God of night

Chapter 5

Perseus turned back to Chiron, "I am sorry we couldn't catch up but I believe I've overstayed my welcome in Olympian territory and I have a feeling drama queen might throw a temper tantrum any second now."
Chiron shook his head sadly before two more flashes of light appeared beside them as Ares and Athena flashed into the big house.
"The answer was no to Apollo and it won't change just because I like the two of you." Perseus said seriously.
"Just come to Olympus. No one is trying to make you do anything but just hear him out." Ares said pleadingly.
Perseus glared at him before he shrugged, "You know what? I will. I think it will be nice to listen to him plead for my help before I tell him to sit on his bolt."
Without warning, the three gods vanished from the big house leaving Zoe looking at Chiron with a confused expression.
Chiron smiled at her, "Don't worry my dear, he will help."
"What do you mean? No he won't." Zoe replied.
Chiron chuckled, "He will because it involves you. We will have a meeting here in thirty minutes for the quest so you should bring a few of the hunters with you as you will need to pick your companions."
Perseus reappeared on Olympus as the entire Olympian council minus Artemis was gathered and seated in their thrones.
Perseus walked over to the spot between Demeter and Poseidon's thrones and bowed, "Uncle P, Aunt Demeter, it has been a long time."
The two siblings smiled, "Please don't bow to us Perseus; we are not like our little brother over there." Demeter said with a smile as Poseidon nodded.
Perseus smiled, "I bow to gods and goddesses who are my elders and have my respect. It still feels right to bow to the two of you." He said as Zeus' face was red with anger in his throne.
Perseus continued to ignore Zeus and the rest of the Olympians as he walked towards Hermes throne as Hermes jumped down and met Perseus half-way and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"I've missed you little brother." Perseus said with a grin.
Hermes smiled and shoved Perseus playfully, "You're barely a decade older than me Perce."
Perseus smirked and nodded, "Like I said, little brother. But it's been far too long since you came and visited."
Hermes smiled sadly, "Sorry Perce, busy with deliveries as always."
Perseus nodded but before he could respond, the sound of something metal clattering on the ground drew his attention as he turned just in time to be tackled by a blur of blonde hair as a small child-like goddess brought him to the ground in a hug.
Perseus laughed, "Little sister."
Hebe pulled her head back from his chest and smiled at him happily, "I'm older than you Percy."
Perseus chuckled and wrapped his arms around her, "But you look so young it doesn't feel right to call you big sis."
Hebe mock glared at him, "I'm goddess of youth. It goes with the domain." She said before planting a kiss on Perseus' cheek. "I've missed you so much Percy." She said sadly.
Perseus nodded, "You can come see me whenever you want. Just sneak away from drama queen and his wife. You're always welcome in my home."
Hebe nodded and let Perseus get back to his feet but she stayed at his side. Zeus glared at Hebe but she ignored him as Hera whispered some harsh words at Zeus and smiled at Hebe who nodded her thanks to her mother.
Perseus sighed and looked at Zeus, "I really don't know what you expect to gain from this meeting. You're going to ask me to help rescue Artemis, I'm going to tell you to shove your bolt up your ass. Then you'll try to threaten me and I'll tell you a second time to shove your bolt up your ass and then you'll probably try to use your bolt against me and I'll just teleport away."
Zeus opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out making Perseus smirk, "Exactly, so I think I'll skip the dramatics and leave now." He said as he turned around and was about to teleport away when Zeus finally spoke words that froze him.
"Perhaps I shall just kill your little girlfriend since you're not going to help. Without your help, she is rather useless to me for finding Artemis." Zeus said with a smug smile from his throne.
Perseus spun around before anyone could react and let loose a blast of godly energy at Zeus catching him in the chest and flattening him into his throne.
Perseus looked at Hebe who was still at his side with wide eyes, "Find a shady spot Hebe, this is about to get dangerous."
Before Hebe could react, Perseus waved a hand in front of her and she vanished as a shadow wrapped around Perseus covering him in pitch black armor with Anaklusmos held firmly in his right hand.
Zeus recovered and jumped off his throne as armor appeared in place of the business suit he was previously wearing as he clutched with bolt so tightly his knuckles were white.
"I'll just kill you like I should have all those years ago you insolent little bastard." Zeus growled as he charged at Perseus swinging his bolt like a sword as Perseus raised Anaklusmos and blocked.
Sparks of electricity flew wildly as father and son exchanged blows while the other Olympians were too shocked to react.
Perseus blocked another strike from Zeus and feinted a strike low before he slammed his fist into the nose of the King of the Gods causing ichor to pour from it instantly and sent him staggering backwards.
Zeus stumbled back and raised his bolt before both he and Perseus were knocked to the ground as a colossal earthquake shook the throne room to its very foundations.
Poseidon suddenly stood between the enraged father and son before he spun on his brother with a murderous look in his eyes as he leveled his trident at Zeus, "ENOUGH!" Poseidon bellowed.
"You dare..." Zeus growled until Poseidon pushed the prongs of his trident into Zeus' throat.
"Yes I dare. I will not let your arrogance get me and the rest of council killed." He spat. "How dare you threaten that girl? Haven't you taken enough from the two of them? This ends now brother. Whether he helps to find Artemis or not, you will not touch him or her ever again or I will tear you and your throne to pieces myself." He growled.
Zeus stood gaping at his brother in shock and anger while Perseus walked over to Poseidon, "You should have just let me kill him Uncle P." He said glaring at his father.
Poseidon shook his head, "Now is not the time for that Perseus, despite how much he may deserve it."
Perseus nodded and was about to teleport out when Poseidon grabbed his arm, "Wait nephew." He said pleadingly.
Perseus stopped and looked at his uncle questioningly.
Poseidon sighed, "Is there no way you would consider helping the quest to find her. I know she deserves what happens to her but you know how crushed Zoe and the hunters will be. I'm not asking you to help Olympus in the war, just help with the quest in the way the prophecy calls for."
Perseus stepped back as he looked around at the members of his family who didn't betray him.
He was silent for a while but after a few minutes he sighed, "I will but I have a number of conditions that must be met."
Poseidon nodded and Zeus glared at Perseus as he sulked his way back to his throne.
"What are your conditions?" Hera asked in a kind tone.
Perseus glared at her, "For one, no one who betrayed me tries to speak to me again." He said as he finished glaring at Hera whose face fell and turned back to Poseidon who nodded. "Hades has two demigod children who were found in Maine. I want the word of the council that no harm will come to them at the hands of or on the orders of anyone on Olympus. On top of that, the quest calls for five demigods; Hades daughter Bianca will be one of those five as she is skilled and needs real world experience. With her there, I will watch over the quest more closely. The prophecy says the hunter's memories must be returned as well and I want their memories returned but none are to remember what Zoe and I were. They can remember we dated and nothing else. Meet those terms and I will do as the prophecy wishes."
Poseidon nodded, "Those are agreeable terms."
Perseus nodded and looked at Zeus, "You're King of the Gods, you must make the oath on the River Styx about Hades children for it to bind the rest of them."
"Nev..." Zeus began until Hera smacked him.
"Do it you fool or your daughter is as good as dead." Hera yelled.
Zeus scowled and glared at his wife before turning back to his estranged son, "Fine. We the council swear on the River Styx to never harm or be the cause of harm for either of Hades' spawn."
Thunder rumbled overhead while Perseus glared at Zeus for his phrasing.
"Council dismissed." Zeus growled as most of the council vanished from the throne room.
Poseidon looked at Perseus gratefully, "Thank you nephew."
Perseus shrugged, "I was going to do it anyway. At least this way I protected Hades' children." He said before chuckling, "And I got to break Zeus' nose."
Poseidon chuckled, "Yes that was certainly worth the trip to Olympus." Thunder rumbled overhead as both Poseidon and Perseus flipped off the sky making them both laugh at their actions.
"Take care of yourself nephew." Poseidon said before dissolving into a sea breeze.
Perseus looked up and narrowed his eyes when he saw Hera was the only person left in the throne room standing about ten feet in front of him and looking at him shamefully.
"Something on your mind Hera." Perseus asked with a controlled anger.
Hera nodded her head slowly, "I just wanted to apologize Perseus. I made a big mistake..." She started until Perseus put his hand up to stop her.
"You're about two thousand years too late Hera. I don't know why you betrayed me with the rest but I don't really care either. After I forgave you for banishing my own mother, just because your husband can't keep it in his pants, I don't know what I did to deserve being banished." Perseus said bitterly as turned around to walk out.
"Please Perseus, I didn't have a choice." Hera said as he started to walk away.
Perseus kept walking, "We all have choices Hera, you made yours and now you have to live with it. But thank you for helping to make my life miserable." He said before dissolving into shadows as Hera's shoulders slumped and a single tear fell from her eye.
Line Break
Zoe and Phoebe sat at the Ping-Pong table of the big house as the head counselors from each cabin slowly filed in and took their seats around the table.
Chiron cantered into the room and looked at Zoe. "Now that everyone is here we can begin. Zoe please recite the prophecy." Chiron announced.
Zoe recited the prophecy which earned a number of confused looks from everyone. Chiron stood up to speak, "I will explain the tale of who the "banished Olympian" the prophecy refers to is as I know there is only one other person in this room who remembers. Two millennia ago, another God sat on the Olympian Council. His name was Lord Perseus and he was the God of Heroes, Loyalty and Night. He was also the younger brother of Apollo and Artemis, another son of Zeus of Leto." Chiron explained earning gasps from everyone in the room. Thunder rumbled but Chiron ignored it.
Zoe looked over at Phoebe to see her eyes glazed over. She waved a hand in front of her face but got no response. Before she could do anything else, Chiron began to speak again.
"Around two thousand years ago, an incident occurred which led to Perseus being banished from Olympus and all records and memories of him washed from the history books and the minds of mortals. When Lord Zeus made his demigod son Heracles into a god, he offered him his daughter and Heracles' half-sister Hebe to him as a wife. Hebe though had no wish to wed Heracles. Perseus came to the aid of his sister and took her from Olympus, hiding her from both Zeus and Heracles. Heracles eventually found where Perseus had hidden her and a fight broke out between Perseus and Heracles that nearly got Heracles killed. When Zeus discovered what happened, he demanded Perseus be punished and brought him in front of the council. They voted to banish him in a 6-5 vote with the deciding two votes belonging to Artemis and Apollo his own full-blooded brother and sister."
Everyone stood with jaws dropped at the story. They were brought back to reality when Phoebe slammed her fists into the ping pong table, cracking it right down the middle. Everyone stared at her wide-eyed.
Before anyone could say anything, Phoebe got up and stormed out of the big house without a word to anyone.
"It looks as if the prophecy has already begun. I believe Phoebe now remembers Perseus and now knows what happened to him. As I said, Perseus was Artemis' constant companion and spent a lot of time with the hunters. Phoebe, Zoe and a few others are still around from that time." Chiron explained sadly.
The counselors' eyes turned to Zoe who sent a murderous glare at them making them quickly look away.
Chiron looked at Zoe, "Who are the companions you will take on the quest?"
Before she could answer two bodies solidified out of the shadows. Perseus and Bianca stood in the middle of the room as they counselors looked at the duo with confusion.
Chiron smiled before looking at the confused campers, "This is Lord Perseus, God of Heroes, Loyalty and Night."
The campers eyes widened and they all went to bow but Perseus shook his head, "Don't bow, I hate that crap. I'm here to inform Zoe that one of her companions will be Bianca here. I have agreed to help the quest as long as Bianca is brought along as a member."
Zoe looked at Perseus surprised but she smiled, "Okay I can live with that. As for the others, I will take Phoebe and if they will come, I'd like to take Annabeth and Thalia."
Thalia and Annabeth stared at Zoe wide-eyed.
"Do you two accept the quest?" Chiron asked.
The two demigods looked at each other before nodding numbly.
Chiron smiled, "Good then the quest is set. The meeting is dismissed. All of you off to your cabins except for those on the quest."
The rest of the counselors grudgingly nodded and left the game room until only Chiron, Zoe, Bianca, Annabeth, Thalia and Perseus remained.
Zoe looked at Perseus gratefully, "Thank you Perseus."
He nodded, "It's nothing. I worked it out on Olympus and now I will do my part of the quest." He said before looking confused, "Where's Phoebe?"
Zoe smiled, "She remembers you now and, well... she got a little angry." She said gesturing to the broken Ping-Pong table in front of them.
Perseus grinned, "I see she's the same hot-headed Phoebe."
Zoe smirked and nodded, "You should go see her. She misses you."
Perseus nodded, "Go find her, I'll be right behind you."
Zoe nodded and left the room leaving just the three demigods and Perseus and Chiron.
"Chiron, this is Bianca, daughter of Hades. She will need a room in the big house for the night. Could you show her to it I believe I have an old friend to go visit."
"Of course Perseus." He said before leading Bianca out as Annabeth and Thalia followed while Perseus disappeared from the big house.
Zoe walked through Camp Half-Blood in search of Phoebe until he heard the thudding of arrows coming from the archery range. When she reached it she saw Phoebe firing arrows at uncanny speeds. As she approached her, she was shocked to find tears in Phoebe's eyes.
"Phoebe?" Zoe asked hesitantly.
Phoebe paused for a second before resuming her aerial assault but at a slightly slower pace, "How could she?" She asked.
Zoe scowled, "I don't know. I've saw him a couple of times earlier today."
Phoebe stopped shooting and turned to Zoe, "H... How is he?"
Zoe was about to answer until she saw a shadow descended silently behind Phoebe bringing a smile to her face. Phoebe looked at her confused until a voice spoke and she froze.
"Well if you're so concerned why don't you turn around and ask me?" Perseus said with a smile.
Phoebe's eyes widened and she dropped her bow before she spun around and charged at Perseus wrapping him up in a bone crushing bear hug.
"Jeez Phoebe, I missed you too." Perseus said as Phoebe continued to crush him in a hug.
After a minute, Phoebe finally let him go and smiled, "I can't believe you're here Percy."
Perseus raised an eyebrow, "Phoebe, until ten minutes ago, you didn't even know I existed."
Phoebe's face fell and Perseus was suddenly smacked in the back of the hard by Zoe who was glaring at him, "It's not her fault."
Perseus smiled, "I know that, I was only joking. Trust me; I have missed her and all the hunters a lot over the years."
Phoebe smiled, "So are you back now?" She asked hopefully.
Perseus' smile faltered, "Back?"
Phoebe nodded, "I mean now that Zoe remembers you, you'll be around more right?"
Perseus looked away, "That was a long time ago Phoebe."
Phoebe looked at him in shock, "But you two love each other. I may hate love but not with you guys and I know you two are supposed to be with each other."
Perseus glanced at Zoe with a pained look before turning back to Phoebe and shaking his head, "I'm sorry." He whispered before he dissolved into shadows.
Phoebe turned to Zoe confused, "Why did he leave?"
Zoe looked at her sadly, "Phoebe, think about what this is like for him. We spent the last two thousand years without even knowing he was gone while he was forced to deal with it with all his memories. He had a rough time with it. He almost faded until he was rescued by Nyx. Now they are his family."
Phoebe's jaw dropped before a deep scowl appeared on her face, "This is all Artemis' fault. She betrayed him and lied to us. I hope they never find her."
Zoe winced knowing her request was not going to be easy, "We need to find her Phoebe. I'm leading the quest and I need you with me."
"No way. I'm not risking my life for her. How can you be willing to do it? Don't you care that she took Percy away from you?" Phoebe asked in disbelief.
Zoe frowned, "I... I don't remember him very much. All I remember is our first meeting when he brought me to the hunt."
"What? Why do I remember everything and not you?" She asked confused.
"I don't know." Zoe replied quietly.
Phoebe nodded slowly before looking at Zoe seriously, "Don't let him get away again Zoe. You might not remember your time with him yet but I do and if you trust me then you'll listen to me. You have not been even half as happy in the last two thousand years as you were when you were with him."
Zoe's eyes widened a bit but when she looked at Phoebe, it was clear she meant what she said.
Line Break
The five members of the quest were in Washington D.C. waiting for the next train that would take them west. Thalia and Annabeth had walked off toward the museums, Annabeth dragging Thalia along as fast as her legs could take her. The two huntresses and Bianca sat in a small coffee shop drinking coffee and eating pastries. They kept the conversation light as both Zoe and Phoebe were also deep in thought about the past. As the girls finished their coffees, Annabeth and Thalia came sprinting into the coffee shop with a panicked look on their faces.
"We.....need... to .... go.....now." Thalia managed to get out trying to catch her breath.
"Why?" Phoebe asked.
"Luke...skeleton warriors...some guy called the General." Annabeth answered as she tried to catch her breath as well.
Zoe paled at the mention of the General. Before anyone could say anything else, three skeleton warriors appeared in the entrance of the coffee shop. Mortals seemed unaffected, the mist probably showing them three normal soldiers in military fatigues.
"Let's go! Out the back exit. We can try to lose them outside." Phoebe said snapping Zoe out of her thoughts.
The five girls sprinted to the back exit, the skeleton warriors on their trail. The girls raced down the streets littered with museums in the Smithsonian Mall. Zoe turned back to see the three skeletons about a hundred yards back. She led the group into an ally before opening up a side door to the Air and Space Museum. They navigated their way through the museum before ending up in a room with exhibits of the first planes where they stopped to catch their breath and decide their next move.
"We need to get back to train station. We only have twenty minutes until our train leaves." Bianca said pointing to the clock on the wall.
Before anyone could agree with, the screams of mortals in the next room told them they were not out of the woods yet.
"Look mommy, a kitty." Came the voice of a little girl.
The girls looked toward the doorway to see a lion the size of a pick-up truck walking into the room.
"The Nemean Lion, we need to get out of here." Annabeth announced but as soon as the words left her mouth a monstrous roar shook the room.
"Shit. Split up, we need to distract it until we can find a way to kill it." Phoebe cursed as the monster stalked towards them.
Annabeth, Bianca and Zoe ran towards a plane display to get higher ground. Phoebe pulled out a spear as did Thalia, along with her shield Aegis.
The three girls stood atop an old plane display firing arrows at the beast but they just bounced off harmlessly. Phoebe and Thalia stood on each side of the lion, jabbing their spears towards it maw, trying to get past its impenetrable fur.
Phoebe got up close and managed to land a blow to the lion's left eye, blinding the beast on that side. As Phoebe tried to retreat the lion swiped her with its giant paw. The strike sent Phoebe flying through the air. As she was about to painfully crash into a glass display, a shadow descended in front of her and Perseus appeared, catching her in his arms before she landed.
"Tsk tsk Phoebe. I thought you would be able handle one little kitty." Perseus teased.
Phoebe glared at him but a smiled was tugging at her lips, "Well if it's so easy Perce, then by all means."
Perseus grinned as he set her down, "And I thought you would never ask." He said before snatching her spear out of his hand and calmly walking towards the Nemean Lion who was stalking towards Thalia as arrows bounced harmlessly off its impenetrable fur.
Perseus began to grow until he stood at his godly height of fifteen feet as Phoebe's spear also grew in his hand.
"Here kitty kitty kitty." Perseus said with a grin.
The Nemean Lion stopped in its tracks and turned towards Perseus where it froze as it laid eyes on the god stalking towards it. The monster steeled its nerves and dropped into a crouch preparing to lunge.
Perseus smiled as the monster lunged before he flipped the spear in his hand and swung it like a baseball bat catching the Nemean Lion in the jaw and sending it skidding across the ground. The monster lay on the ground unmoving as Thalia and Phoebe approached Perseus, Thalia with a look of awe and Phoebe with a huge grin on her face.
"Damn Percy, I think you killed it." Phoebe announced loudly.
Perseus smirked and shook his head, "Nope just knocked it out. Killing it would be direct interference on your quest while here I was simply defending myself on my sight-seeing tour through the Smithsonian Museum. Care to finish it off before it wakes it little sister?" He said looking at Thalia.
Thalia's eyes widened and she looked at Perseus confused, "How?"
Perseus rolled his eyes, "Its fur is impenetrable but I bet if you jammed that spear of yours down its throat with a little electrical boost, you'll do just fine."
Thalia looked at Perseus in shock before she grinned, "Good idea."
Thalia stalked up to the unconscious monster whose mouth was already hanging open and charged up her spear with electricity before thrusting it in the Nemean Lion's open mouth. The monster's limp body convulsed for few seconds before it began to dissolve until only a large lion's pelt remained.
Thalia picked it up as Zoe, Annabeth and Bianca made their way over to the group.
"It's not really my style." Thalia said as she eyed the pelt which had transformed into a large fur coat.
Perseus grinned and snapped his fingers transforming the spoil of war into a black leather jacket that with a few chains hanging down the sides.
Thalia's eyes widened and her jaw dropped before a huge smile crept onto to her face, "This is perfect, I love it!" She exclaimed. "Thank you Lord Perseus."
Perseus smiled, "You do know that you're my little sister right? I may hate Zeus with a passion but that does not apply to everyone unfortunate enough to be one of his children. Call me Percy, we are family after all."
Thalia's smiled grew and she nodded happily, "Thank you Percy." She said a little surprised that a god actually considered her his sister.
Perseus nodded before his face turned serious, "You guys need to go. You're about to have company in 3... 2... 1." As Perseus reached one, five skeleton warriors appeared the doorway. Perseus waved his hand and the skeletons were engulfed by shadows, disappearing.
"Whoa. What did you do to them?" Annabeth asked shocked.
Perseus shrugged, "Just sent them back onto the street. They're on their way back now, so..." Perseus waved a hand and the five girls disappeared reappearing in a train car on a freight train.
"Where are we?" Phoebe asked.
"On a train heading west. Ride it as long as you can, it will bring you a good chunk of the way." Perseus explained.
The girls looked around and saw they were in a train car filled with brand new cars.
"Can't you get in trouble for breaking the ancient laws by aiding us on the quest?" Zoe asked speaking for the first time since Perseus arrived.
"I'm only doing what the quest called for. I just happen to be an avid fan of aviation and was enjoying the exhibits at the museum when I was suddenly attacked by the Nemean Lion." He explained innocently. "Now I am doing what the quest called for by showing you girls the trail to her. You weren't going the right direction and now you are."
The five girls all smiled at his explanation.
"I can't stay long. I'm just here to set you in the right direction and provide you guys with a warm dinner. Speaking of that..." Perseus said before he snapped his fingers, producing six hot pizzas for them to eat.
Phoebe opened a box and grinned, "Aw Perce, you remembered I'm a meat lover." She said pulling a piece of pizza with several types of meat as toppings.
Perseus snapped his fingers again, "All the cars are unlocked now so you can sleep in them. It's not ideal but it's better than the floor."
Perseus was about to leave but a hand on his arm stopped him. He looked to see Zoe looking at him with her volcanic rock black eyes that brought him back to a time he missed so dearly.
"Can we talk for a minute? Please?" She asked softly.
Perseus stared at her a minute before nodding. The two walked to the other side of the train car to get some privacy. When they stopped both were silent for a minute before Zoe broke it, "You don't have to help us you know. I can't ask you to help us rescue the person who betrayed you."
Perseus looked at Zoe strangely before smiling, "I'm not doing this to help her at all. I'm here because despite how much I try not to, I still miss you. It may not seem like it's been that long to you but it's been two thousand long years since I've been able to talk to you. We may never get back what we had but I wasn't lying when I said you were my best friend. You were then and you still are and I prefer to be around my best friend as much as possible even if it is on a quest to save a person I hate with every fiber of my being." He said before smiling softly at her again and dissolving into shadows.
Zoe frowned as she looked at the spot he disappeared from. She had wanted to talk to him more but she couldn't help but smile when she thought about his words before she walked back to the rest of the girls and grabbed a slice of pizza with a smile still present on her face.