AN - Im redoing the final scene from the last chapter as one reader felt that it was slightly rushed and frankly I agree, Ive deleted it off the last chapter in order not to do that cringe thing of last chapter, going into and now, because i feel thats a way just for authors to spoof word count. More AN at the end :)
Arriving on Olympus didn't take Sephie or Thalia's breath as it usually would, the once positively glowing, radiant city in the clouds now held a darkness. The Nymphs and Naiads that kept the stores and stalls running were gone, the dark clouds loomed over the demi gods, the weather reflecting their down trodden mood. Thalia and Zoe's boots reverberated around the marble streets. The flickering lights above cast strobe shadows behind them, and the cold wind rattled them. The city was dark apart from the current lights shining from the throne room. They trekked up the main avenue, all downcast about their losses. The shadows around them seemed to ripple, as if looking for their master.
They slowly began to ascend the silver stairs to the Olympian throne room and arrived at the large celestial bronze doors. The depictions of all the Olympians engraved onto them, Zeus naturally taking up the largest proportion of such. They all stopped, and took a moment to look at each other. Sephie looked over at the group, On her left was Thalia, and Thalia's left Zoe. The former was somber, and the most quiet she had ever been. Despite there being some animosity between her and the Son of Pluto, she had grown to respect him regardless.
The Huntress was looking the worst Sephie could remember her being. Her hair had come loose from it's uniform braid, and she no longer held that regality that had become so iconic from her. Her eyes were mostly on the ground, and her posture was hunched, no longer straight and soldier like. Sephie concluded that it was from the loss of Bianca mostly, and partly the boy.
They pushed open the door, and immeidialty silence reigned over the throne room. All eyes were upon them, and they silently walked forward into the centre of the room. Sephie could see her Father's eyes light up, a smile tugging on his face as he saw his daughter alive and mostly well. The daughter of the sea ignored her father, she was feeling particularly bitter towards the gods. She held her head high and locked eyes with Zeus, the steel within letting him know that she would not be bowing now, or any time soon.
Thalia saw her father's eyes soften at her arrival harden soon after, but she took what she could get, and remained standing by Sephie, not showing outgoing respect, apart from a subtle nod of the head to her father.
Zoe, a millennia of tradition within her, bowed before the head of the house, and took her place beside her fellow quest members. Artemis was the first to speak. "Heroes, we have not discussed the quest yet, we were waiting for you."
The demigods looked between themselves, not eager to tell the tale. Zoe finally relented and stepped forward. She detailed the quest, from having a member down, to finding Percy in the museum. The gods listened on, in interest. The shadows grew heavy and the gods looked around, for the cause no doubt. The demigods looked around, but it wasn't the first time for them, Percy had done the same.
Sephie felt a new presence behind her, the darkness congealed around them. She felt a heavy breath down the back of her neck. Zeus looked up, no doubt angry.
"Hades." He began, ah, that's who it is. Sephie thought to herself. "You know your not welcome on Olympus."
"I'm aware." The god of the dead replied, his voice unnervingly calm. "Where is my son." He asked, in the same tone.
No one spoke. Then, Artemis spoke. "Bianca is dea-"
She was cut off viscously. "I know. I was most disheartened when my daughter arrived within my realm."
Sephie turned around, looking up at her uncle. "Is Percy with you?" She asked, in a small voice. He looked down at her.
And shook his head. "He is still alive." He gritted out.
Sephie flinched. "Then he is in the possession of the Titans, my lord."
Hades scowled. All the gods lowered their heads in condolences.
"If he is, then it is unlikely he will make it out alive." Hestia spoke out, poking the dying flames of the hearth.
-FM-
Percy was shoved to the floor, unable to stop himself due to his hands bound behind his neck. He fell to the ground with a grunt. The blindfold over his face prevented him from seeing his captors. A hard kick met his ribs, he tried not to flinch. noticeable scaly hands wrench his armour off, the boney wreath seized along side his cape, the latter of which melted into the darkness.
through his blindfold he could see the light fade as the door to his room was closed. He took a shaky breath, his ribs ached, definitely broken. He tried to pull his cuffs over his head, but was stopped upon finding that they were bolted to the wall. His back still ached, from where the spear had thrust into him. It had luckily missed his spine, the wide tip being caught between the back of his ribs. The limited nectar they had given him had relived the pain, and just about healed him.
The door was thrown open again, and Percy flinched at the ferocity at which it was. Heavy footfalls walked over to him. He tried to curl up, but found his ability to do hindered by his pinned hands. A strong hand gripped his chin, ripping it out from his miserable ball. The hands were warm, abnormally so. A harsh laughter filled the room. The grip on his chin released, and he flexed his jaw.
As he was doing so, a heavy punch connected with the side of his face. His face whipped to the right, he groaned in pain, and hung his head. His hair was the gripped in a vice grip, and wrenched backwards, forcing the boy to look up, unable to see anything. Another Punch whipped into his nose, making him cry out in pain. The slow trickle of blood warmed his cold lips, and dripped onto his bare chest. Seemingly satisfied with his punishment, his captor got up and left, closing the door with just as loud a bang as when he had entered.
The copper taste of his blood lingered in his mouth as it trickled down his pale face. Nausea overtook him, and his already black world faded out.
He was sharply awakened by a kick to the top of his head, slamming it back into wall. He gasped in pain. His captor did nothing, and Percy caught his breath. A strong hand grabbed his blindfold and tore it off, he took a second to adjust to the light, blinking rapidly before fulling grasping the room he was in. There was a titan crouched in front of him. Silver eyes and similarly coloured frazzled Einstein hair.
They sat across from each other, staring into each other's eyes. The titan held the gaze, while Percy tried to shrink away from his steely gaze.
"So." The Titan began. "Do you know who I am?" Percy looked away, shaking his head. He couldn't remember ever being so meek, apart from when he had first met Lupa. A deep chuckle reverberated around the small room.
"Well, time for introductions." His voice was deep and deceivingly soft. "I already know who you are, yes. Hades lapdog." Percy scowled at that. "The lost child, nothing compared to what your sister could've been." His head whipped up at that, and he spat right in the Titans face.
He stoop up over the prone form of the boy, looking down and sneering, wiping the spittle of his face. "You have no idea do you." The titan chuckled, "The lord of the Dead has always craved a daughter, a crown princess for his realm, a duchess of Elysium, not a duke of Punishment." Percy was just angry now, he lashed out to kick the Titan's shin, but he merely lifted up and stomped on it, crushing his ankle. He cried out in pain.
"You should know better than to try fight a Titan Lord. My son dealt with you aptly." He said. Percy caught himself. Ah. Iapetus, Titan Lord of the west. He thought to himself.
Percy kept quiet, knowing better than to anger a Titan. Iapetus smirked at his new found docility.
He crouched down, now level faced with his captor. "Do you know where you are?" He shook his head.
"Well, welcome to Mount Othrys." He smirked criminally. "We'll be having a lot of fun with you." He said in a tone that sent shivers down his spine.
The Titan stood up, letting Percy get a better view of the room. The room was dark and the water dripping was the only constant. The floor was slanted slightly that led into a drain in the middle, he didn't want to know what for. The Titan saw where he was looking, a dark smile covering his face.
"Ah, the drain, important in a cell for you." He said offhandedly. Percy looked suspicious. The Titan's eyes locked with his, and drew an imperial gold knife.
Percy began scrambling back, pressing his back into the wall, in a feeble attempt to escape the Titan. Iapetus approached the boy, a bloodthirsty grin marred into his face. He stalked forward, as he did, purposely walking over the demigods already shattered ankle. He shouted in pain under the weight of a Titan, to which he kicked his jaw shut, almost shattering it.
Percy's head snapped back into the wall, and blood pooled in his mouth from biting his tongue, his head throbbed from the force of his head hitting the wall. The Titan crouched down, right into his face, bringing the point of the knife up to his chin, closing his mouth for him.
He began to drag the knife from the bottom of his chin, and ran along the underside of the jaw. The large cut began to quickly bleed. Blood cascaded down his neck and chest, seeping into the floor and flowing through the central drain. Horrible understanding crushed Percy. This was the first, and certainly wouldn't be the last.
Scars were to be made here, and kept therefore after.
-FM-
Reyna and her centurion, Angela Rennie, walked side by side towards the Principa. Reyna had been chosen as optio after careful consideration, surprising the girl in honesty. It was now mostly her job to follow her centurion around to learn the ropes and to perform menial tasks regarding their cohort. They were on their way to a meeting, regarding what, both were clueless. A little ways in front of them was Enzo Anthony and his optio, Jason Grace.
As They ascended the stairs they made their way towards the praetors section, walking briskly over mural dedicated to Romulus, Remus and Lupa. They arrived at the door and slipped in, Praetor Emily just beginning her speech.
The beginning of the meeting was admittedly pretty bland, with the Praetor dictating new more intensive routine for the legionaries. War games were happening twice a month, rather than just at the end of the months. Training was going to focus more on fighting as a unit, marching and formations. It was a noticeable shift towards a more combat stance.
A Sharp knock resounded within the small room, and all heads turned to the door.
"Enter!" Emily's sharp voice sounded out. The other praetor, Bobby straightened.
A guard from the exterior of the building popped his head in, "The Lieutenant of the Hunters of Diana ma'am"
A small wave of surprise rippled throughout the crowd, none of the current serving officers ever remembering the mythic Hunters ever visiting. The hunters, dressed in their silver garb walked in, the lead, had dark glossy black hair, onyx eyes and a regal face. She held her head high, a strong aura of command seemed to follow her, and Reyna felt herself subconsciously straighten.
"We have news." She began, Emily nodding her on. "The Titans are rising, at the mountain of despair, and it's likely that they will try to neutralize the camp, via total destruction or to cripple the legion." Reyna, and all the other roman attendees gritted their teeth, Roma Invicta. Not if they could no anything about it.
"Myself and other hunters have been roaming nearby their fortress, hampering their efforts." Emily nodded in thanks to the huntress.
"Why don't we fight them now then?" Bobby spoke and stood up.
The Huntress lieutenant and her aide looked over with a look that was a cocktail of disgust and disdain. "The Titan's forces are to spread out, roaming in small warbands, a direct attack of your nature will only be outflanked or have too little affect on their integrity." She replied haughtily.
"Just Attack them Cohort on warband then!" He replied angrily.
The Lieutenant rolled her eyes. "Your cohorts individually would be overwhelmed, it would be better to place defence, with the home ground advantage." She replied, in an uncaring tone. Reyna found herself agreeing. Bobby growled but said nothing.
"In other words, I believe you have a legionary, Son of Pluto, a Percy?" She asked.
Emily nodded. "Legionary Jackson of the fourth cohort, due to be made optio upon his return from duties to his father." She rattled off. "He came to me and I allowed him to leave Camp Jupiter."
So that's where he went. Reyna thought to herself.
The lead Huntress grew solemn, and bowed her head. "Then it is my regret to inform you that he has been captured by Titan forces." She said quietly.
Reyna saw Harlow's, Centurion of the fourth, Head snap up, looking the Huntress in the eyes. "How." Was all she asked.
Reyna could see the apparently stoic Huntress sigh, allowing he shoulders to sag as she leant against the wall. "I was on a quest, and we met along the way, he was cleaning up escaped souls or something. We travelled together, and ended up at the titan fortress. He was captured there." She explained mournfully.
Emily looked suspicious, "You're leaving things out."
The Huntress scowled. "That's all I'm allowed to tell you, Orders of the gods. I'm only here as a messenger, prepare yourselves romans" She spun on her heel and walked out, leaving a council of roman centurions, praetors and optios.
-FM-
The Field of Mars lay between them. The Second and Fifth cohorts opposed each other. The optios in command.
Over the time he had been optio, Jason had whipped the fifth into an extremely competent and dangerous cohort, hence why they are currently against the second. They sat on two opposing hills, with a range of hills and a forest lay out before them. Reyna briefly remembered Percy one day ranting on about singular cohort strategies, claiming that a guerilla oriented warfare is better to minimize losses. How Unroman, but how excellent. She though to herself.
Reyna knew Jason, and he had pure roman blood running through his veins. He would march his cohort forward in a testudo formation, throw pilums prior to engaging, and then charge, holding in formation and fighting in rows. A key part to command his adaptability, and willingness to try something new. And winning. She reminded herself. From their cohort's perch, she could see the size of the forest, it was big, and the trees tall, with a road going through. Perfect for an Ambush.
She gave the orders to pack light, avoiding heavy armor apart from the front two squads. The geared up and got into formation, signaling to the praetors and centurions her cohort was ready. She spied Jason doing the same. The Buccina was sounded, and The son of Jupiter's cohort slowly began marching down, going straight towards the opponents.
Reyna smiled, and barked some sharp orders to her cohort, they quickly began to march into the forest, clear for Jason to see.
They stopped halfway down the road. Reyna turned to her cohort.
"We're laying an Ambush." She shouted, gaining a few doubtful remarks in reply.
She placed her heavily armored front two squads relatively close to the road, hiding in some thick vegetation, whilst she made use of her higher amount of archers, and placed them in trees, looming above the paved road, others in bushes. Her other legionaries were placed around in a loose circle, hiding from sight. She had her soldiers roll around in mud and smear grass on their gear, adding camouflage. She even went a step further with her archers, and had them attach leaves and branches to their armour, in a makeshift ghillie suit.
She smiled as she checked her cohort's positions, flawless.
After a while of waiting, the rhythmic thumping of soldiers boots began to ring throughout the forest, and Reyna smiled like a predator in ambition. They marched down in a solid column, their acting centurion in the second row. Signaling to one of her archers, they let an arrow fly. Specially modified by their Apollo kids, the arrow menacingly whistled loudly, and stuck one of their front row members, leaving him to drop, eliminating him from the game.
To their testament, the fifth reacted immediately, and following a few barked orders, formed a defensive circle of shields for their cohort to cower behind, but it wasn't enough. The arrows flew out the foliage at an astounding rate, with the vast majority striking an opposing legionary. The fifth's numbers were decreasing, but an impromptu defence of shield stacking saved them anymore losses.
Reyna gave a few hand gestures, and hoped that her soldiers understood. To her internal glee, they understood, and she watched as they began climbing the low hanging trees, entering the canopy above the fifth, while her more heavily armored soldiers moved onto the road.
Reyna rose from the bushes, allowing the fifth to see her clearly. With a shout of "Invicta!" she raced towards the encircled fifth.
-FM-
Jason watched in abrupt horror as the entire second cohort rose from the bushes, their imperial gold armour having being smeared into a forest green, making them imperceptible until they stood up, revealing themselves. He spun around, and realised he was already surrounded.
He gave a shout of Pilums, and his remaining soldiers drew their blunted, for the duel, pilums, all throwing into the oncoming attackers. With their opponents having shields, it made it rather ineffective at cutting down any enemies.
Jason joined the circle of shields, locking his with his comrades, and quickly felt the weight of an enemy upon it. He drew back and engaged with them, finding himself up against one of the front-liners of the second. The second's numerical advantage allowed them to apply extra pressure on the fifth, as they could fight squad - single legionary, negating a good portion of his own soldiers training, as they were all molded into squad fighting.
Jason swung high and was bounced by his opponent's shield. He went for a shield bash but was stopped by a jab by their sword. Jason regained his positioning and stance, and jabbed at his opponent's midsection. He was deftly blocked and The son of Jupiter internally cursed. Finding himself begin to get angry, lightning crackled off his person, electrifying his sword and shield.
He pounced on his enemy, and shunted his shield wide, swinging with his sword. He matched the swing, but Jason's electric discharge conducted through the Imperial gold and zapped his opponent, stunning them and along him to cut off his tag, eliminating him from the game.
He looked around, and watched as his own cohort dissolved under the pressure, with more opposing legionaries dropping from the trees into the middle of the fifth cohort. His instincts kicked in, and he spun and brought his sword up, deftly blocking a hard swing from Reyna, who had an almost manic glint in her eyes at the victory she was about to gain.
Their fight was almost of godly proportions, with Reyna and Jason exchanging blows at an astounding pace that Mercury would've been proud of. The Copper blessing over Bellona radiated around Reyna, as Jason's own sky blue Aura became visible. The sky crackled and lighting flashed, as the two optios battled it out. Jason got a small gash above his knee, signaling first blood to Reyna. She lunged again, but Jason deftly swung to the side.
Their fight continued, with Reyna actively trying to draw one hundred percent of Jason's attention. It was working, and without their commanding officer, the fifth were falling apart, decimated by the second.
Eventually Jason found himself surrounded and the Daughter of Bellona stepped back. "Do you yield Grace?" She asked, smirking. He nodded, accepting defeat, and stowed his weapon.
The legionaries marched out of the forest, and towards the observing praetors.
"Well done optio Reyna, an unconventional, however successful tactic demonstrated, and high cohort cohesion." Emily complement, whilst Bobby just grunted. Reyna reveled in the praise and held her head high, returning with the rest of her cohort to their castra.
AN
Bam!
Another chapter down. This is mostly filler, and as previously stated, I've removed the Olympus scene from the last chapter, and re done it within this chapter.
School work is beginning to ramp up so next chapter may be slightly delayed. I think I'm going to go with the pairing of Percy / Sephie, which will kick in at the start of the HOO sequence, which is still going into this book, I don't feel successful enough to make a second book and dedicate this to a series.
Next chapters are somewhat planned, but i still believe that my strong point is in plot creation not writing, which is why chapters take a while to come out. But hey, imtrying my best to give back to the fandom from which has given so many good works to me and many others.
Here in the UK lockdown is starting, but is excluding schools, which, in my personal opinion makes no sense, as the vast majority of schools, mine included, take students in from all over the county, and it only takes one person bringing the 'rona in to potentially spread it all over as the schoolkids become infected and bring it into their town / village.
Stay safe,
Dududuehehe :)
US election is a nightmare, but is more of akin to a Netflix comedy in the UK, as of writing this AN, its 253-214 in favor if Biden.
Im not going to share my views in order to keep the comments from exploding into flames.