717 Years Ago

Center of the Earth

She eyed her visitor, observed her. Her visitor didn't flinch or fidget. But it was expected for one goddess of the hearth. What was not expected was the frown from the little tense goddess. Her eyes looked more determined rather than the usual soft fire. She tilted her head as she waited for her to speak. When she did not, she said,

To what do I owe the pleasure of getting a personal visit from a goddess of your stature, Hestia? I am but a summoning away, after all. Hestia's frown deepen. She looked very much upset. She replied, "I am here to discuss something confidential, Lady Bia."

So it must be because he finally asked?

That was all the confirmation Hestia needed. "So you did tell him of the Accords!" She accused. The personification of energy laughed a genuine laugh, as if she hasn't heard something as amusing or as funny as what the goddess said in years. No, I did not. All are forbidden to speak of it. That is, unless the Birthright has been claimed. Has it been, dear Hestia?

Hestia cursed herself. Vlackas, she muttered. Bia hummed in amusement. Bia felt the fates shift their energies some time ago. She had her suspicion, but the goddess told her everything she needed to know just from how she reacted. "Did you tell him of the Accords?" Hestia pressed.

I do not wish to repeat myself, Hearth goddess. And I have no reason to lie.

Hestia was getting impatient. "Then how in Olympus would Perseus find out about it then?

Give the boy some credit. Hestia raises an eyebrow. She can feel Bia's presence surrounding her. Don't give me that look, goddess. I am curious though. A beat.

Why are you latching yourself on the boy?

"Excuse me?"

This was not how she wanted the conversation to go. How does a presence surround you and circulate around you at the same time? It's making her feel haywire. Every inch of her is responding to Bia's push and pull of energy. It makes her feel itchy to change into her true form. Hestia gritted her teeth.

You haven't really acknowledged them. You're using them for that Pro—

"Because the prophecy leaves me no choice!"

Yes, but beyond that? You might as well betoying with them. What happens when the Prophecy is over? Surely, you don't think things will stay the same.

Silence.

"Why is this important to you?" Hestia responds.

It is not.

"Then why did you teach him of the accords!" she demanded. And then suddenly, everything felt tighter. And she felt danger everywhere. Hestia could not control back the urge to transform into her true form. It was a defense mechanism.

I have already told you I did not tell him of it! A pause. Goddess, thread lightly. You are accusing a heavy act of treason that of beyond the laws of your king.

"You favor him then." Hestia stated, a bit more comfortable in her true form and yet more cautious.

Of course, I do. Why would I help him if I do not? Yet, I find him, you, your family, what happened and what is to happen still trivial. I am the personification of energy. Favors from my kin are hardly worth anything. You gods tend to forget that beings such as us, though bound too tight to the ancient laws, are forever constant. When everything fades, we cannot.

Silence envelopes them. Hestia doesn't know how to approach the subject anymore. She can feel Bia's irritation creeping in. It wouldn't be wise to agitate a spirit in one of their homes. She waits for Bia to get restless. She waits for Bia to utter the first word. Hestia triumphs. With a sigh, Bia says,

If you would just stop seeing him as this pawn you happen to favor, maybe you would have figured the answers you are seeking, dear Hestia.

"And what do you mean by that?"

I mean that if you could just acknowledge him as an entity of your equal—or at least evolving to be your equal—then maybe you would've considered that he figured out how to bind an Accord himself.

"Impossible!" Hestia gasped. That couldn't possibly be.

And why not? I have taken him as my amusement—though, your kind might call it apprentice instead. Regardless, he has gained quite the control of energy. He is smart, though he does not know so. Smart and foolish. He had tried to bind me to an Accord without consent.

This was starting to get ridiculous, scary and terrifying for Hestia. "And did it work?" she demanded. Her answer was an excited laugh that had gone a few seconds longer than appropriate.

Of course not! You should have seen his pitiful face when I burnt his energy flows for his insolence. Hestia's face paled but Bia was not finished. Although, it is not his fault for he did not know what he was doing exactly. And he has gained my respect since then. I have told him of the Accords. It would not be good to have him ignorant of what he had discovered. So you see, hearth goddess, that your little pet you favor so much has never been just a pet.

You know what this means, don't you? As I have said, everything is trivial in my eyes. It means little to me, but a whim, to give the boy a fair chance for his age. I am ready to watch yet another era come to be. I have accepted the possibility of his kin-to-be powerful enough to topple yours. Have you?

717 Years Ago

Summer Solstice

Hestia was quite shaken by her conversation with the personification of energy. She scoffs. This is why living entities try not to talk to them. She paused her thinking. She wasn't being harsh or unfoundedly being rude about her. It's just that. Bia wasn't really living. She was solely the personification of energy. She wasn't living so much as just being. They hold no sense of purpose (which is different from being of no use), no feelings, no loyalties.

For the past few months, then, Hestia reviewed back on the happenings. And weeks after her meeting with Bia, she took close look on her trio.

The huntress—no, the heiress, Thalia Grace, has come a long way. The scrolls in the Successor's room has opened to her completely, the moment the succession was complete. For the past years, she has poured all the time she got away from the Hunt pouring over the scrolls, reading History after History and learning of power after power. (Well, that, and goofing off with her cousins).

To Hestia's relief, Thalia was particularly interested in controlling herself and suppressing her transformation and ascension to her true form. She had helped her, of course. And Hestia has seen the girl's heart and mind. Thalia was indeed protective, although a bit rash. Her heart was filled with justice. On surface, it would seem that she is the best candidate to be her Champion.

But Hestia can see through her. Thalia Grace revels in power—not in the same way her father does. Her sense of safety lies on the security of power. She rests well only with the thought she is capable enough of protecting everything she holds dear. Yes, on surface, the hearth would indeed suit her best. However, the core of the Hearth does not lie in a revel of power, no matter the intention.

Nixus di Angelo, on the other hand, or as he would prefer, Nico di Angelo has grown into a splendid young adult. Nico was 19 years of age now. He had grown tall, only a couple of inches short of his cousin. Hestia could not believe it when she had learned of his mastery of the Rivers of the Underworld. But she could not deny it either as she looked into the boy's shifting eyes. She saw the coal black eyes burn into red, and freeze into sad ice blue. She saw it turn white as if blind.

The boy was very much talented and skilled, being able to hide it from her until he revealed it to her, himself. It was when he was having trouble with the Phlegethon. He had triumphed over it as he did with the other four, yes. But whenever he tried to use the power he had gain from it, it burned him, like a cornered dog unable to recognize its master. He did not know where else to go, after all. At that time, Perseus was sequestered in his father's palace. Thalia's plate was full with the succession of Birthright.

She had seen him suffer Phlegethon's flames that came from his own body. And she could almost feel his soul boiling. It wasn't hard to figure out it was feeding of his grudges. And the boy learned how to let most of them go. He had to. She watch him grow from it.

He doesn't know he has such a big heart. In Hestia's opinion, Nico easily grew up to have the softest, out of the three of them. Nico's heart is often in the rightest place among his cousins. She has watched him gain the Underworld's favor. She knows her brother, Hades, has noticed it as well. Hades takes pride in it.

He too would make a wonderful champion. The hearth's flames will be wild in his heart. However, she could see it in the way he talked to his cousins and the way he looked at them. Yes, it was plain to see he loved them. And he loves his father. But it was just as plain to see that he did not trust them, at all. He is cautious around his family, quick and ready to shut them out at a moment's notice, the slightest hint of betrayal and danger. She can see that he holds family dear. But he so easily doubts its sincerity, himself, and its realness.

Lastly, Perseus. Percy was the hardest to get a hold on because of his father's domain. It was well known that among the three brothers, Poseidon's domain was the hardest to get a hold of for most people. If the sea and oceans did not claim you theirs, it was difficult to enter, stay or spy on the domain.

Perseus was a conundrum. The problem with Tartarus has long been solved now. Percy, with the help of Thalia and the Successor's room, has gotten a hold of his soul. However, she didn't expect him to end up lagging behind in power among his cousins, but he was. He was far behind them indeed, with Nico almost rivaling Thalia. Yes, the boy had gained the favor of Lady Bia and had gotten control and knowledge of the secrets of energy. But that had more to do with skill than raw power. Now that she thought about it, it was ironic how skillful Percy was on it and yet, his potential was limited with the amount of energy he has in his body.

What was confusing Hestia was the fact that in the past few years, it was Percy who was coughing up loads of energy trying to protect his cousins—where did such energy come from when every time she tries to sense him out, he felt depleted?

Percy has restricted Nico and Thalia's use of their own powers and energy. It seemed like he was doing it to avoid attention on his cousin's rapid power spurt. Smart move. But draining. He should have drained too much, by this time. He should've burnt himself out—so what's keeping him alive and going?

Percy was perfect for the Hearth. He may not hold justice as dear as the heiress, nor his heart as soft and in the right as often as the ghost prince, but unlike them, he holds his family above all else—his sense of loyalty pushes him to do so. And that is what the hearth is all about.

But something made Hestia hesitate. Surprisingly, out of the three of them, Perseus turned out to be the most secretive, although efficient in protecting his cousins in however way he can: sneaking them off from their father's domains, covering from them, even as far as letting him use him as a somewhat modem in the experiment of learning to control their powers. His 'friendship' with Bia only furthers her doubts.

Watching Percy, she realized that there has become something feral in his eyes. It was faint, but it was there. She has seen him. The way he was whenever the sea rumbles—everyone in Olympus has come to acknowledge that Poseidon's and Percy's relationship was becoming more and more strained for 4 years or so, now. No one knows why. She has seen him, the way he was when he is in camp as his fellow campers turn on him, little by little. The campers and Drew did not really bother him that much. It was the fact that his camp, his home was starting to become a stranger to him that made him feel so…detatched.

Yes. Maybe it started out during the Giant War, in Tartarus. But whatever it was, it festered inside Percy into what Hestia realized was ruthlessness. There was something ruthless hiding inside young Perseus. She can see it in the ferocity that he seem to be channeling into protecting Nico and Thalia— her thoughts were cut short. The icy doors open. Hestia sighs and shivers.

"Must you make it too cold for the hearth, Percy," Hestia smiled at him. Speak of the devil and he will come.

Percy gave her a tired smile. He knew she was joking. Hestia can feed off hearth wherever there was family. And Alaska has turned out to be a home to Percy. It was definitely not too cold for the hearth here.

Percy bowed his head slightly. "Why are you here, Lady Hestia? Hermes will soon be sent to look for you. The meeting is near." He pauses. "Or have you already made a decision on my proposition?"

It was funny how light this conversation was playing. How could it not be when Percy had a knack for playful eyes and little smiles no matter the gravity of the situation? Hestia returned his small smile. "Would you really have me commit such treachery so easily?"

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Is helping us not treachery already?" She gave the boy an innocent smile this time. "What you ask of me is the highest form of treachery there is, dear child. Besides I'd rather call it preservation of family."

"And the Accords are my way to preserve mine." There was silence as they looked at each other seriously. Then laughter.

"Touché" Hestia says.

Percy turned serious as he pleaded with her, "Please, Lady Hestia. It's not as if I'll order a strike on Olympus the moment we form our Accords. I wish to delay the end of this Age as much as you do. But I only want to protect my cousins for what comes for the inevitable after. I don't care if after is still centuries and millennia away."

"Yet you refuse to be my Champion."

"No, I haven't. You just haven't offered."

Hestia raised an eyebrow. Percy continued, "In fact, it's probably because you don't trust me, at all, Lady Hestia."

"And for good reason too."

The conversation paused. The meeting was nearing and Hestia was about to leave for Olympus. "Please, Lady Hestia. I can't offer the Accord as openly as I am now for long."

Hestia narrowed her eyes. "What exactly are you planning, Perseus."

Percy smiled sadly at her. "Not much. I'm not really capable of planning that far," he joked. He added, "Not much, right now, I promise. Mostly, I have to tie some lose ends with Aphrodite. You'll probably have until then to make up your mind, Lady Hestia.

"Aphrodite's been bothering me a lot. I haven't felt right recently, you see. It's like something big is going to happen again, soon."

Hestia froze. "Lose ends? Offer her an Accord too, will you?"

"No way!" He snorts. "I'd rather not. She is too close to the council with morals and priorities far away from yours."

Hestia left then. She decided it was enough prodding for one day. She needed to get to the council soon. The matter of Perseus will have to wait, she thought. Only. It did not wait. Later, Hestia would wish she didn't leave Perseus then. Hestia would wish she had acknowledge them sooner, before tragedy was forced to open her eyes.

A few days later

Percy had a hard three years. After he had put Tartarus to slumber, he had gained the respect of Bia, who in turn continued to teach him. He had learned a lot and it was quite helpful to his current three yearlong problem: the Trident, his father's channel to his domain. His father was starting to notice something was wrong. Poseidon did not feel the free flow over his domain as he once did, no matter how Percy tried to help it. It was causing a strain in their relationship, a strain that, in turn, caused Poseidon endless confusion. He randomly felt unfounded animosity against his beloved son.

He had just finished his business with Aphrodite for good. It was hard to fool the love goddess that his energies were stabilizing, soul safely encased. It was hard to fool the goddess that he, indeed, did not change and survived still a demigod.

"That's what was helping you? What you kept from me? It was actually working?" Aphrodite had asked, thinking there was finally clarity to the progress she has seen in Perseus.

Yes, it was her who had suggested to contact a personification in the first place. But Percy made sure that she had no idea how much a success it was. The fact that Percy was having conversations with said personification every now and then was out of the question for Aphrodite's knowledge.

Aphrodite looked at him. "And you stayed a demigod?"

Percy shrugged. "Well, what did you think was going to happen to me?"

Aphrodite bit her lip. "Nothing," she lied. "I had no idea."

But they both knew she did. What one of them didn't know was that the idea actually became real—well, becoming real actually since they were doing everything they can to slow down Thalia's ascension to true form.

"And?" Aphrodite looked at him expectantly.

"And what?" He said.

She prodded, "What did Bia want in return?"

Amusement was the honest answer. But that would suggest Bia's weird fondness and arise suspicion and more questions from Aphrodite. "My claim to the sea," he said as Aphrodite gasped. So that was why the demigod felt so weak, even for a normal demigod. His demigodliness felt like that of a legacy many generations down.

That's exactly what Percy wanted her to think. "I'm just a mere demigod, now. But hey, between that and your doves giving me a reprieve from the energy wars, I stabilized enough, yeah?"

Aphrodite shook her head, a bit disappointed, yet placated. So Perseus was continuously losing his claim to the sea? That must be the reason behind Poseidon's recent estrangement to him. Aphrodite's thoughts paused.

Suddenly, she felt threatened. She had a sudden urge to burst into the big beautiful ball of energy she was. She felt unease. Something was making her feel in danger. She stiffened.

She look at Percy carefully; he seemed oblivious. Although, he looked at her encouragingly as he said, "Now comes the part I ask you to swear an oath to me, Lady Aphrodite."

Aphrodite squirmed not knowing where this discomfort was coming from, she managed to raise an eyebrow. "Is that any way to thank me, Percy?" She laughed trying to ignore the way her body screamed danger.

"I'm already going to disappear, as you asked. How much more do I have to thank you?"

Aphrodite scoffed. She only asked him of that because she was so sure that he was going to…but no. That didn't happened. Here he was now, as mortal as any of her children. "No. I take it back. There's no need for you to do so."

Percy played his part, acting confused. "Uh, well, okay, then. I'd still rather you swear an oath to me."

Aphrodite felt unreasonably more and more uncomfortable as more time pass by. She was getting impatient. And suffocated. But what in Tartarus was causing it!? She wanted to scream, and the fact that she didn't know what made her want to scream, made her want to scream all over again.

"What is it?" she almost spat, and the poor kid (or rather, great actor) looked scared for his life. Aphrodite murmured a silent sorry for suddenly being snappy.

"I just want you to swear you in secrecy."

Aphrodite felt feverish. She felt her body spasm, as if fighting against her. "Fine." She says as she swore not to utter any of their…business to any living or non-living thing and entity out there. Percy gave a small smile that Aphrodite did not notice in her discomfort. He left content. And the moment he did, Aphrodite's whole body slacked in relief, and she felt like she had breathed for the first time in a long time.

Percy smiled contently at his job well done. He wondered how long it'll take for Hestia to figure out his control over energies are far from harmless. And that his seemingly depleted energies are both intentional and a façade to hide his growing affinities for multiple domains. Specifically, his rapidly growing affinity for his father's domains. That was easiest to take. But like his father, he knew it was only a matter of time before other domains called on him.

He also knew that he was, unfortunately, left to struggle eternally until he could finally transcend to his true form and anchor himself to one domain, and lock up everything else as his father did. But that won't happen until Thalia transcended to hers first. The fates will only ever have it in that way. So, yes. It was going to be a very long struggle.

Percy proceeded going around Manhattan doing various odd jobs. Honestly, though? He was just procrastinating the next thing in his to-do-list. Suppressing his energies as he did with Aphrodite instead of draining them was giving him a back-lash. It's like when you give a punching bag a knuckle sandwich too hard, it comes right back at you.

So, he had to go deplete his energies into the sea once more and drain himself, as he usually did every month or so, this time, without Aphrodite's doves ever again. It was fairly easy, now with his vast knowledge in energy control. The part that he was dreading was Poseidon. He could feel him through his trident whenever he depleted his energy. Percy was sure his father hasn't figured it out yet. But that didn't make Poseidon feel any less cranky, possessive, threatened, doubtful and generally unstable by instinct.

It was early in the afternoon when Percy decided that the best thing to calm him down and procrastinate was to visit his mother. It's been a couple of months since he last saw her. And so, that's how he found himself outside her mom's apartment door, suddenly exclaiming,

"Oh my gods, mom, you're pregnant!"

"I'm what?!"

Sally was always happy to see her son, and she has long gotten used to the most random Percy-pop-ups. But what she is not used to is her son greeting her with a blaring "you're pregnant!" Percy's eyes widened and he smiled sheepishly. It was weird knowing people's general state of health are through their energies. In his defense, he hasn't drained himself out yet (and this time, purposely) so, backlash: his senses were hypersensitive and crazy right now. Crazy enough to feel pregnancy, apparently.

It was weird to know if people were pregnant by just an adrenaline rush and stuff like that through the energy vibe they emit. It was the backlash. His senses were hypersensitive and crazy right now.

"Er, uh, let me try that again?" Percy asked embarrassed. "Hi, mom. I missed you and you're pregnant?"

Sally shook her head, but had a small smile. She didn't bother questioning how Percy knew when she didn't herself, so she just called out, "Paul! Percy's here, he has news!"

From upstairs, the English teacher replied, "What kind of news?"

"Life-changing-family news! Oh would you just get down here please, Paul!"

"Uh, yeah, wait a sec. Why what is it? Percy didn't suddenly fall in love with Annabeth again, and now she's pregnant, is she?"

Sally smirked. "No, dear. But, apparently, I am!"

Percy was amused to hear several objects suddenly drop in the floor above, and one Mr. Blofis falling down the stairs with a shocked expression that had 'What?!' written all over it. Percy laughed and nodded, and he watched as his step-dad's face morphed into that of happiness as he went to hug the two of them.

Percy was ecstatic! He was getting a baby sibling! His mom kept exclaiming, "oh my gods" over again as Paul peppered her kisses and talked to his wife's tummy. He couldn't wait to tell Thalia and Nico. And he couldn't help but think that going to his mom's place was the best decision he's made in months.

He felt renewed. He suddenly had something really great to look forward to! His sibling's growth! His immediate future didn't seem so dreary and serious as it had seemed earlier today. He got lost in excitement and the feeling of home that he spent way into the night just catching up with his parents.

He only seemed to remember when it was just an hour or two till midnight, and the cloudless sky suddenly rumbled in a warning for a nearing storm.

Sally frowned, "Odd. Could your father be mad at something, Percy?"

Percy's eyes had widened like saucers. Vlackas, he cursed. He forgot that he should've depleted his energies before sunset at most! The energies within him would be too noticeable to contain, his tug at the trident easier to pick up.

He bid his family goodbye, quickly. He gave Paul a quick hug, muttering a "congratulations, dad." Paul looked teary proud. And a long hug to his mom, promising he'll visit sooner, this time, to check on her and the baby.

He took to the seas. The waters were unkind to him. Poseidon was on a roll. He could not control his primal reaction to this. He felt as if he was robbed unduly. And he was giving everything he got into asserting his dominance in all his domain.

Perseus was fighting back, for he needed them to obey him. Poseidon thought nothing of it as his son just trying to find his way back to the palace, despite his mood swing. Percy was actually going to the Arctic Ocean, where he usually does his depleting. It was north of Alaska. It was far off. It was the safest, if there was a safe place, to do it.

A/N:

it's quite long, but not much action in it, sorry guys XD
As usual, I find myself very much flattered and thankful for your reviews :)
They're very much supporting and they remind me why I won't ever give up on this:
1) you guys are so awesome and kind for giving such criticism from time to time, support all the time, favorites, reviews and all those other stuff. Even if you just, read, the fact that you give me enough attention span to do so is very much appreciated :)

2) the story haunts me lol. It refuses to be left unfinished.

SHOUTOUTS! XD
Woman613, as consistent as ever, my friend :) It means a lot you've stuck with me like this XDXD thank you!

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