Prisoner of the Sea

Chapter 7

I DO NOT OWN THE PJO/HoO SERIES!!! ALL RIGHTS GO TO RICK RIORDAN!!!

Chapter 7

Nora and Celeste's heads broke the surface and the feeling of fresh air burst onto Celeste's face.

She sighed, breathing in the sea air.

Nora cringed. "Ugh, it smells like city pollution."

Celeste laughed. She swam in circles as she scanned the city for the small apartment where she used to live. Finally, her bright sea green eyes focused on the building sitting in the exact same place it was when she left it.

Elated, Celeste swam closer to get a better look.

"Don't venture off too far!" Nora called.

"I won't!" Celeste called back, kicking her legs and pedaling her arms. She was a natural swimmer and the only time she'd ever swam was while living with her father.

Perks of being a child of Poseidon, she guessed.

Finally, Celeste was close enough to see into the open window of the apartment.

She saw figures moving back and forth and recognized one of them as Sally, her mother. It was early September, so Celeste knew Percy would be starting school soon.

She saw her mother placing a book bag on Percy's shoulders and he stood on his tip toes to give her a kiss. Maybe it was the first day of school.

However, she also saw someone she didn't recognize, a fat guy who looked homeless wearing a grease-stained white tank top that was way too small and revealed his hairy stomach, and long dirty cargo pants.

He shot Percy a disgusted look and shoved him sideways. The weight of the book bag sent Percy toppling to the side but he instantly righted himself.

Glaring at the man, Percy made his way out the door.

Celeste waited patiently until she finally saw Percy leaving the building. He took a deep breath and hauled a cab.

Celeste smiled. 5 years old and he could navigate New York like the back of his hand.

The cab stopped, looked at Percy skeptically and then nodded when Percy showed the driver his wad of cash.

Celeste thought Percy was probably going to a private school since that was what Sally had been planning forever.

She grimaced at the thought of Percy facing school without her and sighed, swimming back to find Nora.

Nora noticed Celeste's depressed look and gave her a small hug.

"Hey, it's alright. You got to see him at least. Let's head back and do something fun, alright? You'll enjoy it, I promise." Nora reassured her.

Celeste nodded silently and dove back under the water with her friend.

Kill...

The voice nagged at her head once more.

Feeling depressed without her brother, Celeste started to think that the voice probably had a point.

•••

Poseidon sighed as he realized he had no idea what he was going to tell his brother, The Lord of the dead.

'Oh, I'm sorry, I falsely accused you to all the other Olympian gods and I am here to yell at you, when you did nothing.' Poseidon thought lamely.

He trudged past the long line of moaning mortals ready to be placed in either the Fields of Punishment, the Fields of Asphodel, or Elysium.

Cerberus, Hades' guard dog barked at him, but let him pass.

Finally, he came up to Hades's throne room and trudged inside.

Hades was sitting on his throne, looking smugly at his brother as if he had expected him. His cursed wife, Persephone, was by his side with a bored expression on her face.

"Brother. It is good to see you again." Poseidon said with a barely noticeable bow of his head.

Hades smirked. "Oh enough with the act Poseidon, I know why you're here. It's the prophecy and everyone assumes that I broke the deal, am I right?"

Poseidon shifted uncomfortably. "You are correct."

Hades laughed darkly. "I knew it! You fools are so dimwitted! We know who broke the deal!"

"We do?" Poseidon asked, trying to keep the nerves out of his voice.

"Yes! Lord of the Sky himself, Zeus. He broke it and had that demigod girl, the tree one or whatever. And he dares to blame me!?" Hades screamed.

"Well, the girl is dead. She was killed trying to save two other demigods and a satyr." Poseidon stated.

"But softhearted Zeus just had to save her and make her a tree. Did he ever think making her a tree is probably going to affect the prophecy?" Hades marveled.

Poseidon knew Hades had a point, but it wasn't Zeus's girl, Thalia, who was the prophetic savior.

It was either Percy, Celeste, or even Kayla if things came to worst.

Poseidon had broken the deal twice. Percy and Celeste were twins, which he was not expecting, and Kayla was missing in action.

His past was starting to catch up to him and he knew another god would find about his children sooner or later.

Hades's uproar slowly turned into a smirk. "Unless you have something to share, brother."

Poseidon stiffened. "I have not broken the deal. I am a man of my word."

Hades got off of his throne and crossed the room to stand face to face with The Lord of the Sea.

"Are you really?" Hades whispered.

Poseidon tried to calm himself, but the continuous guilt of having broken his oath was eating away at him.

He shouldn't say, but he had to.

"I had children okay!? Three of them. One pair of twins with a mortal and a girl with Night. I was stupid and not thinking." Poseidon blurted.

Hades laughed. "I knew about your little Night girl, but not the twins. This is news!"

"You knew about Kayla? How?" Poseidon asked incredulously.

"She may or may not have come to me for help with mastering dark arts relating to death and darkness. I have to say, I liked her." Hades said.

"She's more like her mother than anything. A witch." Poseidon gritted between his teeth.

"Well, brother, this has been pleasurable, but unless you go back to that throne room and tell them how I am not guilty, I'll reveal your little secret. Cause everyone knows as soon as they find out-poof! There go daddy's little angels." Hades said devilishly.

"I know. I will tell them you are innocent, Hades. I swear on the River Styx." Poseidon said firmly.

"As do I swear to keep your secret as long as you keep your promise. Now be gone before I send my skeleton warriors to usher you out." Hades said with a wave of his hand.

Poseidon sighed and made his way out as Hades sauntered back to his throne where Persephone had completely ignored the conversation.

The secret was out and Poseidon had to do something fast.

Celeste was getting dangerous.