* Percy Jackson: Son of Chaos and Order

~ Chapter 9 ~

Neander's POV

The gods and demigods gasped. Poseidon looked like he saw a ghost and Annabeth looked happy. She ran towards me trying to hug or kiss me. Either way, eww. I pushed her away before she could get too close.

"Neander, manners," Gaea, Nyx, and Hemera scolded.

"Why would you do that? Didn't you miss me?" Annabeth asked.

"Why would I miss the person that was part of the reason I died?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Son," Poseidon said, walking forward.

"I'm not your son. You lost the right to call me that the day you disowned me. You all lost the right to call me anything the day you called me a traitor because of the words of someone you didn't know for a month," I said, taking a few steps back.

"What happened to you? The old Percy would never push Annabeth or scream at his dad and friends. He wouldn't hurt the love of his life and his family" Jason said.

"You're right," I nodded, "the old Percy would never do that. But Percy died. His fatal flaw killed him. And if you think Annabeth is the love of my life or I would take her back then you really must have hit your head Grace."

"And if she messes with my ship I'll kill her," Eros muttered.

I rolled my eyes again.

"Can I leave now?" I asked my parents.

"Yes. You can leave. Take the Elite team, Nico, Thalia, Leo, Hades, Hestia, Apollo, and Artemis with you," dad said.

"See you, Neander. We need to talk later," Eros said, while Gaea and Nyx nodded in agreement.

I sighed and nodded. I told Luke to lead the group of mentioned people to the game room, while I flashed to the gym.

Luke's POV

When we made it to the game room, Neander was nowhere to be found. I sighed knowing that he went to the gym instead.

"Where is Per-Neander? And why do you have a punching bag in the game room?" Apollo asked.

"Neander," me, Silena, Beckendorf, Zoe, and Bianca answered in synch.

"Is he okay? I mean after everything five years ago," Hestia asked.

I looked toward the team to see who would answer and they were all staring at me. I looked at them confused.

"Luke, you spent time with Neander more than any of us," Zoe said.

I wanted to protest but it's true. Neander and I are close.

"He tells everyone he's fine but he's covering his true feelings. He's hurting. The people that he trusted the most and almost gave his life for time and time again turned on him. His mom and stepdad didn't want him around for the "danger" he brings. He's hurting and we haven't figured out a way to help him yet," I told them sadly.

"Where is he now?" Hades asked.

Once again everyone looked at me and I sighed.

"The gym. Come on, I'll take us," I said.

When we entered the gym we expected to see Neander working out. Not destroying punching bags and his fist.

"NEANDER," we all screamed.

He showed not even an ounce of acknowledgment. He had a complete focus on the punching bag. I walked towards him ignoring the warning shouts behind me. When he was sending another punch toward the bag, I quickly grabbed his hands and held them in place. He stiffened at first then relaxed.

I sent a mind-link to Zoe telling her to get them to the game room and we'll meet them there. When I heard the door close, I turned Neander around. His eyes were bloodshot and flowing with tears. I sighed and pulled him into a hug.

"Neander, tell me what's wrong," I pleaded.

"Why is it that everything always goes wrong? My life was already weird and hard. Then, life was finally getting good at camp, and Marcus came. I was betrayed by the people I called family. All three of my parents left me and then I was finally happy again. I have parents, siblings, a lot of siblings, and you. Then everything fell to shambles again. I can't catch a break," he sobbed.

I pulled him closer while he cried his eyes out.

"How about this? We finish this mission and you never have to come back. You don't have to talk to them unless it's necessary. Okay?" I asked.

He nodded and we stood in silence for a while. He dried his face and we both walked into the game room. Hestia came forward to hug Neander. She whispered something to him and he nodded.

"Are you okay?" Hades asked.

Neander nodded and sat on the couch. Apollo sat beside him and started to heal his hands. When he was done Neander looked at the gods and sighed.

"I missed you guys so much," he said.

"We missed you too. Do you know how boring those Olympian meetings were without Zeus having someone to argue with," Apollo asked?

We all laughed. We talked for a while before Chaos told us to go back to the throne room. When we walked in I laughed at the look on the other gods' and demigods' faces. I have a feeling that the primordials became a bit overprotective.

"Now. Since Neander knows a lot of information about the giants he will devise a plan. Any objections? No? Great," Order said.

"When he completes the plan he will discuss everything with you. He and the Elites will also create a training program. Remember our talk," Chaos said and they nodded fearfully.

"Do you need anything before you leave, brother?" Ouranos asked.

"N-Actually yes. Tarty do you think you could do me a favor and release a titan?" Neander asked.

Everyone gasped and looked at Neander like he was crazy.

"A titan?" Tartarus asked slowly.

"Yes, Iapetus," Neander answered.

Tartarus shrugged and waved his hand. Iapetus stood in front of us confused until he saw Neander who had a giant smile on his face. Iapetus rushed forward and hugged Neander.

"I take it, it is time correct?" he asked.

Neander nodded excitedly.

"You helped me more times than I can count and now I'm doing something for you," Neander told him. The titan nodded and looked around the room. When he saw the gods he shook his head and frowned.

"This came earlier than we thought," he said.

"Wait. Time out. How do you even know about what's happening before he said anything?" Ares asked.

"Remember when I went 'missing' for a while?" Percy asked me.

I nodded. Chaos and Order were going crazy trying to find him. He just popped up after a while as though nothing happened. Chaos was livid.

"Yeah. When you made us almost fade early?" Order glared.

"Yeah. I was in Tartarus. While I was there Iapetus and I talked and hung out for a while. While I was there, I heard talk of some titans and giants rising to destroy Olympus again. So Iapetus and I found their weaknesses so we could be prepared. I just didn't count on it happening this early," Neander shrugged.

"So you knew there was a chance that your home was going to be destroyed and you said nothing," Poseidon asked.

"Earth, Olympus, and camp are not my home. If it weren't for the help my family, team, and I was so graciously giving you, you'd be dead. So say thank you and shut up," Percy said.

"Well. Since that's over. I say we go back to the cabin and get ready. The demigods will need rest for the training that Neander has planned," I said.

Chaos created a portal for us all to go back to Camp Olympus. I wish these campers luck because they're going to need it. He's going to kill them.