Alice's POV:

I waved goodbye as I drove off. I learned to drive quickly, just so no one could ask why I was going to some old warehouse. My luggage bumped around in the car. I had some stuff from home, I got some items from a nearby store, and I decided to drop by Percy's mom's place. Percy wanted me to check on her. She was still depressed, though not nearly as much as when Percy had disappeared. She was slowly healing, and Percy told me that visits helped. So, there I was, standing outside the Blofis-Jackson apartment. After a moment's hesitation, I knocked.

"Hello Mrs. Jackson-Blofis," I greeted when she opened the door. The smile she gave me was so warm and toasty, I wanted her to smile constantly.

"Call me Sally. I have some cookies if you want some. I'm guessing you're on your way to school and are just dropping by to check on me?" I nodded. I almost always stopped to visit on my way to school. Not only did she make amazing cookies, Sally Jackson was a great listener.

"I would love some cookies Mrs. Ja-Sally." I said her name slowly.

"I can't stay too long," I said, entering the cozy apartment. Not much had changed since my last visit, though there were less tissues scattered about. I checked my watch. 6 a.m. I guessed I had some time to spare. I ended up staying for longer than intended. I helped Sally with some chores, and savored each and every cookie. What can I say? They're like a taste of Elysium. I left at 9 a.m, which was not good. Everyone would be up for training by then, and I preferred sneaking in when everyone was asleep. That way, there was minimum questions. But at 9 a.m, it would be questions galore.

Sadie's POV:

I stood outside the front door, waiting for Alice to walk in. My brother stood beside me, occasionally glancing out the window.

"Is something wrong?" Jaz asked, looking up from her book. I shook my head no, but she still looked worried.

"Everything's fine. Just waiting for Alice," I soothed. Jaz gave a nod and returned to her book just as Felix walked over.

"Alice is coming today?" he questioned, looking excited. I gave him a bright smile.

"Yeah," I confirmed. The door opened and in walked Alice. She was tanner than she was last year, and she wore no longer wore her typical jean shorts and short-sleeves, but jeans that reached her ankles and sleeves that covered the lengths of her arms. What was she hiding?

"Hey Alice," Carter greeted nervously. After studying him for a few seconds, I reached my conclusion. He had have a crush on her! My poor brother had no idea how to act around girls. Alice looked startled and she jumped back several feet.

"You almost gave me a heart attack! Have you been waiting for me?" Alice inquired. I walked out. Alice's look turned from confused to terrified. I smiled evilly (without meaning to, of course.)

"I'm gonna go unpack," she said hurriedly, grabbing her suitcases and walking towards the stairs.

"Where've you been? Normally you're in before anyone's up," I said, walking after her. She walked faster. Before I knew it, she was already up the steps and halfway to her room. I ran towards her retreating figure. Sadly, her door slammed shut and locked before I could get to her. What a shame. I had SO many questions to ask.

Alice's POV:

My heart pounded as I locked the door. I flopped down on the bed. They had been waiting for me. But why? I've been at Camp Half-blood long enough to detect when the Stoll brothers have a prank planned for you. But the 21st Nome was still uncharted territory, even after a few years of training there. Sadie was always up to something, and when Carter was nervous something was not right. He's pretty brave after all. Well, not Percy level brave, but still Gryffindor brave at the least. My thoughts strayed to what Anika had said the night before. Did Jason really have a crush on me? If so, why did I need to stay away? Did Carter have a crush on me? When did my life become middle school? I felt like Zeus when Metis was giving birth to Athena in his head. Basically, I had an awful headache that just got worse as more and more questions probed my aching mind.

Sadie's POV:

"ALICE!" I yelled, banging my fist on the door. "CAN I COME IN?" Alice opened the door. I noticed for the first time her eyes were an unnatural gray. They were stormy, yet beautiful. How I just noticed this, I wasn't quite sure.

"What?" she asked, visibly irritated. I noted her hand was wet, there was a spray bottle filled with water on top of her mini fridge, and gold coins sat on her bed side table. I cleared my throat and rubbed my hand which was red from banging on the door.

"I need to talk to you." I told her. She sighed impatiently.

I saw her closet door was open and she had changed from her jeans and sweater into cotton pajamas, like me.

"Can I come in?" I questioned. She nodded and I followed her inside, shutting the door behind me. I sat down on her bed.

"What's up?" Alice grabbed a bottle of water. I noticed tear stains on her face, as if she's been crying.

"Well, I was just wondering what you did this summer," I replied. Her eyebrows raised and I saw a quick look of panic cross her face.

"I went to summer camp." she said quickly. I raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Did the summer camp happen to have a centaur, and a boy named Jason, a girl named Piper, a boy named Percy, and a girl named Annabeth?" I asked. Her panicked expression suddenly turned into a look of amusement.

"Oh Sadie," Alice laughed. "Centaurs aren't real. That's Greek mythology. You really need to stop drinking caffeinated beverages before bedtime."

Carter's POV:

"Why do you think Alice lied?" I demanded. Sadie shrugged and held up her hands in defense.

"I know what I saw!" she cried. I rolled my eyes and stomped my foot in frustration. I knew she was telling the truth about seeing a centaur, but I just wanted to be angry at something to get my mind off the fact Alice has been lying to us for so long.

"I know you saw that centaur. It's just, how could she lie to us?" I cried, turning around to stare at the wall. Why did I have tears in my eyes? She was just one of our students, just another trainee in our school. I felt Sadie's hand on my shoulder.

"Listen Carter, I need your smartness right now to help me figure this out!" Sadie exclaimed. "What mythology does the centaur come from again? I know Alice mentioned what mythology it was, but I can't quite remember… all I know is that doesn't come from Egyptian mythology." I racked my brain for the answer, and when I finally got it, I turned around with my eyes lit up.

"Greek mythology. I remember seeing it in a museum or something," I replied. Sadie smiled and pumped her fist in the air.

"Yes! Our first clue!" she cheered. I laughed and grinned at her. We may fight, but Sadie's always there for me when I need her. She's an amazing little sister, even if she doesn't always act like one. [Don't get such a big ego Sadie. It was just one compliment.]

"Let's go to the library and research Greek mythology," I told her. She nodded and we took off.

Alice's POV:

I made my way to the library. Cleo and I have always been good friends, and I really needed to talk to her. As soon as I opened the library doors, I was shocked to find out Sadie and Carter were in there. I cursed in Greek and stomped my foot. Why were they so desperate to find out my secret? I saw Cleo out of the corner of my eyes and I made my way towards her.

"Hey Cleo," I chimed. She turned her head, smiled at me, and quickly exchanged her smile for a frown.

"Your eyes are puffy," she observed. "Have you been crying?" I tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear and cursed silently.

"No, I'm fine," I lied, "I haven't been crying. Just a allergic reaction to someone's perfume." She looked at me curiously.

"Okay, I guess. Need something?" she inquired. I shook my head and glanced at Sadie and Carter. I quickly turned back to Cleo.

"No, I just need to talk. Privately," I told her. She nodded, said she'd be right back, and walked away to yell at Felix for bringing penguins into the library. Carter and Sadie walked over to me triumphantly.

"You're a demigod, aren't you?" Sadie asked excitedly. I put a confused and befuddled expression on my face.

"A what?" I laughed. Sadie glared at me. She thrust a book into my hands and folded her arms. I glanced at the book before putting it on Cleo's 'desk.'

"A demigod! That's what you are, correct? One of your parents is a god or goddess! And you're Greek!" Sadie cried. I folded my arms, and glared at her.

"And how are you going to prove that insane theory?" I questioned. She shoved a piece of paper with Greek writing into my hands. She wanted me to read it. I stared at, pretending to concentrate. I knew what it said. I really did. But I couldn't let them know who I really was, I just couldn't. I shrugged and handed the paper back to her.

"It looks like a bunch of gibberish to me." I said cooly. Sadie stomped her foot.

"STOP LYING!" she shouted. "WE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SO JUST ADMIT IT!" I took a step back. Then, I started to leave the library. Sadie laughed.

"WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? WHY ARE YOU AFRAID TO ADMIT IT?" Sadie yelled. I turned around, tears in my eyes. People were staring.

"Stop shouting and stop wasting my time with idiotic questions," I snapped before striding away. I felt someone's hand roughly grab my shoulder and turn me around. It was Carter.

"Please stop lying," he whispered. He looked so broken. I just wanted to hold him close and tell him it would be okay. I wanted to tell him the truth, every little detail. But the gods would have my ass if I even tried. I tore away from his grip. I felt tears slide down my face, and I felt all my lies slowly eating me up inside. I glared at him, mustering up all my anger into it.

"You would stay away from me Carter Kane if you knew what was good for you," I spat. I quickly turned away and ran to my room, where I started packing. I had to get back to camp.

Jason's POV:

"Jason!" Anika's voice cried breathlessly. I turned around. There was a smile on her face and her gray eyes were twinkling.

"Alice is back!" she exclaimed. My jaw dropped in disbelief.

"Already?" I asked. She nodded and I followed her to where Alice stood. She was angry, and snapping at people who were asking her questions. She started off towards the cabins.

"Alice!" I called. She groaned and didn't even glance at me.

"Why won't the world just leave me alone!?" she wailed. I watched her storm into the Athena cabin before turning around.

"Are you sure that's Alice?" I inquired. Anika was just staring ahead in disbelief.

"I-I think so." she croaked.

Sadie's POV:

~EARLIER~

I stared at Alice in disbelief. She was actually leaving just because I figured out her secret. What a wimp!

"Where are you gonna go?" I demanded as she began lugging her stuff towards the door. She turned around and glared at me with cold eyes.

"I don't know, maybe China?" she said snappily before turning around and storming towards the door. Carter grabbed her hand and turned her around. She yanked her hand away, looking conflicted.

"Please don't go," he pleaded. He actually leaned in to KISS her! I felt a grin making it's way onto my face when she slapped him. My eyes widened in shock. Carter's hand reached up to where she slapped him. With his fury filled eyes, he yelled "LEAVE THEN!" He stomped away. A look of hurt and confusion crossed Alice's face, but quickly faded.

"I told you to stay away from me!" she shouted. She strode out the door, slamming it behind her.

~PRESENT TIME~

I hugged Carter. He was still hurting from Alice's bitterness. "There's still Zia." I told him hopefully. He didn't reply. How could Alice do this? I thought.

Alice's POV:

I gazed at my hand in shock and disbelief. Why did I slap Carter? I asked myself. He was just trying to reach out, he was going to kiss me, and I slapped him. I was so angry. At myself, at Carter, at Jason, at Aphrodite…I was just pissed. I took a taxi to camp, doing my best not to stab the cab driver when he asked "You sure you wanna stop here?" I dragged my stuff into camp, snapping at people who asked questions, even going as far as dissing Jason. I threw my stuff on my bed in the Athena cabin before stalking off into the woods, searching for a monster to fight. I needed to let off steam.

Carter's POV:

"Carter, are you sure you wanna do this?" Sadie asked me, placing a hand upon my shoulder. I nodded and took her hand. We climbed into a 'borrowed' Volkswagen and took off towards Long Island Sound. A broken down farm appeared and Sadie urged Bast to stop the car.

"We're here," she declared. She looked back at Bast and told her to leave. The Egyptian cat goddess obeyed and sped off. We walked effortlessly past a tree and continued on our way. I noticed the farm had changed into a camp. With kids. In armor. And weapons.

"Sadie, are you sure this is the place?" I inquired nervously. She nodded as her eyes scanned the camp. Her eyes landed on a centaur.

"That's him! YES! I knew we were in the right place!" Sadie cheered. I rolled my eyes. I saw her run over to a group of kids.

"You're Percy! And you're Annabeth!" she cried. Then she pumped her fist into the air. "I DID IT! HA! You said I was wrong but I was right! OH!" I walked over and glared at her.

"Don't get too cocky," I said to her as she started to do her happy dance. "We still need to find Alice." The teens looked at us, shocked.

"Alice Hayes, Alice?" a blond girl demanded.

"Yeah," Sadie responded, momentarily pausing in her victory dance.

"How do you know Alice?" the same blond inquired. I shrugged.

"How could I not know her? She trains at our school, and she slapped me this morning," I replied. Their jaws dropped.

"She slapped you? Wow. She must be in a really bad mood," a Latino elf stated in awe. The blond frowned.

"What school?" she questioned. I was about to answer but Sadie butted in.

"The Kanes' School for Magicians Who Need Training," she chirped. The blonde's eyebrow rose.

"Magicians?" the Latino elf muttered. "I wanna go there!" The blond frowned at him.

"Not that kind of magician Leo," she said. She glanced at us. "They mean Egyptian magicians." The boy looked dumbfounded.

"What's the difference?" he asked. The blond groaned and did a face palm.

"Alice took off to the Athena cabin," a boy with blonde hair and icy blue eyes informed us. Sadie sighed.

"We don't know where that is." she reminded him. He pointed to a cabin with an owl carved into the door. We trudged into the cabin, expecting to see the familiar brunette sitting on a bed, reading some Egyptian text. Except, Alice wasn't in the cabin. Where could she be?

Alice's POV:

I twirled my sword, whistling as I went. The woods were thick. Nymphs waved at me as I passed. It was truly serene. I sighed.

"If only life could always be like this," I said aloud to no one in particular. Still, I got an answer.

"The world would be a different place then," a nymph replied. "You would probably not be twirling a sword. We wouldn't be talking. In a way, aren't you glad the world is the way it is? Otherwise, you would not have met any of your friends."

"You're pretty dam wise," I told her. She smiled at me before melting back into her tree. I kept walking until I reached a creek. There, I paused to rest my feet and catch my breath. I must've been gone awhile, I thought, I should probably head back.

Sadie's POV:

It's truly amazing how quickly war can start. When Carter and I walked out of the Athena cabin, a great number of assorted weapons were pointing at us. Carter quickly rose his hands in surrender, but I stood my ground.

"What the Horus are you doing?" I demanded. One of the girls from earlier gazed at us sympathetically, her dagger pointing at my chest.

"I'm sorry," she replied. She jerked her head towards the centaur. "Chiron's orders." I glared at the centaur.

"Listen, we just wanted to find Alice, okay?" Carter stated. The blonde boy rolled his eyes and glanced at two burly boys in red-tinted armor.

"Get them!" he cried. I smirked. Idiot.

"Tas," I stated, my tone almost playful as I pointed my wand at the two boys. Twine quickly wrapped around them, binding them together. The others looked shock. My smirked widened.

"Thought we were helpless?" I questioned. "You were wrong." I then pointed my wand at the blond boy with blue eyes and announced "Sa-hei." The boy fell to the ground.

"Carter, grab your sword and fight with everything you got. I'll contact the others," I whispered. Carter nodded, pulling his Khopesh out from the Duat. Everyone except centaur dude, Carter, and I looked astounded. I quickly summoned Walt and the others. They appeared around us, weapons brandished and ready to fight. The first one to attack out of the group was Shelby, who drew a surprisingly good picture of a football player, that popped off the sheet of paper and tackled a guy with a tool belt and curly hair. Walt tossed out an amulet that turned into a roaring lion. Zia summoned flames. The boy who got tackled by the football player, popped up, smirked, and summoned flames himself. Zia gasped quickly before thrusting out her staff and set the top ablaze. Determined to out fire her, the boy set himself on fire. Carter gaped. Zia rolled her eyes, and set herself on fire, then completely immersed herself in an ball of flames. When she saw my expression, she smiled.

"I've been practicing," she told me. Felix, hoping to impress the campers, summoned a herd of penguins.

"Brooklyn House, attack!" Carter shouted. We awesome magicians advanced and began to fight. The boy who set himself on fire started to fight me. I smirked.

"Moron!" I called out before adding "Maw. Se-kebeb." The boy was doused in water before shivering and collapsing onto the ground. I stole his tool belt and stuck it into the Duat. Carter saw what I did and copied moi, stealing the sympathetic girl from before's dagger. I sent a quick message to the others about what the mission was. Don't aim to hurt. Merely knock out and steal weapon. Got that? Good. Sadie out. I waited for someone to reply.

Good plan. Have anyone found Alice? Alyssa's voice echoed through my head. It was a bit like hosting a god, but less annoying. [Love ya Isis!]

Nope. Carter's voice answered. We can't find her. Search every building to see if they captured her and are holding her hostage. No destroying anything! Felix's sigh responded. I giggled before stealing a bow and quiver and thrusting them into the Duat. Soon, I was tired.

I could use a good nap and a feast right now, I announced to my army. Are we done yet?

Almost. Walt replied. They keep coming back with more weapons.

We need to stop fighting! Jaz's voice sent a shock through my body, and I dropped my staff. The big, burly boy I was fighting took my shock as an advantage and tackled me. He smelled super gross.

I also need a shower. Maybe sixteen. I added mentally. I kicked the boy where the sun don't shine. He groaned and rolled over. I kicked his side.

"WHAT THE DEVIL IS GOING ON HERE?" a voice screamed. I looked up and saw her, standing at the edge of the forest, looking livid. She was alive. And not a hostage. Alice.


Madeline: Another chapter for you! Alice's last piece of dialogue for the chapter was a reference. Whoever guess correctly gets a cookie!

Sadie: Review. If you do, blue chocolate cookies.

Thalia: If you don't, well...Madeline isn't responsible for your pain and suffering.

Carter: Don't forget to favorite and follow if you haven't already-

Percy: And donate to the poor! HOLY BATMAN! I'm not in this story!

Annabeth: You were in the first chapter.

Percy: But not this one!

Alice: Calm down. Madeline only owns me. Everything else in Rick Riordan-except Anika.

Madeline: Bye!

~Madeline, Sadie, Thalia,Carter, Percy, Annabeth and Alice