God of night

Chapter 7

They had reached the summit. A few yards ahead of them, gray clouds swirled in a heavy vortex making a funnel cloud that almost touched the mountaintop, but instead rested on the shoulders of a twelve-year-old girl with auburn hair and a tattered silvery dress: Artemis, her legs bound to the rock with celestial bronze chains.
Zoe and Phoebe gasped at the sight of their mistress in such distress forgetting all resentment they had previously held towards her.
"My lady!" Phoebe cried as she and Zoe raced towards Artemis.
"Stop! It is a trap. You must leave now." Artemis pleaded.
Her voice was strained. She was drenched in sweat, the weight of the sky was clearly too much for Artemis.
Zoe ran forward despite Artemis's protests and tugged at the chains.
"Ah, how touching." A booming voiced called from behind them.
Zoe spun around and paled as she laid eyes on her father. Atlas was standing there in his brown silk suit. At his side were Luke and half a dozen monsters.
"Luke," Thalia snarled.
Luke's smile was weak and pale, "Thalia, it's good to see you again."
Thalia spat at him.
Atlas chuckled, "So much for old friends. And you, Zoe. It's been a long time. How is my little traitor? I will enjoy killing you."
"Do not respond," Artemis groaned. "Do not challenge him."
"Let Artemis go," Zoe demanded.
Atlas walked closer to the chained goddess. "Perhaps you'd like to take the sky for her then? Be my guest."
Zoe opened her mouth to speak, but Artemis spoke up, "No! Do not offer, Zoe! I forbid you."
Atlas smirked. He knelt next to Artemis and tried to touch her face, but the goddess bit at him, almost taking off his fingers.
"Hoo-hoo," Atlas chuckled. "You see daughter? I think Artemis likes her new job. I think I will have all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden, once Lord Kronos rules again and this is the center of our palace. It will teach those weaklings some humility."
"I don't understand," Thalia said. "Why can't Artemis just let go of the sky?"
Atlas laughed. "How little you understand, young one. This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a hundred leagues. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape." Atlas smiled. "Unless someone else takes it from you."
He approached the group, studying Thalia and Annabeth. "So these are the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge."
"Fight us," Phoebe growled.
"Have the gods taught you nothing? An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Luke crush you instead." Atlas said dismissively.
"So you're another male coward," Phoebe spat.
Atlas's eyes glowed with hatred. With difficulty, he turned his attention to Thalia.
"As for you, daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you."
"I wasn't wrong," Luke managed but he looked terribly weak, and he spoke every word as if it were painful. "Thalia, you can still join us. Call the Ophiotaurus. It will come to you."
Thalia glared back at Luke, her eyes narrowed as she pulled out her canister of mace, "I don't know you demigod. The Luke Castellan I knew was a hero and a damn good one. You," She said with disgust, "aren't even a shell of him. I won't even think twice about running you through with my spear."
Phoebe glanced at Artemis one more time before looking back at Atlas, "Beneath your dignity huh? Well I've never been one for arrogant males," She sneered as he pulled her bow off her shoulder and notched an arrow. "You can take that supposed dignity and shove it up your arrogant Titan ass!" She finished as she fired three arrows with blazing speed into the heads to three of the monsters giving them a quick entrance to Tartarus.
Zoe followed her lead and dispatched the other three before anyone could react.
"Fools!" Atlas bellowed, "You've all just sealed your fates."
Thalia summoned Aegis to her wrist and charged at Luke while Phoebe tossed Annabeth her bow and pulled out her spear while Zoe pulled out two hunting knives as they stalked towards Atlas with Annabeth preparing to back them with aerial support.
Phoebe charged at Atlas whose brown silk suit was replaced by battle armor and a javelin materialized in his hand. Phoebe thrust her spear at the Titan's chest but Atlas batted her spear aside and jammed the butt of his javelin into her chest, sending her toppling over backwards..
Zoe charged in from the side and slashed to deep gashes into her father's side and quickly retreated before he could react.
Atlas grunted in pain and turned toward Zoe with a look of rage, "You'll die painfully traitor."
Zoe narrowed her eyes and charged again attacking as quickly as she could, putting all her strength into each strike.
Atlas parried her strikes for a minute before he spun out of the way and backhanded her, sending her stumbling back.
Phoebe jumped back into the fray as she jabbed and stabbed desperately trying to land a blow but Atlas was simply toying with her.
As Zoe climbed to her feet, Atlas blocked Phoebe's attack before using his javelin to sweep her legs from under here. He raised his javelin to impale her but Zoe charged forward and kicked her father back a few feet.
Atlas roared in outrage and feinted a strike low before driving his javelin through Zoe's stomach. He stepped forward and kicked Zoe in the chest as he pulled his weapon free and sent her flying backwards.
"NO!" Artemis screamed as she saw Zoe sent flying.
Atlas smirked, "One less hunter to kill in the war."
Phoebe jumped forward before was pulled back by an unseen force. Atlas looked around confused until a shadow descended in the throne room of Mount Othrys as Perseus appeared with a look of absolute rage on his face.
Atlas' eyes widened as he looked at Perseus warily, "Why are you here? You said you were neutral in this war."
Perseus' black as night eyes just stared at the Titan, "I warned you when you tried to get me to join your side Atlas. I said you could do what pleased with the Olympians but Zoe was off-limits. You're going to regret going back on your word." He snarled.
Atlas glared at him, "You may be a god but you are still not match for a Titan."
Perseus turned to Phoebe, "Go and help Zoe. Atlas belongs to me now." He said in a tone that left no room for argument.
Phoebe nodded and ran off to Zoe's side.
"Why do you care Perseus? Take my little traitor daughter and leave. You cannot seriously want to rescue that worthless moon goddess." Atlas asked incredulously.
Perseus' eye snapped over to Artemis who was trapped underneath the sky with tears falling freely down her face as she looked at her brother. Perseus sent a murderous glare in her direction before turning back to Atlas, "I would kill her myself if I thought her blood was worthy of touching my blade but you have left me without options. For touching Zoe, you're either going back under the sky willingly or I'm going to make you."
Perseus glanced over where he saw Annabeth now helping to fight Luke two-on-one before Thalia disarmed Luke. He made a wild grab for her spear but Thalia was too quick, kicking him in the chest and over the side of the cliff they were fighting in front of. Annabeth looked horrified by Thalia's actions but Thalia just glared down the side of the cliff to where Luke's body must have fallen.
Atlas' held his javelin in front of him as he got himself in a ready position to fight.
Perseus wasted no time as he charged forward and dropped into a shadow at his feet before he reappeared to Atlas' right and slammed a powerful fist into the Titan's jaw.
Atlas stumbled back, "You're going to die godling." He growled.
Perseus responded with a flurry of strikes but Atlas met every one of them as sparks flew wildly as the two immortal beings met in battle. Perseus could barely be seen, looking like nothing more than a blur of black, a shadow that moved so fast that even Artemis had trouble keeping up with her brother's movements.
Perseus slashed and stabbed but despite his size, Atlas had the speed to match his strikes. Perseus tried to increase the power behind each blow but Atlas noticed and jumped to the side catching him by surprise and swept his legs out from under Perseus.
Perseus landed on his back as Atlas stood above him smiling smugly, "Now I will kill you before I finish off that little traitor daughter of mine." He sneered before driving his javelin into Perseus.
Perseus swung his blade at the perfect time, knocking aside the tip of the javelin and Atlas off-balance and Perseus swung his legs into the back of the Titan's knees knocking him onto his back. Perseus slammed the back of his foot into Atlas' face while they both were on their backs before he jumped to his feet with Anaklusmos raised.
Atlas recovered before he could strike and slammed the butt of his javelin into his stomach.
Atlas climbed to his feet glaring at Perseus, "Not bad Perseus but I am the bane of the Olympians. You don't have a chance."
Perseus surprised the Titan by grinning, "That's good because I am no Olympian Titan. I am the son of Nyx and the God of Night. And you are now in my domain bitch."
Atlas' eyes narrowed before he panicked as all light in the room went out. The only light that could be seen was the moonlight in the top of the room where the sky came down and rested on Artemis' shoulders.
Despite her pain, Artemis focused all her strength on dimming the light of moon encasing the entire room in darkness.
"What are you doing Perseus?" Atlas yelled nervously.
A cold laugh echoed all around Atlas, "Come mighty Titan, show me your strength; show me your power." Perseus mocked as his voice seemed to be coming from the Titan's right. "Where is all your strength now? Will it light the room for you? Will it help you now that you are hopelessly outmatched?"
Atlas turned towards his right and slowly backed up as he held his javelin in front of him in a defensive position.
"Come on Atlas... I know you can do better than this." Perseus mocked as he appeared to the Titan's right silently before whispering, "Boo!"
Atlas swung his javelin wildly but Perseus was already gone. The Titan continued to back up slowly as he tried to listen and locate the god.
"Enough of this Perseus! Turn on the damn lights again!" Atlas bellowed but was met by laughter.
"As you wish almighty bane of Olympus," Perseus said with humor.
Without notice the lights turned back on as Atlas looked for Perseus everywhere. He spun around and saw Artemis holding the sky a few feet behind him before his eyes widened in realization but it was too late.
"Welcome home." Perseus whispered behind Atlas before kicking the Titan in the back and sending him sprawling towards Artemis who loosened her grip on the sky. Atlas crashed into her as she let herself be pushed out from underneath the burden, rolling as far back as she could until Atlas bellowed in pain as the sky dropped onto his back.
Artemis recovered as she panted heavily. She looked up for her brother but he was nowhere to be seen. She climbed to her feet and took a few steps before she saw Perseus frozen. She looked past him and saw the same hooded man who had attacked her in Maine as he held Annabeth by the throat as Thalia stood between Perseus and the man.
"A wonderful show Perseus," the man said with a sadistic smile. "I was hoping to get your little girlfriend but it appears her father already beat me to it."
Artemis tried to get a look at the man but a hood covered his face, a shadow obscuring her view from anything besides his mouth. She looked at Perseus and saw his face was furious but she could also see the fear in his eyes.
Perseus glared at the man, "Let her go Wraith or I will rip you to shreds." He growled.
Wraith tilted his head to the side as if deep in thought, "I will give you back the girl if you surrender yourself to me." He said smirking.
Perseus didn't even hesitate, "Deal."
Wraith grinned as his left hand crept to his tattooed right forearm before he pulled back with a pitch-black chain that seemed to come out his arm. Before anyone could react, he wrapped the chain around Annabeth's neck, holding two ends of the chain in each hand as he smiled evilly, "A noble offer Perseus but I believe I will savor your death. It is far too early for the real festivities to begin." He said with glee.
Before Perseus could flash over, Wraith wrenched the chains tight as Annabeth's neck was snapped in a sickening crunch.
"Goodbye Perseus. Do make sure to send your lovely mother my best." He said before laughing manically as he melted into the shadows.
Thalia ran to Annabeth and slid onto her knees and she put her best friend's limp head in her lap as tears began to pour from her eyes.
Perseus looked at Annabeth's dead body sadly before he flashed himself to Zoe who was still alive, but just barely.
When he reappeared by her side, Phoebe was already crying as she held a hand to Zoe's wound. She looked at Perseus pleadingly, "Percy, please save her."
Perseus ignored Phoebe as he locked eyes with the girl he loved. Artemis was knelt down next to Phoebe with tears falling from her eyes.
Zoe smiled sadly at Perseus, "It's okay Percy. I'm just glad I got to remember our time together and got to be with you again even if it was only for a day. I love you." She whispered.
Perseus smiled a bit as he leaned down and kissed her gently. When he pulled back Zoe began to glow.
"I told you I wouldn't lose you again. I meant it." He whispered back to her and her eyes widened in realization.
A second later, Perseus collapsed onto the ground beside Zoe as ichor began to pour from his stomach. Before she could say anything, Zoe felt her vision darkening as she lost consciousness. Perseus looked over at Zoe and reached over to check her pulse before he smiled and laid his head back as he joined his lover in unconsciousness.
Artemis shot to her feet and snapped her fingers; teleporting Thalia and Annabeth's body, along with Perseus' and Zoe's unconscious forms with herself and Phoebe outside the Garden of the Hesperides. When they appeared Artemis looked at the sky and screamed, "Apollo!"
In a golden flash Apollo appeared. When he saw his brother covered in ichor he rushed to his side and immediately began trying to heal him. Artemis knelt at Perseus' side holding his hand tightly.
Phoebe checked on Zoe. She seemed fine but no matter what she did, she would not wake up. She then looked back at Perseus and saw Artemis holding his hand as her eyes narrowed, "How can you act like you care about him after what you did?" She growled at her mistress whose eyes widened in shock.
Artemis let go of Perseus' hand and looked at Phoebe sadly, "You don't understand Phoe..." She began until a growl from Phoebe stopped her mid-sentence.
"Don't understand what milady? That you betrayed him over that worthless demigod Heracles? Or that you had our memories wiped and then lied to us for two thousand years?" She spat at Artemis her bowed her head in shame.
Apollo looked up from healing Perseus and glared at Phoebe, "Silence girl! You don't even know what you're talking about. I would recommend you keep your mouth shut until you know the whole story." He growled at Phoebe who glared back at the god defiantly.
Artemis looked at her brother confused, "What do you mean Apollo?"
Apollo broke his gaze from Phoebe and looked at his twin, "Hera never knew what really happened." He said like it explained everything.
Artemis looked at him in disbelief, "Who cares? What does that matter?" She growled.
Apollo smiled a huge smile, "But it was Hera who took Zoe's memories and Zoe did know the whole story."
Artemis' eyes widened in shock, "You mean Zoe will remember what happened?" She asked hopefully.
Apollo nodded, "All her memories were returned to her. Father couldn't stop Hera without announcing to the council what really happened." He said before looking at Phoebe, "How much has Zoe remembered so far?"
Phoebe continued to glare at Apollo, "Up until she and Percy started to date, why?"
Apollo ignored her and looked at Zoe's unconscious body hopefully, "If I had to guess, she is remembering more as we speak. Maybe she will remember the rest soon and we can finally have our little brother back."
Artemis looked at Apollo with hope gleaming in her silver eyes, "How is Percy? Is he okay?"
Apollo smiled, "The wound is bad but he'll live. I need to get him to Olympus to finish though."
Artemis nodded before she stopped, "No, we can't take him there. Father may try to harm him. We'll take him to Delos."
Apollo's eyes widened and he nodded, "Good call. I've got Zoe and Percy, you bring the rest." He said before putting a hand on both Zoe's and Perseus' shoulders as they vanished in a golden light.
Artemis looked at Thalia sadly as she still held her dead friend's body in her lap as she wept.
"I am sorry about your friend sister. I promise she will get the honors she deserves and the burial of a true heroine, but we must leave this place at once." Artemis explained softly as she gestured Phoebe closer to her.
"What were you and Apollo talking about milady?" Phoebe asked confused.
Artemis smiled sadly, "I cannot say but hopefully you will know very soon."
Phoebe narrowed her eyes but nodded as Artemis grabbed her shoulder and Thalia's as they all disappeared with Annabeth's body in a flash of silver light.
They reappeared inside a large room where Perseus and Zoe were already laid on hospital beds while Apollo continued to work on Perseus' wound.
Artemis waved her hand and Annabeth's body was wrapped in a grey shroud with an owl emblem emblazoned on the front. Thalia looked gratefully at Artemis who gave her small sad nod in acknowledgement.
"Where are we?" Phoebe asked confused.
Artemis' face was pained, "This is Perseus' home. We are on the island of Delos where our mother was banished after Perseus was born. Perseus lived with her when he was banished and he stayed here after she faded." She said softly as a few fresh tears fell from her eyes.
Phoebe nodded and made her way over to Zoe, "What's wrong with Zoe? Why won't she wake up if Percy took the wound for her?"
Apollo looked up from his work on Perseus, "I believe she is reliving more memories. They are too in-depth for her to be conscious when she gets them." He said with a meaningful look at Artemis whose face turned hopeful as she looked down at Zoe's sleeping form.
Inside Zoe's mind, she was watching her past self walking with Perseus in the moonlight. As she watched a hand suddenly grabbed hers, causing her to reach for a knife that wasn't there. When she turned she saw Perseus looking at her with a soft smile.
"How are you here?" She asked shocked.
Perseus shook his head, "I'm not sure, but I'm guessing whatever this memory contains is important to both of us."
Zoe's eyes widened before she smiled and wrapped her arms around Perseus' neck and pulled him down into kiss. Perseus smiled into the kiss before she pulled back and grabbed his hand again, "Thank you for saving me Percy."
Perseus smiled, "I would never let something happen to you as long as I could help it."
Zoe squeezed his hand softly as they watched their past selves walk together in the moonlight. As they watched themselves walking through the woods, they came into a clearing where a blanket was laid on the ground. Zoe and Perseus watched themselves take a seat before lying down on their backs and staring into the starry night. As they watched their past selves, Zoe looked at Perseus to see a pained expression on his face.
"What wrong Percy?" Zoe asked concerned.
Perseus shook his head sadly, "This was the last time I saw you for two thousand years. I'm just not looking forward to what happens later."
Zoe nodded and squeezed his hand softly trying to comfort him as they watched the scene unfold in front of them.
Their past selves laid back silently watching the stars until Zoe sat up, pulling Perseus with her.
"Percy, we've been together for over one hundred years now right?" Past Zoe asked softly.
Perseus nodded smiling. Zoe reached into her hair, pulling out a hair pin.
"I've wanted to give you this for a long time Percy. It would make me happy if you would wield Anaklusmos." She said softly.
Perseus looked at her a little surprised, "But it was from your mother. Shouldn't you keep it?"
Zoe shook her head, "I love you Percy and I want you to have it. It's a powerful weapon and I want you to have it to protect you." She said as she placed the hairpin in his hand.
Perseus looked at her for a minute before smiling and nodding his head. "I love you too Zoe. I...." She began before Zoe's vision darkened as she thought she was moving to another memory. When the darkness cleared, she and Perseus were sharing a heated kiss. Zoe looked closely at her past self and saw a few tears in her eyes.
"Wait, what happened?" Zoe asked confused.
Perseus didn't meet her eyes, "I don't know, it was weird like it skipped over part of the memory." He said quickly.
Zoe narrowed her eyes at him but before she could ask, a loud rumble of thunder shook the area where they were watching the memory, drawing Zoe's attention back to the scene in front of her.
"Damn, looks like father found out what I did to Heracles." Percy said with a mischievous smile. "I need to go to Olympus, there is a council meeting. Head back to the hunter's camp and I will come back right after." Perseus said before kissing Zoe.
Zoe smiled at him and nodded.
Perseus was engulfed by a shadow and disappeared. Before Zoe could get up, she was engulfed by a golden light and also disappeared.
Both Perseus and Zoe from the present stared confused where Zoe had vanished from. Both their visions went dark before reappearing in a side room on Olympus. When they looked, they saw Artemis and Apollo arguing with Zeus.
"You must be joking if you think we would go against Percy father." Artemis argued while Apollo nodded his head.
Zeus just smiled smugly and turned to Zoe who Artemis and Apollo just noticed was in the room.
"Well your choice is simple daughter. Vote for Perseus' banishment or I will kill his little girlfriend here." Zeus said as he leveled his bolt at a wide-eyed Zoe.
"You can't be serious father. It would begin a civil war on Olympus. Percy won't rest until he has killed you." Artemis screamed at her father.
Zeus just narrowed his eyes, "And what would your dearest brother say when he discovers that it was you who made the decision that led to her death?"
"Why? Why are you doing this father?" Apollo growled.
"Your brother is a liability to Olympus. He constantly challenges my decisions and leads both of you to go against me with him." Zeus replied back simply.
Both Apollo and Artemis narrowed their eyes at their father, "And what do you think will happen when he finds out you forced us to vote with you." Artemis asked with a murderous glare at her father.
"He won't. You both will swear on the Styx to never reveal this meeting or I will kill her along each and every one of you little hunters." Zeus said back smugly.
Zoe was staring wide-eyed just like her past self at the scene if front of her. She turned to look at Perseus to see tears falling down his face. Before she could say anything, everything went black again.
Zoe felt herself waking up this time. When she opened her eyes she saw Phoebe leaning over her yelling that she was waking up. Zoe shot up out of the bed looking around wildly. She saw Perseus open his eyes and look at her. Before she could say anything he vanished from his bed without a word.
"Where the Hades did he go?" Phoebe asked confused.
Zoe looked to see Artemis and Apollo staring at the spot where Percy vanished from with sad expressions on their faces. They turned to look at Zoe but before they could speak she did.
"He knows what happened on Olympus all those years ago. He was with me in the memory as we watched Zeus threaten the hunters and me and blackmailed you into voting for his banishment." Zoe explained quickly.
Apollo smiled, "That's great but why did he leave?"
Artemis' eyes went wide, "We need to get to Olympus, now!"
Apollo finally seemed to realize what she meant as the twins both flashed out of Perseus' home and up to Olympus where they both went pale at what they saw.