a story as endless as the ocean
the lightning thief
0.0 prologue
warnings : none serious ( if you feel like i should add any, please lmk ! )
word count : 1.9k
prologue.
As the barely-a-month-old newborn lay peacefully in her crib, the only thing he could think about was how small she was. Even by normal baby standards, the girl was so very small and fragile-looking. Poseidon was positive he had never seen such a small child. As compared to his other children, she was by far the tiniest. Her small fingers curled into a fist and reached up for him to pick her up, which he did without complaint, marveling even further at how much smaller she looked trapped and cradled in his arms.
What was even more astounding about the girl, however, was that she was his first girl. Well, non-immortal one, but it was still just as shocking. For many millennia it seemed he was unable to create female children with mortals. She was the first, which meant more unpredictability than his usual child— how a child this small could contain such power, he wasn't sure, but he could definitely sense it. His daughter was going to be a force to be reckoned with as soon as she made it to Camp Half-Blood.
The little girl was wide awake, but she didn't cry out. Either she just didn't do that (at least often) or she felt reassured by the presence holding her. He noticed, even with the chubbiness all babies carried, that she had very prominent Greek features, all of which very closely resembled his own. However, he did think her ears and nose closely resembled those of Hades and Zeus, respectively. He hoped she never caught the attention of a god before he had the chance to claim her as his daughter. He'd rather his brothers find out from him than another god who'd noticed a mortal looking a little too god-like for comfort.
His brothers. Gods almighty. They were going to be pissed when they found out. Poseidon hoped neither of them would cause her an early grave. He'd go to war for the small girl, should they ever hurt a hair on her head, but the destruction of the world didn't sound too appealing.
Her ocean-colored eyes stared up at him with intense curiosity and she began babbling at him. She grabbed a small fistful of his shirt as she grinned toothlessly up at him.
"What a heartbreaker you'll be, little one. Of course, not that anyone would be worthy enough to carry your heart in their hands," he mused, rocking her very slowly.
She replied in the only way she could— various noises and a small giggle that warmed his heart.
He knew how risky it'd been to come to see her, but he couldn't resist. He'd risk his brothers' anger if it meant he got to spend at least a little bit of time with his daughter. He wouldn’t be able to risk it again for years and this was his only chance. He had to take it.
The one-month-old was so like him, it brought a smile to his face just thinking about it. Thick white hair, very unnatural for mortals, blue-green eyes, and a natural tan created the child in the most beautiful way possible.
He smoothed down the hair on her head. "I’m sorry for the life I’ve brought you into, my Princess,” he said apologetically. “It was selfish of me, yes, but I don’t regret it. Your mother is a goddess among women, and you are our shining little star, aren’t you?"
And yet, Poseidon frowned as the prophecy lines echoed in his head. The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap. He grimaced, but wiped it off of his face quickly, not wanting to unsettle his daughter.
He cleared his throat. "I shouldn’t assume it’s yours, though, should I? Your uncle has also sired a child a year or two older than you, though I think he’s still under the impression that he’s kept it a well hidden secret.” Poseidon rolled his eyes, more playfulness behind the action than anything. “Silly little brother I have, thinking he can hide something such as this from his big brother. Isn’t that right, my Princess?”
The child giggled up at her father, seeing his smile. The matching grin on her face could’ve brought tears to his eyes. He hoped it would remain on her face for years to come. He ran a finger down the bridge of her nose to soothe her.
He sighed mournfully. “And yet still I’ve put a life of grief and hardship on your shoulders, even should you not bear the weight of that forsaken prophecy." Poseidon paused and took a deep breath. "You are my daughter, and you will forever be of the sea. Your mother is the strongest woman in the world, and I’m sure she’ll raise you to be the same… I just pray you don’t resent me. I don’t expect… love, and I can handle indifference, but I don’t know how to cope with resentment."
"She won't resent you. I won’t tell her who you are unless I have to, but I’ll make sure she knows… I’ll make sure she knows you would’ve been around if the circumstances were different," a new voice interrupted his brooding. He turned in shock at his former lover's ability to sneak up on him.
She had not yet worked off the weight gained from carrying their child, and dark circles were prominent under her eyes, but she was still one of the most beautiful mortals he'd ever seen. She'd blown him away with her beauty all those months ago and still managed to do so now.
She cleared her throat quietly. "What are you doing here?" Sally asked him, gazing at her child, making sure nothing was wrong with her. Then, figuring it came across rude, amended, “I mean, you said you wouldn’t ever be able to see her, so I assumed…”
"I'm not," Poseidon confirmed. "But I had to see her. Just the once."
Sally nodded slowly. "I see,” she replied quietly. “Well, we’ll always be here if you ever..."
Poseidon nodded, swallowing down the grief that manifested in his throat. He knew, logically, that he wouldn't be able to. If he stayed around her too often his brothers would get suspicious and if they found out about the girl, she'd be killed instantly.
But still… he’d never sired a mortal daughter. His immortal daughters had always been indulged with the… perhaps extra protection that he felt the need to provide. It was fairly well-known that Poseidon lavished a little more in his daughters, wanting— needing— to keep them safe and happy. His loved his sons just the same, but a daughter was different. And given how much grief being his first mortal daughter would bring her…
It would take a lot for her to love him like he was her father. The realization of that fact made him feel very terrible, but Poseidon managed to push away those thoughts. It was how it had to be. He had no say in the matter.
"What did you name her?" he decided on asking, needing something to distract his racing thoughts.
"Astraea Marcelline Kaimanna Jackson," Sally replied. "I gave her two middle names like my mom. And I also couldn't choose between names. And she was Hawaiian so I wanted to give Allie that, hence Kaimanna."
"'Power of the ocean' isn't it?" he asked softly, moving a small section of white curl off of the child's forehead.
Sally nodded, a small smile creeping onto her face. "And Marcelline is French, which I wanted from my dad's side. It means 'defender of the sea’, in some interpretations." She spared a glance at Poseidon's lovestruck look as he gazed at their child. She cleared her throat, a pang in her heart. "And I'm sure you know what Astraea means."
Poseidon certainly did, seeing as he knew the goddess for which his daughter was named, but he could listen to her New York accent all day. He wouldn't have minded if she'd explained it. She could talk about the most mundane things and make them sound graceful and interesting.
"You called her 'Allie?'" he asked, remembering the nickname Sally had used previously. "Where does that come from?"
Sally nodded in confirmation. "As soon as she was born, I was already calling her Allie. The nurse even asked if I just wanted that to be her name, but I said no. My mother's name was Kakalina and people always called her Allie once she moved here to New York. I guess it just fit."
Sally's eyes watered at the memory of her mother that surfaced. Allie, seemingly sensing her mother's sadness, whimpered as tears filled her sea-green eyes.
Sally moved to take the girl, but Poseidon held out a hand and cuddled Allie closer to his chest, rocking her to help ease her stress.
"It’s a beautiful, strong name, Sally, and so is she. I wish I could be there to see her grow up. My offer... my offer still stands, you know," he said, looking up hopefully at her.
Sally's expression changed from sad to defensive in seconds. "And my answer has not changed. I refuse to subject her to the pain and ridicule that would come with being an illegitimate child, born of a mortal. She will grow up around her people, not under the sea," Sally replied.
Poseidon pursed his lips. “I understand your apprehension, and I will accept your denial of my proposal. However, the people and creatures under the sea are hers. As my daughter, she is technically an heir and Princess of the sea."
Sally fought to not roll her eyes. "Well, then it's a good thing you're immortal and she isn't. She’ll never have to take that mantle."
Poseidon cringed at both the acid in her tone and the thought of his daughter dying. Which reminded him of a topic Sally had been too apprehensive of when she'd first told him she was pregnant and they'd talked a lot of things over.
"She won't be able to stay from Camp long," he warned. "As soon as she can handle herself, you should let her go."
Sally's frown deepened and her brows furrowed, but she still nodded. "I know. She'll have to be there very early, I was thinking around ten, twelve at the latest."
"I’m afraid it might have to be even earlier than that. She is going to be a very powerful half-blood. I wouldn't be surprised if she has power over all of my domains. There has yet to be a single demigod as such, but I can feel the power she holds."
Sally's expression didn't change, but Poseidon could've sworn he saw fear shimmering in her eyes.
"She is my daughter. I will protect her with my life. I will keep her safe. I swear it on the River Styx."
"I know you will," Poseidon said. “But she will never be able to live a normal life. My brother was unable to hide his daughter from me for long, and though I will do everything in my power, I fear the day he finds out about her. He will not be as forgiving as I am.”
Sally’s bottom lip wobbled, and Poseidon wanted so badly to comfort her, but knew he needed to do everything in his power to make her understand. Their daughter’s safety relied on it.
“I understand,” she whispered, her voice strained. “I do. She’ll… she’s all I have now, Poseidon. Everything I do and have done since the day she was born is to make sure she has a happy life, and is safe.”
Even as he nodded his assent, there was something in her eyes that Poseidon wasn’t sure he liked. Of course she would do anything for their daughter, but at what cost to herself? He knew the kind of woman Sally was; someone who loved with her entire being and would run herself into the ground for those lucky enough to be loved by her. But she would ruin herself in the process, and Poseidon wasn’t sure if he could handle that, either.
But he had to. This was the bed that he had made, knowing the rules, the laws, the oaths he’d taken. It was no longer in his control, and that was difficult for the god to swallow.
Knowing his time was running out, he pressed a kiss to his daughter’s forehead. “Goodbye, my Princess,” he whispered. “With any luck, our next meeting won’t be one of pain and sorrow.”
He then reluctantly passed the little girl to her mother and started to take his leave. He almost turned back, but he knew he wouldn't be able to leave if he did. Plus, monsters would start coming their way if he stayed any longer.
"I love you both," he said, not turning toward them, and then he was gone in a split second; turned into nothing but a mist and leaving behind the scent of beaches and the ocean. Allie seemed to be able to realize her father wasn't coming back for a long time and started sobbing loudly in her mother's arms.
Sally clutched her daughter close to her chest as she fell to her knees and sobbed with her.
* * *
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