"No," a whisper escaped Reyna's lips. Zoe noticed her guardian's sword tremble. "You can't be...you died. Polybotes ran you through!"
"Yeah," the revealed Annabeth answered casually. She unsheathed a dagger and picked at her fingernails. "That wasn't very fun let me tell you. Short though. Nothing like a massive hole in your gut to empty your body of blood."
Reyna shook her head. "How are you here? Pluto confirmed you chose rebirth."
"I did," Annabeth confirmed almost chipperly. She walked, almost skipped, up to the large crack and the kneeling god. "But just as I was about to hit the River Lethe, I was taken. My mistress offered me a chance to be with my precious Seaweed Brain forever," she spoke softly and patted Percy's cheek. The shadow dissipated from the god's mouth. He remained silent as his eyes tried to plead with the woman. A warm smile took over her face, a stark contrast to the insanity swirling in her stormy eyes. "How could I refuse such an offer? To be with the one I love."
"And you think overthrowing the Olympians will what? Please him?" Reyna questioned her.
The daughter of Athena glared at her. "The Olympians would never allow us to be together again. They would say I died and should stay dead. That's why Percy fought Zeus after all." She smirked at the widening eyes of the questors. "Oh, did the Consul not tell you? After the defeat of Gaea, he begged them to bring me back. They refused and he fought Zeus to force them to." She smiled at Percy sadly. "His love for me pushed him so far over the war. But it's okay, because I am here now."
"Dad...Dad fought Zeus?" Zoe asked. Her voice meek, much to her embarrassment.
Reyna glanced back at her ward. "Percy was not emotionally stable. He was hurting and lashed out. The only reason Jupiter didn't kill him then and there was both out of respect for defeating Terra and to prevent a war with Neptune." Percy made to argue before shrugging his agreement
"Yes," Annabeth cut in as she stood. "It was such a shame he lost. He was so close too. Not that they understood that, but it matters not. I guess I do have something to thank you for Reyna. You've managed to heal him in my absence. He is ready now. Ready to take his place as the new King."
"Must we continue on with this?" Perses interjected, cutting off Percy from speaking. His brother followed him as they approached Percy. "We have them trapped. Let us take the girl and kill the rest."
Annabeth's ire turned toward the towering titan before she sighed. "As much as I despise the imbecile. He is correct." She drew a second dagger from within her cloak. "Sorry Reyna, but we only want Zoe. The rest of you are just, dead weight."
"Your bodyguards are titans," Reyna spoke confidently. "They can not interfere unless challenged directly."
Annabeth hummed in agreement. "Yeah but, laws are such a fickle thing. Technically your girl has already challenged Pallas. As for Perses, well, he never really cared for laws anyways," she said with a wicked grin. Percy struggled against his chains, careful to not fall into the pit.
Reyna's eyes widened. "Kids," she shouted at the top of her lungs. "Dive!" She and the others dropped to the floor as Perses jumped clear over the kneeling god and the four of them. Annabeth and Pallas each made their ways around either side of the growing crack. Reyna quickly rose to her feet, moving to intercept the daughter of Wisdom. "Zoe, handle Pallas. Liam, Karina, you have to hold off Perses. Remember what I told you." Reyna clashed with Annabeth, the two children of war a blur of gold and bronze.
The questors rose, their weapons raised defensively before the two towering titans. "How am I suppose to fight him?" Zoe called out as Pallas unsheathed his silver blade.
Reyna slowly managed to push Annabeth back, her power with the sword overcoming the swiftness of the daggers. "You already know how," Reyna answered tightly. "Don't hold back, give it everything."
"Come little mortals," Perses' deep voice dripped with vicious excitement. "Come and let me kill you so I can make puppets with your corpses."
"Uh, yeah. How about no," Liam countered, twirling his kopis in hand. He glanced at Zoe and gave her a confident grin. "Give him Hades Zo, we got this." He shared a look with Karina, who nodded and sheathed her dagger. One hand filled with Mist, the other ice.
Zoe turned to face her adversary, the current bane of her existence, Pallas. The titan stood as stoically as ever. It was like he saw all of this as nothing more than a job that needed completion. Which was new for her. "Come Atelus," Pallas called to her, his voice tinged with what she thought was fondness. "The time for hiding who you are comes to an end."
Unsure of what that meant, Zoe shared a look with her father who's eyes were filled with love and pride. "Kick his tail Zo."
She smiled at her father and approached Pallas slowly. Annabeth and Reyna's grunts of frustration were overwhelmed by the shouts of anger by Perses. Pallas lunged forward. His sword arced through the air as he attempted to cut her in two. Zoe jumped back from the attack and pushed forward into his guard. Her sword swiped against the breastplate of the titan. Pallas shoved her back with an open palm. Zoe stumbled before regaining her footing. Pallas pawed at the scratch mark. He gave her almost an impressed look. He lunged again and the two danced through swordplay. Zoe held her own as the titan pressed forwards and slowly drove her back. "Listen to your tutor, Atelus," the greek words penetrating her skull like a hammer. "If you are to defeat me, you must fight me with everything at your disposal."
Zoe grit her teeth. She deflected an diagonal swipe from the titan and jumped backwards. Frustration clouded her mind. She wanted to beat him. She needed to beat him. Everyone was counting on her doing so. "You want everything I have?" she challenged, her voice seething in anger. She closed her eyes and reached. She drew within herself and a tug pulled in her gut. The raging storm began building within her, begging to be unleashed upon the world. She refused it's wishes. She tried releasing it all before. It got her nowhere. Instead she focused the energy. The storming currents in her blood changed. What once was a storm now became a furnace. Her blood heating and pounding away at her body, molding it to suit her desires. She flexed her arms. She felt new strength within them. She raised up on her calves. She felt heavier but with the same springiness she was use to. Her eyes opened to reveal two glowing teal orbs. A smirk graced her heart shaped features. "You want everything?" she asked again. She twirled Riptide in her grip. Her stance the same as against Reyna what felt like an eternity ago. "I'll give you everything." She sprung forward. She passed the titan in a stumble. Pallas turned rapidly but did not strike. His eyebrow quirked for the first time in...amusement? Zoe regained her footing. She was faster than she expected. That was good to know. She retook her stance. Pallas struck first. His silver blade thrusted forward. Zoe swiped the blade away and again moved into his guard. She watched Pallas bring his fist to bear. She ducked under the blow and uppercutted the large titan in the chin. Pallas stumbled backwards. He rubbed at his jaw as the Daughter of Perseus bounced on her feat. "Neat right?" she asked with a grin. "Evidently I can focus my energy inward to increase my physical attributes. Something I got a hint of when fighting the Minotaur." She dashed forward. Pallas blocked several rapid strikes. Zoe disengaged. Her now teal eyes glowing vibrantly. Though, that was when she was powered by the destructive energy the Minotaur was creating. This time she was relying on her own. She would have to end the fight quickly, lest she run out of gas.
Liam redirected a heavy swing from the greatsword. The large blade carved a deep gouge into concrete. "I've never gotten my hands on a son of Zeus before," Perses told the boy. "Tell me, would you prefer the string be run through your hands or your shoulders?"
Liam ducked below what would have been a decapitating blow. "What is with you and these weird phrases," Liam asked in annoyance. "Seriously do you think it makes you more intimidating? It just makes you lame."
A deep throaty growl emanated from the titan. "Maybe I'll just run it through your tongue," Perses considered. A ball of ice struck his shoulder. The ice began to expand rapidly across his form. A blast of force shattered the expanding ice and sent it flying. Perses smirked as the small girl yelped in surprise. He turned his head to the sides, keeping both demigods in his view. "You however, little witch, I will just kill."
Karina glared at the titan. "Got to catch me first you creep," she taunted, wiping pieces of ice off her shirt. A new ball of ice formed in her hand. Perses sneered at her. He whirled around and was upon Karina before the girl could blink. The titan raised his sword and swung. Karina threw the ball of Mist in her hand at her feet. The sword split the cloud of Mist in half and buried itself into the floor.
A bolt of lightning struck Perses in the back. The titan stumbled forward, pulling his sword out of the ground. Perses turned around. Liam smirked and Karina stood beside him, her free hand now filling with Mist. What began was a back and forth of Perses and Liam exchanging blows. Liam focused on redirecting the titan's attacks. He did not believe he was physically capable of matching the overwhelming titan. Karina kept her distance. When the opportunity arrived, she would strike Perses with her ice. She even used the Mist to save Liam when he overestimated his ability to match the titan. She would throw the ball of Mist at him and relocate him. He would appear well out of Perses reach and launch a bolt of lightning at the titan. Over all, not nearly as intimidating as his brother had been. Though, while they managed to avoid injury, they failed to land a significant blow against their foe. Liam's lightning, while powerful, barely seemed to phase the Titan of Destruction and Karina's arsenal of spells was much more support oriented than offensive. Working with a cohort limited the need or the opportunities to use such devastating spells.
Karina threw her ball of Mist. She struck Liam in the chest just before the greatsword cleaved through the Mist. Perses turned and leaped at the girl snarling. Karina stumbled back, her concentration broken and the Mist breaking around her. She ducked under a wild swing and was backhanded. Karina flew through the air. Liam caught the girl, stumbling back and cushioning her fall. A shadow eclipsed them as Karina attempted to get up. Looking up they saw Perses standing over them with an evil grin. His eyes full of malicious joy as he raised his sword overhead.
"ZOE!" Percy's voice rang clear across the room. A blast of Darkness consumed them.
Reyna blocked a dagger with her vambrace. She gripped the offending wrist and pulled. Annabeth threw herself into the pull and rolled past the Consul, her cloak billowing behind her. "The Annabeth I know wouldn't have joined forces with her. The very woman who is responsible for so much of Percy's pain. She wouldn't have turned her back on her friends and loved ones," Reyna scolded the blonde demigodess as she regained her footing.
"My friends are dead," Annabeth spoke softly. She lunged at Reyna. Her daggers a blur of bronze that Reyna struggled with. "Lost to the sands of time. Only Percy matters."
"It's not to late. You can turn your back on her, come home with us," Reyna pleaded with her. she diverted a dagger with her sword and punched the girl in the chest. She was wearing a cuirass.
Annabeth stumbled backwards as Reyna shook her hand. "And then what?" she asked with a sneer. "Watch as the man I love snuggles up with some pretender? Some harlot who thinks she can replace me?"
Reyna sighed sadly. "No one can replace you Annabeth. You will always hold a place in his heart. I have only ever wanted what is best for him," she told the woman solemnly, hoping beyond hope she could reach her former friend. Her gaze then hardened. Dark eyes of grim determination starred down the stormy grey madness. "But he is mine now. And I will not share. Much less to a hollow shell of the woman he once loved." Each strike led to the next as Reyna and Annabeth began their deadly ballet. Reyna's wider range and stronger attacks were negated by the swiftness and dexterity of Annabeth's and vice versa. Few demigods had every been able to match Reyna with a sword. Jason was the closest but his reliance on his inherited abilities hampered his growth. Percy might have but they never had the chance to spar before he became the God of Heroes and War, and that was just cheating. Though she did on occasion best him. If for nothing else than her familiarity with his style. Now though she felt...matched. Maybe it was the emotions. Maybe it was the pressure of all the immortals around them. But Reyna was uncertain of who could actually win this fight. As much as she refused to lose to this woman, she knew her opponent was of the same mindset. She couldn't win through sheer strength. She need to win through words. And words were something she was as dangerous with as with a sword. "You've betrayed everything you ever stood for. You use to fight for Olympus. For those close to you. Now you serve a Mistress who will toss you aside as soon as she has Percy," Reyna shouted at Annabeth. She watched the manic grin across her face twitch.
"Liar," Annabeth cried out. She pushed Reyna's sword down with a dagger and thrusted it's sister. Reyna again caught her wrist and the two stalemated. "She promised me Percy. He would be King and I his consort."
Reyna raised an eyebrow. "Not his queen?"
Annabeth growled. A possessive sound of someone getting too close to their property. "Once Percy is King, we will deal with her. And I will stand beside him for all of time." She kicked at Reyna's chest.
"ZOE!" Percy's voice rang clear across the room. Darkness consumed them.
Pallas blocked an overhead strike. The ground below him cratering at the force. Zoe quickly fell to the ground and rolled backwards. Out of his reach, she popped to her feet and dashed again at him. Pallas swung his blade at Zoe, only for it to be intercepted by Riptide and stopped dead. Zoe jumped through the air. Her sneakered foot slammed into the titan's knee and forced him to the ground with a grunt. Pallas swiped Zoe's feet out from under her with his free arm. In a display of flexibility that Artemis would have been proud of, Zoe flipped backwards to her feet and easily evaded the titan's silver blade. The daughter of Perseus huffed. She was losing. Despite her best efforts, she wasn't making a dent in Pallas' defenses. It was like he was an unstoppable machine that never tired or let injury stop him. Zoe was running on fumes now. Increasing her physical ability and fighting a superiorly skilled opponent really drained her reserves of energy. Who knew? Well, she knew, but neverminded that. She had to finish this now. She dodged another swipe. Blocked the follow up thrust. She feinted right and slipped her sword between the armor of his thigh. Again the titan grunted and batted her aside. Zoe stumbled back before realizing she had let go of Riptide.
Pallas tore the sword out of his thigh. "Very good Atelus," he complimented her. He examined Riptide carefully. "Still the same after all of these years. Your namesake made a fine sword." He tossed the sword onto the floor before her. Zoe picked it up while eyeing the titan. "You can not fight me without your sword," he said simply. "However, you are at your ends. Let us finish this." He lunged forward in an attempt to skewer her. Zoe sidestepped the attack. She raised her sword to decapitate the titan. The silver blade flashed across her. Zoe dropped her sword and clutched at her arm. The silver sword dripped blood as Zoe's arm hung uselessly. A cut to the bone in her bicep prevented her from even feeling her arm. Pallas lifted the girl by the collar of her shirt and threw her.
She landed in front of her father, who fought against the chains with all his might. "Zoe!" Percy cried out. His eyes rimmed with tears and desperation. "You have to get up. Get up and run."
She tried to stand. An armored boot collided with her chest and held her down. Pallas stood before her, his sword aimed at her throat. She tried to push against his foot but couldn't muster her strength. He looked to Percy. Stoic red eyes met pleading green ones. "I am sorry Perseus, but this is the only way."
"Pallas, please," Percy begged the titan. "Just free me and I'll make sure you never go back down there." Zoe looked between her father and Pallas. Was this it? Was she about to die? Didn't they want her alive? She glanced around. Reyna was in a stalemate with Annabeth. Perses stood over Liam and Karina. No. It can't end like this. It won't. She had too much to do. Too much to protect. She couldn't die here. Not like this. Pallas raised his sword, ignoring the god's pleas. She mentally slammed herself into the wards like she had last time. They held. Pallas drove his blade forward. "ZOE!" her father screamed.
"Here my Mekri Nifta. Let me get that for you," the feminine voice from before spoke to her.
She felt the walls within her shatter. Power flooded her body. Her hair whipped about. Zoe shot her arm out with her own shout of defiance. Darkness exploded outward. Pallas was launched backwards. The darkness expanded outward like a shockwave, striking everyone in the building and dissipating the surrounding darkness. The empty and rundown innards of the building came into full view. The shadows wrapped around her arm and she could feel it being stitched back together. Her hair was still whipping around her. She rose to her knees. Looking down she realized her clothes had changed. Where once she wore jeans and some band's t-shirt. Now she had a black cuirass made of...Stygian Iron? A white tunic underneath and a leather skirt with strips of bronze. Her sneakers were replaced with greek sandals and her hair was braided down her back. Energy flowed through her veins like she had guzzled coffee mixed with Red Bull. Everyone stopped and starred at her. Or rather...above her. Looking up, a hurricane hovered about her head, the first she'd ever been able to conjure.
"No," she heard her father whisper. She turned to find him looking at the hurricane. Despair dripped in his voice and his eyes. "Why now. Why did she have to do it?" Zoe looked up again and saw it. In the eye of the storm, hovering clear for all to see, was a holographic image of a...nebula? She looked back to her father. The despair replaced with rage. "Nyx, you bitch." Thunder rumbled in the distance.