Perseus Jackson: Champion of Thanatos

Finding the Courage

I am a coward. That was the solitary thought that ran through my head as I ran with all my might, making the trees form a brown blur in the dark wood. I felt the wind attempting to dry the sweat that was coming off me in vain. My sopping wet chest was rising and falling from the exertion of running for so long, and from the sight and sound of silver arrows thudding around me. The sound of a drawstring being pulled taut, and then the loosing of the arrow, followed by a violent noise when it nearly met its mark.

I never knew the moon goddess to miss so much. This was a humorless thought, as she was only missing narrowly. I don't really know why I ran, as soon as I saw the way she looked at me, I turned and bolted. I assume her hunters were still incapacitated in the clearing we had left them. The moon has been growing steadily as I lead Lady Artemis on this merry chase. The glowing orb illuminates my path, and I weave in and out of the trees, attempting to defeat a woman who has had an eternity to perfect the art of hunting. But being a demi-god, you are fairly used to being the prey, and with my dominion over people's fears, I have come to realize we all are deathly frightened of something. I certainly wished I did not flee, but now that I had given up the ground I had gained, it was becoming quite difficult to make a stand.

"That insufferable woman!" I jolted at this thought that was not my own, even though I may have been thinking something similar. "You had them in your clutches, and now you are running away? Your cowardice will not sit well with Lord Hades, and I believe I am losing faith in you." This struck me harder than one of Artemis' arrows, as I heard the collective voice of Phobos and Thanatos berate me. I have had to stew with the thought of being a coward for a decade, knowing I stood witless, and gaping, as they sent me to the pit. I was in a state of disbelief as they told me I would be doomed to suffer perpetually, and even more debilitated by the non-existent support of my friends.

I had to watch as all of my acquaintances, still basking in the glory of our victory, stand tight lipped as I was thrown into the abyss. Nico, now crossed off the list, attempting to call out my name, but voice dying in his throat. Thalia lie wounded in the palace of Apollo, I would like to think she would have stood for me, but my madness and pessimistic outlook are no longer sure. Malcolm, blinded by grief, called for my removal, my eradication. I did not really blame him; he still deserved to die however. An odd sentiment I suppose, but my mind is not at its best.

I realized at this point I had ran out of woods to shield me, and that there was a cliff fast approaching, I had no time to make a decision about this anyways, as a beam of moonlight struck in front of me. In the time I had faltered, there was a barbed arrow in my thigh. I barely registered the pain as I heard another arrow notch itself. "Who are you?" I heard a feminine voice bark. I nearly flinched as I saw the eyes that pierced like augurs, as silver as liquid metal. She really was beautiful, I supposed that was really only a forbidden fruit type of thing though.

I chuckled. "No one seems to recognize me these days, it seems there was many hero's greater than I; to forget such a handsome face." Artemis was very visibly shaken by the casual humor. She quickly regained her balance, although it seemed like he had the arrow trained on her rather than the other way around. "I recognize you well enough, but I know the man with that face to be honorable, and he is no murderer." I smirked at this, a devilish gaze finally meeting the silver irises. "Ah, this may be so, but the man we speak of always had a strong sense of justice, and wouldn't you say justice was carried out today?" As much fun as this was, the gaping hole in my leg, the blood only staunched by an arrow, was starting to burn.

Artemis flinched at the black eyes that somehow twinkled at night, and appeared to have the desire to ask a thousand questions, but also the desire to tear the mans throat out. Then she saw it, and her hopes and also what she dreaded was true. She saw the gold flicker, Anaklusmos , and she made an odd noise between a sigh and a gasp. At this point I wasn't sure whether she was going to finish me off or let me bleed to death right here. He had watched her go through a myriad of emotions, and was surprised at how unusually expressive the goddess was. "Perseus, I don't know what you have become, but I must take you to the Gods, they have long resolved their differences. You have murdered Nico Di'Angelo, and Hades will have your head. They have all agreed that they made a mistake in imprisoning you." Artemis looked at the boy- no, man before her and made a gesture of compliance.

I laughed, louder than I had in ten years, I roared until my eyes were teeming with tears, they burned and were black as tar. Everything she said was terribly funny to him, and his sides ached, blood continued to pour out of his leg. As he cackled, his veins enlarged, and grew black. He felt the familiar filth as he touched his powers, and the blinding pain they brought. He knew he had to escape; he was not strong enough to battle the Gods. He must learn to use his new powers, and he would begin now. The night seemed to come alive, as the tendrils formed again and began to encircle him. Artemis forgot all about the old Percy and negotiation, and loosed her arrow. A shadowy limb simply swatted it away, the moon shot a pillar of light at the forming entity, and it seemed to dissipate momentarily. Yet he was not shaken, he had a pitchfork that was wickedly sharp, and his mouth made a rictus. The black tears had dried on his face, and he no longer laughed. "I'm sorry to cut this short milady, but I cannot meet the Gods just yet." He said this in a perfect imitation of the old Perseus Jackson.

"What are you?" Artemis had modified her earlier question to be more appropriate. He almost appeared to look mournful as he mustered the strength to speak. "Percy has died, now I will die for him again, and no longer be a coward."

He hurled the pitchfork at the moon goddess. It pierced her stomach. Perseus Jackson jumped from the precipice.

Sorry for the long absence everyone, I have been quite busy. I am going to start writing shorter chapters, but the goal is that it will make me update more frequently. Big thanks to @Percy_BlackAdder for the amazing cover. R&R everyone it makes my day, and gets me in my feels. ~TheOverlander11