Mental communication

Percy mental communication

Enjoy and please note (disclaimer!) I am not Rick, so everything but the plot (and Aurcus!) are mine.

Third Person POV (350 years later)

The wind whips through the trees and the whole forest shudders. Moonlight shines through gaps in the trees, creating patches of illumination in the otherwise inky black forest. It give Perseus the perfect cover.

He crouches on the branch of a tall, aromatic tree. The shadows curl around him as if to form a cocoon to keep him from the freezing winds. His cloak whirls around him, his cape snapping in the wind, but his hood stays firmly in place.

Perseus regards the scene below hem with distaste. His half-brother, Orion, is sitting in a clearing next to a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean with Artemis.

He holds a loathing for Orion, far stronger than Triton's. Triton hates all of their father's illegitimate children, but Percy doesn't care, really. It is his father's choice to be unfaithful, not theirs. And Percy is not blind to his father's unhappiness with his mother like Triton is. He doesn't agree with his father's cheating, but Percy understands that no godly couple has ever split. His father isn't even certain how he would go about such a thing.

The point is, Percy doesn't hate Orion just because he is Poseidon's illegitimate son. No, he adores Theseus. He hates Orion because the man is a piece of shit.

Percy has given Orion chance after chance. Time and again Orion has proven to be an arrogant, obnoxious, power-thirsty málaka.

"Daddy, what are we doing?" His surrogate, 3 year old, son asks in his mind. He forgot he brought Aurcus.

"We'll go back home soon bud." Percy responds.

Perseus scoops the boy into his arms and jumps from the branch. He lands in a crouch, his step so light that now sound is made.

"Orion. Lady Artemis. What a pleasure to see you here." He greets with faux fondness.

The couple jumps, Orion scowling when he notes Perseus. Artemis regards Percy with surprise.

"Who are you?" Orion demands, standing in front of Artemis.

Perseus let out a bitter laugh. Possessive shit. "I am not going to hurt her, Orion," Percy's voice is cold. "Not that you could stop me anyway."

Orion turns red. Before he can snap, Artemis speaks, "Who is the child?"

Percy keeps his face void of emotion as he says, "My son."

He swallows a laugh when he notes her aura spike a violent purple/pink color.

"Your son?"Orion questions, relaxing.

"Yes," Perseus is curt. "Aurcus, meet Orion and Lady Artemis. Orion and Lady Artemis, meet my son Aurcus."

Aurcus hides his face in the crook of Percy's neck. Percy redirects his attention to the couple. "While this was riveting, I must return to Olympus."

Orion's eyes widen. "You're a god?"

Percy scoffs. His eyes are dark when they meet silver. "I guess I never came up in conversation." He shakes his head and regards Orion. "I am the firstborn son of Poseidon. I cannot say it is a pleasure to meet you, Orion. So I will bid you, goodbye."

Percy uses the moisture in the air to travel to his palace.

He places Aurcus on his bed and presses a kiss to his forehead. "Go to sleep buddy. I have to meet grandpa."

Aurcus grabs his cheeks and presses a kiss to Percy's nose before tucking into his sheets and falling asleep.

Percy regards the young boy with unruly jet black hair and beautiful eyes for a moment. He sighs and teleports to his father's palace.

"Perseus!" Poseidon greets him with a bright smile and a tight hug.

He hugs Poseidon back just as tightly. "Hi father."

"How is Aurcus?" He queries.

"I still don't understand why you don't claim him as your son." Percy is tired. Tired of living a lie, tired of hiding the truth from his best friend, tired of pretending to be Aurcus' father when he is actually his brother.

"Perseus, I'm sorry for doing this, but…"

"Does she even know?" Percy interupts. "That he is her son. Does she know?"

Percy tries to ignore the anguish on his father's face as he shakes his head. "No. She claimed it was best if she just forgot we ever...that I had ever loved her, as I would only bring pain. She had Hades use Lethe to wipe all of her positive memories of me; all of her memories of us, together."

He cannot ignore his father's pain, not when he feels the agony of heartbreak so acutely. He wraps his father in a hug, and the Lord of the Seas collapses into the arms of his firstborn. Percy rubs his father's back as tears run down his own face as his father cries over his broken heart.

How funny, Percy thinks, that he is willing to comfort his father who is heartbroken over a woman that is most definitely not Percy's mom. But he cannot help it. He has always been closer to his father and Amphitrite has been...distant since before Triton was born. Now, Percy only has his father. Well, his father and Aurcus, now.

(Time Skip)

A few days pass, Percy spending his time hunting while Poseidon babysits Aurcus.

Knowing his time alone is coming to an end with the conclusion of his hunt, Percy sits in the clearing behind Artemis' temple.

He notes the incoming heartbeat before he catches her scent. "Lady Artemis."

"I hate when you do that Perseus."

Percy ignores her comment. "How is Orion?"

"Apollo killed him," She growls. "He tricked me. I killed Orion, so I put him in the sky."

Percy looks up and sees the new constellation. His body warms with rage. "You put him in the stars."

"It's what he deserved."

It feels like a punch to his gut. "You loved him, huh?"

Percy watches her aura with interest as he notes she only realizes the truth of his words now. "I-I guess I did."

"He is not who you think he is," Percy mutters, rising to his feet. "Ask your hunters. Or your brother."

Artemis rises, rage clear in her aura and on her face. "Orion was a good man! Better than YOU!"

Percy's chuckle is bitter. "Whatever you say. You should not let your emotions blind you from the truth."

"You're just jealous!" Artemis snaps. "Your relationship with Aphrodite ended horribly, you hated that he was your father's new favorite son, and you hated him because I loved him, not you!"

Percy cannot speak. He feels like she just plunged a knife into her chest. "In fact, I don't even know why we're still best friends. You don't compare to him. All men are horrible, except him. Get out of my temple. Hades! Get out of my life!"

His pain keeps him frozen for a few seconds, until he uses his powers to shut off his emotions. He begins walking away, pausing only to say, "Remember this. Not the fight. But us. How we were once friends."

He leaves without turning back.

(1000 Years Before The Lightning Thief)

8 figures stand on a high castle wall in Rome.

The one in the middle has an air of power and defiance around him, the very world rippling in his presence. His cloak flutters in the wind, but his cape stays impossibly still.

The other seven figures stand behind him in similar outfits. The only difference is their distinct lack of capes. The only other man with a cape stands directly to the powerful man's right.

"Perseus, Lord Zeus wants us. He says he has a quest." The caped man directs to the man that radiates power.

Perseus frowns. "Let us go to Olympus, then, Aurcus."

"Follow General Aurcus!" Percy orders.

Aurcus vanishes into shadows, all the figures follow after him.

Perseus kneels, placing a black rose on the ground, and then follows after his men into the shadows.

(In the Throne Room)

"Ah! Perseus, I see you got my message." Zeus greets with a strangely triumphant grin.

"Yes, Lord Zeus, I did. What is it you need?"

Zeus quirks a brow. "I admit, your group—"

"We are called Shadows, Lord Zeus," Perseus interrupts. Zeus scowls, but Poseidon stifles a laugh.

"—well, the Shadows have been very successful. And now we have a major threat, and we wanted to put you on alert," Zeus finishes with a smirk. Percy feels a change in the air; something shifts.

"What is it?" Aurcus inquires.

Zeus glares at Aurcus speaking without being addressed, but he responds anyway. "We received a prophecy about the fate of Olympus. The Fates came. They told us how to win."

"How?" Perseus presses. "And how does this involve us?"

"You have 1,000 years to prepare." Poseidon answers with a despondent smile.

"Father, 1,000 years to prepare for what?" Percy swallows down his anxiety.

"You have 1,000 years before we take your godhood, immortality, and memories. 1,000 years before you become the demigod of the prophecy and the hero of the gods." Zeus announces.

And everything Perseus has built feels like it is crumbling around him.

Percy POV

Hi. My name is Perseus Jackson, but please call me Percy. I'm 12 years old and I live in Manhattan, New York. I live with my mom Sally Jackson, who, by the way, is the greatest person you'll EVER meet, and her husband, a piece of shit named Gabe Ugliano.

Gabe is the scum of the earth. Poor hygiene, no manners, a xenophobic misogynistic asshat; that's Gabe. Whenever I'm around his, I get a sense of deja-vu, but I can never pinpoint what is so familiar about him and why.

I'm a student at Yancy Academy, a boarding school for troubled kids. Most of the student body is rich and spoiled. The only exceptions being me and my best friend, Grover Underwood.

Grover is an awkward guy with a heart of gold. He has acne and a wispy small beard, which is weird because we're in sixth grade and I'm still waiting on body hair in general. Grover also has their weird leg disease where he needs help walking. It doesn't stop him on Enchilada day, though. That guy can move when he wants to.

At this very moment, we are on a field trip to some museum I don't even know and I've had to put up with Nancy Bobfit making snide comments about us. I was ready to turn around and yell at her when I got this random, severe headache and a scene played in front of me.

"…Good man! Better than YOU!" A beautiful woman yells.

The man in front of her laughs bitterly. "Whatever you say. You shouldn't let your emotions block the truth." His voice is cold.

"You're just jealous! Your relationship with Aphrodite ended horribly, you hated that he was your father's new favorite and I loved him, not you!" She snaps.

The man looks as if he is about to speak, but she interrupts. "In fact, I don't even know why we're still best friends. You don't compare to him. All men are horrible, except him. Get out of my temple. Hades! Get out of my life!"

"Perce, you okay?" Grover says, nudging me.

It brings me back to the present. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just a small headache." I lie.

"Well, we're here. Let's get going." I nod and follow Grover off the bus.

I am deep in thought when we finally enter the museum. These weird scenes keep forcing their way into my head and they have been for the past week.

Nancy and her cronies knock me out of my thoughts with their giggling. Stupid Nancy and her stupid mindless followers. I am trying to think here!

"Nancy, will you shut up?" I growl.

"Excuse me Mr. Jackson?" Mr. Brunner, my mythology teacher inquires.

"Nothing sir. They were merely distracting me." I answer.

"Well, Mr. Jackson, please tell me what this scene is?" He asks, pointing to the mosaic.

I cringe at the scene, but I relax because I recognize it.

"That's Kronos, eating his children." I mutter.

"How is this important? Like jobs will ask, 'Why did Kronos digest his children?" Nancy sneers.

"And to paraphrase Ms. Bobfit's excellent question, Mr. Jackson, how does this apply to life?"

"Because those myths are real." A voice eerily like my own echos in my head.

"Percy, I want you to tell him you don't know. I promise to elaborate later.'

For some reason, I trust this voice. Maybe because it sounds like me? Maybe because I have some problems. I'm not too sure. I just know I trust the voice.

"I don't know sir." I answer with an apologetic smile.

"Half credit to Mr. Jackson…" And I phased out until we went outside. All while Mrs. Dodds, my psycho math teacher, regards me with a strange, suspicious smile.

I plop next to a water fountain, glancing at the darkened city skyline. I lost my appetite, so I hand my apple to Grover. He looks at me, stunned.

"How'd you know I wanted it?" He inquires.

I shrug, not able to voice how I did it. 'Yes because if you told him, "Oh! I read your mind!" he wouldn't think you're crazy.' The voice in my head scoffs.

The voice keeps me distracted, so much so I fail to notice Nancy and her cronies until she dumps her lunch on Grover.

Anger soars through me like a shot of adrenaline. My fists clench, the shadows clinging to me, and the temperature drops. Before I knew it, Nancy is face first in the fountain.

"Did you..."

"The water it like…"

"And the shadows seemed…"

I pay no attention to the whispers; I am preoccupied with being yelled at by the voice. 'PERSEUS PONTUS JACKSON! KEEP YOUR TEMPER IN CHECK BEFORE I COME AND KICK YOUR DEMIGOD ASS!' The voice bellows.

I flinch and another headache hits. I try to prepare myself as I plunge into another scene.

*Flashback Begins*

(Bold Italics= Percy talking. Italics= Flashback dialogue and scene.)

I see the same girl from earlier. She looks 16 instead of the about 20 year old from the earlier scene. Her auburn hair is only just below her shoulders, and her build is small and lean like a swimmer or gymnast. I know it is her, though, because her eyes are the same startling silvery gold color.

"Perseus," He has my name? "Calm down." The man is the same as before, too. Except he, too, looks younger. Maybe 15?

"Easier said than done, Arty." The woman turns to the man.

"What happened, Perce?" She says, teasing. The man chuckles.

"Ares." He growls, suddenly serious, and his eyes turn a violent, but stunning, crimson red. The god Ares? What the Hades is going on? Gah! I said Hades not hell!

The woman wraps the man in a hug and his body relaxes, and his eyes return to normal. I am startled at his eyes. They are multicolored. Green, blue, and hazel swirling like a whirlpool.

"I-I lost control." The man mumbles, ashamed.

"Hey, it's fine. Just remember this when you let your temper get the best of you." She offers with a soft smile.

*Flashback Ends*

My sight returns to Grover, Mr. Brunner, and my class.

"Perseus, you are to tell no one of me, or these little flashbacks. You aren't suppose to remember this or mythology at all." The voice says, concern thick in their tone.

I send a mental "Yeah, of course." before focusing on the present.

As the world begins to filter into focus, I realize something. Ms. Dodds is gone, and I am now on the museum steps.

"Uh, where is Ms. Dodds?" I inquire aloud.

"Who?" Mr. Brunner questions, while Grover reeks of guilt.

"The math teacher." I scoff impatiently. I have no time for these games.

"We don't have a teacher by the name of Ms. Dodds. Only Mrs. Kerr. Are you alright Percy?" Brunner replies.

Percy can't help but feel like this is all some cosmic trick.

(Last day of school, Percy, as we know, gets expelled.)

I can't seem to shake the memories of hearing Grover and Brunner talk about me. Apparently, I 'stole' something, 'killed a kindly one', and am apparently oblivious.

"You are oblivious."

"Shut up."

The voice chuckles. "I'm kidding kid. Just keep acting oblivious. And remember I'm always here. Trust your instincts."

"Thank you, Perseus."

The older version of me chuckles. "Hey, don't sweat it. I gotta look out for myself."

I just shake my head as the older version of myself returns to the deepest reaches of my mind. My older self still has yet to explain what's going on, but he says I'll find out soon enough, so it's a waiting game, I guess.

Grover and I leave school on the same Greyhound bus.

"Predictable satyrs."

I stifle a laugh as Grover shifts and glances around. "Looking for Kindly ones?"I question.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" I have the same reaction when Grover jumps out of his skin. As he stutters out an explanation, an instinct tells me he is lying.

"Grover. Don't lie. I know." A familiar voice leaves my mouth. Older Perseus.

Grover stares at me, mouth a gape. "W-wha?"

"Perseus, just say I know about mythology. Say you know he is a satyr and about camp…you weren't supposed to do this so early, kid."

"I know about camp," I lie, trying to ignore the guilt I feel at not listening to my older self. "I know you're a satyr. I know about mythology Grover."

"Well ,we need to get to camp, then!"He exclaims just as the bus breaks down. The bus gets hot in an instant, a putrid smell filling it as everyone hurries off.

I walk down the steps and notice we are only about a block from my house. "Grover, let's walk to my house." I state and start walking. That is, until 3 old ladies on an abandoned street corner catch my eye.

One lady is knitting a huge pair of dull blue socks and green/blue socks. One holds the balls of yarn. The other, with huge shears, snips both cords at once.

The blue socks begin to fade slowly. They look up and stare at me as they make the green/blue socks vanish.

When older me speaks, it is low and grim. "Not good Perseus, not good at all."

*At Percy's apartment*

Gabe is playing poker with his group of buddies when Grover and I arrive. We attempt to avoid him, but he catches us.

"Kid, you got cash?" He looks between me and Grover and then back to me.

"No," I respond, voice even and cold.

His beady eyes narrow. "Don't lie," He sneers.

I quirk a brow and shrug at him. He stands to confront me, when my mom walks in.

It's too late when his hand comes down and my mother's eyes widen. Surprisingly, I catch his hand. Older Perseus growls in my mind.

"Don't attempt to hit my son ever again," Sally Jackson, the best mother in the world, says calmly, grabbing me.

Grover, with perfect timing whispers to my mom, "He knows. We need to take him."

Her eyes grow to the size of saucers and she rushes us out without another word. Gabe snarling out the door behind her.

We drive in Gabe's stolen car for almost an hour in an awkward silence until we reach a country looking area.

"Long Island. You're almost there, Percy." As older me says that, the rain begins to fall in sheets and lightning lights up the dark night sky.

"We're almost there. C'mon," My mom mumbles.

Grover turns and bleats nervously. Lightning flashes again, and off to my right, I see the outline of a beast.

"Grover, what's that?" I ask, pointing to the figure.

He looks as the world is once again a lit by a crack of lightning and gasps. "Sally hurry!"

Grover cheers when he sees a small side road quickly approaching, "We're here!"

Too bad the car is hit and we flip at that exact moment.

I hit the roof and feel a crack in my chest followed by burning pain and shortness of breath. As I tumble again, my arm snaps I let out a scream.

"We're outside Percy, hurry!" My mom coos, reaching into view. I crawl toward her, grasping her hand, trying to minimize wincing. When I get out, we begin running, albeit slowly, up the hill. At the top, I see an abnormally large tree and below it is a little valley.

Grover just passes the tree when I hear a roar behind us. I turn and see the figure from earlier.

"The minotaur," Older me sounds…scared. "Perseus, you're injured, please go in."

"Mom, go in." I say, my voice wavering.

"I can't baby. I'm not like you." Her voice is quiet, but I can hear the fear.

I try to pull her past the tree, but she hits a barrier. Before I can try anything else, the monster grabs her. He squeezes and my mother dissolves into gold dust.

Pain clenches my heart and a flashback fills my mind as tears fall freely from my eyes.

*Flashback Begins*

I watch as Artemis and older me fight a Lydian Drakon and a Hydra. They defeat them and turn to each other. The older me can only watch as a manticore grabs Artemis and she too dissolves into a gold dust. Older me drops to his knees and gives a heart-breaking yell of pain.

*Flashback Ends*

I am so distracted by the memory, I can't dive out of the way when the Minotaur grabs me.

"Think about our dual swords," Older me urges. "Exterminium and Interitum.'

Havok and Destruction.

To my surprise, two obsidian black rings appeared on my ring fingers. I follow the instinct to touch the silver stones upon them as the Minotaur squeezes me.

Two, three and a half foot long swords appear in my hands. Both obsidian black, but when the moonlight hit it, its colors seemed to change to a gleaming silver.

The monster releases me when one of the tips digs into his furry arm.

I gasp in pain as I land on my already broken arm. I turn from my place on the ground and see him charging.

I throw myself up to the side, the bull man running past me and slamming a tree.

I take that opening and run at him, jumping on his back. I stab one sword down into his back to use as a point to hold onto the bull man. I use the other sword in an attempt to stab his neck.

Of course, he moves, whirling his head around as I swipe at his neck. I end up cutting his horn off, earning a deep, bellow of rage. The minotaur shifts to try and attack, but the movement forces Havok deeper into his monstrous body. It must it something vital because the bull man dissolves into dust and I drop to the ground.

I battle through the pain, the presence of older me encouraging me to fight and crawl to a knocked out Grover, who fainted when meaty boy grabbed me.

I rise on shaky legs, wishing my mom was here for so many different reasons, and pick Grover up. He is a lot heavier than I thought as I grab his limp arm and drape it over my neck.

I pretty much drag him down the hill, older me saying, "Sometimes, satyrs are helpful. This is not one of those times."

I can't find it in me to laugh, but I do wheeze in response to his words.

Older me directs me to the porch of the first house thing I see. He calls it, "The Big House."

As I try to reach and knock on the door, my legs give out. I crash to the ground, Grover's weight too much, and my best friend landing beside me with a thud. The force from my back hitting the wooden porch forces me to cough. I can't find it in me to be concern when I notice blood in my hand after trying to cover my mouth. My mom did raise me with manners.

As my vision begins to fade, I hear a door open, and then see Mr. Brunner and a pretty blonde girl.

"He's the one. He must be." The blonde says.

"W-Wh-ha-at?"I stutter out.

"Shh Annabeth, he is still awake. Perseus, my boy, sleep now. You and Grover are safe." Brunner says, his voice soft.

I nod and concede into the darkness.

Whoo! I updated! So! Percy is safe at camp! For now, until Zeus of course makes him find it because he still thinks his once favorite nephew took it. Hades doesn't think he took his helm, cause that's his little client. So we are currently in The Lightning Thief! Please review, and I am so thankful for your alerts and favorites! Hope you liked this chapter.

It will take a bit to update because I was in a car accident this past Monday and I've been dealing with insurance reps calling, getting my car to a shop, finding a hotel because I was supposed to drive back to college on the 4th, but my car wasn't supposed to be ready until the 16th, but now they need another week and my puppy bit a hole in the hotel room wall…it's all a mess and I've barely had time to study for the LSAT.

Anywho, thanks for sticking around.

-Shade