Not the Meeting I Was Expecting

As soon as I clicked the button on the timer to record my time, I heard Chaos over the loudspeaker. His voice was smooth and easy to understand, which was a relief after all those years on earth of crackling PA systems. "All captains meet in the Council Chambers! General Perseus, your presence is also requested!"

It was hard to believe that this had been my life for nearly five thousand years. It felt like only yesterday I was confronted by those three titans in the woods, defeating them before meeting my brutal end. It wasn't, though. Yesterday, I told my friends my darkest secrets, bared my very soul to them and they could not accept me for what I was. My greatest fear made real.

The solid soles of my leather boots clapped loudly on the freshly waxed marble floor as I headed to the biannual council meeting. It was twice a year, hence biannual meetings, just like the Olympians.

I shuddered involuntarily as my mind made that connection. Just the thought of the Olympian gods made shivers run down my spine. I'd tried to stop it – I'd forgiven them a long time ago – but I couldn't help the heavy, sinking feeling that settled in my gut every time I thought of them. They'd betrayed me, and nothing would let me forget that.

Nothing.

"I have said this before, but I shall say it again, Abaddon," Crypt said, "I am terribly sorry for your loss. I wish that there was some other way that Tile and I could be there for you, but as we do not have physical beings, we may only preside in your mind as emotional support."

I sighed through my nose, before immediately regretting it as the coldness of the hall made it seem like icicles had grown way up in my sinuses.

"Shut up, Crypt," Tile grumbled, nearly voicing my thoughts exactly.

My mind wandered a little more as I walked the halls toward the Council Chambers, knowing the route off by heart. As much as I didn't want to admit it, ever since my first day, Chaos and Order have been making me see a therapist. Twice a week, I' be in her office, sitting in her comfy chair and telling her about my problems. Her name was Thea, and she was quite pretty – I admit – though I don't think I could ever see her as anything more than a friend.

After Annabeth hurt me, I don't think my heart will ever heal. The organ in my chest – while still beating – felt like it would never put itself back together after it shattered that night on the beach. If I were to ever love anyone in that way again, it would be a long time from now.

I barely even noticed the tears gathering in my eyes as a spark of pain shot through my chest. I just hope that she finds someone new to love. We didn't work out, and I accept that, but the whole situation makes me feel as though I cannot trust anyone in that way anymore, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to again.

Finally, my hands rested on the doors leading to the Council Chambers, and I allowed myself to focus. I steeled my nerves and pushed on the door…before realizing that it was a pull door.

I walked inside. Almost immediately, I was attacked by the invading aroma of pine, telling me that Proteus was already in his seat. He always wore pine-scented cologne, which melded horribly with Seraphina's lemongrass shampoo and Caminus' overpowering charcoal and wrought iron stench from the forges. Luckily, those three weren't often found together unless during an important meeting.

Closing the doors behind me, I reached down and pulled on the chain around my neck – a necklace that everyone in the army had, containing a charm. Mine was a trident, split in two.

Connecting the two pieces, I felt the familiar weight of my armour appear over my uniform, fitting perfectly over my muscled frame. It was black, contrasting greatly with my mask, and shone brilliantly over my uniform. My cloak hung over it, though, and still, I felt astounded that the armour didn't catch on the fabric of my clothing as it appeared over my uniform but under my cloak.

As the newest addition to my outfit, a gleaming black crown appeared on my head, studded with opals. It rested just above my hairline, and I hated it. I hated it ever since I was told to go to the fitting for it, but it was mandatory for the meetings and for interplanetary relations, meaning whenever I and the captains would go on a particularly difficult mission together.

I just hoped that none of those missions would be going on any time soon.

"Knock on cedar," Tile said.

"Hush, imbecile," Crypt reprimanded, "And the term is knock on wood."

"Cedar is wood!"

Quickly launched back to the present by Chaos' cough, I stalked over to my throne, which was just to the right of Chaos'. Order sat on his other side and smiled at me as I sat down. I broke my façade only for a moment to smile back at her before shaping my face back into an emotionless expression. Glancing to my right, I saw four of the captains, and two my left, the other five sat on the opposite side of the two creators.

Settling back in the throne, I let my hands fall on the swirling green armrests. Beside me, Haetros curled up on a large violet pillow. Smiling as he closed his eyes, I turned to Chaos. "So," I said, "What are we going to talk about today?"

After the words fell off my lips, I risked a glance around the room. Frowning as I picked up on the fact that none of my friends would meet my eyes, I realized that as my eyes left them, they stared at me unabashedly. My skin crawled, like thousands of ants were writhing over me. It was almost as if they were trying to see the monster within once more as if yesterday wasn't enough for them.

When they were caught, they immediately dropped their gazes, guilt flashing – quick as hummingbird wings – in their faces.

"There is a new mission," Chaos began, "One that requires the attendance of every one of you."

Despite myself, I groaned loudly. Were the Fates always out to get me? A group mission was exactly what I didn't want!

Chaos cleared his throat to once again regain the attention of the room. "As I was saying, this mission will require every single one of you, though, I fear that some of you may not appreciate the planet you are needed on."

Suspense hung in the air – thick as honey but tough as steel. There was no way anyone would be able to cut it. I had enough of the dramatics. "What is it?" I demanded. "Don't try to build the suspense, just tell us where we're expected to go, and we'll go!"

Chaos sped along, probably because my annoyance was palpable at that point in the conversation. Looking back, I was pretty sure that everyone could sense my irritation; it was rolling off me in waves as soon as I'd entered the room.

"You must travel to Terra Prime to defeat mine and Order's younger brother, Destruction. He has risen, hoping to destroy the earth as recompense for his – in his view – wrongful imprisonment."

My back immediately straightened as if some higher being had inserted a kebab skewer into my spine, and my eyes shot to Order's face. She, like the others, wouldn't meet my eyes due to the weight of the guilt in her expression. It brought me back to my first week on Cofando when she promised that I would never have to set foot on that dreaded planet again. Not after everything I'd been through. Not after the memories that it would stir up within me if I ever let my boots rest on the soil of Earth every again.

The room was silent. Not even the quiet hush of drawing breath was heard; it seemed as if everyone was waiting for the pin to drop.

I pushed my chair back, not even wincing as the legs scraped loudly against the floor. With my face turned toward the table, I said, "Okay.

Without even having to look, I knew there were eyebrows flying toward the ceiling.

"Okay," I repeated. "I will go to Earth, but only to repay an old debt. After this mission, I will expect you to never ask this of me again, or I fear that I will be the one to destroy it, not your villain."

Chaos nodded as I lifted my head. "I accept your terms. You may leave, but before you go, I must thank you for your lenience, my prince and my heir," he said, bowing his head.

Once back in the safety and privacy of my quarters, I disconnected my armour and collapsed on my bed. Too lazy to pack for myself, I snapped my fingers and my clothes walked themselves out of my closet, folded midair and laid themselves to rest in the suitcase that slid out from under my bed and unzipped, opening its gaping jaws.

A warm mound plunked onto the bed next to me and I reached over, letting my fingers scratch Haetros on the chin. He let out a rumbling noise – almost a purr but not – and pushed himself into my steadily moving hands, my fingernails just long enough to relieve him of his itch.

"Why Earth?" I asked him, not caring if I sounded like a whiny toddler. "Why?"

"Everything happens for a reason," he answered, sage-like. "Maybe this attack by Destruction is not a coincidence. He could have attacked any planet of thousands, and yet he chose Earth. I presume that it is the Fates' design for you to return home and face your past. You must learn to forgive yourself – not just those who hurt you – for what happened. That is the only way you will cleanse your soul and finally be able to move on."

Sitting up, my wings fluttered in defiance. The feathers fluffed up, allowing a few bits of pitch-dark down to come loose and shed all over my sheets. "That doesn't mean I have to like it, do I?" I drawled childishly.

"Sorry, Abaddon, but do not lose hope. You must remain strong. Get through this, and things will become better for you and for the universe," Crypt said, pitching in his own two cents worth of advice.

I sighed, letting the huge breath come out of my mouth, nearly emptying my lungs. "I hate it when you guys make sense. Usually when it means I'm wrong," I grumbled. "Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to raze some more robots. The calming effects of the group this morning were nullified by the meeting."

"Go right ahead, we aren't stopping you," Tile hissed in my ear.

After two more hours of training, and my sword having to be cleaned at least four times of the oil and powders of the robots, I stepped into the showers, letting the ice-cold water run over me.

When I first started the tradition of ice-cold showers, it was something that I told myself would never stick. I'd jumped in and out of the first one several times, shivers running up and down my spine to the point where it hurt. The second time was better, and I learned to start with hot and just cool it slowly. After that, it wasn't so bad. After four thousand years of conditioning, I barely felt the difference anymore.

Stepping out of the shower, I found that I'd timed it perfectly as I heard Chaos announce that we were due to leave in fifteen minutes.

Fifteen minutes until I would set foot on Earth once again. Even though I would be under the guise of another, I could still feel pain rip through my chest at the thought of my home planet. I would smell the dull air – not as sweet as Cofando, but not as bitter or sour as other planets I'd been to. I would feel the heaviness of the atmosphere again, the same, dull pull of gravity on the soles of my feet, like the sinking feeling of an empty stomach – or the feeling of eating a dragon berry for the first time. Ugh.

Drying off and dressing, I shook out my wet hair and grabbed my suitcase. It shrunk into a shoulder bag, reminding me that it could do that. It, like most of my valuables, gifted from grateful citizens who were serviced by my deeds. This bag was gifted to me by a coven of witches on a lonely little planet in the seventh dimension. They hadn't even had enough food to eat but had enchanted a hand-sewn bag for me to carry all my belongings so that I would have everything I needed wherever I went.

As I teleported into the throne room, I felt my crown once again appear on my head, weighing down my still-wet hair. I hadn't bothered to dry my hair because it cooled my head refreshingly, and I would most likely get a headache from this trip.

"I have already informed the Olympians of your arrival," Chaos said as soon as he saw that everyone was in the room. "They will greet you in the camp, so I might as well open the portal for you here and now. No need to go all the way to the portal room to organize your interdimensional travel."

My heart thudded in my chest, so loud that I was worried it would shake the palace. "Here goes nothing," I thought.

Glancing at the others, I felt a twinge of heat pawing at my chest, curling around my heart, but I ignored it as each of us received a portal – directly beneath our feet. The last thing I saw was Chaos' smiling face as he and Order waved to us.

My weight dropped, and darkness swallowed me up – unlike any other portal I'd been in. I could barely think as I felt my hands reach up to make sure my mask was on my face, letting out a breath of relief as it was.

Looking down as a small light shone from below, I saw yellow sunlight, green grass, and trees. In the distance, there was a cluster of little buildings. I knew it anywhere. It was the Earth's only known demigod camp: Olympus Maximus.