*I know the Trials of Apollo: The Tyrant's Tomb was just released. For those who have or have not read it yet, I will NOT be adding anything that happened throughout the book to this story. I'm going to pretend it never existed.

Poseidon

He's been walking for two days. He had no place in mind, no destination. His feet ached but he couldn't stop.

Guilt gnawed at his conscience, a constant torture. No amount of words could describe what he's feeling. He remembers everything; how he fought to gain control of his body, dragging Kira towards the lake, shoving her head underwater and—

No. He shook his head, trying to rid those horrid memories from his mind. This was not the first time he's killed a demigod. He's killed many out of revenge or spite, perhaps for their insolence as well.

Kira was the first demigod he's killed with no incentive.

'Parker? What...what are you doing with that?'

Stop it, he told himself. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the sound of her voice out of his head.

'Parker? Parker stop, what are you—!'

'Help! Somebody please—!'

I'm sorry Kira. He sent a silent prayer hoping she might hear it. Thunder rumbled overhead and he ducked into the nearest alley just in time before a torrent of rain came pouring down. The rain felt great on his skin, but not even that could wash away the misery.

He tried to find some kind of fault in this; putting the blame on Zeus. How dare he banish him when he has done nothing wrong? But he could not fault Zeus, even if he wanted to. Zeus was right to banish him.

Something in his chest compressed, almost painfully. His eyes stung with the tell-tale signs of tears. He would not cry. Not here.

Movement to his right drew his attention, and he looked over to see a cat huddled under a box. It mewled at him, as if asking if he had any food.

"I'm sorry," he told it.

The sudden sound of footsteps near the mouth of the alley alerted him. Three men appeared, spread out so they were blocking the alley. They appeared to be normal mortals, but Poseidon knew better than to trust appearances.

"God of the seas," one of them spoke.

"Our Mistress has been looking for you," said another.

In an instant, his trident materialized in his hand, the deadly prongs pointed at the three men.

"Who are you?" he asked coolly.

They pushed in closer, backing him in a corner.

"You are next," said the third. From the surrounding shadows, they summoned swords. Stygian iron if he wasn't mistaken.

Then they lunged, all three at once. Poseidon expected this and met them halfway. He deflected their attacks, but they were quick. Quicker than he anticipated.

He was outnumbered. If he were a god he would have taken them no problem. But since he is mortal, his strength is weakened. A hit from behind distracted him and he had only a moment to react before he was stabbed in the side.

Agony enveloped him, coursing through his body like fire. He fell to his knees, pressing a hand to his bleeding side. Blood soaked his shirt and he pulled his hand away to find it covered in red blood.

He idly thought what a strange thing it was to have red blood before blackness consumed him.

He was awoken when he was unceremoniously tossed like a sack of flour. He hit the ground hard, directly on the side where he had been stabbed. A fresh wave of agony overcame him.

Blearily, he blinked at his surroundings. Everything was dark, lit only by a single low hanging dim light. He was in a cell, the rusty metal bars reminding him grossly of the dungeon cell back at Camp Jupiter.

"You look like shit," a voice spoke.

Startled, Poseidon scrambled to his feet, which proved to be too much in his condition. He swayed, suddenly dizzy, and grabbed onto the cell bars to steady himself.

Squinting, he peered into the darkness to find he wasn't the only one here. A dark figure was sitting in the back corner, knees drawn up. Poseidon blinked, instantly recognizing the person.

"Hades?"

Hades moved into the light and Poseidon gaped at the sight of him. He had a young face only slightly older than him, with black hair and dark brown eyes that blended into the darkness. A knot of dread settled in his stomach. If Hades is mortal as well, then their previous assumption of him being the culprit is wrong.

Zeus isn't going to be happy.

His side throbbed, as if reminding him he had been stabbed. He pressed a hand on the wound, hissing through his teeth.

Hades eyed him carefully. "You might wanna sit before you pass out."

Taking his advice, Poseidon eased himself up against the nearest wall, letting his head fall back. "How'd you get yourself into this mess?"

"Woke up in New Mexico. Went looking for you and our dear little brother. I was ambushed, then I woke up here."

"Where are we?"

Hades shrugged nonchalantly. "Not sure."

"How long have you been here?"

"About a week, give or take."

There was a moment of silence before Poseidon began to explain all that's happened; how he woke up at Camp Half-Blood, finding Zeus at Camp Jupiter, the problem of Zeus' missing bolt, the lapses in their memories, being possessed by an eidolon and drowning Kira, his banishment. By the time he got to where they are now, Hades looked troubled.

"I should tell you that—"

"Well, well," a voice suddenly spoke. "Two of the three brothers. What a surprise."

Stepping into the light was a woman, with long black hair, pale skin, and dark eyes. She radiated a kind of power more ancient than any of the Olympians; a power that comes from the darkest place on Earth.

Poseidon knew instantly who she was. There was no doubt.

"Nyx," he greeted, raising his eyes to meet hers.

Nyx sneered at him, an ugly twisted expression. "Poseidon."