As the three demigoddesses ascended the steps of Hades' palace, between columns of black marble and through a portico of this dark material, Thalia had a determined look in her eyes. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and each step she took was without a hint of hesitation.
Andy wanted to tell her not to do anything rash, but Annabeth held her shoulder and shook her head, implying that it was best not to talk to Thalia right now.
When they reached the palace atrium, in front of the huge bronze doors, the skeletons in military garb standing by the columns followed them with their eyes. Andy found it disturbing to see their empty eye sockets.
When they reached the double bronze doors, Andy could see the carvings on them carefully. Each and every one of them was a scene of death. Soldiers in wars, men and women victims of plagues and famines. People impaled, decapitated, hanged, dismembered…
Andy looked away, unable to bear to look at the horrors outside that door. They seemed so real. As if real people had been used to act out those gruesome scenes straight out of nightmares.
There were two skeletons in Greek soldiers' uniforms guarding the gates. If they could smile, Andy was sure they would have.
"Move," Thalia said.
There was no room for protest in her voice. It was authoritative, firm, and demanding to be heard.
The skeleton soldiers hesitated for a second, but then brought their hands towards the hilt of their swords that were at their waist.
That was the last move they made.
In a swift action, Thalia released her spear and in a sweeping motion, decapitated both skeletons. Their skulls crashed several meters away and their bodies fell limply to the ground.
Thalia wasted no time and moved towards the door. Her entire body emitted powerful sparks of electricity that made the hairs on her companions' bodies stand on end.
With a powerful kick loaded with lightning, Thalia kicked the doors and they swung wide open with a powerful crash of lightning falling from the heavens.
"Knock, knock, motherfucker"Thalia growled.
Andy stared in shock at what happened before her eyes.
"How the hell did he kick that huge door open?! "Andy asked Annabeth.
"Herculean Strength," Annabeth explained. "Thalia is able to gain overwhelming strength for a certain amount of time." Chiron compared it to the same strength Hercules had.
Andy looked at Thalia in complete admiration.
¨Being able to control lightning and move at the same speed. Having strength comparable to Hercules himself, and being as beautiful as a goddess… Can it get any cooler than that?! ¨
They moved forward into what they identified as a massive throne room. The walls were black marble and the floor bronze, causing them to see their reflections in it. There were around twenty skeletons in Greek armor guarding the walls, almost looking like decorations except for the empty eye sockets following them.
There was a throne made entirely of human bones at the end of the hall. And sitting on it was Hades himself, who didn't seem to be affected in the slightest by the brutal onslaught on his palace.
For Andy, he was the third god he had met, but he was the first one that truly seemed divine to him. One who truly deserved to be called a god.
He stood ten feet tall, dressed in a robe of black silk and a crown of braided gold adorning his head. His jet-black hair reached down to his shoulders, contrasting with his deathly pale skin. His entire being radiated pure power, and his very presence demanded that you bow before him.
He looked at the three demigoddesses haughtily as he leaned back on his throne made of human bones, one arm resting on the armrest while he held his cheek with his knuckles.
"As impetuous as ever, daughter of Zeus," said Hades, in an aristocratic tone.
"Oh my gods, he has Morgan Freeman's voice! "Andy squealed under his breath.
"Stop acting like a fan girl! "Annabeth scolded."This is serious!
Hades' dark eyes fell upon her, and Andy felt a numbness wash over her entire body, tempting her to kneel before the god in front of her.
"So the daughter of Poseidon has decided to come forward and come to my kingdom. A brave act on your part, or maybe it just shows how foolish you are. I had high expectations for you, considering who your brother was and what he accomplished in life, but I must say I am frankly disappointed.
"My brother?" Andy thought. "Does he mean Percy? Did he know him?"
"The only one disappointed here is me! "Thalia exclaimed, drawing attention to her". I imagined you dressed in an imposing, majestic, and absolutely cool black armor with six wings like in Saint Seiya, but I see that you're just dressed like some kind of emo Jesus.
" Don't remind me of that guy! " Hades snapped, displeased. " He thinks he's all that great just because he could turn water into wine, multiply fish and loaves of bread, and cure some sick people. Mortals worship him as if he were a god. He's nothing but a coward for the way he rejected Ares in battle.
"Uhh… yeah. Right," Andy said, but wished she hadn't opened her mouth as Hades' hard gaze fell on her.
"So your father has finally decided to play his last, most desperate card"Hades growled."After what he did to me, what you've done to me, you think you can come here and blackmail me into supporting him in his war against Zeus?!
"Blackmail him? Lord Hades… Why would he blackmail him? "Andy asked, genuinely confused.
"Don't act innocent, child. I know your father's plan. Now that you've revealed yourself to me, it only proves that I was right.
Andy looked at Annabeth, then at Thalia. Each of them looked genuinely confused by the situation. Clearly, they hadn't expected everything to play out this way.
"I am very confused," Andy said, scratching her head"What plan is he talking about?
"I told you not to act innocent! "Hades roared, hitting the armrest of his throne and causing such a tremor in the room that they almost fell to the floor". You, guided by your father, stole Zeus's lightning bolt to weaken him in the war he wants to wage against Olympus. And if that wasn't enough, you also took my helmet in an attempt to get me on Poseidon's side!
Andy looked at Thalia as Hades finished his rant.
"What did you smoke to say all that? "she asked him.
Thalia shrugged.
"I don't know, but I want some of that.
"Wait a second…" Annabeth said, sounding puzzled. "Lord Hades, is your Dark Helm gone, too?"
Hades arched an eyebrow at Annabeth.
"I thought as a daughter of Athena you would be sharper, child.
Annabeth flinched at his words as if she had been punched in the stomach. To her, there was no greater insult than having her intelligence doubted as a daughter of Athena.
"But yes, my helmet was stolen during the last winter solstice," Hades growled. "I didn't say anything because I knew very well that no one on Olympus would lift a finger to help me. Each and every one of them is nothing but selfish and stubborn."
"Is that why you stole the lightning bolt? "Thalia accused. "So that you can get your helmet back?
" I have done no such thing! You are just as prejudiced as your father. All you do is blame others. Why would I steal his lightning bolt?
"You are the Lord of the Dead," Andy said, sounding cautious not to offend the god. "By stealing the lightning bolt, a war would break out between the gods, causing thousands of deaths and, therefore, the expansion of your kingdom."
Hades narrowed his eyes at Andy in fury.
"You really are Poseidon's daughter, you speak just like him! Do you think I need more dead people in my kingdom? Have you seen the vastness of the Asphodel Fields and the ghosts that inhabit them?
"Yes, we saw it very well…" Thalia muttered under her breath.
"Over the last century, my kingdom has done nothing but grow due to the wars that have ravaged the world"Hades continued."Wars caused by mortals and demigods alike, being manipulated by gods in an attempt to gain more power. And the one who has to deal with the consequences is me, receiving the souls of the deceased into my realm.
Hades narrowed his eyes and leaned forward in his seat to look directly at Andy.
"So tell me, Andy Jackson, why would I want a war? I hate violence and death. They mean nothing but trouble and responsibility to me.
"How ironic, isn't it? "Thalia said. "Seeing as you are the Lord of the Dead.
Hades raised an eyebrow.
"Just like you and your fear of heights being a daughter of Zeus?
-Touch.
Hades leaned back in his seat with a tired look on his face.
"As I said, I do not desire this war…" then his eyes became hard and imposing. "But that does not mean I am not ready for it. I will bring hell to the world if I am not given back what belongs to me. Do you think Zeus and Poseidon can do anything when I release all the dead in my domain on earth? The nightmares that plague the Fields of Punishment and Tartarus will dry up the seas, blacken the skies, and turn the earth itself into a desolate wasteland where only pain and suffering exist."
Thalia whistled in shock.
"Now that is a threat," she said. "But unfortunately for you, we do not have your helmet."
"You dare lie to me, spawn of Zeus? "Hades said in a warning tone. "You and the daughter of Athena have accompanied this thief throughout her journey. Obviously, you think you can threaten me in the name of Poseidon, but I will not forgive this insolence! Give me back my helmet, or I will send your heads to your parents!
"You've been demanding your helmet back ever since we arrived! We don't have it! "Andy exclaimed impatiently, not caring that he was standing in front of a god". We've come for the lightning bolt to prevent the war that will break out if we don't return it to Zeus!
"But you already have the lightning bolt in your possession! " Hades shouted, with the same impatience. " You have come all the way here, you little sea creature, thinking that you could threaten me with it! You are either very brave, or very stupid, to think that!
Andy's face turned red. Whether it was from anger or embarrassment, he didn't know. But most likely it was from anger.
"I already told you I don't have the damn lightning!
" Check your damn backpack!
Andy stood completely still, pale as a ghost. Annabeth and Thalia looked at her strangely as Andy took off the backpack she was carrying and unzipped it.
Energy flashed from the backpack, and lightning began to shoot out from it.
"W-what is it…? "Andy muttered to herself.
He reached in and pulled out a two-foot metal cylinder, spiked on either side, that hummed with the energy it contained.
"Andy…"Annabeth said, perplexed". How come…?
"I-I don't know," she said, equally bewildered. "I don't understand. It has to be some kind of mistake."
"There is no mistake," Hades said, sounding satisfied. "The fact that the lightning bolt is in your hands proves that you are the thief, and therefore the thief of my helmet as well. Now, I demand that you return it to me!"
The skeletons guarding the throne room drew their weapons and pointed them in their direction. They approached with the intention of subduing them, but in a flash of electricity, they all fell limp to the floor in a pile of bones.
In just a few seconds, nearly two dozen skeleton soldiers had been defeated.
Everyone looked at Thalia, whose body was completely covered in electricity. She had Percy's knife in her hand, showing that she had used it to finish off the skeleton soldiers.
"Andy is innocent," she declared. "She is not the lightning thief, and she does not have your helmet."
"Can't your eyes see what's in front of you? Hades asked. She has the lightning!
" Just because she has the lightning doesn't mean she stole it!
" Then how do you explain it?!
Thalia bit her lip and clenched her fists, obviously thinking about something.
Beside her, Andy had the same thoughtful expression. He was trying his best to make sense of what had just happened. She had had the lightning bolt in her backpack all this time. Hades was supposed to be the one with it, but it turned out he was also a victim in all this.
She felt like she was dancing in someone's palm, just like she had felt the very instant she received the prophecy to retrieve the bolt. The same master bolt that had been in her backpack the whole time, but she had checked the backpack earlier and there was nothing, just a change of clothes, a bag of drachmas, a wad of dollars, and Oreos. The same Oreos she had been given by Cerberus. She wished Ares had put in one more package.
Wait…
"That bastard…" Andy said, his eyes widening in understanding.
"Andy, what's wrong? "Annabeth asked.
"That damn imbecile with the bruised rat face…
"Wow, wow, kid. Slow down a little"Thalia said."What's wrong? Did you even notice something?
"The lightning bolt… was inside the backpack…
"Yes, we saw everything. So what about that?
"And who was the one who gave me this backpack?
It took a second for the information to sink in, and when it did, their eyes widened in surprise and understanding.
"That puss-ass bastard," Thalia growled, frowning deeply. "Next time I see him, I'm going to punch him in his lying rat face."
"Then what we must do is clear," Annabeth said". We still have a lightning bolt to deliver, and a god to unmask.
Andy nodded with a determined look in his eyes.
In his mind, it was clear what he had to do. Ever since he had started this mission, he had always moved forward blindly. It was as if he had had a blindfold covering his eyes, and now that blindfold was gone.
He stood up, faced Hades, and spoke in the most confident voice he could muster.
"I am not the lightning thief," she said. "That much I can assure you. I have an idea of who the thief might be, or at least someone who might know. And he probably knows where your helmet is, too, Lord Hades."
Hades raised an eyebrow, skeptical of the demigoddess' statement.
"If you are so sure that you are not the thief of lightning and my helmet, then swear it by the River Styx.
Annabeth and Thalia's faces paled slightly, but surprisingly Andy didn't flinch.
"Yes, that's what it takes for you to believe in my innocence…
"Andy, don't do this! "Annabeth said, worried. "Swearing an oath in the name of the River Styx is the highest possible oath you can take. If you break that oath, death will be the least of your worries.
"If I do this…"Andy said, looking directly at Hades". Will you believe me?
Hades leaned back in his seat. His dark eyes seemed to pierce her soul.
"Do it. And I'll believe that you weren't the thief.
"So… I swear by the River Styx that I did not steal Zeus' master bolt nor Hades' helmet of darkness.
Thunder rumbled in the place. Being in the underworld, and the River Styx running through it, the trembling and thunder was much more noticeable. The sound was so loud that the demigoddesses had to cover their ears, and Hades' throne room trembled slightly.
When everything calmed down, Andy was seen to still be with them without any visible harm.
"Seeing that you're still in one piece, that means your oath is valid"Hades commented, with a sigh. As if he was disappointed not to see her gone". I'll take your word for it, daughter of Poseidon… but that doesn't mean I'll let them go.
" What?! "Andy snapped. " Why not?! I didn't steal your helmet!
"But you know who can have it. Until my helmet is returned, I will not let any of you leave my kingdom.
"Even if that means we're the only ones who can get it?
Hades's eyes narrowed.
"Explain yourself.
"Your helmet is in the hands of another god at the moment. And as far as I know, a god cannot challenge another god. A demigod, however, can. We can get your helmet back.
"And how can I trust your word?
"I swear by the River Styx that…
He couldn't finish his oath because Thalia covered his mouth with her hand. Andy looked at her questioningly, but the look Thalia gave him was unwavering. And her message was clear,
Don't say anything else.
Thalia stepped forward and looked directly at Hades.
"We have no obligation to help you," he snapped.
Hades looked as if he had been slapped with a raw fish.
- That?
" Are you deaf? We have no obligation to help you. We can leave your kingdom whenever we want thanks to these"he took out the white pearl Andy received from his father and showed it to him". We have the master ray. And we can return it to my old man to end this senseless war.
Andy's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't thought of it that way. And he was right. They didn't owe Hades anything, he had no reason to demand that they go fight a god to get his helmet back.
"With that said…"Thalia continued"I offer you a deal.
Hades narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of deal? "he asked, looking intrigued.
"It's simple. I will go to the surface, retrieve your helmet, and return it to you in exchange for a soul from the Asphodel Fields going to the Elysian Fields.
Annabeth and Andy were shocked by this. Thalia was negotiating with Hades to get Sammy to go to the Elysian Fields, and she was willing to face a god to make that happen.
"And how can I trust your word? "Hades finally asked.
"We both know we don't trust each other. You don't trust demigods, you have your reasons. And I don't trust gods. Especially not you after the monsters you sent to kill me when I was a child. We'll both swear beneath the River Styx to abide by each other's conditions"Thalia shrugged."Not a bad deal, if you ask me. One of the three most powerful weapons in creation in exchange for a single mortal soul to go to the Elysian Fields. Your choice.
Hades seemed to consider her proposal. He brought a hand to his chin in a gesture that was strangely human for a god.
"I could very well open the gates of the underworld and unleash all the horrors upon the earth. That way, I would have my helmet back. But that would only mean trouble. As I said, I detest death and unnecessary violence.
He stood up from his throne, reaching his full height, and looked directly at Thalia.
"I accept your proposal, Thalia Grace. If you return the helmet to me, I will place this soul of your choice in the Elysian Fields. I swear it on the River Styx.
Thunder rumbled again, causing the throne room to shake once again.
"I will go fight the god who has your helmet. I will retrieve it and return it to you. I swear it by the River Styx.
Once again, thunder rumbled, and the throne room shook.
Hades nodded in acceptance.
"Go away," he waved before sitting back down on his throne. "I expect you to keep your word, Thalia Grace. If not, not only will you suffer the consequences, but also the daughter of Poseidon and the daughter of Athena."
Andy and Annabeth paled at that and looked worriedly at Thalia, but she didn't flinch.
"By the way, can I add something else to the deal? "Thalia asked. "I was planning on pissing on your throne for blocking my credit card, but that doesn't matter anymore. Instead, can I get a Persephone thong? As a souvenir for a perverted son of Hermes.
Annabeth and Andy gaped at Thalia's nerve asking for that with a completely normal expression, as if she had asked to add a cheeseburger to the deal, not the underwear of the wife of the god of the underworld.
The angry look he received from Hades was all the answer he needed.
" Is that a no? Well, I can say I tried. Come on, girls.
The three of them took out the pearls and, with a simultaneous nod, broke them beneath their feet.
"…And the god who has rebelled finally appears, "said Thalia, when they emerged from the sea and reached the beach.
Ares was waiting for them on Santa Monica Beach. And he didn't seem too happy to see them.
His motorcycle was running as he stood beside it. His black leather duster flapped in the wind as he held a metal baseball bat over his shoulder.
Thunder roared in the skies. Even though it was early in the morning, everything looked dark as the sun was blocked by storm clouds looming over Los Angeles.
"Hey, kid," Ares said, looking at Andy. "You're supposed to be dead."
" Yeah? Well, if you want to see me dead, get in line, buddy.
"Well, I'll have to skip that line. You see, the thing is that your actions are impeding the progress of the coming war. You would have had to die in the underworld. That way, old Alga would have been angry at Hades for killing you. That old man with the breath of death would have had the master bolt and Zeus would have been furious with him. A three-way fight without quarter!... It would have been phenomenal.
"A fight… between the three elder gods…"Andy laughed at his humor". I guess that would be heaven on earth for the god of war.
"I see you understand. Now, be a good puppet and give me the lightning bolt. It will make a nice set with this.
From his leather trench coat, he pulled a balaclava, placed it between the handlebars of his motorcycle, and transformed it into an elaborate black warrior helmet.
"The Helm of Darkness," Annabeth said, appreciatively.
It was obvious, it emitted the same pure energy as the master beam that was in Andy's backpack. But unlike the beam where it emitted a light and power that made you squint, Hades' helmet emitted a darkness that swallowed all nearby light, causing you to look away in fear.
"The time is drawing near," Ares said, looking up at the sky with pleasure. "Can you feel it? Zeus' wrath is reaching its peak, and Poseidon is responding to that wrath with more wrath. The whole world will know what true war is."
It was true. The sky was filled with storm clouds, thunder rumbled and lightning lit up the skies. The seas roared uncontrollably, with ever-larger waves crashing onto the beach.
"Not if I can help it," Andy said, sounding more confident than she actually felt. "If I can get the master bolt to Zeus, I can stop this pointless war!"
Ares smiled maliciously.
"That is, if you can get over me.
He snapped his fingers and the sand in front of him erupted, revealing a huge boar the same size as the Chromion Sow Andy had faced at the top of Gateway Arch.
On another occasion, Andy would feel fear, but right now all she felt was a rage that was beginning to boil in her blood. If it was because of Ares' presence, she didn't know. All she knew for sure was that the god in front of her had tricked her into doing his dirty work, and she felt incredibly upset about it.
The boar let out a shrill screech and charged straight at her. Out of the corner of Andy's eye, he could see Thalia ready her spear and shield, as well as Annabeth readying her dagger, but she didn't give them time to act.
Andy fearlessly stepped forward to face the boar, freeing her sword from its ring form. When she was within meters of tackling it, she leapt over his head and did a flip in the air to bring her sword down on the boar's head.
His weapon sliced through its head, right between its eyes like a hot knife through butter, and the boar exploded in a cloud of dust. Andy landed gracefully on his feet, as if he hadn't just performed a somersault in the air with relative ease.
Behind her, she heard Thalia whistle appreciatively and then clap lightly.
"That was rude. They grow up so fast," she said, wiping an imaginary tear from her eyes.
Ares growled in rage as Andy dispatched his summon with such ease.
He tightened his grip on his baseball bat, intent on fighting.
"You better not," said a new voice behind him. "Your opponent is someone far more dangerous. You cannot afford to be distracted."
Ares turned to see who spoke to him, and everyone present watched attentively as a boy appeared on the scene.
"You…! "Andy exclaimed in recognition" You're the boy who saved me at the Gateway Arch!
"So we meet again, Andy Jackson. I was hoping we wouldn't" the boy said, then looked at Annabeth and Thalia". It's been a while, Thalia, Annabeth.
That information surprised Andy. The boy spoke as if he knew Annabeth and Thalia personally. She turned to look at her companions and saw that they both had the same perplexed expression.
"Thalia, Annabeth… do you know him? "Andy asked.
Annabeth was the first to snap out of her daze.
"He's… he's a kid from Camp Half-Blood. Or at least, he was," Annabeth explained. "A year ago, he was chosen to prove his worth. When he didn't come back, everyone thought he was dead." She then looked directly at the boy. "What are you doing here, Ethan?!"
"What isn't obvious just by looking at this?" Ethan said calmly. "I'm here to fulfill Ares' desire, a war between gods."
" What?! "
Thalia narrowed her eyes at Ethan.
"You're the thief, aren't you?" It was more of a statement than a question.
Ethan nodded with a small smirk.
"You'd be surprised how easy it was to steal Hades and Zeus' symbols of power. Especially Zeus. I was tempted to wave the master bolt in his face when I did it to see if he'd notice. He was so wrapped up in arguing with Poseidon about which of the two his mother loved more that he didn't even notice when I stole the bolt from under his very nose.
Thalia slapped her face at her father's stupidity.
" Why are you here, kid? "Ares growled. " I can take care of these rats myself.
Ethan rolled his eyes.
"Typical arrogance of the gods. They underestimate what a demigod is capable of"he pointed at Thalia". In front of you is the most powerful demigod of the last millennium. Do you really think she will sit back while you face the daughter of Poseidon?
"Never mind," Ares smiled with a slight madness. "That way it will be more interesting. I haven't had a fight worthy of me in the last few millennia. Maybe she can warm me up. If she does it right, maybe she can even warm my bed tonight."
Andy and Annabeth looked horrified at that, while Thalia turned green and started gagging.
"She's your sister! "Annabeth bellowed, indignant.
Ares simply shrugged.
"Does it matter? I am the fruit of the relationship between Zeus and Hera, who are siblings.
"That explains how retarded you are, Andy said. You're the product of incest.
"Enough talk," he growled. "Time for action."
"You took the words right out of my mouth," Thalia said, stepping forward. "Let's make this simple, Ares. If you win, you get the lightning bolt. If you lose, you give me the helmet and get out of our way. The loser will be the one who gives in or is unable to fight."
The answer he received was that Ares' baseball bat glowed and turned into a sword with a silver skull hilt with a ruby in its mouth.
"Thalia, are you sure?" Annabeth asked, torn between doubt and concern. "It's a god you're facing."
"I'm going to face a coward," she replied. "One who hides behind pigs and tricks. Besides, I want to do this. For years I've trained myself to deal with this kind of situation. There isn't a demigod alive who can stand up to me, so it's time to face a god and see how far I've come."
"You may not have the power of a god, but you have the arrogance of one," Andy said, a little amused.
Thalia smiled at him and ruffled his hair.
"I know, but I know my limits. And it's time to overcome them. I aspire to reach higher than any demigod has ever reached. To mark my name in history as the most powerful demigod to have ever walked the earth. That is my ambition. And now, I will fight for it.
"Don't let your ambition cloud your judgment," Annabeth warned.
Thalia accepted his words with a nod.
He strode across the sand. He zipped his leather jacket up to his neck. He drew his spear and shield free to face the god of war.
"Stay out of this, Ethan"Thalia warned, glaring at the lightning thief" This is between Ares and me.
"I wasn't planning on doing this," he said, leaning absentmindedly against Ares's motorcycle with his arms crossed. "I'm just here as a spectator. I'm forbidden from interfering in the conflict. After all, my role in this has already been fulfilled."
Thalia looked at him doubtfully, but decided to accept his words.
"Are you ready, half-breed? "Ares advanced towards her". Since this is your first fight against an immortal, I will show you the proper way to present yourself before one.
He planted his sword in the sand and placed both hands on the hilt. A blood-red energy began to surge out from his body, completely surrounding his form, and causing the earth to begin to tremble slightly.
"I am Ares, Olympian god of war, violence, confusion, and wrath! "he roared, his voice filled with power". I have fought countless battles for centuries! I have subdued countless enemies under my sword! My power and skill know no bounds, as does my thirst for blood. Prepare yourself, half-breed!
Thalia let out a slight snort of derision, but decided to play along with the god of war.
She planted the tip of her spear in the sand, and stared defiantly at the god standing before her. Electricity began to surge through her body in great quantities. Her hair began to stand on end. Lightning struck from the sky right behind her, exploding the sand.
"I am Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus! "Thalia bellowed, her voice like thunder. "I am the most powerful demigoddess there has been in the last thousand years! Every monster and demigod I have faced has fallen to me. I have never known defeat in battle, and I will not today either! I will subdue you, god of war!
Ares smiled wildly at her.
"Very well… Go ahead!
With that said, they both launched themselves at each other, the ground beneath their feet exploding.
Ares, being the more impetuous of the two, was the first to make his move. He swung his sword straight at Thalia's head in an attempt to crush her, but she easily deflected it with her shield, leaving Ares open for a direct stab at her torso with his spear.
Ares dodged it by stepping to the side and swung his sword again. Thalia parried it, but the power behind the attack made her wince. She swung her spear in a sweeping motion at torso level, but Ares jumped back at the last second, preventing his intestines from spilling into the sand.
"Not bad, not bad," Ares said with a sly smile. "Being able to stop my blow without breaking your bones is worthy of recognition."
" Are you going to fight or are you going to talk?
Ares attacked again, redoubling the strength and speed of his blows. Thalia stood firm and took all his attacks. She had to retreat several times, and deflect his sword attacks with her shield, but she did not receive any injuries.
She used her shield as a weapon and swung with it, but was stopped and deflected by Ares' great sword. She crouched down and attempted a sweeping motion with her spear, intending to knock him down, but Ares jumped and landed on top of her. Thalia rolled to the side and dodged the blow. She was glad she did. Sand exploded, leaving a mark from her sword in the dirt.
"I need to find an opening," thought Thalia.
She came close and swung her spear, but she was counting on it and came even closer. She drove the edge of her shield straight into Ares' face, who ducked, but couldn't dodge Thalia's knee strike, which went straight to his face.
Ares recoiled with a grunt of pain. His sunglasses had shattered, revealing his flaming eyes. His nose was broken and was bleeding golden ichor.
Thalia smiled and returned to a fighting stance.
"The first blood is mine," she said.
"Don't get cocky, half-breed," Ares growled, throwing his broken sunglasses into the sand.
Thalia could feel raw anger welling up inside her as she looked into Ares's eyes.
The god attacked, using slashing and thrusting motions. One stab cut her right thigh, not deep enough to incapacitate her, but enough to draw blood.
With that done Ares redoubled his efforts and continued attacking, causing Thalia to lose her rhythm and focus solely on defense.
Looking into those blazing eyes, Thalia remembered all the things that made her blood boil with anger. Her mother who abandoned Jason. Hera, who was a jealous cuckold and made her life miserable. Percy's death and Sammy's suicide, whose soul ended up unjustly in the Asphodel Fields.
¨Your anger gives you great power, Thalia¨ she remembered Chiron's words when he instructed her ¨But it is a double-edged sword. If you do not control it, it will destroy you from within. And it will be your downfall in battle¨
¨Don't give in to anger¨ she scolded herself, taking a deep breath to calm herself after stepping away from a blow that came very close to decapitating her ¨Remember why you are fighting. It is not for the glory of defeating a god, nor to measure your own power, and much less to avoid a senseless war. Now, you are fighting to save an innocent soul! So focus! ¨
Ares struck again with a thrust so powerful that it made her recoil even though she was covering herself with her shield. Apparently, the god did not take being wounded well and his attacks reflected that. Every blow, every stab he gave was done with the intention of maiming her or causing a potentially fatal wound. Thalia had to abandon all attacks to focus solely on her defense.
He felt the pressure on his bones every time they used his shield to stop Ares' attacks, and he had to grit his teeth to keep from biting his tongue.
When he swung a blow straight at her neck, she had to use all her strength to keep from giving in, but that left her open to the kick he delivered to her torso that knocked all the air out of her lungs.
Thalia flew several meters to crash into the sand. Coughing due to the damage to her lungs. She felt her ribs bruised by that brutal blow.
"What happened to all that bravado earlier?! Huh?! "Ares bellowed mockingly. "And you call yourself the most powerful demigoddess?! Don't make me laugh! Even that jerk Dionysus would put up more of a fight when he was a demigod.
Thalia frowned deeply and stood up.
¨He's much stronger than me, even at my maximum strength¨ thought Thalia, stopping an attack from his sword that sent vibrations throughout her body ¨But he underestimates me… And I'll use that to my advantage! ¨
Stopping an attack with her shield and delivering a lunge with her spear that was dodged, Thalia's mind began to go a mile a minute, looking for the right moment to act. She had a plan in mind, and she only needed a moment of carelessness from the god to execute it.
"Not yet..." he thought, as he dodged a sweeping move that had cut off his legs. "Not yet. I need to catch him off guard."
Ares made an upward swing with his sword that Thalia evaded by centimeters by taking a step back, giving her a solid foundation for what she had planned. Ares brought his sword down again with the intention of cutting her shoulder.
now
Thalia used her shield to not only stop his attack, but to completely repel the sword, causing it to bounce off and leave an opening.
She took advantage of that to make a thrust with her spear straight to the abdomen. Ares dodged it at the last second, destroying part of his trench coat, but Thalia had not finished her attack.
Her entire body began to emit electricity in large quantities. She pulled back her spear and made another stab, this time twice as fast. Ares had to focus on dodging the stabs that became faster and faster than the last. The power of the lightning that ran through Thalia's body increased its speed considerably, to the point where the series of stabs she made became blurred and it was impossible for the human eye to follow her movements.
Each thrust aimed at a different spot. Stomach, chest, shoulder, thighs, neck, head. Each one would cause a lethal wound. Ares dodged them all, but he was not spared from the cuts the spear gave him because he was not fast enough.
As the speed of the thrusts slowed, Ares was able to catch the spear under his arm. And in a downward swing of his sword, he split Thalia's spear in two. He backhanded his sword, but Thalia brought her shield in front of her. The force behind the attack sent her flying several meters. She landed on both feet, leaving a path across the sand.
Ares began to breathe with some difficulty. His entire body looked like it had been put through a shredder. Cuts adorned every part of his body, leaving his clothes in tatters, golden ichor seeping throughout his body.
"Forty-three stabs in seven seconds, "Thalia said, with a satisfied smile"A new record for me.
Ares growled like a wild animal and attacked. Thalia didn't have her spear, so she only focused on defending herself with her shield, but that didn't last long. Ares' attacks were incredibly heavy. Each blow he delivered was like a cargo truck hitting her. She didn't expect the blow he dealt her in the face, leaving her disoriented for a second. Ares took advantage of that and pushed the shield aside with a backhand of his sword and then launched a swift stab straight to her stomach.
The blow connected, and Thalia hunched over from the force of the blow. She began to cough erratically.
"Thalia! "Andy and Annabeth exclaimed in concern.
Ares looked at her haughtily, without removing the sword that was in his stomach.
"This is the power of a god, half-breed," he growled arrogantly.
Thalia didn't answer. She was still hunched over Ares' sword, taking deep breaths through her mouth as she coughed.
She slowly looked up, surprising the god with the triumphant smile on his face.
"You fell for it, you son of a bitch.
Ares' expression was one of confusion until he grimaced and let out a scream of pain that shook the entire beach. It was like an earthquake. The sea roared, the alarms of the cars on the beach began to sound and the sand exploded around them.
His huge sword fell limply into the sand and he looked down at his torso, where he saw a knife with a wooden and leather handle buried up to the hilt in his side, right where his liver would be.
He then looked at Thalia and saw that she was completely unharmed, she had no wounds on her stomach where he had attacked her with his sword.
" W-what do you mean, possible? "Ares coughed. "My sword must have pierced you…
"I had protection," Thalia said. "When I killed the Nemean Lion, its pelt became my spoils of war. I used its indestructible skin to make this nice leather jacket. I had to call in a couple of favors from Aphrodite's cabin, but it was worth it."
Thalia twisted Percy's knife, causing Ares to cry out in pain again, and pulled it out sharply. She delivered a powerful lightning-clad kick to his sternum, sending him flying ten meters across the beach using her incredible strength.
"Thanks, Percy," Thalia thought, looking at the golden ichor-soaked hellhound's tooth knife. "Even after all these years, you still look out for me. I'll be sure to bring you your favorite fries next time I come to visit."
Ares, who landed on the sand ten meters away, slowly stood up, holding his wound that was oozing golden ichor like a fountain. He gave Thalia a death glare, filled with hatred, but she could see that in his eyes there was pain and bewilderment, as if he was unable to believe that he had been injured in such a way.
"H-how is it possible that I… a god… could be hurt in such a way… by a mere demigoddess" he murmured". I-it's… unforgivable… Unforgivable...!
He limped towards her, hunched over as he held his wound, muttering ancient Greek curses, but then stopped. The light across the beach faded, the temperature dropped abruptly, and sound stopped, leaving the entire beach deathly silent.
Then the darkness dissipated.
Ares was stunned, and Thalia was confused, but she didn't let her guard down. That turned out to be the right thing to do as Ares raised his hand and his sword that was in the sand flew towards him.
"That was my lord's warning," Ethan said, drawing attention to himself as he stepped away from the bike. "He is not at all pleased with your performance. We have lost the Master Bolt and the Helm of Darkness to your thirst for battle."
"Shut your mouth! "Ares shouted, waving his sword." I don't follow anyone's orders!... I fight for myself, and for no one else!
Ethan narrowed his eyes at the god of war, who was holding his bleeding wound.
Ares stared at Thalia, hatred in his eyes.
"Don't think this is over, half-breed," he growled. "You've just made an enemy among the Olympians. Live in fear, Thalia Grace."
Her body began to emit a blinding glow. Thalia knew what would happen.
He turned around and shouted urgently.
" Andy, Annabeth, don't look!
The two young demigoddesses looked away as Ares revealed his true immortal form.
When the light faded, Ares was gone, leaving behind only a blackened circle in the sand of the beach.
"I knew it was a mistake to trust him," Ethan said, as he stood to the side of the circle of scorched sand. "He was a loose cannon. The gods care about nothing but their own interests."
" What do you mean by that, Ethan?! "Annabeth screamed. " Wasn't it Ares who told you to steal the symbols of power?!
Ethan snorted in derision as he looked at the circle of burnt sand.
" Do you really think that lout would be capable of thinking of something like that? No, it was my lord who came up with that brilliant idea. And it would have worked if you had died in the underworld and the master bolt fell into Hades' hands.
"Who is this "gentleman" you talk about as if you were his whore? "Thalia asked.
Ethan narrowed his eyes in her direction.
"Be careful, Grace," he warned. "You may be an important piece in their grand plan, but you can be replaced by someone else."
"Ethan, right?" Andy said, stepping forward. "Why did you steal the gods' symbols of power? You saved me from Echidna at the top of the Gateway Arch. I can't believe you did all that for no reason."
"A reason, huh…" he muttered to himself. Then he looked at Andy. "Of course, there's a reason. There always is. The reason I saved you is simple, you still had to go to the underworld to carry the lightning. And I also wanted to know firsthand why you caught my lord's attention. As for why I stole the symbols of power… I wanted justice."
"Justice?" Andy said, as if the idea was inconceivable to her. "Why would stealing from the gods and causing a war between them be just?"
Ethan's features darkened at that.
"If you only knew all the things the gods have done… The things they've done not only to mortals, but to demigods, their own children! You wouldn't have so much sympathy for them. Because you don't ask Thalia, she knows all too well.
Andy saw Thalia frown in annoyance, but he could also see that there was sadness in her eyes.
"The gods aren't perfect," Annabeth said. "But they're our parents. Our family!"
Ethan raised an eyebrow and gestured toward the circle of scorched earth.
" Are you forgetting what you saw just a few minutes ago? An Olympian god was fighting to the death against his friend only to cause a war between the other gods that would devastate the world.
"I was being tricked! Your lord did it. Do you think I didn't notice the strange way he was acting? And the fact that he wasn't the one who ordered the theft of the symbols of power only further proves my point!
"Who is it, Ethan? "Thalia asked. "Who was the one who tricked Ares and told you to steal the symbols of power?
The temperature of the room dropped noticeably. The lights of the street lamps on the beach began to flicker and a heavy atmosphere settled over the place, as if a force was pushing them against the ground.
The girls looked fearful at that, but Ethan didn't flinch, as if he had been expecting it.
"Just as I, a demigod, seek to dethrone the gods… Who did the gods dethrone? "he said". History will repeat itself once again.
"Whom… the gods dethroned…"Annabeth's eyes widened in fear". The titans…
Ethan nodded with a cold smile.
"They have begun to rise up under their sole leader. The one who will bring about the destruction of Olympus and do justice. The justice that the gods deserve for their transgressions after so many centuries!
"Their only leader…"Annabeth was shaking at this point". Cronos…
The temperature dropped once again and the beach became even darker.
"The darkness is beginning to gather, the monsters are growing stronger. And why? Because they know the Time Lord is beginning to rise. Tell that to the gods when you return the master bolt to him at the solstice. A true war will soon begin. A second Titanomachy is on the horizon.
"You can tell all that to the gods in person when they capture you and take you to them," said Thalia.
Her body exploded with electricity and she disappeared. In a second, she was in front of Ethan with the intention of knocking him out with a punch to his face, but when she was inches away from connecting, she slowed down. Time around them seemed to go much slower. Ethan smiled at her and calmly stepped away as if they were taking a stroll on the beach, causing Thalia to walk past.
She stopped several meters away from where he was and looked at him in disbelief.
" How is it that…?
"Lord Cronos rewards those who serve him properly," Ethan said. "You won't be able to touch me. Even with your lightning speed. To me, it's like you're moving in slow motion."
Thalia frowned and attacked again with her lightning speed, but the result was the same. When she was a certain distance away from Ethan, time seemed to slow down a lot, as if she was swimming in mud. Ethan calmly dodged her attacks, and even landed a strong blow to her stomach that sent her crashing into the sand.
"I told you, it's useless," Ethan said, when she stood up again.
"Ethan…"Thalia growled.
"You're an important piece in Lord Cronos' plan, Grace. So I can't kill you. At least not without his explicit order.
He unsheathed his sword from his waist and cut through the air with it, opening a dark portal in the middle of the silver of Santa Monica.
Before entering the portal, he turned to the three demigoddesses.
"Believe me when I tell you one thing, once war comes, and you can be sure it will, the gods will not hesitate to use the demigods, their own children, as cannon fodder in order to save themselves. If they are wise, they will join Lord Cronos' side.
With those last words, Ethan Nakamura disappeared through the portal.
"Is it… over?" Andy asked doubtfully. As if she expected a new god to appear just to screw up her day even more.
Thalia moved forward to pick up the Helm of Darkness that was in the sand, the same place where Ares's motorcycle had been.
The sound of flapping wings caught her attention. She turned around to see three old women with sour expressions on their faces, as if they had sucked on a lemon. Their bat wings flapped in the air before landing in front of her.
"The Furies," Annabeth said cautiously.
It was to be expected. Their last meeting had not been very cordial because Thalia had thrown a lightning bolt at them.
The middle one, whom Andy recognized as Mrs. Dodds, whom he had personally vaporized at the museum, stepped forward. She had no lips, so her yellow shark teeth were fully visible.
"We've seen it all," she said. "I see you've kept your word, Thalia Grace."
"And I hope Hades keeps his," Thalia said, tossing him the helmet. "He knows very well which soul from the Asphodel Fields I want him to free."
"The soul that led them to the palace, is it not? Lord Hades may be a cruel god, but he is also a just god. He will keep his word. Rest assured, that girl's soul will be found in the Elysian Fields at the end of the day.
"I hope so. Or I'll go to the underworld to kick his pale ass and make good on my threat to piss on his throne.
"I'll pass on the message" she gave Andy one last sidelong glance". It's a shame we didn't spend time together. I had a lot of… attractions planned especially for you.
With that said, the three sisters flapped their wings and took flight into the polluted skies of Los Angeles, before disappearing.
At the same time, the three demigoddesses fell onto their butts in the sand and sighed in unison in exhaustion. They looked at each other and then burst out laughing.
"Now I think it's over," Andy said.
"Not yet," Annabeth said, pointing to the backpack she was wearing. "You still have to return the lightning."
"What I want now is to lie down in a bed and sleep for a week" he took off his backpack and noticed that the master beam was still there". This piece of crap almost caused a Third World War.
"Yeah, that's how attached the old man is to his toy, "Thalia said. She stood up and cracked her neck."Gods, I need a cigarette.
"Now is not the time for that," Annabeth said. "We have to get to New York before the day is over. The summer solstice should be underway by now."
"That's impossible," Andy said. "It took us a week to get here. We won't get there in time unless we fly."
Thalia turned pale at the thought.
"We have no choice," Annabeth said.
"Yes, it's not your ass that will be in danger due to being in the domain of the god who accuses you of stealing his symbol of power.
"I'll be on the same plane as you, remember? Besides, he won't risk shooting you down knowing you have his gun and his daughter is on the same plane.
"And what makes you think I'm going to go with you on a plane? "Thalia snapped, feeling her stomach churn at the thought of flying.
" Oh no! Annabeth's right, Andy said, lunging forward and hugging Thalia like a koala hugging a tree, wrapping his hands and legs around her waist. " You're my insurance policy. If you come with me, the plane won't crash.
"I'm not going on a plane! "Thalia exclaimed, trying to free herself from Andy's iron grip". I'd rather run on the ground with my lightning power than get into a pressurized cabin at more than ten thousand meters high for more than five hours!
"You're going with us! "Andy shouted stubbornly.
"Let me go, Andy! Or I'll electrocute you! "he threatened.
" Try it if you have the courage! I'll bite you if you do!
To prove his point, he opened his mouth and closed it over Thalia's abdomen, causing her to let out a high-pitched squeal due to the tickling sensation.
Annabeth just watched the two of them act like a couple of little girls as she did a facepalm and shook her head in embarrassment and disapproval.
¨Here are the daughters of Zeus and Poseidon. Two of the most powerful demigoddesses of the century¨ she thought ¨And one of them just defeated an Olympian god! ¨
…
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[T/N: Sorry for not posting my IRL Job takes up most of my time so, yeah. I have trouble not forgetting about this sometimes. If you can't wait for the next chapter then check out my Patreon for some advanced chapters! For just $10, you can get access to over 300+ posts. That means you get up to chapter 21 and access to all my other works. You could also just join the free membership, I always appreciate it. (*/ω＼*) ]
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