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"Percy! Wake up!"
I rolled over and pulled the blanket over my head. "No."
"Please, Percy, it's an emergency," the voice pleaded, and I could hear the desperation in it. I groaned and sat up, looking at the source of annoyance standing in the bedroom of my very-locked apartment - where I lived alone.
The desperately concerned expression on Apollo's unfairly attractive face wasn't enough to mar his looks, but it was enough for me to instantly shake off any lingering traces of sleep. He looked scared, actually terrified, and anything that could put such an expression on a god's face was not something I'd take lightly.
"Apollo, what's going on?" I asked urgently. Ever since his trials as a mortal, my respect for Apollo had grown. He'd been spending more time at camp with his kids, teaching music and archery classes, helping in the infirmary, and -from what I've heard - advocating for demigods during Olympian council meetings. He'd also been helping me work through some... issues lately.
"She's in trouble, Percy, and I can't do anything," he said, tears gathering in his eyes. Those eyes, though, were shining gold with rage in addition to fear. "Something is blocking me from getting to her, but I heard her cries for help, I felt her terror and pain, and I can't do anything - what good is godly power if I can't use it to save a child?! My own child!"
He was pacing back and forth, his emotions boiling out and increasing the temperature in my room. I reached out and grabbed his hand, tugging him to sit next to me. He blinked blankly at me.
“Slow down, Apollo," I said, "Who's in trouble and how can I help?" He took a deep breath before speaking.
"My daughter, Phoebe, she's only four. Her father, though he doesn't deserve the title, he's gone crazy!" he clenched the hand I wasn't still holding into a fist and sighed. "He's got a gambling addiction, I guess, and it got worse recently and he-”, another deep breath, "this piece of shit sold my daughter to human traffickers!" I paled and felt my own anger rising.
I held eye contact with Apollo, our combined fury making the room feel and smell like the beach on a hot day.
"Tell me everything. We're getting her back,” I demanded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most of a day later, Apollo and I had tracked them to Florida (of course it had to be fucking Florida). With the useful ability to teleport, we saved time on traveling and we were able to follow them down the east coast. Luckily for me, but tragic for them, they were traveling by sea.
We'd learned that the men involved specifically targeted demigods and legacies - how they knew was yet unknown. They were occupying a large yacht in the Miami harbor, and we had discovered that there were at least 12 children being held. A manic grin split my face as I settled into the knowledge that these monsters (and how ironic that these men were up there with the worst monsters I've encountered) were in my domain and ignorant of their
impending deaths.
They apparently had some kind of mythical support that prevented Apollo from approaching the boat, but he was able to sense that all 12 kids were together and alive in one of the rooms below deck. We had decided that I would go in and take out the men as quickly as possible by whatever means necessary. If shit hit the fan, I'd just sink the boat and protect the kids room with a bubble until I got to them.
The first few guards were mysteriously swept off the boat by "rogue waves" and drowned in the sea. I mentally prayed to my dad and offered their lives as a sacrifice in an homage to ancient times. The next three were knocked out and tossed overboard where several sharks were waiting to rip them to shreds. I could feel the blood in the water and it fueled my rage.
"Well, well,” a voice drawled as I entered the helm of the boat, "I didn't expect to see a son of Neptune here." The speaker was a 30-something man wearing legionnaire armor and holding an imperial gold spear. My eyebrows rose and I glanced at his arm to see SPQR tattooed under two crossed spears, both above lines marking nine years in service to the legion.
"Leave it to a Roman to underestimate the power of. the sea," I growled. "And it's the son of Poseidon, asshole."
He shrugged. "Whatever, Percy Jackson, You have fucked up my plans and now you'll pay."
"Didn't Mars teach you not to make threats you can't back up?” I smirked and twirled my sword. "You have no chance against me."
He didn't speak again, instead lunging at me with his spear. I dodged under his lunge and slashed at his leg, slicing open a cut on his thigh, My opponent cursed and muttered in Latin.
"Why are you trafficking children and disgracing the legacy of Rome?” I growled. Personally, I couldn't care less about the “legacy of Rome", but I hoped to strike a nerve with him. He laughed humorlessly.
"Rome cast me out, why should I care about its legacy!" he said, backing up. “I was resurrected during the war with Gaea as fodder for battle, but now she's gone and I'm free to continue punishing Rome and the gods for their arrogance. Thanks to you, I can hunt the blood of Olympus through Greek and Roman lines." The smile he wore was a gruesome facsimile of joy, instead it radiated rage and pain, danger and the intent to inflict pain.
"Good to know you were not only exiled from the legion, but also escaped death,” I said, smirking, "My uncle is always happy to welcome escaped souls back to their eternal punishment."
The next few minutes were a blur of battle that ended with riptide pressed against his throat. He was bleeding from several wounds and he coughed wetly.
"Go ahead, Percy Jackson,” he said, "kill me. Prove you're just as bad as the rest of us and murder me. Sully your weapon with my blood." He laughed a broken laugh. "There will always be men like me doing evil things and you won't always be there to save the day. You'll die and kids just like the ones below, just like you were, will continue to suffer and die for eternity.” He gasped as I pressed my blade harder, drawing blood. "Nothing you do here, nothing you've ever done, matters."
The sea around us roiled in response to my fury, rocking the boat as if we were in a storm. He had hit me in the most vulnerable place possible. My sense of loyalty and the protectiveness I felt for all demigods was my fatal flaw, my Achilles heel to coin a cliche. The man's eyes widened in fear as I felt a power surge from within me. I saw the glow from my eyes reflected in his own and directed a long-suppressed power into the body beneath me. For the first time since Tartarus and Ahklys, I used my power to take control of a liquid that was not water. I watched his eyes as the blood in his body just stopped, Stopped flowing, stopped supplying oxygen to his brain. I watched as he gasped for air while drowning in his own blood, as his brain processed his imminent death and his body started to shut down. I felt an odd peace come over me.
"That's where you're wrong, asshole," I said, a decision becoming clear in my mind. "I will always be there to protect the world from people like you.”
His eyes widened even as the light within them dimmed.
"Give my regards to Uncle H, will you?”
I left him on the floor and went in search of the kids, the crack that started in Tartarus expanding inside me. But that would need to be dealt with and processed later.
The kids were huddled in one of the cabins in varying disheveled states. The older ones, no older than 10 years old I thought, had the younger kids protected in the center of the huddle. I held up my hands as a sign of peace and crouched in front of them. From within the huddle, I saw a head of blonde hair and bright green eyes. If I didn't know better, she could have been the result of a union between Apollo and myself (something I had definitely not imagined before). I felt a soft smile grace my face.
"Hey kiddos, I'm here to help," I said, "My name is Percy. Let's get you all out of here, yeah?"
Once I had convinced them that I meant no harm, I escorted them above deck. Phoebe had decided was "pretty" and latched onto me like a limpet, so I had her perched on my hip with an arm wrapped around her securely. There was also a small boy with black hair and blue eyes (who reminded me greatly of Thalia, so I guess the oath really was moot) who was holding my free hand.
As soon as I was on deck, Apollo appeared on the dock and snapped a gangplank into existence so the kids and I could disembark. His eyes had an intense expression that made heat rise in my face, especially because it was triggered by the sight of me holding his child. Another thing to be processed later, I decided.
As each child stepped onto the dock, Apollo gset a hand on their head or shoulder and healed anything that needed healing. I knew he was also mentally recording every injury for later purposes. Once we were all back on dry land, I asked each child to share their name, their parent's name, and how they got there (if they knew).
My new friend's name was Zeke and he didn't know how he got there, but knew his mom's name. The 8-year-old twin girls were Rosie and Blanca and they had been in foster care before being abducted a few weeks ago (I had a hunch that they were Mr. D's). There were four kids who were all 10 years old and had been grabbed in Sonoma that I suspected were Roman, and I knew Lupa would not be happy about that at all. The ferocious-looking 9 year-old boy who reminded me of Reyna said his name was Rajeet and he lived in New Rome. He had gone to sleep in his room a week ago and woke up on the boat. The little girl wearing overalls was 7, named Heather, had been taken from the hospital after the car crash that killed her mom, and proved herself as a child of Hephaestus when she burst into tears…and flames.
The last two were the oldest at 11 and 12. Both were boys and in the worst shape of the lot. They were covered in scrapes and bruises and had a haunted look in their eyes that I knew too well.
"Noah, son of Nemesis,” one said, "My dad sold me months ago and I've been trying to keep the others safe. Mom tried helping, but after a while I lost contact.” He was the oldest and reminded me uncomfortably of Ethan Nakamura. I put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"You're alive and so are they, Noah," I said, "You did well.” His eyes shone in the moonlight as he nodded jerkily. I looked to the last kid, who was fighting tears of his own.
"S-Sebastian," he said, "I don't know my godly parent, but I was on my way to camp when they took me. They killed Felix, my satyr protector, and brought me to the boat." He choked in a sob and I gathered him in a hug. "I was in a group home for kids whose parents are in jail, so I doubt anyone noticed my absence. Felix said I'd be safe at camp. That I'd have friends, a f-family.” I locked eyes with Apollo as I soothed the crying child. He nodded solemnly and snapped his fingers
Apollo's sun chariot, in the form of a large van, appeared next to us.
"All right, kids," he said cheerfully, "Let's get you all to camp first and then we'll sort out the rest!”
As soon as we disembarked at camp, the claiming started: Zeke, son of Zeus; Sebastian, son of Iris; Rosie and Blanca, daughters of Dionysus; Heather, daughter of Hephaestus; Noah, son of Nemesis; Rajeet, son of Bellona; the four Romans were claimed as legacies of Mars (ironic), Mercury, Venus, and one son of Fortuna; and, of course, Phoebe, daughter of Apollo.
Chiron took the Romans to the Big House to start arranging their return with Frank and Hazel. Meanwhile, Mr. D took his girls to their new cabin. and a few older campers escorted the other Greek demigods, except Zeke and Phoebe, to their cabins.
Apollo sent a message to his father asking for any help locating Zeke's mom, but I wasn't holding my breath there. Zeke was too young to stay in Cabin One alone. He could stay in Eleven with the Hermes kids, but it really wasn't fair to expect kids to raise kids - that was kind of one of the problems from before the Titan War. Demigods weren't meant to be at camp that young, they were meant to be safe with their mortal parent until they were old enough to train.
I sighed, adjusting Phoebe (who had fallen asleep) to my other hip - she had adamantly refused to leave my arms and I could freely admit that I was enchanted by her already. Apollo looked at me in question.
"There needs to be someone at camp, or connected to camp, whose job is to parent these kids. All of them, not just the littles,” I said. He cocked his head in confusion and I sighed again. "Apollo, kids can't raise kids. It's not right and it's not fair to anyone. None of them get to actually be children that way. I just wish there was someone who would take responsibility for making sure every single demigod at camp feels loved and cared for." I gazed down at Phoebe and the sleeping form of Zeke as I spoke, pressing a kiss to Phoebe's blonde curls. Minutes passed in silence until Apollo spoke.
"That person could be you, you know.”
I blinked uncomprehendingly at him.
"Percy, whatever you did on that yacht sped up your... transition noticably, " Apollo said gently, resting a hand on my shoulder. "It won't be long now, and if this is truly as important to you as I think it is, it could very well be one of your domains and you could make that happen here at camp."
I thought about his words. My "transition" was what Apollo and I called my impending ascension to godhood. It had begun in Tartarus and I had been mostly successfully quelling it in the three years since then. I pushed it down while I got my degree at NRU (marine biology and a minor in social work). I kept it contained through my breakup with Annabeth and subsequent move back to New York. It went quiet for a few years when I returned to camp as an instructor and lead counsellor, but in the last two years I’d felt a resurgence of the divine blood that was burning away my mortality.
As I thought about the last few years, I realized Apollo was right. I'd been unconsciously trying to put myself in that very role at camp all along. Some of the younger campers had even called me "uncle" or "dad" or, on one very memorable occasion, “mom". These moments were when I'd felt the most settled - when I wasn't waging a war inside myself. And as I recalled my words and actions on the yacht, I knew that I had already accepted the change. I met Apollo's eyes and smiled.
“You're right," I said, a laugh of joy and relief bubbling up my throat. "You're absolutely right.” His eyes shone gold, wide with awe and wonder and... something else as I felt the heat within me expand.
It didn't burn anymore, to my surprise. Maybe it was because I was accepting, even embracing, the change this time, but it felt pleasantly warm. Like my mom's hugs or sitting next to Hestia's Hearth. I knew instinctively that it would not harm me or the demigods resting on me. I heard Hestia's voice in my head when the feeling settled, "Welcome, dear nephew." I didn't realize I'd started to cry, or that my eyes had closed, until I opened them when Apollo wiped away my tears.
He was looking at me with wonder, mouth open, and eyebrows near his hair line. In his gaze, I saw respect and a depth of love I had never allowed myself to consider before now. Apollo held my face between his hands as he pressed a kiss to my brow.
"You are an absolute marvel, Percy Jackson,” he said. "And Olympus will never be the same with you there.”
I smirked. "Good.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We left Phoebe and Zeke in Chiron's care before heading to Olympus. Apollo had felt the summons from Zeus as the gods noticed a shift in the immortal tapestry. By the time we got there, the rest of the Olympians had arrived. Apollo left me at the doors to the throne room to take his seat and I took deep breath before entering.
The Olympian Council chambers had not changed much in the time since I'd first seen it. A throne had been added for Hades after the war with Kronos, where he sat now, but there was another new throne that stood empty. I eyed it in shock. Becoming a god was one thing, but automatically joining the council was crazy! Then again, I wouldn't be able to enact change without the power being on the council would grant me. Zeus interrupted my thoughts at that moment.
"Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon, Hero of Olympus, you have ascended," he stated. Before I could respond, three old women appeared between me and the gods. The Fates. Of course.
"This is our doing God-king,” they spoke as one. “Though Perseus rejected immortality at 16, his natural ascension was inevitable. He has been fighting it for years, but tonight he accepted it and made immortality his choice." They gestured for me to approach, so I stepped up next to the Fates.
"This new god, born mortal, will change the council permanently,” they decreed. "It has been woven into Fate since his birth and to resist this change is to disavow us, the Morai, and our dominion over Fate!” Several gods (Zeus, Hera, Ares, Athena) glowered at this news, but remained silent.
I felt my clothes shift and glanced down to see myself draped in a classic Greek chiton. It was light blue with waves embroidered on the hem. A deep blue chlamys hung off my shoulders, pinned with a pearlescent brooch shaped like a shield with a gold arrow and silver sword crossed over it. On my head rested a crown of laurels mixed with coral and chrysanthemums (loyalty and fidelity, which I knew without being able to see it). I felt the brush of a sea breeze, mixed with the pleasant warmth of the hearth, and the smell of petrichor and knew It was my power rising up to announce me. Beneath it all, I heard the rushing water of the River Styx and knew that the others did too by the way some of them paled. The Fates grinned wickedly.
"Hail Perseus, son of Poseidon, Hero of Olympus, God of Riptides and Sea Breezes, God of Loyalty and Oaths, God of Demigods, Chosen Champion of the Morai and the River Styx," they intoned with a power that transcended reality. And then they vanished, leaving me surrounded by speechless deities.
Damn the Fates, I thought. I heard a cackle from the void and knew they'd heard my thoughts. I directed my feeling of utter betrayal at them and then tuned them out, shifting my focus to the gods in front of me.
Apollo looked giddy and more than a bit smug, but that wasn't at all surprising. Artemis, however, looked decidedly pleased and I didn't know what that was about. Ares, Hera, and Zeus looked furious and Athena looked as if she'd just smelled something rotting. Oh well, I thought. No reason to be mad that my four least favorite gods were upset that I was cooler than them. (That thought earned another chuckle from the Fates).
Aphrodite looked puzzled and kept glancing between me and Apollo… great. Hephaestus was tinkering with something and paused only long enough to nod amicably at me. Mr.D, on the other hand, looked mildly put out that he was stuck with me but I sensed tentative hope from him as well. I caught Hestia's eye next and she smiled warmly at me, so I grinned back. Demeter's expression was hard to read, but I got the feeling she was withholding judgment for now.
The last three gods were the most interesting by far. Hermes looked excited, but there was a flash of resentment there due to Luke. Hermes and I had become decently close once I started working at camp. He had a lot of kids and I had been sent to escort several of them to camp. Hades' eyes shone with a surprising amount of respect and hope. I knew he was looking forward to shaking up the council and I suspected I’d have a strong ally in him. Lastly, my father. I met Poseidon's gaze and nearly staggered under the weight of pride and love he was radiating. It brought tears to my eyes and a gentle smile to my face. He'd been begging me to become immortal since Gaea's defeat, having become too fond of me over the years. I'd definitely just made his millennium.
"Well," I said, "that's going to be a mouthful."
A few gods chuckled, but Zeus glared.
"This is unacceptable!" he growled lightning flashing overhead, "Never has a mortal ascended and been granted council access immediately!" I shot a look at Mr.D, who rolled his eyes.
"It took a few centuries for me to join," he said, "And even then, I was only able to because Hestia abdicated her seat.” I nodded.
"Exactly!" Zeus thundered. "And now we have already added Hades and we're expected to let this child join?!" Hades rolled his eyes, but I glared at Zeus. I felt an unknown power rise in me as I spoke.
"Hear me, Zeus Olympios, son of Kronos," I said, a power not my own backing my words as my eyes glowed a toxic green not unlike Rachel's when she speaks prophecy. “Hades Orkos should never have been disbarred from this council. That was the first of many actions that led us to this point."
An older, ominous thunder rumbled when Zeus tried to interrupt.
"Should you choose to ignore the Morai and deny me my Fate-granted seat, you may just find yourself deposed and your own throne dismantled." The voice I spoke with was hardly my own anymore and the gods could sense it. Something older than even them was speaking through me - the River Styx. "So has it been said, so mote it be." Thunder rolled through the air for ten full seconds, the vibrations shaking the very foundations of Olympus. Zeus, for once, was speechless as Hera grabbed his hand in hers.
I gasped as my being settled back into my body. Most of the gods looked wary now - understandable since I'd apparently just promised a coup. My father still looked proud and Hades looked surprised at my defense of him. Apollo, though, looked at me with darkened gold eyes that promised danger and passion rolled into one. Again, something to address... just not now.
As I stepped toward the empty throne - my throne - it shifted into the type of oversized armchair you'd find tucked into the corner of a used bookstore. It was a pale blue-green and had an afghan blanket draped over the back. Perfect, I smiled as I took a seat and turned my attention to the council.
"First order of business then," I started, "as god of demigods, I'd like to make some changes to camp and repeal the laws that prohibit you all from interacting with your kids."
For a moment, a pin drop could have been heard, before all Hades broke loose and several gods began shouting over each other. Lovely.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hours later, Apollo and I were walking back into camp. We still needed to have that talk, but the kids came first. Mr.D had been released from his punishment (including his restrictions), but had agreed to stay on as Camp Director while I changed things. His only caveat was that either he be allowed to return to Olympus and his wife each evening or she be allowed to stay at camp with him. As I fully believed they should not have been separated at all, I told him they could try both and choose which set up they preferred. Chiron still needed to be updated on the situation and I wanted to discuss my ideas with him. After all, he knew the camp best.
I would be moving into the Big House until other arrangements were decided on and completed. I would take over care for our youngest campers, which right now included Phoebe, Zeke, and Heather (though she wanted to try living in Cabin 9 soon).
Apollo and I explained to the kids that I'd be taking care of them, but I had some things to take care of today and I'd be back tomorrow. Phoebe and Zeke cried, but eventually calmed when I promised to be back, allowing my power to flare and cement the oath. Apollo looked shocked at first, but shrugged and hugged his daughter goodbye. As we left the house, Apollo took my hand saying, "We should talk" before flashing us away.
When I looked around, I somehow knew we were on Delos, Artemis and Apollo's birthplace and sacred land. I could feel the power, the push of being within another god's domain, but it quickly settled. Apollo was staring at me, expression unreadable. He still held my hand in one of his and his other rose to hold my face. I leaned into the touch, smiling, and his breath caught.
"Percy," he said, voice thick with emotion, "I have kept my feelings close to my chest for many years. I knew you held the gods in generally low esteem and I told myself I could be happy, content, with just your friendship,” he said, eyes shining with sincerity. "But the closer we became the harder it was to hold back. After my trials, after you moved back to the city, I kept finding myself drawn to your side as if I were a planet and you were my sun." I smiled at hearing that from the literal sun god, but did not interrupt.
"My children are all born of love, but the only times I have been in love have all ended tragically and I couldn't bring myself to risk another true romance with a mortal, especially one who would be missed by, oh, so many. One who had so much left to give this world." He paused and tears gathered in his eyes. "And then I saw you with Phoebe. I was drawn to her father because he had your eyes, Percy, and I desperately wanted to make a child that shared my traits and yours. I was so lost in the dream that I failed to notice his mental instability and put her in danger.” I raised my free hand to wipe away his tears and brush his hair out of his face. He closed his eyes and a sob broke free.
"You, Percy Jackson are just so heartbreakingly good," he said, tears flowing freely now. "How could I, or anyone, not love you? You love every demigod or legacy that you meet with such fierce loyalty that it inspires devotion strong enough to ignite the already smoldering divinity within you." I blinked in surprise, having not realized that was a factor, but it made sense in a way. I'd been getting stronger gut feelings when I was needed at camp and it could be explained by campers... praying to me, even unintentionally or informally.
"My remaining resolve to be happy with only your friendship burned away with your mortality, though," Apollo said, heat flaring in his eyes, shooting them through with gold again. I unconsciously licked my lips and watched his eyes go completely gold as he tracked the movement. Finally, I broke my silence.
"Phoebus Apollon," I said, his eyes went wide and darker at the name and the heady power with which I said it. "You will always have my friendship, but I would also offer you my heart. I didn't know why you held back, but I respected your choice," my gaze sharpened as he met my eyes again. "Now, though, with your words and feelings shared, I want nothing less than your heart in return for mine. We have eternity to figure out the rest." The smile my statement caused was blinding and Apollo leaned toward me.
As our lips met in a searing kiss, I melted against him and he wrapped me in his arms. He lifted me off the ground and spun us in a circle before breaking the kiss. His eyes shone like the sun, filled with love.
"My heart and all I am is yours, love. Forever.”