Chapter 4:

Jason POV:

Something was wrong. After everything Annabeth and Percy had been through in Tartarus, after we'd spent days fearing they'd never make it back, I expected them to be wrecked—traumatized, scarred, haunted by what they'd seen. I didn't expect this.

They weren't together anymore. They couldn't even look at each other.

I'd seen a lot of things since becoming a demigod, but this… this felt different. Piper had immediately taken to Annabeth, supporting her, and leaving Percy on his own. And while I trusted Piper more than anyone, I didn't like how she'd been treating him. There was something off in the way she backed Annabeth, almost as if she couldn't see Percy was hurting too. I didn't know Percy that well, but I knew one thing for sure: he was a damn hero. A good guy. And whatever had happened in Tartarus, he didn't deserve to be isolated like this.

I spotted Percy sitting by himself, staring off into the distance, and decided I couldn't just stand by anymore. I didn't have a plan, but I wasn't going to wait for one to magically appear. As I approached him, I noticed Nico standing nearby, watching him with that same thoughtful look Nico always had when something was eating at him.

"He needs us," I said quietly, my voice breaking the silence between us. "You're the only one besides Annabeth who can understand what it was like down there. And we're both the only ones here who know what it's like to be a child of the Big Three. We have to help him… right?"

Nico didn't respond right away. His dark eyes followed Percy's every move, like he was seeing something the rest of us couldn't. Finally, he nodded slowly, his voice low. "I've never seen him like this. The others? Hazel and Frank worship him. They can't see the pain, the weakness—because to them, Percy's more like a god than a man." He paused, shaking his head. "Annabeth and Piper… they seem to forget that Annabeth wasn't the only one who went down there." He shot me a glance. "No offense."

"None taken," I replied. Nico had a point. I'd been noticing it too, the way everyone was focused on Annabeth like she was the only one who suffered. But I'd seen Percy's face when they came back. There was something dark in his eyes, something broken. He wasn't just "changed," he was… haunted.

"I've talked to Annabeth," I continued, rubbing the back of my neck nervously. "All she says is that Percy changed down there. That he did bad things. But… yeah, isn't that kind of expected? They went to literal hell. Of course it messes you up."

Nico's gaze stayed fixed on Percy, who was still sitting alone, seemingly unaware of the world around him. "They're all waiting for him to bounce back, to be the same guy who always pulls through." Nico shook his head. "But they don't understand. He's not just a hero anymore. Tartarus changes you."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Nico's words. "I haven't worked up the courage to talk to him yet," I admitted. "But the longer we wait… the worse it's going to get. He's already slipping away."

Nico looked at me, his expression set with grim determination. "Let's go then."

I nodded, taking a deep breath as we walked over to where Percy sat. I wasn't sure what I was going to say, but I knew one thing: we couldn't leave him alone any longer.

Percy's POV:

Jason and Nico sat down next to me without saying a word, their presence heavy but… not uncomfortable. We stayed like that for a while, maybe ten minutes, maybe more, just sitting in silence. I didn't mind. I didn't have much to say anyway, not that anyone really wanted to hear it.

Finally, Jason broke the quiet.

"You wanna talk?" he asked, his voice low, careful. "I know we don't know each other well, but… I'd like to think you'd help me if I went through something like this."

I kept my gaze fixed on the horizon. "Nico did."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nico shrug, leaning back on his hands. "Yeah, I did," he said flatly. "And I know how important it is to talk about it, so… talk, you idiot. And I'll do the same."

That got me to smile, just a little. Leave it to Nico to cut through the bullshit.

I took a deep breath, staring at the ground as the memories flooded back. "In Tartarus," I began slowly, "I fought Akhlys. Goddess of Misery, Poison, and Tears." The name itself felt like venom on my tongue. "She was going to drown Annabeth and me in her poison… kill us both slowly."

Nico and Jason stayed quiet, listening. I continued, the words spilling out like I was reliving it all over again. "I… I used her own poison against her. I grabbed her and drowned her in it. Then I threw her into the abyss. I didn't stop when Annabeth begged me to."

I paused, remembering Annabeth's horrified expression, her voice pleading with me to stop. "Afterward, Annabeth tried to make me promise never to go that far again. But I couldn't. I won't. I won't let the people I love die if there's something I can do to stop it."

Jason shifted beside me, looking confused, but didn't say anything yet.

"Then she called me a monster," I said, my voice breaking a little. "She said I enjoyed it… watching Akhlys suffer. She even brought up how Nyx let us go—how we were given the 'VIP' tour. Said it was more proof that something's wrong with me. That she can't trust me anymore. She doesn't… feel safe with me." I trailed off, the last words coming out like a confession.

Nico snorted. "Bullshit."

I blinked, surprised by the bluntness in his voice.

Jason frowned, clearly thinking it through. "So she wants you to let her die next time? Is she saying she wouldn't do anything and everything to save you?" He shook his head. "I don't get it. I'd do anything to save Piper, my sister, anyone I love."

A weight I didn't even realize I'd been carrying lifted a little. "I thought I was going crazy," I admitted, my voice shaky. "I almost started to believe her."

"You're not crazy," Nico said firmly. "I don't think you did anything wrong, Percy. But promise me something."

I looked at him warily. "What?"

"Next time, come to us. Don't just shoulder it alone," Nico said, his expression softening. "We have to be there for each other. People don't understand what it's like. What it takes sometimes to keep everyone alive, the sacrifices you have to make. But we do."

Jason nodded. "Yeah, man. Don't go through this by yourself. You've got us."

I stared at them both, the lump in my throat getting bigger. For a moment, I couldn't say anything, but then I nodded. "Okay. I'll come to you guys. Promise."

And for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I wasn't alone in this after all.

Leo's POV:

After the battle with Nike, the Argo II was eerily quiet. The adrenaline was still buzzing in my veins, but the crew was exhausted. Me? I couldn't stop thinking about Calypso. Yeah, we had just faced off with a literal goddess of victory, but I had my own victory in mind—a promise I made to a girl trapped on an island.

I found Percy alone, sitting on the ship's deck, staring off at the horizon. For a guy who'd fought gods, Titans, and literal embodiments of evil, he looked... tired. Tired in a way that wasn't about the physical fights.

I didn't plan it, but before I knew it, I blurted, "Why didn't you ever go back to her?"

Percy blinked, obviously confused. "Huh?"

"To Calypso," I clarified, crossing my arms. "You promised you'd free her, right? You broke her heart. And you just left."

Percy's eyes darkened, but not with anger—more like regret. "Leo, I couldn't go back," he said quietly. "It wasn't... simple. I made a wish to the gods that she be freed, that someone would find her—someone else, not me. That was part of the deal."

My stomach twisted with irritation. "Well, that didn't exactly work out. Because she's still stuck there. I should know, I found her there, brokenhearted and bitter. What, am I supposed to be that 'someone else?' So, what? The gods push their work off on someone else, making her wait? Or did they just break their promise? Forget about her?"

That hit a nerve. Percy's face hardened, and when he spoke again, it was with venom. "Damn the gods! Even with a Styx oath, they can't follow through." His voice thundered, and a distant rumble of lightning crackled through the sky right on cue.

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "Uh, bro," I said, laughing nervously. "I think Zeus might've heard that."

Percy just shrugged like he didn't care, and honestly, that both impressed me and terrified me. The guy had no fear, no hesitation when it came to calling out the Olympians. It was like he had nothing left to lose. "I don't care, Leo, and once you do enough 'quests' for them, you won't either." He said, sighing.

He met my eyes, calm now, but there was steel in his voice. "I'll make sure they honor their pledge, Leo. Next time I'm up there, I'll make sure of it. If they promised to free her, they will. And you'll be with her."

I wanted to be grateful, but I couldn't help the bitterness that bubbled up. "I appreciate that, man, but... I want to rescue her. Me. I don't want to owe anyone else. Especially not the gods. I want to do it... I have to do it, I promised her."

Percy's smile shifted, and suddenly, he looked at me like I wasn't just another Demigod. It was a look of respect, and I hadn't realized how much I longed for that until right now. There's something about him, something larger-than-life like he's always holding back a raw power that everyone around him can sense. His nod felt almost... reassuring like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Fair enough. But if you need help, you know I've got your back."

I looked down at the deck, wholly unsure of how to ask the question that had been gnawing at me. "I've gotta ask, man. You don't... you don't still have feelings for Calypso, do you?" I asked, scared at the answer, how could I hope to win her heart if he was my competition? I wanted to hate him for that, but I couldn't.

There was a pause. A long one. Percy didn't meet my gaze right away, but when he did, his eyes were distant, lost somewhere in his memories. "Once," he admitted, voice barely more than a whisper. "But it was so long ago. And it was for such a short time. All she is now for me is a 'what if.'"

His words hung in the air like an unspoken truth.

"But I don't regret it," he continued, more certain now. "Taking the prophecy, the whole 'saving the world' bit instead of leaving it to Nico. No, I don't regret it. Not anymore."

He fell silent, and I almost didn't catch his next words. "It's only ever been... Annabeth."

That hit me like a hammer. I understood. I mean, Calypso was important to me, yeah, but what Percy and Annabeth had? That was next-level. That was fate.

"Man, I'm sorry," I said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's better we talk about this stuff, right? No misunderstandings. But for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

Percy smiled, but it was a sad kind of smile. "Thanks, Leo. I appreciate it."

I could feel the tension between us easing. We might've had our own battles to fight, but in that moment, I realized we weren't so different. Percy had fought for what he loved, and I was gonna do the same. I'd find Calypso. And this time, I wouldn't let anyone—gods included—get in my way.

The ship was quiet, and Percy was still leaning on the rail, his expression somewhere far away. I couldn't shake the weird feeling gnawing at the back of my mind, especially after what Percy said about it "only ever being Annabeth." There was something off, something tense, like a rope pulled too tight between them.

"So..." I started, kicking a loose nail on the deck. "What's going on with you and Annabeth? You guys seem... tense."

Percy's jaw clenched, and I saw the flicker of pain in his eyes before he could cover it up. "It's complicated," he said, staring at the horizon again, his voice heavy with something deeper.

I knew that tone. It wasn't just some couple's spat. "Yeah? How complicated?" I pressed, not letting him off the hook. The bad feeling in my gut only got worse. Whatever was going on between him and Annabeth, it wasn't just about a bad day or a stupid argument. It felt bigger than that.

Percy let out a long sigh, like he'd been carrying the weight of a thousand oceans on his shoulders. "I talked to Jason and Nico about it earlier," he began, slowly. His words were careful like he was picking his way through a battlefield of memories.

I stayed quiet, giving him the space to say whatever he needed to.

"In Tartarus," he continued, his voice rough, "Annabeth and I were fighting Akhlys. You know, goddess of misery and poison? She was going to kill us. Slow and painful. So I used her poison against her, I drowned Akhlys in her poison. She was begging me to stop, but I knew if given the chance she'd end us so I didn't let up, then Annabeth begged me to stop, but I didn't listen. Finally, I threw Akhlys into the abyss."

He paused, and I could practically feel the darkness swirling around him like he was reliving every second of it.

"After that, Annabeth… She tried to make me promise to never go that far again, but I just couldn't…. You know, I can't let the ones I love die, not if there is something I can do to stop it. After that, we argued and she said I was a monster. She doesn't trust me anymore. She doesn't feel safe with me."

There was a rawness in his voice that made my chest tighten. It wasn't just a bad fight. This was something way deeper.

I felt my hands curl into fists, anger rising up inside me before I even realized it. "That's crazy," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "You did what you had to do. What? Was she expecting you to just let her die? Man, I'd give anything to have been able to save my mom." I met Percy's eyes, my voice low but fierce. "Take it from someone who failed… To hell with whatever crap she's slinging. You did nothing wrong."

Percy blinked, surprised. I don't think he expected me to get this worked up about it, but damn it, I was pissed. Maybe because I knew what it felt like to carry that kind of guilt. The "what-ifs" and "should-haves" haunted me too.

He looked at me for a moment, like he didn't know what to say. Then he rubbed the back of his neck, a small, tired smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Thanks, man. That... that means a lot."

I could tell he meant it, but I also knew that smile. It was the kind of smile people put on when they're just trying to keep it together. The kind of smile I'd been wearing for months when I was building Festus and pretending everything was fine.

"Look," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "I don't know everything that went down between you two, but you're not a monster, okay? You've saved all of us more times than I can count. Don't let anyone—not even Annabeth—make you doubt that."

Percy nodded, though I could see the conflict still swirling in his eyes. "Yeah... I know. I just... it's hard."

I squeezed his shoulder before letting go. "I get it, man. But you've got us, okay? Me, Jason, Nico. Hazel, Frank, even Pipes, and Annabeth once we talk some sense into them, You don't have to carry this on your own."

He glanced at me, then gave a small nod. "Yeah. You're right."

Annabeth's POV:

I sat on the deck, legs folded under me, staring out into the vast ocean. Piper was next to me, quiet, waiting for me to speak. It wasn't easy to talk about what had happened down there—in Tartarus—but it was eating at me. It had been for weeks.

Piper leaned back on her hands, her gaze soft but patient. "You don't have to say anything, you know. But if you need to talk, I'm here."

I took a shaky breath. "It's just… I can't stop thinking about what happened with Percy and Akhlys. When I saw him—when I saw what he did—I was scared, Piper. I'd never seen him like that before. He drowned her in her own poison. He didn't stop, even when I begged him to. And afterward…" I trailed off, my voice catching in my throat.

Piper didn't say anything, just waited, letting me find the words.

"I asked him to promise me he wouldn't go that far again. That he wouldn't… scare me like that." My hands trembled as I remembered the look in Percy's eyes back then, cold and distant. "But he couldn't. He wouldn't promise me."

Piper nodded slightly, still listening, not judging. She was good at that—being supportive without pushing too hard.

"I thought I could always rely on him," I admitted, my voice wavering. "I've always known my biggest fear is abandonment, and I thought with Percy, I didn't have to worry about that. But after Tartarus… I'm not so sure anymore. How can I trust him if deep down he terrifies me? I don't know if I can rely on him the way I used to."

I hugged my knees to my chest, the weight of everything pressing down on me. "I know Tartarus takes your worst emotions, your darkest thoughts, and it… twists them. It makes them stronger, more real. It warps everything you think you know about yourself and everyone else."

I closed my eyes, trying to calm the storm of emotions. "Percy's fatal flaw is loyalty. And down there, it was… perverted. He was willing to do anything, hurt anyone, if it meant keeping me safe. It wasn't loyalty anymore. It was something darker. Something... selfish."

Piper was quiet for a moment, then she spoke, her voice careful, cautious. "Annabeth, you said it yourself. Tartarus perverts things, corrupts you. But you're only talking about Percy. Do you think that maybe, just maybe, it made you see what you wanted to see? And now… maybe you're too proud to admit it?"

I blinked, thrown off by her words. "What?"

She continued, her voice gentle but firm. "You told me months ago that your fatal flaw is pride. Could it be that when Percy didn't listen to you, when he rejected your advice, and those corrupted feelings from Tartarus took hold… they warped how you see him now? And your pride—your flaw—won't let you admit that maybe he didn't fall as far as you think?"

I stared at her, feeling a knot of tension forming in my chest. "No… I know what I saw," I said, my voice harsher than I intended.

Piper raised her hands, her expression soft and disarming. "Okay," she said gently. "I believe you. And I'm here for you, Annabeth. Always. I just don't want you to make a mistake you'll later regret."

Her words hung in the air between us, soft but heavy, and for the first time, I felt doubt creep in. Was it possible? Could my fear, my pride, be clouding my judgment? Had Tartarus twisted me too, in ways I hadn't realized?

I swallowed, trying to shake the thoughts from my mind. "It's not that simple, Piper."

"I know," she said, her eyes full of understanding. "But maybe it's worth thinking about."

I wanted to argue, to push back, to say she was wrong. But the truth was… I wasn't sure anymore. And that scared me almost as much as what had happened in Tartarus.

Jason's POV:

The tension between Piper and me had been brewing for days, and I could tell by the way she was glaring at me across the cabin that we were finally going to have it out. She crossed her arms, her jaw set, her eyes fiery with frustration.

"You and Nico," Piper started, her voice sharp, "you've been isolating Annabeth. Turning the others—Hazel, Frank, Leo—against her."

I blinked, caught off guard by the accusation. "What?"

"You heard me," she said, her tone icy. "I thought maybe it was just Nico, or maybe even Reyna but no, it's continued even after they've both left. I'm disappointed in you, Jason. You of all people should understand what Annabeth's going through."

"Piper, that's not what's happening," I shot back, feeling anger rising in my chest. "You think we're isolating her? She's the one who's been shutting everyone out. You can't seriously believe this is all on us."

Piper's eyes narrowed. "Annabeth has been through horrors, Jason. Things you can't even begin to understand. And instead of supporting her, you and Nico have turned everyone against her—everyone she thought she could rely on."

I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my voice steady. "Yeah, well, Percy's been through those same horrors, Piper. Or did you forget that? Tartarus didn't just happen to Annabeth. Percy was there too. And you know what? She's treated him like dirt ever since we got back. Ignored him, given him the cold shoulder. What did you expect everyone else to think? We're all just reacting to how she treated him."

Piper shook her head, furious. "That's not the same. Annabeth was terrified! Tartarus took her to her breaking point, and now she feels like she can't trust anyone, not even Percy! How can you blame her for that?"

"I'm not blaming her for being scared," I shot back, my frustration mounting. "But you want to talk about isolation? That's what she's been doing to Percy since we got back. She treats him like he doesn't even exist half the time! And you want to blame us for noticing? For reacting to it?"

Piper's eyes flashed with anger. "You're heartless, Jason. You can't even see it. Annabeth went through something you'll never understand, and all you care about is defending Percy."

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, but I couldn't let her twist this around. "Percy went through the same thing, Piper. They were in Tartarus together. You think I don't care about Annabeth? Of course, I care. But I'm not blind to how she's been treating him. We should've helped both of them, both. Instead, you picked sides. From the start, you chose Annabeth's side, and you left Percy out to dry."

"I didn't choose sides," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I just—"

"You did," I interrupted, my voice firmer now. "You did pick a side, Piper. I didn't. Not at first. But now? Now I can't ignore how Annabeth's treated him. I've seen the way she's shut him out, made him feel like he's the one who did something wrong. He didn't. And you know what? My heart won't let me stay silent anymore. I'm standing by Percy because it's the right thing to do."

Piper opened her mouth, her voice softer now. "I know Percy was there too, but—"

"He fell for her, Piper. He didn't have to, but he did. He kept her alive, kept them both moving forward. She made it through Tartarus because of him. And now you expect him to suffer for it? You want him to pay the price for keeping her safe? I'm the one who's disappointed. I won't talk about this anymore."

Piper's face flushed with anger. "Oh really? You're just going to order me to stop talking, huh? Is that it?"

"Nope," I said, my voice calm but final. "You can talk all you want. I just won't be listening."

And with that, I turned around and walked away, leaving her standing there, her angry words hanging in the air behind me.

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.

Percy's POV:

Sleep doesn't come easy these days. When it does, it feels like a trap—a slow, inevitable descent into memories I'd rather forget. But exhaustion always wins. Eventually, I give in, letting the heaviness pull me under.

I wake up gasping, already in Tartarus.

Akhlys stands over me, her withered face twisted in a grotesque smile. The rancid stench of poison fills the air, and her laughter echoes through the endless void.

"You thought you escaped?" Her voice is sharp, taunting, filled with malice. "Oh, so sweet, little fish, suffering does not die. You thought you could defeat a primordial? A daughter of Night!"

I try to move, to summon my powers, but nothing happens. My body feels like lead, every part of me weighed down by the oppressive darkness of this place. The same place I thought I'd left behind. I can't be back here. I can't.

But Akhlys' laughter tells me otherwise.

The poison surges over me, thick, suffocating. It seeps into my mouth, burning my throat and lungs. I fight to control it, to push it away like before, but it's useless. Annabeth is there, just out of reach, her eyes wide with terror. I reach for her, but she vanishes into the black, her cries fading into the distance as the poison pulls me under.

Everything goes black.

When I open my eyes again, I'm running.

The giants are close, their thunderous footsteps pounding the ground, shaking me to my core. I scream for Bob, but the silence is deafening. He isn't there. I'm alone, sprinting across the jagged, cold ground of Tartarus, my legs burning with every step. Their laughter fills the air—giants, massive and deadly, gaining on me no matter how fast I run.

The first blow hits like a freight train. I fall, gasping, pain radiating through every inch of my body. They surround me, their massive weapons gleaming in the dark. I can't move, can't fight back. The second hit comes, then a third.

Everything goes black.

I jolt awake, my body shivering with the memory of their blows.

But it isn't over. Akhlys is there again, her voice like nails scraping across glass. "You thought it was over?" she hisses, leaning in close. "You never left. Did you truly believe you could escape Tartarus?"

I swallow back the bile rising in my throat. The air around me is thick with poison. I gasp, trying to breathe, but it feels like I'm suffocating again, the weight of Tartarus crushing my chest.

The blackness comes once more.

This time, when I open my eyes, Tartarus himself is there.

The vast, shadowy form of the primordial fills the space around me, dwarfing everything. His laughter rumbles through the void, making my bones shake. We're back at the Doors of Death, but they're closed, sealed shut. Annabeth screams my name, her voice lost in the cacophony of Tartarus' amusement.

I can't save her. I can't even save myself.

He reaches out, his massive hand wrapping around me, each finger pressing into my ribs, breaking them like twigs. I scream, the pain all-consuming as his grip tightens. He lifts me into the air, squeezing, crushing the life from me.

"You thought you escaped," his voice is everywhere, in everything. "You thought wrong."

My vision blurs. The crushing pressure, the weight of him—it's too much. I feel my body breaking, splintering under the force of his hand. My breath leaves me in ragged, broken gasps, and I can't scream anymore. The darkness swallows me whole.

I never made it out, I think. I never escaped.

I wake up again, this time on the shore of Chaos.

The air is thick, and heavy with something ancient, older than anything I've ever felt. The edge of the world stretches out before me, endless, a swirling mass of darkness and light, creation and destruction blending together into one. And it whispers to me. The sound is faint at first, like someone trying to speak from just out of reach, just far enough that I can't make out the words.

It's a language I almost know—almost. The whispers tug at something deep inside me, stirring up foreign instincts I didn't understand. Chaos calls to me, a low hum vibrating through my bones. It wants me to jump, to swim in it, to give myself over. I can feel its hunger, its desire, and worse, its gratitude.

For me. For my sacrifice.

A primordial no less, and it's calling for me.

I take a step forward, my body moving on its own, drawn to the edge, to the swirling abyss. But before I can take another step, a figure emerges from the shadows.

"Not yet," a woman's voice says, soft but commanding. "My dashing little hero, be patient."

I stop, confused, my heart pounding in my chest. "What…who…what do you mean?" I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper.

She smiles, a small, knowing smile that sends a shiver down my spine. "Remember," she says simply.

And I do.

"Do you regret it yet? Taking her burden?" she asks, tilting her head slightly. "I must say, I was impressed by your selflessness and strength of will. She chose well, to claim her."

Her words hit me like a wave. I don't know who this second "she" is, or how I "claimed" her, but the memories flood back, disjointed, fragmented. This place messes with your mind. It forces you to put yourself back together, piece by piece, but not in any order that makes sense. I remember Paul before Sally, running before walking, speaking before language. But now, yes, now I remember.

My first time here.

My dreams brought me back, to torment me. And I wasn't alone. Annabeth was with me, and the terror in her eyes as her mind came to the realization of never making it out nearly broke me. So I struck a deal. With the mother of terror herself—the mother of dreams and nightmares.

Nyx.

I took Annabeth's nightmares from her, all the horrors of this place, and Nyx had her son Hypnos do it himself. Every night since, I come back here. Every night it ends the same, on the shore of Chaos, the crucible of creation and destruction.

And every night, I pay the price.

I wake up, my heart hammering in my chest, choking on the panic that still grips me. The nightmare clings to me like a second skin, the sensation of Tartarus' grip still pressing against my ribs, the taste of poison still lingering in my mouth.

I lie there in the dark, trying to convince myself it was just a dream. But it doesn't feel like it. It never does.