Chapter #5 Ambush
"So, Perseus, what are you, who are you, and why are you here?", Jake asked casually leaning on the hilt of his blade, not wanting another Luke scenario.
"Well, I was an immortal demi-titan, the son of Themis, the Titaness of divine law and order-the traditional rules of conduct first established by the gods. She was also a prophetic goddess who presided over the most ancient oracles, including Delphi. Since she has long faded, I have inherited her domains which makes no sense due to the fact I lost my immortality."
"Did Zeus take it away, your immortality?", questioned Jake, eager to learn more.
"No, I had to revoke my partial immortality to save your Annabeth friend, I might have stabbed her on accident."
"That left a nasty scar" responded Jake, thinking about the large jagged scar he would see on Annabeth's belly when she would go swimming or wear short t-shirts.
"A grave mistake on my behalf, but I assure you, I have no harmful intent.", Percy started calming down Jake who had gripped Riptide's hilt so hard, his knuckles were white.
"As for why I am here, Athena was a prized student of my mother when they worked together on their overlapping responsibilities on justice. She and I became somewhat close friends and we both hold a great deal of respect for one another. My cape over here is a piece of Athena's cape, invulnerable. Besides that, Athena, Aphrodite, and my mother somehow contacted me to save Annabeth from the Titans as she is important later.
To be entirely honest, I am also on this quest for personal benefit. I hope that after Zeus might help me restore my immortality and become a full-fledged god.", finished Perseus.
From the back, Phoebe startled everyone who had forgotten she was back there, "How do you know Zoe?"
"I met Zoe during the golden age, Thetis and I had lived at the base of Mount Othrys. I would so often venture down to the garden to meet Ladon. Oh, that sweet dragon! Zoe was permanently stuck in the garden, so one day, she asked to talk to me as I fed Ladon and we connected. Later on, I met her once again at my home in an abandoned castle in New Jersey, rescuing her and Lady Artemis from a horde of monsters, earning both of their respect once again."
Zoe smiled from the memories of them sitting side by side, chatting and feeding Ladon.
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Nighttime
Perseus was shaken awake by Zoe," Can you drive please, I'm very tired at the moment."
"Hey Thalia", Percy whispered as he shook the daughter of Zeus awake from shotgun.
"Thank for taking over", whispered Zoe as Thalia switched to Percy's old seat and Percy took the wheel, sitting next to Zoe.
"What's that on your neck?", asked Zoe, peeking a tattoo.
"Χωρίς φόβο (No Fear)
Καμία υποχώρηση (No Retreat)
Ζήστε τις σκιές." (Live the shadows)
A quote tattooed onto the back of his neck, dipping underneath his shirt.
"It was a reminder from her. When I fell in. This was the price for my freedom. However, sometimes it helps me. It gives me knowledge and strength. It helps me channel my rage and anger into my fighting.", Replied Perseus, pushing the hem of his shirt down, revealing the quote and a single small figurine of an elegant woman below.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive, but did you get that when yo-"
"Yeah, when I was thrown into that pit. Nyx gave it to me as my payment to her."
"Sorry about bringing that up.", Replied Zoe, leaning her head against Perseus's shoulder and falling asleep.
As Percy absentmindedly drove down the dimly light road, hand around Zoe's shoulder failing to realize the Son Of Poseidon was awake and had overheard everything.
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A rough hit woke up Jake as he fell himself hitting the cold ground.
He was no longer in the car, he instead was being dragged by his shirt by Thalia from what seemed like a full-scale battle.
Through blurry eyes, he saw Percy, Zoe, and Phoebe battling a horde of skeletons and monsters. It was evident that fighting was futile. The monster army was too well organized. Skeletons dotted the surrounding trees, raining down arrows, telkines flanked the demigods as large cyclops attacked from the front.
Yelling and thrusting out his hands, Perseus pushed the enemy monsters back with a shimmering field, sending some stumbling backward.
Yelling in ancient Greek, Percy yelled," στο τέλος (to the very end)! Go without me, I'll hold them off."
"NOOO", yelled a teary-eyed Zoe as Phoebe dragged her back, towards their van, parked facing away from the monster hoard.
"The keys...", Thalia murmured as she patted her jacket's pockets, trying to locate the van's keys.
'PERSEUS, THE KEYS!", yelled Thalia, cupping her hands over mouth.
Swinging wildly with sword, Percy reached into his windbreaker's inside pockets and ripped out the car's keys and threw them to Thalia.
"I'll meet you at mount Tam!"
Then he disappeared.
Swallowed by the monsters.
The horde of monsters fell upon him and swallowed him, the monsters all howling and growling in joy into the sunset as the Delphi's Strawberry Service van raced away from the hill of the battle.
Two quest members were already down, and only 3 remained. But Phoebe and Jake were fast asleep. Tomorrow they had a dragon and titan to deal with.