Chapter 3, Fear breeds Hatred
- Minutes after Hyperion's defeat, Throne Room, Olympus ~
Ares isn't one to admit to his mistakes, but he knows that his anger at the punk was unjustified. He lost that duel fair and square, and spit on the kids' honor for losing. Ares spent too long thinking anger was his source of power, so long he forgot his own honor. When the Iris Message opened in the throne room and the Olympians saw what was happening to their savior he knew what needed to be done. He was going to release the punk from his curse anyway simply because as much as a bloodthirsty beast he is now, Ares was once a respectable god and he is simply honoring a request from his favorite child by dropping the cures, but after seeing the situation the kid was in. Ares knew it was time to let go of his grude, so not only did he drop his curse he also blessed the kid with the might of the War God.
And yes he was just going to release a curse because his favorite child asked him to. Ever since the punk beat him when he was 12, Ares has been deep in thought about his own ability to be a god. Then he realized something about himself. He is an okay god and is way more bloodthirsty then he used to be in his glory days, but the worst thing he realized was that he was turning into his own father as well as following in his footsteps of being a horrible father. Ares came to a single goal in that moment, he would right himself. It was time to the great god that the Spartans worshiped to return to his rightful glory.
Ares had to give the Jackson kid some credit of course, especially after watching him turn a fight he was so clearly losing around in a matter of seconds. The rest of the Olympians, especially Poseidon, sighed in relief when the blade of the stranger struck down Hyperion. Although Zeus seemed to be slightly frightened by the show of power Percy put on by forcing a primordial river of cursed power to his own will. Even Ares, as dumb as he lets himself be seen as, could tell that his father was starting to fear Perseus Jackon more than he already does. And everybody knows that fear leads to hatred….
Three weeks from the fall, Engine Room, Aft end of the Argo II~
Jason was speaking with Leo in the engine room when they both heard Annabeth speaking to someone, and since she hasn't really spoken to anyone since explaining how Percy fell, they obviously wanted to eavesdrop. What? That's a perfectly normal course of action depending on the circumstances. So they crept closer to where they were hearing her and peaked into the room she was in to see her talking to a Iris Message of some kid that looked like he could be a son of Apollo.
"I know I told you that I wouldn't be able to message you, I just missed you too much to keep that up James." Annabeth said with longing in her voice, almost as if she was talking to a long lost boyfriend she hasn't seen in a while. Jason and Leo looked at each in confusion at her tone. But before they could whisper anything to each other, the boy on the other side of the message started speaking.
"Annabeth, you said you wanted to keep this secret from the Seven. What if Percy walks in right now and hears you talking to me?" The kid, James if they heard right, said to her in a tone full of both love and concern. Jason and Leo shared a look that clearly stated 'Oh, this isn't good' and both of them slowly backed away, but right before they were out of earshot they heard Annabeth's next comment and it made them worry for Percy once he comes back.
"It's okay James, I think I may have gotten Percy killed. He fell into Tartarus but not before saving me from the same fate. And while I am pretty saddened he fell in, I am also happy because it means we can truly be together." Annabeth said in a tone full of love, but with a hint of insanity…..
5 years since the Fall, 5th level of Hell, The Pit ~
Percy has changed. Both mentally and physically. Spending 5 years in Hell does that to you. He keeps his now long hair tied back in a ponytail with a hairband made of shadows created by Orpheus. He now stands at 6'3 and he also has more muscle though he is still lean. Although the biggest change would be the deep scar running from cheekbone to cheekbone and crossing over his nose ridge. He is also more sadistic and bloodthirsty during battle, though he has kept his honor and loyalty throughout it all, his mindset and morals have definitely been tempered by the Demon that has been at his side for 5 years now. Percy also realized that something changed in him during his battle with Hyperion, his sword no longer felt as heavy leading him to believe that something happened to the curse laid on him by Ares all those years ago.
Orpheus changed slightly as well over the 5 years, gaining all the muscle he lost back, as well as explaining to Percy how his demonic powers actually work. He has complete control of shadows,secrets, and crows and is a living aspect of two emotions; Fear and Hatred. Both of these emotions fuel his power, both his fear and hatred as well as the fear and hatred of those around fuel his power. His connection to both shadows and crows allow him vision over all things, even the future itself.
Though Orpheus never quite explained what "easing" his burden would take, he did however train Percy in the different ways of sword play he knew. Percy took to both European longswords and rapiers quite well though his strength lay in Greek and Persian styles. Orpheus also explained that the time spent in Tartarus is different than above ground. For every year spent in Hell is equal to 1 month on Earth. Percy, at first, was annoyed by this knowledge but then he realized that he would make it back for the end of the war at least. Orpheus said it should take the two of them about a week and a half to get to the Palace of Night where he may be able to negotiate for immediate travel to the Heart of Hell where the Doors of Death lay waiting for those strong enough to reach them.
If Orpheus could do this then it would cut down their travel time by at least another 5 years, so Percy was obviously hoping this would not end up bad like most of the plans he is involved in do. Percy just wanted to get back to Annabeth and the rest of the Seven, but more importantly he just wanted to see his mother again. Due to the immense amount of changes he has gone through, Percy is worried that his friends and family either won't recognize him, hate him, and even be scared of him. Over the years Percy has been trapped in Hell, the monsters at first thought the great hero was trapped in there with them, they are trapped in there with him. They call him The Destroyer due to how absolute his control of the Five Rivers of Hell has become.
Just like Orpheus had estimated it took them about a week and a half to reach the Palace of Night. Once their Percy was taken aback by the beautiful castle in front of him. It was made out of what looks like pure black marble, with the design of a 13th century French castle. The palace itself was just floating above a massive pit of darkness with its drawbridge closed up tight. Percy had no idea how Orpheus planned on getting in, when suddenly he stepped forward and started speaking loudly.
"My Lady Nyx, Goddess of The Night. We humbly request your assistance with a matter of great importance." Orpheus bowed as he stated his request to the floating castle of shadow and marble. Percy followed his lead and bowed as well, as he finished bowing the sound of the drawbridge slowly opening brought the attention of the Demon and the Demigod to the castle's front. A tall, absolutely beautiful woman gracefully stalked out of the castle and floated over towards them, dressed in a long flowing black dress and very aristocratic features behind her a dark pair of wings unfolded and stretched to their max span.
"And who are you to request anything from me? You are but mortals, wait, you there with the red eyes. You're a Demon aren't you? Now that is interesting. Tell me your request and I shall see if it deserves to be honored." The beautiful goddess asked, Percy couldn't even speak, he had never seen anyone so beautiful before in his life, then he snapped back to reality and focused on the thoughts of Annabeth. Orpheus spoke up again.
"My Lady Nyx, you are correct. I am a Demon, the very first one in fact. I come before you with a request to traverse your Palace to reach the Heart of Hell in order to return to the world above so that my friend here can win the war against Gaia." He said, voice never wavering. The woman seemed intrigued by Orpheus' mention of Percy being the winning factor of the war. After all, to her he was just a mortal. She flew down towards the Demon and Demigod slowly.
"Very well, let me have a look at him. Ah, yes a certain sense of strength in this mortal. If I allow this I can only allow one of you to pass and the one that does must face a trial by one of my daughters before they may pass." Night said to the unlikely duo. Percy and Orpheus looked at each other before Orpheus patted him on the back and handed him something he created out of shadow. Percy pocketed it, not even looking at it knowing this may be the last time he ever sees his friend again. Orpheus pushed Percy forward after giving him a fist bump and a sad smile, then slowly turned around and walked off into the darkness. Percy heard him say one last thing before he vanished from view.
"I will see you again Perseus Jackson The Destroyer, we made a deal and deals are kept. Good luck and give Gaia hell for me, eh old friend?" The voice of Orpheus trailed off as he walked and Percy heard the tell-tale sound of a crow's call before turning around himself and facing the Primordial Goddess.
"I am ready for your trial my Lady Night." Percy said, bowing his head as he spoke. Nyx only laughed, a deep beautiful laugh, before snapping her fingers causing a frail, emaciated, crying woman to appear. Percy actually recognized who this being was from the description given to hime by Orpheus. This was Alkys, goddess of the death mist and deadly poisons, living personification of misery.
"This is your test mortal, either force my daughter to yield or kill her. If you do either of these you pass and I will let you into my Palace and get you out of Tartarus." Nyx stated simply, then sat on a chair of nothingness and crossed her legs, clearly getting comfortable to watch the coming duel like it was a gladiatorial match. And in a way Percy guessed it was. Percy then drew Riptide and readied his combat stance. Alkys looked at him and laughed a horrible crying laugh and summoned a slow creeping poison upon the ground forcing Percy back towards the edge of the cliff.
Percy knew what her plan was, and so he took a few steps back then sprinted forward and jumped. He landed behind Alkys and went to swing his blade at her in an attempt to force her yield. Akys didn't like this very much and summoned more poison, some of the poison splashed Percy's shoe and caused him to hallucinate. He started seeing all of the friends he let down over the years, Bianca di Angelo, Zoe Nightshade, Lee Fletcher, Castor, Charles Beckondorf, Micheal Yew, Silena Beauregard, Ethan Nakamura, Luke Castellan, and countless other demigods that died under his command.
And Percy fucking lost it.
Percy ripped control of the poison from Alkys and turned the poison back at her. This stipping of her own power coupled with the terrifyingly blank expressionless face of the angry Destroyer in front of her scared her to her very core.
"Please! Please stop! I yield, I yield!" The goddess of misery cried out.
Percy didn't care.
The poison swallowed Alkys whole body with the goddess screaming in pain the whole time. Nyx sat straight up, clearly not expecting Percy to just kill the deity. She started clapping slowly.
"Well done mortal, that was much better than I expected. Before I escort you to your destination, tell me what is your name God-Killer?" The personification of Night asked with an almost motherly smile on her face, as if her daughter did not just die in front of her.
"My name? My name is Perseus Jackson the Destroyer." Percy responded with a bloodthirsty grin on his face…
1 month since Hyperion's defeat , Somewhere ~
She was absolutely horrified at what she just witnessed happen to Percy. She realized that the first vision she received of Percy was just a dream and since then haven't had any dreams since. This current dream is the first vision since.
In this vision, She watched as Percy and the stranger were captured by a roving monster band and taken to someone called Prometheus. She watched as Percy and the stranger were strapped to torture tables and had their minds assualted by some form of mental tortue She could only assume was twisted nightmares. For hours She was forced to watch as her friend screamed and thrashed in pain with tears running down both his face and hers. Then all of a sudden the stranger exploded with some dark energy that ceased both his and Percy's screaming, this same energy almost caressed the two before releasing them from their respective tortue tables.
Then she heard that same dark laughter from the first vision and woke up covered in sweat yet again…
So there we go, the story is starting to pick up and a little bit of character development shined through my crappy writing style, yay! Anyway this was a fun one to write, I really like dark Percy concepts. If you notice anything that isn't making sense or properly explained hit me with a review letting me know what if confusing along with any criticisms would be great!
Ye-Olde-Erebus, signing off.
