Chapter 4, The Emergence from Tartarus
5 & ½ years after the fall, The Doors of Death, Heart of Hell Itself, 9th Level of Tartarus ~
Percy was tired. Emotionally exhausted from killing Alkys. In the moment it felt good but it was simply wrong. He let his anger get the best of him, just like Gabe and he hated it, hated himself for becoming like Gabe of all people. Percy didn't want to be anything like Gabe, in fact Percy still regrets not standing up for his mother when Gabe was around. As he sat in the small elevator-like room inside the Doors of Death, Percy contemplated the changes he went through while stuck down here. And while he is grateful to have been mentored by Orpheus and helped by Lady Nyx, their influence has definitely changed him and maybe it wasn't for the better he pondered. He was also concerned about the wounds he is currently using the last shredded remains of what was once his t-shirt to bandage with. And his possibly broken leg, which he hopes won't slow him down too much.
His thoughts were interrupted by the chime of the doors opening. Percy got his first look of the world above….. And it was another fucking cave system?
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Percy shouted in exasperation. He sighed as he realized that shouting drew the group of monsters playing guard duty to him. Three cyclops rushed him, he just uncapped Riptide and ran at them yelling the only war cry that came to mind.
"YOLO BITCHES!" He all but screamed at them, two of the rushing vanguard stopped and looked at each other in confusion. Percy laughed as he practically bisected the only cyclops that ran at him and looked at the other two with a shit eating grin. He slowly raised his left hand and did a come and get me motion. So they did. And they died for it. Percy was just too quick with a blade for the two remaining lumbering giants to handle. Then Percy collapsed due to being in too much pain, from the fights he had right before entering the Doors of Death he received some pretty grievous wounds.
He had claw shaped slashes all over his chest and back along with a possible broken leg and a heavily bruised hip. So that's fun was Percy's last thought before hearing movement from the cave entrance and forcing himself to stand in preparation.
- Same Time, Outside of the cavern housing the Doors of Death, Above World ~
Jason was worried. Very worried. Leo has been keeping him updated on the insane Annabeth situation through hidden cameras around the Argo II. Over the 5 & ½ months since Percy's fall, Annabeth has spent every night in the stables Iris Messaging who Jason and Leo now know as James Lake, a Greek son of Apollo. Through Leo's clever use of hidden spy cameras, they found out that Annabeth has been cheating on Percy since he went missing when Juno swapped the camp leaders. According to Annabeth's own words she has been planning on a way to break it off with Percy since she found him but got so caught up with the emotions of him being back and realizing she still loved him, that she is stuck between choosing two different men.
This is why Jason is so very worried. If Percy finds out that Annabeth has been cheating on him for this long it would destroy him, even if she does choose to stay with Percy. No matter what Percy will be destroyed emotionally and if you think about what he may have gone through in Hell? Percy might just snap and the only demigods capable of stopping a Percy sized rampage besides Jason are located at both camps. Jasons not sure if Piper's charmspeak would be enough to calm his anger. Jason is also not entirely sure he could defeat Percy in a straight fight either no matter how much that hurt his pride to say.
Leo has been collecting as much info as he can on the Annabeth situation in hopes of getting to Percy before Annabeth about what she has done to him. Jason hopes to find Percy alive more than anything right now. Jason was pulled out of his thoughts by Nico stepping forward to speak.
"I have been keeping this information to myself for quite some time but I think it's time I share it. Time moves differently down in Tartarus, it's much slower down there." Nico explained with a saddened expression on his face. Jason's mind shut down for a second after he heard this.
"Wait so he could have been down there longer than 5 & ½ months? How do we know he even made it to the Doors of Death alive?" Annabeth said with a weird expression on her face that everyone but Jason and Piper thought it was sadness.
"Cause I would have felt him die Annabeth." Nico responded like it was obvious, which it really was in Jason's opinion. Annabeth closed her mouth in embarrassment. Nico then handed out barley to Jason, Annabeth, and Hazel so that they can go into the House of Hades to retrieve Percy while the rest of the Seven hold off any approaching monsters. As the trio of demigods went to enter the cavern a bright flash of godly energy appeared behind the Seven.
Jason turned around to see what the light was, only to see his sister Thalia and the Hunters of Thalia. Jason was definitely surprised to see her here because the Seven haven't been in contact with the gods since before Percy's fall. Thalia stepped forward with a scowl on her face.
"So I heard Kelp Head got himself into some trouble and needs help getting out of it like usual?" Thalia half asked half stated to the group in front of her. Jason stepped forward with a somewhat sad smile on his face.
"That's pretty close to what happened sis, glad to have you and the Hunter's here for support. Unfortunately I do not think you can descend with us in the House of Hades. Unless you happen to have some barely with you?" Jason asked the Hunters, who at this point all looked bored. As Jason's gaze passed over the Hunters, he noticed something slightly off about his sister's stance. There was something about the way she was holding herself that wasn't the same as she normally stands.
"The fuck do we need barely for? Oh whatever. We will join whoever is staying topside in case some form of monster army just happens to pop into existence." Thalia said with a smirk, then turned around and commanded the Hunters to occupy defensive positions with a good view of the surrounding area. Jason coughed out a laugh as he turned around to enter the House of Hades with Annabeth and Hazel at his side.
15 minutes before the Hunters of Artemis arrive, Palace of Artemis, Olympus ~
Thalia was confused as to why the Hunter of Artemis' was suddenly on Olympus, and in Artemis' palace no doubt. They were just in the middle of hunting this week's rations deep in the Amazon. She could tell her comrades were also confused. After all, wasn't Olympus closed off from mortals? Then their patron appeared in a brilliant flash of silver energy.
"My dear Hunters, my father does not know we are meeting right now. It is only due to the machinations of Ares and Poseidon that we can even speak here now. They both have agreed with me, actions need to be taken. Especially due to the knowledge we have been getting through Iris on what has happened to Perseus Jackson." The moon goddess said her companions in her normal regal tone. Thalia, of course, was immediately put on edge hearing that her favorite cousin was in some kind of trouble. Well maybe favorite was a bit of an understatement considering the real reason she joined Artemis.
"What did Kelp Head get himself into this time my lady?" Thalia asked with a bit of a sarcastic smirk upon her face.
"He has fallen into Tartarus alone, sister." Artemis said simply. Thalia all but collapsed, it took all of her willpower to stand. She knew this war was going to be a dangerous war, but for her cousin to fall in Hell alone? How could he possibly survive down there alone? Thalia forced herself to recompose herself back into her normal persona of not giving a fuck.
"So what do you need us to do my lady?" Thalia asked with as straight of a face as she could hold. Artemis didn't seem to have caught Thalia's loss of composure, but knowing her mistress, the goddess of the hunt definitely caught it. Artemis shot Thalia a look that clearly said "we will talk later" then went on to talk to her hand-maidens once more.
"I am sending you all to the current location of the Seven to assist them in retrieving Perseus from the cavern known as the House of Hades which coincidentally houses the Doors of Death. You must guarantee the survival of the Seven or we will lose this war. Thalia, I wish to speak with you before you all depart." Their mistress commanded and so the Hunters dispersed and Thalia approached her way older sister.
"Sister, are you alright? I know you care for the son of Poseidon, probably more than I should allow." The goddess asked, while mumbling the last part, Thalia just barely picked up on the last thing her mistress said before releasing a groan of discomfort knowing just what the coming conversation would entail.
"I am fine milady, it just surprised me to hear the strongest demigod I know has fallen into the literal Hell of our world" Thalia replied in a professional yet clipped tone, clearly trying to showcase that she really doesn't care about Percy just that he is clearly strong and could be useful to the war effort. Though Thalia knew that she didn't truly view her kelp headed cousin as a weapon. Even with all the effort Thalia put into her persona, Artemis knew her better than anyone and could clearly see through it.
"Thalia, I will not push you for answers now, but know this. I know why you joined my hunt. I know exactly how you feel for the boy, and while it would pain me greatly to lose one of the best lieutenants my hunt has ever had, I am prepared to release you from your vow if you truly believe that Perseus is worth it, he is, after all, the only boy worthy of you." Artemis explained to her most trusted companion. Thalia was taken aback by the brutal honesty in her older sister's voice, yet already knew her answer.
"I am staying in the hunt milady, stupid Kelp Head has Annabeth anyway. I do not want to hurt either of them by coming forward with my feelings." Thalia explained as Artemis prepared to teleport her hand-maidens to the current location of the Seven. Thalia heard one last thing before she was teleported from her mistress.
"I wouldn't be so sure they will stay together once Perseus finds out just what the daughter of Athena has done, my sister" The goddess mumbled under her breath….
- 5 & ½ years after the fall, 6th level of Tartarus, The Pit
Orpheus laughed as the blood of the Keres flowed freely from his blade's edge. He spent the last 6 months since leaving his friend, Percy, in the hands of the MIstress of the Night, fighting his way through the 6th level of Hell. Upon reaching the deepest point of the level he was faced with the army of living curses known as the Keres. For a mortal who lived a long life, this would be difficult to fight through, even harder for a demigod. But for the oldest Demon? This was both a walk in the park due to his experience as a warrior yet also difficult. HIs actions and extreme life span have led to many curses thrown his way.
Although for an entity like Orpheus who thrived off fear and hatred this was nothing but a recharge of his once lost power. Orpheus entered the forest of the Keres with his cane, which harbors his rapier, in his left hand so that his right may draw the shadow made sword at a moments notice, he also had a somewhat crazed bloodthirsty grin as he vanished into the trees of the forest.
Then the screams started.
The entirety of the 6th level of Hell heard the screams.
The entirety of Tartarus felt the pulse of pure demonic power originating from the 6th level.
As Orpheus walked down into the 7th level with a smirk on his face, a skip to his step, and whistling a merry tune, he felt something calling to him from the depths of the 8th level. He knew exactly what it was. It was the blade of the First Demon calling for its master. And the Demon of Hatred couldn't resist the call of his oldest friend….
Present Time, Outside the Doors of Death, House of Hades ~
Annabeth was emotionally conflicted. She was positive that she loved Percy Jackson, yet her heart yearns for James Lake. She could also tell that Piper was beginning to catch on that something was off with her. Annabeth didn't know which man to choose. Maybe she was better off breaking up with Percy and staying with James, after all it is mostly her fault Percy fell into Hell. Yet she didn't want to lose the person who helped her reconcile with her mortal family and face her biggest fears. The biggest problem in choosing, at least to Annabeth, was that both men she loves make her feel amazing. As Annabeth pondered this she was pulled out of her musings by the tell tale sound of her long lost boyfriend. Percy screaming something stupid.
"YOLO BITCHES!" was screamed by the Savior of the Greeks.
Annabeth, Hazel, and Jason all looked at each other before letting out a laugh then running towards the sound of Percy being a dumbass. As they ran they heard what sounded like large monsters running fast, then the noise stopped. The 3 of them quickly rushed ahead to make sure the friend they haven't seen in months is okay and alive. Jason was ahead of both Annabeth and Hazel by a good 10 feet before she stopped cold in his tracks as he stared in horror at whatever he was seeing. That wasn't a good sign.
Annabeth and Hazel rounded the corner and stopped in the same manner Jason did. They found Percy all right. But in a state worse than any of the Seven could have guessed. Percy was wearing only a ripped pair of jeans, no shoes or shirt. Any unhidden skin on his was covered in scar tissue with the most prominent being a deep scar running from cheekbone to cheekbone and crossing over his nose ridge, a weird looking cross with each point looking like a deep stab wound located on the middle of his chest along with what looks like a claw mark going down the right side of his rib cage. He had a lot more scars all over his body yet those ones were the biggest attention grabbers of the bunch, mostly due to the shredded remains of his shirt being used as a makeshift bandage.
Percy was also covered in blood,he was bleeding pretty profusely from some injury on his back they couldn't see and it appeared that both his hip and left leg may be broken. Percy couldn't see them from where he was and the lighting of the cave didn't help either. Annabeth stepped forward to talk to Percy but she was interrupted by one of the two men who held her heart saying something that almost broke her heart….
Sorry it took a while to upload my friends, I had to rewrite this chapter like 4 times before thinking it was good enough to post. I hope I got some of the character development to work through my crappy writing style. I am still undecided on the pairing, and yes I remember the original story was planned to be Perlia, but I also like pairings like Preyna and Percy X Clarisse, is there a ship name for that? Anyway, please leave reviews if anything is too confusing or simply if my grammar was ass.
Erebus, signing off
