Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

First person pov - percy

I wanted to go back to sleep.

BUT I knew that if he did, Annabeth would make sure I would never have blue food ever again. Big threat

I walked out of his cabin. The sky was orange and pink, the sun was about to go to sleep (wish I could do the same). The time was 7:30pm. I heard a lot of commotion. More so than usual. I went on to find Annabeth which was easy because I was attracted to her like a magnet. After finding her quickly, I pecked her on the cheek, surprising her.

"Seaweed Brain! Don't scare me like that!" she said

I smirked.

"Sorry, not sorry Wise Girl!" I said, I then pointed towards the other campers with a high sense of confusion in my very very veeerrrryyyyyyy tiny brain. "What's with all the commotion?"

Annabeth sighed. "Haven't you heard? There's a new demigod at camp. Around the age of 12. He claims to be very powerful."

I smiled and gently stroked Annabeth's hair. "How powerful?" I questioned.

"He killed a hellhound with just a knife" Annabeth replied

I am shocked. Even some of the more experienced campers couldn't manage to kill a hellhound. It was pretty rare for a hellhound to die at the hands of a not-even-a-teen yet.

"Huh. It's not everyday you see a 12 year old kill a hellhound."

"Yep. Now let's go have dinner before there's no food left"

"Gods that would be a shame."

"Shut up"

We made their way to the dining hall.  Annabeth sat down at the Athena table and I went to my assigned table.

Chiron gathered everyone's attention and made his usual announcement.

"Tonight is capture the flag. You all know the rules. We also have a new camper, can everyone please welcome Jack Martin. Jack, please stand up."

The newcomer stood up. He had black hair with blonde highlights that was brushed neatly. His eyes were black and rimmed red. He looked pretty scrawny and looked a lot like Octavian. I shook my head. I didn't want to think about Octavian. Not now, not ever. I didn't realise he had spaced out until Chiron announced that capture the flag would start in 10 minutes and that the leading cabins would be Poseidon and Athena. Annabeth and I picked their cabins they wanted on our team. I chose Zeus, Ares, Apollo, Hephaestus, Hades, Hypnos, Hermes, Hecate and Demeter. Annabeth chose the rest of the cabins. They set off to prepare.

Chapter Text

"Percy, where do we put the flag?" Jason asked

"Maybe up in that tree" I said, pointing to a tree that was tall. "Up in that branch where you can't see it. Who can climb?" 

The new camper, Jack stepped forward with his chest puffed out as if he was the best.

"I'm guessing you can't climb so I'll have to do it" said the new kid and um no offence but i'm guessing that he isn't my biggest fan.

I raised my eyebrows in suspicion. "Go ahead. I admit that I'm not the best person to climb trees."

Jack took the flag from Jason (who could quite literally fly up there), and started to climb the tree. As soon as he got onto the tree, I saw the leaves fluttering down looking dead. The tree was slowly losing colour. Jack fell off the tree when he was on it for like, 5 seconds. The tree looked normal again. It seemed as if I was the only one who had noticed it. I glanced at Nico, who was frowning slightly as if he saw what I did. I brushed it off as a hallucination. My brain must be acting up.

"So... can anyone else climb the tree?" I asked, knowing damn well that Jason could and well I may or may not have wanted him to but still you know you gotta do the formalities and I guess Jason understood my signal because of his reply "I'll do it". 

He didn't need any further answer after that so he just grabbed the flag, flew up there and stuck it up. 

"Alright so now that's done, who's on defence?"  Jason asked.

 I quickly told everyone their positions and placed Jack on guarding the border, since it was his first time doing this. Jack started to argue with me.

"Are you putting me here because you think I'm worthless!?"

"Jeez...calm down and no. You're here because it's pretty dangerous out there. You haven't even found a balanced sword yet!"

Jack was fuming. I left him like that.

The horn blew. Campers steadied their stances and got ready.

The game had started. 

Chapter Text

"My team!" I yelled. "Get into your positions!"

The campers scuttled around about to leave to get into their positions. They were interrupted by Jack who decided to say, "And why would we listen to you?"

This kid was getting on my nerves. I willed the water to throw a rock at his head. Don't worry it was small and couldn't cause a concussion. Hopefully. 

Jack started whining and trying to get attention.

 It was just a rock!? 

"I don't know, maybe because I'm the CAPTAIN OF THIS TEAM?!!?!?!?!?!?" I said, sighing. When was this kid gonna learn?

"Well! I should be team captain!" Jack said.

What the fuck is wrong with this guy!?

I sighed loudly and signalled the others to move to their positions. I started advancing towards the enemy flag, disarming the other team so they wouldn't be able to get to our flag. I made my way through the bushes trying not to be seen and well...I wasn't seen! The flag was just 50 metres away. I could make it. Just as I was within arms reach with the flag, Annabeth popped out of nowhere.

"Going somewhere?" she asked as she stowed her hat away and pulled out her knife.

"Yeah." I said while being 95% sure that I sounded stupid. "The flag. Where else?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. She started sparing me. 

Slash, duck, swipe, roll, stab, side step, duck. 

Strike, parry, block, duck. I managed to disarm her.

"You win this time," she said.

I smiled at her and ran up to the flag.

Great. I thought. Now I just gotta get this to the other side of the field. Should be easy, right?

Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Out of nowhere, the opposite team came and surrounded me, pointing their weapons at me.

"Uh...hi?" I said

Annabeth smirks at me. She has her sword in her hand. How'd she get that so fast?

"Not so fast, Seaweed Brain. You aren't going anywhere with the flag."

"Am I?" I replied, mischievously.

Annabeth lunged for the flag, I raised my hands and a wave crashed into everyone. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone very peculiar. 

Jack. 

I sigh, I guess he is a rule breaker like me.

"YOU IDIOT." He screamed at me.

Ouch. That hurt Jack, that hurt. 

Jack ran straight ahead, attempting to barrel into Annabeth.

Let's just say that didn't work...

Annabeth stepped to the side and Jack stumbled and fell into the creek.

Using this as a distraction I quickly ran up and grabbed the flag making my way across the creek and planting the flag into the ground. The horn blew, signalling the end of the game and my team, as the winners.

Then came a new surprise. Something NO ONE (and yes I mean no one, that includes the Athena cabin) expected.

Above Jack, (who was very much still in the creek, drenched,) a symbol hovered over his head.

But not just any symbol like...heck! I don't know? Athena's?

A trident hovered over his head.

The very same trident that hovered over me when I first stepped into that creek.

Chiron was the first to recover from the shock and stepped forward bowing.

"All hail Jack Martin, son of the earthshaker, storm bringer, father of all Horses. Son of the sea god."

Chapter Text

So, uh.

Let's just say I still haven't warmed up to Jack.

He's been around for 2 weeks now and he has been trying to completely ruin my life. 

It's not really like I can do anything because campers are starting to hate me and think I'm lying about well...everything, and I'm pretty sure whatever the campers are accusing me of, Jack did it.

One by one, all my friends left me and supported Jack.

That bitch.

Jason said that I said  I hated him because of his father.

Leo said I snuck into Bunker Nine and broke his newest invention.

Piper accused me of saying Aphrodite children are wannabes.

Katie threw a squashed beetroot at me and said I ruined her garden.

Grover looked at me in disbelief and said that I said I never liked him.

The list just went on and on and on. 

Even the Romans hated me.

But I hadn't done any of that.

When I asked for proof they all said Jack had seen me do it.

Plus a miniature trident left at the crime scene.

Even Chiron is ignoring me

Oh well. At least I still had Annabeth. And Thalia, since she knew that Jack was lying and since she's with the hunters. She told me that she would never believe his bullshit and if she could, she would happily throw a few knives at him.

Anyways, speaking of Annabeth, she has been acting strange lately.

She just hasn't been herself. She's sorta, I dunno, distancing herself from me.

Huh.

Anyways, I was sitting in my cabin, thankfully, Jack had left so I was alone.

I spend a lot of my time alone nowadays. I was starting to get bored so may as well just go to the campfire.

When I got there I could hear cheering. The campers were all saying "KISS! KISS! KISS!" 

Okay...

As I could get closer I could see two figures with their lips locked together. The cheering got louder.

On one side, stood Jack and the girl he was kissing...

No.

Nononononono it's not her.

NO!

Annabeth...

"Annabeth?" I said. My voice is no louder than a whisper.

"Ah. Percy." she said, spitting my name out like it was poison. "Did you really think that I loved you?"

Tears started to slowly make their way down. It took all my willpower to keep them at bay.

"Why?"

The campers all snickered at me. Some throwing insults at me.

"You're worthless"

"He just wants fame."

"Weak"

"Coward."

I was shaking like I had hypothermia.

Annabeth's voice brought me back to reality.  "You want to know why? Because YOU CHEATED ON ME FIRST! AND YOU ARE A TRAITOR! YOU WERE HELPING GAIA FROM THE START AND ONLY HELPED KILL HER FOR FAME!" 

I stumbled back. "N-no! I didn't help Gaia rise! MY FATAL FLAW IS FUCKING LOYALTY FOR FUCKS SAKE. WHAT IN HADES MAKES YOU SAY THAT I BETRAYED OLYMPUS. GO ON TELL ME. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN LOYAL TO THE GODS! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT I WOULD BETRAY YOU!"

A flash blinded me temporarily. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Posiedon aka Dad, in front of me.

"Dad? What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm here to disown someone." My father said glaring at me.

"Wait, you don't mean me, do you?"

"I do."

Okay... wHaT tHe FuCk 

"WHAT DID I DO?"

Posiedon looked me right at me in the eye. Dam that's scary. Heh dam. Stupid ADHD.

"I thought you were raised better than this. How dare you betray Olympus! I hereby disown Perseus Achilles Jackson as my son! He shall no longer have the control of the sea."

I fell to my knees and screamed as pain tore me apart.

"We should banish him from both camps." Poseidon sneered, "having a traitor around will be the downfall of us."

I looked up and slowly got back on my feet, when someone slammed into me and I fell on the floor again. I think my arm is bleeding. 

I looked up and saw Rachel, our oracle, she didn't even acknowledge me, or help me up.

Rachel looked stressed. Green smoke starts swirling around her as her eyes glow green. She says one word.

"Prophecy." 

Chapter Text

Rachel stiffens. The green smoke thickens as the Spirit of Delphi starts to speak from inside her.

If it’s another great prophecy, I am going to send the Fates to Hades the hard way.

Or maybe they would send me to Hades the hard way if I tried to.

Maybe not.

“The broken child will walk alone,

Chased by a fate he’s never known.

The sea’s true heir and one forged in night,

Shall clash before they see the light.

When monsters rise and shadows call,

Unexpected allies must stand—or all shall fall.”

And with that, Rachel went rigid. I caught her before she could fall over. Rachel opened her eyes.

She saw who was holding her and quickly pushed me off. I fell again.

I gotta stop falling.

“Let go of me you traitor!”

“I’m not a traitor!”

Rachel rolls her eyes and focuses on Chiron.

“It’s another Great Prophecy, right?”

Chiron grimaces. “Unfortunately. We must discuss this at once. It seems that Jack has a big role to play. Counsellors, meeting at the Big House now! The rest of you to your cabins!”

And with that, he trotted off. 

Is now the time to say I'm no longer a cabin counsellor? Jack stole that from me.

But ahem , at least it doesn’t involve me. I think. Okay it probably does. But whatever.

I walked to my- sorry, the Poseidon cabin and packed all my belongings in a duffel bag that I forgot that it even existed.

Whoops.

I had decided to leave because well, it seemed like I wasn’t wanted here.

After stuffing all my belongings in the bag, I decided to write a letter.

Using Riptide I wrote the letter in Ancient Greek.

Dear whoever reads this,

Your all a bunch of bitches *insert smiley face*

Also, for the record, I didn’t do any of those things that Jack said I did. Don’t believe me? Fine. But I didn’t do those things I swear.

Grover, you were my best friend. I never hated you. Never.

Jason, I may hate Mr. Thunder but I would never hate you.

Leo, Believe it or not, I’ve never actually been in Bunker 9…

Everyone else, I just didn’t okay? 

Anyways BYE I’M LEAVING. BAHAHAHAHAHSH

Yours truly

Percy.

I walked out of my cabin and made my way to Thalia’s tree at the border of camp.

I touched the pinewood and looked back at the place I once called home.

“Goodbye Camp Half-Blood.”

I didn’t look back.

Chapter Text

After walking for a couple of hours to my mom’s place, I realised it was kinda raining. (And kind of realising I could've taken Blackjack)

I looked down, expecting my clothes to be wet.

It wasn’t.

I frowned. Wasn’t I meant to be not waterproof? Does that mean I can still control water? I tried to control the rain, and felt the familiar tug in my gut. The rain shifted its form to make a dolphin, making me smile for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Yippee!

The apartment was only a few minutes away. Deciding to run all the way there, I reached there pretty quickly.

I knocked at the door and waited for a response.

No one answered the door.

I had a bad feeling about this.

Brushing the feeling away, I reached for the door handle to see if the door was locked.

It wasn’t.

Slowly opening the door I peeked inside.

At first I couldn’t take in what I was seeing.

Various items were scattered across the floor, tables knocked over. 

But that wasn’t what made my heart stop.

Because, laying in their own pools of blood was someone I cared about a lot.

My mom was lying dead. She was the only person that I hoped would understand me, was suffering and it was pretty much entirely my fault. Had I arrived faster this wouldn’t have happened. While I was still drowning in my own depressive thoughts, I registered a faint murmur of a voice, a voice I was hoping to never hear again. I turned around only to see Paul standing, holding a knife covered in blood. The blood of my mother. 

“Look at how broken you truly are. Isn’t this interesting? This is my revenge, Perseus Jackson.”

My blood turned cold as Paul spoke. But it wasn’t Paul talking. Paul would never talk so casually to someone whilst holding a knife, being covered in blood and wearing a sadistic smile. His eyes glowed green,- which wasn't his eye colour.

Paul Blofis was being controlled by Gaia.

I didn’t move a muscle, as I saw Paul raise the hand in which he held the knife.

I stood helpless, unable to move and do anything but watch a person that I held very close to my heart, stab himself in the heart.

Paul was dead. 

Mom was dead.

And I couldn’t stop it.

I ran, tears escaping my eyes. What had I done? I had no home, nobody to call my own. Where was I meant to go? What was I meant to do? I continued feeling more lost than ever when I bumped into Thalia. “ Hey Percy, where are you going? I thought you were heading over to Sally’s place.” At that point I could not hold it any more. 

I sobbed. 

“Hey, Perce. What happened? What’s wrong?” Thalia asked.

She pulled me into a hug and let me sob into her Death to Barbie shirt. And her letting someone cry into her shirt is very rare. Like EXTREMELY rare. 

“T-they…Gaia k-ki-killed th-” 

“Wait..are they dead..?”

Tears still pouring from my eyes, I nodded.

Thalia covered her face with her hands. “I’m so sorry…”

“Thalia…where do I go? I can’t stay at camp and Mom just died.”

“You really won’t like my idea, but it’s the only one I have.”

Chapter Text

“Well?” I asked, “what is your idea?”

Thalia looked up at me. “ Well first we need to go shopping.”

“What do you mean? I think I look okay.”

“You look okay for a boy, but not for a girl.”

“Wait a fucking minute. I’m sorry, a girl?” I was dumbfounded. “ Are you going to disguise me as a girl? And how exactly am I going to look like a girl with this?” I pointed at my body. 

“Well  first we start off with a mini skirt and a tube top. Maybe some platform heels, oh and you need to get a wig.”

I was traumatised.

Thalia laughed at my expression.

“Woah Thals, I didn't know you knew so much about fashion. Did you go shopping for those?”

“Nope. Just general knowledge and common sense. Something you lack. BUT, we're gonna use the Mist to make you look like a girl, and then you can join the Hunters!”

I blinked at her. 

“Oh that’s perfect, apart from the fact that if Artemis finds out, I would probably end up as a Jackolope? It totally doesn’t put my life at risk. Besides, won’t Artemis like, see through the mist? Are you trying to get me killed?”

I took a deep breath after my mini rant while Thalia just looked at me amused/slightly pissed off.

“Well then Einstein, do you have a better idea? You have nowhere to go, no one to help you either I mean apart from me. Also, I’ve been practising. My control over the Mist is pretty strong. It can even fool Artemis.”

I looked at Thalia, and sighed.

“Let’s do this.”

Chapter Text

“Soo…how do we do this?” 

We were back in my Mom’s apartment. We had cleaned up everything and placed Mom and Paul’s bodies on the bed.

I wasn’t exactly on board with the idea of becoming a girl but there weren't many options.

“Shh. Lemme concentrate. You don’t want to have a deformed face do you?”

“Well not preferably, I would like a good face.”

“Shut up then.”

“Shutting up now- OW.” Thalia smacked me. Hard. “Thaliaa that hurt.” I whined. “Oops? Anyways you're done. Go have a look in the mirror Phaedra.” 

“Are you serious?! Oh my gods, what have you done to my voice? Also that is not my name. Give me a better name.”

“Shut your ass up. Artemis loves that name. You are now Phaedra Zaria. Now go look in the mirror.”

I looked in the mirror and looked at my reflection in shock.

I had icy blue eyes, long straight brown hair, and a slim athletic figure. I was around 4’11.

Why the fuck was I so short.

“Thalia. Why, AM I SHORTER THAN YOU?”

“Why not?” was the answer I got.

I turned around to see her sitting on the counter with a mischievous smile. Of course she had to do that. 

“I’m hungry. You got food?”

“We're getting off topic here Thals, aren’t we gonna go find Artemis and maybe make me tal- what are you doing ?”

Thalia had ransacked the kitchen drawers and was munching on some of the blue cookies.

Looking at the blue cookies I was suddenly overwhelmed by a sudden flow of memories. 

“Hey, pass me some. Don’t eat them all.”

┊ ⋆『 ↳✧･ﾟ time skip ;⍣ ೋ

About 2 hours later.

Thalia and I headed out of the shops with bags of new clothes. I don’t know how we managed to pay for it since we didn’t exactly carry mortal money.

Thalia was leading us to the Hunters campsite area which, after an hour of hiking, we found them.

Thalia nudged me. “I’m gonna go get Lady Artemis, you stay right here Phaedra.

“Okay…I’ll try.” 

Thalia gave me her famous death stare at me and waltzed away.

Moments later she came back and beckoned me to follow her. We went inside a big silver tent and I was face to face with a 16 year old girl who had auburn hair. She was Artemis.

I immediately bowed and said respectfully, “Lady Artemis”

Big shocker, I’m being respectful to a goddess that probably wants me dead.

“Rise” said Artemis, “so you want to join the Hunters?”

“Yes Milady.” I said.

I looked up and saw Artemis smile.

“What is your name?” she asked.

“Phaedra. Phaedra.. Zaria. So… how do I join?”

Thalia pipes up. “You just say I, and then you name, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt. If Lady Artemis accepts your vow, you will officially be a Hunter.” 

“Okay. I, Phaedra Zaria, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.

“I accept your vow. Welcome to the Hunt, Phaedra Zaria.”

Chapter Text

Life was great at the hunt, and no, I’m not being sarcastic. The food was great, the people were great and best of all I got better at archery. But one thing haunted me. The fear of Artemis finding out who I really was. Also I might have felt a tiny bit guilty about lying to Artemis, I mean she was great, but she wanted Percy Jackson dead, and surprise, I’M PERCY JACKSON. The only thing keeping me sane was Thalia. If she wasn’t with me, then I honestly don’t know what I would do. At this moment Artemis decided that she would pop into my tent. 

“Hey Phaedra, You wanna join us? I was thinking of taking some Hunters to Camp Half-Blood. You know the place where the demigods are? Who knows, maybe you'll be claimed there.”

Right. Just what I needed. I told Artemis that I was a demigod who had no idea who my godly parent was.

“Um, actually M’lady I don’t feel my best. Is it ok if I just rest for today?”

“Of course. If you need anything, just tell Thalia. Remember to take it easy. Don’t stress too much.” 

“Thank you Lady Artemis.” I said with a rising ache in my heart.

Artemis left me alone, just as I thought I could relax for a bit, Thalia barged in. 

“Phae~” she said, knowing that it would piss me off

“Thalia, I think you're having a bit too much fun with this.” I purposely pointed out after making sure that Artemis was out of the hearing area of course- I don’t wanna die, at least not now.

“What? I could never.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “Mhm, right”

“Soo,” Thalia said, “I’m guessing you’re not going to camp. I mean that is the best decision…”

“Yeah, don’t wanna go there unless I really have to. The guys are probably just gonna flirt with me anyways.”

“Who wouldn’t. You practically look like anyone's dream girl.” Thalia then snickers, “Personally, I would’ve liked to see people swoon over you.”

“No thank you.”

Thalia sighs and stretches her arms. “I’m bored~ I wanna go fight something. Nothing to do here.”

“Why, you don’t find my presence interesting?” I said in mock horror, placing a hand over my heart. “That’s not nice.”

She rolls her eyes. “You little bit-”

She was cut off by a roar, and mind you, it was loud as fuck.

I glanced at her.

“Well you did want to fight something didn’t you?”

┊ ⋆『 ↳✧･ﾟ time skip ;⍣ ೋ

“Well, would you look at that! It is our old buddy, the Nemean Lion!” Thalia exclaimed.

“ Are you dumb? This thing is nearly impossible to beat. Why the hell are you so excited? This lion thingy could kill us.”

“Oh looks like someone’s scared. Come on. We beat it once, why can’t we do it again?”

I stared at her. 

The Nemean Lion stalked up to our base dramatically. Walking up slowly as if it was enjoying the fear we radiated. Then it roared again like please shutthefuckup.

It inched closer, revealing an army of monsters following its lead. Pretty much every monster known to Greek Mythology was there.

Yippee. I love my luck. Not. I really do tempt the Fates so much.

Artemis started shouting commands while shooting down any monster that came close.

I looked at Thalia. “You ready?”

“I was born ready.”

Chapter Text

We charged into the battle with a war cry.

Now, before you tell me that is very stupid, remember that I have this many times.  

(And kids, do not try this at home.)

The next few minutes were a blur for me. All I could see was gold dust everywhere. Then I heard a piercing scream. It was Thalia, blood dripping from her side. 

“Thalia!” I screamed

She turned to look at me and then fell to the ground. I rushed to her side and tried to help her. I was totally not freaking out. I turned around, “Does anyone have ambrosia!?”

A hunter, whose name was Atalanta, stepped forward.

“Step away from her.”

“Huh…What?”

“You heard her, boy. ”

I looked down. The mist was no longer making me look like a girl. I glanced at Thalia. She was unconscious. Maybe that was why it went away. But wouldn’t that have happened when she was asleep or somethi- Focus Percy!

“HOW DARE YOU DISGUISE YOURSELF AS A GIRL TO GET INTO MY HUNT?! I ASSURE YOU THIS WILL BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. I WILL PERSONALLY MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE PRESENTED IN FRONT OF THE OLYMPIAN COUNCIL AND THAT YOU GET A FITTING PUNISHMENT. YOUR LIFE IS OVER PHAEDRA OR SHOULD I SAY PERSEUS JACKSON?”

Artemis took a deep breath.

Shit. 

The hunters surrounded me with their bows raised and ready to shoot while I raised my hands in a surrendering gesture. Artemis shoots an arrow into the sky, indicating an emergency meeting.

I’m fucked aren’t I?

Shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit.

I felt something prick my neck and the world faded to black.

Chapter Text

When I came to my senses, the first thing I saw was surprisingly nothing.

I know, AMAZING. 

When I actually could see, all of the twelve Olympians were staring at me with different expressions. Artemis looked downright mad, Zeus looked like he wanted to kill me but he always looks like that, so no difference. Most of the gods looked pissed with a capital P! While Apollo and Hermes were shifting uncomfortably in their thrones. Scratch that, Apollo was squirming in his seat like a fish out of water. (No he wasn’t but you get the idea.)

I tried to move but realised that my hands were bound by ropes in front of me. Same with my feet. That’s amazing! Just great. Not. Did I mention the floor was cold?

Zeus cleared his throat. “Daughter, why have you called up here?”

Artemis stood up and pointed a finger at me, “This, male pretended to be a maiden and joined the Hunt! Can you imagine what he must’ve done when no one was looking!? He must’ve enjoyed being with all the females!”

I spoke up, “Ahem, one, that is disgusting , why the hell would I do that? Two, I only did that because I had no other place to go! My not-so-amazing ex-father decided to disown me, my mother and stepfather are dead, thanks to Gaia and I’m not allowed in both camps! What do you expect me to do?”

Ares scoffs, “You could crawl in a hole and die, punk.”

I give him a death glare at him as he reclines on his throne.

“So you plead guilty to this treacherous crime Persues Jackson?” thunders Zeus. Drama Queen

“No!? I just wanted a place to stay…?” I explained. 

“Father, I say that we should have a vote to determine his fate.” Artemis butts in. Of course she wants me to die.

“I agree with Artemis. All in favour of killing Perseus?” All the gods raised their hands except for Hermes, Apollo and Aphrodite. Oh shit . 

“Brother you’re meant to be on MY SIDE! Why in Hades are you voting for this idiot?” Artemis screeches.

“He’s telling the truth, Arty!” Apollo says and then mumbles “also he makes good haikus…”

Everyone stares at him.

“What? I am the god of poetry you know.”

“Father, Apollo is an idiot. That will never change. We should focus on the bigger matter at hand. This stupid Perseus Jackson disguised himself to get into my hunt. If I can’t kill him, give him a punishment. A punishment that would make him wish that we killed him.”

“Okay, that’s a bit extreme don’t you think?”

That comment got half a dozen gods staring at me and yelling.

“Athena, you owe me, I went down to Tartarus for Annabeth! All of you! I fought two wars while you all cowered behind your thrones. Well, for the majority of the war…”

“I know the perfect idea! We should banish him to Tartarus!” The one time war idiot uses his brain, it’s to ruin someone's life. Or end it. Amazing. 

“Woah there, maybe we can negotiate for something better, ‘cause one trip to Tartarus is one trip too many. Not even you Gods go down there.” I say nervously. Maybe we could negotiate for something better?

“SO.” Zeus boomed, “The boy will be thrown to Tartarus. All in favor?”

I was too naive.

Most of the gods raised their hands. Hermes, Apollo and Aphrodite didn’t raise their hands again.

“IT HAS BEEN DECIDED. PERSEUS JACKSON WILL GO TO TARTARUS.”

Zeus muttered an incantation then the floor opened and I was consumed by darkness.

Chapter Text

I had many questions.
Like for instance, HOW DOES A FLOOR OPEN UP?
But that’s not the biggest problem here. Those stupid mother fuckers banished me to Tartarus. TAR-FUCKING-TARUS. There is nothing worse than being down in LITERAL HELL and that too without the only person that kept me going last time.

Annabeth.

Oh and by the way, I’m still falling. Probably to my death.
Now I don't know about you but personally I think that falling down the first time was bad enough, but falling when your movements are kinda restrained? That’s worse.
That’s also exactly what’s happening to me.

Shocker.

I stretched my hand out to my pocket where Riptide was and took it out with a lot of difficulty and uncapped.
After slicing the ropes on my legs I paused.
How am I going to cut the ones on my hands without stabbing myself?
While I was debating how to cut them, the pitch black area that I had just gotten used to, turned into a stormy red colour exposing the area thingy of Tartarus.

No, like why red? Why not blue?

Tartarus looked the same as before, with the same red clouds hanging in the air, rocky black plains, fiery chasm and jagged mountains.
I could smell the stench of rotten eggs (sulphur), which is nasty. Just saying. I looked down and strained my eyes, WAY far down was where I saw glittering black liquid directly below me, it was just like last time. The river of what was it again? Right, the River Cocytus.
Well, I needed to find a way to not become a human pancake.
I’m probably going to die! I didn't really have any other ideas, and my mind wasn’t really helping.
The only thoughts running through my mind was, I’M GONNA DIE HELSPDJODJ.

Yeah…not exactly helpful

Wait, I could control the river like I did last time! I willed the water to try to cushion my fall. Who said it was to do this? Definitely not me!
As I got closer and closer the wave came up, swallowed me and everything came crashing down and I was pushed down by the current. The water WAS FREEZING COLD. The ropes around my hands slowly started to loosen because, actually I don’t know why. Getting out of the water is the main problem. Ignoring the voices that were nagging me and telling me to go drown to my doom, I started kicking my feet in the direction I believed was up. After feeling the ground above, I pulled with all my strength the simple act takes out all my energy and as soon I saw the red sky of Tartarus. Laying down on the sharp and jagged ground of broken glass. And then naturally I blacked out.