All rights belong to Rick Riordan

Chapter 74

The Destroyer

(Percy)

'Well I'm fucked.' I couldn't help but say sarcastically as I turned from the where the fate had been towards Artemis. Sure I currently wanted to kill all three of the old hags but I couldn't fault their sense of dramatic timing.

To add to my worries I was also completely unarmed because I had been in the middle of a demonstration on dodging attacks at the time I was summoned/kidnapped and I didn't want the additional weight on my person. Sure I could summon them but that would take time, something by the look of the figure in the centre of the room I didn't have.

'Percy run.' Artemis screamed causing me to smile in return as I turned from her to her father who was rising from his throne.

This was not the time for running, that much was clear besides where could I go that I would not eventually be found. Besides I refused to leave her.

'Well what are you waiting for? You heard what she said, I won't deny it's the truth. So how is it go to be Zeus?' I asked him calmly as I delivered the ultimatum slowly walking towards him.

'Perseus stop.' My father commanded as he began to rise from his chair but he was to slow to stop his younger brother as a golden bolt of energy appeared in his hand. I always knew it was gonna end up in this situation regardless from the minute our feelings for each other developed, who was we kidding to think he would react any differently?

However what happened next was something I hadn't planned on.

Artemis had flashed from her throne to between me and her father, just as he released the bolt and I got a flashback of the time before and how useless I had felt then. Why did history have to repeat itself again?

'Not Again.' A voice growled from inside my subconscious and I felt my body move on autopilot as I took a step towards the goddess only to be swathed in shadows mid stride and I reappeared in front of her my back to the incoming danger. For all my preparation for this day in working out the mystery of the sphere it was all for naught as I had no time to do anything beyond unfold my wings around the goddess in the hope of protecting her.

'Well this is gonna suck.' I whispered to her as she stared at me wide-eyed her mouth beginning to move.

Whatever she was gonna say I never got to hear as my world became one light and pain before darkness.

(Artemis)

No no no this was not happening. I kept thinking to myself as the dust began to clear around me letting in a few rays of light.

Why for once could he just not be so stupidly brave? And why did my father have to be stupidly irrational.

Even my last hope of stopping my father had failed and instead Percy had protected me at the cost of himself.

However what finalized it was the shower of slowly falling golden feathers all around me that caught the few rays of light. Slowly I reached out and caught one softly in both hands before holding it to my chest.

As I held that soft yet so very sharp reminder I couldn't hold it in any further as I collapsed into a state of shock oblivious to the events around me.

Percy was gone and we were alone again.

(Percy)

'Is that all you have got?' A voice asked inside my head like before sounding like my own but with a slight difference.

'…'

'You've become so soft. Where's the spirit you showed when you fought Ares, Kronos, Gaia?' It demanded aggressively.

'Splattered all over Olympus I suspect.' I replied with a pained chuckle.

'How did I get stuck with an idiot like you?' It remarked with a groan.

'Who even are you?'

'Have you not realized it yet, I am you.' It remarked with amusement leaving me shocked as realization hit me.

'Wait are you saying you're an aspect of me?'

'Unfortunately. Though in a sense I have always been here since the beginning. Giving you suggestions in battle or poking you towards the right path. I guess you could have called me your instinct.'

'Wow this is weird.' I said in summary, so this is what Artemis/Diana had to deal with on a daily basis.

'Not as weird as half the trouble you seem to attract. Are you trying to get us killed by the way?' It asked angrily.

'I was under the impression that was exactly what I did.'

'And what would have proved what exactly? That you are as brain dead as Ares sure. Now how about you use your head and work out how it will affect everyone else in your life and more importantly her. Because if there is one thing I have learned from watching you, other than you are a pain addict is that she really does like you. Not that she always likes to show it of course.'

'Well this was never gonna end happily was it, my whole life has been one game to the fates and they just proved it.' I said in resignation.

'You're pathetic giving up so easily, all those that died would be ashamed of you. She never gave up did she?'

'Leave her out of this.' I growled back.

'Or what you'll lie on your back and cry about it? Give me a break, how someone like you with more power than half that council can give up so easily is beyond me. Boo hoo her daddy doesn't like you guess what… that's because he is an egotistical power craving asshole and you know it. Here's an idea why don't you pick your sorry ass up and remind him of who is top of the food chain.'

'Bit late now for that isn't it?' I remarked in annoyance.

'Well aren't you suddenly mister pessimist. How about if you stop complaining and realize your still in pain and therefore alive and go do something about it. Actually you know what you stay here and mope I'm going to go have some fun, I might even sort your little issues while I'm at it. Now sit back and enjoy the show… watch out for the first three rows though, you don't want to be in the splash zone.' It replied before ending in maniacal laughter and I suddenly felt my pain decrease before I noticed my physical senses working again.

'This isn't going to end well.' I spoke to myself as I slowly realized my other aspect was a raging psychopath.

(Artemis)

'Artemis talk to me.' Apollo said for the dozenth time yet I continued to ignore him my world currently consisted of nothing beyond the small golden item I held to my chest.

'I demand you get off of me.' My father screamed in the distance an errant glance had shown me him being restrained by his brothers none to gently. Especially an enraged Poseidon who had seemingly smashed him physically through part of his throne.

There was still a general cloud of dust in the air because my father had managed to destroy most of the pantheon in front of him resulting in the entrance consisting of little more than a pile of rubble.

'Artemis are you hurt?' Apollo asked causing my frustration to build as he continued to talk to me like a child

'More than you could ever understand now get away from me. You probably knew this was gonna happen and don't you dare lie to me.' I screamed at him in frustration.

'…'

'That was the real reason you came this morning wasn't it? Out of a sense of saying goodbye to him. Well I have had enough of your lies, so get the hell away from me!' I shouted my eyes full of tears as I watched the god take a step back in shock.

'Artemis I'm sorry.' He said apologetically.

'You knew and yet you said nothing. Your worse than our father at least he doesn't lie about what he is gonna do even if I will never forgive him.' I spat out angrily before turning my head away in disgust before hearing footsteps walking away, however straight afterwards another set began to approach..

'Aww poor Artie's secret romance ends tragically and now she is back to being a world hating bitch. It suits you better honestly though I wish it hadn't taken such a lovely boy to accomplish it. I wish I had some fun with him first.' Aphrodite said giggling from a few meters away.

'This is all your fault you whore.' I growled out slowly turning towards the goddess who seemed to have a look of contentment on her face as she looked back at me.

'My fault? What did I do? You came to me already suffering your little Percy problem remember?' She said patronizingly.

'You set us up and forced us to have sex and me becoming pregnant as a result.'

'No I didn't, I think I would quite happily remember if I did.' She said in annoyance.

'Nice scar bitch how did you get it?' I said with narrowed eyes as I finally rose to feet and looked her eye to eye.

'I don't remember it just happened one evening.' She replied in annoyance.

'Around late August was it funny how that works, maybe it was a punishment for doing something you shouldn't have done to two people who luckily for you didn't carry on cutting. Now I wish I hadn't stopped him, no one would have missed you unlike him. Here's something else for you to remember him by, I hope it hurts.' I told her cracking a vicious smile as I drove a knife through her thigh causing her to fall to the floor screaming the knife imbedded in the bone.

If I had to suffer then everyone did. I thought as I flashed away back to where it all began.

(Apollo)

Well this was going far worse than I ever expected it too. Which for someone who knew it was going to happen was far worse.

Artemis had seen right through my attempts to help and now our relationship was likely at an all-time low. Then to make things worse she had stabbed Aphrodite before disappearing to who knows where.

So while I was forced to heal the goddess admittedly very badly and causing a fair bit of further discomfort to her as a sense of karma. I had had plenty of time to take stock of the situation around us. Father was still imprisoned by the two older sons of Kronos while under the supervision of Hestia to stop my uncle from attacking him further. Hephaestus and Athena were surveying the damage to the Palace. Meanwhile Hera, Demeter and Dionysius thankfully just stayed out the way.

'Did you know about all of this?' Hermes said sitting down on a broken column nearby.

'Yeah I learned a few weeks ago.' I told him in resignation.

'So is she really…' He asked simulating a bump over his stomach.

'Yeah and to make matters worse so is Diana.' I added with a sigh.

'Wow it doesn't rain when it can pour does it. And dad just killed the only guy she has ever liked. She does know he will be back eventually right?'

'Of course she does but the way she see's it, they never should have been separated in the first place. She really is possessive of him it kind of scary to be honest. And it can take as long as centuries to get back out the pit, Ares missed most of the middle-ages remember.' I explained with a sigh.

'She has always been scary but I can't see no good coming of this. Dad just straight up murdered a member of the Titan Council and I can't see them taking it well when I don't tell them. He can't even claim self-defense since Percy was unarmed and I can't exactly see it being kept a secret. Pretty sure Uncle P will make sure the truth got out regardless.'

'Yep Dad just straight up screwed the pooch on this one. Now we are all involved for better or for worse.'

'Well it certainly wasn't how I expected this meeting to turn out.' He said with a small laugh before seeing the look on my face and quickly stopping.

'It went almost exactly how I saw this meeting playing out.' I told him in resignation closing my eyes to remember my fallen cousin. Sure I was still not exactly comfortable with the idea of him and Artemis but they both seemed to be happy which I supposed was more important.

However I was disturbed from my mourning by an explosion at the far end of the room which launched large masses of marble debris into the air where it vaporized without ever hitting the ground creating a large cloud of dust that hid everything from sight again.

'What the hell is going on.' Hermes asked in confusion and I had nothing to answer with.

However I needn't have answered as it became pretty clear what was in the heart of the cloud as two radiant golden orbs appeared through the dust.

'That's not possible, right?' Hermes asked in disbelief.

'I think we may have over calculated exactly how much force is required to kill him.' I said in awe as a golden hand appeared out of the dust before it lightly waved and the dust was dispelled in a blast of force. Revealing the enshrouded figure within.

The signs of him being attacked were evident the majority of his wings were in tatters with large bald patches or outright missing sections. While his clothes were singed and ripped and he appeared to be missing a shoe not that any of this seemed to be affecting his ability to look absolutely terrifying as he stood still, swords in hand with a malicious grin on his face. The worst bit by far was the golden aura that was pulsing out from him as he repeatedly shifted between normal and divine form.

'Did you miss me?' He asked the silent audience who was all staring at him slack jawed. Something about his voice seemed of as well.

However he soon noticed the absence of one figure in particular.

'Where is Artemis?' He said before focusing on me causing me to gulp.

'She left.' I told him simply causing him to nod in affirmation before his grin grew even larger.

'Oh good because that means there is no-one to stop me.' Well that didn't bode well I thought as he slowly began to walk forwards his very aura disintegrating the ground as he passed.

'You should have stayed dead punk!' Ares shouted running forward sword drawn towards him only to freeze mid lunge as he was about to hit.

'I am sorry did you want something? Didn't think so. Now if you excuse me I have business to take care of.' Percy mocked not even breaking stride as he walked past the time frozen god. The example serving to remind all of us exactly how dangerous this young man was.

'Perseus stop.' Hestia commanded standing in front of the towering golden figure. He was taller than even an Olympian such as myself and she was in her child form so it would have looked amusing were I not worried for the goddesses safety, as it was his swords were larger than she was.

'Hestia I have no quarrel with you stand aside.' He said stopping in front of the diminutive figure in his way.

'Perseus you are not yourself.' She told him causing him to smile.

'Oh no that is where you are wrong I am Perseus, not the nice guy you all took advantage of so many times. He thought this could all be resolved in a civilized manner and you saw how that turned out. So now I just want to have a friendly chat with certain individuals in here.' He explained his face settling on his usual friendly grin which at the moment looked outright terrifying with his eyes glowing golden.

'I will not let you kill him.' She stated her body beginning to sprout small flames only to suddenly stop. Leaving the goddess with a confused expression.

'Light trumps Hearth I'm afraid aunt, now if you will excuse me.' He chastised before simply stepping over the small goddess only to encounter his next obstacle.

'Athena stand aside. While I commend your loyalty to your father as stupid as it is, seeing that he treats everyone like shit. I am not here for you.' He said addressing the goddess who was fully armed with her spear and Aegis. Percy was seemingly completely unfazed by the shield as he idly span an unknown silver blade in hand in his right hand.

'Promise to not kill him.' She said calmly from within her helm.

'I am so glad that everyone seems happy for me to hurt him as long as I don't kill him. OK fine I swear I won't kill him if you all get out of my way. Not that he extended the same courtesy to me of course.' He added sarcastically before brushing past the Armored goddess like she wasn't there.

'Athena you traitor.' Zeus shouted the only thing between him now and the incoming threat his own two brothers holding him down.

'And now here we are Zeus, you and I. Not so intimidating, now your flat on your ass. Father, Uncle as much as I appreciate the thought of you avenging me. Spare it and let him go. This is between the three of us. Me, him and Artemis.'

'My son you need to calm down.' Poseidon said eyeing his son nervously.

'I am calm, I have been this entire time. If I wasn't Ares would be somewhere in a wall, and I would already be playing basketball with Zeus's head. As it is I like to think I have been tactful in my approach because I am better than him.'

'Perseus.' Poseidon said with a frown.

'I am not going to kill him, I am just going to give him an how to put this… education on the facts of life.' How he managed to still be witty and yet incredibly terrifying at the same time was beyond me.

'You dare threaten me boy.' Father bellowed as he was released looking up at the taller figure.

'Oh no Lord Zeus it wasn't a threat… it was a promise.' Percy remarked before dropping his swords point first into the floor. Watching my father's eyes follow the blade descent only to swing a fist up to meet his glance sending him reeling back holding his nose.

'Should we try and help.' Hermes whispered.

'Would you want to try dealing with that? He didn't even react to Ares's attempt.' I replied tilting my head at the still frozen god.

'Good point.'

'You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that. As I am sure have most of the people you have ever met. You arrogant son of a … actually that is unfair to Rhea. You know what even your dad was better than you, in the end he saw he was an asshole and tried to atone for it in a way. Though up till his last moment he hated you and I am beginning to see why. But that's enough about you, let's talk about me and Artemis.'

'You defiled my daughter you Titan scum.' Father exclaimed despite the ichor leaking down his face only to get punched again.

'Titan scum how original. But I digress defiled your daughter? My other self worships the ground upon which she walks. If anything he is the only guy with the willpower to put up with her. Or is it my heritage that annoys you about this. Which part is it the fact I am Titan or that I am a son of Poseidon? Well it can't be because I am a Titan after all it never stopped you sleeping with Leto did it, no offense Apollo. Which means it is because of my dad, what's the matter are you annoyed because she didn't choose one of her brothers. Or someone else that you picked but then again if I am not good enough for her who is?' He asked skeptically.

'Not that it matters of course because we don't need your approval. Besides I would have waited until the end of time for her if she asked but that brings us to today's lucky contestant number two. Stop hiding whore and take to the stage. Why don't you explain exactly what you did?' He suddenly announced before turning towards the goddess who promptly ducked behind a pillar only for it to explode into dust.

'What is the greatest force of destruction on this planet? Congratulations the correct answer is time. Which means bitch that as much as I doubt it, this is the most fucked you are ever going to get. Or the equivalent of what Ares gets every Tuesday or whenever the catamite likes to do it.' Percy announced and I had to struggle not to laugh.

'I don't remember doing anything.' She replied fearfully.

'Of course you don't, you perverted whore. Now why don't you try again.' He said clicking his fingers the sound echoing across the room. However as he did so we all noticed movement behind him before he was engulfed in light again.

'Well come on whore, what did you do?' He carried on as the light cleared, completely unfazed by the surprise attack much to everyone's shock. Including his attacker who he continued to ignore.

The goddess meanwhile had simply gone very quiet and very white.

'I'm sorry.' She said quietly barely loud enough for us to hear.

'The only person you should be sorry to is not here, so why don't you tell everyone exactly what you did. Oh and Zeus give it you're A game next time.' Perseus remarked glibly at the angry figure behind him before the pair were once again engulfed in light.

'Wab wab wab waaaa.' Perseus mused as the light clear once again proving him completely fine to all of our disbelief.

'What the hell are you?' My father said in disbelief causing the smirking figure to turn around and face him.

'Dating your daughter now get over it, on the pecking order of things I care about now. You are located somewhere around my cat's fur balls. So why don't you shut up and listen to what this whore has to say before you embarrass yourself further. Now then whore get to talking.' He said coldly turning back.

'I…I drugged you or rather I got Eros to do it.' She stuttered out loud enough for everyone to hear.

'And we have a winner, now you all have fun with that information while I go find my pregnant girlfriend. Who is probably pissed with me right now. Also you might want to tidy up it's a bit messy in here.' He said cheerfully before disappearing into light.

'Can someone please just explain what the fuck just happened!' Hermes asked aloud and I was pretty sure we were all asking that question.

(Artemis)

'Stupid Seaweed Brain, why did you have to go die?' I asked myself for the hundredth time while below me the waves battered the cliffs mercilessly. Reflecting my own mood and thoughts on my family.

The only thing decent in my life was now gone leaving me all alone. Well except for a generally annoying voice in my head who was silently mourning herself and the children growing in our wombs. The hunters would not understand it was not in their nature besides they would likely be more upset we had lied to them.

Six months.

That was all it was. In that time he managed to turn my whole life on its head.

He had turned me from a proud man-hating goddess into the grieving wreck I was now and yet I didn't regret any of it except the moments we were apart, that and my own stupid family. My deceitful twin and my egotistical father it was their fault. That and her. If she ever came near me again and there were no witnesses. Well I had never mounted a whores head on a wall before, besides Percy would have appreciated me decorating my palace a little even if it was a tacky decoration.

Even now the simple act of being separated from him was causing me more annoyance than the fact he died. It wasn't the fact he had died that was the problem it was that he had left me alone.

'You've got two days then I am jumping in that pit and dragging you out myself.' I called out into the storm as I clutched my last reminder close to me.

(Percy)

Well this was a new sensation. Being held hostage inside your own body while your super powered evil half as I liked to think of him terrorized the Olympians. Well I say evil but that would be unfair as he had proved he wanted nothing more than to set a few things straight. Though I did sense he took massive satisfaction in punching Zeus something I couldn't fault him for as the idea had crossed my mind several times. If anything 'Perseus' wasn't so much evil as just extremely chaotic and random.

Since forcing Aphrodite to confess and knocking Zeus down a few pegs we had been constantly flashing from location to location in the hope of finding the goddess. We had also learned that as we are flying was well impossible due to the state of our wings. Something we had continued to ignore as we continued to search.

We had tried all the obvious points. The hunt (briefly, it appeared they were all looking for me it seemed since I vanished without a trace.), her chariot, Orthrys, her Palace, her temple. Before moving onto all the other more random places, old campsites, Monster Donut (I had no idea why he tried there). Now we were back near Westover.

'This is my stop.' He announced in our head.

'Oh now you're talking to me again? What's the matter got bored of beating up gods or something.' I called back in annoyance.

'I can go back if you want me to. But then she is gonna be pissed off even more.' He replied and I turned my attention to our vision and the sight in front of me. That of a silver dressed woman sitting on a cliff over a raging ocean. Her hair caught in the breeze, it was a stark contrast of beauty and the beast that was likely raging within her heart manifested by the storm around her.

'Why won't you go, I thought I was nothing but a coward to you?' I demanded.

'Please no man who can put up with that woman is a coward. You just needed to grow a pair when it comes to dealing with others. Besides she scares the crap out of me and your better at all that lovey dovey idiot stuff she seems so fond off.'

'You can go toe to toe with a lightning throwing enraged father but Artemis scares you?' I asked laughing.

'Well it would be more accurate saying fist to face but yeah.' He said with a sigh before I suddenly found myself in control of my body and was immediately hit by a barrage of pain throughout my body.

'Oh by the way we might need to get that sorted as soon as possible.'

'No kidding.' I told him in annoyance before focusing on why we were here.

'You've got two days then I am jumping in that pit and dragging you out myself.' She said to no one in particular seemingly still oblivious to my presence.

'Do I get bonus points for getting out early.' I said quietly causing the goddess to turn her head far faster than could be considered healthy before suddenly focusing on me with tear stained eyes.

'Hey did you miss me?' I told her before trying to grin only to be pinned to the ground as she launched herself at me causing me to grit my teeth in pain.

'You idiot where the hell have you been?' She asked tearfully from my chest.

'You would never believe me if I told you. But can you please stop squeezing so tight or you'll finish what your dad started.' I told her as the pain of her weight on top of me caused my head to spin. Regardless she did get off of me allowing me to sit up before facing me herself.

'Explain.' She commanded firmly.

'Turns out I wasn't killed just got blown through a few pillars and a wall then buried. But I guess you didn't know that or you wouldn't have left.' I said surprisingly cheerful despite the events.

'Sorry.' She whispered.

'For what? Hell I thought I died. By the way turns out I have my own aspect. Who really doesn't like your dad.'

'Then he can join the club. How did you get out of there?' She asked looking at my tattered wings and clothes. I didn't have the energy to waste on repair the latter.

'Err I kinda forgot to mention that he took over my body and near enough terrified the crap out of them all, though funny enough he is scared of you.' I said with a chuckle that quickly became a groan as pain took over.

'He better be. Even my father?'

'Yeah turns out the purified water thing works a treat if you actually use it. To the point of we were multitasking making Aphrodite confess and tanking your father's bolts. Though he is now firmly aware of the pecking order.'

'Pecking order?'

'Yeah it goes you, Chaos, Primordials, Titans because we're better, the other gods, normal people, animals and plants, Faeces, then your father then bacteria, KFC chips, diseases and finally settling on Aphrodite.'

'So I am the most important person in the universe but my father is lower than crap.' She asked with a smile.

'Yeah your mum is amazing so she balances it out somewhat. Don't over think it.'

'If you had thought, you wouldn't have nearly died.'

'Hey I winged it and now were fine.'

'You winged it? You look like someone got bored plucking you.'

'Yeah not going to lie hurts like crap and I can't fly at the moment.' I explained with a groan before noticing the glint of gold in her hand.

'Don't suppose you picked up the rest did you?' I said reaching out and grabbing the hand revealing the slightly crushed feather held within.

'I thought it was all I had left of you.' She explained sadly before releasing it into the wind.

'You are not getting rid of me that easily. I told you I am not going anywhere.'

'I know and I should not have doubted you.' She said sadly before turning herself around and sitting between my outstretched legs allowing me to wrap my arms around her stomach and lean my chin on her shoulder.

'You know we are going to have to go back at some point?' I told her nuzzling my face into her hair.

'They can wait.' She said calmly leaning back and resting her head besides my own and I couldn't agree with her more.

The thing was my near death experience had taught me one thing though. I would do anything for her and yet there was still one playing on my mind. Something that had bugged me for months yet I refused to talk to her about. If there was ever a time now was it.

'Artemis.' I whispered my lips barely leaving her neck.

'Hmm.'

'Will you marry me?'

AN. Dear gods I love cliffhangers.

Hope everyone enjoyed the introduction to Perseus, resident badass aspect. Don't expect to see him often but when you do expect pain. For those that are interested Percy is technically the Roman aspect of the two being that he was adopted by Neptune that is why Perseus's eyes are always gold.

I know I said it would take longer but I refused to do my usual 24 hour wait between update and writing because of the immense amount of feedback you guys were giving. so guess what you get a new chapter and another cliffhanger as a reward.

I also decided to split what would have been one chapter into two. so expect the more diplomatic discussion on the duo to happen next chapter. also I think I have become addicted to writing the term whore in description of Aphrodite. I could probably go back and change her name in every chapter and everyone would still know who I was talking about. (Piper Mclean daughter of a whore ;) ).

And no Nico is not dating Zoe!

As always please read and review