Chapter one

The day, Saline decided, had done everything possible to stop her from being remotely productive. The one time she needed to be productive. Now she was stuck here, in Poseidon's palace waiting to talk to the god so she could get some cyclops help to finish the biggest project Camp Half-Blood had thus far undertaken, the creation of the Corrin. A covered, sleek ship made to travel anywhere fast, and hold up to ten passengers overnight, and fifty for short spaces of time. The idea was to be able to provide an escape 'ship' in case of an emergency and to have a 'ship' for people on quests. 'Ship', was used only for lack of a better word. While the Corrin did have a deck, it had no mast, running on engines to propel it over land, through water, or air.

Saline collapsed over onto the bed she had been given for the night, wincing as her back remembered how to relax. She tore her tight leather gloves that left the top knuckle of each finger bare and threw them halfheartedly across the room, using her newly loose hands to tear her blond-silver hair the rest of the way out of it's updo that barely resembled the neat bun it was at the beginning of the day. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she had to tell her brain not to let them, otherwise she would really be in trouble. There was still a lot she had to do before the night was over. Saline sat up, took a moment to get over her head rush and fished a gold drachma out of her pocket. She groaned as she realized the only light making rainbow was over by the window on the other side of the room. Cursing everything in the room, Saline pulled herself up and dragged herself over to the window throwing the drachma and muttering, "Oh goddess, accept my offering. Show me Annabeth at Camp Half-Blood". The rainbow did as it was told and showed a beautiful, smiling, ten-year-old girl who was the spitting image of Saline if Saline grew her hair out and got rid of her natural silver streaks.

"Saline!" The girl cried, "I thought you were going to be home tonight."

Saline sighed, "I know, I'm sorry, Annabeth. Poseidon's palace is a lot busier than I thought it would be."

"Oh. Is James saying too then? Where is he?"

"Yeah, I think he's staying here. We walked in and he was whisked away to be the 'prince of the sea'".

"James? A prince?"

"I was thinking the same thing. It's a little ridiculous, isn't it?"

Annabeth giggled.

"Will you tell Chiron I won't be home tonight?"

Annabeth nodded.

"Thank you sweetheart."

"Saline?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Can I sleep in your bed tonight?"

Saline's eyes narrowed, "Why? What happened?"

Annabeth looked at the ground, "Connor put a spider in mine."

Saline's eyes sharpened, "What did you do?"

"I shoved my dagger at them."

Saline threw her head back and laughed. "Well done. Never the weak link. Of course you can sleep in my bed tonight. You setting a trap?"

Annabeth nodded, smiling.

"Can't wait to hear about it. See you tomorrow Annabeth."

"Bye Saline!"

Saline cut the connection with an arm and smiled softly to herself. Although they were only half-sisters, she had a special relationship with Annabeth. Saline had taught her how to use her knife properly, taught her how to be a leader among the younger campers, and had rescued her and Luke when they had very first crossed the border. It was because of Saline that Annabeth wasn't still dealing with the repercussions of Thalia's death.

Saline was ecstatic when she realized she didn't have wi-fi. After all, if there was no way for her to contact camp she shouldn't stress about it right? It was Corah's problem if something went wrong or blew up . . . nothing better blow up. She closed her newly water-proof laptop (thank you Poseidon), and fell over onto the bed again, landing squarely on the other gold drachma that was in her pocket. Well . . . flip. Sitting back up, again, she walked back over to the window and threw the drachma. "O goddess!" She cried, "Please, please accept my humble offering! . . . Or don't that's cool too." The rainbow shimmered anyway. "Corah at Camp Half-Blood."

"Saline!" Corah shrieked through her powerful daughter of Hermes lungs, "Thank goodness! You were supposed to be home by now, the entire Hephaestus cabin-"

"I know, just listen. I'm not going to be back until tomorrow so I want the bunker locked up. No one goes inside until I'm back. That way there is a zero percent chance that anything will happen until I get there. Okay?"

"Perfect, I'll tell Chiron and get everyone out. Nice to have an evening off."

Saline nodded, "You deserve it. I'll see you tomorrow Corah."

"No surprises this time."

Saline laughed, "No surprises this time." And she cut through the rainbow.

"You know who else deserves a break?" Asked a voice from behind Saline, as two arms wrapped around her waist.

"Hmm, I don't know Mr. Prince of the Sea."

"You. Come on Angel, let's get you to bed."

Saline put a hand to her chest dramatically, "excuse me sir, I am a guest,"

James knelt and held her hand in both of his, "Of course mi 'lady, please dismiss my terrible mistake."

"I suppose I could forgive you, but it will come with a price."

James stood again grasping her elbows with his hands, "Name it mi' lady, I will do anything!"

"Stay with me tonight?" Saline asked dropping her Victorian air.

"Of course." James replied, doing the same, "Anything for my princess."

Saline kissed him sweetly, wrapping her arms around his neck as his slipped to her waist. They broke away softly and pressed their foreheads together so Saline's forehead fit perfectly into the dip between James' eyes above his nose for a moment, before he brought her closer into a simple embrace.

"So," James asked, "How was your day?"

Saline laughed and looked up at him briefly. "Oh, it was one of those days."

"Those days where what you have to do becomes magnified because you can't do any of it?"

"Yeah. Precisely like that."

A comfortable silence wrapped the two ever closer, eyes closed listening to the sounds of the water folding onto itself around them. A school of fish gathered by the window, and James, who was facing them, gave them a look. The fish scattered. "I should go get my stuff."

Saline tightened her grip on James shirt.

"I'll be right back."

Saline hesitated before muttering, "Hurry," and letting him go.

James kissed her forehead and left quickly moving the water to flow out through the door with him, pulling new water in through the window along with Saline's headache. She rubbed her face in her hands until her vision collapsed into a felt-like filter. She zoned out for a moment, simply existing until the shocking blue of her overnight bag sent a migraine-induced clarity to her brain. She was glad she packed her pajamas on top.

When Saline had finished getting ready for bed, she lay sprawled halfway on it, so her feet touched the floor, and closed her eyes. Her eyes were still closed when a soft pressure moved against her lips. "Hey."

"Hey."

His hands were on her stomach and hers were tangled in his hair.

"Your eyes are red."

"I'm sure they are."

Saline closed her eyes and the silence became dark.

"How was your day?"

James moved his head side to side, "Confusing," he finally decided.

Saline laughed, "How so?"

"I had no clue what was going on. Something with the mines? I have no idea." James joined her laughter, and together made the bed rock.

"Your laugh is adorable." James' eyes sparkled. Saline knew that look and slipped away off the bed. "Now James," she tried, "Let's talk about this."

James lunged at her, the pads of his fingers sliding against her stomach. "S-stop!"

"What's the magic word?" James sang teasingly.

"Please!"

"No, try again."

"I'm n-not going-g to sa-ay it!"

"Say it!"

"NEV-er!" Saline tried to shout, but collapsed within her own giggles.

"I guess your doomed to be my victim forever then."

"F-fine. . . J-James is-s s-so h-h-a-a-a-a!"

"What was that, I couldn't quite hear you."

"James is-s so h-hot!"

James paused, considering, "True, . . . but not quite," he resumed.

"Okay, okay, I give up!"

James stopped. "Abracadabra, duh."

Saline rolled her eyes and smacked him on the chest. "I hate you."

"Something tells me that's not quite true. No matter how many times you say it."

Hey guys! I know, it's been forever! I know you've probably noticed by now, but I completely gutted this story and am planning to finish it this time. *crosses fingers* But I am so excited for this story. THERE WILL BE UPDATES EVERY TUESDAY (yes I know its Saturday, I got excited. XD) UNLESS I SAY I'M ON HATIUS FOR THE WEEK. I have improved drastically over the last little while at writing stories, so hopefully this will be better than before. Thanks so much you guys! See you next week.