Percy Jackson : Gods Annihilation

Not to mention the skepticism of those regarding his offer to allow neutrality and to be completely fair, he hadn't shown any reason to believe it other than the fact that he once was a demigod. Yet so were Hermes and Dionysus once upon a time.

...

He sighed again frustration at the thought while waving his hand, the floating orbs returning to their places on the viewing tree. He leaned back against his icy chair, his gaze falling on the frozen pond and waterfall across from his.

The cool silence of his mindscape was usually relaxing, giving him time to step back and think about the last few days. Sometimes he would spend hours meditating and returning to his own memories from the time of being a demigod.

It was a bittersweet experience at times. Seeing himself and his trusted friends, their struggles and achievements … the manipulations of some gods. With Nyx assisting him since he wasn't a true god yet, he remembered the first time he discovered her interference and the rage that overtook him.

His vision had been nothing but a red haze until he came to, lying down with his head on Nyx's lap, the pair in the middle of a devastated valley within Tartarus, his Voidfire hungrily eating at any monsters and plants that managed to get caught in the crossfire. Even Nyx's battle armor had been dented and burnt at points but she waved off his apologies.

In the end Nyx had him repeat the exercise, testing him to keep his control to the best that he could. He was only marginally successful and having become a god, those emotions had come back with a vengeance at times.

But he was gradually working on maintaining his equilibrium and from the looks of it, he wasn't the only one. Jason's earlier near explosion was proof enough of that but luckily he'd been there to stop anything from happening. Maybe he could go and have a talk with him about it? Unless of course Jason preferred going to Amphitrite, considering everyone knew how often Jason visited her.

However, before he could further muse on the subject his head swiveled to the side as the shadows started to condense and shape up. In a manner of seconds they disperse to reveal one of his Shadows, Medusa.

Dressed in her usual short black, strapless dress, elbow length gloves, and thigh high boots with her long raven locks trailing behind her, even the red puffiness of her eyes did little to detract from her allure. But it was those red eyes and the sniffles that pulled him into action, knowing where she had just come from.

Without a word he stood up, casually dusting off some snow from his pants and coat before he stepped up to her. In one motion he enveloped her in his arms as she rested her head against his chest, her own arms quickly wrapping around his torso. Having her in his arms he lightly nuzzled against the top of her head, before whispering in his warmest tone, "It's okay."

Two words.

That was all it took from him before her entire body shook as she let out a heartbreaking sob. He didn't do anything to stop her, merely held her as she started to cry in earnest. The frustrations, pain, and fears of millennia came rolling out with every drop that hit his coat as his wings came out before slowly curling around them, holding Medusa closer to him.

For what felt like hours they remained there, one acting as a pillar of support and safety while the other let down every wall and protection, breathing in the equal parts of vulnerability and freedom.

To have finally confronted the source of her greatest pain after so long of wishful thinking. To feel as though she could truly begin to step into the future after being tied to the past for so long, and to be in the arms of her master and king. He could feel all those emotions rolling off his guardian as he held her patiently, not a hint of judgement coming from him for her display. After all, was it not so long ago that he was in that positon with Hestia, Nyx, and Rhea being there for him?

Then he would be there for his own, as he always had, be it trivial to life changing. So with that in mind he listened carefully as her cries tapered off slowly, turning into small sobs and admittedly cute hiccups. Feeling her calming down he thought only for a moment later, a couch of obsidian topped with cushions of soft snow to form behind him.

Gently pulling her with him, he sat back and wasn't surprised that Medusa followed by curling up in his lap, her head still resting against his chest. Soon enough even the sobs ceased and the pair remained silent for some time, merely taking comfort in each other's presence until Percy spoke up.

"How are you feeling now?"

Medusa glanced up at him, a tear or two still trailing down his cheek which he was quick to thumb away.

"Better," she replied softly as she leaned into his touch. "I just… It was hard to see her like that after some many years. I just couldn't bring myself to continue after a while … so I said my piece and left."

"I'll bet," he commented lightly. "But you know what?" His reply was her curious gaze so he smiled gently as he continued. "I proud that you kept yourself under control after all is said and done. That you didn't let yourself get overwhelmed with the anger you've held for so long."

"But I still hurt her," Medusa protested.

"And that is understandable, the difference being that you stopped when you could have done so much more. I can tell that you've finally let go," he said softly before murmuring lowly. "That's more than I can do at the moment."

Medusa smiled sadly at him as he said that before she leaned closer, her soft lips lightly pressing against his own as he accepted the display of affection and comfort. It was a gentle contact, little more than a back and forth of lips and nibbles as he held her close. Soon the embrace broke as Percy rested his forehead against hers, looking into her lovely green eyes, seeing the love and devotion she had for him shining in them. Honestly what would he do without her and the others?

He cared for each and every one of them and would do anything to keep them safe and happy, even at times if he doubted he was worthy of their care.

Granted whenever he voiced that thought Rhea and Hestia would take turns clocking him over the head and then spend the night showing exactly how they felt about him, and he them. He chuckled to himself remembering the last time that happened before he adjusted Medusa as she leaned against him and released a content sigh.

The day's toils had finally caught up to her and she looked like she was ready to rest. Knowing he'd been designated as the chosen rest spot he quickly got comfortable as well, idly sending a message to his wives letting them know where he was. It wouldn't be the first time he'd spent a night in his office and he sure they would understand why. Besides, tonight we would rest and tomorrow, more preparations for the next movement were to be done…

...

Next Morning

"… W-wow," Calypso said softly as she looked back at Annabeth, her face one of shock and disbelief.

"Yeah," Annabeth sighed as she sipped at the last dregs of her morning coffee, her gaze moving down from the villa patio to the beach further down as Cloelia played with some nymphs, her pig-tails flapping in the breeze. "And I plan on taking my threat to heart if I find her in the city."

"But what about the council?" Calypso asked nervously as she set her own tea cup down.

"What about them?" Annabeth retorted with a raised eyebrow. "Ares is gone, my husband can't come to her defense unless he wants me to castrate him, Dionysus doesn't have the backbone, Hermes will be indifferent, and the rest of the council either hates her or doesn't really care about her beyond a quick fuck."

"That a rather crude … and accurate way of putting it," Calypso replied with a sigh before glancing down to the playing godling as well. "But are you sure it would do with everything going on? Her children are the most numerous in both camps and they surely wouldn't take their mother's execution lying down."

Annabeth snorted before saying, "Sounds horrible but they don't have any on the caliber of 'threats' since Piper so I'm pretty sure I'm safe." She then paused and murmured softly, "If I even stay that is…"

"You mean …" Calypso said in a whisper, paling slightly as Annabeth looked back at her with steely eyes. "B-but that's treason Annabeth."

"I don't remember swearing loyalty in any recent vows," Annabeth muttered. "And besides, they've said time and time again that the only ones that need to fear are Olympians themselves and last time I checked, I'm still classed as a minor goddess."

"But what about Cloelia?" Calypso asked as she leaned forward.

"It's because of Cloelia that I'm thinking about it more and more. I saw them, the way they fought and overpowered any of us even while outnumbered. I know for a fact that they weren't even dipping into their real power only because the demigods would have gotten caught in the crossfire. We. Can't. Win." Annabeth said as her grip tightened on her mug. "So if that means turning traitor and abandoning the remaining Olympians to their fate so I can get my daughter to safety, so be it."

Annabeth then stood up, the mug disappearing in a golden flash as the young goddess glanced down at the beach and her daughter. A soft smile played on her lips before her features tightened as she looked to Calypso again.

"I'll be saying my goodbyes before heading back to New Rome to speak with Chiron and see how the city is holding up, then heading to the site of the Argos." She then turned her back, almost murmuring the next part and barely being caught by Calypso. "… and then I'm heading north alone."

Before Calypso could say anything on that Annabeth moved away, swiftly approaching her daughter. The nymph turned goddess watched on as the godling quickly noticed her mother's approach, a beaming smile on her face as she all but launched herself into her mother's arms.

Annabeth caught the little blonde missile with easy, spinning her around and peppering her face with kisses much to Cloelia's giggling delight. Calypso watched silently as Annabeth set her daughter down before dropping to a knee and letting her know that she was leaving again.

It was easy to see the little girl's sadness and want for her mother to stay but being a smart little one she could understand enough to know Annabeth simply had to go. Through some tears and a last kiss on the forehead Annabeth left in a golden flash, the nymphs waiting by quickly coming to get Cloelia's attention away from her mother's departure.

Calypso sighed as she stood as well and turned back into the villa, walking in and towards the kitchen, her mind on Annabeth's last words. Once she arrived at the kitchen she paused at the sink, her fingers idly tapping in Morse Code as she wondered how things would progress now?

Seeing Annabeth actually considering the idea of turning sides, even if solely for the purpose of keeping her daughter safe, was rather unnerving. Annabeth had always been one of the firmer gods, being sure footed and able to make sound judgment even in tense conditions.

Now with the revelations about Percy left Calypso with much doubt about the Olympians and this war. A war that had also dragged her husband into it when he didn't need to be part of it for any reason, just like the demigods being pulled into it as well.

She still remembered the days after her final release and reuniting with Leo even though Percy had just disappeared. How the millennia of solitude and suffering, being forced to helplessly fall in love with every hero that found her island only for them to have to leave for a greater destiny, leaving her heartbroken every time.

All her tears, nights spent tossing and turning, each morning wondering what if, only for her sudden release and the Olympians causally dismissing her to do as she wished. As if her release hadn't been them being forced by their savior but some hidden goodness of their hearts.

If all her unjust suffering could be brushed off with such ease, then just how many other wrongfully punished were also disregarded and forgotten without so much as a "we're sorry" from the council. Now it seemed that their forgotten misdeeds were coming to haunt them and debts were finally being collected with interest.

She was under no illusion that much of the council's actions had been absolutely horrendous and though she didn't voice it, she was glad Ares was out of the picture. It was a small mercy that the war god hadn't been born yet or made aware of the location of Ogygia … Chaos knows what he would have done to her otherwise.

Glancing out the window over the sink she caught a direct line of sight to Cloelia, watching as she played with two nymphs as they splashed together in the shallows of the beach.

Her goddaughter.

It had been an unexpected surprise when Annabeth named her as such but in retrospect, perhaps not. Annabeth had become distant from the other demigods in the recent years and since Nico, Jason, and Thalia all disappeared only months into Annabeth's term, they hadn't been there for the birth.

Annabeth had also been incredibly careful about who she would entrust her daughter to should she be absent for whatever reason and with the track records of the Olympians, her list of potential candidates had been small but Calypso had still been touched that she was the first choice amongst those candidates.

However she always wondered why was it that Annabeth never named a godfather and wouldn't let Apollo pick one either. Granted even while married and with a kid, Apollo was still firmly in the frat boy mentality so it wasn't really a surprise his opinion was rarely considered in regards to his child though one would think he'd be far more attentive to his first godly child. It seemed that millennia of a certain mindset couldn't be undone in a small decade.

Regardless of the gods and their shortcomings, now Calypso had to think beyond them or herself and consider her responsibility to the demigods that sought her out for guidance as well as the safety of her goddaughter.

If given the chance, would she take the opportunity to not only leave New Rome and the Olympians behind while taking Cloelia with her? What would her husband say? Could she even convince him as well?

All those thoughts and questions plagued her mind as she continued to watch as her goddaughter played, blissfully ignorant of the complexity of the world around her…

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Don't forget to throw some power Stones, to keep the story going.

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