Previously on Helix:
Nebula meets her other mother, Chaos
Artemis and Percy wake up after their night of passion
Thalia catches Artemis and Percy, unknowing telling him that the next girl he deflowers will be her
Sally's funeral on Olympus
Percy unknowingly meets Order in person for the first time, triggering an Intent Bond
Draco presents to you, Chapter 8: Purpose of the Rite!
Hello Percy. Its nice to finally meet you in person though I wished it was under better circumstances. My condolences about your mother. Percy could feel the sympathy coming from this person. This light being in his mind is really starting to irritate him.
Thank you. Now, why are you contacting me again Being? Percy sends to this being with an attitude.
I just wanted to say Hi and offer my condolences. Percy could sense that this was the truth. Percy knew that the bond was starting to form, so soon.
Now that you have said your hi, will you finally tell me who you are? Percy says with a very strict tone not letting this being sense his hesitation.
Now Percy, I would love to reveal myself but the time is not right. However, I will offer you a hint. Chaos and I have a lot more in common than just you. I know that she is searching the universe for me. Yet in her search, came across someone else who she thought was dead. The light voice replied back to Percy with a light teasing tone.
He remembers feeling confusion and alarm just a few days ago before Sally's passing. Now it all makes sense. If Chaos can feel his emotions, he could feel hers. Percy estimates that it just took longer for Chaos since she has always been on guard.
This line of thinking causes Percy to have an epiphany. Mates cannot lie to one another. They are able to omit items or refuse to answer, though. Yet he can force them to reveal the truth by calling on the Bond's Power.
With a smile Percy tells the being, If you refuse to introduce yourself to me, I will invoke the power of the bond. WIth this power, you know bonded Mates cannot lie to each other.
Percy senses the being physically stiffen at his statement. He doesn't realize that Order is actually watching Percy about 300 feet away in a darkened corner of the council room. Order realizes that if she can't convince Percy to not use the Power, her whole plan would vanish. Please Percy. Allow me this one favor. In return, I will tell you what Chaos is afraid of. Deal? Order quickly states, pleading to her newly discovered Mate.
This catches Percy's attention rather quickly. Who could be causing my first Mate be so afraid? I have to know.
Making his decision, Percy speaks with Order. All right. I won't force you, this time, to reveal your identity. Now, who is causing Chaos fear? Who dares to threaten my Mate?
Not who, my mate, what. Ask Chaos what the Rite is. You learn the truth of why she searches for me. Order glances up and sees Chaos walking towards Percy. She quickly breaks the connection, feeling Percy's lost immediately. She couldn't dwell on it very long as she fades away before Chaos can see her.
Percy knows that the time has come to speak with both Chaos and Artemis. Can I speak to you two ladies in private? This is not something I want to discuss in the Bond. Chaos and Artemis quickly agree without reservation. He sends them a mental image of Artemis' temple since it is closer than his own forgetting that he could just flash there.
Percy enters Artemis' bedchamber first, Chaos following about a minute later with Artemis, herself, following directly behind her. Chaos, sensing the importance of this chat, quickly seals the room off from anyone physically, mentally or magically intruding.
Artemis turns towards Percy, "Now, what did you want to talk about Percy?" She asks quite interested in why Percy was so eager to get them alone. Chaos glances towards Percy as well with a similar frame of mind wondering what her mate is up to.
Percy first meets Artemis' eyes, "The three of us will discuss you joining the Bond later, okay? First…" Percy turns towards Chaos and meets her eyes. "I would like to know something, love."
"Alright, I will answer as best as I can." Chaos replies interested in what Percy would be asking.
"What is the Rite?" Percy asks in a tone that is not accusatory, just questioning. However, Percy feels that he may of not used the correct tone. Chaos' stiffens, her face paling in seconds.
After what seemed forever, "How, how, how...do you know about the Rite?" Chaos replies to Percy as her voice drops to just above a whisper. Percy merely raises an eyebrow.
"You first, love. Why are you scared about this Rite thing?" Artemis glances at Chaos, now interested in this Rite as well. Chaos' eyes bounced back and forth between Percy and Artemis, looking to at war within herself. After nearly ten minutes of silence, Chaos takes a deep breath.
"Okay, loves. The Rite-" She takes another deep breath, preparing herself "-The Rite was designed by my father, Helix who also cast the Bond's original spell over the universe. The Rite is a way to challenge a Bonded for their mate. It was originally intended to be a way out for an abusive or misused Bond. My father did not someone to be Bonded if they were not in love and if one of them were being used for nefarious purposes. However, it could be used to steal a Mate from another. THe only main requirement is that the replacement Mate must also be compatible or a potential Mate. This Rite will require the current & replacement Mates must fight honorably. Whoever wins, gets the Mate Bond, permanently. You can only use the Rite once on a Bond." Chaos finishes taking a few moments to catch her breath.
"Oh. That actually explains a lot actually." Percy walks up to Chaos and hugs her tightly. "Fair turnaround. It's my turn. When I joined the Hunt, a voice spoke to me within my mind. The voice felt like light itself. You, my love, feel like darkness." Percy stops when he notices Chaos stiffening again. Yet, this time, instead of a pale face, her face turns red with fury.
"THAT BITCH!" Chaos yells with her aura flaring and causing several items around the room to fly back away from her.
"Uh,love. Need some information please?" Percy calmly asks Chaos, whose black aura is flaring around her. Chaos locks eyes with Percy's which help her calm down. Her aura slowly begins to shrink back within her.
"That voice you were hearing is none other than my twin sister, Order. She plans to use the Rite to replace me in our Bond as her final revenge for what I did so many eons ago." Chaos peacefully states.
"NO!" Both Percy and Artemis exclaim together.
"How? Oh wait, the Rite, duh. Is there any way to prevent it?" Artemis asks Chaos with a pleading look.
"Yes, we now know she is compatible with Percy. Otherwise she would've never been able to speak within his mind isolated from the Bond. However, the Rite requires a few things in order to trigger." Chaos explains to her fellow Bonded Mate.
Percy and Artemis glance at each other before gesturing to Chaos to continue.
"The Rite has a total of six requirements to be fulfilled. First, an Intent Bond must occur. This requires that Order and Percy must of at least met in person. You mentioned feeling a surge within yourself similar to when we first met, correct Percy?" Chaos notes to Percy.
"Yes. Was that an Intent Bond?" Percy questions his first Mate.
"Yes, I'm afraid it was, my love. Therefore, the first requirement has been fulfilled." Chaos states sadly.
"Okay, there is nothing we can do about it now. Let's review the other five requirements." Artemis notes to her fellow Bonded.
"The second requires consummation of the Intent Bond. Percy must have sex with Order to complete this requirement. Luckily for us, she can not trick you. You both must be yourselfs without any outside interference. This must be done of your own free will." Chaos states with a little smile, believing there may be just a chance that this could be avoided.
"I don't see myself having sex with anyone except my Mates." Percy says with conviction. Chaos and Artemis blush when Percy's feelings reach them.
"Moving on. The third requirement is an official intent to enact the Rite. Order must personally inform the Bonded she intends to challenge and replace in the Bond. I am sorry to say that this has also be fulfilled. She visited me in a dream shortly after our Bonding, Percy. She said that she will enact the Rite for revenge." Chaos finished with her mood dropping back into sadness once more.
Percy stands up from Artemis' bed and embraces Chaos. "It's alright love. There's nothing you could of done. Just remember this. You are my first, in every sense of the word. She can never take that away." Chaos smiles and gives Percy a soft kiss in thanks. They turn towards Artemis expecting anger but see happiness.
"I know I came after you Chaos. However, Percy was my first just like you are his. He will always be in my heart just like you will always be in his regardless of how this Rite ends." Artemis informs her Bond sister. Chaos and Percy smile while nodding at her in thanks and agreement.
"Please continue, love." Percy releases Chaos with another soft kiss and rejoins Artemis on the bed.
"Thank you. Both of you. Alright. Now, the fourth requirement of the Rite is power levels. Order must be in equal power as me, she can not be more or less powerful. Even with her imprisonment, her power has never diminished. I know now that we are still equals since the day we were born. The fourth requirement is fulfilled because of this." Chaos states factually, her mood staying quite high thanks to her Mates.
Percy and Artemis just nod in response showing that they understand and another one they can do nothing about.
"The fifth requirement for the Rite is a tricky one. It involves you, Artemis. Since Order is attempting to join a multi-Mate Bond, she must make her intent known to you, personally. Once that is done, she must either get your consent willingly or forcibly. Artemis, you will either willingly approve her to replace me or she will dominate you magically, physically and mentally. This one will not be easy, loves." Chaos explains directly to Artemis who is wide eyed at the revelation.
"NO! She will never dominate me. She will never get my consent. This I will not allow!" Artemis all but screams. Percy quickly grabs her hand, calming her down.
"We know, love. However, you need to prepare yourself. Better safe than sorry." Percy calmly tells Artemis, watching her face turn from red back to her normal blush. Artemis smiles in thanks to him. Percy turns his head back to CHaos and nods for her to continue.
"And finally, the sixth requirement. Love. All three of those involved must love each other. Percy, Order and myself. I know you love me, Percy. The only questionable part is the love between you and Order. It has to go both ways for it to count. Before you get upset Percy, just know that the love can be sneaky. You only need to love her and her, you when the Rite is finally enacted." Chaos calmly informs Percy to prevent his temper from exploding. She knows she did good when Percy closes his eyes and squeezes Artemis' hand to keep himself under control.
"So basically, out of the six requirements, three have been fulfilled. That leaves three to try to control. The consummation requirement is pretty self-explanatory. I just need to make sure I do not have sex with Order. The consent or dominate requirement is reliant on Artemis. We will need to train her to keep her from breaking from any domination. The love requirement is as you said Love, have to take it when the moment comes. Have I missed anything?" Percy reiterates looking at both Chaos and Artemis. They both shake their heads showing that Percy didn't miss anything.
"Oh, Percy?" Chaos suddenly goes shy and starts giving off an awkward feeling. Percy is wondering what this is all about.
"Yes, love?" Percy responds wondering what else could make this threat worse.
"There is one more thing. I owe a favor to someone very close to me. They requested that I make introductions between you two." Chaos shakingly mentions to Percy. Who could this be? Chaos is so scared. I don't think of the person but more of what it means to me and our Bond. Percy merely nods to Chaos, not trusting himself to not say something accusatory.
"May I introduce…" A black portal opens next to Chaos' outstretched hand. After a few seconds, a slender, curvy woman walks out wearing a white and black gown in perfect balance. Once the portal closes behind her, she raises her head and locks eyes with Percy. No way, it can not be. Percy noticing the similarities immediately.
"...my daughter, Nebula." Chaos shockingly announces to Percy and Artemis, who are surprised, to say the least. Nebula takes a few steps towards Percy, swinging her hips back and forth.
"Hello, Percy. So, you're the one who is making my mother scream in pleasure throughout the universe. I can't wait to have a taste." Nebula states causing Chaos to blush and Artemis turn red in anger.
Uh oh. Please don't tell me that we have another woman to worry about.
AN: So sorry about the late update, was out of town for Easter. That's Chapter 8, everyone! Tell me what you think by reviewing please! It's the only way I know that this is a good story. What do you think of Nebula? She will have a part to play. There is only 2 chapters left. Can't believe this story is coming to an end already. I will aim to have Chapter 9 up NO LATER than mid-April. - Draco