Chapter Text
Theo ran into Annabeth on the way up to see Percy. He’d been back to the sick room a couple of times to see his twin since he himself had woken a few days ago. Both times, the blonde girl had already been at his brother’s side. Like a bitter nurse that was impatient for her charge to awaken. Though Theo didn’t understand why. She mostly just ignored him and left without saying much. This time was no different. As they ran up the hill together, they didn’t say a word.
Theo wanted desperately to ask what her obsession was with his brother. But part of him was scared that it would turn out to be a crush, and then she would likely just hate him more for embarrassing her.
Girls their age were so finicky.
Percy was already most of the way through the camp’s explanation of all things god-like by the time Theo and Annabeth arrived. Theo’s chest throbbed when he caught sight of his twin. He slowed down before Annabeth did, and let her take the lead. She marched up to the table with no hesitation. Her eyes were locked on Percy, but there was no blush or hint of being flustered. Just intensity. As if he held answers to questions that she’d long awaited the answer to.
So not a crush then.
Not that there was much she could see that would make a difference between the twins. At this point Percy had only been awake for a few minutes, and she’d barely talked to Theo. Which meant that any contrasts she saw between them came from her imagination at best. They hadn’t even stood next to each other yet, so she wouldn’t be able to spot the half inch or so that Percy had on Theo.
What was it that had her so focused on Percy?
His defeat of the minotaur maybe?
“—the West die? The gods simply moved, to Germany, to France, to Spain, for a while. Wherever the flame was brightest, the gods were there.” Chiron was in the middle of what sounded to be a rather dramatic monologue. Not dissimilar to the one he’d given to Theo a couple of days ago. “They spent several centuries in England. All you need to do is look at the architecture. People do not forget the gods. Every place they’ve ruled, for the last three thousand years, you can see them in paintings, in statues, on the most important buildings. And yes, Percy, of course they are now in your United States. Look at your symbol, the eagle of Zues. Look at the statue of Prometheus in Rockefeller Center, the Greek facades of your government buildings in Washington. I defy you to find any American City where the Olympians are not prominently displayed in multiple placed. Like it or not—and believe me, plenty of people weren’t fond of Rome, either—America is now the heart of the flame. It is the great power of the West. And so Olympus is here. And we are here.”
Percy blinked, shellshocked. His cards were forgotten in his hands as he stared at the centaur, wide-eyed. “Who are you, Chiron? Who. . . who am I?”
“Who are you?” Chiron turned his chair to smile at both Theo and Percy at once. “Well, that’s the question we all want answered, isn’t it? But for now, we should get you a bunk next to your brother in cabin eleven. There will be new friends to meet. And plenty of time for lessons tomorrow. Besides, there will be s’mores tonight, and I simply adore chocolate.”
Percy turned his gaze to Theo. His twin looked for a moment like he didn’t recognize him. Theo felt the same. Suddenly there was something about Percy that he hadn’t ever seen before. An undercurrent of. . . it was hard to define.
Power perhaps.
This is the son of a god. His mind now told him when he looked at his twin.
He wondered if Percy saw the same.
They had no time to greet each other. No time to catch up, or even hug. Chiron had already started to rise from his chair, and had garnered all of Percy’s attention as his bottom half was revealed. The twins didn’t go back to do it either. At least not yet. After a few moments for Percy to gather himself, Chiron lead them through the camp. Percy still looked like he wasn’t sure if he were dreaming. Though he got better as they got further into the tour. He and Chiron chatted, with Percy asking tons of questions as he tried to make sense of the shift in reality. Theo looked back to see the state of Annabeth, only to find that she had vanished.
“What a weird girl,” Theo muttered at they reached the cabins.
“What?” Percy asked. He fell back, to walk in stride with Theo from where he’d been matching pace with Chiron.
“Nothing,” Theo shook his head, speaking loud enough for Percy to understand this time. “How are you feeling, by the way?”
“I don’t know.” Percy’s eyes scanned the camp in front of him. “How is it?”
Theo easily understood what he meant by the vague question. It was something they often asked each other on the rare occasion that were able to talk while they were both at school.
“Not bad.” Theo answered honestly. “Cabin eleven is a little. . . cramped. But so far, everyone’s left me alone for the most part.”
Percy nodded. A bit of tension melted out of his shoulders, but not completely. They got to the larger cabins at the end center of the horseshoe layout. Percy did well as he made an unintentional game out of guessing who the cabins belonged to. Theo found his eyes drawn to cabin three. It was one he’d found himself staring at often. There was something about it that drew him in. Probably that it looked like a cabin that had been plucked straight from the beach. Not unlike the one they always rented on Montauk. Though of course, this one was fit for a god. So, it was adorned in brilliant shells, sea glass, and coral that made up mosaics on the walls.
As if he could feel the same draw as Theo did, Percy stopped in front of the cabin. Before Chiron could stop him, Percy stuck his head inside the doorway. Chiron didn’t let him look long. He put a hand on Percy’s shoulder and led him away. Theo couldn’t help but wonder what Percy could have seen to cause such a haunted look on his face.
***
“Theo, I trust you can handle your brother from here?” Chiron asked once they reached cabin eleven.
Theo, slightly taken off guard, nodded in acknowledgement more than anything. Then the centaur was off. In a repeat of what had happened before to Theo alone, the twins were left with the entire cabin staring at them. This time was different though. These kids had already started to get used to Theo, and the idea of Percy. Now, half their shock was annoyingly familiar and had nothing to do with the feat Percy had accomplished against the minotaur.
“You’re twins.” One of the younger girls spoke the thoughts of the crowd.
“Which is which?” others muttered to each other.
“This is Percy. Yes, we are twins. Yes, we are identical.” Theo introduced with a sigh and flapped a hand towards his brother next to him.
Percy waved awkwardly.
“So, you’re the one that defeated the minotaur.” An older camper—a son of Hermes that Theo couldn’t remember the name of—stated.
“. . . yeah. That’s me.” Percy eyed the crowd warily.
The two of them had naturally gravitated closer together, both slightly turned away to keep more of the crowd in view. It felt as if they were surrounded. Now, Theo knew that the instincts that caused them to do things like naturally shift to protect each other, likely stemmed from the innate battle sense gifted to them by their godly father. Whoever that may be.
“Let’s leave them alone guys.” Luke pushed to the front of the crowd.
Like always, everyone complied. Though their eyes lingered. Luke’s included. Theo could see Luke assessing Percy. Though the only reason that he even knew it was Percy was because it was obviously Theo who had spoken. If Luke were to close his eyes, and the two of them were to switch places, then he wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between them in their matching camp issued outfits. Like some cruel joke, someone had put Percy in the same pair of shorts that Theo had been given. Being unable to tell the difference, obviously unnerved Luke. More so than the others.
Theo’s mind latched onto it.
Did Luke see them as a potential threat?
Why?
He couldn’t help but recall the way the older boy had snuck out the night prior. Then the way he’d talked about nightmares that morning. The guy was not nearly as harmless as he seemed when he smiled. Percy hadn’t picked up on this fact quite yet though. Theo could feel him relax slightly at Luke’s smile from where their shoulders pressed together.
“This is Luke, he’s the head counselor of the Hermes Cabin.” Theo introduced. “He’s been helping me out the last few days.”
“Helping you?” Percy asked as he shook Luke’s offered hand.
“We’ve been trying to narrow down who your godly parent might be.” Luke explained. He dropped Percy’s hand, and stuck his back in his pocket. Perfectly casual. “Nothing definitive yet. Though we can solidly presume you are not sons of Hephestus.”
Percy sent Theo a questioning look. The one Theo gave in return thankfully seemed to pass the message of how bad it had been.
“Right. Process of elimination.” Percy didn’t sound especially hopeful. “How many gods are there again?”
Theo huffed out a laugh. “Let’s not talk about it.”
“That’s what I thought.” Percy was irritated. Not at Theo, but at the situation. His humor faded like the sea before a storm. “How long do these things usually take?” he asked Luke. His eyes lingered on the cots on the floor.
Luke didn’t try to hide his wince. “It depends. Sometimes, your godly parent claims you quickly.”
He locked eyes with Theo. Already it had been days with no sign. Theo was hoping that now that Percy was awake. . . well maybe it was it was silly to think that a god would wait for them both to claim them. He could only hope. And Luke had been kind in making sure those hopes were realistic, but not crushed completely.
“Come on Percy.” Theo grabbed his twin’s arm. “I’ll show where we sleep, and then we can go see the amphitheater.”
“We just saw the amphitheater.”
“Then we’ll see it again.”
***
They did not see the amphitheater again. Well, at least not right away. They talked on the way there, their pace slow. Theo learned that Percy was deep in denial. Even after the conversation with Luke, he hadn’t fully grasped that their father was truly a god. He was just barely about to accept it, as they passed the bathrooms. There a gaggle of kids loitered. Theo unfortunately recognized them. Percy and Theo immediately tensed as the group perked up. What Percy didn’t know was that the same group had been eyeing Theo for days. He’d stuck close to Luke and crowds during that time, and it had kept him safe.
Now that Percy was awake, the group looked even hungrier for blood. Even better, the twins were alone. The gang approached like wolves. With three of them circling behind so that there was no escape.
“Ares kids.” Theo muttered to Percy, eyeing the ones behind them.
Thankfully, Percy understood perfectly, despite any lingering denial. He took a step forward towards the head girl, and drew himself up. Theo kept back. His eyes on the kids that encircled them. There were all at least a year older, if not many years. Where Percy and Theo were lean, Ares had children that were built like tanks. Each and every one of them with a fire in their eyes that burned to cause pain and humiliation.
Theo supposed this was inevitable. But that didn’t make him happy about it.
“Look at that! Newbie, you found a clone!” Clarisse—Theo remembered her name from when Luke had told him to stay away from her specially—joked. Around them the other kids laughed as if she were the pinnacle of humor. “We have an initiation here for newbies.”
Fuck. Theo wanted to opt out. The last thing he needed was fight. They’d talked a good bit about ADHD and such on their walk, along with the idea of their godly father, but had not even touched the subject of their mother yet. Percy looked like he was thinking the same thing.
“What’s your names?” Clarisse demanded.
“I’m Percy. This is Theo. Jackson.” Percy said. “And we’re not interested in any initiations. Thanks, but no thanks.”
She smiled down at them with a deadly gleam in her eyes. “It wasn’t optional.”
Things were a bit of a blur from there. There were too many Ares kids, and only two of the Jackson twins. To their credit, the twins held their own for a surprising amount of time. Which only served to piss of their attackers more. After a brief scuffle, the bigger, mostly older kids got ahold of them and began to march them to the bathrooms. The twins began to struggle harder as they realized where they were headed.
“Since you got here first, you can go first.” Clarisse growled incorrectly to Percy as she held him and kicked in his knees, so he was forced to kneel in front of the disgusting toilet.
Theo could smell it from where he was. His arms were bruising from where two Ares boys held them behind his back. It didn’t stop him from trying to twist harder to get away.
Percy let out a laugh full of irony and scorn. But he did not correct her. Clarisse pushed down, then with a jerk flew back. Along with her, went the kids that held Theo. It took a moment for Theo to realize what happened. The blood rushed back into his lower arms. He rubbed them as he looked around and tried to make sense of what had changed.
The toilets had exploded in high pressure geysers of disgusting sewer water. It soaked the Ares cabin bullies, who mostly went screaming from the room in horror. Theo didn’t blame them. He would’ve run too. If he didn’t watch as the water turned pure and fresh, with the distinct scent not of toilet, but of the sea. By the time it died down, the bathroom floor was noticeably cleaner than before, and the water ran clear. Yet somehow the cleansing waters managed to completely miss Clarisse. Who was the only one that remained of her siblings. She panted and pushed herself to her feet. Her entire form was covered in black water that dripped onto the floor. She wiped the water from her eyes with sharp flick and curled her lip at Percy like a dog showing their teeth.
“You are so dead. Do you hear me? Dead.”
She made sure to hit her shoulder into Theo’s as she fled as quickly as her siblings, gagging as she caught a whiff of her own arm.
“Theo.” Percy was still on the floor. Around him a circle of dry concrete. “You’re not wet.”
“Neither are you.” Theo pointed out. He crossed his arms.
“What do you think it means?”
“It means that you two get to be on my team for capture the flag.”
Both boys jumped as Annabeth seemed to appear out of nowhere. She stuffed a baseball cap into the back pocket of her jeans. Her greys eyes narrowed as they switched between the twins. A furrow formed between her eyes. She was confused. Not about Percy’s crazy trick.
Theo wondered if she’d heard what Clarisse said to Percy. If she now didn’t know which was which.
“Were you here the whole time?” Percy was outraged. He stood and strode up the girl with a glare. “You could’ve done something!”
“You handled it.” Annabeth shrugged. She locked her gaze on him. “How did you do that?”
Percy shrugged. He squirmed under her intense scrutiny. “Right, well if you excuse us. . .”
This time is was Percy who dragged Theo away. Annabeth’s eyes followed them. Uncertain, and just as intense as ever.
***
Days passed without much fanfare. Percy grew more comfortable at camp, and Theo started to feel restless. He couldn’t help but feel like something was watching him. In his dreams, he wandered endless halls. Lost. With voices that seemed to call for him. Some were familiar, while others sent chills through him. But try as he might, he could not find anyone else. No exit. He wandered endlessly. Desperate. Time held no meaning. Each dream could’ve stretched on years. The only light from his sword, and the occasional green torch that floated against a wall. Finally, after beating his hands bloody against another dead end, he would wake up with a shock, Percy close beside him, and stare at the ceiling until he fell back to sleep. If he could.
At meals, he burned offerings and made the same three prayers in rotation. They came to him as if he’d done it a million times before.
A prayer that luck stay on his side.
A prayer that Percy stayed safe and healthy.
A prayer that their father didn’t forget them.
The other campers left the twins alone for the most part. Even Luke, who seemed uncertain of who to look every time he approached them. His every statement addressed to them both rather than an individual. They continued activities to try and sort out their godly parent to little success. On top of that they attended classes on mythology and other such subjects that had somehow become extremely relevant. Annabeth started to teach them Ancient Greek in the morning. Despite her attitude, she was a surprisingly competent teacher. She and Percy especially seemed to have some sort of natural chemistry. Which resulted in them fighting as much as it didn’t. Still, Annabeth was uncertain every morning as she eyed them at the start of the lesson. She needed them to tell her which of them was which in order to properly address them. Something that she never failed to do in ways that were not as subtle as she thought.
The first day, Theo thought that she would snub him as soon as she identified Percy. However, that never happened. Percy, it seemed, had in some ways disappointed her just as much as Theo had. He was not some tactical genius or perfect hero that Theo assumed she must’ve imagined Percy as before he woke up. Either that, or she realized just how identical they were and now any difference she’d created between the two in her mind had been proven untrue. She treated them both with the same amount of suspicion and fascination.
Theo almost missed it when she’d mostly ignored him.
On Thursday, Theo and Percy had their first sword fighting lesson with Luke. It was private, which the twins were grateful for. They drew enough looks without having a crowd watch them trying something for the first time. Luke was good about such things. Though sometime it was unavoidable. Such as when a crowd had formed to watch the twins win against the naiads at canoe races the day prior. Theo stepped forward first to spar with Luke. Luke instructed that he openly attack. So that the older demigod could determine where to begin the lessons.
Theo rushed forward. The sword felt awkward and unbalanced in his hand, but he was able to hold his own. A few jabs, some dodging that came as naturally as skipping, and a little twist of his sword against Luke’s. Somehow, he’d managed to disarm a surprised Luke. The older boy was left blinking at his empty hand in shock.
“Sorry.” Theo said automatically. He was just as surprised, and scared he might’ve upset Luke.
Luke shook his head and let out a laugh. He bent to pick up his sword. “Don’t apologize. Which one are you?”
That hurt. Theo tried not to let it show. “Theo.”
“Right, Theo.” Luke was kind enough to look apologetic. He straightened and fell back into stance. “That was amazing. Do it again.”
So, he tried. This time, Luke didn’t have a smile on his face. He didn’t hold back. He knocked Theo on his ass. The look his eyes was hard, annoyed, as he stared down at Theo. Then it faded. Not away, but behind that disarming smile that Luke had down so well. A family trait. One most of his siblings shared. A mask that made it easy to trust someone. A useful trait for the god of thieves and his children. Luke helped Theo up, and gave some light feedback before switching his attention to Percy.
They left the training ground that day exhausted and sore, but satisfied none-the-less.
Friday came, and with it, Percy and Theo discovered just how seriously everyone took capture the flag. The twins were armed, covered from head to toe in mismatched, ill-fitting armor, and sent out into battle like it were truly war. Annabeth led then out into the woods. She’d been talking up her strategy all week, but Theo didn’t see her vision. Things were being kept from them. That he was sure of, and he didn’t like it.
“Why here?” Theo asked as she instructed them to stay far from everyone else.
“Just stay.” She smiled in a way that promised possible pain. Then she placed her baseball cap on her head and vanished.
Theo glared at the spot she’d disappeared from, his arms crossed.
Of course, she could like teleport or turn invisible or some shit. It explained so much. He couldn’t help but wonder how much she’d been spying on them. Trying to find those unknown answers that she seemed desperate for the twins to supply.
Everything was quiet.
The two—ADHD—twins didn’t know what to do with themselves. They spun in circles. Chatted. Finally talked about their mom. Cried. Sobered up. Sat against a log with their legs stretched out and stared at the sky.
Still, nothing.
“God, this boring.” Percy complained with a groan. “How long has it been?”
“Hours.” Theo sighed. “I don’t know. I’m just as time blind as you are.”
“Why do you think she left us here?”
“I have no idea.”
“She said she wanted us on her team. Talked about it all week.”
“She wants you on the team.” Theo argued.
“Same difference.” Percy said, spitefully. “None of them can tell the difference between us anyway.”
“I should cut my hair.” Theo offered.
“Nah.” Percy waved him off. “Don’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I dunno.” Percy looked confused at himself. “I just feel like its safer this way.”
It felt like the forest grew silent around them. Theo felt his stomach drop slightly. If he wasn’t mistaken, even the shadows got darker. Suddenly, the blue Cherry Coke that Percy had got him addicted to decided to catch up to him.
“I’m gonna go pee real quick.” Theo motioned vaguely to the denser trees behind them.
Percy nodded, distracted as he followed suit and stood. His eyes scanned the trees like the nymphs might come out and attack at any moment. Theo made his way into the underbrush. Not far. Just out of sight in case Annabeth or anyone else appeared unexpectedly.
The stillness, the growing darkness as the sun got lower in the sky, seemed to press in on him.
He went as fast as he could. Eager to get back to Percy. He was just buttoning up his pants when a growl echoed out. The vibrations ran through him. So deep he could feel it in his chest.
“Fuck.” He cursed. Barely more than a breath.
He let his armor fall back into place.
One hand on his borrowed sword, he slowly turned away from the tree.
Not five feet in front of him, a shadow crawled out of the bushes. No, not a shadow. A massive dog with shinning, wet fangs and claws that cut into the earth like butter.
Dog felt like it was too light of a word.
“Hellhound.” Theo thought out loud.
The hound took a step forward. Drool trailing from its jaws all the way to the dirt below. Theo took a step back.
“Eeeeasy.” Theo held out a hesitant hand like trying to calm a stray. “Good doggy.”
Maybe it was nice hellhound.
Percy was yelling. Theo couldn’t hear what. He was too focused. He barely even noticed the other voices. But still he caught that someone was with his twin. Someone not friendly.
“Fuck.”
The hellhound lunged.
Theo stumbled back. He almost tripped, and became dogmeat. At the last moment, he managed to keep his footing. He got one foot in front of another.
It felt like a bit of good luck. Finally.
Or perhaps it was just reflexes.
He ran.
Faster than he’d ever run before.
The hellhound nipped at his heels.
It’s burning breath on his neck.
The underbrush crushed and tore under its massive paws. Thunderous like a truck cutting through the forest.
He thought about yelling—screaming—but he didn’t seem to have the breath to spare. It probably wouldn’t have been very useful anyway. Theo could hear kids yelling all over as they played the game. Cheers even, maybe. Any sound he might have forced out subconsciously, was lost on any close enough ears.
Theo’s chest ached. His legs burned, but adreline pushed him forward.
Death was only a step behind him.
He weaved. It was said to be good for bears, right?
It worked. By some miracle he was able to create some semblance of distance.
The hellhound was big enough that it had more trouble than him changing direction. Especially between the old trees. Theo didn’t know where he was running. He followed the tug inside him and hoped it was more than animalistic panic.
“Theo!” Percy’s voice called out as Theo broke from the tree line to a small creek.
Theo lost his footing as the ground changed from dirt to rocks. He fell to the ground. The pain he felt as his skin bruised against the stones was nothing compared to the terror that filled him. He’d somehow managed to draw his sword as he rolled to his back. But his shield was long gone. It had disappeared somewhere in the chase.
The sword didn’t help him anyway.
Pain exploded as the giant claws embedded into his chest and over his right arm. He heard a snap. His vision blurred. His arm went numb. He swallowed back his nausea. A muffle, broken noise escaped him.
Screams. Not his. He didn’t think.
“Theo!”
“What the fuck?!”
“Is that a hellhound?!”
“Chiron, do something!”
Massive jaws lowered towards his neck. Dark fur, gleaming fangs, and drool were all he could see. There was a smell worse than death. The hellhound’s breath.
Then there was sound like something snapping.
The shadow beast exploded into a shower of golden dust.
Theo coughed as he was coated in dead monster. Something warm and wet splashed onto his face.
“Theo!” Percy screamed again. This time louder. No. Closer. He fell to his knees by Theo’s side. “No, no, this can’t be happening.”
Percy’s hands fluttered over Theo’s chest. His face was the only thing that Theo could get his eyes to focus on. It was horrified. Terrified. Desperate. There was a fresh cut on his cheek and smudged blood on his armor.
His twin was a much better final sight. A second life going out in the arms of his sibling.
Would he have earned Elysium once more? Or did Hades have a punishment waiting just for him? Would the god of the Underworld at least let him say goodbye to his mother before eternal torture?
It may have been unlikely, still he prayed that it would be the case.
“Healers!” A deep voice called. Chiron.
“Wait.” Annabeth was there. She met Percy’s death glare with no fear. “Help me lift him to the water.”
“What—no we need to—”
“Do it!” Annabeth snapped. She was already grabbing Theo’s shoulders in a surprisingly gentle grip.
He let out a gurgling groan at the agony the movement caused.
The sky above him shifted.
Then something cool came to cover his back as Annabeth and Percy lowered him into the water.
Water.
Ah yes.
Theo was starting to get it now.
The water flowed through him.
He could feel it like his own lifeforce. An extension of himself.
His mind was taken back to the sea.
The river’s current like waves in his veins.
Not metaphorically, but literally.
It cleansed him against the rocks. He was the water. His wounds washed away with all the impurities as if they’d been painted on his skin.
He could feel as his pain and suffering flowed down stream. Where it met the ocean.
Father.
His eyes opened. He was not aware he’d closed them.
Above him and Percy, a bright, sea green icon glowed. It spun in the air. Meant for the crowd on the shore.
Theo sat up.
Percy stared at him in shock from where he knelt in the stream beside Theo. The cut on his cheek had healed.
Annabeth backed out of the water to stand by Chiron. She bowed, low to her knees, along with the rest of the campers that had gathered on the beach. Theo wasn’t sure, but he was fairly certain they had all been there the whole time.
He wondered if the game was over.
So distracted by the amount of eyes on him, Theo almost forgot about the glowing thing now fading above them. Percy barely seemed to catch a glimpse of it.
“Father.” Theo remembered his epiphany from moments before.
“Our father?” Percy asked. His eyes told Theo he already knew. It just had yet to fully process.
“Poseidon.” Chiron’s voice rung out into the forest. “Earthbreaker, Stombringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perceus and Theseus Jackson. Sons of the Sea God.”
***
The next morning, Theo and Percy moved into cabin three. Chiron was quieter than usual as he led them there. The only things they had were the few supplies that Luke had stolen for Theo, and Percy’s Minotaur horn. Which they hung on the wall.
“You should’ve been the one to kill it.” Percy said, stepping back to stare at where he’d mounted it.
“Don’t joke.” Theo rolled his eyes. He tested the mattress on a bunk that he’d chosen at random.
“Your name is literally Theseus. I like, stole your battle from you.” Percy insisted.
He wandered to the other side of the room to study the mosaic on the wall. A trident made up of sea glass and naturally colored shells. It had more detail, but Theo didn’t let his eyes linger on it.
“I was half dead, and you saved my life. Our older brother can keep the minotaur glory for himself. I don’t want to be like him anyway.”
“Brother?”
Theo raised an eyebrow at twin. He could see it, when Percy got it. They’d talked about Theseus in their class on mythology at camp. All week in fact. Likely inspired by the fight that occurred, much to the twins’ annoyance. But it meant that Theo’s namesake was fresh on the mind. Which was honestly more of an unfortunate reality than anything. The original Theseus had certainly been a hero of his time. Trying to kidnap Persephone only to end up trapped next to his friend’s corpse until Hercules happened to pass by and free him.
Perhaps that was what Hades would do to Theo.
It certainly had irony. A mockery of the second life that he’d stolen.
But who did Theo have that Hades could that with?
Percy.
Fuck.
Would Hades dare to touch his brother’s children? Something told Theo that all it would take was a small spat between the immortal brothers and his uncle would be willing to just that. After all, he had right cause. Theo had messed with the rules of The Underworld.
His only destiny was eternal torture.
Percy deflated, unaware of Theo’s horrifying reality. He sat on the nearest bed, elbows on his knees. His eyes were locked on the floor. Far away. His entire form despondent.
“I can’t believe this.”
“I know.”
“How did Annabeth know to put you in the water?”
“I don’t know. Educated guess maybe? Her mother is the goddess of wisdom.”
“What do you think this means? Why is everyone acting like we suddenly smell or something?”
Theo ran a hand over his face and sighed. “Percy, I have already told you everything I know. I am no longer the person to ask.”
“Right, sorry.” Percy grew quiet.
After around a week in the Hermes Cabin, the empty, silent space around them was suffocating. Almost worse than the stares and whispers. Almost.
“So, which one of us is the counselor?”
***
“Ted is right.” Dionysus declared. He swirled his diet coke can like it was the finest wine. “The camper with the most seniority gets to be the counselor.”
“We’ve been here the same amount of time!” Percy argued.
“Watch your tone with me Peter Johnson.” Dionysus’s eyes flashed purple. The room grew cooler. “If I remember correctly, then you were unconscious for the first two days of your stay and were not technically a camper at that time. Your brother was. That is the end of the matter.”
Theo tried really hard not to gloat with his smile. Given Percy’s expression, he failed.
His smugness didn’t last long. Chiron and Mr. D got to the subject at hand. The reason they were summoned to the big house that morning. A long explanation that only got worse as it went on. About a lighting bolt and thief that everyone thought was one or both of the Jackson twins.
***
“What do you mean you refuse?” Percy demanded. “I went up to see the Oracle. I had to listen to that mummy’s weird Gabe smoke speak. If you can even call it that. You have to come.”
“Percy.” Theo sighed. He had no real idea what Percy was talking about. He could feel Grover and Chiron’s eyes on him. But Dionysus’s eyes felt as if they bore into his soul, bearing all secrets. “I just—this is not my quest. Okay? You have to take someone else.”
Theo couldn’t go back to the underworld. He simply couldn’t.
“Take someone else?!” Percy was practically yelling at this point. His eyes were wet and angry. “Who else is there? Who in their right mind would volunteer for a quest like this?! I went up there assuming you would join me! There is no one else!”
That was when Annabeth appeared. Her baseball cap in hand.
“I’m coming.” Annabeth declared. “I’ve been waiting for this for years. Chiron promised me a quest. I deserve this. Let me come.”
Percy stared at her. Half in shock at her sudden appearance, and half completely taken off guard by the certainty in her speech. As if it were already decided. It drained all the anger out of Percy. When he looked back to Theo, his green eyes thrashed like the rain and wind of the storm that approached the edge of camp.
But not rage like what fueled the weather.
Fear.
Theo felt it reflect back.
He was terrified.
Terrified of going.
Terrified of not going.
What if something happened to Percy?
He would never forgive himself.
But Percy didn’t understand. He didn’t understand that Theo wouldn’t be able to help him. If he went to the underworld, there was no telling the ways in which Hades might decide to punish him. Even perhaps going as far as to sabotage the quest completely.
If he hurt Percy. . .
Theo couldn’t risk it.
It was much less likely to happen if Theo wasn’t there. Hades might actually help, as long as Theo was not involved.
He couldn’t do it.
It wasn’t worth the possible cost.
He still needed time.
He wasn’t ready to be punished.
“Theo—”
“I can’t.”
“You’re my twin.” Percy’s hand was on Theo’s arm. His voice was tight. Desperate. “I need you.”
They were close now. Percy talking only loud enough for Theo—and maybe Annabeth and you know, the god in the room—to make out clearly. Actually, who knew the hearing abilities of centaurs and satyrs. They probably all could hear him just fine.
“Please.” Percy pled. Tears had escaped. Just a few. Percy had always been good at holding back his tears. “I can’t do this without you.”
Theo only ever really cried at the sight of his brother doing the same. The things he would do to make sure that Percy was happy. He used to think that there was little to no limit on it. Now—now he’d found where he drew the line. Where his selfishness became too much.
What if Hades didn’t care that Theo wasn’t there?
What if he took Percy anyway?
Theo couldn’t bare it.
His chest hurt.
He couldn’t do it.
“I’m sorry.” Theo took a step back. “I just can’t.”
Then he was running. Percy called out behind him, but Chiron spoke out. Theo didn’t hear what. Something that must’ve been enough to keep Percy from following.
Camp was a blur as he didn’t break stride. He pushed. As desperate as Percy sounded. Only Theo was desperate to get away. To escape this new hell that his life had become. Full of godly drama, cursed births, and potentially deadly quests. It was worse than his endless nightmares of underground tunnels.
He didn’t know where he was running until it was in sight.
The beach.
The storm hit the camp like a hurricane warning.
The campers in sight froze as the sheets of rain washed over them.
It was not supposed to rain here. Not unless Mr. D wanted it to. And never like this.
Campers ran towards the cabins, seeking shelter. Satyrs fled to the forest with nymphs that melted back into their trees. Even the dryads that hung out on the beach were diving into the water by the time that Theo reached it. A few of the stragglers gave him curious looks, but didn’t stick around.
He collapsed on wet sand and panted into his knees as he hugged them to his chest. The rain brought to him a sort of strength. It was brought to him from the sea. He could smell it. The angry waves crashed, and the saltwater hit him like a cup of coffee. He’d landed right on the edge. The water rushed up under him and then back away. Like it could wash him away with the sand. Hands guiding him to a home he’d never known.
“Father.” He sobbed into his knees. His voice lost even to his own ears against the winds. “I’m scared. Please, I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m so scared.”
“Theo!”
Theo’s head whipped around to see a familiar blond making his way down the beach toward him. He had his hands up to shield himself from the water that pelted him from the side. His face in a tight grimace as it did little to protect him. His orange camp shirt clung to him as it was rapidly soaked.
Theo looked down at himself. He wasn’t wet in the least.
“Are you alright?” Luke asked. Screaming to be heard even as he got closer. “I saw you running. You seem upset.”
Of course Theo was upset.
Luke had no idea.
He wouldn’t be able to grasp it.
Theo hugged himself tighter.
With Luke in so much discomfort, he didn’t have much of a chance to have a mask on. At least there was that. Still, Theo couldn’t tell his intentions. There was something forced about this. As if Luke were trying to purposefully get closer to him. To create a bonding moment now that Percy wasn’t here. To capitalize off the time they’d already spent together.
Was he just a creep?
That would be sad. Theo liked his attention. Even if he didn’t know the true motivation behind it.
He really should get over that. He knew better.
He was just so tired.
“How did you know it was me?” Theo asked him.
Luke’s face scrunched in confusion. He turned his back to the sea as best he could and bent down to try and hear better. Theo repeated his question, louder.
“I guess that’s fair.” Luke laughed and rubbed at the back of his neck slightly. “I’ll admit, with the two of you next to each other it can be really hard. But I know that Percy’s still up at the Big House with Annabeth and Grover. So it had to be you.”
Theo nodded and turned back to the ocean. It made sense. Luke could probably barely even see him. It would be absurd to assume that Luke had somehow figured out how to recognize him. He didn’t miss the fact that Luke somehow knew it was Percy who had the quest. He filed it into the Luke Weirdness cookie jar that had appeared at some point in his mind.
Luke wasn’t a priority in his thoughts right now.
Theo was still very occupied.
The need to escape crawled under his skin like a thousand fire ants.
He felt trapped.
He couldn’t do it.
Theo wondered if Poseidon would be able to tell the twins apart. Poseidon was a god after all. Surely, he would have some sort of godly sight.
Did that mean he knew about what Theo had done before he was born?
Was he angry with him?
Did Poseidon resent Theo for being born his son? Did it cause him trouble?
If Theo were to dive into the waves, would his father meet him? If he were to swim to his father’s kingdom and beg him at his throne for sanctuary, would he provide it?
Or would his father cast him aside?
Luke surprised Theo by settling close enough that their shoulders pressed against each other. His knees pulled to his chest in a reflection of Theo’s position. He was shivering, and it got worse with every wave. But you could barely tell by his voice.
“It bothers you, doesn’t it?” the older demigod leaned in to speak into Theo’s ear.
“What?” Theo asked.
“That people can’t tell you and Percy apart.” Luke said, a little louder. His tone was like he already knew the answer. “It bothers you.”
Theo could feel Luke gaze on him. But didn’t turn from the water again. His eyes stuck on the angry churning of the tides.
“Wouldn’t it bother you?” Theo countered with a scoff. Once he remembered he was supposed to.
He wondered how long it would take for Luke to give in and leave him alone.
“You’re still dry, and warm.” Luke let out a small laugh, he pressed closer. Then he sobered up and went back to the subject at hand. “Yeah, it would bother me. But it’s not like the two of you go out of your way to make yourselves visibly distinct.”
Theo didn’t tell Luke that they’d been doing that exact thing for years. He didn’t point out the subtle differences between him and brother. It didn’t matter. And like Percy had said, there was some sort of advantage to it. Though Theo hadn’t been able to define it quite yet.
“Let’s go inside.” Luke said like an order. “We can’t sit out here forever. This isn't the sort of storm you’re supposed to sit though. Not even you.”
“I’m fine.” Theo insisted.
“No, you’re not.” Luke stood. He began to tug at Theo in a way that was hard to ignore. “Let’s go. If I’m out here any longer, I’ll be stuck in the infirmary with the Apollo kids making fun of me for getting a cold in the summer. Plus, I assume you have quest to prepare for?”
“I’m not going.”
“Come on—“
“On the quest.” Theo stood then, shrugging off Luke’s hands. It was pointless fighting at this point. He might as well follow. “I’m not going on the quest.”
“You’re not?” Luke was clearly a shocked as Percy had been.
“No. I’m staying here.” Theo turned from the fantasy of his father’s kingdom. “Do you think you might be willing to offer a few more sword lessons? Once a week. . . well I would prefer to have something else to keep my mind occupied. While Percy is. . .”
“We can do that.” Luke’s smile was different. Smaller. More genuine. He wrapped an arm around Theo as they began to head back towards camp. They had to stay close to hear each other, and no doubt Luke was taking advantage of Theo’s water resistance and using him as personal heater. His shivering had gotten worse. “Don’t worry. It will be just like before Percy woke up. I won’t leave you on your own here.”
“Thank you.” Theo said, so quietly that Luke didn’t seem to quite catch it.
All the same, Luke pulled him closer, in a firm half hug as they walked. As if he could tell that Theo was still crying. He probably could. After all, Theo didn’t have the excuse of his face being wet from the rain.
***
That night, Theo had his worse nightmare to date. Though, he knew that if he’d ever verbalized it, no one would understand what had made it so bad. Only that it was the most horrifying thing he’d ever dreamed, and left him with a sense of terror that had haunted him for a long time to come.
He was in the tunnels again. Only this time they were enshrouded in smoke.
No, not smoke.
Mist.
He stood in the middle of a crossroads. Though he couldn’t see the ceiling above him, he could still somehow tell he was underground. The walls of the tunnels that lead away from him seemed to be older than others he’d been in. Bits of nature found their way through the cracks.
“Hello?” he called out. Though he wasn’t sure why.
He took a few steps in a random direction, then stopped.
No.
Something was different.
This was important.
He couldn’t mess this up.
This decision would decide everything.
“Yes. That is right. Do not decide lightly, young demigod. Your fate and the fate of others is now in your hands. But once you choose a path, your future is set in stone. What will you choose? I wonder?”
Theo didn’t startle. Somehow, in the dream way, he’d always known he wasn’t alone. Not this time.
The crossroads lit up in an eerie green glow. Illumined by floating torches that framed each of the paths in just enough light for Theo to see a few feet down them.
At first glance the paths were all identical.
His stomach dropped.
“How will I ever know the difference?” he asked. “They all look the same. I can’t tell which is which.”
“Witch indeed.” The woman chuckled. Her voice was raspy, and seemed to come from all around him. Layered in on itself as if there were three of her. “Surely, you understand the importance of even the slightest difference. Just because something looks the same, does not mean it is the same.”
“I know that.” Theo nodded. His eyes locked onto one of the paths. He wasn’t sure why. It called to him. With a voice that became less and less metaphorical the closer he got.
“Careful.” She warned from all sides.
“It’s calling me.”
“Names are powerful things, Theseus Jackson.” She reminded him. “Must you answer every time someone calls yours?”
Theo shook his head, yet still he could not tear his eyes away. He could hear it so clearly now.
It sounded like his mother.
“Theo!” she called. “Theo, come here.”
As causal as if she were calling him out of his room for dinner.
“Mom.” Theo’s voice broke.
He’d taken a step forward without meaning to.
“Yes. You may still go on the quest with your brother.” The resounding woman acknowledged. “It is not yet too late to join him. To put your mother from this life above all else and risk descending into your uncle’s kingdom. Certainly, a noble pursuit. There is still a chance that he may let you survive a while longer. All come back to him, in the end. He has learned to be patient.”
But at what cost?
Theo suddenly didn’t feel so drawn to the path.
He could still hear his mother’s voice though, which made it hard to turn away. But he forced himself to.
He could not choose that path.
“No? Three more to go then.” The goddess—Theo wasn’t sure how he knew it, but suddenly he did—was almost amused. “Not much time left, demigod.” She told him. “If you don’t choose soon, the choice will be made for you.”
The opposite path from the one with his mother also began to call out for him as he turned to it. This voice was darker, colder. On the edge of the light, he could just barely see sand. But it wasn’t beach sand. He wasn’t sure how, but he could tell. It sent something uncomfortable down his spine. The voices tone reminded him of the voice that called for him in his other dreams as he tried to escape the endless tunnels.
The one that promised relief, direction.
Yet Theo didn’t believe it. Didn’t trust it. He wasn’t sure why.
He turned away from that one as well.
“Two down then?” the goddess waved her hand, and the torches on the two tunnels he’d turn from went dark. “A shame. That one would have led to certain victory. Time is running out. Do not delay Theseus. This is your last chance.”
Theo’s heart was beating so fast. He wished that she would stop rushing him. He was still trying to understand. He didn’t know which way to go.
This was important.
He couldn’t mess it up.
On his right was the sound of the ocean. The smell of salt. Waves. Peace. His father’s kingdom.
On his left was a feeling of longing. Something he couldn’t quite describe. Not even for himself. Akin to heartbreak, yet with just enough pleasure to draw him in. No sound echoed form the tunnel. Just that ache. A vow of pain as much as something he wasn’t sure he could ever regret.
He was turning towards it before he made any conscious decision. The feeling was familiar, yet completely foreign. It intrigued as much as terrified him.
“Ah yes. The draw of Eros has never failed to create temptation.” The goddess’s voice was one. Right next to Theo’s ear. A whisper. A promise. “He will make you powerful. More powerful than you could imagine.”
Theo took a step forward.
At what cost? His brain reminded him. This emotion that had been invoked in him was not entirely pleasant. And yet. . .
Theo spotted it then. As he stepped right up to the entrance of the path in front of him. Something small that visibly distinguished the tunnel from all the rest. An item he would’ve never expected to see. Even in a dream as strange as this one. Before he could think better of it, he’d stepped past the torches and reached down to pick it up. It was wet as if it’d been left out in the rain.
A tiny, Beenie-Baby hydra. Faded and ragged.
Theo turned around. Painful shock jolted through his veins. He realized that it was much too late.
All that was behind him was the torches and a wall.
As if the crossroads and the goddess had never been there in the first place.
It was done.
There was no turning back.
He woke up sobbing. Harder than he could ever remember doing.
Percy crawled into his bed and held him like their mother used to when they were small. Percy’s tears as warm as his own as they dripped into Theo’s hair and onto his cheek.
"It'll be okay." Percy swore to him. "I'll come back. I promise. And I'm bringing mom back with me. You'll see. It'll all be okay."
He sounded like he was trying to convince himself as much as Theo.
The next day Percy left. Theo saw him off, after hearing the story of Thalia's pine tree. Luke was by his side, waving good bye to the questing trio. He'd come to give them gifts to help them on their journey. Much like his father had in the quest of the original Perseus. Only Theo wasn't so sure Luke would appreciate the comparison, so he kept it to himself. They stared after Percy, Annabeth, and Grover long after they'd disappeared from sight. Until Luke finally wrapped an arm around Theo and physically turned him away.
"Don't worry." Luke told him. "I got you now."