Chapter Text
There was little warning when something went wrong. At least to anyone that wasn’t Poseidon. To the rest of the family, however...it was less clear.
From what she could tell, at least a cursory glance, there was nothing immediately wrong with Atlantis. So it wasn’t their kingdom that had gotten her husband worked up.
So the only thing she could think of was his demigod child. Which was both concerning and confusing. Since he was supposed to have arrived at the camp the previous day.
And the camp was secure and safe. Nothing should be able to touch him there. The most he should be able to incur are a few scratches and bruises.
So what in Khaos’ name had gotten her husband so worked up?
"What just happened?" Triton asked after a moment when it became obvious Poseidon wasn't going to be returning immediately.
“I think something happened to your brother.” She said, pursing her lips in concern.
This could not be good. Up until now, Poseidon had struggled to stay out of things, but he had managed to do so for his own child’s safety. So for him to suddenly make a move to intervene, possibly. Spoke of a grave turn in events that they hadn’t anticipated?
Had Zeus done something? Or someone at camp done something in his stead? That shouldn't be possible, since camp was supposed to be a neutral, safe zone for the children, regardless of who their parents were. So the Gods, Zeus included, couldn’t just act in their manner. Sure, their children might be able to do something, but they weren’t allowed to give direct orders to them of that nature.
Not technically anyway.
And until he confirmed that the bolt was in Perseus’ possession, she did not think Zeus would be foolish enough to kill him on camp grounds. Hopefully.
But then again, he had proven to be that level of foolish before...
Triton pursed his lips. Her own confusion reflected in his face and thoughts apparently. “He’s safe within camp borders though, so what possibly could have happened? Zeus doesn’t know he is. Or shouldn’t know at least yet. And he wouldn’t be foolish enough to break the camp neutrality laws no matter how angry he might be right now.”
“No, he wouldn’t, or he shouldn’t at least.” Since that would mean more consequences than just between him and their family.
Amphitrite pursed her lips. She was just as lost as her son at the moment. But she knew nothing good would come of this regardless of what the end result was. “I do not know, but I intend to find out. Stay here and shut down the court until we find out more. I will be back once I have more news.”
If something had happened to the boy within the camp's borders. Then they most likely needed to be ready to receive him in Atlantis. Since she knew her husband would not stand for him to be unsafe there. Pending war with Zeus be damned, since this would be viewed as a declaration of war anyway by most of their people unless Zeus reacted in the correct manner.
It doesn’t take long for Amphitrite to find the source of what is going on. As she finds Poseidon standing at the edge of the lake in a discussion with the camp naiads. Holding a form in his arms.
A far too still form she realizes rather quickly.
Grief hits her like a tidal wave as she realizes that her worst fear is a reality. Somehow, what should be an impossibility is a reality. A child who should have been safe and on the road to recovery on the camp grounds. Is dead.
This shouldn’t be possible. The child was supposed to be safe here, as were all demigod children. So how had he possibly died?
She turned to her husband, confusion evident. “What happened? This is not supposed to happen here.”
Children were supposed to be safe here. Sure, there was the occasional scuffle with a bad injury. But death? They were supposed to be safe from that here.
And yet her young stepson was somehow dead.
How was this even possible?
There were safety protocols in place to prevent this kind of thing from happening. If a child was this critical that Chiron or one of the children felt they couldn’t take care of their injuries, they were supposed to contact someone with more extensive medical training to take over.
So why hadn’t someone been contacted? Why had the child’s injuries gone so untreated that he had apparently passed from them?
“It wasn’t one of Apollo’s that was in charge of him.”
Well, that would explain it- but- “What?!” She couldn’t help the hiss of disbelief. Because what did he mean that a child of Apollo had not been in charge of caring for a critically injured child?
Who had even made that decision? Because they were going to pay in blood or ichor; that much was for sure.
Thankfully, the Naiad that her husband had been conversing with was willing to tell her the story.
Apparently, Chiron, for some forsaken reason only known to him. Had not assigned a child of Apollo to Percy’s care. But one of his favorites a girl by the name of the Annabeth from Cabin 6. And since she wasn’t a trained healer naturally and had been in over her head trying to care for injuries caused by fighting the minotaur.
And rather than seeking help from someone who could have cared for the child better. She had apparently insisted on continuing to try and treat the child. Which had resulted in the child’s untimely death a short while ago.
She frowned, running through cabin numbers in her mind. It had been a long time since she had a demigod child of her own at the camp, but- she closed her eyes. “Please tell me that is not the cabin I think it is.”
The grief that looked back in her husband's eyes was all the confirmation she needed to answer the question. “Why would he do such a thing?”
Since there was no way this had happened purely as the result of the child. Or at least believed it was not the child's fault entirely, since some adult should have intervened before it reached the point. Most likely this had been started by Chiron, and the centaur had always played favorites. But this was to a new extreme degree.
Why hadn’t one of Apollo’s children been assigned to care for him? Why, of all the children in the camp, would he dare to assign one of her children to one of theirs?
“I do not know, love. But I intend to find out.”
She knew that tone in his voice. And she knew that the more vengeful side of his was starting to take over for the grief. Which was no surprise; she had known that was only a matter of time.
She is sure she will become angry in her own time. The child might not have been her own. But he was still of the sea. And Athena had taken one of theirs again. And they do not take lightly to these kind of things.
She just has other things to take care of before she joins her husband's anger. Though that is proving its own difficulty when she tries to take the boy's body. Poseidon pulls the boy's body closer to his own.
She gave his arm a squeeze. “Poseidon, I promise you I mean no harm. I just know you. I know that you will not rest until you feel your thirst quenched. But your child’s…body,” By Khaos below she shouldn’t be saying that of what was a 12-year-old child. “Needs to be prepared for his final rites still. Please let me take him to Atlantis.”
Vengeance was important and was very much needed in the moment. And her husband would not rest until he felt it was quenched. But the child also needed to be laid to rest.
“You’re grieving. We both are. I am angry for what happened, but let me do this for you. So you can make sure he sees justice.”
That seemed to get through to him at least. “Apologies. I don’t know what entirely came over me.”
She gave him a sad smile, trying to communicate she was not offended. “You lost your child to a place he should have been protected, Poseidon. You are on edge. While your feelings are misplaced, I understand where they are coming from. But I can promise you that nothing will become of him. Triton, his sisters, and I will make sure his body is properly prepared while you deal with things here.”
Under normal circumstances, guaranteeing her eldest responses to anything involving a half-sibling was maybe not the best choice. However, knowing who was related to the involved parties. She was fairly confident she knew how he would be reacting in this case.
How the whole family would be reacting really.
“Thank you.
Once Amphitrite was back in their family’s private quarters of Atlantis. She had her first real look at the boy. And the tragedy of the situation started to actually sink in.
She knew he was 12 because Poseidon had told her when he had made the decision to take Sally on as a partner. So she knew when the child had been conceived. But he was so small that if she hadn’t known that, she would have thought he was much younger.
Either way, losing a child at this age was a tragedy in itself. But something about losing one who looked so young seemed to make it almost worse.
Telling Triton would be one of the most difficult parts. They all took the loss of Pallas hard, but those were his daughters he had lost that day. And so any connection to Athena after what had happened would make things worse.
And while she may not have caused the injuries. It was still her daughter that had led to his death.
“Mother?”
Speaking of Triton. She took a deep breath and turned away from the boy’s body and towards Triton. Time to face the music, as the mortals liked to say.
“Over here, darling.”
Triton isn’t sure what is going on at first. When his mother first returns to their quarters with the demigod, much to his confusion, last he checked, claiming that child meant a declaration of war. So he shouldn't be here unless the circumstances were truly dire. Let alone his own mother being the one that brought him...
He was missing a key detail here, to say the least.
And then he pauses and takes a good look at the demigod. The child is still, too still. Almost like he is-
“No.”
He may not be fond of his father’s bastards. But he would never wish death on one of them at such a young age. This was just a child. He hadn’t even known his status as a demigod fully when this had happened from what he understood.
How did he end up dead?
“What happened?”
He already has a few guesses. The most obvious ones are already out. Since there would be no remains if their uncles had smited him. So this was obviously more internal. But just how? Camp was supposed to be safe from both mortals and monsters. That was one of its few guarantees.
So how had they ended up here?
She gave a tired sigh. “You know how he fought the Minotaur a day ago, correct?”
Triton frowned at that. “...yes? I mean he fought it, but also he got camp, did he not?”
Sure, the fight against the Minotaur was dangerous. But he had gotten to safety, so he should have gotten treatment for his injuries. So he shouldn’t be dead from them, correct? So what was going on here?
“Yes, he did. Which should have been more than enough. The issue is apparently when he was at the camp. Instead of being assigned to actual children of Apollo as he should have, he was assigned to a daughter of Athena.”
Triton’s expression morphed into one of grief. “Oh, Khaos below, please don’t tell me you’re going with this where I think you are.”
“I am sorry, Triton.”
He closed his eyes for his moment. “Did he suffer?”
“I honestly don’t know. I think he was unconscious since he arrived at the camp. So I hope not.”
There was, of course, a chance the child had regained consciousness in the meantime since he had returned to camp. But unable to do anything to get himself help. Which was honestly a horrifying thought on its own.
However, they had no way of knowing that.
Amphitrite was just praying internally to Khaos that he was given the small miracle of being out cold the entire time. And had passed without pain. Though some part of her told herself that probably wasn’t the case.
“Do we know who was behind it? How this even happened? I would have thought Chiron would have intervened if it was too much for anyone, regardless of their parentage."
That actually was something that had been troubling her. Even if Chiron thought the Athena girl could handle the situation adequately. Why hadn’t he been keeping a closer eye on things just in case? Why hadn’t he stepped in sooner to make sure the child hadn’t died?
Chiron owed them as many answers as the girl involved in the child’s death arguably. Several people at the camp did arguably.
“That is something we intend on figuring out. I do not know why he didn’t step in before something happened. But I know your father fully intends on figuring out and getting the proper justice.”
“In other words, that camp might end up 20 feet under water if the rest of the council doesn’t get involved.”
“Most likely.” Not unless they found a way to appease the rest of the family. Which, admittedly, considering certain situations, might become complicated very fast. But she doubted her husband cared much about certain situations at the moment.
Triton’s next comment is so soft she almost misses it. “He was a child. Pallas at least was grown when it happened.”
“I know.”
“This is so much worse.” He stares at the boy’s body for a moment more before asking. “I’m assuming you want me to go retrieve my sisters?”
“Yes.” Since they would be helpful in making the burial shroud. “And then after that I need you to start making the proper announcements to the kingdom. Since we’ll need to start the preparations for the mourning period.”
She knows Poseidon hasn’t officially said what to do in the aftermath of the child’s death. And the child was never officially made a member of the family. There never was a chance to tragically. But it feels right.
“Of course.”
It shows how upset he is over this. That he doesn’t even try fighting her on this.