Hey guys, sorry for the wait but as promised it's Sunday and here is your new chapter! I might not update as regularly as always because I have exams now, but I will definitely make an effort to upload at least one chapter a week. Thanks for reading and as always reviews are appreciated!

Previously: "Wait-" he exclaimed suddenly. I snapped my head around just in time to see the screen glow to life.

CALYPSO –

Holographic pictures shimmered to life and I was suddenly looking at a group of people who were being yelled at by a brawny girl with stringy hair and brown eyes (probably Ares spawn). Everyone was getting into lines and a collection of people who all looked very different but had features which linked them together – calloused hands, muscles and grim expressions – wove in between the lines, giving out armour and various weapons.

I recognized Chiron, who was trotting up and down the lines, his face filled with determination. He looked older than the last time I'd seen him, but he was dressed for battle, his horse legs shielded by bronze greaves and a plume waving from the helmet on his head. I followed his gaze as he turned his head to gaze sadly at a fleet of triremes that floated on the water, looking war-ready. In fact, as I studied the scene, I could see evidence of battle preparations everywhere. Satyrs in orange t-shirts patrolled the strawberry fields and I could see the silhouettes of people on pegasi flying overhead. Along the hills, which looked like they would have been very pleasant in another situation, more people were busy priming catapults, their faces all simultaneously scared, determined and worried.

There was a war going on here, and I immediately realised why Leo was so desperate to leave Ogygia. "Your friends?" I asked, glancing over to see his reaction.

He nodded. "They're preparing for war," he said expressionlessly, but I could see the panic in his eyes. "Against whom?" I asked. Percy had vanquished the Titans…

"Look," he said, gesturing at the mirror. I turned back. The picture had changed, and now troops in golden armour were marching through a vineyard, their backs rigidly straight, and their faces neutral, the opposite of Leo's friends from before. Romans?

"I've seen that sign before," Leo said suddenly. I looked into the picture and saw the words "GOLDSMITH WINERY" in illuminated letters. "That's not far from Cam Half-Blood," he continued, suddenly looking a little queasy.

Camp Half-Blood. That must be where he came from, where Percy came from. I looked down, not sure what to think. I was glad that Leo had a place to return to, a place to call home.

Right?

I saw gold flashing on the screen and returned my gaze to the mirror, where the previously orderly Romans had dissolved into chaos, dropping their shields, running and throwing javelins everywhere. I noticed two small shapes, that looked rather hairy, darting through the crowd, causing havoc everywhere they went. I watched as they stole weapons, caused trousers to fall down and whacked people on the head.

It was rather funny, to be honest.

I could feel Leo's smile stretching off his face. "Those beautiful little trouble-makers! They kept their promise."

In the back of my mind, I wondered what promise he was talking about, but I was more concerned with who those two were. "Cousins of yours?" I asked, allowing myself a small smile.

"Ha, ha, ha – no." he replied drily. "Couple of dwarfs I met in Bologna. I sent them to slow down the Romans, and they're doing it."

"But for how long?" I mused out loud. The Romans seemed much more focused and prepared than the Greeks at Leo's camp, and I couldn't imagine the Leo's friends lasting long against them.

He didn't reply, and the scene on the mirror changed again. A skinny blond boy was standing in a large space filled with odd contraptions that had wheels and metal bodies. Romans crowded around him as he lifted a long pole wrapped in canvas. When he uncovered it, a golden eagle sparkled on the top. A standard?

"Oh, that's not good," Leo said nervously.

"A Roman standard," I said, partly to prove that I knew what it was and partly to see if he did.

"Yeah," he replied. "And this one shoots lightning, according to Percy.

I wished he hadn't said that.

I could no longer deny that I had feelings for Leo. My situation was complicated enough without him constantly bringing up the fact that I also had lingering feelings for one of his best friends. I fought to keep in control of my emotions. I had learn after Odysseus had left that feelings were useless. They only brought pain.

I closed and opened my eyes, and then glanced at Leo. He had shut up as soon as he had said Percy's name, and I was surprised to see anger on his face. I wondered why, but I didn't say anything. He shifted his gaze back to the images, which had changed once again.

A storm had erupted in the pictures. Grey clouds covered the sky, and rain lashed down like it was full of fury. A girl riding a pegasus flew into view, her long, black hair flowing out behind her. Her purple cloak fluttered around in the wind, showing off her Imperial Gold armour. I noticed she was bleeding from various cuts on her face and arms, but her eyes were filled with anger and determination as she urged her pegasus into the eye of the storm.

A gryphon dive-bombed the girl and scratched the pegasus's ribs. It bucked furiously and the girl nearly fell off, but she regained her balance and fluidly slashed her sword through the monster. Three venti appeared, swirling round her, flashing with lightning and anger.

I looked sideways at Leo, wondering how this was connected to the war raging at his home, and saw the panic in his eyes as he stared at the girl. His eyes were full of worry and hope for her, and I felt anger build up inside my stomach, snapping the spell I had cast with my song.

The girl on the screen screamed as she charged the venti, and the mirror went dark.