Chapter Text
I was checking out this weird moon when I felt someone behind me.
“Perseus, why are you up?”
My blood curls when I hear Dad’s voice.
Damn. I thought he’d be in bed by now.
Slowly, I turn around. Pops leans against the door frame. Even in dim light, I can make out his face. Hardened with a glare, wrinkled and ancient. His folded arms bulge and look close to popping. Crownless this time.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s a talking statue.
Nope. He’s real and really pissed off. His strong jaw clicks like the tower clock outside. Tick tock, Percy.
I answer the best way I can: I shrug. What? You expect a better answer? Give me more time.
My body shrinks further onto the stone bench when he crowds my room. It feels like he’s growing; all I can see is a hairy chest and torso. Gross, right? His face meets mine. Up close, his frown is clear, and so is the hardness in his eyes. Yeah, I really shouldn’t be up. “You know it’s past your bedtime, little pearl.”
That deep voice of his scares me. I play with the small pearls of my bracelet, twirling the blue one. She’s watching me too . I sink further into my seat. “... yeah.”
“So why are you up?”
My throat tightens. “Bored?”
His glare makes me squirm, my tail winces, and my scales are ready to jump. Still not satisfied with my answer, I finally burst out, “Okay, okay! I’m sorry. I know it’s bedtime, but I can’t sleep!” My shoulders sink, and I whip away. For a minute, I hear nothing, but I still feel him. Gosh, I wish he’d just punish me already.
Focusing back on the scenery, the moon floats behind the sea mist. Moving water smears its form. And why does it look so… green? Like a sea barnacle covered with glowing algae. Usually, it’s white, sometimes yellow. And why is it so close? Any minute it’s going to get me…
“Happens every five years.” There’s a soft thump, and my father’s shoulder brushes mine. His elbows rest on the concrete. There’s a mix of smells on Dad. First comes the sea salt and sea-foam, then I pick up faint ozone and oak. Well, now his grumpiness makes sense. Uncle Lightning Bolt puts anyone in a bad mood. “The moon’s green tonight.”
“Why?”
I receive a shrug. “Some say your cousin ate too much kelp and turned green.”
I shiver. “Is that really what happened?”
He hums. “Probably. Not a tale I bother to figure out.”
Hearing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Lady Artemis is already scary. I still remember that night she found me and Grover in her forest. I nearly wet my pants when a gold arrow sliced my ear. When she saw us, we both trembled, and Grover actually did wet himself. Her ghost-white eyes pierced my soul, her rain of arrows ready to strike again. She claimed she had mistaken us for goats, but part of me feels she hadn’t. After apologizing and an hour-long lecture, she guided us back to Grover’s backyard before disappearing, her eyes still locked on us.
From that day on, we never set foot in her forest. I still get nightmares. Now imagine her green . I hope my old man is just pulling my scales. That’s why blue kelp is the best… if you block out its sliminess. But hey, at least it doesn’t turn you into a witch.
I glance at Pops. His face softens, still focused. The bags under his eyes stand out in the moonlight. Same with the white strands of his fishtail braid. I guess the green moon makes you age, too.
“Others say if you stare too much, you’ll turn green too.”
I freeze and instantly check my skin. Still tan and smooth… I hope it stays that way.
“ But ,” Dad snorts. “A good night’s rest will prevent that.”
A good night’s rest, huh?
Large hands grab my torso, and I’m guided to bed. Dad pulls the covers over me before picking up my mer-figures. Like an eel, his tail slithers inside, blocking the green moon rays.
“What did Uncle Zeus do this time?”
I frown at his stiffness. There is a flicker in his eyes. Was Uncle really that annoying? Before I ask again, he shakes his head with a snort. “Your usual bickering. Wondering why I haven’t begun your training, and many other petty things. You know how he is.”
The moon’s affecting him too. Then again, he is always pissed off. Someone should tuck him into bed.
After Dad cleans my floor, he rubs his finger along the coral reef. I watch the coral glow slowly, and the starfishes expand their arms. Just as he turns to my shelves, his tail bumps into my nightstand, the jar of lantern fish trembles, the fish flicker, and so does my… My body stills as I stare at my snow globe. From the inside, white dust glitters green and flares over the lighthouse, and underneath are two people— a woman holding a small boy.
Everything feels cold and grim, and my mind drops me next to her grave.
Is she happy? Are dead people happy? Dad said souls like Mom’s live in Elysium. A place full of light, that makes your heart sing, and where good things rest. Think of it as a reward. Be good, you’ll go to Elysium. I bet there are toys there. Lots of them! Blue pancakes, blue cookies, blue candy, seahorses, and rainbows. Every good thing you can think of—you won’t ever think of the real world again...
I bet she’s having so much fun. Without me.
My eyes sting, and so does my nose.
A gentle hand cradles my face, and my father appears next to me. Even in water, my tears float in his face before drifting to my window. The stinging gets worse, like a pufferfish spiking me, and my throat swells.
His thumb brushes my cheek. “It’s okay, son. Let it out.”
And I do.
Stinging tears leave me, and my chest gives out. My hiccups turn into sobs, and I spring into Dad's chest. I was wrong. This feels worse than a pufferfish spiking me. It’s like watching Mister Bubbles float to the surface; his eyes rolled white.
“Oh, Perseus.” My father scoops me up in his arms. His chest feels like a warm rock, and I push my head further against him. One hand brushes my back, the other pats my head. It aches, and so does my heart. I can’t stop crying. Not even a blue band-aid can fix this. I hate it. “Everything will be okay, little one.”
“Why did she have to go?” I hiccup, sniffling.
His chest rumbles, almost like a snoring walrus. “I don’t know. Fate decided it was her time.”
Fate . Dad doesn’t talk about it a lot, nor does Triton, and I see why. My teachers make it sound pretty and magical, like a happily ever after. A destiny that awaits! they say. Well, I wonder. Is meeting the dentist to have your mouth pricked with sharp needles part of a happy destiny? Or watching your fish friends' bodies float to the surface? Losing her is part of destiny too, right? A “happy” destiny. Pfftt. Bullsharks! Fate is nothing but a bully. Who are they to decide her ending? I snarl, my fists whiten into a ball. “I hate fate.”
“Yeah… fate is a jerk.”
It becomes quiet. My father’s rocking and rumbling chest stops the tears and hiccups. Aside from the original salt and sea foam, another smell brushes my nose. It’s faint, but sweet, like sugar cookies and strawberry tarts. My eyes sting more. Feels like I’m back in her lap.
The hand that cradles my head leaves and returns with my snowglobe. All the white stuff covers the bottom of the globe. Some got on Mom and me. Pops gives it a shake, and the snow globe sparkles again. “What does it say?”
Glowing blue words near the lighthouse read, “Mom loves you…”
“Yes, little pearl. From the little time we had together, you were always in her arms.” He smacks kisses on my face, and I can’t help but erupt in giggles. They feel like mom’s kisses. Maybe it’s not the real thing, but it still feels good. “She loved you, so. There was never a day you were separated. Trust me, Perseus. She’s still thinking about you.”
“Even in Elysium?”
He nods firmly. “Not even Elysium can wipe you from her heart.”
I take the globe from his hand. Mom loves you. Warmth blooms in my chest, and I cradle the snow globe.
“Why don’t I tell you a story?” He brushes a curl behind my ear. “This was your mother’s favorite.”
My eyes widen. Mom’s favorite? The snowglobe moves up and down as I nod eagerly.
Soon, my father tucks me into bed but leaves the snow globe to me. “This tale comes from ancient Jupiter, when Atlantis hadn’t been born yet. Long ago, there was a man named Odysseus…”
The more he tells, the more I lean in. The adventures of this Odysseus guy soothe my mind. Mom has good taste. Fighting monsters and titans, facing gods—even my cousins made it into the story. And Dad! This dude sounds cool. He got to visit many places. Troy, Ismaros— he went to an island of cyclops! Annabeth said they eat people. Thank Olympus, I'm not there. This Odysseus guy is brave. He kicked Polyphemus’ ass— sorry butt! Though, story dad wasn’t too happy about that.
Now, Dad’s cradling my face again as he offers a sweet smile. His fingers are soothing waves, swaying me into the bottom of the ocean. My eyes get heavy, and so does my body. Warmth surrounds me as I sink. “Will he ever find his family?”
He hums. “I believe he will.”
My dad’s voice waves in and out. The green in his eyes glows as his lips move, but I can’t hear anything, and my eyes close. Now, soft eyes, blue as the sea, and a bright smile greet me. Her dangling, brown curls smell of sugar cookies, and I leap into her lap. Kissing my face, she bundles me in her arms. I frown. They’re not like Dad’s; they slip away easily and leave behind a faint chill.
I try clinging to her sleeves, but my fingers go through her, and so does my tears.
Sniffling, I wipe my faces and focus on her humming Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
Some day, I’ll go on my own adventure.
And when I do, I’ll find her.