The Silence -Percy Jackson Fanfiction-

Chapter Three-The Cave

Percy frowned at his father, the name tickling something in his memory. 

Percy's face was a mask of confusion as he stared at his father. "Isn't she the woman that killed a group of sharks a few years back?

"Indeed. She has grown...rather mad in her jealousy. She wants the throne." Poseidon said, sighing. "She requested a place at The Palace and I rejected her. I didn't want that woman in my home. I didn't want her near you," Poseidon confessed, and Percy felt his heart lurch.

"And so she attacked?" Percy whispered, voice filled with horror. 

Poseidon's face was grim as he nodded. 

"But...what were those...things?" Percy asked, his voice turning to naught but a whisper. 

"I can't be sure, son. But I fear the answer that lay ahead should we quest after it." Poseidon said, voice filled with forebode. Percy ignored the warning tone in his fathers voice.

"They reeked of death and despair." Percy murmured, easily recalling the stench. "Their flesh was rotten and they were naught but a sentient being in a dead body," Percy said, voice raising in anger, his tail flapping angrily, before his actions caused him to wince as he jostled the wounds adorning his skin.

Poseidon frowned in concern. "Son, you did not tell me you were hurt," He said, voice scolding. "turn so I can asses the damage." He demanded, and Percy reluctantly turned so the wounds on his back were of easy visual and physical access to his father, who swam forward.

Percy hissed and clenched his teeth and eyes shut as Poseidon touched the one on his shoulder.

"Some of your scales have been clawed off here. Four slashes to your shoulder and three to your lower back. No sign of an infection." Poseidon murmured softly. "What caused this?"

"One of those things slashed me with its claws. It was...fast. It got me before I sliced its head off," Percy murmured, voice filled with shame. 

Poseidon made a tisking sound, shaking his head. "The things are unnaturally fast. I have no doubt Gaea enhanced them somehow. You killed it. That's is a feat of great magnitude on its own. Is there anything else I should be aware of?" 

"A Dragonfish bit my arm. Tore some scales," He said, raising the mentioned arm without request. His father gently took hold of the appendage. Percy winced at the touch. 

The scales were indeed missing, with only a few left behind. Deep teeth marks were jagged on his arm, as a result of the creature having been torn off. 

Poseidon didn't flinch as he put his finger to the wound. Percy had to bite his lip harshly as to keep from screaming. He watched in painful fascination as the wound healed itself, the skin seeming to bridge itself and repair itself easily, new, tiny scales forming were the old ones were. Percy panted and winced as his father did the same to each of his claw wounds. However, the creatures were unnatural, and seemed to have a sort of poison on their talons, for it left a scar that wouldn't ever leave. 

"You haven't had to do that for me since I was eleven," Percy muttered, almost bashfully. 

Poseidon smiled tightly. 

As the days passed Percy grew restless. Once half a fortnight had passed Percy couldn't take it, and set off into the coral beds, the colorful things standing tall above him in winding patters, creating a maze. 

The images hadn't stopped, or even lessened. If anything his night terrors grew worse with each passing night. He and his father had gotten little food, and were slowly losing energy, only kept going by the thoughts of the dead, and the thoughts of the monsters terrorizing their people. He felt his insanity slowly slipping.

Percy felt a sense of duty. It was only right. He was the heir to the throne. He had to protect his people. But he couldn't help his people trapped in a cave, hardly surviving. He didn't even know why they were there, or why they hadn't even done something at the least. 

Percy was too restless, and took advantage of the coral beds underneath the cave. The bright colors soothed his aching nerves. He replayed the conversation he and his father had just minutes previous, Poseidon telling to be on the lookout, as he was easily spotted in the light of the Great Perl.

He swam aimlessly through the colors, the bright oranges, pinks, reds and blues occupying his thoughts. He should have noticed. He should have heeded his fathers advice with more caution.

"Percy! Percy help!" A desperate, scratchy voice called out and Harry whipped around, Riptide held tightly in hand whereas it had been held slackly. He rushed towards the sound of Ash's voice, praying his ears weren't playing a cruel trick on him.

"Percy! Help me, please!" That was Hunters desperate voice, pleading, seeming to be around the same area Ash's voice came from. 

Percy shot up, out of the coral beds, only to be met with the empty vastness of The Waters, the light from the Great Perl shinning down on him, making his scales and eyes glow dangerously as he turned in place rapidly. 

"ASH!" Percy screamed. He was too close to the surface. The light was too bright. The current too strong. He couldn't see the cave. It alarmed him greatly. "HUNTER!" His voice was thick with desperation. He needed to know his best friends were okay! He had too!

There! There was a flicker in the water. He swam toward it desperately, clawing at nothing. He screamed in frustration, swimming in all directions. It wasn't until something caught him around the forearm that he halted. He screamed yet again, his throat starting to burn.

There swam one of those things, translucent, almost impossible to sea through the light of the Great Perl. This ones hair was red, its tail green. Its mouth was pulled into a snarl, and Percy choked on a scream as another grabbed his other arm. This one had black hair and an ice blue tail. 

"Help Percy! Help!" The red haired one said, and he stared at it with muted horror, his gaze shifting to the other as it imitated Hunters voice.

In a flash, before he could scream for help they were speeding away, Riptide sinking rapidly to the sand beds, their claws sinking into his arms as he fought to breath. They were traveling almost too fast for him to get water into his gills, and he could only struggle to breath as he was taken to this unknown place, the site slowly growing in the distance. 

It seemed to be a cave, though much larger and intimidating than the one he and his father had taken shelter in. He tried to tug out of the slimy, cold hands, but they were tight on his arms, and he was helpless as he was dragged into the mouth of the cave.