Ch34

Percy walked to the beach gripping Riptide tightly in his pocket. Alright what does he want me to do? His father wanted him to come to the beach for something important. What it was he didn't know.

When he arrived at the beach he was surprised to see his father in a Hawaiian shirt along side a young man in shell armor. "Uh hey dad," he said politely.

Poseidon turned to him and nodded. "Percy this is Triton."

"His rightful heir and first born," Triton said coolly.

"N-Nice to meet you," he said awkwardly.

Triton's gaze was anything but friendly, thankfully their father cleared his throat. "Anyway I have a task for both of you. Percy do you know of Oceanus and Tethys?"

He scratched his head trying to recall his Greek Mythology lessons. "Weren't they the leaders of the seas before you?"

"And my mother," Triton added.

"Enough," Poseidon said firmly. "War is coming and I cannot afford contention."

Triton frowned at the ground. "As you wish father."

Poseidon sighed as he turned to the seas. "In the last war Oceanus and his realm were neutral. I fear the enemy may entice him to join."

He frowned. "Why would he join this time?"

"Perhaps he wants a true war," Triton muttered. "Send me father I'll lead your armies."

The air tensed around Poseidon as the smell of the ocean filled the area. "I'd rather not have to fight on two fronts." Their father turned to face both of them. "I'm negotiating with Oceanus on the sidelines but I want you both to offer him sacrifice and let him know you appreciate the calmness of the depths and the peace between our realms."

A bag of sand dollars appeared in Poseidon's hands as he gave him on to him and Triton. "It may move him to know that he is still remembered."

He gripped the bag of sand dollars and nodded. "I'll do it." A surge of excitement swelled up inside of him, he always wanted to help his father and if this small gesture could help then he'd do it.

Their father entered the waters. "Each day you'll find a bag here Percy I want you to offer Oceanus and his wife a prayer. Triton you'll also do it each day at a different point in our realm and train Percy."

Train? He looked at his brother who eyed him up and down. Personally Triton didn't seem like the kind of guy who would train nicely with him but on the other hand he didn't mind a few extra demigod lessons.

Triton bowed. "Understood father."

"Make sure Percy is prepared he'll need it," Poseidon said with a gaze so hard Triton tensed up.

Their father disappeared leaving them alone. "So uh do we just offer a prayer?"

Triton rolled his eyes. "Yeah like this." Taking a deep breath he stared out into the ocean. "Lord Oceanus Lady Tethys please accept my offering as a token of my father's generosity and the will we have to seek a continued peace between our realms. He then dumped the sand dollars into the water and they were consumed by the depths of the sea.

"Oh ok." Taking a deep breath he looked out into waves and took in the smell of the salt water. "Lord Oceanus Lady Tethys please accept an offering. May there be peace between our realms we all remember and appreciate your sacrifice."

He then dumped the sand dollars into the ocean and watched as they fell into the depths of the waters. "I'll be back tomorrow," Triton said as he stepped into the waters and disappeared.

Well that was interesting. Still if it was something he could do to help his father he would do it. The next day Triton came by with another set of sand dollars and the process repeated.

Each day was the same, he would get handed a few sand dollars and he would say a prayer to Oceanus telling that was a little more detailed than the last. Triton for the most part didn't acknowledge him at least until after the first week.

"Father has great hopes for you," Triton said. "Personally I don't see it."

He looked up at his older brother, he wasn't going to fall for any provocations. "I have my friends to help me."

Triton raised an eyebrow. "Friends eh?" His older brother looked him over and summoned his trident in his hand. "Draw your sword. Don't worry I won't maim you."

He frowned but drew Riptide. Assuming a fighting stance he charged at Triton. Naturally, Triton easily parried his attacks and easily disarmed him before bringing his trident to his throat. "You'll need to prepare more for the future."

Triton turned around. "Father prefers that you live, I'll do my best to train you when I can."

He stared at his brother, his heart racing in his chest. "Th-Thanks."

His older brother only nodded before entering the water and disappearing. Well I guess I'll have more things to more about.

The next morning after the daily offering he had his first sparring lesson with Triton. His elder brother came at him with a cold ruthlessness while he barely could keep up with him. He managed to block the trident but Triton kicked him to the ground.

"Get up," Triton said. "The enemy won't be so forgiving."

He coughed as he got up and gripped his sword. His body shook as Triton came at him again, his older brother was as agile as a fish as he easily parried his attack.

"Fix your stance and grip," Triton said as he showed him how to grip hi sword.

His half brother's touch was cold yet firm as he showed him how to hold his sword. "Thanks."

Triton nodded. "Don't mention it." His older brother turned to face the ocean. "You'll have a tough road ahead of you, you'll need all the help you can get."

He looked down at his reflection in Riptide. "I know."

"If war does come in our father's realm Oceanus will not be an easy enemy to defeat," Triton said. "Frankly I thought those damn dragons in the Pacific were tough enough."

"Dragons?"

Triton shook his head. "Long story. Come on lets practice some more."

His brother didn't go any easier on him. Triton seemed half bored as he effortlessly beat him and knocked him to the ground. "Why do you do it?" Triton asked.

"What do you mean?"

Triton's gaze was calm. "Why do you support Hecate and Nemesis so much?"

He stared at his immortal brother whose gaze was calm as the sea. "It's not fair," he said simply. "You love your mom right?"

"I do," Triton said. "She's my father's main wife."

He met Triton's faze. "What if she were treated the same way as Hecate or Nemesis were treated? Like an afterthought of no importance."

A cold wind brushed through the area. "Father wouldn't allow it."

"Well not everyone has our father's backing," he said calmly. "Would you fight for your mother?"

"Of course," Triton said.

He picked up his sword and assumed a fighting stance. "Well so do the children of Hecate, Nemesis, and every minor god out there."

Triton looked him over and slowly nodded. "I see." His older brother sighed and turned to face the ocean. "I fear old Oceanus feels the same way. He was neutral during the first war but now…" His father paused as a flash of unease spread across his face. "I fear he might change his mind."

A war on land and sea. That would definitely suck. "We can only do our best to prepare," he said as he gazed out towards the sea.

"Father cares about you deeply," Triton said. "For that reason he wants you to be prepared. Your life won't be easy Percy Jackson."

"I know," he said frankly. But I'll do my best to fight for what I believe in and defend those I care about. He didn't choose to be a demigod but he wouldn't let people hurt those he cared about.

Triton eyed him up and down. "Come let's practice in the water I want to show you a few things."

He was taken aback by the calmness of his words and the sincerity in his eyes. "Sure." Maybe this training won't be so bad.

Nico swore as he stumbled out of the shadows. "Stupid robots," he muttered as he rubbed his sore shoulders. He had been on the trail of Daedalus when he fell into a trap of robots that tried to tear him apart. Luckily the undead he summoned manage to take care of them.

"You ok Nico?" Luke asked as he helped him up.

His face reddened. "Y-Yeah. Sorry but Daedalus got away again." Deep down his heart sank, Luke had done so much to help him and yet he still couldn't get Daedalus for him.

I'll get him next time though. I'll summon more zombies and show him what it means to submit to Kronos!

"It's ok," Luke sighed. "We are thinking of other ways to proceed. Come Lord Kronos is expecting us."

He nodded eagerly as he followed Luke into the main room of the Princess Andromeda. The inside was cold and he could feel the tension in the air as he saw the image of Oceanus in front of the coffin. The old ocean titan's face was neutral, his arms folded as he looked at the coffin.

He and Luke bowed to the coffin. "Lord Kronos."

Kronos' presence rippled throughout the area. "Oceanus will you grant me passage or not?" His voice was low and betrayed frustration.

Passage? He looked at the coffin and at the old ocean god whose face revealed no emotion.

"One ship I can hide," Oceanus said carefully. "But an invasion fleet? Poseidon will see that as an act of war."

The pressure in the room tensed up, he nearly fell to his knees were it not for Luke who wrapped a protective arm around him. "Brother war will come either way are you still on the fence? Olympus will fall this time do not make the same mistake as last time."

Kronos' words were a mixture of persuasion mingled with a half threat. Oceanus looked at the coffin calmly his gaze flickering with irritation. "Brother I've been doing a lot for you already. It is through my power that Poseidon hasn't found your ship. Do not press me on these matters"

The air in the room became cold and tense causing the hairs on his neck to stand up.

"For that I am grateful brother. But I need more if we are to win," Kronos said. "The labyrinth is giving me trouble and I need a more direct route to invade the camp."

Invade the camp? For a moment he saw a flicker of unease in Luke's eyes. Personally he had never been to the camp but from what he was told his sister was there for a bit and possibly brainwashed. His heart hardened. Bianca I'll raise that place to the ground. Soon we'll be together again.

"Invade the demigod camp?" Oceanus stroked his beard. "Kill the children of the Olympians and from there I imagine you'll march on Olympus? I imagine they'll be very pleased after you kill their children. Tell me will you fight in your coffin or will you have one of those boys behind you to do the fighting?"

He frowned. Luke had done his best to train him so he wouldn't lose to anybody. Bianca I'll get you back. I'm stronger now just like Luke, just like a real hero.

"Soon I shall this coffin and take my rightful throne. Oceanus do not make the same mistake as in the last war." Kronos' voice was low and bordered on irritation. "Remember I reward those who help me."

There was a bit of a threat in Kronos' words that was mixed with exacerbation yet Oceanus only smirked. "Of course brother." The god's gaze was eerily calm as the message ended.

Kronos' frustration could be felt throughout the room. "I want Daedalus found. We'll procure supplies for this summer one way or another."

They quickly bowed. "Yes Lord Kronos."

As soon as they exited the room he turned to Luke. "I'll get Daedalus next time. He'll slip up eventually."

Luke smiled at him and patted him on the shoulder. "We are counting on you Nico."

His heart fluttered as he looked into Luke's eyes, it was like looking into the eyes of a real hero. "Y-Yeah."

"You'll get your sister back and the camp will be gone," Luke said as he knelt down and looked at him in the eyes. "Remember you are the Ghost King Nico."

He nodded his heart racing in his chest. "I am the Ghost King." I'll make you proud Luke. We'll destroy this camp and save Bianca.