XV: Sacrifice

-Alpha-

Elysium. A place for heroes and warriors. Those who die fighting the horrors of the Greek world. Saviors of the gods, changers of fate itself. So why am I here? Killing Kronos only helped a little. Maybe I saved the gods, maybe Percy would have anyway. Maybe I changed fate, maybe not. The gods would likely bear small gifts to the demigod heroes before climbing atop their thrones and wait another hundred years for something to happen.

Camp Half-Blood would celebrate, relishing in their victory, then all would return to normal. Monsters wouldn't cease in Kronos's absence. Demigods survival rate wouldn't jump up, especially after the plummeting deaths of the second titan war. Everyone has to face reality at some point. If I didn't give Krono's a body in the first place, I wouldn't have had to save everyone. Meaning if anything I should be blamed for the deaths of hundreds, not for saving them in the end. I am useless.

I can't show my face in a place like this, which is why I've been wandering. Wandering for who knows how long now. Yet today is the day. Sometime today, I won't have to keep avoiding other heroes that died because of me. Today, I'll chose to abandon my Greek fate, as sometimes legends just die.

A flash came from behind me, right on time. "I chose rebirth," he said without turning around. "I have no place here, no friends or family. I have nothing left to stay for."

"I see," a female's voice made me turn. There stood a girl, flickering like a hologram. Her black hair and eyes seemed to fade in and out of the darkness behind her.

"How are you!?" I questioned pointing. "I was told Thanatos would deliver my final choice." She tilted her head to the left like a lost puppy.

"True, but I'm not collecting your final choice. I have no correlations with the god of death, nor the Greek gods in general. I was sent to get heroes for a new team of elite warriors, an army seeking to free the universe from evil." I laughed, unable to take the girl at face value. "Don't believe me?" She questioned, an eyebrow raised.

"Credulity has nothing to do with it. I'm no hero, and wouldn't be much of a help to you. I shouldn't be here, but was placed here by mistake."

"No hero is wrongfully chosen," she replied, not even looking at me. "Here's my final offer-"

"Pretty quick for a final offer, no more negotiation?" I sarcastically interrupted. Whether she detected it or not, I was ignored as she continued her statement.

"There will soon be a day when resistance rises once more to face the Greek gods. Whether it be giants or titan, or something else, The Army of Chaos is responsible for keeping all planets in check and their inhabitants alive. We have a Ragnarok situation on our hands, one day this world shall be set ablaze. If you don't want to feel useless, this is your best shot."

"How did you-"

"The world is a dangerous place, the galaxy, worse, the universe, terrible. That is why we need everyone we can get. Earth won't be the first planet to face crisis. Nor will it be the last. But with the help of you, and the rest of your team, we can truly free the universe. Imagine a world where demigods were free. Free of monsters. Free of the wrath of gods. Free of all constraints. Able to live normal lives if they please, unplagued by the world they didn't ask to be born into. Will you help us create that future?"

Everything was a blur, but one thing was clear. The chance for everything I wanted to come true was just offered. Was I being brainwashed before? But getting away from my old life. If I wanted to be reborn, this was an even better chance. Rebirth as someone useful. Redemption.

"I'll do it." She smiled brightly.

"Yay! I'll take you to your new team!" She cheerily said. As light consumed me, I had no fear. I'd already done my worst. Now I'd do my best. When the light dissolved, I was standing in a small room, like a dorm. There sat a few different figures, boys and girls. But from behind me, someone said something I never wanted to here. If she was recruiting in Elysium, it was to be expected, but it didn't make it better.

"I know who you are," a voice rang out behind me.

"I know who you are," a voice echoed from the left. They pointed a finger towards Oasis, but in a fleeting moment it pushed beyond him. Zoe. "I know you," the huntress repeated, almost in awe. Both Percy's arms raised, and suddenly, I was dissipated into vapor, traveling back to our camp. As I opened my eyes, Percy, Zoe, and the huntress stood in a circle.

Acting as if nothing ever happened, the girl continued to walk forward extending her hand gently towards her mask. Zoe showed no signs of stopping it, and when I saw the pleading gleam in her eye, I knew why Percy had isolated us. Zoe was to reveal herself to a hunter. An old friend?

She grabbed the mask, waited a few seconds as if asking for permission, before tugging it off. Tears reached her eyes as she looked at the girl standing above her. "Hello Phoebe," Zoe greeted. "Long time no see." Pulling the girl, Phoebe into a hug, Zoe began whispering in her ear. In the beginning I thought it was reassurance, but as time went on it became clear she was giving specific instructions. Maybe don't reveal my identity, or this is where I've been all these years.

After what felt like forever the two parted and Phoebe rubbed her puffy red eyes. "I understand," Phoebe begun. "Now isn't the best time for a chat and catch up, but I hope for that eventually. I'll give my best effort to convince the hunt you can be trusted," Phoebe said turning to leave. "I hope after the war we will be able to have a more pleasant meeting."

"That would be nice," Zoe agreed with a smile.

"I should get to the wall," I told the trio. "Then Oasis can return to camp with Star. We will hold down everything fine. Just make sure to get those campers in shape." They smirked in response, and I whisked away once more. The flames died and I was met with a stunned crowd. This will be fun to explain.

"Alright everyone settle down, all that happened was she discovered one of our members identity, and we couldn't have it released to the entire world. Word would spread, eventually finding the ears of the enemy." Campers seemed ill to my convincing, and Artemis slowly approached me. Oh boy.

"If that's true boy then what was done with my huntress?" I opened my mouth to speak, only to be immediately drown out.

"I'm here m'lady," Phoebe said approaching from the direction of the wall. "They meant no harm, and I can promise you and everyone here they're trustworthy. They've truly come to lend their strength to us, but we were stupid not to accept their helping hand."

"We?" Bianca questioned jumping from a tree. "The hunt as of now has done nothing against us, unlike the campers, using spies and saboteurs to steal information. Then again, those are the internal campers, not those of the wall. I think everyone here had a misunderstanding and deserves a fresh introduction no?"

"That was your introduction," the brute Clarisse responded. "And I am in charge of the operations led by the campers of this wall, no one else. We handled the situation fine, as of now only three found dead. Were not like the softies inside the walls. An attack like this making it to camp would leave hundreds dead, whether you are here or not. So allow me to command, as I have for the past five years." Appearing before her from the shadows, Hannah stared her in the eye, earning a flinch and uncomfortable glance away.

"Nope," Hannah cheerily stated.

"Excuse me?" Clarisse growled.

"Nope," she repeated. I disguised a laugh into a cough at the ordeal. Hannah promised she'd make those who broke Percy's trust suffer, and she planned to deliver in more than traditional ways. "I will be taking care of all battle plans from here on out. You fought a battle in three deaths, I'd do it in zero. While my brother is skilled, he hasn't been around since the dawn of time. I'm as fit for leading as him, even more if not for my setbacks."

Even I tilted my head in confusion. Hannah never talked about her past so it was an already rare event, but what 'setbacks' was she referring to. Sense the day we met in Elysium all I'd seen in was a strong, completely capable warrior. Yet there was something weird. No one was allowed to visit her room at night. Why creep on her in the first place, who knows? But Chaos enforced the rule so heavily, even into Oasis's head who was her own brother, adopted or not. Not to mention every kinda lock is on that door, all which shadow can unlock at once using shadow lock picking methods. Setbacks huh?

"Disperse," Clarisse ordered, yet the crowd stayed gathered, mouths wider than a black whole.

"Disperse please," Hannah asked politely, and the campers began to back off, walking to their posts atop the wall. In fear or respect, the answer unclear. The hunt gathered with Artemis, and Phoebe gave me one final glance before disappearing into the thicket. Maybe the hunt isn't as bad as I- My train of thought derailed and ran off a cliff, replaced by another. Thalia!

But it was too late, the hunters would likely begin to set up camp, not the best place for a male. A flash pushed at my back. Spinning, I saw Zeus himself glaring at me. "The gods have voted. Unfortunately we will be helping you in this war." Imagine helping fight your own war. "One one condition." Oh boy.