Sometimes I feel like AP prep is worse than the actual exams. But now that they're over, and summer's gonna start soon, you can expect those updates to come back.

You guys deserve this update way more than it deserves you. I hope you all know that.

Ryker spent his sixteenth birthday underwater, locked in combat with the eldest, arguably most dangerous Titan.

So, all in all, not one of his worst ones.

Only just figuring out the water powers Poseidon had forced Triton to teach him hours before the god left to aid his brethren, Ryker was barely able to propel himself fast enough to survive the attacks of the half serpentine man, let alone prepare a counter attack.

Even with no physical weapon, Oceanus was by far the most powerful being he had ever faced. The second being Heracles, and even then Ryker nearly died.

But he was not the same scared little boy he was four years ago.

Fighting underwater was very different from fighting on land, he had quickly learned. There was depth. The only direction to escape to was no longer left, right or backwards. He could float or sink to his will, and the ability to kick off of the water around him as if it was solid was a huge boost to his power.

He grunted as the force of Oceanus's water sent him tumbling, bubbles escaping to the surface. In a flash the Titan was in his face, launching a huge uppercut directly into his gut, forcing the air out of him.

Ryker formed a solid wall of water behind him, stopping him from flying backward but doubling the pain as he was struck. He used the close proximity he had created to slash down on the immortal's wrist, sending a cloud of golden ichor exploding into the water.

Oceanus roared in outrage, swinging his arm and sending Ryker's sword spinning away.

Weaponless, next to powerless, and significantly weaker than Oceanus, Ryker thought, calculating his chances of victory, Perfect.

It would take at least twenty seconds for the blade to return to his neck. A second for it to convert from its shark tooth form and another to release whatever stored element was still in there.

He had the strangest vision of him electrocuting both him and Oceanus with the bolts he collected from when he woke Ally up and she lashed out.

Okay, so maybe the power of his sword wasn't the best choice in this situation.

But it was the only thing that had the sheer strength he needed to even stand a chance.

He kicked off against the water, away from Oceanus's powerful punch.

He needed to win this fight. He just didn't know how. How do you stop the literal Titan of the Ocean while he was in the ocean?

You don't.

And that's what scared him.

There was no possible way to get him out of the ocean. But...

Maybe he could get the ocean away from him.

It was a stupid idea. He'd only been training with his water powers for an hour. The science wouldn't be exact and the second he passed out, either from exhaustion or pain, if he wasn't far enough away, he'd be killed.

It was a stupid idea.

But it was the only one he had.

He was going to move the entire ocean with sheer force of will.

He remembered hearing that when lightning struck a body of water, it would travel at an instantly deadly voltage for a little more than twenty feet before dissipating to lethal but still survivable levels, even that the most potentially harmful part of lightning and water may be the sound.

But honestly, he didn't know how much he trusted that.

The fact that he was releasing the lightning of the gods this deep underwater was perilous in itself.

When lightning strikes, it spreads across the surface of the water, not harming sea life far enough beneath it. He knew for a fact, however, that the full force of Ally's electricity was much more powerful, and that his fight with Oceanus was in the deep sea, at least five hundred fathoms below the surface.

Even if this didn't kill him, he might well be sacrificing the lives of Poseidon's soldiers on the outskirts of their own battleground.

All things considered, however, he had about ten seconds before Oceanus ended his life.

Or, he thought as the familiar weight of the shark tooth cord settled around his neck.

Ten before he ended it himself.

Ryker ducked one of Oceanus's roundhouse kicks, feeling it graze his head anyway, sending him spinning. Good.

He used his distance to draw his sword, taking a breath to brace himself.

He needed to make sure there was enough water around him to breathe and move himself, but at the same time thin enough layer of air between him and the rest of the ocean as to not be electrocuted.

If he couldn't manage that, then he'd have to hope his sword would draw the electricity back in.

It can absorb all elements, but only those shot with aggressive intent. It can reuse attacks meant to harm.

That was what Poseidon had said to him, all of those years ago. Ryker had to hope the rules applied to his actions as well.

Three.

Oceanus waited, watching patiently.

Two.

Ryker purposefully tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, seeing the Titan's eyes flick there, knowing to anticipate an attack.

One.

The son of Poseidon had to hide his smirk as Oceanus decided to make the first move, dashing toward him.

And all hell broke loose.

Ryker unleashed the full power of his weapon on the approaching deity, sending him sparking and sailing backwards, far back into his own realm. The sheer force of it all blinded him, nearly making him lose control of the water around him.

He couldn't have that. He couldn't afford the distraction of seeing just how well his plan had, admittedly unexpectedly, played out.

He rocketed through the water as quickly as half-humanly possible, his vision going dark around the edges as it became increasingly difficult to contain the raging ocean, a beast yearning to be freed and crash into him.

No. He needed to get out of the danger zone first, not just the twenty foot radius of instant death. He needed to at least make it onto the outskirts of the battlefield and hope there would be someone there, friend or foe, it didn't matter. Just far enough to someone who hadn't been electrocuted so he could release his powers.

It was the only way to know for sure.

A little further...

The outline of a blurry figure, a shadow in the distance that, even with his heightened senses, he could barely see.

He needed to get there.

His muscles were screaming at him, being fueled by no more than pure willpower.

He couldn't make out a face, couldn't even tell you if its form was humanoid or monstrous.

All he knew was that whoever it was, even if it was a blob a seaweed floating aimlessly through the water, that was his end goal.

Push through, Ryker demanded of himself, Don't be like the charred husks of marine plant life floating around you.

Only a couple more seconds. He could make it. He could pull from the last reserves of his energy and...

It wasn't enough.

As he faded away into unconsciousness there was a voice in his head, echoing clearly though it came from far away.

Well played, little demigod. A tactical retreat after dealing a heavy blow; my kind of strategy. The stakes have risen too high for me as well.

I had been under the impression from my brother Kronos that this would be an easy war to win. If the warriors on the surface are anything like you he will have been sorely mistaken. However, he is not someone who will back away when victory becomes uncertain.

I have enough foresight to know that many of the opponents you face in the future will be the same. In those instances, these little half  victories, these diversions in lieu of actual battle, they will not be enough to save you or the ones you love.

You will encounter enemies who will fight until there is nothing left to fight.

Or nothing left of them to fight with.

And you had better hope you are ready for when you do.

________________

"You are a real piece of work, Ryker Jackson."

The boy's eyes fluttered open slowly, squinting against the light.

Still slightly disoriented and completely exhausted, the only response he was able to give was an intelligent, "Huh?"

He adjusted to his surroundings, seeing Triton's face hovering over him. Ryker took in the simplicity of his own bedroom, shifting to make sure all of his limbs were in working order. Minimal scratches and bruises, he noted, and no burns. He couldn't help but smirk.

He hadn't fried himself.

Go him.

Refocusing on his godly half brother, Ryker raised an eyebrow. "If you're going to insult me don't do it in my room," He chastised drily, "I take any and all complaints in the kitchen where I can drown my inevitably extremely hurt feelings in food."

Triton was unimpressed. "You truly are Perseus's twin. Pity. I had expected better."

"High praise."

"Not at all. Simply low standards."

"Look, I really am hungry, so can you speed whatever it is you're doing up?"

Triton was cold to everyone, that much Ryker had learned in the time he'd spent under the ocean. But there was something about Poseidon's demigod offspring that had always struck a nerve.

As annoying as he was to his father, this made him strive to be infinitely more so to the Herald of the Sea.

"If you must know, I found you limp on the outskirts of the battlefield," Triton explained, "Completely exhausted, though I have no idea why. Your body is tough enough to withstand the stress of your new powers and the water would have continued to provide you strength."

"I couldn't beat Oceanus like Poseidon needed me to," Ryker sighed, running a hand over his face exasperatedly, "So I decided to electrocute him."

Triton stared at him like he was totally insane.

The joke's on him. He was totally insane.

"I took my sword and shot him with electricity, then made sure that the water didn't touch me until I got away from charged water. It was my only option. I drove him away into the depths. He won't be bothering us anymore."

"The war's been over for hours now," Triton informed him, "Although that does explain why we had no trouble dealing with the rest of his forces."

"So Kronos is defeated?"

"Yes. Poseidon is on Olympus now rewarding the heroes who fought him."

"Do I get a pat on the back for not letting the world crumble, too?"

"You didn't die, little brother."

"Gee, thanks."

Ryker rolled his eyes, sitting up in his bed to stare the god down. "What are you doing here, Triton? I was under the impression you didn't like me."

"I don't."

"You could have gotten a servant to tell me all of this. By all the gods, you should have just sent Milli or Ally in here, because I guarantee I would enjoy their company more. You're here for a reason. What is it?"

"Father gave up something he loved to save the world," Triton said quietly, "The game room alone took him six hundred years to perfect, did you know that? He let hundreds of his subjects die so that he could stop Olympus from toppling to the ground. He left his home when it needed him most to fight for the greater good."

"And?"

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"What?"

"Father willingly sacrificed his home to win the war. Your brother couldn't do the same. Percy Jackson is a fool. A kind hearted, well meaning fool, but still a fool. Athena has declared that one day he will face a sacrifice he just cannot make. But he will need to. You gave up your best friend to protect your sister. Your parents gave their lives to prepare you for the world. Your best friend gave you up to prepare the world for you. Percy Jackson would much sooner destroy the world to save a friend. Do you understand what I'm asking of you?"

"You grew up too fast. So has he. But you understand sacrifice. You were taught to understand sacrifice. You make sacrifices. The day Father went to claim you, you watched as your dad bled out before your eyes. But instead of crying, instead of collapsing under the knowledge of death, you hunted the monsters responsible. You made them pay, you made his death worth something. The people around our little brother make them for him, so he thinks he does, but he does not truly understand. Percy Jackson's mother sacrificed herself for him. So did his best friend, so did his first love, so has everyone around him. Silena Beauregard, Ethan Nakamura, Luke Castellan, in the past twenty four hours alone. He couldn't bear it if anyone else did."

"Perseus has made a lot of hard choices. Just the other day he took a dip in the River Styx."

Ryker's eyes widened a little. He'd seen the Underworld once before, alone during his time with the Hunters. The Styx was not something he'd want to touch.

Still, he understood how it worked. A link to the mortal realm. A mother's blessing.

His lifeline would be Milli. Of that he had no doubt. He didn't even need to be in the Styx to know. She was the only thing keeping him sane. She was the only reason he did any of this. Not Ally, not his mother or father, not Zoë.

And, if what everyone had been telling him about his brother was true, he knew Percy's would be someone of the same relationship he had with Milli. Ryker combed back through his conversation with Triton. It would be his first love, no contest.

"Only three days before you arrived, Perseus was here, having escaped from Kronos's ship as Charles Beckendorf destroyed it. He'd been caught before they had a chance to set a timer on the bombs. The Son of Hephaestus detonated it anyway."

"That is the closest thing to a sacrifice of anyone but himself Perseus has ever made. He let himself turn away from a friend when he was in danger, about to be engulfed by certain death. And if you know our brother at all, which you don't, but you will, you know he would die before he ever let that happen again."

"I'm not saying he's wrong. What he stands for is about as noble as it gets. But he needs to learn that war can't end without sacrifice. You can't be a leader without facing the ultimate test of your morals. And he needs to be the leader that brings us through the coming wars. He is the one that needs to live to do it. Nearly everyone else is replaceable, no matter how dark that sounds, but not him. He needs to learn to push aside his raw emotion for the greater good. Do not misunderstand. Sometimes the emotional choice is the right one. But not in this case. Not when the entire world is hanging in limbo, between peace and eternal darkness."

"I'm asking you to teach him. The world will implode if he does not make the right choice."

"And I'm not quite sure he can."

_______________

It had to have started around two months after the Titan War ended.

He was going to be honest.

Poseidon was a hot mess.

And even that was being a bit generous.

He looked even older than he had when Oceanus had been threatening his territory, and far less composed. He spent most of the day locked away in his throne room pacing or Iris Messaging anyone who would answer long enough for him to freak out at them.

Whenever he was sneaking around, Ryker could catch glimpses of a weary but beautiful brown haired woman, and a younger blonde that looked kind of like Milli more often than he saw his own father's face, his back always turned to the throne room door.

And yet, he could tell that all three of them shared the pain of something, leaving their faces tear streaked and their spirits broken but fighting anyway. He just didn't know what that something was.

He hadn't intended to find out.

Really, he hadn't.

He had free reign of his father's palace. He could go practically anywhere, do virtually anything, and no one paid him any mind. He didn't know that his father was occupied in the throne room.

"Poseidon," he called, bored, "Triton wanted me t-"

His father turned around in a frenzy, snapping his fingers quickly to slam the door in his face.

Okay, then.

He heard the god finish his conversation abruptly, his rushed footsteps telling him that he'd cut the connection and was heading toward the door.

Ryker leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms, unimpressed. "And here I thought you'd be happy I was talking to you of my own free will."

"You can't go in there," Poseidon gasped, "Not while I'm Iris Messaging. Promise me you will knock first from now on."

"Why-"

"Ryker."

He'd never heard Poseidon so serious, so pleading before. Not when he was telling him he needed to leave, not when he'd joined the Hunt, not even when he'd been begging Milli to convince him to fight.

"Fine. I'll knock first," he sighed, "But can you at least tell me what's so important that you're doing with those girls?"

"They can't see you. Not like this. Not now. It'll destroy them. It'll destroy their trust in me."

"Look, if you don't want your affairs to know you've got a kid, you might want to-"

"Ryker, that was your family."

If he hadn't been supported by the wall, he would have collapsed. He felt the air leave his lungs, his brain turning foggy.

"My family... My birth family?"

Normally, he'd curse how weak he sounded. Poseidon was not someone he could be vulnerable in front of. The god, despite admittedly being one of the better ones, was manipulative and used him to fight when he couldn't. He dragged him through a destiny he didn't want, pulled his friends along with him. He was giving them a place to stay, he was giving them food and water and they were safer than they'd been in years. But it was less of a home and more of a waiting area.

When the time came, he'd be released like an animal from a cage.

And then, whether they lived or died was up to him.

Now he couldn't bring himself to care. His family was out there.

"I've been in contact with them, and you can't be there when I do!"

"Why not?" Ryker demanded, "They're my family! You've kept me from them for this long, don't you think it's time I knew them?!?"

"You've been away for this long, don't you think you could wait a little longer?" His father screamed back.

"I'm done waiting!" He burst, "You don't think I want to know my own mother?"

Poseidon took a breath, trying to tame the hysterical look in his eyes. He ran a hand through his hair. "That came out wrong- Don't give me that look, Ryker. You're going to meet them. I want nothing more than for you to meet them. But if you went to them now, you might destroy what's left of their hearts."

"Why do you keep saying that? What did I-"

"Your brother is missing."

"W-What?"

"Percy," Poseidon murmured, dangerously close to tears, "He's been missing for a couple of days now. No one knows where he is. Not his mother. Not his girlfriend. He disappeared straight out of his cabin. No warning. The Camp's been tearing itself apart trying to find them, but-" His voice broke, and he didn't even try to continue.

Ryker had never seen such desperation in his entire life. Poseidon was supposed to be the calm one. He didn't bat an eye when Ryker snapped at him. He stood there and accepted any and all verbal assault that was thrown at him, even if in letting Ryker walk away he was potentially dooming the fate of his entire kingdom.

"My brother is missing. And you don't know where he is? Not even an idea?"

Poseidon screwed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose in his vain attempts to stop himself from crying. "He's gone, Ryker. It's like he fell off the face of the earth. I don't have a clue where he is, and I know that if he were conscious there wouldn't be a day that went by that he wouldn't find some way, any way to contact the people he loves. Which means he's either been kidnapped by a force so strong they can stop him, or..."

His eyes snapped open, his frenzy returning. "Or nothing! Percy is too powerful for that. Hades would have told me. I would have felt it. I- I-"

Ryker watched his father in silent revelation. What would Poseidon do if he were missing? It'd be kind of hard though, as the god had been micromanaging his life from the day he was born. But he could tell anything on the topic of Percy had always pulled at their father's heartstrings, far more than anything he had ever done.

He'd been around Triton for long enough to know that Poseidon played favorites.

And while Ryker knew he was pretty high up on that list, especially considering his terrible attitude toward his father, he could tell Percy was number one in his eyes.

Which meant that in order to get Poseidon ready for the war against Gaea he knew was coming, he would need to make sure Percy was safe.

For all their sakes.

_______________

It was supposed to be a covert operation.

He'd only brought Styx with him, and hadn't even told anyone where he was going, not even Milli or Ally.

He was just going to find Percy for his father and get back. An in and out mission. As previously mentioned, a covert operation.

So of course, Phoebe found him within two hours.

A sudden weight appeared on his back, an arm going hard around his mouth and nose, bringing tears to his eyes out of reflex and rendering him unable to cry out.

Styx had gone ahead so they could cover more ground. He would shadow travel back if he found anything. But for now he was on his own.

Whoever this was had no idea what they were getting into.

But just as he closed his eyes to prepare to counterattack, a voiced hissed in his ear.

"Don't be an idiot."

He immediately fell limp, allowing himself to calm down as the person dropped from his back, dragging him over to a secluded area in the forest.

"How did you find me so quickly?" He asked first, lowering his voice to a whisper, "I've only been above the surface for a couple hours."

"Compared to your brother, it was a piece of cake," Phoebe responded easily.

"Yeah, I heard Percy's been missing. I came up to look for him, too."

"That's a dangerous game you're playing. You know what will happen if anyone sees you, right?"

He couldn't be seen. While his existence had never been a secret, now it needed to be. Anyone who spotted him would think he was Percy. That had already happened once and his twin hadn't even been missing then. And by the time he explained that he wasn't even Percy, the Camp would discover their hero had a twin, he wouldn't be able to slip back under the radar like he needed to, and so soon after the war with another one on the horizon, they had a lot of bigger things to worry about than another son of Poseidon.

And he couldn't bear to hurt his family more than Percy's disappearance already had.

"You're the only one skilled enough to find me," Ryker told her confidently, "And besides. Now you can tell me about any leads you have."

Phoebe sighed heavily, sitting down and motioning for him to join her. "None. The Hunters can't find anything. Any and all resources between us and Camp Halfblood have been deployed, all of the nature spirits are on the lookout, and we even have an in on some of the monster communications. No one's seen him."

Ryker dropped to the ground beside her, wrapping his arms around his knees. "Well, that is an issue. You sure he's even in the country?"

"No. We have no clue of anything. We have foreign connections of course, but that doesn't mean we're going to stop looking. I get the feeling he's here somewhere."

"California?" Ryker asked, "Really? Isn't that kinda far to disappear from New York over night?"

"Look, Ryker," Phoebe said, turning to him, "You don't know Percy like we do. We've got Thalia on our side. And she doesn't even know him as well as Annabeth does. This? This isn't him. Not at all. There has to be godly interference, and all interactions with Olympus have been cut off for weeks."

"Wow," Ryker whistled, "Not even with Artemis?"

"She's the one who sent us looking for him, though I suspect Thalia would have done that much on her own."

"A real important guy, my brother, huh?"

"Ryker... there's something you should know."

"Yeah, Phoebe? I'm still the honorary brother of the Sisterhood, remember? I'm still someone you can talk to."

"It's Percy. He was on the quest Zoë died on."

Ryker choked, feeling the air leave his lungs like he'd been sucker punched.

"It was supposed to be me," Phoebe murmured softly, "But those stupid Stoll Brothers put Centaur Blood on the inside of my shirt. I just thought you should know he's a good guy. Won Zoë over in the end. Lady Artemis, too."

He sat there with his eyes closed for a little, absorbing this new information. All the more reason to find his twin, then.

"Thalia and Annabeth?" He questioned, desperate to change the subject, "Who are they?"

Again, Phoebe hesitated. "Well, Annabeth's his girlfriend. Daughter of Athena. And Thalia's the daughter of Zeus... our new Lieutenant."

Ryker really couldn't make it a minute without getting his plans foiled, could he? He would have met Thalia if he'd stayed just a day longer after learning of Zoë's death. But if she knew him after knowing Percy for so long...

No. He shouldn't think about this. He had a brother to find. For more than just his father now.

"It was good seeing you again, Phobo," Ryker said weakly, bumping her in the shoulder as he stood and being reminded of Zoë yet again, "I'll tell Ally 'hi' for you, yeah?"

"Only the little Lightning Bolt's allowed to call me that, you hear?" Phoebe laughed, not quite masking the sadness in her eyes, "But sure. Good luck."

"Same to you."

"I hope you find Percy. After all this time, I think it'll be nice for you to meet him."

Ryker forced a smile, gripping his necklace tightly, a nervous habit he'd picked up.

"Me too."

_______________

Phoebe was the best Tracker and Healer in the Hunt. Yet, when she told him Percy was very likely in California he'd been suspicious.

Then he stumbled upon a goddess in a cage.

You, Ryker Jackson, are having quite the week.

Despite being in the confines of the ruin, he had to admit she looked perfectly collected, the picture of elegance.

"Ryker Jackson," the goddess greeted, not even turning around, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Goddess," Ryker said, nodding his head out of respect, "Where is this?"

It looked like the remains of some billionaire lumberjack's house. The rubble of red and gray stone lay among the splinters of broken wood and the ruin, though noticeably radiating power, felt... off, somehow. Like he shouldn't be there. Like he shouldn't even be able to be there.

"You're at the Wolf House, the Roman beginning of all demigods. By all rights you should not be here," she told him, "How did you find me?"

"Instincts," he shrugged, "I'm looking for someone."

"Your 'instincts,'" the goddess mused serenely, "The divine connection of twin souls combined, of ancient wards undermined, of fates intertwined."

Ryker's eyes widened. "A prophecy," he breathed, "My prophecy. Tell me the rest of it!"

"My, quite the tone to take with a goddess," she smirked, amused, finally turning around, "Do you know who I am?"

He gave her a once over, taking in her long dark hair, white gown, and golden jewelry.

"Lady Hera," Ryker guessed, "Queen of the Gods."

"Not bad for a hero," Hera smiled, "As for the prophecy, your time has not come yet. And my words were a mere glimpse into a single phrase."

"Tell me what they mean."

"That is for me to interpret and you to go along with."

"Tell me."

"You Ocean Offspring have quite the mouths, don't you? Though you are much more bearable than Perseus and his insolent brat of a girlfriend. Although, his disappearance has had quite the profound effect on her temper."

"You know where he is," Ryker realized, his eyes widening, "You did something to him. You're the reason my brother is missing. You're the reason my family is broken."

"On the contrary, Ryker," Hera told him, "I am the reason they will live to see Gaea rise and fight her."

"By what?" He demanded, "Kidnapping? By hurting them and then cutting all ties so they couldn't even begin to know how to find him? That's what you call helping?"

Ryker watched her silently, wanting to glare but restraining himself. Apparently, he wasn't very good at hiding his emotions because Hera just laughed.

"You haven't even met them," she chuckled, "And yet you are so quick to defend them. So quick to come running when they're in trouble."

"I can't help but notice how no one is doing the same for you."

Her eyes flashed. "You would do well to know your place."

"And perhaps you should know yours," Ryker glowered, taking a step forward, "You're the Queen of the Gods, Hera, the Goddess of Family. Our lives aren't here for you to play with, Olympian. You don't care about how many people you hurt along the way so long as your family remains perfect in the end. Not close, not content, not even happy. Simply perfect. Just the way you imagine it."

He could tell he struck a nerve. Like she'd heard this before. Like she'd heard this from him before.

"Percy and Annabeth must have told you this, too," he reasoned, sneering, "And that's why you dislike them so much. That's why you took him from her. Because it could have been anyone, but you needed to hurt the both of them badly for the disrepect. You're a petty goddess, Hera."

"You think you know everything, don't you?" the goddess scoffed, "You think you know why I did this? Hear this, Ryker Jackson. When you're the Goddess of Family you understand things that other people can only hope to see. When you're the Goddess of Family, you do what's best for them, no matter how much they may hate you for it. And even a messed up family is still a family."

"When I took Perseus away, it wasn't from Annabeth. I did not take him from his family or from his camp. I gave him to a new family and a new camp. I put him where he needed to be in order to grow to save them. The Greeks and Romans have hated each other since ancient times. Every time they meet nations become divided. Have you ever heard of the American Civil War?"

"I chose him. Chose him to be a link because no one else could have been. I took his memories and brought him here, where he will begin anew as a Roman Demigod until he is ready to be a leader. So yes, you have found him. But you cannot tell anyone but your father, and he will recognize the importance of the path I have chosen and remain quiet as well. Call me whatever you wish, Ryker. Petty, jealous, resentful, cruel. But never tell me I do not care for my family."

"And if it kept them all if not safe, then alive
and together, I would play the villain a million times over."

Ryker gaped for a second before swallowing hard and nodding. Hera was a lot like Poseidon, in a way. But just because he knew it was for the best didn't mean he had to like it.

"Lady Hera," Ryker bowed, "Thank you for your assistance. I hope you made the right choice."

Then he was gone.

________________

At least Hera's plan had been working so far.

Ryker had stood by quietly, trusting the goddess against all better judgement and watching the events of the summer unfold.

But when he found out that the Argo II was sailing to the Ancient Lands, Poseidon decided he needed to help somehow. By sending his son out as a spy, of course.

The situation in America was handled. Though the Romans were marching upon Camp Halfblood, Ryker had every confidence that they would be fine. After all, he'd seen Octavian. That scrawny little Legacy wouldn't be able to take down the Greeks no matter how many people he manipulated.

So instead, he stalked his twin across the Atlantic and helped them whenever they were in the sea.

*The Ichthyocentaurs*

Ryker crossed his arms before them. "I just need you to return them. How you do it is up to you. My only requirement is not dead."

"They showed up in our domain in a warship," Bythos protested, pointing accusingly at the three unconscious figures behind him, "Being chased by the Skolopendra, no less!You just expect us to not kill them? You just expect us to trust them?"

"No," Ryker corrected him, "Whether or not you trust them is none of my concern. Just help them."

"Fine!" Aphros bellowed, throwing up his arms, "But I am not giving them any of my brownies."

"We'll see about that."

As he swam away, Aphros turned to his partner angrily.

"See, Bythos?" He demanded, "This is why we don't interact with Poseidon's children!"

*Kymopoleia and the Storm Spirits*

The Argo II was getting really beat up, and the fact that Percy wasn't doing much more than keeping his balance on the deck wasn't really helping matters.

Ryker stayed slightly below the surface, diverting any of the spirits that wandered too close and keeping the ship upright so none of his brother's friends were thrown off.

Then, of course, he watched Percy and Jason leap overboard.

It was nice to know he was appreciated.

He watched them fight Polybotes and Kymopoleia, groaning to himself as Percy just allowed himself to be poisoned in his own domain.

"He was just saved by the son of Jupiter, in the ocean, by promising our own sister to make her an action figure," Ryker muttered, frustrated.

"I give up on this kid."

_______________

On the first day of September, Poseidon called him back into the throne room.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes."

"What for?"

"You have done well."

"I know."

"Such humility."

"Cut that out. I thwarted Oceanus in the duel he challenged you to. I found Percy at the Wolf House so that you wouldn't send the ocean into such a rage that you wiped out humanity. I stopped Kymopoleia from destroying my brother's ship. I kept the Ichthyocentaurs from ripping apart his friends. I did all of that even though I wanted nothing more than to run to Puerto Rico and save Phoebe from meeting the same fate as Zoë. That was four weeks ago. I know I've done well. Now tell me what you want."

"I want what you want."

"I want for my family to be safe."

"I want that, too."

"I want to be on the surface, with Milli, Ally, and Styx, and to not have to worry about death anymore."

"Lucky for you, I can provide two of those things."

"What?"

"You're going back to the surface, Ryker. Bring your friends. You're going to New York."

______________

"What do we do now?" Ally asked. "We have nowhere to stay. He just spit us out on the banks of the Hudson. What a jerk."

"He has a plan," Milli reassured her, "One of the many things he learned from Athena that he would never admit was that he always has a plan."

"Yeah? What's his plan?"

For a second, Milli fumbled for words. "To trust us to have a plan," She shrugged, "I don't know."

Ryker looked around from the riverbanks, an idea striking him as a bright yellow school bus rolled by.

If you're ever in New York and need a friend.

"I'm right across from Goode High," Ryker mumbled to himself.

"What?"

"Guys," Ryker said, motioning for them to follow.

"We're going to school."