The Bane of Artemis
I do not take ownership
Chapter 1:
A robust hand broke the top of the earth as the soil began to rip apart from its evenly set floor. The rooted hand quickly began to rip apart the underlying roots of the grass and other plants that had begun to entangle itself on his body.
The immortal born from the earth opened his eyes as the soft green eyes the color of his mother's green plains, took in his surroundings realizing it was nothing like he had remembered. What was now Asia Minor or modern Turkey was underneath him and in front of him. His skin full of dirt and debris from being swallowed by his mother.
His pure chiton ruined in rags, filthy and soiled from the wear and tear of time and the earths own bidding. As Perseus looked into the sky, he noticed the sun was harsher than usual to the point of him needing to shade his vision with his forearm.
The soreness circulating through his body from the lack of use in so many centuries.
"It's nothing like I remembered. Damasen's farm and farming companions are all gone. Lost with time. My brother wasting away in Tartarus" Perseus spoke to himself realizing that his throat was full of thirst and hoarseness.
The oddest feeling to him was the solitude. He had always been with Damasen the only one he would dare call brother. The one that spoke to him with kindness and without any hint of jealousy within his tone. The one that would defy their father again and again to show Perseus that his wishes were not law. Now he was alone. Without the comfort of his brother.
Moisture built within his eyes; it was his coping mechanism. He was the only one that seemed to exhibit emotion among his immortal brothers. Cowardice was how they had called it. Solitude would do such things. Knowing he was alone, with no home, with nothing to seek.
As Perseus punched the ground in fury a massive crevice was caused which amassed a series of major earthquakes around modern Turkey. His hand unhurt with no signs of damage. The immortal closing and opening his hands into a fist feeling his mother's power course through him.
The throne room was elegant and repaired from the previous war against the titans. The golden columns and the quart beams showcasing the elaborate and lavish intrinsic lifestyle the gods had the privilege of living in. The abstract ceiling which would shift from the insurmountable constellations to grey clouds which would start rumbling. The hearth at the center of the twelve Olympian thrones, fire ablaze nearly touching the abstract ceiling itself.
"Poseidon why have you caused such devastation near our ancient home?" Zeus pressed as Poseidon looked at his younger brother resentfully.
"For the last time. I have not done such deed brother. It was not from my own power or realm." Poseidon responded as the rising tides began to mirror his emotion, agitated and ready to rage onto its victim.
"Enough if you have the willingness for deceit I will not press further. Just be warned brother. Now onto more pressing issues." Zeus' thunderous blue eyes looked to his brainchild and the one tasked with the Olympus' forces. Athena looked at her father with superiority knowing she would have to explain their predicament in a soft manner as not to anger her father.
"Another uprising Zeus. We survived the previous assault from last year. But this one is different. The Gigantes are arising. The Earth mother's doing I believe. Your son Jason has defeated Porphyrion. They are rising one by one. If they were to all arise it would be more difficult to deal with them." Athena spoke to the rest of the Olympians as she paced to reason with many of the dimwitted ones.
Zeus visually tensed before straightening his posture and once again looking at Athena. "So, it will not be an issue. We will need our…" Zeus began to clear his throat unable to stomach that they will need the assistance of their demigod children.
"The assistance of our children, yes we will." Athena concluded his sentence.
Zeus did not like to have assistance from his children, they were what he considered mistakes. Although he cared for them somewhat, they usually ended with tragic lives. In order to avoid such confrontation from Hera it was best not to have demigods within Olympus for the time being. The last thing he needs is for Hera to want another child of his as her prophecy slave.
"We will close off our home." The king of the gods decided as the rest of the Olympians stirred uncomfortably.
"Why? Annabeth still has to finish the architecture within Olympus." Athena countered hoping to sway him from that decision.
"I think not. Our last war shows us that some of the demigods are not trustworthy. Traitors could be in our midst's once again." Zeus looked squarely at Hermes and Aphrodite.
"They had a valid reason. You decreed we could not see or interact with them. They lost faith in us." Hermes responded defending his fallen son Luke.
"No reason is valid to take arms against Olympus. Especially in the name of my father. Or did you forget how he treated his sons and daughters?" Zeus looked at Poseidon hoping to get support from somewhere.
"By punishing our children from entering our home?" Poseidon raised his eyebrow not fully supporting the decision.
"Yes, we only need them minimally due to a forsaken prophecy. If anything, if our reign would not be tied to them, I would even go as far as avoiding all contact with our children." Zeus concluded as the rest of the chamber looked at him with guarded expressions.
"If that is our king demands. We can only merely follow." Poseidon responded regretfully and sarcastically as he began to leave the throne room.
Before Poseidon could exit the grand doors, Artemis broke the silence as she looked at the rest of the council. "I believe there is a much greater threat than you have pointed out." Artemis rose from her throne as she paced the throne room. Her steps calculated and soft, so soft her footsteps were silent on the marble floor.
"Our last war with the Gigantes was rather quicker than the Titans. However, we did not deal with the multitude of Gigantes as we did with the titan kind." Artemis broke off before furrowing her eyebrows in thought.
"What is the matter? Speak." Zeus commanded as he was displeased with waiting. His fists grasping the edge of his throne harshly as the throne began to crack.
"Every Olympian faced their bane, their nemesis. I however did not. He was swallowed and snatched by Gaea before we could descend upon him." Artemis once again trailed as she continued her contemplative facial expression.
"Press on. Out with it." Poseidon responded irritated.
"Why would the Earth mother go so far beyond her conscious to swallow and save her youngest son? It does not make any logical sense. Why not let her spawn be sent to Tartarus like the rest of them?" Artemis concluded as she sat on her throne not bothering to look at the other Olympians.
Overall it was more of question to herself and not her fellow Olympians. If anything, she liked to think aloud and pace around hoping to find answers. It seemed to work during previous wars. However, this particular enigma, her bane was rather hard to figure out.
"Was your questions and fears so important? Artemis do not overuse your divine brain on such pestilence. If he dares show up this war, you will have the opportunity to make your kill. Now put it out of your mind. This meeting is concluded I have a more pressing matter to attend to." Zeus finished as he proceeded to his fountain to cleanse his divine weapon, his beloved master bolt.
Before Artemis could disappear, Athena was quick enough to grasp her with the room clear of the rest of the buffoons she had to deal with. Especially that proud Poseidon, sometimes even believing himself greater than Zeus. That however was matter for a different time.
"I think your worry is valid." Athena projected to stop Artemis in her tracks.
Artemis turned and frowned. Her in the state of worry was not how someone would describe her. Those words felt foreign, so irreconcilable.
"Excuse me?" Artemis was able to respond after recollecting herself.
"I believe its valid to be worried about the giant that was bred to oppose you. The simple fact that the earth mother was able to keep him safe does not bode well. He is an unknown. He could be deadly to you or merely a nuisance that can be easily squashed. Knowing strategies, myself, surprises usually do not bode well." Athena reminded her of the Trojan war.
"Even humans are capable of damaging surprises; the Trojan horse proves it. I suggest you hunt him down before the rest of his brothers arise. Less of a nuisance and it's better to deal with them one by one." Athena smirked full of pride as she disappeared in a mist.
The Romans looked at the Greeks with guarded hesitation and lack of trust as the Argo II was temporarily stationed over the Field of Mars. The transport vessel and war machine mounted with ballistae and a variety of other defensive mechanisms was temporarily disarmed to give the Romans a little more trust.
The citizens of New Rome alongside its teenage protectors created a mass gathering near the Senate House. They witnessed their lost Praetor Jason Grace walk with Greeks to meet with Reyna and their newly appointed Praetor Nico Di Angelo, who was picked to be the exchange demigod for the Greeks. Albeit without the knowledge of his father Hades who almost brought his undead army to Olympus in search for answers.
The pale boy in the aviator jacket didn't look like much. Merely fourteen years old, yet, one powerful bastard. Managing to send the ghostly lost legion in Alaska to the fields of Asphodel to put their souls at ease. Misguided by their ambition to retrieve their Eagle Standard. A task fulfilled by the son of Hades. The mistrust and prejudice of the children of Pluto or Hades, slowly diminishing as they realized Nico was there for the legion during their time of direst need.
Nico was still cold and distant and very different unlike his half sibling Hazel. His father turning a blind eye allowing Hazel to escape the field of Asphodel to return and fulfill her tremendous potential.
Reyna walked alongside Nico as Jason acknowledge them with a nod. Jason was a bit guarded as well. He had come to the realization that the Greek lifestyle at Camp Half Blood was more suited to his style. No longer playing the robotic soldier for Rome and following their strict lifestyle.
"You seem very different." Reyna silenced the crowd with her loud voice which was very commanding.
Reyna like always was donned in her Praetorian armor full of medals pinned to it. Her Purple cloak silky and a bit worn down due to what seemed the endless battle against Polybotes. Her face a little rough from the lack of sleep. The dark underlings of sleeping bags under her eyes highlighted the sleepless nights and the huge burden of being a Praetor.
"Somewhat. These are demigods from the Greek Camp." Jason spread his arm out to focus the attention to his companions.
Leo, Piper, and Annabeth looked at Reyna and gave her a brief nod before Annabeth stepped up. Like Reyna Annabeth had sleepless nights. Always receiving the burden of being the brains and mediator for a quest. Her blonde hair always in a messy ponytail.
"Very well. It seems we are gathered for the same reason." Reyna said as he began to walk as Nico and the rest of the seven followed closely behind her towards the Grand Mess hall.
Within minutes the rest of the Legion was eating their meals and the Greek demigods alongside Reyna and Jason were sitting at the head table speaking about their predicament.
"So Polybotes was defeated?" Jason asked as he interlaced his fingers showing his thoughtful gesture.
Reyna looked at Nico who refused to look into the eyes of anyone. Reyna giving a small and invisible smile knowing what it was like to be alone. "Yes. It wasn't easy but Nico made it just in time with Eagle Standard to push back and defeat Polybotes." Reyna responded as she sighed a bit tiredly.
"We faced the King of the Gigantes at the wolf house. Uh nearly died, but we were able to complete the quest of freeing Hera." Jason scratched the back of his head. Knowing fully well that he was close to death.
Annabeth cleared her throat as she picked at her food with her fork. "None of this is making sense. The Gigantes aren't known for being highly intelligent, but they were bred to oppose each Olympian." Annabeth continued to pick her food and blow the stray blonde hair that would obstruct her eye.
"The prophecy is foretelling that their main plan is to awaken the Earth Mother and overthrow Olympus. But why aren't they gathering their armies and making one single assault onto Olympus. Why are they even fighting demigods?" Annabeth asked critical questions as Reyna frowned noticing how astute the daughter of Athena was.
"Maybe it's their way of dividing us and hoping they can kill us before we can help the gods." Jason responded as his icy blue eyes looked at Reyna.
"That makes sense." Annabeth furrowed her eyebrows knowing that wasn't the answer and shaking her head.
Annabeth was holding back. Her mother had given her many details of the last Olympian council meeting. How the gods were preparing for this particular war and how they believe it is very different and potentially dangerous. She also came to the realization that if this relationship between the Roman and Greek camps would work out she needed to be transparent and so she was.
"My mother told me something when I encountered her in a tourist shop. She said that this uprising was very different. The attacks are uncalculated almost plain stupid. She believes the Gigantes are fighting amongst themselves trying to find a new leader. Porphyrion failed and they want to make sure they don't fail again." Annabeth concluded as she realized the rest of the Mess Hall had come deadly quiet.
Maybe the Gigantes are immortals to be fearful of…
Authors Note: Hello readers, this story will primarily focus on Perseus' rise. I will often times dive into the minds of the gods (mostly Artemis) and demigods just to progress the story a bit. More so, that is to dive into the progression of
Perseus as a being and how the rest of his enemies and potential allies think of him. NOTE this will be a PERTEMIS pairing. It might be a long developing story, but I hope I can conclude it in reasonable time. Lastly, this may have aspects for mature content. Are you ready for the twist and turns of this story? If so, enjoy the ride.