Chapter 31 Reading Mother Earth

Percy could hear the monsters screeching behind him and hellhounds howling as they chased him. Clouds hung like vaporised blood above him, and the ground was a dark purple. Rocks lay discarded around him.

Hermes spoke loud enough to be heard, close to yelling but not, his voice was deep and rich, he captivated many as soon as he spoke, he was the god of gossip after all. Mail gossip same thing.

The monsters were coming from everywhere now, and he'd been running for what he guessed was several days straight – going round in circles. He could have sworn he'd seen that boulder before. He clenched his jaw and weaved around an orange cocoon, a half-formed hellhound lying in the golden liquid. He could clearly see its heart beating beneath translucent skin.

"How do gods transform after dying?" Clarise asked cocking her head and looking at the gods of Olympus with a curious expression.

"Almost the exact same thing that happens to Titan's" Zeus said and looked at the book, this book would help them, it would give them the information to beat the Titan's.

An empousa leapt at him from the darkness and he slashed it apart with Riptide, changing his direction slightly as more monsters started calling from where he'd been heading.

It was like they were herding him somewhere.

"they were told to bring you to me, that they would be greatly rewarded for bringing me Perseus Jackson, and you have a lot of enemies that were willing to get on my good side," Kronos whispered to Percy who looked down. "The monsters obey you, because I tell them too, you once were in charge of them from the Pit, but you didn't know that, don't blame yourself,"

He scrambled over a harpy lying on the ground, its wings torn off – likely by a hellhound – and ran on. The air suddenly became colder and Percy slowed down slightly, his gut warning him away from what was ahead. And a hellhound pounced on him from behind, knocking him over. Percy yelped and cut wildly behind him, hearing the hellhound snarl as it was vaporised. He scrambled back to his feet, almost falling over when his tiredness hit him full force. He was tempted to sleep there and then, but knew he would die if he did. A few more hours of running, he told himself, then sleep.

"I never did get to sleep," Percy mused and sharpened his sword just because he was bored and that he could, most of the Titans weren't really allowed to travel outside of the throne room because of them being potential hazard to the gods. The gods trusted Percy to control the Titans, since he was the king, well a king beside Kronos.

"What happened?" Louise asked.

"Let me read sweetie," Hermes said to his youngest daughter and read at her nod.

He took several slow steps as he regained his sense of direction, and then he started running again. The ground sloped down in front of him, getting colder with every step he took until he felt his blood slowing down in his veins as it started to freeze. He pushed himself on harder, trying to warm himself up. The cold air slammed into the back of his throat with each breath, making him wish for water of some sort – anything to drink. He ran on.

His gut was hurting now as it tried to warn him away, but he couldn't. The monsters were all behind him. The only way to go was forward.

"The almost only way," Annabeth said and looked up from her book of notes.

"Only way when you are surrounded all around," Percy said.

"Let's not fight?" Zeus asked tiredly from his throne.

Percy took another step and fell into a compression in the ground. He tumbled down, rolling over until he reached the bottom. He groaned and pushed himself up, his arms shaking as they bore his weight. Tartarus, he thought, help me. He knew it was unlikely. The Primordial was probably busy elsewhere, but his eyes widened when the ground rumbled slightly beneath his hands – enough for him to know Tartarus was watching.

Struggling back to his feet, Percy looked around the compression. Monsters were hovering around the top, but none of them dared to come any closer. Percy frowned, his gaze flitting over the orange liquid filled bubble beside him. If he could get to the top of the bubble, he could jump out, he thought as he eyed the distance between the bubble's top and the edge of the compression.

The demigod took a cautious step forward, testing the strength of the golden sheet holding whatever was inside the bubble together. Percy frowned and tried to see what was inside it. He shrugged, seeing that the liquid was too thick to see anything more than a faint outline.

"What was in it?" Leo whispered, his voice breaking the tense atmosphere, most of the Titans already knew it was Kronos, but didn't say anything, the gods could pick out there information if they wanted, it just meant they would have to be careful.

He took a step onto the bubble, swearing when his shoe sunk right through the outer layer and quickly withdrawing his foot, glaring at the bubble when he saw it had swallowed his shoe.

"Reminds me of Monster Blood" Malcom said and frowned, "Only that it is gold instead of green."

Percy made a split-second decision and moved to the other side of the bubble. He took a breath and scrambled straight onto it. The whole thing promptly burst, sending Percy slamming against the side of the compression. The son of Poseidon wiped his face off on his arm, getting the gunk off his face. He froze when he saw that it was gold. Only immortals had gold reforming bubbles, as he'd come to call them.

"COME ON WHO IS THE IMMORTAL!?" Apollo asked sitting up right and staring at his older brother willing the other god to tell him, after all Hermes was reading it quite slowly to build momentum.

His gut was incredibly painful now, screaming at him to run. Percy did the opposite. He was the adopted son of Tartarus – he could take them.

"Oh, the arrogance!" Dionysus said sadly as Hermes began to read at a glare to shut him up.

His thoughts stuttered to a stop as he saw the immortal calmly standing up from the hollow, brushing golden liquid off his body. Magnificent golden armour covered him from head to toe.

"Kronos," breathed the godly side.

"And here is my magnificent entry to Percy's life, when we finally met, without any presence to bother me," Kronos said.

The immortal slowly reached up to his helmet and eased it off, onyx black hair falling into his eyes. Golden eyes met sea green, and Kronos smirked. "Percy Jackson," he mused, his words rolling off his tongue, his voice rich and deep as it echoed around them. "What a surprise to see you again."

"Now you are just playing with him brother, there is only few that Tartarus would allow sway over his monsters like that," Hyperion said and laughed at whatever Kronos said.

Percy's glare made him stop, he did not want to sleep in the doghouse.

Percy swallowed, taking Riptide out of his pocket, not even realising that he'd let go of it when he fell. "Kronos," he stated. Tartarus. A little help here please? he pleaded. Nothing happened. Tartarus was silent. TARTARUS! Percy yelled inside his head. PLEASE?

'This is meant to happen, Perseus,' Tartarus said, sounding sorry. 'It must happen.'

"How does he know that?" Apollo demanded. "Wait never mind, I know."

Percy's eyes widened, but he clenched his jaw. Fine. "How are you alive?" Percy demanded.

"Immortals cannot really die, they just need to reform, its more like healing,' Percy glanced at Kronos who was staring at the wall, his mouth was twisted into a sneer, Percy shivered, that is what he used to look like… before.

Kronos chuckled as he tossed his helmet to the side, unsheathing a familiar bronze and grey sword. "That's thanks to you, Perseus."

Percy narrowed his eyes. "I mean," he growled out, "how the Hades are you even able to reform?"

Kronos smirked. "You think I was foolish enough to have Castellan host my whole essence? No. Half of me was in him. The other half continued reforming down here." He paused, studying Backbiter for a few moments. "Interesting, isn't it, how quickly the tides can turn? This is the end of the road for you, Jackson. You belong to me now."

"Did you just make a sea pun?" Oceanus demanded looking at his younger brother, who was smirking slightly. "You owe me some drachmas," the Titan said gleefully and pocketed the gold he won.

"Why aren't you talking about how Kronos basically said Percy was his slave?" Artemis asked.

Though Percy was now a Titan he was one of the few males she respected and yes, he may be her mortal enemy, because of Zeus, but that still didn't mean she didn't respect his powers in a fight, he was strong as a demigod and that was doubled once he became immortal and tripled since he became a Titan, it was a wonder he hadn't gone slightly insane with all that power cooped up in him…

Percy snorted, lifting Riptide. "I belong to no one." And he did the most foolish thing he'd done up until that moment. He charged the Titan King.

"Very foolish," Luke muttered teasing Percy who scowled slightly but didn't say anything, he had known that Kronos would best him, he had eons on his puny few hundred years.

Kronos met his swung with ease and a smug smile, and promptly disarmed him on the spot.

Jason burst out laughing, gosh and this was supposed to be the beset demigod in history, even better then his name sake?

Percy's eyes narrowed on him his green eyes darkening as he caught the thoughts that the demigod thought.

"Don't kill him," Iapetus said sensing his melancholy mood, "You would be so disappointed in yourself if you did and you know it."

Backbiter's point rested on Percy's sternum. "A disappointment, Percy Jackson," Kronos said with a mocking smirk. Percy glanced at Riptide. Kronos raised an eyebrow. "You're welcome to try. See if I can't cut you open first."

Percy darted around Backbiter, lunging for Riptide, and pain erupted down his back and his side as Backbiter bit into his skin, tearing through muscle and bone with ease. Percy screamed, falling to the ground as blood flowed from his side and back onto the ground, and a blow to the back of the head turned everything black.

"That must've been a dream or something, because now it's a different section," Hermes said, because he was reading, he knew where the switches were.

"Sure, was something," Poseidon muttered though no one heard him.

Percy woke up screaming again, phantom pain burning along the old scar on his back. He writhed in pain, flailing on the bed.

Then someone was there and holding his hands down to stop him from hurting himself. Percy choked out a sob as he opened his eyes and almost yelled out again, but quickly reminded himself that the Kronos next to him was different than the old Kronos.

Kronos looked over at Percy who wasn't really looking at him, he wondered how many times Percy thought of Tartarus and now he was getting into Percy's head by the book and he wasn't entirely sure if he liked what he heard.

It didn't help. They had the exact same look in their eyes even now. Percy knew the current Kronos wouldn't hesitate to turn back into the old Kronos in an instant.

He tensed. "Get off me."

Kronos deliberated as he studied Percy, trying to decide whether he should move or not. Percy didn't let him decide and jabbed him in the side of the chest where he'd cut him the day before. It didn't hurt Kronos because Percy had healed him with water, despite Kronos' original refusal. It took Iapetus laughing at him and asking how it felt to be beaten by a demigod to get him to accept Percy's offer, and even then, it was reluctant.

"It was hardly deep," Kronos scoffed as Iapetus began to laugh.

And he'd seemed uneasy with letting Percy get that close, but for some reason Percy had felt a bit of relief when the cut closed up. Probably because although it was a small cut, it had been bleeding a lot. Yeah, that was it. Percy didn't like looking at the ichor staining Kronos' jeans.

"Wanna hear a joke?" Leo asked and received a few nods. "Chuck Norris does not take showers; he just takes bloodbaths." Leo blurted out and blushed red and explained his thoughts on why he had told the joke.

Percy jabbed Kronos again, this time harder and the Titan took the hint, rolling away from him as he sat up on the edge of their bed. Kronos grunted as he stood, running a hand through his hair, and making his way over to the closet. Percy raised an eyebrow, wondering why Kronos didn't just flash clothes on.

The Titan turned around, holding a dark gold shirt in his hands. He cocked his head to the side slightly. "Yes, Perseus?"

"Yes, this is it!" Aphrodite said excitedly and gazed at the couple that was now her favourite OTP.

Percy blinked. "Huh?"

Kronos smirked, pulling the shirt on over his head, and flashing a black pair of jeans onto him. "You're staring again."

Percy scowled, sitting up in the bed. The covers slipped down him, and he grabbed them, covering himself back up. "I definitely wasn't," he said hotly.

Kronos snorted. "You still are," he pointed out with a cocky smirk on his face.

Percy glared at him. "I wasn't staring!" he exclaimed, realising that for some reason Kronos was a lot easier to talk to in the morning. He wasn't sure why, especially since the Titan didn't seem to sleep in the night. Maybe he was happy with thinking about tearing down Olympus.

Kronos sighed. "Are you going to look away?" he asked irritably, though Percy thought he saw slight uneasiness in his stance.

"How can you read me so well?" Kronos asked cocking his head to the side.

"We were together for basically 180 years, of course I would learn to read your body language how else do you think I stayed alive?" Percy sniffed.

Percy huffed and turned to look out the window. "Do you sleep?" he asked as he sensed Kronos move over to the desk.

"No," Kronos said shortly, leaning over the chair to study the map.

"At all? So, what do you do in the night?" Percy asked curiously.

"Jack off?" someone whispered asked, Kronos decided to ignore it, wasn't worth his time to get upset over a stupid demigod.

"That's none of your business," Kronos growled.

Percy raised an eyebrow, letting himself fall backwards onto the bed. "Right. Something you don't want to answer. Like talking about that little slave brand that you gave me. Or more specifically why you gave me that thing in the first place, because I-"

"Perseus, enough," Kronos snapped.

Percy saw the tenseness of his shoulders, the way the Titan was clenching his fist and wisely decided now was the time to be silent. His silence lasted for less than five seconds. "So… what're we doing today?"

"Anyone notice how Percy just casually says "we"" Apollo chimed in and was wondering about the future once again, it was spiraling out of control now, he wasn't sure if that was for the better or for the worse.

Kronos was silent for several moments. "We," he said evenly.

"Well, yeah. Knowing you you're not gonna let me just walk around Othrys myself to get myself killed, right?" Percy grinned.

Kronos spun round to face him. "I said drop it," he hissed.

Percy grumbled under his breath. "I will find out some time," he warned.

"And when you do, you'll die," Kronos stated, before cursing under his breath.

"Ha!" Percy shouted. "Got you." Kronos had given away that fact that Percy didn't already know, which meant he'd been lying.

Kronos' hand fisted and he grabbed the map off the table. "We're going to Vermont," he decided. "Maybe Mother Gaea can stop you from pissing me off before I kill you barehanded."

Percy grinned. "No one will ever be able to stop me. It's one of my many talents," he said as he reached for his clothes.

Kronos crossed the room in several quick strides, grabbing Percy's arm to stop him. "How many days have you worn those clothes?"

"Uh… two?" Percy guessed.

a lot of the girls sniffed in disgust, how could males wear more then one article of clothing twice in a row and not notice the smell?

"And those boxers," Kronos said, glancing down at said item of clothing like it had personally offended him. "Take them off," he ordered.

"Foreshadowing," Piper said and glanced at Percy and Kronos, she had to admit they were cute together, and if you listened carefully, Kronos did care for Percy.

Percy blinked. "Huh?"

"You are not wearing clothes for three days. Especially not in front of my mother," Kronos growled. "It is distasteful."

"Look, there aren't exactly any clothes for me," Percy said.

Kronos glowered at him before stalking over to the closet and taking out some clothes. Percy caught them with one hand. "I am not stripping down here," he said firmly.

Kronos raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" he asked, a slight smirk on his face. Percy's eyes narrowed. "Fine. Use the bathroom."

"You guys are oddly cute when its just the two of you," Hyperion said he had been trying to be quiet, his disloyalty acts had been re brought up and his banishment, it had brought shame to him, but he knew his brother loved him in his way, and he was loyal. Hyperion would do anything for Kronos.

Percy shot past him into the bathroom, quickly taking off his boxers once he'd made sure the door was locked. He pulled the clothes on and was out in less than half a minute. "I'm ready," he announced.

Kronos opened the door and exited the room, raising an eyebrow at Percy. The demigod waited in the corridor, summoning Tsunami to his waist and checking Riptide had appeared in his pocket. When Kronos came out, he was sheathing Backbiter at his waist and sticking something in his pocket.

"My brothers will be coming with us," he said as he held his hand out to Percy. Percy warily took his hand and Kronos flashed them to the front doors of Othrys, quickly withdrawing his hand back when Percy let go of it as soon as they landed.

Kronos' four remaining brothers were leaning against the marble wall and talking calmly amongst themselves. When they saw Kronos approaching, they straightened up. "We're doing it today?" Oceanus asked, looking pretty excited for a Titan.

Kronos nodded. "Yes. She should have enough energy after the process to sustain a mortal body."

Even Iapetus and Krios grinned at that. "Why's he coming?" Koios said, scowling at Percy.

"Because I said he is," Kronos said. "And I don't trust him not to get himself killed by pissing off every monster in Othrys."

"Understandable," Oceanus nodded, eyeing Percy with a frown.

Percy glared back at him. "What're you staring at me for?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"That's the only reason, huh?" Koios asked, switching his attention back to Kronos.

Kronos sniffed. "All right. So maybe that's not the only reason."

Koios shook his head. "I'd happily help," he said, fingering the hilt of his great sword.

Kronos sighed. "Later. Maybe. Now, keep your auras down to minimum until the last possible moment. Vermont's close to Olympus, so keep that in mind."

Oceanus nodded. "Killington Peak?"

Kronos inclined his head. "Yes. Be careful."

"It is so weird to hear Kronos sound so caring," Athena said to herself, she had her spear in her hand polishing the wood, but ready to attack at a moments notice if the Titans did any big sudden movements. She was on edge with them being on Olympus for so long.

His brothers grinned. "When are we not?" Krios asked.

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

Krios frowned. "All right, so sometimes we're not careful. But neither are you," he pointed out.

Kronos crossed his arms over his chest. "Just go," he said. His brothers flashed away, and Percy found himself staring at them in awe as their true forms were briefly uncovered. "Perseus," Kronos said, looking down at him. "Your task is to warn us when the gods have sensed us. Think I can trust you to do that?"

Percy hesitated. He'd love for the gods to find him and end the war before it truly begun, but then Iapetus and Krios would die too. And for some reason he didn't want the gods to be killing Kronos – despite how much the Titan seemed to hate him, Percy had gotten used to his constant presence. "I… yes?" he mumbled, and then seeing the expression on Kronos' face he straightened up. "Yes," he said firmly. "Yes, you can trust me."

"Once you have the Sea's loyalty you have it forever," Poseidon said and saw his Uncle Oceanus nod in agreement. "We lost Percy's loyalty because we took to long to find him and Kronos took it," his somber expression made Percy wince.

"Dad," Percy said, flashed over to him and flashed them away, he needed to speak to his father, and it had to be now.

"Look dad," Percy said looking over the ocean and sighed, he loved Poseidon, he was his dad after all, but he was stuck in the middle, Kronos rescued him helped him, and the gods had just told him to forget as much as he could and get on with his life basically. The gods thought differently then demigods and mortals, that had wounded Percy pretty badly. Then there was the fact that Percy Jackson loved Kronos, that immortal might have hurt everyone he loved and been undeniably cruel to him, but it had been the small changes he saw in Kronos that he began to understand the Titan a bit more.

Kronos studied him for several moments before nodding. "Good. Then remember how you can sense my presence?"

Percy nodded. "Yeah."

"Remember the feeling you had around Zeus, the way the air seemed to crackle with electricity?" Percy nodded again. "Search for that feeling. When you feel it, he knows where you are. If he knows where you are, he knows where we are."

Percy took a breath. "Right, okay."

Kronos put a hand on Percy's shoulder and flashed them away to Killington Peak in Vermont. Percy's jaw dropped. "Whoa," he breathed as he turned around and looked out over the forests stretching beneath them.

Kronos' presence dimmed at his side, and Percy realised he was blocking his aura from the gods. It was weird not being able to sense him like he usually could. The Titan strode over to his brothers. "How is she?"

"Ready," Oceanus said, looking giddy with happiness.

Percy snorted, ignoring the glare sent in his direction from the Titan. "You look like a kid in a candy store," the demigod grinned. Oceanus' eyes darkened.

"I'm warning you, Jackson-"

"Oceanus," Kronos warned. Oceanus scowled but turned away from Percy, muttering under his breath about disrespect.

"So," Koios hummed, "whose blood are we using?"

Kronos stepped forward, stopping just before a mound in the Earth which had the vague shape of a women. He took a small bag out of his pocket filled with golden liquid. "Themis offered for me to use hers," he said. He paused, glancing back at Percy. "Perseus?"

Percy concentrated, trying to feel for Zeus' presence. "You're good to go."

Kronos summoned a dagger and slit open the bag, letting the ichor fall onto the mound. "Yr wyf fi, Kronos, Titan amser ac ieuengaf y Titans hynaf, aberthu y ichor o Themis, Titaness Cyfiawnder, Cyfraith a Threfn i chi, Mam Gaea." He paused briefly, moving the dagger to carve out a gash on the palm of his hand and clenched his hand into a fist, letting his ichor drop ontp the ground where it sizzled as it was absorbed. "Yr wyf yn aberthu fy ichor hun. Yr wyf yn cynnig i chi, yn codi gyda'r Gwaed Othrys."

"I am sorry that I did not pronounce it right, I have never learnt this language and to be honest I don't recognize it either," Hermes said besides he could have asked Percy or one of the Titan's to translate that part, but had been a little iffy, he had looked at Luke once, his son had glared at him and flung a knife in the air and caught it by the hilt, he wanted Luke to like him, he hated how he had to leave his kids alone. To fend for themselves and would love to explain to Luke that he loved him and had tried in all his powers to keep him and all his siblings safe.

The ground rumbled beneath them; a green glow being emitted from the mound. Percy watched as the layer of earth crumbled apart, revealing a woman. She was, for lack of a better word, beautiful. Percy stared at her, feeling some of his thoughts turn to mush and meaningless streams of words.

Kronos glanced over at him, scowling. For some reason that snapped Percy out of it, and he shook his head to clear his thoughts. He watched as Oceanus moved forward and Gaea opened her eyes, revealing a colour exactly the same as the forest beneath them.

The oldest Titan grinned as he extended a hand down towards her. "Come on, Mother, we can't have you sleeping on the job."

Gaea laughed as she accepted his hand, letting herself be pulled to her feet. She looked around at her five sons, her gaze landing briefly on Percy before passing dismissively over him. "My children," she smiled, "it's lovely to see you all again."

A genuine smile formed on Kronos' face. "Mother," he greeted with a small bow. "It's been a long time."

"That it has, Kronos," Gaea murmured.

Percy tensed, suddenly feeling like his hairs were standing on end, and he could have sworn he heard energy crackle in the air around him. "Kronos, Zeus knows we're here," he said without hesitation.

Kronos nodded. "Then I'm afraid we must cut this short. Mother, we are preparing for war with Olympus. Yesterday I declared war on Olympus after beheading a daughter of Hecate in front of the Host of the Oracle of Delphi. I would be honoured to have the support of the Earth."

Gaea laughed. "Of course, you'll have my support, my son. It would be my pleasure to help destroy Olympus."

"Are all immortals crazy? And want to bring destruction to Olympus?" Zeus thought and glanced at the book, so far it seems to be.

Kronos bowed his head. "Thank you, Mother," he said respectfully.

Percy eyed Gaea warily, idly wondering how she'd come across mortal clothes while sleeping. He hadn't been able to fight in the Giant war towards the end so didn't know how powerful she was, though he had heard stories when he was at Camp.

Lightning flickered in the sky above them, and Percy was suddenly overwhelmed with an urge to run from the Titans. Kronos tensed slightly, his hand moving to rest on the hilt of Backbiter and Percy got the hint – run and he'd be cut down. Golden lights appeared in the sky, rapidly coming closer.

"Sometimes mortals think we are shooting stars when we flash, especially the ones who can't see through the mist," Artemis spoke up.

Kronos spun to face Percy. "How good is your acting, Perseus?"

"What?" Zeus asked looking at Kronos with a frown. "Why did he say that?" the king of the gods asked and looked between the two titans. Sometimes he was unsure of his father and other times he hated him.

Percy blinked. "Acting? Uh... I don't know."

"He can be very convincing, kind of Slytherin of him," Nico admitted and glancing at his cousin who was staring at the book with a glare.

"Now is a good time to find out," Kronos said, moving quickly and unsheathing Backbiter.

Percy's eyes widened. "What?" Kronos flashed himself behind Percy just as the gods landed, and Percy felt Backbiter prick the front of his neck. He could feel Kronos's chest only inches behind his shoulders and the Titan had his left hand on his shoulder.

Gaea and Kronos' four brothers moved behind them, so Percy was in front. When the dust cleared the gods froze. "Percy," Poseidon breathed, his eyes widening.

Percy stared at Poseidon, feeling ridiculously happy to see him. "Dad?" he asked, hearing his voice crack.

"Are you alright, Percy?" Poseidon demanded.

"He will be," Kronos said, "if you don't attack. I'm sure I can slit his throat faster than you can take out your weapons."

"I don't know, the gods fighting is pretty fast you know," Apollo said and smiled, he had a vision of Kronos sitting and knitting, something that was equally humours and scary.

"Not as fast as time," Kronos muttered.

Poseidon clenched his jaw. "If you hurt him, I swear I'll kill you myself!"

Kronos smirked and twitched Backbiter slightly, drawing cutting a small line into Percy's neck. Golden ichor dropped onto Percy's shirt. Poseidon's eyes darkened, a storm brewing overhead.

"Kronos, let him go!" Poseidon shouted, slight desperation in his voice.

Kronos chuckled. "I don't think so, son."

Percy took a breath, ignoring the pain in his neck. "Dad, I... I'm fine." He saw the disbelief in Poseidon's eyes. "Honestly, dad. I'm alright. Trust me, please."

Poseidon hesitated. "Percy," he choked out, "what you're asking-"

"Is basically treason, for all we know you could be brainwashed," Poseidon said calmly

"Kronos is gonna kill me if you attack, dad. Trust me, he will," Percy said, trying to ignore the fact that he could feel how tense Kronos was through the fabric of his shirt – he wished the Titan would step back a few inches. Or maybe a few feet, then he'd fall off the edge of the plateau they were on.

Percy fought to keep the smile off his face as he sensed Kronos' irritation at his thoughts. "We'll be going," Kronos said calmly.

"You realise we know where you are?" Zeus said, finally deciding to speak.

"Then why is it so hard for you to attack?" Kronos asked, and Percy could have sworn he heard only amusement in his tone.

Zeus' eyes narrowed. "Because we're not going to waste our army."

"What army?" Oceanus sneered. "You have kids who can barely fight and monsters that have been stopped from reaching their full potential. You have no chance."

"When we've beaten you again, you're welcome to repeat that," Hera snapped.

Kronos snorted. "Please, daughter. You're all children," he sneered, taking a step back and pulling Percy with him. "And I'm on a tight schedule today. So, if you'll excuse me, we'll be going."

"How many more Primordial 's are you planning on raising?" Zeus demanded, eyeing Gaea like she was about to attack him.

Gaea smiled sweetly. "Allow me to take this one, my son."

Kronos smirked. "Of course, Mother."

Gaea gilded forward; Percy noted. The earth shifted and moved underneath her, but she was completely still. She stopped slightly in front of Kronos.

"Many of us are stirring. Tartarus' death released his energy into the area, and all of us were given some – I was given enough to create the basics of a body. Thanks to my children I was able to gather enough to form completely. Now I can sense Nyx gathering her strength to exit Tartarus and join us, and many more of us are stirring."

She spun to face Percy. "And this little demigod," she murmured, "is the Key to that."

Behind Percy Kronos tensed. "Did you know he started to lose his abilities over the Pit when Tartarus died? Since he's arrived at Othrys he's lost them completely. Not that he knew that, of course." Gaea laughed. "But since he can't use his abilities the energy for them is inside him. Latent, and useable."

At hearing that, something clicked into place inside Percy's mind. That was why Kronos was keeping him alive because he was going to use him to raise the rest of the Primordials. And considering what he was going to do to Erebus, probably kill the Primordials too. Percy idly wondered if Gaea was on that list – knowing Kronos he'd think so.

Percy could feel Kronos' uneasiness and clenched his jaw. "I won't be used to raise the Primordials!" he exclaimed.

Gaea laughed. "You don't have a choice, youngling. You swore to obey my son... didn't you?"

"Rub it in, wont you," Percy muttered.

Poseidon's eyes widened at that and he looked to Percy, hoping he'd say differently. Percy's shoulders slumped forward. "Yes," he mumbled. "Yes, I did."

"So, you have to obey him," Gaea said with an amused smile.

Percy shook his head slightly, glaring at Gaea. "I won't do what you want. But I have to do what Kronos wants. Kronos doesn't listen to you," he said firmly.

Gaea just smiled like he was a child that knew absolutely nothing and turned away to look back at Zeus. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could Kronos was speaking. "Perseus is correct, Mother," he said, his voice holding the authority of a King. "He is sworn to me, and not you." He turned back to Zeus. "Try to stop us leaving and I'll kill Percy here."

"Olympus has gotten soft when they won't let an immortal demigod die, you know that Kronos can just summon him back from the depths of Tartarus right?" Atlas demanded with a sneer, though he went quiet at the smoldering glare sent his way.

I appreciate you not spilling all your thoughts. Kronos snarled into his mind.

He glanced back at his brothers and nodded, a signal for them to travel back to Othrys. Percy felt the water condense as Oceanus vapour traveled, and the sudden coldness as Iapetus shadow traveled away. Gaea glowered at Kronos as she melted into the ground. Koios disappeared on the spot, and Krios vanished in a flash of silver light.

Kronos pulled Percy closer to him. "You might wish to know that its Cetus Aethiopius currently ravaging Camp Half-Blood," the Titan said.

Percy barely heard him, he was staring at his father, not knowing when he'd see him again. "I'm sorry, dad," he breathed.

Poseidon shut his eyes tightly. "I promise you, Percy, we'll get you back."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, lord Poseidon," Luke said darkly, he owed Percy his life and if it meant saving him from the gods so be it.

Luke had a weird love hate with the gods and Titans, but even if he wanted to go back to the gods he would not, could not.

Usually Percy would believe Poseidon, but after recent events he was starting to realise that he'd probably be stuck with the Titans for a long time. Then Percy's world changed golden as Kronos flashed them away back to Othrys.

Everyone breathed a sigh, the gods side was anxious and un nerved, they knew Percy was in a precautious situation, but they had been worried a fight would start, and the Titan's army and all had wondered how Gaea came to be during the fight, they also stared at Percy.

Percy had betrayed Olympus and duplicitous was the highest treason of all, and when captured put to death… yet Percy hadn't been entirely willing when he had sworn his oath, it had been a trick.

A/N: So, I am so sorry about the late update on this story, I got a concussion, and am still reeling with it all, light noise and a few more stuff bother me for long periods of times, so I am huddled under a few blankets in the dark typing this.

I have been house searching and have had no luck, and I'm thinking of trying to apply for another job… nevertheless I hope you liked this update, its been pretty hectic with work and this stupid COVID19 going on, I pray for everyone's health and safety during these trying times.

JIO