"Zeus made you a god?!" Grover bit into an empty Pepsi can, taking a huge chunk of aluminum into his mouth.

"Not so loud!" I shushed him, shaking my head.

Grover shrugged. "It's not like anyone will here us. We're by the water Percy."

"The Nereids are still here. And you know how much they like to talk."

I had brought him out to the back of my cabin, where we sat on the deck, our legs in the water.

After negotiating and pleading with the gods, they had decided not to broadcast my transformation to the demigods. Dad backed me up on it, telling them that it was my responsibility to let my friends know.

"You earned this Percy." He had said to me, patting my cheek. "Don't falter."

"Since you're a god and everything, you mind whipping up a few more cans?" Grover requested.

I sighed. "Here are some enchiladas." I waved my hand and a silver plate appeared on Grover's lap, seven enchiladas steaming on top of it.

His eyes widened and he turned to me, his mouth in an O shape. "Lord Perseus, I shall serve you forever."

"Don't call me that."

He ate one right away and I turned to the left, staring out at the blue lake. I sighed. "Should I tell them?"

A gulp sound echoed as he swallowed an enchilada piece. "Have you told Annabeth?"

"No." I dug my elbows into my knees and used my fists to hold up my head. "I'm scared of her reaction."

"She can't kill you. You're immortal." Grover chuckled.

"She might start crying." I scratched my head.

He set the empty plate down, dipping his hands in the water to remove the sauce. "Crying? Why do you say that?"

"Because Grover...I betrayed her." The words seemed to come from someone else.

"...How." He had his left hand on my right shoulder and forced me to turn and look at him. "Percy, I swear on the River Styx, if you cheated on her with a minor goddess I will-"

"Not in that way." I cut him off. "When Annabeth was offered to become a Hunter, she said no. For me. I was offered to become a god and I jumped at the chance."

I covered my face with my hands. "Oh gods. What have I done? I wasn't even thinking of her!"

"Percy. Percy, calm down." Grover patted me on the back. "It's not your fault you weren't thinking of her. Besides, look at all the good you've caused now that you became a god!"

I was tempted to fall into the lake and drown myself. Though that wouldn't work, seeing as how I could breathe underwater. Getting up from the deck, my legs dried almost instantly as I took them out of the water. Another "perk" from being the son of Poseidon.

"Percy!" Grover cupped his hands to his mouth, yelling my name as I walked back into the Cabin. "Where are you going man?!"

"To take a nap!" I responded.


'You are troubled by something.' A feminine voice in my head woke me. 'What is it?'

Raising my head from my pillow, I looked around. The room was very dark and outside didn't look any brighter. I patted the sheets for my phone.

'It's a quarter past dusk. If the time is what you seek.' The woman told me.

"9:25." I mumbled, sitting up in my bed. "Wait a minute...am I crazy?"

'You haven't shown the slightest hint of insanity from what I've seen.' She commended me.

"Thank you..." I thumped myself in the forehead. "Wait, this is all messed up. Who are you? And why do I hear you in my head?"

'I am Metis, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, an Oceanid.' She introduced herself. 'As for why you can hear my voice all of a sudden. It must have something to do with your recent transformation as a god.'

I groaned. "Oh. That."

'Are you not overjoyed at your new ranking? Zeus has given you a rank equal to the Twelve Olympians. Such a feat will be taught to future children of gods for years to come!' Metis raised her voice.

"I would be happy. Except for the fact that the girl I love isn't a god." I said bitterly. "She's going to die. Eventually. And then I'll be left in this world to cry over her death."

'If she has done deeds in favor of the gods, Hades will permit you to visit her in Elysium.'

I sighed. "That's not the same. I want her to live with me. I want us to grow old together, get married and have children."

There was no response.

I feigned a laugh. "Forget it. Why am I here crying out a sob story? I chose this. Now I'll deal with it."

'...Come to Olympus.' Metis told me.

"Why?"

'There is someone there who can give you advice. I...have not been active for sometime. My skills are rusty. My daughter, on the other hand, has been thriving.'

This stumped me. "Who's your daughter?"

'You don't know? She's your cousin. Athena.'


"Perseus." Athena said my name, greeting me with a flat voice.

She was wearing a white dress, with a set of pearls around her neck and on her ears. A silver ring on her middle finger caught my eye as I realized the center piece was an owl.

"Hey Athena." I waved for a second.

"What brings you to Olympus?" She waved her hand and a cup of, what I assume is, tea appeared in her hand.

I took a deep breath. 'Just say it.' "I need your advice."

She coughed, beating her chest. "I-I'm sorry, did you just say advice? Or are my ears mistaken?"

'Wow. She is not making this easy for me.'

"You heard me. I'm asking you for your help."

She sat down in a white marble chair and motioned for me to do the same, which I did.

"What do you need advice on?" There were traces of a smirk in her words.

"It's about Annabeth."

Athena set down the cup, her face taking on a dark expression. "Go on."

"I haven't told her I've become a god. And I was wondering, since you're her Mother and all, if you would know how to do it." I clapped my hands together.

"In other words, you want me to tell her."

I shook my head. "No, no, no, no, no. I will tell her. I just need help...wording it."

"How hard is it to say, Annabeth, I'm a god. Is such a task too difficult for you Perseus?" She leaned forward.

"Now I know what your kids were talking about." I muttered.

She froze. "What have my children been saying?"

"If I tell you, you'll probably curse all of them. Seeing as that's the goddess you are."

"I do not curse people." Her voice hardened.

"Really?" I tilted my head, "Let's see, there's Alkinoe, a lady who's marriage you ruined because she wouldn't pay someone their wages."

"She should've known better than to-"

"Then there's Auge." I cut her off. "You remember her don't you? She gave birth in your temple so you forced the King to exile her and sell her into slavery."

Athena bit her lip. "She could've given birth elsewhere."

My eyes widened in disbelief. "Do you hear yourself? Holy Hera, you are one self-centered, arrogant, emotionless, heartless, cruel goddess. For Zeus's sake, you're a terrible mother!"

She winced at the last comment and I began to feel bad.

Standing up, I turned to the door. "I'll leave. This was a waste of time. She should never have sent me here."

"...Who sent you here?" Athena got up, grabbing my left wrist.

I turned around. "Your mother, Metis. She was so sure you'd give me a good answer. She was wrong I guess."

She reached her hands out towards my head and I thought she was going to try choking me. Instead, she placed both hands on my cheeks and her grey eyes seemed to lighten up.

"Um...what are you doing?" My voice cracked with fear.

"Be still." She closed the distance between us and our foreheads touched.

"What are you-"

"Shhhh..." She closed her eyes. 'Mother?'

'Athena?' Metis sounded as if she had been woken up from a nap.

'Mother, you're really alive?!' Athena yelled in my head.

'I never died child.' Metis smiled with her voice. 'Your Father still has me trapped inside him. But I will soon be free.'

'What do you mean?' Athena questioned.

'Can't you two talk in your own minds?' I interrupted them, annoyed.

'The thing is Perseus, since Zeus turned you into a god, he opened a bridge for me to communicate. You could say my conscious is with yours.' Metis explained.

'So you just randomly enter my body without permission?' I snorted.

'Hush Perseus.' Athena shushed me. 'Mother, what do you mean you will soon be free?'

'The prophecy that gave way to your birth. I would give birth to a son that would surpass Zeus. In order to stop this, he swallowed me, leading to your creation. But a prophecy can never be stopped.'

'Mother, are you saying that you're-'

'Yes Athena. I am pregnant and I am sure that this child is a boy. A boy who will grow strong and overthrow Zeus.'

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Zeus wasn't going to be the King of the gods anymore? How would that work?

'There is the matter of how I shall give birth.' Metis's voice brought me back to their conversation. 'If I give birth in Zeus's stomach, the child will not survive. I need to get out of here.'

'Why don't you do what Zeus did to his Father? Mix a potion and make him throw up.' I couldn't believe that came from my mouth.

'I must leave. My activeness has woken Zeus.' Metis seemed to disappear.

'Wait, Mother!' Athena called after her.

There was no response.

I pulled my forehead way from hers. "So what do you think? Are you going to mix a potion?"

"Let me try one more time." Athena brought our heads together.

"Athena! Have you seen Ares? He and I were supposed to meet hours ago but-" Aphrodite's voice stopped short as she walked into the room. "Oh."

Athena turned quickly. "Aphrodite, I swear upon the Heavens, if you say anything-"

"ATHENA IS INTO YOUNGER BOYS!" Aphrodite screamed, running out of the room.

"Tartarus." Athena muttered, walking after her. "Today's the day blood will be shed."

She walked off, leaving me bewildered. What was Metis talking about? Prophecy? Someone overthrowing Zeus? And how did I fit into all of this?