Chapter 7: Choppy Waters

An old man sat on a rock. His eyes were downcast. "Excuse me, do you seek Apollo's daughter?"

Annabeth's instincts told her to be cautious, "We seek the golden maiden of prophecy."

The old man solemnly nodded. "It is just that I have never met my granddaughter. I am Galen of Greece." He introduced himself.

His statement didn't ring true to even Percy. Percy thought back to the day before the hero quest began.

("Galen is still in Eternal Sleep.")

The lighthouse/ temple cast its beam all around as fog formed. A water dragon poked its head above a wave's crest. As it glided back under the current, the waters became disturbed.

The group called upon Iris to use her rainbow bridge. Spray water came out of the dragon's mouth as a ray of sunlight sliced through the clouds. A full rainbow formed and instantly transported the group to the temple staircase.

The old man tried to hitch a ride, but Iris disagreed. She let half the rainbow bridge fade away so he was dumped into the water dragon infested waters.

The old man's illusion dissipated as he was forced to focus on swimming further south.

Meanwhile, Grover's stomach grumbled after he smelled roasted almonds wafting from the temple. Harp chords were plucked to form an up-lighting tune. A flute was added in followed by a piano. A melodious voice sang along with the musicians.

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover ascended the staircase, about two stories worth. A white marble plaque with gold letters in Greek was on the wall. The temple's columns were three stories tall.

"For without light, there can only be darkness," Annabeth read the plaque out-loud.

Several temple maidens groaned when they saw the group and not Iris as they hoped at the end of the rainbow. Several of them were blonde.

The three heroes followed the maidens down three stairs to Holy Grounds. They saw a priestess presenting gifts to Apollo's statues.

A girl with gold hair wore a gold filigree crown with the Light of Hope Diamond illuminating from the crown's center. The crown was as dainty as the girl. Her eyes resembled the darkest sapphires and the midnight sky. Those eyes held no malicious intent, just hope, trust, and love. "Be warned, weary heroes. Chaos is not done playing with you until Eternal Slumber is forced on him." This girl could only be Serena Cosmos, granddaughter to both Zeus and Selene, and Apollo's beloved daughter. Her voice was full of authority while her posture was regal. Her aura was majestic to them.

Calisto came forth, balancing a gold tray of ambrosia sweetened tea. Calisto was a twenty-eight year old maiden with sky blue eyes. She was the harpist from earlier. She had devoted herself to Apollo at an early age to ease the strain on her impoverished family.

Percy admired her father's statue. His eyes were sky blue, but really topazes and a headdress of the sun rested on his head. A large triangle below a small triangle pattern repeated twice on the headdress. His armor covered a Greek tunic.

Great quotes about the sun and light were on the walls, all in gold lettering.

Percy feared that Serena would be like Luke. "Do you resent your father for abandoning you?"

Serena shook her head, "You speak of Lucas, son of Hermes. Lucas was too egocentric to see the bigger picture. My visions have granted me a reprieve from that issue. My father watches over me as your father does for you. Doubt leads to regret." Serena rummaged through a bag to produce a letter, which was given to Percy.

'For Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, and nephew to Zeus,

I am indebted to you for putting Chronos down again, retrieving the Golden Fleece, and reviving my heir- Talia. You have my gratitude, nephew.

Appreciatively,

Zeus.

P.S. Please safe guard my granddaughter.

Percy was stunned to say the least at the letter personally written by Zeus. "How did you get this?"

Serena, at 16, shrugged without a care. "Hermes put it in my bag when you saw past the creep's disguise. He thinks I didn't see him. Maybe, he's slowing down in old age," Serena teasingly mocked the god of medicine and messages. She drank her tea from a steaming mug with a soothing scent wafting out. The mug's emblem was a solar eclipse. The handle was handcrafted for her hand alone.

"Serena, my visits out of Camp Half-Blood have shown me that your attire will not be accepted outside among mortals," Annabeth advised the child of prophecy.

Serena wore a single shoulder toga with a royal crown. Gold crescent moons dangled from her lower piercing with a pearl in the upper ones. "That is easy to rectify." A pulse of power shifted the crown into a necklace with the Light of Hope Diamond as an amulet resting on her breast bone. Her toga became a dress with a three inch wide belt. Silver bracelets dangled from her wrists. Her gold hair in the double buns with streamers stayed the same.

Hades' son came strolling in like he had no issue. Nico's hair was black like Hades', but his emerald eyes were genetically Persephone's. His hand absently ran through his hair to push it back. He wore decent jeans that were not baggy to the point of falling off like gangsters wore and they were not skin tight like leggings. "It would be my pleasure to escort you to the mortal realm, your majesty." He laid Serena's hand on his sleeve. His whistle called forth a handful of Thestrals, demon horses.

The larger group rose over the choppy waters all the way to New York.

Nico's gaze lingered on Serena with tender affection, becoming a budding love. He assisted Serena off the demon horse. He handed over a platinum credit card, "The Moon Vault's account has been transferred to this card. I will visit once you are settled in at Camp Half-Blood," the young god brought her fair hand to his lips in farewell. Nico's next words were a warning to Grover.

"Say hello to Hannah for me," Serena waved.

They were passing Wall Street when Serena was held at knife point.

Nico had come back, "Release her!" He had a long sword drawn like Percy with the Cursed Blade. They were both ready for battle, defending their companion.

Another thug came to his gang associate's side. He drew a dagger, but felt like he should start carrying a gun.

"Hand over yer valuables," the muggers demanded. They had their eye on Serena's diamond amulet.

Serena was no longer naive at 16, but she wasn't about to stop being pure-hearted, "Greed is a never-ending sin."

Nico slashed the mugger's arm to pull his sweetheart behind him.

The first mugger's arm was bloody, but not red. Yellow blood oozed from his wound. His tattoo on his bicep implied he was part of Scorpio's gang. However, the scorpion tattoo had blood dripping from the tail as if it just stung someone.

The second mugger eyed his associate in disbelief for having yellow blood.

Annabeth searched for the compact mirror. She saw that the illusion on the mugger was gone, revealing a gigantic red scorpion.

The tail swung around, trying to sting a victim. The scorpion ignored Grover as it dodged three attacks.

Annabeth distracted the venomous creature so Percy could sneak behind it to cut off its tail, ending its life. Nico was busy defending Serena and himself from its pincers, slashing at them.

Serena tired of being the damsel in distress. She threw her right hand up in the air.

A magnificent sword materialized in her hand. The great sword had no sheath. It was well balanced with Ancient Lunarian (similar to Latin/ Greek) ran along the middle. The Light of Hope Diamond inserted itself in the pommel.

Serena hip-bumped Nico out of the way then sliced one of the scorpion's legs when it was not expecting her to attack.

The gigantic scorpion screeched as the poison attacks its systems. Its organs turned black as they died. The body dried, wilted then became dust, leaving no evidence.

Annabeth was stunned to see the fabled Sword of Artemis in person. She started to see Serena as an idol/ role model since Annabeth was two years Serena's junior. She was anxious to examine the lethal sword. She would have liked to wield the deadly weapon.

"May I see the Sword of Artemis before you put it away?" Annabeth's eyes sparkled at the prospect of telling Clarice that she saw the legendary sword.

Serena cautioned the demi-goddess, "Look, but don't touch."

"Why not?"

"I will either shock or burn you like it did to Rachel and Litanna." Serena chuckled at the memory of those two incidents.

Annabeth examined the legendary sword, but didn't understand the inscription. She turned to Serena for an answer, but an uncommitted shrug was given.

Serena knew what the inscription said and what language it was in, but that was between her godmother and her. After putting away her sword, Serena transported them to Camp Half-Blood in a flash of light.

Another flash of light heralded their arrival in front of Chiron's cabin.

Serena skipped over to a beaming Chiron then pecked him on the cheek.

"Thanks for sending these three on a quest to get me," Serena showed her gratitude by handing over some valuable and rare herbs.