AN: Hello. Welcome to chapter 3. At the end of the chapter there will be a notice about how you, the reader, can affect the story. Now onwards!

Chapter 3: A Thorn in My Side

Percy

Blackjack touched down on the New York side of Niagara Falls, about a mile from the actual falls. The town, Niagara Falls, NY, was... sad. The entire town was run down and in bad shape. Most businesses were closed. I couldn't understand it. So much tourism, there should have been some prosperity in the area.

Yo, boss, Blackjack said nervously, Uh, you wanna go directly to the falls?

No, Blackjack, I answered. We have to check into a hotel, and you have to go hide. Even with the Mist protecting you, it'll still be better if you find somewhere where no one can find you. You go find somewhere to rest, but be ready to get us when Grover calls you.

Okay, boss, whatever you say.

So with our bags we stepped off the flying chariot and made our way towards Holiday Inn.

"I don't understand," said Grover. "Why is this town so run-down?"

Annabeth sighed. "Well, Grover, it's a sad story. A big shot developer came in claiming that he was going to build the biggest mall in the world. The government gave him lots of money, and he ran off with it. The landowners around here kept their property stagnant, thinking that just around the corner there would be another developer and they'd all end up rich. But no other big shot developer came, and the property values plummeted. But the landowners still hold on to their land, hoping. It's left the area in bad shape."

It was a sad story. "Why doesn't the government do anything about it?" I asked.

Annabeth shook her head. "All the money goes into the state park right at the falls."

"Blah-ha-ha!" Grover brayed. "It's nice they've got the state park and it's very naturey (unlike the Canadian side) but it would be nice if this area wasn't so bad. If the humans were happier then they'd attend to their own gardens and the area would be in even better shape nature-wise."

"This is no way for a person to live," I agreed.

Finally we arrived at the Holiday Inn, which was in good shape itself. We had just checked in when I heard a beeping in my pocket. I pulled out the device that Hecate had made. It showed the location of the book being at Horseshoe Falls, the biggest of the falls that made up Niagara Falls. "Guys!" I whispered urgently. "The book has stopped moving right by Horseshoe Falls. I'll go check it out, you guys check in."

"You're not going alone," Annabeth said. "Since you've lost your invulnerability you've not be able to keep yourself safe. I'm going with you to watch your back."

"My back isn't what needs watching," I said, cracking a smile.

"You know what I mean!" Annabeth snapped. "I just know you're going to get yourself in a mess, and I want to be there to stop you getting yourself killed."

"Fine," I said. "But we need to hurry. I don't know how long Helen will just stand there staring at the falls."

-t-S-S-

When we arrived at the Horseshoe Falls observation area it was packed with people. Tourists taking pictures, gazing at the falls, couples kissing, and so on. Soon we arrived right where Helen should have been. She wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"You don't think she's invisible?" I asked.

"Not unless she's intangible too," Annabeth answered, looking at the device in my hands. "According to that thing we're standing right on top of her.

We looked around a bit, then decided that it wasn't any good. "Maybe if we take a break we'll think of something," I suggested.

We walked over to an empty spot on the railing and gazed at the falls. They roared, battering our eardrums and coating us with a thin layer of normal mist. It really was lovely. I looked at Annabeth. She was staring at the falls, lost in thought.

"I love you," I said.

She turned towards me. "And I love you."

Our faces edged closer together and then our lips were touching-

"I think I may be sick," said a snide voice behind us.

We broke apart and spun around. Standing there, looking vindictive was a man with one blue eye and one brown eye. His gray hair was cut military style. He wore a nice suit. "Perseus Jackson," he said. "I had hoped we'd meet again." It was Dr. Thorn. "Really you should learn to look up." He pointed at the sky where Hecate's device said the book was. There was a helicopter hovering there. "You see, the sound the falls made drowned out the sound of the helicopter. So, when I was convinced you weren't going to look up, I decided to greet you myself. I slowly lowered myself to the ground and now here I am."

"Dr. Thorn," I said, "don't think you can beat us. Bring Helen down here with the book and I won't have to turn you into that monster powder stuff."

Dr. Thorn laughed. "You cannot defeat me Jackson. And even if I thought you could and decided to listen to your terms, I couldn't. Helen is not here."

"But-"

"The book is with us, but not Helen," Dr. Thorn said. "You see, the book cannot be teleported, but Helen needs to set things up for her spell on the solstice."

"Well then," Annabeth said, "we'll just have to take the book before you can get it to her."

Thorn chuckled. "I'm afraid not. You two are going to die today."

A spike launched from behind him as I quickly activated my shield. But he hadn't been aiming for me. I watched as the spike flew past me and Annabeth dodged it. But unfortunately it caused her to topple over the railing into the rushing water below.

"Annabeth!" I screamed. I flicked open Riptide and threw it at Dr. Thorn, then, without waiting I jumped into the water after Annabeth. She would die if I didn't protect her from the smashing waters below. I sped along towards her, speeding myself up to catch her. I wrapped my arms around her as we went over the falls. I prayed to my father, then I brought the water below upwards to catch us, using my powers to soften the impact to a bearable level.

We plunged into the freezing water and I quickly enveloped us in an air pocket. I looked at Annabeth. She was unconscious, but breathing. I relaxed a little, then I felt a massive force battering my air pocket. It wasn't just the falls, it was something else... something sinister.

A figure removed itself from the water. He was made of what appeared to be thickened water. He looked to be a fish, but with the head of a human man. He would've looked ridiculous, except anger twisted the face. I had no doubt that he was the source of the force battering my air pocket.

"Son of Poseidon," his deep voice roared. "I am the spirit of these falls. You have intruded upon my territory, and for that you must die!"

My air pocket collapsed and for the first time in my life I knew the fear of drowning. The water pouring into my lungs wasn't compatible. I choked, trying to draw air, trying to breath. I was going to die here at the bottom of the river and there was nothing to do about it.

Then something happened. Time froze, everything became tinged with gold and suddenly Annabeth and I were on the docks of the Maid of the Mist (which were closed since it was winter) spitting up water. I was soaked to the bone, and everything was still tinged in gold, but the colors were fading back to normal. There was a massive roar and a huge pillar shot out of the water. Niagara was not happy I had gotten away.

-t-S-S-

When we finally joined Grover in the Hotel room, I had already told Annabeth everything, and now we told Grover what had happened.

"And we need to get going," I concluded. "Dr. Thorn and the book are already on the move. They're heading west."

"You need to rest for a couple hours," Grover said. "Both of you. We'll leave once it's dark."

-t-S-S-

Clarisse gazed down at the camp, where several small fires burned. It was dark and the Roman Half-Blood Army had set up in a valley. It seemed like a stupid move. They were surrounded by hills, allowing an enemy to easily overrun them using the hills to their advantage. She chuckled quietly. The fools. This raid was going to be textbook easy.

A light flashed across from the top of the other hill. The other troops were in position. Clarisse held her fist up and whispered to the soldiers behind her, "When I flash my flashlight we charge the Roman Camp."

The soldiers behind her nodded. Clarisse flashed the flashlight, pulled out her spear and charged down the hill, the others running behind her. The two groups met in the center of camp without seeing a single Roman.

"This isn't right," Malcolm said. He was the commander of the other group of troops who had been on the other hill."Why is there no one here. It's almost like a-"

A roar sounded from the tops of the hills above. Suddenly a huge Roman Force emerged on the hilltop and charged the troops from Camp Half-Blood.

"-trap," Malcolm finished.

"Get ready!" yelled Clarisse.

The Greeks scrambled to get into better positions. And then the Romans collided into their ranks. Clarisse darted about, stabbing a Roman in the gut and electrocuting him. Clarisse kept up a steady stream of attacks throughout the battle. None of them were a match for her, but her soldiers were dropping like flies under the Roman onslaught.

Then a soldier emerged from the Romans, who appeared t be the leader by the way he was yelling orders. He was tall, with blond hair and a golden lance. Finally, Clarisse thought.

She charged at him and the two had a raging battle of spears. Once while their spears were locked together Clarisse grudgingly said, "You're good Roman. Son of Ares?"

"No," he grunted. "Son of Jupiter."

"And what is your name, Son of Jupiter?"

"Jason," he said. "Jason Grace."

"Grace?"

Clarisse was surprised and let her guard down. It was a fatal mistake. Literally. Jason's lance flew towards her a threw her skull, killing her instantly.

Clarisse La Rue was no more.

AN: How'd you like that shock? Clarisse, dead. Anyway, that's not what this note is about. It's about how YOU can affect the course of the story. After each Percy chapter is put up I will put a poll up about where you would like Percy to visit next in his search. The poll will close when I start writing the next Percy chapter. So go onto my profile and vote for where he should go! This time's options: Detroit and Columbus. So vote vote vote!