Ooof- this chapter is longer than the last one, if you can believe it.

The good news- if you've missed the interactions of the other characters (cough* Caleo *cough) that's back. Yay! Lot's of progress shall be made.

The bad news (mostly for die-hard Percabeth fans)- there is little Percy and Annabeth interaction.

But lot's of reading! That's why you're all here, right?

Enjoy :D

Chapter 13

Leo stared down at the ocean beneath the rock. "He's with you… isn't he?"

Calypso stayed silent a moment, simply sitting beside him and letting the water make the noise. She looked up at the darkening sky. A few stars had popped out of the indigo. "Is that how you knew I would be here?"

"I had a pretty good hunch."

She took a moment to gather more thoughts. "My friends and I are in a complicated situation. I don't know how much I can tell you- it could put everyone in danger."

"So… It's a life or death scenario?"

"To him it is. If he goes back now there will never be amends between him and his father. An entire kingdom is at stake."

He sighed. "Of course there is." His anxiety grew as he thought of what that meant. His ADHD wasn't helping. He picked up a small rock and angled his arm back, preparing to throw it into the water to relieve the built up energy in his body.

"No," Calypso started. "Don't-!"

He tossed the rock into the ocean. She turned to him. "What?" Leo shrugged. "It's just a-"

"You idiot. No one knows I'm up here. If you gave me away to my friends-"

"Look, Calypso, I really don't care if I'm seen by your people."

"The Prince has already become human. If I'm caught on land with you it will only mean I get exiled with him."

Leo stared at her, his nerves now on edge.

She furrowed her brow. "What?"

"Annabeth's taking a Prince on that date tomorrow?"

Something changed behind Calypso's eyes. She turned back to the ocean.

Leo was dumbfounded. They had taken in a prince. A prince that used to be a mermaid. No, merman. No… he didn't know. And he quite frankly didn't care at the moment. He'd given the guy a bath. What kind of a life was he living?

But Calypso's change in posture, the cold walls put up behind her features… she hadn't meant to tell him that their mystery guy was a prince. He personally didn't see what the big deal was. It was for the better, the more he thought about it. Will would be thrilled to know that he was royalty.

Wait…

The look behind Calypso's eyes. He suddenly knew why he could sense it. It was a feeling he'd come to know all too well. And unfortunately, it probably caused her just as much pain as it did him.

"You… you loved him, didn't you?"

She was probably three seconds away from running him through with a sharp object. But she gathered herself and spoke. "I did, years ago… We both greatly love human things, but he has always been bolder when making his moves.

"When he saved Annabeth the other night and saw all of you on your ship… It changed him. I think our friends know he belongs up here, but he made rash decisions. He sold his voice to the Sea Witch in exchange for a chance at this life."

She looked Leo in the eyes. "If he doesn't kiss Annabeth in the next two days, he will become Gaea's property, and she will use him to ascend the throne of Atlantica and rule the seven seas at her command."

Leo wanted to crack a joke, but the seriousness in her eyes could have rivaled Reyna's. There was no way so much was at stake. They'd just found the guy this morning- and he was in their lives because he didn't want to live in the sea anymore?

Yet Leo was here, having a conversation with a deadly mermaid on Annabeth's private beach. Such a thing should not have been possible.

He opened his mouth to say something when voices echoed off the cliff faces in the distance. He set his mouth. "You need to go. Now."

She gripped his shoulder. "Leo- not a word about the Prince to anyone- do you understand?"

He nodded. She jumped into the ocean.

Leo turned around to see Will, Hazel, Piper, and Reyna round the corner of the beach. They looked tired and irritated- likely due to having to walk half a mile to find the mechanic.

"Why are you disturbing my peace?" he called.

"Why are you out here?" Reyna retaliated.

"Have you forgotten that this is my thinking spot?"

"No," Hazel said. "When you weren't in the forge we figured you were out here."

"You've been acting strange today," Will said before squinting his eyes. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing!" Leo held out his arms. "What could possibly be out here that would interest me?"

"We heard you talking to someone."

Schist.

"You mean to myself?" Leo crossed his arms defiantly. "You know, I'm a little offended, Will. Talking to yourself is a sign that you're a genius."

"Oh really?" Will narrowed his eyes more. "Okay, if you're so sure, then you won't mind if I come over to take a look?"

Leo jumped off the rock into the knee-deep water. He gestured to the boulder. "Be my guest."

Will waded over, giving Leo a skeptical look as he passed him. He climbed onto the rock and moved toward the deep end of the ocean. He looked down into the water.

At the same time, there was movement under the ocean.

Calypso had jumped off the rock and swatted the bubbles away to clear her view of the rocky shelf. The temperature change made her body shiver.

She knew her friends would start to wonder where she was. I better head back before someone starts to panic.

She turned to go to the cave they'd taken refuge in and nearly swam into Nico's chest.

She slowly raised her eyes to find her friends staring down at her, arms crossed, with unpleasant expressions.

"Um-"

"What were you doing up there?" Jason asked.

"I was, um- trying to spot Chiron. I thought he would appreciate knowing where we're staying-"

"Uh-hu." Thalia looked her up and down. "You were looking for Chiron."

"Yes. Why? What else would I be doing?" And then as an afterthought, "How did you find-"

"You really shouldn't be throwing rocks into the ocean." Jason held up the rock Leo had tossed. "They make loud noises- it could give us away to anyone looking for us."

Calypso wanted to slap that human. "I was aggravated that my search for Chiron wasn't going well. Can you blame me for throwing mindless objects at the water?"

"Besides the fact that you've been taught to better manage your anger issues," Thalia sawm around her, "You've been acting strange these last two days. First, you were late for training because you needed some 'time to think by yourself'. And then you go off alone today..."

"You haven't been in contact with humans, have you?" Frank asked.

"What?" Calypso tried to look offended. "Of course not!"

"Then I can go up and have a look?" Nico asked. Even though Calypso had almost knocked him off his tail a minute ago, he'd stayed his usual quiet self. But the look on his face said that he was done with games.

She was suddenly glad that sweat was next to impossible to see underwater. "I'm not stopping you- but it would be a waste of your time. There's nothing of amusement up there."

Nico gave her a glare of suspicion and floated up to the surface. He emerged from the water and was met with a startling pair of bright blue eyes.

This should have been a sight he was used too. He saw Jason and Thalia every day. But the boy in front of him- his eyes were brighter and darker all at once. He could see the excitement and knowledge behind them.

He had curly blonde hair that was moving in a zephyr. His knuckles were turning white on the edge of the rock he was on. If Nico could guess, the boy was just as surprised to see someone as he was.

The merman had no idea how true his thought was.

Will stared at the pair of deep brown eyes, frozen. The boy in the water had raven black hair that was plastered to his head from the ocean. His bare, pale shoulders had to be cold from being exposed to the air. Will's heart was beating a thousand times faster than the recommended rate.

Leo suddenly called out. "Well?"

Will stared at the boy a split second longer. Nico had felt a tug on his tail, probably Jason asking, "What's going on up there?" It was better he went back into the water. He and the blonde boy made the simultaneous decision to turn away.

Will remained on the rock, speechless. Leo continued to talk in the background. "What did I tell you? There's absolutely nothing out…" The look on Will's face must have been self-explanatory, because Leo's eyes visibly widened. He looked at him with a mixture of genuine concern and fear. "Will?"

"Leo," Will gasped. It was as if he'd seen a ghost. "What on earth is going on?"

In the water, Nico shared the same shock. He continued facing the rock as he tried to remember how to think.

"Well?" Jason asked.

Nico turned and looked at Calypso, finally managing to speak. "What are you doing?"

Her face dropped. "What do you mean?"

Nico reached for a sword that wasn't there. "You have a lot of explaining to do. I'm starting to think I can't trust you anymore. That we can't trust you anymore." He gestured to their friends.

Calypso started, "Nico-"

"No, Calypso. You need to explain yourself."

Frank looked between the two. After a very brief period of silence, he spoke. "What's going on?"

Nico continued staring down the girl in front of him. "There's a human up there."

"What?" Jason managed to lock eyes with Nico. The boy was being serious.

Jason made for the surface.

"Jason-" Calypso followed after him.

Nico hesitated to join them. He didn't know if he could handle what was about to happen. But it was too late to not get involved.

He looked at Frank and Thalia. "Something is going on with her."

Thalia cracked her neck. "As if we need more on our plates."

Nico agreed with her statement. But something about that boy that he saw... Maybe it was his imagination, but Nico didn't think he would create a hostile confrontation. If the boy was as kind as he looked, then maybe- just maybe- he could help them.

Nico surfaced with Frank and Thalia. Jason and Calypso cowered behind the large rock as voices echoed across the sea air.

Humans were arguing.

"Look, man, I haven't been doing anything wr-"

"There is a mermaid on the other side of that rock!"

"Yeah, she's real friendly."

"She?"

"Yeah- and if you had any manners, you would ask for her name."

"I definitely saw a boy."

A new voice entered the heated exchange. "Are you saying there are multiple people behind that rock?"

"Technically the term is merpeople-"

"Prove this, Valdez. Now. No more shenanigans."

"Wow, never heard you say that word before, Reyna."

Silence for a minute. Calypso pictured many facial exchanges on the other side of the boulder.

Finally, Leo sighed. "Okay, Calypso. The jig is up. They know." Calypso moved out from behind the rock, but the others stayed hidden, unsure about her motions. Leo looked at her with defeated eyes. She could read the expression behind them. I'm sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen. But then he spoke aloud. "Your friends saw you, didn't they?"

She gave a grave nod. "Yours too, I see." He pressed his lips into a line of guilt. She huffed with an attempt to smile. "Then I guess we're both to blame." Calypso turned to her friends. They remained hidden behind the rock. "They won't kill you. I swear it on the River Styx."

The deepest promise someone could make. She was serious. She trusted these humans with her life.

Nico rolled his eyes in a very annoyed manner. Her bold statement clearly didn't resonate with the rest of the group. But now they had no choice but to trust her.

They swam into the fading sunlight.

The two groups faced each other for several minutes in silence, trying to comprehend the fact that they weren't dreaming. If the merpeople were unicorns with rainbow manes, it would have made no difference for the humans. The beings in front of them were the stuff of legends. They weren't supposed to be floating off the palace shore.

Nico spotted the boy he had locked eyes with. He was standing in the water next to a boy with curly black hair. The blonde looked at Nico again and almost began to smile. He probably would have if he hadn't been in a state of complete shock.

The merman suddenly became conscious of this fact. He turned his eyes toward the water surrounding him.

Not long after, Leo gave a stretch. "And… the ADHD has kicked in. Okay- Who wants to tackle the elephant in the room?"

"I would very much like to tackle it," Reyna spoke without taking her eyes off the other teenagers. "What are you doing here? And what is your involvement with Leo?"

Calypso looked at the sky, pretending to give it some thought. "Well… This idiot claimed I took his thinking spot, so he blackmailed me into a promise to bring him celestial bronze for… whatever it is he needs it for."

"Woah, woah," Leo looked at her with a shocked face. "First off, I'm pretty sure I used the words 'peace offering.' Second- I am not an idiot. And third- it is still my thinking spot."

"You did what?!" Thalia screamed into Calypso's ear.

Calypso thrust an arm out toward Leo. "He threatened to tell the humans about my existence- what was I supposed to do?"

"Um, there's this thing we've been going through called training. I'm sure you remember it."

Leo raised his hand. "If it makes you feel better, she did threaten to cut my throat."

Will put his hands on either side of his head, yanking at his hair. "A mermaid threatened to cut your throat? Leo Valdez!"

"What? If nothing else I have details on the-" He snapped his mouth shut, realizing the mistake he almost made.

The others gave him suspicious looks. Piper almost waded into the water to get in his face. "Details on what?"

Leo turned to Calypso and stared at her for a minute, the gears in his brain going into hyperdrive. "We can help."

"No."

"You guys too- there are waterways that go into the village-"

"Leo, I appreciate your concern, but it is already too dangerous for us. This is something that can not be messed with. We must let him handle everything. You absolutely can not get involved."

Will intervened. "Get involved in what?"

Frank gaped at Calypso. "You didn't tell him about…?"

Calypso ran her hands through her wet hair anxiously, then put a hand on the large boulder. If she wanted to show her trust in these humans, she had to let them in. "Everyone should get comfortable. There's a lot we need to talk about. Starting with a necessary subject." She looked at the humans. "Allow us to introduce ourselves."

The sun had set by the time Percy changed into a nightshirt and pants. He walked out onto a small balcony attached to his room. He never thought he'd be able to see the ocean from this angle. The view was stunning- the stars and moon reflected off the water's surface. The sound of strong waves tumbling ashore was soothing.

He looked down at the courtyard that sprawled below his balcony.

Annabeth was walking along a strip of grass with Festus at her side. He happily barked and nudged at her dress. She bent down and scratched his head. He tilted it up toward Percy, causing her to shift her view. She smiled softly and waved at him.

Percy almost jumped back, not expecting to be noticed. He gave a nervous grin and waved back before turning into his room.

Annabeth continued looking at the balcony after Percy disappeared. Her heart gave a strange twist. "Oh, boy…" she sighed, looking back down at Festus. "What am I gonna do?"

Percy made to close the double doors behind him, but Chiron stopped him. "Leave it cracked," he said. "I need to speak with the others soon." He pulled a piece of lettuce out from under his shell. He spoke with a disgusted look. "This has got to be the most humiliating day of my life. And I thought the training session was bad."

Percy gave a small smile and walked to his bed, patting Chiron on the head as he passed by. The crab was on his nightstand, sitting by a lit candle. "I hope you appreciate what I go through for you, young man," he said.

Percy nodded his head and sat on his bed. His body sank into the foamy mattress. His eyes lit up with excitement. He sat up straighter and bounced into the middle of the bed. He grinned and got under the covers, embracing his experience.

Chiron gave a slight roll of his eyes. He tried to focus Percy's attention again. "Now, we need to make a plan to get that girl to kiss you. Tomorrow when she takes you on that tour, you need to look your best. Do what you need to do- bat your eyes, pucker your lips, whatever you kids do these days. Tonight I will talk with your friends…"

Percy's mind started drifting off again. He closed his eyes. The bed was incredibly comfortable. It smelled faintly like lavender- probably from the soap they used to wash the sheets. He found his brain growing foggy.

"... It should work. Yes, it should be fine." Chiron stared at Percy. The boy was fast asleep. He'd forgotten that none of his pupils had gotten proper sleep in over 24 hours. The others had to be just as exhausted as Percy was.

He gave a fatherly smile.

He reached up and blew out the candle before making his way toward the balcony. "You are hopeless, child, you know that?" he whispered. "Completely hopeless…" He gave Percy one last glance and crawled out of the room.

He made his way down the castle walls and banisters before finding himself on the beach. He looked around at the water and cliffs. Now, which way did they go? he thought to himself. He debated picking a path when he heard faint voices echoing down the shore. He started crawling in their direction.

As he got closer, he could make out some of the words that were being exchanged.

"Would that work?"

"... not the best to…"

"You really need to think…"

Chiron rounded the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. His students were conversing with the humans that were at dinner. They were in the shallow water, the humans sitting in the wet sand. Any person walking by could have mistaken them as a group of friends having an evening picnic. "Oh my gods…"

The merfolk noticed him. Their faces turned from comprehensive to fearful. Frank visibly shrunk. "Chiron?"

"What is going on?!"

"AH!" Will gripped Piper's shoulders. "That's him! That's the crab from the kitchen!"

"You!" Chiron walked over as if confronting him. He wished he had his staff. Hopefully one of his students had it hidden in a safe spot. "You tried to cook me!"

Nico was astounded. "He did what?"

Neither Chiron nor Will answered. The humans stared at the crustacean, petrified. Calypso raised an eyebrow, looking between the group and her teacher. "What? What is it?"

"The crab is talking," Will spoke. "The crab is talking."

"And you're surprised after speaking to merpeople for over an hour?"

"I'm not surprised, really," Leo said. "I just think it's weird. I can barely see his mouth moving. It's so creepy..."

"Well, get used to it," Chiron said. "Because I have a lot of questions."

"Please don't be mad, Chiron," Jason got closer to the shore. "They just want to help- they know about Percy. And the deal with Gaea. They can be our eyes and ears on land; we can't do anything out of the water."

"I understand that." Chiron started crawling along the shore toward the rock where Calypso and Thalia were sitting above the water. "But conversing with humans is not something that will benefit our outcome later. Have you given any thought as to what will happen after the three days are up? What will you do when we go back to Atlantica?"

"If we go back," Thalia corrected. "Chiron we don't even know if we'll be accepted back to the palace training program. We have no weapons, no allies, save for these humans. Heck, we don't even have proper beds anymore. Just a dark sea cave we found off the shoreline that's being guarded by Grover. You really think we can go back?"

"It's either go back and possibly be exiled, or accept being an outcast. Which one would you like to try?"

The merpeople stayed quiet. Calypso glanced over at Leo. He looked extremely uncomfortable. He probably wasn't used to seeing a giant crab chastise merfolk about being exiled by hidden underwater royalty. Before she could break the silence, Frank spoke up.

"Well," he started, "we're doomed already, so at least hear us out. We're working on a plan to get Annabeth to kiss Percy. We can't turn back, Chiron. Go big or go home, right?"

"Wow," Leo said. "You guys have that saying too?" They each gave him an annoyed glance. He scrunched his shoulders. "What? We've already established that I don't like awkward situations…"

"Frank's right, though," Chiron said. He sat atop the rock with the mermaids. "I need to hear this plan."

"Okay, then." Reyna shifted in the sand. "First thing in the morning, we'll go wake up Percy and let him know that we want to help. Then, after he leaves with Annabeth on the tour, we'll split up. Half of us will follow them, make sure they're safe, and the other half will come back here to start preparing for the evening."

"Annabeth is supposed to be taking Percy out on a rowboat to view the coastline," Piper said. "So while they're out in the water, we'll create soft music in the distance. We'll be far away enough that it won't create any suspicion in Annabeth- she'll think it's just some villagers having a party."

"Now, since we can't do much out of the water, we've come up with someone who can help us," Jason said. "We'll find Rachel and ask her to rally some of the local animals to help make the boat ride relaxing. You know, birds and crickets chirping, fish swimming around the boat playfully-"

"Yeah, sounds very realistic," Nico injected.

"We've got nothing better to do. We're only helpful in the water." Thalia turned to the crab. "Chiron- Will you give us a chance?"

The crab was silently looking back and forth between the merfolk and humans. He seemed to be putting a giant puzzle together in his head.

He sighed. "Yes. I'll let you have your chance. I know that I can't stop you." He looked at the humans. "If you don't mind me asking for assistance back to the palace. I need to keep an eye on Percy." He turned back to his pupils. "You have not been getting enough sleep. Go rest- and if you don't mind, bring my staff tomorrow night, if you still have it."

Frank nodded to Chiron. "Yes, Sir."

Thalia gave the humans a salute. "See ya' tomorrow." She and the mermen dove down in the ocean.

Calypso looked Leo in the eyes. He nodded his head and gave her a thumbs up. "It'll be fine."

She gave a weak smile and jumped into the water.

Chiron crawled back to the beach. Leo picked him up, saying, "Alright, Sir. Let's get you back to the mystery prince."

Will looked at his feet as they walked. "I'm sorry about earlier- all the chaos I created. But in the kitchen, you didn't say anything to me. Why? It definitely would have stopped me from trying to cook you."

"Most sea creatures can speak. We just choose when we reveal it and whom we want to know. If every human knew that we could talk, do you think it would change anything?"

"It makes you more human. Well, I guess we can't say that anymore, since there are merpeople. I think I mean that it makes you more like a person. And most people don't like eating other people."

"Does this mean all animals can talk, though?" Hazel asked. "I've never heard cows or chickens speak before."

"I've never met any land creatures," Chiron admitted. "Besides that bird, but I wouldn't count her."

"What bird?" Leo asked.

"Oh, you'll probably find out soon enough. She seems to know when to conveniently pop up."

"Well, as long as I can keep eating bacon, I'm fine with this."

Piper looked at Leo questioningly. "Really? It makes me glad I'm a vegetarian."

After a few more minutes of walking, Chiron spoke again. "You kids are taking this pretty well."

"Oh, trust me," Reyna laughed, "I'm still trying to grasp reality."

"Really?" Hazel asked. "I mean, I'm shocked too, but have you ever had… I don't know, any feeling that we haven't been alone? I mean there have been tales about merfolk for centuries. My mom even told stories to me when I was little."

Chiron looked over at her. "Did she?"

"Yeah. But I always thought they were… you know, fantasies."

The crab frowned. "Well, they are very much real. And sadly, our world has brought a mess into yours. I hope we can make this plan work. Many lives are at stake."

Mellie charged through the halls of the palace toward the throne room at a dangerously fast pace. She was grateful that there wasn't anyone in the corridors to slow her down, but the circumstances surrounding this fact scared her. Chiron and the soldiers-in-training had vanished without a trace the day before, and the entire kingdom was out looking for them. So far, nothing had turned up. The last reports of them were from the King himself- he went out to their training session to bring his son home, but returned alone, leaving Percy in the clearing to finish with the others.

Mellie knew how much this fact weighed on him, and how unstable it was making the throne of Atlantica. She sped up her swimming. She emerged through the open doorway of the throne room and was faced with an empty seat. She looked around the chamber.

King Poseidon was staring out a large window high on the wall. His fingers gripped the ledge in tight anxiety. Mellie took a breath and swam up to his side.

He turned and looked at her, small glimpses of hope in his eyes. "Any sign of them?"

She gave him a small bow before adjusting her sash in anticipation. "No, Your Majesty. The latest reports have come in. Even Tyson and Ella have searched everywhere. We've found no trace of Percy and Chiron, or the other students. Only their equipment from the clearing has been found."

Poseidon looked out the window again. It had now been twenty-four hours since he last saw his son. And things weren't looking good. But he wouldn't stop searching. None of them would.

His face grew serious. He looked back at Mellie with determined eyes. "Well, keep looking. Leave no shell unturned, no coral unexplored. Let no one in this kingdom sleep until they're safe at home."

He turned around and made for his throne. Mellie gave another bow. She tried to make sure the exhaustion didn't show on her face. "Yes, Sire." She quietly left the room.

Poseidon sank down into his chair and placed his hands on his face. "Oh… What have I done? What have I done?"

I realize now that at the beginning of this story I didn't capitalize "Sire" and "Your Majesty" so I truly, truly apologize for that. ~'_'~ (I tried to make a blushing face- I'm not sure it worked out well.) I try not to make any spelling errors because I know how upsetting it is to be reading something and then find a mistake. I try very hard not to be that person. So, again, I apologize for that. I would go back and fix those mistakes but it would take too much time that I don't have.

On the bright side of life- Solangelo feels XD I thought it would work better if Nico and Will saw each other when investigating Leo and Calypso. Instead of just having Leo and Calypso giving in to their peers. Because, you know, that's a boring plot. And it also gets the ball rolling on Will and Nico's relationship.

I've talked too much. Review, Favorite, and Follow!

~Reader4ever1