Son of the Moon 30
Chapter 30
-Percy-
He had been dozing for a little while when he felt his ride, Hank, shift waking him up "Where do you guys want us to land?" Hank asked, the giant metal automaton shooting up to avoid a flock of birds.
"Down there!" Zoe said as she pointed "By the Embarcadero Building!".
"You and Chuck can blend in with the pigeons!" he added getting an amused laugh from the two metal statues, an exasperated sigh from Zoe, a slightly amused chuckle from Castor and Katie, while Thalia laughed rather forcefully.
"I like you kid!" Hank said with a smile "It's about time we meet a demigod with a sense of humor.".
They quickly landed, scaring off a homeless man who ran away screaming about 'metal angels from Mars' which caused him to Zoe and ask "Does Ares actually have those?".
"No Percy," Zoe groaned in exasperation but he could see relief in her eyes, likely at the fact that he was willing to crack a joke again no matter how bad it as "Lord Ares isn't exactly the Angel type.".
"Are you guys going to need any more help?" Hank asked, the statue sounding concerned for them as it did so.
"I think we're good," he said shaking his head "but if you can try to fly up to my Uncle Apollo, let him know we'll be entering Othryss soon so any help the gods can offer would be appreciated.".
"You got it Percy," Hank said with a nod "we'll rally the troops, you lead the invasion." Before the automaton angel shot into the air, the second following suit a moment later.
"Alright guys," he said turning to his companions "while she was technically 'banished' Zoe was once a Hesperides and, as such, always is able to tell where her garden is and can lead us there.".
"But where exactly is the Garden?" Castor asked with a raised eyebrow "How far away?".
"It can only be entered at sunset and during this day and age it rests upon Mount Tamalpais," Zoe explained "it would be impossible to reach without a car.".
"Then why did we send away Chuck and Hank?" Thalia asked in irritation.
"Because we're going to war," he growled "we don't know what sort of forces the Titans have mustered up there so we're going to need the gods ready to give backup. Now as for a car that's easy, Hephaestus keeps a garage of vehicles for demigods in case of emergency in some of the larger cities and San Fran is no exception.".
Thirty minutes later they were roaring down the road, weaving around the cars at breakneck speeds while Zoe drove them as fast as possible towards the mountain and he rode Shotgun, his quest mates panicking in the back. "You're gonna get us arrested!" Thalia yelled as the daughter of Zeus gripped doorframe tightly.
"The car produces its own mist field!" he yelled back over the roar of the engine "It was built by Hephaestus himself for emergency escapes so we can go as fast as we want and not get pulled over, we just have to make sure we don't crash.".
"We ARE going to crash!" Thalia screamed as Zoe brought them around a tight corner.
"She's been driving since cars were invented!" he yelled back "And we need to get there as soon as possible!". The rest of the trip was spent in silence, apart from the screaming engine, until they reached the part of the mountain that concealed the entrance into the garden. "Alright," he called out "it's going to open in a couple minutes so be ready.
"We're ready Percy," Castor said with a nod, the son of Dionysus preparing for battle and reading his weapons "lead us to victory.".
Before he could respond the plant around them began to shift and part to reveal a tunnel towards a beautiful and lush garden, "Let's move!" he called out as he took off down the tunnel, his friends' footsteps echoing behind him as they raced down the passage. "Halt!" a female voice commanded when they passed through the passage fully, "Who dares enter our garden?".
"Your Garden?" he growled as he turned towards the voice to see Zoe's four sisters, "This Garden belongs to Grandmother Hera, not you nor does it belong to Atlas. I will enjoy seeing how Hera punishes you four for siding with Atlas over the Olympians.".
"Who are you to threaten us?" The eldest looking of the four demanded with a scowl.
"I am Perseus Jackson!" he proclaimed proudly, drawing Riptide as he did so "Son of Artemis, Nephew of Apollo, a Friend of the Traveler, an Apprentice of War, a Forger of Fate, the brother to Zoe Nightshade, and if I have to your executioner.".
"You are the one Father speaks of?" one of the sisters asked in surprise "The one who has foiled many of the plans of Lord Kronos?".
"Lord Kronos was it?" he asked with a smirk as he readied Riptide "You have just signed your own Death Sentence by siding with them.".
"Ladon!" the eldest Sister called "Wake and Defend!" which caused the massive hundred headed serpent to stir before the four traitors faded into the mists of the mountain.
Snarling he ran towards the beast, ignoring his sister's shocked cry, as he used his power over water to draw the moisture from the mountain's extensive mist to create a shield, several of the creature's teeth snapping off on the hardened water, before he gathered as much water as he can and froze it into a giant ice spike that he rammed up through Ladon's chest and into its heart causing it to scream in pain before collapsing and turning to dust. "Flee now Hesperides," he snarled into the mist, able to feel the shocked eyes of the four traitor Nymphs "for this is the fate that awaits you for siding with the Titans. Flee and pray I never find you.".
"Percy," Zoe said in shock as she rushed over "you slew Ladon.".
"It wasn't hard," he pointed out with a snort "most people try to cut off all the heads…just stab the damn heart.".
"But what was with that threat at the end?" Thalia asked, a mixture of awe and confusion in the eyes of the daughter of Zeus.
"They aided the man who took not only my mother but my brother and Bianca from me," he growled, "I will make them pay for what they did.".
At those words he saw Thalia's countenance darken and he figured Castor did as well as the son of Dionysus quickly spoke up "Let's go guys, we have to reach the top of the mountain to free Nico, Bianca, and Lady Artemis.".
"Right." he said nodding as they made their way up the mountainside, able to feel Atlas's power more and more with each step but what confused him was that he could feel a second grand power that wasn't his mother up there as well.
The moment he crested the path he felt his heart breaking as he saw the pained forms of his mother, his brother, and the love of his life, trapped underneath the vault of the sky. "Percy!" Bianca cried out "R-run!".
"I won't leave you!" he denied fervently, "Not now, not ever.".
"Well isn't that cute," a new voice called out that sent chills down his spine as it was a voice that, even though he had only heard it once, still sent chills down his spine "the little Prince of the Hunt wants to help his girlfriend.".
"Orion." He growled angrily as he turned to the voice and glared with hatred at the giant that had slain many of his sisters, one of them when she had sacrificed her own life to save him when he was seven and they were on a hunt.
"We meet again Perseus Jackson," Orion said with an arrogant swagger "and while that little Bitch may have saved you before you have no hope of winning now, especially with the fact that Atlas is here as well.".
"What the hell is going on Percy?" Castor asked in shock "I thought Orion was in the stars?".
At that question Orion let out a booming and bone chilling laugh, "My human half is," the son of Gaea declared with a bloodthirsty grin "You see like my brother Alcyoneus had special needs to be born I did as well. While he was made of gems and gold and oil I had my spirit fused with a mortal body. When he was alive he was in control of our powers but thanks to Apollo sensing my presence and thinking I was in control he caused my 'Death' which killed off that pathetic human half and release me.".
Out of the corner of his eye he saw the constellation Orion flashing as if the spirit within was angry at the Giant that had leeched upon its life force when alive before he saw the constellation vanish just as a beam of light shot from heavens and crashed into the earth next to him. "Something I'm sure Apollo is as upset about as I am." A voice form the light said tauntingly causing Orion to stagger back with a growl.
"Impossible!" the Giant growled as the light faded away to reveal an almost identical being, the only difference was that the newcomer had flesh and blood eyes rather than mechanical ones "You were sealed in the heavens!".
"Yes," the mortal Orion said with a smirk "but Ouranos really doesn't like you or the Titans and was willing to let me leave the heavens for a short time to help young Perseus destroy you as well as sever the final connection he has to Gaea.".
"You take your doppelganger and I'll take Atlas?" he asked the new Orion, able to feel the being was telling the truth due to the blessing of Apollo.
"Sounds good to me!" the mortal Orion roared before charging at the son of Gaea.
"You guys take on any monsters or traitors!" he yelled to his quest mates "I'll take Atlas! We won't be able to sever the sky from the earth with him trying to stop us!".
With that he shot forward at Atlas, swinging Riptide at the Titan's throat only to be blocked by a spear that the being summoned up, "Nice try demigod," Atlas sneered "but you don't stand a chance against me.".
In response he caused a water fist to form out of the mist and shoot at the Titan's testicles only for Atlas to dodge even if just barely, "Just try me." He growled as the fight continued. The battle continued back and forth, neither side gaining the upper hand for either bout. "Why is Orion here anyway?" he demanded of Atlas as he leapt over the Titan's spear "I don't see you as the type to enjoy working with others.".
"He is here so we may raise the Earth Mother!" Atlas growled "With the blood of a male and female demigod as well as the sacrifice of an immortal she will be risen!".
"Not if I can help it!" he yelled as he leapt up and brought out his Kanabo, swinging it with a crunch against the Titan's nose and knocking the massive being out.
Before he could land the killing blow though he heard the voice of Luke Castellan draw his attention, "I wouldn't do that if I were you Perseus," the traitor demigod said with a smirk, the bastard holding a dagger to Bianca's throat while the Vault of the sky seemed to be weakening "if you do that, then your little girlfriend dies. Surrender and I swear upon the Styx I will not kill her, Nico, or your mother.". Thunder boomed at those words as he stared at the love of his life with tears in his eyes as she pleaded with him to not accept the deal…before he dropped his sword and allowed a pair of Cyclopes to grip his arms. "I promised I wouldn't kill them," Luke said while backing up before smirking and handing the dagger to a dracaena "I never promised they wouldn't.".
"No!" he cried out as he tried to rush forward only to yell as the Cyclopes twisted his arms to stop him from moving. He watched in horror as the three dracaena brought their knives down, he heard the screams of pain and saw the spurts of blood shoot into the air…and saw his mother, Nico, and Bianca get shoved to the side as Castor, Katie, and Zoe dove in front of the blades.
"Zoe!" he cried out in horror "Castor! Katie!".
"I…p-promised you Percy," Zoe choked out "that you would get the chance to give Bianca what you found for her. K-keep our family safe.".
"Give our journals to our siblings Percy," Castor pleaded, the son of Dionysus holding the wound in his neck to slow the blood flow, "promise me.".
"I…I promise my brother." He swore to his friend, knowing that it was too late to save his friends, a fact that the others realized as well as the shock wore off and tears flowed from the eyes of his friends.
"That's a promise you'll be breaking Percy," Luke said with an insane grin "a shame though, I was looking forward to killing a child of Hades but perhaps it's better this way. I'm sure Lord Kronos would allow me to keep her as a play thing and I know Orion has been wanting some time alone with your mother.".
"Of course he will," a new woman's voice said as he saw the earth beginning to rise up, bubbling into the rough shape of a woman "I shall see to it personally young Luke. I'm sure the monsters would enjoy feasting on the dead ones as well.".
At those words he froze as he stared into his sister's dead, lifeless eyes, the realization of her death fully sinking in as well as the threat that Luke had just made. "Mother," he said, his voice colder than the ices of his Alaskan labyrinth "take our family and get them to Olympus…these bastards are mine." Before he roared and summoned all of his power and released it at once, faintly noticing his mother flashing away with his friends, both living and fallen, while he summoned a cyclone of fury and power around him.
AN: Before anyone begins Flaming I wanted to point out that the Death of Zoe was a huge factor of the books and I needed an equally, or in this case more so, powerful moment here. I've also had the idea of Zoe sacrificing herself to save Artemis from sacrifice planned since I started writing this story…I will now take cover to hide from the many flames I expect to receive.