Aquaman? Whoops, Wrong Universe: A Percy Jackson Marvel Crossover

Chapter 11: Percy

The man in the shadows was back again in the strange room. 

"Sir," he said, "the giant did not succeed."

The raspy voice responded with a low growl, sounding inhuman. I still couldn't locate the source of the noise. The room seemed to be even darker than the last time, and it was all I could do to make out the figure with long hair. I felt semi-detached from the whole scenario. Emotions and observations came to me half-numb.

"If I may..." the man continued, "how did you find the creature?"

The voice laughed. "That is none of your concern. My question is, are you ready to comply?"

Somehow the mood in the room changed to an even more morbid vibe, which I didn't know was possible. Generally, a dankly lit room with two strange men (probably trying to kill me) evoked a sense of please-get-me-out-of-here-as-fast-as-possible. But I digress.

The man's voice came out more mechanically than it had before, like every sense of free will had been stripped away and he got turned into a senseless robot. "Yes, sir." The words seemed forced out of his mouth. Before, I could tell that there was something off about the man. But now that strange feeling seemed to be multiplied by ten. Uneasiness roiled in my dream-stomach.

"Retrieve the boy. I don't care how. As long as he isn't dead. Bring him to me."

The man gave a curt nod and turned around. As he did, I caught a glimpse of metal where his left arm should've been. The glint of light filled my vision, making it go white until I snapped awake.

My eyes were wide open, and I was sitting upright in my bed. Elements of exhaustion still resided with me from yesterday's... incident, and I had gone to bed a little earlier than I normally liked to. I gasped for air, sweat pouring down my forehead.

Why do dreams suck so much? 

I looked out my lone window, thankful it was morning already. I didn't feel like taking another trip to the room. 

Well, I thought. At least they don't want to kill me this time?

But who were they? I had no memory of ever meeting a guy with one arm, unless you counted Paolo from the Hebe cabin. But I was fairly sure Will had managed to re-attach both of his arms.

A small inkling of paranoia settled around my thoughts. Clearly, this person was planning on infiltrating the tower to get to me. Why did he want me? Did he really think a hyperborean giant would be enough to kill me? How did the pair even know who I was? Why were my powers going all haywire (probably nothing...)? Was the giant the reason why the fountain had behaved so strangely earlier? No, it couldn't have been. Giants—even ice ones—didn't have that kind of power. The only option that seemed to be left was... Poseidon. It couldn't have been him... could it?

My father wouldn't do something like this. Right? I was pretty sure I was still his favorite son. He didn't have any reason to hate me... then again, the guy could be a world-class jerk sometimes. Maybe he didn't need a reason to hate me. Maybe I was just that much of a screw-up that he decided to teach me a lesson. I didn't know where he could have found the hyperborean giant, but gods and demigods alike had friends in strange places...

No. I couldn't believe that my father was after me. It wasn't right, and all it would do was make me more anxious and annoyed with my predicament than I already was. I redirected my thoughts to more probable questions.

What was the pair's motives? Why did I always seem so important to villain's schemes? First it was Luke trying to recruit me to Kronos' army, then Gaea preparing me to have a stupid nosebleed. Now it was a one armed man and tech guy wanting me for... for what? I didn't know.