I could barely remember getting back to my room.

Penelope had wrapped an arm around me, letting my shocked form lean into her for warmth as she shouted for a carriage to take us back to the palace.

Odysseus seemed to switch between doting worry for us and absolute shock at the supernatural spirit that had just shown up. He pressed a hand to Penelope's cheek as he looked over us both then turned to stare open-mouthed at the still burning pyre.

Agnethe and Elene helped Penelope and I onto the carriage, Odysseus hovering at our side until the horses began moving away from the beach, quickly moving to mount his own horse and follow us back to the palace.

I shivered as we moved further and further away from the pyre.

Penelope escorted me back to my room, Odysseus and a large group of guards on her heels.

"It's safe now, Rhea. You're safe," she crooned as she flipped back the veil to reveal my tear-stained face.

The guards averted their eyes, some of them leaving the room to stand watch outside. Odysseus walked forward, concern in his eyes.

"That spirit will not follow you any longer- we have given him the proper rights and let him pass to the Underworld. You shall be safe here, I promise you this." He met my eyes as he said it, solemn. "His appearance does not affect your place here, you are still welcome."

Welcome? Is he assuring me that he won't kick me out for that bastard's decision to haunt me? I… Fuck, I can barely think.

I nodded, trying to convey all my gratitude and horror and fear into that single bob of my head.

Penelope came forward to hug me, wrapping her arms around my back and pressing a kiss to my forehead. "You can stay in your rooms as long as you want. Nobody will disturb you while you're grieving."

"Thank you," I croaked.

She gave me one last kiss before pulling away.

Odysseus gave me a sympathetic smile as he led his wife out of the room, a hand on the small of her back.

How long I just stood there, trembling, I don't know.

Deme and her three companions came in to help me get undressed for bed, and I glared at them.

"I can do it myself," I ground out.

She frowned delicately, "Princess, I understand your grief, but at least let me undo your braids."

My braids? Why the fuck do my braids matter? I'm alone. Luke, the man I hated and loved and pitied, is gone and I'm alone in this foreign and familiar world and I have no family! I have no home!

"I said that I can do it!" I screamed at her, "Leave me alone!"

I threw a comb of bone at her direction. It missed, clattering against the wall instead, but it was impossible to miss the flinch she gave, the fear on her face.

She ran from the room.

"Promise me that you won't become bitter and angry."

Fuck. Fuck.

I sighed, putting my head in my hands.

She didn't deserve that. I shouldn't have- Fuck, she didn't deserve that.

Tears began to stream down my face.

I'm sorry.

I stared at the polished bronze mirror that was reflecting my too-pale face.

Bags- like bruises- rested under my eyes, my hair was ratty from where I tugged the neat plaits out of my hair myself, kohl was smudged on my cheeks from the tears that streaked down my face.

I looked like a wraith. More of a ghost than whatever cursed apparition that took Luke's form down at the beach.

I laughed, high and slightly hysterical.

What else could I do? I'm stuck, far from a home that I won't ever see again, confused and lost and slightly bitter. It's better to see the stupid irony in my situation than give into the urge to smash pottery against the walls.

I'm pretty sure that if anyone overheard me right now, they would think me as at least slightly insane. Maybe Penelope was right to tell me that I should hide in my rooms for a while until I get a grip on myself again.

Numbly, I stumbled towards the bed, shedding the layers of linen that I wore, baring my scars and smooth skin to the warm night air.

I curled up under the fur blanket, shivering despite the heat, and wondered.

What do I do now?

"Sometimes, those who wander the earth are those who know the most, and those that stay forever fixed are the most lost of them all."

The sand between my toes was familiar.

The man sitting next to me even more so.

Hermes.

"Family isn't perfect," he said, staring off into a sea with a horizon that stopped suddenly. My sight blurred trying to see what he was seeing, and a heavy daunting feeling weighed on me at the thought of trying to find what's beyond the horizon.

"I think I'm well aware of that by now." I responded, narrowing my eyes at his image.

This isn't a memory, I've never been here before, but this scene mirrored that morning where Hermes asked me to try and reach Luke on the Princess Andromeda near perfectly.

The figure of Hermes turned to face me and I froze.

His eyes.

Instead of the bright sky blue they were supposed to be, pure white greeted me. His pupils, pure pits of void black, were the only shade in his piercing sight.

"Then why do you keep expecting it to be?" He raised an eyebrow, "If you do not have a family, make one. Reach out to the ones you ido/i have here. Learn to move on. Your family- your home- is what you make it."

What is that supposed to mean?

"I can't just make a new family," I told the Not-Hermes angrily. "I've just lost my entire life, you can't just expect me to move on like nothing happened!"

He stood up, brushing the sand off of his jogging sweats, before looking down at me, unimpressed.

"I never said to move on like nothing happened, I told you to move because everything has happened." His gaze softened, "And you deserve happiness. Move on, Rhea."

"A step forward can make you want to turn back, to look at all you're leaving behind, to feel guilty and doubt yourself. We are all Orpheus. Don't look back just yet, there will be time for that once you've moved on."

I woke up abruptly.

My face was wet.

There were tears on my face. I've been crying in my sleep.

Sighing, I scrubbed at my eyes, tired. Why can't I ever get a good night's sleep? Or even a dreamless night? I hate being a demigod.

I rose from my pallet, letting the blanket drop and pool around my waist.

The sun was above the horizon, I could hear sweet songs from the trees and the faint whisper of the city below waking up.

It was beautiful.

A timid call came from the doorway, "Princess?"

I turned to see Deme standing at the door, awkwardly holding a jug of fresh water and a plate of breakfast.

My stomach growled.

"Come in," I said softly.

My throat was a bit scratchy from last night's tears and slight breakdown, and my head ached, but that doesn't mean I can be rude to Deme. I shouldn't have gotten angry with her last night.

She shuffled forward, lightly placing the food on the table as if she was afraid of it making a sound, and turned to leave.

"Deme," I spoke up. "I apologise for last night, I shouldn't have yelled at you, I was wrong."

She was surprised, mouth dropping open into a small 'o'.

I stood up, wrapping my blanket around me to preserve the little modesty I have left (Deme had literally bathed me, I'm not sure why I was even bothering.) and walked forward to give her a small smile.

Deme gathered her wits, "O-oh! It is quite alright, Princess! You have caused me no grief, I am used to such treatment!"

"Pardon? You're used to this? Are you mistreated?" I frowned, concerned.

Odysseus and Penelope are lovely, they treat me well, but I knew better than to think that they were like that to everyone.

"No! I mean, the foster boys get a bit rough when I show no interest back, but that's the same with any other servant girl." She stuttered out.

"That does not mean it is right," I insisted. "Come, sit down." I gestured at the low table and it's soft sitting cushions.

She did, folding her legs on the cushion like she was ready to spring up at any moment. I joined her.

"Deme, I'd like you to know that if anyone touches you, as your current mistress, I have the right to demand their apology. You're safe with me," I gave her a smile.

"I- Thank you Princess." She ducked her head.

I sighed. It's my own fault she doesn't trust me, I have to earn back her trust.

I studied the young girl in front of me. She's about 12 or 13, with russet tones and black hair and eyes. Her clothes were obviously cheap, and her veil was ratty- I knew the only reason it wasn't worse is because she works in the palace.

"Where are you from?" I asked softly.

"Oh, um, I'm Anatolian. My grandmother got taken by Laertes when he fought a battle with the king of her tribe over horses, and she became his bed-slave. My mother and I were born to the palace." She explained, fiddling with her veil.

My mind blanked. "You're a slave?"

"Yes, Princess."

A slave. Slavery. Oh shit, fuck no, this isn't okay at all. Fuck, my own ancestors had been slaves. It's deplorable! I didn't realize it was done here and now as well... This isn't right! I can't… oh fuck, I can't free her- I don't own her… Shit, I can't believe I have to think in such terms. This is horrible.

"Princess? Are you well?" Her wide-eyed face brought me back to the present.

"I- yeah. Yes. I'm sorry." I shook my head to try and snap me back to the present, "Where I come from, slavery is deplorable and any slave-owner should have the death sentence."

Deme blinked like she'd never heard of such a thing before, "Oh. That sounds… lovely. King Odysseus is a kind master, but I wish he would set me free… Wait! No! I'm sorry, Princess, please don't tell him I said so!" She panicked as she realised what she just said out loud.

My heart ached, "I won't say anything, I swear. I agree with you, you should be freed."

She gaped, hope in her eyes.

I shook my head, hoping beyond hope that maybe, one day, I can free her.

"Join me for my meal. I need the company and I don't know enough about Ithaca, perhaps you can share some stories?" I asked her instead.

She gave me a small, shy, smile.

Deme is a sweetheart.

She told me all about Ithaca: how it's considered a barren rock by many of the richer Achaean cities and they look down at it for being so, how Ithaca may be barren but it is a booming trading hub as the last Greek island before the journey west towards the Etruscan lands, how many may call Odysseus a pirate because of his way of sailing and coming back with crates of gold, how Odysseus has men and friends in every city in the known world who tell him of news, and how Athens may be Athena's patron city but Odysseus is her favourite ruler. Everything.

We ate and talked about everything, slowly getting to know each other and our differences.

The Achaeans hate the Anatolians: they find them barbaric, that their men wear too much perfume, and that their way of riding horses everywhere is strange. The Anatolians are indifferent to the Achaeans, but hate that they terrorise their coast and bring their gods with them.

She fixed my hair and drew up a bath, calling the other servant girls to bring the water and oils up to my room.

I asked each of them for their names, home-lands, and stories, and they did not hesitate to tell me.

Iida was from Persia, she was bought from a brothel when she was four and has been working at the Palace ever since; her 13th birthday is approaching soon. Mayet came from Egypt, she was a dancer and was lithe like a cat, the oldest of the group at 17. Lais was born in Ithaca and her entire family has been on the island as long as Odysseus' lineage has ruled, she was the nearest to my age at 15 and she quietly admitted that she had a skill in braiding hair.

Deme, despite being the second youngest of the group, was the leader. She spoke multiple languages and had experience in serving foreign ladies who visited the island, so she was in charge. The other girls deferred to her and I watched as she easily took the role of commanding them.

Deme is shy, but not afraid to lead. I smiled as I realised this- it reminded me of myself when I was her age: scared, on a field trip to find a stolen lightning bolt.

As I left the warm bath and let the girls oil my skin, I let my mind wander.

One thing that was on my mind is Luke's armour. Where is it?

When I asked, Iida nervously looked over to Deme for help.

"King Odysseus has ordered for a priest to bless it before he returns it to you," she explained hesitantly. "The wandering wraith gave us all a fright and we do not wish for it to haunt you because you own the last of its possessions. The blessing is to help it move on."

The Camp beads around my neck seemed to grow heavier.

"I understand," I sighed. "When can I have it back?"

"Late afternoon, Princess." Deme promised.

My fingers ran over the nicks and grooves of his armour.

Not three days ago, my worst enemy wore this. How funny it is that time seems to warp strangely with grief.

His breastplate was wiped clean of his blood, yet I could still see the ghostly visage of the coppery liquid drenching it.

I pulled his greaves on, adjusting the straps so they would fit.

Strange, truly, that I have stolen armour off his corpse and do not care about it.

It's easy to reminisce now that the sun is low, evening setting in and the darkness of night creeping up. There's no one around to watch me weep over the losses of a war that will never happen. Silena, Beckendorf, Michael, Ethan, Luke, Annabeth, Thalia, Nico, Tyson, Clarisse, Conner, Rachel.

I wonder how many of them had drops of their blood on this armour?

I screamed when I realised that the knife I held- Annabeth's knife- would never pierce my skin and let me bleed like they did. The Curse of Achilles is still in effect and I cannot bleed.

I played with his sword belt.

To my surprise, a golden drachma fell out of a hidden pocket.

Picking it up, I eyed it with suspicion until I realised exactly what it was.

"Oh, you liar," I laughed hysterically.

Luke said he didn't have the money to pay for Charon's fare to the Underworld. Liar only wanted a funeral since I see a perfectly good drachma sitting in my hand right now.

But…

I played with the drachma as an idea formed in my head.

Silently, I took off his armour and set it aside.

There's only a few minutes of sunlight left, but maybe…

Carefully, I created a rainbow using the water from a jug and the sunlight coming in through the window.

"O Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, accept my offering! Show me Poseidon-bas in Atlantis!" I cried and threw the drachma through the rainbow.

The image shimmered, but it didn't connect to the other side. It was blank.

Father was refusing my message.

No.

"Pater please!" I begged at the empty image, "I need your help!"

The image didn't change.

Despite my calls and pleads, the message didn't connect.

My heart sank with the sunset as the rainbow disappeared with the daylight.

He refused me.

I stood up numbly and turned away towards my bed, desperately trying to blink tears away.

Then I froze at the warm glow that permeated my room.

"For all the claims of man, truth does not yield to their will. Truth escapes even the sweetest and most silver of lies, and it always comes out. Be wise, my dear, and speak the truth from the start; do not let your heart break when your lies come back to you, wounded."

My dad stood before me.

No, not my dad. He's my father, but not my dad- this isn't the god who I spent my weekends with in Atlantis, learning from his knee about the Sea.

He was tall, all muscle and toned skin, with the oppressing weight of his godly aura filling the room. His green eyes- something he had no matter what form he took- were like tidal waves, staring into me under furrowed eyebrows. His hair, same as mine, was as dark as the depths of the sea and fell in loose, tousled waves to his shoulders. His chiton was loose on him, uncaring that it slipped around his waist, yet held to his form by a string of seashells in the way of a belt. His trident was in his hand.

"Hyisi," the word slipped from his mouth in confusion, his voice rough and deep as he frowned down at me.

I closed my eyes at the familiar word. 'Daughter,' he had called me in the language of the sea.

"Pater," I responded.

"How?" He looked at me with incomprehension, "I have not had a daughter in nearly four centuries, yet you stand before me anyways. The sea is in you but it should not be."

The fact that he didn't recognise me hurt. I'm his daughter and he doesn't recognise me and even though it isn't his fault it still hurts.

"I am your daughter, Poseidon-bas, but I'm also not. I was born millennia from now, in a different land, but there was a war and Kronos rose. I killed him, but he cursed me to- to be thrown back in time!" My panic leaked into my voice the more I spoke, and I hugged myself in an attempt to soothe myself.

"Kronos?" His grip on his trident tightened. "My father rose again? Curses, how could the Fates do such a thing!" He snarled.

I've never seen my father so unrestrained, and I could feel the waves grow in intensity as they beat savagely against the shore.

"Pater, please! I'm lost and I need your help- I don't know what to do!" I reached out and grabbed at his arm, pleading. "He took everything from me: my Meter and Aidipas and friends! Pater, I'm scared!"

He stopped, the sea stilling as he focused on my words.

"I'm sorry, Hyisi, I didn't mean to frighten you." He looked at me, really looked at me, and took the sight of my slightly disheveled and frightened form. "How long has it been since you've appeared on Greece's shores?"

"Tonight is my third night in this time," I told him.

He frowned and pulled me closer, drawing me into a hug and pressing his face into my hair. "You understand that I cannot do anything? Time is beyond my sphere of influence- all I can do is watch over you and help you in your path."

"I understand," I whispered into his chest.

If I closed my eyes, I could pretend it wasn't my father but rather my dad holding me. Mom is at home waiting with a fresh batch of cookies to hear about my latest lesson about father's kingdom and Triton is rolling his eyes as he watches me eagerly attach myself to dad in search for any piece of attention. But this isn't my dad.

He pulled away slightly, watching me as I shivered slightly at the sudden lack of warmth.

"Have I taught you about the sea?" He asked me, "You know our language, but do you know of our ways?"

"Yes. I used to spend each weekend shadowing you and Sa'Meter, learning about the politics and culture. Aidipa Triton taught me the art of war and battle. My lessons were cut short, but I paid my fullest attention to them." I said seriously, earnest for his approval.

"Hm," was all he said, musing a thought out-loud.

I waited a beat, but I'm too impatient to wait for whatever he was thinking about to be said. "Pater, what am I to do?"

He smiled.

I've never been afraid of my father's smile before. There's something different in his grin now- a baring of teeth almost like a predator to their prey. I don't want to be prey.

"You can come live with me in Atlantis. You are a princess, I can make the seas recognise you as such. My wife liked you in the future, she will have no qualms about you joining the household once again."

A million stories flashed before my eyes. Gods- jealous, obsessive, predatory, controlling, impulsive gods- hunting down those they deem as theirs. Holding them close and refusing to let them go. Hiding them from the world because they simply want to.

A shiver of fear ran down my spine.

This isn't my dad. This is my father: the powerful and temperamental god who used to drown sailors for not praying reverently enough to him and appeared in mortal queens' bedrooms to demand their worship.

This is not the god I'm used to. Fuck, all the gods aren't the ones that I'm used to. I have to tread far more lightly than I'm used to doing.

"Pater… I don't know what to say," I began, but he cut me off.

"Then don't say anything." He spoke as if it was obvious.

I fought the urge to dig my nails into my arm. "Pater, your offer is kind, but I am also half mortal. I cannot live in Atlantis forever- it is not in my nature. I need to be on land as much as I need the sea." I tried to turn down his offer kindly.

He frowned, and the pressure of a thousand hurricanes appeared over the sea. "You would turn down my generous offer?"

"No! I mean- I…" I stuttered uselessly.

His frown grew more pronounced.

"Pati!" I exclaimed, panicked. "I love you but you need to understand: an immortal life of a princess is not for me! Forcing me to join a household that I'm not used to, and with Sa'Meter and Sa'Aidipa dislike of me because they do not know me is simply not a good idea. Aren't you the one who said that the Sea does not like to be restrained? Do not attempt to restrain me in Atlantis!"

He looked shocked to be addressed in such a manner, eyebrows raised and green eyes wide. I realised what I had just done- shouting at a temperamental god is NOT a good idea- far too late and slapped a hand over my mouth in horror. Oh fuck, he's going to smite me.

He didn't smite me. Instead, he laughed.

"I see that the Sea truly is unrestrained in you, paidi mou." He told me, amusement yet disapproval in his eyes. "You should be wary when speaking to other gods, they won't take your insults as easily as I."

"You're not going to force me to go to Atlantis?" I asked tentatively.

"No," he responded, returning to his serious visage. "I may disapprove of your choice to stay on the land, but I will not force a hyisi mou to do something that will make them unhappy."

Relief washed over me like a riptide, and I beamed up at him. "Thank you!"

"Hm," he hummed. "Do you have any idea about what you are going to do? Where on land you shall stay, call home, have a hearth? Or do you plan to travel and quest?"

"Well, um, that's kind of why I tried to send a message to you?" I said nervously, "I don't want to go on another quest- I just left a war- but I have no idea where to stay."

He looked amused, "And you have given no thought to staying here?"

"What?" I said stupidly.

"Ithaca is a great sailing kingdom- their ships are some of the best in the Aegean even if the rest of the Aegean refuses to admit so- you would be at home with their connection to the sea. I have no quarrel with their King, and I know their Queen is kind yet wise- she'll be able to give you a proper land education. Ithaca does not care if their women learn a blade or learn to weave, you will be able to continue wielding your sword. The island is remote, monsters do not care for it and you will be safe here." He listed carelessly.

I gaped, is he serious about this?

"Besides, did you not get an offer of fostering from the Ithacan Queen?"

"How do you know about that?" I asked, confused.

He raised an eyebrow, "I'm a god."

Touche.

"Are you certain that I will be safe here?" I questioned nervously.

"I am a god. If anything happens, I can easily interfere. Do not worry paidi mou, I won't let you get hurt."

My eyes flickered down as I played with my nails. I haven't had anything but perfect nail beds since I took on the Curse of Achilles, but I still picked at the skin. "I thought you aren't allowed to interfere in mortal affairs- it's against the Ancient Laws."

He nodded, "Yet we do it anyways. My brother does not care to enforce that law unless it serves him, and from the way he watches over his godling daughters with a careful eye, he has no ground to stand on."

I smiled at that.

"Thank you, Pater," I said.

He smiled and leant down to press a kiss on my brow. "I have not had a daughter in a long time, and I miss having one. Be careful, paidi mou, and take heart."

I opened my mouth to ask him what he meant by that, but he was gone.

The scent of salty sea spray lingered in the air.

"Family is complicated, daughter mine, but is that not the nature of the Heart? Love deals only in complications and ruthlessness; it is our job to soften it with trust, loyalty, and truth."

I bit my lip and pulled the fabric of my shawl closer to me.

Standing outside the door to Penelope and Odysseus' solar, I hesitated. Is this really the right thing to do? If I stay here, I might be attracting monsters and putting them in danger.

But Father said that I will be safe here, and my dreams… they told me to stay and find a family here. I have to at least try and settle here. There will be time for me to fulfill Luke's promise.

I let a guard announce my presence and waited for Odysseus' call, "You may enter!"

I strode into the solar, skirts billowing behind me as I walked.

Coming to a stop before the Queen and King, I gave a modest curtsy.

"Princess Rhea, what is it that makes you seek us so late at night?" Odysseus asked, a calculating look in his eyes.

"I was wondering if your offer of fostering is still available despite the events of last night," I began to their obvious surprise. "My father came to me not long after the sun began to set and advised me to stay on Ithaca where I will be safe."

Odysseus looked a bit thrown off at my admittal that a god had been in his home and he hadn't known about it, but he recovered quickly and smiled. "Of course! You are still welcome here, the wraith's appearance is no fault of yours and we enjoy your company."

I let out a breath of relief, but when Penelope stepped forward to draw me into a hug, I stepped back.

"There's something you need to know about before you accept me into your household."

Penelope frowned, "What is it Rhea?"

I took a deep breath.

"I'm from the future."

A/N

I forgot to mention that I use some of my original lore/worldbuilding here! Anyways, y'all got introduced to my original conlang, Halmaheran, AKA the Language of The Sea! The chapters of this fic will usually be between 4-7k words, so get used to that. The bold quotes are my original creations btw, I've already had one very confused commenter say they can't find it when they google the quote lol

Translations:

Pater/Pati = Father/Dad

Meter/ Sa'Meter = Mother/ Step-Mother

Aidipa/ Sa'Aidipa = Brother/ Step-Brother

Hyisi = Daughter

Paidi Mou = My child

Poseidon-bas = King Poseidon of the Sea