What happens between Chapters Part 1
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Hera. She looked out the window in her and her husbands room and frowned. Rhea had came at the end of the chapter, she took one look around and separated herself from them. Not near the Titans, and not near the gods. Why won't you get to know us mother? She asked.
Because… sometimes it's not worth knowing someone. She said.
Luke. Thalia stood before him, tears in her eyes, he explained why he was with the Titans. The gods don't care about anyone but themselves. Sure they talk to us...but they don't know us.
They try. She whispered.
Not enough.
Leander. Knew he was smart, his daddy said so! His daddy was smart and fun to play pranks on with Father. So he was sort of surprised when his daddy appeared in disguise. Daddy?
Yes Lee?
Why is there a book about you?
I don't know.
Okay!
Apollo. He didn't like the way the future looked liked. Something was going to be horrible. A person could change the course of the war. And that person began with a P and ended with a Y.
Chapter 12 Reading Path of Curses
Apollo picked up the book and began to read.
Percy was expecting incredulous looks from the other half-bloods, but they seemed to take it in stride and didn't even ask him loads of useless questions – though Thalia and Clarisse obviously wanted to know everything. Oceanus' sword had a lot of power shimmering below the surface, a lot like the sea – the calm shielding the strength. The blade hummed as he studied it, seemingly having a life of its own and reacting to his touch. He remembered when Oceanus had fought Poseidon in the Titan War, Oceanus' sword had been a silver serpent writhing in his hand, but now the weapon only hummed.
"Percy," Nico called, "are you ready?"
"I was never ready to do anything in the Pit, just acted like I was." Percy whispered from under his hood.
Percy looked up and nodded, pushing himself off the drakon-hide bed he had withdrawn to after beating the ocean Titan in an attempt at distancing himself. He smoothly sheathed the silver sword and stood up. "When do we start?"
"Now," Jason said with his hand in the pommel of Koios' sword.
Percy nodded, "You've all memorised the route?" When they all spoke various affirmations he relaxed slightly, "Good." He turned to looked a Damasen gratefully, "Thank you for allowing us to rest here whilst I recovered, my friend."
Damasen's smile didn't reach his eyes as he looked at Percy, "Your trials are not yet finished, child of the sea. The Titan King's oath to you he will not break, and you shall be left alone as no half-blood in history."
Percy swallowed nervously, his eyes narrowing, "My life is my life. I'll live it how I want."
"That isn't really true you know? The Fates control it, and Ananke controls the rest...Not helping am I?" Apollo asked looking up from the book, and sighed.
Damasen shook his head, "The Fates cannot be tricked nor beaten. I meant no insult to you, Perseus, merely a warning."
"Percy," Iapetus called from outside the hut.
Percy quickly strode out of the hut, barely giving Jason time to move out of the way as he shoved past. Outside the hut Iapetus was sitting on a boulder, fingering the tip of his spear as he watched for any more enemies to find them. "Bob," Percy greeted.
Iapetus snorted, "Why do you insist on calling me that?"
"Probably because that was the name he gave you when you guys had a tumble in the River Lethe." Nico said and Thalia nodded.
"Because you're more Bob than you are Iapetus, and Bob helped me before," Percy calmly replied.
Iapetus nodded slightly, "I won't be joining you in your journey out of the Pit, as I will have to delay any of the other of my brethren that Lord Kronos sends." He stood up, turning to look straight at Percy, "I have a gift for you, before you go."
Percy cocked his head to the side. "A gift?" He echoed, "What for?"
Iapetus chuckled and let out a sharp whistle that pierced the surroundings. "An old friend wishes to see you again," he said cryptically as he tried to not think about his alike to his youngest brother Percy looked in that simple movement.
Percy frowned, "I don't think I have any friends down here."
"I am!" most of the demigods shouted.
"Your fellow demigods," Iapetus said pointedly.
"No," Percy said with a shake of his head, "I haven't seen them for three centuries. They would've changed too much. I feel like I don't know them anymore," he admitted.
Gasps were heard as the godly family heard the conversation between the two.
"It will get better, Perseus, that I can promise you," Iapetus said vehemently.
"No, it won't. When I get out of here I'll go insane, won't I?" Percy asked weakly, "Only Tartarus is protecting me at the moment."
"Gradually, you will, yes. If you keep to yourself, that is. Find your place in the Camp for half-bloods again, and you won't become completely insane. You shall have an anchor, Perseus, much like a ship out at sea. An anchor will ground you and keep you from drifting away."
"My anchor is – was – Annabeth. Now she's gone… I don't know…" Percy muttered, scanning the area and seeing a flash of gold. He froze, rapidly backing away and scrambling to unsheathe his swords… as a small calico kitten jumped out from behind a rock. He relaxed a fraction, his hand still clenching around the hilt of the sword as Iapetus crouched down.
"Whats going to happen to Percy now that he lost his anchor?" Katie asks and looks to the gods and the Titans.
"Not many have been dipped in the Styx and made it out alive young one" Poseidon said and looked at his hands.
"Hello again, Small Bob," the Titan murmured, acting like he hadn't seen Percy's small panic attack. "I hope you've been taking care of yourself recently." Small Bob mewed, rubbing his head against Iapetus' gauntleted hand.
Percy felt a grin tug at his mouth, lifting up the corner of his lips in a small smile as he fell to his knees. "Small Bob," he said in relief, "I missed you. Where've you been these last years?" Small Bob leapt at Percy, and the son of Poseidon caught the kitten with practised ease, hugging him to his chest.
Iapetus chuckled, "I believe Small Bob would like to stay with you, especially knowing what happened to you the last time you two separated."
"Small Bob...what monster was he born from? A cat? like what monster?" Nico asks.
"He got trapped in Tartarus, or i dunno."
Percy winced slightly, "Thank you, Bob." Small Bob relaxed against Percy, a deep purr emanating from his throat.
Iapetus shrugged, "He shouldn't stay down here on his own any longer, and I shall never allow my siblings to harm him."
Percy nodded thankfully, "I'll take good care of him, Iapetus, I swear it on the Styx."
"Percy," Nico said, suddenly appearing beside him, "come on. We've got to go. I can sense a Titan or two getting closer."
"Its not that i am telepathic and can hear voices in my head CONNER! its just... Because I can" Nico scowled when he saw one of the Twins open his mouth.
"Hey!" one of them spoke up. "I am Travis!"
Percy nodded and stood up. "Right, I'm coming." He followed Nico, and then stopped to face Iapetus, "Thank you for saving me, Bob."
Iapetus smiled, "Get going, Perseus. Damasen and I shall cover your retreat for as long as possible."
"Give them Tartarus," Percy growled.
Iapetus chuckled, inclining his head, "Have you ever known me to do anything less?"
"No, but there's always a first," Percy grinned.
Iapetus nodded, cocking his head to the side as he sensed a sliver of power enter the camp from the opposite direction he was expecting, a small thought identified the intruder, and he smirked as he turned. The waiting demigods watched in shock as a Titan strode straight towards them, his eyes full of resigned determination.
Jason noted that the Titan's limp was gone as he moved to the side. Iapetus studied his brother in amusement, "I thought you refused to help."
Krios stopped in front of Iapetus, crossing his arms over his chest, "So did I."
"Change of heart." Percy spoke up and smiled at the Titan and looked away.
Iapetus' eyes shone, "So what changed your mind?"
"According to Our Lord, I am already going to be in trouble. I may as well complete what I had planned originally," Krios smirked, "well… that, and Othrys had become far less than what it used to be. Perhaps we can change things."
Iapetus nodded, amusement fading out of his eyes and being replaced by a spark of hope, "It is truly good to see you again, brother."
A golden light started across the swamp, rapidly approaching over the muddy water. Krios quickly turned to Percy. "Tartarus wishes to speak to you before you exit; he awaits you in the House of Night, sending a message to bring your dead girlfriend."
Percy nodded, not even bothering to stop his flinch. "Thank you, Krios."
Krios shook his head. "Nay, it is I whom must thank you, Perseus. For through you, Iapetus regained his sense of the old times, and passed it onto me."
"Old times?" Nico asked, "What do you mean?"
Krios cast a quick glance at the golden light that was his King. "Kronos used to be the perfect King, and then paranoia took over. Prevent that from happening to Olympus, for we used to be the protectors of Gaea, or the Earth, before we fell into darkness as our hearts became shadowed with greed and lust for power. It is time that we try to regain that title."
"WHAT?!" yelled out the gods, they looked to Kronos who sat there, eyebrow raised in challenge.
"What? What?" he sneered.
Iapetus breathed out heavily, "Survive, demigods. Promise me this – you will all get out of the Pit."
Krios frowned slightly, "Perhaps I can request that you find a mortal by the name of Victoria Argyris and give her my apologies?"
"We promise, we will." Percy said solemnly.
Iapetus nodded turning to Krios, "Together, brother? Like old times."
Krios looked at Iapetus carefully for several moments before nodding and grasping the offered arm. "Together," he agreed. "I can think of no better way to go."
"That is a very dramatic scene right there," Jason says and holds Piper closer.
Percy swallowed, but let go of Small Bob who bounded over to Annabeth and carefully picked her up after growing to adult form. The demigods quickly ran from the two Titan brothers who turned to face their youngest sibling. Percy couldn't help it as he looked back in time to see Iapetus block the swing of a scythe at his head, a shockwave of energy blasting back everything within thirty feet.
"Percy," Jason called, "come on, we've got to go." Percy nodded, turning and running after his old friends as they started their journey out of the Pit.
"I wonder how large Tartarus really is..." Malcolm asked.
"You dont really wanna know"
Percy clenched his jaw as he cleaved a dracaenae into two pieces and turned to stab a hellhound in the jaw. It had been too much to hope that they would get out without having to fight – apparently Kronos had managed to put out a bounty on their heads, and despite Tartarus' interference, the monsters were intent on bringing the demigods back to the Titan King alive.
Percy idly concentrated on where they had to go, imagining the route to the House of Night in his mind as he hacked at an empousai. He wielded Oceanus' sword and Riptide together, deciding that dual-wielding was better and more efficient whilst he didn't have a shield. During his time with the Titans Kronos hadn't wanted him to weaken too much, so forced him to occasionally fight monsters in the army, and sometimes a Titan or two. Percy was pleased to say that more recently he'd managed to kill some of said Titans, but unfortunately it didn't take them long to reform again and only made them pissed at him.
Percy ducked and turned, snarling as he jabbed at a cyclopes that had tried to behead him. "This way!" He shouted, hoping the demigods would hear and follow as he dived amongst the monsters. He hacked off limbs and cut monsters in half in his dash out from the skirmish. Small Bob seemed to appear by his side, Annabeth now on his back as he easily kept pace with Percy and killed monsters without any effort.
Soon the demigods regrouped the other side of the hoard of monsters that they had ran into and quickly set off after Percy again. The immortal demigod easily navigating the harsh landscape around them like the back of his hand, a subtle reminder that he was considered the Prince of the Pit, which was evidenced by the monsters that charged from the opposite direction to protect the demigods.
Percy glanced back to check that all of the demigods were following him as he entered the Path of Curses. "We've got to be really careful here. I don't want to antagonise the inhabitants of this forest."
Leo blinked, "This is a forest?" He asked as he looked around at the dead trees surrounding them.
Percy shrugged, "It's Tartarus."
"Good point," Leo conceded.
"Anything can be a good point if you say it right and the opposite from what the other one said." Athena says.
"Good point" spoke Leo.
Percy smirked as he continued, warily watching the shapes fluttering around them in the dead trees. Thalia frowned, "What are they?"
"Don't attack them," Percy replied calmly.
"What are they?" Thalia repeated.
Percy opened his mouth to answer, but a hiss echoed around them, "Foolish demigods, you enter our home."
Percy clenched his jaw and called up to them, "Titans or Tartarus?"
Mocking laughter came from above, "Lord Kronos shall rule all."
"Good to know I inspire many people to join my cause." Kronos dryly speaks.
"Most of it is out of fear brother…" Iapetus whispers. "But mine is out of personal loyalty, you are my baby brother. I love you"
Percy took a breath, looking back at the demigods, "No killing," he said firmly.
Nico's eyes widened, "They're-"
Percy nodded, "The Arai, the curses."
"WHAT?! Those? ugh they made some others i did a good makeover on UGLY!" Aphrodite shrieked and slumped from her perfect pose on her throne.
The demons cackled as they dove down in a single hoard, dozens of them quickly approaching. Percy quickly stabbed one through the heart, hoping that the Pit would protect him from their curses, and was pleasantly surprised when nothing happened. Clarisse saw him and quickly took after him before he could tell her not to. The daughter of Ares cried out, her hand moving up to cover her eye in pain.
"Acid in the eye," the Arai laughed, "a courtesy of the Drakon from the Battle of Manhattan."
Piper was the next to kill one and immediately slumped to the floor unconscious. "Eternal sleep from the Earth Mother, a lovely choice."
Percy gritted his teeth and forced some water from the river Styx up through the ground to cut through several arai around him. "Thalia, help Clarisse, and Jason, get Piper," he ordered firmly. "Frank, stop shooting."
The demigods immediately did as he said and the arai hovered above them, their wings beating in unison. "You realise it is futile to fight – we hold the curses of the defeated and you shall fall before us. The Titan Lord will reward us greatly."
Percy shook his head, "No, actually. I just wanted them out of the way so I can kill you all," he said savagely.
"You are a demigod, what can you do?"
"He is a demigod that can do many things, very powerful and saved the world thrice over!" a new camper said and smiled at the looks he got.
Percy shifted his grip on Oceanus' sword as the weapon changed into a spear with a quick thought. He stabbed the butt into the ground and yelled, "Back!" A wave of force erupted out from Percy, slamming the arai away and spiralling into trees and rocks.
The demigods were looking at Percy open mouthed, and the immortal demigod ignored their gazes as he glared at the defeated arai. "Tell our current tracker that he may try all he likes, but I will be getting out of here. Alive. With my friends. And you could thank him for the extra abilities while you're at it," he smirked.
The arai screeched in response, struggling to rise to their feet, but the ground shook and split open to knock them off balance. Percy grinned as the monsters were sucked down into the depths of Tartarus. The area darkened and the demigods felt an incredibly powerful being watching them, but were oddly comforted.
"Thank you, Lord Tartarus," Percy said respectfully.
"I still can't believe that Tartarus can be nice, he never seems that nice when I go see him." Hades pouted stared out at nothing.
"Continue on, little demigods," Tartarus' voice echoed around them, "I await you in the House of Night."
"You know that sounds uber creepy right?" Apollo asks and looks around the room after he put the book down.
"It doesn't matter Apollo, this happens in an alternate universe, we cannot do anything about it you dufus." Artemis says and whacks her brother upon the head.
"Well… who wants to read next?" Apollo asks.
A/N:Thanks for reading! My next update should be in a week or two. I have two jobs that keep me busy, and I am in grade 12! Hope you guys enjoyed! Read and review!
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What happens in between Chapters Part 2….
Zeus. he sat in his throne and looked over the titans and gods and all their children, he knew it shouldn't feel like a family but it did. There was laughter at the table, and when he looked over he saw that it was Hyperion, head thrown back and flames danced along his skin, turning his head slightly more to the right he shuddered. His father scowling at him. Yep, definitely let that thought go.
Poseidon. the god of the seas glanced down at the book, it was about his son, and he had seen a glimpse of what was to come.
"Poseidon...don't be sad. Your son is happy." the god looked up to see the hooded figure before him, the hood always blocking out his face.
"Tell me about him… please"
"Never let him go, family is family, and Kronos should know that. Percy is your son."
Hades. he held Persephone in his arms and slowly danced, his black eyes full of love as he looked down at her. Her long brown hair piled into a slightly sloppy bun.
"I love you 'phone, no matter what."
Leo. sat at the dinner table and frowned, he didn't like much of the story, it left him with a bad feeling, and he didn't know what to do about it. sure he cracked jokes, but that was just to cover up his nervousness.