The Sea Tyrant's Obsession (PJO x ROR) *18+* WTM/WTS Book 1

The Tyrant's Inner Thoughts

(Present)

Poseidon's grip tightened on his trident, his knuckles white as he felt Rhea's voice echo in his mind.

Tell her the truth.

His mother's command lingered in his thoughts like a persistent ripple in otherwise still waters. Poseidon's eyes flicked to Percy, then to Hades, whose unreadable gaze weighed on him like a heavy current. The truth. He had buried it, hidden beneath layers of power and possession, but now it threatened to rise to the surface, drawn out by his mother's intervention.

A flash of part of the morning's conversation with Hades before breakfast flooded Poseidon's mind.

**Flashback**

In Poseidon's palace, the morning light refracted through the watery depths surrounding them as servants brought out the first course of breakfast. Hades, who had come to see Percy, sipped his dark drink at his seat by the dining table with his usual inscrutable demeanor, as if he had all the time in the world.

"Poseidon, you know you cannot hide this from her." Hades' tone was quiet but edged with warning. "You have to tell her."

Poseidon stiffened as he stood by the window, watching over the ocean. "Tell her what, brother?"

Hades leveled his dark eyes at him, unmoved by Poseidon's evasiveness. "You know exactly what. She deserves to know the truth. Percy is your daughter."

The words struck like a sharp wave crashing against Poseidon's defenses, but he quickly masked his reaction. "No," he said darkly, laced with annoyance. "She may share my essence, but I do not see her as my daughter. She will never know."

Hades sighed, setting down his cup. "You can't keep this from her forever. The longer you wait, the worse it will be when she finds out. After watching her life, you should have known she'll never accept this kind of relationship with you."

Poseidon stormed over and slammed his fist down on the table, causing a ripple that sent the delicate cutlery clattering. "I will not tell her! She will be my wife, my empress, and that is the end of it!"

The silence that followed was thick with tension. Hades leaned back in his chair, his expression measured, but his eyes burned with something dangerous. "You may desire her as your wife, but what about her feelings? Will she want that?" he asked slowly, trying to make his brother understand. "She's your daughter, Poseidon."

"She is more than that!" Poseidon snapped, his eyes narrowing. "She is more than just my daughter! She is mine, and I will not let her go! What do you know of such matters, Hades? You, who kidnapped Persephone—your own niece—and forced her into marriage. You are such a hypocrite, brother. You're the last god who should lecture me on relationships."

For a moment, Hades' gaze hardened, shadows deepening around him. The comparison had struck a nerve, just as Poseidon had known it would. But to Poseidon's surprise, Hades chuckled darkly, shaking his head.

"A hypocrite? Perhaps," Hades admitted, his voice low, a dark edge lacing his words. "But at least I gave her a choice, twisted as it was. She knew where she stood with me. You..." His gaze darkened with accusation, burning with a mix of disgust and pity. "You lie to yourself and to her. You plan to build a relationship on a foundation of deceit."

Hades leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a quiet intensity. "And do not mistake me, brother. I may have taken Persephone, but even I would never stoop so low as to take my own daughter as a wife. I am not one of the Egyptian gods, reveling in such perversions."

Poseidon flinched, the weight of Hades' words landing like a blow to his core, but he quickly buried his reaction beneath his fury.

The sea god bristled. "I am nothing like you."

"You're worse," Hades said softly, but the weight of his words struck harder than any shout. "Because you know what you're doing is wrong, yet you continue. You want her to be your wife, not out of love, but out of obsession. You want her to submit to you, as if that will fill the emptiness inside you."

Poseidon had shot up from leaning over the table, the water around him swirling violently. "You are supposed to understand me, Hades! As brothers, we are the closest to each other, and yet you failed to understand me! I cannot—will not—lose her!"

Hades stood as well, his dark gaze as steady and cold as the Underworld itself. "You've been losing her since you dragged her to our world. You just haven't realized it yet." He said knowingly.

"Do not speak of this topic again, Hades, or I will never allow you to visit my home ever again!" Poseidon yelled before abruptly returning to his place by the window, staring coldly out into the depths.

Hades sighed and sat back down.

Just then, the door to the dining room opened, and Percy entered.

**Flashback End**

Poseidon snapped back to the present, his chest heaving with the memory of that confrontation. His gaze flickered to Percy, who was still glaring at him with a mix of fury and confusion. She had no idea—no idea how much she meant to him.

"What is going on with you gods? Why is everyone suddenly quiet? My question still hasn't been answered," Percy said, frustration and irritation creeping into her tone.

Even Zeus, usually loud and arrogant, was dead silent. His eyes flickered nervously between Rhea and Poseidon.

Poseidon could feel his mother's piercing gaze on him, urging him to speak, to reveal what was clawing at the edges of his conscience. But he couldn't. He wouldn't.

She belongs to me, he thought fiercely. She will always remain by my side.

Hades, who had been watching the silent exchange with knowing eyes, swam forward, his voice low and calm. "Poseidon, this is your chance. Do what is right, not what your pride demands."

Poseidon's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a storm of emotions—anger, guilt, fear. He couldn't bring himself to speak the words. He couldn't tell Percilla the truth that would pull her away from where he wanted her.

He looked at Percy, her defiant stance reminding him so much of himself in his youth—of the fire and fury that had burned inside him when he claimed dominion over the seas. And yet, in her eyes, he saw something deeper—a reflection of the connection they shared, even if she didn't know it yet. That connection would be enough. It had to be.

His mother's pleading voice cut through his thoughts once more. Please, tell her that she is your daughter, Poseidon.

But Poseidon remained silent, his trident still lowered, his gaze fixed on Percy, willing her to stay in his world, in his grasp.

Finally after what seemed like forever, he said one word that shattered everything.

"NO."