Percy Jackson: dark waters

Chapter 8

Third person POV

Zeus was striding in empty throne room. Only an hour left before the war starts. Gods already took their sides and to be honest, odds were not in his favor. Taking the chance, some gods acted on their animosity toward each other. It was like this big fight in playground where you pick side because you do not like the person in another group. Zeus got support from Camp Jupiter minus the praetors and Hazel, who joined the Greeks. From Major Olympians, only Ares, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus and Hera were by his side. Poseidon and Athena, who together led the other side got Aphrodite (pissed at Hera for destroying her OTP), Apollo (who liked Percy), Artemis (who respected Percy as last descent male on earth), Hades (who decided Zeus is insane), Hermes (same as Apollo) and Hestia (she liked Percy almost like a son). The odds were really not in his favor.

The mortal world also suffered. The West and the East were starting to fight each other. Right now it was only some bad words here, some bad words there, but some speculated this is going to be another civil war. And Gods feared they were right. No one outside of Greek-Roman world really knew, why the animosity in mortal world started, but it was going to blow up soon. 

30 minutes left. Zeus sat on his throne. Hera appeared in the throne next to him. She was wearing battle gear and had a sword strapped to her belt. 

"Are you sure this is the best course of action, Hera?" Zeus asked his wife, doubt in his voice

"We have no choice. If we release him now, none of us will survive. Even if he was not our enemy in the first place, we made him one. Now it is too late to apologize. We must go on." Hera said. Zeus looked her in the eyes, only to see determination and... fear? Yes. Hera was afraid of Perseus Jackson. This demigod scared even the queen of Olympus. This has to end. No matter what Poseidon says or threatens to do, he will not surrender. Perseus is too dangerous to be let out of Tartarus. Ever. 

Percy's POV

"I am a monster Percy"

Bianca was crying into my arm now. I wanted to say something to comfort her, but I was left speechless, so I just let her mourn. After what felt like an hour (probably just 10 minutes, but still), she calmed down a bit. 

"I am so sorry Percy. I should not transfer this onto you. You do not deserve this. I will help you get out to your Annabeth. You two are made for each other." She tried to smile, but only managed a faint one. One mention of Annabeth and all my mental walls I kept trying to build felt down. I was seconds from starting to cry.

"No. I have nothing to go back. I... I did not fall here. I was thrown by scared Zeus. Annabeth... Hera... They hated each other... She... They..." I was struggling to gather my words. I felt tears going down my cheeks. Bianca looked at me with her big, black eyes. Hold on. They weren't black. There was a bit of purple inside too. Like Stygian Iron.

"I am so sorry Percy. I didn't know." She said, hugging me more. I felt myself slipping to the realm of Morpheus.

Dream:

I was standing behind one of the columns in the Throne Room of Olympus. In the middle stood my father. There was also Athena next to him. What surprised me was that Amphitrite, my step-mother, was sitting on his throne. 

"What is the meaning of this brother? Not only did you not listen to me, but now you also try to replace me with my wife?" Poseidon screamed at Zeus, who I just noticed was sitting on his throne. He did not look as royal as usual though. 

"Oh. Shut up Poseidon. I am no longer your wife. You are just a crazed, cheating idiot who values some bastard over me and your first born son." Amphitrite said with poison in her words. 

"You can do what you wish. I care about all of my children. It is about what Zeus is doing. He is destroying everything. He takes away happiness of others, but he doesn't stop himself from having such fun. I broke the oath only once. He did it twice at least. We don't know how often this happened."

"Shut up. You are a traitor, just like your son. Surrender now and I might yet forgive you and be lenient in your punishment" Zeus boomed from his throne. Thunder roared outside. Poor mortals probably are facing storm of the century. 

"I see only three traitors here. My wi... Former wife, Hera and YOU! You and your precious consort betrayed the greatest hero this world has ever had. He wanted nothing but peace, but you could not accept it. He was humble and just cared for his friends. HE EVEN REFUSED GODHOOD FO..." Loudest thunder yet interrupted my father. 

"ENOUGH! If you are so stubborn over the boy, then I see no other way. Poseidon. I hereby, as a King of Gods declare war upon your rebellion. Now you are protected by ancient laws and white flag, but next time we meet, it will be on the battlefield." Zeus said with calmness in his voice, but I couldn't help but notice that he seemed scared. My father did not respond, but instead took Athena's hand and flashed away. WAIT! He touched Athena? What is going on up there? I was gone for less than a week. I think. Maybe a bit more. Who would be counting, right?

 The scenery changed. I was now in the big house, Chiron was sitting in a wheelchair. He and a group of demigods were watching TV. On the news there was this weird celebrity I never remember the name.

"After series of natural disasters striking all around United States, government faces a hard decision of where to divert their resources first. Both unofficial leaders of West and East demand to be top priority. People are desperate. There is lack of electricity in whole country, seas and oceans are raging. Earthquakes are occurring  more and more often. In San Francisco began riots. Governor forbid President from sending military help to deal with them. We are at the brink of collapse."

HELP US PERCY!

I woke up. This voice. I know it. I would recognize it anywhere. This was Grover. Poor guy. Luckily, we decided to sever the psychic link after Gaia was dealt with. Poor satyr almost had mental breakdown when I was in Tartarus. This was way too dangerous for him. 

I opened my eyes to see that Bianca and I fell asleep on the floor together. She was hugging me tightly. She had dried tears on her face and her coat was wet. Okay. Last one might be on me. I think I cried quite hard. 

She opened her eyes, looking deep into mine. We quickly separated, blushing. I was quite embarrassed. Oh my. Last time I felt asleep hugging a girl I was with... No Percy. No time for this. You must be strong. Conceal, don't feel. There will be time for mourning once I get myself and Bianca out of here.

"You okay?" She asked. I took few seconds to build a metal wall in my brain before answering. 

"Yeah. I feel better today. Thank you... Thank you for everything. If not for your help, I would probably be dead already. I swear on the Chaos name that I will get us both out of here, even if it was last thing I would do. I prefer to die out there than to spend eternity in here." The shadows suddenly swirled around us and there was a thunder heard in distance. Guess swearing on chaos works just as well as swearing on Styx. 

"You realize that this is impossible?" Bianca was still pessimistic, but I saw a small glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"Nothing is impossible. We live in the world of myths. If Heracles in all his stupidity could become god, then we can escape Tartarus." Seeing her smile, even if for just a fraction of a second, gave me new strength to work. "Now let's get to planning.

A/N sorry for irregular updates, but I am going through rough patch right not. As a re compensation I will be uploading PJOxAvengers crossover. Prologue is coming out as you are reading this, so have fun :)