Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Story: Guardians of Light and Justice
Chapter 12: The Hand
Percy's POV
The room was dark like the inside of a cave, except for a few torches hanging from the walls providing just enough light to see shapes and obstacles. A lone figure walked through the room silently approaching a set of stairs that led up to a large plaza made of dark marble. The figure's steps could be easily heard walking up the marble stair case. The footsteps stopped at the top of the stair case and the dark figure lowered him or herself onto one knee. The view of the room shifted and additional light could be seen. Four more torches immediately burst into flame revealing three large figures who were at least fifteen feet tall sitting on stone thrones. They frowned down upon the dark figure kneeling before them.
"We are aware of your failure Erebus. I take it that you would like to explain your defeat?" The large man or being in the center throne said. The dark figure's face was immediately illuminated as two more torches caught on fire nearby. It revealed the face of a man whose features moved in and out of darkness as if the shadows themselves moved along his skin.
"I was not at fault, those creatures from the east were more powerful than I imagined." Erebus said. The light of the torches intensified more and the being in the middle was more easily revealed. He was clearly large at least fifteen feet tall. He had bright silver eyes that seemed to swirl like a whirlpool of sorts. His hair was long and white and he also had a long white beard that stretched down to his chest. He looked down upon Erebus with a mix of sympathy and disdain.
"I can sense that your powers have increased because of your joining with the sea spawn, but you still failed. Brother, I had hoped that you would take your place on the council with me and your daughter here." The man said as he pointed to the dark haired woman sitting next to him. She had shoulder length hair that was black as a raven's feather with eyes that seemed to be the color of oil. She stared down at her father with no expression of emotion at all.
"Chronos, I did not fail completely. We have gauged the strength of the guardians and we know their weaknesses." Erebus said.
Chronos sighed loudly and stared down at his brother. "You will not be punished we are family and we must stick together. Too many of our brothers, sisters and children have betrayed us. They serve the Olympians and they will pay for their treachery." Chronos said.
"Thank you brother, what would you have me do now?" Erebus asked thankfully.
"Since this Perseus has brought in assistance from outside of our realm, we shall do the same. I would like you to visit the east look for any allies that would serve us, especially those in opposition to Shiva. They will be needed for the coming battles." Chronos said. Erebus stood and turned into a black mass then disappeared into the shadows.
"Uncle, do you think my father will succeed?" The daughter of Erebus asked.
"Nemesis, I believe your father will succeed. He knows the power of Shiva and her allies first hand." Chronos said. Chronos shifted to his right to address the large man sitting next to him. The figure had light blue skin a short white beard and piercing blue eyes.
"Oceanus we will need you and your forces to be ready to strike at a moments notice." Chronos said.
"I understand uncle, I will not fail. My nephew will be caught completely off guard." Oceanus said.
"Good, now to more pressing business at the moment. It appears that we have found the spy." Chronos said as four giants walked in leading a young man in chains, at least he looked like a young man. He had long hair like the mane of a lion and when he looked up his eyes seemed to be made of fire. He gritted his teeth showing elongated canines just like a lions. The giants pulled him up the stairs and threw him to his knees in front of three thrones. "Ah Phobos, we should have guessed that you would never go against your mother and father, but you did so much for us in the last war. I take it that was all part of your plan or I know it was Athena's plan wasn't it?" Phobos shook his head and spat at the feet of the god in front of him.
"I will never talk, you all will fail." Phobos said defiantly. Chronos and Oceanus began to laugh ominously.
"Uncle it seems that this traitor has a sense of humor after all." Oceanus said.
"A good thing he will need his sense of humor as he holds up the sky for Atlas. Take him to Mount Othrys and place him under the sky as you free the general." Chronos ordered. The giants nodded their heads and pulled Phobos out of the room. Phobos for his part kept screaming obscenities and curses.
"He's got a mouth that one." Oceanus said with an evil smile.
"Takes after his father, I bet." Nemesis said. Nemesis straightened up as a new figure walked up and bowed before them. This man wore a three piece suit with his black hair tied back into a pony tail. A few scars could be seen on his face that looked like marks from a talon. This man or whatever he was stood at least twelve feet in height before he knelt before the three thrones.
"Prometheus, so good of you to join us. How goes your scheming?" Chronos asked warmly.
"Uncle, our allies in the underworld are preparing themselves as we speak. Hades has no way of knowing what's going on. Once my brother is free we shall rally our forces outside the gates of the underworld for our attack." Prometheus said.
"Good, with a rebellion within the underworld Hades will never anticipate your attack from the outside. He will be completely surprised." Chronos said. Prometheus nodded his head in agreement. "Go to your brother and prepare. The timing of our attacks must be precise and overwhelming." Prometheus bowed again then stood up and walked down the stair case toward the exit.
"Uncle it appears the plans are coming together nicely." Oceanus said. Chronos turned to address his nephew.
"Yes, your brother even in Tartarus can make a good plan. We will make sure that sea spawn and his friends do not destroy this opportunity. Olympus will fall and so will the guardians." Chronos said as the three deities laughed, the darkness of the room closed around me.
I jumped up in surprise to feel something lying on my chest. I looked around I was lying on my couch I looked down to see golden hair splayed across my chest. I moved slightly and I saw the face of an angel, my angel Annabeth. I leaned down and kissed her on the head. She moved slightly and I knew she was awake.
"Good morning, sleepy head." I said. Annabeth jumped up and fell of the couch as I said that. I was about to laugh at her, but I held it in. "Are you alright?" Annabeth looked at me, her face was as red as a tomato.
"Did we ...?" Annabeth tried to ask. I chuckled a little bit and then stared into her beautiful gray eyes.
"No, we kissed and then talked for hours before we fell asleep, I promise." I said. I felt a little disappointed, but it was too soon to go that far. I saw a look of relief on Annabeth's face, but for some reason I sensed disappointment as well.
Annabeth stood up her clothes were wrinkled from sleeping in them and she still looked exhausted. "Do you mind if I use your bathroom?" Annabeth asked.
"No, feel free." I said. Annabeth gave me a small smile and walked to the bathroom and closed the door. I sat up on the couch and ran my hands through my hair. Suddenly the dream I had immediately awakened within my memory. I jumped up and ran to the video communication screen near the door to my apartment. I straightened my clothes the best that I could and touched the controls. A young man's face immediately came up on the screen, he snapped to attention when he saw me.
"Commander, how can I help you sir?" Brandon asked. I remembered his name, well good for me I thought sarcastically.
"Brandon, I need to speak with Lady Athena, ASAP." I ordered.
"Right away sir." Brandon said as the screen went dark with text that said accessing. After a few minutes of waiting the screen shifted back on and I could see the face of Athena.
"Athena we have a problem." I said abruptly.
"Good morning to you too commander." Athena said. She gave me a mischievous smirk. "Sleep well." My face must have turned as red as a fire engine because Athena began to laugh. The actual goddess of wisdom was laughing at me. I gave her a playful scowl and she just shook her head in response. "You're not as scary when you're not joined with Erebus."
"That's so funny laugh it up why don't you?" I said as I tried to act hurt then I gave her my crooked smile so she relented in her teasing. I put on a serious look and I saw Athena look at me cautiously.
"What's wrong?" Athena asked warily.
"I had a dream about the Hand." I said. Athena looked at me curiously.
"You think this was a real event not just a normal dream?" Athena asked.
"Yes" I said. Athena looked at me thoughtfully.
"How do you know?" Athena asked.
"I don't know for sure, but if Phobos is our spy on the inside then I say it was real." I said. When I said Phobos, Athena sunk down into her chair with a look of shock etched in her expression.
"He was our spy then?" I asked. Athena nodded sadly.
"What happened to him?" She asked.
"They took him to hold up the sky in place of Atlas." I said. I saw a look of anger and hatred in Athena's eyes and its definitely not a look you want to see.
"Those bastards." Athena said. I had to agree with her, I've held the sky before it wasn't something to take lightly god or no god. "What else did you over hear?"
"They plan a coordinated attack. It appears that Atlas and Prometheus will lead an assault against the underworld while a rebellion takes place in the underworld coordinated most likely by minor deities that exist there. Oceanus will attack my father in Atlantis most likely at the same time." I said. I could see Athena thinking over all these possibilities.
"I will warn the council and contact Hades and Poseidon as well. We must help them defend their realms." Athena said.
"One last thing, I saw Erebus, he was ordered to go to the east and look for support to fight against Shiva. They want to counter Pin and Feng as well as my abilities." I said. Athena looked at me questioningly.
"Can they find help?" Athena asked. I thought that over and I knew they could probably find help.
"I'm afraid they can, there are deities in the east that hate Shiva and would stop at nothing to defeat him or his allies." I said. Athena thought this over I could see the worry in her eyes.
"Anything else?" Athena asked. I didn't want to tell her this, but I had to.
"Yes, it appears that the Hand has a council of three deities one is Oceanus, another is Nemesis and lastly the leader is Chronos." I said. When I said Chronos, I could see something I rarely see in her eyes, fear. I hated to add to the problems, but this last piece of information was important. "All of these plans were thought up by Kronos, it appears that he's not as powerless as we hoped." Athena just shook her head.
"I'm sorry Perseus." Athena said, I was taken aback by her apology.
"Why are you sorry?" I asked.
"You and Annabeth never catch a break this time it wasn't because of me, but I just want both of you to be happy and now we are at war again." Athena said sadly.
"Athena, I thank you for your concern, but Annabeth and I waited this long to be together, so a little more time will not change things. Don't worry about us. I will see you in an hour." I said reassuringly. I could tell that Athena forced her smile, but I smiled back genuinely to her.
"Athena out." She said as the image cut off. I could hear the water running in my bathroom. The girl of my dreams was in there, but before we could be happy I had a few more nightmares to take care of.
AN: Sorry for the delay in the update. The Champion of Olympus story has been front and center in my mind. FYI if you didn't know Phobos is the son of Ares and Aphrodite.