Shadows lingered around the room, almost like a heavy winters mist. It clung to him and crawled up his legs, making him shudder and squirm. The whole room felt damp and unwelcome with only a single flame in the centre for light and warmth. Percy couldn't feel it's warmth though, in fact, he couldn't feel any warmth at all.
"We've put our best expendable sources forward, milady-," a voice spoke from the thickening shadows on his right.
The voice had an accent he couldn't recognise. It was tainted and seemed to drip with malicious intent, while at the same time sounding alluring and charming. Percy shuddered right down to the bone at the sound of it.
"-but it still isn't enough. They have that blasted son of Poseidon," the voice finished darkly.
There was silence in the flame lit room, and Percy waited with anticipation for the next person to speak. His heart clenched tightly as he waited for the next person to speak, praying that it wouldn't be the oh to familiar voice of Kronos.
"That boys as thick as his father, he won't be much of a bother," a female spoke this time, her voice smooth and melodic, sounding as if it just came straight out a recording booth "what of the resistance?"
"Alpha is being mobilised as we speak," the male spoke again and the flames in the room flared for a moment, revealing a pale delicate hand decorated with a silver and purple ring "Delta is in negotiation, and…..we've hit a snag-"
The flame flared again with the women's anger, while the shadows in the room seemed to become so dense Percy wouldn't have been able to move if he wanted to.
"What kind of snag, Damianos?" The women's voice was now as cold as ice.
"We can't find any armies to mobilise. Barnacle beard has them all locked up out of reach," Damianos voice was filled with loathing and hatred.
Percy wondered what was going on. He had caught onto a little bit though, there where three armies. One army was bad enough, but three? It would be near impossible to fight, depending on the soldiers of course but-
"Here," the women seemed to purr out as her hand came into the flame light.
In her hand was a key. Not like one of those modern tiny keys that Percy always seemed to lose, but rather an old fashion one. Inlaid into the top was a shockingly purple gem that glittered and sparkled in a tantalising manner. A transparent hand suddenly came into view, well, as much as it could. The ghost took the key and hid back in the shadows, out of Percy's view.
"That'll get you whatever you need," the women purred out as the fire flared larger, it's orange tendrils rolling towards Percy until they reached him and began to burn-
Percy rocketed up in bed, suddenly feeling extremely hot. Looking at his arms he saw only his perfectly tanned skin, not even a blemish. Rubbing his face he looked out the window at the New York City skyline, realising how late he must've slept.
"The weather is a perfect-" Jarvis began.
"What's the time?" Percy questioned as he sat on the side of the large bed and rubbed his eyes, trying to keep a strong grip on the dream.
"9:33 am," responded the AI "you have a meeting with Director Fury in twenty seven minutes,"
Standing up Percy moved to his cupboard and grabbed the first clothes he saw. He had been with the Avengers four days now, and it seemed Fury wanted to know what he'd found out about the attacks. Truth was he didn't know nothing, well, he didn't used to know anything.
Digging out a coin Percy headed into the bathroom, washing all the sweat from the day prior away. The bathroom became filled with a large amount of mist, perfect for an Iris Message.
"Oh goddess of the rainbow, show me Nico Di Angelo…..Hades Palace," Percy gave a shot in the dark to were his cousin might be.
After Nico's rash departure two days ago Percy hadn't heard anything from him or Thalia. Annabeth had told him that Thalia had left for Maryland yesterday, following rumours of a Manticore in a national park. It seemed he didn't have to worry about wasting a drachma because Nico appeared in the message, looking more worn and haggard then Percy liked.
"Percy," Nico stated as he ran his hand through his greasy hair.
"You look like crap," Percy blurted out.
"Like I don't know," Nico muttered darkly "I was just about to message you. A council is being held at eleven, it's bad if father is calling the council,"
After the Battle for Manhattan Hades had been generally accepted by the rest of the gods. It seemed the three bickering brothers had matured a bit (it only took a couple thousand years) and let their stubbornness subside slightly.
"What's happened?" Percy asked worriedly, remembering his dream.
"Spirits are missing. Half of the Fields of Asphodel have disappeared, the waiting lines have been reduced to the elderly and children, some have even escaped the Fields of Punishment. Thanatos can't find them anywhere," Nico looked honestly worried.
"Was one of them a ghost named…Damianos?" Percy tested the waters.
Nico seemed to think for a moment before responding "He was sent to the opera pits in the forties….."
His cousin snapped his fingers and spoke to someone off screen before being given a slip of paper "killed at twenty by a sword to the neck, Demigod child of Hecate who tried to open a gateway to other dimensions. Judgement sent him to the pits because he could've broken the treaty with the Asgardians…why?"
"I had this dream…." Percy quickly explained to his cousin the dream, watching as he frowned.
"You need to bring this up to the council," Nico said as he played with his ring.
"Tell dear uncle I had a dream about a demigod ghost?" Percy snorted "I'd prefer to have Thor smash me into a wall with his hammer,"
"You're choice I suppose," Nico shrugged, turning around to look at a door "I have to go. I'll see you later,"
Swiping through the message Percy quickly ruffled up his hair and put on his shoes. Leaving the room he frowned deeply on his way to the elevator. He didn't like the feel of this. In the elevator he tapped his foot and began thinking about if he should bring it up to the council. On short notice the council would only be filled with those who could make it, like Athena, Zeus, Hera, and those people didn't particularly favour him. Hera would just say it was a bad dream and to grow up, Athena would call him an idiot, and Zeus would just agree with his wife.
"Am I late?" Percy questioned as he walked into the conference, running a hand through his hair.
"Yes, Mr Jackson, you are," Fury stated from the front of the room, looking displeased.
"Doesn't that thing tell the time?" Tony asked as he gestured to the watch on Percy's wrist.
Percy gazed down at the watch, seeing he was indeed over time. Blushing he took up a seat a little away from Hawkeye, who seemed to be busying himself with seeing how many pieces of crumpled paper he could get into Natasha's hair. The red headed super spy though would just casually bat away the papers as if it was nothing.
"Well, what do you have to report Mr Jackson?" Fury questioned, sitting down at the head of the table.
Percy frowned for a moment before shrugging "something big is going to happen,"
"How can you tell?" Steve asked, eyeing Percy with interest.
"I had a dream…." Everyone gave him disbelieving looks "…and I spoke to my cousin,"
"So what's going to happen?" Tony questioned.
"Someone's building an army. From the sounds of it, they're trying to break into the ocean prisons," Percy frowned heavily.
"What's in them?" Natasha questioned.
"Giant squid, crabs, traitors-" Percy listed before stopping "-but something else as well. Hades is emptying,"
"Hades as in hell?" Clint questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes," Percy nodded as he thought of a way to explain the lay out "those who have been judged go either to the Fields of Punishment, Elysium, or the Fields of Asphodel,"
"In English this time please," Tony stated "I was never really into this whole mythology thing,"
"They either live in eternal pain, eternal silence, or heaven," Percy repeated "the Fields of Punishment has lost some people, the Field of Asphodel had halved in population, and the waiting line is apparently just all old people and children,"
"What about Elysium?" Bruce questioned with interest.
"Elysium is the home of the heroes, they have no reason to leave," Percy thought sadly of everyone in the war.
"How can Spirits go missing?" Natasha questioned "where would they go?"
"I don't know," Percy shrugged and spun around in his chair, looking at his watch "I kind of have to go,"
Fury frowned this time as he watched Percy stand up and head to the door "we're not finished,"
Percy patted down his pockets and made sure he had everything before answering "the gods called. And as important as you think you are they come first. I nearly got turned into a dolphin last time I was late,"
The son of Poseidon left quickly, exiting onto the busy street. It didn't take him long to reach the Empire State Building, and after getting the key card and heading up the service elevator (earning some looks from tourists) he walked down the streets of Olympus.
The place looked great, even though it was still being reconstructed. The new buildings rose higher then before and glittered brighter in the sun. The gardens smelled fresh and the inhabitants seemed completely at ease in the city. Up in the Throne Room Percy sat by his fathers thrown after a polite bow to everyone who managed to make it to the council.
"What is it brother, I hope it's important?" Zeus sighed at the dark and moody Hades.
"People aren't coming down to the queues," Hades said with disdain.
"Why are complaining? I thought you'd savour this time," Hermes asked casually as he tapped away at his phone.
"Hermes, put that phone away right now, before I turn it into a cow," Hera snapped at her step son's "And headphones out Apollo,"
"Yes, mother," Hermes rolled his eyes and snapped the phone away, tucking it into his track suit, while Apollo just tugged the earplug out and dropped his sunglasses over his eyes.
Hades explained the loss of people to the gods, and everyone seemed to listen closer when he mentioned that he himself couldn't even find them. Percy was playing with his shoelace when he heard his name being mentioned.
"-Percy had a dream," Nico seemed to be finishing.
"It was just a dream-" Percy tried to explain.
"Dreams are important," Apollo cut in "I feel a Haiku coming on-"
"What happened, Percy?" Poseidon cut off Apollo.
Percy relayed his dream for the third time that day.
"I must go send word to Triton" His father's face became stormy as he stood up "I fear grievous things are to come,"
His father strode out of the room. Percy could feel the unease rolling off him, and he shuddered, knowing that the storms would be bad tonight. Zeus adjourned the meeting until next week, wanting to see what happened. Apollo was put on dream control, while Hermes was to watch all Iris Messages.
As Percy began walking out onto the streets with Nico a flash of silver caught his eye. He zeroed in on a hand and looked as it swung out of view, but not before he saw the purple gem inlaid in it, in the shape of a serpent. Acting on instinct he squeezed through the lunchtime crowds, Nico hurrying to keep up behind him.
The person wearing the ring was wearing a deep purple cowled cloak that hid their face. Shushing his cousin he rushed behind the women, going to pull the cowl down, but in a flash of smoke she was gone.
"What in Hades?" Nico questioned, though it was directed more to Percy.
"That ring was in my dreams," Percy gazed at the spot the women had been.
Nico was about to speak, but Percy froze as he smelt a rather unnerving smell.
"Is that….flesh?" Percy questioned, spinning around to the direction of the wing.
"Smells like the oil pits," Nico commented, worry suddenly gone.
They where in the gardens of the gods, something Annabeth had added after much whining from Grover. Percy gazed around at the trees and fountain, trying to find the source of the smell. To the west though he noticed a quickly growing column of smoke. Without a word the pair began racing through the trees towards the smoke, grimacing at the smells.
"Gods," Nico swore as they exited the line of the trees.
This part of the gardens was a memorable for all the hunters and campers that died in the war. The bronze plague though was nearly unseeable through the thickening smoke. Percy and Nico could see what lay at the bottom of it clearly though. The bodies of numerous animals lay in the pool of cacked blood. The son of Poseidon saw a horse, an eagle, a deer before he had to look away.
"Put it out, my lord!" A nymph called from the trees.
People now where beginning to rush through the trees to the scene. Percy clenched his fist, and felt his anger grow as he looked into the glassy eye of the dead horse. With a burst of strength he pulled out Riptide and buried it into the ground, before letting the salty water flow out from around it and does the disgusting smelling flames.
"Eagle, cow, horse, deer, donkey, tiger…" Nico listed as he stepped towards the carcasses "sacred animals,"
Percy looked at the horse sadly "who would do this?"
In answer, Nico pointed at the memorial. Where the names of those who died used to be engraved there was now a scratched in symbol, an A surrounded by a crude and shaky circle.
"Anarchy,"