A/N: Back for an update! Yeah so we have to deal with the aftermath of that last chapter. This chapter is slightly shorter, but it seemed like the best stopping place. Sorry if the updates take a little longer, I just started my new job and don't have reliable wifi during the week (Sorry Jaydon23). Thank you to all of my frequent reviewers! It means a lot to me!
Chapter 12
Percy's POV
"Seems like there weren't any tides this morning."
The voice was fuzzy in my head but it was no doubt a woman's. My eyes were still shut but the woman's voice made my heart speed up. It had to be someone important to me for my body to react that way.
"You missed your morning duty, Perseus." My face scrunched up like a child being put in timeout, because I guess that was what was happening. I opened my eyes to see a slightly irritated Amphitrite. She was standing over me with her arms crossed.
"Perseus."
The room wasn't spinning any more and my heart was racing for another reason. My mom is going to find out I was drunk. I don't know if it was the result of a hangover or just the motherly tone that made my head hurt.
"I thought the coast was hit hard enough with storms this week. They could use a break." My voice was steady and I managed to stand up without wavering. I just had to make my way to the bathroom.
Her face didn't soften. "The storms that you caused."
I winced thinking about my actions the past week.
"No one died mom. It was harmless."
"I think Santorini would disagree. They lost three boats because they were thrown against the rocks. You're lucky the crew could escape before they went under."
My stomach lurched. Between the Dionysus special and the guilt, I was going to be sick. I hope my face wasn't turning green.
"I'll do better. I promise. It was just a bad week." Her glare didn't soften like it normally would. I could see why so many feared her.
"Yes. I can see that it was." I don't know if it's the a voice that all mother's are born with or they just acquire it over the years but hearing that just makes me want to confess everything. Because I'm sure she already knows.
She started moving toward the door but not before turning to me and giving one more icy look.
"Oh and Perseus. The next time you and your wife drink a whole bottle of wine, you might make sure she can hold her liquor. It's not very appealing for a lady to be sick at the breakfast table." She kicked the trashcan by the door to my feet and I didn't hesitate to empty my stomach into it. What the hades happened last night?
Tessaria's POV
What did I do?
The guilt was eating away at me all morning. Between what I could remember from last night, it wasn't good. And then the aftermath of that wine this morning did not help. I still remember the scowl on Amphitrite's face when I ruined a perfectly lovely breakfast dish.
Did she hate everyone or was I special?
"Hello dear." The words were supposed to sound comforting but there was nothing comforting about that woman. How she managed to raise two boys that seem to love her is beyond me.
"Have you enjoyed your week?"
"It has been pleasant. Thank you for your concern."
Every conversation we had seemed like a staring contest. I know she knew something, but I wasn't going to blink first.
"It seems you are having a much better week than your dear husband."
Actually I had barely seen Percy this week. I assumed he found Artemis and they made up.
I stayed silent and I'm sure she expected this, after all she is the one who taught me how to engage in diplomatic conversations. If you can't back up your answer it is best to stay silent.
"It appears my son is sulking somewhere and is leaving a trail of disasters behind him. Lucky for him, there have been no fatalities."
That would explain Triton's disappearance. He told me that he had some business to take care of and Triton was always the responsible one. He would have made a great leader.
"Have you given anymore thought to our little arrangement. You can't be making progress if you don't even know where your husband is."
Great here comes the threat of kicking me out. Or killing me? I really wouldn't put it past Amphitrite to kill me.
"Well I'm trying the technique of hard to get. I'll see if that works for me."
She gripped my arm and I felt the blood pulsing underneath. Yeah, Amphitrite could kill me.
"Don't make light of this situation girl. You forget that I was in your shoes once. I am doing this for your own good."
I pulled my arm out of her grip. I was not going to show weakness. Not anymore.
"I think you need a new dictionary. Look up 'good'." Despite everything she smiled.
"Are you afraid of me, Tessaria?"
"Yes." My admission of fear was more confident than I expected. She smiled and stroked my hair with her hand.
"I can assure you that I won't hurt you. Not physically anyway." The bruise that was forming on my arm would say otherwise.
"I know how to get what I want. How do you think I became queen?" She motioned to herself as if she were what every girl aspired to be. "To get to someone like you, you have to make them see their loved ones hurt."
Amphitrite was a cruel woman. More cruel than Persephone.
"You would kill your own son?" She raised her eyebrow as if she finally got me into her trap.
"Ah which one? Which one of my sons do you love?"
I pushed past her before she could get me to close the trap. I wasn't going to be weak. Not in front of her at least.
I don't understand how all of the citizens adored her. She ruled out of fear and was cruel to those who didn't obey her. The sick thing is, I am still a loyal follower. Who am I to disrespect the queen's wishes when someone else's life is on the line? My stomach, though empty now, still churned with guilt. My eyes started to blur as I thought about last night. Would I still have taken the same actions if it were my life on the line?
I was all alone that night. I wish I could have just shaken off Amphitrite's threat, but I know she is not a patient woman. I needed an heir and soon.
I was 18! How am I supposed to have a baby with a man that I don't even see? I know that Gods have different ways of reproducing but I'm still fairly certain that he had to be present when it involves a nymph.
"Gods this is hopeless!" I exclaimed to an empty room. I fell to my knees and cried. I couldn't let that woman hurt anyone that I loved.
"I just need a child." It came out as a whimper, no one could have heard my plea and that made it more pitiful. I was hopeless. I was never made to be a queen.
I continued sobbing, knowing I could be weak then. I would lose everyone I love and be stuck until I have a child. Like that could ever happen.
As if on cue the door swung open and in stumbled Percy.
I don't even remember everything that happened. There was a lot of crying and wine. And a hand on my cheek. That's when everything turned rosy and everything sped up. I don't even remember leaning toward him. It was like something else took over me. We kissed and I felt everything turn black. I woke up with his arm around my waist and a killer headache.
I thought I found a good hiding place to sulk in my thoughts but then arms wrapped around my waist. I stiffened thinking of the arms that were there this morning.
"Hey. What's wrong?" Triton placed a kiss on my cheek and I wanted to melt into him. But I didn't deserve him. I closed my eyes and gripped onto his hand.
He's still alive. She hasn't hurt him yet.
The comforting thoughts filled my mind but I had to memorize this feeling. I felt like they were numbered now.
"I don't think I can do this anymore."
My eyes stayed shut but I felt his hands try to pull away from the shock.
"This being us?" His voice was so distant. I know what I would see when I opened my eyes. His green eyes that usually were so inviting would be dark but still glowing.
"This being everything. It's so much pressure to please everyone and I think I am just going to hurt people."
He gripped my hands again, pleading for me to hear him.
"You couldn't hurt anyone."
I could and it wasn't fair. He needed to know.
"Triton, I think I already have." I shut my eyes again, "I need to tell you something about last night."
"I already heard your conversation with mommy dearest."
"You did?"
His jaw tightened and he nodded. "Why didn't you tell me she was threatening you?"
"It didn't seem right to drag you into it. But I guess you did anyway." He wrapped his arms around me and this time I rested against him.
"Triton there's still something else." My voice broke. This was going to hurt him more than knowing his mother is a heartless bitch.
"I don't need to know anything else. Not tonight."
He bent down to kiss me. The world wasn't a rosy haze this time, but I remembered everything.
