God's Blood

by RuRu (Ruixx)

Summary:

Canon Divergence - Kronos wins

Chapter 1

Summary:

Percy gets captured.

Notes:

How it all went wrong.

If Percy Jackson was asked if she believed in a greater power, or had any faith in gods, she would respectfully deny any and all possible connection to the divine despite being a part of and living in the modern Greek mythological world. Silently of course, and only ever in her head, because blasphemy could be a big problem when your dad was Poseidon and the rest of the pantheon was just waiting for you to slip up and helpfully get you expedited to your gruesome death. Yet, for all her daily offerings, observing the gods in person and working for them, she ultimately lacked faith in them and in their prowess.

 

Were they unimaginably powerful? Yes, they could incinerate her in their true form. Were they lovely? Yes, one look at Aphrodite and you have a whole new standard for beauty. Could they be capable of miracles? Maybe, if they felt like it but they rarely tended to be generous. But her lack of faith truly just hinged on the fact that she did not trust them. As a child of a broken oath, she was intimately aware of the way gods held nothing sacred, and right now, as she looked dazedly up to her captors, probably concussed, she doubted any prayers would save her at all.

 

It started with Charles Beckendorf nearly crashing into her school for their mission. Months of planning culminated into a deep sense of unease despite their best attempts at secrecy. It shadowed her throughout, from their flight to their entry, everything went just right until it wasn’t anymore and she knew there was a spy that was close to both of them in the know. Close enough that they were probably best friends even, it had to be Annabeth or Selena. The crew had caught them red handed. Percy tried her best to fight but there was something in the air that was messing with her senses which gave her opponents enough of an advantage to knock the sword out of her hand and slam her against a wall, a hand around her neck while her knees buckled and head throbbed.

She barely could keep up with the conversation above her head, murmurs chiding the one that choked her, decrying his actions in front of the faintly golden presence she could now recognize as her grandfather, Kronos. She wasn’t to be harmed, she wouldn’t be harmed here, Percy faintly thought, but what about Beckendorf?

 

She blacked out.

 

Percy dreamed of being chained to rocks as a part of a sacrifice to appease the gods, storms raged around her but the rain, oh the rain, it brought her… She snapped awake and looked around for threats. Nothing in sight. She got up with difficulty, there were manacles on both her wrists and feet, probably divine because she couldn’t seem to access any of the powers that came to her as her father’s daughter. It felt like cotton was stuffed in her mouth, and when she drank from the glass offered to her on the table, the feeling didn’t go away. Horrible. The room looked bare except for the bed and bathroom. The window seemed welded shut, and everything was blunted, even the utensils alongside the food on the table.

 

She felt angry, confused and groggy. For one, someone had betrayed her and Charles Beckendorf, the other possibility was that Beckendorf was a willing participant in trapping her. She couldn’t remember if he was injured before, but it burned her nonetheless that someone had done this to her.

 

It could be Annabeth or Selena.

 

Rather than stew in her anger, she put her energy into trying to escape. She tried to lock pick, searched unsuccessfully for Riptide, tried breaking the glass, breaking the door of her room, use the water in the bathroom or its plumbing. Throw things at the window, completely thrash the room but nothing worked in the bland jail. She begged for help for hours on end. If anyone was outside the room, they didn’t give a sign. After fashioning herself a knife with the bathroom’s mirror shards, Percy desperately tried the one thing that she hadn’t yet, she kneeled and prayed.

 

Notes:

Please feel free to share your opinions , mistakes and typos you found while reading. English is my third language, and I’m not completely comfortable with tenses and grammar despite years of communicating with it.

Chapter 2

Notes:

Don’t stab the envoys!

She was back at Camp Half-Blood, watching as her dream guided her towards Selena, who looked truly dreadful. Her hair was a frizzy mess, dark circles under her eyes and skin flaring out with stress, she probably was going crazy with worry since Beckendorf was captured. What was curious, was that she was left alone when she was in such a mood. At a minimum as a camp counselor, a popular camp counselor, Selena was surrounded by people, be it her siblings, other friends, or younger campers who followed her around after attending her classes. In the past few months people could even find Beckendorf joining her outside his forges for walks, so it was odd to see her this lonely.

 

It was still daytime, and Selena made her way to Thalia’s tree. Percy… Percy knew something was wrong. It was okay trying to ignore the voice in her head telling her that Selena was suspicious but it was different having to watch her friend betray her, and probably her boyfriend and siblings, when she charmspoke the young dragon asleep and stole the golden fleece. ‘Where the fuck were the other people’, Percy thought hysterically. Is no one seeing this? Is no one stopping her?

 

She saw her cross the boundary to see Luke’s unfamiliar face staring right back at her. His mouth twitched and she could feel how amused he was with the whole situation. Here she was, his prized hostage, dreamwalking her way through the very real sabotage and sedition taking place at her second home, helpless to stop her friend or her plan. Selena, unaware of Percy, just handed their enemy the fleece, “ I will release Beckendorf in a few days, you have my word.”

 

Her grandfather swaggered away while she stared horrified at Selena who was now just quietly crying. As her fury set in, the winds started whipping around her, Percy genuinely for the second time in her life wanted to kill a human being. It wasn’t like this with Gabe, Gabe was truly disgusting. She never had to doubt that Gabe was anything other than the pig he showed himself as, it was the fact that she couldn’t believe Selena, good, kind Selena who volunteered to take on classes, always tried to include everyone, was always her Cabin’s best friend/pseudo-mom doing this that got to her. What the fuck was she even fighting for? The Gods didn’t seem to care, her prayers lay unanswered, her friends betrayed her, no one would come save her, what the fuck was she actually fighting for? She and her mom could stay safe in New York, why involve herself in a war no one wanted her to win? If everyone was so intent-

 

Selena fell down, all Percy saw was Annabeth rushing forward to give her an uppercut and going as far as beating her into a pulp. Blows just kept coming as Chiron, other campers, naiads and everyone who was missing rushed down the hill to pull her back. Selena was whining in pain, as Annabeth screamed at her wrestling against their hold.

 

“How could you? How could you? We are trying to search for them, get them back and all this time you were the reason they were caught?”

 

“The fleece is missing Annabeth.”

 

A despairing laugh escaped her, if Selena had looked messed up, Annabeth looked mad, “What else? The spy, our dear Selena, gave it away to our enemies.”

 

Clarisse stood in front of Selena to prevent physical fighting, “Selena is not a traitor”, a pained whine came from behind her, as Clarisse closed her eyes looking as though she was praying what she heard was not true but having all evidence tell otherwise.

 

Annabeth snarled, “Then let her say it all herself-“

 

The dream ended there. She woke up much later, time was hard to keep track off when she was isolated and locked in such a room. Come daybreak, all the mess in her room was fixed, and food showed up on the small table at meal times without any prompting but she never managed to catch a person despite her staying up or watching the table religiously. She lay back on her fluffy pillows, it was relief knowing at least her best friend did not abandon or deceive her. She consoled herself that things could be much, much worse. She was not actively being tortured despite being left to slowly go insane on her own in these rooms. If she was right, her Grandfather would come to talk to her and negotiate something since it didn’t seem like he wanted to kill her. Her 16th birthday was only a few days away, probably, with how wonky the time worked here she couldn’t tell anything with certainty.

 

She repeated the lessons all the girls who settled in at camp were taught if they were kidnapped, “Do not argue with your captors, be polite and do not provoke them. You are vulnerable, angering them could make your situation much, much worse. Death is the least of what you need to fear as a woman, if you are captive, ladies.”

 

Percy was right, a few days later, the door knocked and opened itself to reveal not Luke’s ill-fitting face, but the worst grandfather of all time, Kronos. Looking at the face and considering all the cheers that she heard last night she could guess what got all of them happy, his true form was much more terrifying. His presence filled the room until it felt suffocating.

 

“Grandfather.”

 

“Granddaughter”, he sounded amused at the title as they made their way to the small table.

 

“You know I don’t wish to join you-“

 

“Why? Give me actual reasons child. Not the paltry - you are evil and I have heard stories about you.”

 

Percy tensed up, it was difficult and easy at the same time, at its core, “You are killing campers, that’s the reason why I won’t join you.” Plus he had a history of cannibalism, maybe the records were unkind but this was a charge they had all agreed upon. If he could eat his children, what couldn't he do? They had also been standing on opposite sides of the war up until the past few weeks, and Percy knew her grandfather was just as cruel and cunning as he was portrayed. He didn’t care for demigod lives, at least the Gods had some stake in them. For Kronos they were just convenient pawns to help overthrow their own parents.

 

“As if my son and his family don’t send out children to die. Do not answer that. If I don’t kill campers, will you join me?” He idly posed the question. As though this was not a monumentally important concession to make, but maybe this was what victory allowed him. She still did not doubt that allowing demigods to live was akin to leaving a time-bomb unattended. What made him so assured they wouldn't rise up against him?

 

She closed her mouth, “Maybe. Give me the full offer.” Considering the situation, she knew the Gods had already lost. Kronos had his real body, he had saboteurs in the camp and the Olympians were still busy with Typhon, as was her father with Oceanus. She was now a defeated party, and while she might have already lost, she still had value, a leverage her grandfather was keen on using it seems.

 

“Lukas has gone to negotiate with your camp. I will make sure we take Olympus without spilling the blood of your fellow demigods and in turn you shall pledge not to raise your arms against me and continue staying hostage as a guarantee.” So, that was what he wanted.

 

She was considering. Her freedom, for a chance of amnesty for her fellow demigods.

 

Suddenly, he smirked. “Oh dear! It seems one of your friends tried to stab Lukas. Unfortunately, she missed, but another demigod on our side is dead. Nakamura it seems.”

 

For a second she didn't know what to say. If she was resigned before, she was hurt and angry now. Fuck. What the fuck? Annabeth you don’t stab your peace envoys. What was going on in the camp? There was legitimate danger the Titans could take that as an excuse to exterminate all of them. "Can that be considered a personal argument? ", Kronos didn't answer and she knew this negotiation was just a play directed by him, for whatever reason, Annabeth tried killing Luke, and that was just something to pressure her to make a decision. Percy could feel time slipping by…was it her birthday today?

 

She closed her eyes and leaned back, considering her options. She lost. She fucking lost. There was only one choice if she wanted them all to live beyond tonight. She had to continue staying with her grandfather and his fellow Titans but maybe she could continue negotiating something further in place for her future? Even if she couldn’t, her life was only valuable because of the prophecy and now that it was coming to a head… it didn’t matter. For some reason Kronos believed her life to be valuable and that was the worst news he could give to her, because now, she could start betting on it.

 

“Okay.”

 

 

Chapter 3

 

After her evil grandfather left, Percy thrashed the place once more. The catharsis of just throwing things against the wall and breaking perfectly functional items as she screamed at the unfairness of it all unfortunately made her feel better. She hated, oh how she hated everyone at the moment. Chiron who rarely had any answers, her father who kept pushing for her to be a hero, her mother who stuck around Gabe for her own ‘safety’, the circumstances around this war, fates, her friends who held her behind, the infuriating gods, Kronos who wanted to overthrow his children, and the bloodthirsty Titans. She hated them all so much.

 

When her meticulously arranged jail cell was destroyed to her preferences, she tried to unsuccessfully drown herself in the bathroom. Well, not really, she always thought better underwater. The manacles seemed to restrict only the external uses of her power, a convenient way to keep her alive if she actually thought to kill herself. Kronos’ offer was not all too terrible, for the lives of people in the camp she would need to become a model citizen of his rule. That meant she was told to attend classes and if she did exceptionally well, she was allowed to call her mother every month for 10 minutes. Negotiating that little freedom had been a bitch and a half, next, she was not allowed to contact the demigods until they themselves had approached her.

 

She kept the offer open hoping someone would get to her but in hindsight, for everyone’s well-being she was better off staying with the Titans. Kronos never explicitly stated that she had his protection but she could read between the lines. Somewhat. Titans would not be going around threatening her every day, but she still had to see it herself before she believed him. Under the comforting embrace of water, she could almost fool herself everything was okay. That her world was not falling apart around her and she had to keep it together with jet glue and paper mache. It gnawed on her to be restricted like this, she remembered that once a man slammed his head on a concrete post protesting a referee’s decision and got himself paralyzed from neckdown, she almost considered his actions admirable because she too wanted to bash her head in. Anything to get away from her manacles. Even accept her grandfather’s offer of peace.

 

Was she selfish or was she forced into a place to make these selfish choices? The coming morning she was calmer. The day allowed her to hide her ugliness, cast into something that was almost palatable for herself and other people. She was almost shaking in anticipation when Kronos arrived and unshackled her. Percy followed him out in a daze, high off her freedom, she got into the car. It took her a while to recognize the familiar streets and buildings as they headed towards Empire State. When they got down, for a second, just for a second she contemplated running for it. Until the rush of people reminded her of the fact that there were other lives at stake on her continued obedience. A bitter taste in her mouth, she had to admit, this was a familiar dance for her.

 

Don’t make noise Percy, just listen to him. Ballet is not necessary. Things will get better Percy, just be obedient. It will all be worth it, even if you don’t understand right now.

 

How ironic, she tried to run as far away from Gabe as possible to land up in the same situation again. A day to settle into the decisions she made, she could in hindsight see how everything from her very nature, to her usual motivations were stacked against her in their conversation to give Kronos the answer he wanted. Under his gaze she felt like a butterfly pinned by its wings, dissected by his gaze and held open for others to jeer at her innards. Even now when she was just following behind him, the weight of his attention left her feeling vulnerable. Dressed like a fancy banker he barely blended into the crowd. The usual doorman behind the desk was missing, probably saw all the signs and ran away, because they made their way to the elevator and clicked on the 600th floor without any obstruction. There was only her and Atlas, who she was intently ignoring after considering their last interaction.

 

Two Titans and one relatively fragile demigod finally made their way to the throne room. This was it, the last Olympian Hestia tending to hearth there. The only sign of nervousness were her shaking hands which to her credit she did her best to hide, and look forward at her father bravely. Percy was glad she stood behind Kronos enough she could not look at his face. Whatever Hestia saw, it scared her enough that she couldn’t make a noise despite opening her mouth to talk. Terror seemed to be setting in, so Percy loudly excused herself and booked it away into the empty Olympus.

 

She walked around until she found a temple that looked like it was dedicated to her father. She couldn’t face Hestia herself, in the end she too was betraying the Olympians for her closer half-blood brethren, but seeing her terrified face made the guilt worse. If Percy was not religious before, recent events sure convinced her that maybe becoming a nun locked in a temple was a valid life choice. She moved to the alter and prayed, asking her father for answers. Whatever they talked about, no other living soul would know.

 

Chapter 4

Notes:

TW: All tags apply here on. Please remember it’s tagged Dead Dove and stay away if you are not comfortable. I tried to make it less graphic but well… Take heed everyone!

It wasn’t that they ignored Kronos coming back, but it also wasn’t true that they were prepared to actually fight him. Dionysus couldn’t tell whether it was stupid amounts of overconfidence that nothing would happen to them or overestimation of their abilities that landed them here, at the palm of his hands. He was the first to be captured, then it was waiting and watching as Hephaestus joined him, and soon the rest. Ultimately, it took Uncle Hades joining the fight to chain Typhon but by then it didn’t matter anymore since half of the Olympic council was in Kronos’ jail. Zeus was suspiciously silent while his elder brothers cloaked themselves in the shadowy depths of the jail. All the screaming matches stopped by day four of their imprisonment. It was no use blaming each other.

 

Like Poseidon and Hades everyone paired up and retreated into the quiets of the damp cell. There was no food provided, no water, there were no jailers even, just isolation and one light bulb hanging over their heads like a mockery of interrogation scenes in horrible television shows. Their powers were restricted by their constraints and hunger was now familiar feeling. He didn’t think anything in the world felt as awful as hunger and thirst even as their bodies survived them. What was scarier was that even now no one was planning an escape or sharing information, the fact that they all had given up and nothing seemed to have started.

 

He could see furtive exchanges between the twins and the brothers, and it bothered him. Even Ares and Hephaestus were talking and Hera sequestered herself with Demeter instead of Zeus or Hestia. Dionysus had no one he could turn to, even this close to death none of his family reached out to him. At least Hermès was alone by his own design, but he never truly felt as alone as he did now with his family surrounding him.

 

So it was no surprise he heard the footsteps first, brooding alone as he was, the murmurs slowly quietened in its wake as solemnity settled in. The Crooked One’s presence had his hackles rise even before he could be seen in person. Even on his worst days Zeus never felt like this, smothering, heavy and dense, as though even breathing needed permission. He enveloped them, and Dionysus felt a little hysterical why didn’t they take him seriously before? No demigod, however powerful could stand against him and defeat him. He felt like a joke, remembering the terror on young faces as they fought against his mortal host’s monsters, while the Olympians sat away watching it all happen. Now it was their turn and he didn’t feel detached or indifferent facing Kronos as they dared to before. Did they truly think they would escape unscathed if the demigods lost?

 

His face appeared outside their bars and he surveyed them lightly, as though he was counting how many of them he had and still found them wanting, “Don’t worry, your spouses and other children are secured elsewhere, alive of course.” Dionysus felt his heart stop. Ariadne, what about Ariadne?

 

“Now their safety depends on your continued cooperation. Give up your domains and we can start negotiations.”

 

Hera snarled at that, “What negotiations? As if we can be left with something now that you have won!”

 

“I should have expected that”, he sighed, and appeared in their cell. The rest were scampering away, he didn’t understand how Hera could be so impertinent at this moment when he felt like his teeth were chattering. His heartbeat raced as his body willed itself as far away from this being, different, different, danger, predator. “You can volunteer first then. Will you give up your domains, daughter?”

 

Kneeling in front of her monstrous father, dirty and defiant, Dionysus could say she looked like a queen but his eyes felt drawn towards the biggest danger in the small space of their cell and how he looked both disinterested and curious. You used to look like that for demigods his brain unhelpfully supplied. One second she was kneeling and the next he saw a hand in her hair as her head was bashed against the wall of their jail. She screamed and all of them flinched and scurried further away into the cold hardness of the walls. In contrast, the Kronides went still and Poseidon of all people was begging him for mercy on behalf of their sister.

 

“Father, please let her go. She will give in, she was just confused and addled because of hunger”, there was not a shift on the face of their tormentor as he continued on despite the pleading or the shrill screaming or Hestia’s wails. He physically turned towards the wall and kept on going. Thump, a beat, thump, another, thump, it kept going, thump. It sounded wet, almost damp, something hard and squishy meeting against the wall.

 

Golden ichor and what looked like brain matter dripped down, not a word came in response until he felt like it was enough and threw her away by her hair. She… she didn’t look recognisable anymore. All her features swollen and battered golden, her eyes slits and her nose almost as shattered as her cheeks. Her mouth a drooling maw leaking blood, whimpering.

 

The Titan nodded towards Poseidon, “You know, you and your daughter are the only ones brave enough to call me family. Krios! Atlas!”

 

Their figures appeared in the cramped space, “Leave these four alone”, separating Hestia, Hades, Poseidon and Demeter. “The rest have not had the pleasure of enjoying our hospitality. You are free to play with them,” he sneered almost reminiscent of Hera before his brain got its senses together, “and get their domains sorted out.”

 

Atlas blinked, “Then this one is almost useless isn’t she?” He kicked the body next to his feet. “Take it anyway”, Kronos snorted and left. The sense of terror moved away with him and left behind a more creeping sense of dread. Here they were, chained, powerless and finally at the mercy of their captors. No god, however self respecting would give away their domain easily and they were given carte blanche to get them to give in.

 

If Hera’s screams scared them before, the ones now seared itself into their brains, as though they were tearing her soul to take what was her identity. It annoyed the two enough that once they were done, they took an axe to behead her in front of them and left her battered, swollen, unrecognisable face staring at them to their horror. Atlas smirked, and dragged her body away. They set a butchering table in front of their cell.

 

“No, no, no, no, no!” Hades looked panicked as Poseidon bodily held him down forced him to look away. Dionysus looked at Zeus instead who looked shell shocked and horrified. At the first thump of what sounded like a butcher knife on a body, everyone hid away, “Keep looking away and we will tear your eyes out.”

 

Despite his warning, some still disobeyed. Too bad, they didn’t realise he was serious until a hot poker blinded Artemis and the rest were fed Hera’s remains.

 

Notes:

Lmao forgive me for my choppy dialogue. I’m not satisfied but well… my ideas seem better than my execution.

Chapter 5

Notes:

TW still apply.

The days passed in this way. Their tormentors took their time. Stripping away their domains day by day, devising torture and awaiting their inevitable defiance. Enjoying it as much as they could. Krios lamented that they made it too easy when upon threatening further harm on Artemis, Apollo gave all his domains away, as did Poseidon. Dionysus personally wasn’t fond of allowing them time to be more creative, even if giving away his domains felt like unmaking himself tearing a part of his soul, leaving behind an ever present ache that pulsed with soreness. His cruel punishment and banishment at least prepared him for this unlike the rest who refused to bend and preferred to be broken instead.

 

He, Apollo and Poseidon seemed to be the exceptions rather than the norm, despite what happened to Hera and later Hestia whose detached head, features intact, joined in at staring at them. Athena the worst of them all, was stubbornly refusing them until she was taken away. Zeus, for the first time since he joined these cells, screamed and raged, threatened and begged, until Athena came back…clothes torn, face bruised, bleeding and refusing any touch. She chose to hide behind Demeter, softly weeping, without her domains at last. He didn’t like to think about what happened to her but their jailers easily provided key details. Medusa apparently designed her punishment.

 

Maybe his easy cooperation in comparison to Athena’s despair ignited the competitive feelings in them, so after him they preemptively started to cut off parts of their bodies in punishment. In a twisted sense of humour, Zeus was left to be the last, allowing him to witness most of his family being butchered piece by piece while he remained unharmed. It was on his turn, that the Crooked One came back to mock them.

 

“You know, I thought it would be harder. After all you did overthrow me, I expected you to be more popular, more well liked after you branded me a paranoid, insane tyrant. Despite all that and a few millennia to solidify your rule you practically have no allies. You alienated your brothers, your citizens call you a rapist behind your back, the demigods you sire are neglected. You are truly unjust, unfit and untrustworthy.” He mused.

 

Zeus finally spoke after the shock of Athena scrambling away from him rendered him mute for days, looking as though he would love to tear him from limb to limb personally, “Yet, we overthrew you once.”  

To that, the Titan just laughed. “It was all the credit of your mother, boy. If she wasn’t poisoning me and gathering allies do you think you could have successfully staged any rebellion?” Zeus’ head snapped up. That… was something new. Wait. No one had known Rhea poisoned him.

 

“That traitorous whore was so set on proving me wrong, she put you on the throne. She lied and schemed against her own brethren only to have you spit up on the position and the sacrifices she made to get you there.” What in the Tartarus was he talking about? This all seemed news to the Kronides too, what exactly did their grandmother do?

 

Neither Athena nor Artemis had moved since they heard his voice, “ I told her, you, by your very being were abominations that imitated us and parasitised domains, I was right! At least you finally were capable of breeding enough to get one right, showing us you were the outliers.”

 

“No-“ Poseidon snarled as he hit the bars to reach out and claw at Kronos. He mirthfully ignored it, “Yes. Your daughter. You all might have been monsters that looked like us, but your daughter, has all the makings of a Titan. I had given up hope that it was possible with my bloodline.”

 

He silenced Poseidon with a wave and pushed him away to be restrained even further with the deity binding chains. Pacing around he looked at them, “You couldn’t have possibly not known since you slept with all sorts of beings”, he nodded towards Zeus whose face now looked ugly.

 

“The twins should have given you Titans, despite being only one fourth Olympian. The one with Gaia’s blood…” he peered at Hermes, “another failure. It seems like a one in million chance to breed a Titan. I, myself, did not notice until she was captured and I had time to see why she was so successful against me.”

 

He stopped at once after observing their reactions. “Don’t tell me, none of you noticed? How stupid can you be to treat her like just a pawn? She was successfully foiling my plans for years while none of you could, even her prophecy stated she could’ve been your chance at victory.”

 

Dionysus genuinely couldn’t say he knew what the fuck they were talking about. Perseus Jackson? A Titan? She had done a lot but wasn’t it just being an oddly powerful demigod? He carefully looked around, yep, Zeus did have an idea otherwise he wouldn’t look so infuriated. Poseidon was still struggling against his restraints.

He sighed dramatically, as though they were disappointing him even now, “I don’t know where you got your idiocy from. Rhea has raised you to be so stupid I’m genuinely ashamed of being related to you, much less be the father you overthrew. You entice your allies, manoeuvre them, entrench their wants with your own to secure their alliance, so your victory is theirs and vice versa. You do not alienate, threaten or have your allies disenchanted with you until you have won.”

 

Zeus didn’t answer and a throbbing headache made itself known to Dionysus. The ache of hunger, thirst and soreness from losing his domains went to the wayside as the pain in his head came to the forefront. He could just imagine what they would do to keep Percy Jackson constrained if they had won. It seemed so natural then, to take her effort for granted, then spit on her sacrifices and mock her. Except that wasn’t the way a king or a courtier treats their possible allies. Percy Jackson. An ally. Fuck. No one saw this coming. This was worse than knowing about grandma Rhea’s political manoeuvring. Father couldn’t have possibly known and done this on purpose.

 

“She should have been killed”, hissed out Zeus. Fuck. “She should have died before she reached eleven.” Poseidon stilled at that, Dionysus felt like he could almost cry. What are you saying father?

 

Kronos looked almost amused, ”Then you would’ve lost the very first year I awoke. Her death spells out your loss in every timeline. Even now… she petitions for your lives. Honestly? I have to say, you are very good at being your own enemy and I’m almost thankful for that trait of yours. It’s fascinating.” He didn’t even have to point out how furious Poseidon was at the moment.

 

“Maybe it’s too late to teach you things but I do want you to see how your only hope of success is turns to my side.” With nary a movement a screen showed up, its star, the current topic of their conversation, Percy Jackson.

 

“You may disdain her… In fact, keep doing that! I, in turn, will make her into the lynchpin of my rule and in the end she and the world will be better off for it.” He laughed capriciously and left. Apparently satisfied, now that he had turned them against each other with his visit.

 

Notes:

If you find any typos feel free to comment. I have no beta so 😭…

Chapter 6

Notes:

TW: Nudity

A beautiful woman, head bowed, listens to Kronos, her grandfather? For all his confidence and satisfaction with himself, almost gentle as he chides the woman, he fails to see the flash of hatred in the woman’s eyes, Percy notices. When he turns and the woman finally raises her head, she knows, the knowledge runs bone deep as women’s intuition tends to do, that Kronos was finished. He was going to die and this sweet-looking woman, filled with loathing, was going to be the cause of it.

 

Percy woke up reluctantly. Unwilling to escape the sweet grasp of sleep that kept her away from the powerlessness of her day to day life. She was almost confused when she woke. The knowledge of her grandfather’s loss comforting the parts of her that were lost in the largeness of her father’s temple. Former temple. Whatever. In light of the dawn, she could finally recognise the woman that resembled Hestia and Hera of all people, her grandmother, the Titaness Rhea.

 

She sluggishly brushed her teeth as invisible servants laid down her clothes. Her education was taken over by Tethys, occasionally Hecate and Prometheus for now, the former her governesses and the latter her actual teacher. What was this honestly? Victorian England? Percy kept her mouth shut though, she really didn’t want to mess around and miss talking to her mom. She had to do her very best to pass these exacting standards if she ever wanted a chance to escape. She spit out the foam and got ready for her bath. This would finally wake her up.

 

As she thought over the people she was supposed to consider her retinue and thus counsel, in the warm depths, a male yelp broke all her serenity. Percy pulled Riptide from her hair and went right for the kill as the boy spluttered in her baths, he narrowly escaped a stab when she finally caught his face. “Nico?” A moment of shock, confusion, relief and happiness went through her as she went to hug him.

 

“No! Stay away from me! Ack! You’re naked! Stay the hell away from me woman!” She laughed and moved away for his comfort. He was red and completely soaked, eyes avoiding her and her reflection with dedication. She mentally commanded the servants away. “What are you doing here?”

 

“What do you mean what am I doing here? You are the one who has been missing for weeks and hasn’t contacted the camp!” She frowned at that as she went back to her ledge and leaned against it.

 

His eyes finally caught her gaze, angry and shy but no lecherousness to be found. Interesting. She tucked a piece of her hair over her ear and pointed at her mouth. He understood, she was being monitored. This was probably the only place safe enough for them to talk. He had to get over his inhibitions fast if they wanted to converse and by the looks of it, it wouldn’t be an issue.

 

Percy couldn’t believe the boy she had failed, whose sister she failed to protect and took the place of would be the first one to contact her. Well, considering his powers maybe she shouldn’t be surprised. I am not forgotten or abandoned. The knowledge of it buoyed her to what felt like the stratosphere. She felt no shyness despite her nudity. She needed people, to know her people were still trying to get her out.

 

“What happened to the camps? Annabeth stabbed Luke? What about the protections now that the fleece is gone?”

 

The wet black cat in her baths sighed, “ I don’t want to ask how you know that. We are fine, Annabeth caught Selena as the spy and Charles is being released this week. Another Titan is coming to protect the camp,” he mouthed Mnemosyne, “since they took the fleece and Chiron was dismissed. We have some order since they have been telling us they won’t slaughter us at the slightest provocation. Despite what Annabeth did to Luke, we haven’t been punished. Our day to day is the same, except you.” He looked at her beleaguered.

 

She let out a long breath enjoying her bath once more, Riptide kept on her side for easy reach, her hair covering most of her nudity. She was never going to cut her hair short again, it was too useful. “I am being held prisoner for some reason. Only allowed to contact my mom once a month on good behaviour but you all are allowed to contact me as long as I don’t make a move.”

 

Nico looked troubled, “That sounds strange.”

 

“I know. That’s why I’m so happy you finally came, even if it’s in my bath.”

 

A flush decorated his cheeks, being reminded of his situation, “Whatever, at least I am trying.”

 

Percy tried to keep her amusement away, “Why did Annabeth try to stab Luke anyway? It’s part of the reason I am stuck here.”

 

Whatever the reasoning that forced her here, he was not happy, Nico’s face darkened as he spit out the news, “Her mother apparently was sending them out to slaughtered by the droves. All of her siblings were created so that they could die needlessly for a statue taken by the Romans. Luke was taunting her with that knowledge and that he was the one that had you captured. She was furious and you know how deadly she was with a knife. She missed him and another demigod named Nakamura took it for him. We thought that knowing his weak spot could bring him down but apparently he is being slated to take over his father’s job as messenger soon. Annabeth was inconsolable.”

 

That was not happy news, but her issues with Luke were so far down the immediate list of problems that it wasn’t funny. She still had to confess what she did with Iapetus to her grandfather. Goodbye life! Hello minced meat named Percy! She was so screwed.

 

There was not much time and she knew Nico had more to say but she was already taking too much time in the baths. “Come back here tomorrow, I’m safe for now. Tell Annabeth that it’s better if she doesn’t respond to Luke’s taunts. Bullies like him want reactions and she is playing right into his hands.”

 

He hesitantly nodded, “I will see you tomorrow then.”

 

Once he left, she quickly got on with scrubbing herself down and contemplating the information. They were safe for now, and part of it was guaranteed by her staying here. She got herself dressed and went to meet her grandfather before the day’s activities commenced. Percy didn’t even need an appointment, she just walked through ignoring the nervous guards as she made her way to his new office.

 

She found him reading, Athena’s former collection of books making him as happy as mouse flung into a rice jar. This comparison, this is the reason you’re going to die, forget Bob, Percy.

 

“What brings my illustrious granddaughter to me?” She snorted at that, she was nothing impressive.

 

She made herself comfortable and as his amusement grew at the way she started to slowly fidget with the knick-nacks on his desk, she finally confessed what she did to Iapetus. He leaned back on his desk and laughed so hard, he wheezed. His book carefully kept to the side as he laughed himself silly. Here she was trembling with fear over what she did to ruin his plans while he found it funny! “Take me seriously!”

“I am!”

 

He was tearing up. “So you-“ he tried again, “So you drowned Iapetus in the Lethe.”

 

“Yes.” She nodded seriously at the charge.

 

“And he is now in the Underworld as a janitor.” He went back to his hysterics and she waited for his judgement. “I- I will have someone check on him and restore his memories, don’t worry about it.” His eyes twinkled with his mirth over the situation. She let out a breath in relief. Thank god I’m not Zeus. I’d really be minced meat otherwise.

 

“Do you have a list of people for your retinue?” She gave him the list she had been deliberating over for so long. These were positions of outmost importance, people she trusted, people that had skills and dangerous people she could keep safe, or as safe as they could be in the presence of someone who was around so many Titans.

 

His eyebrows raised as the list went on.“Circe and her ladies, Drew Tanaka from Cabin 11, William Solace from Cabin 7, Annabeth Chase from Cabin 6, Rachel Dare - a clear sighted mortal… Circe makes sense, she would be honoured. But I have to refuse the person from Cabin 6, she is needed to pacify your camp, and I want your reasoning for the clear sighted mortal.”

 

She is brave, she hit you with a hairbrush and I like that. Percy did not say any of that. “If not her then her brother Malcom Pace. As for the mortal, it’s because we still engage with them and she’s rich and well connected enough to get us news.”

 

He slowly nodded at that. “You also want Chrysaor as a new sword training instructor. That can be done but… Artemis?”

He didn’t say anything to that but she could feel the tension ramp up. She was on dangerous grounds but she had an argument prepared. If she could be forgiven for Bob she had a long way to go if she was to be punished.

 

“She would calm the hunters, plus at the moment, there are not many female Titans to take over her job.” Titans that you would trust to take her job or admit as your relatives. She had noticed that his new circle was small and mostly male dominated if not for Tethys, Hecate and Mnemosyne.

 

From gossip and inference she could guess some Titans did and could allow themselves to fade… as did Selene and Helios which had Hyperion furious enough to try to throw a tantrum before grandfather had shut him down swiftly. That meeting was memorable and also set her metaphorical tail on fire in quick order to get a list of her retinue since she didn’t know what the fuck she could do and who she could trust in his court.

 

“She is not easily replaceable for her jobs and she is already defeated. To now show mercy is your grace.” As her last card, she gave him what he readily considered important, ”She is three-fourths Titan.” You won’t even consider any of the others I could suggest. 

 

Silence stretched and Percy felt like ants were climbing on her and biting her into bits slowly, after watching him consider all the things she didn’t know “Alright… Not Apollo, though?”

 

“Hyperion.” She bit out.

 

He huffed at that. “Yes, he would be insufferable if Apollo was released. What are your plans with the Olympians when allowing them mercy could only cause civil war, and your demigods would be the soldiers that die?”

 

Percy countered, “A trade for information.” There were somethings she urgently needed to know that only he could answer.

 

“Oh my! Alright then. Answer this and I’ll barter for one of your own questions.” He steepled his fingers and leaned forward, eager for their small exchange.

 

Percy considered, especially with the information that Athena had been sending hundreds of children to die for centuries on a failed quest, souring her opinion of the Olympians. Were there any Olympians she actually liked or was she only fighting because it was their children that would be sent to die? Now that the threat to their well-being was gone would she like them back? Especially since they would want to fight back against the Titans? What did they actually do for any of them?

 

“Trust. I don’t trust you and I would like other options in the worst case scenario. They are also my father’s family. He gave birth to me, and thus, I owe them some loyalty if only to make sure they survive.”

 

His answering smile only solidified her opinion, he was permissive with her and there was something seriously wrong here. He was suddenly okay with Olympians back in their world for some reason? Now, she had two pressing questions, why did he put up the minimal defense for bringing back Artemis and the other - Romans. Both were concerning, the latter seemed more important in the short term, a whole other pantheon of demigods living concurrently with Greeks and not a whiff of information passing between both sides. While the former led the way to a future issue she wasn’t sure she wanted to meddle in right now. Something bigger than the Titans, something that also required the Olympians to step in.

 

“Fair enough. What’s your question?”

 

“The Romans.” She eagerly asked about.  Kronos revealed a lot of information, keeping his side of the bargain and all Percy felt at the end was despair and fury at the Olympians. Comparing the average age of Greek demigod could reach to a veritable city that housed demigod legacies and allowed them to thrive. She latched on to the city, before her anger would have her do something impulsive, say something horrible, the statue of Athena Parthenos… Whatever happened next was inconsequential, she wanted a damned city for Greeks.

 

She put it forward, and as though sealing a pact with the devil, her grandfather agreed. This city probably lined up with his plans for the future, don’t think Percy, and coasting on his permissive mood she couldn’t help but make one last request, “I would like Triton to become the new director at the camps.”

 

His eyes gleamed at that, lips pinched. He was unhappy, and she almost winced at her little slip of the tongue. All the ones combined he could guess she was able to connect to the outside world and that she was receiving news. That didn’t seem to annoy him as much as her continued championing her dad’s side of the family though, since he didn’t explicitly forbid her. Thank the fates. 

 

“Alright. You may take your leave.” At least he didn’t take it out on her, above Gabe in her rankings easily for sure, but she felt sorry for the bastards that would be taking on the brunt of his anger. Don’t think too much on that, for your own good.

 

 

Notes:

No beta. Feel free to comment any typos I need to edit.

Chapter 7

Notes:

TW: Mind the tags

 

Apollo was avoiding looking at the creepy heads situated right in front of them. The fact that they didn’t rot and stayed fresh made it somehow worse, he was sure of it. Hera’s regal face destroyed to such an extent and Hestia’s guileless eyes staring at them, right into their very souls, reminded him of their present bitterness of defeat.

 

When it came to psychological warfare, the Titans didn’t seem to have many rivals. In fact he was sure they crossed psychological warfare a few days ago when they butchered the bodies like pigs and cooked it, intent on forcing them into eating it. Their whole captivity seemed like one long nightmare he wasn’t waking up from.

 

He looked around, careful not to jostle Artemis. Her eyes had been melted with a hot poker, and it burned him that he could do nothing to relieve her pain. She had slowly started complaining to him the past few days, which oddly made him feel better.To be of any use to his twin was better than the reality of him being unable to stop it from happening.

 

Perseus ‘Percy’ Jackson was sitting with Hecate as she was droning on about security and magical enchantments. She really did look unusually interested in this topic compared to etiquette and lore with Tethys. He held mixed feelings for the girl-child. On one hand, she didn’t ask for any of this but on the other she was unknowingly holding their fates in her hands. Their resentment was natural, or that’s what he told himself because despite everything Artemis was leaving this jail soon.

 

He was happy for her, really. They were both luckier than the others, easily. It was only Artemis losing her eyes, compared to Ares losing both his forearms. Drink this soup. Hermes, his feet, Gold and purple innards. Athena, her thumbs and-, swirling around. Hephaestus was considered one of the worst off. After the meeting yesterday Kronos took time to come here and personally chop him into pieces to scatter his essence, mumbling that ingenuity and craftsmanship were the curses that made humans so formidable.

 

Eat it. The feeling of bile churning in his stomach. Hunger aching. Mouth involuntarily watering.

 

No one hearing that mumbled a protest. Especially after watching that exceptional show of violence. 

 

In contrast to most of his brethren’s careful attention on the window into Percy’s life, Dionysus looked like he was fully disassociating. Similar to Hermes, in fact. He would offer comfort at any other point of time if his twin didn’t need him so. Who are you kidding you useless-

 

Anyway, Artemis was leaving and he only allowed himself to complain in the smallest, most hidden parts of soul. He didn’t want to watch her get hurt, or worse go through what Athena was staunchly not talking about, but at the same time not having her with him also felt like a pain worse than death. She was the other part of him, his right arm when he pulled his bow, his brain when he needed counsel Hestia’s eyes and Hera’s brain matter on the wall, his very platonic reason for existing it was grey and pink. Artemis hugged him tighter as though guessing his spiralling thoughts.

 

“Stop thinking!” She whispered.

 

“What else am I supposed to do? It’s not like we have javelin throwing here?” He answered back.

 

She sighed, “I know that’s not what has you so worried.” Artemis didn’t need to be a mind reader to guess what was bothering him.

 

“I ultimately want you safe, even if it’s where I can’t reach you.”

 

“It still does not make you feel better, being away from me?” He nodded shortly.

 

“Same.” He suddenly wanted to cry hearing that. This whole situation was fucked up but even here, his sister was always the best to him.

 

As if reassuring him she reminded him of the one fact they were all avoiding, “Mom is still outside, probably trying to free us.” The only other person who could boast such connection to the ruling regime was Zeus himself, married to two Titans and consorting with one more. Their mother would obviously not give up on them, and in a way Percy did make her job easier, removing Artemis from the equation. They were the only two Olympians who had a chance of getting out alive other than maybe Poseidon, as Percy’s father, himself.

 

It was still upto debate though if he would ever get a chance as he was still a powerful Kronide. Worse, a loyal, powerful Kronide, if Percy’s behaviour could be taken as an example. Kronos superficial fondness only extended till its function, as a wedge to drive the older two Kronides against their younger brother Zeus, worked.

 

Boy oh boy, did it work! Majority of the torture was borne by Zeus, his wife and his children while Hades and Poseidon were still unharmed. Demeter didn’t count in his hypocrisy since she was, drumroll, a woman. While Poseidon was smarting after the confession that Zeus wanted to kill his then preteen daughter simply because she showed signs of being powerful.

 

This led to the argument whether Zeus previously helped murder other children by his brothers while elevating his own in order to weaken them. For once Zeus gave a clear answer, no he didn’t know she was anything more and he just blamed her because she was convenient, and for once Poseidon didn’t believe this good faith revelation. Bring a God of Truth for so long he could still tell when someone was being genuine, even if he no longer held the domain.

 

According to Poseidon, the whole council was made up of only his consorts and children, leaving him the only brother and his descendants as scapegoats when something went wrong. He wasn’t totally lying considering the recent situation where Zeus blamed Percy instead of admitting that it was all because he was an inept ruler. Apparently, Hades didn’t have the same filter, he pointed it out, and the brothers raged for hours.

 

Regardless to say things were broken between them, fundamentally. The Kronides would never trust each other again, much less gather under Zeus’ rule if its sole use was to snipe their descendants because of his paranoia.

 

It was a huge loss, whether his father wanted to acknowledge it or not. Poseidon’s loyalty, despite its ups and downs was one for the ages and Hades, was a powerful God. Now if they didn’t join forces, Zeus’ chances of getting back his throne went from possible to frankly impossible. Usually one of his children or subjects would chime in to reduce tensions but well, no one was in the mood now, and if Zeus wanted something he had to say it himself.

 

At least Percy’s life was interesting. She had just finished with Hecate and joined Circe for a chat about employing her services. If the girl hated them, she never showed it outwardly. Always diligent about championing their release, he wondered why and of all the reasonings he could come up with, he believed what she said to Kronos the most. She didn’t trust the Crooked One’s affection and favour, preferring to spring them out as option two. Nothing else explained her behaviour, when Poseidon confessed to meeting her only a handful of times.

 

Now watching her life fall apart with voyeuristic enthusiasm, as she was puppeted around to dance to the Titan’s tunes, he managed a small sliver of pity. It wasn’t the first time she had saved Artemis either. Not for the first time he wondered about what went on in her head. The knowledge of Romans didn’t faze her as she went about planning a new city with an alarming intensity. Did she know something more than he did? Did she guess something that he didn’t? It was so easy to escape into her life.

 

Hopefully, their mother was plotting their release, he was the only other one unharmed aside from Dionysus since it hurt him more to see his twin in pain, and his future prospects didn’t look great if the way they were eyeing him the past few days was an indication. They would soon stop with Artemis and play with him to harm her. He wanted to save her that suffering and unintentionally sent a prayer of thanks to Percy Jackson. To his surprise she suddenly sneezed and looked around, brow furrowed. Huh…

He prayed again, ‘If you can hear me touch your ear’. The girl in the screen sneezed again and touched her ear. Holy shit. 

A girlish voice rung out in his head, ‘I am telling grandfather.’

 

‘Wait! Percy! No! It’s me Apollo!’