PROPHECY GIRL

. . .

Hello!

There I am, back in old form, with a new story in tow. Do not fret, my friends, they'll name a city after us is not abandoned, it is simply on hiatus for now until I find some inspiration for it again. Life has been wild the past year, and many of you can probably understand. The world is just a mess right now, and it's taken a bit of a toll on me, up to the point that I'd lost all inspiration for writing.

But I have found my fire again, and I am really excited to present to you this new story. It's a bit different, it will certainly be very, very, very dark. Please do not expect a light read! It's anything but.

I will spare you more words from me, and just let you get into the first chapter. It is short, true, but no worries, future chapters will be longer. This chapter is simply the introduction, to get the stones rolling.

Cheers, people!

(I'm also cross-posting this story on AO3, so go check it out there if you want to)

1. A Prophecy Not Fulfilled

"You have lost, little girl."

Kronos's words are the only thing Percy is able to hear as he advances on her, twirling his sword, Backbiter, in his hands. His eyes gleam with power, and although he wears Luke's body, she cannot recognize the boy's once familiar features, now twisted and crazed, hungering for her blood, her death. He presses the tip of his sword against her throat, lips curling with amusement as the blade does not penetrate her skin thanks to the curse of Achilles.

"I have to admit, little girl, it truly is a shame," Kronos continues, leaving the sword at her throat in an unspoken threat. "Killing you will bring me pleasure, but it will be a shame to rid the world of your beauty. Perhaps … " His eyes leave the spot where his blade rests against her throat to meet her gaze, "perhaps I should spare you for now, give you away to my brothers for their own fun before taking a piece of you myself."

Percy blanches at his words, her stomach turning in disgust at the mental images the titan projects into her mind. "I would never bow down to you or your brothers," she hisses, cold streams of sweat trickling down her back when the blade digs in a little deeper. She knows he won't be able to penetrate her skin, but still he is taunting her, and it's enough to make her heart stutter and race in fear. "You wouldn't be able to break me, no matter what you do to me."

"Such spirit." Kronos releases a laugh, cold and cruel and inhuman. "Even in the moments before your downfall. I pity that you did not join me. Your powers are extraordinary. You could have been truly great. You could have risen beyond what you think you are capable of." His eyes gleam down at her, and he licks his lips in a slow deliberate motion. "I could have even made you a queen, my dearest granddaughter."

If there is a thing Percy does know at this moment, it's this one: she does not want to die. Provoking him any further will cause that to happen, so for now, she keeps her mouth shut and endures his nasty words, each one of them stoking the inside her gut more and more. From the corners of her eyes, she sees Annabeth, knocked out, sprawled across the cracked marble floor a few feet away from her. Grover, desperately struggling, being held at bay by Ethan Nakamura. Black smoke curls and twists upward from Olympus's hearth, the fire completely snuffed out, carrying the smell of ash and coal and defeat over to her. The scene almost makes her lose hope.

Almost.

Percy stops the hopelessness creeping into her heart like a disease, and transforms it into fury. She steels her spine and blends out the screams and shouts from under Olympus, where mortals run for their lives and monsters jump at every living being they can get their claws into. She remembers the way the sea churns right before a storm, the way powerful waves crash against rocks and cliffs, and she prepares to die, because what she's about to do will either be her biggest victory or her very downfall. Her hands snap up and close around the sword's blade. She gathers all her strength and, in one swift quick motion, knocks the hilt of the sword into Kronos's face. He staggers back, momentarily surprised by her move, and Percy uses the moment of opportunity to jump to her feet and grab her own sword.

The adrenaline and power coursing through her veins make her almost dizzy.

"You bitch!" Kronos snarls and comes at her with a speed that is entirely unhuman.

Percy manages to dodge. "You should really quit with all the dramatic speeches and just come straight down to business," she taunts him, ducking as he slashes down at her again. "Listening to your threats gets tiring after a while."

Kronos roars, his fury shaking the entire world at its very core. He kicks her in the chest, and she lands on the floor from the force of it, skittering across the cracked marble, gasping as all the air leaves her lungs. That, however, is his mistake. He raises his sword, about to bring it down on her, but Percy is smaller and lighter, and just he prepares to strike down, she rolls to the side. Kronos's rage causes more cracks to appear in the floor. He stomps his foot, and a chasm appears before him, over which he jumps. He raises his sword again. This time, he is too quick for Percy. His blade strikes down toward her shoulder, bouncing off her unbreakable skin, but the contact surprises her, lowering her guards for a second. He uses the opportunity to strike her across the face, sending her flying against Zeus's throne.

Percy has no time to recover.

He is upon her in an instant, yanking her up by her hair. She suppresses a whimper, startled by the sudden sharp pain. "You think you can defeat me?" Kronos snarls, inches away from her face. His eyes burn like liquid gold. "Think again, little girl. I will kill you, I will rip you apart, and I will do the same with each and every of those puny little demigods you call your friends. I will make you watch while I tear your parents apart, first your little mortal mother, your stepfather, and finally, I will make you witness the fading of your beloved father."

But his words don't register with Percy.

Her eyes fall to a tiny spot, right under his left arm, a small chink in his armor revealing unprotected skin. Her hand inches slowly to her pocket, where Riptide has reappeared. It's nothing, probably. She shouldn't get her hopes up. But she has to get away from him somehow, surprise him, make him loosen his grip.

Quick as a bird, Percy uncaps the pen and thrusts forward, desperately aiming for the chink in the armor.

But just as quick, a swirl of blonde princess curls darts between them, knocking Percy's sword out of her hands.

Even Kronos seems stunned by the unexpected turn of events as he lets her go.

"Annabeth," Percy breathes, staggering back. "Why did you―"

But Annabeth pays her no mind. "You promised," Annabeth whispers, facing the titan. "You promised to me, that you would give him back."

Understanding passes through Kronos's expression. He twists his lips into a cruel grin and twirls his sword expertly, his eyes flashing from Percy to Annabeth in almost child-like anticipation, as if his greatest wish was being served to him on a silver platter. "That I did, young daughter of Athena," he purrs, edging closer to her. He raises a hand and touches Annabeth's hair, winding a blonde strand around his fingers, examining it in utmost fascination. Percy blanches when Annabeth leans into his touch, her eyelids fluttering. "I will give Luke Castellan back to you, unharmed and alive, once I sit on my throne. That was our deal, and I am a man of my word, after all." Kronos removes his hand from Annabeth's hair, only to place it on her cheek, his thumb stroking her skin. When he continues to speak, he almost sounds tender, "But do you remember what you promised me in return, sweet girl?"

As Percy heaves herself up to her feet, Annabeth hesitates for just the briefest of moments before … "Yes," she croaks, "I remember."

"Very well." Kronos leans down, his lips touching her ear. "What are you waiting for, then?"

Something clicks inside Percy, the realization striking into her like lightning, and she cannot believe … she's afraid to even think about it. Her gaze never wavers from Annabeth, her best friend, even when she slowly spins around to face her, gray eyes against green ones. "Annabeth," Percy whispers, and there is a burn behind her eyes, the stinging sensation of tears welling up. "Please … please don't."

"I'm sorry, Percy. But this is Luke. I love him." And then, a different presence behind Percy, and Annabeth whispers, "It's the small of her back. Opposite her navel."

Percy has no time to react. No time to defend herself. The only thing she can make out is black hair and a patch-covered eye, and then, a blade slashing into her, straight into her mortal spot.

A note regarding future pairings: I am aiming for a Polympians here. For those who do not know what this means, it's basically Percy with the Olympian gods in romantic relationships. This is what fits best for this story and the things I have in store for it. However, you guys can leave a vote, request, wish, etc. which Olympian gods you really want to see Percy have a romantic connection with. For example, I know I want her to have a familial/platonic relationship with Hera, Hestia, and Artemis, however you can still change that by leaving me a review saying you would like to see her in a romantic way with one of those goddesses or even all three of them. Heck, if you want her to fall in love with Poseidon as well, her own father, then tell me that in a review and I'll see it done in this story.

Just letting you know that you can help me with some decision making in that matter!