Percy felt another presence behind him, whom he could tell who it was before he even turned to look. "Her body's not even cold in the ground yet, and you're already here."

"I'm sorry for your loss," the new presence said. "It's heartbreaking and tragic. I can't imagine what you're feeling. That being said, things are getting worse for us. I need your assistance."

Percy turned to look at the newcomer, who would've appeared like a normal man, if he didn't have a blueish tinge to his skin.

An Atlantean had come to pay him a visit. And not just any Atlantean, but his brother.

Triton.

"Do you?" Percy questioned. "Do you actually need my help that badly?"

"Yes," Triton answered.

"I'm guessing Attuma is up to no good," Percy said.

"You would be correct."

"I already told Chiron that I'm not going to take the throne," Percy said. "And I still stand by that."

"This is not about taking the throne," Triton explained. "This is something far more concerning. Attuma wants to wage war against the land-dwellers."

Percy frowned. "Why?"

"The attack on New York," he replied. "He believes it was orchestrated by land-dwellers, and that Atlantis is next on the map."

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Percy said.

"I'm inclined to agree."

"How did he come to that conclusion?"

"Who even knows? Attuma always believed himself to be a conqueror of lands," Triton said. "Only he saw himself fit as the ruler of Atlantis. And he had bigger ambitions. Most likely than not, he's grasping for any excuse to tread on land and conquer. 'Take back what used to be ours' as he likes to say."

"There's always going to be someone like Attuma," Percy concluded.

"Indeed," Triton agreed. "So Percy … will you assist me?"

"It's always me that has to be the one to help," Percy complained.

"One thing Chiron got right about you … you are the strongest of all of us," Triton said. "And I'm not asking you to challenge for the throne. It can go to anyone else besides you, I can promise you that. But at the very least, you could help me aid in our bid to dethrone Attuma."

Percy stared down at his mother's tombstone, remembering her last words before she passed. "Follow your heart", she had told him. Difficult decisions would come by, but he should always follow his heart.

"And just so you know … Attuma also had Chiron killed," Triton informed.

Percy looked back at him. "What?"

Triton nodded.

"Why?"

"He found out," Triton said. "He found out he'd been training you to dethrone him. That was a good enough reason for him."

Percy shook his head, feeling anger boiled up inside him. Attuma was just killing gleefully and no doubt, if he found out there were more that opposed him, he would kill them, too.

It was time to stop that.

Percy turned to face Triton, looking at him with direct eye contact for the first time. "What do you need me to do?"

…

Atlantis was so amazing to look at, Percy would've suggested it be labeled as the eight wonder of the word. He and Triton swam to the entrance which from the outside point of view, looked like a regular underwater chasm but when he entered through a cave, he was greeted by the sight of a glowing underwater metropolis, brimming with life and technology.

In between the mushroom-shaped towers swam packs of manta rays, sharks and schools of fish. A glowing bridge led them directly to the actual entrance itself, where two Atlantean warriors stood at guard.

It was a city that even his wildest dreams wouldn't have conjectured.

"What?" Triton asked.

Percy shook his head. "It's just …"

"Amazing?"

Percy nodded in agreement. "Yeah, to put it lightly."

"Come on," Triton urged. "The main palace is this way."

If Percy had thought the city itself was already impressive, he wasn't ready to look at the king's palace. Tall columns surrounded the entire fortress like a Greek mausoleum. Basketball-sized pearls were etched to the roof, walls blue like the ocean. It stood out in the underwater city of skyscrapers, if he could even call them that, since they weren't, well … in the sky. Coral reefs circled each column, with all kinds of sea animals swimming around it here and there. All in all, it was a majestic artifact.

Triton continued to lead Percy through the halls inside the palace, passing by many Atlanteans who looked at Percy oddly as he walked by. Percy figured they had never seen someone like him, whom appeared to be a land-dweller but was surviving just fine underwater. Many minded their own business, though, as they never questioned him. Triton led Percy into a small library, filled with the history of the underwater city. Triton stopped at a certain bookcase and scanned through the books.

"What are you looking for?" Percy asked.

"I've seen Attuma pull out a certain book to open a path through the wall next to this bookcase," he informed. "Just don't quite know which one, it's hard to pinpoint which one could it be."

"Anything stand out?" Percy asked. "Maybe it's one that doesn't seem like it belongs."

"Hm, good advice. But no, I don't see anything that stands o— wait a minute," he said. "This is supposed to be the literary section, yet there's a book of geometry here."

Percy shrugged. "Try it."

Triton pulled the book back before it plopped itself back. The two stepped back as some rumbling was heard and just as Triton had said, the wall next the bookcase pushed back, opening a pathway of stairs leading down to some sort-of basement.

"Eerie," Percy commented.

"Come on, let's see if we can find what Attuma is hiding," Triton said.

The room was surprisingly neat for a basement, Percy half-expected there be cobwebs everywhere, maybe even some ghosts. But it was quite clear the room was occupied pretty occasionally, which was being used as some kind of war council room. There was a single massive computer at the far end, crafted Atlantean-style with its technology, with a massive table sitting in the middle. On the table was a map of the world, with thumb tacks implanted in certain places that might highlight planned invasions. To the left there were large gray metal file storages. Percy could only wonder what they were for, most likely to store files on anybody Attuma was keeping tabs on.

"What are we looking for, Triton?" Percy wondered.

"Incriminating evidence," he said. "We need something that I can show to the Council that will be enough to topple him off his throne."

"These file storages look promising," Percy said.

"Yeah," Triton agreed. "Let's get started on them, see what we can find."

Percy and Triton spent almost an hour reading through the files before Triton moved on to the computer to see if he could find something there, while Percy continued skimming through the files. Just as he had worried, Attuma was keeping tabs on lots of people: world leaders, presidents, ambassadors, scientists, doctors, lawyers, judges and so many other kinds of people. It was actually nerve-wracking how many people Attuma kept tabs on. And had he kept looking through the files, he would have actually found his own file.

Triton continued to look through the computer when Percy pulled something out and scanned through the file that certainly intrigued him as he read through it. The more he read, the more Percy started to think this certain land-dweller who's file he was reading wasn't just someone Attuma kept tabs on, but a possible ally.

A former marine biologist, now clinic doctor, Percy thought. Interesting.

"Hey, I found something," Percy told Triton as he walked over with the file in hand. "Attuma has been keeping tabs on this guy, used to be a marine biologist. Looks like he was fired or something. Works at a clinic now."

"Dr. Lemuel Dorcas," Triton finished.

Percy frowned. "You find something?"

Triton turned to look at Percy and nodded. "Yeah. He hasn't just been keeping tabs on him, he's an ally of his. There are some recorded conversations here."

"Might be worth a look at, huh?" Percy said.

Triton nodded. "Does the file have his picture?"

"Actually, no. Just a big question mark, he has to be ally of Attuma's."

Triton sighed. "If he works at a clinic now, maybe you can get appointment with him, and find out what he's got to do with Attuma."

"Sure, I guess I can try, but that begs the real questions: what does Attuma stand to gain with this guy?" Percy questioned.

"I guess we're about to find out," Triton said, turning to the computer.

"Wait," Percy said, making Triton freeze in his place as Percy frowned and turned his head, like he was hearing something.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone's coming down," he announced. "Turn the computer off!"

Triton quickly did as Percy asked and the two of them hid out of sight just as two Atlantean guards walked inside the basement.

"Huh, no one's here," the first Atlantean guard said.

"Well, that door was wide open for a reason," the second said. "And it wasn't just because it opened on its own."

"Well, maybe someone decided to read about geometry and opened the door. Think about that?"

"Really? Well then, where would he be then?"

"Maybe he ran?"

"Sure, he ran. That's the best explanation you can come up with."

"I mean I'd run from Attuma. Anyone can tell this is his war council room."

The second guard chuckled. "You're not wrong there. Attuma might be a mean old bastard, but you always want to stick to his good side. Not like those people in the Council and Triton."

"What do you mean?"

"I heard … that Attuma is going to have everyone in the Council, killed. And he's gonna make it look like an assassination attempt by someone else."

"Damn. And who's the sucker he's gonna blame it on?"

"Who else do you think? That dead king's kid, Triton."

Percy glanced over next to him to Triton, who looked furious with rage.

The second guard continued. "He'll then have Triton tried for and killed for betrayal. Once Triton's out of his way, no one is stopping Attuma from starting his invasion. And soon enough, the world will be his. He'll take back the land that used to be ours."

"Sounds kind of … excessive."

"You want to be one his good side, right?" A pause suggested a nod of reply from the first guard. "Then you'll do as he says."

"Fine."

"Anyways, let's check the computer. Just to make sure no one has actually been down here."

That's when Triton stood up and Percy looked at him with wide eyes.

"Well, that's really interesting," Triton said. "Is that what Attuma plans on doing with me?"

The two guards stood ready with their tridents.

"Really, guys? Is that what we're doing now?" Triton asked with arms raised in confusion.

"We can take you," the second guard said. "We outnumber you two-to-one."

"That's where you're wrong," Percy said, coming out of hiding as well to stand next to Triton. "I'm here as well, which makes this an even match."

The two pairs stared each other in a standoff.

"Hey, Percy?"

"Yeah?"

"You know how to fight, right?"

"Of course."

"Good, just wanted some confirmation."

They all charged towards each other. Percy took on the first guard, catching his trident with his bare hands while Triton took on the second guard as he aggressively tried to combat Percy's brother. Percy used his momentum to swing his body around the trident, bringing it down to the ground. The force on impact startled his attacker, making him let go of the weapon as Percy let it clang on the ground.

The two fought it out hand-to-hand, with Percy blocking the guard's first punch before striking his chest, making him stumble. He swung again, was blocked again before he was sent an uppercut to his stomach. Percy attempted a roundhouse kick, the guard dodging backwards before he attempted to kick Percy back.

He grabbed his leg, blocking the kick before he sent his other leg towards Percy's face which he managed to dodge as well, but was forced to drop the leg.

Out of the corner of his eye, Percy noticed Triton fighting his opponent with the trident that had dropped to the ground. The two were now battling it out trident against trident, Percy noted before he focused back on his own fight.

His attacker jabbed at him at several times which he blocked every time before he kicked again and Percy caught his leg between himself and his arm. The guard then tried to flip-kick him, but Percy backflipped at the same time and they both landed on one knee, facing each other.

They both slowly stood up.

"Be reasonable," Percy urged. "I know you don't want to do this."

The attacker charged with a battle cry but Percy swung back with his leg, performing a reverse roundhouse kick and slamming his foot into his neck before he was sent crashing into the war table. His head slammed onto the edge of the table and the blow knocked him out cold. Percy stared at the knocked out guard with zero emotion.

"Percy! Little help?!" Triton cried.

Triton had his opponent pinned against himself using his trident but the guard refused to go down without a fight as he struggled against Triton, hands reaching up to scratch his eyes out as he struggled to breathe. Percy flew at him with a high knee, burying into his stomach before he collapsed to the ground.

Triton was panting in exhaustion, while Percy didn't even look like he broke a sweat. "Geez, Chiron was not kidding about you," Triton complimented.

The alarms started to sound off as Percy and Triton realized they needed to leave. "Come on!" Percy urged as they ran up the stairs and dashed through the library. A portcullis came down on them as they tried to leave the library. Percy just about managed to roll underneath it as it came down on the other side of him.

Unfortunately Triton was trapped on that other side. Percy looked concerned as Triton tried to push up against the portcullis, but to no avail.

"Get out of here!" Triton urged.

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine. Go find Dr. Dorcas and see what he's got to do with Attuma. Don't worry about me."

"Are you sure?"

"Go!"

Percy grimaced, but against his better judgement, he decided to escaped and left Triton behind. He prayed to whatever god was listening that Triton didn't get killed.

In the meantime, it was time to find this Dr. Lemuel Dorcas guy.