The End of an Olympian

16 | Declaring War

Then he was gone and we were left speechless.

1329 words

Percy

I traveled to Olympus to call an emergency meeting. I was fuming and the anger was so palpable that no immortal being got within ten feet of me. I shot power into the sky to summon the council members. I guess I sent a lot of power because all the Olympians took it as urgent and arrived within five minutes, the fastest everyone had gathered for a meeting.

I must have also been giving off "don't fuck with me" vibes because not a single god spoke. No sassy remarks. No side chatter. No questions asked. They only looked over at me in my throne, which was giving off a menacing aura that promised death instead of the usually calm waves of reassurance it emitted. But none could meet my gaze for long. I had aged up as I usually did in meetings. Gods don't typically look their age so it's not an indicator, but it is natural for people to assign respect to older beings. I was going to be taken seriously and did not want to risk my appearance influencing the council's decisions.

Finally, Zeus opened his infuriating mouth. "What is this meeting for, Perseus? Some of us have work to do instead of playing with children."

"You tell me, Zeus," I spat back. "You tell me and this entire council the manipulative decision you made over three hundred years ago."

My emotions were almost getting the better of me as I felt the air condense around me. The water molecules were pressing everyone down in their seats. I could feel how easy it would be to control the ichor in their veins. How easy it would be to turn the liquid poisonous. My eyes boiled with rage and my face was contorted into a mask of fury. But I held back out of sheer stubbornness. I would not give Zeus the satisfaction of attacking first.

"I can't imagine what you're talking about," the pathetic king dismissed. "Let us forget-"

"No." I stood from my throne, head held high. No one else could stand because the pressure was too much. Not enough to cause discomfort. I was merely forcing them to remain seated. "You will confess to the council that you knowingly and deliberately enslaved the Maris Astéria people after Poseidon. Then transferred ownership to me under false pretenses while threatening my people and other gods, such as Hestia, not to reveal this to me."

A few gods looked as appalled as I felt. Just as many looked indifferent. My father looked ashamed, but not enough to say something. And I had a feeling he was more ashamed to keep the secret than for what he actually did.

Zeus had an upturned nose. "So what? I'll confess to owning them after Poseidon was done with the useless creatures. And they've run your palace for so long. I've done you a favor. As for you not knowing, well, what difference does it make?"

"The difference," I sneered, "is that I, as any sane being would, do not condone slavery. It's abhorrent! I would never have agreed to this arrangement had I known. But that's precisely why I didn't know, isn't it? You knew I would disapprove, but you did it anyway." My accusations were slammed into his face with as much loathing as I could muster.

"I do not need your approval! I am king, and I graciously gifted them to you. You should be thanking me!"

I was so close to bashing his head in, but I knew I needed answers first.

"Undo the contract. It is magically binding and I do not have the deeds even if I technically own them. So you will release them immediately." My voice was commanding, leaving no room for argument. Unfortunately, Zeus shoved his way in to argue with me.

"I do not take orders from you. You take orders from me! You will be their master and you will thank me for it!"

"Never! This is wrong on so many levels, Zeus. How dare you act in such a vile manner!"

So far, the others had not said a word. They only observed it like an intense tennis match. Until that is, I threw down my hand.

"Zeus, you have threatened my people and their welfare. Unless you release them or allow me to release them and ensure their freedom, I will declare war on you. And I will stop at nothing until I get justice for the Maris Astérians."

The first to speak up in support of me was surprisingly Hades. "I will back up my nephew. Percy is right. I have spoken to many souls and know the horrors and travesties you inflicted on the Maris Astérians, brother." Hades said the word "brother" with a record amount of revulsion. "Their only respite was working for Percy, but they still wish for their freedom."

"Thank you, Uncle," I said with a grateful nod his way.

"This is ridiculous," Demeter spoke up. "They are not worth this argument. They are beneath us."

"Threatening war over this is unwise," was the only comment Athena had on the subject.

"But imagine the battles!" Ares countered. "I am with father! If it goes Percy's way, I will not get glorious fights!"

"Shut up you brute!" Artemis yelled. "You have no decency for other living things. I shall support Perseus in this matter."

"Well, if my little sister says she'll fight for Percy, I will too! I feel bad for these poor people. Father can be quite mean," Apollo pouted.

"My brother may be harsh," Poseidon interjected, "but you cannot go to war over such a small matter. They are there to serve you, son. It matters little how they came into your service."

I was even angrier now. My own father did not feel remorse for the pain and oppression he inflicted on my people. People who deserve freedom and rights and citizenship and a prosperous future as any of my other subjects.

"Brother, why?" a small voice piped up. Hestia had a disappointed frown on her face. "They are without a true hearth and home. They have prayed to me often even though they knew I could not help. I shall award their sacrifice by supporting Percy and fighting for their freedom, though I am still a peaceful goddess."

Hera evidently decided it was her turn to speak. "This is madness. My husband is king. Going against him is traitorous."

"Use your own reason!" Hermes yelled. "Slavery is against the natural rights all autonomous beings have! I may be the most down-to-earth god besides Percy, but this should not even be a debate. The Maris Astérians ought to be released!"

"Do shut up," Dionysus sighed. "I'll support father as long as the noise stops. I never liked Perry Johnson anyway."

Hephaestus huffed before grumbling, "If Hera supports Zeus, I know I will stand on the opposite side. Can't trust the judgment of someone who threw their own son off Olympus."

"Sorry, hun," Aphrodite said to Ares. "I must stand with my husband on this. Percy's love for his people, these Maris Astérians, is stronger than all the hate you could fuel. A man who is so devoted to such love has earned my vote."

"This is not a vote!" Zeus boomed. "It is my decision! They will remain enslaved and Perseus will learn to accept it!"

I had had enough of this back and forth. I would not sit—stand in my case—and argue over the independence of my own people. They will be free one way or another. The time for talk has ceased.

"Fine," I stated. Zeus leaned back thinking he had won the argument. The smugness didn't last long. "War it is."

I didn't wait for a reply. I flashed out followed by those who cast their support for me. We had a civil war on our hands. And I was determined to come out victorious.