For once I didn't have any nightmares.

In fact… I had no dreams at all.

But everything from the previous day came back to me within a span of about 3 seconds.

It was a bit overwhelming.

So overwhelming, that I actually fell out of bed.

"Ow."

I sat up, rubbing my shoulder where it had hit the floor when I landed. Looking up at the digital clock on my nightstand, I was informed that it was 8:03 AM.

Groaning with the effort, I pushed myself up into a standing position and commenced getting ready for the day. Who knows what would happen.

After breakfast, I made my way to the arena where I would train the demigods again.

"WOOF."

"Hey, Mrs. O'Leary."

I walked over to her and she lay down, letting me scratch her behind her ears.

"Thanks for yesterday, Mrs. O'Leary. You were great. I didn't get a chance to tell you. A lot happened, you know?"

"Aroof."

I grinned at her. Her eyes were rolling to the back of her head. I gave her one final pat on the head and then turned around to greet the demigods.

But there was only one person standing at the entrance.

Her brown hair was upset by the slight breeze. She was dressed in armor, and had a small celestial bronze sword. She warily made her way over to me.

I didn't… I couldn't move. My mouth was ajar.

Where was everyone else?

"Um, hi, Percy. Did you, uh, sleep well?"

I answered the question in the simplest way I could.

"Err…"

"This must be kinda weird, huh? I mean, Chiron said you usually train a bunch of younger demigods in the mornings…"

"Uh, yeah. Where, uh, are they?"

"Well, Chiron said that you could, um, give me a private lesson due to my, um, inabilities. He said that you were the best, and because I couldn't defend myself yesterday, that uh, we should begin right away this morning."

"Um, okay…"

"Is that okay with you?"

I looked at her incredulously.

"What? Yeah! It's fine! Really!" I shook myself. I was being really rude.

Seriously. This girl had some strange hold on me. I didn't get it.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Let's get started."

I gave her a small smile, trying to convince her… and myself, that it was okay. It must've worked for her, because she gave me a small smile back, her dissimilar eyes brightening noticeably.

"Alright. So, first, you have to choose a weapon."

She raised her sword a bit, pathetically.

"Is that the weapon you choose?"

"There's more than once choice?"

"Well, beginners start out with swords, but as you get more skilled, some move on to different weapons, like my…" I was about to say Like my girlfriend, Annabeth, she fights with a dagger. But I didn't finish.

"Anyway, so yeah."

"What do you fight with, Percy?"

I drew Riptide from my pocket..

Jolie smiled a bit.

"You are so confident in your abilities that you fight with a pen?"

"What? No! Not at all! This is… this is Riptide. My sword."

She chuckled, glancing at the pen, then back at my face as if I was crazy.

"Let me show you…" and I uncapped it.

All three feet of Riptide's celestial bronze glory stormed out from where I held it.

Jolie's eyes widened.

I slashed Riptide in the air a few times, then raised my eyebrows at her.

"You see?"

"Oh, yes. I'm pretty sure."

She once again glanced down at her weapon and grimaced.

"Oh! Don't worry… I'll take it easy on you, I promise. You're just starting."

"Thanks, Percy."

"Alright. Assume the stance."

I bent my knees and spread my feet shoulder width apart. I raised my sword slightly and beckoned Jolie to do the same. She almost had it.

"Bring your feet a little further apart. When they are shoulder width apart, you have better balance and can assume different stances and moves quicker."

"Okay."

"Now lift your sword slightly. Yeah, like that, and bring your hand up like you're getting ready to defend yourself. That's right. Great! You're a fast learner."

Jolie blushed slightly.

"Okay. I'm going to teach you how to defend. When I swing at you, and I'm going to cut downwards, I want you to raise your sword horizontally, and just press your fingers to the flat part of the blade on the tip so you get more leverage and can withstand the blow better. Like this. You see how I have my other hand help out like that?"

"Yeah."

"You think you can do it? I'll be slow and soft, so take your time."

"I… I think I'm ready, Percy."

"Alright, here I go."

I swung Riptide upward and prepared to bring it down. I watched as Jolie's eyes narrowed and she brought her sword up to get ready to block. I came down and she successfully blocked the blow. A sharp CLANG resounded about the stadium. Mrs. O'Leary glanced up from her nap, annoyed at being disturbed.

We kept our swords like that for a few seconds. She stared directly into my eyes with a fierce gaze. I didn't look away.

She lowered her sword and I mine.

I cleared my throat.

"Um, that was good. That was really good for your first time. We're going to do it again, but this time, quicker."

"Quicker?" She seemed a bit uneasy.

"Jolie, one of the benefits of being a demigod is that you're wired for this kind of stuff already."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you been, uh, diagnosed with ADHD ever?"

"Yeah. When I was 4."

"There you have it. The ADHD is actually your mind being prepared and alert for anything. How about dyslexia?"

"In second grade."

"That's because your brain finds it natural to read Ancient Greek."

"Really? Wow. And I thought I just had the worst luck ever."

"So did I. I thought I had it bad, but let me tell you, those two diagnoses have saved my life numerous times." I smiled at her.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. But now's not the time to talk about that. We uh, have to keep practicing. Just don't worry about things speeding up. Your mind and body are ready. Trust me."

To prove my point, I swung at her horizontally as if to cut her in half. She brought her sword to the side, vertically to block, the handle by her head, the blade pointing down. She looked dumbfounded. She looked at her sword, amazed, then looked back at me with wide eyes.

"You see?" I chuckled at her.

A grin began to form on her mouth and she gave me a 1000 watt smile, then, dropping her sword, threw her arms around my neck. I stumbled backward, unprepared for the addition of weight, and fell on my butt, Jolie coming down with me, ending up straddling my lap.

I was only too aware of our position. I looked up at her nervously.

She was looking right back, glancing to both my eyes, one at a time. She licked her lips.

I gulped. Loudly.

"Um, sorry about that. I was, uh, unprepared for that."

"After all you just told me about the ADHD?" I thought I saw her eyes flash gold. Must've been the sun or something.

"Well, not that, but, you, uh… sort of pushed me over. I wasn't ready for a body to fly at me like that…"

"Oh. I see."

She glanced down at my mouth, then back at my eyes.

My palms were pressing against the ground so hard I could feel pebbles lodging themselves in my hands. I began to crawl backwards, to get out from under her.

Her hands only slid down my neck onto my shoulders.

My heartbeat was racing. I didn't want to be here. I was desperate to escape. My mind flooded itself with images of Annabeth.

She leaned in, ever so slightly.

"Jolie! I… I…" My mind fumbled for something to say.

"You what, Percy?"

"I need to go. Now."

And with that, I pushed her off, got up quickly, and walked out of the arena at a very brisk pace.

I didn't stop that pace until I got back to my cabin.

I looked in the mirror, and saw that my cheeks were pink, and beads of sweat had formed on my forehead.

What in Hades had just happened?

I flopped onto my bed, still clad in my armor. Riptide clanged to the floor.

I breathed in and out slowly to calm myself.

Who did she think she was, moving in like that? I belonged to Annabeth.

I could have sworn her eyes had turned gold for just the briefest of seconds… but it had to have been a trick of the light. No one's eyes just flickered gold. They were either gold, or they weren't. Simple as that.

"Percy?"

"GAH!"

I sat up quickly looking at my now open door.

"G-man! Don't… don't do that. Knock. Warn someone. Use a blowhorn, or… or something."

"Are you okay, Perc? You look really flustered."

"I'm fine. What's up, man?"

"Uh, Mr. D sent me to get you. He wants to talk to you about something."

"Talk to me? About what?"

"Beats me. But, we gotta go, like, now. You know how patient he is."

Did I ever.

"Alright. Let me get out of this armor. Hang on a sec."

"No problem, man."

After I got my armor off, Grover and I headed out toward the Big House.

Mr. D was sitting on the porch drinking a Diet Coke. We approached him.

"Kept me waiting long enough, Pablo Jacobson."

"Sorry, sir. I had to get out of my armor."

"Whatever." Mr. D waved his hand, dismissing my excuse.

He drank deeply from the Diet Coke can, and then dumped it upside down a few times to see if any was left. A few measly drops plunked to the ground. Then Mr. D crushed the can in his fist. Grover flinched slightly.

I waited for him to address me.

"I suppose you're wondering why I needed to talk to you, Patrick Jason."

"Percy Jackson, sir."

"Whatever. Anyway, Pablo, I have received a call from the Council of Elders. Apparently there's been some big whoopdeedoo finding I'm needed to observe and ratify as a "major finding.""

"Why are you telling me this, sir?"

"What? I thought you'd be interested or something."

"Actually, Percy, Dionysus is telling you this, because, at your stature with the gods and experience in this camp, you'd replace him for the time being."

Chiron had come up behind Grover and me on the stairs of the porch.

Mr. D rolled his eyes.

"I'd… what?"

"You'd just be the person to go to if anything is needed in Mr. D's department during his absence. You will still carry on with your regular duties. Is this alright with you, Percy?"

I looked up at Chiron.

"Uh, sure. I guess… I mean… Yeah. It's fine."

"There's something else, Percy."

"What's that, G-man?"

"Uh, Mr. D has kindly asked me to accompany him, as I also have stature amongst the satyrs… you know."

Grover was leaving too, then?

"That's great, G-man!"

"Um, yes."

"Alright, enough of the love-fest." Mr. D blurted. "I may have thrown up in my mouth a bit."

Chiron just looked at Mr. D with a grimace. I ignored him, as I tend to do when he makes those kind of comments.

"Well, then, without further ado, I guess we'll be off. Come, Grover."

"But, sir, I need to pack…"

With a snap of his fingers and a distant smell of ripe grapes, a duffle bag appeared in front of Grover.

"Oh. Uh, thank you, sir."

"Whatever. We're off. Don't screw things up, Peyton."

"Percy."

"Sure." and he snapped his fingers again, and a puff of smoke along with more grape scent, both Mr. D and Grover were gone.

"Well, Percy, I guess we're done here for now."

"Yeah."

"You may return to whatever you were doing."

"Thank you, sir."

I trudged back to my cabin, already feeling empty without Grover here. Who else could I talk to? I mean, Annabeth was gone, and now Grover.

I went back into my cabin and flopped on my bed once more.

Only I wasn't alone.

"GODS, Nico! What the…?"

"Sorry, Percy."

"Geez. People. I tell ya. So what's up now?"

"Percy, Hades is gone."

"Wait, what?"

"He's gone. I have no idea where he is."

"Are you sure? I mean… he doesn't just… leave the Underworld, does he?"

"Not usually. Even Persephone doesn't know. Like she cares, but still."

"This is not normal."

"You're telling me."

"Are… are people looking for him?"

"Not likely. No one is genuinely upset if the god of the dead can't be found, you know?"

I supposed.

"Not even Zeus, or… or my dad?"

"Haven't asked."

"Um, well… I don't know what to say, Nico… we should probably tell Chiron… don't you think?"

"I was hoping you would do that for me, Percy."

"Huh? Why can't you? What's wrong with Chiron?"

"Nothing, it's just that… whenever I… he just looks at me funny. And like he hopes I'll stay or something. It's unsettling. Just, tell Chiron, alright?"

"Fine."

"Thanks, Percy."

"Are you out to search?"

"Yeah."

"Well, if you need anything, you know where I am."

"Yeah. Thanks, man."

"Sure. Good luck."

"You too, man."

And he melted into shadow.

Hades had disappeared.

This was not good news.

Not good at all.

Nico had told me that Hades had been uneasy… was it about this?

Did… did Kronos have anything to do with this?

My dream and everything Nico had told me last night and today filled my head.

Hades uneasy, golden eyes in my dream… everything pointed to Kronos… but he was… disabled for the time being. I mean, it had barely been two years!

I lay down on my bed and fell into an uneasy sleep.

I woke up around dinner time to a pounding on my door.

"Percy! Are you in there? Where have you been?"

Rachel.

"I'm in here, Rachel. Stop pounding. You're hurting my head."

Rachel opened the door and strode in.

"What have you been doing, Percy Jackson? You missed lunch, and afternoon activities."

"I've been in here, Rachel. I was thinking, and I guess I fell asleep."

"You guess?" Her red hair burned like fire. She was angry.

"Are you okay, Rachel?"

"I'm fine! Just, what's with you?"

"Nothing! Everything's fine."

"Percy, I'm the Oracle. I can tell something is wrong. There's an aura of uneasiness about you that is about as obvious as a 20 foot tall safety cone in the middle of the road. Now spill."

She was good. But I didn't want to worry her.

"I just miss Annabeth, that's all."

She looked me up and down skeptically.

"Fine. Well, let's get dinner. I'm starving, and I heard it was steak. So we need to hustle."

I got up, stretched, and followed her to the Pavilion.

As Rachel and I entered the Pavilion, I found Jolie at the Hermes table almost instantly. Her eyes followed me as I went to sit at the Poseidon table, and then they flickered to Rachel as she sat down across from me.

"You're not okay, Percy."

Great observation. Well done Rachel. Have a cookie?

"I'm fine, Rachel. Seriously."

"Jolie is staring at you again."

"Is she? Good for her."

"Did… did something happen with her today, Percy?"

"No, what? No! Nothing happened!"

"It did Percy. I'm not stupid. I see how she's looking at you, and your uneasiness and unwillingness to look back or talk about her. What did she do? Or, what did you do?"

"How could you even say that, Rachel?"

"I have to ask."

"I didn't do anything. She tried to kiss me."

"She did what? Oh my gods, Percy!"

"You see why I want to keep this on the down low?"

"I'm sorry, Percy. What exactly… led to this?"

I told her about this morning.

"She has like, multiple personality disorder or something. At first, she's shy, but then… she just loses all her inhibitions in the span of second."

Rachel just nodded, looking at me seriously.

"I suggest you stay away from her, Percy."

"No way, Rachel! Why didn't I think of that? OF COURSE I'M STAYING AWAY!"

"No need to be a jerk, Percy. I'm just trying to help."

I sighed.

"I'm sorry, Rachel. This whole things is just freaking me out."

"I understand that Percy. But you can't push away the people you trust."

She had a point.

"You're right. Can I make it up to you?"

Rachel smiled.

"You can come sit with me on the beach again. Let's make a sandcastle!"

I couldn't not say yes to that. Sandcastles? Hades yes.