Hey guys. I hope you enjoy this next chapter! Thank you all for your patients and for enjoying my story and letting me know what you think of it.
As always, Percy Jackson, belongs to Rick Riordan.
Percy was doing an internal check of all the things he didn't get to do before he died. Go on a date. Nope. Have a party with friends. Never. Kiss a girl. Not at all (his mom kissing his cheek didn't count). He tried not to let himself turn back as the aura of the war god slowly grew overwhelming. The mix of anger and fear was surrounding him in a thick fog. The closer he got, the more he felt like punching the next person he saw. Focus, Percy. He reminded himself. You need to focus.
Behind him Annabeth and Grover walked in silence. Percy wondered if they were feeling the same thing he was. The terrifying rage that wanted to soak into his every fiber. The teen closed his eyes and tried not to focus on the angry thoughts that wanted to control him. Mom, Percy told himself. Think about her and blue chocolate chip cookies. Montauk. He let his mind resonate in those memories.
If he was about to face a god, he needed to have a clear head.
They were walking down a long stone hallway. Tattered posters desperately clung to the wall. Some were for old monster truck rally's and concerts. The floor was littered with beer cans and a plethora of trash. Percy tried to ignore the feeling of his ill-fitting shoes sticking to the ground below him. There were many smells he was deliberately trying to avoid thinking about, but ironically, most were things he'd grown accustomed to living with Gabe Ugliano.
"Why has this place not been leveled?" Annabeth asked, she seemed to be finally finding her voice. "It's hardly structurally sound. It seems like it'll collapse at the slightest tremor. Not a good place for brawling. Look at those cracks in the wall."
She rambled a bit about architecture. Kind of a boring subject, but it seemed to be calming her nerves, so Percy didn't mind. The zombies escorting them hardly cared one way or the other, they simply marched on with those decidedly neutral expressions on their faces. The three did their best to ignore the buzzing of flies and the occasional sent of death that came from them. Grover seemed to be fairing less favorably than the demigods.
"You want more!?" A voice shouted. For a moment, the trio froze dead in their tracks. "Do you want MORE?"
The hall they were walking down began to tremble with the thunderous pounding of feet and cheers that echoed through the brick cavern. It was so loud that Percy could hardly hear the nervous 'bah' that escaped Grover. A heavy light started filtering in, blinding compared to the dank hall. The roar of the crowd grew greater as Percy stepped into the light.
The first thing Percy noticed was an accumulation of smoke that overwhelmed the room. Worse than the apartment would be during one of Gabe's poker tournaments. It was thick like fog over a battlefield. Despite the disrepair of the building, it was clear the people inside the area were not at all concerned about the cracking roof or how unstable the bleachers they were sitting on were. If Percy had to guess, there were at least five hundred people and unidentifiable creatures crammed like sardines in the semicircle risers surrounding an uneven stage in the middle.
Standing in the center holding a megaphone was a man. A very tall man. The guy would probably have basketball teams chomping at the bit to get him to play for them. He wore only a military vest and a pair of torn blue jeans. It seemed that, regardless of the fact he was inside a building, the man was wearing a particularly dark pair of aviator shades. His skin was dark, leathered, and scarred as if he had been through years of bloody battles. Percy noted the gold liquid and dust that coated his body. He was dripping in sweat but looked thirsty for more action. For blood.
Almost like someone had decided mixing a serial killer and an erratic dictator was a good idea.
"I promised you something new." The man ground out into the megaphone. The speaker cracked and glitched from the force in his voice. That didn't' matter though, the crowd cheered in anticipation. "Well, how about we welcome our new challenger. The one you've all been waiting for. Percy Jackson: the son of Poseidon."
The crowd swelled, their cheers continuing like a wave crashing on a beach. One of the Zombies grabbed Percy's arm and weakly began tugging him to the stage. Both Annabeth and Grover tried to follow, but a pair of civil war bayonets stopped them in their tracks. Percy didn't want to give the dead men a reason to use their weapons, so he didn't fight his escort to the stage.
As Percy was brought closer to the man, he could feel the angry aura he had been trying to push back become consuming. He only ever felt this angry when he was around a bully. Whether it be his stepfather or dumb jerks like Matt Salon and Nancy Bobfits. A satisfied grin grew on the guys face as the nearly trembling fourteen-year-old was presented to him. The soldier gave a bow before hobbling off the stage as fast as he could.
"Hello, New Meat." The man spoke to him from around the megaphone. Percy felt a snap of anger whip through his body. "I guess you know who I am? Right? Why you are here?"
"The god of war." Percy muttered, his rational fear no longer giving its two cents. "I hear you've been following me. Causing chaos must get pretty boring if you're stalking someone like me."
Ares gave a humored laugh, "'Someone like you.' The first demigod son of Poseidon sired in over a hundred years. You may just be a blip on the map, but you are a slightly more interesting blip then the rest of em."
Percy was sure that was supposed to be taken as a complement, but he doubted that this god could muster an ounce of sincerity.
"I was hoping you would come here." The god of war told him as he lowered the megaphone to his side. "I was afraid you would be like that son of Zeus… Sorry,"
Ares paused, his rugged appearance momentarily giving way to someone who looked a bit more refined. "Jupiter. Spending your days doing what the 'king of gods' ordered, but you're too much like your dad aren't you? Or, perhaps, your mother. If she's anything like the mortal women I've loved…I bet she kicks ass. Maybe I'll go meet her after I put you down."
Oh, the demigod was so ready to show the god what he thought of that idea. Now, did he actually have the experience to go toe to toe with the literal god of war? No. No he did not, but Percy was hoping the guy was as stupid as he looked. Maybe he couldn't out match the god, but outwitting him, that should be easy. Afterall, his domain didn't require intelligence.
That was where Athena stepped in.
Percy felt the eyes of the arena's spectators watching him and the God of War intently. They were all blood thirsty. He could faintly hear bets on his odds of surviving being made. Most favored the god. Ares cracked his neck and showed off almost unnaturally perfect teeth for a guy who looked like he had seen more than his fair share of fights. The god slowly presented the megaphone to the teen.
"Any last words you would like to say?" Ares asked. Percy glared, but did not humor the god or his audience.
"If I win, you give me the Helm of Darkness." The teen demanded coolly.
"Since I'm such a confident guy." The god laughed and put the megaphone to his mouth. He had the speaker placed directly in Percy's face as he spoke. "I'll swear on the River Styx, if you win Percy Jackson, you will be given the Helm of Darkness as you requested."
Laughter erupted from the crowd and many of the patrons expressed their doubts at Percy's chance for success. There was more rustling of money and the sound of coins being shuffled from hand to hand. It didn't exactly bode well for Percy's confidence, but he didn't really have a choice. Ares was going to make him fight one way or another. Ares was the first to move, he summoned a spear into his hand and thrust it forward. It all happened so fast, Percy almost hadn't managed to dodge.
The teen fumbled in his pocket for Riptide. He couldn't be empty handed, and despite the god's 'confidence' Percy doubted he'd have the honor to not fight an unarmed man. There was a moment of panic before the pen rolled into his awaiting fingers. Percy carelessly ripped the cap off and brought the sword up to parry the god's next strike. The clanking of metal was deafening, the crowd had gone silent at the sight of someone fending off Ares.
"Good." Ares smirked, "This won't be a one hit kill."
Ares pressed harder on their conjoined weapons, trying to outmatch Percy with his sheer weight. It felt like the demigod was fighting against a wall. The souls of his shoes struggled to hold their grip on the rubble covered stage. Trying to push the god back was pointless and Percy knew his strength would give out eventually. The teen used as much force as he could to push Are's blade up and duck beneath the gods arms and around behind him.
Thinking this was the perfect opportunity to strike, Percy aimed for the god's ankle. He knew, at least in mortal anatomy, there were some pretty important structures there. The god was prepared, and quicker, the long bronze rod of the spear was slammed across Percy's face with such force, he was surprised it hadn't broken. The teen tumbled to the ground as if he had just been hit by a car.
"Nice try, punk." The god smirked and kicked Percy in the ribs. "But you're just too slow. Maybe you aren't meant for dry land."
Percy looked up at the god. Ares grinned manically as he attempted to drive his blade into the teens back. The son of Poseidon hadn't been as fortunate as he had been Ares's first attack. While he managed to avoid being impaled, the god's weapon still managed to bite into his side and rip his shirt. Percy did his best not to cry out in pain. He saw Annabeth to the side intently watching the fight while Grover covered his eyes in terror.
Percy thought back to his dream. Grover was feeling guilty for what happened to Thalia, he couldn't be another thing that the goat carried on his shoulders. For his friends, for his mom, despite the dizziness caused by the pain in his side, Percy clamored to his feet as Ares flaunted his muscles to the crowd.
"It's gonna take a lot more than that, punk." Percy spat at the celebrating god. The crowd responded with a resounding Ohh like a bunch of frat boys.
Ares turned to look at the teen and gave a hearty laugh. "Are you sure about that? One paper cut and you practically passed out."
Percy raised riptide and pointed it at Ares. "I'm not dead yet. I will beat you and get that helm."
Ares gave a shrug and motioned for Percy to make his move. Like an idiot, Percy decided charging into the god's challenge was the best idea. He could hear Annabeth scream in protest, but the son of Poseidon was committed to his choice. The war god's spear came up, aimed last minute directly at the teen's heart. Percy cursed himself and attempted to parry the blow, but suddenly, the god's spear jerked, as if someone had smacked it to the side. Percy's attack continued forward and resulted in him burying his blade halfway into the god's chest.
Golden blood spirt past the gods lips, but he still hardly seemed fazed by the sword slicing through his lung.
"You little punk." Ares muttered as he pulled riptide from his chest. The dangerous god was now duel wielding weapons. "I don't know what kind of game your playing but when I get through with yo-"
The god's voice stopped short as if someone had just punched him in the throat. Percy, weaponless and staring at the paralyzed form of Ares, took a step back. It was impossible to tell what was going on through the god's mind. Was he planning on luring Percy closer? Was he confused how he got stabbed? Was he trying to figure out what caused his weapon to go AWOL? The god began muttering incoherently to himself as his body twitched abnormally.
Ares clutched his head tightly, as if his skull were ready to burst. "I take no prisoners."
Percy wasn't sure who Ares was talking to. He half-wondered if the god had two little devils on his shoulders, each telling him to enact a plan more twisted than the others. Latin and ancient Greek poured out of the war god's mouth. Ares's sunglasses incinerated, showing the wild hellfire that had been burning behind them. He struggled for another moment before they turned into two softly burning pits.
"Zeus may think himself king of these mortals." Ares grinned. His eyes looked glossy, almost like he was on another plane of existence entirely. "I know the truth. I am the comfort they seek in their darkest hour. Even when there is not a war, people are still at war. All over the world. Eager to punish others, even kill. Innocent, guilty doesn't matter vengeance is blind. All in a feeble effort to push forth their ideals. For the rush of the warm blood on their hands. Isn't that all war is about? There is always war, it just takes many different faces. I just take that anger, that jealousy, that pride, that prejudice, and arrogance, and I give it a little push."
The god began methodically circling the defenseless teen, riptide being waved tauntingly in his face. Percy desperately searched for anything he could use to escape. He couldn't lose to this guy. A cold sensation in his pocket reminded him of his conversation with Nereus. The pearls that he had been given. If he tried, he could toss two to his friends and throw the third at his feet, but that'd be the official end to their quest.
Nothing would have been accomplished.
"Yes, little hero." Ares smirked as he placed the tip of riptide at the base of Percy's throat. "You could use those pearls to escape me, but If you do take the 'easy' way out I promise you, it won't be easy. I will curse your cowardice, sea spawn. Your salvation will only hand you to your doom."
Percy grit his teeth at the threat. The teen didn't know how Ares knew about the pearls. He couldn't run, even if he wanted to. He had come this far and he wasn't about to let his mother down. Percy braced himself as he smacked the blade aside, he earned a few cuts on his arm, but Ares hadn't been expecting the rebellion.
"Percy, catch!" Annabeth shouted and threw her dagger towards him. Percy felt relieved when he had the dagger in his hand. It wasn't as big as riptide and almost felt too light in his hand. It was better than nothing.
"Scrappy." Ares noted. "You'd be good on the front line. Maybe I'll make you a general."
Percy ducked as riptide was swung eagerly at him, the perfect aim would have taken his head off if he hadn't moved out of the way. The teen barrel rolled to the side and watched as Ares drove riptide into the stone stage. There was a crack and the stone slab started to split apart. A tremor rippled through the building, but this seemed to be the greatest entertainment the crowd had seen in a long time.
They cheered, even as dust from the ceiling fell upon them.
"ARES! ARES! ARES!" They called, a mixture of English and ancient languages bubbling forth as they stomped their feet in unison.
Unlike last time, the god did not cater to his adorning fans. It seemed as if his focus was now narrowed onto the teen. Ares abandon riptide on the stage, his spear once again taking part in the action. Percy knew he needed to get in close. The combination of his smaller blade and Ares ranged weapon did not make for good odds.
Percy waited for the god to prepare his next attack and once it had reached the highest point of its swing, he slid beneath the god and slashed his calf open. Ares gave a cry and stumbled forward as the dagger dug through his skin.
"You little punk!" Ares screamed as his foot plowed into Percy's ribs like a battering ram. He could feel his bones snap under the pressure.
For a moment, the teen was weightless. He could feel gravity desperately trying to pull him down, but the force of the God's kick kept him going. Percy faintly could hear the crowd roaring over the sound of the air whipping by him. The world blurred by, flickering between being solid and fading to blackness.
When Percy finally landed, he could feel the cracked bones shifting painfully. He struggled to breathe, his body slumped onto the cool concrete, prepared to die. But just as suddenly as he was willfully releasing his grasp on the world, he felt a cord of life bubbling beneath his fingertips. It wasn't very large or impressive. Don't give up! A voice almost seemed to be speaking at the back of his mind. Percy closed his eyes and tried to focus on that feeling. A churning came to his gut like a swelling tide pool.
Water.
There was Water beneath him. He could feel it, feel it rushing in a straight line, fighting its containment, but accepting the one way it had to go to keep moving. Percy concluded that there was a water pipe beneath them. He took a grip on the running water, ordering it to be still and build up pressure in the pipe. Wait for it. He silently ordered while remaining unmoving where he had landed.
Ares jumped off of the stage and slowly walked towards him, Percy could feel his heavy boot steps as he did. The god seemed to be confident he had won, Percy turned slightly to look at the god. Ares grinned as he summoned a biker's helmet from thin air. He waved it at the teen mockingly.
"So much for you being 'oh so powerful'. I doubt you could raze an ant farm." The war god mocked, leisurely tossing the helmet up and down in his hand. "Don't worry, after I kill you, you can join my army of war's biggest losers."
Percy spat blood, the combination of broken bones and the churning in his gut were not a good mix. "I bet that sounded a lot better in your head."
The son of Poseidon could feel the pressure in the water pipe reaching a breaking point. As if the water itself was getting too impatient to wait for his cue. Ares was getting closer to him. Percy could practically feel the God's shadow engulfing his smaller form. Just a little bit longer. Percy's eyes rested on the helmet in Ares hands.
That had to be the Helm of Darkness.
"A shame you failed your quest." Ares smirked. "So many good people are going to be left to rot because you weren't good enough."
"At least I didn't betray my family." Percy grunted.
"You say that as if the gods haven't screwed each other over before? To list all their offences would take forever. So how about I spare you the long, sad story and end your misery here and now?"
Ares raised his spear above his head, aiming it carefully at the teen. It was almost like he was trying to savor his kill. Percy watched as the god's shadow grew closer. The pull in his gut became violent and the ground began to tremble, causing the already unstable building to crumble. People screamed and rushed from the stands, but Ares didn't care. Now Percy ordered pulling the water and the pipe through the cracking concrete. The water's aim was true, hitting the god straight in the face.
The force was strong enough to send the god of war stumbling back onto the stage, sputtering, and gasping like a beached whale. His helmet landed on the floor a couple of feet from him. The building continued to tremble and wither away. By this point, all the spectators had escaped. It was only Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and a furious god of war. Percy gave a pained grunt as he shambled to his feet and recovered Annabeth's blade that had landed beside him. The god of war was still struggling against the current of water as the teen walked to the abandon biker helmet between them.
"I'll kill you-gulp- you little-" Ares tried to continue his threat, but the water in his face made for an excellent muffle.
When Percy picked up the helmet it felt heavy, cold, and not solid. Almost like he was holding smoke in his hands. Visions of darkness and chaos prickled in the back of his mind, but he forced himself to focus on what was actually happening around him. Ares gasping under the pressure of a improv water cannon, Annabeth and Grover standing dumbfounded to the side, the continuing tremoring of the building. The concrete walls were crying out as deeper fissures dug into them, the floor splintered beneath their feet.
There was a loud, metallic whine and crack. Percy felt his eyes glide up expecting to see his impending doom.
A loose chunk of ceiling and support beams hung like a pendulum over Ares. It worked itself free the more it rocked back and forth. Percy could only watch as it gave a loud groan and let loose like a hammer into the god's stomach. Gold blood spewed forth, Ares gave an agonized cry and desperately grasped at the large piece of concrete. It was large enough that it cut off the current of water.
Ares attempted to ground out a few choice words, but the blood filling his mouth garbled them into a watery mess.
"Grover, Annabeth." Percy shouted, his hands clutching tightly onto the helmet. "Lets get out of here!"
The trio fled down the crumbling hallway and towards the light of their salvation. A few times they were almost unfortunate enough to be under a falling hunk of building, but they managed to avoid death and scramble out of the entrance without a moment to spare. The ground beneath their feet tremored as the old, condemned building finally collapsed in on its self.
"You must have the god of luck on your side." Grover told him, "There was no way we should have survived that."
"Honestly, internal bleeding might do me in." the son of Poseidon laughed painfully, his sides throbbing as he did so.
"Now, Honey." A familiar southern draw tumbled into his ears. Percy could hardly believe it as his former teacher shuffled her way to them, looking the same as she had when he was twelve. "We've talked about the fighting. Any beating you get is because you deserve it."
"Mrs. Dodds?"
A pointed grin curled on her face as two winged monsters landed next to her. They were women, but the stuff of nightmares. Their skin was taunt, and dry, looking more like leather than actual flesh. They had wriggling masses of snakes for hair, hissing and biting at one another. More snakes were coiling down their arms. Percy would have thought they were Gorgons, but the fact they had not turned to stone told him he was not so lucky.
"Alecto, is this the boy?" One of the monsters asked, her voice clawed Percy's brain like nails on a chalkboard.
"Percy Jackson," Mrs. Dodds purred, a low growl following behind it. Blood tears began to roll down her face, but her fanged smirk was evil and triumphant. "I have waited so long to get my hands on you."