A/N: Okay,I would like to say that I might have procrastinated and said i would get this Chapter up last week, but School, end of terms and all i would like to say that i am most pleased that i managed to do it this time.

:)

Chapter 4: Reading When All Seems Most Dire

Annabeth immediately recognized the Titan facing her. He looked different and had found himself a set of silver armor, but it was definitely Iapetus. The Titan of the Underworld had his hands clenched around the shaft of his spear and seemed to be struggling to control his anger. The other Titan Annabeth didn't recognize at all, he was facing away from her, yet she could tell how relaxed he was.

"You always were the most relaxed out of us," Hyperion said and looked at his brother who was looking anywhere but at him.

"It was because I took a "dip" in the river; ki- Jackson startled me in the fight.

All of the demigods looked at the titans, Iapetus was going to say something, but a sharp look from Hyperion stopped him.

That got them curios on what the titan was going to say.

The air was tense like they were in the middle of an argument, and the heavy feeling was definitely emanating from them. "I'm not Iapetus," Iapetus growled once he was slightly more controlled. "My name's Bob."

"Well then, Bob," the other Titan said mockingly, "what do you say? The gods will be brought down, with or without your help. Your help will only speed up the process once we march to war."

The gods looked at each other with looks of worry, and the demigods looked down at their hands, they had lost so many in the wars, when kids didn't make it to camp at the age of 21, or when they were killed by monsters. All the gods tried to help, but they were bound by the ancient laws to not help with mortal affairs.

Bob ground the butt of his spear into the floor. "I have given you your answer already. Stop asking for a different one."

The Titan cocked his head to the side, "Are you sure? I don't want you to make the wrong decision, my friend."

"I'm not making the wrong decision. You are," Bob snarled.

"Chaos, I am so dumb, I'm defying brother," Iapetus said and looked to the roof.

An audible sigh echoed around. "Your choices are becoming rather one sided. I would hope you aren't becoming like them."

"What does this Titan mean by them?" Zeus asks.

"You brat, what else?" Hyperion stated and glared at the god, daring him to deny being a brat. A few of the gods choked on laughter, but remained silent.

"It's better than being like you," Bob said bluntly, "keeping a certain demigod under watch in your-"

"Oh, Iapetus," the Titan said in fake sympathy, "are you still going on about Perseus? It's been two hundred and eighty seven years. Let it go."

"Let it go?" Bob growled, his silver eyes suddenly becoming filled with hate and anger directed straight at his fellow Titan. "You keep him for your own twisted idea of fun. To do what you please with him. What you're doing to him isn't showing your good virtue. You're only proving that you're a sadistic monster who deserves to stay down here for eternity."

The Titan seemed completely unfazed by the jibe, and only laughed. "The gods don't seem to care, so why should you? I have full right to-"

"Torture him?" Bod asked furiously, "No one has the right to do that."

"WHAT?!" Poseidon yelled in fury, at the thought of someone torturing his son.

"Sit down Poseidon, you are making a show." Oceanus said as he opened the doors.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do, no one harms my son!"

Hurriedly, Katie resumes reading, before a bigger fight can continue.

"Ah, but I do," the Titan said coldly, "Until he breaks. He's only making it harder on himself by refusing. When I see the sarcastic comments gone and his eyes dull, I'll be sure to tell you. Maybe you can visit him."

"Sick bastard," Bob growled.

"Yes, Kronos is a sick bastard," Poseidon murmured and others couldn't help but agree, Oceanus scowled and was about to protest when Katie began again.

In a flash the Titan had grabbed the front of Iapetus' armor and pulled him closer, over the altar. "You'll see things our way again," he promised. "Just you wait. When you do, I'll be awaiting your visit. Having you torture the son of Poseidon will break him. He does still believe you're going to come and save him. How do you think he'll feel when you do the complete opposite?"

Iapetus forced the other Titan to release him and glared furiously. "I'm not going to help you. Take your requests to someone who's willing to die for stupid wars."

The Titan chuckled, and Annabeth's blood ran cold. "You'll come back. They always do. When you do, I'll be waiting for your apology. This is strike two. Strike three will cost you your life, my friend."

"I'm not your friend," Bob said, "now leave. I have no more reason to speak with you."

Iapetus was bemoaning himself at how stupid he sounded and his brother was making fun of him, telling him that he was always the baby of them, the calmest, when he wasn't mad.

"You can't tell me what to do," the other Titan growled.

Zeus laughed along with some others, "Kronos sure doesn't like being told what to do eh?" he laughed more but stopped at five words spoken.

"WHAT?!"

"I said "only if it's not him" Iapetus muttered.

"I can, for I have no affiliation with you. Now leave, before I decide to remind you why my name means the Piercer."

The other Titan inclined his head slightly. "Very –well, Good night, my friend."

Bob didn't relax until his fellow Titan had exited from the shrine. Annabeth let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and carefully eased herself back to her feet to turn and watch his disappearing back. Then she noticed where he was heading. If he continued straight ahead, he would walk straight into her friends.

Annabeth launched herself to her feet and sprinted, not caring if she made noise. The Titan's head snapped over to scan his surroundings, and she pointedly looked straight ahead, not wanting to see his face and confirm her suspicions.

Annabeth burst into the area that the demigods were occupying as she took off her cap, her face desperate. "Hide, now!" She hissed as loudly as she dared.

"Annabeth," Thalia said, "what happened?"

"No time," Annabeth panted, "he's coming. We have to hide."

Frank turned into a Roman eagle and picked up Hazel and Clarisse, taking them up in the air. Jason grabbed Piper and Leo and did the same. Thalia darted under a boulder, Nico melted into the shadows, and Annabeth put her cap back on, slipping into a shadow.

From the opposite direction that Annabeth had ran from, another Titan appeared. His armor spluttered with flames that lit up his surroundings, the golden metal almost blinding to look at. Then, from where Annabeth had come from, the Titan that had been talking with Iapetus strode into the area that the demigods had been waiting, and Annabeth saw him clearly.

Curly, onyx black hair that instantly reminded her of the Big Three framed his face. A strong jawline that Annabeth had noticed all Titans had enhanced his cold smile. Annabeth had heard that when he smiled, you could never tell if he was about to punch you or tell a joke. He held himself like he was the ruler of the entire cosmos and every other being was below him. His armor was a sharp gold with black trim and his helmet was tucked under one arm. His left arm was covered by a vam-brace, but his right arm was bare except for a gauntlet. His muscled breastplate alone must have cost at least five hundred thousand drachma. Not only because of what is looked like, but also because of whose it was. His eyes were the same ones that had haunted Annabeth's nightmares for centuries, and still sometimes did; they were a sharp, cruel gold.

"Chaos, they have good descriptions of Brother,"

Annabeth sucked in a breath, now aware that they were in a lot of danger. Olympus had to be warned.

"Lord Kronos," Hyperion acknowledged. "How did your conversation with our stubborn brother go?"

"Not too well," Kronos admitted as he fell into step with his elder brother, "he seems dead set on not helping us raze Olympus to the ground."

"Understandable," Hyperion nodded.

"I practically committed treason for saying that when brother misunderstood me" Hyperion announced and looked at his hands that were folded.

The others in the room chose to ignore, because he was a titan and they were ruthless, they didn't deserve mercy, when at a drop of the hat of emotions they could kill millions.

"You do know all Titans aren't bad?" mused Oceanus and looked at Poseidon, but said nothing more on the matter.

"Are you implying you don't want to help, brother?" Kronos asked coldly.

Hyperion's eyes widened. "No, my Lord," he said hurriedly, "I was just saying that Iapetus has always been the more relaxed Titan out of all of us. He never seems to want to engage in any war."

"True, he's a coward," Kronos murmured, "though his help will be irrefutable."

Hyperion nodded slightly, "How long will you give him?"

Kronos tilted his head up slightly to study the red mist above them. "A mortal week; that is all he gets. After that… well, it depends on his decisions. Now," he looked back at Hyperion, "what news have you brought me?"

"You need to finish up with Jackson quickly," Hyperion said carefully, "you're running out of time."

Most of the beings in the room didn't like that the fact that Kronos was torturing the Hero of Olympus, but this was in the future and they couldn't change it, and possibly it was a different reality.

"I have all the time I possibly need," Kronos growled.

"No, brother," Hyperion murmured, "you do not understand. The gods have sent a quest group down here-"

"Led by Chase?" Kronos' voice was cold and unwavering.

"Is it just me, or is it unnerving on how Kronos knows all this information?" Leo asked surprising most of them because they didn't know he could think more like a child of Athena.

"Yes, very" Athena comented.

"Yes, My Lord. Nine of them are down here to search for the sea spawn. The half-immortal demigods: Annabeth, the children of Zeus, di Angelo and Levesque, Leo, the two spawns of War, and the child of Aphrodite."

"How long have they been in the Pit for?" Kronos demanded, "And why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

"Several hours, a mortal day, Lord Kronos," Hyperion replied immediately. "I thought that since we were originally planning on meeting now I could tell you now and that there was no point in telling you sooner."

Kronos clenched his jaw. "Anything else I should know?"

"Yes, Lord Kronos, the prophecy: Nine will enter the depths of the earth,

Find the never forgotten hero and return to the hearth.

But despair when all seems lost,

For his exit will not be without cost.

Wisdom, skies, beauty and fire,

Will find help when all seems most dire."

"I got a joke for that!"Conner Stoll exclaimed and stood up and took a small bow before he began the joke.

"Q: Why do ducks have webbed feet?
A: To stamp out fires.
Q: Why do elephants have flat feet?
A: To stamp out burning ducks."

Leo frowned, "I don't get it…."

"Help when all seems most dire?" Kronos asked in slight irritation, "Tell me, brother. Who down here would want to help them?"

"Me," Iapetus said.

"Iapetus," Hyperion rumbled. "Shall we go back to pay him another visit, Lord Kronos?"

"No," Kronos said, "let them come to me."

"My Lord?"

"It's been a long time since I have had any mortal company," Kronos said as he cracked his knuckles. "Perhaps when I slit their throats in front of Jackson he'll finally crack. If you come across them, leave them. Spread the word, they are to be allowed through to me and my rather… puny grandson."

"Yes, Lord Kronos," Hyperion bowed his head and hesitated for a moment, "and you, brother? What will you do?"

Kronos chuckled, "I believe it's time I pay my grandson another visit. With this new information I can play with his mind, we may break him yet."

"I'd hope so," Hyperion rumbled as he started changing direction, "it's been two hundred and eighty seven years."

Kronos chuckled, "Next time we meet, brother, shall be when the army is ready to move out. Oh, and if you see Oceanus around here, tell him I am in need of his assistance with the son of Poseidon."

"Going to drown him again?" Hyperion asked in amusement.

"Oh Chaos, you tortured my son with water?! Gods I hope he is okay." Poseidon was threatening Oceanus at first, but calmed down when the sea titan looked disappointed with himself.

"It's the future"

"Of course," Kronos scoffed, "what else would I be doing?"

Hyperion laughed, "Good luck with the kid, brother. Remember, there is no problem with cutting out his tongue."

"Ah, but I like it when he screams. Now, go. Leave me be."

All the present titans laughed at in inside joke, but calmed down at the weirded out stares that they got. "Not telling." The brothers shared a secretive smile and faced Katie for her to continue reading.

"As you wish, my Lord," Hyperion bowed before striding off further into the darkness.

Kronos sighed as he continued in the direction he was originally heading, walking within five feet of Annabeth who was tempted to hack away at him with her dagger, but knew it wouldn't end well for her. Then his golden eyes flickered down, to look straight at her, and the corner of his mouth twitched. Annabeth covered her mouth with her hand, but Kronos just continued on walking as if she wasn't there.

"He knows!" Annabeth gasped, all the past demigods and gods paled.

He stopped just before turning a corner, and said over his shoulder, "Shall we play chess, demigods? I've always loved chess."

Thalia moved quickly, scrambling out from under her rock and knocking an arrow to train it on the back of his neck. "You bastard," she growled. "You're a sick psychopath."

He chuckled and turned around to study her as the other demigods emerged from their various hiding places. "What a surprise. Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus. Girlfriend of Luke Castellan… or did that not happen?"

Thalia's hand tightened around her bow. "Where's Percy?"

"If I told you that I'd ruin my fun," Kronos said, "Iapetus knows. Ask him."

"Why're you telling us that?" Annabeth asked carefully.

"It's all a game to Kronos?" one new demigod by the name of Sheldon, a son of Ares asked and frowned.

"I have to give you some advantage, otherwise this is boring for me," the Titan King said with a savage smile.

All the gods and demigods looked to the titans and they smiles, they all assumed that it was just like Kronos', looked away.

Jason's eyes narrowed and he released a bolt of electricity from his chest. It harmlessly hit Kronos and circuited around the Titan's body, causing no harm at all. Jason's eyes widened in shock, "What?"

"Father of Zeus," Kronos said with a slightly smug grin, "he had to get his abilities from someone."

Annabeth swallowed nervously as his sharp golden eyes scanned her over. "Give Percy back," she demanded.

Kronos shook his head in fake sadness. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Annabeth. You see, this is a game for me. I've made my move, you've finally decided to come down here, and now my second move has been made."

Annabeth clenched her jaw. "I hope you're used to losing."

Kronos chuckled, "I never lose. I never have, and never will." He turned around and started striding away, "I must be on my way, demigods. I intend to break Jackson soon."

Thalia immediately released her arrow, and in mid-air the point split down the middle, forming a net. Annabeth thought it was going to hit Kronos at first, but there was a flash of gold and the net was cut straight down the middle to fall to either side of the Titan Lord. Kronos' scythe was in his hand, the blade gleaming as he turned around.

"You are more foolish than I remember, Grace," Kronos snarled. "Surely you know that won't stop me. I am the Titan King; you are a little mortal that is risking everything for an already dead friend. You want Jackson? Then you'll have to come and get him. I'll be waiting." The air grew uncomfortably hot and he started to glow.

"You will most likely die if you look at Kronos' divine form, especially if you are half immortal."

"Shut your eyes!" Annabeth shouted; since they were half-immortal they could look upon a true form, but not for long, and Annabeth knew that even looking at Kronos for a split second would cause them to spontaneously combust.

Annabeth's head started to throb from the heat, but with the sound of an explosion it was soon over and she opened her eyes to see the Titan King had levelled the entire area. The ground was smoking and burnt where he had been standing. Annabeth looked down to see wisps of smoke curling up from her arms, and she realized with slight giddiness that the hair on her skin was completely burnt off.

"Well," Thalia said, "he was in a bad mood."

Annabeth shot her a look as she sat down and put her head between her hands. "This is terrible," she murmured, "Kronos is alive. Alive. How did that happen? The gods said that his essence was scattered too much for him to be able to reform a consciousness again."

"I don't get what's so bad about this," Leo said carefully.

Annabeth's head shot up to look at him. "Kronos has Percy. Didn't you realize that? Kronos has had him for two hundred and eighty seven years."

"Oh," Leo muttered, "well. Now I see why it's so bad."

"The gods need to know," Jason said, "they need to know he's alive. The Titans are obviously attempting to start another war."

"Things definitely seem dire," Hazel murmured, "where's our help?"

"Bob," Annabeth said and shot to her feet, "follow me. I know where our help's waiting for us." The demigods all quickly scrambled to their feet after Annabeth as she sprinted in the direction of the shrine.

"Well that went well, at least we know where Percy is, it should be easier for us right?" Jason asked.