A World of Monsters

Thalassa and Her Love

Percy Jackson rocked back unto his feet, sparing the vast expanse of the sea a long look before turning back to his teacher who, after ten minutes, was still going over safety procedures.

"Not so fast!" she had cried, right as people turned to get down to the sand, making the group groan. "We still have to go over safety procedures."

"Why?" someone said, sounding bored already.

She had looked at the student and in the most serious tone, Percy had ever heard, said, "The ocean is dangerous, Brandon. If you aren't safe, you will not be in a good place."

No shit, Percy had thought, forcing himself not to grin.

She had gone over every rule in excruciating detail, answering each question as if they had the entire week. Percy tuned out every rule. Sure, the ocean was a dangerous place for everyone else, but he was the son of Poseidon. The ocean was the safest place on the planet for him.

Finally, he heard the blessed words, which shook him out of a strange daydream involving pegasi, crabs and a butterfly the size of a car. "You may go now!"

Smiling he grabbed his backpack, which he had left at his feet, and started jogging down to the sea. Soon enough Annabeth caught up, and slipped her hand into his, forcing him to slow down to her pace. He gave her a look and she just rolled her eyes, before jogging, taking him with her.

They found a dry spot, and they set out some bags and towels. Jason opted to stay back, as did Sydney. The rest ran down to the water.

Percy reached it first and after some feigned hesitation in the attempt to see somewhat normal, stepped into his father's domain.

The relief was instant. The dryness and the exhaustion were gone. His senses sharped and focused, causing the world to become sharper and more defined. He grinned widely.

Suddenly he felt a hat be pulled over his face. Laughing he turned to see Annabeth had snuck upon him and pulled a black baseball cap over his head. Smiling, he gave her a sudden kiss.

When they pulled apart Annabeth was red, but smiling as she shook her head. Taking his hand she asked, "Does it feel good?" Gesturing to the water.

Percy looked at the horizon, eyes finding even the smallest details of the horizon that would be impossible for anyone else to notice, such as a breaching whale. "Yeah," he said, wistfulness taking over his face and tone, "It feels amazing.

"That's good," Annabeth commented, shivering slightly as the waves lapped a bit higher.

Percy noticed this and made the waves slowly calm, the rush from using his power causing him to grin. He stepped further into the ocean, so the water came up just past his shorts. Annabeth followed, wincing at the cold.

"It's cold," she commented.

"I wouldn't know," Percy said, adjusting the hat on his head.

Annabeth sighed and rolled her eyes, "Oh right you think all water is the perfect temperature."

"It's a talent."

Annabeth just rolled her eyes. "I'm cold so I'm going to get out. Have fun!"

"It's not even cold!" He cried.

Annabeth made a gesture over her shoulder that relied heavily on her middle finger causing him to burst into laughter. "Love you too!"

Now alone, Percy turned his back to the beach and went in up to his waist, the depth his teacher insisted they were not to go past. Closing his eyes, he let himself relax.

He could feel the tug and pull of the ocean as it went over him, a soothing comfort. He could sense every part of the water around him, and the way it pulled and receded, the call of like to like.

This was his home, the place he was truly one of. This vast expanse he stood on the edge of was in his bones and blood, and because of that, because of the way he was birthed from her, the sea loved to coddle and cradle her children.

His father may be the monarch of the sea, and be the physical controller of it.

But he isn't the sea herself, neither is Percy. Their true birth givers are Thalassa and Pontus the sea and her husband, the first king of the waves. When his father claimed the throne, Thalassa gave him a new life, making him a seaborn and connected to it as she.

Percy wonders if he'll ever meet her. He's met or at least seen two Primordials. Gaea and Tartarus were his enemies, and Percy hopes that should he ever meet Thalassa, she will see him as kin and maybe not try to kill him.

Maybe he had met her, in one way or another. Certainly never face to face, but maybe in action. Maybe the comforts he drew from the sea weren't just the protection of being his father's son. Maybe its Thalassas warm cradle, gently pushing love to those born of her.

He hopes it's like that.

It's nice to think there's a primordial who loves and respects him, and doesn't see him as an enemy to their power. And the sea loves, the sea is loyal, especially to its blood.

He'll likely never know the answer, and won't go out seeking it. The path to the truth of things like this is a long and windy one, danger at every turn. Knowledge is powerful, always, but it corrupts and kills all the same, dancing and ghosting around the seeker of it until they go insane and or die.

He doesn't need another adventure, not for something so trivial.

All he needs is his thoughts and the fact that the sea has always seemed to welcome him home no matter what he has done. He doesn't need the whole truth, all he needs and wants is to forever be able to come here and be free and sinless, be able to rest.

And that's all he has.

-

Hi hello I'm alive, do not fear. I've had some stuff happen in the past week, so pardon my short absence. Anyway, Rick needs to write a short story in which Percy meets Thalassa and she becomes like his fourth mother. (The other three? Sally, Amphitrite, and Hestia.)

Oh and the "Like calls to like" part? That is absolutely a Grisha Trilogy reference, thank you very much.