ωμέγα (Omega)

Chapter ω

The whip came down with a sickening crack. The boy bit his lip, refusing to scream, to let the immortal being see his pain. "No screaming? That isn't what a good pet does." The boy spit out blood and turned his head to look at his torturer. "Yeah, maybe I am just not a pet. Get yourself a dog or something." Tartarus raised an eyebrow. "Repeat after me: I. Am. A. Pet." The boy shook his head. "Never," he spat, eyes blazing with anger. The whip was brought down a second time, stronger than the last blow. The son of Poseidon gasped and fell forward, being on arms and knees now. "Say it!" He shook his head again. The primordial grinned. "You will give in. No-one can withstand pain for long. Not even you." He whipped him again, but it wasn't a normal blow no, he but a bit of his hellfire into it, burning the skin around the injury. This time, the boy couldn't stop a wimpher from escaping his lips, but he wouldn't give in. Not yet, not this easily. "I. Am. No. Pet." His voice was pained but steady. "We will see about that." He put the whip down and inspected the three new whip marks on his prisoner's back. He hold up his hand and a little black flame danced around his fingers. "Hellfire. It's an interesting thing. Cold and warm at the same time. Some say it's made out of normal fire, souls of monsters and the river Phlegethon, but that is nonsense. It's made out of water from the river Styx and my blood. Did you ever hear what the blood of a primordial does to a puny demigod like you?" The boy didn't response. " It's acid to your skin, boiling your blood. And what do you think can it do mixed with the Styx? You already felt the pain, the burden of Achilles, now imagine that mixed with my blood. It's never been tested before, so you are subject 001. What an honer." Sarcasm dripped from his voice. He would make the half-blood scream. He put his finger on on of the whip marks and let his fire burn the skin and boil the blood around the injury. The hero could prevent himself from screaming the first two seconds, but he was literally on fire, hot pain erupting in his back, so he let a scream escape his lips, a blood curling, heard wrenching scream. Tartarus closed his eyes and listened to the melody of his screams, before tracing down the whip mark, sending waves if pain down Percy's back. "Tell me Perseus, what are you?" The boy took a moment to reply, considering about giving in, saving himself from the pain no living being, no teenager should feel, but he was strong, he was a savoir of Olympus and he had his Wise girl. "I-I am a d-demig-god." "Wrong answer," snarled Tartarus, grabbing Percy's hair. "You are at my mercy boy, do not push you luck." The half-blood bit his tongue and suppressed a wimpher. Tartarus jerked his head higher and showed Percy the black flame flickering around his fingers. "It hurt, didn't it? I could make you feel that pain every day, but you just have to say those little words and I will leave you alone." He let go of Percy's hair, who hadn't had the strength to catch his fall and landed on the ground with a pained grunt. Tartarus placed his hand over the second whip mark and let a little flame dance across it. "Pain or pride? It's you choice." Percy had never been very prideful, but he wouldn't let his torturer be satisfied by making him fear him, only problem: He was afraid. The pain he felt was way too much to bear, but he still was a fighter and fighters never showed their fear. "I w-will take t-the pain, then." Tartarus grinned. "So be it." The pit touched the whip mark again and the searing pain that convulsed through Percy's body let him scream again, his throat already dry from dehydration. "Pride is dangerous Perseus. Always keep that in mind."

Percy POV:

Luke and I were looking for the stupid train when it happened. I got the feeling of being watched, a tingle in the pit of my stomach. "Luke," I said warily. The blond boy turned around. "You can feel it too?" I nodded slowly and took Riptide out out of my pocket. Suddenly I feel dizzy and I stumble a bit. "Omega?" Luke's voice sounded far away. I felt arms catch me, as I fell to the ground. Why was the world spinning? I felt drained, drained of energy. I only felt like this once before...
"Luke, we gotta run."
"What?"
"Now!"
I stood up again, reluctantly letting Luke support me. Why did it have to be him? Before we could take another step, the ground rumbled and the little amount of the water underground was brought to the surface, but not by me. A booming laugh rang through the desert, sending chills down my spine. I looked around, but I couldn't see him. A gaps catched my attention. I turned back to Luke and my eyes widened at what I saw. The once clear water turned a sickly shade of green. Poison. Luke took a step back. "What the heck is going on here?" I was about to reply, when I heard heavy footsteps coming our way. Luke unsheathed Backbiter and Rose and I tightened my grip on my own sword. "Percy..." He sounded desperate, wary about the situation, not knowing what was happening. "It's Polybotes, Luke. I killed him a few years ago. He shouldn't have been able to reform so fast, so how-"
"Tartarus has a liking in everyone who hates your guts, sea spawn and since you killed me, well, let's just say our time won't be nice." I spun around and came face-to-face, more like face-to-knee, with the bane of my father.
I scowled and said, "Long time no see, how was Tartarus?" He just grinned. "Why don't you tell me? Still afraid of water?" I winced and he laughed. Luke looked utterly confused. He didn't know about the torture. Before Polybotes could say another thing, I decided to attack. I know, stupid, we don't have a god and there is almost no water here, except the poisoned one, and I would appreciate it if I could stay away from that, but I charged nevertheless. I swung my sword at his serpent-like legs, but it just bounced of the scales. I scowled unsatisfied. Luke was brought out of his stupor and charged as well, sliding under a blow from the giant. He came up next to me and asked, "What are we supposed to do now? We don't have a god here!" I bit my lip. "I kno-" I jumped back as Polybotes slashed at me again, catching me off guard. "Hey! He were having a conversation here!", yelled Luke, running at the giant and jumping on his feet. He raised his swords and stabbed them deep into his opponent's toe. The giant roared in pain and kicked Luke off, him luckily having a good grasp on his swords. He landed next to me with a grunt. "You ok?" I didn't know why I cared, or if I cared in the first place. He nodded and pushed himself off the ground. "Just a bit bruised, that's all. Who knew it would be so easy to climb on a giant's foot?" My eyes widened. "Of course! I have an idea. Luke, I need you to distract him, oh, and send a little prayer to Apollo, I could use his help here." He frowned, but nodded. "What are yo-" He was interrupted by a wall of poison rushing forward us. I thrust out my hands and willed the poison to stop. The liquid didn't listen to my command. I took a step toward it and concentrated harder. I could feel the tug in my gut, but also my fading streng. I was ment to control water, not poison. The poison slowed down, but still didn't stop. I sunk to my knees. A second before I could be engulfed in the deadly liquid, a body jerked me to the side, the wall of poison missing me by an inch. I looked up to see Luke standing above me, swords in hand. He was yelling at Polybotes, but my hearing was muffled. "-TOLD YOU TO NOT INTERRUPT OUR CONVERSATIONS!" The giant roared again, smashing him to the side like a rag doll. He fell to the ground and didn't stand up again. I couldn't tell whether he was breathing or not. I managed to push myself off the ground and faced the giant. He just laughed at my tired form and swung his blade again. I ducked and jumped as high as I could, letting Riptide go and clinging on the giant's hand. My sword would return in a few minutes, but I needed both of my hand for climbing. I heaved myself up and begun running on his arm. It was more difficult than it looked, but Polybotes, being the stupid giant he is, threw his arm in the air to get me off of him, but I used the swing to jump on the giant's shoulder. I pulled Riptide out of my pocket again and stabbed it in the giant's neck. He roared in pain, golden blood soaking my clothes. Please Apollo, we are under the sun, your domain, so please help me. The sun seemed to shine brighter, but I forgot about the fact that Polybotes was still able to fight, even if he was weakened. I realised too late the giant hand that flew towards me and swiped me off of him. For a second I was weightless, but then I hit the ground.
Someone screamed. Everything was blurry. Was I the one who screamed? Who was laughing? I fought to stay conscious, but I lost the battle, just like I lost the battle against Polybotes.

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A/N: Yay, a new chappy. I now it took some time, but I am back. So, is Luke dead? Is Polybotes alive, or could Apollo kill him? What happened to Percy?
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