The Animal Within

by dragonswoe

At the age of sixteen, everyone presents as Alpha, Beta or Omega. Percy was always expected to be a leader - as a child of Poseidon he was unlikely to be anything else - so it wasn't a surprise for him when he turned out as an alpha. He doesn't think much about what's expected of him, until he's almost buried alive with an omega. The gods can hardly blame him for what happens.

34. The Fall

Chapter 34 - The Fall

Percy had never seen Jason so excited before.

"The Thirteenth Legion was one of the greatest, similar to the Twelfth," Jason explained as he took the standard into his hands, studying it intently with a reverence that had Percy raising an eyebrow.

"What made them so great?" Piper asked. She seemed slightly annoyed at Percy for interrupting them, though honestly Percy had been surprised that they'd broken out a picnic with Piper's new cornucopia. Even more surprised to find the half-eaten birthday cake on the blanket.

Jason studied the Roman numerals, the XIII glowing in the afternoon sun. "They were recruited by Julius Caesar himself," he explained. "They were the Legion with him at the crossing of the Rubicon river which kicked off the Roman civil war – the one he won and the one which made him dictator of Rome. The Thirteenth Legion was created a decade before that crossing, and they were the Legion that conquered Rome for him. The Legion was only beaten once, and that was decades later." Jason shook his head, completely amazed. "But after Caesar's rule was safe, he disbanded the original Thirteenth and gave them land in Spello – only a few days walk from here. I guess a few of those veterans decided to return the standard to Rome."

"But how did it end up in Kro – Saturn's temple?" Percy asked.

Jason shrugged. "Well, the standards are imbued with the power of individual deities. This standard was…" His gaze lingered on the proud lion atop the staff. "Ops."

"Oop?" Piper frowned.

Jason glanced over to Percy. "Ops," he said. "The lion – that's the symbol of Ops. Otherwise known as Rhea."

Percy jerked back as if the standard had turned its powers against him. His eyes narrowed at the lion. "Rhea's standard. What about the jaguar?"

Jason shrugged. "Saturn's temple was the treasury of Ancient Rome," he explained. "Until Julius Caesar emptied it to fund his conquest to take over Rome. But since the Thirteenth was in Saturn's temple I guess he decided he'd claim it as his own?"

"Because it was Rhea's legion," Percy guessed.

Jason shrugged, not confirming it but also not denying it. "Who am I to know why? But the Legion was later reinforced my soldiers from another legion, one which we know to have been Saturn's. That's probably why that standard now has both of them."

Piper glanced away from Percy when he met her eyes, and Percy frowned briefly. "So the Thirteenth had two deities," Piper said.

"Yes," Jason mused. "Hence the two figures – lion and jaguar."

"But what's the Legion's name?" Percy asked. "We need to know the name, right?"

Jason smiled. "Gemina – the Twins. Thirteenth Legion Gemina."

"Not like Fulminata," Percy mused. "Armed With Lightning sounds better than The Twins."

Jason shrugged. "Well Jupiter can't have Saturn showing him up, can he?"

Thunder crackled overhead and Percy jumped, eying the sky with suspicion before returning his attention to the standard. "I guess not," he said with a small smile.

Jason wordlessly held the standard out to Percy. "It's yours," he said. "Kronos obviously wanted you to find it."

Percy hesitated. "But I'm not really a Roman." Sure, he'd wielded the Twelfth's standard, but that was to return it. Wielding a Roman standard in a fight would be different.

The son of Jupiter hesitated. "What about the Legion?"

Percy frowned. "What about them?"

Realisation dawned in Piper's eyes. "That's brilliant, Jason," she murmured.

"What's brilliant?" Percy demanded.

"The Athena Parthenos for the standard of the Thirteenth Legion," Piper said.

Percy paused. "That's… not that bad of an idea," he muttered. "Actually, Jason, how important to the Romans is Saturn?"

Jason blinked. "Ah, pretty important," he admitted. "The fact that Rome's treasury was inside his temple should point that out. There was a festival for him in mid-December called Saturnalia. His statue was bound with wool and every time the festival came around, his feet were untied. Kind of the whole out with the old, in with the new sort of celebration. Slaves were invited to feast with their masters. The whole system of Rome was turned on its head during the festival, a sort of liberation celebration."

"Because he killed his father and turned the world upside down," Percy guessed.

"Exactly," Jason said. "He was a big deal in Ancient Rome. He was basically the Protector of Rome, in Roman myths he fled to Italy before Jupiter could kill him so supposedly there was another Golden Age in Italy, he's kind of the one who introduced agriculture and food to the area. The one who kicked the whole Roman Empire off. Basically the opposite to Kronos," Jason added in amusement.

"So, say his statue's missing…"

Jason's eyes widened a fraction. "What?"

Percy's lips twitched. Smart Titan. "Yeah. There was no statue in his temple, not where I found that," he pointed at the standard still in Jason's hands. "An empty plinth, but no statue."

The son of Jupiter raised his eyes skyward, as if his father would strike him with inspiration. "So, what? We somehow find his statue?"

"This is the first we've heard of it," Piper said. "We don't have the time – Nico, we need to find him still."

"Right," Percy said. "Yeah, sure. Of course." He glanced over to Piper's knife. "Think you can find him with your knife?" He asked.

Piper hesitated. "I… maybe, but it doesn't always show me what I want to-"

"Try again?" Percy asked.

She sighed. "I can try, but I can't guarantee we'll see what we want to."

"Just give it a go."

Percy watched as she took out the bronze blade, staring down at it's gleaming surface. The first image to cross the blade's surface was not what Percy wanted to see. A Roman demigod meeting, all in battle armour and talking and listening to Octavian with a concerned Reyna hovering in the background.

"That's the wrong side of the world," Percy pointed out.

Piper shushed him, eyes furrowing down at the blade.

The next scene was more familiar to Percy – the old Roman Forum. Percy scowled. "I was just there," he grumbled. He watched the blade as it shimmered again, taking them through an iron gate and into a large chamber.

Piper was trembling as she stared down at the image. "We can't," she said.

Jason frowned. "Piper?"

"Nico's dying," Percy reminded her. "And, you know, Rome's probably going to get caught in the crossfire."

Piper's fingers tightened around the dagger's hilt, and the scene shimmered into the twin giants with a bronze jar settled between them.

Percy's hands fisted. "We have to hurry," he said.

"We said we'd wait for the others-"

"Hey!"

Percy blinked, peering over the side of the Argo II. "Well, that was convenient," he murmured as he spotted Luke's familiar figure waving at them.

"Come on," Jason said.

Percy eyed the box containing Medusa's head. "Ah, Coach, please don't touch that," he directed to Coach Hedge.

"What about the standard?" Piper asked.

"Hey!"

The son of Poseidon pointedly ignored Luke's yell. "Jason, your call? You're the Roman."

"We need a god anyway," Jason pointed out. "Just having the standard won't help much unless we have a god too."

"It's too valuable to let it fall into Gaea's hands," Piper added.

Jason nodded slightly. "Coach, think you could keep an eye on the standard too? And when the others get back, maybe tell them where we've gone?"

The satyr puffed up his chest. "Of course! Don't worry, cupcakes, you can trust me."

Percy wasn't entirely sure that leaving the Roman standard in the hands of Hedge was the best idea, but he couldn't think up a better one on the spot.

"Is anyone up there?"

Piper turned back to face Hedge, holding her dagger out to him. "Here," she said. "Keep this safe until we get back."

Percy soon found them on the ground and facing Luke.

"Hey," Luke greeted, hands buried into the pockets of his jeans. He met Percy's eyes. "Annabeth's gone off," he said. "Figured I might go with you, if you'd let me."

Jason hesitated, before glancing over to Percy. The son of Poseidon narrowed his eyes in suspicion, before he nodded. "Alright," Percy said.

Luke nodded, eyes hardening slightly. "Good," he said. "So… lead the way, I guess."

---

Not for the first time in his life, Percy felt like cursing the gods.

As he cast a glance towards Luke, he certainly felt like he understood the other alpha's reasons for everything he'd done. And, well, Kronos being an omega could have alphas tripping over themselves to please him.

The nine nymphs – the very ones who'd helped Rhea give birth to Zeus – did not look happy. Next to him, Luke was awfully silent, evidently wiling to let the others take the lead. When Percy shifted forwards to talk to them since he was the son of Poseidon, the older demigod snatched him by the arm and shook his head.

"Don't," Luke murmured to him. "Let the others handle this."

"Why?"

Luke's gaze darkened. "I'm sure they'll say it themselves."

Percy glanced behind him to where the entrance into the chamber had sealed over, only slightly listening to the exchange between Jason and the nymphs. At least until he heard Kronos' name, at which point his attention immediately settled onto Hagno, the apparent leader of the nine nymphs.

"- screeched like a banshee," Hagno was saying, referring to Zeus as a baby. "Kronos knew there was a baby, of course. In the few days before Rhea returned to him with her rock he scoured the earth hunting for her and his newest child. It was a blessing from Gaea herself that Zeus was never found by his father."

Percy's eyes furrowed slightly. "So why are you here?" He blurted, and immediately Luke stiffened next to him.

The nymph's eyes narrowed sharply at him. Percy's skin crawled under the intensity of her gaze. "Rome," Hagno hissed, the sound filtering eerily through the chamber. "Rome is full of deceivers and defilers. A son of Jupiter – just like Jason Grace here-" Percy couldn't recall introducing themselves to the nymphs, so that was when he realised that something else was going on, that the nymphs perhaps weren't as isolated as they seemed. "We left our homes on Mount Lycaeus for this, all at the suggestion of that son of Jupiter. We have suffered here for centuries, and now the twins have promised to help us, so that we may never suffer again. You, Jason Grace and Piper Mclean, will remain here for us."

Percy's eyes furrowed. "What about us?" He asked, gesturing to Luke.

Hagno smiled. "Mother Earth has a special task for you, Perseus. You and Luke, we will not kill you two. No, your blood, Perseus, will flow down the Moly for all to see."

Percy's eyes widened. "My blood?"

The nymph smiled, and all of them disappeared from their alcoves. Instead, blackened and thick water flowed from the niches and into the chamber around their feet.

"The alcoves," Luke quickly said, making his way towards the closest one and hauling himself up.

Percy followed his example. "Anyone have a plan?" He asked as he balanced on the edge of the alcove.

"They said they wouldn't kill you," Jason said. "Can you do anything?"

Percy tried to exert control over the water, but felt no tug in his gut nor any resistance. It was like trying to hold onto quicksilver, only for it to slip between his fingers. The more he tried, the less control he had. Percy shook his head. "No, nothing." He peered down into the water. "I'll see if there's a way out at the bottom," he said before diving into the water as the others tried to spot another exit. While Percy couldn't control the water, he was relieved to find that he could still breathe underwater – the nymphs wanted him alive, so drowning him wouldn't be the best of ideas.

Percy scoured the bottom, barely able to see through the dark water, but no exit revealed itself.

When he surfaced, he was surprised to see how both Jason and Piper were shivering. Across from them, Luke looked remarkably healthy.

"Lightning?" Percy asked Jason.

The son of Jupiter grimaced, but raised his sword and tried to summon a strike. The only difference was a small raincloud forming over their heads.

Percy ground his teeth. "What do you want?" He yelled at the empty alcoves. "Why us?"

Luke's smile was bitter. "Why not? It's always the same. We happened to be at the right place at the right time. That's all immortal do – take their anger out on the unfortunate mortals whom they cross paths with."

Percy eyed him warily.

"We need to overwhelm them with fresh water," Piper yelled over the sound of the water.

"How?" Percy demanded. He hated this not affecting him, hating being perfectly healthy as he watched the life leech out of his friends and he couldn't help them.

Piper took out her cornucopia. "Both of you – Percy, Jason, I need you to summon as much water as you can."

Luke was watching them, struggling to keep his head above the rapidly rising water.

Percy and Jason grabbed hold of the horn. Percy tried to think about the sea, about fresh salty water flowing from the horn, but soon realised that nothing was working.

"It's not working," Luke yelled at them.

Percy felt like snapping at him, because he could tell that it wasn't working.

"Think of positive things," Piper urged them. "Something good."

"A sacrifice," Luke said, spitting water out of his mouth.

"A sacrifice," Piper agreed.

Percy swallowed. Something good. Instantly, his mind flashed to Kronos. How it had started, at which Percy felt a pang of sorrow because he had been wishing for months now that he'd done things properly – ever since he'd regained his memories that Hera took he'd wished he'd not been so fast to mate with him, that he'd taken his time. Percy knew how it was supposed to start between an alpha and an omega, but he'd tossed away the rule book. But remembering the little smile that Kronos had started to direct towards him, remembering the moments they'd spent in each other's company just spending time with each other made his heart feel lighter in his chest.

Percy channelled that feeling into the horn.

Fresh salty water burst from the horn like a high-pressure fire hose, the force throwing the three back against the wall.

Luke yelped from somewhere off to the side, but Percy ignored him and focused on the memories filtering through his head. His head went under, not that it mattered since he was able to breathe still, but he watched Piper and Jason as they panicked slightly and he clenched his jaw.

Come on, this has to work.

The room shook around him, and Percy felt the shift from water to air as the water started to drain.

Percy watched as Piper gasped and Jason spat out a mouthful of water. Luke made his way over. "Well done," he said. "That was a close call."

The nymphs in the alcoves shimmered into existence, only this time they were young again. Their eyes looked kind and gentle as they surveyed the four demigods in the chamber. All but one shimmered and disappeared.

"Hagno," Percy guessed.

The nymph smiled sadly at him. "Percy Jackson," she returned. She watched him closely, and Percy was surprised to see a glimmer of concern in her eyes. "You must be wary," she said. "There are plans and deceptions afoot that will destroy you."

Percy's eyes widened. "What?"

"You must be strong," the nymph said firmly to him. "And know that not all is lost, there is still hope. Sometimes," the ancient nymph murmured softly, "you have to provide a guiding hand to even immortals, as you've all just proven."

"I don't understand," Percy said, voice tinged with frustration. What was it with all these vague directions from immortals? For once couldn't he get a straight answer from one of them?

"You will," Hagno promised. "Soon. I'm afraid I cannot tell you more, Fate forbids my interference." Her gaze settles onto Jason and Piper. "You will find the twins if you follow the waterway. I must return to Mount Lycaeus," she said. "I fear Amalthea will require our help. Perhaps we may meet again."

Piper's eyes furrowed. "Amalthea?"

Hagno merely smiled sadly before shimmering out of existence, following after the other nymphs.

Luke's gaze fixed on the drainage pipe. "Come on," he said, voice tinged with an emotion that Percy couldn't quite place. "This way. We're nearly there."

---

The waterway opened out into an underground room. Machines were scattered throughout, levers cranked and gears churning as various equipment was moved around and even chunks of the floor rose and fell.

Percy's eyes furrowed. "What?"

"What is this?" Jason asked warily.

Luke's eyes furrowed as he watched a hellhound in a hamster wheel. "There," he said, pointing his bronze sword across the room towards the twin giant praetor chairs. "There's Nico."

"It's too easy," Piper said sharply.

Luke just shrugged, sliding out from the tunnel and starting to stroll towards the bronze jar with a sly smile. "Well it was obvious from the first that this was all a trap designed to kill or capture you guys," he said dismissively. "As Kronos is fond of saying: the tried and tested method for dealing with traps is by springing them." He gestured grandly across the machinery.

"He hasn't said that to me," Percy said.

Luke shrugged. "Well you haven't spent much time with him recently, have you?"

Percy's jaw tightened and he resisted the urge to smack that grin off Luke's face with the flat of Riptide. Piper sidled between them. "Come on," she said before Percy could snap back at the other alpha. "We've got to get Nico out."

The son of Poseidon turned away and nodded. "Right," he agreed, resolving to talk to Luke later.

Spring the trap.

The four demigods only made it halfway across the room before Percy heard the churning of gears intensify. He glanced up to see a platform descending onto their heads and rolled aside, the others already doing the same.

Percy jerked back as a glob od acid sailed over his head, splattering against the bars of a cage of hellhounds and dissolving the metal.

A dozen or so scaled heads wavered over his head, the hydra hissing fiercely it watched all of the demigods at once.

"Jason," Luke said, not daring to take his eyes off the monster. "Strike the heads when they're cut off," he said.

Piper's eyes furrowed. "Don't we need fire?"

"Lightning works," Luke said. "Thalia made it work."

Jason nodded, spear in hand.

Percy just hoped that Jason could also shatter the roof of the room they were in, and get a direct strike onto the severed heads.

Luke darted forwards. His body glowed gold, and his movements sped up to an unnatural speed as he swung his bronze sword. Not to be outdone, Percy directed a high-powered jet of water into the hydra's flank to unbalance it as he hacked at the closest head.

Nearby, Piper was speaking soothingly to the hydra. She took the movements of the other demigods to her advantage, turning the hydra's own heads against one another.

The four demigods made short work of the monster with Jason blasting lightning at each of the severed stumps.

"Excellent work," a voice boomed across to them. Percy's eyes narrowed as he recognised one of the giant twins. He stood next to the bronze jar, leaning on it with a grin.

As far as giants come, the twins were kind of short. Percy's eyes narrowed warily, not about to underestimate the twelve-foot tall giant. He knew from experience that even though some immortals seemed shorter than others, they could certainly still pack a punch. This giant wore a gleaming suit of gladiator's armour, which certainly left less to the imagination than Percy would've wished.

"Round Two!" He punched down on a button that was on a console next to him, and the cage containing a dozen hellhounds next to Percy unlocked, half-melted door springing open on squeaking hinges.

Percy jerked back so he was closer to the other demigods. "Let Nico go!" He yelled at the giant as he raised Riptide.

The hellhounds looked starved, red eyes burning with hunger and Percy could count each of their ribs protruding from their sides as they moved to encircle the demigods. The giant shrugged and knocked the jar over, spilling Nico onto the ground as a hellhound lurched forwards to snap at Piper. Another hound next to it snarled and nipped the other's flank.

Percy clenched his fist and a drain above them trembled, ripping apart as the demigod pulled the water down and blasted the monsters from above. They yelped, several of the pack turning on their fellows.

While Percy had known many monsters to be mindless, their hunger was preventing the hounds from attacking as one unit.

Lightning burst out from Jason, taking down four hounds at once. A further three bolted for the waterway the demigods had entered through, and the remaining few were taken out by Percy and Luke.

Percy sprinted towards the giant, making it a further hundred feet before he heard the sound of something slashing apart the air above his head. "Percy!" Luke yelled, and suddenly he was next to Percy and bodily knocking him aside as the point of a spear pierced the stone dangerously close to Percy's chest.

The younger demigod lurched back to his feet, only for the same spear to crack against his side. Percy yelped as he collided with a crate, back crackling with pain as he crumbled to the floor.

"No, Otis! Wrong demigod!"

Otis' spear point hovered above Percy's chest. "But he's down-"

"Mother wants that one alive – don't be a fool. You know how long she'll be furious with us for!"

The giant hovering over Percy – who'd seemingly come out of nowhere – turned and scowled at his twin. "I knocked him down-"

"Don't kill him."

Otis would have answered, had he not had a lightning bolt dropped on his head courtesy of Jason. Jason and Piper raced to Percy's side as the giant staggered back and roared. Otis shook his head, fixing furious eyes onto the two as he shrugged off the lightning like it was nothing. "Can I kill them?"

"The boy, yes. But our friend suggested that keeping the girl alive may be wise, since Athena's daughter is likely to die."

"Annabeth?" Luke asked. Concern flickered in his eyes. "What's happened to Annabeth?" He demanded.

Percy was remotely surprised with his concern, but assumed that it was concern borne from knowing her for years. When you pick up a kid on the run and take care of them it probably ends up being instinctive concern.

"She's not dead?" Percy demanded. Like Luke, he'd become fond of Annabeth in a familial sort of way. Maybe if Kronos wasn't part of the equation, Percy could see himself with her instead. But as long as Kronos decided to stick around, the demigod would stay with him.

"Oh, no," Ephialtes, the giant next to Nico assured them. "Not yet. But just in case, we've also got the other demigods you came with. Got them safe and locked up in the event that you all die."

"But not Perseus," Otis muttered.

"Not Perseus," Ephialtes agreed. Frustration simmered in Percy, but he forced it down. Whatever was going on with everyone insisting he wasn't to die, he'd work it out eventually. "But the rest of you can die for our entertainment, and we'll have those other three as back up so Mother isn't too upset."

Jason helped Percy to his feet as Piper shoved a square of ambrosia into his hand. Percy grimaced, pressing a hand against his aching ribs as he shifted. Every breath felt like there were shards of glass in his lungs.

"Or you could let us all go," Piper suggested sweetly to the giants. "I'm sure that would be incredible entertainment."

Otis seemed to consider it briefly, but Ephialtes snarled at Piper. "That is not an option."

"We've planned this for eons," Otis agreed. "The greatest spectacle to make even Dionysus gape in amazement. You will die where all the gods and mortals can watch, and then we will destroy Rome."

"One month of tremendous spectacles," Ephialtes said. "All leading up to the grand finale – Mother's awakening."

"One month until Gaea wakes?" Jason demanded.

"August the First," Otis mused.

On the floor next to Ephialtes, Nico started struggling to crawl away. Neither giant paid his groaning any attention. Percy pressed his hand against his ribs, but the ambrosia had done its job well. "You can't destroy Rome," he said. "We'll stop you," he warned the giants.

They merely grinned at him. "What – four demigods against two giants?"

Luke fisted his hands. "They've taken down giants before."

"And you're just a son of Hermes," Ephialtes sneered. "What use are you in a fight?"

Luke shifted his grip on the hilt of his bronze sword, and his body again glowed briefly before fading away. "More than you'd think."

That seemed to give the giants reason to pause. Otis suddenly looked wary of the son of Hermes. "Kronos' blessing," he mused. "Now that's a new one. I don't think Kronos has ever blessed a mortal before."

"No, he has," Ephialtes disagreed.

"Oh, right," Otis muttered. "There was that mortal in Rome – the slave. Spar-something."

"Spartacus?" Jason asked in surprise. "He was blessed by Kronos?"

"Of course. Roman slave turning against Rome whom fought legions and came out on top? Where do you think his prowess came from that he was able to fight and take down Roman demigods?"

Luke's free hand fisted at his side. "Spartacus was killed. I wasn't."

"Not yet," Otis glowered.

"It will be great," Ephialtes assured them. "We'll decimate Rome and move out from there."

"And if we don't cooperate?" Jason questioned. "What then?"

Ephialtes grinned. "It's not like you can kill us – I don't see a god here with you. Your only option is to die."

Percy uncapped Riptide again. "I don't like that option," he said.

Luke's smile turned wicked, stretching the scar over his eye. "Let's take them down," he suggested.

Jason nodded in agreement and Piper glared at the giants.

The four demigods started forwards, but Ephialtes' grin widened and he slammed a hand down onto the controls at his side. Gears immediately started churning around them and various crates and cages opened, springing out an assortment of animals and monsters.

A harpy dived down onto them from above, but Luke slashed her from wingtip to wingtip and she disintegrated over their heads.

"Get to the controls," Luke snapped at Percy. "We'll slow them down."

Easier said than done with Otis between him and the controls, and Ephialtes hovering over the control board. Percy searched for the water he knew would be in the area as he advanced towards Ephialtes, Otis being distracted by the others. Since they had come out of the old waterway, the water had to have been diverted somewhere. Sure enough, Percy found a pipe running through the ceiling of the room and pulled. The jet slammed into Ephialtes' side and sent him staggering backwards.

Percy vaulted onto the raised platform and lunged for the control board, slashing across the various levels and buttons and causing the top to spark dangerously. Luke stabbed Otis in the thigh, jerking back before he could lash out at the demigod as Piper charged past them towards Nico.

Ephialtes bellowed and swung at him, but Percy rolled aside and the spear passed harmlessly over his head.

"Sorry," Percy said. "Guess the shows over?"

Ephialtes glowered at him. "Forget what Mother wants," the giant snarled. "You will die first."

"That's the best thing you've said all day, brother," Otis grumbled.

Percy hesitated briefly as Ephialtes bore down on him, but reminded himself that he'd fought Titans. Percy stood his ground, and Jason forced his way to stand behind him since Luke seemed to be handling himself remarkably well against Otis, perhaps due to the giant being unable to match his speed. "I've got your back," Jason promised.

Across the room, Otis finally managed a lucky shot that caught Luke in the side. The son of Hermes yelled and doubled over, even as he was sent sprawling. He slammed into a crate and groaned, clutching at his side.

The giant turned away from the son of Hermes, lumbering over to Percy and Jason.

Percy ground his teeth. His side still ached and he certainly wasn't going to heal fast enough to keep up with them.

"Jason…"

"We can do this," Jason promised.

Ephialtes snickered at them. "How? You can't hope to hold us off forever."

"Kronos," Percy muttered under his breath.

"What?" Jason asked.

"Maybe he can help," Percy said. "Does a Titan count as a god?" Kronos, we need help, Percy thought, hoping that the Titan Lord happened to be listening. How many prayers did Kronos get? Hopefully not enough for Percy's voice to be lost amongst the others. "Kronos, please. We can't kill Ephialtes and Otis without help," Percy said.

Percy held his breath, but Ephialtes chuckled. "What are you hoping to happen, Perseus? Your little omega comes flying in, drops the roof over us, and helps you?"

Otis smirked. "Yeah, right. As if that's going to happen. You should have learnt by now that all gods and Titans are happy to sit back and watch as mortals scurry around their feet."

Kronos was probably busy, Percy thought, deflating a little. It wasn't feasible that Percy would call him every time he came across a challenge that he couldn't face at first. Percy tightened his grip on Riptide – he was the alpha, not Kronos. He was supposed to be the one helping Kronos, not the Titan helping him.

Percy straightened. "That doesn't matter," Percy said firmly.

Jason nodded in agreement, blue eyes as fierce as Percy felt. "He's right. We'll find a way to kill you, god or no god."

"But," a horribly familiar voice mused, "it would be far easier with a god."

"Mr. D," Percy said. Astoundingly, for the first time ever he felt relief when he saw the god leaning calmly against a crate. His racing heart slowed – not the immortal he'd wanted to help, but he certainly wasn't going to complain. A loaded silence had descended over the chaotic machines and monsters, everything falling silent. Percy's lips twitched when he spotted a few hellhounds racing to the closest shadows and falling into them, desperate to escape from the Olympian who'd appeared in their midst.

"Perseus Jackson," Bacchus greeted coolly.

"You cannot be here," Ephialtes snapped.

"I can't?" Bacchus seemed remarkably surprised. "You have my sincerest apologies. I heard there was entertainment and thought I'd drop in for a visit." He hummed, scanning the room with a mockingly slow and practised eye. "All so cheap," he mused.

Ephialtes bristled, drawing himself up as if to make himself taller. "Cheap? I'll show you cheap," he snarled.

Bacchus simply smiled, an amused oh-look-at-the-cute-dog-barking smile. "Hmm, I think not. If this has taken you two idiots eons to make I doubt I'll see enough changes to make this all better very soon."

"We worked with what we had," Otis retorted.

"And soon the world will watch on in disbelief as we destroy Rome."

"Hey," Percy said sharply. "Enough talking."

Jason nodded in agreement, looking far more prepared now that they had a god with them. "Are we going to kill these giants?"

Bacchus hummed, leaning on his thyrsus. "Well I certainly hope so. I did come here for entertainment after all."

Percy paused, turning to gape at him open-mouthed. "What? Didn't you come here to help us kill them?"

The god smiled. "Oh, Chrysaor's ship was appreciated very much, I assure you." Right. While Percy had been passed out, the others had sunk his half-brother's ship with diet coke. "You all succeeded in getting my attention, so go on – I'm here. I'm waiting."

Percy growled. "That's it?" He demanded.

Ephialtes and Otis were grinning, looking remarkably pleased as they realised that the god wasn't actually there to kill them, but to watch them kill the demigods.

Jason ground his teeth. "Lord Bacchus, we can't kill them without your help."

"I know that," Bacchus said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "If you entertainment me well enough, I'll jump in."

Percy's grip tightened around Riptide, enough for his knuckles to whiten. "I would have preferred Kronos' help," Percy snapped at the god. "At least he'll fight them and not sit back and watch."

Bacchus sneered at him. "Watch your tone, Perseus."

"Yeah," Percy growled. "Let me guess – because otherwise you'll turn me into a dolphin?" The god opened his mouth to talk, but Percy steamrolled over him even as he ignored Jason's wide-eyed look of disbelief at his disrespect. But Percy had had it with the gods playing with his life like it meant nothing. "You're all as bad as the Titans," he snapped. "In fact, maybe I actually prefer Kronos to you all right now. He'd actually help us! I guess we really know whom cares more about us now, don't we?"

Purple fire flickered in the god's eyes as he began to glow, and Percy had a horrible vision of the god simply incinerating him and all the others there and leaving, but he steeled himself as he fisted his free hand, gritting his teeth. "Guess it goes to show," Percy spat. "Luke was right. Maybe we should just stand back and let the giants kill you instead. I'm sure she would thank us for that." She, of course, being Gaea.

Bacchus seemed taken aback at Percy's words.

"What Percy means," Jason started stiffly, "is that your help, Lord Bacchus, would be greatly appreciated-"

"- But we'd be happy to watch them kill you."

The giants seemed baffled at the turn the demigods had taken. Otis was looking back and forth between them with a deep frown.

Bacchus was silent. His eyes still flickered with a purple spark, but it seemed more subdued now as he observed Percy closely. Perhaps he was the thinly-veiled rage on the demigodly alpha's face, perhaps he could sense the earth trembling slightly around them. Whatever it was that he saw on Percy's face, it made him sigh. "Well, there you have it – Otis, Ephialtes – the demigod has spoken. I can't very well have him and his friends turning to the Titans for help, I'm sure you understand." The god sighed even heavier, as if it physically pained him, but he lifted his thyrsus and blasted Otis in the chest with a beam of purple light.

The giant flew over Percy's head, landing heavily on the other side of the room amongst machinery with a sharp yelp of pain.

Ephialtes bellowed and lifted his spear, but Percy and Jason had already lunged into action. Jason hit Ephialtes in the side with enough lightning to make him stagger, and Percy dumped the remnants of the waterway inside the water pipes on his head. The giant spat out a mouthful of water as he brought his spear around.

Bacchus, moving far faster than Dionysus would even consider, was mid-swing with his thyrsus already. The two weapons collided with enough force to send a shockwave blasting out towards the demigods. Percy stumbled, grabbing onto Jason to keep his balance.

His eyes widened as he watched the two immortals colliding only a few dozen feet away from him.

It was an image that he would remember forever, even years down the line when he – hopefully – had kids of his own (preferably with his omega, but perhaps not with the way things currently were between Kronos and him).

Bacchus' simple Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts had melted into Roman armour. The giant was larger than the god and his spear had a longer reach, but with eyes that churned relentlessly with purple fire and his thyrsus Bacchus looked no less formidable than his ancient foe. A blinding light sparked off the two weapons when they met with each of the combatants having the weight of their powers behind them.

Jason jerked Percy out of his amazement with a sharp tug. Percy made sure to keep away from the two immortals as he skirted one way and Jason the other. Behind him, Percy was distantly aware of Otis struggling back to his feet.

Perc clenched his fist, rising the water off the ground around them and forming a javelin, which he promptly sent through Ephialtes' back. Jason sent a small spark towards the shaft of the javelin, and the giant howled as the water electrified his organs.

Bacchus had evidently been waiting for something similar, since he reacted swiftly in slamming his thyrsus into the side of Ephialtes' head. Percy winced as he heard his skull shattering under the impact.

The giant dissolved into dust, and did not reform again.

"No!" Otis bellowed. In his anger, he picked up his spear and threw it at the god. Too fast for Percy to see, Bacchus nevertheless snapped his fingers and the spear thickened and landed on the ground on four paws.

The giant recoiled, no doubt not having expected his spear to shapeshift mid-throw.

Percy, adrenaline making his muscles sing in anticipation, slammed the blade of Riptide into the ground. The sword sank into the stone up to the hilt, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.

The giant staggered as the ground rolled beneath his feet. Seizing the opportunity, Jason flipped his sword into the air and caught the javelin that descended, and threw it at the giant. Otis howled as the weapon buried itself in his forehead, stumbling onto one knee.

"No," he said as he watched Bacchus' thyrsus glow. "Wait-"

The purple beam caught him in the face, and the second of the twin giants dissolved.

The leopard that was formerly Otis' spear yowled and head-butted Bacchus' legs. The god seemed rather pleased with himself as he scratched the big cat behind the cars. Staring at the cat, Percy felt his heart drop into his stomach as he was reminded of another big cat he knew – Kronos.

No matter what happened, it seemed that the omega was never far from his thoughts.

Jason picked up his javelin. "Thank you, Lord Bacchus," he said gratefully, lowering himself into a bow towards the god.

Percy slowly nodded. "Yeah. Uh… thanks, Mr. B," he said. "And, uh, sorry about all that stuff I said. We just really needed your help and it was the only way I could think of."

Bacchus simply scowled at Percy. "Next time you need a god's help, Perry Johansson, try to be politer."

"I'll keep that in mind," Percy promised.

The Olympian hummed. "Good. And I suppose that it was not all for naught," he mused, peering down at the new leopard sniffing at his feet. "I shall call her Sequoia," he declared. "Giant." For a brief moment, he shimmered and Percy could make out Mr. D, and then Bacchus returned. "I'm sure Seymour will enjoy the company."

Percy's eyes furrowed. "Seymour?"

"He left a leopard head in the Big House," Jason informed Percy. "The head's called Seymour."

"Oh."

Bacchus peered up at the sky through the cracked ceiling. "And here your friends are," he mused. "If I were you, I'd move quickly. The parking lot behind the Emmanuel Building should be the best place to break through."

Percy blinked. "What?" But the god had already disappeared in a cloud of mist.

"Hey," a voice called, and Percy and Jason spun to see Piper helping Nico make his way towards them.

"Pipes," Jason said with obvious relief.

Percy scanned the wrecked room before finding Luke, hunched over and limping his way over with the help of his sword as a crutch.

The Argo II descended over them, hovering briefly before slowly lowering down into the room – apparently beneath the Colosseum. Leo carefully manoeuvred the trireme through the crumbling ceiling.

"Hey," Luke yelled up at them. "You guys got Annabeth?"

"Not yet," Leo called back as the Argo II balanced hovered in the middle of the cavern. "Rescuing her is next, so get on."

Percy helped Piper with Nico, supporting the weary son of Hades and helping him onto the trireme. Luke limped on himself, with Jason watching him closely.

"Thanks," Nico murmured, voice hoarse from disuse.

Percy nodded. "No problem." He glanced over to Leo. "Bacchus said the parking lot behind the Emmanuel Building would be the best place to break through, whatever that means."

Leo nodded, quickly scurrying over to the helm's computer with Frank close behind him as Hazel rushed over to Nico with several cubes of ambrosia.

Before too long, the Argo II raising lifting back up into the sky, through the gaping hole in the floor of the Colosseum.

"Next stop," Luke muttered under his breath, "Annabeth." He seemed jittery, Percy noted. He must have been handed some ambrosia, since he was no longer limping or hunched over.

"You alright?" Percy asked, giving the other alpha a quick cursory glance over.

Was it just his imagination, or was Luke slightly paler. The son of Hermes' hands fisted. "Yeah," he assured Percy. "I'm fine."

Percy nodded. "Right," he said. "You were a great help down there," he added. "So thanks."

Luke smiled tiredly. "Yeah, don't mention it." He hesitated briefly. "Hey, Percy, there's something I should probably-"

"Hey," Hazel called, interrupting whatever Luke was going to say, "you should all probably hear this."

---

Coach Hedge was delighted to blast a hole into the car park.

Percy was still lingering over what Hazel and Nico had said, about how the other side of the Doors of Death was in Tartarus. Briefly, he thought about approaching Kronos and asking him to deal with it, but immediately discarded the idea. He couldn't ask Kronos to go back to Tartarus, that would be cruel of him after everything that the Titan had done to get out of the Pit.

Luke was remarkably silent, pale face almost ashen as the Argo II descended into the car park. Percy watched as melted and twisted concrete and metal passed by the stern, and then they were beneath the surface.

The son of Hermes gripped the rails, peering over the edge with Percy doing much the same next to him.

"Annabeth!" Luke yelled.

Percy's heart crept into his throat when he saw the floor of the cavern was riddled with holes, an unnatural whistling sound seemingly coming from the pit beneath.

"Tartarus," Percy murmured. As the Argo II hovered above the pit, he was reminded of his first quest so many years ago where Luke's bewitched shoes had nearly dragged Grover into the pit. The dreams he'd had after of Kronos, trying to drag himself out… he realised now that Tartarus, the pit, had featured in many of his nightmares since.

Luke was the first down the rope ladder, bounding towards Annabeth. Percy grinned as he watched the son of Hermes fuss over Annabeth's broken ankle, making his way over to them.

"Wow," he said as he lifted his eyes up towards the Athena Parthenos.

"She's huge," Frank agreed.

"We have to take her with us," Annabeth said. "To Greece. She can help us stop the giants."

Leo frowned up at the statue. "I'm sure with a little rearranging we can get her into the bay doors."

Luke finally stopped his fussing over Annabeth, pulling back away from her with a wary glance towards the gaping pit behind him. The daughter of Athena smiled gratefully at Luke, using him as her crutch. "What about the giants?"

"Bacchus came and helped," Percy said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Turns out the gods can be helpful. Who knew?"

Luke snorted. "First time I've seen it," he agreed.

Around them, the chamber groaned, no doubt damaged from Hedge's assault with the ballista. The Athena Parthenos tilted sickeningly to one side, dangling out over the edge of the pit.

"No – secure it!" Annabeth exclaimed, horror evident in her eyes.

Percy bolted, following after the others as they rush to the Argo II, Jason flying overhead with Piper wrapped in his arms. The son of Poseidon didn't miss the terror sparking in Luke's eyes, but he resolutely stayed by Annabeth's side.

Percy made sure Nico got to the rope ladder before him, determined to make sure that the other demigod made it up. He was just starting up after him when he heard Hazel's voice echoing through the cavern.

"Cut it, Luke!"

He whipped around, dropping down from the ladder as he did so. Cut what? It was then that he saw what was happening, as Annabeth was dragged backwards towards the pit. Luke had grabbed onto her, but he was no match for whatever was pulling them down.

Percy sprinted, mind racing. He had to help them, had to stop it. But he was much too far and much too slow, having to be mindful of the crumbling floor beneath him. By the time he reached the other two demigods, they'd been dragged over the edge. Percy threw himself down to his knees, leaning as far over as he dared.

"Luke!" He yelled. "Annabeth!"

Luke had a firm hold on Annabeth, snatching into a ledge that looked like it was barely holding their combined weight. Percy thrust his hand down to him, trying to reach, but Luke couldn't let go to grab him without dropping down into the pit.

"Percy," Annabeth sobbed.

Percy ground his teeth, eyes locking with Luke's, and a slithering feeling rolled through his gut. The other demigod was grimacing, but his eyes were alight with an emotion that Percy couldn't quite make out in the dim light.

"Luke-"

"Someone has to," Luke said to him.

"No-"

"Nico said he knows the way to the mortal side of the Doors," Luke added. "Meet us there. Don't worry, we'll be fine." He tightened his grip on Annabeth, smile dry. "Besides, I know the monsters down there. I was Kronos' host for a good year."

Percy swallowed. "But Tartarus… it's Tartarus." A blast of cold air rocketed into his face, the pit below the two groaning.

Luke smiled. "I know. About time I went there, don't you think?"

With that said, Luke let go of the ledge and the two demigods plunged down into the pit.

---

I can't believe that was 8,000 words. Extremely long chapter for you all, just because I wanted to get to the good bit at the end of MoA - I make no apologies for the lack of warning for emotional damage. So... Percy does not fall into Tartarus. Unfortunately for all of you, the next chapter may be even worse emotionally-wise. The only hint I will give you all is that Kronos reappears - next chapter also contains one of the very first scenes I planned out for this story, so it may be out a little faster.

Week 5 (or is it 6? I don't know, I've lost track) of lockdown in the UK. I've already built a pond in our garden (and found tadpoles to put into it), and then an insect house (which my brother isn't pleased with in the slightest). I have now moved onto trying to tame a squirrel with some out-of-date biscuits I found in a cupboard, so we'll see how that goes... xD.

Dennis: I will!

Timo: Thanks :)

booklover (chapter 2): Yeah, Dawn of Time was taken down because it ended up not working out the way I wanted it to. I've replaced it with Origins of the Unbroken, which will be written, I just don't have the time atm. I've only left the house to walk the dog... for 5 weeks, so think I'm kinda safe right now. Maybe. *fingers crossed*

ghostfall: Ha, not quite. Kronos is still angry with Percy. That shiny stick is a Roman standard lol. Just wait, it'll prove to be more than a stick xD. I kind of tried to solve that in the first few chapters while still in Manhattan? Kronos ran across the road as a jaguar (I think it was in The Night) and almost caused a car crash with Percy following him. Those forms aren't covered by the Mist, so mortals can see them. Makes you a little conspicuous if you're a wolf running through some tourists and up a busy street xD.

Autumnleaf: I simply don't have the time right now. I need to finish one of my current stories first, but I will eventually get round to it. I promise.