A/N: Apologies for the delay. I got sucked into a fic and then got stuck in writing purgatory for this chapter. Was going to wait until Thursday but figured you guys have waited long enough. Should get the next chapter out next week though. But regardless I'll finish Zoe's story one way or another, even if I have to write it two sentences at a time.
Zoe appeared before a massive set of bronze doors, her mother and father beside her. She bore her new Stygian Iron cuirass and leather skirt, though she exchanged the tunic for jeans and a Camp Jupiter t-shirt. Her new shield sat on her wrist in watch form and Riptide in her pocket as always. Zoe's parents stood in their full battle regalia. Reyna in her gleaming lorica segmenata and aegis cloak, her gladius strapped to her hip, and a purple shirt and cargo shorts underneath. Percy wore a black long sleeve shirt and tactical pants underneath his bronze armor. Said armor was a breastplate with his symbol and a large sea green trident standing upright the eye of the silver hurricane. Rounded pauldrons that formed to his muscular form with waves depicted on them crashing into a cliff face. Rerebraces and vambraces wrapped around his arms, greek letters telling the many deeds of his father engraved into them. The vambraces extended out to protect his elbows when extended. Cuisses protected his quads, the forms of Riptide and his drakon sword crossing on the face. Finally his greaves sat on his shins, extending over his knees. Chainmail sat underneath it all, protecting the gaps in his upper armor. She didn't often see him in his personal armor. Forged for him by the elder cyclopes in the bowels of Atlantis, this armor was not for show or for sparring. It was forged for war. To see him wearing it now, she couldn't tell if she should feel safe and protected or scared of the implications.
Zoe looked to the doors for the first time. The celestial bronze doors towered over them, the forms of the twelve Olympians engraved into the divine metal. It's ethereal glow illuminated the surrounding area with depictions of the first Titanomachy and Gigantomachy etched into the white walls surrounding it. Said walls revealed a structure so massive she figured you could fit the whole of New Rome in it. The three-dimensional carvings lead up the walls and to the angled roof which overhung from the building. To say she was impressed by the Olympian Council Chambers would feel like a minor understatement. She though thought that the Senate building in New Rome was more impressive in her unbiased opinion. Well, maybe a little biased. Zoe felt a sort of pressure bearing down on her as her gaze roamed about the structure. It reminded her of when her father wasn't suppressing his presence like when they had freed him the day before. Though this time it felt magnified a hundred fold. The pressure felt oppressive, like it was trying to will her to kneel and submit before its awesome power. She wondered if the pressure was from the building and Mount Olympus itself or the twelve Olympians who were most likely inside. Heat coursed through Zoe's body from her core and a spike of pain rammed through her head. She grunted as her hand flew to her head. She felt sick, like her body was trying to burn out a virus. She could feel her power rising and pushing against the oppressive feeling surrounding her. Darkness skirted the edge of her vision. Her instincts screamed at her to fight back. To resist and destroy that which would subjugate her. How dare the King try to destroy her.
Reyna noticed her struggles first and firmly grasped her shoulder. "Hey, Zoe," she said in obvious concern.
Percy turned. His eyes narrowed slightly in understanding. In an instant, the oppressive pressure was gone, and Zoe's body cooled down if only slightly. The darkness retreated from her vision. She looked to her father, her eyes asking him to explain. "Most mortals, when under the unsuppressed influence of Olympians, will be forced to submit," he said to her. His eyes flickered about in search of any eavesdroppers. "You, however, are half primordial. The very idea of a primordial submitting to anyone is...laughable."
"Where did the pressure go though?" Zoe asked, now even more confused than she had been before.
Her father smiled at her. "What kind of father would I be if I didn't shield you from the worst of the weather?" he asked rhetorically. "How are you though? Do you need to blow off some steam before we go in?"
Zoe shook her head. "No, I can manage," she promised them. "It's just a small headache now; it's nothing serious."
Percy shared a look with Reyna before nodding. "Alright. Stay behind Reyna and I, and if you need to leave, let Reyna know. Hestia will take you two somewhere safe to release your pent-up energy or just protect you." He told her. The mirth had been completely gone from his usually chipper self. Reyna gripped Zoe's arm and gently guided her just behind and to the side of the older woman. Her fingers remained locked around her arm as Percy stepped in front of the two women before pushing the heavy doors open.
The doors opened soundlessly before the trio before stopping halfway open. As the small group walked through the portal, Zoe's eyes flew about the room. Colossal pillars of marble rose to a nonexistent ceiling. Both the moon and the sun shone brightly overhead along with many stars and constellations. Reyna lead her by the arm towards small steps into an indentation in the floor before them. Twelve thrones sat in the indentation in an upside down U. Zeus sat in the middle, Hera and the female Olympians to his right and Poseidon and the males to his left. Zeus glared at the trio with such thunderous anger that Zoe wondered if lightning was going to shoot out of his eyes. Poseidon seemed to be similarly angered but gave his son and granddaughter a brief nod before returning to stare at the King. Her father seemed tense. His shoulders were back, his chest out, and Zoe felt the presence of her father turn hostile towards the God of Lightning before them. Zoe's eyes flickered about anxiously in an attempt to avoid the piercing gaze of the King. Each throne was built to represent the domains or the occupant. Zeus' was built of storm clouds, lightning arced about within the confines of the throne. Poseidon sat upon a beach chair with a fishing pole holder that held his Trident. Artemis reclined in a throne of silver, carvings of what Zoe assumed were hunts carved into it. Reyna stopped with Zoe next to the Hearth that dominated the center space of the Council Chamber, a small brown haired girl stroking the flames. Flames which created no smoke nor seemed to use any sort of fuel. The small girl looked to Zoe, revealing warm reddish-orange eyes like the flames of the Hearth. The burning heat in her core cooled as she gazed into the girl's eyes and a sense of calm stilled her nerves.
"Hello my dear," the young girl spoke to her. Her young voice belied the care and wisdom laced throughout. "Quite the buzz you've created. I haven't seen my brother this furious since Percy and Artemis became friends."
"Hello, you must be Lady Hestia," Zoe politely greeted the goddess. She gave the young looking goddess a stiff bow. Even as uncivil as she traditionally was, she would give respect to one who garnered so much from her parents. "I'm happy I finally get to meet you. My father-."
"Let us begin so we can be done with it," Zeus' deep and thunderous voice interrupted her. Zoe turned to find glowering not at her, but at her father.
Poseidon scoffed at his brother. "We wouldn't need this meeting if you had not tried to smite my son and granddaughter!" he finished with a yell, his anger radiated off him causing Hephaestus to squirm in his steampunk style throne.
Zeus rolled his eyes. "The potential threat she poses-," Zoe was distracted by a small hand touching her arm.
She looked down to see Hestia standing next to her. "Come sit down," she spoke softly to her. With a wave of her hand a small wooden chair appeared next to the Hearth. "We will let my brothers squabble. Your father and guardian can handle this."
Zoe allowed herself to be lead to the chair. Hestia retook her seat at the edge of the Hearth, poking at the flames with her bronze poker. "She's not my guardian," Zoe blurted out. Hestia quirked an eyebrow at her. "I...we agreed that from now on she is my mother and I her daughter. As we should have been the whole time."
Hestia nodded in understanding. "I see. That is good. I am glad that despite the revelations, your connection with the Consul and your father are stronger than ever." Zoe heard her father begin telling the tale of his capture and everything that happened after. "Despite this however, you still seem troubled. What is wrong."
Zoe chewed on her lip briefly, wondering if she should discuss it so openly. Her father had always told her that Hestia was the kindest goddess and would always be there for him. Everyone else was focused on her father. Surely she could tell the goddess anything right? "Since I have been claimed, I have had these...thoughts. Violent ones," Zoe told the goddess.
Hestia hummed. "In combat or...?"
"When my power flares up," she answered. "It first happened when I was fighting Pallas. I had more energy running through me than all the power I had ever felt combined. I felt like I could do anything. But all I could think of was destroying Pallas." She shook her head. "No, not just destroy. Humiliate him. Make an example of him. I don't know. It just...didn't feel like me?"
"You fear this new power will change you," Hestia put to words Zoe's fears. Setting down her poker, Hestia grasped the tri-blood's hands gently. "You have heard the phrase 'power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely?'" Zoe nodded her head. She could hear Reyna beginning her tale, mixing in what Zoe had told her of her own journey. "Power very rarely corrupts an individual as so many claim. More often than not, power simply shows the world who you really are."
Fear crept up Zoe's spine. "Are you saying that is who I really am? Some violent entity that thrives on the pain of others?" Her voice had a bit more bite than she intended; she was scared.
"No," Hestia consoled her. Warmth spread through Zoe's body, calming her nerves. "I am saying that you have a choice. Who will you be? How will you affect the world? Only time and your own determination will tell. I have faith that you will choose the right path. You are Perseus' daughter after all. Even in his darkest hour, he remained true to himself and forged his own path. I have a feeling you will be no different, Zoe Chase Jackson." The goddess went back to tending to her fire. Zoe felt an awkward blush creeping up on her cheeks. This goddess was willing to believe in her. Why couldn't she?
"Do you think I have to reject my heritage to fight against it?" Zoe asked. She heard voices being raised.
Hestia shook her head. "Ignoring one's heritage has never worked out for anyone," she reasoned with the girl. "If you are to not only survive, but thrive, you must accept yourself in your entirety. Then, and only then, will you be able to make your choice." The argument drew their attention.
"We can not ignore the danger the girl presents to us," Zeus argued as he glanced between his brother and his daughter, Athena. "You daughter recognize the wisdom to my words. We have no guarantee that she could not be influenced by her mother to betray us. The longer we delay the more power she will become." The thought made her body heat up in anger. A pressure pushed at the back of her skull. Again, a gentle warmth coursed through her. The heat and her power with it lessened. Zoe found Hestia's hand again on her arm. She smiled gratefully at the goddess who returned the smile.
"Yes Father," Athena rubbed her temples with her thumb and forefinger. "But we also have no reason to believe that she will betray us. She has been raised and will continue to be under the care of the Consul of New Rome and the God of Heroes. Two of the most loyal figures to Olympus. The odds that she will betray us are slim at best."
"The last time you made this argument was when Father rose," Poseidon interjected, glaring at his brother. "Perseus was never going to betray us then, and Zoe will not now. I'll stake my throne on it."
Reyna stepped back and approached Zoe. "This probably won't take much longer. They'll call a vote and then after we can ask Hecate about your problem-"
A shout of effort cut Reyna off. Turning Zoe found Zeus with his arm cocked back, Master Bolt in hand. Everything moved in slow motion. Poseidon and Athena were pushing off their thrones towards the King. Zeus threw the bolt just before The God of the Seas collided with him. Zoe stood frozen in place. Reyna grabbed her and began pulling her out of the way. They wouldn't make it. A shadow eclipsed the two mortals. Perseus stood before the Consul and her daughter. Feet wide and shield held before him. When did he get there? She could have sworn she saw his lips quirked into a small smile. Time seemed to return to normal as the Master Bolt struck Perseus' shield. Zoe's father was blasted backwards. Reyna yanked her down and they narrowly avoided being struck by the flying god. Perseus crashed through the bronze door, blasting them open with such force that they bounced off the walls outside. A large dent imbedded into one of them. Her father nowhere to be seen.
Zoe didn't even realize she was screaming until Reyna pulled her to her feet. Reyna checked her for injuries but Zoe paid her no mind. Her eyes fixated on the god king. He was pinned by Poseidon's trident. The God of the Seas screaming at his brother as Athena tried to deescalate the situation. Zoe again felt the full force of the Olympians bear down upon her. Zoe fell to her knees. Darkness creeped back into her vision. Heat and darkness began rolling off of her in waves. She felt the fire within her grow with her fury. How dare he attack her. She had done nothing wrong. How dare he put her mother at risk. How dare he smite her father. How. Dare. HE! She could hear her mother speaking but couldn't make out the words. He would pay for his transgressions. She felt a pull from above and threw out her hand towards the pinned King. She expected a shadow to strike out, or even for darkness to drop down from the sky. Instead, a star twinkled. Light rocketed down from the heavens. Poseidon noticed the attack and jumped away. Zeus wasn't as lucky. Starlight engulfed the god, pinning him to the ground with such force the marble floor below him cratered. The God of Lightning grunted in pain. Zoe felt a warmth attempt to enter her. Darkness blasted off of her body, expelling the warmth. Break him. Kill him. Make him pay. Zeus managed to bring his Master Bolt to bear, striking down the beam of light. Smoke rose from the crater. The King's immaculate suit laid in tatters. He glared at the young girl with a murderous intent. Poseidon placed himself between his brother and granddaughter, his trident pointed at the King. Zeus hefted his Master Bolt again. Athena stood defensively by Poseidon, her Aegis shield and spear in hand. Artemis fired an arrow, pinning Ares to his throne as he hefted his greatsword. Apollo and Hermes put themselves between the two. Hermes held down the God of War while Apollo attempted to placate his sister. The rest of the gods remained seated, seeing no reason to get involved.
"ENOUGH!" The words reverberated through the air. A pressure bore down upon the occupants of the throne room. Zeus and Poseidon grunted with effort as they shrugged off the oppressive presence. Others weren't so lucky. The children of Zeus were forced to kneel as the pressure increased. The force commanded them to submit. Athena managed to repel the pressure and remained standing. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead in the effort. The pressure changed as it touched Zoe. To others it was an overwhelming force bent on forcing their compliance. The pressure blanketed her. The darkness retreated from her vision. The heat in her core dissipated and her power lessened. She was reminded of the time when she was little and she would fall asleep on her father's lap. Love. Safety. She felt protected. She witnessed Reyna standing undisturbed by the pressure or at least not negatively affected by it. The bronze doors to the throne room blasted open. One of the doors lost a hinge. Perseus walked through the doorway. His shield and armor were scorched but intact. His hair was half burnt and he spit blood out onto the floor. His sea green eyes illuminated the surrounding area. Storm clouds swarmed over his head, slowly forming a hurricane. "Everyone, stand down," he commanded as he stalked across the throne room. Poseidon relaxed minutely but still waited for his brother's choice. Zeus glanced about the throne room. His only help was currently struggling against Perseus presence. Zeus lowered his Master Bolt.
Zoe choked down a cry of relief. She had lost control so easily. Reyna grabbed Zoe and pulled her into a hug. "It's okay, Zo," she comforted the teen, rubbing her back soothingly. "It's okay. You're safe."
"You see?" Zeus thundered, pointing a finger at Zoe. "She is a threat to my rule!"
"Our rule," Poseidon corrected him with a growl. "We are a council brother and she would not have attacked you if you had not tried to smite her."
"You were not seeing reason-"
"I said ENOUGH!" power flared off of Perseus' body. Several of the Olympians squirmed. "Everyone. Sit. Down." Zeus glared at the sea spawn. When Poseidon cleared his throat, Zeus relented and returned to his throne. The rest of the Olympians quickly followed suit. The oppressive weight of Percy's pressure receded and his hurricane dissipated. Percy walked up to Zoe and Reyna, ignoring the scrutiny of many of his fellow gods. "You two okay?" Both nodded in affirmation. Percy gave Zoe a small grin and patted her shoulder. Perseus turned and faced his uncle.
"Percy, are you hurt?" Poseidon asked, anger and concern both laced his voice.
"I'll be fine," Perseus answered honestly. "Not the first time I have been hit with the glow stick. Probably won't be the last. Now, as much as I want to cave the almighty King's face in my shield, we have bigger problems than our own familial issues. We have two primordials preparing for war against us. If not for the two mortals here, and their companions, we would have been up to our ears in monsters and enemy immortals. They have enlisted titans, giants, drakons, every beast of Tartarus they could get their hands on, they have. Now is not the time for division."
Zeus sneered at the rebellious godling. "Yes we are aware. My daughter, Thalia, has already informed us of much that has been discovered. We will take measures against such invasions. But this does not settle the issues of the night spawn."
"Then allow me, brother," Poseidon offered as he stood. "Any further aggressions against Zoe, Perseus, or Reyna will hereby be considered an act of war against the Seas. War with the primordials be damned." He made his way to the exit, gesturing for Percy and company to follow him.
Hestia laid a hand on Zoe's shoulder. "It appears our time is cut short," she said to the tri-blood. "Until the next time we meet then, my dear. And remember, you are who you choose to be." The little goddess went back to tending to the Hearth.
"Come on," Reyna spoke softly to her daughter and gently nudged her along.
The group exited the chamber unopposed.