Chapter 12: Trust
Hi again sorry for doing those cliffhangers! I'll stop! I promise! (Maybe)
Anyway this chapter probably involves Reyna and Piper a bit. So please read and review! ^_^
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson franchise.
Percy/Jason
Something compelled him to do it. He rose to his feet and stepped in front of the dark god. "Lord Hades. We beg you... don't punish him like this."
"Ahh son of Poseidon... if only I couldn't. I saw what happened. I can bring anyone back from the dead but... if it is my own child... I need the approval of my two younger brothers Zeus and your father. Zeus surprisingly agreed but... Poseidon..." Percy was shocked. Dad? The one time Zeus agrees to help a hero, it's DAD that gets in the way?! Hades continued. "He's changed somehow. I don't know what happened to my little brother... to make him hate me so much."
"You're saying... my father... is the one preventing this?" The immensely tall god nodded sadly.
"I never begged my younger brothers for anything and even now I resist. Must I be reduced to this? Why does he do this..."
Jason and Leo rose to their feet, Frank still obliviously bowing down. Percy straightened his face, and signalled to Jason to speak—the son of the sea god didn't do speeches. "No my lord. You will never be reduced to this. You will not beg of Poseidon... Percy will."
Hades's eyes widened and he fumbled with his words. "Y-You jest!" Seeing that the demigods were serious, his face lost all its energy. "You heroes... do a lot to make me forget my hatred for your kind. I am forever... in your debt." With that, the death god bowed and disappeared in a whirl of black smoke.
Percy was raging. "Where's my dad?! Let me at him!" Jason put his hands on his shoulders and held him in place.
"We'll find him. And remember, if I let you at him, you're gonna kneel and beg. Nothing more. Nothing less."
"Mm."
On the way back, they again crossed the two brothers sitting under the tree, and something evidently triggered Jason's memory. "Apollo... didn't Zeus want to kill you after the Giant War recently?"
Apollo looked to Jason and then back to Hermes. "Yes he did. And he was going to take my life..." He slapped the younger god hard on the back, causing Hermes to grin and take his shades off. "But Hermes saved me. I owe him my life."
"Oh come on bro. Don't say it like that... I just helped you out."
Jason bowed again. "I take my leave from Olympus."
Apollo put two fingers to his forehead. "Be safe. Poseidon can be deadly. We'll try to protect you from here."
Hermes reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial of red liquid which he threw into the air for Jason to expertly catch. "Here. This is for the son of Hephaestus to survive underwater." Jason tossed it to Leo, who dropped it into his toolbelt, which was again shrunk to normal belt size. "And don't underestimate our loyalty. We're sons of Zeus just like you. We won't let you or your friends die without a fight from us. Now go before the elevator leaves without you." Apparently Hermes had called an elevator for them in advance. Jason nodded and turned to go.
Thoughts consumed him as he walked. Apollo will help us? But I thought Poseidon liked Percy... The gods were whimsical, but it didn't seem possible for the sea god to suddenly hate his own son. Although at one point Hades had hated Nico.
Percy realized his friend's thoughts and assured him. "There has to be something more to it. Like maybe Khione is back or something."
Frank nodded solemnly. Now that Jason thought about it... the son of Mars was pretty well cut out for praetor. He was well built, the strongest in their group, a good fighter, a decent leader, and usually a calm head. They all sighed as they heard the ding of the elevator, signalling the end of their descent. Leo squeezed out first, being the thinnest. Then came Percy, followed by Jason, and lastly Frank.
Jason/Leo
When they exited the huge empire state building, they remembered the fact that they were miles away from Poseidon's palace. Luckily, the scrawny son of Hephaestus came to the rescue. He pulled a small whistle out of his belt and with it summoned Festus (who could detach from the ship) , who he transformed into a large celestial bronze limo. Percy grinned. "Wow Leo, you really know how to travel in style." Leo put an arm around Percy's shoulders and nodded.
"Yeah. I made a few modifications..." while you guys ignored me. Jason looked over and immediately understood the message. I'll have to talk to him later.
Jason opened the door and sat lightly on one of the back seats which were designed in a square. (I have no idea how to explain, but it's like when in the back of the limo, there's back seats and then there are seats on the sides and then there's seats on the back of the front seats and they're all connected.) Leo sat beside the former praetor, and Percy sat on the other side of Jason. Frank sat beside Percy. "So... how do we... get there... Jason and Percy are too ADHD to drive and Leo and I are too young."
The son of Poseidon smirked. "This was a gift from Nico a few months ago." He pulled a whistle out of his pocket and blew it, summoning the same zombie that Nico had summoned earlier in the Giant War. (BoO reference.) "Poseidon's palace." The muscular zombie nodded and drove the large automobile into traffic. Percy leaned back in his seat and put his arms on the back of the seats, one around Jason's shoulders, the other around Frank's. "Ahh... let's relax now."
Leo leaned back and pulled some random wires and parts out of his belt, which he started playing with. "Hey... since my dad's fire... you sure I should come with you guys?"
Jason punched the scrawny boy's shoulder. "Don't be stupid. Of course you are! We got the vial for you. And anyway it's worse for me, Zeus and Poseidon are always enemies. And then Jupiter is Roman so... you get it."
Percy stared at Leo's eyes. "Not leaving you behind."
"Whatever you say Perce. You're the man." Leo pulled the small vial out of the belt on his small waist. The limo abruptly stopped, and Jason had to hold onto Leo to keep him from falling and dropping the potion. "Whoa! Watch it zombie man! You could have killed me!"
An apologetic grunt came from the front seat, and their driver stood from the driver seat (of course having to bend) and walked over to bow like a gentleman before the son of the sea god. For the first time, Leo took a good look at their chauffeur. He didn't really look like a zombie. Only his dark hollow eyes matched the popular stereotype. He didn't wear torn clothing. Quite the opposite actually. His suit was in better shape than any of the heroes' clothes. He was well built, and looked strong enough to throw Leo with no effort. Seeing him bow before the comparatively short and small son of Poseidon almost made Leo laugh—almost. "Forgive me, my master. Lord Poseidon's palace is beneath us. I trust you can swim?"
Percy smiled and nodded. "Just try to be careful next time Aegeus. We'll get there. Will you come with us? We may need protection my friend."
"I hope you will forgive my uselessness master... the undead like myself cannot cross any kind of moving water. Hence the River Styx."
Leo shuddered as he remembered the Styx. Even Percy met the son of Hephaestus's eyes before responding. "Don't worry Aegeus, we'll protect each other. I understand. Now return to Hades."
"Yes my lord." The tall undead man bowed lower before disappearing in a poof of black smoke.
Frank opened the limo door since he was the closest to it. "Let's go. The waters seem calm for now." Percy nodded and followed the muscular son of Mars out the door, leaving Jason and Leo alone in the limo.
The son of Jupiter turned to hug Leo. "Leo..."
"I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it like that. Don't worry about me, I'm over that." Jason pulled away just as Percy's head popped in.
"You guys coming?"
"Yeah sorry." Jason hopped out of the car, followed by Leo who dismissed Festus. "Lead the way."
The heroes were on a beach with what seemed like a continental rise a few feet into the water. Percy pointed straight at it. "Down there."
"I was afraid you'd say that. Everyone ready?"
Percy led the way, walking into the water after making sure no one was watching. After he got to the edge of the deep trench, he waited for the rest of the group. Jason was second. He whipped up a tornado around him, which at first caused Leo to cower in fear, but then stare in awestruck admiration. He walked into the water in his little bubble of air. Frank followed next, turning into a seal when no one was looking, and reached the trench at the same time as Jason.
Leo hesitated. He held the vial in his bony hand and stared at it. Then, overcoming his initial fear of the liquid, he emptied its contents into his mouth. It was actually not as painful as he thought it would be. Not painful at all really. He dived into the water and grinned as he noticed he had an endless supply of air and his clothes were still dry. He reached Jason's side before the son of the sea god continued to journey through his home realm.
The son of Hephaestus made a few "seal" jokes at the expense of the son of Mars, but one good blow on the scrawny chest shut him up.
When they reached the bottom of the trench, somehow Frank turned back into human form. His eyes widened and he struggled to breathe. Jason hurriedly drew him into his air bubble, and the stronger boy gasped and mumbled many thanks to his former praetor.
Percy called out a strange chant to his father, and Jason's tornado disappeared, at first causing the two boys inside it to panic. After a few seconds, they realized they also were under the same effects of Leo's potion. Poseidon magic huh? Not bad.
Jason put a hand on Percy's shoulder. "What now?" The son of Poseidon pointed straight ahead at the grand blue palace before the demigods.
"We go in there. And thanks to Jason, I will beg my father for the life of our dear Nico."
Before the demigods could even enter the palace, however, they were attacked. A huge double-tailed, tall and strong merman appeared in front of the group, his huge hand holding a long spear that could probably cut through twenty Franks to put it simply, and only wearing a brown loincloth. The spear was put against Jason's throat, and Jason himself was smashed into a rock, unable to get to his feet due to the huge pointed shaft touching the skin of his throat. Jason took a second to process and came to one explanatory conclusion: Triton. Leo screamed. "Jason!"
Percy
The huge, ten-foot-tall god looked down at the puny hero who trembled in fear. Then, Triton's eyes fell on Percy and his gaze softened. "Brother?"
Percy fell to his knees and bowed respectfully. "Yes Triton. It's me."
"Get up!" The massive merman dropped his spear as he aided his half-brother to stand, causing Jason to deeply gasp and shakily get to his feet. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't know it was you brother. Forgive me son of Jupiter." He glanced apologetically at Jason, who had a very worried Leo at his side. "Perseus I assume you come to see Father?" An affirmative nod satisfied the deity. "Follow me." Percy took a moment to make sure Jason's spine wasn't displaced from the smash impact.
"Don't worry about me. I'm right behind you." The four followed Triton as he led them through the blue halls of Poseidon's palace. When they reached the throne room, Triton fell to his knees and lowered himself completely to the marble floor. The heroes did the same.
When Percy raised his head, he saw something he didn't expect. Poseidon looked different... more... Greek. More ancient. More powerful. He finally understood how his father could intimidate his enemies.
Poseidon's hair was short like a warrior's, and he was dressed fully in leather: leather tunic, tight leather pants, leather combat boots. Over that, he wore a shiny celestial bronze breastplate, shinguards, etc.
Percy gulped. "F-Father?"
The powerful lord of the seas stood up, showing his full height of about fifteen feet. Percy had to consciously keep himself from shaking. It's just dad. He's not gonna hurt me. Poseidon's gaze softened and his jaw loosened into a smile. Then, Percy was fully satisfied that it was still his dad, just in a different form. "Yes my son? All of you. Stand. I hate it when people do that." Percy nodded, signalling Jason to rise. It is best that only children of the big three stand. "Triton, you did well... bringing your brother here. I haven't seen him in a while."
Percy wanted to have the normal father-son small talk but there wasn't time for that. "Dad why won't you let Nico escape?"
The smile disappeared, to be replaced with a frown. "For your protection, my son. Nico di Angelo is a threat to your life. As long as he was alive, I have tried to take his life. Do you think I could miss such an opportunity?"
He was speechless. "Nico is... he's my friend. He would never hurt me."
"Not consciously... but he is a son of Hades. We have patched our relationship, but our children have not. Furthermore, that boy has undergone severe emotional pain. Some of which was caused by you. I wouldn't be surprised if he took your life for revenge."
At first, Percy was disgusted at the thought. Then he thought... It's not that unrealistic is it... And it wasn't.
One day while they were practicing sword fighting, Nico would push Percy against a wall. Percy would grin as his sword was knocked out of his hand, proud of how strong the son of death had become. He would wait for Nico to take a step back and hand him his sword again. Nico would step back, but only to draw his sword on Percy. The son of Poseidon would stare in horror as his best friend stabbed the blade into his chest—
Jason tugged on Percy's arm. "Perce? You ok?" Somehow, the blonde was able to keep an undertone that Percy could hear but no one else could. Well he's a leader.
"Y-Yeah sorry." He shook all the despicable thoughts from his head and met his father's eyes again. "Father, I trust him. Please. Do this for me."
The god sighed. "Are you sure? I'll do it if you insist..."
"Please."
Poseidon waved his hand through the air in some kind of godly gesture reluctantly. "Now you should go to the Underworld to pick him up." He made another gesture, and Percy passed out instantly.
Sorry for the ultra late update! This is probably gonna be weekly now since I'm way busier on week nights. Please review! ^_^
