II. I SAW A FACE IN THE SAND

tw: mentions of abuse, graphic thoughts of murder

-

Percy stared at the ground beneath her bare feet, taking note of the difference in all shades of brown that marked it.

She was in some park or another. She hadn't really checked, instead allowing her feet to guide her through the busy streets of the city. Percy had found herself on a patch of bare earth, surrounded by trees but she could hear the delighted shouts of children nearby which gave her a sign that this must be a park. She had had the urge to remove her shoes when she had sat down and had promptly done so without a second thought.

It was quiet sans the shouts of the children and the occasional chirp of a bird and it allowed Percy to think. When she had returned to land to rejoin with her mother she had been stone faced, and when she had anxiously fussed over her she had plastered on a grin and assured her she was fine.

Percy was far from fine.

She had been wrong, the currents hadn't led her to serenity. They had led her there as a warning. A reminder that even in the most calming of places she needed to be wary because there were always threats.

She still entered the sea the next day, this time her mother was swimming with her. For it was a warning from the currents but not a command and she would be damned if she didn't train and work and become the best she could possibly be.

"Little Hero," a voice cooed. It wasn't like Triton's had been, where Triton's had been hard and commanding, this one was soft and gentle but nonetheless made her listen. Percy looked at the woman who had said the words.

She had skin as dark as her mother's, the color is a mix of yellow gold and peach-honey, and her feet though she couldn't decide which part of it. She was bare, as naked as what her mother had taught her was indecent and green vines grew around her limbs as if attempting to give her modesty but couldn't quite reach it. Her dark brown, almost black hair was braided with a variety of plants(poison ivy, tulips, dahlia and amaryllis flowers) and earthly trinkets. Her eyes were closed as if she were sleeping but still Percy could feel her stare.

"Lady Gaea," Percy greeted having read of the primordial and having seen her on more than one occasion in her dreams.

Percy couldn't help but be in awe of the woman. Her appearance was only able to be described as divine, with soft facial features, round and modest curves, wide hips, the plants that tried to cover her were tying themselves around her legs and waist, but the one thing that amazed her more was the aura of power and serenity that emanated from her. Colors so bright they could resemble a mix of a falling star and a supernova of celestial energy.

Her lips pulled into a serene smile. "Such a smart little heroine, you'll do just fine."

"Just fine?" Percy inquired. "For what?"

"For leading my armies," Gaea informed her. "Worry not about it now Little Heroine, you will grow into your destiny soon enough."

Percy tilted her head with narrowed eyes. "If it is truly destiny then it shall be done but until then I reserve judgment. Why do you seek me out now Lady Gaea?"

"You have been cruelly mistreated Little Heroine," Gaea cooed. "So cruelly. And yet the gods do nothing."

"It is in their nature," Percy responded easily, she had accepted as such when she had first learned of the gods and refused to be bitter about it (shehadprayedenoughallreadyherpridecouldtakenomore).

"It makes them no less cruel," Gaea countered. "A change can be made, Little Heroine, a change will be made. And you will lead it. I am too weak to rise just yet but the time will come, I assure you."

Percy had no idea what the currents wanted from her in this situation. She had no idea what they wished for her to say.

"You need not say anything Little Heroine. Not now. I will be watching." Percy watched with grim fascination as she melted into the dirt.

Percy stared at the spot she had disappeared in for a long time before she slipped on her shoes and with walking so quiet it was like she was never there he left.

-

Percy's fingertips felt disgusting as she waded them through the river. The river was dirty and polluted and Percy could feel this through touch alone. Could feel the sea creatures that were poisoned by these waters. Could feel the hate of the river god for mortals that had destroyed him. Could feel the lingering absence of nymphs that had long since fled.

She slowly, feeling a familiar tug in her stomach lifted her fingers and began pulling the rubbish from the river. She tired quickly from this for it was so polluted that any energy it may have provided was overpowered by the absolute filth that infected it. This very thought spurred her on.

It also led to her passing out for three hours with a nose bleed. Though when her blood touched pomegranate trees, red roses, lotus flowers, nightshade, aconite and white roses. All of them grew around her, giving the park where the river is located a serene look.

But still she came back. Every afternoon without fail Percy walked from her school to the river and continued cleaning it and taking care of the plants. And every afternoon without fail Percy passed out from exhaustion.

She did note that the time that it took before she passed out became longer and longer and if that didn't push her to continue then a chat with the river god certainly did.

Percy lifted her hands to attempt to separate the oil that flowed through the river from the water( a blue light emitting from her hands while she did so) and dump it into a barrel she kept beside him (it certainly wouldn't do to dump it onto the earth). It was difficult. Much more difficult than pulling out garbage and it had once led to her eyes bleeding but it was becoming easier.

"You much younger than I thought you'd be," a voice mused. And wasn't Percy getting sick of voices speaking to her out of the blue?

Percy brought the little oil she had gathered into the barrel before looking toward the source of the voice.

The god before her looked awful. His skin looked like the flecks of oil and slime and shit and things that Percy couldn't identify had been burned into him. His hair was brittle and turning a sickly green as bugs flew around and in it. His eyes were yellow and red and green and Percy didn't want to look at him for too long in fear of throwing up.

"How old are you, child?" The god asked.

"Seven," Percy answered, bowing her head. "I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with your name My Lord. May I inquire as to who you are?"

The god smiled bitterly (andohgodswerehisteethallblack). "You wouldn't know my name for I'm just the ruler of a sick river, a minor god who couldn't even look after his own domain." He said minor as if it were poison. The god took in a frustrated breath before sighing. "My name is Aeyar, what is yours?"

"Persis Jackson, Lord Aeyar," Percy answered.

Aeyar eyed her, it was unsettling for his eyes looked like they would fall out of his skull. "You call me lord for I have divinity and yet you barely know who I am. You have a great respect for the gods Persis," Aeyar noted.

"Thank you My Lord," Percy told him, knowing that to a god that may serve as a compliment.

"You also have a great tongue for a liesmith."

Percy's head shot up. "My Lord?"

"You hold no respect for the gods, only fear. Lose that fear and give respect only to those that deserve it. You are a warrior and you have a good heart, I can tell. You clean my domain, gaining nothing. Beings like you are rare and they should not be forced to bow to those that have not earned it."

"I-thank you, My Lord," Percy told Aeyar sincerely.

Aeyar raised a non-existent eyebrow. "You still have much to learn then."

"No, My Lord. I have given respect where respect is due," Percy told him firmly.

Aeyar smiled, much more genuinely this time. "Thank you Persis." And he was gone.

Percy turned back to the river and with vigor that had nearly been lost over the weeks she continued to clean the river.

-

Percy knew that having met three gods (well two gods and a primordial) over the course of five weeks wasn't something she could tell her mother. She was already upset enough as it was that she knew about who her father was, telling her of the divine entities she had met would make her worry so she kept quiet.

Her mother was one of the kindest and best people on this gods' forsaken planet but she frustrated her sometimes. She saw the scars that marred Percy's body, she even had a number of her own and yet she stayed with Gabe. She knew that Percy knew of her heritage and still she tried to act like she was perfectly normal. She worked for mere pennies and still she attempted to buy her gifts.

She deserved the world but the world was cruel and had turned its back on her. It was the one thing that made Percy consider going against the currents.

But she never did because it would make it worse. The currents let this happen for a reason after all.

This didn't stop Percy's mind from wandering. From thinking about shoving some water down Gabe's throat and watching him drown. From thinking about picking up the broken beer bottle and shoving it into the man's gut over and over and over andoverandoverandover. From thinking about stringing thorns around his neck to slice his throat. From giving him a shove when he stared out of the window to leer at Nienke Botha from downstairs.

Sometimes, if she were being particularly optimistic, she swore that she heard the currents whisper, "soon Little Heroine, soon."

Percy hoped, if the currents were really speaking to her, soon came shortly because she could only beg and bleed for so long.

0001_AUTHOR NOTE

Thoughts?