is then?" I asked. He nodded at me.

"How convenient." said Gelo, making me jump in surprise, mentally. Reyna seemed to have noticed it though.

Reyna smiled at him. "Great. Can you give us a tour then?"

His smug look earlier faltered and was replaced by a shy stuttering 'yes' man. "Y-Yea s-sure. This place you've entered is like a labyrinth." He then thought for a second. "I even think that you guys are nearing the entrance to it."

"There's an entrance to the Labyrinth here?" I asked, surprised. If there was one, that would explain the titans not jumping like the other demigods.

"But the Titans are the only ones who can access that place so you're not even allowed here," he added.

"Oh that's our bad then," said Reyna, unlike Ethan, her smile didn't falter. "Can you lead the way then?"

"Yea alright."

With that, we glided through the maze like corridors with Ethan explaining everything. He even threw in the reason why he joined the titans. It was the lack of attention that minor gods, like his mom, receives. Finally the walls started changing color... Not only the shade of black was changing. I took that as a sign that we were entering a certain area.

-Line Break-

He showed us every room inside the castle:dining, throne, kitchen, quarters, conference etc. He did all of that while googling over Reyna. It wouldn't take a genius to know that he was actually checking her out.

He showed us everything except for a set of stairs that led to their basement or an upper floor. I was torn between irritation, frustration or just knocking him out of consciousness and just leaving him behind. The latter would work as he never really paid any attention to me. But that still leaves finding the dungeon.

Reyna seemed to sense my distress and asked. "So... where do guys keep your prisoners here?"

Ethan blinked. "The titans said they don't take prisoners. So I hardly doubt it that they have one."

By then, I was ready to just go on with my latter plan. He has wasted our time long enough already. But Reyna gave me a pleading look. A look that said, 'give me one more chance.' I just let out an internal sigh and hung back a bit.

"So Ethan?" Reyna started.

"Hm?" Ethan glanced over his shoulder. We turned another corner, two cyclops came into view, heading towards where we came from. When we were about to cross paths, they finally acknowledged our presence.

"Hey half-brat." called out one cyclops. "Who are those?" He asked, pointing at me and Reyna.

Ethan seemed scared of them. "T-They're the new recruits. Both jumpers."

"What jumpers," said the same cyclops with his voice raised.

This was getting bad. I met Reyna's eyes and I pointed on the shadow on the floor. She seemed to understand what I meant but she held her hand in a 'wait a minute' gesture.

Ethan was shaking at the presence of the two. "Y-you k-know? W-where you j-jump from the m-moun-"

The other cyclop clapped his hand on the back of his brethren. "He means the test of courage and pledge of loyalty for the humans Brad."

The first cyclops or brad, started laughing as if someone made a funny joke. He turned then to us with an impressed look on his face. "Good job on surviving the fall. Most demigods lost consciousness on the way down from panicking then fell to the bottom of the lake."

Reyna gasped, making the two cyclops turn their attention on her. "And a pretty girl willing to join our ranks as well?" asked Brad.

Brad made his way to us but suddenly stopped dead in tracks. He was looking at something on Reyna. "Where's your bracelet?" he inquired.

I noticed Reyna visibly panicked. "We weren't given any when we jumped."

"You were supposed to be one before you jump by the Hesperides," he said menacingly.

"Bracelets? You mean this?" I stretched out my hand to him and opened my palm. To everyone else, what they're seeing right now was an exact replica of the scythe bracelet Ethan was wearing.

He went closer and took it from my hands. He brought to his face as if to thoroughly inspect it.

"We wouldn't really have this problem if I knew this was what you were looking for. He twirled it around his fingers to check every nook and cranny of it. When he was satisfied, he gave it back to me and turned back to Reyna. He didn't even say anything else to me.

"A little precautionary measure in case a spy comes in or whatever." he said, waving his hands in the air, giving to his 'whatever'. He then acted confidently in front of her as if nothing happened earlier. He then placed his hand over her shoulders.

"So where do you want to go?" he asked, dragging her along with him. His companions stared at him dubiously. Reyna on the other hand looked visibly uncomfortable from the contact but was putting up with it. Just watching it was unpleasant to look at. I need to put an end to this.

I grabbed him by the hand on her shoulder. "Hey Brad." Both stopped on their tracks. "Get your hands off. She's taken."

We had a stare down right then and there. He was backing down. Then I realized I was still holding his hand. I tried prying his hands away from her and to my astonishment, I was able to, slowly. Even Brad was surprised at my strength. He pulled his hand back to stand over me.

"I take whatever I want half-bred." he said, his face just right in front of mine. "And if I say I want her, then I'm getting her useless half-bred."

I let out a chuckle. "It's funny how people keep saying that." At that moment, I drew a dagger to his neck. "So if I say I want your bloodied head, can I have it?"

He looked confused at first before he noticed the blade gleaming just right in front of him. That was when he finally realized that his life was on the line. His smugness disappeared and was replaced by a cowering fear one.

"I'm sorry. It was my mistake." With that, he withdrew and backed away from me and Reyna. I sheath my weapon back without shedding any blood.

I then turned to the two spectators. "Are we going to continue the tour or not?" I tried acting interested even after the incident. "You guys have a second floor right? The view must be good from there?"

"Y-yeah sure." said Ethan shakily. I guess I kind of scared him as well. After all, he was hitting on her as well. "J-just follow me."

With that we continued on down the concrete walls, leaving the two monsters without saying anything else.

I walked behind Ethan and to my surprise, Reyna was with me. Earlier she was chatting with Ethan.

"Uh hey." Reyna started awkwardly.

"Hmm?"

She was fidgeting with something on her hand. It looked like a golden amulet. "Umm thanks for earlier. I guess I owe you now." she said

"Not really," I said nonchalantly. "Saving women from this kind of man... it would be easier to just kill them." I saw Ethan flinch at my words and I smirked. That's what he gets for listening to our conversation.

Reyna just raised an eyebrow at my direction before looking ahead. "At least she's right about that one."

We finally reached a spiral staircase that led both up and down.

'Finally,' I screamed mentally, but for some reason Reyna noticed my reaction. But instead of saying anything about it, she just went to Ethan and asked. "I'm guessing that this leads to the dungeon right?"

He nodded. "If they have any prisoners at all, they'll be down there. Why do you ask?"

"No particular reason," she said cheerily before starting up the stairs. She stopped before reaching midway. "We're allowed here right?"

He thought for a second. "Probably. They didn't say anything about going upstairs so -"

"Great." She sprinted up the stairs. Ethan turned to the wall, "After you." I raised an eyebrow at his action before he himself climbed the stairs. Now, I was alone. It took a moment to realize what just happened. "Nice work Reyna," I smirked. I then headed the opposite direction, pulling my mask up and preparing my short swords. The infiltration mission begins here.

I raced down to the bottom of the spiraling steps without catching a sweat. The walls began to change to a faded yellow as I went deeper. An occasional torch was strapped to the wall, lighting up the whole area.

At the bottom, torches parallel to each other greeted me. Along with a moist and damp atmosphere and medieval-styled wooden door. I grabbed a torch and opened the door and... another hallway.

I sighed. I guess this wouldn't really be an easy mission. I took another glance behind me before pressing onwards. This sector of the castle was obviously not maintained. The walls had holes and cracks on them. Some had undergrowth growing from the outside, covering parts of the floor and walls.

Ahead of me stood an iron bar wall. It had an empty slot where the door should have been. As soon as I passed the doorway, a rancid smell hit my nose. Rows of dark cells stood empty on both sides.

I didn't pay any attention to other details behind the bars. All I needed to know was that she wasn't inside of any of them. I heard an occasional clattering noise and growls but I paid no attention to them. I run past through all of them before turning a corner. I stopped dead in my tracks as soon as I did. One cell had a light coming out of it.

I shadow travelled to the cell beside it. I peered inside. A woman in shackles hangs on the wall by her hands.

"Aunt Hecate?" I called out.

It heard my voice. She slowly lifted her head. I held in my breath. It was really her. She seemed surprised to see me at first before it quickly changed to terror.

"No. Percy, leave this place before it's -" The light inside her prison suddenly went out. She didn't move. Her mouth was still open from speaking earlier as if someone pressed the pause button on her.

"Aunt?" I called her out. She didn't respond nor showed any signs of movements. Then she was suddenly getting sucked into the darkness. I shook the bars violently again and again to get her attention but nothing happened

I started to panic. I tried shadow travelling inside but it felt like running into a brick wall. Something was stopping me from getting inside.

"No. No. Nooo." I screamed as I tried breaking the bars itself but despite its old age, it held shut and still. And then just like that she was gone.

I couldn't even react in anger as I heard footsteps grew closer and closer and it wasn't alone.

"No, let them come," I heard Gelo say. "Let's just kill them all," he finished darkly.

"You again." A familiar voice sounded. It was none other than the dirty cyclops, Brad with his friend beside him and tons of monsters behind him. I can estimate at least more than twenty monsters of different breeds. "You're gonna get it now half-bred or should I say trespasser." He then started laughing what was supposed to be his evil laugh. "I'll tell you this, leave us the girl and we'll let you go. How does that sound."

I just quietly drew a throwing dagger. "Does anybody what a knife in your throat sound like?" I asked them. Nobody answered. "No? Hear it is then." I threw my dagger with precision to the braggy cyclops. He started choking on the blade and started drowning on his own blood. He tried to dislodge it from his throat but before he could do so, he turned into dust, dying a painful death. Everyone just stared at the remains of their supposed leader while I took the opportunity to shadow travel to the very corner of the room.

"It sounds like that." I yelled to the monsters and I started running from where I came from. I just dropped my torch with them as I always forget that I can see in the dark.

A familiar iron bar and wooden doors met me. There was no lock on both entrances so I just sped up the stairs. The closer I got to the ground level, the louder I could hear an alarm going off. I still needed to find Reyna before we could leave this place.

Up the stairs, I could hear the dying cries of the monsters. I followed the source and saw Reyna fighting off against 3 enemies at once with knocked-out Ethan just beside her.

She maneuvered gracefully with her blade which to my surprise was golden in color. I would have helped her there but she already defeated two of them when I got to the top of the stairs.

"Reyna." I called her out. She glanced at my direction before severing the cyclops' arm and beheading him. I shivered at her brutality.

I grabbed her hand and shadow travelled us back to the ground floor. I didn't need to say anything to her before we took in another run.

"Where's Hecate," she asked.

"Gone again. They took her away before I could get to her."

"Damnit."

We rounded another corner and a wave of monsters and humans looked surprised on our sudden appearance. It took a second for them to realize we were the targets and charging at us.

Reyna readied her blade and so did I with my short swords. We cut through them just like hacking away grass that grew too tall. They didn't put up too much of a fight. Partial reason for that, was that they didn't have any weapons of any sort on them.

All the monsters were turned into dust while the humans were left bloodied and injured, not dead.

"Do you remember where the exit is?" I asked in breaths. Before she could answer, screams of monsters and footsteps came from where we were earlier.

"Follow me," she yelled through the noise and I did. She led us to the entrance via the confusing maze of the castle while killing veil monsters and incapacitating human enemies.

Blinding light was beckoning us on the end of the hallway. The final stretch. My body was already strained from abusing the shadow travelling. I wouldn't have any strength to travel that far and let alone both of us at the same time.

The monsters from the prison still roared behind us. Maybe I should have taken them out before going upstairs. I had nothing else to stop them in their tracks and all I can do now is keep running.

"Faster. We're almost out of here." She herself was already tired. She already put away his golden blade and resorted to just running.

The light at the end was finally within reach. What I didn't expect to see was an army of monsters just beyond the drawbridge. I turned back but the monsters were already assembled there as well. Both sides advanced, and we were slowly losing ground.

I looked up to the sky and and the ground on our feet. There weren't any proper shadows that I could use to shadow travel us. Beneath the bridge, wolf-like monsters with an extra set of arms. They growled savagely at us, foam oozing at their mouths, anticipating us falling off. We were trapped.

I turned to Reyna. She had a golden coin in her hand before tossing it in the air. She caught it midair and it transformed to a golden spear.

I glanced at the monsters on both sides and estimated at least thirty in total. In our current condition, chances of winning them were against us. Our only chance was to escape them somehow.

I took another glance at the monsters below. They looked more vicious but they weren't as many.

"We're going down." I whispered to her. I grabbed her free hand and readied myself. When they finally chose to advance, I ran to the front of the drawbridge, dragging Reyna along with me. Before I could make contact with them, I jumped off the edge. The momentum was enough for us to hit the walls of the chasm. I punched a hole on it with my blade which slowed our fall.

I turned to the monsters on the bridge and they just watched our movement. I turned to the new enemies and they looked at us with anticipation. I removed my blade and quickly took three small red balls and threw it below us.

Before we landed, red smoke exploded, blocking the vision of everyone inside it. I landed on my feet and caught Reyna in a bridal carry. "Sorry. Sorry," I apologized as I ran through the smoke to the direction I threw the other balls. I dodged and weaved and every monster we bumped into. I saw the nearest but biggest hole and ran to it, nearly tripping on the uneven terrain.

Once inside, I threw a mist on the entrance making it look empty on the outside. I gently sat Reyna on her feet and I leaned on the wall for the support, exhaustion was overwhelming me.

"You're hurt." I heard Reyna. I glanced at myself. I didn't even notice the number of lacerations all over my body and limbs until it presented itself by sending me waves of pain.

"Here drink this." She presented me a vial with contents that looked similar to what I usually make. I took it from her and downed it one gulp, not bothering to at least taste a sip of it.

I felt my wounds mend itself together though slowly but it didn't recover any energy I expended.

"You...need to... go," I said, gasping between breaths. We both glanced at the other end at the same time but it was a dead end.

"There's no other way to go?" She then looked at me sternly. "Besides I'm not leaving you."

"Much appreciated." Just beyond the mist, a monster came into view. He stopped at first but suspected nothing and continued moving. "But out of the topic," I added. "I still need to find her and bring her back safely."

A loud boom came from outside and shook the cave we were in. The monsters that were roaming about, scattered and rushed into their respective holes. Fortunately no one lived inside the one we were in.

Another resounding boom rocked the cave. It was weaker than the first one.

"Come out." Boomed a voice. "Perseus Jackson, son of poseidon. Reyna Ramirez-Arellano, daughter of Bellona."

'Bellona? But isn't that roman?' I glanced at Reyna who was more focused on listening to the voice.

Just beneath the bridge, a man wearing a tuxedo stood with his hair wrapped in a ponytail. "I am Prometheus, titan of forethought. I know how everything goes down. Your struggle will be pointless and it is best that you surrender now," he said.

I noticed Reyna looking at me as if she was about to say something. I waited for her to say it but she didn't so I went first.

"You need to go."

This made her scowl. "We had this talk and it's not gonna happen," she said. The titan then started walking. His leather shoes cracking the stones beneath it.

"Then grab my hand, we're gonna shadow travel out of here." I said to her and she obliged. He was getting closer now. "Take a deep breath."

I heard her exhale for a bit before inhaling. When she was done, I used to shadow beneath her to teleport her away. She had a sudden look of terror on her face when I let go of her hand. I saw her look one last time before it vanished, another wave nauseating pain overwhelmed me.

I lazily splayed my limbs on the ground as I stared on the ceiling, wishing I could see the morning sky.

"You're really an idiot, you know that?" I heard Gelo talk inside my head.

"Yet you're still here with me." I replied. "Mind lending me your power for a bit. I could really use it right now."

"Why do you seek to bear everything alone? You won't accomplish anything in doing that?"

I inwardly chuckled, "I'm not alone. I have you."

"Am I supposed to be flattered?" he asked nonchalantly. "Here." I felt my body lighten up a bit. My muscle hurt all around but at least I could move.

"Thanks." I stretched out my limbs, preparing for another bout, before bringing the mist down and going outside.

The twenty-foot titan perked up and when he finally left. He stood in front of an army of monsters. It was clear who was leading the operations here.

"You know, it's not too late to surrender." I said to him. "You might damage your expensive suit." I pointed the tip at him.

"That's my line. We don't want to fight you," he said.

"I get that a lot," I smirked.

"We just want you to surrender and..." he paused, contemplating if he wanted to continue what he was saying. "join us."

Then there was silence between us. I didn't know if what he said was true or not but, no one was laughing and he looked dead serious.

I looked at him and his army who looked surprised at their leader's words. Then their jeers and complaints about what I did earlier. They wanted my blood spilled as revenge for the fallen brother-in-arms.

"Silence." The titan shouted, effectively shutting them all up. "This can be your army if you join us," he gestured to his men behind him. The ones complaining and blaming me for the deaths of their comrades. The ones who looked like who wanted to stab me again and again.

"You mean these guys who can't even hold a sword properly?" I pointed out to him. "I hope you got something better than to offer me." Unbeknownst to anyone here, I was using the mist again. I had another me in front of the army, behind Prometheus, provoking them into starting a rally. I'm not strong enough to fool the titan so whenever the mist-me talked, I talked as well.

"You can't seriously think you can woo me with that kind of firepower," I said to Prometheus. To the others, they heard something entirely different. Something that was able to amass an aggravated number of people and charge at me.

"What are you idiots doing?" Prometheus asked angrily but it was too late. The first one, idiot demigod number one, swung his sword at me wobbly. I easily swiped his blade away with my own and delivered a punch to the jaw. The second one, idiot demigod number two, collided with idiot one and both hit the floor.

The third one, idiot monster number one, an echidna. He had a spear in hand that was unsteady and trembling. I questioned his choice of weapon due to his lack of physical prowess but all I could see was rage in his slit-like eyes. There was no point in talking some sense into him. He made three attempts to stab before I easily got inside his defenses and delivered a sickening elbow to his head. He fell to the ground. I pointed my weapon at his throat, pinning him.

"Is this what you only have to offer. You're a titan of forethought right? You saw this coming then?" I shouted at him. It was taking all of my effort just to talk without showing any strain. But at the end of all of this, I'm not gonna escape this place.

"Of course," he said but in a not-so-convincing tone. He looked in thought for a few seconds before he perked up. He fished for something in his giant jean pocket.

I felt the echidna squirm under me, trying to reach for his weapon. I kicked it away before kicking him in the opposite direction. The idiot demigods were wiser and chose to back off.

"I didn't know this kind of thing existed," started Prometheus. He had an ugly-looking miniature doll in his hand. I squinted my eyes as it looked almost exactly like Lady Artemis. A voodoo doll.

"You bastard." I growled at him. "Where did you get that?"

"Ahh. So you do know about this," he said. "And you know who made this didn't you?" Only one goddess is capable of making such dark witchcraft. The said goddess was being held prisoner by them.

"What's stopping me from just ripping your hand apart and retrieving that?"

He started laughing. "You rather risk taking on a 'weak' army, a titan and your Aunt Hecate's life for a single voodoo doll?" He said. "Do the math Jackson. Even I find that intimidating."

The three idiots already scampered away when I wasn't looking and joined their brother-in-arms in cheering. Hungry and bloodlust were all I could see in their eyes. They wanted me to take the risk.

With a sigh, I dropped my weapons to my shadow and started forward, my head lowered. I didn't want to come to this but I don't want to risk a family's life anymore.

The army grew silent as I continued onwards. I could imagine the smirk on Titan's face and I wasn't there to wipe it away with his own blood.

When I was in front of his overwhelming presence, I did something that I only do to my sensei. I got down to a knee and kneeled.

This was for the better.

A/N: Damnnn, I didn't expect it to be this long. Though I feel like this was rushed work. I was suppose to post this last Saturday because it was my birthday but it got way longer than I expected. Too many fillers I think . Who knows? Put a review on what you guys think. This will be probably the only time i'm gonna write something this long in a short amount of time. I just wrote whatever came to mind so I dunno how will turn out. Anyways, stay home and stay home. If you have it already, then you have my prayers for your health.

-Sixthstar out