Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.
Story: Champion of Olympus: Child of the First One
Chapter 16: The Battle Begins
Third Person POV
Manhattan, NY
The demigods closed their eyes as the nine Olympians flashed out of the lobby of the Empire State Building. The gods appeared directly in front of the building on the sidewalk. They watched as the horde of Draugr moved toward them.
Ares and Athena threw their spears at the draugr, but the weapons passed through their bodies without any harm to the demons. Ares growled in frustration as he sent a wave of force toward the monsters. The creatures stopped and looked around strangely before pushing through the power of the war god.
Dionysus and Demeter raised their hands before vines broke free from the concrete and from the few trees along the street. The vines encircled several of the demons, but withered and died at the evil magic that surrounded the monster's bodies.
Poseidon raised his hands and the water mains below the street exploded sending demons flying down the street and crashing into empty buildings. The monsters were soaking wet, but they stepped out of the ruined buildings without even a scratch on their bodies.
Zeus raised his hand and a lightning bolt struck the nearest Draugr. Steam came off the demon, but it walked forward without a scratch on it. Zeus stared at the monster in disbelief. He raised his hands again before the winds blew through the man-made canyons of Manhattan. The monsters flew through the air before crashing into parked cars along the street. Car alarms rang out through the empty streets of the city. The monsters stood up on top of the ruined cars before jumping down and returning to their brethren. Hera held onto her husband's arm. He looked into her eyes and understood. These were Norse demons; they were immune to the power of the Olympians.
Hermes understood as well; he extended his arm as a steel broad sword appeared in his hand. He ran towards the Draugr at full speed. He was a blur of motion as he ran through the crowd of Draugr. He beheaded a few monsters and they instantly turned into a black cloud of swirling dust. He stopped to assess the damage. As soon as he stopped moving the Draugr surged forward engulfing the messenger of the gods in a stream of bodies. A golden light flashed beneath the mass of Draugr. Hermes appeared near Poseidon and Hephaestus. He collapsed as soon as the light faded. Poseidon held his nephew; Hermes was covered in hundreds of scratches and bite marks. Golden ichor covered the sidewalk.
"Poseidon, take him to the throne room," Zeus ordered. Poseidon nodded before turning into a sea mist and disappearing with the god of thieves.
Hephaestus looked down at the puddle of blood on the ground. Hermes was his brother and friend. He turned toward the Draugr and unleashed a wall of flame between the gods and the army of demons. The gods expected the Draugr to walk through the flames, but they didn't.
Athena smiled at her brother. "You bought us some time," Athena said to Hephaestus. "Fire can destroy them."
Zeus and Hera stepped up to the goddess of wisdom. "What do we do?" Zeus asked.
Athena looked at the wall of flames, and then back to her father. "We have to fortify ourselves inside the building. Mortal steel can destroy them, but only if they are beheaded. Burning them to a crisp will also destroy them," Athena said.
Zeus looked toward his wife. Hera gave him a reassuring smile. "Everyone back inside. We will need to help the children barricade the building," Zeus ordered. The remaining gods disappeared into a golden light. The wall of fire rose to twenty feet in height before Hephaestus disappeared.
Mount Olympus – Throne Room
Percy sat on the marble floor of the throne room. Hestia tended the hearth as they waited for any news of the battle waging below. Percy stood and began to pace back and forth.
"You're going to wear a rut in the marble," Hestia said.
Percy looked down at his feet. He felt so guilty that he was up on Olympus while his friends and family were fighting for their lives hundreds of feet beneath him. He looked up at his aunt. "How can you be so calm at a time like this? Our family is fighting down there," Percy asked.
Hestia sighed. "My boy, I'm always here as the last line of defense for Olympus. I'm not a warrior, but I will protect my home," Hestia explained.
"Don't you ever get impatient? Aren't you worried about them?" Percy asked.
Orange flames shot from the goddess's eyes. "I care for my family deeply. I'm worried like you, but I cannot do anything about it. I know my duty and that is what I concentrate on. You would do well to do the same," she said.
Percy sat down on the floor and crossed his legs. "I hate waiting," he admitted.
Hestia smiled at her nephew. "I know you do; a demigod is always impatient. A strange thing for people who would do well to savor life and not rush through it," the goddess said thoughtfully.
Percy nodded. He closed his eyes and regulated his breathing. It was a technique that Thor taught him. Hestia watched him; she could never be more proud of the boy. He had grown up so much. Percy's body radiated with a bluish green light. Hestia marveled at the boy's power. She knew that the Fates had a special interest in his life. He was the most powerful and most unique of demigods. He was a mix of mythologies. He was incredibly special. Hestia wished she knew more of what was in store for him, but that wasn't her power. She could only be there for him when he needed someone, like now.
Percy opened his eyes. He no longer felt the guilt and pain. He knew that Loki was close, but he didn't know where. He turned and looked at the hearth. "What do you think Loki will do next?" Percy asked.
Hestia stared into the flames of the hearth. The fire doubled in size under her intense glare. "He will use the Draugr to distract us and hope that you abandon your post. He would like nothing better than to reach Olympus without a fight. He can easily transport Gaea and Rhea with him," Hestia said. Percy frowned at the concern in Hestia's voice when she said her mother's name.
"You love Rhea, don't you?" Percy asked.
Hestia smiled. "She was a great mother, for a Titan that is," Hestia said.
Percy returned the smile. "She cares about all of you," Percy said.
Hestia nodded. "She does," Hestia said. "I thought she had faded after first Titan war, but it appears that she looks after us still."
"Like a good mother should," Percy said as he looked at the patterns in the marble floor.
"Don't be too hard on Hera," Hestia said. Percy looked up at her with a curious look on his face.
"I know you were thinking of her." Percy nodded. "No matter the terrible things she did in the past, she still loves you and Thalia. She would do anything for you."
Percy forced a smile. "I still love her, but when I think of what she did, I feel nothing, but pain."
"I understand, but remember the gods are not infallible. We make mistakes, except our mistakes cause tremendous damage, even to those we love," Hestia said sadly.
Percy stood and walked to his aunt. He put an arm around her shoulders. The goddess looked up at him, and then he pulled her into a hug. They pulled apart a few moments later. She gave him a curious look. "Even a goddess needs a hug sometimes."
Manhattan, NY – Chrysler Building
Loki stood on a ledge near one of the metal eagles perched on the side of the building. Nemesis stood at his side.
"You seem lost in thought my lord," Nemesis said.
Loki turned toward the goddess. "My dear; I'm savoring the feeling of impending victory," Loki said.
Nemesis gave him a curious look. "Isn't that a bit premature?"
An evil grin spread across the god of evil's face. "The Draugr are too numerous and powerful for the Olympians and their children to fight alone. The champion will come to their aid, and that will be the time of our victory."
Nemesis smiled. "We will have vengeance upon them," she declared.
"Why do you hate the Olympians so much?" Loki asked curiously.
Nemesis walked to the side of closest metal eagle. She touched the stainless steel eagle before turning to look at Loki. "I'm the goddess of balance, but the Olympians never cared about that. They obsessed over my other title, as the goddess of revenge," she said. Loki nodded. "They never gave me the respect I deserved. I was just another minor goddess to them. They never believed in balance. Zeus always had to be right, even when everyone knew he was wrong."
"So, you joined Kronos; you hoped he would bring balance?" Loki asked.
Nemesis stared up at the night sky. "A stupid thought; it was a dream really."
Loki shook his head. "No, it wasn't," he reassured. "You wanted to be respected; no one can blame you for that." Loki stepped closer to the goddess. Nemesis's breath hitched in her throat as she looked into the dark eyes of the god of evil.
"What're you doing?" she asked.
Loki smiled. Their faces were only a few inches apart now. "I'm giving in to my instincts," Loki said as he leaned forward and captured the goddess's lips with his own. Nemesis felt herself melt into the kiss. She couldn't believe he was kissing her. She had always felt a strong attraction to him, but now, her senses were overloaded by his sheer presence. She felt a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach and then she felt her body heat up. Her eyes opened fully as she realized something was wrong. She couldn't move; she was paralyzed. Her skin began to glow and she felt pain shoot through her body. She tried to scream, but Loki's lips were pressed tightly against hers. Blackness overcame her vision and she was no more.
Loki pulled out of the kiss. Nemesis stood before him; she was now a statue made of charcoal. "I tried to make it less painful than it could have been my dear goddess. I promise that I will not be so kind to the Olympians," Loki said before he touched the cheek of the goddess. The charcoal statue of the goddess broke apart and was carried aloft by the winds over Manhattan.
Loki stepped closer to the edge of the building and looked out toward the Empire State Building. He could see a fire at the street level. He smiled. "You only delay the inevitable. Olympus will be mine and the world will follow," he said. He turned toward the door to the building. "Isn't that right my ladies?" Standing behind him held captive by two large Cyclops were Gaea and Rhea. They looked terrified. They had seen how Loki had destroyed Nemesis and they could feel his evil.
"You are a monster," Rhea said.
Loki smiled before his body began to glow. His body morphed into that of a large golden snake with coal black eyes. "If you want a monster, then a monster I shall become," he said before he slithered over to his two prisoners. The Cyclops looked at their master with fear in their eyes. Rhea and Gaea both shivered with fright. The snake drew close to their faces. They could smell the putrid venom on the monster's breath. The giant snake turned and looked toward the top of the Empire State Building. "Don't worry; it shall all be over soon."
AN: The battle shall continue next chapter. Even though Loki is evil; you gotta love him, right?