Warning: Torture hinted at, though I won't actually write horrific scenes.

Disclaimer: Don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Ch. 11 Whose my master?

Percy rested in Atlantis. The other demigods were on their way to Olympus and only after everything was handled with Castellan would Poseidon allow his son to journey into Zeus's realm. Apollo was constantly there, ensuring that Percy rested but did not sleep. He was always on some drug or another, with Apollo doing damage control to avoid any possible injuries.

Apollo was worried. Not about the arm, which would heal, but about the brand. Percy was foggy at best and a drugged Percy was absolutely no help figuring out what needed to be done.

The brand was he only thing Percy complained about. There were times when it became blazing hot or freezing cold, both of which were painful in excess. No magic that Apollo had tried stopped the pain and the drugs didn't seem to help. Apollo turned to the boy currently in a conversation with Triton about something and studied him critically.

What else could he do? Percy would need to sleep soon. Even immortals couldn't go long without sleep, especially on the heavy duty drugs.

"Uncle P, can we talk?" The sea god turned and nodded from his watchful position over h9s children.

"Sure." Poseidon followed the Sun god out of the room, and into the hallway. "What is it, nephew?" Apollo leaned against a wall.

"Perce needs sleep if his body is going to heal, both from the original torture and the dream one." Poseidon tilted his head thoughtfully.

"He will be at risk when he does, though? What if we place Morpheus in a separate prison? I believe Hades could, as long as he gets permission from his daughter." Apollo gave a grin that lacked any humor.

"I wish there was a way to simply cut off the connection but even if we retrieve Morpheus, I don't think we can stop Kronos." Poseidon lifted an eyebrow.

"Percy seemed to think Morpheus was the reason he was injured. Why do you think that isn't a solution?" Apollo sighed.

"The brand. I've studied it and no matter what I do, it won't go away. It reminds me of a slave bond, or the brand Athena used on Daedalus." Poseidon inclined his head.

"I would agree that it is similar, Apollo, but even so, Athena could not control Daedalus or torture him through the mark. How is this one different?"

"I'll need a not drugged Percy to be sure, but Percy didn't mention Kronos getting angry about Morpheus being unable to hold him. Do you really think that he would just let Percy go unless he was sure that he had a way to control Percy? Besides, it is clearly the mark causing the pain, and it goes from hot to cold seemingly at random. Athena gave that mark as a reminder."

"You think father gave the mark as a way to torture my son more?" Poseidon was getting angry and Apollo nodded resignedly.

"That is exactly what I think. We need to get back. If Percy doesn't sleep soon, there is a distinct possibility that his injuries will only worsen." Apollo strode past Poseidon and stopped by the injured boy's bed.

"'Pollo." Percy greeted, his voice slurring as though drunk. "I'm tired." He added, and Apollo gave a weak smile.

"Go ahead and try to sleep Percy. Uncle P, Triton or I will be here when you wake, alright?" Percy nodded and closed his eyes. Not even seconds later he was asleep.

XX

Kronos grinned as Percy returned before him. The boy looked up and tilted his head up to the sky. "Where'd the blue ceiling go?" Hyperion and Kronos exchanged looks.

"What?" Hyperion asked intelligently.

"I do believe someone gave the little hero a few too many drugs," Kronos supplied, a smirk on his lips. Morpheus laughed uncertainly in the background.

"Do drugs work when someone is still asleep?" Hyperion asked, as he strode up to Percy and grabbed his arm, getting the child's attention.

Both looked to the God of Dreams who shrugged. "I guess so. I don't usually drag a drugged person somewhere, so I don't actually know."

"It is no matter. Jackson, if I could have a moment of your time?" The immortal turned to the titan. "I have a message for my son."

"You mean Zeus? Or Hades? Or daddy? Because I don't really know where Uncle Lightning Bolt and Uncle Corpse are. But I can find Dad pretty easy." Kronos resisted the urge to laugh at his nephew's disrespect of his impertinent children.

"The message is for your father." Percy gave a nod.

"Whadda ya want with Dad?" Hyperion snarled.

"Show some respect, you-" He was cut off by his Lord who strode forward calmly. Percy immediately began to back up. Even drugged, he could sense the danger Kronos posed and knew better than to let the man touch him. His gaze shifted to the side and Kronos grinned at the barely concealed fear.

"Tell your father this. I will cut off the heat and cold if and only if Apollo gives you no more drugs and lets you sleep at least six hours a night. Should he fail to do this, I will gladly increase your torment. Do you understand?" Percy nodded, eyes on the ground and trying his best to focus. "Repeat my message, grandchild."

"You will stop the heat and cold if I don't get any more drugs and sleep 6 hours a night. If dad doesn't agree, then I will suffer more." Kronos clapped mockingly.

"Even drugged you know how to obey. I will let you leave for now, Percy. I will see you shortly, I am sure." The dream faded black.

4 and a half hours later, Percy woke up and stared at the sight of Apollo and Poseidon arguing angrily.

"He's slept long enough. The longer the sleep, the more risk he's in!" Poseidon hissed as quietly as possible.

"He needs as much sleep as possible if he's going to heal, Uncle P. And the only way he can get sleep is if we take the risk." Percy coughed lightly and immediately the gods' turned their heads. Poseidon smiled brightly at the lack of injuries only to frown at Percy's slightly dark expression. The vacant and glassy look from drugs was mostly gone, having faded from his system because Apollo didn't dare risk an overdose in case Kronos decided to torture the boy even more.

"I'll get the morphine." Apollo said but stopped when he heard Percy's soft 'No.'

"What do you mean, no, Percy?" Poseidon asked sitting by his son's bed.

"Kronos told me to give you a message." Percy repeated what the Titan had said and Poseidon paled.

"But-" Apollo stopped Poseidon from finishing.

"It would be best to listen." Percy and Poseidon turned to the medicine God, waiting for an explanation. "That brand on your skin is, if I'm correct, a really old one, made in the time of Gaea and her husband. It was made to force their children into submission when they stepped out of line. The only person who can get rid of it is likely Kronos himself and the brand has been known to drive immortals out of their minds."

Percy and Poseidon exchanged worried looks.

"Physical pain can be healed, Uncle. That's mental pain. There isn't actually a burn but constantly being in pain, be it freezing or burning will severely damage your mental health, perhaps to a point where even Dionysus can't heal the pain. I can heal any physical injuries Kronos gives you as they come and you survived twelve or more hours of torture a day, Percy. I think it best, in that case, to obey to Kronos' wishes, for the time being."

Poseidon closed his eyes, deep in thought.

"How much control does he have over the bond?" Poseidon asked softly.

"From what I could tell, quite a bit. I have no idea how much pain he can actually inflict though. I got what little information I have from a very old tome of information that I read several years ago." He walked to a table and picked up a book that looked to be in perfect shape. Apollo flipped through the pages and stopped at a page in particular. He flipped the book over so the two beings of the sea could read.

SERVUS SEVORUM AETERNAM

Of the bonds known to be used by the Gods' the Titans and their predecessors before them, the Servus Sevorum Aeternam, or Eternal slave bond is the worst. Only removable by the one who placed the bond, this bond creates forced servitude between one being and another. Very little is known about the bond, save that it always shows the beings' symbol of power and their name.

The origins of the bond are believed to be Gaea and her husband Uranus who were suspected of using the bond to keep their children in line, however, this is unconfirmed.

As expected from a bond for Slavery, the bond forces the wearer to obey all orders. However, the orders are not able to be given from a distance, which is a distinct advantage or disadvantage to the bond (depending upon which position a person is in). The bond also links the bonded to his or her master and can be used to cause torment to the other.

The bond does not appear to have a breakable cure, although some suggest that Kronos broke through his bond with Uranus and killed the man for the slight. Again, this is an unconfirmed rumor.

After a period of two months of separation between master and bonded, the bond begins to pulsate and become increasingly unbearable to handle for the wearer and often causes insanity if the person does not return to his or her master within a month, the pain often drives them to insanity. Because of this, this bond is considered incredibly cruel and has never been used by the God's under King Zeus' rule.

Poseidon snarled as he finished the passage and Percy was a sheet white.

"I could go insane?" Percy asked, his voice shaking lightly.

"He will have to return to Kronos? How could this have happened? The mark appeared in a dream, surely that means that…" Poseidon asked his voice fading.

"Perhaps the dream indicated a 'close' proximity. The book doesn't say the bond has to be placed when the servant is in the same place as the master. If the dream doesn't count as close proximity, we have two months before the pain of separation begins and three before Percy is insane." Apollo said, without much optimism in his voice. Poseidon nodded dumbly. The three started when an iris message appeared.

Zeus was there, his pinstripe suit straight and eyes sparking. "Brother." He greeted, his voice full of his usual arrogance. Poseidon snapped out of his mood and focused on the King of the Gods. \

"Zeus." He replied. "What can I help you with?"

The Sky God tilted his head to the side. "I wished to know how Jackson is faring before the quest members arrive."

"I am well, my Lord Zeus." Percy said, catching the attention of the God. "As well as I can be, I expect." Percy said, his eyes on the ground.

Zeus gave the boy a slight smile. "I am pleased to have you returned to us, Jackson. I will summon you in the morning, if you are agreeable." Percy nodded.

"Certainly, my Lord." Zeus nodded.

"Very well then. Apollo, if you could come to Olympus to brief me?" The god nodded and flashed out. Zeus said a brief goodbye to Poseidon and the message disappeared. Percy lowered his head in his hands and Poseidon was there immediately, his hands tightening around Percy's.

"We will get through this, Percy. I swear it on the Styx." Thunder rolled and Percy gave a smile to his father. "If nothing else, we have three months to discover a way to get you to the pit, into Kronos' presence and out again before he notices." Percy laughed lightly.

"I love you, Dad." Poseidon gave a blinding grin.

"I love you too, my child."

XXXXX

Artemis stepped forward and placed her hand over her eyes as Apollo drove the sun chariot down to earth. He called a greeting and the quest members all moved together, Luke staying towards the back.

Artemis greeted her brother and told her huntresses to load up after warning her brother not to flirt with them. Apollo winked.

"Huntresses, please go with Apollo to Camp Half-Blood. Quest members, you will come with me to Olympus." Apollo gave a blinding grin and ushered the girls on board.

As soon as they were all loaded up, Apollo drove off and Artemis gestured for the others to gather around her. "All of you will need to close your eyes except Katie and the traitor. I will flash us to Olympus." Luke winced and Annabeth and Clarisse grabbed his hands. The rest circled around the goddess, who closed her eyes and touched Thalia. They all flashed out.

The majority of them had never traveled like a god before and the travel was incredibly disconcerting. It was like being squeezed through a small circle of space. When they landed, the first timers fell, except Luke and Katie who immediately steadied themselves.

Luke studied the surroundings and realized they were outside the throne room. Artemis sneered at his curiosity. "I did not want the first time travelers to make a fool of themselves." She explained haughtily as she turned and walked away. The others immediately followed and Luke held back. Taking a deep breath, he followed the others into the throne room of the Gods.

There was silence. Zeus stared at Luke, his gaze smoldering. All of them knelt, including Luke and Zeus tensed slightly.

"Hermes, will you fetch Poseidon and Perseus?" The messenger god flashed out and Zeus turned his head to Artemis who walked to her throne and rose to her full form. She sat and inclined her head to her father.

"May I ask, my dear, why the traitor son of Hermes has not returned to Tartarus?" His voice was soft, but all the more dangerous because of it. Artemis' head bowed slightly.

"That is a better question asked of Uncle Poseidon, father." She said softly and Zeus inclined his head.

"Very well. I will wait." His head turned to study the rest of the quest, and his eyes narrowed when he saw the two supposedly dead huntresses. "Bianca Di Angelo and Zoë Nightshade." He murmured softly. "You are dead." As Zoë stepped forward to explain, a flash startled everyone. Poseidon stood there, with his son holding his hand. Percy's arm was in a splint and a bandage covered his forearm. His mouth was in a tight line and his eyes scanned the room warily, gaze resting on each god and then on the quest members. He too noticed Zoë and Bianca and his mouth fell open.

"Wha-?" Zoë laughed.

"You should close your mouth, boy. It is unattractive." Zoë said softly. Percy gave her a timid smile.

"You have protected my brother well," Bianca added. "Thank you, Percy Jackson. I am in your debt." For the first time since returning from Hell, Percy gave a blinding smile that lit up his face and made his eyes sparkle.

"Welcome home." He said softly and Bianca ran forward hugging him tightly. Zoë followed and gave him a quick but tight hug as well.

"Welcome home indeed."

(A/N) Once again I got busy and forgot. Hopefully the two updates so quickly will help you all forgive me quickly. I decided to extend the entire torture and the gods opinions for next chapter because I felt the need to explain the mark on Percy's arm.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I will see you next time.

~DarkBlackHeart