Alaska

March 24th, 1989

Poseidon startled awake just after three in the morning, eyes wide and breath shallow. "Something's happened," he was already jumping out of bed. "Something – "

"Percy?" I mumbled. Percy's crib was in our room, only a few feet from my bed; he was sound asleep. "What?"

"I have to go."

He was racing out of the room; I chased after, bursting onto the storm-swept coast just in time to see his body completely dissolve into water and merge with the waves. Gone, just like that. I paced the beach until my clothes were soaked and I started to shiver; moved inside, and stood looking out the window, not caring about the puddle of water under my feet. Dawn broke and Lucy stumbled downstairs.

"What's going on?" she said, rubbing sleep out of her eyes. I remained silent, eyes searching in vain for any sign of Poseidon's form. A minute later Lucy placed a cup of tea in my hand; I hadn't even heard the kettle boil.

"Danny?" she prodded. "He's – gone?" Silence again. "Ben and I know that there's something – odd – about him. But, has he left for good?"

"No," and I honestly believed it. Some emergency – maybe the sharks had all just taken a vow of vegetarianism. An unscheduled iceberg drift. Penguins protesting their exile to the southern hemisphere. Krill civil rights. "But, maybe we should leave." If there was trouble stirring, then maybe having Percy around the ocean wasn't a good thing.

Lucy nodded, and said that she was going to go wake up Ben and Alba; I went to Percy. We packed in record time, stuffing the cars and cleaning Navani half-heartedly. Lucy took the keys to the VW without asking, falling in behind Ben whose car was stuffed with luggage and toys; neither of them asked what was going on.

We took the seaside route, rumbling down the coast and passing summer houses in various states of repair. My eye looked past them, always to the ocean. When we stopped to fill-up the cars the great mystery was revealed on the cover of the New York Times.

Largest U.S. Tanker Spill Spews 270,000 Barrels of Oil Off Alaska

By Philip Shabecoff

A tanker filled to capacity with crude oil ran aground and ruptured today 25 miles from the southern end of the Trans Alaska Pipeline, spewing her cargo into water rich in marine life.

More than 270,000 barrels of oil have been sent into Prince William Sound, making this the largest tanker spill in United States history.

Opponents of further development of Arctic oilfields have seized on the spill as evidence of what they perceive as the environmental risks involved.

This morning the spill was about 2 miles long and 250 feet wide, said Petty Officer John Gonzales, a spokesman for the Coast Guard station at the port of Valdez, from which the Exxon Valdez departed late Thursday, bound for Long Beach. Calif., with her load of 1,260,000 barrels.

Petty Officer Gonzales said no one had died or been injured in the accident. He said the Exxon Valdez had been maneuvering around icebergs when she ran aground on Bligh Reef, 25 miles south of the port. Whether the maneuvering was the cause of the accident is under investigation, he said. Another Ship to Rescue …

"This is it," I gasped.

"What?" Ben was peaking over my shoulder. "Oil spill?"

"Why he left."

His brow furrowed in confusion, but, again, no voiced questions. We got back into the cars. Beach House country gradually gave way to the wilderness; in the distance, I could see the Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island. For a moment I caught myself wondering if there were any demigods or claimed children there right now – ones, like Athena's baby, who had been rejected by their mortal parents and left with nowhere to go.

I caught sight of Poseidon just past Greenport: He was coming out of the surf in the regular jeans and polo, perfectly dry, shoulders hunched as though he had just finished an intense work-out. I was opening the door before the car had come to a stop, running down the beach with Percy's car seat in one hand. Lucy and Ben, both standing at the edge of the road, watched with wide eyes as we embraced.

"Don't do that again," I scolded. He kissed me hard. "I saw the paper."

"I can't stay – "

"How long will it take to clean-up?"

"Days – weeks. Oil's Hades' thing; we're incompatible." He kissed me again. "I didn't want to just vanish – I should be there now. Before it spreads."

"Truer words."

The voice came from behind – Zeus, in his armour, swaggering ever-closer. Poseidon positioned himself in front of me and Percy, eyes ablaze. "You?"

"Consequences would be dire." Dire? – Zeus had staged the oil spill? "And you still haven't learned. Your ocean is dying."

"Because of you."

"Because of you," Zeus echoed. "Placing your whore first."

The sky cackled with lightening and clouds billowed. The seas grew rough; up at the road Ben was gripping Lucy, sandwiching Alba in-between. I gasped as the tide came rushing in, building higher and higher, fish and women's bodies floundering with the currents as the water reached my knees – hips – shoulders – head. A milky-white hand reached out and pulled at Percy's car seat, another two latched onto my arms, and suddenly we were underwater.

I wasn't prepared; the arm took me on an inhale, and my lungs filled with freezing salt water. Eyes instinctively clenched closed; I could feel my attacker pulling me; tried to struggle, but got absolutely nowhere. Another breath – more water. Cold. Dark – then air. Coughing, sputtering, desperately sucking in precious oxygen.

We had breached a mile down the shore: Percy's car seat floating on the waves, three bronze-haired women poking their heads out of the water around him. I had my own escort, two women supporting my hypothermic body and another facing me. She was startlingly beautiful, like the ladies in Renaissance paintings: Shiny golden hair, pure white skin, and large blue eyes. When she spoke it sounded like a song.

"Allison Kersey?"

I nodded, unable to find the strength to form words.

"The Great Lord Wishes that One Bears You to Asylum. One's Sisters have Already Carried Your Gracious Brother."

Asylum, ironically, was on Shelter Island, in the shadow of the Mashomack Preserve/Camp Half-Blood. Ben, Lucy, and Alba sat on the beach, shivering around a fire and sending their saviours/attackers - sea spirits, I guessed - anxious glances. Across the bay thunder clapped and the ocean rose in unnatural waves. Ages ago, before Percy, Poseidon had once offered to stop the tides for me; I had giggled, pushing it away as a joke. You can't stop the tide.

Ben greeted me with a raised eyebrow and "So, you marry a god?"

"You're safe?" I countered. "OK?"

"The cars are totalled," he shrugged. "Tidal wave. Then – poof! – we were here."

"Alright."

I sat down next to the fire, shivering madly, struggling to unbuckle Percy. Astonishingly, he – and the car seat – was perfectly dry and quite warm. I kept my cold, clammy hands to myself.

We weren't alone for long: Within five minutes of coming ashore a whole fleet of children came racing down the beach. Most ignored us, heading straight to where they had the best view of the battle; a few sent curious looks, apparently unaccustomed to seeing nymphs tend wounded travellers. Last, strolling around the corner with a handful of afghans, was a half-man/half-horse thing.

"Lady - and sir, madame," he greeted us with a bow. "Welcome. I'm Chiron - camp director. We heard ... Well. No. Is everyone alright? Here; they'll keep you warm."

I was a little bit shocked by his calm demeanour: Four humans had washed ashore into a magic camp, two gods were battling, – and might even destroy the world – and he was, ever-so-nicely, handing out blankets. Ben and Lucy both accepted in silence.

"Thank-you," I managed to stutter out our names. The only one seemingly unbothered by the situation was Alba, who stood in awe at all the 'big kids.'

"And this is Perseus?" Chiron was a sight to be seen: Massive, for one, and very controlled – philosopher, definitely not animal. It was a welcome anchor, though I was shocked at his interest in an infant.

Percy had fallen asleep next to the fire, utterly oblivious to everything that was happening around him: Another anchor. "Percy," I offered, swooping down and gently picking him up for a closer viewing. "Seven months."

"I'd be his uncle – " Chiron said with a grin. He seemed very pleased with the words.

"Forgive me," I said, blushing furiously. "But, you and Poseidon don't look anything alike."

He chuckled in response. "None of us first-borns are truly related, – just like Poseidon and Zeus; we're elemental. But, after spending so much time together, you're more-or-less siblings. The chaotic family tree starts one generation down."

I looked at the children and wondered how many of them were "related" to Percy through this or that ancestor. Most of them looked to be the result of minor spirits - naiads, and the like; only two or three radiated an other-worldly glow. But, then again, Chiron wasn't sparkly, and he was of the first-born …

"Would you like to return to the camp? We have beds and dry clothes."

I looked out across the bay, seeing nothing but the occasional lightening strike. The children must have possessed better eyesight because they had been emitting excited curses since arrival. "Do you think it'll last long?"

"Gods," he shook his head. "We blink and a hundred years have passed."

Yes, then – it could take a while. But I didn't want to leave.

"So – have a lot of children come over the past few months?"

"Quite a few," he nodded. He actually seemed relieved. "Most were living in abusive households, where their mortal parents only put up with them because of the gifts. It's better that they're here: Properly educated, and around people who care." I hugged Percy a little bit tighter.

Time – though, I'm not sure how much – passed; enough for my clothes to dry. The sun moved across the sky; the children, though still absolutely enthralled, found boulders to sit on. Ben and Lucy chanced a few words with Chiron; Alba attached herself to a camper. I felt a bit guilty involving them. Lifting the mist opened your eyes to all types of hellish beasts. But …

We grew so accustomed to the lightening bolts that, when they stopped, the silence was jarring. The sea turned to glass. A few of the children passed over gold coins to their peers.

"What happened? – Who won?"

"The war? There are never any winners. Defeating one would destroy all," Chiron sighed. "But Zeus won this battle."

After all Poseidon's talk of smiting I took Chiron's words to mean that – bam! – I was a widow. When Poseidon glided out of the water some five minutes later I collapsed in shock.

"You were dead."

"Nah." He kissed my tears. "Are you – ?"

"Fine. Everyone's fine."

The children had taken a step back, and stood watching with wide eyes and unchecked curiosity. Chiron coughed loudly.

"I think we should move up to the Big House."

Chrion went first, followed closely by Ben and Lucy; Poseidon took Percy in one arm, my hand in the other, and we began the trek to camp. The rocks were slippery with seaweed; I was looking down, calculating every step, when the air exploded.

Light – thunder – light, the stench of ozone. Screams – the children scattering into the woods. Lucy and Ben were replaced with two charred corpses.

Shock.

There was no point rushing over – no point checking for a pulse. I stood there, thankful that Poseidon was holding Percy.

Gone.

Suddenly Poseidon was sixty feet tall, scooping me up in one giant hand, dashing from beach to woods, and a large house surrounded by trees. Then, normal-sized, hustling me indoors, out of firing distance. I felt dumb, mute, and stupid; let him direct me towards a chesterfield; sat when he said sit; held onto Percy. Listened with half-perked ears when Chiron came barrelling through the doors with a screaming Alba.

"Poseidon!"

"The terms were that I'd settle affairs – "

"Meaning 'goodbye, audios' – not two weeks notice."

"And five minutes would be enough?"

"They should have been."

"Chiron – "

"You stupid child," Chiron snapped. "The girl's lost her entire family and her husband, all in one day. Now all you have to do is take the boy – "

"You can't take Percy," I whispered. Both men stopped yelling.

I watched as Poseidon walked over and knelt on the floor in front of me. My stomach churned; his face was ridden with sorrow. Utter sorrow: I knew how attached he was to ... "Zeus had commanded my return. I – "

"I understand." Clear as crystal.

"Without my protection you'll be open for attack."

"You can't take Percy," I said, a little bit firmer. "You can't – please."

"He'd be safe here, at camp. And cared for. Or with me: Nobody could reach him."

I bit my lip, feeling entirely selfish: Putting my own happiness before Percy's life. What sort of mother – ? "Could I stay with him?"

"I'm sorry – "

"You can't take Percy."

"I thought not," he sighed. "Walk with me?"

The sky was clear; grudgingly, I passed Percy over to Poseidon. We walked across camp, past cabins and archery ranges and rock climbing walls, until reaching a freshwater beach. Poseidon sat down, and patted the ground beside him. I sat mutely.

"I won't be able to see him again," he began, head moving down and breathing in Percy's baby smell. One arm wrapped around my shoulder. I leaned against him trying not to cry. "It's – not going to be easy for you. All sorts of creatures chomp on demigods. Chiron will be able to teach you some self-defence: You'll have to move; change your name - totally new identity.

"Zeus said he won't personally target you – that was part of our bargain."

A small relief: Now there was only a million other gods and spirits to worry about. "What will you do?"

"Clean up Zeus's mess, for one. Act all-mighty and -powerful. Take my seat on council. Attend meetings; bow and shake hands. Pretend to enjoy it." The Greek gods were interesting in that they were – are – imperfect. The Christians preach morality, reason, perfection; the Greeks exhibited emotion, made mistakes.

"What do I do?"

Forget. Forgetting would be nice – horrible.

"Hide. And forget – find some nice guy. Help Percy out – when he gets old enough, send him to camp."

We sat for a long time, watching the water and hills, Poseidon gripping Percy as tightly as he could. Campers passed by to gawk; I ignored them. The sun set; lanterns lit up the grounds and the scent of dinner wafted through the air. I hadn't eaten since the night before, but the thought of starving to death was more appealing than leaving.

"I have to go."

Another hour passed.

"Ally – "

I sat up slowly, and watched as Poseidon kissed Percy and whispered his last words. He struggled to let go; for a long while both of us held Percy, neither wanting to move. Like our first coffee date – reluctance to part. Something more was going on.

"Go to the Big House, eat some dinner, ask Chiron to give you Monsters 101. Don't look back."

Tears were flowing freely now; I nodded, and started walking backwards. How could you sum up everything into a few fleeting words?

"I still love you."

"Good." He was crying too. "Because I still love you."

Fin

Once more, a HUGE thank-you to everyone who has read, reviewed, alerted/favourited over the past several weeks! It's always a huge relief to find that people are not only reading, but also enjoying!

There's a short eppy coming your way on Wednesday, and I hope to be writing up a few one- and two-shots about Ally and Poseidon in their pre-Percy days - possibly a run-in with Hades! - so keep an eye out!

Cheers!

-HR