A/N: I think I'll stick with this story for the next week.

Edit: I removed the Declan/Sword of Light scene from this chapter and put it in chapter one for reasons I also put it chapter one. It shouldn't really matter.

Thoughts are italic, and emphasized words are as well. If a word is a thought and emphasized, it's normal text

Chapter 3- Sasha the Serpent

Time Skip: Three days.

Percy's POV

In the days since that first mission, Zoe figured out she was the Hesperide, which lead to some awkward explaining. But in the end, she believed me and I didn't have to tell her anything more about her past. Good thing, too. If the Hunters recruited her, she might be my next target. Zoe's more powerful then she thinks.

"Proctor, you must be alone for this mission." The Judge intoned. Zoe nodded and stepped back while skeletal hands clutched at my temples. Images and words raced through my head, showing me something massive, green, and scaled. What is Hades is that?

There wasn't a name for that creature, but it was dangerous. Very dangerous. I got a location, too, but nothing more. I usually get more then that. Maybe any history. . . nope. Just images and a location.

Bowing to the Judge -I didn't bother looking for the little clues that told me which of the three it was- I stepped backwards into the shadow, reappearing in Maine. At least, I think it's Maine. I'm in the right place. Maybe.

I was standing in front of a metal-barred door, with steps leading into darkness below. It wasn't really a building, just the doorway and the steps, with a stone roof and walls. But that wasn't what scared me. What did was a delta carved into the door. Which meant either this was an entrance to the Labyrinth -which, according to Piper, does still exist- or another one of Daedulus' creations. Please tell me it's the latter.

After placing my hand on the delta, the symbol glowed and the door swung open. Inside, it was pure, unadulterated darkness. I stepped down, immediately comforted as I felt the power of the shadows all around me. Here, I felt invincible. It was like being in the ocean, but so much. . . . . better.

Is it enough to kill that giant snake? Maybe. Maybe not. All I had of that snake was an image, so I really don't know just how big it it.

Now, walking through the corridors I found myself in, I could see in the dark. Everything just looked dim here, but I knew it should be completely black to another set of eyes.

"Who isss thisss?" A voice seemed to fill the hallway, "You sssmell like the sssea, godling."

I spun in place, trying to find the source of the female voice, but it seemed to come from everywhere at once. My axe was clutched in my right hand, Shadow hanging from my waist. I could feel exactly where the entrance to this apparent maze was, as it was the only place not shrouded in shadow. Hearing a scraping sound behind me, I spun, but there was nothing there. Completely empty, and completely silent once again.

Something smashed into my back, sending me flying into a bigger room. The axe flew out of my hand as I smacked into a wall. Climbing to my feet and turning, I saw a huge snake. Like, bigger-than-a-drakon big. It's gigantic head reared up, ready to plunge down and probably kill me.

Thinking quickly, I drew Shadow and gathered the shadows into a massive wall in front of me. I only meant to create a shield, but down here? I was so much more powerful.

Something slammed into the wall, breaking through it, but the massive serpent's eyes focused on my hand, and she -judging by it's voice, it was a she- turned so that she wouldn't kill me.

Suddenly, the snake's form shimmered, then disappeared, and in it's place was a young women about my age. She was beautiful, with raven hair, and her eyes were deep emerald. She, whoever she was, wore a skirt the same color her scales were. From her ears dangled silver snake-shaped earings that had emeralds as eyes.

To my surprise, she ran forward and hugged me tightly, "I was wondering when my Master would return."

Master? What? "What do you mean, Master?"

"You carry Shadow, Master." She, whoever she was, released me but kept close. Very close. "I will eagerly follow your commands, whatever they may be."

What's with these frakkin' Swords? "How am I your Master?"

"Whoever is the owner of Shadow is my Master." She replied, "I was originally trapped in this prison before I fled and joined a man named Artur Drakon. I admired him, and he carried Shadow. Artur grew older, too weak to fight with that Sword, so he asked me to follow that blade, make sure that whoever carries it is worthy, and serve them, Master."

"So, how do I prove my worth?" I asked. When she spoke, she held any S a little longer then normal, giving her speech a, well, snake-y sound."

"Oh, it's easy, Master." She almost purred, linking her arm in mine, "Come with me."

This can't be good. "Who and what exactly are you?"

"I am Sasha, sister of Python, Master. Which is why I was imprisoned here in the first place." Sasha scowled at the walls, "The gods kept me here simply because I was the sister of an enemy of their's, Master."

"I've seen that before." I replied, my mind going to Calypso, who the gods still haven't released, "I'm glad Artur was, whoever he was, able to help."

Sasha navigated the labyrinth -hopefully not the Labyrinth- until we came to a door. Sasha hissed something, and it opened.

Inside was a ring on a small, marble pillar. Sasha picked it up and slid it on my finger. It was a snake -that looked a lot like Sasha- bitting it's own tail, creating a circle. Immediately, it tightened around my finger, until I was sure my bone was being crushed. It was on the verge of breaking when suddenly, the ring loosened to fit my finger perfectly.

"You are worthy, Master." Sasha said, "The ring will stay on your finger until you die, then it will return here."

"How old are you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, "You talk like it's happened a lot before."

Sasha's laugh was as beautiful as she was, "It has, Master, many, many times before. I am millennia old, Proctor, and have seen civilizations rise and fall. That ring is an ouroboros, a symbol of repetition, of cycles. Eventually, you will die, Master, and the ring and I will return here for the next Proctor."

"How many Proctors have you served?"

"Many. Dozens at least, Master." Sasha smiled, "Although I do prefer male ones like you, Master."

I sighed, "About that, Sasha. I am a Proctor. I can't afford to fall in love."

"Many have said that before you, Proctor." Sasha replied, "You will see. Being a Proctor weighs on one's conscience, grinds on one's soul. You will need comfort, Master. And I do not want you to listen to the wrong kinds."

I shook my head, "You call yourself my servant. If you would always bend to my will, what would you be? A puppet? I can't love a puppet, Sasha."

Sasha looked insulted, "I am no puppet, Master. Or should I call you Percy?"

I stopped, shocked, "How-"

"I visit the surface occasionally, learn current history and doings, Master." Sasha's deep green eyes met my own, "I do not love someone because I am forced to. I have heard of your actions, and observed you many times. You are someone I admire."

"I still can't love you, Sasha." I shook my head, "My heart belongs to another, and my soul to the Judges. What's left?"

"Your brain, Master." Sasha replied, "And your body. But I do not believe someone already claims your heart, Master. Once you are reborn, you cannot love before you take that ring. Your past life is the past."

"My past life is why I became a Proctor, Sasha." I sighed, "I can't turn my back on it."

"I'm your servant, Proctor." Sasha's eyes had a kind of gleam in her eyes that I didn't recognize, "Call my your snake, Master."

"Why would I call you something like that?"

"Tradition? Because I enjoy it? Does it matter, Master?" Sasha nodded to the ring, "That ring binds me to you, as I've said already. Master, I am always yours."

Something about that was very appealing to the more male parts of me, but I forced it down, "Fine. But only when we're alone."

Percy's POV

"If your Judges stay true to form, you're supposed to take me to the Underworld, Master." Sasha said. We were still in her "lair", as she called it.

"Okay. Any particular reason I was sent to get you now, versus before now or after?" I asked.

"Not that I know of, Master. The Judges have their own reasons." Sasha shrugged, "Shall we leave, or would you like me to show you around my lair?"

"We'll leave, my little snake." Sasha hissed appreciatively when I called her that, then we disappeared.

We reappeared in the training room, where Jeanne was sparing Zoe. After they noticed us, Zoe moved faster than I had ever seen her before, drawing a knife from her waist, and lunging at Sasha. Before I could even say anything, a few blurs of motion resulted in Sasha catching Zoe's hunting knife on a knife of her own. Both of their free hands were struggling against each other off to the side.

"Zoe, she's a friend. Sasha, Zoe won't hurt me." At my words, Sasha's hand twisted, disarming Zoe, and Sasha stepped back.

"Sasha!" Jeanne ran forward and hugged her, "It has been too long."

"Indeed, Proctor." Sasha hugged Jeanne back. They spoke rapidly in French while I filled Zoe in.

Zoe didn't look happy, "She is a monster."

"And she's a friend, Zoe." I replied, knowing I had to make a point, "You're a demi-Titan. Should I kill you because of that?"

Zoe scowled, "Fine. But I will be watching thy new friend."

I sighed, knowing Zoe wouldn't let this go easily.

Percy's POV

"This will be a different kind of mission." All three Judges were present, with Zoe, Sasha, and I standing in front of them. "Step forward, Zoe Nightshade."

Zoe walked up until she was a few feet away from the Judges, then gasped as a pair of hands clamped onto her skull, imparting the memories and information she needed. When the pair of hands let her go, I could see she was shocked.

"Sasha, step forward." A Judge intoned. Sasha looked at me, and I nodded. Then, and only then, she stepped forward. When the hands released her, there was a briefest flash of surprise, then her features smoothed over again.

"Proctor, step forward." I did as they asked, then another pair of hands touched my head. Whoa. Okay, this'll be different.

Grabbing Sasha's and Zoe's arms, I brought us all back to the training room, where Jeanne was waiting.

First things first, I guess. "Zoe? Can you do what they asked?"

The Judges had ordered Zoe to join Camp Half-Blood as a daughter of Hebe. The children of the goddess of youth didn't really have any powers, so it would be easy for Zoe to fit in. Sasha and I were supposed to access the Proctor "family's" bank account on Olympus. From the memories of the previous Proctors, I knew I had an account, but I didn't know why or how. Jeanne never really went over it.

Once Sasha and I had done some business up there, we were to also join Camp Half-Blood. Like Zoe, I was going to be found by a Satyr, while Sasha was going to be introduced to the camp by a man in a leather jacket, a.k.a, me.

Zoe nodded, so I spoke again, "The Campers are going to say some things about me. They will call me a traitor, a murderer, and who knows what else. But I swear, Zoe, on the River Styx, that I am innocent. Should the Hunt be there, try to stay away from them and don't get recruited."

Zoe filed that away, then held out her arm. I took it, and shadow-traveled us both to a middle school I had gotten kicked out of a few years ago. Zoe was thirteen -five years younger than I was- so if I just "convinced" the Dean and a few others, she'd get in. If I remembered correctly, I had asked Grover to post a Satyr here, and he had agreed

We were outside the Dean's office, waiting. A little bit of Misting convinced the people in front of us to let us pass, and after a few minutes, the door opened and a skinhead walked out.

"Next!" The Dean called. She about fifty years old, and a very nice lady.

Zoe strode in confidently, and I was right behind her.

"And who would you be?"

"This is Zoe Nisha, a new student joining you school for senior year." I snapped my fingers, manipulating the Mist, "She already passed the entrance exam, and you're helping her arrange a schedule."

Her eyes glazed for a bit, and she nodded. A year ago, I would've felt guilty about doing this, but now I wasn't. At the same time, I felt no desire to see Paul or even my mother. They were the past, and this is now.

"I leave you in the Dean's capable hands, Zoe." I said, "You know what you need to do if you get into trouble."

Zoe nodded, reaching into a pocket and showing me a familiar ballpoint pen. I nodded back, and disappeared, reappearing back in the training room where Sasha and Jeanne were sparring.

As soon as they saw me, Sasha glanced me up and down, seeing that I was fine. Zoe and Sasha, while they could work together, they didn't like and didn't trust each other. Both of them were waiting for the other to betray me, while I knew neither of them would do anything against me.

"Ready for part two?" I asked. Sasha nodded, and I used the shadows to get us both inside of the Empire State Building. After winking slyly at me and linking our arms, Sasha led me to the reception desk.

The bald security guard, bored as always, didn't even glance up from his book, "No commercial entry today. The Tower's closed."

Sasha hissed, and the guard nearly jumped in his seat, shocked at the sound. He spun, then his eyes focused in three places: The young women next to me, the sword hanging at my waist, and the ring on my right hand. The guard turned pale as he passed the card over, "I am very sorry, sir. I didn't recognize you."

"Good." I replied, knowing the guard wouldn't say a word about a young man in a leather jacket with his hood pulled up.

After the elevator doors closed and the keycard was accepted, I turned to Sasha, "Explain, my serpent."

Another odd thing about Sasha is that she liked being ordered around. So, instead of asking, I demand. Which doesn't really seem like something the Perseus I used to be would do.

"He recognized me, your sword, and your ring, which all signify you as the current Proctor, Master." Sasha bared her teeth and her fangs showed. That tends to happen when she wants it to, "In the last dozen millennia, the Proctors, the Judges, and I have all built up some pretty nasty stuff on Zeus and the other Olympians. Zeus generally tries to discredit Proctors as he finds them, tries to limit their power or discreetly kill them, but we've been pretty successful at dodging his actions."

I nodded, but motioned for Sasha to tell me more, "Other than the Olympians, Master, only a select few know who a Proctor is, what he or she does, and what he or she owns. Your manager, for instance, but not the bank that holds your money. Zeus doesn't know about any of your. . . . . assets on Mt. Olympus, Master, and for a good reason."

Assets? And who's this manager? I started to ask, but Sasha put a finger to my lips, "Don't ask here, Master."

The elevator dinged as we reached the six-hundreth floor, and we stepped outside. Previously, I had really only been to the throne room of the Olympians, but there was much, much more to Mt. Olympus. It was a metropolis, really, floating above New York City.

Sasha started leading me off, and I no idea where.

Percy's POV

"Here we are, Master." Sasha purred after a long time leading me through the city.

We were in front of a large, classical looking building that was at a Y intersection. No one had given us any strange looks as we passed through the streets, and it was easy to see why: Everyone here looked different then mortals. Everything was a mix of Greek, Roman, and modern American styles. Chintons were worn side-by-side with skirts. Roman togas next to modern suits and sports jackets. Bronze and gold breastplate-wearing people chatted with people wearing cotton or leather.

We entered the building to see a row of ATMs right next to a row of bank tellers. Sasha moved to one of the few open ones and rapped lightly on the wood counter. The male teller came to attention quickly and turned, "How may I help you?"

"My Master wishes to access the Proctor family's account. He is Dominic Proctor, heir to the Proctor accounts, holdings, and assets." Sasha said formally.

"Of course. Allow me to verify his identity." The teller turned to my, "Mr. Proctor, do you have the identification number of the Proctor account, as well as the key to those accounts?"

"Of course. The number is five-seven-three-nine-five-six-two-eight." I replied, reciting the number Jeanne had drilled into me, saying if anyone asked for number on Proctor-related business, that was the number. I also felt something poking my hand, which I grabbed and set on the desk.

It was an old-fashioned key, but a complex one. The teller inspected it carefully before nodding in satisfaction. "Very good, Mr. Proctor. Would you also like to meet with the manager of the Proctor assets?"

Sasha stepped back in, "Yes, my Master does. We will see him outside the storage facilities."

"Very good, ma'am." The teller didn't seem to mind that Sasha was handling business, "Will there be anything else?"

"I would just like to remind you that you haven't had any clients for the past few hours." Sasha reached into her pocket and deposited a short stack of drachmas on the counter. "You never saw us."

The teller nodded, sweeping the drachmas under the counter while Sasha and I turned, walking away.

"Bribery, much?" I asked, "Another way you keep Zeus' gaze away?"

"The best brothels are very expensive, even for the King of the Gods." Sasha bared her fangs again, "Blackmail and bribery work every time, Master."

Over the past year, I had discovered that I didn't really have any moral inhibitions anymore, probably as a by-product of the rebirth or the Judges giving me memories. I didn't especially mind, as it had come in handy. Many of my missions would've failed if I cared about my target's lives or any "collateral damage" that might be suffered.

Sasha had, once again, taken the lead, and we eventually passed out of the main city and entered an area that seemed to be full of old warehouses. I could barely see the throneroom, which -in typical godly fashion- was in the center on the city, at the peak of the mountain.

"Explain." I ordered.

"This is where past Proctors have stored non-monetary assets, ones that they didn't especially mind losing if worst came to worst. All that is inside is yours, Master."

"Hmm. Key?" Sasha gave me the same key she had shown the teller, and I stuck it in the lock.

"Wait, Master." I immediately froze, "Turn the key left first, then right."

Okay. Did she just tell me so we wouldn't waste time, or is there a more painful reason? With a slight groan, then warehouse opened, displaying the most odd collection of item I had ever seen. An old Model T Ford -in mint condition- sat in the center, being flanked by a ninteen forty-five Cadillac and an M twenty-six Pershing, a tank from World War Two. One wall was covered in weapons, several racks stacked on top of each other, going over a hundred feet from one end of the warehouse to the other. I could gear up an army with that many weapons.

"So all this is mine?" I asked, almost not believing it.

"Yes, Master, along with three other warehouses." Sasha replied, then there was a knock on the warehouse door.

Sasha and I walked over to the door, Sasha looking through a little peephole in the door.

"It's your manager, Master."

I nodded and opened the door to see a man dressed in a smart black suit. Before he walked in, though, something exploded right in front of me.

Percy's POV

I was thrown backwards, slamming into the Pershing before seeing what exploded into existence at the door. It was a statue of a man, but with no arms and only from the waist up. Come on, Terminus? Why does he have to be here?

"No entry to holdings without expressed verbal or written permission from the current owner of the holdings!" Terminus said disapprovingly.

"I, Dominic Proctor, allow-" Sasha mouthed his name to me, "- James Knutler into my holdings today. And what're you doing here, Terminus?"

"I was promoted to guarding the Throneroom of the Olympians, but I do security here as well." Terminus replied, his voice just as annoying. Then, his statue disappeared and James Knutler walked in.

"Mr. Proctor, I am the manager of the money in your bank account. As Sasha appears to have told you my name already, shall we get down to buisness?" He had a smooth, tenor voice.

"Of course." I motioned to a long table which was surrounded by more than two dozen chairs. We sat on one end, Mr. Knutler opening the briefcase he brought in, which revealed a slim computer.

"This is the current balance of your account, Mr. Proctor, in drachmas, with alternative currency value listed to the side." Mr. Knutler swivled the screen. I counted nineteen digits in drachmas, and about twice that much converted to dollars. In other words: An insane amount of money. So I'm rich now?

"Very good work, Mr. Knutler." It took all my will power to remain calm, despite knowing how much money I now had.

"Thank you, Mr. Proctor. I have enjoyed prosperous relationships with Proctors going back for several hundred years, and I wish for this relationship to continue." Mr. Knutler bowed his head, then spoke again, "This your levels of current stocks in various companies, both mortal and non-mortal."

My eyes scanned the list, see familiar names and many more names I didn't recognize. One of them caught my attention, though, "Stand by to sell all the shares in General Mills."

Mr. Knutler nodded, "Is the CEO about to suffer an unfortunate and fatal accident?"

"I'm afraid so. But not for a year at least, and I'd hate to lose money before then. Wait for my message." I replied, assuming that Mr. Knutler knew what I did as the current Proctor. "Anything else?"

"Yes." Mr. Knutler manipulated his computer a little, then turned it, "These are the long-term projects you have invested in. They are all progressing with little difficulty, and you should start receiving money in three years from them. Which brings us to the most important part."

Now there was a list of names, all having a different color, "Those are the believed monetary status of the Olympians and other powerful gods."

Zeus was bankrupt, Poseidon a bit better. Hades was rolling in the dough, thanks to being the Lord of Riches, but he was Hades. There was plenty of material to blackmail him with. The other gods were between the first three. Ares and Apollo's wallets were a bit thin, meaning next to bankrupt, which would be very useful. Artemis had exactly no money, but I didn't think it was from squandering it.

"Thank you. You've done an splendid job so far, and I don't see any reason to impede on your progress." It felt right to use more flowery and formal language here, with Mr. Knutler in a suit and all.

"Very well. May I have my leave?" I nodded, and Mr. Knutler stood up before bowing to me and leaving.

"Where to next, Master?" Sasha asked, plainly having sat through the meeting more than once in that past.

"Camp Half-Blood. I'll introduce you, go report to the Judges, then disappear into the public school system." I said with and air of finality.

I took Sasha's arm, and after making sure my hood was up and using Shadow to shroud my face, I brought us to Camp Half-Blood.

"Remember what to do, Sasha." I whispered into her ear, "A nice man took you here, saying you'd be safe. He doesn't take down his hood, ever, so you don't know what he looks like. He told you that you're a daughter of Hecate, and gave you a pen that he said would help. Get Riptide from Zoe, and use it."

Sasha nodded. We were a ways away from Thalia's Pine, which meant the guard there could see the two of us but not hear us. I watched Sasha go up the hill and talk to the guard, who turned and looked at me. I nodded to him, then turned and walked away, shadow-traveling back to the Underworld as soon as I was out of sight.

A/N: This is a pretty sucky chapter. At least, it was to me with all the line breaks.

So, if you haven't noticed, Mt. Olympus is ripe with corruption. And what will Terminus' promotion have done to the New Romanians and Senate? I'm trying to build a very intricate plot here, which is somewhat tough. A lot of things are gonna be happening at once, so do your best to keep track of everything.

I can't think of anything crazy to say here about eating reviews. Darn.