Author's Note: This takes place after "The Last Olympian". This is a slightly longer beginning chapter. I may not update without reviews. A request for reviews will be announced.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to Rick Riordan.

PERCY'S POV

It's been nearly a year since that battle… and Annabeth's kiss, too, of course. We've been going strong ever since. The two of us always catch up at Camp Half Blood, and Annabeth's even thinking of transferring to Goode. I'd be elated if I could be with her on a more normal, less life threatening, schedule.

Today was a typical day. For a couple months now, I'd had my eye on a strange boy at Goode. He seemed like just a bumbling freshman, but it seemed bad news followed him around. By now, I'd confirmed that he was, in fact, a half-blood when I repeatedly found him in odd nooks around the school. Each time, there was a significant pile of dust scattered around and look of terror in his wide eyes. I'd decided to befriend him, and then take him to my "summer home".

I'd urged Annabeth to accompany me, since gods know what'll be trying to stop us along the way. She'd grudgingly agreed after I pried her away from her precious Olympus designs. We were driving down to his house in my second hand, chalk gray, 2013 Scion tC. The road seemed deserted, which we hoped was a good sign.

Annabeth and I had our windows rolled down, and her wavy blonde hair was streaming behind her in the wind. I turned on the radio to full blast and turned and smiled at her. She was wearing her orange camp tee shirt, jean shorts, and sneakers. It was the average monster fighting clothes, but I thought she looked amazing as always. Her sparkling gray eyes met mine and she flashed a smile which once made my heart stop beating. It still rattled erratically now, but I had it mostly under control. I took her hand and grinned back.

It may be simple, but it was calm moments like these, with just the two of us, that I looked forward to.

"Uhh, Percy?" I heard Annabeth murmur, her head halfway out the window as she peered backwards. "Hate to be a party pooper, but I think we have some furies on our tail."

I chanced a look behind me and swore. She was right. Two hideous women with large, plumed wings were soaring behind us, screeching in rage.

"Hold on tight, then," Now with both hands on the wheel, I gunned it to fifty miles an hour. I hoped the furies wouldn't catch up too quickly, because I didn't know if this old car could go any faster.

Out of nowhere, as if to make this bad situation even worse, a steady stream of cars pulsed towards us. It was rush hour. That didn't hinder the furies at all, who were only a mere one hundred yards back, but we had to slow to a mere fifteen miles per hour. That was going to out run anything.

I cursed again. Why couldn't midday commuters just take a sudden trip to Dunkin Donuts or something?

"Percy," Annabeth warned. "We need to get out of this traffic."

"What do you think I've been trying to do, Wise Girl?" I retorted. I saw her open her mouth to retort, but I cut her off. "Look, let's just get to some deserted area where none of these mortals'll get hurt."

"And how are we going to do that, Seaweed Brain? We're in the heart of the business district! At rush hour!"

"I don't know… I'll find something, I guess. Worst case scenario, we just lead them to the suburbs where Trevor lives."

"Ah yes, our new recruit. Why don't we just traumatize him more?"

I glanced up at her while speeding past a couple sedans and smirked. We'd gotten used each other's banter over the course of our relationship. I leaned over and kissed her briefly.

"There," I smiled at the dazed expression in her eyes, which she didn't hide soon enough. I'd never get old of seeing the effect I had on her. "Trust me, okay?"

"Fine, just don't do that again when we're driving among tons of possible car accidents."

I chuckled. "Whatever you say, Wise Girl."

The furies, thankfully, hadn't caught up too much, one becoming ensnared in telephone wiring. Her friend had stayed behind to help her, but the knots and tangles were nearly gone.

A small patch of open space drifted into a pathway past the traffic, and I took it. Slamming my foot on the gas, I navigated through the honks and beeps until we were well on our way to the suburbs.

"How are our feathered friends back there?" I asked Annabeth.

"They're catching up, about fifty yards back now." She replied. "Your plan better work pretty fast, or we're dead."

I pulled up to Trevor's house and rung the doorbell madly. Thankfully, it seemed Trevor was waiting just by the door, and opened it immediately.

"Ready to go?" I asked, breathless.

"Yeah," He responded enthusiastically before examining the worry on my face. "What's wrong?"

"We may have a bit of company tailing us. No big deal." I led him towards the car.

Trevor risked a look down the street and nearly hyperventilated, by the looks of it. "No big deal?!" He nearly shouted. "That's – the – kill – monster – you see them too?" He finally managed to splutter out.

"Yeah, Annabeth'll tell you all about it. Now get in the car unless you wanna become poultry feed."

Trevor immediately ducked into the backseat, and I floored the car once more, as the furies had nearly made it to Trevor's front door by the time our conversation finished.

"Annabeth, Trevor. Trevor, Annabeth." I glimpsed his worried brown eyes in the rearview mirror. "It's not the best time for introductions, so how about you just inform him about the two giant turkeys gaining on us, Annabeth?"

She rolled her eyes before swiveling around. "Nice to meet you, Trevor." She said with a smile. I risked another look back to see Trevor shocked. He was probably debating which emotion to let win out; having deadly monsters chasing him, having a girl as beautiful as Wise Girl talking to him, or that she was so calm in times like this. A flash of jealousy and protectiveness erupted in me, but I persuaded it to simmer down. Of course people would think Annabeth was pretty. She most definitely was. It didn't mean they were out to steal her though.

I turned back to the road, which was thankfully thinning out into rural landscape. A couple fleets of cars still lingered, so I urged my old car farther. Annabeth had finished informing Trevor about the situation. Despite his expression still looking like a cat the first time they swim, Trevor seemed to be processing all the new information.

The furies were hovering almost right above us now as they swooped down, their shriveled claws raised.

"We're almost at the camp, guys! Hang tight!" I shouted over the snarls of the furies. "But I do recommend getting your weapons out." I added.

"What are you talking about?" Trevor screamed back. "Are you crazy? This is 'Delphi Strawberry Services'! Look at the sign!"

I smiled to myself. I forgot all about the Oracle Delphi's cover name for Camp Half Blood. Apparently, so did Annabeth, or she just wanted a surprise for Trevor.

All signs of mortal inhabitance faded, and I knew we were at the Half Blood Hill barrier. Unfortunately, so were the furies.

"Get out of the car!" I roared. I slammed down on the brakes as it screeched to a halt and I flung myself out. I grabbed Riptide out of my pocket and slashed at a fury descending upon me. I looked out of the corner of my eye to see Annabeth defending Trevor with her dagger. He had a shortsword, but his aim was no good due to his shaking arms. They seemed to be doing okay, so I returned to the matter at hand.

The fury lashed out with one of her claws, and I scarcely blocked it, whipping the butt of my sword into her wrist. Howling with anger, she rushed at me, and I sliced at her wing. Some dust crumbled off, but the fury was still able to lopsidedly fly. It threw her brass scourge at me, which caught my shoulder before I could hold up Riptide.

Dang, these furies were getting fast. Thankfully, I felt nothing due to my dip in the River Styx. The fury screeched in confusion and raced towards me, its jaws open. I sidestepped easily and thrust Riptide into its mouth, and the beast immediately vaporized into dust.

I turned to look at Annabeth to see her and Trevor struggling against the gaining fury with their shorter weapons. Trevor was on his back, cornered in a grove of pine trees, while Annabeth was wildly dueling with the fury. It seemed like she couldn't fend it off in such short quarters. I raced towards her, but not before the fury slashed, faster than lightning, and Annabeth crumpled to the ground, the bottom of her tee shirt shredded with claw marks.