First Person: Emily

Piper explained to me she'd seen some images in her knife, Katoptris, "looking glass." Octavian was urging the Romans to go to war, not surprisingly, and I hoped that Reyna could hold down the fort. She told me all about the things she'd seen in her knife, despite the horror within them, though she didn't tell anyone else, not yet. She couldn't hide the turmoil within her from me, and when she used charm speak to say she was fine, I was the only one unaffected and knew things were haunting her. I got her to confess to me what she saw, and even show me them as well, and I comforted her as best I could, keeping the things I saw secret and contemplating what they could mean.

She'd seen things like Jason riding into battle on horseback, his eyes gold instead of blue. That explained what had just happened back at the highway, so cross that off the list. There was a woman in an old-fashioned Southern belle dress, standing in an Oceanside park with palm trees; a bull with the face of a bearded man, rising out of a river; and two giants in matching yellow togas, hoisting a rope on a pulley system, lifting a large bronze vase out of a pit. That was the vision of the twins she'd mentioned, and that large bronze vase…Veon had confessed to me that he'd seen a vision of Nico in a bronze jar. I was putting together pieces, and the ability to sense the worry in people got them to confess things to me when I asked. They knew they couldn't keep things from me, and having all this knowledge was useful in gathering all the information I could.

The worst one was one of herself, Jason, Percy and Audrey, standing waist-deep in water at the bottom of a dark circular chamber, like a giant well. Ghostly shapes moved through the water as it rose rapidly. Piper clawed at the walls, trying to escape, but there was nowhere to go. The water had reached their chest, Jason was pulled under, Percy stumbled and disappeared. Audrey turned to water and then created a bubble around Piper's head before the water rose above them both. We didn't know or understand how children of the sea god could drown, but Piper had only told me about them back at Camp Half-Blood, and how she still didn't understand some of them. The things that I did understand were grave, but I kept a positive outlook. I didn't reveal anything before anyone else, as Zy requested I stay silent until the seven figured things out on their own. I now understood what she was going through, wanting to tell what I knew, but unable to because I knew it wouldn't do any good.

Leo gave the helm to Coach Hedge again, after making the satyr promise he would not steer us to the nearest military base "for fun." We gathered around the dining table, and Piper and Audrey explained what happened at TOPEKA 32 - their conversation with Bacchus, the trap sprung by Gaea, the eidolons that had possessed the boys.

"Of course!" Hazel slapped the table, which startled Frank so much, he dropped his burrito. "That's what happened to Leo too!"

"So it wasn't my fault," Leo said, exhaling in relief. "I didn't start World War Three. I just got possessed by an evil spirit. That's a relief!"

"But the Romans don't know that," Annabeth said. "And why would they take our word for it?"

"We could contact Reyna," Jason suggested. "She would believe us." Piper's heart sank from hearing the way Jason said her name. He turned to her with a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "You could convince her, Pipes. I know you could." So Jason still didn't understand how Reyna totally liked him, or how he was still giving off that vibe that he liked her too? Annabeth looked at Piper sympathetically as if to say: Boys are so clueless, and even Hazel winced. Zy gave an eye roll, Audrey smiled like: Seriously? and even Veon just shook his head. I just sighed and tried to send waves of comfort to Piper.

"I could try," She said halfheartedly. "But Octavian is the one we have to worry about. In my dagger, I saw him taking control of the Roman crowd. I'm not sure Reyna can stop him." Jason's expression darkened and I felt a pang of anger and helplessness from the group. Zy spun a dagger on the table.

"Octavian can't be helped. I'd like to kill that augur myself, I'm sure many people would, but like it or not, we can't do anything about him right now. The Romans believe the Greeks are evil, and it's not going to be easy to convince them otherwise. Octavian's taking advantage of the situation and spreading lies about the Greeks, ones that seem more and more convincing with the attack that happened. I've given Reyna a good argument, but it's hard to counter a full blown attack with words, especially with Romans."

"She's right," Frank said. "This afternoon when we were scouting, we saw eagles again. They were a long way off, but closing fast. Octavian is on the warpath." Hazel grimaced.

"This is exactly the sort of opportunity Octavian has always wanted. He'll try to seize power. If Reyna objects, he'll say she's soft on the Greeks. As for those eagles…it's like they could smell us."

"They can," Zy said. "Roman eagles can hunt demigods by their magical scent even better than monsters can. This ship might conceal us somewhat, but not completely - not from them." Leo drummed his fingers.

"Great. I should have installed a smoke screen that makes the ship smell like a giant chicken nugget. Remind me to invent that next time." Hazel frowned.

"What is a chicken nugget?"

"Oh man…" Leo shook his head in amazement. "That's right. You've missed the last like, 70 years. Well, my apprentice, a chicken nugget-"

"Doesn't matter," Annabeth interrupted. "The point is, we'll have a hard time explaining the truth to the Romans. Even if they believe us-"

"You're right," Jason said, leaning forward. "We should just keep going. Once we're over the Atlantic, we'll be safe - at least from the legion."

"How can you be sure?" Piper asked. "Why wouldn't they follow us?" He shook his head.

"You heard Reyna talking about the ancient lands. They're much too dangerous. Roman demigods have been forbidden to go there for generations. Even Octavian couldn't get around that rule."

"Plus, we destroyed the entire Roman navy," Audrey said smiling. Veon laughed.

"Yeah."

"We have a navy?" Jason asked.

"Not anymore."

"Point is, Romans don't like water," Zy said, taking a bite of her sandwich. "They're not big fans of Neptune, and Neptune is not a big fan of them." Frank swallowed a bite of burrito like it had turned to cardboard in his mouth.

"So if we go to the ancient lands…"

"We'll be outlaws as well as traitors," Jason confirmed. "Any Roman demigod would have the right to kill us on sight. But I wouldn't worry about that. If we get across the Atlantic, they'll give up on chasing us. They'll assume that we'll die in the Mediterranean - the Mare Nostrum." Percy pointed his pizza slice at Jason.

"You, sir, are a ray of sunshine." Jason didn't argue. The other demigods stared at their plates, except for Percy, who continued to enjoy his pizza. Where he put all that food, I didn't know. That guy could eat like a satyr.

"Actually, Emily's the ray of sunshine," Audrey said, popping a grape into her mouth.

"No, Zy is," Veon said firmly. "She's the Apollo girl."

"Why thank you, good sir," Zy said with a scowl. "I'm about as much of a ray of sunshine as your father."

"Well, if we can survive as l'Cie, and traitors of Spira, we can survive anything," Veon said. The seven of the prophecy stared at him, while Zy was staring at her sandwich with a smile forcing its way across her face, Audrey rolled her eyes, and I nodded.

"That's the spirit."

"Excuse me?" Jason asked.

"Final Fantasy always makes us the outlaws, the so called "traitors." As long as we're doing the right thing, being a traitor doesn't matter. We stop Gaea and the giants, and that's the physical proof we need to show that we aren't."

"That sounds like a plan," Zy said.

"If anyone thinks it's hopeless, it just means we don't have enough information. There's always something we don't know, there's always more to the picture, and there's always a way out."

"So let's plan ahead and make sure we don't die," Percy suggested. "Mr. D - Bacchus - ugh, do I have to call him Mr. B now? Anyway, he mentioned the twins in Ella's prophecy. Two giants. Otis and, uh, something that started with an F?"

"Eh-fee-alt-tees," Audrey tried.

"Ephialtes," Jason confirmed.

"Twin giants, like Piper saw in her blade…" Annabeth ran her finger along the rim of her cup. "I remember a story about twin giants. They tried to reach Mount Olympus by piling up a bunch of mountains." Frank nearly choked.

"Well, that's great. Giants who can use mountains like building blocks. And you say Bacchus killed these guys with a pinecone on a stick?"

"Something like that," Percy said.

"He said they both deserved a pinecone in the face," Audrey remembered. "But I don't think we should count on his help this time. He wanted a tribute, and he made it pretty clear it would be a tribute we couldn't handle."

"The gods are stubborn as hell," Zy said. "Even though they need our help in order to defeat the giants, just as much as we need them, they'll only take the heroes they feel are worthy of their help, and they'll most likely not help in fighting a giant till the last second. We do all the dirty work, and once we've finally "proven" ourselves, the god will go and finish off the giant without breaking a sweat and then take all the glory. Still, perhaps we could find a way to give Bacchus a proper offering. In the end, he needs our help as to defeat the twins much as we need his. It will be far from easy, but it's not impossible."

"She wants two of us…" Piper murmured. Everyone looked to her, but I felt this strange feeling, as though more than ten people were in the room. I felt two people's different emotions and thoughts within Jason, Percy, and Leo. The eidolons were still here! Great, how were we supposed to get them out of our crew permanently? Piper had had some influence over them back on the highway, so maybe that would work if the two of us commanded them.

"Today on the highway," Piper continued as I began to devise a plan. "Gaea told us that she needed the blood of only two demigods - one female, one male. She…she asked me to choose which boy would die." Jason squeezed her hand.

"But neither of us died. You saved us."

"I know. It's just…why would she want that?" Leo whistled softly.

"Guys, remember at the Wolf House? Our favorite ice princess, Khione? She talked about spilling Jason's blood, how it would taint the place for generations."

"Demigod blood holds great power," Zy said.

"Oh…" Percy set down his third pizza slice. He leaned back and stared at nothing, as if the horse kick to his head had just now registered.

"Percy?" Annabeth asked, gripping his arm.

"Oh, bad…" He muttered. "Bad. Bad. You guys remember Polybotes?"

"The giant who invaded camp Jupiter," Hazel said. "The anti-Poseidon you whacked in the head with a Terminus statue. Yes, I think I remember."

"I had a dream when we were flying to Alaska. Polybotes was talking to the gorgons, and he said…said he wanted to take me and Audrey prisoner, not killed. He said: "I want those two chained at my feet so I can kill them when the time is ripe. Their blood shall water the stones of Mount Olympus and wake the Earth Mother!" That means…"

"But Gaea said she couldn't use my blood, back at the highway," Audrey said.

"When Gaea took me into the earth and spoke to me, it was like she just realized I existed, like she'd just gotten a good look at me for the first time," Veon said.

"Ever since I met you in high school, I've worked to mask your powers and scent from Gaea," Zy said. "My team is extremely valuable to Gaea alive, but that doesn't mean she can't still spill your blood even if you don't die from it. Piper was more of a convenience. If she and you were both there, then she could spill Piper's blood and keep you as well. Besides, I doubt Polybotes had been given a lot of information. He must've just been ordered to capture two demigods, a female and a male, Percy being the male, and Audrey naturally fell as his choice for a female."

"You think the giants would use our blood…" Piper began. "The blood of two of us-"

"I don't know," Percy said. "But until we figure it out, I suggest we all try to avoid getting captured." Jason grunted.

"That I agree with."

"But how do we figure it out?" Hazel asked. "The Mark of Athena, the twins, Ella's prophecy…how does it all fit together?"

"We need to gather more information," Zy said. "It pains me to say it, but I'm just as limited as the gods when it comes to information. I can't reveal anything you don't learn on your own, unless I want the Fates on my tail. There's a lot we're missing here, more pieces to this puzzle that will connect everything. Perhaps a night of rest will give you all some dreams that hold more information. What's the current plan for information right now?"

"We're going to Atlanta for Phorcys," I recalled.

"I didn't recognize the name at first, but when Bacchus mentioned salt water, it rang a bell," Percy said. "Phorcys is an old sea god from before my dad's time. Never met him, but supposedly he's a son of Gaea. I still don't understand what a sea god would be doing in Atlanta." Leo snorted.

"What's a wine god doing in Kansas? Gods are weird."

"He's got a point there," Ve said.

"Anyway, we should reach Atlanta by noon tomorrow, unless something else goes wrong."

"Don't even say that," Annabeth muttered. "It's getting late. Everyone should probably get some sleep."

"Wait," I said. "There's one last thing. The eidolons - the possessing spirits. They're still here, in this room. Think of it, no one told them to go away, and if they're possessing spirits, they're most likely still here hiding dormant in us."

"Eidolons of Greek mythology aren't much different from that of Norse," Zy said. "They originated Greek, I believe."

"But the ones in Norse are good," Veon said. "At least in thirteen."

"Remember that in thirteen, we are considered the bad guys."

"Oh. Point."

"The lore of eidolons follow the same pattern. They are shades, phantoms, ghosts. Eidolons come from people, they actually start out as someone, but depending on who that someone is, depends on what afterlife they will originate from. In Valhalla, the law is that the weak serve the strong, and eidolons will obey the will of those that defeat them in combat. In the Underworld there isn't a law such as that, but the eidolons will take any means necessary to live again, including serving Gaea. I don't believe these ones going to just go away because we knocked out their hosts, and they're not honor bound by the law of Valhalla."

"So…" Frank rubbed his hand across his buzz-cut hair as if some ghosts might have invaded his scalp. "You think these things are lurking on the ship, or-"

"Possibly lurking inside some of us," Piper said. "We don't know."

"I think I can find them," I said. "I can sense all of your emotions and feelings, basically a kind of distinctness that I can identify as you through my powers. I know you all well enough from our time together, and I can sense a change, someone different, a kind of second layer of feelings and personality."

"So what do we do about it?" Veon asked.

"I can utilize the Hymn of the Fayth in order to draw them out," Zy offered. "It's a song used to calm the souls of the dead. It should keep them docile. Meanwhile, I suggest Piper and Emily get talking. Get some answers out of them. If you make them promise on the River Styx, they will have to honor it. Even they don't dare defy Styx. Veon, please join me for the lower part, and boys, try not to freak out." She sat up straight and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. Veon sighed before doing the same.

"Ieyui~
"Nobomeno~
"Renmiri~
"Yojuyogo~
"Hasatekanae~
"Kutamae~"

Their voices seemed to vibrate through the entire room, a hum that sent a chill throughout my entire body. Leo, Percy and Jason all suddenly tensed before their faces went slack and they sat up straight. Their eyes had turned glassy and gold, but they seemed enchanted by the singing as the two of them repeated the hymn. Hazel caught her breath. Next to Leo, Frank scrambled out of his chair and put his back against the wall.

"Oh gods," Annabeth muttered, looking to Piper and I. "Can you cure them?"

"Are there more of you this ship?" I asked.

"No," Leo said in a hollow voice. "The Earth Mother sent three. The strongest, the best. We will live again."

"Not here you won't," Piper growled. "All three of you listen carefully." I could sense Piper's fear as the three boys turned to her with their golden eyes, but also the anger that pushed her to continue. "You will leave those bodies."

"No," Percy said. Leo let out a soft hiss.

"We must live." Frank fumbled for his bow.

"Mars Almighty, that's creepy! Get out of here, spirits! Leave our friends alone!" Leo turned towards him.

"You cannot command us, child of war. Your own life is fragile. Your soul could burn at any moment." Frank staggered like he'd been punched in the gut. He drew an arrow, his hands shaking.

"I-I've faced down worse things than you. If you want a fight-"

"Frank, don't," Hazel warned, rising. Next to her, Jason drew his sword. Zy opened her eyes, and revealed they were pure white and glowing. The volume of her singing increased, and it seemed to send a wave of intensity through the room. Jason sat down again, as though he forgot what was happening, and Leo looked away from Frank, staring forward at nothing. The three possessed boys seemed enchanted by the song.

"Everyone, stand down," I ordered. The others were feeling the intensity of the song as well, and they all obeyed my command to calm. "Eidolons, you will leave those bodies." Jason's face tightened, his forehead beaded with sweat.

"We…we will leave these bodies."

"You will vow on the River Styx never to return to this ship and never to possess any member of this crew." Leo and Percy both hissed in protest.

"You will promise on the River Styx," Piper insisted. There was a moment of tension as I felt their wills fighting the song and our words, but it only lasted a second as the song washed over them and snuffed out any flame of resistance.

"We promise on the River Styx," The three eidolons said in unison.

"You are dead," Piper said.

"We are dead," They agreed.

"Now please leave," I ordered. All three boys slumped forward. Percy fell face-first into his pizza.

"Percy!" Annabeth grabbed him. Piper and Hazel caught Jason's arms as he slipped out of his chair. Leo fell towards Frank, who made no attempt to intercept him. I quickly dived and caught him just before he face planted. Zy closed her eyes and ceased her song, and Veon stopped to catch her as she wobbled from exhaustion.

"Are you all right?" Hazel asked. Leo pulled himself up.

"Did it work?"

"It worked," Piper said. "I don't think they'll be back." Jason blinked.

"Does that mean I can stop getting head injuries now?" Piper laughed, and I sensed her exhaling all her nervousness.

"Come on, Lightning Boy. Let's get you some fresh air." She took Jason out to the deck. Leo headed off to the helm to talk to Festus through the intercom. We got the satellite TV up again, so Coach Hedge headed to his cabin happily catch up on his mixed martial arts cage matches. Percy's pegasus Blackjack had flown off somewhere, and the others decided to turn in as well.

Audrey and I stood at the railing of the ship watching the night sky. The Argo II was racing east, cruising several hundred feet above the ground. Below us, small towns passed by like lit-up islands in a dark sea of prairie. The night was warm, and the ship sailed nice and smoothly. Jason and Piper were at the other side of the ship in their own little world, while Audrey and I talked and pretended to not notice.

"So they're finally dating?" I asked.

"Yep. Not that you'd know it just from looking at them." She sighed. "What info have you gathered?"

"I got Annabeth to tell me about this encounter she had with her mom. Athena was angry at her for trying to make peace with the Romans, saying that she'd failed Athena in some way, and told her to "Follow the Mark of Athena" and "Avenge" her. She gave Annabeth some coin, a silver drachma with an owl with an olive branch on one side and a Greek inscription on the other. It seems to return to her like Riptide, though she doesn't know what it means. Athena was angry at the Romans for turning her into Minerva, that was obvious enough. I got Jason to tell me about that legend. He says he doesn't know the details, but there was some story about the Romans stealing something important from the Greeks back when the Romans conquered the Greek's cities. He doesn't know what it is, but he knows that the Greeks have always hated the Romans for it, the children of Athena in particular. The legend says that the children of Athena have been searching for this thing for millennia, and they're led to Rome by a sign - the Mark of Athena. Apparently if the Greeks ever found what was stolen, they'd never forgive the Romans and they'd destroy the legion and Rome. Also, Piper's seen some scary things in her dagger, including you, Jason, her, and Percy drowning."

"What can you piece together of the prophecy from everything you've gathered?"

"There's some big token that the Romans stole from the Greeks, something involving Athena. It's Annabeth's job to recover it from Rome by following the Mark of Athena. Those two giants have Nico captive in a bronze jar, according to Veon, and he has until July first with all the pomegranate seeds Veon was able to give him. The pomegranate seeds are keeping him alive since they're from Persephone's garden, apparently. The giants' bane is this thing Annabeth has to find, and Annabeth has to win it by capturing something in a woven jail. That's all I can figure out right now. I'm gonna do some research on what enemies there are of Athena and what the Mark of Athena even is. My hunch is that whatever it is might be able to solve the issue of the Greeks and Romans if we play our cards right. There's a lot we need to do, and a lot to worry about. As for defeating the twins, Bacchus definitely is involved, but I have no clue what kind of offering we can give him."

"Maybe we can give him a boat load of Diet Pepsi."

"You never know with the gods. Where would we get that amount of Diet Pepsi?"

"Uh, a couple hundred convenience stores? He did say no one's been able to offer him that in many centuries. Maybe it's just because there wasn't anyone willing to get a bunch of Diet Pepsi from everywhere in the U.S. and give it all to him."

"I doubt there was that much Diet Pepsi in the world a hundred years ago."

"Either way, we'll have to figure out something."

"We'd better get to sleep. Maybe our dreams will give us more info."

"Here's hoping. Night Em."