Author's Note: Another update, another chapter for you all! Damn, last week resulted in over 80+ reviews and 50+ messages. I should start offering input more often if it gets reader participation like that! Anyways, before the chapter, some words and at the end, another question.
Reminder: In this AU, in this world, the Greco-Roman are the ONLY pantheon! No Norse, Egyptian, Biblical, Hindu, Shinto, or any other lesser known religions (that includes popular culture ones like Cthulhu and the like (I'm a peasant in the knowledge of this matter, forgive me if I'm incorrect in reference to Cthulhu) . I've read one story with that, pretty good actually).
Why this is will be explained later on (long way off but I got an original idea for it that will possibly cause the shitting of bricks). That's all for now, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own plot.
Leo
Leo watched as the crowd whispered and stole glances to the gathered thrones, some in disbelief, the ballsy ones in pity though they were quick to hide it lest they be seen and possibly smite for it. He could understand though, he really could considering he would have been in their shoes nearly a decade ago.
It had been just over three days since the Moonlight Massacre as it was come to be known. Artemis had been unresponsive for over a day and off all her hunters only five remained though miraculously none of the campers who'd gone in her trip had died. When the goddess returned to the land of the living she'd been rapidly switching between enraged and heartbroken, having lost all hunters that had been part of her group for millennia and leaving only recent additions.
The deaths and the fact that Artemis was defeated so easily and up until now the goddess had refused to offer more on what happened. With Artemis out of it for the last few days, other gods had to pull the slack and work overtime to flash the remaining demigods of Camp Half-Blood to Camp Jupiter and the Amazons had arrived just last night. With the overflowing city, tempers and anxiety were rising high but Zeus had put his foot down for order, along with the help of Athena and Hephaestus.
Now they had called another war council, this time filled with senior members of every branch and grouping. At the center of the council chamber sat the thrones of the gods, the tops of both Greek and Roman pantheon for the few that were exclusive to one or the other. Leo sat next to his wife, Calypso, within the audience seating rather in the lower tables. He might be a veteran of the second Giant War and now god, but he was never suited for being in the commanding positions as was far more content to give input if asked, otherwise he would focus on arming them up as best he could.
Leo was broken out of his thoughts when Zeus slammed an electrified fist onto his armrest, discharging a wave of static and ruining more than one hairdo. So not cool! With the silence restored and all eyes on him Zeus began the second war council.
"Now then," he began after scanning around. "It would seem that this Umbra has gone and revealed more of himself, along with the possible location of his base and we can assure of some gods that have betrayed."
The crowd and representatives started to murmur at that, eyeing the king nervously as he waved to Artemis.
"Artemis can confirm it, Lupa has in fact turned traitor."
That caused an uproar with the Roman demigods and those who saw her in a favorable light. It lasted for nearly a minute before Artemis shot to her feet and roared, "Enough!"
Silence reigned again as all eyes turned to the near rabid goddess. Without a word she waved her hand causing an orb to appear high overhead and only a few seconds later an image appeared of a large black wolf with yellow-silver eyes. Like a mini clip it played forward and they watched in stunned silence as Artemis was about to stab the wolf before being interrupted by a raven beauty. Leo would have—pun intended—wolf-whistled if the situation wasn't so grave. His jaw dropped at the revelation of Medusa (where the Hades did her snake hair go?) and then Lupa of all things turned into a chick … a very fine chick if he said so himself.
The image suddenly cut off and then changed to Artemis' view, making Leo wonder if the goddess didn't want them seeing how she got her ass handed to her. Leo didn't see the point considering how trashed she was when they recovered her alone with the survivors of the trip. After all, Leo had seen enough of the goddess throughout the decade to know she would have gloated if she managed to take down even one of her attackers and considering it was a goddess, a monster (god too?), and a demon responsible for several disappearances and deaths, Artemis was laughably outgunned.
When the playing image focused on Umbra, revealing a somewhat human form for the first time, several murmurs broke out. It got even louder when they saw him turn to reveal his wings and one particularly loud gasp drawing his attention. His eyes focused on the centurion for the 2nd Cohort, a daughter of Venus if he recalled properly. Normally he would ogle such beauties (but on the sly, otherwise Calypso kicked him to the dreaded couch), but what caught his interest was the fact that she was holding a small cross in her knuckle as if a life-line.
A Christian demigod? Now he's seen everything. What's more he could read her shaky lips as she mumbled to herself about 'fallen angel' and 'Lucifer'. He could see how she would jump to that, considering the resemblance was uncanny. Overly powerful dude calling himself a demon, pitch black wings and power to freeze, especially considering that Lucifer was said to be in the last level of Hell, the frozen pit of betrayers.
Now Leo was pretty sure the big G didn't exist, otherwise a good 90% of the Greek pantheon and monsters alike would have been tossed into said pit long ago. Regardless, the comparison was unnerving to say the least. What was next, a white angel with a big ass sword swopping down and starting to hack gods to pieces?
He shuddered with a sudden chill running down his spine making him look around. He knocked on the wood of his seat … just in case.
Thankfully Leo was broken out of his thoughts before it could get too messed up as the orb disappeared and attention returned to the council. They looked just as surprised as the attending demigods, possibly from Artemis remaining silent and apart from everyone until today. It was not looking good though and Leo had a feeling today's council wasn't bringing good news either.
"Now that we've gotten that out of the way, we can begin with some plans of defense," Athena spoke up as she stood and with a wave of her hand another orb appeared detailing the continental US and Canada. There was a bright beacon located in Ontario that Athena pointed too. "It seemed that Umbra and his forces have made an appearance and we can distinctly feel a large amount of divine energy coming from somewhere in northern Ontario. Sadly, it is just beyond the metaphysical border of the Land of the Gods."
"So we do nothing!?" Clarisse shouted as she stood, already dressed in war regalia even if not currently armed.
"I was saying," Athena cut in with a glare that shut the veteran up. "It's close. Not enough that we can safely flash there and retain our power but enough that we can provide support and long rang attacks while a demigod army could safely attack. Therefore, we will start with smaller scouting parties heading north to get a lay for the land."
Athena paused as she waved her hand making the map zoom in closer to see a better picture of the terrain.
"Considering the heavily woodland and occasional mountainous areas, the primary scouting will be done by satyr and hunter teams," Athena said before stopping as Reyna raised her hand to get the goddess' attention. With Athena's nod Reyna stood while directing a nervous look at Artemis.
"But Lady Athena, how will there be hunters if they had such heavy casualties?" she asked and Leo nodded along.
The five surviving hunters were catatonic after being rescued and would flinch at the shadows. It was a wonder if any of them could return to the battlefield at all. Seeing one of the most elite groups of Olympus so broken had really done a number to the morale of the camp as a whole.
"We are aware," Athena replied while shooting a calculating look at Artemis as said goddess glared down at her own lap. "However to compensate, she along with all other Olympians will be recruiting demigods and forming elite groups similar to the Hunt."
"Such as?" Chiron asked, speaking up as he passed worried looks over the demigods. They were his charges after all, especially with the loss of Lupa.
"Without Ares, Bellona and I have decided to take up the mantel for primarily warrior styled demigods and so will recruit the heavier infantry from the camp," Athena answered while looking over the demigods. "Artemis' Hunt and another group formed by Hermes will be mainly scouts and used for guerilla tactics. Apollo will form the archery team and medics, and so on and so forth."
"And joining a group is not optional," Zeus added as thunder cracked overhead sending a shiver through the demigod ranks present.
"Unless of course, you intend to run and turn traitor," Artemis added as she diligently scanned the chambers.
Leo nervously swallowed at the look in Artemis' eyes. They were so full of distrust and anger. He knew he was right, the news of these new 'squads' was not going to go over very well. Sure, plenty were itching for war but basically drafting them into those groups and what was sure to be full of oaths calling loyalties into question would not endear them to the gods. Not to mention the mass movement into unfamiliar terrains.
Whelp, at least he now had an Argo III, IV, and V to load up rather than leave to collect dust. How lucky was it that none were in any of his father's storages, otherwise they would have been blown to kingdom come with the freaky lightning strikes? Nothing says 'hello' and 'fuck you' like ballista bolts and Greek fire bombs raining from the heavens…
Amphitrite, Same Time
She nervously sat in her coral and shell throne within the court as she, along with her husband, waited for the envoy said to be coming to offer them support in this new war. Amphitrite kept an impassive face as she glanced to the side, watching Poseidon as his scowl grew the longer they waited for said envoy … and just who it was. Even Poseidon had not been able to quell the court once it was learned that her father, Oceanus of all divinity, was coming to Atlantis again. However, the fact that he came under the white banner set off all kinds of alarms in her head.
She knew her father, or at least had millennia ago. Not as boisterous as Kronos and generally far more mild mannered while being a cool-headed warrior in battle but to come as an envoy for someone else? That was not something her father had ever done, even during the rule of Kronos. Oceanus was still a proud being and to willingly concede authority to another was worrying. Just who could make the master of the oceans to bend his knees?
Her thoughts remained in turmoil as she distantly noticed the arrivals. Some telchines stood as honor guard, their ugly mugs looking around in barely concealed distaste in Poseidon's direction. Amphitrite glanced around the seated court of sea nobles and Oceanids looking intently between Poseidon and the approaching titan standing at nearly 20 feet.
Just like she remembered him, her father walked in a chiton suited to the tastes of Atlantis, made of sea-silk in shades of light blue and gold collars, his own skin having a barely noticeable blue hue unlike the green of her mothers, Tethys. His black beard reached just to his collarbone, his deep blue and bronze mixed eyes looking intently at Poseidon as he stepped forward. His eyes passed over Amphitrite for but a moment but in that moment she saw no true warmth directed towards her.
She knew their relationship had always been rocky with most of the love she'd felt being explicitly maternal but then with the recent Titan war and their second defeat, one in which Amphitrite stayed decisively with the Olympians had just about ended any remotely friendly relations that may have remained. It made her heart ache knowing she was becoming more isolated by the day with rising agitation throughout the kingdom.
'But there might be one,' she thought as she discreetly glanced at the 'pearl' handing from her necklace as Oceanus took a seat across from Poseidon. She looked to the side and saw that her son was also standing on guard in a median space, close enough to intercept a possible attack from Oceanus' escorts and also defend her. Returning her attention to her father and husband, both having exchanged useless pleasantries and now getting to the real goal of the visit.
"So Poseidon," Oceanus started, expertly hiding his distaste of the god across from him. "It seems that you and the other Olympians are facing a new adversary that you aren't ready for."
"And what do you know of them?" Poseidon asked with narrowed eyes. "Or are you just hear to stir up trouble while my attentions are elsewhere?"
"Hmm, I could make use of it but no, this is strictly in regards to your problem which will unfortunately become ours soon enough," Oceanus retorted.
"And who exactly is your … group?" Poseidon asked with a raised eyebrow. "In fact, what is it that you want out of all this with me and my kingdom?"
"Someone who is far stronger than either you or I and without his help, you will never defeat this 'Umbra' and his own group. As for what we want, well, for now it is merely a friendly ceasefire and possible co-operation in regards to combating this group. We can bolster your forces exponentially and help hide your movements from the demon."
"His? You keep mentioning a he and saying he has knowledge on this group but you have yet to give me anything substantial," Poseidon returned as he gripped his trident menacingly. "Give me a name or otherwise I know you're giving empty promises."
Oceanus smirked, his eyes drawing up the god across from him while Amphitrite felt the unease within her grow. She already had an idea of who Umbra's group consisted of considering she met Jason, even if she wasn't sure what they were exactly. All she knew was they were far beyond any demigod and judging by the reports on Artemis' defeat, they had several powerful warriors to their banner. Sadly, even she was completely unprepared for the name Oceanus dropped as his bait.
"Pontus."
She along with many in the court gasped, a feeling of overwhelming pressure stifling their breathing for all of three seconds before it disappeared as all fell silent. Oceanus didn't seem bothered at all and openly smirked at Poseidon's suddenly pale complexion as low murmurs started to carry around the court. Amphitrite felt her nervousness increase with every minute that passed and even started to feel cornered when her father glanced at her before looking back to Poseidon.
"The very oceans themselves are willing to provide aid and give you knowledge the likes of which you could hardly imagine," Oceanus continued while raising a closed fist. "The power to finally take over as the kings of this world. All three of us have been forced to bend knee in the presence of our siblings, cowed into subservience while the world was run amok. Now these 'demons' are attacking and the weak Olympians are acting like headless chickens."
Oceanus paused as he stood and approached Poseidon while Triton and several of the guards tightened their grips on their weapons but made no move to attack while Poseidon remained stoic. Oceanus stopped a mere few meters away, looking Poseidon in the eyes.
"You know you were always the strongest of your brothers, second only to your sister but she was too docile to take the reigns. The world is changing, your father is long gone and so is mother and yet you stand silent as your brother, in his ever-reaching incompetence, concerns himself more with where to stick his cock rather than ruling," Oceanus pressed as he leaned forward. "He betrayed you after the first Titan war while I remained neutral, knowing my own brother was in the wrong and yet I was forced to flee or be imprisoned for simply being what I am. You came to my domain and created your home away from him but again his follies drag you into them," he continued before cutting his hand across the water in front of him. "Well no more! Take action Poseidon, join us in reclaiming our world back from pompous gods and man alike."
Throughout his speech Poseidon remained silent, his eyes downcast as Amphitrite inched back farther into her throne. She kept glancing between Poseidon and Oceanus, not liking the turn of the conversation at all. Gaea had already wanted to destroy civilization and let her children conquer which meant putting all of them into damnation as slaves, dead, or worse.
"And what's more," Oceanus almost whispered as he looked to Amphitrite as he continued, "We can help you route out all traitors…"
Amphitrite felt her heart seize up as Poseidon looked to her in something akin to shock and anger but she wasn't sticking around to find out what he was going to do. She started to mentally picture one of Hestia's old homes in the mortal world but then felt a barrier erect itself around the whole of the castle. Several shouted in shock of the feeling until Oceanus raised his hand in silence.
"Not to worry, that's just to keep traitors contained," he said as Amphitrite threw herself off her throne, willing an Atlantian silver blade to appear in her hand.
She turned around and raised her blade just in time to block a thrust from Poseidon's trident but wasn't able to stop the pommel of her father's sword from nailing her in the gut. She had the ether blown out of her as her body tumbled back through a side of the court, bowling over some sea nobles. They scrambled around as she rolled to her hands and knees, spitting up some ichor before her free hand went to her neck in effort to grab Jason's pearl however her hand found nothing.
She gasped as she looked passed her husband's approach, seeing the necklace at the feet of her throne right next to her son. She met Triton's gaze and her heart nearly broke to see him looking at her in disbelief even as Oceanus spoke while approaching with Poseidon.
"She thought she was clever but the oceans can see far. She just so happened to be consorting with one of the 'demons' rather … enthusiastically," he said as Poseidon's grip on his trident tightened.
She grit her teeth as she stood up, her sword at the ready.
"Why?" Poseidon asked as he aimed his trident.
"I could spend years telling you and I already have but it won't matter," she said as she glanced around looking for escape routes but to her dismay, both Oceanus' guard and Poseidon's were at all of them. "I resigned myself to being your arm decoration after being kidnapped, I surrendered the love of my parents after siding with you in the second war, and now you've become something even I don't recognize."
With that she charged forward, her sword swinging down but Poseidon blocked it with easy, barely even grunting at the pressure that could have crushed a cyclops into paste. He shoved back forcing her to backpedal before he repeatedly thrusted as she tried to deflect every attack. Sparks sizzled in the water as she lost ground. She felt her arms starting to sting as her muscles protested from disuse.
She ducked under a swipe but just as she was about to bring up her sword Poseidon lashed out with a kick striking her in the ribs with an audible snap as she cried out. The blow tossed her into a pillar, smashing the stone structure and having several pieces fall on top of her. Her back started to hurt with the weight but she ignored it as she forced herself to her feet and was about to try for another attack before she screamed as Poseidon's trident impaled her shoulder to the back wall.
Tears streaked down her cheeks as she desperately tried to tug the trident out but it remained solid as Poseidon approached. He stopped right before her, his face giving nothing away as he reared his fist back. She glanced past him and locked eyes with Triton for a moment. 'I'm so sorry you had to see this,' she thought, seeing the visible struggle in him as he watched his mother and father come to blows.
'I wish I could see you again … Jason,' she thought as Poseidon's fist came down and emptiness became her world…
Persephone, Later That Evening
The queen of the underworld sighed softly to herself as she looked at her reflection in the vanity, her eyes seeming strange even to herself. Where they were once radiant with hints of bright green within warm pools of brown like the renewed earth of spring, now they seemed faint and grey from lack of sleep and worry. Her hair was cast into a low pony-tail and tossed over her left shoulder as she combed the end, trying to steel herself for what she was about to do.
Once her hair was combed to her satisfaction she waved her newly free hand to apply a modest touch of make-up and even focused some of her divine energy into her eyes to make them seem radiant again. Once completing her make-up she stood and tossed of her bathrobe before putting on a simple, black gown that reached just to her ankles with a slight running up her right leg to the thigh. With a pair of simple, black heels she left her bathroom, stepping into the master bedroom of her palace.
She looked to her bed and saw her husband well and truly asleep. A hefty night of eating and drinking a fine wine from Rhea's new vineyards after a rather taxing day restructuring the Underworld with Nico's assistance had assured her that her husband wouldn't join the world of the living any time soon. Stepping up to the side of her bed she leaned down and softly kissed Hades on the forehead, the god mumbling something before turning over in the bed and snoring away.
She smiled wistfully before grimacing as she remembered what she needed to do tonight. It weighed heavily in her heart, knowing that the repercussions could be severe for her and several others, but she needed to try. If things went as expected, it might be possible she would never join her husband's bed again … even though she did love him and wanted to stay with him. She prayed to Chaos it didn't go as far as to her worst fears but if necessary…
She steeled herself as she swiftly left their chambers and moved on towards the throne room, ignoring the few ghouls and servants traversing the late hours of the castle. She morbidly thought of how the pained wails in the distance had become rather soothing to her after so long, especially when she was nervous. Still, with a slight shake of her head she arrived to the throne room before mentally picturing the Temple of the Primordials. One intense flash of golden light and she was gone only to reappear seconds later just before said temple.
She looked up at the rather simple yet imposing sight of the temple, the main doors reaching five stories and wide enough for four cars to pass comfortably at the same time. Small torches of warm orange and yellow light up the white halls and she walked inside, idly noting how quiet it was unlike the bustling center of activity it usually was during the day. Her heels clacked throughout the halls as she moved further into the structure before turning down a large hall containing several doors, the offices of Primordials.
She'd always been interested in going into one, finding the idea of mental plane brought to a physical manifestation rather fascinating, but had never really had the chance even when she swore her domains to Rhea. Well, at least now she might get her chance. With a quick step she arrived to the door she wanted, the wood being ebony as to match the primordial using the space. Two blades, a katana and a Viking sword, crossed with a black flame being the symbol that let her know she was correct. Mentally focusing on the task at hand and what was at stake, she raised her hand and knocked.
It took a few seconds of mind numbing silence before the door slowly and soundlessly opened, an expanse of pitch darkness beyond. Gulping nervously she took her first steps into his inner world tentatively, unable to so much as see more than an inch or so in front of her. Once she was passed the threshold the door audibly snapped behind her making her jump with a start. She turned to see but everything was pitch black as her heart started to race, her body shuddering as a cool breeze swept over her.
Then suddenly like a switch being flipped she could see and all she could do was gasp. Where once an all-consuming darkness was now a majestic forest of ice. Trees of ebony or even obsidian carved to look like trees dotted around her with leaves of white and light blue ice. She moved slowly as she observed her surroundings, the softest snow she'd ever felt muffling her steps. She looked up to see little floating orbs of blue fire carried by the breeze and lighting the forest around her.
She walked within this icy wonderland, idly noting some rose bushes with white and black flowers, or at one point a waterfall coming from seemingly nowhere and pouring into a frozen pond. For several minutes she walked, her wonder nearly making her forget why she was even here in the first place until she arrived at a particularly large tree. A Weeping Willow if she recognized it correctly but within the long falling vine-like leaves there were hundreds of little orbs. Upon closer inspection she noticed it had a shadowy, moving image of trees and a running deer. From the point of view, she guessed that it was seeing through the eyes of the chaser.
"Like my viewing tree?" asked a voice right behind her.
Persephone jumped with a squeak as she whirled around to see Percy standing there, arms crossed and smirking wolfishly at her with amusement in his flaming eyes. She huffed while fighting down her embarrassed blush before remembering her manners and giving a little curtsy.
"Hey, none of that," Percy said with a wave as she straightened. "Come on, this isn't a council meeting. So, what can I help you with Persephone?" he asked lightly.
Persephone shied away from his gaze as her nerves stirred up again, wondering if somehow this would be all for nothing. 'No … I need to try. I can't … I won't stand silent about this,' she thought as she looked her king in the eyes.
"I have a request, my lord," she said, slipping back into formal form while Percy raised one eyebrow but made no motion to interrupt. "After some thought over the last few days … I …"
She trailed off as her heart hammered away in her chest, her hands wringing the sides of her gown.
"Can … can you spare my mother…?"
Percy
Percy looked at Persephone in surprise, note having expected the goddesses request in the slightest. He watched her carefully, seeing the near desperate glint in her eyes as she looked at him.
"Why?" he asked after some time, even if he had a sneaking suspicion of why.
"Because …" Persephone started as she glanced down for a moment before looking at him again. "She's my mother," she said in a trembling voice. "I know that at times she has been a petty goddess and caused such things as famine and strife but was it honestly that bad?"
"That bad?" he echoed with a slightly colder voice, his eyes flashing icily. "The random starvation of entire regions and the suffering, completely disregarding season and local conditions wasn't that bad?" he asked sarcastically.
"Not like that!" Persephone quickly backpedaled as she noted his tone. "The loss of life was bad but … I mean …" Persephone dropped to her knees as she looked at Percy pleadingly. "Please, regardless of what she's done she can't be deserving of what happened to Ares. He was a bastard, through and through. Senseless wars and everything held within it were his passion so turning it all against him has merited but my mother hasn't done anything deserving that."
Percy sighed as he scratched his chin while looking down at Persephone.
"You realize it's more than that right? There are several gods and goddess on this very mountain that were her friends, many of whom she stood aside as they were punished and abused by her siblings while she did nothing."
"But she can hardly be blamed for that!" Persephone retorted. "Even if she had tried to help, it would have merely meant that she would have suffered along with them. Father was never very forgiving and in the ancient times he was even more arrogant and entitled than he is now."
"Hard to believe," he muttered as he looked in her eyes.
"It's true!" she persisted, her fists clenching up. "I know sometimes the silent bystander can be just as guilty as the criminal in question but she simply didn't have a choice. There wasn't any higher authority to report to, no one to enact the punishment. At best all she could do was try to support the victims after the fact."
"Makes me wonder what would have happened if I just 'stood by'," he replied with clear distaste. "Plenty of times where I was in over my head or it was someone else's problem and I still stepped in to help, and I was just a mortal facing monsters and gods."
He paused before giving a frustrated sigh while rubbing his temple. But could he really even compare his circumstances to that of Demeter? It had been a different time and even if a goddess, she had been a woman, not particularly dangerous or aggressive, surrounded by violence prone idiots with the law in their favor. Sadly it was a very 'watch your own back' environment and even Hestia only got spared having to give similar concessions due to having the favor of her two brothers and generally staying out of the way.
He was pretty sure it was thanks to her power and pulling a fast one with her maiden oath that even kept her virtue safe, otherwise Zeus and several others would have made far more attempts than the one recorded in mythology. But Demeter had neither the power nor the closeness with her two other powerful siblings to keep her relatively safe. At the end of the day she simply became a part of them rather than stay as the odd one out. Petty, temperamental, obsessive with her domain, and generally disinterested in the happenings of man, whether they suffered or succeeded.
"Please," Persephone begged as she looked up at him while breaking him out of his thoughts. "If it helps I'll take part of the punishment or offer my own services, just let her live."
"Anything?" he asked with a raised eyebrow making her gulp nervously.
Then, with a trembling hand she started to reach for one of the straps of her gown, her eyes starting to get misty while Percy's widened in alarm. Acting quickly his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist before she could remove the strap, stopping her as the duo locked eyes while he silently cursed his big mouth.
"I … see how far you're willing to go with this," he said, his mouth feeling oddly dry. "Maybe … maybe the council needs to have a discussion of the fate of some of the Olympians." Seeing Persephone's face brightening he raised his free hand to stop her. "Don't jump the gun here. I may be king but I don't rule alone and in the end the council must come to the decision together. Pray that Demeter hasn't personally pissed off any of the members … save trying to stuff Nico full of grains a few years back," he added as an afterthought.
"Thank you!" Persephone cried as she suddenly lunged forward to hug his knees.
He gave a bit of a grunt as he patted her back awkwardly while the goddess continued to thank him for even giving her request any thought. He mentally called for his Shadows as he pride her off his legs and helped her stand. Within moments three shadows materialized to form Lupa, Medusa, and Lamia, all three looking at Persephone questioningly.
"Medusa, please escort Persephone out," he instructed softly as he handed the goddess to one of his guardians.
Medusa nodded while gingerly leading the softly crying goddess away while Lamia and Lupa stood to his sides. Once they were out of sight he sighed as he leaned back, a throne of black ice instantly formed as he sat down. He rubbed his temple, idly noting how both his remaining guardians got comfortable. Lupa sat at his feet before crossing her arms over his knees and resting her head on them while Lamia sat at the right armrest and leaned onto his shoulder.
"So … what was that about?" Lupa asked as her silvery-yellow eyes looked up at him.
He gave a mirthless chuckle before filling them in on the quick exchange, their faces looking thoughtful once he finished.
"Hmm … I could see the council sparing her and a few others," Lamia commented. "But you wouldn't let them off scot free would you?"
"No," he replied as one of his hands found Lupa's head and started to scratch behind her materialized wolf ears getting a content sigh from her. "But then again, the type of punishments would have to depend on the god/goddess' willingness to accept their fault and try to make something of it."
"So no killing them on the battlefields but capture and trials instead?" Lupa asked.
"Save three," Lamia added with a smirk to which Percy nodded.
"I wonder what the council will think on this?" he mused as he thought about several gods and their actions during the last decade since his disappearance.
Many of the Olympians had become rather distant and cold with their children though the only gods that had relatively high interaction was Artemis with her Hunt, Hermes on some deliveries, and Dionysus but he was just a miserable bastard at one of the camps.
"But even if you want to spare some, that doesn't mean they all deserve a trial or anything of the sort," Lamia suddenly added in as she looked at Percy. "This is a war and the goal is the removal of the Olympians and other ancient threats that used this chance to escape their punishments. People die in war just because of the side they picked, nothing more and if you want, no one says you can't take out a personal vendetta during war either."
"You're just saying that because you want to rip Hera apart rather than let her have any chance of escaping you," Lupa retorted with a smirk.
"That bitch has more than just me to answer to," Lamia replied with a scowl. "I don't care if seeing her perfect son have his brains blown out already punished her enough. She cursed me to eat my own children and keep doing it for millennia. I intend to make her suffer for every child she damned since my creation."
Feeling Lamia's energy rising with her agitation just thinking about the goddess got Percy to act, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer before giving her a strong kiss. She squeaked in surprise but quickly returned it, her earlier anger and tension melting away as she relaxing in his embrace. After a few seconds he broke the kiss and looked at her silly smile before glancing to Lupa and seeing her pouting at him with her wolf ears lying flat on her head.
"Come here," he teased to which she eagerly reacted, jumping up and sitting on his lap, straddling him as she kissed him while his free arm wrapped around her waist.
The kiss was hungrier than the one he had with Lamia but then again watching him give his affection to Lamia had probably worked Lupa up more. After a good minute he pulled back but Lupa remained comfortably seated on him with Lamia to his side.
"Oh, I can't wait until you consummate with Andy and then we can have our turns," Lamia purred as she eyed him like a piece of meat.
"Don't forget about Rhea and Hestia," Lupa added excitedly.
"Yes well, I'm still getting to that and Andy hasn't fully gotten her punishment so part of it is continued abstinence for her," he answered to them with amusement. "But the war is our concern right now so until then …"
Both his dark goddesses groaned at that while he shamelessly grinned. Still, his thoughts drifted back to Persephone and he couldn't help but wonder if there were others that felt like her. He understood that what happened to Ares was brutal, even if he had no prior knowledge of what exactly was going to happen to him, and he didn't really take any enjoyment out of it. The rush of battle? Sure, he could enjoy that and putting to test all he'd trained for. Beating down a pompous bastard and leaving them with broken bones, some taunts, and a crushed ego? He was your man.
Cause suffering for the sake of suffering. Not really. Well … more like not usually save for two special cases but then again he knew his hatred of the moon goddess and the traitor he once called father was something of its own and independent of his feelings of the rest of the Olympians. Even Apollo's actions only merited a severe ass-kicking and possible castration, then again there were others that wanted a nice piece of the sun deity and even at the lightest punishment he severely doubted Jason would allow Apollo to keep his domains or immortality.
"Tomorrow's meeting is going to suck," he groaned while rubbing his temple.
"Don't forget about the discussion of new gods to ascend," a feminine voice said off to their side.
All three turned their heads to see one Zoe Nightshade, dressed in her usual chiton but in black and hair loosely falling over her shoulders, a black tablet in her hands. Percy bit back another groan as he looked at his secretary, wondering if that near sadistic smirk she briefly flashed had been his imagination. Having visited Thalia's Sky Palace some time ago, he'd met up with the hero turned spirit and somehow the conversation had turned into how each god was looking for someone or thing to monitor their offices in their place.
Sure he had Lupa, Lamia, and Medusa but those three tended to be out in the field with him. Considering all his domains were in very little need of maintenance, he instead mostly oversaw domains having close relation to his or carefully watching the world through the eyes of his packs. After all, the Night and Darkness came long before Sleep, Dreams, and Nightmares meaning he could readily see into such things and affect them to a greater extent that most divine beings save Hypnos and Morpheus themselves. That plus his duties as king and the prayers he'd started to receive needed some attention.
It honestly surprised him how many simple wishes of being safe and comfortable during the night, even said to other non-existent deities still came to him. After all, a comforting presence to a child hoping the monster under their bed or in their closet didn't hurt them went a long way in helping them get over their fears. Still, with the war and his continued training he sometime couldn't go through all the prayers and other responsibilities so he hired Zoe. She loved it since being dead effectively left her with too much time and too little to do, not to mention it let her nag and yell at him about being a forgetful boy was right up there with her favorite pastimes.
Breaking out of his thoughts he looked at his long-time friend and chuckled as he stood ounce Lupa got off his lap. Once standing Zoe stepped closer and handed him the tablet to see a long list of small prayers and such given during the night, some of them marked as priority for consideration.
"Yeah, we are discussing god candidates as well," he murmured as he scrolled through the prayers, answering some and looking past others if he thought they were frivolous or unnecessary.
There were some that were rather sickening so he noted those prayers and who they came from. Tyche would enjoy screwing with those particular mortals and if they still succeeded in their … less than scrupulous intentions, Hades and Nico would get ahold of them soon enough.
"Can't the candidates be left for after the war though?" Lupa asked as she glanced over Percy's shoulder to look at the listed prayers.
"Not with some domains like War," he replied without looking at her. "Sure, even with the gods assigned to them, most domains continue to exist but without a god the influence could run wild. Take War for example. Without a god to monitor that domain and who it affects, our war with the Olympians might manifest with the mortals at random between any countries that have even the slightest issues between them. A god of War can not only create war but also end them and isolate or spread them. Just look at the previous world wars to see what happens when a war god doesn't do their job or even helps increase war."
Lupa and Lamia shivered at the thought, especially with how strong humanities weapons were now. Last thing they wanted was to spend the next several centuries cleaning up a radioactive wasteland and basically restarting civilization. They stopped the titans and then Gaea for a reason so it would be pretty shitty for the humans to end up meeting that same end by their own devices instead.
"So … who are the candidates?" Lamia asked after some silence, all three women watching him continue to sort through all the recent prayers.
"We have a few but no names are being mentioned out of the closed-session meetings for now," he replied in a slightly teasing tone, knowing that now at least Lamia would be literally itching with curiosity.
"It's Frank isn't it?" Lupa chirped up excitedly, like she'd just solved a big puzzle but he shook his head making her pout. Internally he smirked, loving how free and expressive Lupa had become since joining them even if in the field she reverted to that stoic she-wolf he'd met so long ago.
"No. He's one of the most favored but we know he wants peace more than anything," Percy said with a small sigh. "He may be able to handle the duties of such a domain but it would give him full godhood, something several of us avoided for a reason. I know some day he and Hazel will want to move on and taking away their partial immortality will be simple to fix."
"But if they become full immortals and then swear their immortality to the council, it could be removed just as easily and they could die peacefully then," Lamia reasoned.
"True, but once a being as obtained true immortality, their original soul changes into that of divine essence and that change cannot be reverted. It will mean that their afterlife will belong to the Realm of the Faded under Lady Chaos' watch rather than the Underworld. Considering that any children they have are legacies and therefore mortals, they could possibly pass after entire generations of their own descendants have moved on. Why become immortal and go to an afterlife with other divine beings, many of which we have probably never heard of instead of going to the Underworld and joining the family they created."
"Since when did you become so knowledgeable about gods and their afterlife," Zoe lightly teased as a different tablet appeared in her hands but this one was connected to local and international news and such since she also kept him up to date with the world abroad.
"Nyx was an excellent teacher," Percy answered before willing the tablet to disappear in a burst of shadow. He sighed as he rolled his shoulders while glancing up to the endless night and stars above him. "It's late so I guess I'm turning in."
With that said he gave a quick goodbye kiss to Lupa and Lamia before glancing at Zoe with a cheesy grin.
"I'm good," she said with a laugh while waving him off.
He chuckled with a nod before disappearing in a burst of darkness, on his way to his comfy bed and waiting queens…
Author's Rant: And there you go! Another appearance by Zoe, Leo POV, and Amphitrite being captured. Lots going on and it will all blend together beautifully! Hope everyone enjoyed and leaves a review to let me know!
Question!
Leo commented on the similarities of Percy to what could be Lucifer and that is actually a theme I'm going with, including weapon names (Purgatory, Sin, Revelation, Testament, etc... you get the picture) My question is, considering Christianity (or more technical, Abrahamic religions) is one of the most widespread and known religions, do you think the new council should emulate that religion during their reveal to humanity?
Let me hear your thoughts! A pleasure, Jbubu
