( s) – You know, I have an eccentric route of perception concerning how others think. I always perceive that what I see is that what is, so when you said that you read my story seven times over, I had to blink a few times to comprehend that. Usually, I absently think that only those who've commented are the ones who actually read my book. Funny, huh? Well, I'm glad I finally got to meet you. :) And I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. Thank you for the kind words.

Oh

AND HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY.

(ChibiMistress) – Okay, I enjoyed myself immensely reading your comment, good miss. I do see that as a comical way of how the Avengers would react if they were to observe Percy's carnation. Thank you for bringin' the smiles to my old face. X)

(JPC) – I have just started reading that series! :D Skullduggery Pleasant. Though I have no idea who you're talking about, I do believe this Valkyrie Cain is quite the interesting fella.

…

"It holds me like a vice! Surely, you won't forsake me, Hestia!"

The goddess of the moon gazed upon her namesake.

Shining proud and full in the sky, the moon brought light to the night that fell over the city of Olympus. Silver eyes examined every crater of the moon that rose, every crevice. She knew the moon more than any, but what rose that a lie.

"Brooding, sis?"

Footsteps ensued, relaxed and clomping. Artemis closed her silver hues and turned to face her brother.

"Go away, Apollo."

The sun god stood before her in a simple red T-shirt and jeans, trekking boots cladding his feet. He wore glasses, tinted dark, and in his hand was a cane which tapped the ground before him in a rhythmic beat. His smile was small, knowing. Sad.

"You know, sometimes I wish I could see you again."

"You're lying."

"I'm the god of truth, sis. I don't lie." He reached out his hand as he stepped closer, smile growing wider. "Hey, come here."

Artemis swallowed. She looked back at the moon. That gleaming chariot. No answer came.

"Sister, come on here." He stepped forward again, Apollo, his fingers reaching not but air. "Arty?"

Eyes closed, Artemis refused to look upon her brother, fists clenching so tight that her nails drew forth golden ichor from the heels of her hands. The moon was so beautiful. Why do lies have to be so beautiful?

"Artemis, please. I can't see you." His voice became halting, "I-I can't see you."

Choking on a sob, the maiden goddess flung around and threw herself into her twin's arms. She clung to him, eyes squeezed shut.

"Hey, heeeey," Apollo held her tightly, choking up, "It's alright, Arty." He held the back of her head, rubbing her back. "Hey, it's alright."

"Stop saying that!"

She pulled back and punched her brother. Apollo reeled, his glasses clattering to the floor as he stumbled away, holding his face. "Gods, Artemis!"

"Why do you have to be such an accursed optimist?! You're blind, I'm cursed. Dad is as distant as ever and the war? My hunt was massacred before my eyes. I lost one Lieutenant before, ONE. But now the daughter of our father? Our own sister?" Artemis screamed at Apollo, "We are supposed to be gods, brother. But we are losing things like the mortals that walk thousands of miles below us in a world that has no inkling we even exist!"

Apollo scrambled on the floor at her feet, hands trembling as he searched in a futile attempt to recover his glasses.

"Why can't he forgive us?" Artemis shrieked, kicking at the air.

Chuckling ensued from her brother. A bitter, cold chuckle that was very much unlike the sun god. Putting those tinted glasses back over his eyes, Apollo stood with his cane. "How could you expect him to? We betrayed him."

"We vouched against his exile! But we should have done more than just vouch for him! We should have- should have-…"

"What, betray our own family?" Apollo leaned on his cane, shaking his head.

Artemis scoffed. "This doesn't feel like a family." She muttered.

"It's the only one we have."

"Perseus was family too…" Artemis sat on the ground in a heap, crossing her arms.

The two of them stood upon Artemis' silver temple, overlooking the spread of Greek architecture that made the grand city of Olympus. From this view, none could tell that the Olympians were drowning in war.

Artemis and Apollo were but the first to suffer.

…

Sheer whiteness.

Percy was surrounded by sheer whiteness. It was an emptiness that surpassed that of the devouring black hole, the eerie black caves that tempt the heart of an adventurous spirit, and the yawning spaces between the stars.

This blank whiteness was blinding, burning, and it was nothing.

Hello?

Percy thought he spoke, but his words were lost into this… this nothingness that burned and blinded and broke.

Hello?!

This time he screamed, but he did not hear his words. They were lost, just as he. Devoured into this terrible, terrible prison.

There was no wind, just utter stillness. There was no water, just utter dryness. There was no anything. Rather, the absence of such, and it drove this man mad. And in his madness, he withstood the oncoming torment. Not one living soul was meant to live in the absence of all things. Tartarus was meant for the living, and so, though barely, through which Percy lived. This was not a punishment. This was not a reward. It was as it just is, a burning simplicity.

If there was only something to write on, something scratch something else into to practice his mind. To remain active. But there wasn't. It felt like years had passed. Percy spent his hours, his days, weeks, months, years running. Maybe this madness had an edge, beyond which he could fall into eternity, and maybe hit his head on something so that he would be free from this torment.

But he knew that his efforts were futile. There was no horizon. This whiteness was endless, truly, ruthlessly endless. Oh, as these years passed buy, Percy begged for so many things. He begged for some sort of sensation to whoever might be listening. He tried slamming his hands against the platform he felt his feet pressing upon, but was greeted with naught but the dryly accepted nothing.

Let me die! Let me die! Let. Me. Die!

In these years, this millennia, Percy Jackson was lost.

…

"I. Am. Free."

Blurred vision cleared. What was that sound? Roaring? The cry of machines? They were constant, passing and returning to pass again in an endless cycle that seemed not to slow. What was that light? Such a lantern in the sky to shine so, a day star to burn life into this dying world. What was this pain? Knees scraping against the harsh ground, hands upon said ground and digging into shattered fragments of… of… what was this again?

Ah yes, this was glass. He remembered glass.

What is this red ooze that is drawn from my wounds?

Ah yes, blood. Oh, how he missed blood!

What was that sound? Move your sight. Do you not remember to move your very own eyes?

Forgive me, for I haven't found the need in such a long while.

That sound… what a shrill, abrupt breach of noise! However faint, constantly present. It comes from the creature beyond that odd… odd… food?

Rats. He remembered that he did not miss the rats.

Muscles move. Such strength! Move your eyes down to your hands. He did so. Open them. Open your hands.

And he did so.

What followed next was laughter. It crept out from deep within the lungs, and they tore into the air as a string of madness was struck. Manic laughter.

Hands grab the startled… the startled creature. The rat.

Break it! Hurt it! Kill it!

Kill it now.

Again and again was the small, grungy animal slammed into the wall, its little bones breaking, snapping, shattering. It was dead long before the laughter stopped, long before he ceased to breaking it against the wall.

More blood. It was coming from the rat.

Hold this prize of war! Hold it in your hand and feel triumph! Feel joy!

You are free!

…

Tony woke with a start.

His breaths came in short, air-hungry gasps as he sat up in the bed he shared with Pepper. He felt the place on his chest were the miniaturized arc reactor sustained his life had once been. Truth be told, crazy an idea as it is, he kinda missed the glowing heart thing.

"Dreaming of portals again?" Came Pepper's murmured words, "Thought we were passed that."

Tony glanced down at his girlfriend, and shared a little amused huff. "No portals this time," with a grunt, he slid out of bed, "Promise on my dad's grave."

"Let's not go there." She nuzzled her head farther into the soft pillow, sighing.

A comfortable silence ensued. Tony considered lying back down under the covers, next to his beloved, and close his eyes again to greet the dreams that may await him. He had no recollection of what he dreamed. Just an impression.

Mad terror.

It clung to him like a cold vice. And so Tony was afraid.

He glanced back again. Pepper was asleep, and was not disturbed while he spoke.

"Jarvis, lock this place down."

"May I ask why, sir?" The voice was pleasant, belonging to a brit.

"Just have a feeling. Lemme know if anybody gets close."

"Yes sir."

"Atta good butler."

And so Tony laid his head back down upon the pillow, and slept.

That impression of insane fear, of mad terror, never went away.

…

I know, I know. It's sorta depressing, and it goes nowhere plot-wise. Truthfully, I just needed to daddle with some ideas surfing around in my head. While I gather for a real next chapter, I have some questions that could occupy your lovely brains.

Where could Percy be? Is it a prison? Some consciousness? Of course, I already know, but I wanna see what y'all come up with.

What's up with this thing that killed the rat? It seems that he switched places with Percy. It seems that he hasn't felt, heard, or seen anything in a pocket of eternity. No wonder he's insane.

But no fear, he'll pull himself together. The best villains always do.

Anyways, I apologize if you feel that I wasted your time. As I said, just fooling around.

Anyhow, love you guys. See ya again soon.

PS – College courses starting again soon *pukes* oh why. Why sweet merciful universe? I was happy during this break! Watchin' anime, enjoying absolutely no work, getting cool things like privacy and space. It was awesome! But now... *Devil horns grow* I have to converse! To… to… socialize. *drools fire*

Just do me a favor and kill me already.

I'd appreciate it.