ETERNITY
CHAPTER ONE: AWAKENED
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the rugged terrain of ancient Greece. The air was thick with the scent of salt and blood, a testament to the ongoing battle that raged between the forces of the monsters and the soldiers.
Among the chaos, a figure moved with the grace of a god and the ferocity of a storm. Perseus Jackson, the legendary hero of the age, was at the heart of the conflict.
He went by many names - the slayer of the Minotaur, the tamer of Pegasus, the son of Poseidon.
But despite all his adventures, he was still a child - fourteen summers old.
Clad in armor that gleamed with the light of the setting sun, Perseus fought valiantly, his sword cutting through the ranks of his enemies with effortless skill. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, scanned the battlefield, seeking out the foes that threatened to turn the tide of this decisive struggle. Around him, his comrades battled with equal strength, their cheers and cries mingling with the clash of steel.
Yet, even the mightiest heroes are not immune to the whims of fate.
In the heart of the fray, Perseus's attention was drawn to a chilling sight: The Minotaur himself, brandishing an axe. It's eyes burned with malice,
With a shout of defiance, Perseus charged toward the beast, his sword raised high. The ground trembled as the two combatants clashed, their weapons striking with a force that shook through the very earth.
Dust and debris flew around them. The Minotaur's axe whistled through the air, but Perseus's movements were fluid, almost otherworldly. He sidestepped, parried, and struck with precision, his trusty sword a blur of silver light against the beast's darkened armor.
For a moment, it seemed as if the balance could tip either way, the world holding its breath as hero and monster locked in a deadly dance. The rebels watched in awe, their hopes resting on the shoulders of their champion. But Perseus felt the strain. Every swing of his sword, every dodge and counter, drew upon his reserves, pushing him to the brink.
Then, with a roar that shook the heavens, the Minotaur surged forward. The impact of its strike sent Perseus crashing to the ground, his armor dented, his breath knocked from his lungs.
Pain ached through his body, but the fire in his eyes did not waver. Summoning the strength of the sea, Perseus rose once more, his resolve unbroken. Water began to gather around him, swirling and churning, summoned by his will alone. The battlefield grew quiet as all eyes turned to the legendary son of Poseidon, who now stood encased in a storm of his own making.
With a final, desperate cry, Perseus unleashed his power, a tidal wave of water crashing down upon the Minotaur with the force of a thousand storms. The beast staggered, its enchanted armor cracking under the onslaught. But as the waters receded, Perseus knew that the battle was far from over.
The Minotaur still stood, weakened but undeterred, its eyes glowing with renewed fury. Perseus gripped his sword tighter, the knowledge that this would be their final confrontation burning in his heart. He was prepared to give everything - his strength, his life, his very soul - to ensure that the dark forces of Tartarus were defeated.
For the fate of Greece, and for the world, Perseus Jackson would fight until the very end.
But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the battlefield in twilight, Perseus found himself overpowered.
The world seemed to slow as Perseus looked up at the sky, his vision darkening. As the Minotaur stood, its monstrous form looming over the battlefield, Perseus knew the moment had come. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, every breath was a struggle, but the resolve in his heart burned brighter than ever. This battle was not one he could walk away from, and he understood the cost of victory.
His sword felt heavy in his grip. The celestial bronze armor that had protected him through countless battles was battered and dented, a reflection of the toll this fight had taken. But none of that mattered now. He had one final task to complete - a task that would end this conflict once and for all.
The battlefield fell eerily silent, the sounds of clashing steel and cries of war fading into the background as Perseus and the Minotaur locked eyes. The beast's glowing red orbs bore into him, a challenge and a promise of death. Perseus answered with a grim smile, his mind already made up.
Calling upon the last remnants of his strength, Perseus raised his sword high, summoning a surge of water from the earth itself. The water came around him. The rebels and soldiers alike watched in awe as their hero prepared to unleash a final, devastating attack.
But as the water rose higher, so did the realization that this would be his last act. The power he was about to unleash would be enough to destroy the Minotaur, but it would also consume him in the process. There was no other way.
With a final, defiant shout, Perseus brought his sword down, directing the full force of his power toward the Minotaur. The water surged forward, a tidal wave that crashed into the beast with unstoppable force. The ground shook, the air crackled, and for a moment, it seemed as if the world itself would be torn apart by the sheer magnitude of the attack.
The Minotaur roared in agony, its armor shattering under the onslaught. The beast's form was engulfed by the water, its strength no match for the power of a god. The wave consumed everything in its path, and as it did, Perseus felt his strength leaving him, his body weakening as the energy he had summoned drained away.
As the water receded, the battlefield was left in silence. The Minotaur lay defeated, its massive form crumpled and broken. But there was no triumph in the air, no cheers of victory. For there, in the center of the battlefield, stood the figure of Perseus Jackson - motionless, his sword still clutched in his hand.
He lay amidst the carnage, the once-heroic figure now a fallen legend. The
battle raged on around him, but for Perseus, time seemed to stand still.
In his final moments, Perseus's thoughts turned to his comrades, to the people he fought for, and to the promise of a better future he had hoped to bring. The world he had known was slipping away, but his legacy, the stories of his valor and sacrifice, would live on, passed down through the ages.
The rebels rushed forward, but it was too late. Perseus's eyes, once so full of life and fire, were now closed. His body, drained of all energy, collapsed to the ground. He had given everything, and in doing so, had ensured the defeat of the monstrous forces.
The warriors who had fought alongside him gathered around, their faces etched with grief. They knew what had to be done. With great care, they lifted their fallen hero, carrying him away from the battlefield. There would be no victory celebration, no songs of triumph. Only the somber duty of laying a hero to rest.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Perseus Jackson was placed in a coffin crafted from the finest wood and adorned with the symbols of his lineage. His sword was laid across his chest, a reminder of the battles he had fought and the lives he had saved. The coffin was sealed, and with heavy hearts, the warriors began the solemn march toward the temple where he would rest forever.
The world had lost its greatest hero, but his sacrifice would be remembered for all time. In death, Perseus had ensured that the monsters reign of terror would end, and that peace would once again return to Greece.
And as the temple was sealed, Perseus Jackson, the hero of ancient Greece, was put to rest, his fate sealed by the hands of destiny. Little did he know that his story was far from over, for the world would one day remember the son of Poseidon and the legend that would awaken once more.
ETERNITY
To be fair to Thalia, she didn't mean to break open the coffin.
She, Zoë, Bianca and Grover were in the Air and Space Museum, being chased by the Nemean Lion.
Yeah, her life sucked.
Dodging through the crowded halls of the Air and Space Museum, she glanced over her shoulder at the snarling Nemean Lion. Its golden fur glinted under the museum lights, each of its massive paws causing the ground to tremble as it closed the distance between them.
"Of all the places to show up, why here?" she muttered under her breath. "And why now?"
Behind her, the sounds of footsteps and frantic shouting echoed as her fellow questers scrambled to keep up. The monster's roar drowned out the panicked voices of tourists who had no idea that they were probably seconds away from becoming lion chow.
Thalia skidded around a corner, nearly colliding with a display of ancient Greek artifacts.
As she skidded around a corner, narrowly missing a display of ancient Greek artifacts, she bumped into the coffin.
It fell from its stand and shattered.
For a split second, she considered how ironic it was that she was probably going to die right next to a coffin. The relics inside were scattered, and the inscription on the lid read Perseus.
Thalia's heart sank.
Zoë Nightshade, running beside her, glanced at the shattered coffin with a frown. "What foul thing hath been roused? We tread upon cursed ground."
Bianca only looked looked concerned. "Do we even know what's in that coffin? It could be dangerous."
Grover was helping tourists to safety while attempting to keep pace with the group. He muttered, "At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if we've unleashed something worse than the lion."
Thalia shook her head, refocusing on their escape. "Zoë, Bianca, keep it distracted. Grover and I will find a way out."
Zoë nocked an arrow and fired it, creating a burst of light that drew the lion's attention. "By mine arrows, I shall distract this foul beast."
"Just keep it at bay! We need to get out of here."
Grover spotted an emergency exit and pointed towards it. "Over there! We can get through that door."
Thalia led the way to the exit, pushing through the door marked "Staff Only" and into a dimly lit maintenance corridor. They sprinted through the narrow hallways, finally reaching a small storage room to catch their breath.
As she leaned against the wall, catching her breath, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that they had just made things much worse. The coffin's inscription flashed in her mind again - Perseus. But that couldn't be the Perseus, right? That guy was a myth within myths, ancient even by demigod standards.
Zoë, always the sharpest when it came to ancient lore, seemed equally unsettled. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her face still framed with that eternal frown. "Perseus Jackson. Son of Poseidon," she muttered, her Old English slipping into sharper consonants. "A legend, yet his body was thought long lost."
Bianca glanced nervously at the group. "So...what do we do? I mean, if that is an ancient hero, shouldn't we- I don't know, put him back or something?"
Before anyone could answer, the room seemed to grow colder, an unnatural chill creeping in. The lights flickered.
Grover, ever in tune with the unseen forces, groaned. "I don't like this."
A low rumble echoed through the museum halls - at first, it sounded like the distant roar of the Nemean Lion. But it wasn't. This was different, deeper, more ancient.
The ground trembled under their feet, and Thalia grabbed her spear, heart pounding. "No. We definitely woke something up."
Then they heard it - a slow, deliberate creak, like the shifting of wood under immense pressure. It was coming from the direction of the shattered coffin.
The dim lights in the storage room flickered again before going out entirely, plunging them into darkness. Thalia barely had time to react before a deep voice, low and full of authority, echoed through the halls.
"Where am I?"
Thalia's stomach dropped. She wasn't easily spooked, but there was something wrong about the way that voice rolled through the air. It was as if the very world held its breath, waiting for what would happen next.
And the voice was speaking in Greek. Ancient Greek. That couldn't be good.
Bianca pointed to the entrance. "The lion-"
She didn't have to say anything else. They ran at the monster, slashing and cutting and shooting, but nothing seemed to get through its skin. The Nemean Lion padded closer, its golden fur shimmering beneath the museum lights. Each step it took seemed to echo through the halls, the sound of its claws scraping against the polished floors sending a chill down Thalia's spine.
Thalia gripped her spear, biting back a curse. They had fought monsters before, but the lion put them in a whole new level of screwed. She knew that its fur was practically impenetrable, its hide immune to weapons. Not exactly the kind of fight she'd wanted to pick today.
Zoë was the first to react, her sharp eyes narrowing as she drew another arrow from her quiver. "I shall engage the beast. The rest of thee, retreat!"
"No chance!" Thalia shot back, her knuckles white as she tightened her grip on her spear. "We fight it together."
The lion let out a bone-shaking roar, the sound so powerful it felt like it physically slammed into them. Tourists scattered in all directions, their screams of terror echoing off the walls. The entire museum felt like a battlefield now, ancient relics and displays serving as makeshift cover.
She had no idea what the mortals saw, but it couldn't exactly be good.
Thalia stepped forward, her eyes locking with the lion's. She glanced at Zoë, whose Old English curses could be heard as she circled the beast, and then at Bianca, who was standing behind a broken pillar, trying to find an angle to help.
Grover was frantically herding tourists toward the exit. "This thing is seriously out of our league!" he called over his shoulder.
Thalia ignored him. "Okay, kitty cat. Let's do this." She slammed the butt of her spear into the ground, electricity crackling around her as the air in the museum began to hum with power. She needed to draw its attention. If they were going to stand any chance, she had to be the bait.
The Nemean Lion, eyes fixed on her, crouched low, its muscles tensing as it prepared to pounce.
With a surge of adrenaline, Thalia lunged, her spear crackling with lightning as she thrust it toward the lion's face. The spear struck true, a blinding flash of light as the electricity exploded against the lion's fur. But as the smoke cleared, she saw that the beast was unharmed, its fur untouched by the attack.
"Crap," she muttered under her breath, leaping back just as the lion swiped a massive paw at her. The wind from the blow nearly knocked her off her feet. "Not even a scratch!"
Zoë, from the side, unleashed a flurry of arrows, each one bouncing harmlessly off the lion's hide. "It is as I feared. No mortal weapon can pierce its hide!"
The lion roared again, its fangs bared, and lunged at Thalia with terrifying speed. She barely had time to dodge, rolling to the side just as its claws raked the ground where she had been standing. She came up, panting, her mind racing. There had to be a way. There was always a way.
And then it happened.
The sound of wood splintering behind them snapped everyone's attention away from the fight. The coffin - the one that had fallen earlier - was glowing. The name Perseus etched into the lid pulsed with an ancient power. For a brief moment, everything went still. Even the lion hesitated, its ears flicking toward the coffin as if sensing the change in the air.
The voice they had heard before was louder now, unleashing a string of Greek curses.
The lid exploded.
From the dust and debris, a figure emerged, tall and imposing. His armor gleamed in the museum's artificial lights, and in his hand was a sword that seemed to hum with power.
Thalia's breath caught in her throat. A boy stepped forward, his eyes sharp, his expression unreadable as he took in the scene before him - the wreckage of the museum, the massive lion, and the startled demigods.
The first thing she noticed was that he was hot.
Like, absurdly hot.
His face was carved like marble, sharp jawline and high cheekbones making him look like he'd stepped out of an ancient sculpture. His armor, worn and battle-scarred, clung to his broad shoulders and muscular frame, but it was his eyes - deep, sea-green and intense - that held her attention. He swept the room with a gaze that seemed to pierce through everything, assessing the chaos as if he'd seen much worse in his time.
Thalia blinked, trying to shake off the ridiculous thought. She was standing in front of a demigod who'd just burst out of an ancient coffin, and here she was, thinking about how attractive he looked.
The guy's eyes flicked to her for just a moment, his expression still unreadable, before settling on the lion, now pacing with unease.
"Who-" Thalia started, but her voice was hoarse. She cleared her throat, trying to sound a little more authoritative. "Who are you?"
The boy raised an eyebrow as if the question was unnecessary. "Perseus," he said in Greek, his voice deep, laced with confidence. He pointed the sword toward the Nemean Lion, the weapon glowing faintly. "And that," he added, his gaze never leaving the lion, "is a poor excuse for a challenge."
Without another word, Perseus charged.
It was like watching lightning strike. One moment, he was standing still, and the next, he was across the room, his sword slashing through the air with deadly precision.
The Nemean Lion let out a deafening roar, but Perseus moved with such speed and precision that it seemed as if time itself slowed down. His sword sliced through the air, striking the lion's golden fur. The beast snarled and swiped at him, but Perseus was faster. He ducked, rolled, and countered with a series of rapid strikes.
Thalia watched in stunned silence as water began to form around Perseus, drawn from seemingly nowhere. It swirled around him like a living thing, lashing out at the lion with the force of a tidal wave. The water was crashing into the lion again and again.
The Nemean Lion stumbled, its impenetrable fur no match for the raw power of the ocean.
With a final, mighty swing, Perseus brought his sword down on the lion's neck. The blade glowed, and with a sound like thunder, the beast crumpled to the ground.
Dead.
The museum fell silent, save for the faint mortal shouts. Perseus stood over the fallen lion, breathing heavily, his sword still glowing with the power of the gods.
Zoë, who had been silent this whole time, looked as though she was about to faint. "Perseus… you should be dead."
He turned to Zoë, his expression unreadable. "Zoë." She nearly flinched when he said her name. "I have not seen you since the Gigantomachy, but why would I be dead?"
Thalia thought she ought to tell him. "Dude, it's not-" she began, but the words stuck in her throat as Perseus turned his gaze on her, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
"-the Gigantomachy ended millennia ago. You're not supposed to be here," she finished, her voice faltering as she processed the impossibility of the situation. Zoë was pale, her face a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Perseus raised an eyebrow. "Millennia? What are you talking about? The Gigantomachy was mere-" He paused, his eyes narrowing, scanning the room once more. The unfamiliar lights, the modern decor, the clothing of the demigods - everything around him screamed of a world far removed from the one he knew. His grip on the sword tightened.
Thalia swallowed hard, taking a step forward. "You were in that coffin, right? You've been... asleep, or trapped. Or dead. I don't know, but it's been ages since the Gigantomachy. A lot has changed."
The weight of her words hung in the air. For a moment, the only sound was Perseus's shallow breathing, the tension radiating from him like a storm ready to break.
Zoë finally spoke, her voice trembling with emotion. "You were supposed to die. We... we thought you had perished in battle. No one ever saw you again."
Perseus's eyes flickered with something like recognition, perhaps a memory, but it vanished quickly, replaced by a cold detachment. "I do not die so easily, Zoë," he said, though his voice held no arrogance - just a simple fact.
Thalia cleared her throat, still trying to process everything. "Okay, so... you're, like, the Perseus? The guy who killed Medusa? That Perseus?"
He looked confused. "I have never slain a 'Medusa'. Are you sure-"
Zoë cut it. "That is a different Perseus. The one in front of us right now is the first."
Thalia blinked, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Wait, the first? You mean... like an original? Before the one who killed Medusa?"
Zoë nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving Perseus. "Yes. The first hero named Perseus. The one who fought alongside the gods in the ancient wars. He was the first of many to bear the name."
Thalia exchanged a glance with Grover, who looked equally perplexed, while Bianca stood frozen in awe.
"So, you're... some kind of legendary demigod?" Thalia asked, her voice barely hiding the disbelief.
Perseus did not answer immediately. His eyes flickered over Zoë again, and a brief shadow of old memories seemed to stir beneath the surface. "Legendary or not, I served Olympus... and I was abandoned." His words carried a bitter weight, and Zoë flinched, her guilt apparent.
"Perseus, we did not know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We thought you were lost."
Perseus's gaze softened for a moment before the cold detachment returned. "Well, it seems I am found." He took a step forward, his presence overwhelming. "Now, tell me. What war am I waking up to this time?"
Thalia raised an eyebrow. "Who said anything about a war?"
Perseus responded to her raised brow with one of his own. "A monster as powerful as the Nemean Lion does not just appear of its own volition. Someone, or something, must have brought it here."
Bianca spoke up. "Sounds like you've fought before."
He nodded. "I have. Many battles, many quests, across my life."
"You look fourteen!" Thalia said, her voice tinged with amazement. "I mean, that's probably how old you were when you... when you died."
"Age does not discount what I have done. You seem my age, but I am sure you are a great hero." Thalia blushed. Perseus's expression darkened, a flicker of hurt passing over his face. "So, I've been reduced to a memory in the eyes of the gods, left behind in this... strange new world."
Zoë took a hesitant step forward. "You were never meant to be forgotten. We believed you had perished long ago, and we mourned your loss. But now... now you're here."
Perseus's eyes, though still young, held a depth of ancient weariness. "I was a hero long before some of you were born. And I see that nothing is as it once was. So tell me, what am I to do in this new age?"
Grover tried to steady his voice. "We're trying to save Artemis right now, and it seems like we could use all the help we can get. Maybe... maybe you could help us, and find out more about what's happened since you were last awake."
"Artemis?" Perseus looked genuinely surprised. "Lady Artemis has been captured?"
Grover nodded. "Yes, and we could use your help!"
Perseus's gaze swept over the group, assessing them. "Very well, satyr. I will lend my aid. But I will also seek answers for myself. It seems this new world has many mysteries."
Thalia ran a hand through her hair, trying to make sense of it all. "Well, that's nice and all. But... what are you doing here? How did you end up in that coffin?"
Perseus didn't answer right away. His eyes had drifted back to the fallen Nemean Lion, his expression darkening. "There are things even gods cannot control. Time, fate... I have been left behind, it seems."
Zoë stepped forward now, her face filled with guilt. "Perseus, I... I never knew. None of us knew what had become of you."
"I need no apologies, especially not from you, old friend." Perseus turned his gaze back to her, his eyes softening just a fraction. "I suppose it doesn't matter now. What matters is that I'm here. And so are these monsters."
Thalia couldn't help but blurt out, "Yeah, about that - how did you just destroy the Nemean Lion like it was nothing?"
Perseus shrugged, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "I have fought it before. Some beasts never learn."
Zoë, still shaken, spoke softly. "What will you do now, Perseus?"
Perseus looked out at the destruction he had wrought, the mortal world around him so foreign yet familiar in its chaos. "That depends," he said. "What is this world I have awoken to?"
Thalia noticed Perseus had been speaking Ancient Greek this entire conversation. He probably doesn't even know how to speak English, she pointed out.
She exchanged a glance with Zoë and then back to Perseus. "We'll figure this out later, but right now, we need to move. Like, now."
Perseus nodded, the urgency clear in his eyes. But as they all prepared to leave, he turned one last time to the Nemean Lion, his expression darkening. "The monsters have returned," he muttered.
"They never left," Thalia said grimly, already moving toward the exit. "Welcome to the twenty-first century."
Perseus followed, his face hardening as the weight of this new world settled on his shoulders. "Then it seems I have a new war to fight."
Um, so that's all! Chapters will get longer. Review!