Chapter 30 Reading Conflicts
"You think you know pain?" the figure hissed as he approached Percy. "I will make you long for something as sweet as pain." A black sword formed out of the shadows, already in motion towards Percy. Percy screamed as the weapon ripped into his body, sending ichor splattering across the snow-covered ground.
"What a way to begin the book," Clarisse scoffed, though she was silently pleased that there was fighting at the beginning of the chapter.
"Fod yn dawel," a familiar voice said, cutting through the darkness. Percy's voice was still open in a scream, but no sound came out.
Percy said the words in perfect flawless Old Tongue, he had been learning over the years, especially with Kronos speaking it to him randomly, and the main tongue of Titan's and since he was almost a Titan in this part of the book he picked it up fast.
Percy jerked away, breathing heavily in the darkness. He heard a sigh then all the Greek fire torches suddenly turned on, and Percy blinked at the sudden brightness. He opened his mouth to speak, but still no sound came out.
Apollo shuddered, he remembered, he had been a bad god a few centuries ago and as punishment the Council decided he would be a mortal. He had been a mortal with no voice. All the pain he suffered through to learn his lesson had been horrifying, mortals could be a cruel bunch. What was worse was that as a god of prophecy, even locked up in his mortal shell he had nightmares of all the people's features, and he couldn't do anything to prevent it.
"I should have done that yesterday," Kronos said in amusement, and Percy almost fell out of the bed as he spun his upper body round to see Kronos lying on top of the covers on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
Percy narrowed his eyes and was about to open his mouth to speak, but then realised he'd just be making a fool out of himself. He settled for speaking to Kronos in his mind. Give me my voice back.
Kronos chuckled. "I'm surprised I didn't get any complaints when I came back yesterday morning if you were screaming like that all night."
"To be honest, most thought it was sort of the other kind of scream," Oceanus said quietly, though he ignored the glare Kronos gave him.
"Wow, you do remember he had been torturing me the day before, right?" Percy demanded.
"I am not sorry," Oceanus said.
"Whatever," Percy muttered and once again began to read.
Percy clenched his jaw, not in the mood to deal with Kronos' acidic remarks. GIVE ME MY VOICE BACK. BASTARD. He did not have to look at Kronos to know he was smirking.
"Shouting isn't going to be getting you anywhere, youngling." He shifted slightly to face Percy's back. "Don't scream and I'll give you your voice back."
"Gosh he is a sadist" Aphrodite smirked looking at Ares with lust in her eyes, all this foreplay between the immortals was making her horny.
"We can have sex later, doll," Ares grinned and smirked Triumphally at Hephaestus who looked sad.
Yes, the god of blacksmith's knew who his wife was, but every time he saw his brother and his wife together, he felt hate to his brother and sadness. Ares and he had been close knit for 10 years of their immortal lives, then suddenly Ares changed into this cocky git and was like that for the rest of his time. Secretly Hephaestus had done some re search and apparently Ares had wanted more power, he had gone to Alaska in the winter, missing the solstice and had come back angry and no longer the god everyone thought they knew. Something had happened to his brother and Hephaestus wanted to correct that.
It was a nightmare, dickhead.Percy bit out. Not my fault.
"Name calling now? How immature."
Please,Percy said reluctantly.
"Efallai y byddwch yn siarad," Kronos hummed.
Percy watched Athena mark down what he was saying in the book, she was still trying to figure out what they were saying in old Tongue, and to be honest he felt ad for her. She might not figure out what they were saying because it sounded a lot like just words she knew slurred together to sound like gibberish. That's how he had learnt, quite difficult at first and easier as he became more into his Titan hood.
"Thank you," Percy mumbled, knowing that if he did not say it, Kronos was likely to take his voice away again. Kronos did not answer, he just turned back to stare at the ceiling again. Percy hesitated slightly, wanting to ask something, but not knowing if Kronos would take it well.
"If I don't take it well, you'll soon know." Kronos smirked.
"What are you going to do?" Percy smirked. "Throw me against the wall?"
"What do you actually want me to do?" Percy asked immediately, "I know you've got something planned. But what is it?"
"All bad guys like to hear themselves talk, that was my tactic I guess," Percy said and winced at Poseidon's disbelieving stare.
Percy thought Kronos wasn't going to answer, but he must have been in a good mood. "You will become a Titan-"
"That's obvious," Percy mumbled.
"Don't interrupt," Kronos growled. "And you will help to take down Olympus. The gods will hate seeing their so-called hero spearheading the attack that we can just sweep in and take the prize."
Percy wasn't surprised – it was what he was expecting. But there was one thing Kronos hadn't taken into account. "I refuse," Percy stated.
Total silence, the gods were shocked yet not, they expected Percy to be like this, but it was nice knowing Percy did not agree right off the back of his hand.
Kronos was completely silent for several moments before he turned his head to face Percy, his golden eyes narrowing. "What?" he hissed.
Unknowingly Percy was sounding like Kronos, he was used to mimicking him and it just made the gods tense, just how long and how much were they together that Percy could get Kronos' exact timber?
Percy jumped out of the bed, spinning to face Kronos who was sitting up. "I refuse," he repeated. "I won't do it." He was aware of Kronos' rising anger as one of the torches closest to him flared up, almost burning his back. Percy uneasily took a step back towards the bed.
"Being closer to the bed might prove to be more dangerous then away you know?" Piper said looking at Percy.
She felt slightly bad for Percy, everything seemed to revolve around him and it wasn't fair, she would try to help the titan as best as she could but her allegiances laid with Olympus and she wasn't sure anything could persuade her. Jason was home, wherever he went she would follow…
"I don't think you're in the position to be demanding anything, Perseus," Kronos snarled. "Do you want to go back to your birdcage?"
Percy's hands fisted at his side as he flinched. "Do it then," he challenged. "Mess up everything. I'm tired of being pushed around by you, Kronos!"
Kronos clenched his jaw and he disappeared in a golden flash, momentarily blinding Percy. Kronos appeared behind him, locking his right arm behind his back as he spun to slam Percy into the wall. "I'm afraid you'll just have to put up with it, Jackson," he hissed into Percy's ear.
Percy put his left arm between the wall and his body, trying to push him away. He was shocked when he moved back slightly and put more effort into it, but behind him Kronos growled and shoved him against the wall, crushing his left wrist. Percy cried out as he felt the bones break and shift in his wrist, his right arm still pressed against his back and held in Kronos' grip. He collapsed against the wall as he jerked his wrist out from between them.
"I hate you," Percy cried out angrily. "I fucking hate you!"
Aphrodite cooed and batted her eyelashes, "lovers quarrel" she grinned and clapped her hands with delight, it was getting juicy and juicier she could hardly wait until they kissed, it was an epic love story and she was so upset that she hadn't thought of it!
Kronos' grip tightened. "You'll have to put up with me, Perseus," he growled. "Just like Iapetus and Krios are."
Nico stared at Iapetus, he knew the Titan did not want to to do everything that Kronos demanded him of, but it was weird to hear it being said out loud and he wasn't sure how to proceed.
"I will never help you," Percy said vehemently, feeling his anger built up until it was almost painful. He let out a shout of rage, and felt Kronos tense a split second before he was launched off his feet by a wave of powerful erupting from Percy. Percy blinked in surprise but reacted quickly when he heard Kronos groan. He turned to see that Kronos had slammed into the edge of his desk and ichor was dripping from a wound on the side of his head.
Everyone stared at Percy, especially the Titan's they were surprised at what had happened, this Titan was quite powerful, they hadn't known what that burst of power had come from and now they knew.
Kronos shot him a dark glare as he glowed golden and his wound healed. Percy swallowed nervously, backing against the wall. Kronos pushed himself back to his feet and approached Percy, his nearly seven feet of height towering over the demigod. "Last chance," Kronos stated, his tone heavy with anger. "Refuse and I bring out my scythe."
"I don't want to attack my friends!" Percy exclaimed, but he didn't make another move to attack Kronos.
"That's your flaw talking, Perseus," Kronos pointed out. "When did they ever deserve that loyalty?"
"When did you earn it?" Annabeth shot back interrupting Percy who put the book down and waited for this argument to be over. "You have tortured Percy for years, what did you do to him?" she said and stood up from her seat.
"I don't need to explain my actions to you," Kronos said and told the little girl to sit and listen to the voided damned book.
"Read Perseus," Kronos ordered.
"Yes milord," Percy said and once again began to read, hoping for no interruptions though he knew it was unlikely.
"When did you deserve it?" Perseus snarled back.
Kronos chuckled. "Not yet. But I will soon. When you are a Titan. Then if you get angry, you will cause the deaths of thousands of beings. Olympus will not help you if you're a Titan, but we will. We will teach you to not erupt into your divine form whenever you get pissed when you don't have your way." Percy bristled, his eyes narrowing as he opened his mouth to reply, but Kronos continued before he could speak up. "That is what this is about, Perseus. It's a tantrum. Calm yourself before you destroy my chambers anymore."
"We would help Percy, you are my son," Poseidon said and stared at Zeus who had opened his mouth to disagree.
"Thanks dad," Percy said and continued to read, he hated being at the center of attention like this, it wasn't entirely fun.
Percy frowned as he turned to survey the room, and his eyes widened. The wall of power he'd given out had cracked the wall behind him, and Kronos' desk had split down the middle where he'd slammed into it. The bed was flung across the room. "I did that?" he asked in shock.
Kronos nodded slowly, eyeing Percy like he was about to do it again, and then he waved his hand to revert everything to the way it was before. Kronos scowled at Percy as he crossed his arms over his chest, and Percy blinked when he noticed that Kronos had no shirt on. He glanced down at himself, remembering that he'd been wearing only his boxers when he went to bed. The same as Kronos, actually. Percy quickly banished the thought from his mind, already starting to feel nauseous.
"What? Why?" Aphrodite who hung onto every word screeched, her face was rapidly falling, she had thought that it was going to be an OTP moment and she felt like she was going to cry. She could hardly wait until they kissed.
"If you're sick on my floor you clean it up this time," Kronos snapped.
Percy nodded slightly. "Right. Got it. Don't be sick."
"Now," Kronos said evenly. "Are you calm enough to sleep, or do I need to lock you in the cells for the night?"
Percy nodded slightly. "I'm calm." And then he frowned. "Hang on a moment, you were awake." He cocked his head to the side. "You didn't go to sleep last night, and you weren't sleeping tonight. Do you even sleep?"
"Most immortals can run with days without sleep, but they will need it to rejuvenate, its just an unnecessary thing, unless you're a young deity, or have insomnia problems." Apollo sited off facts out loud.
Kronos seemed slightly surprised at the direction the conversation had taken, but he replied anyway. "No. Not much." That was enough, he decided. "Now, get back to bed or I'll hog-tie you to the post. I have no need to be answering foolish questions."
"It wasn't foolish," Percy mumbled, but moved to slip back into the bed.
Kronos stood and watched before settling into the same position he was in before.
"Why are you sleeping in Kronos' bed?" Leo asked looking at Percy who glanced at the book and then sighed.
"Because, let me read, it explains everything," Percy said.
In the morning Percy immediately remembered their argument in the middle of the night, feeling dread swamp his body. He had tested Kronos too much in the wake of the dream with his confusion and terror still running rampant through his body. Percy turned over and blinked when he saw Kronos putting his bow on his back and one of the mannequins with armour on was bare. The Titan was wearing leather armour, which Percy was not used to seeing on him.
"What's happened?" Percy asked anxiously as he stood and reached for his clothes. Kronos turned to the door, ignoring him as he opened it. "Kronos," Percy pressed.
Kronos paused, one hand holding the door open. "A group of demigods have been spotted on the border of Utah and Colorado."
"A quest to save Percy?!" Castor asked and looked to his dad who was sipping grape juice, looking bored.
Percy felt his blood run cold. "Why? What... what are they doing?"
"They are on a quest to free you," Kronos stated, his hand tightening on the door. "I am going to stop them."
"No!" Percy exclaimed. "Please, don't."
Kronos' jaw clenched. "We will not be arguing about this now."
"I..." Percy took a breath. "Don't kill my friends. I'll do whatever you want, just don't kill them."
Kronos turned to face Percy. "Swear it," he ordered.
"Oh no," Grover whispered. "This is how the earth ends, the beginning of a new era," he brayed.
Percy hesitated as he looked up into Kronos' eyes. "I... I swear on Chaos that I'll do whatever you want, if you don't kill my friends."
Kronos' mouth curled up into a smirk. "The demigods coming to steal you aren't your friends, Perseus. But I thank you for your oath."
"They don't call him the crooked one for nothing," Luke grinned, he had been sort of tricked like this, but the one thing he had been willing to allow Kronos to use his body.
Percy's eyes widened. "You-"
"Bastard," that was what I was going to say before you rudely interrupted me," Percy said pointing a finger at Kronos who just wrapped his larger hands on the finger.
"Find something to do today, Perseus," Kronos ordered. "And please. Don't get yourself killed." He strode from the room, smugness coming off him in waves.
Percy glared at his back, mentally deciding he'd go to the training grounds to blow off some steam.
"Literally! Poseidon sometimes steams when he gets pretty angry or upset," Artemis said and stuck her tongue out at the middle finger she got.
"Time switch or something," Percy said, and they all leaned forwards slightly.
The flames were spreading. Lou Ellen quickly backtracked, going back the way she'd come. He tried not to look at her two quest mates, who sat in their seats, the golden arrows sticking out of their throats as red blood pooled beneath them, staining the train seats.
She stopped for a moment to say a quick spell, "Incantare: Semita Salutis," along the ground a ribbon of purple light formed a trail – the safest way out. Lou quickly took off, sprinting through the wreckage of the train. Mortals were lying knocked out along the corridors and in their compartments, but they didn't seem to have any harm done to them, which immediately started ringing alarm bells in Lou's mind.
"The mist must be covering wherever they are pretty hard, must be Morpheus or something?" Apollo asked, he knew with every word of this book being spoken he saw multiple futures, being the god of prophecy wasn't fun.
She rounded a corner, and the ribbon of purple flashed a deep red – a warning. Lou dived to the ground, covering her head as the side of the train was smashed in. She started crawling away, but a hand grabbed her and dragged her out of the train. Lou struggled until she felt the cold blade pressed to the back of her neck.
"Its not a good feeling with the Scythe at the neck, it steals souls," Percy said.
"He's mine," a voice snarled in her ear, and her head was cut off.
"Possessive," Hyperion whispered to Oceanus who nodded a thoughtful look on the sea deities face.
"Didn't you learn you lesson brother?" Iapetus asked, "we knew something was up with Kronos and Jackson since they met so long ago."
Kronos let out a sharp whistle and hellhounds lurched out of the shadows. "Remove the evidence," he ordered. "Demigods only."
Several hounds launched themselves at the dead demigod, gleefully tearing into her body whilst the others bounded into the train wreck to find the other two demigods Kronos had killed. Kronos glanced up the sirens of the mortal emergency services approached, and he smirked. He turned to face Diana.
"Perhaps you could do me a favour and inform Zeus that the war is starting in earnest?" Kronos suggested. "My forces are far too eager for demigod blood. And I find myself agreeing with them."
"What about the demigods on your side?" Athena asked looking at the bunch sitting at the feet of the Titans thrones.
"All of them a traitor to our kings cause and don't mean anything until they swear an oath to Kronos," Alabastor said calmly.
Diana kept her eyes shut as she calmed herself down. She sighed as she got up from her bed, quickly going to the drawing room. Before she'd had the dream about the fate of the questers, she'd had another vision. She understood it as much as the others – which was not at all. She picked up a pencil and set to work.
"Another time switch, pov switch" Percy warned before reading.
Luke raised an eyebrow. "You got a sword?"
Drew giggled and went red, yes, she was a daughter of Aphrodite and yes, she had a dirty mind so sue her, it was funny.
"I am sure Kronos really liked his sword," she whispered to Selina who giggled.
Percy nodded, reaching into his pocket for Riptide, only to come up with nothing. He swore under his breath. "Damn you, Kronos," he growled angrily.
"Kronos found a way round the magic?" Luke asked.
"Wow, some of my heavy compulsions and magic are on that sword," Hephaestus said and decided to ask Kronos for help with some magic. It never hurt to learn new information.
Percy nodded. "Yeah," he sighed, deciding to summon Tsunami to him. He lifted the silver sword into a ready stance as Luke eyed the weapon.
"That's Oceanus'," Luke said uneasily. "How are you using it?"
"That's what I want to know," a few heads nodding made Percy read faster before they could interrupt, it was quite annoying.
Percy shrugged. "The sword refused Oceanus. It burnt him," he said sounding smug, "but lets me use it, so Kronos decided there would be no harm in allowing me to use it."
"Aside from the fact that it's used to godly blood now," Luke scowled. "If that thing starts attacking me, I will get my revenge."
Percy rolled his eyes. "It hasn't been a serpent since Oceanus last touched it. Besides, it's used to me wielding it now."
Luke shook his head as he lifted his plain, celestial bronze sword into a ready position. "I still don't trust it," he declared.
Percy grinned and lunged forwards, causing Luke to curse and parry away the attack to the side, quickly following up with his own lunge. Percy blocked the attack, sliding Tsunami down the blade of Luke's sword to the guard, which the silver sword effortlessly slid into. Luke kicked up some of the sand from the arena as he pulled back on his sword, detaching them and promptly hacking at Percy's chest.
"The brothers are back at it once again!" Luke grinned and looked at his green-eyed friend, yes, he was all powerful and could kill him in an instant but that was not what Percy did, he seduced you and then killed you.
Percy instinctively lifted his sword to block the attack, pushing Luke back and spinning to slam the pommel of Tsunami into Luke's back. Luke stumbled forward and Percy tripped him up with the flat of Tsunami.
Laughs were heard as the best swordsman was defeated so quickly.
Luke swore as he climbed to his feet, glancing back over his shoulder at where the demigods were watching. "Any of you going to help me here?"
Ethan and Chris grinned as they started forward, and Percy faced the three demigods. As he raised Tsunami again, he remembered one of the things Kronos had told him down in Tartarus – If you're outnumbered, Jackson, don't hesitate. You'll die if you do. Act by instinct – Percy took a breath before he launched himself forward.
Ares was greedily sucking up any knowledge he could about these guys, it would help once they could just try to kill each other, and this book was very helpful.
He fought without thinking, finding himself effortlessly blocking and counterattacking as he weaved in and out of the swords of the three demigods. Percy knocked away Ethan's sword as he ducked Chris' and stabbed at Luke in the same swing. It seemed too soon that he'd won, and Luke was once again cursing, only this time he was clutching a dislocated elbow as Ethan and Chris struggled to stand.
Awe is what Percy felt as they realized his training had changed, fear because he was a titan and finally some jealousy?
"Most beings dreamed of getting trained by Kronos," Luke helped Percy at his slightly confused expression.
"Anyone else feel like trying to beat him?" Ethan yelled at the demigods who were laughing as they watched.
"I would," an amused voice said from behind Percy.
"One guess to who it is!" Apollo said with a grin, he really liked this couple so far, even though he wished his little cousin were better at choosing men, he could see the appeal. He had wanted to bed Jackson for awhile to, many of the gods lusted after his power and were only held back by Poseidon and his wrath.
Percy spun around, raising his sword to see Kronos leaning against the door which lead into the main arena for the monsters and Titans. Percy narrowed his eyes, scanning Kronos' armour for any darker patches which marked the mortal blood he would have split.
Kronos raised an eyebrow. "Would you prefer that I removed my clothes so you can see me better, Perseus?" he asked dryly.
"This is were the fun begins," Aphrodite said and smiled, the build up was killing her and she wanted them to kiss already!
Percy's eyes widened, and he hurriedly shook his head. "I… I'm fine," he choked out, feeling uneasy after the offer.
Kronos smirked. "You need not worry. None of the demigods were your friends."
Percy's hand fisted at his side. "Can I have Riptide back?"
Kronos cocked his head to the side. "I don't know. Can you?"
"Humor," Oceanus whispered and grinned, he had hated Jackson for quite sometime, always taking Kronos' attention, his time and plans. But then he learned more about the ex demigod and decided he could put up with him as a King and then he swore an oath to Percy and finally they were here. In short Oceanus respected his grandson, and would back him up, and maybe before Kronos if the situation called for it.
Percy scowled. "May I please have Riptide back?"
Kronos summoned the pen to his hand in a flash of light, twirling it between his fingers as he studied Percy with a smug smile. "If you can manage to get in a cut."
Percy narrowed his eyes. "You're on," he said as he lifted Tsunami.
"Why did I think of Donkey Kong when you said that?" asked Travis Stoll who had been very quiet and he smirked at Percy who shook his head.
The demigods were gaping at the two of them, and Luke was looking between the two with a grin on his face. Kronos slipped Riptide into his pocket as his armour disappeared and he shrunk down to seven feet. For a split second he was wearing no shirt before a black one was flashed onto him, and he smirked at Percy.
Percy shifted in his seat, he knew what Kronos looked, and felt like besides,
he wasn't sure if he could ever have another being like that, corny but it was perfect.
Percy settled into a ready stance, attempting to ignore the image that Kronos had just shown him. Kronos summoned Backbiter, the half-tempered steel and half celestial bronze sword gleaming slightly red in the light from the gap in the roof high above. Percy realised with disgust that the red was mortal blood, likely from the demigods he'd killed.
Kronos glanced down at his sword and frowned, flicking it to the side to get the blood off it. And then he advanced towards Percy.
"To be honest I thought they would fight naked," Aphrodite whispered to Ares who sneered.
"You are a weird woman you know that?" Ares asked. "But that is what I like about you," he said and kissed his ladies hand gently.
Percy ducked and rolled away from the first slash, parried the second, and blocked the third. Kronos' smirk changed into a genuine grin and he shoved Percy back, sending him flying through the air. Percy steadied himself before shooting towards Kronos, wielding Tsunami with both hands. Luckily, the sword had a hand and a half grip – perfect for fighters who switched between one hand and both hands.
Percy hacked at Kronos' waist; the blow easily being blocked by Backbiter's hilt. Percy swore and backed up and split second before the air was slashed in half where he was previously. "You could have killed me!" he exclaimed as he lifted Tsunami again.
Kronos snorted as he swung again, causing Percy to have to parry the cut to the side. "No, I wouldn't."
Percy blinked. Wouldn't? Not couldn't. "Huh?" he asked, only to dive to the side to avoid Backbiter.
"Good," Kronos nodded.
"Praise?" Nico asked shocked glancing at his grandpa, he shuddered, Greek relationships were weird, a lot of incest.
Percy glared at him as he clambered back to his feet, making sure he watched every part of Kronos' body. He knew the signs that Kronos was about to attack. If he was about to lunge Backbiter would move up slightly. A high slash and Kronos would move his left foot back a little, and then if Kronos was going to try a diagonal cut his right foot would move to the right. It was little things like that which kept Percy alive for so long when he was fighting Kronos.
Everyone drank in the information, they needed to defend themselves for later, or future uses, to best Kronos was impossible especially when he controlled Time. Time seemed to be what Kronos had and they severely lacked it.
Percy lifted Tsunami again. He launched himself forward in a lunge, but Kronos was already moving to the side. Percy shifted to the side, letting backbiter pass harmlessly by him, and he spun, swinging Tsunami as he did.
He felt Tsunami suddenly stop and start slipping out of his grip, but he pulled back on the sword. Then Tsunami suddenly became easier to wield again as Kronos twisted away, a hiss escaping from between his teeth.
Percy stared at the golden ichor staining the blade before he looked up at Kronos who was standing several feet away. The Titan was looking at him incredulously, an unfathomable expression on his face. A wide grin stretched across Percy's face, from ear to ear.
"Riptide please," the demigod said.
"Whoot whooo!" Leo cheered and smirked Percy won his sword back.
Kronos scowled at him, mumbling something about getting cocky as he fished the pen out of his pocket and tossed it through the air. Ichor was dripping from the cut on the side of his waist as he lifted Backbiter slightly. "Again?"
"Always," Percy grinned. "I love to learn new things everyday," he continued to read when he saw Poseidon make a face.
Yes his dad was supportive to him, but that didn't mean he didn't hold a grudge against Kronos, sooner or later they would need to get over that phase in the father/son relationship.
Percy grinned as he uncapped Riptide, watching the four-foot blade spring to life in his right hand, Tsunami held in his left hand. He sent Tsunami away. "Yeah."
They ran at each other, their swords clashing almost every split second. Percy found himself backing up as Kronos attacked without hesitation, every single attack exactly where he wanted it, and doing exactly what he wanted.
Eventually, Percy blocked a blow and found himself immediately shoved back, and he stumbled. Kronos moved in for the kill. Figuratively, Percy hoped. He feinted a lunge at Percy's left leg and flicked his wrist at the last moment, turning the sword to slam the flat of Backbiter into the back of Percy's knee. Percy's leg crumpled beneath him and he collapsed onto the sand covered arena, breathing heavily. Kronos stood above him, looking down at him for several moments before he stabbed Backbiter in the ground and crouched down.
"You need to work on your fitness again," he stated, his voice surprisingly calm.
"Dude!" Apollo exclaimed in horror, "you just were torturing Percy, and if it wasn't you it was someone else!"
"Yeah? Well… maybe if I hadn't been tortured the last few weeks I'd be in better shape," Percy said, practically breathing in sand.
Kronos chuckled and turned him over. "Perhaps if you weren't so damned stubborn this wouldn't be happening."
"Where do you think he gets it from?" Annabeth smirked. "His father and who do you think he gets that from? Kronos, when you think of it, relationships within the Greek past is really gross," she said and glumly looked at Percy.
He was supposed to be with her, but something had happened and she wasn't sure what to do to get Percy back.
Percy grumbled. "What, so it's my fault now? If I remember right, it was you that started this all off when you decided to get all the monsters to herd me over to where you were reforming. Then had me quite literally step on you to get that weird sack thing to break."
"That's how you guys are reformed?" Nico asked in disbelief.
"Yea, we are like phoenix, we cant really die but sometimes we need to reborn," Iapetus said and answered a few more questions though he was careful to not give to much away.
Kronos hummed. "And who was the one that was running around Tartarus with next to no energy, despite having control over everything in the Pit?"
Percy scowled. "So, I wasn't thinking. What else is new?" he added under his breath,
Kronos smirked as he stood, extending a handout to Percy. The demigod stared at him for several moments before he saw something in Kronos' eyes that he'd never thought would be directed at him. Ever. It was very slight, but Percy could see it. The Titan actually held a little respect for him.
"Not many can injure me, Percy," Kronos said. "And even though it's a small cut, it counts." He paused before adding. "Though don't think this change's things. It doesn't."
"Of course not!" Aphrodite yelled and fanned her face, just when she thought they were going to kiss the damned Titan says something and it turns out to be something she hadn't been expecting.
"When do you think she will realize that she is talking to a book?" Malcolm whispered to his sister who grinned.
"Probably not," she answered back.
Percy nodded slightly. "Of course not," he agreed, even as he took Kronos' hand and allowed himself to be pulled up to his feet.
The demigods' arena was completely silent. Kronos frowned as he turned to glare at the demigods. "What do you think you're staring at?" he demanded.
The demigods quickly turned away as Kronos turned and strode out of the arena. Percy stared after Kronos for several moments before grinning and turning to face Luke who had walked over.
"Perce, you might be doing the impossible," Luke said as he too stared after Kronos.
"Beating Kronos?" Percy asked innocently, cocking his head to the side.
Luke snorted. "A cut doesn't count as beating, Perce. I think he meant to break you, but instead he's the one that's breaking."
Kronos glared at Luke but didn't say anything, he was a king and whatever he wanted goed that way.
Percy slowly turned to face Luke. "Huh?"
Luke just grinned. "Nothing. Want to fight?"
Percy frowned but nodded, casting a small glance over at the door which was now shut. "Ye – yeah. Sure," he said as he shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"I was thinking on why Kronos was being so nice," Percy said before anyone could ask him the question.
A/N: Lol my laptop thought I was trying croissant when I was typing Kronos.
17 long pages later, thanks for the positive reviews!