Chapter Text
“No!” My father’s voice was so loud I think all of Manhattan probably heard it. There was an explosion of power. I screamed in agony and fell to my knees. My cry was echoed by every person of the water on the battlefield.
I looked across the courtyard to where my father had been moments before. Zeus was getting to his feet an expression of pain and shock on his ichor covered face. Golden dust littered the space around him.
The giant stalked towards him and the Trident that lay next to him. Zeus was defenseless. We had already lost too much today. We could not lose him too. I forced myself to my feet. It felt like I was holding the weight of the sky.
The giant leaned down. I saw his intention. A snarl rent the air. He would NOT touch my father’s trident. I held out my hand and called the sea with everything that I had. The trident flew into my hand answering to it’s new master.
Artemis and her twin Phoebus Apollo danced through the fray towards their father. Artemis leapt on the giant’s back. It flung her away, but it was distracted for long enough that Apollo caught hold of it’s hair. “Now Perseus!” he shouted
I threw the trident with all of the strength that I had. It impaled the giant through the throat. Zeus leapt towards me bringing Arguis up to shield us from the resulting blast. Darkness enveloped both of us pulling us back and away from the fight.
We crashed in a heap in the center of the throne room. Hades let us go and stumbled back. Hera had her arms around a sobbing Hestia. The hearth was nothing but coals, they were barely even glowing.
I stumbled to where Persephone was holding a sobbing Pegasus and Triton. Queen Amphitrite was laying unconscious nearby. I looked around frantically for the rest of my siblings. Kym was laying unconscious at the foot of Father’s throne. Rhodes was too.
Triton stood up and turned as I got closer. “First Benthy now Father. What hope is there now?” I pressed Father’s Trident into his hand. He was the eldest. It was his responsibility to keep it until father returned. “if he returned” whispered a traitorous voice in the back of my head. I told it to shut up.
“Take the queen.” I told him. I looked at Pegasus. “Take our sisters.” I ordered “Return to Atlantis. You can do no more here. Our people are too weakened by father’s loss. They cannot fight.” I shuddered. “Return home. I will do what can be done here.” I said and then I went to the hearth.
I pushed back my grief. This was not the time. Grieving could come later. For now, we had work to do. I knelt next to Hestia. “Do you remember what I told you the last time we were here together?” I asked her gently.
She rubbed her eyes. “You told me that hope survives best at the hearth.” I nodded “And to that I hold. Stand fast aunty. Brave the storm. We will get through this.” She smiled and put a hand on my cheek. “We will find our way, my champion.” she agreed.
“We will get through it.” Phoebus said coming up behind me. He dropped a kiss on top of my head. “Just not in the way you might expect.” he said his voice seeming far away. I tensed at the note of prophecy in the air, but it was gone as quickly as it came.
I got to my feet pulling Phoebus up with me. “Well sunshine?” I asked “Are we ready?” he nodded “Yes, lets do this. For your father, for”, he paused with a pained sob, “ Hermes...” he whispered brushing his fingers over the faded infinite loop at the base of his throat. He trailed off for a moment and a tear ran down his cheek.
Then he growled “For Will and Annabeth and Grover. For all that we have lost. Lets make them pay.” I grinned at him showing my small sharp teeth.
He looked back down at Aunty Hestia. “Be ready.” he said softly. “When the time comes, you will know. Tell father...it’s the nightmare scenario. The children are our last hope.” Hestia gasped but nodded. Phoebus took my hand again and we flashed away to rejoin the battle.
We landed next to Nico who was waning as he summoned legions and legions of the dead. Thalia was fighting a graceful dance of lightning and celestial bronze around him. Together, they were unstoppable. Phoebus and I leapt into the fry beating back the hoard.
When the yard had been cleared Nico sagged against me as his knees buckled. “I’m sorry about your dad.” he murmured. I looked around at the carnage of the battlefield. Tears burned my eyes. I looked away. Instead I pressed the tips of my fingers against the infinite loop on his neck and pushed all the power I could spare into my blood brother.
I looked at Phoebus who was tending to Thalia’s injuries while Artemis stood guard. “Phoebus.” I called. “You told Aunty we would be in the nightmare scenario. What did you mean by that?” I asked tightly.
His eyes flashed their beautiful golden. “I can’t tell you that. If I tell you what must happen, you will not allow it to happen.” he said firmly. I looked down. “Yo boss!” Echoed in my mind. I looked up as the sound on huge wings drummed through the sky.
Despite the sorrow of the day, I couldn’t help but smile at my Pegasus. “Percy, Apollo help!” Rachel called from his back. I gasped as my Pegasus landed. Rachel slid off of his back barely keeping Dionysus from falling.
“Oh gods.” Nico breathed. Apollo gently took his brother from Blackjack. Artemis and Thalia rushed forward.
“Oh don’t be so dramatic Tilldy” Mr.D grumbled when Thalia knelt next to him. Artemis looked up at Nico and me. “Take your cousins, beloved child.” she ordered me. We are not done yet.” I nodded and Rachel climbed back up on Blackjack’s back.
Thalia and I supported a still shaky Nico between us, and we started back towards the throne room. All of the sudden a horrible Icy feeling shot up my spine. I spun around just in time to see Phoebus push his twin out of the way and the arrow meant for her and watch it strike him in the chest.
There was an explosion of power. Someone covered my eyes. For the second time that day, I screamed falling to my knees. A horrible scream echoed mine. Then I felt it again. Weaker this time, but a horrible loss and now it was Thalia who screamed.
The three of us fell backward into darkness. I opened my eyes to find myself back in the throne room. I stumbled to my feet, tears streamed down my cheeks. Lady Persephone grabbed my arm. “Be kind.” she said warningly. “He is mourning his children.”
Hera jumped to her feet. “And Percy is mourning a fiancé two sisters several cousins his dearest friends and his father. Do not presume to order him about.” I put my hand up to silence them before Persephone could retort.
I looked around and found Zeus sitting on his throne. He looked old and weak. He looked ... broken. There was a blast and screams. I turned to face the entrance of the throne room. It had been magically sealed, but I could see the cracks forming in the barrier.
The next blast shook the whole city. “They’re coming!” someone screamed. Hades ordered Persephone and Hera to defend the entrance. “There is no use.” Came Zeus’ slow sad voice. “Olympus is taken. Hope is lost. It is over.”
I snarled and stalked closer to him, then I pulled using his own blood to force him to his feet. “It is not over.” I growled. “When you became king, you swore that this city would never fall while your family defended it. They still defend it!” angry tears burned my eyes. “They have died defending it and you dare ...” I shook in fury.
“You dare to sit here on your silly little throne and give up?” I huffed and shook my head. “Your people need you. They believe in you...My father believed in you...” I looked up at him. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for. “Will you truly do nothing?”
Uncle Hades stepped up beside me and put his hand on my shoulder. Zeus shook his head. “What can be done against such evil? I have failed.” He shrank down to my height. I met his electric blue eyes.
“Stand with me” I told him firmly. “We ride out and meet them. One last stand.” His eyes seemed to brighten and he appeared a little bit younger and stronger. “It is not our way to flee from a fight.” I reminded him.
He stood straighter and Hera came to his side. “No it is not.” he said softly. “It seems I have forgotten that this day.” Hestia came and stood on my other side. Nico and Thalia stood behind me.
Zeus looked at each of us. “Yes.” he said proudly. “Let us ride. If we should die here tonight, then let us die in glory.” “Brother.” Hestia said quietly. The entire hall when quiet at her voice. “Before he went out for the last time.” she started shakily. “Apollo told me...he said to tell you it was time. This is the nightmare scenario. You know what that means, know what we must now do.”
Zeus’ eyes darkened. He and Uncle Hades seemed to have a silent conversation. Hades nodded. Zeus straightened.
He looked at me. “You will ride out with Hestia.” he ordered. “Thalia you will ride with me and Hera. Nico you will ride with your father and Persephone.” Nico and I shared a look. With all that we had been through today, neither of us wanted to separate.
Zeus continued. “We must get to the far side of the city and into the entrance to the underworld. From there we must get to the Fates. Only they can change our place on the tapestry.” I frowned Change our place on the tapestry? What did that mean?
He met each of our eyes in turn. “If this is the nightmare scenario then there is no other choice, but beware, for if we do this, then we are defying Fate. There will be a price. I will not fault any for turning back now.”
I stepped forward. So did Nico and Thalia. Zeus smiled. “Let us be off then.”