Chapter 51 – On Wings of Gold

The shadows emerged out into the warmth further down the Acropolis, in an area where Percy could see the moon high above and crowded in by trees.

Percy could've sworn he'd seen the immortal whom was still above him before, though he struggled to place it. Those silver eyes and hair, they seemed vaguely familiar though it took him a good few seconds to place where exactly they were from – and then he recalled Persephone kidnapping him along with Thalia and Nico, and his subsequent swim in the Styx.

"Bob?" Percy rasped once he'd remembered what exactly he'd renamed the Titan.

Bob however scowled, looking rather unhappy with his recollection. "Iapetus," he said, the sound a deep rumble that vaguely – in the most horrible sense – reminded Percy of Hyperion. One of Kronos' loyal brothers, clearly, though Percy didn't know what Iapetus was doing there if he had regained his memories. And Percy was mostly sure – though he could be wrong, in his current state – that Bob had also been killed, beheaded even, by Clytius.

"I'm sorry. For the Lethe," Percy slowly said. He didn't hurt so much as he had before, but still enough so that he struggled to speak. The Titan flatly ignored him, instead placing a hand on his chest and pushing down rather firmly. At first his presence numbed the injuries, wiping away the pain, but it soon became clear when Iapetus kept up the pressure that it was not his intention. Percy rasped for breath, crying out weakly as he felt what remained of his ribs start to cave in.

Iapetus crouched low over him, leaning in towards Percy's ear. "That is for you fucking my little brother."

What the hell was wrong with Kronos' brothers?

A soothing presence fell over Percy, brushing aside the pain and the aches. Along with Iapetus' powers surging through him, Percy felt his ribcage snap back into place with a loud crunch. "Ouch," he rasped.

"I can do worse."

"I'm sure you can," Percy said warily as he eyed Iapetus. He took a deep breath, just to check that he was fine – and sure enough, it didn't hurt in the slightest. Immortals whom healed really were useful.

"Iapetus, brother, now isn't the time." A woman this time, though in all honesty Percy wasn't sure any siblings of Kronos could be trusted, so Percy wasn't holding his breath. Though her voice warmed his chest and seemed to raise his spirits, and Percy realised that this immortal was the one whom had healed him alongside Iapetus.

A far cry from the Titan-turned-janitor he'd apparently been if Nico's explanation was to be trusted, when Iapetus finally rose from beside Percy his armour was silver, reflecting the moonlight into the trees. He glowed in the darkness one minute and faded into the shadows the next, seemingly drifting between both on a hidden whim. The silver halo of hair gleamed as he observed Percy with burning silver eyes before turning away and towards the body a dozen paces away. Under Percy's wary gaze, Iapetus rested a hand on Jason's chest and the demigod woke with a sharp breath as the gash along his side from Polybotes' trident healed.

"The girl?" His apparent sister questioned.

Contrary to Iapetus, she didn't glow herself, but when she stepped forwards out of the shadows with all the grace of a feral lioness the moonlight bathed her in light – and for a brief moment Percy was stunned. Holy Mother of Zeus. The lion growling softly at a shadow behind her was evidence enough for whom she was, and Percy eyed Rhea somewhat warily. This was Kronos' first mate, and his wife… though Percy didn't know if casting your tyrannical husband down to Tartarus was sufficient grounds for a divorce or not for immortals.

"They'd have noticed if she disappeared from their hands," Iapetus said. "You said to be discrete, but I could always alert them to our presence if you'd prefer?"

"No, no. This is fine," Rhea muttered, eying both Percy and Jason. Though for rather obvious reasons she seemed more interested in Percy. "Alerting them would… not be ideal."

Percy cleared his throat. "Ah, thank you for healing me," he said to Rhea and Iapetus. His chest still felt somewhat achy, but more at the memory of the pain than anything that lingered.

"Thank you, Lady Rhea and…" Jason trailed off, eying Bob somewhat wearily as he noted the long spear and silver-plated armour. "Iapetus?" He questioned.

Iapetus seemed pleased to finally be recognised by his actual name, and not Bob. "You are welcome," he said to Jason. Percy didn't miss that Iapetus didn't say that to him. Kronos' brother turned his head back to Rhea. "You have a plan, I am assuming? Other than charge and hope for the best as these mortal fools attempted?"

Percy frowned. "You were watching that?" He demanded.

The Titan turned burning silver eyes back to Percy. "Yes. I found it quite amusing when you were crushed."

The demigod scowled. "Great. Thanks, glad I could entertain you."

"Brother," another woman softly chided. "You can scold the mortal for his foolish choices over his lifetime later. We do not have nearly enough time for that now."

"Yeah – hey, wait that's rude," Percy protested, eying the apparent Titaness whom was off to the side. "Who are you?"

The Titaness looked affronted by his question, drawing up her small frame with a fierce glower – and alright, she was definitely a sister of Kronos. Percy flinched as she stared at him, something crawling down his spine at the odd feeling her eyes gave him, as if she was peering straight past his eyes and into his head. "One whom could tear all of your memories from your skull and leave you a mindless, gibbering wreck. Perhaps our little brother may like you more then."

"Mnemosyne," Rhea said, her tone gentle but firm, "you cannot go around meddling with memories."

"Memories are my domain, I can do with them as I please."

Percy decided then and there that he was never, ever going to upset this Titaness. He'd had enough memory wipes from Hera and certainly wasn't willing to repeat the experience. Percy carefully bowed to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said.

Mnemosyne smiled, the lift to her lips undeniably merciless and sharp. "I am sure."

Jason repeated Percy's greeting, also looking rather uneasy to see her for much the same reason.

Rhea decided to take pity on the two demigods, nodding her head towards the other immortals gathered together. "My sisters Tethys, Theia, Phoebe and Themis, and then Metis and Leto," Rhea said, nodding to each of them in turn. While some of the immortals seemed overly interested in Percy and Jason, most of them barely glanced over. "I was expecting more to assist me, but there were… complications."

"Complications in the form of Kronos," Iapetus proffered, looking rather amused as he crossed his arms. Irritation flash across Rhea's eyes. "He clearly knew you would be moving against Mother and for the sake of moving against you he'd already sent a warning out to ignore you." The Titan smirked. "Many are more scared of him than they would admit to you, and they are not likely to follow you over him. Only fools would follow you and move against him."

"Iapetus," Phoebe warned, her silver eyes narrowing fiercely at her brother. "Watch whom you call fools."

"I also included myself."

"Yes, but you have already proven yourself a fool in the past," Theia sneered. "Honestly, following our little brother into the Pit – idiots, males are all idiots."

"Says the woman whom married Hyperion," Iapetus retorted. "You always seemed surprised every time he fucked another woman… or a man."

"One day our meetings may eventually pass without arguments," Rhea mused. She sighed, looking immensely weary at the prospect. "Though I doubt it, many years goes by and we are never able to see eye-to-eye."

"Perhaps because you are a bitch," Iapetus offered.

"It's better than being a murderous bastard whom will bend over backwards for our baby brother," Phoebe snarled. "Honestly, you boys – I do not understand. Why do you all insist on sowing chaos and destruction wherever you walk?"

Iapetus merely rolled his eyes. "Says the one whom flees at the first sign of a fight. I know how this will go," he said. "Porphyrion will threaten you and you will flee like the beaten bitch –"

"While this reunion is as lovely as it ever is," Rhea cut across sharply before the siblings could come to blows. Even those not directly involved in the argument seemed prepared to square up against Iapetus. "You did not have to come," Rhea said to Iapetus. "Should there not be more of us?"

"I was bored in the Pit," Iapetus dismissed. "After the Doors started to close it just seemed useless to linger."

"You shut the Doors?" Jason asked in disbelief, eyes widening slightly. "Why?"

Iapetus shrugged. "Kronos wanted them closed, obviously." The Titan seemed rather amused with the demigods.

"What game is he playing?" Percy demanded. "Honestly – I don't get it. He kidnaps me and nearly gets me killed, then he helps me against Porphyrion which also nearly gets me killed. But now he's acting against the Giants?"

"A long one," Iapetus dryly said.

Rhea's expression was dark. "A dangerous one that I want no part of. I have had enough of his games."

Iapetus laughed at her. "And yet you are here, just as he expected you would be. You play straight into his hands without even realising. Whom is the fool now?"

The former Queen drew herself up, and Percy found himself taking a step back at the expression on her face alongside with Jason. Percy was worried tone of the Titans might explode and catch him and Jason in the crossfire. "He no longer controls me."

"Perhaps not, but he knows you as well as you know yourself."

Percy felt a chill go down his spine as Iapetus' words. It wasn't just their effect on Rhea, whom paled slightly, but he was more than aware that it was likely the same as him. Kronos knew him, and the Titan had already proven that he was more than capable of predicting the movements of others.

"What does he want?" Percy whispered.

If he wasn't mistaken, there were remnants of pity in Iapetus' gaze when it landed on Percy. "What has Kronos always wanted? Power. He wants the world, whether it's merely ashes or still intact is up to the actions of others." Iapetus' lips twitched up slightly. "And right now, everyone's playing into his hands." The Titan let his words linger in the air between them, the silence on the Acropolis heavy and daunting. He clapped his hands together, eyes gleaming in the darkness. "Now, I believe we have some Giants to stop, no?"

Percy took a deep breath. "Yes," he said, deciding to forget about Kronos for now, though what Iapetus had admitted to him was definitely not good news.

"Do you all have a plan?" Jason asked. "I think we need one."

Iapetus smiled, his fingers clenching around the shaft of his spear. "We have one," he confirmed.

Rhea sighed. "Yes. Since it seems no one else will be joining us… the nine of us shall have to be enough until Zeus arrives."

"He's coming?" Jason asked eagerly.

"When he is able to, yes. Though there is currently a Titan incursion in Manhattan." Theia directed a fierce glower in Iapetus' direction, whom merely smiled.

"We waste time," Metis said. "For all we know, the Moly may have bloomed by now. Then it truly is too late."

Rhea inclined her head, raising her hands and summoning a familiar spear that hovered, glowing in front of Jason. "Take this," she said. "It is stronger than your current weapon."

Jason's eyes widened slightly as he stared at Achilles' spear. "Are you sure?" He asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Rhea said. "Wield it with pride."

Percy didn't trust the lions.

He crouched just outside of the Acropolis, hidden behind a pillar next to Jason with half a dozen of the tawny big cats prowling around them. One large male was settled only a few feet away from Percy, and the demigod found the lion eying him as if considering tearing him apart.

The plan was simple, at least in theory. Percy was unsure about it working out properly since very few plans survived first contact with the enemy, but they'd get round to that later.

Percy's gaze lingered on the Moly, mildly horrified to find that it was beginning to bloom. Clearly, Kronos was still not helping them if time was against them. The thought made Percy irritated. He glanced to the side where he knew Iapetus was shrouded in the shadows, though found no sign of the Titan – it unnerved him, knowing that he was there yet seeing nothing.

The Giants had the advantage of numbers of immortals, and there were only seven demigods there. While Rhea's lions could keep a Giant or two distracted, they wouldn't be able to do so for too long – so the idea was to strike hard and fast. Percy had never seen Kronos' sisters in battle before, and neither had he seen Leto or Metis though from the way they handled their weapons they were all more than capable.

Rhea had explained to Percy and Jason that to destroy the Moly they first needed to destroy the statue… which was apparently protected with magic and hence invulnerable to anything except magic, of which Rhea seemed to have in large supply. Supposedly all demigods did, if they learnt the Old Tongue, but Percy was still struggling with Greek some days and his brain was hard-wired for that language so he'd figured he wouldn't be particularly good at it.

"Percy, focus," Jason muttered from next to him. He had one hand around the shaft of Achilles' spear, the weapon looking far from the ancient relic it had formerly been. Clearly, Rhea had restored the weapon.

Percy shook his head. "Right," he mumbled. "Focus."

"Demigods," Iapetus' voice whispered in their ears, making it sound like a curse.

Percy felt the urge to hit him, but knew he wasn't really there. Immortals were irritating, especially so for Kronos' brothers. Clearly it was in the immortal lineage, being an insufferable jerk – since their sisters seemed to be similar.

The other demigods were huddled together under the watchful gaze of Enceladus, half of them unconscious and the others trying to shift towards the injured to check them only for the ground at their feet to turn to quicksand. Leo was unconscious, which didn't bode well for destroying the Moly. It had been explained to Percy that the entire Moly plant had to be destroyed – down to the final roots deep in the earth. Simply cutting off the flower wouldn't work.

Jason nudged his arm and Percy was about to hiss at him that yes, he was paying attention, but Jason only pointed up. Percy followed his finger, and his eyes narrowed when he saw Aquila peering down at them – bloody remains of that poor crow clutched between his talons. Percy put a finger to his lips, eyes pleading with the immortal bird. The golden eagle blinked at them before swivelling his head around and cawing and Percy swore explosively.

"Fucking bird!" He hissed as Porphyrion's head snapped around and his gaze fixed on the bird above. Percy hid, tucking behind the pillar as he held his breath. Jason also ducked out of sight.

Percy took a deep breath, keeping his head down and not daring to poke his head over the fallen pillar. Above him, he heard the rustling of feathers and glanced up briefly to see Aquila again peering down at them. The eagle tossed his head back and swallowed a chunk of crow flesh, and Percy grimaced. He winced as Aquila dove off his vantage point, beating his wings to gain some altitude as he glided straight over Percy's head.

On a whim, Percy slowly raised his hand and felt his palm brush the eagle as he passed. Golden feathers fluttered loose, glinting as they settled to the ground. Percy's eyes furrowed. The last feather from Aquila had caused Hyperion to flash to Percy's location, clearly they were important to immortals.

Percy picked up the feather.

The temperature dropped and Percy jumped when Iapetus materialised in his shadow. "We are ready," he said.

Percy nodded slightly. "Alright," he said, his heart hammering in his chest. "Jason?"

"Ready," Jason murmured. He looked pale in the moonlight, probably at the thought of what they were about to fight for. It wasn't like the end of the world was looming. His hand tightened around the shaft of Achilles' spear. "Let's do this," he muttered. Percy squeezed his shoulder and nodded.

Percy vaulted onto the fallen pillar, standing tall and waving Riptide. "Hey!" He screamed at the giants. "Assholes!"

There was a rumble of annoyance from the gathered giants, and Porphyrion turned to face him with a heavy scowl. "I thought you had fled – a beaten mutt with his tail between his legs," the giant sneered.

"Nah," Percy said, "that's you guys, not me," he said. "We're better than that."

Porphyrion laughed at him as he summoned his giant spear. He took a large, ground-shaking step towards Percy and Percy tried to not want to turn tail and run like the giant King had suggested. "You don't scare me," Percy lied to Porphyrion, "I've faced down Kronos."

"Yes, the declawed cat," Porphyrion said. "How terrifying." The sarcasm in his tone made Percy frown slightly as he stood tall.

Percy smiled at Porphyrion. "Declawed, huh? How about cats with claws?" Percy asked.

Porphyrion's eyes furrowed. "What?"

It was at that moment, as Porphyrion took another step, that Rhea's lions lunged snapping and snarling from the shadows. A dozen lionesses tackled his leg at once, many of them climbing up his scaled leg. The male of the pride – Simba – latched onto one of the giant's toes and gnawed on it.

Porphyrion bellowed in pain and fury, swiping at the lions with his hands. One of them hung grimly onto his thumb, until it was flung off and far out of sight. Percy winced as he watched, more out of pity for the animals than the giant.

Brave creatures.

It was while Porphyrion was distracted from the lions that Jason struck. The spear of Achilles had been blessed by Rhea to bolster a demigod's powers, and Jason took full advantage of it from the strength of the lightning bolt that dropped on Porphyrion's head.

The giant roared, swinging his spear towards the lions crowding his draconian legs. "Enough!" He yelled, only to howl in pain as Iapetus' spear materialised in the back of his knee. The Titan tore the point free with a sharp jerk as the giant crumpled to one knee.

Percy looked around at the other giants fighting with various Titans and keeping them occupied before he bolted towards his friends with Jason panting beside him. That one strike of lightning had taken a lot out of him.

Percy slid to his knees, scrambling as he tried to check on everyone. There were a few injuries, and he knew Leo would have a raging concussion from the bump on his head, but despite that everyone was quick to get to their feet.

"What took you so long?" Annabeth groaned.

Percy shrugged. "I don't know. I was stabbed. What's your excuse?" He asked, because Annabeth seemed mostly unharmed.

Annabeth gaped at him, but Percy just shrugged past her. "We've got to get that statue," he said. "They can't hold back the giants forever," Percy added.

Leo grunted. "Yeah, how do we do it?" He asked.

"Rhea will," Percy said.

"Rhea?" Piper echoed.

"Yeah, no time to explain – come on," Percy said. He heard a loud bellow from somewhere close, and flinched away as a giant landed heavily on their back and shook the ground followed by half a dozen snarling lions pouncing onto their stomach and a whirlwind of arrows. Leto, the mother of Artemis and Apollo, was certainly capable with a bow and arrow.

Percy figured he shouldn't expect anything else.

Rhea was already at the statue, amidst the chaos of the fighting Titans and giants around her. The fuming giants were clearly trying to get Rhea away from the statue, but all of the Titans were fiercely defending her.

Percy charged and stuck Riptide into the ankle of the closest giant. He roared, more out of annoyance than pain, at least until a spear buried itself just above Riptide. Jason jerked the weapon out and golden dust poured from the wound accompanied by a pained howl.

A sudden sound of something punching through giant flesh, bone and brain caused Percy to jerk his head up. He twisted back as a waterfall of golden ichor splattered the ground where he and Jason had been standing. Enceladus toppled backwards, dissolving into golden dust as he did so.

Iapetus materialised, nearly the size of Enceladus, stared down at the two for several long moments with brilliant silver eyes. Then the Titan dissolved into Percy's shadow, forming behind Polybotes and stabbing his spear through his back before dissolving again.

The giant screamed and stumbled, but before he could stab Iapetus back with his trident the Titan was gone. Instead, he fixed angry eyes onto Percy. "Perseus Jackson!" Polybotes boomed. "You will die!"

"Shit," Percy muttered under his breath, tensing as the giant approached. "Go, get to the statue," Percy said to the others. "It's alright, I've got him."

Jason hesitated. "Perce-"

"I'll be fine," Percy promised. A lie of course, but Percy didn't care. They needed to take out that statue.

Percy ducked Polybotes' first swing, lunging forward to hack at his scaled foot, but Polybotes merely laughed and thrust out with his trident. Percy rolled to the side, one of the prongs missing him by mere inches before piercing straight through into the ground. Percy scrambled back, trying to keep an eye on the net in Polybotes' other hand at the same time as the large trident.

There were less Titans than there were giants, so Percy doubted anyone would be helping him with Polybotes. It was all he could do to avoid the giant's trident, ducking and rolling as Polybotes advanced and Percy backed up.

He found himself wishing for the Curse of Achilles again, or Kronos' strength backing him up. But there was no such help coming.

Percy grunted as his back pressed against something solid. He yelped and ducked, and the trident slammed into the pillar behind him. Pulverised stone crumbled around him, small shards slashing across his cheeks. He tried to ignore the trickles of blood, wiping the back of his left hand over his face as he took the chance to slash up with Riptide. The blade clanged uselessly against Polybotes' trident, and Percy grimaced as he darted aside and around the pillar as the trident was jerked out of the column. He took a moment to lean against it, gasping for breath.

A wild snarl from the shadows made him jump and turn, but Percy was too surprised to react on time to the hellhound that got the jump on him. Heavy paws landed against his chest, driving the breath from his body and knocking him down.

Percy yelled as his head was slammed against the stone flooring, hearing something crack. Riptide flew from his fingers, landing out of reach and he stretched out for it only to freeze at the continued weight on his chest.

The hellhound had one large paw on his chest, the weight down on his ribs driving the breath from his lungs. It snarled down at him, breath hot and smelling horribly as burning red eyes fixed on Percy's. Percy shut his eyes, renewing his mad scrabbling for Riptide but the monster's weight stopped him from reaching the blade.

There was a rush of wind over him and the weight on his front and the breath on his face vanished. An agonised howl split Percy's ears, shortly followed by a furious screech.

Percy popped open his eyes, gaping in disbelief at the sight above him.

Celestial bronze talons clung grimly onto the hellhound's face. Brilliant golden wings flapping furiously, Aquila screeched again as he pecked at the hellhound's face.

Merry Christmas!

Yeah, it's been a while. Sorry. University this year is genuinely painful. Fortunately this chapter was already half-finished so I managed to get it finished for today.

I hope you all enjoyed it!