The Hermit

Short Story

Percy pulled his blade out of the last demigod. He sighed in disgust, not at the lack of challenge, but at himself for being forced to obey the Council's demands. Not even his father had been able to change anything. After the end of the war with Kronos, there were still pockets of resistance against the gods. Those same gods were unhappy with this and made a quiet deal with Percy. In exchange for eliminating this problem, they would over look the demigod's in camp that had made questionable decisions during the war. Of course, Percy took it, if they would allow any demigods he had to take care of amnesty, should they relent, just as he'd wished for back in the throne room. Of course, the Council ended up agreeing, but so far, Percy hadn't gotten the opportunity to ever give them the offer.

Every single one of the turncoats had attacked him on sight. And so Percy was forced to deal with them as such, despite making attempted pleas during their fight. As Percy flicked the blood from his blade, Poseidon appeared next to him, a strained look upon his face as he stared at his son. "Son...I'm sorry to have allowed them to put you through this all. If there is any way for me to make it up to you..."

"It's fine father. I know it wasn't your choice. You even tried to stop it. Going around and executing demigods would be easy for the gods, but Zeus doesn't wish to get his hands any more dirty than they already are. It's fine. You have a message?"

The strained look never left Poseidon's face, but he acquiesced and said, "Yes...according to the knowledge Athena had, this should have been the last pocket of resistance outside of the minor gods that fled. You're job is done. You can go home..." Poseidon trailed off.

Home. He didn't have a home any more. Camp Half-Blood was a place for demigods to train and learn to fight monsters so they could live in the real world. There was no way they would let a monster in amongst their midst, and after all the slaughtering of other demigods, Percy knew he was no better than a monster. Same went for his mother. She may not say anything, but there was no way her and Paul would want him around with the amount of blood on his hands. "Dad...you know I don't have that. A home is for people to come together. People that actually want each other around. I don't have that anymore."

Poseidon grimaced, understanding quickly what his son meant. "But...you could always come to Atlantis with me! You're my son and I won't abandon you like this-"

"Dad, it's fine. I'm well aware I'm not welcome there, what with your wife and Triton, both of whom don't like me. No, I think I'll go somewhere quiet and get all of their voices out of my head."

Poseidon could only watch as Percy walked away. Two years of hunting down rogue demigods. Two years of pain and anguish as he had to kill his family over and over. The Council's chose lap dog was finally done with his murderous spree, and so he left and went into seclusion.

-/-

"What do you mean he left, Lord Poseidon?! You said that when he was finished with this mission that he could come back! Where is he?" Annabeth stood in front of the Council, but only Poseidon and Athena were there, with Hestia tending the Hearth.

Athena frowned. "I had hoped that within these two years of him being away, you would have given up on this unhealthy obsession of yours."

Before Annabeth could retort, Poseidon spoke up. "That's enough Athena. Regardless of what you think of my son, you should at least respect your daughter's own wishes instead of letting past prejudices rule your thoughts. If she wants to be with him, let her. Though, now that's out of the question."

Both Athena and Annabeth looked at him now. "What do you mean...out of the question?" the goddess of wisdom asked, Annabeth nodding her head in conjunction to her mother's question.