"So Thanatos is missing?"
"Yes."
"And the Doors of Death are open?"
"Yes."
"And so you're going to try and find her, since technically there are no rules right now?"
"Yes!"
"You're an idiotic genius."
"I know-"
"I know you know. That's why you're doing this."
"Are you done yet, you one-legged flashlight?"
"Almost, Rich kid,"
"What?"
"You better return in at most 2 pieces, Ghosty."
"I will, and don't call me that. Wait, 2 pieces? How would that be acceptable as living?"
"Catch."
"Ow! What the heck?"
"If I had an arm, I'd throw that at you too. I got out in 2ish pieces, so I expect you to return with at least 3 limbs."
"It's not that dangerous, relax. I'm probably not gonna lose a limb, like you tend to."
"Hey, I only lost 1! The other my father took because it was too messed up for a chance at not slowing me down."
"Geez, you sure you're a Greek? You sound like some of the Romans at Camp Jupiter."
"Well excuse me for trying to defend our people."
"You're a god."
"Yeah, and you're a chthonic demigod."
"I'm also Greek!"
"You're the only Hades kid; almost the only chthonic demi. No one cares if you're Greek or Roman, Nico."
"True, they don't like me no matter what camp I'm at."
"I have a feeling that isn't true, but if it is, remind me to blind all their Centurions for a day and block out the campfire during a sing-along."
"Didn't you have something to do with Poseidon?"
"Yeah, but not until Percy IMs me. I kind of have a feeling the merpeople aren't going to like a chthonic in their palace, though."
"What's new? No one gives us a chance no matter what we do."
"And that's why we're gonna change that."
"I'm going to find her, now. IM me when you get back. If I IM you, I might need something, so just..."
"I'll be ready, Nico. Just know... no matter what you find, you're the best brother I could ever ask for."
"Thanks, Seth. You're a great sibling, and I hope that if I find her, you'll like her. We can be like a family."
"Of course, Death Breath. Now go and get those dead people!"
"Have fun swimming with the fishes, Jack-O-Lantern."
I bid Nico goodbye with a small smile, and pulled him in by the arm for a quick shoulder bump before he shadow travelled away. It was Saturday, a few days after I spoke with my father, brought Percy to his parents' apartment, and Zeus revealed the Romans and new prophecy to me. In those few days, Percy spent a majority of the time with Annabeth back at camp, and I spoke a lot with Hades and Nico. Hades told Nico about the Romans already, and he showed us both to Camp Jupiter. Being a Greek god, I decided it would be better not to show my presence there, but Nico was sent as the 'Ambassador of Pluto' to keep an eye on both camps. He pulled it off well, and I was very proud of him.
I was worried now, though. Everything seemed fine for a while, but then the Romans come into the picture, and I'm meeting with Poseidon and Percy in their element. I hadn't spent much time at camp, instead discussing some future plans with Hades and Nico, or getting dragged to my father's palace for 'bonding time' as he called it. Now, I had to wait for Percy to Iris Message me, and then he would be with me when we went to Atlantis to visit Poseidon's palace. Percy was nervous, and I was too. Poseidon's realm was the only one I didn't have familial ties to: Olympus was the home of Apollo, and the Underworld housed hell-hounds and Nyx (give or take, a few floors down).
Stuck in thought, I shadow travelled back to Nico's cabin. Looking in the mirror, I caught sight of my reflection. Some of the scars were fading more and more, but I couldn't help but notice my racial features more than I had before.
*Flashback*
Apollo adjusted my stance with the bow, using the lightness and sunny rays of his fingertips to very slightly shift me to the side. "So that's how you got these forms. Without the humanoid form, you're basically a sack of brightness in a bag of darkness."
Keeping a straight and focused face, I released the arrow for it to be slightly to the side of the bull's eye. I lowered the bow, mind slightly clouded. I had to use some dark force to actually hold the arrow, and I felt weird just holding a bow in the air. "So you decided what I look like?"
The god of archery nodded, focused on where the arrow had landed. "Yeah, I saw how all the other Big 3 Greek demigods had black hair, and thought that I'd add to the mix, since you might have needed a cover depending on how long you stayed at that camp. You were in the US system, and they have a sort of... biased for Japanese ones." At that, I shot him a disbelieving glare.
"What are you trying to say, Apollo?" I used his name, just to get under his skin and show how pissed I was. I know he wanted me to call him 'Dad' or 'Father' but I wouldn't. With a sigh, he frowned and relented.
"I don't agree, but the ways of these mortals are... different. They were less likely to step in or offer help if you were Asian. And... the abusers were less likely to have a change of heart." I didn't know what I was more upset about: the fact that a Greek god just proved racism in America, or the fact that he even put my race into consideration for the sake of my balanced nature.
*End Flashback*
Every time I looked in the mirror now, I couldn't help but notice my eyes. They were so different from Percy's, Will's, Nico's, Annabeth's, or any of the god's. My skin was a different shade, as if everyone else was given the same colours, but different proportions, and mine was given a different pallet. It reminded me of Ethan. The son of Nemesis was also Japanese, and he had a similar frame to me, just with a few more years. I had only known him and seen him briefly, but I could never forget his face. Under the eye-patch, he was so young. Too young to have been killed by Kronos, and too strong to have died any less heroically.
I wondered what Nemesis thought of me know. I was an embodiment of her domain, surely she would have known about Apollo's plan the entire time. It explained why she didn't aid my mother in trying to bring eternal darkness to New York, and instead had a personal stand-off. She must have known what would happen, and that's why she was there. It was true that the minor gods were dishonoured by the Olympians, and Ethan died to prove that, but now that Nemesis held her respect from the demigods and gods, what about me? Surely, she didn't forget about me, she couldn't have, but I knew one thing. Unlike our siblings, Nemesis and I were some of the few spawns of the night to reside outside the house of night. Outside of Tartarus. Charon had a clear duty to the Underworld, and I was just a mess of logic and whatever the hell the mortal world and mythical world had to deal with, but Nemesis was one of the more mysterious.
"Yeah, I'll see you in a few days!" I heard Percy call across the camp to Annabeth. Knowing that it was time, I warped through the wall of the Hades cabin and out the side. Percy was walking over to a nearby water fountain, not aware that I was already at camp. Casually, I changed into my dark form and walked up to him.
"Hey, Perc-"
"AGHHH!" he yelled. I froze, surprised by his sudden outburst. He must not have heard me walk up. When a few campers looked to him, confused by the commotion, I rolled my eyes while offering a hand for him to stand back up.
"Geez, Seth. We need to get you a bell or something." He said as if I had purposely snuck up on him.
"We need to get you an extra brain, Kelp face," I smirked. He fake-scowled at me, punching me lightly. Quickly, he looked over my form. I caught on, and nodded. "Do I need to take my bandages and leg off now, or later?" As if the god himself heard, a portal opened up above Percy's head and rained water down on him. I quickly tried to cover myself with some dark energy, but Percy reached around and grabbed my wrist. With a grin, he pulled me up through the stream of water with him.
With the portal now closed beneath us, he held onto my hand tightly to keep us together. I immediately felt water engulf my surroundings, and I watched in awe as my scar light gleamed so differently in water than in air. When I began to look around, I felt a slimy hand on my neck unpleasantly try to hold it in place.
When I began to try and struggle out of their grasp, Percy uncapped Riptide and had wide eyes. Seeing the trident that was holding my neck back from in front, I could only guess who it was. Triton. Wooooooooonderful.
"Let them go. Seth is here by invitation from my father-"
"My father should have discussed letting this thing into our realm first. It's coming with me until we negotiate, Perseus." He spat Percy's full name like venom, and I could feel the scowl from behind me. I could have easily freed myself, but guessing by the hostility in this guy's voice, I didn't want to show how powerful I was just yet. On the other hand, my suspicion had been correct! Sea creatures seemed to hate me, which was only fair, I guess. I was the only being that could enter their realm that wasn't directly tied to its elements, plus my aura was undoubtedly chthonic.
Triton glared at Percy as he got his minions to put me in chains. The oversized binding locked around my neck, and the rest of me was shoved into what looked like a tiny shark tank. The gated cyndrical cage looked like a horror story of old fish cages, and they made me kneel inside. Its algae covered metal poked at me, and it couldn't have been more than a meter high with just enough room for my shoulders to fit in. The top was closed, and I held my breath for a few moments under the tides. Luckily, I wasn't wearing the leg Hephaestus gave me when they took it, I was wearing the one that his cabin had rushed for me the day after the Battle of Manhattan. However, I would have preferred not having my prosthetic leg taken from me and placed in a net, but that didn't seem to happen.
Percy argued the entire time, but any water powers he tried to use as threats could be neutralized by Triton. The 2 step-brothers clearly didn't like each other in this moment, but before Percy could start a physical conflict, a woman approached, and glared in my direction before smiling at my captors. "Amphitrite, let them go! Father invited them," Percy ordered. Clearly, his step-mother didn't like that, as she pulsed water into my lungs, effectively drowning me, before letting go so I could cough it up for Percy to see.
Just when I considered ruining their egos, Poseidon came swimming up to the scene. "What is the meaning of this? I told you both, I've invited young Isorreth to visit, and you do this to our honoured guest?" Percy looked relieved, and grinned, but Triton was quick to aim his trident at my throat. I simply looked at it, noting how easy it would be to block an attack from it, and settled my expression to a slightly bored slightly pissed mood.
After much negotiation, Poseidon ordered everyone to come into the palace where his throne was, and allowed Triton to drag me along through the waters. I had sneakily covered the bottom half of my face in a bubble of dark force, allowing me to breathe. As soon as we were inside his palace, I looked at Percy. He seemed mad, and worried; 2 things he didn't usually express. Clearly his first trip to his father's domain wasn't as welcoming as he would have liked. This wasn't the best first impression for me, anyway.
After some arguing with Poseidon, Percy, and Tyson against Triton and Amphitrite, I was dragged to the side and the cage was chained to an anchor. This made Percy even more frustrated, as he clenched his fists.
"I told you not to bring that demon spawn here, Father! They have no place in our realm, and it's bad enough that your bastard demigod is here, too." Triton's trident glinted towards me, clearly a threat. I simply blinked, considering when to break out.
"Triton, Isorreth is a hero of Olympus, and they are welcomed in all realms. They are a god, and will be respected. As for Percy, you will be tolerant of him after he saved Olympus and brought honour to our family." Poseidon's stern voice seemed uncharacteristic from what I had heard from his Iris Message in the mirror almost a week ago, but I had heard from Apollo that Poseidon was much more alike Zeus than either would admit. Very unpredictable and spontaneous.
"My love, forgive me for being unhappy with your bastard here, but have you considered the repercussions of having an Underworld child here? It may be half Olympian, but its domain lies within the constructs of their night half-" Amphitrite reasoned. She seemed less pissed, now seeing me sitting there emotionlessly in what she believed to be restraints. Percy was still pissed, though more at how they were categorizing me just as an Underworld being. I could tell that it hurt him to be referred to as Poseidon's bastard son, but I felt a bit better when Tyson patted Percy's back.
Feeling bold, I took a deep breath and looked at Percy knowingly. After a moment of putting my gestures together, he understood, and made an air bubble around me. With a sigh, I pulled the shackles and cage apart with some waves of dark force. They somehow didn't notice me breaking out until I was on one knee, sighing to myself. Feeling brave and irritated at not having a leg, I spoke up.
"Dark energy exists in all realms, Amphitrite. In fact, I've been frequently referred to as many of your bioluminescent creatures; quite beautiful they are." Amphitrite looked like she wanted to sneer at me, and Triton thrust his trident towards me. Calmly, I stared at him with an unbreaking gaze. Once it was clear that Triton wouldn't let up, I looked to Poseidon.
"I didn't mean to cause internal conflict like this, Poseidon. I can leave you, if you would like. Your realm does intriguing me, however, so I will likely take a quick tour before returning," I warned. He looked disappointed, and glared at his legitimate son. Triton tried to push me back to the ground with the 3 pronged weapon, but I decided to get a bit sassy with him.
As he thrust it forward, I used an extremely small beam of energy to send it flying in the opposite direction, over the Sea Prince's shoulder. His eyes widened, and he tried to force more water into my lungs after a moment of hesitation. I was ready, and already had the dark force masked over my nose and mouth, blocking anything trying to get in. I tried my best to avoid a fight, but he seemed to insist. After a few minutes of slowly pushing him away from me, I finally huffed in annoyance.
"Poseidon, Percy, Tyson, Amphitrite, I do apologize in advance, but this is too good of a chance." With a smirk, I propelled Triton's trident back into his hand, which he gripped tightly. Now feeling that he had the upper hand, I tugged once lightly on the trident so he held on, then sent it flying through the water and out into the open sea with him still attached to it. Percy and Tyson were giggling, but Amphitrite looked ready to try and kill me, and Poseidon just looked done.
"Leave my kingdom at once, darkness! You have no place here, and you have disrespected my son!" Amphitrite threatened with her demands. With a sigh, I turned to Percy kindly.
"I'll go drag your step-brother back, then I'm out of here. You can get back without me?" Percy nodded sadly, resting a chin on Tyson's shoulder as a sign of brotherly love. This time, I didn't even look in Poseidon's direction, but I could tell he was watching me.
"Hopefully your domain is nicer than your godly family, except Tyson of course, Perce. I'll see you around, and sorry for all the trouble here," I said. The cyclops waved to me with a smile, which I smiled back. At that, I turned to leave, and shot like a missile through the water in the same direction Triton was sent.
Eventually, after some strategic detour to find the immortal son of Poseidon, I enjoyed the sight seeing of the ocean. At deeper levels, the bioluminescent creatures felt homey, and I couldn't help but admire how light acted differently in water. I eventually brought Triton's trident back to me, squinting my eyes to make sure that the prince was still clinging to it. Luckily for me, he was. Now, all that was left to do was bring a very pissed Triton back to his very pissed mother, Amphitrite, and hopefully not ruin Percy's family trip any more than my existence already did.
With a sigh, I latched on to the trident and sent myself, and Triton, like a bullet through the ocean. It was a new trick that I had found, where if I launched dark force with the same amount of force as my attacks, I could cling to it and grab things with it too. Depending on how much I controlled it, I basically had telekinesis. Only struggle? If I used too high of a concentration, the dark force would overcome light matter and absorb it into nothing. Wouldn't want to accidentally kill the other son of Poseidon, now, would I? I avoided his gaze, not out of fear, but to make this as comfortable as possible. I didn't know much about Triton other than he's the heir to Poseidon's throne, and that he would likely be salty about Percy being a hero of Olympus. I didn't know what he had against me, though, other than my very existence. Perhaps it was out of fear, since I killed Kronos? Or perhaps he really just didn't like chthonic beings; he wouldn't be the first to feel that way.
"Fight me with honour, you bastard of evil!" He was clearly in a position of zero control, yet here I was, bringing him home to his mother. How ironic. I tried to ignore his threats and insults as much as I could, but he persisted. What the fuck? Does this guy really want to anger the guest he already tried to imprison, who can also, just maybe, destroy a Titan's soul? This guy wants a war, I swear.
The insults kept coming, but once he saw my stern expression waver at the mention of my mother, he pushed further. "You are a mistake. A faulty god of an insane and stupid goddess and Zeus' clownfish of a son. They never wanted you, no one did. Not even Tartarus itself wanted to house a mistake like you. To the extent that the only ones who would maybe spare you a glance were the other bastards at that stupid camp." My irritation grew to anger as he made my confidence sink lower and lower into the depths of my mind. It was true. My mother left me so she could go back to fucking Tartarus for a day. She lied to me, and she doesn't actually care. Why would anyone? I only caused harm at Camp Half-blood! Fuck, I almost killed Thalia's tree when Zeus was trying to kill me. My father was just trying to claim the glory after I killed Kronos. He didn't really care. It's not like he made an effort to save my life when it mattered, no. That was Luke, and now he's dead. Now... he's dead.
"You do not belong here, in a realm of beauty and grace. You reek of death, darkness, and depression. Percy keeps you around out of pity, and my father is only doing this to get those sky-dwellers off his tail. Zeus doesn't actually value you; he would strike you down and send you to the pits of Tartarus the second he got a reason to." As the insults continued, the palace came into view. The beauty of the pearls sprinkled across the architecture shone brightly in the distance, but at the same time, I remembered who I was.
"Zeus already tried to kill me. Didn't work the first 3 times, and I doubt it'll work the next. I am welcome here by law of the gods, Triton. If you wanna argue with that, I'll call Zeus down as soon as I can, just for you." My smug smirk returned as he paled behind me. With the palace finally in range, and an open window straight ahead, I prepared to throw the trident through the water with the son of a barnacle attached.
"You treat Percy and Tyson with nothing other than respect and I won't tell Apollo or Zeus about your manners. You can beg your father for mercy on your own." Before he could argue more, I launched him through the window at a painfully speedy rate. I heard a muffled crash, and 2 very familiar laughs from my favorite cyclops, and my favorite Kelp-head.