Chapter 41: Scarlett Says I'm Still a Person, So That's Nice
They left Lucifer back in the IT room, to serve as an early warning signal for if things went further to shit upstairs. The three of them navigated through a maze of stone corridors before Scarlett held up her hand, warning them to slow down.
"They're nearby," she whispered, "Lots of guards."
"Scout it out with shadow travel," Percy instructed. "Find out if there are any that are out of sight. I don't want a nasty surprise when we go in."
The daughter of Hades nodded and proceeded to melt into the nearest shadow.
"She's crazy," Annabeth whispered into his ear, "I've never seen a demigod that powerful. Nico couldn't shadow travel until he was like 12, and even then it used to exhaust him."
"I think Nico has been training her," Percy replied, turning to look down at her stormy gray eyes, "And she has ancient demons living in her head. When she grows up she's going to be so powerful it won't be fair."
Annabeth's eyes stared off into the shadows where Scarlett had disappeared. "She's so young," she breathed, her eyes clouded with concern, "She reminds me of me, when I was on the run with Luke and Thalia."
Percy gripped her hand and squeezed it, "Don't worry, I'll look after her."
Annabeth looked up at him and started scanning his face, analysing him.
"Do I have something on my face?" He teased.
Annabeth's eyes settled on his, "I'm just thinking you would have made a good dad."
Percy felt his jaw slacken slightly. This was what he wanted. This was everything he had wanted, and he wanted to enjoy every moment of it, but…
"Wise Girl…" he breathed, his eyes falling away from hers, "What about Teddy?"
Annabeth stiffened, and when he looked back up at her face her features had hardened, "I don't want to talk about Teddy," she said through gritted teeth, "I'm a grown woman…I make my own decisions."
"I just don't want to do something you regret." Percy cautioned.
Annabeth closed the distance between them and caught his lips with hers. It had the same fire, the same passion that had been burning in all of their kisses since she had first made the leap in the closet. She held them for a few seconds, until she had to break away to breathe, "I've got a lot of regrets Percy," she gasped, "You were never one of them."
"I want you," Percy told her, "But I don't want to ruin your life."
Annabeth breathed deeply through her nose, bowing her head slightly, "My mother is done controlling my life. I want you, you want me. It's my life. Mine to live. I'm not going to let someone else dictate the terms and decide the ending. I could die today, and if I have to face that danger you are the person I want next to me. You've always been the person I want next to me."
Percy pulled her closer, overwhelmed and quite frankly in awe of what she was saying. From the argument with Teddy in the car to her turning away from him at Frank and Hazels, all the signs had pointed that she wouldn't choose him, that she couldn't choose him. But here she was, casting everything else aside…for him.
"And what about Castle and Jason?" Percy asked, wanting to punch himself for asking all these questions that had the chance of pushing her away from him. But he had to know.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Annabeth replied, lifting her head to stare into his eyes once more, "Let's focus on getting out of here in one piece, then we can worry about where to go from here."
There was a ripple in the shadows and Scarlett emerged, looking slightly worse for wear but her eyes were alight nonetheless, "Eight guards in total. Two demigods, one magician, and five regular soldiers."
"How can you tell the difference?" Annabeth asked.
"I can't," the daughter of Hades shrugged, "But Satan could."
"I will never get used to her just casually mentioning Satan," Annaeth muttered, looking at Percy.
Percy just grinned, touseling Scarletts hair, "Good job, now for the fun part." And without waiting for either of them to react, he strode past them, out into the hallway, and headed straight towards the prison cells.
The hallway opened up into a circular room, with doors leading to the various prisons lining the wall. In the center four of the guards were playing poker, immersed in their game. One stood guarding the hallway that Percy was approaching from, while there was a guard stationed next to four of the six prison doors.
"Halt," The guard facing him announced, drawing the attention of everyone, "Identify yourself."
Percy ignored him, striding closer and closer.
The guard facing him raised his weapon, a machine gun. Percy smirked.
"Identify yourself or we will fire."
A second passed, maybe two. The guard didn't ask again, instead they opened fire with a barrage of bullets raining down on him. As Percy had anticipated, the bullets just bounced off, sending up a spray of sparks around him as they were deflected onto the stone.
The bullets ceased almost as soon as they had begun. "Defensive positions," one of the men at the poker table yelled, grabbing what looked like a riot shield from a small armoury cache propped up against one of the walls. Three other guards joined him, linking up shields until they were able to cover the entrance to the hallway in a modern day equivalent to a phalanx.
Behind them a woman twirled a staff out of thin air. The 'Duat' Percy remembered, grateful for the small bits of Egyptian knowledge that Carter had demanded he learn during his various encounters with him. At least he was able to identify the magic user. His skin was vulnerable to that, so he needed to keep them in his line of sight.
He crouched down, tensing his legs before springing himself forward towards the riot shield phalanx. He cocked an arm back and drove it into the dead center of the shield wall, sending the two guards in the center flying under the force of his blow, immediately shattering the phalanx and causing the other two guards to hastily retreat deeper into the room.
He had barely taken a half step forward when a snake of fire darted towards him from the side. It dove for his neck, but as it slammed into him a cool wave passed over him, and what would have been fatal to most simply caused him to take a half step back as the fire snake died out against his skin. Bulletproof and fireproof. It really wasn't even fair.
He braced himself to jump towards the woman with the staff who had launched the snake, but before he could do so the familiar schink of a sword being pulled free of its scabbard distracted him. He turned to see one of the guards that had been sitting next to a prison cell door pulling a second sword free from its scabbard. They were narrow blades, almost like rapiers, with a protective handle around the pommel. She twirled them experimentally, before clicking a button on the side of them. Almost instantly a white light coated the blade, humming with energy.
"Is that a lightsaber?" Percy gasped, his jaw dropping to the floor, "That is so cool."
"It's a high-energy, nuclear powered, celestial bronze rapier," the woman corrected.
"It looks an awful lot like a lightsaber." Percy pointed out.
The woman didn't respond, instead she leapt towards him, swinging the blades with practiced effort. Percy, instead of falling back, drove forward, moving inside her guard with speed and precision. He slammed his palm into her wrist as he moved inside her defense, spinning around her body as he did so to avoid the blades. The force of his hit caused her hand to open and release one of the blades. As he carried on past and behind her, he scooped up the blade by the pommel before it could hit the floor.
He took a few steps away from her, weighing the blade in his hands. "This is so cool," he repeated, "You guys have lightsabers? You guys have been hoarding all the cool shit."
The woman turned back to him with a scowl, posturing aggressively with her one remaining blade, "That is government property, give it back."
Percy swung the blade dramatically, "Okay, I'll be Anakin, you be Obi Wan." He cleared his throat, "YOU TURNED HER AGAINST ME!"
The woman snarled and launched herself at him again, swinging for his head. He parried the blow and swiftly backstepped to catch her follow up swing to his legs.
"You're not supposed to attack yet," he chastised her, "You're supposed to say 'You have done that yourself.'"
The woman twisted away from him before thrusting towards his chest. He met the blow midair and knocked it away, dancing out of reach and back into the middle of the room. He glanced around, and realised that the rapiers were not reserved to just the woman he was fighting. Four more guards circled him, all holding the government version of the lightsaber.
He looked down at the blade and his impulsive side took over. He gently tapped the glowing blade against his skin, and hissed in pain when he realised that it burned into his skin in a similar way that the knife the person guarding his cell had used. He might be bulletproof and fireproof, but apparently they had accounted for that. He was actually going to have to lock in for this one.
He didn't give the guards time to prepare themselves, darting to the right and driving the blade towards the handle of the soldier's rapier. The guard managed to backstep and meet the blow with an impressive reaction time. Unfortunately, so much of the guard's efforts went to blocking the swing that he wasn't able to react to the fist that caught him square in the jaw. It was almost comical, the way the guard hung in the air, his body going limp as the force of the blow knocked the consciousness out of him.
Percy met the followup swing from the next closest guard as a mere reaction. Their blades hissed as the energy crackled between them, but Percy stepped closer to the flickering blades, leveraging his superior strength to force the guards blade downwards. His hand shot out, slamming hard into their throat. The guard staggered back, the rapier slipping from his grasp as they clutched their throat, crying out in a scream that they simply couldn't generate the air to let out. Percy caught the rapier before it hit the ground, and now turned on the remaining three lightsaber wielding guards with a blade in each hand.
It had been mere seconds, but the demonstration had been enough to give the remaining guards pause. The female magician had backed into a corner, whispering under her breath and drawing hieroglyphics in the air in front of her. A man stood next, leaning against the door of a prison cell. His cool, laid back demeanor in the face of Percy's onslaught caused Percy a bit of concern. If he wasn't scared, there was a reason.
Percy turned his attention back to the three guards in front of him. Three in front of him, two he had taken out, three unaccounted for. Percy glanced behind him to see one of the guards running back down the hallway he had just come. As he turned the corner he was abruptly introduced to Annabeth's elbow. There was a crack of a broken nose that Percy heard even from where he was standing, and Annabeth wasted no time in pulling a handgun from the guards waist and training it on his forehead.
With another guard taken care of, Percy scanned the room for the last guard, finding her fiddling with something in the stockpile of weapons up against the wall. Deciding that that was officially Scarletts job, he turned back to his three lightsaber wielding opponents.
They were more cautious now. The woman that Percy had initially disarmed seemed uncertain, her eyes darting back and forth between Percy and another female guard to her left. It was when Percy looked the other female guard up and down that he understood why. She was in the centre of the three, standing just a little taller, shoulders squared with the kind of confidence that only came from knowing you were the strongest person in the room. Years of fighting to stay alive meant he recognised when someone carried power around with an aura.
She moved with the practiced ease of a soldier, her stance grounded, balanced and ready. Even before the fight had started, something about her had set her apart from the others. The way she carried herself, the way she barely reacted while the other two guards rolled their shoulders, adjusting their grips. She didn't prepare. She didn't need to.
And then, with the flick of her wrist, she confirmed it.
She pressed something on her vambrace, just a subtle movement, a quick tap of her fingers against a near-invisible trigger, and a metallic hiss filled the air. Armor unfolded across her body in smooth, mechanical waves, like liquid steel wrapping around her limbs. Segmented plates snapped into place over her arms and chest, locking together with an efficiency that made Percy think of Iron Man, or maybe something even sleeker, something designed for war. A deep crimson glow pulsed along the edges of the armor, faint lines of power coursing through the plating as the system came online. Her helmet sealed itself over her face, the dark visor obscuring her features entirely. The only thing left visible was the faint outline of her jaw before it disappeared beneath the final locking mechanism.
Percy exhaled sharply. "They got the gods damn Power Rangers out here," he muttered under his breath.
The woman in the armour spoke, her voice coming out muffled through the helmet modulator, "Last chance to surrender."
"Counter-offer," Percy replied, brandishing his blades, "You point my friends and I to the nearest exit and I won't kick your ass."
"Tempting," The woman responded, "But the United States does not negotiate with terrorists."
"Huh," Percy mused, "Not the first time I've been labelled a terrorist. Really gotta stop making a habit out of that."
A flicker of movement in the corner of his eye was all Percy saw before something hit him in the back with enough force to knock him off his feet. He managed to turn the fall into a roll, but unfortunately he was rolling towards the people with the nuclear powered lightsabers. He landed on his side, using the strength of his upper arm and shoulder to push himself upwards and back to his feet in time to see the guard that had been next to the armory standing with a giant warhammer.
The shaft alone was nearly as long as the guy's entire body, and the hammerhead? A massive block of metal lined with faintly glowing circuitry, pulsing white energy crackling across its surface. It looked more like something meant to demolish walls, not fight in a tight corridor.
The guard shifted his grip and lifted the hammer…or at least, he tried to. It took visible effort to swing it up into a resting position, the weight of it forcing him to adjust his stance just to stay upright. Percy raised an eyebrow.
"You sure you know how to use that thing?" he asked.
The guard didn't answer. He just charged.
Or, at least, he attempted to.
The moment he tried to lift the warhammer for an overhead strike, his balance wobbled. Percy watched, a little fascinated, as the sheer weight of the weapon nearly pulled him sideways. He adjusted, huffing with exertion, and then swung: an enormous, telegraphed arc that took so much effort to lift that Percy had about a year to react.
He didn't even dodge. He just took a casual step back.
The hammer slammed into the floor, hard, sending a jolt through the metal grating. The force would have been impressive if it had hit anything. But the impact sent vibrations rattling up the guard's arms, making him stumble from the sheer recoil. Percy blinked.
"Oh, dude," he said, watching the guy struggle to reset his stance, "That's painful to watch."
It was at this moment that one of the guards behind him lunged. Thankfully, it was sloppy. Percy twisted, deflecting the downward slash with his right saber, stepping inside their guard and smashing his elbow into their helmeted face. The impact sent them stumbling, but he barely had time to breathe before the second opponent, the woman he had initially disarmed, started moving towards him.
She was faster than the other guard, her blade flicking toward Percy's ribs in a sharp, precise arc. He barely managed to catch it on his left saber, pivoting and twisting their weapon aside. The hum of energy crackled between them as they locked blades, the heat burning against his skin. Percy tensed his muscles and pushed back hard, breaking the deadlock before spinning low and sweeping a kick at their legs. It caught them completely off guard, and sent them sprawling against the floor, allowing Percy to turn and meet the red Power Ranger.
And the Power Ranger? She was a problem.
The second their sabers met, Percy knew she was different. Her movements were sharp, brutal, efficient. She didn't waste energy on flourishes or unnecessary strikes, every swing was designed to kill. The sheer force behind her attacks sent shocks up Percy's arms, and when she pressed forward, it took everything he had to keep from losing ground.
Her helmet obscured her face, but her fighting style was familiar. The relentless pressure, the aggressive footwork, the sheer refusal to give an inch. It honestly reminded him of sparring with Clarisse.
His mind almost faltered at the thought, but she didn't give him the luxury. She went for his side, an upward diagonal slash meant to carve him in half. He barely dodged, twisting out of the way, and countered with a fast dual-strike: one saber coming down, the other cutting across.
She blocked both…with just her one blade.
The sheer power behind her parry sent vibrations up his arms. And for the first time in the fight, Percy had to grit his teeth to hold his ground. Whatever the armour was that she was wearing, it was enhancing her physical strength,because there was no way a human, even a demigod, was naturally this strong.
A sharp laugh crackled through her helmet's modulator. "Not bad," she said "But you fight like a Greek. No discipline."
Percy rolled his eyes, "Man, everyone's got beef with the Greeks these days!"
She came at him again, faster this time. Percy barely caught her blade between his sabers, the white light crackling as their weapons locked. Their faces were inches apart now, and behind the visor, he could feel her eyes boring into him
Then, without warning, she shoved him backward with a powerful kick to the chest. Percy grunted as he hit the ground, skidding across the smooth stone. His sabers flickered dangerously in his grip as he gritted his teeth and rolled to his feet. He could feel his pulse pounding and the rush of blood filled his ears.
"Scarlett," he growled, "Hammer boy is yours!"
And with that he exploded forward towards the three guards with the lightsabers. Percy ducked under the horizontal slash of the first one and drove his knee into their gut. They gasped, stumbling backward, and before they could recover, he spun, slashing upward with his right saber. The white plasma blade seared through their weapon's hilt, cutting it clean in half. Sparks burst into the air as the useless metal clattered to the ground. The guard barely had time to register what happened before Percy slammed his closed left fist into their chest, sending them flying into the nearest wall.
Three out of eight down.
The guard he had sent sprawling was upon him again, swinging their saber low toward Percy's legs. But Percy was faster. He leaped over her strike, twisting midair, and with a flick of his wrist, sent his left saber spinning.
The blade whirled through the air like a streak of light, carving cleanly through her weapon before embedding itself in the cool stone behind her. The guard barely had time to react before Percy closed the distance and drove his elbow into her stomach. As they keeled over Percy delivered a hard knock to their temple, and with a groan the woman crumpled to the ground unconscious.
Four out of eight down.
Percy exhaled sharply, twirling his remaining saber once before setting his stance. Now it was just him and her.
The Power Ranger didn't move for a long moment. She stood still, head tilted slightly, as if reassessing the situation. Then, without a word, she charged.
And gods she was fast.
Their blades met in a shower of sparks. The force of her strike sent a shockwave up Percy's arms, but he gritted his teeth and pushed back. The corridor filled with the crackling hum of their sabers, white light clashing against white light as they traded blows.
She fought with brutal efficiency and raw power, but Percy had fought gods and Titans alike. He knew how to handle raw power.
He let her press forward, parrying, dodging just enough to make her think she had control. He settled into a defensive rhythm. She was aggressive and fast, but ultimately like every fighter, she had a pattern. He let her get comfortable, made her feel like she was wearing him down, making his movements incrementally more sluggish and allowing her blade to get closer and closer to breaking his defense. Then he turned the tide.
He feinted left, baiting her into an overcommitted strike. The second she fell for it, Percy pivoted, stepping into her guard and locking their sabers together.
She growled through the modulator, pressing forward to try and overpower him. Percy let her push, then suddenly sidestepped, using her own momentum against her. She stumbled forward just slightly, and that was all he needed. With a flick of his wrist, he disarmed her, his saber slicing clean through the hilt of her weapon. The broken remains of her saber clattered uselessly to the floor. She had just enough time to let out a screech before he spun his saber around, the blade humming inches from her throat. She froze except for the heaving of her chest as she fought to regain her breath.
"I did warn you about the ass kicking," Percy scolded, before looking beyond her at the remaining guards. Scarlett was standing with Annabeth next to the giant warhammer, its previous user currently cowering under the paws of what looked like a large, shaggy black dog.
A slow, steady clap caught Percy's attention, and his gaze flicked over to where the last remaining guard was standing alongside the magician. The magician was still frantically drawing hieroglyphics in the air, but the other guard was staring right at Percy, clapping with vigor that Percy was all but certain was mocking him.
"I told you you couldn't beat him," the man smirked, his eyes flicking to the back of the Power Rangers head, "Waste of the armour if you ask me."
"You could have helped," the Power Ranger growled, "You useless Greek fuck."
The man feigned a wince before turning his attention down to the magician, "How much longer?"
"A minute," the magician panted, beads of sweat beginning to build up on her forehead, "Maybe two. There's a lot of powerful artefacts I have to bypass."
The man nodded, seemingly satisfied by the answer. He turned his attention back to the Power Ranger, "Do you want to come too? Or would you rather I let the Hero of Olympus decapitate you? Iconic way to die if you ask me."
"Traitor," The Power Ranger hissed.
"Pot, kettle, black," the man replied, rolling his eyes, "I'm loyal to the mission. You're loyal to your ego. Ask me for help and I'll help."
The Power Ranger tensed, a few moments of silence passing before she sighed, "Fine…help."
"Let me rephrase that," the man answered, "I want you to beg. I want you to beg this dirty, stupid, useless, traitor Greek to help you because you're too weak to help yourself."
The Power Ranger would have turned if it wasn't for Percy's blade sitting mere inches from her throat. Her mask settled on Percy, who just replied with a shrug, "Your domestic isn't my problem. I'm just here to get my friends."
A deep growl sounded from within the armour. "Rowan," she warned, "If you don't help me I swear to every god there is I will break out of the Underworld just to kick your ass."
"That didn't sound like begging," Percy noted.
Rowan nodded enthusiastically, "See, Percy gets it."
Percy looked over at the guard with a frown, "Who said we were on a first name basis bro?"
It was at this point that Percy was able to actually analyse the man leaning against the wall. He looked a little over twenty, although the circles under his eyes made him seem older. He had short brown hair and bright brown eyes, made all the more noticeable by a green flower tattooed on his cheek. He reminded Percy of Olive, and it was with a start that he realised this was probably a son of Demeter. Scarlett had warned there were two demigods and a magician. One magician found, one demigod found, and if Percy were a betting man he felt fairly certain the Power Ranger was one as well, based on how she fought. Rowan sighed, knocking Percy out of his train of thought, before pushing off from the wall and doing some preliminary stretches, "You owe me one Samira. Don't forget that."
The Power Ranger, Samira, huffed in frustration as Rowan began to stalk towards them.
"Yeah I'm gonna stop you right there," Percy warned the approaching son of Demeter, "One more step and we'll see how resistant this armour is to a lightsaber."
Rowan paused his pace, seeming to weigh up his options. He pursed his lips and cocked his head as he looked at Percy, "You still open to negotiation?"
Percy's eyebrows furrowed, "I thought the United States doesn't negotiate with terrorists?"
"I'm not negotiating on behalf of the United States," Rowan replied, "You release this moron to my custody and…I won't stand in the way of you freeing your friends."
"Since when is she so valuable to you?" Percy asked, "A minute ago you were happy to throw her to the wolves."
"She's not that valuable to me," Rowan chuckled, "But your friends are valuable to you. Let her go, and I'll step aside."
"Who says you standing in my way would be any sort of obstacle for me?" Percy inquired, raising an eyebrow.
Rowan feigned insult, clutching his heart dramatically. "You wound me. But you make a good point. You have all the leverage, so how about we even the situation out a little."
Percy barely had time to process Rowan's words before the floor shifted.
It was subtle at first, a faint tremor beneath the stone, but then a deep groan echoed through the walls, and suddenly, vines erupted from the floor. Thick, twisting tendrils of dark green shot up like striking snakes, moving unnaturally fast.
Annabeth barely had time to react before the vines snapped around her, wrapping around her arms and torso, yanking her off balance. She let out a sharp gasp as she was lifted several inches off the ground, her feet dangling as the vines coiled tighter. The explosion of the vines had also thrown Scarlett from her feet, and she lay dazed on the floor more vines shot through the shaggy dog, ripping it to shreds. The dog dissolved into black smoke and wisped its way back to Scarlett, disappearing up her shirt sleeve.
"ANNABETH!" Percy screamed. He took a step forward, but Rowan simply lifted a hand, and more vines curled around Annabeth's limbs, their thorns gleaming wickedly under the white light of the base.
"Ah, ah," Rowan chided, his voice infuriatingly calm. "You move, she bleeds."
The vines squeezed slightly, just enough to press the thorns closer against Annabeth's skin. She gritted her teeth, trying to shift her weight, but even the slightest movement sent the razor-sharp points closer to piercing her arms.
"That's a cheap shot," Percy growled, his fingers twitching on his saber.
"Effective, though," Rowan countered, tilting his head. "Now we're even."
Percy's whole body tensed, every nerve screaming at him to cut through the vines, to act. But his mind was racing, calculating. He could slice through them, sure, but Rowan was fast, and he had the advantage that he could just summon more. It wasn't like there was a reservoir of water under his feet that he could…
Percy paused. Had he actually even tried to see if there was a reservoir under their feet? After all, the US government would have built this base where they did for a reason, right? And Rowan was summoning those plants from the earth, and plants needed water, no?
Samira, still standing with Percy's saber at her throat, had gone silent, watching the exchange with wary eyes. Maybe she wasn't thrilled with the way Rowan had treated her, but he had switched the situation in their favour quite dramatically.
"Let her go," Percy said, voice low, dangerous. "Or I'll-"
"You'll what, exactly?" Rowan interrupted, stepping closer. "Swing that fancy sword you stole? Slice the vines up? Slice me up?" He gave Percy a pointed look, "You could try. But can you do it before the vines tighten? Before the thorns dig in?"
Rowan squeezed his hand and tightened the vines around Annabeth as if to prove his point. Annabeth inhaled sharply, shifting against her imprisonment, and Percy's hands tightened around his saber. He had to figure something out. Because if there was one thing he wouldn't do, it was stand by while someone threatened Annabeth's life.
Rowan smirked, "So. Ready to negotiate now?"
Athena's words from years ago on Olympus rang in his ears, "Your fatal flaw is personal loyalty, Percy. You do not know when it is time to cut your losses. To save a friend, you would sacrifice the world."
It was so frustrating. He could have all the power in the world, but someone puts a knife to Annabeth's throat and he crumbles like jelly. Scarlett was on the ground, still dazed from the blow, but she managed to meet his eyes from across the room. She cocked her head back ever so slightly, gesturing towards Annabeth, and then nodded at the saber he was holding.
Throwing a lightsaber towards both Scarlett and Annabeth wasn't his preferred course of action, and he could avoid it he would. But his options were limited and getting narrower, especially as Rowan got comfortable with the new status quo. He took a deep breath, feeling the earth around him, searching desperately for any source of water that he could call upon. He could sense small amounts of water on this floor, probably drinking water, but not near enough or in a large enough quantity for him to do anything with. And below him? For as far as his senses allowed him to reach there was nothing beneath him but rock.
"You've gone awfully quiet over there," Rowan noted, "I'm sure I don't need to remind you what's at stake?"
As he finished his question one of the thorny vines shot across Annabeth's face, cutting open the skin and causing a line of dark red to drip down her cheek. Annabeth cried out and Percy felt rage begin to pool in his stomach. It was a feeling he was getting familiar with, and he did nothing to restrain it, allowing it to flow freely through him. Anger gave him power, he knew that much. And if he was going to get them out of this, he needed to be powerful.
A plan began to materialise in his head and he released a breath he didn't know he had been holding. There was no water. There was no help coming. If he wasn't powerful enough to protect Annabeth he wasn't worthy of fighting the Annunaki. This son of Demeter was about to find out what it meant to go toe to toe with the Saviour of Olympus.
Would it put Annabeth and Scarlett at risk?
Probably.
Was it necessary?
Almost certainly.
Was he capable of it?
Without a doubt.
The rage flowing through his veins sharpened his senses, and with a half step to the side he found himself alongside the stone wall. He calmly reached out with his free hand and laid his palm flat against the wall.
Rowan smirked, "Son of the Earthshaker? If you bring this tunnel down you'll kill all of us."
"Earthquakes are my fathers domain," Percy answered quietly, his voice echoing in the silence of the stone corridor, "I prefer something…colder."
He closed his eyes and focused on the feeling he had had back at Camp Half-Blood, in the midst of the Capture the Flag game. The cold fury that had bubbled under his skin then bubbled under his skin now. The ultimate manifestation of his power. His emotions, raw and overwhelming, given elemental form. He would not bow to the will of a mere demigod. The audacity of an ant to threaten the boot. A mere footnote in the legacy he would burn into this world. A forgotten name etched into the list of enemies that bent the knee. This boy would fall…like all the rest.
Energy poured into his palm, held back only by the iron force of his will. All the rage, all the frustration, all the disrespect gathered in one place, ready to be unleashed. An almighty shiver ran down his spine.
"Ice Kingdom."
Ice exploded from where his palm was making contact with the wall, surging in every direction like a tsunami hungry for destruction. The temperature in the hallway plummeted to dangerous levels, and as it did so time seemed to slow. The veins around his wrist seemed to glow ice blue against his skin. When Percy moved, for the others he was merely a blur.
The lightsaber shot through the air like a bullet, embedding itself in the floor next to Scarlett's head a half second before the ice flooded past it. With the lazy grace of a ballerina or a gazelle Percy leapt into the air. For a moment, he hovered. Then he drove his foot into Samira's back, launching off like a springboard. The force of the kick sent her sprawling to the ground, where she was immediately claimed by the avalanche of ice racing in all directions.
Rowan, in a desperate effort to react, clenched his fist, perhaps an attempt to crush Annabethy with his vines, and shot his other hand forward, causing another enormous vines to rip out of the ground and arc through the air towards Percy. He was fast, and it was a demonstration of demigod power that would have even given a child of the Big Three pause. But he wasn't up against any child of the Big Three, he was up against the most powerful one sired in millenia.
The vines around Annabeth, moments from crushing her under Rowan's will, were frozen solid, rendering his commands useless. Percy seized the oncoming vine, perhaps as thick as a tree trunk, ripped it in half through sheer strength alone, leaving Rowan exposed. By the time Percy's foot hit the ground, his hand was already around Rowan's throat, and with force that cracked the stone wall behind him, Percy drove the son of Demeter deep into the concrete.
And just like that, it was over. The magician girl, moments before focused on her hieroglyphics, now looked up into Percy's glowing eyes as he did his best not to crush Rowan's windpipe by accident. Rowan's eyes were unfocused, and blood slowly dribbled down from his right nostril. He seemed to be fighting for breath, and a thought crossed Percy's mind to deny the demigod the air he so desperately craved. But as he looked down at the helpless demigod he couldn't shake the feeling of pity that overtook him. The adrenaline was already wearing off, and as the threat had passed Percy allowed his grip to relax slightly.
The half-conscious demigod sucked in breaths hungrily, gasping at the freezing air for a lifeline. All around them, the hallway was covered in ice. Scarlett staggered to her feet, pulling the lightsaber free, and began to slowly cut through the frozen vines holding Annabeth hostage.
"Please."
Percy's eyes flickered to the magician girl sitting next to him, cowering in fear. Up close he finally got a good look at her, and saw that she couldn't have been older than 18, her face one of abject terror. He could see his glowing eyes reflected in hers.
"Please don't kill him," she begged, "He can be cocky and arrogant but he doesn't deserve to die."
"He threatened her," Percy replied, his voice coming out far colder than he had anticipated.
The girl whimpered, "He was trying to protect his friend. He doesn't deserve to die because of a stupid mistake."
"He would have killed her!" Percy growled, and the magician flinched at the statement, cowering back down, "If she was dead right now would we call it a mistake?"
The magician began to cry softly, burying her face in her knees.
Percy turned back to the son of Demeter who, with air now in his lungs, lay limply against the concrete. He had threatened Annabeth, he'd been willing to kill her just to prove a point. It would be justice. His grip tightened for just a second, and he could feel Rowan's pulse fluttering weakly against his palm like a trapped bird. It was at that moment that Percy realised that the boy was on the verge of death. Was this what Enlil meant? That humanity was weakness? That giving in to his inhumanity gave him strength? As that reality dawned on him he released his grip around his throat and staggered backwards.
He stared down at his hands.
They were still trembling, not from fear or adrenaline, but from the sheer energy that had moved through them. The power that had turned the stone hallway into an arctic landscape. The new icy surface sent cracks webbing out around him as he stepped back.
He had almost killed Rowan. Just like he had almost killed the two guards upstairs.
He was so powerful, and they were so fragile.
He thought of the Annunaki. Of their hatred of mortality and mortals. Of their willingness to kill them.
For a half second he understood why they didn't care. They simply weren't the same level. What right did the weak have in the world of the strong?
The thought twisted in his gut like a blade.
He was shedding his humanity, piece by piece, breath by breath. What was the line between power and cruelty? Between justice and vengeance? And would he even notice when he crossed it?
He looked down to find a small hand gently wrapping around his own. Scarlett stood beside him, her dark eyes wide, not with fear, but with warmth.
"Hey," she whispered, her breath fogging up in the cold air. Percy stared at her, eyes burning. Her hand was so small in his, "You could've killed him, but you didn't. You were protecting me and you were protecting Annabeth."
He felt stinging in the corner of his eyes. He sank to one knee, gripping her hand tighter, his voice raw.
"I'm becoming a monster."
Scarlett didn't hesitate. She leaned forward and threw her arms around him, hugging him tight despite the freezing air that still radiated from his skin.
"You're my cousin," she said, a firmness in her voice, "You're my family."
He closed his eyes, leaning his forehead gently against hers. "Thank you," he whispered, voice hoarse, "Thank you, Scarlett."
Scarlett pulled back, a small smile on her face, "Anything for you bozo."
Percy managed a breath, maybe even the ghost of a smile.
And then he felt her.
She knelt down in front of him, her shoes crunching softly on the ice. For a long moment, she didn't speak. She just looked at him with those stormy gray eyes that always saw more than he wanted them to.
She reached up and brushed a small piece of destroyed vine from his hair. Her fingers lingered there a moment too long. "You okay?" she asked, her voice steady, but barely.
Percy let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Are you?"
Annabeth hesitated, "I've been worse."
But she didn't move. She didn't smile. Instead, she lowered her gaze to his hands, still trembling slightly in his lap, and her jaw tightened.
"You didn't see yourself," she said quietly, "When you grabbed him, I…I didn't even recognize your face."
Percy flinched like she'd slapped him.
"I almost killed him," he admitted, his voice rough, "Not in battle. Not in the heat of the moment. After. I was holding him and thinking about how easy it would be to stop him from breathing."
Annabeth swallowed hard, "But you didn't."
"I wanted to," Percy choked, "And that's the part that scares me. I've always known I'd do anything to protect the people I cared about, but I thought that meant being a hero. Not…whatever that was." He met her eyes, pain plain on his face, "You were right there. And I lost control. Just like I always do when it's you." He shook his head, "I'm not even thinking straight anymore when you're in danger. That's not strength. That's…"
"Weakness?" Annabeth asked.
Percy looked away.
But she reached forward, placing a hand gently against his cheek, guiding his gaze back to hers.
"No," she whispered, "You always carry too much. You always feel too much. That's what makes you powerful, Percy. And that's what makes you you." She took a deep breath, and when she continued her voice trembled just slightly, "Back in the closet, I wasn't thinking about what was right. I was thinking about you. About how you're the only person I've ever felt safe with, even when the world is on fire." She leaned in, her forehead resting lightly against his, "And today? When I saw those vines…I wasn't afraid. Because I knew you'd come."
The cold around him softened. The guilt in his chest didn't vanish, but it cracked, just enough to let something warmer in.
"I don't know if I can fix this," Percy murmured, his voice barely audible, "Whatever I am. Whatever I've become."
As Annabeth, Scarlett and Percy spoke, the magician moved quietly.
She hadn't dared interrupt the moment between the demigods, not while Percy Jackson still looked like a walking natural disaster. But now, with his attention locked on the blonde girl kneeling in front of him, and the daughter of Hades clinging protectively to his side, she saw her window.
Rowan was still slumped against the wall, barely conscious. His breath puffed in short, sharp bursts against the ice-slick stone, and blood from his nose had frozen into a thin crust beneath one nostril.
She crawled over to him, and as she reached his side whispered a soft incantation under her breath. A faint golden glow spread from her fingers as she touched his chest, just enough warmth and magic to get him to stir.
"Gods, you're such an idiot," she whispered, "Why do you always have to act like you're invincible?"
Rowan stirred faintly, eyelids fluttering open, "Because it usually works," he rasped, managing a weak smirk, "Did anyone get the license plate of that hurricane?"
She slid his arm around her shoulders, and though she nearly buckled under his weight, she didn't hesitate, "You're heavier than you look," she muttered, mostly to herself, "Come on, less talking more escaping."
"Aw gee Leila, didn't know you cared," Rowan mumbled, his smile sleepy and smug.
She rolled her eyes too fast, and it didn't quite hide the pink creeping into her cheeks. "I-I don't," she said, sounding as if she was trying to convince herself as much as him.
They made their way over towards Samira. She groaned faintly, half-buried under a thin layer of frost. Leila clicked a button on the side of the helmet and the visor opened.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Cold," Samira replied tiredly.
Leila pulled out her staff from the Duat and it began to emit a warm flame, melting the ice sheet covering Samira.
"It's time to go. Can you walk?"
Samira cursed under her breath but nodded, staggering upright. Leila grabbed her by the hand and began to whisper more incantations. The air shimmered around them, the glyphs lighting them up in a soft, golden spiral.
That was when Percy looked up.
As Percy rose, so too did Annabeth. While she looked tired and emotional, her eyes were stormy and sharp. The daughter of Athena turned her attention to Samira, who was leaning against Leila for support.
Annabeth tilted her head, "That armour," she said calmly, "Take it off."
Samira scoffed, "You think I'm just going to hand it over?"
"No," Annabeth said, stepping closer, her tone dropping, "I think you're smart enough to know what will happen if you don't."
Percy raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Leila's eyes met Percy's from across the room. The daughter of Hades had already returned the lightsaber to him. If he wanted to stop them, he could. But instead he simply stood back, content to let Annabeth take the lead.
Samira hesitated, then hissed something under her breath. She tapped a panel on her wrist, and with a hiss of decompressing hydraulics, the segmented armour shimmered. Like liquid steel, it peeled back from her torso, arms, and legs, folding and collapsing inward with startling efficiency. The armour retracted fully into two sleek vambraces, one on each wrist. She slid them off with a glare and held them out.
Annabeth took them without flinching, her expression unreadable, "Thanks."
She turned the vambraces over in her hands, already analysing them. She looked impressed, and maybe just a little amused.
"Government-issue Power Ranger armor," she muttered, "Looks like Christmas came early."
Percy let out a soft chuckle, "You planning on suiting up?"
"I'm planning on surviving," she replied, slipping one vambrace onto her wrist. It clicked into place like it had been made for her.
Samira looked like she wanted to protest, but Percy raised his saber slightly, and she decided against it.
Leila exhaled, raising her free hand to trace a glowing circle of hieroglyphics in the air. The incantation she'd been building was almost ready, lines of gold looping around them like a protective shell.
She glanced back over at Percy to see if he was going to stop them.
But he didn't.
He just watched.
Her hand trembled slightly as she drew the final glyph.
In a flash of golden light and shimmering runes, the three of them vanished, leaving the arctic hallway behind.
Percy watched the last of the glyphs fade into nothingness, leaving behind only the silence and the bitter cold. He didn't move.
Annabeth said nothing. Scarlett stood beside him, clutching his arm gently.
He could've stopped them. He probably should've stopped them.
But maybe, just this once, mercy was more important than vengeance.
Author's Note: Hey everyone, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you did please leave a review. If you didn't please also leave a review. If you're hungry, please leave a review. If you're not hungry….I think you get the vibe.
See you, hopefully very, soon.