Chapter Thirty: Return to the Shadow Court

Comment Replies:

Garfungo: I'll try to figure something out, maybe a recap from a third party perspective because you are right this book does have a lot of moving parts, enough that there are times I have trouble keeping track and I've got pages upon pages of notes haha. I'm glad to hear your wife is reading and thank you so much for the review! Enjoy the Chapter!

Be Lekker: Thanks! Enjoy the chapter!

HellraiderS: Hopefully you'll enjoy this chapter just as much! Talk to you next time!

D: Yep, that's not a bad way to think of them. Kind of like Primordial Demigods, not quite but not too far off either. Thanks, I think Ares was done kind of dirty by Rick, and while I still want him to feel like a war god. I don't think he should be a bumbling idiot 100% of the time either. Enjoy the Chapter and thanks for the reviews!

Reaping Shadow: Wow quite the review, I love longer ones :D. Firstly yes of course there's inspiration from other media and books i've read. However the Ardwyr are a personal creation of my own alongside the expanded lore for tartarus and the tartarean. I can't take solo credit as my editors have helped me refine my ideas but I did my best not to copy anyone else's work as I wanted to write something new. Or at least attempt to.

Yes, yes it has been a LOT of work but i love writing this story and plan to keep going until it's finished.

As for the comment about Piper, I think she's an awesome character, but just like I've told everyone who comments about relationship stuff, you'll have to wait and see as the story progresses. Trust the process ;)

Thanks for the high praise and I really appreciate the review! I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the other ones!

Bttnarpntdo: I'm glad you think the story is perfect! :D Enjoy the chapter!

BigReddog68: Thanks for the review! I really hope you enjoy this chapter! You'll get a s

ZoomTlyer85: Wow, that's a lot of words haha! But I'm glad to hear that it's still holding your interest. Hopefully this chapter keeps you equally entertained!

TheCanadianpo8o: There are days I feel like I'm not 100% certain how this is going to end ;) then my editors yell at me to look at my notes. But on a serious note thank you so much for the review and the high praise! Enjoy the Chapter!

As always I'd like to throw a shout out to my Beta readers and those who are in discord. I really appreciate all your guys' help with the editing and if you want to be a part of that process or see the teasers/artwork and or ask questions in between chapter releases, feel free to join.

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Enjoy the chapter folks!

Annabeth 4 days 12 hours after Epirus

Annabeth stood with her back to the door, watching Chiron intently as the old centaur sat in his wheelchair on the other side of the room. His hands clasped together under his chin as he looked at her, a mixture of sympathy and guilt written across his features as the silence in the room deepened.

Lying on the desk was a simple amulet depicting a wolf's head, and a large leather-bound book. The items given to her by Sally Jackson before she disappeared.

Both of which were inscribed with runes, not dissimilar to the ones she had seen glowing on Percy's skin just a few hours prior. Annabeth's suspicions had been confirmed when Chiron took one look at the cover of the journal and his face took on an ashen shade before he looked back at her warily.

"Where did you get this Annabeth?" Chiron croaked in a hoarse voice. "And please tell me that no one else knows you have an Ardwyrian book."

"Why do you know what this is Chiron? And don't feed me any bullshit about how you don't. I saw your face when you looked at it." Annabeth added in a serious voice as she glared at him.

Chiron nodded his head slowly, letting out a slow sigh as he brushed some scrolls off the desk into a drawer, then clasping his hands together as if he was in the midst of solving some problem.

"It's not as simple as knowing or not knowing Annabeth, everything about this is compli-." Chiron started to say as Annabeth cut him off quickly.

"Did you know about Percy!?" Annabeth demanded, her eyes narrowed to slits as she watched Chiron's every move and her hand resting on the pommel of a dagger strapped to her hip.

The old centaur sighed and hung his head, "No I didn't know Percy was one of... Was of Ardwyrian descent. I wouldn't have thought it possible, until the Olympians themselves told me. But now it's almost as if it were obvious"

"Why should I believe you? What's to stop you from lying as well?" Annabeth stated bluntly. "None of the Olympians are willing to help him, it's like you've all forgotten how many times Percy saved us all"

"First off, I have no reason to lie to you. Hephaestus told me what happened on Olympus when he brought Leo back to camp and you know how much I care for Percy, for both of you. But my hands are tied. If I were to help Percy in any way after what happened, I would bring The Olympians' wrath down upon my head and the campers alongside me. That's not something I can afford to risk, nor is it what Percy would want." Chiron replied.

"Then don't help Percy, help me! Are you really going to let the Olympians order you around when it comes to the safety of your students?" Annabeth demanded as Chiron looked away from her, his gaze anywhere but meeting Annabeth's. "don't forget that Percy is still a part of this camp! He is still a son of Poseidon and he is still your student." Annabeth said firmly.

"Even so, there are some roads that a hero mu-" Chiron started to say as once again Annabeth cut him off.

"Nope, I don't want to hear any wise riddles or bullshit explanations. I want the truth. I want to know everything about the Ardwyr, their powers, their history, everything the Gods aren't telling me." Annabeth said clearly, not wavering for a second as Chiron paused. Almost as if the centaur were waiting for her to tell him this was all some joke.

"Percy needs me… I've always been standing by idly while he survived life and death encounters alone. Mt St. Helens, When Hera separated us and sent him to the Roman camp. Even in Tartarus, he was the one protecting me! He fought an entire army of monsters just to get me to the door." Annabeth said fervently. "I can't just sit here and watch as his life falls apart! Something else is going on, So I don't care if no one else is going to do anything. I'll fix this mess myself if I have to."

Chiron sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he looked at her, "I suppose I won't be able to convince you that in this one instance, perhaps Zeus was right? The Ardwyrian's and what happened to them is a closely guarded secret for a reason and is best left that way." He added in a quiet voice.

"Nothing will convince me to abandon Percy. Now unguard this secret and help me understand why everyone wants Percy dead or at the very least, why they're too scared to even approach him." Annabeth said in frustration.

"It's unwise to dig too deep Annabeth. The Olympians have killed to keep this knowledge safe before as have others. But if there is no convincing you, so be it. Be warned, this story is older than I am, so you'll have to forgive me if some of the details are less clear than I would like." Chiron said before he seemed to grow, rising from his wheelchair to his full height.

The centaur dispelled the magic of the chair as he moved away from it. Like always, Annabeth was mildly enthralled by the way the chair seemed to hide all of the centaur's massive body. Yet the second Chiron spoke, she was all business, listening intently to the story the centaur weaved.

Quickly Chiron removed a simple brass coin from a drawer in the desk and tossed onto his desk where it crackled for a second before suddenly glowing gold and beginning to spin rapidly. All at once the noise of the outside world vanished, even though Chiron's study window was open. "Hermes' token will give us a few minutes reprieve from anyone who would listen in, Gods or mortals, but it won't last long. So let's begin," the centaur said calmly.

"I was young when the Titans ruled, and in the wake of their fall, the world was thrust into chaos. Terrible things were done for the sake of power and greed, and worse yet were the atrocities we committed against the humans and the other mortal races. It was a dark time, when immortals and their creations hunted down the mortals without mercy." The centaur said as he began to pace in front of Annabeth all the while she listened intently.

"The world was filled with godlings, children of the Titans. Many of them were unaware of the true power they wielded, They were young, we all were. While it doesn't absolve them of responsibility, how could they possibly know the consequences of their actions?" Chiron said as he winced slightly.

"How is that possible? Were there more Olympians back then?" Annabeth asked mentally making notes and preparing questions.

"Yes and no, but not just Olympians," Chiron replied in a dark tone. "The Titans were just as prolifically promiscuous as the Olympians you know today. They bore hundreds, if not thousands of children."

"That's not possible. I can name most of their godly children if I needed to. What do you mean they could have had thousands of children?" Annabeth finished as Chiron sighed.

"The Titans weren't just a group of immortals limited to Greece. Kronos ruled the Greek Titans with an iron fist. But there were other Titans too. Though strangely they never went by that name, they ruled in clans across the world. And few, if any of them, recognized Kronos as their King." Chiron said.

"When the Titans fell in Greece, it had a domino effect. Children of the Titans around the world began to cast down their parents, causing new pantheons of Gods to spring into existence. They took over their parents' thrones and kingdoms. Some of those wars lasted generations and destroyed entire kingdoms, and who would stop them?" Chiron said, a note of bitterness entering his voice all the while Annabeth continued to listen intently.

Suddenly Chiron began to cough slightly, and his face flushed a strange golden color as he did his best to ignore it and continue.

"This was the beginning of the end, as the Godly pantheons soon sought to prove superiority of the control of their domains over each other. This conflict came to be known as the Dawn war. It was, however, halted in its infancy by the interference of the Ardwyrian's and their Gods, the Tartarii." Chiron replied, but that was where he stopped, his eyes closed and his face scrunched up in pain.

Annabeth walked towards Chiron, concerned as he was still wounded from his battle, but this seemed worse, or at least more recent than those injuries. "What's wrong Chiron?" Annabeth asked as she watched him carefully.

"Annabeth… There are things that are simply beyond my control. The spell the Gods wove was no small thing. Even now, it binds all of us to the path Zeus and the other Gods chose, and those who stray from that Path are punished." Chiron replied in a calm tone wiping ichor from his lips with the back of his hand. "There are things I cannot speak of, and so you must listen closely and understand the truth, the real truth."

Annabeth waited a few moments before a look of anger crossed her features. "Is that it? All you have to tell me is some stupid history lesson Chiron? Zeus and the others already explained their fucked up history and all the crap they pulled with the Ardwyr. I know about the war and how the Tartarii were sealed."

"The events of today are the result of thousands of years of build up Annabeth. I know what Zeus told you. Hephaestus was kind enough to share those details with me when he came looking for my guidance on helping his son. But that also means I know what Zeus didn't tell you." Chiron added calmly.

"What?" Annabeth asked in confusion.

"So what did he hold back Chiron? What is it that he's choosing not to tell us?" Annabeth asked as she crossed her arms and waited.

"That the Olympians are not the only pantheon of Gods in the world." Chiron stated simply before he groaned in pain and stumbled to the side, clutching at his chest as his face twisted in agony.

Annabeth's mind was racing at this point, "What do you mean other pantheons? Aspects like the Roman Gods?" Annabeth asked quickly. "Or pantheons that have faded?" As she rushed to his side, grabbing a hold of the centaur in a vain effort to keep him standing.

"No, no there are entirely different groups of Gods that exist outside the small world you have come to know Annabeth." Chiron said, the length of his years clearly weighing on him as he seemed to visibly age in front of her. "Gods who still walk this earth."

"That's not possible, we would have met them by now. Someone would have!" Annabeth shouted exasperatedly.

"You act as if that hasn't already happened." Chiron stated in a flat tone. "Over the years, dozens of demigods have gone missing, venturing into the lands beyond the reach of our Gods, never to return. What exactly do you think happened to them? Have you never wondered why they are forgotten so quickly and why the gods never send others after them?"

The centaur slowly walked towards one of the windows in his study, looking out onto the camp and the destruction it had faced. "You're a smart girl Annabeth, too smart to not see the problem staring you in the face. It's possible some of them met their fates along the way but why do you think the land beyond the Gods is so dangerous? Why do you think the Olympians don't want anyone to venture there?"

It was almost hesitant that Annabeth asked him, "You mean the land is beyond our Gods, don't you? It's dangerous because the lands beyond the Gods belong to pantheons who aren't Olympians?"

Chiron simply nodded, a sigh of relief escaping his lips as Annabeth did her best to keep her mind on track and not spiral off on a dozen different thoughts all at once.

"So the Titans fell, and these new Gods sprung up in the ashes of the Titans' rule. Then they all went to war?" Annabeth asked.

"They were still young, many of them would be children by our standards today. Yet these children ruled as Gods, their powers were unimaginable and without their parents, no one could stand against them. So when it was discovered that more than one claimed to be King of all the Gods…their pride couldn't handle it." Chiron said with a sigh as he managed to stand on his own, albeit shakily and looked away from Annabeth towards the window.

"How many wars has Zeus covered up!? Never mind that. How many wars have you helped him cover up!?" Annabeth snapped. "And don't tell me there's more to this than that. You've lied to entire generations of kids. If you knew the Olympians were warmongering genocidal maniacs, why didn't you say anything to put an end to it!?"

"What choice did I have Annabeth? Those of us who lived through the Dawn war, those who remained could not have stood against the combined might of the three surviving pantheons, and we wouldn't live long enough to tell the truth even if we tried.." Chiron said quietly as he walked over to a bookcase against the far wall, his hooves clicking against the wooden floor.

"The Tartarii tried to stop it, in an effort to preserve mortal life. They tried to force the gods to sign a treaty and they were betrayed." Chiron added his skin going a pale color as he wheezed with each breath.

"that's what Zeus and the others were talking about?" AnnaBeth asked quickly as Chiron nodded at her silently, his entire body shaking.

"Which pantheons? Which Gods?!" Annabeth demanded, her curiosity getting the better of her if only for a moment.

"Annabeth… i cannot, you don't understand those of us who were alive when the pact was sealed are bound just like the Olympians themselves. If we were to break the pact I am not protected like the Olympians are." Chiron added as he slowly made his way across the office limping badly.

"After the genocide of the ardwyr the pantheons came to an understanding and It was clear to those amongst them who were level headed that the conflict wouldn't stop unless they did something so they decided to separate themselves from one another in order to ensure the continued survival of the world and its inhabitants." Chiron continued as his gaze wandered the shelves searching for something.

"So... the Olympians set up barriers?" Annabeth asked, "Between themselves and the other pantheons?" in a voice of disbelief.

Chiron nodded once more, his eyes scanning the book shelf until he found a dusty tome, covered in Ancient Greek writing, flipping through the pages quickly as he searched for something.

"They created a new world order, something that had not been done before. The spell they wove was one of such magnitude that the world today is still suffering from the effects." Chiron finished as he stepped away from the bookshelf. "They could only hope that the past would remain buried, and we were fools to think it would."

Annabeth just watched Chiron nervously as the old centaur turned around, brushing the dust from the book as he set it down on the desk.

"And if the Olympians were strong enough to do this, how is it possible the Titans almost won the last war?" Annabeth said.

"I don't know the finer intricacies of the spell, I was not present when it was cast. But I suspect that maintaining it wears on the elder Olympians greatly, these are just my thoughts however." Chiron said as he glanced at the coin spinning on the desk quickly.

"Are you certain?" Annabeth asked, her mind instantly going back to the ancient legends and myths about the feats of the Elder Greek Gods.

"Zeus, Poseidon and Hades in their prime were a sight to behold, but no I cannot be certain. However, what I can tell you is that The Olympians weren't alone in this endeavor. They were aided by the Gods of Egypt and the Gods of the Asatru. But that alone wouldn't have been enough. They used ritual stones, left behind by the Ardwyr in the wake of their destruction as a way to bind the spell." Chiron added as he finally paused and waited for Annabeth to speak.

"The seals they keep talking about…" Annabeth said in a quiet voice

Chiron nodded. "The strange stones absorbed magic like a sponge, and I suspect it allowed the Olympians and the other Gods to maintain the spell, but someone like Hecate might know more about the intricacies of a spell like that." Chiron finished solemnly.

"So the Gods created a spell to separate the pantheons and prevent them from fighting, which is what the Tartarii wanted in the first place?" Annabeth said slowly in an incredulous tone of voice.

Chiron winced and nodded. "There is more to it, but it appears as if you have the general idea."

Annabeth stood there dumbfounded. She had some hopes that perhaps there might be a way to resolve the issues between Olympus and Percy's family peacefully. But the more she learned about what was going on and what had happened all those years ago, the less likely a peaceful resolution appeared.

The heavy silence continued for a few moments as Chiron waited patiently for her to process everything.

Which she did in record time.

"So the prophecy and the ancient pact… it doesn't have anything to do with Gaea, does it? At least not directly like the last one." Annabeth asked bluntly as she walked forwards to stand in front of Chiron.

"No… no I doubt it has much to do with Gaea at all." Chiron added solemnly, a sorrowful look on his face as he stared at Annabeth.

"An ancient pact shall be unwoven…" Annabeth said slowly, her thoughts speeding by at a thousand miles a minute. "So the spell the Gods wove is falling apart and when it falls, the barriers separating the pantheons will be gone, right?"

Chiron nodded, "I would expect that to be how this will play out, but it's not something I have any prior experience with. I don't know how they did what they did, only that they did it. So I also have no idea what the potential fallout will be." Chiron finished solemnly.

"What do you mean potential fall out?" Annabeth asked, her brow furrowed as she tried to ignore the impending headache she was going to get from all of this.

"Simple, I don't know. It's been thousands of years since these pantheons have interacted, and more importantly it's been thousands of years since the spell was cast. I have no idea what could happen if the seals were to be lifted." Chiron finished with a grimace.

"But you have some thoughts on it clearly?" Annabeth said as she looked at Chiron who had his eyes closed, clearly thinking hard.

"Well I think the prophecy states it quite well: Nine demigods shall march in the face of doom, the answer lies in Wisdom's tomb." Chiron recited as he echoed back Rachel's prophecy.

"That's assuming things go the way this prophecy says they did, because the last one went off the rails pretty quickly" Annabeth replied.

"Perhaps we interpreted the prophecy incorrectly. The Gods are not infallible Annabeth." Chiron replied. "Seven half-bloods shall answer the call, To storm or fire, the world must fall. An oath to keep with the final breath, And foes bear arms to the Doors of death."

"I know the prophecy Chiron and I also know that what we did was pointless, It didn't change anything" Annabeth started to say as the Centaur held up his hand and cut her off.

"No, what it means is that the prophecy may not yet be resolved, foes bear arms to the doors of death. We assumed it was literal, but perhaps it is indeed metaphorical?" Chiron added solemnly.

Annabeth drew in a short breath as she did her best to focus on Chiron, and to prevent her mind from returning to the harrowing journey to the doors, and the tragedy that had happened there.

"So what if it's metaphorical Chiron!? What does it matter now, Gaea is awake!" Annabeth snapped at him.

"It matters because there is a chance that the prophecy has yet to be resolved, in which case maybe everything isn't lost! But until we can know for sure Jason, Piper, Nico, Hazel, Frank, Leo, Thalia, Reyna and yourself must be the ones to take charge against this doom the prophecy speaks of." Chiron said softly. "There isn't anyone better suited than the group the prophecy has already collected."

"And how exactly does this relate to Percy? Better yet, what does it have to do with that book and the Ardwyr?" Annabeth asked.

"It's all connected, Annabeth, like some massive tapestry. We can see the bigger picture but not the individual threads tying everything together. As if someone is masking them from us while they hide in the shadows." Chiron replied. "If anyone but Percy had been chosen as a member of the seven would we be where we are now? It's all too convenient."

"A foe from times long past, risen from the shadows cast…" Annabeth said softly as Chiron nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration, something he did often when thinking hard. "Someone manipulating things from behind the scenes…" she added slowly as Chiron nodded.

"And if that someone is also plotting against Olympus…" Annabeth said in a firm voice as Chiron looked at her in surprise, already opening his mouth to ask a question.

But Annabeth didn't give him a chance, cutting him off before a word had left his mouth. "The prophecy talks about an enemy from times long past, and I met someone who might just fit that description Chiron. And before you try and tell me I'm overthinking this or I was imagining things, I saw him, Chiron and so did Piper and he damn well nearly killed Jason."

"Saw who?" Chiron asked.

"Sally Jackson's father and Percy's grandfather," Annabeth replied.

She was on a roll now and the words simply flowed from her mouth faster than she could really process them. "Sally gave me those" she added and gestured towards the amulet and the book. "She said it would help me stop him or at least figure out what was going on…" Annabeth said as she bit her lip, already pacing worriedly.

"Why would Sally tell you about an Ardwyrian plot? Wouldn't she be betraying her own people?" Chiron asked in surprise.

"Because whatever the plan was, it involved Percy and it wasn't good. Her father seemed angry at her, specifically angry that she ran away with Percy and went into hiding." Annabeth replied. "But they talked like it happened years ago"

"Ran away? Why? If what you're saying is true, and Sally is Ardwyrian, just like Percy and this man you're speaking about, what reason would she have to run away from him?" Chiron added, clearly befuddled about the situation.

"It's the only part that doesn't make sense, why would she choose our side over her own people?" Chiron mused. "But it explains Percy being part Ardwyrian, and it's the only explanation that makes any kind of sense. but why would Sally run away from her family?"

"I don't know Chiron but Sally attacked him on sight, and if I hadn't known better, I would have thought I was caught up in a fight between Gods. He barely even fought back and took out an apartment building in the process. In all honesty, if it hadn't been for Sally, he would have easily killed Piper and I. As it was, Sally used magic of some sort to send us away with Estelle." Annabeth said quickly.

"She was willing to do anything to keep her daughter out of his hands. She was terrified of him Chiron. "She finished as she let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

"But why, after all these years would an Ardwyr risk making an appearance only to attack his own daughter in the middle of New York city? It doesn't make any sense." Chiron added in frustration.

"Nothing makes sense right now Chiron, but maybe that's his plan? Maybe we just don't understand it because it looks so random. I know I only saw him for a few minutes but he isn't into chaos, there's no way he doesn't have a plan. His whole personality screamed methodical." Annabeth replied as she laid her hand on the book, "Sally believed that I could figure out what it was he was planning, and maybe even put a stop to it, with this."

"And what do you believe, Annabeth?" Chiron asked. "Because it's clear you've made up your mind, and if I can't stop you from chasing this lead then the least I can do is help you. If you were to die because I chose to abandon you… I don't know what I would do." Chiron finished as he looked at her seriously.

"I believe that I have to do this!" She said in a fierce tone after a moment's pause. "If the roles were reversed, Percy wouldn't have hesitated so how can I?" Annabeth replied. "All I need to do is figure out how to read this journal and maybe the information inside can give us a place to start…"

However Annabeth was shocked by the look on Chiron's face, and the way his eyes teared up almost instantly. "You never fail to surprise me, Annabeth, and yet I expect nothing less from both you and Percy…."

Annabeth watched as Chiron sighed and wiped the tears from his eyes. "I always forget that you are no longer the little girl who arrived in camp all those years ago, you are a warrior and a leader. Perhaps it is time I let you fill that role." Chiron added solemnly.

"The Olympians are the ones who orchestrated this disaster, first their war against the Titans, then their betrayal of the Tartarii, Followed by the conflicts between the pantheons, and finally their massacre of the Ardwyr. This series of decisions have led to the path we are on now, a path guided by Zeus and the gods of his generation. I can only hope that perhaps you and the rest of the members of the prophecy can change things, for the better." Chiron finished.

"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked as Chiron smiled at her slightly.

"The Gods are deliberating on what to do about the prophecy as we speak, and soon they will no doubt summon you and the rest of the nine to deliver their decisions." Chiron said bitterly

"As they always have, what does it matter?" Annabeth asked.

"It matters because the time you have left is limited. The Gods are going to send you to follow the Prophecy that Rachel Dare delivered. But it presents you an opportunity to learn the truth if you want to." Chiron added.

Annabeth didn't hesitate and simply nodded for him to continue.

"There isn't a single God or mortal alive as far as I know who understands how to read that text Annabeth," Chiron said as he gestured towards the book, "but that doesn't mean it's hopeless. After the fall of the Ardwyr, the Gods collected many relics and ancient wonders from their kingdom. The Gods tried to force the objects to bend to their will, but even after lifetimes spent trying, the magic of the Ardwyr resisted them. So Zeus declared that the Ardwyr, their history and their magic would be forgotten." Chiron said as he held out the book he had selected from the shelf, one covered in Ancient Greek writing to Annabeth.

"But those ancient relics, books, artifacts and weapons of unimaginable power? Zeus didn't have them destroyed, he simply hid them away and no, before you ask I don't know where he hid them." Chiron said.

"That's great Chiron and I'll be sure to tell Percy some of his people's history was stolen by Zeus but what good does it do me? Especially if you don't know where they are." Annabeth asked, a hint of frustration entering her voice.

Chiron simply grinned, "First of all, if there is anyone who can decipher a dead language from thousands of years ago, it would be you Annabeth. Secondly, if there were language manuals or codex's of any kind that survived the destruction in Anatolia, those documents would be with the rest of the artifacts the Olympians took." Chiron finished as he opened the book face up, showing a child-like figure depicted on the page. "You simply need to find them and I believe I know who can help you with that."

It wore a simple tunic around the waist leaving its chest bare, and it held one hand up to its lips, almost as if calling for silence. Annabeth could have sworn it was a small child, yet underneath the image were a series of Greek characters, and it took her brain mere seconds to unscramble them.

Harpokrates, God of Silence and Secrets.

Annabeth looked at it strangely, because the depiction of the God was so unlike anything she had seen prior. It didn't look Greek by any means and as she looked away from the image back at Chiron, she knew that the image of the God was important.

"Harpokrates? Who is that Chiron?" Annabeth asked quickly.

"A Forgotten God with a very unique history. Harpokrates is a god who belongs to two pantheons. Not unlike the Roman forms of the Greek gods, Harpokrates is how he was known to the Greeks, but he has another name. In the lands of Egypt, he went by Har-pa-khered, or Horus the child." Chiron said with finality.

Annabeth wished she was shocked, surprised, maybe even angry that Chiron had known and had kept this from all of them but she couldn't find it in herself. After everything that had happened over the past few days she honestly didn't think anything could surprise her anymore.

"I won't bother you with the details of his history as they will just cast the Olympians in an even worse light. Needless to say he has every reason to dislike the Greek and the Egyptian pantheons. He was exiled from both as he served little more than a reminder of their failures to keep their pantheons separate. He went missing a long time ago, not that many have ever gone looking for the God of secrets and silence. Chiron replied sadly.

"None of this makes sense. If this happened after the Pantheons were separated, how did an Egyptian God end up with a Greek form?" Annabeth demanded.

"He existed both as an Egyptian God and the Greek one simultaneously. Unlike how the Greek gods slowly lost worship and were replaced by their Roman forms." Chiron finished. "He was unique, this made him dangerous in the eyes of the Olympians and Egyptian Gods. They knew what could happen should the pantheons truly come into contact once more and he represented that danger."

"So he existed as a bridge of sorts then? Between Egypt and Greece?" Annabeth asked.

"Yes you could say that, but in the end it didn't matter. He was ostracized for it and eventually banished. This was long before the foundation of the Roman empire. So he truly was alone as none of the Greek gods understood his condition." Chiron added.

"If he's been missing so long, what makes you think I can find him of all people?" Annabeth asked.

"Because Rachel showed me the paintings of her visions, I saw one of you standing in the lands of the east." Chiron said quietly. "I have no doubt you will be one of the first Greek demigods to venture into Egypt since Alexander." Chiron replied.

"And what does Alexander have to do with this?" Annabeth asked.

"Well it was Alexander who foolishly crossed into the land beyond the Gods, he led his armies into Egypt and far beyond. This brought the two pantheons and several others into direct connection for the first time in longer than any could recall." Chiron added as he pointed to the image of the boy Horus.

"He was an Egyptian god, but the Greek warriors who traveled with Alexander believed him to be a God of secrets, and worshiped him as such, under the name Harpokrates." Chiron finished as he watched Annabeth intently. "It granted him a Greek form, and like the gods today he began to suffer as his personality shifted alongside his physical self. It didn't take long for Zeus and Posideon to discover what had happened, then Zeus alongside Hera warned Alexander to wander no further and to return his armies to Greece. Yet you and I both know that they failed and Alexander pushed further east… after that, well you know the rest." Chiron finished.

"Wait... the Olympians killed... No never mind that, it doesn't matter. So Harpokrates was banished and he fled from both pantheons. The Greeks don't know where he is, but he would know the secrets that Zeus tried to hide. He might even know more about Percy's grandfather and whatever he's planning." Annabeth said quickly, as slowly, a smile broke out on her face.

"It's possible, Hapokrates and his powers were as strange and secretive as his domain. What he will and what he can do are two different things. I doubt he has grown any fond of the Greeks or their children during his exile." Chiron added with a slight wince.

"It's fine, everyone has something they want, all I need to do is figure that out. Now how would I even go about finding this lost God? He can't have just disappeared completely." Annabeth said as she began to pace the room quickly. This God could solve all her problems, it would help her divine the truth about Percy's grandfather, what happened to Sally and where Zeus had hid the artifacts, It was too perfect an opportunity to pass up even more so because she wouldn't be far from Cyprus if they really did go to Egypt as Chiron suspected they would.

"You are correct, there are places you could begin your search. Nearly two millennia ago, no more than a century after Alexander's death and the disappearance of Harpokrates, Zeus tasked a group of demigods with venturing out in search of the missing God. I told them then, what I tell you now. Cyprus is where you should start your search. On that isle, an unknown immortal was said to have lived within a valley, growing roses in a grand garden. Harpokrates was known to be enamored with the deity and even knew her name through his domain, but he shared it with no one." Chiron said as he flipped to the next page of the book.

A large rose was shown on the page in great detail, and underneath it was written 'Silent Rose' in large flowing script. "One day a great storm destroyed most of Cyprus and the deity disappeared. Hapokrates found the valley and the garden some time later and was devastated by the destruction. He was so upset that his divine symbol changed into that of a rose. Some suspected it was to honor her memory." Chiron added with finality.

"So he's another melodramatic God, great." Annabeth said with a sigh.

"Yes Annabeth, they all are, but after the disappearance of the deity, if you wanted to have Harpokrates' blessing, you simply had to travel to the isle of Cyprus and pluck a divine rose from the garden." Chiron said as he snapped the book closed. "Now things are slightly more complicated as the valley and the garden where the roses grow has been 'lost' so to speak."

"Alright, it's not much but there's more to go on than I had this morning." Annabeth said with a sigh.

"It's a monumental task you are planning to undertake Annabeth, but if you succeed-" Chiron started to say.

"No, not if but when I succeed, I will get Percy back, no matter the cost. I'm not going to let whatever the hell is happening get between us, and if that means I have to go find a missing God, then so be it." Annabeth declared loudly as Chiron grinned slightly.

Annabeth actually felt a little bit of hope blossoming for the first time since after Tartarus. This was a solid plan. Go to Cyprus and find a lost garden of roses, find the God of Secrets, uncover the plot and get Percy back she thought to herself as she stopped pacing.

Slowly the noise of the outside world returned, the sound of the wind, birds and the distant rumble of thunder. Annabeth looked at the desk and watched as the coin which was now spinning slowly was flicking from gold to bronze.

With a flash, the magic within the coin dissipated and it stopped spinning all together, landing on the desk with a metallic click.

Annabeth had already scooped up the journal and the locket, stashing them within her jacket pocket within seconds of the coin falling.

In another smooth motion she reached up and plucked the old tome from Chiron's hands as he held it out to her, and turned without a word to march out of the study. Her mind was already fast at work, she had a plan to come up with and that was what she did best.

This she could do.

Already she had a list of supplies they would need to gather, and there were several demigods she wanted help from beyond the Nine. She was done playing by the rules the Olympians chose.

When they summoned the Nine for the meeting, she was going to make sure they understood that she wasn't their puppet and if they wanted her help, then she was going to do it her way. For the first tim e in her entire life she was going to break all their rules and do what she wanted.

All these thoughts and more raced through her mind as she sped out of the office and through the big house. When she finally stepped outside, a deep rumble was heard from the skies, and for a few moments Annabeth waited on the porch and watched as the skies opened up in a torrential downpour.

Sheets of rain pounding against the ground as various campers and mythical creatures scattered into the tents and remaining buildings.

Annabeth stashed the books and the amulet deep within the pockets of her jacket and stepped out into the rain. She had work to do and a little bad weather wasn't going to stop that.

Percy 4 days 14 hours after Epirus (Day 32 in Tartarus)

The temperature plummeted as the hellhounds raced through the shadows. A thin layer of frost had begun forming around their large bodies ever since they had left The Black Citadel and ventured into the Shadow Realm. Percy's surroundings raced by in a blur, just barely visible in the gray twilight of the Shadow Realm.

Percy had fought hellhounds before. Mrs. O'leary had been a friend and a companion of his for a while now. So he thought he understood the monsters, at least more than most. But ever since his encounter with Umbra, things had been different. He had been different. He felt something, a connection of sorts to the wolves around him unlike anything he had ever known before. He could sense the anger and excitement amongst them, he could sense their joy at running wild and free.

However, even without thinking about it, he looked around warily, always scanning for danger. He was on edge and ever since he had woken up within the Black Citadel, he had felt strange. He winced slightly, recalling the disturbing visions he had seen in the mirror, and the visions he had seen in the halls of the citadel itself.

He felt like he was losing his mind, which wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility, he thought grimly as he absentmindedly rubbed his armor above where the curse mark was branded.

The pack around him seemed to have sensed that he wasn't in a patient mood, or a forgiving one as they ran like death itself was chasing them, leaping across the shadowy terrain with incredible speed and agility. Finally they reached a vast forest of dark trees which stretched as far as the eye could see.

Without a second's pause the wolves dashed into the forest, and Percy could feel the excitement racing through them. He knew almost instinctively that this was an important place for the pack, for his pack.

Even at their breakneck pace, none of the hellhounds lost their footing or fell behind, and it wasn't long before Percy felt the air slowly become charged with power, old and dark, and the forest they were racing through, gradually grew darker and more malevolent looking.

The air itself was so cold that when Percy inhaled it, it felt as if his insides were flash frozen in an instant and he grit his teeth and did his best to ignore the pain. Suddenly the lead hellhound veered to the right. The change in direction almost threw Percy off of its back, and in an instant, as the pack of massive hellhounds emerged from the darkness into the forest clearing alongside Percy, who had managed to not fall off somehow and maintained some form of dignity.

As Percy looked around him he could see that the trees bordering the clearing were old and dead. Their branches were like bones as their twisted limbs and gnarled trunks seemed to form a cage around them. Not that Percy felt trapped in any way, the darkness which would have once left him nearly blind, simply didn't exist any more. So, as he looked around the clearing, it wasn't in panic as he worried about what might lurk beyond his vision. Instead he was looking around the pack instinctively, ensuring that none of them had been separated.

Almost all of the wolves had passengers, just like him. Eko, Thaye and Illyiana wore their robes as normal and rode surprisingly well for river Goddesses. The dozen or so Dark Elves, including Kalvar, all wore identical sets of armor which made them difficult to tell apart. Besides, each of them were just as dusted with frost as the next, but judging by their posture, the Elves and the Tartarii didn't seem to notice the temperature difference, at least not as much as Percy himself did.

That annoyed Percy more than he cared to admit, as it felt like his bones were frozen at the moment. He distinctly remembered this feeling from his short stay here previously, but Nyx had done something within the palace that removed the effects the Shadow Realm had on him. Paired with his already aching body, this was a unique form of torture all on its own.

This place was truly miserable however, and he could almost feel the warmth and life being sucked from his body as he sat atop the hellhound and watched the glowing spires of the Palace of Midnight, Nyx's personal abode, in the distance.

Somewhere within that castle was his sister and Nyx herself, no doubt sitting upon her throne within The Court Of Shadows.

Just thinking of Nyx and his little sister had him both anxious and enraged. His eyes flashed green and without a word spoken, the hellhounds took off with a burst of speed. Racing through the forest as they headed towards The Court of Shadows.

His sister belonged with him, not in a dark castle surrounded by Gods with domains so horrible, that their names alone cause warriors to shudder. What made it worse was that it was his own weakness that had put her in that situation. He knew deep down that Nyx wouldn't do anything to her, but he also knew that his baby sister was in this situation because he was lacking.

If he had known how to wield his powers, there was no doubt in his mind that he could have done something to protect her against the air in Tartarus, he would have found some sort of work around. Or that at the very least he wouldn't have passed out trying. Unfortunately, in regard to his powers, he knew very little, because his own mother had denied him even the knowledge of his birthright.

And now she was gone as well, leaving Percy alone and with a massive problem. Who was supposed to teach him to wield his birthright? Because it wasn't just as simple as having the power and Percy was beginning to realize that.

His whole body hurt, and he genuinely thought that this might be what dying actually felt like. The runes that Eko and Thaye had carved weren't strong enough, or plentiful enough for the amount of power he held. According to them, the power he had was more than any save very few Ardwyrians had. But he didn't feel strong. He barely understood what he had been doing the last few days.

He needed a teacher. He needed someone to show him what to do. The Tartarii were supposed to be his people's Gods so they were one option, and Eko had offered to help him in the past, but even as he thought about it, his mind turned to the only other living Ardwyrian he knew of. His supposed Grandfather.

Percy knew there was more to his story than what he had told, but he could still remember the feeling of the oppressive and powerful aura that Cal had radiated, even as injured as he was. Percy had known before Cal had even spoken that if they had fought, he would have lost. However Cal had done nothing but help him, yet, at the same time he wasn't sure who he was supposed to trust.

The Olympians had never given him any reason to serve them, it had always been his own sense of loyalty. As for his grandfather, if 'Cal' had wanted him dead then it would have been simple. Percy had felt the insane power that had rolled off of him in waves during their encounter, and Percy himself had been completely unprepared for a fight.

Yet instead he had taken Percy away from the battlefield and given him a weapon, and the news that had all but shattered his world. However, it had also given him the strength and willpower to do what he should have done a long time ago. Something that deep down he had known was the right path all those years ago when Luke had told him of his plan.

He hadn't agreed with the methods, or who would get hurt in the process. But Luke had been right. The Olympians were no different than The Titans. They were just as cruel and power hungry. They just hid it better than the Titans, or maybe they had simply lied better than the Titans. Percy wasn't sure, nor did he really care. Someone needed to stand up to the Olympians and put an end to the insanity that was their rule and after everything he had gone through in the last few days, he was willing to be the one to put an end to it all.

Percy knew that Zeus and several other Olympians disliked him, but he had never thought of them as cruel before, until now that is.

What was worse was that Annabeth had denied it, and more than anything Percy wanted to believe her, but Percy wasn't willing to let bygones be bygones this time. Even if she was right, the Olympians had more to answer for and more to atone for than what they had done to him alone. Not to mention he wasn't sure who to trust, Percy knew that there was more to this entire situation than he was aware of and that if he wanted to ensure his sister's safety, he needed to get to the bottom of it all.

During his conversation with Cal, even though he might not have known him, Percy could tell that they were related, no explanation needed. He just knew. Once Cal had said it, it was as if something had just clicked, and deep down he had known then and there that the man was telling the truth.

Not that it gave Percy any peace of mind at all.

Because no matter how hard he tried, the look on Annabeth's face as he had left, kept popping up into his head. It made him doubt everything, and he was angry with himself because he knew what he had been through would just be the start of this, and he couldn't let his emotions get the best of him, not if he wanted to live to see the end of it all.

Suddenly they burst through the tree covers, coming out of the forest at the edge of a massive cliff, which overlooked the city itself. Ahead of them, at the edge of the cliff was the remains of a dilapidated tower, its walls crumbling and yet it stood still.

His gaze was torn from the tower to look down over the cliff to the plains below where hundreds, if not thousands of buildings littered the area around the great walls of Noxus. The structures were small and all around them. They were far enough out that even with his enhanced sight, he could barely tell the individuals of Noxus apart.

The city itself was surrounded by a large wall. Even from atop the cliff, it looked massive, the glittering blue fires that lit the city gave the whole area an ethereal look. Combined with the black and gray colors of the Shadow Realm, it was strange but a beautiful sight. Although it did little to distract him from the dilemma he now faced.

The hellhounds had stopped, their breath coming in heaving pants as Percy ignored them and kept his gaze locked onto their destination. Thoughts of his family, direct and extended, raced through his mind. How many other Ardwyrs were out there? How many of his people went through the same horrors he did, helpless to do anything as their families were killed.

He had thought that for all the trouble he had faced as a child, all the pain and suffering had been worth it because he had saved lives, and the Gods of Olympus themselves.

But now all of it was being cast into doubt, they were murderers, they had committed genocide against his people and wiped them from the history books. Almost without thinking, Percy slipped off the hellhound in one smooth motion and marched towards the tower at the edge of the cliff, holding up one hand as Kalvar called out his name hesitantly.

"Take a break, I'll be back." Percy called out in reply, cutting off the dark elf.

Without sparing a glance backwards he marched forwards, walking towards the tower and stepping through one of the crumbling holes in its wall. The inside was dark, but he quickly spotted the staircase ascending to the next level and without a second thought, marched up to it.

The interior of the tower was barren, save for a few badly rusted weapons and some decrepit furniture. It was like it had been lost, or forgotten. Which was fine by him. His legs moved furiously until he reached the next level, one with a gaping hole in the wall offering a limited but still stunning view of the city in the distance.

Percy needed a moment to think. His jaw clenched tightly as he did his best to control the utter rage and helplessness he felt about the whole situation. Slowly Percy lost his focus and along with it his control. Instantly the voices of thousands began to wail in his mind.

Calling for Justice, Vengeance and Murder. It felt like someone was trying to use a jackhammer on the inside of his skull and without thinking, Percy's aura surged to life around him. The arcs of arcane energy tearing into the walls and floors while the entire building shook and rumbled, sending brickwork and dust raining from the ceiling.

Another wave of power exploded out around him, sending what little debris on the level remained, crashing into the walls, turning the entire room into a whirlwind of shrapnel. All the while the hellhounds outside snarled and howled, their eyes filled with fury and rage not unlike his own.

He could feel the power in his veins, even weakened as he was. Never before had he been so powerful but felt so helpless and lost at the same time. That was when the winds began to howl and the very ground itself began to rumble, horrendous cracking and grinding sounds as fissures began to appear on the plain in front of the city. Endless pits into god knows where, meanwhile warning bells rang in the distant city as the rumbling and winds around him intensified.

It was like some sort of cruel joke played by fate. He had been given this power, something that should have been an answer to all his problems. Yet, these powers and the truth about his family had been nothing but a burden, one he was rapidly growing tired of bearing.

In fact, it wasn't until he felt a hand resting on his shoulder and turned to see Eko as her eyes flashed with power and Percy felt the connection to her domain strengthen if only briefly. Then in an instant the voices faded away and Percy felt like a marionette with its strings cut. His legs were weak and his whole body coated in a cold sweat as he looked back at Eko in confusion.

"We told you it would be risky to use your powers while you were healing Percy." Eko said calmly, but Percy could see the concern in her eyes. "Your body isn't strong enough, it is still a mortal one and you carry more power within you than some Gods. If it weren't for that curse mark you'd likely be dead."

It took him a moment to catch his breath before his legs finally stopped twitching uncomfortably, "It slipped away from me. I lost focus, that's all." He added almost as an afterthought as he looked back at the city in the distance.

"That's fine, but unless you want your hellhounds and the Dark Elves to rip each other apart, perhaps you should actually calm down instead of telling me nothing is wrong." Eko said as she moved to stand beside him, taking her hand off his shoulder.

Percy didn't need to see the hellhounds to know Eko was right about the situation outside, which was exactly why he had left when he felt his emotions getting the better of him in the first place. Percy winced and then nodded his head and did his best to calm the rage he felt and silence his connection to the hellhounds as quickly as he could. It was slow but eventually he was able to calm down, and likewise he could feel as the pack relaxed. One by one the massive furry killing machines outside the tower settled.

After a few moments he let out a slow breath that he had been holding in and took off his helmet, setting it on a half ruined table to his side and looked over at Eko. "Thank you." to which she simply smiled in response.

Percy was left unsure of what to say and wasn't exactly sure how long they stood staring out the hole in the tower wall, watching the city below them glowing a faint blue in the distance, but it was long enough for the silence between them to grow deafening.

"How many of them survived? The Ardwyrian's besides me I mean?" Percy asked Eko hesitantly, breaking the heavy silence between them and quickly noticing how the Goddess winced and looked away from him.

"Some of your people no doubt survived, over the many millennia we spent imprisoned. I heard some of their prayers, not that I could do anything for them, but they were far and few between regardless." Eko replied casually, but the bitterness in her voice came through clearly.

"But some of them lived?" Percy asked quickly

"Of that, there is no doubt Percy. Ardwyrian's were always hard to kill, something you yourself seem to exemplify. But why the sudden interest in how many of them lived? The Gods massacred your people thousands of years ago." Eko replied as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Because, I found out about what happened to my mother and sister from an Ardwyrian, and he claimed to be my grandfather." Percy replied quickly.

"When? Who was he?" Eko said a look of confusion flashing across her features. "More importantly, why is this the first time I'm hearing of this?"

"During the fight against the Titans. I had passed out, and when I woke up he was there. He took me away from the battle and he told me about Paul, my sister and my mother. Even gave me proof that the Olympains were behind it. He said his name was Cal, and he called my mother Sallira." Percy replied almost casually, however just thinking about Cal brought back memories of what had immediately followed that encounter. "He even did something to help me better understand and connect with Aetherium, a spell maybe."

Eko looked at him with concern, "A rare name for your people, most common amongst royalty and given your strength, it would make sense if you were a descendant of royalty, which does indeed raise some questions as to his identity. It also certainly explains what happened between you and the Olympains at your camp and why your little rescue mission turned into a brawl… but that aside… why didn't you tell me about him before?"

"I had a lot on my mind, Eko and we didn't exactly have much time. It wasn't the first thing I was concerned about. But now I can't help but feel that it's too convenient. People always have ulterior motives or agendas, mortals or immortals alike. How do I know that what Cal told me isn't serving some hidden agenda?" Percy added in frustration. "This battle between the Olympians and my people is old, and the hate they feel for each other is more intense than anything I've seen or felt before." Percy replied.

"A hatred that was earned, but it's besides the point. What proof did he give you to convince you that the Olympians were behind it?" Eko asked calmly,

"A sword, Jason's sword in specific and the information that they had my sister. After the last summer, after everything that had happened, my fathe- Poseidon and Zeus swore a pact in order to keep her safe, a personal favor to me if you will." Percy replied, trying to ignore the tickle in his throat as he muttered the word Poseidon. Not that he had time to dwell on how much his father had let him down, instead he was thinking carefully back to his encounter with Cal.

"Cal described her as one of the strongest channellers he had ever known. Which has to mean something as the power I felt rolling off of him was extraordinary." Percy added.

"She is Ardwyrian, of that there can be no doubt. The only question that remains is who could kill or injure her? If what he says is true, then she was no weakling." Eko replied.

"He swore an oath on the river Styx that everything he told me was true." Percy added. Yet even he had to agree, with how easily he had torn through Jason, something about his Grandfather's story didn't line up.

"Any oath sworn on my river under my sister's name as of now is a tentative thing at best Percy." Eko replied. "She's weak, for days now she's been doing her best to fend off my command of the river, and she's growing weaker." Eko added with a quick smile.

"Even if that's the case how would he have known about it? The only ones who saw you attack Styx were myself and Hades. So we can assume Olympus knows but how would an Ardwyr find out about the fight or her condition?" Percy asked.

However, the look of irritation on Eko's face told him exactly what she thought about it. Her features twisted into a scowl as her obsidian eyes flashed dangerously. "Perhaps he didn't know of Styx's condition, not that it matters. His motives may be questionable but the truth of your sister's location can't be denied." Eko said as she paused, taking a breath in as her features softened slightly. "The Olympians had her, or would have in short order had you not arrived when you did."

Eko then took a pause for a few moments and when she spoke again it was without anger of any kind, "You must have had a family out there. Your mother had to have come from somewhere, Percy. So what does Cal claiming to be your grandfather matter? It's clear that when he first told you, you believed him. At that moment at least. So why are you doubting it now? The only interesting part of this story so far is that he dared to invoke that usurper's name instead of mine when he swore his oath and even that's more irritating than it is annoying." Eko snapped back before pausing and letting out a slow breath "Since we know his name, there are rituals we could use to discover his location. If you wish to ask him these questions yourself. However, Thaye is who you would have to ask, She's far more skilled at that kind of magic than I or any of my other sisters."

Percy all but groaned thinking of the frosty glare that had been directed his way almost constantly by Thaye since their encounter in the citadel. But if Eko was right, Thaye could track Cal. Which meant Percy could get some answers he desperately needed.

Percy thought back without even meaning to as he sat there, his mind racing with images of Annabeth all but begging him to listen as they flashed before his eyes, the look of hurt and panic in her face. He wanted, he oh so badly wanted to believe her, but then he thought back to the way she had begged him to stop attacking Jason, and how she had insisted he talk things out with the Olympians after they had just finished trying to kill him.

Jason had no way of knowing about Percy's mark, no way of knowing that he would be okay. Just like Annabeth couldn't have known. So after having to learn first hand what being shot in the chest felt like, as far as Percy was concerned, Jason had deserved everything that had come his way and yet Annabeth had defended him, even after everything that had happened.

Percy could feel the anger building in his chest again as he thought back to how the Olympians had shown up moments later, and had attacked him and his sister. His own father was among them and he had stood by, doing nothing. He wondered if his father, the King of the Seas, had really abandoned him? Thrown him to the side just like the rest of the Olympians had.

"If any of the Olympians regret what they have done, they would come and find you to make peace. It's well within their powers! Even your friends could seek you out and beg forgiveness or do it through one of a dozen different methods of communication but they won't and I doubt they ever will. So don't let the foolish hope that they will suddenly regret their actions after thousands of years turn you from your path." Eko said, almost as if she could read his mind.

Percy winced at that comment, knowing exactly what she was going to say next, so rather than replying, he simply grabbed his helmet, turned and moved, followed by her. His eyes adjusted to the darkness as they descended back down to the first level of the tower. "And what path is that Eko? I only swore myself into Nyx's service to protect them all from Gaea and the coming war, and now what? Was that all pointless?" Percy snapped back.

"The one where you stop Gaea before she destroys everything." Eko stated calmly, tearing him away from his thoughts as he looked at the Goddess. Her dark eyes and pale skin stood out starkly in the dim light of the shadow realm.

"I swore to fight for Nyx so I could save Olympus from Gaea, but why should I save them now!? Why shouldn't I just take my sister and leave Olympus to their fate?" Percy snapped back angrily. "Not that I win even if I stand by, instead I'll be forced to sit by and watch all of the demigods die? Not that I have any choice, if I help them I'll be saving the Olympians as well!" Percy shouted in anger.

"You won't watch them die because that's not who you are, Percy. I know that the injustices of the Olympians don't sit well with you." Eko said calmly, "But the path you choose is the one you should follow. You and I both know that more than Olympus and the Olympians will be destroyed if Gaea has her way."

If Gaea and her children ruled the earth, that would be the end for billions of people who would no doubt be caught up in the cataclysmic battles to come. Not to mention those who survived would live only to serve the Giants and Titans, he thought to himself bitterly. He remembered Nyx's own words, "Your sacrifice for her was a noble one demigod, but I do believe you will regret it in the end" Had Nyx known what the Gods would do even then? Had she known what would happen, and how the events would unfold?

Because Nyx was right, if Annabeth had stayed dead, she never would have been wrapped up in this. If she had died, he never would have had to question if she had actually loved him. But now? He had to question everything he thought he knew, and she tied him to Olympus more than he had realized. The thought of her falling to Gaea's hands, or worse the Giants, was a nightmare he didn't want to have.

Eko's voice softened as she looked at him with sympathy, "The Olympians wronged you, just as they wronged my sisters and I, just as they wronged your people. But the humans themselves did nothing to you, they don't deserve to suffer because of the actions of Olympus. Not when you could stand against these threats and protect them. "

That left him without any retort. Eko was right and he knew it.

The silence between them seemed to stretch on forever as Eko just stared at him while Percy did his best to ignore what she had said. Deep down, he knew she was right. He knew that if he chose to stay out of this and the Gods failed, all of that blood would be on his hands, every human and demigod that died thereafter would be because he chose to stay away.

It sounded like hell on earth, he already had so many dead friends on his hands, he didn't need to add the lives of millions to that.

And no matter how much it felt like he was being forced down a path, Eko was right. He couldn't let his anger at Olympus doom humanity at large. He couldn't live with that himself and according to Eko it went against everything his people had stood for so long ago.

"It's like a bad dream." Percy added softly. "Some freak twist of fate but I can't sit here and pretend everything is okay… Paul and my mother are gone. My sister is an orphan and Olympus wants me dead." Percy finished as he shook his head.

"I want to watch Olympus burn for what happened, and at the same time part of me still wants to rush in and fight alongside them." Percy said his hands were actually shaking with rage as he looked at Eko helplessly. "I'm not ready to raise a child Eko… and I don't have a choice. She's all I have left and I'm all she has."

"Your loyalty is a trait both me and my sisters admire, but if you let it rule you, it will be your downfall. I can feel how much pain this betrayal is causing you, yet still you feel as if you still owe something to them." Eko said in a matter of fact tone.

"Annabeth has saved my life many times. I'm only here now because I have friends who put their lives on the line for me." Percy replied.

"And you have done the same for her, including jumping in Tartarus. Your memories are clouded by emotions, don't forget those same friends are the ones your grandfather claimed to have attacked your mother and ran off with your sister, or have you changed your mind about that?" Eko fired back quickly. "This sounds less like you don't believe the Olympians did it, and more like you don't want to think 'she' had anything to do with it." Eko said as she walked over to stand beside Percy.

"What does that even mean Eko…?" Percy said with an irritated sigh as he did his best to stay calm, it might have been the mental connection he shared with them but Eko and Thaye already excelled at getting him to talk, regardless of if he wanted to or not.

"It means it's clear that you have feelings for that Annabeth girl." But before Percy could even reply, Eko cut him off. "You talk in your sleep, Percy. It's not hard to figure out your feelings for her. Now the important question is that are you going to let those feelings blind you to the dangers you are facing?" Eko added in a fierce tone as she laid her hand on his forearm.

Her hand tracing the tattoos that ran up his forearm moving past dozens of names in a blur and coming to rest on Annabeth's name, all the while Eko continued to look at him, her gaze never once leaving his face. "But every time you think about her I can feel the rage and anger in your heart Percy. Thoughts of your mother, and Paul, the life you've lived and the struggles you've faced. Your thoughts are practically screaming in our heads Percy. It's like you're being torn apart from the inside and I can feel the pain it's causing you." Eko added empathetically.

Percy snorted derisively, "As someone who now knows what being torn apart actually feels like, I don't really know what's worse." Percy added as he closed his eyes for a moment, blocking everything out as he took a shaky breath, trying his hardest to relax and let go of the anger that was plaguing him.

"So what do I do then Eko? Do I follow in the steps of my people and go to war with the Gods? Oh, and is that before or after I complete my oath of service to Nyx, the Goddess who helped me bring back the love of my life." Percy finished as a scowl dominated his face. "Only for her to turn around and stab me in the back."

"I understand you're frustrated but acting like a sullen child won't make it better, and furthermore it would be unwise to attempt to betray your oath to Nyx. It's unlikely she would let you escape without a fight, and regardless of our connection neither would I. You swore an oath to me Percy, and unlike the usurper I take oaths sworn on my river seriously, remember that." Eko replied in a measured voice as she looked at Percy. "But more importantly, you should know, your people had a history that spanned millenia before the Gods and you bring shame to them by insinuating that they existed to fight the Gods alone. The Ardwyr served a greater purpose. The Wyld Hunt was a cause sacred to The First Lady herself." Eko snapped, anger in her voice.

"You talk about these people as if I have any understanding or care about who they are! None of them mean anything to me and if I don't succeed in retrieving my sister from Nyx, neither does my oath to you!" Percy fired back equally angry, "I have more important things to deal with than a bunch of long dead and lost relatives. I've got a living one to rescue and two dead ones that need to be avenged."

"So you'll burn everything around you until you feel better inside? You'll take the gifts of your bloodline, and you'll use them for nothing but yourself? That's not who I saw in the battle against Tartarus, and it's not who I see now. You're upset Percy. I understand that, and your life can never go back to how it was, but that wasn't your life. You were living a lie, one you have been freed from and do you honestly think you would have been happier living like that?" Eko added sincerely.

"I was happy…" Percy replied, his hands clenched into fists as he felt the anger just melt out of him, replaced by a hopelessness as he replied in a quiet voice. "I don't want to believe she would do this to me Eko… That any of them would." Percy finally came to a stop, several feet ahead of them was the open hole in the wall of the tower, and he knew that once he went back to those wolves he would shortly thereafter be face to face with Nyx.

With his sister's life on the line, it left him nervous to say the least.

"Listen Percy, I agree that the sudden arrival of this relative of yours is disturbing and it's clear this whole situation needs to be examined further. This is all far too coincidental for us to not look into it more. Could it be possible that things aren't as they seem? Of course.'' Eko said softly. "But now is not the time for you to be distracted by anything less than that of utmost importance. You disobeyed Nyx in coming here and don't forget that if it comes to blows between you and Nyx, you will lose. Tartarus almost killed you while four of my sisters and I did our best to disrupt his hold over the Tartarean. Even with all of that all you managed to do was injure him, there will come a day when he reforms and comes after you. An ally like Nyx would be helpful."

Percy scoffed, "Yea that's great Eko, remind me about how I didn't kill the homicidal Primordial who cursed me and wants me dead. Love having that reminder…" Percy snapped out sarcastically. Yet even as he said it, he knew what she meant. Nyx was even stronger than Tartarus, and he wouldn't have the element of a surprise ambush on his side this time, but if she were on his side in the future he might actually have one.

Eko turned around and started walking back towards the wolves, casting a quick glance over her shoulder as a slight grin appeared on her face. "By all means shout some more." Eko said with a brief pause before she continued "or do you need more time to brood alone in your tower before we continue onto the city my Lord?" Eko asked, inclining her head slightly as she did so.

Percy wanted to be angry, he even did his best to keep up an angry glare. But the snort of laughter that escaped his lips betrayed him. So with a short sigh Percy flashed a half hearted smile in Eko's direction as he followed behind her, back down the stairs towards the lower levels of the tower and the rest of his escort.

The talk with Eko had helped to alleviate some of the concerns Percy had.

Even so, he couldn't manage to shake Annabeth's distraught look from his mind, the way she had begged him to speak to the Olympians and hear their side of the story. Almost as if Eko could read his mind, as she said "What loyalty do you owe the Olympians Percy? They turned on you, and casted you aside without a moment's hesitation. Your friends, this Annabeth girl, they had every chance not to betray your trust and they still did it anyway." Eko said with a hint of anger in her voice as it echoed off the inside of the tower walls.

"But both you and I know that you still want to save them and I have no doubt you will succeed Percy." Eko added as she looked out at the city in the distance. "I'm simply preaching caution, for you not to let your emotions cloud your judgment. Save them if you must, but don't do it because you feel you owe it to the Olympians or the demigods, do it because it's what you want to do."

It forced Percy to think about it, really think about what he wanted and why after everything part of him still desperately wanted to run to the aid of Olympus and his friends. It was true that he could sit by and do nothing, yet just the thought of it felt wrong. It reminded him too much of how the immortals themselves acted, uncaring and cold.

For a short while neither of them spoke, until Percy finally broke the silence. "You're right, I can't sit back and abandon them, I'll just end up regretting it."

"Of course I am." Eko replied with a coy smile.

"But even if I help them, I still have a score to settle. Someone is going to pay for what happened to Paul and my Mother." Percy said in a serious tone.

Eko grinned, flashing her fangs in his direction as her eyes seemed to flash in the darkness. "Of course, I would expect nothing less from the Prince of the Tartarean."

Percy nodded, before taking a breath and donning his helmet once more as he walked out of the tower, Eko by his side.

He ignored Kalvar and the elves, practically leaping onto the back of the hellhound he had been riding. He didn't wait long before he urged the beast onwards.

In a flash, he was off, the landscape blurring around him once more as he urged the hellhound onwards, towards his sister, Nyx and his next challenge.

Cal 4 days 16 hours after Epirus

The two guards in front of him snapped into a hasty salute, their eyes locked in a dead thousand yard stare as he walked past them. He could almost feel the anxiety radiating off the pair in waves as he pushed open the doors.

With a dull boom the doors slammed open, revealing a large room with several doors, all marked in Ardwyrian runes.

It had taken him thousands of years to prepare for this, the coming days and months were the byproduct of generations of suffering and anguish. Both his own and that of whom he inflicted upon.

Soon it would be over. Soon, Cal himself could rest. At least that was what he had to hope for. After all, he had given everything he had to the cause, but still she demanded more of him.

The burden he had to bear was light compared to what Percy would have to do, so Cal bore the strain without complaint. Lost deep in thought as he walked the seemingly endless hallways.

The room itself was quiet save for the quiet whispers of the few guards in the room. They were so still that were it not for the noise one might have mistaken them for statues.

Not that he paid them any mind, as he marched directly across the large room and stopped in front of a simple door, which opened noiselessly at his touch.

The door swung wide to reveal yet another long white hallway, except this one was devoid of guards. One of the few areas of the Enclave that was meant for him, and him alone.

He had needed a place to conduct his research in peace and away from prying eyes. As such, the west wing was put together and regardless of how long it took to carve the tunnels and rooms, it was worth every penny.

It had taken him generations of scouring books, chronicles and other journals, not to mention the spirits he interrogated and the living he had tortured.

But he had finally found out how 'he' had done it. The damnable door that was the source of all his family's problems, and it would also be the source of their people's salvation.

It was situated in the middle of a massive white room, ringed with intricately carved pillars. The whole place seemed otherworldly and it was a feeling that Cal had never felt the need to do away with. After all, the magic that suffused the very air in this place was enough to rival Olympus itself.

The door was at the center of it all, and it had taken him a dozen lifetimes to find this place. A dozen more to find the right combination of spells and artifacts to pierce the protections layered around it.

A literal ocean of blood had been spilled, all in the pursuit of this place and the door. "But you weren't meant for me…" Cal whispered, almost longingly as he ran his hands along the smooth stone door.

Which remained resolutely closed, and as if the silence of the room was a response Cal continued.

"But one day I'll see this door open, even if it's with the last breath I take, mark my words…. I'll live long enough to see Percy stand before you, and put you down like the cowardly dog you are." Cal added with a bitter smile as he turned away from the door and instead walked fifty or so feet along the wall. Keeping it on his right side until he reached another large door, which led into an area he had come to use as his private suite.

The rooms were a variety of libraries and research labs, a few bedrooms, a small chapel to the First Lady and his Astralarium. A room designed solely for conducting rituals and magical spells, many of which required days if not weeks of preparations.

As he walked past the rooms, filled to the brim with projects and experiments, he couldn't help but groan, he still had so much to do, and so little time in which to do it all.

Not that any of that mattered at the moment, as he quickly walked towards a set of spiral stairs which descended into the gloom. The iron bars that made up the stair door were closed, yet his hands quickly produced a large key from within his suit as he came to a stop in front of the barred door.

Directly to the left of the door sat a simple side table made of wood, on top of which was a metal tray on which several syringes of dark purple liquid were kept. He quickly grabbed one and gave it a simple tap checking for air bubbles before he nodded to himself.

It took a few seconds, but the heavy clack of the lock opening almost echoed down the quiet hallway as he pulled the door open and stepped inside, letting the heavy metal door swing shut behind him.

The staircase was lit by several eternal torches, enchanted to burn magically until the end of time. The journey took a few minutes but eventually he came out into a dark room with five doors arranged in front of him.

Without pause he walked towards the left door and spoke his name clearly as it swung open without any touch.

The room behind the door was relatively sparse, a bare stone floor with a simple rug in the center of the room, an arm chair and a small side table. The walls were decorated with murals of Ardwyrian design. A dozen candles lit the room with a gentle glow. At the end of the day, it was the nicest prison cell he himself had ever been inside, but it was still a prison cell.

Across the room from him, sitting on her knees with her arms above her head held up by shackles was his daughter, Sallira. She was as powerful, beautiful and deadly as she had been all those years ago on the fateful night she had renounced her people and gone into hiding amongst the humans.

Cal couldn't deny that his daughter had perhaps gone too far for him to bring her back into the fold, having fought tooth and nail against him, trying her best to kill or maim him as he simply tried to bring her home.

The memory brought a foul taste to his mouth, the Gods had taken so much from him. His beloved older sister, dozens of his family members and thousands of his people.

Yet now, it appeared as if Poseidon had poisoned his daughter against him, and no matter what he had tried, Sallira was beyond reason.

As he walked forwards he kept his eye warily on his daughter, she had already maimed two of the guards and several of the nursing staff when he had kept her in the public ward, with his soldiers and staff that required medical attention. Which had arguably been nicer accommodations.

But even if she was his daughter he couldn't risk her exposing what was going on, not now. It was far too early in the game for her to throw any more wrenches into his plan. Estelle escaping had been one of them, and he couldn't afford any more. He still wasn't sure what effects Estelle's escape would have. He mentally made a note to investigate the possibilities once he was done with her.

All these thoughts and more were running through his head. However as he stopped a few feet in front of her, Cal was forced to lurch backwards, barely avoiding the blur of silver as Sally lunged upwards, her hands outstretched like claws as she reached for his throat. However with a resounding 'clank' the chains stopped her hands just short of Cal's neck as he smirked slightly in her direction.

She stood strong and proud, her face showing the signs of a few bruises but her eyes were alive with the same inner fire Cal recognized from Percy and his own father.

Cal sighed and stepped back almost contemptuously as he sat down in the armchair facing her. Raising an eyebrow as she glared in his direction.

Slowly Sallira backed up and leaned against the wall before sinking down into a low crouch, her hands held in front of her chest and her eyes never leaving his face. The manacles on her wrists were attached to the wall by a long silver chain and her ankles were similarly bound together, and the clear red marks underneath the manacles showed how much she had struggled to free herself. However, in addition he had put a strange metallic mask on her, which was clamped over the lower portion of her face, the contraption kept her mouth shut and prevented any use of the higher magics, specifically the spoken kind.

Her chest was heaving and her eyes were alight with rage. He had little doubt that if it weren't for his precautions, he would already be in another battle, not unlike the one in New york.

Her face was pale and gaunt, she had refused to eat anything and the little liquid she did take in had to practically be forced down her throat. He knew that she was in bad shape, after all she had lost a few pints of blood only a few days previously.

All to satisfy the conditions for the little war he was brewing, after all. The procedure hadn't killed her, if anything, the catatonic state she had been in had made caring for her injuries all the easier. The fact that she was awake now was causing more problems.

"Sallira my dear, if you could just see the reason, none of this would be necessary…" Cal said in a calm voice as he looked at her, gesturing towards the manacles. "You are Nobilitas, and if you could simply remain calm, refrain from killing the help and play your part in what is happening, then you could walk these halls freely." Cal added as he reached out and poured a glass of wine from the decanter on the side table.

She simply glared at him as he sighed, pulling the syringe out into clear view and setting it on the table as he leveled a flat glare at his daughter. "I don't have time to tolerate your pesky little rebellion. If you can't be trusted to act like an adult then I'll be forced to do what is necessary. Can you not understand that everything I have done is for our family and our people!? The Gods and those filthy half breeds you saved are not your family Sallira… or do I need to educate you again on that fact?" Cal said as he added a serious note into his voice, however his daughter simply gave him a look that told him he wasn't getting anywhere.

"Oh for the love of the first- enough of this." Cal snapped out angrily as he stood up and walked directly towards her, grabbing the syringe off the table as he did so.

She sneered at him and in that instant he took two long strides forwards and in one motion slapped her hands away as she lunged at him, reaching out to choke the life out of him. Instead Cal grabbed her by the hair and drove his knee into her gut as hard as he could, sending her crashing to the ground as she gasped for air. Then Cal simply bent down and pressed the syringe into the side of her neck as he quickly depressed the vial forcing the liquid into the bloodstream.

She went ridgid almost immediately as she started twitching and her breath came in short gasps. "A little concoction of mine, it took years to come up with the exact recipe. But it makes keeping Aetherium users in line far easier. The drugs in your system will disrupt your connection to Aetherium." Cal said with a slight smile as he reached out and undid the metallic mask on her face.

It fell to the floor with a thunk as his daughter turned to look at him, her face caught between a mixture of pain and anger as she twitched occasionally. "Once the first dose wears off and the pain is gone we can talk. And if you are not agreeable by that point then I have plenty more where this came from my dear. Not that you should worry, You still have a part to play in all of this and when the time comes, willing or not, you will do as you are destined." Cal finished as he returned to his armchair and took a seat.

Sally made a retching gurgling sound for a second, as she vomited on the floor of the cell. Then she managed to stutter out a "F-fuck you d-dad"

He sighed, "It doesn't have to be this way, just come back to the family and forget these foolish ideas of living like a human. You are Ardwyr and there are responsibilities that come with your birthright." He said sternly as he watched her, grabbing a glass from the small table beside the chair taking a sip of his wine.

She continued to shout and scream both in pain and rage as she thrashed about. "Why can't you understand that I want you to leave me and my children alone!" She screamed as the manacles on her wrists rattled like crazy. Then Sallira's voice took on a harsh note. "AKIVIR!" Sally shouted as she looked at him with hate.

Yet nothing happened, there was no magical response to her shout regardless of her use of the old tongue. Cal found the look of confusion on her face almost laughable. "Did you really think I would remove that gag if I thought for a second you could use your powers?"

Sallira all but snarled at him, her eyes wild with panic.

"I may be old, but I'm not a senile fool, your technique has lost none of its potency in your years of hiding and since I have no desire to repeat New York, I had to come up with another method to ensure you behaved." Cal said as he brushed his hands down the front of his suit jacket, wincing slightly as he remembered the condition of his last suit.

"W-what did you d-do?" Sally managed to get out, her gaze starting to fade between focused and drowsy.

"I gave you a solution made from the blood of an Atlai mixed with nightshade and a few other herbs. The concoction is quite debilitating for our kind, but by no means deadly. However, the same concoction would be fatal for most other races. You should be happy, it took years of research to find a way to block an Ardwyrians connection to Aetherium. But by the First Lady, I knew there would be a way to do it." Cal added in an almost happy tone, watching as the look of revulsion crossed her features. "I had the time, and the test subjects so why wouldn't I take the opportunity?"

"It's s-sick that y-you're testing this stuff on your own daughter, and you wonder why I ran with Percy after what I saw!?" She shouted, her voice taking in a shrill and raw tone as she coughed furiously.

"I had plenty of subjects to experiment with besides you Sallira. I would never test something like this on you, and I would never use it if I didn't know it already worked." He said calmly. "As for Percy, you know I would never do anything to hurt him unless I thought it was necessary for his development."

She simply glared at him and spat out angrily at "for his development" before resuming her tirade, "The only thing you ever cared about was this insane idea of yours. I know you don't give a damn about Percy. You only care about how he could fit into your insane plan." She finished as she spat in his direction.

He sighed again as he looked around the room, "You were always selfish, you could have had everything this world had to offer, everything I could give, all you had to do was let me turn Percy into the man he was supposed to be. Instead you ran away. And look at what happened? Do you think I'm happy with how events have played out? Do you think this is what I wanted?" Cal finished as his voice took on a note of anger and he stood up and grabbed the armchair he had been sitting in.

Then Cal almost casually tossed it aside like a toy, shattering the chair against the wall as he looked at his daughter. "Your son is in Tartarus and all the blood that he is going to spill is because of you. That child will fill oceans with blood and the fields of bodies will stretch for miles. Thousands of years of our peoples' hopes and dreams are invested into that boy. I won't let you or anyone get in the way of his fate."

"A-at least he's safe f-from you…. H-his destiny i-is his, not your's." She said through gritted teeth as she looked at her father, her gaze filled with fury. "F-fate isn't s-something you can j-just control."

"Unfortunately Sallira, that's where you would be wrong. Rest assured that I know exactly how the remainder of this conflict is going to play out. If you don't believe me just wait, you'll see the truth before the end. If you had just let me guide events to their natural conclusion, none of this would be happening now. But you had to act like a selfish brat." He said as his face morphed into a sneer. "You forced my hand and now that I've made the necessary corrections, I refuse to let you meddle any further"

"M-my son is n-not a weapon! Not for you…or anyone!" She grunted out as her face went a ghostly shade of white.

"You're exactly right, he's not a weapon. He's something far more important, and when he achieves his destiny, all of my plans and the sacrifices they required will become clear to you Sallira. He is the key to the redemption of our people, and only he has the strength to end this curse placed upon us," Cal added as he leaned forwards and grabbed Sallira by the chin forcing her to look at him.

"Now where is my granddaughter? Where did you send her and those filthy half breeds?" He demanded. "Where or whoever you sent her to was powerful enough to block my pursuit. I always wondered who helped you run away and hide yourself from me and I'm thinking I might be close to finally finding an answer to that pesky little question."

"If you want an answer don't bother. I'd rather die than turn those demigods or my friends over to you. I won't help you turn my children into weapons for your war and I won't sit by as you kill demigods for the fun of it!" She said in a moment of clarity as her voice was clear and loud.

"MY WAR!?" He roared in anger as his aura surged to life around him, a silver light pulsating and filling the room as a dull roaring came from everywhere at once.

"Do not test me further daughter or I will grant you your wish. But I assure you, death isn't as peaceful as you hope it will be." He finished with deadly intensity.

She looked at him in defiance as he snorted in disgust and released his grip on her chin then he turned to pace the room, his hands behind his back and a scowl plastered across his face. "If I could simply turn my back on all of this, I would have. You cannot imagine the pain and suffering I have endured and the loved ones I've buried in the process. But this war MUST have a winning side, and Percy will be the one to tip the balance in our favor, finally."

"You're insane, this whole plan of yours was insane from the start and I'm just as messed up for following along as long as I did." she replied in a flat voice.

"No, not insane, I prefer the term enlightened. I take no pleasure in any of this Sallira, I am a mere servant. Besides which, if you're angry, that's fine, there are others who are actually responsible who you could blame." He said, his tone laden with sarcasm.

"Servant my ass, our family could have left this world to-" Sallira started to say.

"To what? Ruination? Our people were charged with a duty and punished for our failure to follow through. I'm merely seeking to reset the board so to speak. Give us a fair chance at winning." He added as he finally looked away from his daughter at the murals on the walls.

"We could have left this world to the Gods and the humans. The Primordials had their time as did the Titans and the Ardwyr in turn! But that time is past!" She shouted as the clanking of chains told him she had finally struggled back to her feet.

"Hypocritical as ever, aren't you? What would you have me do, kill Perseus and my granddaughter? Slit their throats? After all the Ardwyrian blood in their veins is the same as yours and mine. That would allow the humans and Gods to have their planet to themselves as you so clearly desire" he added with a sneer. Yet the look in Sallira's eyes told him everything he needed to know as he scoffed in her direction.. "What happened to the conviction from a few moments ago? Perhaps you didn't mean your children. Just that the rest of our people should have died according to you".

Sallira simply spat in his direction.

"You think just like he did, so much so that you almost sound like him." Cal stated, trying his best not to lose his temper at the mere thought. "But we both know I didn't raise you to be a weakling, I raised you to birth a conqueror, a King for a new generation of Ardwyr."

"It's a fairy tale DAD! This bullshit about a cycle!? You're insane for believing it in the first place, and I was ignorant and naive about the world outside this place. So of course you managed to convince me that if I did what you said, we would not only save the world but bring our people back! WHAT PEOPLE DAD!? You and your enclave can't bring back a dead civilization" She screamed as she looked at him in anger.

He lashed out with the back of his hand, snapping her head to the side as he leaned in. "Shut your mouth. If you had stood by us instead of running, you would understand the idiocy you are speaking right now. Percy's fate is unavoidable." He finished as he stood back up and watched as blood dripped from the corner of his daughter's mouth, splashing across the marble floor.

"If you open that gate he will kill all of us!" She screamed as she lunged forwards, only the chains stopping her from crashing into him. "Not that it matters! Percy won't let you control him, he has free will and once he finds out what you did…." she said with a gasp of pain as she doubled over coughing.

He couldn't help but watch in wonder as the effects of his serum on her became even clearer. She was in pain, out of breath and unable to use her powers which meant that it worked exactly as he had wanted, now he just had to hope that when push came to shove it would work on "him".

"He will do exactly what I want him to do, because it's what he wants, or at least that's what he thinks. However, he's also going to do what I ask because your son can't let injustice stand, it's not in his blood. Never forget that Sallira, in that way he is more akin to 'him' than anyone I've ever met"

"Better him than you, at least he had the sense to try and end the war before it destroyed us all. The rest of you were willing to watch the world burn just to get your pound of flesh from the Olympians!" She shouted.

"Don't talk about things you know nothing about. You were born long after our homeland fell. I was there when Anatolia burned and I will have my 'pound of flesh' as you so eloquently said. I'll have it from all of them!" he said as he took a deep breath in before continuing.

"There was a time when you were just as bloodthirsty, if not more so than anyone among the enclave, so don't think you can pass judgment on me. Or shall I remind you who dealt with the actual Jackson family all those years ago." He stated calmly, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her who went pale at the mere mention of the Jacksons.

"So convenient wasn't it? A plane crash with no survivors but the daughter? And an uncle who hadn't seen her in nearly a decade. Could you ask for a better bait and switch?" Cal taunted as he paced the room before coming to stop right in front of his daughter.

"You were perfectly eager to kill them and take their daughter's place, so don't think you have some moral high ground over me." He finished as he leaned in and whispered right into his daughter's ear. "You tore that plane from the sky with magic, and the father died on impact. His body smashed into the forest floor. He died easily, but the other two. They died horribly, you didn't just kill them." He said, the look of shame and guilt that was creeping across his daughter's face spurring his anger on even more.

"But you didn't stop there. Of course not, that was too easy, the mother and daughter who survived? You butchered them, and you made it look easy, fun even. You came back to me with a head, looking like you rolled in red paint" He added with a chuckle as he stood up and looked around the room one more time.

"I was a child, all I wanted was for you to be proud of me!" She screamed at him. "I had never known anything but the enclave and our family. How was I supposed to know what you wanted me to do was as terrible as it really was."

"You knew you were ending lives, you just didn't care because they were humans. Don't lie to yourself, daughter."

"You said they needed to die…" She said, shuddering as she looked away from Cal.

"They did, you replaced her and played your part as a mortal perfectly. Drawing Poseidon's gaze was simple. And convincing the fool you were smitten with him, you were a perfect double agent. Even when you were pregnant with Percy you agreed with my plans and our goals, so what changed?" Cal asked calmly.

"Percy. I saw you that night, experimenting on MY SON! MY SON! He's not your pet project or a weapon and when I get out of here, I am going to kill you just to make sure you won't come anywhere near my children ever again!" Sallira snarled.

"Unfortunately for you, I know that won't happen. You see I know my own fate and I've seen where I die. It is not by your hand." He said with a dry chuckle as he watched the anger and defiance in Sallira's eyes falter, only to be replaced by pain.

"Please…just go…just, leave me alone…." She said as she collapsed back into the wall breathing hard as beads of sweat ran down her face. He couldn't help but wince as his daughter tucked her legs up against her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees before leaning her head backwards and closing her eyes.

"If that's what you wish for, daughter. It brings me no pleasure to see you like this but until you accept reality and stop trying to live in a fantasy, I have no choice." He added as he crouched down to be on her level.

"That boy is your son, but the Olympians and that human? They weren't his family, not then and not now. His family is here waiting for him, and when he is ready, we will welcome him with open arms. I only hope that his mother will be standing here beside us when that time comes. After all, it would crush him to know that everything he did was in vain." Cal added with a small smile.

"What are you talking about?" She said as she looked at Cal, her gaze full of pain and confusion.

"Well due to the Olympians' failings, your son is now under the impression that your 'death' is their fault." He replied in a matter of fact tone.

"And why would he believe that!?" Sallira said back in a deadly serious voice.

"That's the conclusion he came to after I told him my side of the story." Cal said with a sly smile. "Most of what I told him was true, if slightly exaggerated. Little details here and there, but enough. And don't look at me like that Sallira, after all, since when have the Olympians told the truth to anyone? If anything, I'm doing him a favor, helping him distance himself from those parasites." He all but snarled.

"Except the Gods aren't plotting against me! Poseidon wouldn't do that to his son!" She said after a moment's pause.

"Again daughter, you would be wrong there. Zeus orchestrated a trade when he believed Percy to be dead in Tartarus. Your life for a temporary truce with Gaea. Make no mistake, Zeus betrayed you and was ready to hand you over to Gaea, a fate I saved you from. Although I have little doubt he is seriously regretting the choices he made right now." He said as a childlike grin lit up his face.

"All it took was a few moves, planting a seed of doubt here, rebellion there, it was easy once I dealt with that idiotic Sun God. With no one capable of identifying the truth, it was simple to set things into motion. If anything, saving you from Gaea without revealing myself or my plans was the most challenging portion of this whole ordeal." He finished calmly as he looked at Sallira.

Meanwhile Sally just stared at him, a look of horror on her face. "You…. Why… I will kill you when I get out of here!" She shouted straining at the chains once more with renewed vigor.

He just chuckled as he stood up brushing some dust off his pants before he turned and began walking to the door "I'll send someone to check on you in a few hours, before the first dose wears off. Perhaps it will give you some time to think of the consequences of your actions, Sallira. After all, your son is going to war over your death" Cal added, catching a glimpse of the panicked look on his daughter's face as he shut the door behind him.

Drowning out her screams in an instant, he didn't miss the profanities she screamed at him, but he restrained himself from going back to discipline her.

The key to breaking someone's spirit was time, and he had plenty of time. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Sallira had a role to play in what was coming. He knew that, and he knew that she would eventually come to understand her role and accept it.

However that didn't mean that as her father, he couldn't hope she would stop being so stubborn. He took no pleasure in inflicting pain on his own flesh and blood. But his family had already suffered so much at the hands of a few weak willed individuals. He wasn't going to let his love for his daughter cloud his eyes to what she really was.

A powerful warrior, and a potent magic user. She was a danger to his entire plan, and after all the time and resources he and others had invested, he couldn't let her stop him. So either she returned to the fold, or he would have to kill her when she was no longer needed.

The clack of his shoes on the stone floor maintained a steady pace, ascending the stairs once more and entering his suite of rooms. The situation with Sallira left him angrier than he wanted to admit, but her daughter was something else entirely. She was important to his plans and until he could pry his granddaughter's name from her head, he didn't have many ways of tracking her himself.

As he was walking he felt a sudden pain in his chest as he was caught in a sudden coughing fit.

A spray of crimson and silver blood left his mouth as he doubled over onto the floor. It felt like every muscle and bone in his body was tearing itself apart. A wheeze escaped his lips between coughs as he managed to half yell "Dwethir" before he immediately sighed in relief as the pain in his lungs subsided, allowing him to take in a breath and force himself to his feet.

"Fucking stupid, I waited too long.." he groaned as he shuffled forwards, wiping the blood and ichor from his mouth as he made all haste towards his laboratories.

The door opened as he muttered the command word between fits of chest rending coughs. The second the door was open, Cal stumbled inside, rushing towards the modern cold storage units located towards the back wall.

He ignored the sounds of animal cries, liquid bubbling and various machines running. But the one sound he couldn't ignore was the unending scream of unimaginable pain that was coming from one of the adjoining storage rooms.

He threw the door to the first storage unit open frantically, trying his best to ignore the agony in his chest. However his heart all but dropped when he looked inside.

There weren't any doses of his serum left.

Cal paused for a moment, taking a breath and refreshing his healing spell again as another coughing fit rocked his body.

With a shout of anger he slammed the door shut, sending several vials and glass beakers crashing to the floor as he walked towards the largest door, practically tearing off his suit as he went, exposing a well muscled torso covered in Ardwyrian marks and battle scars.

The screaming continued to get louder and louder as he walked towards another storage room door. This one held shut by large chains and a series of locks and bars that kept the door firmly closed and secured. However he wasted little time, muttering out another command word between gasps as the chains crashed to the ground followed by the heavy lock.

Then slowly, the bars retracted into the wall, allowing one to open one of the most heavily guarded rooms in the entire world.

The wealth and power contained in this room made the humans' Fort Knox look like a child's piggy bank.

But it wasn't a material wealth or a physical power, no Cal had stumbled upon this 'gift' long ago. The First Lady herself guided him to its location with a series of dreams. And who was he to turn her away? After all, he couldn't deny that the powers he had gained made everything up to this point possible.

As the last of the heavy metal bars receded into the wall, he breathed out a sigh of relief. He was a few minutes away from salvation and a few minutes more from self combusting in an explosion of raw energy.

A fate he would much rather avoid, at all costs. He still had so much to accomplish before he could allow himself to die.

So as the stale air from inside the room rushed out past him and ruffled some of the loose papers in his lab, Cal gritted his teeth against the pain and moved forwards into the darkness of the room beyond.

It was instant, like walking into an electric fence. Every hair stood on arm and every muscle tensed in anticipation or fear, he had never quite come to a decision on that. Yet as his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, he was finally able to make out some of the features in the room.

A large pillar made of bronze was sunk into the white marble floor. Around which concentric rings of runes were carved into the floor, glowing with an otherworldly light.

Large chains of what could best be described as silver light were wrapped around the pillar and something else, securely binding it to the pillar as the chains were sunk outside the edge of the circle of runes.

Along the far wall various surgical tools and medical supplies covered several large sturdy tables. Many of the tools were clean, but others were covered in a silvery fluid and had clearly been used on something alive.

Keyword something, not someone, Cal thought to himself. He knew there was no glorious afterlife waiting for him, and he knew that he was going to suffer for his crimes even if they had been in the name of his people.

But as for right now, unless he wanted everything he had sacrificed to be in vain, he had to act quickly. He only had a few minutes to extract the ingredients he needed for his serum.

So it was with a grimace of pain and disgust that he picked up a large scalpel as well as a syringe filled with the same black tar-like fluid he had injected into Sallira, just a much larger dose and some clean vials before he turned and walked towards the pillar.

It didn't move or make any sign that it was even alive, but he could feel the waves of power radiating off of it. It was like his skin was being peeled off, and it took everything in him to stay standing and continue his advance.

However the pressure he felt became stronger and stronger until finally it seemed to disappear as he reached the foot of the bronze pillar. It was only at this distance that he could make out the features of his prize.

It was tall, around fourteen feet, and garbed in a ratty and torn black robe that barely covered the platinum coloured skin underneath. The body could have been male or female, and its face was empty, as if it had never been given one. Instead it was a swirling mass of color all interwoven and changing, yet it was moving sluggishly, and the edges were marred by a black shade.

"It's been a little while, hasn't it?" Cal asked as he checked the syringe and approached the bronze pillar. Resting his hand on one of the being's limbs, he quickly injected the tar-like substance into it, and as if he had flipped a switch the screaming stopped.

The reaction was nearly instant as the intense pressure vanished in an instant as the being twitched and jerked against the chains weakly. Then he quickly slashed the scalpel across flesh, sending out a spray of silver liquid and letting rivulets of the fluid run down the thing's legs.

He quickly used the smaller vials to collect some of the liquid. Once he had filled several of the vials he took a deep breath and capped off the vials before dropping the scalpel and the used syringe on the floor before he stumbled back out of the darkness, away from the pillar and its captive.

He had barely made it out of the room, slamming the large door shut behind him with a dull boom. A quick word and a wave of his hand returned the chains and lock to their place, it was likely unnecessary, that thing had been in a catatonic state for thousands of years before he had been led to it.

Still he wasn't prepared to take any chances, not with something so crucial to the success of his plans.

As the vault sealed itself, he stumbled towards one of the medical tables within his lab, quickly placing the vials of ichor on the table as he groaned in pain. It took him a few minutes to set up his equipment, and a few more to draw the blood he needed from his own body.

The next few minutes went by in a daze, as he hovered on the verge of unconsciousness, his body wracked with pain, barely able to breathe as he felt his muscles tearing themselves apart. He had almost given in to failure when he found himself sitting on the floor, covered in a cold sweat but holding the serum in his hands.

The instant the drug was in his system he felt the pain fade away, oxygen flooding back into his lungs as he suffered from another fit of coughs. But he wasn't dead, and as long as there was life in his body, no matter how old it was, he had a mission to complete.

The raw energy flooding into his body was unlike anything he had experienced, and he suspected it was not unlike what Gods themselves felt. Cal's body felt invincible, his injuries and aches vanishing in an instant as his connection with the Aetherium around him strengthened immensely.

Forgetting to replace his serum supplies was a mistake he hadn't made in centuries, but it had also been centuries since he had been this active. He made a mental note to come back later today and prepare a few dozen more doses just in case.

Nearly thirty minutes later after a shower and changing into a fresh suit, he exited his suite of rooms and returned back to the main hall, and instead headed for the doors to his left.

They opened up into a grand hall, the floor of which was a detailed mosaic map of the world, rendered in fantastic detail. And scattered across the globe were thirteen strange rocks, twelve of which were emitting light intensely yet occasionally they flickering as if something was interfering with the power.

For a few moments, he watched the glowing stones with interest before he sighed and marched the length of the hall to sit down in a large high backed chair facing the doors and elevated over the map.

Soon it would be time to enact the next part of his plan, but he still had to wait for the Olympians to make their move.

A grin broke out across his face as he looked down at the map, soon enough the Olympians would send their children in search of the Seal Stones.

Once they had done that, it was all but over for the Olympians, and their fate would be sealed Cal thought to himself with a grin. Settling back into his chair and grabbing a glass of wine from the small table beside him.

It was time to watch and wait, something he had gotten very good at over the years. No matter though, he was patient and in the end he would get what he had wanted, he thought to himself as his eyes flashed with a multitude of swirling colors. He would see his people's future realized.

Even if it was the last thing he did.

Percy 4 days 17 hours after Eprius

Percy stood on one of the balconies overlooking the city. It was one of several attached to the private quarters that Nyx had assigned to him. The quarters were contained within a spacious tower, which happened to offer one of the best views of the city, endless spires of obsidian lit by blue fire stretching out around him like a tapestry.

Percy took another sip of the wine, admittedly enjoying the sweet flavor it had. The selection of food and drink within Nyx's realm were. Limited and he had to admit he somewhat missed the food from Camp, or from aboard the Argo. But after having shared several decanters with The Tartarii he was beginning to enjoy the relaxation of letting himself get a little drunk.

Normally he would have detested the idea, but right now, after the last few days he had, by the Gods he had needed a drink and a few moments to relax just to try and forget all about it. Even if only for a moment.

Gone were the tattered rags and scraps of ruined metal that had passed for his armor just a few hours prior, replaced with comfortable silken robes. His few remaining injuries had been tended to with a long soak in the royal baths and several treatments applied by Nyx's own attendants.

It had been hours since the Queen of Night dismissed him and his companions, and he knew it wouldn't be long before they would receive the summon to return to her court. Except this time it was for a grand feast, and he wasn't going to be an intruder.

No, he was the Guest of Honor.

His mind was still reeling over the events of the last few days, let alone the last few hours. He hadn't expected anything like this. If anything, he was prepared to fight Nyx for his sister, or at the very least face some sort of punishment.

Instead he had won a great deal of respect amongst the court of shadows and Nyx's various vassals. As he turned around and walked back into the suite of rooms Nyx had lent them, Percy couldn't help but smile, if only slightly.

Sitting on one of the low couches was Thaye, who was watching a bundle of blankets with a strangely affectionate look on her face. The bundle of blankets was of course his slumbering little sister, Estelle. It had taken some time for him to calm down.

"You were really willing to go to war for her, weren't you?" Came the voice of Eko from his left as Percy turned to see the Tartarii watching him.

"Without any question." Percy replied instantly, his thoughts racing back to the tense situation in the Court of Shadows just a few hours previous.

*Flashback to a few hours ago*

The two dozen or so guards made an effort to block his path as soon as they saw him approaching, yet Percy didn't hesitate or falter in the slightest. "Move" was all he said, barely giving the guards a moment's pause as he closed the distance in a few seconds.

"My lord, you have not been summoned and the court is in session! They are not to be disturbed!" one of the guards said in a stern voice as he lowered his spear across the door, his polished obsidian armor almost glowing in the pale blue light of the torches lining the hallway.

"I cannot allow you entrance! Our orders -" the guard was cut off as Percy lashed out, slamming his mailed fist into the guard's helmet. The force of that strike shattered the helm. sending a spider web of cracks across the metal's surface, knocking the guard unconscious and sending him crashing to the ground with a dull thud.

"I wasn't asking!" Percy growled out as he pushed the guard out of the way with his foot, causing him to slide across the hall and crashing into the far wall.

It was as if they had all frozen, not a single one of the guards made a move for the doorway, yet none of them took a step back either. But they glanced at the crest on his helmet more than once out of fear and as much as he hated the words that came out of his mouth next, he said them anyway.

"You forget your place, I am the Herald of Nyx. You do not get to question me, now open the door or stand aside!" Percy growled out.

Normally he hated the idea of titles and the preferential treatment that came with it, but at this moment, he didn't really care. Because if that door wasn't open soon, he knew he was liable to take it off its hinges.

Percy also knew that that wasn't the best way to enter the court of his patron. So he was at least going to try to convince the poor guard before he did it by force. He could see the indecision playing across the faces of all the guards, and Percy was all but ready to force his way into the court when Kalvar spoke up.

"It would be wise to listen to Lord Umbra, after all, you know the punishments for disobeying royalty within Nyx's own court." Kalvar's voice echoed out from off to his side as several of the guards looked in his direction, With one of them frantically calling out, "But Lady Nyx might very well kill us, she told us to let no one inside during the meeting as she always does!"

Percy turned his head just in time to see Kalvar shrug and gesture towards the groaning heap of metal and bruised skin that was the unconscious guard Percy had hit. "He is the Herald of Nyx and Lord of Wolves, his titles and rank are second to only some of Nyx's personal council and once he ascends to the position as general, he will be second only to Nyx herself. He is not someone you want to make an enemy of." Kalvar replied quickly.

For a second or more the guards remained frozen, then just as Percy took a step forward, they sprung into action. Rushing to positions beside the door as they began lifting a large intricately carved metal bar by raising the two chains attached to it on either side.

Those who were not pulling the chains formed two lines on either side of the door and snapped into a crisp salute, their eyes looking ahead in blank stares as Percy walked between them followed closely by Eko and her sisters.

"Well, I see Lord Umbra truly has arrived then." Eko said in a quiet voice with a raised eyebrow. "You're learning how this world works quite quickly my prince." Eko finished with a slight bow of her head before falling back in behind him quickly.

"Indeed you are, my herald. Now come, before you kill any of my guards." Came the deafening voice of Nyx within his mind as Percy tried his best not to wince.

"Lord Umbra, we will need to confiscate your weapons…" One of the guards attempted to say as Percy simply walked past him, shaking his head even as the guard spluttered about rules and laws. Which prompted a laugh from Illyiana, the sound ringing out like music through the vast hall.

Percy just didn't care. Nyx might already kill him for not following her orders and for coming to her court unannounced. He was sure, having weapons on him was the least of his worries. As Percy walked forwards he reached and pushed the doors open with both hands. He had come this far, now wasn't the time to back down.

They flew open at his touch with a resounding bang, sending a gust of smoke and the heavy scent of incense rushing past Percy to fill the hall behind him as the court exploded into chaos, voices raised in shock and confusion as the guards within drew their weapons in an instant.

Percy could feel the waves of anxiety rolling off of Kalvar and the Dark Elves behind him as they followed behind him and stepped into the Court of Shadows. The blue flames crackled in the braziers and the smoke trailing across the floor seemed to naturally draw your gaze towards the centerpiece of the Court, Nyx herself. The Queen of Night was lounging upon her throne and her pale skin was wrapped in a dress of deepest black, in the style of a greek chiton. This was accented by a cloak of stars that was draped around her with thousands of stars glimmering in the darkness as the Primordial cast her gaze around the court. Her eyes shining like quasars, pulsating with white light as they locked onto Percy and his entourage.

From where he stood, there was a small set of stairs one had to descend before crossing the main room and approaching Nyx's raised Dias.

Percy held his head high and didn't back down an inch even under the glare of dozens of guards. Meanwhile the wolves and his guards spread out and lined the walls, taking their places alongside Nyx's own guards while watching as Percy and the Tartarii approach the throne on foot.

Before he knew it, Percy stood in the middle of the court. The air was heavy with the scent of incense and fire. All around him whispers filled the air as hundreds of courtiers stared down at him from raised balconies.

Dozens of Nyx's own warriors lined the walls, their hands gripping the hilts of swords and spears tightly as the tension in the room continued to grow. Meanwhile, the hellhounds scattered about the room bared fangs, their hackles raised as their green eyes glared at all those around them.

Percy had to thank the Gods for the helmet covering his face and hiding the sweat currently rolling down his forehead. His face was obstructed from the court, but the helmet narrowed his field of view until only Nyx herself occupied his entire vision.

Her throne on a raised dais, ringed with blue flames, and the Queen of Night herself sitting on the throne, her eyes watching his every move.

The Tartarii marched slightly behind him, All the while the whispers of the court slowly faded away until the hall was deathly quiet.

One of Nyx's many servants stood at the foot of her dias. His face hidden behind a dark mask. He was only known as the Chancellor and he acted as a neutral party. Percy had met him once or twice during his prior visit, so when his voice boomed out across the hall, Percy wasn't caught off guard.

"The Court of Shadows is graced with the presence of Royalty. I bid you welcome, Lord Umbra; Herald of Nyx, Prince of the Tartarean and Bane of Tartarus." The Chancellor said as he raised both arms in Percy's direction.

The crowd bellowed and cheered at that last statement, the hair on the back of Percy's neck rose as the sound set his nerves on edge.

"The company you bring is of equal royalty! The Court bids welcome to Lady Εκδίκηση, Lady Λήθη, and Lady κυρίαφως. Daughters of Oceanus." The Chancellor called out as Percy watched Thaye wince, at her old title. Not that there was much he could do about it right now.

"Welcome home my herald." Came the voice of Nyx within his head as he looked up at the Queen of Night, lounging on her throne and watching him with interest. Yet the thought that The Shadow Court was more of a home to him right now than Camp Halfblood or Olympus made his blood run cold.

Within the span of a minute or two they had crossed the length of the grand room and stood before the steps ascending the dias upon which the Queen of Night sat on her throne.

However as they reached the steps leading up to the dais, Percy knelt down on one knee, bowing his head and resting one closed fist on the floor in front of himself just as he had in his previous trip to the court.

"Why are you here, Umbra?" It was such a simple sentence, but when Nyx said it, her aura surged to life, and the sheer pressure she exerted with that sentence nearly sent Percy down on both knees.

It was a wonder he had managed to fight Tartarus in the condition he had been in, let alone win, if this is what a Primordial could really do. All things considered, he wasn't sure if he would be able to fight back against Nyx. If she could almost immobilize him with her words, how the hell was he supposed to fight the Primordial Goddess.

All these thoughts and more raced through his mind, as he kneeled there rooted to the spot. Eko, Thaye and Illyiana were the same, if faring slightly better. Managing to hold a graceful curtsy, their faces proud but not moving a muscle.

"Well my herald? Why have you intruded upon this council meeting?" Nyx said once more, her voice cutting the air like a razor as half of her court seemed to be holding their breath.

"Remember why you are here Percy. Don't just stand there, answer her!" The voice of Eko all but shouted in his head as Percy blinked once or twice before snapping from his stupor and looked directly at Nyx.

He blinked once or twice, before forcing his legs to respond, standing up quickly and addressing her in a polite and monotone voice. "Forgive the trespass milady, I know you ordered that I spend more time recuperating from my injuries." Percy finished as he locked eyes with Nyx, refusing to back down an inch as the Primordial glared at him.

Nyx was hard to read, and if anything, her expression was intense. Her eyes glowing with power as she looked down at Percy from her throne. Almost like she was waiting to see if that was all Percy had to say. "My guards?" She asked as she gestured towards the door.

Percy paused for a moment, the truth of the matter was that the guards had been ordered not to let him inside, likely by Nyx herself. But deep down he knew and so did Nyx. Percy could have held back and found another solution, but instead he had almost killed the first guard, and would have killed the rest if they hadn't opened the door.

"They didn't respect the position I hold my lady. I doubt they will make the same mistake again." Percy replied as coldly. He himself would have been shocked at hearing those words exit his mouth a few days ago, he sounded like every other God he had ever met. But now? Things were different.

A dry chuckle escaped Nyx's lips before she spoke "No matter, they were just servants after all. Easily replaceable. However you are not, which is why you were ordered to rest." Nyx replied in an irritated voice.

"I feel perfectly fine, my lady. I can fight now should you wish me to." Percy replied quickly as he held his arms out wide, as if inviting Nyx and the Rest of the court to see that he wasn't injured, at least not severely.

"So you have nothing to say in regard to what happened on the surface?" Nyx asked in a neutral tone. "Instead you disobey my orders and come here unannounced?"

Several snickers and cackles could be heard for a moment or two before Nyx slowly lifted her hand, and in an instant the court was silent, the whispers were gone and no one dared so much as breathe while Nyx hovered on the edge of an angry outburst.

"There was a fight on the surface, but I did what you asked. Enough of this. We both know why I'm here, where is she?" Percy said defiantly, not backing down an inch he tapped into the powers he held, His eyes glowing a bright green as he glared up at Nyx, not backing down an inch as his own sea green aura burst into life.

The courtiers above him were instantly in an uproar as hundreds of dark deities screeched and screamed in anger.

"The Audacity! He Commits Treason! Take His Head!" Dozens of threats like those and more rained down on Percy as he stood his ground, all while Nyx slowly began to smirk while looking down on him.

Eko and her sisters were baring their fangs as they looked up at the crowd, and the hellhounds had begun to growl, a deep rumbling in their chests, like a dozen chainsaws starting all at once.

Meanwhile the guards all around the room had begun to lower their spears or draw their swords as they looked between Nyx, their Queen, and Umbra, their soon to be general.

The standoff continued for a few moments while the noise around them only grew louder,

Finally Percy grew tired of the standoff and walked forwards, and as he ascended the dais the crowd slowly quieted. It didn't take long, but by the end of it, Percy stood right in front of Nyx herself, his teeth gritted underneath the helmet as waves of power rolled off the Primordial.

"You never fail to amuse and surprise Perseus…" Came the mental voice of Nyx as the Primordial slowly stood from her throne.

Then as the very hall itself shook under the power of her voice, the Queen of Night addressed her subjects. "The Last Ardywr, The Bane of Tartarus, The Lord of Wolves, You hold many titles and indeed I do know why you are here. But first there is some business to attend to." Nyx proclaimed loudly as she gestured towards Percy.

"You broke into my court, disrupted our council and you carry weapons no less. Those transgressions are punishable by death." Nyx said as her form seemed to swell and grow larger until she all but towered over Percy. "Yet you stand here before me, and I can't sense an ounce of fear within you, Why?" Nyx finished.

"Because there are things more frightening than death." Percy replied. "I'm not scared of you. I'll serve you, but not out of fear. Now where is my sister?" Percy all but growled at her.

For a moment Nyx's features contorted into a look of rage as she shrunk down to her normal size. She locked eyes with Percy and for a moment no one dared to breathe as she walked right up in front of him, a black sword appearing in one hand as she raised it and held it level with his chin.

Percy didn't move, but nor did he break eye contact with Nyx. He knew she could cause him immense pain, but he'd already been stabbed by that sword once and came back to life. He was pretty sure he could do it again if he had too.

Finally after what felt like an eternity Nyx slowly started to smile, a deep booming chuckle echoing around the court as it slowly turned into a full blown cackle.

"Unheard of, but not unexpected Umbra! You are exactly what I hoped you would be when I sent you after my Son!" Nyx cackled as she looked Percy in the face.

"Well pup, we might just make a wolf out of you yet… now kneel" Nyx's voice echoed in his mind as he quickly dropped to one knee. A shiver ran down his spine as Nyx laid the blade of her sword on his shoulder.

"You ventured to the surface world, and battled against Titans and Olympians alone. There were those amongst my court who doubted your abilities even after you felled Umbra and took his domain." Nyx added as she looked around at the court, her gaze leaving no room for any kind of disobedience.

"You defeated Umbra, you took his name and titles for yourself. He was the strongest of the hellhounds and one of my own children. You dealt a fatal wound to Dionysus and had it not been for the other Olympians interfering, you could have killed that pathetic excuse for a God!" Nyx roared as shadows swirled around her and Percy.

"Do those doubts still remain?" Nyx said after a short pause the question clearly directed at the courtiers and vassals seated above them. "Are there any who still wish to test if their immortality is a match for an Ardwyrian!?"

Complete silence met Nyx's question.

"Since none of you have spoken you shall hold your peace henceforth! Rise Lord Umbra. Until I revoke these titles, you shall be known as the High Commander of the Army of Night." Nyx said with a wide grin on her face as Percy felt a surge of magical energy rush through the sword and into his body.

Almost as if she had dipped the sword into Ink, liquid shadows, as black as night, seemed to boil and run off the blade. Like oil, it ran across the surface of his armor. Spreading quickly as it coated his skin, and in the instant it reached his face he was thrown back into his memories.

He was in Alaska and he was drowning in the muskeg all over again, and as the liquid shadows continued to cover his body

Every inch of his armor was already covered and as the oily liquid filled his mouth rushing to cover his nose and eyes he suffered an instant of panic. Then it was gone as he surged to his feet in a burst of movement, his chest heaving as he drew in a deep breath.

His tattered armor was gone, replaced instead by a new set. This one gleamed like polished obsidian and appeared different from that which Nyx had given him before.

His entire body was clad in what might as well have been polished obsidian. Heavy greaves and gauntlets covered his limbs. As Percy moved, he was amazed by how light the armor felt. It was as if he wasn't even wearing anything. The armor felt like a second set of skin, even down to the gloves on his hands.

Yet at a glance he could tell the armor was far more durable than anything he had ever worn. The chestpiece consisted of a solid metal cuirass and a chainmail hauberk which reached from his neck to his waist. The greaves and gauntlets like the chestpiece were exquisite and all of them were covered in silver metal which trimmed the edges of the armor.

A dark sea green surcoat was worn over the chestpiece and was cinched at the waist by a large belt upon which the crest of Nyx sat embossed in silver metal and while Percy couldn't see the helmet he was wearing, he had little doubt the Symbol of Nyx would be there as well.

Overall the entire outfit felt light as a feather and as durable as steel, and he continued to look over the armor for a few moments before he nodded more to himself than anyone else before looking at Nyx who was watching him with an expression of vague amusement on her features.

"Thank you, my lady." Percy said as he gave a short bow, noting with some irritation that despite its obvious magic nature this armor still grinded and clanked metallically when he moved. Unlike that which Kalvar and his guards wore.

"You are most welcome my Herald, but perhaps I should indulge your request, given how patient you have been thus far." Nyx said with a small smile before she held her hand up and gestured for something or someone behind herself. "Bring the girl out"

Percy froze and his head whipped around as the sound of a door opening somewhere behind Nyx echoed across the hall, followed by the sound of dozens of armored feet marching in unison.

After a few moments, a group of nearly twenty of Nyx's personal guards came to a stop beside her throne. Meanwhile two of her own priestesses accompanied the group holding large ceremonial staves and wearing robes of black that covered their entire bodies, faces included.

In the middle of the procession was a floating cradle, made of a black metal and stuffed with large fluffy red blankets. Within which sat a baby girl, her eyes wide with wonder as the child looked around.

Percy felt his heart practically leap in his chest as the smile on Nyx's face grew wider. "Behold, the Princess of the Tartarean and the younger half-sister to my most esteemed Herald." Nyx cried out as she gestured towards the group who parted enough that Estelle was visible to the majority of the court.

Percy however didn't even care, marching directly towards his sister without a care, Nyx simply grinned and stepped to the side. Meanwhile the guards reverently backed out of his way until after just a few seconds he stood in front of his little sister.

Almost like some sort of nightmare he was drawn back to when he first saw her, in the midst of his enraged attempt to kill Jason, Annabeth was screaming at him, drawing him out of his frenzy and bloodlust if only for a second.

"Percy, stop! Gods above please STOP! Just take Estelle and GO! PLEASE!"Annabeth screamed as she rushed towards him, tears streaming down her face as she begged for him to spare Jason's life.

Almost as if seeing her brought the memory back he slowly reached his hand out to lay it on Estelle's cheek, ignoring the ache in his chest when Estelle started to cry. Wailing as the cold metal touched her cheek.

Percy barely even noticed the absolute chaos that had descended over the court as he stood beside his sister's cradle, lost in his own little world, and for a few moments he stayed that way until he felt Eko and Thaye brush his mind with their own, just a gentle touch but enough to snap him back to reality.

He turned to look at Nyx and bowed low, and long. Percy truly was grateful that Nyx had saved his sister and he was going to show it if it was the last thing he did. "Thank you my lady, I don't know what would have happened to her without you." Percy said formally.

Nyx merely grinned wider as she looked at the court, all of whom were on their feet for the most part, staring down at the two Ardwyrians with unveiled interest in their eyes. It was after several moments that Nyx finally held up her hand as if to quiet the crowd.

Yet just as Nyx was about to say something all parties were distracted as a chorus of voices rang out, some addressing Nyx formally and others addressing her as mother. Meanwhile the courtiers erupted into shouts of anger, all at once the dead silence of the courtroom was shattered as Percy watched Nyx before quickly glancing around the room.

The voices calling out from the balconies above drew Nyx's gaze upwards. "Get down here before I drag you down here" Nyx growled out and in an instant, everyone went silent.

Nyx simply glared up into the darkness, until a moment later, several clouds of what Percy could only describe as shadow slammed into the ground around him. The shadows exploded into a black smoke and as it cleared Percy saw several immortals wearing large black cloaks, some of whom he recognized from his previous visit to the court.

They were the advisors of Nyx herself, the Midnight Council.

The largest of them was a creature that somewhat resembled a cross between a crocodile and a bird. Its scaly body was covered in rough plumage, a row of spikes ran down its back and a long tail dragged along on the ground behind him. He stood nearly seven feet tall by Percy's guess and he assumed the creature was much taller as it was severely hunched over. The remains of what was once a very regal robe covered its back and large sections of armor similar to what Percy himself wore covered its legs and torso.

It was this creature that stepped out of the cluster of immortals and addressed Nyx in a sibilant hissing voice that defied the creature's rough appearance.

"My Queen, I must say what an honor it is to stand in your presence, and that of your Herald. Never before has the Shadow Realm had a general so capable to lead her forces." The creature replied as it bowed low, its long beak practically scraping the ground.

"Enough Nerezza, why are you interrupting the Court?" Nyx said as she raised an eyebrow and looked at him

"Because I wish to greet our General myself, and to offer my guidance on the events that occurred at Camp Half-blood involving your herald and the Olympains." Nerezza said his eyes were still locked on the ground at his feet.

Nyx waited for a moment before nodding, "Say your piece Nerezza."

The monster looked up and grinned, something genuinely nightmare inspiring as far as percy was concerned, then he started to speak. "You have always been a gracious queen, and you have ruled us well. You have taken in those who were pushed from their homes like the Dark Elves, and the unwanted and hideous creatures that the Gods threw away have come to think of themselves as your children." Nerezza said as he addressed both Nyx and the Court.

"Yet never before have you been in a position to punish the Gods for their hateful ways, and long have your people waited for you to do so. Now the perfect opportunity stands right before us!" Nerezza finished as he gestured to Percy.

"Enough time wasting Nerezza, speak plainly or not at all!" Nyx growled dangerously as she reclined on her throne.

"Many apologies milady, I know you understand my meaning but I wish for the court to as well. The Olympians struck at him first, knowing he was your herald. Neither Zeus nor Hera are ignorant of that symbol or its meaning, this is an act of war!" Nerezza said in a voice that seemed to screech and whisper all at once. His many eyes looked in all directions from underneath his large hooded robe as he gestured with a mangled claw towards the crescent moon and star symbol etched into the brow of Percy's Helm.

"Strike back! send out your herald to teach the Olympians a lesson!" he all but shouted as dozens of howls, screams and cries echoed through the court in agreement. "Anyone who witnessed that fight from the shadows knows he's more than capable. If he were to lead even a portion of the Army of Night out against them, he could crush Olympus!"

The monster's proclamation sent the court spiraling into chaos, weapons were drawn as voices were raised arguing for both sides as Nyx sat on her throne, her hands clenched into fists as she gazed up at the courtiers on the balconies above them.

"What good would a war with Olympus bring me? I want nothing from them. Zeus wasn't capable of challenging me when he was at his peak, let alone as he is now. Nor am I able to claim his domains, not that I would want them. So what purpose would such a war serve?" Nyx asked as she appeared to ponder the question herself.

However the response did not come from who he expected, instead it was Eko who spoke up. "Vengeance…" she called out as she looked at Nyx.

Nyx paused for a moment, digesting what had been said before a wicked grin broke out on her face, "Perhaps you're right, my herald already made short work of the Wine God" she said with a vicious grin, all the while nodding her head as she looked around the court at the half dozen or so immortals gathered around Percy. "Who is to say he couldn't finish the job?"

Percy was about to say something, no matter how he felt about the Olympians, a war against them meant a war against the demigods and he wasn't about to start killing what may as well be his extended family. His fight was with the Gods and his so-called friends. No one else.

Yet before he could make that clear, he felt Nyx's mind brush against his. "This is why I desired you to remain away from the court as long as possible, my herald. You've stirred up a bloodlust amongst my court that even I didn't expect. Worry not, I have no intention of breaking my word and going to war with Olympus. I remember why you swore an oath to serve me but subterfuge is the best way to rule them, something you will learn soon my little pup."

In a single fluid motion Nyx stood up from the throne, in an instant towering over Percy and the Tartarii as she looked around the court menacingly, "Soon the army of Night will venture forth from the Shadow Realm for the first time in millennias. Our enemies will tremble to know that the last of the Ardwyr leads my armies. Soon oceans of blood and ichor will be spilled but in the end, we will be the victors. Of this I am certain!" Nyx cried out as she raised her arms up.

The Court roared back its approval, dozens of immortals thrusting weapons into the air as a wave of sound crashed over Percy, and he couldn't deny that the mood within the court was ecstatic.

Of course it didn't last long.

The first indication that something had changed was the look of irritation that flashed across Nyx's face, followed immediately by the sound of wings beating.

"Mother, have you not considered the fallout these events may cause?" Came a deep resonating voice as Thanatos appeared in a burst of feathers. Having dropped down from the upper levels at unbelievable speed."We have no way of knowing how the Olympians will react to this! Let alone your brothers and sisters! They could see this as a war declaration, or worse, they might think you're exercising some sort of personal vendetta!." The God of Death said quickly as he looked at Percy.

A look not missed by Nyx as the Goddess' eyes sparked with rage for an instant before they smoothed over and she returned to her throne, taking a seat.

"And?" Nyx replied casually, inspecting the nails on one hand as she did so. "Are you intending to lecture me? If so, you forget your place Thanatos", Nyx added in a dangerous tone as the shadows around the room deepened. Leaving Thanatos and Nyx surrounded by a whirling storm of darkness.

Thanatos for his part stood still, not moving a muscle as he watched Nyx, his hood hiding his features but Percy could feel how nervous the God was, it was practically rolling off of him in waves.

"Tartarus will be occupied reforming his physical body for some time yet, and Gaea is too obsessed with her war against Olympus to challenge me. My other brothers and sisters won't interfere, not if they know what's good for them. So it sounds like you are suggesting that the Olympians actually are a threat to me and mine? But you wouldn't be stupid enough to assume that, would you my son?" Nyx asked menacingly. Meanwhile the blue flames lighting the many braziers in the throne room guttered and the shadows deepened if that was even possible.

"Mother, of course I would never think to suggest-" Thanatos started to say before Nyx stood from her throne and held up a hand. Thanatos went quiet instantly as Nyx looked around the room, an aura of darkness pulsing around her as her eyes blazed like stars. "Of course you wouldn't think that, would you? I don't expect or need you to think, Thanatos. What I expect and need from my children is obedience and loyalty, and this behavior of yours is starting to make me question both of those qualities in you." Nyx finished as the darkness in the room faltered, and the blue flames returned in full within the braziers. Nyx sank back into her throne and let out a long sigh as she closed her eyes for a moment.

That was when Percy and most of the court let out a breath they didn't realize they had been holding, the sheer power of Nyx's aura when she was enraged was mind boggling.

Thanatos looked pale and uncertain as he stood alone between his mother and the midnight council. However, that was when one of the councilors strode forwards, throwing their hood off and coming to a stop beside Thanatos.

Hecate, Goddess of Magic.

"A war against Olympus would be foolishness of the highest order, and you know it mother." Hecate called out as she stood beside Thanatos, "Nerezza is as always thinking about his greed and desire for power. You would risk the commander of your armies in a battle against Olympus with your war against Tartarus looming on the horizon?" Hecate all but demanded of Nyx.

Nyx simply turned to look at Hecate, a loving smile on her face. "Pardon me daughter, but it sounded like for a moment you deigned to tell me what to do?" Nyx finished as she locked gazes with the goddess of magic. "Was I mistaken?"

"N-no of course not mot-" Hecate started so say before suddenly cutting off with a strangled cry. Percy looked up in time to see Hecate's body twist and bend awkwardly slowly floating into the air in the grip of what appeared to be living shadows. All the while Nyx looked at her, her eyes glowing like miniature stars. In that instant Thanatos and the Councillors all dropped to their knees and avoided Nyx's glare.

"Of course you aren't trying to tell me what to do, because that would be foolish, wouldn't it?" Nyx said her voice full of irritation while Hecate squirmed in the grip of the shadows.

The Primordial slowly turned and looked over at the group of immortals kneeling in front of her, "Do any of you doubt my abilities or capacity to lead you?"

Silence greeted her question as Nyx scoffed looking around at the councilors and Thanatos before turning her attention back to Hecate.

"Now would you like a second chance to tell me what you meant to say daughter?" Nyx asked in a pleasant tone, but there was no denying the underlying message she was sending, Percy thought to himself. Give the wrong answer again and you'll regret it. Something the Olympians had been fond of implying as well.

"Mother, you can't wage war against Olympus! The Olympians are too proud to admit defeat and even if your herald would crush them, they would fight to the last. Zeus and Hera will watch the demigods spill an ocean of blood before they so much as budge to fight and when they do they will summon every ally to their side they can." Hecate said clearly, wincing as the shadow tendrils tightened their hold on the Goddess of Magic.

"Oh I can't? And who are you to say that?" Nyx Growled back asked calmly. "You presume to know more than I do about this situation. As if you were the one to witness the birth of entire galaxies worth of stars and not me."

"No! Of course not mother I don't presume to know more than you, I simply know the Olympians! I have served as an advisor to both Zeus and Hera for as long as I can remember!" Hecate replied. "This war would not be over quickly, and it won't be the war you want, as much as the Olympians deserve it."

"And now I'm beginning to question if you remember that I told you to advise them and report back to me. You are mine Hecate, have you forgotten where your loyalties lie?" Nyx asked angrily. "Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?"

Hecate's reply was an anguished scream as several cracks were heard while Nyx slowly closed her palm. It wasn't until she released it, sending Hecate crashing to the floor at Thanatos' feet. It was then that Percy saw the shadow tendrils which had seconds ago been crushing Hecate dissipated.

Then she turned around to address the court. "It's clear that there are some who have doubts as to what we are about to undertake, So I must ask. Who is it that has inspired such fear and cowardice amongst even my own children? Do you not trust me to lead you as I have since the birth of this realm!?"

No one even dared to breathe as Nyx looked around the court furiously, daring someone to say anything she looked up into the darkness above.

"Perhaps some of your servants have less faith in this herald of yours than others." Came a hissing reply from Nerezza, kneeling several feet to Percy's left. Hundreds of needle sharp teeth filling its mouth while a rank scent of decay and death seemed to hang about the air surrounding it.

Nyx paused for a moment before laughing loudly and collapsing back down onto her throne shaking her head. "His skill is none of your concern, But I will admit that perhaps Hecate's fear is well placed. The war for the throne of Tartarus still looms on the horizon, even a warrior as powerful as my own herald might be hard pressed to finish such a war in due time to still lead my armies against the forces of Tartarus."

Then Nyx paused before turning to look at Percy directly, "Well my Herald, what say you? Is this beyond your abilities?"

However before Percy could even think of an answer to Nyx, another voice cut in, and just the sound of voice made Percy furious.

"What does it matter if he believes it to be beyond his abilities? I agree with Nerezza, he's little more than your attack dog, so send him to punish the Olympians for daring to strike out against you!" Akhlys said with conviction as she appeared in a burst of sickly green smoke.

The Goddess flashing a cruel smile Percy's way as dozens of Courtiers screamed out their approval to Akhlys' comment all the while she moved closer to Percy until she stood close by him. "I'm going to enjoy watching mother force you to kill the Olympians Jackson" Akhlys whispered to him with a sickening grin."And when we do go to war, I'll be sure to find that little blonde haired friend of yours. I'm going to gut her like a fish and watch her choke on poison fumes before this is over. A little payback for the two of you for embarrassing me." akhlys added angrily.

At the comment, Percy stood up in an instant, his aura surging to life as magical energy crackled in the air around him. "You don't command me Akhlys…don't presume for a second to try" Percy managed to growl out, just barely keeping himself from leaping at the goddess and strangling her.

He still remembered who sent the gorgons after him during his hunt for Umbra, and even before that he had unfinished business with the Goddess of Poison. That and his suspicions as to who Akhlys loyalties really lay, as she had been actively working against him even as a daughter of his patron.

Several of the councilors chuckled, including Nerezza, which produced a sound not unlike an old car trying to turn over. Meanwhile Akhlys went varying shades of red as a look of fury crossed the features of the Goddess of Poison.

Akhlys looked at Percy in a fury as her skin began to change, slowly turning green as poisonous smoke rolled off of her in waves. "It's funny that you're so defiant now, but your sister is little more than ten feet away. I wonder how quickly you'll do what we want if her life is on the line" akhlys said gloatingly as she started to walk towards the cradle.

He moved without even thinking, and the next thing Percy knew he was standing protectively over beside the cradle, his right arm extended outwards as his fist slammed into the Goddess chest sending her flying backwards as Percy drew his sword and leveled it at the closest guard who didn't so much as move.

Meanwhile the cloud of dust and rubble on the other side of the room told him where Akhlys had landed. What followed was the Goddess screaming in rage as she threw the rubble clear off of herself with a surge of power. Sending a wave of poisonous gas rolling across the floor as the Dark Elves and courtiers around her shouted in fear and tried to run.

Many of them however simply collapsed, clawing at their throats, foam coming from their mouths as they flailed in agony on the ground.

Akhlys had threatened Estelle, right in front of him.

So she was going to die.

"YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT JA-" Akhlys started to shout as she stood up. Her whole body was glowing golden as she was suddenly cut off as she stumbled backwards, and threw her hands up as the poison on the ground around her rose into the air, as if to form a barrier of sorts.

Mostly because Percy was already halfway across the room, having leapt after her the instant he had hit her. His sword led the way as he slashed at the barrier, tearing it apart with ease before he slammed into the goddess like a freight train.

Percy couldn't hear Akhlys anymore, he could barely see her. Percy hadn't felt a rage like this ever, he didn't hold back in the slightest, with everything he had he lashed out, his fist crashing into the Goddess' face sending her careening back into the wall with a dull boom.

Spider web cracks exploded out across the wall as Akhlys made a groaning sound, yet before she could even fall Percy was beside her again. Grabbing her by the head with his right hand, then he spun quickly slamming her off the ground with all the force he could muster.

Meanwhile he lifted his left hand into the air, his sword crackling with power as he drove it downwards without hesitation towards Akhlys with enough force to send a small shockwave out across the ground as the sword sunk into the floor like a knife through butter.

However, Akhlys was no longer there.

Akhlys had managed to escape by turning herself into a cloud of gas and escaping Percy's grip as he watched her reform in the middle of the dias. As the cloud solidified into the shape of a humanoid, Akhlys reappeared, ichor dripping from her mouth as she looked at him with hate filled eyes.

Nyx for her part was watching the entire thing, appearing almost amused by what was unfolding in front of her. However the voice she spoke with in his head was anything other than amused.

"HOW DARE YOU! Attacking a daughter of Nyx in her own court! I'll watch you choke to death on poison for this! Seize him!" Akhlys screamed as she gestured towards Percy, looking at the guards and the other members of the court frantically.

Nyx glanced in the direction of Estelle and without a word the group of guards around Estelle quickly formed a tight circle, their backs facing the cradle as they watched the events unfold. Shields and spears at the ready.

Percy immediately glanced towards Estelle, following Nyx's gaze, already mapping out how he was going to get to her, and which guards and courtiers would have to die for him to reach her.

Yet even as Akhlys called out for aid, no one moved.

At first Akhlys looked around at them, her face contorted with rage as poison dripped from her fingers. "WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING? In the name of the Queen of Night seize that traitor! Why are you all just standing there!?"

"They will do no such thing, Akhlys. Not unless I command them to." The powerful voice of Nyx called out, echoing about the room as if the primordial had spoken from everywhere all at once.

Akhlys whipped around, staring at Nyx first in shock, then confusion as the guards and other courtiers slowly backed up until they formed a ring of sorts around the throne. In the middle of which stood Percy and Akhlys.

"You forget your place, Akhlys." Nyx added calmly.

"As does he! He attacked me within your court mother! How can you allow him to stand here alive!? Surely you must see the reason in what I said, he's like a wild dog. Attacking anyone he sees fit! How is this mortal worthy of leading your armies!?" Akhlys called out as several courtiers could be heard murmuring in agreement from above.

"Then settle it Akhlys, show me how valuable you are and perhaps it will be you to lead the armies of Night into Tartarus in his place." Nyx replied in a dry voice.

Akhlys went white as a ghost as Nyx spoke and the entire court went completely silent. "W-what?" Akhlys stuttered out shakily.

"You heard me daughter, Umbra has felled Titans and Gods in my name, battled against one of my own children, as well as Tartarus himself. If you believe that you can be more valuable to me than he is, by all means, strike him down and prove it to me." Nyx added as she slowly rose from her throne.

"N-no mother that's not what I.. of course I wouldn't try…" Akhlys said as she stumbled over her own words, frantically backpedaling as Nyx grinned wickedly.

"I didn't ask you daughter, I'm telling you. You threatened his sister in front of the entire court, a girl I took under my protection. You forced him to respond to your challenge, you left him no choice. So you WILL respond in kind, Or you will face my wrath for disturbing my court more than it already has been!" Nyx said her voice booming across the room as Akhlys took a step back, whether out of fear or self preservation, Percy wasn't quite sure.

However this was when Percy heard the voice of Nyx in his head, "She's the one who betrayed you to Gaea, and she knows who you are underneath that helmet. She might be my daughter but she's a fool with no vision and I have no need for her, if this is how she acts, I give you free reign to do what you will, my Herald.."

Percy almost instantly knew what Nyx wanted, he could still remember what it felt like to tear the spark of divinity from Umbra. He hesitated for just a moment, the memory of Annabeth flashing before his mind's eye. "Some things aren't meant to be controlled"

But if he didn't do something, he had no doubt Akhlys would go after his sister, and that was all the motivation he needed.

To her credit Akhlys didn't seem bothered at all by the prospect of fighting and once she realized what Nyx wanted of her the goddess lashed out, throwing both arms forwards and sending a torrent of poisonous liquid flying towards Percy.

Only for it to freeze mid air as Percy held up one hand.

It was so simple, the poison felt like water, if slightly heavier. If anything this was child's play compared to before as he casually brushed the attack aside, sending a wave of poison crashing down to the floor.

The poison quickly sent a billowing cloud of steam into the air as it ate into the flagstone floor of the court. Meanwhile Akhlys almost immediately summoned another wave of poison and launched it in his direction.

Not that Percy cared.

He started walking towards her, his hands ripping apart the waves of poison long before they reached him. His path was slow, methodical and direct.

Each step brought him closer to Akhlys and with each step the look of panic on her face grew more and more pronounced. Until finally Akhlys summoned a massive maelstrom of poison around herself and backed up in a futile attempt to keep Percy away from her.

A grin split Percy's face, he could practically taste the goddess' fear in the air, he could see the wild look in her eyes as she knew that there was no escape from what he was about to do.

Raising both hands Percy seized control of the poison, freezing it in midair as Akhlys instantly broke out into a cold sweat, shaking and struggling to keep control of her own element. Yet gradually the poison began to flow back towards the Goddess, inching closer and closer until finally Percy closed his hand and with a roar of anger he crushed Akhlys feeble excuse for control.

Sending the wave of poison crashing back down onto the goddess as she thrashed and screamed in agony. Clouds of steam billowing up from where the poison had made contact with her skin. Not that Percy was done, not by a long shot.

She had to pay, he had to make it clear that his sister was off limits, to everyone.

So with a small gesture Percy sent the poison rushing upwards, flooding into Akhlys mouth, nose and eyes. Turning the goddess' screams into gurgles and choking sounds as she clawed at her throat and face desperately.

His sword flashed out, a blur of silver, followed by two loud thuds as her hands fell to the floor beside her, leaving the goddess on her knees. Her mouth opened wide in an endless scream of agony as a torrent of golden ichor poured from her wrists.

"You made a mistake Akhlys. You sent the Gorgons after me and I dealt with them easily enough, I would have even forgiven you for that. But my sister? She's off limits." Percy said in a deadly calm voice as he continued to force the poison into Akhlys.

It was at this point that Nyx walked forwards, coming to a stop beside Percy as she looked down on Akhlys. "You disappoint me daughter, to think that one of my own could be so idiotic. Did you think I wouldn't find out? Or that perhaps I was too old and senile to notice?" Nyx asked angrily.

Akhlys simply made a gurgling sound as she twitched on the ground, most of her poison was gone and Percy simply released his grip on what remained, sending it splashing down to the floor around the goddess.

"I wonder, daughter, how much did my sister have to offer you?"Nyx asked calmly, still standing beside Percy as she watched Akhlys writhe in agony, her skin turning varying shades of black and blue as the poison ate at her insides.. "I had assumed Gaea would find a way to get a spy into my court, but I never expected it to be one of my own children."

Akhlys was shaking and trembling as she retched up ichor and poison. But even in the condition she was in she managed to force herself to her hands and knees before crawling towards Nyx. Tears streamed down her face as she weakly called out "M-mother… d-don't let him kill m-me"

Nyx scoffed in disgust, "You don't even try to deny it…"

Akhlys wailed as she reached out to grab at Nyx's leg. "G-gaea made me! You don't know h-how cruel she can be, I had no other choice!"

Nyx simply bent down until she was face to face with Akhlys, reaching out and grabbing her by the chin as she forced her daughter to look at her. "Perhaps it's time you find out how cruel I can be… End this Umbra, I want her out of my sight" Nyx said coldly as she turned around and began walking back towards her throne.

"NOOOO! NOOOO PLEASE, MOTHER!" Akhlys screamed.

Percy simply raised his hand, reaching out with his powers until he felt it, like a fishing line catching. He closed his fist and pulled and in that instant Akhlys went silent, her body twitching uncontrollably.

Then, an instant later, ichor all but exploded out of her, pouring from every hole on her body as Percy continued to pull, tearing the divine essence from her like taking candy from a baby. Compared to Umbra, she barely even struggled.

Meanwhile the song of the Tartarii began to ring in his head as he breathed out slowly, doing his best to control his powers as the runes on his skin began to glow and burn like someone had pressed a hot iron to his side.

But he didn't stop, and as the sweat began to bead on his brow his other hand reached out and slowly he used his powers to feel for the poison Akhlys had created, the puddles of liquid still scattered and steaming on the ground around him.

He wasn't even entirely sure what it was he was doing, his body acting almost on instinct as he gathered the poison into a sphere floating in front of him. Almost as if something had gently told him "No do it this way"

It was strange that he felt calm, at peace even, as if something within him was guiding him. So even though the thought of reaching out and putting his hand into a floating orb of liquid poison made him recoil. He did it anyway, somehow knowing that he wouldn't be hurt.

For a moment, the poison seemed to resist him, and as he focused his powers he felt it again. Something within him cracking like glass. Last time Annabeth had broken his concentration, last time he had stopped.

This time Annabeth wasn't here, and he wasn't about to stop.

All at once, like glass shattering under his willpower alone, any control or influence Akhlys had over the poison vanished.

A surge of power exploded out around him as the poison slowly lost its green hue, white flames racing from his palm exploded out across the surface of the liquid as it shimmered and slowly changed color, until finally a ball of aquamarine water floated in the air in front of him. Lines of white fire rippled across its surface.

Gone was the poison and in its place floated water straight from the Tartarean sea, only Percy knew that moments ago it had been poison, not that he stopped to consider the implications of what he had just done.

He barely recognized the looks of astonishment present on the faces of the Tartarii and Nyx herself or the sheer horror on the faces of other immortals like Hecate and Thanatos, as he focused his powers on waters, channeling every bit of his rage and fury over what he had suffered over the past few days, what his sister had suffered. He poured every bit of his anger and will power into it and slammed the water into Akhlys.

The reaction was instantaneous, as the water started to tear away the Goddess, the flames burning her skin away to the bone, as a golden dust started to cloud the water and flashes of light exploded out around her.

For all the effort it took, it was over incredibly quickly.

The entire process took perhaps ten seconds as the water simply ate away the body of Akhlys like acid. And weakened as she was, she stood little chance to resist, so when Percy finally dropped his hands and released his control on the water, all that remained of Akhlys was some golden dust within the water which quickly lost its shimmer and faded to a dull gray color.

Percy stood there swaying on his feet for a moment until he felt more than saw two people approach him on either side he looked down to see Eko and Thaye both standing beside him.

They didn't say anything but it was clear that they were there to make sure he didn't fall over, something that Percy himself would prefer not to do in front of the entire court. Especially after he had just tried to demonstrate what happened to those who crossed his family. It kind of took the intimidation factor down a notch if he passed out.

More importantly, Estelle's safety clearly depended on how terrified Nyx's courtiers were of him, so he couldn't afford to lapse, not even for a second.

Nyx stood from her throne without a word, watching the puddle of water on the floor with a look of genuine shock. "She faded…" Nyx said quietly. Her aura exploded into existence as shadows seemed to fill the entire room in an instant.

The silence in the room was deafening as she waited for Percy's reply. "Yes milady" came his quick reply but he couldn't help but think that if Nyx was actually angry, he wouldn't be alive much longer. He had done what he thought he needed to in order to protect Estelle and himself, but now he was starting to question if he had misunderstood Nyx.

A thought shared by some of the courtiers no doubt as he saw several of the dark immortals on the lower balconies grinning wildly and watching him like a pack of hungry dogs.

A dozen escape plans rushed through his mind all at once, everything from taking a hostage to attacking Nyx herself, each plan was more foolish and hairbrained than the last but standing was all he could do at the moment, the sheer power rolling off of Nyx in waves had all but immobilized him.

"Do any of you doubt him now!? After what you just witnessed!?" Nyx cried out as she looked upwards at the assembled courtiers. "Are there any of you who think they are a worthy match for my herald?"

The courtiers remained silent, and many of them wore shocked expressions on their faces as they looked down in confusion. Nyx however, continued unabated, her glee clearly evident as she looked down on Percy. "You have exceeded my expectations Umbra, and I assure you, they were high to begin with" The primordial let out a cackle of laughter as nervous chattering sprung up amongst the court. Nyx meanwhile began to pace the dias upon which her throne sat, her voice gleeful and a massive smile upon her face.

"You went to Camp Half-Blood alone for the most part, using the great pack as a mere distraction. I sent them to serve as your soldiers and yet, after fighting nearly a dozen immortals and the better part of my sister's army alone, here you stand my herald. Alive." Nyx added almost breathlessly.

"The fact that the Olympians were foolish enough to pick a fight with you after I sent you to stop my sister's army." Nyx said with a malicious smile as she shook her head almost sadly before a wild grin broke out across her features and she laughed. "And of course, the youngest of the Olympians came out to face you." Nyx said happily, "Just the thought of you and the memory of your people scared the Elder Olympians so much that they released an actual monster in some hope to have her fight you for them, no doubt. Not that they could control her when they had all their powers, let alone now, when they are weaker than they've ever been, and their entire world is crashing down around them. Though, after what they did to your people, it's almost poetic." Nyx said as the gleeful note left her voice and if Percy didn't know better he would have said it was replaced by anger.

For a moment Nyx seemed pensive, her hands hanging at her side as she looked around the court, her eyes locked in a distant stare for a moment, but that was it. When she started speaking again, the moment was lost, and as unpredictable as ever, now she sounded full of anger and fury.

"But it's not over. Soon you will lead the rest of my armies across Tartarus! You will crush those insignificant Lords and Ladies of my brother's little council, and you will make them bend the knee one way or another!" Nyx said as the ceiling above them shifted and boiled, stars appearing and disappearing across the dark clouds of shadow that moved along the ceiling like water.

At this mention, dozens of courtiers and immortals shouted and cheered, their shrill voices echoing out around them as Nyx looked around the room. Some of the voices called for a ceremony or a feast in order to honor the Herald and his deeds.

Meanwhile Percy did his best to stay on his feet, ignoring the agony his marks were causing him as they burned like white hot metal against his skin.

"Tonight we shall feast, a celebration of the achievements of your General. Food, Wine and Music shall flow like water, and we shall have a chance to honor the last son of Ardwyr before he leads my armies on the warpath!" Nyx cried out jubilantly. "Tonight oaths shall be sworn, and blood rites conducted, because soon we shall march upon Tartarus!"

This declaration drove the court wild, as they screamed and shouted. Drawing weapons and thrusting them into the air as the chant began.

"Umbra! Umbra! Umbra!" Hundreds of voices called out as Percy looked around in a daze, Nyx's booming voice echoing across the chamber as several guards approached the puddle of liquid that was Akhlys remains with a bucket and a fair bit of confusion.

However when Nyx spoke next it was just to him. "Go rest my little wolf, you've done well enough for today. I will summon you to speak privately before the party. Until then, rest Perseus." Nyx said softly in his head.

The last thing he saw was Nyx waving her arm as a wall of shadows swept over the Tartarii, Estelle and himself.

*Flashback ends*

"I would have fought Nyx herself if I thought she meant to hurt Estelle.." Percy added as he snapped out of his thoughts, grabbing one of the many open decanters of wine and taking a drink as if to drive away the errant thoughts and memories of the court.

"But she didn't and she won't, it's clear Nyx values you Percy, otherwise she would have killed you for what you did to Akhlys." Eko replied.

Percy nodded, a sigh escaping his lips as he sat down on the low couch beside Estelle, watching his sister sleep soundly as she gurgled slightly. "For now, but who knows how long. She threw away her own daughter easily. I'm not blood related to her, what's to stop her from turning on me just as easily."

"You're right, you aren't her child, you're something else entirely Percy. I don't think you realize what you just did. You didn't just strip Akhlys of her domain, you changed her domain." Eko replied as she looked at Percy in wonder.

"So what? I controlled it as a mortal , before I knew anything about my family and their powers had been unlocked. Why is it any different now?" Percy replied.

"Before you may have simply controlled the poison, this time you made it into something else entirely. You corrupted it if you will, and somehow created tartarean water from something else entirely." Eko added breathlessly.

"I take it that it's supposed to be harder to do than I made it seem?" Percy asked sheepishly, drawing a giggle from Illyiana who was sitting across the room from them, lounging on one of her own couches, drinking from a wine glass as she watched Estelle.

"No, it shouldn't be possible, Percy." Eko replied seriously. "Altering and changing domains? Not even Nyx herself can do that…" Then she stood and walked around to stand in front of him, her eyes watching him intently.

"Never mind what shouldn't be possible or not, I thought we had agreed that he wasn't going to use his powers randomly! He was on the brink of death a few days ago and now he's doing Chaos knows what and interfering with who knows what with powers we don't even understand!" Thaye snapped, her fingers idly playing with a strand of her hair as her wine glass sat beside her, untouched.

"Don't ruin the moment Anon, let him enjoy himself. He's going to be the talk of the mythical world now, not just the Shadow Court." Illyiana added with a laugh, taking another large sip from her glass and draining it. "The Herald of Nyx, tearing the domain from a daughter of Nyx and fading her before the entire court... it's unheard of."

For a moment Percy sat there, he wasn't sure exactly why he was so angry, but it was clear in his voice when he spoke. "That's not her name." Percy said seriously his voice raised ever so slightly, standing up from the couch as he looked at Illyiana.

Thaye looked at him in confusion, meanwhile a look of irritation flashed across Illyiana's face before she returned to her usual bright and smiling self, pouring another glass and taking a sip of wine before nodding her head. "Ignore me Perseus, just a little fun between siblings is all." Illyiana said sullenly, however as she finished talking, Estelle began to wail, woken up by him raising his voice.

Percy had to give it to her, she had a set of lungs for someone so small. Percy sat down beside her and did his best to get her to stop crying, picking her up but he was absolutely clueless as to why she was crying let alone how to make it stop.

For a moment Eko and Illyiana looked at each other before the red haired goddess sighed, standing up and walking over to look at the swaddled up Estelle before picking her up out of Percy's arms and holding her gently while she walked away. "Nyx assigned some guards and nursing staff for the little princess here. I'll find someone to look after her, and then I'm going to go get ready for this feast of yours. Afterall, who wouldn't show up, with you as the guest of honor Perseus." Illyiana added in a sultry voice as she walked away with Estelle.

Thaye looked at Percy quizzically for a moment or two before she stood up as well, mumbling a quick "Thank you" to Percy before wandering off to her section of the apartment, mentioning that she had best get ready for the feast as well.

Eko took one look at her younger sister and laughed, before looking at Percy with a grin on her face, "You really are something special Percy. Not quite Ardwyr, Not quite Godling. But something else entirely." She added as she stood in front of him, then in one clean motion she moved forwards, coming to a rest as she straddled him on the couch. Her eyes still staring at him almost hungrily.

Percy lifted his wine glass to avoid spilling it and Eko just smiled reaching and taking it out of his hands before draining the glass and tossing it over her shoulder, shattering the glass on the flagstone floor.

"What are you talking about?" Percy said nervously as she looked at him, her obsidian orbs glinting in the blue flames of the torches. Percy swallowed nervously as the Goddess was incredibly close to him at this point, so much that all he could smell was the heady mixture of spices and sea breeze that her ichor gave off.

"That is the question I want answered as well?" Eko said quietly, tracing one of her fingers down the middle of his chest. She was so close he could feel her breath on his face as a slow golden flush crept across her cheeks. "You turned poison into water from the tartarean with your will alone." Eko whispered in his ear, resting her arms on his shoulders as she leaned in, their gazes locked and her lips inches from his own.

"I wonder… what other kind of secrets you're hiding my lord" Eko added as she leaned in and pressed her lips against his, while her hands snaked up the back of his neck and pulled him in.

Not that Percy was resisting in any way, he couldn't control himself any longer, as he reached up and grabbed her by the hips, crushing her against him as she moaned into his mouth quietly her fingers pulling at his hair. It lasted only a moment before they broke apart.

Yet it still left both of them panting slightly, and as Eko watched him, her eyes wide and dark she traced a scar on the side of his neck casually with one finger. She didn't say anything and neither did he, but after the stress of the last few days and the hell his life had become, Percy just wanted a distraction, and between the wine and her it was one hell of a distraction.

However as Percy went to pull her back Eko smiled, her body becoming liquid for an instant as she slipped through his grasp and materialized standing a few feet away. "Perhaps we can pick this up again later, but as my sisters said, we do have a feast to get ready for and you of all people can't be late." The goddess said with a smile before she disappeared into mist.

Terminology:

Atlai: Old One or Ancient Enemy

Authors Note:

Well, it's been a while.

Writer's block and a busy life are a bitch, but I'm at a new job, making more money and I have CONSISTENT time off to write now which is a huge improvement over my last job and will hopefully let me get this Arc over and done with.

Now away from the boring parts and into the story, This chapter we had 4 PoV's and while it was another LONG chapter I did try my best to include what I felt was needed.

First get to see what Annabeth and Chiron were talking about while Jason and the others were conversing in the last chapter. Chiron, another child of Kronos was alive for the events prior to and after the destruction of the Ardywr. So when interrogated by annabeth he explains the story in full to the best of his ability, Which leads to the revelation of a Forgotten God, known as Harpokrates, the God of Secrets. Chiron mentions that there are things he can't tell her, Secrets the Gods themselves don't want to know, and instead instructs her to seek out Harpokrates who vanished millennia ago. Yet as the God of Secrets he could give Annabeth the knowledge she needs to properly face the threats against Olympus and this knowledge might reveal more of the history the Olympians tried to hide.

Then we had a Pov from Cal, which I felt was deserved and hopefully will be well received. He's clearly a very mysterious character and I'm looking forward to getting more into his backstory in the next arc. Let me know what you guys thought about his chapter.

Finally we got two whole Percy Pov's which realistically make up more than half of this chapter. We got to see some character development as Percy tries to come to terms with what's going on, and his newfound powers. Then we get the actual PoV of the Court, and get to see the climax to this whole mini arc about getting Estelle back.

We see the culmination of the Akhlys arc from chapter 12? Or 13? Haha and we also see that Percy isn't someone to mess with anymore, something about him is clearly different and it's not just his half Olympian half ardwyrian blood.

Perhaps it has to do with what Sally was talking to Cal about? Hmmmmm? I'll let you guys come up with your own ideas though.

There's lots more I could go over but if I keep going Ill add thousands of words to this already large chapter. So instead ill just skip to the end and say my usual piece.

As always I appreciate each and every one of you who takes the time to read the chapter and leave a review/follow or favorite.

I do my best to reply to them all and hope that you guys enjoyed both the chapter and my thoughts on it.

Until next time folks!