Prologue
Silent waves lapped at the shore of Camp-Half Blood, kissing the toes of two teenagers, lying side by side on the soft sand. They were holding hands, gazing at the stars, content to stay there forever.
The sweet silence was broken when the boy spoke, "Do you think we can pull this off?" He sounded uncertain.
The girl turned on her side and set her chin in her hand, "As long as we love each other, I think we can."
He pondered for a moment, then said, "I love you. Do you still love me?"
She grinned, her eyes lighting up, "What do you think?"
Suddenly, she lunged forward and grabbed his shirt, pulling him in for a kiss. The moon illuminated her face for a single second, before she moved and it was once again shrouded in darkness.
The kissed with their eyes closed, oblivious to the rest of the world.
Even though her face could only bee seen for a second, it was enough for the two others hiding in the bushes to see.
"I knew he was up to something!" Annabeth whispered furiously, sparing a quick glance to the lovers on the beach.
Percy gulped, "Annabeth, it doesn't matter if he was up to something. Did you see who he was with?"
She glanced back, frustrated when she couldn't see the faces, "No, but it can't have been that bad, right? He just found some lonely camper. Sure, he could get in trouble, being as he's on probation, but I don't think he'll get in that much trouble, right?"
Percy's voice was grave, "Wrong. Annabeth, the girl on the beach was…" He swallowed, trying to think of an easy way to say what had to be said. Finding none, he steeled his courage and said:
"It was Thalia."