The saltwater stings my gills as I surface, gasping for air. The ocean churns around me, matching the turmoil in my chest. Triton's warning echoes in my mind - "The sea is no longer safe for you."

But how can I stay away when Annabeth is out there? Somewhere.

I close my eyes, focusing on the memory of my dream - Annabeth chained in that dark room, her eyes fierce despite the metal around her wrists. She's alive. I know it.

A warm hand on my shoulder pulls me from my thoughts. Fetu's golden hair floats around his face like a halo in the underwater light.

"You should not be out here alone," he says, his voice a melody that calms the water around us.

I turn to face him, the moonlight catching on the courtship bracelet he gave me. The scales match my tail perfectly - a thoughtful detail he noticed on our first date.

"I need to think," I say, but lean into his touch anyway. His skin is warm against mine, a welcome contrast to the chill of the deep.

He wraps his tail around mine, pulling me closer. "Thinking is better done together," he murmurs, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

Before I can respond, a ripple in the water alerts us to another presence. Triton materializes, his expression grim.

"You were supposed to be home hours ago," he says, not bothering to hide his irritation.

I pull away from Fetu, suddenly aware of how close we are. "I needed to clear my head."

"There's trouble at camp," Triton says, ignoring my excuse. "New demigods have arrived. And Thalia is causing problems again."

My stomach tightens. Thalia with new demigods? That can't be good.

"And Percy," Triton adds, his voice softening. "Your mother has been calling. She's worried."

I sigh. I should have called her after the rescue mission. Between worrying about Annabeth and adjusting to being back on land, I've been neglecting the one person who's always been there for me.

"I'll go," I say, already preparing to transform my tail into legs. "But I'm not giving up on Annabeth."

Triton's expression darkens. "That's not your decision to make, little brother."

Fetu places a hand on my arm. "He's right, Percy. You need to be careful."

For a moment, I'm torn between two worlds - the boy who wants to save his friend, and the prince who has responsibilities to his people.

The ocean breeze whispers Annabeth's name, and I know what I have to do.