Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series or the Heroes of Olympus Series.

Story: Son of the Crossroads: The Lost Children of the Sea

Chapter 2: Purpose

Atlantis – present day

The children rushed back into the classroom eager to hear more about Perseus. They quickly sat down at their desks and settled down quickly before Sophus walked into the classroom. When the old Atlantean walked into the room, the children quieted down quickly. The old man smiled before he sat down in the chair that sat in front of the kids.

"Now where were we?" Sophus asked. A young mermaid in the front row of desks raised her hand. "Yes child?"

"Master Sophus, we stopped when Perseus met you on the beach," the young mermaid said.

Sophus nodded. "Ah, yes the beach. Well, let me see where to begin. Perseus stayed in Atlantis, but let me continue the story about a month from where we left off."


Atlantis – 18 months after the first Titan War

Perseus walked through a brightly lit corridor until he stopped in front of a set of sea green metal doors. The doors opened as he approached. He walked inside and stopped only a few feet inside the door; a spacious room with floor to ceiling bookshelves on three of the four walls surrounded him. In the center of the room was a large wooden table filled with an assortment of strange equipment. A set of glass flasks and test tubes sat on one side of the table, while on the other side was a set of strange looking plants with a hammer and pestle next to them. In the center of the table was a black iron cauldron that slowly smoldered over a small fire setup in the center of the table, but the fire wasn't normal, the flames were blue and glowed with a greenish aura around them.

"Perseus, you are back from training," Sophus said as he stepped out of a doorway on the far side of the room.

"Yes, Master Sophus, I'm ready to continue my magic classes," Perseus said as he bowed toward the Atlantean.

"Good, you've come to continue your training," Sophus questioned pointedly as his blue eyes bored into the glowing green eyes of the godling before him.

Perseus nodded. "Yes Master Sophus," he confirmed.

Sophus walked through the room, his study, until he reached a set of glass doors that led out onto a beautiful balcony that overlooked the ocean and the Atlantean harbor below. Ships came in and went from the harbor as the daily activity of a port continued on before them. Sophus sat on the marble tiled floor, cross-legged. He motioned for Perseus to join him. The boy walked toward the Atlantean before he sat down cross-legged in front of him. The two sat on the tiled floor facing each other.

"What is magic?" Sophus asked.

Perseus sat there stunned for a moment. "It's a weapon, to use against one's enemies."

Sophus frowned at the answer. "Is that what your mother taught you?"

"Yes, she wanted me to learn magic to destroy her enemies."

Sophus shook his head, but Perseus could see the disgust in his blue eyes. "I'm not sure what happened to Hecate, but that isn't the goddess that I knew and respected."

"Hate can change people, I guess."

Sophus smiled. "Now that is wisdom my boy, but unfortunately, you're correct. Your mother's anger and hatred has led her down a path towards death and destruction."

"Can she be saved?" Perseus wanted to know, even though she had been mean to him and abused him; he still cared for his mother. He still wanted to help her.

Sophus smiled at the boy's question. It was clear to the Atlantean that Perseus wasn't driven by anger or revenge. He truly cared for others, even his own mother who had abused him during the short time span of his life. "I don't know my boy. Once you begin the use of dark magic… well, it's hard to stop; it's like an addiction, but one that blackens the soul, not just the body."

Perseus nodded, but he was sad; he felt sorry for Hecate. "So, if black magic causes one's soul to blacken and in turn it causes destruction, what does white or light magic do?"

Sophus's face lit up with a brilliant grin. "An excellent question, my boy, light magic or white magic as you call it, is never used for attack, only for defense, knowledge and life. It can never be used to injure or kill."

Perseus nodded. He could see the difference now. Dark magic meant death and destruction, while light magic meant life and preservation. "Will you teach me how to use light magic?"

"It would be my honor to do so."

"Thank you."

"My pleasure, it has been ages since I've had a worthy student, one with a spirit and ability like yours."

Perseus blushed at the praise. "Where do we begin?"

Sophus chuckled at the question. "The beginning of course," he replied in amusement.

"What beginning?" Perseus questioned.

Sophus's face lit up at the question. "Now that is the right question." He scooted closer to Perseus until the two sat cross-legged, facing each other only a few feet apart. "We start at the beginning of the universe. Chaos, the great force of the universe emanated from the void, the place without substance, the center of the universe, the haven of the faded gods. The Chaos force wasn't sentient; it created the first beings, the first primordial gods, Erebus, Nyx, Chronos, Ananke, Aether, Tartarus, Gaea, and Eros. Together they began the creation of the universe, and the Earth, the first world where all life began, before it was seeded throughout the universe."

Perseus stared at the ancient Atlantean closely as the old man explained the origin of the universe and the Earth. "What about magic?"

Sophus nodded. "Magic was always there, behind the scenes, even as the Universe formed, and then as the Earth and the other worlds were created. Magic was always there in the background, an invisible force, more powerful than gravity, beyond the effects of time and space."

"You make it sound like it's the most powerful force in the Universe?"

Sophus's eyes lit up at the question. "Magic is the most powerful force, and the one least understood. I was the first Atlantean to learn of it, and to try to use it, guide its influence."

"Don't you mean use it, bend it to your will?"

Sophus's blue eyes darkened. "Magic should never be used that way, selfishness and greed leads to darkness, the evil kind of magic that only seeks control and domination."

Perseus raised an eyebrow at Sophus's reaction to the question. "So, the light magic is without control?"

Sophus shook his head. "The Chaos force, the great power that began the Universe, this is the force that controls light magic. People can learn to work in harmony with this force, this is the way to use light magic. You must remain true to certain laws; this will guide the magic user and keep them from straying from the path of the light."

"What are these rules master Sophus?"

Sophus's grin widened. "The primary rule or law is to do no harm. That is the rule of light magic. Keep this rule and you will never stray down the path of evil. The second and the most personal of rules or laws is your purpose. Why do you use magic? This will be your calling in life, your reason for living, your life's goal."

"How do I determine my goal, my purpose?"

Sophus nodded. "That is the truest question; the one that you can answer only through meditation and contemplation. This is the only way to reveal your purpose." Sophus stood up: Perseus just stared at him in shock. "Where are you going?" he asked. Sophus didn't respond until he stood in the doorway of the room, ready to step out. "Think about those that made you, those that have influenced you, and then you will learn your purpose," Sophus replied. The ancient Atlantean stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.

The first lesson that Perseus had learned from Sophus was how to meditate, the ability to open your mind to the world around you, but most importantly, the only way to open your senses and abilities to the world of magic. Perseus crossed his arms in front of his chest before he closed his eyes. He relaxed the muscles in his body as he remembered his training with Sophus. He had to be at rest to meld his mind with the power of Chaos, the eternal source of magic. His vision was still dark behind his closed eye lids, but his mind was open. The darkness finally subsided as colors, first red, and then an assortment of various patterns of reds, yellows, blues and greens, flashed through his mind, until the first true image appeared. A strange scene that Perseus knew that happened months and months ago, before his conception; a tall dark haired man with a dark beard sat on a throne in a large room, other thrones stood nearby in a horseshoe pattern, but the man sat in the middle. Perseus listened closely waiting for any sound.

Three flashes of light appeared in the center of the room, the lights dissolved into three beautiful young women dressed in white robes. The women had darks hair, but their eyes were void of all color, except for a vibrant and glowing white, that was brighter than the heart of the sun, itself. The man on the throne shifted nervously as the three women stared at him with a mix of trepidation and sorrow.

"My ladies, why have you appeared to me?" the man questioned warily.

The woman in the middle replied, "Lord Zeus, new King of the Earth, and god of the heavens." The other two women kept their eyes on the King of the gods, but the woman in the middle looked around the throne room, like she expected someone else to be there. "Where is your Queen, the Titaness, Metis?"

Zeus smiled as he looked at the throne beside his. "My love is resting; I have good news, she is with child, our first child, a princess for Olympus." The look on the three women's faces spoke volumes to the son of Kronos. "Why are the Fates here to see me, does it have to do with Metis or our child?"

The Fate in the middle frowned at the question. "It has been written by the spirit of Ananke herself, that a child of Metis and Zeus shall overthrow the kingdom of Olympus, if the union is not halted."

Zeus shook his head violently. "No, no, this can't be, please tell me there's been a mistake," he pleaded.

"No mistake has been made Lord Zeus, a child of Zeus and Metis will destroy Olympus, unless the union of god and Titaness is not stopped."

Zeus fell from his throne and onto his knees. "What would you have me do?"

"You must decide the fate of your wife, and that of the child within her womb."

Tears began to streak down Zeus's face. "Is our daughter the one of the prophecy?"

"It is too early to tell, but the marriage must be abolished."

"How can I do that, as long as she lives, Metis will be my wife?" The Fate in the center nodded. Zeus's tanned face paled. "You would have me destroy my love, my wife?"

"What must be done must be accomplished for the good of the many."

Zeus clenched his fists before he crushed the stone floor he knelt upon. "Don't lecture me about the good of the many; I am King." The Fates just stared down at the god without emotion.

"You will do what must be done, King of Olympus," the three Fates said in unison before they dissolved into nothingness.

Zeus slumped back against his throne, his face was void of emotion and his red rimmed eyes stared off into the distance.

Perseus's vision morphed again until it coalesced again into the throne room of Olympus. The floor was still cracked where Zeus had struck it, but now Zeus sat on his throne with a solemn expression on his face. The doors to the throne room opened and in stepped a woman in a green dress, Perseus knew this woman, and she was his mother, Hecate. He had never seen her this way before, she smiled at the King of the gods; she glowed with happiness as she approached him.

"You summoned me here, my lord." Hecate said.

Zeus nodded. "Yes, I need you to do something for me," he replied.

Hecate bowed. "It would be my honor to assist the great King of Olympus."

Zeus waved his hand; he wasn't in the mood for compliments. "I have a task for your magic."

"What task may that be?"

"I need you to turn my wife into a fly," Zeus replied.

Hecate's green eyes widened. "A fly, why my lord?"

Zeus leaned forward on his throne. "The reason is mine, will you assist your King or not?"

Hecate gulped. "It is a very difficult spell, one that requires the use of dark magic. It can be done, but I would advise against it."

Zeus nodded. "It must be done. What if I give you an incentive to assist me?"

"What incentive?" Hecate inquired curiously. Zeus smiled; he had piqued her interest now. "I know you are in love with my brother, and that he returns the favor. What if I granted the two of you permission to marry?"

Hecate's face shined even brighter than before. Her green eyes glowed with happiness. "You would do that?"

Zeus nodded. "For a price, the spell that I asked for, if you do that, I will make sure that my brother is wed."

Hecate's grin widened. "Your will shall be done my lord," she said before she turned and hurried out of the throne room to begin the preparations for the spell.

Zeus slumped back onto his throne. "Metis my love forgive me, but I must do what is best for my kingdom." He looked back at the door as it closed behind the goddess. A devilish smile crossed his face. "Hecate, you will do me this favor, but my brother shall not marry you, if I cannot have my love, then neither shall he."

Perseus gasped as he opened his eyes. Sophus stared at the boy in concern. "Are you alright, my boy?" Sophus questioned sincerely. Perseus didn't answer. This is what happened. Metis was turned into a fly and Zeus ate her. Not too long after, Athena was born from his skull that was severed open by one of his children with his new wife, Hera.

Perseus took a few deep breaths. He now knew the reason for Hecate's journey down the path of dark magic; it was because of fate and because of Zeus and his jealousy. He couldn't hate his mother, but at the same time could he hate Zeus? The god lost his love because of a prophecy. He shook his head as his mind cleared. He knew his purpose. He would fight to help the helpless; he would never do so for revenge. He would uphold the virtue of the light and purge his spirit of darkness. He would not be like his Uncle, a man broken because of his lost love and turned toward darkness by bitterness, jealousy and the lust for power, but neither would he be his mother, he wouldn't live for revenge. No, Perseus would live to serve the weak; he would touch the light and in return the light would free his spirit of darkness. "Master Sophus, I know my purpose," he said before his teacher leaned closer to learn the fate of his student.

AN: The second chapter is done, this one was about Perseus learning of his purpose in life, plus a little revelation as to when she began her path into darkness and why Zeus married off his brother to Amphitrite, so stay tuned more to come.