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Title: Son of Hera

Pairing: Percy/Nico Percico

Summary: AU. Hera, exhausted with her brothers' attitude to their respective wives and finished with Zeus' cheating, takes her spite out on the mortal known as 'Sally Jackson'. The woman should have known better than to lay with a God. When Percy is but a few months old, he is unwilling given to the Goddess of Marriage by Poseidon to spare his mother. She locks the son of the Sea in a Garden, sealed away from the world like bird in a cage.

That is, until one fateful day when Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, after a fight with Ares stubbles unknowingly into Percy's domain. She discovers Hera's secret and recruits Hebe, the Goddess of Youth, to rescue the son of Poseidon.

A new prophecy comes to light and the demigods are sent to find Olympus' only hope.

Warnings: Hurt, Blood and Gore.

Songs: Mordred's Lullaby by Heather Dale.

Disclaimer: Percy Jackson is not mine, just this story.

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Part I

Son of Hera

Chapter 1 - Stolen

"POSEIDEN, YOU WOTHLESSS PIECE OF ROTTEN KELP! HOW DARE YOU BETRAY AMPHITRITE! WHO IS THIS MORTAL? WHERE IS SHE?!"

Hera stormed along the breath-taking corridors of Olympus. Where white and grey marble floors were etched with leafless trees of silver, that flash as if alive when passing the endless coal flames in their homes of bronze pits.

Fury imprinted itself on her stone-cold features and a snarl stole her lips. The God of the Sea would find no refuge in the Oceans or on the Land, he would not be able to hide here in the home of the Gods until he answered for his latest act of disloyalty. Amphitrite was a close friend and Hera had seen her suffer too many times at the hand of her husband's unfaithfulness. She will not let her brother get away with this any longer.

"POSEIDON, YOU COWARD! SHOW YOUR FACE!"

Hesitant footsteps sounded behind and Hera turned gracefully to see the guilty form of her younger brother.

"Please, sister, be reasonable." Poseidon begged weakly. "Don't punish her, she's only mortal. This isn't her fault." The God kept his eyes downcast, refusing to meet her narrowing gaze.

"I intend to punish you both." Hera snarled darkly, the promise of pain clear and unhidden in her tone. "She is as worthy of her sin as you."

"Sister-"

"SILENCE!" The Goddess of Heaven screamed.

She watched as her brother flinched. It did little to deter her next words or alter the choice she had already made. Flexing her fists, Hera let her nails dig sharply into her palms, if only to stop her striking out in anger.

"You will hand the child over to me." She ordered.

Poseidon frowned lightly, allowing confusion to colour his eyes. "Hera, there's no child. You are mistaken-"

"DO NOT LIE TO ME!" The Goddess growled and stepped closer. "Do not, brother. I know there is one. Perhaps Amphitrite may have been more willing to overlook your misjudgement if you hadn't brought an innocent life into world."

"Hera, please, if Zeus finds out he will kill my boy." Poseidon ignored his pretence and begged again.

The Goddess started to wonder if it is all he is good for and sighed deeply.

"Fool, what benefit would it bring me to tell my husband? The child will stay with me. Your mortal will understand the price of lying with a God and Amphitrite will not have to watch you fawn over the legacy of your latest betrayal."

Poseidon finally looked up to meet her gaze, his sea-green eyes widening in shock.

"But neither will you set eyes on him again." She threatened. "Amphitrite will be able to heal."

"Hera-"

"Do not mistake this for a kindness, brother mine." The Goddess of marriage hissed. "For the next child you sire will not even have the chance to taste its first breath." She paused before adding, "bring him to me. . . now. Or your mortal dies."

Poseidon nodded shakily, biting down and swallowing any response he may have held. The Ocean roars down the corridor as the Sea God disappeared into thousands of water droplets.

Hera stilled her figure. Searching for a calmness she was not sure resided within herself at that moment. Her younger brothers are Gods of many mistakes. She accepted that Zeus would never cease his lying, cheating ways centuries ago. It did not quell the anger or hurt or jealousy in her heart. But maybe she can keep Poseidon and Hades in line.

Everyone has a breaking point, a weakness that can be exposed and used, even a God.

x[X]x

Two Years Later

"Hush, child, the darkness will rise form the deep."

The Goddess sung sweetly as she stepped lightly through the wilting Garden. In her arms, a boy of no more than three-years-old, wept and sobbed. His arms wrapped tightly around her neck while he tried to bury his head deeper into the crook of her neck.

"And carry you down into sleep."

Her song continued quietly, softly. Just as if she were a Mother who knew the only way to comfort the child. He glanced at her pale, flawless features with imploring sea-green eyes, but still, refused to lessen his cries.

"Child, the darkness will rise from the deep,

And carry you down into sleep."

His small fingers tightened their hold on the back of her dress and his tears stain the pale blue material. Hera smiled briefly. She let her soft, brown curls weave down to her shoulders mixing with the boy's fluffy, dark hair. Carding her fingers gentle over his cheek, the Goddess kept singing.

"Guileless son, I'll shape your belief,

And you'll always know that your father's a thief."

Slowly, his cries begun to distance themselves. Hera watched as the flowers started to regain their colours. His form slumped in her arms as sleep crept into his mind.

"And you won't understand the cause of your grief."

The cut on his knee seemed to have gone forgotten as his eyes slipped shut and a yawn greeted his lips. He snuggled closer to the Goddess' warmth.

"But you'll always follow the voices beneath."

Hera hummed as the Garden breathed back to life around her, as if awoken from a deep slumber. The flowers swayed gently in the breeze and suddenly the sky grew brighter. This place, this world, she had built for the lost son of Poseidon. It is his as he belongs to it. Reflecting his state of mind and poised to defend him should someone decide to trespass.

Peseus Jackson rested peacefully in her arms as she healed his small injury and set him down in the shade of the Great Oak.

"Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty, loyalty,

Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty only to me. . ."

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