Before I begin, I have some good news! I've cross posted the prologue story onto Archive Of Our Own as well under the name The_Prophesied (prolly gonna change my name here as well to match it), so you all can check it out there too! Please go ahead and support that story, and I'll be uploading a chapter every day or two. I'll be uploading my other fics as well soon. Link to my account can be found in my profile.
Anyways, today I want to give a shoutout to 'AGirlHasNoName20'. They've written so many amazing PJO stories, most of them short yet still brilliant. I highly recommend that you check them out.
Now, welcome, one and all, to another chapter in the story.
Note: I do NOT own PJO or HOO. If I did, I wouldn't be uploading this here.
Chapter XLVI
He was once again entrapped in the grip of agonizing pain.
He could feel it radiating from his stomach, the wound opening the moment he reasserted control over his body after having wrestled it away from the Demon King. Percy was no stranger to painful experiences, but what he felt was most definitely the worst out of them all. Even bathing in the Styx hadn't been as bad, but then again, it was to be expected since he had been infected with the purest form of the curse that resided in its waters.
He fought to open his eyes, but they were far too heavy. He couldn't move his body, nor could he hear anything around him. He could just barely feel the dry grass against his back, all the moisture having been sucked out in the heat of battle. Yet, he could still clearly feel the blood rolling down from the wound, somehow managing to filter through the excruciating pain he was in.
In the back of his mind, he could head the furious snarls coming from the Demon King, desperately trying to push itself back into the driver's seat and force him down into the depths of his own mind. He fought back relentlessly, never wanting it to ever pass. He had come so close to hurting all those he'd cared for, simply because he hadn't been able to control his anger.
But it was your anger that helped you defeat Tartarus, whispered a small part of his mind, one he now identified as the part that was aligned with the Demon King. If you hadn't snapped, the primordial would have already taken over the world instead of being scattered all throughout the pit, never to form a physical manifestation ever again.
That's not the problem, he responded, struggling to keep the pain at bay. I almost hurt everyone I love. I should have been able to control it instead of being controlled by it. I failed where it mattered.
So what? You got the job done. What does it matter if there were a few close calls after it? the voice asked once more, causing his blood to boil. But he stamped down hard on the emotion, realizing what the voice was trying to do. It wants me to lose it. It wants me to give into the anger, so that the Demon King can once again take over. Was this how it would be in the future? The slightest bit of anger to be a threat to the world and everyone he cared for?
He turned back once more, a chilling calmness present in his voice. Your trick won't work anymore. The Demon King will never return, no matter what happens. He will stay locked deep within me, even if I have to fade in order to rid the world of the threat.
The voice fell silent, and even the perpetual snarls and shrieks of the Demon King died away. After what felt like an age, it finally responded. No, you wouldn't. That would mean risking Artemis' life as well.
Unless I manage to convince Zeus that it would be better to not have his daughter married to someone so dangerous. My dad won't start a war if I ask him not to as my last wish, now would he? Percy wasn't going to back down. He had to assert himself over the Demon King he ever wanted to have a chance at a normal life here on out, or at least as normal as he could get. He didn't delude himself. Everything was bound to change after what had happened that day.
I see. So that's how it is, the voice responded. Well, I hope that you survive the Essence of Styx, because otherwise there would be no need for you to make the choice. It slowly slunk away, leaving him alone once more.
He heard the Demon King growl once more, but this time a few words filtered through. Take over... heal body... cannot die...
No, he replied, venom coating his words. You will not take control of my body ever again. My anger will not be something for you to feed from anymore.
The King growled again. No chance... your anger... tied to me...
Percy knew it was true, but he wasn't going to allow it to stop him. Well, it will help that there's nothing left to make me angry, isn't it?
The Demon King roared, but Percy could tell that it was more akin to laughter than anger. He knew that it thought there was no way he would be able to control his temper for the rest of time, and he did agree with that. However, he knew just how much it had taken to weaken his control over his emotions in order to allow the King a chance to take it over.
I think you misunderstood what I meant, he said, halting the Demon King in its laughter. I didn't mean that I will never get angry, merely that I will never be enraged enough for you to be able to come out once more.
He could hear the Demon King begin to respond, and he was prepared to roll over anything it said, but before either of them could utter a word, a massive spike of pain shot through his body, silencing him swiftly. Even the Demon King was affected by the agony, shirking sway from his pain-addled mind.
He could feel his mouth opening on its own, almost as if his body was still being controlled by someone else. A piercing scream tore at his throat, not stopping until there was no more air left in his lungs. He was unable to breathe for a moment, his muscles refusing to respond to even the simplest commands.
The pain kept building until it reached a crescendo, the agony searing through his veins so ruthlessly that he doubted whether he would ever feel anything else again. It was at that point when his grip on consciousness finally slipped, just as he felt himself be lifted up, held by someone he vaguely recognized, yet couldn't place as the darkness swallowed him once more.
Artemis felt as if she was disconnected from reality as she saw Percy lying limp on the ground, his wound slowly oozing infected blood. His face, which had returned to its original Mediterranean complexion, was once again losing its pallor to a grey that was similar to what the Demon King had looked like, although she knew that this time, it was for a completely different reason.
A slight movement on her left from one of the minor gods caused her to finally regain her senses, leaping into action after what she knew was almost far too long spent inactive.
"Apollo, do something!" she yelled, running forward, kneeling next to him while her hands hovered over the wound. She didn't know what she could do, but she couldn't stand helplessly by his side.
She saw Apollo approach her, and he nodded slightly when he understood what her idea was. She focused, trying to push a small fraction of her energy into his wound to staunch the blood flow. She wasn't as adept as Apollo, but she knew a little bit from her time in the wild.
However, the result was far worse than what she had expected. Instead of a dull glow surrounding the area, she felt her powers be shoved back, causing her hands to jerk away. She could see the blackness in the blood spread even more, beginning to dominate over the golden ichor.
Then, a terrifying scream escaped from his throat, so loud, so filled with agony that she flinched. She saw his body tremble slightly for a long while, the scream continuing throughout. It was an age before it finally died out, leaving him even more limp than before.
"Apollo, what's happening?" she called desperately, her eyes wide in fear. The sun god was instantly kneeling next to her, his eyes scanning the entire wound. He held his hand over the wound, but didn't try to push any energy in it. He was simply feeling the energy that was emitting from it, knowing that a curse of this magnitude was bound to leave some residue.
It was merely a moment before he cursed vehemently in Ancient Greek, causing Artemis to jerk back in shock. She had never heard him be that vulgar, especially in Greek. Even more fear appeared in her heart. Dear Chaos, how bad is it?
"We need to get him back to Olympus, NOW!" He wasn't even asking anymore, instead having slipped into his medical persona. "Poseidon, you should be the one who takes him back. I don't want to risk exposing his wound to any form of heat, and I don't know if his natural affinity to fire would protect him. Water travel is his best option. And don't try to teleport there, I want as little expose to godly energy directly into his system."
Poseidon nodded, gently lifting his son, afraid that any action of his may once again incite a painful episode. He held him firmly to his chest, making sure that he was comfortable. He focused on his surroundings, pulling in the water towards him. He cocooned himself in a small sphere of water, before shooting away at an unbelievable pace.
Apollo stood, his face set in grim determination, none of his usual mirth present. He turned back to the other Olympians, some of whom looked surprised and unsettled at the sudden change in his demeanour. He, on the other hand, simply ignored their looks, instead addressing the King of the Gods directly.
"Father, I'll be bringing Asclepius as well. We need as much expertise as we can, and even I admit that he's far more well versed in obscure methods and procedures than myself." Apollo didn't even wait for a response, instead flashing out of the location, only taking enough time to give a warning look at the surrounding demigods to shield their eyes. Thankfully, they heeded his warning, and just in time too.
Artemis slowly got up from where she had been kneeling, her mind in utter turmoil. She knew why she had been so concerned about Percy, but she didn't know if she wanted to admit it to herself. It wasn't true love, they hadn't progressed anywhere close to that, but she did have some feelings for him, strong enough for her to worry incessantly about his life.
She looked at the army assembled before her, both demigods and monsters looking shell-shocked at how the war had ended. They weren't even celebrating their victory over the primordial of the pit in the face of the sudden change and incapacitation of the God of Heroes and Monsters. The one who always looked out for them and made sure that they received a better lot in life was now barely hanging on by a thread, and none of them knew if he would pull through.
She glanced at her lieutenant, who looked completely distraught. She could tell that Thalia would not be able to lead the hunters in her absence, but she had to leave for Olympus. Her mind and heart simply wouldn't settle down until she did. In a last-ditch attempt, she turned to Thalia's second in command, Naomi, indicating that she should help her lieutenant in managing the hunt. The huntress nodded in response, giving her the opportunity to flash out herself.
She appeared in the centre of Olympus but could already feel her brother's aura in the godly infirmary, along with Asclepius' signature. She didn't waste time, instantly flashing to the location of the building. The light died down around her to show her surroundings, but she could see that she wasn't the only one there.
Hermes was right ahead, the messenger god able to outpace her due to his innate speed and domain as the god of travellers. Hephaestus wasn't far behind, appearing in a flash of flame accompanied by Hestia. The four of them didn't waste time asking why the other was present. Each of them were well aware as to the reason, even if the other three were surprised to see Artemis present. It wasn't the time to linger on such questions when Percy was barely holding on.
They moved towards the door, knowing that they wouldn't be able to flash in. The buildings of Olympus had special protective wards surrounding them, laid by Hecate herself, only allowing those who had permission to teleport into the building. And when it came to the infirmary, only Apollo and Asclepius had that privilege.
They were almost at the entrance when Poseidon exited the building, a look of defeat on his face. He turned to where the four of them were standing, knowing what they wanted.
"You can't go in," he said. "The two of them will not allow anyone into the wing until Percy has been stabilised at the least. They kicked me out the moment I'd put him on the bed."
Artemis slumped against the marble wall of the building, knowing that there was no way around it. She knew how stubborn Apollo could be, and that was when he was still hiding under the facade of a carefree god. She could recall some of his more tenacious moments on Delos, and if he was as bad as he was back then, they had absolutely no chance of getting in. And knowing that it was one of his closest friends he was trying to save, he would most likely be even worse.
Hermes looked like he was still going to simply barge in, but a calming gesture from Hestia managed to rein in his temper. Instead, he took a deep breath, before moving to the waiting room present in the entry hall of the infirmary, firmly sitting in one of the seats.
"Well then, I'll stay here until he comes out," he said, before staring at the floor, his expression unreadable.
Poseidon and Hestia instantly joined him, with Hephaestus not far behind. All four of them sat close together, leaving Artemis slightly conflicted as to where she was supposed to sit, only having cordial relations with all of them.
She was about to move to the side when Hestia looked up, meeting her silver eyes. The hearth goddess patted the seat next to her, indicating that she was free to sit there. Artemis was surprised that she would show such a gesture after what had happened in the past with her son, but then again, Hestia was always the most forgiving among them, ready to see past a person's past if they showed a true change.
The moon goddess slowly sat down next to her aunt, a grateful look on her face. Hestia smiled lightly, before whispering in her ear. "My son has chosen to give you another chance. Please, for his sake, either let him know in the beginning itself if you don't want it, otherwise I won't forgive you if you hurt him once more."
Artemis could see the momentary fire present in Hestia's eyes, nodding slowly in agreement. She couldn't blame her aunt for being cautious after the past. Hestia may be willing to look past it, but she was also very protective of her son.
The hearth goddess nodded before her expression was once again replaced with one of worry and concern. They lapsed into silence once more, waiting to hear about any developments, not knowing if they would be what they wanted to hear.
Thalia felt the pressure close in on her, making it difficult to breathe. Part of her didn't even believe that the battle was over, but she knew that it was. Yet, there was no sense of joy in the troops, especially since Percy looked like he was on the brink of death.
She was already shell-shocked after Tanya's death. They may not have been the closest among the questers, but she did feel protective of the young demigoddess, just like the others. Seeing Tartarus so callously end her life like that was something she couldn't bear, especially right after Lara's death.
It had been so unexpected when the younger hunter had died.
Thalia had been battling a hellhound when she felt something sneak up behind her, and she knew she didn't have the time to turn around and face it. She was prepared to feel the pain that was bound to come, but instead heard wood hitting flesh.
She quickly stabbed the hellhound with her spear to turn around, only to see a cyclops standing over the broken body of the daughter of Hermes, his club raised in the air to finish her off. In that moment, all she saw was red. Without even thinking of the consequences, she summoned a massive bolt of lightning, smiling the monster where it stood. It was violently blown back, already disintegrating into golden dust, but she didn't pay it any attention.
She knelt by Lara, seeing that the huntress was still breathing. Thalia went to lift her up to carry her to somewhere safer, but the daughter of Hermes simply stopped her with a gesture.
"Thalia, don't bother," she had said. "We both know that I won't survive. You focus on the battle now."
The light had dimmed from her eyes soon after, leaving Thalia grief-stricken and enraged. She had lashed out at the monsters surrounding her, slaying as many as she could reach.
Lara wasn't the only loss they suffered. They had lost at least another twenty of their numbers, whittling their forces down to barely forty. The campers and Percy's monsters had suffered just as bad, having lost at least thirty percent of their numbers in the final wave. The opposing forces had been ferocious, even with the gods' constant assault on their numbers.
Now, she didn't know what she was supposed to do. Lara and Tanya were both taken from her, and Percy looked like he was close to death as well. It almost hurt more to see him in such a state, knowing that she had spent an entire century hating him for something he had never done. Now, he may fade before she even had a chance to fix it.
Selena nudged her hesitantly, indicating that the others were beginning to move out and that they should follow their example. Thalia felt numb as she directed the hunters to move, her second-in-command taking over a part of the operations to alleviate some of the pressure. The hunters looked just as distraught at the loss of a number of their sisters, and worried at the sudden disappearance of their mistress.
It didn't take long for them to reach the camp once more, but it felt far longer. The hunters retreated to their corner, hiding in their tents as they attempted to deal with the multiple losses they had suffered. She would have preferred if they were able to simply leave to return to their own path but sue knew that as long as Artemis was still on Olympus, they would have to stay with the larger group, probably returning to Camp Half-Blood.
She lay on her bed, staring at the canvas ceiling. Her emotions were chaotic, with no chance of her being able to untangle them anytime soon. All she knew was that a huge portion of what was to happen in the future would hinge on whether Percy pulled through or not.
The pain spiked once more, a cruel reminder of her mistake. She felt the tears gather in the corner of her eyes, causing her to furiously blink in a desperate bid to get rid of them. However, it was a futile attempt as they rolled down her cheeks, not stopping despite her best efforts.
It seemed like it only truly hit her once the battle was concluded. After everything they had done to him, he'd still risked his very existence to save them. Somewhere deep in his being, some part of him had pushed him to do it for their safety, even if they would never be on friendly terms again.
Another part of her remembered him kissing her mistress before jumping in, but she dismissed the arguments it brought up instantly. She had a feeling that he had never lost his feelings for Artemis, and what occurred had just confirmed it. Now, the choice was with her mistress as to how she was to proceed. If she wanted to go with it, then Thalia wouldn't dispute her choice.
She still marvelled at how the hunt had still been able to remain, even managing to keep their vows of maidenhood even though Artemis herself had lost the title. She had been afraid that they would be forced to disband once Artemis' marriage was announced, but after a particularly violent meeting on Olympus judging by the constant shift in weather, she had returned looking annoyed, yet not truly disheartened. Mona... no, Percy had simply walked away towards his own tent near the corner of the encampment, leaving her to explain what had happened.
Artemis told the hunters how the council had been convinced that it would be better if the hunt was still able to maintain their vow of maidenhood, with reasons given that if they were in a relationship, they were liable to be distracted while running all over America, leaving their significant others' behind. What had surprised them was that Monaxiá had been the one who proposed it, but they had initially discarded it as an attempt by him to lull them into a false sense of security.
Another pang echoed in her heart as she realized that her home for the past century was still present only due to Percy's actions. After everything she had done to him, after everything he had been put through, he had still wanted to ensure that her home would remain untouched by the actions of her father. All it did was make the tears stream even quicker down her face, her cheeks already wetted enough to leave stains for the foreseeable future.
She wiped the tears away, yet wasn't able to stand up from her position. She simply couldn't find the energy within her. She knew that she would have to get up soon and take stock of the damage the war had caused, but she needed time before she could do it.
Once again, her mind slipped into the past, while she desperately hoped that she would be able to see Percy once more, if only to beg for forgiveness after everything that had happened in the past.
Apollo wanted to scream in frustration, but he knew it would be worse than useless.
His hands were aching from his furious work trying to at least staunch the blood flowing from his friend's wound, but it had taken far longer than he would have preferred to do so. He could feel the tension bubbling within him at the sight of Percy barely hanging on, the wound still blackened and showing no hints of improvement.
Beside him, his son Asclepius sighed deeply his eyes focused on their patient. Apollo turned to the god of medicine, trying to see if there was any good news present.
"I managed to stop the infection from spreading any further," Asclepius said, slightly out of breath after the amount of energy he had been forced to expend even after all the help his father had given him. "The poison has already infected the majority of his internal organs, and I barely stopped it before it reached his heart. If it did, we would already have a pile of dust on our hands."
Apollo winced. It wasn't what he had wanted to hear, but his son was always blunt when it came to giving the news of his patient's condition. While he was usually glad for the no-nonsense approach, having his friend laid out on the bed before him gave him an inkling as to why some people preferred doctors who would sugar-coat the news.
Then again, it may have been what he needed to hear, since it spurred him to work even harder in order to somehow find a way to heal his friend. He was preparing to do another scan and then push his own reserves of energy into Percy's body when Asclepius grabbed his hand.
"No, father. It would be useless." The God of Medicine's tone was soft yet firm, letting Apollo know that he wouldn't budge on the matter.
"But he's barely hanging on as it is! We need to do more," the sun god yelled, his hands glowing with power, yet unable to reach his friend's wounded body.
Asclepius merely shook his head. "I know you'll want to keep doing it until he's recovered, but that's exactly what makes the poison so dangerous. It will only allow others to halt its progress, and any attempt made to purge it from his system will simply make it even more lethal."
"Then what are we supposed to do? Simply let him die?" Apollo knew he was heaping all his frustration onto his son, and it seemed like Asclepius did as well, since he didn't look angry at his father's outburst.
"I know how it feels, but we don't have a choice. The only way to begin healing from the poison is to be able to push it out from within your system, and only then will others be able to clean it up, without any godly powers, I may add. It's the reason why it's so feared. Most wouldn't be able to even stay rational amid the pain, forget fighting it off for long enough to push the oppressive parasite away."
Apollo clenched his fists, feeling the anger slowly seep out of him, only to be replaced by a crushing sense of hopelessness. How he hated the feeling, and for some reason, it always surfaced when he had to deal with his friend.
He was about the crash onto the nearby chair in exhaustion when Percy started thrashing on the bed, his face twisted in agony. Low moans escaped his mouth, instantly jolting the two of them out of their stupors as they rushed to his side, holding him down in a desperate attempt to ensure that he didn't aggravate any of his injuries. They couldn't even heal the massive hole in his abdomen until the Essence of Styx was out of his body, and that was something they had no hope about.
Another blood curdling scream escaped Percy's lips, one Apollo was sure would be heard in the waiting room as well. He was sweating profusely as he held down his friend's thrashing form, not knowing how he could help him. He could only think of one option. He prayed.
Please, Lord Chaos. Don't let him die. Not when he was finally beginning to move on.
Pain. Mind boggling, agonizing pain. It was all he felt, all that he could feel.
The voice of the Demon King, along with the other traitorous part of his mind, had long since been drowned out by the burning torture that raced throughout his body, never giving him even a moment's reprieve. He desperately wanted it to end, but it seemed like he wasn't going to have his wish fulfilled anytime soon.
He could feel something pressing in on him from all directions, trying to squeeze his consciousness into the black void of non-existence. He knew that if he let it win, he would cease to exist, with no trace remaining other than his memories.
A part of him wanted to accept it. It would mean that he could finally escape the train-wreck that was his life. He desperately wanted to have some peace, even if it meant that he would no longer be present in the plane of the living. After all, hadn't he told Apollo so long ago that he was barely holding on as it was?
But it was that thought which ironically brought him back from the brink. He couldn't abandon Apollo, nor could he leave his other friends alone. And he didn't want to leave his parents behind, knowing that they would never be able to get over his death if he did choose to pass on.
Then there was Artemis. Even now, he was confused as to what his standing was with her. But he knew one thing for sure. He would never find peace unless he could have one last conversation with her.
His resolve hardened itself, before it was once again shattered by another round of searing pain. Unbidden, a desperate scream tore past his lips, impossible for him to stop. He could feel his body thrashing about, but it was beyond his control. His muscles were unresponsive even if he managed to brush past the pain that had been stacked onto his shoulders for a moment, a feat that he knew would be exceedingly difficult to replicate.
Nevertheless, he had to try, even if it meant that he had to brave the sheer agony he was experiencing. He pushed back against the brick wall that surrounded him, trying to find a single crack in its surface. The darkness was quickly closing in around him, giving him all the incentive he needed to not dawdle. A final push managed to shatter the walls surrounding his consciousness, allowing him to sense the point from where the disease was originating.
He latched onto the black tar, desperately trying to expel it from his own body. He could feel a small portion leak out, before another blast of pain rolled over him, this time even more agonizing than before. He reeled back, trying to compose himself from the onslaught, but there was no reprieve before another wave smashed into him, worse than the previous one.
He felt himself teetering over the edge of the darkness, barely hanging on. The merest thread connected him to the living realm, and he could feel it straining under the load it was being subjected to. He could almost hear the snapping sounds as it came slowly apart, unravelling before his eyes.
The final string stood firm, giving him a small bit of hope that he would be able to pull himself out of the situation, but he could see that it wasn't meant to be. It was far too thin to support him, and within moments, it snapped, sending him tumbling into the dark abyss.
Artemis had her head in her hands, desperately trying to ward off the anxiety and terror that was welling up within her. She had heard the screams reverberating throughout the corridors; they all had. And none of them were going to mistake the source of the gut-wrenching noise.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Poseidon barely controlling his anger, the marble tiles beneath his feet already cracked and shattered. He had a death-grip on his trident, and she had a suspicion that it was only due to his ability to channel his frustration into such an activity that he hadn't already exploded.
Hermes and Hephaestus weren't much better. The two of them were gripping the armrests of their chairs so hard that the metal had begun to deform under their fingers. Their brows were creased with tension, while the rest of their bodies remained stock-still, which she assumed was their mechanism of coping.
However, what truly unsettled her was Hestia's expression. The heart goddess, usually so calm and self assured, was holding her hands together as if in silent prayer, her eyes tightly shut. While she had been collected enough to restrain Hermes before, being subjected to her son's repeated screams was enough to cause her to lose that inner peace. Now, Artemis could tell that all Hestia wanted was to see her son up and about once more.
As for herself, she couldn't express exactly what she felt. Her emotions were roiling around within herself, incapable of her untangling them enough to get a good read. Yet, one emotion was clear enough to eclipse the rest: fear. The pure terror coursing through her veins couldn't be mistaken for anything else even in her wildest dreams, and it was certainly not going to leave her anytime soon.
Why do I care so much for him? I barely changed my views regarding him a week ago, and now I'm this terrified about his health? Why? Even as she posed the questions to herself, Artemis could tell that the answers weren't going to be easy.
Her inner monologue was, however, cut short by a sudden shift in the atmosphere before the air itself felt a little gloomier. She glanced around, trying to make sense of the change, before she realized that the noises in the medical bay had come to a screeching halt. Unbridled horror flooded her veins as she whipped around, her silver orbs widening in shock. No, it can't be.
She wasn't alone when she shot out of her chair towards the closed door. The other four were right next to her, with Hermes pulling ahead once more. He reached the golden structure, before repeatedly banging on it, a look of desperation on his face.
"Apollo," he roared. "Open this fucking door or I'll break it down myself!"
They didn't hear any response from the other side, instead all that filtered through was a soft shuffling of feet as someone hastily moved towards something else. No one answered the door, despite Hermes ramming his fist against the metal so hard that a dent had already formed.
Poseidon strode forward, lightly shoving Hermes out of the way. Frankly, Artemis was surprised he had been so gentle with the messenger god, if the expression adorning his features was anything to go by. Her theory was proven correct when the God of the Sea slammed his trident into the door with such force that it was blasted off its hinges, slamming into the opposite wall. He ran into the room, the others barely a step behind.
He raced towards the bed where he had deposited his son, easily identifiable since both Apollo and Asclepius were hunched over it. Poseidon reached the foot of the bed, but a single glance sent him stumbling back, the rage previously present on his face instantly swamped by horror and a great sadness.
Artemis felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the sudden shift in his expression. No... no, it can't...
It was like she was watching through a haze as both Hermes and Hephaestus froze, while Hestia clapped her hands over her mouth, tears pooling at the corner of her flaming eyes. The only part of her vision that was perfectly lucid was seeing Percy laying limply on the bed, his chest completely still and a sickening pallor spreading across his skin.
He was floating in a murky plane, everything around him obscured by a dark grey mist. Percy had no clue as to where he was, all he knew was that his life was over. The Essence of Styx had overtaken him in the end, and he had left those he cared about to suffer due to his failure.
The thought once again spurned him to somehow escape from the metaphorical chains festering him, to somehow return to the world of the living. He wasn't going to abandon those who needed him. His parents were still there, his friends, Artemis... No, he wasn't giving up, not when he had just begun to repair his relationship with her, and the others had never given up on him.
Right as he felt like he was on the verge of a breakthrough, he felt something shift. Before he could even process what had just occurred, a massive presence stifled him, almost crushing his being into nothing but dust. The pressure was immense, far greater than Tartarus at his most powerful could even dream of matching, and Percy could tell that what he felt wasn't even a fraction of the being's might. Even the Demon King, which had begun to stir up within his psyche, cowered before the unimaginable foe before him.
He was almost forced to curl into a ball, the sheer weight relentlessly crushing him. His breath halted in his chest for a long moment, before a monumental heave finally managed to get him breathing once again. Even so, each ragged gasp was a laborious endeavour, something that he hadn't experienced near Tartarus, even while he was a demigod.
He was reeling at the sudden claustrophobic sensation when he felt it. A presence that was unparalleled by anything he had ever experienced before. The being's consciousness was all around him, encompassing the entire landscape, yet something told him that it was a mere iota of its true expanse. If Tartarus' aura had been different than what he was used to, this one was downright alien, and at the same time far more ancient than anything he had ever encountered before.
He felt a tiny sliver of the being brush against his mind, yet it was still enough to almost instantly overwhelm him. He could feel his mental defences buckle under the pressure exuded on them, barely holding together as they were, and he had no time to reinforce them.
Suddenly, he heard a soft, yet at the same time deafening voice emanate from every single direction around him. It didn't seem to simply come from outside, rather it also sent vibrations throughout his very being.
Perseus Jackson... the voice said, once again causing him to almost collapse at the might that was so evident in the being.
He managed to partially pull himself together, his mind in disarray. Through the hazy cloud, he managed to choke out a question. "Who... who are you?" he grasped, his voice sounding pitiful in comparison to the being's.
Percy could have sworn that the being chucked, the sound akin to planets violently colliding before being reduced to dust. Suddenly, he felt the pressure around him abate. He still felt the stifling presence, but it was like there was a barrier between him and the waves pf raw power, albeit a barrier he could tell was easy to tear down.
Who am I? The voice replied. I am... the one you call Chaos.
Apollo was desperately trying any measures he knew to somehow resuscitate his friend. Percy was lying on the bed, unresponsive to any stimulus. Apollo didn't need to check the other god's pulse to know what it was.
The sun god desperately moved to send another blast of energy through Percy's body, but was stopped by his son's firm grasp. Asclepius lightly shook his head, letting his father know that such a measure would bring about more harm than good.
Apollo turned back, seeing the other five who had barged into the room. He had no clue how they had managed to tell that Percy had slipped into such a state, but it seemed that they were now here to stay.
His eyes quickly scanned their faces, noting their expressions. Hermes and Hephaestus were hanging their heads in defeat, their hands clenching in futility at their sides. Poseidon and Hestia looked stricken, their eyes constantly switching between states of disbelief and mind-numbing pain. The two of them almost looked lost, unable to fathom what they were supposed to do.
However, it was Artemis' reaction that took him by surprise. Her silver orbs never left Percy's still body, a myriad of emotions warring within the twin pools. He could pick out shock, sadness, and... did he see despair?
He turned back, choosing to reflect on it at a later point of time. At the moment, he was more preoccupied with ensuring that his long time friend didn't slip into non-existence. A small amount of the Essence of Styx had been ejected from his system a little while ago while he had been thrashing around, but it was miniscule in comparison to what he probably had in his system. He loathed the fact that he was unable to provide any assistance in siphoning out the deadly poison, but the was forced to wait for it to come out by itself.
In the meantime, he kept charging a pair of defibrillators he had remembered were stored in a nearby room. He didn't know why it was present in a godly hospital where he could use his own energy to kick-start someone's heart, but in the current predicament, he was infinitely grateful to whoever had the foresight to get them.
He readied the charge before going to place the two charged ends onto Percy's bare chest, but hesitated for a moment, hovering inches above the skin. Will it work, he wondered, a hint of desperation creeping into his thoughts. Before he could travel down that road, he pulled himself back. It must, he thought, before placing the charges against Percy's chest.
Percy had encountered a lot in his century of existence, with some events standing out more than others. However, nothing could have prepared him for the experience that was meeting with the very creator of the universe. He didn't even know how to react in such a situation, but thought it would be safer to bow before the primordial being. Rude he may be to innumerable deities, but only a madman would risk offending the being who had crafted reality through their own whim.
He bowed his head forward, showcasing his respect. "Lord Chaos," he whispered, the words sounding so wrong on his tongue. It wasn't simply because he never believed that he would ever meet up with the being, but also due to the feeling of weight that was present in the very name passing his lips.
The being seemed to chuckle once again, and the same deafening sound reverberated throughout the entire area they were present in. It almost forced Percy down once again, and he barely resisted it this time around as well.
I do not require that you bow before me, young one, the disembodied voice rumbled, Percy still unable to comprehend its magnitude.
Even after being dampened, the presence of the creator was palpable, and he could understand why Chaos had never appeared on earth, despite how desperate the situation was against Tartarus. If the primordial being had arrived, Percy doubted whether the planet would have been able to withstand the raw waves of power exuding from Chaos' mere presence. Maybe that was why the creator had never taken a physical manifestation, since being a formless entity allowed one to suppress far more of their power.
It was probably why no one had truly been able to identify whether Chaos was male, female, or both. The command usage of 'Lord' before their name was something that had come into practice eons ago, too far back for anyone to remember. The only reason it continued was because Chaos hadn't decided to erase them from the universe due to any slight against the being's self.
Percy nodded mutely, not trusting himself to speak. Words bounced around within his mind, but he didn't know what he could say. It was a long pause before he managed to reply. "With all due respect, why am I here? Haven't I faded from the realm of the living?"
An interesting question, godling, Chaos replied. As to your second question, I'll answer that soon, but that's not something you need to concern yourself with. It will become clear in due time. As to why you're here, I must say that you... intrigue me, little one.
Percy didn't even react at the term Chaos used to describe him. To a being so unfathomably ancient, even the primordials must be little more than toddlers. "I... intrigue you? How so? My actions were all in response to a need. I never did them because I wanted to, so why should I be of such note?"
And that is exactly why I noticed you, the being replied. Most others would have done something or the other simply to maintain or expand their image, yet you were content with letting all of it go, simply to lead a life you never had a chance to. While taking down two of my most powerful progeny was noteworthy, it wasn't your defining trait. What I find more impressive is your constant ability to conquer your inner demons, sometimes literally.
Percy bowed his head. Even after all those years, he was still slightly hesitant at receiving compliment. He could feel the Demon King squirm within his being at the slight, but it was far too terrified to emerge before the creator. "I... thank you, milo— Chaos," he amended, remembering that the primordial didn't wish to be addressed through honorifics.
The creator hummed, the voice still sounding like volcanoes erupting, mountains crumbling, and landmasses colliding. You are an interesting person, Perseus. You would have a long life ahead of you if you choose to return.
"Wait, return?" Percy asked. He recalled what Chaos had said in the beginning. "How can I return? I thought I was gone."
No, young one, the primordial replied. You hang on the precipice between existence and non-existence, and that means you can still go back. It will be agonizing, but you can. I will warn you though, if you don't have the will, you won't be able to overcome the Essence of Styx. Do you still wish to try?
Percy didn't even have to ponder over the question. He had made his decision long ago. "Of course, I do. I won't leave them behind for no reason."
He heard a booming laugh emanate from the creator. No matter how many times he heard the voice, he could never pinpoint whether it was male, female, or something in between. The power behind the voice overshadowed all such tell-tale traces.
And that is why I find you interesting, young Perseus, Chaos said.
Percy began to respond, but was cut off by a sudden dull jolt he felt in his chest. He felt the shock radiate throughout his body, causing the words to catch in his throat.
Ah, I see your friend Apollo is trying to revive you, Chaos said. Remember what I said, Perseus. It will not be easy. However, is anything worth having easy to attain?
His surroundings were blurring, dark grey fog coalescing around his vision. For a moment, he thought that he saw Chaos take a specific form, yet the mist was too thick for him to make out any details. His ears were beginning to fill with the soft hum of electricity, but he was still able to hear Chaos' parting words.
Live your life well, Perseus. I would enjoy seeing you again, but that would only be possible after you fade, and I don't think I want such a thing to befall you for a long while.
Sweat dripped down Apollo's brow as he charged the defibrillator once more. The last charge hadn't done anything, although he thought that he had seen a slight jerk in Percy's chest region. It could have easily been a product of his imagination.
Beside him, Asclepius watched on with hawk-like eyes, ready to jump in at the slightest sign of trouble. The other five were gathered around the bed, the varying reactions briefly catching Apollo's eye.
Hermes and Hephaestus were leaning forward, unable to deal with the tension and delay. In sharp contrast, both Poseidon and Hestia were slightly away from the bed, their faces ashen and hands trembling at the thought of losing their child.
Finally, Artemis was gazing down on Perseus, her usual masks conspicuously absent. While there were other emotions present, the major one Apollo sensed was incessant worry.
Don't fret, sis. I'll get him back, I promise, he thought. Sensing that the charges were ready once more, he once again readied them, before pushing them against Percy's chest. The God of Heroes' body jerked violently, sending Apollo one step back. This didn't happen the last time. What is...
His thoughts were cut short as Percy's eyes flew open, a long-ragged breath escaping his mouth. A small trickle of a black tar-like substance leaked from his gaping abdominal wound, but at the moment, all of them were too frozen to react. Their attention was riveted on the sudden, erratic movements of the God of Heroes' chest. Faintly, Apollo could feel the weak busting of his friend's heart.
Against all odds, Percy was alive.
And done! Yeah, another cliffie (last one in this story, I promise. We're almost done, right). Anyways, Percy ain't dead, which is always a good thing, and we'll see the final fallout of the battle next chapter. Also, new longest chapter! I crossed the 8k mark here.
And before you guys ask about the Percy-Chaos interaction, just remember that Chaos is literally the oldest being in the Greek universe. Who knows how the creator's mind works, or even if they would do something for a specific reason?
Please review.
Anyways, answering a few questions.
First, I wanna clear a small mistake I made while posting the previous chapter. I said that there were 5 more including this one. Well, I was wrong. There were 4 more including this, so now, we only have 3 chapters left. Yeah, my bad. Mark down the dates guys, 14th May will be the day this series comes to a close.
To Guest: The marriage idea is interesting, but it wouldn't work in my universe. While the life forces are bound, their souls are not.
To DeadwoodT: As seen in this chappie, no.
To Guest (number 2): fluff will come, it'll come.
To PJIsTheBest: Well, if you go to my profile, there are two other stories, a Perlia two-shot and a HarryFleur one-shot. The latter is a pure crack fic based on a discord prompt (read: written in my best imitation of being drunk, stoned and high all at once) but the Perlia one is probably one of my favourite pieces of work (what I mean is that other that fanfiction, I've written some short pieces of original fiction I have lying around or lost).
To Guest (another one): I think you got me confused with some other author. I didn't write any story called 'family secrets'.
To vikasmahajan191175: I'm not going to give my exact living details (that's far too fucking risky on the internet) but I can say that I'm an Indian expat living in Oman. Sadly, I wasn't part of the batch that had their exams cancelled or postponed (big F) and I'm a guy.
Now, regarding your story related questions, I do plan on having one final interaction between Percy and one person from his past, but I won't say which. As to Annabeth, Percy won't do anything because he wants to leave it in the past, but if she does anything, he'll definitely respond.
To parallaxyt: Yeah, Meister's still here.
Anyways, see you next week!