Erebus growled. "You lie!"
Tartarus shrugged. "I do not, but believe what you want to believe, my brother."
Erebus grabbed Tartarus's throat, slamming him onto the table between them. Everyone stood.
"Stop it, Erebus." Chaos said, and Erebus loosened his grip.
"My apologies, but even by your word, mother, I do not believe it. He was dead, I felt it. Moros swore on his life that Perseus had died that day." Chaos tsk'd Erebus.
"Died that day, yes… but you know as well as anyone else, death does not truly mean you've been wiped from existence, Erebus. Perseus's death was merely a signal, a signal that the golden times are to come, very, very soon." Erebus scoffed.
"You've been mistaken. I will be the one to defeat Aether, the Olympians, and Perseus. Hell, we've killed him once, what stops us from killing him again?" Erebus asked, arrogantly, and Nyx nodded in agreement.
Chaos's mood darkened.
"I'm so sorry, my son, for leaving you to be so foolish." and she teleported away.
X
Aether's army had been growing by the day for nearly a year now, ever since he'd made his alliances clear he'd started with the training of the demigods and his workings with Olympus. He had millions ready to fight for him, nearly all demigods, some mortals, aging between fifteen and thirty. He looked to the skies, wondering what Erebus and Nyx were planning.
Much, my brother.
Perseus?
Yes, I have awoken from my extended slumber, apologies. The voice laughed Aether smiled.
When can you return to Earth and fight alongside me?
My thoughts tell me nearly a year. I am very far away, and have two things to do before I come back, yet, when I do, it'll be a day for reckoning.
Where are you?
Two days from Iridonia. Aether could feel the power that resided on the planet just through the name. He shuddered. He did not want to go back to that war, the dark days.
Neither do I, Aether, but I must do what I have to do.
Do you intend on raising the army?
If they still follow me, yes. If they do not, so be it.
Aether smiled.
They'd follow you in a heartbeat, no matter the outcome of their lives. The majority of the four hundred were preserved, anyways. What is the other task?
I have to go to the Arthesian quadrant, the original planet.
Why must you do so? Nobody has been there in centuries?
It is where my father's source truly resides. Where I must go if I want to resurrect him.
X
Luke's dream started in a forest.
He stood up, and looked around, realizing his head hurt like hell. He barely noticed the man sitting on a tree stump, twirling a knife.
"Who are you!" Luke demanded. The man, whose eyes were hidden from his dark hair, smiled.
"God, you're so impatient… are all you mortals like this?" The man stood, having a height advantage on Luke by nearly three inches.
"I am Erebus, primordial god of darkess, and I'd wish for you to join me, as my spy." Luke's thoughts went all over the place.
"No. I refuse to join the enemy. I've done it once and it didn't work for me, I won't do it again." Erebus chuckled.
"You're so foolish. Imagine the power behind you with a blessing of the Quasar, Aether, and a secretive blessing of darkness." Erebus whispered the last word in his ear. "You'd be the most powerful demigod to ever live, stronger than Perseus Jackson." Thunder fell with the name. Erebus smiled at the thunder.
"He watches me, my every move. I will be visiting you often, Luke. Think upon my offer." Laughter faded with the disperse of Erebus.
X
I didn't want to wake up, unless you were beside me.
Annabeth really didn't want to wake up. Ever since she'd felt the presence of her husband when Luke hit her, she'd wanted to do nothing but see Percy. She was going to kill the man once he showed himself again, for leaving her, and she knew that he knew so. She was torn from her thoughts by a knock on the door. She got up, reluctantly, to open it. It was her mother.
"Can we take a walk, Annabeth?" Annabeth's brows scrunched, but she nodded.
As Chaos and her daughter walked to the forest, there was an awkward silence among them.
"We both know he's awake, my daughter." Chaos said, finally.
"He's contacted me once, directly." Chaos nodded.
"He told me to tell you that he won't contact you for about a year, until he returns. He has tasks, some things he won't explain to me, but I believe I already know what he speaks of, to do." Annabeth almost started crying, but tearing up.
"I just want to see him mother."
"And believe me, Annabeth, if it was up to him, you'd be in his arms, at a beach house in Hawaii right now." Annabeth punched a tree.
"Well why isn't it up to him? He's done nothing but be deceptive with me, about this war, about us."
"They're not tasks, more obligations. Things he has to do in return, or in favor of himself. Do not lose faith in the young king, he's only been awake for… three days?" Annabeth sighed. "Do not get down on yourself or him, Annabeth. He will return to you, and it will be more glorious than ever, coming down from the true heavens in victory and flame." Chaos said, looking at the skies. Annabeth looked up as well.
"I believe you, but I still want to kill him when he gets back."
"As it is your right to. He has been awfully distant from you in his… time away." Chaos said, thinking.
"What do you believe he is to do, mother?" Annabeth said.
"Raise the original armies of Order, from nearly three million years ago…"
Annabeth's heart dropped. It really was happening.
X
Order watched as his son landed on Iridonia, and entered the temple of Chaos. Percy continued forward, before reaching a very large, symbol-engraved door, with two spots for hands at the front. Percy recognized the door closely, placing his hands in the slots, before the door opened, recognizing him. He entered the cavern, and forced it to light up, revealing the original three hundred of Order, who Percy once fought alongside. Percy fell to a knee before a man he recognized very closely, as Aydn Zajak, a well-sought after general of the army.
"In the name of Order and his power, now truly revealed, I demand you to awaken." Percy said, and the molds on the soldiers started to crack. Aydn was the first to clearly wake up, eyes lighting up green, before dimming, and completely breaking his mold. Aydn looked around, and saw Percy, and drew his sword.
"Reveal yourself, intruder." Aydn demanded.
"It is only me, old friend. Perseus." Aydn's sword remained still.
"I do not believe it. Where is Annabeth? She was sworn to always be at your side."
"She cannot be here right now… she's where we need to go. I need your help, your command, once again, my friend." Aydn held his ground.
"Who did we slaughter at the third war, on Tarklob?"
"Every Tekene to ever exist, my friend. I promise you, it is me, Perseus. Swear it on my father." Thunder boomed, and Aydn's sword lowered.
"You're different… something rings stronger about you."
"I have much to explain. But first, please control your army, and we can start the ritual to realm teleport to Earth." Aydn frowned.
"I'm afraid I've never heard of that planet." Percy smiled.
"In good time, my friend. Good time."
X
Erebus reluctantly complied to Aether's wish to meet, agreeing that he wouldn't attack or kill Aether during, before, or after said meeting.
"What do you want, brother." Erebus spat. Aether motioned to sit at one of the bar chairs.
"I wish to discuss this war." Erebus ordered a drink, and motioned. "Talk."
"I do not wish to fight near humanity, more secluded, therefore we do not impact anything or anyone in crossfire. Do you feel the same, brother?" Aether asked, waving off the bartender.
"I could agree with that… on some terms." Aether frowned.
"Elaborate."
"Give me your champion, that son of Hermes. A fair trade, I get your champion to replace the commandment he killed, and we don't slaughter every puny insect in sight when we battle." Erebus chuckled.
"Be more reasonable, brother." Erebus stopped slouching, sitting up in perfect posture.
"Swear on your life that the Olympians won't get involved." Erebus growled, serious.
"You know I have to use the demi-" Erebus shook his head. "I don't give a flying damn about the demigods. The twelve Olympians, swear on your life none of them get involved." Aether thought it over.
"I swear on my life none of the twelve Olympians shall get involved."
"It is settled then. One years time, from today. You pick the place, we shall battle, to our fading." Aether nodded. He had to find a loophole in this.
X
Annabeth was in her favorite place, between some trees and sitting on a rock by the creek, because it reminded her of Percy. Just saying his name warmed her heart. She smiled.
"You miss him that much?" A voice said from behind her. Annabeth's face dropped to monotone immediately.
"You have stones coming here, Erebus." Annabeth said.
"I guess I do. But that doesn't matter. We both know why I'm here." Annabeth frowned, not turning to him.
"I'm afraid I don't, actually." Annabeth said, turning. Erebus was, honestly, beautiful. Built like the one true god, dark hair, a black iris surrounding the white in his eyes, face toned to perfection, but something inside of him was the ugliest monster Annabeth had ever seen.
"I wish to make a deal with you." Annabeth's eyebrow shot up.
"Elaborate."
"I have been told Perseus lives, and is coming back to Earth, from wherever. I wish for you to tell me where he expects to first meet you, preferably in Europe. You tell me where he shall be, and I'll take you there." Erebus smirked evilly.
Annabeth frowned. "You're that confident you can kill him?"
Erebus laughed. "As long as he isn't wed to you, as long as his vows are not stated, he remains to be nothing but a mortal insect. A spider under my foot, a toddler calling for my attention." Annabeth's brows scrunched. There's no way this guy could be that deluded, right?
"I'll consider it, Erebus. My husband is not as weak as you presume." Erebus scoffed.
"He was last slain by an underling, someone as weak as Moros. Imagine how little a chance he'd stand versus me." Erebus smirked, bringing his hand to Annabeth's chin.
"And once he's dead, maybe I'll have you all to myself." Annabeth slapped his hand away.
"Leave." Erebus laughed
"Consider my offer, pretty Annabeth."
X
Perseus sat on a rock with his head resting on his hand, elbow on his knee.
"Who exactly are we waiting on?" Aydn said. Perseus shook his head.
"Someone. Don't worry, he's just fashionably late… I think." Percy said.
Aydn grumbled. "Who is this late? What even is… fashionably? Is that a word?" Percy laughed.
"You're so outdated, my friend. I must inform you of the new 'slang.' Crazy words being said now." Percy said.
Aydn glared at him. "Don't make me look like an idiot."
"Why would I make you look like an idiot? You do that yourself." Aydn sighed, and turned back to his army. The three hundred were going strong, continuing training, despite the circumstances.
"I hate Iridonia." Percy grumbled.
Me too.
Percy sighed.
Stop getting into my head, Chaos.
Never, I enjoy it here. Rent-Free.
What do you want?
I thought I knew of your plan… but this part involving your father is something that I didn't expect… I anticipated you taking over, not this.
I don't wish to have the burden as ruler of the universe, my only wish is to live forever with Annabeth.
Well, he arrives. I do wish you home soon, you'll be met with a surprise.
Percy frowned in real time.
And Percy, please treat my daughter well. You've done as much as you can for billions of years, and I'll always be grateful, but…
But what?
Nothing. You get the message. Don't cheat on her, or anything stupid.
Percy rolled his eyes. She'd kill me before you get the chance.
Percy was torn from his mental conversation with Aydn tapping him on the shoulder.
"I've detected something powerful forming before us, milord." Percy rolled his eyes again.
"Stop calling me that. Plus, we already know who it is." Percy smiled.
About twenty feet in front of him, a dark circle appeared on the ground, and particles turned to black, forming a human body from the feet up, creating a six-foot man with blonde hair, and black eyes. No white, just black. He wore a formal suit, with a briefcase in one hand. He smiled, and Percy could've sworn he went blind.
"You haven't changed, have you?" Percy said, smiling. The man laughed.
"I could never." the man said. Aydn frowned.
"Who is he?" Percy turned to him.
"You know him. Your original leader, before me. My father. Welcome back to the living realm, father."
Order took a step forward, beaming at his son. He took an over-exaggerated smell of the air around him.
"Already, my influence is spreading across the Arthesian quadrant." Order smiled.
"Join me, my warriors, my son. For we combine powers, to make this journey to Earth infinitely quicker. I may not be as strong as you Percy, but I can help." Percy smiled. He really was back. "We have work to do. My sister's children are immature and run rampant on Earth as we speak, and we must restore the balance to the universe, and spread the word, the power of Order once again." Order continued.
"Hail!" Order bellowed.
"Hail!" all three hundred returned instantly.
