Uh oh! I am glad to see that you are going to be updating more often. But remember, write first for yourself. Some will always hate it. -Trawn14

But I'll hate myself if I don't write. JK, I always hate myself. :)

The Hestia part the last thing she said makes it sound like he will turn evil from what I first read of it I had to go over it like 100000000 times to see that I could mean he would become a Hero soon. Love your story. -Riptide81

I was actually writing this chapter when you sent me that review. So…. hope you like? Mhm?

Ok ok I think the bad guy is Cronos not Kronos not the Titan of time the Primordial of time someone more powerful then Kronos! -Riptide81

Ok ok. Interesting...

So it's not Luke? It's Apollo now I'm getting confused with what I think is going on and what is actually going on man you rock at "Mystery..." Stories well I have to thank you for taking your time and making this story and I have to thank your beta for being your beta -Riptide81

Tanksssss. I'm sure my betas will like the recognition. *glares at SoulHorse*

Chapter 15: ?!

I'm going to make these chapters a less of a pain in my butt by throwing away my 2000 words requirement. It was ruining my flow. But yea, reveal-y stuff so it's interesting but kinda short. Sowwy.

Demigods made such entertaining fodder.

He watched, perched among the shadows of the trees, as the little heroes pranced in confusion as their little ball of disaster - they called a sun god - was mopped by the waves. They flocked to help the defenseless excuse of immortal blood and pulled away the phoebus.*

The specter could almost taste the sensation of mortalized ichor. It was absolutely… divine. Or lacking it, if you would. Ha. It was almost worthy enough to allow for a silent smile.

Simply winning is a joke. Letting your foe believe they had won? That was the cherry upon his sundae. These campers would soon regret welcoming Apollo.

Soon.

He'd have to wait, however. There were preparations to be made. Distractions to procure. And it would still take another half-moon to launch Prometheus' side of the scheme.

Admittedly, he wasn't too sure yet of the dreamer's plans. It had taken quite a deal of convincing and tweaking for him to agree to such a plot. It had been far-too convoluted, even for him, but he had to confess that everything has followed exactly as Prometheus had foretold.

There was a buzz. A tingling that sizzled in the back of the shadow's mind. Their hero. It was their great hero. Their Perseus was awakening. No doubt the boy would need to be entertained, as to distract him from reality's dilemmas. It would be unfortunate for him to make an appearance before the grand show.

"You! I've been watching you-" the voice found itself squeezed into silence as the shadow bared its strength upon the on-looker, whose presence was very familiar. A crease splintered in his stoic expression, revealing the first moment of true pleasure he'd experienced in a millennium Without haste, the figure turned his head, bringing insight the goddess of the hearth.

"Hello, Hestia. How have you been doing these last few centuries?"

The question was met with a silent squeak - a possible side effect of his shadows holding her down by the throat. The goddess looked up at him helplessly with frightened eyes as she tried to flash away without success. He loosened his tendrils just enough for her to gasp for air.

She coughed. "You… Why… How."

He laughed. "I fear, you are mistaking me for someone else, my little oikos."**

Her eyes bled with confusion before switching to a terrified recognition. "No.. it cannot be. You were... you can't possibly be back."

"Oh my dear Hestia, you think so little of me. Did you truly believe I was vanquished?"

"We hoped," she admitted.

"Hope. Of course. You gods and your hope. An invention after my time, of course - this hope. The thing about hope though, it allows you the illusion that it's on your side. Makes you believe there are chances. It's never on your side. Chances only arrive when planned on. Hope is a sham. And I'm prepared to show all that."

The shadow smirked shades as Hestia continued to struggle against his hold. She pushed out with flames as her warmth sought to counteract her foe's damp darkness.

"I must thank you for sheltering me amongst the sanctuary of your hearth for this long. If you weren't any purer, the stench of your hearth would have never kept me hidden.

"Polyolbos, they say here in America. The one with many blessings. It is astonishing how accurate humans can be without having any sort of knowledge!" He laughed mockingly at the goddess at his feet as her flames were continually being dampened as quickly as they were ignited. "You might find your powers useless. Blessings are very dangerous - you see - if they fall into the wrong hands."

She growled at him. "The blessing was never was never meant for you, f-"

Her sentence was cut short as his shadows re-tightened their hold around her throat.

"Did you know? You were my favorite of the gods." He said the last word with exceptional distaste. "You presence always warmed my insides to the brim. Unlike your siblings."

"You know nothing…" she croaked back.

"I know more than you presume," the shadow replied. "For example, a year ago, you happened to tell a particular hero a particular fact about yourself: When necessary, you yield. Very noble words, my dear. But now, it is time we follow up on those words. Will you... yield to me?"

"Never."

He smiled. "You always had that certain flare your siblings lacked. I would have been surprised by any lesser answer. Thank you for your time. I think we're done here."

He waved his hand across her form and commanded her gone. Then, she was.

She won't be the only one.

LINEBREAKSAYS#ALLLINESMATTER

The shadow settled into his throne, deep in consideration of recent advancements. It was too early to be pleased, but as of yet, nothing too vital has had gone off-script.

The demigods march forward into their little maze. The ocean titters over the sands. Meanwhile, the Empire frantics as the clock winds.

"Have we retrieved the Architect?" He demanded the darkness, bored.

"We… are in the process of procuring it, my lord," the shadows muttered. "The River Missouri is giving us difficulties."

"Difficulties?" he grumbled. "Of?"

There was a pause.

"You needn't worry. Your soldiers will not succumb to a few tears."

"Tears?!"

"..."

"Tartarus. You are all incompetent fools. I shall expect the Architect to be tied in front of me by daylight. Time, is not something to waste."

"Yes... my lord."

'Thunder' by the Imagine Dragons

Bai! -VCRx

-Mav (Didn't write a single thing, just adding my name to this chapter when VCR isn't looking)

*Phoebus: youthful strength, bright. A popular reference to Apollo, god of the Sun

**Oikos: household, home, family. A popular reference to Hestia, goddess of the Hearth

This chapter was not betaed.

[Last Edited: 9/11/17] #NeverForget