What's up, back for more? Well that's good, because if you've stuck with the story this far, thank you. You will be rewarded in the next coming chapters as the first book ends, all of the mysteries and plot points are coming undone soon.

Let's respond to some reviews.

Shadowhunter2077: "Ok I really liked Matt and Zeus talk and I loved that the moment Zeus thinked that Matt called him a coward he instantly showed Matt why he is the King of the gods by showing him all of his feats, glad that Matt talked about his feelings is really toxic to always keep that to yourself."

Response: Thanks, I liked the conversation too. I used Zeus' god of war appearance because it makes him more intimidating and he looks badass in that game. Also, I'm glad people enjoyed Matt's outrage, I wanted to develop his character in that moment and I'm glad it payed off.

Guest: "I cant decide which one I like more Zane or Matt. Though Talon was has them beat as my favorite OC in a while.

Matt has a far greater level of self restraint compared to Zane but is kinda emo like a harem protagonist before becoming popular.

Zane is refreshingly blunt and takes shit from no one but also isn't blatantly antagonistic towards people like Percy usually if you annoy him. It's a shame that he doesn't exist in this fic since no one made mention of him. Thesuperone342 could technically add Matt in his fic if you ever decide to give him permission to use your OC.

Lol you should totally collab one day in making a fic where Zane takes tiny Matt as an apprentice in all sorts of adventures. Sorta like how Percy and Nico should have been if Bianca didn't die and Nico turned edgy."

Response: Thank you. I'm glad you like Talon so much, I figured he'd be the favorite among most. Anyway, I too enjoy Zane's story and would love to make a collab with thesuperone342. We've talked about it but ultimately decided that our stories should go on a little longer and let the characters develop a little more. As for Zane taking tiny Matt as an apprentice...that would be hilarious. Matt is older and bigger, yet probably a little weaker than Zane, so I see what you mean by tiny, and I have no problem with it. That son of Zeus is a powerhouse.

thesuperone342:"Bro...I felt this chapter more than any chapter ever. Not being able to express your feelings is the worst feeling of all. This shit glued me to my screen. I literally lost track how quickly I read this because it was so good. Your almost a perfect writer, if I'm being honest. Way better than me. I gotta brush up my game a bit, huh? Anyway, good job and I can't wait for your next chapter."

Response: Thanks man, really appreciate it. Chapter seventeen was a bit of a side quest chapter, focusing more on relationship development, but nether the less, I am proud of it. Also, I don't know about perfect, but thanks. You're writing is good too, and I don't feel superior to it at all.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters (except the OC's) Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Heroes Of Olympus, or Trials Of Apollo. All of that belongs to Rick Riordan.

Another Disclaimer: Ouranos = Malachi. So if you read Ouranos said or Ouranos did this or that, it's Malachi's body, but Ouranos acting through him in some capacity, It'll be explored in this chapter, just letting you know.

Now then, enough talk, we've waited for this, the climax is here. On with the eighteenth chapter.

18. Shocking Truths Are Revealed

Replaying the events of Castle Cannibal in my head, the Cursed Island suddenly didn't seem so bad.

Okay it was still pretty nerve wrecking, but we had just been lured and nearly roasted by a tribe of Cannibals. The tribes name being Anthropophage, which means "man-eater" in English, fun fact.

Sitting on our boat, milling towards the Cursed Island, the storm of the night now gone, replaced by a cool breeze and still dark atmosphere, it had to be close to sunrise though, at least I hoped it was.

Either way, escaping that hellish place, I finally was able to process what had happened. I had eaten part of another human, the fact disgusted me, I tried to throw up, putting my finger in my throat, but nothing worked, so I just gave up. It still made me shudder, the evidence had been right there, only now it was obvious. The boar meat was actually James' body, the material they used to make huts and tents was actually human skin stretched out and nailed down, their necklaces read Anthropophage, we were just too tired to notice.

I felt for the tiny hole on the small of my neck where the psychos had injected me with a sleeping concoction. They had used Celestial Bronze in order to pierce my skin, the back of my neck being a weak point for something that sharp I guess.

We had been stripped near naked and hung up to cook like dead animal carcasses. I felt no burn now, but the others didn't look as fine as I did. All three of them had a large red mark on their stomachs, looking like well placed sunburns, they would need some Aloe for that. I had put back on my clothes, as it was a little uncomfortable being in only boxers in front of Harper. As for her, she either didn't care, or was too tired to do so, she stayed in her underwear for a while, laying on the boat and breathing heavily, putting water on her stomach. I hadn't thought of that, her shirt would probably make the burn worse.

Annabeth was clothed and at the steering wheel, driving straight in the direction James had told me. Percy was struggling to put on his jeans, nearly falling down, but managing to pull them up. I noticed Harper wincing and struggling to reach for more water, the sun would no doubt be brutal if she stayed like that, so she needed to heal as quick as possible.

I decided to put aside our argument from last night, and the fact that she had flirted with the cannibal leader for now, I wanted to help her. I walked over to where she was laying and reached into the water, cupping my hands. I gathered a good bit of cool sea water and gently poured it on her stomach, her eyes shot open and she sighed with relief, the water trickling off of her pale sides.

"Thank you" she breathed.

"No problem. Is it any better?"

"Yeah, I put some nectar on it, burned like crazy for a minute but it fixed most of the pain, now it's just an annoying sting."

I nodded, we stayed in silence for a moment. I don't know what came over me next, but I was still bitter from the whole Xander thing, I just couldn't move past it right now.

"Sorry I killed your boyfriend." I muttered.

She looked at me like I had just spoken French, "What?"

"I am sorry I beheaded your cannibal boyfriend." I said louder.

She looked to the water, literally biting her tongue in annoyance. Then she turned back, her eyes narrowed, "Are you serious right now?"

"Kind of. Looked like you guys were having fun."

She shook her head in disbelief, then sat up straight, leaning closer to where I was sitting, "You wanna know why I flirted with that psycho, why I hung out with him?"

I said nothing.

"It was to make you jealous, idiot."

I turned to her, my attention spiked, "What?"

"You heard me. I was hoping to get a proper confession out of you, but instead you freaked out!"

"Well what did you expect me to do?! Be happy? You thought that would make me feel good or something?"

She put her hands on her head, sighing, "I...don't know what I thought, okay. Believe it or not...I'm not good at this either."

"This? What do you mean by this?"

She huffed and got up, reaching for her clothes. She put on her black jeans, shirt, and combat boots within a minute, the silence defeaning. I hoped Percy and Annabeth weren't observing the little scene before them.

Finally she poked her head out of her black t shirt, straightened her hair, and sat back down, looking at me.

At last she responded, "You know good and well what this is. Us. It's been happening since...the hotel, since your first day at camp, I don't know exactly how long, but I...I..." She then lowered her head, "You know."

"I actually don't."

She smacked the side of the boat, "I like you! Okay, you idiot! I think you're super hot and sweet and a million other things that make my heart go insane! I've wanted to be your girlfriend for what feels like forever now, and I finally summoned the guts to kiss you in Alaska, only to end up in an awkward situation! And now..." She pointed at herself then me, "A tense situation."

I couldn't believe it, everything she just said...wow. She had her defense up right now, she was nervous, and preparing for what I was about to say. I immediately calmed myself and let my instincts take over.

I leaned in and took her clenched hands away from her knees, she softened at my touch and looked me in the eyes, what I would say next could either make things even worse, or fix every problem so far.

"Harper, I don't want it to be...a tense situation. I like you too, and that kiss was amazing. I'm just...well, an idiot."

She laughed, holding on tighter to my hands, so far so good.

"Look, you want a proper confession. Here goes..." I inhaled to form whatever words would come to my head, until nature took it's course.

Nature being that we were interrupted.

Yet again, dammit.

Everything halted at a loud groan beneath us. It sounded like a sea monster. This theory was proven when Percy's eyes widened and looked over the side of the boat, I did too, and saw a giant shadow directly under us, making it's way to gulp our boat down.

Percy thought quick, strained his body and pushed his arms in a great stride to his left. The shadow groaned again and was pushed sideways, the water force came upward too, rocking our boat. Percy had controlled the underwater pressure to push the monster out of the way, saving us.

Fifty feet to our left emerged the biggest fish I had ever seen. It was night, but I could make out the gray beefy body of a giant whale monster. I say monster because this thing was bigger than a blue whale, and it had giant white tusks coming from it's wide mouth. It rumbled as it leaped, causing mountains of water to fly everywhere, disrupting the tranquil night that we were having.

Percy blew back the water to keep it from destroying the boat and soaking us. The Whale thing dove back under, the water pressure rocking our boat harder, it swam surprisingly quick, circling us like a Leviathan.

"It's the Psari!" Annabeth yelled, trying to maneuver around the waves it was sending at us. At first I thought she had sneezed, but then I realized she was identifying the giant monster. I quickly racked my brain and translated Psari to "great fish" or something along those lines.

"How do you know that?!" I yelled back.

"Odysseus encountered it! It's a rare part of his story!"

We all held on for dear life as Percy attempted to calm the waters, but this thing was strong.

"Well, how did he beat it?!" Percy asked loudly.

"Well...he didn't. He kinda sailed around it." She said.

Harper threw her hands up, which proved dangerous, so she grabbed on quick again, "That's just great! And it decides we're worthy appetites!"

In an instant, the Psari leapt back out of the water, huge crashes of waves could be heard for miles, it's giant body coming down toward us, mouth agape, we were toast.

Percy thought quick though, he yelled in defiance and pushed his hands up with effort, like he was struggling against something, then I noticed, he was controlling the water under the Psari, and pushing it back. Very impressive, considering this thing was easily bigger than a blue whale, it probably weighed three hundred tons.

"MATT, A LITTLE HELP!" He yelled at me.

I took action. Hating wet shirts, I took mine off and immediately jumped from the boat one hundred feet in the air, I was level with the Psari, whom was upright now from Percy's wave. I turned around in mid air, and clapped my hands with full base strength, the force created a loud crack and sent me flying at the monster's chest like a bullet. Within an instant I made brutal contact, slamming into it's chest and causing it to tumble wildly, forcing it back underwater.

In it's domain...crap.

But I couldn't give up. I opened my eyes under the water, at first feeling a strange sensation, then focusing clearly, not feeling any sting. I looked around for rock, and finally found a large jagged piece in the distance. I poured some strength into my limbs and zoomed toward it like a Blue Marlin, I heard the Psari roar in pain and anger, stirring around in the depths to regain it's position.

I finally made it to the jagged rock, I broke it off with ease and held it firmly like a giant battering ram. I saw the Psari stir around nearby, it's giant shadow coming up for another pass.

I planted from the sea floor and within a second burst from the surface, soaring in mid air, I saw Annabeth gunning the boat wildly while Harper had her knives out, I guess ready to poke it in the eye, while Percy was controlling the waves, trying to slow it down. The Psari weaved around any attacks, and soon leapt upward again in a colossal smash attack.

I let out a primal roar and let myself fall in the thing's direction, hefting the pointed rock like a spear, aiming for it's eye.

I got just feet away from it when I thrusted, the jagged rock pierced it's eye, causing blood to fly everywhere. It roared and shook violently, diving back into the water. I landed near the boat, swimming towards it and finally getting inside, alert for any more assaults.

Again, it tried to sink us, it's giant tail erupted out of the water, it's tail only, and came down in an overhead arc of destruction. I was ready though, I waited and waited, until it came down just enough and I caught it. I gripped the tail as tight as I could, the Psari not being as slippery as I thought, so that helped, and I poured more strength into my legs, jumping from the boat with force, taking the monster with me.

I had held on so tight that the monster was drug along with me, I hefted it with strength until most of it's body emerged from the water. It roared at it's entrapment, and I strained my muscles to end this, slinging the monster in mid air, causing it to go flying and finally skid across the water with enough waves and crashes to fill ten water parks.

The Psari came to a stop and dove back under, rumbling loudly, but ultimately swimming away, it's shadow leaving sight.

Thank Olympus for super strength, that fish wouldn't be bothering us again.

I splashed back in the water yet again, and groaned as I swam back to the boat, after a few seconds, I boarded again, the wet pants already annoying me.

Percy was panting a little, "Nice job man."

"Group effort, good waves dude." I replied, sitting down at the front.

Harper handed me my shirt back, she looked a little nervous, our conversation had been interrupted by the stupid fish, so it was a given. I had almost said something coherent and unstupid, but of course we were interrupted, it wouldn't be our quest if we weren't.

I put it back on, looking at Annabeth, I saw her mouth open, eyes wide, facing directly in front of us.

"What is it?" I asked.

She pointed, "There it is."

We all turned, and in front of our boat, in the distance, sat the Cursed Island. We knew it had to be it, the mound of land was larger than any of the Islands so far, with green spots everywhere and a few storm clouds above, yep that was it alright.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Harper exclaimed.

"Hold on. We need to form a plan." Annabeth said.

"What's there to plan, we just go up there and confront them. I'll think of Zeus, and he'll show up, that's it."

She didn't look convinced, so I continued. "Once we find where they are, I'll talk to Zeus, he'll show up, distract Malachi, You three will deal with the Big Four while I free Sera and Hera."

"Piece of cake." Percy shrugged.

"Come on Annie, what could go wrong?" Harper put a hand on her shoulder.

Annabeth hesitated, but finally nodded, and said, "Alright, here we go."

We zoomed toward it, the Island getting closer and closer, our final destination finally upon us, the hardest part was a few minutes away. This plan had to work, it had to, or else we would fail, and Ouranos would win.

After a few minutes of going at near full speed, we made it near the shore and brought down the motor volume, then finally to a full stop, letting our momentum bump us to the shore. I threw the anchor down immediately and we all got off on the sand.

The sun was now starting to rise, I looked at it briefly while the others were making sure they were good to go. I smiled as I gazed at the thin line of orange and red peeking from the horizon, clouds outlined beautifully in their stead. I nodded to myself. We will succeed, I will see another sunrise, I will at last see a glorious sunset once this is all over.

Harper caught my attention, "You coming?"

I turned to my friends, the friends that I now proudly had. We had come a long way, I had come a long way. I went from being a sad loner to pretty much the opposite, never thinking I would have friends again, and now I did.

I stepped to them, Percy and Annabeth did the same until we were in a little rectangle.

"I just want to say...thanks guys. I couldn't have done this without any of you, or Talon. Wherever he is."

Percy next to me put a hand on my shoulder, "It was nothing man."

Annabeth shifted a little nervously, "I'm sorry about being so hesitant to come at first, Matt. I was...so worried that something bad would happen, I didn't even think about you."

"Don't worry about it. You guys came and that's all that matters, we're all gonna be fine. You've helped out more than I can ever repay."

Percy smiled, bringing out Riptide in a flash of celestial bronze, "Now then, what do you say we get rid of these dirtbags?"

I laughed, "All in man, I just...need a second, if you guys don't mind." I was talking to Percy and Annabeth, lightly motioning my head to Harper.

They understood immediately and walked ten feet away, facing the other direction.

I grabbed Harper's hand and led her to the shore, just two feet from the calm water, the sunrise gleaming off of it in perfection. This was the time, I was going to do it. After all, despite what I said, there was still the possibility things could go wrong.

We stood face to face, our eyes locked, and I didn't dare move. The only thing that moved was my mouth, as I finally knew what to say.

"Harper. I...don't even know where to begin. You're...incredible, and I don't deserve you."

"True." She said, smirking.

I chuckled, "Despite everything...I want this to be a thing, I want you." I then threw every caution to the wind, and leaned in, my eyes closed, ready to initiate the kiss at last.

I was stopped however by a pair of soft fingers touching my lips, hers two inches away, she had stopped me, and was still smirking.

I backed away, very confused. "Uh...was that not heartfelt enough or..."

She laughed, "It was perfect. But not here, Shark Boy." She then pointed at the sunrise in the distance, still gazing at me.

"When that sun is in the same position later tonight, that's when I want it, that's when I want us to be a thing."

"Okay...but why not now?"

She laughed again, music to my ears, "I'd rather our first real kiss not be before a death battle. I want it to be during a peaceful time, and what better way than to seal the deal at sunset. You do love sunsets, right?"

I was stunned, so she did want this? Wow, and she knew about my love for sunsets. This was...amazing, I now felt a little giddy, something to look forward to once this is all over.

I returned the smirk, "That...sounds perfect."

She let go of my hand and motioned for me to follow, "Good. Now let's end this, shall we?"

I nodded, and we all began walking towards the summit, no doubt that's where it would all end.

We navigated the insane forest for a few minutes, it was like a tropical jungle. All kinds of precious fruits and green palm trees, now appearing clearly at the ascending sun, birds and other animals scurried around, parting for us. It was nothing like the Cannibal island, this was...amazing.

Such a shame it belonged to a slave operation, and was currently the headquarters of Ouranos.

We walked on, the sandy hill remaining steep, but we kept getting ever closer, the final battle was just ahead.

Minutes passed of this, but we didn't wane, we walked and trudged, never stopping for a break.

We did stop however to the storm spirits.

Four of them ambushed us from the leaves, their misty bodies coming into view, I was blown back a few feet into a palm tree, the others were alert, and made quick work of their attackers, stabbing them in their electric hearts.

I recoiled from the tree and dodged the spirit as it tried to bash me, I immediately pulled out my spear and stabbed it in the blue center, it faded and went away with the wind, which was now picking up.

We kept going, not putting our weapons away. The trees above began to create openings, allowing us to see gray storm clouds forming wildly and in big groups, lightning flashing inside of them rapidly, thunder echoing across the Island. Ouranos knew we were here, they were waiting nearby.

We're coming, I thought. And when we do, you die.

I remembered everybody's mission, especially Harper's. She was about to confront the Cloaked Man, the very demigod that killed her father, and the man that had tried to sway her in dreams apparently. One of Ouranos' top guys, but I had no doubt Harper could take him, she looked very determined, face conveying alertness.

"You ready to face him?" I asked, the wind was really picking up now, blowing her hair wildly behind her, I could see her full pale face, the black makeup now fitting in with the stormy atmosphere, the sun just up enough for it not to be dark.

She nodded, her face deadly, "Yes. After years of vengeance, years of training, the need to face this monster...I am ready." She looked up at the hilltop, and muttered, "Today, my father will be avenged."

That he would, an angry Harper was not to be contended with, I almost felt bad for the Man in the Cloak.

We finally reached the hilltop, sand surrounding us, a path leading onward to our left. I looked upward in that direction, and saw at the highest point of the Island, a large flat mound of rock, like a wide pillar, the sand path led to it, a hundred or so feet away. It was like a circling arena, one large palm tree was all that resided there besides the figures in front of it. I could make out five, and I knew who they were. They were waiting for us indeed, the storm raging behind them, wind rustling everything and the dark gray all around.

We began marching along the path, adrenaline coursing through my veins, I was ready for this, the plan was about to take action. I was prepared to talk to Zeus in my mind, just had to reach the top first.

We made it there, coming out onto the opening, every other part of the Island below us, we were standing of the wide circle of rock, parallel to our enemies. Malachi stood in the middle, his spear resting on his back, sneering at us, The Big Four divided in two's on both sides, Cherry and Grayson on his left, the Cloaked Man and Axel on the right.

We stood twenty feet from them in a face off, Me next to Harper on my right, Percy and Annabeth to my left, this was it, the moment everything had been leading up to.

After a minute, Malachi-no, Ouranos spoke first. I am not calling him Malachi, I will call him Ouranos.

"Well well well, the heroes have arrived. But where is the assassin? Did we scare him off?"

"Enough of the chit chat Ouranos, I know it's you. You've hijacked Malachi, forcing him to do evil acts against his will."

"He is my son! As you already know, and he came willingly, he wanted to work for me!"

"That's a lie."

"Okay fine, but he will thank me later, I promise you. I am creating a better world, Matthias, you are the one preventing that."

I scoffed, "Better world my ass, save the speech, Sky man."

He chuckled, the spear dematerializing. "Now now, before you resort to violence as always, allow me to at least explain why I am doing what I am doing."

"You don't deserve that."

"Really? Why not? Afraid I'll say something to convince you, or the girl?"

My lips tightened, "I will not join you, and neither will Harper."

He raised his eyebrows, "Really? Well then, maybe I should hand this over to my faithful servant. Perhaps he can speak better than I." Ouranos's face as Malachi looked menacing, he smirked maniacally, saying "I think you both should recognize him."

What? Who the heck was he talking about?

The Cloaked Man stepped forward.

My heart dropped, every organ seemed to twist. There was no way...no way that what just crossed my mind was about to happen.

Harper's mind had thought the same thing, I glanced to see her shaking her head violently, her hands trembling, the knives threatening to drop.

I looked back, praying to every god in existence that what I had thought would not come true, for her sake, please do not let it be him.

He began to take his hood off.

Harper dropped her knives, I saw her eyes water, her lips trembled with fear and disbelief, she muttered, "No" several times.

Finally, the Man in The Cloak took his hood off, Harper cried out in a pained sob, her voice echoing throughout the area, she fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. Even my insides turned, I was in absolute disbelief at what I just witnessed, at the true identity of the Man we had thought our enemy all this time.

He put his hands at his side, and walked forward.

Harper was tear streaked, in the loudest sound I had ever heard her produce, she screamed with pain, "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" She beat her fists to the sand rapidly, wheezing and sobbing.

I was wide eyed, my mouth agape, I said, "N-no way...it can't be..."

The familiar face of Levi Pierce looked down at his sister.

"Hey kiddo, long time no see."

Every shocking twist on this quest so far paled in comparison to this. Even the discovery of the cannibals on the last island didn't send as many chills up my spine.

The Man in the Cloak was Levi this whole time.

The Man that murdered Arthur Pierce was Levi, his own son.

Harper was completely breaking down next to me, sobbing and screaming in mental agony at the reveal, continually beating her fists to the sand.

Percy and Annabeth were shocked too, their eyes wide and mouths open, just like me.

Levi himself did in fact look like he did in the visions, I just never put the pieces together. He had the same medium length black hair, icy blue eyes, and somewhat pale skin as Harper. The only thing being different was the X shaped scar across his face.

He walked up to Harper, who was still on the ground, I made no attempt to stop him, I was too thunderstruck, and this was a personal matter for her now, she would handle it.

He tried to hug her, but she pushed him away and got up, yelling, "NO! DON'T TOUCH ME!" Her lip trembled again, she shook her head, and said softly, "W-what are you doing here, Lee?"

He smiled sadly at his old nickname, "I'm on the winning side, kiddo. You would be wise to join me. Then we can be together again, just like old times."

"Th-this doesn't make any sense, y-you've been here this whole time?"

Levi put his hands up, "I'll explain everything, you deserve to know the truth."

He noticed me and my shocked face, he turned slightly, "Hello, Matt. Thanks for looking out for her on this quest, I appreciate it."

"B-but they said you were being kept prisoner somewhere..." I stuttered.

He shook his head, "I've been in seclusion for years, a couple of months on this Island, but never as prisoner."

Harper pushed him again angrily, he stumbled back but remained balanced, a pained look on his face.

Her cheeks were covered in black streaks from the makeup mixed with the tears. "All of those sleepless nights I worried about you, the things I did to get information on your location..." she then lowered her head for a moment, and let out a single sob, before raising her head again, eyes wide and pointing at the pure white left one, "I BECAME BLIND IN THIS EYE SO I COULD FIND YOU! AND YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE ENEMY ALL ALONG!"

Levi looked genuinely hurt for her suffering, trying to reach out to her face, but deciding against it. "I'm so sorry about your eye, Harper. Nemesis?"

She huffed, "Yes. But that doesn't matter!"

"It does. She tricked you, gave you useless information and took the vision from your eye."

Harper laughed humorlessly and pointed at me, "Not really! She said the boy with the monster toothed necklace would lead me to you...AND HERE WE ARE!"

"How long did you wait for Matt? How long was it before her prediction came true? Years, Harper?"

She threw her hands up, "SO WHAT?! That has nothing to do with you working for Ouranos!"

"He is not your enemy Harper, or yours Matt. He is going to create a better world, he's promised you and I revenge against our mother...revenge against the unjust gods." He then looked at me, "Matt, he can allow you vengeance against your father, for not being there when you needed him."

"He's helped me on this quest Levi, he cares about me." I said.

"Really? Enough to never visit or talk to you in fifteen years? Enough to allow your best friend to get hurt, or your mother to be attacked by a Chimera and suffer PTSD?"

I reared my head back in shock, "How do you know about that?"

He shrugged, "Master has granted me special abilities, I have studied up on your past, your feelings...about the gods, about your father, about my sister..."

Harper shouted with her eyes closed, "Don't call him master! He's controlling you! Just like Malachi!"

His name must've triggered something, because Ouranos as Malachi began to wince and shake his head, like he was having a migraine.

Levi gestured to him, "As you can see, Ouranos cannot completely possess Malachi, because Typhon has already occupied his mind, so the old Malachi is still in there, struggling futilely. As for me, I am under no influence. Every action I have taken was of my own free will."

Harper glared at him, "Including dad's murder? That was you Levi? What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Levi winced, "I didn't know you would be there that day. I am sorry that you witnessed it, but it would've happened either way, so in a way, it was better if you didn't just find the body."

Harper's face conveyed something similar to a car accident witness, "Why did you kill him?"

"He was my target of vengeance. The bastard deserved it. He treated us like shit as children, Harper."

"BECAUSE HE WAS DEPRESSED! NEMESIS LEFT HIM!"

"Indeed, he was hung up because of a goddesses actions, and he himself became like them...neglective and distant."

"He was sad! You don't have sympathy do you?"

"I have sympathy for our situation!" He raised his voice, "I had to raise myself and you, Harper! He didn't gift us with knowledge or fun, he gifted us with bruises and shouts!"

Harper said nothing, she only grimaced, the tears ran dry, for there were none left.

Silence ensued for a few moments, the shocking reveal weighing on us all, this had to be a dream, I couldn't imagine what she was feeling right now.

Levi continued, "After the storm spirits took me, I fought and tried to escape many times, but they never hurt me, instead they carried me to an abandoned warehouse, Ouranos came to me, tried to talk, but I refused to listen, not saying a word." Then he smiled, his scar rippling slightly, "He surprised me. He never forced me to speak, he left me be, he fed me, he gave me whatever I needed for days. Finally, I decided to hear him out, and he explained his plan." Levi raised his hands above his sides, "I was amazed, the plan he told me was a plan that would create a better world, a plan in which the world would become so fair, the weak would become strong, nobody would be forgotten, unlike our current system. He promised me revenge against our despicable mother, revenge against my father, and a high seat above the new world."

"So he's brainwashed you?!" Harper said angrily.

"Not brainwashed, convinced."

"So you just sat in a warehouse for four years?" I asked.

He shook his head, "Always in secluded locations, with Ouranos' building army of demigods and monsters. I was trained personally by him, while Malachi was away. He was actually planning on me being the new Bane of Olympus, but...complications arose."

"What complications?" I said, my eyebrows knit.

Ouranos stepped forward, "The secret to hosting the Father of All Monsters, Matthias." He saw my eyes widen and smirked, "Yes boy. The reason Malachi can host Typhon is because we retrieved some of the monster's blood and injected it into the boy, creating a link between the two, and allowing him to transfer his strength and durability to Malachi. In exchange I have promised him revenge against Zeus, and eternal freedom."

I was in pure shock. So that's the reason he's able to conjure an avatar of Typhon...the monster's blood was forced into him, allowing his mind to be occupied.

Ouranos continued, "Levi here could not do it, we tried...and well, you see how that ended." He gestured to Levi's facial scar, which I thought weird, how did an injection failure cause an X shaped scar?

"I came to find out that he was not powerful enough. Only a child of the big three could do it, or...a child of a primordial. Hence, I brought Malachi back from this Island and injected him with the blood, it worked and the link was formed. However for the process to be truly completed, we needed a piece of godly energy."

"Hera..." I said, eyes wide.

Ouranos nodded, "Indeed. We captured Hera and took her blood as well, any gods would have done, as long as it was Ichor, it would have worked. When we injected the Golden blood, the process was complete, and the god killer was born."

"You're a monster...you had a son just so you could make him your Guinea Pig...your personal weapon." Percy said.

Ouranos shrugged, "Oh come now, I was still reforming, and I don't have Giants like Gaea or a legion of Titans like Kronos, so I had to make my own right hand."

Annabeth then stepped forward, "But it didn't work. Malachi wasn't able to kill Artemis and Apollo, not without the Typhon form anyway."

"Yes...it would seem I put too much faith in him. But he would've killed them, had he not been struggling with Typhon and I the whole time!"

"So you do possess him?" I said, a little horrified.

"Only partially." He spat on the ground, "Which I hate! You see, as long as Typhon is in his body, I cannot fully posess him, I can only influence him, not control him."

"Then why not possess another body?" Annabeth asked validly.

"A primordial can only posess their offspring completely. I can influence anyone, invade their dreams, haunt them even, but to fully control them? That I cannot do...unless it is my child. So with Malachi, I can." Then he growled in anger, "A fact that I found out after I merged him with Typhon, so it was too late."

Harper pointed at Ouranos, her eyes wide at Levi, "And you follow this guy? He's a complete monster, Levi! Wake up!"

Levi scowled, "I am awake, Harper. I have realized that in order to improve the world, extremes must be met...and sacrifices must be made." He stepped to her and grabbed her shoulders, she didn't stop him this time. "But you don't have to be one! The same applies to Matt! You both can work for Ouranos together!" He looked at her desperately, "We...can be together, kiddo. Just like the old days, remember?"

Her look was one of sadness, and perhaps...confliction.

He smiled, "I missed you."

She laughed a little, "I missed you too, Lee." Then she took a good long look at his face, his scar, then at me, and turned back, her smile gone, now replaced with something else.

"No, no, NO! Don't try to pretend that you're the same person!" She pushed him off.

"I am, Harper! It's you that's lost your way! Remember all those times you told me how you wished you could enact revenge on our mother? How much you hated her? Well Ouranos can give you that! He gave me revenge against dad!" He held his hands out in a calming manner, "and I know you loved him more than I did, and I'm sorry that you saw what you saw...but Nemesis! We can get her together! Finally send a message!"

She shook her head, looking at him like he had three heads, "Yes, I hate her. But killing her? I've been over that for years! Levi, it's time to move on and come home."

He stood firmly, "I'm not going anywhere, Harper."

"This is your last chance. Please don't make me your enemy." She pleaded.

He grimaced, "I never wanted this. If I can't convince you...then I suppose we are enemies." He gripped his sword, "It's not too late to change your mind. The last thing I want to do is fight you."

She stayed silent for a moment, long enough to slightly worry me, but then she looked up, and stepped a little closer to me, making me internally sigh in relief.

"I know my loyalties. It seems we're on opposing sides." She pulled out her knives, "You better not hesitate Levi, I've gotten better. I will go for kill strikes, because it won't be killing my brother, it will be killing the Man in The Cloak, a completely different person."

Levi looked genuinely hurt at this declaration, and drew his sword reluctantly. "You leave me no choice then. I'm sorry it has to be this way." He shook his head in disappointment. "The world is entering a new era, Harper. And apparently...you won't be part of it."

Percy's eyes widened at that, something about those last words...hit him hard.

"Levi...I don't know about this whole situation with your past...but don't go down this path, it only ends badly." Percy must've known, and witnessed it before, with the way he talked.

Annabeth backed him up, "He's right. You sound exactly like our old friend Luke...after he turned."

Levi nodded, "Luke Castellan. I've studied his journal from front to back, analyzing his mistakes, what he did right. It's quite interesting."

"He died, Levi. And you will too if you don't change." I said.

"His mistake was allowing himself to get cold feet, to question his actions. I prefer to think of myself as the Luke before he became one with the Titan, the smarter version of him. The version of him that merged with Kronos...I would attribute that to Malachi."

After he said that, something triggered. It was like the air had been sliced, I felt the mental crack from his brain, Malachi's body began to act erratic. He was holding his hands to his head and grunting loudly, screaming even a few times. We stood there in shock, a constant emotion at this point.

Finally he managed to form words, and this time, they did not belong to Ouranos.

"HERA'S IN A CAVERN DOWN THE HILL! HURRY! I CAN'T HOLD HIM OFF FOR LONG!" It was Malachi's voice, the one I had heard in the vision with Artemis and Apollo.

I was in shock, I barely noticed Malachi twitching again, smacking himself in the face, and saying with a different voice, "SHUT UP, STUPID CHILD!"

This scene went on for another few seconds, when finally the struggle became so fierce, Malachi was attempting to rip apart his own body. He yelled at me, "STRIKE ME, MATT! DO IT NOW BEFORE HE RETURNS!"

Thank Olympus my instincts made me act, because I probably would have stood there all day in bewilderment at the revelations of today. But instead I yelled in defiance, signaling the others to let loose too, and we did.

Harper leaped at Levi, the former blocking her quick strikes at returning his own powerful blows, each one sending a shockwave around them. Percy and Annabeth attacked the other three, which was not going to go well. Percy was strong, and Annabeth was insanely experienced, but the other members of the Big Four had raw power to overwhelm Percy's and even Annabeth's knowledge.

I didn't pay attention to that, they were seasoned veterans. I had to punch Malachi before Ouranos came back.

I dove from the ground, my impact kicking up mounds of sand, I appeared in front of him near instantly, my fist coming down in a hard blow that would send him flying, giving me enough time to find this cavern. I thought maybe Sera would be in there too, and Malachi just didn't know about that part, and had gathered the information from Ouranos' thoughts, I wasn't sure.

All went downhill the moment Malachi's face transformed from pain to anger. His hand caught my fist, a giant shockwave uprooting sand and blowing palm trees from their roots, he winced and growled, I strained in frustration, I should have been quicker.

"Pesky boy. He has the audacity to futilely struggle with me." He spat, the voice now returning to Ouranos. With a quickness of what I imagine to be a shooting star, he kicked me in the chest, sending me flying back, but not as far as I expected, only about twenty feet.

He appeared in front of me, in a split second his hand gripped my throat and he picked me up in a chokeslam position. He smirked and grabbed my head with the other hand, forcing it to look around.

What I saw made my stomach drop for the millionth time. I saw Levi walking towards a downed Harper, her knives three feet from her, her body breathing heavily. Levi himself looked unharmed, he held his sword comfortably and trudged reluctantly to his sister. Small craters surrounded his path, a line of uprooted sand lay behind Harper, where she had skidded I supposed. On the other side of them, I saw a blur dart around Percy and Annabeth, a clanging noise could be heard from the area and soon enough, Riptide and the Drakon sword flew from their hands, Cherry responsible. Within the next few moments, I witnessed Axel loom over a stunned Percy and grip him in a deadly rear naked choke. The Son of Hephaestus' beefy arms enveloping my friend's head and neck, threatening to do some serious damage. Percy struggled and punched uselessly, Axel was strong enough to overwhelm even Percy's enhanced might.

As for Annabeth, her half sibling grabbed the Drakon sword and leveled it at her, the former about to do something, when Cherry popped up behind her and locked her arms in her own, trapping her. Both Percy and Annabeth were restrained, one strike from death, and Harper lay dazed on the ground, her brother stalking towards her with a dangerous looking blade.

I didn't struggle against Ouranos, I knew I couldn't break his grip, and it wasn't really choking me, it was just keeping me in place, letting me know we were about to lose.

"Look at your friends, Matthias. They are here for you, they fight by your side, they'll listen to you." He brought my head closer to his, and lowered his voice, "Help me reclaim this world, get rid of the unrighteous Olympians, claim revenge for their wrongdoings. You can convince your friends to join me. I shall give them the whole world...I will make you royalty in the new land of mine."

I couldn't turn my head due to his iron grip, but if I could, I would have spat on him. Instead I growled, "Not a chance in hell, Primordial. You're going down."

It's now or never. Zeus, I need you.

A few seconds, nothing happened.

What the hell?

Grandfather, please.

Still nothing.

No. There was no way he forgot. Had something happened? Did he decide not to come? I looked into the sky above for a sign of assurance, but all I saw were the gray clouds, the wind bustling from them, the flashes of lightning illuminating with brilliance.

I wanted to shout in frustration, the last resort, the plan that I had so much confidence in had failed, Zeus hadn't kept his end of the deal, we were all dead.

I slumped a little, my insides completely lifeless, I was going to die. All of that hard work, all of those fights, everything would be in vain. And...I never got to kiss Harper for real. That made me even more depressed, it looked like that happy ending wasn't going to come.

I was going to be killed.

I'm sorry guys...I tried.

I looked at the daughter of Nemesis for maybe the last time, and thought she had never looked more beautiful. Despite her laying on the ground defenseless, her brother leveling a long blade at her face, I couldn't help but be amazed at her, just...her.

Her raven black hair, her pale skin, her perfect figure, her kindness, her tragedy, her skill, everything...I loved.

Finally I had realized it, right when I was going to die.

She looked over at me, her face perfectly readable, she knew it too. We had the same thought, and wanted to gaze at each other one last time. We both smiled, despite our situation, our words clear, but silent. Screw the kiss, we knew what we felt, and knowing she felt the same...I could die happy.

I'm sorry mom, I did everything I could.

I closed my eyes, ready to face whatever came next. If I deserved Elysium, then maybe we could all meet again there. The thought put me at peace.

"I am sorry it had to be this way" Ouranos said, and I sensed his hand rear back, a strong aura forming, the spear was materializing, and I was about to be impaled.

Then all of a sudden, two dozen gunshots rang in my ears. Shouts of pain and agony coming from our enemies.

No way.

I was dropped by Ouranos, he had been taken by surprise, and was holding the back of his neck. The others had been dropped too, Axel grimacing in pain, blood coming from his shoulder. Cherry and Grayson were fine, but extremely surprised. Levi had deflected the bullet, but had turned his attention away from Harper.

I coughed, and pushed myself up to get a view of our savior. When I did, I nearly cried tears of joy.

At the steps of the pathway at the edge of the rock platform, stood a familiar assassin.

"Talon!" I shouted, a grin wide on my face.

He smiled, a revolver and sword in his hand, wearing the usual biker getup, his sunglasses blending perfectly with the stormy atmosphere.

"Hey kids, did ya miss me?" Talon said, holding up his weapons in a gesture.

Yes Talon, we did.

(000)

Wow.

Lot of twists in this one, most of you probably saw the Levi reveal coming, but if you didn't...hope I shocked you.

Sorry for the wait, I was on a beach trip and couldn't write down there. I need a little relaxation time too, but expect things to go back to normal.

Talon's back! Hope all of you readers that like him so much are satisfied, you didn't really think I would get rid of him, now would you?

Until Next Time.