1) Sorry for the wait, my computer broke and I needed to get a new one.
2) Thanks to anyone who followed, it means I'm doing something right.
3)Constructive criticism wanted, needed, to improve.
"Alright, down to business, this next memory is… brutal to say the least" I said. "How so?" Mark asked. I smiled and said "You'll see." I handed Mark the vial, and I then took a candle and burned some of the thread. "Night night." he said.
I wake up in sweat, yelling. Screaming. "Zoe" I whisper and think at the same time. I feel the same catch in my stomach that I did when I was a little kid getting in trouble. I stand up, my hands shaking the moment they leave the futon. I was separated from the camp after the declaration of war. I needed time alone. The quiet, where I could scream and yell and cry in peace. I leave my house, completely naked. I was moved to an island similar to… No, Calypso was freed, I was moved to Calypso's island.
By instinct clothes form around me, first pants, then a shirt, then moccasins. Most comfortable footwear there is, in my opinion. I sit down when I reach the beach, and begin weeping. I fall asleep like that, and when I awake again Hestia stands over me, and I smell smoke. I scrunch my eyebrows, then ask "Hestia, why… Why arre you heere?" My words slurred with the effects of wake up grogginess. I wipe my eyes and we are at Olympus. I blink trying to comprehend the sudden change in surroundings. Zeus comes up to me and says, "Hephaestus want's to speak with you at his forge. You should go, but first, here." Zeus gives me a bottle. I begin to ask but he interrupts, "Your father will explain."
We teleport again, but Hestia isn't with me this time. Hephaestus calls for me. I look for him, I find him standing at his work table, making an automaton. He looks up and smiles. "Percy, I need to help you. In turn, by doing this, you also help me." Hephaestus says. "What do you mean?" I simply ask. I've been like this since Venus, and I don't plan to change. "Follow me."
We walk to a portal, and when we step through, we transport to Phlegethon, and I look at him, confused. "Drink the vial." He orders simply. "Okay… Why?" I need to negate some of your fire resistance. I'm going to 'baptize' you. I'm going to make you a god." My eyes widen, then I steel myself for the pain. I drink from the vial Zeus gave me, then I nodded to Hephaestus. I walked to the edge of the river, close my eyes and then my father pushes me in. I feel nothing, and then the heat becomes so great that my skin feels cold in pain. All of a sudden I feel nothing, then I slam into the ground feet first.
I look up, and all I'm in are cotton pants and leather gloves. In front of me is a shadow, and it lets out a low growl when I make eye contact. All of a sudden I hear a booming voice in my head, "Choose a weapon." But I look around and I see none. Then I think about how much I miss Kakos, and suddenly it appears. I smile when I realize what's going on here. I toss Kakos to my left hand and a Katana appears in my right. "Try me" I say. The shadow steps aside and I see a doorway. I walk through and I realize where I am. Tartarus. I blink and I hear cheering. I look around I realize that I'm in a stadium. In front of me is the Minotaur. I get battle ready and a bell rings. We clash and he seems so much stronger.
I stab him with Kakos but he doesn't burn up. "No magic" Fine. I remove the blade and the wound heals. He swings his axe at my head but I duck and remove his arm with the katana. That too proves worthless. the arm disappears and a new one grows. He swings the axe at me again, but I block with Kakos. The axe slides but I don't have enough time. It cuts me at the elbow. I scream but my arm grows back. Suddenly my sword transforms into a spear and I impale his skull. He finally turns to dust and I realize the objective. Brain.
"Magic is allowed" Good. Kakos returns and I smile. An empousa enters, and I split them in half easily. But I feel exhausted as they begin to burn. "Weapons are forbidden" and suddenly my sword vanishes. I almost don't flinch now at the voice. I crack my neck and prepare for a demon, instead, I see Athena. I one of my enemies. We clash like sumo wrestlers, and I knee her in her stomach. She releases and elbows me in the face. I grab her neck, and her wrist, then trip her so that we have to grapple. I retain my grip on her arm, and the mine goes to her remaining one. I punch her in the stomach, then mount her before going berserk and wailing on her face. Suddenly the world spins and my face gets the same treatment. I try and prevent it, but I can't. In an instant though, I begin to see red, and I free one of my hands. My arm heats up and I shove it into her stomach. I reach up and I brush away her heart. At that she screams, but I'm not done. Golden ichor runs down my arm, and I see a bulge in her neck where my hand is now. She can no longer breath, but her brain still remains so… I reach up even further, and my arm become so hot that I begin to melt her. I feel the skin running down to my shoulder, and she can start screaming again.
The incessant wail is suddenly cut short when her brain falls apart and lands on my chest. All that remains is the ringing. "Objective met, Ichor released." Then I wake up. at the shore of Phlegethon.