I feel like I should explain some things. Perseus is the god of future, but it seems a little useless or too much to me at least. But I kind of meant that it would be a little like the prophesies. He can see which way mortals' lives go and some events that must happen. He can't see his own future and only a little glimpses here and there in other cases.
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I was wandering around late in the evening with Emerald in some Park in Syracuse when I heard a faint voice in my mind. I recognized the voice immediately. Nelly.
We are having a baby. It whispered to me before it vanished.
I stood there, shocked. The only thing in my head was NONONONONONONONO! The prophesy rang in my head again and again. It didn't sound bad… It didn't say anything about the child dying or pain. But deep inside, I knew it was unavoidable. The child - my child – would not just sit in an armchair and say that this is the way we roll from now on… No, the best chance was that it meant something horrible. And I would bet that the decision would not wait till the child would be an adult. I didn't mean this to happen! What a horrible future the child would have… If Zeus would ever found out… The child would be dead before you could blink. I never meant to give someone so much responsibility. And not to an innocent child who would have no saying in the events.
And still, I was happy. Loosing Hannah and her mother had hit me hard. Now was my chance to make things right, to get this weight away from my shoulders. Now I would protect the child and Nelly by all costs and not watch my child die in my arms. Never again. Maybe Hannah would then forgive me. Maybe I would forgive myself.
I must have been still and staring in the space for a long time because Emerald bit my hand as gently as you could bite. I jumped in the air, still a little dazed. You okay, Percy? She asked me after I calmed my heart down some. I managed to nod. What happened? You wouldn't response when I called you. Emerald continued and eyed me warily. I took a couple of deep breaths before I managed to say anything. "Nelly's pregnant."
Emerald looked at me, unblinking, waiting for me to crack up and tell her I was only joking, I could tell. You aren't with someone for a couple of thousands of years and not get to know their expressions. But when I was deadly serious for ten seconds Emerald's eyes got suddenly bigger. You're not joking? She asked as if she hoped I was. "Emerald, would I joke about things like this? You know the prophesy!"
Emerald was silent for a while. I could tell that she was thinking what to say to me without me throwing a fit. Yes, it is a little embarrassing to be an old god (with a little power, though) and not be able to keep your temper at bay.
I know, Percy. But it's your child. The little one will be fine, the daddy is a hero after all.
"And no one even know I exist! I have not enough power to protect them this far away. I could help them if I was with them. And I can't go back without the gods noticing someone with power was in town and hunting me down."
You need to calm down, mister. I haven't even noticed that I was phasing and agitating my hands unable to keep them still. I took deep breaths again but kept on phasing. Emerald followed my every movement with her eyes.
You can always tell Nelly what is happening. And you are a wealthy man, you can provide them with money.
I knew Emerald was right. I would give them money even if Nelly wouldn't accept it. She was soon-to-be young single mom. Not the easiest job in the world. And Nelly wouldn't be able to work for a while plus she would have to buy a nanny and those things are not cheap.
"You're right." I said and sat down. Then an idea hit me. What if Nelly didn't want a child? What would she do to the baby? Give it up? No, she would not do that. She is a loyal person, one of the reasons I fell for her. She would be great mother
How about you talk to her, explain that the child will not be like a human child.
I nodded. I knew Emerald was right. I took a couple of deep breaths and closed my eyes. It was hard for me to contact someone mentally with so little power I had. And I haven't used the skill for so long, it was like developing a muscle you haven't used in many years.
It took some time, but I managed to contact Nelly. Emerald eyed me all the while.
"Nelly." I said in her head. I could feel how she turned around and tried to find me.
"Just answer me in your head and I'll hear." I said, smiling. Nelly still made my heart to beat faster. I could feel her surprise.
"Percy?" She asked, sounding so hopeful I felt bad for leaving her. I should have just taken her with me.
"Yeah." I said and I could tell that Nelly catch my remorse in my voice.
"Where are you?" She asked me.
"Syracuse." I said and felt like smiling again. "Nelly, I have to talk to you about the baby."
She started to feel protective all of the sudden. "I am going to keep it. Don't you dare to say otherwise." I chuckled a little. "I wouldn't do that, Nelly." I felt her relieve.
"But, listen. The baby will not be a human child, it is half-human, half-god."
I couldn't get further as Nelly interrupted me. "The monsters are coming. Like the Cyclops in the park. You said it would harm the children only if one of them were a demigod."
"Yes. I am sorry Nelly. The child will be constantly in danger. The monsters will smell him. I was once a really important and liked god, so my smell in the child's blood will be strong even if nobody knows I exist anymore."
"When? When he starts to attract monsters?" She was panicking,
"Nelly, dear, try to calm down. It isn't good for the baby if you are too stressed." It helped almost immediately, Nelly was waiting for me to continue.
"I think the baby will be save at least until age two. Then there may be monsters checking on you two. But they won't necessary know that the baby is the demigod and go away. And he or she will also be ADHD and dyslexic, the first is to help demigods in a battle. Their reflexes are super good. And don't think the child is going to crazy if she or he tells you something weird. Demigods see too much for their own good, also in dreams. There will be a lot of nightmares and sadly they usually are going to happen in the future, happening the time demigods sees it or it has happened already. And dyslexia is because demigods are wired to read ancient Greek. The little one will be in danger in the mortal world, but there is one place where he or she will be save." Nelly was eager to hear the rest. I smiled a wide smile. It felt too good to contact Nelly again. I didn't want it to end.
"Camp Half-Blood. It is in Long Island."
"A camp for demigods?" Nelly asked like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Yes. They will train our baby and he will be with people like him. Oh, and in the mortal schools are satyrs, who find demigods and bring them to the camp. He will be save there as long as the gods will not know who is the father." I said to her thoughts, a little bitter. "They will kill him the first chance they get if they know the baby is mine." I could feel Nelly's shock.
"Because of the prophesy?" She asked. I nodded though Nelly couldn't see me. "Yes. That is the other reason I feel bad for the child. I fear that the future will be hard on the child. And you too, because you are the mother. I am so sorry."
There was a moment of silence. I feared what Nelly would do now that she knew a little what was going to happen.
"I will protect our child the best I can. Even if it gives me a one-way ticket to Hades." I was proud of her the same time I was panicking. I knew I would lose her sooner or later, later would be so much better. I didn't want her to die because of our child. Our child, I was starting to like how the two words sounded.
"Thank you, Nelly. I will always love you two. Be save." I said before I was back in my own head fully. My head hurt though, maybe I was a little too long in contact. I moaned a little and put my head in my hands. Emerald came beside me and curled up. Are you okay? She asked. I laughed a little. "Okay?! I'm going to have a baby!" I laughed and stood up. I was just going to take Emerald in my arms and dance around the park when I heard a voice behind me.
"Hey there, lad! You know the park is not for sleeping, right?" I turned around and saw a police officer eying me warily.
"Of course, officer." I said and smiled a big smile. I was certain that the cop thought I was drunk. "Better go home, lad, and take your dog with you. And you better keep it on a leash, no dogs running in this park." Then the officer went away.
Emerald growled as I laughed. A DOG? Do I look like a DOG? I'm a dragon for Perseus' sake!
"Hey! Watch the language!" I said but laughed. "I do have a pretty doggy."
Emerald showed me her teeth. And FYI, they were sharp. Call me a dog one more time… I'm going to eat someone. I just laughed. "I think you should go find some snack." I smiled but controlled my laughter. "See you in the motel."
Just hope that I find something to eat. She growled once again before opening her beautiful wings and flying up. I just snickered and headed to the motel. There was only one thought in my head; I was going to be a father!
Just when I was in our motel, I could feel something was wrong. The air was cold and it was too quiet, even if it was in the middle of the night. The air smelled evil. My hand went automatically to my watch and I clicked a couple of buttons before the sword appeared in my hand. I walked to our motel room and saw that the door was open. I swiped the sword a little, and took a better hold to it.
I went to the door faster than any god could and looked inside the sword in hand. In my bed was sitting a man who radiated power. If we were to fight with our powers, I would lose. He looked at me and smiled evilly. I eyed him warily after a quick look in the room. There was a couple of drakanae and one hellhound with the man.
I raised my sword and took a position, in which I looked relaxed but was ready to a battle immediately. Nobody moved and nobody talked. Then the man stood up and eyed me up and down. "Seems like the legends are true." I raised an eyebrow to the man as the hellhound growled before it was quiet all again. I eyed the man again. He was tall, maybe a couple of centimeters taller than me. He had black hear like me and cold blue eyes. He had some muscle and was wearing casual clothes. And the power radiating from him... He wasn't a god, that much I could tell. And gods would not hang out with monsters last I checked. "My name's Oceanus." He said. I could almost hear as the gears in my head turned. "The old sea titan." I said to him. He didn't look too happy about that but nodded either way.
"And you are the forgotten god." He said and looked me like he was trying to solve a complicated puzzle. I stayed quiet. I didn't want to lie and at this point I thought that it would do no good. Oceanus would not have come if he wasn't certain that I was the man he was looking for.
"Pray tell, who are your parents?" He asked me. My eyes flashed dangerously and I could see that it pleased Oceanus. He started to grin. "You know, we would have never knew about you if a… friend of mine would not have found a marvelous temple in Greece. The temple was badly damaged and the years had not been good to it, but we could read something from the writings. And the statue was still recognizable." I gulped. I stepped closer and raised my sword to his neck. "How did you find me?" I growled. Oceanus just grinned like I confirmed his thoughts. Maybe I just did.
"Yes, it took some time." I raised an eyebrow. "Okay, more like seven years. You are good at hiding." He said and looked like a proud father. I didn't want to take that act anymore. I knew that he was nervous and thought that I was at his mercy. I send a pulse of fear towards Oceanus and the monsters in the room, and the hellhound started to whine. Oceanus' eyes got bigger and he raised his hands like he just realized my sword was pointing towards him. "Woah! How do you do that?" He asked, his voice shaking from the fear I managed to get him feel.
"What do you know about me?" I asked and put the sword at his neck. Oceanus backed up and glanced around the room. The hellhound was gone and the drakanae were in a corner trying to be as small as possible. His eyes were back on me, a wild look in them.
"Just that you were really respected god some thousands years ago and that you are a god of heroes and some other things, and the statue showed us how you looked more or less. And there was a text that said that you are loyal, we like loyal. But the bells were ringing in our heads, because we know every god, and nobody knew who you were. Then they called me. I somewhat remember a dark haired boy in the palace of Poseidon, but I could not remember the name or anything else for that matter. And we want to recruit you!" He finished, all in three or four breaths.
"Who is we?" I asked and kept my sword on Oceanus' shoulder. He gulped and looked some help. That was when Emerald decided to come back. Percy! She shouted in my head and as I glanced at her for a moment she changed her form. When the green mist around her vanished there was a full-grown emerald colored dragon, who just fit in the room. Even I thought that Emerald was scary. Her teeth looked very big and sharp, her eyes were just black flames and she growled. I removed my influence on Oceanus' emotions and was satisfied when he still felt fear. I was sure Emerald was laughing when I heard a muffled sound.
Who is this? Emerald asked as she tried to move in the room without destroying everything in it.
"Emerald, meet Oceanus. Oceanus, meet Emerald." I said with a bored tone as Oceanus looked more and more scared. His eyes met mine and he gulped, trying to ignore a huge dragon's teeth just beside him. "Would you like to get you revenge on the gods?" He asked and looked me straight in the eye. I was shocked for a moment. Could I finally get my revenge? "Go on." I said, my voice on the edge. Oceanus started to smile again.
"We serve the titan Lord Kronos." He said as my eyes widened in horror. Oceanus didn't notice, though as he continued. "He ordered as to find you after the temple. He wanted to know more about the important god who the others decided to forget. Or would you like to be outcast for the rest of your life?" He asked, now a glint in his eyes. I growled a little and Emerald breathed a hot breath toward Oceanus and he winched.
"Kronos is rising?" I asked, my voice small but full of anger. Oceanus nodded and looked at me, now wary all again. "And he wants to start second titan war?" My head hurt. If Kronos was raising and I was just having a baby, how there could not be a connection? No way I would let my little one to battle against Kronos but neither the gods.
"Well aren't you smart." Oceanus said voice full of sarcasm. Emerald growled at the old sea titan and the smile vanished from his face. I thought for a moment. I wanted to get my revenge on the Olympians, I really did. Now was my chance, would I take it.
Percy, you can't trust Kronos. Emerald said as she looked at my face. She knew how badly I wanted to make the Olympians suffer. And she wanted it too, for all that has happened to me.
"I know." I said and Oceanus looked at me funny. Emerald just nodded pleased with the answer. "Kronos promises that if you join, you can do whatever you want with the god you want." I was tempted to take the offer. I really was. But I knew I couldn't trust the titan, as Emerald said. He would destroy the humans and I could have to fight against my child. And I wasn't angry at all of the gods. Just the Olympians. They could go. And the demigods would be destroyed too. Even if some of them were the child's of the people I hated, they didn't deserve to become extinct.
"Thanks, but no thanks." I said finally, after a pained silence. "The world Kronos would create would be horrible."
Anger flashed in Oceanus' eyes. "So you want to be the scum for the rest of your existence." He growled at me but he paled as Emerald showed him how to growl. "You don't even know what has happened to me." I said and raised my sword again. I wanted to strike Oceanus down. He gulped but couldn't go any further away from me as he was against the wall again. "I suggest you leave." I said and stepped out of the way. Emerald changed herself a little smaller so that Oceanus could go away. The drakanae (which I forgot were here) ran away as fast as they could but Oceanus stayed. "You will regret this. You side with the gods? They are nothing! We will stike you down too." Oceanus said as he took a step away from the wall.
"I am a god." I said and felt really angry. "And I'm not going to them. They deserve a punishment. Not just because of me, but all they have done. I have kept an eye on them and it's not pretty. As you said, I am the forgotten god. They don't know I exist." Oceanus looked at me for a while before Emerald. growled at him again. Then he teleported away, leaving a scent of dirty sea water behind.
I suggest we leave tonight. Emerald said when we stood there and looked the spot Oceanus had vanished. "I agree." I said and picked up my duffel back. How about the west coast? Emerald asked as I picked some clothes up and put them in the duffel. "Sounds good to me." I said and looked at Emerald. "Kronos is no good." She nodded and growled. I know. I could eat him too. I grinned at Emerald and sighed almost immediately after. "Let's go." I said as we stepped out of the door and started walking.