Posiden was standing in the doorway, a smile on his face as he regarded Sally. He had come for Percy's birthday. He was wearing Bermuda shorts and a Hawaiian shirt and Birkenstocks. His black beard was neatly trimmed and his sea-green eyes twinkled. He wore a battered cap decorated with fishing lures. It said NEPTUNE'S LUCKY FISHING HAT.

I could tell Sally was flustered, and she was blushing. Her and Posiden exchanged some words and then she opened the door. My dad was looking back and forth between us, trying to read our expressions. Finally he stepped forward, "Hi, I'm Paul Blofis."

Poseidon raised his eyebrows as they shook hands. "Blowfish, did you say?"

Really? This Posiden son of the sea god was gonna do this? I took a step forwards already feeling the familiar tingle in my fingers but Raph grabbed my waist and pulled me back. Between him and Percy.

Posiden glanced over and saw my scowl. His face lit up, the same way Percy's did. And he started to sign. I frowned and cocked my head. I had to concentrate hard on his hands.

"Percy's sister. Eleanora Blowfish. I've heard quite a bit about you."

"It's Blofis you puffed up-"

Raph smacked my hands interrupting me.

"He's a god Nora!"

I glared at Raph but looked back at Posiden. He had the same mischievous twinkle in his eyes as Percy. So it was hard to tell when he was joking or not.

"Your sign is different."

"I learned the Oceanic Sign. My direct will be slightly different. Sorry."

I shrugged. "Appreciated though. Thank you."

He smiled and nodded. He looked back at Sally and Paul. He held a hand out for my dad to shake. Which he did.

"Glad you could uhh...drop by Percy's birthday. Come in." Paul signed slightly stiffly, but he stepped aside and Posiden came into the apartment and Sally closed the door.

Poseidon smiled at Percy who stood beside me still. "There you are, my boy. And Tyson, hello, son!"

I appreciated everyone signing their conversations for me.

"Daddy!"

Tyson only knew a few words, and daddy was one of them. But his voice vibrated through me and his huge feet made the apartment shake. Tyson bounded across the room and gave Poseidon a big hug, which almost knocked off his fishing hat.

"I couldn't miss Percy's fifteenth birthday," Poseidon signed. "Why, if this were Sparta, Percy would be a man today!"

"That's true," Paul said. "I used to teach ancient history."

Poseidon's eyes twinkled. "That's me. Ancient history."

"Yes, the Olympic gods have been around a while." Paul signed. I could detect the sass in his words. He knew all about this world, especially with me being part of it. Dad would have to be incredibly dimwitted if he had no idea... But I didn't know how much of Percy's life Posiden knew. I didn't know if Posiden knew Sally was dating a guy who's daughter was also a demigod and very much involved in this Greek world. But the way he was acting I'd say he didn't seem to put it together, or maybe he was just messing with us...I had no idea.

"Sally, Paul, everyone else...would you mind if I borrowed Percy for a moment?"

He put his arm around Percy and steered him into the kitchen. A minute later Posiden poked his head into the living room. He pointed at me and indicated I should follow. I hesitated and only moved when Raph gave me a gentle push

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I followed him into the kitchen. Percy was leaning on the counter and I slid up beside him, looking confused, why would Posiden want to talk to me on Percy's birthday.

Posiden stood in front of us. He looked at both of us hard, "I heard stories," Poseidon finally signed for me as he spoke for Percy. "But I wanted to hear it directly from you. Tell me everything that happened."

It was kind of disconcerting, because Poseidon listened so intently. His eyes never left our faces. When Percy spoke (and signed for my sake) his eyes were glued to his son, like he was drinking in every detale. And then when I was signed my parts of the story, he watched so intently it was almost unnerving. But he didn't interrupt, we explained everything the whole story. His expression didn't change the whole time we talked. When we were done, he nodded slowly.

"So Kronos is indeed back. It will not be long before full war is upon us."

"What about Luke?" Percy asked. "Is he really gone?"

"I don't know, Percy." Posiden shook his head, while he signed. "It is most disturbing."

"But his body is mortal. Couldn't you just destroy him?"

"I tried. Remember? My arrows glanced right off. The second time he didn't even bother to block or dodge!" I reminded him.

Poseidon nodded sadly and signed. "Mortal, perhaps, but there is something different about Luke, my boy. I don't know how he was prepared to host the Titan's soul, but he will not be easily killed. And yet, I fear he must be killed if we are to send Kronos back to the pit. I will have to think on this."

"Umm, Poseidon?" I signed, I had been wondering this for a while and didn't have an answer, Chiron didn't even know either. But maybe a god would.

He nodded.

"If Luke's body is hosting a Titan, and had to go through great lengths to prep himself, and even then seemed to struggle..."

Poseidon nodded again.

"...How come I didn't need to be peeled to have like that weird flame thing entre my body when Helios died?"

"It was his dying soul that entered you. Not his living one. His Essenes. And from what you explained, you have his DNA in you already. So you were already prepared. You could host- for a lack of a better word- because you are already apart of him."

"Would it be the same if Kronos did that to me? Like ...if he got tired of Luke, could he use me?"

"I don't child. That could be quite dangerous, if he knew you have Titan blood."

"Great." I slumped. Just what I wanted. They were already. I peeked up in panic again.

"Wait! He has my blood already!" And I showed them my palm. The black chard skin was gone, leavingan ivy white scar.

"Yes you mentioned that. And this is definitely most terrifying. You have Titan and godly blood. He has your blood and you seem very equipment to host a living Titan's soul."

"Dad she would never!" Percy defended me, pushing off the table and standing slightly in front of me. I shoved him aside and took a step closer to Poseidon. My sign was as angry as my face. Small sparks flicked off my hands as I signed. I could feel the glow in my skin and my eyes. Pretty sure I had golden sparks from my hair as it was tossed around as I signed angrily.

"You accusing me of something? You think after everything that's happened I'm going to willingly waltz over and offer up my body to the guy who killed my brother? I'm not exactly subtle in my dislike for...certain gods, but I won't let him destroy my camp and my friends, and in turn Mount Olympus. So chill out sea dude! He already tried recruiting me! He would have to physically restrain me and force it."

"It is none the less quite a worrisome topic. One I will need to think on. Unfortunately, I have other problems of my own."

"The old sea gods?" Percy asked.

His father nodded, "The battle came first to me, Percy. In fact, I cannot stay long. Even now the ocean is at war with itself. It is all I can do to keep hurricanes and typhoons from destroying your surface world, the fighting is so intense."

"Let me come down there," Percy said. "Let me help."

Poseidon's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "Not yet, my boy. I sense you will be needed here."

I had a feeling it was time for me to leave and Percy and his father could have some time alone. I nodded at Poseidon and left the kitchen and went back to the living room. Every head watched me walk in. I still had sparks and the flow of being frustrated. I sunk into the couch. Raph looked at me and without a word pulled me into his side. His huge arm around my back and his callused hand running up and down my arm. His steady breathing and the thump of his heart and his closeness made me relax we waited for Percy. The candles on the cake were melting. A few minutes later Percy walked into the living room looking just as gloomy as I felt.

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We ate blue cake and ice cream until we couldn't eat anymore. Then we played a bunch of cheesy party games like charades and Monopoly. Tyson didn't get charades. He kept shouting out the answer he was trying to mime, but it turned out he was really good at Monopoly. He knocked me and Percy and Raph out of the game in the first five or six rounds and started bankrupting my mom and Paul.

Percy got up and left a few minutes ago. I tapped Raph's knee and indicated with my head. I got up, and he followed. We left them playing and went into my bedroom. I set the cake down on the desk and climbed out onto the fire escape. Raph right beside me and sat down behind me and pulled me back into his chest. I exhaled heavily and melted into his embrace.

We sat in silence for a long time, watching the sun starting to dip. He finally signed, his hands infront of me, so he wouldn't let go of me.

"What did he want?"

I examined our conversation and what Poseidon thought about Kronos and Luke. I explained my question and my fear and what Poseidon thought and said.

"You would never. And those who actually know you, know you would never willingly host him."

"But that doesn't mean it won't happen, because I could! If he found out...Raph I'd be screwed!"

I was actually shivering, not because I was cold, but because I was scared. I could feel Raph's chest rumble and he pulled my closer and tipped my head to look up and around at him. Half his face was hidden in shadow.

"Beautiful Sunshine." He signed and leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. He pulled away, but I grabbed the back of his head and twisted my body slightly and pulled him back for another one.

"Eww. Really?"

I jumped and ripped away from Raph,. Nico di Angelo was standing on the fire escape right in front of us. He'd just appeared there.

"NICO! WHAT THE HADES!"

I scrambled to my feet and pulled the boy into a hug.

"Eww! Physical contact. Gross! Get off! Get a grip woman! It's been like two weeks!"

"Where have you been? No word for two weeks! Have you eaten? Slept? Showered? Gods you smell!"

As I fussed over him I took in his appearance. He seemed to have grown in only the two weeks he had gone. His hair was a shaggy black mess. He wore a black T-shirt, black jeans, and a new silver ring shaped like a skull. His Stygian iron sword hung at his side. And he looked like he could use a nap and a good meal. Percy appeared at my window, looking worried.

"I heard yelling." He signed. He caught sight of Nico. "Hey man! When did you get here?"

"Just now." He signed.

"Just appeared." Raph said, he still looked slightly alarmed.

Nico looked a little sheepish, but he signed, "Didn't mean to startle you."

"Lier! You love doing that. And I'm pretty sure you wait until he's missing me."

"Maybe. What's the point in shadow travel if you can't scare their souls a little."

"I missed you my little emo death boy."

"Yeah yeah, missed you too Sparky."

I smiled.

"That's okay. I mean...what are you doing here?" Raph signed interrupting our mind link conversation.

Nico looked at the guys and then back to me. "I've done some exploring,"  he said out loud and signed. "Thought you'd like to know, Daedalus got his punishment."

"You saw him?" Percy asked, and signed for my benefit.

Nico nodded. "Minos wanted to boil him in cheese fondue for an eternity, but my father had other ideas. Daedalus will be building overpasses and exit ramps in Asphodel for all time. It'll help ease the traffic congestion. Truthfully, I think the old guy is pretty happy with that. He's still building. Still creating. And he gets to see his son and Perdix on the weekends."

"That's good." Percy nodded.

I figured there was more to this visit than just an update if a dude who cheated desrh for a few hundred years. Nico tapped at his silver ring.

"But that's not the real reason I've come. I've found out some things. I want to make you an offer."

"What?" I asked egarly. "Did you find some answers to what we talked about?"

Nico nodded slowly. My jaw dropped. "No way!"

"What did you talk about?" Percy signed, looking back and forth between the two of us.

"I'm in. Whatever it is." I said in my head. I wasn't sure what, but I kept my decision to myself for now. Not know how Percy or Raph would react.

"It's dangerous."

"I trust you. I'm in."

Raph waved a hand. When we looked over he raised an eyebrow. "Out loud you two!" He signed.

"The way to beat Luke," Nico signed. "If I'm right, it's the only way you'll stand a chance."

Percy took a deep breath. "Okay. I'm listening."

"Our with it." Raph signed with a nod.

Nico glanced inside my room. His eyebrows furrowed. "Is that...is that blue birthday cake?"

He sounded hungry, maybe a little wistful. I wondered if the poor kid had ever had a birthday party, or if he'd ever even been invited to one.

"Why yes, yes it is. Me and Sally made it for Percy's birthday. Come inside for some cake and ice cream," I signed. "It sounds like we've got a lot to talk about."

🔆

END OF BOOK ONE

*Onto book 2. Heir of a Titan*

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*Check out my other Fanfictions:
Defender Trilogy &
Indulgence - Short stories from Defender
Complicated & Twisted
A Dandilion Wish
The Healer Trilogy
Intentional Subject Trilogy
The Flaw (on hold)
Fairy Tail
Certified Trouble Maker (on going)
The Lost Island (on going)