Chapter 12: Silence of the Sea
The deafening rupture of the seafloor could be heard from the sky as the city of Atlantis sheared at the seams. The ocean kingdom lay in tatters, abalone buildings ripped to pieces or eviscerated entirely by ungodly quakes that had erupted one after another. Bodies of mermen guards, the elite warriors of Atlantis, drifted in the ruins of the colorful city, a handful of them breathing but the vast majority silent. A coughing merman clutched his side, wheezing as he attempted to right himself and move towards Poseidon's palace. His dwindling thread to life was severed when an explosion of underwater pressure shattered the castle, a careening pillar of abalone striking the soldier's chest.
The crown jewel of Atlantis, its Olympian palace, shot debris in every direction as the final standing structure of the city ripped apart from within. Its hurtling columns and kaleidoscopic walls, deeply cracked from the impact, ragdolled the corpses of the warriors that had stayed behind to defend the realm. The very few armored mermen who hadn't already been killed by the invader or obliterated by the rocketing wreckage caught a glimpse of the horrible scene within the shattered palace.
Layers upon layers of walls crumbled to reveal the wolf-helmed enemy in all black armor cleaving the head off of the Prince of the Oceans. Triton's weapon slipped from his limp grasp, the trident falling to rest on the broken white marble of the throne room floor. Neither his head nor his body followed. Both splintered with glowing, orange cracks that spidered from the sword that had separated them. The harsh brightness intensified, and Triton's dim eyes held unending agony before they incinerated into nothing along with the rest of his form.
Percy gritted his teeth behind his helm as his wolf-eye slits glowed blood-red, and his entire body tensed. Rough impacts grew louder and more frequent from the only room in the palace that still held its integrity. The armored demigod whirled towards it, both his hands clenched tightly as he forced the pressure even higher around the walls that framed Poseidon's private quarters.
He'd trapped the sea god in his own bedroom using unbearably high water pressure to make it impossible for Poseidon to even shift into liquid and escape. But an Olympian was still an Olympian; any clever trap would still eventually be overcome by their incredible raw power. Percy wasn't even sure how he'd held his father for as long as he already had. His uncertainty was answered as Poseidon overwhelmed his prison and tore a hole through the doors that led to his chambers.
The God of the Sea barrelled through the burgeoning pressure like a torpedo as his trident speared through any debris standing before him. But even with the god's vengeful eyes and his unhinged maw as he took in the ruins of his kingdom, Percy saw nothing but a shell. Poseidon's features were aged far beyond the last time the demigod had seen him, his body had become more frail as opposed to the lean and muscular surfer he used to be, and his power had undoubtedly waned considering Percy had been able to trap him for long enough to kill nearly every soldier of Atlantis. The demigod grinned behind his mask, hoping his father's visible bloodlust would at least somewhat even their duel.
Poseidon roared as he struck with his trident, and Percy caught the weapon on Anaklusmos. The demigod balked against his father's still-immense strength as he laughed internally; if his sword hadn't become forged with its hellish counterpart, Poseidon would have recognized it immediately. As he caught his footing in the sea, Percy shoved the god back and shouted in reply.
The unleashed sound was gut-churning, and it rippled more cracks through the throne room floor. Percy shifted his weapon to his glaive and stabbed beneath Poseidon's guard. The Olympian dropped back before thrusting out a hand, directing a thick current into the armored demigod's chest. Careening backwards, Percy caught a glance of Poseidon surveying the damage to his home. The god found Triton's trident resting against the marble, and his divine eyes darkened.
"You killed my family?!" Poseidon bellowed, barrelling forward.
Percy's rage sparked, exiting his body in the form of rupturing earth, and a twist in his gut promised that a dark river was on its way.
"I've only just started!" Percy shouted in return, his modulated voice grating through his demonic armor.
They crossed weapons again, both combatants shouting. Percy's blood roared in his ears as he considered his father's words. Only after becoming a decrepit husk had the god taken up arms for his dead son. His second dead son. The first one had returned from hell with a vengeance, fixated on patricide. After exchanging a flurry of impossibly fast strikes, Percy kicked his father in the chest, clearing a gap between them.
Poseidon breathed heavily, his blackened-green eyes glowing as they stared down the monster before him. As the god readied to charge again, he froze in his tracks when Percy revealed something from behind his back. It was a thick, chain necklace centered with a huge padlock. Poseidon's grip on his trident loosened as he recalled the owner of the brutish jewelry.
"Ares?" the sea god whispered.
Percy laughed as he threw the war god's necklace at Poseidon.
"Didn't I say I've only just started? Is this another member of your family that you would go to war over?"
As he held the broken chain, Poseidon's anguish mixed with confusion at his opponent's tone. Why did this horrible monster seem pained that Poseidon was warring over his family? Percy didn't give his father any longer to connect the dots before his gut tightened, signaling that the river was upon him. The torn sea floor rumbled, shaking the ruins of the palace, as an unending tirade of black water erupted between the stunned god and the raging demigod.
The River Styx exploded as a wall separating the pair, and Percy immediately thrust his hands out to control it. Poseidon did the same, quickly snapping out of his stupor. He dropped Ares' chain and brought his hands together to corral the burgeoning river invading the remnants of his kingdom. The black water thrashed as two separate entities fought to wield it against the other.
Percy shifted his hands to create a circle, condensing the liquid into a ball. Poseidon shouted as he shoved the sphere towards the armored monster, whose elemental control seemed to be on par with his own. The aged Olympian suddenly realized it wasn't on par; it was better. Pressure built within the growing sphere of black water before it suddenly exploded in every direction, knocking Poseidon backwards.
From behind the god, a thick channel of sea water struck his spine and launched him forward. At the same time, Percy dove ahead into the dispersing black water of the River of Hatred. Poseidon steadied himself as the monster reached him, and he held up his trident to block the sword that was surely coming.
No strike followed, and both combatants froze in place simultaneously. One forced, and one of his own accord. Percy had tensed both arms, instantly catching his momentum with the sea and standing rigid against Poseidon. The sea god stood just as still, except his face held abject shock considering he couldn't move on his own. Unlike the monster's, Poseidon's arms had become pinned to his sides and his legs latched together. He fought against the invisible weight tightening around him, and Percy grinned behind his mask as he clenched his hands more roughly.
All of the dark water unearthed from the River Styx coalesced as a sphere around the pair. They floated in a blue center surrounded by a thick outline of burgeoning, black water that threatened to overwhelm them both and subject them to the tortures of its properties. But Percy held the hateful river back as he increased the pressure around Poseidon and shattered his arms.
"Why?!" the sea god screamed, his body still immobilized.
Percy's answer was silence. The demigod's irises burned a blackened green, and he dematerialized his helm before his father. The sunken eyes of Poseidon widened before they filled with tears. Percy gritted his teeth when he felt his heart clench at the god's next words, and he unconsciously eased the pressure by a hair.
"My boy, I am so sorry."
Poseidon didn't beg for his life. He didn't shout for Percy to release the pressure that was continuously fracturing his body. His eyes held so much regret, so much emotional anguish, that it left no room to display the physical pain he was undoubtedly in. Percy hated seeing the unending remorse; he was here to kill the god before him.
Of course, that inkling of a feeling that he didn't dare call hope sparked within him as his father continued to speak, choking through his sorrow.
"I have been unable to forgive myself, Perseus. The feeling has rotted me; you can see that in the form before you. I do not know the pain you are in, or how you are even here, but I understand why you stand against Olympus, against me. I understand, and I can only ask that you do not let your horrible sorrow dim your life."
Harsh tears welled in Percy's eyes while Poseidon's fell freely. The demigod's fists trembled as listened to his father's shame. Even in the god's agonizing state, his only pleading was to not have Percy continue burdening himself with his pain. The warmth in the demigod's chest had grown.
"I understand that you will never forgive me, I do not deserve to be forgiven, but I am so sorry for letting you die," Poseidon finished.
The feeling vanished in its entirety. Percy's eyes instantly dried as their black glow further darkened. He set his jaw as he tightened the fists that he hadn't realized were unclenching. Poseidon groaned as his legs snapped under the burgeoning pressure.
"I. Didn't. Die." Percy spat as he leered down at his petrified father, "Annabeth did. And now, all of you will."
Poseidon couldn't get out another word. His eyes snapped wide as Percy's wolf-helm reappeared, and the surrounding black sea cascaded into them. The River Styx swallowed the pair, exerting its hatred onto them. Poseidon shouted over the horrible searing of the dark water against his form. But the sound was drowned out by the sizzling hiss of the Styx corroding Percy's armor.
The demigod kept his hands clenched, ensuring Poseidon could do nothing but agonize against the river of Tartarus. He waited as long as he could, his head throbbing from the exhausting physical burdens he'd shouldered as an Olympian thrashed within his grasp. The blinding ocean threatened to rip apart his armor and grip him just as it was his father, and Percy released the pressure from around the sea god.
Poseidon's broken arms thrust away from him, no longer meeting an unshakable resistance. As the sea god, still howling under the rending river, moved to shoot up through the black water, Percy ripped forward. His glaive materialized in his grasp, and he speared it through Poseidon's chest.
The demigod twisted and tore the weapon out immediately before rocketing up and out of the black sphere of torturous water. Only after clearing a vast distance from the black tide receding into the ravine it had emerged from did Percy turn around. He basked in the ocean, allowing its pure, frigid water to wash over him and ease the searing heat that had accompanied his armor nearly losing its integrity. Floating at a vantage point far above the crown palace of Atlantis, Percy looked down at the carnage he'd created.
The last of the River Styx sank into the ruptured sea floor. Rubble fell to rest as the ocean's churning eased, releasing its hold on the palace's abalone pillars and radiant walls. The wreckage settled in the surrounding shattered city as well as within the palace it had been ripped from. The castle itself seemed to dim of its colorful splendor, and Percy could see why; its life force was vanishing.
At the center of the ruins lay a limp God of the Seas, drifting to the marble floor as harsh, glowing cracks spread from the gaping wound in his chest. The torrent of ichor escaping him pooled as a gold color before it shifted to black. The distance between them was too far for him to see clearly, but Percy could imagine what Poseidon's eyes looked like. They held unfathomable agony as the hellish weapon sheared the god's soul from his body. Percy had seen the same look in Dionysus' eyes months ago, then Ares' hours ago, and it was Poseidon's turn.
The orange cracks enveloped the god's body before his form eviscerated entirely. The castle became dull, and the last of its foundations crumbled as its patron vanished from existence. Percy grimaced behind his helm. He silently stared at the decimated city for a while longer before he closed his eyes and vanished into a red haze.
(Line Break)
"Thalia, where are we going?" Artemis questioned.
"Almost there," Thalia replied dismissively.
The huntress could almost hear the agitation in her mistress' breath as she exhaled behind her. But the daughter of Zeus continued to march on through the thick forest, ducking under low-hanging branches and vaulting over felled trunks. Artemis obediently followed the rest of the way in silence, and Thalia felt guilty taking advantage of the goddess who truly was doing her best to earn back her Lieutenant's trust. The demigod quickly shrugged off the feeling; their destination wasn't something she would ever speak about openly.
Thalia walked straight into it. Bouncing off of absolutely nothing, the demigod's hand flew to her forehead, and Artemis' shot to her bow. An arrow met a drawstring, and Thalia quickly whirled around to stop the wary goddess lining up her shot.
"No!" she hissed, throwing her hands out in front of her.
Artemis eyed her Lieutenant.
"This is a magical barrier," the goddess warned, "I will pierce it so we can enter safely."
"It's our magical barrier," Thalia explained as she turned towards it and went back to massaging her forehead.
The goddess raised an eyebrow but returned her arrow to her quiver. Still, she held onto her bow. Thalia cleared her throat.
"Olympus αναγεννημένος."
Out of nothing, a doorway spliced open and revealed a clearing within the forest. The demigod stepped through, and Artemis tentatively followed before the barrier shimmered closed, returning the outside area to a silent, thick woodland. Within the barrier, Thalia nodded to the daughter of Hecate who'd allowed her entrance. The girl nodded back, though she threw an uncomfortable glance at Artemis before walking away.
The Goddess of the Hunt scrutinized the grassy alcove hidden within the forest. Her eyes darted around the wide clearing, finding several dispersed fireplaces where groups of demigods sat, crates upon crates closed and stacked together around the campgrounds, and a clear area where dozens of demigods sparred or practiced archery.
"Thalia, what is this place?"
The huntress didn't answer, instead walking towards the one fireplace on the opposite end of camp where nobody else was. Artemis, with her confusion only rising as she continued to receive strange stares, closely followed. It was only a short walk past another row of stacked pallets and crates before Thalia sat down on one of the logs surrounding the fire's hearth. Artemis lowered herself next to the demigod, not repeating her question. Her Lieutenant sighed.
"This is one of a couple bases we've built across the country. In just a few minutes, I can explain everything."
She could see on her mistress' face that the goddess didn't want to wait a moment longer. Artemis' eyes then narrowed.
"These look like weapons' coffers," the goddess said, pointing to the nearest segment of pallets, "Why are you stockpiling arms?"
Thalia grimaced as she nodded to two demigods a fair distance away. Will Solace and Clarisse waved back before they continued towards the training area. Artemis took note.
"And why are there Greek demigods in the forests of Washington?"
Before Thalia could relent and begin her explanation early, the party she was waiting on arrived. Nico coalesced out of shadows with the God of the Underworld in tow. Hades mirrored Artemis' confusion as his eyes traced the wide campground nestled within the woodlands. After he finished his own mapping of the area, lingering on the segments of crates that undoubtedly housed weapons, Nico goaded the god to join him on a log adjacent to Thalia and Artemis. When Hades raised an eyebrow at the Goddess of the Hunt, he only received a shrug indicating that she was just as clueless.
The demigods shared a glance before the huntress cleared her throat. Thalia stared only into the hearth as she spoke, beginning very cautiously.
"Olympus, as it is now, isn't something we can trust anymore."
The daughter of Zeus had paused, expecting some form of interruption, and she was shocked when neither god voiced one. Nico shared her expression.
"And we've decided that we're not just going to sit around knowing that our parents could be plotting to kill us just like our actual enemies are," she continued more harshly.
Hades, of all gods, winced at her tone while Artemis looked at her huntress somberly before setting her jaw. The goddess seemed to be wrestling with something she had to say. Thalia looked up from the hearth as her mistress shifted uncomfortably, and Nico and Hades turned their attention to her as well.
"We feel the same way," Artemis relented to the group.
The God of the Underworld raised an eyebrow at the goddess. He hadn't visited Olympus since the night of the awards ceremony months ago, using his duties in his domain to distance himself from the council that had made a decision that disgusted him. He was only vaguely privy to the developments regarding Zeus' descent into paranoia and his obsession with the Greater Prophecy.
"Who is included in 'we?'" Hades questioned.
"Apollo, Hestia, and I. We have been struggling with what the council has done for months, even before Gaea was defeated, and we cannot help but come to the conclusion that something must be changed in how things are done on Olympus."
While Hades' expression became thoughtful, Nico nodded to the goddess.
"That's why I asked Thalia to bring you here. I saw all three of you on Olympus getting ready to jump in when Zeus was going to kill Reyna and I during the awards ceremony. Dad told me that it was Hestia who'd called him just seconds earlier and allowed him to get to the throne room on time."
The God of the Underworld looked at Artemis with his eyes wide.
"You were going to save my son?"
Artemis sadly regarded both the god and demigod.
"Yes. I am sorry that we even allowed it to reach that far. There are terrible problems within the council, and these demigods may have the right idea."
Before Hades answered, his gaze drifted to a far set of crates being opened up by demigods heading in the direction of the training range. Massive bundles of arrows as well as canisters with different colored markings revealed themselves to the god's prying eyes. His eyebrows raised for a moment before he addressed the group around the hearth.
"And this idea should culminate in a rebellion opposing Olympus? You will wage war against Olympian might with arrows and what looks like gas canisters?"
Thalia shook her head.
"No. None of us are dumb enough to think that we can take on the gods ourselves; that's why you're here. These are all non-lethal weapons, blunt arrows and sleeping gas over there, for any demigods that end up on the opposing side," the huntress explained before her tone became frigid, "Not all of us are our parents."
It didn't need to be stated that Zeus was the spearhead of what the duo of demigods wanted hoisted out of Olympus. The two gods remained silent for a while before Artemis ventured a glance at the Greek demigods she'd recognized earlier.
"All of these people know what happened to Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase?"
"Yes," Thalia affirmed, grimacing, "That's why they were giving you weird looks. Most demigods haven't really ever met a god before, and all these ones know is how two heroes were condemned by the council. It's only because you both weren't part of the yeses that a lot of them were willing to be here when we thought about bringing you."
Artemis nodded as she stood up. Her Lieutenant rose in tandem, and the goddess put a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you for trusting me with this, Thalia," she said genuinely, "We have an emergency meeting on Olympus regarding Camp Jupiter's attack yesterday–"
"I will also attend this meeting," Hades interrupted, rising from his seat with Nico, "my son will as well. Artemis, you and I can speak to Hestia and Apollo about this place while my son reports back here following the assembly."
After mulling the idea over, Nico and Thalia nodded. Both gods and the son of Hades vanished into flashes of light. The daughter of Zeus made her way towards the training range, glad to be exempt from having to look at her father.
(Line Break)
Jason sat rigidly at the foot of Jupiter's throne, the young god's throat tight from his burdening anxiety. The present gods seemed to share his deep unease as their collective gaze split between two alterations to the throne room. Jason's eyes were fixated on the throne to his left, or what was left of it. Another seat further down on his right mirrored the image of a pile of greyed stones.
Both Poseidon and Ares' thrones no longer stood, their proud seats of power replaced by discolored rubble exactly as Dionysus' had. The wreckage of the wine god's throne had been cleared out months ago, but it appeared that the process would have to be replicated.
Three flashes of light appeared, one after another, as Artemis, Hades, and Athena appeared, immediately freezing at the scene. The God of the Underworld had also materialized with his son, and Jason eyed his former crewmate uneasily. Nico would have glared in reply if his gaze hadn't immediately found the two collapsed thrones.
Hades' guest seat materialized, and he slowly lowered himself into it.
"Brother, I heard what happened at Camp Jupiter," the god began, "and I came to offer my help. But this…"
His eyes trailed to where Poseidon should have been seated. Neither Artemis or Athena had said anything, processing the two Olympians' absence through petrified expressions. Jupiter's seething in Hades' direction slowly faded, and the King of the Gods nodded curtly.
"This is the future of Olympus if we do not act more effectively," Jupiter thundered, his scrutinizing gaze tracing every Olympian that hadn't voted with him before it eventually found Nico, "and what is your traitorous son doing here?!"
The Master Bolt materialized within Jupiter's grasp, and Hades had to fight every instinct in his body to maintain his calm. Before he could force out a level voice, Nico stood from the base of his father's throne with his hands raised in surrender.
"Lord Jupiter, I'm sorry. I was extremely upset about what happened to my friends, and I had just gone through a journey across the world almost on my own. But this meeting isn't about that; it's about the future of Olympus as we know it. Regardless of how I became a god, please let me do my part in serving it."
It was all Hades could do to not visibly swell with pride at the persuasion laced in Nico's voice. Jupiter's glowering eased, and his Master Bolt vanished. From beneath the god's throne, Jason stared at the son of Hades. The apology sounded genuine, and Jason was impressed at how calm and collected his former crewmate seemed as opposed to their last encounter. The son of Jupiter wondered if the rest of his compatriots had finally brought themselves to the same conclusion.
Above him, The King of the Gods straightened up to address the entire council. But before he could, Athena spoke.
"Father, if I may," she began, and Jupiter nodded, "I have brought someone to Olympus who I believe, even more so now, will be integral in ensuring our future and your continued reign."
The sky god eyed his daughter suspiciously, silently beckoning her to continue as his weapon returned to his grasp. Athena remained silent, only waving over her shoulder. Jason saw a hint of a shadow cast from behind her throne before the edge of shining armor emerged. The son of Jupiter stumbled back as the owl-helmed warrior who'd saved his life stepped out in view of the entire council.
Jason's seated stumble evolved into flattening against the throne room's marble when Jupiter's careening Master Bolt exploded against the warrior in white armor.
A/N: I think I already mentioned this last chapter, but there unfortunately won't be any update next week. So sorry, but I'm going on a road trip with friends, and a chapter under those circumstances would absolutely not be up to par. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review and let me know :)
levisorus:
I only didn't copy your review to not inflate the word count, but I can't explain how much I appreciate lengthy comments like yours. Annabeth is really struggling with her acceptance, as seen in the chapter, cus who would ever want to accept something so horrible? The dead love of your life, who you believe your current decisions are in alignment with, is actually alive and has become unbelievably monstrous? I'd have an unbearable time trying to sort that kinda thing out. And yes, exactly, as for the contradiction in their emotions. It's so crazy seeing it damage one and maybe even move towards saving the other? Not going to get too into anything, but I'm so glad you're seeing the things I want to portray.
owl-forge-hearth: hi again! dropping in with a review to let u know im still reading:) but i was wondering, if hemera reveals that percy is still alive, will both primordials be free to use their power or just tartarus?
Hi! It's the second one. I frame it in the second chapter with the vow as the "opposing" primordial can join the war. So Hemera admitting that Percy is alive frees Tartarus, and Tartarus admitting that Annabeth is alive frees Hemera. Very scary what's at play, especially if they both maybe find out without the primordials' help..
Dragon21356: I CANT WAIT FOR MORE, this is so freakin amazing. The way you portray both of them being affected by each other's feelings is incredible, I cannot wait for the eventual clash where their feelings for each other will affect their fighting style (or perhaps you have another idea hmm?), PLEASE NEVER STOP WRITING
I didn't want to copy all three of them, but dude your reviews are all so ridiculously kind. I'm so glad you're here reading this story after already following Divergent Path, and thank you so so much. It makes me only want to write more knowing that you're going to be reading it. Also a very interesting observation, I wonder how their next battle will go..