Frank and I rowed up to the side of the biggest ship, which I knew was Gabe's. My step-father like to travel in style.
After a few minutes of bobbing on the water, a soldier noticed us, and tossed us some rope. Somehow, I managed to climb it.
When I got to the top, the soldier looked at me in amazment.
"Prince Percy?" He asked, awed.
"The one and only," I replied as Frank collapsed beside me. "Where's King Gabe?"
The soldier took me to Gabe immediatley. He was in the ship's office, talking with Frank's dad.
The second he saw me, he dropped his quill.
"Frank's on the deck," I told Lord Mars.
He sprinted out of the room, leaving Gabe and I alone.
"Percy?" Gabe asked.
"Hey," I replied, not really knowing what to say. I realized I should've planned out what I was going to say on the boat ride over here, but I was too busy worrying about Annabeth.
"How'd you get here?" He asked. "Did you escape."
"No," I said. "Annabeth didn't kiddnap me, Gabe."
He started at me. "Then where have you been?"
"On the open ocean," I replied. "Frank and I left."
Gabe stood up. "You WHAT?"
"We left," I replied.
"And why would you do that?" Gabe asked. "You have everything a man could ask for back in Argos!"
"No I don't," I replied. "I don't have her."
There was a moment of silence.
"Her?" Gabe asked.
"Annabeth," I replied.
There was another moment of silence.
"You fell in love with that-that," Gabe spat in fury. "Wannabe man?"
"Yes," I replied.
He started at me, fury in his eyes.
"She's worth more to you than me? Than your crown?" Gabe asked. "I'm your own father!"
"No," I said. "You're not."
There was another long silence.
"Don't be ridiculous," Gabe spat. "You're my son."
"No, I'm not," I said. "I am the demigod son of Poseidon, God of the sea. And if you do not leave Annabeth, Frank, and I alone forever, I will capsize this entire navy."
Gabe stared at me.
"You dare lie to me, boy?" He growled.
"You think I'm lying?" I asked. "Do you want a deminstration?"
In my eight months on the sea, I had practiced my powers. So when I flicked my wrist, a wave crashed into the offices window immediatley.
"Do we have a deal, step-father?" I asked.
There were a few minutes of silence as he considered it. Then he ran out of the room, forcing me to follow him.
He ran to the docks, where all the soliders were preparing for battle. They all salued him when he emerged from below decks.
He looked at me, and I raised my eyebrow, making the best try me face I could muster.
"Retreat!" He yelled.
Lord Mars approached him from where he had been talking to Frank a few meters away. "Are you sure, your majesty?"
"Yes," Gabe replied. "Call off all the troops. We're going home."
"Well, I guess now that we have our sons, theres no point in attacking," Lord Mars said. "Good move, your majesty."
"Actually, dad," Frank took a deep breath. "We're not coming."
Lord Mars blinked. "What?"
"We've both found something here we'll both die for," I said. "Love."
Lord Mars blinked again, but thankfully, was more accepting than Gabe had been.
"Very well," He said. "Good luck with the ladies, boys."
And with that, he and Gabe walked off.
"I like your dad," I told Frank.
He chuckled. "What do we do now?"
I stared at the ocean, a plan forming in my mind.
"We see the women we love again," I smiled.