Chapter 92: Enough

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 puts his foot down. Repeatedly.

-x-X-x-

"No."

He hates to have to do this to Hera, especially after all the progress they'd made literally just last night. But at the same time, he has to be true to himself. That, more than ever, is true now that he's a god. It's not just a matter of changing one's mind anymore… rather, his entire state of being is tied up in who Percy Jackson is. Who he's always been.

With a shrug as Hera and the rest of the Olympians all stare at him in varying degrees of shock, Percy sighs.

"I don't want it."

His words ring out through the silent Hall of the Gods, a weight behind them that makes it impossible to ignore. And yet, that doesn't stop Hera from trying all the same.

"Y-You don't know what you want yet, Perseus. You're still too new. You don't-!"

"No, Hera. I may be the God of Kings, but I am no King of Gods. And as you yourself have said, I'm far too new for any position of authority anyways."

There's a long pause as everyone looks between Percy and the stricken Goddess in silence. Until finally, the smile that Hera has plastered over her face begins to waver… and right then and there, in front of everyone else… she turns and flees the chamber.

Percy winces as this happens, but he doesn't see another way he could have handled things. He'll have to go to Hera later and try to make amends… while also trying to avoid getting further sucked into her games. But no matter what, he wasn't about to let her drag him up onto some kind of pedestal.

That just wasn't who Percy was. Just because one of his Domains was Kingship didn't mean he was meant to rule anyone. He was more of a judgment for monarchs than he was one himself. And that was precisely how he wanted it to remain.

There's another pause as everyone processes Hera's departure, before Demeter leans forward, having been silent up until now. The Goddess of the Harvest hums.

"You truly have no desire to rule, Perseus Jackson? Some would say you are owed much for your feats. From discovering the movement of our father in the first place, to defeating both Atlas and Kronos. You have singlehandedly prevented another Titanomachy. And yet… you desire nothing?"

Percy straightens up at that, meeting the Elder Goddess' eyes. Despite her challenging tone, there's a natural warmth to Demeter's gaze as she sits upon her throne.

"Well first of all, I didn't do it singlehandedly. I had plenty of help from the rest of my party members along the way and I don't know if I would have been able to defeat Atlas in the final battle without Artemis' help. And if I hadn't defeated Atlas, I wouldn't have defeated Kronos either."

There's some shifting and murmuring at that, though Percy tries not to look around too much, focusing instead on continuing his answer to Demeter.

"As for what I might desire…"

They would just continue to be suspicious of him if he didn't ask for something, wouldn't they? Percy had to at least show some greed, or they were just going to think he was holding all of this over their heads. It takes him a moment, but eventually he comes up with a couple of things.

First, his eyes drop down to the male demigod still knelt in the center of the Hall.

"For starters… whatever punishment you visit upon Luke Castellan, all I ask is that it has an end."

That gets some confused blinks from the Gods and Goddesses in the Hall. He can even feel Thalia and Bianca being a little confused behind him. Hermes, Luke's father, leans forward with a furrowed brow.

"An… end? Can you elaborate?"

Percy's hands curl into fists as he nods, staring down at Luke.

"I understand that we live a long time. Perks of divine immortality and all that. But I know this also leads to gods taking a long view more often than not. To a god, a day is a second, a month is a week, a year is a month. That tends to result in punishments being… eternal, however. Sisyphus and his boulder. Prometheus and the eagle. Medusa and her serpents."

There's some more shifting at that. Athena in particular blushes when Percy meets her gaze as he brings up Medusa's punishment. Poseidon doesn't look much better, grimacing in remembrance.

"Luke Castellan did a lot of harm in his quest to bring back Kronos. He deserves to be punished. But not forever. A decade or a century. Pick one and stick to it. And when it's over, let his life end and his soul go to the Underworld where he might one day seek redemption for his actions."

There's a long pause as the Olympians exchange looks with one another, seeming to almost communicate silently. Percy knows they aren't actually doing so though. While they COULD talk in a way that no mortal could comprehend, Percy is not a mortal anymore.

Instead, most of the looks seem to be directed towards the Triumvirate who has taken charge of this Council. Hestia, Poseidon, and Hades. Until finally, Hades speaks up, grinning slightly.

"This Council can agree to such a thing. I will be… happy to take his soul to the Underworld at the end of his punishment. But you did say that was just 'to start', did you not?"

Percy straightens up even further, holding his head high as he nods sharply.

"Indeed. There is one other thing. I expect I'll be having a lot of children. I won't be abandoning or ignoring them. I will be there for them. Each and every one, no matter what form they take."

The smile drops from Hades' face and the mood in the Hall turns slightly somber. Hestia herself steps up to answer his words even as she winces, a hand going to her abdomen. She's not showing yet… but Percy suspects she already knows she's pregnant by now.

"That… may not be possible, Percy. There are forces in this world who might move against you."

Percy narrows his eyes. Who? The Fates? No matter. In the end…

"I don't care. I'll take on anyone or anything that tries to stop me. This isn't a request… it's what's going to happen. I'm just giving you all some warning in advance."

His words echo through the Hall and he thinks he sees a handful of Olympians shiver as the power behind them is felt. He means everything he's just said… and that in turn meant something more as well because of what he was now.

Of course, of all the reactions he's expecting to get to his defiant proclamation, the last is for Ares to lean forward with a savage grin on his face and say…

"I move that we name our newest God to the Council and make him a proper Olympian right here and now."

Before Percy can even begin to process that or why the fuck Ares of all people would be the one to suggest it, Poseidon bangs the bottom of his trident on the ground.

"I second this motion!"

As everyone starts talking at once, Percy is left dumbfounded. What the fuck was going on? And yet… he's more than he was before. Smarter? Maybe. Greater? Definitely. Focusing on Ares' shit-eating grin and his father's determined expression, Percy is actually able to put together an explanation for both their actions relatively quickly even as everyone is arguing and talking over one another.

For Ares, its rather simple at the end of the day. He's the God of War and he wants more war. From there, it's not that much of a stretch to realize that Ares thinks Percy's plan to be an actual father to his children will actually lead to war, somehow. And Ares wants to tie Percy to the Council of Olympians in order to make sure they get dragged into that war with him from the look of things.

Meanwhile, for Poseidon it seems a lot more… political. As things currently stand, the Council is split into multiple factions, the most powerful of which is the Triumvirate. Poseidon no doubt assumes that if Percy were given a spot on the Council, he would be most likely to vote whichever way his father and Hestia voted. And to be fair, he was probably right.

Yet at the same time…

"I again must refuse."

Unfortunately, this go around, everyone is too busy arguing with one another to hear him. Frowning, Percy is forced to put his foot down… literally.

"ENOUGH!"

A stomp of his foot cracks the tile beneath his feet, even as his voice rings out through the Hall of the Gods. Eyes turn towards him, some angry at the perceived disrespect, others curious, and still more just shocked in general. Before any of them can react, however, Percy is already continuing on.

"I must refuse your generous offer. The same reasons I will not become King of the Gods also apply to why I will not join the Council. I have been a god for less than a day."

The emphasis he puts on the word 'day' causes some flinches. Poseidon even has the good grace to look a little ashamed, shock of shocks, while Ares is just scowling angrily. Others, meanwhile, seem to be appraising him carefully, no doubt adjusting their initial assessments of him. Awkward silence reigns just long enough for Percy to wonder if he will have to break it, but before he can…

"Unfortunately, the motion has already been seconded. It cannot be so easily dismissed anymore."

That comes from Artemis, who suddenly rises from her throne, causing Percy to blink and all others to turn their eyes towards her.

"However, before we vote, I suggest an amendment to the motion. Our newest god is correct that he is still young. Rather than saddle him with such responsibilities this early, I would recommend we give him the support he needs. I suggest that we revisit the issue of Percy Jackson joining the Council in a century from now."

There's some shifting and grumbling at that, but Artemis isn't done.

"Furthermore, I offer myself and my hunters up to perform the service of assisting Percy in getting up to speed. I will swear an oath of service on the River Styx that I and my hunters will do everything in our power to assist Percy in settling into his godhood. It is the least I can do after the assistance he provided in saving me from Atlas' machinations."

Percy's eyes widen as Artemis' words wash over him and a suspicion begins to take root. A gasp from behind him from Zoe all but confirms it. This… this was how Artemis would satisfy the prophecy. This was the 'service' that she would swear to see her and her hunters redeemed.

It was perfect… and apparently Hestia seems to think so as well because she claps her hands together with a smile.

"I second this amendment!"

There's some more talking from there, people making their feelings heard… but the arguing is far more contained and far less aggressive once Hestia signals her support for Artemis' idea. Before long, the Council is voting on it and Percy finds himself with a hundred years of breathing room before they're going to revisit the idea of shackling him to one of these damn chairs.

It feels like an eternity right now, but he can already tell that it will pass by in the blink of an eye to his new senses…

Still, he's a little relieved that he managed to dodge so many bullets. Hera will have to be handled at some point to make sure she doesn't do anything dumb, but for the time being, Percy is relieved.

That is, until he finds himself alone with Artemis, Zoe, Thalia, and Bianca. The Goddess of the Hunt has sworn her oath upon the River Styx by now, so everything is fine. Percy figures they'll be discussing precisely how she's planning on teaching him everything he needs to know and all of that.

Indeed, the last thing he's expecting to hear from the Goddess' lips when they're all finally away from the Hall of the Gods and somewhere more private is…

"I must ask that you claim my maidenhood, Percy Jackson."

Artemis' words make his jaw drop open while Bianca chokes on her own spit and Thalia has a very… loud reaction.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"

Even Zoe looks poleaxed by Artemis' declaration.

"M-My Goddess… you… I thought the whole point of the oath you just swore and the s-service you're providing was to avoid that sort of thing!"

Artemis blinks at her Lieutenant, before chuckling and shaking her head.

"No. That was that and this is this. While I certainly wished to protect you and the others from anything… untoward that the Fates might have tried down the line, the truth is… I can no longer remain a Maiden God. And I would prefer that Percy be the one to take my virginity."

Finally finding his voice, Percy clears his throat. Even though he technically doesn't need to do so anymore since he's a god now, the act still helps him center himself.

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand your reasoning, Artemis. If this isn't about the prophecy… what is this about?"

Artemis huffs and crosses her arms over her chest, though she's also smiling a bit as she shakes her head.

"Of course you wouldn't understand, Percy. You're much too good natured to see the consequences of your actions. Think about some of the goddesses that you have already plunged that prick of yours into and what they represent. You've taken the virginities of two of the three Maiden Goddesses among the Olympians."

Percy blinks at that. Athena… and Hestia. He hadn't really thought about it before, but Artemis was right. Still… so what?

"There is power to be had in Threes, Percy. There always has been. The reason that Hestia, Athena, and I remained Maiden Goddesses for so long was because we had the power of three on our side. Three Maiden Goddesses, Three Olympians supporting one another. Even Zeus couldn't break that power. In the end, the only ones who could… was the three of us ourselves."

Artemis waves a hand through the air, grimacing.

"It works the other way as well though, of course. If you are the one to claim my virginity just as you claimed Hestia and Athena, then you will gain power from that act as well. And so, you should begin to see the issue. On the one hand, I no longer have the protection provided by being one of three Maiden Goddesses. On the other hand, there are quite a lot of individuals incentivized to make sure you never claim my virginity and complete the 'set' so to speak."

So what she's saying is… if Percy doesn't fuck her, multiple other individuals will start trying. And Artemis will probably succumb to one of them? That was… so fucked up. And unfortunately, it made a sickening amount of sense.

"W-We would never let that happen, Goddess! We would protect you!"

Zoe's protests are met with a soft smile from Artemis.

"I know, Zoe. Just as I know it would mean all of your deaths or worse if you did. Do you think I make this decision lightly?"

Her eyes sweep back to Percy.

"Better you, right now before anyone else can make an attempt. Though obviously… I can do nothing if you choose to say no, Percy."

… He's not going to say no. Not when this is at least partially his fault. Damn it all.

"Alright. Let's do this."

At his agreement, Zoe suddenly steps up.

"T-Then I will join you both! As my Mistress' Lieutenant, it is o-only right!"

Percy blinks, but before he can say anything, Bianca and Thalia step up as well.

"Well we aren't letting you two just take Percy off wherever you want. We'll come to."

He looks to Artemis, expecting her to object, but she suddenly looks surprisingly shy and demure after his agreement, blushing and shrugging her shoulders when he turns towards her.

"… I will leave it up to you, Percy."

What the hell? Fuck…

-x-X-x-

The Vote:

[X] Artemis' first time should be only him and her, the others need to sit this one out - 55%[ ] He'll let Zoe join in but only her, Thalia and Bianca need to sit this one out - 32%[ ] The more the merrier, Percy lets Zoe, Thalia, and Bianca all join in on Artemis' deflowering - 12%

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