Percy Jackson fanfic

I

Percy

“Come on!” Percy shouted behind him, running up the steep rocky slope.

They were running from some of Gaea’s minions, some sort of rock monster by the looks of them. The problem was, there was rock everywhere. Rocks were constantly being thrown over their heads, and the pebbles beneath them slid under their feet.

Percy could hear the others panting behind him, but didn’t chance a glance back. They had to keep going. But, Percy didn’t know how long they could go on.

Up ahead, the fog cleared away just enough for Percy to see the rocky terrain split into two paths. He slowed for the others to catch up, ducking flying boulders, and trying to avoid shifting gravel.

Jason came up to him, panting, “Wh...which way?”

“I don’t know,” Percy gasped, clutching his knees, “I just didn’t want to choose the wrong one.”

Soon Annabeth, Leo, and Piper caught up, with Frank and Hazel close behind. Percy allowed them to catch their breath for a few seconds before asking, “Which one do we take?”

“The left one,” Annabeth said immediately.

Percy raised an eyebrow, but didn’t ask how she knew that. He’d learned not to argue against her, she was right too often.

He grabbed her hand and darted down the left path. The terrain quickly changed from a path on the edge of a mountain, to a ledge on the side of the mountain. And it was none too wide. Percy had to lead Annabeth over it sideways.

Behind him, Percy heard a scuffle and a shriek of pain. Looking back, Percy saw Jason holding Piper as she shivered, from fear or pain he didn’t know.

“I can’t go on!” Piper was saying, “My ankle...”

Jason lifted her into his arms, “Shh. I’ll carry you. Hold on, Pipes.”

Jason nodded to Percy, and Percy led the group forward. Sliding along the ridge, holding Annabeth’s hand, Percy thought about his mother. He hadn’t seen her in over a year. Her brown hair and tired smile which had brightened so much since she’d married Paul. He missed her with all of his heart, but that wouldn’t matter until Gaea was gone.

A rock soared so close to his face that Annabeth screamed, “Look out!” he flattened himself against the rock on his left to avoid the rubble.

He looked at Annabeth and the other demigods. Their tired expressions told him they wouldn’t be able to keep up much longer. Percy was getting worn out himself.

He turned to the black girl with long frizzy hair, “Hazel, is there a cave nearby?”

Hazel placed her hand on the cold rock, “There should be one right about...” The wall of the mountain shuddered, then rumbled, and the rocks began to slide.

Hazel pushed Frank back before he could walk right into the avalanche.

Once the rumbling subsided, there was a gaping hole in the side of the mountain. Hazel stepped on top of the rock pile and grinned at Percy, “...right about here. This good enough?”

“Perfect. Let’s go!” They dove into the darkness as a boulder the size of a car flattened itself against the cliff, right where they had been standing, trapping them in the blackness.

Leo set his hand on fire so they could make out each other’s faces.

“Now what?” Jason asked, setting Piper down gently.

“We rest.” Percy said.

“Right,” Annabeth agreed, “We need to gather our strength while we can.”

“Great!” Leo said, happily laying down with his hands behind his head, his hair now ablaze, “I could use a nap!”

“What a shame,” came a voice from the darkness that made Percy’s skin tingle, “I’m afraid that’s not really what we had in mind.”

A sudden greenish glow filled the entire chamber, and Percy saw a monstrous creature he hoped he’d never have to see again. She had a dragonish body, but where the neck should have been, was a woman’s torso. The seam where the two bodies connected was the most gruesome bit, though. Faces of all sorts of creatures appeared, and disappeared rapidly. A lion, a drakon, a bear flashed on her waist. Percy had met her once before, and possibly made her very angry, (he tended to do that to monsters). Her name was Kampe.

And Percy noticed something else. A soon as the green light from torches around the walls lit, they were surrounded. By humans, mortal mercenaries by the looks of it. They were hopelessly outnumbered.

Kampe hissed something in that native tongue to a man who, apparently, hadn’t understood it any better than Percy. But he clearly knew what the order meant anyway. And Percy had a feeling he did too.

The man raised his hand and pointed at the demigods, “Seize them.”

Immediately, the twenty or so mortals around the room jumped into action. One lept at Percy but he dodged him. Two were targeting Annabeth, so he ran that way. Percy thought about drawing his sword, Riptide, but it wouldn’t do any good against mortals.

Instead, he kneed the first guy in the gut, who grunted and fell to the ground. Annabeth was just dodging the second man’s gunshot as Percy turned toward him. He kicked the man in the shin, and then elbowed him in the face.

Grabbing Annabeth’s hand, he looked around. Leo was holding his ground, by keeping his body on fire. Hazel was desperately fighting three at once with her cavalry sword against their knives and pistols. Jason was doing his best to shield Piper from four, but was struggling to keep up with their strikes. Frank...Frank was no where to be seen. Probably changed into something small to escape the mortal’s notice. Percy saw Kampe looking in their direction, so he told Annabeth, “Go help them!”

“What are you going to do?” she yelled over the din.

“I’ll keep Kampe distracted.” Percy didn’t give her a chance to protest.

He charged toward the monster, pulling out his pen and uncapping it in the process. When he reached her, he made a deadly arch towards her neck. But as fast a as a centaur runs, Kampe whipped out her two wicked poisoned blades, and caught his sword mid-strike.

She swung her second sword toward his head, and Percy ducked to avoid it. He tried jabbing his sword into her stomach, but she was ready for him. She was just too good with both swords.

He managed to keep her focussed on one sword long enough for Percy to twist  it out of her grasp. Percy’s eyes followed the blade and it landed a few yards away. But what distracted him was his friends.

They were all subdued. Piper had a gag, and her arms were held behind her back by burly man, who grinned like a maniac and attempted to flirt with her. Jason lay unconscious, a bullet hole through his arm. Leo was worn out, he was held cautiously by two men, but his posture was slumped, his energy gone. Annabeth and Hazel were still standing, but struggled to escape the arms of the greedy mercenaries. Frank was against a wall, a knife at his throat. They were trapped. And the remaining mortals were closing in.

He waited a moment too long. Suddenly, Kampe’s long, scaly tail hit him in the chest and sent him flying. He heard Annabeth shout somewhere behind him as his sword hand hit the wall first, disarming him, and sending shoots of pain up his arm, into his neck. His momentum caused him to roll away from the wall, and he lay there, dased.

After a moment, he rolled onto his back, realizing there was no way out now. He would have to surrender to stay alive, or risk hurting his friends by attacking. No, he decided, I’m not giving in yet. His hand still aching and his body trembling in pain, Percy mumbled under his breath, “Carter, I hope you can get here fast.”

Kampe strode forward, or more like galloped forward, since she had four legs. Percy used his left hand to scoot backwards, but Kampe was much too fast. She held him down with one of her forelegs, pointing the tip of her remaining sword at Percy’s nose.

The spokesman stepped forward hesitantly at Kampe’s hand gesture, “Yes um...” He tried to make his voice sound more threatening, “Now you will be taken to Gaea, and um...most of you will die.”

But Percy wasn’t really listening, he was trying to stay contious. The pain in his hand was so bad, it was making his head rumble. No, wait...the cave was rumbling.

Apparently, Kampe heard it too, for she screeched defiantly and drove the sword toward Percy’s face, right as the cave entrance was blasted to oblivion.

Fortunately, Percy managed to dodge the blow (mostly), before Kampe was blown backwards. On the downside, Kampe’s poisoned sword grazed his cheek. In that split second, even in agaony, he saw Piper rip through her gag, Leo scream as he burst into flame, and Annabeth give her guard a satisfying knock on the head.

Percy managed to sit up as Annabeth ran to his side, but he could still feel his awareness slipping.

“Percy!” Annabeth said as she reached him. She knelt and ran her fingers along the fresh wound on Percy’s cheek.

“Aagh!” He flinched away.

“Sorry,” she grabbed his hand, “Percy, it’s turning green.”

Behind them, Kampe screamed in outrage. Then, Percy heard a voice he recognised.

“ATTACK!”

Percy closed his eyes against the pain. He felt Annabeth move behind him. He collapsed against her chest. He focussed on staying alert, but his head was heavy, and the pain was spreading from his cheek to the rest of him. It would be so much easier to just give in...

When he opened his eyes, the torches were out, but daylight blazed through the hole. Kampe was gone, and all the mortals had fled. Everyone was getting back to their feet. Jason was still out cold, but everyone else seemed okay. Carter came over and grinned at Percy, “I thought I heard you.”

Percy managed a small smile, “You were just in time.” He flinched at the pain of moving his face.

Carter noticed, “You okay? My friend, Jaz is a healer. Hey Jaz!”

“No,” Percy gasped, as a girl with light brown hair and a nice smile approached, “help Jason and Piper first.”

Carter seemed to understand. He nodded to Jaz and then knealt next to Percy. He studied Percy’s face then looked at Annabeth as she spoke.

“Who are you?” Percy could feel disdain coursing through her, "How do you know Percy?”

Carter held up his hands, “ Woah, calm down! My name’s Carter Kane,  I met Percy about a year ago, we fought a giant crocodile together.”

Percy was having a hard time breathing, but he managed, “It’s okay...Wisegirl. He’s...a friend.”

She looked down at him in concern, “You sure you’re alright?”

Percy was about to admit that, no he was not alright, but just then, Jaz returned.

“Jason should be alright.” She looked at Percy’s face with a worried expression, “Piper just has a sprained ankle.”

Percy breathed a sigh of relief, “Frank,” he moaned, “Take Jason...” gasp, “back to the ship. Then...” gasp, “come back for me.”

Frank looked concerned for a moment as Percy caught his breath. But he nodded, turned to Jason, and transformed into a bald eagle.

Carter raised his eyebrows for a moment, but didn’t show any other sign that he was surprised that Frank could turn into a large bird of prey. Then again, Percy remembered, Carter could turn into one too.

Then all turned their attention to Percy. Jaz knelt by his side and reached out to touch his face, where greenish ooze was coming out. She pulled back her finger with the stuff on it, peered at it, and wiped it on her shirt. She felt his forehead for a fever and quickly drew her hand away.

“Not good,” she muttered, “Sadie, does that remind you of anything?”

A girl with pink streaked, blonde hair and combat boots said, “That’s what Carter looked like after that two-headed snake thing bit him. But Carter passed out a lot faster. Oh look, brother dear, someone else is stronger than you!”

Carter muttered under his breath, “Or maybe it was more potent poison,” then he looked at Sadie, “Anyway, you only cured that with my...” he looked down sheepishly.

“What?” Annabeth asked, “what did you cure it with?”

But Percy wasn’t listening anymore. He was blacking out, fast. The last thing he heard was:

“...his secret name.”

II

Annabeth

Annabeth sensed Percy relax, and upon looking down, she saw he had fainted.

"Perceus Jackson," she scolded, "you're not doing this to me again, stay awake! Come on Percy...!"

She bent down and kissed his sweaty forehead.

She began to allow the self pity to envelope her for a moment. Why wouldn't Gaea leave them alone? Could they just live their lives for once, without the 'saving the world' part? Couldn't she just spend a dew peaceful years alone with her amazing boyfriend? Of course not. Annabeth's expression hardened.

"Leo," she ordered, snapping her head up, "Can you make a makeshift stretcher?"

Leo perked up, "I dunno, you seen any metal lately?"

"Yes." Hazel said, raising her arms. All around them, pieces of iron and bronze erupted out of the earth.

"Man, that is so sweet!" Leo grinned at Annabeth, "One stretcher coming up!"

Annabeth studied the newcomers. She still didn't trust them. There was just this aura about them that made her feel apprehensive. Yet, they had helped them out of a sticky spot. But how had they known?

Hazel helped Piper make her way over to the group. Piper looked at Percy with concern, then raised her gaze to meet Annabeth's.

"Look at his hand," she said quietly.

Annabeth carefully picked up Percy's sword hand, and almost dropped it in shock!

His knuckles were bleeding from scrapes, probably from when Kampe slammed him against the wall. His actual hand was now bent in many unusual ways.

"That's definitely broken," the girl named Sadie stated, "Even I can see that much."

Annabeth loooked at her for a moment like, No way, really? but then Jaz spoke up.

"Broken bones are something I can fix."

She knelt next to Percy and held out her hand. Annabeth hesitated. She hardly knew this girl. Should she really entrust any part of Percy to her? But Jaz had helped Jason and Piper, and gave Leo something to regain his strength. Reluctantly, she handed Percy's arm to Jaz.

III

Leo

Leo's hands worked furiously. He barely noticed what they were doing. He got like that sometimes. When the circumstances were extreme, his hands went on autopilot, allowing his mind to wander.

He listened to the conversation but quickly grew bored. It was just introductory stuff. Names and businesses. Leo didn't really care. So he thought about the only thing that had been on his mind the past few weeks. Calypso.

Leo remembered her island, Ogygia, her beautiful garden, her face, how much she loved to work, the taste of her lips, and the promise he made as he had sailed away on the little raft.

He would find a way to make it back, he had to. He wouldn't have left at all if his friends hadn't needed him.

"After I set Gaea's skirt on fire..." he muttered under his breath.

Leo screwed the last bolt from his tool belt into place.

"Straps," he mumbled, "what do we use...?"

He reached in the magic tool belt and pulled out a roll of duct tape. Leo glanced behind him, and sniggered. He pictured Percy duct taped to the stretcher. The image was so funny, he almost laughed aloud.

Leo stood up and cleared his throat, unsuccessfully trying to keep the grin off his face. Annabeth looked up and looked at him questioningly.

"What's so funny?"

Leo held up the duct tape, and was rewarded with Annabeth's steely glare.

He laughed and reluctently put the duct tape away and dragged the stretcher over to Percy's side.

IV

Percy

Percy felt Annabeth's gentle hands under his arms and someone else's around his ankles. They set him down lightly on a cold metal surface. His right hand hit the floor hard though, sending a jolt of pain up into his shoulder. His eyes flew open and he gasped in pain.

Annabeth was instantly at his side, "Oh my gods, I'm so sorry!"

Percy gritted his teeth against a new wave of pain, this time from his cheek spreading through his entire body, "S okay," he mumbled.

"Can you walk?" A tall, tan dude spoke, Percy hadn't gotten his name yet.

"Huh-uh," Percy grunted, moaning.

The pain in his face was so intense, his body went outside his control and began thrashing from side to side. The problem was, the more he moved, the more the pain spread, but he couldn't control himself.

He could hear Annabeth calling his name in alarm, but he couldn't answer. His face felt like it was on fire, and the fire was quickly making its way towards Percy's stomach.

They were trying to hold him down, he heard someone, probably Jaz, say, "We've got to hold him still, the poison will only spread faster!" Percy tried to relax, but it hurt too much.

"Dude!" Leo's voice came loudest, "Hold still!"

I can't! Percy wanted to scream.

He felt Annabeth holding his face, stroking it. She whispered something and Percy focused on her words. I love you. He didn't notice the pain as much as he listened.

"Thank the gods!" Piper muttered, "good job Annabeth."

"I should have put his arm in a sling! Then it would never've hit the floor!" Jaz said.

Annabeth supported his back while Jaz tied his arm to his chest with a strip of cloth from her shirt.

Annabeth let him down gently and as soon as she let go, pain engulfed him again. Percy tried to control himself, but his body ignored him. He yelled in a mixture of agony and defiance, his body wrything.

The others were talking, Percy tried to understand what they were saying, but the words all blended together.

Suddenly Piper was at his side, "Percy, wouldn't it be nice to get some sleep? To just forget about the pain for a moment? Try it."

Percy knew she was charm speaking to calm him down, but he let the words wash over him. It would be nice to relax for a bit after all...

V

Frank

Frank soared over the rocks and trees, clutching Jason by his shirt, beneath him. The rock monster's had disappeared. Maybe they were luring them into the trap all along. Gaea's pretty tricky, Frank thought, as his eagle eyes scanned the terrain for the still airborne Greek trireme, the Argo II.

Finally, he spotted it. The Argo was waiting for them just feet above the ground in a secluded circle of rocks. Frank tilted that direction and promptly layed Jason down on the deck. He landed himself a foot away from him and changed back to himself.

Jason moaned. Frank scrambled to his side and helped him to his feet. Jason leaned on Frank very heavily. Frank led him down the stairwell to sickbay.

Once Jason was settled in bed, Frank handed him a glass of nectar.

"Here," he said, "Drink this. I'll be back in a minute."

Jason shook his head dejectedly, "Once again, I went through the fight unconscious," he sighed, "And to have Percy tell them to take care of me first...is he alright?"

"Not sure..." Frank frowned, "I'll go pick him up. He looked pretty bad when we left though, all green and sickly."

Jason nodded and closed his eyes. Frank looked at him for a moment, wondering if he would say something more, before he realised that Jason had fallen asleep.

Frank dashed back on deck and transformed into an eagle once more. He flew back in the direction of the cave.

When he'd almost reached the entrance, he saw them. Annabeth and that Carter kid were carrying a stretcher between them back down the mountain. On it, Frank saw the limp form of Percy Jackson.

He dived, landing right in front of Carter, and transformed into a human.

"Frank! Thank the gods!" Annabeth cried.

Piper pushed her way forward, "Is Jason alright?"

"Is the ship still there?" Leo asked.

"Yes, and yes." Frank looked at Annabeth, "How is he?"

Her piercing grey eyes sparkled with unshed tears, "Not good. He needs amrosia now."

Frank nodded, "You might want to get out of the way," he said, warrily to Carter.

He took the handles out of Carter's hands and turned into a dragon. He heard the newcomers gasp in surprise, but was already grabbing Annabeth's side of the stretcher. He took of, Percy groaning in his sleep beneath him.

VI

Jason

Jason dreamed about Reyna. He would have felt guilty about it, but quickly got over the fact when he realised what was happening.

They were in the middle of a square. The Athena Parthenos was looming in the background, with a dark form that must have been Nico crumpled at the base. Reyna and Coach Hedge were standing back to back, weapons in hand.

Jason couldn't see what was attacking them, but Reyna's face was screwed with determination, and the look she always had when she was trying to hide her fear.

And suddenly the dream changed. He was at the border of Camp Halfblood. He saw the campers standing in formation to guard their camp. Jason sensed figures moving through the trees on the other side of the barrier.

Jason was glad to see that Paleus was well alert, occasionally blasting fire, followed by a shriek of pain from the attackers.

Jason wanted to skewer Octavian for disobeying orders and attacking Halfblood Hill. But even if he could move, he didn't have the chance. A battle cry sounded from the Romans and several legeonares (including Octavian) threw themselves at Paleus.

Jason watched in horror as Paleus's fight turned to a fight for survival. There was no way he could overpower so many by himself!

Apparently, the Greeks thought so too. The girl Jason knew to be Clarrise yelled as she led a group to defend their defender. But they were too late.

Paleus crumbled into dust and Octavian pulled his sword out of one of the dragon's scales. As if in slow motion, Octavian turned toward the advancing Greek army, smirked, raised his sword over his head, and yelled, "DESTROY THEM!"

Jason woke with a start, the image of the two clashing armies still in his head, when Frank stumbled through the doorway. In his arms he carried a body that was completely limp, and very pale.

Jason watched silently as Frank layed Percy on the bed next to Jason and propped him up with a few pillows. When Frank moved away to get some Ambrosia, Jason got a good look at Percy's face.

There was a large gash in one cheek. It was gushing pussy green liquid and was surrounded in an oasis of purple bruising. The rest of his face was ghostly white, and the expression on his friend's sleeping face told Jason he was in incredible pain.

Frank stumbled back over with the godly food and lifted Percy's face, he popped the square into his mouth. Jason looked away. His arm ached, and he tried to focus on something better than what was at stake. But nothing came to mind except for the horrifying dream.

VII

Annabeth

Annabeth ran back down the sloped mountainside, the others racing behind her. When they finally reached flat ground again, they were completely out if breath. Annabeth would've stopped running, but, hidden in an outcrop of large rocks, she spotted the Argo II.

She pulled faster and kept going. Suddenly, an agonized yell pierced the air. Annabeth stopped in her tracks. She looked back at the others, they looked around in alarm.

"Was that...?" Hazel began.

"Percy," Annabeth sobbed.

“Go on Annabeth,” Piper panted, “It’s alright, we’ll be fine.”

Annabeth looked at their tired faces and nodded, “I’ll meet you on deck.”

She turned and ran in the direction of the Argo II. As she ran, she let the sobs rise up and the tears fall. She didn’t know what she would do if Percy... No, she couldn’t even let that thought formulate in her mind. But still she worried, as his cries became closer. Was he alright? How bad was it? She prayed to all the gods that Percy would survive.

She quickly wiped the tears off her face as she reached the rope ladder. Frank was waiting for her at the top.

“You better get in there,” he said, as Percy cried out again.

He helped her over the side, and she ran down the stairs into sick-bay. Annabeth burst through the door to find Jason sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at Percy wide-eyed.

Annabeth’s eyes moved to Percy’s bed, and her heart broke to see him staring at her, pain written all over his face. She strode to his side and took his hand, sitting on the bed next to him. His expression brightened for a moment, but then fell back into torment as he writhed and yelled some more.

Annabeth put her hands on either side of his face, careful not to touch his wound. She forced him to look at her, then kissed him.

“Fight hard,” she whispered in his ear.

He breathed in sharply and clutched her hand tightly, as if he were afraid to lose her.

"I'm not going anywhere Seaweed-Brain," she said to their clasped hands.

Percy made a little cough, then began to weeze as he breathed. Annabeth looked at him in concern, and noticed some blood dribbling down his chin.

Tears welling up in her eyes again, she grabbed some tissues off the bedstand and gently dabbed at the blood.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jason reach out and put his hand on Percy's shoulder. They sat there for a long time, perfectly still. Occasionally Percy would scream or twitch, and Annabeth would stroke his cheek. Percy's yells grew more and more quiet as time wore on.

Annabeth only noticed the others croud into the room because Hazel helped Piper to the bed on the other side of Jason's.

Percy coughed again, and more blood came up. As Annabeth wiped it away, Percy mumbled something.

"Ann...beth." Tears streamed down her face as his shaky hand reached up to touch her cheek.

"Shhh," she said, quietly sobbing, "it's all right...I'm here."

Percy's hand slid to her thigh and he closed his eyes. Someone walked over with a glass of water. Annabeth thanked Jaz and drank deeply, (her throat was rather raw from running and crying.) She looked at the water in the cup, then at Percy's sweaty face.

A sudden thought occurred to her. She remembered how much Percy's strength grew while he was in the water. Maybe...carefully, Annabeth held the glass above Percy's face. Then, very slowly, she poured out the contents.

Percy opened his eyes, and his painful expression melted away. He looked up at Annabeth and gave a small smile. Annabeth wanted to shout for joy.

But the water didn't last long. As soon as she quit pouring, the color left Percy's countenance again.

"Someone, get me some more water!" Annabeth cried.

Soon, she had poured several more glasses of water on Percy's wound. He was very alert now, even attempting to sit up. Annabeth pushed him back into the pillows.

She gave him the next cup to drink from, he drank deeply, and the cut sealed itself, leaving only a white scar running across his cheek.

Percy looked at her, pulled her close, and kissed her, right there in front of everyone.

"I'm glad you didn't die," Annabeth said against his chest, careful not to put weight on his injured hand.

He sighed and looked up at their audience, "Me too Wisegirl."

VIII

Percy

Everyone left the room except Jason, Piper, and Annabeth to let Percy get some rest. Annabeth layed down next to him. He breathed in the sent of her hair and let himself drift off.

In his dream, Percy was in a large cathedral-like room. He saw large pillars carved with intricate Greek lettering and pictures, cracked marble floor, and a domed ceiling, before the dream carried him down a dark hallway on his left.

As he walked, Percy noticed the size of the place. It was enormous! The walls were tall enough to fit a giant. A horrible thought occurred to him. What if it was for a giant?

Suddenly cautious, Percy kept walking, keeping his eyes open for anything suspicious. He was just getting bored of walking on and on, when he heard a deep, rumbling voice ahead of him.

The problem was, Percy recognised the voice. It was the voice of an enemy who had thretend to see Percy chained to the bottom of the ocean. Percy wasn't exactly pleasantly surprised to hear that voice again.

"Perseus Jackson..." Polybotes loomed out of the darkness.

Percy met the giant's gaze. Polybotes grinned wide, like a little boy catching his first snake, he had it in the trap, and now he needed to skin it.

"How good to see you," Polybotes boomed, "I understand you were on your deathbed only a moment ago."

Before Percy could answer, he heard a small gasp from somewhere behind the giant. He looker that way, but it was too dark to see anything.

"What's it to you?" Percy asked.

"Oh because then I wouldn't have been able to pull off my brilliant plan!" Polybotes turned and started down the dark corridor a few feet, "I need to show you something."

Percy warily stepped forward. Where Polybotes had stopped was a door, with a small, barred window and a tiny light emitting from somewhere beyond.

Polybotes sounded amused, "Look inside."

Percy put his hands on the bars and peered through the window. What he saw inside made him so angry he wanted to brake something, but since he was dreaming, he couldn't do a thing.

Inside the room, sitting on a stool, her hands tied behind her back, was his mother. He wanted to reach for her, he wanted to brake the door down and get her out of this place.

Sally watched him, "Percy..."

Percy closed his eyes against the horrifying picture, muttering to himself, "It's just a dream, it's just a dream..."

Polybotes laughed, "You know very well Jackson that demigod dreams are never just dreams."

Percy turned to him, "What do you want?" he said quietly.

The giant grinned down at him, evily, "I want you."

Percy sighed, he should've known what this was all about from the start.

Polybotes continued, "I want you to swear on the River Styx that you will give yourself up for exchange."

Percy's jaw tightened in anger, "Fine. As long as you also swear, on the River Styx, that you will let her go."

The giant nodded slowly, as if savoring the idea of having Percy withing his grasp, "If you are not here in three days, you can say goodbye to your mother."

"I'll be there."

"No!" Came a cry, from within the cell, "Percy, don't come! Don't do it!"

"It's too late," Percy said, the deal is made. "I'm gonna get you out of there Mom."

"No!..."

But her voice grew faint, and the walls melted together. Percy opened his eyes to see those familiar grey ones staring back at him.

"Are you alright?" Annabeth asked.

Percy didn't know how to answer. He had just promised his life to his enemy. His mom was in danger, and it was Polybotes fault.

"I'm...I had a nightmare."

Annabeth screwed up her eyebrows in concern, "What about?"

Percy looked over at Jason and Piper who were staring at him like he was a zombie, "My...my mom."

IX

Leo

Leo called an emergency meeting for everyone aboard the Argo II. Everyone assembled in the dining hall, the seven taking the chairs around the table while the others stood around the sides.

Annabeth told everyone to, "Shut up and listen to Percy!" And all the attention was turned to him.

"First," Percy croaked, still slightly recovering, "we would like to welcome our new crewmates. Though they may not be staying long, it's up to them."

There was a mumbled greeting, then everyone stared at Percy again. The staring was probably due to the bloodshot eyes and the new scar across his cheek. Leo thought he looked kind of fragile too.

Carter spoke before Percy could, "We would like to stay and help, but we're not sure what the problem is."

Percy nodded, and looked at the kid, "I'm still not sure if I should tell you, if you know what I mean."

Several people looked shocked, Annabeth didn't look surprised, and Carter just nodded.

"I understand. But we'll need to know what we're up against."

"Right," Percy looked at those around the table, "I suppose now's a good a time as any to tell you how I met Carter."

So Percy told them. Leo found it comical that Carter was swallowed by a giant crocodile. The end of the story was the most interesting part though.

"...we decided that it was too risky to tell each other too much information, and we didn't really feel comfortable sharing. Then, we agreed, that whoever sent the crocodile could be an enemy we both needed to fight in order to defeat it. So Carter wrote something on my hand..."

"...which would let me know where he was when he said my name," Carter finished.

"So that's how he found us," Annabeth said.

Percy nodded, "But now that he's here, I'm not so sure what to tell them or not." He glanced uneasily over at Carter's group.

Leo raised his hand, "I don't think we need to mention G-A-E-A. I mean, it's not like she's the whole reason we're here or anything."

Nobody laughed, but Leo caught Hazel and Piper smiling a little, and the corner of Percy's mouth twitched.

Annabeth glared at Leo, "We should deffinately tell them about Dirt-face, but what about...our parents?" she looked at Percy, "Does he know...?"

Percy met Carter's gaze, "I have a few guesses," Carter supplied.

"Personally," said Sadie, in her cute British accent, "I'd like to know everything, but that's just me."

Carter shook his head, "I don't think my head could take the stress of expanding my whole world again."

"Fair enough," Percy said, "I guess you should understand who...what we are exactly.

"Everyone here is a demigod, that's half god, half human. We're a mix of Greek and Roman demigods. That's Frank, son of Mars, Roman god of war; Jason, son of Jupitor, Roman god of the sky; Hazel, daughter of Pluto, Roman god the underworld; Leo, son of Hepheastus, Greek god of the forge and fire; Piper, daughter of Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and beauty; Annabeth, daughter of Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom and battle strategy; and me. Son of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea." He pointed to each person as he said their name.

Leo watched the newbies' expressions as they compreheded they were in the presence of godly offsprings. He smiled at Sadie's expression when Percy said Piper's mom was the love goddess. It was like she was jealous or something.

Carter just nodded when Percy said who his dad was, it was as if he'd already guessed.

"So who's Gaea?" The girl called Zia asked. Dark brown hair framed her face, and she had a professional attitude.

As Percy explained the problem with Dirt-face, Leo  noticed the tan dude next to Sadie, what was his name, Will? Wally? whatever. He was looking at Percy with an expression of deep mistrust. He looked overly uncomfortable being here. Leo decided he didn't like him much.

Jaz spoke up as Percy finished, "But, Gen is the earth god!"

Captain suspicious said in a voice that his his discomfort well, "On the Egyptian side of things, yes. But we're working with a whole new realm of deities."

Carter turned to Sadie, "Remember when Amos said, 'Manhattan has other gods,'?"

Sadie nodded slowly, "And Mum said..."

Carter screwed up his brow, "What did Mom say?"

"She just told me that she saw the House of Life working with other gods."

Leo snorted, "well you won't be working with the gods necessarily. The demigods do all the hard work around here."

"Leo!" Piper and Annabeth said at the same time, looking up at the sky, as if they were waiting for the ceiling to fall on top of them.

Percy smirked, like he totally agreed with Leo, "The gods at a little busy at the moment. Ever since the Romans and Greeks discovered each other, the gods have become a little...confused."

The guy by Sadie surprised everyone, "Roman and Greek gods are the same, but they changed slightly as the Romans adopted them. There names and personalities became more Roman."

Annabeth stared at him. Percy must have noticed, for he said, a little loudly, "Exactly. So the gods are currently not on our immediate contact list."

"Who is?" Zia asked.

Everyone looked at her grimly, "You were my last resort," Percy stated, "No one else."

X

Percy

"You're turn," Percy, said, "I told you what we are. Now what in Zues's name are you?"

Carter looked nervously at those seated around the table. Stepping forward slightly, he said, "This might be difficult to understand, so I'll tell you in the simplest way possible." He took a deep breath, "We're magicians, Egyptian magicians. And we're not talking about modern Egypt."

Percy nodded when Carter glanced at him uncertainly.

"We can do magic...uh, each of us is better at a certain type or element of magic. Like me, I specialize in combat magic."

The blond girl, that apparently liked to tease Carter said, "Oh now he's gonna like you! 'I specialize in' fighting? Really?"

Carter elbowed her in the ribs, and went on, "Now here's where it get's confusing. Now, understand, that the group that Sadie and I train are a bit...unusual."

Percy lowered his eyebrows, "Meaning?"

Carter took a deep breath, "We follow the path of the gods. Something forbidden to do by the House of Life."

"What's that?" Leo asked.

"Doesn't matter," Carter waved him aside, "What you need to know is, we all chose a god, or a path to follow. We train best in that god or goddess's speciality."

Percy was confused, "So you choose a god? Why would anyone choose the war god? No offense."

Carter looked surprised at Percy's tone. But Annabeth explained, "He had a fight with Ares, the Greek god of war, a few years ago."

Carter nodded, suspiciously, "So when you called me a child of Ares, what did you mean?"

"Oh you know," Percy shrugged, "I was partly trying to figure out your godly parent, but it was also meant as kind of an insult...kind of...at the time..."

The girl Carter had called Sadie grinned at him, "Can I use that one?"

Annabeth cleared her throat, "It's not really offensive, usually being a child of Ares gains you a lot of respect, because of your military power."

Sadie looked disappointed and Carter rushed on, "Also, a tiny part of our side, some of us, that is to say a total of six magicians still living have or are...hosting gods."

He let this information sink in, but to Percy it made no sense, "What do you mean?"

The dark skinned kid with the apprehensive expression said quietly, "He means, some of us have had gods or goddesses sharing our bodies."

Percy looked at Carter and asked, skeptically, "Have you?"

Carter nodded slowly, "Before you go crazy," he said, as Percy started to rise incredulously to his feet, "It's not that unnatural...and most of us did it on accident. The gods chose us."

Percy sat back down, but still stared at Carter like he was an alien from outer space.

Jason spoke up, raising his head from where it had been resting in his left hand, "One of you still has a god in you."

Percy sensed it too, he nodded.

Annabeth mumbled, "So that's what it was."

"Um...which one of you is it?" Leo asked.

The tan dude who spoke to Percy only twice before, walked forward, "Walt Stone and Anubis, the God of the dead." He looked at Percy straight in the eyes, and Percy could tell Walt didn't trust him one bit.

XI

Annabeth

Annabeth walked with Percy to his room. When they reached the door, she noticed his expression.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked, cautiously.

Percy pushed open the door, "I...I don't want to worry you." He smiled at her, but Annabeth read deeper into his countenance. Under the smile of concern was a look of worry, angst, and...hatred. Annabeth followed Percy into the room.

"Tell me," she begged. Percy sat on his bed, his head in his hands, but didn't answer.

"Percy!" She walked over to him, her hands on her hips, "I know what you're thinking. You think you are going to sneak of alone and rescue her!"

Percy had told Annabeth of his earlier dream about his mother. But Percy had cut off shortly, as if there were some part he didn't want her to know. She was determined to find out what it was.

Percy raised his head, "I...what? No!" She glared at him, "Alright. So maybe I was... Annabeth, what am I supposed to do?"

"Let me...us help you!"

He shook his head, "It's not that simple. I would if..."

There it was again. It was like he kept cutting himself off before he said something. But what was it?

"What?" she asked, "Tell me."

He looked right into her eyes, then back at his hands, "I can't do that to you."

Annabeth's angry stance softened a little. She sat next to him on the bed, holding both of his hands in her's. Looking him in those beautiful sea-green eyes, she said urgently, "Percy, I can't just let you go without knowing every bit of information. Please," she reached up and moved a lock of hair out of his face.

His eyes pained for a moment, then hardened. He took a deep breath, "Fine. But, I really don't know how to say this to you," Percy gripped her hands tightly, "Don't get mad, but...and I'm sure you've already guessed...Polybotes isn't just going to hand over my mom. He wants..." He looked down.

Annabeth closed her eyes against the realization at what he was saying, "he wants you."

Percy nodded slowly. Annabeth looked down at their clasped hands, and realised Percy's were shaking. Her boyfriend was trembling, but not with pain this time, he was trembling with fear. Whatever was in that dream had scared him bad, and that wasn't easy to do.

XII

Piper

Later that day, Piper and Jason sat together on deck, just watching the clouds. Piper could have sat there for hours, leaning against Jason's chest, talking about silly things, but Jason had to change the subject.

"I had a dream yesterday in sickbay."

Piper felt the mood suddenly drop, this couldn't be good, "About?"

Jason sighed, "Paleus, the dragon is dead. Octavian has officially attacked camp. And..." He hesitated, looking in her eyes, "In a different seen, Reyna and Coach Hedge were fighting off some kind of monster..." He shook his head, "I don't know that Reyna and Niko will get the statue there on time!"

Piper pulled away from him and looked at him in alarm, "Paleus is dead?"

"What?" Annabeth said, coming up the stairs.

Jason looked up and took a deep breath, "Paleus is dead, Octavian has entered Camp."

Annabeth's eyes widened as shock, then fear, then anger crossed her expression, "Isn't there anything good today?"

"I ate a sandwich this morning!" Leo said, joining the conversation.

No one laughed. Leo's forced smile quickly faded.

Piper asked Annabeth, "What else happened?"

Annabeth murmered a response.

"What?" The others said in unison.

Annabeth closed her eyes as if debating silently how much to tell them, "Just a stupid dream Percy had."

Everyone looked at her to continue, but she said, "I'll let Percy tell you what he wants to. It's kind of personal."

"Where is he?" Jason asked.

Annabeth made a worried face, "Locked up in his room, pacing."

Leo screwed up his eyebrows, "Come on, the dream couldn't be that bad!" Then he saw the look on Annabeth's face, "Could it?"

Annabeth looked like she was about to cry. Piper stood up and pulled her below deck.

"What's gotten into you?" She asked, genuinely worried.

Annabeth looked down, "It's Percy. I think...Pipes, I think he might leave."

If Annabeth hadn't looked so worried, Piper might have laughed. Percy Jackson, savior of Olympus, back out on a quest? That didn't sound like the Percy she knew.

Piper screwed up her face in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Annabeth hesitated for the slightest moment, then she replied, "In his dream...Percy saw Polybotes."

"That anti-Posiedon giant?"

Annabeth nodded, "He had something...someone extremely important to Percy. He wants to trade it for...for...for Percy."

Piper suddenly realised the entirety of the situation. If Percy wanted to save this...person, he would have to give himself up. It reminded Piper of when Enciladas kidnapped her dad and held him hostage, waiting for her. A sudden thought occurred to her.

"Was it his mom?"

XIII

Percy

Percy leaned against the window frame of his cabin, staring at the land passing beneath the ship. He thought about his dream, it had really been in his head all morning, but other things had come up. He didn’t really have to think about what he would do, he already knew his decision.

Of course, Polybotes hadn’t left him with much choice. If he came, him mom would be fine, but if he didn’t, she would die in three days. The only hard part was coming up with a way to leave the ship without telling everyone what he was doing. He didn’t want anyone following him, or trying to stop him.

He jumped at a knock on his door, “Come in,” he said.

“Hey man,” it was Jason, “You okay?”

Percy turned to face him, “I’m fine.” Although, he knew he didn’t look it.

Jason raised an eyebrow, “Nightmares? Me too.”

Percy sighed, but didn’t say anything. It was too painful to talk about.

Jason stepped forward, “I understand. But just so you know, whatever it is, you can tell us, any of us. We’re willing to help.”

Percy forced down a bitter laugh, “You can’t help, not with this.”

Jason went silent and Percy walked over to his bed. He sat on it with a groan of frustration. Jason stood awkwardly by the door, staring at him with a worried expression. Then he walked over and sat by him on the bed.

“You remember when we took down Ephialtes and Otis? Together?”

Percy looked at his shoes.

Jason continued, “We made a great team, you and me.” He rose and walked to the door, “Let me know if you need any help.”

As the door closed, Percy changed his mind. He got up and followed Jason out the door. Jason wasn’t in the hallway, so Percy made his way to the dining cabin. There were several people still in there, mainly Carter and his group, but Annabeth, Jason, Piper, and Leo were there too.

All eyes turned to Percy. He walked to the head of the table and stood with his shaky hands on the chair.

Taking a deep breath, Percy said, “Alright. I guess I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but...I had a dream last night.”

Sadie looked at him incredulously, “Woah! No way! A dream?”

Percy ignored her and continued, "I have to leave, I have to..."

"Why don't you fill us in on what this dream was about?" Jason suggested.

"It was about my mom," Percy muttered.

"What about her?" Carter asked.

Percy looked at Annabeth for help, he couldn't talk about the why' and how's at the moment.

Annabeth took the floor, "Ever heard of Polybotes? Well, he's the anti-Poseidon giant. He and Percy had a fight a month or so ago, and Percy won. Polybotes swore he would see Percy on the bottom of the ocean in chains at his feet."

"Intense," Leo muttered.

"So?" Sadie asked, "What does this Polybotes have to do with your mum?"

Percy looked Jason in the eye. Jason looked as if he knew what was coming. He nodded slightly when Percy looked at him.

"He's holding her ransom," Percy said, slamming his hands on the table in anger. Why? Why couldn't Polybotes just come and capture Percy? Why couldn't he leave Percy's mom alone?

"What do you want us to do?" Jason asked, walking over to him.

"Leo, how far until we reach Paleo?" Percy asked.

"What do you wanna go a place called Pale-Leo? Sounds like I'm either sick, or terrified!"

"Just tell me how long it'll take us to get there!"

Leo looked startled, then ran out the door. Percy turned to Annabeth as she asked,

“Why Paleo?”

Percy looked out the window, “It’s by the ocean, and still close to Athens, close enough to drag a prisoner-” He cut off, worried about how the others would react to this.

But the message had already gotten across, “You’re going to just hand yourself over?” Jason asked, incredulous, “You’re the one who said we should avoid getting captured!”

“I know,” Percy turned back to the group, “but I swore on the River Styx.”

“Percy!” Annabeth cried, heartbroken. Percy could barely look at her.

“I’m sorry,” He said, “I didn’t have a choice.”

“Time out,” Jaz said, “what’s the River Sticks?”

Percy didn’t join in on the silent staring contest to determine whether they should fill the others in. Piper won, “The River Styx is a river in the underworld. If you swear by it, you have to keep your promise, or suffer severe consequences.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Carter said, eyeing them warily.

“We need a plan,” Jason decided for the group. Percy was grateful for once, that Jason was taking charge, he couldn’t think past his anger and grief.

“Somehow,” he said, “I’ve got to get to Polybotes, get my mom out, and get her home. But I have to stay with the giant, so someone else needs to make sure she’s safe.”

“One problem,” Annabeth said, “The only one who could shadow-travel already left for New York.”

“I know, maybe she could stay on the ship then.” Percy really didn’t want that. If the Argo II went into battle, he didn’t want his mom anywhere near it.

Carter cleared his throat, “Um...magicians can use portals.”

“Meaning, you can open a door out of nothing, walk through and appear wherever you want to go?” Jason asked.

“Yes, but it has limitations.”

Jason whistled, but Percy asked, “What limitations?”

“Well,” Carter looked uncomfortable for a moment, “Usually there has to be some Major Egyptian artifact there, or you could channel a god’s power. But the god’s don’t always answer...”

“Heh, I know how that is,” Percy laughed bitterly.

Walt stepped forward, “I can open a portal back to New York.”

Percy was surprised, he had been sure the guy didn’t like him, “You would?”

“Well yeah,” Walt shuffled his feet, “I kinda want to meet this Polybotes guy...”

Percy suddenly realised what was going on, Walt wasn’t sure whether to fight with them or against them, so he wanted to see for himself.

“Alright,” he said, looking straight into Walt’s eyes like he was issuing a challenge.

“Okay, so you and Walt will go meet Polybotes,” Piper said, “Then what? We’re just supposed to go on without you?”

Percy tried to sound brave, “Yes, you are.”

“No!” Annabeth cried.

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

“Percy!” Her voice broke.

Percy wrapped his arms around her and she rested her head against him. One by one, the others left, giving them their privacy. When everyone was gone, Percy let all the frustration, anger, and pain escape him, a tear streamed down Percy’s cheek.

XIV

Percy

Percy and Walt stood together on deck watching the earth get closer and closer as the ship descended. The rest of the crew were standing behind them, silent. Percy’s heart ached to think of leaving them when they needed him most. They would be in Athens tomorrow, without him.

But as much as Percy hated leaving his friends, he hated seeing his mother locked up in that cell more. Percy clenched his jaw as he thought of the many tortures he had planned for Polybotes.

The ship came to a stop, hovering just above the beach of Park Paleo. Percy turned to his friends one last time.

Before he could say anything, Hazel rushed up and embraced him. Which surprised Percy, but she let go quickly, and Piper gave him a hug.

“What...?” He started to say, but Jason clapped him on the shoulder. Leo and Frank shook his hand.

“Be safe, Jackson,” Jason said, straining a smile.

Percy was too full of emotion, he couldn’t say anything. So he nodded and turned to leave. He heard a sob behind him and looked over his shoulder. Annabeth ran up to him and threw her arms around him.

“Don’t leave,” she whispered.

Percy squeezed her tight against his chest, “I have to.”

She sighed, “I know...Just, come back to me.”

Percy pulled back and looked into her grey eyes, but avoided answering her question, “I’ll be thinking about you.”

She sobbed again, and Percy leaned in and kissed her. Don’t cry for me, he thought. What he said was, “I love you.” And climbed over the edge as she said,

“I love you too.”

Walt and Percy walked down the road toward the ocean. They didn’t say much, Walt mostly looked at his feet. Percy tried to enjoy the scene around him. There were trees behind them, and sand in front of them. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue with few clouds. It was a wonderful day to be dragged to the bottom of the ocean.

When they reached the water’s edge, Walt stopped, “Where are they?”

Percy put his foot in the water and stepped back, hoping he really had just been dreaming, and Polybotes wasn’t really coming. But of course, it was too much to hope for. Just seconds after Percy removed his foot, the water began to ripple several yards out to sea.

A large, snake infested head broke the surface, followed by the rest of the giant. Percy stumbled back as several basilisks fell from the great shaggy head. The snakes formed a half circle around the boys, making it impossible to run.

Polybotes looked down at Percy and laughed, loud, long, and cruel.

Percy clenched his fists, “Where’s my mother, Snakebrains?”

“Why she’s right here,” Polybotes waved his hand at the water. Suddenly, an air bubbled the size of a room emerged from the water. Inside it, was his mother.

“Mom,” Percy breathed.

The bubble popped when it hit the shore and Sally Jackson stood there. Percy ran up and hugged her.

“Percy!” She whispered, “Don’t do this.”

“I couldn’t leave you at the mercy of Polybotes.” Percy released her.

“Hurry up Jackson!” Polybotes boomed, “I can’t wait to get started.”

More air bubbles appeared out of the ocean, they held mostly telkhines, water demons. Though some contained other demons, and one...an empousa. The empousa in fact. Kelly.

Percy locked eyes with her and she winked at him and bared her fangs. Percy shuddered and turned to Walt.

“Get her out of here.”

Walt nodded and offered Sally his hand. But Sally protested, “Percy...I won’t leave you!”

Percy closed his eyes, “Please...don’t make it harder than it already is. Go!”

He nudged her gently forward. Walt concentrated for a moment, then a spinning vortex of doom opened in the air next to them. Walt grasped Percy’s mother’s hand and led her through. Percy felt a hand grasping his shoulder tightly, as if preventing him from following.

The spinning wall of sand disappeared, and Walt and Sally were gone. The hand slithered down Percy’s arm to his wrist.

Chink.

The cold metal wrapped around Percy’s wrists. Kelly leaned in close to his neck and whispered, “Comfortable?”

Percy didn't answer as she pulled the chain attached to his wrists, tugging him backward toward the water.

“At last,” the giant grinned in pleasure, “The mighty Percy Jackson is mine.”

XV

Annabeth

As soon as Percy disappeared over the side, Annabeth escaped to her cabin before the tears really began to fall.

She sat at her desk looking at a picture of her and Percy at Camp stuffing each other's faces with s'mores. The picture of course, looked ridiculous, but it only made her ache for Percy more. Although he'd only left a moment ago, she worried about what he was getting himself into.

Annabeth put her head down on the desk and stared at the picture, blury because of the teases clouding her eyes. She sat like that for a long time, picturing all those happy days at Camp Half Blood before Percy had disappeared.

Annabeth remembered going over to Percy's apartment to console his grieving mother. Annabeth wondered how she had fared under the cruel thumb of Polybotes. Was she back in New York yet? Maybe Annabeth should try and I.M. her.

Annabeth fetched a gold drachma out of her dresser and raced back on deck. Everyone was still moving numbly about. Carter sat alone staring at the ocean they had left behind. Annabeth calculated that, maybe he really had been Percy's friend.

The sun shown ironically bright on deck. Annabeth tossed the bucket of water she'd grabbed from below into the air. Next, she tossed the coin into it and muttered the incantation.

In the swirling water, an image a appeared. Sally and Paul Blofis were sitting on the couch holding each other. Annabeth gave them a few more seconds before clearing her throat.

Sally's tear streaked face looked up, "Annie?" Sally had started calling her that after they'd had a conversation about nicknames a few months ago.

Annabeth sesnsed everyone else closing in behind her.

Annabeth didn't know where to begin, "Hey," she said in a wattery voice, always a good place to start, "Are you alright?"

Sally sighed, "Yes, in the way you mean it."

Paul gripped her hand, "Percy did a noble thing."

Sally nodded, and Annabeth looked down. They were talking about Percy in the past-tense. As if he were already...No, he couldn't be. Polybotes would save him for the sacrifice to awake Gaea in two days.

"Percy will be alright," she said, trying to sound sure, "Right now, we have other things to focus on." She took a deep breath, What am I talking about? How can I even say that? she thought.

"The war is coming. The Romans have already attacked Half Blood Hill." She looked at Sally and Paul, still holding hands, "We need you to keep an eye on camp. If Gaea starts targeting them, we want to know about it."

Paul said, "Right," and Sally nodded bravely, then swiped her hand through the mist.

Annabeth turned to her shipmates, "War is coming fast. We need to make sure we're ready. We need armor, Greek Fire, weapons loaded, and safety precautions checked over. Is Walt back yet?"

"Here," he simply appeared right behind her.

"I have a job for you." She led him down the stairwell into her cabin.

She knew son one, especially Percy would approve, but she had to see him...

She looked up at Walt's warm brown eyes, choosing her words carefully, "I don't expect you to understand...but there's something I must do..."

Walt held up his hand, "You're going to go see him."

She nodded, "Yes. I need your help."

Walt looked at her for a long moment, "And you think Percy would approve?"

"He doesn't have a choice."

"And what about Jason?" He asked, "Percy told him to watch out for you."

It was true, before he left, Percy had pulled Jason aside and made him promise to keep Annabeth safe.

"Jason won't know about it," she said, "We'll go tonight."

"What makes you think I'll take you there?"

Annabeth refrained from stomping her foot in frustration, "Because Sadie told me what a nice guy you are, and how you would understand-"

Walt was laughing, "Sadie's in on it too?"

Annabeth nodded, unsure whether this was good or bad.

Walt's face grew serious, "I was in from the moment I stepped through the door."

XVI

Percy

The underwater fortress was incredible. There was no other word for it. It wasn’t the dark scary place you’d expect a guy like Polybotes to make port. The hallways were lighted with jars of Greek fire, the floor was red carpeted, despite being under water. The stone walls were still foreboding though, mostly because they were huge. Percy thought the place was overall quite cozy.

Kelly noticed his awed expression, “You like it?” she sounded disappointed.

“Can’t wait to see where I’ll be staying.” Percy said sarcastically.

Polybotes, who’d been walking in front of them, stopped, “How’s this Jackson?”

He opened the door on the right and pushed Percy inside. This was much more like Percy expected, dark walls, open, gloomy. There were four rings sticking up in the middle of the floor, Percy wondered what they were for.

Kelly, in her ridiculous air bubble led him to the center of the room where the rings were. The chain in her hands split into two and attached themselves to the rings.

Ah, Percy said to himself, “So what now?” He said aloud, “I’m just going to sit here?”

Kelly and Polybotes laughed like they were cats watching a mouse do a cute trick before they devoured it.

“I’m so glad you asked,” Polybotes crouched so he was at eye level with Percy, “You’re strong Jackson, I want to see how far your strength will go before you’re completely...wasted.” He smacked his lips hungrily.

Percy didn’t want to think about that, but he asked anyway, “H...how will you do that?”

“You remember I once told you my skin turned water to poison?” Percy remembered. Already, sickly green liquid was curling off of Polybotes’ skin. Polybotes continued, “Let’s see how resilient your skin is.”

Before Percy could react, the giant reached out his hand and swiped it along Percy’s arm. For a moment nothing happened, and Percy thought maybe he would get out of it. But then, the nerves in his arm felt like they’d exploded. It was as if he had stupidly decided to stick his entire arm in a pot of boiling water.

Polybotes bit his tongue in anticipation as he stroked Percy’s other arm. Percy had to resist the urge to scream as the acid bit into his skin. He fell to his knees in total agony. He could vaguely hear Polybotes and Kelly cackling with delight somewhere off to his right, but didn’t pay them much attention.

It took a moment, but the pain ebbed away. The water surrounding him was doing it’s job. When the pain was gone and Percy stood, he examined his arms. They were faintly red, but nothing too serious.

“Ha ha!” Polybotes boomed, “Was that fun Jackson? Or do you need another taste?”

Percy tried to back away as Polybotes approached, but the chains held him fast. This time, the giant hand grabbed wrapped around his chest and neck. Pain erupted all over Percy’s torso. A sad little whimper escaped him as Percy fell once again to his knees.

As the water began the healing process, Percy heard Polybotes approach.

“Empousa bring the ropes!” he said happily. Kelly grinned and approached with a long, wicked, seven tailed whip. She handed the thing to Polybotes, and it looked tiny in his hands. He rubbed his hands along it, covering it in the poisonous acid, and handed it back to Kelly.

Kelly approached Percy, “Get ready to feel my wrath, Percy.”

She walked slowly behind him, as if anticipating seeing Percy’s pain. The chains around Percy’s wrists began reeling him in closer to the floor, forcing him to bend over his knees, his back exposed.

The empousa hissed with pleasure as she swung the first strike.

XVII

Annabeth

Walt and Annabeth stood at the prow, talking in low voices. Jason was on watch tonight, so they’d have to make their escapade fast. Annabeth nervously fingered the rim of her Yankees cap. It had recently started working again, which gave Annabeth hope for her mother.

“Are you sure that’s where he is?” Walt asked.

Annabeth nodded, “Positive. Gaea wants to be awakened in the center of Athens. Leo found some ruins that might just work for Gaea’s purposes. There’s even an altar right in the middle.”

Walt looked at her quizzically, “What makes you think Polybotes will take Percy there? I saw him being dragged into the ocean!”

“After Polybotes has his fun, I think he’ll take Percy there to be used in the sacrifice. They need two demigods for that, but one is a start...” Annabeth trailed off, Walt was looking at her with an amused smile.

“Well in that case...” He focussed his attention on a spot right in front of them and a spinning vortex of sand appeared.

“Go on through, I’ll be right behind you.” Walt nudged her forward.

Annabeth jumped into the whirlpool and immediately wished she hadn’t. It was the worst way of travel in her opinion. It felt like she was being sucked in all different directions at once. Some parts of her wanted to go one way, while others argued that another would be better. Suddenly, she was spat out and rolled several feet.

Walt had a much better landing than Annabeth did. He stepped out of the spinning wall as easy as if going through a door. He held out his hand to Annabeth and helped her to her feet.

"I brought us just outside the ruins so we wouldn't be easily spotted," Walt said as they started heading off in the direction of large, partially collapsed Greek palace.

As they neared the settlement, Annabeth pulled her cap on. Walt did some sort of magic and disappeared as well.

“Now all we have to do is find where they’re keeping him.” Annabeth muttered.

Walt’s voice came from somewhere to her left, “Where do we start?”

Annabeth looked around for anything that could lead to a holding cell. The building roof had completely collapsed, there was no way anything could be in there. Annabeth scanned for maybe a descending stairwell leading to lower levels.

“There!” she whispered, “By that shrine to Zeus.”

She and Walt, (well she hoped Walt was behind her, she couldn’t see him) began their descent. The stairs went on for ever! Deeper and deeper they climbed, until suddenly, they were in a long very dark hallway.

“Woah,” came Walt’s voice, and woah was right. The walls were so high and so wide, they could have fit a giant. Come to think of it, they probably had fit several giants.

“Come on,” Annabeth walked down the hallway, there weren’t any other choices.

At the end, the corridor split in two. Down the left, a friendly yellow light glowed, and raucous laughter emanated from somewhere farther on. On the right, there was nothing. No sound, no light, and it was freezing cold.

Walt spoke first, “Seems like just the place to keep a prisoner.”

“Yeah,” Annabeth walked cautiously down the right corridor. She pulled out her new Celestial Bronze knife she’d picked up from the ship’s armory. It was long and sharp, with a thin blade, and it was straight, perfect for stabbing, but it wasn’t the same as the one she’d lost in Tartarus. The Bronze lit up only six inches in front of them, leaving too much unseen.

They walked all the way down to the end of the hall, which wasn’t as long as Annabeth expected. At the end, instead of a wall, there were bars. There was no door, no way in or out, just the bars. As Annabeth grew closer, she saw that the bars were bronze, Celestial Bronze. And inside the cell, sitting on a low bench, his head in his hands, was...

“Percy,” Annabeth sobbed, pulling off her cap and running to cell.

He looked up, startled. Percy’s shirt had been ripped off, it was lying in a heap on the floor. Annabeth wanted to kill something when she noticed the Celestial Bronze chain around his neck. His arms and torso were red. Upon looking closer at his shirt, Annabeth noticed more red than orange. Red that looked suspiciously like blood.

He stood shakily to his feet, “Annabeth?” he croaked, “What...? What’re you doing here?” He walked toward her and stared at her, both angry and relieved.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, “I had to see you.”

The anger disappeared for a moment. He reached for her and Annabeth fell into his arms, except the bars interrupted them. Annabeth held his face in her hands.

“Are you alright?”

One side of his mouth lifted, as if it were too painful to smile completely, “Don’t worry about me. How...how did you find me?”

“Leo picked up the most likely place for the apparent sacrifice. I just assumed that once Polybotes was through he’d bring you here.”

He smiled at her slightly, then it turned into the deepest concern, “As much as I love seeing you, you really shouldn’t be here.”

“Told you,” Walt came into sight again.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, “I’ll be fine Seaweed Brain.”

“How’d you get here?” Walt asked, “I left you at the beach.”

Annabeth nodded, “What happened?”

Percy glanced nervously back down the hallway, as if afraid Polybotes would come marching down. But he answered, “We went to some kind of underwater palace. After Polybotes was done with me there, he brought me up here for the uh...sacrifice.” He looked uncomfortable saying that in front of Annabeth, as if telling your girlfriend, Hey, these monsters are gonna kill me, was a bad thing.

Annabeth also noticed he had avoided telling them what horrors Polybotes had inflicted upon him, “What did he do to you?”

Percy winced, “Nothing much.”

Annabeth cocked her head. Again she looked at the bloodstained shirt on the floor. Percy didn’t have any blood on his front... “Percy, turn around.”

He immediately looked guilty and turned around. Annabeth gasped. His back was crisscrossed with cuts, some of which looked infected. And yes, he was covered in blood.

“He whipped you?”

Percy turned to face her and shrugged.

She narrowed her eyes, “Did they do it in or out of the water?”

“In,” Percy looked confused, “I don’t understand why it didn’t heal me like usual.”

Annabeth looked at him, concerned. He had just been whipped several times, and here he was wondering why the water hadn't come to his rescue.

Percy sighed, "There's more. First, Polybotes used his poisonous touch on me. The water healed that just fine. But then..." A pussled expression crossed his face.

"What?" Annabeth asked.

"Its just, I remember Kelly whipping me, and then...nothing. I...I think I may have blacked out." Percy ran a hand through his hair.

"Kelly? That little..." Annabeth managed to control her anger, "So Polybotes could have put you in an air bubble to prevent you from healing, right?"

Percy nodded as if just coming to the realization.

There was a loud guffaw down the hall behind them, "Let's see how our little pet is doing."

Percy's eyes widened in fear, "Get out of here!”

Annabeth tried to protest, but Walt already had the swirling sand thing started. She turned to Percy one last time. Before she could say anything, he pulled her in as close as possible and kissed her; it was kind of awkward through the bars.

“I love you,” she said as Walt began to pull her away.

Percy nodded, “Go!”

Annabeth just got a glimpse of a large figure coming into focus as she again stepped into the horrible toilet bowl full of sand.

XVIII

Jason

Jason quickly got over the fact that Annabeth and Walt had snuck off in the middle of the night when he heard what they'd found. In fact, he was amazed.

"You found him?"

Annabeth squared her jaw, "Yeah, we got to get him out of there!"

It was still the middle of the night and they were standing on the deck of the Argo II. Jason had just finished barating them about dissapearing. But he couldn't keep it up for long, he just couldn't stay mad at people.

Jason stroked his jaw. Well of course they had to get Percy out of there. It just wouldn't be that easy. From what Walt said, he and Annabeth had had a close call. If anyone were to sneak out and try to rescue him again...

"We'll get him back home safely." Jason said cautiously, "I just don't know when." He held up his hand as Annabeth started to protest, "I know, I know. But its not safe. Well have to plan this carefully."

To Jason's surprise, Annabeth sighed in agreement, "You're right."

"It'll be difficult to come up with a plan without know all the facts," Jason said eyeing her. He really didn't want them to risk another excersion...maybe they could manage to snag him tomorrow before it was too late.

Annabeth scoffed, not like she was mad or offended, but as if she was trying to distract herself with teasing Jason, "Athena can come with any battle plan."

She made to walk below deck to her cabin, but Jason stopped her, "Is Percy in any immediate danger?" He asked seriously.

She was instantly on the defensive, "What do you mean?"

Jason put a hand on her shoulder, "I was just wondering if we couldn't wait until tomorrow right before the sacrifice-"

"Are you crazy? What if we're too late?" She pulled away from him.

"Just listen," Jason said, urgently, "Since you were already there, they will be on their guard, waiting for intruders. If we wait until tomorrow, we'll have the advantage."

"The giants will be out in the open," Annabeth reasoned, "And we do have the height advantage. Fine, I'll go make a battle plan. Have everyone in the mess hall at dawn."

Jason watched her go. He couldn't imagine what she was feeling. He didn't know what he would do if someone captured Piper and tortured her. He'd probably want to smash some giant heads together, like Annabeth.

Jason wondered how Percy was doing too, he himself had been tempted to go investigating, but he'd assumed Percy was under water. The thought of his friend sitting in a cold, dark, cell, all alone, wracked with pain made Jason wretch. If only Jason could do something...if he could co tact Percy...

Then it clicked, an Iris Message. Jason had never sent one before, but he knew he had to toss a drachma into a rainbow. Where would Jason find a rainbow?

Jason remembered Coach Hedge kept a stack of prisms on his bedstand. Jason ran down the stairs to Hedge's old room. Quietly, trying not to disturb Carter and Walt who were sleeping in the satyr's cabin, Jason opened the door. He spotted a few scattered prisms on the floor, and carefully picked one up. Then he found a flashlight from the engine room.

Back on deck, Jason shined the light on the prism and tossed in a drachma. The drachma dissapeared, but Jason didn't know what to say next.

"Uh..." He muttered, "Iris, please help me contact my friend, Percy Jackson...and uh..."

But the rainbow flickered, and Jason looked into it and saw a dark cell with a low bench and an old orange T-shirt in the corner. Before he could take in more, a croaky voice echoed through the gloom.

"Jason?"

Jason grinned when his eyes found Percy, but his smile quickly fade as he took in Percy's blistered skin, shallow, hungry completion, and black eye.

"What happened to you? Annabeth didn't say anything about a black eye, or the burns..."

It took Percy a moment to answer, "I...well, Polybotes wasn't very happy Annabeth showed up."

"So he took it out on you."

"Pretty much."

There was so much resignation in his voice, that Jason felt like he had to say something encouraging, "We're gonna rescue you, you know. We're getting you out of here."

Percy looked up at Jason, "When?" It wasnt a hopeful question, just as if he were asking what time the sun might peek out behind the clouds.

Jason screwed up his eyebrows with concern, "Annabeth wanted to do it right away, but I think were planning on raging war tomorrow in-"

"Good, don't do it tonight. Tonignt would be very bad."

He sounded so scared, Jason started to get chills, "Um...why not?"

Percy just shook his head.

Okay, Jason thought, something's really got him freaked. Cautiously he asked, "It didn't happen to do with Annabeth did it?"

The pain in Percy's eyes was incredible, "Not only her. If any of you had been caught - and you would be caught - the giants would have killed us all, and Gaea would have risen."

Jason didn't argue. He'd been having similar thoughts himself.

Percy broke the silence, "Jason, tommorow, they're going to try to lure Annabeth down. No matter what they do... You can't let her off the ship."

Jason pondered that. He noticed how Percy broke off and didn't say 'what they do to me'. He figured Annabeth would probably jump off the boat to save her boyfriend's life.

"Annabeths pretty smart," he said, "I don't think she'd do anything like that without analyzing the consequences. But," he paused, intent on making his point clear. He heard noise coming from below deck, he'd have to make this fast.

"But, on my life, she will not be harmed under my watch."

Percy's eyes widened, "Jason, I didn't mean-"

But Jason swiped his hand through the rainbow just as Carter peeked out on deck.

"Everyone's meeting in the dining cabin in half an hour."

"Right, I'll be there." Dawn was in thirty minutes. Doomsday was upon them.

XIX

Percy

Percy shivered on his bench. He gingerly touched the bruising on his face where Polybotes had hit him with the butt of his spear. His back ached more than he’d let on when Annabeth and Jason were there. He hadn’t wanted to let them think he was in too much trouble, or they might have made a rescue attempt last night.

It was morning now, though it was still very dark in his cell, the daylight lit up the hallway outside a bit more. The day that Gaea was supposedly going to wake by feasting on the blood of two demigods. And if his friends failed, Percy knew he would be one of them, and Annabeth would be the other.

While he was just sitting there, waiting, Percy thought about Nico de Angelo’s imprisonment in a large jar. Percy had had a dream about him, several dreams in fact. Percy wondered if the others were having dreams about him right now.

Suddenly he heard the uneven sounds of Kelly's feet on the stone floor. She appeared on the other side of the bars and leered at him.

"Are you ready to die, Percy?"

He didn't answer, just stared back into her red eyes.

Kelly continued, "The sacrifice isn't until noon, but Polybotes said I could come down here and take care of you for a while."

She let that sink in. Percy didn't think "take care of" meant food, a bath, and new clothes.

"You know what I haven't had in a while?" Kelly said as she inserted a rusty old key into a home in the wall. Two of the bars began to lift up, and she stepped through and pulled out the key, "Fresh blood."

Percy instinctively backed away, putting what little distance he could between them. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pen.

Kelly saw the movement and laughed, "Do you want to fight? I thought it would be less exhausting for you if I just took what I wanted without a fuss and left," she sounded very eager for a fight, "but if you insist."

She lunged for him, Percy made to uncap his pen/sword, but she was too fast. She pinned him on his back and Percy yelled as the opened wounds hit the stone. They had a quick wrestling match in which Percy managed to scramble away and out his back against a wall.

Kelly got to her feet and Percy uncapped the pen. Riptide sprang into full length, but Percy's poison and hunger weakened arms could barely support its weight.

Kelly paced in front of him, smiling in a sassy kind of way, "Come now darling, I thought you were better than that! Reel him in." Those last words didn't make any sense to Percy until he felt the chain around his neck tugging him sideways.

Kelly had complete control over that chain, Percy remembered. Great, he thought.

Instead of fighting against the chain, Percy walked backwards toward the ring in the wall. Kelly followed him, slowly. When the chain was all but gone, Percy couldn't have even ducked his head, and Kelly closed in.

She put a hand on his bare shoulder, her talons digging into his skin. Percy tried to lean away as she bent her head toward his neck. At the last second, Percy swung Riptide and the empousa disintegrated.

Shaking from exhaustion, Percy put the cap back on his pen and returned it to his pocket.

He stood there, trying to keep his back off the wall so it didn't sting. The chain prevented him from moving very much though. After what seemed like forever, Percy heard Polybotes' grumble from the hallway.

"Empousa, are you finished yet? We'd better get moving!"

When he saw Percy standing alone in the corner, he grinned down at him and said, "Well well well. Apparently you've got a lot more strength than we thought. Maybe a few extra bruises might help the situation?"

Before Polybotes could open the gate again, Percy said, "Didn't you say we were in a hurry?"

"Oh all right," Polybotes sighed, "The preparations just take so long..." He turned back and yelled down the corridor, "HEY! PORPHYRION! SEND ONE OF THEM DEMONS DOWN HERE, THE LITTLE BRAT KILLED OUR LAST ONE!"

Percy rubbed his ears. Giants could sure be loud when they wanted to. Meanwhile, a shuffling sound began making its way towards Percy's cell. It was an earthborn. Percy kind of felt insulted. Those things were incredibly slow.

Polybotes inserted the key and all the bars lifted. Polybotes told the earthborn to tie Percy's hands and bring him out.

The earthborn cautiously approached with the rope. Percy considered cutting it down too, but decided he really had used up all his energy against Kelly. And this wasnt a fight for his life...yet.

Percy was led roughly through the corridors and up the incredibly long staircase. He was walking behind a huge pair of shaggy green clawed feet that belonged to one of the giants. The procession held just about every giant, monster, or titan that Percy had ever met.

The sunlight hit him like a club to the eyes. Thousands of ghouls from Gaea's army massed around a central stone table about a foot off the ground. The earthborn led Percy straight toward it. Percy looked up as a shadow passed over the scene. The familiar warship leered over the giant army and Percy could hear his friends yelling his name from here.

Percy decided now might be a good time to fight back, before they got him on the altar. But the earthborn was stronger than he anticipated. Percy tugged hard on the rope, but the creature only jerked a little. Percy tried digging in his heels, but the earthborn nearly pulled him off his feet.

Soon, he was at the altar. A sick feeling started in his stomach as he realised today might be the day he would die. Now's your chance, he thought. He kept waiting for one of his friends to jump out of the ship and come to his rescue, but nothing happened.

Too late. Several hands siezed him and forced him onto the stone slab, tying him down tight so that he could only turn his head.

The giant, Porphyrion raised his hands for silence, "Today will be the day the earth mother is reawakened. Today, we shall spill demigod blood! Today, we will have our sweet revenge." He turned his evil eye on Percy, "This little swine shall be the first to die for Gaea, followed by his puny-little-friends!"

This speach amounted to great cheering. Percy's heart sunk, Never mind, he thought, get out of here while you still can. He was resigned to his fate, but he didn't want anyone else getting hurt.

XX

Jason

Jason and his friends had watched it all happen, waiting for the right moment to execute Annabeth's plan. Jason had told her of Percy's concerns, and she had understood perfectly. But still, Jason worried she'd do something rash. It wasn't exactly like Annabeth, but who wouldn't give themselves up in the hope of saving a loved one?

Annabeth and Piper stood next to him looking over the railing at the sight way below them. Annabeth's jaw clenched as they tide Percy to the altar. As Porphrion gave his little speach about their deaths, Annabeth turned to Jason.

She nodded and held out her Yankees cap, "Take it," she said, " It'll make you invisible."

Jason took the hat from her and looked down at the scene he was about to ambush, "Thanks," he swallowed hard.

To his surprise, Annabeth pecked him on the cheek in a friendly, good luck kind of way, "Get him out of there."

Jason hugged Piper and put the cap on. He looked down at himself, he couldn't see anything. He figured that was a good thing. He looked over the side as the earthborn raised a knife over the altar. Jason dove over the side and bent the wind to cushion his fall.

He landed a few feet away from the altar but there were monsters everywhere! He began wading his way carefully toward the altar, the knife hadn't lowered yet. When he was about half way there, the giant Polybotes spoke up.

"Annabeth Chase, if you want to save your boyfriend's life, you will calmly come down and trade his for your own."

Jason froze, looking up at the ship. Don't do it... jason thought. Nothing.

Polybotes huffed, and Jason started moving forward again.

"Fine," Polybotes shouted, though he didnt have to, "Maybe you need a little motivation!" He nodded to the earthborn.

The knife went down just before Jason cleared the throng. Percy yelled. No! Jason thought. He pulled out his sword and cut the earthborn in half. Without pause, he succeeded in cutting the chords that bound his friend in one swipe.

Percy gasped in relief. Jason gasped in surprise. The knife was lodged in Percy's right shoulder. Percy was still alive! But before Jason could react further, a giant hand swept him off his feet.

"GET IT!"

Jason scrambled out of the way and back to the altar. Everyone was running around trying to hit him, but only striking each other.

Percy moaned and Jason grabbed his friend under the arms and commanded the wind to lift the two of them up. Percy was dead weight, and Jason knew he could barely make it to the ship.

Jason hit the deck harder than expected and nearly dropped Percy in surprise. Down below he could hear the angry giants arguing.

Polybotes was saying, "GAEA'S DIRT! HE GOT AWAY!"

"YOU LET HIM ESCAPE?" Came an angry reply.

"IT WASNT ME! IT WAS YOU WHO ORDERED EVERYONE TO GO AROUND WHACKING EACH OTHER!"

Porphyrion snarled, "CAPTAIN!" He ordered, "Bring out the weapons, I want that ship lying as a crater in the ground!"

Jason took off the hat as Annabeth came rushing up to check on Percy. Jason turned to Leo.

"Get us out of range," he said.

Leo ran to the helm and everyone's attension turned to Percy. He was propped up on his elbows, closing his eyes. Annabeth was at his side, her hand around the dagger.

"Ready?" She asked. Percy nodded slowly.

"One," she counted, "Two. Three!"

XXI

Percy

Ow. That was the only thought running through Percy's mind. The burns, the black eye, the lashes, and finally the fresh knife wound added up in just over twenty-four hours amounted to a lot of pain.

Before Annabeth pulled the knife out, Percy was having enough trouble staying contious. With the knife gone, the blood seeped out of him and his head started spinning. Jaz came over with water and ambrosia, but it didn't have much of an immediate effect.

The world was spinning, the worried voices of his friends all mixed together. Percy let himself fall off of his elbows. He had to arch his back to avoid touching the cruel wood.

Annabeth sat beside him, stroking his hair as Jaz began wrapping his wounded arm. He caught only snatches of the conversation going on above him.

"...abrosia?"

"That was the last..."

And then in the background Carter and Jason were discussing the coming battle:

"...going to fight?"

"I don't think we have a choice."

"But he's in no condition..."

A new voice, Frank's, joined in, "Either they attack the ship and all our supplies, or we attack them first."

"Right," Walt said, "We can leave Percy on the ship if he can't fight."

"Percy wouldn't like-" but Jason didn't finish because a new voice, a voice Percy knew well, interrupted him.

"Where is he?"

Percy opened his eyes and, with Annabeth's help, sat up. Pushing his way through Percy's friends, was Poseidon.

"Dad...?" Percy rasped, "What're you...?"

Poseidon smiled at him in a sad, worried kind of way, "My arch-enemy drags my son into my realm and tortures him, I'm not just going to sit there and watch it happen."

Percy was still trying to wrap his brain around the fact that his dad was actually here, showing favoratism, first of all, and in his Greek form, aparantly without the headaches.

"B...but...?" Percy started but Poseidon crouched down next to him, reached his hand out and touched Percy's forehead.

Immediately, Percy felt much better. He could feel water droplets rolling over his skin, seeping into him and healing his many injuries. It was over in a second. Percy didn't ache with anything except for hunger.

He sighed and rose to his feet, "Woah."

Poseidon stood as well and pit his hand on Percy's shoulder.

"Thanks Dad. I..." Percy didn't know if he would've made it to the next day if Poseidon hadn't shown up, "I didn't really expect to see any gods around here."

Poseidon nodded solemnly, "And we probably wouldn't be here if not for that son of Hades."

It took Percy a moment to process what he meant.

Annabeth spoke first, "You mean they made it?"

Poseidon lashed an impressed smile, "Yes, but its really all thanks to you, I suppose we have the statue at all."

Annabeth nodded, but Percy had another thought.

"You said we...?"

Poseidon nodded seriously, "We."

XXII

Percy

Once Percy had dressed, everyone met in the dining cabin so Percy could hear their plans while he filled his empty stomach. The discussion wasn't very interesting though, there was only one goal in mind, and no one had any idea how to accomplish it.

"We need to conquer Gaea and her armies and make sure they can't come back for a long time." Annabeth was saying, "Anyone have any ideas?"

Percy stared at his hamburger like it held the answers, and Percy didn't really know why it shouldn't. He took another bite, while he chewed, he pondered possible strategies to trick their impossible enemy and overtake them.

Annabeth set the shield she had been carrying on the table. Percy recognised it. It was the same shield she'd used last year in the Titan war to spy on Kronos' army.

"This," she said, "will tell us what the giants are doing. We can see their plans and be ready for them, so..."

The round surface began spinning so fast, Percy got dizzy. Then it stopped. Everyone crouded around to see the terrifying image glimmering there. Polybotes and his hideous brother Porphyrion were leading a vast army across the stretch of land between them and the Argo II.

"There just gonna attack?" Hazel asked, "I thought they'd have a more complicated plan."

But Annabeth shook her head, "We made them angry, and so they attack without thinking. That's an advantage, but it also makes their blows more fatal, so be careful."

Silence. Every eye was fixated on the shield. The silence was so penetrating, it was as if a loud drum were beating in Percy's ears.

Finally he couldn't stand it any longer, besides, he'd finished his burger and was therefore ready to kick some giant-but, "I say we dont just sit here and let it happen."

Percy looked around the room. Jason spoke, "Agreed. What do you want us to do?"

Percy was astonished, "Me...but..."

Jason laughed, "Oh come on, Percy. You won the last war, you can do it again."

Percy starred at him like he was crazy, "But...you don't want to?"

Jason smiled sadly, "Not really."

"Percy," Annaberth cleared her throat.

Percy nodded, still staring at Jason like he said he wanted to kiss a minotaur, "Okay," Percy snapped out of it and looked back at the screen, processing where to put his troops.

"Hazel," he said, "You, and Walt go underground. Come around behind them, on the way, do anything you can think of to trip the army up. Go!"

"Right," Hazel said, she looked at Walt, and they headed out the door.

Percy continued, "Frank, Annabeth, take Carter, Zia, and Sadie on a frontal assault. Be careful," he winced, "Stay safe."

Percy searched Annabeths eyes for her consent, she rested her hand on his shoulder as she rose to her feet.

Frank nodded in a resigned manner, "Come on."

The group left the room.

"Dad," Percy said, "You guys can just fill in wherever you feel the need."

"We'll be doing more than just filling in," Poseidon said, changed into his natural form, and left.

Percy looked at Jaz, he raised his eyebrow quizzically.

"I'm not much of a fighter, really," she said, "But if anyone needs medical attention, I'm here."

Percy nodded, "Fine. Jason, Leo? Let's see just how big of an explosion we can make."

XXIII

Hazel

Ever since they returned to the ship after the attack in the cave, Hazel had been feeling pretty useless. She also felt like the attack had been her fault. Hazel should have sensed that there was something in that cave. Therefore, she was grateful to Percy for sending her on her own little quest with Walt. She was quite terrified though. Hazel had never been in a battle before, she didn’t know what to expect.

She and Walt left the ship and Hazel opened a hole in the ground. They let themselves drop in and Hazel closed the opening.

“That wasn’t smart,” she said, “We should have brought a...a light.”

A flicker started somewhere next to her and she could make out Walt, holding a long, thick, wooden staff. The end was glowing. Hazel raised her eyebrows.

“Okay,” she said, “Let’s go.”

They walked in silence, there wasn’t much to talk about. Hazel didn’t know anything about Walt, but he seemed to be the complete opposite from her.

Awkwardly, she cleared her throat, “So, Walt. What’s it like sharing your body?”

For a moment, he didn’t answer, he must not have heard her. Hazel brought her eyes back to the front, feeling even more awkward.

But he sighed, “It’s very frustrating at times. Carter and Sadie have told me that Horus and and Isis never shut up. And Anubis says they don’t either.”

Hazel looked at him curiously, and he shrugged, “It does get confusing. No one can tell what thoughts are yours and which are coming from an all powerful being. Sometimes I can’t even tell.”

“Is it easier?” Hazel wondered, “To use your powers I mean.”

He nodded slowly, as if processing his answer, “In a way. But it also requires a lot of self control. It’s dangerous to feel so powerful, you begin to let power corrupt you.”

Hazel nodded, “You sound like you know what you’re talking about.”

“I am sharing a body with someone who has been alive for thousands of years.”

Silence for a few paces, then Walt asked, “So what about you? Do you like being a demigod?”

“I don’t know, really.” Hazel thought back to the first time she met her father, back in New Orleans. She remembered clutching her mother in the cave as it fell on top of them. She also remembered all the good times she had at Camp Jupiter, Frank, Percy, her friends in the fifth cohort.

“I guess it’s all right. Monsters attack you all over the place, and we almost never have happy endings, but other than that...” Hazel looked at the ground, “I haven’t really known for that long...well, not alive I haven’t known...”

She faded out as Walt studied her, “I knew there was something different about you.”

Hazel fell silent, listening to the sound of their footsteps.

Walt looked at her, "when was your birthday?"

Hazel closed her eyes, "December of 1928."

Walt just nodded. Hazel guesses that because he was partly God of the Dead, he probably already knew she had come back from the Underworld.

A rumbling shook the ground above them. It sounded like many pairs of feet were all running in the same direction. Hazel stopped, looking at the ceiling. Percy had said to so anything tomtrip them up...but what?

"What do we do?" She said aloud.

Walt studied the earth above them, "We're underground," he said as if just realising the fact, "I can work underground."

He thrust his lit staff forward and slammed it into the floor. All around them, hands started clawing their way out of the ground. They stood and formed ranks behind Walt, or Anubis, who ever he was.

"Hazel," he said, "open a door in the ground."

Wide-eyed, Hazel did as he asked. The zombies marched out onto the surface. Soon, Hazel heard the clattering and yelling of a battle.

When Walt turned to look at her, he looked a little disheveled.

Hazel fought down a sob, "You remind me so much of Nico."

Walt looked up, "Who?"

"My half-brother."

Walt shook his head, like he was disgusted with himself, "I hate doing that. They're supposed to be resting, not serving me. Yet they're always willing to sacrifice they're afterlife for a few moments." His voice sounded sad.

Hazel had forgotten that the Egyptians believed in the resurrection, being reunited with their bodies. In Roman mythology, it didn't really matter how damaged the body was, you still got the same afterlife.

"Let's go," Walt said, starting down the tunnel further.

Hazel followed the light of his staff. She could sense hundreds of feet moving above her, she could feel where the feet stopped. But right as they reached the edge of the enemy army, she heard a familiar voice cackle in the darkness around them.

XXIV

Frank

           Frank stood on deck with Annabeth, Zia, Carter, and Sadie, watching the advancing army jeer and wave their weapons. Frank gulped as he took in the sheer numbers of them. He looked to his left at Annabeth and Sadie, then to his right at Zia and Carter.

           Most of them he barely knew, and he hardly knew anything about Annabeth at all. He was practically about to lead a band of strangers into battle.

           Frank took a deep breath in, looked one more time at the size of the army, and charged. He yelled at the top of his lungs, and could hear the others behind yelling and screaming too.

           The front line hit them hard. Frank lost track of the others as he transformed into the first thing he could think of, a black bear.

           He growled, thrusting out his paw to meet the face of some unfortunate demon, than another. A Titan came up behind him and attempted to stick Frank with his sword, but Frank jerked away and leaped at the immortal. Frank bit down hard on His arm and tasted blood.

            The human part of him realing, Frank stumbled back and faced his next attackers. All the while, he kept his eyes open for any of the others.

             The magicians were putting on a good show. They were all encased in some sort of giant glowing bird/human combo, with a sword and a staff on the side. Annabeth, Frank realised, was really good with a knife. She was surrounded in monster dust and she was bringing down more by the minute.

            Frank noticed the giants still advancing, not even grimacing at the numbers defeated. Frank needed to be bigger to be able to come with those guys. Frank stubbled away from the fight and changed into a dragon.

            Half of his energy now gone, Frank flew up by the giants' heads and did his best to distract them. He blasted fire in their eyes and clawed at their faces, but there were twelve of them, and one of him. He was like a fly to the giants, nothing but annoying.

            The next thing Frank knew, a giant hand was zooming toward him, and he didn't have time to dodge. The fist made contact, and Frank went limp with pain. He was falling...falling...falling.