Chapter Text
POV: Percy Jackson
The feeling of rocks under my back was enough to get me to open my eyes. A surprised breath left me as I sat up and saw- instead of my college dorm and my snoring roommate across from me- all around me was water.
I must be dreaming again
, I thought. Yet as I stood up and winced at the feeling of shells and pebbles digging into my feet, I knew this wasn't a dream. A groan of annoyance passed my lips. “Dammit!” I shouted out into the sea, “If this is another quest I’m not doing it!”
The sound echoed loudly on the ocean floor. After a moment longer of cursing, I finally started to swim to the surface. The water bent to my leisure, becoming a comforting embrace as it boosted me rapidly to the surface.
As my head broke the surface of the waves, I stared in disbelief at the sight of large ships and a shore filled to the brim with camps and soldiers. Toto , I thought, I have a feeling we’re not in Cali anymore.
I stared out at the shore, a glance back at waves, then back to the shore. My thoughts assured me I didn't have to go there. I really didn’t. Surely my father would let me stay beneath the waves, away from whatever is going on. Except, I needed answers. Clearly I was far from home, and I doubted my life wouldn't be at risk, camp or no. But hey, that’s life for us Demigods right? Everything is a risk.
I decided to swim closer to the shore.
For a moment, I stayed hidden by the small waves, just peeking over the barely shifting water. My eyes drifted over each person wandering the shore, each of them shouting and calling back and forth, filling the air with Greek. As my eyes took in the sight of everyone, I locked gazes with a man under a yellow banner. His silence and stare caught the attention of other soldiers, and everyone else on the shore quickly turned to the sea.
A curse passed my lips as I stood up fully from the waves, no longer hiding as I'd been caught. Bows are aimed at me as I carefully eyed the surrounding soldiers, before returning my gaze to the man from before. “I don’t want to fight any of you,” I said as I stepped forward. “I’m just lost. I’m searching for a way home.”
I kept walking forward since no one had stopped me, and the sea parted to make a path for me along the grainy sand of the shore. A gasp rose from the crowd, but I paid it no mind.
As I approached, the man from before grinned. The look in his eye was meticulous, not unlike the way the kids in the Athena Cabin would when the next games are announced. He chuckled, “Hail, Young man! I am Odyseuss. If you would come this way, I’m sure we can help.”
I stopped in my tracks at his words. The name sounded very familiar. It was on the tip of my tongue as to where I heard it. More importantly though, I wasn't too fond of the tone he used, beckoning me forward. While it would have been preferred to get some assistance, something felt wrong with his offer. I sent a quick glance over my shoulder just in time to see the soldiers had circled around me, blocking me from the ocean. I clicked my tongue and face forward to Odyseuss. “If you’re offering help, why am I being cornered?”
I tried to remain still as I glared at the man, even as I felt the tips of spears pressed against my back cautiously. Odysseus smiled apologetically, although it didn't reach his cautious, tired eyes, “We can never be too sure.”
I glanced over my shoulder at the soldiers holding the spears. Lupa taught me well in the short time I was with her. Using her teaching, I glared at the soldiers, causing one to drop his spear. Odysseus, however, didn’t even spare them a glance as he pulled me aside and ushered me to a large tent.
The inside was empty, save for a dozen or so chairs and a large half table made of wood. He didn’t call off the guards as he took a seat and once again gazed at me. “What’s your name, young man?”
I considered lying. They would never know. Besides, it was never a good idea to give your name. Odysseus sat up straighter, sensing my hesitation. “Young man, I could see the way the waves shifted at your leisure, as well as the fact you were dry when you left the water. Who are you?”
Odysseus was observant. Noted. I sighed, tilted my chin a bit, and spoke clearly, “My name is Percy. Son of Poseidon.”
“Alright, Percy,” he said. Odysseus paused and rubbed his chin in thought. After a moment, he smiled, just as charmingly and analytically as the myths painted him. He gestured to a seat next to him, “How about I extend you an offer?”
I crossed my arms, stopping to think before I sat down, “What offer?”
Odysseus smirked like he had already got what he wanted, “A simple one; that you align yourself with Ithaca. In exchange for your support, I provide you a safe place to rest, money, food, and protection from the greed of other kings.”
I squinted at him. “When you say ‘align myself,’ I’m guessing it has to do with the army outside?”
“A war effort to Troy,” Odysseus nodded. “All I ask is that you fight for Ithaca in this war- that you be my mercenary.”
I tilted my head in thought. I’m tired of fighting. Hell, back home I retired from quests and all that stuff. Except now, I looked to the tent entrance, knowing what was outside wasn’t where I was supposed to be, I’m in a place I know nothing of, and I need allies.
I turned to Odysseus and nodded. “I’ll accept your offer. But I need you to know that I’m no one’s dog. If I feel an order isn’t fair, I won’t go through with it, not without good reason.”
“Then good thing I’m quite just with my reasoning.” Odysseus lifted his chin and offered his hand.
I took it. “I hope so.”
POV: Thalia Grace
The wind rushed by screaming in my ears. Much too fast, considering I had fallen asleep practically buried under the other huntresses. Swiftly, my eyes snapped open and a strangled scream of terror left my throat. I was falling, and falling fast. And still all I could see below me were clouds. Panic swelled up in my chest as I fell. Everything whipped around me. The wind rushed by loudly.
I’d never liked flying. It scared me to death. But gods dammit, I was not dying like that.
Green came into view, after what had felt like forever. With the ground approaching, I saw high walls and a large city. Nothing familiar, nowhere safe to land, and the ground coming in dangerously close and rather fast. I braced myself as I shut my eyes tight and repeated to myself over and over, “Don’t fall, don’t fall, don’t fall. Don’t crash.”
The rush of the wind stopped. I heard a startled sound below and I opened my eyes.
There, only a foot below me, was a woman, veiled completely. She stared up at me quietly, while the girls behind her whispered and pointed up to where I hovered. The veiled woman whispered, “How interesting…”
My body felt light for a moment. The drop of my stomach made my head spin from the abrupt stop, then gravity set in and I fell to the ground. Thankfully, the fall was only six or so feet rather than the previous endless descent.
I groaned in pain as my head spun. The veiled woman from before knelt down and cradled my head with a light hum as she turned to the younger girls, “Help me bring her inside.”
The younger girls stammered nervously before one stepped forward and said, “My Lady, perhaps we should speak with Prince Hector before we-“
The veiled woman interrupted the young girl with a single hand. “I gave you orders. Carry them out.”
My vision grew blurred as I stared up at her. I could just barely see her lips turned down in a frown beneath her veil before my vision faded out.
When I awoke again, there was a young girl wiping my forehead with a damp cloth. I quickly sat up, earning a startled sound from the girl, who scampered back. A soothing voice came from the door, “I see you’re awake. You gave us quite a scare.”
My head whipped around to face the woman who spoke. There stood the veiled woman from before as she softly shut the door. After a brief moment, she reached up and removed the veil. I couldn’t help standing up and moving towards her in surprise.
The woman looked like me, but some twisted funhouse mirror version. Her skin was soft, her eyes the same striking grayish-blue, even the dark black of her long hair matched mine, just more ladylike. It was like I had just got a total makeover from the Aphrodite Cabin back at camp. The woman smiled, “I am Helen of Troy. Now, if you’d be so kind as to introduce yourself?”
I paused. Helen. Like the Helen? I cleared my throat, “I’m Thalia.”
Helen raised a brow with a charming smile. Her eyes were… knowing. She tilted her head and stepped forward. “Who is your father, Thalia? I reckon we share that fact.”
I stood a bit straighter. Helen was taller than me with ease. After all, I did still appear like I was fifteen. I spoke confidently, “My father is-“ I paused. Saying his name would no doubt have gotten Hera to try to kill me even sooner.
Helen continued for me, “The king of the sky, no?”
I slowly nodded. “Yeah. Yeah he’s my father.”
Helen reached out. I flinched ever so slightly before relaxing as she held my face softly in her hands. She smiled, “Then we are sisters. It’s truly wonderful to meet you, Thalia.”
Slowly, I patted her hands awkwardly with a slight nod. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
POV: Nico Di Angelo
I awoke to weight all around me. I tried to sit up, only to hit my head. A groan of pain left me as I pressed against what was above, around, and beneath me. It didn’t take long for annoyance to seep into my chest.
I was stuck in a box. A goddam box. A groan passed my lips as I kicked hard at the top of it. After a moment, the wood gave way. Instead of light creeping in, however, dirt quickly tumbled into the box around my feet. I sighed then whispered to myself. “Ah shit..”
Okay, not only was I in a box, I was in the ground. A thought popped into my head,
this isn’t a box, is it?
I took a breath and murmured, “Alright. This is fine. This is just peachy.”
I took a calming breath before letting the shadows around me envelope my body, the familiar cold of the dark soothing as I sank into the shadows. When I emerged from the dark, I stumbled at the slight fall. The shadow I stepped out of had been a bit higher than expected. I stood up and scanned around before relaxing, as I knew this place.
Around me was a garden; Persephone’s garden. I sighed softly and slowly made my way through the rotting shrubbery and wilting petals. It must be spring, because her attention was on the living world, allowing this place to rot. I shook my head and continued forward. This place felt like home, but I knew I wasn’t not welcome here. It was better to find my father and figure out why I was down here. Last I remembered, I was curled up next to Will, and I would’ve preferred to get back to that. After a while, I saw the familiar palace of my father. I took a steadying breath, then entered.
Each step I took echoed around the empty halls. The chill that ran down my spine wasn’t unusual, but it did little to comfort me. Everything was… different. Much more detailed and old. Something wasn’t right.
I soon found myself outside the throne room, a place I’ve never felt welcomed. But… I could clearly feel my father’s presence just beyond it, and I needed to talk to him to get answers. Ever so slowly, I pushed open the door.
Sitting on his throne was my father but... not. He seemed younger and less bitter- more sorrowful- as he held a small flower. He had long, black hair and a black chiton.
I stepped into the throne room. His gaze darts towards me for a moment. I saw hope, before it faded into disinterest and then back to sorrowful. My father sighed, setting down the flower, “If you’re here to request bringing someone back to life, for the last time the answer is no. They died. They stay.”
I cleared my throat, “That’s not why I’m here, Father.”
He paused and turned to look at me once again. He raised a brow and got down from his throne, his large form shrinking down to a human height as he walked forward and stared down at me. I stared back.
Hades reached out and grabbed my chin. He tilted my head back and forth, inspecting me. “How strange,” he said. “I don’t remember laying with any mortal women lately. But I do sense my essence within you.”
Hades's grip on my face tightened before he let me go. I softly exhaled in relief when he turned away. With confidence, I spoke up with my head held high, “Father, I don’t know why I’m here. I awoke in the ground down here. I’m unsure who brought me here.”
Hades hummed idly as he picked up the flower. He spun it once before it quickly rotted in his hand, growing brittle before fading to mere ash. “I’m unsure why you’re here either. Although since you are I suppose you could run a few… errands for me.”
I cleared my throat. Of course, I thought, younger Hades is gonna send me on a quest. Just perfect. Truly amazing! I sighed in frustration. A quest was just what I needed then. Or, maybe…
On second thought it could be good. If I help, then maybe I’d be able to get some answers. I lifted my head to peer up at Hades. “Alright. What can I do?”
Hades squinted down at me. For a moment, I saw a cunning look in his eyes. He spoke with a grin, “I’ll tell you in due time, child. For now go out and explore. I’ll be watching you closely.”