Chapter 6: Meeting My Senior (2)

Chapter 6: Meeting My Senior (2)

It was the dead of night for the city never sleeps. Most people were in their homes resting, but many still worked through the nights. Taxis and buses drove around the streets, passing by the young boy with black hair and dark eyes seated alond on the bench of a bus stop, wearing a predominantly dark coat, blue jeans, and black sneakers.

To bystanders, he appeared to be a lost child, but in truth, he wasn't alone as he was accompanied by his symbiote guardian dwelling within him and his reliable AI assistant standing by.

Their purpose tonight was to infiltrate Saint Paul's insane asylum and meet with a distant relative of the silver haired Demigod. But to reach their destination, they first needed transportation.

Given his remarkable speed, he could have easily sprinted to their destination in under two hours. However, that would have been a reckless move. Running through a forest was one thing because the terrain provided ample cover; the same could not be said about the city tree.

To be as inconspicuous as possible was the top priority of all this. Thus, they had to maintain a low profile and act as natural as possible.

The winter night air was chilling, but it failed to bring even a shiver from the demigod. Despite his symbiote abilities lying dormant for the time being, his hybrid nature rendered him impervious to the cold.

The coat he wore served primarily to aid in disguising his identity, presenting him as just another passerby rather than attracting undue attention. After all, a child out in such cold without proper attire would undoubtedly raise guestions.

'Yawn, I'm soooooooo bored.' Venom grumbled from his reflection on the glass panel of the bust stop. 'Can't we just hightail it there? Better yet, how about we hijack a car and go on a joy ride?'

Not looking at the glass, his host replied, 'You know why we can't? If I do the former, I'll risk drawing attention to myself. This is supposed to be covert, remember?'

'Also, you insane space immigrant, I'm not hijacking a vehicle! Why would you even suggest that when you know I can't drive?" Percy exclaimed irritably.

It vexed him how Venom could be so lax sometimes, spewing out whatever came to mind. It was moments like these when his host couldn't tell if his symbiote was joking or not, or if it was just his doing out of boredom, knowing how he would react to it.

For all he knew, it could've been all three.

'That's why it's better to start soon.' Venom chuckled, his voice dripping with amusement. 'I could teach you, you know.' He offered.

'Venom.' Percy grumbled irritably, his tone tinged with annoyance, but the elder Klyntar continued.

'Plus, it's fine if you accidentally run over a few pedestrians along the way.' He snickered darkly. 'You gotta learn somehow.'

'Venom!' Percy mentally shouted as he turned to face the reflection in the glass. 

'What?' Venom shrugged nonchalantly. 'Mistakes are a natural part of growing up. You're young, so it's fine for you to make all the mistakes you want.'

Of course, this only accounted for what he considered minor mishaps, such as sneaking out to a party or getting a few girls pregnant. He had his pupiless eyes toward more pressing matters, like Percy falling in with a bad crowd or becoming entangled in a toxic relationship that would only bring him pain.

Venom sincerely doubted Percy would stoop to such levels. His host was too smart for that. Nevertheless, that's why Venom was here, ready to intervene if ever the need arose.

After all, a good guardian ensures the child they are responsible for learns from their mistakes, all while making sure everything doesn't cave in on itself.

'I'm a great guardian.' Venom boasted inwardly with a self-satisfied smile.

Meanwhile, his host gave him a deadpan stare, clearly exasperated by the symbiote's silliness. He wondered how his mother ever put up with his shenanigans.

'Can we just get a move on already? There are taxis directly in front of us!' Venom retorted impatiently before muttering, 'At this rate, the guy is going to croke before we get there.'

'That's not happening. We already have a taxi pre-planned.' He responded with a yawn.

'I forgot.' Venom retorted, receiving an eye roll from his host.

'Were you even listening to the brief we had the other day?' Perseus questioned.

The brief was a summary of what they were going to do during the infiltration. This particular part was over transportation arrangements. Richard had contacted the taxi service for a specific taxi driver under a false identity, posing as a person with great wealth, and arranged for his 'dear son' to be driven home.

'I think I paid attention to every third word.' Venom snorted, earning him an even more annoyed look from his host.

'Don't forgot who's allowing you to go on this little quest. Don't blame me for being carefree about it.' The symbiote chuckled as he pinched his host's cheeks, only to be swiftly swatted away.

'I thought I had your support in whatever I do?' Percy inquired.

'You do, but there's being an enabler and then there's me, kiddo. As for things like this, I'm only along for the ride... also to provide muscle.' Venom added the last part under his breath.

His host sighed before saying, 'Fair enough. Point is, we're getting a cabi that won't care who he's driving as long as they got the dough.' He explained, patting the casino card in his pocket.

'Ah, sweet money. It really makes the world go around, doesn't it?' Venom remarked, and his host silently agreed.

*BEEP.*

A barely audible beep sound was heard from the earpiece.

'Hold that thought.' He then used his left hand to cover his mouth as he whispered, 'What is it? Over.'

'Sir, I wish to inform you that the driver we've requested will arrive shortly. Over.' Richard informed.

'Got it. Call you back when we get there. Over.' He replied before pulling his hand back. 'You won't have to wait too long. He'll be here in a few.'

'Just what I wanted to hear.' Venom chimed, performing a happy dance, which earned a smile from the silver-haired hybrid.

'Hey, Venom, I've been meaning to ask something about our race a while.' Percy began. 'It's about our culture, like what are our daily lives like or what we do for fun.'

He asked this wanting to have a deeper understanding of himself. While training, he'd occasionally found himself wondering about the lifestyle of his species. Do the Klyntar constantly pit themselves in battle to prove their worth? Or do they hone their massive intelligence.

Contrary to what he would have liked to hear, the black symbiote said, 'I wish I could, kiddo, but what can I tell you about a race that has none of those?'

'What do you mean by that?' He asked.

'Exactly that. Here, I'll show you.'

Suddenly, the silver-haired demigod felt something strange happen to his vision. His eyes morphed into those of Venom's. The whites of his eyes darkened to a deep black as his silver pupils turned white.

...

He found himself in an expanse of darkness. The familiar sounds of traffic and the chill of the night air vanished, leaving him suspended in a silent void.

"Where am I?" He spoke calmly, knowing that this was Venom's doing.

"What you're currently seeing is an illusion of my memories. It's like how you see me in reflections." Venom spoke through the darkness. "I want to show you something."

Darkness swirled around him, and suddenly Percy was now floating adrift in space.

The twinkling stars formed an endless backdrop, but his attention was fixated on the celestial body before him: a planet. Comparable in size to Earth, it boasted a few significant distinctions. Firstly, it was adorned with its own planetary ring, and secondly, it had an eerie, inky blackness that set it apart from any other world in his solar system.

The demigod gained a semblance of surprise as he stared at the dark globe. "Is that—"

"Klyntar, my home planet." Venom revealed. "But judging by your expression, you had a feeling it would be like this. Am I right?"

His host merely nodded before the surroundings changed once more. The next moment, he found himself standing on the planet's surface.

"!!!"

The environment was barren, devoid of any semblance of nature—no flowers, patches of grass, or even clouds graced the horizon. It was a desolate land, leaving an inexplicable sense of sorrow lingering in the air. It was saddening.

"It's a wasteland." Percy remarked as he scanned over the desolate land.

"That's a very generous way to put it. Our species has barely anything that can be defined as a civilization. We've got history, like all life, sure, but we don't build cities, cook up delicious cuisine, or make up fairy tales. Klyntar is not even close to a society in comparison to your world."

"Look over there." Venom instructed, causing Perseus to instinctively look to the right.

It was another Klyntar, its skin a liquid black, just like Venom's. But unlike him, it was skinnier and walked on four legs. It boasted four white eyes, large, dagger-sized fangs, and intersecting white patterns adorning its body. It looked as if it was a crossbreed between a jaguar and a wolf.

The jaguarish symbiote opened its mouth to let out a cry, its tongue lashing about wildly in the air.

"ROAR!!!"

"What's happening to it?" Just as he asked, it's black skin started leaving the creature's body. Its symbiote was disconnecting its bond.

"The only thing that has ever been on our minds is survival of the fittest. When we attach ourselves to a host..." He paused for a second, trying to think up the words to not make his host feel ashamed of what he is.

"Just because we are called symbiotes doesn't mean we're obligated to work alongside our hosts." He stopped allowing his host to fill in the blanks.

The symbiote left the jaguar, leaving it in a weakened state. It appeared sickly and far skinnier than before, as if it hadn't eaten in weeks. Its green eyes are now dull and lifeless, barely able to muster the energy to draw breath.

"No way..." Perseus gasped with a look of horror on his face. "Our species, they're not just symbiotic... we're parasitic!"

"Yes. I'm not proud of it, but the truth is we drain our hosts's vitality, emotions, wills, and bodies until they are husks of their former selves." The illusion warped again.

Perseus was then brought to a mountain peak. "Is that what I think it is!?" He exclaimed.

At the base of the mountain sprawled a colossal battlefield, where a myriad of Klyntars, each bonded with hosts from different corners of the universe, locked in a savage battle.

*ROAR!!!*

A black Tyrannosaurus rex unleashed a thunderous roar as it charged toward a giant squid, trampling anything across its path.

*CREEE!!!*

The squid emitted a piercing screech of agony as the T-rex sank its teeth into its flesh, while the squid retaliated by attempting to strangle its adversary.

The same thing was happening everywhere. Many different symbiote's were killing each other with such brutality. It was pure carnage.

*BOOM!!!*

In the distance, a colossal surge of dark red energy erupted, staining the sky with its ominous aura, while airborne dragon-like creatures circled the chaotic scene. "The fuck is that!?" Percy shouted before the illusion came crashing down, plunging him back into reality.

...

The noise of the bustling streets signified that he had returned back to reality. However, the silver-haired hybrid was far quieter than when he first arrived here.

He was deeply shaken by this revelation. He had assumed that other symbiotes wouldn't possess the same level of friendliness and cooperation as Venom. After all, they were extraterrestrial beings, and Venom had openly admitted what he used to harm people before turning a new leaf.

But seeing this truth shown so graphically made him feel many things, with anger being the most prominent. Especially when his species abandoned their hosts to rot, he felt absolutely disgusted.

'I know what you're thinking, but don't hold our kind with disdain, Perseus. There is no such thing as a perfect society, and even if there were, flaws or people who just don't listen are bound to pop up.' Venom told his host, who did not look convinced.

'You expect me to be fine with this? To blindly accept this!' Percy snapped at him.

'What you're so angry about I used to do, child!' He shouted back. 'I changed many of my host's behaviors. All in negative ways. I was the bad guy!'

'But one day I chose to work alongside my hosts. They called me a radiculus, but they didn't know just what they were missing.' He then smiled as he palmed the spider emblem on his chest. 'I created so many lovely memories with my host's, all of which I treasure dearly.'

'If I can learn to change for the better (marginally), then so can the others.' The symbiote told him, and his host looked down, feeling his loathing fade.

'That being said, you shouldn't let yourself get all moody because of what our kind, me included, have done. Thinking that way will lead to your own disaster, so quit it already before I smack your head.' Venom grinned playfully.

'Acknowledge it, but don't do it.' He finished and made a mic drop.

It was Perseus turn to sit in silence. What Venom said really resonated with the silver-haired hybrid. The other Klyntars out there are terrible monsters who've done some unbelievable things, but if his guardian can change, then maybe so can they.

Though he didn't know if that same rule applied to gods, he was going to have to wait and see for himself before deciding to go nuclear.

His host tilted his head upwards before saying, 'Ok, Venom, I'll believe that our kind can change.'

'That's all I and anyone else can ask for.' Venom smiled gracously, thankful that his host's personal view of the world is not hindered by personal bias.

'Hmph, honestly, don't you get tired of asking all these difficult-to-answer questions? You've got to chill.' The elder Klyntar gave a chuckle.

Rolling his eyes at the symbiote. 'You said I could ask you anything. It's not my fault you're blunter than a club 24/7.' He sharply retorted.

Before Venom could come up with a response, a taxi horn blared out in front of them.

*HONK!*

'Finally! Let's get the fuck outta here!' The black symbiote exclaimed, making hurrying gestures.

Percy mentally palmed his head in irritation. Seriously, how can this guy say such amazing words of wisdom one moment but act like a complete jackass the next?

Sighing, Percy stood up and went to the taxi. Opening the door, he let himself in.

The driver was a tall man of Asian descent who looked to be around his thirties, wearing a yellow coat with a white undershirt, baggy pants, and a necklace that, when translated to Japanese, was the symbol for life. He also had on his taxi hat and a cigar in his mouth. This man was Tokugawa Ryota, the driver they bought off.

The driver looked at him with a slight surprise on his face. He knew he was going to be driving around a child based on what his boss told him, but it still managed to pique his curiosity. "Your dad, Lee Richards?" He asked.

Nonetheless, he had a job to do, and based on what his boss told him, this was going to pay very handsomely.

"He is." He nodded in return. "Manhattan, 22nd Street, please."

"Kuso ̄ , kon'na osoku ni kodomo o hitori de gaishutsu sa seru nante oya ga dōshite omoitsuku nda?" He muttered in Japanese, receiving a frown from the passenger.

("Damn it all, how can any parent even think of having his child out this late alone?")

`Watashinokazoku no koto wa anata ni wa kankei arimasen. Dakara, chichi ga anata o yatotta basho made kuruma de tsureteitte kudasai.-Sō shinaito mondai ga okirudeshou.' He replied in perfect Japanese, making him think that the demigod came from a distinguished background.

("My family matters are none of your concern. So I suggest you drive me to the location my father hired you for, or we're going to have some problems.")

Yes, he was fluent in Japanese. Like Greek, the foreign language came quite easily to him growing up. He was very ahead of kids his age group for a reason.

As for that reason being because he was part alien, who could know?

Seeing the stern look on the child's face, the driver silently nodded, not wanting to deal with the fallout of angering a wealthy man.

The man muttered something about irresponsible parents before asking, "Do you have the agreed-upon amount?"

Perseus took out the Lotus card from his pocket and asked. "Casino fine?" He flipped the card through his fingers.

Stopping himself from asking how he attained it, the driver replied, "Debit, credit, casino—as long as they have money in them and can be swiped through the machine, it'll take anything."

Perseus swiped the card through the machine, and the next thing the cabbie knew, an infinity symbol appeared on his screen.

The driver was so shocked by the outrageous amount that he instantly took out his cigar and put it on the ashtray.

"22nd in Manhattan, right, sir." He politely spoke, rolling down the window to let out any remaining smoke. The infinity symbol spooked him quite a bit.

"Yes, and don't call me sir." He waved off, not wanting to bully the poor man. The same could not be said about Venom, who hollerd with laughter.

The driver nodded, straightening his cap before he started the car, and they drove away.

...

The drive from Long Island to the institute lasted about an hour. During the drive, Perseus took to gazing out the window in thoughtful silence as the taxi traversed the road. Upon reaching the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, his attention was drawn to a giant building in the distance. As he stared at it, he felt his arm hairs stand on end beneath the fabric of his coat, as if signaling that something very significant was going on within that skyscraper.

Seeing this, the cabbie spoke his first words since the drive began. "That's the Empire State Building. It takes your breath away, doesn't it?"

Percy shifted his gaze to the man to continue, figuring he might as well since the ride was too quiet. "I suppose."

"It's one of the tallest in the States at about 1,250 feet. It's been there since the '30s, hosting corporate business offices. Quite the sight, especially at night, all lit up with that."

"You sure know a lot." He commented.

The driver laughed a bit. "Well, I've been doing this job for a long time, driving all kinds of people, some tourists on vacation. I kind of had to learn a thing or two so as not to bore my passengers, but you don't seem surprised."

"I've read about America from books given to me." He yawned and went back to looking out the window.

As Percy observed the Empire State Building, his silver eyes narrowed, as did his suspicions. 'Venom, there's something off about that building.'

'I feel it too.' Venom snarled through the reflection on the window. 'Once this night is over, make sure to have Richard look into it.'

'Hm.' He internally nodded.

Whatever was up with that building, the symbiote duo had no idea, but they were sure of one thing, it had something to do with the Greek pantheon.

The taxi then went into a tunnel. About twenty minutes later, the driver finally made a stop at the destination.

"Welp, this is it. Take care now, and watch your step out there. Wouldn't wanna get nightmares because something bad happened to you." The taxi driver's voice carried a tone of genuine concern.

"I'll be fine, but I appreciate the concern." He replied.

The man tipped his hat. "Mata o ai dekiru koto o tanoshiminishiteimasu." The man told him, but the demigod doubted they'd ever cross paths again.

(I look forward to seeing you again.)

He specifically told Richard to monitor any driver who transports me anywhere to make sure we never meet more than once. A precaution the AI took for this mission.

"Arigatō, ji kai made." He thanked the man in the same language and went out of the taxi. He then proceeded to walk in the opposite direction of the vehicle.

(Thank you, until next time.)

As the taxi left, he waited a few minutes until it was out of sight. Once he was sure the coast was clear, he made a u-turn and headed towards a nearby alley.

Going behind an empty garbage bin, he removed the coat, letting his stealth suit free as he put on his face covering.

Venom let out a low groan as he stretched his form. 'About time. Waiting around was getting tedious.' The symbiote complained.

'What do you need to stretch for? It's not like you have bones.' He stated, keeping himself from telling the black symbiote how he doesn't have a good bone in his body.

Pressing onto the earpiece, Percy asked, "Richard, we're here. How is everything on your end? Over."

"Everything is in order, sir. Denise is currently preoccupied with his mobile device, neglecting to monitor the security cameras. Nevertheless, I've taken the liberty to tamper with them." The butler reported.

There were many plans in place on how to infiltrate the asylum, but with Denise around to keep guard, all Richard had to do was turn off the alarm systems, tamper with the security cameras with previous recordings, and keep an eye on Dennis. The only thing the silver-haired demigod had to do was get to O'Niel.

"Perfect." He smirked and then turned on the invisibility function of the suit.

He was now invisible, from the top of his silver head to the soles of his feet. He looked at himself in a half-thrown-away mirror and saw nothing reflected back.

He then started climbing to the roof of a building.

...

Standing in front of the institution, an invisible Perseus held his head up to the sky, waiting for the right moment when a cloud would block the moon, not wanting to take chances when nature itself was involved. It's also why he refused to climb the building.

The clouds then darkened the moonlight. 'Here we go.' An invisible Percy thought as he approached the asylum's perimeter.

With his above-average physical abilities, he easily jumped over the steel fences and ran for the white building ahead.

With the agility of a cat, Percy navigated the darkened grounds, avoiding the faint glow of the security lights and being careful not to reveal his own shadow by mistake.

After that, it was onto the garden.

'Are those roses? Nice.' He idly thought as he hid behind a statue just as a guard was passing by.

'Maybe you should get into gardening.' Venom suggested as his host jumped up the statue's head.

'Maybe some other time.' Percy then leaped, effortlessly crossing over 40 feet.

As he neared the back entrance, Percy saw the door being opened. Without missing a beat, he pressed himself against the wall and kept silent as the guard passed by, oblivious to his presence.

As the door was about to shut itself, Percy seized the opportunity to slip in undetected. He moved through the corridors. Richard had informed him that O'Niel would be located at the very top of the institute, on the left, his current right side of the asylum, and the fastest way would be by going up the emergency exit staircase.

Seeing the coast was clear, he made it to the end of the corridor, where he proceeded to let himself into the emergency staircase, where the emergency alarms had already been put on silent by his AI Butler.

Running up the stairs, he quickly made it to the top, where he then proceeded to continue until he made it to the end of the hallway. Where a single room met him. 'Were here.'

...

Liem O'Niel, a 77-year-old veteran half-blood. He had a rough face with a dark red eye patch over his left eye, with his right eye being a somber grayish-brown akin to the burned-down remains of a forest fire that had long since destroyed its surroundings to ash. His height was an admirable 7 feet, '6 inches. Despite his advanced age, his large build was robust and imposing, leagues above other old cats his age group.

His overall presence screamed that of a seasoned warrior who's seen more than his fair share of battle.

Gazing out the sealed window of his room, Liem O'Niel observed the snowflakes descending outside, cloaking everything in a tranquil blanket of white. He was turning 78 this year, an already huge milestone for half-bloods that should be worth celebrating, yet, despite this, his heart wasn't in high spirits.

It had been over three decades since that terrible night, and the memory of that beast attacking his home was still fresh in mind.

All he could do these days was stare out quietly, lost in his thoughts. He could still remember it like it was yesterday. The trashed living room, their dead bodies lying on the ground, and the cold blood staining his hands.

He was tough, an exceptional fighter, and one of the bravest half-bloods of his Olympian father, but he was still only a man because every time he thought of his wife and their children, it felt as if a part of him was being repeatedly stabbed.

The senior half-blood gave a deep sigh, his old face looking even older than it had previously. "When will this end?" He spoke to himself.

Though he would never think about ending himself, sometimes the awful idea would cross his mind. At this point, the only thing keeping him from doing so would be the fact that he'd be tarnishing the honor of every half-blood out there in the world. The demigods, who right at this moment were living far harsher lives and as children no less!

"An skéftesai na aftoktoníseis, tóte káne to mónos sou ótan tha fýgo." A voice he's never heard before spoke from the dark side of the room, and in his native language, no less.

("If you're thinking about killing yourself, then do it on your own time when I'm gone.")

"Who's there? How'd you manage to get in here?" O'Niel squinted his eyes, but could not make out any silhouette lurking in the shadows.

"Oh, the God of Death. You've come for me at last." The man closed his eyes in resolution.

Much to his surprise, the figure he thought was Thanatos stepped out of the dark, revealing himself to be a mere child.

"Far from it, old-timer. I'm not here for your soul. I'm here to talk, actually. About the supernatural with you." He declared, surprising the old man even more.

Liem furrowed his brow at Percy before asking, "Depends, who exactly am I talking to?"

"Like, I'm telling you who I am." He stubbornly retorts with crossed arms.

"If that's the game you want to play, then I'm not obliged to spill me guts." Liem countered, shrugging casually and earning himself a glare from the hybrid.

"I went through more than a little trouble to meet you, so talk while I'm asking nicely!" He demanded, his fists clenched in visible frustration.

The senior citizen snorted, finding humor in being threatened by a mere child, even if that child was also a half-blood, as he suspected. 'Ah, to be young again.' He smiles reminiscingly.

"Your threats are as empty as a pint on a Sunday morning." Chuckled Liem. "But if you fancy a chat about the supernatural, I need to know who's at my door. Otherwise, feel free to show yourself out." He gestured toward the door with a nod.

*THUMP!*

*CRACK!*

Was the sound of the silver-haired demigod's fist striking the wall, leaving a fist-sized dent to form.

'Venom.' He called to the symbiote. 'Any ideas, cause I'm all ears?'

'Easy question.' Venom responded. 'This mission was doomed from the start. Let's get out of here.'

'Not just yet.' He replied, receiving a confused look from Venom.

'Percy, you're not thinking of—'

'I am.' He cut off, receiving the reaction he expected from the black symbiote.

'You will NOT, Perseus!' Venom shot a stern look at his host, a rare moment of seriousness from the symbiote. 'I let you get away with a lot, but this is pushing it!'

An argument then ensued between them.

To the veteran demigod, it looked as if the child was deeply contemplating his decision, unaware of the yelling match that went down in his head. After a minute of convincing the very reluctant Venom-Symbiote, Percy removed his mask, wig, and contacts.

"My name is Perseus V. Jackson, son of the Sea." He introduced himself.

Liem's eyes widened to the size of saucers, but he quickly stifled himself. "Liem O'Niel, son of War. And aren't you supposed to be dead? I saw the news."

"That doesn't matter, you old codger. Now that I told you who I am, are you going to talk or not!?" He narrowed his silver eyes at his senior.

"Fair enough." The veteran demigod reclined on his bed with a composed demeanor. "What do you want to know, lad?"

"Everything. About Camp Half-Blood, about the gods, about the Greek pantheon. I want any and all pieces of knowledge you have about them." He declared.

From his words, the veteran half-blood could only stare in stunned silence. "Now why would you want to know all that... unless you haven't been there and are gathering information in secret, I see now. You're a rogue."

"A rogue? What's that supposed to mean?" The younger demigod inquired.

"A rogue is what the gods would call their unruly children, those who purposely acted against their wishes, like seeking information from alternative sources to keep their actions covert—much like yourself, lad." He remarked, earning himself an eye roll.

"Strange, I thought they died out long ago, especially after what happened in World War II." He muttered.

"What exactly happened in World War II? Did demigods take part in it?"

According to Venom, World War II unfolded slightly differently than in his dimension. While the symbiote avoided direct involvement in the conflict, preferring to steer clear of major historical events, he recounted rumors he had overheard. Absurd amounts of incidents occurred, with soldiers reporting hearing ghastly wails, sudden floods that materialized out of nowhere, and relentless lightning strikes on the battlefield.

Just those three alone was enough for them to suspect there was much more going on in the war.

"Aye, but it's a tad more tangled than what the history books will tell you. I'll be sharing' the tale in just a minute, but before that, there's a matter I'm curious about."

Ignoring Venom rude remarks, Percy replied, "What is it?"

"How come I couldn't sense your presence earlier? Not a whisper in the dark, not a hint of your shadow, 'til you emerged. Whatever you're doing, it's far more effective than Mist. Care to share." He inquired, yet the lad kept mum.

Percy furrowed his brows at his senior. "I'm not telling you that, O'NIEL!" He spoke with gritted teeth as he simultaneously kept Venom from coming out.

"Now, calm yourself, laddy." He raised his hands in defense. "I'm just curious, is all."

"Just from looking at you, I can tell that your situation is very bad, but trust me when I say I will not use whatever you say against you." He told him, but his junior didn't seem to believe him.

"Talk is cheap, old man." Perseus retorted.

The man nodded in agreement. "I know, but if you want proof of my sincerity, I can swear on the—"

"Stop." His junior interrupted before saying, "We don't need to bring the river into this." He told him, receiving a nod.

"To answer your question... an associate of mine has gone through a lot of trouble to hide my very existence from the pantheon to keep me safe. He is also very mad that I told you who I am. He expained, and O'Niel made a mental note not to anger this third party any more. "Is that enough to answer your question?"

"Ah, that's a nifty trick, but you must be smart about using it, especially if you aim to visit the camp. Going there like that will attract their eyes like moths to a flame." He cautioned.

"Noted." Perseus nodded. "Now, can we get to why I came here, please?"

"Alright, alright, you little whippersnapper, I'll tell you everything I know. Take a seat. We're going to be here a while." He said as he gestured towards the seat beside him.

"I'm fine with standing." Percy retorted, getting a shrug of the shoulders from the old man.

The seasoned demigod then proceeded to divulge everything he knew about their world: details about the camp, its director, the head of security, the general term used to call demigods, the Pegasus stables, each of the twelve cabins, the Oracle residing in the attic of the Big House, the Satyrs tasked with seeking out half-bloods, the Council of Cloven Elders, the unique properties of Celestial Bronze which their weapons were made from, the nature of monsters and how they reform over time, the locations of the three kingdoms, almost nothing was left out.

And the symbiote duo absorbed this information like a sponge.

"And so the gods, Olympus, the Underworld, Atlantis, and even the Sea of Monsters—all shifted from Greece to America, following the Heart of the West, which the old centaur explained is a flame fueled by the collective human spirit and the civilization that moves with the prosperity and influence of the—yada yada, you get it already. America is the top dog." The old man concluded.

"That's all very fascinating. But I can't help but wonder what would happen if the West were to be annihilated." He mused, a shadow of concern darkening his tone.

'My best guess? The gods would, at the very least, be crippled, deprived of a repository of their history or any structures still standing. Seems to me that their significance hinges greatly on modern society's emulation of their likeness, be it through art or architecture.' Venom added his two cents.

'You know, this is an idea that I can definitely get behind.' He remarked, his voice tinged with a cynical edge. 'Definitely.'

The Venom-Symbiote made a valid point. The gods were very dependent on being worshipped and sacrificed to by humans.

'So it boils down to belief. The gods must be acknowledged for their authority to stand, or perhaps even for their existence to go on.' The silver-haired demigod mused, his eyes narrowing like a venomous serpent.

"Uh, laddy." O'Niel waved to him, getting his junior to turn his head. "You're not thinking about destroying the West, are you? It's doing just fine without your help."

Perseus shook his head. "I wasn't. It was just an idle thought. I wouldn't destroy an entire civilization for my goals. So, anything else you'd like to tell me?"

The old timer chuckled wearily. "Remember when I mentioned demigods participated in WW2?" Percy nodded in recollection. "It was no ordinary war. Many half-bloods fought in the war, but the ones that caused the most damage were the children of the Sky and Sea allied against the Underworld. You can well imagine which side stood for what." He revealed.

'So the rumors were true.' Venom thought.

"What happened after that?"

"I don't know from experience. I wasn't part of the war. All I know is what the centaur told me. Supposedly, the Big Three pledged an oath to..." He halted abruptly, starring at the silver-haired demigod.

"To what? Tell me. What did they pledge an oath to?" Percy pressed.

"The Big Three swore an oath under the river to never father any more half-bloods with mortals. Yet here you stand, a child of one of them." He remarked, casting a sorrowful look toward his junior.

"I'm sorry, laddy." He apologized to the child, who could only stand in unnerving silence.

Perseus simmered with rage, and a subtle silver flared out of his eye sockets. "So not only am I a bastard, you're telling me I shouldn't even be born!" He snarled, his fist clenched tightly, the pressure enough to break skin. "He's the reason she's gone!"

'Bastards, GRAAAAAH!' Venom growled rabbidly.

The pact between the three brothers was broken by his father, and Zeus threw down his lightning bolt because of his brother's folly. But something still didn't sit right with them. 'It doesn't make sense!' The two shouted 

"I'm afraid that's the truth of it. That's the reality of this awful family. They fight amongst themselves, and when things don't go their way, we're the ones who pay for it. And if that doesn't do us in, it's their enemies who finish us off." He said, his hand grazing his eye patch.

Percy looked at the eye patch. "Your eye... that was from Pasiphae's son, wasn't it?" He spoke, and his senior looked back at him. "Sorry, before meeting you, I did some research on how you ended up here." He put his head down apologetically.

The son of Ares sighed deeply and looked up to the ceiling. "It's ok. How else would you know about me? Do you want to know what happened that night?" He asked, to which the boy nodded.

"Frankly, I don't think it's a story I should be telling to a child, but I offered. There's far worse out there coming for you." He took a deep breath before beginning.

"My wife, Beatrice, the daughter of Love. There are many ways I can describe her. She was gentle and kind too, but she was not meek. Oh no, she was never afraid to speak her mind. She was a very feisty gal, I'll tell you, hahahaha." He bellowed out loud.

Perseus rolled his eyes. "Like father, like son." The brat scoffed, getting a crossed look from his senior.

The older demigod huffed and continued. "She was an amazing woman, too good for the likes of me. We married each other when we were in our teens. I worked at a boxing gym, and Beatrice worked at our local diner. Life was wonderful, and it was about to get even better.

"You had children." He guessed, to which the elder smiled smugly.

"Yes, I knocked her up, and she gave me two beautiful children, Laurel and Shamus." His smile widened goofily until it started dimming.

"Our family was happy. Until that awful night. I came home late because I was helping out a friend. I got out of the car to see my front door bashed in as if it had been rammed through by a Harley. I ran inside to try and find my family, but I was met with that bull instead, standing over my family's bodies." He clenched his shirt as his one good eye started welling up.

"It broke into our home and... slaughtered them all. Beatrice, Laurel, Shamus—no one was spared." He said, and this time tears started pouring out.

"The rest was a blur. I fought that beast barehanded. Everything was broken, and I barely survived, but at what cost? My family died, and my life was over. After that, the police came looking, finding me holding their bodies in my arms, and I've been here ever since." He sighed tiredly as he wiped the tears away.

Perseus felt tears running down his own face at the story. Even the black symbiote inside him felt saddened. "Why are you telling me this, Mr. O'niel?" He wiped the tears away.

"Because I'm asking you to cease whatever you are doing. You've no idea the mess you're stepping into. So stop it!" He grabbed his junior's shoulder.

"Listen to me. Run to camp as fast as you can, let the director know who you are, and get claimed by your father. Your uncle might not be pleased to find out you're still alive, but at least if you're at camp, he won't lay a hand on you."

Perseus immediately pushed the hand away, an enraged look in his silver eyes. "What type of bullshit are you spouting, old man?" He shouted.

"You fool! You don't understand. I know what you're thinking! Have you never read Icarus—you cannot challenge the gods. There is no possible outcome where you come out the victor! Please don't do this." He pleaded with his junior.

"My mother sacrificed herself against his lightning. She died for me. For ME! I won't kneel to the gods. I refuse to!" He then started to leave for the door. 

"You idiot!" O'Niel yelled, and the boy stopped. "Do you know what kind of hell you're walking into? If you do this, you'll be hunted down. You cannot do this alone!"

Perseus looked him in the eye, his own glowing bright silver. If it weren't for the dark, he could see that the whites of his eyes were black.

"She did it for me, so that I could live. She wanted me to live. I don't care what hell I have to walk through to do that. No matter what, I will live. For her." He declared before slamming the door behind him.

Liem was left alone in his room. He yelled for his junior to come back, to try and reason with him out of this foolish path, but he didn't. The silver-haired demigod Perseus V. Jackson was adamant in his decision to oppose the gods and become their enemy. All to live. 

The old man clutched his heart, feeling its lively rhythm and warmth. He couldn't remember the last time it did that. "He—He's really going to do it. He's going to fight for the life he wants." He murmured, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Perseus, I can't say if my faith will make a difference for you, but I'll offer it nonetheless. Good luck, lad!"

That cold winter night, a single man's fighting spirit was restored. What was lost many years ago was brought back to life with a vent by the strong-felt words of a child no older than ten, brought back like a flame, all to assist the little boy in his long journey.

On that chilly winter night, the fighting spirit of a lone man was reignited. What had long been lost many decades ago was revived tonight by the heartfelt words of a mere child of barely ten. Like a flame flickering to life, it surged forth, lending its strength to aid the young lad.

...

Walking down the corridor, Perseus reflected on why he came here in the first place. With his conversation with the son of Ares coming to a close, he had so many things to think about, but most importantly, he came to know just how cruel this world his father sentenced him to really was. He suddenly remembered reading tales of heroes and their great adventures. They were amazing, strong, brave, and cunning (except for Jason). There was one he admired the most, simply because the half-blood thought he was the greatest. After coming here,he  knew just what type of hero I wanted to be if he was going to live the life he wanted.

'Venom, there's something I want to tell you.' He spoke.

'I'm all ears. Not really, but you get the idea.' Venom replied like the lovable goofball he is.

'I don't want to be the hero. That's simply not what I need to be. That means I can't follow our family's motto either. I'll have to use my power to purposely hurt others. I'm sorry.' He apologized. 'But I have to be selfish.'

Contrary to expectations, Venom didn't lash out at him. 'That's fine.' He said coolly. 'If you don't want to use your powers for the greater good, then that's just dandy. They're yours to do as you wish. I'll back you up regardless.' He told his host, which he greatly appreciated.

'I do have to ask, though: If you don't want to be the noble hero, then what do you want to be? You're too cool to play the villain.' He asked me, getting his host to stop.

Thinking, he hummed before saying, 'I will follow my own path, my own rules, and whatever I think is right. I don't care if I'm labeled the hero or the monster. I'll be someone that not even those so called gods can chain down or control. If it means playing dirty, then so be it. No matter what, I will fight till my last breath if I have to.'

That was my decision starting today. I will be the evil hero with unknown intentions who will manipulate, outsmart, and cruelly rip apart anyone who crosses my path. I wasn't going to become the hero who takes orders from the gods and goes home empty-handed. I was going to succeed far beyond what anyone ever has, and maybe I'll help an old lady cross the street when I can.

'What do you think?'

'It's obvious you're a bad mother like your mad mother, and that's a good thing because you're also sweet like her too. I think you've done the best you could, and I'm so proud of you for it.' He told him, and his host nodded before turning his head away, lest he show how embarrassed Venom was making him feel.

'There's just one teensy-weensy problem.' He pointed out something, and his host gave him a confused look.

"What is it?" He inquired.

'Earlier, you said that you're fine walking through hell alone. Well, that's not going to work with me, kiddo. Whether you like it or not, Percy, we're in this together. Don't forget that.' Venom said with a vicious grin.

Perseus snorted but smirked as he resumed walking. 'Alright, I won't, Symby.' He told him as he became invisible, just as a guard passed by.

'Good, now to McDonald's! Don't forget your promise.' He reminded Percy, who rolled his eyes.

'I haven't forgotten. I'm pretty hungry myself. Let's jet.' He then opened the back exit before booting out.

...

(A/N: Happy Mother's Day everyone.)