A/N: Hey guys, hope everyone had a good week. I really don't think I will be able to update next week as I will have labs all day, coursework and a 10 page lab report to hand in at the end. Sorry :(. I will make it up with a long update at Christmas! Thanks for sticking with me ~ Emma and Sarah

Cold. He knew it was cold. He could hear breathing and he knew it wasn't his own. He could smell something awful but he didn't know what. He felt his hands start to shake. He knew this couldn't be a dream because dreams were never this vivid, he rarely got dreams.

Austin

He knew the voice all too well. He knew he had been both wrong and right, this wasn't a dream, but he was asleep. It was the ancient voice.

Did you speak to her?

"I tried, she won't let me in," he replied timidly,

But you believe?

"I know something going on,"

I can give you everything you desire and keep those you love safe

"Why? What do you need me to do?"

"You live here alone?" Percy marvelled, mouth wide open as he walked into her apartment. It wasn't much bigger than his, but as it only had three rooms, two bedrooms and a living area, it was much more spacious.

She tossed her keys into a bowl before turning to him.

"Tea? Coffee?" she didn't have many guests but she still knew her etiquette,

"Oh, I'm fine," he said, taken off guard.

With niceties out of the way she headed for her bedroom. The familiar safe feeling she got when entering her room returned, though it had been tainted by the nightmares Bahram had been sending, it was the closest thing she had to home. The pale blue walls wall went well with her white furniture and it always made her feel better to escape the sickly yellow of the school walls. She pulled a duffle bag down from the top of the cupboard and started to pack a change of clothes and necessary toiletries. Her eyes scanned the room and landed on the mountain of clothes she had neglect to wash due to a lot of time spent blocking out the world. It didn't help the stench of ichor stayed with them.

She made her way back into main room and dumped the bag onto the sofa. She heard a muttering coming from behind her and looked around to see Jackson leaning toward the fish tank built into the kitchen island.

"Are you talking to my fish?" she said in astonishment,

He practically back upon hearing her and she noticed his face start to redden.

"You could speak to them too," he said rubbing his neck, "the conversation's not the best though,"

"I knew you were weird, Jackson, but I didn't know you were that weird,"

"I'm not weird, just a child of Poseidon," he said with a grin, "like you,"

"Doesn't it create moral issues when eating sushi?" she asked raising an eyebrow. His grin dropped into a blank face as if her comment had just caused a crisis in his mind. She laughed and shook her head.

"I need to do some washing, give me an hour?" she said,

Jackson just nodded and moved to the sofa, contemplating what it meant to eat fish.

As people poured into the subway, Rory decided to split from Jackson's girl as she didn't seem the happiest about being dismissed. He still needed air anyway and wasn't really feeling being home all that soon. He looked up a route on his phone and started walking. As he walked he noticed his eyelids drooping, the effects of both the excitement and the coffee were starting to wear off. The walk took him longer than expected, but he didn't mind. He didn't really care about missing dinner, there would be leftovers.

When he stepped into the apartment he saw the blonde woman perk up and instantly head to his father's study. He was in deep shit. He made quickly for his room, hoping to shut the door before he could be bothered.

"Rory," his father called just as he reached the door. He proceeded into the room and threw his bag onto his bed,

"Yup," he replied coming back into the doorway with a fake smile,

"You missed dinner,"

"I was with friends,"

"Well come get some food."

He rolled his eyes and sighed, but couldn't see the point in arguing. He pushed past his dad and went into the kitchen.

"Middle shelf in the green tub," the woman piped up chirpily,

He took it out and stuck it in the microwave.

"Linda and I are going away this weekend, I'm needed in London on business. I don't really want you here alone, so I've booked you flights to see your mother. You leave on Friday evening and a driver will pick you up from the airport."

He stared at his father in disbelief. He couldn't be serious. Well today was one hell of a day. He tried to suppress the growing excitement as he waited for the catch.

"Just because you don't trust me here?"

"Well I wouldn't be surprised if you trashed the place, so Linda suggested that you go see your mother, didn't you dear?"

The woman nodded eagerly smiling like a blind idiot. Rory supposed that would be the only way to love his father.

"Thank you," Rory said, trying to sound genuine. No matter how happy he was he couldn't bring himself to feel gratitude towards this woman who was such a big part in tearing down his mother's life and subsequently his.

The microwave beeped and he turned to sort it out. Behind him he heard hushed words and shuffling as his father returned to his study and Linda returned to whatever bored housewives filled their time with.

He took the food to his room and was hit with the realisation of how much work he had to catch up on. So he did something he'd never done before. He hit the books hard.

She made her way to the sofa holding a hot cup of earl grey tea. Her favourite, though she usually had to order it off Amazon due to the tea in America not quite tasting the same, though that may just have been in her head.

"So Amazon is run by the Amazons? The female warriors?" she asked, skeptically,

"No word of a lie, I've seen it myself. They keep all the men in orange jump suits with collars like prisoners. I mean, I guess that's their thing but it was a bit weird,"

"To think I've been keeping in touch with my English roots through them," She pulled her legs up to her chest and sat back in the corner on her fluffy blanket.

"What's the deal with British people and tea anyway? I know it's a but off the whole ancient Greek topic, but still,"

"It's just warm and there are so many different kinds and it's relaxing,"

"I s'pose," he said leaning back into the sofa,

"You need to tell me the whole story. I mean you're eighteen and it sounds like you've seen the world and done it all,"

"As with everything, it sounds cooler than it felt. It didn't feel real half the time. I mean the almost dying did. Almost dying many many times,"

"From the beginning then,"

"Okay, here goes. My life was pretty normal, it wasn't great, but it was normal. Things really started going bad one May, when my sixth-grade class took a field trip to Manhattan."

For all of them, the next day felt a little lighter. Rory wandered the halls after the first good night's sleep he had gotten in a long while. He wasn't quite so behind on work and he felt ready to get back in the pool for some proper training.

As Percy's car pulled into the school parking lot, he looked over at his little sister and smiled. He knew how much she hated doing this but the fact that she would anyway made him very happy. He had always wanted a sibling, but Tyson hadn't quite been what he had in mind. Now a little sister who he could scare any stupid boyfriends off for, that was good.

Emma stared out of the window at the dull school building and tried to shake the fear that now held her. What would be expected of her now? Would Percy want her to see him during the day? Would Rory keep trying to talk to her? She would never knows for certain if any of them really cared about here. She wasn't sure she wanted them to. It really did scare her. It scared her because she liked this feeling. This feeling of family.

At lunch Rory was gathered round the table with the guys all leaning in to watch the latest video that had gone viral, their laughter filling the air when a familiar voice screeched out.

"Hey Austin," Betty flicked her hair over her shoulder, "Hey boys,"

A whistle went up from Nixon and others muttered things that it was probably best Betty didn't hear.

"Friday, party at my place," she said with a flirty smile, "Better see you all there,"

"You bet," Mike said with a lazy grin, flicking his fringe,

"Wouldn't miss it," Evan added, winking,

"Riley?" she cooed and Rory knew it was an attempt to get his attention, but he couldn't care less. As Austin plastered on a smile and agreed, Rory felt a smirk spread on his face.

"We'll all be there," Austin said,

"Actually Bett's, I'm not in town,"

"What?" Betty's face instantly sunk, but only for a moment. The fake smile was back as she flicked her long hair over her shoulder. "Whatever, your loss. See you all at eight. Austin, I need you at seven to help me set up."

"What?" Austin asked, confused,

"Isn't that what boyfriends are for," she said caressing his cheek.

Austin's eyes were wide and no words came out of his mouth. Clearly he was not aware of this arrangement. Rory knew that Riley's mind would have been elsewhere.

"Gotta go," Betty said loudly, "See you all friday,"

And with that, she was gone. Rory rolled his eyes at the girl. He knew betty was a demigod, but despite everything she still obsessed over parties and her makeup. It didn't make much sense after hearing about what Emma had been through.

"Where are you this weekend?" Riley asked him as the rest of the group went back to their stupid video,

"My mum's in LA. Dads out of town and doesn't want me here unless he is. It's dumb, but I'm still excited to see her and be back in LA. It'll be a lot damn warmer there too," he smiled at the thought of it. Being home.

"Sounds like fun, where abouts does she live?"

"Santa Monica. Not to far from the pier,"

"Never been," Austin said, "is the pier all they say it is?"

"It's more of a tourist attraction than anything, but it's a nice place to go and chill," Rory said, pushing his tray away,

"Yeah, sounds cool."

The cave formed before his eyes, a sight that was becoming very familiar. The voice knew he was there and he knew the voice was there.

So, are you of any use to me? Are you worthy of great power?

The boy smirked, gripping his wrist behind his back. Despite the cold, He would be confident, he would be smart, he would be strong.

"Mommy's boy is going home, from what I hear," the arrogance in his voice came so naturally, he knew that this was his chance to prove himself, "he's heading back to LA, likes to hang around the pier, possibly on his own,"

You have done well. If you continue to prove your loyalty I will rise and you will be revered

He grinned as the air swirled around him, sending him back into a deep sleep.