The search around the borders was proving to be unsuccessful. Poseidon didn't dare say anything to Zeus in order to avoid incurring his wrath. It seemed the longer they searched, the more Zeus' agitation grew. They have searched the northern borders near Berkeley Hills, the outskirts of New Rome, and the camp itself for the past four hours and still no sign of Zeus' bolt. Despite it being mid-afternoon, the clouds were dark in response to Zeus' anger and Poseidon could only guess what the demigods were thinking.

"Perhaps it may be farther out than we originally thought?" Poseidon suggested.

Zeus leveled him with a glare.

The two of them have been searching along the southern borders near the Oakland Hills, this being their last place to look. Poseidon followed behind Zeus, listening to him curse in the Ancient Tongue. The dark clouds followed them and Poseidon wondered if it would start to rain.

"γαμώ! Αν βρω ποιος το έκανε αυτό θα τα σκοτώσω!" Zeus cursed. Thunder rumbled overhead.

Deciding he should step in before anything serious happens, Poseidon placed a hand on Zeus' shoulder. "Don't fret, brother. We'll find it."

"Easy for you to say," Zeus snapped. He pulled away from Poseidon's hand. "Let's go back to the others."


They found the demigods in the mess hall, eating and lounging on the couches. They seemed to be deep in a conversation but immediately quieted when the two of them appeared. Perhaps they sensed Zeus' agitation.

"Did you find anything?" Percy asked.

Poseidon shook his head. "Nothing."

Poseidon sat next to Percy and Zeus sat across from him, next to Frank, who looked extremely uncomfortable. An aurae brought out two plates and placed it in front of them.

"It doesn't make any sense," Zeus said suddenly. He stabbed his fork into what looked like lasagna. "It should be here."

"Maybe I could be some help," Hazel offered. "I can usually sense different types of metals so I could try to pinpoint its location."

Zeus shook his head. "I wish you could but my bolt is made from a different kind of material. Not exactly metal."

"Terminus might know something," Piper said. "He prohibits weapons from entering New Rome so maybe someone picked it up."

Zeus nodded. "Perhaps." He looked at Poseidon. "Have you spoken to Terminus?"

"When I was looking for you, I did. Have you?"

"No."

Poseidon frowned, remembering he found Zeus in New Rome. "How'd you get past the borders then?"

"You think I don't know how to sneak into my own camp?" Zeus asked, stabbing his lasagna again.

"Are you going to eat that?" Leo asked, pointing towards his plate. Zeus looked at him before pushing his plate towards him. Leo happily attacked it.

"Hey!" a voice called. Two demigods came up to the table, looking positively miffed. "I demand a rematch."

Poseidon assumed they were talking to someone else but to his surprise, and the others, they were talking to Zeus. Zeus seemed to recognize them.

"A rematch, you say?"

A boy with dark brown hair sneered at him and Poseidon wondered what Zeus might have done to invoke the boy's wrath. "A duel. One on one."

Zeus grinned. "Still upset about that hm?"

The boy reached out and grabbed Zeus by the front of his shirt, jerking him up from his seat, and growled in his face. "You little-!"

Reyna stood up, glaring at the boy. "Matthew, let him go. Now."

Matthew opened his mouth the say something before apparently changing his mind and released Zeus with a shove.

"Tomorrow, same place," Zeus said.

Matthew glared at him before sneering, "Fine." He turned and stormed off, the other demigod following after him.

"What did you do?" Poseidon demanded.

Zeus sat back down, looking not at all bothered by what just happened. "Did I tell you about the last few days?"


"You what now?"

Zeus waved his hand dismissively. "Relax. I made sure he doesn't know anything."

Poseidon sighed, annoyed by Zeus' irritating pride. "You can't go around dueling demigods. Unless you want everyone to know who we are."

Zeus glared again. "Like I said, no one else knows I'm here."

Deciding it would be best not to comment, Poseidon took a sip of his drink. Ginger Ale, his favorite. He was disappointed when it wasn't his favorite gin but he knew alcohol was banned from camp.

"So now you're going to have a rematch?"

Zeus scowled, as if disgusted at the idea. "Unfortunately."

Poseidon shook his head, still in disbelief about what Zeus told them. According to Zeus, shortly after he arrived here, he bested Matthew in a duel and now the demigod holds a strife towards him. Poseidon knew Zeus' pride wouldn't let him lose to a demigod.

Zeus suddenly stood, drawing all the attention. "I'm going back out." Without waiting for a response, he turned and left the mess hall.

"I apologize for Matthew's behavior," Reyna said formally. "I'll make sure he is punished accordingly."

"Don't worry," Poseidon said. "I think Zeus rather enjoyed it. He's been stressed the last few days."

"You searched the whole camp and still no sign of it?" Jason asked, raising a brow.

Poseidon took another sip of his Ginger Ale. "We think it might be farther out that we thought."

"We could send teams to search outside the borders," Frank spoke up, glancing at Reyna.

Poseidon nodded. "I'll speak to Zeus about it."

A horn blew from outside, and the demigods in the mess hall immediately started cleaning their tables and exiting. Poseidon knew that sound, from the many times he's heard it. War games.

"As our guests, we invite you to join us for the War games," Reyna started, looking at Percy and everyone else. "Of course, you'd be on the attacking team."

Percy and Leo grinned and glanced at Annabeth, as if asking permission. Annabeth nodded. "We'd be honored," she said, her chin raised high. Her gray eyes looked determined and excited.

Reyna looked at Poseidon. "Will you be joining?"

Poseidon really wanted to say yes, but he knew he should help Zeus look for his bolt. The War games had been his favorite past time. Sighing regretfully, Poseidon shook his head. "I need to help Zeus."

The demigods looked slightly disappointed while Percy looked devastated. Poseidon felt guilty but he knew that Zeus wouldn't approve.

He grinned. "Besides, I don't think its fair if the opposing team found out Neptune was helping."

Standing, Poseidon gazed at the demigods. "Good luck. I'll be watching."

Feeling both guilty and saddened, Poseidon left the mess hall in search of Zeus.


The War games were just as exciting as ever. Standing on a faraway hill that overlooked the Field of Mars, Poseidon watched as the games unfolded. Today's game was siege of the enemy's flag. Ballistas and flaming arrows flew through the air with pin-point accuracy and the occasional explosion of water cannons that he knew was all Percy's doing. Poseidon felt a hint of pride as he watched a water cannon explode and take out a few demigods.

"Are you going to help or just stand there?" Zeus asked.

Turning, Poseidon glanced at Zeus, who was scowling at him. "Do you not want to watch?"

"I'm more concerned about my missing weapon," Zeus snapped.

The distant roll of thunder came from overhead and Poseidon watched as a bolt of lightning came down and hit the defending team's fortress, scattering demigods and pieces of debris alike.

"Jason is faring well," he commented. He didn't turn to see Zeus' expression, but from his silence, Poseidon already knew.

"He's a strong one."

"You haven't spoken to him much, have you?"

Poseidon took his silence as a no. Besides his missing weapon, and the fact that they're mortal, he also knew there was something else bothering Zeus. Namely, his son. While the Olympians are restricted by ancient laws, Zeus was even more so. The fact that he was so close to his son was probably setting him on edge.

"It is not wrong to talk to him, you know," he said.

"There are rules for a reason, Poseidon."

Turning, Poseidon threw his hands up. "I see no consequences. I have spoken to Percy and nothing has happened."

Glaring, Zeus crossed his arms. "And yet here we are."

"You blame me?" he asked.

"This isn't a faultless thing. We were turned mortal and thrown from Olympus. Somebody must take blame."

"Why is it always someone else's fault?"

"Its the way things are."

"It doesn't have to be that way," Poseidon said, exasperated.

"It is and it will be that way," Zeus snapped.

Poseidon said nothing, knowing arguing further will prove useless. He bit his tongue to stop himself from saying anything else. The War games ended shortly after, with the attacking team taking the win. They searched for another hour before deciding it would be best to search outside camp borders. He informed Zeus about Frank's idea to send teams. Zeus remained silent, but otherwise didn't disagree.

Following Zeus back towards the Principia, Poseidon wondered if there was any way he could get Zeus to talk to Jason.