LoSP Ch.61: The Ashes Settle Pt. 1

PERCY's POV

The gold-lined obsidian throne glinted ominously in the flickering torchlight, casting dark shadows across Luke’s scarred face. A tall, dark scythe spun leisurely between his fingers, its edge flickering a harsh gold, like his eyes every few moments. The shadows darkened as he stood, his eyes flaring with power as he looked down at the woman kneeling on the floor.

I recognized her almost instantly.

“Rise, Hecate Antania,” Kronos’s voice boomed, jarring as the sound of a knife against stone. “You’ve done well. Better than the others, who failed against the impudent son of Poseidon. You had him calling to the gods, begging for their aid, something which he hasn’t done before.”

“Thank you, Lord Kronos.” Hecate ducked her head, her dark, raven hair tumbling over her face, hiding her wide, crooked smile. “I’m just sorry I couldn’t bring his body to you as I hoped to.”

“You’re not the first to fail against the boy. But fear not, I’ll give you another chance soon. Your plan was made in haste and yet it very nearly succeeded.” He smiled. “Had the boy not gotten the aid of my eldest, you would’ve sent most of his friends to death.” 

Anger bubbled in my veins, and I tried to summon my strength to attack and burn them but found myself unmoving, frozen in the shadows of the Titan throne room. Neither Kronos nor Hecate noticed me as I tried to move and summon my powers.

“The children of Hades had almost fallen. They were powerful but young. I would’ve gotten them, had he acted a few minutes late,” Hecate said. “But given time, they might prove to be troublesome— just like the rest of their friends who came to hunt me.”

“Tell me more about them,” Kronos whispered, looming closer to Hecate. “I know of Jackson, but his friends are causing as much trouble as him these days.”

“Yes, my lord. The most powerful of them, after the boy, is the lightning spawn—” A shiver ran through Hecate’s body. “She hurt me even through the illusions and weathered all my assaults, just like Jackson did. Had she been given time, she might’ve figured a way through them and perhaps even killed me.”

“Thalia.” A little smile curved on Luke’s face and for a moment, lines of blue sparked amongst the gold before vanishing. “The Castellan boy told me stories about her. She would’ve been a worthy general to our cause. Alas, she is blinded by the gods as you once were.”

Hecate flinched a little and ducked her head, staying silent as Kronos paced across the throne room, his scythe clicking against the dark marble, like a walking cane.

“She’s troublesome, with a will of iron. But I know enough about her and her methods. And I am aware of her weaknesses and strengths.” Kronos’ voice grated through the room, and I scowled. “Tell me about the rest you faced.”

“The Satyr has learned well from Pan, my lord. I didn’t think much of him at first but he fought my illusions with his nature magic. He would’ve broken through them had I not intervened personally, multiple times.” A glint of respect shone in Hecate’s eye. “He must not be overseen. Nor should the daughters of Ares and Athena. They are fearsome with a spear, wielding the strength of their parents, one in body, and other in mind, my lord. They killed Deimos in front of my eyes.”

“The daughter of Ares is proving to be a thorn greater than I imagined. She killed Pallas in single combat. Not through power or trickery but skill.” The golden eyes flared with anger. “The heroes diminish our ranks, challenging us like none in eons. Like no mortal ever has.”

“Jackson asked me to either turn in the favor of the Olympians or die. Like he did to my father.” Hecate whispered. “I scried and found that they followed a prophecy to hunt us. The prophecy of the Ichor Purge.”

“I’m aware.” Kronos gave her a scathing look as if displeased by her interruption. “Zeus has set these demigods on a quest to either turn or kill our fellow divine. A hunt triumphing over any in history. A hunt of gods.” The gold in his eyes flared harshly, and frost crept from his scythe, rolling over the floor. “These demigods bend the Ancient Laws to their advantage, using their mortality as a shield rather than as a weakness. I almost applaud him for it.” 

“My lord?”

Kronos glanced at her. “Zeus is far too afraid of pitting his precious Olympians against me. He knows his children will lose. For in the divine realm, we, the Titans, are far stronger than the Olympians. This is why he sends the demigods to do his dirty work, exploiting the weakness of our mortal forms to spread fear and unrest amongst our ranks. And to do so, he has chosen a worthy tool. Perseus Jackson.”

I felt a thrum ring through my body at my name, while Kronos clenched his fists, a scowl on his face.

“The boy has killed more of our brethren than any other, bar my own wretched sons. Once upon a time, even facing a task given by a god was a feat worthy of being written in the stars for a hero. Now a mere demigod comes and makes our brethren tremble, afraid for their lives. And his friends, emboldened by his success, follow his lead. This will not stand.”

“Yes, my lord,” Hecate agreed eagerly. “The boy must be taken down. Destiny changes in his wake and I felt it with every second he fought against me. He wielded power beyond anything I’ve seen and turned gods to ashes. And even after him, his friends stand, ready to face us to death.”

“Indeed. Had he not been a thorn in my way, I would’ve been impressed with him.” Kronos smiled coldly. “You shall work your trap, Hecate. The demigods seek to hunt us down? Let them. For when they come the next time, we’ll be prepared. And they won’t know it.”

He slammed his scythe on the ground and the world went white.

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Bright sunlight seared my eyes as I gasped awake, the smooth, white ceiling swimming in and out of view as pain shot through my body. I flinched and turned, burying my eyes in the pillow and groaning as my muscles burned with pain.

“Good to see you awake, flame boy,” a rough voice, faintly familiar, called from behind and I turned slowly, squinting through the haze of the sunlight “Easy.”

Clarisse sat across the room, her Hoplon propped up against the chair next to her. Her armor was dusted with sand, a thin cut on her cheek, which was disappearing rapidly as she drank from a golden juice box in her hand. 

“Hey,” I croaked from my parched throat and she stood, before freezing. 

“Ugh, I need to give you water. Not nectar,” she muttered, ambling toward a jug of water and pouring out a glassful. “Solace freaked out when we brought you in and put you in a healing sleep. Something about using powers which should be impossible for any demigod, even you, and stupidity.” 

Memories of the golden flames trickled back to my mind, and I grimaced, tilting my head to drink the water feebly, feeling a trickle of strength pour back into my limbs as I did.

“He said you’re lucky to not be a pile of ash,” Clarisse snorted faintly. “Personally, I don’t think he knows you well enough. And honestly? It’d take much more than some shiny fire to do you in.”

“Thanks… for the confidence,” I said slowly. “Where are the rest? And how are they?”

“Shaken when we brought you back to the camp. Especially Bianca and Nico. They’re in the Underworld now with their dad.” She let out a sigh. “Thalia talked to them and got out what happened. Hecate showed them all they ever wanted, you know? The two of them, with their parents as a happy family. She made them believe in the illusion. It wasn’t pretty when you freed them from it. They realized it and are heartbroken.”

I winced and Clarisse caught my expression, shaking her head. 

“Chiron said that had you not done it, Hecate would’ve slowly consumed their essences, and they would’ve been lost. You did the right thing,” she said. “It may seem that illusions are better than reality, but it is in reality that we truly live.”

“Wise words, I suppose.” I heaved myself off the bed, frowning as a bronze glint on my wrist caught my eye. “What’s this?”

A thick bracelet shone in the sunlight as I held it up, eyeing the links and a feeling of wrongness welled in my chest.

“Don’t remove it,” Clarisse said urgently. “It is to restrict your powers.”

“Excuse me?” I narrowed my eyes, smothering the urge to snap the bracelet off and crush it— and I knew I could, even in this state, where every muscle was aching. “Why are my powers restrained?”

“Well, restrained is… the wrong and the right word.” Clarisse flustered as I shot her a look before gesturing placatingly. “It is there so that you do not use your powers and harm your body more. Solace said that you could break past it if you actually tried— but it’d be a bad idea for you to do it.” She paused. “And it comes off easy. Beckendorf has made it and Annabeth has looked over it way more thoroughly than I can comprehend.”

“I have,” Annabeth said from the doorway, clad in light, silver armor, her blonde hair tied in a tight ponytail. “The bracelet is made in a way that you could heal with your powers and still have your strength. At the same time, it restrains the more subconscious uses of powers outside the body. Originally, it was something meant as a teaching aid and to ensure the safety of young demigods, with volatile powers. We put it on—”

“So I don’t burn my body by using my powers?” I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t feel fine, but I don’t feel like I’ll burn out now. This is not my first time suffering through this.”

“One might’ve thought you’d learn,” Annabeth said dryly. “Also, you feel decent because you’ve been sleeping for almost two weeks now. Twelve days to be precise.”

“What?”

“Medical coma, healing sleep, whatever you call it. Your body was quite literally smoking when we got to you. You had burns from overuse of power, Percy. Your hand had blisters. We rushed you here by praying to the gods and sacrificing what remained of the house.”

“Oh.”

“It wasn’t pretty,” Clarisse said. “All of us freaked out. Bianca and Nico, even more. Both of them said that you were on the edge of life and death, hanging by a thread.”

“Gods, it became that bad?” I sighed. “But how’re the rest of you? The traps Hecate had seemed pretty awful from what Clarisse told me about Bianca and Nico. The other gods there probably didn't help matters.”

“Grover and Thalia are fine now. They were shaken— Thalia was pissed for a day after too, but they’re fine now,” Annabeth said “They fought through the illusions. Clarisse and I, well, we had a few bumps and bruises but nothing a cube of ambrosia didn’t fix.” An uneasy look flitted across her face. “Nico and Bianca… it is bad for them, Percy. They didn’t talk for a while unless it was necessary. But they’ll have nightmares for a while and some part of them might resent you. An irrational part, but after what they went through, it could be an effect.”

“I see,” I muttered. “Maybe it’d be the best for them to remain in the Underworld for some time.”

“What about the quest? You cannot set off again without the whole team. It’s terrible luck. Fates will have our heads for pulling something like that.”

“The quest is over. Hecate fulfilled the remaining lines with me.” I smothered the nagging feeling that rose in my mind from the dream. “I saw Atlantis in ruins. I saw the illusion of Triton falling— dying in ichor-filled waters. I unleashed my power in an illusion of Olympus and shook it— the world of gods shook. And then there was the blaze. All lines are done.”

Annabeth and Clarisse shared a look and turned to me. 

“So, is this done? The hunt of gods ended with, what? Five gods dying?” Clarisse asked.

“Theia turned too,” I reminded her. “Perses and Pallas were killed, which are two big titans off the board, and in Hecate’s, well, house of horrors, Phobos, Deimos, Lyssa, and Eris died. That’s two titans, and four minor gods down, and one titan neutralized.”

“Seven. Percy’s right. It could have ended,” Annabeth mused. “Seven demigods, seven gods. One turned, and six died. Not a bad number.”

“That’s also three big Titans— ones who could fight, who went under,” I pointed out. “That has to count as a big blow.”

“Eh, I can’t feel it in my gut.” Clarisse shrugged, crushing her juice box and tossing it into the bin on the other side. “Maybe because only you saw the last couple of lines take place. But then again, you were the one who got the prophecy. And as Apollo said, they can be tricky.”

Annabeth frowned. “Maybe you should confirm it, Percy. I feel the same as she does. Never in my years has two-thirds of a quest gone down with a single incident. It is four whole lines. Chosen’s blaze happened. But the last three lines of the prophecy? I think they still haven’t been fulfilled.” She looked speculatively at me, her grey eyes boring into me. “You think it is complete because you want it complete, don’t you? Especially the line which mentions a brother falling.”

I winced. “I’d be very glad, yes, if it has already come to pass in the illusion. But, believe me, I saw it all happen.” I sighed as they shared another look. “But, for your sake, I will confirm it. Happy?”

“Leaving a prophecy midway will only make matters worse, Percy,” Annabeth said. “Fates are a tricky thing and they don’t like being defied. You were against this quest from the very start— and I understand your reasons. But it was issued by Zeus, who made it clear what he wants to be done. If the prophecy’s over, I’d be glad too. But if it isn’t…”

“It is best if we continue with it.” I huffed. “I don’t like it, but I will ask.” I glanced at them. “You all nearly died that day. Nico and Bianca would have had I not summoned Hestia’s help.” 

“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to ask. What did you do exactly?” Clarisse asked. “Those flames turned gods to ashes. I didn’t know you could do that. And Hestia couldn’t have come herself… not without something big.”

“Well, yes. But I gave her something big. A sacrifice big enough to summon her flames… ones powerful enough that I doubt even she has used before.”

“I’m afraid to ask, but what did you sacrifice, Percy?” 

I smiled. “I sacrificed a god.”

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Waves washed across the grains of sand at my feet as I stood, breathing in the salty gale of the sea. Its power bubbled under my toes, vast and undeniable, as it swirled, rising into fine mist on its own and crawling up my body. I felt a faint pain lance through my muscles as I stepped further into the tide, feeling the pain ebb away with the waves as I breathed steadily.

#You’ll be fine, you know?# Alexander said. #Give it a couple of days and a few sea-dips, and you will be back to normal. The sleep did wonders alongside whatever medicine they fed you. I think you can even remove the bracelet now.#

I looked up toward the horizon as the sun sank into the sea, before shaking my head.

‘Let’s keep it on for a night as Solace said. I’d rather not risk it. Even now, the sea is responding to me. Unless I’m attacked, I am going to keep these on until tomorrow.’

#Fair enough. Are we going to talk about it though?# 

‘Yes, I did something dangerous. Extremely dangerous. But that was because I had no other option. I nearly even got lost within all that power, but I reeled it back.’

#Yes, you did wield a power— the golden flames— something even I don’t know about. Even Hestia probably doesn’t know what happened exactly or what those flames were. But they were undeniably beyond you, and beyond godly even, as far as normal standards go. Yet, despite me saying otherwise, you took them on and used them to kill gods. Something which your body couldn’t handle.#

‘It is almost turning into a problem at this point. I have more power than my body can handle.’

#Your powers are just fine. You need to control how much you pour out in one go— or really, steer clear of the power that only gods should have.# Alexander snorted. #But that was not what I was talking about.#

‘Oh?’

#I wanted to talk to you about your dream. The one in which you witnessed Hecate and Kronos talking.#

‘What about it?’

#The enemy will heed the call. By the golden waters, a brother shall fall.# Alexander recited and I twitched, my heart plummeting. #You and I both know that the dream was them heeding the call. And that the prophecy is nowhere near over.#

‘Then why did I see the things that Hecate showed me?’ I asked. 

#Hecate made a plan at the last moment. Fooling you might’ve been a part of her schemes. Or a trap merely meant to mislead you with the prophecy being dangled in front of your nose to lure you somewhere she wanted.# He let out a long sigh. #Hecate… there is none who truly knows or understands her, Percy. What she does, why she does, it is all understandable only by her. She’s a player of fate much like Nemesis.#

‘Her balancing the scales thing?’

#In parts, but with Hecate, there’s always something added.# Alexander said. #Yet, whatever she used, is now being used by you like a smokescreen to avoid going back on the quest.# 

‘That’s not true,’ I said. ‘The quest, as I witnessed it, did take place.’

#That’s what you want to have happened, not what did. And you know that as well as I do, Percy.# Alexander’s voice gained an edge. #I know that you’re afraid of the next line. Terrified even.# He paused as I felt my gut twist. His voice turned softer. #Percy, prophecies are tricky. The brother may not be your brother— or it might be one in name, whom you don’t even know. Poseidon has had many kids. One of them joining the Titans isn’t far-fetched. You don’t have to be scared of the line.#

‘Yet I am. I’m afraid that there is only one brother on my team, Alexander. That is Nico.’ I clenched my fists. ‘He’s just a kid, with his whole life ahead of him. He’s the youngest member, with no real experience. Between Grover and him, I might give Grover better odds at surviving.’ I grimaced. ‘He’s my responsibility, Alexander. I brought him to the camp, and then, to this quest. I cannot let anything happen to Nico.’

#Then you won’t.# Alexander said. #Choices have a power like none other. And, I can guarantee that if you don’t go on this quest, the consequences will be a whole lot more dire. Fate will guide you all back onto this path, one way or another. It’s better to face it on your own terms. To face it as you want.#

‘I suppose,’ I grumbled. ‘But I will still ask Apollo and confirm it. And I still hope that I am right,’ I told him. ‘It may not seem true. But if there’s a chance that it is, I refuse to let my friends walk into a trap.’

#And I respect that.# Alexander sent a faint thrum of approval. #But the fear for your friends’ safety is blinding you right now, Percy. Tell me, what would Athena say if she knew about this? Or better yet, what would she do?#

I paused, turning the question over on my tongue, before letting out a breath.

‘She’d use it. Use their trap and make it her own turning the tables. For there is no trap better than one turned.’ I recalled Athena’s words. 

#Exactly. You’re not thinking like you should. Like you can.#

‘I need to design a counter-trap and turn the tables on them when it comes down.’ I bit my lip. ‘But I doubt it’d be as simple as that, especially with Titans involved.’

#It won’t be easy. But you have resources at hand. And you’ve got me,# Alexander said. #Athena or Artemis might not be able to help you because of the Ancient Laws, but I’m sure you can find the next best thing to them.#

‘Zoe. And Annabeth, whom I already have.’ I smiled. ‘I just wish Artemis could help though. Or come with us.’

#Of course you do,# Alexander snorted, his amusement bleeding into my mind and I rolled my eyes.

‘Not like that, Alexander.’ I let out a sigh. ‘Like… if she was there with me— or well, even Athena or Ares, for that matter, I wouldn’t need to worry. With a god on the team, I could push the boundaries a whole lot further and balance just about anything Kronos might throw our way. Add Thalia or Clarisse— who, I now realized, has killed more gods than any hero bar me, in the mix, and we could be a dream team.’

Alexander made a skeptical noise. #I wouldn’t exchange five members for a god— especially from the team you have. Gods have limitations, and them being present, gives your opponent more freedom that you all being demigods disallow.# He let it sink in. #And if the limits are loosened, there are a few Titans who would even give you trouble. Trouble which you’re avoiding currently, thanks to the quest and the demigods with you.#

‘Who are these… illustrious opponents?’ I scoffed.

#Perses would’ve sunk the island with you on it, had a god been with you. Pallas would’ve chopped Clarisse to pieces or at least lived if he could’ve used a fraction of his godly strength and speed that came with the presence of a god.# Alexander bit out. #I've told you this before, and I will say it again. You’re underestimating your friends and giving them far less credit than they deserve because you fear for their lives. You sell them short, overlooking their achievements for their weaknesses.#

‘I am the quest leader. Their lives are my responsibility.’ I scowled. ‘And I don’t overlook their achievements.’

#You didn’t realize until now that Clarisse, whom you took as someone who could just keep others safe, killed one god and one Titan. That’s more than Hercules. That’s more than any demigod in history bar you.#

‘Yes. It happened just before I passed out, or I would’ve acknowledged it sooner.’

#Really? Because compared to Deimos, Pallas was a humongous win. One, which I’d doubt even Thalia could’ve pulled off on the grounds of pure skill. Yet when Clarisse won, you blew flaws in her decisions, because you were angry rather than proud. She did disobey you and what you told her wasn’t wrong. But I’m in your head, Percy. I know what you feel every single moment.#

I flinched. ‘It isn’t like that. I… I—’

#You cannot justify it. I know.# Alexander said. #It is who you are. You’d die before seeing your friends hurt. You’d do anything to protect those you love as for you, family comes first. I know that in your head, you see gods as more capable than your friends. But trust me, your friends are just as capable as them if not more, when you limit gods to their mortal forms. And nor do they have limits like Athena or even Artemis would.#

‘That’s not the point though, is it?’

#No, the point is that you should put more trust in your friends and worry less. Be less afraid. They might be your responsibility, but they have to make their own choices. You cannot make it for them. You’ve to let go and only then will they fly. Trust them, Percy.#

‘Or I let go and they fall to their deaths.’ I retorted.

Alexander tutted. #Why are we back on square one? I thought I was getting through that thick head of yours.#

‘Is it wrong that I worry?’ I snapped. ‘That I care for them and their lives? This is no mere monster hunt. This is something no one has ever witnessed. No one has even dared.‘

The water near my feet swirled, bubbling and steaming as the bracelets on my wrists glowed, warming up.

‘We’re hunting gods and Titans. Not a monster, not something heroic, but we are going in, threatening them, and then, if they refuse to turn, killing them. This is not a normal quest. This is not something that anyone can do. This is something that even I AM SCARED OF! And yes, I am scared.’

#Percy… Percy, it is okay to be scared. I know you are. And it is okay to care.# Alexander said in a soft voice. #What is not okay, is to let the fear get control over you. To let it dictate your decisions. You’re letting fear get in the way. For now, you said yes to continuing the quest. But I can feel the hope you have that it has ended. It is burning in you.#

‘This quest was not my call. Not destiny’s. It was Zeus’ call. It was his will.’

#It was also a tactical decision.# Alexander pointed out. #And your mind said yes, your heart said no. But you made that choice because even you knew it was the right one.#

‘It is a choice I am regretting now, after nearly LOSING MY FRIENDS.’ I screamed at him. ‘They would’ve died the other day. Hecate would’ve killed them in the most horrific of ways.’

#But they didn’t die. You persisted. You found a way. You called on the power of gods and you burned through it. Because that is what you do. That is what you’re meant to do.# Alexander sighed again. #Look, I’m just saying don't let the fear of losing those you love, get in the way of your mind. Instead do what you’re best at.#

‘Which is?’

#Pulling miracles, kicking ass, and doing what’s best for your family.#

I felt my lips curve. ‘I will try my best, I suppose.’

#That’s all I ask.#

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AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, yes, Percy has some problems, one of which is being overprotective of his friends. It is not one many can blame him for, but it is yet, a problem, and one which will persist because that is who he is. 

And he did nearly kill himself while handling the flames. Of course, it is nowhere near the worst channeling of power he has performed, but it comes in top three, which is saying something. But this power was not his own, being borrowed from Hestia, which made it all the more dangerous and— lethal. 

(Hestia’s flames or not, they were powerful enough to turn gods— pretty decently powerful ones at that, to ashes without so much as giving them a fighting chance. Which does also mean that Hestia is crazy powerful and very very lethal if she wishes to be. And she doesn’t need a fancy weapon to be so.)

Next chapter, we’ll be seeing Artemis, and Hestia herself, if all goes to plan. These convos are usually more spur of the moment, and I had originally intended Percy to have the convo with Artemis than Alexander. Fortunately or unfortunately, the valentine bug caught me and I decided to go with something… cuter. ;D

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