A knock on the cabin door demolished the intense argument amongst the demigods. Piper opened the door to find the daughter of Athena, her grey eyes keeping a storm in her at bay. "Annabeth! Thank the I'm gods you're well!" She tackled her with a hug. Annabeth pushed her away, casually stepping into the cabin. All her friends eyed her closely as she sat down on her bed, her stormy eyes scanning them all. "Let me make things clear for all of you, before your useless questions start attacking me." Annabeth explained her encounter with Percy, leaving some of the details out. She described her dreams, and what she intended to do to the Olympians, how she was abounding the quest and joining Percy. None of them interrupted her, but their countenance revealed disappointment and anguish. When she mentioned what Percy had done to Leo, also adding that Percy had released his control over him, they were all shocked. But Leo admitted that he wasn't able to control himself before his release.

               When she had finished telling them what had previously happened to her, the demigods sat in intense silence for a few minutes, before Jason's voice shattered it. "Annabeth you cannot possibly join Percy! What had gotten into you? Turning you back on the Olympians also means turning your back on your friends at the two camps. You're nothing but a selfish betraying coward!" Jason spat. Annabeth did not stir as his words settled in, she thought she would be hurt, unsurprisingly, she wasn't. "Your childish words don't mean anything to me, Grace." Annabeth stood and faced them. "The king wishes to know where your loyalties lie. Those who wish to fight by his side, you're more than welcomed to stay. Those of you who wish to side with the enemy, the king gives you till dawn to set sail off this island." She gracefully made her way to the door, her eyes glaring in their direction before saying, "anyone who defies him, therefore defies me. I don't recommend you to do that." The door slammed shut behind her.

               Hazel instantly lost control, breaking down into tears. Nico held her hand and gripped it, trying to console his sister. But he needed the consoling himself, he was lost. Unable to put what he cared about first, avenging Will. His heart shattered when he heard of Will's death, worse when he learned Percy was the one to blame. He wouldn't ever tell anyone, he loved Will. The people he loved he was slowly losing, Bianca the first amongst them. He would never let harm come towards Hazel or any of his friends. Losing his lover, Will, had already set him on edge. "No." Hazel said, shaking her head in denial. "No, that wasn't Annabeth. Percy has done something to her. Annabeth would never do that, she would never walk away from doing what is right."

               Piper sighed, agony clearly splattered on her face. "Hazel, I'm not sure what is right, is right and what is wrong, is wrong anymore."

               "I told you, we should've left. We had the chance, we could've taken it. Percy is long gone, you should have listened to me from the beginning, before none of us was lost to the dark side. We should've left, even if it meant forcing Annabeth on that ship." Jason snapped. "So this time, we're leaving."

               "I'm staying." Piper concluded, her voice loud yet calm, signaling that her decision won't be altered with. Jason's eyes widened, anger running through his veins just like electricity through a wire. "It is not what you think," she explained. "I would never join Percy. I'm staying here to act as a spy, I want to destroy him and his army." Piper blinked, she won't let her tears be evident. She found it highly hard to accept her defeat in brining Percy back. She thought there was hope, but he is long gone, she knew it. And to worsen matters, she had lost her best friend. "I'll stay here, to learn their every move. I'm not fond of the Olympians, especially after their betrayal, but camp half-blood and camp jupiter will not de destroyed under his influence. I won't allow it."

               Nico nodded. "I'll stay too. Being an Upper Guard will get us the information we need. The rest of you, leave this island. "I'm an Upper Guard too, I'll stay." Leo suggested. Nico instantly disagreed, stating that all the Upper Guards staying would cause suspicion, especially after Percy's release on Leo's control.

"Nico, what you intend to do is extremely dangerous. Percy isn't an idiot, he won't fall for it." Hazel advised. But Nico didn't care, when Will was killed it was like his world erupted once again, right after things were erring better for him. He loved Will. But when he learned that Percy was the one to blame for Will's murder. Nico once again felt betrayed, Bianca had died because Percy didn't protect her, and now Will. He forgave Percy for Bianca's death and knew it wasn't his fault. But after he heard it was Percy, Nico swore he would avenge him.

               "Hazel, I know. But we have to do this. Working as a double agent against Percy is suicide. But we have no choice." Nico said. "Me and Piper will go prove our loyalty to Percy. You guys pack." Piper and Nico left the cabin.

***************
               Percy starred down the two demigods that knelt before him. His Upper Guards stood in attention at each side of his throne. Octavia, Genevieve and Vincent at one side, Annabeth, Dominic and Owen at the other.

              "Rise." The king ordered. Piper and Nico stood, their eyes not daring to meet his. They had come to him to join his side. He was impressed and disappointed over the fact that they made things easy for him. He would never trust Nico and Piper, but he would let them play their game.

               "I believe both of you are here to prove your loyalty to me?" Percy asked.

               "Yes, my lord." Nico said. Percy nodded. He would test them, with their words. But the real test would be in their actions. "Why? Why choose to side with me, Nico?"

               "The Olympians have done wrong many times. They've used demigods to do their will countless of times too. And when a battle had always erupted, they had hidden in fear. This proves my lord they're unfit to rule. Therefore, a new king must rise." Nico explained. His words were too perfect, they were practiced. He knew that particular question would be asked.

               "What about you, daughter of Aphrodite?" Percy asked. She smiled, her face showing bravery but her eyes feeling him otherwise. "The same reason an Nico, sir. The Olympians must be destroyed. They were never of use to us."

               "Al right then. You will resume your job as an Upper Guard. And because I'm being merciful, your other friends will be given the opportunity to leave the island. So that they can side with the Olympians. Let them run back to them, to tell them about my army. Or should I say armies." Percy laughed. His laugh sent chills down Nico and Piper's bodies, whatever he was raising, they had to find out. Percy beckoned to one of the guards standing in the throne room to lead Jason and the others across the jungle to the docks. The guard bowed and scurried out of the throne room.

               "Meanwhile, preparations for the upcoming war shall continue. All the Upper Guards will stay in the palace, forget your cabins. We'll be having meetings any free minute we get. Other than that you will all be watching over the training of the other campers. And if you see any of them slacking in it, you will whip them." Percy ordered. A smile appeared on several of the Upper Guards. Piper's eyes widened, she would never have the heart to whip someone, what would she do?

              "And if I hear any of you are slacking in their training. You will deal with me. And trust me I would know, I have eyes and ears everywhere." Percy smiled. "You are all dismissed." All the Upper Guards bowed and left their king to deal with other matters.

                            ***************

               "Do you understand what you have to do?" The king asked, his younger brother, Derek kneeling before him. The young kid nodded, not daring to look up. "I will follow Nico and Piper around, learn all their motives against you, my lord." Derek said, repeating what his king had ordered.

               The king nodded. "Good. And I don't recommend you fail me. Unless you want a repeat of last time." Percy threatened. Derek gulped, he would never forget when Percy had beaten him badly, he left him bleeding on the floor for two days, Derek was unable to move. He had taken the beating that day in silence. Not screaming or showing any signs of pain or weakness. His king would've disapproved of that.

               "I have other matters to deal with, so I'll be too busy to always train the Upper Guards. Tell Atlanta to be in charge of their training at those times." Derek nodded and stood, he was about to leave the throne room when he turned and dared to ask. "My lord, please forgive me for asking, but will our army be enough?" Derek asked.

               Percy smiled. "Our army alone? Yes. But see I know the Olympians, they won't count on the demigod army alone. So you see young brother," he smiled, his dark blood evident now, "I'm raising another army. I'm raising hell."

Author's note:
The reason I was late because I had written the chapter AND ACCIDENTALLY DELETED IT SO I HAD TO REWRITE IT!!! I really hate myself sometimes, I really do. So I'm sorry once again for being a horrible person when it comes to sticking with the updating schedule, I hate myself. Besides that, (still not over it) next chapter is where the fun begins because we finally get to see what is going on back at camp half-blood and Olympus. And it will be a long chapter because it will consists of both the sides preparing for war. And another point is: THE STORT HIT 40K I DONT KNOW HOW TO THANK U ALL ENOUGH!! Your the best readers I can ever ask for, THANK YOU THANK YOU!! And last point, (I have a lot to say I know) for any of you that read my story anew Age of Heroes, I'm updating now after a long time of stalling, and the story will have its own updating schedule, every Saturday.
You guys are the best, thank you for reading my story. It truly means a lot to me.
❤️