A/N at the end as always. Enjoy. T.I.

Chapter VII

In any other circumstance the image of the girl who he met just a couple of days ago dressed in said pajamas would have made him laugh. Had anyone told Percy that Reyna had such a kind of sleepwear he would've laughed in their face. She didn't seem to him like that type of girl.

Then again, Percy thought as he lay on the wet sand, adrenalin still pumping in his veins and his breathing still labored, he never imagined she was the kind of girl that handled a short sword as a hippie-terminating vigilante either.

The final soft rays of the setting sun lit the gruesome scene. The deformed, headless and non-human corpse still laid in front of Percy, who now noticed that the body was starting a rapid course of decomposition. Not so much decomposing, Percy noticed, as disintegrating, particles of the body coming off and flying in the soft ocean breeze. After five minutes, there was nothing left to indicate the event, not even the creatures blood.

Percy looked to Reyna - who now stood above him - her sword almost glowing in the fading light. He thought it was beautiful even though he couldn't get a proper look at the weapon. He meant to thank his savior, maybe even offer her a soda from the now barely working vending machine at the tourist spot near the beach, but then the pain hit him.

It was as if someone decided that Percy's leg could use a hot and relaxing bath of corrosive acid. His leg was burning up and the pain that began there started spreading, first up to his thigh and to his abdomen, until it reached the solar plexus and head. Percy muffled a scream as the pain travelled through him, closing his eyes and barely folding his body into some sort of fetal position to handle the pain, and closing his eyes.

"Percy! Listen to me, you need to get in the water." Through the cacophony of heavy breathing that he was buried in, somehow Reyna's voice pierced through to his soul, and he felt… brave somehow.

"Sorry for doubting Reyna," He started through clenched teeth, making his words muffled and barely audible.

"But won't salt water kind of, you know, increase the pain?" Even in this situation he found the time to crack a joke.

"You need to trust me. I know we just met a couple of days ago. But we know each other Percy. On a level that almost no one else will understand." Percy found that her voice was closer. As he opened his eyes slowly he saw her crouching next to him, and through the pain felt her hand on his shoulder.

"Grab onto me and get up. I know you can." Again that voice. It coursed through him no less than the pain. Making him believe in himself. Clenching his teeth, Percy clawed through the pain and got up with his hand on Reyna's shoulder for support.

"I don't know why I trust you with this, but if this ends up making me faint again I'm not getting you any kind of soda just so we're clear." He muttered, his voice stabilizing and clearer.

"Sure, whatever you say Neptunulus." Reyna laughed. It was the first time Percy heard her laughing. He decided it suited her, glowing sword vigilante and everything.

As they approached the waterline with Percy slowly hopping on his uninjured leg, he felt a pull within him. Like the ones he felt lately whenever he was around the ocean. Like it was calling for him. And this time it was a whole lot stronger. As they reached the lapping waves on the shore the moon was begging to announce his presence, shining a soft light on the water.

"You're on your own from here Neptunulus. See you later." Reyna said.

"Right… What's up with the nickname?" He asked.

"You'll see."

"Right. Nice pajamas by the way. Very you." Percy jabbed as he began to slowly hop his way deeper into the water, never looking back at Reyna's face, that currently held the slightest hint of redness, unnoticeable in the dark.

Percy's leg slowly entered the water, and as much as he was dreading the thought of getting his busted leg into the water, he was up to the level that it was impossible not to submerge it. And then Percy noticed he was thinking clearly again.

The pain he was feeling wasn't so bad now. It still hurt nonetheless, but it was a much appreciated improvement. He could explain it with him fainting again from the shock of saltwater on an open – and giant – wound, but he could still feel pain so that theory was out.

What more, as he entered his injured leg inside of the water, it began glowing a soft cyan. That was new. Now swimming, he proceeded deeper, and once his whole body but the head was submerged, he dived in.

The dark water of the ocean was illuminated by his glowing leg, exposing the ocean floor and small fish that slowly swam, some even approaching the source of light to inspect it, but quickly returned to the shallows once they were satisfied. Percy found that explainable: animals were usually attracted to light in absolute darkness.

What Percy couldn't explain was the feeling of mending bones, muscles and skin where his injured leg glowed. It was like someone reversed everything that happened to him in the last hour. Instead of pain, he felt relief. Of fear, he found elation. Of weariness, he found himself clear-headed and refreshed.

Percy never knew how long he spent inside the dark shallows, the feeling was like a trance, distant and intemporal. When his leg stopped glowing and he came to again, any pain he ever felt, even the tiniest itch, was gone.

What more – he noticed – he was with his eyes wide open, staring at the ripples and distortions of the ocean above him made clear by the faint moonlight. And he was breathing normally. He waited for his body to enter shock once he processed the information, but nothing happened. Just like his body, he began to accept the current reality. He could breathe underwater, and water healed him – although slowly – to perfect condition. In his now clear state he began thinking about joining Reyna and form a team of sword-wielding-ass-kicking-Latin-learning force of justice, but laughed at the idea. Then he remembered that she was probably still on the beach.

Worried, Percy maneuvered his body to the direction of the beach, ready to begin the swim back, when he felt a pull at his stomach. As he swam, he noticed the stream of air bubbles behind him, caused by his speed. His body was propelling through the water as if he was a speed boat, cutting the currents and waves. Guiding himself with the moon's light, he was back to land in seconds, a smile plastered across his face.

As he emerged, he noticed Reyna still on the beach. Though now sitting down, and holding her hands to her body. It really was chilly in the middle of the night. A sudden gust of wind made Percy's wet body shiver, and a sense of guilt crawled to his head for letting Reyna stay on the beach for so long.

When she noticed him arriving on the beach, she smiled slightly and got up, rubbing her hands back and forth on her arms for warmth.

"I see you managed, Neptunulus." She pronounced.

"I'll leave the big questions for later. How long was I in?" He questioned.

"Four hours."

"Four hours?!" He thought it was a while, but never four hours.

"How do you feel Percy?" She asked.

"I feel… great. Never better. If I knew saltwater could cure fatal wounds, I'd have taken to skateboarding off of buildings a-lot sooner."

"You skateboard off of buildings?" the skepticism clear in her voice.

"It was a matter of speech."

"Of course it was." She shook her head, a small smile once again made its way to her face.

"You didn't have to wait all this time. I'm sorry. But, thank you. You saved me." His eyes were downcast, his uneasiness with the situation clear.

He couldn't see the smile disappearing from her face, replaced with a calculated look.

"I've been waiting a long time Percy. Four hours is nothing." She started. Her voice colder and serious.

"Waiting for what?" He asked, raising his eyes to meet hers. Even in the dim light, he saw a strong resolve and something he couldn't quite place.

"For something you're not ready for yet." She muttered.

"What do you mean not ready yet? What's with the mystery and riddles? How did you know water would heal me? How did you know where to find me? How did you kill that thing? What's going on Reyna?!" He was now getting frustrated. After all of this, he wasn't ready? Ready for what? Why did it feel like everybody knew a secret about him and were laughing at his expense?

"Percy, you need to calm down." Reyna's voice was guiding. Almost cautious.

"How can I calm down in this situation? How would anyone be calm? What's going on? What am I? what is this? I've had enough with staying in the dark!" Frustration turned quickly into unchecked rage. He almost got killed today damn it. He had every right to know about whatever this is that involved him.

"Percy, please. Take a deep breath." Was she patronizing him?

"Why Reyna? Why should I after this?" He found himself shouting, anger clear on his face.

"Look backwards." She said, voice almost fearful. Some sort of awe presented in her gaze.

This took Percy aback. What reason could there possibly be to look back to the ocean right now? She was distracting. But then Percy suddenly listened. He heard in his ears a surging sound, like the sound of the raging seas in storm, trampling all in his path.

He quickly turned backwards, and this time shock took hold of him once again. Not too far from where he was standing, a pillar of salt water emerged from the sea, reaching for the heavens. It gushed and stormed, but mainly remained in place. As if a mini hurricane of violent water decided to rebel against the calm. As it raged, swirling and twisting endlessly, Percy once again felt the pull in him stomach. But this time, he noticed, it didn't vanish like the other times. It was consistent, and powerful, demanding him for his strength. And it just like a coin, dropping on the floor, it clicked.

"I'm doing this." His anger vanished, replaced with complete and utter disbelief.

"Yes." Her response came after a few moments, awe still dominant in her voice.

"What do you mean yes? You're supposed to think I'm crazy!" He gave a surprised gasp at her reply.

"I know you're not, Percy. But you need to breath. This amount of sapping could kill you. You're not ready to handle these powers yet. Breath." She urged him.

Powers? Sapping? Not ready yet? Again with these riddles? He was getting sick and tired of not knowing. Speaking of tired, Percy noticed the fresh and aware state that he was in earlier was dimming. Rapidly. The tugging didn't stop. And he had a feeling it could last far more than he could.

Taking Reyna's advice, Percy closed his eyes and began breathing. In and out. In and out. Inhaling slowly, exhaling slowly. Rise and repeat. Little by little, the tugging in his stomach went away. And sounds of gushing water rising to the sky was dimming more and more. After some time, the tugging stopped. And when Percy opened his eyes, all that he saw was the calm ocean lit by a pale moon.

He turned to Reyna, who now seemed much more relaxed than before.

"What am I?" his voice was shaking. He could feel his body getting exhausted with every passing second.

"You're like me Percy. You're like the few remaining remnants of a culture and people long past."

"Enough with the damn riddles! Get to the point." He wanted to shout, but had no strength left.

"Filius dei." She said. "A demi-god."

Hello to those still here.
I'm sorry about the very late update. I'm pushing myself to write at least a thousand words a day, but feel like my writing just isn't good enough. Hence the lateness.
Hopefully I won't make you wait any longer, and as always, I will never abandon this story, as I really love the concept.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

T.I.