Jason's POV
I have never seen anything like this.
Everyone was crying. Everyone.
I watched his shroud go up in flames with bleary eyes. I couldn't believe he died all alone, in the dark. Victor was still crying his eyes out. Annabeth's eyes were dark and haunted, looking at Percy's shroud going up in flames. The burning blue satin smelled of the sea. Maybe some magic of the fates.
All the Olympians were here with Chaos. Even Ares had his head bowed to the burning pile of wood. All the gods were in black, simple clothes- even Aphrodite. Posiedon's eyes were red. Athena and Apollo were comforting Annabeth and Victor. Apollo wasn't having much luck though. Hera had her hands put together as if she was praying. Zeus stared at the burning wood with blank eyes as if he didn't know how to feel. Demeter was with Hera, her arm around her shoulders. Hermes was with Luke, holding hands. Artemis was in her older form, her luminous eyes following the smoke that was now dissapearing into the thin morning air.
Percy was dead.
I looked down, hiding my tears. Piper grabbed my hand. I knew I couldn't take on this huge responsibility of camp. It was impossible. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Chaos.
His face wams hard and determined.
"Don't worry."
I didn't know what he meant, but I took it in as a effort to comfort me. I looked back down at the ground.
I didn't have the right to look at his shroud.
~
The 5 days were blank and blearly.
Nobody really tried to do anything. Many of the older kids didn't eat. Nico had locked himself up, only letting Bianca and Hazel in the cabin. After a few days, usual camp activities were going on, but camp seemed so dull and dead. Maybe because of the dreary sky and beach. I stared at the strawberry fields, worrying about the money we would need. How did Percy do this? Luke was at Chaos planet and there had been one IM saying he was busy. He also had sent pictures of all the citizens grieving for Percy.
"Hey."
Leo plopped on the chair in front of me. The dark circles under his eyes were more prominent. He smiled wearily.
"How's everything going?"
"Horrible."
He tinkered with a few gears and metal pieces.
"I guess thats the same for everybody."
I sighed and leaned back. "I wonder how Percy did this."
"... I wonder why Percy had to die."
"It's the way of life, I guess."
"I hate the way of life."
We were silent for a while. Then, Hazel came running.
"Nico- he wants you to come."
~
Nico was pouring coke into a pit.
There were a few happy meals next to him. Nico looked a bit scary with his sleepless eyes and pale complexion. There was the rest of the seven and even Luke.
"... Why do you need so much food?"
"He's a strong spirit. He needs a lot."
"I admit he eats like a satyr."
Nico scowled but didn't say anything. After picking out the toys in the happy meal, he dumped it all in the coke. He mumbled something in an odd language, and the air seemed to get colder. Ghosts appeared around the pit. Nico held out his sword, and Annabeth did the same with her knife, keeping spirits away. It was the same after a while, and Nico was getting impatient. Then, all the spirits dissapeared. Hades appeared over the coke, making it evaporate. His fiery eyes scanned all of us.
"... Father-"
"Perseus does not wish to be summoned."
Nico narrowed his eyes. "What?"
Hades's eye twitched. "I came personally just to say he won't meet you."
There was a dangerous edge to his tone. Nico scowled but knelt along with the rest of us. Hades sighed.
"Maybe sometime later." he tried to comfort us.
Nico didn't look up. Hades frowned, but he dissapeared into the shadows, the pit filling itself up with coarse dirt. Nico plopped onto the ground, crying silently. Bianca put an arm around him. Annabeth kicked the dirt ruefully and sheathed her dagger. I watched Nico's scrawny back convulse with sobs.
"... We can try this later Nico."
Everyone started leaving, only leaving Nico and Bianca. I sighed.
"He must have a reason."
"He doesn't want to see me." he said flatly.
"I'm sure he wants to see you. He must have his reasons."
He stood up, wiping his eyes.
"I'm never calling on him again."
~
Going up the elevator was too dreary.
Piper held my hand tight. Annabeth and Victor were talking to each other in hushed voices. The elevator opened with a pleasnt ding.
The streets of olympus were as breath taking as usual. Glowing, magical, and beautiful. But the statue that stood by the shining golden road seemed to take all the glory.
We hurried past the statue and to the throne room. The doors swung open to the 12 Olympians, Hades, and Chaos. There was Hestia by the flames in her 12 year old form. Chaos smiled and spread his arms to us.
"Welcome."
Nico scowled at the primordial but bowed along with us. Reyna scanned the primordial with her black volcanic eyes.
Zeus's eyes didn't leave Chaos. Chaos smiled serenely.
"I have a deal to make."
I looked up at Chaos's eyes. Completely black.
"I asked all my citizens. Asked them to vote. Asked them-" he paused dramatically.
"If they would like Perseus to be their immortal Commander."
It took some time to get this through our heads.
Immortal?
"Wait.... That means-"
"I have made a bargain with Hades a long time ago. I get to take whoever I want from the underworld, and Hades gets a piece of my power."
"Hades!!" Zeus thundered.
Hades shrugged.
"How-"
"Brother. Do not worry. I will never be as strong as you are." he said.
Zeus seemed to calm down. Chaos glanced at the two gods before resuming.
"I have never taken Perseus from the underworld, nor Thaila. I can recruit them into my army."
"... Then... Percy won't die?"
"Yes. I plan to make him the immortal Commander of my own army. You know, the killing is getting old. And Perseus did a great job. The citizens think the same."
"You're going to do it right now?"
"If you want it." he said to Annabeth.
We didn't need to say a word. The faint form of Thaila could be seen, shimmering. I took a step closer to my sister. It felt surreal, seeing her dead and coming back alive. Her eyes opened.
"Jason?"
I hugged her tight, tears rolling down ny cheeks. My feelings seemed to choke me, not letting me say anything. After the short reunion, we got everything explained. She accepted the place of a soldier.
And for Percy.
Chaos closed his eyes. I could see Percy faintly, and I couldn't breathe. Most of his scars had dissapeared.
And his wings were back.
Chaos frowned. Percy flickered. Hades stood up abruptly.
"Lord Chaos-"
"No. Wait."
I looked at Chaos with wide eyes. His face was scrunched up, his eyes glaring at the flickering form.
"... Whats wrong?"
"Nothing."
His form suddenly sharpened. He opened his eyes.
"Chaos."
His voice was sharp. Chaos forced a smile.
"Perseus-"
"No Chaos."
He sighed. "Perseus."
Percy looked around the throne room carefully. His eyes met Annabeth's. Tears rolled down his cheeks freely when his eyes met hers. He forced a smile and opened his arms.
Annabeth knew what it meant.
She threw herself in his arms, sobbing. Percy sighed, patting her back.
"I'm sorry."
Annabeth was practically melting onto him.
"I hate you!"
He looked down at her hair.
"I'm sorry."
~
Chaos's POV
"Now I get it."
I stared at Perseus's face.
"Theo was reborn."
I didn't know what to say. Even as the creator of the universe, Perseus could make me speechless.
"You wouldn't of taken me back if Theo was there."
"Of course."
He sighed. "So. You want me to be your immortal Commander."
"Not only that."
He raised an eyebrow. "What."
"The heir. My heir."
He raised both eyebrows. "You want me to be Chaos."
"Not now- I won't put that much pressure onto you. I'll show you what you need to do, everything I know, everything I don't know, and everything I'm doing. It'll take a long time, a very very long time, but I know you're the one."
"This is the new age Percy."
He stared at me.
"So I'll be the immortal Commander of the Chaos Army till.... I become you."
"Yes."
"Are you giving me an offer?"
"Of course."
He took a deep breath. "Alright. But do me a favor."
"Yes?"
"Build Annabeth and I a house at a nice place. Keep monsters away from there. Also, put two portals- one to Camp Half Blood, one to Camp Jupiter."
It sounded pretty fair to me.
"Okay."
He smiled slightly. "Now I have to go."
"Go where?"
"To propose to Annabeth."
I smiled. "Good luck."
He smirked at me before slipping out the door.
He'd do a good job.