Chapter Twenty-Two (Cooled in Ire)
Trust in Death, for surely it comes to a man without the making of a god…
Third Person
The modified skies of Camp Half-Blood shuddered upon the return of the Vanguard.
The heavy clouds frowned down past the barrier as its greys were coloured with the flashing of lightning. The downtrodden sight was met with shivers. An unspeakable chill raced down the spines of the inhabitants of the camp, forcing them to cease their work and peer towards the crest of the Hill. They had known that the garrison was being roused alongside a host of medics, but they had shrugged it off.
Now, they were on edge.
What had been eased around as a Satyr needing some help with a few new demigods was replaced with the tension of the unknown.
The skies above flickered out of their greys, the barrier resuming its work, but a new sight had claimed their attention. A tall being stood at the top of the Hill. His green eyes could be seen around the camp, shining brilliantly as waves of unearthly power exuded from him. Behind the figure was what truly tightened the throats of the demigods. A massive Cyclops, bar its limbs, struggled futilely against the liquid which imprisoned it. Its sole eye wrenching the hearts of those who had been spared the horrors of the monsters.
"Was it really necessary to bring the Cyclops through the barrier to get to the sea?"
Percy shifted his eyes behind him, where Jason trailed. "I want them to see for themselves what brought upon our demise. I know how quickly rumours spread. I also know how effective a statement this will be in stopping it."
"Words will always find a way, Percy. Even if the heart trembles as the mouth speaks it."
Percy turned to Clarisse, nodding slightly as his eyes trickled beyond the pair. Adrian had taken his sister's body into his own hands. He had taken the responsibility from Zina, who had quickly collapsed upon her arrival. Marc held the body of Kerwin in his own, his head held proud despite the quivering of his eyes.
"And what place do words have amongst weapons?"
Jason's eyes widened slightly at Percy. The son of Zeus studied the side of his face as his friend stared back at the remnants of his group. Only Adrian and Marc remained standing. The rest were being carried by the demigods under Clarisse and Jason's orders.
"They're meant to stop them."
Percy turned back to the son of Zeus, studying him for a few moments. He hummed in response to the blonde boy and regarded Clarisse instead. The daughter of Ares stood silently, only turning to meet Percy's gaze once it fell upon her.
"We came as soon as word did."
Percy nodded at her words. His eyes turned to the foundations of a city before him and narrowed.
"Then we shall see the work of words in action, I suppose." Percy turned back to the younger leaders of the Vanguard as they drew near. "I need to speak with my father. Keep to the Infirmary and avoid fights until my return."
The boys nodded in response as Percy lumbered past the son of Zeus and daughter of Ares.
Despite the many eyes he drew, there were no words given to Percy as he made his way to the beach.
Third Person
Athena's eyes snapped to the entrance of the throne room.
Poseidon hummed lightly, a grin playing at his lips at how unaware she was caught. The god let his eyes follow his niece's to the entrance. His grin fell as he caught sight of Percy's face. By the turmoil of the ocean, he had known that his son was approaching with unpleasant feelings. It was the sight of his prisoner, however, that irked the god of the seas.
"What is this abomination?"
Percy stared at his father in silence for a moment. His eyes shifted to Athena, curiously scanning the greys of her eyes.
"I believe it has absorbed a part of Lady Athena."
The goddess huffed indignantly. "It seems we've been played, Poseidon."
Percy raised an eyebrow at the interaction, the water around him steaming as he struggled to control his emotions.
"What of your group, my son?"
The water inside the Cyclops god froze over. The creature's eye widened in panic, begging the gods for help. In a flash of light, the creature appeared before Athena, kneeling as it violently retched blood, water, and ice at her feet. Athena snapped once more, and the sound of its continued suffering was contained in some form of magical barrier.
"I'm afraid I'll need my essence before you proceed any further. I was wondering what that nagging pain had been."
"I find it incredibly hard to believe that you were truly unaware, my lady."
Athena's eyes darted back to Percy. She straightened slightly as the waters of his domain surged with an immaculate amount of energy.
"And what is it that leads you to think in such a way?"
"The book you wanted your children to find, which was lost to the very creature at your knees. It contained your essence, correct?"
Athena's eyes darted to Poseidon as she gave a careful nod.
"Isn't it also correct that you were the one who told us of the latent essence in the book?"
Athena sighed, "I concede. There was a certain amount of deception at play when I proposed that mission to you." The goddess rose to her feet quickly as Poseidon's Trident formed in his hands. "But there are certain aspects to the situation at hand that remain unknown to all of us. I can ease your apprehensions if you're against betraying the efforts we've made so far."
Poseidon grunted at the goddess. His eyes shifted back to his son. His grip on his Trident eased as he saw his son forcefully calm himself. "Speak then, to maintain our work towards mending our relations."
Athena nodded, turning back to Percy in a silent query for his permission. Poseidon's son formed a chair of water beneath him in response.
"That mission occurred prior to the arrangements for Poseidon and I to amend our relations," The goddess turned for confirmation from the god of the seas, only continuing once Percy could see the truth of her statement. "My request for a mission was at the behest of the council. Your group is not unique in its creation, as you are already aware. It has long since been common to set up a number of trials for the new emergence of groups, to assess the likeliness of their success."
"I'm assuming the rewards were always meant to be aligned to that objective?"
Athena shook her head slightly in response. "The gods are ever hesitant to offer rewards to a group bound to lose them. Many of the gods who offered gifts, were investing in their belief of your success. As your group writes its name into history, their rewards would be labelled amongst them."
Percy nodded in his seat, his eyes shifting back to the Cyclops that had seemed to regain its composure. Athena followed his gaze before turning back to Percy.
"What are your intentions with the creature?"
"To have it suffer for eternity. Penance for its crimes against the name of the gods and my group."
Athena turned to Poseidon. His eyes were glued to Percy, studying him with rapt attention. The god's eyes shifted to his niece as he felt the intensity of her grey orbs.
"Retrieve your essence, I shall immortalise it and oversee its punishment as deemed by the Prince of Atlantis."
Athena nodded, her eyes softening slightly at his choice of words. The lips of the Cyclops mouthed muted cries to the goddess before slamming its head against the floor. Its grovelling ceased as its body suddenly convulsed. A tiny ball of light shot out of its mouth towards Athena. The goddess stared at the light fondly before wrapping her hands around it.
"You'd be surprised how often something like this happens, Perseus… Percy. Forgive me."
The son of Poseidon tilted his head slightly in surprise at the correction of the goddess before his features cooled.
"Think nothing of it. To what end was the extent of the danger overstated as such?"
A soft burst of laughter sprung from the goddess' mouth as a radiant glow formed around her body.
"The creation of a new god is very significant to the demigods it intends to hunt. I suppose compared to the other things you've faced in your life; this would align your opinion of the matter with ours."
"Athena." Percy cut the goddess off, his hands massaging his creasing forehead, "I've just lost most of my group to the assault of that new god. As we speak the remainder are being treated at the camp. I'm not in the frame of mind to sit here and amuse your musings of the situation. I apologise for my bluntness, but… I just…"
"She died, didn't she?"
Percy's hand stilled. His eyes peeked past the gaps of his fingers. The mother of his dead lover frowned slightly as her eyes shifted back to the Cyclops.
"Very significant to demigods indeed…" She muttered slightly.
"As agreed, the creature will face punishment for eternity. You will have your time with the monster later. Is the extent of your defence simply that your actions occurred before our arrangements?"
"It is the most important of which I can speak of in the presence of your son. I also wish you to know that I tried to sway my daughter's mind, Percy. I was against her motives from the beginning. There was little I could do while she was being misguided in the camp, but I assure you that there was much done in her dreams once you all left."
Percy raised his eyebrows at her words before his eyes fell to the floor.
"Are these riddles you speak, Athena?"
"No, Father. There was a group of demigods within my rank that were against us. I'm certain their aim was to sabotage us, and I can only assume their purpose was for us to give up the life we sought outside of the camp. I had planned to speak with the councillors in the camp, and it seems that my mind was in the right direction."
Poseidon hummed in response to his son's words, his eyes once more peering intently at him.
"I've been caught up in the arrangements between Athena and myself, my son. The task distracted my eyes from your adventures. If I had known a god had been created and chose to stand in your path…"
Athena's knees buckled slightly as Poseidon's eyes glowed. The Cyclops' limbs regrew in a second before they were wrenched off by the waters around it. A swift undercurrent dragged the creature out of the Throne Room as its limbs regrew once more.
"I appreciate your concern, Father. Should the need ever arise, I will happily be at your side to offer my strength as well."
Poseidon's eyes crinkled as a warm grin spread widely across his lips. "Then there would be little that could stand against Atlantis."
Percy returned his father's grin, the crushing weight upon his heart lightening slightly.
"There is still much left for Athena and me to discuss, my son. As I am sure you will be downtrodden with your own conversations with the demigods of New Greece. Once you've had that conversation, and before you've made your decision on your next course of action, I shall send you to your mother. I know that she misses you dearly and I'm sure you could benefit from her comfort."
Percy's eyes widened at his father's words. He could only nod as his eyes glistened with the extra liquid weight building in them. The son of Poseidon held his father's gaze for a few moments longer before nodding once again and leaving.
"Do you believe he will get the truth out of the demigods at New Greece?"
Athena stared out behind Poseidon's son. "I believe they were fools to think he wouldn't."
Percy
Water gave way to air.
I slowly trudged towards the shore, wading, and then walking onto the golden sand. I sighed, staring off towards the forming city. Shaking my head at the prospect of facing the campers, I turned and stared out at my father's domain.
The carefully constructed sky of the barrier kissed the calm seas. The waters glistened in response to the endless supply of the sun's warm rays. I couldn't describe a more perfect scene. And yet, it didn't feel right. There was no sunshine in my heart. The water didn't dance and glisten jovially in my soul. The world wasn't what the barriers painted it to be.
A soft sigh slipped past my lips as the waters responded to my unruly emotions. A small smile graced my lips at the irony of losing control in the very place I had learned it. My mind wandered to the thought of Pelagios… and Tyson. I had visited but I didn't take the chance to see them both. I had already planned to talk to Tyson about my armour, to mend it and to have him help Chris with the replicas. Pelagios would be needed now too, that Chrysilla's brilliant deciphering and interpretations were lost…
I felt the soothing touch of the water licking at my toes. I stared down at the receding wave; my smile tainted by its wry nature as it reignited. I thought I'd be better at dealing with loss by now.
"Percy!"
I blinked heavily a few times, letting my right hand pass over my eyes before turning to the voice. Sand was rising behind the bolting figure of Cassandra. The sight of her was enough to ease my heart and seize my throat, at the same time. Her little legs responded with the same jubilance, but it was the weight that clung to her tear-stained eyes that did me in. She left the sandy floor, pushing my back to it as she crashed into my chest.
"Cassandra!" I tried, but my enthusiasm couldn't quite match what I had intended.
"I'm really glad you're okay, Percy!"
I nodded, not willing to trust myself to properly utter a response. I let my arms wrap around her small frame, squeezing her tightly as I tried my best to keep my tears at bay.
I forced my emotions back into my reins after a few moments. I slowly released the daughter of Tyche from my grip and rose. She shifted off of me and onto the sand to my right. There were no words for some time as she leant against me. In her comforting, quiet, company; the picture of the sky and sea wasn't as bad.
"Everyone's been looking for you!"
I chuckled lightly at her, nudging her gently. "I told Marc and Adrian that I would be visiting my father."
Cassandra pushed back against my side, huffing as I didn't budge quite as much as she had.
"They both passed out when they reached the infirmary." I shook my head slightly, smiling at the fight the two had put up, even beyond the end. "And then Maya started helping the Apollo kids with the healing and she's reeeeallly good at it. Better than them they were saying."
I felt my eyebrows scrunched as I searched my memory for the name. "Isn't she one of the demigods we rescued?"
I turned, catching the wide grin on Cassandra's face as she continued to stare out at the sea. "Yep! Everyone she touches is just being healed and waking up and they are confused and looking for you. I came here to wait for you, but you were already back!"
I nodded at her, her big brown eyes seeming a little lighter as she talked. I felt the urge to just stay here with her. Or better yet, to take her to Atlantis with me, where she would be safe for the rest of her life. I knew better though. How crude of me would it be to save her from these very growing walls of prejudice; just to take her to another, ancient and established, set?
Shaking my head, I let my eyes cast out to sea once more.
She deserved to have friends of her own, experiences of her own. Make these decisions on her own. As much as I wanted to coddle her, and the rest of the Vanguard; we knew what we had signed up for. This was it. This was the harsh reality of the world we chose to explore. This was the price to pay for our many shortcomings as a group. If this were to result in the end of The Vanguard, it would be up to them.
Just as it had been in the beginning.
"Well, I should probably get back to my job and go check on them. You coming?"
Cassandra nodded, letting me pull her to her feet and leaving her hand in mine as we made our way to the infirmary.
Third Person
The soft caress of the winds fluttered the clothes of Percy and Cassandra as they stood before the door to the temporary hospital.
The building was shoddy for what it was. Wooden walls that creaked and shifted as easily as the fabrics on the skin of the demigods under the winds. The gaps between the planks were wide enough to let the softest utterance of pain seep from within.
The sounds, forming a morbid choir, serenaded the still forms of Percy and Cassandra.
The son of Poseidon stared at the door before him. His eyes wavered as the winds moved through his hair. His statue-like performance persisted, as did the mute cries of pain from within.
Cassandra peered up at the older boy. Her brown eyes trembled as did her lips. She shifted her hand into his, squeezing tightly to comfort the boy she saw as her older brother.
Percy took a deep breath, broken from his trance at the contact of Cassandra's small, warm hand. His green eyes trickled down to her twin browns. He offered a tight smile, squeezing her hand back with gentle care. The pair nodded at each other before Percy pushed past the doors.
The soft sounds of agony grew louder, causing the son of Poseidon to baulk once more.
"Oh, thank the gods you're here!" Maya cried out as she caught sight of Percy and Cassandra. The small girl darted towards the pair, a grin etching its way onto her face. Her hands slithered between both of theirs', pulling them behind her.
The soft action of the little girl drew them past the beds hosting the injured members of the Vanguard. The constant pull of the girl forced Percy onwards despite the trailing of his green eyes. Maya's eyes shifted to the demigods behind her. She stared at Percy for a few moments, a frown marring her features before she turned to Cassandra. "He's stopping me from seeing the others!"
Percy took a deep breath, shielding his eyes behind their lids for a moment.
Cassandra's eyes narrowed slightly, her pouted lips parting as she addressed Maya "What do you mean?"
"The boy that was in charge! He was telling me that I had to go to a blue house. A big one! But the big scary, but cool, lady from before stood up for me! She told me to wait outside while she took care of it."
Cassandra was about to respond when they rounded a corner sharply.
Adrastea's massive frame stood before them. The muscles of her back were tense and rippled openly with each movement as only the strap of her sports bra shielded her skin. Thick scars in the shape of jagged lines raced up from her left hip, peeking up from the hem of her shorts. Spots of blue and black littered her torso and arms, accompanied by various smaller wounds that had yet to close properly. Cassandra bit her lip at the traces of blood which stained both her skin and her pants.
"It doesn't matter what Percy says here anymore!" A voice called from the other side of Ares' daughter.
A scoff left Adrastea's mouth the same instant that Percy chuckled. The daughter of Ares whipped her head around, wincing as she tenderly drew her left arm closer to her chest. Her face quickly shifted, her eyes dancing in relief as she saw Percy before her.
"Good to see you're still kicking, Percy. Can you talk some sense into this one?"
"Sense into me?" The boy started, "You guys just came back, almost completely annihilated and I'm the one out of place here? All I'm saying is that she, the child, should go to the big house and talk to Chiron instead of sticking around whatever remains of you-"
"How is everyone else?"
Adrastea grinned at Percy before it quickly dropped as the words registered.
"Some of us were on our last legs. Some nasty injuries were numbed by adrenaline." Adrastea's eyes spaced out for a moment. "From what this dickhead was saying, Maya saved the worst of us that had been left for dead while the Apollo kids focused on who they could save. She caught their attention when she tried to heal those of us who weren't completely fucked, and he intervened. For better or worse, I was the one she started to work on, so I woke up and told him to leave her the fuck alone. But being a cunt is too ingrained in this one."
The boy behind her scoffed. He glared at the back of the girl in front of him, stepping between two beds to be seen by the son of Poseidon.
"You can say all the shit you want; it's not going to change any of the facts. You're the ones that left us, and you're the ones that got yourselves in a fucked-up situation. Now you're the ones crawling back to us for help. So, how about you at least have the courtesy of listening to us instead of acting like you run shit here."
Percy's hand shot forward. Adrastea stilled under its contact, her eyes teaming with unbridled rage as she glowered at the boy. Percy squeezed her shoulder gently, nudging her to the bed to their left. The girl nodded; her eyes still locked in their vicious glare at the boy before her as she sat on the bed.
"You speak so strongly while knowing so little." Percy started; his voice surfeited as he filled the space left by Adrastea. "I'm tired. I'm downtrodden. I'm devastated. The same situation you speak of so easily will haunt my dreams for the rest of my life, while it would be little more than a fable to you. I'm not asking you to understand, I'm not ordering you to do anything. I am strongly advising you to be wary of a son of Poseidon who's struggling to contain his rampant emotions."
The boy stared at Percy for a few moments. His eyes softened slightly as someone around the corner cried out in pain.
"My siblings will be at their side, no need to worry." The boy's soft voice stilled Maya from slipping away from the group. His eyes drew the attention of the older demigods to the younger girl. "This is about her, however. I'm not trying to be an asshole about what happened. Honestly. It's just… Actually, it might be better if I showed you."
The son of Apollo stepped back into the aisle. He took a few steps backwards before stopping at a bed to his left. Percy motioned for Adrastea to lead the way and the daughter of Ares stepped in front of him. The pair followed the son of Apollo, closely followed by Maya and Cassandra.
The bed they stopped at held the unconscious form of Zina. Her face was at ease, a sight that sent a wave of conflicting emotions to the demigods around her. The son of Apollo pulled the sheets at the bottom of the bed.
"Am I dreaming, or does she actually have two legs, Percy?" Adrastea's uninjured hand trailed against Zina's leg, causing the girl to shift. The daughter of Ares pulled her hand back quickly and stared at the girl's face.
"No… she really does…" Percy whispered behind her. Zina settled back into her sleep once more, earning a sigh of relief from Adrastea.
"This is something completely unheard of. We've never had a child of Apollo this special that wasn't a god. Can you blame me for wanting my sister to talk to Chiron instead of sticking around you guys?"
Adrastea scoffed. "What do you mean by 'you guys?' Are we the fucking plague or something? Do you even have any idea what we went through?"
The son of Apollo baulked again under the heated gaze of Adrastea.
"What's your name?"
The boy's eyes flickered between Adrastea and Percy for a bit, confusion etched clearly onto his face. "Troy."
Percy nodded in response, "Tell me, Troy. Were you there for any of the wars?"
Confusion trickled down Troy's face as he peered at Percy. His eyes shifted between Adrastea and the son of Poseidon, searching for the meaning behind the question. "No… I came a few months after."
Percy hummed to himself at the response. His green eyes finally left Zina's reformed leg to meet the sparkling blues of Troy. "Do you really believe that I led them out there to their deaths?"
Troy couldn't hold his gaze. The son of Apollo fidgeted as he tried to find the best way to voice his thoughts.
The prolonged silence spoke for him.
"I'm glad that you can't understand it. Only experience can form that understanding and I'm glad you lack it." Percy nodded to himself, his eyes trailing back to Adrastea who hissed in pain. She clutched her arm, sitting back on the bed. Maya darted towards the girl; her hand swift to grip the injured arm. A soft green glow formed under Maya's hand, enveloping the injured arm.
"I will say this, however. If you're standing in the way of Maya when she's capable of healing my members…"
Percy stared at the son of Apollo, letting the silence speak on his behalf.
"That's so fucking cool!"
Percy turned, instinctively ready to scold Cassandra for cursing when his eyes fell on Adrastea. She moved her arm freely, staring at it in awe as her fingers responded to every command.
Maya took a deep breath, sweat forming at her eyebrows. She turned to face Troy, their blues meeting in a heated clash. "And I'm not your sister! My dad isn't Apollo, he's Asclepius."
The soft sounds of her voice trailed into the wispy nothing of the air.
Percy's eyes widened as the words slowly registered in his head. The soft sounds of silence flittered under the creaking of the wooden floorboard.
Troy shook his head as he slipped back into the aisle. "Well, that just makes it worse! I can't let you take my niece back out there!"
The son of Apollo began moving towards Maya when Cassandra stepped in front of the boy. Troy's arm raised, poised to move Cassandra from his path. A heavy hand snaked over the top of Cassandra's head, biting Troy's hand in a vicious grip.
"Touch the air around Cassandra and you're dead," Troy grunted as Adrastea's newly healed hand flexed with an almost feral vigour.
"She can't stay here…" Percy's soft words drew all the eyes in the small room back to him. A few moments lulled on in silence before Adrastea relinquished the son of Apollo with a firm shove. The boy stumbled back, stopping only when his legs met the foot of the bed opposite Zina's. Troy gingerly held his aching hand, his eyes avoiding his aggressor as they danced their annoyance in the direction of Percy.
"Who are you talking about?"
Percy's eyes refocused, shifting to Troy's stunned face. "Maya can't stay here."
A scoff mixed with a laugh as the sound forced its way out of Apollo's son's mouth. "I can't even imagine how deluded you must be to even consider taking Cassandra back out there, but now, all of a sudden, you want to take another child with you? After everything?"
Troy stared at the son of Poseidon. His eyes narrowed as the silence of the older. The son of Apollo clicked his tongue, his head shaking slightly as his gaze shifted back to the self-proclaimed daughter of Asclepius.
"I might not be able to do something about this right now… but I'm sure Jason and the others would be interested to know about your plans…"
Adrastea's right eye twitched as the words lingered in the air. "Is that a threat?"
"Have any of you heard of the other children of Asclepius?" The creaking of the floor beneath Adrastea's feet ceased at the sound of Percy's words. The room grew heavy, and thick with the overwhelming presence of Poseidon's son as his eyes peered down at Troy.
Apollo's son gulped at the air around him, drinking in as much of it as he could.
Percy raised an eyebrow at the boy, silently posing his question once more.
Troy shook his head quickly, earning a small nod from Percy.
"Of course you haven't." Percy shifted slightly past Adrastea. He paused only as he stood before Troy, towering over the younger boy. Percy hummed lightly, moving to the other side of Zina's bed where a chair sat. With great care, he lifted the wooden seat and placed it closer to the aisle. Taking a seat, he stared at Troy intently. "Perhaps their short history will help you to understand my decision."
Troy took another breath, blinking tightly for a few moments before his opened eyes flitted towards Adrastea. The daughter of Ares grinned maliciously at his discomfort, her own eyes giving him little solace. Cassandra giggled softly, loosening the mounting tension as she pulled Maya onto the bed beside her. Percy stared at the pair with soft eyes, waiting patiently until they were seated comfortably to begin his tale.
"The first of Asclepius' children was a being of ancient folklore. His name was buried so deeply that the truth behind his ancestry was lost to any records outside of that of the gods. He lurked around the edges of Sparta, seeking out the children deemed unfit by their nation and bringing them from the brink of death. He had formed a small, extremely secretive village with those lost children. They took it upon themselves to bring more of their forsaken kin to him, to save them as they had been saved."
Percy paused, his eyes flickering to the walls as a strong breeze slipped through the gaps in the walls. The sound of the winds faded, giving way to the soft words of Troy.
"I… I can't believe I've never heard of that story before. Why was his name lost?"
Percy shook his head, his shoulders raising in a shrug, as he failed to find a definitive answer. Instead, he continued the story, "The Spartans discovered his village. They sent a small battalion to the village, each man armed twice over. The Spartans offered both weapons and armour alike with a simple command. Die a righteous death. The villagers donned the armour and wielded the weapons against the small battalion, in the hope of granting their saviour time to retreat. They were decimated by the unarmoured Spartan battalion in minutes. Time too little to offer any retreat to the man who had instead stayed to heal the wounded in their futile battle."
"I don't get it." Adrastea's words caught the attention of the demigods around her, "Why didn't they just recruit him instead of killing him? I'm sure they could've gained so much more for having such an incredible healer on their side!"
A sad smile formed on Percy's lips. "The gods were the ones who told the Spartans and ordered them to eradicate them. Would you defy the gods, today?"
Troy baulked, paling slightly at Percy's words. "I can't deny that that story is… tragic, but it's all the more reason for Maya to stay at the camp."
"For the same gods who sent Spartans after her sibling to stare down at her?"
Troy shifted nervously at Percy's words, his eyes darting to the sky beyond the windows. Percy narrowed his eyes at the boy, shifting in his seat slightly before humming to himself.
"There was another. Her story holds far less to it, even in the texts of the gods. It simply stated that the island on which she lived was deemed the healthiest island in the world. The people were free of sickness, and there had yet to be a death reported since her birth."
Troy raised an eyebrow, turning to Adrastea as Percy's words had stilled. The son of Poseidon stared at the palm of his hand, lost in thought for a few moments.
Adrastea nodded at Apollo's son and, with words softer than he could have fathomed, she spoke to Percy. "What happened to her, Percy?"
"A thunderstorm beyond comprehension rained from the heavens. The earth split open and consumed the houses. The sea swept over the mountains, dragging the island to the depths."
Troy paled considerably, his eyes widening as he stared at the stoic face of Percy. His mouth opened, but the words of Poseidon's son filled the air first.
"The third and final mention of a child of Asclepius was relatively recently. Having been informed of the tragedies of his siblings, he lived in anonymity." Troy sighed, drawing Percy's eyes. The son of Poseidon's lips slipped apart thinly, forming a bare smile tainted with raw sorrow. "He was found, unfortunately in his late nineties."
Troy grimaced at the words, shifting himself slightly from his place on the floor. Adrastea shifted slightly towards Percy, her hand gripping the edge of Zina's bed as her body hid the younger girls behind her. Percy noticed none of this as his eyes closed, hiding from the scene painted by his lips.
"He had been recruited into the army by another child of the gods who recognised his godly affinity when he failed to submit to the will of the mist. The one who recruited him was the leader of his side, fighting a very mortal war. He had intentions of furthering his comprehension of human biology, and the healing abilities he discovered in the child of Asclepius was akin to a gold mine."
"Which war was this one?"
Percy's eyes raised to Adrastea. "It was Hitler. The demigod was Hitler."
"Oh."
Percy nodded.
"Hitler forced him to take part in many experiments. The gods caught wind of what was happening and sent a task force to retrieve Asclepius's child. Freed from the experiments of Hitler, he was sentenced to that of the gods. They were fascinated by the ways Hitler had used his abilities and wanted to see if they could use him for the inevitable wars against their elder deities. Using their observations of the other children of Asclepius, they intended to push the bounds of his abilities. To force the evolution of his powers such that his natural healing factor would immortalise him. Bound him to eternity of servitude without the constraints of the Ancient Laws."
Percy shook his head, the chair beneath him scratching against the wooden floor as he shifted abruptly. The harsh sounds did little to bother his small audience. Both Adrastea and Troy were engrossed in the designs of the floor, grim sneers flared upon their lips.
"Asclepius had other ideas. With the help of a few unnamed members of the council, they helped the god free his son. His son knew of only one true freedom from the will of the gods though… His suicide sent Asclepius into hiding. The god strayed from the eyes of the council as they sought another of his children for the very wars we fought within the last few wars."
A soft quiet licked away the trailing sound of Percy's voice.
"Then there is nothing to worry about. The purpose of their actions has passed." There was little conviction behind the immense hope of Troy's words.
"There will be more wars to come, Troy." Adrastea offered softly, her eyes glistening with a gentle understanding of the true nature of the boy's statement. It was a fate too cruel in its design. "There is always another war…"
"She's right. I'm not sure that her father intended for Maya to be sired, or if he did, I can't believe that he wanted her to end up here of all places."
Silence fell upon the demigods.
Percy's eyes scrunched up as his eyes trailed past Adrastea, "Where did they go?"
The daughter of Ares turned sharply, her eyes scanning the bed where the two girls previously sat. She shifted into the aisle, Percy quick to follow, as she moved back to the entrance.
A brilliant flash of white swarmed the innards of the hospital. Adrastea stumbled back; her hands pressed against her eyes as her back slammed into Percy.
"You dare meddle with our strings, girl!"
"Just like your father aren't you!"
"We should have you sent to Zeus, so he can deal with you the way that your kind should be dealt with!"
Percy's eyes widened at the sound of the voices around the corner. He glanced behind him, his eyes begging Troy for assistance. The son of Apollo was quick to come to his aid, pulling Adrastea to a free bed and allowing Percy to round the corner.
A thick wave of ancient power wafted through the room. The heavy mass of energy pushed against the son of Poseidon, a grimace forming on his face as he pushed back. His steps slowed as the pressure buckled his knees, preventing him from moving quicker than the sluggish, deliberate steps he took.
"Please, she didn't know! It was my fault!" Cassandra cried out as she stepped in front of Maya.
"Shut up child!" Atropos sneered, pointing at the daughter of Tyche with immense power festering at the tip of her finger.
Percy sucked in a deep breath of air, his eyes narrowing as the water in the cups responded to his silent command. They shot through the air, latching onto the goddess' arm. The watery coil yanked her hand away from the daughter of Tyche just as the energy formed into a beam of energy. The floorboards which had become the victim of the blast simply disappeared. The reason for the odd flaw in the contractor's work quickly slipped away from the demigod's mind.
Percy shook his head as the effects of the goddess' power fought against his resilience. "You've taken enough from me today… I can't let you take anymore."
Clotho's hand shot up in front of Atropos, stopping her from aiming another attack at the son of Poseidon.
"Ah, Jackson. Yes, it's hardly a shame that the daughter of Athena had to die today, but it would be a great shame if she doesn't remain that way."
"And we've had your kind try to change things from the way they should be," Lachesis continued, pointing at Maya with a sneer plastered on her lips.
"And now to avoid that mistake ever happening again, we'll get rid of you now!" Atropos cried out, shaking free from her sister's hand, and raising her hand once more, this time towards Maya.
The building groaned its awful discomfort as a man appeared between the young demigods and the Fates. The crushing pressure of power dramatically increased as the newly emerged being exuded more of it. A thick layer of gold covered his skin, shielding all but the cold and unrelenting blues of his eyes.
"My daughter will be allowed to live."
The god stretched his hand outward, clenching his armoured hand around the forming hilt of a sword. The wicked edges of the blade split the floor cleanly as it was brought upright before Asclepius' face; his deadly glare peering at the triplet from either side of the bronze weapon.
"There is… a way that you could remedy this situation." The voices of the three goddesses melded into one.
Apollo's godly son met their gaze, silently poised in his stance.
Clotho stepped forward, "Your absence interfered greatly with our plans."
"Perhaps there can be an exchange." Atropos continued as she stepped in line with her sister before her.
There was silence for a few moments as a slow grin crept upon Lachesis' face. "Your return to duty…" The allotter stepped forward, between her two sisters.
"For the life of my daughter."
The Moirai grinned at the words of the god before them. Asclepius turned slightly, his eyes softening considerably as he stared down at Maya. The front plate of his helmet shifted upward as he smiled at his daughter.
"Your kindness is your greatest weakness, my child. Just as it can be your greatest strength. This world will take advantage of you every chance it gets. Keep close only those who appreciate you beyond what you can do."
The god's faceplate snapped back into place. His eyes hardened the instant they fell upon the Fates once more. "Very well."
The gods all vanished from the room.
Percy stumbled forward as the thick pressure subsided, mere inches away from the Fates.
Cassandra crashed into his mid-section, her arms squeezing tightly around him as she sobbed into his chest. Percy's eyes widened, dropping to a kneel as he saw Maya trailing behind the daughter of Tyche. Asclepius' daughter stood close; her tears silently slipped down her face.
Adrastea stumbled around the corner, her eyes bloodshot and still squinting, with Troy a few steps behind her. "Who was it?"
Percy shifted to ensure that Adrastea was okay. Upon seeing her, he let a low sigh out. "The Fates and Asclepius."
"How the fuck is everyone healed?"
Troy's words caught everyone by surprise. Percy raised to his feet, Cassandra hugging his leg as his hand shifted to the crown of her head. His eyes scanned the room as did Adrastea's.
"My dad did that before he left…"
Maya shifted uneasily as her eyes peered at the floor. Cassandra slipped away from Percy, grabbing the other girl's hand, and pulling her closer into a hug.
The doors slammed against the wall, sending another shiver around the building. Will stepped into the hospital, flanked by Annabeth and Clarisse.
"What the fuck happened here?" Will demanded as he stepped forward. Percy gently pulled the younger girls behind his back as he stared back at the son of Apollo.
"What do you mean?"
Will's nostrils flared at Percy's question, "Don't play stupid! I don't care how you feel about what you let happen to them! If you can't keep your emotions under check, then get out of my hospital!"
Percy's eyes twitched, but Adrastea was the one to push past the son of Poseidon. Troy quickly pulled her arms back, as Clarisse gripped tightly at Will's shoulder. The sons of Apollo winced at their own respective experiences until Percy and Annabeth interjected.
Annabeth turned to Percy after she slowly pried Clarisse's hand off of Will. "Just let us know what happened. We're a little on edge with everything that's going on, is all."
Percy stood firmly, Adrastea slowly leading Troy back behind the girls after a soft hand from the son of Poseidon. "Why are you confused when your shoddy building shudders at a strong gust of wind? I thought that was normal here."
Will growled, earning a swift restraint from Clarisse's hands. Annabeth sighed, "Percy… Then why are they crying? I know something happened. Whether you like it or not, we are the ones in charge of this growing city."
"They just saw someone die." Troy stepped forward, a solemn look on his face as he stopped in front of Percy. "And I can't quite argue with what Percy said." The boy pointed at the gap in the floorboards, drawing the attention of the demigods to the missing plank of wood. Annabeth's eyes widened at the sight of it, and she turned to Will with a curious glance.
Clarisse let the son of Apollo out of her grip as she shrugged. "It is still a temporary building. It's not like we were expecting to have to actually house this level of injured with our war games being put on hold, anyway."
Annabeth sighed, her hand rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Once the layout is settled, we'll start internal construction. We just need…"
"Yes, we've been through it a thousand times, Princess." Clarisse rolled her eyes with an exaggerated sigh.
Will stared at the two girls at his side for a moment before turning back to Percy. "We still need to have a meeting with you though."
The son of Poseidon raised an eyebrow. Annabeth nodded in response to Will's statement.
"We'd like to have a briefing of what happened and how we're moving forward from here."
"We?" Percy chuckled at Annabeth's words.
"Yes, we," Annabeth replied firmly, a small frown playing on her lips.
"I'll take care of everyone, Percy. It could change things if we know the truth."
Percy turned to Adrastea. He stared at her for a while, a small frown playing on his face at the reddening around her eyes.
"I'll take care of them too. A little bit of nectar and ambrosia goes a long way with the right care!" Troy assured, staring meaningfully at Percy. The son of Poseidon's eyes shifted to the rest of his Vanguard, their abrupt healing suddenly playing on his mind. He gave Troy an appreciative smile before turning back to Adrastea.
"If you have no idea where to go," Percy placed his hand on Maya and Cassandra's heads as he stared at the daughter of Ares, "Just go to the Poseidon cabin. Okay?"
Adrastea nodded easily. Percy let his hand drop to Cassandra's shoulder and squeezed softly. The daughter of Tyche smiled up at her brother, giving him a quick hug before pulling Maya towards Adrastea.
Percy clapped his hands as he turned back to the impatient faces of Annabeth and Will.
"Right, so which poorly built building will we be having our meeting?"
A/N: Well, this chapter took me a while to figure out. I can freely admit that the hardest part of rewriting a story is having to change the old chapters. I suppose now is the time to start preparing you all for it. There is only one more chapter I have to work on for this story.
Yep, this is the penultimate chapter of The Vanguard: Forging a Legacy.
I have every intention to move on to original content for a while after this. I want to figure out a proper schedule for writing and try to make this my career. That being said, I am very much interested in continuing to write fanfiction for this fandom for a while, which is why I made the Discord server.
The link to that server is, /hkMwTYj2bB
I hope to see some more of you there. I give updates about my writing and I'm open to answering any questions about the book, maybe except for some spoilers. If not, then I'll see you for the next update.
I hope you're all having a great day whenever you're reading this. See you all next time!
-ZedricSOZ