Percy was convinced that his ears would never be clean again.
He and Anastasia were sitting in an underwater cavern, him trying to dig all the sap out of his ears, but he was beginning to fear the stickiness would never go away. She picked at the coral gloomily, her mermaid tail flicking idly at stray shells. He was in a foul mood, too, thinking about what her mother had said about Oceanus and mortals.
He will wreak his vengeance on them, he recalled.Down with the sea god.
He reflected with despair on what this eventual war might mean for mankind. He knew pollution was bad–his best friend was a staunch environmentalist, after all–but he definitely didn't want human beings to suffer and be destroyed by a vengeful titan and hungry Sirens. He thought about how many other monsters and sea creatures could be persuaded to rally against the gods with the promise of getting to punish mortals, and he shuddered.
He also thought about his mom. His rock, the one constant in his life, the one person who had always been there for him. He had thought she had died, once, and it had been the worst he'd ever felt. Just the thought of now potentially losing her for real made him emotional. He knew he had to do something.
He looked at Anastasia. She had gotten sick of the coral and was now picking at her nails, scowling at her nail beds as if they were to blame. She looked up to meet his eyes, and her expression was dark.
"I guess we got what we wanted," she said simply.
He nodded. "It's all starting to make sense now."
Anastasia's lip quivered. She scowled at herself, and he could tell that she rarely ever cried. He couldn't help but feel bad for her, all things considered.
"Hey, it'll be okay," he said, feeling lame. "It'll all work out. We'll fix this."
She fixed him with a glare. "Do not bullshit me. You are not good at it."
"It's okay to be upset–"
"I am not upset!" she snapped, and for an instant, her eyes became yellow and her face gaunt as she snarled. But, just as quickly, she regained her composure and went back to normal, closing her eyes and taking deep, measured breaths. Her composure didn't hold for long, and she planted her face in her hands, feeling a cold wave of dread wash over her.
"There will be so much death," she moaned. "And it is my fault."
Percy tentatively reached a hand out toward her, then withdrew it. "It's–it's not your fault. How could you say that?"
"It is because my parents met," she whimpered. "It is because I was born."
"No, that's not true," he said. "She said there were already stirrings before they met. It's because…because of pollution. And global warming. And Kronos. He tried to recruit your father, right?" She didn't move. "That would have happened regardless of whether you had been born." Thoughtfully, he flicked at a shell sticking out of the coral. "And being born isn't your fault either. It's not like you asked for that."
She sighed. "Maybe it is because both of us were born." His eyes shot up at her as she picked her head up and examined him. "You keep thinking about this prophecy, not the one about me. What is that about?"
He shifted defensively. "It's not about me anymore, so it's definitely not on me for existing. But I couldn't tell you what it says even if I wanted to."
She squinted derisively. "So, you know nothing?"
He dragged a hand through his hair in exasperation. "It's about the fate of Olympus–a child of the elder three gods is supposed to make some decision that will either save or doom Olympus when they turn sixteen, and obviously, the gods want to avoid that. So that's why I wasn't supposed to be born, in case you were wondering."
She shrugged. "I was. Good to know." She held back a smirk. "I bet the gods are relieved it is no longer fated to be you."
"You know," he said, already regretting the words coming out of his mouth as he spoke them, "you don't have to lash out at me just because you're feeling bad. I'm upset too. We're supposed to be on the same side, here."
Her eyes flashed. "How exactly are we on the same side, dog? You and I are not the same."
Percy threw his hands up. "We're supposed to find a way to prevent this–this shit!" He felt a little silly to have cursed–it was so unlike him. But something about being around Anastasia with her crass mouth and infectious pessimism was getting to him. "Remember, 'help until the end,' our fates are tied, et cetera, et cetera. And we both want to stop your dad and his titan buddies from destroying the mortal world!"
She crossed her arms. "Do not act as if my father is evil. His anger is justified, even if he himself has fallen prey to corruption."
"Yeah, yeah," Percy said, "but I think the solution is to, like, clean the seas and prevent pollution, not wipe out mankind."
"Yes, obviously," she huffed.
"So, we agree. We are on the same side."
"But I fear we will not agree on what to do next," she said, clenching her jaw.
He held her gaze for a few seconds before carefully beginning, "I think it's time to–"
"No."
"My dad needs to know," he insisted. "This is about him. And he can fix it!"
"How?" she scoffed. "Your father does not care about the disease infecting his waters."
Percy crossed his arms defiantly. "Yes, he does."
"Oh, and what makes you think that? Do you even know him?"
"I–I do."
"Why do you bother trying to lie to me, dumbass?"
"It's not a lie," he said, his neck growing hot. "I've met him. I obviously don't know him very well, but I've met him the same amount of times you've met your dad."
"If your father cared about pollution," she hissed, "then it would not be a problem."
"That's not true," he protested, his anger rising. "He…he cares about it. He just can't interfere in mortal affairs like that."
She barked out a laugh. "Oh, really? Please. The mortal world is your father's playground–he and all of the other gods. When do they ever not interfere with mortals." She met his glare with her own. "Face it–your father will choose the interests of mortals at the expense of sea life. And my father will choose the interests of sea life at the expense of mortals, for that matter. We must somehow prevent harm to both."
He leaned back against the cave wall broodily. "Well, at least my father isn't threatening everyone in the sea with destruction."
"No," she said, rolling her eyes, "but if he wages war with my father based on what you want to tell him, then many, many inhabitants of the sea will suffer and die."
He glared at the coral, the gears in his mind turning. "Maybe I can convince him to make pollution a priority," he muttered. "Maybe that would make people stop, you know, stirring."
She snorted. "You are so idealistic."
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm the idealistic one? More idealistic than still believing that your father can be converted back to pacifism?" She rolled her eyes yet again. "Look, clearly, we both want to believe there's hope for our fathers," he said, softening his tone a bit. "I think we can at least understand each other on that."
She scowled, but before she could reply, their heads snapped around toward the entrance to the cave. There were low, mournful vibrations booming through the water, reminding Percy almost of a whale. Anastasia grew white.
"Oh no," she murmured, "Ketos is coming."
They stood and crept toward the entrance of the cave, Percy struggling to catch up to her racing thoughts.
So, this Ketos is a sea monster? What's his deal?Percy asked.
He is enormous and incredibly powerful, Anastasia explained.My mother told me stories about him. Your father commanded him to kill someone once. Apparently, only Perseus has ever slain him.
Percy nodded.Figures, it would be my namesake.
She did a double-take.Percy is short for Perseus? Huh. Why is the son of Poseidon named after the son of Zeus?
He shrugged.My mom thought it would give me his luck.
How is that working out for you?
She peeked around the entrance of the cave. Ketos's monstrous form was idly lumbering through the reef, and they both were taken aback with how enormous the behemoth was. He was easily the size of a skyscraper, with a head like a boar and a whale body. Altogether, he looked somewhat like a huge blubbery dragon. As Anastasia watched, Ketos cocked his head, then turned to his left to examine something, and the two of them were shocked to see that his whale body stretched impossibly long, like a serpent.
Percy gulped.How exactly did Perseus kill that thing?
Anastasia hastily drew back into the cave.Um, with Medusa's head, I think.
Crap.
Wait, Anastasia told him, wheels turning in her brain,son of Poseidon…Ketos is loyal to your father.
Her idea made his heart do jumping jacks.Um, I'm not so sure about that. That seems very, very…sacrilegious.
Anastasia flicked her tail as if stomping her foot, her nerves responding to his.Well, do you have a better idea?
If we get found out…
I can do this.
Are you sure?
They stared at each other for a moment, breathless and wild-eyed. Suddenly, Ketos's whale call interrupted them, close enough now that it thundered the ground they stood on. Acquiescing, Percy pictured his father, and in an instant, Anastasia transformed into him. She now towered over him, with Poseidon's long black hair, neatly trimmed beard, and fishing gear on.
Percy frowned.Can you make him wear anything else?
Anastasia floundered.This is what he was wearing in your memory. I, I–
No time!
He turned her around and, focusing on the water around them, propelled them out of the cave on a fast current. They reached open water, and Percy brought them to a halt. The beast turned its great head to view them, pausing and cocking its head as if confused.
Anastasia swallowed. Percy tried to recall vividly how his dad talked, his mannerisms, anything that would help her. Gathering her courage, she called out as authoritatively as she could muster, "Ketos, bow to your king!"
The leviathan sniffed, then approached them slowly. Percy wondered anxiously if smells traveled well through water for animals. As it got close, the two kids got an up-close-and-personal view of the beast's enormous face, with its eyes the size of superdomes and a mouth that you needed to look back and forth to take in in its entirety. Percy was certain that this thing could swallow Luke's entire cruise ship in one gulp.
Ketos stopped a few hundred feet away from the two of them and lowered its face until they were level with its eyes. Anastasia stared expectantly into them, swiveling her head back and forth, trying to project calm and importance. After what felt like an eternity, Ketos dipped its head in reverence.
Hail, master, its voice boomed in their heads,king of seas.
Percy was surprised that he could talk to this thing the same way he could talk to fish. It seemed so…different.
"I am showing my son around my dominion," Anastasia declared. "Escort us to the edge of the Sea of Monsters."
Yes, lord, Ketos bellowed.Honor to do.
Ketos dipped forward in what seemed to be its version of kneeling, and Percy willed the two of them forward and onto its neck. Rearing up, Ketos began swimming forward and up, up, up, until eventually, they broke the surface of the water. Ahead of them were a couple of islands and then open water. Percy, his arms awkwardly wrapped around this counterfeit of his father, turned around to glance behind them and saw Siren Island not too far off, but far enough away that he could not make out the forms of the Sirens, if even they were still on the cliffs.
Anastasia's heart was pounding. For all her irreverence of the gods, she really seemed terrified right now. Percy noticed, too, as they rode their escort that the act of keeping up someone else's appearance took a lot of her concentration and energy, and they weren't exactly speeding along.
Maybe you should command it to go faster, he suggested. Her grip on Ketos's neck tightened, and she remained frozen.
Percy cleared his throat. "Um, hey, Ketos. Nice to meet you," he shouted. "I'm Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, like he said."
Percy Jackson, Ketos echoed.Son of sea god.
"You, um, have a lovely home."
Yes, nice for Ketos.
Percy sighed. Ketos seemed to be about as intelligent as most fish, but while fish spoke quickly and had manic energy, Ketos was slow and brutish. He had a feeling this thing was not going to pick up the pace.
Luckily, they didn't seem to have far to go. They had just cleared the last island and were venturing out toward open water when Percy heard a familiar voice shout at him.
"Thar he be! Get back here and face me wrath, ye thieving bastard!"
Cringing, Percy turned to see the pirate Blackbeard shouting at him from the edge of the pier on Circe's island, shaking his hook in the air. They were still close enough for Percy to faintly make out the straw knotted in his beard.
Tensing, Anastasia gently elbowed him. Percy gritted his teeth and called out, "Don't be a sore loser! Just take another boat!"
"Oh, I do be having another ship, son! Men, ready the cannons!"
Percy frantically looked around for these cannons, but by the time he spotted them pointed directly at him from a large military vessel, it was too late. With several great booms, the cannons fired one by one. The first one hit Ketos in the side, about a hundred feet behind where Percy was sitting, and the reverberations caused him and Anastasia to buck, although Ketos barely seemed to register it. Anastasia whispered a Russian curse under her breath, willing herself to focus.
"Ketos, faster, please!" Percy shouted.
Ketos swim good, Ketos responded leisurely.Is nice day.
The second cannonball landed harmlessly in the water to their left, merely dousing them with a salty shower. Luckily, Percy remained dry, though Anastasia did not.
Fuck, she thought,is that suspicious?
No, don't worry about it, we're almost out.
Ketos abruptly stopped.Here you go, he said cheerfully, to Percy's confusion.
He cannot go past the borders of–
Her explanation was interrupted by another blast, and Percy had just enough time to turn around and see the cannonball strike Ketos square in the back about twenty feet behind them. Impulsively, Anastasia summoned a huge wave of water out of thin air to surround them as the explosion launched them forward, over Ketos's head and into the sea. They tumbled over themselves, sore and disoriented, until neither was sure which way was up. Finally, Percy surfaced and reached for Anastasia, who was dazed and struggling through her exhaustion. With a jolt, he realized she was herself again.
Where are you, lord?Ketos bellowed.Ketos do good?
Panicking, he pushed her behind him and faced the brute. "Thank you, Ketos! All good here! Bye bye!"
Ketos lifted its great head, and Percy despairingly realized it was pointless to try to hide from something with eyes that big. Anastasia roused and fluttered her eyes, then shook out the tiredness. Suddenly realizing what happened, she jumped to alertness and transformed back into Poseidon.
No!Percy internally screamed at her, wincing.He already saw you!
He is stupid, Jackson, maybe he did not notice.She didn't seem convinced, though.
Ketos's eyes grew wider, their magnitude boggling Percy.What is happening? Who is girl? Where she go?
"Um, no girl," Percy said, feeling stupid. "You must be seeing things."
Ketos zeroed in on Anastasia.You…you not sea god. You are trick! You trick Ketos!
Anastasia and Percy locked eyes, and Percy, concentrating, summoned the water around her to swirl, raising her up in a small cyclone. She raised her arms, pretending that it was her, and shouted, "I am Lord Poseidon, king of the seas! Cease this nonsense! Now, leave us!"
Ketos, twitching, regarded Anastasia for an agonizingly long moment before opening his great mouth and loudly wailing.
You trick!he shouted.You disrespect sea god! You defile him!With a great inhale, he blew a huge column of water and foul-smelling bile out of his blowhole.Enemy! Enemy!
"No!" Anastasia shouted, and then she transformed back into herself. Percy gradually brought her back down to float in the water. "I am not an enemy! I am the daughter of the Sirens!"
Ketos shook his great head in what seemed like slow motion, but the act caused huge waves to form on either side of him.Sirens bad! Sirens hate sea god. Ketos hate Sirens!
Percy held his hands up. "We are not your enemies! I really am the son of the sea god. This is a friend of mine. She means no harm!"
Percy Jackson! Son of sea god!Ketos wailed again and craned his neck forward, staring at Anastasia so intently he seemed cross-eyed.Ketos knows you…. You were little girl. Your mother screech much. You are daughter of Great River.
The two kids looked at each other again and thought as one:uh-oh.
"It's not what you think?" Percy tried.
You betray sea god, Ketos boomed.You help girl escape. She hates sea god. You betray!
"No!" Percy shouted. "It's not–oh, what the Hades, let's just GO!"
Deciding it was not worth it to argue with the beast, Percy grabbed Anastasia and bid the water between them and Ketos to gather, rising tall until it almost came to the crest of Ketos's head. Behind the wall of water, Ketos struggled to advance but could not pass the invisible barrier of the Sea of Monsters. Percy brought the water crashing down in a huge tidal wave that carried him and Anastasia far, far away, as Ketos's cries and threats grew faint until they could no longer hear.