Orbel

It was dark and cold. The walls were jagged, pebbles fell from the roof. Standing in the darkness was a beast that towered over me. My five-year-old body barely met the tops of its front legs, next to me a ram stands its horns reaching my head. I gripped the broken spear tightly in my bloody arm, my vision fading in and out. The beast lunged; I flung my hands in front of my face. Just as the beast opened it’s large mouth black blobs erupted, scorching the beast from the inside.

“my name’s Phil… I’m a satyr… here to protect you…”

“there’s a camp where children like you go, I’ll lead you there”

“the young eagle seems to take a liking to you… he says he’s going to stay”

“My names Thalia, daughter of Zeus”

“PHIL!!!!”

“I’m Luke… Son of Hermes”

“Thalia, and this is Kallis”

“Ikaros, where are you going?”

Flapping wings and pained chirps

“thank you, young hero, for your assistance and bravery I want you to have this, use it well” Glimmers of gold reflected off the walls. A gold-plated shield with a lion in the middle

“that was brave of you, I am Artemis. Goddess of the Hunt. And you rescued my prey”

“I’m sorry lady Artemis. Please accept my offering” the Nemean Lion Cape

“go with safety young one, may we meet again… you would make an honorable addition to the hunt”

“KALLIS?! You’re safe!”

“…Demigods lured in search of a fantastic treasure…”

“That’s it Thalia… it’s what Amaltheia is leading you too…”

“we need Greek Fire…. Kallis, you have to do it”

Fear seeped in

“no… can’t… too dangerous.”

“you have too”

“Luke… that’s not fair… Kallis you don’t have to do this”

“Fine” heavy footfalls storm away

“Go… I will end my torment and fulfill my fate”

“I’m Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena”

“you’re very brave Annabeth… I promise I won’t fail like your family did”

“safehouse…all done”

“RUN!!!” “Thalia!”

“I know a place we can get help… let’s go”

“You don’t understand son” “YOU WERE NEVER THERE, THERE’S NOTHING TO UNDERSTAND”

Slamming Doors

“I’m Grover Underwood…Camp Half-Blood…Safest Place for demigods”

Crunching branches “The hunters of Artemis…”

“We’ve taken a wrong turn!”

“Come out godlings… I can smell you”

Thundering footsteps grew closer.

“Kallis… Kallis where are you?”

“Gotcha Godling”

“NO!!!!” screams fill the air. Intense heat consumes.

“Keep running… Up the hill”

Hoards of monsters… screaming

“THALIA!!!”

Satyrs… Centaur… Campers…. “You’re safe now”

“so, you’re alive… I guess that’s good news for you” Gods?

Awed gasps “Athena, Goddess of Wisdom. Hail Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena”

“Hermes, Messenger of the Gods Hail Luke Castellan Son of Hermes”

Paused silence

“Ares, God of War… Hail Alexandra Corvinus Chosen of Ares”

“Welcome to the Cabin Punk… There’s a few things your gonna have to learn if you want to stay here”

“Tradition… hold out your arm”

Burnt flesh, Bruises, failed attempts… “you’re not worthy of the name Ares… Two years and you still haven’t learned”

“how can I learn when you won’t teach me”

“the son of Ares will always rise”

“Ares, God of War… Hail Clarisse La Rue daughter of Ares”

“you’ve got to try harder if you want to beat them…Again…Again…Use your strengths”

“Go Kallis!!!...Focus…You got this” Cheers

“Looks like you finally earned your spot”

Clanging metal, grunts, body landing on the ground “Hail Kallis, the superior fighter!”

Conch horn “Ares Cabin are the winners”

“a quest...Farewell Luke, son of Hermes and good luck on your quest”

“he’s returned???” “Failed” “did you see the scar on his face?”

“No more quest?” “That’s not fair”

The Gods are real, they rule over the world.

The six elder Greek gods and goddesses were Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus, because they were the sons and daughters of the two rulers of the Titans: Kronos and Rhea.

These Gods would often have relations with Mortals creating half-blood children called Demigods.

In 1946, the three strongest of the Eldest Gods, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades agreed to not sire anymore mortal children, as they posed a serious risk to the Gods and the Mortal world.

"you've all received the official statement of what occurred, you've all been updated you know what the world knows or will soon know. But there's so much more to learn, so much for the world to know.

There's nothing about Stane, not anywhere, at least not the truth, it was concealed. Was it easier for the world to hear it that way, to keep me upheld to his faults, maybe.

There's nothing about Afghanistan, those three months, that cave. The pain, the reality. Yinsen, the man who saved my life, who would become the final push, the last straw.

Nothing about what happened between then and now, or even in the few months before Iron Man.

Friends, Enemies, Betrayal, no one knows the exact details, the goings ons that led to this. The truth behind the mask.

Transparency... I told the world who Iron Man was, not because I was a hero, because I'm not, I never was. But because of transparency, I tried to separate myself from those who hid behind a line, the false belief.

It's one thing to hear the official statement and believe it, but it's entirely a different thing to know every detail.

That being said, there are two sides to every story and only one side has ever been disclosed, the other side. The mistakes, the compromises, the loss, the blame.

Until now, it was all hidden away carefully, the perfect family, the perfect team.

The heroes, but I was never part of that. The problems, failures, mistrust, lies all carefully crafted to portray the others in the light, and me in the dark.

It was my part, the punching bag... its what the team needed, what the world needed. At least I thought it did. And I played it, for the longest time without even realizing it.

This isn't about making you the bad guy, its not about you, its not about me, not really. It's about transparency, about what is left behind. What will be remembered, forgetting the past only dooms you to repeat it. This is about who is left behind...

It all starts with three words