Eventually, the darkness of the ocean was broken—a piercing pillar of light exploded outwards from somewhere in the distance. It pierced through the inky depths of the ocean like a shining sword.
"We're nearing the palace," Amphitrite said softly, her fingers still curled around my knee. Her finger traced it slowly, the edges of her manicured nails scratching the fabric of my, uh, trousers, we'll call them. "Now, is this truly out of your desire to visit, or is there something else going on?"
"Officially, I'm here to visit," I said meaningfully, and I felt her hand tighten slightly. She's perceptive. Somewhere in the back of my head, I made it a point to give my dad some kudos, when I saw him. Amphitrite, no pun intended, was quite the catch. "Unofficially, I need to seek out Carcinus' daughter to get some information about his illicit activities."
"I see," Amphitrite continued, her words still tumbling into each other, her voice as smooth as velvet. I felt a burst of heat against my neck. "Do what you must."
"I will," I promised. "I've heard he's a bad guy."
"He is," Amphitrite muttered. "For all his faults, he is not an unintelligent man. You would do well to not underestimate him. He can be dangerous."
"I know," I said simply, choosing to look away from her and back out to the ocean, which was getting brighter. We must be getting close. "I'm in danger at every moment, unfortunately. This means nothing."
"You don't have to be," Amphitrite's voice was closer, now. I could feel her body molding into my arm. "Stay with me. I'll protect you."
I ignored my arm, which was conveniently placed in the valley of her impressive chest. "I have a destiny to fulfill."
"So noble," Amphitrite said breathily, her nails scratching my hand lightly. Her mouth was on my ear again. "You don't have to let your life go to waste. I know you have potential. You could unlock it here, live the rest of your days in luxury. And, when the time comes, you could lead your people."
"I don't know if I'm cut out for that."
"No one is," Amphitrite muttered, her voice soft but laced with certainty. "At first."
Her words hung in the air like a mist, sinking into the cracks of my doubt. Her nails traced lazy patterns along my skin, her touch light but deliberate. I couldn't tell if she was trying to comfort me or keep me off balance. Probably both.
"You'd grow into it," she continued, her tone shifting to something smoother, silkier. "You've already proven what you're capable of. Defying gods, surviving battles you had no business winning. And yet, here you stand. You're more prepared than most would ever dream to be. All you lack is direction."
"And you're going to give me that direction?" I asked, pulling back slightly to meet her gaze. There was a challenge in my voice, though I wasn't entirely sure why. Maybe I was testing her. Maybe I just didn't like how easily her words made sense.
Her lips curved into a knowing smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Perhaps. Or maybe I'm simply offering you a choice. A path forward. Here in Atlantis, you could have it all, Percy. Power, respect, loyalty. Anything you could desire. You could shape this city into your vision, lead it into an era of strength and prosperity. You could even have the greatest thing of all," she paused, her smile deepening, and the glint in her eyes turned sharper, "me."
I blinked, caught off guard. "You?"
Her laugh was light, melodic, but with an edge I couldn't ignore. "Of course. Every great leader needs a partner. Someone to stand at their side. Someone who understands their struggles, who shares their goals. I could be that for you. Your consort, your confidante, your equal. And, in time, I would bear your seed. Together, we could create a family more powerful than anyone—especially those fools in court—could fathom."
Her words sent a shiver down my spine. The way she said it—so smooth, so certain—made it sound like a foregone conclusion. Like this wasn't just an offer but an inevitability.
"And what would you get out of all of this?" I asked, my voice quieter now.
Amphitrite leaned closer, her breath brushing against my ear, sending a wave of warmth down my neck. "In return," she said, her tone dropping to something almost conspiratorial, "I would have a leader. Someone who could fight for Atlantis, protect it, guide it. A prince willing to make the hard choices, who wouldn't shy away from what needed to be done."
I swallowed hard, her words pressing down on me like the weight of the ocean above us.
"You're asking me to be a king?"
"I'm offering you a kingdom," she corrected, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes. "And everything that comes with it. Power, loyalty, devotion… and me."
The temptation in her voice was impossible to ignore, but so was the razor-sharp precision behind it. She wasn't just making an offer; she was trying to pull me into her orbit, bind me to her in a way that couldn't easily be undone.
It made sense now. She wasn't just playing games for her own amusement—this was her gamble, her play for the future of Atlantis. She wasn't asking for love or devotion. She was asking for power, wrapped in the guise of partnership.
I didn't know whether to be impressed or unnerved. Probably both.
I tried to ignore the little nibble she gave my earlobe as she pulled away, her words lingering like a faint melody I couldn't quite shake.
This woman was something else—dangerous in a way that didn't involve weapons or magic, but with a pull that could twist your thoughts if you weren't careful.
But… she wasn't entirely wrong.
Her point made me hesitate, even if for just a second. Did I really have to keep throwing myself into the fire, risking my life over and over again? I could stay here. I could grow stronger, enjoy a life most demigods couldn't even dream of, and when the time came, maybe even lead Atlantis like she said.
Yeah, as if.
That thought didn't even have time to settle before I shoved it aside. I don't know why I'm this way, but there's no chance I'd ever let this prophecy fail—not when so much is riding on it.
My mom doesn't deserve to live under Titan rule. She's been through enough already. Hades might be shady, and I've got a complicated history with him, but I don't want him fading away. I don't want Hestia to disappear, either. Even my dad… Poseidon may not be winning any Father of the Year awards, but I'd still fight for him. For Olympus. For everyone back at camp.
I couldn't let them all be slaughtered just because I wanted an easy way out.
Amphitrite's words tugged at the edges of my mind, but my resolve hardened. This fight wasn't just about me—it never was. Every time I doubted myself, every time I wanted to run, I'd remind myself why I was doing this. For the people who couldn't fight back. For the ones I cared about, even if they drove me crazy sometimes.
I was broken out of my thoughts as I glanced at Amphitrite. She was still watching me, her expression calm, serene, but her eyes… Those were something else entirely. There was a sharpness in them, a knowing gleam that told me she thought she had me cornered. That she could sway me. This wasn't just about convincing me to stay. She was testing me, seeing if I'd bend under the weight of temptation.
"Nice try," I muttered under my breath, just loud enough for her to hear.