Percy's POV

The cold wind felt good on Percy's face, and his tired eyes snapped open in the wind.

He gazed at the coastline of New York rushing past him.

Turning to the side, he yelled, "Nico, you doing alright?"

The son of Hades shook his head, his face green. Nico had his arms tightly wrapped around Leila's waist, and his lips were pressed tightly together, as if he was going to throw up.

"If you barf on me, I'm throwing you overboard." Leila threatened.

Her face was pink with the cold and her eyes were bright with exhilaration. But her scars and bruises looked more livid than ever in the harsh sunlight. She caught Percy's gaze and grinned for a brief moment, surprising him.

Her grin melted off her face, and her pupils dilated. Leila doubled over on Porkpie's back, and she gasped, "No!"

"Land over there, guys!" Percy shouted, pointing at a strip of sand nearby.

Boss, what's wrong with -

"Blackjack, please!"

Without hesitation, the pegasus jerked his head to the left and landed at the tiny, deserted beach. Leila rolled off Porkpie's back and fell hard on the sand. Nico dismounted and scrambled backwards in fear.

Annabeth stepped forward, her dagger raised in a dangerous position.

"Annabeth, don't!" Percy said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

She jerked her shoulder out of Percy's grasp, growling, "She's not your sister anymore, Percy. She's Kronos."

"That's not -"

Leila moved jerkily, her shoulders twisting backward gruesomely. Her head snapped forward, and her eyes opened, shining with a fierce golden light. Her face turned towards Percy, and a disturbing smile curved her lips.

"Perseus Jackson," she rasped in underlays of Kronos' voice. "I have orders to kill you. And I always follow orders from Master. Prepare to die."

Leila's POV

"Perseus Jackson," she said, a smile stretching across her face. "I have orders to kill you. And I always follow orders from Master. Prepare to die."

She did not have to make any attempt to form the words; they came naturally to her lips.

She moved her hand upwards, and a gust of water erupted out of the ocean. Master controlled her limbs for her, and she easily raised thousands of gallons of water above her head. Just as she was prepared to throw the saltwater, the teenager with green eyes yelled, "Leila, stop!"

Who is this Leila? she wondered dully.

She threw the mass of water at the boy, and the boy raised his arms, shutting his eyes tightly together in concentration. The water evaporated, forming clouds of vapor which rose to the sky.

"Remember who you are." the boy begged, opening his eyes. "Remember your mom."

She wouldn't take commands from this silly boy.

Yes. You are a servant of Kronos. You have no mother. Master's voice said in her head.

"I am a servant of Kronos," she said obediently. "I have no mother."

"You aren't a servant of Kronos. You're Leila Brooke." the boy said.

Leila Brooke no longer exists. She died in front of the coffin, when her master came back to life. She is now a slave to the Lord of Time.

"Leila Brooke is dead. She died in front of the coffin, when her master came back to life. She is now a slave to the Lord of Time." she repeated.

"She's gone, Seaweed Brain," the blond girl hissed. "Let's get to camp while we can."

"Enough games," Master commanded her. "Arm yourself. Kill the boy. He is no match to you in a sword fight."

She turned around and walked towards the other boy, the one with pale skin and dark eyes. He watched her from the safety of a pegasus, and was smart enough to not start a fight with her. She picked up the Stygian iron sword lying near him, and met no resistance.

"I'm really sorry for this, Leila." the pale skinned boy said apologetically. "But it's the only way."

He commanded, "Blackjack, kick her in the head!"

A horse hoof came in front of her face, and -

"Jackson?" Leila asked, puzzled. "Why did we stop here? Aren't we heading to camp?"

She paused for a moment, looking into Jackson's scared green eyes. "Uh...why are you staring at me like that?"

Percy's POV

"I'm really sorry for this, Leila." Nico said sincerely. "But it's the only way. Blackjack, kick her in the head!"

Blackjack raised his hoof and slammed onto Leila's forehead.

Percy winced as her head snapped backwards. Her eyes flickered from golden to sea-green.

She turned to Percy and said, bewildered, "Jackson? Why did we stop here? Aren't we heading to camp?"

Leila tilted her head to the side. "Uh...why are you staring at me like that?"

Percy looked away. "Um, Leila, you kinda -"

" - fainted." Annabeth butted in. Responding to Leila's suspicious expression, she added quickly, "From the rapid change in altitude."

"Did I, really?" Leila said, confused. "I never faint."

"Happens to everyone." Annabeth lied smoothly.

"Okay." Leila said in a neutral tone, but Percy could tell that she didn't really believe Annabeth.

"What was that about?" Percy whispered to Annabeth.

She rolled her eyes. "Do you know what would've happened if she found out? We would've wasted more time trying to convince her that the Kronos episode actually happened, and then tried figured out a solution."

Percy flinched from the acid in her tone. "Why do you hate her?"

Annabeth moved back and glared at Percy. He immediately knew that he'd asked the wrong question. "Hate her? I don't hate her. But I'm just trying to protect you, Kelp Head!"

She marched angrily to her pegasus and boosted herself on its back.

She glared at Leila for a minute, and her expression softened.

"Brooke, you'd better put this on." Annabeth said, throwing at sweatshirt at her.

Leila caught it in surprise. "Why?" she demanded. "It's like, 80 degrees outside."

"Trust me on this one." Annabeth grumbled.

Leila reluctantly pulled on the sweatshirt, hiding the scars on her wrists and arms. But nothing could hide the horrible cuts and bruises on her face.

Percy's train of thought was disturbed by Blackjack's voice: What was that about, boss? And why did boss number two -

"Blackjack, I promise I'll explain later. We've got a camp to save."