Chapter Text
Grandiose golden doors tower above even Dionysus as he flashes in front of Olympus's council room. The scent of wine trails behind him as he pushes it open. The god doesn't bother asking if Athena wishes to enter first, not when she's holding those scentless items.
At least he doesn't have to get rid of the disguise he wears in front of the campers this time. The crackle of lightning highlights their entrance, cold and demanding. He dips into low bow as Zeus demands, but Athena merely nods. Yet there's no thunder demanding her compliance, favoritism at its finest. Swirling wine colored eyes dart to the rest of the thrones, seeing the respective gods sitting in them.
The thrones are set up to about ¾ of a circle, so each them faces someone else except Zeus. A subtle power play, and admittedly, a pretty good one. Either way, the most important thing is that all of them answered his call. Vines grow and curl around his arms as he flashes into his seat. The silent flap of an owl's wings tells him that Athena does the same. Three taps of the master bolt sends a stinging current throughout the room, signaling the start of the meeting.
"Dionysus, why have you called this meeting?" Golden eyes —matching Kronos's if Luke was any indication— that were tainted by the power of the master bolt, burrow into him. The bitter scene of ozone oppressing his rich wine essence.
"Father, someone has stolen one of the heroes of Olympus."
"All of this over a mortal? This could've been privat-"
Athena choose to speak up now, restrained anger tight within her voice, "My daughter, architect of Olympus, has been taken. My claims wiped and her stuff markless."
With this, the fidgeting of the room pauses. Luckily for Annabeth, she's well liked in Olympus due to her job as the architect, and of course, her other titles. If it had been any normal camper, he wouldn't have bother calling anyone except the parent. Not because he didn't care, but because they wouldn't.
But more importantly, something that could completely wipe out a claim on a favored child of a god was dangerous. Disbelief started to creep into different colored eyes, and he could tell that they were losing them. His eyes meet gray one across the room, and she reluctantly nods. Talons hesitate around the two items, but eventually she relinquishes one to be passed around. The drakon sword, one that Athena personally blessed in their fight with the giants, was sent around. While Annabeth's Yankees cap remains clutched within her grasp.
Reactions were similar to his own, disgust and horror marring each of their faces as their hands brushed against the sword. Not even Hera had dared to touch upon the claims on Percy when she took him. Which is why none of them believe that any god would do this. A small rumble shakes the coast of Mexico as Poseidon handles the sword. Dionysus knows that he's gotten closer to Annabeth, if only for his favorite mortal son.
But the fact she acts nearly identical to a much younger Athena —according to those who were around her back then— is somehow working in her favor. Maybe the rumors about the goddess's childhood were more truthful than he thought.
As the sword loops back to Athena, all eyes turn back to him for answers. Hermes's ever twitching wings flare out as he asks the question on everyone's mind, "Has anyone else been taken? Do we know if she'll be the only one?"
Dionysus shakes his head, "Only Annabeth has been taken right now. If this will continue has yet to be seen. She must've been taken between when she fell asleep to when her items were found."
A rumble of thunder signals Zeus's statement, "Then we should wait, there is no need to alert the others and spread unnecessary panic now."
"But Father, the longer we wait, the less likely Annabeth will be found-"
"Athena! I have made my judgment, we shall reconvene when more information has been found." The master bolt crackles when he raises it but just as he's about to bring it down, an Iris message appears in front of the council. Chiron is seen pacing nervously on the porch of the big house back at camp, his hand clutched tightly around something. When the mist solidifies, he turns to face the council.
"Dionysus, we have an issue. Percy has been taken, Riptide was found floating in the creek and I cannot sense any claims from it." Sea stills, before exploding into a tsunami on the coast of Hawaii. Salt starts encrusting the bottom of every throne, cracking and crystallizing in an endless cycle. He can hear the uneasy murmuring from the rest of the gods, can feel the instinctive growl building at the back of his throat. He was just talking with Percy, had left him unattended to call this meeting. Couldn't even leave a piece of his consciousness to guard the camp, because of Zeus's stupid rule that the entirety of a god has to attend meetings.
Theater splits off, teleporting back to camp and grabbing Riptide to bring back for Poseidon. Webbed hands snatch it out of the partial consciousness's hand, before he rejoins Dionysus. The muttering in the room grows louder, anxiety on who's next, running through them.
Because if the strongest demigod in this era, maybe even through entire Greek history, could be taken… Then none of their children are safe. Their war traumatized children who are just beginning to heal. The gods may act callous, but at their core, they are very possessive beings. If anything, the ancient laws are set in place to protect the demigods no matter how meaningless they seem.
He should know, the wraith that filled him when Castor died nearly made him damn the ancient laws and wipe out the entire hill. If it wasn't for the others watching him, then he would've taken the backlash. That's why sponsoring for Camp Half-Blood was considered a cruel punishment, you may be able to raise your kids but you can't save them.
It's worse in this era, where they had no choice but to become attached due to the wars as their children became more bitter and jaded. They've been getting better, but not as forgiving or loving anymore. He gets a very personal view as every demigod —no matter which side they came from— who've been through any of the wars comes to him for therapy. At least until the therapists from New Rome could visit.
Shark fangs snap furiously as waves curl possessively around the small pen. For a second, Dionysus thinks Zeus was gonna ask to check the pen for claims. Which would've ended in a terrible fight, yet he only sends over a cloud to comfort his brother. It's such a domestic sight that Festivity nearly questions if whoever has been taking demigods had replaced Zeus. The sea stops, if only for a second, before turning deceptively calm. Glowing sea green eyes, that reminds the god so much of the stolen camper, scan the room before demanding, "I'm going to find them. And once I do, I will kill whoever took him."
The declaration is merely met with understanding silence, even a solemn nod from Athena. Zeus breathes in, clearly bracing to say something that will ruin this moment, "You may, but the council will not help you."
The depths of the sea presses down in the room, a foreign essence among the skies. A snarl is ripped from the sea god, his new angular fish's lure flashing dangerously. Clawed webbed hands dig into his throne, glaring at Zeus, "My son, the only hero to ever become savior of Olympus twice over, was taken. And you want to ignore it?"
"Brother, we cannot handle another fight with something of this power after two wars. The demigods even less so, maybe it would be-"
"SHUT UP! I don't have a mortal child for you to threaten this time! Do not finished that sentence unless you want an entirely different fight on your hands. Do you think I wouldn't notice your fear? Percy is the closest demigod to ascension since Dionysus. And we all know that Annabeth would follow him anywhere after what he's done for her. With their notoriety among demigods, you're worried they would raise them into Olympian power. Never mind about how the minor gods adore Annabeth for genuinely respecting them when rebuilding their homes and temples. If this was one your kids, you would've demanded we rally armies to get them back."
The master bolt crackles in Zeus's hand, his anger powering it to a blinding white, "So what? Perseus and his group of friends are a threat! The Seven and camp leaders have been gaining too much divinity for demigods, one push for any of them to ascend and they'll all start following. We can't have that much new blood."
His eyes swings towards Athena, one who supported this idea before when it was just Percy. Now, the real question if she'll do it again against the daughter she wronged. And she… hesitates for a millisecond before nodding slowly.
Dionysus winces, knowing how Zeus would take anything that wasn't immediate obedience as a sign of overthrowing. Despite it what it must looked like, he does remember her part in that one time they tried to overthrow him. He just needed a scapegoat for Hera and Poseidon to move their anger to when it couldn't be him.
Lightning and thunder booms overhead, winds kicking up into a miniature tornado, "Daughter, we have basically a whole war council ascending. Do not forget your wisdom within your emotions. With us weakened and those demigods strengthened? Their resentment? Their anger? The entire Greek and Roman world knows how you've managed to send their most beloved pair of leaders, Annabeth and Percy, into Tartarus. Who do you think would be first on their list?"
The gentle scratching of pens in the background stops, fading away as Athena nods resolutely and resumes the general posture she had accidentally dropped. The only sign of her discomfort is the downward tilt of her helmet plume. Multiple eyes bounce back and forth the pair, watching as she lowers her stance.
With that, Dionysus sighs internally, the two most wronged parents have been separated. That mention of Tartarus was a calculated attack, one that had Poseidon stilling, a well placed reminder of their issues. And the sea does not easily forgive, especially for one who has damned a son of the seas to a fate none should bear. Never mind when taking account whatever beef Triton has with her.
It was really no surprise when the meeting ended soon after, not a single thing done. The vote ended in 2 to 10, saving the demigods as the minority. The room quakes when Poseidon leaves, sea green eyes glaring at each one of them. But they calmed as they met his wine purple, the only other one to vote to save them. Even if Athena's plume dropped further when she raised her barely trembling hand to vote. Honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if she's doing her own search away from the council's eyes later. The rest of the council leaves in similar fashions, worry marring their faces instead of glaring. He about to let the vines take him, when the sharp clap of lightning halts him.
Zeus beckons him over when he sees Dionysus stopped teleporting. Can't disobey a king after all. A hand lands on his shoulder, heavy and commanding, "Son, I want you keep an eye on the demigods. See how they react without the pair leading, and if they can be brought back to reason." To become loyal to the gods and the gods only goes unsaid. "And I've talked to the Romans who know, they've agreed to keep this silent from the rest. It should stay that way, right?"
This was a warning, his father never called him his son without wanting something from him. And he just showed his hand by supporting Poseidon. If wants to get back into Zeus's good books then he has to follow his order. Dionysus nods, slipping back into drunkard mask he loves and hates in equal measures. The sharp snap of a director's clapperboard marks his arrival back to camp.
It was dinner time so he was surprised when Chiron was still pacing on the porch of the big house, tail stilling as he catches sight of the god. He was a little less surprised at the sight of demigods ignoring dinner to wait for the gods' judgment. The centaur hurriedly trots over as Dionysus smudges the stains on his shirt, "Has the council come to a decision?"
"We've been ordered to ignore the issue."
He reels back, hooves stomping in surprise. The soft murmuring of the demigods become gasps and angry shouting. Whoops, too bad about Zeus's request. Instead turning to face either of the two immortals, the campers all turn towards the counselors. Not a new habit, not when they had no one else to turn to during either war. Chiron may not have said anything, but Dionysus knows that he's been sitting down more and more. Personally, he doesn't think the old horse would croak from this yet. Clarisse claps twice, silencing the noise. She has become the camp's de facto leader when Percy and Annabeth are gone, not unsurprising due to how many quests the pair had to go on.
"Settle down! They'll be fine eventually, if they can get out of Tartarus together, then they can come back from this. For now, we hold camp until they come back. I don't want to see any solo movement anymore, that's what got Prissy taken. Pick a partner, or pick five for all I care, but no more moving by yourself. Counselors, make sure your cabin has partners and join up with only one other person. All of us have to be as available as we can be."
The crowd starts splitting off into groups of all sizes, while the counselors start marking down who's with who. Dionysus's wine eyes follow Pollux as he pairs up with Connor when Travis goes with Katie. It's really no wonder how each of them are traveling down the path towards divinity when they act like that.
Trust basically pours out of the younger campers' eyes, the steady belief that they will be cared for in the counselors' hands. Sure, the Seven might be hurtling down the path to godhood, Percy especially, but the ones left behind are still following along as they always do. Following their generals like loyal soldiers.
With the camp taken care of, he has one other thing to do before acting like the usual camp director again. The waves of the beach churns dangerously as the god forms on the edge of them, a can of diet coke in hand. The brown carbonated liquid is easily washed away into the sea as he pours it out, but it'll do its job nicely. The salty air strengthens as the water movement becomes purposeful, more deliberate. He doesn't even shift as the ocean surges into one point, falling to reveal Poseidon.
With that claimless pen still in hand, and his trident in the other, the god was a juxtaposition of fatherly love and protective rage. The sea's very depths swirls in his eyes, no longer that familiar sea green from before. A demand falls from Sea when he see him, "The creek. He was taken in the creek, there could be someone who saw something there."
Madness nods, simply stating. "Dryads and nymphs like to hang around that area."
The two of them are whisked away, forming at the creek where Percy was taken. Multicolored heads start peering out at the sight of the two gods. Perking up and coming closer as Dionysus beckons them forward. The smell of wine starts to condense in the area, calling out more, "Hello, we were wondering if anyone saw the abduction of the boy with sea green eyes and black hair?"
The diverse group starts looking around, muttering and shaking heads. There was a lot of admissions of staying away from him due to how angry he was. He couldn't blame them, not after the glimpse he got when Percy brought back Annabeth's stuff. Poseidon doesn't seem to share the same sentiment as his eyes darken further into the Mariana trench. He was about to tell him to calm himself when a hand shoots up among the crowd. A sharp finned nymph looking at them, "I didn't manage to see much but I was resting near the banks when I saw him."
Impatient as always, Poseidon surges forward to ask more questions, "What was he doing? Did anyone else grab him? Was it group or a single person? Their features?"
The nymph shakes their head, "None of that. He was just… standing there mopingly while staring at the water. Then his head snapped up suddenly, like something caught his eye. That's seemed to awakened him or something because he just jumped into the water and started swimming like a madman. He stopped roughly about there," their hand comes up to gesture vaguely at the middle of the creek, "and brought both of his hands up like he was grabbing something."
Well, Dionysus was stumped. Not a clue other than seemingly some kind of illusion magic. It doesn't look like Poseidon has any other idea either as he looks on confusedly at where the nymph pointed to. None of these kids can catch a break huh.
The other's magic slips off of an invisible form like water, hardly a deterrent against the treasures hidden beneath. Void like eyes greedily taking in the life forces running about. Dozen of perfectly normal half mortal and half gods were stored in this camp. A few them even held speckles of gold lining their fate strings. More importantly, they could practically taste the abundance of belief and worship in the air. None of that stale reality feel in the huge living areas outside from here.
The swirling of primordial essence condenses into a tiny form, one matching size of the many children running around. Inky black hair with dust that looks like constellations, if one looks too closely, fall at the edges of their vision. Insanity and Sea are clearly somewhere in the forest, not even splitting off to keep watch over these precious lives. Further beyond, near the other end of the barrier they could sense Wisdom lingering about. Never mind of the others who weren't even here. How useless. Can't even appreciate the stars they have. No matter, it'll only make taking the rest easier. A blood red string catches their eye, its thread fraying and twisted. With how the other strings linger near it, its probably another connector thread like the gray one from earlier.
Good, if they can make that string go next… Then it'll be easier to take more with the rest of this Fate's tapestry loose. It's a necessity after all, to have believers, especially in the future of a godless world.