Rise of House Neptune

Atlantean Intervention

Chapter 40

It wasn't the first time Percy had woken up under water. It was the first time he woke up under water to half a dozen different sea creatures staring at him in wonder. Before he could start taking an account of who was looking at him the pain in his body nearly made him black out. An odd sensation gripped his arm hard, and Percy looked up to see a blue ichthyocentaur staring at him intently, "Hang on little prince. We need you to keep those lights on so we can heal you. Lord Deplhin it's now or never."

Percy blinked hazily as a large dolphin floated over him and placed a fin to his forehead. A burning sensation began creeping through Percy's body, and immediately he let out a scream of agony, "Triton, Bill, hold him!"

The world spun faster as he tried to register the voice in the room, and Percy could see nothing but gold in his vision. He thrashed and fought against the grips that were pinning him to a long table, and flashes of his life were passing his vision. He wondered if this is what it would feel like when he finally died. Would he go to the fields of punishment for failing in his task the gods had set for him? Or would he be rewarded for going out heroically. The physical pain quickly reminded him of the mental anguish he experienced before he tried to sink the Princess Andromeda. He had killed Dylan. He hadn't meant too. He was trying to stab the Titan Lord, but when he disappeared...his trident had pierced through his friend like butter. The table he sat on began to shake, and he heard a voice yell, "No Perseus. Don't give up. Don't lose control."

Percy however blocked out the words. The image of stabbing Dylan in the chest played through his mind on repeat. The look in Gwen's eyes when he lost her. The blank stare of Mark when he was killed on Mount Tam. It was a replay of many horrible moments of his life, but the voice reached out to him again, "Percy they need you. The Romans. Your friends at camp. Jason. Bianca. They can't do this without you."

The words made the images in his head falter. Suddenly an image of Jason and himself sitting on the beach with two cokes took over instead. It was peaceful. Then an image of the Praetorians all having lunch outside of Yosemite. It had been a successful mission. They had decimated the enemy, and they were enjoying a rowdy lunch of excitement from another successful mission. They were all there, alive and happy. Then there was a moment with Bianca. They were smiling as they spared before the Gladiatorial Challenge. Huge infectious smiles. It had just been a normal training day, but they were loving every second of it. Then their kiss flashed before his eyes, and suddenly the chair he was on stilled. The feeling of serenity engulfed him, and the world stopped shaking.

Sighs of relief were heard around him, and Percy opened his eyes once again. This time he was able to take in the six figures. The blue Ichthyocentaur was clearer now. The creature was monstrous, and intimidating the first of his kind Percy had truly encountered up close. Then there was Lord Delphin, which Percy recognized easily enough. Next to him was a large Mer-Man, a Cyclops, a demigod that the son of Neptune instantly recognized as Achillies, and his brother Triton.

"What's your prognosis Lord Delphin?" Triton asked the Dolphin.

The Dolphin Lord chattered quietly, "He seems to be stabilizing my lord. I believe he will survive."

"Then my son has taken enough of your attention. My lords, my friends, thank you for coming to his aide, but our people can go no longer without your assistance on the battlefield." Came a much deeper and powerful voice in the back of the room.

It was a voice Percy would have recognized anywhere. The voice of his father Neptune. A voice that held so much power it always humbled Percy, but also made him feel strong. The room began to clear until it was just Triton and a merman that clapped his brother on the shoulder saying quiet words before departing. It was just the three power houses of the Ocean after that, and Triton touched Percy's head with the back of his hand as the young man continued to lie flat on the metal table, "I don't know how you did it. I don't know how you survived. We were fighting below you, and trying to break Oceanus' hold on the Ocean so you could sink the ship. Nothing we did was working. I had the best heroes of Atlantis on it. We were fighting below when I thought father had intervened, and saved you, but it was you. You broke the Titan's hold on the area. Not alone, but you did it. A feat I believe no mortal could have achieved."