Epsilon and his Army of Chaos (Watty's 2013) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 10: Shadows

I'm sorry for that cliff hanger. It's just so very tempting to tease you all, isn't it? Anyway, I started the next chapter as soon as I finished the last one. I just love writing!

I've seen some interesting opinions about who is this mysterious figure. I was debating whether or not to leave it for the next chapter, but I decided that I would be nice and tell you in this one. Aww. Evil streak over ... for now. >:)

I've actually made this chapter extra long to compensate for the cliff hanger in the last one ... and the cliff hanger in this one. I'M SORRY! It's just so tempting!!!

Anyways, this chapter is dedicated to Volleyballstar11 for their comment "nooo! Rachel! she's going to blow their cover! NOOOO! great chapter! i can't believe Xavier! please update again soon! PLEASE!" Thanks Volleyballstar11! I'm trying to dedicate to different people, so keep commenting!

Now, I'll put you all out of your misery and give you the next chapter ...

Chapter 10: Shadows - Leo's POV

The Chaos warriors left before the people from Camp Jupiter started introducing themselves.

No, we weren't being rude. We just had other things on our minds.

In single file, as if we'd rehearsed it (which we hadn't), we all went back to our cabin to check on Travis. We were all concerned, me and Luke more than anyone.

He was a good friend to me. We both died in the Giant War, and we both loved joking around and pulling pranks. Naturally we would become friends.

Most of the warriors stayed in the living room while Luke, Clarisse and I went in to see the son of Hermes.

He was lying on his bed, face down. He was so still. I had a horrible flash of déja vu of Percy in a similar condition mere hours before.

Hours?

Luke and Clarisse stood by the window while I sat on the edge of the bed. I took some ambrosia and forced it into Travis' mouth. Luke grabbed a cool cloth and wiped his brother's wound clean.

Pain flared across his face and he shifted when the cloth came into contact with his skin. Luke flinched and looked as if he didn't want to do it again, but he knew it was for the best.

Once Luke was done, we didn't really have much to do but wait until Travis woke up.

Luke started pacing after the first 30 minutes and began muttering to himself after an hour. Clarisse eventually got dizzy watching him and lay back on the floor.

I sat at Travis' bedside the whole time. He wasn't my brother, but he may as well be. Everyone in the elite team was so tight that we called each other brother and sister, similar to how we called Chaos, father.

But Travis was different for me. We spent so much time together, just hanging out, that I thought I might know him better than even Luke who was his brother. If he died again, I don't know what I'd do.

After a what felt like 1000 years (or 1, depends on if you were on Chaos' planet or Earth), Travis twisted, stirred, and woke.

'Hey guys,' he blinked weakly, 'Have one of you given me muscle freezer as a prank again?'

He barely finished the sentence when Luke, Clarisse and I pounced on him, crushing him with a huge hug. He started struggling beneath us, a small cry of pain escaping between his lips, and we stepped back.

We smiled at him and he returned it faintly.

'Seriously, though,' he winced as he sat up a little more, 'My bones feel like they've been fused together. What hap-oh. That's right. Xavier.'

Luke and I exchanged a look.

Clarrise grimaced, 'He threw a knife at your back, brother.'

He winced again, 'So that's why it feels like I've been hit by Zeus' master bolt.'

I chuckled softly, finding the joke funny but way too concerned to laugh properly. I wondered where Percy was, he should be here, with us, looking after the fallen soldier.

Clarisse fetched a canteen of nectar and we cautiously fed him some more ambrosia. Enough would heal a demigod, but too much would literally burn us to the ground. We kind of wanted to avoid spontaneous combustion.

It was just enough. With out help, Travis wobbled to his feet looking relieved to be able to walk.

'You're lucky that the knife landed no lower,' Luke remarked, 'Otherwise it may have severed your spine and you would not be able to stand.'

Travis' face drained of colour at that, but he tried to act brave for all our sakes. Only we saw right through his guise.

He took one, two little steps. Than another and another. When we were all confident that he could stand on his own, we let go of him.

Once through the door, we were greeted by all the warriors on the other side. They congratulated Travis on his victory, asked if he was ok, thanked him for showing up the little slime ball. I tried not to get involved, by I just had to wring his hand for smashing Xavier so easily.

Eventually, Luke and I realized that Travis was getting overwhelmed, so the three of us went for a walk. Clarisse stayed behind to keep an eye on the rest of the warriors.

Once we were out of earshot, Luke turned to Travis and me.

'Are you ok?' he asked.

Travis nodded, 'Yeah. Wounds heal.'

'Thats not actually what I was talking about.'

We stopped and I exchanged a glance with Luke. His expression told me what he meant. I also realized that his question was directed at me as well.

'He means how are we dealing with being back at Camp,' I explained, 'How we're coping.'

'Oh,' Travis looked uncomfortable, 'Its ... different.'

'Its strange,' I agreed.

'Have you guys thought about revealing your identity?' Luke asked shyly.

I looked up at the trees towering over us and noticed that we'd stopped at the edge of the woods. A hollow growl came from the darkness and I shivered. It couldn't hurt me. With the powers of Chaos, I was way too powerful. Nah, it just creeped me out.

'Well?' Luke pressed us. I knew he wanted our opinions. I took the bait.

'I told Jason and Piper who I was,' I said bluntly.

Travis looked at me in surprise, 'You did?'

'Yup,' I said, popping the 'p'.

Luke shook his head, 'I don't know what to do. If I reveal who I am, people could hate me for what I did in the Titan War.'

'The gods said they forgave you,' I pointed out, 'And I'm sure the campers would follow the gods.'

'True,' he said with a sideways smile.

'I wanna talk to Connor,' Travis muttered, 'I saw him in the stands. He's my brother, I just gotta talk to him.'

'Will you reveal yourself?' I asked.

He frowned, 'I don't know.'

Luke sighed deeply, 'This is hard.'

'Wouldn't be the life of a demigod if it was easy,' I teased, my old self surfacing.

Luke and Travis chuckled, 'Right you are, Flames.'

I fidgeted with the rim of my hood as we walked back to the Chaos cabin, I wondered who had already revealed themselves and who was planning to. I knew that revealing your identity was taking on a lot more trouble than most people thought. Jason and Piper had made me explain everything from how I became part of the army to what it was like on Chaos' planet.

When we got back, Travis was in a much better condition. He was quickly surrounded by some of the others who wanted details on the battle.

Luke and I wandered to our rooms.

The lock clicking behind me, I leaned against the door and slid to the floor. I ran a hand through my curly hair, or at least I tried to. Halfway through, my hand got tangled and I realized that I hadn't showered since I got here.

I grabbed some clothes and hopped in, turning the heat right up. I was immune to fire and heat, so it felt reasonably comfortable.

I got out and dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a black t-shirt. It seemed more like Nico's style, but most of the Chaos clothes were black.

Go figure.

I also had my cloak strapped around my shoulders, but my hood was down.

I went back to my room that I shared with Beckendorf, my half brother, who was in the main room talking with Travis.

I flopped down on my bed, hard, and stared up at the wooden ceiling. There was a fan attached to the roof. I watched it for a while, training my eyes on a single blade and following its rotation around, and around, and around, and around, and around, and around, and-

I shook my head, shaking stars out of my eyes.

Sighing, I sat up and moved to my window, the light from the lamp casting my shadow across the grass outside.

I wondered how the rest of the camp would react if they knew who I was. Would I be shunned once more because I was still the scrawny, odd kid? Or would I be honoured because of what I did at the Doors of Death?

Jason and Piper spent endless time apologizing for that, each insisting that they should've taken my place. It took ages for me to get a word in so I could explain that I knew I did the right thing. That just set them apologizing again.

I leaned onto the window, thinking of that last quest, that final leg of the race, and that feeling I had when I knew what had to happen.

I straightened suddenly. For a fleeting moment, I swore I saw another shadow flash across the grass outside, moving from one side of my room to the other.

I twisted, looking over my shoulder all around the room. Nothing.

I turned back to the window. I must've been really tired to be seeing things like that.

I only had a second to realize how foolish I was. I should've gone for Luke, or Clarisse, or anyone. Instead I dismissed it as a trick of the light.

That was the last thing I thought before something crashed into the back of my skull and I fell into darkness.

Percy's POV

(AN: Ok, ok. NOW I let you know who that figure was. I've kept you all waiting long enough. Suspense is so exciting when you're the one writing! That rhymed, didn't it ...)

Her dark brown hair was exactly as I remembered it. She'd grown it longer in the time I was away, but the colour was still the same. It was done up in a braid that draped over her shoulder.

Her warm blue eyes that use to stare into mine so often, sparkled and danced just as they did long ago. They were burdened with more sorrow and sadness now, but I would recognize them anywhere.

My mother stepped forward, 'My name is Sally. My friends and I have come to help with the war.'

War. That word jerked me to my senses. I blinked

'We would be honoured for you and friends to fight along side us,' I said with a small, stiff bow. I made sure that made my voice deeper. I knew that she would find me out before long, but that didn't mean I had to give in right away.

She smiled. But her eyes, sparkling with intelligence, said she saw something in me. The real me; the one that never left.

Before she could say anything I spoke first, 'I must go.'

Then I turned and walked away. The warriors had already gone to the cabin. I was on my way there, to check in on Travis, when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I froze.

The pressure, the touch, was all too familiar. I could tell that she wanted to remove her hand, but she kept it there until I turned to face her. Only then did she let it drop.

'You seem very familiar,' Sally said, 'Have you visited Earth before.'

'Indeed I have,' my voice was low, 'I was born and raised here, before I joined the army of Chaos.'

'You have travelled the universe,' it was a statement, not a question.

'Yes,' I answered carefully.

'Have you seen my son?' her eyes suddenly shone brighter, magnified by tears.

'Your son, Perseus Jackson.'

Sally nodded, 'He is very much like you, if Annabeth is to be believed. Strong, brave, determined.'

I knew she suspected me. She was a clear sighted mortal, could see glimpses of the future.

And she was my mother.

I sighed, 'Indeed I have seen your son. He loves you, and he misses you very much.'

Her voice was small when she said, 'We fought the last time I saw him. I would like very much to say I am sorry.'

It was as if she could see right through my hood, into my eyes that mirrored the ocean so magnificently.

And that's when I knew the game was up. She knew.

'He forgives you.'

Sally reached up and pulled my hood down. I didn't resist. She smiled both sadly and joyfully.

'Percy,' she sounded watery, but I couldn't blame her. Not when I had to choke down a lump in my own throat.

'Hi, Mom.'

'Percy!'

She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me to death. But I didn't care, for I was doing the same to her. Until that moment, I hadn't realized just how much I'd missed her.

'Oh my gods, mom. I've missed you so much. I'm so sorry.'

She put her finger on my lips, silencing me.

'No, Percy. It is I who must apologize to you,' she looked straight up into my face, 'That fight was my fault. I will never forgive myself for driving you away.'

'It wasn't you,' I tried to protest. But again, she stopped me.

'Perhaps not completely. But I know I was part of it,' she gave me a look that pretty much said don't bother trying to deny it.

I sighed in defeat and hugged her again.

'All that is in the past,' I told her, 'I am now the Commander of Chaos' army.'

'And I'm one half of the augur at Camp Jupiter.'

We were both silent for a moment, thinking back on the things that had happened in the past 10 years (or 10 000. Man, this was confusing).

Eventually, I pulled my hood up, 'I must return to my soldiers.'

She imitated me, pulling up her own hood, 'And I must see to the future.'

I looked her dead in the eye, 'You can't tell anyone who I am. I have to see to this war. Perhaps I will reveal myself in time. But for now, my identity must remain a secret.

She nodded and I gave her a small smile. She leaned up and kissed me on the cheek before she turned her back and walked away. I stayed frozen to the spot until I was sure she couldn't see me anymore, than I took off.

But I didn't head for the Chaos cabin.

Instead, I wandered to the campfire. The fire was still burning, though there was no one around. I hadn't noticed, but it was already early evening. The dark purple flames leapt into the sky, smoke drifting up and dissipating into the air.

I sat down on a log in front of the campfire.

My mom.

She was alive, she was immortal, and she still loved me. I felt all warm inside, and I didn't think it had anything to do with the fire in front of me.

I trusted that she wouldn't tell anyone who I was. She was my mother. She wouldn't do anything to endanger my life, I was sure of that.

But what of Annabeth?

I don't know how I felt about her. I was angry, that's for sure. But then why did I risk my own life to heal her? Ugh! I don't even know myself, so what chance do I have of understanding the bizarre creature that is a girl. (AN: Girls, please don't take offense. I'm writing from a boys perspective, that's all. Trust me, I'm a girl myself.)

I groaned and looked up at the sky. I could see all the constellations; Hercules, the Huntress.

I knew that I couldn't just forgive Annabeth. But I also knew that, deep down, I still loved her. Around the time she betrayed me, I was thinking of proposing to her. I had almost bought a ring, but, of course, the sight of her with Xavier may have discouraged that.

I chuckled softly. She would always call me a Seaweed Brain whenever I showed sarcasm. Good times ...

A movement caught my eye.

In the light of the campfire, I could swear that I saw a shadow flicker. A silhouette running behind me. But when I stood up and looked around, nothing was there. I moved up the amphitheater, moving away from the fire.

I knew it was a bad idea to call out. I almost dismissed it all as paranoia, but something in my gut told me it was more than that.

I turned back to the fire and saw the shadow again. In the blink of an eye, it was behind me.

Too late, I realized my mistake. Then something slammed into my head and I crumpled, black obscuring my vision as I lapsed into unconsciousness.

Annabeth's POV

Standing by the Big House, I wondered how Epsilon knew Sally.

That much was clear. Even with his face hidden under his hood, I felt recognition flare up inside him. He looked almost scared of her. But Sally wasn't scary, was she?

No, she most definitely wasn't.

I leaned against the side wall and slide down until I was sitting on the ground.

What a day.

That fight in the arena was spectacular. The way that warrior, Bandit, easily beat Xavier. I wanted to laugh at the son of Ares. The expression on his face when he realized that Bandit had his ring was priceless!

Then there was Epsilon meeting the Camp Jupiter folks. He already met Hazel and Frank. But there was something that made me sure he already knew Reyna and Octavian. At least the Greeks and Romans were friendly now. We would need all the help we could get in the coming war.

Then there was Epsilon in general.

He reminded me so much of Percy that I wanted to cry. They had the same aura, like they had power they didn't want, but simply accepted the fact because they couldn't get rid of it. They were both strong and brave and just powerful.

Ugh! My thoughts were so messed up. I didn't know what I thought of Epsilon. All I knew was that I wanted Percy back. Now, you may think that I'm a terrible person because I cheated on him. But the truth is: I didn't.

Well, not technically, anyway.

See, that night at dinner, Xavier came over to my table to talk to me about capture the flag the following night. He wanted Athena and Ares to team up. I told him no, but as he was turning away, he knocked my knife onto the floor. I ducked under the table to retrieve it, and when I came back up, he was walking away, putting something in his pocket.

After dinner, I felt strange. I went for a walk in the woods where I ran into Xavier. Suddenly, he seemed like the most handsome, amazing person in the world and I wanted nothing more than to be with him forever. I did see Percy in the woods, but at the point, all I could think of was Xavier.

The next morning, I found out two things. One was that Xavier had spiked my drink with a love potion made with the help of the Aphrodite and Hectate kids, and the other was that Percy had run away.

Now, sitting by the Big House, I knew that it was all my fault. Percy ran away because of me.

I would've crushed Xavier by now, but unfortunately, Ares had blessed him, making him one of the immortal campers, the undeserving git. (AN: Sorry if anyone is offended by the language! It needs to be said. Xavier is just an idiot)

For the last 10 years, my every waking moment had been consumed with the search for Percy. I needed to find him, to explain everything, to bring him back to me.

I stood abruptly, something disrupting my train of thought.

In the light emitting from the Big House, I saw a shadow. It lingered for half a second before vanishing, seemingly into thin air.

I pulled my knife out and walked a little way from the house.

'Who's there?' I called out, sounding braver than I felt.

No response. No, duh. Who would respond to that.

I advanced a little further, holding my knife out in front of me. My eyes flicked around, searching every space. Where did the figure go? There couldn't be a shadow without a figure.

I was almost to the edge of the woods now. And that's when I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

I had only a second to think gods, I'm stupid before something hit me hard in the back of my head and I blacked out.

Frank's POV

I was absently turning into different animals; dog, lizard, frog, turtle, crow.

Hazel was watching me. She was both frowning and smiling, like she wasn't sure whether to laugh or call me an idiot.

Finally, she sighed, 'Oh, do stop, Frank. You're making me nauseous just watching you.'

I returned to human form, sitting on the floor. I gave a low chuckle.

'It keeps my mind off things,' I told her

She leaned forward, her expression turning a little more serious. A strand of her cinnamon coloured hair fell in her face. Gods of Olympus, she's beautiful.

'You're thinking about Commander Epsilon?' she guessed.

I did some sort of weird head shake-nod thing, 'Yes and no. I am thinking about him. But I'm just thinking about how much he reminds me of-'

'Percy,' she finished.

I got up and walked to the window. We were staying in one of the guest rooms in the Big House. Sally, Reyna and Hazel shared a room, as I did with Octavian. Thankfully, he's became a lot more enjoyable to be around after the Giant War.

Hazel and I were in my room, talking. We did that a lot, mostly since Percy dissapeared. It came on so suddenly.

We were due to visit Camp Half-Blood in a couple of days. Then, one morning, Reyna, Hazel and I received an Iris message that said Percy had run away and was presumed dead. Naturally we went over right away.

The rest of the seven plus Nico and, occasionally, Reyna would go on 'Percy Hunts.' We would look for Percy everywhere. He wasn't at either camps, he wasn't at his mom's apartment, he wasn't on Olympus nor in the Underworld.

Annabeth drove herself crazy. She always said it was her fault, though she would never tell us why.

When I didn't respond, Hazel got up to stand beside me. She turned me towards her, then put one hand on my shoulder and the other on my cheek. I closed my eyes, sighing, and leaned into her soft touch.

'You know we'll find him,' she whispered, 'When this war is over, we'll find him. Maybe Epsilon will help us.'

I opened my eyes and stared at the moon rising, 'Maybe.'

She removed her hand from my face and smiled. Then she rose up on tip-toes to kiss me.

'Reyna and Octavian are downstairs,' she said, 'I'll meet you there when you're ready.'

I took a deep breath and returned her confident smile. Then she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her with a quiet snap.

I turned to face the room and leaned on the windowsill. I thought about everything in the past 10 years. Percy, immortality, everything.

Just as I was about to follow Hazel downstairs, I saw a flash; the quick flicker of a moving figure. I whipped my head, trying to locate the source, but it moved as fast as I searched. All I could see was a dark silhouette; a shadow that belonged to nobody.

I'm in trouble, I thought.

And that was the last thing that crossed my mind before something struck me in the head, just above me eye and I lost track of everything as I passed out.

Bianca's POV

The world seemed to have changed so much, yet so little since I'd died.

Not that I regretted dying at all.

One shall be lost in the land without rain. I remembered realizing what that line meant. When Percy volunteered to go inside the defective Talos statue, I knew it had to be me. That prohecy line said that whoever climbed inside that robot was not going to make it. Percy had a role, and I needed to let him play that role.

Even if it meant dying.

It was a terrible feeling. Not dying, no, that was over in a flash. The feeling that I was leaving everything behind, leaving my 10 year old brother, Nico.

Seeing him now, with me in the Chaos army and him being immortal, I felt changed. So much had changed since that day when we were at a regular school dance at a regular school.

It was both a joyful and sad feeling. Both good and bad had come since then. So many years had passed ...

I lay back on my bed in the Chaos cabin, thinking everything through. I only had a few moments before Zoë came back from shooting arrows at innocent trees.

There wasn't too much for me to reflect on. I only ever went on one quest, and that was the one I died on. I supposed I could think about my time as a hunter, but that was only about a week.

I turned in my bed and lay on my side, staring at the wall opposite the door. A shadow was lit up against it. I sat up and twisted around.

'Zoë?'

The last thing I saw was an empty room before a sudden slam in the back of my head knocked me into unconsciousness.

Piper's POV

After the sword fight between Xavier and one of the Chaos warriors, Jason and I had a picnic down by the beach. It was nice there, but it reminded us of Percy. We talked of scheduling another 'Percy Hunt' as soon as this new war was over. Life just wasn't the same without him around.

We were stunned when we found out. The two of us were on a quest with my sister Lacy. Aphrodite wanted us to prove ourselves or something. It was a stupid quest, I can even remember what it was,

But when we got back, we saw a weeping Annabeth who weakly informed us that Percy had run away and was thought to be dead. We couldn't get another word out of her except when she consistently muttered, 'All my fault. All my fault.'

After our picnic, Jason went off to his cabin for a while and I wandered into the woods. I get that we're not really suppose to go in there alone, I just wanted some peace.

I couldn't believe that Leo was still alive! Well, no. Technically, he was dead, or is, or ... gah, never mind. But he's back, and that's all that matters.

He made us promise not to let anyone know, though.

I walked around for a bit until I found the clearing where Jason, Leo and I had once run into the maenads. What fun that was, I thought sarcastically.

In the middle of the clearing, I pulled out my knife and practiced with it. I now excelled in knife throwing and could land one with deadly accuracy. So I practiced that for a while.

Eventually, I got tired and rested under a tree. I positioned my back against the trunk and sat. A couple of leaves floated down around me. I took the alone time to think.

What to make of the Chaos army?

I already knew I trusted them. Leo was a part of their group, he would never betray us. He was a good guy, therefore the army were good guys. I'm also pretty sure that some of my other old friends are in there somewhere.

But it was the commander that I though about.

Commander Epsilon. The name directs almost as much attention as the man himself. He had an air of power and mystery. He was a riddle yet to be solved by god or otherwise. He looked as if he contained secrets not even Chaos knew.

But more than anything, he reminded me of Percy. Brave, true, loyal, courageous; he is everything Percy was. I mean is! No, past tense.

We would find him. I had to believe that we would. He was too big a part of our lives to lose forever. And he wasn't dead, Nico told us that much.

I was in such deep thought, that I didn't notice the dull shadow that crept up behind me, illuminated by the moonlight.

Not a single sound escaped me when something smashed me, hard in the head and I collapsed back into a blur of black.

AN: There. Are you happy, now? Probably not. I made an extra long chapter, but I also left a cliffy. I'm getting good at this evil stuff! You're probably not too happy with me. Please don't kill me! At least I told you who the figure was. ;P

I also just wanted to say congratulations to Books_forever19, greek_freak1 and chococookie1607 who actually guessed Sally. Well done! :D

That's all I have for now. I may have to wait a few days to update, but I'll do my best. Just remember to vote and comment. Best comments get dedications and, as I said before, I'm trying to give different people dedications each time, so everyone has a chance. Please vote and comment, 'cause I love getting your reviews, it makes me so happy! :)

Later, guys! XD