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Sing, O Muse, of Perseus, bold and sea-born,
Whose name by the weaving of dark Fate was torn;
Whose memory slept beneath mist and decree,
While far from his home wandered son of the sea.
Sing now of Apollo, the radiant lord,
Far-shooting archer and wielder of sword;
Whose golden light searched through the heavens above,
For the hero once bound to his heart by love.
Though gods may decree and the Fates may divide,
Though Mist veil the truth and make memory hide,
The sun shall descend from the heavens on high,
And call to the sea beneath one endless sky.
So hear now, O Muse, how the lost were restored,
How Rome stood in silence before its own lord;
How golden light fell where the ocean winds flee,
And the Sun found his way to the heart of the Sea.
The water pipes inside the Roman Senate chamber did not just vibrate. They shrieked. The sound tore through the marble chamber with such force that several senators flinched and instinctively reached for their weapons. Somewhere beneath the floor, ancient pipes groaned under pressure, sending thin streams of water across the polished marble. Percy Jackson stood in the center of the chamber, surrounded by hostile senators, and somehow managed to look more annoyed than frightened.
Ever since Percy had stumbled into Camp Jupiter, he had been a strange, walking contradiction. He was a son of Neptune, yet ocean water did not calm his nerves in the way everyone expected it to. Instead, Percy found himself instinctively drawn toward anything associated with the god of the sun.
He would sometimes stop outside the temple district without even realizing he had wandered there, his eyes lingering on the golden lyre patterns carved into the stone. He liked the warmth that seemed to radiate from Apollo's temple. He liked the smell of incense drifting through its doors. Most strangely of all, whenever Octavian performed an augury, Percy barely paid attention to the stuffed animals. He watched the altar fire. There was something about the dancing flames that made his chest ache with a warmth he could not explain, as if some forgotten part of him recognized the fire.
Now, standing in the Senate chamber, that strange warmth had become something far stronger. It was roaring inside him.
"He is a spy!" Octavian bellowed, his fingers tearing into the stuffed eagle he had been using for his latest augury. His eyes were wild with conviction, or perhaps desperation. "He sneaks around the shrine of Apollo! He defiles the sacred spaces of the Augur! He refuses to respect Roman authority! Reyna, the omens demand blood. The Senate must execute him before he curses the legion!"
A wave of murmurs rolled through the chamber. Several senators nodded grimly. A few drew their gladii, the metal scraping against leather sheaths. Percy looked from one weapon to another and then back at Octavian.
"Seriously?" he asked.
Octavian's face twisted. "Silence!"
"I'm just saying," Percy replied, folding his arms, "executing somebody because they looked at a fire seems a little extreme."
''Your dangerous"
''I'm a Probatio!"
"You mock Rome!"
"No. I'm pointing out that you're trying to kill me because I walked near a temple."
"You are a threat!"
"I've been here for a few weeks."
"Exactly!"
Percy stared at him. "That doesn't actually help your argument."
Several senators shifted uncomfortably. Octavian's face reddened, but before he could respond, the altar flame suddenly surged.
Percy's amusement vanished.
The fire had changed.
It was no longer orange or yellow. It burned with a pure, brilliant gold, illuminating the entire chamber. The air became unnaturally still. The water inside the pipes began to hiss. The temperature dropped for one heartbeat before rising into a strange, dry heat that prickled across Percy's skin.
Then the ceiling disappeared.
There was no explosion or falling stone. The marble simply dissolved, opening into a perfect geometric circle of blinding golden light. Every senator fell to his knees. Every the centurions dropped their heads in reverence.
Someone whispered the words Percy suddenly realized he had been waiting to hear.
"Lord Apollo."
A figure descended through the light.
This was Apollo in his strict Roman aspect. His toga was immaculate, white as fresh snow, bordered with deep imperial purple. His golden hair was cropped short and arranged with almost military precision. Heavy signet rings adorned his fingers, and his posture was straight enough to make even the most disciplined centurion look relaxed. His eyes were not the warm, molten gold Percy remembered. They were hard, burning gold, calculating and ancient.
He radiated majesty rather than warmth.
He looked like a god who had been given an empire and expected it to obey.
Reyna immediately dropped to one knee. "Lord Apollo."
The senators followed.
Octavian practically flattened himself against the marble floor.
Percy didn't move.
He couldn't.
The moment Apollo's sandals touched the floor, something inside Percy's mind shattered.
The Mist was gone.
His memories returned all at once.
Percy remembered sunlight.
He remembered laughter.
He remembered a ridiculous grin and a golden sports car. He remembered long conversations that had stretched until sunrise, quiet moments when neither of them had needed to speak, and the feeling of a warm hand slipping into his. He remembered secret meetings, whispered promises, and the warmth of being held by someone who had made him feel as though the entire world could disappear and he would still be safe.
Then came Hera. The separation, the confusion, the terrible emptiness of knowing you didn't know something you ought to know.
Percy staggered forward, one hand flying to his head as tears filled his eyes.
"Apollo..."
The god's expression changed instantly.
The severe Roman mask disappeared.
For one brief moment, he looked less like an emperor and more like someone who had finally found the person he had been searching for.
"MY Perseus."
Percy didn't think.
He ran.
He ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Faster than a nymph trying to outrun a god. Ironic considering the context.
He crossed the entire Senate chamber in seconds and threw his arms around Apollo's neck, burying his face against the crisp white and gold fabric of the god's toga.
The Senate collectively stopped breathing.
A senator near the back actually fainted.
Another covered his eyes, apparently convinced Percy was about to be struck down.
Octavian looked as though someone had personally informed him that the world was ending.
But Apollo did not punish Percy.
Instead, his arms came around him; reverently, carefully and protectivly.
The god lowered his head, one hand settling against the back of Percy's dark hair.
"I found you," Apollo whispered breatlessly.
Percy's shoulders shook.
"You came."
"I always come for you."
Apollo gently pulled Percy's face upward, studying him as though searching for injuries. His gold eyes moved over Percy's face, his expression tightening whenever he noticed the faint signs of exhaustion.
"Have they harmed you?"
"No."
"Have they threatened you?"
Percy hesitated.
Apollo's expression immediately darkened.
"Who?"
Percy shook his head. "It's complicated."
"It no longer matters."
Apollo's thumb brushed away a tear from Percy's cheek. Percy gave a small, breathless laugh, still overwhelmed by the sudden return of memories. He studied Apollo's face, noticing things he hadn't seen before. The sharp jaw. The military posture. The heavy Roman aura. Everything about him was different.
Or perhaps Percy was simply seeing him properly for the first time.
"You feel different," Percy whispered.
Apollo raised an eyebrow.
"Different?"
"You're not my sunny, Greek god right now." Percy looked him over again. "You're... you're a Roman general."
A slow smile spread across Apollo's face.
"Brilliant as always, my love."
The Senate became even quieter.
Apollo reached up and gently ran his fingers through Percy's dark hair. "Perseus Purus," he murmured. "My pure one. Perseus Alexander. Defender of men. You see through the Mist of empires."
Percy swallowed.
"You remember everything?"
"I remember everything."
There was a dangerous edge to the god's voice.
Percy recognized it immediately.
"Hera --I meant Juno ?"
Apollo's jaw tightened.
"That matter will be addressed."
Percy sighed. "Please don't start a divine war on behalf. My patrós is enough" (1)
Apollo gave him a look.
"No promises."
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of."
For the first time, the faintest hint of amusement appeared in Apollo's expression. Then he turned toward the Senate.
The warmth vanished, completly.
The god's face became cold and imperial.
"Let the Romans hear this."
Every senator stiffened.
"Let Olympus hear it."
Apollo's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Both my aspects, Apollon and Apollo, recognize Perseus Jackson. He is under my protection."
Golden light spread across the marble beneath their feet.
"And anyone who threatens him threatens me."
Octavian slowly raised his head.
"L-Lord Apollo..."
Apollo's bronze eyes turned toward him.
"You."
Octavian swallowed.
"I am your loyal Augur."
"You are an arrogant child who mistakes interpretation for authority."
Octavian's face went white.
"I have served you faithfully!"
"You have served yourself."
Apollo stepped toward him, every movement controlled and terrifyingly calm. "You have hidden behind prophecies and omens, convinced yourself that because you interpret the signs of the gods, you possess the authority of the gods themselves."
Octavian's hands began to shake.
"I—I have brought you honors."
"You threatened my beloved."
The words seemed to freeze the entire chamber.
Octavian's mouth opened, but no sound emerged.
Apollo's expression hardened.
"Do not ever do so again."
Octavian collapsed against the floor.
Apollo turned away from him as though he had already ceased to exist. His attention returned entirely to Percy.
For a moment, the god's Roman severity softened again.
"I must settle a score on Olympus, my sweet sea prince."
Percy sighed.
"Of course you do and please don't call me prince. patrós's subjects are enough"
Apollo smiled mischief shinning through his golden eyes.
"But the sun will be watching you."
He pressed a gentle kiss against Percy's forehead.
Then golden light exploded through the chamber.
When the senators could see again, Apollo was gone.
The Senate remained completely silent.
For nearly a full minute, nobody moved.
Then the chamber erupted.
"What just happened?"
"Did Apollo claim him?"
"He called him his beloved!"
"Silence!"
"What does this mean for Neptune?"
"Does Neptune know?"
"Why would Apollo--"
"Enough!"
Reyna's voice cut through the chaos.
She slowly rose from her chair. Her hands were perfectly steady, but her face was blank with shock. She looked toward the ruined ceiling, then at Percy, then at Octavian, who was still lying on the floor in a trembling heap.
Reyna took a deep breath.
"Senate is adjourned."
Nobody moved.
Reyna's voice became colder.
"Now."
The senators practically sprinted for the doors.
Some tripped over their robes. Others refused to make eye contact with Percy. A few centurions instinctively saluted him before realizing what they were doing and hurriedly lowering their hands.
Percy watched the chaos with an expression of complete bewilderment.
"That went well."
Reyna looked at him.
"Did it?"
"No."
"Good."
Percy turned and walked out.
He needed air.
The moment he stepped outside, the noise of the Senate became muffled behind him. New Rome looked strangely normal. Children were walking along the streets. Legionnaires were carrying equipment. The Little Tiber flowed quietly in the distance.
Nobody seemed to know what to do.
Then Percy noticed people staring at him.
A group of legionnaires immediately looked away.
A child whispered something to his mother.
Two senators crossed the street rather than walk past him.
Percy sighed.
"Great."
A small hand suddenly caught his forearm.
He turned.
Hazel Levesque stood there.
Her eyes were wide.
"Percy."
"Hey, Hazel."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Really."
Hazel glanced toward the Senate. "Because the entire valley just watched Apollo descend from the sky and call you his beloved."
Percy rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah."
Hazel stared at him.
"You're dating Apollo."
Percy hesitated.
"Technically."
Hazel blinked.
"Technically?"
"It's complicated."
"Of course it is."
Percy gave her a tired smile.
"Hera -- err Juno kidnapped me. She erased my memories and dumped me here."
Hazel's expression changed immediately.
"She did what?"
Percy nodded.
"I remembered everything when Apollo arrived."
Hazel looked at him for several seconds.
"You look different."
Percy raised an eyebrow.
"Different how?"
"Older."
"I'm still the same age."
"I don't mean physically."
Hazel struggled to find the words.
"You seem like you know who you are now."
Percy's smile softened.
"I do."
Hazel nodded.
"Then I'm glad."
She hesitated before giving him a small smile.
"Big brother?"
Percy looked at her.
"Yeah?"
"Please don't let Apollo destroy New Rome."
Percy laughed.
"I'll try."
A loud voice came from behind them.
"TRY?"
Percy turned.
Frank Zhang was jogging toward them.
He looked completely overwhelmed.
"Percy!"
"Hey, Frank."
"Is it true?"
"Depends."
"Did Apollo just descend from the sky?"
"Yes."
"Did he threaten Octavian?"
"Yes."
"Did he threaten the Senate?"
"Sort of."
"Did he call you his beloved?"
Percy scratched his cheek.
"Yeah."
Frank stared at him.
Then he looked at Hazel.
Then back at Percy.
"You're dating a god."
"Apparently."
Frank took several seconds to process this.
"Okay."
Percy waited.
Frank nodded.
"Okay."
Hazel smiled faintly.
Frank looked toward the Senate building.
"Man, Octavian looked like he was going to faint."
"He probably was," Percy said.
Frank lowered his voice. "Is he going to try something?"
Percy's expression changed.
The humor disappeared.
"I think so."
Hazel frowned.
"Why?"
Percy looked back toward the Senate.
"Because Octavian just lost everything."
Frank's expression hardened.
"And people like that don't usually give up quietly."
Percy nodded.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Then Frank sighed.
"Well, at least you're still our friend, right?"
Percy looked at him.
"Of course."
"Good."
Frank's shoulders relaxed.
"Because if I had to fight a guy who has the god of archery checking his relationship status, I'd probably turn into a goldfish and hide in the Little Tiber."
Percy laughed.
Hazel shook her head.
"You'd be a terrible goldfish."
"I'd be an excellent goldfish."
"You'd get eaten."
"That's not my fault."
Percy laughed again, and for the first time since arriving at Camp Jupiter, the sound felt completely natural.
Hazel and Frank smiled in unison
For a brief moment, everything felt normal.
Then Percy looked toward the sky.
A single beam of golden sunlight had broken through the clouds.
He stared at it.
Somewhere beyond the mortal world, Apollo was watching.
Percy knew it. He could feel it.
And for the first time since Hera had stolen his memories, Percy did not feel lost.
He knew who he was. He knew where he belonged and he knew that the sun had not forgotten him.
Neither had he forgotten the sun.
(1) patrós - Father in Greek
Its Percy's Birthday today. This is a gift from me to you. Happy Birthday Percy!