XII
The Pantheon War
Jace Lightwood and his family sat bored at an emergency Clave meeting that was held in the New York Institute for unknown reasons. Jace tried to stay out of trouble with the Clave since the whole Johnathan incident, so really he had no idea what this meeting was about. He didn't want to be there either, but Clary insisted he should come. Some high up official named Irene Rukin called the meeting. she was an uptight all buisness woman like your stereotypical math teacher.
"It has come to our attention that a potential threat has risen against our race in America, most particularly here in New York City." She began. This got Jace's attention as he decided to pay attention.
"We Nephilim, angels, demons, and the downworlders aren't the only pantheon in existence. The pagan Gods of the Grecian, and Italian peninsula are very much alive." Jace caught his breath and his eyes widened along with all the other Shadowhunters.
"Percy." Jace thought fearfully.
"I know this is hard to believe, but the Clave has kept this a closely guarded secret ever since the crusades. We could never completely eradicate the old pagan beliefs, so they are still around. We have tolerated, and coexisted with them for centuries. However, it has come to our attention that they have caused significant damage to the mundane world both in the past and recently. Not only do their conflicts affect the mundane world, they actually involve the mundanes in some cases. Just as it is our duty to the rid the world of demons, it is our duty to keep the mundane world safe. Which is why the Clave and I are going to start a surveillance and control of Greek/roman influence. We may have to confront them directly eventually." Irene said carefully.
"So you want us to act like a police force?" Clary asked. Irene turned, and gazed at her disdainfully.
"In other words yes, I suppose that's correct" she said dismissively.
"What kind of disturbances have they caused? We haven't noticed anything catastrophic here in America." Mr. Lightwood asked.
"Excellent question. Similar to the magic that conceals us from mundane eyes, the Greek/Roman Gods have their own magic that blinds mundanes. Their magic is so powerful it can even confuse us Nephilim from what is really happening. We have only clued in to their mischief through an extensive investigation, and the aid of the warlocks. An event such as a natural disaster or a freak accident is really the work of that pantheon, it has just been veiled in a way for mundane's to understand, and to keep us in the dark." Irene answered her eyes looking around at everyone angrily, trying to get everyone to see and agree with her point of view.
"So, what have they really been up to?" Mrs. lightwood asked.
"There are countless examples, Perhaps the most evident is the American Civil war. Which was really a war between the Greek and Roman demigods that got so out of hand it involved mortals. Ugh demigods that's the best example of direct involvement with the mundane world, the disgrace." Irene nearly spat.
Jace swallowed and looked down at his hands nervously. Clary watched him carefully, and grabbed his hand in reassurance. Any doubt in Jace's mind that Percy had made up his life's story was gone. He continued to listen in shock.
"What is a demigod? How could they affect the American Civil War aren't the Gods in Europe?" Alec asked rationally many others in the room murmured and nodded in agreement.
"A demigod is the child of a mortal parent and a Godly parent, also known as half-bloods. The Greek/Roman Gods are here in America where western civilization or in other words the most powerful human civilization lies. The Gods currently reside above the Empire State Building." Irene continued Immediately there was shouting and outrage as people refused to believe such nonsense.
"You mean to tell us all those old myths about Heracles, Theseus, Achilles those were all real? This mythology is actual fact." someone asked looking at the official like she was crazy along with everyone else.
"Indeed they are. In fact these demigods are the main problem we're facing. Not only is their very existence messing with the mundane world, but they are influencing it and causing trouble. The story of the Trojan war is perfect example of their influence, and interference into mortal affairs." Irene answered un-fazed by everyone's reaction. Jace probably should have kept his mouth shut, but he had to speak up.
"Don't the demigods do a lot of good in the world? Theseus saved a bunch of kids from becoming human-sacrifices. Perseus saved the princess, and killed Medusa. Heracles saved a bunch of people…I mean I could go on." Jace said cheekily. Everyone started murmuring in agreement, and Jace was starting to feel good about himself until the official spoke up again.
"Well yes the demigods do some good deeds such as killing monsters, and such similar to our life's duty as Shadowhunters. However not all demigods are good, and many are dangerous and too powerful to even handle themselves. Some of the worst disasters in history the great London fire, the terrible San Franciscan earth quake of 1906 etc. have all been caused by half-bloods. Recently in modern times many National monuments have been significantly damaged, while other disasters have occurred as well, all of these disruptions have been caused by the children of the gods. The inexplicable damage that happened here in New York City a year ago was the destruction of another demigod war. These demigods must be brought under control." The official insisted the crowd was beginning to believe her clams, and now they were starting to be swayed to her side.
"What do you mean brought under control?" Clary asked carefully the question on everyone's mind.
"First we will bring them in for questioning, and try to form a diplomatic solution if that doesn't work then some of their population will be eliminated." The official continued emotionless.
"Won't killing the Gods children incur their wrath? We don't possibly have the means to fight Gods!" someone shouted in outrage. The official dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
"Oh please the Gods care nothing for their children. Why do you think they have so many? Demigods are merely the gods' tools for doing anything. Get rid of their tools, and the Gods are no longer a threat." She said matter-of-factually. Jace looked down at his hands. Percy had told him something similar to that statement, but he also knew that the Gods were vengeful and they wouldn't just give up that easily.
"Anyway moving on, the demigods have two camps where they train, and can stay safe from monsters and other threats similar to how our Institutes are hidden form mundane view and keep us safe from demons. They are located on opposite ends of the country one in California, the Romans. The other here in New York, the Greeks." The official continued.
"You mean to say that these demigods have been living under our very noses this whole time?" Mr. Lightwood asked in disbelief. Irene nodded.
"Like I said their mist is very strong, and is powerful enough to confuse even us." The official said in exasperation. She continued on to explain more about demigods, and their world all of which was old news to Jace and Clary.
"You mean to tell us that we will be capturing, and potentially killing kids?" Maryse asked in disbelief, as a mother the thought of harming children was unthinkable. The official nodded with a steely gaze.
"Don't think about it as harming kids. Think about it as making the world safer, and eliminating a threat." The official said. Jace's stomach twisted in anger this official didn't know anything about Percy and his friends. Percy wasn't a threat he was the victim, if the Clave wanted to punish someone it should be the Gods not their children. This was madness.
"It isn't the demigod's fault if they cause destruction, and chaos. They're only following their parents orders, we can't punish them for that." Jace spoke up angrily. The official turned her hard gaze toward him.
"Do you wish to go against God's? If they hardly care for their children, why would they care about what we say." she asked him with a smirk. Jace was angry, and he clearly showed it.
"This still isn't right" Jace insisted. "Maybe instead of persecuting these people we should negotiate maybe even add them to the Accords. If they're like the old myths then they do good in the world just as we do." The official laughed at his statement, and many others gave him disapproving looks.
"Add demigods to the accords. Ha ha what a ridiculous idea." Irene said in between fits of laughter. "Yes some of them have done good things, but that's only a few among many." she finished. Jace crossed his arms angrily, and reluctantly stayed quiet Clary put her hand on his knee in an attempt to comfort him, and looked up at him. Her green eyes were fiery with anger as were his own.
The official went on to explain more and Jace just tuned it out until something pricked his interest and he started listening with fear and anger bubbling inside him.
"…The children of the eldest Gods Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades are the most powerful and dangerous of all the others. They shouldn't even be alive since the three brothers swore never to have half-blood children again. However, we know of five that are alive today. One of them a daughter of Zeus is no longer a threat, as she is under the care of a goddess. Which leaves the other four to be dealt with. One of them lives here in New York the son of Poseidon." The official said.
Jace's breath caught in his breath. There was only one demigod son of Poseidon and that was his friend. Clary tensed beside him, and squeezed his hand.
"His name is Perseus Jackson. We don't know exactly where he lives, but he is here and we will send an extraction team after him immediately. It shouldn't be too difficult to catch one teenager after all." The official said with a humorous smile.
"No, no this can't be happening. I-I have to warn him." Jace thought frantically shaking his head and running his fingers through his hair. Jace stood up in his seat and promptly left the meeting with Clary at his heels trying not to look to hasty, or suspicious.
"I have to go warn him." Jace said to Clary as they stormed through the halls of the Institute.
"I'm coming with you." Clary said without hesitation Jace looked at her quizzically.
"Any friend of yours is a friend of mine, besides I think what the Clave is doing is stupid and un-justified as well." Clary spat angrily. Jace smiled at his passionate girlfriend and squeezed her hand tighter, as he pulled on a head leading her to Percy's place.
When Jace and Clary finally got to Percy's apartement building and climbed the fire escape to his window, Jace was very disappointed to find that Percy wasn't there.
"Does he have a cell phone can't we call him?" Clary asked taking out her phone. Jace shook his head, as he started fiddling with the lock on the window to open it up and climb in. Clary gasped and put her hand on his shoulder.
"We can't just break into his room!" she shouted in shock.
"That's how I usually get in. You'd think he'd just keep it unlocked, but no that's too easy." Jace grumbled ignoring her protests as he slid the window open and climbed in.
"What are you going to do? Wait here for him to show up." Clary said standing there awkwardly with her arms folded across her chest. She didn't feel right sneaking into someone's house. She felt like she was invading Percy's privacy as she looked around at the pictures that adorned the walls, and the papers strewn across his desk. Jace was looking around the room like he was trying to solve a problem.
"Percy hasn't been here for a while, it's too clean." Jace said matter-of–factually stroking his chin in thought.
"To clean?" Clary asked sarcastically indicating the hastily made up bed, and open door of the closet revealing stuff just thrown in there in a disorganized jumble.
"Yeah, he must be at camp or something. Just my luck that the one time I really need to see him and he's not here." Jace growled in frustration falling on the bed and clenching his fists. Clary walked over and sat down next to him, and put her arms around him.
"We will find him before the Clave does. Besides he's strong I think he'd be able to hold his own." Clary said comfortingly. Jace relaxed a little at her touch and turned to look into her big emerald eyes. She kissed him and he kissed back, and for a moment he forgot his anger and frustration. It was amazing how she could do that.
"What the Hades?!" an outraged and very surprised voice shouted breaking the couple apart immediately.
Percy stood in the doorway wearing a blue hoodie over a bright orange shirt and jeans, with a back pack slung carelessly over his shoulder. The shocked, angry, disgusted look on his face was priceless. Clary immediately felt her face blossom red with embarrassment and quickly jumped off the bed and as far away from Jace as possible in the small room.
"Really Jace? Just because I leave for a few days you think my room is free reign? You can just bring your girlfriend here and… on my… ugh Jace really!?" Percy repeated angry and flustered. His face was also red, as he ran his hand through his messy hair.
"Percy! Are you alright?" Jace asked urgently completely ignoring the awkward situation, and Percy's anger. Percy just glared at him a little confused before dropping his bag by the door, and walking in.
"I'm fine, I was just at camp. Nice to see you again Clary." Percy said politely with a nod towards Clary.
"It's not what it looked like. I'm so sorry I-I...' Clary fumbled frantically grasping for words and blushing an even deeper shade of red. Percy just waved her off.
"Don't worry about it. I'll be sure to dispose of those sheets, and Jace will pay for this later." Percy said glaring at Jace murderously. Jace just laughed at the entire situation before getting serious again.
"look Percy the real reason why we're here is to…" Clary began but Jace cut her off.
"There's no easy way to say this. The Clave is after you." Jace said flatly.
"What?" Percy asked confused. Clary glared at Jace, and punched him in the arm.
"What did I do?" Jace asked with his hands up.
'Percy the clave our governing body is after you and your demigod friends…" Clary began but Percy interrupted her.
"Wait hold up." Percy said putting his hand out in a time out gesture. "Is this some kind of joke? Because I've had enough practical jokes from the Stolls the past couple of days, and I'm seriously not in the mood for more."
"The Stolls?" Jace asked.
"Hermes kids." Percy clarified.
"BOYS! The point is the Clave is on a man-hunt for Percy and his friends and he needs to get lost quick." Clary said irritated looking at Percy imploringly. Green met green as Percy met her gaze uneasily. He searched her face for any sign of falsehood, when he found none his eyes widened and he looked at Jace fearfully.
"Th-this isn't a joke?" he asked breathlessly. Jace swallowed guiltily.
"I'm sorry man, Like we said before we're here to warn…" whatever he was going to say next was cut off as Percy's face twisted into a snarl. He grabbed a fistful of Jace's shirt and pulled him off the bed and into his face all in less than two seconds.
'Jace!" Clary jumped up to help him, but Percy silenced her with a glare, before turning back to his prey.
"HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!" he growled. "Explain yourself. If you broke your promise." he turned to look at Clary. "I swear…" he began, holding a pen to Jace's neck.
Percy's glare was scary and merciless like any demon Clary had ever met. In fact everything he did in the last five seconds gave her goose bumps. Percy went from being relaxed, to scared, to "I'm going to kill you!" in all of a minute. Maybe there was some truth in Irene's words, perhaps demigods were indeed to powerful and unpredictable.
'Okay now let's not jump to conclusions." Jace began bringing his hands up to his chest in an attempt to pry open Percy's fingers, and watching the pen at his neck wearily. Clary watched with surprised interest, if anyone else friend or foe did that to Jace he wouldn't hesitate to push them off and assert his dominance. Instead Jace was being gentle and patient with the half-blood. These were qualities Clary had never seen her boyfriend express to anyone besides herself.
Percy just snorted and pushed Jace back down on the bed again, and quickly uncapped his pen. Clary yelped as the pen suddenly grew into a shimmering bronze sword aimed at her boyfriend's chest. She'd forgotten about Percy's pen/sword.
"Percy!" Clary squealed jumping up from her perch. She knew that her chances of attacking Percy unarmed and actually winning were slim to zero, but her instinct told her to defend her boyfriend.
"Relax I'm not going to kill him. Well at least not until he explains himself." Percy spat closing the gap between his sword point and Jace's neck.
"If I had a nickel for every time I've been on the other end of your sword Jackson I could quit my day job." Jace said sarcastically with a dazzling smile. Only Jace would try to make light of a life and death situation such as this.
"I don't know if anyone has ever told you that your jokes will get you killed someday or not. But if they have today will be that day if you don't start explaining NOW." Percy growled impatiently. Jace sighed.
"Well alright it all started…" Jace began as he retold all of what the official said, and their concerns. Clary supported his statements, and added any information he left out. When they were finished explaining it was like a wave passed over the half-blood. All anger, and tension vanished from his eyes. His muscles relaxed, and he lowered his sword before falling into his desk chair in defeat.
He buried his face in his hands and for a moment Clary wondered if he was going to cry. When all of a sudden he lowered his hands and looked up at the ceiling.
"Can I never get an F***ing break!" he shouted glaring up into the heavens. Clary swore she heard thunder in the distance, but maybe it was her imagination. She felt the power roll off of Percy in waves, as he shook with rage and suppressed anger. He continued to stare upwards before sighing and moving his gaze downward in a corner forlornly his hands massaging his head.
The poor guy looked so depressed, that Clary wanted to just go over there and put a hand on his shoulder and comfort him, despite the fact that he held her boyfriend at sword point a minute ago. Jace looked mad, but Clary knew that he was just trying to hide the guilt he felt. Even though this wasn't his fault what-so-ever. Jace cleared his throat, and faced Percy.
"I'm afraid there's more bad news Perce." Jace said. Percy didn't bother to look up. He just sat there with his sword in his lap, running his hand along the flat of the blade looking like he wanted to stab something with it.
"Oh of course there is, it's not like my situation wasn't sucktastic enough already." Percy spat bitterly.
Percy's sarcastic remark kind of ticked Clary off. Here they are trying to help him, and he's acting so bitter and mad. What was his problem? None of this was their fault. She looked over at Jace to see his reaction, and he was just smiling like this was normal.
"Boys." Clary thought to herself rolling her eyes.
"These shadowhunters that are going to be coming after you. There's a good chance that Clary and I will be among them." Jace said carefully. Percy looked up at him, his eyes were unreadable.
"You couldn't have told them the truth? That we're not bad. After everything we've been through your just going to betray me just like that?" Percy said looking hurt. He no longer looked so angry, instead he looked betrayed in denial and pitiful. Jace stood up forcefully.
"Percy believe me tried. I tried to tell them that this is madness, but they weren't going to listen to a kid especially one that has been in a lot of trouble recently. I never betrayed you, and I never will. I don't want to be a part of them, but they'll probably end up dragging me into it." he said with conviction looking at Percy with power in his gaze.
"It's true." Clary added helpfully. Percy just looked away solemn with a conflicted expression on his face.
"Fine, I believe you." he stated tiredly then his eyes lit up with an idea.
"What if I came with you willingly? You said they were going to try diplomacy first right? I could tell them the truth, and that we're okay." Percy said standing up with the idea. Jace stood erectly like he was shocked and started crossing his arms in an "no" gesture.
"Absolutely not. Percy they think you're the most dangerous demigod out there if they don't listen to you which I'm sure they're not. They will kill you the clave likes to go by the better safe than sorry ideal." Jace said seriously the usual humor and sarcasm in his demeanor completely gone.
"What am I supposed to do Jace? Just hide and let other demigods get kidnapped, and possibly killed. I can't let that happen. Besides the clave is right, I have caused more damage than any other demigod alive." Percy said angrily his hands balled into fists.
"I won't let anyone take the fall for me." Percy said looking up at Jace in the eye. They glared at each other neither one backing down. Clary felt like the tension in the room would explode in any second, and was about to speak up when Percy broke the tension. He sighed and backed down.
"Look, thanks for warning me about this Jace. I now know that I should never doubt your loyalty again, I'm sorry." Percy began. Jace just nodded his gaze still conflicted. "I'm going to go back to camp and spread the warning to all the other half-bloods, and maybe Chiron will know how to proceed from here." Percy said rationally looking at Jace for an agreement. Jace stared at him for a moment longer before nodding.
"Yeah, that sounds good, but Percy you should know that after today and sometime this week the clave will probably have your apartment staked out. The city is no longer safe for you." Jace said.
"My parents." Percy said fearfully.
"The Clave doesn't care about mundanes they won't bother them." Clary assured him. Percy nodded carefully looking pale. He turned around towards his desk, and grabbed a stray piece of paper and a pen and quickly scrawled something on it. He then opened one of his drawers and took out a small drawstring bag and turned to the shadowhunters.
He tossed the bag with the note to Jace.
"I don't have a cell phone so if you need to contact me. Make a rainbow, and say the incantation on that paper and throw in one of those drachmas. My face we'll appear in the mist and we can talk." Percy said.
"Make a rainbow? Seriously?" Jace asked. Percy just rolled his eyes.
"It's ancient Greek communication. We call it Iris-messaging because Iris is the goddess of rainbows and the one that came up with it." Percy said dismissively.
"Like skype." Clary said with a smile. Percy looked at her, and managed the first smile she'd seen on his face all night.
"Yeah exactly." He said. Jace opened the bag and started fingering the gold coins greedily.
'There's only one chat per coin so use them wisely." Percy said. Jace just closed the bag again, and smiled sticking his hand out for a shake.
"Well so long Jackson hopefully we won't see each other again for a while." Jace said with a smirk. Percy just smiled grimly, and shook the hand. Jace and Clary started moving to go out the window, again when Percy muttered something behind them.
"How am I going to explain this to everyone? They'll think I'm crazy and stupid…" he muttered running his hand through his hair. Clary stopped and turned back to him. Percy was right, how could he get his people to believe what he was saying? He could also get in trouble if these gods found out that he was in cahoots with nephilim.
"You can't just make something up?" Clary asked. Percy shook his head.
"I wish, but my girlfriend will see right through me I can't lie to her. Chiron is over a thousand years old he's seen every lie in the book, it's impossible to pull one over on him." Percy said with a smirk. Clary swallowed.
"Did he really just say a thousand years old?" she thought distractedly. Clary thought about it for a minute, before making up her mind.
'Let me come with you to your Camp. I'll help you explain stuff, and they'll have to believe you if I'm there." Clary said bravely. She would be stupid not to be scared to go to some unknown camp full of people she was told were dangerous, with a boy she barely knew. However, she had to stop an inevitable war and injustice from happening.
"Clary no, the Clave and our family will get suspicious if you leave. Percy' friends might not be as kind to you as he is." Jace said looking between them protectively.
'Yeah besides I don't think it'll help my case with Annabeth if I showed up to camp with a Pretty red-head." Percy said unhelpfully rubbing the back of his neck. Clary blushed, but didn't back down as she stepped away from Jace to stand by Percy.
"I'm going with you, and that's final. Jace just tell the others that I'm with Luke or something." She told him, as she walked up to Jace and gave him a kiss.
"I feel like this is what I have to do. Please don't try to stop me." Clary told him looking him in the eye. Jace clearly didn't look happy about it, but didn't stop her.
"Fine just be careful. Jackson if anything happens to her…" Jace began but Percy cut him off.
"Yeah, Yeah I know just get going blondie." Percy said dismissively with a wave of his hand. A flicker of a smile crossed Jace's face, before he climbed out the window and was gone. Percy gulped wondering if the next time they see each other it would be as enemies.
A/N- DUN DUN DUNNN! I love suspenseful, ominous endings! Yeah so again I know this doesn't exactly go with the story, but oh well I had an idea and I just had to write it down. This will probably be in four or more parts idk we'll see. Thanks for R&Ring :D