AN
Hey guys! Its Darion and I'm back with a new chapter!
I'm sorry for the short delay but, I kind of broke my shoulder but I can still type but for the first 5 days it hurt a lot that I couldn't do much. Don't worry though I am still capable of this chapter.
I am so glad to see a lot of you hyped for this coming back. The PMs of this account blew up a few hours after the chapter and I am glad to see so much still holding onto this story.
Someone asked, well a lot, asked how old me and my brother's gap is and the answer is that he would have been 19 by now and I'm almost 15. We have the same hair but my brother always used to look like he was scowling.
Ill begin the review shout outs next chapter but for now enjoy the chapter! We are gonna see some serious ass-kickery this chapter and hope you are all ready.
Might consider bringing my friend into this XD, who knows, we could be the second coming trio of this tale.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: PJO and HOO are not my property; they are Rick Riordan's property alone.
Zoe was impressed.
It had taken a few days to get all the way to the way to the Mediterranean, the Argo 2 had been attacked by slight flocks of airborne monsters but nothing too out of hand. The crew easily fended off anything that came their way unless of course the encounter involved a very powerful monster like a Dragon or the Caucasian Eagle.
She had been alive a long time and she had never seen a more capable crew. Truth be told she was just distracting herself with all the work on the ship. Between all s attacks, ssthe quest and her visions, she did not know what to focus on.
"Light that had been lost shall either fall beyond or return to where it belongs," pursed Zoe as she looked over the area below them, "That herald, what is he trying to say to me?"
A grim feeling churned in her stomach as she realized that they would soon be approaching the Mediterranean or the Mare Nostrum, as Jason called it, and that would mean they would have to admit passage through on place, the Pillars of Hercules.
The former huntress grit her teeth as she remembered the proud womanizer of a demigod. They would have to get his permission to pass through the Mediterranean and the thought of asking for anything from that buffoon made her blood boil.
She suddenly felt a presence above her and she looked up to see Vorn standing on one of the platform of the mast above her. He was looking into the same direction Zoe was and she could hear his always shallow breathing as if he had a very difficult time doing so. The Champion of Artemis scowled as she said "Vorn, what are you doing here?"
He faced her with his hollow eyed mask and said "I am simply waiting for a report from my crows. Whenever a condemned soul nearby dies, they collect it and return to me."
As if on cue, one of his crows landed on his shoulder and gave off an audible squawk as Vorn lifted his coat a bit and a grey essence escaped the bird's beak and seemed to phase into the misty orb around his waist.
Zoe narrowed her eyes and saw that it was the same sphere on his weapon. She was about to ask a question until the stranger spoke "You would be surprised how much condemned souls there are. Some are just higher up on the list compared to others."
Ignoring him, she said "I still remember what you told me. Light that was lost? What is that?"
He gave her one of his cryptic gazes as if he was peering through her own soul. The crow on his shoulder tilted its head to the left and starred at her with its beady eyes as Vorn said "Yes, that tidbit of information. That was for free, more would have a cost."
Furrowing her brows, she said "A price? What is it?"
The crow sank into his coat of ebony feathers and he said "Souls."
"Souls?" asked Zoe, "You mean my soul?"
"Gods no," said the Herald, "That would mean your Captain would have my head."
The tall avenger dropped to her level and stood before her and said "Look, we will be facing monsters, people and Giants. As milady's herald and hand, I have a lot to do and collecting condemned souls is no easy task, I tend to need some help at times."
In a flick of his hand, something zoomed to Zoe and she caught the object and inspected it in her hand. It was one of the spheres she saw on his belt. She spun it around on her palm and found it cold, dead cold, to the touch and she tried to hold it up and look through but it seemed to just look like a stress ball sized marble.
Vorn gave a raspy breath and said "That's what I use to collect those souls. It's called a Soul Stone. You can collect souls with that."
"Just me?" asked Zoe pocketing it,
The man gave a grunt and said "You want this information badly right? The headaches, the memories and the constant phantom ache about what happened in the old war? You need a trigger for all of that to come back and with enough information, you will know what I am talking about but to get the information, you need to pay up so keep quiet, collect your souls and give them to me and I will give you more information."
He held out his hand and said "Do we have a deal?"
The huntress gave a moment of thought and considered her options. She was going mad with all that she couldn't remember. She wanted to know more and all she had to do was kill those who were condemned and she was not new to killing. There was no downside to this and she needed the information badly.
She shook his rough gloved hand and said "Very well Vorn, you have a deal."
He gave a gruff nod and said "Also, don't forget the Gods also have a soul. You can take it from them without knowing if they were mortals at some point. They wouldn't even feel it but you will have to weaken them."
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Zoe,
"Because," said Vorn as he spun on his heel, "I feel that you may be able to collect me a condemned soul very soon."
He then walked off as Leo called on the PA, "Guys we are now approaching the Mediterranean, Jason said to stop over by those pillars and everyone needs to come on deck."
Responding to the call, Zoe breeze walked to the ship's main deck where the crew, well most of it, were there. Up on the main mast stood Bianca with a telescope, she put it away and grabbed one of the dangling ropes and slid down. She fixed her dark hair and said "Leo, best we stop now, in case you want to crash or something."
The Argo 2's mechanic pulled on a lever as the ship slowly came to a stop. As Zoe peered over the boat's side, she saw that there was nothing but a vast ocean to be seen, the one that they had crossed had been littered with monsters but if they cross this point, they would be facing ancient monsters that could pose a threat to the ship and its crew.
At a reasonable distance from where they were, two masses of land that seemed to for some sort of neck-type entrance into the Mediterranean. The land mass on their left seemed to have a prominent type of land formation which looked like pillars and on one of these pillars stood a figure wearing purple robes.
Zoe narrowed her eyes with hate as she growled under her breath. Talon put a hand on her shoulder as she tried to keep herself under control. Percy snapped his fingers and caught everyone's attention and said "Why do we have to stop here?"
Jason stepped forward and said "We need permission from Hercules over there on the right side shore to cross into the sea. If we don't, he'll sink the ship."
"He can't sink this ship!" said Leo in panic,
"Wait a minute," said Percy, "Did you say Hercules? I know this place is called the Pillars of Hercules but he's actually there?"
Jason nodded as Percy faced Zoe and said "Zoe..."
"I'm going over there," said the dark haired huntress,
"No you aren't," said Annabeth, "We need to convince him to let us pass, and we aren't here for a grudge."
"She's right," said Bianca, "Sorry Zoe but-"
"Let her," said Talon crossing his arms,
"What?!" said Fecilia, "Percy you can't seriously agree to that."
"Not like I could stop her," said Percy, "So the best I can do is go with her."
"Great," said Jason, "That's Percy and Zoe, anyone else?"
"We are going together," said Fecilia stepping forward, "Zoe is a member of the five and if she is settling a score then we are going with her."
Talon nodded as he said "I'd listen to her if I were you."
Zoe sighed as she looked between her boyfriend and her friends, the huntress clenched her fists and said "Very well but he's mine."
The tension was high in the air as Vorn of all people said "Its settled, the rest of us will watch the ship as you four ask for permission. I presume you will handle it smoothly?"
She got his hint and said "Certainly"
Frank nodded and said "Good luck guys."
Fecilia and Talon went to find Asteron for a ride as Percy held Zoe's hand as she was glaring at the purple figure and said "Zoe, I know how much you hate him."
"Oh hate does not even begin to cover it," said the huntress,
"I know." Said Percy, "That's why he's going to pay, after all these millennia and you are going to give it to him."
"Count on it," said Zoe as she finished tying her hair in a propped up bun,
"There's your ride," said Hazel behind them as she pointed over the boat's hull where Asteron flapped his wings with Fecilia and Talon on his back. The water under them seemed to stir as the dragon's massive wings whipped up the air around them.
Taking a step on the rim, Percy looked back and extended his hand which Zoe took and they leapt down together. Landing on Asteron's back, Fecilia gave the pair a small smile and said "Let's go."
The dragon then proceeded to soar across the body of water and in about a minute, they reached the shore where he landed and shrunk back to Chameleon size and rested on his brother's shoulder.
"Thanks buddy," said Talon patting his head,
Zoe kicked the white sand off her boots as Percy looked up where the robed figure said in a gruff voice "Ah! My visitors!"
He leapt down the pillar where he landed on the white sandy beach where the sand dusted up as he landed. The figure hefted a large club over his shoulders as the wind blew over his ebony Roman cut hair. His electric blue eyes glimmered with power and his skin gave off a deep copper glow which made him feel like his complexion was unnatural.
He gave a bright smile and said "How interesting! A dragon! As far as I knew, those were extinct!"
"You and everybody else," replied Talon with unnatural empty humor,
The man gave a laugh and said "I managed to slay one before they went out! Snapped its beck with my bare hands!"
Talon growled as Percy said "Hello Hercules,"
"Do I know you?" asked the God as he raised his brow,
"I don't think so," said Percy but I assume you know her,
Zoe stepped up and glared at the God as she clenched her fists. Hercules tiled his head to the right grinned widely and said "I don't remember her but if I knew her I'm sure I would."
He suddenly found the temperature dropping despite being in broad daylight and a familiar bronze blade to his face as Percy said "Does this ring any bells?"
The God's eyes focused on the sword as he said "That blade…"
"Still nothing?" asked Talon,
He walked up to Hercules and pointed a finger at Zoe and said "Look hard pal! Try to remember if you know what's good for you."
"Are you threatening me?" asked Hercules with anger in his voice,
Talon gave off a deep growl and bared his fangs and said "Am I?"
"Half-breed," spat Hercules as he tried to backhand Talon but the half-dragon just caught his hand with his powerful grip. The God was surprised he caught that and Talon said "You aren't the only one who is strong scum."
He tried to punch but Talon just crushed his hand and he gave a pained cry. The God fell on a knee as he said "I'm a God! How-"
"You forget," said Talon, "You're a minor God. A really minor God."
"All you got was immortality," said Fecilia with a small grin, "Other than that, you're just a regular demigod, an out of practice one as of fact."
He gave another pained cry as Talon tightened his grip. Percy went down on one knee and held the God's face and said "You were said to be the strongest demigod of your time."
The God's face gave a look of anger and pride but Percy just gave a smile and said "Then again, times change."
Percy punched him across his face making the God grunt. He tried to use his other hand with a club in it but Fecilia stabbed her spear through his arm and causing him to bleed Ichor from his left arm and drop his club as his left arm was pinned to the ground.
The Captain of the Argo 2 then gave him a deep punch to the gut causing him to bow in pain. Talon gripped the man's hair and pulled his head up as Percy pointed at Zoe and said "You still don't remember her? I'll give you a hint, Atlas."
The God's eyes widened as he whispered "The pretty one."
Zoe lifted her chin up in her usual regal posture as Percy spat "You caused her to lose all she had. Because of you, she lost all of it and became a lost being with no purpose."
"But now," said Fecilia as she held her spear down, "She is more of a hero than you ever were."
"How can that be," said Hercules, "She's a Titan spawn; my father would never have that."
"Always about your father huh?" asked Talon, "Maybe your name passes on the idiot stereotype."
"Times change," said Percy, "Quite a bit of the most powerful warriors I know are children of different beings. Not Gods."
Fecilia yanked her spear out as he cried out in pain and talon pulled Hercules up as Percy said "We are here asking for passage through the Mare Nostrum. Grant us passage or else."
"Or else what?" asked Hercules with an angry voice, "If you wanted something maybe you should have been nicer."
"How about a duel then," said Zoe, "You always thought you were the best warrior out there but let's test that now?"
"I could kill you with a flick of my hand wench," said Hercules with anger,
"Then I shouldn't be a problem," said Zoe with a scowl, "Agree to it and swear on the Styx. A duel. If you win, you can kill us all and sink our ship but if I win, you let us pass and you beg, no, grovel for forgiveness."
He eyed Talon who was still gripping his arm and said "I swear it on the Styx."
The sky rumbled a bit as he shook off Talon and said "Let go of me."
Zoe then met eyes with Fecilia and said "Heal him, I will show him even at his best he is no match."
Despite not liking it, Fecilia complied as Percy said to Zoe, "Here is your chance. None of us doubt you and after all this time, you can have your payback."
"I thank you Perseus," said Zoe, "Talon, Fecilia and you have done me much by coming here. I will show him the power of a member of Forethought."
Percy, Talon and Fecilia formed a sort of triangle around the two eldest people there. Percy snapped and a triangle of fire in the sand about 15 meters each side ignited which surrounded Hercules and Zoe.
The huntress drew her bow with a scowl and Hercules hefted his club as the two began to circle each other and said "I remember now. You helped me with that dragon. I promised you that I would care for you."
"You didn't," spat Zoe,
He gave a flashy grin and said "But I can do that now. It get boring and lonely here at the pillars but with you here, it could be fun."
She glanced at her friends and gave a sinisterly sweet smile to Hercules which made him grin as she said "I don't think so."
Zoe shot one of her arrows towards the God as he blocked it with his club and when he moved it away from his face. Zoe was upon him and bashed her bow across his face and she back flipped and hit his face with the sole of her boots.
She gracefully landed on her feet as Hercules felt his strong jaw and whispered "Fast"
"I'm sorry," said Zoe as she put a hand on her hip and said "Did I go to fast for you?"
Hercules closed his fist and said "All I need to do is hit you once and you are dead!"
"Not going to happen oaf," whispered Zoe,
Hercules ran towards her with his club raised but as he approached, Zoe's face remained stoic yet confident. He grinned as his weapon came crashing down but Zoe just spun her body to the right, completely missing her and she slammed her bow once again on his face.
His face grunted in pain as he swung his arm at her but she ducked under it and gave a sharp upward kick to his chin making him stagger back. She then drew her knife with her left hand and dashed across him, leaving a large slash on his chest.
Zoe put away her blade and turned around to see Hercules on one knee, clutching his bleeding chest. Zoe watched as golden blood trickled down to the white sand of the beach below. The huntress scoffed as she nocked her bow and fired an arrow which sank into his shoulder area causing the God to turn his face revealing a look of rage.
"I'm going to kill you!" screamed Hercules as he gripped his club and ran for Zoe,
The huntress just gave a small grunt and dodged every single blow the God threw. Every smash on the sandy dunes sent the area shaking but that left Zoe unfazed as she gave a small smirk and delivered a hit with her bow at every chance she got.
With a wide arc of his weapon, Zoe slid under it and drew her knife once more and stabbed it into the God's ankle and yanked it out as he tried to punch her but she just held his hand and slipped under his arm and threw him over her back, flat on his.
She twisted his arm as she said "Mortals have this style that works great on brutes like you, I think it was called Judo. A lot really has changed in these millennia."
The God was growling in pain on the ground as Fecilia spoke "She really is just playing with him."
"Greatest hero of all time my ass," said Talon laughing,
Percy gave a small smile as Zoe finally had the payback she wanted. She couldn't kill him but she could leave the God in a state of shame knowing he was defeated. Zoe kicked him in the ribs as he winced in pain.
Zoe turned around and took a few steps and said "Get up, I'm not done with you."
The God did just as he was told but he then slammed both his fists into the sand causing a massive dust cloud in the air. Everyone covered their eyes but Zoe just closed her eyes, loaded three arrows and fired.
From the dust, a cry was heard as Hercules fell back with three arrows in his chest. In the dust cloud, Zoe slowly stepped forward and pulled out her Soul Stone and hovered it over Hercules and from his panting mouth and closed eyes, a grey smoke leaked out and phased into the sphere as it became a rich shade of blue. She pocketed the sphere after giving it a look and as the storm settled, Hercules shakily got up as he said "I'll…kill…you…"
She shook her head and drew her knife once more and said "No you won't."
Zoe flipped forward and slammed her foot on the top of his head and slashed horizontally, over his eyes causing him to cry out. A blow from her bow made him stagger back and she gave a sharp twirl and slammed one of the edges of her bow on his face knocking him down for good.
She stepped on his chest and said "It's over, you have lost!"
Zoe had to step off as Hercules lashed out in rage and cried out "You bitch! You slashed my eyes!"
Blindly swinging his powerful hands, Hercules kept trying to send over deadly blows but Zoe saw through the attacks and made some distance as she pulled back on the bowstring with an arrow loaded as she whispered "Stay down."
Releasing it, the arrow whistled through the air and struck Hercules in his wrist, pinning him on the stone wall of the cliffs. He groaned in pain as the arrow's body gave of several runic glows and no matter how hard he tried to pull it off, it wouldn't move.
Stepping closer, Zoe fired another arrow and pinned his other wrist onto the stone walls. The God thrashed about but taking another few steps, she loaded two arrows and sent them towards each of the God's ankles.
The huntress set her arm down and smirked as Hercules was pinned onto the stone wall as each of the arrows gave off the same runic glow. Gold ichor poured from his wounds and Zoe just approached slowly as she said "You don't know how much joy it brings me to see you like this."
Hercules' struggling seemed to simmer down as he was losing his strength and the huntress continued, "After all these years, I finally got back at you but to be honest, when you died way back then, I was disappointed. Your death was merciful compared to what I had planned."
When she was close, she pulled out her knife and waved it around a little and said "I was really angry but now I realized that I should thank you. If you hadn't betrayed me, I never would have become a huntress and I never would have met the most powerful hero in all of history."
Zoe gave a horizontal slash across his stomach as ichor poured out and she said "So I thank you for that."
The God cried out in pain as Zoe twisted one of the arrows embedded in his chest and she said "I do believe I have won. It was nice seeing you again."
Zoe sheathed her knife and bow as she turned her back and began to slowly walk away from the incapacitated God. When she was closing in on her friends, Hercules blinked out the ichor from his eyes and from his blurry vision, he saw Zoe walking away and with whatever strength he had left, he said "Filthy bitch."
The God only heard a whistle as he felt his groin area pierced by a dark silver tipped arrow. Zoe had her bow drawn as the God cried out and she said "See you around."
The rest of the Forethought approached her as Talon gave her a hearty laugh and a rather heavy pat on the back and said "That was some spectacular ass kicking grandma."
Zoe gave a small chuckle as Fecilia shot a thumb at the screaming God and said "I admire your handiwork."
Percy then put an arm around Zoe and gave her a quick kiss and said "That was amazing, I hope you're satisfied?"
"Definitely," said Zoe smirking at her work,
When they got back to the ship, Jason approached and said "How did it go? We heard a bit of commotion."
Fecilia and Talon exchanged amused smirk while Percy said "Let's just say that Zoe managed to convince him to let us pass."
"Wasn't that a bad idea?" asked Ara, "Didn't he…Ohhhh! I get it."
The ship then went into motion as Zoe had a content smile as she parted from Percy and walked into the lower levels of the ship. The ship then began to move into the Mediterranean and the crew got back to work.
As she wandered down the dimly lit halls of the ship, she sensed nobody nearby as she whispered "I'm here. I have something you would want."
A cold feeling crept up her spine as she turned and was face to face with Vorn who gave her an eerie feeling that she was far from accustomed to. The Champion of Nemesis gave her a blank look and said "I see you managed to get something for me."
She gave him a scowl and pulled out the now deep blue Soul Stone from vest and tossed it to him. He caught it with his right hand and the essence from within seemed to smoke out of the sphere and into one of the ones on his belt.
He gave it back to her and she said "Where is my payment?"
Vorn stepped up uncomfortably close and put a finger on her forehead and said "Xenia."
His finger gave off a powerful glow as a face returned back to her memory. A girl's face about 21 years of age, she had a model's shape of a face and she had long flowing blonde hair. Her eyes were quite uncanny as the left was deep blue while the other was misty grey. Her ears were a pointy, like an elf of some sorts and her skin was light and delicate looking but she gave a regal aura of power and dominance. A purple bow was slung over her shoulders and she had a dark arrow nocked and loaded.
"Xenia," Zoe repeated, "She was a huntress, like me."
"No," said Vorn, "Not just any huntress, she was the Lieutenant before you."
Before Zoe could say anything else, the ship shook violently as the duo ran to the deck.
AN
That's a wrap people! Sorry it took so long!
New stuff comes into play and I hope you enjoyed your reading! The fight seemed fun to me! Next time, the next trio of this account will be complete!
This account will now be known as The Argent Crusade!
Till then! This is Darion Markov! Signing off!