Chapter Text
Author's Note - Y'all I'm on a writing kick right now. Granted, this chapter's a tad choppy but I think it works nicely for what we needed. Thank you all for the comments! I'm so glad you love this story as much as I do! As a thank you, here's three different POVs. Enjoy. On to the story!
Chapter 10: When the Messengers Run Wild
Hermes
“I’m sorry, Hermes.” Was the first thing Aunt Hestia said to Hermes as he powerwalked to the throne room. She matched his pace as the other Olympians started to filter in. Apollo and Dionysus whispered off to the side of room, looking at him like he was a ticking bomb about to explode. Meanwhile, Aphrodite sat on her throne and filed her nails, blatantly ignoring all of Uncle P’s attempts to talk to her about something. The sea god looked quite stressed if the vice-grip on his trident was anything to go by.
“Not your fault.” He grunted, his jaw tight with anger. “We should have put a muzzle on Chiron before we left.” Leave it to Chiron to wait three days before IM'ing Dad that a quest had been issued to Camp Half-Blood.
“He is not a dog, Hermes.”
“Then he should stop acting like a bitch!” The unimpressed look she leveled at him would have buried him alive if looks could kill. “I’m sorry.” Hermes apologized softly, fully ignoring George’s snickering.
Her gaze softened, patting his upper arm in comfort. “She’ll be alright.” With one quick squeeze, the goddess of the hearth moved to her spot at the flames. His knee bounced impatiently as they waited for Dad and Hera to finally show up.
Sally was still in Connecticut with May, Luke and the two campers from his cabin. He knew where she was. But an ominous feeling had fallen over him that he couldn’t shake off.
“You need more corn.” Demeter said flippantly to him. Fates, someone smite him already. The last thing he needed was to deal with Demeter’s grain obsessed lecturing right now. But it was his lack of a response that drew more concern from everyone that had no idea what was going on. Even Ares stopped sharpening his pocketknife as the tension and anxiety grew thicker around the messenger god.
Your mask is slipping. Mercury chimed in. No shit, Sherlock.
Shut up.
Athena raised a brow to him. “What’s wrong? Eris let Hecate enchant your returns again?”
“If only.” Dionysus, the bastard, chimed in from across the room. As a response, he flipped him the bird.
You can’t ignore the truth forever.
Be quiet. Hermes snapped back at his Roman self.
“Hermes.”
“Sorry Aunt Hest-”
That's when Dad thundered into the room, Hera snapping at his heels. “You fool! Do you have any idea of the mess you create?” The queen screeched. “And for that cun-”
“This discussion is finished.”
“Like hell it-”
“Hera!” Dad roared at her, completely forgetting about the rest of the Olympians in their material spat. Granted, their fights were a common occurrence. Literally the best reality tv show on Olympus. Apollo summoned popcorn, offering some to Artemis, who decline with a head shake. “This discussion is over. We have more pressing matters to attend to.”
Hera sneered at him. “If you won’t fix this, I will.” Remember that ominous feeling Hermes had, yeah, it just tripled in size. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Dad didn’t look happy but he just waved her away in a dismissive manner. “Fine.” He sat and lightning flashed across the ceiling. “Hestia, your report on this new quest. ”
“Thank you, brother. As you know...” Hermes zoned out as Hestia spoke. She had gotten to the part where the mummy crashed the council meeting when -
A rush of energy hit him. A sacrifice. The pilum formed at the base of his throne. It was only by the grace of the Fates that the rest of the Olympians were too locked in on Aunt Hestia’s story to notice it.
Her- Lord Mercury. Sally. He could see her in his mind. Her beautiful eyes were bloodshot. Rage filled every essence of his being. Herald of Olympus, God of Messengers, Thieves and Mercenaries.
"A prophecy?! A new Oracle?! APOLLO!"
Please accept this blessed spear of the bravest woman I ever met. Lydia Jones, the legacy of Bellona. Camp Half-Blood read bold across her chest but the energy radiating off of her screamed that of the Legion. Imperial gold shined against her hips.
Aunt Hestia was right. By the Fates, Sally wasn’t a mortal afterall.
"... May Castellan tried 7 years ago to become the host of the Oracle of Delphi." He was deaf to the chaos breaking out in the throne room. For once, he didn’t fight Mercury for control. The situation was too dire.
"... She has given us a new prophecy...”
I ask that you give me the strength to save Chiara and her babies, the sons of Dionysus.
“...thanks to the efforts of Vanessa De La Cruz and Casper Montague of the Hermes Cabin..."
There are other demigods who have been kidnapped and brainwashed here. I-
“They should be rewarded for their efforts.”
I won’t be able to free them but Olympus needs to see what is happening to their children in this building. Instantly, the two sides of the messenger god merged. Their energy sped across the Earth until they found her. New York. Sally was in the city. In a building they previously could not see.
"Rewarded?"
They need to know. A purple circle encasing a golden triangle. A triumvirate.
A false god.
A man who should be burning in the Field of Punishment.
Nero.
"If this new oracle spoke of a prophecy then that's their reward, isn't it?"
Camp Half-Blood needs to know.
"The prophecy isn't theirs."
Please, Lord Mercury,
“It belongs to someone else, who isn’t a camper.”
I need you.
Hermes and Mercury roared in tandem. George and Martha hissed in harmony as his blessing claimed her. The messenger god leapt out of his throne. Caduceus raised, the herald slammed his staff through the hearth. The flames reached the ceiling and fanned out to allow an Iris Message to take shape. Every hearth on Olympus and Camp Half-Blood heard her call.
There, in the flames, wrapped in their blessing, guns of imperial gold in each had, was Sally Jackson.
The Aeneas.
Aphrodite
Love, Aphrodite knew, was the most power magic there ever was and ever will be. Without love, there was no life, no death. Nothing could survive without love. Love came in every form, touched every being. Immortals and mortals have done many great things and horrors in the name of love.
Love, Aphrodite knew, conquered all.
It was why her love gods worked so closely with the Fates. Many, including the Olympians, scoffed at her power but what her fellow Olympians didn’t realize was that fate was never set in stone. Fate was a tapestry, woven and unwoven with every decision the person makes until finally, the thread is snipped. And the driving force for all decisions was love.
Love of another. Love of family. Love of self.
Every war, every treaty, every oath, every betrayal.
But it was rare for Aphrodite to be called in to weave fate. Usually, Eros, Anteros and Ganymede handled most of the boatload with the others assisting as needed. But the birth of Thalia Grace led the Fates to summon Aphrodite to tea. Daughter of Zeus, a rarity for sure, but ultimately deemed unacceptable to be the child of the Great Prophecy, through no fault of her own.
The Fates were firm on this. If the Great Prophecy was to happen, two requirements must happen. First, the child’s mother must have unconditional love for her offspring. The second, the mother must have Roman blood but just enough so that the mother and Poseidon (who they all agreed was the right choice to sire of this hero) had no idea of her true heritage. When Aphrodite raised concerns about that specific requirement, the Fates had insisted that it must be done.
Now that was a challenge, even for her. Despite New Rome’s plethora of legacies, none fit the bill. Then Aphrodite remembered her own legacy. Estelle Lovett, great granddaughter of Venus, had child with Jim Jackson, great-great grandson of Apollo.
A daughter once named Salacia, now called Sally. A daughter who would have been raised in New Rome and served in the Fifth Cohort had her parents not abandoned New Rome in the summer of 1975, after Michael Varus became Praetor and Richey Jackson, her augur uncle, foresaw the cohort’s massacre in five years' time. A daughter who by all means was considered a clear-sighted mortal, especially since her family did everything in their power to tell her that monsters weren’t real.
A daughter, who despite all of the death and hardships in her life, still loved fiercely and unconditionally.
Yes, Sally Jackson was to be the mother of the hero who would bear the Great Prophecy.
In fact, Aphrodite considered the birth of Perseus Jackson to be one of her crowning achievements. One worthy for her legacy, since her and Venus were one and the same. Her legacy would raise the greatest hero of this millennium, the Fates had decreed. Quite fitting when you consider that Aphrodite was the eldest and most powerful of the Olympians, despite what the others believed.
So when her loving but foolish son, Anteros, interfered that fateful day on the streets of Broadway, not even Aphrodite, who knew more about fate than Apollo did, could have anticipated what happened next.
“Please don’t be mad.” Anteros pleaded. “Mother, I had no idea-”
“Clearly.” She snapped back at her son. “Sally Jackson’s fate was set. Woven and snipped. I watched Atropos cut the thread myself. Falling in love with Hermes was never on her path!”
“But I didn’t even shoot an arrow at them.” Aphrodite paused her rage. What? The god of requited continued his explanation. “All I did was change the address of the solstice party that Hermes was going to. Look, Hermes had been miserable since the Castellan girl got messed up by the oracle and I saw how much of a positive effect Sally Jackson had on Pops.” Anteros gave a helpless shrug. “I thought he could use a friend. I didn’t have to do anything, Ma, their love was already there. Hades, Eros could shoot an arrow at either of them and the love would stay. It’s like-”
“They were destined to meet.” Aphrodite turned in shock as Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos entered her office unannounced. They never came to Olympus, unless absolutely necessary. Unless the fate of Olympus was at risk. Lachesis continued talking. “An evil has resurfaced.”
“We have work tirelessly, reweaving the threads.” Clotho said.
“Such a pain.” Atropos grunted, her bony arms cradling a folded-up tapestry. “But necessary all the same.”
“The disrespect cannot stand.” Lachesis muttered.
“And the children of Olympus have been divided for far too long.” The Fates said in unison.
“Anteros has done us a great service.” Her son blushed at the compliment from Atropos. “An opportunity to herald a new age.”
Clotho nodded. “Aeneas must sail again. This time, as a mother.”
The goddess of love blinked at them in shock. “You wish to make Sally Jackson the Aeneas?” Instead of answering her, Atropos unfolded the tapestry.
A gasp ripped out of her. “No way.” Anteros muttered in shock. She reached forward, tracing her fingers against the reworked tapestry of Sally Jackson.
“She is of your blood.” She snapped her head up to lock in with the calculating gaze Lachesis’ sent her. “Your Roman blood. Apollo’s Roman blood only adds to the girl’s potential.”
“Her son will bring much change to Olympus.” Clotho said. “But for this to truly succeed, the demigods must thrive. The current status quo of Camp Half-Blood cannot remain.”
“Really?” Aphrodite lifted a delicate brow. “Do you intend to kick Chiron to the curb?”
“Perhaps.” said Atropos.
“Perhaps not.” said Lachesis.
“But one thing will be certain.” Clotho exclaimed. “Salacia Jackson, legacy of Venus and Apollo, mother of Perseus, shall be the Aeneas. The mother who preserves.”
Aeneas, her beloved son. The hero of Troy. The father of Rome.
The other Olympians used her son’s name as a codeword for when the Greek and Roman demigods crossed paths.
But Aphrodite knew the truth. The truth that her son’s name was no longer just a name but a title. A title bestowed to the one who would herald a new age.
For he who founded, for she who preserves.
The Father of Rome, the Mother of Greece.
Aeneas shall sail once again.
And so, when the Herald of Olympus (Greek and Roman, fully in unison) sent his power throughout of Olympus and Camp Half-Blood, throwing his blessing immediately onto the Roman Legacy that consumed his every thought and being, the goddess of love knew that the time had come.
Aphrodite watched with her fellow Olympians as Sally Jackson mercilessly avenged her adopted mother that she loved so much.
"Hers." Hermes and Mercury said, the two voices harmonizing beautifully, drawing the council's attention to the god of messengers. It was Mercury that stood before them but his eyes were Hermes’ blue ones. In the fire, Sally walked past the corpses, the grief of losing her beloved mother killing all of the remorse the girl had left in her. "Now watch as the Aeneas heralds her message for all of Olympus to see."
Aeneas has sailed.
She was so proud of legacy
“What is this?!” Zeus yelled as some of the minor gods flashed into the throne room, specifically the ones with children living in the Hermes cabin, plus two extras. Anteros and Ganymede stood beside Eros. With a yelp, Ganymede hid behind Eros and Anteros, like he was afraid that Zeus would use him as target practice again. Aphrodite wasn’t exactly sure why her sons had brought the god of homosexual love with them. This wasn’t his area of expertise. But Anteros felt her quizzical gaze and winked at her. Clear, he had some half-baked plan in the works.
“Watch.” The room’s attention shifted to Aphrodite. “And listen, all will be revealed soon.” A cry of agony came out of Athena as she buried her head in her hands and fought back Minerva for control. Her black hair rapidly turning blonde at the routes. “Poseidon, be a dear and keep Minerva back, will you? This moment requires the attention of our original forms.”
“Easier said than done.” Grunted the sea god but he flashed to his rival’s side nonetheless. He slammed the base of his trident against the tiles. Saltwater erupted at their feet, drenching the pair. Athena white-knuckled the arms of her throne with a harsh glare but thankfully, blonde had receded. The smell of an olive tree wafted from the goddess of wisdom, earning a frown from Poseidon.
“Damn you.” Athena hissed in pain but gave the slightest of nods in thanks.
“Ditto.” He deadpanned with the smallest hint of concern in his eyes. Aphrodite smirked to herself as she watched her other masterplan finally started to come to fruition.
But back to the matter at hand. Zeus shouted, demanding to know why minor gods had broken into the throne room when the Iris Message shifted. Sally Jackson ran down the hall, her guns glowing as they combined into a shotgun. The legacy stopped as she turned the corner, the roar of a griffin hammering from the other end of the hall. But what really shut Zeus up was the banner on the wall behind Sally.
A purple circle encasing a golden triangle mocked the gods of Olympus.
The griffin flew down the hall. Sally Jackson aimed her shotgun.
BANG!
Sally
The halls of Nero’s tower were eerily silent. Her footsteps echoed as she found the nearest stairwell. Later on, when this was all over, Sally would have the breakdown to end all breakdowns after killing those two giants. Huge as they were, they had bled when she shot them instead of breaking into the dust like the monsters had. If it wasn’t for Mercury’s blessing keeping her moving, she was certain she would have collapsed into a ball of tears by now.
Was this the life a demigod? Of a legacy? Fighting for survival at every turn? Taking a life before they could take your own?
How did the demigods stay alive in such cruel world?
But now was not the time to be philosophical. She crept up the stairwell and ducked next to the doorway.
“Did you hear that?” A voice said loudly.
A snort followed. “Fenwick must be fucking Lu again.” The two giants laughed. “When do you think the Emperor’s going to let us have a piece of this bird?” This bird- no, they couldn’t mean- Slowly, Sally peaked around the corner. Two armed giants guarded a gold door that looked like it belonged on a bank vault.
“Soon, once her eyes are wide open.” The one of left gave a sick grin that the other matched. “He wants her to see and remember every minute of it. Hades, he might even let us do her in front of her kids. Break her in the right way.”
The guilt that had built in Sally’s chest evaporated instantly.
Chiara, they were talking about doing unthinkable things to Chiara. Her vision turned red.
Don’t hold back. A low’s voice urged in her mind. She would have jumped if it hadn’t sounded so much like Hermes’ voice, only one octave deeper. Lord Mercury. These Germani are a warrior tribe. It’s in their nature to destroy. Show them no mercy. Two seconds passed before he added. And it’s just Mercury, to you.
There was one problem though. Both had walkie-talkies on them. She would have to be quick because if one lived, he would definitely call for backup.
Do you see the fire extinguisher? Across from them on the wall. Mercury recommended. Break it and trust your eyes.
“What’s for dinner again?” Sally raised her barrel.
“Hopefully some pus-” BANG! White smoke filled the hallway.
“GAH! What the fu-” BANG! The Germani on the left fell to the side with a loud spat, his thick neck bleeding profusely.
“Shit!” The Germani on the right ready his spear while removing the walkie on his waist into the air. A small target. BANG! But then again, Sally had always been an amazing shot. “AH! YOU BITCH!” The Germani threw his spear at her with his remaining hand then stumbled back into the wall when it phased through her.
“Please.” He begged her. But Sally was fresh out of mercy.
BANG!
Her shotgun separated back into a pair and holstered them onto her hip despite her better judgement. Sally grabbed onto the vault door and yanked harder. “God dammit.” She tried again, almost dislocating one of her shoulders before stepping back. While she would have preferred to ignore the corpses at her feet, she needed a key. But neither Germani had a key on them.
Of course. Why make things easy on her?
Grab the handle. Mercury whispered. She did as he said and her hands buzzed with warmth that wasn’t her own. The door groaned and clicked loudly. Open it.
The vault opened with a screech and a shove. “Thank you.” Sally whispered under her breath. His smile left a warm, fuzzy feeling in her mind, reminding like a cup of hot chocolate on Christmas Eve. She drew the pistol from her right side and held it in both hands, her back pressed against the door. Slowly she pushed it all the way and turned into the penthouse suite.
“Hail Salacia, full of strength.” Sally nearly dropped her weapon in shock. “The Fates are with thee.” There, standing protectively over Chiara and the boys as they slept, was an angel with golden hair and fiery eyes. His Roman armor peaked out from his blue robe ordained with lilies. He held a spear in his left hand and a long sword in his right. Attached to his waist belt was an enclosed scroll. He continued his speech, the Latin burning itself into her memory. “ Blessed are thou amongst Legacies and blessed is the fruit of thee womb, Perseus.” He tilted his head slightly, appraising her. “You have been on quite a journey, Sally Jackson. No wonder Mercury has been in such a tisy lately.” He said finally in English, a mischievous smile on his lips.
I have not. Mercury grumbled in her ear. She would have teased him if her mind wasn’t in the process of recalibrating.
“… our existence doesn’t negate the metaphysical. ” Hermes had told her that night on her sofa after Percy’s party.
“ Mary and I were often mistaken for each once Christianity started gaining popularity in Rome .” Hestia had explained when Sally first fell into the labyrinth.
She knew this man. Her years of Catholic school taught her so much about this man.
“Archangel Gabriel?” Sally asked once her brain started working again.
He nodded at her before his gaze locked on something over her shoulder. “Duck.” She crouched down as his spear sailed over her, pinning the Germani that was about to hit her to the wall outside of the room. Instead of bleeding, the wound started smoking. The Germani let out a gut-wrenching scream as his chest wound burned to dust. Gabriel raised his right hand, moving it in the sign of the cross like a priest does during the blessing of the Eucharist. Instantly, the Germani was a pile of ash.
“Wake her and run.” The angel ordered as he summoned his spear back to him. “My Lord and the Blessed Mother can no longer stall the damage done by Hecate’s potion. For your escape, she’ll need to be able to see all of this.” Then, he looked up at the ceiling for a moment and added. “Nero’s crimes aren’t just on your pantheon. He’s been... collect over the years.”
“How?” Sally asked instead as she slowly got up. “Why are you helping us?”
Gabriel looked down at her and raised a quizzical brow. “I thought you of all people, Sally Jackson, would know that after love, the most powerful magic in this universe is faith. Chiara Bianchi had a strong faith. Nero may have stolen her rosary and cross but her prayer was stronger. The heathen couldn’t even be in the same room as her.” The angel flexed his wings and turned towards the door. “Also, I can add this to the list of favors that Mercury owes me.” Mercury huffed in her mind in annoyance but said nothing to his Christian counterpart. “Get her up and get ready to run. Oh, and remember,” Another Germani burst through the door, only to meet an early demise by spear. “follow the Deltas.”
She moved to Chiara’s side but paused. Gabriel’s greeting had left her off-kilter. “That way you addressed me-”
“Oh that,” he waved a hand lightly, his other one slamming the pole of his spear into a new Germani’s neck. Just how many of them were they? “Mother Mary thought of it when she visited Hestia for tea yesterday. Good, right?’
No, it was terrifying actually, to be greeted in such a way. Sally was seconds away from a breakdown when little Castor started to wake.
“Hi baby.” She whispered as he blinked at her. The recognition shined in his purple eyes before the toddler launched his little body at her. Sally blinked back tears, her body curling around him protectively. She buried her nose in his blonde hair as he cuddled into her neck. Gods, she had missed this.
“Sally?” She almost missed Chiara’s whisper. Her best friend looked at her like Sally was a guardian angel. Which was ironic, give who Sally was just talking to. Chiara’s eyes shifted between shades of brown and bubbled with tears. “Sally!” Chiara lunged at her.
Sally hugged her back just as tightly. “You’re ok.” She whispered as Chiara sobbed into her camp shirt. “We’re leaving.”
“Really?” A broke look crossed Chiara’s face. “But Mrs. Jones, they have-” Chiara cut herself off as Sally bit her lip to stop the sob that wanted to come out. “Oh Sally, I’m so sorry.”
“Ladies, I hated to interrupt this touching moment but you should get going.” Another hellhound crumbled under his blade.
“Gabriel’s right,” Sally tugged Chiara up, Pollux in his mother’s arms. Sally adjusted Castor to her left hip to free up her right arm to grab her gun. “Come on!”
“Wait who’s that?” Chiara asked as Gabriel fought his way to make them a path. The girls ran, a baby in each arm as the Archangel kept the monsters back. “Was that an angel?”
“Your guardian angel.” Sally joked as the deltas started forming a path. Chiara frowned in confusion before it hit her.
“No way! Was that-”
“Yes but I'll explain later! This was way!” They ran down the hall and down two flights of stairs, somehow avoid all of the monsters and Germani. It was easy, almost too eas-
Sally and Chiara busted into a large, gaudy throne room. “Shit, this way-”
That, dear reader, was when the Germani and Nero’s preteen demigod army stepped out of the shadows and surrounded them from all sides. Sally held up her pistol defiantly as Chiara moved behind her in fear.
“Now, now Sally Jackson.” A slimy man in his mid-30s stepped forward in his tacky purple suit that barely covered his double chin. “You have been quite the problem child.” His face twisted into a sneer. “Haven’t you?”
Nero.
Author's Note - Duh, duh, DUH! Well, what do you guys think? I hope I didn't throw you guys too much for a loop by throwing Christianity in here but your girl's Catholic and once I came up with the idea of Hestia and Mary having afternoon tea together, I knew this would be apart of my story. Don't worry, more panethons will show up, eventually. My fic, my rules. Now we just have to see how Sally get out of this mess. Oh, and I hope you guys have a better idea of Anteros and why he (and Ganymede) are so important to fic. That's it for now! Don't forget to comment, kudos, and bookmark! Love you guys so much!
-V.I. Winthrop
Ganymede
"I call dibs." Ares panted from his throne, his eyes locked the semi-mortal woman shooting her way through Nero's tower. SMACK! "OW! FUCK!" Really, he should have seen that smack from Aphrodite coming.
"Those are Annie's guns." Apollo exclaimed. "Arty-"
"She must be one of yours then." Artemis agreed. "They wouldn't work for her if she wasn't."
"Not just yours." Eros sneered at the sun god. "She has love magic in her, you can smell it."
"Is that why I'm here?" Ganymede finally whispered to Anteros. There was no reason for him to be here and being in such close proximity to Zeus on a nonwork day made him anxious. He didn't want to be here, no matter how cool this woman was. But Anteros just smiled at him and nodded his head at Mercury.
Yes, it was Mercury that stood at full attention in front of the flames but it was Hermes' blue eyes that stayed glued on every breath she took. Ganymede tilted his head to get a better view when hit him.
Oh.
Both sides of the messenger god had fallen in love with this mortal woman.
And should she survived this, Ganymede had no doubt that he would offer her immortality. And it was Ganymede's job to stop her from accepting it.
Oh Ganymede, my poor, anxious, abuse baby. You deserve so much better.
-V.I. Winthrop