The Darkness Is Coming

I'm Inside My Own Head, Not the Gods

Percy POV

I went back to my room. What I really wanted to do right now was rip Torrington apart, but I knew to do that I had to be in sync with all sides of myself.

That meant confronting my new darkness.

When I opened the door, Percie was asleep. At first it looked like she was just taking a nap, but soon the shadows on the wall behind her drew my attention.

A figure of darkness crouched over her silhouette, desperately fighting off a creature made of light. They clashed back and forth heavily, and the light seemed to be gaining ground, turning the walls around them brighter and dissolving bits of shadow.

Is that what it will look like when I fall asleep? I wondered. One figure fighting another?

No one answered, which actually surprised me. The gods had taken to butting in and checking on my mental state, whether I wanted them to or not.

I watched Percie's battle for a while longer. The light was definitely winning, which I thought was good. The dark, however, kept pushing back at the last second, gaining more energy and pressing another attack that was slowly battered down.

It looked like an exercise in futility. Her darkness had home court, fighting where it lived and grew. But the light was stronger. Eventually it would win.

"I guess I'll see when once I wake up." I muttered, moving to my bed.

Unsure of how this was going to work, I considered my options for a moment before praying to Morpheus.

I am ready. Show me how to find the parts of myself inside of me. In my consciousness.

A deep, semi-familiar voice answered. Sleep, son of Poseidon. I will show you the door. From then on, you are on your own.

I nodded and laid back on my bed, closing my eyes.

Instantly I opened them again.

"Welcome, Son of Poseidon." A tall man in a long black coat stood before me. The last time I had seen him, his face shimmered and I had been unable to look at it. But now it was clear.

Morpheus had a strong jawline and piercing eyes that shone a deep violet color. His hair, surprisingly, was a light brown, almost blond. I'd expected something darker, playing into the trench coat and dark clothes.

"Is this...my mind?" I asked after a moment of glancing around. "I was expecting it to be messier..."

"No, this is not your mind." Morpheus rolled his eyes. This is my domain. Every consciousness in the world connects here when its owner goes to sleep. I send them dreams and visions through these." He gestured to the square portals that floated all around us.

I noticed one of these such portals was behind him. "Did I interrupt you?" I asked.

"No. I was watching the girl who came from you in her battle. Quite riveting."

I approached the portal. On the other side it was dark. Percie was locked in a fierce battle with another version of her with lighter eyes and brown hair. The end of the fight was nearing, Percie was injured and her opponent seemed to have more energy.

"She's going to lose."

"Is that a bad thing?" Morpheus asked. "A little less darkness in the world?"

"You sided with Kronos." I pointed out.

"I did." Morpheus didn't apologize. "I wanted recognition. I got it. Therefore I'm satisfied. I don't care much for the Olympians but so long as they treat us minor gods and our children better than they used to, I can handle them."

I nodded. "So, what do I do?"

"You wish to find your darkness?" Morpheus asked. "It is dangerous."

"I'll take my chances."

"I will call down your consciousness then." He closed his eyes and the portals around us began to shift.

One soared down to us and landed between the god of dreams and I.

"This is a quest you should endure on your own. I trust you know what you must do?"

"Not really." I muttered. "But I'll figure it out. Thank you, Morpheus."

The god sent him a small smile. "I'd say 'any time,' but we both know that probably wouldn't be true. Good luck, son of Poseidon."

I stepped through the portal.

It still wasn't as messy as I was expecting. I was underwater, which made sense. I wandered for what felt like hours until I came to a dark cave in the ocean floor.

"Not conspicuous at all." I muttered, drawing my mental version of Riptide as I entered.

A fire was burning in the back of the cave, the first inconsistency I'd found so far. A man's silhouette slowly became noticeable to the side of the fire, holding what looked like a piece of paper.

As I got closer I realized it was a picture of Annabeth.

"You miss her too."

He didn't seem surprised I was there. "Of course. She was my soulmate too."

The fist that wasn't holding the photo was clenched at his side. "It's Torrington's fault." He muttered, under his breath.

I examined him for a moment, then took a chance.

"I've got a deal for you. Involving Torrington."

My darkness froze. Slowly, he turned to look at me. I couldn't see his eye or hair color in the flickering firelight.

"I'll consider it...." He said slowly.

[A/N I really have nothing to say here except what should this Darkness's name be?]