This chapter is rated T (Bad language)

Chapter 12: First Isolate Z

I looked around at the gods I had left to me. Hermes, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Hestia, Dionysus, and Hephaestus were staring back at me expectantly. Hecate was asleep on the couch. Hypnos was asleep on the other couch. Morpheus too, was pretty tired from causing the mortals to feel relaxed and sleepy instead of scared shitless. Eros was busy glaring at Hermes for touching me. Iris was typing away on her iPhone, keeping the demigods up to date via Fleecy. Nemesis was looking at me expectantly. She probably wanted to know when the killing would start.

I smiled fiercely back at her. "Nemesis, I have a job for you and Hecate."

Her grin widened. "What is it?"

I shrugged. "Just a simple case of kidnapping."

That got everyone's attention. I looked at Hecate, Morpheus, and Hypnos. Well, everyone who was awake.

"What?" Hermes frowned. "Who are we kidnapping?"

I smiled. "Hera. She's the leading force behind the gods. She's Zeus' right hand."

Athena nodded. "True…"

I turned to Hephaestus. "You'll like your newest job. I need you to take out Ares. Chain him, trap him, do anything you like with him, just get him away from Zeus."

He grinned with elation. His eyes screamed murder and bloodletting.

I chuckled and shook my head. "Hestia, I'm sure you'd like to treat Demeter with a cut of her own. I know you're strong enough to deal with her."

Hestia frowned. "But I'm only a goddess of the hearth."

I laughed and took her hand. Suddenly, we were in the garden alone. "Hestia, Hestia, Hestia…" I shook my head and smiled at her. "What would the world be without the hearth?"

She frowned. "Without me?"

I nodded. "It would be cold, correct? Cold, lonely, desolate, hopeless, aimless. The home and hearth represents warmth and security and stability. Without that, a person would feel insecure, uneasy, fearful." I smiled. "You are the most powerful of all the gods, Hestia. You, the little goddess that no one looks to, no one bows to, no one even notices." I smiled and lowered my voice. "Imagine what Demeter would do, the younger finally bows to the elder."

Hestia closed her eyes. "She bows to me…" Then her eyes snapped open. "No…" she stared sharply at me. "Be gone Kronos!"

I coughed and blinked. "What?"

Her eyes filled with warm fired. I shied away, but she grabbed my wrists. I cried out. It hurt. Her touch hurt. It was too hot. She wouldn't let go.

"Such smooth words shouldn't exist on Percy's tongue. What have you done to him? What have you said and whispered in his mind? Let him go, Kronos. Let. Him. Go."

I screamed and collapsed, panting heavily. Hestia picked me up gently. "Percy?"

I leaned against her. "What did you…do?"

She smiled sadly. "I cleaned your mind of his influence. He was using you mouth."

I frowned. I knew when Kronos was trying to influence me and when he wasn't. I could sense his presence and deny him. I've done it before. My frown deepened.

I couldn't tell Hestia that. She was so certain that Kronos was the one behind it. "How long do you think?"

She shook her head. "Slowly edging into your life. It's not like demon possession. This is more like brainwashing."

I sighed and shook my head slowly. "I'm sorry. You're right. Forget everything I just said. That wasn't…that wasn't me…"

She nodded, but she seemed distracted. I smiled inwardly. She wouldn't forget what I said. She wouldn't, and it would prey on her mind until she gave in. She would want revenge against Demeter.

"I still need you to deal with Demeter. I need her away from Zeus."

She nodded. "I will deal with my younger sister." Her hand strayed slightly to her now completely healed cut.

I held back a vicious grin. Manipulation was truly an exhilarating thing to do. I didn't notice how cold I felt. I didn't notice, so I didn't realize.

We went back inside to find that the gods were now begging Mom to make some chocolate chip cookies.

"It helps strategy planning!" Athena cajoled.

I snickered. "Truly, Lady Athena?"

She sent me a look. I chuckled but turned back to Hermes. "This doesn't feel like war. This feels like…some sort of disjointed life separate from all anxiety."

Hermes nodded. "That's the influence Olympus has on all of us. It's separate from reality. We aren't at war. It doesn't feel like it."

I nodded and then sighed. "We need to get the Hunters up here. We need them. The war will be on Olympus. It will not take place on Earth. Not if I can help it. I'm not letting this world, the very world I've fought for twice now, get destroyed!"

The gods nodded. Everyone got ready for dinner. They were preoccupied with plans and thoughts of their own. Athena pulled me aside.

"The Farld Field is a good place for a battle. It would be good if we got there first."

I nodded. "I need to talk with Zeus just one more time though. I can't believe that war is the only option. So far, all we've done is for self-defense. From this point on, we will be attacking them. Gods can't die, but they can be banished. That is what will happen to my father and to all of us if we lose. A lot is at stake. I need to speak with him one more time. That's why I want everyone who's on his side, out of the way. Can you deal with Aphrodite?"

She smiled. "It would be my genuine pleasure."

I smirked. "Good. That leaves Persephone. I suspect that Hades can simply kidnap her again to the Underworld and force her under submission."

Athena smirked too. "Yes, I would suspect."

I snickered and then made a straight face. "I'm going to the roof." She nodded and left.

I went to the roof and looked at the stars.

"You don't have to keep that oath, you know."

I sighed. "I won't even ask how you knew of the oath I made to Eros, Hermes."

Hermes smirked and sauntered closer. "I already told you that I don't mind staying friends with you. However, I hope you understand that I totally ship Percabeth, if Hercy can't exist."

I flushed. "Dude, seriously?!"

He laughed. "I do not ship Erocy."

I blinked. "Wait, what?"

He grinned. "Pop culture anyone?! Do you seriously not know that everyone ships you with other people, mortal and immortal? You're even shipped with Hera and Zeus at the same time!"

I gagged. Hermes smirked and murmured, "I've read some of the things that Muses wrote. Whew…spicy."

I gawped at him. "Seriously?"

He grinned and nodded. With a flourish, he pulled out his phone from thin air. "They've even posted some on Olymnet. Here, let me…ah! Erocy! Here…

Eros pushed Percy against the wall and soon had the boy in a moaning mess. He wanted to worship every inch of this Jackson's delicious skin.

Percy couldn't breath, every time he opened his mouth he could only gasp as Eros did something else that made his body arch and curl. His pupils were blown wide.

Eros smirked up at his lover and then moved his mouth lower. Percy couldn't look away as he stared at Eros opening his mouth to-"

"SHUT UP!" Hermes ducked away from my attacks, laughing like a madman.

He tried to read on, while running around the roof, avoiding my flailing arms.

"Percy couldn't…even see straight…the pleasure curled in his stomach…he-' ACK!"

I finally had gotten Hermes to shut up. I pushed him off the roof.

Smiling triumphantly, I nodded once and went down to dinner.

Ah…the bromance between Percy and Hermes. ; D

Ink...