HAZEL

They appeared on the hillside overlooking the River Acheron. The sun was just rising, making the water glitter and the clouds glow orange. The cool morning air smelled of honeysuckle.

Hazel was holding hands with Frank on her left, Nico on her right. They were alive and mostly whole. The sunlight in the trees was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. She wanted to live in that moment- free of monsters, gods, and evil spirits. Free of death.

The demigods stumbled and staggered, then collapsed. Nico was holding Percy's hand.

The Argo II still floated over the river a few hundred yards away. Hazel knew they should signal Coach Hedge, but she didn't think anyone was anxious to let him know what had happened. Had they been in the temple all night? Or several nights? At the moment, that was hardly important.

Nico and Annabeth knelt on either side of Percy, tense and still, as if they were waiting for him to get up and laugh at them for worrying. Hazel held Frank in a tight embrace. Listening to him try to choke his tears back just made her feel worse.

Before anyone could do or say anything, Nico got off the ground, staggering as he did so. With seemingly great difficulty, he dragged his eyes away from Percy, and desperately began to look around. His gaze locked on the trees, and the shadows among them. Jason started towards him.

"Nico, wait-"

"No," Nico's voice broke. He gestured for Jason to stay back as he stumbled away. "Just don't."

Hazel tried to get a word out, but Nico had already dissipated. She looked to Annabeth, who managed to look even more heartbroken. But beyond her tears, Hazel could see Annabeth had pieced something together. Something Hazel should have noticed a long time ago. Something she missed. Nico's love for Percy.

ANNABETH

Percy had influenced so many people into caring for him, without even trying. It was just the kind of person he is...was. Nobody could hold a dislike for Percy after spending time with him, witnessing his character- his devotion to his friends. The best of heroes have the most tragic ends. Annabeth almost wished that Percy had been a little more selfish- more focused on his own self-preservation. Then maybe he would still be alive.

But then again, that wasn't the Percy she fell in love with.

Past the hill, the Argo II veered to port, its aerial oars in motion, its sails catching the wind. Festus's head glinted in the sunlight. Hazel expected to hear the dragon creaking and clanking in jubilation, but it seemed even Festus knew something was terribly wrong.

As the ship got closer, Annabeth saw Coach Hedge standing at the prow, looking tormented. Next to him was Reyna, whose face was so covered in soot and bloody scratches, and displayed so much emotion, that Annabeth almost didn't recognize her.

Hazel approached Percy with a quizzical look, tears still drying on her cheeks.

"Something's wrong," she said.

Leo, badly shaken and pale-faced, seemed angry.

"No shit."

Hazel turned to him, shocked, but as quick as Leo had said it, his remorse was apparent.

"Sorry," said Leo. Annabeth remembered what he had done in the cavern. Leo had found out before she did. He had sat with Percy's body and protected her from the truth. That could mess someone up.

"I meant, I should be able to tell when someone is dead. But I can't. Not with him. And if this has to do with an arai, whose curses aren't permanent, then maybe…" Hazel trailed off, but everyone got the picture. All their heads turned to the son of the sea god, thinking, and studying. But Percy did not move.

Then it clicked.

"Water," Annabeth said. "We have to bring him to the river."

Frank was the first to act, maneuvering a grip near Percy's underarms while Annabeth grabbed his legs. They moved quickly to the water with the rest of the demigods in tow. It wasn't long before Percy was submerged.

They waited, and as they did they were joined by both Reyna and Coach Hedge, who stood by in anticipation.

Beneath the glittering, running water, Percy's body remained undisturbed. He seemed...peaceful.

But that was wrong. Percy couldn't be at peace without Annabeth by his side, and Annabeth could never be at peace with Percy by her side. He was always bringing trouble, and she wouldn't have it any other way. She held his hand in the water while Frank and Jason kept him from being carried off by the current. It didn't appear as though anything had changed, but she held tight, and she could feel it. This wasn't the end for them.

Before long, the current began to pull at Percy.

Annabeth wasn't sure what this meant, definitely not at first. When the water began to take on a life of its own, she assumed Percy had something to do with it.

But that would require him to be conscious.

The current sped up at an unnatural pace- and yet it didn't affect her, or any of the other demigods in the water. Just Percy. Annabeth looked to the person nearest her.

"Frank, help me," she said. Frank grabbed hold of Percy's other arm and helped keep him from getting swept away. It was like trying to hold someone still while they were going down a steep water slide.

Hazel realized what was happening as well, and manipulated the earth below into half-burying Percy underground.

"What's going on?" Piper asked, moving closer. She'd been standing on the shore, anxious to see if the water would help their friend, and probably frustrated she couldn't charmspeak it into doing what they want.

"Something, or someone, is trying to pull him downstream." Even as Annabeth said it, she wasn't sure of her words. Something which rarely happened.

But this obviously wasn't some natural phenomenon. Not when the water around her was hardly moving.

Jason tried to bring Percy to up to the surface, to maybe float him out of the river. But despite Jason's concentration and obvious effort, he only managed to create a small breeze.

Then suddenly, Percy was ripped out of Annabeth and Frank's hands. Gone in instant, and Annabeth couldn't see where. The water settled. For all she knew, Percy was miles away.

But he wasn't.

A little ways downstream, Percy rose from the water. He had a little trouble standing but otherwise seemed fine- he was even perfectly dry. He looked up at her and the rest of the demigods, grinning. It took all Annabeth had to not jump for joy. Until Percy spoke.

"I've never had a physical form before," Percy said, examining his hands. He wiggled his fingers and smiled devilishly. "It's nice."

Immediately, everyone around Annabeth was on edge. They'd just closed the Doors of Death, and defeated a giant. Exhaustion and grief had taken over when they'd shadow-traveled from the cavern. But now? This new threat, one that had already compromised one of their own, had them energized and ready for battle once more.

"Who are you?" Piper asked. Annabeth wasn't positive, but she thought she could detect some charmspeak in her voice. Maybe to assure that whoever this was would be more inclined to answer honestly.

Percy waved a hand, and a stream of water began to twirl around in the air.

"No one important. Just a lowly arai trying to make her way in the world. And how could I do that without leaving Tartarus?"

"But that's not possible…" Annabeth wondered if this was some kind of joke, but that thought quickly went away. Percy would never do this.

"No? I was a spirit of curses, stuck in that volatile form, just waiting for an opportunity to escape. Then you and this demigod come along, and my oh my- did he have quite the body count. Do you really think that not one of those creatures he so mercilessly slaughtered wished death upon him?

Now, what you may not know is that death can present itself in many different ways. Death of the mind, and of the soul, for example. So I simply obliged. But what's a body without a mind or soul to fill it? Well, for me, an escape from Tartarus."

Annabeth recalled Percy's words, just before they got in the elevator.

"Got some kind of pain curse from the arai. Hurts, but it won't kill me."

Maybe not in the way he imagined.

Percy, or rather the arai, began to leave- still fascinated with the aspects of a physical form. But it was clear from the monologue, and from Annabeth's past experiences with the arai, that they loved to talk. It was time to stall.

"Who did it?" Annabeth asked. The arai stopped.

"Excuse me?"

"Who cursed him. Who cursed Percy with death?"

The arai paused for a moment before answering, and seemed to come to a realization.

"Oh, you're going to love this."

NICO

Nico didn't get far.

He'd meant to get as far away from Percy as possible, but with all the strength it took to shadow-travel the demigods out of the cavern, even with Hazel's help, he only managed to get a couple hundred feet away.

That meant Nico was still hidden among the trees, and out of sight. More importantly, he had removed himself from the situation. If he wasn't there, if he wasn't seeing it, then maybe he could pretend that it just wasn't happening. Because it wasn't, right? Percy was the most powerful demigod he knew, the most powerful demigod in the world, even. If Nico had made it out of Tartarus, it would've been a breeze for Percy.

This was a dream, or a nightmare, maybe. Nico was probably just really tired, or even delirious, from fighting the legionnaires and Clytius. Perhaps some of Hecate's magic had affected him. Whatever the reason, he knew Percy had to be okay. He was hero.

He left the safety of the trees, and back to where the others were. Percy always had his immature moments, and sure, they were a little frustrating. But his humor was something he was grateful for now. He'd rather Percy play a sick joke than be dead.

Nico traipsed back to the spot they'd shadow-traveled to, but everyone was gone.

One quick look around, and he saw a demigod- a girl with long black hair- and Coach Hedge. They were standing a little ways away, looking down at the River Acheron.

Down by the shore, Hazel and the others were watching something. Percy. And he was...playing in the water?

Nico didn't know how- but Percy saw him immediately, and beckoned him down.

"Nico, how nice of you to join us. These demigods here were just wondering who it was that wished death upon your dear friend. Would you like to know? I have a feeling you'll like this the most."

He didn't know how to respond to that. Hazel beckoned him over to her.

"Nico, it isn't Percy, it's an arai." She said.

"So how does it know who I am?"

This time Annabeth filled him in. "It's probably going through Percy's memories.""

The arai cleared its throat. "Pardon, but I am talking."

Once again the arai took a moment, clearly wanting to relish this.

"Does the name Bianca ring a bell?"