A/N. Reviews!

"OMFG DID HE JUST SAY I LOVE YOU?! AND DID HE MEAN IT?! but like i thought they were in the kinda dating stage? I know Artemis has some attraction to Percy but I don't think shes there yet tho... and as for Percy he def likes her but im not sure about love yet tho" -Sankarea396

So, kinda? The moon genuinely looked beautiful, and he kinda forgot about the japanese meaning. But subconsciously…

"Man japan with the no sun is just so funny cus no one even cares cus of the mist" -Guest

I mean, I did say that life continued as normal.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Hermes, God of Messengers, found himself in the woods, searching for Artemis' camp. He had a message for her, one from their father. He sped through the forest. His winged shoes made him faster than any other God, the fastest God to ever live. He quickly found the camp and appeared at the edge. He could have showed up in the middle of the camp, but he'd rather not end up with his ass full of arrows.

He slowly made his way through the camp. Many hunters gave him weird looks, but he ignored them. They had done this song and dance before, and would probably do so for many years to come, as long as he had messages to deliver. He approached the largest tent and entered it. He hoped she wasn't naked, or maybe he did. The view would be well worth the ass full of arrows.

She was not, in fact, naked. She was sitting on her pile of blankets, restringing her bow. Next to her was a stuffed deer. She looked up and wrinkled her nose. "What are you doing here?"

"Can't I just drop by?"

"No." She said, going back to restringing her bow. Her thin fingers worked along the end of the bow perfectly. She finished and gently tugged the string, feeling the tension, but avoiding dry firing. It was something she had gotten really good at in her millenia of practicing archery. Satisfied she placed the bow next to her and looked up at Hermes. She raised an eyebrow, still waiting for him to explain his being there.

"Zeus has called a meeting." Hermes said, finally.

"Hera has finally stopped yelling at him." Artemis asked. It was less a question, and more a statement.

Hermes looked around. "Yeah, I guess." he said off-handedly. "By the way, you might want to bring Percy. I heard he's on the agenda." he noticed the photo strip on her desk. "Where is your husband, anyways. I tried to find him before coming here, but could only find old trails."

Artemis shrugged. "Am I supposed to know where my husband is every moment of our lives?"

"Right. Forgot, you don't need no man."

Artemis rolled her eyes. "I will fetch him. Tell our father I will be there soon." She picked up her bow and stood up. She slung the bow over her back. Hermes stood there, staring at her. She raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to leave?"

"I want to know where Percy is."

"Why? It is not like the two of you are close."

"You're very defensive, Artemis. Are you… Are you actually into him?"

She walked over to the quiver propped up against the wall and picked it up. "I do not see how it is any of your business. How I feel about my husband is my business, and mine alone." She slung the quiver over her back. "Now, I believe I asked you to leave. I will not ask you again."

Hermes raised his hands in an "I surrender" fashion. "No need to get so pressed, I'm leaving." He disappeared in a flash of bright light, leaving Artemis alone in her tent. She let out a breath. Her suspicions were growing stronger. She was even more sure that Hermes had a crush on her. And that worried her. Hermes was clever, after all, he had tricked Apollo when he was just a baby. If he put that cleverness towards revenge on her or Percy, it surely wouldn't be fun.

She closed her eyes and stretched out her senses, making sure Hermes wasn't hanging around, snooping on her. She felt nothing but her hunters and the couple of wild animals nearby. Satisfied, she opened her eyes and drew her knife. She quickly sliced through the air, opening the rift to Hell.

She stepped through into the throne hall. The rift closed behind her. She looked around the throne room. Percy was nowhere to be seen. Mephistopheles was standing near Percy's throne. She wondered what the demon did all day. She knew he was Percy's Royal Advisor, but according to Percy, the King didn't really do anything. Did Mephistopheles really just stand there? Either way, she walked up to him. He bowed to her. "Lady Artemis, welcome."

"Thank you, Mephistopheles."

"What can I do for you?"

"Do you happen to know where Percy is?"

"Last I saw him, he told me he was going to go to sleep. I have not seen him since, so I believe he is still asleep, or… in his room at least."

"Thank you." Artemis said, and started towards the dining room. She went up the stairs and made her way to Percy's door. She knocked on it, wanting to be polite. When no answer came, she opened the door. True to Mephistopheles' word, Percy was asleep. He was also hanging halfway out the bed, shirtless, a line of drool leaking down the side of his face.

She let out a chuckle and entered the room. She walked over to the bed and gently sat down on it, next to him. "Percy." She said softy, trying to wake him gently. He didn't stir. She reached out and shook his shoulder. "Percy." She repeated herself.

Percy jerked awake with a surprised gasp. His hand flew out to the nightstand, and presumably towards his pen sword. However, instead, his fist smacked the front of the nightstand. "OW!"

Artemis stifled a laugh. Percy's head quickly turned towards her. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Hi, Artemis. What are you doing here? It's not date night already, right? I mean, I just got back from the last one."

"No, Percy. It is not date night. However, my father has called a meeting, and according to Hermes, you are up for a topic of discussion."

Percy flopped back down onto his bed and let out a breath. "Great, they're gonna argue over my death once again. Fuckin' great."

"I doubt they are going to tread that beaten path. If I had to guess, I would say they are going to argue the opposite. You joining me in immortality."

Percy's eyes flickered over to her. Artemis noted how he looked like a baby seal, swaddled in all his blankets, his hair a mess. "Oh. That. I forgot about that. I thought they would have done that back when they first arranged our marriage."

"They would have." Artemis agreed. "But after the meeting, Hera started yelling at Zeus, and she only took a break to let Zeus return Apollo's immortality, which she was also yelling at him for. Anyways, she has not stopped until today, I guess. I must admit, I was growing tired of her constant screaming."

"I don't think anyone wouldn't be." Percy sat back up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He stood up. "Let me get dressed. Let's hope not too much time passed while you were down here."

LINE BREAK

Artemis stopped Percy right outside the throne room doors, and turned to him. "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be, I guess."

She nodded and turned to the doors. She placed her hands on them, being interrupted.

"Artemis."

"Yes?" She turned around and faced him.

"Can I discuss something with you?"

"What is the matter?'

He looked at her, an eyebrow raised.

Artemis sighed. "I know you do not want to be immortal, Percy. I know you want a normal life. I would fight for your immortality, but my father is not going to be easily convinced."

"I know. But I think I have an idea."

"What are you thinking?"

"I think I can strike a deal with the council. I just need an opening. If you can interrupt and give me a chance to speak, I will… greatly appreciate it."

Artemis nodded and turned back towards the door. She pushed open the doors. As she walked towards her throne, she grew in size, before coming to her full height of twenty feet. She sat down. They seemed to have interrupted at an inopportune time. Athena was standing, arguing with Zeus about something. She had stopped talking when they walked in.

"Finally. What have you lovebirds been up to?" Aphrodite asked.

"He was asleep, he had to get dressed. That is all." Artemis said. "Let us start the meeting."

Zeus raised his hand to placate Athena. "We will discuss this, do not worry, my daughter."

"Today?"

"Yes, we will discuss it today."

Athena nodded, satisfied. She walked over to her throne and sat down. She crossed her arms as she turned her attention to the son of Poseidon. Percy stood in the center of the room. He had been in this exact spot twice. Once, when he was fourteen, and another when he was sixteen. However, this time, at around twenty one years old, he was not afraid. Maybe he should have been, after all, Zeus could blast him at any point if he wanted to.

Zeus cleared his throat. "Perseus Jackson. You are our first item on the agenda. You have been married to my daughter, Artemis, in a happy union. Had it been up to me, no daughter of mine would have married a mere mortal. But, it was not up to me. But, that also does not mean that I will let this transgression stand." He turned to the council. "I move to grant Perseus Jackson immortality under our legal precedent of Ariadne."

"Whoa, don't I get a say?" Percy asked.

"No—"

"Father, if I may?" Artemis asked.

Zeus turned to Artemis. "You wish to interject?"

She nodded and stood. "If I recall correctly. Percy was rewarded after the second Titanomachy, but not after the second gigantomachy. Perhaps, you could at least hear him out?"

Zeus sighed. "Fine, I will hear the boy out."

Artemis nodded and sat back down in her throne.

Percy bowed his head. "Thank you, Lord Zeus." He looked out across the council and cleared his throat. "It is no secret-" He started, his voice loud and clear. He stood up straight. This was politics, and he needed to present a strong presence. "That I have no desire to be immortal. That I want a normal life. I wish to strike a deal with you. I will become immortal, but not now. Not until I die. I will live my normal life, and upon its end, I will join you all. This way, we both get what we want, and for you, you don't have to wait too long."

Zeus stroked his gray beard. "Your logic does make sense. However, you have denied immortality before, and you are an impulsive type. Who is to say that you won't refuse again when we try after your death?"

"Hmm. Well, I have another angle that you could view this deal. I know that you all fear that something is coming. Artemis told me. She told me that was the reason for our marriage, the reason we need a united council. If something is indeed coming, wouldn't it be more beneficial for me to remain mortal, free of the laws that bind immortals?" He turned to Athena. "Lady Athena, you see my logic, yes?"

"Indeed, as much as it pains me to admit, your reasoning is sound. However, there would be a drawback, that of the potential power you would gain upon gaining immortality. It is the old question of cost-benefit."

He bowed his head. "Thank you." He turned back to Zeus. "And if you are so concerned about my refusal to become immortal upon death, I have a simple solution. An oath. Upon the River Styx. Shall I refuse, I will be tormented for eternity in Styx's river."

"Son, what if you don't live a long life. What if you die tonight?" Poseidon asked.

Percy shrugged. "Doesn't change a thing. I already go through life with no idea of when I'm going to die." He turned to Zeus. "Do we have a deal?"

"Those in favor?" Zeus asked the council, raising his hand. Artemis raised hers immediately afterwards. Apollo was next, followed by Aphrodite. Athena raised her hand. Hera raised hers next. Ares was the last. When no one else raised their hands, Zeus asked, "Those against?" To which only one God raised his hand—Poseidon.

"Father?"

"I do not wish for you to experience death. I would rather you become immortal now, and save you the pain."

"Father, I understand, but I want this."

Poseidon sighed. "Fine." He turned to his brother. "Flip my vote."

Zeus nodded. "That makes eight for. The motion passes. Percy Jackson, you will live out the rest of your days as a mortal, and upon your death, you will join us in immortality. Do you swear, when the time comes, that you will join us willingly?"

"I swear, on the River Styx, I will join you in immortality when I die."

Zeus nodded once. "Go ahead and take a seat. We will be done shortly." He turned to Athena. "You may take the floor with your concern."

Percy walked over to Artemis' throne and sat down as Athena stood, and walked towards the center of the room. "As we know, especially since Percy just brought it up, something is coming. Something big. Something that could disrupt even Fate. And I believe I have found the next piece of evidence. A new type of monster. Something I have never seen before." She snapped her fingers and the throne room doors opened. A group of owls flew in. They carried chains in their beaks, which were shackled to a creature. It looked like a fuzzy black ball.

The owls dropped the creature at Athena's feet. It didn't move. Athena removed the creature's chains. Slowly, the creature slowly stirred. One limb stretched out, then another, then another. In the end, eight total limbs sprouted from the center mass. The creature slowly stood on two legs.

Percy felt his breathing stop. Standing in front of him was a denizen of his realm. A spider demon. His missing tailor. Rastr. The tailor looked up at Zeus, before looking around the council, first down the side of Gods, then the side of Goddesses. When he reached Artemis, he noticed something at the foot of Artemis' throne. He looked down and was met with the sight of his king. He hobbled forward, as best he could. One of his legs was broken. Athena watched, observing. She couldn't determine much about the creature during her testing, but now she could learn something. Her hypothesis, the creature could detect immortality and decided to go straight for the only being in the room who was mortal. If her hypothesis was true, and the creature tried to kill Percy, they could easily terminate it. No harm, no foul.

Rastr paused before Percy, and dropped to a knee. He bowed his head. "Forgive me, My Lord. I was foolish to leave your realm… your protection."

Percy couldn't believe it. His heart started to beat rapidly. The room around him quietened, and all he could hear was his blood roaring in his ears. His breathing was ragged. It was all falling apart. The one thing he didn't want to happen was happening. He was so careful, and yet so careless at the same time.

His eyes drifted to various members of the council, who were whispering quickly to each other. Zeus spoke up, "What did he mean, Perseus?"

"I…I don't know. He… he must have me confused with someone else. His… Lord."

Rastr looked hurt at the statement. "Lord, it's me, Rastr, I know it's you, Lord Perseus."

Zeus raised an eyebrow. "He just said your name. I don't think he has you confused." He rose. "You are a Lord of a realm."

Athena stood up straight, facing Percy. "You… You're the one who we were worried about. And for good reason. You have broken fate for your own gain."

"You have thrown your lot in with them. I name you, Perseus Jackson, a traitor of Olympus."

Percy flew to his feet. "I have been nothing but loyal to Olympus!" He was getting angry, and he could feel his hands heating up. "I have fought wars for you, gave my childhood for you!"

"Which is exactly why you would do this. You said it yourself, you want a normal life, and you feel the only way you could get one is to bring down Olympus."

"Calm down, Niece, we have no idea what is going on." Poseidon intervened.

Zeus turned on his brother. "You are in this with him. You two have been planning this from the start. I was right, I was always right. You two have been conspiring against me, against Olympus."

"This is bullshit!" Percy yelled. It took everything in him not to look at Artemis for help. He couldn't let them know that she knew. "You know that!"

Zeus raised his hand and a bolt of lightning began to spark. Percy ran towards the doors. As soon as he got to them, he felt the hairs on his arm raise, followed by the sound of thunder. The entire room brightened. He rolled to the side, dodging the bolt of lightning that was flying towards him. The bolt whizzed past his head and smashed into the door, blasting it into smithereens. Poseidon flew from his throne, and raised his trident as Zeus summoned his next bolt.

Percy watched as his father interlocked his trident with Zeus's lightning bolt. Zeus, with his other hand, punched Poseidon in the face. The Sea God stepped back. Outside, the wind howled, and thunder rolled. Rain began to fall and lightning began to flash.

Zeus threw another bolt at Poseidon, who deflected it with his trident. The bolt smashed into a column, causing it to crumble, rubble littering the ground around it.

The council only watched in shock, frozen in their thrones. No God wanted to intervene. Percy couldn't blame them. Two of the most powerful Olympians, duking it out, the world bending to them outside the palace walls.

Poseidon swiped his trident at Zeus's chest, who grabbed it and used the leverage of the handle to smack Poseidon's face with the jagged back end. Ichor dripped from the Sea Gods cheek. He grit his teeth. His eyes burned with fury, swirling like a raging sea. Zeus' own eyes burned with rage, made of lightning. Occasionally, a small bolt would strike from the eye, sizzling the air around it.

Poseidon looked back at his son, who was watching, frozen in place, breathing heavily. "Percy! Run!" He yelled. But in doing so, he had turned away from Zeus who used the opportunity to throw a lightning bolt at Poseidon's chest, sending the Sea God flying and crashing into a wall. He fell onto the floor in a heap. His Hawaiian shirt was ripped and torn. He looked up at his son, who was running to help. He shook his head and in a raspy voice, once more told his son to run.

Percy quickly paused, and blinking back tears, turned for the blasted open doors. Once more, he was twelve years old, terrified of Zeus's power. He ran out of the room, the rain immediately drenching him.

"Hermes, get the boy!" Zeus yelled as Poseidon rose to a knee. The God of Messengers shook his shock and ran after Percy.

Percy felt the adrenaline burning in his veins, aided by the falling rain. He ran blindly. He heard the sound of flapping wings. He remembered that sound, Hermes' flying shoes. He didn't have much of a head start, Hermes would catch up to him soon. He pushed his legs harder, trying to go faster. It was in vain, however, as he was tackled from behind. He grappled with the person behind him, landing a punch on what he thought was Hermes' face. It certainly hurt, given by the "OW" Hermes yelled out.

And it was enough. Percy got up and froze. He was at a dead end. He had run into the Garden of Demeter, where he and Artemis had talked after the meeting where they had been forcibly engaged. And here he was, at the edge of Olympus, just a railing separating him from a six hundred floor fall.

Hermes rose. "There's nowhere to run, Percy. Just give in." He was sporting the beginnings of a black eye.

Percy turned to face the God and backed up. He soon met the railing. He was breathing heavily. It had been a while since he had done any cardio, and he was cursing himself for it.

Hermes took a step forward. Percy felt something dig into his leg. His knife! If he could just gain enough distance, he could escape to Hell, where Hermes couldn't reach him. But how? He was against the wall, literally. Unless… A really stupid idea came to him, which is how he knew it would work.

Hermes took another step forward, causing Percy to take his chances and flip over the railing. Hermes rushed to the railing and saw Percy free falling towards the city.

As Percy fell through the air, time seemed to slow. His heart was slowly pounding, THUM-DUM, THUM-DUM, THUM-DUM. The wind rustled his black hair, and whistled in his ears. Around him, the rain whirled around him. His thoughts raced in his head, namely cursing himself for doing this, before he remembered his plan. He turned around and faced the city below him, his hometown.

He reached for his knife and drew it. Just as he was about to slice the air, he felt someone grab the collar of his shirt. The front of his collar dug into his neck. His fall slowed before briefly stopping and then he started to rise.

He turned back to see Hermes taking him back towards Olympus. He flailed in Hermes' grip, which caused Hermes to stop and readjust his grip, grabbing the front of Percy's collar. Percy grabbed onto Hermes' wrist with his free hand. He had to think of something quick. Another idea went through his head. 'Sorry Hermes.' He thought, before placing the blade at the base of Hermes' hand and started to saw. The knife sliced through Hermes skin like butter. It met a little more resistance at his bone, but even that wasn't too tough to get through.

Hermes tried to stop him, using his free hand to try and grab the hand with the knife. However, Percy let go of Hermes' wrist and traded it for the other one. He envisioned fire on his hand, willing flames into existence. His hand was heating up, he could feel it, but the flames weren't catching with the rain pouring. Finally, he got a bit of luck and fire enveloped his hand, burning Hermes. At the same time, his knife made it through the rest of Hermes' wrist.

Percy began to fall back down towards New York. Not wasting any time, he took advantage of Hermes' pain and slashed the air in front of him. He fell through the rift and landed on the floor of his throne hall. He hit the ground hard. He could feel his organs slamming into his bones. He groaned and rose to his feet.

He walked to his throne and sat down. His head was throbbing and he felt exhausted. Summoning that fire had drained him. He felt his nose flare in pain. He put his hand to it and felt the bone was crooked. His nose was broken. He braced himself and reset it, more pain flaring in his face. He pulled his hand away. It was stained red with his blood. "Fuck."

LINE BREAK

Poseidon got to his feet, leaning against his trident. He was breathing heavily. His shirt was blasted apart on his chest, revealing his chest, blackened with soot. He charged at Zeus, his trident poised to strike. Zeus summoned another lightning bolt and threw it. Poseidon used the handle of his trident to deflect it towards the roof, causing it to collapse, rubble and dust falling into the room. The rain now poured in.

Poseidon thrust his weapon at Zeus, who dodged to the side and grabbed the handle, just below the prongs. He noticed a black spot on the trident's handle, where the lightning had struck it. It was weak, brittle. With his free hand, he sliced through it. An explosion blew them apart, sending them across the room in opposite directions. In Poseidon's hand was the bottom half of the trident, the top half in Zeus'.

Zeus rose first, Poseidon taking longer due to this being the second time he crashed into a wall. The King of the Gods stalked towards his enemy. When he reached him, he picked Poseidon up. The Sea God took the chance to stab his piece of the trident into Zeus' stomach. Zeus roared, and retaliated by stabbing him in the chest with the three prongs. One hit his heart. Poseidon sucked in a breath.

"Goodbye, brother." Zeus said as he dropped Poseidon on the floor. The Sea God lay there, staring at the pouring rain. He felt cold. Tears started to prick at his eyes as he realized he was going to experience something he never thought he would. Death.

He heard someone walk into the room. He glanced over and saw Hermes, one hand missing, his stump leaking tons of ichor. Hisn other hand was blackened, burned badly. But he did not have Percy.

Poseidon smiled and turned back to the sky. He would die, yes. But he died defending his son.

And it was worth it.

A/N. WELCOME TO ARC TWO—BLOOD UPON THE SNOW!

God, I am so proud of this chapter. There were multiple times throughout this chapter where I stood up and quietly yelled, "THIS IS PEAK". This chapter was actually going to be longer, with the fallout also occurring, but I feel like ending it with Poseidon's death was kinda perfect, so the aftermath next chapter.

A little while ago, I mentioned in a comment on wattpad that I intend for Percy to mirror Lucifer. And here is one of the more obvious examples. Lucifer fell from Heaven, Percy from Olympus, and both to Hell. Just something cool.

Thoughts?