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Chapter 12: Pain, Unbearable Pain and Chaos?

"Thalia! Thalia!" I yelled as she stomped to her room. "C'mon, hear me out!"

"Leave me alone, asshole!" Thalia shouted. "Don't you dare follow me to my-"

As Thalia entered her room, I slid in slyly as she slammed it shut. Thalia glared at me with murder in her eyes.

"You can get out now or you will be too broken to even bathe in the Styx," Thalia threatened angrily, her eyes boring into my skull. "Ten seconds." She whirled around.

"Thals, c'mon. Let me at least tell you why," I pleaded.

Thalia sighed angrily and turned back around. "You have five minutes. That's it."

"Finally. Listen, if I bathe in the Styx, we can have a better chance of winning this war!" I reasoned.

Thalia threw her arms in the air. "Wake up Percy! Wake up and get back to reality! There's a difference in everything. Oh, I have an example. Yeah, how about bathing in the Styx? Totally a normal thing to do. See, there's being just...well, let's say, clearly dumb and killing yourself, or, barely surviving. What seems more reasonable?"

"There's a chance I can live," I hissed.

"There's a greater chance you can die!" Thalia exclaimed, and I realized there were tears in her electric blue eyes.

"Woah, Thalia..." I mumbled.

"I just want you to survive," Thalia said angrily. "You survive, I survive. You're the only reason I joined the Titans! Well, Luke also, but I would never have joined if it weren't for you! I do want power, really, I do, but I don't want to be alone with a ship full of monsters without someone who I can rely on!"

I stared at Thalia. "Thals, you know I'm going to come back."

"How can I believe you?" Thalia whispered harshly. "There's plently of people who fed me "so-called" promises, which are actually lies! Luke told me we would always stick together...look at what happened to that! My mother told me she would stop drinking; stop drinking my ass!"

I blinked. "Thalia...for the sake of the world...you need to let me go."

"The thing is, when I let things go, they never come back!" Thalia exclaimed quietly. "Ever heard that saying: If you love something, you let it go?

"I'd rather never let go than be disappointed when it doesn't come back to be mine," Thalia muttered. "I'd never risk what I love."

"You love me?" I asked.

"Of course, Kelp Head," Thalia replied. She came at me for a hug, but I stepped back.

"Did you hear the rest of the saying?" I demanded. "If it comes back, it's yours, but if it doesn't it isn't? This is my promise, Thalia. I'll come back. I love you enough to come back."

Thalia burst into tears but wiped them roughly away. I opened my arms to hug her, and she ran into them.

"I promise I'll come back," I whispered into her hair.

She was silent, just shaking. After a little while, she said, "Okay. You can go."

"Really?" I asked.

"Just go and hurry before I change my titans damned mind," she hissed.

"Wait," I said, possibly jeopardizing this entire mission.

She looked at me.

"I'll need your blessing," I continued.

She glared at me and for a moment, I thought I went too far, but she hugged me.

"I give you my blessing," she sighed as she released me, "Get out. Now."

I immediately left the wrong lest something bad happened and I ran into Luke was slashing at a fake dummy. He seemed to be preoccupied about something. He immediately caught my eye, nodded at me, then resumed slashing the dummy again.

"Is something wrong Luke?" I asked him as he ignored for a while.

"No, nothing much," he lied not meeting my eyes.

I narrowed my eyes, "What's wrong? You can tell me."

Luke shifted uneasily as he stared at the ripped up dummy.

"Well, you see, it's about Annabeth and fate," he told me, finally looking at my eyes.

I was confused.

"What of Annabeth?" I asked.

"I don't think she's faring well under these conditions," Luke said, "She refuses to eat and it seems she has lost the will to live. I know she's against the Titans, but we still have a long history together and I remember when I promised her that we would always be a family...forever."

"What are you hinting at?" I asked.

He sighed, "I'm thinking of letting Annabeth free or recruiting her."

"Both of those options are horrible," I involuntary tensed, "I still don't forgive her for betraying me like that. Although recruiting her too our side is interesting as we gain a valuable asset..."

I sat there pondering until Luke cleared his throat.

"Before that, I've been having dreams that are haunting me," Luke confessed, "It's mostly about you."

"What?" I asked, "What is it?"

Luke was silent for a while and just as I was getting impatient he said, "I feel like the fates don't control your destiny...you're out of the strings of life..."

"It's true...the fates told me that another force controls me...myself," I said. "That's really weird..."

"You tell me," Luke said, and slashed a dummy. He looked less worried. "By the way, why'd you come visit me? And also, is Thalia okay?"

"Thalia's okay," I answered. "But...I need your blessing to bathe in the Styx."

Luke tensed. "Right. That."

"So...?"

"I give you my blessing, Percy," Luke murmured, stabbing a dummy in the gut.

"W-what? Really?" I exclaimed, surprised.

"Um...yeah," Luke said.

"Wow, you reacted less dramatically than Thalia," I muttered.

Luke smirked, and clapped my back. "Thanks. You're comparing me to a girl's emotions."

"Sexist," I said, before smiling at Luke. "Thanks."

"No prob...just...stay safe, okay?" Luke said. I nodded and left his room.

I went to go find Willow. She was located on the bedroom across from Luke's, but a bit further to the right. I knocked on the door, but no one responded.

Cautiously, I stepped in and heard singing. Steam drifted into the room and I gagged. It smelled like strawberries.

Willow was taking a shower.

I impatiently waited on the snug couch in the room and looked around. It was a neat place with pictures hanging on the walls.

I stared at them, one by one. There was one picture of her, about three years old, holding a handful of blueberries. I smiled.

I studied all of the pictures. They all had the same things; vegetables or fruit. I rolled my eyes.

"Say what you wanna say, and let the words come-AHHHH!" Willow screamed and I bolted up. Willow had her hair in a messy bun and she wore a red tank top with shorts.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Willow shouted, smacking me in the face. "YOU FREAKIN' PERVERT!"

"I'm sorry!" I screeched, backing away from the angry girl. "I just wanted to talk!"

Willow rolled her eyes and huffed. Giving me a kick in the shin, she crossed her arms and glowered at me. "What?"

"I need your blessing for the Styx," I said.

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? I mean, you can...well, die."

I nearly let out a breath when she didn't explode like Thalia.

"Or I can be invincibile," I said.

"I mean...are you okay with this?" Willow asked.

"Yes."

Willow bit her lip. "Can you get back to me later?"

"Why? I need it now," I urged.

"Percy, I'm not good at making decisions!" Willow cried. "Give me some time."

"You didn't hesitate when you nearly broke my leg," I muttered. Willow glared at me. "Choose. Now."

Willow glared harder, and it seemed like she was going it over her head.

"...if it's for the best," Willow said, as if convincing herself. "Okay."

"Thanks," I said quickly, squeezing Willow's shoulder and smiling. When I left, Willow was still mumbling to herself. It seemed like she was making sure she had made the right decision.

I smiled. I had only Bob left.

I found Bob in his room, reading an encyclopedia.

"Hey," I greeted. "Reading about how hamburgers can cause cancer?"

"If I were you, I wouldn't attack your enemy when you try to devour something from them. Such as a water source, of fertile soil. In this situation, you are trying to get my blessing for the Styx. I didn't think you'd be so foolish," Bob said, flipping through his book.

I snorted. "So...what do you say?"

"Perseus Jackson," Bob said, getting up and walking to me, "Let me explain something to you. The chance of dying when you bathe in the Styx is a 50% chance...you can live or die. But, especially since you don't your mother's blessing, the death goes up by 27%. You see, the mother's blessing is very important; it signifies the relationship you have. You are of your mother's blood, so it's like you're going to the Styx with her.

"She's emotionally apart of you; you have her cells and some of her DNA. If the big of a choice is denied in blood and flesh. Your genes must agree with you for the Styx to be safe. At least by 50%. Anyways, the chance of not dying...well, it's 33%...not even half up, so the risk of living is very slight...By the way, that percentage is without your friend's consent. So, since the people closest to your soul accept, it bumps up living by 7%.

"So it'll be rounded up to 40%, but it's actually 39.4%. You see, it's 27.6% added to the death because the mother is actually apart of everything you are. Including the genes, skin cells, etc. Anyways, it's a obvious answer. The percentage of your death is 67.6% and the percentage of you living is 39.4%. What do you think I'll say?"

"Um...w-wha?" I asked, blinking. "What'd you say?"

Bob sighed impatiently. "Whatever. I give you my blessing."

"Thanks," I muttered, trying to get rid of the migraine I had.

I headed to the room and locked the door. Taking my sword out, I concentrated on it and waited for Kronos.

"Perseus Jackson...you have your friend's blessing, I presume?" Kronos rasped.

"Yes. I'm ready to bathe in the Styx," I said.

"Good. Now, I will place a spell on you. In the Underworld, you will be seen among eyes and you can be easily captured. I will place a spell so you will be invisibile...it's only thirty minutes, so do not hesitate," Kronos said. "I'll transport you there...the spell should kick in when you step place in the Underworld."

I waited, before I felt darkness overshadowing me and I jolted. I was in a dark, dank place, and I blinked. I looked down at myself; I was invisible.

I was standing by the Styx, and I shuddered. There was a plastic baggy in the river and there was a broken doll.

Swallowing, I peered over river. I was shaking, and I heard Kronos in my head.

"Hold on, Perseus," Kronos whispered. "Brace yourself."

Then, I plunged myself into the Styx. Pain flooded in me, like needles, no, knives sticking all over my body. I screamed in pain as I writhed. It felt like I was doused with gasoline and tossed into a fire pit.

Clenching my teeth, I tried to focus on my mortal spot. But with the pain, I couldn't concentrate. Breathing harshly, I focused under my left armpit, screaming in pain. I was trembling; the pain was too much. Pain, unbearable pain.

Suddenly, I felt a tugging on my mortal spot. I focused on it and I saw Bianca, sitting on the edge of the river. She wore a green cap, but I could see her face clearly.

Her silky hair reached down to me.

"Come on, Percy," she teased. "Get out of there!" Bianca laughed, "Your not going to die on me! Not if I can help!"

She tugged on the rope connected to my mortal spot, and I felt myself rising up.

Finally, I burst out of the river and landed on the ledge of the river. My skin was red, and I panted. I splayed myself on ground and breathed for a long time.

Focusing, I said: "Kronos, teleport me out now?"

There was no response.

"Kronos?!"

Suddenly, I felt death lurking near me. I bolted up and stared, until my eyes landed on Hades.

"Well, well, well," Hades said oily. "Perseus Jackson...what are you doing here, lying on the ground? This won't keep you from your punishment, even if you surrender."

I sneered at Hades. "Shut up. You'll won't be spared at all, Hades."

Hades snarled. "Enough chit-chat. Attack!" Skeletons erupted from the ground and ran to me.

They shot poisonous darts at me, and they bounced harmlessly off of me. I felt a new power fill me and I ran to Hades.

Adrenaline pumped in my veins as I took Hellfire out and began killing the skeletons. Every move didn't tire me; I felt invincible.

Soon, most of the skeletons were gone, and I pounded on Hades. I raised my sword, holding it against his throat.

"I would kill you now, but I will wait till I force you to hold the sky," I hissed. Hades shook and disappeared, but I stabbed his right shoulder before he transported out. Only his black cape was left.

I picked it up; it had pictures of gruesome deaths and I felt angst and horror fill me. Smirking, I put it on and waited.

"Kronos?" I called.

"Yes, Jackson. You survived...I won't lie, I doubted you at first, but you will be greatly rewarded when the gods suffer. I'll take you back to the ship. I proud of you...Jackson," Kronos said.

I grinned, before I found myself on the deck of the Andromeda.

"I'm here people!" I yelled expecting some kind of warm welcome, but there was not a single soul to be found on the deck.

I peeked inside and heard sobbing. I looked in as Luke was massaging Thalia as Bob did the same for Willow.

"That idiot should not have gone, now he's dead," Thalia yelled angrily.

"I should've trusted my gut," Willow muttered, "What did I do? What did I do?"

"Guys," I said as they all whipped their head to me.

"Percy?" Luke asked, eyes wide.

Luke and Bob cracked a grin while Thalia and Willow looked at me murderously.

"You-you piece of shit!" Thalia yelled, "How fucking dare you?!"

Willow and Thalia approached me.

"Grab him and open his legs Willow," Thalia cackled.

"Thalia?" I asked frightened.

Vines sprout from the ground and bound me. It opened my legs as I tried desperately to close it.

"What are you guys doing?" I yelled then turned to Luke and Bob.

Luke got up, but Bob pulled him down. Bob whispered to Luke as Luke finally smiled. I saw Thalia's foot cracking with energy.

"No Thalia! No!" I pleaded.

"Shut up Percy!" she growled back.

"For your sake Thalia, don't," I replied.

That gave her more motivation. She kicked, aiming for my groin, but as her foot impacted with my "soft spot", a clang was heard as Thalia withdrew her foot, cursing.

"Surprise! The Curse of Achilles!" I over-exaggerated.

Thalia glowered at me. She knew she couldn't hurt me physically, but she could mentally or emotionally. She hugged me afterwards.

"I'm glad your back," she replied and went to her room.

Willow just looked at me and walked out.

"Nice going bro," Luke grinned, "You survived and you took a lot of time. You've been gone for 8 hours."

"8 fucking hours?! Your fucking kidding me!" I said, "You lie Lucas Castellen. You lie!"

"Lucas?" Luke asked eye raised, "That's new."

"I know right?" Bob added in the background.

"Whatever man, I'm dead tired, I'm gonna crash. Capisce?" I asked as they nodded.

"Enjoy your sleep buddy. Skipping a meal won't kill you," Bob said as Luke and Bob waved at me.

I went upstairs and just crashed. I didn't shower. I'll bet I smelled disgusting. Ah, who cares? Let's get to the dreams now shall we?

I was approaching a deep pit, Tartarus. I felt compelled to walk to the pit.

"Perseus Jackson," a voice whispered to me as it sent shivers down my spine, "Come closer."

I came closer.

"I have heard a lot about you. Come closer boy!" he hissed.

"Stop," I weakly commanded.

He laughed cruelly as a void started spinning back and forth. Out popped another deity. Her eyes were like the entire cosmos and she had stars everywhere. It was an amazing sight. She had midnight black hair and pale skin.

"That is enough Tartarus," the woman said, "Rest."

"You still show your face to him Chaos?" Tartarus asked.

"Yes I do Tartarus," Chaos replied, "I have much to tell him. Leave him be for now."

"I hope you know what you're doing," Tartarus replied sternly.

Chaos nodded as Tartarus grumbled and I felt his presence retreat.

"I have to apologize for this sudden meeting, but you are in terrible danger," Chaos told me.

I just stared at her, my brain trying to comprehend all that had happened.

"Don't worry, take as much time as you need," Chaos said as I just stared at her.

She also stared at me and this went on for a while. I shook myself out of this stupor.

"Yeah, I'm done," I said, "What do you want to tell me...Lady Chaos?"

"Sit down, this will be a lot to take in," she instructed as I sat on the cold hard ground, "So, you know how the fates told you about your fate not being controlled by...fate?"

I nodded.

"That is a really dangerous position you are in Perseus," she continued, "This is the first time this has ever happened to anyone. Unfortunately, it has stirred creatures very old and unknown. They are all hungry for you as you can tip the balance in favor of anyone. Also, if you die, no one knows what will happened to this world. It is clouded from me also."

"Who has stirred?" I asked.

"My brother Order, Aether, Ananke, Chronos, Erebus, Eros, Gaea, Hemera, Nyx, Phanes, Tartarus, Thalassa, Ouranos, Alke, Anaideia, Agon, Aidos, Adika, Aergia. This list would go on forever. Thousands and thousands of major and minor deities are stirring," Chaos explained.

I didn't recognize any of these names.

"Ok," I stupidly replied.

She looked at me amused.

"I actually don't know what to say to that. You sure are different," she told me as I waved my hand, all traces of nervousness gone.

"So, why are you here besides trying to tell me all this?" I asked.

"This may sound weird now, but don't question what I'm saying. Just listen and follow my directions if you want to save yourself and possibly the people you love. No questions, ok?" Chaos asked as I nodded.

"You will need blessings," Chaos told me, "Blessings from all major and minor deities. They will be of use in the long run. There are thousands of major and minor deities that are stirring and if you want to live, you will have to ask for their blessing."

"You said there are thousands. How can I ask all of them?" I asked, "I don't even know who any of them are?"

Chaos snapped her fingers and a scroll appeared in my hands. I opened it and found out that it was blank.

"It's blank," I told her.

She smiled as she snapped her fingers. In black ink, I saw the name Achlys. Next to the name, it read: Spirit of the death-mist, personification of sadness and misery.

"The thing is Lady Chaos, I don't know who she is and where I can find her," I told Chaos, "Also, wouldn't they want to kill me on sight? Also, why not the people who you listed like your brother Order?"

Chaos studied me.

"I am starting you off with the basics Perseus," Chaos told me, "Asking for my brother's blessings or any of the primordials would be suicide. You have to take it from the bottom to the top. Also, they will sense your fate...that no one controls it. Instead of killing you, you will have to pass tests that they will give to prove to them that you are capable of their blessing. Don't dwell on this right now. You will have plenty time later and trust me, you might not understand any of this right now, but eventually you will have to get it. Good luck hero and may the stars guide you."

I felt like I was spinning round and round as my dream faded to black.