A 'little' AN before I get started on this next chapter. First, I have decided to post at least these two next chapters immediately after the two first ones because I decided that I wanted to start out with the first sub-part being finished immediately. I love getting all your reviews and I really appreciate that you show me what you like and think works and do please tell me if something makes no sense or is written in a difficult way. Thank you for the support and I do hope you will like the next chapters too.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Rick Riordan owns all rights
Benefits of a Patron and a Meeting with a Witch
A day later
Two men with unique eyes walked past the stone temple dedicated towards Perseus down from their mountain home for something they could use for their rescue mission. One of the men with the black hair complained to his brother. "I don't see it? It's so ugly, and small" Relations had been on the up and up between the brothers so this statement which would have started an argument a couple of months before, was now only replied with an exasperated shake of Perseus' head before answering. "It isn't about the visual features of it, feel out with your power"
Zeus looked annoyed at his twin but obeyed nonetheless and reached out a searching tendril of his power. He gasped when he felt the... energy output of the stone building, it felt like a multiplying swarm of godly energy at every being and prayer inside the temple following an invisible line connecting with his brother walking at his side. "Every prayer they direct to me multiplies tenfold if they're inside the temple when they pray to me," Perseus said passionately and with maybe a little smugness. Zeus could see the appeal and he felt the appeal of it too but he wasn't about to reveal that to his brother so he held his tongue.
"I even think that if you connect that power with a central location like a throne or non-mobile object that it could increase with even more though that would be a double-edged sword considering the amount of power stored in one object and could be abused by other deities" Perseus continued thoughtfully with Zeus totally focused on his words not even realizing that they had arrived at the middle of town yet.
The pair gained quite a bit of attention and not five minutes later the whole village had gathered around the two deities. While Zeus looked quite apathetic towards what he thought of as 'inferior beings' Perseus looked at the crowd with hidden glee at the thought of his power base.
"My dear followers!" Perseus addressed the crowd. They responded... positively with a massive cheer at their God walking among mortals. "This handsome fellow is my brother Zeus and we have a request" He followed after the crowd had dampened their sounds enough for him to talk without using any godly power.
The crowd turned their attention towards the other figure and Zeus was taken aback before responding after Perseus subtly kicked him in his shin. "Ahh Yes... we come with you with a...Request" Zeus ground out with a forced smile, this was his least favorite part of the plan and had to be 'specially' convinced by Métis to allow for his pride to do this.
Perseus took over again. "We have need of your cattle and tanners, for a special mission so we would be very appreciative if you allowed it" he explained to the crowd and they quickly accepted the request. The whole process took an hour before they could leave with their now newly acquired cow-leather, and while they could have summoned this themselves with a snap of their fingers, Perseus decided that it would be a good popularity stunt to further his worship and
introduce his brother too, killing two birds with one stone as they say.
Perseus POV
Perseus separated from his fellow deity and changed course to his temple. Helios had taken pity upon us living upon Gaia, and he had toned down the sweltering heat of the summer a little bit in a show of kindness I would imagine(/AN/ since Persephone isn't born yet, so there are no seasons yet, so boo hoo for mortals I guess:( )
When I arrived at the building I walked into the temple and felt the coolness of the stone building envelope me the second I came through the bronze doors(which I didn't remember asking for funnily enough). The second thing I felt was a massive power-boost and I suddenly lost grip of my concentration at the lovely feeling of power bursting into my being, that I began to let prayers into my head which was the worst headache ever considering the number of voices talking in my head before I managed to, well not ignore the prayers but redirect them away from my mind and into an enchanted bowl I had up in the cave where I looked through my prayers where they became small papyrus scrolls which laid there until I got to them. (This was definitely not a long-term solution to the prayer problem but it worked for now).
The temple while simple on the outside looked to have been renovated already with more costly material such as high-quality cloths laying over a stone altar at the far end of the main room. There were as I said new bronze doors or at least coated bronze for the entrance, and to my left, I saw a new door which I felt led into the sleeping quarters for Alchymedes, immigrants/homeless people from neighboring villages and visitors(because hay I'm a nice guy).
I saw Alchymedes chanting over another mortal at the far end of the temple with incense flanking him on each side. Another thing my priest could do was remove my father's spiritual enslavement on people who were in my temple, which wasn't technically true since he could do it anywhere but considering the power that was needed for it, then it would be detrimental to my priest's health so that wouldn't be good for my increasing followers and I had admittedly grown fond of Alchymedes and considered as an afterthought if he would like to be immortalized and then sort the prayers for me, hmm food for thought I suppose.
I waited patiently looking around my temple and whistled quietly while waiting, hmm I should request some sort of bench to sit on while waiting for the priest. My fabulous idea was cut off by my priest and I carefully hid my irritation at his interruption. "And then who are you? and what do you need?" Alchymedes said passionately in a kind voice, which made me forgive him at least for now involving his interruption of my thoughts.
I turned around to look at him again, and when he saw my face his face lit up like Helios and he quickly dropped to his knee but I grabbed him on the way down directed him up again. "None of that my friend," I said to my priest who reverently looked at his left arm where I had held him. "I'm only dropping in for a little report about the village and the temple in general," I said with a charming smile of nearly blinding white teeth which contrasted my unruly raven black hair which managed to hold itself up, giving the middle finger to gravitation and basic physics.
Alchymedes needed a minute before he managed to come back into his body which was the feature I appreciated most about him because he managed to at least focus upon the tasks I give him in a timely manner which is the best-case scenario concerning mortals considering their worship fetish and groveling for position and power. "I have a scroll around here somewhere for just that my lord" Alchymedes began to look around. "I could have sworn..." I quickly summoned it and I said absentmindedly while beginning to look through it. "It wouldn't be this one, would it?" Alchymedes looked and breathed a sigh of relief for some reason(mortals and their weirdness was something that endeared them to me and I had dreamed of their potential since I became aware of them. Though their forgetfulness, weak-mindedness, and their weak bodies at least on average were annoying but I could live with it).
I looked through the scroll and nodded at the acceptable numbers. The village which the villagers had called Perséa(which vaguely meant the City of Perseus) which I appreciated had a population count of about 50-60 men, women, and children. There were 6 pregnancies currently with five of them happening after I was named patron of their village which they credited me with even if my blessing had nothing to do with fertility(I guess my worshippers were 'very happy' about their freedom) or sexual activities but I appreciated it none the less.
Perséa had currently 0% homelessness which I took as a good sign even if the increase of village's population had been about five or six people since I became patron, but details. Another thing I was interested in was the visitors and immigrants from neighboring provinces.
While as said there had only arrived six new villagers including the man that had been freed by Alchymedes just before me. People who had also been freed in my name were four freedmen who were 'in transit back to their own villages to spread the word of my solution for their enslavement because while mortals were aware of their lack of freedom they couldn't do anything considering this was basically a godly curse upon humanity and their descendants.
This could be 'easily' fixed by a) killing the enslaver (Kronos) because he was the one holding the curse while his brothers were only enforcers that it was still in effect which it wasn't but they didn't know that yet. Or b) break the curse which was safer for me at least by using my godly power which my priest had considering that he was a vessel for a small part of my godly essence, which he could use when I eventually taught him that. I nodded to him and left in a carefree stroll as another publicity stunt for the new citizens of course (*wink *wink).
When I arrived back to my mountain home I went to my 'sleeping' quarters which wasn't used as sleeping nearly as much as one would think well a mortal would think at least. With all the prayers I got from the citizens down in... (*sigh) Perséa I don't know how smart allowing them to name the village was anymore. Anyway, I had even less need for any sleep and then with my base godly power that grew and grew every month, I had no need to sleep for a month unless a strained myself, which was quite hard when I never got to use my raw godly power anyway because it could 'alert the Titans of our presence' which was bullsh*t because all the Titans did now was managing their own domains(of which none of the enemy Titans had any kind of domain over directly the earth so they couldn't detect us that way unless you count father's domain over agriculture) and then they feasted like they would in about three weeks time.
I meditated which was the closest to sleep I did on a regular basis. Where I thought about the meaning of life and philosophized upon different things. Like today when I thought more about the curse, the Titans had put upon the mortals. It basically forbids them to rebel against the Titans and help any enemies of their overlords, but there were some loopholes and faults in the curse. The first one and the biggest was that it was very fragile because it had to maintain a strong enough curse to force them to not rebel so it didn't have the strength to 1) Stop the mortals from dreaming and thinking rebellious thoughts and 2) It was an easy but time-consuming curse to break so it wasn't anything of a challenge against other deities, which it wasn't designed to be protected from either.
Another loophole and faulty feature are that it can't detect if a mortal is freed from the curse or that the mortal vessel has departed this world so no one notices some of the links disappearing. And the third and final fault is that when Kronos became too paranoid he revoked every other Titans control of the curse so everything is connected to him, so if one would cut off the head of the snake/curse(Kronos) the rest of the 'body' would die so problem solved when we eventually killed or made father fade.
I decided that this was enough of the philosophical thoughts and focused only upon the rustling of some cypress trees over me on the mountain.
Two weeks later
This time only three beings sat around the cypress table in the 'war room' which was just a little hollowed out area of the main cave. "So how will we summon her?" Zeus said as he addressed the elephant in the room so to speak then he continued with a distasteful frown. "And why do we even need her help and especially from her" he said and looked like he had swallowed something disgusting. Métis came with her ace. "My love, we need her because of her expertise not because we like her but sometimes you must sacrifice things for our war, and I think I can make it up to you" She finished coyly making no one question what she meant. At the word sacrifice Perseus felt a pang of recognition and decided to save it for later.
"Anyway, our best chance of gaining her attention would probably be to ask for her in her domain" Perseus replied matter-of-factually. While they continued their word dance Métis was watching amused at her lover and his brother sparring with words for a change instead of their usual 'sword waving' she giggled mentally at the double entendres.
"And how do you suppose we find this magical domain, I have never heard of a place like that?" Zeus said sarcastically. Perseus in his usual superior demeanor rolled his eyes and replied. "No you dimwit, her other domain" Métis didn't agree with his wording but she could see the logic otherwise. "Well, that's, okay I will give you that one. So where will we find that then?"
Two deities flashed into a very desolate forest with a road wriggling through like a drunkard on his way home. They followed the road two hundred meters before they arrived at a...
"A crossroad do you really think it works like that?" One of the young adults said. "Yes, it is technically in her domain though in a very unique manner I guess" The other man replied and the two carefully went to the crossroad.
The one with the golden eyes went up and began to talk quickly in Ancient Greek. He stopped after a few minutes and the pair retreated a couple of steps back. After a couple of moments, a mist appeared out of nowhere and a woman in a black sweeping dress stepped out of the now dissipating mist. She looked around in annoyance before finding the two godlings with her sweeping gaze of blazing emerald poison.
The woman had long flowing black hair, she was high for mortal standards and had as mentioned emerald green eyes glowing in annoyance with something in them which looked suspiciously like curiosity. "So, why have you summoned me?" Her tone again dripping with distaste though she had an inquisitive tilt underlying probably to maintain a reputation or something. The two brothers pride felt the hit but they hid it quickly though there was no doubt that the woman saw it because her curiosity lessened and she frowned in disappointment.
"Lady Hecate, we have summoned you for a proposition." Hecate's elegant eyebrow rose in curiosity at the way the man managed to ignore his pride. Perseus continued. "We have a need for three services of you" Hecate's other eyebrow rose at the boldness of the godling's request. She even had a little amused smile when she answered. "And why would I grant you these services?" Perseus felt mentally relieved that she didn't immediately shut them down because if she did then they would have to change the whole rescue plan.
"Because we would owe you two favors each" Hecate's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion at his angle of persuasion. "And why would I care for your favors?" Perseus replied with a charismatic smile "Why because you're looking at the ones who will overthrow the mad Titan King of course" The Titaness bubbled over with amused chuckles before noticing the seriousness on their faces. "Wait, you jest right?" The two godlings continued their serious silence and the Titaness of Magic continued in a confused voice "But, why would I want favors from you? And what services do you need anyway? And, and who are you?" She said rapidly.
"The first question will be answered, the second is some illusions and enchantments" Hecate finally lost some of her confusion but still had a questioning eyebrow raised. "And finally some introductions. My name is Perseus, and my brother here on my side is named Zeus" Hecate's flashed in vague recognition. "And we're sons of The Titan King and Rhea" Hecate's confusion finally withered away, and she got an ambitious glint in her eyes. "Ahh of course, now that is a trade that would be... acceptable. But I need some more details concerning the magics you need" She said in a deceptively friendly voice.
Perseus began to smile amused by her test. "I would of course need a vow upon the Styx" Hecate was relieved that they weren't complete idiots and replied, "Of course, how do you want me to word it?" Another test. Perseus again thought it was amusing with these small tests. "I (insert full name) vow upon the River Styx that I won't betray the secrets, Perseus son of Kronos, Zeus son of Kronos, and Métis daughter of Oceanus reveal to her" Perseus replied with conviction, but he was worried that she could find a loophole in the sacred vow. He waited with bated breath while Zeus flanked him with a distant look on his face, imagining his reward already.
Hecate let him for a little bit before replying "I Hecate daughter of Perses vow upon the River Styx that I won't betray the secrets, Perseus son of Kronos, Zeus son of Kronos, and Métis daughter of Oceanus reveal to her" Perseus didn't react visually upon the realization that Hecate was the daughter of one of Kronos most loyal Titan Perses the Titan of Destruction but he mentally berated himself at the oversight.
Hecate saw some loopholes in the vow and wondered if it was supposed to be like that or that he had missed it, she got her answer a moment later. "Great, now vow upon to never betray me and Zeus, unless we act tyrannously in our capacity as leaders." Hecate smiled wryly and replied cheekily "You're sure you don't have any more vows like I will be your immortal sex slave or something?" Perseus nearly growled like an animal in frustration at her teasing tone. "No!" He replied irritated her amusement grew even more at his visible frustration. "Now now, calm down tiger" She began laughing at his face that looked like was on the verge of attacking something 'or someone' her subconscious said to her and she quickly wrapped up her amusement and said seriously "Ok, now the wording on this vow please?"
Perseus calmed himself down and appreciated that she at least tried to be serious. "I insert full name vow upon the River Styx that I won't betray, Perseus son of Kronos, Zeus son of Kronos, unless they operate tyrannously in their capacity as leaders, as long as they are leaders" This vow was good and managed to patch up most of the loopholes she had observed from the first vow so she agreed. After she was finished Perseus nodded to her in obvious relief at her acceptance.
"Our two requests are 1) Enchant a leather armor for me and my brother with some kind of resistance to celestial bronze, the usual elements such as fire, water, wind you get the idea, right?" She nodded already imagining the various charms and runes she could use. "And 2) we need a disguise for the feast coming next week, so maybe some illusions?" She nodded again at the slightly more difficult one but decided that she could make it work. "Do you need something else, a back scrub or me to cut your hair?" Perseus' annoyance came back in full force and he ground out. "Yes, I do actually need your help a little more" Hecate in her jesting was taken aback by the unexpected reply "You do? What's it you want this time then?"
Perseus informed her "I need a potion to make a strong deity throw up" Hecate smiled seeing the plan already, and accepted.
5 days later
It was kind of underwhelming even if this would be my last day living here. "So we have the opportunity, the means, and the escape plan. Has Hecate contacted you yet?" Métis asked me. "Yes we met yesterday and got the armor from her and a promise to come around tomorrow before the feast to fix the illusion spells" Métis nodded and asked again "Speaking about the armor" She was interrupted by my summoning of two armor racks who appeared behind me flanking on each side.
One was dyed in an electric blue fade and the other had a forest green tint, even if no one would see them hopefully I decided to do a little visual work on them after I got them back from Hecate. In its entirety, it was only a breastplate, two braces for the legs, a pair of greaves for the arms, and a leather skirt. There was also a cowhide shield leaning on each armor rack which was my little project for the cattle I got from Perséa. I had even tried to enchant them but I was unsure if they would be any good but we would see.
Zeus whistled when he felt out with his power, and then chuckled at the shield's inferiority. I bristled and my pride was stabbed at the unsaid insult. 'I will show him, they will work probably, hopefully'
End of Chapter
Thank you for reading, do continue with the reviews so I can fine-tune the story and make it better.