Not even a Titan can last for long against the wrath of four gods. Especially when they're in a weakened state.
Rob thrust his sword upwards in a deadly arc, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding in as Koios screamed in pain. The blade cleaved through the crack in the armor I'd created, and sunk deep into his torso.
Koios gasped, and fell to his knees, staring at the blade in shock. Even though I was a few feet away, standing next to my friends, I could see the power that radiated from him in waves, as his essence began to slowly dissolve and return to Tartarus.
With a jolt, I remembered the last lines of the prophecy—
Titan's strength none shall withstand
he shall be slain by no man's hand-
None of us could really beat Koios alone. And it the end, funnily enough, it was the gods that killed him.
I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I meant, I was grateful that the gods had helped us out, but that was more out of necessity than the fact that they actually wanted to help us.
I hadn't expected the gods to help us out with this quest. I honestly thought Akua would be the one to kill him…or something. Since she was technically a girl and 'not a man' either.
But I knew better than to question the fates.
I'd realized that the resentment I'd once felt against the Olympians had disappeared. I'd seen them help out here and there. In the background, in ways I hadn't expected. Like my dad. And Lady Diana.
The gods may not have been perfect. But they were definitely better than the Titans.
Koios screeched again, as his soul began to seep downwards.
A crack opened up in the earth, leading far, far below the underworld, calling for his essence. The beach split in two, as the earth began to shake. Red light, harsh and unforgiving shone outof crack, along with the choking smell of sulfur. Ungodly screams of torment and snarls of creatures I'd never heard before filtered out of it.
Tartarus.
The place below the Underworld. Where not even the gods ventured.
Where Koios would be banished.
I was staring at the way Koios was slowly getting sucked into the netherworld, kinda like a noddle getting sucked into a vaccum, when he locked eyes with me for a second.
"I curse you, Perseus Jackson," he snarled. "We will meet again in Tartarus— of this I promise you!"
He screeched once again, before disappearing. The crack closed behind him.
Something like an arrow of ice hit my chest, and I gasped, unable to breathe. Black spots danced around my head, and if Reyna hadn't caught me again, I would have fallen to the floor.
Rob quickly teleported towards us, his face grim.
"That was not good," he said, worriedly. "A Titan's dying curse is not something a god should take lightly. Let alone a demigod."
I rolled my eyes. Of course, Koios is surrounded and killed by four gods and one that's not even from his pantheon, but who does he curse?
Me. The skinny kid watching from the sidelines.
I coughed. "I feel alright," I said, slowly getting up.
Mel and Aunt P looked at me with concern in their eyes.
"Do not take his words lightly," Aunt P said, her face serious. "He is the Titan of Foresight. He will not say anything without knowing it will happen in the future."
I coughed again, and white fumes came out of my mouth.
"Yeah well," I croaked, "I guess I'll handle that when the time comes."
She handed me a small vial of some sort, and after a moments hesitation, I drank it.
It tasted like honey water, and I felt it sooth my insides. The cold that was gripping my heart and freezing my lungs disappeared. A war sensation spread from my stomach upwards and through my body.
"That's good stuff."
Aunt P nodded. "Nectar. The drink of the gods."
Before I could reply, my attention was taken by Kani, who'd walked up to us. He looked relatively the best out of us. No sign of scars or blood or anything. He hadn't even broken into a sweat. It pretty much looked like he'd just come for a run at beach. Except, well, he didn't wear running clothes.
"You are Perseus Jackson?"
I nodded.
He came up close to me, looking at me intently, as if searching for something. Finally, I saw that under his headdress, he had golden eyes, brown skin and black hair. He had several necklaces and threads of cloth wound around his body, with bones and feathers and tiny antlers attached to them.
"You are the one that made the complaint?"
I frowned. "I mean, I was the one attacked by the deer-creature. Van digger or something?"
Kani nodded. "The Wendigo. A Monster from our paths, that could have caused you great harm. But you were fortunately not aware, or else fear would have rooted you to the ground where you stood. And then it would have you."
"What could it do? Suck my soul?" I joked.
Kani didn't say anything, instead taking a thread from his hands and giving it to me.
"Accept this token from me. It is a sign that our deal has been fulfilled. Has it not?"
I nodded. "Yep. Definitely. 10/10. Would recommend. Amazing work."
Kani smiled.
"I will take my leave then. You are fortunate to see me," he continued, looking at the others around me. "Few mortals have ever witnessed such an event."
"Is Pantheon-interference not a common thing?" Haniel asked, confused.
Kani shook his head.
"There has not been an issue of this magnitude for over a thousand years. None of you will ever see such an issue again in your life, I imagine, unless you are great heroes of reknown, such that the world does not see anymore, or," he said, looking at Rob and Aunt P, "you are eternal deities. For the immortal do not forget."
A thousand years. It sounded like a video game achievement now, like where you took part in a super rare quest and nearly died. I didn't like the fact that in a thousand years the first time a monster had come to attack a bunch of demigods was us, but it was over now. Besides, I doubted we could have won without Kani's help. Speaking of which…
"Who are you?" I blurted out.
Then my ears turned red.
"I mean, not to sound rude," I quickly added. "I'm not sure what god you are—"
Kani laughed, and he sounded like the wind whistling through the trees in the winter.
He gave out a war—cry, and the reindeer around us quickly got into formation. When he snapped his fingers, the sleigh quickly lurched up from the sand with a thud, and its metal creaked and groaned as it quickly reformed and turned back into a sleigh, the various dents and scratches mending themselves like we were watching a video in reverse.
"I am Kanipinikassikueu. The Caribou Master. But you may know me as Santa Claus."
"You're the reason people came up with Santa Claus?" I heard Anahita ask.
Kani smiled.
"I am one of them. There are others— the Lady Diana is one. Have you not seen her chariot?"
Anahita shook her head.
"People often tended to create stories around things they cannot not explain. Things that your science cannot really decipher. And even though the stories are often wrong, there is often an underlying thread of truth in all of them, which you could find if you looked hard enough."
Rob nodded. "All lies are but distortions of the truth."
I knew my mom would tell me otherwise. I knew she'd tell me something like, Truth is truth, even if no one believes it.
And you know what? I'd agree with her.
I was tired of the gods and higher powers lying and hiding and keeping secrets from me. I felt a pain in my chest as I thought of my mom.I wondered where she was and if she was even alive.
More flashes came to me. Warm cookies in a cold school night. Her teaching me how to read. My first time walking, when she'd been so proud.
"Are you alright?"
Mel was looking at me confused. I nodded, quickly brushing my eyes before anyone noticed I was crying. The last nickname I needed was Crybaby Jackson.
"My sleigh is ready. I shall leave."
Kani turned around and walked towards his sleigh. As he did, the sun finally rose over the sea, turning the waters shades of golden and green.
I waited for a moment, before quickly running after him.
He got into his sleigh, turned on the FM and blased out All I Want for Christmas is You.
"Thank you!" I shouted, trying to make myself heard over Mariah Carey.
I think Kani smiled. Maybe he didn't. His headdress made it hard to see what was going on.
"You are stronger than you think, Perseus."
He spoke softly, but I could hear him over the music.
"You will make your pantheon proud. You are a great warrior."
He nodded at me— at least, the deer headdress did, and clucked his tongue.
The reindeer, all attached to a harness now, bellowed. One of them tried to eat my shirt, but I stepped back before it got a taste for Camp Jupiter apparel.
The sleigh quickly turned around, gaining speed as it passed over the beach, the sand creating a golden halo for it as it swirled around, disturbing the sand and monster dust that shimmered in the rising sun.
Then it suddenly rose up into the air and shot up.
I blinked, and it was gone.
I turned around and looked back.
"Well, we did it," I said, trying to smile. I had a lot of think about— starting with how Kani had a radio and ending with Koios' curse, but as the sun rose, I felt better. Stronger.
We'd managed to complete our first quest. Together. I could worry about other things later.
"WHOO!" Akua shouted. She waved the sickle of Ceres around and accidentally caused a minor heatwave in Arizona, but I doubt anyone noticed it.
I yelled my head off at the beach.
It was empty, except for a few really early surfers who'd wanted to catch the first waves. They looked as us like we were crazy— but I didn't care.
"Well," Rob coughed. "I suppose a…thanks, is in order."
Aunt P nodded. "Without your help, demigods. It would have been near impossible to defeat Koios and get our godhood back."
Mel nodded. "Though I could've taken him on myself."
I didn't even roll my eyes, I swear.
Okay maybe I did. A little.
Reyna chuckled.
"Well, now what?" she asked.
"Well, for one, Percy has to return the weapon to Ceres—" Rob began.
I frowned.
"I do?"
He nodded, his curls now dancing in the breeze.
"You are the leader of the quest. You began it, you will finish it. We will take the others to Camp Jupiter— where they will be hailed as heroes."
The others brightened considerably at the 'hailed as heroes' part, but I noticed Akua was looking down, like she was afraid to say what was on her mind.
Haniel shook his head.
"I have…another quest of sorts."
Aunt P frowned.
"Another? Do you demigods not get breaks? Vacations? Maternity leave?"
He sighed and shook his head.
"This one's…more personal."
I nodded.
"Your dad."
"Yeah."
His eyes darkened.
Koios had told us Notus, the god of the south wind and Haniel's dad, had sided with the Titans. We all fell into a sullen silence.
We'd beaten Koios, but the Titan Army was far from finished.
"I need to know," Haniel said, his voice quavering.
"We can help—" Anahita began, but he shook his head.
"I need to do this myself."
He suddenly leapt up, and like the wind, disappeared in a second.
I sighed.
"I hope he finds what he's looking for."
Even Aunt P and Rob didn't seem to know what to say.
Akua sighed. "Well, it's been nice, I guess?"
I glanced at her, noticing the way she was looking down at the sickle of Ceres like she was about to let go of a long lost friend.
I knew what she was feeling.
Her mother had sent her on the quest. I knew the feeling— just like my dad had sent me the ship. And I'd felt the need to prove my worth to him. Akua had the same feeling.
We might have detested the gods, but we still wanted them to feel they needed us.
Only unlike me, she couldn't cause a mini—tsunami to help her feel better.
I made up my mind then.
"If I'm going to Olympus— Akua comes with me."
Aunt P frowned.
"What for?"
"She was as important as me in the quest. Everyone was. But if she hadn't raised that cornfield in the battle— we definitely wouldn't be standing here. Besides," I added, " Ceres is her mother. She should be the one to return the sickle."
Aunt P didn't say anything, but Akua's smile was enough of an answer.
Mel snorted. "Demigods. So dramatic."
She quickly grabbed mine and Akua's arms.
"I'll take you two. Say good bye for now."
I felt a rushing sensation, like I was being squeezed through a tube in the dark, and then a POP.
I was in Olympus before I could say good bye for now.
The abode of the gods was…incredible.
I was standing on a narrow stone walkway in the middle of the air. Below me was what looked like Manhattan, from the height of an airplane. In front of me, white marble steps wound up the spine of a cloud, into the sky. My eyes followed the stairway to its end, where my brain just could not accept what I saw.
Look again, my brain said.
We're looking, my eyes insisted. It's really there.
From the top of the clouds rose the decapitated peak of a mountain, its summit covered with snow. Clinging to the mountainside were dozens of multileveled palaces—a city of mansions—all with white-columned porticos, gilded terraces, and bronze braziers glowing with a thousand fires. Roads wound crazily up to the peak, where the largest palace gleamed against the snow. Precariously perched gardens bloomed with olive trees and rosebushes. I could make out an open-air market filled with colorful tents, a stone amphitheater built on one side of the mountain, a hippodrome and a coliseum on the other. It was like an Ancient Greek city, except it wasn't in ruins. It was new, and clean, and colorful, the way some place like Athens must've looked twenty-five hundred years ago.
This place can't be here, I told myself. The tip of a mountain hanging over New York City like a billion-ton asteroid? How could something like that be anchored above the Empire State Building, in plain sight of millions of people, and not get noticed?
But here it was. And here I was.
Mel left us pretty quickly. Said she had better things to do than babysit two tired demigods.
I didn't really mind. Neither did Akua.
She was clutching the sickle to her chest, like she was afraid someone would steal it again.
We thanked the goddess of honey, and she promised us a lifetime supply of good honey from the best bees in all of Olympus.
Then she left.
"Shall we?" I asked Akua.
She nodded.
"Thanks a lot, Percy," she said, quietly.
I smiled.
"You don't have to thank me. I know what it feels like to have to prove myself to my parent."
"It's not just that. You could have easily taken the credit. And returned the weapon. But instead, you're letting me do it. I'm not even a child of the eldest gods like you are."
"That doesn't matter," I said, shaking my head. "We wouldn't have won without you. If it wasn't for you, the Titans would probably be turning America into Snow World right now. You deserve to return the weapon, Akua. You're one of the most powerful demigods I've ever seen."
Her eyes widened at that.
"For real?"
I nodded.
"For real. You're the bravest, most sassy, annoying yet endearing demigod I've ever met."
She smiled, like she'd been running a marathon race for years and had finally finished it.
"Thanks, Percy. I appreciate that. A lot."
I nodded.
The trip through Olympus was a daze. I passed some giggling wood nymphs who threw olives at me from their garden. Hawkers in the market offered to sell me ambrosia-on-a-stick, and a new shield, and a genuine glitter-weave replica of the Golden Fleece, as seen on Vulcanus-TV. The nine muses were tuning their instruments for a concert in the park while a small crowd gathered—satyrs and naiads and a bunch of good-looking teenagers who reminded me of Mel. Nobody seemed worried about an impending civil war. In fact, everybody seemed in a festive mood. Several of them turned to watch me pass, and whispered to themselves.
I climbed the main road, toward the big palace at the peak. Everything here glittered white and silver.
Steps led up to a central courtyard. Past that, the throne room.
Room really isn't the right word. The place made Grand Central Station look like a broom closet. Massive columns rose to a domed ceiling, which was gilded with moving constellations.
Twelve thrones, built for beings the size of Koios, were arranged in an inverted U. An enormous fire crackled in the central hearth pit. The thrones were empty except for three: the head throne on the right, one to its immediate left and one further down a few places. I didn't have to be told who the gods were that were sitting there, waiting for me to approach. I came toward them, my legs trembling.
The gods were in giant human form, like Koios, but I could barely look at them without feeling a tingle, as if my body were starting to burn. Jupiter, the Lord of the Gods, wore a dark blue pinstriped suit. He sat on a simple throne of solid platinum. He had a well-trimmed beard, marbled gray and black like a storm cloud. His face was proud and handsome and grim, his eyes rainy gray.
As I got nearer to him, the air crackled and smelled of ozone.
The god sitting next to him was his brother, my dad, without a doubt, but he was dressed very differently than the way I'd seen him last. Now, he wore aquamarine armor, mined from the depths of the ocean. It glimmered and shone like scales on a fish. His hair was cut short, and he'd shaved his beard. His eyes, like mine, were green like the heart of the sea. His skin was tanned, like a fisherman, and his hands were rough and scarred with lines from ropes and nets.
His throne was a deep-sea fisherman's chair. It was the simple swiveling kind, with a black seat and a built-in holster for a fishing pole. Instead of a pole, the holster held a bronze trident, flickering with green light around the tips. Water surrounded it, and I spotted several sharks and other creatures swimming around it.
A few places down was a throne that looked like it had been ripped out straight from a combine harvester. It was made of old vintage leather, the kind that was really soft and just sank down as you sat into it. It was etched with murals of corn, wheat and other plants. The air around it seemed to hum with life, and plants grew around the throne, like they had a mind of their own. A faint wind moved several palm leaves set around it.
I knew the being sitting on the throne was Ceres. She looked similar to how I'd seen her in my dream— a beautiful, slightly crazed grandma. Her golden hair flowed down to her shoulders, and moved in the wind. Her eyes were harsh and gold, like the midsummer sun. She wore a simple floral dress that moved and swayed with the wind, but above it she wore armor that shone like the harvest sun. Like my dad, her skin was deeply tanned, but her hands weren't scarred. Instead, they were rough and calloused, like a farmer in rural Kansas. She had the same look of concentration I'd seen many times before, on Akua.
Akua and I walked up to Lord Jupiter first, bowing low. Even though we were several feet away from him, I could still feel the hairs on my head stand up.
Then we bowed to Neptune and Ceres in turn.
"Speak, boy," Jupiter began. "You have recovered the sickle," he added, grudgingly, like he was annoyed that I'd managed to succeed.
So I did. I told them the entire story— all the way from our leaving Camp to Mel leaving us at the entrance to Olympus. I mentioned what Koios had told me about ancient powers rising and the impending doom he was talking about.
I spoke mainly to Jupiter, but I noticed my dad and Ceres were listening too. They asked a couple of questions in between, especially when I told them about the Wendigo, but by the end of what I had to say, they all leaned back in their thrones, deep in thought.
The gods were silent for a while. They said nothing, but I could see they were thinking hard. I heard Jupiter mouth a single word— father.
"Well, then, it is time I take back what is mine, is it not?"
Ceres broke the silence.
Jupiter and Neptune nodded.
Ceres got off her throne, and shrank in size till she was normal in height. I mean, to us at least.
She walked towards Akua, and I stepped back, giving them some room.
"Come daughter, we have much to talk about."Ceres lead Akua out of the throne room, but not before she took the sickle from her.
As soon as she did, I felt the earth tremor. The wind around us picked up, and the heat increased, reminding me of summer. A warm breeze caressed my neck, and I could somehow hear a million farmers screaming at how good their crops were that year.
I turned back to the two remaining gods, one of who looked like he wanted to kill me, the other who looked like he was sad I was alive.
"You have averted a major disaster," Jupiter began, his voice rumbling like deep thunder. "And for that you will be rewarded. What do you wish?"
"What about the others? They were important too—"
"Son," my dad cut in, his voice more gentle. "When the king of Olympus offers you a reward you do not change topics."
I glanced at my dad, feeling a slight pang of anger. Did he really think the others weren't important enough to get rewarded? That just because I was a child of the Big Three I was the only one that deserved a reward?
"Percy— what do you wish for?" my dad spoke again, like he could tell I was about to say something stupid. He may not have been around much, but he was my dad for a reason.
I took in a deep breath.
I was clear about what I wanted.
I didn't really expect the gods to actually reward me for what I'd done. But often at night I used to think about it. What I'd ask the gods for as a reward if they ever offered one. A couple of things came to mind. Like a pet drakon. Unlimited Led Zepplin tickets. Unlimited pizza.
But the more I thought, the more I realized there was only one thing I really wanted.
"I—" my voice cracked. "I want to see my mom."
Jupiter sighed, running his hands over his eyes.
"I thought as much. You ask for much, boy. For there are things that were hidden from you not without reason. Are you sure of your request? You could still change it to something reasonable— you demigods are into gold plated sports cars with high mileage these days, are you not? I'm sure Apollo could show you a few models you would like."
I bowed low, looking down at the marble flooring which was so bright it showed me my reflection. I looked like the last person that was supposed to be here, still covered with dust and grime, my clothes a mess and my hair looking like a harpy's nest.
"I'd still like to talk to my mother, if that's fine with you, Lord Jupiter."
The lord of the skies stirred in his seat, glaring at my dad.
"I told you—"
"Brother, you cannot be swift to judge others where you have fallen yourself."
Jupiter sighed.
"Fine then. Tell him. But the boy must not reveal what he knows to others till it is time."
Neptune nodded.
"I will vouch for him. Besides, he is not the first of the Romans to know the truth, is he?"
Jupiter nodded.
"Do as is required. My presence is required elsewhere— see that your spawn is not here when I return, for my patience for dealing with those of the sea wears thin."
A huge bolt of lightning struck the throne, and I jumped back. But even then, my hair stood up and I knew I'd singed one of my eyebrows.
Neptune rolled his eyes and got off his throne, shrinking down to mortal size and walking towards me.
"My brother was always one for theatrics— he would have done well as its patron."
I glanced at my dad, and he looked at me for the first time, intently, his eyes deep as the sea, swirling depths that spoke volumes without saying a single thing.
"You are still mad at me," he said it like it was a fact, not like he was asking me.
I nodded.
"Still. A bit. A lot less than before. I think you helped me more than I thought through this quest. You're the one that didn't let Koios sense Rob was a god, wasn't it?"
Neptune smiled.
"I have helped more you more often than you may realize. The other gods— they have more children than they can keep track of. But I only have you, Percy. In you I place my hopes and dreams of what a son of the sea may embody. No matter your parentage— know this," his eyes darkened and I felt the deep power of the sea reverberate through me. "You are my son. And I will always be proud of you."
I blinked back tears. I didn't really expect Neptune to say all those heart touching wrods— but something told me he was only telling me this to prepare me for what he was about to say next.
I wasn't wrong.
"Perhaps you have already figured out your parentage? For you are right— I am not your Father."
It was like some weird case of Paternity Court where you heard three simple words: not the father.
And suddenly everything around me seemed to shake.
I couldn't breathe, and dropped to the floor, clutching my chest as I gasping in shock.
All of a sudden, I felt the haze clear from my mind.
I remembered things I didn't know I'd experienced.
I remembered being expelled from six schools. Maybe seven.
Yancy Academy and Mr Brunner was the last one. I'd headed home for the holidays with my friend Grover, when lightning stuck and suddenly I knew nothing.
The next time I opened my eyes I was at the wolf house.
Slowly, like I was putting together a puzzle, my mind began to clear. I remembered how Diana told me there were other pantheons. How Reyna clammed up when someone asked her where she was from. How Koios told Reyna she didn't belong.
I saw flashes of war. Gods decked out in armor with weapons, shooting fire and lightning at each other.
I saw the rise and fall of the Roman empire. I saw the Greeks— Alexander the Great, dying in Babylon. I saw Hitler, Stalin and a bunch of other dudes in overcoats that I didn't recognize.
I grabbed my head in pain, as it felt like a million memories were being shoved into me all at once.
Then I remembered her name.
Jackson. Sally Jackson.
My mom.
Neptune was right.
I wasn't a child of the roman god of the sea. I wasn't a child of any roman god at all.
I was the child of a being far older, from a longer forgotten time.
A god that lived long before the existence of Neptune came to being.
I was the son of Poseidon.
Earth shaker. Storm bringer. Father of horses.
The Greek god of the sea.
When I opened my eyes, Neptune had disappeared.
In his place stood another being. He reminded me of a beachcomber from Key West. He wore leather sandals, khaki Bermuda shorts, and a Tommy Bahama shirt with coconuts and parrots all over it. His skin was still deeply tanned, and his hands still scarred like an old-time fisherman's. His hair was black, like mine, but it was long and flowed down to his neck. His face had that same brooding look that had always gotten me branded a rebel. But his eyes, sea green like mine, were surrounded by sun-crinkles that told me he smiled a lot, too.
Poseidon.
My dad.
I didn't say anything for a few seconds.
I couldn't.
When Diana had told me other Pantheons existed— I didn't believe she meant the Greek pantheon did to.
And I would have never imagined that after all, I would be a Greek demigod.
But it explained a lot.
Why I felt like Lupa was lying. Why I didn't fit in with Camp.
Why I was bad at following rules, though that just might have been a me thing.
"Dad.." I stammered.
"Hello, Percy. It's been a while."
I sank to my knees. I could only ask him a single question.
"Why?"
Poseidon sighed, many wrinkles marring his forehead.
"That is a long story. But I shall try to explain," he said, speaking softly. "Many years before you were born, I had another child of the sea. And Zeus and Hades had their children as well. Back then, the Romans and Greeks knew of each others' existence. They both had powerful demigods on each side. And do you know what happened because of that, Percy?"
I felt a sinking sensation in my gut.
"War…" I murmured.
Poseidon nodded.
"You mortals call them the World Wars. They were terrible times," he shook his head, and his hair turned gray for a second. "But once we crossed them, we three, the eldest gods, swore not to bear any more children. You were too powerful. Altered history too much. Too unpredictable— though that is not something I would fault anyone with."
"But what about the Greek Roman thing?"
My dad nodded.
"For their own safety, we separated the greek and roman demigods. If you may have noticed— no quest of yours heads anywhere near New York. For we have another Camp there, much like Camp Jupiter."
The words came out of my mouth before I knew I'd said them.
"Camp Half Blood."
I felt a bitter feeling in my mouth. Like I was saying something that was both familiar and strange to me at the same time. I got a sense of nostalgia for a place I'd never been to, and for things I'd never experienced.
Perhaps at another time, and in another place, I would have been in Camp Half Blood. I had no idea what it was like— but I had a feeling it was like the Camp I'd seen months back, in the Wolf House, in my memories. I remembered that they had lava walls and Pegasi, that they sang Over the hills way off key and that they wore orange shirts, like Camp Jupiter had purple shirts, but not much else.
"Why—" I found it hard to speak. "Why didn't you send me there? Why did you take me away? Away from m—mom?"
Poseidon sighed.
"It was what Zeus ordered. When you were born, the earth quaked and the ocean roared. My brother had broken the oath before me, and his offspring were but children when you were born. But it was too much power on the Greek side. The Romans would be destroyed should you ever come to know of each other. Thus, Hera— you may know her as Lady Juno— suggested a switch."
I frowned.
"A switch?"
My dad nodded.
"I had only one son— you. But Zeus had a daughter. And Jupiter had a son— both from the same mother."
"Wait. So you mean Zeus had a kid with someone and then Jupiter—ew,"I wrinkled my nose. "For some reason that's gross."
"Well, that I leave to you. But back to what I was saying— Jason, the son of Jupiter, and you, my son, were switched. Because Zeus wanted both his children in Camp Half Blood where he could monitor their progress. And as he is king of the gods," Poseidon sighed, "I had to agree. It was either send you to Camp Jupiter or kill you. And of course, I could not choose the later. Though perhaps it would have been better than what you are doomed to now."
"What doom?" I asked, a sinking feeling in my gut.
"The fate of a hero, Percy. That is never happy— at least, more often than not, it is filled with great bravery but great tragedy as well. I should never have visited your mother."
"Gee," I snarled, no longer caring about sounding rude. "I'm glad you think so little about my mom."
"Do not misunderstand me, my son," Poseidon rumbled, and for a second I saw the wild fury of the ocean in his eyes. He sighed, and calmed himself. "Your mother was a Queen among women. Such a woman I have never seen in a thousand years. Though I rue the fact that you are condemned to such a fate, I have never for a second regretted the love I have for Sally— nor for you."
I sighed. At this point, I didn't feel anything but numb. I'd felt too much. Experienced too much. My heart couldn't keep up.
"Whatever," I rolled my eyes. "Can I go see mom now? She'd probably worried to death."
"In a minute," Poseidon told me. "You have a visitor."
I heard someone clear their throat behind me, and turned.
Behind me stood Lady Diana, looking every bit as Olympian as any god could. She raised an eyebrow, her brown eyes looking at me with interest.
"You forgot about your visit," she told me, as a matter of fact.
I blushed, and bowed.
"My apologies, Lady Diana."
She smiled. "You are courteous, if nothing else. And because of that I will overlook it. But I have not much time— here, I give you this. For your valor which has earned my respect."
She handed me a small silver bracelet.
"At your time of need, you may use it. Throw it below your feet and crush it— and I will know that you are in mortal peril and will come to your aid. Do not use if unwisely, for I am quick to wrath as I am quick to heal."
I glanced at the bracelet, before wearing it.
Now I had two bands around my wrist— the red threads Kani had given me, and the silver bracelet.
"This is a one time use thing, yeah?"
Diana nodded.
I smiled and bowed low.
No matter how small the steps were, I appreciated the fact that the gods were trying to show that they cared about what was going on in the world.
"I thank you, Lady Diana. I am in your debt."
She smiled.
"You are tolerable company. For a man."
I closed my eyes as she flashed away, before turning back to my dad.
His expression was unreadable. It was like he was having an internal war within himself.
But finally, he smiled.
"I am proud of you, Percy."
I allowed myself to smile.
"I know. Thanks dad."
Poseidon teleported me to mom's house straight away.
The last I remembered, she lived with my horrible step—father. Smelly Gabe. Well, his real name was Gabe Ugliano (yes, Ugliano), but I called him Smelly Gabe behind his back.
The main reason she'd put up with Gabe in the first place was for my sake. Because he wasn't Smelly Gabe for nothing. He reeked of moldy pizza and beer and other gross things and I was pretty sure any godly aura I'd had as a child was more than nullified by his own aura. Which meant monsters didn't smell me out and possibly kill me.
Though I knew a fair amount of them had tried.
Seriously, he was like a smoke grenade covering for me.
But my mom didn't need to stay with him anymore. Not after I left, anyway.
Fortunately, my dad— my real dad, Poseidon, I mean— had convinced mom to leave him behind and move to Lower Manhattan, where he told me she was working on a book as well as helping out at non—profits nearby.
Of course that was my mom. She was the greatest warrior I had heard of. I knew for a fact that I got all my hero genes from her and not my dad.
Well, most of them at least.
Poseidon dropped me off at a small suburban house. It was white, with green windows and several potted plants hanging over the porch. A small garden wrapped around the house, and several tiny potted plants lined the windowsills. A narrow pebbled path lead to a creaky brown gate that led outside.
"Are you coming in?"
Poseidon shook his head, sadly.
"As much as I would like to, now is not my time. Another day, perhaps," his face softened. "I would be happy to see you both. Ah— but before I forget—"
He reached into his shirt and pulled out a shark tooth necklace— one of those ten dollar ones you got at the beach.
"Neptune may have given you your sword to protect yourself. But I give you this necklace to protect those you love."
I took it and looked at it. It looked like an ordinary shark-tooth.
"Does it transform into a shield or something? A spear maybe?" I asked, hopefully.
Poseidon laughed and shook his head.
"The sea destroys. But it also protects. Who ever wears this necklace will always be welcome in the water. No harm will befall them while they are in our domain."
I raised a brow.
"So they, like, can breathe underwater and stuff?"
"Yes, Percy. They can breath underwater and stuff."
I wore the necklace, fingering the shark tooth.
"Who do I give it to?"
"Your girlfriend would be a good example. I'm sure you demigods need all the protection you can get."
I blushed.
"Reyna? We aren't a couple—uh, yet, at least."
Poseidon laughed, as he reached over and patted my shoulder.
"You will know the right person to give it to. Because I trust you, and I know your heart is in the right place. Good bye, Percy."
I swallowed.
I knew I hadn't really had the best relationship with Poseidon. Heck, he was my dad and I'd met him five minute ago.
But in the end, it was clear he was trying pretty hard for an immortal being to do what did not come naturally to him.
To be my dad.
I quickly reached out and hugged him.
He froze, before wrapping his arms around me.
"Be careful."
"I will."
Poseidon gave me one last look, before walking down the path and out of the gate.
I turned, took a deep breath, and rang the doorbell.
The door opened with a rush of wind, and I couldn't think for a minute.
She was just like I remembered her.
Still taller than me— though that height difference wasn't going to last long. She had warm brown eyes and curly brown hair. I had her smile— my dad had told me that.
She smelt of vanilla and cookies.
But more importantly, she was on the phone.
"Hey! I'm on the phone, may I know what you—" she smiled, before frowning as she took in my clothes and the blood covering my arms and the back of my head. "Are you alright?"
She immediately looked worried.
"I'll call you right back, Paul."
I laughed. I probably looked like a Greek cosplayer who'd been run over by a truck.
"I'm fine, mom."
She gasped.
The phone clattered to the ground.
"P-Percy?"
She shivered, as her hands reached out towards me, hesitantly, like she was afraid I was a ghost that would disappear into thin air.
"Are you real?" she whispered.
I grabbed her hands.
"Yes mom. I missed you."
"All those nights— all this time I thought you were dead—" her voice cracked.
I grinned. "Nope. Not dead. Just really tired."
"And this blood? This better be fake blood—"
I winced.
"Yeah? It's a prop?"
My mom huffed.
"Perseus Jackson, are you lying to me?"
Great. She could already read me like a book. Though honestly, that wasn't really surprising.
I shrugged. "We had this quest. And yeah, I got a few, uh, scars on the way."
"Oh my poor baby."
She quickly pulled me into a hug, dust, blood and all.
I stood still for a second, before quickly returning it.
"I love you, mom."
"I love you too, Percy."
And for the first time since I'd woken up, I felt like I'd finally gotten out of the woods and reached a clearing. Like I'd come to rest after a long journey.
I finally felt like I'd come home.
A/N: Well, that's that.
Sorry if it seemed a little rushed, I just have a lot going on right now.
I'm rather busy at the moment, so I'm not sure when I'll begin book two, but for now here's a tiny teaser- the name of the book will be, Percy Jackson the the Olympians : The Spear of Minerva.
Make of it what you will.
Reviews are, as always, appreciated.
