:P Happy solstice! In honor of the solstice here's an extra long chapter :) That I actually proof read for once :) Ignore that it's a day late.

Come yell at me on my tumblr: Percabeth4Life
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OO OO OO OO

I woke to heat.

My skin felt too hot, tight and uncomfortable. I cracked my eyes and hissed at the light shining down on me.

"Careful," hissed the familiar voice of Martha. "Sssit up, here-"

Martha's scales shifted, giving me leverage to slowly push up against the boat. I groaned, rubbing my eyes and squinting.

My body felt like lead.

"You usssed too much power," Martha chided. "You have been usssing too much power. You will need to ressst today."

"Today?" I squinted at the sky.

The sun beat down on us, I was pretty sure I had a sunburn. It was too high in the sky considering we'd reached Medusa's island closer to sunset than anything.

…

"How long have I-"

"All night," Annabeth interrupted, voice tired.

I twisted to look at her, leaning against the other side of the boat. Her chest was covered in bandages, her shirt draped over her legs.

"We stopped on an abandoned island a few hours after sunset last night," she continued. "Then started up again a bit after sunrise. I'm not sure what time it is now-"

"It's about half past first tide," I said helpfully.

Annabeth blinked at me slowly, "I- I am not sure how that translates to hours and minutes."

I didn't really know either, not without a clock.

"It'sss about nine-thirty," Martha informed us.

"Thank you, Martha."

"Of coursssse," the snake stared at me.

I shifted, "I didn't mean to- to make the… ice berg."

Martha's tail swished.

"Sorry," I muttered.

"It isss dangerousss to ussse sssso much power," Martha explained. "You are mortal. You cannot put sssso much of yoursssself into your actions, it drainssss you too much."

"I've never done so much difficult stuff in a row," I muttered. "I didn't realize…"

Martha hissed out a sigh.

"Let thisss be a lessssson. You are too young, too mortal, to do sssso much at onccce."

Annabeth shuffled, "So the uh… iceberg…"

"It's hard to make ice," I muttered, twisting my fingers. "It's uh… well fresh water it's easier? I don't have to force the salt out. But with salt water it takes a lot more effort… I've never made something so big before."

"And before that you were fighting Kharybdissss," Martha grumbled. "And healed in the occccean."

"Thank you for protecting us," I said softly. "We… wouldn't have made it this far without you."

Annabeth nodded quickly, "Seriously, you've- you've saved our lives at least four times already."

Martha preened a bit at that, "It isss my duty."

"Well, I'm definitely setting out some good offerings for you when we get back to camp," Annabeth said. "We… owe you a lot."

She rubbed her ribs, her lips pursed.

Martha hissed, nudging me lightly, "Drink sssssome nectar. And perhapsss we can get ssssome water in the boat, to cool off."

I perked up, "Oh, did you get our supplies?"

Annabeth nodded, "It was on the other side of the island. All three bags were there… though… Tyson's was partially open… I uh, I don't know if anything fell out."

I swallowed, accepting the bag that Martha dropped into my lap with her tail. My breath caught as I ran a finger over the trident marking his bag.

I opened it slowly, blinking back tears as I examined his clothes in the bag. There were gold stains on them.

"Why- why would it be open?" I whispered.

Annabeth chewed her lip, "Well… it could've opened by catching on something or… Tyson opened it and didn't close it."

"They're stained," I muttered. "I think that's gold…"

Martha twisted over my arm, peering in.

"Yesss, it doesss appear to be."

"What does… that mean?"

She nudged my chin, a soft comfort.

"It issss likely that he opened the bag before he wassss devoured. He may have been injured."

I ran my fingers over the stains, then let out a breath, checking the rest of the bag.

The cash was still there, tucked under the clothes, so were the drachmas. I pulled out the thermos and the vitamins as well, both in good shape. That would… probably be helpful… I dug through the bag, shifting his clothes around as I searched for his tools. He'd been nearly done with whatever he was working on last he said, I wanted-

I wanted to save it. He- it…

I dropped the clothes in my lap, shifting them around, shaking them, there wasn't anything else in the bag though.

I turned it upside down and shook it, my hands shaking.

"Where is- his tools and stuff- where did they go-"

Martha poked her head into the bag, then shifted to poke at the side pocket. It was empty as well.

"It musssst've fallen out."

I swallowed, wiping my eyes.

I couldn't even save the thing he'd put so much work into.

A wet blanket draped over me, soft and cool.

I blinked up at Annabeth who tucked the blanket from my med kit around me, offering me some nectar. Her eyes were soft.

"I'm sorry, Percy."

I shook my head, "It- it's not your fault. I-"

I let out a shaky breath, my body shaking with it.

"I-" she twisted her fingers, tucking them close. "Do you want to talk about it? Or… do you want a distraction?"

I didn't want to dwell on Tyson, on his death, on his missing tools.

I didn't want to dwell on the blood on his clothes.

"Distraction?" I whispered.

"What did you say to Medusa?" she asked quickly. "The uh- stuff after we found out she's Greek?"

I blinked slowly, taking a moment to remember.

"What?"

"You said something like- Amula?"

It clicked.

"Oh, Atula! That means hello. And uh, I think I said 'naiye sa'opu' after. That means 'how are you'."

She blinked, "Oh, is that more Halmaheran? Why did you say that to her?"

I shuffled, rubbing the soft blanket. It was comfortable.

"The uh- the greeting is kinda traditional? It's a really simple greeting mind you- but like- it's the simple proper way of greeting people in the ocean that you know but aren't close with. It can change depending on the situation…"

"Oh, makes sense," she muttered. "But Medusa isn't of the ocean?"

"She was with my Metua though, so like- it's polite… She was with my Metua!" I dropped my head back with a groan. "Ugh, her proper title would've been Medusa-nio!"

She tilted her head, brows furrowed. "Why was her being with Poseidon important? What's 'nio'?"

I blinked up at her, "Oh um… well, she was with my Metua, so like- she's kinda connected to the ocean? Plus, she's Khrysaôr's mom. So, I went with the basic ocean greeting. And her being someone who was with my Metua means she has the title of that."

Annabeth snorted, biting her lip, "There's a suffix specifically for those who were with Poseidon?"

I nodded, confused.

"That's- wait… does that mean your mom's title is-"

I nodded.

"Oh my Gods."

Martha hissed laughter, "Yesss, it isss a way of recognizzzing that they were ssssomeone great enough to hold the favor of a God, while still marking them asss not of a higher rank."

"A higher rank?"

I perked up, "Oh, some people have several ranks. Like Triton is a messenger, but he's also the high prince. So, when they have several ranks you use the highest rank to refer to them… unless the other rank is more relevant to the situation. For Triton though, well you'd almost always call him Triton-re'aia."

She nodded slowly, "Oh, that's cool. I think that works like that with mortals too… I don't know much about royal stuff though."

"Same."

"So, uh… how would my mom be referred to in the ocean?"

I shuffled, "Well… She's um… kinda a touchy subject?"

Annabeth blinked in confusion.

"She- well… Triton isn't a big fan of Her. The uh…. Pallas thing…"

Understanding dawned, "Oh… sorry I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine," I offered a smile. "The title She had before- well uh, before it was kinda revoked-"

"Revoked?"

"She's… not entirely blocked from the ocean but… with the conflict with my Metua and Triton's anger… it's well… She's not got the title anymore, not Her original one. And some insist She still holds it but-" I grimaced "-doing so will get Triton mad."

"Oh… so uh… what was it?"

"Uh, so there's the royal title as a ward of Triton of Athena-ove, which is like… basically Lady Athena? And then there's the title She had as Pallas' friend, Athena-re'ino."

"'re'ino'?"

I nodded, "It's like… 'ino' is family friend, and 're' means like… uh… not sure about direct translation but it's basically higher rank, like 're'aia' means High Prince. So it's calling Her a high family friend."

"Oooh, I guess that one is definitely not a thing now."

"Not unless you're speaking of Her specifically in the past tense of Her relation to Pallas."

"Okay… and what would She be known by today?"

"Uh… well you could call Her Athena-o'ove-"

"Oh-oh-veh?"

I nodded, "The 'o' is basically like… disowned, but that's not technically accurate for Her. It's um… she's not just disowned, it's stripped entirely."

Annabeth winced, "That's… harsh."

"Yeah, so uh," I huffed. "She's got several ways of being referred to today, it kinda depends on why you're talking about Her. If it's for Wisdom and all then She's Athena-tiu or Athena-oro, which is like- librarian and teacher. But Librarians are also viewed as knowledge guardians. It's the closest thing to Her Wisdom realm, and also used for Apollo."

Annabeth considered that, "And 'oro' is teacher?"

"Mhm."

"So that's used in the terms of Her teaching Her wisdom?"

"Yeah exactly."

"Huh, cool. And what about if She's as a War Goddess? Or crafts?"

"For crafts it's Athena-koi, which is basically craftsperson. Or even Athena-re'koi."

"Ooh," Annabeth said. "And War Goddess?"

"Athena-re'fea. It's a… complicated one. She and Ares are the only one's really called re'fea…"

"Really?"

"Well Them and other War Gods, for various pantheons. It's uh, 'fea' is soldier, but there aren't any High Soldiers. The other positions can have Higher roles within them, and they specifically reference the ocean ranks."

"So, you can't call Her general or tactician 'cause it implies She works with the sea?"

I beamed, "Exactly! So She's called 're-fea', a High Soldier, as a War Goddess She's basically the highest."

"That's really cool," Annabeth offered with a grin. "I never knew there were so many titles in the ocean."

"It's really interesting to learn," I agreed.

"What's your title?"

I tilted my head in confusion.

"Like, Percy…"

"Oh! I'm Percy-aia for most."

"'aia' is prince, right?"

"Yep!"

She hummed, "So you're a recognized Prince in the sea?"

I nodded.

"Is that normal for a demigod?"

I faltered, "Well uh… I'm not sure?"

She tilted her head and Martha straightened.

"It isss not very common," Martha said. "All of hisss children hold a title of lord, lady, or liege, but it isss rare for one to hold the title of Princccce, Princessssss, or Princccette."

I pointed to Martha, "What she said I guess."

Annabeth nodded, "How strange… do you know why you're recognized as a Prince?"

"I uh, I'm not sure. I just know Metua said that I was getting banded."

"Banded?"

I perked up, "Yeah! In the sea we don't use crowns, we use arm bands. Mine are in my cabin."

"Oooh, that sounds cool!"

"It's super cool! They're really pretty, with a kraken design and stuff."

"Sounds lovely, you'll have to show me sometime," she said with a grin. "You seem to know a lot about the sea, and other stuff…"

She looked thoughtful, "So uh… what's the Greek versus Roman thing?"

"The Greek versus Roman thing?"

"Like- the Greek Medusa versus the Roman Medusa- is that a normal thing? You've mentioned Greeks and Romans a few times before but… I just- I don't know, it's unfamiliar to me? Like the Arachne stuff is by Ovid, and is Roman, but the spiders still target me…"

I hummed, considering.

"It's… okay so the Roman Gods are different from the Greeks, right?"

She nodded, "Yeah, but also- I don't know, the mythology overlaps so much? And a lot came from Greek mythology, and Etruscan obviously but…"

"Right…" I tried to remember how my teacher taught me it. "Okay so… imagine a-"

Couldn't use the metaphor my tutor Euphemia gave me, Annabeth wouldn't know it cause it was based in the sea.

"-okay so imagine an apple tree."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, "Okay…"

"So the Greek Gods are the tree itself, the thing putting pieces together."

She nodded.

"The Etruscan Gods… well not entirely accurate but let's call them the apple blossoms on the tree, there's a lot that goes into making the apple blossoms, but there's still the tree helping with that. There's some overlap in their mythos from what I remember…"

"Yeah, I remember some stuff about it too."

"There isss," Martha agreed. "But it issss of a very different nature."

I nodded, "Maybe consider the Etruscan's the sun, or the water, they're something the apples can't grow without. They're needed for the apples to even begin to grow."

"Okay," she said. "So?"

"So the Roman Gods grew from the Greeks and the Etruscans, and kinda overlapped the two, it formed from them both and it's like- echoed aspects? But then the apple got plucked-"

Annabeth was nodding slowly, looking thoughtful.

"-so uh, the apple is now an apple, and grows on it's own. It ripens more and can turn into other things like pie and cake and stuff."

"So… they originally came from the same but now don't?"

"Yeah."

"That… makes sense. They're not the same beings, but have the same source…"

I nodded, "And the histories changed some, it's like um… mixing apples from different trees, or having a new farmer. They changed how the tree looked and stuff so the apple is different."

"Like Ovid."

"I don't like Ovid," I muttered.

"Me neither," Annabeth laughed. "But I guess that makes sense. The Roman Medusa was formed, was mortal first."

I nodded, "She got with Metua in the temple, and was transformed."

"And the Greek one, I think I remember a mention somewhere of her and Poseidon getting together."

"In a field of flowers," I agreed.

"But she was born a monster, so of course she's more monstrous…"

I shuffled at that, "Just cause they're born as terrors, doesn't make them evil."

Her gaze flicked to Tyson's bag and she winced, "I… I know you mean Tyson, and he deserved better- I should've treated him better. Everyone should've… But Percy, you- you do know most monsters, they aren't good like Tyson…"

I shifted, "I- I know most want us dead… I just…"

"You see the best in them," she murmured. "I don't know if it's different in the sea, maybe you have an easier time negotiating with monsters there… but Tyson is the first nice monster most of us have met in our lives."

I blinked, thinking of Medusa.

"But…"

"Even if some can be convinced to spare us, we're usually too busy trying to survive, or run, or fight for our lives, to even bother. It's-" she chewed her lip "-I don't want you to try to be nice to the wrong monster and die for it."

I blinked, "I- I mean… I wouldn't…"

She stared at me sadly, "You're really nice, and that's a good thing most of the time. It just… it might get you hurt… and I don't want that…"

"Consssider thisss," Martha hissed. "Mossst monsssters are naturally inclined to prey on mortalssss."

We both blinked at her.

"It isss the ssssame way you may eat fisssh, dessspite underssstanding them. It isss their nature. It isss not usually cruelty that leadsss their actionsss, it isss ssssimply dinner."

I swallowed, I hadn't considered it like that.

"Ssssome are ssssmarter, but that only makesss them better hunterssss ussssually. Tyssson, and the Kyklopessss employed by your father, are rare excccceptionsss. It would be like a fisssh trying to get you to not eat the fisssh, or any other fissssh."

I nodded slowly, "I… I think I understand that.

"It's important you remember that," Annabeth said earnestly. "You… your kindness has saved us before, with the other Medusa… but most monsters will react like this Medusa, and it could kill you. Even if they seem like they'll be nice- it could just be a trick."

"I understand."

She seemed worried, I wondered if she had a friend in the past try to spare a terror and suffer for it.

I didn't ask.

My stomach grumbled then and I realized I was starving.

"Do we have food?"

OO OO OO OO

I yawned and tucked away my book on curse breaking I'd been reading for the last few hours as we neared an island with many boats parked at it.

We were hoping to buy one of them with our money.

Or steal one. Martha was advocating for stealing one.

I ran my fingers over my shirt, feeling the armor underneath it. Hopefully it wasn't necessary, but neither me nor Annabeth wanted to take any chances. She was also wearing her armor under her clothes, her cap of invisibility tucked into her pocket and her knife strapped to her arm.

I had my own knife strapped to my side. I really needed to get a way to carry it hidden, Annabeth seemed to feel the same way.

My oceanskin was at my side, as it should be. And everything else except the vitamins and thermos (which Annabeth had) were packed up, for both of us. Annabeth said we should keep the stuff hidden on the boat, to be sure we didn't lose anything, and I agreed.

Martha was chosen to guard everything, no one would get past her.

The island grew closer and closer and I slowly started to pick up on the various sensations it held.

I'd noticed the heat from a good distance, but only because the air was cooling as the sun sunk down and fourth tide passed. I was growing warmer by the second as we drew closer to the island, and a pinpoint of light far down the island held my attention.

But underneath that was the cloying twine of weaving threads.

There was a magic user here, I wasn't sure what to do about that.

I did warn Annabeth, so she'd be aware, she promised to leave the magic to me for the moment.

I eyed the boats as we grew closer, magic user forgotten. I really wanted the big pirate ship. I didn't know how the direct it, but I was sure Khrysaôr would, and maybe he'd be impressed if I brought one back. He could teach us how to sail it!

And in the meantime, I was great with water so would just direct it that way.

Our boat hit the docks just in time for a young woman to step onto them.

We climbed out of the boat as she reached us, sizing her up as she gave us each a look over, pausing on me with a slight frown.

"Hello, my name is Hylla," she said finally, flashing us a bright smile. "I'll be your guide while you're at the spa!"

"… the spa?" I asked in confusion.

She nodded, "Are you not here for the spa? The island is dedicated to it."

We shared a look, spas were nice in the time I spent in them with my sisters… but I wasn't supposed to go to them without them.

But then… we did need a place to stay for the night, and I'd yet to have an issue with a spa.

I poked mentally at the magic presence around me and hummed, I wasn't sure.

Annabeth shrugged, "We need to stay for the night, would that be alright?"

Hylla nodded eagerly, "Abso-lutely! Now, may I have your names, genders, and anything you want to focus on in particular? I assume hair for the both of you, and perhaps a massage…"

"I'm Percy," I said hesitantly. My gender… I mean obviously merfolk could be many genders but I'd never thought about my own… "I'm a guy I guess?"

"I'm Annabeth, and a girl. Why are our genders relevant?"

"To know who to put you with," she chirped, scribbling things down on her clipboard (which I could've sword she didn't have a second ago). "We don't want to put the guys with girls or the girls with guys if they're not comfortable with it, and some who aren't guys or girls prefer having another that's not a guy or a girl- do you have any such preference?"

She looked at us expectantly.

I shrugged, "Um… not really?"

"Me neither."

"By the way, are the boats for sale?"

Hylla blinked, seeming surprised by the question. "Well, some are. Would you like to speak with the head of the spa about it?"

I nodded, "Yes, please!"

"And how much does the spa treatment cost?" Annabeth asked quickly. "We have a budget."

Hylla beamed, "First time guests get it half off! With a hair treatment, massage, skin care package, would you like a bath? Of course you do, it comes free with the massage- and of course a makeover, new clothes and skin and hair care, and makeup if you wish… that would come to be one hundred silver drachmas a piece!"

I mentally went over our drachma count. One gold drachma was worth ten silver drachma in the current day, so that meant it was ten gold drachma a piece. Would be twenty without the half off…"

I glanced at Annabeth and saw her sigh, "I think we can do that… depends on ship prices?"

"Well, how about I bring you get a hair treatment and drop Percy off with the head of the spa to talk about boat prices?"

Annabeth shot me a concerned look, but I flashed a quick smile. It would probably be fine, just talking about ships. I could do that alone… probably.

"Sounds like a plan," Annabeth said with a determined nod. "Shall we go?"

Hylla beamed and hurried us in, chattering about the different treatments as she led us deeper into the spa.

I stared at the Hippocampi formed in a fountain and ached as rainbows glittered off the watery scales.

Tyson would've loved it.

I shook my head and hurried to keep up.

"Here you are, Percy," Hylla chirped, stopping at a door. "Just go tell Ms. Kiki that you want to buy a ship and she'll do the negotiations!"

"Thank you, Hylla," I said with a cheerful smile. "I'll catch up with you in a bit, Annabeth."

She waved, letting Hylla lead her further into the spa.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping in.

"Hello? Ms. Kiki?"

Faint humming cut off, a faint rustling catching my ears. I looked around, stepping further into the room just as a figure sweeping into my view.

I froze, staring at her in awe.

Her hair shone like gold, her eyes even more so. They literally glowed, shining like twin suns. Her skin was warm, deeply tanned and smooth. She wore an elegant chiton in a soft blue, with gold bindings holding it in place.

"Ah, and who might you be?" she asked gently.

Her very presence radiated magic, winding threads dancing over my skin, ready to weave into a pattern of power.

"I'm- I'm Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon. I'm, uh, I'm here to ask about buying a ship."

She hummed, studying me intently.

"Yes, I'll allow you to buy a ship. Which do you want?"

"The pirate ship," I said immediately. "If it's available."

"Thirty golden drachmae, and you allow me to give you a makeover."

I blinked, "A make over?"

She swept to my side and I stumbled back a step, but her finger curled a strand of my hair and she tugged lightly. I blinked up at her.

"Such potential in your appearance, and yet- it's not properly cared for. Your poor hair…"

I shuffled, flushing at that. "I care for it as best I can- I wash my hair every week and use coconut oil to moisturize it! My hair isn't as curly as my moms and doesn't need the same amount of care as hers-"

Ms. Kiki tutted, "You poor dear. You don't deep condition it? Oh, this just won't do, I'll fix this. Here, come, I have stuff to care for it. And your skin as well- do you regularly wash your face? And moisturize? Hmm, a facial would do you well to be sure."

I looked away, feeling inadequate. I had some nicer products thanks to the lotus card, but I didn't need to do as much as mom so didn't. Mom said I got more of her dad's white hair rather than her moms (and her) thick hair.

I mean mine was still thick- but not like my mom's. And wasn't nearly as curly. Was I caring for it wrong?

"Come," she said, tugging me along to an area with a seating area.

"Now sit, I'll make a good potion to improve your hair. It will lessen the amount of work we need to do."

"Work?"

"Yes, a proper hair treatment, when was the last time you cut your hair? Oh, the split ends- and it's clearly too dry… do you treat it like normal mortal hair? It's mer-based, on top of the mortal care you need to ensure it has all the natural oils-"

She fell into mutters as I realized part of the issue.

Apparently, I had a bit more mer-biology than I thought. That would explain it- I had no idea… I would have to ask my Metua how to add that into caring for my hair.

I tugged my hair, frowning over it while I tried to figure out what to do about it as Ms. Kiki returned with a frothing pink potion.

I blinked at it.

"Now, do you have the proper products for your hair? Oh, a ridiculous question, drink your potion and I'll return with the products I need-"

"What's that?" I asked, staring at the potion.

That was not for hair.

It twisted and turned and reminded me-

It reminded me-

Avoid spas at all costs

Spas are dangerous

They'll give you fancy drinks and then you'll die

Fine, but when you get turned into a pig or killed, I warned you.

I stood up, heart beating fast.

Magic that wove like threads ready to weave a pattern.

A spa.

"You're the one that cursed Carl."

She faltered, confusion crossing her face.

"… who's Carl?"

And she didn't even remember it.

"You turned him into a guinea pig!"

She hummed, putting the magic potion down.

"I turn all men that come into guinea pigs. I've shown mercy to men in the past, and they dared to cause more problems… no, I won't allow that. If you won't drink the potion, I'll do it personally."

The threads around me tightened, her power weaving and twining and tying it together.

I stiffened, drawing my own power to me as the threads tightened, her light shown brighter, heat burned. A tapestry of a curse twined tighter and tighter and-

I threw everything I had in a sharp spike against her curse.

"You brat!" She snarled, staggering slightly as the tapestry tangled and twisted and fell apart.

I drew on my memories of curse breaking, pulling everything I knew together, and steadied myself.

"You cursed Carl! And just tried to curse me!" I glared at her. "Well I won't let you curse me."

Her eyes narrowed, "Oh? You won't? I have thousands of years of experience on you, little boy. But if you want to try and fight me… well then, let's see how you do little boy."

She raised her hands, glowing gold like the sun, and power throbbed through the air.

I took a breath.

I let it out.

I offered a quick prayer of apology to Martha for not resting more.

Fire burned and swept towards be and threads wound over me, digging into me and threading together to weave a tapestry.

I yanked open my oceanskin, tugging my own power and surrounding myself with it. Water spiraled out, light twined through me, I twisted, winding my power tight around me. Layer and layer and layer and guard. Sharp spikes, guard like the ocean guards, quick movement, sharp spikes, ice glittering and shoving through her careful tapestries. She snarled, stalking towards me with magic burning and bright.

I summoned my trident and lunged.

Magic burned, and fire shoved me back, water yanked at my own and I yanked it back. Water was mine, she could not have it.

"I won't let you curse me," I snarled as I yanked the water and lashed out, spiraling curls shattered a chair, fire blazed catching at my shirt. Water coated my skin, physically and magically.

"You think you can match me?" she hissed. "I have fought for millennia!"

"Even a weak curse breaker can counter a curse if they do so before it's finishing laying," I countered. "I may be new to this, but you need to weave your tapestry before you can curse me!"

I tugged for my power, remembering how the ocean cleansed in my presence. I wrapped myself in layers of power and water and shielded tight and close and safe.

And with spikes curling around me, an octopus of water lunging for her, and ice coating the floor, I sent a pulse of purifying power out.

She shrieked, her threads cleansed on my skin. My water crashing in wave that her light couldn't burn away.

Light blazed, a tapestry wrapped around her, I lashed out at it. My magic faltered, but I shoved, my eyes burning as hers did without the light. My breath caught and I my magic slipped. I staggered.

"You- you pitvel ufanto!"

"Uvena vak!" I snapped back. "Leave me ALONE!"

The world crashed in a blaze of light and a rainbow of watery mist, tapestries tumbling apart as the floor iced and the air blazed. I fell to my knees, gasping and shaking and struggling to hold tight to my wall of water and clean and sharpness.

Ms. Kiki was breathing slowly, her eyes burning.

"Are you done, pemapo?"

Was I done? Was I done with my defense? I couldn't hold it, not against this. It was exhausting- I'd never fought that before, never fought this way before. I didn't know- I couldn't- I had to keep fighting-

I glared, my power thin on me, water dripping. I tried to shove my power out, but it was new, and I was weak.

"I just want to buy a boat," I hissed. I was desperate, I was ready to plead.

She snorted, "After this display you'll be lucky if I leave you alive. I'm thinking… turning you into a little kitten and setting a tiger on you… yes that sounds nice."

"No-

A tapestry wove, my vision blurred as I struggled to spike at it, but she wove gaps into it and twined it around them with delicate skill. I tried to stand, tried to fight, tried to resist, but the tapestry was tight, and I was tired, and my magic was spent.

The door slammed open as the tapestry of a curse finished, a lovely horrible image winding with fangs and fur. The world grew large and my skin itched, and I wanted to scream but all that came out-

"Meow!"

I meowed. Like a cat.

"Percy! What did you- you changed him-"

"Ah, you must be his companion," Ms. Kiki crooned, crouching down to look at me with a victorious smirk. I hissed at her and her smile widened. She smelled like sunlight and clean cotton.

Her teeth were bright white, in sharp contrast to the rest of her.

"You're Kirke," Annabeth whispered.

I twisted to see her, to see my friend, she was in danger, she wasn't safe, she couldn't- Kirke (Kirke the sea witch?) was a magic user and Annabeth had no magic and she couldn't defend her self- she couldn't- she was in danger!

She also smelled like oils and books, sea salt clinging to her.

I leapt away as I felt Kirke reach for me, leapt to Annabeth. The world was big and ground slippery and I tumbled head over heels with a yowl.

I blinked, the floor bright and wet and icy and oh- that was me- oh no-

I could see myself in the ice, a little multi colored (blue and purple and green) kitten with bright green eyes.

I blinked. The cat blinked. I blinked.

"Percy, don't move," Annabeth called. "I'll- I'll handle this."

"You?" Kirke laughed. "If the little merboy couldn't handle this, how do you expect to? You have no magic."

Annabeth glared, her eyes stormy and her form bright. She looked like an avenging Goddess, here to handle all the dangers we could possibly face.

I stared in awe as she yanked out the vitamins and downed one. She stalked forward, standing tall and proud with her knife in her hand and battle in her eyes.

"You don't get to hurt my friend," she said fiercely. "I won't let you. Turn him back, or I'll make you."

Kirke scoffed, "I think instead I'll turn you into a tiger and have you eat him. Much more satisfying."

Annabeth glared, her knife drawn and ready. Two figures hovering behind her, confusion in their eyes and stance. They smelled of battle and blood and soft water and soft silk. Confusing smells prodded at me, demanding attention I didn't know how to give, I didn't understand. I whined and covered my nose.

"Try it," Annabeth declared.

Magic wove, a tapestry reaching for Annabeth-

I wanted to cry out but I was just a cat, I was too small and weak and I couldn't- she would be-

The tapestry slipped right past her, as if made of mist and silk.

I blinked, twisted to look at Kirke, she looked shocked.

Oh, she had ankles. She had visible ankles. The ankles looked very bite-able, very vulnerable to small but sharp fangs.

I bared my fangs.

She tried to attack Annabeth, my person, my friend, I would show her what I thought of that.

"What- no that's one of Hermes'-"

I lunged, feet skittering as I clamped down on her ankle and shook my head.

"Πουτάνας γιος!" Kirke snarled, fury in her scent. I bit harder.

"Move your foot and I stab," hissed Annabeth, far closer than I expected.

I tasted iron in my mouth, hot and burning and sharp and filled with power and-

A hand gentle caught my scruff, oils and sea salt and books-

Annabeth scooped me up, hand comfortable and scent safe. I released Kirke's ankle, preening at the knife at Kirke's throat.

"You're going to let us go," she said. "And you're going to give us supplies, for free. If you don't, I'll kill you and get them myself."

I nuzzled her hand, soft and comfy and gentle.

Annabeth was great.

Very nice smelling.

I wanted to cuddle. Cuddle's were nice.

"Go then," Kirke hissed. "But don't think this will be forgotten."

Annabeth scoffed, her chest rumbling with it and ooh- cool- ooh her hair was swishy-

I wanted to bat it.

It was very poke-able.

Maybe I could bite it.

I swiped a paw at it.

Ooooh.

Annabeth was walking, I didn't like that. It was nicer standing still.

What happened to Kirke? I wasn't paying attention.

Ooh hair bouncing!

"Hold still Percy- let me get- here," she held a vitamin in front of me. "It should cure you."

I nosed it, sniffing curiously.

I sneezed, shaking my head at feathery birdy smell. And incense. Weird.

I turned my eyes to her, it smelled weird, I didn't want it.

"Please, Percy?"

I eyed her hair, sparkly-

"Percy, if you eat the vitamin we'll get some fish."

Oooh, fish!

I snapped the vitamin up, swallowing quickly.

Weird. Fish now? Where was the fish-

My body tingled, itching and twisting and the ground was cold- why was I on the ground? Oh, Annabeth put me down- was she getting taller- what-

My skin was cold, so cold and wet and the ground hard and-

I gasped, struggling for breath, and blinked up at Annabeth from where I laid on the ground.

"Oh," she whispered. "Oh, thank Hermes."

An armful of Annabeth tackled me, shuddering breaths escaping her. I hugged her tight.

"Was I a cat?" I muttered after a long moment.

"A very cute cat," she whispered back. "I wish I took a picture."

I snorted, hugging her on the floor of the spa. My body shook, I was so tired again, but… I was human. I was human and could breathe and hold Annabeth.

I was myself, and even better, now… now I had a cure for Carl.

And most importantly-

We'd escaped Kirke.

OO OO OO OO

Kai POV

"This does not look right," I muttered.

"What's the matter?" Klara asked, Acantha leaning over my shoulder.

"That island is not on the map."

"The sea shifts," Antonio-fu'oro explained from ahead. "The map is unreliable at best. But it is accurate for the currents. We will need to speak to another being, one of the deep waters here, to find the right path to Persi-aia."

"Well… at least we know what direction he's going in?" Acantha offered.

Klara nodded, patting my shoulder as she passed.

I let out a slow breath, clinging to their comfort. My knowledge was all but useless for the maps here. I'd forgotten that the Wasare av Tetek was never reliable.

Hopefully we'd find the path quickly, we needed to reach him before anything happened to him.

OO OO OO OO

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to leave a review, they feed my soul.

If anyone draws cat Percy I'll love you.

What did you think of the fight scene? What about Percy's magic? Their discussions about Romans and sea culture?

Halmaheran
Atula=Hello
Naiye sa'opu=how are you
Metua=Father
Pitvel ufanto=two-legged bastard (please note this is nasty to say)
Uveno vak=Faithless Tailless (please note this is nasty to say)
Pemapo=brat
Wasare av Tetek=Sea of Terrors/monsters

Suffixes
nio=one who slept with Poseidon
re'aia=high prince
ove=lady
re'ino=high ranking family friend
o'ove=disowned lady
tiu=librarian
oro=teacher
koi=craftsperson
re'koi=high craftsperson
re'fea=high soldier
fea=soldier
aia=prince
fu'oro=master teacher

Terminology
Kirke=phonetic spelling of Circe
Πουτάνας γιος=(Putanas yos) son of a bitch
As Percy is bi-racial and has non-human biology mixed in through his dad, he's got a bit of a unique self care situation that he's not realized previously, so he's gonna learn how to deal with that later :) Fun times!

Come yell at me on my tumblr: Percabeth4Life
Come chat with me on discord: h-t-t-p-s : / discord . gg / 3tGNJhu