Percy Jackson - Beyond the Gods

New York, Manhattan.

In a rustic, secluded cabin, nestled in the heart of the Manhattan suburbs. The exterior is made of dark wood, with exposed beams reinforcing the sloping roof. The construction seems ancient but robust, as if molded by nature itself and not built by human hands. Moss covers some parts of the wood, and vines climb the walls, reinforcing the house's connection with the surrounding environment.

The surrounding garden is a living work of art. Perfectly pruned shrubs form geometric figures and even some animal shapes. Flowers of all colors and sizes decorate the space, arranged in circular beds with impeccable precision. A small crystalline stream winds through the property, with a rustic wooden bridge crossing it. Enormous trees surround the garden, offering shade and protection, like silent sentinels.

Inside, the house is functional and minimalist, reflecting the man's practical nature. The floor is made of polished wood, and the walls are adorned with gardening tools organized with precision. A stone fireplace occupies the center of the main room, with a stack of firewood neatly arranged beside it. Above the fireplace, shelves are filled with seeds, small clay pots, and books on botany and horticulture.

The furniture is simple: an aged leather armchair, a solid wood table with chairs, and a canopy bed in the corner, covered with handmade quilts. In the opposite corner, there's a small kitchen with a wood-burning stove and shelves filled with dried herbs and glass jars containing spices and oils.

A man sat in the old armchair, but the furniture seemed too small for his colossal frame. With a concentrated gaze, he watched TV as the reporter appeared on the screen. He held a teacup that looked tiny in his enormous hands, and his thick beard still had some twigs and leaves stuck in it, as if he had just put down his gardening tools.

On the television, a young blonde reporter, formally dressed, appeared at the destroyed site. In the background, the wreckage of the Air and Space Museum was visible, police officers cordoning off the area, and firefighters checking the debris. The reporter's expression was serious, but her voice tried to remain calm as she narrated the events.

"Good morning, America. We're live from the Air and Space Museum, where, about an hour ago, an unusual and frightening attack took place. Authorities are still investigating the details, but the reports are clear: a group of armed individuals used extremely uncommon methods to terrorize those present, including releasing a lion—yes, you heard that right, a lion—inside the museum. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the panic was widespread."

The camera then cut to a mother holding her young son, both visibly shaken. The woman appeared pale, her eyes wide and her voice trembling, while the boy in her arms seemed more curious than frightened.

"We're here with one of the witnesses to the incident. Ma'am, can you tell us what happened?"

"I… I still can't believe what we saw. We were on the third floor, admiring the rocket exhibits, when we heard a roar so loud that… that my heart almost stopped. The children started screaming. I… I just thought about grabbing my son and running."

"You mentioned seeing something? What exactly was happening?"

"It was a lion! Giant! It appeared on the ramp, like a nightmare. It was huge, golden, with claws… claws that could tear through steel! Everyone started running, but it seemed like… like it was having fun."

Before the woman could continue, the boy in her arms tugged at her sleeve, smiling excitedly.

"Mommy, it was a giant kitty! A pretty kitty! It was roaring, but I wanted to play with it!"

The mother stared at him with a terrified look, while the reporter hid a nervous smile, quickly composing herself to speak: "Well, as we can see, experiences varied among the witnesses. What else do you remember, ma'am? Was there any indication that this was part of a planned attack?"

The woman took a deep breath and spoke.

"Yes. One of the security guards appeared and tried to control the panic, but… he was threatened by a masked man. I saw the man holding some kind of device, and he seemed to be giving orders to the lion. After that… there was an explosion. I don't know how we escaped unharmed."

The camera returned to the reporter, who nodded gravely.

"Thank you for sharing your experience. We're relieved that you and your son are alright. Back to the studio."

When the report ended, the muscular, bald man watching TV frowned. He leaned forward, taking a trowel from his utility belt and spinning it thoughtfully in his fingers.

"Golden lion," he murmured to himself, his voice deep and resonant like distant thunder. He looked at the twigs still caught in his beard, pulling one out absentmindedly. "It seems my gardening services aren't the only ones needed today."

He rose from the armchair, his seven-foot-tall figure dominating the small room. The tools on his belt jingled slightly as he walked to the door, his footsteps echoing heavily.

Outside, a lush garden, filled with impeccably pruned plants and exotic flowers, awaited him.

...

..

.

The white van crossed the bridge over the Potomac River, the water glistening under the overcast sky. Ikki kept his hands firmly on the wheel.

The distant sound of propellers cutting through the air began to increase.

"Something's coming," Thalia said, her gaze fixed on the side mirror. She had chosen the front seat this time.

Suddenly, a black military helicopter appeared on the horizon, with a sleek and menacing design. It was similar to the one they had seen at Westover Hall, but this one seemed more aggressive, with flashing lights and weapons embedded in the sides. It left no doubt: it was coming directly towards them.

"They know the van," Zoe spoke quickly from the back. "We have to lose them."

Ikki pressed the accelerator, swerving into the fast lane. The van's engine groaned with the effort as he tried to gain some distance, but the helicopter was closing in too fast.

"Maybe the military will shoot at them," Grover suggested, his voice full of hope.

"The military probably thinks it's one of theirs," Thalia countered, her face grim. "How can the General use mortals anyway?"

"Mercenaries," Zoe replied with disdain. "It's unpleasant, but many mortals will fight for any cause as long as they're paid."

Thalia didn't seem satisfied with the answer. "But these mortals don't see who they're working for? Don't they notice all the monsters around them?"

Zoe shook her head, a sad and resigned look crossing her face. "I don't know how much they see through the Mist. I doubt they'd care if they knew the truth. Sometimes, mortals can be more horrible than monsters."

The helicopter was getting closer and closer, gliding effortlessly through the sky as Ikki struggled to steer the van through the congested Washington D.C. traffic. They could hear the increasing whir of the propellers, and a beam of light began to descend from the aircraft, illuminating the van like a beacon.

"It's going to get us!" Phoebe shouted from the back seat, staring at the pursuing light.

Ikki maintained his focus, swerving the van in quick maneuvers, but the helicopter was still gaining ground.

"So…" Grover began nervously, looking at Ikki. "It's a good time to use that trick you used, you know… to get rid of that helicopter…"

Everyone's eyes turned to Ikki, remembering what he was capable of. He had done it a few days ago at Westover Hall.

"We're waiting, Superman," Thalia teased, trying to relieve the tension.

Ikki nodded slightly, his gaze calm and determined. He had been waiting for this, actually, since the range of his [Telekinesis] was somewhat limited. Keeping one hand on the wheel, he extended the other outwards, his fingers curling slightly as if gripping something invisible.

The helicopter drew closer, so close now that they could see the pilots inside, the glow of the control panels reflecting on their faces. Then, the air around the helicopter seemed to change.

It was as if an invisible, crushing force surrounded the aircraft. The helicopter began to sway erratically in the air, the rotors struggling against the invisible pressure closing in around it.

"It's working!" Grover exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Atalanta kept her gaze fixed on the helicopter, her lips pressed into a thin line as she whispered something like a silent prayer.

The helicopter was slowly crushed, the metal panels twisting like aluminum foil. Glass shattered, and the sound of grinding metal filled the air as the aircraft was bent and compressed. The sound was almost unbearable, like nails scratching a chalkboard, but no one dared look away.

Finally, the entire helicopter collapsed into a small sphere, no larger than a soda can. Ikki dropped his hand back to the wheel, breathing deeply as if he had just completed a strenuous exercise.

"And that's how you deal with a helicopter," he murmured, more to himself than to the others.

"Wow…" Grover said, his mouth agape.

Thalia grinned: "Never thought I'd say this, but you're a show-off, Ikki!"

As the van sped across the bridge, the now-destroyed helicopter plunged into the river below, disappearing into the dark waters of the Potomac.

After more than an hour driving towards their planned destination, they came to an abrupt end.

The white van gave its last gasps and sputtered to a stop beside a snow-covered road. The group climbed out, staring at the desolate landscape around them. It was an industrial area, with rows of abandoned warehouses, railway tracks covered in snow, and a freezing breeze that cut across their faces like a blade. The snow fell incessantly, covering everything with a white blanket. The cold seemed more intense there, as if the wind came directly from the depths of winter.

Ikki looked at the empty gas gauge on the dashboard and shook his head. "Well, I guess our ride's over."

"Great," Thalia grumbled, shivering. "Now we're stuck in this giant freezer."

Zoe looked around, assessing the situation. "We need fuel. Maybe we can find something in the warehouses or near the tracks."

Ikki agreed with a nod. "Let's look. We don't have another choice."

They began to wander through the railway yard, their feet sinking into the soft snow. The place seemed abandoned for years. Freight cars were parked in endless rows, many of them covered by a thick layer of snow. There was no passenger train in sight, only the silence of the place and the sound of their footsteps in the snow.

The cold was terrible in this place.

As they walked, they encountered a homeless man near a makeshift fire inside a trash can. He seemed to be surviving the cold as best he could. His toothless smile lit up his grimy face as he saw the group.

"Need to warm up? Come over here!" he said, waving them over.

The group gathered around the warmth, trying to shield themselves from the cold. Thalia rubbed her hands together and chattered her teeth. "Well, this is j-j-just great. Now we're warming ourselves by a trash can fire in the middle of nowhere."

"My hooves are frozen," Grover complained, pulling his feet closer to the fire.

"Feet," Atalanta corrected with a serious look, aware of the homeless man's presence.

Grover huffed but said nothing.

"Maybe we should call Chiron," Grover suggested. "He can help us—"

"No," Zoe cut in quickly. "They can't help us anymore. We have to finish the quest on our own."

While the group discussed, Ikki remained silent, observing the homeless man carefully. Something about him seemed out of place. He knew this man wasn't just any homeless person. He recognized in his eyes and the way he spoke the essence of a Greek god. Probably someone breaking the Ancient Laws to help them. Ikki, however, decided not to comment. He fixed his gaze on the distant horizon, to the west. That was where someone was using his mother's identity to cause chaos. Artemis was chained, and an apocalyptic monster was on the loose. All this while they were stuck on the outskirts of the capital.

"You know," the homeless man said suddenly, breaking the silence. "You're never completely without friends."

His face was grimy and his beard tangled, but there was something warm and comforting in his expression. He pointed towards the railway yard. "You need a train west?"

"Yes, sir," Thalia replied hopefully. "Do you know of any?"

He pointed with a dirty hand to a freight train that magically appeared in view. It was clean, shiny, and snow-free, a stark contrast to the surrounding environment. It was a car transport train, with several tiers of gleaming cars inside. On the side of the train, it read: SUN WEST LINES.

"That's… convenient," Thalia commented, suspicious. "Thanks, uh…" She turned to thank the homeless man, but he had vanished. The trash can was cold and empty, as if the fire had been taken with him.

An hour later, the group was aboard the train, rumbling westward.

The journey, at least, was comfortable. Each had chosen their favorite luxury car.

Zoe, Atalanta, and Phoebe were relaxing in a Lexus on the upper level, exchanging occasional comments. Grover was on the middle level, amusing himself like a race car driver behind the wheel of a Lamborghini. And Thalia had settled into a black Mercedes SLK, adjusting the radio to tune in to her alternative rock music.

With something on his mind, Ikki knocked on Thalia's car window.

"Can I join you?" he asked. He wanted to resolve some of his complicated relationship with his half-sister. Faintly, he was proud of his change; once again, he was taking the first step in something and not just being an "observer" who didn't care about anything.

Ikki settled into the passenger seat.

The sound of the White Stripes' raw guitar filled the uncomfortable silence between them.

He recognized the music immediately. It was one of the few CDs his mother loved. He remembered how she used to say that the band had something that reminded her of Led Zeppelin, one of her favorites; that was why she got along so well with Sally, Percy's mother, who also liked the music.

This memory brought a tightness to his chest.

The two sat in silence, listening to the music for a while.

"Nice coat," Thalia said, trying to break the ice.

Ikki shrugged, his gaze lost on the imaginary road before them. "It is. But the Nemean Lion wasn't the monster we were looking for."

"Not even close," Thalia agreed. "We still have a long way to go."

Ikki was silent for a moment, then said, "Whatever this mystery monster is, the General said it would come after you. They wanted to isolate you from the group. Then the monster would appear and fight you one-on-one."

"He really said that?"

"More or less."

"Great," Thalia muttered. "I love being used as bait."

"You have no idea what the monster could be?"

She shook her head. "But you know where we're going, don't you? San Francisco. That's where Artemis was headed."

Ikki nodded.

He knew San Francisco's reputation. The area was practically uninhabitable for half-bloods. The Mist was incredibly dense there, very close to Mount Tamalpais, a place where the Titans' magic still lingered, attracting monsters from all over.

"Yes," he replied. "Mount Tam. I've heard of it."

Thalia stared at the horizon as the sunlight filtering through the steel mesh cast shadows on her face. Ikki watched her from the corner of his eye. She seemed different there, darker, almost like Zoe in her stoic determination. Despite the differences between the two—Zoe with her haughty air and almost aristocratic formality, and Thalia with her scruffy appearance and rebellious attitude—they both shared a certain characteristic.

"Can I ask you something? If it seems rude, you don't have to answer," Ikki said, getting the girl's attention.

Thalia frowned. "What?"

"The Hunters tried to recruit you, didn't they?" Ikki said, venturing a guess. He had already realized that this was what had happened between the two of them for them not to get along so well.

Her blue eyes flashed dangerously, but instead of yelling, she just sighed. "I almost joined them," she admitted reluctantly. "Luke, Annabeth, and I ran into them once, and Zoe tried to convince me. She almost succeeded, but…"

"But?" Ikki encouraged.

Thalia gripped the steering wheel, her fingers tense. "I would have had to abandon Luke."

Ikki remained silent at the girl's response.

"Zoe and I had a huge fight," she continued. "She said I was being stupid, that I'd regret the choice. And… she said Luke would disappoint me someday."

Ikki was quiet, letting her words echo in the silence. He could feel the weight of that memory, the pain she still carried. Finally, he said, "She shouldn't have spoken to you like that, but… maybe she was trying to protect you, in her own way."

Thalia laughed, but there was no humor in her voice. "Maybe. But her way of protecting people is by pushing everything and everyone away. And, guess what? She was right. Luke did disappoint me. But I still can't forgive her for being right."

Ikki was quiet again. He understood that feeling—the pain of realizing that someone you admired could fail you. "You're not alone, you know," he said softly. "We're all dealing with disappointments. And, somehow, we move on."

Thalia glanced at him, this time without any of her usual barriers. She didn't answer, but her silence seemed more like a kind of understanding than an emptiness.

The two were silent for a moment.

The Mercedes swayed gently with the movement of the train, and the music on the radio played in the background, filling the silence that had seemed comfortable until a few minutes ago.

"Thalia," he began, as if it were just another casual conversation, "I think you should know… My mother was killed. A little over a year ago."

Thalia turned to him, surprised. "What? How?"

Ikki took a deep breath, his expression unchanged, but his eyes betrayed a slight weight behind his words: "I thought you should know because it was Luke. He killed her. Directly or indirectly, it doesn't matter. He was behind it."

The impact of the revelation hit Thalia like lightning. Ikki's words echoed in her mind, each syllable cutting deep.

"Luke… did that?" Her voice trembled. Her fingers, previously relaxed on the steering wheel, now gripped it as if it were the only thing preventing her from collapsing. "Are you sure?"

Ikki looked at her sideways, noticing the stiffness in her face, the flicker of confusion and betrayal in her eyes. He nodded, keeping his voice neutral. "I am. There's no doubt. He was behind everything."

She looked away, staring at the road ahead, but it was as if the world around her had disappeared. "I… I don't believe it. He was my best friend, Ikki. I trusted him. For so long, I defended him… And now this?" She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the wave of emotion rising in her chest.

"He wanted to hurt me. He wanted to break me." Ikki shrugged, his tone almost indifferent, but Thalia realized there was more there than he let on. "And he succeeded, for a while. That's why I disappeared. I didn't know how to deal with everything. I was… lost."

"I spent a lot of time angry, trying to think of how to get revenge on him," he admitted with a sigh. "But, in the end… It's not worth it, ending my life because of this, revenge can wait. I don't need to be stuck on this."

After everything he'd been through, he was trying his best to get back to what he was before, and the person he was before wouldn't be obsessed with revenge. Although he would certainly do it if he had the opportunity. He had no reason to be obsessed with it, he had discovered a way to bring his mother back, it would take time, but he would get there and do everything to make it happen.

"I admire you for that." She nodded slowly, still absorbing everything but respecting the fact that he was dealing with it in his own way. "I'm sorry, Ikki. For what happened."

"I know." He finally looked at her, his eyes calmer than Thalia expected. "But you don't have to be. I've already been through the worst. And now… I have something to follow. That's enough."

Once again, silence settled between them, but it wasn't bad. It was a moment of mutual understanding, of something unspoken but understood. The music on the radio continued to play, now softer, and Ikki felt that, for the first time in a long time, he had taken a step forward.

"I thought I knew him," after a few minutes of silence, Thalia murmured, almost to herself. Her hands left the steering wheel, and she crossed her arms as if trying to protect herself from the inner chill she felt. "He was like a brother to me, Ikki. He saved me so many times… And now, besides his betrayal, I find out he's killing innocent people…"

"I hate him," she whispered, but the emotion in her voice was confused—it wasn't just hate. It was hurt, pain, regret. "And at the same time, I… I can't completely hate him. That's the worst part."

"I know…" Ikki replied, a certain graceful glint crossed his eyes. "But don't let it consume you. He's not worth it."

Thalia took a deep breath, blinking rapidly to ward off any trace of tears. "I just… I wish I could go back in time. Do something different. Maybe stop him from going down this path."

"You can't go back in time, it's harder than becoming a God…" Ikki said with a wry smile. "We all want to go back to the past and redo things we regret. But now, what matters is what you're going to do from now on."

She turned to him, her eyes still shining with emotion, but there was something different now, despite having said nothing, something inside her chest had changed, there were no more doubts about Luke. As for considering what Ikki said as a lie, she completely disregarded that idea, although he hadn't shown much, she could see that this was a subject that deeply affected him, there was no way it could be a lie…