Chapter 29 - Pricus

"He didn't say where the map was?" Annabeth demanded.

"No," Percy said. "Lots of other helpful things. But not that."

"Doesn't that seem a little odd?" Jason asked. "A Titan being helpful."

"He's right," Annabeth said. "Something's not right here."

"Why didn't Kronos tell us about the bounties when he was here?" Hazel questioned. "Or maybe about Troy, or Crete?"

"Where is Troy?" Leo asked.

Annabeth groaned. "He's told us where to go, but that's just raised more questions than answers."

"We've got to go somewhere," Jason said.

"The eagles are right behind us," Leo agreed.

Percy summoned a rainbow. "Oh Fleecy, do me a solid. Show me Kronos, I-don't-know-where. Wherever he usually is."

He was surprised when he actually saw Kronos through the screen of mist a few seconds later. Koios was sprawled out along a pillowed bench next to him. Percy raised an eyebrow.

Kronos cut off mid-sentence when he saw Percy, his eyes widening slightly. "Alpha," he greeted cheerfully.

A smile tugged at Percy's lips. "Hey," he said. He nodded his head to Koios. "Hello, Koios." The older Titan scowled at him, and Kronos nudged him with a faint frown.

"Be nice, Koios. At least for now."

The Alpha Titan grumbled, but let his head rest back down. "Just because you asked nicely, brother dearest."

Kronos' eyes gleamed. "Yes," he said. With his brother content for now, Kronos returned his attention to Percy. "Percy," he murmured in greeting.

Percy's lips twitched. "Just thought I'd check in," the alpha said. "See how you were."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow at Percy, but the son of Poseidon pointedly avoided her gaze. Kronos hummed. "Right," he said with a rueful smile. "And the other reason?"

Koios snorted.

"Koios mentioned there was a map to the Mark of Athena that every immortal knew about. But he didn't mention where it is?"

Kronos frowned at his brother. "He didn't?" He turned to grin at Percy again. "No matter. Charleston. You'll want to hurry. I hear the Romans are still on your tails."

Percy nodded. "Yeah. Unfortunately. Thanks, Kronos."

The Titan's eyes gleamed. "No problem, Percy. I'm happy to help." Koios erupted into full-blown laughter, and Kronos scowled before slashing through the message. The last thing Percy saw of his omega was of him whipping around to glare at his alpha brother.

"Charleston," Percy said. "Leo, set course to Charleston."

"Yes, Captain Salt Water!"

Percy sighed.

"So we'll go to Charleston to find the map that Koios mentioned," Annabeth said. "Then we'll have to find a way to get to Troy and Crete."

"But why would Koios want us to go there?" Jason asked warily. "I think it goes without saying that you should never trust a Titan. They're planning something."

"Obviously," Annabeth agreed. She glanced over at Percy, whom only ignored her. "Maybe Kronos will spill everything if Percy asks," she said half-heartedly.

"It's a long shot," Piper said. "I doubt he will."

"He's the Crooked One for a reason," Hazel added.

"Either way," Percy said, "we've got to get to Charleston first. With the Romans closing in we won't have much time." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "I want to check out the harbour too. See if the Nereids might have more information for us."


Percy didn't meet the Nereids in the harbour at Charleston.

As it turned out, something else had taken up residence and chased out the Nereids. Percy watched in bewilderment as a fish with the front half of a goat swam in circles around him. "What are you?" Percy asked, spinning to keep the sea-goat in sight.

Approximately the size of a hippocampus, the sea-goat had large horns curling back over his heat. A thick tail lashed through the water as he twisted and rolled through the harbour.

The goat's voice echoed in his head. "I am Pricus," the goat said.

"Pricus," Percy echoed, immediately remembering the sea-goat that Annabeth and Piper had found previously. "Capricorn."

"I used to be, yes," the goat said. "You're Percy Jackson."

Percy nodded, despite the remark not being a question. "Yes. I am."

"Kronos' alpha."

"Yes."

"You have my apologies."

Percy cracked a small smile. "It's not that bad," he said. "Pricus, you've been brought back to life, right?"

The sea-goat shuddered, pausing his restless swimming to stay opposite from Percy. "Yes. But I cannot say whom was responsible. The Horned One."

"Draco said the same," Percy said. "Pricus, you were created by Kronos, weren't you?"

"That Titan did create me," Pricus said. "And raised me when I was a young sea-goat. But I'm not fool enough to consider him my father."

"He's given us some advice," Percy said. Pricus' eyes widened, the old immortal looking alarmed at his words.

"Ignore him."

"He's my omega – if I can't trust him-"

"No one can trust him," Pricus sneered. "Even his children. What makes you think that his outlook towards his alpha would be any different?"

Percy hesitated. "I… don't know." He sighed. "I guess I just hoped…"

"Don't bother hoping. With Kronos you have to be sure. And even then you have to doubt that you're sure. He created me, but even I can never trust my creator. Too much deception, too many lies. Mark my words, demigod, treachery runs in that golden ichor of his."

"Well have you heard anything? We've been told that we should go to Troy and Crete? Troy and Mount Ideon?"

Pricus scowled. "Rumours. Supposedly Amalthea has returned through the Doors of Death. And the Trojan War has… reignited."

"Amalthea?" Percy echoed. "Who's that? And how could the Trojan War have restarted?" He asked in disbelief. "That happened… millennia ago."

Pricus shrugged. "Resurrect the correct people, and you can kick off wars. But that's unimportant."

"Unimportant?"

"Yes. There's something else going on," Pricus said. "Some deal between Porphyrion and Gaea. I'm not aware of the details. Porphyrion's an alpha, did you know? Powerful alpha too. Not many that can match him. Even the Titans try to steer clear of him."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Percy demanded. "He's hardly the only immortal alpha."

"Perhaps," Pricus conceded. "There's a deal going on behind the scenes."

"How do you know all this?" Percy asked. "How do I know I can trust you?"

"I'd trust me more than I would the Titans," Pricus replied. "And no one takes a second look at a goat."

"Unless they're somewhere they shouldn't be," Percy said.

"You're willing to go on the word of the most deceptive Titan there has ever been and will ever be, but you can't listen to me?"

Percy pressed his lips together. "It's easier to listen to him."

"That's what he's best at. Convincing people to listen to him."

Percy ground his teeth. "Right." He said. "Pricus-" He paused, feeling something drop into the harbour water.

"You'd best go," the old sea-goat said. "Your friends need your assistance."

"Wait," Percy said. "Do you know why Gaea wants a male and a female demigod alive?"

"Demigod blood has divine essence," Pricus said. "And demigods are easier to capture than gods. There's a plant, something that the giants need before they face the Olympians. Supposedly, demigod blood hastens it's growth. But I don't know what that plant is. If you find Odysseus in your travels, he should know."

Percy nodded. "Yeah. Thanks, Pricus. I'll… try to listen to what you've said."

"Be careful, Percy Jackson. That Titan cannot be trusted," Pricus called after the demigod as he shot towards the dock. His tail flicked through the water, scything through the murk. Pricus turned his amber eyes towards the open ocean, his form fading into the depths.


Merry Christmas everyone!

I have exams in January so it'll probably be a good month until I can get another chapter out. Sorry. But I want to read all your theories in that time! Throw them in your reviews and let me know what you think is going to happen. With this chapter posted, all of the pieces towards the climax should now be hidden throughout this fic.

So initially I was planning to have Pricus in the aquarium, but then realised that with Koios there too it wouldn't work too well. So he just happens to be in Charleston harbour - and no, that's not a coincidence ;). So in this chapter I've laid out a little of what's coming in the future of this fic. And yes, I'm changing the reason for Gaea wanting demigod blood. This plant is mentioned briefly in the myths, and it's completely brilliant and Riordan really should have included it, a wasted opportunity without it.

ghostfall: Ha not dead yet.

That Weirdo Writer: Yeah. I wasn't either until a few chapters ago XD.

ShadowsClaw: Nope. Hahah.