I finally knew why loyalty was considered a fatal flaw. I've done everything for the gods of Olympus, sacrificed everything I held dear. I went to Tartarus and back for them, fought giants and titans to save them. Yet here I was, bound in chains and brought to my knees in the center of their council, on trial for a crime that I was innocent of. I looked at the faces of the Olympians. Some held disdain and disgust, aimed at both me and the situation that I was in. Some held hatred. Others held disappointment. Thunder cracked in the distant skies as Zeus addressed the council.

"The former hero, Perseus Jackson, stands trial for treason of Olympus," he said, anger clear on his face. "How do you plead?" All eyes in the room turned their attention to me. I looked up weakly, long and unruly black hair nearly covering my eyes.

"Innocent," I managed to whisper out. I raised my head slightly higher and raised my voice. "I plead innocent." Several Olympians gasped.

"The audacity," I heard Hera whisper. Zeus spoke again.

"Very well. The Olympians will determine your fate." He turned to motion towards Dionysus. The wine god's face was much more serious than I had ever seen it.

"Perseus," he started, using my actual name instead of one of his misinterpretations, "is innocent. He's fought two wars for us and defended Camp Half-blood a myriad of times." He looked at me and gave a curt nod of approval. I looked at the god to his right, Hermes.

"Percy could never betray Olympus," he stated simply. "He's loyal to us and that won't change." The messenger of the gods smiled at me and gave a short salute. I smiled in a grateful response.

"Guilty," Apollo said nervously. My gaze turned from Hermes to him. "I've seen the truth, and Perseus is guilty." I was hurt. I thought Apollo and I were as friendly as gods and demigods could be. Next was his sister, who I assumed would vote against me.

"The man is innocent," Artemis said, solemnly. "He held the sky for me so we could win against Atlas. A traitor wouldn't take that chance." Apollo and Zeus stared at her, furious, but she stayed looking at me. A smile was on her face, but her eyes were full of sadness. It would seem that I had the majority. Hephestus voted in my favor, citing my eradication of the telekhines from his forge as loyalty. Aphrodite and Ares voted guilty, as well as Zeus, Hera, and Demeter. The last two were the last chance to sway the vote to a tie. A tie would result in Hestia and Hades being called in to break it. Both would vote in my favor.

"The boy is guilty," Athena said, a mask of disgust and fury covering her face.

"He deserves Tartarus," Poseidon finished. I was crushed. My heart was broken and I sunk into the chains that held me. The vote was over. I had been found guilty, eight votes to four. Zeus stood from his throne, master bolt in hand.

"Perseus Jackson," the king of the gods shouted in a booming voice. "You have been found guilty of treason and have been sentenced to eternity in Tartarus. Do you have any last words?" The air in the room crackled with electricity as the master bolt powered up. I looked up at Zeus, stared into his eyes, pleading for him to spare me. He showed no mercy, nor did he show remorse. A shine of glee was in his eyes.

"I'll be back," I whispered. Zeus threw his bolt at me and the lightning pierced my chest. I was falling. Off of Olympus, through Hades, directly into the pit of monsters, death, and fear that is Tartarus. A demigod's worst nightmare. I know now, why loyalty is a fatal flaw. You love those who wrong you, no matter how many times you do. All until the final straw is placed onto the camel's back. Then, your loyalty crumbles.

(A/N)

Hi. It's been a minute since I've been on this website. After playing the game Hades, I got reinspired to write a PJO fanfic. I will do my best to pump out a chapter every week, two weeks at the most. So leave a review and tell me what you think.