Chapter Two
I Take Advice from a Jellyfish

How dark and depressing…

My small underwater home, my isolated life. I had gotten quite used to this home – if you could call it a home. I made it out of the sea rock and created a thick air bubble that surrounds the home to keep the rocks from floating away. This place is painfully silent with no life except the occasional deep-sea creature here and there. I live so deep into the ocean that even the Titan, Oceanus, could not be able to find me down here, or I hope he wouldn't. No mortal would dare live down here. It's far too dark even for my Poseidon-child eyes. No one would find me here. No one would want to find me for that matter. I'm sure they still silently curse me for what I had done years ago.

I sigh and stare blankly into the darkness. What would my life be like if I had killed Kronos like I should have done? Sometimes, I'll admit, I would like to return back to the place I once called home. I would like to see my mother again. Sometimes I want to go back to Camp Half-Blood. I want to see my old friends again. But I know that if I do ever convince myself to go back, nothing will be as it once was. The world I left ten years ago is not the same anymore obviously because I left the world to the Titans. Camp Half-Blood no longer exists. New York no longer exists. Everything and everyone I once knew, for all I know, no longer exists. If I go back up there, I'd be a stranger.

I look up toward the surface, wishing so badly that I can go back in time and prevent this chaos. But I know that there is no way possible to change the past. And I'll probably spend the rest of my life in the dark hole of a home.

I am now 26 years old. I am an adult that never got to experience high school; that never got to walk across a graduation stage; never got to share a dorm with a college roommate; never got to experience that nervous feeling of proposing to a girl of my dreams. There are so many things I never got to do before I left. I did not even say goodbye to my mother or my friends. I'm sure my mother believes that I am dead. I never sent her the blue signal that meant that I survived. Everybody I once knew probably thinks I'm dead. I might as well be, seeing as I've disappeared into the depths of the ocean. Perhaps they've even forgotten I have ever existed. That's good, I guess. That'll mean they've forgotten it was my fault that they are suffering under the Titans.

My lord, what is the matter? A jellyfish invades my space, insisting on a conversation. Ah, the only things I've talked to in ten years. It knocks on my air bubble, asking to be let in.

I finally decide to give in. I give the jellyfish it's own bubble of water and allow it to enter my home. "I told you not to call me that anymore. I'm not your lord."

Yes, as you wish, my good liege.

I sigh, knowing there was no use trying to correct him.

Please, sir, what is wrong? For weeks I have seen you so downcast.

"Weeks…" I say with a pained smile. "If only the time had actually been that short."

You are the only mortal I have seen to dwell under the sea. Only a deranged mind would think it is suitable to stay here… Oh! Not that you are deranged, my lord. I am merely stating –

"Yeah, I know," I nod, putting a hand up to quiet the nervous jellyfish. "I suppose I am sort of crazy for staying down here for so long; but I just can't… return back up there. Do you understand?"

How could I ever return back to the land above? As much as I wished to be part of that world again, I could never show my face to them. I am symbol of hopelessness and failure to them. And who would want that back in the world?

I understand, my lord. Well, since we are on the subject of deranged minds, what is happening in your mind while you sleep? You seem… so troubled. It's as if someone is talking to you, but then I see that you are still sleeping.

"That would nightmares, unfortunately," I informed.

Nightmares, he repeated. How terrifying.

"Yeah, well…" I sigh and shrug. After dealing with strange dreams for 15 years, I've gotten quite used it and the feeling of confusion it gives me.

My lord, you should consider finding some sort of treatment to this issue, perhaps?

"Thanks for the advice, but believe me, if there was something to stop these dreams, I would have already taken –"

A sharp pain strikes my stomach. It feels as if someone has stabbed a knife into me. I gasp in pain, feeling weaker, and my breathing quickens. The pain grows heavier and heavier. I look around frantically while putting a hand to my stomach. All I see is the darkness of my empty home. I feel faint. I can't breathe. The air bubble that surrounds me starts to concave as water begins to spill in. I weakly reach into my pocket for my sword, Riptide, but as soon as I uncap it, the pain mysteriously ceases. Perks of having the Achilles' curse, I suppose. I turn a full 360 but see no one but the jellyfish, who looked just as scared as I did. Catching my breath, I recap Riptide and place it back in my pocket.

My lord… Are you alright?

I don't even know. What just happened to me? I still my breath and attempt to calm down. With a swift movement of my hand, I repair the air bubble. I lift up my shirt to examine my stomach where I felt the pain. There is no mark.

That night another dream comes to haunt me.

"Percy," a gentle voice whispers to me. The voice is deep and calming. I look around but see no one. I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out.

The room slowly brightens but my vision is still blurry. "Percy," the voice calls again. I can barely make out any images. I turn toward the direction of the voice and see a bright shape.

Another voice comes to. It's higher pitched than the last one. The dialogue is unclear as well as it fades in and out occasionally. "Are you sure he can… you… Does the… -ill work?"

"-t should," the first voice replies. "I created… he rescued me… marry Cyclops… -aven't used it…. time."

Cyclops? I haven't even thought about those creatures in so long. I almost forgot my half-brother, Tyson. Ten long years can really take away beloved memories.

"… Good," the second voice answers. "Tell… should know."

Suddenly the room brightens dramatically and my vision clears. However with all the lights shining into my eyes, all I can see is someone's part of the body: fur.

"Percy." The voice is now completely undistorted and strong. "We need you."

I wake up with a start. Unlike most of my dreams, this one wasn't a nightmare. Dreams prior to this night usually consist of blood and tears. But this dream was different. It gave me a weird feeling that I hadn't felt in a long time: hope. If this dream is true, someone in the world needs me. Someone wants me back in their lives some way or another. I can be useful for once. I could maybe prove myself a hero again. I could...

No... I can't. What am I saying? Have I truly lost my mind? The only reason why someone would ever want me back is to say to my face the curses they've been holding back for years. I'm only fooling myself.

"Percy," the same deep, gentle voice from my dream whispers. Startled, I uncap Riptide and thrust it around, shining it's light around me, but no one is here. I'm not dreaming anymore. How can I still be dreaming without sleeping? Or am I dreaming at all?

With a nervous gulp, I start, "Who… How do you know me?"

After a long pause, the voice comes back again. "Percy Jackson. Where are you?"

My breath begins to quicken as I look from side to side. "Who are you?" It's been so long since I've heard a voice outside of my dreams; it almost makes me feel… human again.

Again, the deep voice comes, ignoring my question. "Hurry."

Now I am completely terrified and anxious. How did someone find me here? Who is this mysterious voice?

Suddenly, I hear a loud cry of pain ringing in my ears. This voice is not one that I heard in my dreams. It is the voice of older woman. Now hyperventilating, I run throughout my home, searching for a human. But I find absolutely no one here. The scream rings again, threatening to burst my ear drums. Who is this? What is happening?

The voice cries out again, sobbing. "Someone, please!" she begs in anguish.

I stop in my tracks abruptly. My mother. It is the voice of my mother. It's been ten long years since I've heard it but this is unmistakable. What is happening? I'm losing my sanity. My hands are shaking and my head is spinning.

"Mom!" I yell back. But no response comes. The voice must be from the outside world. I look to the surface above me. My breathing suddenly stills for a moment. I stare at the waters above me. I must have stood there for a good ten minutes or so, just staring upward with my hands still trembling nervously. I finally come to.

No! I silently scold myself. I am not going to leave to go to the world above. I am not part of that world anymore. These voices are not real, I keep repeating to myself.

The tormented voice comes again. "Please help!"

I shake my head, attempting to ignore the voices. I cap Riptide and try to still my trembling hands. I draw a deep breath and close my eyes, trying to block out everything else. I scold myself again for even considering to find the owner of the voice. Ignore it, I continue to repeat in my head.

"Please," the voice says, now hysterical with tears.

My heart fills will guilt and longing to find my mother. Ignore it, I say again, snapping myself out of these crazy thoughts.

She cries out again. "Percy!" My eyes widen. She is calling for me specifically. Someone in the world needs me again.

The sound of my mother crying out for me causes something inside of me to burst with emotions I've been holding back for years. I break out of my air bubble, shooting up towards the surface. Only one thought is running through my head: someone in the world needs me.

I finally reach the surface, now standing on a still, 6 foot wave that I unconsciously created. I frantically look around, trying to get my eyes adjusted to the brightness of this world above the sea. I haven't seen the sun in so long, and it's blinding. In time, my eyes adjust and just as my vision clears, I see a shadowy figure lunge at me. And I black out.

A/N: Sorry these chapters are going to be like "foundation chapters," meaning this is where you'll get all the necessary information before really going into the big plot. Thank you to everyone!