While Emily was blacked out that she was in a demigod dream, one that worried her greatly. At the moment, Arabella and Nico were in the gardens of Hades of where Emily and Persephone would grow things. Emily never minded Arabella and Nico being in here but Persephone was different when it came to anyone messing with her garden other than Emily. Emily was sure that Persephone wouldn't be happy to see that hole in her garden that Arabella and Nico dug up. Nico was pouring a goblet of wine into the hole and started to chant. "Let the dead taste again. Let them rise and take this offering. Maria di Angelo and Lily Evans Potter, show yourselves!" White smoke gathered and a human figure was formed, but it was not Lily nor Maria, that much was clear. Emily knows that Arabella was able to speak to Lily once, but that was all, but it wasn't for vey long. The figure was that of a girl no more than twelve, she has dark brown hair, olive skin and silvery clothes of a hunter. "Bianca, but- " When Nico said that, that Emily realized it was Nico's full sister, Emily never talked to Bianca before or saw her, even if she was dead now.
'Don't summon our mother, Nico. She is the one spirit you are forbidden to see. The same goes for Arsbella's with her mother."
"Why? What's our father hiding?"
'Pain. Hatred. A curse that stretches back to the Great Prophecy. As well pain and lost for Arsbella.'
"What do you mean? We have to know!"
'The knowledge will only hurt you both. Remember what I said: holding grudges is a fatal flaw for children of Hades.'
"I know that, but I'm not the same as I used to be, Bianca. Stop trying to protect me!"
'Brother, you don't understand -' Nico swiped his hand through the mist and Bianca's image dissipated. Emily wanted to call out to tell them to stop but Nico spoke once more before Emily could say or do anything.
"Maria di Angelo, speak to me!" A different image formed in front of them, it was a scene rather than the two ghosts like it should have been. When Emily saw the scene that she knew what was going to happen or a basic idea of what would happen. Hades never told her of what happened that day that Nico's and Bianca's mother died, but she knows a couple of things that happened. In the mist of the image that she saw a young Bianca and Nico playing as little children in a lobby of an elegant hotel. They were chasing each other around the marble columns, Emily was sure that her younger self was in Germany somewhere in that image but where she wasn't sure. A woman sat a nearby sofa, the woman was wearing a black dress, gloves and a black veiled hat. The woman reminds Emily of a star from a 1940s movie that she used to see when she was not on a mission, the woman has a pretty smile and her eyes looked like Nico's. On the chair next to the woman was a large oily man in a black pinstriped suit, Emily knew who the man was at once when she saw him. It was Hades, her adopted father, he was leaning towards the woman using his hands as he spoke to her.
"Please, my dear. You must come to the Underworld. I don't care what Persephone thinks! I can keep you safe there."
"No, my love. Raise our children in the land of the dead? I will not do this." She spoke with an Italian accent, Emily knew at once that this has to be Nico's mother.
"Maria, listen to me. The war in Europe has turned the other gods against me. A prophecy has been made. My children are no longer safe. Poseidon and Zeus have forced me into an agreement. None of us are to have demigod children ever again."
"But you already have Nico and Bianca. Surely - "
"No! The prophecy warns of a child who turns sixteen. Zeus has decreed that the children I currently have must be turned over to Camp Half-Blood for proper training, but I know what he means. At best they'll be watched, imprisoned, turned against their father. Even more likely, he will not take a chance. He won't allow my demigod children to reach sixteen. He'll find a way to destroy them, and I won't risk that!"
"Certamente, We will stay together. Zeus is un imbecile." Emily smiled when Maris said that, Emily could see why Hades loves Nico's mother so much. She was courageous and she was pretty much the mother that any child would want to have. A mother who wanted to protect her child and do what she could to make sure they have a happy and safe childhood. Lily was the same way, she admit that she didn't wanted send Arabella but she wanted Arabella to be happy and safe. Even though Arabella raised in the underworld that Arabella was safe. Happy and was able to defend herself when the need arises. Emily watched as Hades glanced nervously at the ceiling, Emily couldn't blame Hades for that.
"Maria, please. I told you, Zeus gave me a deadline of last week to turn over the children. His wrath will be horrible, and I cannot hide you forever. As long as you are with the children, you are in danger too."
"You are a god, my love. You will protect us. But I will not take Nico and Bianca to the Underworld." Hades wring his hands.
"Then, there is another option. I know a place in the desert where time stands still. I could send the children there, just for a while, for their own safety, and we could be together. I will build you a golden palace by the Styx." Emily wanted her to take that offer, but Emily knew that Maria wouldn't accept the offer though.
"You are a kind man, my love. A generous man. The other gods should see you as I do, and they would not fear you so. But Nico and Bianca need their mother. Besides, they are only children. The gods wouldn't really hurt them." Emily knew that Maria spoke truly about Hades, Emily knows of where all his resentment come from. For Emily got to know Hades for the last seventy years and knows of what he really was like once one gets to know him as well as Maria or even Persephone. Even if there times when there things Emily and Hades don't see eye to eye on, like with the oracle.
"You don't know my family. Please, Maria, I can't lose you." Hades spoke darkly, Emily shivered as he spoke, somehow she knew that something was going to happen. Zeus was going to try to kill Nico and Bianca, she just knew it. She remembered Lauren telling her, not to long ago, that at some point that her father tried to kill two demigods. Of why her father tried to do that was something Lauren didn't know or even who the tow demigods were. Emily has a feeling she knows who the two demigods that Zeus tried to kill as well as the reason of why he tried to kill them. If Emily was right of who she thinks the two are, that she wasn't going to tell Lauren about this dream, for it may make things worse for Lauren and her father. Maria touched Hades's lips with her fingers.
"You will not lose me. Wait for me while I get my purse. Watch the children." Maria kissed Hades before she rose from the sofa that she was sitting in a few moments before. Hades watched Maria walk upstairs as of her every step caused him pain, than a moment later, Hades tensed. Emily tensed as well as Nico and Bianca stopped playing as if they sense something as well. Emily knew what was going to happen before it happen and it tore her heart apart as she watched what happen helpless.
"No!" Hades yelled it but his godly powers were too slow though. For Hades only managed to have the time to put a wall of black energy around Nico and Bianca before the hotel exploded. The force of the explosion was so violet that the entire misty image dissolved, when it focus that Hades was kneeling in the ruins of the hotel. Hades was holding the broken form of Maria di Angelo, fires were still burning all around him and lightning was flashing across the sky of which was followed by thunder. Emily would be crying if she was there in person, she watched as Hades cuddled Maria Di Angelo. Emily knows Hades well enough to know that when he falls in love with a woman that he falls in love, that he loved Maria just as much as he loved Persephone. The young Nico and Bianca were staring at their mother not understanding of what happened. The fury, Alecto, appeared behind Bianca and Nico, she was hissing and flapping her leathery wings. Nico and Bianca didn't seem to notice her or they were used to her by that point in their lives. Hades looked up at the sky, there were tears in his eyes as he looked up.
"Zeus! I will crush you for this! I will bring her back!" Hades shook his fist at the sky as he spoke to the sky
"My lord, you cannot. You of all immortals must respect the laws of death." Hades glowed with rage, Emily thought that he might show his true form and vaporize his own children. Thankfully he managed to regain control of himself.
"Take them. Wash their memories clean in the Lethe and bring them to the Lotus Hotel. Zeus will not harm them there." Hades was holding back a sob as he spoke.
"As you wish, my lord. And the woman's body?
"Take her as well. Give her the ancient rites." Alecto, Nico, Bianca and Maria's body dissolved into shades leaving Hades alone, kneeling, in the ruins. Emily was aware of this event but she didn't of what fully happen but she knew what was going to takes place now. It was because of what happened that the curse of the oracle came around in the first place. A new voice spoke up.
"I warned you." Hades got up and turned around Emily knew who it was just by that voice for she heard that voice before. Standing by the smoldering remains of the sofa that Maria was sitting on was a girl no more than twelve years old. She was wearing a multicolored dress, her hair was short and black, her eyes were sad.
"You dare come here? I should blast you to dust!"
"You cannot. The power of Delphi protects me."
"You've killed the woman I loved! Your prophecy brought us to this." Hades roared at the oracle, he was looming over the girl but she didn't flinch.
"Zeus ordained the explosion to destroy the children, because you defied his will. I had nothing to do with it. And I did warn you to hide them sooner."
"I couldn't! Maria would not let me! Besides, they were innocent."
"Nevertheless, they are your children, which makes them dangerous. Even if you put them away in the Lotus Hotel, you only delay the problem. Nico and Bianca will never be able to rejoin the world lest they turn sixteen."
"Because of your so-called Great Prophecy. And you have forced me into an oath to have no other children. You have left me with nothing!"
"I foresee the future, I cannot change it." When Emily saw the black fire in Hades's eyes that she knew what was going to happen. She wanted to cry out to tell him not to do it but she couldn't, she couldn't stop of what will happen.
"Then, Oracle, hear the words of Hades. I cannot bring back Maria. Nor can I bring you an early death. But your soul is still mortal, and I can curse you."
"You would not - "
"I swear, as long as my children remain outcasts, as long as I labor under the curse of your Great Prophecy, the Oracle of Delphi will never have another mortal host. You will never rest in peace. No other will take your place. Your body will wither and die, and still the Oracle's spirit will be locked inside you. You will speak your bitter prophecies until you crumble to nothing. The Oracle will die with you!"
The girl screamed and the misty image changed, Emily cried out in shock when she saw the image. For Emily been there once shortly after learning of what happened to Arabella's mother, step father and her half twin brother. For Emily wanted to see the place of where it happened, it was the Potter cottage in a Godric's Hollow. Emily knew what they were going to see, for Emily knows of what happens that night. Arabella was aware of the event but she didn't know the full story but Emily didn't want her to see the memory or event that was going to take place. She wanted to screams so to and cut the image but she was unable to do so, all she could do was watch. Emit watched as James handed Harry over to Lily when the front door was blasted open. The blast nearly made them fall over but the blast wasn't as violent as the one at happened in the other scene. James and Lily looked at each other, Emily could see the understanding happen between them. That they knew that they were not going to make it through the night but they were willing to fight to the death. James ran to the door and spoke to Lily as he ran.
"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!" Lily ran upstairs to the nursery while James ran into the hallway, Voldment casted the killing curse. James fell to the floor dead, Emily could hear Lily scream when James fell dead, Emily was worried and she wondered of seeing what fully happen that night would affect Arabella. The door close behind Lily and Emily could hear her moving things across the room to put things in front of the door, Emily knows that wouldn't stop Voldment and she was sure that Lily knows that as well. After a minute that the door blasted open like the front door, the things that were behind the door were throw aside to the walls. As Voldment stepped into the nursery that Lily put Harry back into his crib before turning to look at Voldment.
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"
"Stand aside, you silly girl. . . stand aside now."
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead—"
"This is my last warning—"
"Not Harry! Please . . . have mercy. . . have mercy. . . . Not Harry! Not Harry!
"Please—I'll do anything—"
"Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!" Emily wished that there was something she could do, but this was a dream to her and it was a scene from the last being played. Lily refused to move and ask mercy for Harry, but the green light hit her killing her at once like James. She also fell to the floor, just like James, Voldment stepped over her body before pointing his wand at Harry. It seemed that Harry realized something that something happened, he looked like if he might cry. Than green light hit Harry but the green light rebounded, Voldment dropped his wand as his body was being destroyed. There was a scream, a window opened in the nursery and a spirit like thing flew out of the window. Emily knew that was Voldment that just left, Harry was still sitting in the crib crying. There on his forehead was the mark, the one he has since that fateful night, a lightning bolt.
Than the scene changed once more, this time it was Persephone and Arabella in Arabella's room of which was a nursery at the time. Persephone and Arabella were playing while Hades was watching them, Emily knew she was out and around doing missions when this was happening. She wasn't sure of what she was doing on that night, she couldn't remember, for she done a lot of things since become immortal. Arabella started to crawl towards Persephone but Arabella stopped and started to cry her head off. Emily knew that Arabella sense of what happen name knew her birth mother was dead, so did Hades. For Hades has a look of terror and surprise on his face, but Persephone didn't seem to notice anything was off, for she picked up Arabella and tried to calm her down. Than Hades left the doorway, Emily knew what Hades was going to do as he walked away from the nursery. Than the misty image was blasted to shreds, Nico and Arabella fell to their knees in the garden. Their faces were white with shock, standing in front of them was the real hades towering over them in his black robes and he was scowling down at them.
"And just what do you two think you were doing?"
It was at that moment that Emily woke up, she expected to be in that tunnel but what she didn't expect was to be in a bed. Emily blinked a couple of times before she looked around, she was in a hotel room of some kind, Emily looked to her right and saw that Bucky was laying there next to her. He was still knocked out but he was alive. Emily slowly sat up, as she sat up that she noticed that Steve and Lauren were in a corner. Their eyes were closed, Lauren's head was on Steve's chest and Steve's arms were around her while Lauren's arms were around his neck. If it wasn't for the scars and cuts that were barely visible on their arms and a few other places that she cousins see that they would look blissful. Emily lowered herself once more before she put her head on Bucky's chest before she put her arms around him. When she did that, that Bucky started to stir before she felt his arms wrap themselves around her, this she felt him kiss the top of her head. Than Bucky whispered to her.
"Are you all right, Emily?"
"I have been better. Thank goodness for demigods being able to heal faster as my own healing abilities being faster. Otherwise I think I would be worse." Emily could tell she was still healing, for she moved her one ankle and it hurt to a degree but the pain in her ankle was going down. Emily could tell that she managed to get a good beating when she was throw into the wall and used her abilities in that fight after being thrown against the wall. She knew Bucky healed just as fast since Apollo's blessing was similar to Hestia's blessing, the only real differences was the bow and arrows and that Bucky was good at archery. Of which was one area that Emily failed in when it comes to long range fighting, for long range she would use her powers. Just than the door banged open with a loud crash, Emily yelped and she was sure that if Bucky hadn't wrapped her arms around her that she would have falling off the bed. Even if she fell off of the bed that it wouldn't have been the first time that she fell off of a bed. The bang also woke up Steve and Lauren, Emily lifted to to see who was in the doorway of which was Thor. Emily sighed before she put her head back on Bucky's chest.
"You four are awake, good." Than Emily spoke.
"The banging woke us up. If the spell wasn't working, you would have woke up the whole building." Emily lifted her head from Bucky's chest before she went on. "Is there a reason of you woke us up?"
"We got visitors and the one demigod leader wants the five of us to be there."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
It didn't take long for Emily, Bucky Steve, Lauren and Thor to get to where Percy, Grover and Thalia were at. All three of them were happy to seen them, Emily was sure that part of the reason that the three wanted them down here was just in case a fight broke out. Or at least that was one reason that Emily guess, other reasons might because that one of them could respond to something that percy was unsure of how to respond. Emily was sure she could fight somewhat what but her head was still pounding and her ankle was still painfully. The truce party was coming nearing for she could see a thirty foot tall Hyperborean giant carrying a white flag that was big as a soccer field, Emily was worried and concern when she saw the Hyperborean giant for they were usually peaceful even in wartime. There was a couple of colonies in Canada that Emily walked through and she got it it a snowball fight with some of them. Most demigods wouldn't find that fun, but with her ability over fire that it was fun and well worth getting into a snowball fight with them since she could never be frozen because she was a fire user. The Hyperboreans also have fun with Emily with the snowball fights for similar reasons as Emily. When Thalia spoke that it was clear that Emily wasn't the only one tat knew about the Hyperborean giants.
"A Hyperborean. The giants of the north. It's a bad sign that they sided with Kronos. They're usually peaceful."
"You've met them?"
"Mmm. There's a big colony in Alberta. You do not want to get into a snowball fight with those guys."
"Unless if you have control over fire and can create it." Thalia, Percy and Grover looked at her when she said that. "I went into a snowball fight with them and since I have fire that the snow and ice melt away as I was getting hit by the snowballs. It was rather fun, however if you don't have the fire ability, than I suggest you listen to Thalia." They went on watching as the Hyperborean got closer, there was three human size envoys with the Hyperborean. A Halfblood from the looks of it an empousa that had a black dress on with flaming hair and a tall man in a tuxedo. The empousa was holding the tux guy's arm so that they looked more like a couple on their way to somewhere else than being a truce party. The group was walking leisurely towards them, Emily kept watching them as Percy looked at Grover before he spoke.
"The tux dude is the Titan?"
"He looks like a magician. I hate magicians. They usually have rabbits." Emily smiled when Grover said that it seems rather common for Satyrs to be scared of rabbits or bunnies. It was odd and funny when one thinks about it, Emily wasn't sure of how that fear of bunnies and rabbits that the satyrs have came around.
"You're scared of bunnies?"
"Blah-hah-hah! They're big bullies. Always stealing celery from defenseless satyrs!" Thalia coughed when Grover said that, Emily looked over at Lauren of who just smirked. Honestly Satyrs were bigger and have weapons as well as reed pipes, it's not like they couldn't stop the bunny or prevent the bunny from taking the celery. "What?"
"We'll have to work on your bunny phobia later. Here they come." The man in the tuxedo stepped forward, he was taller than an average human about seven feet tall. Though there some humans that were seven feet tall that were not gods or Titans, there were mostly basketball players though. He actually made Thor look a bit small of which was saying something since Thor was quite tall himself as well as being rather big. Thor makes the doorway in the hotel rooms look small, since Steve could fit into those doorways. The man's hair was tied back into a ponytail, dark round glasses were covering his eyes. The man's face was covered with scratches like it was attacked by a small angry animal, Emily shivered slightly for she has a feeling of who this Titan was. Than the man spoke with a silky voice that made her want to gag for the voice reminded her too much of Malfoy, the boy who was obsessed with Arabella since who knows when. Emily kept on making sure that Malfoy didn't act on that or go to near Arabella, after the first time Emily told him after she figured out his obsession with Arabella that he told Severus of which was something he regretted since Severus told him off as well as telling him to listen to Emily.
"Percy Jackson, It's a great honor." The empousa hissed at Percy. "My dear, why don't you make yourself comfortable over there, eh?" The empousa released his arm and drifted over to a park bench. Emily looked the empousa when she sat at the park bench before she looked at the demigod behind the Titan and realized it was the one demigod from the Labyrinth before she learned about Bucky.
"Hey, Ethan. You're looking good." Ethan glared at Percy when he said that. The Titan didn't seem to notice or he didn't care.
"To business. I am Prometheus."
"The fire-stealer guy? The chained-to-the-rock-with-the-vultures guy?" Prometheus winched when Percy said that, Emily smirked when he winced. Than Prometheus touched the scratches on his face.
"Please, don't mention the vultures. But yes, I stole fire from the gods and gave it to your ancestors. In return, the ever merciful Zeus had me chained to a rock and tortured for all eternity."
"But - "
"How did I get free? Hercules did that, eons ago. So you see, I have a soft spot for heroes. Some of you can be quite civilized."
"Unlike the company you keep." Emily was watching Percy and Prometheus, Emily noticed that Percy was looking at Ethan but Prometheus must have thought Percy was looking at the empousa.
"Oh, demons aren't so bad. You just have to keep them well fed. Now, Percy Jackson, let us parley." Prometheus waved them over to a picnic table, Grover and Percy sat one one side while Prometheus sat down on the other side. While Emily, and the others stood behind Percy, the Hyperborean giant propped his white flag against a tree and began to playing on the playground, the Hyperborean stepped onto the monkey bars and crushed them, the Hyperborean wasn't angry but he was confused and said, "Uh-oh." Emily couldn't help but feel sorry for the giant, for they were rather harmless unless if they were fighting. The Hyperborean than stepped in the fountain and broke the concrete bowl in half and said, "un-oh" again. The water froze of where his foot was touching the water, there was a bunch of stuffed animals hanging from his belt. The kind that one would get for grand prizes at an arcade or something, than Prometheus spoke.
"Percy, your position is weak. You know you can't stop another assault."
"We'll see." Prometheus looked pained, like he cared about what will happen to them. Emily doubted that fact very much.
"Percy, I'm the Titan of forethought. I know what's going to happen."
"Also the Titan of crafty counsel. Emphasis on crafty." Prometheus shrugged when Grover said that.
"True enough, satyr. But I supported the gods in the last war. I told Kronos: 'You don't have the strength. You'll lose.' And I was right. So you see, I know how to pick the winning side. This time, I'm backing Kronos."
"Because Zeus chained you to a rock."
"Partly, yes. I won't deny I want revenge. But that's not the only reason I'm supporting Kronos. It's the wisest choice. I'm here because I thought you might listen to reason." Prometheus drew a map on the table with his finger, wherever he touched that golden lines appeared. "This is Manhattan. We have armies here, here, here, and here. We know your numbers. We outnumber you twenty to one."
"Your spy has been keeping you posted."
"At any rate, our forces are growing daily. Tonight, Kronos will attack. You will be overwhelmed. You've fought bravely, but there's just no way you can hold all of Manhattan. You'll be forced to retreat to the Empire State Building. There you'll be destroyed. I have seen this. It will happen."
"I won't let it happen. "
"Understand, Percy. You are refighting the Trojan War here. Patterns repeat themselves in history. They reappear just as monsters do. A great siege. Two armies. The only difference is, this time you are defending. You are Troy. And you know what happened to the Trojans, don't you?"
"So you're going to cram a wooden horse into the elevator at the Empire State Building? Good luck."
"Troy was completely destroyed, Percy. You don't want that to happen here. Stand down, and New York will be spared. Your forces will be granted amnesty. I will personally assure your safety. Let Kronos take Olympus. Who cares? Typhon will destroy the gods any way."
"Right, and I'm supposed to believe Kronos would spare the city."
"All he wants is Olympus. The might of the gods is tied to their seats of power. You saw what happened to Poseidon once his undersea palace was attacked." Prometheus paused as Percy winced. "Yes, I know that was hard for you. When Kronos destroys Olympus, the gods will fade. They will become so weak they will be easily defeated. Kronos would rather do this while Typhon has the Olympians distracted in the west. Much easier. Fewer lives lost. But make no mistake, the best you can do is slow us down. The day after tomorrow, Typhon arrives in New York, and you will have no chance at all. The gods and Mount Olympus will still be destroyed, but it will be much messier. Much, much worse for you and your city. Either way, the Titans will rule." It was than that Thalia pounded her fist on the table.
"I serve Artemis. The Hunters will fight to our last breath. Percy, you're not seriously going to listen to this slimeball, are you?"
"Your courage does you credit, Thalia Grace." Emily didn't expect Prometheus to use Thalia's last name, for it was a last name that Thalia doesn't use. Though her brother uses it, Emily felt sorry for the two siblings and knew it was Hera's doing, but Emily knew why Hera done what she did to them. There times of when she wished she could tell Thalia about Jason or even the other way around. The only reason she even knows that they were full siblings was because Jason asked Emily long ago about Thalia and if she seen her. That was when he was like four when he asked that question and she refused to give him an answer. Expect that if he wants to know what happens to his sister that he has to follow his own path and in time he would find her and learn of what happen to her. Just like Emily did in a sense, she know that she would find Steve again, but she didn't know when she would see him again.
"That's my mother's surname. I don't use it."
"As you wish. At any rate, you need not be my enemy. I have always been a helper of mankind."
"That's a load of Minotaur dung, when mankind first sacrificed to the gods, you tricked them into giving you the best portion. You gave us fire to annoy the gods, not because you cared about us."
"You don't understand. I helped shape your nature." A wiggling lump of clay appeared in his hands, he made a little doll with legs and arms but it has no eyes. Of which Emily found disturbing, it groped around the table as well as stumbling over Prometheus's fingers. "I have been whispering in man's ear since the beginning of your existence. I represent your curiosity, your sense of exploration, your inventiveness. Help me save you, Percy. Do this, and I will give mankind a new gift - a new revelation that will move you as far forward as fire did. You can't make that kind of advance under the gods. They would never allow it. But this could be a new golden age for you. Or . . ." He made a fist and smashed the clay man into a pancake. The Hyperborean rumbled another "uh-oh." and over at the park bench the empousa bared her fangs in a smile. "Percy, you know the Titans and their offspring are not all bad, you've met Calypso."
"That's different."
"How? Much like me, she did nothing wrong, and yet she was exiled forever simply because she was Atlas's daughter. We are not your enemies. Don't let the worst happen. We offer you peace." Percy looked over at Ethan
"You must hate this."
"I don't know what you mean."
"If we took this deal, you wouldn't get revenge. You wouldn't get to kill us all. Isn't that what you want?"
"All I want is respect, Jackson. The gods never gave me that. You wanted me to go to your stupid camp, spend my time crammed into the Hermes cabin because I'm not important? Not even recognized?"
"Your mom's the goddess of revenge, We should respect that?"
"Nemesis stands for balance! When people have too much good luck, she tears them down."
"Which is why she took your eye?"
"It was payment. In exchange, she swore to me that one day I would tip the balance of power. I would bring the minor gods respect. An eye was a small price to pay."
"Great mom."
"At least she keeps her word, unlike the Olympians. She always pays her debts - good or evil."
"Yeah. So I saved your life, and you repaid me by raising Kronos. That's fair." Ethan went to grabbed the hilt of his sword but Prometheus stopped him.
"Now, now. We're on a diplomatic mission." Prometheus studied Percy before he spoke.
"It bothers you what happened to Luke. Hestia didn't show you the full story. Perhaps if you understood . . ." Prometheus reached out, Thalia cried out a warning but it was too late for Prometheus placed his index finger on Percy's for head. Emily stood there as she watched Percy started to sweat and become clammy, after a few moments that Prometheus pulled his hand away from Percy's forehead.
"Percy? What . . . what was that?"
"Appalling, isn't it? The gods know what is to come, and yet they do nothing, even for their children. How long did it take for them to tell you your prophecy, Percy Jackson? Don't you think your father knows what will happen to you?"
"Perrrcy, he's playing with your mind. Trying to make you angry."
"Do you really blame your friend Luke? And what about you, Percy? Will you be controlled by your fate? Kronos offers you a much better deal." Percy clenched his fist, before Percy could say anything that Emily spoke up.
"Yes, he does blame Luke. For all Luke has done so far was bring destruction and the loss of freedom." Prometheus looked over at Emily as she said, before Prometheus could say anything that Emily went on. "Freedom, our lives, the way of the future and the world we know is what we are fighting for in this battle and war. Among other things, including family and friends. We might be a small group but we will not stop fighting or protecting this earth, whether we are demigods or even part of the avengers. Because if the demigods fail, you can be sure that the avengers will come and we will avenge this earth and take it from your rule." Steve, Thor, Lauren and Bucky were smiling when Emily said that, it was something they heard often from Tony when they went on missions as the avengers. But Tony wasn't here to say anything like that, Emily was always the second to say things like that if Tony wasn't around. Prometheus raised an eyebrow, he was about ready to say something when Percy spoke.
"I'll give you a deal. Tell Kronos to call off his attack, leave Luke Castellan's body, and return to the pits of Tartarus. Then maybe I won't have to destroy him." The empousa snarled when Percy said that and her hair erupted in fresh flames, but Prometheus just sighed.
"If you change your mind, I have a gift for you." A Greek vase appeared on the table, it was three feet high and a foot wide, it was glazed black and white with geometric designs. The ceramic lid was fastened with a leather harness to keep it closed from anything getting lose. Emily shallowed, she knows what that vase was when she saw it, Thalia gasped when she saw it.
"That's not - "
"Yes. You recognize it."
"This belonged to my sister-in-law, Pandora."
"As in Pandora's box?" Prometheus shook his head when Percy said that.
"I don't know how this box business got started. It was never a box. It was a pithos, a storage jar. I suppose Pandora's pithos doesn't have the same ring to it, but never mind that. Yes, she did open this jar, which contained most of the demons that now haunt mankind - fear, death, hunger, sickness."
"Don't forget me."
"Indeed, the first empousa was also trapped in this jar, released by Pandora. But what I find curious about the story - Pandora always gets the blame. She is punished for being curious. The gods would have you believe that this is the lesson: mankind should not explore. They should not ask questions. They should do what they are told. In truth, Percy, this jar was a trap designed by Zeus and the other gods. It was revenge on me and my entire family - my poor simple brother Epimetheus and his wife Pandora. The gods knew she would open the jar. They were willing to punish the entire race of humanity along with us. Only one spirit remained inside when Pandora opened it."
"Hope."
"Very good, Percy. Elpis, the Spirit of Hope, would not abandon humanity. Hope does not leave without being given permission. She can only be released by a child of man." Prometheus slid the jar across the table to Percy. As he did so that the strangest thing happen, when he slid the jar to Percy that Emily felt something reaching out to her. It was almost like something or someone was asking her to be released, or something like that. It seemed like everyone sensed it for they were staring at the jar, but than it stopped. Prometheus looked slightly confused when it stopped.
"That's strange, that never happened before." The empousa hissed suddenly, Emily looked at her when she spoke.
"It has happen." Everyone looked at the empousa, Emily raised an eyebrow when she said that.
"What do you mean, Morrain?" She was looking at Prometheus before looking at Emily than she spoke.
"It would be a bad idea if Percy opens the jar now." Prometheus merely shrugged before looking back at Percy.
"I give you this as a reminder of what the gods are like. Keep Elpis, if you wish. But if you decide that you have seen enough destruction, enough futile suffering, then open the jar. Let Elpis go. Give up Hope, and I will know that you are surrendering. I promise Kronos will be lenient. He will spare the survivors."
"I don't want the thing."
"Too late. The gift is given. It cannot be taken back." He stood up and the empousa come forward before she slipped her arm though his.
"Morrain! We are leaving. Get your flag."
"Uh-oh."
"We will see you soon, Percy Jackson. One way or another." Ethan gave Percy one last hateful look before the truce party turned and strolled up the lane though Central Park.