Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Running.

They were running.

Running from what, you might ask? Well, the biggest fucking horde of hellhounds Thalia had ever seen and three other monsters. What were the other monsters, you may ask? Oh, just the three Furies, of course. The Fates just love to fuck around and find out, don’t they?

There were deafening barks, cackling, and sounds of cracking whips behind them, quickly approaching. Thalia knew that the quartet of demigods and satyr couldn’t afford to stop and fight, so she summoned Aegis, which seemed to help marginally.

Lightning flashed above them in response to her anger, but she couldn’t stop running. She had to make it with the others. So they could keep their happy family safe. 

Luke. Annie. Thalia. And Grover now, she supposed. He had wormed his way into the little band of delinquency over their travels to camp, despite his initial reservations on transporting all three of the demigods.

But the monsters were catching up, why couldn’t they let the demigods get away . Looking at the hoard, she knew there was no way they could all make it. Looking between her family, the horde, and camp, she realized that someone had to fight. They couldn’t outrun the beasts, so they needed to…alleviate the grass of the things treading on it, ha .

She could take the monsters, she knew it would be all too easy. But she also knew her family wouldn’t leave her behind before they all got to absolute safety. So, what she thought:

“I can hold off these chicken-shit bastards!” 

What she said:

“Keep going, we’re almost there!”

And she silently stayed back and engaged the horde.

Everything was blurring together for her. Slash, block, strike, dust, repeat. It was working.

Until it wasn’t. Suddenly, a hellhound sunk its maw deep into her shin. She screamed in anger and zapped him with lightning.  Think you got me? Think again, you fucker. Distantly, she heard someone yell her name. 

Somehow further incensed by the blood running down her leg, the monsters swarmed her. Oh, shit. Ok, just gotta get through this. She quickly sent a prayer to her father, for all the good it might do her - which wasn’t going to be much, if she was truthful.

So, she reengaged for battle, vowing that her family would be safe. She’d rather be as still as a fucking tree before she would let her family get hurt. The hellhounds seemed to be disappearing at a steady rate, but more kept coming. Fuck you, H, for trying to get rid of me. So she had to keep going. For my family.

But she could feel herself tiring, fights were hard and required stamina. She, along with Luke and Annabeth, had been killing monsters for months, but never had they fought so many at once - even if the dogs were more interested in her, rather than her family. 

They were everywhere, but that was fine, she could be everywhere too. 

As she fought, the Furies and hellhounds got in a few scratches, but it wasn’t enough to stop the daughter of Zeus. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t help but notice that the dogs had her circled. If she could break through the ranks, she could get to camp. Just one or two at a time to clear the path. Thalia lunged for a hellhound, twisting to avoid its maw, and stabbed. One of the Furies lunged for her, but she feinted to the left, causing the Fury to kill a hellhound.

Thalia saw her moment of opportunity and ran. She did her best to sprint, but she was already exhausted. Fighting wasn’t meant to take a long time, most only trained for duels or to fight off the occasional monster - Thalia was used to more than most were, but she was reaching her limit. 

So, she ran. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her. She was almost across the border, she could make it! But, she got reckless so close to her goal and didn’t notice the hellhounds still emerging from the shadows all around her. One got a well-timed lunge for her leg and then another grabbed her arm as she stumbled. There was screaming, but Thalia thought she heard yells outside of her own. I can’t stop now! 

It was at the top of the hill that Thalia fell. She half-expected people in camp to emerge and fight off the monsters in order to protect her, it wasn’t as if the fight was quiet. But no one came, and she distantly heard someone say “I’m very sorry, child.” And then, there was nothing but a black void.

There was now a tree on half-blood hill that hadn’t been there before.

She was gone. Really gone.

Luke was having a difficult time with the adjustment to not having Thalia anymore. But she was his best friend, his soulmate! He had a right to be upset and angry and lost. The two had been through so much together. They fought together, Thalia had saved his life more times than he could count. Now there was a missing piece to him. And he didn’t think he would ever find that piece again. He was broken, and he wasn’t even the one who died. I’m so pathetic .

But now he had to take care of Annabeth, of their Annie, who was way too young to have to deal with any of the shit being a demigod meant, let alone this . It was hard for the both of them and now he had to be mature for Annabeth about it? He was 12 for fucks’ sake - he should be allowed to have a breakdown. It was unfair on so many different layers. 

And of course, after years of praying to the gods and their parents, Zeus decided that he would finally grace the children by stepping in. The best course of action was obviously to turn Thalia into a godsdamn pine tree!

It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair!

The gods had no right to feel pity after everything the children had had to endure on their own. Why couldn’t the kids just be transported to camp? It couldn’t have possibly been that hard for gods to spend less than a minute to collect and transport people. There was a whole god whose deal was transportation. Help would be nice.

Not even that far. Just to the safety of camp, so that no one had to die fighting like Thalia.

Luke would give everything he had to convince the gods that half-bloods are important and should be cared for. He didn't believe it was that hard to give a shit. Hell, he had been able to give a shit about Thalia and Annabeth barely a day after he had met each of them. It wasn't a huge ask.

Luke spent the time he wasn’t crying in the training arena. He was taking out all of his anger on the poor dummies. There were almost none left but his anger was not nearly ignorable enough. He would have to do something to burn off all of his emotions so that he could be there for Annabeth. And not yell at her for something that wasn’t her fault, because that was unfair.

So, he simmered in his anger, slashing at dummies thinking Fucking gods, fucking monsters, fucking EVERYONE! 

Imagining that the dummies were monsters helped. That monsters were surrounding him and Thalia together. But together they were decimating the monsters. And doing well. Monster carcasses littering the ground, limbs scattered around from the carnage. Some monsters would disintegrate into a fine golden dust. Others would remain, left to bleed out. Blood and dust would blend together into a glittering mud, making other monsters slip and fall in similar manners.

Then, the visage melted away into a much darker reality. A Thalia-less reality. Where not all of the monsters are dead. Where the only one dead is Thalia. Who is on the hill.

He was trembling. 

He fell.

He started crying.

His bloodlust had subsided and he moved to sit in the armory - crying and wallowing.

In his tears, he wished to tell Thalia, “Thals, I just want you back,” Rising and shifting to an angry tone, he continued “if I have to kill all the gods to make them save you, I will.”

Because if they can turn her into a tree, they can turn her back and save her.

He made his way back to his new home, Cabin Eleven. Which housed neither of his sisters.

Kronos had been planning for years. All he needed was someone outside of Tartarus to orchestrate it. He had known, of course, about the sky-spawn and the sea-spawn, even if his offspring didn’t realize what was right under their noses. All he needed was one of them to control. Preferably, it would have been the eldest - he had wanted to reclaim his throne sooner rather than later, could you blame him? But either could have worked. 

It was annoying of course, when there were agents of the sea constantly watching the child of Poseidon, Perseus Jackson. He needed a demigod or such an immortal to “swoop in” and “save the day.” It was difficult, but not impossible for a being such as himself.

However, the child of Zeus (Thalia Grace, he had learned) was a separate story. She did not seem controllable, not without many safeguards. She was unreliable where the boy was pliable due to his young age. The girl had already learned her tricks and was stubborn - Thalia possessed the same quality of arrogance that her father, his son, had. She would not be so easily controlled, but that wasn’t to say she wouldn’t follow Kronos. And he did so like the idea of Zeus being overthrown by his own daughter.

So, he planned and bided his time.

For the girl, he would send as many monsters to hunt, but not kill her. He would make Thalia believe the gods didn’t care - which would not be difficult to prove. Kronos would infiltrate her dreams, planting ideas of hate and rebellion. He would talk to her, bide his time until she was finally swayed. 

The plan seemed to work fine, and in pursuit of the girl, he found the boy with her. An angry boy, with much hatred and betrayal in his heart. It was this boy that could help Kronos convince the girl, he was sure.

He applied the same measure of dream-contact to the boy, Castellan, as he did to Thalia. He influenced the boy to talk of rebellion. It did not take much to sway him, even if the boy was not yet aware of the eyes on him.

It was not working. But, Kronos could be patient - he had already waited a millenia. What was a couple more years? It was of no pressing issue, he had 8 more years until the girl was old enough.

And if the girl was not swayed, she could be dealt with by the more deadly monsters he had told to stay away. The sea-spawn was still an option. In fact, there was much more flexibility within the sea than there was the sky - the boy was the better, smarter choice if not for an old being’s sentimentality.

As for Perseus Jackson, the boy was not yet aware of his heritage. Judging by his own spies on the mother, the boy would not be made aware for many years. Kronos would use this to his advantage. He was a well connected being, but the mother was clear-sighted. There were not enough demigods under his control to make a move yet. Yet, Kronos was prepared for when such an opportunity would arise.

He would send many monsters to attack the boy while he was with his mother, but they would not be there to kill him, they would kill the boy's mother. Then, a demigod or other such being would appear as a saviour and “save” the boy from his death. A melodrama of revelation would occur as Percy is told that the gods sent the monsters - that the gods were responsible for his mother’s death. Then, the demigod would tell Perseus that he needed to be transported to safety and Perseus would be brought to Tartarus where he would be trained. It was simple. Of course, he would need to convince at least one powerful immortal to bless the child in order to survive the Pit. He had several in mind, though he hadn’t approached them yet.

If both plans coalesced, then perhaps the Castellan boy would be the “savior” of Perseus Jackson. And nothing in the prophecy said that he could not have both Thalia Grace and Perseus Jackson fighting for him.

That had been Kronos’ ideal plan: to have both children fight for him.

Unfortunately, the girl was a moot point now that she was a tree. But that could be dealt with in time.

What he wanted now was the boy and for that, all he needed was a demigod to play as 'delivery-boy.'

Castellan seemed willing to deliver.

Chapter Text

Luke didn’t know what to expect when the whispering in his mind got louder. Years ago, he was simply upset that his dad didn’t show up for him and his mom anymore. But by now, he had realized exactly who he’d been talking to for all those years. 

The Titan Lord Kronos, who was willing to give him the power to make the gods listen. Luke knew that things needed to change. He had already known that change was needed before he had even been to camp. But, Kronos pointed out, why would the gods listen to him? He was just a demigod, and the gods already held such little value in how demigods felt. Kronos told Luke that with Kronos backing him, the gods wouldn’t be able to refuse. Kronos was going to give Luke the power to create a better world for demigods.

So, when Kronos told Luke that a powerful demigod was needed, Luke was willing to do whatever was needed. He didn’t realize just what was being asked.

Killing a mortal? A mother? But, why? Can we not just take the child without killing the mother? No, you insolent child, the child must grow bitter - he does not have your knowledge of the world.

Luke wasn’t sure if he would be able to let a mortal die, but he knew that this child must be important if Kronos was willing to meddle so directly with mortal lives. Though, he wasn’t sure if the second part of the plan was a very good idea. Bringing a child to the Pit? Could it even survive? What would even happen down there? Who would train it? 

“That is where you come in, child”  Luke only had questions to respond with, “What?! Me? How?” He sputtered.

“Yes, you. I have a palace here, it should house demigods just fine . As for surviving, you are correct that the Pit is hostile towards demigods and mortals. Luckily, a blessing may be given by a Primordial. That is how the child will survive. It is how you will survive here to train him. And you will be training him, make no mistake.”

Luke hesitated, bracing himself to be yelled at, “My lord, how will the boy be transported to you? How will I be able to move in between camp and the Pit regularly? I still have responsibilities here.” 

Yelling never came. Though, Kronos responded with a tone of annoyance and condescension, as if explaining to a small child.

“You are a child of Hermes, no? You have the ability to travel the shadow roads. Use it. And yes, you must keep up appearances at your camp. You are going to be busiest in the summer, you shall spend the rest of your year training the boy. Do you understand what must be done, child?”

In a strained voice, Luke said “Yes, my lord.” Kronos did not respond.

So, Luke set about in preparation for the mission. It would have to be after the summer, when he had the most free time. The monsters had been chosen. It was decided that there should be weak and ugly monsters to scare the boy, but not difficult to kill or those who take a lot of time to reform. 

A team of telkhines, cyclopes, and harpies were assembled to work with Luke. It was agreed that the attack would take plan during Perseus’ winter break, allowing him to disappear without a trace. The school could be informed of a house move or some other excuse as to why Perseus wouldn’t return to school, aided by the Mist. 

The monsters would attack on a day while the child and his mother are out. Some of the enlisted monsters were there to deal with Poseidon’s minions, allowing Luke to ‘save’ Perseus. The rest would ‘attack’ the child and kill the mortal mother. They were to be sure that the child saw the murder of his mother. Luke would protect him, disposing of any of the monsters that get too bloodlusty. Put on a good show for the kid and any onlookers. Get the kid away, and take him to Tartarus. Explain the greek world to him, and hopefully don’t get killed. Easy peasy.

Luke assured himself that he could do it. Of course he could. He wasn’t incompetent with a sword, he was one of the best swordsmen at camp.

He just needed to remind himself of his goal: to avenge Thalia.

All of what Kronos asked of Luke was with the goal of making the gods listen in mind.

This was for Thalia, she would forgive him just like she did when they were on the run together.

Chapter Text

When Percy wook up that morning, he was practically bouncing off the walls with barely contained excitement. He and his mom had been planning on an Aquarium Day for weeks, waiting for a well-deserved day off of work. He personally loved to look at the fish and the whales, and they loved to talk to him too. Of course, his mom said not to mention that the fish liked to talk to him. He didn’t really understand why, but he would listen to his mom.

By the time they got in the car and headed off towards the aquarium, both Percy and Sally were buzzing in anticipation for the fun day ahead. 

Luke was buzzing with nerves, his scouts told him the boy that his master was interested in was vulnerable at last. It was just the child and his mother. They were supposedly going to the New York Aquarium, fitting for a child of Poseidon. That would only make the assigned task more difficult for the son of Hermes. Luke wondered if the nearby marine life would pose a danger to the plan. He ran through several options in his head for the most strategic time to act. Before they are inside of the aquarium? While they are inside or when they are leaving? Too many variables to keep track of, if only he could tell Annabeth about it. She could make sense of the messy plan and find the most strategic way to take the kid. But she was too young, and wouldn’t understand.

Luke was beginning to think that part of his issue was about the mother. He may not have had the best relationship with his own mom before he left, but he could understand that the kid didn’t have a demented mother who screamed when she saw him. Emotions were complicated, too complicated. Yet, easily manipulated.

He was ready. Nervous, but ready. Now all he had to do was make an excuse as to why he wouldn’t be locatable at camp.

Leaving from the Aquarium, Percy was raving about all of the adorable animals that he saw, waving his arms around to emphasize his thoughts. Sally was looking around, though she looked at Percy with fondness and love when it was obvious he wanted her undivided attention. But then, she stiffened. Looking up at her, Percy saw that she had paled.

“What’s wrong, mama?” He got no response from her.

Sally turned sharply around and tried to go back inside, but stopped again. Percy was very confused at this point, he couldn’t see anything wrong with the people around them.

Then, some guys in trenchcoats moved towards Sally, leaving no room to leave. Sally looked very panicked, looking around for something. Percy didn’t know what she might be looking for. Then, he saw some guys talking to each other in the distance. And they didn’t look human anymore. Neither did the creatures around Sally and Percy. Percy saw creatures that his teachers swore didn’t exist, but his mom obviously thought otherwise.

“Go away, we are under the protection of Poseidon, earthshaker, Ἀγλαοτρίαινα, Ruler of the Sea. You are not welcome here.” Sally spoke with conviction, a strong voice emerging from her smaller stature. The monsters looked slightly worried at the name and title dropping of the Sea god. But what Sally hadn’t yet noticed was the standstill of Time around her. There would be no interference from the Sea god. And so, the monsters continued their advance and began to attack the mortal woman and her child.

One of the telkines grabbed Sally by the arm, raking its claws across her skin. As she let out a scream for Percy, a harpy swooped down from above to grab Percy. The harpy ‘missed’ her prey, but herded him away from his mother. The monsters crowded around Sally, tearing into her. The monsters jeered at the “queen among mortals” now. Defenseless and weak, bleeding out. She looked pathetic with no god to save her. Dragging out the death of the mother, the monsters grabbed at her more, clawing gashes into her skin - leaving bite marks along her body. As her own blood dribbled from her body onto the cold street, Sally cried out for Percy to run.

“PERCY RUN! GET AWAY FROM HERE!” It sounded inhuman.

Percy looked on at his mother in horror. Disbelieving of her mangled state, covered in blood. Skin hanging where skin should definitely not be hanging. It was the stuff of nightmares. She was weakening. And the monsters knew that the boy had seen, so they were now allowed to truly feast.

Percy watched. He watched as monsters killed his mother, watched as her body went limp and her voice gave out, as her blood continued to flow onto the street (too much blood, too much blood). And then, Sally Jackson was dead. 

Percy was sobbing. He was screaming at the monsters. So they turned to him and he quickly realized that he was next on the menu. He tried to turn and run but slipped on blood mud. Before he could even scramble back up, one of the telkines poofed into gold dust.

And there was a figure standing behind where the monster previously stood. A blonde boy, with blue eyes, a lithe build, and a sword in hand. Continuing, the boy moved on from the first monster, slashing into a second. The monsters seemed to realize that there was someone taking them out. They began to focus on the blonde boy, striking at him. But they kept missing, he was moving too fast. There was more and more golden dust appearing, clumping together with the blood of Sally Jackson. Until no more dust fell and there were only the sounds of sobbing and breathing. Percy was shaking in shock, but looked up as the other kid approached him. And then the kid spoke

“Hey, kid. I’m Luke. Luke Castellan.” The blonde introduced himself. He gave Percy a sad sort of smile. It looked nice, despite everything. Luke walked closer to Percy, continuing to speak.

“I saw you and your mom getting attacked and tried to get over here as fast as I could. I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it in time to save your mom.” Luke crouched down to be level with Percy, who had still not gotten up. He made a sympathetic face, looking very sorry for Percy’s loss. 

“You look like you need a safe space. Especially if you were just attacked by those monsters.” Luke looked Percy up and down, making Percy feel miserable.

“What?” Percy asked in a small, shaky voice. Sniffling, Percy was looking at Luke with a confused, yet assessing gaze. As if he could sense the danger coming from Luke. After all, he did just witness Luke decimate all those monsters by himself. 

After giving an appraising look at Percy, Luke simply said, “You're a demigod, just like me. And the world isn’t safe for kids like us. Let me take you to a safe place, far from this horror.” And Luke looked so honest and kind. Safety. That was what Luke offered. What his mom used to give. And now she couldn’t. Percy looked at where her remains were. She was really gone.

“Those… monsters killed my mom?” it was such a weak voice, full of vulnerability and heartbreak. Luke looked guilt-ridden that he hadn’t come in time to save Sally. 

“Here, I think you need this.” Opening his arms, he offered Percy a hug. Percy surged forward to meet the embrace, sobbing into the arms of Luke.

Luke was fucked up, he knew that, it was a part of his reality with which he was well-acquainted. But this might have been a new level for him. He just watched a mortal be killed by monsters. And did nothing but watch. Sure, he’d seen his fair share of gore, how could you not when you lived on the streets for years? But he was never complacent with it. He never just watched and waited for his time to act before. It didn’t sit right with him.

But, if Kronos tells you that he wants you to organize a kidnapping, you say “sure!”
And that is that. So, Luke couldn’t really feel too bad, he was just doing what Kronos wanted. Though he still felt bad putting Percy through that. He was just a kid, he didn’t do anything but be born - though Luke supposed that was the crime of any halfblood.

Luke had taken Percy with him to one of the old shelters he had helped build and helped Percy get situated. Now, Percy was curled up on a sleeping mat, sleeping his day away. It would be cruel to wake him up, but Luke figured that cruelty was something necessary in the moment. Waking Percy up, Luke steeled himself to explain the Greek world to Percy. Taking a deep breath, he began to explain that yes, the Greek gods are real. And Percy is the son of the sea god. 

“You are the forbidden child of Poseidon. If any of the other Olympians catch wind of your existence? You’ll meet a worse end than your mother.” Did Luke regret bringing up the child’s mother? Almost instantly upon seeing the kid’s face darken.

Looking back up at Luke, Percy asked a pressing question, “Why am I forbidden? Do the gods hate us?”

Luke took a deep breath, preparing to answer that definitely not loaded question.

“Well, to answer your first question, the Big Three, the three eldest gods, tend to have insanely powerful kids. So powerful that it was dangerous for the mortal world too. So, the brothers swore an oath on the river Styx to not have any more demigods. Of course, as far as I’m aware only Hades has stuck to that oath. Most don’t know about you though, so you are scot-free for now.” Luke hesitated before continuing to answer the question.

“As for the gods hating us, I would say that the gods don’t experience emotions like we do. So, while they don’t hate us, they certainly don’t love us. Most gods don’t even see their kids, much less help them. And when they do see us, they only need us to do tasks.” Luke let some bitterness into his voice at that, “And when I say that the gods don’t help, I mean it. My friend Thalia. She was a daughter of Zeus. She died because he didn’t care enough to save her.” Luke clipped his words, and Percy started to shrink away.

In a very small voice, timid from his continued shock, Percy reached towards Luke and said “I’m sorry that he didn’t help, that’s not fair. The gods had us, they should take care of us.”

Luke couldn’t believe that the kids could be that easy to sway. So easy to get on his side. People at camp were always impossibly hesitant to criticize the gods. But Percy was simply unafraid of retribution.

“Where will we go now? I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“There is a special place for you to learn. As a child of the Big Three, you need to be trained. My master, Kronos, has offered to take you in. To train you, since a child of the Big Three should be powerful and skilled. I will be a part of your training.” Reaching out a hand, Luke continued, “If you’d like to go, that is.” 

Truthfully, Luke was going to take Percy anyway. The illusion of option is a great trick though, and Luke knew how to use it.

Percy looked at the suave smile Luke was offering. Looked at the outstretched hand. Looked at his options. And grabbed Luke’s hand, returning the dazzling smile with a smaller, controlled smile.

So, they walked away into the cool Spring day.