The Demon Wars

On The Road Again

"You'll have to wait here. This shouldn't take more than a few hours at most. But I must set things in order in my kingdom. It is a matter of great concern since the one who tried to destroy your life is also the one who has repeatedly challenged my rule. I'll be back to collect you when everything is set straight."

-/-

"Amir! Where are you?"

"Here your Highness."

Perseus turned to face him. "I'm going to be having an extended stay in the Human Realm. Annabeth wants to meet her mother. I'm not sure how long it'll take as you know, time flows differently in the other realms. I'll be giving you an item imbued with some of my power. That way it'll help you and the guards deter any unwanted advances during my absence. Should something happen that you can't handle, you know how to contact me.

"Do I need to do damage control before I leave or do you think you have things under wraps?"

"My Lord, what about your father?"

Perseus' eyes grew cold and harsh. "What about him, Amir?"

Amir stuttered, knowing full well of his Master's dislike for his father. "What if he comes back to reclaim the throne?"

Perseus nodded. "If he does, consider it a category five emergency. You will contact me immediately. We cannot afford to let him gain the power he held on the throne. Amir. I know before my taking over, you had no ties to me other than teaching me. But I will do everything in my power to assure your future under my rule."

"Young Master, if I may. I never took the opportunity to teach you just because I was told to. You have always been like family to me. I will ensure that your rule remains strong in your absence."

Perseus looked at Amir again. He had been his instructor at a young age. Then when he had taken the throne from his father, Amir had become his chief advisor and oddly similar to a steward or butler. But he was also more of a father figure to Perseus than his own father. He wrapped the old demon in a hug. "Thank you."

-/-

"So why are we walking again? Can' t you just do that ripple thing and send us there?"

Perseus looked back at Thalia. "I could. But you don't know the gods as I do. I may not look it, but in this world, I was born back in the seventeen hundreds. In the Demon Realm I've lived for...I'd guess about the same amount of years. Give or take. There time flows differently than here depending on what region you're in.

"Also, before I took over the throne, I did spend quite a lot of time here. Off and on that is. The gods...they aren't always the best but you must understand. They are the best there is. You're quite the important person, Thalia, which is why I'm telling you this."

"Yes, sooooo important being the daughter of Zeus and never having met my father."

Perseus chuckled. "No. You aren't important just because he's your father. Well, yes, but no. So after the Second World War, the Big Three; Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades; declared they wouldn't have any more children because of how powerful you were. But a prophecy had been issued.

"It went something along the lines of a child of The Big Three would reach sixteen against all odds and see the world in an endless sleep. Some other mumbo jumbo and that child would make a decision that would save or destroy Olympus."

Thalia looked at him a little fearfully. "I'm supposed to save or destroy Olympus?"

"Sort of. So this is just my hypothesis based on things that have been happening here on Earth lately, but I feel like the Titans will be trying to topple the Olympians."

Luke spoke up. "And why is that bad? What have our parents done for us?"

Perseus looked at him. "Well let's start with what your father has done for you. He tried to stop your mother from taking the Oracle of Delphi into her. It was cursed by Hades because of what Zeus did long ago. Your father knew what would happen to her. But other than telling her she shouldn't he could do no more. Also, your father breaks the Ancient Laws more for you and your mother than any other god on Olympus. While the gift I gave you was removing that curse of insanity upon her, you cannot go see her right now.

"Then we can turn to any number of other gods and the fact they keep Western Civilization strong. Without the Olympians, humans would regress almost back to the Stone Age, maybe even further. The Titans care little for humans other than entertainment. And demigods. Well the Titans would let monsters hunt them to extinction and make a sport of it. It would do you well to listen and understand why I say what I do. I have no wish to see either of you break my little girl's heart. And if you continue on the path that the Fates had originally spun, well you would be dead and Thalia would hardly see her any more."

Thalia looked at him with wide eyes, then to the sleeping figure in his arms. "How can you defy the Fates?"

"Easily. I'm not bound...entirely, by their or their mother's mechanations. With my father being from a different pantheon, it allows me a freedom from them. Especially since normally I'd be able to fight a primordial like their mother to a stand still."

"You can fight a primordial?" Thalia asked.

"Well, normally. I definitely can't right now. I'm not nearly as powerful on Earth as I am in Hell. Also, I gave a lot of my power to my mentor to protect my throne. I'll have to wait for it to build back up and that will take a long time here on Earth. By the time you face the prophecy, I'll be of use to you. Until then, maybe Chiron will let me teach you guys at camp. I'm not powerful with powers right now, but I know a thing or two about weapons.

"Oh, here we are. Luke, give me a hand and help me find a slightly older car. We need a car from about three years ago or older."

Thalia looked at Perseus questioningly but Luke understood immediately and started looking around. Ten minutes later he called out to him. Perseus walked over and smiled. A nineteen ninety-five Hondai Senata. It would do perfectly. He pressed his hand against the handle and a key formed from nothing. Minutes later, they were on their way. It would take a little over half a day to make Manhattan so the kids settled back and got comfortable.

None of them but the powerful Demon King felt the eyes of someone watching them. He was very aware of who it was, but he was not sure why they were watching a few demigods and him. He wasn't sure if they could read his power signature. Normally he was so strong, the Olympians couldn't even sense him because he was out of their ability to do so. But he was weaker now than his past visits. He pondered this as he drove onwards.