Chapter 1- Changes

It had been a few days since he and Thalia were turned into Minor gods. They spent their time together, what little they got, slowly adjusting to their new roles in life. He visited the two camps over their days apart, helping those that needed training and introducing himself to the evergrowing numbers. His camp was up to forty campers, something he was proud to see.

He visited his mum every day much to her delight, finally coming clean to Paul one night about the lies of going to school, but they didn't seem to mind, finding it hard to believe he was commuting to and from America, to begin with. What he was still concerned about, was the fact they hadn't sent for him on Olympus yet, Annabeth still remodelling the place. A month ticked by, Thalia and he enjoyed their time together when they could get it, always being called out for the Hunt at night.

They slowly worked into a routine that they kept to when it all began to go downhill. One day in mid-October Annabeth was blocked out of Olympus, rather rudely, mid-renovation.

"Arc, do you know what's happening on Olympus? I was trying to get up there to continue the renovations, but they wouldn't let me in." She stated, coming over to him while he helped with training at Camp.

He stared down at her in concern, shaking his head.

"No, but now that you mention it. Mr D has disappeared from Camp, I haven't seen him for a while now." He hummed, looking down to his brother's girlfriend.

"Have you been there recently?" She wondered, walking with him over to the sword racks, placing the practice swords away. The camps numbers slowly rising with newcomers every other day, nearly back to their original numbers before the War.

"No, I haven't been called in for my Duties I'm meant to do. I was expecting to be up there semipermanent, visiting occasionally here but." He sighed, looking through the trees to the New York Skyline. Something didn't feel right. "I'm not sure what's going on. I don't even get to see Thalia that often as she's always with her Hunters." He sighed looking to her, replacing the practice swords with real swords for the next group.

"How is it between you two?" Annabeth wondered after a while, sitting beside him on the training arena walls. He shook his head, looking down at his hands.

"Tough. We barely get the chance to see each other, only on occasions. I thought it was going to be simple, we'd see each other every day but. Nothings changed. It's like she's still a Hunter and I'm still a Demigod." He mused.

"Why don't you two do something? Like Percy and I, we are going to make our way to San Fransisco soon to see my dad, why don't you go and take her off somewhere?" She pondered, eying him. He shook his head looking out at his next class of new arrivals entering for their sword fighting lessons.

"I've been thinking about it, I've been balancing motorsport on the side too, I don't want to give that up. It's just so difficult to keep up with all of these new responsibilities." He stood, jumping off of the wall before making his way to the centre, Annabeth in tow. "That's a thought," He began, turning to the blonde behind him. "Why don't you ask your family if they want to come on a cruise over Halloween, I'll bring Mum and Paul and Thalia too?" He wondered, watching as she thought over the idea.

"I don't know, me and my stepmom, we still don't get along, shes only just started to tolerate me." She sighed.

"All the more reason then, get to know each other more." He reasoned, eying her. She sighed as she looked up at the newly appointed Minor god of Olympus.

"I'll think about it." She sighed, nodding her head. "I'll see you after your training session." He hummed in acknowledgement, looking out to all the faces before him, before beginning his lessons.

Annabeth and Percy made their way to San Fransisco, with his help as per usual, to meet her family and spend some time with them. Annabeth managed to convince her parents on the idea to go on a joint family cruise between the two families, throughout the Halloween break. They called for him at the worst possible time, just as he and Thalia placed their bags onto the bed.

"Arcmelos, you are needed on Olympus, this instant." A familiar authoritative voice commanded, booming in his mind. His body stiffened, hairs rising on his neck as he recalled that tone from his Childhood.

"Arc? You alright?" Thalia wondered, rubbing his back in comfort.

"I have to go up to Olympus, I've been called up for my duties." He sighed. He pecked the top of her head, watching as her face fell.

"Oh. How long do you think it will take?" She questioned, her expression sad. He pecked her lips, bringing her to him.

"Not long, hopefully." He smiled, pulling back. "I'll be back soon." He made his way out of his room, bumping into his mother in the hallway, explaining his situation. She nodded in understand, kissing his cheek as she looked up to him.

"That's okay dear, I'll see you soon." She smiled. He Mist Travelled to Olympus, appearing in the newly built War Room, Annabeth had designed, finding Athena stood over the sprawling table, examining maps and plans.

"Lady Athena, what's happening? Are we at war?" He wondered, stepping up to the table, standing opposite her.

"I'm not sure, Arcmelos." She sighed, her usual irritation to the Son of the Sea god lost. "Have you heard the latest Prophecy?" She queried. He shook his head after a moment, surprised to see a flicker in her appearance, her face changing slightly.

"No, I wasn't aware there was one. Are you feeling okay? You look a little... Jittery." He finished quizzically. She looked up to him, her usual serious expression plastered on her face.

"It's about the Giants. We fear that it will come to fruition soon." She sighed, looking to him. "We don't wish too, but in order to keep everything contained, we've closed off Olympus no one leaves without permission and only certain people are allowed in, mainly Hunters and Minor gods."

"Why?" He wondered, a cold feeling washing over him. He watched her expression turn sour, a sneer crossing her face as if she were in proximity to Poseidon before reverting, the Dark Mist feeding off of fear much to his surprise.

"Because we do not like what is happening to us. I can't explain it, it's like two sides of us are fighting for control at once and we're all experiencing it." She sighed in frustration. She looked up to him once more, her grey eyes staring at him in sympathy. "You'll see when you meet your father. He's the worst of us all at this moment in time." She finished mysteriously before exiting the room.

He stood in shock at the relatively civilised conversation the two just had, feeling no sense of hate towards him like he usually would. He waited in the War Room for a moment before a figure stepped into the room, Poseidon.

"Father." He bowed. "You requested me?" He looked up, his eyes widening at the man before him, someone he hadn't seen since he was a child.

"Yes, Boy. You are to remain on Olympus until further notice." He grumbled, his attire and attitude the complete opposite than what he was used to.

He stood wearing a robe of sorts, the name escaping his mind, his ever-present Dyslexia still a part of his life. A Chiton, maybe? His hair was trimmed, almost a buzz cut and was younger and thinner in appearance.

This was the man that raised him, not Poseidon.

"Poseidon-" He began, abruptly cut off by his father.

"Neptune." He growled, his stance more warlike, like a Sea Captain. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard, an icy cold feeling running down his spine.

"I was on holiday with my family, can I go back to them and enjoy myself, we're not at war, I'm not needed." He began, his mouth closing in an instant at the scowl sent his way.

"You were brought here to attend to your duties. You've been shirking them off long enough, running around with that stupid Hunter of yours." Poseidon growled, spitting venomously the word Hunter. Arcmelos could feel the anger bubbling up inside of him, this side of his father stirring bad memories to the surface.

"She's not stupid. And she has a name." He growled, his eyes narrowing, challenging the side of Poseidon that raised him. "What are my duties that need doing then? I've been waiting for a month for them to start and they never came, why now?" He breathed after a while, feeling the anger dissipate.

"Train troops, something you have to catch up on." Poseidon, Neptune growled, before turning and exiting the room. He stood in silence, shaking his head as he looked over the plans on the table, each one preparing for different scenarios if the Prophecy were to come true.

He lost count of the days up above on Olympus, having to ignore the calls from his family and friends below, the contact something he wasn't allowed. He was thankful that he spent the majority of his time with Athena herself, not her split side or his father, discussing tactics and scenarios. When he did come across Poseidon, he was always in his Roman form, the sight of his Firstborn surfacing anger in the god, remembering the disappointment he brought the god growing up.

He couldn't even see Thalia, he was locked from leaving the War Room and Training Room, the same routine day in day out. Train new troops, break, discuss tactics with Athena, break. He was starting to lose his mind. This was the life he agreed to, the life of a god a curse, not a blessing. He felt the rise of Darkness within him at times, sometimes wishing he could succumb to the feeling of Nyx, but the feeling was quickly washed away from the Light side of him, still warring the Darkness within.

He still kept tabs on everyone, knowing that Thalia was spending her time in his Cabin back at camp, with Annabeth and Percy, both there for what he assumed was the Winter break. He sat through meetings with Zeus and his two brothers, Athena and he discussed their solutions and outcomes to the three; watching as their faces shimmered between their Roman forms. He wasn't aware of what day it was let alone the month, but something bad happened one particular day.

He caught a lucky break, Poseidon managing to slip his way through the hold that Neptune held for some time, finally a friendly expression crossing his face. They stood, Arc smiling for once in a long time, discussing the latest batch of Cyclops he'd trained ready for battle, looking over schematics of weaponry they could use.

He felt the slip of Mist around Percy.

His head shot up to Poseidon, his eyes widening in alarm as he looked to his father who held a similar expression.

"Permission to leave." He began, Poseidon nodding in earnest. He felt the temporary bindings that held him to the few areas of Olympus drop as he Mist Travelled to Camp in the early hours of the morning. He ran around to each cabin, knocking frantically on the doors.

"Everyone up! Head councillors to the Big House now!" He repeated, knocking on door after door. He stepped over to Percy's cabin, barging through the door expecting to hear him yell in protest on the rude awakening, but received nothing. He slammed the door behind him, making his way over to the remodelled Athena Cabin, sensing Thalia exit his Cabin, hearing the commotion of Councillors rushing to the Big House.

"Arc!?" He heard from his rear. He turned, nearly knocking him off his feet as he wrapped his arms around Thalia, the feel of her in his arms something he missed dearly. He kissed her desperately, savouring the feel before he realised why he was here, pulling away as he stared into her eyes, running his thumb over her cheek.

"What's happening? What's wrong?" She wondered, panting for lack of breath.

"Something bad is happening on Olympus, it's hard to explain. And something's happened to Percy. He's vanished and I don't know where. I don't know where he's gone I can't sense him anywhere like I can with all of you, and even Poseidon couldn't sense him." He breathed, his breath picking up as he started to panic.

"Hey, we'll find him. Don't worry." She smiled reassuringly to him. He nodded as he leant into her touch on his face feeling slightly more at ease. He nodded and sighed as he turned, wrapping his knuckles against the Athena Cabin door. It opened a moment later, Malcolm rubbing his eyes of sleep, irritation on his face.

"Percy, for goodness sake you can see her in a-" He stopped, his eyes widening at the sight of the two Minor gods before him. "Oh, Arc. What's up?" He wondered, peering over his shoulder to some of his half-siblings waking up.

"I need you to get everyone up and awake right now, and can you get Annabeth for me please." He asked quietly, feeling more at ease and calmer by the second with Thalia beside him.

"Arc? What's wrong?" He heard after a moment. Annabeth appeared in her Pajamas, confused as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. He nodded for her to follow him as he stepped out into the rising sunlight.

"I'm not sure what's happening but." He paused, looking to Annabeth beside him. "When did you last see Percy?" He wondered, stopping in front of Cabin Three.

"Just before I went to bed. Why?" She answered. He could sense the rising fear within her, the Darkness feeding off of it once more as he suppressed it down, looking into her grey eyes.

"I don't know how to explain this but, he's vanished. I'm- I don't know where he's gone, I can't sense him anymore." He sighed, his tone showing a hint of fear as he watched her shake her head, muttering under her breath as she nearly broke down the Cabin door.

"What- I don't understand. Where-. It was all going so well." She mumbled as the tears began to roll down her face. Thalia comforted her, wrapping her arms around her.

"We'll find him, Annabeth. Don't worry. I'll go out with my Hunters and see if we can find him, those rules of interference don't count for us." She reasoned, rubbing her arm in comfort. She nodded, inhaling sharply and haggardly to stop the tears from flowing as she looked around his Cabin.

They began to walk into Big House, hearing the bickering from inside of everyone as they got closer, confused about the current situation. He stepped in behind Chiron as he yelled, his tail swishing in aggravation.

"What is going on in here?!" Chiron wondered, his tone stern and upset. The room quieted in an instant. He understood where Chiron was coming from, he wasn't informed of this emergency meeting Arc had called for and he was probably woken up by the bickering. That and, or, he was in the dark of the current situation on Olympus too.

"Sorry, Chiron." He answered, stepping into the room as Thalia ushered Annabeth into a corner beside her, watching and waiting patiently for the meeting to commence, all eyes turning to him. "Sorry if they woke you Chiron. I've called this meeting, it's of dire importance." He sighed, listening to the sniffling from Annabeth in the corner, her tears subsiding.

"Arc!" Chiron began in surprise, his tone changing to be more understanding. "I wasn't aware you were here." He continued. Arc nodded in understanding, watching as Chiron backed away, stood off to one side as he took centre stage so to speak.

"Yeah, I've just come here about five minutes ago." He began, looking to his and the camps mentor.

"Annabeth, are you alright? Percy's not done anything to you has he?" Clarisse growled, looking around the room, noticing Percy's absence. Arc shook his head, looking around the room as he leant his palms on the Ping Pong table.

"I'm afraid Percy's." He began, shaking his head. "I don't know. I can't sense him any more. He's gone from my sight, and I'm not sure where he is. And as bad as it sounds and I don't mean it in this way, but I'm glad he has disappeared in a way because I couldn't leave Olympus. I was locked in the War room, stripped of most of my powers over the Mist, unable to leave. It was Percy's disappearance that has allowed a lapse in my father's judgment, sensing it too, that he permitted me to leave." He began, his head shaking as the room remained silent during his lament.

"The gods are struggling with themselves at this particular point in time, they're all fighting another side to them from taking hold. My father has already succumbed to this side of him, the Roman side of him." He paused briefly, looking up from the table, out to the Councillors before him. "And it is a side I know all too well. It's the side that raised me as a child, getting the real Poseidon on good days." He sighed once more, shaking his head.

"This is the reason why Olympus is shut and why Dionysus hasn't been around of late. The gods fear this other side of them getting out of hand, and they don't know what to do about it. That and there is a new Pr-" He began, hearing a rumble of thunder overhead, Zeus ahead on his tangent, stopping him from releasing too much information. He shook his head, huffing as he looked to the sky.

"Apparently, I'm not allowed to tell you that part as of yet." He grumbled, before continuing. "None the less, Thalia you said you were going to take the Hunters out to find him?" He looked to her, watching her nod in confirmation, her expression sad.

"I'll leave with them and inform them of the situation after this meeting." She smiled slightly, easing his worry. He nodded looking to the campers once more.

"Any questions?" He sighed, the few people around him erupting into a chorus of voices, all mixing together with different questions. He rolled his eyes as he looked out to them, his expression turning annoyed.

"What's going to happen with us then?" Clarisse wondered, looking around to the others.

"Train is all I can say, I know that's all we do around here right now, but it's all we can do in this current situation. No one, not even me, can tell you what is going to happen because we just don't know." He huffed, looking to them all.

"Can we look around for Percy, ask around if anyone has heard anything?" Connor wondered, sitting beside his brother Travis.

"If you think it will help, go for it. Just don't get yourself into trouble." He warned, eying the mischievous duo. "If any of you hear anything or see or dream of anything important, regardless of how stupid it sounds, tell me or Chiron about it." He finished emphasis on the more rediculous sound words as he sounded off, looking to them all.

"Dismissed." He finished nodding to the door.