AN: Well I figured that I'd get this out before Christmas at least. I know this weekend is going to be busy for me with family with the holiday so I wanted to make sure I got this out before then. This chapter isn't seasonal or anything so I figured I'd at least say something in the AN about it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

As always I own nothing you recognize from officially published/licensed works, only my imagination.

Chapter 9: Into the Past and Future

Acheron, Lethe, Phlegethon, Cocytus, Styx.

The five rivers of Hades, of the underworld. All started their journey in Hades' realm dividing the abyssal landscape into a delta of death, memory, and for many, misery. From the banks of the Styx and in its waters is Stygian Iron made. From the banks of the others, it turns out there too is an ore that can be smelted. Black iron sand in the Acheron, razor-sharp, and glasslike metal fragments from the Cocytus. Empty gray ore that is almost more stone than metal from the Lethe, and a reddish ore that almost seems to glow from within from the Phlegethon's blasted banks.

Hephaestus relied upon his automatons to retrieve the ores for him. He could not cross into his Uncle's domain without permission, and he had no desire to explain himself to anyone. Eventually, his creations returned, bearing the raw materials of his desire. He began to work them all separately, purifying the ores into usable material, all save the reddish ore from the Phlegethon, it defied all his efforts to change it, to purify it. Days passed and his frustration grew with his failure to turn the lump of reddish ore into the final piece of material he wanted.

Of course, he was not succeeding he thought to himself after his latest failed attempt. The Phlegethon was a river of fire, its waters so hot they could burn even the Cyclopses. So he began to search Greece for a place to build a foundry. Soon enough he found what he was looking for in the northeast of the mainland. Beneath the cliffs, he delved and began to create a furnace. He poured all of his skill into its creation and no small amount of his power over flame. When it was completed he knew that it would only work once so he gathered the four metals and the Phlegethian Ore together. He placed them in a crucible and sealed it shut so that the metals would be untainted by the flames or his power.

In and out, in and out. Hephaestus began to work alongside automatons he had set to pumping the massive bellows he had built for the purpose. Already the heat was beginning to make his creations' bronze skin look flat and blurry. He needed this to work so he sat before the furnace and placed his hands upon the surface. For three days and three nights, he sat pouring every ounce of flame he could muster into the furnace. Around midnight on the third night, his automatons began to fail, their gears ceasing to turn as their bodies began to liquefy where they stood. Hephaestus knew that now was the crucial moment. He redoubled his efforts, his flames turning white hot as he poured his power into the furnace. Time slowed for him and he fell into darkness as the exertion proved too much, even for the god of fire.

When Hephaestus awoke it was to a glassy, glowing, mess before him. Sulfurous fumes roiled off of the ruined foundry but Hephaestus did not care, he smashed the hardened glassy mess with a hammer and the blow punched through easily. A cloud of gas engulfed him and even for him it was too much; he ducked waiting for it to dissipate. When it did not he shoved an arm into the foundry and grabbed the still glowing crucible that bore what he hoped was the completed alloy of the five metals. Abandoning his foundry he left the remnants to cool on their own. Not realizing that such was the heat that it would take eons to cool on its own. The heat and sulfurous fumes eventually gave the region its name: The Gates of Heat or Thermopylae.

The crucible took six days to fully cool even on its own. When it finally did he broke it open exposing a mass of blackened almost stone-looking metal. It had worked, and now he needed to work the metal to consolidate it into a billet. The flames of his forge seemed to be enough to make the material workable and he was glad for it. He began to draw it out into a blank but soon enough he noticed that despite his consistent heating, as he worked it was growing harder to move. He sent new automatons to retrieve water from the rivers. They all returned, save the one he sent to the Phlegethon, when he began to think he needed to send another to retrieve his wayward creation it returned. Half melted and barely functional but it carried the water all the same.

He knew he had only so long to work with the metal before it became impossible to work it any further so he set about drawing it down into a spike that vaguely resembled a dagger. It would serve its purpose when he was done, and that was all that mattered. When its shape was close enough he returned it to the fire to bring it to an even heat once more. Pulling the glowing metal from the fire he submerged it in the waters of the Phlegethon, they hissed and bubbled in their container but around the blade, it was almost as if they cooled. He could feel the heat beginning to pass up through the piece and into his tongs, and from there into his hand.

He returned the piece to his anvil where he was able to finalize the shape. It was brutally simple and already a sense of foreboding seemed to cling to it. He returned it to the waters of the Phlegethon and prepared the other rivers' water. He combined them into a single vessel and one after the other they hissed and bubbled. When he judged it ready he pulled the piece from the waters of the Phlegethon and in one fluid motion quenched it in the waters of the four. Flames erupted from the surface though they were not the yellow and red flames with which he was so familiar. They writhed wraithlike and pale across the surface, an almost ghostly gray-white that reminded Hephaestus of the spirits of the dead that inhabited his uncle's realm.

Then in an instant, the flames were gone, without so much as a wisp of smoke. Reaching out he gripped the weapon with his tongs and it came free of the waters. Steam roiled off the surface which dried almost instantly in the air leaving it dark and flat looking. No matter what direction he looked at it from it seemed to possess no depth at all. Yet the pattern of the metal was visible to his naked eyes, corded skeins of twisted metal wrapped around one another. All coming to a cruel point that he would have sworn was cutting the air around it as he moved it. It was done and he was one step closer to the end of his journey. All that he needed to do now was...

-KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK-

The sound of knuckles on wood sounded through the room. He hadn't noticed anyone enter which meant one of two people. Turning he was an odd sort of glad to see Hermes standing there. He bore an odd expression though Hephaestus knew he knew nothing of their Father's actions. He had no doubt he would carry this secret to his swiftly approaching oblivion.

"I need to deliver a message. Is this a bad time?"

Hephaestus was unused to Hermes being so polite, the god normally blew past all complaints and objections. He was the messenger of the gods after all he would always say, 'I come with Zeus' will' and on and on. Something seemed different today and Hephaestus looked at Hermes for a long moment before turning back to the weapon he had only just finished creating. He could hear the other god shift a little and the wings on his sandals fluttering, it almost seemed as though Hermes was nervous.

"Deliver your message and be gone."

His reply was terse and clipped, not at all welcoming, to say the least. 'Viva would not approve' he thought to himself. Even before Hermes spoke he felt like a hammer struck his heart. The casual thought as though she was still around made him wish even more vehemently that Hermes would simply leave him alone with his work and his suffering.

"This message is well, it's from me. It's not anything formal but I..."

Hermes' nervousness seemed only to be growing, even more unusual to Hephaestus. He turned back to face Hermes and met his eyes.

"I see much in my travels. There is a certain hero who bears an unusual shield. I have never seen its equal save on Olympus. Father tends to...overreact to godly gifts to men."

Hephaestus was completely nonplussed and he made no effort to hide the fact.

"I have gifted no creation of mine to a mortal as of yet. Though if the day comes that I see fit then I shall do as I see fit."

Hermes didn't seem surprised or irritated by his rebuke, quite to the contrary he thought he saw a spark of mischief in the god's eye. Turning back around Hephaestus put the container of waters as well as the unfinished weapon into a container beside his workbench so that Hermes would not see it.

"If that's all then be on your way, Messenger."

"Good day, Hephaestus."

With the sound of flapping wings, Hephaestus felt Hermes disappear leaving him alone once again.

"An unusual shield you say? Hmmmm..."

Percy and Hephaestus talked for hours. Mostly Hephaestus with the occasional interruption from Percy, but they were few. Once the relatively recluse god got going the words began to pour out of him as though he couldn't bring himself to stop. Centuries upon centuries of pain, sorrow, anger, frustration, hopelessness, the list went on and on. Hephaestus talked of how he had discovered the hero with the unusual shield was the young Ajax and his Aias. How he had discovered what it truly was and how it had come to be. He told Percy how conflicted he had felt as he wanted nothing more than for the pain to stop, but if her spirit still lived on he could not bring himself to abandon it.

On and on his tale went from the heroes of ancient Greece to those of Ireland and England who had bourne her spirit most recently. He told of how he had even forged arms for many who walked beside his love's champions. He talked until he finally had no more to say.

"You aren't alone. You don't have to do this alone, not anymore."

Hephaestus met his eyes and smiled sadly.

"Thank you, Percy, but you and I both know that no matter how long and no matter who walks beside you, some hurts run too deep."

Percy had no argument, no defense against those words. So he simply nodded and stood, extending a hand to help Hephaestus to his feet. The god looked at it strangely then accepted it and pulled himself up to stand on his own two feet.

"I'm glad you are still with us Hephaestus."

The other god, who had turned to his workbench to begin tinkering with a project, stopped and turned his eyes back to meet Percys.

"I think for the first time in a long time so am I."

He began to work and Percy knew better than to push him further right now. He had likely revealed more to Percy than anyone since Lady Viva all those long years ago. Percy felt proud that Hephaestus had trusted him enough to confide in his most closely guarded secrets. With that thought he stepped from the forge and transported himself to the beach near the cabin he and Calypso shared. The wind whipped his hair into his face as it raced past him toward the waves. He felt it now, more strongly than he had since he had become a mortal; The inexorable pull of fate, like an anchor about his neck.

It was time to go north. No more delays, no more getting sidetracked by the things he could do nothing about no matter how badly he wished he could. There was only one stop to make before he left their borders, but after he collected Harley. The more he thought about it the more certain he became, so certain he almost laughed.

"So this is why we aren't allowed to interfere?"

His words were lost in the night air but he hadn't expected a response, not really. However, he wished that something, someone would respond. He wanted someone to tell him what to do, and how to save everyone. He knew it didn't work like that but he wished it all the same. He had a job to do and at least this he knew: the battlefield, the sword, and the struggle. He had once told Apollo that he didn't know who he was without a battle to fight or an enemy to defeat. Even now, so many years later, he wondered if he knew anything more. He had begun to think he had an answer and yet his path led him here to but an echo of the same story. It was a story that had been lived a thousand and one times by uncounted heroes across time.

He felt her approaching but he stayed where he was looking out over the sea. Her hands ghosted across his torso and came to rest together as she embraced him from behind, resting herself against him. He covered her hands with his left, leaving his right in his pocket fiddling with the familiar form of Riptide. Even Calypso's presence was not enough to bring him peace right now.

"You're as tight as a drum, Percy. Relax..."

He could feel her magic seeping through him as her final word rang in the air. Despite her power nothing changed and Percy squeezed her fingers gently.

"I can't relax. not yet."

"Not yet?"

Hearing the question in her voice he gently turned in her arms until they faced each other. She leaned her head against his shoulder and he gently rested his chin atop her head.

"I need to finish this before I can relax. It's been almost ten years but I can still see them, I can still hear Hector begging for me to free him from Moros. Then there's Jason..."

Percy's voice died as the muted hum of a long-dormant rage began to fill his veins. Those heroes had been through so much, Percy would have preferred to suffer in their stead once upon a time, to take their place so that they might rest in peace. That wasn't true anymore, for the first time in his life Percy realized he didn't want to die. That realization filled his limbs with a cold numbness like he was sinking below Hubbard Glacier once more.

"I don't... I don't want to leave you."

Even to Percy, his voice sounded thin and strained. Looking down he met Calypso's eyes and saw the ghost of tears gathering in the corners.

"I don't want you to go either Percy but we both know you will."

She was right. No matter how badly he wanted to turn away from this, even if it was to his doom he would not turn away. There was no resentment in her voice, only understanding and a melancholy that came from being left behind one too many times. He squeezed her tightly and she him in return. Percy didn't know how long they stood there but as the sky began to lighten over his head, Percy knew it was time.

'In love's embrace, two hearts must be brave.'

Percy had thought it was referring to Harley and Sera, but perhaps it meant more than that. If he did what he thought he needed to.

"I know I promise you... I... I don't want you to come with me."

He felt her stiffen and pull away from him. Meeting her gaze he saw hurt in her eyes, he turned his head away and tried to close himself to it but he knew he deserved it.

"I just couldn't..."

She laid a hand on his cheek and turned his face back to hers. She seemed to be searching for something in his face but he wasn't sure what. Instinctively he leaned into the contact, the feeling of her hand on his skin comforting and familiar.

"You don't think you're coming back. Do you?"

"I don't know. Even after everything I've been through... When I was a demigod I never had time to consider whether or not I'd survive. I just kept going but now, I don't..."

"I know that it's going to be dangerous, it always is with you. Just promise me you won't give up. We need you here."

Percy met her eyes again and her tears were gone and they were reflecting the light of dawn.

"We?"

"Let's just say if we were mortals it would be very good that we just got married."

"Ready to go Harley?"

Percy looked down at the demigod whose face was set in a determined expression. Percy knew all too well the storm of emotions that Harley must be feeling right now, after all aside from having a god present for the trip, Percy had experienced everything that Harley was right now, just not all at once. When Harley nodded Percy laid a hand on his shoulder and focused his power.

"Close your eyes, let's go."

They vanished from the road just outside of Camp Jupiter where Harley had been outfitted for the journey. When they reappeared it was on a section of rocky beach that was all too familiar to Percy by now. Harley however had never been here and Percy thought that after what he had planned the young demigod was unlikely to return willingly.

"Where are we?"

Harley sounded confused and Percy realized he had forgotten to mention the slight detour they would be taking before he got them as far north as possible.

"This is the northern shore of Lake Superior, and we're here because I need to have a conversation with someone dear to a friend of mine."

With that Percy stepped forward into the water, each step carrying him deeper and deeper. Soon enough his head passed below the surface and he felt the familiar surge of power that he always did. Thinking about it now he felt the sensation as strongly in fresh water as he used to in salt water alone before he was a god. Now was not the time to ponder that thought, however, and Percy shot off into the depths of the lake. Soon enough he felt her presence surrounding him again and he brought himself to a stop at the very bottom of the lake.

"Lady Viva?"

"It is not often I meet someone more than once. Why are you here?"

Her voice was soft and slow. It gave Percy the impression of someone deep asleep or perhaps it would be more accurate to say unconscious.

"I came because a friend of mine misses you more than anything. I would return you to a physical form if I could."

Her presence seemed to ebb and flow around him as though she struggled to maintain even this scattered semblance of consciousness. From it he felt confusion and something akin to regret, perhaps even longing for a life all but forgotten.

"I have long since given up hope of reforming. I could not even remember my name until you reminded me."

"I know what it's like to want to give up, to not have any hope. I am going to head north soon, I am going to hunt for Moros and his allies."

When he said the name he felt her consciousness recoil involuntarily and he felt a surge of fear.

"All I ask is that you find your hope. Remember Hephaestus. He grieves your absence even now."

If the reaction to Moros' name had been intense it had nothing on the reaction to Hephaestus' name. He felt as though her consciousness came together, if only for a moment, and he felt the intensity of her emotions.

"H...Hephaestus... I can't... He still grieves?"

"He will never stop, not so long as his spirit remains and his memory remains intact."

The water before Percy began to shimmer and then for the first time he saw her. She was just as beautiful as the carving that he had seen Hephaestus working on and he now understood what so many before him had seen. This is what King Arthur had seen as the Lady in the Lake, this was the protector spirit that had given aid to some of the greatest heroes in history stretching across the world from Greece to England and beyond. There were so many that he wondered just how much of human history had been affected by her favor but he hadn't come for that, he had come for his friend.

"Bear with you, friend of my love, that which he made for me so long ago. I hope that it serves you well until such a time as you return it to me."

The water seemed to condense before Percy and he felt her power swelling before her consciousness faded from his senses. Before him, in the water where it had seemed to be condensing, he found a shield. From the books Athena had given him, he recognized it immediately, this was the shield that Ajax had carried into battle, this was the legendary shield Aias. According to every book he had trudged through, every source including Lady Athena herself the shield had never been pierced by mortal, demigod, spirit, or god. Ajax had been the bulwark of the Greeks and Percy wondered if this shield had done more than defend Ajax from blows. He would have to find out later because he needed to get moving. He reached out his hand and as soon as he made contact with the shield he froze, every muscle rigid like he was being shocked. Heat suffused his body starting in his fingertips and flowing up his arm.

He began to see flashes of battles, the collective memory of every form the Amyntor had taken in the millennia since Lady Viva had fallen victim to Moros' fell influence. Only flashes, before he could make sense of a sight or feeling it was gone, lost in a blur of sensations. Even here in the water, he was driven to his knees by the flood of information his domain was attempting to absorb. His vision flickered black and gold as the torrent swept him along. Eventually, he heard Lady Viva's voice as if from a long distance away.

"As every hero before you and every hero yet to be..."

With a gasp Percy sat bolt upright, silt swirling around him as his violent movement churned the water around him. He took in great heaving lungfuls of water as his heart continued to race as though he had just tried to run from Olympus to Greece and back without stopping. Looking down at the shield in his hands he realized that it looked different now. The surface of the treated leather now shone like it was newly polished, and on it was graven the ensign of the seven-petaled flower that it had described in the book Athena had wanted him to read. Out of habit, he willed it to disappear only for it not to budge. He was surprised at first then with a shrug he hung the shield over his shoulder as he willed himself to move back to the surface and shore.

When his head broke the surface he realized that something was wrong. The sun was coming from the wrong direction. He cast his power out and felt Harley on the beach where he had left him and relaxed somewhat. Willing himself to appear beside the young demigod, Percy was about to speak when he had to duck the heavy elbow that Harley directed at his nose.

"Wha...Whoa! Harley! It's just me!"

Harley spun on the spot and when he realized who was behind him he visibly relaxed.

"Don't do that! Also, where were you?! You've been down there all day!"

Percy glanced at the sky before looking back at Harley who was waiting for an answer.

"Would you believe I was fighting an army of underwater demons?"

Harley just glared at him.

"How about fifty heavily armed mortal mercenaries?"

Harley raised his eyebrows.

"How about a catfish with a BB gun?"

"A catfish? I didn't buy water demons or mercs so you thought you'd go for catfish?"

"Reminded me of a movie I saw a while back. Nevermind. I talked to..."

"What's that on your... Is that the Aias?"

Harley's voice was filled with awe as he stepped forward around Percy's side to look at the shield. Before he touched it he stopped and looked at Percy.

"Can I?

Percy nodded and he let the shield slide down his arm so he was holding it face up. Harley reached forward and gently touched the surface of the shield. To both their surprise a faint shimmer seemed to move over the shield like ripples emanating from where a stone had disturbed the calm.

"What was that?"

Harley had said what Percy was thinking though he had a guess. Harley was a Son of Hephaestus and Percy didn't think it would be a coincidence. Shrugging the shield back around to rest over his shoulder he shrugged and kept his guess to himself. He wouldn't be able to fully explain even if he wanted to. Once again he realized that he was concealing information for reasons that when he had been a demigod he would have frustrated him to no end.

"Not sure, but let's get going. I'm going to take us as far north as I can."

"How far is that?"

"Quebec, the territory of Boreas. He has always been the boundary between our influence and beyond."

"What's it like?"

Percy considered the question because the way Harley had asked could mean a few different things.

"It's beautiful but untamed. You know the feeling of stepping into a mortal city after months at camp?"

Harley nodded, most demigods were familiar with the feeling. A rush of information overloading their more acute senses and making it harder to think.

"It's sort of like that except in the opposite direction. If that makes any sense."

From the look on Harley's face, Percy guessed that it hadn't so rather than continue trying to explain he reached out and took hold of Harley's shoulder. Within moments they stood on the northernmost outskirts of Quebec City. The skyline glowing gold and purple, outlining the shadowy buildings with the light of the setting sun. Turning to the north Percy felt an involuntary shiver run the length of his spine that had nothing to do with the temperature. He had been to Quebec before since becoming a god but he hadn't been planning on going any further north. Now that the prospect was facing him he found that something inside him was afraid.

He had felt like this so many times that over the years it had become just sort of normal. After so long, he had grown used to the safety of his power and his relative lack of danger. He had fought so many monsters he had lost count over the years in defense of demigods just trying to reach safety. However, even hundreds of monsters at once were almost no threat to him. He wondered if he had grown complacent in the last nine years as he had before facing Crysaor in the Mediterranean. That had been a rude awakening that he had become too dependent on his powers. Now that he was going beyond the reach of his pantheon's influence would he be able to hold his own?

He shook himself mentally. It didn't matter if he had, he didn't have the time to fix it now. He needed to keep moving and try to survive. He started walking northward where he knew he'd find a car rental place. It would be long closed but he was a god so that generally wasn't an issue. A few miles walked, a couple of pieces of documentation forged with a snap of his fingers, and they were on the road in a black jeep. He knew it wasn't the fastest or the best handling choice but he needed to be able to go off-road with it. He wasn't sure how far north he would be able to go before he started to notice anything unusual or if he even would. Even in Athena's vast library, records of what would happen if a god traveled too far beyond their borders were scattered and unreliable at best.

"I'll never hear the end of this."

"What was that?"

Percy started at Harley's question as he hadn't realized that he had spoken aloud.

"Nothing. I was just thinking that if I get back Athena is going to ask me so many questions about what it was like."

An uncomfortable silence filled the vehicle, broken only by the hum of the tires and the rush of wind through the windows he had cracked open.

"Did you say 'If' you get back?"

Percy felt his jaw knot as he ground his teeth in frustration at his slip.

"Percy?"

"Could I convince you to drop it?"

Even as the question left his mouth Percy knew what Harley's answer would be. It was an odd sort of deja vu because it was in many ways reminiscent of younger him but he was seeing it from the other side. It made him wonder where Grover was, it had been months since he had seen his oldest friend.

"Percy! Lookout!"

"WHOAA!"

Percy wrenched the wheel to the left as a hulking shape stepped into the path of their vehicle. Skidding sideways for almost a hundred feet before coming to a stop, Percy was just glad they hadn't rolled over. He jumped out and summoned a spear that hung over his shoulder like the one he had aimed at Cernunos minus the Earthshaker imbuement. Percy was on edge already being this far north so he didn't relax even though he saw what appeared to be a completely normal moose standing in the road. Swinging his head left and right Percy searched the gathering darkness for any sign of movement. Something just felt wrong, he couldn't place it and he couldn't be sure that it wasn't just his growing unease.

"Harley. Get back in the car."

Percy willed Riptide into his hand and the feeling of the familiar hilt gave him some comfort but the warning bell was still sounding in his brain. Unconsciously he shrugged the Aias around and as though he had practiced the movement a thousand times, the shield settled onto his arm. He glanced down in surprise, he thought that he had left the shield in the... A flicker of movement and Percy was forced to bring the Aias up to cover his body as black-shafted arrows hissed out of the darkness. One volley, two, then three hissed from trees from seemingly every direction at once. The moose fell with a thundering crash to the pavement, black oily blood leaking from its mouth. Percy flinched and had to drop below the pair of arrows that shot directly at his back.

"Enough!"

Percy let his power swell and he shot several dozen swords, knives, arrows, and other weapons in every direction. Repetitious thuds where the weapons struck trees were interspersed with muted wet impacts that Percy recognized as his weapons hitting flesh. Before the final weapons had even finished striking their targets he had sprinted for the Jeep. His power swelled again as he ran, starting the engine and throwing the passenger door open as he reached it. Harley had taken the driver seat and he stomped on the gas as soon as Percy was inside. The tires squealed and Percy smelled burning rubber as they fishtailed slightly away from the ambush site.

"When did you learn to drive?!"

Percy shouted over the howl of the engine and wind.

"About ten seconds ago!"

Percy remembered Jason mentioning Leo doing something similar with a helicopter so he decided it wasn't worth pushing.

"Look on the bright side Harley!" The side eye he got in return was impressive even by Percy's standards but he continued anyway, "Now we know they know where we are! Although they also know that we know that they know where we are. Do you..."

"AAHHHH, Just shut up and direct me! Holy Hera!"

Percy grinned to himself, maybe this quest was going to be more bearable than he thought. Not even eighteen hours later he would be proven incredibly wrong and he would regret ever even allowing himself the thought

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Plok.

The unending pattern of six drips followed by a strangely muted plok were the only sounds in the cave aside from the shallow breathing of unconscious demigods. Though to call it a cave he thought would be a disservice to the actual caves of the world. It was more like a larger-than-normal overhang of rock thrust from the earth or perhaps into it. A strangely familiar smell pervaded the area and he couldn't quite place it. Everything seemed distant and out of focus like he was seeing it through a fog or a flawed lens. Then the question occurred to him 'Where am I?'

He couldn't tell where he was, only that it felt wrong to him. Then even that began to confuse him who was the he that he kept thinking of himself as? Glancing down he saw a torn and stained purple shirt. For some reason, the color seemed significant but he couldn't think of why for the life of him. Then there was an odd pricking sensation at his throat that caused his eyes to water slightly and the world around him to become even more unfocused.

Then he heard a familiar laugh and he felt like he was flying backward until his eyes truly jerked open and he found himself sitting up in the passenger seat where he had let himself fall asleep leaving Harley to take the first watch. The pricking sensation seemed to be a blade of some kind and he froze in place. Given his domains he was sure if he exerted his power then he would come to no harm but he didnt know who was holding him at the edge of a blade. Better to let this play out so long as he could to learn more.

"What's this a Kelp Head caught off his guard?"

"Would you cut it out, Thalia? And what did you do to Harley? I let him take the first watch?"

From his left Percy heard someone clear their throat nervously.

"I uhh... I kinda fell asleep."

Percy was glad Thalia had removed her knife so that he could drop his forehead on the dashboard in exasperation.

"In his defense, we may have put him to sleep."

A voice he didn't recognize sounded from behind him and he turned to look in the back seat. Sitting beside Thalia was another Hunter that Percy didn't recognize so he figured that she was new. He thought he saw a bit of Apollo in her face but he couldnt be sure, and her blonde hair wasn't a giveaway, plenty of people had blonde hair.

"And why did you do that?"

He saw a brief flare of anger in the girl's eyes and he couldnt help but smirk and turn to Thalia.

"Just how new is she?"

Thalia glanced sideways at her companion who seemed to be extremely affronted by his laugh and perceived dismissal of her.

"Couple weeks."

"Okay, new girl. Couple things. First, in the future might wanna ask Thalia if knocking your targets out is a good plan or not, maybe."

From the barest hint of pink on her face, Percy guessed he was on the right track.

"And Second as you clearly have no idea who I am given the knife you think I don't know is pointed at me behind that seat back there, or the... are those bronze knuckles in your pocket? Where did you get those?"

The girl looked shocked that he knew about her knife but when he mentioned the knuckles he saw her face go white. 'There it is.' Percy thought to himself. He had seen a very similar expression many times on a number of faces by now. It was the expression of someone who had heard his name, likely his titles, but hadn't met him yet. He wasn't a vindictive person but it was rather satisfying at times to watch some of the people and nonhuman beings he ran into realize the person they had just been threatening, insulting, etc, was the god Perseus Jackson, fifteenth Olympian.

"Anywho, what are you doing here Thalia?"

"My Lady did promise that we were going to help you in any way we could."

Percy felt a brief flare of frustration, he had left suddenly without warning anyone except Calypso for this reason.

"So she sent two of you to track me down?"

"No, I sent them to talk with you. It seems I must be clearer in the future."

Percy turned and standing right outside his door was Artemis. Her eyes were focused on the new hunter in the back seat who looked embarrassed, to say the least. She turned her silver irises back to Percy and he glared at her in return.

"Do not look at me like that Percy. Did you think that I would let you go with only this boy to accompany you?"

If Harley was offended he didn't express it for which Percy was grateful. Artemis had learned to tolerate him but he had realized that came with the unfortunate side effect that Artemis and by extension, her hunters held all men to him as a standard. He was flattered and though he didn't understand what made him so special he did think it was slightly unfair. Everyone had different lives and would react differently than everyone else. He had met plenty of fathers of young demigods that were as fiercely protective of their children as any mother. He had saved more than a dozen male demigods when they had taken on more than they could handle to protect siblings or friends. Just because they weren't him didn't make them any less deserving of respect and fairness.

"Harley has every right to be here and I have faith in him."

Artemis cocked her head at him and was silent like a bird of prey waiting for its next meal to scurry into the open. He met her unblinking gaze with his own. He knew she trusted him but would it be enough for her to take her hunters and leave?

"Thalia."

"Yes, My Lady?"

"You will accompany Lord Perseus and his companion from here."

"Of course My Lady."

Percy could hear the suppressed laughter in Thalia's voice and he forced himself not to roll his eyes. Looking back at Artemis he heard her voice in his mind, a form of communication he knew she very rarely used even with her hunters.

"Please do not object further. Aside from the satyr, you are all she has left outside of the Hunt. We may be her family but we cannot replace what she has lost."

Percy gave an almost imperceptible nod and replied to her in kind.

"Of course. At least now I know Harley won't have to get everyone back on his own if something happens to me."

The silver in her eyes seemed to shimmer and he smiled sadly at her, an expression he seemed to have been making far too often these days. Artemis did not reply to his assertion, she knew better than most that no matter the danger, sometimes you had to make the sacrifice. She had taught him that when he was fourteen years old. Even if the quest to rescue her had not done it then having to bear the sky in her stead would have.

"Come Sophie. We must return to camp."

The girl beside Thalia hopped out of the Jeep in a hurry and rushed to follow the goddess who didn't look back even as she walked away. The pair soon vanished and Percy rubbed his face with both hands.

"Oh come on I'm not that bad Kelp Head. It'll be like old times."

"Believe it or not that's what I'm worried about."

He joked even as he stepped out of the vehicle stretching his whole body like a cat first thing in the morning. The air still held the slight chill of early morning and the stillness was peaceful. Though if it were not for the knowledge that Artemis and her hunters were in the area he might have been on edge instead. Casting his eyes northward he knew the road would only continue to grow more dangerous. Already he could feel the beginning of the effect being this far north was having on him. His sense of the world around him was more limited than it had been since he was mortal. Though his physical senses were sharper than any mortals he could no longer discern the position, identity, and other things he had grown used to knowing without even having to try. It made him feel as though he had been packed into a box with wool around his eyes and ears. The feeling of closeness was almost unnerving.

He also realized that he was a single entity again. He could not sense his other aspects patrolling the camps. He wasn't sure if they remained and he could not contact them or if they had simply ceased to be. He guessed the latter was more likely but he wasn't completely sure. Reaching his power outward he could still feel the water all around him in the earth, the air, and even in his two companions. Next, he summoned a small knife to see if that domain had been affected as of yet. It seemed unchanged though only time would tell.

"Hey Kelp Head, let's go. These campers aren't gonna rescue themselves you know."

With a pang, he realized that Thalia didn't know that Annabeth and Jason's reincarnations were amongst those kidnapped. He could not tell her but Artemis' words came back to him then. It had only been a few minutes ago but it felt longer, much longer. He moved back to the Jeep and got in.

"Well?"

He asked Harley who looked at him slightly alarmed.

"But I don't..."

"You drove just fine last night, and if you're worried about where to go just try to head as north as possible. I'm sure the uglies will give us enough to go from eventually."

Thalia laughed in the back seat in response.

"Aint that the truth. Now Kelp Head, you and Harley here have gotta keep it down. I was up most of the night and I'm gonna try and take a nap back here. Got it?"

Percy saluted her sarcastically in the rearview mirror to which she responded with a rather rude gesture. They all settled in for a long drive and they got underway roaring down the ever-shrinking back roads of northern Canada.

"Bah, you are all worthless. Begone from my sight."

The creatures in question scattered amongst the trees. Some skittering up the trunks themselves, others seeming to sink into the loam below them, and still others vanishing into inky shadows. Cernunos struck one of the massive pines in frustration as he stalked passed, and the tree fell groaning to the ground.

"Curse that upstart! I know he has something to do with this!"

Ever since he had shown himself to the Olympians his servants had been disappearing in droves. Even his creations had begun to fail him and they were more like tools than servants, living weapons he used to do his bidding. On top of all that he had lost one of his remaining Arm-Cnàimh. He only had a few left and he had not expected the Walker he had sent to the Romans to be defeated so quickly. He was grudgingly having to admit that perhaps Moros had been right about the whelp, young though he was. Cernunos looked up suddenly and pondered what to say.

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear. That is a saying in this tongue is it not?"

"It is but enough of that. Jackson is headed north. He is accompanied by one of the..."

"Yes, one of the Maighdeannan Airgid, I know. There is also a younger boy who is mortal but he bears the scent of your fire god Hephaeston."

Cernunos knew perfectly well what Hephaestus' name was but he was growing to enjoy antagonizing Moros, especially in this language he so hated.

"Hephaestus. Now what are we going to do about Jackson? Loathe as I am to admit it, in open combat even here so far from America he is likely to overpower us both."

Cernunos growled deep in his chest. A bestial ancient and horrible sound that sent birds and small animals for hundreds of yards around scattering in every direction.

"Do not presume to..."

"NO! You will listen to me. This is not some game I am playing. He escaped his rightful doom for a reason. He has escaped his doom time and time again. I will allow it no longer, you will not underestimate him again Cernunos. He has defeated gods, titans, giants, and even a primordial. I will not allow your rage and arrogance to destroy..."

Cernunos turned and seized Moros by the throat. Lifting him and slamming him against the trunk of a massive pine.

"You will listen to me and listen well, Moros. I will aid you as we share a common foe but do not forget your place. You are a Greek spirit and that means here beyond your borders you are utterly powerless compared to me. Do you understand me?"

His voice rippled and clacked as it passed his unnatural jaws. He could see the disgust in Moros' eyes and he bellowed a laugh that betrayed just how far from sanity Cernunos was to any who heard it. He tossed Moros sprawling across the forest floor and bent down. His bones began to crack, his flesh crawling, and his connective tissue popped as his shape changed. Where he had stood as something akin to a massive horned man, now he stood on four legs as a massive staglike creature. His gaze met Moros' eyes and he saw the hate deep within them. He spoke again, his voice even more mangled by his even more animalistic anatomy.

"Stay out of my way and I will keep my end of the bargain. See that you keep yours."

Cernunos turned and began to run with a stride that even the most inexperienced person would identify as incredibly wrong. Cernunos knew exactly what the stories said about him, that he was an abomination, a monster. The humans called him many names, and he had delved further than any he knew of into the deep magics of the land. As he traveled his thoughts returned as ever to one of the objects of his fascination. Ban-Dia Na Gealaich, ever since he had first seen her he had sworn to himself he would have her power. No one and nothing in this world would deny him forever, he was the Ancient One, He of a Thousand Shapes, the Hunter, and uncounted other names. As his steps ate away at miles of territory he caught her scent and howled at the sky with delight. The terrible keening roar was a sound even more terrifying than his bellow in the clearing, it had driven more than one mortal to madness or simply suicide out of pure terror. She had crossed the border for too long, perhaps he could catch her before she crossed back into her territory. He would relish the opportunity to take what was rightfully his. If her hunters got in the way, well, he would need to eat soon. Why not gorge himself a few days early?

"Why. Did. You. Have. To. Say. It. Stupid. Kelp. Head."

She punctuated each word with an arrow sent flying on its way. Monsters fell beneath the silver rain for which Percy was grateful. He couldn't blame her, to be honest, he had tempted fate when he had wondered aloud, 'Huh, would've thought we have more company by now?' He knew that, but he was pretty sure they would have attacked them anyway. Golden dust was being scattered into the wind from monster after monster as Percy and Thalia demolished them, he with sword and shield, her with bow and knives. Harley was leaning against the Jeep his face pale and tight with pain. The Ambrosia was still working its magic on the bones that Thalia had diagnosed as 'fractured but mostly sound' in a break Percy had won for her in the fighting.

Percy wasn't entirely familiar with the monsters that were attacking them but Thalia seemed to be and his sword still worked on them. Beyond that Percy didn't much care at least until he had time to slow down, after that, it would be question time. Soon enough the tide of strange shadowy plantlike sprites ebbed and the forest around them grew silent once more. Percy remained on high alert as the back of his neck began to prickle uncomfortably. At the same time, despite the late hour, all the animals in the area began to panic. Percy thought he felt... something moving through the trees but it seemed to pass them by.

"What in Tartarus was that?"

Came the strangled whisper that was Harley's voice from where he leaned against the car.

"No idea but I'm driving. Thalia get him in the car we need to get out of here fast."

Thalia moved with practiced efficiency as she helped Harley into the back seat before hopping in the passenger seat herself. Percy turned the engine over and gunned it as soon as it caught. They roared between the trees heading what Thalia told him was west. He didn't much care what direction right now, only that they got as far from whatever had been near them back there. He had several guesses as to what it had been and each was worse than the last. He also hoped that they had gone far enough north that if he continued in this direction they would run into Hudson Bay. Being closer to such a large body of water might help make up some of the difference in his power. They were far enough now that he was beginning to feel it far more. His senses had begun to dull slightly, he felt drained, and frazzled, like he had stayed up for several nights by drinking tons of caffeine and the lack of sleep was beginning to catch up with him. Luckily he still felt all his domains but it was harder than it should have been. Instead of the ease he was familiar with, it was as though he was having to push his hands through sand to take hold of his power. No doubt it was still there but just a bit farther from his reach than he was entirely comfortable with.

As he continued to drive the sun began to rise over the horizon behind them. It painted the trees around them, and the road ahead of them a dazzling array of colors from deep crimson to a glittering gold that gave everything a fiery cast. Percy gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white as he repeated the words that had become something of a mantra for him.

'We're coming for you. Just a little longer.'

He hoped that maybe because he was their patron, even if they couldn't hear him, perhaps something of his intent would transmit itself to them. It was unlikely he knew but at this point, he needed to believe there was still someone to rescue because he wasn't sure what he would do if there wasn't. All he knew for sure was that if there wasn't anyone to save then he would have blood, one way or another.

AN: As always thank you for reading. This chapter took me a long to write but I will say it was strange. It took me almost a week and a half to get the first two thousand or so words, then after days of writer's block, I finished it in about two days. Because screw consistency am I right?

Anyway, I promise I will finish the story, and it's not going to be as rushed as the end of 'A New God' felt to me. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Also, still so weird to me that there are over one hundred of you following this story, absolutely blows my mind. Thank you.