Death of Olympus

Chapter 2

Percy stood across the table from Chiron, staring down at the maps and papers strewn across it. "Over a hundred minor gods and goddesses, and two major deities, all slain in the last month." Percy nodded slowly. "Chiron, I--" the centaur raised his hand. "I know what you're going to say, Percy, and it's not true. Just because you don't have your powers anymore doesn't mean that you're useless. " Percy looked up at his mentor. "I just... Poseidon's dead." Chiron nodded. "And Athena. But that doesn't mean we give up. We must avenge their deaths." Percy sighed, starting to argue just as screams broke out outside the tent. The pair rushed out, trying to push through the mass of frenzied half-bloods. "What happened?!" Percy yelled over the commotion. "He's dead! He killed him! He's dead!" Percy looked back through the throng at Chiron, who returned the look with a solemn nod. They pushed through the demigods, finally reaching the center of the chaos. But as soon as Percy had done so, he immediately wished he hadn't. "Oh... oh my..." Chiron laid a hand on his shoulder. "Don't say it."

In the center of a clearing in the crowd of campers was a sight so unnerving it seemed to be the only reason why people weren't flocking towards it. There, at the center of Camp Half Blood, one of the safest places on the planet, lay a figure clad in gold clothing, fitting for a god. Percy hoped that the recognition that instantly enveloped his mind was wrong, but as he circled the dead deity it was unmistakable: Hermes, the messenger of the gods, lay dead, his body stretched over a boulder and a long wooden stake impaling his stomach. Chiron stepped into the center of the ring of teens, raising his hands. "Everyone, remain calm. There's no need to worry, I'm sure this is some sort of prank..." He was cut off by shouting from the crowd. "It's no prank!" "He told us that he did it!" "The gods are dying! You can't hide it from us!" Chiron let out a hot breath. "Alright, alright, calm down. Would someone please explain who 'he' is?" "Uh... Chiron?" Percy said, tapping a muscular shoulder. Chiron turned slightly. "Yes, Percy?" "I think I know who they're talking about. Chiron raised an eyebrow as Percy pointed behind him, turning slowly to face Hermes again.

There, standing over the body of the fleet-footed deity like a hunter over the carcass of a lion, was a sword-wielding young man, his hair a sandy blonde, his eyes a golden brown. He wasn't imposingly tall, he could only have been 5'10", but something about him seemed... powerful. The boy stepped forward, smirking slightly. "Chiron, I presume?" Chiron nodded slowly in response. "I guess you've figured it out; I'm the one that "killed" Hermes. And Poseidon. And Athena. Oh, and all those little guys." Percy stepped forward. "What do you mean, 'killed?'" He asked, inquiring of the inflection in the boy's tone. "Oh, they're not dead." The boy laughed. "What, you think I'm a murderer? No, no, I just killed their 'god' forms." Percy took a step back as the boy took a step forward. "What... what are you talking about?" The boy chuckled. "Oh, come on. Are you really that stupid? You never even thought to question who the gods really were?" Percy's hands began to shake. "What are you talking about?!" The boy laughed again. "Y'know what, I'll just let you find out all by yourself. I just thought I'd leave this little robo-Hermes here for you all, as a keepsake. Something to remember me by." The boy then promptly disappeared, without a trace of ever being there. Well, except for the carcass of a dead god impaled on a boulder. Percy looked to Chiron with a worried expression dominating his face, and Chiron returned the look with a deep, sad breath.