I felt so much better being back in my battered jeans, combat boots and Camp Half-Blood shirt that I almost didn't mind the sailing. I managed better than Annabeth, at least, who managed half an hour at most before going to lie down before she threw up overboard. The only thing I didn't particularly like was the long hair. I was used to it being short, and all of this was just getting in the way now. With nothing better to do with it, I braided it back and left it lay across one of my shoulders.

Sasha was still being uncomfortably quiet. She sat beside me, the same as ever, while we watched Percy sail closer to the Fleece. I stayed on the floor of the deck, the wolf lay against the side of my legs and her head rested on my knees.

"We'll be okay," I told her, ruffling her fur.

She sighed heavily. I hope so, my lady, she replied wryly. Do you believe Miss La Rue was right?

I hesitated. I wanted to say that I didn't. If she was, that meant Artemis had known I'd be chosen, not because I was female, but because I was more likely to give up everything to protect the gods, even if that meant I lost everything that mattered to me. I didn't want to believe that the gods would purposely pick me out for that. Whether I was willing or not, it felt like they were taking advantage, deciding that my life and happiness meant nothing.

On the other hand, it all felt too convenient. The prophecy Annabeth had mentioned was about me or Percy, the only two who had any chance of being chosen by Sasha in the first place. Sasha had admitted herself that it was my personal qualities that made her choose me, and if that was the case, it would make sense that the gods sent her first, to pick out the most self-sacrificing one.

"I think so," I managed, my voice catching in my throat. Sasha glanced at me, her blue eyes glistening in the moonlight. "I don't know, Sasha. I really want to say no, but it makes too much sense. I can't shake the feeling this isn't going to end well."

She whined in her throat, shifting to resting her head on my stomach. I sighed sadly, letting my fingers rest across her fur gently.

"Acacia?" I looked up at Percy, watching us in concern. "Everything alright?" His eyes slid to Sasha, who currently looked more like a scared dog than a fearless wolf.

"Not really," I admitted with a small smile. "But when is it ever? How about you? Doing alright?"

He looked a little surprised that I'd even asked, but settled himself down and took a deep breath. "I've just been turned into a guinea pig," he reminded me gruffly. "So no, not really. I can't shake a craving for lettuce."

I laughed, the first real laugh for a long time. "Lettuce, huh?" I chuckled, and even Percy's lips twitched.

"I could think of worse," he conceded. "But . . . it's not even that. Do you really think Annabeth was right? About the prophecy?"

My smile faded and I dropped my eyes to Sasha again, playing with her ears gently. "Yes," I replied.

Percy looked taken aback. "Why?" he blinked. "Why would we ever have to decide something like that?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. But look at what's happened so far, Percy. Zeus, Poseidon and Hades swear not to have demigod children, and just as two of them show up in Camp Half-Blood, Luke Castellan goes on the war path and is set on resurrecting their psychotic father. You think that's a coincidence?"

He stared. "I guess not."

My lips twisted and I returned my attention to Sasha dejectedly. I could tell Percy wanted to ask more. Maybe he'd made the connection between the prophecy and my tests now, too. Something made me want to admit it all. I wanted to tell him everything; his father's test, my concerns about Apollo's attention, Artemis's reason behind sending Sasha first, even Aphrodite's test. It was highly unlikely he'd have anything more useful to say on the subject than Sasha or I had, but he always managed to make me feel better. I don't know how, but he did.

But Annabeth chose that precise time to stagger back onto the deck and the words failed in my mouth. Instead, I watched Percy try to contain his laugh as she stumbled toward us, sinking to the ground on Sasha's other side. The wolf gave a feeble wag of her tail, then returned her head to my stomach.

"A little sea-sick?" Percy guessed with a smirk.

Annabeth glowered at him. "Watch it," she warned.

I managed a small smile as he laughed at her. "I'd think twice about threatening the son of Poseidon out here, Annabeth," I pointed out lightly.

"Thanks for the back-up," she grumbled at me. Her eyes shifted off into the distance, and I watched as they settled on something uncomfortably. I followed her gaze curiously. In the distance, an island formed a small volcano. The sea bubbled and steamed around the shore, and fire spots of flames occasionally spat from the top threateningly.

"What's that?" I asked.

"One of the forges of Hephaestus," she said. "We should avoid it."

"We are doing," Percy scoffed. "You think I'm stupid enough to sail close to a volcano?" She shot him a look and he scowled.

"Don't the Cyclops work there?" I asked casually, and Annabeth tensed. I glanced at her in surprise. "What?"

She said nothing, but Percy shifted. "Luke … Luke said that a Cyclops was the reason Thalia was dead," he muttered, and my stomach dropped.

My eyes drifted back to the volcano, now less curious than I was numb. "I don't understand," I said slowly. "Thalia died on Half-Blood Hill. No one mentioned anything about a Cyclops."

"He didn't mean it like that," Annabeth told me. "On the way to camp, we took a wrong turn into Brooklyn. There was this Cyclops, and he . . . he tricked us into this maze. We were split up and he could - I mean, he could sound like anyone he wanted to, just change his voice and sound like any one of us. He managed to catch Thalia and Grover, and he was about to stew them and eat them when I found them. I managed to stab his foot and distract him long enough to get Thalia free. She finished him off."

I listened in awe, remembering how strong my sister had been, even before she left Denver. I'd always been a little jealous. She was so much more confident and strong than me. "I don't understand," I frowned. "If she killed him, then why . . .?"

"We were being followed by monsters from all over," she interrupted in a rush, like she just wanted the conversation over as quickly as possible. "The distraction gave them time to catch up, and by the time we reached camp, there were . . . there were just too many."

I scanned her expression, afraid she might burst into tears. I wasn't sure what to say. I knew she felt awful about what had happened. She and Grover always seemed to be blaming themselves for what happened to her, and neither of them had ever quite met my gaze when the subject of my sister came up. It was almost as if they felt they should be making amends to me. What they didn't seem to realise is that I probably felt just as bad.

Annabeth had never understood that. "It wasn't your fault, Annabeth," I said, finding enough courage to meet her gaze. She tried to interrupt but I ignored her. "You were seven. What you did was amazing. I'd never have been that brave when I was seven! I was still petrified of hell hounds back then."

"You fought for your mother for three years," she pointed out.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, would you please stop reminding me? Annabeth, that was the worst mistake I ever made. Staying only put her in more danger. You know Thalia practically begged me to leave with her? Probably as much for Mum as me, though she'd never have admitted it. Thalia had always protected me. Always. And what did I do? I watched her leave, knowing she could quite easily get herself killed, and I didn't even try to follow."

Percy and Annabeth stared. I went back to messing with Sasha's ears with an empty feeling in my chest. I realised I wanted so badly to be able to apologise to Thalia, for everything. Nothing I did now was ever going to make up for leaving her alone. Nothing was going to bring her back from the dead.

Annabeth cleared her throat. "You should get some sleep," she told us both. "You look shattered, both of you."

Percy nodded, yawning as he pushed himself to his feet. I didn't move, watching Annabeth glance between us before rushing after Percy and pulling him to one side. I had no idea what it was about, but I found I didn't care. I tilted my head back and rested it against the ship, trying to force myself to feel tired, but after everything that had happened, there were too many emotions to feel anything else.

Eventually though, I became so tired there was no avoiding it. My eyelids shut softly, and I slipped into my usual routine of disturbing dreams.

Then the locket around my neck began burn.

Suddenly, I was standing on the porch outside the Big House in Camp Half-Blood, looking up at the top of Half-Blood Hill. Thalia's tree was green and healthy once again, and its leaves vibrant. It stood tall and proud against the fading sunlight, and a large crowd had gathered around its base.

In the background, lightning struck furiously and rain crashed heavily, even inside the borders. I was leaning against the rails, weak and tired, my skin drained of all colour. The only sign of life was in my eyes, glistening in worry as I watched, helpless. "Acacia! What's going on?" I twisted slowly to see Percy racing toward me, vaulting onto the porch with a frown.

"I don't know," I choked. "Help me up."

He blinked. "Up the hill, but?"

"Percy, I need to see!" I begged, and lightning crashed again.

The scene shifted. Now I was stood outside my old room in Denver, tears streaming down my cheeks. I was only young, about four years old, and I was clutching a blue bear with a purple shirt that read 'Jason' to my chest. My hair was messy and pinned back away from my face, and it looked as though I hadn't eaten or washed for days.

In front of me, Thalia didn't look much better. She was much older and taller, and her short hair had been chopped into spikes. She was dressed in ripped black skinny jeans, and a baggy black shirt with a black leather jacket. Right now, her eyes were narrowed down at me. She scanned the silent tears streaming from my eyes, and sighed heavily, her expression relaxing as she knelt in front of me.

"Come with me," she said softly.

The four-year-old me sniffed loudly, wiping my tears with the back of the bear. "Is Mom coming?" I asked quietly, in an American accent I hadn't had for a long time.

Thalia's expression twitched. "No," she said sternly. "Acey, we aren't safe here. Mom can't protect us. Come with me, and I'll make sure you're safe."

My face scrunched up and I hid behind the bear, shaking my head. "I can't go without Mom," I mumbled through the fur.

"Acacia, she can't help us!" Thalia told me sternly. "She's the reason Jason is de-" She cut off as I suddenly started to cry again. I knew it annoyed her, so I was trying to hide it behind the bear, but I couldn't help it. I couldn't stand the thought of losing Jason. He'd been so small and so young. Even smaller than me, and he was the only one that ever laughed and played with me in the garden. I wanted him back so badly, I couldn't help but cry.

Thalia gulped and ran a hand through her hair. "Look, I don't want you to get hurt too, okay? We can do better on our own."

Downstairs, something crashed and Mum cursed loudly. I sniffed again. "Mom needs help too," I blinked, still crying.

My sister was getting annoyed. "We can't help her, Acacia, we're kids!" she insisted. "Acacia, please, I'm begging you, come with me! Please."

If anything, it only made me cry harder. "Can't you s-stay?" I replied desperately.

"No," she answered. "She hurt Jason, Acey, and I'm not sticking around long enough to see her do it again. Please, please, can't you see we need to get out of here?"

I sniffed. "I don't want Mom to be alone," I replied.

Thalia stared at me, like she didn't understand, and for a second, I thought she might cry too. Then she straightened out, gulping hard and adjusting her jacket. "Fine. Good luck, Acacia. Take care of yourself." She pressed a quick kiss on the top of my forehead then twisted and took the stairs two at a time.

I hesitated, holding my breath to stop the tears for a moment, and in the silence, I heard Thalia bark something at Mum furiously, and a door slam. I waited, but it never opened again. Panic rushed through me and I staggered down the stairs unsteadily. Mum was slouched against the couch, crying and clutching a glass bottle of amber liquid that Thalia hated. I ignored her, fumbling with the front door until it swung open and I rushed outside, searching the streets for Thalia.

But she'd already gone, nowhere to be seen.

A sob broke through my lips and I crashed to the ground, clutching Jason's bear tightly. Overhead, thunder rumbled and rain lashed through the air.

"Acacia?"

I woke with a start, shivering. Percy was knelt in front of me, frowning slightly. For a moment, still groggy from the sleep, I almost asked for Jason. Then a hollow, sinking feeling gripped my stomach, and I shuddered violently.

"Are you alright?" Percy asked carefully.

I took a ragged breath and lifted my hand to my eyes. Dried tears had trailed across my cheeks, refusing to budge as I tried to wipe them away. "I'm fine," I lied. "What's up?"

He held out candle wax in the shape of ear-buds. "We're near the Sirens. You should probably block your ears."

"Sirens?" I repeated stupidly.

Sasha yawned and stretched beside me. Evil monsters, my lady, she said, shaking out her fur. Their song can cause you to drown.

"That wouldn't take much work," I mumbled.

"They show you what you want the most, apparently," Percy shrugged. "Annabeth's curious." I frowned, puzzled, and he gave me a dark look, pointing over his shoulder. She was stood against one of the masts, tied to it tightly and looking dead ahead.

"Percy, that's insane!" I breathed, wide-eyed. "She's going to get herself killed!"

"I know that, you know that, now go and try to convince her," he said stiffly.

I tried, but it didn't matter. Annabeth had already made her mind up. "Let me get this straight," I blinked. "You're doing this because it will make you wiser?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"But this is the stupidest idea you have ever had!" I breathed. "Do you even see how ridiculous that is?"

She glowered. "You're not changing my mind, Acacia! Don't you ever want to know what you want? What you really want?"

My face slipped. "Annabeth, I have enough trouble dealing with what I think I want, let alone what I really want," I murmured. "This is stupid, what if you get loose?"

"You and Percy won't let me," she answered immediately.

"No pressure then," he snorted. "Give it up, Acacia. It won't work."

Reluctantly, I moved to stand at the other end of the boat where I could watch Annabeth closely. I plunged the candle wax deep into my ears and ran my fingers through my chain absent-mindedly. What if Annabeth was right? What did I really want?

I thought of everything that had happened since I was a little girl and realised I'd never given it much thought before now. When I was a very little girl, it had been Jason. The thought made my chest clench tightly around my heart. I missed him so much. Then it had been my alcoholic mother. Then it was Mary and Felicity. Then Percy, and Annabeth, and Grover and everyone else at Camp Half-Blood.

So what about me? What did I want?

Immediately, I thought of Apollo. The idea worried me slightly to notice just how deep under my skin that god was, but thinking about it, he was the only person I'd ever met that made me happy. But then I thought of my family - Percy, Annabeth, the campers, even Thalia. Didn't they make me happy too? Wouldn't I give everything for them?

I wanted to know, so badly, I almost reached up to take the wax from my ears. No, my lady, Sasha's voice urged, and she twisted to turn away from Annabeth and watch me instead. Her voice was sharp and clear, loud enough to cut through the dangerous thoughts and bring me back to reality.

Shaking it all away, I looked up at Annabeth and regretted it almost immediately. She was straining against the rope and crying hard and fast, begging Percy and me to let her go. I glanced back at Percy, to see he looked just as lost and upset as I was. Still, he only turned away, refusing to give in to it. He's right, I reminded myself. She can't get loose.

I watched her carefully for another few minutes, and wondered whether I should try and calm her down, but something told me that wouldn't work. Instead, I sank my teeth into my bottom lip hard. After another few minutes, I had to scrunched my eyes up tightly, blocking it all out. It was too much, I couldn't watch her like that. Instinctively, my hand flicked open my locket, but what good would that do? There was nothing to shoot at, nothing to save her from.

The silence began making me anxious, and I risked a peek at Annabeth. She was almost traumatised by this point, her face red and blotchy from the tears and her hands still trying to get herself free. I gulped, and mimed an apology at her, before closing my eyes again.

I stayed like that for another minute, before someone shook me furiously.

I opened my eyes with a start. Percy looked panicked, pointing back at the mast. A gasp of horror slipped my lips as I noticed Annabeth had managed to cut herself loose somehow. How had we forgotten to disarm her?

I scrambled to my feet, bolting to the side of the ship and searching for signs of her. Gods, how could we have been so stupid? We should have never let her do this! First Tyson, then Clarisse, and now Annabeth? I couldn't take it.

In the distance, I spotted her, swimming like mad toward the rocks. I yelled at Percy, who couldn't hear me, but Sasha bolted forward and dragged him toward me. I pointed out to where she was, fully aware that I was less than useless in this situation. Without a word, Percy climbed onto the rails and leapt into the water gracefully, shooting toward her like a bullet.

I gulped hard and took a step back, running a hand over my face anxiously. I'd never felt helpless in my whole life. All I could do was pace by the edge of the ship, watching for signs of them returning.

Gods, Sasha, what are we going to do? I gulped. What if something happens? I can't steer a ship!

They'll be okay, my lady, she assured me. Perseus Jackson will save her. He is the Son of Poseidon, he'll bring her back. I glanced at her, nodding without really meaning it. I was too scared to have much faith in anything at the moment.

It took ten whole minutes, but eventually, I caught sight of them in the distance. I let out a relieved sob, rushing forward and helping Annabeth aboard. The second she was on, I wrapped my arms around her tightly, holding on for dear life. I wasn't sure if she could hear me, but I was vaguely aware of threatening her if she ever considered risking her life again.

Then Percy climbed up and I pulled him into a hug without a thought. He looked a little embarrassed when I pulled back, but I didn't care. I was fed up of losing people. I couldn't lose anyone else.

I sat with Annabeth, wrapped in her blanket, with Sasha at our feet. Percy took his place back at the pilot's wheel. She didn't say anything, just huddled herself up and hid her face until it was safe to listen again. She nudged my elbow gently when it was, and I pulled out the candle wax with a twisted expression.

Percy looked in our direction. "You okay?" he asked.

Annabeth didn't look up, playing with the edge of her blanket dejectedly. "I didn't think it would be that strong," she muttered. "The temptation . . ."

She trailed off, and I glanced back at Percy for support. He shrugged. "If it makes you feel better, I only didn't because of Sasha," I told her softly. She looked at me, like she thought I was making it up, but Sasha grumbled in her throat to agree with a flick of her tail.

"Thanks," Annabeth muttered. "But it doesn't help. What I saw . . ."

This time, Percy coughed awkwardly. "I, err, saw that," he said, obviously wondering how much to say in front of me. Annabeth flushed, but when she didn't say anything, he took it as a sign to carry on. "The way you built Manhattan, I mean. And . . . your parents and Luke. He really got to you, didn't he? When he talked about starting from scratch?"

I blinked in surprise, but Annabeth's shoulders sagged. "They showed me my fatal flaw. Deadly pride. Thinking I can do things better than everyone else."

"You think that?" I asked before I could help myself. Honestly, I was more curious than anything else. I'd never been remotely confident in my own abilities.

"Haven't you ever wondered what it would be like to start over?" she breathed, twisting to face Percy and me. I cast him a quick, concerned look, but he wasn't paying attention. His eyes were fixed on Annabeth. "To get rid of all the bad things and just wipe the slate clean? Build something . . . better?"

This was starting to sound dangerously like Luke talking. Far too much for my liking, but I couldn't say that. "Um, no, I haven't," Percy admitted. I shook my head in agreement.

"Then you're lucky. That's not your fatal flaw."

"Then what is?" he asked. Annabeth shrugged, and I found myself shivering. I had a funny feeling I knew what mine was, having had a sneak peak at what was most likely to kill me.

Percy seemed to realise Annabeth and I were off in our own worlds, because he cleared his throat. "I had a dream about you, Acacia."

I lifted an eyebrow in surprise, and he shifted, glancing sideways at Annabeth, but she was still daydreaming. "It was on Luke's ship," he rushed. "But you looked weird. Like, a little older and with spiky hair."

"Spiky hair?" I repeated, baffled. "I've never had spiky hair. Thalia-" I cut off, staring at him with a strange twisting in my chest. "Thalia had spiky hair," I finished slowly. "But she had blue eyes, not grey."

Percy shifted, obviously on edge. "Black jeans, and a punk look?" he guessed, and I nodded. "Why would I be dreaming of your sister? I've never met your sister!"

I opened my mouth, not entirely sure how to answer, but at that moment, Annabeth gasped and pointed away from us. Up ahead, another island loomed, only this one was full of hills and white beaches.

Percy pushed himself to his feet. "This is it," he declared. "The Fleece is on that island."