Annabeth was reclining in her room, curled up with her favorite architecture book when her door burst open and Sadie charged in.

"Do excuse me but I need some civilized company right now." she fumed as Annabeth scooted over to make room for her. "My brother is being a complete beast about the whole 'blowing us all the way to Greece' business. Had to get away."

Annabeth laughed. "Yeah, I know what that's like."

"You have brothers, then?"

"About a half dozen at camp and two at home."

Sadie shuddered. "How horrid."

They both laughed.

"How do you stand it here?" she demanded dramatically, flopping down on Annabeth's narrow bed. "These boys are atrocious. I swear I saw a pair of knickers hanging on a door."

Annabeth blinked, looking up from the book she was reading. "I think those are Leo's."

"They are." someone chimed in. Piper waved from the door, Hazel right behind her.

"We just got off shift." Hazel said as they crammed into the small cabin, settling down on the floor.

"Still, this place is pretty posh for a ship." Sadie continued. "And no adult supervision? I suppose that makes it worth it."

Piper grinned. "Y'know, we did have a chaperone and Annabeth got into a lot of trouble with him..."

Annabeth instantly colored. "Don't tell her about that!" she said, lightly throwing a pillow at her.

Piper caught it deftly and smirked. "Okay, okay."

Sadie covered her mouth and giggled.

When she calmed down, she seemed to remember something.

"Hazel, what were you saying about magicians and tea?"

Hazel looked uncomfortable. "Hecate." she said finally. "Goddess of magic. Few weeks ago, she uh...she came to me. Told me my mother was a witch and so was I. That I had to learn to control the Mist."

"This Mist stuff sounds an awful lot like the Duat." Sadie observed. "And you say the goddess of all magic chose you? That's serious stuff. If we all get out of here, we definitely have a spot in Brooklyn House for you."

Hazel smiled. "Thanks, but I don't think I could leave Camp Jupiter."

Sadie shook her head. "In any case, Carter will want to hear about this."

"What exactly happened with you two?" Piper asked. "I mean you seem to know a lot about magic and monsters and everything."

In answer, Sadie took the headphones from her ipod, chose a playlist labeled The Red Pyramid and pressed play.

"Why don't I show you?"


On the deck, Carter sat pensively, his legs folded under him, watching the night sky.

"Catch." His head turned just in time for him to catch a basketball.

He stood up and saw Percy emerge from the shadows.

"Bad day?" Percy asked.

"Had better."

"You should give your sister a break, you know." Percy said. "She was only trying to help."

Carter sighed. "I know. I'm not mad about that. I just..."

"What?"

"You wouldn't understand."

Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Does this involve a girl?"

Carter flinched.

"Sorry. None of my business."

Carter sighed again. "It's only...short version? I fell for this girl but it turned out to be a sort of golem. When I found the real one she...hardly even knew my name."

Percy whistled. "That's weird."

Carter glared and Percy put up his hands. "I mean for you."

"Yeah, well." Carter said throwing the ball back to him.

After a silence, Percy held the ball up. "Want a game?"

"Uh...sure." Carter said, looking nervous.

Percy's first basket went in. Carter had much worse luck. The first two times he couldn't get it past Percy and the third time when he did, he overshot.

"Man," Percy exclaimed "I can't believe you're not good at basketball, I mean you're..."

"I'm what?"

"Really tall."

Carter laughed. "Yeah, I know I suck. But thanks, man. I feel better."

"No problem." they bumped fists and Carter went to bed feeling more hopeful.


Thousands of miles away, a magician in traditional white billowing cloths held a staff out and chanted in Ancient Egyptian.

The scrying spell created a ripple in the air and in the distortion a ship in a deep ocean some miles from coastline was visible.

The magician waved his hands over the image and as it dissipated, he smiled wickedly.

He had found them.

A/N: Chapter two! Thank you guys for the feedback, I really appreciate it! I wanted to put the Zia stuff in here, so I guess this takes place before Serpent's Shadow? Anyway, I hope you like it and thank you for reading/reviewing/ect.!