Silence was the only thing that encompassed the packed throne room, filled with Gods, minor Gods and both Greek and Roman demigods alike. The air was thick with tension as they awaited for the meeting to begin. Everyone knew why they had been summoned to Olympus. The attack on Camp Half-Blood supposedly from Percy Jackson, the very person that has saved Olympus twice. The attack had left the Greek demigods shaken up. They looked beaten and worn down, even leaning against their friends to still stay standing. Some campers were still in Apollo's infirmary getting their wounds treated on Olympus since the infirmary back at camp was destroyed. Most however, were in the throne room, idly standing by still with weapons and armor on.
Whispers could be heard throughout the crowd of what had transpired last night. Talks of Percy Jackson being the one behind the attack was the vocal point of most conversations. The veterans who knew and had fought with the son of Poseidon for years quickly shut them down though. They knew that even though Percy had left Olympus for good, he would never kill his own family. He was too loyal. The newcomers and the ones that didn't know him so well disagreed with that sentiment though. Those doubts that they had were certainly spreading like wildfire throughout the Greek pantheon, dividing the populace.
The Romans, once hearing of the attack, had quickly assembled the legion before traveling to New York to reinforce the Greeks in case another attack was imminent. They were amazed by the utter destruction that was bestowed upon their cousin's camp when they had arrived. The land was scorched, almost every building was destroyed and not to mention just how many casualties there were. Most in the legion were skeptical when they learnt who was behind the attack. The man had been their praetor at one point during the war against Gaea. He had defended New Rome honorably and did everything in his power to restore the legion back to greatness. And while the veteran legionaries knew just what kind of man Percy was, there were a lot of new bloods in both Greek and Roman armies thanks to Zeus's order to bring in new demigods. Demigods that didn't know.
"Welcome, everyone." Zeus's strong voice interrupted their thoughts as he began the meeting. Immediately, everyone's eyes looked towards their king. He had an air of solemness around him which was quite peculiar. Usually, his aura was energetic and bombastic but today it was the opposite.
"I've brought you all here today because we were attacked last night. Our home, our friends, family…all of it was destroyed last night." He said, waving his hand which made a misty image appear that showed the now destroyed Camp Half-blood, smoke still rising from the ashes. Everyone stared in silence as they took the sight in. Some Greeks wept silently as they remembered the night. Some wept for lost friends and family.
"I'm sorry that this happened to you, my children. I-I should've seen it coming but I took no caution. I didn't want to believe that someone, a person who I considered to be a part of our family, could do this to his own people. It seems my view…our view of Percy Jackson was wrong."
Gasps rang throughout the room as the rumor was confirmed from the lord of the sky. Both Gods and demigods stared at one another in shock as the images of dead demigods took over the projection. Burnt beyond recognition and limbs torn apart, it was a horrific sight that made the knees of some wobble.
"Yes, you heard true. Percy Jackson attacked our home last night. He ruthlessly and mercilessly killed one hundred and fifty of his own family."
"And what proof do you have to back this claim, Zeus!?" Poseidon interrupted his brother. Everyone could see how agitated the lord of the seas was. With his hand deathly white gripping his trident and veins popping on his forehead, he looked ready to murder Zeus for his accusations. Instead of getting into a shouting match with one another, the king simply pointed his finger into the crowd.
"We have an eyewitness." He replied evenly as everyone watched a head of blond hair move through the crowd before eventually coming to the front to reveal Annabeth Chase. The daughter of Athena looked like she had seen better days. Her hair was unkempt, heavy bags underneath her eyes, and her skin a sickly, pale color. Poseidon and other immortals were shocked to see a person they thought to be the most loyal to Percy come out against him. The sea God gained an even more furious look as he watched his son's girlfriend begin to reveal what she had seen last night.
"When we were finally able to send out units into the woods to find the attackers…we came across someone who-who seemed to be more monster than human. He had armor that struck fear in everyone's heart. His silver mask stared into your very soul and he fought more like a demon rather than a demigod."
"That tells us nothing, spawn of Athena!" Poseidon screamed out, desperate to stop these lies from infecting the minds of all around.
"You will stay your tongue, Poseidon!" Zeus warned with a tone that made everyone's hair on their neck stand up. "Continue, granddaughter." He gestured to Annabeth.
"After he killed most of my soldiers, I ordered the rest to retreat. I stayed behind so they could have a chance." The demigoddess continued, rubbing her tired eyelids that felt like twenty pounds weights at this point. "We fought but I could never land a hit. It seemed like child's play to him. Eventually, the man had enough and ended the fight. I-I thought I was going to die. He had every chance to end it right then and there, but he didn't!"
By now Annabeth was beginning to sound frantic as everyone silently watched and listened to her.
"He picked me up. His voice…his laugh…it sounded evil, but I could tell even with the mask blocking his face…that it was him." She desperately cried out, tears streaming down her face. "I could see his eyes, his sea green eyes, peering into my soul as he called me by my nickname he had given me."
"I don't believe it! My son would never do this!" Poseidon yelled once more causing Annabeth to sharply look up at him, the resemblance she saw in his father brought even more tears to her eyes.
"He fought like Percy! He talked like Percy! I thought at first this could've been a God in disguise but although they can change their appearance, it's very hard to mirror personalities!" She yelled at him causing all eyes to widen even more at her audacity to yell at an elder God. The throne room was silent as they watched Annabeth fall to her knees.
"Believe me, I wish it wasn't true. I want to believe it isn't true, but I saw him with my own eyes. I SWEAR IT ON THE RIVER STYX!" She wailed, causing another round of gasps to reverberate throughout the air. Poseidon watched desperately in hopes that the Goddess of the river would appear out of thin air and reap the daughter of Athena's soul but after three minutes had passed and she was still standing, he slumped against his throne in defeat. He knew that his son couldn't have done this but after that proclamation, everyone would believe that he did attack camp.
Eyeing Zeus out of the corner of his eye, he tried to rack his brain to find out what his brother could have done to falsely accuse Percy and make everyone agree. Perhaps a deal with the Goddess of the Styx considering what the daughter of Athena had just done? Or maybe, just maybe, trick the child into actually believing it was Percy. It was a long shot considering she was the smartest demigod alive who knew his son better than anyone else but something about this didn't seem right. Zeus would do anything to get his son. He just had to figure out what hand he was playing.
"Thank you, Annabeth." Zeus replied once she was done speaking. Everyone watched as she was silently helped up by her brother Malcolm before joining the crowd once more. Sounds of her weeping still being heard as Zeus began once more.
"I know it must be hard for you, child. To lose loved ones by the very man you love is the heartbreak that few ever feel." Zeus shook his head sadly before looking at the crowd with a familiar fire in his eyes. Electricity could be seen floating through his irises as his voice became fierce.
"But I promise you all of this. Percy Jackson will pay for what he did to us! The blood on his hands will soon not be that of his friends but of his own!" The king yelled, slamming his fist against the arm of his throne. The sound of thunder could be heard outside, shaking the very Earth below them. Demigods, both Greek and Roman, cheered out as they felt the passion and eagerness from Zeus flow into them. They raised their weapons high as they yelled out for their revenge. For the death of Percy Jackson. Veterans and friends of Percy stayed silent as they watched the people around them wish death upon the son of Poseidon. They didn't know how to feel at the moment. The words of Annabeth kept replaying inside their minds. She swore on the Styx. It had to be true. Percy Jackson had actually destroyed his home. Killed his friends. Why, though? What did he want to accomplish after years of defending Olympus? Why did he become the very thing he swore to destroy?
"Yes, demigods! You want revenge and I shall give it to you!" Zeus laughed maniacally at the fact his plan was working flawlessly. He had actually managed to convince the demigods that their savior was their enemy. Looking at his fellow council members, he eyed each and every one to see what their reactions were to this situation. Some were eager to watch the son of Poseidon's fall. Some were indifferent. Some looked worried for Perseus. He gritted his teeth in anger. Even after that false flag attack on camp and framing the demigod, some immortals still had the audacity to stay on his side. He would have to deal with those that would soon become his enemies after the demigods left.
"Quite down!" The king ordered, smiling smugly as he watched the demigods flinch at the display of his power. "Percy Jackson may have hit first in this war he started but we will deliver the final blow. That is why I am ordering both camps to assemble an army of five hundred soldiers each. This new army composed of both Greek and Roman will travel to where Perseus resides and strike him down along with the other traitors."
Once again, the demigods roared with approval as they were given the chance to avenge their slain comrades. They now realized why the Gods had ordered them to train harder these past few months. It was for a situation like this where they needed to be at their best if they were to take down a foe like the son of Poseidon. And now that they were released from their chains, it was time to unleash hell.
Zeus raised a hand for silence once more before continuing.
"This task force of one thousand of our finest soldiers will travel to Alaska, which is where Perseus resides, led by both a Greek and Roman demigod. We, the Olympians, will help you in this crusade of avenging our fallen children, giving you the best equipment, supplies and weapons available to ensure that Perseus and his crew of traitors will never be able to hurt us again."
The demigods looked at one another with determination in their eyes. This was their chance at revenge. This was their chance to show the Gods that Greek and Romans won't roll over and simply take a beating. They'll work together, travel to Alaska and avenge their family. It doesn't matter that their foe is the greatest demigod in perhaps all of the pantheon's existence. It doesn't matter that he's more powerful than all of them. With the Gods on their side and the training they've put into over the past year, not even Percy Jackson can stop them. It'll be a rough quest and there will be casualties, but this needed to be done. They needed to kill Perseus before he killed any more of them.
Once the quest was given and the specifics were given to the higher-ranking demigods, it was time for the demigods and minor Gods to leave. The Olympians still had things that needed to be discussed. The air was dense in a mix of emotions as the Gods silently watched their children leave. Waiting for the throne room doors to shut, the sound of the last oak door being shut was the signal for all hell to break loose.
"Quite the show you put on, brother. Pretending to care about the lives of the demigods. Speaking with a false sense of sympathy and care!" Poseidon spoke up, his veins popping out of his skin in anger as he watched his brother's face morph into a smirk.
"You know what they say. I do have the flair for the dramatics. Theatrics just so happens to be something I'm good at." Zeus replied smugly.
"You mean pretending to care for your family. Pretending that you care for the lives taken that night "supposedly" from Percy Jackson." Demeter pitched in, her voice conveying a tone of annoyance. She hated watching her brother make a mockery of this family. To lie and convince people that Percy Jackson, a man she learnt to respect over the years, that he was actually an enemy after all he's done to protect them. At first, she wasn't interested in this matter. Her brother always wanted their nephew dead, and this just seemed to be another one of his plots in achieving that goal. But now there is a war on the horizon. A civil war the likes that Olympus has never seen before that her children will inevitably be dragged into, she couldn't help but concern herself in the matter now. Especially since her favorite daughter was with Perseus and will be at the mercy of a thousand bloodthirsty soldiers soon.
"Oh please! Enough of the hypocrisy from the lot of you! When have you ever cared for your children, Demeter! I don't see you visiting them! And what of you, Poseidon!? Before Perseus you rarely came above the surface to see yours! Neither did Hades, Ares, Apollo, Aphrodite! None of you ever cared!"
"Neither have you!" Apollo replied, trying his best to remain stoic.
"Yes, but I admit that! I don't lie to myself and say that I care for the demigods unlike you all. They are only alive to do our bidding. Nothing more and nothing less."
"Your bidding which consists of killing my son." Poseidon growled, his eyes glowing a fierce, poisonous green.
"Exactly!" Zeus yelled out with raised hands. "Your son is a threat that should've been dealt with long ago! I let him live because of the prophecies but look where that's taken us! Attacking camp, killing his own. It won't be long till he attacks Olympus himself!"
"Your paranoia clouds your judgment, Zeus. You forget that although Poseidon's son is powerful, he is still merely a demigod. Attacking a camp is one thing. Attacking Olympus is another. He doesn't have the power to do so." Aphrodite gave her own opinion of the matter.
Zeus laughed as he got off his throne, walking over to Aphrodite with a certain gleam in his eye. The Gods watched in silence as their king stared at the beauty Goddess before striking her across the face with a considerable amount of force. The Goddess's body was launched off her throne before being picked up by the neck.
"That demigod defeated Ares in battle twice. He has held the sky, something that not even some Olympians can do. He has defeated countless titans, giants, and primordials! Killed my own father!" The king yelled furiously as he placed Aphrodite back on her throne like a rag doll.
"So, before you say he is some mere demigod. Remember what I've told you." He said, staring deeply into her eyes like a wolf. "Percy Jackson is a man filled with commitment and sheer fucking will. If he wants to attack Olympus, he'll do everything in his power to topple it brick by brick."
"Zeus. My son wouldn't want this-"
"Enough of your lies, Poseidon!" Zeus yelled; thunder being heard in the background rolling throughout the clouds. "Your son clearly wants a war. The daughter of Athena even swore on the Styx that it was he who attacked. I will not let him strike my kingdom once more and I will not let you or the other traitors in this throne help him in doing so!"
"Traitors!?"
"Yes, you heard me! There are some in this room who feel as if Perseus isn't the enemy. They feel like they owe him something! They feel as if he isn't the enemy rather it is me that is!" Zeus replied, eyeing some of the council members with a fierce glare. Artemis herself couldn't help but squirm in her seat as she felt her father's gaze. It seemed Ares had told him about the confrontation they had back in Alaska. And now that she was back, he wanted answers. Answers that would deem her a traitor in his eyes.
"If you don't believe me then let me show you the evidence!" He said before snapping his fingers. In a split second, a blinding yellow light lit the room before dimming down to reveal a battered Goddess in chains. Groaning, the Goddess fell to her knees as Zeus lifted her limp head to reveal the face of Hecate.
"This traitor was the very person to help Jackson leave New York!" Zeus revealed, causing all eyes to land on Hecate. The Goddess in question did her best to avoid the gazes but it was hard as Zeus held her head with an iron grip.
"She offered him godly materials that would help him in his journey to Alaska! She's the very first person that helped the enemy. The first ally. The very first traitor!" He yelled, kicking her in the chest that sent the Goddess skidding across the floor.
"Although she is the first, she will not be the last. Isn't that right, daughter?" The king said, looking up to the Goddess of the moon. Said Goddess could only look away as her father slowly walked towards her. She could feel Apollo's hand on her arm as he tried to calm her, but nothing could stop the fear coursing through her veins. She was a proud Goddess. One who doesn't scare easily. But this…this was something she could never prepare for.
"Artemis. Look at me." Zeus calmly asked. Receiving no reply, he asked once more but to no avail. The Goddess was frozen in fear.
"LOOK AT ME!" He yelled, his patience on the breaking point. With wide eyes, Artemis snapped out of her shock as she slowly turned her head towards her father. She could feel Apollo's hand shaking against her arm, not realizing that it was actually hers who was doing it. With the duo staring at one another, he continued his interrogation.
"Ares tells a story of how you confronted each other out in the Godless land. He tells of how you stopped him before he could kill Jackson. He says that you helped the demigod and his crew escape." Zeus confronted, watching for any sign of weakness or deceit in Artemis's body language.
"And what of it?" She asked, trying her best to steel her voice. But anyone who had known her long enough could see that her image was just a glass portrayal. Behind those silver eyes was just a scared little girl, afraid of her angry father.
"What of it? What of it she says." He chuckled to himself. "Artemis. Tell me that what Ares says isn't true. Tell me that you didn't help Olympus's enemy." Zeus's grave voice rattled her bones. The Goddess licked her lips as she looked to her brother, her eyes desperately pleading for help. Apollo opened his mouth to speak but Zeus raised a finger without even looking at his other son, his powerful, piercing gaze still locked on his daughter.
"No. No. This is all you, daughter. Don't look to your brother for help this time. This situation involves only me and you. No one else."
"I-I…" Artemis stuttered, aware that she was breaking along with everyone else in the room knowing it too. She couldn't lie to her father. He would know immediately. All these years that have gone by has caused him to learn things about her that she didn't even know herself.
"Y-Yes. I helped him." She admitted, looking up at her father. Instead of seeing an angry man like she had expected, she saw a broken one. His eyes seemed dead as he looked upon her. The throne room was silent as the council members awaited for what was to happen next. They watched as Zeus slowly walked back to his throne, his body language conveying that of an old man. Sitting down, he stared at his family before waving his hands causing bronze shackles to appear and wrap around Artemis's body.
"W-What!" Artemis yelped as she felt the shackles snake across her body along with the feeling of her power being drained. Struggling for all its worth, she tried her best to escape but these were chains made by Hephaestus. There was no escaping.
"Zeus!?"
"Father!? What is the meaning of this!?"
Questions and yelling filled the room as the other Olympians scrambled to figure out what was going on. Surely he wouldn't do to his favorite daughter what was done to Hecate. While this was happening, Apollo was desperately tugging on the chains to free his sister but to no avail. Zeus however, continued to stay silent as he watched the chaos go on around him.
"Brother! What are you planning!?"
"Zeus, please! She isn't a traitor!"
"Yes, she is! She helped Jackson!"
"Exactly! She helped an enemy of Olympus! She probably wants to help bring it down too."
"Zeus!"
"Zeus!"
"QUITE!" The king finally yelled at his breaking point. "I've had it with all of you crying to me about my actions!"
The council looked ready to pounce on one another as they watched Zeus sparkle with electricity. It seemed he too was ready to attack anyone that dared to go against him.
"My actions are to go unimpeded. Why? Because I am KING! If I want to imprison Artemis because she helped Jackson, then I can! Not you, you or you can change that!" He yelled, pointing to all of his opposition.
"Father, please! Release my sister. I'm sure she had a good reason as to why she helped Percy." Apollo pleaded, looking back and forth between him and his sister.
"No, son. I've let you all go unchecked for far too long and look where that has gotten us." Zeus replied, shaking his head. "Artemis can go think about her actions with Hecate in our prison. I won't let her help Jackson kill our own people."
"Father, you're mistaken. I only helped him because-"
"I do not care, Artemis!" Her father interrupted, slamming his hand against his armrest. "Betraying me is something that I will not tolerate. You can think about your actions in your cell." Zeus said, waving his hand before Artemis and Hecate disappeared in a golden flash, presumably going to Olympus's prison that only a few know its whereabouts. The throne room was silent once more as they stared at the empty throne of the Goddess. The air was thick as they realized this situation was becoming a lot worse. Already sides were being chosen. Enemies, allies, plans and actions were already in the works.
Poseidon scoffed, giving his brother one last look of hatred before flashing away back to Atlantis. He needed to warn his son before it was too late. Soon one by one, each Olympian disappeared, wanting time to think for themselves about what all had transpired. And what side to be on when the time came to meet on the battlefield. Eventually, the only one who remained on their throne was Zeus, who had a look of contemplation on his face. The cracking of the hearth was the only thing he could hear in the otherwise silent room. But the peace was quickly snuffed out by someone he had forgotten was always in the throne room, sitting by the fire.
"It's not too late to advert your actions, brother." Hestia's soft but tired voice spoke out to him. Looking down at his older sister, he squinted as he realized she looked to be worse off than the last time he remembered seeing her. Her skin was pale, eyes sunken and body language looking defeated.
"What do you mean, Hestia?"
"Don't attack Poseidon's son. Leave him be. Attacking him will only escalate this into a war. A war that Olympus cannot afford." She pleaded.
"The way I see it, war has already begun." Zeus scoffed, not believing his sister's words. Getting up, he got in one last word before flashing away.
"And don't let me hear you speak in Jackson's favor again. I'll have you in prison just like my daughter." He warned before disappearing.
Hestia's eyes never left the fire but little by little they began to dim further. Her domain of family and hope was slowly diminishing. It wouldn't be too long now until she faded if things kept going the way they were. War within the family would only escalate it further.
"You could never hope to defeat me, little brother." She whispered fiercely despite her demeanor before disappearing in an orange flame.