Blood Of Poseidon

VIII. The Tide

Percy awoke to the blare of a ship's whistle and the exuberant voice of an Australian announcer on the intercom. The man seemed overly cheerful, announcing a day at sea and inviting everyone to a poolside mambo party and a million-dollar bingo event. However, the oddity escalated when he casually mentioned disemboweling practice for special guests. Concerned, Percy sat up in bed, questioning the bizarre announcement. Tyson, still half-asleep and sprawled on the couch, misheard the mention of disemboweling as "bowling practice." Uncertainty lingered in the air until an urgent knock on the suite's interior door revealed Annabeth, her blond hair disheveled. "Disemboweling practice?" Percy questioned, puzzled. Once dressed, the quintet ventured out into the ship, only to discover a strange atmosphere. Despite the peculiar announcement, people went about their activities with glassy-eyed indifference. The crew members and passengers appeared to be in a trance, going through the motions without acknowledging the newcomers. As they explored, they encountered a cafeteria and witnessed a peculiar sight — a hellhound devouring scrambled eggs while a middle-aged couple waited patiently behind it, seemingly oblivious to the monstrous scene. The ship's abnormalities became more apparent when reptilian voices discussed the arrival of new members and their plan to grow stronger. An uneasy feeling settled over Percy, Annabeth, Selena and Clarisse as they overheard a conversation between two familiar voices — Luke and another mysterious figure. The mention of a casket and a potential gamble added an ominous layer to the unfolding events. Deciding they needed to investigate further, the quad sneaked through the ship, avoiding the trance-like passengers and encountering monsters along the way. Annabeth suggested they needed to get off the ship, but Percy insisted on finding out what Luke was up to. As they approached the admiralty suite, Tyson, with his acute senses, overheard a conversation inside. Tyson, in an impressive display of mimicry, imitated Luke's voice, discussing a plan involving a prophecy and the poisoning of a tree. Annabeth and Selena was creeped out by this, Annabeth shouted Tyson to stop, But Percy asked Tyson to continue. Tyson nodded and closed his eye again. He hissed in the gruff man's voice: "Quiet!" Then Luke's voice, whispering: "Are you sure?" "Yes," Tyson said in the gruff voice. "Right outside." And instantly the doors burst open, not giving time for the quintet to escape, revealing Luke flanked by two hairy giants armed with javelins.

Luke welcomed them into the stateroom, a blend of beauty and horror. The luxurious setting included plush sofas, a mahogany dining table laden with food, and expansive windows offering a breathtaking view of the sea. However, the focal point was a chilling golden casket on a velvet dais, adorned with engravings depicting scenes of destruction. Luke, dressed sharply and exuding an air of malevolence, proudly presented the room as an upgrade from Cabin Eleven. The scar under his eye, a memento from a battle with a dragon, and his magical sword, Backbiter, hinted at the transformations he had undergone since their last encounter. Despite the opulence, an unmistakable coldness emanated from the casket, amplifying the sense of dread in the room.

Percy and his companions were commanded to sit, but none dared. Luke's towering friends were still standing behind them with brandished javelin. "Where are my manners?" Luke said smoothly. "These are my assistants, Agrius and Oreius. Perhaps you've heard of them." Percy looked at Luke's assistants, Standing at eight feet tall, they resembled twins, yet their inhuman features—thick brown fur, claws for fingernails, and snout like noses—set them apart. Despite their menacing posture, it wasn't the bear twins that unsettled Percy; it was the reunion with Luke, who had tried to end his life the previous summer.

Luke recounted the tragic tale: Aphrodite's cruel revenge on a young woman, bewitched into loving a bear, abandoned by Artemis in disgust. Agrius and Oreius, the twin sons born of this twisted union, harbored disdain for Olympus but a taste for half-bloods. "For lunch," Agrius growled, his gruff voice echoing through the room, while Oreius, seemingly oblivious, laughed uncontrollably. Luke and Agrius exchanged annoyed glances, prompting Oreius to self-inflict punishment in the corner. Trudging over to a stool, Oreius slumped, banging his forehead against the dining table, causing the silver plates to rattle. Percy looked at his friends who were caught in this surreal moment, grappled with the unnerving reality of facing adversaries whose origins were steeped in the capricious whims of the gods. Luke, perhaps reveling in others discomfort, continued the conversation, addressing the ignorance about Agrius and Oreius's tragic tale. The gods' internal conflicts, he observed, often ensnared mortals in their web of consequences. The room echoed with Agrius's gruff voice, punctuating the air with a menacing undertone. Oreius, having settled into his self-imposed punishment, watched with a mixture of remorse and submission. Luke, the orchestrator of this unsettling reunion, maintained a veneer of nonchalance, as if reveling in the discomfort he had sown. Despite the javelins pointing at him and the looming threat of the monstrous duo, their mind raced. The gods, with their whims and vengeance, had intricately woven a tale that transcended the mortal and divine realms. In facing Agrius and Oreius, They confronted not just monstrous adversaries but the tangled consequences of divine disputes. The room, charged with tension and the weight of mythical consequences, held Annabeth and her friends captive. Each word spoken, each movement of the bear twins, added to the surreal atmosphere. In this clash of worlds, they grappled not only with the physical threats before him but the haunting realization that the gods' whims could reshape lives in the most unforeseen ways. As Luke continued to speak, they found themself caught between the enigma of divine machinations and immediate threats.