It was a stormy night. Lightning flashed, lighting up the night sky as thunder cracked overhead. The wicked black sea tossed and attacked the shoreline, spitting seawater high into the air as it crashed onto the rock barriers. Winds roared and snapped trees as if they were toothpicks. Conditions like this had only one explanation: the Gods were angry.

Among those Gods was Poseidon, and he was fuming. He sat in his throne along with the others, having watched the events unfold with his son down below. The only thing at this moment that could possibly be more immense than his anger was the fear inside him that he held for his son. "We can't just wait around and let them resolve this themselves…"

"And what do you propose we do, brother?" Zeus was not in a pleasant mood either. It was forbidden to get involved with their children back on earth and it wasn't any different for Poseidon even though he apparently had other ideas. "There is nothing you can do-"

"There is plenty I could do! But there isn't much time! The longer we wait the less chance my son has of survival, and I will not wait around for his death!"

"SILENCE!" Zeus brought down his fist upon the table and another crash of thunder echoed about the room, shaking the marble floor beneath them. "We will not get involved in this! That would include getting involved with Hades and I will not be owing my lowly brother any favors! Doubtful he would help us anyway. This is for the little demigods to figure out. They shall think of this as another quest… a dangerous quest. One to challenge their capabilities. It will be good for them."

"This is no challenge. My son does not deserve a punishment meant for Titans! He has no chance! You know even we wouldn't stand a great chance in Tartarus… how can you expect him to endure it, you coward-!"

"Be careful with your words brother. If there has to be war it should not be among us. What I say is my final decision. The demigods are on their own." He rose then and turned swiftly, his cloak swishing around him as he made his way out of the court room.

Poseidon was furious and was about to bark out another comment when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was enough to silence the bitter words about to come out and he looked back to find Athena at his side, her fierce blue eyes concerned, but staying intelligent as always. "Cease your angry words, Poseidon. They will do you no good." She removed her hand and took a couple steps away from him as if she were going to leave, but instead she paused and turned back to him. She was silent, waiting for the others to leave until it was only him and her.

"Athena… I don't recall the last time you speaking kind words to me," he reached up and ran his fingers slowly along the dark hair of his beard, his own deep ocean blue eyes finding her, weary of her purpose.

Athena's expression was unreadable. She only stared at him with a hard look and stayed silent as if she were lost for words, but soon enough she spoke. "Neither do I. However, you will listen to me now. In other circumstances I would not care of your troublesome child, but my daughter is down there as well. I want her back just as much as you want Perc-"

"Troublesome? If I recall, it was my son that tried to save your daughter. If he had not tried he would be safe and it would be only your daughter down in Tartarus," Poseidon snapped, the color in his eyes brightening, the different blues within his irises seeming to intertwine and mix slowly like a whirlpool.

Athena's delicate eyebrows furrowed as he own silvery eyes flashed dangerously. "I see where your son gets his smart mouth. Anyhow, I'm trying to help the both of us. If we want our children back alive we're going to have to work together. Do you not agree?"

Poseidon was silent for a long time as his eyes observed her, looking for any reason why he shouldn't trust her, but he was surprised to find out that he really couldn't find one. "You want to help me?" He questioned.

"You could call it that. I want my daughter back. And she more than likely won't go anywhere without your son. So, just happens you get something out of the deal as well. You're lucky my daughter is part a fool to love your son." She said a little bitterly, but soon the despair was back in her features. "I'm worried, Poseidon. We really don't have much time and honestly I don't know how we're going to get them out, but I'm with you. I will not stand around and wait for my little bird to die."

Poseidon bit back the bitter comments and looked down at the marbled floor, not know what else to do but to confide in this goddess who he has been in a feud with for as long as he could remember. "So, looks like we're in agreement for once." If he wasn't mistaken, when he glimpsed up at her he saw a hint of a grin on Athena's beautiful rose-colored lips.

"Looks like." She confirmed.

Hello my readers. This is just getting started don't you worry we'll get to Percy and Annabeth eventually ;) I remember finishing Mark of Athena about a week or so after it came out back in November and that book had one of he biggest cliff hangers in history I swear. It made me so antsy and I didn't think I could wait until the following October for the next book to come out. Anyhow, I've been doing a lot of thinking about how the next book will be and even though it really makes me sad I don't think Riordan is going to have a Percy or Annabeth point of view. So that's what sort of inspired me to do my own thing and how I would picture it. It's going to be a bit dark for Percy Jackson, but I hope someone will find it enjoyable. I'll have fun writing it anyway. But anyhow I'll get started on the first chapter right away and I hope you will all stick around to read it ;3