Percy Jackson: dark waters

Chapter 3

Percy's POV

"Sadly no. Apparently, when gods smite someone really hard, they tear their soul into oblivion to never return. No means can bring her. Not me, not my father, not even all the gods together. It is just impossible. I am really sorry man..."

I heard ringing in my ears. Suddenly, all my hopes that began to sprout just few seconds ago were shattered beyond any hope. There was truly no way for me to get Wise Girl back...I managed not to cry anymore. Instead, I summoned riptide to my hand (handy trick I learned a while back) and plunged it into Zeus' Fist. Water started pouring down. Huh... So it was not an accident back at the funeral. I created a mist and threw drachma in. "O Fleecy! Do me a solid and show council of gods, Olympus" The image started to shimmer for a moment, but ultimately, it showed me throne room. It looked exactly like I remembered last time. Exactly like Annabeth designed it. Expect in front of Hera's Throne, there was a black spot.

"Perseus Jackson!" I heard a booming voice. Zeus was sitting on his throne. "Why did you intrude our meeting?"

"Why? You dare ask me why? I come to demand justice." I wasn't really thinking. Words just poured out of my mouth like they weren't mine "I want justice for my Wise Girl! I want HER *I pointed at Hera* to suffer!"

"You better watch that mouth, Punk! This is my mother you are talking about!" Ares was surrounded by red aura, which meant he was angry. But I sensed a bit of... fear? In his voice Was he afraid of me?

"Shut up or I will wipe the floor with you!" Wow. That really wasn't me. I heard some gods gasp for air. Ares jumped and lunged at my image. With riptide still in my hand, I focused all my strength into the misty image of me back on Olympus and parried Ares' attack. To everyone surprise (including mine) Instead of just cutting the IM and probably wounding me with his godly powers, the image parried the block. Suddenly, I was standing in the throne room flesh and blood. Image was gone and I was here, parring furious series of slashes Ares used. Finally, I switched to offensive, summoning the water from around my father's throne. It's good thing Annabeth placed bowls with sea water around. I slashed with all rage that gathered in me. Ares tried to stop me, but I was too furious. Finally, I found an opening. When he cut from up right, instead of side stepping to avoid the cut, I went another way, barely avoiding the blade and stabbing Ares in his gut. Ichor started to pour from his wound. He fell on one knee, supporting himself with sword not to fall. Everyone stared at me with mixture of amazement, fear and confusion.

Suddenly, I felt chains around my hands and legs. I was now kneeling in the middle of the room, bound to the floor. I could not make any move. I looked up to see gods, now in their giant form looking down at me. Zeus spoke first

"Perseus Jackson. You are a threat to Olympus and western civilization as whole. You threatened us, wounded Ares, and were ready to flood New York City with biggest tsunami ever. You caused earthquake of great magnitude, shaken the ground under Olympus. You've sworn an oath to destroy us. We cannot ignore it. If it was up to me, we would just smite you like your girlfriend..." At this point, I was ready to break this chains and jump on Zeus. I would probably be dead half-way there, but at least I would die in battle. I saved their ass more times than any hero before. All I get in return is betrayal. Maybe Luke was right. Maybe gods do not deserve this power and trust. Or at least not all of them. "...but taking into consideration your previous deeds and the fact that your father threatened us with another civil war, we decided to banish you instead. You will be thrown into Tartarus to never return to mortal world. Do you have any last words?"

I gathered my strength and courage. Memories of Tartarus started to flood my mind. All the horrors I've seen there, all the things I had to withstand. I survived only because I had Annabeth by my side. Now I was to be there alone? This was a death sentence.

I looked around to see that in the back of the hall were others. The 6, Grover, Nico, Reyna, Will, Chiron, Clarissa, Chris and others. They seemed disgusted by me. In their opinion, I became the very thing I swore to destroy. I became like Luke. But Luke was right. He crossed the line, but he was right. My mother and Paul were here too. They must have let them come here to see my "trial". She was crying. I managed to stand up. The chains were trying to contain me, but I conquered them. I felt something. A dark spike going through my heart. Now I truly lost everything. I had nowhere to go, nowhere to stay... I was left alone. Just like that, my whole world fell apart.

"You talk of mercy, but Tartarus is as much of a death sentence to any demigod. You want to present yourself as merciful, but in fact you are just cruel and corrupted. You use Demigods to do your bidding, but in return you give them nothing. You demand, but not give. And then, you take things away from them and think that they will still help you. No more. I will never raise a finger to save you!" I was crying and yelling through tears. I could not stand there and peacefully go away. When I finished, I saw dark whirlwind opening under my feet and I started falling down into the pit once more.