Percy's POV

The doorbell rang just as I reached the first floor, slightly surprising me.

It was in the wee hours of the morning, after all, and a Saturday at that. No one, well, almost no one, wakes up so damn early. Only people who liked to jog- a prime example being me- would wake up this early.

Furthermore, it wasn't as if my house address as publicized. Only the people I was close to knew where I lived. A passing thought that it could be Annabeth caused my heart rate to increase slightly, but I forcefully calmed myself down and sighed.

It was quite surreal to once again be in a relationship. Rachel had scarred me terribly, and never would I have expected that I would recover from it. I definitely would have never expected the person that would help me to recover to be Annabeth Chase, a girl that I had to help in the past.

However, what was completely unexpected was the identity of the visitor.

"Mr Brunner," I greeted, shock apparent in my voice. Sitting there in his wheelchair, his usual calm and encouraging smile plastered to his face, was my swordsmanship teacher, dressed in simple pants and a shirt.

"Percy," He replied, nodding his head in greeting. His smile then slowly disappeared, and a serious expression arose as he continued. "May I come in? I have a few important details that I need to address and discuss with you."

My insides turned cold as my mind ran at a hundred miles per hour, finally coming up with a few possible topics he wanted to discuss about.

None of them were good.

"Come in then," I stepped away from the doorway, allowing him to bypass me before closing the door.

"It's a nice place you have," Mr Brunner said. His brow then frowned as his eyes drifted, as though he was thinking about something of the distant past.

"It looks kind of familiar," Mr Brunner shot me a curious glance. A small wave of grief washed over my heart, but I quashed it as fast as it appeared.

"I designed it to look like my old house," I replied, my voice a little shaky as I tried to hide the grief. Surprise flashed across Mr Brunner's eyes, followed by a nostalgic look.

"Ahh, that's why. I often visited your parents' house. The years has blurred my memory much," he muttered in a soft voice. The house was quiet, however, so I could hear whatever he was saying.

"Mr Brunner, why have you come?" I asked in a slightly resigned and tired tone. My heart had already guessed what he was going to talk about the moment he continued to ramble on about my parents, but I needed a confirmation.

His gaze suddenly turned sharp as he switched his gaze to me. He then gave a small, sad smile.

"I think you have already guessed what I want to talk to you about, Percy."

"I didn't want it to be true. Had to try."

"Sadly, it isn't a topic which I can avoid. For your sake, I have to breach into this topic, even though the both of us rather not talk about it."

Our eyes met, and we both sighed as feelings of nostalgia and sadness permeated our beings.

"What is this about?" I asked, setting two cups of freshly made coffee on the table in front of us. Mr Brunner immediately picked it up and took a short sip, nodding in appreciation as I stared at him, wondering how in the world his tongue did not get scalded.

"As you have guessed," His tone turned solemn as he set the cup back onto the table gently. "It is about your parents. Not only your parents, however, but your friends as well. And a certain criminal mastermind."

Unease started to erupt in me. I was right. It was about Kronos, about Luke, about my parents, and the reason why they died.

"The spies planted by your father- the ones not caught yet and are quite high up there in the hierarchy- had just informed me that Kronos had started sending out people to investigate about you."

"Luke," I growled as anger exploded inside me. It had to be him.

Mr Brunner nodded in confirmation, and sighed wearily.

"Luke had returned to Tartarus a week after you and Annabeth disappeared, angry and throwing a huge tantrum. After killing a few gladiators brutally, Kronos finally managed to calm him down and source the story out of him."

"He had probably already guessed who I am," I stated. "He's one of the most cunning and smartest people alive in this era. It'd be surprising if he didn't manage to deduce that it was me."

"Indeed, you are currently occupying the highest possibility in his list of guesses. He is merely sending people out to gain more information about you, and to make sure his guess is correct."

A deathly silence fell, and the room temperature seemed to decrease. A heavy atmosphere pressed descended, and an invisible weight pressed down on me.

Kronos has started to send people here. I knew it would happen sooner or later, but it still wasn't an easy thing to accept and face.

Once he was involved, it meant the mixing of two different worlds, it meant the introduction of deaths and horror and sorrow into the peaceful and mundane life I lead, that my friends lead.

Now, we were all in danger. Not just me, but every single person in the vicinity around me.

"I do have some good news, however," Mr Brunner's voice pierced through my cloud of dark thoughts, bringing me out of the fog of worry and guilt.

"What?" I asked in a curious manner. Mr Brunner had been the right hand man of my dad when he was still alive. He knew exactly how powerful Kronos is. If he said that there was some good news, it meant that there was good news.

"The surviving member of the big three, Hades, recently contacted me to ask about your identity. I confirmed his suspicions. He is now sending people to guard you and your friends as well." Mr Brunner replied.

"Furthermore, even though our company has been closed down for a while, all our assets still remains, and many of the workers are still devoted to Poseidon. I have contacted them, and they are willing to help to guard you and your friends as well. Kronos' lackeys are going to have a very hard time to get close to you or your friends."

The invisible weight that was pressing down on me seemed to lighten up considerably as my eyes widened in shock.

"Hades made a move?" I asked, mouth agape. Mr Brunner chuckled at my expression, causing me to quickly close my mouth in embarrassment.

"Contrary to what you believe, Hades, Zues and Poseidon always had a strong sense of brotherhood- even if they bickered to the ends of hell and back. Ah, the days when I had to sit through five hours of their argument over whose wife was better," Mr Brunner muttered and sighed as I stared, stunned at his words.

"I had always thought that the three of them despised each other. Dad often threw tantrums about the both of them," I managed to choke out after recovering from my initial state of shock. Mr Brunner laughed and shook his head.

"They seem to never get along, but in fact the bickering they often go through is their form of expressing their close feelings to one another. It may seem completely weird and eccentric, but you have to admit that none of them were close to being normal in any way," Mr Brunner explained, giving me a slightly mirthful smile.

"I guess I can agree to the latter part. I'm still quite sceptical about Hades sending help, though," I replied, disbelief apparent in my voice.

"You, Jason and Thalia are the heirs of the two people he held close to his heart. Do you think he would have accepted Thalia to be with Nico if she wasn't Zues' daughter?" Mr Brunner's words caused me to think and slowly realise that what he said was true.

According to my knowledge, knowing Hades, he would have immediately kicked Thalia out of his house once she talked back to him. Him relenting was completely unheard of and unbecoming of him.

"Either way, that's all I have to say to you. As of right now, Hades and I are trying to come up with plans to solve the issue with Kronos and Luke, but other than killing them outright, we haven't found another way yet." Mr Brunner said as he took his last sip of coffee.

"I'll be leaving now. I have things to do today as well. I came only to inform you about what is happening and to warn you to be prepared. Percy, this is not going to be an easy fight." He looked at me straight in the eye and said.

I let out a huge, long breath, calming the raging storm of emotions that swept through my heart, and then nodded.

"I know. Thank you, Mr Brunner, for telling me this." I thanked him sincerely. He smiled and waved his hand.

"It is part of my job, after all. Kronos has been our enemy since a long time ago. Perhaps this is finally the time to strike back," He replied before leaving the house and closing the door behind him, his words echoing throughout my mind as I stared hard at the door.

Determination seeped through my bones and filled my entire being. For my parents, for my friends, for Annabeth.

I couldn't lose this fight.