Chapter 23
Greetings viewers! I hope that all of you enjoyed the previous chapter!
In response to Walter Ha's review, I am glad that you are liking this portrayal of Atlas which very clearly deviates from canon! While Atlas is not exactly a fan of Kronos, he downright despises Percy so the chances of the two teaming up are pretty low. But then again, you never know ;) Thank you for your continued support!
I would like to thank Nice for your continued support!
I would like to thank the emoticon using guest reviewer for your continued support!
Responding to the guest reviewer (the one who reviews frequently), thank you so much for your concern! Yes, it really is a huge relief that all of us have fully recovered from COVID. I am thrilled that you enjoyed the Elder Olympians worrying over Percy! I just wanted to lay even more emphasis on the predominant theme of family that's in this series.
The conversation between Atlas and Kronos was just very interesting to write and I am really looking forward to writing more of those two. It's just great to see the contrast between a sympathetic villain, someone who can almost be called an anti-hero, and a completely dark villain. Kronos absolutely despises his authority being questioned but he knows that Atlas is absolutely vital in order for his plans to succeed. So that adds another layer to their dynamic.
Calypso has developed a very, very toxic dependence on Percy and it will probably paint a darker picture of her character but I still want to stick with a sympathetic approach to her overall character. And that's primarily because I think she was a victim of circumstances and is doing all this only because she has been turned by all the pain and anguish. Thank you for your continued support!
In response to Jubby1905's review, yes, Atlas is a walking contradiction. He is a great father but is also an extremely ruthless general. So what I like to explore is how this leads to him leading dual lives and also makes him something much greater than just another antagonist. That also sets up with great contrast with Kronos who is the traditional big baddie and who has no redeeming qualities and is the personification of evil. Drama is putting it very mildly for what I have planned for Percy and Calypso :) But really, even though what Calypso wants is wrong, you can't help but sympathize with her which is what I want to elaborate on. Thank you for your continued support!
I would like to HellRaiderS for your continued support! Well, I had a evil smile when I started writing this one as well :)
Coming to XXIVA's reviews, I agree that sometimes it does feel like most of the characters in this story feel like they are all very logical and rational. But it's not something that I just do. It's something I have incorporated, especially in this story only after two stories and hundreds of thousands of words of character development. What you are saying is exactly right. The Olympians should not be as rational as they are in accepting differing reviews and must resort to their 'cornered animal instinct' as you put it and if you binge read this series, you will notice that that's exactly how they are in the first story and to an extent, even in the second story.
It's only after the gruelling war of the Giganotomachy, the countless horrors of the Trojan War, both events that were caused by their own stubbornness and led to Percy's three millennia long coma that they have become better. So, they are much more rational and much better than their canonical counterparts mainly because of how long they have developed as characters. Of course, there are countless stories where only the main character or the main couple undergoes development but that way of presenting does not really appeal to me. However, I will try to bring out more differentiation between characters. Thank you for your continued support and thank you for your input!
In response to MegaRayquaza8121's review, yes, in real life, telling someone in a relationship that you don't deserve them is a red flag, yes. But the laws of real life don't really bind this alternate universe. And the reality is that Percy did something really, really bad to Calypso. And besides, Percy is talking to an ex he doesn't want to get back together with. So this is just another reason for them to not get together. Thank you for your continued support!
I would like to thank skotos07 for your continued support! I am thrilled that you enjoyed the previous chapter and hope you like this one as well!
In response to bring the money's review, well, to be honest with you, there were actually multiple PMs asking me to turn this into a Percy X Calypso and Athena. But I am just not comfortable writing anything that's not monogamous. This seems like its just a story but its something that draws inspiration from real life events in more ways than one and that's what is going to influence the future interactions between Percy and Calypso. Thank you for your continued support!
In response to DaoGodPrimus' review, the love triangle is going to be very fun to write just because of the sheer scale of drama that it will unleash. I am very glad to hear that you are enjoying this grey portrayal of Atlas. I agree, his potential was wasted in canon by not giving him much development but I plan to do something a lot more different. I want to write an arc where the reader can sympathize with the antagonists instead of just hating on them. I want them to question their allegiance to the protagonist. And I am glad that this approach has proven to be so well-received!
Well, the primary difference I see between gods and monsters is that monsters are just immortal. Sure, they have immortal essences but unlike gods, they don't have actual domains attached to them. Also, I feel like the gods are much, much smarter than monsters. But to be entirely honest with you, I don't know the full difference myself since I just accepted the facts given in canon. Thank you for your continued support!
Responding to Ryan Fowler's review, I was very tempted to include a part where Atlas punched Kronos in the fact but I finally decided against it. Because even though this AU Atlas is much more independent and a great father, he's still not gotten to that stage. But it could always happen if you know what I mean :) Thank you for your continued support!
In response to Arden2709's review, ohh, Athena definitely won't be pleased when she finds out what Calypso wants with Percy. She may even stab a person or two. Thank you for your continued support!
Finally, coming to Kronosbluehairbrush's review, yes, it is likely that Zoe could get injured unintentionally by Atlas and that would add another layer of depth to the story. That would be a good but cruel way to add drama to the story. So it's not entirely off the table. Writing things about Baby Percy is just great. There's just something about babies that makes them extremely adorable and lovable. And I am glad that you enjoy the nice interaction between the Elder Olympians.
Aegle got beaten by Zephyrus off-screen. That was in retribution for what Atlas did to Boreas. Zoe's backstory is going to get a revisit when we come to her role in this arc in a few chapters. You are right when you say that what Atlas is being portrayed and what he seems to have to done to Zoe don't add up. Kronos loving his own children would have probably led to some weird branched off alternate reality but it's a good idea to explore. I am thrilled that you find my stories thought provoking because that's exactly what I want. I don't want to just shove a story down the reader's throat, I want to give them a chance to linger on and draw their own conclusions to an extent. Thank you for your continued support!
All credit for the characters goes exclusively to Rick Riordan.
A bead of sweat rolled down Percy's temple as he silently stared back into Calypso's blue, almond shaped eyes. There was a predatory glint in them and he wasn't comfortable with the way she was looking at him. She was looking at him as if he was some trophy to be obtained and that flared his temper a little. But he calmed himself down and replied a few seconds later.
"Calypso, surely, you're joking. Trust me, you don't want to be with me. It's just that this past week is causing some recency bias. I am the guy who deserted you for three thousand years on Ogygia, Calypso. You suffered for three millennia because of me. I don't deserve to be with you after all I have put through. And more importantly, I am heads over heels in love with Athena. We truly connect on an emotional, intellectual and physical level. She has seen and been with me through my worst. She is the woman of my dreams. I cannot and will not desert her." Percy calmly replied but there was a hint of steel in his voice.
"I don't care about any of that. I don't care that you have hurt me so much. I don't care if you love Athena with all your heart. These past three thousand years were nothing but agony. No matter what I did, the pain didn't go away. But when you are around, I feel happy. I feel content. I need you, Percy. Or else I will go mad." Calypso stated with desperation evident in her eyes as she moved forward to try and grab a hold of Percy but he swiftly moved back to avoid her.
"Calypso, you are not able to think right because of all the pain you have gone through. Trust me, you don't need me to be happy. Another person, the one whom we love with all heart can no doubt make us very happy. But no one can help you if you don't make peace with your own past. Happiness can only be found within yourself. It can't be given to you by an external party. It can perhaps be magnified by those you love but it cannot originate from someone that is not you." Percy advised in a sympathetic tone with maturity shining in his eyes
"Don't blabber philosophical nonsense to me, Percy. That's not what I am here for. Why are you even resisting the notion of us having a free, stable and passionate romantic relationship? Just think about it, we could have an eternity of unperturbed pleasure and happiness. We can even go to an entirely different plane of existence that contains only the two of us. It will be just like our wonderful time in Ogygia but without the worry of inevitable separation. You would never have to lift a finger again. You would be at peace. You wouldn't need to get involved in wars just because of those blasted gods. You wouldn't need to be a pawn anymore." Calypso's voice changed into a smooth tone that felt like honey to Percy's ears as she took slow, soft steps towards him.
"Imagine that, Percy. Just you and me. All alone. We can do whatever we want. I would belong to you. And you would belong to me. No one would disturb us. We could even start our own little family. Away from all this deceit and violence. You would even be away from the influence of those heartless Fates. You would not see any death. You would not see any pain. It would only be pleasure and happiness." Calypso enticed Percy as she slowly enchanted him.
She had wanted to do this the right way and rekindle their romance with his consent. But if Percy didn't want to budge, she had no qualms about doing it the wrong way. Morals were inconsequential in front of their happiness. She would convince him and then seduce him and show him exactly why she was called the Enchantress. And much to her satisfaction, she could see that slowly, Percy was starting to fall into her trap.
"But this is not right, Calypso. I cannot cheat on Athena. I cannot turn my back on my family." Percy argued, albeit in a slightly subdued voice as he failed to register Calypso's mental machinations. And there was some uncertainty in his voice which Calypso caught on to as she strode forward until she was directly in front of him and staring deeply into his mellow sea green eyes.
"Forget about all of them, Percy. Just focus on me. Focus on us. Remember how happy you were on Ogygia. We can have that forever. The two of us in our own perfect little bubble." Calypso softly stated, in a voice laced heavily with her own version of charm speak, as she reached out and held the sides of Percy's head. Doing that, she subtly amplified the positive effect of all his fond memories of her.
It was starting to work as slowly, Percy's mind started to mould around her manipulation. She managed to dig deep enough to magnify the few quarrels he had with the gods into something more. The fact that he was completely trusting of her made this job orders of magnitude easier but she also felt a pang of guilt at the thought of manipulating him like this.
However, she ruthlessly suppressed that train of thought a fraction of a second later. This was for Percy's own good. It was to give him a life of peace and snatch him away from the jaws of war. This was a boon to him. At least that's what she told herself. Finally, she reached his emotions and memories of Athena.
Until then, Percy had fallen into a peaceful, trance-like state, captivated by Calypso's mesmerizing eyes, reassuring words as well as her running her soothing hands through his hair, oblivious to the fact that she was brainwashing him.
However, when she tried burying his memories of Athena deep within his own subconscious, he blacked out for a few seconds as he found himself back in an unforgettable park in Olympus, where Athena was standing in front of him. She was wearing a floral pattern sky blue sleeveless sundress, with no make up on. But her seamless simplicity only amplified her beauty.
"You always do this, Percy. How many times have I told you not to be so trusting and gullible? See, you missed our date now. Honestly, your tendency to only expect the best from people is so annoying yet so endearing. Now snap out of this trance and come back to me." Athena stated with an exasperated yet fond smile as she rolled her eyes at him.
That was enough to snap Percy out of Calypso's machinations and he immediately realised what she was up to. With a roar, he ripped control of his mind back from her as he released a wave of energy that blew her back.
"What is the meaning of this, Calypso?! I trust you, I protect you and I try my level best to keep you safe and this is what you repay me with? I am appalled." Percy bellowed in anger as he glared at Calypso.
"You were being so stubborn. I had no other choice. Percy, you don't know what you want. But I do. So, if not for my sake, at least for your own sake, stop resisting. I and I alone have the means to give you permanent happiness." Calypso's voice slipped back into a deep, rich tone as she tried to convince Percy.
"Your tricks won't work on me this time, Calypso. Accept it or not, you and I will never be romantically involved ever again. You are my past. Athena is my present and my future. My family accepts and fully supports our relationship. My happiness lies with them. Not with you. Maybe it did once upon a time. But not anymore." Percy firmly concluded. And at that, Calypso's composed façade broke down.
"That's always what it has been about isn't it? You sabotaged our relationship because you knew your family would never accept you becoming intimately involved with a Titaness, especially a daughter of Atlas. But yet, you forced me to fall in love with you. You made me develop an emotional dependence on you to the point where I cannot live without you anymore. So you better take responsibility for your actions." Calypso screamed back at him with fury etched in her eyes.
"Calypso, I really am sorry for what I did. And I honestly want to help you. But I can only help you as a friend. Not as a lover. That era is over. Maybe in an alternate reality, if the world hadn't been so cruel, we could have still been together. But that is not possible anymore. You and I, cannot be lovers ever again. And the faster you accept that, the better it is for you." Percy stated in a gentle voice but there was an air of finality in it.
"This is not fair. You are leaving me again." Calypso hoarsely whispered, experiencing too much anguish to speak louder.
"I am. But I have no other choice. Between you and my family, I will always choose my family. That is why we could never be together. You refused to co-exist with them and I could never desert them. I was naïve to think that you would eventually learn to live with them but clearly, I was wrong. Athena is my future. We have our own shared future. And I fully intend to live that life with her." Percy selfishly answered with brutal honesty.
He hated doing this. Every inch of his being revolted against the idea of giving such great pain to a woman who he had once loved so passionately. But after the little stunt she had just pulled, this had to be done. If not for himself, he had to do it for the sake of his family. He had to do it for the sake of Athena.
"Goodbye Calypso. My offer will always be on the table. Whenever you want to accept the terms of the acquittal, you are free to earn your freedom. But I am warning you. Do not go after Athena or my family. Because then, you will be brought face to face with the destroyer who brings damnation." Percy coolly ended the conversation and a moment later, Calypso fell to her knees as heart-wrenching sobs wracked her.
Going against every natural instinct, in a situation not unlike the one he had faced three millennia ago, Percy turned his back on a sobbing Calypso with a heavy heart as he walked away from her. He then gathered and fired a monstrous sea green beam of energy at the horizon, destroying the barriers that Calypso had erected around the island.
He then slowly walked towards the sea, painfully ignoring the guttural sobs of the Titaness behind him as he was about to disappear under the sea. But before he could do that, he was hit by a big fist that sent him barrelling through a part of the beach.
Before he could recover from that attack, he was pummelled repeatedly by punches that caused the very ground under him to shake and crack. Each punch felt like being hit by a mountain and even caused small hairline cracks in some of his bones.
However, Percy found that the sea was close to him and with just a thought, a gargantuan fist of solidified water smashed into his assailant, sending him flying away. Percy stood up and it was only then that he noticed his attacker was Atlas. Instantly, his face morphed into one of rage as he charged at Atlas.
Atlas had just shaken off the cobwebs in his vision when Percy slammed the tall, muscular Titan through a series of trees and boulders before punching the General's face with enough force to send the Titan flying until he reached the other side of the island.
Atlas was given no respite as Percy returned the favour and pummelled him into the ground in a remarkably similar way to what Atlas had done a few minutes earlier. But eventually, he slammed his knees into Percy's back, sending the Hero of Olympus flying into the sea.
Unfortunately for him, he had sent Percy flying into the sea, which resulted in Percy bursting out of the sea with his sea green eyes glowing in a violent fashion. The two of them had been so engrossed in their attacks that neither had bothered to arm themselves as they fought bare-handed in normal civilian clothes.
"This is the last time you make my daughter cry. I will bury you here Diaboles." Atlas roared as unrestrained rage gleamed dangerously in his volcanic onyx black eyes.
"You are the cause for all of this, you wretched Titan. You poisoned her mind. All so that you could win against the gods. What kind of a rotten father are you? You don't deserve to call yourself a father." Percy roared back as he gathered a large amount of water around his fists and solidified it as he zoomed towards Atlas.
The Titan of Strength and Endurance met him halfway as their fists collided. The resulting shockwave from the clash levelled all the trees in the island and caused even the sea behind Percy to recede, albeit only momentarily.
The impasse was broken a few seconds later when Percy forced his way past and decked Atlas in the face with another fist, breaking the Titan's nose and sending him skidding backwards. He wasted no time in jumping into a furious offense, pulling jets of water from behind the sea to augment his attacks.
Percy was no fool. He had realised that even in this state, Atlas was stronger than him, even if the difference was not too great. But that was when they were away from all bodies of water. When there was a body of water close by, especially if it was the sea, Percy's attributes were amplified.
That evened out the fight, and by the looks of it, even tilted it slightly in Percy's favour as the endless supply of water made him a formidable foe, even for Atlas. But the General was not the second strongest of all Titans for no reason.
He fought back furiously, managing to keep up evenly with Percy through sheer experience. Both of them were highly experienced hand to hand combatants, but Atlas just had the edge in experience which allowed to keep up with Percy.
They kept up this pace for a few minutes, trading punches, kicks, head-butts and slams with enough force to release shockwaves with each clash. Percy seemed to gain the upper hand at times but that was quickly neutralized by Atlas a few moments later. But, their great clash came to an end when Poseidon materialised above the two of them.
Percy had sensed his father making his way back and had planned for it so, as soon as Poseidon materialised above Atlas, the two of them struck the General in the head and torso with their fists, propelling the General back to the other side of the island where he collided into a rock next to Calypso and fell to his knees, coughing up some Ichor.
That was enough to bring Calypso out of her anguished wailing and she glared at Percy one last time before she took her divine form and teleported away with her father before the father and son duo of Poseidon and Percy got to him. Back on the other side of the island, Poseidon was ecstatic to finally see his son safe and crucially, in control of his own mind and immediately scooped him into a tight hug.
"Thank Chaos you are alright Percy. I was so worried. We were so worried. Especially once Hera pointed out that you could be brainwashed and turned against us, I started to lose my sanity. I am so relieved that you are yourself." Poseidon hoarsely whispered as he tightly hugged Percy, who gladly hugged him back.
"I don't think I would have been able to even stand if you hated us, Percy. Don't ever risk yourself for some manipulative enchantress ever again." Poseidon chastised with fatherly concern in his watery eyes as he refused to let go of Percy.
"Don't go all soft on me, old man. I have inherited your stubborn streak as well as your fatal flaw of personal loyalty. It's impossible for someone to turn me against you. Besides, we all know that you old chums would stand no chance against me if I turned. And you taught me to not prey on the weak so I am sure that even that trait of mine would have prevented me from turning against you all." Percy replied with a teasing smile in an attempt to hide his own emotions on the matter.
"Cheeky brat. I wouldn't have minded the manipulative Titaness taking away your tongue-in-cheek sassiness. The world could do without it." Poseidon grumbled with a smirk on his face before his face turned serious as he let go of Percy.
"Son, I know you really did love Calypso once upon a time. And she was a good person then. But times have changed. She's no longer the sweet, pacifistic Titaness you fell in love with. She's turned into an enchantress and emotional manipulator. We have played a big part in this unfortunate transformation but it is what it is. You need to let go. If you don't see her as an enemy, she will use you to hurt all of us, Percy. And I am sure that is something you don't want." Poseidon sombrely stated as he met Percy's guilt-ridden eyes.
"How did you know?" Percy asked, with a voice that was full of weariness.
"I am your father, Percy. I think that I am more than capable of reading your emotions and drawing conclusions from that." Poseidon calmly answered with a slightly amused quirk of his lips.
"She tried to manipulate me, dad. I never expected that. I never even thought that she was capable of going to such an extent. She said she loved me. But she didn't. She wanted me because she thought I was a possession without which she couldn't survive. She needed me. She didn't want me. Her entire line of thought has been corrupted. And I can't help but feel that I am the biggest contributor to that." Percy stated as he gazed into the sea with a hollow look in his eyes.
"Everyone has a reason to do wrong, Percy. But that doesn't mean everyone takes that path. Look at you. You had plenty of reasons to do wrong things because the world has certainly wronged you more times than one can count. We all have our own demons. How we choose to deal with them though, is what separates the morally upright from the weak-willed." Poseidon comforted his son as he placed a palm on Percy's shoulder.
"Can the manipulative actions of an anguished and broken Titaness, to regain the love of a man on whom she has developed a toxic dependence on, really be classified as wrong? And can the actions of the very same man who deserted her, for the sake of his family's approval, really be classified as right? Father, what is right and what is wrong in this case varies widely based on opinion." Percy calmly answered, his eyes not leaving the glistening water for a second.
"True. From an objective perspective, one could say that there's no right or wrong in your case. But you don't always need to look at things objectively, Percy. That's the job of the Fates. There's no harm in letting a little subjectivity, a little bias, cloud your judgement. Son, moral objectivity is wonderful, until you lose the war because you were too morally objective in a single battle." Poseidon wisely stated.
"If we let go of who we are and make decisions that go against our moral compass, what makes us better than those we fight?" Percy questioned in a gruff voice as he averted his attention to his father.
"Son, for better or for worse, sometimes, you need to make decisions that go against your moral compass. As long as you are attached to others, you need to make decisions that are plagued by subjectivity and partisan thoughts. The life of a hero is a very lonely one, Percy. You know that better than anyone else. In comparison, the life of a son, of a lover, of a nephew or of a brother, is a lot more complete. It may sometimes mean that you have to do wrong things for the sake of your family. But ultimately, that's the price you pay for that sense of belonging. Kid, nothing comes free in this world. Everything comes at a price. It's up to you to decide what is an acceptable trade-off and what isn't." Poseidon composedly responded to Percy's query, and at that moment, Percy could see the four millennia of experience as well as wisdom shining in his father's eyes.
"Geez, you really are old, father." Percy quipped with a smirk on his face.
"Kid, I am only four millennia old. Your mother is a millennia older than me and Selene is thrice my age. I am hardly the oldest deity here. In fact, that old flame of yours is twice my age. And you aren't a young guy either. You are just a thousand years younger than me. If I am old, you are old." Poseidon shot back with a similar smirk on his face.
"I was in a coma for a huge chunk of my life so that doesn't count. Technically speaking, I am only about eighty. So I'm much, much younger than you, old man." Percy justified with a lop-sided smile on his face.
"Is that what you tell yourself when you pluck out the grey hair at night?" Poseidon ribbed in a good natured way as he bantered with Percy and that was enough to send both of them into a fit of chuckles.
"Thank you for this, dad. I really needed this." Percy stated, once they had finished laughing, in a voice that was thick with emotion.
"Couldn't maintain your tough guy façade, could you?" Poseidon asked with a chuckle before his face grew serious.
"Kid, sometimes, I wish that you lived your life as an ignorant mortal, along with your mother. Don't get me wrong. I loved every moment of raising you and I could not be more proud of your accomplishments. You are undoubtedly the crown jewel of the House of Poseidon. But I feel guilty for dragging you into this world. I feel guilty for getting you involved in divine conflicts that gave you so much mental, emotional and physical pain. I sometimes feel, that in my selfishness, I condemned you to a fate worse than death and failed you as a father by letting you get so grievously injured so many times. It is your great quality that you choose to look at the positives in me and not the negatives." Poseidon replied with glistening eyes.
"What are you talking about, old man? You are the best father I could have asked for. In an age where demigods were dealt with callously, you saved me, protected me and gave me a place to belong to. I will always be grateful for that." Percy stated with his own eyes turning a little misty.
Poseidon widely smiled after hearing Percy's statement and a comfortable silence enveloped them before realisation dawned on Poseidon's face.
"Son, I totally forgot that all the gods are frantically searching for you right now. We don't have time for chit-chat." Poseidon panicked with a sense of urgency in his voice.
His wife was not going to be pleased when she found out that he had taken his own sweet time talking to their son instead of informing everyone else that Percy was safe. And a similar, panicked expression made its way onto Percy's face.
"At no cost can mother and Athena know that we spent time leisurely chatting instead of informing them immediately. If they find out, we are-" Percy started but he was cut-off by Athena, who had just materialised behind him.
"Hello Percy." Athena interrupted him in a calm, neutral voice and Percy immediately froze in position as he involuntarily shuddered. He knew that voice all too well. The composure it seemed to portray was the exact opposite of what Athena was feeling.
"Athena! We were just talking about you. About how I love you so much that I resisted the attempts of Calypso to try and brainwash me and how-" Percy immediately jumped into damaging conservation mode with a nervous smile but he was interrupted by Athena once again.
"Calypso did what?!" Athena questioned with fury blazing in her eyes as she took slow, predatory steps towards Percy.
"I can explain." Percy stated with his hands raised in a placating gesture.
"Oh, you better." Athena growled as she stepped forward and grabbed a hold of Percy's collar, causing the Hero of Olympus to gulp nervously.
"You stupid, gullible, ignorant man, do you know how worried I was? Artemis was supposed to be your back-up you idiot. She was supposed to attack Calypso on the off-shoot scenario that Calypso attacked you, which she did. But you, using your dense brain made out of kelp decided to stand in the path of Artemis' beam after being stabbed by Calypso. Then, you let your guard down around her and let her almost brainwash you. What is wrong with you?" Athena hissed as she slapped Percy across the face with enough force to make even Poseidon wince. He was sure that his son would be sleeping in the spare bedroom for a few weeks.
"I am sorry, Athena." Percy sincerely apologized with regret shining in his mesmerizing sea green eyes, giving him the appearance of a lost seal pup.
Despite her best efforts, Athena's anger evaporated after that apology as she pulled him in for a deep, passionate kiss. And he reciprocated with equal fervour. The two of them were so engrossed in it that they forgot Poseidon was still standing there. They quickly separated with a sheepish smile on Percy's face and a faint golden blush on Athena's when Poseidon cleared his throat.
"Thank you for scarring my eyes so thoroughly. A heads up would have been good as I would have disappeared before suffering permanent trauma." Poseidon dryly stated with a wrinkle of his nose, causing Athena's blush to become even deeper.
While her and Percy had been in a relationship for a very long time, they usually reserved their most passionate expressions of love for when they were alone. Neither of them were particularly comfortable with very passionate public displays of affection. They shared a hug, held hands or even stole a quick peck in normal situations but sometimes, they had a tendency to get carried away.
"Consider this payback for that time you and mom traumatized me as a child. Now that I remember, there was that one time when-" Percy grumbled but he was cut short when Poseidon sprayed him with a geyser to shut him up.
"You don't need to go in details, Percy. How do you still remember that?" Poseidon asked with an annoyed expression on his face.
"You seriously expected me to just forget the reason why I got the birds and bees talk at the age of ten?" Percy incredulously asked with an irritated expression on his face. Before the two of them could bicker further though, Athena decided to step in.
"Stop it both of you. Leave it to two overpowered man-childs to spoil a romantic mood." Athena huffed in exasperated annoyance. But despite her words, there was a hint of fondness to her voice. The past week had been nerve-wracking. So, this was a very welcome return to a semblance of normalcy.
Nico and Thalia were kicking around in a shady bar somewhere in a small town in the Midwest. They were both frustrated as well as exhausted since they had been chasing empty leads for the past week.
At first, when they had started their search for Percy, they had made staggering progress within the first few days. In that time, they had found out a crucial bit of information - even the Titans did not know Percy's location and that had taken a weight off of their shoulders.
Of course, there were still worried about Percy since none of them actually trusted Calypso. Leo, Reyna and Annabeth, in particular, seemed to distrust and borderline hate the Titaness. Jason and Thalia were a bit better, although not by a huge margin and that left only Nico as the one who could remotely sympathize with Calypso's condition.
It could have been due to the fact that he understood in a way what the Titaness was seeking but it was also a question of principle for him. He did not want to judge and punish people before they committed a crime. Maybe that was because he was a son of Hades which meant he had inherited his father's sense of fairness.
The rest of the demigods and most of the gods were terribly worried that Calypso would try to brainwash Percy and he was as well. But what he didn't agree with the shoot on order instructions that had been handed to them by the gods. Attacking with an intent to kill, without even confirming whether or not their target had done anything wrong felt deeply immoral to him. And clearly, his colleagues disagreed with him.
"You're still thinking about that crappy argument you had with Leo, Annabeth and Reyna, aren't you?" Thalia asked with a knowing glint in her eyes as manipulated the Mist and ordered a glass of beer, bringing Nico out of his thoughts.
"Thals, aren't you a little young to be drinking? Besides, I don't want to save your woozy, slow drunken hide when some monster bursts through the door." Nico casually commented with an infuriating smirk on his face.
"Shut it, Death Breath. Where's all this bravado when someone asks you about your true feelings? And, we're spies. We don't know what will happen to us tomorrow. So better to enjoy life today. Besides, once you get involved in a drinking competition with Zoe Nightshade, you develop a very high tolerance." Thalia dismissed Nico's concerns with a wave of her hand.
"Ahh, I remember that day. It was fun watching you challenge Zoe so boldly and then lose spectacularly. You really didn't think that one through." Nico responded with a snicker.
"That will not repeat again. I've training for a rematch. Now, stop trying to change of topic and answer the question." Thalia stated with a firm, no-nonsense voice.
"Come on Thals, are you really telling me that you are entirely comfortable with the fact that the gods want us to lethally harm Calypso, just on the suspicion that she may be trying to brainwash Percy? Since when did we turn into cold-hearted killers? That's the exact opposite of what Percy wanted us to be. And besides, to make a decision without actual judgement just feels wrong." Nico voiced his frustration.
He had no qualms about doing what was necessary but he would only do it when it was necessary. He would give anyone a one way ticket to the Underworld if they deserved it. But he would only do it after completely ascertaining that they had committed unforgivable crimes.
"I'm sorry, would you rather wait for her to actually brainwash Percy and then try to attack her? As far as I know, our job is to prevent such scenarios, not wait for them to happen and then react to them." Thalia sarcastically replied.
"Thalia, this feels wrong. We are just blindly following orders. This is what Aunt Selene advised us not to fall prey to." Nico tried to reason.
"I don't like this very much either, Nico. It doesn't exactly feel just. But if there's even a small probability of Calypso trying to emotionally manipulate and brainwash Percy, I want to avoid it, at all costs. Because the consequences that will arise from not doing anything while Percy is being brainwashed by Calypso are far, far more severe than those that may come from jumping the gun." Thalia answered, giving a strictly utilitarian answer.
However, before Nico could respond to Thalia's statement, a smooth, disapproving voice, belonging to a certain Luke Castellan, interrupted him –
"I am thoroughly disappointed to hear that statement from you of all people, Thalia."
Atlas was worried. Calypso had taken them back to their temporary base and was now patching up his injuries but what worried him was that she had not spoken a single word since then. And he didn't know how to approach her about her precarious situation.
He knew that she had had her heart broken by Perseus Diaboles once again. He was not a fan of her recent actions. While he did respect and support her choice to get involved with Diaboles in a romantic way once again, he certainly did not like it. He knew that his daughter could do better. But unfortunately, she had developed a toxic dependence on Diaboles.
"Calypso, I can't see you like this. You have been hurt so much that you have emotionally exhausted yourself. Tell me, how can I help you? I will do whatever it takes to put a smile back on your face." Atlas promised as he soothingly squeezed Calypso's hand.
"Can you make Percy love me back? Can you reunite me with him? Can you make him forget that blasted wisdom goddess and instead say that he wants to spend the rest of eternity with me? Can you free me from the inescapable jaws of destiny that intend to deny me happiness for all eternity? Tell me father, can you do that?" Calypso questioned in a hollow, bitter voice.
"Daughter, why do you desire his company so much? You can't possibly think he is the best match for you. He has done nothing but hurt you again and again and again. You deserve so much more." Atlas stated in a soft voice as he tried to convince Calypso.
"You think I don't know that? Do you really think that I am unaware of the fact that Percy has hurt me more than anyone else and is the single greatest cause of my pain? Do you think I like this toxic, self-destructive dependence on his company for feeling any semblance of happiness?" Calypso shouted back in an emotional voice.
"Then why do you subject yourself to this pain? Let go. Please, for your own sake, forget Diaboles." Atlas advised her in a tone that conveyed his helplessness on the matter.
"I can't. It's some sort of cruel joke that's being played on me by those sadistic old hags. They are probably cackling in delight, seeing me anguish over a lover who has so deeply wronged me." Calypso answered with a bitter laugh before her tone became more sombre.
"No matter how much I try, no matter how hard I try, I am unable to reach the same level of happiness that I want without Percy's company. Maybe it's the fact that I loved him so much and the fact that the two years he spent with me on Ogygia were undoubtedly the best in my life. That was such a great period. I was flooded with a wave of happiness in a way I had never experienced before. And the past week rekindled all those emotions. I just don't know what to do anymore." Calypso recounted as she sunk into despair and Atlas' eyes seemed to gain a distant reminiscence at that statement.
"Love is a very difficult thing, Calypso. I always believed it only made a person weaker. When I was younger, I was a very brutal man. I was the second strongest of all Titans right off the bat and that is something which I take pride in even today. I had many flings but I never understood the value of love. I always believed that a strong man was strongest alone. I lived in a frivolous, uncaring way for millennia until the fateful day Tethys dropped a cradle in front of my chambers in Othrys." Atlas started to recount.
"What does this have to do with anything?" Calypso asked with a confused expression on her face.
"Let me finish. At first, I didn't want the responsibility and had even made arrangements to send you away to be raised by some nymph. Before that though, I just peeked into the bundle and you grabbed my finger with your little hand and simply refused to let go of it. That broke down my harsh and ruthless exterior and for the first time, I felt a desire to protect someone that was not me. You were the best thing that happened to me Calypso. Because you gave me a greater sense of purpose. And I promised myself that I would give you whatever you want." Atlas paused to gaze deeply into his daughter's eyes as he prepared his final statement.
"So tell me Calypso, tell me loud and clear, what do you want?" Atlas asked in a clear voice.
"You know what I want, father. What's the point of this?" Calypso asked with a deep sigh.
"Just articulate your thoughts, daughter." Atlas insisted as he gave another comforting squeeze to Calypso's hands.
"I want Percy, father. I want him to love me whole-heartedly like he did when we were in Ogygia. I want his company. I want him to keep me happy." Calypso firmly stated in a loud voice.
"Then that is what you will get. By hook or by crook, Diaboles will be yours. I have already taken an oath from Kronos to ensure that he won't interfere in our lives after we win this war. Now, once I reach full power, I will direct all my efforts towards tearing Olympus down and flinging those accursed Olympians to Tartarus. And I will start by beating Diaboles within an inch of death." Atlas' voice boomed across the room as he made a chilling declaration. And before Calypso could raise any objection to his last declaration, he interrupted her.
"Fear not, daughter. I will not allow him to get into the hands of the other Titans or will not seek to eliminate him once I do that. No. I shall then bring him to you. I shall bring him to you at a time when he is at his most vulnerable state and will allow you to nurse him back to health." Atlas stated with a cunning smile on his face.
"And when he is that vulnerable, I can do whatever I want to him. His mind will be mine to play with. I can mould his memories and personality in the exact way I desire. And then, I can finally be happy." Calypso concluded with a crazed look in her eyes.
"Exactly. Calypso, you are the daughter of the General of the Othryian Forces and the Titan of Strength and Endurance. You cannot be denied anything. Not as long as I am around." Atlas declared with a fiercely determined look in his eyes.
"Thank you, papa. I will not give up until I take what is rightfully mine." Calypso stated with intense desire blazing in her eyes.
"That's my girl." Atlas stated with a proud smile. They would win. And Calypso would get exactly what she wanted. Atlas would make sure of that. Whatever it took, he would make his daughter smile again.
Hey guys! This chapter did take a bit longer but that's because my college finally restarted in an offline mode after being online for the better part of the past two years. And since it was also a chapter that predominantly dealed with emotions, it took some more time to complete.
With this chapter though, we are done with the first, emotionally packed part of the Atlas Arc and head into its conclusion in the next chapter. Unsurprisingly, since this will be the biggest arc I have ever written, it's still a long way from being concluded.
In this chapter, I have tried to portray Calypso as a wronged person who finally cracks under the weight of her own emotional trauma. While the chapter does portray her in a slightly negative role, I try to balance that out by shining some light on her plight.
And of course, there's that little fight between Percy and Atlas. But that's only a fraction of what's going to come in the tense, fast and action packed second half of this arc. And boy do I have some great ideas that have been simmering for the past two years :)
Read and review, I hope that all of you enjoyed this chapter! Have a fantastic day!
