Until I Bleed Out
Bloodshed, all around Luke Castellan. He fought forward, as monsters charged him. All he wanted to do was kill the two commandment people, those bastards. Eden fought by his side, and together they were cleaving a hole through the monster army. Not many demigods were dying, but there were some casualties. All will come with war. Luke caught eye of his brother, Travis Stoll, who waved at him, before an arrow pierced his throat perfectly, and he dropped. Luke screamed, and continued fighting. He would not let family die here. Luke also noticed a boy, who looked around seventeen to him, fighting alongside him, with the same pace, if not quicker. He was a demon with the sword, unmatched by anyone who tried to fight him. He was killing everything in his way, and even summoning upon the elements to assist him. Nobody Luke knew of could control all four elements, not even Aether. Who was that guy?
Perseus tried to blend in, flashing on a characteristic white long sleeve and shorts, summoning his blade, and fighting. He chose not to wear armor, rather fake a blessing of Styx and not get hit. He knew people were staring at him, and he enjoyed it, the attention. He was never one to be afraid of showing off. He fought his way until he was face to face with a teenager in a black cloak. Who this was, he didn't know, nor did he care.
"Who are you, demigod?" The male asked.
"Why does it matter to you?" Perseus spat back.
"Alphaaa… he's like… really hot, can we spare him, maybe? I'm sure he wouldn't complain if I took him back to Erebus's palace…" the girl said, winking at him. He made a confused face. Who was she? Who were they? Disciples of Erebus?
"Who are you?" Perseus asked.
"I asked first, demigod." the male, Alpha, shot back. Perseus's head tilted.
"Am I not recognizable? Have you not heard?" The male shook his head. Perseus laughed.
"I am Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon, the most powerful, successful demigod to ever live." Percy wasn't lying completely, just… smudging the truth.
"You said Perseus… and I thought you were talking about the Quasar. You almost had me scared… Now back to formalities… who?" Alpha said. Percy smiled, and readied his sword. Alpha charged.
Luke was… rather stunned when the demigod announced he was Percy Jackson, and claimed to be the most powerful demigod. It made him angry. That title should belong to him. He should be the most powerful demigod. Luke shook that thought off, and cut down a hellhound that went for his leg. Eden was fighting the Seta girl, why hadn't she made those remarks she made about Percy to him? Was it his armor? Was it ugly?
Hearing Luke's thoughts were annoying. Awfully annoying. His ego was really massive, and Percy could not handle it. He was tempted to turn around mid-fight and blast Luke into the next dimension, but he held back. Speaking of holding back, this Alpha kid wasn't too great at sword fighting. Percy wanted to toy with him a bit, but chose not to. He played defensively, waiting for a mistake so blatant he couldn't not expose it. It happened sooner rather than later, when Alpha swung for Percy's knee, and Percy hopped over it, hitting the back of Alpha's calf, making him fall to one knee. Percy starting bringing his sword down on the Champion's, continuously. One after another, just bringing the blade down onto the opposition's, until Alpha's sword broke.
"Impossible… They said it was the most durable metal in the universe!"
"You were lied to, Alpha." Percy muttered, "Bloodbane, woven in the forges of the void, mixed with the blood of the original five protogenoi. Unbreakable, unbeatable." Percy said.
"Who are you?" Alpha whispered.
"Someone with much more power than a useless demigod." Percy spat. "You're going to Hades now, tell them the Quasar sent you." Percy brought the tip of his sword down on the demigod's heart, slicing through his chestplate with a disgusting crack, and the head of the demigod limped back, eyes rolling into his head. Percy knelt down, and closed Alpha's eyes with his two fingers, teleporting his body away. Percy looked over, and saw the girl in similar armor to Lukes beating up on the cloaked girl. Luke was right, that all-white glow-y stuff was ugly. Stuck out too much. Percy preferred the armor that the Champions of Night wore. The night girl got out from underneath the light girl, and hollered to her armies, "Retreat!" and ran. Percy remained still, before dropping his blade, and forcing back into the ground, waiting for its master to summon it once again. There was silence on the hill for once.
"Percy… is it really you?" A voice said behind him. He turned, to see Thalia standing behind him.
"Yes. I have returned." he said finally, and she ran up to him and hugged him. He hugged her back, and pulled away after a minute, then she punched him. It barely hurt him, but he acted as if it did, so he knelt, holding his jaw.
"You punch harder now, Pinecone."
"Three years. Three years without you! After her death… I needed someone!" she screamed at him. He looked up at her.
"You don't think I missed her too? She was the love of my life, my one and only, and she died right in front of my eyes! That doesn't just go away, Thalia."
"I know, but we could've helped each other! Mourned together!" She said, crying, and punching his chest.
"She isn't dead, Thalia." and she stopped punching him.
"You're a liar. A dirty liar! We both saw her die right there! The arrow was lodged in her throat." Thalia said, crying. Percy rolled his eyes. He's going to have so many headaches explaining things to people.
"There's more to me and her than that. She isn't dead because my father revived her, giving us one lifetime together, we've been cursed for so many."
"What do you mean?" Thalia looked scared.
"In good time Thalia." Percy turned to Luke.
"Luke! Luke… Luke!" he said, wrapping an arm around the champion of Aether's shoulders, "I'm supposed to bless you now, aren't I?" Luke looked confused.
"What do you mean?" He asked. Percy looked at Eden, and she realized.
"A little birdie told me that my end of the deal in this alliance was that I am to bless the two champions of Aether, is it not?" he asked. Luke's jaw dropped.
"No you're not."
"In the flesh." Percy said, laughing.
Then Luke stabbed him. Right in the gut, pushing his 32 inch sword all the way through his chest.
Percy fell to the ground.
"That's what you get, liar. You're not great enough to wield that power, I know it. I am, however." Luke smiled.
Why was this guys' ego so big? Thought Percy. Percy faked death for about five seconds, until he got bored, so he stood up, and pulled the sword out of his gut, and the hole closed itself.
"A good test, Luke Castellan, I must say. However, you're mistaken, like you were in the Titan war. I am the Quasar, the one true son of Order, and your Lord's best ally." Percy smiled. Luke looked scared.
"Eden, come here." the girl walked forward. Percy looked her in her eyes.
"Do you think yourself worthy of my blessing, youngster?" He smiled. She nodded.
"I think you're worthy as well." He tapped her forehead, and her eyes rolled back into her head, and a portal opened beneath her, and she fell backwards into it.
"Where did she go?" Luke asked.
"The Aether cabin that he built. She'll be resting for about three days. Takes the body a minute to adjust to power gain." Percy said, walking towards the big house.
"Will you bless me?" Luke called after him.
"You just stabbed me, an attempt on my life. You tell me if I'm going to bless you." Percy called back, walking into the big house.
"Chiron! How are you? Did the battle treat you well?"
"I knew something was different about you the moment you woke up… you aura was different, but suppressed. I feel it now. You've got the original two written all over you." Percy laughed
"And my wife, but don't tell her I told you that." Chiron smiled.
"Annabeth?"
"The one and only. My dad resurrected her as apart of the deal we struck to remove the curse… and my immortality." Percy said, looking out the window to the ocean.
"The legend was true… the son cursed by his father… eternal love." Chiron said.
"Yes… the third prophecy was true, what was the last line? Freedom to reign the world? It seems to all be taking form." Percy said, in his thoughts.
"What are you here for, Perseus?" Chiron said.
"I have chosen to ally with Aether. I will be aiding you in this war." Chiron's head snapped up so quickly.
"Why have you not killed Erebus and Nyx then?" Percy growled.
"It requires a lot more power than you think, to do what I wish to do with them."
"and that is?"
"I plan on fading the two of them, and taking the domains of night." Percy said, continuing to look off into the ocean.
"You're confident in your ability?" Chiron asked.
"I could kill them both right now if I wanted to, Chiron, but I choose not to." Chiron frowned.
"Why's that?"
"Why spend the energy slaughtering them now when I can be patient and fade them later?" Percy questioned. "Work smarter, not harder, Chiron."
X
Annabeth remained in the penthouse as Percy vanished, citing a reason to see his father. She stood, walking to the window, and looked out, above the New York City skyline. She felt the presence of Chaos, then she said,
"Are you doing well, my dear?"
"Fine, mother. Merely worried." Annabeth said. Chaos frowned.
"Why's that my daughter?"
"This war has Percy tied up with enemies, friends. I can only hope that he'll keep coming back to me, and not someone else." Annabeth sighed, a tear emerging from her eye.
"I've never liked Perseus, Annabeth… however, I do think that there's nobody better for you to love, to marry. I've approved of this relationship since before the curse, and now that the curse is lifted… I've never been happier for one of my daughters." Annabeth beamed up at her.
"He will come back to you, and each time more powerful than the last. He'll never fail you, my daughter. I promise you that."
"Thank you, mother."
"May I ask a favor of you, Annabeth?"
"Yes mother?" Annabeth was curious.
"When Perseus asks of you to kill him, do it. It'll only benefit him and you." Annabeth was taken aback.
"What do you mean mother?" She asked, stunned.
"You will know in time, daughter. Do not question it. When he asks, do the deed."
X
When Perseus returned home to his fiancee, he reeked of death. Had it written all over his hands. He had a look on his face, almost like the death was completely overtaking his mind.
"What are you thinking about, Percy?" Annabeth whispered.
"The time draws near, for Erebus and Nyx to truly start this war, if that attack on Camp Half Blood hadn't started it already." Percy sighed.
"My mother visited me while you were gone, Percy." Annabeth said. "She said horrible things, like you wanting me to kill you when you asked? I've had horrible visions, you murdering, slaughtering innocent people… I'm scared of what this war will do to you." Annabeth said, coming face to face with Percy.
"You have nothing to worry about Annabeth. Trust me. This war will be over before it even starts, and I will always be by your side. I swear it." Annabeth looked down, and started to cry. Percy hugged her, feeling the tears wet his shirt.
"I just don't want our one lifetime to end." Annabeth said, looking up at Percy.
"It won't. Our time together will never end."
X
"What do you mean Perseus was at Camp Half Blood?"
"I mean, when the night's forces attacked, we were going to lose… until two of Aether's champions appeared, and even then it seemed grim… but Perseus came and the tides were in our favor. He killed one of the 'Ten Commandments'" Dionysus said, with air quotes on the last two words.
"Was there anything different about him?" Athena asked.
"He's the best swordfighter I've ever seen. It was debatable before he left, but now that he's back… everything he does is unmatched. Chiron will vouch for that." Poseidon smiled.
"Also, there's something suppressing his aura. Before, you could tell he was a son of the sea, but now… there's something different about it."
"What's so different about one's aura?"
"His aura is a toned down version of that of a protogenoi, yet, he is a mere demigod? I fear I do not understand. He also said that word again… Quasar? Was it?" Athena nodded.
"I do have a note on that." Hestia said from the hearth.
"It goes back to millennias before our time. To the two original creators. Chaos had multiple children, diversifying her power among them, yet Order had no children. He chose not to, leaving the reproduction and creation of the universe up to Chaos. Order had never had a child, until over two thousand years ago, where the first son of Order was born, and to be named, Quasar." Hestia said.
"You think the one true son of Order interferes with this war?" Athena asked.
"Yes, I do. I believe that whatever side he chooses will be the winning side, and for whatever reason, Perseus seems to be in contact with the being." Hestia continued.
"I think we capture him, and force him to contact that Quesadilla person and ally with us." Ares said. Hermes nodded in agreement.
"No! I will not let you torture an alliance out of my son. I refuse to do so!" Poseidon yelled.
"You are outnumbered, Poseidon. Do not test the rest of the Olympian council in these environments." Zeus growled back.
"If you go forward with this plan, by the end of this war, if we win, I swear I will leave this council and cut ties with Olympus." Poseidon said. Zeus was blindsided by his ego, and was very mad.
"Let him leave. We shall go along with the plan, if it secures victory for Olympus."
