AN: Chapter 9 is here like I promised! I've been reading your reviews and heard a lot of people saying that the chapters were too short. I agree! This is one of (if not the longest) chapter in the story! I'll try to make the chapters longer but if I need to cut it off for some reason (cliffhanger, etc.) then I will.

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Chapter 9: Aphrodite Spices Things Up

"Damn it!" Percy exclaimed when they got back on the boat. He thought about all the things Luke could be doing to Annabeth. They went to Grover's room and he looked over at him. "Sorry, G-man. Take some ambrosia."

The burn marks faded and the swelling in his eye went down. "Thanks, Percy," Grover said as he finished. "I tried to stop him but as you can see I was too weak." Grover was sobbing and looked defeated.

"Don't say that man," Percy said. "We just need to find Annabeth before Luke poisons her mind." Or body, he thought bitterly. "You should rest. You're probably really tired." Grover nodded and pulled the covers over him.

"Percy?" He looked over and saw Thalia leaning on the doorframe. "I need to talk to you." He nodded and followed her out to the bow where they leaned on the edge of the railing.

"What's up, Thal?" Percy said with concern in his voice.

"It's about Grover. I was wondering why Luke let him live to tell the story. There must be a reason why he didn't kill him."

Percy looked at her and realized how smart she was. He had never looked at it that way. "He must have left Grover so that he could tell us what happened. He wanted us to follow him," Percy reasoned.

She rolled her eyes. "I figured that part out, Seaweed Brain. But he took Annabeth. If he killed Grover in front of her, then she would be fuming mad and not listen to what he has to say."

"You're right," Percy said getting angry. "He's trying to get Annabeth on his side, the monster!"

Thalia saw his knuckles turn white as he tightened his grip on the railing. She put her hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Percy, relax. Annabeth's a daughter of Athena. She's smart enough to know when Luke's trying to manipulate her."

Part of him wanted to believe her. But another part of him knew she'd fallen for Luke's traps more than once. A third part of him had completely forgotten Annabeth as he looked at Thalia. She was close to him now and he saw her black hair waving in the wind. He gazed into her light blue eyes and realized they were the same color as the sky. When he looked down at her lips they drew in to a smirk.

"Earth to Seaweed Brain!" Thalia interrupted with that smirk still on her face. "It wouldn't hurt to answer me when I talk to you."

"Huh," Percy said dazed.

"I was asking how much longer we'll be chasing Luke," she said crossing her arms and raising her eyebrow.

"Oh," Percy said, turning red. "Well, it looks like he got a good head start. Where about half a day away."

"Thanks," she said smiling at him. She started to walk away, but after a few steps turned back. "If you need me for anything, I'll be in my room."

Percy paused and looked her up and down. "Sure," he said.

She turned and went back to her room. As soon as she was in, she lay down on her bed and thought about what happened. She remembered when he was staring at her and when he looked her up and down before she left. Was he checking her out? She blushed madly while she thought about her feelings for Percy.

Meanwhile, Percy had gone back to his room also. He fell asleep almost instantly, not realizing how tired he was.

He woke up to the smell of rose pedals. He got his bearings at sea and realized he must have been asleep only ten or twenty minutes. He looked up and saw a beautiful woman standing in his doorway. Her golden hair fell straight down to her mid back. She had a strapless hot pink dress on that had black trimmed edges complimenting her perfect figure. Percy's mouth hung open for a moment as he stared at her.

"Well, hello Percy," the woman said sweetly. "How are you?"

She walked forward and sat on the bed next to him and he regained his composure as he recognized her.

"Aphrodite," Percy said with slight annoyance. She always had a different appearance when he saw her. "What is it this time?"

"Oh, Percy," she said coyly. "You shouldn't be so rude to the person who's been giving you so much fun on this boring old boat."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Percy lied turning red.

"Oh, please, Percy," she said giggling. "The kissing? The beer? The constant indecision you face. Oh, what fun!" she giggled again.

"That was all you!?" Percy exclaimed.

"Of course, dear," she said like he should be thanking her. "Don't you remember our last meeting?"

"When you said you'd make my love life hard because you liked me?" Percy said annoyed.

She nodded giving him a dazzling smile, clearly enjoying herself. "You look tired Percy," she said coyly. "Why don't you rest?"

"That's what I was doing until you uh…graced me with your presence," Percy said trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

She smiled at him again showing her perfect white teeth. "Of course you were. Now why don't you drink this? It will make your rest more comforting."

He was too tired to protest. He took the wine glass that appeared in her hand and drank the pink liquid.

"Goodbye, Percy Jackson. We'll talk again soon," Aphrodite said winking at him. He turned his head as she turned to her true form and disappeared.

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Back on the Princess Andromeda, Luke was looking at Annabeth through the holding cell he put her in. "Look, Annabeth. It's not that I want to keep you in here. I just need you to hear me out without fighting back."

"Forget it, Luke! I'm not going to fall for your lies again!" Annabeth said while sitting in the back of her cell.

"Come on, Annabeth. Do you not realize how much I deeply care for you?" Luke said softly.

Her eyes softened when she remembered the time she spent with Luke. How caring he always was. She thought of the crush she always had for him.

But then she thought of Percy. His sea green eyes framed by his perfect face, his unruly black hair, and that comforting smile he'd give even when it seemed hope was gone. She remembered the time she had spent with him and realized it was better than anything she ever did with Luke.

Her eyes hardened. "You're a traitor Luke! And I hope you go to Tartarus!"

"Don't you speak to me in such a way, worthless girl," he spat. He opened the door and gave her a backhanded blow across the face. He then pulled her by her hair and lifter her up so their faces met. "It seems you're no use to me after all," he said narrowing his eyes with contempt.

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Percy sat up on his bed. He couldn't sleep. He was a lot more tired before he drank that liquid. He briefly wondered what was in it but shrugged it off and walked out of his room. He went to the bow and remembered the prior event with Thalia. She was a lot prettier than he thought up close. He looked at the door to her room and decided to go pay her a visit. He knocked on the door and heard a voice inside tell him to come in. He walked in and saw Thalia in her punk/skater clothes.

"Hey," he said as he walked in closing the door behind him.

"Hey, Percy," she replied sitting on the bed.

"Thalia, I was wondering," he started. "About your relationship with Luke."

"Well… he was a great guy when I knew him," she said a bit sheepishly. "But he was always more like a brother to me."

"What about me?" Percy asked abruptly. "How do you feel about me?" The question surprised her and left her at a loss for words.

There was a brief moment of silence.

"Let's find out," Percy said breaking the silence. He confidently walked over and kissed her straight on the lips. She wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him back.

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Annabeth looked up as she saw the door open and Luke stride in. He had a triumphant smile on his face and an evil look in his eyes. He went in her cell and pulled her arms behind her back. He took a rope and bound her arms and legs together. She screamed as he took her out of her cell and towards the back of their ship.

"Since you love the ocean so much," Luke said evilly. "I found it in my heart to let you spend the last of your moments there." He picked her up and threw her off the ship.

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It was midnight when Percy woke up. He turned the light on and noticed something was wrong. The carpet was black. The desk was black. The walls were black. This was the black room. As realization dawned on him he looked down and saw Thalia breathing evenly. She was using his chest as a pillow and wearing nothing but sheets.

This can not be happening! He thought as he felt Thalia's warm breath on his chest. Not again! He looked over to the desk and saw an overturned wine glass. Memories of his conversation with Aphrodite came back to him. Shit! It's because of that damn drink she gave me!

Just when he thought it couldn't get worse, the door opened. "Hey, Thalia do you know where--" Grover looked and saw Thalia's bare body lying on Percy's. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he was seeing correctly. His mouth started to quiver and when he couldn't take it anymore he started cracking up so bad Percy thought he would explode. He was banging his fists on the floor as he laughed. "Percy--you--and then Annabeth--and then this!!" he said between laughs.

"I can't believe this is happening to me," Percy mumbled to the sky. He put on fresh pants and a shirt. He turned to Grover. "You can't tell anyone about this! Especially Annabeth!"

"I promise, I promise," Grover said between laughs. "This is just too funny," he said to himself.

Percy ignored him and got out of the room. He looked at the ocean, not believing what's happened to him over the past few days. Just then he thought he saw something in the water. He felt for his power over the see and realized what it was.

"Annabeth!" he yelled and dove into the water.

He picked her out of the water and got her back to the boat. Thalia had gotten there just in time with a sheepish look on her face. But when she saw Annabeth the look changed into one of worry.

Annabeth was out cold. Percy felt for a pulse and found it. Slow but steady.

He untied her arms and legs and put his mouth on hers. He felt a tug on his gut and the water rose from her lungs and poured out of her mouth into his. He spit the water out and picked her up. He carried her to her bed where he pulled the covers over her. He kissed her forehead and sat at her bedside thinking about how fucked up his life was.

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AN: If this story was a car, reviews would be the gas that keeps it going. So review! And tell me how you liked it (or otherwise). Also, to address the community question. If you want to put this story in a community, feel free. Just PM me about it first so I know. I'm always cool with it (as long as its not one of those 'worst PJO fics ever' communities.) Not like I have a choice, anyway :P. I'll start writing the next chapter soon, so stay tuned!