Ch. 15

Percy sat in a large plush chair. It looked like more of a throne than a chair but considering its surroundings and location, it was chair.

Zoë sat in a similar chair beside him, her eyes glued to the situation in front of her as she couldn't keep the amused expression off her face.

Percy yawned a bit before he flicked his wrist.

In front of him, the floor of a platform dropped as a woman's body fell too, only to stop suddenly when the rope around her neck ran out of slack.

Percy watched with mild interest as the woman's feet kicked wildly as she desperately scrambled for something to find her footing and relieve the pressure around her throat.

Percy's eyes never left the woman as her struggling slowed before her body stopped moving completely as she swung lazily from the noose around her neck.

Percy sighed and snapped his fingers as the plank shot back up and the woman's eyes shot wide open, her breaths ragged as the life came back to her.

"Are you getting bored of this yet Athena? We've been at this all afternoon and to be honest, watching you die over and over again is getting old for me. What about you? Are you ready for something else?" Percy asked in a bored tone.

Athena just stared at the one time savior of Olympus with fear.

"Please Percy. Please just let me die." Athena whimpered out as fresh tears welled up in her eyes.

Percy rolled his eyes before snapping his fingers again. A second noose appeared a few feet away from her as a young man with blonde hair and grey eyes looked around wildly.

"Maybe this will be better. Instead of watching you die, we can watch you watch as Malcolm dies." Percy said perking up a bit.

"Percy, he is innocent." Athena pleaded. "He didn't even vote for your banishment. Please, hurt me, but let him be."

Percy raised an eyebrow, "Interesting point you make but sadly your physical suffering has become far too boring for my interests. I think it's time for some mental anguish. You know, just to mix it up a bit."

Athena opened her mouth but Zoë snapped her fingers as the plank under Malcolm's feet dropped. Athena tried to lunge towards her strangling adult son but the noose around her neck was ever so conveniently not long enough. Athena was forced to watch as tears fell from her eyes.

Once Malcolm hang dead on the rope, Percy waved his hand as the rope snapped and Malcolm dropped to the ground in a heap.

Percy whistled loudly, "Mrs. O'Leary. Why don't you bring Malcolm here down to our home? He looks in need of a vacation and Hell is just lovely this time of the year."

Athena looked panicked, "No, please. You had your fun, let him live!"

Zoë gave Percy a look at made him stand up.

"Stop!" Percy yelled to the large invisible dog trotting towards Malcolm's corpse. "Athena is right. Malcolm should be alive for this."

Percy snapped his fingers as Malcolm jolted upright clawing at his neck before he realized he was no longer being hung.

"Now you can bring him home. Go ahead girl." Percy said smirking.

Malcolm tried to scramble back but it was hopeless. You simply can't run from what you can't see. Malcolm screamed in pain as a claw ripped open a deep gash in his leg before the invisible hound pounced, snapping her jaws into Malcolm's neck as blood splattered all around. Athena cried out for her son but could only watch his limp body in sorrow.

Malcolm's body was dragged away by the throat as Athena just sobbed in horror.

Percy chuckled, "Don't worry cousin, she just likes to play with her food. His soul's already burning in Hell."

Athena turned to where Percy and Zoë sat comfortably.

"You're evil! Both of you are evil filth!" She screamed in both sorrow and anger.

Percy's eyes widened as he jolted upright in his seat. He reached over and touched Zoë's arm making her look at him.

"By the gods she's done it! All this time, we never knew why we did these things. It was right there and we didn't know! We're evil, it all makes so much sense now. The tortures and the killings, it's because we're evil." Percy said in shock before Zoë cracked up.

"Thank the gods we had Athena here to figure this out." Zoë said between laughs.

Athena just stared at the duo is disbelief.

"How can you get so much pleasure out of the pain and suffering of others? You are worse than monsters."

Percy's face lost all semblance of humor or amusement as he stared at the goddess.

"Did you not watch me get cast into Tartarus with a smile on your face? How about when you cast that son of Hades in a decade later? You think you are in a position to make judgments and call people monsters? You are the worse than us. You are the creator of monsters. You thought because you were a goddess you could do as you wanted without consequence. I am no monster Athena. I am justice. I am your reckoning and I shall be merciless when I hand out punishment." He said with such hatred and anger that Athena flinched.

Percy thrust his hand out as Athena's body tensed before she writhed around, grasping at her stomach in a desperate search for the cause of her agony. She tried to drop to her knees but found herself being strangled by the noose still around her neck.

"How does it feel Athena? To be powerless? You are but an annoying little ant to me; one which I will spend my eternity frying under a magnifying glass. How does it feel to be a mortal now? To know I am the one who took your immortality and godhood from you and that I will never give it back. You belong me now Athena. You're my bitch and before I am done you will an obedient little bitch, I promise you." Percy snarled before he flicked his wrist letting the plank drop from underneath the goddess as she got to enjoy the suffering of her death yet again.

Zoë got out of her chair and climbed onto Percy's lap where she settled in close to him. She put a gentle hand to his face making him bring his eyes to hers. Slowly the anger and rage drained from his face making her smile a bit before she leaned up and kissed him softly making him smile in return.

"The world is ours for the taking now love but you must not lose your head. Forget what that angel said to you. Your destiny is yours to make. The Fates have no power over you anymore, no one does. God is gone and none have the strength to stop you from taking what you want." Zoë whispered quietly once their kiss broke.

Percy smiled at his words before it turned a little mischievous, "I think there is still one who could stop me and we both know it."

Zoë smirked and kissed him again, "Perhaps but she has no other interest than trying to help you get whatever it is you want. You have just as much power over her as she does you."

Percy snapped his fingers as Athena dropped to the ground and woke up. He scooped Zoë before he whistled as the thudding of heavy footsteps was heard.

"Athena is yours now girl, take your time with her." Percy said never taking his eyes off Zoë before they vanished from the room.

Athena looked around wildly as she heard the soft growling of a giant hound stalking its way towards her.

Line Break

It had been a week since Percy took off after Castiel's plea that he come to heaven and try to bring peace to the angels. Castiel had not returned since then and Sam and Dean had hardly spoken as both were pissed for different reasons.

Dean thought Sam had just chased off their best chance in defeating Lucifer by trying to exorcise his wife while Sam felt betrayed his brother sided with the guy who had killed him multiple times and just brought him back so he could kill him again.

They stayed hunkered down in Bobby's house as they tried to figure out their next move.

But after the weeklong tense silence, Dean decided he had had enough. He took off in his Impala and headed for the nearest bar to get away from the awkward situation at Bobby's.

Once getting onto his fourth beer, he looked up at the television playing news clips of the day, most still covering the effects of Lucifer being freed on the world. He shook his head as he saw the number of dead or missing people and couldn't help but feel angry at his brother. This could have been avoided if Sam had just listened to him instead of taking the word of a demon over that of his own flesh and blood. He wished his father was still alive, he would know what to do right now. He would have known what to do with Sammy and could have prevented this whole situation most likely.

"The whole world's going to shit." The guy at the stool beside him muttered as he ordered a drink.

Dean nodded, "Looks that way." He said back before turning back to the television.

The man took his drink as he followed Dean's gaze to the television.

"You know, when they say apocalypse, I don't think it really sets in until you read about quite how many people die. Of course no one has figured it out yet, but they will, in time."

Dean tensed. His eyes flickered over to the man. He looked in his mid to late forties. His head was mostly bald but the way he spoke Dean knew he wasn't a business man coming in for a nightcap.

Dean's hand drifted to his waist where the angel blade he got from Percy was stashed.

"I wouldn't bother. You're not going to be able to use that in time." The man said dismissively.

Just as his fingers touched the hilt of the blade, the man appeared in the stool on the other side of him before he grabbed Dean's hand and slowly pulled it away from the blade. The man carefully pulled it out of Dean's waistband and shook his head.

"This belonged to a good soldier. I'm afraid this belongs to Heaven and not to you Dean."

Dean wrenched his hand out of the assumed angel's grasp. He brought it back to the bar and grabbed his beer.

"So, which one are you?" Dean asked bitterly.

The man smiled and took another sip of his drink. "I am Zachariah."

Dean took a pull off his beer as he eyed the angel carefully. "Let me guess; you're here to tell me to submit to my destiny; give my body to Michael and watch the world be ripped apart when he gets in his little bitch fight with his brother."

Zachariah smiled, "To put it in simple terms, yes. But I'm not so much asking as I am telling you you're going to say yes."

Dean raised an eyebrow, "You seem pretty confident, what makes you so sure? How did you find me anyway?'

Zachariah's smile grew, "We're Heaven. You're going to say yes or we're going to make you say yes. And it's not hard to find you since you haven't left the place you were last seen in by angels. As if we haven't kept a close eye on you. You're very important to us Dean."

Dean looked at the angel carefully, "Well that just sounds lovely. I'm glad people didn't misinterpret Heaven for the good guys or anything."

Zachariah chuckled, "Of course we're the good guys. It's just sometimes the good guys have to do whatever is necessary to make sure the good guys win. That's where I come in. I was tasked in convincing you to do the right thing."

Dean remained calm as he finished off his beer. He tossed a twenty on the bar before standing up, "Sorry to burst your bubble, but at the moment, Heaven can pretty much kiss my ass. No one wears me to the prom and that answer won't change."

Zachariah put a hand on Dean's shoulder before he could walk away, "Fair enough, but let me give you my counter offer."

Before Dean could respond they vanished from the bar and reappeared in some type of room that had no doors or windows. Dean stepped away from the angel as he reached for his pocket only to find his cell phone gone.

"Looking for this?" Zachariah asked smirking as he held the phone Dean got from Percy in his hand, "I don't think we want your demon friend making any unscheduled visits. This is more of our time Dean and it would be strange if you brought a demon friend."

The phone burst into flames as Zachariah dropped it and let it melt on the floor.

"You mean my archangel friend? The one who has all you dickheads shaking in your halos after how easily he got rid of that prick Raphael?" Dean growled back.

Zachariah's smile vanished. He flicked his wrist and sent Dean flying into the wall, hard.

"Raphael was a good brother. He made a mistake underestimating that freak but he is no threat to us. He will be dealt with in time."

Dean looked up from where he landed and smirked, "A brave face but I can see right through your act. Percy scares the shit out of you and he should. He has the power of Michael but no loyalty to either side. Heaven must be trembling at their mistake of letting him go to Hell. Now you've got to wonder whose back God has... I mean he chose Percy and you let him rot in Hell... I gotta say, if I were God, I'd be one pissed off S.O.B."

Zachariah snapped his fingers and Dean felt a sharp stabbing pain in his stomach before the sudden urge to vomit sent him to his knees. He watched as the blood poured out of his mouth from whatever the angel had done to him.

"I think I'm growing tired of our conversation Dean." Zachariah said in an annoyed tone. "We need to get down to business. You know what I need you to do and I think you should have figured out by now that you're not going anywhere until you agree."

Dean spit out a mouthful of blood before he started to laugh, "What's your plan, kill me if I don't agree? Do you take me for an idiot? You need me. You can't kill me or Michael will kill you."

Zachariah shook his head, "You are correct Dean. I can't kill you. But do you know what I can do? I can kill a whole lot of people who you care about. Who would you like to start with first? Hmmm? How about that cute little blonde girl? You know she loves you, right? Now she can show it when she dies for you. Let's bring Jo in here to join the fun." The angel said with mock glee.

Zachariah snapped smirked as two more angel showed up with Jo in between them. She looked around wildly until her eyes landed on Dean.

"Dean? Where are we? What's going on?"

Dean shook his head, "Being held hostage by Heaven's biggest asshole's convention."

Zachariah frowned, "Is that really how you address an angel of the lord? One who has taken such a special interest in making sure you make the right life choices?" He said in a mock offended tone."

Dean scowled deeply, "Don't you dare touch her. She has nothing to do with this."

Zachariah rolled his eyes, "Come on Dean, you know what you need to do. One simple word from you and pretty little Jo goes back to her mother and the drunks stinking up their bar."

Dean looked at Jo sadly, "I can't Jo. You have to understand. If I do, you'll die anyway."

Jo was pale but she put on a strong face and nodded, showing she understood that whatever they were trying to make Dean do was too big for him to give in about.

Zachariah shook his head feigning pity as he looked at Jo. He raised his hand but to his utter shock, she didn't react.

Zachariah raised his hand in her direction again but Jo was kept looking back at him strangely.

"What is this? Who are you girl?" He snapped.

Jo's eyes widened and she stepped back only to have her two captors hold her in place.

Zachariah approached her as he raised his hand to slap her. As he brought his hand down, he was blasted backwards and landed on his back in a daze. He slowly got to his feet.

"What is this magic? What are you?" Zachariah growled.

"She is a beautiful young lady who Dean would have hooked up with long ago if he wasn't kind of a homo." A voice said from above them.

Zachariah looked up as his eyes widened. Sitting on a light fixture with a mischievous smile on his face was Percy. He sat on the hanging light which swung back and forth making him look like a little kid on a rope swing.

"I have to admit, even for an angel, you sound like a complete fucktard. I mean, the power you think you wield is hilarious. I want to kill you, but I can't. I can't kill someone so fucking stupid who I know will crack me up again with his stupidity." Percy said as he swung around on the lamp.

"So the freak shows his face." Zachariah sneered.

Percy frowned, "You know, freak is a hurtful word. I prefer Angelic Demonic American if you need to categorize me... Racist dick."

Percy vanished from the light fixture and reappeared beside Jo. He snapped his fingers as the bodies of both the angels who were holding her exploded. Jo let out a yelp of shock as she was covered with blood.

Percy frowned, "My bad Jo. Didn't think that one through. I got you covered though." He said snapping his fingers again as she was cleaned instantly.

Percy looked up at Zachariah who looked nervous and dumbfounded.

"Confused? Well you see I knew you clowns would come after my boy Dean here. So when I gave him that phone, it sends me a message the minute it is destroyed. Thank you for the overkill, led me right to you." Percy explained casually. "No need to fear, I'm not going to kill you. Someone needs to pass my message on to Michael."

Zachariah looked at Percy with fear before he steeled his nerves, "So, you side with Lucifer after all?"

Percy raised an eyebrow, "Me? Side with Lucifer? No, not so much. Truth is, never met the guy. Only archangel I've met was Raphael... Huge douchebag by the way. I play for team Percy. When you go back to Heaven, I need you to pass this message along to Michael." He explained slowly.

Zachariah looked wary but waited for Percy to finish.

"Dean Winchester is off limits. As for the world, I don't really care. Michael and Lucifer can go measure their dicks in whatever meat suits they want, but Sam and Dean belong to me. Come after them and I will get involved. If he thought I showed anything in the fight with Raphael, he will learn differently. I care not for his fight with Lucifer but Dean is a friend. He and his brother are mine, under my protection. He can accept my terms and find a different vessel or he can meet me as Raphael did. And I promise he won't like the results."

Zachariah glared at Percy murderously, "You will regret those words you hairless ape."

The light flickered as Percy's wings were visible in the shadows. He glared right back at Zachariah. "Go. Tell your master my message before I kill you for trying to hurt such a pretty girl."

Zachariah didn't respond for a minute until Percy raised a hand and he vanished, the sound of wings flapping the only sign of his exit.

Percy smirked, "Pussy."

Dean walked over to Jo quickly, "I'm sorry Jo. I couldn't...." He began before Jo shut him up as she kissed him. When the broke apart Percy was grinning like a fool.

Jo looked over at him nervously, "Who or what are you?"

Percy shrugged, "Name's Percy. I'm no one really. Just a friend of Dean's who isn't afraid to kick some feathery ass if need be."

Jo opened her mouth but Percy snapped his fingers and she vanished from the room leaving Dean and Percy alone.

"What did you do with her?" Dean asked a bit wary.

Percy smirked, "I sent her somewhere safe, don't worry."

Dean nodded as they two fell silent for a minute.

"I thought this wasn't your problem?" Dean asked looked at Percy expectantly.

Percy shrugged, "Zoë thought it best if I keep an eye out over you. We have our own interests in mind and they are not best served by you being Michael's bitch. Plus, like I said, I consider you a friend. No one makes my friends their bitches without getting their ass kicked."

Dean just stared at Percy until he got punched in the shoulder, "Cut the shit." Percy grumbled. "Don't get all Lifetime movie on me here. I got your back. That's it. Tell your friend Castiel he can deal with Heaven himself, it's not my problem. I not a demon or an angel. I'm a fucking Jackson and we do whatever the fuck we want."

Dean just shook his head, "I suppose I should thank you..." Percy cut him off by shoving him.

"I'm looking out for me more than anything. Now tell me something. Since you left Hell, have you even gotten laid?" Percy asked with an eyebrow raised.

Dean scowled, "I've been busy dealing with the apocalypse."

Percy shook his head, "Are you sure you don't have a vagina? Because you're acting like one. You're basically a virgin again you little bitch. I sent Jo to a room at the Hilton Hotel in Pierre, South Dakota. I swear if you don't get on that, I'm going to smite your ass myself. Stop being a pussy. Lucifer isn't going anywhere at the moment. Go get laid. Maybe you won't be such a pansy after."

Dean glared hard at Percy who rolled his eyes, "You're going. It's non-negotiable. I'll be in touch. Stay the fuck away from angels. I don't have time to save your mortal ass every time you fuck up." Percy laughed.

Dean opened his mouth to argue but Percy smirked and snapped his fingers as Dean found himself with a confused looking Jo sitting on the end of the bed in a hotel room. He shook his head until he took a good look at Jo in her mini-skirt. Maybe Percy had a point. He could die any day and he had no interest in dying a virgin, technicality or not.