The next morning, I woke up to the sound of a hooting bird. It sounded vaguely exotic, like something I would've heard on a National Geographic documentary back in grade school. I kept my eyes closed and tried to roll around to find a comfortable spot, hoping I'd be able to lull myself back to sleep.

For a second, I thought it was going to work. The sand felt perfectly cushioned underneath me, and the morning sun was warm and steady, like I was a loaf of bread baking in an oven. I could feel the heat pooling in my stomach, spreading to my chest, and slowly traveling to my face.

Right as I felt the edges of my consciousness start to darken, two more birds joined in with their own loud calls, forming an off-key chorus that shattered any hope of getting more sleep. It was like an entire battalion of Nancy Bobofits had taken up opera, and were performing their first show right above my head.

I groaned and cracked open my eyes. The glare of the sun through the foliage made dark spots dance across my vision. My back felt stiff from sleeping on the ground, and kernels of sand clung to my shirt like leopard spots.

"You're awake, my brave one," Calypso's voice came from nearby. I turned to see her kneeling beside me, sunlight glowing around her hair as she smiled. She leaned over and planted a light kiss on my cheek. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah," I mumbled, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My eyelids felt heavy. "I did. Surprisingly, really. I didn't expect the beach to be so comfortable."

"You're a Son of Poseidon, are you not?" Calypso mumbled. A wry smile appeared on her face, and she gestured out at the ocean. "This is your element. Your calling."

"Maybe it is," I said. "Doesn't always feel like it, though."

"That doesn't make it yours any less," she said softly. "Whether you're aware of it or not, your divinity will always follow you, like a moth to a flame. When you feel as though you've completely been forgotten, that's when it is at its strongest."

I studied her face for a moment, noticing the freckles that dotted her nose. "You say that, but I don't know if it's true. The water tried to turn me into a smoothie a few days ago."

"That was different."

"Was it?"

"The enchantments around this island exist to keep me from leaving," She said, her voice dropping a little. She perched next to me, her arms resting on her knees, and I noticed the way her dress slid across the sand. Calypso balanced on the balls of her feet and said, "They're very powerful. Older than some gods. The water wasn't working against you. It was searching for me. Searching to stop me."

My heart dropped a bit at her forlorn look. "I feel like that's a little overkill."

"This is a prison," she whispered, her eyes closing briefly as she placed a hand over her heart. She turned her head, looking out across the horizon as if her words would drift away with the morning breeze.

"You shouldn't be cooped up here," I murmured, watching her. "I mean, I get it. You supported a Titan. But he was your dad."

"It's alright." Calypso opened her eyes and gave me a sad smile. She slowly moved her hand to my knee and squeezed. "We don't have to talk about it anymore. My punishment could have been far worse—should have been far worse, all things considered. The island is beautiful."

Beautiful was an understatement.

The island looked like a dream that had been waiting for centuries to be seen. Palm trees and tropical plants formed a lush green canopy to my left, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.

Calypso's gardens spread out in vibrant patches around the little house behind us, each corner blooming with flowers and plants that seemed to thrive purely on the magic of the island itself. Lavender bushes lined the winding stone path, their purple blossoms swaying gently, filling the air with a soothing, herbal scent that drifted on the breeze. Clusters of hibiscus and bougainvillea burst forth in brilliant reds, pinks, and oranges, their petals like small bursts of fire against the soft green of the leaves. Tall sunflowers turned their golden heads to follow the path of the sun, towering protectively over beds of smaller, delicate blooms—forget-me-nots, daisies, and lilies of every shade. Honeybees hummed, moving purposefully from blossom to blossom, and the occasional bird would swoop down, chirping a brief hello before disappearing into the dense treetops.

It was like a scene out of a Disney movie. "Beautiful? Really? I hadn't noticed."

Calypso chuckled softly, a spark of light flitting through her irises. She rolled off her feet and laid down beside me, resting her head on my shoulder. "Really, really."

"Yeah?"

Her eyes darkened as she watched me. Suddenly, she sat up, grabbing fistfuls of my shirt and tugging. "Come on, I'll prove it to you."

I felt her fingers tingling through the fabric as she pulled me up, and I rolled my shoulders to stretch out the stiffness in my back. A series of cracks and pops filled the silence as I shifted my weight. "Can't we just take your word for it?"

"We're past that now." Her voice was soft and smooth, and her eyes sparkled like the morning sun dancing across the waves. She held out her hand. "Come."

"Where to?" I rubbed the last bit of sleep from my eyes. "We just woke up."

She grinned. "You just woke up," she corrected, laughter bubbling under her words. "Come on, come on. Trust me. You'll like it."

I huffed, pretending to look skeptical, but I couldn't help grinning. "That's what my mom said right before she signed me up for ballet—" I began, yelping as Calypso tugged me up and practically dragged me across the beach.

Walking across the beach felt amazing. The sand warmed my feet, soft and powdery, stretching in rippling waves toward a dense wall of greenery at the far end. Calypso led me along the shoreline, and the breeze carried that familiar saltiness of the sea, mixed with something sweeter—a hint of blossoms tucked just out of sight.

It reminded me a bit of camp. There was this stretch of woods, tucked right behind my cabin, that was absolutely gorgeous. It was covered in a tunnel of trees and had stretches of dirt that cut right next to Long Island Sound. We used it to smuggle food out of the dining pavilion. It was just out of the harpy's normal patrol, and I could usually convince the naiads to not rat us out to Chiron and Mr. D.

"Why are you so quiet, my brave one?" Calypso murmured. She reached back and interlaced her fingers with mine. "Do you not want to go?"

"No, I do," I assured her. I took another look out at the ocean. "I just miss home a bit."

"Home," Calypso tried out the word. "New York?"

"Kind of. Camp."

"Camp. Right. With your friends. Grover and Annabeth." Calypso remembered. A dark shadow streaked across her face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. A breeze passed through the beach, over the undulating dunes. "It's natural to miss them. They mean a lot to you. I'm sure they miss you, too."

"I sure hope so."

"I know so, my brave one."

The salty air stung my eyes. "Do you think they're looking for me?"

Calypso was silent for a moment. She hesitated, "I am unsure."

"You said time works differently on this island?" A pit formed in my stomach. Annabeth's face swam into view in my mind's eye, and I thought about our kiss. Calypso's hand felt cold in mine, like a sliver of ice. "I…how…"

"I do not know, my brave one," Calypso returned somberly. Her fingers tightened around mine, almost painfully. "I've been here for a long time. I wouldn't know where to even begin answering your question. I don't know what the world is like outside of this island."

"Right," I mumbled, forcing a smile. "Sorry. I keep forgetting."

"That's alright," Calypso whispered, her voice heavy with something I couldn't quite place. "I wish I could forget, too, sometimes."

We walked in comfortable silence, passing clusters of driftwood bleached white by years of sun and surf. Crabs scuttled out from under the driftwood and burrowed quickly back into the sand as we approached, while seabirds circled high above, their cries softening as we neared the cliffside. The waves grew gentler. The wind stopped howling.

"This is more my speed," I said. "It's calmer here."

"I like this part of the beach, too," Calypso agreed. "It's almost like the island's own secret."

The water in front of us was a shade of blue-green that looked unreal, the kind of color I'd only seen in magazines. It was so clear that it seemed almost fake, nothing like the dark, stormy waters of Long Island. "This place…reminds me of Montauk."

"Montauk?" Calypso repeated slowly. "Another place?"

"Right. I keep forgetting. It's, um…near home," I explained. "There's this old pastel cabin my mom and I used to go to every summer. Ever since I was a kid. It's half-buried in the dunes, and it has this smell, you know? Seaweed and sunshine. There's always sand in the sheets and spiders in the cabinets, and the sea is almost too cold to swim in." I trailed off, realizing how much I missed it. It felt like my chest was being drilled by a jackhammer. It felt hard to talk, all of a sudden. "It's not anything like here. But it's…special."

"Special places don't need a reason to be," Calypso murmured, her voice soft. She looked at me with a kindness that made my chest ache. "It sounds wonderful, Percy."

"It is. It really is. We've been going there since I was a baby. My mom's been going even longer. It was the place where she'd met my dad."

"Lord Poseidon," Even out on this island, I felt the ripple of power as she said my dad's name. The waves receded a bit, and the sea grew a bit choppier. A weird sense of foreboding twisted my insides into knots. Calypso gave me a tight smile. "That sounds wonderful, Percy."

"It is. I guess there's no real reason this place reminds me of it. The water's all different, and the weather is way nicer."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. It's always gloomy over there," I remembered. "I don't know. Maybe it's because I feel calmer when I'm over there."

"And here?" Calypso pressed, staring at me with those chocolate eyes. They were like melty chocolate chip cookies. More insistently this time, she asked, "And here?"

I hesitated, feeling a tightness in my throat. "I feel calm here too. Like all the bad things in my life—the mistakes, the regrets, all of it—it feels like they're not so heavy. Like they're washed away."

Calypso's lips curved into a smile, "Good."

We reached the edge of the beach, where rocks and thick patches of greenery formed a natural barrier. Calypso slipped through an archway in the rocks, half-hidden by hanging vines and ferns. I ducked under a cluster of leaves to follow her, and the air instantly felt cooler, filled with the earthy scent of damp soil and salt. We walked through a narrow passage, with towering cliffs on either side casting a soft shadow over us.

The path suddenly opened up, revealing the hidden lagoon. The sight took my breath away. The water stretched out in front of me like a glistening gem, perfectly clear and undisturbed. Sunlight streamed through an opening in the cliffs, casting a warm, dappled light over the surface. A gentle waterfall trickled down one side, filling the air with its melodic rush. Wildflowers and vines spilled down the rock walls, colors bursting against the deep greens.

Calypso turned to me, her face glowing. "Well? What do you think?"

I could barely find words. "You…you weren't kidding. This is amazing."

"I knew you'd like it," Calypso beamed. "The water is your element. Come on. We need to take a dip."

"Now?"

"We have all the time in the world," Calypso said softly. She bent and slid the edge of her dress off her shoulders. Stabbing heat pinpricked up my chest and closed its fingers around my throat. Tanned, unblemished skin swam into view as she slowly stepped out of her dress, clad only in her underwear. She caught my gaze. "Do you see something you like?"

I couldn't look away. My brain felt like it was melting. "Um—I—sorry—"

"Who said you had to apologize?" Calypso whispered, stepping back to me and grabbing my arm. Her body pressed up against mine, and I could smell cranberries on her breath. Her eyes flicked to my lips, and she gently guided my hand to her lower back. My fingers dug into her skin. "You don't need to apologize for anything, my brave one."

My spine tingled. A steady fire spread in my chest. I stumbled through my words a few times before settling on, "You look…really nice."

"Why thank you," Calypso giggled, gently tugging on my shirt again. "You're not going to get in the water like this, are you?"

"Nope," I squeaked.

"Good," She purred, backing away from me and taking light, dainty steps toward the lagoon. The water splashed as she waded into the shallow end. A moan escaped from her lips. "The water is amazing, Percy. Come."

I pulled my shirt over my head and followed her in. As I took my first step into the water, I noticed Calypso watching me hungrily, droplets of water clinging to her like diamonds. Her skin looked like it was glowing in the low light of the lagoon, and a shiver ran up my leg.

When the water reached my chest, I took a deep breath, letting myself float in its warmth. It was like the whole lagoon was embracing me, welcoming me. For the first time in a long time, I felt…at peace.

Calypso waded over, her eyes shining as she threw her arms around my neck and pressed close. "Isn't it wonderful?"

"It is," I murmured, lost in the warmth and the quiet.

Calypso cocked her head to the side. Strands of wet hair clung to her forehead. She licked her lips, "You look different."

My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. "Do I?"

"You do," Calypso whispered, placing a hand on my cheek. Her thumb brushed my cheekbone. "Not in a bad way. I actually rather like it."

"Well, I'm happy to hear that," I smiled.

Calypso smiled and rested her head on my shoulder. The fruity smell of her shampoo wafted up to my nostrils, and my head spun. Her skin felt like fire on mine. "Say, Percy?"

"Mmmm?"

"Can you say my name again?"

"Calypso?" I tried, and she shook her head. "Oh, right. Aegle?"

Her body trembled. She opened her mouth, and was about to say something, when the entire lagoon vibrated.

A faint tremor rippled through the water. I froze, looking around, but everything was still. A cloud of dust drifted down from the ceiling, catching the light in a golden haze. For a moment, it was beautiful. But then, another tremor shook the lagoon, this time strong enough to rattle the rocks and send small pebbles splashing into the water.

Calypso gasped, clinging to me. "What…what's happening?"

"I don't know," I said, my stomach twisting as I looked around, suddenly feeling exposed. "Do you get earthquakes out here?"

"Never." Her voice was barely a whisper.

The water quivered around us, sending ripples across the lagoon. Bits of stone crumbled from the cliffs, and the waterfall gushed faster, the water churning like it sensed something was wrong.

A heavy silence settled over us, broken only by Calypso's shaky breath. "Percy, I…I think someone's here."

AN: Happy Halloween! I'd ask you trick or treat, but this is definitely a treat...right? Right? Hahaha, you're not answering. RIGHT?

Jokes aside, happy to return to this project. I have some big plans and have spent the last few months reworking where I wanted this story to go, so I'm happy to finally be in a place where I have enough outlined to keep writing. I'm always nervous about writing without an end goal and veering too far away from the plot, but I think we're good for now.

If you're interested to see where this is going, well, all I'll say is all roads lead to Rome.

This was a light little chapter. I'm aware of that. It kind of served as my 'shake-out' chapter to get back into the vibe of the story, but as you can tell, the plot will be picking up very soon. And no, I didn't forget about Riptide. You will see it again very, very shortly.

Last but not least, if you have any questions or would like to be further in the loop with updates and my current priorities in terms of stories, please join the Discord server. Just take the spaces out of this: Linktr . ee /maroooon

See you soon! And please review your comments/thoughts/theories. It helps me gauge how people perceived the chapter and the things they'd like to see going forward.

- Maroon