Chapter 89: Finishing Things

A/N: Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next four chapters are up on my for early access as well as the chance to vote on the direction of the story!

Percy isn't done just yet.

-x-X-x-

He wishes more than anything that he could justify killing Luke Castellan. Even with Atlas gone, Bruno doesn't truly feel avenged. The Ophiotaurus had been an innocent creature, one full of life and happiness. And Percy had let him down. But more than that, it was Atlas and Luke who had conspired together to make all of this happen.

And for what? To make Percy into a god? To give him the power to topple the Olympians? Well would you look at that, they'd fucking succeeded. Percy feels stronger than he's ever felt before. He knows he's not human anymore… the golden ichor that dripped from his already healed wounds was evidence of that, but more so is just how easy it was to take Atlas' power and add it to his own.

Usurping Atlas had been all but intuitive for some reason. And now Percy knew just as intuitively that he was the God of Kings and Endurance… and maybe some other things that weren't set in stone quite yet.

But while he might be the God of Kings, he definitely wasn't the King of the Gods. And that meant he couldn't just unilaterally decide to kill someone like Luke Castellan. Atlas was one thing but Luke… Luke's father was Hermes, an Olympian. And the Gods of Mount Olympus would want to punish Luke themselves.

Letting out an explosive breath, Percy steps back from Luke's pinned form with a shake of his head and looks over to Artemis. The Goddess of the Moon looks a little… wary of him even now. But then to be fair, she should be. Percy is so much more of a threat now, it's a wonder that she hasn't already tried to shoot him.

"Let's get Luke to Mount Olympus. I'm sure the Council will know what to do with him."

Artemis looks relieved by Percy's decision. Would she have stopped him if he tried to kill Luke? Would she have let it happen? And why did she keep giving him furtive glances when she thought he wasn't looking? Percy doesn't know… but he does know that this isn't over. Not while Kronos is still out there to plot and plan.

The Goddess of the Hunt steps forward with a nod.

"… Yes, I think that would be for the best. You and I will escort Luke Castellan to Mount Olympus. The others should return to Camp Half-Blood."

That, of course, causes some bristling from Thalia and Bianca. Percy moves to calm them down, but before he or they can even say anything, Zoe suddenly speaks up.

"G-Goddess wait! Before you go, I must speak with you! In private!"

Percy frowns while Artemis looks startled. And yet, the Goddess has no real reason to deny her trusted Lieutenant such a request. Part of Percy wants to know quite badly what they're going to talk about though. He hopes it's not that dumb prophecy. Didn't he tell Zoe that she'd already satisfied the prophecy when she'd let him convince her not to kill Bruno?

Still, he leaves them to their conversation as Phoebe walks away with them and focuses on Thalia and Bianca instead.

"I know you're not happy about it, but Artemis is right. The two of you should head back to Camp Half-Blood with Phoebe and Zoe, and you should take Rachel Dare with you so that she'll be safe."

Bianca bites her lower lip, while Thalia scowls, looking over to where Artemis disappeared.

"But what if they try something, Percy? You're a brand new god, and a powerful one at that. You could be walking right into an ambush if they decide they don't want to have to deal with your strength."

Percy opens his mouth to reply, only for a rasping chuckle to come from under Thalia, where the Daughter of Zeus is still holding down Luke.

"She's right… you know."

Frowning, Percy gestures for Thalia to step away. Then, reaching down, he lets some of his golden power flow out of him and over to Luke. Not to buff him like he did the others for the fight… but to shackle him metaphysically. Luke gasps as the fight quite literally goes out of him. His shoulders slump and even as he rises to his knees, Percy can tell he doesn't so much as have the strength to raise a weapon at this point.

"Speak."

Looking up at Percy, Luke cracks a smirk.

"You're too dangerous to be left alive. Why do you think Artemis was so quick to agree to your plan and separate you from your allies? Once you're on Mount Olympus, you'll be under their power. Do you really think they'll just let someone who showed they can drain the divinity from an immortal run free?"

Even now, even with his ally defeated and their plans in shambles… Luke is still trying to manipulate him. Them. He's still trying to play an angle. To be fair, it's not like he has much of a choice, Percy imagines. Still, it's kind of… sad in a way.

Hell, not even Thalia and Bianca are really buying it. The two female demigods stand behind Luke, both of them staring down at him incredulously. Thalia looks particularly disgusted at how obviously two-faced Luke is being right now.

Percy though… Percy keeps his face blank. He doesn't try to lie… he's never been very good at deception. Still, he does do his best to not show any emotions.

"What would you suggest I do instead then?"

Slowly, Luke pushes himself to his feet. He's still weakened and that leaves him swaying from side to side for a moment before he manages to anchor himself. Nevertheless, the male demigod doesn't give up. His willpower is impressive if nothing else, Percy supposes.

"Help me escape. Come with me, all of you. Thalia and Bianca too. It's the only chance you have Percy. Otherwise you're just walking straight to your death at the hands of the Olympians. You think that Poseidon will be able to sway the others? No, they'll convince him that you're too dangerous to let live. The best possible scenario is that they imprison you for the rest of eternity. Is that how you want to spend your immortal life?"

Luke was clearly working on seriously incomplete information. That was interesting, because Kronos had definitely known about Percy's relations with Aphrodite, Hestia, and Athena when he'd come to Percy in that dream. And yet, it seems that the Crooked One hadn't seen fit to tell his pawn just how many goddesses Percy can rely on at this point.

Percy isn't afraid of going to Mount Olympus. Not just because Bruno's sacrifice supposedly gave him the power to topple the Olympians if he truly wanted to, but also because he knows several of them will be on his side.

However… there is something he wants more than to make nice with the Olympians.

"And the alternative? Work for Kronos? Serve him like you do? To what end? At least Atlas had a physical form on this plane of existence. Kronos is trapped in Tartarus and can only work through proxies like you."

Luke smirks and shakes his head.

"Not for long. Not if you join me. Every demigod who forsakes the Olympians and swears themselves to the Titan King brings us a little bit closer to bringing him back. Just imagine how quickly we could bring Kronos back if you sided with us and brought every demigod who owes you their life along with you."

And there it was. Percy has to hold back the urge to laugh, even as Luke gives him what he wants. Actionable knowledgeable about Kronos and his plans. This was good… this was very good.

Holding out a hand, Luke looks to where Artemis, Zoe, and Phoebe had all disappeared just around the corner.

"What do you say, Percy? The Goddess and her hunters will be back any moment. Our window to escape is closing fast."

Percy shakes his head, trying his best to look like he's considering it.

"… Where would we even go?"

Desperate, Luke buys it, his eyes lighting up with hope.

"My ship. The Princess Andromeda. It's docked on the coast, we can use it to flee South."

Of course. Percy remembered now, how Clarisse and Annabeth had been harassed on their voyage for the Golden Fleece. If not for their arrival at Circe's Island and making a deal with the Goddess of Magic, Luke might have caught them entirely and then who knows where they would all be?

Still, if that was where Luke wanted to retreat to… then that was where Percy needed to go. But first…

"No."

Perhaps he could have milked Luke's desperation a bit longer, but Percy doubted it. He just wasn't built for deception. Never had been and never would be. Plus… a small part of him feels a vindictive sort of glee at seeing Luke's face crumple in confusion and despair.

"What? But they're going to kill you! Surely you can see that!"

Percy doesn't bother answering Luke with words. He just raises a hand… and brings it down. With a gasp, the demigod collapses back to his knees, the weight of Percy's sheer presence forcing him to the ground once more. At the same time, Artemis comes back with Zoe and Phoebe in tow. She looks… contemplative, even as Zoe squirms and Phoebe is staring at her fellow hunter quietly.

Upon seeing Luke no longer pinned and instead kneeling before Percy however, there's some mild alarm.

"What happened? Did he try to escape?"

Percy smiles crookedly, even as he looks down at Luke.

"In a manner of speaking. He sought to convince me that I was walking into an ambush by going with you to Mount Olympus. More mind games designed to try and turn me to Kronos' side."

Artemis shivers as he names the Titan of Time, while at the same time scowling.

"Lies, of course."

Chuckling, Percy shakes his head.

"Of course. But it doesn't matter. You take him to Mount Olympus. I'll catch up with you. It turns out I have business on the coast."

Artemis' brow furrows, even as Luke's eyes widen and he starts to struggle under Percy's Aura.

"W-Wait! No, you can't! You'll ruin everything!"

And there it was. Proof that Percy was on the right path. Certainty settles into his heart. He knows what he has to do… and he knows he has the strength to do it as well.

Artemis is… less certain, of course.

"I don't understand. We should stick together, Percy. Just because Atlas has been defeated does not mean the threat has entirely passed."

Smiling, Percy shakes his head.

"You're right. Which is precisely why I'm going to go and end it."

"Not alone."

Surprised, the young god turns to see Thalia stepping up along his left side. And then, Bianca on his right.

"We'll go with you. We've got your back, Percy."

The female demigods wear looks of determination on their faces so Percy doesn't even try to convince them otherwise. Artemis, meanwhile, looks like she's going to try to forbid it for a moment. Just as Percy is tensing up and getting ready for a fight (though hopefully just a verbal one) she suddenly lets out a sigh and nods her head.

"… Very well. I will make sure Luke Castellan reaches Mount Olympus. Please join us there as soon as possible."

Zoe takes a step forward, her jaw set.

"And I will go with you as well, Percy. It sounds to me like our Quest isn't quite over yet. Phoebe can make sure Rachel Dare stays safe."

Huh, he really wasn't expecting Artemis and her hunters to be chill. Not because he actually believed Luke's bullshit, but just given what he knew about the Goddess. What exactly had Zoe said to her? In the end, it doesn't matter. Luke's panic makes it clear that Percy is on the right path. Just one last trip left.

This time though, he doesn't have to rely upon anyone else for transportation. He can get them from here to the coast completely on his own power. In fact…

There are gasps as Percy begins to grow, trippling his size and dropping to a knee.

"Hop on, you three. I'm going to be running."

Zoe hesitates, but Thalia and Bianca don't. And seeing the demigods get on his back, Artemis' Lieutenant has no choice but to follow. Meanwhile, Artemis murmurs something under her breath that Percy is pretty sure he's not supposed to hear.

"… Letting himself get ridden by mortals l-like a common steed? He truly is far more different t-than I could have imagined…"

Percy glances at the Goddess, causing her to go red as she realizes he heard her. Nevertheless, she grabs Luke by the shoulder and the both of them are gone a moment later, on their way across the country to Mount Olympus.

Meanwhile… Percy turns in the opposite direction and starts to walk, making sure that all three of his passengers are secure before he picks up speed. Once he's confident though, he starts to run… and gets faster and faster as his new Endurance fills his muscles with power, leaving him like a blur as he descends down the mountain and heads for the coast.

It was time to finish this. Once and for all.

-x-X-x-

The Vote:

[ ] Stick with Percy POV - 36%[X] Switch to Zoe POV - 54%[ ] Switch to Bianca POV - 4%[ ] Switch to Thalia POV - 6%

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