Chapter 16
"Just look at all that destruction and he hasn't even reached a city yet" Hades glowered from atop Enyo's mountain, he turned to Annabeth, she struggled against her invisible restraints "Maybe we should go and say hello to Mr Jackson" with a flick of his wrist they were down in the forest.
A low growl sounded, Annabeth whipped around stumbling back at the sight of three large wolves came from the shadows, their fur looked like it was on fire.
"Do what you want with me, you will not succeed, Percy will find a way to defeat you like he did before" Annabeth tried to put as much confidence into the words as possible,
Hades glared back at her, anger clear in his eyes but said nothing, just returned to watching Tityus as he pushed back the Demi-Gods again, They were close enough to feel the ground shake from Tityus's attacks,
Hades signalled and the wolves herded Annabeth forward so she could also witness the failing of her brethren
"ANNABETH!" A deep voice called from behind them
Annabeth's heart leapt as Markos skidded to a halt in front of them, sword in hand and, her eyes widened, he was shirtless
"Hades" he growled, eyes filled with hatred
"A Son of Ares" he took in his attire "Just like his father, bare-chested into battle, he saw as having no fear but it is foolish, run along boy while you can" he turned back dismissing Markos
"My name is Markos Lutz" Markos fumed "Son of Ares, God of War, if you do not release her I will take her by force" his body was vibrating, his breathing ragged, chest rising and falling
Hades looked up and down "You're one of his children with the curse, it's written all over you, one like you is born every thousand years or so, a little gift from Zeus to give Ares the ultimate warrior, never sleeps, uncontrollable rage" Hades smiled, toying with Markos
"When's the last time you truly lost control, let the wrath seize you, allowed the beast to take over" he walked up to Annabeth, clutching her face in his hand making her wince.
Markos shifted forward at the sight of Annabeth's pain. Hades eyes went between the two Demi-Gods,
"Would you lose control to save this one?" he asked, when Markos didn't respond he glanced to the fire wolves
"Skotose tom" he commanded
The wolves pounced into action their furs igniting, putting Markos on the defensive.
Annabeth struggled against her invisible chains, she tried to tell him to go, to beg him to run but no sound came out, what was he doing, he was facing the God of the Underworld. Hades muttered some foreign words and the fire wolves darted forward, heading for Markos.
She tried to scream, tried to help him, but she couldn't. So she remained still watching in horror as he tried to fend off the now alight wolves, they were snapping at him, inches away from his skin. He swung the sword fending them back, but it was clear he was not fast enough to keep all of them at bay, it only took a moment of misjudgement from Markos for the wolves to leap on him.
Markos fell to the ground disappearing under the mounds of ignited fur, Annabeth's eyes searched for any sign of the Demi-God, her heart thinking when she saw blood on the muzzle of a wolf. Her eyes blurred with tears as she dropped her head in defeat, closing her eyes feeling a tear escape, rolling down her cheek. She tried to scream his name but the gag over her mouth made it so no noise was heard
There was a sudden whimpering and the wolves coward away from the body on the ground, Annabeth looked up at the bloodied form who was writhing on the grass, he managed to move into a crouched position, his body trembling, chest heaving, a roar erupted from Markos. It was unlike anything Annabeth had ever heard, it terrified her, how was he still moving? Blood covering his skin, tears in his flesh, it wasn't possible and now Annabeth finally understood, the curse was something far worse that what she'd imagined.
He began to mutter something, getting louder every time
"Mechri to Thanato"
"Mechri to Thanato"
Over and over again louder and louder until he was shouting, he got to his feet slowly, the cuts on his body still seeping blood slowly, coating his torso in red, but still, somehow he stood before them, his body rippling with some sort of power
Annabeth's blood ran cold when he faced them, Markos's curse had taken over completely, his normally emerald eyes had darkened, iris's as black as his pupil's, his face was now marred with new scars, not from the wolves claws, it was like nothing Annabeth had ever seen before and it terrified her, Markos no longer looked like the man Annabeth knew.
"Ah, the blood curse" muttered Hades "You remind me of your father, quick into battle no matter the consequences" with a swift flick of his hand had Annabeth flying backwards and into a tree, knocking the breath out of her. Hades turned to his quivering wolves
"That's what you get with second rate war wolves" after another moment they scarpered, tails between their legs
"Well boy, you want to take on a God?" Hades offered, arms outstretched to the sides, inviting Markos to give it his best shot "You cannot defeat me boy"