Next Step Forward

                                    

                                          
Chapter 5: Next Step Forward
While pointing his sword accusingly, Percy stared at the sea god with hate. A handful of the gods reached for their weapons, ready to take aim at the glowing demigod in the center of the room. The room remained silent for too long. Zeus sat in his throne processing what Percy had just said, but he hadn't moved for his master bolt. Artemis gripped her bow tightly while she pulled an arrow back on her bowstring and, to everyone's shock, leveled it against Poseidon. Even with the little she knew about Percy, she was certain he'd never claim something of this magnitude if it didn't have merit.
Poseidon snarled and bared his teeth at Percy, rearing back with trident in hand. Artemis released her arrow into the sea god's chest. He grunted in pain but continued his throw. Percy stumbled as he attempted to take cover, forgetting he was still recovering from the injuries he received just hours ago; it'd be impossible for him to get out of the way quickly enough. Just before Poseidon released the trident that would impale Percy, Zeus leapt out of his throne at a blinding speed. He caught the weapon by the spokes and unleashed bolts of lightning down the shaft, electrifying the sea god.
"You need this to imitate my brother's physical form, don't you?" Zeus asked in a steely voice, his eyes not leaving the trident. Zeus wrestled for the weapon, and a few of the other gods moved with him. The twin archers fired arrows with impossible precision, ensuring not a single one hit their father. Hades conjured undead spirits to weaken the grip of the deity that resembled his brother. The rest of the council was in uproar at the brawl happening before them, but nobody moved to Poseidon's defense. Zeus groaned as he dragged the duel to the back of his throne, an arm locked around the trident.
There, the king of the gods used his free hand to grab his master bolt and thrust it into the gut of his opponent. He began to convulse and Zeus ripped the trident from his grasp. Letting out a guttural roar, the imposter rose as his disguise began to fade. His legs shifted from a tanned human surfer's to the tail of a merman. His body grew larger and the horns of a bull sprouted from his head.
The council erupted from their seats with their weapons trained on the titan of the oceans. Oceanus laughed as he recovered from the shocks, pulling himself upright. He ignored the gods in front of him, staring directly at the injured demigod that glared back.
"It's unfortunate you found out this early, Jackson," he spat, enunciating the name with unbridled malice, "But it doesn't matter. You and these puny gods stand no chance against the ones that are coming. And Jackson, your father sends his regards,"
Ares and Hephaestus rushed forward to apprehend Oceanus. The titan laughed again before disappearing into the same black column of water, withdrawing to the depths of the ocean.
The room was abuzz as thirteen deities stood discussing exactly what had just happened. Athena barked orders to Hermes, sending him to round up Hecate, Dolos, and Medea. Thalia sat by Percy, who still hadn't spoken, while she checked to make sure the wound on his back hadn't reopened. Apollo and Hestia took notice of this and approached the duo. Apollo conjured up some medical supplies but Hestia reached the wounded demigod first.
Her hand glowed orange as she crouched and positioned it over the bandages. Percy's tense form immediately began to relax as the wound mended itself, and the warmth of the hearth spread across his body. Percy thanked the goddess with a small smile while Apollo rolled his eyes.
"Come on, you make modern medicine look obsolete with those kinds of abilities. But anyways, Percy, how did you know your dad wasn't, you know, your dad?" Apollo asked.
Every deity debating the issue fell silent as they realized they could just get their explanation from the source. All heads turned toward the demigod seated at the foot of Hestia's throne. Zeus still held the trident in his hands as he waited for Percy's explanation. Percy thought about the things he wanted to disclose and what he would prefer to keep to himself, like his Blackouts. But the throne room doors swung open and Hermes entered, followed by the trio he was sent to collect. Any thought of keeping secrets was struck from his mind when Percy saw who Hermes had brought.