The Crowns of the Gods.

Poseidon

Poseidon seethed with anger, his fury like a tempest brewing beneath the surface. His brother Zeus didn't understand his deep, unyielding desire to be with his daughter. After all these years, he had finally found Rhode and wanted nothing more than to reveal to her who she was and who he was. But when Zeus discovered Poseidon had found Rhode, he forbade him from seeing her or being a part of her life anymore than he already had been.

Despite the prohibition, Poseidon left Rhode with as much wisdom as he could impart. Her mother lived on a yacht, drifting across the endless expanse of the sea, and Poseidon tried to teach Rhode everything he knew about survival. He even gifted her a husky, Naoko, to keep her company and make her feel less alone. Rhode had a little sister, Aria, and her mother spent ninety percent of her time with the baby, leaving Rhode to fend for herself most of the time.

A year had passed since Poseidon had last seen his daughter. One day, he felt an unusual shift in the ocean's currents, a ripple that spoke of something extraordinary. Atlantis had surfaced three months before it was supposed to. He projected an image of himself to the ancient city and was shocked to see Rhode walking among the ruins of his long-lost kingdom.

"Bayo, why are you here? Where are your mommy and sister?" he asked, his voice a mixture of surprise and concern.

"Yacht gone, mommy gone, Aria gone. Just me and Naoko. I did what Daddy said. I prepared, but mommy wouldn't listen," Bayo cried, her voice trembling with fear and sorrow.

"No tears, my darling," Poseidon soothed, though his own heart ached. "You have a home now. This is Atlantis. You are a very special girl. The water is your home. You can breathe it just like this turtle," he gestured to the giant sea turtle head gliding effortlessly through the water. "But you, my dear girl, must spend one year in the water and one year on land. You cannot just disappear from the humans and their world."

Poseidon spoke quickly, aware that Zeus had only granted him ten precious minutes to explain everything.

"Naoko?" Bayo asked, clutching the husky's neck tightly, her eyes wide with a mixture of hope and confusion.

"I gave her the gift of breathing underwater. She is very special, just like you," Poseidon reassured her, his voice gentle but urgent.

Bayo ran toward him, her arms outstretched for a hug, but when she passed right through his projected image, the pain on her face was more than he could bear. He waved to her, a bittersweet smile on his lips, and then vanished.

Returning to the shadows, Poseidon sought out his two most loyal Atlanteans. He entrusted them with the task of raising Bayo, ensuring they would care for her as if she were their own. They agreed without hesitation, stepping forward with solemn vows.

Poseidon returned to his corporeal form, a deep sigh escaping his lips. Moments later, Zeus walked into his chamber, a sad smile playing on his face. The king of the gods looked at his brother with a mix of pity and understanding.

"I am not trying to punish you, brother," Zeus said reassuringly.

"I know, but it still hurts. She just lost her mom and sister. Now all she has left is me and Naoko, and I just left her in the care of two people she has never met before," Poseidon sighed deeply.

"Yes, I know. But with what Gaia said the Fates told her, none of us should individually get to be with them. Until we locate Dike and Ananke, we cannot see nor talk to them. Hades faces the same dilemma," Zeus said softly.

Poseidon nodded gravely and stood up. He and Zeus exited his room and walked to the living room of their shared estate. They hoped that by living together, they would be able to collaborate effectively in their search for their three-year-old daughters. Poseidon recalled what Persephone had told them about Macaria or Blair, as she was now known,—their powers were growing, yet being separated weakened them. Poseidon sympathized deeply with Hades; in each of his daughter's lives, she had been unwanted, but this life seemed the most challenging yet. Blair's biological human parents were drug addicts who wanted nothing to do with her, leaving Hades powerless to intervene. Poseidon paused, a thoughtful smile spreading across his face, catching Zeus's skeptical glance.