Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series or the Heroes of Olympus Series.

Story: Son of the Crossroads: The Lost Children of the Sea

AN: Here is the first real chapter to the story, so enjoy!

Chapter 1: Beginnings

Atlantis – present day

A classroom full of young mermen and mermaids sat in their seats as they awaited their instructor. A few seconds later the teal green door slid open as an old man with white hair and a long, white beard stepped into view. He wore a white lab coat that reached down passed his knees. His face was wrinkled, but his blue eyes twinkled with youth and power. He snapped his fingers before a leather chair appeared in front of the class. The students stared in awe at the old man's use of magic. He sat down and sighed before he once again smiled at the children before him.

"Good afternoon class," he greeted, his voice was deep, but it held a calmness and sincerity that was hard not to notice.

The students all stared at their teacher in reverence. "Good morning Master Sophus," they all replied.

Sophus nodded in appreciation. "Today, we will begin with a story, a history lesson."

The students all leaned forward in anticipation. They knew that Sophus told the best stories, especially about history and the gods.

"Our story begins many thousands of years ago, after the first Titan war," he began as an image appeared behind him that filled the entire wall. The students all stared in wonder at the visual. "We begin our story in a cave, located deep within the Atlantic Ocean."

Atlantic Ocean – in a cave deep within the sea – a year after the first Titan War

Three women sat in the darkness of the cave staring into a raging fire in the center of the room. The fire expanded lighting a good portion of the room, especially the forms of the three women that resided within it. The women looked identical, except for their clothes; one wore a flowing white dress, while the second wore a flowing black dress of similar design to the first, and the last wore a flowing grey dress that stretched down to her ankles. The women had piercing green eyes that glowed that fluorescent lights in the flickering fire light of the cave. Each woman was identical and they were very beautiful. They each walked around the room gracefully as they eagerly awaited the arrival of their guest.

Suddenly, a sea mist entered the room before it shifted and morphed into the form of a tall man with short black hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wore a blue toga and his feet were covered with brown leather sandals. He looked at the three women with his glowing sea green eyes before a broad smile stretched across his face, but the smile never reached his eyes. "Hecate," he said carefully. The three women turned to look at the man or god before them.

"Poseidon," the version of Hecate in the white dress greeted.

"It is I my love," he replied, but there was sadness and a little guilt in the tone of his voice.

The version of Hecate in the black dress glared at the sea god. "You are hiding something. Do not lie; I can see it in your eyes, sea god."

Poseidon gulped at the harsh tone in the goddess's voice. "My brother has decreed that I must wed," he began. The version of Hecate in the white dress smiled at the thought. "However, he has already chosen the bride."

The version of Hecate in the grey dress looked at the god in disbelief. "You didn't agree to this, did you?" she questioned in disbelief.

Poseidon wouldn't look into her green eyes. "I had no choice. I must marry Amphitrite for the good of my kingdom."

"Amphitrite," the version of Hecate in the black dress spat. "The daughter of Oceanus?"

"Yes," Poseidon replied. Tears flowed down the cheeks of the version of Hecate in the white dress. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could refuse, but I can't."

"You can't or you won't?" the version of Hecate in the grey dress yelled before she turned away from the god that she loved before he could see the tears that threatened to flow from her eyes.

Poseidon tried to step toward the version of Hecate in the grey dress, but the version of his love in black blocked his path. "You have done enough damage today, leave our presence and never return; you have made an enemy of magic, and don't ever forget that."

Poseidon stared at the goddess in shock, but he could see the hatred in her green eyes. He wasn't a fool. He knew better than to fight the goddess of magic. Her powers were well known and her ability to cross through anyone's domain made her extremely powerful. "For what it's worth; I'm sorry," he said before he disappeared into a sea mist.

The version of Hecate in black stepped toward the two other versions of herself. "I told both of you that he would betray us. He is like his brothers, even more like his father."

"I… we loved him," the version of Hecate in white said through the tears that flowed down her cheeks.

The version of Hecate in grey touched her stomach before she looked at the version of herself in black. "We are with child… what shall we do?"

The version of Hecate in black placed a hand on a shoulder of each version of herself. A golden glow filled the cave before Hecate stood alone in the center of the cavern in a dark green dress. "I will give birth to this child, but I will never love again, at least not with an immortal. This child will be my first and last without the use of magic; a child of the sea and a child of magic." She touched her stomach sadly. "The only true son of the crossroads. This child will be my vengeance upon Poseidon and someday that sea god will curse the day that he ever betrayed me."

Weeks passed after the incident with Poseidon; Hecate's anger and hatred had only grown. The child was born quickly after he was conceived. The goddess held the child in her arms, but the look on her face didn't show love, it only displayed the thought and need for revenge. Hecate wanted vengeance against the man she had loved, the god who took her maidenhood. She had cast a spell soon after her son was born and her virginity had been restored, but the price was high. No longer could she split her personality into three personas. She was forever stuck as one person in one body. The spell called for the use of black magic and the goddess had opened her spirit and very soul to the darkness. She was no longer the Hecate that Poseidon had loved, now she was truly evil.

She placed the child on his bed. She looked down at the baby; he had dark black hair that nearly shined blue when it was touched by the light and his green eyes were a mix of her own and those of his father. His green eyes glowed and displayed the child's power. He was the first born child of two gods. He would be powerful and so would his domains. Hecate smiled at the thought. "Grow my child; you shall be the source of my vengeance, the weapon I will use to bring down Olympus and the foolish sons of Kronos."

Months passed and the child grew until he looked to be twelve years old by human standards. His first twelve years of life had been rough; his mother had treated him not like a child, but more like an animal, a beast that she trained to fight and use magic. She would often yell at the boy while she would always tell him how terrible his father was, but the boy never truly believed her.

"Boy, have you finished your chores?" Hecate asked harshly.

The boy nodded vigorously. His mother would beat him, if he didn't finish his work. "Mother," he started before Hecate glared at him. "My lady," he corrected. "Do I have a name?"

Hecate placed her hand on her chin; she never gave a thought about how horrible it would be to live without a true name. She smiled as a thought came to mind. "Perseus," she said. "Boy, you shall be known as Perseus, your name means to destroy, and that is what you shall do. You shall destroy your father and his family. You shall be the destruction of Olympus and the source of my revenge."

Perseus backed away from his mother as she continued her tirade. He shook his head in defiance. "I will not destroy."

Hecate's green eyes flashed in anger. "You shall do what I say, boy," she yelled before she sent a blast of power toward the boy. Perseus raised his hands to cover his face as he prayed for some type of salvation. Suddenly, a portal opened behind him and the boy was pulled through. The last sound he heard from his mother was her voice yelling for him to return and her cursing that she had lost the source of her vengeance.

The portal opened up before the boy was thrown out and onto a white sandy beach. Perseus was on his hands and knees on the beach, tears flowed down his cheeks as he cried.

"Child, why do you cry?" a male voice said from behind him. Perseus turned to find a man with white hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He was the very image of what Perseus thought a grandfather should look like. His light blue eyes were clear and shined with compassion and unfathomable intelligence.

Perseus wiped his eyes. "My mother," he began as he wiped away more of his tears. "She never loved me; I was only a tool, a weapon to use for her revenge."

The old man's smile faded away. He couldn't believe someone would treat a child in such a way, especially the boy's own mother. "You are safe now my boy. We are beyond the gods here."

Perseus looked around. The sky above was a light blue with no clouds. The sun beat down on the beach giving warmth and life to everything around him. Palm trees shined near the edge of the beach and Perseus saw strange structures in the distance, they looked like ice or solidified water, and they shined as the sun's rays struck them. "Where am I?"

The old man smiled. "This Island is known as the Tropic of Knowledge," he replied. The old man followed the boy's gaze; he smiled as the boy stared in awe at the buildings in the distance. "That is the city of Atlantis. The most enlightened place on the planet."

Perseus stood up carefully. "Can we go there?"

The old man smiled. "Of course, but you must tell me your name."

"Perseus, my name is Perseus," he replied.

The old man stretched out his hand toward the boy. "My name is Sophus, a pleasure to meet you Perseus." Perseus took the old man's hand and gripped it carefully. Sophus smiled at how careful the boy was. "I may be old, but I'm far from fragile." Perseus smiled before he shook the man's hand. They let go of each other's hands before Sophus placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Let's get you cleaned up first and a good meal in your stomach before I take you on a tour of my home."

Perseus smiled. "I'd like that very much sir," he replied.

"Please, just call me Sophus, my boy," Sophus corrected. Perseus nodded as the two walked down the beach toward the city in the distance.

Atlantis – present day

The image behind Sophus faded away. The old man stood just as a conch horn sounded through the room. "It is time for lunch. I will see you back here in the classroom afterward." A young merman raised his hand. "Yes, what is your question?"

"Will we read more about Perseus?" the young merman asked.

Sophus smiled. "This week we shall study the son of Poseidon and Hecate. We will learn of his adventures and those of his family." The children's excitement only increased. "Now we must go to lunch." The children nodded eagerly before they rushed out of the classroom and toward the lunchroom. Sophus smiled after them. "You will learn many things, children, but be prepared for some things are beyond anyone's imagination," he whispered to himself.

AN: The expanded chapter from the first preview of the story. We learned why Perseus left his mother and how he made it to Atlantis, but what was that vortex and who created it? More to learn as the story continues, so stay tuned.