Part I – A Visit to Olympus

I groaned and glared at my Mother. It had been five days after that day Triton killed that merman. Tyson and I were constantly hanging out. We became a common sight in Atlantis.

I smiled slightly at the thought.

"You are obviously not listening to me."

"What gave you a hint?"

"Perseus!"

I winced as Amphitrite's hand smacked the back of my head. Groaning, I squinted up at her. "Seriously?"

"Do not use upper surface slang. Slang of any kind actually!" She swam briskly out of the room in pursuit of Triton, who was playing hooky on his history lessons. That was one subject that never ended. History was always being made, much to his chagrin.

I frowned. With a groan, I flopped onto the cool tiled floor of the library. I stared at the mosaics on the ceiling. It was the depiction of Ouranos and Gaea at first formation with Night in the background. Ironic.

I sighed and looked around. The ceiling was a dome with four pillars supporting it. The library was actually one of the few public rooms in the palace that had a ceiling. The halls and center of the palace had no ceiling. Mers tended to just swim up through the floors instead of using stairs with non-existent feet.

That had been one of the most unique things about the architecture of my father's palace. One that had Annabeth in a giddy mood for about five hours.

She has now begun to think of underwater architecture too. Ooh boy.

The door opened again. I shot up into a upright position, only for my father to start chuckling. "It's alright. She's not back yet."

I smirked. "Still hasn't found her wayward son?"

Poseidon smirked. "Nope. I think he's hiding in the armory."

I sighed and flopped back down onto the ground again. My tail was lazily flipping back and forth, smacking the ground lightly.

Poseidon sat down at the desk and shuffled papers. "Percy…I need to speak with you about something."

I twisted around until I was on my stomach. "Yes?" I poked my tail upward, like I was sticking my feet up.

My father looked back down at his papers and then cleared his throat. "I do not think that you should go through your life squandering the gifts that have been given to you."

I paused and actually looked up and stared at him. He was completely serious. I frowned. "Dad, what's up? What am I squandering?"

"Your magic."

I groaned. "Daaad!"

He shook his head. "Princes do not whine, Percy." I scowled at him. "They do not give their fathers attitudes, either."

I huffed and allowed the water to float me into an upright position. "What do you propose?" I spoke with false cheer, my smile sickeningly innocent.

"I want you to begin your training in magic with Lady Hecate. She will teach you how to manipulate the Mist and how to use magic."

I frowned and then sighed and nodded. Undoubtedly, Night was going to have kittens about this. "Fine."

I was spirited up to Olympus only a second after the word left my mouth. I blinked and stared up at my father. The last time I had been there was when Hermes told me about the laws of shifting. With a sigh, I shook my head.

"Wow."

He looked down. "What?"

"It's been two weeks since I've had feet." I wriggled my feet and toes playfully. "Hello there strangers!"

My father rolled his eyes but chuckled all the same. "Come on, Hecate is waiting at the southern gardens. She's agreed to train you only in a neutral area, like Olympus."

I looked around as we walked down the gold and silver streets. I had never really had a chance to take in the splendor of Olympus before. It was truly amazing when it wasn't a smoking ruin. There were no lamps, everything was always lit up. I don't think Olympus has ever known night.

The streets were lined with vendors. It was like I had been thrown back into an Ancient Greek marketplace. It was wild. Poseidon tutted and touched my forehead. My Royal Marks appeared. I sighed. "Why?"

"Because you should be proud of your rank."

I huffed and shook my head. Then I saw Apollo and his half-brother. I grinned. "Apollo! Hermes!"

They turned and grinned at me. I jogged over to them. Hermes promptly started inspecting my neck. Apollo was looking at my fingers.

"Um, guys?"

"I'm looking for gills."

I blinked. "What?" I turned to Apollo. He winked.

"I think I see slight webbing between the fingers!"

I grunted and jerked away from the two idiots. "I don't even know why I'm happy to see you guys. After all, you did toss me into the River Styx without any fucking warning!"

Hermes winced and glanced at where my father was standing, talking to Lady Artemis. "Easy with that, will you?! We didn't tell you dad exactly how your were given the curse of Achilles again."

I blinked and then grinned at them evilly. Apollo groaned. "Hermes, you idiot."

"Oh Da-ad!" I sang out. Suddenly, I was gone. I blinked and glowered at Hermes. He grinned sheepishly.

Instead of berating him for teleporting me against my will, I looked around. "And this place is?"

"My villa."

I blinked and then looked around more, nodding slowly. "Not bad…" I grinned. "My house is better."

Hermes rolled his eyes. "Your house is a fucking palace!"

I smacked him on the head. "Language!" He goggled at me. I smirked. "It feels nice to do that to others for a change. Mother always does it to me."

Apollo chuckled as he made himself at home in Hermes' villa. I was currently standing in the foyer. It was semi-circular with the front door at the arch of the semi-circle. There were four pillars guarding the inner entrance, two on each side. A person would have to pass through the pillars to go further into the villa. I smiled. "Mind if I take a look around?"

Hermes shrugged. "Go ahead, Oh Universal!"

I shot him a glare. "My first thing in using magic will be to give you a pink afro."

Apollo started laughing. "I have got to see that!"

Hermes glared at the both of us and then huffed. "No respect anymore."

"Hey! I'm older than you!"

"By only six centuries! And you sure don't act like it!"

I sighed and walked away from their bickering. I walked between the two center pillars. The gaps between the side pillars were covered by white, sheer curtains. I smiled slightly.

This place was like it was taken right out of Greece during the Golden Age. I smiled and then looked at the white marble fountain in the center of the room that I had entered. I turned in a full circle and saw many different hallways that opened to this room.

In direct line of sight from the front door, was a staircase. It was wide and sweeping. I chuckled. "This place was designed by Annabeth, wasn't it?" It was her touch. High, airy, and full of light, taking as much nature in as possible.

Hermes smirked. "Yep. She's the Architect of Olympus. I must say, though, I am very pleased with how it turned out."

I nodded. "Annabeth only gives her best." Apollo smiled at me.

"It's a real pity that you're taken." I looked at him.

"Why?"

"Cause I would have tried a hand at courting you." He winked at me. "You're body is nice to look at." I gaped at him. He lifted his hands in a sign of innocence. "What?! I'm a horny god. Those thoughts flit across my mind all the time! Anyways, I would have definitely taken you as my favorite lover."

Hermes snorted. "Not if I won his hand first."

Rolling his eyes, Apollo shook his head. "Oh pul-lease! You would have scared him away. You can't flirt to save your immortal life!"

I groaned as their bickering started up again. With a sigh, I moved into a well-lit hallway and found myself in a enclosed garden of sorts. I smiled and sat down on the bench and closed my eyes.

It was nice to be able to breath air again.