Hi! Sorry I didn't update yesterday. The site wasn't working. It wouldn't let me log on to get to my story or anything! It was so sad. Oh well. I could've given you a half chapter yesterday, but decided I'd wait. So I'm updating today. Hope you enjoy the chapter, although you should all know that I own nothing. :)

Percy's POV

Piper looked me in the eye one last time. "Just think about it, okay? If you want us to save you, stay near the door. We'll be there to help you as soon as we can. Okay?"

I didn't nod or acknowledge that in any way. I'd already made up my mind. Piper swiped through the Iris message, and i was alone with my thoughts. My thoughts knew what the right choice was. The question is, will they agree with my heart?

Caught up in my thoughts, I didn't realize I had subconsciously crawled back to the main part of the throne room. I found myself standing a few feet from the entrance to my home. Shrugging to myself, I didn't really pay attention to it. If it had happened before I'd come into this room to stay, I wouldn't have reacted that calmly.

This room seemed to change me.

Whatever. I don't care. I'm just here because my lovely girlfriend is trying to protect me.

But what if Pepper- excuse me, Piper- was right? What if Khione plans on killing me eventually? Who says she won't?

She did. She told me that I could trust her. That includes believing that she wouldn't try to kill me. By trusting Piper, I'm showing direct distrust to Khione. So who should I trust, Khione or Piper? My girlfriend, or the girl I just met?

I don't know! It's like saying which dog do you trust more: your german Shepard that you know is vicious but you've had for a long time, or the cute and friendly golden retriever that followed you home the other day? It's a hard decision for me, the guy that's loyal to everything. Wait, where did that come from? Since when have I been super loyal? Next thing you know, I'll be dressing up in red, white, and blue. Carrying a huge shield around with me, so everyone will know who I am.

"I'm Captain America!" I could say, "I was buried and ice and almost killed, but I'm still fighting for you! Vote for me on Election Day!"

I think I might be crazy. Might.

I blinked. Somehow, j was still standing by the entrance to my hole. That's strange. Good strange. I think.

I leaned back against the wall, relaxing for once. The thoughts in my head slowly subsided, leaving nothing. It was actually... Peaceful.

Those other two ice people had to disrupt it. Jerks.

I was just leaning against the wall, enjoying my moment of serenity, when some kind of sixth sense told me to duck. Internally, I shrugged, but ducked. It was a good thing too, because I saw a huge fist punch the air where my head had been. Thank the gods I ducked.

Quickly, I straightened up and faced my opponent. It was one of the ice dudes!

I wanted to shout at him. Mainly saying something like "Not cool, man!" Or something with more swears. But, I couldn't. Stupid ice suit.

Balancing as well as I could on the balls of my feet, I stared my enemy down. He gazed back at me with unblinking eyes. I was starting to wonder if this was just a stare-down, when my sixth sense spoke to me again. Something was coming up behind me. Now, the wall was to my right. The dude was in front of me, and something was coming up behind me. Doing the only sensible thing, I leapt to the left.

It was a good thing I did. The other ice dude, whom I shall call Joe, was charging towards the spot I'd just occupied. If id waited a second too late to leapt, id have been flattened. Even as it is, he still clipped the ice on my leg, causing it to chip and crack.

I turned, glaring at the two. I wanted to keep my eyes on them all the time.

From the way they were standing, blocking all access to my hole, I suspected that they didn't want me to go in. Yet they stood clear of the entrance, giving me the impression of them not being allowed to enter. Who knows why, I just know that if I can get in there, I'll probably be safe. That's good enough for me.

One small problem in my plan: I didn't include a phase where I defeat the dudes (whom I have now named Bob and Joe. Bob is the one that tried to punch me, Joe is the one that tried to flatten me.)

If only I could talk. Think of all the taunts and insults I could throw at them! Sigh. I guess I'll have to deal without my number one weapon.

Or my number two weapon, which is a literal weapon. Usually a long, pointy, letal weapon. Such as a sword. Or spear. Or even a dagger, I suppose. Just not an arrow, which usually is accompanied by a bow. Why, I don't know. Something just tells me that that's a big no-no.

All three of us stood there for a moment, waiting for the other to make the first move. I decided, after a long wait time, that j should do it. So, that's how I ended up suddenly rushing the two ice dudes.

Jt was not a good idea, now that I think about it. I'll spare you the details, but I should still point out that I was flat on my back a second later, wheezing. Or, I would be. If I could actually breathe through my nostrils/mouth. Stupid ice.

Ill skip through the next couple hours. All you need to know is that I got beat up. Badly. What felt like hours later, I was left to lie on my back, staring up at the ceiling of my hole. They threw me in once they were done with me, and I knew that if they could, they'd be laughing at me.

Before I blacked out, I looked at my body to assess the damage. My armor was cracked and chipped, some places even missing pieces. There was a strange red liquid seeping from various cuts. I think it was blood. I don't remember seeing it before. My eyes stared at it until I blacked out. As I passed out, I didn't notice the small Iris message appearing in front of me.