In the early hours of the morning, light shone through the window at the opposite end of the room, allowing the bright rays to interrupt the pair's sleep. Percy rose first, letting out a yawn and rubbing his eyes before accidently bumping into Zoe, waking her as well. As they locked eyes, both turned and blushed before quickly leaving the bed.

Percy was the first to speak, clearing his throat as he tried to force the blush off his face, "Um, I think my father and brother should be up by now. We should go meet with them." Swiftly turning, he missed the look of relief on Zoe's face at his discretion before following him.

As the two reached the doors for the main hall, various sounds could be heard from the other side, causing the Hound of War to pause. The last time he'd heard noises from beyond these doors, it had not turned out well. Shaking his head at the crazy memories, he grumbled something under his breath before steeling his nerves and pushing the doors open.

Ares and Eros were glaring at each other, both gripping their respective weapons as their shouting increased in volume. As they drew closer, Percy and Zoe heard their argument, as neither god had noticed the pair yet.

"There is no chance in Tartarus she is going near my son! " Ares voice was set in steel, and his eyes blazed in anger at his son's suggestion.

Eros met his glare with one of his own, "Don't be foolish. Mother merely wants to speak to him."

"Hmm, that sounds familiar." Ares pretended to think, "Oh yes, that is exactly what she said to me before…the point is, Perseus is not going near her. And that is final. Are we clear, Eros?"

"What are you two talking about?"

Eros jumped in surprise at his brother's sudden appearance, "Percy! Um, how much of that did you hear, exactly?" He didn't meet his brother's eyes, knowing for sure he would crack if he did. Ares didn't bother speaking and merely examined his sword with pretend interest.

Percy crossed his arms and gave his father a cool gaze, making Ares sweat. He may have been the God of War, but he was a terrible liar, and his son knew it all too well.

"All of it. Who am I supposed to meet?"

Ares tensed up before sighing, "Tell him Eros."

Eros turned to Percy and began to speak, "Mother wants to meet you."

Percy looked thoughtful before scowling, "Aphrodite. What does that harlot want with me?"

His brother shrugged, "She told me last night that she wanted to speak to you. Oh and by the way, don't call my mother a prostitute, even if it is true. That would technically make me a son of a bi-"

"The point is," Ares interrupted," there is no way I am going to allow her a chance to even get close to you Perseus. You and Eros are the only things I have of importance, and while Eros is safe from her, you are still vulnerable to her powers. She could easily make you her slave."

Percy looked into his father's eyes, seeing the flood of emotions that clashed and roared within them, Anger, frustration, guilt, worry all welled up in a crimson sea. Walking over to his father, he laid a hand on his shoulder, sending an unspoken message that he knew his father would understood.

I'll be okay.

Turning back to face everyone, Percy prepared to flash to Olympus before a small but strong hand gripped his own hand. Glancing back, he saw Zoe biting her lip, a worried look on her face.

Before he could ask about it, she pulled the hairpin out of her hair and put it into his hands before closing them around it. She met his eyes as she spoke, her tone slightly worried but also filled with another emotion he couldn't decipher.

"Take this. When the time comes, make a weapon of it."

Percy shook his head, "I can't. It belongs to you."

"And now I'm giving it to you. Just keep it in case that whore tries to do anything."

Percy smirked, "Yeah, we wouldn't want you getting jealous, right?"

Zoe scowled as a faint blush crossed her face before she drove her fist into his stomach, causing Percy to double over. Rising quickly, he turned and was met with a kiss on the cheek from the former Hesperide, causing him to blush in return. Breaking from their embrace, he waved good bye to Zoe before disappearing in a flash of flames.

Zoe sighed at his disappearance before turning and walking to the training room, not noticing the amused looks on both of the men in the main hall as she went on her way.

Line Break

A whirlwind of flames appeared on the streets of Olympus before fading and revealing the Hound of War. Stalking up the streets, he walked until he reached the palace of the Goddess of Love. At the sight of it, he almost lost his lunch.

The entire building was a sickening reddish color that revolted Percy, with statues of the goddess in revealing poses standing watch over the doors. Shaking his head in disgust, the Hound of War made his way to the doors of the palace before placing a knock on their golden surface. The doors opened up to reveal a hallway the same color, leaving Percy to gag before making his way down.

After walking a few more minutes, Percy finally reached the main room, where the immortal that had summoned him laid, reading a book before catching his eyes.

Aphrodite was not called the Goddess of Love and Beauty for nothing. Her body was like no other, with perfect curves, shapely lips, and an hourglass figure that could make most men drool. Though, for the life of him, Percy could not tell what color her hair and eyes were. They seemed to shift to fit his definition of beauty, with her hair finally settling on a midnight black color and her eyes shifting to an obsidian hue.

Recognizing that particular set of features, the Hound of War blushed before shaking his head. He would not be a pawn to her twisted games. Steeling his nerves, he approached the goddess.

Aphrodite smiled once she saw him, "Why hello there Percy."

Percy scowled in return before crossing his arms over his chest, "It is Perseus to you, whore. Now tell me, what is it you want?"

The Love Goddess pouted at his answer as she rose from her couch, showing of her shapely legs as she stepped closer, "Oh come now, is that anyway to talk to a goddess, especially me?" She finished as she laid her hands on his shoulder, feeling him up.

Percy jerked himself free of her grip, disgusted by her flirtatious actions. He had only been here for seconds and already he had had enough. Straightening his tunic, he prepared himself to flash away before a single word froze him in his tracks.

"Stop."

Aphrodite's eyes glowed faintly with that same revolting color she decorated her palace with as she walked around the frozen Percy, a frown decorating her face. She spoke again, the same power filling her voice again.

"Sit."

Unable to deny her request, Percy was forced to go and sit on the couch he had seen when he had first entered. Aphrodite joined him once he sat, lying with her head on his lap and her feet propped up on the opposite arm. Percy thrashed internally, trying to fight his way out of her hold, but all he could do was sit and watch everything unfold.

Aphrodite shifted until she was lying atop of him, her eyes locking with his as she began speaking, "Tell me Percy, do you know why I met with your father?" At his silence, she frowned and drew her charmspeak again, "Speak."

Finding he could speak again, Percy growled, "You wanted something you couldn't have, and when you couldn't seduce him, you used your sick powers to surprise and overpower him. And it is Perseus to you."

Rolling her eyes, she turned to her nails as she resumed speaking again, "Wrong. I wanted what my scrap heap of a husband could not give me."

Percy scoffed, covering his growing curiosity, "And what, pray tell, would that be?"

"Children." She answered, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. At Percy's shocked silence, she continued, "Unless I am mistaken, that is what most women desire, correct?"

Percy shook himself out of his shock and asked a question in return, "But why my father?"

Aphrodite's eyes glazed over, lustful memories filling her mind as she spoke, "I searched for someone who could grant me powerful spawn. Your father is one of the most powerful Olympians on the council, and as such, was perfect for the task."

"You speak as if you are not an Olympian yourself."

Now it was Aphrodite's turn to scoff, "Please child, I am above these petty gods. Don't you know how it was I came to be?"

Percy strained his mind, thinking deeply, before his eyes widened, causing the Goddess of Love to laugh, "Ah, so you do know? Yes, being born from the sky's blood makes one remarkably… powerful, does it not?"

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing really. I just wanted to make one thing clear to you."

Rising from her flirtatious position, Aphrodite no longer had an amused expression, but one of utter seriousness. With a speed that was hard for the eyes to follow, she had drawn a dagger and laid it against the Hound of War's throat, resting its cool blade against his still frozen neck. Leaning in closer, she whispered her next words in a voice that made chills run down his back.

"Do not cross me. I may appear to be a weak, love-struck goddess, but that is all a facade. My influence runs deep within this council, and you could be dead by the next morning if I so desired. Stay out of my plans, and I won't have to interfere with your little love life." At his widened eyes, she laughed coldly, "Oh come now, I am the Goddess of love after all. I see your love for the Hesperide, so little, but yet growing all the time. But interfere with my plans, and I'll make sure your love has a…tragic end." Her face turned serious once more as she dug the dagger slightly into his flesh, "Are we clear?"

As Aphrodite spoke, Percy noticed that he could move again and grinned internally as he remembered Zoe's words. He snatched the hairpin out of his hair and, with a speed that surprised both him and the Love Goddess, shifted it into a Celestial Bronze blade and plunged it into her arm. Aphrodite screamed in pain and dropped the dagger before focusing on the Hound of War, her eyes glowing with fury, pain and, to Percy's pride, a little fear as he stood up, sword drawn and battle ready.

"Enough Perseus. Leave, and remember: Do not interfere with my plans, least you and Zoe suffer fates worse than death." And with that, she waved her hand, sending Percy flying through the doors of her palace and off of Olympus, plummeting down to Lemnos.

Line Break

The sounds of arrows slamming against a target filled the training room as both the Maidens of War and Zoe Nightshade shot arrow after arrow. While the Maidens were merely training, Zoe's mind was anything but focused as she fired one last arrow before running out. Sighing, she went to gather more arrows as her thoughts turned to a certain demigod.

She scowled, 'Why am I worried so much about Perseus? He is just a demigod who helped me in my time of need.'

'That's not what it looked like from that kiss on his cheek.' Her conscious noted off-handedly.

Zoe blushed before scowling again, 'That was nothing! Merely a friend worried for another.' She argued back.

Her subconscioussnorted, 'Yes, because a friend always worries about whether or not the other friend feels the same way.'

Before Zoe could snap back, a sudden force shook the earth, making the Hesperide stumble. Quickly recovering, she whipped her bow around and aimed at the source of the mini-quake, only to drop her bow in shock.

There was Perseus lying in a crater, face down and groaning in pain as he tried to rise before collapsing once again. Zoe ran over to the Hound of War, pushing past the shocked Maidens as she kneeled and lifted his head. Perseus opened an eye before smiling.

"Hey there beautiful, what's up with you." He grinned before his eyes rolled back into his head and he passed into Morpheus's realm and the darkness beyond.

Line Break (Sorry, these are just good at splitting everything up)

The darkness scurried away from Percy's vision as he began to wake. Recognizing his room, he attempted to rise, before he felt a weight on his chest. Surprised, he looked down to find Zoe lying on top of him, sleeping peacefully. Confused, the Hound of War strained to remember everything that had happened.

'Waking up, going to Olympus, Aphrodite…that's right, she threw me off Olympus. What a whore…Hades, Zoe must have been really worried.'

Seeing her still asleep, Percy couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. Without meaning to, he ran his hands through her hair, waking her from her sleep. Rising from his chest, she opened her eyes and met his, looking him over before speaking.

"What happened to you?" Her tone told Percy that she was definitely not happy with him.

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "I kind of got thrown off of Olympus."

Her eyes widened before she slapped him across the face, "How could you be so foolish?! Your father warned you about Aphrodite, yet here you are."

Now it was Percy's turn to get angry. Scowling, he rose from the bed and met her glare with his own, "Why do you even care? I'm just some demigod that saved you. You don't have to be here if you don't want to."

Zoe poked him angrily in the sternum, "I do care about you, more then you know."

Percy lowered himself till he was face to face with her, crimson and obsidian hues clashing in a dangerous dance, "Prove it," he whispered.

Zoe scowled at him before smashing his lips against her own. Grunting in surprise at first, Percy then instinctively fell into the kiss and closed his eyes as brought his hands down to wrap around her slim waist, deepening their embrace. While it was only a few seconds, to the pair, it felt as if hours passed as the pair released everything they had been holding into the kiss. After a minute or two, they parted, both panting for breath as they gazed into each other's eyes.

Percy was the first to recover from their little embrace, "Oh. That's how much you care." His stunned expression made Zoe laugh before responding.

"Yes, and do not forget it, least you come to regret ever meeting me." She finished, giving him a look that promised pain if he ever forgot.

He merely nodded before a crooked smile crossed his lips, "So, does that mean I get another kiss?"

Matching his smile with one of her own, she leaned forward until they were inches apart before sprinting away, her tinkling laughter clearly stating the unsaid challenge. Percy scowled before chasing after her, stumbling and tripping as he raced off in pursuit of the beautiful girl who had captured his heart in the few days he'd known her.

A/N: Im sorry for not updating sooner and stuff. Even though its the 3rd going on 4th week of school for me, ill try to update over time. Probably update this story only on Fridays and probably some on Saturday.