Edited: as of 29/9/14
Chapter 2
Tales of Olympus: Perseus Jackson
Tartarus
Percy shook his head.
Pain pulsed through every part of his body. and almost as if an insult, his body smelt of ozone and his mouth tasted metal.
He lifted his arm and could smell smoke coming from it.
He coughed slightly. Percy didn't like smoke. It reminded him of Zeus. Too much of Zeus.
His eyes widened. Zeus...Olympus...Tartarus. Shit, he thought.
His eyes darted around and several stared back. Pale yellow eyes eyed the demigod hungrily, craving for the taste of power and human flesh.
A hellhound licked its lips and, if possible, smiled.
Percy's eyes adapted to the darkness almost immediately.
He saw outlines of hellhounds, dracaenaes, cyclopes and much more. A slight tingle went down his spine as a hellhound, easily the size of a truck lunged forward at him.
Years of fighting experience prevented his hide being sliced into demigod ham.
He ducked and rolled to his side. Percy felt a pair of claws flew harmlessly over his side. He instinctively reached into his pocket and felt the familiar, metallic figure of a pen.
Immediately, he took it out and it uncapped into a three and a half feet long Celestial Bronze sword with a cushioned leather grip.
Riptide, he thought absentmindedly.
The Celestial Bronze blade glowed slightly in the dark abyss, and practically all the monsters within a five kilometre radius turned towards the blade. The hellhound snarled and bristled when he saw the blade.
Percy blocked a swipe at the head by the hellhound, simply by lifting his sword up. What he hadn't expected was that the strength of the blow.
He flew a good ten feet and landed at the feet of a cyclops.
It gave the demigod a toothless grin and was about to smash his club down when a pitch black arrow embedded itself at the single eye of the cyclops.
The cyclops stared at the arrow in shock and before it could do anything else, its body spasmed melted to Stygian Iron. Percy looked around to see nothing but monsters closing in.
The owner of the arrow hadn't stepped out yet. And Percy could really use all the help he could get. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the water moisture in the air.
No use.
Percy cursed his bad luck.
Then he scowled, he didn't defeat Ares by giving up, neither did he help the gods win the Titan war by doing exactly that.
With that in mind, he felt adrenaline course through his body and he stood up.
Gripping Anaklusmos tighter in hand, he faced the monsters. With a loud battle cry, he charged straight at them.
~0~
His blade sliced through an unlucky dracaenae and felt power course through his body.
He frowned slightly, not sure where he gotten that from but was glad for the extra boost. From the corner of his eye, he saw something glint in the air.
He managed to twist mid-run and a spiked club passed through the air where Percy was.
The cyclops grunted in surprise and lifted its club once more in attempt to smash Percy into goo, but the demigod was nowhere to be seen.
The cyclops managed to turn seconds before Percy sprang out from the darkness, his blade poised in front to slice the spiked-club in half.
The spiked part fell onto the ground with a loud thud and the cyclops widened its eye in surprise. Percy readied his sword once more just as the cyclops closed its eye in concentration.
Before he could attack, the cyclops spoke. "Percy! What are you doing?" The cyclops spoke in Annabeth's voice, something which sent shivers down his back.
The fear was replaced immediately by anger as the image of her kissing Zelick came into mind.
He roared in anger and brought his sword straight at the cyclops.
The body spasmed and melted into Stygian Iron.
Energy coursed through Percy's entire body which caused him to grin. He had no idea how or where that boost came from, but it enabled him to continue fighting.
He grinned and readied himself for the next opponent.
~0~
Percy managed to dodge a blast from a Hyborean giant.
He rolled on his side and felt the ice pierce through the ground beside him. It didn't take much effort to persuade himself to not think about what would happen if one of those things even touched him.
He jumped and raised his blade high above his head, his mind planning to do a blow that will slice the giant into half, vertically.
The giant raised its head and looked from beneath its fur. He then promptly opened his mouth and blew hard at Percy.
The cold wind pressed against Percy and he felt a lot of friction forcing him back.
His sword felt too heavy in his hands and he promptly lost his balance and momentum in the air, causing him to fall face-first onto the ground, his sword flying out of his grasp.
He sat up and groaned loudly. He will definitely not have enough brain cells if that continues.
Instead of focusing on the pain, he looked around for his sword and saw it sticking out of the ground. The blade of Anaklusmos was half dug deep into the ground, with frosted tendrils of ice covering the blade.
Seriously? He sighed.
The Hyborean blew again at him and Percy felt his body temperature dropping furiously.
Out of the blue, he remembered a conversation with Annabeth about how his veins then his entire body would explode into million ice shards if his temperature got too low.
He shook his body and used the water in the ice to his advantage.
He willed it to melt and form a protective barrier from the cold. The water did as it was told and froze once more as it formed the appropriate shape.
The ice from the giant only increase thickness of the shield and it finally got the message when he saw Percy standing behind it, smiling smugly.
Suddenly, the ice melted at surprisingly fast speeds. Before the water had even fell onto the ground completely, Percy jumped through it, his sword poised above his head.
The ice-cold water healed the various burns and bruises on his body, even the irritating stinging on his cheek.
Before Percy's blade even passed through the miniature waterfall, a gun shot rang in the air.
Percy could only stare dumbly as a trailing flame bullet flew through the air, before impaling itself in the head of the Hyborean giant. It promptly melted into the ground as Stygian Iron.
Percy's eyes widened as he tried to land perfectly on his feet.
The light from the shot had blinded him temporally and when Percy's feet touched the smooth surface of the iron, he thanked his lucky stars a little too early.
Had he known Stygian Iron was slippery, he would have attempted to avoid it. His sneakers sled on the surface.
A few seconds later, the back of his skull slammed onto the ground with a loud thud. It should have hurt like Hades, but Percy had never felt better.
He got up and scanned the battle field. The remaining monsters scampered as Percy gave them a perfected wolf-stare. Several hellhounds knocked their heads into each other's, before managing to escape.
Percy smiled slightly and capped Riptide.
He still felt pumped for anything that was to come. Not sure why, though.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of a musket reloading and whirled around, Riptide expanding into a sword.
"Woah!" He heard cry in surprise.
Nothing moved as Percy addressed the two other inhabitants of Tartarus.
The duo was a mixture of female and male, both about the same as the same age he was, seventeen. The girl had shoulder-length dark hair. which was tied into a small ponytail. Her volcanic black eyes were fixated solely on his, emotionless.
Strapped behind her back was a midnight black bow with a similarly coloured bow which hung loosely against her side.
She would definitely bode well with Thalia, Percy thought absent-mindedly.
The male had a small smile tugging at the edge of his mouth.
He had navy blue eyes which sparkled slightly in amusement. His caramel brown hair was longer than Percy would've liked, tied into a small ponytail.
The guy was leaner and taller than himself, with his arms folded in front of his chest as he looked at him amusement. A brown and silver musket was the only occupant of the loosely clipped holster which hung from his waist.
"Who are you?" The girl asked him, inquiringly.
Her eyes never left Percy, and they almost held some sort of murder intent in them.
However, Percy lowered his sword , giving them a casual smile which threw the girl off .
"The question is," Percy raised an eyebrow at the duo. "Who are you?"
The boy was the first to response. "Flynn Fletcher, son, and only son of Hestia." He replied, casually, his grin almost matching his.
Percy frowned at that. Wasn't Hestia a virgin goddess? As if reading his mind, Flynn rolled his eyes. "She was, but now, because of me, not so much."
Percy looked at him in surprise as he recognised a slight British accent in his voice.
The girl lowered her bow and glared at Flynn. "Why did you tell him that? He could be working for the enemy." She whispered harshly.
Flynn rolled his eyes again. "Don't mind Kendall. She's always like that after that demigod almost tricked us into Kronos' lair."He winked at Percy.
Percy, on the other hand, froze. "Wasn't Kronos killed? Like during the Titan war, the battle in Manhattan?"
Kendall frowned. "He was? I don't remember that happening."
It took Percy a while to understand what he heard. He thought hard on his next question.
"How long have you two been stuck here?" Percy asked carefully.
Kendall looked at Flynn, like she was asking him. "For as long as we can remember? Not sure. But we were stuck like...since the start of summer. But with our ADHD, it could have been longer." She sounded unsure about the actual date, even Flynn seemed like he was trying hard to remember the date.
Percy didn't notice that though. Instead, he chocked on his saliva.
"What!?" He shouted. Kendall glared at him. "You want to attract every monster in this place, be my guest. But don't run with us when they come."
"You've been stuck here for like, more than a year. And you're still ...alive?"
"You're talking to us, aren't you?" Flynn replied warily.
"The point is, how did you survive. Most demigods would've died in here after a week."
"Well, Tartarus has some special abilities that let us upgrade ourselves. When you successfully kill a monster, part of its essence is transferred to you. Hence, you were able to stay alive after a battle like that." Flynn explained, referring to Percy's previous as an example. "That would explain why I felt stronger every time I managed to disintegrate a monster. But one question, " Percy understood that more or less, he had his suspicion. "Why didn't you help me!"
Kendall's eyes flashed dangerously. "I warn you one last time, if you want to find an arrow stuck in your manhood, continue yelling. Might as well shoot flares up in the sky that says 'Free buffet! Bring your own utensils!'"
Percy cringed while Flynn winced. "That harsh, man Kendall. Um..." He gestured to Percy as he tried to figure out his name.
"Percy Jackson. Son of Poseidon." He answered without thinking.
"Right. Percy Jackson. Son of Poseidon here mi-What!" Flynn yelled.
Kendall rolled her eyes as she pulled her bow from her back, before notching an arrow nonchalantly.
"You asked for it." Before Kendall could even aim properly at Flynn, the son of Hestia ducked behind Percy for cover.
"Guys. I appreciate all this, feel comfortable thing here your trying to do. But shouldn't we find shelter first?" Percy asked, shooting a 'am-I-right' look at both of them.
Kendall flashed Percy a surprised look, and much to Percy's displeasure, she seemed truly surprised. "Percy's right. We should be heading back to camp soon, if we were away from the camp too long, someone might find our stuff."
Flynn straightened and smiled at both of them. "Usual rules. Last person that reaches base must take watch for the whole night while the others sleep?" He challenged.
Kendall gave him a proud look. "You're on!" She said, speeding off.
Flynn laughed and followed suit. "What about me?" Percy yelled after them, running. Flynn looked back and shouted in response. "You're not stupid right? Just follow me and you should be okay." He sounded a little bit unsure of his answer, but Percy didn't notice.
Instead, he stared at the, bewildered. He was certain Tartarus was a place for crooked criminals, not a place for fun and laughter.
"Um, guys?" Percy called out, increasing his speed. It took him a while to catch up with the duo.
Flynn cast him a relieved look. "I thought we had lost you back there, you still fine right?" Percy nodded despite the now burning feeling in his chest.
He gasped for his next breath as Flynn increased his speed to match with Kendall's. "Oh, and before I forget." Flynn turned back, flashing him a grin that seemed to surreal for a place like this.
"Welcome to Tartarus."
~0~
Percy woke up to the smell of barbecue chicken.
He ran his fingers through his tangled mess of hair and could feel a slight bump there. "Argh." He groaned, feeling a pulsing pain slowly throbbing against his skull.
Finally, he made his way to the so-called living room.
The room was nothing much. With a small black sofa and similarly black coffee table, both of which covered with various skins of different animals. A small fire crackled at the side, lighting up the house. Percy was just surprised to see anything mortal here.
"Look who's woken up." Percy turned around and saw Flynn holding a bowl of barbecued chicken and rice. His watered at the sight of it and a soft grumble escaped his stomach. Flynn smirked.
"You want?" He said, waving his bowl in front of Percy. Percy nodded like a defenceless dog, drooling slightly as he looked at the chicken.
Flynn's smirk deepened. "Too bad. You have to get one yourself." He stuffed one in his mouth, leaving Percy staring in disbelief at Flynn.
Giving the son of Hestia a low growl, he reached forward and grabbed the bowl. When the bowl was in his possession, he sidestepped him and swiped both of his legs, causing Flynn to fall onto the ground.
Percy smirked triumphantly at him and picked the chicken up with the chopstick. Who eats like this, he grumbled as he struggled to use it properly.
Flynn glared at Percy with a mouthful of dirt. I can't believe a dwarf eats this, he thought, spitting the foul tasting ground out of his mouth and glared at Percy who was attempting to grab a small piece of chicken, his eyes focused on Kendall as he did so.
She looked like she was trying hard to ignore the futile and pitiful attempts Percy tried to use the chopsticks, but was failing incredibly.
If he was honest with himself, he would have admitted he like Kendall. But of course, he was too scared to even think that. His face turned red before he shifted his eyes back to Percy. P
ercy smiled as he managed to successfully pick a piece of meat up. To him, it was a personal achievement, especially since he'd done it without the help of Annabeth.
Annabeth... Percy thought. It still hurt thinking about her. Wh- His thoughts were interrupted when Flynn tackled his legs. The bowl slipped out of his reach as Percy's eyes widened comically as he reached out, trying to grab it. He did, once only.
His fingers touched the smooth surface of the bowl, only to just slide off.
His body slammed into the rough gravel floor and he winced as several grazed his chest. Flynn shoved Percy out of the way and reached out.
Percy, on the other hand, recovered fast and grabbed Flynn's legs. Flynn stumbled and turned around, attempting to glare at Percy, however, he saw pain and hurt in his eyes. He frowned slightly.
Percy's eyes darted around the fire-lit house and heard the sound of the bowl dropping onto the ground. He turned around and saw the bowl suspended on black shadow platform. He looked up and saw Kendall tsking at both of them.
"Naughty naughty." She wagged a finger in front of him.
Percy glared at Flynn from his side of the table and pierced his fork through a piece of chicken. Flynn glared back with equal anger. Kendall looked at both boys and sighed. "You guys can't be serious over fighting over a piece of chicken." She said, placing her cutlery down.
"Fine, whatever." Flynn shrugged. "Anyways, Percy, how did you get into Tartarus?"
Percy narrowed his eyes. Careful. His expression seemed to say. He casually placed food in his mouth. "The gods think I work for Kronos during the Titan War."
"And did you?" Flynn asked.
"No. Kronos only kills. So why were you two in here?" Percy gave them a vague answer, casuing both of them to look confused.
Kendall and Flynn exchanged a look. Kendall nodded slightly.
Flynn opened his mouth to speak but the door exploded in two a million pieces.
He turned around and saw the pale yellow eyes of a hellhound and immediately summoned his musket. Percy turned around, sensing something was wrong.
His peripheral vision noticed a dark something lunge at him and it took years of experience to duck, and avoid the attack successfully.
The hellhound flew over Percy's shoulders and growled in frustration as it missed its target. An arrow flew and lodged itself at the eye of the hellhound.
The hellhound spasmed before melting into Stygian Iron.
Percy rolled to his side, pulling Riptide in the same time and uncapped it in one swift motion.
He sliced forward and a dracaenae fell. Its spear dropped onto the ground and Percy grabbed it before spinning around and slamming the hilt of the spear onto the stomach of the flying hellhound.
Before he could draw another blow on it, monster guts flew everywhere and half of it landed in Percy's open mouth. He glared at Flynn but all he got in return was a shrug that didn't really show its sincerity.
He threw his spear inches away from Flynn's head and saw Flynn ducked downwards as it almost gashed his face. The dracaenae sneaking up to him disintegrated.
He got up and surveyed the mess. He saw Kendall fending off two Hyborean giants with two dark brown hunting knives. She gave a yell of defiance and leaped onto the shoulder of giant number one and threw her knife in the thick mess of hair, where she think the eye is.
The giant yelled in pain and clutched its eye with one hand and used the other one to swipe Kendall away, only to slam into its partner.
She jumped off the giant, using the fall as momentum to push herself further. There was a huge roar as she landed on the ground. Turning around, she saw a Minotaur with its head arched back. Its coarse brown fur was just as furry as she remembered and the white underpants didn't help at all.
She looked around and her eyes met Percy's. He shook his head slightly, I'll do it. He mouthed.
~0~
Percy glared at the Minotaur. Hadn't he killed it enough?
First when he was twelve. Then during the Titan War, and now here. He growled in frustration. Riptide hummed slightly as if urging Percy to fight it. He smiled. Sure, why not.
He slid pass the underneath of a hellhound and slammed the butt of his sword at it stomach, a satisfying howl of pain rang in the air.
He then charged at the Minotaur. It sniffed the air and caught smell of Percy's scent and howled.
The Minotaur raised its club as Percy sprang up at its face.
He turned his sword around and stabbed a good sized wound on its snout before giving it a good nose bleed with a round house kick.
He then focused on the water around him, and was rewarded with a tug at his gut.
He spread his arms behind him and the water from the air collected together and formed several good sized geysers that shot water at the Minotaur.
The Minotaur roared as it brought its hand to block the water. Percy took the opportunity to run towards the Minotaur and sliced at both of its furry legs. The Minotaur fell on its snout and yowled. Percy made sure that the water covered the whole monster before clenching his fist.
The water responded to his will and the monster exploded, showering Percy in melted Stygian Iron. He grin even though his only shirt was now...irony.
He spun around and saw two spikes shoot towards Kendall and Flynn. He cried out in surprise, shouting for them. The duo looked at him confused before the black spikes pierced their shoulders and they fell onto the ground.
Percy gripped his sword tight. "We meet again Perseus." A voice spoke behind him.
Percy's blood froze as he whirled around, attempting to block the black spike. Too late, the spike pierced his skin and met bone. Percy screamed in agony and went on his knees, Riptide falling out of his grip.
The Manticore smirked at Percy as he kicked the clattering sword away.
"Kronos demands your presence." Percy glared at him as he fought the poison from seeping into his blood.
Black spots danced in his vision and he felt his strength leave him. The last thing he heard was the ominous laughter of the Manticore.
Author's Note: Sorry about not updating earlier guys, but you, stuff happens. I'm not going to give you guys any excuses, because I can't find a legitimately legit one that you guys would believe.
Bleh, updates should be coming earlier, I think.
So, remember to review and stuff, to remind me to update this story. It is motivational food for authors.
So see you guys soon, I guess?