(A/N It lives! Okay, big thanks to Yoshi1911 for getting me involved in a great community that helped me move this piece forward! I could not have continued this without Yoshi and KitKathy's help. Thanks guys!

Fair warning: This chapter is all Percy. No worries, we'll get the full deck back soon, but This was my starting point.

Secondary warning: I do not know how often I will be posting. I wanna get a few chapters written before I start posting after this, but I wanted to get this out there so that you all knew it is on its way back.

I hope you enjoy!)

Percy didn't know where to go next.

He could go anywhere, but where should he go.

He had a relative instinctual understanding of the ancient laws. The most interference he could offer the demigods he so desperately wanted to protect was training them at camp. He already knew that, but now he could feel it.

So, first he splintered himself off to Chiron's side.

He seemed to be wearing every one of his many, many years.

"Perseus," Chiron bowed his head a little.

"I'm still just Percy, Chiron."

"No, you are not. But I am glad for the sentiment."

"I'm not…" he thought better of arguing the point. "I want to help. Here at camp. If you want me to."

"I would never turn you away, Percy." They shared a smile and Percy remembered all the times he'd considered Chiron as another father figure in his life.

"It might not be now. I need to get a handle on...this. I don't want to put anyone in danger."

"That is most wise of you."

"Well, Annabeth is my best friend, so something had to rub off eventually."

They chuckled again and Chiron dispensed some advice to help Percy adjust to godhood.

.

He was also in New Rome. He needed to see Annabeth, Ryan, and Grace. Annabeth didn't really take the news well.

"I don't understand."

"That token Dad gave me-it gave me a second chance."

"But-I don't understand."

"I accepted the offer of godhood."

"No. I just. No you didn't."

"Annabeth. I can't put it any plainer than that."

"Percy would never accept that. His fatal flaw- No. You can't be-"

"Yes. My fatal flaw is loyalty. How better to remain loyal to those I care about than to teach generations how to defend themselves. To keep the olympians faithful to their oaths. To remember each death I couldn't prevent and try to prevent the next."

"You can't spend an immortal life trying to keep mortals from dying!"

"No," he answered slowly, "I can't keep them from dying, but I can try to keep them alive."

"Gods, Percy. You're such a Seaweed Brain."

"Watch it, Wise Girl," he answered with a smirk.

"Oh, excuse me! Is it 'Mr. P' now?" she laughed.

"Whoa! Dude! Mr. P is my father. The name's Percy," he said in his best impression of Crush. The friends dissolved into laughter at the Finding Nemo reference, Percy couldn't count how many times he'd made her watch that movie.

"Alright, Percy. But know that for the next few decades you'll have me holding you accountable."

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

.

Percy and Poseidon negotiated a small coastline that would house Percy's seat of power. He didn't want a palace, but a small mansion that could house air breathers was to be built in a trench about three nautical miles from the shore. A small beach house, more of a surf shack, was to be put up on land.

He and Triton butted heads a little, but they'd have millenia to get over any sibling rivalry. They could make this work.

.

His vision was not impaired by the darkness of the Underworld. He sighed, realizing he should probably make his presence known to Hades, as he was intruding on his uncle's domain. It only really took a thought and he and Hades had communicated nearly an entire conversation, or at least its intention.

He took a seat by the river's edge. He had plenty of history here as a demigod. First, when he was 12, looking for the Master Bolt. Then again at 16 when he took the Curse of Achilles. He remembered its waters killing monsters on impact as it flowed out of Tartarus at the Doors of Death.

And now he waited for Styx herself.

The water was still polluted by the lost hopes and dreams of the dead. Styx was a goddess, not a naiad, but he couldn't help but compare her situation to the East River spirit and the Hudson River spirit, or even the spunky little naiad in Texas. Did the pollution bother her as it did them?

He continued waiting in the quiet of the river.

He finished speaking to Chiron.

He left the Philips-Chase residence.

Areas of his seat of power were sectioned off and awaiting a skilled architect to design the structures.

One incorporeal version of him was still poking at the expansion of his domain, figuring things out.

All that was left for the moment was to wait here.

Sleep isn't quite the right word for what was trying to overtake Percy. Do gods sleep? He hadn't asked. His body was nodding off, but his consciousness was still overwhelmingly alert. It was strange. He could have projected himself again and regained a sense of wakefulness, but he didn't want to. It was strangely peaceful on the edge of death's barrier.

"Why have you come here, Oathkeeper?"

Percy looked up to see a woman clothed in a dress of smoke. She had black hair and dark makeup.

"To see you… Oathkeeper."

A small smile formed on her face as she sat beside him.

"I offer a slow rot to those who break my vows. Is that what you wish to speak of?"

"In a way. I think any broken oath will fall in my domain, but if it is sworn upon your river I won't interfere unless asked."

"You think I'll need you?"

"You've been doing fine without me for an eternity, but I'd rather not unwittingly create another enemy."

"A good mindset to have. I appreciate you speaking to me."

"It's mutual. I'm just the new kid on the block. You could have ignored me."

"No, Perseus. I must be accountable just as the others."

He offered a small smile and stood up to leave.

"I might ask you questions here and there. I'm still- I have a lot of learning to do."

"And you have an ally here."

"Thank you." He offered her a bow as he flashed to his apartment. He was rarely that respectful as a demigod, but she had earned his respect with her own kindness.

Looking around his apartment he sighed. It wouldn't be his anymore. Really it wasn't even now. With a crooked smile he snapped his fingers and sent all his belongings away. The clothes went to a donation box a few streets down. The moonlace was repotted in various demigods' gardens. His sentimental items were in Cabin 3. He walked around the small space, only his empty furniture was left.

A week. He would give himself a week to learn to control his godly abilities enough to follow his possessions to his father's cabin.