Training with Percy leaves me soaked in sweat from head to toe, and we both drag ourselves to the shade of a dumpster to refresh ourselves with some water.

Percy dumps his bottle onto his head casually, and as I sip slowly from mine, watching the sun make a slow arc over the sky, I think about the hellhound with a smile. A loyal companion... I wish I had him with me.

"Thinking?" Percy interrupts my thoughts.

"Just about a hellhound I left behind," I say.

"They're pretty cute if they're not trying to rip you apart," Percy sighs, looking wistful. "I had a hellhound before."

"Really?" I sit up and glance at him. "How?"

"It's a long story for another day," Percy says, standing up. "How's the 'Son of Hades' thing going for you?"

I shrug. "I don't feel any different, the skeleton summoning thing was adrenaline... I'm not so great at the 'powers' thing."

"You'll get used to it," Percy pats my shoulder reassuringly. "I had a friend who was a son of Hades... you have to be careful with the summoning the dead thing... it could really kill you if you overuse it."

"Overusing it is the least of my worries!" I laugh. "I'm still figuring out how to do it again."

"It'll come when it matters," Percy puts a hand to his forehead. "So the lightning... it was Fiona's doing?"

"Yeah," I say distantly. "How'd she not notice?"

"Maybe she did," Percy says. "But she was too confused to report it... it really did seem like a sign for you."

"Has this ever happened before?" I ask. "I mean, being wrongly claimed."

"You weren't wrongly claimed... Zeus was claiming Fiona... but it just happened to look like your sign," Percy says.

"Well why didn't Zeus send another one?" I demand.

Percy shrugs. "I dunno, gods are pretty busy... anyway... where did we leave off again? The defensive twist?"

"Uh huh," I nod, rising to my feet.

"Okay," Percy positions his sword above mine. "Now attack me."

Cautiously, I take an upwards swing at Percy's chest, but suddenly Percy's blade catches mine, and he twists it downwards, sending my sword clattering to the ground.

"Whoa!" I exclaim, retrieving my blade. "How'd you do that?"

"Simple, but effective, I bet the Amazons didn't teach you much of these sly tricks," Percy explains. "I place the part of my sword closer to the hilt on the very tip of your sword, giving me more control. Then it's a simple flick of the wrist," he demonstrates the move over and over, "and that's it. Give it a try."

I watch Percy carefully and as he slashes forwards, I place my blade over his and put all my weight into a downwards thrust.

To my surprise, Percy's blade swivels upwards, dodging my maneuver, and with nothing supporting my sword, I tumble to the ground in a heap.

"What'd you do?" I ask, sitting up.

"You were too slow," Percy says. "I could tell what you were going to do from the movement of your eyes. A good swordsman knows how to use their eye movements to their advantage."

"How do I strike accurately if my eyes are looking elsewhere?" I ask eagerly.

"Practice," Percy replies simply.

I narrow my eyes in concentration. "Can we try again?"

"Of course," Percy grins as he positions his blade. "Now I'm going to attack you, and you try to twist my blade out of my hand."

Percy rears upwards and slashes downwards at my chest. I bring up my own sword to intercept Riptide in a shower of sparks. Gritting my teeth, I twist my blade upwards and press downwards on Percy's blade.

With a grunt of effort, I send Percy's sword to the ground, and triumph blossoms in my chest. "I did it!" I say in surprise and pleasure.

"Nice work," Percy says as he retrieves Riptide. "Your movements are quick and sharp, but your disengage was too big. A smaller twist requires less time and effort."

"Let's try again then," I pant, feeling exhilarated at the new move.

"Percy," Fredrick salutes as the son of Poseidon approaches. "We've set up guards around the alleyways, Annabeth insisted that we did."

"Good," Percy sheaths Riptide and places the pen in his shirt pocket. "Any sign of trouble?"

"We've had a few skirmishes with some dracaena, but they seemed to be operating alone," Fredrick reports. "A few wounds, but nothing serious."

"Anything else?" Percy asks.

"Oh, yes, another demigod... a new one... I think his name was Eric Pink... something along those lines..." Fredrick shrugs. "We found him running from some hellhounds and decided to help the poor kid. He fell over in exhaustion, so we brought him to rest. We're too low on ambrosia and nectar to use it on a newbie... and he didn't have any wounds, just tired."

"Eric Pink... Eric Pink..." I echo. "Why does he sound so familiar?"

"You know this kid?" Percy arches an eyebrow. "Some crazy Amazon sense?"

"No," I mutter, pressing my fingers to my temples. "Eric... Pink... Eric... Pink... Pink... Pinky!" Elation rushes through me. "Pinky! Eric Pinky!"

Fredrick and Percy give me blank stares. "Pinky?" Percy repeats. "Like the pinky finger?"

"Yeah!" I say. "I met him... back at Aaron's mansion... but why... he was a colonel of Aaron's army... why is he here?"

"He's a spy!" Fredrick's eyes widen in horror. "We can't trust him! We've gotta... we've gotta get rid of him before he regains consciousness!"

Fredrick leaps up and begins to sprint away.

"Wait!" Percy jumps in front of the lanky son of Hermes, halting him. "Don't do anything yet... post a guard over him till he wakes. I want to hear what he has to say."

"But..." Fredrick protests.

"Hey," Percy places a hand on Fredrick's shoulder. "I've got this under control. No need to worry."

"That's when I get the most worried." Fredrick mutters, but he doesn't argue anymore.

"I bet Annabeth would agree with me," Percy adds.

"I'll watch over this 'pinky guy' myself," Fredrick says, stalking away.

"Don't bring up his surname," I warn. "He's pretty sensitive about it."

"I'd be too," Percy jokes. "Percy Pinky? That has a dumb ring to it!"

"But why'd he be here?" I ask, suddenly serious.

Percy shrugs. "Guess we'll find out." The son of Poseidon puts his hands in his pockets and strides away.
"You're not worried?" I call after him.

Percy turns around to look at me. "Well there's no benefit in worrying too much," he says. "The result will be the same anyway."

"Yeah I guess," I say. "I'll listen to you."

"You should," Percy adds jokingly. "I'm always right."

"Hey, have you seen Melinda?" I ask.

"The pretty Asian girl?" Percy leans forwards until his face enters the light, grinning slyly. "What you looking for her for?"

"I just want to see how she's coping," I say.

"That's what a gentlemen does," Percy laughs. "Getting all the ladies?"

I blush fiercely. "No," I shake my head too eagerly. "I mean... her boyfriend's dead... she needs company."

"Hey," Percy sits down on the dusty ground. "While we're here... how do you like Camp Half-blood, I know you expected to go out and explore the world."

"Not really," I say. "This camp full of demigods is awesome... I mean, I love how everything works... and I have more friends here than I had back on Themyscira."

"How was it there?" Percy wonders aloud. "I mean... living on an island dominated by women for over half a decade."

"Hostile," I say. "I know they only let me live because Zeus told them to take care of me... bit of a shocker when Diana told me... turns out the little thunder fleabag actually had a little guilt for murdering my mother."

"Why do you reckon he did it?" Percy asks curiously.

"I dunno," I say, feeling my eyes suddenly prick with tears at the mention of my dead mother. "I didn't know her anyway."

"Well Zeus doesn't go around slaughtering women whenever he feels like it," Percy says. "Even he isn't as bigheaded as that... especially murdering women carrying demigods."

I guess I never really thought hard about why Zeus killed my mother. I remain silent for a few moments. What motive could he have had? She didn't pose a threat to him... so was it to prove something? To... to... hurt another god... Hades? To... to... get... get revenge! Everything clicks at once, and I gasp aloud. "How could I have been do stupid?" I clap a hand to my forehead.

"What?" Percy glances at me in surprise. "Figured it out?"

"Aaron... his father was Zeus... he was born during the gods' oath..." I say. "Hades created an earthquake that killed Aaron's mother... and that must have been a near the time of my birth... which means... Zeus... he..."

"Did get his revenge on Hades," Percy finishes for me.

Sudden rage overtakes me, and I slam my fist onto the ground. "That's why my mother had to die? Because... because my father messed around with Zeus' son!" I scream. "She died for my father's mistake?"

"Well it wasn't entirely Hades' fault," Percy begins tentatively. "You were born before the oath was voided."

"Then my mother died because Hades paid attention to her!" I bellow at the ground. "Father, are you listening to me?" I press my face close to the ground. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! My mother was better off never meeting you... you... you oily scumbag!"

"Athene," Percy says quietly. "That's not the greatest idea."

"I don't even know what she looks like!" I sob, sinking to my knees. "I never heard her voice! Never felt her skin against mine! No memories of her! Nothing! There's nothing!"

The ground below me rumbles, as my tears slowly drip to the ground. "I never even knew her." I say, softly. "At least if I didn't exist... she would be alive and happy with a man that she actually deserved!"

Athene, a deep voice resounds around me. I am truly sorry about your mother's fate... there was nothing I could do. She was a beautiful and kind young lady, and you are right, she did deserve better than what I gave her. But I could not be prouder of the hero you have become, I hope one day, you will be able to forgive me.

I glance around me wildly for the source of the voice, but it has gone. "Did you hear that?" I ask Percy.

Percy shakes his head, bewildered. "Your eyes just went all dark... like black..." Percy says in concern. "What happened?"

"Hades," I breathe. "I heard his voice... in my head."

"He spoke to you?" Percy gasps. "He spoke to you? What'd he say?'

"He said... he said he was sorry," I say, staring at the ground, my sudden bout of emotion forgotten. "He said he was proud."

"Vague, eh?" Percy says. "Classic god move."

"He spoke to me... " I say, still stunned. "He acknowledged me."

A deep calm overtakes me, and I am still unsure of what just unfolded. I'm fantastic at holding grudges... but... to blame Hades seems wrong... I know I can't revive my mother... but her life ended as mine began... and I can't waste my lift, and hers. I will make her and Hades proud of me.