"I don't know what's going on in that head of yours, but if you think it's funny to directly disobey me, you're gravely mistaken."

My tail swished back and forth, trying to quell the sick feeling in my gut.

"It's like you're slapping me in the face! You're telling me, that you couldn't care less about the laws and rules I enforce to try to keep you safe! You're saying that you don't want my help. You just want to do your own little thing."

I kept my head lowered, daring not to speak.

"I just don't understand why you're doing this." Poseidon continued. "Can you explain to me? Why you don't seem to care at all?"

I kept quiet. By the tone of his voice, I could tell Dad was really hurt by my actions. I knew he wanted what was best for me, but sometimes, it just felt like he didn't understand. I mean, he was my dad. I loved him, of course I did. But I wasn't a baby. I could take care of myself just fine. I guess he was right in that sense; I didn't need his help, and I didn't want it.

Across the room, Poseidon gave a heavy sigh. "Perseus, look at me."

Obediently, I dragged my eyes away from the floor and glanced up.

His face was hard to read. For the moment, there seemed to be a mixture of pain, anger, and sadness, all of which were caused by me. He looked both physically and emotionally fatigued.

Poseidon drew a hand across his face. "Son…"

It took me a moment to realize what he had just called me. My whole life, I could only ever remember my dad calling me 'Perseus'. Never once did he even refer to me as 'Percy' or 'buddy'.

But 'son'...

I stared at him, now feeling extremely concerned. Maybe I had pushed him too far. He could very well be going crazy.

Poseidon turned back to me and swam over. Cautiously, as if unsure, he placed his hands on my shoulders, and searched my eyes.

"I just don't know what to do with you."

~line break~

When we finally reached ballroom, the guest had become restless. Some of them questioned in annoyance where we were, anxious for the ceremony to begin. From outside the doors, it was relatively silent, but we could still hear the agitated murmurs of the great crowd.

I glanced back at my dad with a look of surprise. "How many people are here?"

He chuckled, a slight gleam in his eyes. "Don't worry. There will be far more at Triton's coronation."

I squirmed anxiously. "That's… comforting."

Poseidon laughed at that, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure. Now come, they are waiting."

Poseidon nodded to the guards, who took hold of the large brazen doors. Once Poseidon had set his face into a neutral expression, the guards swung the doors open.

Instantly, the chattering silenced, and all heads swiveled to us.

I held my chin a little higher, trying not to ogle at all the people here. The room was packed from top to bottom, making it look like a crowded fish tank at the pet store.

Mer people of all kinds had traveled here from across the kingdom; noblemen, governors, senators, businessmen, the likes. Not to mention countless mermaids in long flattering jewelry and fancy attire.

I tried not to let my hands shake in nervousness.

Sensing my thoughts, Poseidon placed a hand reassuringly on my shoulder.

"Ladies and gentlemen. A sincere thank you for coming tonight. As you all know, it is the tradition and custom of our people to first see the surface once we reach sixteen years. My son, Prince Perseus, has reached this age today!"

There was a burst of excited cheering from the crowd. Poseidon raised his hand to silence them.

"After refreshments, and a ceremony, Perseus will venture up alone, and see the sky for the first time. So I ask that you be patient. It is not everyday a mer's son grows to this age."

Some of the older people in the crowd chuckled knowingly, having gone through this same process.

"Please, enjoy the festivities."

Another round of cheering erupted from the crowd, and Poseidon leaned down. "Go talk to some people." He whispered. "Get comfortable before the ceremony."

I nodded mutely in response, and swam into the crowd.

There were so many people, I didn't know who to start with. Then again, I didn't want to look like an idiot, so I swam over to one of the tables crowded with pastries. Cautiously, I picked up a yellow fruit bar and took an unappetizing nibble out of the corner. It was too fancy.

Of course, the instant I thought that, my father's exact response materialized in my head:

You get that from your mother. She never did like to spoil herself.

I allowed myself a small pang of sadness. I never knew my mother. According to Poseidon, she had died when I was a baby. That was all he was willing to say about her, other than that she'd been very beautiful. She must have been, to catch the king's eye.

Suddenly, a voice pulled me from my musings. "My lord!"

An older merman was swimming towards me. He looked like a wise old man in the forest, with warm, brown eyes and a tail the color of kelp stalks.

He bowed respectfully. "A pleasure to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Folice."

I smiled and bowed back. "Good evening sir. I trust you are enjoying the festivities?"

He raised his head in affirmation. "Of course, my lord. I wish you fortune upon reaching the surface. It truly is a beautiful sight."

I nodded. "Thank you. I'm sure it is."

He turned to leave. "Of course, I must find my wife. She helped arrange some of the bouquets and I fear I may have lost her to the party." His eyes gave an amused twinkle. "Good night my lord."

I bowed again and watched him swim off, swallowed by the crowd.

It wasn't until a few moments later that I realized there was a girl where he'd been standing.

She was considerably pretty, with long, cinnamon-red hair, and a shifting dress with so many layers I couldn't even see her tail underneath.

She stared after the merman I assumed was her father; a look of mortification dancing in her bright eyes.

When she finally turned to me, her cheeks were darkened with an almost green blush. That wasn't all surprising, since her skin itself had a not-so-subtle green tint.

"Sorry about him." She muttered. "He can be so brash sometimes."

Her lack of formality took me slightly off guard, but the fact that she treated me like a normal person was actually kind of refreshing.

"Nah it's fine." I told her. "Sometimes my dad does that too. Let me assure you, it's not the best thing in the world."

She nodded, giving no answer. This induced a moment of awkward silence, in which I felt strangely obligated to eat the rest of my pastry, which was slightly mortifying.

When the silence started to get unbearable, the girl finally dipped into an elegant curtsy. "I'm Juniper." She said. "An honor to finally meet you in person, lord Perseus."

I laughed, feeling relieved she was making an effort. "And I was just beginning to think I was not alone in this sea of formality."

She grinned back. "Don't worry, I'm not too far gone."

"Oh good, there may be hope for you yet."

She giggled in a cute way, and another blush colored her cheeks.

"Wait!" I let my eyes widen in mock fear, and held my hands up. "If you don't mean to be my 'friend,'" by this, we both knew I meant future queen of Atlantis. "You better distance yourself little maiden. I can be quite the charmer." I gave her a sly wink just to prove my point.

She stifled another giggle. "Well then, sir charmer, I'd better distance myself." She cleared her throat and said loudly,

"Thank you my lord, it has been a most wonderful talk, but I realize you must be awfully busy. I shall leave the honor of being graced by your presence, to others." All of this she said, while bent in a low curtsy.

I applauded vivaciously. "A little thick, but you madam, are a professional groveler."

Juniper smiled, looking very pleased with herself. "Well then, I guess I should get going." She winked at me. "Can't have my dad getting mermanic ideas."

Only a moment after she left, did I realize she'd successfully made a very sexist joke. I chuckled, shaking my head in amusement.

"Hey."

I turned around to see Grover floating behind me, a small smile on his lips.

"I tried to get to you as soon as I could, but it looks like someone beat me to it." He squinted after Juniper. "That girl you were talking to, she seemed nice, didn't she?"

So now Grover was stalking my conversations? Whelp.

I shrugged. "Yeah she wasn't too bad. I like her."

For the briefest of nanoseconds, Grover's expression turned to disappointment, but it was gone as soon as it came, replaced instead with a teasing smirk.

"You like her?"

My face turned beet red. "Grover! Don't be ridiculous! Not like that!"

He cackled. "I'm sure."

I threw my fruit bar at him, finally finding a good use for it. He was so busy falling over with laughter, that he didn't notice until it splattered all over his face.

"Hey!"

He picked up a platter of jelly donuts, and was about to return fire when the sound of a conch horn silenced the room.

I winced. That was my que.

A/N:

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand cliffhanger!

*dabs*

*cackles evily*

*ducks as vase is thrown over head and shatters somewhere in the background*

Alright! Chapter two, in the bag! Hope you guys enjoyed! R&R,

-Amy