For his entire life, Percy had been taught to stay strong, no matter what others told him. His first five years as a demigod had been spent fighting Kronos. The lord of time had tempted him, reasoned with him, threatened him, but had never brought him down to his knees.
Even from the beginning, Chiron had always told him to never give in to the promise of power. And Percy promised that it would never happen.
When he had first felt the true expanse of his capabilities in Mount St. Helens, he began to understand their worries, but it didn't bother him much at the time. After all, what powers would a demigod have to have to be unable to control himself?
And that logic had remained by his side for many years. Until Tartarus.
Standing before a cowering Akhlys, while controlling the primordial goddess's own domain had shattered something within him. Permanently.
He saw it everyday in his friends worried gazes.
In the mirror.
In Annabeth's terrified eyes as she stood in Akhlys' fields.
Percy knew what she saw, a monster, dangerous and powerful, standing in place of the clueless and innocent boy whom she had fallen for. The dangerously loyal demigod who might've been her first chance at something permanent.
And Percy wanted that too – to create a life with Annabeth Chase, to silence her worries – but not enough to risk her life.
So as Tartarus drew nearer, and his shadowy tendrils wrapped around the Argo II, Percy Jackson finally gave in to the primordial lord's whispers.
The immense pool of power that had begun building up within him four years ago...was at last released.
It was neither comfortable nor painful, cold nor hot, but it surrounded and consumed his very soul. He didn't fight it. At last, Percy allowed himself to feel, to release seven years of pent-up rage and confusion into the unforgiving expanse of Tartarus.
He vaguely registered the blue-green aura that encased his body, or how the sea became an extension of his body as it ripped apart the binds that held down the Argo II. In his mind, the only thing that mattered was tearing Tartarus apart with his bare hands. A black rage settled over Percy, his vision tunneled and was tinted with red as he shot forward – encased in his own hurricane – and cut cleanly through the other ship.
And for once, the voice that had never quieted, was speechless.
"TARTARUS!" Percy roared, "SHOW YOURSELF!"
The aura around him glowed brighter, and the mass of monsters that manned the ship cowered and turned away in an attempt to shield themselves from Poseidon's blessing.
Percy snarled, and his eyes darkened in anger. In one fluid motion, he drew Riptide and decapitated the nearest monster – an unfortunate dracaena. The son of Poseidon strode forward, eyes roaming across the small army.
One by one, they uncertainly drew their weapons.
"Stay back," an empousa snarled.
A dark grin flashed across Percy's face, and he continued to stride forward. The monster didn't seem to notice that its friends were completely frozen.
"Stop right there, or we will atta-!"
She suddenly quieted as Percy darted forward, faster than the empousa's ability to react, and brought Riptide to its throat.
His voice was quiet, barely a whisper. "Or what? What will you do? Because I will show you what I can do if you don't tell me where Tartarus is."
The empousa swallowed, all bravado gone, "I don't know where he is."
The son of Poseidon shook his head, and sighed. "A shame, Kelli, I was hoping that you could help me out."
Kelli began to scream. She fell to the floor, and clawed at herself as smoke and tears began to flow from her eyes. Writhing and screaming, the empousa slowly turned into a shell, devoid of blood and body fluid. Her eyes flicked about frantically, and they pleaded for death.
Percy happily obliged.
"Now tell me, WHERE IS TARTARUS?" he snarled.
A deep voice cut through the silence.
"I am right here, little demigod."
I'm still here! I know I haven't updated for an entire month, and I'm so sorry!
Sorry about the short chapter too.
As always, Review and Fav!