Summary: Perseus, first-born child of Poseidon and Amphitrite, God of the Stars and Constellations, of Navigation and of the Astral Plane. Patron of Heroes and Mentor to the Goddess Artemis. Sitting upon the ruling council of the Gods for thousands of years – and now facing the end of Olympus.
discord. gg/Z7udeJpDBt (Remove Space)
Discord server created for Astraeus – A place for Q&A, as well as general discussion of the story and somewhere I will be posting upcoming dates that I plan to update. I will also post there if there is a delay in my schedule, as well as try to take time to speak to people who enjoy the story so far, and even those who take issue with it.
So far it seems relatively active with new members joining daily. I encourage you to take a look, even if you don't want to join the conversation. Chances are that if you have a question or need some clarity on an issue someone may have already asked and received an answer. Browse the Q&A section and General if you'd like some insight into some of the details that aren't necessarily stated in an obvious way in the story.
Also, I'm trying very hard not to reveal any spoilers, so please don't ask 'will this or that happen' as I likely won't answer, and if I do it will be to tell you I won't tell you, so….
Anyway, thanks to everyone supporting my work and on with the show!
Chapter Nine
Thalia found herself seemingly floating above a stone floor in a well-lit room, the walls a smooth looking concrete with no obvious decoration. The ceiling was tall, she noticed, and most of the light was natural from the large windows set high into the walls. There were some thick-looking rugs covering parts of the floor, especially beneath a long narrow table surrounded by high-backed chairs wrapped in a dark leather. Set into the wall on one end of the room was a large brick fireplace, though it was unlit, and a rather dim, brass chandelier hung in the center of the room.
Seated around the table were several men, all of them appearing bulky and middle-aged, with broad shoulders and heavy features. The only resemblance between them was their overall size, which would make them perfect contenders for linemen on a football team she figured. Two of them wore ancient looking armor that she couldn't place, while one wore an expensive suit and two others wore more normal clothing. Something about the dimensions of the room made it seem as if they were at least double the height of normal men, though it was hard to be certain.
They filled five of the seats around the table, though she noticed there were several more that were empty. At the head of the table sat a golden chair larger than the rest, the seat wrapped in red velvet with intricately shaped arms and legs. It looked like a small throne, though it wasn't occupied.
"His need for revenge is going to cost us, mark my words," a growling voice spoke, the tone one of obvious aggravation. "It's far too soon for a move like this." The man who spoke wore a deep blue armor inlaid with pearls and coral, reminding her of the sea, and his hands were clenched into fists on the tabletop. "He's jeopardizing everything we've worked for, and for what? A mortal? For vengeance? It's foolishness."
"Relax, brother," another of the men said, this one wearing a shining golden armor that appeared almost white beneath the natural light. "We're all a little twitchy at the moment. He's just blowing off some steam. Tell me you're not looking to do the same?"
"He's right, and this is foolhardy," said the man wearing a suit, and he reached forward to pick up a goblet filled with dark liquid. His voice was smooth and even, his tone suggesting he knew this for a fact. "Exposure at this stage could be catastrophic, unlikely as it is."
The man in the golden armor laughed, his amusement shining on his face. "You think he can't handle something so simple? That a mortal will manage to...what? Send him back to the pit, or expose us somehow? Please. These humans of the Iron Race can't even compare to the humans from our own time, to say nothing of Krios himself."
"Don't be stupid," the man in the suit hissed. "We need more time before we're able to act so openly. My brother still remains captive, and our stronghold is only just beginning to reform. Our King, still too weakened to join us. We've barely any allies at this stage, and only our location serves as a barrier, impenetrable as it is."
"Watch yourself, traitor," one of the men dressed in casual clothing said gruffly. "You and old fish-face here, you're only sitting with us now because of your relation to us. We haven't forgotten which side you sat upon the last time around, and you were second-rate, even then. I'm embarrassed to call you my son."
"I took no side, I think you'll remember," said the man in blue armor, his lip curled into a sneer.
The other man scoffed, turning to focus on him. "And that was picking a side in and of itself. Everything you had was lost to you because of your cowardly choices. Hell, I hear you even took one of the little bastards in after we were gone."
"Things are different now, and don't forget that their numbers have only grown since our fall. They breed like fucking rabbits with anything that'll lay still enough. And I still believe that Krios plays with fire in his petty need for revenge." the man responded.
"Petty, you call it, but let's not forget that you weren't there. You didn't answer the call, and maybe if you had he wouldn't have been usurped. No, Krios has served his time and earned his revenge. I say we let him take it however it comes, and if there are consequences, so be it. We've regained a large portion of our strength, and we can handle the upstarts."
Thalia didn't understand the conversation, not really. She understood that they spoke of Krios – presumably the fallen Titan – as if he were alive and doing something for revenge. The only thing she knew of him was that he fell long ago at the turn of the Age, and that any revenge he sought was likely to be against the Gods and Perseus in particular. If she followed that logic to it's end, then she could infer from the way they spoke that these men were similar to him. Titans, alive and breathing the same air as the rest of the world. The thought was horrifying.
"Have they finished the next relic yet?" asked the only man who hadn't spoke yet. His voice was quiet, but with a deep bass tone and his eyes held a malice that was more open than any of the others. His expression was just short of a cruel glare. At his words, she noticed the man with blue armor reminiscent of the sea raise his hand to inspect a glowing blue ring that circled his index finger on his left hand.
"Close, brother," said the suited man. "They work on the one meant for the General now. It'll be finished within the next few months. Darkness is, apparently, difficult to harness."
"And then only one remains," said the man in golden armor. "I may have them begin crafting one for me when they've finished. From the demonstration of the others they're damn handy. Subtlety was never my style, but the power contained within...I could make good use of that."
"Fools," a deep, echoing voice hissed through the room. The sound was alarming, containing a power that chilled Thalia to her currently non-existent bones. The deep voice seemed to vibrate the walls and cause the lights to dim beneath it's strength. She couldn't tell where it originated from, though the others looking toward the door on the far end of the room gave her enough of a hint. "You speak so openly, and without care, and never understand that you aren't alone…"
The voice said something then, in a language she couldn't understand, though the tone was almost painful to her ears. It was powerful and felt as if it could crush her beneath the weight of the words alone. Most of the men around the table looked fearful and tense, and yet as the voice stopped speaking, the man wearing the suit turned his head slowly to seemingly lock eyes with her.
"So we have an uninvited guest," he said, frowning. "They must not be allowed to leave. Who knows what they've heard sneaking around in the shadows."
There was a hiss of anger and impatience from the unidentified voice. "The child isn't here, not really…her limited divinity allows her to walk the unseen, but in spirit only. I recognize her stench, foul as it is, and can smell the usurper upon her. Daughter of Zeus."
Her title was spat as an accusation and a curse, and Thalia really, really wanted to leave. She didn't know where she was or what she was seeing, but she wanted to be gone before something terrible happened. The entire scene felt like a dream, but she couldn't seem to wake herself up and it felt far too real for anything her imagination could create.
The deep and commanding voice scoffed. "Take this back to your father, creature."
Golden light exploded around her, hot and burning and heavy like molten steel, and Thalia screamed as it consumed her. It devoured her with a pain she'd never felt before, and she choked as she seemingly lost the ability to breathe beneath the heat. There was no escape and no mercy, and once the agony reached it's peak, time itself seemed to stall and she was trapped there.
It was endless and agonizing, and she wanted so badly to scream for relief, yet she couldn't draw in the air to do so. Minutes passed, and then hours, and still she burned as if she'd been submerged in the heart of a volcano. Finally, mercifully, after what seemed like several days had passed trapped within the heat of a golden bonfire – when weakness had taken her, and she felt as if she could only moan in agony – a darkness descended upon her, and she welcomed it greedily.
It was with a certain satisfaction that Perseus watched the golden manacle break free from his left wrist with a solid click. Dawn was approaching swiftly, he could feel, only moments away and deep within his subconscious he heard Draco's growl of satisfaction as he was once more allowed direct access to his strength. Most of his realm was just as he left it, many of the Guardians still slumbering deeply, and yet he could feel Scorpius drifting cautiously – he was hunting something.
Camp Half-Blood was another matter entirely, and he felt the naked openness of it immediately. Exposed as it was, already there were things seeming to reach within it's boundaries and test the vulnerability. There was one source of energy that was as light as a feather, but was exerting some measure of will upon something within. With a grunt of mild effort, he strengthened the barrier surrounding it as much as he could without expending too much energy, and the connection was severed. There was no way to know how much energy he'd need later, and he'd have to be conservative, but he couldn't allow anything to influence the children under his watch.
The chain that'd been holding him captive rattled as it dropped to the ground, the symbol of Hephaestus carved into the shackle which had been clenched around his wrist, and there was a tension to the room as Athena allowed the restraint to fall gracelessly to the floor. She appeared guarded, though she didn't immediately move away from him, and her face was set into something of a stoic mask. They were still in his palace on Olympus, and she'd been sent to free him apparently.
"Thanks," he said honestly. "That thing was beginning to chafe."
She nodded, but was silent for a moment. When the quiet had managed to become slightly uncomfortable, she finally spoke. "I…" she paused, and then looked away slightly. "Father asks for your presence within the hour."
Perseus nodded, but didn't respond verbally.
After a moment she looked at him directly once more, her expression still guarded. "I'm sorry. The things that happened…you should have listened to me when I said you had allies. Had you only waited to act, or perhaps told us earlier about the things happening, maybe everything would be different. Either way, I'm sorry for my part in your current position."
Perseus smiled briefly, a self-depreciating expression. "Relax." he said. "I know exactly how poorly I've handled my own situations, and as I told Artemis, I'll face the consequences. Whatever actions you took were in defense of one of our most vulnerable places, and at the command of your father and King. I don't hold any grudge against you."
He spoke the truth. Despite his anger at Hades, he was far too old and mature to not see his own failings. He knew now that he should've waited to confront Hades until they were outside the city, should've kept his emotions in check better. Presented with the same situation again, he wasn't sure if he would've acted differently, but he still knew himself enough to know his own weaknesses. It just appeared that everyone else could see them as well. His love for his children had always been something of an opening that could be used against him. He just never expected that his own family would take advantage of it like his enemies would. A mistake he would remember moving forward.
"Whatever actions you took were justified, if handled poorly," said Athena. "While the Council will have no say in Father's decision, you should know that most of us stand with you. Poseidon, the twins, Hermes. Myself. I believe even Father will side with you in this, though he may not say so openly."
Perseus made a small nod, and then eyed her briefly. "Do you have any insight into Hades' motives in this? While I know I have to face my own judgment, I still can't see his angle. I don't see why he'd break his own oath so readily and blatantly in front of everyone."
Athena tilted her head in thought. "I can't say for certain. I don't know Hades as well as the rest of you. By the year of my birth he was already relegated to the Underworld and only appeared to us on rare occasions. However, while I can't say exactly why, I believe he will have a decent chance of escaping Father's punishment. He will claim that he only did as Poseidon and Zeus did – broke an oath regarding interaction with mortals. While his is far more egregious, his brothers broke an oath made with him first. As for fighting in the throne room – you attacked him. He will claim self defense, and perhaps rightly so, even if he instigated the fight."
Perseus nodded in response, swallowing down his own rage at the thought of Hades escaping justice so easily. "He will have to forfeit his claim on his son, then. Nico going to the Underworld was meant as restitution for Zeus' actions in that regard."
Athena winced slightly. "Not so," she said quietly. "That agreement was meant to be repayment for Zeus killing the boy's mother. He will still claim his due."
The rage he felt seemed to double, and his knuckled cracked as he clenched his fist. The thought of Hades doing what he did, and still getting everything he wanted…he couldn't allow that to stand. He defiled and dishonored the soul of a dead child, threatened Atlanta, and then escaped the others when he was confronted. And yet Athena was probably right. To avert further conflict, Zeus would likely allow this one transgression so long as Hades swore to never do it again. Perseus could imagine the smirk on his uncle's face as he made the empty oath.
The craftiness of Hades was a thing of legend. He'd used the anger Perseus felt against him, goading him to act and in turn forcing the other Gods to do his bidding and fight Perseus in his stead. A small wound from Zeus was all the sacrifice required, and he looked to get away with everything – attempting to humiliate Perseus in the process.
Well, it wasn't over just yet, and his dear uncle should know better than to believe his own victory before all was said and done.
"I'm sorry," Athena repeated quietly, and he knew she was thinking along the same lines. She was likely counting Hades victorious in their small conflict. What she didn't know was that Perseus had no intention of allowing this to stand. Hades would face equal consequence for his actions – it just wouldn't come from Zeus.
A small, nagging idea took root in his head, and it was difficult not to smile at the thought. It would be fitting, if he could make it work, and would see Hades brought to heel…
Discarding it for the moment to be thought upon later, Perseus nodded at Athena briefly. "Thank you for your council in this," he said. "It seems I need to perhaps take your advice and look to allies more readily in the future."
She nodded in return, a small smile tilting her lips at his admission.
"Have you heard anything regarding my own situation?" he asked.
"Father wishes to meet with you privately as soon as possible. An envoy was sent to Hades through Persephone, but we find it unlikely that he'll respond." said Athena. "The rest of the Council will not be in attendance while the two of you meet. We're to be summoned afterwards."
Perseus rubbed his left wrist thoughtfully, still regaining normal sensation in it after days spent with a metal shackle around it. "And the quest? Any news? I should be able to sense them, but I can't."
Athena's brow furrowed at the question. "You should be able to find them. Apollo reported they'd left Vegas yesterday in the evening."
"Which is why my inability to sense them is a little strange," he said in return. "I assumed when you released me I'd be able to pinpoint their location, but it's like they aren't anywhere. Even beneath the shroud of the Lotus Eaters I was able to get a read on them. Then I was bound and unable to sense much of anything. Now that I'm free, their location should be obvious…."
"But it isn't," finished Athena, frowning in thought. "I'm not sure. I haven't given much thought to the quest to be honest. Everything else happening has stolen my focus, and I've been in talks with Father and the rest of the Council over the last several days. I haven't even managed to take time to visit camp since the….dispute in the throne room."
Perseus looked at her closely, a sense of alarm surging through him. "Has nobody visited camp in my absence?"
"Not that I'm aware," she answered. "After you claimed it fully as your territory, the others are hesitant to intrude. I'm allowed, by your own admission, to continue my work there, but I haven't had the time. Father's kept me busy and wanted all of us close with the recent revelations. Poseidon believes that you are correct, by the way. He thinks that another item has been created to corrupt his control over the sea. He claims the deep reaches in the Atlantic are slowly being subverted."
That…wasn't good news. Perseus hadn't given much thought to the other enemies of Olympus, his uncle managing to hoard his focus as the more pressing threat. Perhaps that was a false assumption.
"While I was…out…the boundaries of Camp Half-Blood were vulnerable. I power them directly, and without me they slowly fail. I need to see to the children as soon as possible. There's no way to know what happened after several days of weakened borders. While unlikely, an invasion would have technically been possible. Already I could feel things reaching within." Perseus said.
Athena nodded. "I'll go there while you speak to Father this morning. He'll want an update anyway, especially if there's been anything crossing the borders. I'll return at the summons and update you and the Council about the goings on there."
"Agreed, and thank you," Perseus said. Whatever issues he'd previously had with Athena, he knew her to be trustworthy and her insight was nearly without peer. She'd be capable of getting an accurate view of the situation with the camp. Not to mention her own children were vulnerable without him. She likely wanted to check on them.
"Best not to keep him waiting any longer, then," said Athena.
Perseus nodded his agreement. A simple flex of his energy, which was still recovering but was much better than it had been, and he was gone.
Thalia grit her teeth against the pain, trying and failing to ignore the agony as Lee Fletcher wrapped another bandage around her right arm. Her skin ached and burned as it pulled with every movement, and she clenched her jaw even harder against the tears that attempted to fall. What should have been a simple nightmare had followed her to the real world, and her skin was red and raw from the burns she'd mysteriously acquired.
Chiron stood worriedly at the end of her bed in the infirmary, staring at her with troubled eyes. Thalia knew he was just as stumped as she was. So far as she knew, injuries that happened in a dream and followed to reality were fictional and something straight from a movie. Whatever that burning, golden light was, it had actually reached her in the physical world. Only the barrier surrounding camp, which returned suddenly out of nowhere that morning, seemed to have stopped it from actually killing her.
"You're going to have to take it easy," Lee said quietly, his expression appearing somewhat shaky. He was too young, just a year older than her, and he shouldn't be treating injuries that doctors trained for years to handle. She felt sorry that his aid was even necessary. "The worst of the burns are one your arms. I don't…there will probably be scarring. I don't know enough to fix it."
The pain was bad enough that she didn't care much about scars at the moment, but she probably would later. Trust her to be the only one weak enough to be disfigured by a damn dream. As he lifted her right leg to begin working there, the pain lanced through her and she couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She could only do her best to hide them. Turning her face further into the pillow, her mouth seemed to open involuntarily in a silent cry as he began cleaning her lower leg with some type of disinfectant.
"I'm sorry, child," Chiron said in a low voice, his tone achingly sympathetic.
Leaning against the far wall was Luke, his fists clenched in obvious anger and glaring at the floor between his feet. "Where the hell are they?" he asked. "We've been calling for days. Someone should have answered before it came to this."
"I don't know," answered the centaur, his tone calm despite his own obvious worry. "Something's happened with the Gods, that much is obvious, but never before have we been left so vulnerable. The barrier is back now, but for how long I couldn't say."
Luke scoffed, turning away to look at the wall. "Not like they'd care anyway," he grumbled. "They're always too busy to worry about us lowly mortals. The patrols have been run ragged trying to keep up with the perimeter around the clock, and none of it seems to matter to them. They're safe on Olympus."
There was a low rumble of thunder, but it was distant as if it was an afterthought.
"Perseus would care," Thalia said through gritted teeth as Lee began spreading the paste made from ambrosia across her burns. "Something's happened to him. It's the only explanation for the barrier and the fact he or Athena haven't been to camp in the last five days."
Luke looked at her with a sympathetic expression. "Don't count on it, Thals," he said quietly, ignoring Chiron's questioning stare at his nearly blasphemous words. "Perseus…I think you trust him a little too much. We haven't known him long enough to gauge his true motives. He's singling you out for a reason, and you should be more cautious when it comes to him."
His opinions came from his issues with his father, she knew, but she couldn't allow her own thoughts to match his. Perseus was trustworthy, and she knew it somehow deep inside her. He was on their side and she wouldn't believe otherwise. Luke was her best friend, but that didn't mean she had to agree with his bleak outlook of immortals in general. Her own father was certainly distant enough to feel uncaring, but not Perseus, and she wouldn't believe differently unless he did something to prove it.
"Be careful, Luke," warned Chiron, though his tone was still understanding. "Your frustration is not without cause, but being dismissive of the Gods has been the downfall of many mortal men."
"It most certainly has," said a female voice, and it shot a thrill of fear through her heart as Athena entered the room with her eyes pinned on Luke. "You should also rethink a great many things, including your distrust of the one Olympian who has only your best interest in mind. I owe you a great deal for the safety and security of my youngest daughter, but that will only buy you so much good will."
"L-Lady Athena," Chiron greeted, bowing at the sight of her. Luke did so as well, but it was obviously a stiff gesture.
"Be at ease," she said, looking around the room and raking over Thalia's injured form with her gaze. "Perseus sent me to take the measure of what's been going on. I see that his fears weren't unfounded."
"Yes, well…I'm not sure why, but the barrier protecting camp fell some days ago, and we've been attempting to secure our borders in its absence." Chiron said, and she noticed he was far more careful than Luke had been about placing any blame.
"Perseus was…indisposed…until this morning. The rest of us weren't aware that his presence was the source of strength the barrier relied upon, and Hecate didn't inform us. As soon as I knew I told him I'd see to it. Also, it may please you to know that as of a few days ago, Camp Half-Blood now has more autonomy than ever before. The demigods, and the camp itself, are now beneath the sole authority of Perseus, and no longer the Council as a whole."
Thalia didn't get the full meaning of that statement, and neither did Lee she could tell. He was still working on bandaging her right leg and had apparently decided to stay out of the conversation. Chiron, however, appeared startled and was staring at Athena with wide eyes. "Is that why he…"
"No," she answered. "That is an entirely separate matter that will not be discussed outside of Olympus. Suffice it to say that the issue with the barrier is not likely to be repeated any time soon. However, I would like to know how this child was injured. What, exactly, breached the barrier?"
Chiron frowned. "We still don't know," he said. "Thalia says she was having a dream about some men she didn't recognize, and one of them realized she was observing them and assaulted her. Apparently with enough strength to reach her in the physical world as well."
Thalia's face burned and it had nothing to do with the attack. Embarrassment overwhelmed her at the phrasing and the thought that she – supposedly a Greek hero and daughter of the King – could be laid so low by a dream. Some hero she was. Perseus was likely wasting his time training her.
Athena, however, looked alarmed. "Show me," she said forcefully. "There is no possible way a monster could have reached you through your dreams. Morpheus would not allow it. Olympus currently faces grave enemies and I would know the face of them." Crossing the room in long strides, Athena approached her bedside opposite Lee and stared into her eyes with a sudden intensity. "Think very clearly of your dream, and allow me to observe."
Unnerved, and still in pain, Thalia did as she was asked. She thought of the room with stone walls and the long table with five large men surrounding it. She thought of their words and their implications, and of the voice that hurt to listen to. The entire dream replayed in her mind with a startling clarity, and she felt just as terrified now as she'd been while it was happening.
Athena, however, had turned a ghostly pale. "By the Fates," she muttered.
"You recognize them?" asked Chiron worriedly.
"Only by reputation and description," she answered with a hollow tone. "You, however, would likely recognize them far easier than I would. Apollo, come. Now!"
Her command was surprising in it's suddenness, and Thalia noticed Lee snap his eyes up to the Goddess as she called to his father. The response was fast, and within moments another man appeared in the room with a flash of golden fire. He was young, with blonde hair and tanned skin. He was also extremely handsome, wearing casual jeans and loafers, with a sleeveless t-shirt that displayed some impressive arm muscles, and a boyish grin that nearly made Thalia blush even more. She felt humiliated that he could even see her in such an embarrassing state.
He whistled as he took in her bedridden form. "Rough day, huh?" he said.
"There isn't time for games, Apollo," Athena said quickly. "Heal her, now. She needs to be brought to Olympus with haste and cannot be moved in her current condition."
"Well she could, but it'd hurt like hell," he said, grinning as he ruffled his hand through Lee's hair. "How's it going, kiddo?"
Lee was staring at the man who looked about six or seven years older than himself in disbelief, but Thalia's brain was stuck on the fact that Athena said she'd be going to Olympus. To Olympus, home of the Gods and her father, to the seat of power which ruled over all of western civilization. It caused a brief stutter in her brain.
Athena, however, glared at her half-brother and he complied. Placing a warm hand on her shoulder, Thalia felt an instant sensation of relief as some magic rushed through her and her pain disappeared. Beneath their very eyes the wounds across her body seemed to shrink from the outer edges inward, and then disappear altogether. The red and raw skin turned a light pink, and then faded as if it were never there in the first place. Lee swallowed visibly as his father seemed to erase the need for all his work, but he appeared more relieved than anything.
"You did a good job on those burns, Lee," Apollo said, grinning downward at the boy. "They would've healed up nicely in their own time."
"What's going on?" asked Luke. "What about her dream?"
"That is not your concern at the moment," replied Athena, not even glancing at the boy. "Only our King may make the determination about that."
"Dad's still in the meeting with Perce," said Apollo, and the shortening of Perseus' name caught Thalia a little off guard. "They won't take well to interruptions right now."
"On this issue, they'll welcome it," Athena said seriously, seeming to have a conversation with Apollo in a single look.
Perseus stared blankly across at Zeus from his position in the center of the room. The King sat leisurely upon his throne, his weapon in hand though it remained in its base form of a bronze cylinder, and his eyes trained on his nephew.
The room looked pristine, and there wasn't a single trace of the battle that had ruptured the floor in several places. The dark blue stone looked as if it had never been touched, and the thrones still stood in grandiose fashion. The water which had covered the floor was gone, the scorch marks from his own energy erased. Once more the hearth burned with a healthy fire.
"I find myself quite disappointed in you," said Zeus, his tone rather mild despite his serious expression. "Believe it or not, that doesn't happen often. Over the years you've stood as a credit to this room and to your position, and I've allowed a lot of leeway because of that."
"That's it?" Perseus questioned humorously. "The whole 'I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed' speech?"
"Oh, I'm plenty mad, if you'd like to change the tone of this conversation," said Zeus lowly, his eyes sparking with a flicker of blue electricity. Wisely, Perseus decided to shut his mouth. "You not only attempted to assault Olympus with your pet – a treasonous offense – but you also endangered the throne of my Queen in the process. You allowed emotion to override your common sense, and in turn broke a great many laws that you helped create. You will find I'm in no mood for games or jokes."
Perseus nodded his agreement. To shirk his own blame would be cowardly, and to attempt to bring Hades' crimes to light, as if Zeus hadn't witnessed them, was equal to shoving his own blame onto the shoulders of another. There was no quicker way to forsake one's honor. He said he'd face the consequences of his actions, and he meant it.
"However, as furious as I've been at your actions, I cannot say they weren't at the very least instigated. You certainly could have, and should have, conducted yourself with more restraint and with more forethought. Emotion has very little place in this room. Here we deal with fact and with law, and our decisions should not be made on the basis of emotion, at least to any great extent." Zeus continued. "As ruler of this pantheon, I must hold fact and law above all other things."
That statement wasn't necessarily true. Zeus had many times held his own emotion or opinion over both fact and law, but that would be a supremely stupid thing to point out and Perseus held his silence.
"Having said that, we are on the precipice of a possible war with enemies hidden from our sight, and we speculate they may have access to weapons we've not yet encountered. Because of this, I need each and every God united in their defense of Olympus. For this reason, and because my daughter may as well have threatened mutiny otherwise, I'm inclined to show you leniency in this issue." Zeus declared.
Perseus was honestly surprised by that decision, but less surprised about the 'mutiny' comment. "I told Artemis not to approach you. That I'd deal with this situation myself." he said.
Zeus stared at him, frowning. "Artemis taking your side on issues no longer surprises me, nor does it have the same effect it once did. I was talking about Athena." That…did surprise him. "She claims that your presence has protected and nurtured our children since ancient times, and that punishing you harshly for defending your own daughters is hypocrisy if we expect you to do the same for ours. Your work with Thalia and saving her from my brothers is proof enough for me of that fact."
Perseus honestly didn't know how to respond. He and Athena had shared a very distant relationship for a very long time. He would have never thought she'd side with him, despite her claims to the contrary that morning. They'd butted heads near constantly over the last couple of weeks while working together, and he'd treated her like shit and spoke down to her several times. She'd returned the favor a few times, ordering him around and making snide remarks about his work ethic. Standing up to Zeus in his defense was not something he could have predicted she'd do. She hadn't even said anything about it when they spoke.
"Because of this, I am willing to show leniency only once, though there will still be consequences for your actions. If you ever do something so foolish again, I don't care for the reason or the other party. On that day you will have me as your enemy, and should you assault my city or threaten the thrones in this room again, I swear upon the Styx that I will strike you down. Permanently." A crack of thunder sealed his oath, and the glare on his face looked as if it were carved from stone.
"Understood," Perseus said, bowing his head slightly.
"As for the punishment, then-"
Zeus was interrupted by the door opening, and a God entering that shouldn't have surprised Perseus, but it did. Dark skin and honey gold eyes, with a pair of wings that glimmered blue, black and purple was Thanatos, Lieutenant of Hades and Reaper of Souls. "Forgive my intrusion, but I was sent as a representative of Lord Hades. He would like for me to extend his apologies, as he is unable to attend in person due to a prior commitment."
The lie came smoothly in a deep baritone, and Perseus snorted at it's obviousness. Zeus was less amused. "I summoned him, and so he shall answer," Zeus growled, his annoyance easily read.
Thanatos gave a brief, quite shallow bow before the King. "Apologies, but it was unavoidable."
Zeus clenched his teeth, and they both knew Hades wouldn't show. He likely feared it to be a ruse and an attempt to ambush him. Time and again he'd shown an unwillingness to place himself in an unfavorable situation, as well as demonstrating the ability to escape one.
"And your lateness on his behalf?" Zeus demanded.
"That, too, was unavoidable I'm afraid. Something happened and I was needed in Colorado. Several thousand mortals decided to die, all at once." he said, his tone mild and absently he glanced down at his black iPad. The device presumably replaced his old stone tablet which held the names of the dead.
"Several thousand?" Zeus asked lowly. "What caused it?"
"I don't really know, to be honest. Nothing good. There was a shroud over the area that attempted to keep me out. However, whatever it was that caused it likely didn't realize that you cannot stop death." he responded. "There were a few live ones, but I didn't stop to question them. They'll probably be surprised at the pile of bodies should they come across them."
A shroud that attempted to keep a God out….
"Where, exactly, in Colorado?" asked Perseus. He had a bad feeling he couldn't shake.
Thanatos sighed in annoyance, and Perseus merely met him with a glare. "Quack…? Jack…? Something like that, I think. Tiny little town, insignificant all things considered."
Zeus frowned, closing his eyes and Perseus could feel his energy spread from the top of Olympus like a blanket across the skies. Further and further it traveled, but after a few moments it stopped. His frown deepened. Opening his eyes he stood from his throne. "Iris," he commanded lowly, a gesture creating a wall of mist that fell gently to the floor from the ceiling. "Show me Mack, Colorado."
"At once, milord," a feminine voice drifted from the water. The air between the tiny water droplets darkened like a video screen, and just when the image should have solidified, it remained dark. "A-Apologies, but I can't seem to…there isn't anything there that I can see."
"So, it affects even you," Zeus muttered. "Thanatos, how did you manage to penetrate the shroud?"
"There was a distinct feeling of death within, and it called to me. Not the mortals, but something divine. Something that felt like…Hades." he answered confusedly. "But he was in the Underworld at the time, so I'm not sure what it could've been."
"The children, then," said Perseus grimly. "I realized when I was released that I couldn't locate Atlanta or the others, and didn't know why. Something is shrouding the demigods from all of us."
"Should I keep trying, milord?" Iris questioned. "I think I can…"
From the darkness of the mist a sound like shattering glass echoed, and suddenly there was an explosion of a white-hot light. A roar followed, a sound that echoed with fury and wrath and Perseus recognized it immediately. Leo. There was a tug against his strength, and he allowed it to flow freely with a fury of his own. Atlanta was in danger, and she'd called upon her Guardian.
Iris moved the viewpoint closer to the light and they could suddenly see the majestic lion in all of his glory. Leo was large, more than three times the size of a normal lion and glowing with a flickering white fire that torched everything around him beneath a terrifying inferno. Whatever he was attacking had been pushed hundreds of yards away from a fuel station which held a ragged old van and a group of children he was very familiar with.
They were scrambling to get to their vehicle while Leo roared another challenge and attacked a humanoid figure. "Show me the enemy," Perseus commanded, his own anger building. No normal monster or opponent would live beneath the towering wrath of Leo, and yet something was shouting in return and wrestling the lion off itself.
The view moved even closer, and the visage that greeted them caused his anger to erupt like even Hades hadn't managed. The ancient armor stretched over broad muscles and the horns of a ram.
"Krios, Titan of the South," Zeus muttered, his own fury building like a volcano.
"Zeus," Perseus said in warning, just as the doors to the throne room burst open to admit the other Olympians. "Have Hermes get them out of there. Far, far away."
Zeus glanced at him, and then nodded. "Go," he commanded.
With a flare of white-hot energy, and amidst a cry of alarm from the doors, Perseus assumed his true form and became one with the stars. Then, he fell.
Thalia hadn't ever seen anything like Olympus, hadn't even imagined it really. The beauty and splendor were breathtaking, and she wished Athena weren't in such a hurry so she might actually be able to enjoy it. However, something about her dream had spooked the normally composed Goddess, and she rushed them through the city and toward the summit, Apollo following along obediently.
Thalia was beginning to believe her original thought about Titans, alive and breathing, was correct.
They approached a massive building with a courtyard out front and golden doors large enough to fit an elephant through them easily. The courtyard was filled with stone benches which were occupied by more than half a dozen beautiful immortals, and a couple who were a little more on the scary side. One of them was sitting on a large motorcycle which left deep ruts in the otherwise pristine grass.
"All of you, we're needed inside now," Athena said forcefully. "And be cautious, we have a mortal girl among us."
"Should've chimed the bell," said the one on the motorcycle. "Kid could've been fried before you ever got here. And besides, nobody enters right now. Old Man's orders. He's in there with the punk and Thanatos."
"Ah yeah," said Apollo, wincing. "Didn't even think of the bell to be honest."
"Bell?" Thalia asked curiously.
"The bell is just something to let the other Gods know there's a mortal on Olympus, which is pretty rare to be honest. Just so that none of them assume their divine form and fry your brain if you look at them." Apollo answered.
"Good to know," Thalia muttered nervously.
"Either way, we're needed inside," Athena repeated. "This is Thalia, daughter of Zeus, and she's allowed us a glimpse of our enemies, though doing so nearly killed her."
"How's that?" asked a gruff voice, and Thalia saw a bearded God that looked a lot like Perseus rise from a bench. He looked slightly older, with flecks of gray in his beard and more weather-beaten skin. He wore a flower-printed shirt and bermuda shorts, with open toed sandals. The massive bronze Trident in his right hand identified him easily.
"She had a prophetic dream, which I've witnessed. It doesn't look good." Athena replied, though her expression when speaking to who could only be Poseidon was guarded. "Come with me."
The Goddess approached the doors swiftly, followed by the others, and threw them open with a bang. Immediately the sound of a roaring animal overcame them, though Thalia couldn't see past the cluster of bodies entering the room. There must have been something blocking sound from escaping because they should've been able to hear the roar from outside, loud as it was.
She heard what she thought to be Perseus' voice over it, and then there was a cry of alarm. A silk scarf encircled her head in an instant, the flash of a magnificent white light showing through it slightly, and someone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Definitely should've remembered the bell," Apollo said quietly.
"Dumbass," remarked the voice of the man who'd sat on the motorcycle. By his confrontational tone, she assumed he was Ares, God of War.
The scarf was gently unwound from her head to show her the face of a stunning Goddess with long dark hair and eyes that shifted colors. The woman smiled at her, showing a glimpse of gleaming white teeth, and brushed a thumb beneath her left eye. "Pretty color," she commented, and her own eyes shifted to match those Thalia saw in the mirror every day.
"Um, thanks…?" she muttered in confusion.
"What's the meaning of this?" asked a male voice from across the room. The others had moved further inside and she was able to see a God with black hair streaked with gray and dressed in a sharp black suit with silver pinstripe. He had a large, well groomed beard and eyes that matched her own – and the other Goddess' – and he towered over their smaller forms. Even as she thought that, the others rose in height to match him.
He could only be her father, Zeus, and while she'd waited forever to meet him, the view displayed from a falling mist caught her attention immediately. A burning, white lion was roaring and fighting against something in an Iris Message.
"So it's already begun, then," said Athena, her own eyes locked on the battling creature.
"Hermes, go to Mack, Colorado and retrieve the demigods there. Bring them to New York, somewhere near the camp. And do so now, before they're killed in what is to come." Zeus commanded. A man with sandy blonde hair nodded once and disappeared in a rush of movement.
"That can't be…." Poseidon muttered, staring at the mist as well.
"I'm afraid so," answered Zeus. "And that entire area is about to be destroyed."
"Hmm, that's where my son went?" asked the sea God, turning his focus to his brother.
"He will be there soon, and the demigods need to be gone before then," Zeus replied. Finally, Zeus seemed to notice her presence, and his eyes locked with hers. Thalia felt her throat close up at his recognition, and all of her muscles seemed to tense beneath his gaze. "Thalia," he said quietly, staring at her with some confusion.
She wanted to speak, but nothing seemed to come out. She never imagined she'd meet him with a full audience, and didn't even know what to say.
"I brought her here," said Athena. "She has insight into our enemies via a prophetic dream, and she was attacked in the late hours of the night. Apollo healed her, and I felt the Council needed to witness her vision. I hoped to do so before they acted, but it seems I was too late."
"Who attacked you?" asked Zeus directly.
"I...I don't know…" Thalia responded quietly. This was all wrong. This wasn't how she was supposed to meet her father. Not while he looked angry enough to split a mountain in half and in front of so many people.
"She was attacked through her dream," said Athena. "We will need Morpheus here for this."
Zeus looked at a dark-skinned man with wings sprouting from his back – and how hadn't she noticed him – and pointed a finger at him. "You stay, I'm not through with you just yet. Everyone else take your seats." Staring pointedly at Athena, Zeus flicked his fingers and a bell tolled twice throughout the mountain city. The Goddess flushed slightly, but tilted her chin upward. "Morpheus!" he called loudly.
There was no response, however before he could say more there was movement by the door and Hermes walked back inside. "Done, they're in Manhattan as we speak."
The view from the falling mist was disturbed a second later by a ripple. "Milord, something approaches…."
That was all she was able to say before the entire view from the message was lit up by a massive white flash as if a bomb had gone off within. There was light and fire and the entire area was being erased beneath the explosion. It was far too bright and Thalia looked away.
Zeus, she saw, was staring greedily at the image with a sort-of pleased satisfaction. The white light reflected off the rest of the room, and she saw the dark skinned man groan as he looked down at his iPad. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. "Does anyone know the concept of restraint?"
"Think about who you're talking about," a female voice said from a throne covered in animal hides and silver charms. The child-like Goddess perched upon it looked slightly annoyed. "He doesn't know the meaning of the word, I'm certain."
The winged man paused, and tilted his head as if listening to something. Finally he straightened up slightly, and glanced back to the image. "Oh dear, this isn't good at all."
"What now?" asked Zeus, though it sounded as if he didn't even want to know.
"I….well, that is to say his children were…." the man mumbled, wincing. "Lord Hades felt the death surrounding his children earlier, and now with all this commotion….he rides for Colorado."
"Goddammit," Zeus muttered, ignoring the belting laugh of the God she thought might be Ares.
Author's Notes: So, another Chapter down and things are coming to a head. This one feels a little rough to me, like I should have spent more time editing or something, but my eyes were swimming, so I'm calling it good. Sorry for any mistakes in advance.
The reviews on Chapter 8 were something of a mix between positive and negative, but that fight was never meant to be the main showdown. Just a prelude, you could say. Also, everyone was holding back a lot as the fight was far more contained within the throne room. It should be noted as well that Zeus never condemned their fighting, just the location of it.
Now, it looks as if Perseus is going to meet Hades once more, and Krios as well, and this time in a more favorable location for all of them. Plus, both Hades and Perseus are somewhat injured from their fight before. Should be interesting.
There is a lot of bad blood between Hades and Perseus, and also between Krios and Perseus, and sort of between Krios and Hades so….yeah.
I understand some of you don't like the direction I'm taking this, and that's fine. Your reviews, positive or negative, are fine as well. This is my vision and it definitely won't match everyone's so it's all good. I just hope it's at least entertaining for you, whether you enjoy it or not.
Feel free to join the discord, just please don't turn it into a place for flames and insults. I will have to ban people if they do, and I really don't want to do that. I'm fine if you go there to tell me you don't really like it, or give criticism, just don't want it clogged up with a bunch of hate.
As always, I appreciate your reviews and stay tuned for the next one!