Chapter Text
"What the fuck?" Annabeth muttered out loud.
Luke swiveled his head at Annabeth and narrowed his eyes," Language." He said, but he couldn't help but agree.
When he took the quest from the admissions team, he thought it to be a simple but well-paying job, it was only a silver ranked quest anyway, they had to find and hunt some rogue demigod that angered the gods in one way or the other, and when in contact they had to simply break the moon stone and Lady Artemis and her group of followers would take the rest. Easy peas, and they even get paid one hundred thousand golden drachmas, what could possibly go wrong?
Not everything, but definitely something, or more specifically, something was unquestionably wrong with the person they were meant to hunt.
Luke had seen many things in his short but long demigod career, he saw monsters of all shapes and sizes, the unneeded deaths of his siblings and cousins when out on quests for some mundane item that one god or the other wanted, he saw them all, or so he thought, but he definitely knew he never saw anything like this.
They were in Denver during the winter, some leads told them that the demigod was going to make an appearance here during the night, according to his latest information fish. He was going to raid an abandoned forge of Hephaestus, that was squatted by some empousae, and it seemed their info was true.
The demigod was being chased by a gaggle of copper legged women specters, all screeching as they ran across the snow clearing in a waddling manner towards them. That wasn't the peculiar part, demigod high speed chases always occurred, it was the fact that the demigod was running away on the back of a hellhound the size of a lorry, as he laughed maniacally puffing white steam from his mouth due to the cold, followed by three flying stone cherubs.
"I see what you mean though" Luke said to Annabeth, he cupped his hands into his coat pocket and squeezed the cool stone tightly, just enough for it to split in half. He looked up at the night sky and the moon seemed to gaze harshly back at him, he had done the job.
"Luke!" Annabeth shouted, he snapped his head back down and watched as she started to turn and run, and Luke looked in front of him and the demigod that was far away was suddenly very close and the hellhound much bigger.
"Up ahoy!" The demigod called and all Luke could feel was an arm wrap itself around him and yank him up, he was rag dolled for about two seconds before being thrown on the back of the moving hellhound," Grab on to something!" The mad demigod cackled," You can stare at my glorious personage after we save your companion from being monster food." He laughed as he whipped the reins again and Luke scrambled on the back of the hell hound grabbing onto the shadow-tinged fur.
The young demigod was small, nearly half a foot shorter, and his black hair was wild and long enough to touch his shoulders with curled tips, it reminded him of Thalia's a bit, flowing pitch-black curls, and was that a cape?
"Yes, it is." A high-pitched voice called out behind him," The boss insists on capes"
Luke looked back and a small stone cherub that wore nothing but a fixed stone cloth around its nether regions and a slate grey quiver on its back, with a few fletched stone arrows," Did I speak aloud?" He blinked.
"You did." The demigod said," And yes Ri is right, a good adventure isn't complete without a good cape." He puffed his chest out.
Luke simply hummed to himself, he must be dreaming, there's no other explanation to this, he might as well go along," I'm Luke." He said offering his hand to the miniature cherub, surprisingly not the weirdest thing he did, riding on a monster bent on eating demigod flesh is," You are Ri?"
The cherub nodded," I am." Ri placed his small stone hand on to Luke's palm," Those two are my sister and brother" The statue waved to the two cherubs flying above the hellhound shooting the occasional arrow into the horde of screeching monsters.
"Brace!" The demigod called out," Ri, make space! We got a princess to kidnap!"
"Yes, boss!" The cherub called back and flew to join his siblings in the air.
Luke peeked his head around the driving demigod and looked down on the snow clearing in front of them, Annabeth was still pacing it, but she was lagging slightly as they caught up. The deranged demigod branched an arm down leaning heavily to the right and when they caught up, he grabbed her roughly under the armpit and hauled her up placing her sandwiched between him and Luke.
She screamed his ears off," Calm down, Annabeth!" Luke shouted over her screams and patted her arms.
"Yes, princess Annabella, I would very much appreciate the calm- Ow!" He yelped," What did I do?" The demigod rubbed his back slightly," Do you usually assault people you don't know that clearly saved you from being brutally murdered?" He muttered.
"It's Annabeth." She growled," That's for not warning me before you decided to kidnap me on the back of a hellhound!" she turned to Luke and her stormy grey eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned back," Did you, do it?"
Luke nodded and bit his lip nervously," She's taking her time though." He whispered back.
"Bullseye!" A high-pitched girl voice called behind them.
"Are they sentient cherubs" Annabeth asked slowly turning back to the demigod driving.
"Yes!" He called back, he turned completely letting go of the reins and turned his full body so that he was face to face with Annabeth and Luke." I am Perseus Jackson son of Poseidon, and what pleasure do me and my band of swashbuckling vagabonds have with you?" He grinned," Did Olympus finally put a bounty on my head?" He asked and Luke was silently pleading that whatever madness that seemed to have affected this child to not be contagious.
The demigod was no older than Annabeth, he had a scar that ran down his eyebrow and past his right eye, baby fat all over his Mediterranean features, he had writhing sea green eyes that just spoke of lunacy, and his black curls licked his face and brushed his shoulders, he wore a black cape over his white t-shirt and loose fit jeans.
"Who's driving!" Annabeth squawked and Luke couldn't help but agree as a tree seemed to come bounding up in front of them, and then the hellhound swerved causing Annabeth to lurch to the left and Perseus simply laughed.
"Worry not Betha-Anne, Mrs. O'leary is a capable friend." He patted the hellhound affectionately still turned towards them," Ain't that right girl!" and the hellhound in Luke's horror barked back excitedly," Atta girl! I'll give you a prime rib when we get back."
"It's a monster, how can you befriend it?" Annabeth asked, she did the thing with her lips, pulled up in shocking fascination, and again Luke found himself agreeing with the shock part, not really with the fascination.
"Monster? I prefer the term misunderstood!" Perseus's grin widening as he answered," You would be surprised what a simple discussion can do instead of fighting to the death."
"She kills demigods, people like us." Luke said his voice steel.
"Mrs. O'Leary would never, would you punish the few for the sins of the many?" Perseus asked, "the real criminals here I fear are the ones who can change things but simply wish not to."
"And who may they be?" The voice rang throughout the clearing, echoing and bouncing through the snow and trees, the gaggle of running empousae behind them burst in a shower of liquid green, silver arrows and gold dust. The hell-beast came to a bound stop all of a sudden and dozens of snow-covered girls seemed to rise from the floor, their white parkas meshing with the snow.
They carried drawn bows with silver tipped arrow heads and a golden point indicator that flashed a blinking lazy red. There was a copper skinned girl, wildly pretty, just stood at the forefront of them all, her silver glow was brighter than the other girls, with a tiara sitting atop her head with golden crystal pear shaped diamonds encrusted across the silver metal.
Luke wasn't a betting man, but he would bet every golden drachma that the diadem was worth more than any amount he ever seen in his life. Luke shifted uncomfortable at her piercing gaze she threw at him and Jackson, like she read his and Jackson's mind and saw something she despised, he ignored her and scanned his eyes on the right clearing of the forest and out stepped some hunters, about a handful of them creeping forward their bow and arrows pointed at the hellhound too," Jackson." The girl said in a haughty voice, the young demigod seemed to attract the wrong attention," It, appears thy run of pestilence and misery has come to a belated end." She said cruelly her arrow pointed directly at him.
"Ladies, ladies, relax." Perseus said as he slid down from Mrs. O'Leary, was that what he called her? His hands up in surrender, he levied a cocky smile at the copper skinned girl, her arrow just mere meters away from piercing him across the head, "The dog means no harm." He turned his head to the left slightly and whispered to them," Get off, now." And Luke obeyed, he hoped off and Annabeth grunted as she landed crouched on the snow, and then all of a sudden Peruses clicked his tongue and Mrs. O'leary with speed betraying her size dashed into the foliage and leaped into the shadow and it mucked inwards barely dodging the arrows staked upon the greenery.
"Atta girl!" Perseus laughed, and some of the huntresses seemed to glare at him with the intent of murder. The girl snarled and dropped her bow, before taking up two small hunting knives and seemed to ready herself to jump the boy.
"Perseus Jackson, it seems you are still as insolent as we have last met." the voice did not ring from anywhere, it simply entered the mind, a maddening womanly voice seeped with terror and Luke half expected to see pure unfiltered strength take form, instead a slender young girl with vividly wild silver eyes stepped out from the forest, its vines and greenery warping inwards around her as if her mere presence caused the whole forest to sing. And sing it did, the trees bent in a cacophony of praise, the snow around her didn't melt but the grass beneath her feet grew and twisted, rustling a tune meant only for her and them lucky enough to hear, the wind whistled like it used to whistle before but with all the added sounds it sounded new and vital. The tiara girl stood down before her and all the hunters dropped to one knee, head prostrated. The girl waved her hand and they all stood, beaming to be in her presence.
Luke winced slightly, he did not need to be a genius to recognize that this weirdly beautiful young girl was none other than Artemis, and an Olympian knowing your name is never a good thing. Luke gave a prayer to his father for the young boy, he needed it, he could tell.
"You honor me with your words." the son of Poseidon took a deep bow towards the goddess," To what honor do I have for you to visit me personally?" he asked, his head still bowed.
"You are accused of theft-"
"Your esteemed divineness, I am innocent of all accusations."
"Interrupt me again and I will make you into a jackelope where me and my girls will hunt you. Am I understood?" Perseus nodded his head, how was he still bowing? "You have done well child of Athena, son of Hermes, your presence is also requested in the throne room, to act witness to him fraternizing with monsters, amongst other litany of accusations."
Luke turned his head around, he couldn't see Ri and his siblings anywhere, it seemed that they hotfoot it when they could've," Yes, milady." he said, bowing his head with Annabeth.
"Perseus, you have slighted me and mine, last year you stole a shipment from me and flooded it on the black market." The tiara girl was growling from the base of her throat staring at Perseus with unrestrained anger, if looks could kill the son of Poseidon would have been long gone," I would like my due." Artemis said stalking forwards, she wiped her hand to the left and she called out," Zoe."
The huntress with the copper skin and tiara stepped forward her black sheen hair splaying down her sides as she bowed her head," You called milady."
"You will use this to record." And with that the goddess clicked her fingers and a black sharp rectangular camera with triple lenses appeared in thin air, the mark of Hephaestus emblazoned below the shoot button in a red x and anvil.
Zoe straightened up, her eyes dancing with glee and her hands holding the camera in reverence as she angled it directly at the trio of demigods," Yes, milady." before she quickly turned to one of the hunters and ushered her close and whispered something to her.
"Oh, great goddess, I can reimburse you for the costs and more, I can assure you."
"Look up." Artemis said just a few inches away from the son of Poseidon," I am not in the mood to repeat myself." And the whole clearing seemed to chill further, Perseus scrambled to look up his eyes blazing and writhing sea green," I do not need your ill-gotten gold, I would like to make an example of you but alas I am not allowed to kill you, so you will duel me." Her hands flashed silver, and a pair of gleaming white hunting knives glistened in her hands reflecting the snow under the foot.
Perseus mumbled something under his breath, and he looked back at the camera being worked by a short blonde huntress and Zoe, before sighing," and you will record the duel you will most obviously win your greatness?"
"See it as a penance for you, I will use it to show the hunt on how to fight vermin." The goddess smiled her eyes glowing with malice," Now raise your arms boy, I have not all day." Luke felt truly sorry for the boy, so he sent another prayer in quick succession to his father.
Annabeth and Luke spaced back as Perseus rummaged around a leather pouch and pulled out a long silver hilted spear that was clearly too big to fit into the bag and he clicked his fingers, the bag folded three times before warping into itself turning into a silver ring with a brown gemstone. The goddess smiled before stepping back exactly four paces before looking at Annabeth," You will count to three." And Annabeth did and what followed will haunt Luke for the rest of his life.
It was a slaughter, every move the demigod did he was punished with slashes at his skin, rubbles of ruby pearls dribbled down and painted the snow red, every hit he landed on the goddess he took ten, with every move he made the goddess did two more, it was a shock to Luke the demigod would last this long, every time he took something fatal a rush of water covered it up plugging in holes and he would heal as if new. Perseus went through familiar spear forms such as cutting over the ridge or pyre upon the bank, but the goddess was simply unstoppable, she weaved under his spear thrust and sank her fist into the boy's stomach and grabbed his spear shaft snapping it under her grip and punched his stomach again, hurling him back on to his knees and heaving up whatever he had yesterday.
Luke wrinkled his nose as the smell rose and watched on, Artemis stalked forward her eyes holding nothing but excitement and malice, oh gods she was twisted, she simply smiled as the boy haggard about," You are good." Was all she said before she whipped her foot around his head knocking him cold. A cacophony of banging weapons on shields and floors rang from the clearing and Artemis raised her hand and they simply stopped.
The goddess turned to him and Annabeth her eyes pining his, he quickly looked away and on to the floor," Let this be a lesson, for those who dare to steal from me." She said humour flicking her tone," Son of Hermes."
"I would never." He bit back, he grasped his right hand with his left, trying to stop it from shaking, it seemed that brutal display has really gotten to him, he peeked to his left and saw Annabeth shake a little too.
"You will do well to keep it that way." Artemis turned to Annabeth and pulled her aside, they talked in hush tones for a while Annabeth shaking her blonde curls and adamantly apologizing for something, when Luke received a glance from Artemis he quickly shifted back to the son of Poseidon. He was lying on the floor breath ragged as if it hurt to even breath and Luke could tell it most likely did. Anger bubbled under his skin, that was cruel, what Artemis did, it was unnecessary, but she was a Greek god, it came with the mantle.
Perseus stirred in the snow, his cape fanned out beneath him, Luke walked towards him and offered a hand and when Perseus finally looked up his eyes focused and writhing, he took the hand and his grin returned. He winced as he stood his, face littered with bruises and a forming welp was developing on his forehead, he twisted his hand and water rose from the snow, drying out a bit and he formed a sort of astronaut helmet made of water around his head, as he turned and stared at the broken silver sear just a pace away from him," No!" He gurgled," I really liked that spear!"
Artemis returned from speaking with her hunters, it seemed she left Annabeth halfway through to speak with them, she gestured to Annabeth to come here, and she grabbed on to her hand as well as roughly grabbing Perseus's wrist," Hold on to him son of Hermes." She said," And close your eyes lest you no longer want to see." Luke held onto Perseus arm and closed his eyes and his ears popped and his midsection seemed to bend and was that his ribs opening and closing? His body seemed to warp, too rapidly for him to even feel it, but he knew he felt it.
"You can open your eyes you know." Luke opened them hesitantly at the behest of Perseus's water gurgling and when he did, he stared at the vast expanse of the marbled and chiselled hall, there was Grecian décor, the type that made Annabeth go on a frenzy and talk to anyone that was listening until their head fell off, sleet grey marble columns that and sweated lines, tall enough to fit a house from the Delphi district,," and you can let go, I'm sure." The boy garbled and Luke quickly dropped his hand.
Artemis simply cocked her eyebrows and sauntered off to the left towards a set of large white sleet grey doors that looked to be carved into the wall and she simply walked through, even though there closed, she seemed to have phased in and bubbled ," Wait here, you will be summoned by the honourable council for the trail to commence" a voice seemed to reverberate, the very air buzzing it in its presence.
A tall man, beautiful wasn't even enough to describe his face, chiselled with a fan, long golden strands of hair reaching his bare shoulders, lightly shaven chin and gaunt cheeks eyes cerulean green. Nothing like the son of Poseidon's ones that writhed with unchecked madness.
"Ganymede!" Perseus said his voice wobbling with the water helmet, he held out his hand and the god pushed a cup into his hand and Percy passed it to the stunned Annabeth and passed another to Luke," how's the gig going? The lord of thunder taking care of you I hope?"
"Jackson, I would say it is a pleasure, but you are going to die soon." Ganymede replied, his cadence slow, his voice seemed to be punctuated with his pouring of drinks into Perseus's cup, Luke noticed that he sounded nothing like the announcing voice," the job is well, same old same old." He swept his eyes on Luke and Annabeth too, his eyes were not seeing him per say more like piercing Luke through, when he finished pouring for Perseus he moved to Annabeth, head still firmly looking at Jackson," is that that latest fashion?"
Perseus looked at what Ganymede was nodding to and stared at the reflection of inside his water helmet," no, no, the wild one had a gripe with me, this heals me well." He said before raising his goblet and looking inside," is this honeyed nectar?" He asked.
Luke looked down at his own cup, it was crystal clear and shaped like a wine goblet, filled to the brim with this amber slosh that smelled heavenly and thick enough to not be juice and thin enough to not be a soup like concoction," Worry not, it is mightily distilled." The god muttered.
Perseus hummed and took a swig, the liquid seeping into his water tank and somehow snaking into a single line into his mouth, Annabeth followed soon after and Luke decided that if it was good enough for them it was good enough for him. He placed it on his lips, and the taste he felt was disgustingly good, it tasted like his mother's berry pie and a hint of apple, and it was warm to taste but cold in his mouth, soothingly cold and when he swallowed the honey kicked in.
"Thank you, Ganymede." Perseus raised his finished goblet," but tonight is not the night the great Perseus Jackson dies and falls under the dominion of his lord uncle!" He crowed
"It better not be." someone familiar called through, Luke widened his eyes, that was Mr. D, the city mayor, and not in the form he was used to, gone was the slouched and shaggy man with a pot belly too large to see his feet, and in came the Adonis that stood before them, body chiselled to perfection toga open, laurel wreath of grape vines woven into his head of purple locks touching his shoulders, his tan gleaming and leopard shaped bands of silver wrapped around his biceps. The only consistency around him was the aura of madness, the writhing in the air that wanted you to scream the first things that came to mind," The world will be so boring if you die."
Perseus turned his body towards the god and Luke thought he might have been barking mad before, he definitely was sure now," Diabstar!" The demigod shouted arms outstretched, looking for a hug.
And Mr. D, against all logic returned the hug," Perry Jickleson!" The god preened back a smile splitting his face, he leaned back and tapped the son of Poseidon on the back. Luke shared a look with Annabeth and her eyes darkened, her stormy grey cloudy, and he couldn't really blame her at all," I saw what you did at the cult of discord and dissonance last month." Dionysus said, Luke turned back and stared at them fully," it was trending everywhere, Hephaestus caught it on camera, it was all over god-tube and father had to be restrained by uncle from blasting you to bones!" The god laughed raucously.
"I saw the footage too." Ganymede said, raising a cup into Dionysus's outstretched hand," it was utterly ridiculous, you still under the ban sir?"
Dionysus nodded," give me some grape juice, mix it with some un-spiked nectar too please." And the cup filled with purple and flicking gold," it was riveting wasn't it Gany-boy! "The cup bearer nodded, hiding the golden chalice into his toga sleeve that draped on his right elbow, Dionysus turned back to Perseus," it was wild. You stealing the golden sigil of the stars and the crossed-out moon. Madness, I tell you, madness!"
Luke couldn't help but agree that the son of Poseidon is anything but mad, he only just met the boy, and he already was assaulted by an Olympian, and charged with crimes and summoned to stand in court before the council. Luke only ever met his father three times and saw Mr. D on irregular occasions, other than that he never saw skin nor hide of an Olympian, and this twisted boy seemed to be the talk of the town amongst them.
He glanced to the right and Annabeth's face was marred with a scowl, she never met her mother, only received a hat as a reward for her first gold quest completion. It was the box standard invisibility cap that all children of Athena received once they finished a gold quest. Luke felt for her, a boy no older than her was gallivanting about breaking rules and twisting them to his likings and it seemed like all of Olympus was paying attention to him. It rankled him too; he was nothing but obedient to them, and all they could do for him and others was to give nothing but cold indifference.
"What crimes have been levelled against me?" Perseus asked humming as he seemed to place a golden vial into the hand of the god," It seems to be quite serious to issue a silver quest on me and send the wild one."
"How did he know?" Annabeth furiously whispered into his ear, he was shocked himself, but mostly not surprised, it seemed on brand with the mad boy.
"I don't know." He muttered back before staring at the demigod.
Dionysus smiled at them all, his chest puffed out and he seemed to revel on the news," Father's master bolt has been stolen!" He decreed before jabbing a finger at Perseus," And he deems you responsible, thinks you stole it for uncle, he uses your past of sticky fingering as evidence."
Perseus threw his head back and cackled, it wasn't a laugh, it was a full-blown heave and wheeze that you would expect witches to produce," Me?" He squeezed out between each laugh, he bent over and clutched his stomach," I may do what others deem to be insane but never stupid." He bellowed out grabbing on to Annabeth's shoulder for support and the girl shrugged it off huffing, he skittered to the right a bit," I am innocent on all counts!"
"That I have no doubt." Dionysus hummed," Gany-boy told me that father himself isn't sure, but he would do anything to get you gone." He raised his goblet again to his lips before adding," you will always have my vote though, worry not."
Perseus did a flourishing bow," I am grateful for your support my lord."
Dionysus hummed again, Ganymede filling his cup for the third time before he turned and left, Dionysus's brown eyes pinned on Annabeth," Your mother asked me to tell you just now." Luke raised his brows, and leaned in, Annabeth herself was chewing her lips" You are not to speak to her when the court starts, only to respond to what she asks." He said.
Hot anger laced through Luke; Perseus glanced sideways at the demigoddess, she was stoic, eyes grey and dull, but she nodded none the less," Yes my lord."
Mr. D clapped Perseus on the shoulder one last time and the smell of grapes and salted wines permeated the air as Dionysus melted into a puddle of purple liquid that cleaned itself up.
" She's an ass." Luke caught himself saying, Annabeth ignored him, turning into Perseus tapping on his chest," How did you know it was a silver quest?" Her voice accusatory, she kept on pressing forward as the demigod raised his hands and took steps back," Who is your informant? Hmm? Was it Melania Lang? Charles Weatherproof?"
"Weatherproof?" Perseus asked incredulously still stepping backwards," What kind of last name is that?"
"Don't try to change the subject." Annabeth pressed on, standing face to water tank, toe to toe with the demigod, his back pressed up against the wall water tank fusing into it," Start talking, who was it."
Luke joined her, staring down at the boy, he was about to break it up, but he wanted to know too, anything to distract Annabeth from the hurt he knew she would feel," Who?" he asked softly.
The demigod's face morphed into a grin," Now why would I do that?"
Annabeth's hands shot up and grabbed him by the cuffs of the cape and twisted her hips and legs to the left about to throw the young demigod before a bellowing cry echoed through the corridor, the same announcing voice as earlier," The accused and witnesses may enter the chamber!" It was punctuated with the doors creaking open.
Perseus dusted himself off and walked forward, Annabeth still glaring daggers at him, her eyes cloudier, darker, it seemed almost black. Luke hummed and placed a hand on her shoulders," we will find out later." He tried to soothe her, it was near impossible to get to her when she was like this unless you were Thalia, Thalia had a knack for knowing what to say to Annabeth.
Luke frowned and furrowed his brows and strode after Perseus passed the 18 feet doors and he simply halted, his breath was off, the air was thick like there was a wall of impassable something, his bones rattled in place, he could hear a chatter, it felt so far away. He tried to close his lips but the chatter dimmed and he felt his teeth graze his lips as they closed and open and closed again, Luke looked up and saw Annabeth shake behind him as if she was having a fit.
Perseus seemed unaffected, simply smiling, the only difference was that his brows were furrowed as if he was concentrating and the water bowl that surrounded his head was gone. Then the pressure lifted, gone was the wall-air and the rattling and chatters and finally Luke could see, truly see the splendour.
There was gold grass on the edges of the room walled off with small miniature marble terraces, around mid height, it circled around the room in a horseshoe formation, and the teen foot tall thrones. The thrones were carved with perfection, beauty was naught but an expression when compared them, it seems each throne was carved into its own space, its own reality.
At the right end was Dionysus, large enough to sit on his throne as the rest of them were, his throne was a husk of vines wrapped amongst themselves with grapes growing upon them each, a vivid living thing writing and moving with his own movements and around him was a haze of purple that pulsated ever second in a steady beat, like a tempo of frenzy, opposite him sat his father.
Hermes, the traveller, the jack of all trades and master some, the soverig of hospitality, messenger of the mighty overlords and Olympian of the highest peerage. And a deadbeat father who would not even visit Luke's siblings, but he will give his father this, he cut a distinct figure, clad in grey robes with a winged diadem of gold bands, his throne was enshrined with twisting snakes and on his arm which he lounged lazily was a rod with basilisk like snakes wrapped around it, the mighty cadecus, around him was orange air, golden orange.
To his left was Apollo, his skin tanned, robe on his head decked with rays of the sun peaking through and his throne was ostentatious, gold on gold and the air was shimmering with brightness, flecks of gold falling, his aunt Demeter was next to the sun god, her throne a twisting tree gold too but not as bold as the sun god large and looming with fruits of every bearing hanging down, celery leaves growing gold around her feet, her dress a sewing of midnight shade with waxy ice chill, to the opposite of the two was the moon goddess, gone was her young visage, she derelict and beautiful, seat a silver chunk and the air around her dark and bleak only shining with the crescent moon behind her bearing down.
Athena on her right, her throne a sleet grey, cold and wiped like the marble on the door, engraved with moving and jumping owls, that seems to fly across the throne , inside it like it like it was trapped inside, the air around her was foggy and cool shimmering dew with hints of olives, a fig tree branching over her, Ares was next, his throne a grafting of swords twisted and ugly to give a semblance of a seat, it was massive and wicked, malevolent in nature, his brother Hephaestus was slouching on a steaming humming thing, it was shaped like a throne but its cogs and moving parts screamed otherwise, a cup holder was on his right and it filled with molten something, glowing iridescent yellow. The air around him was orange too, much like his father's but it seared with heat waving the air.
His wife was next, Luke could not bring himself to look, he stole a glimpse however, and everything about her was perfect, too perfect that her throne of simple glass was naught to be registered, the air around her pink and heavy, her dress was modest and cut and immodest and uncut, it was everything and nothing her hair this then another and Luke thought he was not looking but a pinch from Annabeth showed he was staring.
Hera was at the head of the Dias, her throne stark white, clean like Athena's but a cow's head was carved out in the top, a radiant crown of gold and fist-sized crystal diamonds levitated overhead revolving. Zeus her husband to her right, the same crown hovering over his head, his throne was made of stark clean gold, not bright like Apollo, just gold, it was detailed with moving and active stories, all of him in his myths, it played again and again and around him constant lightning flashed, Poseidon was to his direct right, a sea green diadem was revolving of her his black curled locks, his throne was cut from coral, his feat and throne submerged in water.
A large brazier was in the middle, a young woman, a brown shawl and brown hair and brown eyes, everything about her homely, the fire she tended to itself was brown and orange and never yellow and red, or blue just homely. Ganymede was at the foot of the Dias where the thrones were, running this way and that filling outstretched goblets and buzzing by.
Perseus turned to him and Annabeth before turning back, and a bow flourished again, not much unlike the one he gave Dionysus," O, great and esteemed members of the council. I am humbled by your urgency to stand vigil at my trial. "
Poseidon simply laughed at the statement. Zeus clenched his jaws and Annabeth's ass of a mother quirked her brow, eyes trained on him, never looking at her daughter. His father though, was intent on him, he could feel his eyes boring into his skull, but he ignored it as best he could, his father promised him he would be there for Miranda on her fifteenth, he would visit her like he visited him, but he didn't, another no show. So Luke would go on, a cold shoulder for a cold shoulder.
"Flattery will get you nowhere Jackson." Zeus said, cold and chill.
"Do we really need to do this?" Demeter asked," just kill the boy and get it over with."
The air around Luke suddenly felt heavy again, a pressure so heavy, he didn't imagine how he ever walked, his knees buckled," Demeter, you will watch how you talk of my son." Poseidon said as if the air was no matter," But I agree, the whole thing is a farce."
Zeus shot his brother a look," My master bolt is missing, and I will investigate where I see fit." He growled.
"As I said before and I said again, I did not steal your bolt." Poseidon bartered back.
"I will be the judge of that." Zeus said," When the evidence is presented and I see you and your ilk to be innocent that is when you are clear of the charges."
"I will not suffer such insults." Poseidon said," If you lack sense to see reason only you will be blamed for the war that will surely follow."
"I will have my bolt brother and your thieving son will be put to the question as I wish it to be." Zeus swayed his head away from Poseidon banging his fist onto his throne's armrest," Such is my prerogative as King and no amount of threats will assuage that!"
"Take that back you oaf!" Poseidon snarled" My son is innocent!" He leaned forward," What right do you have to cast suspicion on my son?"
" He stole my shipment, and sold it to legacies and men, my items are sacred, meant only for the hands of women and maidens aplenty."
Poseidon glared at Artemis," That shipment was left stranded in a warehouse for near on five years, it was practically abandoned."
"That does not excuse stealing from an Olympian brother." Zeus growled banging on his fist on the throne." And do not forget that he stole the diadem of Thrace from the Amazons."
"Me and Bellona have reached a suitable agreement, she has been reimbursed and has decided to leave the matter-"
"Paying and threatening her isn't reaching a suitable arrangement you-"
"Uncle, father, tone it down a bit wouldn't you?" Luke's father chimed up, "You're scaring the children", he cocked his head to their general direction, still standing in front of the door, and the pressure subsided and he wasn't buckling anymore or forgetting what walking was and his mind clear. His father sent him a wink and relief flushed him.
"Father, Poseidon, all this argument is of no matter, the trial will determine his innocence, let us proceed," Athena said.
Zeus nodded and Poseidon simply grumbled before agreeing, "Then let us start." Athena tapped her armrest twice and Luke found himself at the foot of his father's throne. Annabeth was next to her mothers and Perseus Jackson was in the middle, just three paces in front of the brazier, immortal eyes locked on his.
"That's a tacky cape." Aphrodite muttered, and clicked her perfect fingers, a shower of pink rained atop the boy, his cape and clothes melted off, and were replaced with a three-piece suit, sleek black and elegant," that's better."
"Thank you, o esteemed one, but don't you mind adding a cape please, adds to my aesthetic." Aphrodite simply raised her brows before clicking again and the rain of pink added a black cape, collar wide and long but less eccentric than before," You have my thanks."
Zeus scowled," You are standing here today, accused of stealing my lightning bolt on the 26th of April 2005, what do you plead."
"Not guilty Your Majesty!" Perseus chirped a smile on his face.
"Where we're on you the 25th of April," Athena asked.
"In the labyrinth, visiting some friends."
"No, not friends, monsters, and known criminals of Olympus."
"No, I mean friends, and brothers too, father was not picky when it came to his children." Hermes and Ares chuckled, Poseidon grinned proudly, chest puffed out.
"You do not deny the charges of fraternizing with criminals."
"With all due respect your most graciousness, do you really think that a group of Cyclopes, and a hellhound are dangerous top-priority criminals?" Perseus asked, and Luke felt hot, he was friends with Cyclopses those sick and twisted abominations, Luke looked over and saw Annabeth too, she was chewing her lips she did that often, when deep in thought.
"You do not deny the accusation."
"I wholeheartedly do Athena Promachos, I simply assumed you would give me grace as to not assume me that stupid to do so." He grinned.
Athena glanced at Apollo, he was all golden lines and anger marks," He tells the truth, yet my soul does not soothe." Luke blinked, why does Apollo speak in rhymes?
"I am innocent of all machinations pertaining to the stealing and capture of the esteemed lightning bolt from the king of heavens!" He declared.
Athena nodded and leaned back after Apollo confirmed again," Now on to your charges of other crimes." Zeus smiled a cruel one in place," you are charged with the theft and destruction of godly equipment, fraternizing with monsters and contempt of the council and specifically the high king of the sky what do you plead."
"Guilty on all accounts." He answered with no hesitation," Guilty, guilty, guilty is what I am." He cackled on.
"So do you admit on destroying the temples of the ordained?" Athena asked.
"It was an accident, life and death situation had to collapse the building."
"You were there for what exactly?" Athena asked.
"Sightseeing." Perseus said," it's not every day you see the temple of the great Eris, she also invited me personally, said she was a big fan!"
Demeter quirked her brow," And you collapsed her temple?"
"She asked me to do something amazing and let the Nemean lion loose on me, she liked it indeed, even gave me some drachmas and a charm." He grinned, the boy was mad.
Dionysus threw his head back and laughed audaciously, Athena turned her lips up slightly before Zeus slammed his arm on the throne and the flashing lightning was accompanied by its first bout of thunder," Order in the court!"
"So you are saying the destruction of the temple of ordnance was designed by its owner?"
"Not exactly but she was most happy with my services."
Ares shifted forward slightly," I heard you were in another one of the forbidden lands, the twisted land straights." He grinned," That one is punishable by death."
Athena coughed slightly," The punishment is the land straight itself brother, the punishment is merley a deterrent."
"But the laws still stand." Zeus said coldly, "Death should be admitted swiftly, first we must focus on his contempt of me and pass the judgement."
"I will not lie I do not like you." Perseus said, and Luke knew him mad before but now he thought him insane." How can I? You killed my mother for simply being my mother." Luke felt something tug at him, the boy was alone, wandering about, he was young, so young and already alone, he closed his eyes and offered up some prayers for him meager as they may be. But like was not heartless.
Do not pray for him my son, he is dangerous, volatile and destructive, he is hurting but his heart is filled with our worst.
Luke looked up and at his father, his voice was murmuring in his head, but he looked away as if he did not speak with him, Luke twisted a scowl and carried on praying, he was not heartless, and whose fault is it that he is the way he is.
Be careful, son when dealing with him, I have seen many men with his drive and ambition, they drive for greatness untold or misery of untold proportions, take my warning if naught else, do not mix yourself with him. His father's voice whispered.
And Luke made a decision right there and then, he would mix himself up with this boy, just to spite his father.
"But I am not stupid, I know the way of the world, what's a little contempt have to do with anything? If I can not voice my displeasures that would simply make you a tyrant." Perseus said, and the air grew still, the fabric of what is and what not started to blur, Luke's eyes were hurting his skin tingled, static seemed to pop in and out and out again.
Zeus's throne started to glow iridescent yellow his hair rising, he had a braided bear and it unravelled his eyes stark white with energy," You said what boy?" He didn't below or thunder or roar but it was just as loud and bearing," A tyrant?"
Perseus nodded and the electric shocks peppered the air more," You wouldn't be one if you let my slice of contempt go, I merely stated my displeasure never worked against you actively, in fact I am offering my services right now."
"What?" The air stopped whatever was being done to it, Luke let go of a breath he forgot he was holding," what services you planning to offer?"
"I will retrieve your lightning bolt, treat it like a legendary quest of course with all its benefits, Three million drachmas for each participant and full pardons of all aforementioned crimes!" He grinned.
"No drachmas!" Zeus bellowed," and you can-"
"Father that is a good offer." Athena said her eyes focused on her father," The boy has many skills, he can prove useful to us if implemented right."
"Father, why not send my hunters, kill the boy, and be off." Artemis said, Apollo nodding along.
Athena leaned forward," I believe that to be unwise, the boy will die if he fails anyway. Might as well use him for matter."
Zeus mulled it over his argument weak," But look daughter he makes friends with monsters destroys and steals and pillages, we even have witnesses." He waved his arm towards Luke and Annabeth.
,"Did we ourselves not make them and walk amongst them once?" Aphorodite said.
"That's different." Zeus said not really into it, he rested his head on his fist before popping up," You will only have a limit of eight people, you will each be paid two million instead of three, and all crimes that were brought up will be pardoned, and the benefit of the legendary quest applied." Zeus said," However, you will get it done by the solstice, failure to return the bolt means death."
And thunder clapped and bellowed, lightning struck, and a golden sigil of captured lightning encrusted before them, the sign of a legendary quest, it floated to Perseus before searing into his outstretched arm," You will receive no aid from the gods nor financial aid from the Barracks, the solstice is three weeks away." He grinned cruelly, "good luck."
He laughed then, lightning flashing and flashing and flashing and the air was too bright so he closed his eyes and the next thing Luke realises is that he was standing in front of the gates of new Greece, "they didn't even ask us anything." Annabeth muttered annoyed, and Perseus simply grinned.
"So this is new Greece? I thought it would be smaller. Nevertheless, we can go sightseeing later first we will have to recruit for the legendary Quest!"
"We?" Luke asked, and this was probably the worst question he had ever put forward in his life, he was sure that he would regret no question as much as the one he just uttered.
"I never knew you were French, nice of you to agree." And with that dread simply bubbled in his stomach as Annabeth shot him a look to keep it quiet.