Two

I Take the Phase An Arm and a Leg Literally

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was that everything was dark. So dark, in fact, that I shut my eyes and tried opening them again, just to make sure I wasn't staring at my eyelids. Nothing changed.

The second thing I noticed was that I was lying with my back against something hard. Unless my mattress had become a rock overnight, this wasn't in my bed.

Which led directly into the third thing I noticed: I wasn't in my room. I snapped to a sitting position, adrenaline kicking in and chasing the last dregs of sleepiness from my mind. I glanced this way and that, trying to figure out where I was and how I got here.

Then it hit me. My birthday, the storm, the harpy…and my mom. I felt my last hope, that it had all been a dream, slip away. Tears started flowing and I went to wipe them away.

Clang!

"Ow," I moaned, my cheek throbbing. It felt like a metal pole had just decked me. "What hit me?"

"You did," A voice said from the dark, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

I whipped my head around, searching for the person who'd spoken. I tried to ask 'who's there' but between my surprise and aching face it came out more like "Hu zere?"

"You'll have to be careful," the voice pressed on. "Your arm is unfamiliar to you. You'll have to learn to use it again from the ground up. Your foot too."

I heard the sound of a switch being flicked and suddenly bright, beaming light filled the room, momentarily blinding me.

"Oops," the voice said apologetically. "It's been a while since things like brightness could catch me off guard. I forgot that not everyone is so lucky."

I finally managed to pry my eyes open and found an older man staring at me, arms tucked behind his back.

Dressed in a simple but effective grey cotton t-shirt and jeans, he had a short beard of grey hair that covered the bottom half of his face. The hair on his head was also cut short, a mix of black and grey streaks that hinted at the coming of old age. His mouth was pressed into an apologetic smile, but it was his eyes that really drew my attention.

The blue orbs seemed to radiate shrewdness, like they were constantly appraising whatever they looked at. Currently, that meant me. Those eyes rake over me and I shifted uncomfortably. It felt like my every dimension was being measured and noted down for later use. Not a pleasant feeling.

"How do you feel?" The man asked suddenly.

I hadn't expected that question, and it took me a moment to process it. "Fine," I said eventually, hoping the strange man would start explaining what was going on.

"I find that those who answer that question with fine are often the least fine. Those who were recently severely injured fall into that category as well. Seeing as you're currently both, you'll forgive me if I don't take you at your word. How does your arm feel?"

"My arm?" I said. "It's perfectly norm-"

I cut off abruptly as I realized something terrifying: I couldn't feel my arm at all. It was like it wasn't there.

"Had you not noticed before?" The man asked sympathetically. "By the time I found you it was beyond repair- completed severed."

"What? But my arm's right here!"

And it was. Even though I couldn't feel it, I could definitely see it. The most unusual thing was the long-sleeve and glove combination that was hiding away every ounce of skin.

"An arm," he corrected me, "Not your arm. Or, I suppose, it is your arm now. Your new arm."

My head was spinning trying to follow along, and he seemed to notice.

"It is a lot to take in, I know. If you've questions, ask them."

He was slipping into a teacher role now, and it seemed to suit him better than the doctor-with-bad-news act, like it was more natural. Or maybe it was just that my list of questions was getting so out of control that the opportunity to get even some of them answered was enough to leave me sagging in relief.

"Who are you?"

He brought a palm to his forehead as he answered. "Where have my manners gone? My name is Daedalus, young one."

The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place why. I realized I hadn't introduced myself, either.

"I'm Percy. It's short for Perseus, but nobody calls me that. Just Percy."

I wasn't sure why I gave my full name. Usually, I didn't. But something about it just seemed fitting for the situation, even if I couldn't put my finger on why. When Daedalus heard it, his eyes took on a faraway look, like he was picturing another face over my own. Then he shook himself and smiled.

"A pleasure to meet you, Percy."

There was a moment of silence, and I decided it was time to address elephant in the room.

"What happened to my arm?" I asked.

"Well, that one needs a bit of clarification. Do you mean the arm you have there, or the one you were born with?"

"Both."

He chuckled. "That works too. Your natural arm, as I said before, was severed by the Harpy before I arrived. The only saving grace was that it was a clean cut, making the wound easier to treat. That arm there," he gestured toward me, "is my own creation. I won't bore you with the details, but at its heart it's a metal prosthetic, albeit a particularly advanced one."

It should've been a watershed moment. A moment where I realized that my life had been changed irreversibly. Instead, all I could think was "I'm a cyborg?"

"Nothing so extreme. More like a cripple, with the chance not to be." He broke into a wry smile. "This is also where I would've warned you to be careful, and that adjusting to your new appendages will be difficult work, but I believe you already learned that lesson yourself."

I thought back to the one thing I'd used the arm for since waking up: drying my face. At the time I'd thought it felt like a metal pole had struck my face. Now I realized just how accurate a description that was.

"I managed to punch myself in the face?" I asked, cheeks going red.

Daedalus nodded, trying to hide a smirk. "Indeed."

I was pretty good at embarrassing first impressions but that one was up there, even for me. I decided to change the subject.

"Where are we?"

Daedalus' face lit up like I'd given him a Christmas present.

"That, I think, would be easier to show you."

I quickly found that the space we'd been in was a loft of sorts, just up a flight of stairs from the strangest room I'd ever seen.

It looked like a home-goods truck had crashed into an electronics shop at 100 miles per hour, and the results had been dumped here. Chairs, clocks, and tables lined the walls and floor, but each one had a twist, some sort of lever, or a mess of wires sticking out the side, all hinting at strange purposes I couldn't even guess at. There was clutter everywhere, still-on laptops lying next to half-eaten sandwiches and coffee cups. It took the phrase lived-in to a whole new level.

I'd had plenty of time to take in the room as I stumbled toward the wall Daedalus directed me to, one made of solid glass. He hadn't been kidding about my body feeling unnatural- I'd nearly tripped five times in ten steps, my ankle rolling or toes catching as my new foot flat out refused to do what I wanted it to. But now that I'd finally gotten to the destination, it was so very worth it.

"Wow," I said.

Sprawling out in front of me, separated only by a thin sheet of glass, was the most majestic view I'd ever seen.

A massive mountain loomed over its surroundings, twin peaks towering completely unchallenged. Dusting its base and the surrounding area was a roaming pine forest, the sharp-tipped trees coating the ground in every direction. In the sky the sun was shining past the edges of strange disklike clouds, catching white snow and making it glow like a flashlight.

"Mount Shasta," Daedalus said, looking out over my shoulder. "A truly beautiful mountain. Dangerous, too. The Nephelai have taken a liking to it, especially the young ones. I wouldn't recommend getting any closer unless being struck by lightning is something you would seek out. Even the mortals can tell there's something strange about it."

I laid a hand on the glass. "Mortals. You say that like you aren't."

"Of course I'm not. Even before I became a-" he paused and cleared his throat. "Well, what I mean to say is, that I'm a half-blood, and that I always have been."

"The Harpy called me that. A half-blood."

"And she was right. You are."

My hand slid off the glass and balled into a fist. "But what does that mean. Half what?"

I felt Daedalus' eyes bore into my back. "Half god."

I wanted to yell at him that that couldn't be true. That gods were just stories. Just myths. But my objections died in my throat.

Because you know what else were myths? Harpies. And little boys that controlled water with their minds, for that matter. If those things existed – which I'd learned firsthand that they did – then what was so hard to believe about their being gods, too.

But there was something that was bothering me.

"But if my dad's a god," I began, "then where was he? If he's so powerful then why did he never even visit!"

Daedalus was silent for a long time. I was getting ready to repeat the question when he finally spoke, his voice sounding sad. "There is no kind answer. The gods have lived very long lives and have accumulated an astounding amount of things to remember. Sometimes they simply forget their children. Other times, they simply don't care. In your case, though, the answer is somewhat more complicated."

I opened my mouth and he held up a hand to stop me. "Patience. I will explain as well as I can."

I shut my mouth and nodded.

"The first thing you must understand is that not all gods sire half-bloods. Hestia and Artemis are sworn to chastity, while Hera, as the goddess of marriage, would never practice infidelity. Would never cheat on her husband," he clarified, seeing my confused face. I wondered why he didn't just say that in the first place. "Much more recently, the three sons of Kronos have sworn not to father half-bloods. Their children were simply too powerful and were changing the course of history too much. At the center of most mortal wars you could find a child of theirs', if you knew what to look for."

A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. "Those three, the sons of, um…"

"Kronos."

"Yea, him. His sons, who are they?

Daedalus looked at the window nervously, eyes lingering on the sky. "Names have power, Percy, and speaking theirs' out loud would not be a good idea in our situation. Here." He turned to a desk and shoved things out of the way until he held a paper and pen in his hands. He scribbled something down quickly and flipped it around for me to see.

Zeus

Hades

Poseidon

The last name was the one I'd expected but hoped not to see. It was what my mom had yelled to distract the harpy, right before saying we'd be safe if we reached the sea. Right then, there was no doubt in my mind.

Poseidon, the god of the Ocean, was my father.

I don't know what my expression looked like in that moment, but it must've been something because Daedalus was suddenly staring at me more intently than before.

"What is it?" He asked. I pointed at the third name on his list.

"That's my father."

My voice must've sounded as certain as I felt because Daedalus didn't even question me. He just flipped the paper back around and stared at it for a few moments mumbling under his breath rapidly.

"…zeus…powerful…danger…"

Between his hushed voice and frantic tone I only caught a few words. Then his mouth clicked shut and his eyes locked back on me.

"I knew Zeus wanted you dead– harpies are his hounds, after all, and there was the whole thunder storm part. I suspected you may be a child of the Big Three, but I didn't know. It's always nice to be proven right."

He was making an effort to keep his voice light, but it wasn't quite working. I looked into his eyes and saw a hint of fear and…was that excitement?

"A child born against the oath," he carried on. "Oh yes, I can see that the other two would be quite angry at that."

"So, I'm what?" I asked angrily. "A mistake? Just a reminder that my dad messed up?"

Daedalus hummed. "That is a way of looking at it. A way, but not the only way."

He stepped up beside me and pointed out the window-wall. "Do you see this view?"

I nodded.

"It's captivating, isn't it? I'll let you in on a secret: this room never stays in place longer than a day. Each morning it shifts to somewhere different, always high up and always beautiful. But for all the views I've seen, this may be my favorite."

He took a moment to savor the view in front of him, drinking it in.

"I've seen a lot of beauty, but something about the beauty here always grabs hold of me. It tugs at my heart in a way the other views have never been able to. That, I expect, is how your father saw your mother."

"Whatever he saw in her was so alluring that he couldn't restrain himself. He was willing to break his oath, incur the wrath of his brothers, rather than pass her by. She must've been quite the woman."

"She was," I murmured.

Then my eyes widened. My mom.

With all that was going on – waking up in a strange room, finding out my arm had been replaced, learning I was a god's kid – I'd been distracted from what really mattered.

My mom was dead. There would be no more blue breakfasts, no more understanding hugs when a school kicked me out, no more loving looks as I was tucked in at night.

The view outside suddenly seemed offensive. How could the world be so beautiful without her in it?

"My mom is dead," I repeated, out loud this time.

"And does that give you the right to ignore how she lived?" Daedalus asked.

I'd expected platitudes, not a challenge. "What?"

"People die for all sorts of reasons. Everyone past a certain age has lost someone close to them. It's the worst feeling in the world, especially when the person was taken from you." The way he said it, I didn't doubt for a second that he was speaking from experience. "But to focus only on their absence, and not what they did to make their absence be felt so strongly, is a disservice."

He put a hand on my shoulder. "The hardest part is moving on, but it's also the most important."

Outside the window a Vulture glided by, wings stretched wide. I tracked its lazy progress until it drifted all the way out of sight.

Some part of me already agreed with Daedalus. It wasn't the sort of thing you could let go of just like that, but I also didn't want the first thing I remembered about her to be a stormy alley and bloody clothes.

Blue breakfasts, understanding hugs when a school kicked me out, loving looks as I was tucked in at night.

Yes, those were much better things to remember her by.

"I have nowhere to go," was all I said when I finally spoke again. "My stepfather won't take me, and even if he did, I'd just be attacked again. Thanks for saving me, but you probably wasted your time. I have nowhere to go."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Daedalus said cheerily. "I have an offer. You see, I haven't had human company down here in a very long time, and I'd been thinking that it was about time that changed. It's always helpful to have someone to test- I mean discuss, my inventions with, and it can get dreadfully boring down here without a decent conversation to pass the time. It would give you a place to stay and a teacher to help get you up to speed and keep from dying. So, what do you say, willing to keep an old man company?"

I tried to wrap my head around the offer. It sounded to good to be true, giving me a place to stay and someone to learn from for what seemed like no cost at all. It made me wonder what he was really getting from it.

But it also wasn't really a choice. I didn't have anywhere else to go. Not that wouldn't get me killed anyway, and I wasn't eager enough to see my mom for that, especially since I knew she'd murder me when she found out.

"Sure," I said to Daedalus, trying to sound nonchalant. His eyes lit up.

"Amazing," he said with a clap. "We'll do great things Percy, you and I." He started walking back across the room, and I stumbled after him as quickly as my foot would allow.

"I'll give you a quick tour of my little home down here. There's only one bedroom at the moment but I should be able to whip up another one in just a few days." He reached a side door that seemed bigger than it needed to be- it looked around 20 feet tall and half as wide.

Daedalus twisted the handle and started to pull before stopping halfway and looking back at me. "Oh, I should also mention. Whatever you do, don't get scared- She's completely harmless."

Before I could ask what he meant with that ominous warning, he finished pulling the door open and stepped well out of the way. A black wave immediately rushed through the door, and the last thing I saw was a metal color with the name Mrs. O'Leary engraved on it before everything went dark and wet.

Woof!

The bark rattled my bones as I stared up into the face of a way oversized dog. The dog panted back down at me, drool dripping in buckets onto my chest.

"Isn't she lovely?" Daedalus asked lovingly.

I wasn't so sure

(-)

Hope you enjoyed. Chapter 3 is in the works, but it'll be a few more days before I get it ready to post. After that updates may start slowing down a bit, but should stay pretty consistent- the upside of short chapters.

As always, reviews are appreciated and treasured. I hunger for them...feed me!