Ch. 15: Desolation
NARRATOR'S POV:
Day 2 had been a disaster. Almost half the demigod numbers were wiped out. Some significant names parted, leaving depression and sadness in their wake. Malcolm, Dakota, Nyssa and a lot of others passed away, both camps deeply mourning their losses. The biggest shock was the titaness Calypso and her boyfriend Leo Valdez. No, Leo wasn't dead but he might as well have been considering his body movements and state of mind.
With great difficulty, he was taken away from Calypso's body and into the throne room. He would neither talk nor move, blinking ever so slightly in a few seconds. It was really creepy but the demigods understood. They gave him his space, choosing instead to cling on to their siblings and better halves for warmth and courage.
PERCY'S POV:
Day 2 had been disastrous. So many lives were lost. This was so not what I had planned. What good was my being a double agent and going to Tartarus if we were to lose so much?
I was currently out of the bed in the throne room, feeling absolutely fine. There was some pain, but it was negligible. Instead of that one bed, the Gods had now allowed the room to be filled with many beds for the injured. The throne room transformed into an infirmary and unfortunately, a number of demigods were lying injured on the bed than were found standing and chatting.
Even healers seemed too exhausted to work. Apollo's blessing gave them the energy to work overtime. Yeah, Apollo blessed them after a long chit chat that the Gods preferred to call a discussion but we named a lengthy needless argument.
When everyone came back at the end of the day their faces and dwindled numbers were enough indication to denote the loses they'd incurred.
Bob decided to visit the forges with Tyson and gather whatever the monsters had missed or left. After permission from Zeus of course.
Annabeth was curled up against me and we were sitting on the floor. The Gods had offered to summon chairs but the floor somehow looked more comfy to all of us and we had refused. Piper who was bawling her eyes out earlier still couldn't help the little sobs that escaped her lips. Jason was holding her and trying to comfort her as best as he could, but it was fruitless.
Hazel also looked pretty glum, so much so that Reyna asked Frank to stay with her while she alone carried the praetorship duties for a while. We all knew it wasn't because of Calypso.
We were all sad for her, sure. But the major, selfish part of us was just sad to see Leo like this. Hazel had told us what the Godess Nemesis had called him. A seventh wheel. And now as soon as he was back from a place no man could ever find twice - with the girl he cared for, he was thrust into another war and his only happiness was snatched away from him.
They say life's a bitch. They put it correctly.
I couldn't even imagine losing Annabeth. All though we've come close to losing each other many times, we have always found each other. We've found love, passion, strength and most importantly hope in each other. Sure, we've had a setback or two but hey, there are no perfect relationships. You gotta make them perfect. I could never live without my wise girl. The mere thought made me shiver and that in turn led Annabeth to look at me questioningly.
I sighed. "When Piper and Hazel entered the throne room crying and sobbing so hysterically, I thought I'd lost you. My whole world, my sole fighting purpose. I was even ready to fight Hades to get you back. Then I saw Leo's condition and realized what had happened. And I felt relieved. Then I felt guilty for feeling relieved at his loss. We've been through so much, wise girl, promise you'll never leave me. Or I'll die... " I whispered.
She looked at me with moist eyes and spoke ever so softly "Promise. No matter the situation, we'll always face it together."
"Always together." I agreed. I loved the sound of that.
Then she stared at me for a while. When I raised an inquisitive eyebrow she breathed "What happened to you, seaweed brain... You sound so...mature all of a sudden..."
My gaze darkened. "Twin visits to Tartarus, understanding his plans and most importantly three wars happened Annie," I replied shakily. I closed my eyes to concentrate, pushing away the dark and negative thoughts from my mind. Annabeth nodded, signaling her brain was going through almost the same turmoil.
Just then a Roman came in rushing and hurriedly bowed to Zeus.
"What is it, Roman? You don't have to bow to me every time you approach me for something." He spoke in an authoritative yet polite tone. Wow, Zeus and polite. Who would've thought huh? But then again who would've thought that we would ally with a Titan, or that I would make a plan that actually made sense...
"My Lord. The son of Pluto needs help, he has passed out outside the gates. The Lord of the wild requests assistance as the boy is too heavy for him."
A bullet. That's one of the few objects I could've put to shame with the speed with which I rushed to see Nico and Grover. Grover was always my best friend and Nico had been like a brother to me. Of course, I had to get over my initial shock of I liked you but not anymore coz you're not my type, but once we were past that Nico and I decided to begin a new friendship right from scratch.
He had a crush on Will, but he wouldn't admit it. We could all see that, even Will! But both were waiting for the other to make the first move. Once I mentioned it to Nico. His reaction was funny - only if your definition of funny is being chased by skeletal zombies.
Annabeth was alongside me, so were Hazel, Frank, Piper, Jason and not so surprisingly, Will. When Frank grinned at Will who was analyzing Nico, he just shrugged "What? I'm a doctor and he is my patient. That's IT, Zhang." All though you could see a ghost of a blush creep up his cheek for the ghost boy.
"How long till he wakes up?" Annabeth asked.
"Can't say. A few hours maybe. I don't think he should fight tomorrow. He'll drain himself and get himself killed."
"I won't let him fight tomorrow," Hazel said resolutely.
"Hey, where's Grover?" I asked no one in particular, looking around for my best friend.
"Blah-ha-ha! Percy!" A voice spoke from beyond me, scaring the living jujubes out of me.
"Poseidon's underpants!" I jumped a foot in the air. "Grover! Since when did you become so sneaky? Spending too much time with death breath here?"
"I can't help it if you're so unobservant, Percy. I was standing right here when you came. In fact, everyone noticed me." He said.
"No, nobody did," I spoke, but was surprised to see no one agreeing with me. In fact, they were all chuckling at me.
"358," I said randomly. "What?" Jason asked looking confused. "The number of times you guys have had fun at my expense. And you're still not tired." I spoke dryly.
Now they all laughed, including me. Annabeth playfully slapped my hand.
"How did I ever call you mature, seaweed brain."
"You used your mouth I think."
She just rolled her eyes.
"Lame, Percy, very very lame." She said.
"Of course it's lame. Who would use their mouth to speak when they can do this." I said, then bent down to kiss her on the lips. A slight peck that was enough to leave the oh so feared daughter of Athena red-cheeked.
She blushed furiously and just looked down.
Back to business, we hoisted Nico's body and pulled him onto a bed.
"Let him rest. Grover, let's take you to the Gods. We have a lot to talk." I said.
He nodded. Zeus said he would summon the council soon until then I should fill Grover in on where we stood.
I anyway wanted to do that, so I filled him in with some informative interruptions from Annabeth. Soon the Gods walked into the throne room. Yes, walked, not flashed. They were resting in their palaces on Mount Olympus (Even Hades) and preferred to save energy for the fight against Tartarus.
All the God's took their seats, except dad. We hadn't heard from him, but we could hear the blasts even up here and I could feel the conflict in the water. Summoning water would be a bit difficult now if Oceanus' power stopped me from doing it, but I would do it. I honestly had no choice.
As soon as the Gods came, Grover was asked to gather the wild. He gave us some information about the various places where he had observed the wild were most angry with Tartarus and sought permission to call all of them to the aide. Needless to say, he was granted permission. He politely bowed, nodded to Annabeth, bro-hugged me and left to find and form an army of the wild. Just as the God's were about to leave, a voice resonated throughout the room
"ALL HAIL POSEIDON!" And cheers erupted, smiles burst through the desolation and despair that were the result of the day's war. For we knew what it meant - Oceanus was defeated, Poseidon was triumphant. Soon a pop was heard and we had to cover our eyes as the throne was engulfed in a bright white light. Dad had come, but we stared wide-eyed at his condition. He was injured in many places, his clothes were torn and various cuts were bleeding ichor.
"Dad... Are you-" I croaked, worried.
"I'll be fine son, I heal fast. Perks of being an immortal God." He winked at me, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Most of the Gods were worried seeing Poseidon's condition, most but one. He was clearly contemplating whether to attack my father at his weak time to usurp his kingdom and gain more power or not. Surprisingly, it wasn't Zeus. I wasn't in the mood to have any of it. I don't know what got into me, but at that moment I snapped.
"Don't you dare Hades. Don't. You Dare. I promise I'll find a way to finish you if you so much as lay a finger on my father when he's weak." I spoke with clenched teeth and balled fists, seething with rage. Hades' eyes widened. He rose to his full height to try and look intimidating.
"It's taking all of my willpower to not smite you, Perseus. How dare you talk to me like that! Had you not been Nico's friend I would have blasted you to Tartarus!" He bellowed.
" Had you not been Nico's father, I would have pummelled you." I hissed in anger.
He was about to say something but I cut him off "Poseidon suffered these injuries because of all of us. I risked so much for all of us. That includes you, Hades. Do not make me repent asking for a throne for you."
"Just because you did something does not give you the right to talk to me like this! I will annihilate you! I will drag your soul to the deepest parts of my underworld and make you suffer for all eternity!" Hades took a step towards me. Only to be blasted back a few feet into his throne. He looked up shocked to see a raging Poseidon clutching his Trident tightly. His injuries seemed to have vanished all of a sudden and he looked like he would kill everyone and everything in sight. A green aura surrounded him, his eyes looked like they would catch fire.
"After all my son has done for you, after everything that he did for your children, for their recognition, after everything that I did for you, if this is how my brother is going to treat me, you don't deserve to be one. I, Poseidon God of the seas and earthquakes sever all familial ties with Hades." Dad bellowed, and thunder shook the throne room. Nothing happened, but Hera' eyes widened to confirm that the ties had indeed been broken.
The Council was far too taken aback to respond, so was Hades. The demigods were stunned by the events, fearing that the outcome may result in a war on Olympus and eventual defeat to Tartarus. Poseidon was still seething with rage.
I swear, if Tartarus saw those expressions even he would cower in fear.
Zeus came out of his initial shock, coughed and tried to calm down dad before he brought the whole building down while Annabeth was calming me down. It worked for me, but dad was on a roll.
"I am calm, brother, but not quite done." Poseidon continued in a deadly calm voice. Gods and demigods alike stared at him warily.
"Hades. And everyone else. Remember this, if you so much as lay a finger on Percy, or any of my worthy sons in the future, I will not be forgiving. I will avenge their death, I will avenge any wrong you commit against me. I will drag you into my realm and personally torture you for all eternity." He finished.
The gods gulped. While Poseidon wasn't the strongest Olympian, his power increased greatly when he was angry, or so I'd heard. I'd never seen him angry, but now that I had, I never wanted to, ever again. He was emanating raw power, power even more than Zeus and Hades combined. His anger radiated off him in waves, the mere force of his words holding down Hades in his throne.
"You.. You don't mean that Poseidon!" Hades said with a mixture of fear and confidence.
"Trust me Hades, I mean every word." He said in a steely calm voice.
"After all, if I can kill my own son, then I can also kill for my son." He finished, leaving the Gods and some demigods who figured out what he meant wide-eyed. Annabeth looked at me with shock, and I just smiled sheepishly.
"Looks like I didn't kill Triton after all," I said. And I knew, now was the time to explain everything. I couldn't delay it any further, war happening or not.
(A/N: THE SECRET OF THE DEATH OF TRITON, PERCY'S EXECUTION AND ALL(OR MOST) OF THE PLOT SECRETS TO BE OUT NEXT! WHO'S EXCITED? I SURE AM!)