As they went deeper into Circe's Island, passing white marble terraces, fountain, swimming pools, waterfalls and various tame animals (include things that shouldn't be tame like leopards), Triton have a Question:
Is Circe deliberately lures any ships, planes, what-you-have-s, to her island to see if there's any women she can lure into serving her and men to turn into… is she still on pig phase? He hopes not.
Pig can swim, and Triton already has questionable half siblings, be it personality, heritage, or just in appearance. He even have sheepskin rug for half-brother! But pig? Pig are pushing it. Mostly because unsensitive mortal might have slaughter Percy for food and that. Just. Disgusting. No. Absolutely no.
Also. The sheer embarrassment.
The fact there are only female everywhere, including the animals, should have been big red flag.
(Don't asky how Triton know. He definitely isn't observing them that closely. Nu-uh)
Alas, Triton could hear Circe's voice, singing while laced with enchantment magic similar to Charmspeak. He grimaces when he saw Percy's face slowly become relaxed and gain dreamy look in his eyes.
At least he hasn't reduced into drooling simpletons/yes-man. Which mean, he (hopefully) is subconsciously fighting the magic off.
But it was only matter of time.
Triton growled when he saw Circe look at Percy in disappointment and disgust before sweet-talking Athena's daughter. Every syllable was laced with strong enchantment magic. He really had to questioned whether Circe was Aphrodite's legacy or not because this is the kind of emotional manipulation he expects from the Goddess of Love.
Percy may not be able to see it, being enchanted, but the enchantment washed over Triton like oil splashed on water—his non-physical state grants him immunity from the magic at cost of unable to do anything.
"You see, Percy… to unlock your potential, you'll need serious help. The first step is admitting that you're not happy the way you are."
Had it been in any other situations, Triton would have agreed. Too many people meet their end because of their ego are not kept in check.
However, he did not like how Circe talks Percy down while shoving him a mirror, that was also laced with magic. Possibly to point out the blemish in appearance and make the viewer focused on those while ignoring the good points.
"How about we try … this."
Triton gagged when he saw the "perfect" image Circe presented. It looks good, alright, as in KEN BARBIE DOLL KIND OF PERFECT! The bland cutboard look, with bland smile and empty eyes that does not befitting any child of the sea!
If Percy ever become like that, he'll disown him before moving in with great grandfather Pontus at the deepest depth of the sea!
"Do you want that? Or shall I try a different—"
Zero, star! This place got Zero Star! For all good it has, the service is utter shitty! Gaslighting everywhere! Making the guest uncomfortable to be themselves! Definitely Zero Star Rate!
"No, no, no! There's no need!"
Yes! Tell her that, Percy! This gaslighting cannot continue!
Triton pull Arion and let loose a string of curse when Circe create something. She must be prepared a mix to turn human into pig and all she need was to mix it with water. Dammit Percy! Don't be fooled! Don't drink it!
"Why are there no guys at this spa?"
"Oh, but there are," Circle looked at the cage, and Triton realize that the rodents over there was the men that landed here. "You'll meet them quite soon. Just try the mixture." No! Don't!
Percy hesitates. Good! Fight the charm!
"Now, Percy, the hardest part of the makeover process is giving up control. You have to decide: do you want to trust your judgement about what you should be, or my judgement?"
Triton growled and wrap ghostly arm around Percy.
He hates gaslighting.
"I…" Percy shoved the mix back. "Sorry. I don't think I can."
"What?"
YES!
"Would my mother recognize me? Would my father do? Or, or my siblings? I know my brother visit sometimes. What if I change too much and they don't recognize me?"
…Yeah. It will be hard to keep tracking every single guinea pig and see which one is Percy Jackson. Now, if he were, like, a fish or sea creature, then it's easy.
But. It warmed Triton's heart that he made strong impact and become one of main cause that Percy is fighting off the charm.
And that was when things got hairy.
"You fool of a boy." Circe chided, but his eyes are blazing in anger. "You are still young. Is your mother taught you to questioned your betters?"
"My mother taught me to not accept things from stranger, actually." Ah. The sass. "Anyway. C.C. That got to be nickname, isn't it? Like Em is initial for Medusa."
Percy dropped the cup and one hand pull Anaklusmos out. Ready to uncap it and fight if necessary. He take step back to make some room.
"Plus. Resort in middle of Sea of Monster. In Bermuda Triangle. And no one know it. That's sus."
"My my. Quite the smartass, aren't you? Just like Odysseus."
And with that, several attendants walked in, magic casted and aimed at Percy.
Percy dodge low at the first volley and whipped the water from nearby fountain to smash onto them, shattering the glass wall in the process.
Circe chant something.
Percy makes the water uppercuts her, stopping her chant and she curses as she accidentally bites her own tongue.
A pity she didn't bite it off. Triton would like to see if she can cast magic without tongue.
He makes run for it and passing several attendants. Treating them all as enemies by making the water lapped around their feet and pushed them off, all while shouting, "Annabeth! Annabeth where are you?!"
He found her.
Or rather, he nearly collides with her and the attendant, if not for another attendant to slap him across the face.
"Have some dignity!" The younger attendant looks similar to the older one. "And what have you done to my home?!"
Now the older one is also glaring at Percy.
"Percy, what—?"
Oh no. Triton cannot look at Athena's daughter like this. It reminds him too much of her mother back at the old days. Back when Pallas was alive.
"Annabeth! This place is trap! We have to go." Percy explained, rushing in but was held back.
There's a cries of "There he is! Catch the boy!"
Percy's response of that is causing the fountains and waterfalls goes out of control. Causing some havoc as the attendants are slipping and tripping off.
"That power… Son of Neptune?" The younger one frowned. "What is happening?"
Roman Demigods?
"Yeah." Percy breathes. "Percy Jackson. Son of Neptune." Triton slapped his forehead. You don't give your name to magic user! They can use it to track you down or curse you! "Now Annabeth! Come on! We need to save Grover and the Camp, remember?"
That snapped the daughter of Athena. "Camp… right. We need to go."
"Must you?"
She look at the older attendant. "I-I'm glad you were showing me around, Hylla. But, but I need to save my home. My friend is dying and my home is at danger. You understand, right?"
"Annabeth! Hurry up! I can't hold them long!"
Because no matter how superior Percy's Hydrokinesis is, he is one person. A thirteen years old teen who just discover his power last summer, with no proper teaching how to use it to best potential. Whereas there are at least half a dozen attendants who have been training how to use magic for, what? Months? Years? He's slowly getting overwhelmed.
The Daughter of Athena pull something from Percy's bag. The Multivitamin. Oh. Of course. Hermes' Moly.
That was rather cute name, Triton privately thinks.
She popped one to her mouth, shoved another to Percy, and drop one to the attendant each.
Seriously?
"If you know about this, you must be demigods also." She told them. "C.C… Circe. She might teach you stuff, but you never got to practice them, right? How many males visit here? How would you know you were good? The real test is the world outside. That's how you know if you're good or not."
…she needs to rehearse her diplomatic skill.
"Come with us. Please. Let's go to the real world."
The sister-attendants look at each other.
They chew the multivitamins, and their eyes cleared… and hardened.
"This way."
The attendants? Ex-attendants? Eh, the girls lead them to the harbor where the ships were docked.
"Do you know how to manned a ship?" The older one asks.
Percy cast his gaze at the ships, before pointed at the—
"GAH!"
Triton was rudely woken up via having a bucket of crabs dumped on him.
He glares at Benthesikyme.
"You got paperworks waiting to be filled." His sister told him. "Kym sunk ships and flooded city."
Triton is seriously considering the merit of shoving Kym's head into a jar. And replacing Benthesikyme's morning drink with whole pot of squid ink. That would be catharsis.
