Piper was just about ready to give up.

Jason, however sweet he may be, would never join her. Especially with his sister and friends all here. Annabeth, as 'close' as the two were, still had so much left to do, and Piper didn't have the heart to take her away from her future. Hazel had a brother, and was just rebuilding her life. Of Piper were in her shoes, she wouldn't want to leave all that. Frank... He had duties to his people. And Piper wasn't so deceitful, she wouldn't take the praetor away from his people.

Leo... Leo was gone. Gallivanting around the world with Calypso, she supposed. Maybe he could come with her, if he really wanted to see some interesting things. But, Leo still hadn't seen all of Earth yet, and there was still a lot more he had to teach Calypso. No, Piper wouldn't rob Leo of this amazing experience.

That left Percy, but Percy was happy. So Piper's little mission had been for nothing. No one would go with her.

"You're running out of time."

Piper's skin prickled. His breath was hot against the back of her neck and it gave her shivers. Not exactly the good kind.

"What are you doing here?" Piper's fists clenched.

"Keeping you in check, apparently. I didn't expect an agent as high as you on the caliber to slack off. Have you found any new recruits?"

"You know very well that this was a vacation to visit my father and find my mother. I just got a little more than I bargained for."

He scoffed. "Charming, you have two more weeks before the boss sends another person in and you're demoted."

"My name isn't that anymore," Piper gritted her teeth.

"Right," the man laughed. "Piper McLean isn't it? Like I said, Charming." He emphasized the last word in such a way that grated on Piper's nerves.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen," Piper said sarcastically. "Tell him not to be too disappointed if I come back empty-handed."

"Ooh, so you're using you position as his favorite to your advantage?" the man laughed softly. "I'm rubbing off on you, Charming."

"Castellan," Piper barked. "Leave, now."

"Later, Assassin," he saluted and bent down in a bow before leaving.

"Chaos," Piper glanced up at the ceiling angrily. "I can't believe you sent him here to watch over me. Nice to know that you hate me so much."

A booming chuckle reverberated around the room. "He's your best friend, Charming. Come back soon or make me cry and have rains befall Camp Half-Blood."

"I'll be back, Chaos," Piper whispered. "But you know how I always need to complete my missions first."

The chuckle resounded, and Piper smiled. In two weeks' time, she'll be back home in her rightful place as Chaos' lead assassin. All she needed to do was find a worthy recruit. And so far, the only one worthy and possibly willing seemed to be Percy Jackson.