Chapter 46 – Jailbreak
Percy had been hoping that the Lord of Light was fond of blue waffles, but it turned out that getting Hyperion's attention was exceptionally difficult. After Percy had burnt all of his waffles, sacrificing them to the Titan, he only had a room full of smoke to show for it.
The son of Poseidon stared at the little candle he'd lit. He took a deep breath and knelt before the candle, shutting his eyes. Several minutes of kindly requesting that the Titan come wasn't doing anything either, so he let out a frustrated sigh before dropping back onto his bed.
He wasn't sure how long he dozed for, but was woken by a loud shout from Jason, up on the top deck. Curious, Percy quickly made his way up into the open, and immediately came face-to-face with a giant eagle. He yelped, diving to the deck as the golden eagle swoops overhead, celestial bronze talons shredding through a section of the deck with ease.
"What is that?" Percy demanded in bewilderment.
Jason shook his head. "Not a Roman eagle," he said, sword out and ready for the eagle to take another swoop at him. The eagle shudders slightly, and sparks of electricity roll down it's feathers.
"Definitely not a Roman eagle," Percy agreed, uncapping Riptide as the eagle barrelled down towards him. He dove to the side as he lashed out at it, but Riptide simply scraped off it's feathers. "What the…?"
The eagle beat it's wings, settling on top of the tall mast and peering down at them with dark eyes. It seemed to be calculating the easiest way to tear out Percy's intestines. It screeched, the sound scraping down Percy's spine and making him shiver. His grip tightened on Riptide's hilt as the golden eagle ruffled it's feathers, beady eyes sharp and gleaming with human-like intelligence. Not a golden eagle, and also far too large to be one of the eagles of the Roman Legion – perhaps twice their size.
"Any ideas?" Percy called over to Annabeth, already having tried to think what the eagle could be but having no luck.
Annabeth seemed just as bewildered as Percy. "My first thought would be Roman, but… Jason's already said it's not."
The eagle screeched again, the sound echoing off the ocean beneath them. Percy swallowed. "So… if Riptide just bounces off it, how do we kill it?" He questioned.
"Good question," Jason muttered.
Leo yelped, ducking as the eagle beat its wings and dove off the mast, sharp claws extending towards it. Jason thrust out a hand, sending a blast of wind to knock the eagle off-course.
"Trap it," Annabeth suggested.
Percy glanced towards her. "Good idea. But how?"
"That will need some thinking," the daughter of Athena admitted. She'd scavenged a sword from their armoury, but it was large and unwieldy and she was used to smaller and far more compact daggers. Though after Luke's betrayal – the chill still lingering in her chest as she recalled how happy he'd been as he'd turned on her – Annabeth doubted that she'd ever wield a dagger again.
"Then think quickly," Percy said curtly, watching as the eagle dove underneath the Argo II.
For several long minutes, there's nothing but the sound of wingbeats beating against the air. Percy decided that flying through the air with a giant golden eagle circling them is not a good idea and nearly ducks back beneath the deck – let the son of Jupiter deal with it – but then Percy heard a screech from behind him. Claws hook into his shirt, bury into flesh and he yells as the deck disappears beneath his feet.
The son of Poseidon flails in the air, trying to bat at the eagle with Riptide and hopefully make it drop him over open ocean. He heard a yell and realised that Jason had taken off after them, pushing himself through the sky at extreme speeds to keep up.
A wickedly sharp beak appears in front of Percy and he yells, Riptide clanging off the bronze beak. The eagle screeches in his ear, warm breath and stench of rotting meat smacking Percy in the face as his ears ring. He grunts, struggling and trying to stop the eagle from continuing in its path, but nothing seems to phase the monster.
The eagle flies higher, taking Percy up into the storm clouds which linger overhead. Zeus' anger with recent events has not yet subsided and Percy knows better than to enter the sky when his uncle is angry, but he hopes that the god will allow it this once.
Percy squirmed and wriggles, trying to smack the eagle's beak again, but it seems to have learnt from the first time and such as swipe with Riptide is unlikely to happen.
The clouds rumble around them and the hair on the back of Percy's neck rises slightly, a warning.
The lightning strikes the eagle, travelling straight through into Percy. He seizes, muscles spasming as he hears a scream. The eagle drops him, more out of surprise than being truly harmed, and Percy plummets down towards the open ocean beneath him, muscles still twitching with tremors.
The eagle makes a furious caw, diving down after him, but the wind rushes up past Percy and pushes it higher. The son of Poseidon catches sight of Jason, hand extended up towards the eagle as it's forced higher, before Percy's back slams into the ocean.
Percy wakes in the darkness, at depth. He realises his back is resting against the seabed, perhaps thousands of meters beneath the surface. The son of Poseidon takes a deep breath, shoving a hand beneath him and pushing himself up. The movement makes a sharp pain burst in his left hand, and Percy's eyebrows rise when he notes the golden feather clutched in one hand. It's not soft, not smooth by any means and he winces as he pulls it out of his palm, seawater immediately sealing over the injury. The feathers remind him of Kronos' wings, smooth in one direction and razor-edged in the other. He keeps hold of the feather, checking his pocket for Riptide before pushing himself off the seafloor.
It's with some surprise he notices the Argo II hovering overhead.
Percy focuses on the water beneath him and catapults himself into the air, controlling the water to help him land with both feet on the deck. Percy smiles tiredly at the other demigods. "Hey. Nice seeing you guys."
He was unsurprised to hear and see the relief in all of them at seeing him again.
"We found out what that eagle was," Jason said as he greeted Percy.
Percy raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?" He glanced towards the feather clutched in his hand. "Vicious thing nearly killed me." Could have, if it didn't seem determined to fly him off somewhere. "Nearly did, but the lightning beat it to the punch," he said, eying Jason with a faint frown.
Jason looked rather rueful. "Sorry, bro," he said. "But it was the only thing I could think of." The son of Jupiter smiled sheepishly. "Assumed with the ocean right there you'd be okay, but… I'm relieved to see that you are."
Percy just nodded. "Yea, no harm done," he said. "So what was it?" He asked.
"The Caucasian Eagle," Jason said. "It can't be harmed by lightning because it used to carry Zeus' lightning bolts for him," he explained. That made sense, Percy assumed if you were carrying around lightning bolts you wouldn't want to be able to be electrocuted by them.
"You remember Prometheus?" Annabeth chipped in.
Percy's eyes furrowed. "I don't really want to, but yeah," he said. "Why?"
"The Caucasian Eagle is the one that Zeus sent to terrorise him every day," Annabeth said. "Every night he'd heal, every day Aquila would return and eat him alive."
The son of Poseidon's mouth ran dry. "Oh," he said, glancing over at Jason whom looked rather grim. "I think I'd prefer the lighting bolt if given the choice," he said, realising just how close that had been. "No wonder it can't be harmed by us if it's Zeus' runaway bird," he muttered under his breath. And no wonder it left him alone after being smacked in the face by a lightning bolt – if Percy ever saw it again he'd try drowning it to kill it.
Annabeth hesitated. "That's not everything," she quietly said.
Percy took a deep breath. "What?"
Annabeth shared a glanced with Jason. "It was killed. By Heracles, and Zeus put it in the stars."
The demigod shut his eyes, knowing exactly what that meant by now. "For fuck's sake, Krios," he growled under his breath.
Percy sacrificed Aquila's feather in the waning flame of the candle that night.
He wasn't sure if it would work, but he supposed if he was going to sacrifice anything to a Titan to get their attention it would have to be something of Zeus'. Percy thought Hyperion would enjoy it.
But he was still surprised when there was a flash of light in the corner of his room. Percy squeezed his eyes shut, waiting until it died down somewhat before daring to open them.
Percy hadn't seen Hyperion when he had been held captive, which meant that the last time they saw each other had been during the Battle of Manhattan – when Hyperion had been turned into a tree. The demigod assumed that such an encounter would earn him the Titan's hatred, so he was hardly surprised at the angry golden eyes – similar to Kronos' but not quite – that surveyed him from across the room.
The demigod swallowed. "Hyperion," he greeted before Hyperion made any moves. "I… would like to request your help."
The Titan's skin flickered with fire, and Percy was glad that he hadn't arrived in a column of flames or something equally as dangerous, since the Argo II was not as fire-proof as its creator and such an action was liable to incinerate most on board.
Hyperion crossed his arms over his golden armour, scowling. His right hand twitched as if imagining himself strangling Percy. "What makes you think I would help you?" He demanded, voice hard and angry. "You've done enough damage as is."
"Your brother just tried to murder me by summoning an eagle," Percy informed him.
The Titan merely snorted. "Aquila was the first constellation for Krios to bring back. He's notorious for enjoying his meals and refused to do anything unless we offered him fresh, breathing meat." He cocked his head, a movement that Percy had seen on Kronos many times before. "I am surprised that he finally attempted to do what Krios brought him back for – eat little demigods whom try to get closer to Athens."
"He flew off."
"Nearly as cowardly as the god whom kept him as a pet," Hyperion retorted. "But that is hardly a surprise to anyone." His gaze panned around the room, movements slow and careful. Finally he held his right hand out and Aquila's feather shimmered into existence, hovering over his palm and bathed in light.
Percy took a deep breath, eying the feather briefly before clearing his throat. "The others said you fought Clytius?" He questioned.
"Would have killed him had I assumed Kronos would have wanted me to." Hyperion's gaze darkened as he glowering at Percy. The sudden warmth had a trickle of sweat forming on Percy's forehead, but he ignored it. "Imagine my surprise when I returned to find the base cleared out, fights between former allies, and both you and Kronos entirely absent."
"Yeah," Percy mumbled. "Surprise."
The Titan clenched his fist and the feather disappeared in a flash of burning light. "It was not a welcome one," Hyperion growled. He seemed prepared to crush Percy's head between his hands, then go and murder the rest of the demigods too. "Where is my brother?" He demanded.
Percy swallowed. "Olympus," he said.
Hyperion looked as if Percy had just slapped him in the face. "What?" He boomed. The Titan burst into flames and Percy felt all air pulled straight out of his lungs. Percy was partly fire-resistant but even his arms started to blister, standing a dozen feet from Hyperion's roaring flames. The demigod wasn't sure how much Hyperion knew, but it was safe to say enough. "What did you say to them?" He demanded, a flaming hand closing around Percy's throat.
"Nothing!" Percy exclaimed, trying to snatch at Hyperion's hand and wrench him away. He was fire-resistant, but certainly not fire-proof and it showed as his hands and throat smoked. "Get off –"
The Titan glowered and tightened his grip. "Watch your words, demigod," he growled. "And answer me. What did you tell them to make them want to keep my brother on Olympus?"
Percy clenched his fists, but didn't dare summon any water from the pipes this time. He didn't want the other demigods knowing something was wrong. Though he did spare a moment to consider why all of the Titans seemed to enjoy attacking him in his bedroom. "I swear," Percy gasped, "I said nothing to them. Apo – he noticed that Kronos was pregnant."
Hyperion paused, his grip relaxing somewhat. "He what?" He demanded in disbelief.
"The sun god –"
"I got that bit," Hyperion snapped at Percy. "The pregnant part, Jackson. Before I lose my temper."
"Before?" Percy hissed, gritting his teeth. "What the Hades do you mean before you lose your temper?" Hyperion's grip tightened to near-throat-crushing levels and Percy yelped. "Fuck – let go! I can't tell you if you kill me!"
"I would very much love to kill you, Jackson," Hyperion said, his eyes burning. "So don't tempt me."
Percy hated to bow to another alpha, but he knew the Titan could and would squash him beneath his foot like an ant if he continued, and he needed Hyperion. "Okay," he gasped, "alright. Just let go."
Hyperion let him go and Percy stumbled when he dropped to the ground. He rubbed his throat, grimacing. The Titan crossed his arms over his plated golden armour. Between that and his flaming body – the fire fortunately contained to Hyperion's limbs – Percy could hardly look at him the bastard was so bright. "Explain," the Titan ordered.
Percy nodded. He swallowed. "I didn't know," he said to Hyperion. "But Kronos was pregnant. Porphyrion stabbed him, killed the unborn baby." Percy paused to take a deep breath, holding back tears again. "And it's my fault – it's all my fault." The demigod ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know, I should've done something to help him but I couldn't. The gods took him to Olympus," he said to Hyperion. "Said they'd keep him, that he'd be there for me when I got back and I could tame him and I'd all be better."
The Titan hissed, the sound startlingly Percy. He most definitely didn't look very impressed. Hyperion let out a sharp laugh. "And you let them? You let a group of immortals take your omega away from you." His tone was bitter, tired as he glowered at Percy. "Well you're a pretty fucking awful alpha, aren't you? What the fuck happened to protecting him?" Hyperion demanded. "Isn't that the job of an alpha? To be able to protect their omega when they need it? Looks to me like you're not capable if this has happened," he sneered.
Percy flinched, each word striking true. His heart ached. "I know," he whispered. "I know I'm an awful alpha, I know I'm an awful person. But just because I am, Kronos doesn't deserve to suffer because I can't do my fucking job." The demigod clenched his fists. "No one else deserves to die because I'm a screw up," he bit out.
Hyperion seemed to whole-heartedly agree. He nodded, expression hard. He looked down at Percy as if he was nothing more than a cockroach scurrying across his boot. "Exactly." Eyes of fire narrowed down at Percy. "I'll get him out," he said to Percy. "But fuck bringing him back to you." Percy bit his tongue, muffling his protests – he was right, of course, Percy hadn't been able to keep the omega safe and had failed him, so he didn't deserve him; that was how it worked between alpha and omega. "Instead, our brethren will help keep him safe. Never again will you touch him, never again will you see him or speak to him. If I find that you've even prayed to him, I will come find you, and I will turn your flesh and your bones to ash."
The demigod felt his world crashing in around him. "But I –"
"No," Hyperion snapped. "You don't. You don't have anything to do with him anymore. Understood?"
Overprotective older brothers, Percy thought. Fortunately, Triton had never decided to be so close to Percy that he could plant himself between Kronos and Percy in the way Hyperion could. Percy reluctantly nodded his head. "Yeah," he quietly said. "Understood."
Hyperion nodded. "Oh, and when the gods come after you. I was never here."
Percy nodded slightly, turning his head away when the Titan burst into flames, before all of the light disappeared and the room was plunged into darkness. The Titan Lord had taken the candlelight with him, and with it gone Percy stared into the abyss – realising that he was never again going to see Kronos.
He didn't even feel sad. Just a numbness that settled over him, a horrible feeling that ate away at his heart and left him breathless.
Percy stared at the empty plate in front of him as the other demigods talked around him. They tried to involve him, tried to talk to him and drag him into the conversation but he simply shrugged them off. The videos of Camp Half-Blood made him homesick and the alpha sighed, briefly imagining himself back at Camp, lounging back against Half-Blood Hill in the grass with Kronos curled next to him.
The alpha took himself out of his thoughts, clenching his fist. One of the water bottles stacked behind him exploded and the demigods jumped to their feet at the noise, Frank turning into a startled bear as everyone else drew their weapons. Percy stared at the water bottle. "Sorry," he muttered to them, slowly sitting back down.
Annabeth looked worried, glancing over at him. "Percy… are you sure you're alright?"
"Just fine," Percy said. She seemed to believe it, even if the words sounded hollow to his ears. Annabeth set about moving to clear up the spilt water, but Percy just waved a hand and forced it all to head down the sink. Percy stared down at his fingers, before he sighed and leant his elbows on the table. "What were you all saying?"
Jason pressed his lips together as he studied Percy, and he wasn't the only one, but Percy glared back at them. "I'm fine," Percy repeated firmly. "Now what were you all saying?"
"The stars," Annabeth said as she settled back down. "And Aquila. It makes sense for some of the constellations we've seen already, but there's still Scorpio and the Gemini twins on the loose."
"They can't fly," Jason pointed out. "So they're likely to be in Greece, on the ground."
"Unless they get catapulted up," Leo said.
Percy eyed him with a frown. "I don't think the Giants and Ga-… the Earth are going to be shooting a scorpion and the twins at us," Percy pointed out.
"Just making sure it's crossed off the list of possibilities," Leo said with a shrug.
Hazel raised an eyebrow at him, but seemed amused. Percy didn't get it. He frowned. "Alright. Ok."
"But," Jason added, "we were just thinking that these are the Constellations that the gods created, right?"
Percy nodded sharply. "Yeah. Like the Huntress – Artemis made her a few years back." He spared a brief thought for Zoë, before moving on. "So?"
"Well, the Constellations back in the time of the Titans would've been different," Annabeth pointed out. "Who knows, maybe they put their own up there too."
Realisation dawned on Percy, and the conclusion he came to made him pale slightly. "So who knows what else the Stars-Guy has brought back," he finished.
Jason nodded slightly. "Exactly. None of us know what's out there, what he's summoned from the stars."
Percy cursed under his breath. "Great," he muttered.
It was then that Leo jumped, eyes widening at something behind Percy's head. The son of Poseidon blinked, turning to glance behind him to meet the extremely unimpressed eyes of his father. His eyes furrowed slightly. "Dad?"
Poseidon crossed his arms, movement somewhat stiff. Percy didn't miss the burn on his forearm, nor the splotch of ichor on his oddly plated armour. "Percy," the sea god said. His dark gaze swept over the gathered demigods. "Would you care to explain why Hyperion, Oceanus, Krios and Koios have all just caused havoc on Olympus?"
They did it. Percy frowned. "What?" He asked, feigning confusion. "They – what about Kronos?" He demanded. "Did they steal him?"
The god merely narrowed his eyes. "This is not a matter for feigning confusion, son. Kronos was an advantage over the Earth Mother. If his life was on the line she would think twice before attacking us."
"I doubt that," Percy said, meeting his father's gaze briefly. "Great, just great. Not only did my omega turn on me," he said, despite the glee he felt in his chest. They got him out. "But now he's been Titan-napped too. I thought you said Olympus was safe for him?"
Poseidon frowned at him. "Zeus knows you were involved. You were the only one who knew Kronos was there, outside of us."
"He couldn't have," Annabeth blurted. She blushed slightly when Poseidon swung his eyes around to face her. "He's been here the same time."
The sea god shook his head. "He was the only one who knew. It had to have been him who'd told them."
Percy shook his head. "I've been here the whole time," he insisted.
The other demigods fiercely backed him up. "He was injured," Frank added. "We were attacked by Aquila a few hours ago."
"Percy was nearly kidnapped by him," Hazel agreed. "He was hurt, so he's been resting since."
"And the last two hours we've been here," Piper said firmly. "He had nothing to do with the Titans getting Kronos out."
"Maybe there's a mole," Annabeth said. "It wouldn't be the first time someone turned against Olympus. I'm sure somehow they got the information."
Poseidon grimaced. His gaze flicked between the demigods. "Where is your proof?" He demanded.
"The ruined state of the deck of the ship?" Leo suggested. "Come on, it's all ripped up. That eagle's a giant pain in the ass, I've gotta tell you."
The sea good seemed to be in agreement with that at least. He nodded his head to them. "Good," he said. "Watch yourself, demigods. With Kronos on the prowl again, I don't doubt that he'll come back looking for Percy." His lips pressed together as he watched his son. "Try to not allow yourself to be kidnapped again, son. We are bending the Ancient Laws as it is during this conflict. Saving you from death again will not be possible. And do not go looking for Kronos – he has proven to be as deceitful as ever and I will not have him kill you for an imagined slight."
Percy nodded. "I understand," he said, relaxing slightly as the sombre edge to his father faded. The sea god smiled. "I'll try to not be kidnapped again," he promised. "And… I won't look for Kronos." Hyperion had made it clear that he'd kill him if he tried anyway.
"That is all I ever ask."
I hope this chapter was worth the wait!
Thatgremlinbitch: I'll have to check that out. Yeah, Annabeth's a little... upset with that, but Percy's kinda too focused on himself rn to see it. Hyperion would totally do that! XD
Terrorisk123: He did sacrifice them XD. I'll leave that up to you, since I'd never planned for it to be born I never decided - use your imagination, maybe it would've even been a centaur or a hippocampus or something. And no, I don't have the time to do that rn.
Guest chapter: I think this chapter should answer that XD. None of the Titans are gonna like Percy too much.
ghostfall: Percy's going off the deep end rn. He's being a loyal seaweed brain and thinking it was all his fault, when it sure as hell wasn't. But yes, he just wants Kronos back.
thegoldraven: He did not accept them XD. Yes, Percy's mum does not need to know! I will not respond to that last bit, bc otherwise I'll spoil something. Thanks!
bellareads4ever: Yeah, Hyperion's not overly happy. XD
1234booklover: Honestly? He doesn't have that much time to just stop and think. They're approaching the end of the known world and Percy doesn't have time to slow down. Which is definitely not helping his thoughts and his mental state rn.
