For an eternity, there was darkness.

Endless darkness.

Then there was light and water and a half-remembered dream of stormy eyes and golden hair. Annabeth. But if his dream had a name, then surely, so did he? Percy, whispered a voice in his ear. Yes, that sounds right, he mused. I am Percy.

He didn't know anything else, save for the saltwater that surrounded him, flowing upwards to the light. With a mind that felt strangely empty, unwilling or unable to guide him, he sought counsel from the water, and followed the current upwards. Compared to the darkness, it was painfully bright above ground despite the sun setting in the distance, and if the spring had not shielded him, he had no doubt he would have been blinded. After taking a moment to steel his nerves, he stepped out of the only home he knew.

His exit (his birth?) was greeted by a man and woman standing tall before him. Tall was, perhaps, an understatement. The man stood head and shoulders above Percy, his long hair and beard both blue as sapphires. He was only half-clothed, with what looked like a sheet, patterned like rolling waves, fastened about his waist by an eel trying to devour its own tail. In the man's hand was a glowing trident, which pulsed and swirled as though wrought from the sea itself.

The woman, whose neck stood at eye-level with Percy, wore armor over a short tunic, as though ready for battle, though he saw no enemy. Atop her head was a bronze helm, shining as brightly as her greaves and shield, hiding her face. She held a silver spear topped with a bronze tip, beneath which hung a cluster of gray feathers. By her was a tree, its pale brown trunk twisting upwards into light green leaves, spotted with rich clusters of olives.

Behind the pair was a man with no legs; in place of them, he had a serpent's tail, scales patterned gray and black and cream. He wore a circlet of gold upon his brow, and past him was a crowd of people wearing plainly colored pelops and chitons. Percy glanced down at himself, taking in his orange shirt and black shorts, though his feet were bare. A murmur of voices gradually grew, and he looked back up at his unexpected audience.

They were all staring at Percy silently. He raised his hand awkwardly. "Hello?"

The first man's face twisted in rage as he stalked forward, trident thrust forward towards Percy. "Speak your name, mortal, so I may know which fool I smite for daring to taint these blessed waters, which I called up from deep within my kingdom."

Something about the man's voice, deep and rumbling, was familiar, but he put that thought aside for a time when he wasn't being threatened. "Percy," he answered, his hand drifting to his pocket to pull out a short, blue pen. As the man drew closer, he flicked the top of it off, anger welling up in him like the xiphos in his hand. If this dude wants a fight, I'll give it to him, he thought, walking forward to meet him.

"Then, Percy," said the man disdainfully, "taste the wrath of the seas."

The man stabbed at Percy's abdomen, quick and strong as the winds of a tempest. The prongs barely dipped as Percy brought his sword down upon the tines, and they struck his stomach hard. He was sent flying backwards as the air was forced out of his lungs, wincing as he skidded along the rocky field. It wasn't until he'd stopped that he realized that he wasn't bleeding. Nor was he soaked from the fountain he'd emerged from- he was dry as bone and wrathful as a fallen soldier, rising once more to seek vengeance.

Springing to his feet, he charged at the man. Something in him called to the wellspring that had birthed him, so he pushed hard, sending it crashing down upon his attacker. It passed by the man harmlessly, so he pulled it towards him, letting it circle him like a hurricane attending its master. It took but a few moments for Percy to reach the man, whose eyes were narrowed beneath furrowed brow.

The storm surrounding him had no more effect than the wave did, and the man deflected his swings effortlessly, once, twice, and then a clever feint upwards let Percy slip beneath the man's guard to carve a smooth line across his thigh. The man bellowed in anger as gold leaked from the cut like tears and took the initiative once more, jabbing and slicing with inhuman speed and strength, too much for Percy to properly block. All he could do was dance around it and swipe at the man's legs and arms, but before long the man snagged the sword between the tines of his trident and twisted it out of Percy's grip. Diving for his lost weapon, Percy rolled to his feet just in time to receive a blow to his face, knocking him dozens of feet away.

It took longer to find his feet this time, and by now the water that he'd called upon had returned to springing upwards into the air from the gash in the earth. On instinct, Percy reached into his pocket and pulled out the pen again, ripping the cap off to reveal his sword. He strode forward once more- he was outmatched, but he'd be damned if he'd go down without making his killer regret it.

"Enough," boomed the man, growing taller until he towered above Percy. He was of a height with the tree that stood by the fountain, perhaps even larger. "Stay your blade and sate my curiosity, and mayhap I will grant you mercy yet."

Percy slowed to a stop. It was a mighty foe that he faced, and if the man was open to talk, then he was open to trickery as well. "Tell me your name, and I'll think about it," he said, speaking up to the giant while lowering his sword.

The man blinked once, then stared at him in disbelief. "Are you so simple that you do not recognize Poseidon of Olympus?"

His words made Percy's head ache, as though the darkness in his mind was trying to tell him something. "Sorry, do we know each other?"

"If we'd met before, I would not have let such a disrespectful mortal live," the man- Poseidon- assured him. Not very comforting. "But I have questions of my own, and unless you'd like your heart ripped from your breast, you will speak nothing but the truth."

Don't insult him, don't insult him, don't insult him, Percy chanted silently. "Fine."

"Why did you befoul my gift with your presence?" asked Poseidon.

"Dude, I have no idea how or why I ended up there. I barely know my own name- I woke up, swam out, and then you attacked me."

"Mind your tongue," the man spat, though his gaze was considering as well as threatening. To Poseidon's right, the woman approached, her helmed head tilted like a bird of prey. "You can recall nothing before the fountain."

It wasn't a question, but Percy replied anyway. "No," he lied. Like hell was he telling this guy about the woman in his dream.

"He's unharmed," spoke the woman at last, and Percy would have sworn he'd heard her voice before, though his face and stomach begged to differ with her words. "A mortal should not have survived your trident."

"Indeed," Poseidon said grudgingly. "Come here, boy."

"Do I look like a dog to you?"

The man snarled and pounded his trident against the ground, shaking the earth. "I will not warn you to watch your words again. Now, come, or I will send you to my brother after I am content with your suffering."

Right. Don't piss off the big guy with no chill. He walked forward until he stood beneath the giant. After a moment, the man's form shrank until he stood merely head and shoulders above him again. Poseidon grabbed his chin and turned his face back and forth, examining him with eldritch eyes, absent of dark pupils or white sclera. Instead, they seemed to be a mirror of the ocean, with wine-dark waves cresting and crashing. He even saw a whale breaking the surface before diving back down.

"It seems," Poseidon murmured as he released Percy's chin, "that my gift bore greater fruit than intended."

The woman stiffened behind Poseidon, then strode closer to stand next to him. "He is no god," she said after a short pause. "Though there is divinity in his veins, if he bled, it would be red."

Somehow, the fact that gods existed seemed right to him. "What am I?" he asked as he recapped his sword and slid the pen into his pocket.

"He feels like a demigod, but I've not enjoyed a mortal woman for some time now," said Poseidon to the woman.

Just as he'd opened his mouth to tell them that I'm right here, but go on, feel free to ignore me, the woman pulled off her helm, and his heart stopped. "Annabeth?"

"No," the woman said, bristling. "I am the goddess Athena, child, wisest of the Olympians, and," she continued with a imperceptible sly grin at Poseidon, "patron of your birthplace."

The man scowled, and the clear sky darkened forebodingly. "Certainly, Cecrops will change his mind when all the facets of my blessing are revealed."

"Judgement has already been rendered," she responded with victory woven through her voice. "The city is mine."

The conversation seemed hazy to Percy, as though there was a fog of gnats swarming between him and the gods. He couldn't tear his eyes from Annabeth- no, Athena. That stormy gaze was no more human than Poseidon's; her eyes lacked the normal features, appearing instead as though stone had been spun and woven impossibly tight so that they resembled orbs of smooth slate, though strangely illuminated. He knew her, but he didn't, but he did. The feeling was maddening. That her hair was dark instead of gilded was the only thing preventing him from speaking of it.

Dimly, he heard Poseidon say, "We shall see about that."

A large, calloused hand curled around his arm, firm and unyielding, pulling him towards the waiting half-serpent king and the crowd. They milled about nervously, whispering to each other and looking at the sky, as though beseeching it for answers. Before they could reach them, another hand, this one smooth with slender fingers, gripped his shoulder and held him still. He stopped willingly as the same sensation of familiar yet alien shot through him.

For moment, he feared he'd be ripped in half as the goddess and god pulled at him, but then Poseidon released his grip and spun to point his trident at Athena. Small, bone-white crabs began crawling in his cobalt beard and locks, and Percy felt certain he'd met the god before, but he couldn't remember how. He stepped backwards, closer to the goddess that seemed akin to his dream. Eyes that held the sea flicked over to him, darkening even as the waves in them grew larger, splashing white as they crashed into each other.

"You agreed to the terms, and by those laid down, you have lost. Accept your defeat gracefully or don't, I care not, as long as you accept it," Athena said coldly, letting go of Percy's shoulder. Something like loss slithered down his spine when she did.

"I do not," hissed Poseidon. One of the crabs left his beard to scuttle along his shoulder. The god paid it no mind. "The entirety of my gift was not revealed at the time of choosing. An invulnerable protector is a mighty boon."

"Invulnerable, but not immortal. Regardless, Cecrops has already chosen the olive tree, and such a decision, once made, cannot be unmade. If you wish to contest the ruling, though, I'm content to allow my father the final say."

"Fine, then, Pallas Athena," he snarled, and the goddess flinched at his words, "if your people are such fools that they would choose your petty tree, then they shall receive no blessing from me."

"A gift, once given, cannot be taken back," Athena said, her bright gaze sharp and full of cunning. "You've no right to it any longer."

Poseidon laughed, thought it was tinged with rage. "It is my creation and thus, belongs to me. I will do what I wish with it." Percy got the sickening feeling that the god was talking about more than just the fountain.

With a wave of Poseidon's hand, the fountain vanished, leaving nothing but a scar on the field. Percy stumbled as it disappeared, clutching at his heart, which wept in agony. Again, the god's eyes shot to him, following him even after Percy had regained his balance. He felt numb, but it was better than the pain, so he'd take it.

"I'm happy to let our king decide," the goddess said. Rain began pouring as the wind picked up, and then it stopped as suddenly as it started.

The god gnashed his teeth at the sky before looking at Athena. "Our agreement speaks nothing of the results save patronage. The blessing is mine." He grabbed Percy again and began glowing impossibly bright. Something in Percy told him to close his eyes even as the goddess shouted a warning to the crowd.

He knew they were underwater before he opened them. When he did, he had to blink away black spots that were scattered amidst his sight like stars and found himself in a grand palace. The walls were seastone, light blues and pale greens and soft grays mixed together and carved with scenes of myth: a group of six pulling beings with many arms and heads out of a pit; a crumbling castle; what must have been a god with the tentacles of an octopus kneeling to the Poseidon.

Beneath Percy's feet, the marble was impossibly smooth, broken only by intricately detailed columns that rose to the ceiling, shaped like strands of seawood and pillars of coral. He tentatively lifted himself to stand on his toes and his momentum carried him up until he was floating inches above the marble. Letting himself sink, he reveled in the feel of the cold floor against his feet.

It was then that he realized he had an audience of more than his- captor? Dad? Beside the god, in front of a set of twin thrones that glowed green and swirled like living things, was a woman with glowing blue skin and long hair as dark as a new moon, held in place by a net of woven silk studded with pearls. Two small, white crab claws peaked out from her ebony locks like horns, while red pincers adorned her brow like a crown. She looked at Percy coldly, dark brown eyes roving over him.

"So," she said with a voice beautiful as a melody and sad as a tragedy, "you have betrayed me once more, and you dare to bring your bastard to our home?" Her voice shook at the end, trembling with rage rather than sorrow.

"I've lain with no mortal woman for centuries now," replied Poseidon.

The woman pointed a delicate finger at Percy. "Then how, pray tell, do you explain him?"

"He emerged fully formed and armed from the spring I conjured in the contest against Athena," he explained soothingly, hands raised in surrender. Whipped, Percy thought, trying not to smile at the image before him.

Turning from Poseidon, the woman floated towards Percy, who slipped his hand into his pocket. Better safe than sorry. She examined him more closely, then drew back with rage adorning her face. "Do you mean to play me for a fool, husband? This boy is tainted with mortality."

"I know not why he is so lacking" the god admitted, causing Percy's heart to twist painfully. Is this truly my father? "I swear, though, I've sired no demigods in living memory. His birth was witnessed by Athena," he spat her name like a curse while a lone tear dripped from his wife's eye, "and Cecrops, as well as a hundred other mortals. He is not wholly a failure," Poseidon continued, the ache in Percy's chest growing, "for not even my trident could not pierce his skin."

"And how did you discover this?"

Poseidon grimaced and scratched his chin almost bashfully, dislodging several of the ivory crabs. "I assumed, at first, that he was but a human that dared to enter the spring I created."

"Always so quick to anger," the woman teased lightly, turning her head to Poseidon with a soft smile. She reminded Percy of someone important, but he couldn't recall who, no matter how hard he strained.

"Temperamental as the seas," he agreed. "Never without reason, though. The boy dared to fight me."

She hummed but did not contradict his words, facing Percy once more. "What do you mean to do with him?" she asked of Poseidon.

"I'll send him ashore when a small matter has been resolved, so that he may be tested and seek redemption for spilling holy blood." That… that doesn't sound great.

"What matter is this?" she inquired.

"Athena," he growled her name, "had the audacity to claim I ought to leave my gift to her ignorant city, and means to petition my brother."

"Of course she did, the greedy oath breaker," the woman murmured, looking over Percy.

"Not to interrupt," Percy interrupted, "but who are you?"

She arched her brow. "Mortals address gods when spoken to, and not a moment before. You have the honor of addressing Lady Amphitrite."

"Nice to meet you. And sorry, I tend to forget my manners when kidnapped."

Percy leaned back in surprise as he found his dad- yeah, no, I'm not calling him that- Poseidon inches from his face. "Careful, child. That you are of me is the only reason you still draw breath."

"The first thing you did was attack me. The second thing you did abduct me. What, was I supposed to thank you?"

The god's lips pulled back to reveal a set of shark teeth. "You need not bleed to die."

"Just because you can't die doesn't mean you can't bleed," Percy snarled right back, pulling his sword from his pocket and letting it grow to a sword. Wait, this might be a bad-

The back of Poseidon's hand snapped towards Percy's cheek, who ducked and willed the water to carry him forward, xiphos slashing upwards and to the left. An unseen trident rammed his side, sending him into the seastone wall. When he looked up, both Poseidon and Amphitrite were swimming towards him, weapons outstretched. Gods dammit, he thought. Literally. He crouched against the wall, sword held defensively parallel to the floor. The gods paused just out of range, and he tensed, readying to push off.

"Invulnerable indeed," said Amphitrite. "I've seen nothing like this before."

"Neither have I," her husband agreed.

"Though, he is most uncouth. Perhaps you've gone the way of your brother, and mated with a beast?" Gross. Also, rude, Percy thought, but was too busy creeping backward towards the ceiling to interject.

Poseidon's face twisted with disgust. "I'm content with the depths of the ocean- I've no need to explore the depths of depravity as well. I'll leave that to him." Amphitrite laughed lightly at his response.

Poseidon's legs melded into a brilliant tail, scales shining like emeralds. Without warning, he swam up, quicker than a shark, to grab Percy's ankle, flinging him face-first into the floor. White dust and bits of marble drifted up around his body like fog. He groaned and forced himself to his feet, clenching his sword tightly. Too slow- the moment he was upright, Poseidon was squeezing his neck as the god's other hand held Percy's wrist in place, sword dangling uselessly. He thrashed helplessly, kicking and punching and he couldn't breathe he was going to die he couldn't breathe he didn't want to die.

Dimly, he could hear the ground shaking, cracking the marble beneath him. More, he thought in the midst of his panic, but instead all went silent as the earth stilled. Then, suddenly, he could breathe once more as the massive hand released his throat. He doubled over, gasping for air- water? Each breath felt like he was swallowing razor blades, which carved a bloody path to his lungs. The hand returned, slamming into the side of his head, and Percy went flying into one of the columns. His sword was still at the gods' feet; he must have dropped it when he was being choked. He willed the water to bring it to him, but before it reached halfway, it stopped and sank like a stone.

I'm so fucked, he thought dazedly. The two gods were swimming towards him, and he really doubted they were planning on returning his weapon. He noticed that behind them, one of the pillars had collapsed. Good. At least he'd caused some property damage, though he'd have preferred bodily harm.

The glint of light off the sword vanished, along with the blade itself. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out once more, flicking the cap off. Very handy, that. As it blossomed into reality, Poseidon and Amphitrite slowed, coming to a stop half a dozen feet away.

"He's a powerful one," the goddess murmured to his husband.

"Indeed. Perhaps he may be of use. Have you learned your manners yet, boy, or must I continue beating them into you?" Poseidon asked.

"Yeah, I got it," Percy rasped, holding the xiphos up cautiously. Does that mean no murder? I'm a huge fan of no murder.

"It seems even a fool can learn," mused the god. "Now, sheathe your weapon lest you cross the limits of my leniency." Leniency? That was leniency? Percy thought incredulously as he recapped his sword and stowed his pen away. "You can begin correcting your grievous error by pleading for forgiveness."

Percy stared at him. Surely he's not serious. With every second that passed, Poseidon's implacable face grew stonier. Right, he's serious. "Sorry." The god looked no more pleased than before, eyes swirling like a typhoon. "About all this," he continued, gesturing around the room. "And insulting you. Won't happen again."

"Lord Poseidon," the god corrected.

Percy gritted his teeth. "Lord Poseidon."

The god nodded. "Lackluster, but I tire of your presence, so I shall generously accept it. I've spared you twice, now, but you have burned through what favor your kinship with me may have granted. I will not do so a third time."

"Right."

"Lord Poseidon," the god corrected once more, pointing his trident at Percy.

"Right, Lord Poseidon," Percy spat.

The god waved him away. "Begone with you, you ill-tempered and foul-mouthed child."

That was an order Percy was happy to obey. He swam out of the hall, fists clenched.

"Stay," came the sweet voice of Amphitrite, though her tone was cold as the depths.

I'm getting really sick of being treated like a dog. Still, he'd been firmly put in his place, so he heeled. Like a good dog, he thought bitterly, turning to face her. "Yeah?" A pause. "Lady Amphitrite."

She regarded him coolly. "Your father may have forgiven your disrespect, but I have not. I'll be glad to be rid of you." Likewise. "Zephas," she called to one of the guards stationed outside of the throne room. A merman, armored in bronze with a pearl at the center of his breast plate and wielding a spear, swam over. He was red skinned with a mesmerizing blue tail that shimmered brightly. His black eyes were disdainful when they flickered over Percy but turned respectful as he bowed to Amphitrite. "See this boy to the barracks. Inform his superior to treat him as a new recruit, beginning tomorrow. This evening, he is to rest and contemplate his sins."

"As you say, my lady," the guard replied with another bow, and with that, Amphitrite returned to the throne room. "Come, boy," the guard spat at Percy, swimming away without looking back.

He must have heard the commotion, thought Percy, who reluctantly followed the guard. He was led through the winding halls of the palace, and much as he hated to admit, it was resplendent. Though he recognized few of the scenes depicted on the walls, many of them featured the gods who'd given him the beating that still echoed through his bones. There was another man and two women threaded throughout the imagery as well; the man had two tails and wielded a trident, while one of the women oft stood beneath a halo of water amidst a storm. The other woman was unarmed as well, depicted riding waves over monsters and villages.

Periodically they would pass another guard, and their appearance struck Percy as odd yet beautiful. The hue of their skin varied greatly, from shades of blue to red to green to inky black, with green or blue tails, though some shown gold or silver, and others were a colorful mix. Each wore scaled armor that glowed bronze, with spears to match.

Eventually, the guard led him out of the palace, and Percy gaped at the surrounding city. Many of the buildings were eggshell white but shimmered like a rainbow had been captured and mixed into the mortar. Others were seastone or marble, less impressive but still stunning. Little throngs of merpeople swam in the streets, which looked tiny from the tall hill upon which the castle rested.

"I've no time to indulge your gawking," the guard said, breaking Percy from his staring. "Come."

Don't kill the guard of the big guy with no chill, Percy told himself as he followed the merman across what seemed to be training grounds, filled with soldiers sparring and floating in formation. The guard brought him to one of many plainly built seastone buildings, empty save for the beds organized into two rows of perhaps twenty or so columns. At the foot of each rested a silver chest.

"This one is yours," the merman told Percy gruffly, pointing at one near the door, before taking his leave.

Percy sat on the bed, elbows on his knees as he stared at the floor. "Anna- Athena," he prayed quietly, "I don't know if you can hear me, but Poseidon's a dick. If you can get me out of this, that would be greatly appreciated. Unless you've got a superiority complex too- who knows, it might just be a god thing. No offense," he added as an afterthought. If the goddess felt insulted by his prayer, she likely wouldn't be any better than Poseidon. With a sigh, he twisted to lay on the bunk and closed his eyes, surrendering once more to the darkness.

The endless darkness.

Couldn't get this idea out of my head. If you have any feedback, whether on style or characters or whatever, it would be much appreciated.