Chapter 21: Of Course a Prophecy Has To Come True

On the way to Camp Half-Blood, Percy explained to me what Olympus looked like, what Poseidon looked like, and the conversation they had.

"Did he really tell you that Mom was like a queen?" I mumbled. I was feeling a little left out.

"Yes, but he said that you were a true daughter of Poseidon," Percy said.

I couldn't tell if he was lying or not, but it did make me feel better.

"He also said that it stupid of you to stay behind like that," Percy added.

I elbowed him in the ribs, "Shut up. He did not say that."

"All right, he didn't," Percy said, laughing.

It was strange, being back at camp. Apparently we were the first demigods to return from a quest alive, since Luke. So, the camp treated us as if we won some sort of famous celebrities.

According to camp tradition, we had to wear laurel wreaths to a big feast that was prepared in our honor, and then led a procession down to the bonfire where we got to burn burial shrouds that our cabins made for us in our absence.

Considering that I was Percy's cabin mate and I went with him; Casey, Alexa, and Eric made me a shroud, which was sea blue and had two crossed tridents in the middle. I think Percy was jealous over my shroud, because his was an old bed-sheet and had painted on smiley with X'ed out eyes around the border. It had the word LOSER pained really big in the middle.

Eric, Alexa, and Casey had apologized to Percy because they were going to make him one, but Clarisse and the others got to it. Apparently they hadn't exactly forgiven him on embarrassing their dad and I think Eric was sort of at war with that himself. Percy looked eager to burn his shroud. I didn't blame him.

Annabeth's shroud was beautiful, gray silk with embroidered owls on it. Percy had said that it was a shame not to bury her in it, which resulted in her punching him in the arm.

Apollo's cabin led the sing-along and passed out s'mores. I was telling Alexa, Casey, and Eric about the quest I had been on and how I had been thrown in Hades's dungeon.

I looked at Percy who was surrounded by our old Hermes cabin-mates. Annabeth's half-sibling from Athena and Grover's fellow satyr buddies were admiring the brand-new searcher's license he had received from the Council of Cloven Elders.

It seemed like the only ones that weren't happy were Clarisse and her half-siblings, who were giving Percy death-glares.

"Don't worry about them," Eric said, pulling at a loose thread on his fingerless gloves.

"Why do you always wear those?" I asked him.

"I don't always wear them," Eric said. He had seemed surprised that I had handed him the camouflage jacket back, in one piece.

"Really?" Alexa replied, sounding incredulous. "You always wear them during canoe races."

"It really isn't important," Eric said, shrugging, pulling the thread off on his fingerless gloves.

Percy and I returned back to cabin three. I had placed the snow globe I got from the abandoned water park on my bedside table. I got in the top bunk and I listened to the sea, wondering if his was proud for what we'd done.

"He did say that he was proud of us," Percy said, as if knowing what I was thinking.

I nodded, "What did he look like?"

"Like a stereotypical fishermen, like in cartoons," Percy said.

I looked at him, confused. He explained that Poseidon wore leather sandals, Bermuda shorts, and a shirt that had parrots and coconuts all over it. Apparently he had black hair and sea foam green eyes like us, and had a brooding look that made him look like a rebel, but he had crinkles around his eyes that looked like he smiled a lot.

A week later, Mom sent us a letter that said that Gabe had mysteriously left, like he had disappeared off the face of the planet. She had reported him missing, but she had a funny feeling that they would never find him.

On an unrelated subject, she sold her first life-size concrete sculpture, which was called: The Poker Player, to a collector through an art gallery in Soho. She had received so much money that she put a deposit down on a two bedroom apartment, but I was fine with the living room. She even made a payment on her first semester's tuition at NYU. The Soho gallery was clamoring for more work, but Mom said that she was done with sculpture work. She had disposed the box of tools that we had given her and decided that she was going to start writing. I couldn't help but wonder what she had done with Medusa's head.

As a P.S. she said that she found us a good private school in the city for us. She said that she placed a deposit down to hold Percy a spot in case he wanted to enroll for seventh grade. We could live at home. But she said that if Percy wanted to stay year-round at Half-Blood Hill, she would understand.

Percy folded the note and set it on his bedside table. I knew that every night he reads it before going to sleep. He asked me what he should do, but I told him that it was his decision to make.

On the Fourth of July, we gathered at the beach for the fireworks display by cabin nine. Since they were Hephaestus's kids, they weren't going to settle for the usual fireworks, so they had anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rocket.

Annabeth told us that the blasts would be sequenced so tightly that they'd look like frames of animation right across the sky. The finale was supposed to be a couple of hundred-foot-tall Spartan warriors that would fight a battle, and then explode in colors.

Alexa, Casey, Eric, and I were laying out a picnic blanket next to Annabeth's and Percy's, when Grover showed up. He was dressed in his usual jeans, tee-shirt, and sneakers. In the last few weeks, he started looking older, almost high-school age. His goatee had gotten thicker, he had put on some weight, and his horns had grown at least an inch. Now he had to wear his rasta hat all the time to pass off as human.

"I'm off," Grover said. "I just came to say…well, you know."

I felt happy for him; after all, it wasn't every day a satyr had gotten permission to look for Pan. "Good luck, Grover. Stay safe."

Annabeth gave Grover a hug and said, "Keep your fake feet on."

"Good luck," Casey said.

"Yeah, good luck," Alexa said.

"Good luck," Eric echoed Casey.

"Where are you going to search first?" Percy asked.

"Kind of a secret," Grover said, looking embarrassed. "I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan…"

Casey looked happy, "Really?"

"We understand," Annabeth said. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?"

"Yeah," Grover replied.

Annabeth asked, "And you remembered your reed pipes?"

"Do you remember any path finding songs?" Alexa asked.

Eric asked, "Any tree attacking songs?"

Casey added, "Or any apple tossing songs?"

"Jeez, you three," Grover said. "You sound like old mama goats."

Eric arched an eyebrow at that.

Grover didn't sound annoyed at that.

He gripped a walking stick and tossed his backpack over his shoulder, looking like a hitchhiker. Grover said, "Well, wish me luck."

"I do," Alexa said, "Even though I barely know you. I think I may have accidentally hit you with that volleyball last year."

Casey and Eric nodded at Grover.

He gave Annabeth another hug and then hugged me. I awkwardly patted him on the shoulder and then Grover clapped Percy on the shoulder. He shook Casey's, Alexa's, and Eric's hands, before he walked through the dunes and then fireworks exploded overheard. It looked like Hercules was killing the Nemean lion, Artemis chasing the boar, and George Washington crossing the Delaware.

I was confused and asked, "Why is George Washington crossing the Delaware?"

"He's a son of Athena," Annabeth said.

"Hey, Grover," Percy called.

Grover was at the edge of the woods and turned to look back at him. "Wherever you're going—I hope they make good enchiladas." Grover grinned and then walked in the woods.

"I feel sad seeing him go," Casey said. "I don't know him that well, but I feel sad."

"We'll see him again," Annabeth said.

"I hope so," I muttered.

July passed. Percy and I spent our days coming up with strategies for the Capture the Flag. We tried making alliances with the other cabins to keep the banner from Ares.

Percy had climbed to the top of the climbing wall for the first time without getting scorched by lava. I had managed to get to the top without ripping my jeans and burning my hair.

From time to time, I'd look up at the Big House, look at the attic windows, and think about the prophecy.

You shall go west, and face the god who has turned.

We did that, even though Percy faced the god that turned, who turned out to be Ares.

You shall find what was stolen, and see if safe returned.

Percy did that and one helm of darkness back to Hades.

You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

I didn't know who that was. I couldn't see Alexa or Casey betraying us. I couldn't picture Eric betraying me either.

And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end.

I didn't save the master bolt and I didn't return it, even though I thought that was the most important thing at the time. It wasn't my quest after all. I was just a tag along.

I was still feeling a little uneasy.

On the last night of the summer session, we had one last meal together. We burned part of our dinner for the gods, and at the bonfire, the senior counselors awarded the end-of-summer beads.

Percy and I got our own leather necklace. Our beads were pitch-black with a sea-green trident shimmering in the center.

"The choice was unanimous," Luke announced. "This bead commemorates the first Children of the Sea God at this camp, and the quest they undertook into the darkest part of the Underworld to stop a war!"

The entire camp got to their feet and cheered. Even Ares's cabin stood up. Athena's cabin steered Annabeth to the front so she could share in the applause.

I was happy, and then sad. People thought that we'd done something right, but in the next morning, most of them would probably be leaving for the year.

The next morning, there was a form letter on my bedside table.

Mr. D had filled it out.

Dear Amber Jones,

If you intend to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, you must inform the Big House by noon today. If you do not announce your intentions, we will assume you have vacated your cabin or died a horrible death. Cleaning harpies will begin work at sundown. They will be authorized to eat any unregistered campers. All personal articles left behind will be incinerated in the lava pit.

Have a nice day!

Mr. D (Dionysus)

Camp Director, Olympian Council #12

I couldn't help but think about Thalia. How many monsters would attack me if I left Half-Blood Hill? If I stayed in one place, without Percy, Chiron, or friends around, would Mom and I survive until the next summer?

But Mom already paid for my spot and that would be such a waste if I didn't go.

I decided to go canoeing with Alexa and Casey. Eric decided to tag-along, looking somewhat distracted.

Percy had decided to sword fighting practice since he looked distracted over the choice.

Alexa asked, "Are you going to home for the summer?"

"Yeah," I responded. "My mom found a private school for me to go to for the year. I mean, a year without Gabe being there is a dream that came true."

"What's wrong with your stepfather?" Casey asked, sounding confused.

"Many things," I responded. I looked at them. "Are you guys staying for the year?"

"Yeah," Alexa said and Casey nodded. I looked at Eric. "What about you?"

"I have nowhere else to go," Eric said. He was pulling at his fingerless gloves again.

We pushed a canoe out on the lake and clambered inside.

As we pushed off, Eric said, "My mom wrote to me."

"She did?" Alexa asked, sounding startled.

"Yeah, she wrote to me saying that she was sorry for what she did. And she deeply regretted—" Eric abruptly cut himself off.

"Sounds to me a little too late on that," Casey muttered.

"Yeah, she said that she wanted me to write back but she understands why I wouldn't," Eric said. "I'm not entirely sure if I want to write back to her."

"I wouldn't," Alexa said. "I don't know the whole story, but if she went to jail over it, I wouldn't."

"It's your choice," I told Eric, "If you want to write to her or not."

We got back from the canoe ride. As I was pulling the canoe back onto land, Percy ran up to me.

"Come on, Aria," Percy said.

I was confused, "What? Where?"

"The woods," Percy said. "Luke wants to fight one last monster."

I don't know why that gave me a strange feeling of dread, but I agreed to go with him. We walked to the woods where Luke was waiting and the two boys kick at some large patches of grass or shrubs, looking for some monster to fight, but I was beginning to get hot and tired.

We ended up sitting on a big rock where Percy broke Clarisse's spear during our first Capture the Flag. Percy and Luke cracked open Cokes. I would've taken one, but I didn't care too much for Coke.

"You two miss being on a quest?"

"With monsters attacking us every three feet?" asked Percy, "Are you kidding?" Luke arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, I miss it."

Luke looked at me.

I shrugged, "Never really gave it any thought. How about you?"

A shadow seemed to pass over his face.

I heard from girls that Luke was good-looking, and I did find him handsome, but he looked weary, angry, and not handsome. His blond hair looked gray in the sunlight and the scar on his face looked deeper than usual.

"I've lived at Half-Blood Hill year-round since I was fourteen. Ever since Thalia…well, you know, I trained, and trained, and trained. I never got to be a normal teenager, out there in the real world. Then they threw me one quest, and when I came back, it was like, 'Okay, ride's over. Have a nice life.'" He crushed his Coke can and threw it in the creek.

I was stunned at that. One of the first rules one learns at camp is that you don't litter. Nymphs and naiads will get their revenge. You crawl in bed one night, only to find your sheets filled with mud and bugs.

"The hell with laurel wreaths," Luke exclaimed. "I'm not going to end up like those dusty trophies in the Big House attic."

"You sound like you're planning on leaving," I said.

"Yeah," Percy said.

Luke gave us a smile. "Oh, I'm leaving, all right, you two. I wanted to bring Percy down here to say good-bye, but he decided to bring you along. Either way, I brought you both down here to say good-bye." He snapped his fingers and a small fire burned a hole in the ground at Percy's feet.

Out of the hole crawled something glistened black and was about the size of Percy's hand. It was a scorpion.

I reached for my dagger and Percy reached for his pen.

"I wouldn't," Luke said. "Pit scorpions can jump up to fifteen feet. Its stinger can pierce right through your clothes. You'll be dead in sixty seconds."

I started, "I don't—"

Percy also started, "Luke, what—"

It slammed the door on me.

You will be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

"You," Percy accused.

Luke stood up and brushed off his jeans.

The scorpion looked at Percy and me, and then clamped its pincers as it crawled on my leg.

"I saw a lot out there in the world, you two," Luke said. "Didn't either of you feel it—the darkness gathering, the monsters growing stronger? Didn't you realize how useless it all is? All the heroics—being pawns of the gods? They should've been overthrown thousands of years ago, but they've hung on, thanks to us half-bloods."

I was watching the pit scorpion crawl up my leg, slowly. Percy was looking between the pit scorpion and Luke.

"Luke…you're talking about our parents," Percy said.

Luke laughed. "That's supposed to make me love them? Their precious 'Western civilization' is a disease, Percy. It's killing the world. The only way to stop it is to burn it to the ground, start over with something more honest."

It was a good idea, but I think burning it to the ground wasn't the answer.

"You're as crazy as Ares," Percy accused

Luke looked pissed off. "Ares is a fool. He never realized the true master he was serving. If I had time, you two, I could explain. But I'm afraid that your sister won't live that long."

The scorpion crawled onto my calf.

"Kronos, that's who you serve," Percy said, looking at the scorpion, like he really wanted to stab it with his sword, but he knew he couldn't without somehow hurting me.

The air seemed to get colder.

"You should be careful with names," Luke warned.

"Wait," I said, looking as the scorpion moved up to my knee. "Kronos had convinced you to seal Zeus's master bolt and Hades's helm. He's been speaking to you in your dreams."

Luke's eye twitched, "He spoke to you, too, Aria. You should've listened."

"He's brainwashing you, Luke," Percy said.

"You're wrong," Luke accused. "He showed me that my talents are being wasted. You know what my quest was two years ago, you two? My father, Hermes, wanted me to steal a golden apple from the Garden of Hesperides and return it to Olympus. After all the training I'd done, that was the best he could think up."

"That…really isn't an easy quest," I said.

"Hercules did it," Percy said.

"Exactly," Luke said. "Where's the glory in repeating what others have done? All the gods know how to do is replay their past. My heart wasn't in it. The dragon in the garden gave me this," he pointed at his scar, "and when I came back, all I got was pity. I wanted to pull Olympus down stone by stone, right then, but I bided my time. I began to dream of Kronos. He convinced me to steal something worthwhile, someone no hero had ever had the courage to take.

"When we went on that winter-solstice field trip, while the other campers were asleep, I snuck into the throne room and took Zeus's master bolt right from his chair. Hades's helm of darkness, too. You wouldn't believe how easy it was. The Olympians are so arrogant; they never dreamed someone would dare steal from them. Their security is horrible, I was halfway across New Jersey before I heard the storms rumbling, and I knew they'd discovered my theft."

I looked down at the pit scorpion which was on my knee.

"So why didn't you bring the items to Kronos?" Percy asked.

"I…I got overconfident. Zeus sents out his sons and daughters to find the stole bolt—Artemis, Apollo, my father, Hermes. But it was Ares who caught me. I could have beaten him, but I wasn't careful enough. He disarmed me, took the items of power, threatened me to return them to Olympus and burn me alive. Then Kronos's voice came to me and told me what to say. I put the idea in Ares's head about a great war between the gods. I said all he had to do was hide the items away for a while and watch the others fight. Ares got a wicked gleam in his eyes. I knew he was hooked. He let me go, and I returned to Olympus before anyone noticed my absence." He drew his sword, which looked strange. One half was bronze and the other half steel. I remembered what Chiron said. Celestial bronze can't harm mortals, but steel could.

Luke continued explaining, "Afterward, the Lord of the Titans…h-he punished me with nightmares. I swore not to fail again. Back at Camp Half-Blood, in my dreams, I was told that a second hero would arrive, one who could be tricked into taking the bolt and the helm the rest of the way—from Ares down to Tartarus."

"So, you had summoned the hellhound that one night," I said.

"Yeah, you almost shot me with one of your bolts after I summoned it," Luke said, eyeing me. "We had to make Chiron think that the camp wasn't safe for you two, so he would start either of you on your quest. We had to confirm his fears that Hades was after both of you. And it worked."

"The flying shoes were cursed," Percy said. "They were supposed to drag me and the backpack into Tartarus."

"And they would have, if you'd been wearing them. But you gave them to the satyr, which wasn't part of the plan. Grover messes up everything he touches. He even confused the curse."

Luke looked down at the scorpion, which was now on my thigh. I was starting to panic. He looked at Percy, "You should have died in Tartarus, Percy."

"Why am I the one that's going to get killed by this scorpion?" I asked.

"You're a threat," Luke said, as if that explained everything. "I recognized that when you almost shot me the night during Capture the Flag."

"That was an accident," I said.

"Either way…" Luke said shrugging. "But don't worry, I'll leave you with my little friend to get you out of the way."

"Thalia gave her life to save you," Percy said, sounding like he was gritting his teeth. "And this is how you repay her?"

"Don't speak of Thalia!" Luke shouted. "The gods let her die! That's one of the many things they will pay for."

"You're just being used," I said.

"You and Ares both," Percy said. "Don't listen to Kronos."

"I've been used?" Luke said, his voice sounding shrill. "Look at yourself. What has your dad ever done for you? Krono will rise. You've only delayed his plans. He will cast the Olympians into Tartarus and drive humanity back to their caves. All except the strongest—the ones who serve him."

In a way, I can see where Luke was coming from. Chiron said that Poseidon claimed Percy and me because he needed us as a last resort. Alexa hasn't even been claimed yet and she's been here for two years. Casey has been ran out of her room and been here for months and still no sign of her mother.

Luke gave a twisted smile, "I see that Aria believes I have a point."

"She knows that you have no point," Percy said, though he sounded unsure. "If you're so strong, fight me yourself, as long as you call off the bug."

"Nice try, Percy. But I'm not Ares. You can't bait me. My lord is waiting, and he's got plenty of quests for me to undertake."

Percy called, "Luke—"

"Good-bye, Percy and Aria," Luke said. "There is a new Golden Age coming. Your sister won't be part of it."

He slashed his sword in a arch and disappeared in a ripple of darkness.

The scorpion lunged for my face and Percy swatted it away with his hand. He uncapped his sword and the scorpion jumped at him. He cut it in half in midair. He looked down at his hand, which had a huge red welt that was oozing and smoking with yellow pus. The damn thing had gotten him.

Percy looked and I grabbed his arm and dragged him to the water. He stuck his hand in it, but it didn't seem to work. The poison must be to strong.

Percy staggered and I had to drag him to camp. I nearly stumbled under his weight and I managed to haul him to the clearing.

"I need help!" I shouted to someone.

A counselor from some cabin noticed and she shouted, "We need help over here!" She ran to take Percy and a conch horn was blown by Chiron.

Percy promptly passed out.

A few Apollo kids, Chiron, and strangely Annabeth ran over. Chiron lifted Percy, who was green and looking gray, up.

"What happened?" Chiron asked me as we rushed him to the infirmary.

"A pit scorpion," I managed to say as my panic started turning to worry and fear as I followed them.

"Get some nectar and ambrosia," one Apollo kid ordered someone, "Quickly." She turned to an Apollo boy.

An Apollo girl shoved me out of the way, "You need to leave. You'll be getting in the way and we can't have that."

I turned and left the infirmary. Annabeth was standing on the porch, looking worried and calculating. She asked, "What happened?"

"A pit scorpion," I repeated.

"Where did that come from?" Annabeth asked.

"Luke summoned it," I managed to say. It felt like I was in some sort of trance.

"Why?" Annabeth asked.

I shrugged, "I don't know. He ranted about how he knows that I'm a threat and something about Kronos destroying Olympus and casting down the gods in Tartarus."

Annabeth seemed confused. "What?"

I repeated what I said, turned and walked away. I needed to stop and think and get my head on straight. I went to the lake.

I was still out there when Chiron came up to me, an hour later. He was looking grim and pale.

"Is he…?" I started, unsure.

"He's okay," Chiron said. "He's asleep." I relaxed. "I've been told that you were with him and you told me that it was a pit scorpion that got him. Tell me exactly what happened." He led me to the Big House as I explained to Chiron what happened.

It was nearing dusk when Chiron came to get me to tell me that Percy was waking up. When I got there, his hand was heavily bandaged and Annabeth was giving him nectar and dabbing his forehead with a washcloth. I took the nectar from her and put to the straw to his mouth.

Percy's eyes opened and looked at us. He said, "Here we are again."

"You idiot," Annabeth said.

I was annoyed with her all over again. "How are you feeling?"

"Like my insides have been froze, then microwaved," Percy said.

"Apt, considering that was pit scorpion venom," Chiron said.

"You were green and turning gray when Aria dragged you out of the woods," Annabeth said. "If it weren't for Chiron's healing…"

"Now, now," Chiron said. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit."

He was at the foot of Percy's bed. He had his lower half magically compacted in the wheelchair, while his upper half was dressed in a coat and tie. He smiled, but he looked pale and weary.

"I suppose you want the whole story," Percy said in between sips of nectar.

"Aria told us the whole story," Chiron said.

"I can't believe that Luke…" Annabeth started, but she looked angry and then sad. "Yes, yes, I can believe it. May the gods curse him…He was never the same after his quest."

"This must be reported to Olympus," Chiron murmured. "I will go at once."

"Luke is out there right," Percy said. "I have to go after him."

Chiron shook his head, "No, Percy. The gods—"

"Won't even talk about Kronos," Percy snapped. "Zeus declared the matter closed!"

"Percy, I know this is hard." Chiron said, "But you must not rush out for vengeance. You aren't ready."

Percy looked at his hand. "Chiron…your prophecy from the Oracle…it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? And Aria and Annabeth?"

Chiron looked at the ceiling, almost nervously. "Percy, it isn't my place—"

"You've been ordered not to talk to Aria and me about it, haven't you?" Percy accused.

Chiron looked sad, "You two will be great heroes. I will do my best to prepare you and Aria. But if I'm right about the path ahead of you two…"

Thunder boomed which rattled the windows.

"All right!" shouted Chiron, "Fine!" He sighed, sounding frustrated. "The gods have their reasons, Percy and Aria. Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing."

"We can't just sit back and do nothing," Percy said.

"We will not sit back," Chiron said. "But you…" He looked at me… "And you, must be careful. Krono wants you both to come unraveled. He wants your lives disrupted, your thoughts clouded with fear and danger. Do not give him what he wants. Train patiently. Your time will come."

"Assuming that we live that long," I muttered.

Chiron wheeled over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "You'll have to trust me, Aria. You will live. But first you must decide your path for the coming year. I cannot tell you the right choice…" He looked at Percy. "But you must decide whether to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round or return to the mortal world for seventh grade and be a summer camper. Think on that. When I get back fm Olympus, you must tell me your decision."

I looked at Chiron to see that he had said whatever he was allowed to.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Chiron said. "Argus…" He glanced at me, "And Aria will watch over you." He looked at Annabeth. "Oh, and my dear…whenever you're ready, they're here."

"Who's here?" Percy asked. He looked at and I shrugged.

Annabeth looked at the ice in the nectar. I almost sighed, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Annabeth said, setting the washcloth on the table. "I…just took your advice about something. You…um…need anything?"

"Yeah," Percy said and looked at me. "Help me. I want to go outside."

"Are you sure?" I asked, confused.

"Percy, that isn't a good idea," Annabeth said.

Percy ignored her as he moved his legs to the edge of the bed, then over. He stood up and I grabbed onto him as he crumpled to the ground. He looked like he was going to be sick.

"You throw up on me, I'll kick you," I said.

"I told you…" Annabeth started.

"I'm fine," Percy said. He stepped forward and I moved his arm around my shoulders. He leaned against me, as we walked out of the infirmary. Argus followed after us, but he stayed at a distance.

We reached the porch and I noticed how sweaty Percy looked. I led him to the railing and had him lean on it.

It was dusk. The cabins, except for cabin three, were dark, and the volleyball pit wasn't in use. The lake was untouched. It was strange seeing it look deserted. The Long Island Sound glittered as the sun was going down.

"Are you going to stay or go home?" I asked Percy.

"I don't know," Percy said.

"I'm going home for the year, you two," Annabeth said.

"You're going to stay with your dad?" I asked confused.

She pointed toward the crest of Half-Blood Hill. I looked, right next to Thalia's pine tree, where two little children, a woman, and a tall man with blond hair stood. It looked like they were waiting. The man was holding a backpack.

"I wrote him a letter when we got back," Annabeth said. "Just like Percy suggested. I told him…I was sorry. I'd come home for the school year if he still wanted me. He wrote back immediately. We decided…we'd give it another try."

"That took guts," Percy said.

"You won't try anything stupid during the school year, will you?" Annabeth asked. "At least…not without sending me an Iris-message?"

Percy smiled, "I won't go looking for trouble. I usually don't have to."

"When I get back next summer, we'll hunt down Luke. We'll ask for a quest, but if we don't get approval, we'll sneak off and do it anyway. Agreed?"

"Sounds good," I said and Percy nodded.

Annabeth held out her hand to Percy, who shook it. She said, "Take care, Seaweed Brain." "You too, Wise Girl," Percy said.

She turned to me and held her hand. I hesistantly shook her head. "Stay safe out there in the mortal world, if Percy decides to stay here year-world. Keep your eyes open, Algae Brain."

"Uh…thanks?" I replied, confused. "You too?"

"By the way, I haven't gotten around to saying that you deciding to stick around in Hades's palace was brave," Annabeth said.

"Thanks," I replied still confused.

With that, she walked up the hill to join her family.

"She's growing on you," Percy said, watching Annabeth.

"Yeah right," I muttered. "She's still annoying as hell." I looked at Percy. "So, see you next summer?" It would be weird, being away from him, if he decided to stay year-round.

"What are you talking about?" Percy asked. "I'm going with you." He looked at the lake. Almost to himself, he said, "We'll be back next summer. We'll survive then. After all, we are your children." He turned to Argus, "Take us back down to cabin three so we can pack."

A/N: Woo! Book 1 is finally done. That was a journey.