Until I Bleed Out

Percy was with his fiancee in a beach house in Morro Bay, around 3 hours out from San Jose when he sensed something was wrong. He ran back into the bedroom, where Annabeth was sleeping. Nothing was there. What was happening? As he walked back outside, he felt the breath of someone in a nearby room. He felt down, and his sword emerged from the carpet, and floated into his hand. As he breached the door, a familiar face attacked him, as their swords met.

"Apollo." He spat, unlocking swords and playing defensive.

"You cannot hide from the power of the gods forever, Percy." Apollo sighed, sheathing his sword. Percy frowned.

"What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to kidnap me?"

"How'd you know?" Apollo's brow scrunched.

"I'm a mortal now Apollo, but it doesn't mean I don't hold power above you gods." Percy sighed, laying his sword on the couch.

"I don't wish to fight you, Percy."

"I could tell." Percy started making coffee.

"Come to Olympus, please. We wish to make an ally with you, and we're begging for your help in this war." Apollo sat at the island in the kitchen, opposite Percy.

"I like that. You actually asked me, instead of threatening me. You're not dumb, Apollo, and I respect it." Percy sipped from the cup. There was silence, for near two minutes.

"Why'd you hide from us, after Gaea, Percy?"

Percy sighed. "I chose to. I've been gifted one mortal lifetime with my one true love, and I shall not waste that life fighting other people's wars."

"Yet you intend to help us?"

"Nobody ever told you this was your war. The last two, I'll give you guys credit. Impeccable ability to anger more powerful beings. This war… I believe I'm fighting my own war, on my terms." Percy put the cup into the sink, washing it.

"But Aether-" Apollo stopped

"I don't care about what Aether says or thinks. I'm reluctantly siding with him because I'm choosing not to slaughter the demigod race. Once this entire thing is over, the world will be so incredibly different, and I am choosing for the Olympians to remain in power, but without your idiot father there." Percy said, placing the cup back on the shelf. Apollo slouched in his barstool.

"Just come to Olympus Percy. We want to talk."
"Patience. I'll be there in a minute." Percy said, walking back into the bedroom. Annabeth was still asleep, and Percy whispered, "I'll be back by noon, my love." before kissing her cheek. He walked back out, meeting the sun god.

"Let's go."

X

When Percy appeared in the throne room on Olympus, he was immediately snapped in chains, and had his limbs tied together.

"This is a nice greeting." He muttered. He felt that the chains were weak, but chose not to snap them off. He had to give Zeus his pride.

"Perseus Jackson!" Zeus boomed over the throne room. All twelve Olympians stared at him.

"What's up?" he asked.

"You've been treacherous for over three years, hiding yourself from us!" Zeus continued yelling. His voice was really loud, and it hurt Percy's ears. How did these gods live with this guy?

"Yeah… I chose to." the chains snapped. "You see, I knew I couldn't reveal my true identity to you guys, because it would not only ruin my plans, but endanger you and the ones I love more." Percy said, rubbing his wrists. "I know who the enemy is, by name, and I know what their armies contain of. Those ten little rats, one of whom I've already killed… but I won't tell you." The Olympians gasped.

"You'll tell us now, or else I'll kill you!" Zeus screamed.

"You hold no power over me, idiot. You're the one begging for my help." Percy growled. "I could go join the enemy so easily, so simple. They'd welcome me with open arms, and immediately win them the war." The air was sucked from the room, and Zeus shrunk to human size, before floating forward, his neck caught in Percy's hand. "You little swines are nothing but insects under my foot. I could fade you right now, without a second thought. Fading a protogenoi, on the other hand…" Percy trailed off, dropping Zeus, and Zeus fell to a knee before Percy.

"You're where you belong, knelt before me. Knelt before your true leader, the only one with power. Since that damned curse is lifted, what I will become, very, very soon is so much larger than anything you can ever dream of." Percy growled, "Artemis knows what I'm talking about." he said, before kneeling down to Zeus's level.

"You'll learn, soon enough, Zeus. After this war, every single one of these Olympians will live, except for you." Percy whispered in his ear.

Athena's eyes shot over to Artemis. "What does he mean Artemis?"

"The day of Gaea's defeat, Percy didn't attend the celebrations, rather choosing to sit away from them. I knew he was feeling distraught, so I talked to him. He explained some things to me… before Aether came. Percy got mad at Aether, before leaving. Aether told me everything. Percy is more than we believe him to be, trust me." Percy nodded.

"Artemis is right." Percy said, walking forward, past a still-kneeling Zeus. "I am more than what you believe me to be, but I am still willing to ally with you all, despite your father's actions. We will win this war, I shall lead our armies against these pitiful fools that think they can cross me."

"Who rises, Perseus?" Athena asked.

"Erebus and Nyx. Too prideful to give up their domains to me, so they'd rather choose to die fighting. Honorable, but stupid." Percy said. "They're controlling monsters and raising champions to further benefit them in this war. The Ten Commandments, I believe they're called, and I've already killed one of them." Percy rolled his eyes. "Nevertheless, they're only delaying their doom."

"How do you plan to get their domains? Are you forcing them to forfeit to you?" Athena asked, again.

"No. I grow stronger by the day. So strong, I believe that once I have gained full power, I'll be able to fade them both, and just take the domains for myself."

"You're a madman." Hermes said.

"You confuse madness with aspirations. I'm not crazy, I'm not mad, I'm only confident in myself, and my powers." Percy shrugged.

"Why don't you kill them now?" Ares asked.

"Because, you dolt. It takes an incredible amount of power to fade two protogenoi, power I do not have at this time. However, you little Olympians on the other hand…" Percy dragged off.

"Perseus, we plead you to ally yourself with us. Begging. You're our only hope in winning this war." Artemis said.

"Someone has finally come to their senses. I've already allied myself with Aether, therefore I think I'm obligated to ally myself with you. However, I must tell you one thing. Cross me, my wife, or Aether, and you'll all die. I'm winning this war for the sake of the demigods, not you fools. I wish not to slaughter more human lives than I have to, but if you go against me or my family, I shall win this war, and kill all twelve of you naive insects myself." Percy spat, before teleporting back to his beach house.

Percy sighed, he just wanted some peace with his wife.

"Annabeth?" he called. No response.

"Annabeth?" he called a bit louder, yet didn't get a response, so he felt for her presence. Nothing. He ran into the bedroom, she was gone. He searched the house, nothing.

Annabeth, where are you?

He felt for her presence, anywhere, her aura, and felt nothing in the state of California.

She'd been kidnapped.

Percy's eyes caught fire, and summoned his sword. He didn't care who took her, they were going to fucking die.

X

"I'd kill you, but I'm saving that royalty for someone else."

Annabeth woke up, tied to a chair in a shower.

"Where am I?" She demanded. The person sitting next to her wasn't bound to anything, fiddling with a knife.

"Somewhere your husband can't find you, or at least I've been told. I don't know at this point. But I do know that you're my prisoner for the next…" he checked his watch, "thirty minutes."

"You and whoever you work for are a dead man for capturing me." The man laughed.

"Your mortal boyfriend won't be able to save you, baby. Don't try to struggle, they'll only get tighter." The man smirked.

"I'd rape you, but I've been specifically told not to harm you… something about Order? Dead man, that half is. Can't believe people still worship him." The man rolled his eyes.

Annabeth shrunk back into her seat. She prayed.

Come to me, Perseus.

Where are you now, when I need you the most?

X

Percy heard the prayer. He could not tell where on Earth that was, but he felt it. Somewhere in Europe. He'd search the entire continent, every corner of the damn continent until he found her. He felt the prayer again. Egypt? Egypt. He knew immediately, and teleported. Cairo. It was August, and the sun was just beaming down on Percy. The connection to his wife was instantly boosted, and he could feel her. Feel her pain, her worry. He closed his eyes, and went into her mind.

Stop praying to your boyfriend, bitch.

Percy's eyes snapped open, before teleporting before a three-story townhome. Crammed between two others, he felt the presence of Annabeth inside, as strong as ever. His hand caught fire, and he burned the door down, summoning his sword, and slaughtering the two people sitting on the couch. He felt another presence upstairs, not his wife, but something powerful. He ran up the stairs, before coming to a door, where on the other side, a bedroom was. He felt her presence inside of the bedroom.

Gods if they'd touched her, he prayed he would be able to control himself. He kicked this door in, finding a man with a woman, but not Annabeth. The woman immediately grabbed a sheet and covered herself, but the man snapped his fingers, clothes appearing on his body. Percy recognized the soul.

"Moros." Percy spat. "Tell me who forced you to capture her, and I won't fade you right before me."

The protogenoi smiled, almost chuckling.

"You're a fool, Perseus. We knew she would bait you into our trap." Percy immediately felt more protogenoi around him. All nine of the second generation were here. Percy thought of it, and Annabeth was teleported back to the beach house.

I shall see you soon, my love.

Percy and the nine protogenoi were all teleported to an open field in Colorado.

"You dare challenge me?" Percy growled.

"There's one of you, and nine of us. You may have been able to kill Tartarus on a thought, but nine? You're ego grows, Perseus." Moros laughed.

"You're all measly second-generation protogenoi, as weak as the Olympians. You're too generous to yourself if you think you can stand any chance in this war."

"I can't do this now, brother. I must leave." Phanes said, flashing out. Moros rolled his eyes.

"Always one who gives up, isn't there." Percy stuck his hand out, and Chronos, who was on his right, was flown back fifty feet, knocked unconscious on the fall.

"Time is a powerful weapon. Can't let it get to me." Percy smiled. Moros growled, nodding his head. Achlys and Ananke charged him, and Percy ducked under a swing, slicing Ananke's calf open, before countering a jab with a punch to Achlys' throat and stabbing her in the chest.

"Rest, for today is not your day." he whispered in her ear, and Achlys nodded, shimmering out of the battle.

"Do you work with Erebus?" Percy asked. Moros shook his head.

"I work with my family, not that egotistical god. Us second generation Protogenoi all agreed it was best we fought for our position."

"Honorable, but dumb. You're as blind as Nyx and Erebus are, thinking they have any chance." Moros ran at Percy, swinging for his legs, but Percy jumped over. They dueled.

Percy had to admit, Moros wasn't horrible at swordfighting, like his two sisters. He actually presented a challenge. They battled, trading parries and swings for over five minutes, before Percy anticipated a jab at the knee from Moros, and Percy cut off Moros's hand, eliciting a scream from the god.

"Yield." Percy's sword was at Moros's neck.

"Never." Moros tackled Percy, before Percy threw him off.

"Pitiful attempt." Percy grabbed his sword, and raised it, ready to strike, before heat seared up from his right shoulder. He turned his head to see Moirai's sword implanted in his shoulder. Percy growled pain, before pain came from his left leg, where Thalassa had impaled him with icicles. Percy fell to a knee, where Thalassa locked his limbs with ice chains. Percy tried to break them, but the pain was too much, overtaking his mind to a point where he could not control his power.

"Fool." Moros spat, his hand reforming on his arm, summoning his sword back.

"Kill me, Moros. I dare you." Percy smiled.

"Kill me, and I'll grow more powerful than you have ever imagined! More powerful than I was before I was cursed." Moros shuttered, remembering the bad days.

"I'm so sorry, but I cannot let you live any longer." Percy laughed, hollering at Moros.

"You're so incredibly foolish, you are your mother's son. I beg you to kill me. Do it. Kill me and I'll raze Olympus, your planet, the void from the ground. Kill me and I'll lead the army of Order once again. You'll be bringing death upon your entire family. Kill me." Moros hesitated.

"Do it." Percy was leaning into the blade of Moros, which was at his neck.

"DO IT!" Percy screamed, and Moros raised his sword to strike. Before stopping.

"Bring her back." Moros said, looking at Aion, who nodded, flashing out.

Aion reappeared with Annabeth in his arms, kicking at him. Percy's heart dropped.

"Not so confident now, Perseus?"

"What are you planning to do with her, Moros?" Moros laughed.

"She'll be the one to bring you death, because who doesn't love irony?" Percy growled.

"Swear me one thing, Moros." Moros stopped laughing, raising one eyebrow.

"After she kills me, you do not touch her, you and all your brothers and sisters. You let her live, teleporting her back to that house. You do nothing to intimate her, you do not lay a hand on her." Moros thought about it, before nodding.

"I shall give you your dying wish, Perseus."

"Swear it on my name." Moros shrugged, swearing it, handing a sword to Annabeth, who reluctantly took it.

"Do what your mother told you, Annabeth. Kill me." Percy said, looking up at his wife, who had tears coming out of her eyes.

"You promised you'd always come back."

"And I will keep that promise, it shall just take me time." Annabeth shook her head.

"Do it."

Percy didn't feel or see the blow, but his world went black.

Welcome back, Quasar.

X

Artemis felt it first. It felt as if the power that kept the world warm had left and been sucked out. As if hope had been lost. She fell from her throne in Olympus, and all eyes turned to her.

"Artemis?" Athena asked.

"He-He's dead." She stuttered out, not moving from the cold, tiled ground.

"Who's dead?"

"Perseus."

Erebus didn't feel his death, but knew as soon as it happened. He didn't know how, but something in his mind told him it was over. Perseus was dead. Nyx stopped kissing him.

"You feel it as well?" She asked. He nodded.

"I can't believe it." Erebus whispered.

"We have the war in our hands now, my love." Nyx smirked, kissing Erebus's jaw, who was smiling.

They'd won.

Order knew his son had fulfilled what he said he was going to do before it happened. He watched his son purposely not turn just so he can get trapped. Order smiled when he died, knowing it was over. When Perseus's body and soul appeared in front of his ghostly form, he knew his time had come. Time to hold up his end of the deal.

Chaos's hand went to her mouth as soon as it happened. She cried out loud, knowing what had occurred. Tartarus, Gaea, and Uranus all looked at her. Her head fell to her hands, where she wiped her tears, trying to compose herself.

"Mother?" Tartarus asked first.

"My husband's son is dead." Chaos said, sniffling her nose. Gaea gasped.

"It's all true then? The original prophecy? Order to be restored?" Chaos nodded.

"There's more to his 'death,' isn't there?" Tartarus asked. Chaos sighed.

"A part of the deal to remove the original curse on Perseus was that when Perseus died, he is to gain his father's power, doubling what he once was. He will become stronger than ever before, than I ever was."

"He'll be the strongest being in the universe…" Tartarus muttered, mouth agape, and Chaos nodded.

"Erebus and Nyx were fooled into thinking it'll only happen on the day he weds, but it happens with death. Order needs Percy's soul to completely combine with him and ascend to true power." Chaos elaborated.

"Will Order fade completely then?" Chaos chuckled.

"My child, Me nor Order can ever fade, only get so distant from the universe that we're basically irrelevant… powers of the past, if you might say. However, there is a way around Order's disappearance, but a spell that was cast away long ago, in the depths, the far depths of the universe, somewhere Order's minions would never dare travel to." Chaos said.

"Where, mother?" Tartarus asked.

"Iridonia, where the original army of Order has been buried."

"Do you think-" Gaea was stopped.

"Yes. I believe Perseus intends to raise the armies of Order and rule the universe."

a/n: shoutout to anyone who understood the iridonia reference.