Time Skip 3 Years: 1997 Years Remaining
It had been an interesting three years.
Percy was now 20 years old, his previous swimmer's build now filled in with more muscle as to adapt to the severe conditions of Tartarus. He had reached his full height of 6'3 making his worn-out t-shirt and jeans too tight for him to wear. Instead, he now wore baggy, tan, cargo shorts and a dirty, white shirt, both of which he had stolen from a group of cyclops. He kept his shaggy black hair as it always was, a little long, so that it rested on his eyebrows. Riptide was stashed away in one of his pockets until it was needed.
Medusa on the other hand hadn't changed at all. She still carried a sharp scimitar that was strapped to her left hip so her right hand could grab it quickly and efficiently. Her left arm was still gone but it never hindered her movements anymore. To Percy, her face was still as striking as ever, with her shimmering gold, bronze hair, or snakes, and her beautiful emerald eyes. Of course, he'd never let her know that.
The two had been traveling together and other than the occasional skirmish they had with other monsters, everything had gone as smoothly as things could go in Tartarus. They had told each other their stories, Medusa talking about her years before and after she became a monster, and Percy telling her about his childhood all the way up to his banishment. Both were impressed and sorrowful for the other's life story, realizing that they had been through circumstances no one should have to face.
They had become trustworthy partners, knowing how the other operated within battle and able to have each other's back. Yet they still weren't sure if they considered themselves friends. After the events within the cave three years prior, they weren't very sure how to act with each other, keeping their relationship strictly business. Since then, they had followed the Phlegethon, mainly because it was the only reliable food source they had.
"So only 1997 years remaining, huh." Percy simply stated as they continued to move along the rocky shores.
The sudden comment made Medusa turn quizzically towards her demigod companion. "You make it sound like that's in a week. You know we're going to be down here for what feels like forever. Right?" Medusa replied.
"Hey, you gotta have a glass half-full attitude. Otherwise you're going to be miserable." He rebutted.
Medusa just rolled her eyes. "Kind of hard to think that way when we're in Hell. We drink fire for God's sake."
Percy pouted at that. "Fine, be a party pooper."
They continued walking in a comfortable silence, learning that they both liked to think to themselves sometimes.
Percy began to recount his three years in Tartarus. Looking back, he was relieved that he had met Medusa. Without her, he probably would have been caught by some grudgeful monster and tortured eternally, especially since he couldn't exactly die anymore as an immortal, which actually had always confused Percy. He found it weird that even as an immortal, he was still growing and aging as any human would have. Maybe the Gods were hoping he would grow old and weak and become easy prey to the horrors of the pit?
Not wanting to think about being tortured anymore, he began thinking about his travel companion. Medusa was much different from what he had read and been told at Camp. She was actually a very easygoing person…or monster. Albeit she had her moments of stubbornness and sarcasm, but that was only because she had millennia's worth of time of grudges towards the Gods and their children. Something about her smart or negative remarks just seemed to appeal to Percy, it gave her personality.
After a few minutes of dwelling in his thoughts, their silence was bluntly interrupted by a large thumping sound. Instinctively, the two drew their weapons, knowing that anything in Tartarus had the probability of killing them. The thumping got louder and louder, seemingly shaking the rocky ground underneath their feet. Turning around, Percy and Medusa could see the outline of a 20-foot humanoid figure barreling towards them off in the distance. Medusa got into a defensive stance, crouching down a bit and bringing her tail closer to her body, but Percy squinted his eyes to get a closer look at the being. It looked…familiar.
His eyes widened when he noticed reptilian legs that led up to a human torso and head. Fear coursed through Percy, it was a Giant. He had had his fill of slaying Giants during the last war, and he knew that here in Tartarus, there would be no way for him and Medusa to take one down. They needed a God for that.
He quickly turned to Medusa, "We need to get out of here NOW!"
She promptly nodded and they began sprinting off in the opposite direction.
They ran as quickly as they could, but they only heard the stomps get louder and louder. They looked over their shoulders, only to see the Giant running towards them, and quickly gaining ground. They knew they weren't going to get away and silently decided that they would be in for a fight. They quickly whipped around and held up their weapons. With the Giant about twenty feet away, Percy lifted his arms, a wave of fire flew out of the Phlegethon and launched it at their pursuer. He quietly prayed to Hestia that the Giant would be defeated like the Hydra had been years ago, he hadn't needed to use the river since then. The fire crashed into the Giant and engulfed him in flames, relieving the two swordsmen for the moment. That moment though soon disappeared when they heard an annoyed shout come from within the fire before two huge hands reached out of the flames and grabbed them.
They heard a deep, amused laugh before a face came out of the flames as well.
"Is that how you treat and old friend now Percy? A wave a fire to the face?" the red-skinned Giant said with a smile, his dreadlocks hanging low on his head.
Percy eyes widened in surprise and shock, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly as he couldn't find any words to say.
"Don't tell me you forgot about me! Did you lose your memory just as Iapetus did?" Damasen asked, his smile still on his face.
Percy was surprised for a couple more seconds until a huge grin appeared onto his face.
"Damasen!" he yelled out in joy. "It's so good to see you! What are you doing here? Where's Bob?"
The Giant chuckled at his friend's reaction. "It's good to see you too. Iapetus is doing fine, we both are."
Percy nodded profusely. "But that doesn't explain how you're here now." he said confused.
"Actually, Bob and I live very close to here, along with a friend who really wants to meet you. He's the one who sent me here to come get you actually."
Percy raised an eyebrow at this. "Who wants to see me?"
"Can't tell you, he said he wanted to tell you his identity face to face."
Percy kept his eyebrow raised, a little suspicious as to why Damasen wouldn't tell him, but caved in eventually. "Well if they're a friend of you and Bob then I guess it should be alright."
Damasen nodded with his smile before he began walking off into a direction that diverted away from the river.
"So Percy…" Damasen said with an eyebrow raised. "Got yourself a new girlfriend? And with a gorgon, interesting choice in companionship."
Both Percy and Medusa blushed, Percy's clearly evident on his face while Medusa tried to hide it.
"No I do not!" Percy said defensively, still blushing. "She and I are just acquaintances with a similar goal in mind."
Damasen just shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "Whatever you say Percy."
Percy huffed as a silence overcame the three.
After a while though, Percy asked Damasen a question.
"Umm Damasen. You think you could let go of us now?" Percy asked a little awkwardly.
"It'll be faster if I carry you." The Giant said simply, shrugging his shoulders, but he let go of Percy and Medusa anyways.
As the trio continued to walk, Percy and Medusa fell in behind Damasen.
"Can we trust him?" Medusa asked hushed.
Percy thought for a moment but slowly nodding his head. "It's weird that he is being so secretive, but Damasen is a peaceful being and my friend, I don't think he would betray me."
The trio walked for another ten minutes before Damasen suddenly stopped.
"We're here." He said.
Percy and Medusa looked around Damasen's huge, reptilian legs but saw nothing except for the continued wasteland of the pit.
"Where exactly are we?" Medusa asked suspiciously. "There is nothing here."
"That's where you're wrong miss." Damasen plainly stated. He reached out in front of him, his arms parallel to his body and facing opposite directions as he gripped onto something invisible. In a pulling motion, his arms extended outward as he seemed to pull apart two invisible doors. Once they were wide enough for him to fit through, he stepped in and disappeared from sight.
Percy and Medusa just looked at the space where the Giant used to be with wide eyes and open jaws. They looked at each other, trying to see if they both had just seen the same thing. After a moment, with a nod from both, they stepped into the invisible doors.
When the reappeared on the other side, they were met with the largest palace either had ever seen, spanning out at least a thousand acres. It was made out of black obsidian, dark as night, and adorned with silver marble columns. Fire burned bright on three tips that made up the highest points of the structure. The building reminded Percy of Hades' Palace, but three times the size. What being could possible own a home so large?
"Impressive, isn't it?" Damasen knocked Percy and Medusa out of their thoughts. "This place would make even Athena drool for its architecture." He grinned.
The mention of the Goddess of Wisdom brought a scowl to both Medusa and Percy's face, but they quickly wiped it off when Damasen told them to follow him. They passed through what they assumed to be the gardens, decorated with silver marble archways and paths. The flower beds contained a variety of different shaded red and black flowers. They continued walking through the gardens until they reached the palace entrance, standing in front of doors that were probably close to 30 feet tall. Damasen pushed forwards opening the doors, swinging them inwards, making them groan due to the amount of weight they possessed.
Stepping in, they admired the beautifully sculpted interior. Damasen was right, this architecture would have made even Athena faint. Red chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, the black walls provided an appealing contrast to the silver marbled floor and black furniture decorated most empty spaces. They continued walking for a couple minutes until they seemed to reach the middle of the palace.
In front of them were two gigantic, shimmering, red doors, plenty tall enough to fit even Damasen. Percy and Medusa became hesitant of their situation, as they both felt the aura emitted from the other side of the doors. It felt ancient, and extremely powerful. They knew that they were about to meet an immortal being, they just weren't sure whether it would end up being a good or bad thing.
"Well it's time for you to meet him." Damasen said with a smile. He easily pushed the doors open and they walked into the center of the throne room. Across from them stood a red throne, about as tall as Damasen. It seemed to continually shift, showing off the screams of agonized souls and tortures that haunted dreams. Percy shuttered at the sight, it reminded him of a much larger, creepier version of Hades throne. But he completely froze once he heard a deep, dark voice.
"Welcome Perseus Jackson. It's quite the honor having such a famed demigod visit my home." The voice said with amusement.
Percy gripped his pen and let it spring into Riptide, getting into a defensive stance. Right next to him Medusa did the same.
"W-who are you." He stammered, looking around him for any trace of another presence.
The voice deeply laughed. "No need to fear demigod, I did not bring you here to kill you, quite the opposite actually."
"You don't need to worry Percy, my father is a pretty cool guy, he actually saved us when Iapetus and I closed the doors of dea…" Damasen drifted to a stop as he realized he just revealed the anonymous speaker.
"I guess I should reveal myself now." The deep voice sighed a bit in disappointment for having his surprise spoiled.
Percy stood there for a moment, clearly confused. "Wait, how did Damasen reveal who you were, all he said was his father was a cool guy…"
Then it hit him like a train. Father of Damasen? Damasen is a giant, meaning his mother was Gaia and his father was…
At that moment, a tall figure appeared in front of Percy, standing about 6'5 with dark, red hair that was slightly spiked up. He wore a form-fitting black suit with a dark red tie and looked to be in his mid-40s. But it was his eyes that made Percy freeze, the red pupils were swirling around like churning gravel.
The man held out his hand towards Percy in a handshake gesture.
"The name's Tartarus, Primordial God of the Pit." a crooked smile plastered onto his face.