Percy was currently under the San Francisco – Oakland bridge, and he could feel the waves the monster was giving off from over two miles away. Percy didn't have to see the thing to know it was massive and heading his way. He was hiding behind one of the underwater pillars and peeked over to see it. He had to blink three times to realize he wasn't seeing things.
The monster was big. Very big. It looked about an eighteen-wheeler long, as well as over fifteen feet wide. Percy gulped, the demon's serpent body slithered towards him at a rapid speed. He hung behind the pillar, waiting.
Be with me, Neptune. he prayed, knowing he'd need all the help in the world.
The column above him erupted, the snake body destroying the supports of the bridge, slithering past without a care in the world. Percy stuck his trident up, which impaled the underbelly of the monster, and held on for dear life. The monster let out a roar of pain, shaking its tail, and Percy was flung off. The monster turned, looking Percy dead in the eyes.
"Hey?" Percy asked, shooting a half smile. The monster roared, and Percy was set back a few feet. "Fine." Percy charged his arm and threw his trident perfectly between the eyes of the monster, which roared, falling to the sea floor.
"Stay down." He growled.
The monster flicked its tail, and Percy was thrown back into the remnants of the bridge's column. He'd broken something, but he didn't know what. He rose again, and felt for his trident, which removed itself, and flew into Percy's hand.
You aren't a descendant of the Sea, but I sense you like a son of the sea.
That took Percy back.
"You can speak?"
Only to descendants of the Sea, but you're different. A smell I haven't sensed in over a millennia."
"Okay- can we make a deal? Like you just, I don't know, don't do anything murderous or horrible?" Percy asked. If a sea monster could smile, Percy swore the thing's face twisted into a grin.
No, but I am cursed to eternally serve whoever may defeat me, so you can give it your best shot, demigod.
"You said you've smelled me before. Do you know who it was?"
The man didn't reveal himself, but he is the one who placed the curse on me, claiming it'd save his son in the future. I assume that to be you, demigod.
Percy's face twisted into rage. Thoughts of his father made him angry beyond belief. He'd murder the man before he could ever explain himself.
His arm tingled.
The tattoo was back, circling up his arm. He grinned wickedly at it.
"May we find out then." He said, and the monster swam at him. Percy blasted towards the serpent, trident facing outwards. He ducked above the head of the monster, stabbing his trident right on the neck to the head, much to the sea monster's displeasure. The tail hit him again, throwing him into a rock formation, where he groaned at the heavy impact.
You could use my help.
'Can these voices get out of my head? Who are you now?' Percy thought, ducking under a swing from the monster, stabbing at the tail.
I am you. Me and you, are one.
Percy cut into the stomach of the thing again, to minimal damage. The monster screamed, and batted Percy into more rocks. 'Who?'
The voice laughed. I was the one who killed Iapetus when you couldn't. I can kill this thing for you aswell, if you surrender your mind to me.
Percy swam away from the monster. 'Why don't you just assume control like you did last time?'
Your mind was weak then, immature. You aren't weak anymore. Much stronger, can block out the manipulation from almost anything, even the Olympians.
Percy never minded getting his ego stroked. He summoned a spear, throwing it into the monster's side, before changing the weapon to a whip, where he started lashing at the shoulders, or what he assumed was shoulders, of the monster.
Perseus.
'Fuck off?'
If you say so.
Percy got batted around again, this time into more pillars, where a wild piece of metal jammed itself into Percy's collarbone.
'Fine. Kill this fucking demon.' Percy sighed, and the presence re-entered his mind.
I thought you'd never ask.
His body moved automatically, expertly dodging each strike. It was like Percy was spectating this fight from the first person, much to his enjoyment. He no longer felt pain and saw the tattoo healing it. His hand thrust out, shooting darkness into the demon's chest.
'You know how to use the tattoo.'
Why of course. I sprout from the tattoo. Another shot at the monster's chest. The darkness then manipulated into a bow, shooting arrows into the eyes of the demon.
'You mean you are the tattoo?'
No, I am your alter ego who isn't afraid to put bodies on the ground to achieve victory. One day, you'll be just like me, Perseus. For now, you're just an innocent fourteen-year-old with a crush on a daughter of Bellona. Percy growled to himself. You can't hide your emotions from me, I live inside of you, and mean no harm. I am only here to help.
His body stopped shooting, and let the monster swim to them.
This might hurt, fair warning, Perseus.
The wide jaws of the monster opened to reveal thousands of rows of teeth, and his body boomed, accelerating into the throat of the monster. He landed in the stomach.
'What the fuck did you just do?'
The Trojan Sea Monster has only been slain once, and it was done this way. We're merely replicating his weakness.
His body heated up.
I'm going to put you- us, into a coma, but it is the only way to win, Percy.
He screamed in pain, and his world went dark.
X
It'd been three weeks, with no signs of Percy. Reyna was worried since the second day, now people were presuming him dead. They'd even started burial rituals and rights, but Reyna commanded it be delayed until there was proof, he was dead. She'd even prayed to Pluto last night to tell her if his soul was in the underworld or not. She hadn't seen Jason in a week, people told her he'd gone to San Francisco to inspect what was happening. His mail told her that the bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland had been destroyed from under the water. Mortals claimed a terrorist attack, or poor design, but she knew better.
Come back to me, Perseus.
X
Triton felt bad for the kid. Forced to be a son of the Sea, especially in the Roman camp, was not the greatest blessing. So when he felt the power surge, he teleported to the San Francisco bay, where the remains of the Trojan Sea monster scattered across the bay, and in the midst of them all, Perseus's body lay. He took him to the only place he could get proper help.
Atlantis.
"Can we do anymore?" Triton asked, and Salacia shook her head.
"No. Our healing technology and possessions are not enough to save his life. We can only pray." Salacia said, and Neptune entered the room.
"How is he?"
"Critical. Whatever he did decimated the monster, but almost killed him. He's in a coma."
"Holy-" Triton stared, as the darkness emerged from his palm. Neptune stepped forward.
"What is it?" Neptune asked hurriedly, before seeing the tattoo. "What the…" Salacia gasped. "Step away!" Neptune growled.
"No! Father! Let it run. Trust me!" Triton pleaded. Neptune frowned. "It heals him! He's shown me it before." Triton said, worrying.
"And neither of you told me?" Neptune growled, but Triton stepped to him.
"He trusted me with his secret." He put an accusing finger into Neptune's chest. "You claimed a demigod with an unknown being as his father. This is the result." Neptune growled.
"I claimed him for our gain, Triton. The same reason I sent you to train the boy. For our sake. For our pride." Neptune spat, his true emotion revealing itself. They turned to Percy, and the tattoo was spiraling up his arm, around his chest. It went downwards, before emerging below his shorts. Finally, it wrapped up his neck, before ending in a spiral around his right eye.
"I have a theory, father, if I may." Triton whispered. Neptune nodded, staring at the body of the demigod. "I believe his father is a primordial, the likes of the Lord and Lady of Darkness, of Night." Neptune's eyes widened, and darkness seemingly seeped through.
"I can't say I recognize the demigod, Triton." A woman said behind them. Triton turned, and behind him was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Her eyes looked like the darkness in the deepest corners of Tartarus, and she donned a dress that hugged her every curve perfectly.
"I appreciate the compliments, Triton, however I believe I'm married. If I wasn't, though." Nyx bit her lip at the minor god, who blushed. "This demigod is neither mine nor my husbands. I have an idea who might be his parent, but it seems that question is the question the entire pantheon is asking." She walked to the side of the demigod.
"Why do you say that?" Neptune asked.
"The primordial council met when we sensed the power, he let off killing the Trojan Sea Monster. It was a power level that matched some of ours, even. We met, and we asked who his father was."
"Do you know?" Neptune asked, and Nyx giggled.
"I do, I do indeed, but it is not my place to tell you. You'll figure out in the long run, Lord of the Seas. However, you did make a good choice stepping before the Romans, a side that does not favor you, and claiming this demigod. It will pay you dividends." Nyx finished, nodding to the god, before turning back to the demigod.
"I owe your father a couple favors, so I'll speed up your process." She whispered, touching his forehead. She turned back to the gods, who were still in awe. "I must leave, I'm afraid. Zeus's eyes attempt to see into this room, fortunately Neptune's realm is more powerful than Zeus could ever dream." Nyx trailed off.
"I must thank you, Lady Nyx. I am forever in your debt."
"Not to worry, Neptune. I am merely rooting for the demigod to defy the odds, I am quite the fan for underdogs." She vanished. Percy started to writhe in his bed, sweating. He screamed in pain, before he shot up. His eyes were pitch black with white speckles, like the galaxy.
X
Percy felt like shit. The darkness enveloped him. He didn't know how long he'd been there, just that his consciousness, or alter-ego as it called itself, kept him good company. He'd promised himself to learn to wield the tattoo whenever he woke up, and the other guy promised he'd help. He felt the touch of a finger on his head, and his body exploded with pain. It felt like he was getting burnt, all over. He screamed, before shooting up, the white light of the room blinding him.
"Gods damned…" he whispered, and his eyes adjusted to the light. Before him were three people. He recognized Triton immediately, and then Neptune, but he didn't know who the woman was.
"Hello?" he said, but it came out as a question. Triton smiled brightly and hugged the demigod.
"Glad you're back, brother." Percy hugged him back. Neptune was next, nodding to the demigod.
"Can't say I've been happier to see a demigod alive, Perseus." Neptune said, smiling. Percy looked to the woman, who shrugged.
"I am happy you're not dead, Perseus Jackson. I am Salacia, Neptune's wife. Glad he decided to adopt a demigod as opposed to breaking his oath." Percy smiled at that. Salacia didn't hate him.
"The tattoo came back, Percy. I think it saved your life." Triton said. Percy's heart dropped.
"W-What tattoo?" he said, not wanting to reveal his secret.
"They saw. It wrapped up your entire body. It's still there, matter of fact." Triton summoned a mirror, and Percy saw it. The tattoo was curling and snaking up his body, coming up his neck and finishing in a curl on his forehead. He rubbed the spot.
"It's never been this high, before." Percy whispered.
"I also don't believe you've been that close to death before. Nyx sped up your recovery process by what we estimated was five years." Percy's eyes widened.
"Nyx?"
"Yes. The Lady of Night came here herself, telling us she owed someone a favor, and healed you. She said she rooted for underdogs, and that she was hoping you'd live to see a happy ending." Neptune said, and Percy nodded, swinging his legs over the bed, standing. He realized he didn't have a shirt. He also realized he was another inch taller.
"Did I grow?" he asked nobody in particular.
"Maybe." Triton responded. "You've always been a tall kid. Six-foot-three now. Where are you at with muscle?" Triton teased and Percy laughed.
"I'm trying Triton."
Neptune stepped forward. "I believe I have to send you back. Zeus will try to have our heads for keeping a demigod, especially one that is my son, in Atlantis." Percy nodded, and hugged Triton. He nodded a respectful nod to Salacia and stepped to Neptune.
"Thanks, dad." He said, hugging Neptune, who was shocked, but finally hugged him back.
X
Percy woke up on the banks of the Tiber, much to the displeasure of someone. A scream erupted next to him.
"Calm down." Percy growled, not seeing who it was. He rose to his full height, and stood a good five inches over the person. The person turned, looking into his eyes.
"Percy?"
"Reyna?" he whispered, and ran forward, lifting her in a hug. He set her down, and she just stared into his eyes.
"Is everything alright? How long has it been? I've been asleep- I," she cut him off, lifting to her toes, kissing him. His body went numb, and her arms wrapped around his neck. He regained consciousness, and his arms went to her hips.
"I told you I wanted to finish what we started." She whispered into his ear. He still stood there, shocked. He tried to go for another kiss but she took a step back.
"Nuh-uh. Explain. Now. You've been gone for three weeks. The legion thinks you're dead, Jason is in San Francisco with his daughter of Venus friend searching for you." Jason? Daughter of Venus? He did say something about a Piper…
"There's so much." He started, but he told her everything. How he learned about an alter ego, how he killed the Trojan Sea Monster, how he could talk to it. He explained meeting Salacia and Neptune once again, and how apparently Nyx had saved him.
"So, you're not only the descendant of some mysterious god, but the Primordial of Night is on your side…" Reyna said. Percy shrugged at it.
"Yeah, when you put it like that." He said nonchalantly. She laughed and kissed his cheek.
"I bet you looked pretty hot killing that sea monster." She whispered, and Percy laughed nervously.
"Yeah, well… uhm." He stuttered and sighed. "Sorry, I'm new to this whole… feelings thing." She smiled into his eyes.
"We're learning together."
X
Percy wasn't paying attention to most of the people who welcomed him back. He was rather looking for Jason, but soon realized his friend was still on the lookout for him. He'd addressed the senate and Praetors of his successes, about how the monster destroyed the San Francisco-Oakland bridge, but claimed that he'd stabbed the monster in the heart to kill it.
He wasn't lying, just stretching the truth.
After what felt like an eternity, Percy walked to the beach. He sat and closed his eyes.
'Does this work?'
No response. Not like he expected, he had no idea how the alter-ego thing worked, or in what ways Percy could control it.
'Hello? Me?'
Ah. Here we are. The familiar voice said, much to Percy's relief. Ready for training now, are we? Percy nodded, before frowning. The voice was him, could he not just sense that he was ready?
I can, but watching you nod to nothing was fun. Percy growled. Don't get angry now.
'Can we start?' Percy grumbled the voice laughed.
Yes.
X
It wasn't easy. The voice had told him to channel his emotions and his feelings into trying to summon the tattoo, but Percy couldn't do it.
Think about Reyna, and how much she means to you. Think about if someone were to hurt her.
Percy did as told, his frown turning into a snarl. His fists clenched, so hard that his right palm started to bleed because of the pressure from his nails. He calmed down and looked at his left arm. Sure enough, the tattoo came from his palm. The tattoo circled up his arm, and across his shoulders & collarbone to reach down his right arm, healing the wound on his palm.
'Does it activate upon harm?' Percy asked.
Yes, but I wouldn't recommend it. Cutting yourself amid a battle won't be exactly… the most efficient strategy, I'd say. Percy's eyes widened. If he'd found a consistent way to do it…
another long one-