"Welcome, Perseus Jackson. I've heard so much about you. I'm King Polemus and this is my wife Hybris."
The son of Poseidon was silent for a moment, not really sure how to reply. He had never heard of the two before, he was sure of that. He would've remembered if Annabeth had mentioned their names before but she hadn't nor had any of the Gods of Olympus.
He was sure, however, that they were of the Greek pantheon. Their names sounded Greek and the attire they wore was certainly similar to it.
"Good to meet you. Can I ask what I'm doing here?" He replied, doing his best to sound cordial despite how rude he was known to be with immortals. He wasn't sure just how powerful these two deities were and since he was in their domain, he had to be careful. For all he knew, they could be the most evil people who wanted him dead.
The Goddess that had led him here, Hybris her name was, didn't strike him as an evil person. She didn't have that dark, cold air around her. Her husband though was a different story. He tried to hide it behind a smile and relaxed posture but Percy could see through the facade. He could see the raw power behind those eyes and the strained muscles that were itching to unleash hell. He's seen this type of person time and time again. Luke, Kronos, Gaea, and even himself. They all were similar in that regard.
"Well when we found you, you were absolutely battered and your entire body was broken. If my wife hadn't healed you when she did, you wouldn't be here right now."
The son of Poseidon knew that much due to Hybris's and his conversation in the garden earlier. The question that still remained, however, was why. Why did she save him and how? The last thing he remembered was that Orc beating him to a pulp and dragging him off somewhere to a temple. Was this actually the temple the monster had dragged him to and these two immortals were scheming against him? Or were they good and actually wanted to help? The plethora of questions he had and the lack of answers certainly frustrated him. This must've been what Annabeth always felt like in situations such as these.
"I appreciate the help." He replied, keeping his tone even. "But why save me?"
Polemus stayed silent for a moment, probably debating how to answer that. Whispering something to his wife to which she promptly left the room, leaving just he and Percy in there.
"Because I need you to help me."
"Help you?" He asked.
"Yes." The king nodded. "I know it might not feel like it but we are indeed still in Tartarus."
Percy kind of figured that despite his hope he was far, far away from that Godsforsaken place. He was never that lucky and the Fates probably wanted to have him suffer more before he ever saw the light of day again.
"Yes, I know how you feel. I've been stuck down here for millennia but I think things are about to change now that you're here."
"Me?" Percy pointed to himself. How could he possibly help this guy when he himself can barely survive in Tartarus?
"Yes, I believe that you can help Hybris and I escape this place. You see this device in my hand?"
Percy's eyes shifted over to Polemus's hand and saw something that looked like a compass. It was black with a red arrow in the middle of the dial. Pretty standard compass he had to admit.
"It's our way out of here."
The son of Poseidon gained an incredulous look on his face. A compass? A fucking compass? That was their way out of the deepest pit of hell that barely anyone can escape from. It couldn't be that easy."
"I know what you're thinking, Perseus, but believe me this can work now that you're here. I've had this compass in my possession for as long as I can remember but I could never use it. It doesn't work for Gods like me. I later found out that only a demigod can use it but as you know they're not many demigods that venture down here."
Polemus suddenly tossed the compass into Percy's hands. Catching it, he noticed that the red arrow suddenly started to spin before pointing to the left, something that it wasn't doing before when the God had it.
"Ah good, it still works."
Percy eyed it some more before putting it in his pocket. He knew he probably shouldn't trust this guy. His instincts were telling him that something was wrong but if he was going to get out of here, he needed to work with him and if this compass did lead him to a way out of Tartarus then it was worth it. He'd do whatever it took to see his family again.
"Do you know what it leads to? Like a door or a cave that leads up or something like that?" He asked to which Polemus shook his head.
"Nope, no clue. Like I said, it doesn't work on Gods so when you do arrive wherever it leads you, be careful. Who knows what creatures or things await."
The demigod was apprehensive, to say the least. Here he was in a relatively safe space with no monsters trying to kill him, poisonous air that burnt his lungs, and glass shards that pierced his feet. Now, however, he was leaving this palace and heading back out there to the no man's land being led blindly by a compass that'll lead him Gods know where. Just his fucking luck.
"Don't worry. I'll supply you with all you need for the journey." The God said as if that made things any better.
Percy wanted to throw in a sarcastic comment but held his tongue. This was still an unknown God that lived in Tartarus of all places. He could probably fuck him up with a flick of the wrist. Instead, he thanked him and prepared for the long road ahead. Grabbing a backpack that had extra pairs of clothes, rations, medical supplies, and bottled Phlegethon River water, it seemed he had everything he needed. Ready to walk out the door, the God, still sitting on his throne, called out to him one last time.
"Our destinies are intertwined from here on out, Perseus Jackson. You're failure leads to my failure. Don't let that happen. We both desire to feel the warmth of the sun's light once again."
The son of Poseidon didn't respond and instead walked out of the throne room without looking back. Something about the way Polemus said that irked him. He had a feeling there was another meaning behind his words but what exactly it was, he didn't know or care. Helping those two Gods were the last thing on his mind at the moment. Now, all he could think about was staying alive and finding the place where the compass led. Nothing else mattered.
"I'll lead you out." Hybris suddenly materialized next to him once he exited the throne room. Shaking off her sudden appearance, Percy followed silently. He wasn't particularly in the mood for pleasantries and meaningless conversation now. The mere thought of going back out there almost made him want to throw up. He didn't know how much more his mind could take before it shattered into a million pieces. He had to do this though. He had to. Staying in that palace where he was safe meant that he would forever be stuck down here.
Solidifying that in his head, he failed to notice that they were at the palace entrance doors now. Almost walking into Hybris, he was shaken out of his inner turmoil when her soft, slender arms wrapped around his much larger frame. His legs almost gave out when he felt her warmth. It reminded him so much of Annabeth.
"Be safe out there, okay? I know my husband can be quite stubborn and couldn't say it so I will. We need you, Percy. You're our only hope out of here." She whispered in his ear, sending goosebumps down his skin. Not able to get the words out, the demigod could only nod in acknowledgment as he looked down at her. Giving a blindingly white smile up at him, the Goddess kissed his cheek as if blessing him before opening the palace doors.
Immediately, Percy could smell the familiar foul odors of hell hitting his face like a freight train. The humid, muggy air was a stark difference from the air in the palace. That alone almost made him stay back. Taking one last breath of the fresh air in the palace, he instead stepped forward into the familiar terrain of Tartarus. Hearing the doors close behind him, he knew there was no turning back now. The only direction now was wherever the compass pointed to.
Closing the doors, Hybris shivered in disgust as she wiped her lips clean of the demigod's stench. She hated having to play the innocent, helpless girl. Rolling her shoulders, she marched her way through the palace back to the throne room. Along the way, figures appeared from the shadows that had not been there before when Percy was inside.
"Your orders, my lady?" A familiar, nasty voice said from the shadows. Hybris was unshaken by the monster's appearance before her. Looking down at it with an aura of egotistical pride and malevolence, she spoke like a queen to a slave.
"I want you to follow the demigod, Lortar. Make sure he gets to wherever the compass leads him. Once he has it, make sure he returns with it. It's our only hope of getting out of here and ruling the surface once again."
The Orc that had dragged Percy to the Palace bowed his head before disappearing into the shadows. Walking into the throne room, Hybris sat on her throne and leaned her head back.
"Is he out?" Polemus questioned next to her.
"He is. I have an Orc following his trail to make sure he retrieves it." She responded.
The King hummed in satisfaction as he sat up from his throne. Walking over to one of the walls of the throne room, he swiped his hand through it like it was mist. Suddenly, it shifted into a large glass window that overlooked a massive cavern. In it were a number of Orcs ranging in the thousands, all looking like they were preparing for war. The sight of his army brought a smile to the Gods face as he watched over them. Everything was finally coming to fruition. If that demigod could succeed in bringing back the last piece he needed, then he could truly rule the world once again.
"We're so close, my love." Hybris said, standing next to him.
"We are indeed. I have faith Perseus will return with it and once he does…" Polemus said, fire dancing in his eyes as he gave a wicked smile. "We'll rebuild the world anew in our image."
-A/N- Saw a review that said why would an Orc beat Percy when he beat Gaea. That's a fair point but you gotta remember that Percy is down in Tartarus which drastically weakens him due to the poisonous air, constant attacks from monsters, and lack of food and sleep. Also, he didn't solely defeat Gaea in this story. Piper used her powers to make her fall asleep. He just got lucky, stabbed, and killed her. Obviously, Percy is gonna be powerful in this story but I don't want to make him a primordial-level threat which is why I had him lose against that Orc.
So to surmise, Percy is going to be powerful but not too powerful where he'll win every battle. I think a main character who can't win every battle and has to struggle to the top is what makes a good story. Just wanted to clear that up."