Chapter Text
His eyes could barely open. His body felt like led. His throat was as dry as the desert.
He tried to open his eyes again and could just barely make out a the shape of a human figure leaning over him.
“You’re the one, you must be.”
Funny, he thought as his eyes dragged shut. I’ve heard something similar before.
The next time he opened his eyes was to a dank cave ceiling. A droplet landed on his cheek.
“Oh, good! You’re awake,” a happy voice said.
He jerked away from the sound, hand automatically reaching for his pocket where his trusty sword, Riptide, resided.
He stared at the girl, no - the woman, before him. She stared at him openly, a shy smile gracing her beautiful face. Her posture was relaxed, though her shoulders were slightly hunched as if in embarrassment. Her fingers were slightly fidgety where they rested atop her crossed knees.
“You must be wondering where you are! I tried to make you as comfortable as possible,” she said, pointing to the mat and pillow he had been lying on. “Allow me to assure you - we’re near Amnios in Krete, and I mean you no harm. Please feel free to call me Elly.”
He gave it a moment before nodding. “Percy,” he replied. “You’re oddly helpful and friendly.” He narrowed his eyes, fingers lightly flexing near his pocket.
The woman brightened. “Oh, I’m so glad you think so! I was worried you would be wary, considering the circumstances.”
“What are the circumstances?” Percy asked.
Elly’s smile turned a bit strained. “Oh, well, you see… I need your help!”
“Can’t,” Percy interrupted with a shrug. “I’ve got ten essays to mark, two friends to prank-back, a sword-class to teach, and a little sister to babysit.”
Elly gaped for a few seconds, lost for words. “Oh, umm, what a schedule.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid I don’t know how long this matter will take, so you’ll have to reschedule.”
“I’ll reschedule you,” Percy said and swiftly stood up, backing away to the entrance which he guessed was where the distant sound of waves came from. “Thank you for the mat and pillow - honestly, most people I’ve come across wouldn’t have done that, so I really do appreciate it. But I can tell you’re a goddess and want something from me and no-can-do at the moment. Laters.”
“Wait!” Elly shouted, “You’re too busy to help your own sister?”
Percy paused in his escape. It happened to coincide with his stumbling into one of the cave-walls because he couldn’t gather his bearings that well right now.
“My sister?”
He thought of Kymopoleia winding up in trouble because of her storms and hurricanes again, or outgoing Rhodes falling foul to a quarrel aimed at her husband, or perhaps Benthesikyme’s fears concerning her daughters turned out to be true, maybe even little Estelle being kidnapped to prove a point to him.
Percy reached into his pocket and curled his fingers round his pen. “What happened?”
Elly flinched, eyes briefly avoiding his before she quietly huffed and forced herself to gaze back, her back and shoulders straight and proud. “I’m talking about me. I’m your sister.”
“…eh?”
“Not officially of course,” Elly hastily said. “Can you image what the Lord of the Skies would say? What he would do? He’s already becoming paranoid enough as it is - any more perceptions of betrayals and he may finally explode.”
Percy stared at her for a moment before sighing and rubbing his eyes. “Look, I don’t really know who you are, I’m a whole continent away from my home, and I’m hungry. Can you please not be all cryptic right now?”
Elly looked unsure but whatever internal battle she was having with herself quickly seemed to resolve. “You’re actually a lot further away than just a continent. You see, I was looking for a way to help my family. I searched through all sorts of ways that your mortal mind could never hope to comprehend - until I finally saw you, found you, and ferried you across from your dimension into mine.”
“Wait, what?”
“And I promise I’ll send you back once everything is sorted out!” Elly barrelled on. “There’s a prophecy about the fall of my family - I know I can’t change that but I can find a way to rebuild it. I’ve watched how you are with our family, I know you could be the same here if given the chance!”
“Hold up-”
“You’re my only hope, I’ve tried all the others!” Elly grabbed his shoulders tightly - she had moved so fast Percy hadn’t even realised. He’d never seen a god move quite like that before - maybe Ares, but Percy knew there was something different about this goddess, maybe even about this world she had brought him to…
“Please, brother,” Elly pleaded, her sweet brown eyes shimmering with tears. “Please, help me save our family.”
Percy bit his tongue. Just what had the Fates gotten him into now?