Son Of The Cup Bearer {Percy Jackson x Ejen Ali}

Not Yours, Not Yours Either, It's Mine

OK, reader, let Ali ask you just this one question: does the enemy usually lay their weapons neatly on the floor and leave the final piece to their ultimate weapon, that could easily pass onto the good guys' hands, undefended? Because the situation sure did baffle Ali too. 

Ali and Rizwan managed to surprisingly reach to the centre of the Temple of Styx without a single scratch. Their friends wouldn't lay a single finger on them, but the enemy? They had acted ruthless for countless times, yet at the moment most crucial that would decide which side would win they give mercy? Ali really didn't understand how a criminal's mind works. 

On the floor before them were the three pieces of Asteri the Numeros had already obtained. And just like Ali had seen in his dreams, there laid the Dagger of Cocytus, Crossbow of Lethe and Shield of Acheron. On the altar behind these weapons was the Spear of Styx. Despite all these weapons not having a wielder, Ali could sense their slight pull of power affecting his mind; but they weren't strong enough to do much. Yet.

"Now what?" Ali asked Rizwan.

Rizwan stared at the Spear of Styx. "I think we'll need to present your weapon to the Spear of Styx, just like the others here."

Ali frowned. "Why? Can't we just take these and go?"

"I believe," Rizwan drawled, his usual arrogance back. "That if we do not abide by what I just said, the spear would refuse to be removed - and that's just the most positive scenario. The most negative would probably be we would die upon contact."

Ali gulped. "Yikes." 

So he did what Rizwan told him to. He took out his yoyo and set it alongside the other parts of Asteri on the cold, obsidian floor. Instantly, hot steam (Ali knows, because he got burned) swirled from each of the weapons towards the Spear of Styx. The spear shuddered, then, as if the steam had been trapped underneath a bowl of glass, there came a shattering sound, and the Spear of Styx landed next to its brothers on the ground. 

"Well, glad that's over," Ali said. He moved forward to collect his yoyo but was stopped by Rizwan putting his hand out. 

"Wait," Rizwan said.

Ali was about to protest, but seeing what happened next, he was glad Rizwan stopped him. The five parts of Asteri, now united, floated up into the air and merged together in a burst of blinding light. Below, Ali heard the sound of battle halt, like everyone had turned to watch the formation of Asteri.

Not a few seconds later, the light dimmed, and Ali chanced a look at Asteri. 

Ali didn't have any perfect words to describe it: it looked majestic.

Asteri's true form was a pair of glasses with blue lenses and a thick red frame. It appeared to be free-sized; no matter what way Ali looked at it, it seemed it could fit a child, teenager, adult or senior - and still look cool! 

"It's...beautiful," Ali whispered. 

He reached his hand out for the descending glasses. A weapon that could end the gods were just a pair of glasses? He could feel the excitement pumping in his veins, his brain stunned in awe of the sight of the amazing glasses and he just couldn't stop thinking how good he would look in them. 

Then all of that was taken from him when another hand snatched it out of his hand before it landed in his. Curse his shortness!

"How dare-" Ali began, but was stupefied when he saw that the thief was none other than his senior counsellor, Rizwan.

He held the pair of glasses carelessly in his hands, swinging them about, but not even looking or seemed the tiny bit afraid he might break it. And worst of all - he was smirking at Ali.

"Rizwan," Ali pleaded. "Can I have it? Pretty please?"

Rizwan stopped the swinging and held Asteri tightly in his hand. "Sorry, kiddo. But I'm afraid this doesn't belong to you."

Out from the shadows of a column behind Rizwan strutted the leader of the Numeros, Alpha. 

"Rizwan!" Ali warned. "Behind you!"

Instead of turning around in alarm, Rizwan still stood coolly as Alpha approached. What was Rizwan thinking? If Alpha came close enough, he would be able to snatch Asteri easily from him!

Though, Rizwan's next action shocked Ali the most. Without so much of a backward glance, Rizwan held Asteri above his shoulder, inviting Alpha to take it from him. Ali instantly backed away from him.

"No," Ali whispered. "No, it can't be-"

"What was it the prophecy said again?" Alpha said in fake confusion. "Oh yeah! Hopelessness is retrieved, countered by magician's treachery." He smiled. "It has never, ever been your little girl."

Ali couldn't believe what was happening. Rizwan was the traitor all along? But then again, that would explain so many things: why he appeared today of all the days, how the Numeros always knew where they were, how Beta knew he had the Yoyo of Phlegethon and how Alpha knew of the prophecy. 

They had been playing the Numeros' game all along. All their efforts had been watched and directed by the Numeros themselves. Simply the thought of being played made Ali's knees wobbly, but Rizwan being the go-between? It made Ali's brain go haywire.

"Thank you, Deka," Alpha thanked Rizwan in such a gentle voice, Ali couldn't possibly think they were enemies ever. "You have done well."

Alpha reached for Asteri, but Rizwan switched hands so that it was out of his range. 

"Deka," Alpha said kindly, but there was an edge of danger in his voice now. "Give. Me. Asteri."

"Sorry, boss," Rizwan said indifferently. "But I'm afraid you're not its owner too."

Alpha's nostrils flared. "You dare disobey my order?"

"I'm not anyone's pawn," Rizwan said. "Especially yours. I am not Rizwan. I am neither Deka."

Rizwan disappeared in a flash of light. Next thing Ali knew, he was dressed in a classic Greek armour made of Celestial bronze. His silhouette glowed with power as he regarded a stunned Alpha.

In a god-like voice that shook the temple, Rizwan announced, "I am Dolos, daimen of trickery, treachery and guile. Also known in the prophecy as the three-faced god. Numeros, by the decree of the Council of the Gods, you are accused of high treason and are sentenced to death."