A/N. reviews.

"I still can't wait for the Gods to find out Percy is King of Hell. It'll be lively" -JettShay

That's gonna be a little bit away, lmao.

"He easily kills demons, but has to br saved from a bear? You need to figure out his skill/ability level and then keep it more consistent." -jfrost22792

You know grizzly bears weigh in at two hundred and fifty pounds at the very least according to the U.S. national Park Service? If we said percy weighed in at two hundred pounds, that puts him in a different weight class than the bear. And all that is ignoring that HE DIDN'T EVEN FIGHT THE BEAR! (As in, fight without Riptide, since the sword did nothing). Artemis killed the bear before he could hand to hand fight it.

And furthermore, I know how strong he is in this story, because [REDACTED].

"Rereading this I wish you could've shown us more training between Lucifer and Percy cause it just feels like he's gonna be weak against most of the challengers he's gonna face considering they're probably Millennias older than him…" -Sankarea396

Trust me, this will be addressed.

"Gods i love Mephistopheles so pls dont make him rebel against percy!" -Sankarea396

Percy has three ride or dies in this story—Nico, Artemis, and Mephistopheles. So don't worry, he's loyal as Hell (pun intended).

"Honestly this is probably the most realistic Pertemis first date Ive seen considering the arranged marriage, it usually has Artemis blushing and and catching feeling as if millennias of man hating just went away" -Sankarea396

Well thank you! Although, i'd disagree with the man-hating, as I don't see it as hating more as just… avoidance when she can lol.

"Gods this is making me want to watch Hazbin Hotel again" -Sankarea396

Have fun!

"Nice god of war reference" -Guest

Thanks.

"Holy shit, this fic is everything a fresh of breath air in the community bout to binge this" -TheFiction101

Hell yeah!

"Yeah this shit is amazing" -TheFiction101

Thanks!

"Wow the fic continues to blow my mind" -TheFiction101

Thank you!

"This may be honestly the most interesting premise a fic on this site has had for pjo im really impressed" -TheFiction101

That means a lot dude!

"Im confused who knows what exactly and where did they get him from" -TheFiction101

No one but Hades and Nico know. Hermes went to Hades, and Hades sent Nico, and Nico brought Percy to Hermes, who brought him to Olympus.

"Clared up some questions but shouldnt percy gain like lucifer like powers? Otherwise how is he strong enough to rule hell if he isnt even a god tier level being" -TheFiction101

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

"That ending was badass" -TheFiction101

Thank you!

"I get what you are saying about the power level verseus the title thing. However when you give someone the title king of hell where you stay king soley through power than yeah you need to power him up. Also you say this would make percy op but i disagree it would force the story to have more interesting and powerful enemies than low level monsters. I get you are planning to do this at some point but making king of hell basically requires him to be as powerful as lucifer" -TheFiction101

Patience padawan. Look, by the end of the story, he IS going to be OP. But it's going to be through deliberate means, and not just, 'oh, hes powerful now'.

"Love the story i have officially binged it all, i do have som overall thoughts on the story. Woild love to see more of the hell/heaven story line alongside the artemis romance. Also ive said it before but we do have to get to the point where he gets powers and actually uses them in a interesting way. Feels like a missed opportunity to utilize lucifer and then never do anything with it when a lot of the fandom would fine a percy version of lucifer downright epic. Overall love the story though" -TheFiction101

Well, you're in luck. More plot development this chapter. I know it might seem small, but it's a huge for Percy with Lucifer powers, I have a story where he literally is Lucifer. Although it is Perzoë, and it is pretty shitty. Perseus the Disgraced Archangel, by Yours Truly. Thanks for the support man!

Onto the chapter!

Chapter Eleven

Gabriel looked at the barren land around him and sneered. A low hissing filled the air as the air slightly burned his skin. The air was thick with the stench of sin. His wings beat behind him, lifting him off the ground. He loathed to touch any part of the ground. This place, these people, no, not people, sinners, they were all beneath him.

He spied the city in the distance. Above the city was a star, the signature mark of his dead brother. His brow set, he flew towards the city.

LINE BREAK

Percy sat at his desk in his room. A blank piece of paper sat in front of him. He tapped his pencil against his desk. His mind was usually flowing with thoughts as fast as a current, a side effect of his ADHD, but now, it was uncharacteristically empty. A drought filled his brain anytime he tried to figure out what words to put to the page.

"C'mon Percy, what do you say to the woman you had no choice but to marry?" He said out loud to himself, his voice bouncing off of the walls, teasing him. This would be so much easier if he was marrying Annabeth. Hell, back when they were still dating, he had caught himself daydreaming about their wedding, and what he would say. Back when he was so sure that they would be together forever, so sure that nothing in the world could break them up, not a God, not Tartarus, and definitely not time.

The blank piece of paper continued to laugh at him, showing off all the white space it had, space that should have been filled with words of love, devotion, and promises. Space that would have been filled with words of love, devotion, promises, had he actually chosen who he was marrying.

Maybe it would have been easier if he knew what Artemis was going to say in hers. Then he could match it. No chance of it being awkward. What if he wrote something heartfelt and she didn't? Or what if she did write something heartfelt and he didn't? It would suck for both of them if the vows were mismatched.

He stood up from the desk and sighed. He ran a hand through his hair and walked over to the balcony. He looked over the city below, demons going about their business, snorting pain in alleyways, fighting amongst each other in scraps, leaving black blood on the ground.

He hadn't been challenged in a while, but he was split between feeling worried and relieved. On one hand, he was glad he wasn't fighting for his life, but on the other, what if the demons were planning something big, something that he couldn't stop?

In the distance, he could see the barren desert that surrounded his realm. He could spy some small fires dotted around, small camps of vagabond demons. He wondered what their whole deal was? They weren't bothering him though, so he would just let them be.

He heard the sound of his door opening and fancy shoes clicking against the tiled floor and cursed himself under his breath. He spoke too soon.

"You have a guest, Lord Perseus." Mephistopheles said.

Percy turned around and leaned back against the railing. "A challenger?"

The Royal Advisor hesitated. "Not quite."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"It would be… better if you let him explain it himself."

Percy blinked and stood up. "Okay?"

Percy followed Mephistopheles out of his room and down the stairs to his throne room. As soon as he entered, his blood chilled. Floating a foot off the ground in his throne hall was a muscular winged man, wearing lightweight metal armor, a satchel on one hip, a sword on the other. He had a halo above his head, the light illuminating the hall.

The angel had skin like that of peanut butter truffle, and a stocky build. His jaw was squared, with a sharp jawline. His hair was buzzed short. His arms were the size of bazooka barrels. Two brown wings sprout from his back, thirty feet tip to tip. He towered over Percy, vertically and horizontally,

"You're the one who killed my brother?" His voice was deep, so deep Percy could almost feel his bones vibrate like it was a car with its stereo bass boosted.

"Yes," Percy said simply, walking over to his thorne and sitting down. His face settled into stone stoicism. He sat up straight, but rested his head on his hand, his arm propped up against his headrest. He heaped he was conveying the body language of someone who was powerful. Not because he believed himself powerful, quite the contrary, he wasn't confident in his ability to take the Angel in a fight. He was hoping that by conveying a look of power, it would discourage the angel from attacking, much like how you would a grizzly bear. "I am."

The angel looked at him. "You look… unimpressive."

Percy kept his facade up, even though the word kind of hurt. No one liked being called unimpressive. He didn't respond, keeping his eyes on the angel.

"I come with a message. From my father."

Percy waited, but when no further words came, he raised an eyebrow. "Well, speak it."

The Angel cleared his throat. "You have killed Lucifer, so you shall take his place."

Percy stopped leaning and sat up perfectly straight. He gestured around them with one of his arms. "Kind of late… don't you think?"

"Not this. You will take Lucifer's place in the Revelation." The Angel pointed at Percy. "You killed the star of the show, you will fill his place as a member of the cast."

Percy stood up. "And what does this role… entail?"

"You will lead the Armies of Hell against the Armies of Heaven, in which you will be slaughtered, evil will be defeated, and a paradise made with the remains of the Earth."

"What's your name?"

"I am the Archangel Gabriel."

Percy sighed. "Gabriel, I don't know how much your father knows about me, but I am really sick and tired of Gods telling me what to do. So, I am going to graciously decline your offer. Okay?"

"It wasn't an offer. It is a certainty. It was prophesied—"

"Prophecies, prophecies, prophecies. I am sick and tired of prophecies." Percy looked Gabriel in the eyes. "What does this prophecy say, exactly?"

"That the armies of Heaven and Hell will battle, and paradise will rise from the destruction."

"That's what it says? Exact wording and all?" Percy asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Yes."

"Some prophecy." Percy muttered underneath his breath. "Hear this, Gabriel. Maybe, Heaven and Hell will fight, but not while I am sitting on that throne. I will not be a willing participant in the destruction of the world. Do you understand me?"

Gabriel knit his eyebrows together, almost glaring at the demigod. "Crystal." He said, before turning and spreading his wings. He flew out of the throne hall, disappearing from Percy's view.

"Very good, sire." Mephistopheles said

"Hm." Percy grunted, still looking at where the angel had gone. "I doubt that's the end. Not with my luck."

"How shall we prepare?"

Percy sighed. "No idea. But I still have vows to write."

LINE BREAK

Artemis grunted as she placed the deer down on the ground. She sighed and stretched her back. There was no reason for her to do so, but it was a habit she had picked up over the millennia from her Hunters. Now it was almost second nature.

She hummed a tune to herself as she walked into her camp. All was well. All was good, but for one thing.

It was Tuesday.

Normally, she didn't care what day it was. They all blurred together when you were immortal, as years did too. But it wasn't the fact that it was Tuesday that was bad. No, the bad thing was that this particular Tuesday was before Wednesday, and that particular Wednesday was her wedding. Which meant this Tuesday was her Proaulia.

She had been waiting all day for a certain Goddess to make an appearance all day, but to her surprise, Aphrodite had been a no show. There was a Goddess waiting for her however, talking to her Hunters amicably.

"Mother?" She asked softly, her voice carried on the wind.

Leto stood up and turned around. "Daughter." She said, smiling. "Come, we have much to do." She held her hand out.

Artemis took it and they flashed to Olympus, to the Moon Goddess' palace. Aphrodite, Demeter, Hera, Athena, and surprisingly Enyo were already there hanging out in the living room. In the center of the room was a giant bonfire. The furniture she had in the room had been rearranged, couches, chairs, even one of the hanging chairs that she had in the corner.

"Are you ready, daughter?" Leto asked, joining the other Goddesses.

Artemis stared at the fire, the realization that the wedding was actually happening. She couldn't believe it. Countless women had been in her shoes, but while they had been excited, she felt dread. She never wanted this, and yet she was forced into it.

"I do not have a—" She began to say, before she was interrupted by a glow in her mother's hand. "-Toy."

She reached out and took the wooden object from her mother's hand. She turned it carefully in her hand as emotion swelled within her chest. It was a deer, a wooden deer that she had played with when she was young, freshly born, before she had domains, responsibilities. Back when times were simpler. She wished she could go back. There were so many things that she would change if she could. So many decisions that she had chosen wrong on.

She realized that, by throwing the toy in the fire, she would be giving that all up. But it was moot anyways, as she couldn't go back. She clenched the toy in her fist, her hand shaking. Slowly, she approached the fire. In the flames, she could see a younger version of herself, playing with the toy deer out in the woods, before Apollo showed up and they played together.

Simpler times.

Better times.

Forcing herself, she threw the toy in the fire, accepting. Accepting that she couldn't go back. That she could only look to the future. That she could only try to do better. Do better in life. In the marriage. In the decisions she made.

She felt the wood burn, the sacrifice to the Gods burning in her mind.

The Goddesses clapped. Then, Leto pulled out a pair of shears.

Artemis took a step back. "Are we really doing that?"

"It's tradition dear. It's in the honor of the Gods."

"It's an offering to me. Why would I cut it off just for it to come back?"

"You can change your appearance dear, cutting off the hair won't change anything for you. It's just symbolic."

Artemis sighed, and sat down in one of the chairs. She slowly took her hair out of the signature braid she always wore. Her hair went down to her middle back, flowing graciously like a waterfall.

Leto came up behind her with the shears and gently pulled it up. Putting the shears close to Artemis's head, she cut the hair. Immediately, the hair grew back, Artemis not liking the way the shorter hair felt.

Leto approached the fire with hair, before gently tossing the locks into the fire. Her hair, always called fiery, burned. "To Artemis." Leto said.

Artemis felt the power of the offering flow through her veins. She still found the procedure redundant, since the whole thing was done to mortals to appease her. Perhaps it was karma.

"Well, with that out of the way," Aphrodite said. "Artemis, where do you keep the booze?"

LINE BREAK

"I'm offended I wasn't invited to your bachelor's party. Not cool dude." Nico said.

"Dude, I didn't get a say in it at all. I don't even know who is invited." Percy said.

They were on the top of an apartment building in New York City, somewhere in Midtown. Percy was sitting on the edge, his legs dangling, Nico stood a few feet away, leaning against the pole that supported the giant billboard advertising baby wipes.

"Well, apparently Apollo is. You invited my boyfriend's dad and you didn't invite me. After everything I've done for you."

"Again, I didn't get to choose."

Nico raised his hands in an 'I surrender' motion. "Damn dude, I was just joking around. When did you get so uptight?"

Percy sighed. "I'm sorry, man. I just… got a lot going on in my head, y'know?"

"Mm."

A moment of silence passed, broken by the sound of cars driving on the street below them. People walking, no idea that the demigods were above them. People never looked up.

"Do you think I'd be a good father?" Percy asked, turning to Nico.

"Where the hell did that come from? I didn't know you and Artemis were there already."

"What, no!" Percy looked down below them. "When Aphrodite was going over the wedding events, she mentioned an event that would, 'bless the marriage with fertility'. Which got me thinking, do they expect children from us? I mean, the gods have a lot of kids, is it just a standard thing, I don't know."

"Dude, you're marrying Artemis, I don't think you have to worry about having kids anytime soon."

"I know. But that doesn't change the fact that I don't know if I would be good with children, my own children."

"If it is any consolation, I'm sure you would be a hell of a better father than the majority of the Gods. You'd be there."

"I guess." Percy said, picking up a stray rock and throwing it down below. He hoped it didn't hit anyone. "Hey, I thought Apollo was waiting for me. What are we doing here?"

Nico shrugged. "He's the God of the Sun, I assumed he would see us here from the sky."

Percy glanced up at the night sky. "That's the moon, idiot."

Nico looked up. "Oh, yeah."

Percy stood up. "You know what. Fuck this. I don't even really fuck with Apollo like that. You and me. We're gonna go have some fun. We'll get Grover, the Stolls, Leo, and we'll all go celebrate."

"You sure dude? I think ditching the Gods isn't exactly going to go well."

"Weren't you just complaining about not being invited?"

"I'm fucking with you dude, let's go."

LINE BREAK

Artemis stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night air filling her lungs. She held a bottle of wine in her hand. She leaned against the railing, her head hurting, her vision blurry. The alcohol was getting to her. The Dionysian level wine hadn't done her any favors. She wasn't new to drinking. But she wasn't an alcoholic either. She was a social drinker at best.

She looked to the moon and stars above and found herself disappointed. The light pollution of the city below her covered the constellations, the cosmos. Only the moon hung in the night sky, alone.

"Artemis." The soft voice of her mother called out to her.

The Moon Goddess turned around. "Hi, mom." She said quietly.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Artemis said, turning back around. She looked down at the city sprawled beneath Olympus, where the mortals went about their night life with no idea of what was happening. The Mist was a funny thing.

"You can't lie to me."

Artemis sighed. "Did not hurt to try." She muttered.

Leto approached her daughter's side, leaning over the same railing. "Come on, what is it?"

Artemis sighed once more. "I am scared." She said quietly. "Of tomorrow."

"I see. You're scared because tomorrow marks the end of what you feel like has defined you your entire life."

Artemis looked down. "Yes." She hesitated. "When Apollo was born, I helped."

"I remember."

"And I remember seeing you in all that pain. I remember thinking, swearing to myself that I would not go through that. And now, that has been taken away from me, and it is not even my choice."

"Yes. Such is the way of the Gods it seems. Or Hera."

"Hera." Artemis looked at the bottle of wine in her hand. She took a swig and wiped her mouth. She offered some to her mother, who took and drank a sip as well.

"Maybe it will not be that bad." Artemis said. "Percy is… respectable."

Leto raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?"

"He has done nothing untoward to me, I mean. He has treated me with respect, as an equal. If I were to bear offspring… no, perish the thought."

Leto turned away, a playing smile gracing her lips. "Mmhmm."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being here. With me."

"Of course I would be here for you. You're my daughter, Artemis. There isn't anything I wouldn't be there for you for." Leto wrapped an arm around Artemis, holding her daughter in her embrace. "Do you want to stay here for a while?"

Artemis nodded. "I would like that."

LINE BREAK

"Guys, I don't drink." Percy said as they stood outside the bar.

"And we're not asking you to. They have pool here." Nico said.

"Yeah, we know you don't drink, Percy." Conner said, throwing an arm around his brother.

"But if you change your mind…" Travis held out a small piece of plastic in between his fingers, offering it to Percy.

The Son of Poseidon took it and narrowed his eyes. "Really, Stoll, a fake ID?"

"Yeah man. It's legit, don't worry. Hermes guarantee." He winked at Nico. "hasn't failed him yet."

Percy handed the ID back. "I don't need it. I have my driver's license." He turned to the Son of Hades. "Since when do you drink?"

"I don't. But I need it to y'know, drive and stuff. Can't shadow travel everywhere."

"Then just go to the DMV?"

"With what records? I was born in the forties, dipshit. I'm like seventy-three. And all of that is in fuckin' Italy! I don't have a choice but to have a fake one. This is literally more accurate than a real one."

Percy raised his hands. "Alright, alright."

"Have none of you guys asked," Grover interrupted. "What exactly are we celebrating?"

Percy sighed. "I'll tell you inside. We look weird just standing out here."

They walked into the bar, showed their real and fake IDs, paid for billiards, and found three tables in the corner. As they set up, they split into three groups, Percy and Grover, Leo and Nico, and the Stolls.

"So, why are we here?" Leo asked.

Percy hesitated. "I'm, uh, I'm getting married tomorrow."

"You and Annabeth are getting married!" Travis yelled, while his brother clapped.

"What? To whom? Annabeth told me she broke up with you like, four months ago."

"You and Annabeth broke up? What?!" Conner yelled. "So who are you marrying?"

"How did you find someone so quick? I'd expect you to be lying in bed, sobbing or something." Leo said.

Nico stood in the back, watching what was happening with a shit eating grin on his face.

"I didn't choose to get married. The Gods forced it on me." Percy said, trying to placate them.

"That doesn't tell us who." Travis said.

"Yeah. Who is it, Percy?" Nico asked, egging them on.

He looked at them for a second. "Artemis."

Grover looked like his brain broke. "You—Artemis—you lucky motherfucker. You know how many satyrs and nymphs would love to be in your position. And you're over here acting like it's the end of the world."

"Don't let Juniper hear you say that man." Nico teased.

Grover turned around. "Oh, she'd fucking agree. Artemis is… she's… she's Artemis! She's just… she's just, so into nature." The satyr was swooning.

"Well, congrats man." Travis said, sticking his hand out for a handshake.

"Thanks dude."

"Percy, hand me the menu on the table." Conner said, pointing at something behind the Son of Poseidon.

Percy looked behind him to find there was a small table connected to the wall, with a laminated menu laying on it. He picked it up and handed it to the younger Stoll brother.

Conner sucked in a breath and grinned. "I'm gonna go get a Negroni. Anyone want anything?"

"Just a water." Percy said. "And see if you can get a salt shaker."

Conner stared at him. "What?"

"Y'know, so I can make salt water." Percy kept a straight face for a second before laughing. "I'm fucking with you man. Just water."

Conner rolled his eyes. "Anyone else?"

Everyone else gave some variation of 'no', and Conner went to the bar. He came back with his and Percy's drinks to find that two games of billiards had started. Travis was leaning against the table, waiting for his brother.

"Thanks, Conner." Percy said, as he took the drink from the boy, and placed it on the table.

"Your shot, Percy." Grover said, having missed a shot.

Percy took aim, before missing the cue ball entirely. His eyes flicked to Grover, who was stifling a laugh. "Whatever." He muttered.

Grover studied the table, looking for a shot he could try to make.

"So, Annabeth told you?" Percy asked, leaning against his cue stick.

"Yeah. At least one of my best friends told me." He said, glaring at Percy.

Percy raised a hand. "Dude, I was in the Underworld."

"Yeah, and the world was being torn apart. Do you know how many Nymphs died, Percy?"

Percy hesitated. "I… I don't know." He admitted softly.

Grover leaned against his cue stick and gestured at the board. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insinuate… you, of all people—it's your turn," he interrupted himself. "—Deserved a break. It's just, all those deaths, I feel like-"

"It's all on you?" Percy finished. He lined up a shot and sank in a colored ball. He was stripes. "Fuck." He muttered.

Grover sighed. "Yeah, I feel like it's all my fault."

"I know the feeling. That funeral after the Battle of Manhattan—"

"I saw you."

"What?'

"C'mon, Percy. The empathy link? I could feel everything you felt. I saw you by the dead fire, staring at the ashes. And I know what you were feeling. What you were thinking." The satyr sank a shot, the ball bouncing off the wall and into a pocket.

Percy remained silent as he looked around. Music was blaring, although he couldn't make out what song. There was a constant stream of conversations from everyone around him, mortals wrapped up in their own conversations to notice their conversation.

"Hey, that reminds me. Don't look now, but I saw someone when we walked in."

Percy's hand went to his pocket, where Riptide sat. "Monster?'

Grover shook his head. What came out of his mouth next almost made Percy wish that it was just a monster. "Annabeth."

Percy froze, his blood stilling. He tried to focus on the game. It was his turn, he thought. He swallowed and picked up his cue. He aimed and missed every ball on the table.

"You okay, dude?"

Percy shook his head. "Fuck no." He said, his voice cracking. He felt like his head was spinning around, a nonexistent vertigo like he was high above the ground.

"You need to talk to her, don't you?"

He sighed. "Where is she?"

Grover looked around, but before he could respond, Percy saw the curly honey-blond hair that was her trademark. He was sure that when she turned around, she would have those gray eyes that reminded him of storms over the ocean. Storms that would sink cruise ships with ease.

He laid his cue down on the table and walked over to her.

"Annabeth?"

She turned around and took a step back in shock, before rushing forward and giving him a hug. "Percy! It's been so long! How have you been!" She said, pulling back.

"I.. uh… I've been… alright."

"Yeah, well, you do kinda look like shit."

Percy let out a chuckle. "I've been going through it."

A frown crossed her face. "It's because of me, isn't it? I'm so sor—"

"No. No. It's not."

"Um. Okay. Well… You're still my friend, Seaweed Brain. If you ever need me, I have your back."

"Thanks. You too." Percy said, a small smile on his face.

He turned around and walked back to Grover. The conversation had been short, but it was exactly what he needed. He felt like the sky had once again been lifted off his shoulders. He had been hung up on Annabeth this whole time, and now, he was free.

"How did it go? You didn't talk long."

"No. But I feel much better."

Grover nodded and gestured to the table. "I'm glad. It's your turn."

Percy ended up winning the game.

A/N. Wedding ended up not being this chapter, whoops. I got like 2k words in and was like, 'Oh, it's not happening this chapter'. So next chapter for sure. As well as a little more plot. I know it's slow, but this is kinda like stranger things season 1. Starts slow and builds up as it goes on. Also, it's about the journey AND the destination, so just enjoy the ride!

thoughts?