Chapter Twelve: The Herald Of Shadow
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Screwthefates1806: Wow! Thanks for the awesome review! I'm really glad that you liked this story and I may take you up on that offer to Edit for me, Might make it easier to get these chapters out before 2:00AM haha. Regardless I'm incredibly happy you think so highly of the story and look forwards to providing more great content!
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Percy, Day 17 In Tartarus
He had been running for, by his recollection, two days now he thought bitterly. His mouth was dry and he had long ago run short on the few rations he had brought with him. It was as if his prey knew he was coming, and had decided to wear him down with a long chase he thought to himself mockingly. Percy's eyes blazed beneath his helmet as he grinned at his own misfortune. Good luck wearing him down, he thought to himself, ever since he had called on the Tartarean he felt energized, and it took him shorter and shorter periods of rest to be ready to go again.
The ground had long ago given way to steep rocky cliffs that had begun to ascend to dizzying heights, even now as he followed his quarry's trail he felt as if he could reach out and touch the thundering black clouds that hung some distance above his head. He ran on unbothered by the elements or the height, not seeming to notice the weight he carried with him in armor and weapons.
The armor he wore was the color of a midnight ocean, nearly pitch black with hints of the darkest green and blue. The Cuirass hugged his torso, lacking pauldron's or any additions, it was a snug fit but it allowed for a surprising amount of flexibility. His entire right arm had been sheathed in a Manica styled gauntlet, made of the same material as the cuirass. It reached from his shoulder to his wrist, consisting of a series of overlapping metal plates, like scales on a fish. It was held in place by several straps that attached to the Cuirass and wrapped across his chest. Underneath the Cuirass much to his dislike, Nyx had provided him with a black Chiton, he looked every inch the Greek warrior of old.
His legs were protected by two similar Manica styled armor segments that ran down the outside of his legs from his hips to his knees, as well as a traditional Greek styled leather strapped Fauld, Which also reached down to his knees, the ends of each leather strap weighted with a similar metal to the cuirass. His left arm was bare of all adornments, just a simple metal bracer reached from his wrist to just below his elbow.
His feet were covered with iron studded sandals, with straps that ran up to his knees, and a pair of black greaves that fully encased his lower legs sat over top of them, clamping around his ankle and reaching the top of his knee it provided nearly seamless protection to his lower body when paired with the Manica.
Completing the look was a pitch black Corinthian style helmet, the eye slits were slightly more narrow and elongated than usual. Upon the brow of the helmet was a single engraving. A star flanked by two half moons. The helm was also host to a large dark green plume which nearly reached his mid back.
He carried a large Hoplon shield on his back, the only oddity about the design was the strange circular section that was missing from roughly a quarter of the shield's circumference. As if something had taken a large bite out of it. He also carried a spear with a winged tip which he held in one hand, Both the spear and shield appeared to be made of celestial bronze. Sheathed on one hip was a black sword, much broader than he would normally use, slightly longer as well. The grip was a hand and a half long, with a wide guard, but otherwise the sword appeared to be nothing more than a significantly larger than normal Xiphos made of a glistening black metal. He had to admit he felt somewhat naked without Riptide, but Nyx had been adamant that the sword would give away her plan the second someone saw him wield it. So he had reluctantly taken the replacement blade from Nyx for the time being.
With nimble steps Percy leapt, climbed and ran along the side of the mountain, pausing on occasion to scan the cliffs ahead and behind him. Nyx had warned him his target would be vicious and intelligent. The strongest amongst the pack and Percy had no doubt that they were waiting for him in this mountain range somewhere. He had this strange feeling that something was following him and it was beginning to grate on his nerves a tad.
The mountain range he had scaled was close enough to the vivid aquamarine expanse of the Tartarean that it was visible to the naked eye from this height. The shore was maybe a dozen feet from the foot of the cliff, however he was so high the beach was nearly invisible. It was still strange for Percy to think that something so bright and colorful could exist in Tartarus at all, but then again he had learned a surprising amount about the realm in the time he had spent with Nyx.
She had taken him to the Shadow Realm, her actual home beyond the entrance at the house of night. She had spent two weeks, well two week of time in Tartarus, answering many of his questions, and her explanation of what was coming left him with even more than he had originally had.
She knew that Percy was a competent warrior, but she said that he needed to earn the respect of those within the shadow realm, her court, filled with minor gods and her own children were apparently a distrustful and fickle lot, go figure. He grunted to himself in anger as he leapt across a small crevice, soaring nearly ten feet before landing with a roll and continuing his run up the slope.
Nyx had told him he needed to prove himself. She was putting out the call to raise the Army of Night, it would take time. So in order to have a force ready to assist him for the coming battle near camp half blood Nyx had a much faster approach. A very bloody and dangerous shortcut Percy was realizing the more he thought about it. However, if he succeeded he doubted that any of the Shadow court would dare to question why this unknown mortal had been made Nyx's Herald.
This is what had led him to trekking what felt like halfway across Tartarus chasing a feeling that was telling him which way to go, nothing more and nothing less. He had a few days down here left at most, before the Titans would emerge from their tunnels under the earth, and attack the demigods. At least by Nyx's estimation, then the war would begin in earnest.
He could feel the strain muscles, the soreness in his limbs starting to set in as he scouted out a place to rest. He may be some strange half-breed, but he was still mortal and he still needed to rest. It didn't matter how far they ran, he would find them. Εκδίκηση's blessing had made tracking a target exceptionally easy. It was almost like he could sniff them out, instinctively knowing where to go, albeit not how far. The stench of that sixth sense of his was becoming overpowering ever since he entered this specific mountain range, so he knew he was close.
He had wanted to know more about the blessing itself but in the nearly seventeen Tartarean days he had spent since becoming Nyx's Herald the Goddess had remained silent as had her sisters. Not that he was particularly worried, she had warned him that the spell they had helped him channel to save Annabeth would rob them of much of their strength, and that they would need time to recover. So he resigned himself to completing this task from Nyx on his own.
He spotted a good place to rest, a large open area between two peaks, which formed a valley of sorts. The area was dotted with boulders and other rough terrain. The only ways out of the area would be from the valley entrance or exit, or scaling several hundred feet of sheer cliff face. So Percy felt at least confident that he would see any attackers that came his way.
He quickly jogged towards one of the larger collections of boulders and sat down leaning against one. His spear lay leaned up against the boulder, his shield beside him and his sword laid across his lap as he rested. One eye closed but the other opened ever so slightly, as he kept an eye out for danger.
As he rested he thought back on the events of the past two weeks, in particular the conversation with Nyx which had sent him on this insane journey.
*Flashback*
Percy strode through the halls of Nyx's palace quickly, she had summoned him to her chambers to discuss his role in serving her. He had to admit, it hadn't been all it was cracked up to be yet. Percy had spent the last week sitting in a room, given to him by Nyx. While she essentially told him to shut up and sit down until she was ready.
With the looming threat of A Titan led army attacking his friends, the deadline drawing ever closer. Percy was becoming frustrated to say the least, Nyx didn't care and made it clear to him that he was not to leave the room or interact with any of the denizens of Nyx's realm until she gave the order.
So he waited in silence, he was sworn to serve her, and directly going against her orders was physically painful. This had gone on for the last few days.
However, minutes prior a knocking sound had echoed around his chambers, he had sprinted and thrown the door wide open for it to reveal a set of clothing and a mask, made of some strange black metal.
The clothing appeared for all intensive purposes to be a suit, simple in design and function and completely black. It didn't have a tie thank god, and the belt and shoes were simple black leather.
The mask was the most unique part as it completely covered his features, jet black and made of some shiny metal, the front of it sported a strange etching, one of a star flanked by two half moons. Atop the clothing there had been a letter, written clearly for him to see. Stating that he was summoned to appear before Nyx in the Court and that she had requested he wear these clothes specifically.
Once he was dressed, he had all but sprinted down the hallways, doubling back in some cases but eventually he found his way to the grand hall within which Nyx held court. She had shown it to him once when she had first brought him into the Shadow Realm.
Pausing for a moment to catch his breath he pushed open the doors and walked into the grand hall, which was filled with the low drone of dozens of voices whispering to each other. It was hard to tell if it was coming from the various gods and other beings who occupied the upper levels of the great hall, or if the sound originated from the dark shadows which were all around him.
The entire room was filled with long shadows which stretched away from braziers in which blue flames burned, giving the entire room a strange blue glow. Percy swore the temperature must have dropped fifteen degrees as he could see his breath misting in front of his eyes as he walked down the hall towards the massive swirling storm of dark energy that was Nyx, seated upon the Throne of Darkness.
Once he was within a dozen steps or so of the throne he dropped to one knee, his head bent as he did his best to calm his nerves and keep his voice steady. "You called for me, Milady?" He asked, his voice neutral even as his nerves were shot.
The entire court room went silent as he spoke, waiting on bated breath to hear the response of their queen. "Yes, I have called you here to once more speak your oath before the Court, so that I may introduce to them the newest addition to my Council" Nyx replied, her voice dark and mysterious.
A chorus of excited and confused whispers broke out among those assembled as they tried to catch a glimpse of Percy. Nyx had warned him that her 'courtiers' as she had called them, were a deceitful and power hungry bunch, she had warned him he would need to prove himself before they would follow him.
As he opened his mouth to speak, he heard her voice echo in his mind once more "Do not use your name my Herald, simply state your oath" The voice rang out in his mind loudly before fading.
"I, Swear to abide by the terms set by you, Lady Nyx, Queen of Night, Claimant to the Throne of Tartarus, To serve you until such a time as I am released or my Oath is fulfilled. I swear this by Εκδίκηση, First lady of Vengeance, eldest of the Tartarii!" Percy declared loudly after a brief moment's pause to consider Nyx's words.
If the gods and other beings of Nyx's court were uninterested before, they certainly were not now. The deathly quiet which had fallen over the hall prior to his oath was shattered. Hundreds of voices rang out, calling questions, shouting jeers as they beheld the figure kneeling at the foot of Nyx's throne.
Nyx rose to her feet, her face an uninterested mask as the entire court fell silent all at once. She walked forwards and placed her hand on Percy's shoulder as she stared past him, up into the higher levels of the hall, Towards the gathered courtiers and other attendants.
"I know of the rumors that have run rampant this past week, Those of you who have seen it with your own eyes tell of the Tartarean rising once more" Nyx said with a feral grin plastered across her face.
"I tell you the rumors are true, my brother has fallen in battle, The Tartarean rages once more!" Nyx cried out victoriously.
The entire hall erupted into cheers at that, dozens of swords and other weapons were pulled free of their respective sheathes and thrust into the air as dozens of voices took up the cry and cheered for the victory against Tartarus himself.
A singular voice cried out against the resulting cacophony of sounds. "How did you accomplish this my Queen?" All eyes turned to the speaker in question, A figure which Percy had to struggle not to commit a double take. Eris, Goddess of Discord.
For a second Nyx paused, her grin growing wider the longer she waited until she laughed, then cried out "Oh daughter of mine, I did nothing to my brother, yet his killer stands among us. I present to you, The Slayer of Tartarus, and now the Herald of my army." Nyx finished as she gestured to Percy.
All at once the shadows of the room surged towards him, wrapping him in their icy darkness if only for a moment. When they pulled away he was garbed in midnight black armor, clearly of ancient Greek style. Inscribed with the mark of Nyx herself on the helmet.
The hall went silent again, if only for a moment before the cheers resumed, if possibly louder than before.
"FOR TOO LONG, HAS MY BROTHER SCORNED ME AND MY CHILDREN!" Nyx cried out, her words inciting an even more increased fervor amongst her courtiers, the sounds of their screams and cheers were the stuff of nightmares.
"Finally we shall take back what should have long been mine! I called you all here to watch and take the oath. Today is the first day of a lifetime long reckoning, You shall return to your lands with the Shadow Realm." Nyx said, her voice regal and filled with authority as it rang out across the hall.
"You will raise your warriors, the legions of shades and dark elves. Every nightmare and dark dream that has ever spawned life in your realms you will rally to my banner! So that my Herald may lead the Armies of Night on a conquest to mark the dawn of a new age!" Nyx finished dramatically as the shadows writhed around her, the thunderous roars of the crowd and the clang of weapons being drawn and thrust into the air was clear.
"I understand the choice to make him your herald milady, but by what right does he lead our forces? He is no God I can smell the mortality on him, nor is he a noble, he has no right to lead our warriors" Called one of the dark figures from the stands.
"What would you suggest then? Do you intend to fight him to prove how much easier you are to kill than Tartarus was?" Another called out in response.
"Does he bring forces of his own? So that we might at least know he stands to risk as much as we do?" Another voice called out.
Nyx seemed annoyed more than anything else as she motioned for Percy to stay put and walked back to her throne. Sitting down and crossing her legs she called out, her voice unnaturally loud as it rang through the halls. "Umbra, I summon you. Show yourself."
Instantly the crowds cheering faded as several voices began to whisper in worry, the courtiers casting glances at each other as they gripped their weapons anxiously.
There was silence for a few moments, as everyone waited for the one in question to show themselves. Yet they never did, this drove the low murmur of whispers into a rumble as more voices joined in voicing their concerns about the lack of Umbra's presence.
However unlike the rest of those present Nyx seemed almost gleeful at the lack of Umbra's presence. Her smile widened as the shadows in the room roared to life, large tendrils of inky darkness reaching into the sky of the throne room as Nyx's eyes erupted into literal quasars of blinding white light.
"UMBRA YOU WILL ANSWER MY CALL HERE, YOU WILL ARRIVE OR I WILL CONSIDER YOUR OATH OF LOYALTY BROKEN AND YOU WILL FEEL MY WRATH!" Nyx roared out into the darkness of the Realm of Shadow.
For a few moments everyone held their breath, but when no one arrived absolute pandemonium broke loose within the Hall.
"Umbra has abandoned us!" someone called out.
"How will we fight this war without the Hellhounds!?" another asked in panic.
Nyx, for her part, waited. She simply sat on her throne grinning as she watched her court explode into chaos. "You all forget, that I have planned for my takeover of my Brother's domains since before many of you were born." Nyx declared, triumph ringing in her voice.
"My Herald is the one who unleashed the Tartarean, He killed Tartarus and he watched as I Killed Percy Jackson, the Son of Poseidon, the foolish demigod who dared to cross into my realm and escape with his life. My Herald is blessed by the Tartarii! A Prince of the Tartarean itself! He has the right to lead, and soon he will have the forces with which to do so." Nyx said with vigor.
"I hereby task my Herald, with the Trial and execution of Umbra, Son of Nyx, First of the Hellhounds on grounds of Oath Breaking and Treason. He shall track down the accused, who I know has sided with my sister in her war against the Gods. He shall task him with returning to me, immediately or my herald will kill him and in doing so he shall return the Hellhounds to me regardless. Together with the Great Pack and the Army of Night we will crush the seven kingdoms and I will take the Iron Throne Of Tartarus as my own!" Nyx finished, her voice rising to a scream as she did so.
That scream was taken up by almost every courtier in the entire hall as the wave of sound that washed over Percy was laced with arcane power. He winced at the sound of that, looking at Nyx who was cackling on her throne as the rest of her court joined in on her vicious sounding laughter.
*Flashback end*
Percy was jolted from his dozing recollections by the sound of several voices raised in anger at each other. Percy quietly rolled forwards onto his knees sheathing his sword in one quick motion and grabbing his Hoplon and spear before he began to creep between the clusters of rocks trying to get a look at whoever was making all this noise.
He froze as he heard them more clearly once more.
"I swear to you Stheno, I can smell that bastard here somewhere." A hissing voice called out.
"Euryale be quiet, if he is close the racket you're making is going to alert him up" A gruff and brutish female voice called out from somewhere off to his left.
"Both of you be quiet, he's here…" A smooth, seductive voice called out from directly ahead of him.
It had to be them, IT JUST HAD TO BE THEM. Percy thought to himself angrily, already having not so fond recollections of 'Puppies-in-a-blanket' being shoved in his face and bargain mart name tags. He shuddered with revulsion, how in the hell did they even know he was here? Nyx had made it clear she had killed 'Percy Jackson' and he didn't have his camp beads or Riptide on him so there would be no way to know who he was unless someone had told them. Not to mention running into them in the middle of Tartarus, Percy had never been the greatest mind of his generation, but even he knew something was going on.
So either Nyx had betrayed him, or someone had betrayed Nyx, and as much as he hated to admit it. The latter was the more likely of the two, Nyx had sworn an oath that she hadn't lied to him, why go through the effort of sending all three gorgons after him now when she could have imprisoned him with ease.
No, this was someone else. However it was someone who knew the Herald and Percy Jackson were one in the same. Someone who would dare to risk Nyx's wrath and possibly cost her the war in doing so. That information was stored away as he thought how to best use it to figure out who the traitor was.
With a sigh Percy weighed his options, he could tell where the gorgons were. The moisture in the air, and in their bodies called out to him. It was like having x-ray vision but without actually seeing anything, more like sensing it.
He was lucky, in the fact that they hadn't spotted him yet. He was completely surrounded, with Medusa and Euryale to his front and Stheno somewhere behind him to his left. He knew he had just moments until he would be spotted, his cover was fine from the front but the minute Stheno walked around the pile of rocks he had been resting against he would be completely in the open.
Deciding that it was better to decide how this fight started Percy prepared himself, closing his eyes he reached out with his senses, feeling for all the water in the air. His increased connections with the element courtesy of Εκδίκηση were incredible. The water felt like it was a part of him, not fighting against his control like it normally did but instead doing as he wanted almost willingly.
Medusa needed to go down first, He wouldn't be able to open his eyes until she was down for the count, Stheno could spew poison gas which was only lethal if he inhaled it, and as he had learned from dealing with Akhlys, there was liquid in just about everything. So Stheno was the least of his worries. Euryale on the other hand, well one shout from her would blow his ear drums, possibly knock him unconscious. She needed to be silenced quickly as well, he gave the terrain one last quick glance to plot his path and then screwed his eyes shut and mentally double checked on the gorgons.
Once he had located each of the gorgons he dashed out from behind his cover sprinting between the rocks as fast as he could on a direct collision course with the most dangerous one. Medusa.
Without even opening his eyes he sprinted along the path he had quickly memorized, blindly placing feet hoping he had gauged the distance right, he knew the next few moments would be key. Tensing his grip on the spear he practically ran up the side of a medium sized boulder leaping off the top as he reached out with his senses, feeling all the moisture in the air, practically mapping out his surroundings, though the effort did cause him to break into a sweat nearly instantly.
He had launched himself into the air spinning, and as he came around he extended his arm in the direction of Euryale. He could sense her standing between two large boulders on his right. The Gorgon had clearly heard him scramble up the side of the rock. He could feel the moisture in the air around her as she turned, he knew she would see it coming, but she hadn't moved quickly enough. With a snapping motion he launched the shield from his hand.
Like an arrow from a bow the shield soared from his arm in a direct line. Percy was rewarded for his effort with a crunching sound, immediately followed by an anguished wailing as his Hoplon smashed into Euryale's face, causing the Gorgon to stumble backwards and clutch at her broken face with both hands.
However now Percy was in the air, without his shield as he flew in the general direction of Medusa. He could almost feel as she lifted her bow, setting an arrow to the string.
"So nice of you to show yourself Jackson, You have no idea the bounty Gaea has set on your head. She thinks you're dead, apparently you aren't yet, but you will be soon!" Medusa cried out as she let loose an arrow at Percy.
Midair as he was, his options were limited, or rather they would have been limited before. Eyes still closed, he reached out with his free hand, he could feel the arrow loosen from the string and in the instant it left the bow he condensed the moisture in the air to one side of it. His control wasn't perfect, yet. Percy couldn't make up for practice with raw power forever, but it was enough for now.
The arrow whizzed off course and merely grazed the side of his armor instead of punching into the chest as he tumbled about in the air, and landed rather ungracefully on the ground. Percy knew he couldn't risk opening his eyes, Medusa was still somewhere in front of him and while he knew he couldn't die, he didn't want to try his luck with being turned to stone.
He heard the snap of the bow in rapid succession as he rolled to one side to avoid the series of arrows that would have hit him as he heard Medusa hiss in rage.
"JACKSON, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO EURYALE!?" He heard Stheno scream in anger, followed quickly by the flapping of wings as the enraged gorgon launched herself at him.
His feet dug into the rough rocky ground as he drove his free hand into the ground as hard as he could, clenched closed in a fist as a strange green shimmer worked its way around him. Stheno was feet away and Medusa had already launched another volley of arrows when his fist connected with the ground.
The result was earth shattering, literally. As the rocks and ground around Percy exploded into a massive cloud of dust and lethal shrapnel, all headed outwards away from the Son of Poseidon. The enraged scream of Stheno turned into a piteous wail as the shrapnel shredded her body and threw her to the ground.
Several arrows whizzed past Percy, as he crouched in the middle of a cloud of dust and debris. All of them missing or only grazing his armor as the blast knocked them off course. "WHAT IS THIS TRICKERY JACKSON!?" Medusa screamed as she unleashed another volley of arrows into the cloud of dust.
Percy was already running, legs and arms pumping as he rushed Medusa. Two of her arrows had missed him, however the third had hit him in the shoulder as he burst free of the cloud of dust, charging towards Medusa who was fumbling to draw another arrow.
Closing nearly ten feet in an instant Percy thrust ahead with the spear aiming for her face, forcing medusa to drop her bow, which he heard hit the ground with a dull thud. An instant later he heard the screech of metal on metal as he felt two smaller blades catch the spear around the haft and force it above Medusa's head.
Not even breaking stride Percy gathered his powers and channeled them into his free hand again as he rotated the spear and pulled it back towards him. The wings on the head caught the two daggers and locked them in position as Percy yanked Medusa into a collision course with his fist.
With the sound of a gunshot going off and a strangled wail from Medusa, she was launched away from him, her knives flying out of her hands as she flew backwards and smashed into a boulder, cracking the thing and ricocheting off the side before slamming into the ground. The great medusa reduced to a groaning heap of blood and broken bones.
"MEDUSA!" a coughing roar sounded from behind him as his eyes snapped open. Euryale was charging towards his back, swinging her two axes about in a frenzy.
Percy rolled forwards, narrowly avoiding the twin axes that slammed into the ground with the force to gouge away rock. He scrambled to his feet as Euryale pushed forwards her axes whirling about in a frenzy as blood dripped from her ruined face. Courtesy of Percy's Hoplon colliding with it.
With the shorter reach of her weapons Euryale was at an advantage and unfortunately for Percy he could sense the other two Gorgons were not only alive, but starting to stir. With a snarl he pushed back off the defensive, stepping close to Euryale, his free hand lashing out and grabbing one of her wrists, while his spear stabbed out on an angle, catching the axe head mid swing and pinning it to the ground. He followed this up immediately by snapping his head forwards and slamming his helmet off of the Gorgons already ruined face.
Blood splattered and he felt her face cave in under the assault as she staggered back away from him, losing the axe he had pinned to the ground in the process. She waved her remaining weapon warily in front of her as she opened her mouth to let loose a screech that could kill mortals.
Only for Percy to throw his spear at her, her eyes widened in panic as she swung her axe to bat the spear out of the air, a grin splitting her face for a moment, then her eyes widened in panic before her fallen axe slammed into it, actually splitting her face.
In one smooth motion Percy had thrown his spear and picked up Euryales fallen axe, throwing it at her right behind the first weapon. The gorgon was a gurgling mess as she slowly began to crumble away to dust, the axe head sticking out of her face on an odd angle as she toppled over backwards.
Not wasting a second he sprinted for his shield, diving for cover as a fresh hailstorm of arrows from Medusa slammed into the rocks all about him. Grabbing his shield he ducked behind a larger boulder, trying to slow his breathing and extend his senses one more as he screwed his eyes shut.
"I WILL RIP YOU APART JACKSON, GAEA ONLY NEEDS A FEW DROPS OF YOUR BLOOD THE REST OF YOU IS MINE!" Medusa screamed in rage as she advanced towards where Percy was taking cover. A nearly endless stream of arrows sparking off the rocks and boulders around him.
"Who told you I would be here?" Percy called out evenly as he waited patiently, trying his best to catch his breath while Medusa advanced eagerly, he could almost sense the bloodlust she had.
"Wouldn't you like to know Jackson! Nyx's children are not all as keen for this war as she is." Medusa practically bragged as another withering hail of arrows began on Percy's position.
"You're right Medusa, I really would like to know who sent you here to kill me, Tell me? Pretty please?" He replied, his voice heavily laden with sarcasm as he adjusted his grip on his Hoplon and prepared to vault over the boulder.
"Someone told us you were looking for Umbra around here, she said she would recognize your 'smell' anywhere, said you needed to die for embarrassing her" Stheno chirped in happily as she rushed towards him in the air again, she was easy to spot with his senses as she was literally covered in blood. He was now pinned between Medusa on one side of the rock with a bow and Stheno flying at him like a cruise missile from behind.
"STHENO YOU IMBECILE!" Medusa screamed in rage.
"What? he did say 'Pretty please', It was so polite" Stheno called out as Percy launched himself up and over the boulder shield first. Stheno's bronze claws tearing gouges in where he had just been, as his Hoplon rang like a bell several times. Medusa's arrows striking the surface as he finished his vault with a quick roll and charged towards Medusa, a crunch and a shriek from Stheno telling him she had run face first into the boulder..
"No tricks this time sea scum" Medusa called out as she immediately began to back away from him, her bow raised defensively as she waited for him to advance closer. With a grunt of frustration Percy drew his sword, the blade felt heavy in his hand as he copied his technique from Euryale and threw his Hoplon at Medusa, charging right behind it as he grasped his new blade tightly.
Medusa shrieked out once as she ducked under the shield, before she frantically tried to backpedal away from Percy who was closing the distance towards the Gorgon at an alarming pace. Stheno hot on his heels, her wings flapping as she tried feebly to catch the Son of Poseidon, her mouth open wide as she spewed a cloud of toxic gas ahead of her.
Percy reached out with his powers, his free hand stretched out towards medusa in a claw-like gesture. His powers reached for Medusa's body, more specifically the blood in her veins as he seized hold and yanked her towards him. A shrill scream of agony was torn from her lips as she froze mid stride and flew towards him, Percy wasted no time in stepping to the side and backwards as Medusa and Stehno collided mid air, medusa getting a face full of toxic paralytic gas and freezing up with a grunt.
A quick slash of his sword cut Stheno in half from shoulder to waist and she nearly instantly exploded into dust. With a quick reverse of his grip Percy swung the sword backwards up through the cloud of golden dust left by Stheno, his blade slicing through Medusa's head before she even had the chance to react to the poison, let alone Percy.
Just as suddenly as the fight had begun it was over, the three Gorgons dissolving into clouds of golden dust as Percy looked down on them with disdain. So the traitor was at the meeting in the hall, and Percy had embarrassed her, the list grew ever smaller as he stored that away for later. With a grunt of pain he yanked the arrow out, wincing at the burning that accompanied it, the smell of burned skin as his curse mark flared and healed the damage almost immediately. The now familiar burning sensation at the back of his head that accompanied it immediately darkened his mood.
He wearily walked over and picked up his now bloodstained spear and shield, before he started his ascent of the mountain again. He had lost too much time fighting those gorgons, but he knew that if he waited too long and tried to rest more the pack would move on and his chase would start all over.
With a groan he started off at a slow jog, moving towards the exit of the valley, Umbra needed to die in the next few days. Otherwise he was going to be fighting an army of Titans all by his lonesome, which according to Nyx would be entertaining to watch but dangerous for him and their plan. He continued at this pace for an hour or so, a constant mile eating jog that did very little to tire him.
He could feel the power of the Tartarean coursing through his veins, energizing him and if it wasn't for their aid he was sure he would have collapsed long ago. Instead he pushed on, his gaze scanning the mountain ranges until he locked onto a large vale sheltered by several high peaks. The mountains were dominated by the ruins of a grand castle, which would have stretched between the mountain peaks. However now it was a shell of its former self, towers crumbled and walls broken.
All around him were signs of the damage unleashing the Tartarean had wrought, entire mountain faces had caved in, rubble of ancient bastions and other fell outposts lay strewn about in pieces, Occasionally a lone arch or statue stood crookedly.
Under normal circumstances the presence of buildings in Tartarus and the change in scenery would have surprised him. However Nyx had revealed much to him in the short time she had kept him with her, a guest within the Shadow Court. At least, that was before sending her Herald on a Trial which involved him running for hours on end. Percy snorted and he pushed himself harder, his legs and arms pumping as he furiously followed the trail up the side of the mountain.
Tartarus was a realm, unlike any other. It was supposedly vast, yet in the two and a half months Percy had spent here with Annabeth traveling to the doors, they had never seen anything like this. Nyx had carefully explained what had happened to him, more in preparation for sending him after Umbra than anything else. Not only was the realm undergoing a great change, finally free from the ironclad grip of Tartarus physically. The realm was also free in the sense that he could not consciously manipulate it anymore.
This meant that no more was Tartarus all red ground and dark clouds of dust. Nyx had told him that mountain ranges, forests and other types of terrain existed, and Tartarus had simply never allowed them to leave the region known as the Wasteland. Trapping them there consciously for weeks as they walked in circles, not knowing a Primordial was responsible for their personal hell.
According to Nyx, Tartarus was made up of Seven Realms, each of those was vastly different from the others and the rulers of those lands would serve as advisors to Tartarus, like his own miniature Olympian council. Yet instead of working together, each of these kingdoms and the figures that ruled them struggled to win the favor of their dark king. These lords and ladies were made up of the oldest and most dangerous prisoners of Tartarus.
So much for the idea that throwing a bunch of bad guys into a pit together and ignoring them was a good choice Percy thought mockingly as he followed that sixth sense of his. It was leading him closer and closer to that ruined castle. Which made sense, from everything Nyx had told him about Umbra, her son fancied himself a king. Even going so far as to claim the title "Lord of Wolves".
"Every King needs his castle,'' Percy said to himself with a grin as he took off up the mountain towards the ruins.
Nyx had explained that the Kingdoms themselves were important as their support would make claiming the domain easier, each of them was powerful in their own way, and they all commanded vast armies which would make ruling over them difficult if they weren't 'Pacified'.
That was why Nyx needed Percy to act as her Herald, she couldn't physically lead her troops, and the other six lords and ladies of the pit were truly fearsome adversaries.
Percy stopped, his chase had brought him to the lip of a large hill, beyond which the ground dropped down to form a sort of shallow bowl. The depression in the middle was ringed by statues, many of them broken and fallen over. The remains of a road stretched off into the distance in the direction of the castle as Percy crested the hill.
Instantly his nerves were on edge as he glanced around him, he could feel the moisture in the air shift as dozens of large creatures stealthily crept about the ridge. It was like he could see them, hear the blood pumping in their veins, it was all in some shape or form. The power boost he had received from Εκδίκηση was incredible, it was like an entire new world for him to explore, not to mention surprising him was nigh impossible now.
Stepping forwards so that he stood on the ridge clearly for all to see, Percy spread his arms wide and called out into the darkness. "Umbra! Show yourself! I've chased you for days now! Get out here and stop running away like a scared cub!" Percy finished with a smirk, he knew enough about wolves from his time with Lupa to know how to proceed from here. He couldn't show any fear, he had to make them fear him. So instead of drawing weapons Percy strode forwards into the center of the bowl shaped depression. His arms at his sides as he waited, clad in armor, his weapons on display, daring one of the Hellhounds to attack him.
They moved the ridge almost at the same time, dozens of sets of flaming eyes glared at him from the darkness as he called out once more. "Well? I'm waiting?" As he spun around to look at the Pack which had formed a circle, closing him off in the middle. A flash of lighting crossed the sky illuminating the dozens of large hellhounds which stood about him, as well as Percy himself.
The standoff continued for several moments, with Percy casually waiting for the coward to show himself. Suddenly one of the smaller hellhounds, roughly the size of a minivan charged him from behind, without a single warning. Not issuing a challenge, instead it tried to bite him in half before he could respond.
Unfortunately for the Hellhound, Percy could feel it move. In an instant he spun around and drove the spear he held through the Hellhounds open mouth, and out the back of its head.
In the same motion he swung his shield around and slammed the rim into the creature's chest, halting its momentum as it hit the shield, then he raised his arm and flipped the dying monster's body over his head. It slammed off the ground behind him and dissolved into a cloud of golden dust, the only remaining proof of its prior existence was the bloody smear on Percy's shield.
In a smooth motion Percy twirled the spear, flinging any blood off the point as he flipped it over and slammed it off the front of his shield. A deep brassy note echoing out around the mountains as the Hellhounds around him flinched. "I called you out Umbra, are you actually hiding? You're a son of Nyx. Show some backbone and get out here…" Percy called out, laughing slightly as the Hounds all began to shuffle their feet nervously.
None of them made a move to attack him and instead several of them bowed their heads to him as he leveled his fiercest glare at the wolf creatures, his eyes crackling with power as he slowly swept his gaze over all of them.
"He's not here is he?" Percy asked incredulously, finally realizing the truth, his question was met with silence on the part of the Hellhounds.
For almost a minute none of them moved a muscle, then almost as one several of the wolves looked at the castle behind them and then back to Percy. Nodding to himself and picking up his spear, Percy started walking along, almost merrily, headed up towards the castle. It was evidently clear that this had been meant as some sort of intimidation tactic on Umbra's part.
But Percy was pretty sure he was the one who did the intimidating there. It took him several minutes of walking back and forth on the zig zagging path to finally reach the area close to the castle, during which he had walked past dozens of hellhounds, all of them falling in behind him like some sort of parade.
As he walked towards the castle, the Hellhounds fell in behind him, shadowing his movements like some great crowd of onlookers. The farther he followed the path up towards the castle, the more of them he saw. There were hundreds of Hellhounds clustered about in groups, watching from ruined buildings and crumbling towers as he ascended the path towards the castle.
The castle itself would have been truly majestic if it were still in one piece that is. It was a Gothic styled creation that stretched across several of the mountain peaks. Dozens of walls and walkways interlinking the vast structure. It appeared to be made of large black stone blocks, he wasn't sure what exactly they were. The base of the structure had survived as well as the main hall, but most everything else had collapsed either into the sea below or fallen back into the ruins of the castle.
Percy was somewhat in awe as the crowd of Hellhounds parted before him like a biblical sea, many of them inclined their heads after looking at him, bearing the symbol of Nyx herself upon his brow. He had never seen so many of them before, and in so many different shapes and sizes.
He passed through the ruins of a large gateway, and entered the courtyard of the castle itself, noticing many statues to Nyx decorating the courtyard and several long dry but grand fountains occupied the rest of the space.
However his sights were set on the doors to the grand hall before him, he could sense the waves of power rolling out of the darkness within and knew that his prey, the one he had been sent to kill, waited for him within.
With his shoulders set percy strode forwards and practically threw the doors open, shedding a small amount of light on the interior of the castle.
Striding inside, he glanced to his left and right, quickly determining that nothing lurked in those shadows. Immediately his focus snapped to the gargantuan specimen that laid at the other end of the hall.
It had to be the same size as a full length school bus, even laying down it was nearly eight feet tall. A wall of jet black fur with piercing red eyes that stared at him from the other end of the hall. Giant curved fangs the size of swords filled its mouth as it curled its lips back in a snarl, before standing slowly. The floor of the already weakened structure groaning under the weight of the massive wolf, Umbra, Son of Nyx, First among the Hellhounds and "Lord of Wolves" was very much deserving of those titles by Percy's estimation.
Umbra made Mrs. O'Leary seem small, which was unfortunate because Mrs. O'Leary was a a fucking big hellhound.
"Why are you here, Herald of Nyx… Why did my mother send you to me? Think carefully before you respond, my hospitality only goes so far." The massive wolf snarled out, his voice ancient and evil sounding, full of hate and malice.
"You know why I'm here Umbra, Nyx has called in all those who call the Shadow Realm home, Yourself included, you were called and you didn't answer." Percy replied cautiously
"Perhaps I seek a home beyond the Shadow Realm, What sway does my Mother have over me? I AM THE LORD OF WOLVES. I will not be forced into some war simply because my mother wants me to." Umbra growled out in response.
"So is that your answer?" Percy looked at the wolf questioningly.
"... My answer will be understood, when you do not return to Nyx, just to be clear neither will I. You are going to die here Herald!" Umbra finished as he began to move towards Percy.
"I am one of Nyx's children, you were a fool to think this was anything other than a suicide mission" Umbra growled out.
"So I take it that this is your declaration of war on your own mother? By killing the messenger, I guess that checks out." Percy said with a shrug. "Too bad for you, your mommy gave me permission to kill the shit out of you if you didn't come back willingly." Percy finished with a chuckle.
"To think you have the audacity to believe you will be the one killing me! Even if you were capable of it, Gaea will ensure I reform! In the end you are mortal and I am not!" Umbra barked out, almost as if he was laughing.
Percy grinned, just like Nyx had said, Umbra would walk into this trap hook line and sinker, and with the crowd of Hellhounds outside he wouldn't be able to back down after what he had just said.
"Then I take it you won't mind that I'm not just here to kill you?" He said quickly as Umbra paused for a moment, concern flickering in his eyes as he watched Percy.
"I, Herald of Nyx on behalf of the Queen of Night herself, Challenge you; Umbra Son of Nyx to duel. A challenge of leadership, for that of the Pack." Percy said with a smirk.
Nyx had told him after the meeting in the great hall, that she had known for some time of Umbra's indiscretions. However Umbra was one of her stronger children, which posed a problem even if the solution was simple.
Umbra would maintain control of the Pack until someone or something could defeat him, but none of Nyx's other children were capable fighters on par with the First Hellhound and Lord of Wolves. Mostly due to the restrictions on the way the duel for leadership had to be fought.
Hellhounds were incapable of using weapons of any kind, the other hellhounds wouldn't consider the duel valid unless both parties fought armed with only what nature gave them.
Which for most was a death sentence when faced up against a massive school bus sized wolf with fangs nearly two feet long.
Umbra regarded him with shock first, then resentment followed immediately by anger as he looked about him to see several sets of Hellhound eyes staring through holes in the wall or the wide open doors behind Percy.
A low growl erupted from Umbra's throat as he started at Percy, "Very well I stake my leadership of the Shadow Pack, What do you stake, not that it matters you'll be dead soon enough" Umbra all but snarled.
"I stake my claim as Prince of the Tartarean, The claim i received when i killed Tartarus" Percy replied with a grin as Umbra took a step backwards in shock. "You Lie" Umbra almost whined
Percy ever so casually tossed aside his spear and shield, the clang as they hit the ground echoing out loudly over the quiet Hellhounds and the supposed 'Lord'.
Next came his sword, unsheathed from its scabbard Percy twirled it about and left a deep gash in the floor several feet in front of him before he flipped the sword over once more and drove it blade first into the floor. The blade passed through the rock like a hot knife through butter.
"Oh I never like to brag about my accomplishments" Percy said with seriousness, "I normally downplay them, but you were so keen on your titles I wanted to show off some of mine" Percy finished with a grin as he rolled his shoulders and lifted his hands up, closed in fists.
"When I rip you limb from limb that sea will be mine! NOW DIE HERALD!" Roared Umbra as he charged towards Percy. The ground shaking and rubble falling from the ceiling as the Lord of Wolves charged forwards.
Percy just grinned and charged towards the massive wolf.
Authors Note:
Ohhhhh, that's a dick move on my end, Cliff hanger for the win! As usual expect an update on Friday, and I promise its another Percy chapter! As always i had a good time writing this chapter and I hope you guys had a great time reading it. On another note in a few chapters there will be some Demigod POV's possibly Roman and Greek, who do yall want to see? Let me know.
Just to clear up any confusion anyone has over the whole time difference thing.
1 day on earth = 7 days in Tartarus. (Eg 17 days in Tartarus is roughly 2 1/2 days on earth)
So what do you all think is gonna happen, things are really starting to diverge from the cannon story line, and its only going to get crazier from here on out! Who are these other six Lords, and Ladies of Tartarus? Stay tuned to find out folks! As always thanks for taking the time to read and or review. I read all of them and try to reply to those I can. Now Its late, I'm outta coffee and I need to sleep so until next time!