Chapter 20: Revelations
Fifteen minutes ago...
Hades glared at Percy. His Furies held Bianca and Nico over the edge of a cliff which plunged straight into the void of Chaos.
"Tell me", said Hades, "Where was Zeus when my enemies surrounded me? Where was Poseidon when his sons invaded my kingdom? Where were my sisters when the east world fell? Why should I help those who did not help me when I held my beloved Maria in my arms? No. They are alone. I will be alone. I alone will fight my father. And I will win."
"Give me a break!" Bianca seethed critically from the edge of the cliff. "Our mother was never yours!"
"Really, girl?" Hades turned gently and sneered patiently. "Did Chiron tell you it was Jackson's father and Zeus who slew my love? No? I'm not surprised. My brothers were never good at keeping secrets."
"Liar! He told us everything we needed to hear!" Nico screamed, dangling from the arms of Mrs. Dodds. His voice lowered to a much darker, edgier, and poisonous tone. "He told me you killed her! And my father!"
"No..."
"Hades!" Percy whispered furiously. "Don't you-!"
"I... am your father..."
Bianca was in complete shock. Her limbs went limp. Her facial expressions were devoid of all emotion. Nico's eyes widened. He began shaking his head.
"No... No no no no no no no no no! No! NO!" Tears gushed down Nico's face. He was distraught. "WHY?!"
Percy, unsure of who Nico was speaking to, whispered in utter sadness, "Nico... I'm sorry..."
"Now do you see, son?" Hades sneered. "These are the people you surround yourself with."
Hades waved his hand. A dark cloud conjured out of thin air and showed images of the war above the surface.
"Liars..." The cloud showed Chiron. He held a knife behind his back as his enemies surrounded him. He began to slash through enemy centaurs and demigods. They closed in and began beating him. A son of Hecate, Alabaster C. Torrington, smiled and approved from a distance.
"Rogues..." Chris Rodriguez, Annabeth, and Thalia cut their way through the armies of evil monsters. They had obviously wandered off from the camp border and their groups. Suddenly, Hyperion arrived and belched great flames into the forest.
"Murderers..." The cloud changed and displayed visions of Clarisse slashing through entire legions of rebel demigods. She was utterly drenched in sweat and blood. She was shot with one arrow. She continued fighting, barely showing any pain or deterrence. Twenty more arrows pierced her back. She fell to the ground, crawling. She took out her handgun, firing like crazy. Kronos immediately stepped on her neck, snapping it and killing her.
Percy was in utter horror and grief. What had he done? No visions of the future indicated that this would happen. What did he do?
"They are going to take Camp Half-Blood," Hades said. "And you cannot stop what is to come..."
"Father!" Bianca cried. "Where is the righteousness in this?"
"Quiet, girl!" The Furies howled deafeningly.
"Let my daughter speak! She is of age!" Hades demanded.
The Furies placed her and Nico on solid ground. Bianca stumbled, and Nico collapsed to his knees, moaning in agony and distress. Bianca glided over to her father.
"You once said," Bianca said. "you loved Maria. If you ever did, you would honor her by saving her home. Guess what? If Kronos destroys the world and Olympus, every reminder of her will be gone! She wanted a world for my brother and I to live in! If you want us both to be happy, our friends, the gods, and our home must exist! Besides, this might be the only way to achieve true recognition from all pantheons, from the greatest to the least!"
Hades lowered his head in sadness and consideration. He sighed. Slowly, he lifted his hands. Electricity danced on his fingers.
Percy croaked, "Don't..."
Suddenly, Typhon came crashing down from above, and Percy melted into darkness.