With Hecate, I used creative license, and stirred up all the myths about her together. And yes, if you're wondering, she is the one in Percy's dreams.
"It makes sense," Annabeth said as she sat at the table with the rest of the Avengers, Thalia, Nico and Percy.
The four demigods had banned together to figure out what they could, before the emergency council meeting scheduled for later the next day. Nico and Thalia were all nicely healed thanks to ambrosia (Nico still had a slight limp) and where eagre to help.
"Care to enlighten the rest of us?" Clint asked, looking unimpressed.
"Her of three," Annabeth repeated what Percy had told her "Hecate is the Greek goddess of the three paths, goddess of three faces, Maiden, Mother, Crone. She's the goddess of ghosts, and the only deity, apart from Hermes, allowed in all three Big Three realms,"
"That would explain how she got the wind spirits, the ghosts and the ocean prisons," Nico ran a hand through his hair.
"But she fought against the gods in the Battle of Manhattan, didn't she get a punishment?" Percy asked confused "I thought she was all evil and hated,"
"She actually used to be liked," Thalia commented "she used to be friends with Lady Artemis, but then the mortals began playing her out as the Crone, and she turned,"
"But why didn't she get a punishment?" Percy asked, still feeling thoroughly confused.
"Demeter pulled some strings," Nico frowned deeply "apparently it was an old favour,"
"But why would she go against the gods?" Annabeth asked the question to herself "if Kronos couldn't do it, why did she think she could do it by herself?"
"Cockiness?" Percy shrugged, and Annabeth glared at him "just making a suggestion,"
"Can I make a suggestion?" Tony cut in suddenly.
"Don't see why not," Nico shrugged carelessly.
"I can name a few reasons," Percy and Thalia said at the same time, making them glare at each other.
"We're a team, we work together….it'd be nice to know what you're talking about," Tony said it slowly.
"Hecate used to be one of the biggest goddesses out there; everyone favoured her and loved her. She was part of the moon cycle, protector of women, and was said to ease the pain of childbirth. Soon people began seeing her as the goddess of Ghosts, Witchcraft and Necromancy, that's how she became known as the Crone. When the Gods began denying her a say, and a cabin at camp, she turned against them," Annabeth gave them an easy run down. "I don't understand why she's still unhappy,"
"What we're trying to understand is why she's attacking again," Thalia returned "and what she wants,"
Thor spoke up this time "I believe she is after Loki," the deity looked grave "and I fear what damage they may cause together,"
There was a brief silence around the table as they let that information sink in. Hecate had an army, a motive, and had already proved powerful….but her with Loki….that would be dangerous. More then dangerous; deadly. They had to stop her.
"How can she reach him? I thought the rainbow bridge was your only form of getting around?" Tony asked Thor, breaking the silence.
"She cannot breach the Bifrost, but Loki has permitted others into Asgard before without Heimdall's knowledge. It would have to be from a place of power-"
"-Olympus-"Annabeth stated
"- I fear though he is imprisoned he can still work his magic," Thor rubbed his tired face "the All Father has secured the walls and tripled the security just in case,"
"But when?" Tony asked.
"She's the goddess of the waning moon….maybe then," Annabeth shrugged.
"The next waning moon in is exactly five days," Jarvis chimed in.
"How can ghosts hurt people?" Clint asked, "aren't they intangible or something?"
Nico blinked in surprise at the questioned; "With enough power they can be given tangible bodies,"
"Like zombies?" Tony asked in disbelieve.
"Kinda," Nico returned.
"The Hunters are going to help," Thalia said, unconsciously touching her tiara "we have the numbers,"
"Uncle wouldn't allow it," Nico argued "he hardly let Percy join,"
"The Hunters won't be linked to the Greeks, unlike Camp," Thalia argued.
"We need all the forces we can get," Steve nodded "if you can fight with us, it would be greatly appreciated, ma'am,"
Thalia's eyes seemed to narrow "don't call me ma'am,"
Steve was a little a taken back, but apologised anyway "sorry,"
"I'm going to get the Hunters hunkered down at camp, and visit Lady Artemis," Thalia stood up and strode over to the elevator "coming Annabeth?"
"I'll stay….if that's okay…" she trailed off and glanced at Tony, who shrugged.
In the end, Nico ended up staying as well. Magically his full black armour appeared, with a little note attached to it. The son of Hades was pleased to see that he would be permitted to fight in battle next to the Avengers, but only this once. Annabeth though, had not been allowed, for the risk of her being found out. She was a little peeved off at first, but during dinner, she became distracted by the two resident genius'.
"-so you're saying that if magnify the specs on this design we can make it calibrate enough-" Annabeth was yabbering on about how she could improve- if it was possible- some of Daedalus' designs.
Percy swirled his pasta on his fork, feeling his IQ drop with every word with more then five letters. Half of it he didn't even have a chance of understanding.
"These Hunters, what do they do?" Clint asked the pair of Demigods.
"Hate on boys," Nico stated blatantly.
"They hunt down monsters with Artemis. Exclusive girls only club," Percy supplied a better explanation "they become immortal after they say the oath, they're basically all archers as well,"
"You would do well to mingle with them Clint Barton! They are the best archers to ever be on Midgard," Thor joined the conversation.
"Unless you want to picked to shreds, I suggest you don't challenge them in shooting," Percy smiled at the thought "they hate being upped by boys,"
Natasha soon joined the conversation as well "if your creatures are only harmed by Celestial Bronze, how can you expect us to fight them?"
Percy frowned and fought for a moment. Nico mirrored him, thinking hard about a way to solve that.
"It's easy to change arrows….guns not so much," Nico said after the silence "how do you feel about daggers?"
After Dinner they all turned in early. Nico got his own room, but Annabeth decided to room with Percy. They shared the large bed, snuggling close. Percy played with her hair, feeling it run like water between his fingers, while Annabeth traced circles on his hand.
In the morning Percy was surprised to find another duffle at the end of his bed. Untangling himself from Annabeth he unzipped it, finding a postage note on the bottom.
Hermes Express Post
Inside he found a high-tech quiver, filled with different arrows Percy, some of which he didn't even know what they would do. Then there where two forearm length long daggers, and two normal daggers. Figuring out who they where for he zipped it back up and made a mental note to bring them to breakfast.
After the he changed into a pair of clean clothes and picked up the duffle. While Annabeth had her own shower he headed upstairs, knowing Nico would already be awake. As expected, everyone was already sitting at the table, but surprisingly Thalia was back.
"I didn't even know you could get up this early, Pinecone Face," Percy joked as he dumped the duffle on the table.
"Like wise," Thalia replied "apparently, I have to attend a meeting with Director Fury,"
"Is that his real name?" Nico snorted.
"You think that's bad, you should see what he looks like," Percy laughed "he looks like that guy out of the Matrix mixed with a pirate,"
"You're kidding, right?" Thalia raised an eyebrow.
"Nope," Percy chuckled.
"You're laughing at his outfit, and yet you're the one wearing a tiara with skull earrings," Clint pointed out, making Thalia scowl at him.
"It's not a tiara, it's a circlet, symbol of the lieutenant of Artemis," Thalia responded with a glare.
"It's a tiara, Thalia, just admit it," Nico pointed out.
"Say that again, Old Man, I dare you," Thalia glared daggers at the younger teen.
"It's a ti-ar-a," Nico sounded out the word.
"You are going-"
Thalia's threat was cut off by Steve thought, "so what's in the duffle?"
Percy turned his attention back to the duffel bag. His two cousins glared daggers at each other, but he knew a fight wouldn't break out. Unzipping it he pulled out the quiver first and handed it to Clint.
"Sweet," Clint smiled, testing the arrows weight.
Percy then pulled out the daggers and handed them to Natasha. The red headed Russian seemed please with them, because she pulled out one of her own daggers that she kept in her boot, and replaced it with one of the others.
"Yeah, that's fine, not like I wanted anything anyway," Tony acted hurt.
The chapter is brief, but it gives a light overview to why Hecate went against the gods….Enjoy and review.