Chapter 18.
(A year later)
Over the course of the last year, Percy had grown to be rather close to the hunters as a whole. They stopped trying to murder him at every occasion, and had grown to be fond of him, much to his pleasure.
He had traveled with them all over the country, helping in any way he could during missions. He had made an effort to see Reyna more as well, much to her delight. She was shocked when she found out he had domains now, but was proud when he explained why he got them.
Percy had also bonded more with Artemis, becoming something close to a second lieutenant to her. Moreover, often serving as her trusted companion when she had to step away from the hunters. He accompanied her to meetings on Olympus, albeit in his animal forms, amused by the gods' confusion and perhaps, he suspected, their underlying fear of him.
Today, however, a pressing matter called them back to Olympus: a discussion regarding a potential invasion route into camp through the labyrinth. Departing from the hunters, Percy and Artemis teleported to Olympus, with Percy assuming a form he had never taken in Olympus before - that of his stag.
Entering the throne room, Percy adjusted his size to comfortably rest his head on Artemis's lap, much to her amusement. As they settled in, Artemis absentmindedly ran her fingers through Percy's fur while they awaited the arrival of the gods.
Once everyone had assembled, Zeus attempted to initiate the meeting, only to be interrupted by Athena's inquiry. "Artemis, could you please explain why you have a giant solid black stag with you? It seems that every time we convene, you're accompanied by a different animal, each of unusual coloring."
Artemis sighed, visibly exasperated. "As I've mentioned before, he's my friend named Percy," she explained. Athena's irritation was palpable as she retorted, "Yes, we're aware of that. However, it still doesn't explain why he's consistently solid black, assumes a different form each time, and happens to be significantly larger than any normal animal."
"That's because he can change his form and size as needed," Artemis replied. Zeus then inquired, "And where did you find him, my dear?" Artemis met his gaze directly. "I found him last year, just a few days before Hermes was captured," she explained.
Surprised, Athena interjected, "He's been with you for a year, and you haven't attempted to kill him?" Her astonishment was evident. Artemis responded, her tone tinged with frustration, "Why would I try to kill him? He's only ever protected us and acts aggressively only when provoked."
Athena paused, considering Artemis's words. Then she turned to her father. "Father, may I try something?" Zeus, intrigued, gave his consent with a nod.
Artemis was on the verge of asking Athena what she meant when Athena unexpectedly summoned her spear and hurled it at Percy. Percy's eyes widened in surprise, but he reacted swiftly, using a shadow tendril to seize the spear just inches from his face. With a deft motion, he spun it around and launched it back at Athena with astonishing speed.
Athena's eyes widened in alarm as the spear hurtled toward her, embedding itself in her throne mere inches from her face. The gods sat in stunned silence, processing what had just transpired. Then, Hermes's eyes widened in recognition.
"I recognize that shadow power," Hermes exclaimed. "It's the same one the man used who saved me from Atlas."
The gods turned to look at him in shock before understanding passed over their faces. They turned to look at Percy, who was once again sitting comfortably next to Artemis, with his head in her lap.
"Artemis, care to explain?" Zeus asked carefully. Artemis sighed before shooting a pointed glare at Athena and then turned to Percy. "I think it's time," she said softly. Percy grunted before standing up and padding to the center of the throne room, enveloping himself in shadows.
When the shadows cleared, he stood there in his 17-year-old form, a customary age he chose to match Reyna's aging process. "Hello," he said calmly, addressing Zeus.
The gods looked at him in shock before Zeus replied, "Hello Percy, but who are you exactly?" Percy simply responded, "I am a friend sent to aid you in winning the Titan war." "And who sent you?" Hermes inquired.
Percy turned to him with a soft smile before replying, "My mother did." Then, facing Zeus, he looked at him with no emotion on his face, waiting for him to speak. "Why have you not revealed your existence to us before?" Zeus asked, puzzled.
"Because I didn't want to become a crutch for you in winning the war. My mother sent me to assist, not to fight the war for you. She feared you gods would rely on me to secure victory, rather than facing the war yourselves," Percy explained calmly.
"We do not need your help boy, we are gods." Ares said slowly turned to look at Ares, and shadows erupted from Ares's throne, binding him to his chair with a gag. "Be quiet, child. The adults are talking," Percy said coldly, his gaze piercing.
"Anyway, as I was saying, I'm only here to support your war efforts. My mother has assigned me to travel with the hunt to protect them, as she believes they are the best fighting force you have," Percy explained, his normal demeanor returning.
Dionysus then decided to inject his own opinion. "We are gods. What help could you give us that we don't already have?" he asked, sneering.
Percy turned to look at him before pulling shadows to him and throwing them at Dionysus. The god barely had time to react before the shadows slammed into him, sending him crashing through his throne and into a pillar of the throne room.
"I am a primordial, insignificant little godling. Now shut up before I drag you to the Void for eternity." Percy said, anger fueling his tone of voice. The gods stared at him, shocked at his declaration.
"You're a primordial?" Athena stammered out. Percy turned to look at her with a cold glare, sending a chill down her spine. "Yes, I am."
"Who are your parents then?" Demeter asked gently, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity. Percy's anger softened as he turned to Demeter with a warm smile. "I am Lord Perseus, Son of Nyx and Erebus, primordial of shadows, hunting, death, night, and shadows."
Demeter's shock was evident, but she managed to offer a gentle smile in return. Turning back to the rest of the gods, particularly Zeus, who seemed frozen in shock, Percy continued with a cold, icy tone, his demeanor firm and resolute.
"Now, let me be clear. I do not harbor fondness for most of you," he stated bluntly, his words hanging heavily in the air. "From observing your actions since ancient times, I've come to the conclusion that many of you are selfish, arrogant, and cruel."
He paused, allowing his words to sink in before delivering his ultimatum. "I will continue aiding your children during quests, and I'll stand by in the fight against the Titans. But make no mistake, any move against me will be met with swift and decisive action. Is that clear?" Percy's gaze pierced through the room, leaving no room for argument.
Percy's words hung heavy in the air as the gods processed his declaration. Zeus finally found his voice, though it was laced with uncertainty. "Yes, Percy. Your message is clear."
The tension in the room was palpable as Percy held their gazes, his demeanor unwavering. After a moment, he nodded, satisfied with their response. "Good," he said simply before turning to Artemis. "Shall we continue the meeting now?"
Artemis smiled and nodded, acknowledging his suggestion. Percy then walked back over to her, seamlessly shifting into his Stag form once again. With graceful ease, he returned to his original position as they waited for the gods to continue the meeting.
Once he broke out of his shock, Zeus began to speak. "Athena, can you begin the meeting with what you know?" Athena nodded before regaining her composure after Percy's threat. "Right, so we've heard that the Titans may be trying to use the Labyrinth to breach the camp from inside, as the protective barrier prevents them from entering from the outside."
"We haven't located a Labyrinth entrance yet in the camp, but it doesn't mean there isn't one yet," she finished. The gods looked around, seemingly lost in their own thoughts before Percy grunted loudly. The gods turned to look at him as he transformed into an eagle and gracefully soared over to Zeus's throne.
Percy carefully leaned down to gently nudge Zeus's fist with his head. "Percy, what are you doing?" Zeus asked, confused. Percy turned to look at Athena before continuing his nudging. Athena furrowed her brow, trying to decipher Percy's actions, before her eyes widened in realization.
"I think I understand. Percy is saying the entrance is Zeus's fist. The rock formation in the camp." Percy cawed at her before gracefully flying back to Artemis's throne and transforming back into his previous form, settling comfortably with his head once again on her lap.
"How could he possibly know that?" Apollo asked, puzzled. Percy raised his head off Artemis's lap before tilting his head, conveying a "Are you serious?" expression on his face to Apollo. Apollo grinned before replying,"Right, sorry, forgot who I was talking to." Percy grunted before lowering his head back down, allowing Artemis to continue petting his head.
The gods continued to converse for a few minutes until they eventually turned to Artemis and Percy.
"Well with that figured out, Artemis, you and Percy should return to the hunt to regroup before heading to camp. I suspect they may need your help if the Titans are aware of the entrance," Zeus said, addressing the pair.
Artemis nodded in agreement before glancing down at Percy, who appeared to be dozing off from the gentle sensation of her petting him. Smiling, they vanished from the throne room to rejoin the hunt.
Back at the hunters' camp, Percy had resized himself to his normal stag size to avoid accidentally trampling anyone. The hunters, gathered around a fire, came running over at the sight of the returning duo.
"Welcome back, my lady, and you too, Percy," Zoe greeted with a warm smile. Artemis returned the smile before addressing the gathered hunters. "Thank you, Zoe. We have news, so everyone, please have a seat by the fire."
The girls nodded eagerly and quickly found places around the fire, their attention focused on Artemis as she began to speak. "As you know, we went to Olympus to figure out what to do about the Labyrinth," she began, receiving nods of understanding from the hunters.
"Unfortunately, as my father started the meeting, Athena interjected," Artemis continued, her tone tinged with frustration. "She questioned Percy's stag form as he rested next to me, and proceeded to attack him after I wouldn't divulge any additional information."
The hunters' shock turned into anger, evident on their faces. Zoe's confusion mirrored that of the others. "What did he do to warrant an attack?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief. Artemis shook her head, her expression serious. "Nothing. He was simply resting his head on my lap while I was petting him. It was a completely unprovoked attack."
Zoe turned to look at Percy, who was dozing off again next to Artemis, her eyes filled with rage.
"As I was saying," Artemis continued, a smirk playing on her lips, "Percy used a shadow to grab the spear before it hit him and threw it back at Athena, embedding it in her throne inches from her face." The hunters exchanged amused glances, pleased that Percy had swiftly retaliated against the unjust attack.
"After that," Artemis went on, her amusement evident in her tone, "Hermes recognized Percy's shadow power, recalling the same ability used when Percy saved him from Atlas's burden. This prompted Percy to reveal himself, explaining his identity and purpose." A chuckle escaped Artemis as she recounted the events.
"And then," Artemis added, a grin spreading across her face, "Ares decided to open his mouth, which led Percy to bind him to his throne with shadows and silence him with a gag." Laughter bubbled among the hunters at the image of the typically boisterous Ares being rendered speechless and restrained.
"After another conversation with the gods, Dionysus decided it would be smart to open his mouth, even after seeing Ares's predicament," Artemis continued, her amusement evident in her voice. "Percy wasted no time in retaliating, throwing shadows at Dionysus and blasting him through his throne and into a pillar in the back of the room." The hunters erupted into laughter at the image, finding humor in Dionysus's misfortune.
Artemis glanced over at Percy, expecting to see him react with the rest, but her smile softened when she noticed he was asleep. She couldn't help but feel a sense of fondness for the peaceful expression on his stag face as he rested, even amidst the chaos of their retelling.
"After taunting Dionysus, Percy explained that why he holds no love for most of the gods, he would continue to fight for their children and if anyone made a move against him, he would react much harsher than they did. After that he returned to my side as his stag form so Zeus could start the meeting."
"When they brought up the fact they hadn't found a labyrinth entrance in camp, Percy changed to his eagle form and flew over to my father, nudging his fist until Athena realized he was conveying that the entrance was at Zeus's fist, the rock formation at camp. Once that was figured out, he dismissed us to return to you guys and prepare to head to camp," Artemis concluded.
Zoe smiled fondly at Percy, who was still peacefully sleeping nearby. "Well, I would say let's go, but it seems that Percy has decided tonight we are staying put," she remarked, eliciting laughter from the group.
Artemis nodded in agreement. "Yes, you guys head to bed. We will set out in the morning," she said, her gaze lingering on Percy as he rested by the fire.
With that, the hunters dispersed to their tents, leaving Artemis to watch over Percy as he slept peacefully under the night sky.