Rage of a Demigod

AN: Hello there, my dear readers! Well, this one came sooner than I thought it would but something just kept me going. But I'm sure that for most of you it's good news is you don't need to wait that long. So enjoy the new chapter!

Now to reviews.

hawkeyestratos1996: All those questions will be answered as the story goes along.

emoryjmorrill: Thanks.

RedHood001: I am very for the praise. I did try to make him seem like he could actually be in the story. I see some fanfictions where they make their characters way too overpowered to the point where only after a year or so their demigod could easily challenge or even kill gods, so I'm happy to hear I was able to at least make his strength plausible in the PJO universe.

Guest: I will eventually, but don't get your hopes up.

8 The Flue Can be a Real Bummer

Marcus's face began sweating as he twitched in his seat, the five of his teammates watching him in worry. After Zoe gave him the medicine, she and Grover carried him to one of the train seats, with Zoe having to explain to the others what happened. Some time after, he began moving, or writhing to be more precise, which gathered the others around him.

"What's wrong with him?" Percy asked before turning to Zoe. "I thought you gave him that damn cure."

"I did, but these aren't the signs of the poison," Zoe said as she observed Marcus' behavior, noticing the unsettling expressions his face went through. "I think he has a nightmare."

"A nightmare?" Thalia said. "He's the last person I'd expect to have nightmares."

"In any case, this isn't a troubling matter. The nightmare will pass," Zoe said in a neutral tone. "All of thee, go back to thy seats. I'll stay with Marcus and if there is a problem I'll call for thee."

"You sure you don't need help?" Percy asked.

Zoe shook her head. "No need. The situation isn't that dire. He is powerful, and he can go through a few nightmares I'm sure."

"Fine," Thalia said. "But if anything complicates, you call for us."

Zoe nodded before the rest of the team departed, leaving Zoe and Marcus alone. Zoe was actually glad that the train had different booths, and once she made sure they were alone, she turned back to Marcus with a sad look on her face.

"Oh, what terrors must haunt thee in thy soul," she said as she brought her hand on his cheek. She said to the others that Marcus can handle some nightmares but truthfully she wasn't sure if that was true. "Thou art truly a special man, carrying so much anger and sadness, with all the sacrifices thou were forced to endure."

Zoe would never admit this, but she saw a similar thing in Marcus as she saw in Hercules some time ago, a strong man with much determination and caring nature to the people he got close to. With Hercules, she learned a hard lesson after he betrayed her, but now she saw the same qualities in Marcus, and after hearing, even witnessing what he has been through, she knew he was different.

'If only it was thou who was there instead of him,' she thought.

Then he began moaning in discomfort, whatever he was having a nightmare about seemingly becoming worse. Zoe couldn't bear to see him suffer further like this. After checking to see if anybody was nearby, she found that they were indeed alone.

Zoe then grabbed Marcus by the head and slowly leaned him down, until he was resting where her shoulder and chest met. The Hunter of Artemis then began stroking his hair softly before planting a kiss on his forehead.

"It will be alright," she said comfortingly. "Whatever happened in the past shouldn't haunt thee." Zoe felt a little hypocritical in saying that considering what Hercules did to her is still her motivation. "Thy destiny is still in front of thee. Thou will save thy friend, and the justice will be brought to anyone who wronged thee. Please, calm thyself, and let go of thy worries."

Her words and administrations seemed to have worked. His breathing was still a bit quick but he calmed down, with almost no discomfort visible. Zoe couldn't help but smile at her accomplishment.

Still, this is the one thing she will NEVER reveal to anyone. She had to keep this a secret, especially from her goddess. Zoe was still a proud member of the Hunters of Artemis, and she wasn't going to compromise her position, even if that meant hiding her feelings away.

In a way, she was grateful that Phoebe was out of this quest since she would more than likely discover what Zoe was doing, comforting a troubled man.

After a while, Marcus seemed to have calmed down, his expression turning soft and his breathing even. Seeing that, Zoe slowly moved him away from her, making him lean back on the backrest of the seat.

Then Zoe felt the train, begin to slow, meaning that they will have to move trains in order to get those skeleton men off their trail.

She quickly shook Marcus. "Hurry, wake up! We need to go!"

Marcus stirred, and gave a slight moan. His red eyes slowly opening. He looked down to see Zoe looking up at him. "What… what's going on?"

"We are stopping. We need to move to another train," she explained.

He looked at her confused before got a headache which he quickly began to nurse with his hand. Then he remembered why exactly they were.

"Right. Let's go," he said as he got up with a groan. After taking several steps his legs almost gave out, but he quickly grabbed a metal holder before he could fall.

"Thou art still weak. Don't walk too fast," Zoe said before she grabbed him by the arm which she put over her shoulders for support.

Percy and the others saw what was happening and Percy went to help, putting Marcus' other arm of his shoulders. They got out of the train, seated Marcus on one of the benches, and quickly went to buy another ticket for a different train, which they soon boarded.

This time they were all gathered in one place.

"Are you feeling better?" Thalia asked Marcus.

"Well, I don't feel like throwing up my insides so I think that's an improvement," Marcus said making her laugh, and Percy and Grover grinned. "But, my body still feels sore. Whatever that poison was it wasn't something light."

"Are you sure it was Luke?" Percy asked.

"Certain. Or at least someone associated with him. He did say I was a threat so it made sense to take me out this way," Marcus explained. "By the way, Percy, how did you get here?"

"Blackjack," Percy answered.

"Of course."

While Marcus couldn't talk to horses like Percy could, he knew that the black Pegasus really like the son of Poseidon so it made sense that Blackjack was the one to bring him here.

"How long until you get better?" Bianca asked.

"I… can't say for sure," Marcus said as he went to move his arm around but groaned. "I can either completely recover in a day, or several, or maybe only after this quest ends."

"Oh by the gods I hope it's one of the former ones," Grover said. Marcus was the best bet they had for surviving this quest, and to have him incapacitated… well, Grover didn't want to think of that.

"Do thou have anything else in thy satchel to help? Perhaps some nectar?" Zoe asked.

Marcus shook his head. "No, any other potion I take would have serious repercussions. I can only use them sparingly. And I don't usually carry nectar or ambrosia. I hardly need them." He sighed. "I think I may only end up as dead weight."

"Come on, don't be like that," Percy reassured. "You're a tough guy, and some sore muscles aren't going to stop you."

"Percy, I think you need a better pep talk," Thalia commented.

"I think my pep talk is just fine."

"Yeah, like you're speaking to a soldier, not Marcus."

"Uh, guys," Grover called out getting their attention. "I don't think Marcus cares at this point."

The two were confused at first before they looked back at Marcus and saw him sleeping again.

Bianca gave a laugh while Zoe just smiled.

After their train ride ended, they took another one just to be on the safe side, after which they got off the train but found themselves in an industrial area, with only warehouses and railway tracks. The fact that the area was covered in snow didn't help the situation.

Then they saw a homeless man next to a trashcan fire. "Hey, you kids need some warming up? Get over here!"

While they helped Marcus, the red-eyed demigod looked at the man, actually recognizing him. The homeless man noticed and just gave Marcus a wink, which was understood as 'don't tell them yet'.

"Whoa, you looked really roughed up, young man," the homeless man commented. "Got into a fight?"

"Yeah, a pretty nasty one," Percy said.

"Well then, let this be a lesson, don't get into fights." The homeless man then laughed, making Marcus roll his eyes in irritation.

The group gathered around the fire and warmed themselves.

"So, you kids looking for anything? I doubt that you would come here without a reason."

"Actually, we are looking for a train to the west, sir," Bianca said.

"Hm, then why don't you take that one," the homeless man pointed and the group turned to see a freight train, completely clean of snow with a sign that read 'Sun West Line'. Besides Marcus, everyone was surprised to see it

'You really know how to be subtle,' Marcus thought sarcastically. He ran into the sun god before, remembering when he pulled the same trick on him, except Marcus received a bike with a label that said 'Sunshine'.

"Well that's convenient," Thalia commented.

Bianca smiled. "Thank you…" she turned back but was surprised to see the man gone. "…sir?"

"Let's just get into the bloody thing," Marcus commented, prompting Percy and Grover to help him walk there.

They settled into some of the cars that the freight train carried, after which it began riding west. Marcus settled alone in a blue Porsche and relaxed in the driver seat. After feeling the tenseness leave his muscles, he slowly closed his eyes.

Then visions began swarming his mind again.

He was located in an aquarium, this time with his Blades of Chaos drawn and ready to fight as a huge tidal wave was about to hit him.

Percy was shown holding onto something, with Annabeth holding onto him before both of them fell into a black abyss.

Then Marcus seemed to be on some sort of chariot, a pretty big one, and descending down through a black mist into bright light.

Then he seemed to be climbing something, his blades struck into stone, but the image shifted, this time with him climbing on a red stone.

Then the voices began.

"You will never reach the eyes!" said an enraged voice.

"We meet again, Percy Jackson!" a woman said as if taunting.

"It's good to meet you, brother," said a man's voice he didn't recognize.

More voices came, up to the point where it was overwhelming even for him, but there was no way to block them. They continued for so long, making it feel like he would go deaf, or his brain would melt from the overload.

Then it just stopped.

Dead silence prevailed in the pure blackness of his mind. He felt as if he were floating in nothingness. No sensations, not sounds. Nothing,

Then something warm and comforting surrounded him.

"Calm down, child," said a woman's voice, sounding somewhat sleepy. "All your suffering will come to end one day. You will have your retribution. I have foreseen it."

Marcus' eyes then abruptly opened from having his visions suddenly cut off and he was met with another pair of eyes in front of him, making his instincts go haywire as he swiftly brought his hand up.

A wheezing sound was heard as Marcus saw that he was actually holding Grover's throat in his left man, with the young satyr quickly bringing his own hands to Marcus', trying to pry him off.

"Marcus… please… you're… choking me!" Grover was able to blurt out which made Marcus blink for a moment before letting go of Grover's throat, with Grover happily taking in deep breaths.

"Better watch what you're doing," Marcus said. "I usually sleep with my eye open, and my body reacts without thinking."

"I was just… going to see how you were," Grover said before taking one last deep breath. "But I'll remember."

Marcus then got out of the Porsche, and looked around, seeing they were still moving. He then stretched, still feeling the soreness in his muscles but at least he could walk without aid this time.

The train soon stopped at a ski town in New Mexico, Cloudcroft. As they walked through the town, Percy explained his talk with Apollo that he had on the train and that they had to find Nereus in San Francisco so he could tell them about the monster.

"We need to see if there is anything that can transport to San Francisco," Zoe said. "And fast."

"We should…" Marcus began before once again stumbling a bit but catching his balance in time.

"Looks like you're still not completely recovered," Percy said.

"Thou need rest," Zoe said before looking around. "There is a coffee shop, thou should stay there and wait while the rest of us search."

"Like hell I'm going to-"

"Thou would only make our task harder if we had to look out for thee," Zoe argued. "We need thee to be in one place."

Marcus wanted to argue back but he saw her point. "Fine, then."

"Bianca, stay with him," Zoe ordered. "We need someone to be with him in case anything happens."

Bianca gave a nod. "Alright then."

The other four went on a search while Marcus and Bianca found themselves a seat at a coffee shop and ordering themselves some hot coffee.

After several moments of silence, Bianca spoke. "So… aren't you cold at all?" The whole time, Marcus was only wearing a shirt with long sleeves. She asked him before but never got a straight answer.

"No, I got used to the cold a while ago," Marcus explained, though vaguely.

"I… see," Bianca said. "Why do you hate the Hunters?"

His eyes narrowed a bit, but thankfully not at her. "They tried to take my sister. I couldn't allow that. Not to mention your goddess tried to have me hunted and killed."

"Wait. What you mean you couldn't allow that?" Bianca asked. "That is her choice to make, not yours."

"Oh, really?" Marcus asked. "I was with her my whole life, we went through so much together, she was the only family I had, and you expect me to just accept that decision."

Bianca didn't know what has gotten into her, but she actually gained more confidence when speaking to him. "She had the right to choose."

"Like you chose to abandon your brother," Marcus countered.

"Ugh, I know it seems selfish but I needed to do something on my own. I couldn't be a sister twenty-four hours a day," she said sternly. Then Bianca felt brave to ask another question. "Look, I know your sister isn't here anymore, but would you like to be a big brother for all that time."

"Yes, I would," his quick response caught Bianca by surprise. "Because as I said before, responsibility your family is not a choice, it's your duty. It should come first, no matter what. Yet you left your own brother to go on hunting some beasts that will just appear back from Hades a week later."

"But the camp is full of other demigods-"

"Regardless of what they are, random strangers can never replace your family."

"I meant that he will be safe there."

"And you know that how exactly? You haven't been at the camp for more than two days, you don't know how it works. Tell me, how old were the demigods you saw?"

"Well, they were…" she said as her mind went back to the time spent at the camp. "Well, I mostly saw kids and teenagers."

"And do you know why that is?" he asked. "Simple, most of us don't even reach adulthood. Someone like me and Luke are exceptions rather than the rule. Despite what many say, the purpose of the camp is clear. It isn't as much a safe haven as it is a waste dump for us bastards, where we will eventually die by doing quests for the parents that will never accept us in their lives. Do you really think that your brother will be one of the lucky ones who live past twenty? If I was a betting man, I would give your brother until he is seventeen before a monster does him in."

Bianca quickly rose from her seat and put her hands on the table. "You can't say that!"

"I saw, I know. But now, it's too late. You go on your precious Hunt while your brother's life is put at risk, without his sister to look out for him. Even if he doesn't die, you're immortal now, so you'll see him die anyway. If you see him at all."

"I… I…" she stammered before sitting back, tears threatening to escape. Nothing that he said has come to her mind before, and that she thought about it, the less she liked her current condition. After she saw Percy she thought that Nico would be in good hands at Camp Half-Blood, but she never that they died so young, and now she abandoned him to that fate. And since she was immortal, could she bear seeing her brother grow old and die? Some tears did end up coming out as she gave a few sniffs.

Marcus watched the girl start to break down. It would appear that the reality of her situation has finally caught up to her. It was harsh, but he needed to be said. He already told her how her brother would feel and now he told her about the harsh truth of being a demigod. He knew that there were Hunters of Artemis who some time after they joined ended up regretting their decision, but by that point, it was too late and the Hunt was the only thing they had so they were essentially forced to stay.

After a little while, Bianca's tears stopped flowing. Her coffee has gotten cold but she didn't care at that point.

Percy, Grover, Zoe, and Thalia came back and walked up to where the two were sitting at.

"Any luck?" Marcus asked.

"Not really, no," Percy said.

"We couldn't find any useful transport from this damned place," Thalia said in irritation.

"But we should still-"

She was interrupted when she looked at a bird picture on Bianca's coffee cup and saw the image was coming to life and fly away, surprising them.

Grover then began to wobble. "A gift… from the… wiiiillld," he said before collapsing, but Percy grabbed him before he could fall.

"Grover!" he said as Grover groaned in his arms. "Damn it, not him too."

Marcus then looked at Grover, wondering just what happened to him. He didn't seem to be poisoned or anything, not to mention the bird that came back life from a cup? And what was he talking about? A gift from the wild?

Then he turned his gaze and saw that those skeleton men were coming toward them, two of them.

"We need to go, now!" Marcus said after which the rest noticed the skeletons, even Grover who was now coming to.

Marcus and Bianca quickly got off their chairs and the group began running away from the coffee shop, with the two skeletons running after them, with some more appearing.

Seeing that they couldn't escape, the group decided to fight. But when they hit the skeletons the strikes didn't do anything, just passed through or barely fazed them. Then Bianca stabbed one of them with her blade and the skeleton was reduced to ash.

"How did you do that?" Percy asked.

"Um, lucky shot?"

Then suddenly, a huge wild boar appeared from nearby trees, slammed into several skeletons, and breaking them apart. The beast they recognized as the Erymanthian Boar from legends.

"It's the gift from the wilds!" Grover exclaimed.

Then the boar turned to them and began charging.

"Are you sure that's supposed to be a gift?" Thalia asked.

Marcus then got an idea. "Everyone, move back!" he said as he began running in the other direction, ignoring the soreness in his muscles, with the rest following until they reached the end of a cliff.

"Great. What now?" Percy asked.

They turned back to the beast who was still charging at them, but Marcus never lost his composure.

"Listen, when you move when I say move. Understand?" he said which the rest of them a bit uncertain but they nodded, figuring Marcus knew what he was doing.

The boar was then awfully close, with the group beginning to sweat in nervousness. "Ready," Marcus said as the boar got closer. "MOVE!"

The six of them jumped to the side, with the boar running past them, but it couldn't stop before it ended up falling into the snow below.

They got up and looked at the boar below as it struggled to move in the snow.

"Oh, right, in the myths the boar was stopped by the snow," Percy said in realization.

Then the six of them then walked down and gathered around the boar, deciding to use it to, they climbed on its back and began riding, with Bianca actually having to wrap her limbs around Marcus as there wasn't any space left. Zoe realized that the boar was actually a blessing from Pan, something Grover already knew.

They rode the boar until sunset, with Grover playing a happy tune with his flute to help navigate with the boar. The travel wasn't the most comfortable one, with Bianca needing to hold on tight to Marcus, so she didn't fall off. After crossing many flat and drylands, the boar stopped somewhere in Arizona and went to get a drink.

"That's as far as it goes," Grover explained.

"Well, it did bring us far," Percy said.

Grover gave the boar an apple as a reward. "See you later, my friend."

Then they began walking on the miles long, sand-covered road, already beginning to feel exhausted. Soon, they arrived at some sort of junkyard, filled with many old cars, appliances, and scrap metal. And it was very huge.

Deciding they had enough, they set up camp where they took out six sleeping bags and started a fire, before laying down and gazing at the stars.

"They're really beautiful," Bianca commented.

"There were even more of them in the past," Zoe said. "But human pollution blocked some constellations."

"Why are you speaking as if you're not human?" Thalia asked.

"Because I'm a Hunter, and I care what happens to nature. Can the same be said for thee?"

"Look, it's you," Thalia said, irritated by that way of speaking. "Not thee, thou or whatever. You."

Zoe palmed her face in frustration. "Ugh, this language changes too often. I hate it."

"You bothered enough to learn it until early modern English," Marcus said. "It's your fault for stopping."

Zoe turned to glare at him. "Would thou dare to say that again?"

"Yes."

Zoe just groaned before turning away.

They continue to have their conversations, with Grover saying how he knew that it was Pan who sent the boar to help them and that he was able to sense him. After the quest, he needed to come back and look harder.

Then came Bianca's strange case when they were talking about hitchhiking to Las Vegas, which got Bianca scared as she remembered staying in some strange hotel. Percy realized what she was talking about, and came to the conclusion that it was the Lotus Hotel and Casino. After asking Bianca who was the current president, they knew what happened after she answered 'Franklin Roosevelt'. It would appear that she was from the thirties and stayed in the casino long enough that she and her brother ended up in the current. To say that the girl was shocked would be an understatement.

But in the end, it didn't matter, as they decided that as long as Bianca and Nico were fine, the time they were in was irrelevant.

Suddenly, a blazing light came from down the road, a white limousine appearing and heading towards them. Marcus quickly got up, and readied his blades, knowing that nobody normal would drive to a junkyard with a limo.

The Hunters readied their bows, while Percy and Thalia got their weapons out.

The limo stopped in front of them and the door opened, out of which appeared a familiar man in a leather jacket, causing everyone to glare at him.

"Well, well, what do we have here," Ares said as he closed the door. He turned to Percy. "Good to see you again, Jackson."

"Ares," Percy growled.

Ares then looked at Marcus, who failed to keep a neutral expression as he looked at the war god, the Blades of Chaos still in his hands.

The god of war couldn't help but laugh. "And hello to you as well, my Spartan."

AN: And that is it for now, my dear readers! I know it might seem like I skipped around in this chapter, but I needed to keep the story from just being a repeat of the book, but I did leave some things in there. Still, I hope you enjoyed it.

And please, check out some of my other stories. You won't regret them. And leave a review, they are great motivators.

See you later!