Chapter 19: Judge, Jury, Potential Executioner
Seven figures appeared, one after another, taking their respective places on floating thrones suspended in the void of space. The seven seats made almost a semicircle, outlining a central platform where a crouched figure hunched on its hands and knees. In the middle throne, larger than the rest, sat Chaos holding a pensive stare towards the figure below.
The creator of the universe was flanked on either side by three deities, all but one also looking ahead intently. Coughs rang out in the silent setting as the figure on the center platform pulled itself up to its feet. The silhouette's legs gave out immediately as it lifted its head, a combination of brutal, visible injuries and the shock of its new surroundings. Chaos cleared her throat before speaking.
Percy Jackson, you have broken your vow. You now stand charged in the Court of Chaos.
The demigod's head swiveled back and forth as he took in the scene in front of him. He was in the same, starry place Chaos had taken him the last time he was unconscious, but he suddenly had to account for the impossible panel of deities seated before him. His mind also raced as Chaos' words echoed, further disorienting the demigod. Percy struggled to clear his head, his entire body throbbing from the injuries of the battle he'd been fighting in just moments ago. His breathing slowly evened as he sat quietly on the platform.
"Am I dead?" Percy asked, finally speaking.
No.
Percy winced as the voice reverberated in his already-thrumming head. Chaos took notice and decreased her tone.
"You are very much alive. You defeated Erebus and, in doing so, violated your oath in my name."
A look of confusion shot across Percy's face. He thought back to what he'd sworn months ago in Olympus' throne room to summon the creator of the universe.
"Lady Artemis, I swear my loyalty to you on the Styx and over the Void of Chaos."
The demigod still didn't understand, thinking back to his interaction with Artemis just minutes earlier. He felt a horrible tightness in his chest as he recalled her expression. But when realization struck, he quickly became angry. Percy gritted his teeth and climbed to his feet, steeling himself upright against his devastating agony.
"I had no choice! He was going to kill Artemis and the rest of my family! You're the creator of the universe! You have to understand that not listening to her when she asked me not to kill myself doesn't actually count! You're screwing me on a technicality?!" he shouted.
Chaos wore a melancholic expression, only confusing Percy more. The demigod fell to one knee, his outburst only making his migraine worse.
"You disobeyed her directly. And caused her immense heartache," Chaos said in a pained but forceful tone.
She waved her hand, conjuring an image of Camp Half-Blood. Percy stared into the feed and found Artemis on her knees, looking back. The landscape behind her was in tatters, eviscerated by the force of the explosion, but Percy didn't notice. His heart clenched, only seeing the goddess and her blank expression. Her body shook as her unfocused eyes darted, searching but finding no destination. Her hands dug into the ground beneath her, tightly clenching fistfuls of dirt. Apollo walked up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. The goddess' face shifted instantly; her eyes welled, and she bit her lip to stifle a scream before vanishing in a flash of silver.
Percy gritted his teeth as his tears continued to fall freely. The camp's image dissipated, and a vicious laugh tore through the starry space. Percy snapped his bloodshot eyes in the direction it'd come from. Tartarus, in the same grotesque form the demigod had last seen him, lounged in the throne on Chaos' left. Percy forgot all apprehension as he glared hatefully at the primordial. The demigod's wild eyes shifted around the swirling dark face of the deity.
"Send me back so I can kill him, too!" Percy shouted, averting his gaze.
"You insolent brat!" A feminine voice hissed from Chaos' right while Tartarus growled, tightly clutching his armrests.
Silence.
Percy's eyes snapped to Gaea, who sat gracefully in an earthen green dress, still glowering through her closed eyes. But everyone present heeded Chaos' command and remained quiet.
"Perseus," Chaos started, her voice tolerable again, "you are not here to argue or to state your case. When my sacred vow is broken, you come before this tribunal, who may unanimously condemn you to the Void."
Percy stood on solid ground, but the mention of the Void caused a pull from underneath him. The demigod sank to the floor, quickly realizing the source of the gravity was immediately below. The circumstance of his impending damnation only flared his temper.
"So I'm standing in front of super-gods that either hate me or don't know or care about me, waiting to be sentenced to eternal punishment? All while the woman I love and all of my friends and family are in pain thinking I died? Why even have a panel of judges if you already know what they'll say? And if it needs to be unanimous, why don't you just say no? You know this isn't right!"
Percy's mind raced a mile a minute, his anger only fueling his resistance. But he could do no more than yell at the overbearing row of primordials. For all of his rage, his body was at its limit. And even if it wasn't, he'd be powerless against the deities before him.
Do not forget who you are speaking to.
The creator of the universe bored into the demigod as Tartarus and Gaea shared a malicious laugh at the mortal's plight.
The vote is a formality I created as a remedy for even beyond extreme circumstances, in which one of my children may stop the sentence. As I am the one whom the oath was broken over, I am always the first 'Yes.'
Chaos' voice seemed to strain as she explained the system to Percy, who just stared back vengefully. He understood he was acting erratically, but he didn't care; Chaos was imprisoning him while his family was hurting. Still, a sense of dread built in the demigod when Chaos said her vote was automatic. Percy figured it must be why she was speaking so solemnly. He was pulled out of his thoughts by a familiar earthen voice.
"And I am honored to be your second 'yes,' Perseus Jackson," Gaea snapped, her voice dripping with malice, "It will bring me great pleasure to hear your cries as you dissolve into an infinite expanse."
Percy held his grimace, not tempted by her biting words. The demigod knew he'd gain nothing from a shouting match with the earth itself. Instead, his eyes scanned the remaining voters, identifying them as he tried to figure out who he'd be able to swing. In the furthest right throne from Chaos sat an old, well-groomed, bearded man in a sky blue suit.
Ouranos, Percy thought to himself.
He had no real connection to the deity, besides technically being his great-grandson, but there was no reason to believe Ouranos was particularly spiteful of him. Percy kept the Primordial of the Sky in his back pocket as he shifted his gaze to the middle throne on Chaos' right side. In it sat a humanoid that Percy felt a strange connection to. He was an older man with brown unruly hair, an untrimmed beard, and sea green eyes that looked uncannily like the demigod's. But Percy didn't recognize the primordial staring back at him. Before his curiosity won out and he asked aloud, a voice cut off his thoughts.
"It has been silent for too long," Tartarus growled as he began, "I knew that oaf would lose, but I at least expected Erebus to kill this puny demigod himself."
The Primordial of the Pit reared his arm back and punched the shifting blob of darkness in the throne to his left. Tartarus turned his attention to Percy.
"That was my congratulations to you. This mass is all that is left of Erebus until he regains consciousness, which will not occur for millenia; the Void Ether explosion made sure of that. My strike into his raw form should add a century to his reformation, an additional punishment for his weakness."
Tartarus grinned menacingly, his face forming crude eyes that glowed wild with excitement as his tone changed.
"You will be driven to insanity countless times over in the Void before I tear your civilization down brick by brick. I may only plead with my mother to grant you a chance to watch as I kill everyone you love," he said with a sick eagerness in his grating voice.
Percy's nails dug into his palms as his fists sparked with blue lightning. The Primordial of the Pit smirked and waved his hand. Chains ripped from the central platform, binding Percy's hands and feet before dragging him to his knees.
"As for the vote, I believe I can speak for Erebus as well," Tartarus said, glancing at Chaos for confirmation and receiving a disheartened nod, "'Yes' and 'Yes.'"
Percy struggled against the chains, but they only further wore his body down, and he collapsed. Ouranos looked down at the demigod before a blur of recognition flickered across his face. The Primordial of the Sky bent his wrist, and the binds disappeared.
"Thank you, Lord Ouranos," Percy said graciously, both actually grateful and trying to gain the primordial's favor.
"I remember you. Some years ago, you bore the burden of my domain on your shoulders. There was a mission in which you had to save your moon goddess," Ouranos recalled.
"Y-yes, Lord Ouranos. Artemis was kidnappe-"
"'Yes.'"
Percy stared dumbfounded at the primordial. He met the gaze of the sky deity, who already looked disinterested. The demigod suddenly felt very small as the realization sank in of how meaningless a mortal life like his was to them. He'd been acknowledged one second, condemned to eternal damnation the next, and forgotten the one after that. Faced with the idea, Percy considered giving up entirely when the unknown primordial cleared his throat. Chaos leaned forward in her chair as he spoke, a hint of anticipation beading on her face.
"Perseus Jackson, do you know who I am?" the primordial asked, his sea green eyes boring into the demigod's.
Percy shook his head dejectedly.
"That is alright. I am Pontus, the Primordial of the Sea. I have been aware of you since the day you were born; the ocean never forgets its own. A part of my consciousness has been present for many of your achievements, namely your convincing your father to forsake Atlantis against the titans, ultimately leading to the Olympians' victory," Pontus explained.
Percy felt a glimmer of hope at their unexpected connection as Pontus continued to speak.
"You have proven several times over that you are a true emissary of the oceans. Its culmination was in your victory over Oceanus; the element itself chose you. There has never been a mortal more worthy of the title Son of the Sea. I commend you."
Pontus waved his hand over Percy, enveloping him for a moment in a tendril of glowing water. The liquid darkened as it washed out the remaining poison from Percy's chest before vanishing, leaving the demigod standing upright and staring down at his body. His wounds had also vanished completely and his mind had cleared. Percy bowed to the sea deity.
"Thank you, Lord Pontus," he said, his spirits lifted.
The Primordial of the Sea smiled sadly at him.
"But my vote is 'yes.' True children of the sea cannot be controlled, and I believe that to be true of you. Your own actions led you to this; you were not forced. It would be dishonor to your character if the protogenoi of the sea overturned your decision."
"I don't care about my character or my honor. I only need my family to be okay, and I don't see any other way to do that besides going back myself. I need to show them that I didn't die, and I need to be there when this monster comes for them," Percy explained agitatedly, pointing an accusing finger at Tartarus.
Pontus looked at the demigod regretfully, but Percy saw it in his eyes that the primordial's decision would remain unchanged. He fell to the ground with his head in his hands, having never felt so powerless, while the Void pulled at him. Chaos slumped in her throne at the sixth 'yes.' She was certain what the final vote would be from the primordial on her far left.
"'No.'"
All heads snapped in the direction of the insofar silent voter. The woman was seated with one leg over the other, wearing an ashen black dress and a serene smile. Percy heard her voice and, with eyes impossibly wide, opened his mouth to speak before the woman gave him a nearly imperceptible shake of her head. Tartarus ripped an armrest from his throne, standing up in a rage.
"What?! How dare you betray your husband, Nyx? What game are you playing at by saving this demigod?" Tartarus bellowed at the Primordial of Night.
Nyx's body transformed into a churning column of ash and smoke as she bounded from her seat. Percy was taken aback, remembering the monster before him from their encounter in Tartarus. Her voice became shrill, as it had been in the Pit.
"I do not answer to you or to him!" she shrieked.
Sit. Both of you.
Nyx took a slow breath before shifting to her calmer form, the feminine figure returning to her seat as Tartarus snorted and took his. Percy remained silent as his mind flooded with questions. He also couldn't help but notice that the impossibly powerful panel of deities was just as dysfunctional of a family as the one he was used to standing before.
Chaos held a small smile on her throne, relief flooding across her features for a moment, before she returned to an emotionless grimace.
"Does this mean I get to go home now? Like a do-over?" Percy asked tentatively, not willing to get his hopes up again.
"I will not allow it!" Tartarus shouted as he tore from his throne towards Percy, wielding a glowing sickle.
The demigod was petrified by the image as the primordial flew towards him, his monstrous face returning to an overwhelming whirlpool of darkness. Percy couldn't move as an impossibly muscular arm tightened to swing the sickle and evaporate him. Right as Tartarus reached him, a blinding supernova ripped out of thin air between the two. Percy shielded his eyes, and the Primordial of the Pit released a world-splitting roar of pain before the explosive light vanished as quickly as it'd come.
Percy stumbled back as Tartarus' purple, fleshy arm thudded onto the platform in front of him, sickle still wrapped in hand. Kneeling, the primordial let out a prolonged groan before he stood up clutching his shoulder where his arm had formerly been attached. Everyone's eyes shot to Chaos, who sat calmly in her throne while small supernovas danced in her upturned palm.
I am not bound to peace in my domain when a guest is attacked. Take your seat. Now.
Not even Tartarus dared to question her tone, and Percy realized it must have been a very long time since Chaos had last used her immense power for violence. The malevolent primordial returned to his throne, grunting as his wound slowly worked to close over. Everyone's attention shifted to the demigod.
No, Percy, you do not get to go home now. In this unique instance, the dissenter decides your punishment. It falls upon Nyx to determine your sentence.
The Primordial of Night sat deep in thought for a moment before she smiled at Percy.
"One year of imprisonment…" she began.
Tartarus shouted, ripping a hole through his other armrest and whaling again on Erebus' silent, shifting form. Gaea stood in a rage, ready to shout before Nyx spoke again.
"...in the House of Night."
Both vengeful primordials fell silent immediately, Tartarus cocking his head and Gaea shuddering. Chaos looked on in disdain, and the rest of the deities shifted uncomfortably in their thrones. Percy felt immense discomfort that both Ouranos and Pontus seemed as if they were going to throw up. The primordials may all have extremely unfavorable feelings towards the horrors in store for him, but that was not the demigod's primary concern. Firstly, he'd already run through the House of Night, albeit his eyes were closed. But secondly, he was more worried about the time horizon.
"Can't Tartarus just attack tomorrow, then?" Percy asked, to the shock of the tribunal.
"You have much greater things to worry about than your world's imminent defeat, boy," Gaea sneered.
"No, I don't," Percy retorted, "I need to be there to help. And I don't care what's in store for me; I'm going to see my family again."
Tartarus laughed loudly, and Percy winced under the weight of the raucous sound.
"Impudent boy, your involvement has no bearing on the outcome. Regardless, I expected my brother's war to last several months longer; my plans require nearly another year before coming to fruition. But I must thank you, demigod, for this new bargaining power," the primordial paused, "And I believe you must have learned your father's location during the battle…"
"No! This isn't a negotiation! He has no–" Percy started.
"SILENCE, INSECT! You are a meaningless speck in a world of your superiors!" Tartarus snapped before turning to Chaos.
"I swear on your name to wait until this thing's sentence is complete, or until he surely dies in the House of Night, before staging my war. And in return, I extend Poseidon's imprisonment where he is now, and no one, Olympians or otherwise, disturbs us. Or else, as this demigod says, 'I can just attack tomorrow.'"
"Why are you doing this?! What does my dad have to do with anything?" Percy shouted, only to be ignored by Tartarus.
Chaos looked at Percy sadly before she nodded.
I accept your contract; you must inform the Olympians of your oath. This tribunal has ended.
Most of the primordials disappeared, leaving behind only Nyx and Chaos. Percy's eyes reddened again as he thought about Poseidon shifting into the clutches of yet another malevolent deity. Nyx stepped down from her throne and appeared next to Percy with a blank expression on her face. Chaos arrived as well, looking at him solemnly.
I am sorry, Percy, but it was the only way.
Percy nodded silently, not meeting her eyes. Chaos turned to her daughter.
Thank you, Nyx. I was hopeful that it would be Pontus to commute his sentencing; I had no belief that you would be the one to stop it.
The primordial smirked at her mother.
"I have hated Erebus for millennia. I have felt corrupted by his anger for eons, and this demigod intrigued me when I met him as an enraged hag in Tartarus. Consider this my 'thank you' for getting rid of my rageful husband."
Percy laughed.
"This wasn't the first time you saved me, Lady Nyx."
Chaos raised an eyebrow, and Nyx turned sheet white. She went to cover the demigod's mouth, but he spoke first.
"I recognized your voice when you voted. It was you that spoke in my mind the first time Erebus caught me in his dome. I'd sensed a presence besides him watching me, but I didn't know until now who'd whispered 'Water' and saved my life."
Nyx smiled sheepishly at her mother.
"Yes, I may have slightly edged the process along. Anyways, let us begin your year of suffering!" Nyx said in an excited tone.
Before the horrified demigod could do any more than make a fearful face, Nyx grabbed his shoulder, and the pair vanished into darkness.
(Line Break)
The day after Percy's funeral, all of the Olympians were called for a meeting. Thirteen deities flashed in, seated on their respective thrones as they looked around in confusion. Nobody knew who'd called the meeting or for what purpose; they just knew they had to be there. The gods chattered among each other until a black flash appeared in the center of the room. A towering being took shape, taller than all of the thrones, and his whirlpool face contorted into a sickening grin.
All of the gods bounded from their thrones and raised their weapons in challenge. Several quivered under the weight of the earth-shaking laugh elicited from the hulking creature.
"Peace," Tartarus commanded, gesturing with his arm for them to lower their weapons.
A few of the gods hesitated when they saw the appendage was only formed halfway up to his forearm. Tartarus growled when he noticed their stares. It'd been over a week, and he still hadn't fully regenerated from his mother's attack. The monster instead raised his other clawed hand, waving the weapons down.
"For the next year, there will be peace."
The primordial spat the word like it was poison.
"During which," he continued, "you will abandon your search for Poseidon. If you continue it, the contract is broken, and I will destroy you all early."
Enraged, Zeus spit at Tartarus' feet and found his voice.
"We have no contract with you! You cannot force one upon us!" the King of the Gods shouted.
Tartarus growled, but knew he would be sentenced if he attacked.
"His insolence has affected Olympians as well," Tartarus said to himself before addressing the council, "There are powers beyond your imagination at play, paltry gods. This comes from a contract with Chaos."
The Olympians were taken aback by the mention of the Creator. Artemis' eyes widened, certain it had to do with Percy's own agreement. Tartarus took note, turning to the moon goddess as his disgusting maw shifted to a sneer.
"Yes. Consider this final year of peace as Percy Jackson's dying wish," he said before vanishing from the throne room.
A/N: Hope you guys are happy with the developments! Real dick move by Tartarus not telling them Percy is still alive for the time being, but I guess he's that confident in the fate awaiting him in the House of Night. Please review and let me know what you guys think!
Anon516: I've read a lot of pertemis fan fictions in my life. Arguably most of the longer ones or complete ones. Never have I felt so much for the characters. Never. Your writing is truly amazing and something I hope to strive for in my own writing. Thank you for this story.
torukmaktoo: damn i hate that i was right. im crying, my otp. author why do you wound me so - but on a serious note, this was beautiful. it was eloquently written and i'm not sure how many more chapters you're planning but i'm happy to say i will follow whatever else you got for us. i know you said something about melancholy scenes and not being good at them but honestly i felt like i was feeling their emotions. still got tears in my eyes as i type this. just the way you write is so beautiful, usually these stories have so much bitterness and crazy turns and war but yours was so easy to keep up with. a usual trope with an unusual take. honestly in love with this story.
Wings Ranger: It's nice to see you really enjoying writing your story. I started reading fanfiction only in Feb but I read many 10 hours a day it really wasn't all that healthy considering I still had school to go to though I've toned it down recently (maybe in the last month) although I am proud to say your story is the only one I still read I try to re read it in between updates. thank you for the new chapter and Merry Christmas if it is something you celebrate
OkBoomer147: That was one of the best written and complete pertemis stories of all time. Whew that was amazing. Absolutely loved every moment of it.
Man, you all were really my Christmas presents this year. Genuinely cannot explain to you how happy all of your reviews made me. I wanted to respond extensively to each one individually, but I know that would inflate the word count a lot more than it already will and I don't want to be misleading with the chapter length. I couldn't be more thankful for your reviews and am so happy that you all are enjoying what I'm writing. I couldn't ask for better people to be reading and reviewing my story because you all are so kind.
Anon516 - I recognize your user from earlier reviews when I was just starting out on my updates. Thank you so much for sticking with my story and I'm so glad that you're enjoying it and the character dynamics.
torukmaktoo - It makes me so happy to see reviews regarding feelings for the characters because that will always be my primary focus in my writing. Thank you so much! In completely unrelated news based on your username, have you watched the new Avatar yet? I haven't and want to know if it's worth watching.
Wings Ranger - Oh man that is a lot of reading. I completely get it though, I did the exact same when I first started out. I'm very honored that it's my story that you've been keeping up with this frequently, thank you and Merry Christmas :)
OkBoomer147: Thank you so much for the kind words, and I'm so glad you loved it. But in good news, we still have a long (ish) way to go ;)