Chapter 35

Poseidon's POV

Sally left to head back home, not before promising to get more update about Rhea from us.

Triton joined me in the throne room where we looked at Rhea's journey. She made it safely to land, close to camp. Triton was on edge and so am I.

I was about to go to Rhea when I saw the Minotaur chase her.

"Lord Poseidon," the Fates appeared, "You must not interfere."

What the…? I think, locking eyes with Triton for a second.

"You can't expect me to let her get hurt. She can be killed!" I say, looking back at the bubble screen that shows me Rhea.

"We have seen her fate, she will not join the dead any time soon, Lord Poseidon," Clotho said. I feel more assured, but it doesn't mean that she will not get hurt.

Lachesis spoke up, "You cannot interfere with this. She is a demi-god. She will experience pain, sorrow and loss. You cannot spare her from that."

"I will do whatever I can to spare her from that!" I hiss out.

"It is inevitable," Atropos said, "You can be there for her, but you cannot stop her from experiencing bad things in her life."

Clotho spoke up, "She will reach camp soon. It won't be long until it is revealed that she is your daughter. Triton must claim her first, for when the truth is revealed, the others will know where his loyalties lay."

I nod in agreement and they left, leaving Triton and myself to discuss this visit.

There's something different about Rhea. Something that makes the Fates intervene in her life. But whatever it is, I will be damned if I let anyone try to take her from me. I will not allow it. Not even death itself will take her.

"What is she doing? We trained her better than that!" Triton clenches out, I focus again on her journey to camp.

"Look at her face, my son. She is terrified, she has faced us in battle, she knows us. Monsters are something she has never faced before." I say, feeling frustrated that I've been forbidden from helping. I'm sure I just sunk two ships in the Atlantic ocean.

"Calm down father, the poor mortals. Rhea will be fine," Triton said. He sensed their deaths. Oops.

She made it to camp alive. She killed the bull and I'm proud of her for that. It took her longer than I thought she would but that's okay.

I've never regretted the creation of the Minotaur more than what I do now. It's partially my fault that it exists, having cursed his mother to fall in love with a bull.

Rhea was being taken care of by Athena's spawn. I don't like her, or Athena, but if Rhea wants to make friends with my rival, then so be it. But if Rhea is anything like me, then she won't like her for being self-righteous and arrogant, as are all the traits of Athena. I don't even know the girl, but she's most likely the same as all her other siblings.

"Triton, are you ready?" I ask him, referring to claiming Rhea.

He nods, we focus back on the camp.

"Yes, my father is Triton, sea messenger god," she states proudly, and then Triton claimed her. His symbol of power above her head.

"Well, there we have it," Chiron said, "Unfortunately Triton does not have a cabin here, so you'll have to stay in the Hermes cabin fo-"

That's definitely not happening.

And before he could finish his sentence, I claimed her too. Lightning struck a tree close to the farmhouse. I appeared in front of Zeus.

"Don't you dare!" I threaten, my trident aimed at his throat.

Zeus pushed the trident away from his throat and attacked. Our powers clashed against one another.

"I knew you were lying Poseidon. She is your daughter and she's the one who stole my lightning bolt," he said as he slashed his blade towards me again.

"She is not the one who stole it. Get over yourself Zeus," I say calmly, using my trident, disarming him in one swift move. I moved behind him and had him locked in a choke hold, turning my trident into a xiphos, a double-edged short sword, pressing it forcefully against his throat, hard enough that a drop of ichor appeared.

In the next moment Ares appeared, throwing a spear at me. I sent a spurt of water at it, sending his spear deep into the ocean. He came at me with a dagger, ready to fight hand-to-hand. Weaklings.

Bringing forth my power, I sent it in all directions, capturing not only Ares in a ball of water, but Athena, who had snuck up behind me. They were stuck, floating in a water bubble above our heads.

"Enough Poseidon," Hestia appeared, and I glare at her.

"Stay out of it sister. This is between him and I," I say harshly. Zeus was still struggling in my hold, barely able to breathe, he sent spurts of electricity through me, enough to vaporize a mortal, but enough to only tickle me.

"No," she said, "We will resolve this without fighting. Don't you see what you're doing to the mortal world?"

She's right, there is a tsunami already forming close to the Philippines. If I don't stop now, all the islands will be underwater soon.

"I'll release you and your children Zeus. You will swear it on the river Styx that you will not harm Rhea Jackson without a good reason. You will not send someone after her, you will not indicate to someone or something to harm her or kill her," I demand, loosening my grip slightly.

"NO!" he shouts out, "You've conspired to take my throne. You sent her to steal my bolt."

I laugh at his words-loudly. "You are delusional Zeus. If I wanted your throne, I would've taken it already. Do you see how easy it is for me to take you down? Now, if you do not wish to join our dear father in Tartarus, then you will swear on it."

He swore on the river Styx reluctantly, and I released him.

Dad, please don't let him kill me, I hear Rhea ask me, who was faced with the fiery gaze of Dionysus.

"Tell Dionysus to stand down. If he injures her, you will pay the price," I said to Zeus.

Ares and Athena were still trapped, floating above us. I contemplated whether or not I should toss them into the ocean too. Let's not aggravate the other gods too, I think, rolling my eyes.

"She's yours," Zeus said.

"Yes. She is mine."

"I will not tolerate this kind of behavio-"Zeus said and I threw my trident at his head, to which he ducked down just in time before it beheaded him.

I take a threatening step towards him again, "No brother, it is I who will not tolerate this behaviour. You're like a child who lost his favourite toy, taking it out on everyone else. I warned you before, and now I've warned you again. The next move you make will decide your future."

He decided against standing against me, sitting on his throne, looking defeated.

He rubbed his nose, "Can you at least release my children from your trap?"

I snapped my fingers, the large water bubbles carrying Ares and Athena popped, and they came crashing down in front of me, sopping wet.

Both of them were ready to attack again, but Zeus waved them off. They left the room reluctantly, leaving Zeus alone with me. I stared at him, daring him to do something untoward.

"I think it's time we had a little chat," Zeus spoke up, "sit down Poseidon."

I sat in my chair, "I think so too, little brother."

"Is she truly Triton's daughter or is she your daughter?" he asked furiously.

"I told you before, she is mine."

"At least you aren't denying it," he says, taking a sip of the nectar that appeared in his hand.

"…" I stare at him blankly.

"She is your first daughter, isn't she?" he said.

"Yes. Now you understand why I am so protective, don't you brother?"

"I do," he said.

"What you don't understand is that I will do anything to protect her. She is mine. Nothing and no one will take her from me," I said.

"But the prophecy-" he said.

"The prophecy doesn't matter! She will never betray me, and in turn, betray Olympus. But if you stand against her, I will stand against you brother."

"I make my decisions for the best of Olympus," he screeches out and I snort at him.

"Really brother?" I asked sarcastically, twisting my head sideways, smiling I said, "Since you find it difficult to accept my stand on this, then let me make it easy for you to understand-For the best of Olympus. You have forgotten that my skill in battle and battle strategy outweighs yours significantly. I have fought and defeated more Titans than what you have, I could've taken your place as king but I stepped back, and let you take reign. So for Olympus' sake, you will do as I say in this matter."

I could see him gulp, he hid it well, but I can see the signs of fear in his eyes. Good.

"Very well brother," he concedes, "but to prove herself worthy, she must find my bolt and return it."

I want to throw my trident at his head again, but concede as well. It's better than nothing. Bowing my head, I said before going back home,

"I will see you soon brother."

A/N: It seems that Zeus is becoming more sensible, or is he? What do you think about it? What do you want to see happen?