Pertemis: A Wolf’s Tale novel Chapter 40

Percy’s Point of View

There in the darkness through the silver bars that Percy could perceive and the person stood in front of him surprised the imprisoned werewolf. That grey hair and tall feature. The dark aura around him and that colour of his eyes, gold and wild like a wolf. Lucien stood before him, his hands in his pocket and a sneer Lucien had on his face.

"L-Lucien" Percy stuttered, trying to confirm since it was dark in the dungeon.

"The one and only" he said casually and moved closer, inspecting the strength and quality of the prison bars.

"How did you get here?!" Percy exclaimed. "Do you know how dangerous this place is?"

"Uh please" the grey wolf laughed with arrogance. "Even after five thousand years, the defence of this city is still trash. Can you believe it? One guy guarding the entrance! It's like they're asking to be attacked."

"I thought you already went back home" Percy said. Part of him was relieved to see his kin again. Yet he was still ashamed for what he had done and now he couldn't bring himself to face Lucien.

"No werewolf is left to die Perseus!" Lucien suddenly snapped, despite where he was. "The day you returned to your goddess again, I expected this would come. Have you learned now Perseus? That only your people love you?"

Percy sighed.  A current of sorrow filled his heart and flowed through every deep aspect of his mind. Even though now thinking of Artemis, it hurt him still and perhaps it would never end. But the truth was the truth. That she betrayed him and had built a wall between them and he regretted it. For that pain he carried and the fire of wrath again burned inside him added him the courage to face his kindred and he spoke.

"My worst mistake was to ever trust a god. Only if I listened to you and now I'd have been reunited with our people. I'm no right to beg for forgiveness. But by moment of fury I took an oath of vengeance. Hereby I ask you to release me from this chain so I can fulfil my oath; for I can't rest in peace if I relinquish it."

And there Lucien, looking at a prince in front of him and the excitement filled his heart. For long he hoped Percy would realise his folly and return to the light and he waited hopelessly. But now by the lesson he had learnt and Lucien was moved. There he stepped forward and his arm transformed to a werewolf's, cladded with smooth grey fur and supernatural strength and muscles. His lethal sharp claws cut through the bars like a hot knife through butter and in a blink of eyes, Percy was free.

Lucien dropped on one knee and supported his kin.

"Your mistake is shameful yet it's like a sandcastle before a big wave. For your oath I would not let you stand alone because of my promise to bring you home and no werewolf break their promise."

Percy smiled and held on his hand as Lucien pulled him to his feet. The moon glowed more intense as his strength slowly recovering and the fire burned more fiercely than ever before. He stepped out from the dark cell and navigated a way to escape.

"Though I say to take vengeance" Percy said. "We alone can't achieve it. Also I don't intend to die here by recklessness. We shall escape but will sure inflict destruction on our road"

Lucien smirked for long he waited to hear Percy's words. Now he had the opportunity to take revenge on the gods for so long he waited. The moment was like a wolf inside a farm of sheep.

From there to their left was the entrance which Lucien came, but to the right and below was a deep dungeon with things that growled and howled at night and terrified the guards. A smile appeared on Lucien face.

"And I know just a way for us to escape"

Lucien leaped into his wolf form, a powerful and lethal of a warrior. Long since Percy last saw that grey fur that glowed in the dark, long he had not looked upon the brutal beast he once trained with. Lucien grinned as his sharp fangs and teeth exposed and he sprinted to the darkness afar, into the dungeons below and Percy stared at him in confusion.

For a minute passed and Percy heard the sound of metals clashing against each other until Lucien came back and pulled him aside into the dark cell again. But this time he did not come alone for a wild run of other creatures that followed him and Percy would've been stormed to death if Lucien didn't save him. There Lucien unleashed the creatures that were still imprisoned upon Olympus, awaiting for judgment. They stormed through the stairs of the dungeon and the fire grew dim by their feet thundering on the cobblestones and their eyes filled with fire of hatred for the gods. There they stormed through the darkness like bees leaving their nest, freeing more and added into their group and they sprung into the street of Olympus, whom citizens were still oblivious of what dooms that were coming. And the first step of Percy vengeance completed, and the lines of the prophecy came true.

Artemis at the time was wandering around the street, trying to find away to sneak into the prison and fix her promise, or at least to contain Percy's wrath. Though her mind was clouded with concerns, the lights of the busy street of Olympus never stopped amaze her. The fair city long withstood by the flow of time, the marble stone cladded with precious gems and white wall engraved with history of the earth. At night, by the light of the lamps and touches and other sources, the city glowed like a second moon upon the cloud and its people prospered and lived in splendour.

But the red moon ever grew strong and she looked with dismay. For no tidings came of thread, yet the warning was still there. Only if tonight could go peacefully, and perhaps for once the Fates were wrong.

Then out of the cold, of the noises of laughter and trade upon the boisterous street, a dreadful scream defiled it. Then from the slope that lead towards the palace, the citizens started pouring down with fear embraced them. Behind them, the shadow grew tall and terrible on the wall.

Artemis's eyes widened as the fell creatures appeared behind them and through their malice, they defiled the fair street of Olympus. For the next moment was a blur of chaos and the citizens were taken unaware. Some were slain at the spot, some were stormed to death by the escape of the hell and the blood marred the stone and the once fair wall. Artemis fought and waylaid the monster path of destruction, buying time for the vulnerable citizens to escape. But her arrows were overwhelmed by their number.

No place was safe in the city save the palaces of gods. The foes stormed into the house, no barricades could constrain them and they burned and ransacked and slaughtered anyone in sight. The gods now were aware and the guards poured through the city. Not in a million year Olympus had withheld such a sight, not in time through its names and legendary had ever crown that title, a battlefield. Under the red moon, the Olympian warriors began their slaughter and many citizens were caught in between the carnage. The scream filled the air, the metal clashes vibrated the city created a catastrophe of death.

The fire grew ever higher and the scream never ended. The houses collapsed by the destruction and the gardens fell dead. The smoke rose like a cloud from the White city and the palaces rushed in haste.

Now the lines of the prophecy wrapped around Artemis, as she witness the slaughter of Olympus and her face darkened. For now fear was not in the description of her mind but terrified and she thought of Percy. There she took her run, through the perils and the hazardous paths of the street of Olympus at the time to find the only person that was dearest to her heart.

Percy and Lucien now wandering through the street of Olympus and witness the result of their doing. For Lucien laughed in satisfaction of his malice, the joy he long seek once he got his vengeance. But Percy now was terrified. He never killed a person unjustly save the monsters from Tartarus. Yet from the blood, the corpses that were stained and unrecognisable, a thrill of guilt now filled his heart. The street laid silent, for now it was a graveyard of the unburied save for the creaking of fires. Far away he could still hear the screams of despair, the battle cries and the clangour of swords and they bleed his heart. He saw a child laid upon the white stone. She was young, so young to enjoys and fill in her heart the wonder of the world and now she was cloaked and wrapped in the pool of her blood and Percy was disoriented. He looked around him, of the death and the destruction and he regretted the oath he once took. Though some betrayed him, yet there were the innocents and he did not take that into his account. He thought vengeance was good, he thought it could somehow cool the flame of wrath inside him. It did. But the consequences were what he did not perceive and want to witness. For though it was beyond cruelty and since his heart was still pure and never experienced the cruelty of the world. It broke him more than what Artemis had set upon him. These deaths his hand did not touch, but he was the cause and he inflicted upon them. The White city marred by blood, the fair city turned to hell and Percy stood there, in the middle of no where and grieved for them.

Then Lucien came to him and looked with dismay.

"Nay you mourn for the Olympians!" He said. "For long they did the same cause to our people! Now they have a taste of their own medicine. Shouldn't you be content for your oath has been fulfilled?"

"But they were innocent Lucien" Percy looked at him. "If I knew it would come down to this, I wouldn't have taken the oath that day."

"What you did is already done!" Lucien sighed though he was frustrated of how weak Percy was. "Quick! We must get away from here while time is still in our favour. The monsters won't buy time for long. Chance to grieve is plenty but to escape is only once!"

And he dragged Percy away through the ruin of Olympus. They dashed from street to street, through narrow vales, trying to avoid the fighting as much as possible even though it was against Lucien's heart. Percy legs followed him, yet his heart was not there as each step he made, the death he witnessed increase.

As they stumbling down nearer to the gate, a sudden spear flew at them. Lucien dodged it in time and from both sides of the street, Olympian warriors poured down before them, blocking their path.

Lucien slipped a grin as he crackled his knuckles and left Percy there.

"I've always wanted a good fighting. Come you Olympians! Let's see whose strength is greater!"

And he leaped into his wolf form, that majestic grey fur reflected the light of the moon and shine in the night and crashed onto the Olympians. A battle he gave them and none could withstand Lucien strength for he was a great warrior of the north and had been made from battles. But he was too occupied with the fight and left Percy unguarded, whom had no intention to even defend himself. There Percy was assail by the Olympians. As three of them approached him and about to hew off Percy's head with their great axes from behind unnoticed. But their movements suddenly stopped by the time Percy realised presences behind him and turned back only to confront a sharp blade that was millimetres from his forehead. But the metal never touched his skin and the guards fell sideways and a silver arrow stuck on each of their back.

There he looked to the top of the hill and his heart was filled with relief and rejoice and the bearing came back to him. She was there, on top of the hill. For it was the moon behind her and she casted on herself a shadow that he could not gaze upon her face. But he could sense that unmistakable scent and the way she held her bow. Between them was a ruin, death and fire yet the moment he saw her, they seemed to disappear.

Slowly she walked down the hill, but her step caught speed and they turned to a sprint and Percy just walked up to her like a child that was lost. He was glad to see her, for the fire in his heart now filled with dreads and guilts and he needed comfort for the crime he had committed.

"A-Artemis" he called for her. His knees weakened as he searched for her guidance and warmth through the malice of his own.

She caught him midway, her arms wrapped tight around his neck and buried her face on his hair. Percy strength gave out the moment he was wrapped in her scent again and he dropped on his knees. He buried his face on her chest, and as suddenly, the watergate opened and the emotions like flood poured into him. He let his tears fall automatically like that and their droplets carried away part of the guilt he endured.

"T-this is my fault Artemis" he said in panic, his heart quenched as he remembered the unnumbered tears of his victims and their deaths. "I-I killed them...I-"

"No it's not your fault. It never was" Artemis shook her head as she too let her tears wet his raven hair and held him closer. "Shh I'm here okay. You're not responsible for any of this. It's alright, I'm here for you."

"B-but I'm the cause I-"

"Don't say anything!" she squeezed him closer to her, wrapping him more with her care and embraced him with her warmth as her smooth words brushed  his hair. It felt so right to be with him and she forgot where they were. Nor in fact she no longer cared because she had found him and that was her intention.

Now he realised why he couldn't survive without her. He needed her. Not the love that held him, restrained his heart from leaving her but also his survival instincts to stay with her. And all of a sudden, his sobbing turned quite down and the panic was gone. Though the guilt still mingled somewhere in his heart but at the moment, Artemis hid them away.

Yet the reunion was not for long and a roar came from behind him. From afar, even through the foggy smoke and ruin, Percy could see the eyes flared with flames and were lunging at them. Percy immediately pushed Artemis aside and stood in front of her, his arms extended as shield. The brutal sharp claws penetrated the smoke and stopped an inch before contacting Percy's skin, which with such strength could've removed his head from the neck.

"Stand aside Perseus for I shall end your enteral burden and doom!" Lucine gritted his teeth, the fangs bared at Artemis whom looked at another werewolf with fear.

"No Lucien" Percy said with a quite tone. "I won't let harm reach her"

Lucien gave out a tremendous roar of furry as the ground shook beneath his feet. He held Percy collar and snarled at his face. "How many more time do you have to learn Perseus!? Is it only death can wake you from your delusions!?"

"I love her Lucien" Percy said with a soft voice and it seemed pathetic even more to Lucien, whom was already furious.

Yet Percy word came to her and Artemis's heart stop. Maybe she heard it wrong, maybe because the heat of the battle caused her to receive wrong information. But she knew the reality, and it told her the truth. He loved her. The words quenched her heart and strange feelings filled her. A sensation exploded in her as if she felt something bursted inside. Though what remain was just a memory, yet it still replayed clear and loud in her mind those words and she found courage and strength. Artemis rose and approached the quarrel of the wolves.

"Let him go!" She snapped at Lucien who glared at her and his eyes burned with fire.

He attempted to strike at her but Percy stepped on his path and he knocked Percy to the ground with a punch.

"No!" Artemis screamed as she tried to catch Percy but Lucien was faster. As swift as lightning, his claws ripped through the air and Artemis just had time to jump away. He lunged at her, his intention was to kill but Artemis mind was set upon Percy whom laying lifeless on the ground. And she was pinned down by Lucien brutal strength and as her throat between his grab, and he bared his fangs at her.

"Why don't you understand that he belongs to his people!?" Lucien snapped. "What did he own from you? Why can't you let him go!"

"It's his decision to live with who he chooses." Artemis matched his tone, despite her death was in his palms. "You have no right to snatch his freedom away"

"Don't you realise you are his doom!?"

"And I shall endure it with him" she grabbed at his wrists and squeezed it with her strength to emphasise her words and Lucien was driven with madness by her stubbornness.

As he raised his paw and attempted to end her life, a spear flew past him and pierced through the solid marble floor. Lucien looked upon the hill and an army was now marching down and he knew even though his strength was great, the odds were against him and he could not delay his escape no longer. For once Olympus had never summoned such number of warriors to its cause and by their number, the monsters that escaped were almost destroyed save for those that intended to runaway from the city first.

Lucien grabbed Artemis by the throat and threw her to the ground as she landed next to Percy. Artemis crawled, despite the choking and the relief of air yet Percy's safety was all her concern and she shook him. Calling his name until his eyes blinking opened. But before he could speak to her, Lucien picked him up and drag him toward the main gate, which was burning before them.

"Artemis" Percy called for her, despite the pain at his jaw and he reached out his finger to touch her.