Jason's POV
The deeper we went, the more I could feel the pressure closing in around us. We were searching for the source of the storm that had been hammering the Argo II for hours. None of us knew where it came from or why it was targeting us, but we needed answers fast. Percy was in his element, cutting through the water with ease. Meanwhile, I was trying to keep the currents from slamming us against the seafloor.
Percy glanced over at me as we moved further into the depths. "So… you and Piper aren't talking," he said, like it was a casual observation.
I sighed, feeling the weight of the argument still fresh in my chest. "Yeah, we had a bad fight."
Percy gave me a look that clearly said, about what? I didn't bother dancing around it. "You and Annabeth."
"Oh," Percy muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, man."
"Don't be," I replied, shaking my head. "You didn't do anything wrong, or at least nothing to deserve what you've been going through."
We didn't say much after that. Not that I didn't want to talk more, but we had a mission to focus on, and I wasn't sure I had the energy to rehash all the feelings bouncing around inside me.
Suddenly, the currents shifted. The waters became choppier, colder. Something powerful was approaching, and I could feel the raw energy humming through the ocean. Ahead of us, the seabed dropped away, revealing a grand structure nestled in the depths—a palace made of coral, sea stone, and gold, ancient and imposing. Percy's face paled as he realized what it was.
"This is…my father's palace," he murmured, his voice laced with awe and confusion. "From ancient Greece."
Before I could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows of the sea. The water seemed to bend around her, the currents shifting to her will. She moved gracefully, yet with a deadly edge, like a storm ready to break. Her dark hair billowed around her like tendrils of ink in the water, and her emerald eyes swirled with an intensity that mimicked the waves themselves. Her purple scales shimmered with an iridescent glow, cascading down her tail, a perfect blend of beauty and danger.
Her clothing was both regal and fearsome—a bodice made of seaweed and woven kelp, accented with barnacles and pearls, glittering like stars on a stormy night. Flowing, translucent material trailed from her arms, like the mist of a rising tide, giving her an ethereal, yet commanding presence.
She studied us for a moment, her lips curling into a mischievous smile as she drew closer. "Well, well, what do we have here?" she asked, her voice playful but carrying the weight of the deep ocean.
Percy and I exchanged a quick glance, uncertain but on high alert.
"We're just—" Percy began, but her attention had already zeroed in on him, her smile vanishing as a shadow passed over her face.
"Poseidon's son," she said, her tone now sharp and cold. The ocean seemed to tremble as her mood darkened. She circled us slowly, her gaze cutting through the water like a knife. "Looking for the source of the storm, are we?"
"Uh, yeah," Percy replied, clearly caught off guard by her shift in demeanor. "We didn't mean to—"
Her expression grew stormier, the waters swirling more violently around her as if feeding off her rage. "Of course you didn't. No one ever does," she spat, her eyes narrowing with disdain. "Do you even know who I am?"
Kymopoleia—the name rang in my head like a warning bell. The goddess of violent storms and waves. I had heard stories of her wrath, of her chaotic power over the seas.
She hovered in front of us now, her fury tangible, but there was something else beneath it. A calm, almost haunting stillness settled in her eyes, like the eye of a hurricane. The danger wasn't over, but for now, she watched us with a mix of violence and an eerie, unnerving calm.
I stepped forward, feeling the weight of the moment press down on me. As the realization hit, the words slipped out almost instinctively. "You're Kymopoleia, goddess of violent storms and waves."
I gave a slight bow, showing the respect I knew she deserved, and it was enough to catch her off guard. Her fierce expression faltered, and for just a moment, I saw something I hadn't expected—a hint of a golden blush spreading across her cheeks, like sunlight shimmering through the water. It was subtle, but there.
Percy, standing beside me, blinked in stunned silence. "Wait," he muttered, the words heavy with shock, "you're my sister?"
Kymopoleia turned sharply, her dark hair swirling like tendrils in the churning ocean around her. "Why were you so upset with me being a son of Poseidon, then?" Percy asked, his voice more earnest than I'd ever heard it. He was really trying to understand, but the tension between them was thick, impossible to ignore.
She regained her composure, her expression hardening once again, though the wound was clear. "You are yet more proof of my reasons," she snarled, her voice dripping with bitterness. "I know you, boy. Daddy's new favorite. You didn't even recognize me."
I watched her closely, and for a second, her gaze flickered toward me—not with the venom I had expected, but with an odd curiosity, maybe even interest. "A son of Jupiter recognized me before my own brother did," she added, her tone softening just slightly as her eyes lingered on me. The shift in her demeanor was subtle but real, and it caught me off guard.
Percy, on the other hand, looked like he had just been hit by a tidal wave. His face drained of color as the weight of her resentment washed over him. "That's why," she continued, her voice sharp with years of bitterness, "my family either hates me or doesn't care. Poseidon forgot about me, just like you did."
Her words were a punch to the gut, and Percy visibly reeled from them. Before he could even think of a response, a deep, guttural roar echoed through the ocean. The sound sent a chill down my spine, and I knew exactly what it was before I even saw him.
From the distance, Polybotes—massive, cruel, and filled with hate—charged toward us. His voice rang through the water like a war drum. "Where is the filthy son of Poseidon?! You won't escape this time, Jackson! Not like in the pit!"
I glanced at Percy. His shoulders sagged as the weight of the situation bore down on him. He sighed, already thinking ahead to what we both knew was coming. We locked eyes, exchanging a silent understanding. Percy wouldn't stand a chance against Kymopoleia—especially not now, with all the hurt she was harboring—and I definitely couldn't take on Polybotes. Not here, not underwater.
"I negotiate, you fight," I thought to myself, feeling my heart pound as Polybotes' shadow grew closer. I couldn't help but smirk a little, even as the tension mounted. "Great."
Percy's POV:
The ocean surged around me as I darted through the water, every movement sharp, deliberate. Polybotes roared, swinging his massive trident, the force of it churning the sea into chaos. But I kept moving—constantly on the move. I wasn't strong enough to meet him head-on, not with his size and strength, so I became something else entirely—a viper in the water.
I propelled myself forward, striking at his sides with Riptide, the blade slicing into his skin just long enough to draw blood before I darted away. A flicker of pain crossed his face, but I didn't give him a chance to recover. In and out. Strike, retreat. I circled him like a dancer, using the water to my advantage, slipping between his lumbering attacks. Every time he lunged, I was already gone, carving small wounds, leaving him more and more frustrated.
It wasn't enough to bring him down, but it was enough to wear him out.
I shifted my grip on Riptide, positioning myself in the Posta di donna distra stance, a move Chiron had drilled into me during training. It was a risky one, but I needed to throw Polybotes off balance. My sword raised high and slightly to the right, signaling an attack from above and from the right—obvious to anyone watching. But that was the trick.
Polybotes grinned, thinking he had me figured out, and braced for the strike he was sure was coming.
I struck.
But not from above. Instead, I swept in from the left, my sword slicing across his ribs in a quick, horizontal strike. Polybotes snarled in confusion, barely able to track my movement. I danced out of range just as quickly, and before he could react, I feinted another attack from above, only to strike upward from below. The beauty of Posta di donna distra—it was almost impossible to predict where the next strike would land. My reach, my angle, everything shifted with every step, keeping him on the defensive.
But there was a cost. My reaction time slowed slightly with each move, and I could feel the strain in my muscles as I kept up the rapid pace.
Finally, Polybotes had enough. His eyes blazed with fury, and with a roar, he slammed his trident into the seabed, the force sending a shockwave through the water. Poison—dark, viscous, and deadly—spurted from the ground, shooting toward me in thick jets.
I barely had time to react. Instinctively, I reached out with my power, drawing on the water around me, twisting the poison to my will. It was easier this time than it was before, probably due to me being on home field. The poison froze mid-stream, suspended in the water. With a grunt of effort, I threw it back toward Polybotes, sending the poison hurtling at him like a tidal wave.
He staggered back, a look of shock crossing his face as his own attack turned against him.
With a surge of determination, I tapped into Hestia's powers and lit the Poison on fire. It crackled angrily in the water. I was focused on using my father's ability to create a barrier to keep the water away from my fire, allowing it to burn bright and fierce.
"Here goes nothing," I muttered, shooting a jet of fire toward Polybotes. The flames roared to life, blazing brilliantly even underwater, and for a moment, time slowed. His eyes went wide, shock flooding his features as the fire scorched his skin. The heat radiated through the water, illuminating the darkness around us.
But I knew I couldn't do this alone. I needed Kymopoleia's strength, Hopefuly Jason's diplomatic abilities are better than my own. I hoped he could convince her to help—because to send Polybotes back to Tartarus, we needed both a demigod and a god working in unison.
As I engaged Polybotes again, I pressed my attack, darting in and out, Riptide gleaming in the dim light. I struck with precision, aiming for Polybotes's legs and sides, inflicting quick, painful cuts. Each strike left him angrier, more desperate. I could see his frustration building with every wound I inflicted, but the monster was relentless.
I felt a rush of adrenaline as I maneuvered between his massive swings, narrowly avoiding one strike that could have crushed me. Just as I thought I had an opening, he pivoted, catching me with a brutal backhand. The force sent me sprawling through the water, the world spinning around me.
Shaking off the disorientation, I pushed myself back up to my feet, just as I caught a glimpse of Kymopoleia and Jason engaged in their conversation. She remained neutral, her fierce demeanor unwavering as Jason urged her to join our fight.
Just then, I saw Kymopoleia's expression shift. Without hesitation, she launched an attack at Polybotes. The energy crackled as it shot toward him, catching him off guard. He turned, disoriented by the sudden assault.
"You pathetic B-list goddess! You'll regret that once i'm your king!" Polybotes spat, his voice laced with venom.
But Kymopoleia wasn't finished. With a swift flick of her wrist, she unleashed another blast of energy, striking him down with a force that sent him reeling. Polybotes hit the ground, momentarily stunned.
"Finish this filth," Kymopoleia commanded, and the barely contained rage in her voice gave me all the incentive I needed.
With all the strength I had left, I surged forward, Riptide at the ready. I thrust my sword down, aiming for the heart of the giant. Polybotes, caught off guard and unable to react, attempted to raise his trident, but it was too late. My blade pierced through him, and in that moment, I felt the connection of power—my strength mingling with that of the gods.
He let out a final, anguished scream, his form beginning to disintegrate, turning into nothing but ash and shadows. The remnants of his body floated away, carried off by the currents, as he returned to Tartarus, defeated.
I stood there, panting, adrenaline coursing through my veins, Kymopoleia and Jason swimming to my side.
"Nice work," Jason said, his voice tinged with awe.
Kymopoleia smirked, her emerald eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and mischief. "Not bad for one of my father's bastards… But don't think this means we're squared," she teased, the storm goddess already shifting back to her fierce demeanor.
She turned to Jason. "I expect you to fulfill your end of our bargain, Jason. Or should I say Pontifex Maximus?" She giggled, a sound that felt so foreign coming from her lips. As she bid us farewell and turned to leave, I felt a surge of courage wash over me.
"Kymopoleia, wait!" I called out, my heart pounding. She paused, turning back, her expression a mix of curiosity and impatience.
"I'm sorry I didn't know about you," I began, my voice steadying. "Honestly, I don't study the pantheon too much. I've always been more of a swordsman and a warrior." I took a breath, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "But that's no excuse. I'm not apathetic or hateful towards you. Family is important to me, your mother and brother don't like me much, I may not understand what you've been through but I do understand rejection. Still, despite that I'm trying to fix my relationship with them. Family is the most important thing in my world."
Kymopoleia's expression softened slightly, her fierce demeanor faltering. I stepped closer, feeling a sense of gravity in the moment. "I promise to sacrifice to you, to honor you. I'd be honored for you to consider me a brother and not just another bastard of Poseidon."
Her eyes widened, and for a brief moment, she looked stunned, as if I had given her something she had longed for. A smile broke across her face, radiant and sincere. "I'd like that a lot," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
As Jason and I prepared to leave, I turned back to her. "Goodbye, Kym. I hope to see you again soon!"
Kymopoleia stuttered, her cold and haughty demeanor cracking as she smiled, something vulnerable flickering in her gaze. "Goodbye, little brother," she whispered, the warmth in her voice igniting a sense of hope in my chest.
With that, Jason and I swam away, leaving behind a goddess who had finally found a piece of what she had always desired—a connection, a family, a sense of belonging.