Chapter 0: Prologue
"Phoebe, I thought I put you to bed hours ago." Perseus sighed, rubbing his face slowly. What ungodly hour was it anyways?
"I know Perseus, but—"
Perseus's eyes flashed silver with annoyance. "You have to get used to Mother not being here sister. Don't worry so much about her, she's a Warrior of Athens. She'll be fine."
"Brother, you're not listening! There's a—"
She was cut off again, but not by Perseus. No, it was the sudden screams of terror and the whistling of arrows that shut her up. It was then Perseus realized exactly what was happening.
Athens was being invaded.
The fifteen-year-old's mind went into overdrive, he picked up his sister and pulled her away from the window. Sure enough, a flaming chunk of flint came flying through the window. Suddenly, the flames of their bedroom illuminated the terrified expressions of both children.
"Perseus!" She cried out, burying her face in his chest. "I'm scared!"
I wish mother was here. Perseus struggled to find his breath. Phoebe was crying, and well, Perseus was close. He knew what he had to do, his mother had drilled it into his head a thousand times over, but was he strong enough?
The villa groaned, and Perseus didn't have much of a choice anymore. Right now, Perseus needed Phoebe's full cooperation, which really meant that she had to be calm.
Trembling, Perseus grabbed his sister's hands and pulled her upright. " need to move."
"We'll get hurt!" Phoebe argued. The flame was spreading faster now, racing down the walls, destroying all that they knew. The screams continued, and maybe, Perseus was screaming too.
He took a breath while he still could, and somehow, he found his sister's eyes. They were beautiful, even now, a beautiful mirage of blue and green. "Trust me," Perseus decided.
Phoebe nodded, and that was enough.
Strangely calm, Perseus held her close to his chest and ran through the flames. Descending down the steps of his family's villa, he reached his mother's private room, breaking through the door and black smoke.
He set his sister down and opened up a closet that held his mother's weapons. He heard his sister talking as he tried to find a working blade. "Brother, you know we are not allowed to in Mother's
chambers."
He picked up a three-foot xiphos, pulled it out of its scabbard, and swung the blade for the second he could spare. "We need something to protect ourselves, Phoebe. Don't worry, Mother has prepared me for this."
It was true, she gave him routes, personal one-on-one training, everything he would need. They would survive, and that's what mattered most.
"Will we see Mother again?"
Well, Perseus wasn't ready for that. He tensed up for a second before quickly selecting a small shield and two hunting knives. He turned around and began wrapping the sheathes around her small waist, "Just in case we're separated, alright?"
Phoebe tried again with a little more urgency. "Brother? Answer me."
"I don't know, okay? I-I don't really have a good answer for you but I do know we have to leave right now. Let's go, Phoebe."
He stood up and held out his hand. Like always, she offered her hand. No matter what, Phoebe would trust him. Together, they made their way out of the villa.
Athens was always known for its bustling activity. Scholars chatting energetically, rich men buying goods for their homes, and merchants selling grapes and olives. The culture was vibrant, and a matter of pride for the Athenians.
Now it was anything but. Villas all around were broken down, gardens burnt to its roots, the entire life drained out of the overflowing fountain of knowledge once known as Athens. Perseus even saw a woman cradling a small bloodstained piece of cloth.
Athens had fallen. It was home, but now it was gone. What was he supposed to do? Mother would know exactly what to do, but she wasn't here.
All he could do was run.
"Come on." They ran as fast Perseus dared to push Phoebe. All around them, Athens burned. Fire reached for the night sky as red as Phoebe's and his hair, and amongst it, blades clashed. Screams and tears were their only prayer.
Twisting through the roads and alleyways, they reached the courtyards. Finally, Perseus slowed down to a fast walk. The chaos hadn't reached here yet. Perseus exhaled. The xiphos was heavy on his waist, and the shield was heavier on his back.
"Why don't we go to the sea, Perseus? We can get a boat and leave that way." Phoebe asked, timid.
"No, that's where they're coming from."
"Who? Who's coming for us?"
"The Persians, they are here to punish us for the Battle of Mycale." At least, that's what Perseus remembered being told. Their mother told them that the Persian King, Xerxes the self-titled God King, was more dangerous than his father, Darius.
"That means they're going to punish mother. Perseus, we have to stop them!" She turned around to sprint towards the barracks but found herself in her brother's arms again.
"Stop struggling. We're going to get caught," he hissed. She tried to shout at him, but Perseus clamped his hand over her mouth.
All of sudden, metal echoed through the courtyard. The next instant, Perseus snapped into action. As silently as he could, Perseus dove behind the nearest brush, pulling Phoebe beside him.
They watched with bated breath as a young Persian soldier stumbled to pick up his fallen shield. He must have been new—they might have a chance.
But it was too late. He had seen them.
Silently, Perseus unsheathed his xiphos and waited. He wasn't stupid. Even with his mother's training, Perseus understood he couldn't best a trained soldier. Well, not in a fair fight.
Perseus inched into the shadows, holding his breath. First he moved slowly, and then faster, and faster, circling behind the young soldier. Phoebe froze as the man stepped towards her. He watched carefully. Then, he attacked.
Perseus dashed out of the shadows. This feels right. He dug his blade deep into the unsuspecting victim's calf. Perseus ignored the man's desperate plea. He pulled out his xiphos and swiped at the Persian's back, cutting his life short.
That was his first kill. Perseus took a step back, leaning against a tree, panting. His adrenaline faded, and his senses returned.
"H-How did you do that?" Phoebe asked. She was shaking. Perseus smiled. He was shaking too.
"Do what?"
"Your feet. You didn't make a sound."
Perseus paused. "I don't know, but that soldier screamed. If any soldiers were nearby, they would come to investigate. Come. We have to leave."
Perseus took a second to wipe the blood off of his xiphos before sheathing the blade. He had just killed a man. He didn't look at the body.
Perseus grabbed Phoebe's hand, almost dragging the ginger-haired girl across the courtyard. He sprinted like he had when he was a child. He knew Athens. After all, he played in each and every crook of the city.
All the same, they didn't make it much further.
A Persian behind them shouted. Suddenly, an arrow struck the wall inches from Perseus' head. Perseus clenched his jaw. He dashed behind the gate of the courtyard, pulling Phoebe behind him.
He breathed deeply, listening for the man's footsteps. Even as Perseus' adrenaline flowed, his mind was calm. He heard the man's footsteps clearly, heavy with the weight of his armour.
At the last second Perseus turned into the gateway. He drew his xiphos, slashing defensively at the Persian soldier. He was an older man, perhaps in his thirties. He had an ugly beard.
The man ducked, parrying the attack with skilled precision. In a matter of seconds, the soldier disarmed Perseus. He slammed the flat of his blade against Perseus' head, throwing him to the ground.
Perseus bit on dust. He touched the back of his head. Blood ran freely. As he was about to close his eyes, he heard Phoebe scream.
"Stop!" Phoebe shouted.
From the edge of his vision, he saw the soldier start to advance towards his little sister.
His little sister.
Perseus pushed himself up, ignoring how his vision danced side-to-side. He threw himself at the Persian, tackling him to the ground.
The Persian grunted. The back of his head smashed into a rock. Perseus breathed heavily, letting the man's body slump to the ground. Just like that, Perseus had killed another man.
That was his second kill.
He crawled to Phoebe. "Are you alright?" He asked shakily.
Phoebe barely nodded, but she stayed quiet.
"Come, we're almost there."
Perseus stood, wiping the blood off of his sleeve. He turned to the woods, pushing himself to just keep on going. His feet followed the other, and unlike before, Phoebe guided the wounded Perseus.
Finally, when Perseus collapsed he simply couldn't keep on walking. He turned, facing the remains of his home. Smoke covered the night sky, and flames still burned strong. They fell on a hill, a distance from the burning city. Even here the siblings could hear the sounds of blood, pain, and war.
We're too close. Perseus gritted his teeth, and so, they kept charging forward, for his sister. She was all he had left. Athens, his mother, and everyone else was gone.
Was it a few hours or perhaps it was a few minutes? Regardless, eventually, Perseus crumpled to ground. With shaky fingers, Perseus set up camp. In truth, he made just enough space in the forest for them to rest their eyes. They were still too close. Perseus could see the smoke, blacker now.
He bandaged his head as best he could with cloth from his own tunic.
"Phoebe. Phoebe. Look at me." Perseus found her eyes. She was tired, and her eyes were red with tears. "I need you to be strong for me. P-Please." Perseus hated how weak he sounded. "You'll have the first watch. I need to sleep. Wake me up when you need to. Understand?"
Phoebe nodded, biting back tears.
Within seconds, Perseus was fast asleep.
Phoebe was alone now. She stared into the forest. Silver caught her eyes.
A/N: This is one of the two stories that is a collab with Xx_Anaklusmos_xX. I'm not telling anything about this story. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. This is special in itself. You're gonna love it, trust me.
Percy is a son of Lelantos, who is a Titan God of Air and Hunting. Phoebe, his sister, is a daughter of Poseidon. Just to inform you all.
-Tech108