Percy was tired. He had spent practically a year travelling all over the world, trying to find all of the strongholds held by the Titans and, hopefully, free them. He was currently relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever on the deck of a yacht headed back to New York City
All of a sudden, he heard a rumbling noise from beneath the ocean waves, and the thoughts of million aquatic life-forms sounded in his head. From them, he felt a single emotion- Fear.
The rumbling noise grew louder and louder as the ocean roiled and a burst of anger rocketed through Percy's mind.
It wasn't his anger. Something was angry, deep below the surface, but it wasn't him.
Percy drew Riptide from his belt, uncapping her as he did so, revealing the shining Celestial bronze blade. But there was something strange happening. The blade which once shone a dull gold, was not glowing with a brilliant yellow light and it seemed heavy in his hands, as if it was being drawn to something that lay beneath his feet.
All of a sudden, the water's surface exploded, spraying the deck of the yacht with water as a vast, reptilian head emerged from the surface. Beady, yellow eyes locked onto Percy and the beast opened its jaws, revealing a mouth full of bloodstained, bristling fangs.
The drakon lunged forward towards him, before stopping short, its eyes going wide. It let out a shriek of pure agony and bent over backwards, trying to get at whatever was hurting it.
A deep voice sounded from the ocean, carried by the salty sea breeze, like the rumbling of the underwater volcanoes that lay beside his father's palace, " Where do you think you're going, little Beast ?"
Suddenly the monster was flung back as something pulled it away from the boat.
The sea's surface flexed again, creating a tall spire of water directly behind the drakon. The drakon's acid-yellow eyes narrowed in fear as it regarded the towering shape
Suddenly, the spire's tip opened up like a flower, revealing a small figure standing atop it.
The figure suddenly rushed forward, as spires of water appeared and dissipated beneath its feet, supporting him.
It suddenly rushed past the drakon's neck, moving its hand in a slashing motion. Almost as if the waves had been commanded to do so, a tall tower of water once again rose from the water, it's tip freezing to become a blade of ice. The tower flexed and swung the blade directly into the drakon's throat, killing it.
The drakon, with gurgling screams, stumbled back and began breaking apart, dissolving into monster dust.
The hero who had commanded the waves slowly lowered the spire it was standing on and stepped onto the deck of the ship.
He was a tall man, with a thin, lithe figure and black, messy hair that hung loosely down to his shoulders. His skin was slightly tanned. He wore long, blue robes that hung loosely on his form, their front open, revealing what looked like a shirt made from small crystals of ice. His eyes were his most striking feature. The irises were pure blue, deeper than any blue Percy had ever seen before, and even the sclera were a light sky-blue
The man looked shocked to see Percy, and this shock only increased when he saw Riptide. He took a step forward, and Percy quickly drew his sword, blocking his path.
"Who are you ?!", Percy demanded
The man looked amused at the idea that a single blade could stop him, and considering that he had just slit a drakon's throat in a single move, he was probably right to do so.
"I am Sapphire", he said, "The Lord of the Realms that lie beneath the Sea. Most humans know me by other names. I'm particularly fond of "Horror of the Deep".
"I had no idea there were other sea gods"
"Oh there are many, but I'm not one of them. I'm less a God, and more a demigod who became immortal"
"A son of Poseidon ?"
"Born long before the Pact, little brother, don't worry"
"Why are you here ?"
The man looked supremely confused, "To…kill the beast", he said, pointing at the dust now coating the sea surface.
"No. On the ship. What do you want with me ?"
"With you ? Nothing. With that sword ? Everything"
"What does Riptide have to do with you ?"
"Riptide ? A fine name. You see, that sword was mine and was named after me. My name, my true name, is Anaklusmos, but you may call me… Riptide"
Chapter Management