Forced Union (a Percy Jackson story)

Chapter 3

(All rights go to Rick Riordan.)

Thalia's p.o.v (third person)

Thalia stumbled back as Percy's eyes flashed open. She vaguely heard cries of surprise and concern from the others in the room.

"This can't be happening" she muttered "not again, not after Luke." She watched as Annabeth scrambled away from the son of Poseidon.

"Percy..." Nico ventured, while reaching a hand slowly towards the boy. His movement halted when percy's head whipped towards him adorned with a malicious smirk. Thalia shivered involuntarily. That wasn't right. Percy's face was supposed to have a goofy smile, not a twisted grin.

"Sorry son of Hades, but Percy is.... Unreachable right now." His smile widened. "You could leave a message though, but I doubt he'd receive it." The room was then filled by Kronos' maniacal laughter. It sounded like he was unhinged, crazier than he was before.

Thalia saw Annabeth's shaking hand clench tightly. "You give him back" she ordered, though the crack of her voice gave away just how scared she was.

Kronos turned towards her "Don't worry Wisegirl, it'll be fine." His voice had changed and was no longer the dark, gravely sound that they had become accustomed to. Now it was Percy's voice, and hearing it sent shock waves of pain and anger through everyone in the room. Annabeth stumbled and it looked like she had been punched in the gut. Tears welled in her eyes.

Chiron trotted forward. "That's enough." His voice was strong and commanding, betraying none of the emotion that we all felt. He turned to Piper. "Run to the big house and contact the gods." She nodded curtly and took off without looking back.

"Darn" Kronos said, though he didn't sound very disappointed. "I guess my time powers don't work in this body yet. The sea spawn must be fighting back."

Thalia felt hope well up inside her. If anyone could fight against Kronos' control it would be Percy.

"No matter" he said brushing it off and standing up "his spirit will be crushed soon enough."

Needless to say, the hope inside her withered.

He turned his attention back to Chiron. "Well son, long time no see."

Chiron grimaced. "If I do recall correctly" he began, "the last time we met you threw me into a brick building."

Kronos smirked, "still haven't forgiven me I see."

Jason pushed his way forward, "enough talking, get out of Percy's body now!"

Kronos feigned suprise. "A son of Jupiter attempting to help a son of Poseidon? That's almost as unlikley as a daughter of Athena and a son of Poseidon dating." He turned his head towards Annabeth who just glared at him.

"Anyways, the one problem with that, is that I don't want to. I've finally found a host that contains more than enough power to sustain me, and I will not give him up."

Just then the room was filled with a blinding light. When it faded all twelve Olympian gods and goddesses, as well as Hades and Hestia, stood with their weapons out.

Poseidon stepped forward, he radiated an aura of both power and anger.

"Father." He greeted coldly. "We didn't expect you back quite so soon."

Kronos grinned, "what can I say, I saw an opportunity to escape and I took it." He paused contemplating what to say next. "Besides, we just had so much fun together when he was my captive and I didn't want it to end."

Thalia grimaced, Percy had told her about his 'stay' with Kronos while in Tartarus. It wasn't pleasant to say the least.

"How did you manage it?" Athena questioned.

"He joined me willingly." Kronos said.

Poseidon growled and shifted his trident "you're lying" he spat "my son would never-"

Kronos cut him off. "You'd be suprised what your 'almighty savior' would agree to when his girlfriend is threatened."

Thalia watched in pain as Annabeth choked back a sob. "Just let me talk to him" she pleaded, sounding nothing like herself. "Please."

Kronos seemed to mull it over "I see no harm in it."

A second later he stumbled forward and fell to the ground. Everyone stayed rooted to their spots.

A groan escaped the person lying on the floor and a general sigh of relief spread through the room as the realized it was Percy's voice.

Annabeth rushed forward and threw her arms around him. "You idiot!" She screamed "you gave yourself to Kronos!" She punched him with every word.

Thalia raced to pull Annabeth off of him, it may have been an idiot move but he didn't deserve to be beaten to death over it.

Percy looked around the room a bewildered expression on his face. "What are you even talking about!" He demanded "I would never give myself to Kronos."

"Oh really?" Annabeth said, her arms crossed over her chest. "Then please explain to me what the hell just happened here!"

"I woke up and wanted to take a walk..." He trailed off. "I don't remember anything after that."

Annabeth lost it, "Maybe that's because Kronos took over your body! In fact he still has control!"

Athena stepped forward before the argument could continue. "Speaking of which, if you didn't surrender yourself to him then how is he inhabiting you?"

Percy grimaced and scratched the back of his neck.

"While we were in Tartarus and Kronos had us captured, he started torturing Annabeth right in front of me."

He paused for a moment and met Annabeth's eyes.

"I pleaded with him to stop, I just- I needed him to stop," his voice became shaky.

"He told me that all I had to do was swear my allegiance to him, and he would keep Annabeth safe throughout Tartarus. I agreed."

By this point, Annabeth had wrapped her arms around herself. Looking like it was all that was holding her together.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.

Percy looked at the ground, "so didn't think it was important. After I made the deal we were able to escape, and I killed him."

Athena scoffed. "Insolent boy, Kronos is immortal, he doesn't die."

Percy scowled "I stabbed him and he exploded into golden dust, if that's not death then I don't know what it was."

The look of superiority was wiped of Athena's face, replaced by one of worry. "You said he exploded into golden dust." She said slowly.

"Um... Yeah" Percy said, obviously not understanding the implications, along with the rest of the room.

Zeus spoke for the first time "What does it mean, daughter?"

"It's an ancient ritual for for the bonding of two entities, in this case Kronos and Percy." She responded.

"How do we reverse it?" Poseidon questioned, his eyes wandered to Percy who was still sitting on the ground taking in all of the new information.

Athena took a deep breath before answering. "As far as I know" she said, "you don't."

Sorry this took so long to post guys, I had major writers block. I'll hopefully have the next one up sooner. Comment any ideas that you might have for this, I'm always open to suggestions!

Bye for now!

-Stephanie