TW: Mentions of non-consensual… well, there's a list, but nothing graphic happens. If you want to skip that, skip the Medusa section. I do not write her as a nice or sympathetic monster in this. See the end notes for more details. Also, pushing canon violence here. You've been warned.

xXx

I eventually got the courage to try and build another shrine. As closely as I could, I remade Hermes' sanctuary inside my bunker. I prayed over it, incorporated the stones from the first shrine, sacrificed what I could on it with both fire and Phlegethon water…

Nothing happened. I didn't know why, but eventually I gave up, and that was when thoughts and realizations about what had happened with the Titans started to hit me.

It took me a while to realize that in my last fight I'd killed Iapetus' son—Bob's son. Him thanking me… thanking his uncle for a good fight? As he died… How long until I became that crazy? (Was I already?)

That had me throwing up again almost as soon as I woke up and thought about it. Which… I really should know better by now. At least I was able to get the sick out and away from me in the water because ew.

(It was easier to concentrate on that than the guilt.)

I don't know how long I stayed in my saltwater room, but my stomach eventually drove me to get some of my waning supplies and feed myself. Then I'd have to go hunting.

Which was… strange. Normally monsters came to me. But that had stopped almost altogether these days. Honestly, the only thing keeping me eating was the fact that I got hungry at all. Then again, monsters ate… they just ate humans. I ate monsters. Was it really that different?

So I began to go on excursions to find monsters I could eat. I didn't like the idea of monsters hiding from me because I would literally kill and eat them, but… what else could I do? I didn't want to go back to Damasen's swamp, where there was actual food growing, and I hadn't seen any actual food other than that… and the monster meat.

I should have asked for seeds I could grow. Or try to grow. I wasn't a Demeter kid, but growing stuff couldn't be that hard, right? I looked around from where I sat on my ice bike and winced. Grow stuff in a dark land that had no night and day to keep track of… yeah. That would be a lost cause. And I'd never been a big fan of mushrooms (although I'd take that over monster meat at the moment).

So I went out and found some monsters, defeated them easily, declared their bodies as trophies and took them back to the Phlegethon to dress them. The days fell into a sort of blur around me finding and preparing food, sleeping, and reading Apollo's scroll, mainly to view Annabeth's and my notebooks.

The first time a giant came for me, it was one I'd only seen in passing. The only female giant, though I couldn't remember her name… which kinda made me feel bad. I did remember she was the bane of Aphrodite, immune to love magic, which honestly made me kind of jealous. She had her bronze breastplate on, and long, braided hair still. She wasn't what I would call pretty, something I would say was a little strange for the bane of Aphrodite, but she was striking and memorable. So maybe Aphrodite could learn something from that?

She also didn't seem to be one to talk a lot, as she just saw me by the river and ran at me. A 30 foot-tall giantess wielding a hunting knife bigger than my sword came charging straight at me. Is it any wonder I shoved Lethe water in her face?

Remembering Bob, I felt kind of bad for doing it, but she was also planning on killing me sooo…

"Who are you?" she asked in a reedy voice, looking around in confusion.

"Um, Percy Jackson."

She blinked and nodded. "Okay, who am I?"

I winced, feeling worse about not remembering her name. Peri… something. Eh, that was good enough.

"Peri," I replied. "We were tricked into fighting and I didn't want to so I made your memories disappear. I'm sorry. They should come back, though."

She just stared at me, dark eyes intense.

"Why shouldn't I continue fighting you?"

Well, I probably should have expected that. I just hadn't wanted to repeat my mistakes with Bob. "Because… I don't want to? You're a giant. Of course you'll win."

She blinked, seemed to think about that, and then nodded. "Very well. We do not have to fight as you have conceded to me. Now, where do I go?"

I blinked and pointed to where she'd come from. "You came from that direction. Maybe your home's back there?"

She nodded again. "Thank you for being honest, Percy Jackson."

I didn't know how she knew, but wasn't about to complain. "No prob."

I watched her go, unsure if I should try to keep her around or not. On the one hand I really wanted company and she seemed like a decent person without the whole monster, giant, murder background. On the other hand, I didn't want to force that on her or have it come back to bite me but… it was hard. I was so desperate to just talk to someone.

In the end, though, I had no idea what I would do with her. Where would she live? Would she want to stay here?

And I was trying to hold onto my humanity—however much of it I had left. That meant no matter how desperate I was, I couldn't just do what the gods and monsters did and think of myself. Right? (The line between the two was getting really blurry.)

I really hoped I wouldn't regret this decision.

(I knew I would.)

xXx

Medusa came back. She stumbled into the area, looking like Annabeth with sunglasses again, while I was dressing a kill. The empousa magic was stronger than hers, though. She seemed a little disappointed when I didn't immediately run to her side.

"Wise Girl?" I asked.

She was supposed to respond with 'Seaweed Brain' and then we had two more phrases we had to go through, or if we were in a hurry, a question about our past.

Instead of responding like the real Annabeth would have, though, she smiled a little wetly and nodded. "Yeah. It's me."

I immediately uncapped my Delta water. Annabeth had made me promise I'd use that on Medusa, for her. I had little problem complying.

"Medusa."

She laughed as her illusion shattered. I formed a shield in front of my face, slightly distorted so she couldn't turn me to stone. She looked like a reflection from one of those strange, stretchy mirrors I'd seen on some cartoons when I was growing up.

"Clever boy."

"What do you want?"

She shrugged, or at least that's what I thought she did. I wasn't entirely sure with the distortion. "Just to offer my companionship again."

"Then why did you show up looking like my girlfriend?"

"You seemed more… open to that last time."

I grit my teeth. "You know, there are some myths that state my father forced himself on you."

She seemed amused by that. "Ah yes, those. Interesting what people want to think of the gods, is it not?"

"He didn't, though, did he? The older myths don't state it like that."*

She laughed. "No. He didn't. I was born a gorgon, just a particularly beautiful one. I did become one of Athena's priestesses though."

"I know what you want from me," I went on, trying to stay focused. "I'm not stupid. But I won't sleep with you. I don't want to, and it has nothing to do with you being a monster. It has to do with the fact that I have a girlfriend and am monogamous. But knowing that, you would still try to trick me? To force yourself on me?" I still remembered that kiss. It had felt… No, I couldn't even describe it. And it had just been a kiss.

After a moment of contemplation, she grinned. I could tell even through the distortion, it was so wide. "One has to get her entertainment and needs met somewhere."

I took a deep breath. "And you just became the literal worst monster down here."

Medusa laughed. She laughed.

Yeah. That was it. I began to make my way towards her, and she must have noticed how unhappy I was from my body language because she reached up and took off her glasses. I paused, wincing. Annabeth and I hadn't been entirely sure the whole 'distorted ice' thing would work to stop her from turning me to stone. Thankfully, it did. I let out a deep breath and continued to distract her. Yes, distract, because I had a mist of delta water making its way over to her.

"You're so naive! It's refreshing and adorable!" she said, though I could hear the waver in her voice. She'd expected me to become stone. I wondered if she had a way to turn people back, because wouldn't most of Tartarus be upset that their little prophecy boy died? She didn't seem like the kind of person who would put herself in danger for that.

"Naive? Because I'm faithful to my girlfriend? Because I don't think forcing yourself on someone is remotely okay? Seriously?"

"Oh, Perseus," she said in a sultry voice that made me cringe. "I—"

She paused in the middle of her sentence and I smiled.

"Here's naive for you," I said. She started screaming as the Delta water coalesced. She'd either breathed it in or swallowed what I had come together in her mouth. Either way She collapsed, shrieking. In utter agony.

Part of me still enjoyed that.

Part of me really hated it though.

I… should probably put her out of her misery. Besides, I didn't really want her to come back any time soon. So I made sure her eyes were covered in the distorted ice, picked her up and walked towards the Phlegethon. I paused for a moment on its bank and looked back at Medusa, who had stopped screaming. Should I throw her into the river and let Phlegethon take care of her? That would probably be excruciating…

But then I remembered her words earlier, her laughing at me because her entertainment came before consent.

I tossed her in and didn't regret it. Then I turned and went back to my kill, one of the flying pigs. At least I had that to look forward to.

xXx

I began making monthly trips down the river to the Delta to get more river water. It was nowhere near as pleasant as my trips to the shrine (go figure) but at least I never had to defeat a blob monster again. Several Titans showed up, either to talk or fight. None of them made me use the ichor-control again, though. I refused unless I absolutely had to. Normally, a nice dose from the Lethe let them go on their way. A few of them even returned, but most of those just stared at me for a while and then left.

They weren't easy fights, per se, especially the ones who still wanted to fight after they'd had their memories erased, but the peace was… unusual. Unprecedented, even. I wasn't used to feeling so confident about my own power and my place in the world or Tartarus. And I really hoped I didn't let that get to my head.

Then Tartarus showed up and told me that two Titans or giants could gang up on me.

I knew he'd backed me into a corner… and so did he, from the look on his… well, what should be his face. However, he also seemed pleased which… didn't help at all.

The next time two Titans showed up together it was Krios and Koios. Koios had a smile to match Tartarus'—manic and a little berserk—and even though I couldn't see Krios' face, I could sense something similar from him.

They knew what I could do and yet they'd come anyway.

I froze when I stepped out of my bunker and saw them waiting for me. Then I gulped. I didn't have enough Lethe or Delta water for both of them and had a hard time controlling two different mists at the same time.

I had no doubt they knew that. They'd timed their confrontation just right.

"Why are you guys here?" I asked, hoping—begging anyone who would listen to me—that they were just there to talk.

"Uncle's getting a little impatient," Koios said nonchalantly. Krios turned to look at his brother dryly, but the smaller Titan didn't seem to care.

The taller one rolled his eyes (yes, I could see that even under the armor) and looked back at me. "He isn't. He just wants to see the next stage of your evolution."

"That's impatience," Koios said, amused.

I shook my head. "You… you know what I can do." I didn't want to say it aloud anymore.

Krios nodded. "We do."

"But Uncle doesn't think you're being pushed hard enough," Koios said. "Too reliant on his blood to fight your battles, even if just being able to control that is impressive."

I felt my stomach clench, icebergs banging against each other inside of it, making me sick.

"You're okay with that?" I asked, hating how my voice squeaked. I was a grown adult nearing thirty. That shouldn't happen to me. And yet… "With being the sacrifices?"

Koios shrugged. "It's better than being sucked into his armor. You're actually doing us a favor here, kid."

Krios nodded… emphatically. For someone who seemed so reserved, it looked particularly out of place. Was the whole armor thing that bad?

Then I remembered Tartarus saying that a soul would be slowly digested over millenia… which, when I looked back on it, reminded me of Jabba the Hutt, but… much, much scarier. Mainly because it was real.

"Also, Kid," Koios went on, taking a stance, "if you don't do something against us, we will kill you.

I gulped and didn't doubt it.

"I don't want to do this," I whispered, but they somehow heard it.

Koios, who seemed to be the talker of the two of them, shrugged. "It is what it is. We'll reform eventually."

I shook my head. "Don't make me do this."

"Were you not the one who said you would survive?" Krios asked.

Then, before I could answer, he vanished. I reached out with my senses and, there, right behind me. I rolled to the side as his enormous sword fell where I'd been standing.

"Look at him!" Koios asked, also appearing in front of me and swinging his own blade so fast I almost couldn't see it. I barely got Riptide up in time and winced as the resulting clang shook my body. "So sure he can beat us but unwilling to use that power against us."

It's monstrous, I thought. That was why.

I felt tears come to my eyes as I flew through the air, slamming into a rock (that thankfully didn't have many jagged edges, though I did feel some of those that were there cut into me). It felt like mourning, like frustration… like I was being forced to give up even more of my humanity simply for these beings' entertainment.

But I knew they weren't going all out on me right now… and I knew that they would soon enough. I stood, glanced over at the Phlegethon and saw… well, Phlegethon standing there. It was just a moment, but he looked at me sadly and shook his head.

I am still subject to the Primordial of this realm, I heard his voice in my head. He does not want me to help you this time. I am sorry.

Favorite god status revoked.

That happened a lot down here.

I glanced over to see the two Titans take stances again.

"That was a warm up, Percy Jackson," Koios said. "Now we… what do you humans say? Mean business."

The crazed look in his eyes was back.

He wasn't lying.

And his swing had hurt me. I was not in a condition to keep fighting. Well, I could, but my chances of winning against even one of these two had gone down significantly. They were the best of the best—the strongest Titans, or some of the strongest at least.

I closed my eyes, feeling myself accept it, and hating both myself and them for doing it.

But my friends and family were counting on me. Annabeth was counting on me. It was like a mantra, stuck in my head, just something I desperately clung to without thinking too much into it because I just… couldn't.

"Fine," I whispered, angrily at first and then… exhausted. "Fine."

I felt them move and concentrated on both of them. I couldn't just choose one to control either. The other would get me if I did. I had to ensnare both of them at the same time… not an easy task. I grit my teeth as the world slowed down around me. It was like controlling the Delta water, except two different Deltas (what a scary thought) and I had to push my powers as hard as I could.

A scream left my throat as I struggled to grasp the slippery liquid, and then…

Then I had them.

But… I wasn't sure for how long I could hold them.

"Well, look at that, brother. He did it. Uncle will be happy."

"Uncle… can… shove it," I growled as I fell to my knees. Landing on the sharp shards that made up the beach didn't even faze me at this point.

"How long can you keep doing this?" Krios asked.

"You have to kill us," Koios added on. "Otherwise we will kill you."

Tears flowed freely down my cheeks and I couldn't keep in a strangled sob.

They weren't wrong.

(Why did I enjoy this feeling?)

I focused on Koios first. I simply stopped his blood to see if that would do anything. He gasped, started struggling to breathe, but nothing else happened. I wasn't even sure Titans could die from asphyxiation.

So I took the easy way and just exploded his neck, letting the head fly.

Holding Krios became infinitely easier as I let Koios go.

Krios was laughing now. "How did you get so much power, little one?"

"I… don't know," I whispered.

Then I did the same to him.

Both of their bodies fell and began to disintegrate, leaving me breathing hard and collapsing fully on the ground. My gut hurt like I'd flown over the darklands multiple times without rest. It ached so deeply I wasn't sure I could even make it back to my bunker, let alone get inside…

Then an arm came around my waist, helping me up. "Here, little one," a cup appeared before me filled with Phlegethon water. I couldn't even care if it burned me up. That sounded better than what I was going through just then.

I gulped the burning water, not even bothering to flinch at the spiciness. Once I emptied it and the burning finally faded away, I felt better and looked over to see Phlegethon.

"Why?" I asked, unsure what I was even asking. Why did he help me when before he wouldn't? Why did he have to listen to Tartarus? Why did he let them do that? What did Annabeth call that? Enabling? Why did he even care?

"I am sorry," he said again, "but Tartarus ordered me not to interfere, on pain of my own death and yours."

I frowned. "Gods… get killed?" I knew they faded but…

He sighed. "I know you have seen it, the fall into Chaos. It is not a pleasant prospect, and also not one I would wish on either of us."

Oh. Right. In Nyx's mansion. That… was a scary thought. But still.

"I… don't want to be a monster."

He sighed. "Monsters, gods, Titans, giants… is there truly a difference?"

I let out another sob.

"Shh, little one. Come here. I am not good at comfort, I give pain. But… I can sit with you."

Favorite god status reinstated.

Kind of.

I was still mad at him.

"How about you tell me a story," he suggested. "You are a hero, are you not?"

I sighed. "I don't feel like a hero."

He nodded. "I know. But tell me of your adventures anyway. Before I melt through this rock." I glanced back at the rock behind us and saw that he was, indeed, melting through the rock. I snorted, then winced because my gut still hurt.

"Ow, ow, ow…" I hissed.

"Here," he said, pushing some more of the Phlegethon water at me in the goblet.

Sighing, I nodded and drank that too. My throat felt scratchy afterwards, but then that healed too and it eased my gut a bit. I'd still need to rest though. But… I couldn't pass up the chance to just talk to someone.

"You know, I never wanted to be a demigod," I whispered. "But my mom didn't want to give me up and send me to camp, so she married this awful guy who stank to keep my scent covered. Some days, I think he was just as bad as the monsters. That all changed when I went to boarding school at Yancy Academy and my algebra teacher tried to kill me."

He raised an eyebrow and I laughed, a little weakly. "Well, she was a Fury in disguise."

His other eyebrow joined his first one.

I chuckled again and began the story of my first quest and finding out I was a demigod.

I don't know when I fell asleep, but eventually I did. I woke up with my back leaning into a melted rock, but it seemed to have been melted into a sort of lazy-chair, and it was warm and comfortable. I didn't want to move but I was out in the open and my gut still ached—

I will make sure you are safe until you recover, a voice in my head said. I relaxed at the sound of it. Or at the very least wake you up. Sleep, young one. You need rest.

I just nodded and let myself fall back to sleep again, the safest I'd felt since jumping in.

xXx

AN: *No, really. The oldest myths have Medusa born as a monster, one of the 3 gorgon sisters. The next 'generation' of myths, as it were, had her being born human, becoming a priestess of Athena, then banging her boyfriend (Poseidon) in Athena's temple, completely consensually, and thus being turned into a gorgon and adopted by her two sisters. Only later did it have the whole r*** thing, written by Ovid, a guy who very obviously did not like the gods or Greek Culture in general. I mean, part of me can't blame him, but the kind of cruel disrespect he showed to their entire culture really bothers me. He didn't have to make them WORSE, you know? No, seriously, check out the original myths. Ovid changed a BUNCH of the myths to make them more personal and/or cruel, taking out any actual warnings or points a lot of the time… which is what they were originally intended to be. Check out Overly Sarcastic Productions Miscellaneous Myths: Io. I've also heard it elsewhere but was sick when I wrote this and didn't mark the citations down.

(No, seriously, Red's rant at the end is epic.)

Thank you to my beta readers! Berix, Ajax, Asterius Daemon, Starlight3 and Quathis

Last but not least, I entered a contest! The formatting got screwed up though. TT . TT If you're ok with some off-screen suicidal themes, and you have a reedsy account, here is one of my original short stories. :Dblog. reedsy (dotcom) /short-story/zm7i8k/

Next Chapter Title: Polybotes

Discord: discord. gg/xDDz3gqWfy (No spaces to either link, change the parenthesis to what it says in the above link, thank you!)