Theseus awoke in a forest, near an ocean, the Atlantic Ocean? He asked himself, the familiar taste of Atlantic salt was strangely nostalgic to him. Why did he know the Atlantic this well? Theseus could barely remember his name, much less anything else. Theseus heard commotion up the hill, and a red eyed girl with auburn hair was pointing a spear at him. Out of reflex, his body found a multi colored pen in his pocket, that was quickly replaced with a bronze, trianglular tipped blade between himself and the spear wielding girl.
Clarisse knew she was going crazy. She had to have been. She watched Percy die. They all had. But now she was staring at him, but he was different. His eyes for one, were blue. A deep, cerulean blue like the depths of the see. Clarisse was at a loss, with Percy dead, and Annabeth disappearing just days after. The last 6 months had been hard on her, responsibility of leading had fallen on her far more heavily than she ever realized.
Theseus heard hooves on dirt and looked up to see a centaur. The great creature slowed to a trot and then came to a stop, just outside thrusting distance, but something told Theseus that didn't matter. The centaur eyed him, looking like he had seen a ghost, and then he saw the mark on this inside of Theseus right forearm, and fear, rage, disgust, and pity all rolled across his face at once when he realized what the gods had done with the Jackson twins.
"What is your name, dear boy?" The aged centaur asked, his voice calm and placating. He gestured for Clarisse to put her weapon down. She complied, albeit nervously.
"Theseus Romulus Jackson." The words came easily, but Theo didn't know where from. He clicked his sword and it returned to pen form, and he placed it in his pocket, finding another pen there, a different style though; and a switchblade. On his left wrist was a bronze bracelet. Some part of him knew that these were all weapons, but he couldn't remember what, or why he carried so many.
"Theseus…" Chiron's voice broke. "Come with me. I will explain what I know." The centaur turned and started up the hill, Theseus followed behind, his stance perfect as he walked a like soldier every step sure and firm.
Clarisse watched Theseus walk away. Asking the gods to explain what in Hades name was going on around here.
As they settled in the "Big House" Chiron had called it. The centaur sat down into a magic wheelchair, pulling a blanket over his forelimbs and passing as human. Theseus saw the man in the corner, with a Diet Coke in his hand, his purple eyes were bloodshot, glazed over. There were flashes of screaming and pirates turning into dolphins. And then flashes of the original Theseus sailing away, abandoning Ariadne at Dionysus' tinkering. A name came to Theseus mind. It rolled off his tongue without thinking.
"Bacchus." His tone hard and ancient, the Latin way of saying it, not English.
"Here." Chiron interjected. "We use the Greek names. But you are correct, this is Dionysus, we call him Mr. D. "
Mr. D looked like he couldn't have cared less if Theseus lived or died. Absent. Theseus scoffed internally, before turning back to Chiron.
"This is Camp Half-blood. The sanctuary of demigods. You are the son of Poseidon." Chiron said, there was no question in his tone. But Theseus knew that wasn't right. Neptune. That sounded right.
They spoke for some hours. Chiron asking what Theseus knew, and always trying to correct his speech when he spoke of the gods. Before finally Chiron sighed, knowing there was no way he could put off the conversation any longer.
"Theseus, come with me please." He said, rising from his disguise, folding the blanket over his lap as he went. Theseus rose and followed him. They walked down the steps from the big house, down towards the U of cabins statues rising from the lawn between them. Several looked ancient, arms missing, details chipped. There was one, larger than the others in the center of the group of cabins.
Chiron's voice was soft when he spoke again, after being silent the whole way down the hill. "Theseus. I'm not sure how to tell you this." They were almost to the statue now, bronze blade raised in victory. "You had a Twin brother, who was a camper here." Theseus could see the plaque on the bottom of the plinth that bore the painted marble monument.
"In Memory of Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, who sacrificed himself in order to kill Kronos, and save Olympus. August 16, 2000- August 16, 2016." Theseus looked into the green eyes of the statue, he had seen his brother in dreams, he remembered now, and that vision had after… what was it again? He still couldn't remember ever was slowly coming back to him in foggy bits and pieces.
"I've seen him before. In my dreams. I can remember that. Killing monsters. Fighting a man with golden eyes." Chiron went stiff at that last part, nervous.
"Yes. Kronos." He explained no farther.
"I remember seeing a vision of him. His sword broken and a shard of it imbedded in his eye, then he rushed Saturn again, there was the sound of metal piercing flesh, and then it went dark. And then i woke up in the woods outside camp. I remember that now." Theseus said, depressed and excited all at the same time.
"Do you remember where you were?" Theseus shook his head. "No matter. Here, this is your cabin." Chiron showed him the low, limestone temple looking building. A bronze trident hung over the door.
Theseus walked in and shut the door behind him, seeing a long bunk room with 16 bunk beds inside it, clearly not having been used recently. There were trophies lining the walls, pictures of his brother, a faun, and some blonde girl, as well as another girl, one he knew.
"Thalia." The name came out of his mouth thoughtlessly. But then he lost the train of thought and punched the frame of the nearby bunk bed, the wood cracking and breaking with the force of the punch.
At the far end of the room there was a small saltwater fountain, and above it, a framed picture of his brother hanging over a shelf with the shards of his sword on it. The immortal power that once followed through the metal was gone. There was blood left on the tip of the shard that had the handle on it. The blood of a Titan.
Theseus took a shower, the water refreshing him from the feeling of exhaustion he had felt before. He carefully took down his brother's pictures, except the one at the shrine. And placed them into a shoebox he found under what had once been his brother's bed. He found a picture inside that broke his heart. Percy was with an older woman, her dark hair beginning to run through with grey, her soft brown eyes were warm and smiled even when her face did not. Theseus assumed this was his mother, who he knew he had never met. Who he had thought dead.
That evening in the dining hall, everyone kept staring at him as he ate his food in silence, his posture ramrod straight, shoulders back, ready to jump at the first sign of trouble. The looked like they had seen a ghost.
Clarisse felt like she was seeing a ghost. But more like a ghost of in Percy had applied himself his whole life, and not just after their trip to Mount Orthrys to save Artemis. He looked every part the soldier, hero, what she could see of his muscles were sculpted like Greek god. And then there was that mark on his arm. SPQR, a Trident, and 10 lines. She couldn't tell if it was a tattoo or a brand, perhaps even a bit of both? She recognized the symbolism from the war books in the Ares cabin. They were Roman legionarie markings. Theseus had served 10 years in a Roman legion if that was to be believed. And the sureness his hand had with that Gladius earlier convinced her it was.
Theseus ate in silence. His eyes sweeping the area with such alertness an Osprey would be envious. He had made his sacrifice to the gods, but somehow knew his father wasn't receiving it.
After dinner Theseus found himself on the shores of the Long Island sound, watching the waves crash, listening to the secrets they whispered in the fading light of Apollo's glory, and Diana's splendor painted the water a silvery hue.
"I thought i would find you here." The daughter of Ares, Clarisse La Rue said from behind him. "Percy always came here when he was upset. Or worried. Or happy. Anything really."
"That which is of the seas shall always return." Theseus replied softly as Clarisse lowered herself to the sand by his side. "I remember my father telling me that once. Before." Before what? Theseus couldn't answer. Before whatever happened the day his brother died. Before he lost the last 6 months of time and all the memories before that.
Clarisse could see the turmoil inside him. It danced in his eyes the same way storm clouds danced outside the camps barrier, lightning splitting the sky in the distance, and thunder rolling faintly behind it.
"It's so weird. Seeing you. But the longer i look the more differences i see between you. Percy was wild, as untamed as the sea. You're more restrained, like the tides. You also look simply… regal." Clarisse couldn't deny the thought of this son of Poseidon wearing a crown sent a shiver down her spine.
"I had dreams about him. I agree about your description. He always looked to have just rolled out of bed and drawn his sword when i saw him in my dreams." The blue eyed boy replied, distracted. Then, with a shake of his head he cleared his thoughts.
"I don't believe we've been properly introduced. Theseus Romulus Jackson, son of Neptune." More words followed in his mind, centurio, Praetor.
"Clarisse Elizabeth La Rue, Daughter of Ares." The auburn haired girl replied, extending her hand for him to shake. Which he does.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Daughter of Mars." He replied. A smile gracing his face as he looked at her. That smile. That damned smile, just like Percy's a wolfish and charming grin. More like a smirk. But Clarisse had always wanted to back hand Percy's off of him. Why did she want to kiss his brother? Something about him was just, different.
"The pleasure is mine." Her voice was soft now, she felt heat rising in her face, was she blushing? She was glad it was dark so he couldn't see her. "We should get to bed. Otherwise the harpies will be after us."
"Very well." He decided he liked this daughter of Mars. "Do you think you could show me around the camp tomorrow? Maybe help me get set up in the arena? My sword arm has an itch that needs scratching."
"Happily." She replied, it was her turned to smile now. They found their way back to their cabins. Directly adjacent to one another it just so happened. And Theseus walked into the sea stone cabin. Falling asleep. That night, he didn't dream of his brother. Instead he dreamed of a bustling military camp, hundreds of demigods marching under his banner. He carried a black and silver sword, much like the pen he had found. And he watched as he killed two titan's in quick succession.
Apollo's light came all too early as he replaced his sister in the heavens. Theseus was awake before the sun, doing push ups, unsure what else to do with the world around him lagging behind. He felt like his schedule was used to being far more structured, and he couldn't deny the fact that he missed it. Theseus pulled the black and silver pen from the nightstand he had placed it on the night before, and removed the cap.
The black bladed sword from his dream extended out of the pen. The 42" blade was light and balanced in his hand, even more so than his Scripteur had been. Tidebreaker was made specifically for his hands it felt like. And then he remembered that it was. Flashes of Oceanus' sickle morphing into the master crafted blade before him. His memories started to come back now, faster and faster. Breakfast and the tour Clarisse gave him were both blurs honestly, and he would likely need to re walk the grounds to see it again, even though he remembered where everything was. By the time they arrived at the arena, Theseus could almost remember everything, but that final battle at Mt. Orthrys still evaded him. What had he been doing while his brother was fighting the Titan King?
"Are you ready?" Clarisse asked, she was so different from the children of Mars he knew. Mostly her eyes. Her siblings were much more distinct from his friends in the west, but Clarisse was close.
"Yes. More of my memories have come back now." He replied with a smirk. His Scripteur took its Gladius form once more. The triangle shaped blade so different from the half leaf of the Falcata in Clarisse' hands. The sword had been a gift from the Olympians after the battle that had claimed his brother. It had an Olympian Silver blade, and the handle was a dragon's fang.
Theseus and Clarisse stood in the dusty arena, their eyes locked in silent challenge. The air had anticipation as the other campers held their breaths, watching the two demigods dance around each other. Clarisse's crimson irises blazed with the fiery spirit of her warrior father, Ares, as she gripped her silver Falcata. Theseus, with his eyes the color of the endless oceans, smirked, the corners of his mouth twitching as he readied his Celestial Bronze Gladius.
With a sudden burst of speed, Clarisse charged at Theseus, her weapon slicing through the air with a metallic shriek. He stepped aside with a grace that belied his lineage, the blade of her Falcata missing his throat by mere millimeters. He chuckled, his eyes never leaving hers as he parried her next strike with a casual flick of his wrist. "Is that all you've got, daughter of the war god?" he teased, his voice echoing through the amphitheater.
Her cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and determination. Clarisse knew she had to push herself to prove she was more than just a pretty face with a powerful parent. She spun on her heel, her Falcata whipping around in a dizzying arc, aiming for Theseus's midsection. He dodged with a fluid motion, the wind from the blade tickling his skin. "You're quick," he conceded, "but you need to anticipate, not just react."
Her eyes narrowed into slits, and she let out a battle cry that could've stirred the very ground beneath them. Clarisse unleashed a series of frenzied attacks, her Falcata a silver blur in the sun. Theseus met each blow with the patience of the sea, his Gladius clanging against hers in a symphony of deflection. The spectators' eyes darted back and forth, unsure who would gain the upper hand. The ground trembled with each collision, sending up plumes of dust that hung in the air like a shroud.
Her movements grew wilder, driven by the burning embers of rage in her heart. Each swing and thrust seemed to carry the weight of Ares's fiery wrath. Yet, Theseus remained steadfast, his gaze unwavering, as he blocked and parried with precision that seemed almost supernatural. He could see the frustration mounting in Clarisse's eyes, and he knew he had to push her to her breaking point. Only then would she learn.
Their blades sang a duet of steel on steel, a dance of ancient warfare choreographed by gods. Each clang resonated through the arena, punctuating the silence of the entranced audience. Sweat beaded on Clarisse's brow as she threw herself into the fight, her every strike aimed to disarm or dissect. But Theseus's defense was impenetrable, his Gladius a wall that defied her silver fury.
Her eyes flashed with a mix of frustration and admiration. Despite her rage, she couldn't help but acknowledge the mastery of her opponent. He moved like the ocean's tides, predictable yet unstoppable, adapting to every blow she sent his way. With a growl, she redoubled her efforts, hacking and slashing with a ferocity that would've made Ares proud. Yet Theseus met her onslaught without faltering, his movements calculated, each block a silent rebuttal to her passionate attacks.
The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting sharp shadows across the arena floor. Clarisse's arms grew heavy, her breaths ragged, but she pushed on. Theseus took advantage of the briefest of pauses, lunging forward to deliver a swift series of blows. The flat of his Gladius smacked against her forearms, her legs, and once, painfully, her ribs. The sting was intense, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to show weakness.
Stepping back, she took stock of her situation. Theseus had been toying with her, she realized, letting her expend her energy while he remained a bastion of calm. She needed to change her strategy. Clarisse took a deep breath, centering herself, and let the anger burn into a focused resolve. Her father's spirit didn't just grant her strength; it taught her strategy, the art of war itself.
With a roar, Clarisse lunged again, her Falcata slicing through the air with a ferocity that made the campers in the stands flinch. But Theseus was ready for her, his Gladius moving almost lazily to knock her sword from her grip. It clattered to the ground, and before she could react, his left hand was at the small of her back, pulling her body against his. The tip of his sword hovered at her throat, pressing just enough to make her swallow reflexively.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she met his gaze. Theseus's eyes remained calm, like the surface of a serene lake, contrasting starkly with her own, which were alight with the fiery rage of Ares. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a strange mix of fury and... something else. Her chest heaved against his, and she was acutely aware of the heat emanating from his body. His muscles were as unyielding as the steel of his sword, and she found herself breathless.
"Yield," he repeated, his voice a gentle command, yet firm as the ground beneath them. Clarisse's legs trembled with the effort of holding herself upright, her Falcata forgotten on the dusty arena floor. The pressure at her throat was not a threat but a gentle reminder of his dominance. For a moment, she considered fighting back, but the exhaustion weighing on her limbs whispered of the futility.
Her gaze searched his, looking for any sign of malice or mockery, but all she found was a knowing smile. Theseus's eyes held the wisdom of the ancients, the patience of a sea god, and she realized he was not her enemy but a mentor, pushing her to be her best. With a begrudging nod, Clarisse released the breath she'd been holding and let her shoulders drop. The tension in the air dissipated like steam rising from a battlefield.
Theseus took a step back, shifting his Gladius back into its pen form. The Celestial Bronze weapon shrank in his hand, a trick of the light that never ceased to amaze those who weren't accustomed to the magics of the camp. He bent down to retrieve Clarisse's Falcata, the silver blade gleaming in the sunlight. He offered it to her hilt first, his hand steady and respectful.
Clarisse stared at the weapon for a brief second, her breathing still heavy from the exertion of the spar. She took it, her hand wrapping around the leather-wrapped grip. As she did so, she felt the familiar warmth of the metal, the power of her father's gift resonating through her. The fight had left her drained, but also oddly invigorated. She took a deep breath, feeling the heat of the day against her skin and the eyes of the campers upon her.
Days later after Theseus had adjusted to being at camp. His memories had begun to come back clearer and clearer, sparring helped. Clarisse and her cabin mates were more the happy to oblige. He often fought with her and 2 or more siblings, sparring, but also giving them tips on how to improve. Clarisse learned quickly, and was an eager student. The two of them grew closer, and he told her about his life in the Legion, and before that, with Marikus. Everything he remembered, and that helped the memories come too.
Theseus again found himself at the beach. Now he remembered why the Atlantic Ocean had been so familiar. He grew up in it. Atlantis deep beneath the waves. He walked into the surf, feeling the cool water of the Long Island sound on his skin as he submerged himself. His father was dead, he now remembered. And his half brother now ruled as king of Atlantis. Triton and Sally, whom Theseus had never met, were the only family he had left. As he swam he thought of how he had always dreamed of his brother here, wearing the orange shirts he saw surrounding him when he walked the grounds of the camp.
Part of Theo wondered what life would have been like if he had grown up with his mother and brother. Would he still have been as disciplined and driven? Or would he have been more like Percy? As wild and restless as the seas. Theseus felt a ship approaching from the south. He saw the underside of a Trireme from his place beneath the waves. He shot back to the beach like a bullet, running up out of the surface perfectly dry. He looked back toward the ship as horns were blown further into the camp as other noticed it as well.
He saw the purple banners with the golden eagle of the 12th legion. A bustle of movement on the deck as a several legionaries manned the vessel. Theseus recognized her, he had ordered her commissioned for the war effort, though he had never gotten the opportunity to sail her anywhere. The Grace of Neptune sailed into the cove. Dropping anchor a few hundred yards offshore. Theseus could see three familiar blonde half bloods on the prow. Octavian, Jason, and the girl from his brother's pictures, Annabeth Chase.
The legionaries dropped a small vessel off the side of the ship, and the three blonde half bloods disembarked and made way for the shore as Chiron joined Theseus. Annabeth got out first, and everyone looking couldn't help but gasp. The soft swell of her stomach showing her to be roughly 6 months pregnant. He had never met Ms. Chase personally, but he had dreamed the night before his brother died of them kissing, he supposed that kiss wasn't all they shared that night. Theseus knew whose child she was pregnant with, the baby inside her was all that remained of his twin.
Jason and Octavian tripped over themselves and each other trying to jump out of the boat and rush their Raven haired friend. Who pulled them both into a brotherly embrace.
"It's good to see you both. What brings you so far east?" Theseus asked and Octavian paled slightly and explained the prophecy. Chiron explained they had experienced some attacks, but hadn't seen any giants.
"We brought a full cohort with us. It was all we could fit in the one warship." Jason said. Without thinking, Theseus asked the question that had plagued his mind ever since his memories of his battle at Mt. Orthrys started to return. Things were still fuzzy, but he needed to know.
"How many did we lose?" Jason sighed, him and Octavian both looked towards the ground
"75 legionaries and 50 Auxilia." Jason finally said after a brief, uncomfortable silence. Theseus was stunned. Almost a quarter of the forces they had brought to the battle were brought low. How many of those were because of the storm he summoned?
"Requiescat in Pace." He whispered, all he could do to honor the dead now. "We need to head East. To the Mare Nostrum. We should bring some Greeks with us as well." He said, louder now.
"I will be happy to come with you." The daughter of Athena said. Theo's cerulean eyes locked with her grey.
"No." He said, continuing before she could protest. "You are carrying my brother's child. You know it as well as i do. I will not allow you to endanger yourself or the baby." To his surprise, Jason joined him in the argument
"Annabeth, please." His tone was soft, pleading. Octavian rolled his eyes and Theseus was left questioning what had developed between the two in the months she had been at camp. He also had to question why he was delivered here so much later. He supposed that it would take Annabeth more time to gain the legion's trust than it had for him to do so.
"Clarisse." Theseus said, turning to the auburn haired girl. "Would you accompany me and my men to the mare Nostrum to kill gigantes?" Her crimson eyes lit up with glee
"Of course." She replied
It was also decided that Leo Valdez, Piper McLean, and Nico Di Angelo would accompany them. Annabeth was pouting that she couldn't go, Jason pulled her off to the side and they spoke privately.
"What's going on with those two?" Theseus asked the Augur to his left
"They started dating a couple months ago after his sister came to visit again and told her your brother would want her to be happy." The legacy of Apollo replied. Theseus hadn't known his brother. But he believed that to be true. Especially if it meant Jason was happy as well. At dinner the legionaries filled the first 3 tables no one willing to even think of sitting at the silver table that represented cabin 8. After dinner, was capture the flag. It was decided that tonight's game would be played Romans against Greeks. Theseus told Octavian to lead the game, while Theseus and Jason talked.
They walked in the space between the cabins, coming to a stop in front of the statue of his brother. Finally Theseus spoke.
"Jason." He started before taking a deep breath, knowing his cousin wasn't going to like what he was about to say. "I don't want you to sail east with us either. If we both go, the legion will be without a praetor. And if anything were to happen, i can't imagine what it would be like for Annabeth." She just lost his brother, he wasn't going to let her lose his cousin as well.
"But." He started to protest, before his shoulders slumped. "I understand Theo… but i don't like it." Theseus breathed a sigh of relief, almost having expected a fight to break out.
"Thank you Jason." He loved the boy like a brother. And he didn't want him to die thousands of miles from home. Someone had to. The prophecy foretold it. 'An oath to keep with a final breath.'
"You know, it's funny. We built you an almost identical statue." Jason said looking up at Percy's marble visage.
"Why? I wasn't dead." Theseus was confused, though it would have been safe to assume he was dead after he had just killed two titans and lost a lot of blood in the process.
"You killed two Titans in one day, three in all. It was gonna get built whether you disappeared or not. Theseus "Titan's Bane" Jackson," Jason replied, incredulous.
"I haven't told the Greeks about that yet. Or the weapons i gained from them." Theseus said, his voice almost a whisper.
"Oh, well they probably know now. Between Annabeth and the others." Jason said, they had started walking back towards the dining hall as they heard the horns signaling the games' finish.
"Oh joy. They already hero worship me because of Perseus. That's just going to make things worse." Theseus complained, before moving on to matters of state. "While I'm gone, i want you to work on integrating the two camps. Maybe we can start coming here for the summers and allow the year rounders here to join us in New Rome for the remaining months. It would take some stress off of Chiron seeing as we already have schooling infrastructure in place." He continued as they crested the hill, seeing a column of cheering legionaries running out of the woods and rather glum, albeit impressed looking Greeks following them.
"I will talk to Chiron about it. And bring it to the senate." Jason promised. Clarisse had walked up to them, along with Annabeth. Jason walked to Annabeth's side, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"There's someone here you need to meet." Annabeth told Theseus, the four of them made their way towards the coast, where they were greeted by a cyclops who looked to be roughly their age. He had dusty blonde hair and a large green eye, like Percy's. "This is Tyson, your brother. Him and Percy were close."
"Hi brother!" Tyson said excitedly, almost crushing the box in his hand. "I made this for Percy, but then he died." The cyclops almost began to cry, tears welling in his massive eye before Annabeth was able to get him calmed down again. "But Triton said i should give it to you. As his thank you for killing Oceanus and avenging our father." He offered Theseus the box. The Roman demigod took it and kneeled to the ground with it.
He opened the lid to find a set of black armor, with a silver trident up the center of the breastplate, rearing horses on either side. Upon further inspection, Theseus saw they were unicorns. Which, Theseus supposed, made sense considering Tyson's kind yet childish demeanor. The pauldrons were layered plates, like that of lorica segmentata and the bracers were also of a Roman style, but the grieves, chestplate, and helmet were all Greek. It had a skirt of Pterges, some shorter pterges also hung from the pauldrons lower plate. And a gold trimmed purple cloak and purple crest on the helmet made for a very regal suit of armor. As Theseus put the armor on, it felt as if it was made for him, it a sense it may have been, technically. He then saw the shield in the bottom of the box and Aspis shield that matched the breastplate in color and emblems. It reminded him of the shield he had used when training under Marikus, all those years ago.
He had often thought about Marikus. Now he wondered if the old bastard had lived to see the hero he had become. He strapped the shield to his back and embraced his cyclopic brother. Before watching him walk back into the surf, carrying the box with him. Annabeth and Jason walked off towards the cabins while Theseus and Clarisse sat down in the soft white sand and watched the moon rise
Theseus took off his new armor and sat next to clarisse, who took off her own from capture the flag. They watched the moon rise over the horizon. Diana beginning her nightly ascent. His hand found clarisse's in the sand, and she leaned her head onto his shoulder.
"Why did you ask me to come with you? You forbade Annabeth, and now Jason." Clarisse asked, propping her chin on his shoulder looking up at him. He turned to her, cerulean meeting crimson.
"I forbade Annabeth because she is pregnant, and i fear the baby's safety. I asked Jason not to come because i fear what would happen if he died while away. I asked you because i need your skill with a blade, you're a skilled leader, and most of all, i trust you." He replied, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to her lips. She didn't pull away, in fact she lifted her chin from his shoulder and leaned into him, deepening the kiss. She had waited for him to kiss her for almost 2 weeks now. And if he hadn't, she was going to.
He pulled away from her when he ran out of breath, wearing the signature Jackson shit eating grin. Now she could punch it off him. But she didn't. She just smiled back and leaned her head against his shoulder again. watching the moon rise fully over the horizon they opted to go to bed. But not before stealing one last kiss before they parted ways.
The next two weeks of preparation for their transatlantic voyage consisted mostly of normal camp activities while they waited for their Amazon order to come in with the supplies of food, ballista bolts, and crates of Greek fire. The Hephaestus cabin, lead by Leo added the liquid fire launchers to the bow and stern. They would likely prove useful in the coming war. He had just finished a war and now was in another one. When would the fates give him a break?
The morning they set sail, Theseus was wearing a chiton and his black armor. The aspis shield looking very out of place amidst the many Scutii that lined the edge of the ship when he hooked it to the rail. As they set sail he ordered the oarsmen to pull the oars in, and that the sails be dropped. They may have had to get to the east coast the old fashioned way. But now they had a demigod of the sea. He called on the ocean breeze to fill their sails, and commanded the water to speed them east. Towards Europe. Towards the home of the gods.
Much to Theseus' disappointment, the trip across the Atlantic was fairly quiet. Only one sea dragon attacked them. The ballista brought it down before Theseus could even make rail to jump. He was getting bored, antsy. His fights with the legionaries on board, and even Clarisse were growing repetitive as they travelled for 6 days across the Atlantic. Record time for a sail driven vehicle. And while not having anyone to tell clarisse she couldn't sleep in her boyfriend's cabin was fun, not that they actually did anything beyond making out, everyone was tired of the endless expanse of nothing to see and nothing to do. Theseus had taken to swimming alongside the ship. When the call came from the spotter on the bow.
"Land Ho! Straights of Gibraltar ahead!" Theseus immediately had the water lift him to the deck as they prepared to enter the Mare Nostrum. The homeland of the gods. The old magic had run rampant in the centuries since the gods left it. And monsters roamed in great hordes. This was but an added benefit to Terra, who hoped to destroy Olympus. Her army was going to be strong. Theseus only hoped his was strong enough the stand against it. 60 of his most veteran men, plus a son of Hades they called "the Ghost King" hopefully the Di Angelo boy Iives up to the stories of summoning an undead army in Manhattan to combat the titans. As they approached the straight of Gibraltar, Theseus noticed the hulking form of a man with a club, clad in a golden lion skin.
Theseus ordered Octavian to keep the ship moving, he would catch up. Octavian nor Clarisse had time to ask what he meant before he and his aspis were over the rail, into the brine below. Unfortunately they were stopped by a magic barrier.
Theseus walked onto the shore. Heracles laughed at him as he arose from the deep. "Congratulations half blood. You didn't even have to be told you had to talk to me to proceed." The arrogance in his tone was sickening. But Theseus supposed not everyone could have a fatal flaw that wasn't infuriating.
"So what's your challenge Heracles? A riddle? A fight?" Theseus teased knowing the being infront of him likely hated his Roman name.
"Well it's a fight now. It's Hercules." The son of Zeus replied. Theseus drew Tidebreaker, and prepared for a fight. Heracles hefted his club, the immense masses of muscles he called arms swelled with every movement. The silver waves in Tidebreaker's blade glowed blue again and Theseus felt like he was still standing in the surf.
"Heracles. It fits better. You always were my aunt's bitch." The Roman challenged. Urging Heracles to make the first move. His challenge was happily accepted by the arrogant bastard son of the sky hod before him. Hercules immense strength was no match for Theseus' speed.
With a roar the god of Strength charged the half-blood, swinging his club in fury. Theseus side stepped and delivered a glancing blow to the god's thigh, a shallow scratch that made golden ichor flow down Heracles leg. The muscles god swung again, and again Theseus dodged as if he was never standing there. But this time instead of a cut, Heracles got a boot to the inside of his knee, dropped his club which was batted away by Tidebreaker's ebony blade, before that same blade was at Heracles neck.
"Let the ship pass." Theseus' voice was an order. His tone as deep and commanding as the Mariana Trench. Heracles snapped his fingers and the Grace of Neptune began to sail again. "Next time. Maybe you'll be more careful what you take offense to." He delivered a cut to the gods' face a reminder of their time together before diving into the blue and following his ship into the mare nostrum. Unfortunately the quiet ride over was almost immediately ruined by a swarm of gryphons attacking.
They were able to severely damage the ship and were forced to make land near Matril, Spain, just south of Grenada. And it took almost 2 weeks to repair the ship. In all honesty, they were lucky that Theseus could repair the ship at all. The attacks very nearly damaged the frame of the vessel from the mass of the gryphons slamming into it. But finally they were off again. Having convinced the locals they were doing a reenactment for a college credit. The mist made it hard for the humans to ask questions about stuff like this. And it was thick in the homeland, even here in Spain, the air was heavy with the mist. Theseus shuttered to think of what it would be like in Rome, or on Mt. Olympus, their destination.
They made their way around the northern rim of the Mediterranean, fending off more gryphons, Stymphalian Birds, and mountain giants, lesser gigantes than those they went to face. Theseus had been right though. The Greek fire was coming in handy with regularity as did his seemingly enhanced control of the ocean breezes here. Being able to coalesce the flying beasts into groups with the wind currents to make them easier to hit. He still had nowhere near the power over the winds Jason did. But it was enough to push them forward.
As they headed between the tip of Italy's boot and Sicily, Theseus felt himself being pulled West. As if the sea he navigated wanted to show him something. He fought it as hard as he could, but the further east they went the harder the call was to resist. Becoming painful. So he turned her around.
"What are you doing Praetor?" Octavian asked.
"Something is calling us to Sicily. I have tried to resist it but i can't fight it anymore." Theseus replied, his eyes narrowing. He could feel someone calling him. But he wasn't sure who. Or why.
They rounded the southern tip of Sicily and Theseus felt pulled to a cave. He stopped the ship. And stepped to its port side to examine the sea cave. Then he felt the pull come from underneath him. And a blue skinned mermaid erupted from the water in front of him, held up by a geyser of water.
"Theseus Jackson." She said, her hair was black, run through with streaks of silver. Her dress was made of seashells, nets and Barnacles.
"Lady Tethys." He responded respectfully. The titaness of the Oceans and wife of Oceanus.
"You killed my husband. And he made you his heir." She continued. "I grant you seem worthy of them. But if you will be a titan, the seas shall still need a god to rule them. My son in law, Nereus, tells me that the perfect candidate lies inside that cave. Go get him. Tell your friends to continue to Olympus without you. You will meet them there." She commanded before sinking into the waves.
"Praetor, you cannot be seriously considering this. It could be a trap." Octavian says.
"I expect that it is. But you heard her ladyship. I will meet you there. Anyone who could claim my father's place is one who we will have need of in the coming battle."
"Theo…" Clarisse's voice was the most timid he had ever heard it. She was scared. Scared he was going to die.
"I'll meet you on Mount Olympus. I swear it on the River Styx." Thunder rolled in a cloudless sky as the goddess accepted his oath and he pressed a kiss to the Daughter of Ares' lips.
"You better, Kelp-for-brains." She said with a smirk before pushing him into the water below as the oarsman worked to turn them back East. Towards Greece. He watched them sail away as Apollo's descent from the heavens painted the sky orange and purple.
Theseus swam into the cave, diving down and swimming deeper and deeper. At some point, he wasn't sure where or when, he stopped swimming and started falling. He fell for hours, days it seemed like he was intermittently blacked out or hearing screams. Maybe his own, or maybe the souls of the dead in the underworld.
Finally, Theseus awoke on a cold stone platform. He looked around, seeing the roofless chasm he had just fallen from. He also noticed a horde of monsters in the distance, surrounding something. The most notable of which was the Minotaur. Whatever it was they were surrounding was up in the air. Above them, out of their reach. It almost looked like a person secured to a cross as he got closer. But the monsters had noticed him then. Telekhines, Empousae, Drachnae, and the Minotaur, with a large double bladed battle axe.
Theseus opted not to use Tidebreaker this time. Reaching for the bronze bracelet, he pulled it off, expecting find Perses' Lance in his hand. But this too had changed to match its new master's preference for swords. The bronze blade was now a Kopis, with a horse head pommel. He pulled out his shield and began to attack the monsters. As he hacked and chopped his way through the horde, he felt a burning in his left arm. Where he assumed Perses' Mark had appeared after his victory. And was now under his pauldron. The marks had faded, but he still felt their power within him. And Perses' destruction called to him. With one broad sideways slash, an arc of destruction blasted forth from the bronze blade annihilating all lesser monsters. Leaving only the bull man that made his namesake famous.
Theseus eyed the Minotaur, Asterios, the legends named him. He placed the kopis back on his wrist, and pulled out Tidebreaker once more. The Minotaur pawed the ground, lowered his horns, and charged. Dreadfully predictable. Theseus back flipped over the raging bull, leaving a long line down his back with Tidebreaker.
The Minotaur roared and spun swinging his mortal bronze axe with both hand. Theseus brought his sword up and parried the blow before slashing through the handle with brutal efficiency, disarming the monster. With a final flourish, Tidebreaker cut cleanly through the bovine neck and the monster dissipated into golden dust.
Surveying his victory briefly, Theseus ran towards the crucified figure they had been surrounding. As he got closer, co what he saw made his stomach want to turn. His intestines had been pulled out and strung around his neck like a macabre necklace. His face was was hardly recognizable as human, one of his eyes had been removed, the other was closed, seemingly swollen shut. An ancient bone snapped under his boot and the remaining eye on the figure snapped open and turned toward the black armored son of Neptune.
"Oh" Theseus said, his voice full of pain. "Oh, no."
(what the actual fuck, Ethan?! YOU CANT JUST BASICALLY DISMEMBER PERCY LIKE THAT!) - Rae