Thank you, as always, to Reading Obsession, my wonderful beta. Also, thank you everyone for the reviews. Each and every one makes my day! :D
Percy was underwater when he awoke. He knew this without opening his eyes, feeling the ocean currents swirl around him and the fluid weightlessness that only happened when under the sea.
Opening his eyes confirmed his theory. He was lying on a bed made of seaweed, with a pillow behind his head. When he sat up, the pillow floated off. A small shark floated through one window and out another as he watched.
Standing up, he stretched, rocking backwards on his heels, which, he realised, were not in shoes. In fact, he was wearing a simple blue tee-shirt and black pants. Not what he had been wearing before.
Before...
He suddenly became a lot more alert, rubbing his eyes and crossing to the door. There was Annabeth. And were the others to think about. But mostly Annabeth.
"Hey, is anyone here?" he called as he opened the door. The corridor outside was deserted except for a single Cyclops, which was now barrelling towards him.
"Percy!" said Tyson, as he launched himself at him. "Brother! I missed you."
"Ugh, ribs... breaking..." Percy said, before Tyson released him. "I've missed you too, man. It's not the same on the surface without you." Tyson beamed with pride.
"Daddy said that once you woke up I had to take you to him. Come on!" he said, setting off down the hall.
Percy shrugged, following him. We talked about how things under the sea were (very good) and how things on land were (not so good). Finally we reached the door of the throne room.
"Tell Daddy hi!" Tyson said, stopping at the door.
"Sure thing," he said, suddenly nervous. Percy hadn't seen his father in over three years, since their meeting on the beach after the fall of Kronos.
Pushing open the door, he walked inside. Two mermen on the other side closed the door.
The room was painted a light blue, with bands of seashells in different colours embedded in the sides. On a raised dais of polished bronze sat Poseidon's throne. And on it, Poseidon.
He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt, and Bermuda pants, with a fly fisherman's jacket and a brimmed hat. All in all, he looked the same as when Percy had seen in the Olympian throne room, almost eight years ago.
"Perseus," Poseidon said, standing up. Percy knelt down on one knee in front of him.
"Hello, father," he said to the ground. Though he couldn't see it, Poseidon smiled.
"Get up, my son. No need to be so formal. That is for Zeus."
Percy stood, surprised once again by his father. But then, really, how do you relate on a personal level to a powerful and immortal Greek God? You didn't, he reasoned.
Poseidon sat back down, reclining in his throne. He waved his hand and the water bent and rippled, the ripples slowing as it morphed into a chair.
Poseidon gestured. "Sit, and tell me your story. I'm interested to know how you ended up in my domain."
And so Percy told him. He told him about camp, Annabeth, the rebuilding of Olympus, his mother, and finally Jakob and what had happened that led Percy to be under the ocean.
Percy became more agitated, striding around the throne room, from one side to the other, in front of the throne. Poseidon looked on in an amused expression.
"I mean, it's great to have a brother, a human one, and there is no doubt that he helped save us from Hyperion. But he's lonely, and is it really so hard for you to claim him..."
"Percy," Poseidon said quietly.
"I mean, sure, you have a busy schedule and all that what with ruling the ocean."
"Percy." It was a little louder this time. Percy still didn't stop.
"But it would only take a couple of seconds, and I don't see why—"
"Percy!" Poseidon bellowed. "Listen to me!'
Percy crossed his arms and stopped pacing. He stared coolly into Poseidon's eyes.
"Yes?" he asked.
Poseidon leaned back in his throne, regarding his son.
"There is a reason I haven't claimed this 'Jakob'," he said, holding Percy's gaze. Percy shifted uncomfortably. "Are you going to listen to what it is?"
Percy nodded.
"That's because this Jakob is not my son."
Silence reverberated around this room. Percy's eyes went wide.
"What? Are you sure—"
"Positive," Poseidon said. "I keep track of my children. They are rare enough that I am able to do that. You are the only born in the 1990's. If this Jakob is sixteen, I would know of him. I also know I have a daughter, Melissa, who is three months old at the moment, in Washington. Other than that, I do not have any live human children."
Percy looked surprised. "Oh, wow. So, do you have any ideas?"
Poseidon pursed his lips. "I think I may. And I pray that I'm not right."
Percy couldn't help it. He chuckled.
Poseidon frowned. "Yes?"
"It's just, I didn't think Gods could pray, considering they're Gods and all..."
Poseidon's lips quirked. "Be that as it may, my point remains the same. However, I cannot say. If you truly wish to know, which, as you are my son, I know you do, you will have to see another God, a Goddess, actually."
"Who?" he asked.
"Aphrodite. She knows about it. And I'm sorry, but that's all I can tell you."
Percy sat back down, head reeling. With the prowess with which Jakob could control water, how could he not be Percy's brother?
Still, this was a conversation for another time. He was eager to get back to Annabeth, who had shared something with him that night. He also needed to talk to her, and her health was more important than anything. His heart ached at the thought of her.
"When can I leave?" he asked.
Poseidon smiled, showing white, even teeth. "I thought you would be going sooner rather than later. I was glad to see you again, my son. Tyson will show you how to get to your friends."
"Thank you, father, I was glad to see you too," Percy replied stiffly.
Poseidon stood. "Oh, wait," Percy said. "Tyson said to say 'hello'."
Poseidon smiled at the formality. "Tyson is a good son of mine. Never forget, though, that above all, you are my favourite."
And, with that, he was gone, leaving a fresh current of warm water in his wake.
Percy stared at the empty throne for a couple of seconds before standing up and turning around. The chair disappeared as Percy walked out of the door, the merman hurrying to open it.
Outside Tyson stood against the wall, eye closed. He was nodding silently, before opening his eye.
"Brother," he said thickly, "I'm going to miss you."
"Aw, Tyson," Percy said. "I'll miss you too."
And, with another bone crushing hug, they set off down the corridor, in the opposite direction this time.
Tyson led Percy to a courtyard, lit eerily with green lanterns, and with a mossy statue in the centre. Percy flicked his finger absentmindedly at it, and the current forced all moss and grime off of it, so that it gleamed.
Percy stared. It was a statue of him standing on a raised dais holding Riptide in the air. It was a good likeness, but Percy was surprised it was there anyway.
"Daddy said 'make statue of Percy', and I did!" Tyson said happily, seeing where Percy was staring.
"It's great," he said. "You're getting good at that sort of thing, man."
Tyson grinned with pride.
A hippocampus swam down from the murkiness above, nuzzling Tyson and eyeing Percy with intelligent eyes.
"Rainbow!" Tyson said, delighted. "How are you?"
The hippocampus whined softly, and nuzzled Tyson's head. He grinned and pat the hippocampus.
"Can you take Percy to Annabeth and the smelly one?" he asked.
"Smelly one? Do you mean Nico?"
Tyson nodded. "Smells yucky. Like death."
Fair point, considering Nico's position in the world. Or under it.
Rainbow whinnied like a horse and swam over to me, stopping beside Percy. He hopped on.
"Say hello for me!" Tyson said, "Hello to Annabeth and Nico!"
"Sure man," Percy said, as Rainbow started to propel himself away.
"Goodbye Percy!" Tyson said, as Percy sped upwards, towards the surface.
Thank you to my beta, and thank you, my readers, for your reviews. Muy apreciado. So, you found out a little about Jakob. I'd just like to say one thing. None of you have guessed the right heritage yet. :D
That makes me glad.
Oh, by the way, I have another story 'Broken'. It's NicoxPercy, very, very mild slash. One of my darker stories. You may want to check it out. -shrugs-
Reviews make the updates come faster. ;)