Chapter 28: Jett and I Go Dancing on Ice

As Percy sat watching the flames engulf the building, he had to fight back the wave of nausea that was threatening to overtake him. Watching Amara die in front of him had been a shock to his system that mentally he wasn't prepared for. Sure they hadn't known each other long, but she had been sweet, and more than that she wouldn't have even been there if it wasn't for him. He took a few deep breaths and compartmentalised it, sealing it away to deal with later. It was a trauma he needed to deal with when he actually had the time to deal with it.

When Carter finally stood, there was a look of defiance in his eyes, and he cast his gaze around everyone assembled before it came to a stop on Artemis. As he approached her two items appeared in his hands, one that looked like a giant question mark and the other something that looked straight out of a sex shop. Nonetheless, they glowed as he charged up to the moon goddess.

"Your father is a fool," He hissed, "I don't care if he thinks we're weak. We will fight you to the bitter end."

Artemis' regal face contorted into a look of disgust, "How dare you speak to me like this. Do you know who I am?"

"Do you know who I am?" Carter roared, a shimmering outline of the blue avatar forming around him, "As Pharaoh of Egypt I am the embodiment of Horus on Earth. And your father has just declared war on Egypt and the Egyptian pantheon."

Artemis' eyes flashed and she took a step forward, "If you are stupid enough to take the angry ranting of a boy as the words of my father then you are too stupid to be a king. Your pigheadedness and shortsightedness are an embarrassment to your people!"

The strange objects in Carter's hands began to glow, "If your tactic was to piss me off, you've succeeded."

Artemis growled. She took a step backwards though, removing herself from the situation and allowing Carter's temper, running as high as it was, to cool off momentarily. "The son of Zeus does not speak for Olympus," The goddess said quietly, "We have no designs for war with Egypt."

"If you have no 'designs' for war with Egypt, then what in Ra's name is a goddess of Olympus doing in my kingdom?"

"Protecting him!" Artemis snarled, pointing at Percy's prone figure, "And getting my lieutenant back."

Percy's ears perked up at this, and he turned to look at the goddess with his tear-stained eyes. "You heard my message?" he asked in surprise.

The goddess sighed, rubbing her forehead, "Of course I heard your message, Perseus. I told my brother to give you the symbol as a way of remaining in contact with me. After you entered Brooklyn House my vision of you became…hazy. When I got your message I came as quickly as I could."

"You saved me," Percy said, more a statement than a question, "You shot Vesper's sword out of her hand."

"You looked like you could use the help," Artemis admitted.

"I thought gods aren't supposed to get involved," Axel interrupted, "That was what Chiron always told us. That there are rules! But what, Percy gets involved and suddenly you can do whatever you want?"

Artemis' eyes narrowed at the son of Ares, "I understand you are upset about your friend blowing up the library, but do not presume to speak to me as though I am your peer, boy."

Axel's face turned red with anger, and he was about to say something else when Percy stood and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Axel turned his glare to Percy, and pushed away his hand, but didn't say anything else. Percy turned back to the goddess.

"How are you here, Milady?"

Artemis' anger seemed to fade as she turned her attention back to Percy, "As goddess of the Hunt I am entitled to special privileges, one of which is accompanying my hunters in a manner in which most gods are forbidden. One of my hunters is on this quest, and she is in danger, so I am joining this quest to get her back."

The look on Axel's face told Percy that he despised the idea, and Percy wasn't entirely sure why he seemed to hate Artemis so much, but figured he was more preoccupied with the fact that Jett had just nuked the library.

"We would be honoured to have you," Percy told her with a nod, but frowned as he realised that she was much older than he was used to seeing her. In fact, she looked about the age she had been in his dreams of her. Her auburn hair framed a face that looked like it belonged to a queen, with a sharp nose and pursed lips, but by far the most striking part was her shining silver eyes. He thought about his vision of her crying next to Jason's tombstone, and then of the dream of her lying next to him in the lake. His cheeks began to heat up at the memory but he quickly shook the thoughts away. "Can I ask, Milady, why you seem to be older than normal?"

The goddess looked down at herself in surprise, almost as if she was realising for the first time that she was in an older form. She looked back at Percy and frowned, before a look of understanding dawned on her face, "I typically mimic the average age of my hunters, and due to their youth I am usually in the body of a younger girl. However, the average age of your questing party is significantly older."

"But I'm ten," Scarlett spoke up, coming over to join them and Percy noticed how tired she looked. Clearly, the shadow travelling in the library had done a number on her. "Shouldn't that bring the average age down?"

Percy turned back to Artemis and realised that Scarlett had a point. She looked about his age, maybe even a little older.

"And who are you, my dear?"

"I'm Scarlett," she answered with a nervous smile.

"Well Scarlett, you might be ten," Artemis said softly, smiling at the young daughter of Hades, "But he is 38." Turning back to point at Percy.

Percy frowned, and now it was his turn to look down at his body in confusion. He still looked fairly young, and his body was that of an eighteen-year-old. "Um…I'm not 38."

"You were gone for twenty years, Perseus," Artemis explained, "Whatever subconscious divine part of me shifted to your ages took into account your actual age, not the age you represent. If this form offends you I can always change it to be younger."

Percy blushed, worried about how asking for her to look younger would make him look in front of everyone, "Oh…um…no this is great. I'm just not used to you looking so…"

"Hot!" Scarlett yelled out with a grin, and Percy forced himself not to blush even more. Artemis, however, didn't seem to notice, her attention was fully occupied by the young daughter of Hades.

"Well, aren't you quite the charmer, my dear. If you keep it up I might have to offer you a place amongst my Hunt."

"Woah, woah, woah," Percy interrupted, "First Thalia, then Reyna. You gotta stop stealing all my friends."

Artemis turned him and raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?" she asked, "I can always turn you into a girl and have you join if you're worried about missing out. I'm sure you would make a beautiful girl, don't you think Scarlett?"

"Percy is very handsome, so I'm sure he'd be a super pretty girl." Scarlett agreed, "But a lot of girls have crushes on him so I think they would be pretty disappointed."

Artemis covered her mouth as she giggled, and Percy facepalmed as he felt the blush creep its way back up his face once again. Thankfully he was saved from further embarrassment by Carter stepping forward once again.

"I'm glad we're all having a good time," he growled, "But a good friend of mine just died and I lost a lot of good men. Ignoring the fact that MILLENNIA of knowledge just went up in smoke because of that son of Zeus. This isn't the time for laughing, this is the time for answers."

Artemis' giggling stopped almost as soon as it had begun, and her eyes retook the steely look they had been sporting when she had first been confronted by the Pharaoh. "I am sorry for your loss, Carter Kane, there is nothing I can do to make up for it but offer my condolences."

"I will mourn for Amara later. Right now I have a kingdom to run. I don't care whether it was given the green light by Zeus or not, hundreds of my people just heard that boy yell that this attack was a declaration of war from Olympus on the Egyptian people. He then proceeded to destroy thousands of years of history and culture. What am I supposed to tell my people? People who, by the way, already think of Greeks as untrustworthy. That this was just a little 'oopsies'? That Zeus' hand slipped? I want answers!"

Artemis raised her hands disarmingly, "I understand you are angry. But the boy does not speak for Olympus."

Carter scoffed, "You're telling me a demigod produced a bolt of lighting THAT powerful. It annihilated the library in a single blow. I've even seen Percy fight and I've never seen anything like that."

"Children of Zeus are…exceptionally powerful," Artemis sighed, "It is…possible that he produced the bolt of lighting on his own."

Axel muttered something under his breath and they all turned towards him.

"Um…what did you say, Axel?" Percy asked cautiously, worried the son of Ares was about to snap at him.

"I said that wasn't him. I've never seen him produce a bolt of lighting anything close to the size and scale of that one. Someone is impersonating him."

Artemis frowned, "While it may be true that he has never produced anything like that before, there is nothing to say that he couldn't-"

"It wasn't him!" Axel damn near screamed, a feral look in his eyes, "Look I get it he's…difficult. But he wouldn't do something like that. He's not the asshole everyone thinks he is."

Artemis looked like she was about to turn the son of Ares into a jackalope but Percy raised his hand, subtly asking her to give him a moment. He stepped forward and put his hand back on Axel's shoulder, and this time he didn't push him away.

"Axel, I told you I would go as deep down the rabbit hole as you needed me to to get Jett back. That hasn't changed. I have a lot of questions for him, as I'm sure you do, but you need to trust me."

Axel looked up and met Percy's eyes, tears threatening to fall down his face, "He wouldn't do it," he whispered, "He's not a monster."

Percy pulled Axel into an awkward hug and held him for a moment. Never in a million years did he think he would be comforting the son of Ares, especially just after he had watched Amara get killed because of Jett, but right now the mission came first. He pulled back and analysed Axel's face.

"We still have a job to do. Can I trust you?"

Axel didn't respond immediately, but after a moment he nodded and gave Percy an appreciative look. Percy turned back to Carter.

"I need your help."

Carter scowled, "I'm not in a very helpful mood."

Percy nodded, "I get it, I'm right there with you. This is the cherry of shit on top of a really bad day. But I need one more favour from you."

Carter's nostrils flared but he gestured for Percy to continue.

"Duat travel. I need you to get me to a portal that will take us to the Nome in Antarctica."

Carter frowned, "Why do you need to go to the Three-Hundred and Sixtieth Nome?"

"Because that's where the cult members are going to try and revive the first of the Annunaki. And it's where Thalia and Alice are."

Carter sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration, "And what about the son of Zeus? Am I just supposed to ignore this?"

Percy shook his head, "Search for him here, he might be around. And if you find him, let us know. If we find him, we'll let you know."

Carter chewed his lip, contemplating the offer, before he beckoned a couple of his men over. "Form a portal, Three-Hundred and Sixtieth Nome."

The two palace guards moved away, quickly beginning to work whatever fancy magic was required to open a portal.

"You can just make one?" Percy asked in awe.

"I am the Pharaoh of Egypt, of course I can have a portal made. Now, for the future…" Carter stepped forward and held out his hand, offering a small gold symbol in the shape of an eye, "...this is how you can get in contact with me. I think it'll be a good replacement for the little moon around your necklace. Especially if Lady Artemis is journeying with you now."

Percy went to remove the necklace but Artemis grabbed his arm gently, stopping it. "Leave it on Perseus, at least until this quest is over. You never know when you may need to contact me."

Percy shrugged and added the eye to his necklace where it now sat next to the moon and his camp beads. He turned back to Carter. "I'm sorry our reunion ended like this," he sighed, "It was really good to see you again."

Carter's face softened, "Regardless of Egypt's relationship with Greece, you will always have a friend in me, Percy. I am glad you're alive, the world is a better place for it. But my hospitality ends with this portal. I am already dealing with a civil war, and the events of the past day have only compounded the issue."

Percy nodded, offering out his hand, "I understand. Go win your war Pharaoh."

Carter smiled and shook his hand firmly, "Go win yours, hero."

Percy picked up the shield from Axel's side and handed it to Carter, "Send Rich my regards. Tell him I'll take a raincheck on that tour."

Carter nodded and watched as Percy, Artemis, Scarlett and Axel made their way over to the portal. "May the gods watch over you all. May the gods watch over all of us."

Percy offered the Pharaoh one last smile and then stepped through the portal, followed closely by the rest of his questing team. When the portal closed Carter looked down at the shield with a sigh. One of his guards walked up to him, awaiting orders.

"Call Sadie," he finally told them, "No better time than a civil war to patch things up with my sister."

As Percy exited the other side of the portal he was suddenly struck by brutal, freezing winds that ripped at his exposed skin. The simple cotton clothing that he had been wearing did little to stop the onslaught of the freezing Antarctic winter from biting at him seemingly from all angles. Around him, as far as the eye could see in all directions, was a desert of white and blue. A desolate icy landscape unbroken and untouched. In the distance icy peaks rose towards the dark sky, but at this distance they did little to dissuade the buffeting of the winds. These were conditions that no human was meant to survive in, let alone without the proper attire for such a trip. And yet he couldn't feel more alive.

It felt like he had drunk a gallon of espresso, every fibre of his being seeming to bounce with excitement. He felt like a living duracell battery, any sign of fatigue or tiredness vanishing in a heartbeat. It reminded him of when he entered the water, but at a level he had never experienced before. He remembered what it had felt like sitting on his father's throne, the vast power of the oceans stretching out before him, giving him strength. This was his ocean, an ocean of ice extending in every direction, all of its power being drawn straight to him. He felt like a magnet, as though every atom of energy in this landscape was being sucked up by his body, his to command. He felt the waters of the ocean, trapped hundreds of feet below where he was standing, but more than that, he felt the world around him as though it was his personal playground. Every movement, every shift of the ice, for miles around him was being relayed straight back to him.

He remembered what it had been like at Camp Half-Blood when he had activated his Ice Kingdom, and turned the forest into his own world of ice. Here was a world of ice of natural creation, greater in volume and depth than he could ever hope to replicate. The feeling was intoxicating, like repeated shots of dopamine straight to his brain. If this was a drug, consider him an addict.

He was snapped out of his musing by a hand on his shoulder, and when he glanced back he saw Artemis, her hood now wrapped tightly around her face, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Your eyes are glowing," She noted, "Should I be worried you're radioactive?"

Percy laughed, "I feel like Superman. Was he radioactive?"

"I'm fairly certain he was an alien. Maybe he was Annunaki." the goddess mused, "As long as you're not going to explode on us."

"No promises!" he replied with a grin.

It was then that he noticed Axel and Scarlett behind them, both of them shivering as the intense winds whipped around them. He realised that while he and Artemis would be fine in these conditions, the two other demigods would struggle against the elements alone. Thankfully Artemis stepped forward, pulling a small pelt from inside her cloak. As she flexed her wrist the pelt expanded into a sizable coat, and she swiftly wrapped it around Scarlett's shivering figure. She was about to do the same for Axel but he waved away the offer.

"You'd prefer to lose your fingers to frostbite?" Artemis snapped.

"They'll grow back." The son of Ares replied with a scowl.

Artemis shrugged, "Be my guest." And turned away, stepping closer to Scarlett.

Percy sighed. He pulled his shirt off and handed it to Axel. When he frowned at the offering Percy just smiled, "Cold doesn't affect me, and you'll be a lot more useful to me with all your fingers attached."

Axel nodded and took the shirt, using it as a balaclava to keep his face warm. Considering his stubbornness and unwillingness to accept Artemis' gift he might still freeze to death, but at least it would buy him some time.

"What now? Other than you stripping naked?" Artemis asked.

"Ah," Percy interrupted, holding his hand up and looking at the son of Ares expectantly, "I believe it's time for Axel's line."

Axel grinned, "So, what's the plan?"

Percy knelt to the ground and placed his palm against the ice. Closing his eyes he concentrated on his surroundings, sending out feelers and scouring the area almost as though he was using echolocation through the ice. Not too far to their east, he could sense a small bunker with a couple of occupants, likely the Three-Hundred and Sixtieth Nome. While useful to know, it wasn't what he was looking for. He kept scouring in all directions, and when he felt a large number of footsteps his eyes snapped open. He stood up and pointed in the direction of the distant mountains.

"They are over there," he announced, a sense of certainty and confidence settling over him. This was his arena, he was in his element.

"You're sure?" Artemis asked.

"No doubt about it. Besides, the middle of Antarctica isn't exactly a major tourist hotspot. Hehe, get it? Hotspot."

The goddess rolled her eyes, "Very clever. Now let's hurry, I want my lieutenant back."

The foursome started off towards the mountain, with Percy and Artemis leading the group and Axel and Scarlett behind them. When Scarlett asked Axel to give her a piggyback ride he didn't complain, and Percy spied with a smile that from her position on Axel's back she spread her coat over him as well. If it bothered him he didn't speak up.

Percy glanced over at Artemis as they walked, "You came?" this time a question more than a statement.

Her face was mostly covered by the hood, but he could still spot a smile gracing her lips, "You're surprised?"

"A little," He admitted, "I'm not used to getting much help from the godly side of my family."

"I told you, Perseus, I value my family above everything else. One of my hunters is in trouble, I owe her a duty to help get her back."

Percy nodded, "I like the new look, by the way, it makes it feel less awkward talking to you."

"You prefer conversing with 'hot' girls?"

Percy blushed, and unlike Artemis, he didn't have a hood to hide his face, "I just meant it's easier to take you seriously with you in this form."

"You didn't take me seriously before?"

"What? N-no, that's not what I meant. It's just that-"

"Relax, Perseus. I am just teasing you. I am glad you like my form."

Percy let out a sigh of relief, and they walked in comfortable silence for a few more minutes, until another question popped into his brain. "You said that your vision of us got hazy when we entered the Nome back in Brooklyn, what did you mean by that?"

"A different pantheon rules there. Different rules, different powers at play. Different moon goddess. Gods of different pantheons tend to stay out of each other's way."

"Why?"

Artemis shrugged, "Beings of limitless power don't like the idea that there are other beings of limitless power out there. Hurts the ego."

"You guys are so petty, you know that?"

"My father is Zeus, I'm well aware of how petty my family members are."

Percy laughed, but almost as soon as it started it died, "Speaking of bruised egos, Axel doesn't seem to be your biggest fan. You turn his dad into a frog or something?"

"I don't think I've ever turned someone into a frog, Perseus. I much prefer stags or jackalopes. And no, I don't recall ever meeting him before."

"Well you did something to upset him, he really seems to dislike you."

"I don't care what the boy thinks of me. A goddess does not concern herself with the opinions of the masses."

"Not even a little bit?"

Artemis sighed, "Perseus, what do the stories tell about me?"

"Um…that you're a maiden goddess who travels with her band of hunters, swearing off the company of men. And that most men you run into you tend to turn into animals."

"And what do you think of me?"

Percy paused, contemplating the question, "I think you're more complicated than the stories suggest. I think there's more to you than first meets the eye. You're not like the other gods. You're more…human, than they are."

"More human?" The goddess asked, an edge entering her voice.

"Not in a bad way," Percy replied quickly, "You just understand mortals better. You experience loss more than they do. You connect with your hunters more than most gods connect with their biological children."

"And how does that compare to the stories?"

Percy laughed, "It makes the stories seem unfair."

Artemis nodded, "So why would I pay any mind to what the masses tell of me? The people who know me know who I really am, why would I be interested in what others think?"

Percy couldn't stop the smile from breaking out across his face, "You know, for being an immortal teenager, you've really transcended the whole teenage angst thing. You should give mental health talks at schools or something."

"I worry if I were to attend a high school I would end up greatly adding to the local jackalope population."

"Haha, maybe you should start with all-girls schools."

Artemis smiled, but it faded quickly, "We have a problem with that son of Zeus."

"Your half-brother?"

"I claim no relation."

"Haha, it doesn't work like that."

"Mhmm, I don't know if Polyphemus' brother is really in a position to lecture me on moronic siblings. You are aware that another of your siblings is a horse?"

"Touche," Percy relented, "I don't know what to do about that. I went to Egypt to recruit them to fight against the Annunaki. Feels like it would be impossible to ask them to help now."

"It certainly feels like a significant win for the Annunaki. Why wasn't he with you to begin with?"

"We got separated at Brooklyn House. He was taken along with Thalia and Alice."

Artemis was lost in her thoughts for a moment, "We need to prepare for the possibility that he is fighting alongside the Annunaki. Do you trust the son of Ares to help us if that turns out to be the case?"

Percy sighed. Axel had done a lot to win him over since they had broken out of the trash compactor. Again and again, Percy had relied on him and he hadn't let him down yet. But they had had a common goal then, and Percy questioned whether their alliance would last if Percy found himself at odds with Jett. "I don't know."

"That is not as reassuring as I had hoped. Remain on alert. If he does turn on us, I would prefer that we know before it is too late. And what of the daughter of Hades?"

"You're worried she'd turn on us?" Percy asked incredulously.

Artemis shook her head, "Are you sure she can handle this kind of battle?"

Percy laughed, "I had the same question as you, but don't worry, she can handle herself. She's stronger than she looks. She fights like a demon."

Artemis frowned at his choice of words but didn't say anything more. By now they weren't far from the mountains, and Percy could see the glow of a fire not too far from them. As they neared Percy saw that they were surrounding a rock formation jutting out of the ground. It appeared in stark contrast to the rest of the icy landscape, and Percy had a sinking suspicion of what was inside.

"Use your powers," Artemis urged, "Find out where Thalia is."

Percy nodded and sank back to his knees, feeling out around the fire and rock formation in order to gather his bearings of the area. He honed in on two figures huddled up on the ground by the rock formation, and judging by the fact that everyone else was standing, he had a feeling it was Alice and Thalia.

"By the rock formation. But they're surrounded."

"So what's the plan?" Axel asked, catching up to Percy and Artemis.

"They took Alice hostage for the sole reason of awakening the Annunaki inside that structure. No matter what happens we have to make sure that doesn't happen."

"A distraction then?" Artemis suggested.

"Are you offering yourself as bait?"

"I was offering you as bait."

Percy sighed, "Fine, I'll get their attention. There aren't a lot of places to hide around here, so once you have them run towards the mountains. We'll figure out a way out of here from there."

The rest of the questing party nodded,

"Good luck, Percy," Scarlett murmured, giving him a hug.

He returned the embrace before giving a stern look towards Axel. "Keep her safe," he told him.

Axel smiled, "Here I was thinking she was going to keep me safe."

Percy moved away from them, putting a decent distance between himself and them before he took a deep breath and focused on his surroundings. This was HIS element. This was HIS playground. If the Annunaki cult members had been scared of him before, they were about to be shaken to their very core. He gathered strength in his legs as he crouched, and with one enormous shove leapt into the air towards the fire and those assembled around it.

He landed with force, sending a shower of ice raining down around him and causing the nearby cult members to scatter in fear. With his glowing eyes and impressive physique, he was hoping his mere appearance would be enough to dissuade them from taking a fight against him. How wrong he was.

When the shower of ice ended and he was able to survey his surroundings he was stunned to find Vesper standing front and centre, smiling.

"Percy Jackson," She acknowledged, "You just never seem to quit."

Percy scowled, "It doesn't matter where you run to, I'll find you."

Vesper shrugged, "Perhaps I wanted to be found. Perhaps I wanted you to see the dawn of a new age. The second coming of the Annunaki!"

"I'm afraid that's not happening today. So feel free to tell Enlil he can fester for another thousand years."

Vesper smiled, "I'll let you tell him yourself. I'm told he is very keen to meet you. The boy who foiled the rise of Hadad. He seems to think you're something special. How disappointed is he going to be when all he finds is another pawn of Olympus."

"Don't pretend you know me," Percy growled.

"No?" Vesper mused, "I suppose it must have been a different son of Poseidon that saved Olympus twice. A different demigod that despite being neglected by his father for over a decade came running when daddy asked him to clear his name. Men used to have dignity…now they are weak and sad and desperate for praise from their parents. Isn't that right son of Zeus?"

Percy felt the footsteps before he heard them, and when he whirled around he found Jett standing behind him. The sparks were still running up and down his body, but there was something different about him from the last time he had seen him. He appeared more confident, more certain in himself.

"We all want our daddy's attention," Jett agreed, "It's a sign of youth. Maturity is realising your parents are pieces of shit who don't deserve a moment of your time. Maybe it's time to grow up Percy."

Percy scoffed, forcing the rising tide of anger inside him back down to keep himself from ripping Jett's head off, "So that's what this is Jett? Are you going to burn Olympus down for your new master? Since you couldn't be Percy 2.0 you're going to try and be Luke 2.0?"

Jett laughed, resting the length of his sword against his shoulder, "I spent my whole life looking for Zeus' approval. Begging for it. But Zeus only cares about one thing: power. And I was never powerful enough for him. I was never enough like you for him. I was Jett Everest, and I could never be Percy Jackson. Percy Jackson wasn't just A hero he was THE hero. Everyone who came after was just a pale imitation."

Percy sighed, "Look Jett, I'm glad that I live in your head rent-free, but I think it's time we call it quits and end the lease. What do you think?"

"Oh I couldn't agree more," Jett sighed with content, "I'm done trying to be the hero. At least for Olympus. After all, what's the point in being a hero if all the people who think of you as one won't be around to praise your legacy?"

"Enlil won't win," Percy told him defiantly, "The Annunaki won't win. Luke thought Kronos would win…he was wrong. He factored in everything except me and you're making the same mistake in your calculation."

Jett shrugged, "Okay Percy, whatever helps you sleep at night. But I've seen the power of Enlil. And I promise…he is going to crush you and Olympus like a bug. Just like how I crushed, oh what was her name? Ameera? Amaya? Amara? Who cares, she died like a dog?"

Percy saw red, and before he could react his body was already midair, hurtling towards Jett. He swung his fist at Jett's face, but right before it made contact Jett grabbed it and used Percy's momentum to fling him deep into the icy landscape. Percy had just enough time to process how quickly Jett had reacted to his attack before he smashed into the ice beneath him. He shot back to his feet and turned around just in time to see Jett's fist flying towards his face. The force rippled throughout his body and once again he was airborne, this time skimming across the ice as he was sent further and further from the Annunaki cult members.

This time as he hit the ground he ripped the ice out of the ground and formed a shield, turning just in time to block the force of Jett's next punch. Jett was hovering above the ground, making it impossible for Percy to track his footsteps. As Percy retreated under cover of his shield his ice-blue eyes met Jett's stormy blue ones. The air was tense, and around them the temperature plummeted as Percy willed it down, doing anything he could to turn the environment to his advantage. He didn't know where Jett had gained the sudden strength, but he couldn't afford to underestimate him.

Gusts of winds spiralled around the son of Zeus until he was standing in his own personal tornado, the winds buffeting Percy relentlessly. The skies, already dark before, now rumbled as thunderclouds formed above them, stray bolts of lighting crisscrossing, lighting up the battlefield below. Jett raised his blade to the skies, and an enormous bolt of lightning struck it, causing the blade to glow with yellow light once more. When Jett levelled the blade at Percy, he decided to stop playing defensive and go on the offensive.

A shiver ran down the back of his spine and a wall of ice shot up in front of him, deflecting the bolt of lighting. The force of the blow caused the wall to shatter into small icicles but Percy had been using that to cover his attack. As the wall shattered Percy emerged, midair, swinging Riptide towards Jett's head. The look of panic from Jett was fleeting, and he quickly raised his own blade to parry the blow. As they connected a roar of thunder echoed out across the landscape. Percy had swung with force, force amplified by being surrounded by an element that was actively strengthened him, and yet despite that Jett met his blow head-on, holding steady. The force of the impact kicked them both back in opposite directions, with Jett catching himself on the winds while Percy slammed back into the ice below. Almost subconsciously the ice around his feet melted and surrounded him, refreezing effortlessly into his armour.

Percy looked over at Jett and saw he was already flying towards him, his sword sparking. Once again thunder crackled as they connected, and Percy found himself desperately digging into the ice beneath his feet to stay standing under the force of the blow. The ice armour had once again increased his strength, and still Jett was going blow for blow. This time, when they disconnected, Percy slammed his fist into the ground and an ice tendril shot out of the ground, snaking towards Jett. Jett shot upwards to avoid the attack, but Percy wasn't short on materials, and as Jett soared higher and higher the tendril followed him. Lighting coursed through Jett's body, and with an almighty roar, he split the tendril with a thunderbolt. The force of the lighting shook the ground, and Percy realised that as long as Jett was in the sky, he had the advantage. With a deep breath, he concentrated on the environment around him, on the icy wings scratching across his body, and willed them to die down.

Just as it had in their battle at Camp Half-Blood, the winds quelled under Percy's command, and for a brief moment, Jett began to fall from the sky. But almost as soon as they died down they roared back into life with vengeance, and Percy felt his control of them being ripped away from him.

"No more games Percy," Jett roared above him, "Fight me like a man! Fight me for your little girlfriend I blasted into oblivion."

Seeing red once more Percy adjusted his grip on Riptide and leapt into the air, throwing caution to the wind as he swung recklessly. Jett, moving faster than Percy had believed possible, darted around him, raining down on him with constant blows that chipped away at his armour. With a scream, he launched another bolt of lightning from the sky and it hit Percy in the centre of his chest, sending him sprawling onto the ground below.

As he staggered to his feet Jett lowered himself, hovering mere inches from the ground, and approached him slowly. "When will you learn, Percy," he chided, "To stop being the bitch of Olympus."

Percy spat on the floor, his red blood standing out against the ice, "I'll stop being a bitch when you stop acting like one. Zeus ignored you so now you're going to fight for the Annunaki? It's cliche, you're not the first to try and you won't be the last."

Jett laughed, "I don't care about Olympus anymore, Percy. My whole life I wanted to be someone. To have people's respect. I keep telling you how awful it was to live in your shadow, but you just can't understand. Everything I touched, people think I messed up. My father gave me a gift, and I let Alice ruin it. I fight the Hunters, ten to one, at Capture the Flag, and I'm told I'm too violent. I finally got my first quest, and people say you should have had it. I go to Brooklyn, and you show up thinking you need to save me. Everything I tried to do, people judged me for. They said I wasn't as brave as Thalia, as strong as Jason, as heroic as you. Well, I'm sick of being judged. I don't care about getting out of your shadow, Percy. Because I've found a higher calling. I found someone who didn't care what I was. They only cared about what I could become."

"What you are, is a giant douchebag," Percy growled, "And what you can become is a dead douchebag."

"You're scared," Jett said with a smile, "You are terrified of Enlil. He haunts your dreams, right? Makes them nightmares. All your power and you know you don't even scrape the surface of what you need to become to challenge him."

"When the time comes," Percy replied defiantly, "I will kick Enlil's ass. But first, I'm going to kick yours."

"Not when the time comes," Jett chided, "Now. You're so scared of Enlil, how about you meet him so you can make your own judgement call?"

Percy frowned, "What are you talking about?"

Jett grinned, but there was no mirth to it. He closed his eyes, and when he reopened them they were solid silver.

"Hello, Percy Jackson," It was Jett's voice, but the way the hairs on the back of Percy's neck stood up, this wasn't Jett.

"Enlil?" Percy breathed, suddenly freezing despite his immunity to the weather conditions.

"You've heard of me?" Enlil mused, Jett's voice softening and taking on a silk-like character, "I'm honoured. I was worried I had been forgotten."

"You're supposed to be locked away," Percy couldn't help the shaking in his voice and cursed himself that he couldn't put up a braver front.

"Off-world?" Enlil asked, "Oh yes, don't worry, I'm millions of miles away from you. But, hopefully, not for too much longer. The world has grown corrupt in the absence of its king. Petty warlords fight for scraps. Chaos reigns. A firm hand is needed to return the world to order."

"You're no king," Percy growled, regaining some confidence, "You're a monster!"

Enlil laughed, "You sound like my brother. I miss him sometimes. I have few regrets but…killing him was one of them."

"You killed a lot more than just him!"

Enlil nodded, Jett's hair waving in the freezing wind, "Everything I did, I did for my family. I'm sure you can understand. I'm told your fatal flaw is loyalty. If you were in my position, you would have done the same thing."

Percy shook his head, "You committed genocide!"

"I righted a wrong," Enlil told him sternly, "And now I return to right the wrongs of the gods that rule."

"You gonna wipe us out too?"

Enlil chuckled, "Oh no, Percy Jackson, I have no desire to kill you. In fact, I wish to remake the world in a way you may find quite enticing. A world with no demigods. A world where, when you die, you will be amongst the last of your kind."

"What do you mean, no demigods?"

"When gods began to lie with mortals it invited only suffering upon their offspring. They know the ancient laws, they know what fate awaits their children, and yet they sire them anyway. Your father knew what bedding your mother would create, what awful destiny awaited you, and he did it anyway. Not for any noble purpose, but for the carnal desire of lusting for a mortal. You were sired from weakness, and yet you have become a pillar of strength. The reigns of Zeus, Horus, Odin, and Jupiter are reigns of weakness. They have allowed evil and corruption to fester. Kronos, Gaea, Aphophis, Ragnarok. World-shattering events brought about because of a weakness at the very top. They will be replaced by one strong enough to stamp out evil."

"You." Percy breathed a statement more than a question.

"Dread it, run from it. My ascendency is inevitable. When I return to my throne, and I will, I will eliminate the culpable gods, your father included. With them gone, I will ban the remaining gods from lying with mortals, and in doing so I will ensure that they don't have to live lives full of tragedy and fear. You know that the life of a demigod is one of pain and terror, I wish to make sure no child has to experience that suffering again. I will bring peace to the earth, and I am offering you a chance to stand at my side as I do it."

Percy hated the fact that Enlil's proposal sounded so enticing. No gods sleeping with mortals would mean no demigods, and Percy knew how scary being a demigod was. Most of the time it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways. He thought of all his friends he had lost, all the kids forced to grow up way too early because of who their parents were and the kind of burden it put on their shoulders. He should know, he was a forbidden child. He thought about the years of suffering his mum had endured at the hands of Smelly Gabe just to keep him safe. All a sacrifice because his father wanted her. That being said, things had started to change for the better. The demigods were acknowledged more by their parents, and personally, Percy didn't want his dad to get killed regardless of how angry he might get at him sometimes.

"I appreciate the offer, but if you know my fatal flaw is loyalty, you know I won't betray my family."

Enlil sighed, "It was worth a try. Unfortunately, I am going to have to let the son of Zeus kill you then. He tells me he is quite excited."

"You picked the wrong body to possess," Percy shot back defiantly, "He isn't a match for me."

"Not before perhaps," Enlil agreed, "But with me, your death is certain. Just look at the library of the First Nome. Goodbye Percy Jackson, I hope the demigods remember you."

Jett closed his eyes again, and when they reopened the silver was gone. The heavy presence in the air evaporated and Percy let out a breath of relief he didn't know he had been hiding.

"I'm guessing your answer was no?" Jett asked smugly, and Percy responded by raising Riptide, "Thank the gods, I was hoping to get the chance to kill you."

With a roar that echoed through the icy wilderness, Jett propelled himself into the air, riding the currents as they formed a lightning-charged tornado. As he descended, bolts of electricity danced along his outstretched arms and he brought his sword down with a heavy swing. Percy parried the blow, but knowing that Jett was being fueled by Enlil's power, Percy had a point to prove. If he could beat Jett, he had a chance against Enlil.

Summoning all the energy he could muster from his environment Percy broke the deadlock of their blades and attacked Jett in a whirlwind of blows. Thunder roared around them as the ice melted to form a hurricane to match Jett's tornado. The two storms smashed against each other, exchanging blows back and forth as Percy and Jett exchanged sword swings. The earth shook with each blow and Percy felt the ice respond to his will. The ground shifted unevenly for Jett, icicles shooting out of the ground and forcing him to retreat or else he would get impaled.

Jett was much stronger than before, but Percy had unlimited fuel at his disposal, and as he tapped into it he unleashed everything he had at Jett. The shaking of the earth became permanent, and the ice splintered beneath their feet under the force of Percy's will. His hurricane, initially only matching Jetts tornado, expanded rapidly, almost engulfing the smaller storm with its weight and ferocity. Deep beneath the ice, water began to force itself upwards, responding to the call of its prince. All around them, icy geysers sprang up, adding fuel to the hurricane. Percy let all of the rage, all of the grief, all of the frustration explode out of him, directing all of it towards Jett in an onslaught that had the son of Zeus fighting simply to stay alive. Enlil had underestimated Percy, and now he was going to pay the price.

With a desperate cry, Jett used the last energy of the tornado to shoot himself upwards, towards the safety of the skies, but Percy was relentless. All around him, the ice responded to his will, slotting into place around him until he found himself in a giant figure of ice, at least five times his ordinary size. With a grunt he launched himself upwards, his icy avatar clawing at Jett as he tried to escape into the clouds. He heard a satisfying smack and saw Jett be knocked down mid flight, sending him careening in the direction of the Annunaki cult members and towards the ice below. Percy's landing shook the earth, and with each footstep, he took ice shattered beneath him. Jett scrambled to his feet and began sprinting towards his allies, Percy in hot pursuit.

As they neared the group Percy realised that since he hadn't distracted them, Artemis, Axel and Scarlett were fighting for their lives against the Annunaki forces. Percy leapt towards them, Jett momentarily forgotten, and slammed into the ground amid their enemies. Careless swings of his giant arms sent cult members flying, and the tide turned upon his arrival. Artemis wasted no time, leaping up onto his shoulder and unslinging her bow, using the vantage point to rain arrows down upon their foes. In the midst of the battle Percy saw Axel stop dead as he saw Jett, and before he could say anything the son of Ares ran towards the son of Zeus. Swiftly, Percy picked up Scarlett with one of his giant hands and placed her on his other shoulder for protection. Then he turned to face the Annunaki prison.

Vesper stood next to it, alongside a cult member who was gripping Alice's head. The daughter of Hecate's eyes were glowing as she muttered a string of incoherent phrases in front of the prison. The ice around it was melting, and the rocks were beginning to crumble. Percy dove towards them, swinging a fist at Vesper. She dodged gracefully and ordered the cult members to regroup around Alice. Percy saw Jett and Axel speaking in the distance and felt a sinking feeling in his chest. Nonetheless, he focused his attention on stopping Alice from completing the ritual.

He broke through the cult members' lines, sending them flying as his enormous form proved too much for them. Greek fire, explosives, and spells ripped holes in his figure that were rapidly replaced by the ice around them. He just had to get to Alice in time.

A loud creak indicated that a large part of the rock had come loose, and under it, it revealed a hand. Almost as soon as it emerged Percy felt a pounding in his head begin, the same pounding he had felt in Hadad's tomb. Without even asking Percy grabbed Artemis off his shoulder and launched her towards Alice, before increasing the amount of ice around his head in order to negate the pain. Scarlett was screaming and so Percy grabbed her and threw her into the distance, using water to catch her and soften the landing. If he was barely able to think through the pain he could only imagine what she was going through.

Artemis landed gracefully and kicked the cult member holding Alice away with enough force to send him sprawling. The chanting stopped, and Alice collapsed onto the ground. In a moment though, Vesper was upon Artemis, and the two began fighting above Alice's prone figure. Percy went to help her but his attention was caught by a glint next to the hand emerging from the prison. Blue fire, initially a small flame, expanded into an enormous fireball that was launched at Percy with speed. His enormous frame was powerful, but not nimble, and he could avoid the full impact of the attack. Heat suddenly overwhelmed him, and he felt his figure begin to evaporate in moments as the fire tore through it. With a grunt Percy shot himself out of the figure and rolled away onto the ground, watching as the blue fire completely engulfed the ice and caused it to vanish into water vapour. Percy turned his attention back to the hand sticking out of the prison, but before he could do anything a bolt of lightning hit him squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling. He had just enough time to register Jett bearing down on him with his sword.

Before the sword could connect though, the sound of steel clashing filled his ears. When he looked up he saw Axel standing above him, tears running down his face as his daggers prevented Jett's sword from making contact.

"Traitor!" Jett hissed.

"You were my brother Jett!" Axel roared, "When I lost my sister you kept me going! You're betraying your family!"

"Don't make me kill you!" Jett growled.

"You will try!" Axel spat, and in a frenzy whirled at Jett with his daggers.

The two fought each other mercilessly, and it gave Perfcy the reprieve he needed to turn back to the prison, where the hand was gathering force for its next attack. A scream tore its way out of Percy's mouth as he slammed his fist into the ground, cracks shattering across the ice towards the prison. Bending the elements to his will Percy opened a crack in the ice around the prison and leapt towards it. With as much force as he could muster he punched the prison down into the ground, the crack opening to accept it as Percy knocked it thousands of feet under the ground. A spurt of flames flew towards him but he simply rolled out of the way. With the prison under the ground, he took a deep breath and bent the ice to his will once more, forcing the crack to close and burying the Annunaki thousands of feet under the ground. Sealing it away as best he could. The pounding in his head subsided.

He heard a scream behind him and turned to see Vesper swinging at him, but Artemis was between them before she could hit him, blocking the attack with her daggers.

"You bastard!" Vesper screamed, "Enlil will have your head for this!"

"Not before I have yours," Artemis growled, launching herself at the woman. Before she could hit her though a bolt of lightning arced through the air, hitting Artemis in the chest and sending her sprawling. Jett turned back to Axel and with two swift blows severed both his arms from his body. As he swung at Axel's neck thought he was stopped midswing. Tendrils of shadows were holding Jett in place, and Percy glanced behind him to see Scarlett standing nearby, her eyes glowing red.

"My turn!" She growled, but the voice was harsh and demonic. She rushed Jett and the son of Zeus whirled on the daughter of Hades, bringing his sword down. Scarlett dodged effortlessly and punched him in the chest, the force of the blow sending him staggering. The shadows whipped around her, as though they were desperate for her attention, tendril after tendril surging at Jett, knocking him off balance and keeping him distracted. Carter's words rang in his ears "She's a powerful demigod. You shouldn't coddle her." Percy had to admit, the daughter of Hades was terrifying.

He heard a clang behind him and felt a vibration on his neck. He turned around to see a cult member looking down at him in shock as his sword had bounced off his skin. With no Riptide he willed the ice to form blades around his arms and turned his attention to the remaining cult members. Blood sprayed in the air as he ripped through them. They began scrambling to get away from him, and before he could finish them off he heard a crack of thunder behind him. He turned and saw Scarlett being sent flying, collapsing in on the ice next to Axel's dismembered figure. Jett looked as though he was about to finish what he started, but Vesper grabbed his hand and dragged him away.

"Let me kill them!" Jett roared in defiance.

"Our mission failed," Vesper scolded him, "You will have another chance."

She led him to where the remaining cult members were and in moments a portal appeared. They hurried through, even as Percy tried to run them down. A lightning bolt from Jett sent Percy staggering back, and by the time he found his feet again the portal was closed and they were gone.

Percy collapsed to his knees. Even with the energy he was getting from the environment he still felt exhausted, he could only imagine what it would be like if he wasn't in Antarctica. A groan from Scarlett got his attention and he quickly got to his feet, running over to her. He checked her for injuries but she seemed okay.

"Not me," she coughed, "Help Axel."

Percy turned to the son of Ares bleeding out next to him. His arms had been severed mid biceps and blood was pouring out. Using water and ice he stemmed the bleeding and froze the stump. As he did so Axel's eyes fluttered open, and Percy could see fresh tears on his cheeks.

"He…he was my brother," he groaned, "I didn't want to believe it. I knew you were right but I didn't want to believe it."

"Shhh," Percy murmured, "Save your strength. If we hurry, maybe a doctor can reattach your arms."

Axel laughed mirthlessly, waving his head dismissively. "Those old things, nah. I'll have new ones in a couple of weeks, don't worry about me. Grandson of Hebe, remember?"

"You saved me," Percy said, a question hidden in the statement.

Axel shrugged, "I love Jett. He's a brother to me. I asked him why, and he told me how he was going to be the vanguard of a new dawn. Herald in a new age. He was pretty convincing. But I asked him about the library and he just laughed. That's not the Jett I remember. That's a monster."

"Well thank you, I appreciate it."

Percy was alerted to footsteps behind him and found Artemis with Alice and Thalia slung unconscious over each shoulder.

"I wouldn't call it a success," Artemis noted, "But the Annunaki was sealed away and we recovered Thalia and Alice."

"We are stuck in Antarctica though," Percy sighed, "I should've asked Carter for an exit ticket."

"I am your exit ticket," the goddess of the moon announced, pointing to the sky above, "It's nighttime, and I believe my chariot should be here shortly."

As if on cue Santa Claus' sleigh burst out from the sky above, being led by four golden reindeer. As the silver chariot gently landed on the ground Artemis placed Alice and Thalia lying down before helping pick up Scarlett. Percy picked up Axel and together they stepped into the chariot and Artemis took the reins. Both Axel and Scarlett quickly fell asleep as they climbed into the night sky, and soon it was only Artemis and Percy awake.

"You did well Perseus, Olympus owes you another great debt," Artemis murmured softly.

"I met him." Percy sighed, his mind casting back to his confrontation with Enlil.

"Who?"

"Enlil, King of Kings."

"He was here?" Artemis asked in shock.

Percy shook his head, "He spoke to me through Jett, and it reminded me an awful lot of what happened to Luke with Kronos."

Artemis was silent for a moment, thinking over what he had told her. When she spoke again, there was an air of determination about her, "We will prevail. We always do."

"He told me when he came back he was going to forbid gods from sleeping with mortals. He said the lives of demigods are too tragic, and they don't deserve the suffering."

"He's not wrong."

Percy shook his head, "He said he would kill the gods responsible for allowing evil to fester. He said my dad was one of them."

"That's why you rejected his offer?" Artemis asked.

Percy's ears perked up, "How did you know about that?"

"No one says their master plan without trying to get something out of it, at least someone who's not stupid. It sounds like a lot of what he said resonated with you."

Percy nodded, "It did. But my loyalty is to my family, and I wasn't about to betray them, even if I agree with some of what he's saying."

Artemis nodded, and the two rode in comfortable silence across the night sky, broken only by Thalia's snores.

"Lady Artemis?" Percy asked suddenly.

She raised her eyebrow, "Perseus?"

"Can you do me a favour?"

"You did just save Olympus, I suppose you are owed one."

"Can you drop me off at my mother's? I'll head back to camp eventually, I just want a few days to clear my head. It's been a rough couple of days."

Artemis smiled, "Of course. I will simply tell them your mother has demanded to have you back for a few days. You have been through a lot, you deserve some rest."

"Thank you, Milady."

"No, thank you, Perseus."

Author's Note: Longest chapter I have written so far and JUST shy of 10K words. This is the end of the arc and so I felt it fitting to have a little resolution, at least I'm not leaving you on any cliffhangers. Like I said last chapter the school semester starts next week so I will have less time to focus on chapters. I'll make sure to work on them, but it might be more sporadic than it was over this winter break.

I hope you enjoyed it and the one thing I will always ask for from you is reviews. I feel like this chapter gives a big taste of what my style of writing is and the direction I want to take the story in. Reviews are a huge motivator and they help me know that you like it, and what criticisms you have, as well as give me ideas. So please, Review, Review, Review.

All the best to everyone in the new year and I will see you in the next chapter.