So this is The Real Zuria Maylin, here with THE MARK OF ATHENA!

Chapter 1: Annabeth

Simple. Our idea was—go to camp, pick up the others in the Great Prophecy, go to Greece. Would be easier than what we had to deal with when we got there.

No, as soon as we get there, Leo has to go date someone there.

So…now we're screwed. Leo was all, "Oh, my gosh, she's so freaking hot, and I love her so much that I can't leave without her…and technically because Percy's coming with us, she can't come, because that would leave the camp all screwed up."

Yes, Leo fell in with Reyna.

I saw Percy walking up to us with his arm around a guy and a girl. New friends…hopefully. Not a relationship. He saw me and he gave me a huge hug. My eyes stung, but I told myself I wouldn't cry.

Jason saw Hazel and hugged her, too.

A smug-looking boy walked over. "So…these are your friends, Percy?" he asked. He was eyeing Piper. I'm betting Jason wasn't too happy about that.

"Yes, they are," Percy said. "They're good guys, Octavian."

"I'm still alive," Jason added helpfully. "Hey! You guys can come out now!"

A bunch of menacing-looking kids walked out of buildings on the street.

"How did you know?" Octavian asked.

"I know Reyna and you way too well to be fooled by this," Jason told him. "And guess what? I'm back."

Octavian smiled. "I knew you would be."

Percy snorted. "Sure. Which build-a-bear workshop did you terrorize before you got to that?"

He can make everyone laugh. He's different now. He looks more…down to earth. Practical. Real. I wonder what's happened to him.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to see you," Percy tells me.

I give him a playful punch. He winces.

I gasp. "You lost your touch, didn't you?"

"Blame Juno," he says.

I can do that. "How's your life been?" I ask him.

He grimaces. "Tell you later."

I try not to feel hurt.

"I suppose you're all friendly," Octavian says. "So I won't have to kill you."

"Like you killed Gwen," an Asian kid mutters.

"What was that, Frank?" Octavian asks.

"Nothing, nothing," Frank covers.

"Just cross-referencing the centurion Shish kebab," the girl Percy had his arm around says.

"I've heard your suspicions, Frank," Octavian says. "But they're not true."

Frank rolls his eyes. "Sure, Oct. Whatever you say."

Percy grabs my hand. "Well, this'll get ugly quick, why don't I take you guys on a tour?" he asks.

"Anything to get out of here while we still can," Jason says.

And that's how Leo met Reyna. She was in the temple of Bellona. She was asking what to do about something. She looked out the door and screamed, "Jason!"

And that's how Jason got all those bruises.

Leo was watching her with big eyes. Her purple cape flew as she began punching Jason—"Don't you EVER do that again, do you hear me? Never! Never! Never!"

"Good to see you, too, Reyna," he told her.

She began to sob uncontrollably. He held her and stroked her hair. I saw Piper trying to remain calm. I couldn't blame her.

A little girl came over, carrying a big marble head with her. "What's this? Visitors! Without passes?"

"They're with me, Terminus," Percy said.

I bit my tongue to keep from laughing. Who was this guy? The god of exterminators? Could he get rid of the rat infestation in my house?

The rest of the day was a blur. All I remember was Percy taking me to his Cohort and holding me and not letting me go.