Chapter 56 – Backbiter

Percy turned the pouch over in his hands. He'd been thinking about Gaea's words to him a lot, but still hadn't brought up the topic with Kronos. The Titan had to be fully aware, right? Percy knew he would be, but then why had Kronos stayed with him all that time? Percy thought he knew the answer to that one too.

So the only real question was why was Kronos hanging around now? The war with Gaea was over, Kronos didn't have to bring information back to the giants now, he didn't need the protection from Olympus that came with mating with a demigod now. Kronos had already mentioned to Percy that the only reason he'd initially mated with him – or pretended to mate, apparently – was because he'd been cornered and it had been his only feasible option to survive. Mating with Percy, a demigod would be far better than one of the Olympians such as Zeus taking it into their own hands. Kronos was clearly fully aware that mating with a demigod was a shorter requirement than doing so with an immortal. And a demigod was less likely to be aware of the complexities of the actual deed than an older immortal who'd likely done so many times before, and so easier to fool.

Kronos had played Percy and the Olympians from beginning to end.

Percy was angry, but also impressed. And admittedly confused. Gaea was around now, and she was clearly prepared to protect Kronos if she had to, so Kronos didn't need a human shield in Percy now.

Yet, he'd offered for Percy to spend his weekends there in Alaska. And had now given him a gift, which Percy was really tempted to open. The little drawstring pouch would be easy to open. Mortals didn't tend to do well with gifts they were told not to touch, Percy just had to think of Pandora, a very well-known example. Handing a demigod a little gift and telling them not to open it was just tempting fate, especially after telling Percy only to open it when he didn't have any other options. Percy sighed and tucked the pouch into his pack, resting on top of everything else. He'd realised that while he could hold it in his hand, if he put something on top of it the pouch puffed itself up, so it went on top of everything else he carried.

Whatever was going on with Delphi was clearly stressing Kronos out, or at least unnerving him. Percy didn't have a clue what he'd Seen, since he didn't say anything, but he was used to that now. Immortals never gave him straight answers. But, suddenly, Kronos was insisting on dragging Percy out to train every day in the weekend when he was around. Percy was confused, but he wasn't about to complain.

Percy quickly realised that spending an hour or two training also helped him to focus more on his work for school after.

Kronos was the best swordman Percy had ever crossed blades with. When he'd still been in Luke's body, he'd had Luke's muscle memory. Now he had his own and his own abilities and skill back, and Percy felt like he spent most of his time in their spars just backing away from him.

Percy quickly learnt not to block Kronos' sword. The first time he did that, it twisted his wrist and knocked the sword straight out of his hand. Backbiter had been at Percy's throat before he could blink, resting on his collarbone. Which made lesson number one: don't make the mistake of thinking a demigod could match an immortal's strength. So Percy learnt to parry and deflect against immortals instead of instinctively blocking.

In mid-December during a sparring session with Kronos, a few weeks after they'd begun, Percy finally brought it up to Kronos. "So, Gaea told me we didn't actually mate," he said.

Kronos was so startled that Percy's sudden strike with Riptide caught him in the side. Kronos swore violently, his free hand jerking to his side. His fingers came away dripping with ichor, the same ichor which stained the edge of Riptide. Percy's eyes widened. "Shit," he said, "sorry."

The Titan stared at him. Kronos wordlessly touched a finger to his side and Percy watched as the wound healed itself before Kronos wiped his fingers off on his side slowly and deliberately. "Obviously," he curtly said.

Percy blinked. "What?"

"We did not mate," Kronos agreed.

Riptide wavered, Percy's eyes furrowing. "But – all those times we had sex?"

Kronos just raised an eyebrow. "What, I am not allowed to want to have sex? I fucked Porphyrion too. And a few others. What does it matter?" He questioned.

Percy groaned, not really wanting to hear about Kronos fucking around with others while Percy thought they were mated – but apparently not. "Why did you make it seem like we were then?" He asked, lowering Riptide.

"You have already figured that out," Kronos stated. The blade of Backbiter turned slightly, momentarily catching the sun as Kronos' fingers shifted. "Do not pretend that you have not. You are no fool, despite what many others may believe."

The son of Poseidon pressed his lips together. It made sense that Kronos – ever so perceptive – would pick up on that. "You needed a human shield against Olympus."

"Yes," Kronos said. "And, yet, I am still around even after I no longer need one. What does that tell you?"

Percy just shrugged at him. "I don't know," he said.

"Neither do I," Kronos said. "You are irritating. And mortal."

"Then make me an immortal," Percy pushed.

Backbiter swept up, knocking aside Riptide and sending the blade into the dirt. "No," Kronos said. "I cannot."

"Can't or won't?" Percy retorted sharply as he cradled his hand, the impact from Kronos' strike having vibrated right up Riptide and into Percy's wrist.

"Both," Kronos said. He nodded to Riptide, the blade behind Percy. "Pick up your sword," the Titan Lord said, his frustration and annoyance more than obvious. "We will go again."

Percy scowled, not moving. "Why bother?" He demanded.

"Because I said so," Kronos said sharply. He didn't move, only watching Percy intently. His gaze reminded Percy of a predator watching its prey. A chill ran up his spine. "We are not done."

Percy crossed his arms. "First tell me why you're still around. Why there's a fucking point."

Kronos sighed. "Perhaps when I figure that out myself," he said, before nodding to Percy's sword again. "Pick it up."

Percy scowled at Kronos, before he turned towards Riptide. He took a step forward – and every single instinct screamed at him. Percy lunged forward another step and felt a push to his back, one that made pain explode along the length of his body. He screeched, knees dropping him to the ground, Riptide still and Percy howled in agony.

"Never turn your back to the enemy," he heard Kronos snap from above him.

Percy gasped, struggling to get onto his hands and knees to get to his feet, but he couldn't even do that much. Tears burned in his eyes as he cried out in pain. "Fuck," Percy cried out, tears on his cheeks as he reached around with a hand and felt the frayed back of his shirt. Past that, Percy's fingers touched the wound split open along his back, a gash straight from Backbiter and that fucking Titan. Pain burst like a star as Percy's fingers slipped through blood and muscle, crying out again as he realised the gash was near to an inch deep along his lower back. Blood was spilling over his side. Percy groaned, trying to feel out for some water that was easily accessible, but he couldn't find any immediately nearby.

Percy turned his head when a shadow fell over him. Kronos was staring down at him, an odd look on his face as he did so. Backbiter gleamed at his side. While Riptide had shone golden from ichor, the blood along Backbiter's length was a horrible red. Percy grit his teeth, trying to force himself up to his knees, but realised he couldn't. Past Backbiter, Percy could see that many beings and creatures had stopped what they were doing and were watching. Hyperion was watching with an overwhelming glee, but also faint annoyance – Percy remembered that Hyperion had wanted to kill Percy himself.

Percy collapsed back down onto his stomach, groaning. "Do it then," Percy gasped up at Kronos, "just do it." Backbiter was pointing down, held loosely in Kronos' hand, with the edge of the terrifying weapon mere inches from Percy's neck.

Kronos' eyes were dark. Percy didn't know if this was payback for him cutting Kronos' side, or just the Titan deciding he'd finally had enough of him. "Stop being a fucking coward and do it if you're going to," Percy challenged angrily, his back in agonising pain. If Kronos was going to kill him, then Percy would rather he just did instead of drawing it out. He'd just had enough of this constant back and forth between them. It never made any sense.

Backbiter began to descend, and Percy squeezed his eyes shut. He heard a soft chink and cracked open an eye to see the double-metal blade of Backbiter was buried in the ground next to his face. Percy's reflection stared back at him with wide and terrified eyes, half gleaming red from the blood dripping down the blade.

Percy realised then that he was hyperventilating, gasping for breath he squeezed his eyes shut. Percy flinched and cried out when a warm hand pressed against the wound. "You have my apologies, Perseus," Kronos offered. His hand was spread out over the wound, and Percy was still trying to breathe as his back crawled and itched, and then he felt the pain vanish all at once. Kronos' hand remained on his back for several long seconds as Percy calmed slightly.

Percy shut his eyes. "The Hades is wrong with you?" He forced out, popping his eyes open again. Kronos just shook his head slightly. "That's not an answer, you could've killed me!"

"I did not."

"Yeah, because I was lucky," Percy snapped, sitting up and glaring at Kronos. "Because I felt it, but I could've – what the Hades, Kronos?"

Kronos sighed and stood. "Now we are done," he said as he pulled Backbiter out of the ground next to Percy, striding off across the arena.

Percy glared at his back the whole way. Sure, Kronos had healed him, but he was the one who cut him open in the first place. Percy groaned as he stood. He had to admit that Kronos' power to heal was ridiculous. Time was clearly useful in that sense. Percy's stormy path back to the house he was staying in led him straight into Hyperion, which was more than suspicious.

The Titan smirked down at Percy. "Trouble in paradise?" He mocked. "I was hoping he was going to kill you," he said mournfully.

Percy scoffed. "What, so you can play with your fire?" He demanded. Percy just walked past him, not paying him any attention. Let Hyperion mock all he wanted, Percy didn't care. "Just leave me alone."

"You'll die one day, Jackson!" Hyperion yelled after him. "I hope I'm there to see it!"

Percy just flipped Hyperion off as he disappeared inside, muttering angrily to himself as he shoved his things into his pack. He had packed away all his clothes when he smelt a sea breeze, something which definitely didn't belong where they were. Percy's heard jerked up, how eyes furrowing. "Dad?" he asked, turning, and immediately pausing slightly. "Ah – you're not Poseidon," he said to the scowling immortal.

This was a Titan whom Percy had only ever seen once from a distance. Ocean blue eyes observed Percy closely, looking like the fathomless depths at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Like his brothers, Oceanus' face was firm. But oddly, the one that he reminded Percy of most was Kronos.

"I am not," Oceanus agreed with a disgusted curl of a lip. He grunted. There was a shimmer in his hands, and then he was holding Riptide, the blade gleaming. Percy tensed, but Oceanus only frowned slightly. "Anaklusmos," he mused. The Titan's fingers trailed along the flat of the blade, the bronze metal shimmering. His gaze turned sombre. "When rumours began that the son of Poseidon wielded this blade, I was not quite sure what to think of them," Oceanus said. "I assumed them to be lies." He sighed, offering the sword back to Percy hilt first.

Percy slowly reached out and took the sword. "How do you know about Riptide?" He asked, baffled.

"I made her, of course," Oceanus said. "Whom else would have created a blade so intrinsically linked to the sea when it was created in an age before the Olympians?"

That… was a very good point. Percy stared at Riptide, his eyes wide. "I thought it was Zoe's?" He asked, remembering the daughter of Atlas and the star constellation she'd become.

"This blade passed many hands before ending up with the Hesperides," Oceanus said. "It was forged before your father was even conceived in the fires of Mount Etna… the sword, that is. Poseidon happened to be conceived when Kronos and Rhea decided to fuck on a beach – imbeciles, both of them!" The Titan of the Ocean proclaimed.

Percy's nose crinkled. "Didn't want to know that," he said as he put the pen cap to Riptide's point and shoved the sword into his pocket. Percy pressed his lips together. "Look, I don't mean to be rude," he said to the Titan who'd practically destroyed his father's domain two years before, "but what are you doing here?"

Oceanus nodded his head slightly. "Consider it an offer," he said. "While I don't approve of your father, I know when Riptide finds a suitable owner." Oceanus glanced out the window towards the Camp, raising an eyebrow slightly. Percy followed his gaze, and his eyes narrowed when he noted Kronos had clearly taken note of Oceanus. "But it would be a disappointment for the wielder of that blade to be lacking in terms of his abilities," Oceanus said. "I have been informed you have a distinct issue with such abilities."

Percy switched his glare towards Oceanus. "I'm fine," he said curtly.

"I know not why Kronos accepts such a tone from you, but know that unlike my baby brother, I do not like you," Oceanus said curtly to Percy. "Why would you limit your strength when there is so much more to understand?" He demanded. "I will give you the tools to be worthy of that blade."

Percy pressed his lips together. "I don't need more power," he said. "I'm fine."

Oceanus smiled. "Not even to save your friends?" He questioned. "The stronger you are, the more you can save. There is also another reason why I offer to teach you – it will worry Kronos."

The son of Poseidon raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"Do you know what blood is made of, Perseus Jackson?" Oceanus questioned. "Or ichor – like the ichor which flows through Kronos' veins?"

Percy frowned. "Lots of things," he said, "but I don't think-"

Oceanus continued. "And what if I said that you would be capable of controlling that blood when I am done with you? It is a delicate lesson to learn, but one well worth the price."

"Isn't that bad?" Percy questioned. "Controlling blood? That's…"

"Power," Oceanus quietly said to Percy. "If you get strong enough, perhaps you may be able to control the ichor in an immortal. I am sure Kronos would enjoy that."

"That sounds like sarcasm."

"Of course it is," Oceanus agreed. "But this is also something which he agreed to. In fact, it was he whom informed me that you fought with Riptide. I've no doubt that he knew that information would rouse my interest. It is not often that I leave the ocean these days, boy. What I am offering is an honour for you."

Did it feel like cheating? Absolutely. Percy wasn't sure he'd feel comfortable blood-bending, but Oceanus was right at least. It was another arsenal to add to Percy's growing collection. He still hesitated though, pressing his lips together. "Why are you offering to help me?" Percy asked warily.

Oceanus crossed his arms. "It will irritate both Kronos and Poseidon," he said to Percy. "So it seems to be something worth my time." The Titan held a hand out to Percy, palm up. "It will not take long to teach you," he added. "You will be back before too long."

Percy glanced out towards the window, noticing the winged-figure flying away. "Where does he go?" He asked.

Oceanus chuckled. "When Othrys collapsed, most of the riches and treasures were buried with the Palace. The knowledge and intellect in the library there were unfortunately lost to fire and buried beneath the rubble. Naturally, Kronos needed money to pay many of the beings whom stormed Olympus. An army of mercenaries, both mortal and immortal. He's trying to pay off the debt before they decide to demand anything from him."

Percy blinked. "Is that likely?" He asked.

Oceanus' chuckle grew louder. "Yes," he said. "The Triumvirate… well, it could be quite entertaining," he mused.

Percy didn't know what Oceanus meant, but he was used to the vague answers he was getting these days. "Right," he said, before nodding slightly. "What you want to teach me – it won't like, cause any damage, right?"

Oceanus' eyes glinted. "Only to your enemies," he said.

The son of Poseidon nodded his head slightly. "Alright," he said, casting a final glance towards the window where he could no longer see Kronos. "Teach me, then," he said to Oceanus. "Teach me how to blood-bend."

Alright, so after this chapter I'm going to have to take some time out to make sure ToA is planned out properly. Make sure I know what's going to happen etc before diving into the next arc.

What I can confirm though is that there will be deaths (even if they may or may not be different to Rick's ToA).

And I figure this Percy wouldn't be against blood-bending. I mean as much time as he's spent around Kronos, it's probably rubbed off on him haha. So this mean he might be able to control ichor? Yeah, and it's going to piss Kronos off so much XD. But having been taught how to do it by Oceanus, it's going to be a lot safer for Percy to use than it was in Rick's books... but also not, 'cus it's still blood-bending. You'll see what I mean later.

But how things have gone lately, and Kronos' influence, are going to change ToA right from the beginning. Just warning you all now before the arc begins! Included in this is a massive increase in Percy's involvement... which he won't be too happy about.

Reviews:

BlueFireRunes: Well, my ToA will end up pretty different just because of... someone interfering XD. But I can say it's going to be a fun ride! Thanks!