Percy Jackson: The Light Bringer

The Devil You Say?

 <edited on: 14 Jul 2021>

Percy's POV

   I walked inside the tent to find the man awake and standing. He looked around confused before his eyes landed on me.

   I backed up slowly with my hands raised in a peaceful gesture.

   My instincts told me that he would hurt me. But I was curious. Who was he? What did he want?

   "Who are you?" He asked, his tone commanding and authoritative. "Why am I here?"

   An overwhelming urge to tell him everything filled me. I but my tongue as I fought the compelling force. I didn't have any answers, and apparently, neither did he.

   "You know, a thank you would be nice..." I replied through gritted teeth.

   The man narrowed his eyes, suddenly appearing amused. He carefully studied me, a calculating look in his eyes.

   "Interesting," he said, tilting his head. "Not many mortals can resist my charms."

   "But you aren't mortal, are you?" He spoke in a low tone, "Not completely, at least."

   Well, now that's a whole new type of strange.

   "First of all," I started, putting up my hand. "Don't say charms...it sounds creepy."

   The man chuckled lightly, clearly entertained by the banter.

   "And secondly," I pointed out, "I could ask you the same thing."

   "Who are you? What are you doing here? And more importantly, how did you get wounded?" I ranted.

   A smirk played on his lips, a dark glint in his eyes.

   "If you knew my name," He began, "You would be running away right now, young one."

   I raised an eyebrow in boredom. I've been threatened by way too many people to be scared. He looked impressed at my indifference, nodding lightly.

   "Brave, I'll give you that," he said before straightening himself. Then when he spoke, his voice was different. It sounded ancient. It was as though more than one person were speaking in unison. It sounded demonic.

   "I am the one who brings kings to their knees." He said, spreading his arms wide. "The brightest of stars."

   "I am the Devil himself."

   He stood there, a smirk on his face, waiting for my reaction. I didn't know what to say. I somehow knew he wasn't lying nor making a metaphor.

   Instead of assessing my options and thinking carefully, I blurted out the first sarcastic response I could think of.

   "And I'm the Percy himself!" I said before cringing at my own words. I internally slapped myself.

   The man was completely thrown off by my response, his eyes showing surprise. Suddenly, he started to laugh. It changed to him laughing his heart out, and let me tell you, it was annoying.

   "You just keep getting more interesting," He said, catching his breath. "You can call me in any of my names."

   "And I have many," He said with a slight chuckle. "Beelzebub, Mephistopheles, Lucifer, Samael, the list goes on and on..."

   "Lucifer...." I whispered, my mind translating the Latin to English. "It means 'Star', doesn't it?"

   He seemed pleased that someone knew what his name meant.