I had a small writers block. (For like a day. Not even close to a writer's block, but now you know how fast my brain whirs). I got annoyed at not being able think of a somewhat original storyline, like Fayden's vision earlier, and I kinda just took what people said in the book, and made Fayden say it. And its BORING. So, I'll upload slower, but hopefully better stories.

I spun, and cursed. I heard the Ophiotaurus submerge, mooing. I saw a man dressed in a suit, standing there. He was French. Definitely. Slightly racist that I jumped to that conclusion, but when he spoke, it was confirmed.

"This is Pairr-fect." Ok his accent was annoying. I was gonna attack, when I noticed the people behind him. Two armed mortals stood there. Guns raised. Perfect, or Pairr-fect, as the stupid French guy would say. Guns. As I glanced around, I saw everyone seemed to recognise him. I didn't, so I did what someone does when finding out someone else's name.

"Hi! Who are you?"

I know. But the man laughed.

"Ha! I am ze manticore, as you heroes would say. Feared throughout the Greek world!"

I frowned. That didn't sound right. "Didn't you spend all of Greek history scrounging around in deserts?"

Everyone was staring at me, like, 'don't piss off the deadly creature'. The manticore, who later I found out was called, Dr. Thorn, started growling. I mean come on. Dr. Thorn. I'm surprised Poseidon isn't called Wet Dr. Doolittle. You know, he can talk to fish? Never mind. I stepped forward, about to put my armour on, before something on my chest got really heavy. The lions fur! I had completely forgotten about it! God! I smirked inwardly. Not putting my armour on, I stood there, shielding everyone else. Dr. Thorn laughed.

"Brave, but foolish, young hero." I'm sorry. I had too. You all better get that.

However, Thalia was having none of it. She stepped forward next to me, spear raised, her hand hovering over her bracelet, where she concealed Aegis. Zoe had her bow notched. Percy was just standing there with his eyes closed. Great help Ariel. I turned back to Zoe, and pushed her bow down. She fired, so would the mortals. The manticore smiled.

"Yes huntress. The boy is right. We wouldn't want anything happening before Thalia's great victory."

Thalia was angry, but she looked confused.

"What are you talking about?"

The manticore bared its long fangs.

"This is why Kronos brought you back. Call the Ophiotaurus. You could have the power to destroy the Olympians! Such great power!"

I paled. Thalia was sixteen in a few days. The prophecy. I glanced at her. She was trembling, and her face looked strange. Like torn between wanting to charge, or lower her weapons. She was actually considering it?! What the hell! After everything, she was stuck between helping us, helping me! Or killing an innocent creature to gain power. I was furious. She glanced at me, as if hoping for support. But I was too angry. I realised ignoring her was not the smart move right now, but I wasn't thinking clearly. She looked hurt that I refused to make eye contact, my eyes blazing. Percy had opened his, panting. What was he doing? He had heard everything and was standing by Thalia, trying to convince her to fight. She just stood there. I'd had enough of this. I leaped, bringing bullet-proof coat round me. Without a weapon, (I forget my new sword) I charge at the mercenary's. They both opened fire, and the sound seemed to snatch Thalia out of her daze. She yelled at me, seeing me stumble, but it was only the force of the bullets. I hadn't been shot. With both mercenary's distracted Zoe released her arrow. It embedded in Dr. Thorn's head. Before he could react, Phoebe had fired as well, the arrow going straight threw his eye. He wailed as he slowly dissolved. Thalia had run over to me, checking my body for bullet wounds. I tried telling her, but the mortals opened fire again. This time, the planks of wood on the floor sprang up, blocking the bullets, before smacking into the humans. I heard a really bad off-key version of, actually I couldn't even recognise it. The mortals stumbled to their feet; guns raised again. Thalia, having realised what I was wearing, turned to face them. I had blatantly ignored her, which I knew she hated, but tough. Suddenly, the water around us exploded. Percy had his eyes closed again, and this time, the ocean followed his movements. The mortals stared in shock as the giant wave grabbed hold of their legs. They screamed, dropping their guns. Phoebe had to rapidly step back, avoiding the giant mass of water. The wave swept them into the sea, and before I could think, they were dots on the horizon. Percy dropped to his knees, panting. We stared at him, and he noticed.

"What?"

Thalia was still shaking, and her voice failed her as she saw the Ophiotaurus had re-emerged. Her face made my anger return, but I hid it well as Grover leaned down to stroke it.

"We need to get it back to camp," Percy said. I nodded.

"How?"

"It can appear in different bodies of water, right?"

Percy nodded. "Yeah. It was in Long Island, then appeared at the Hoover Dam."

"Well if someone coaxed it back home, it might follow."

Grover looked nervous, but swallowed and stepped forward.

"I'll go."

Percy looked like he wanted to veto, but Grover continued.

"I'm the only one who can talk to it. I should go."

Percy looked like he was gonna say no, but it made sense to me.

Grover bent down and whispered something in Bessie's ear. Then he turned.

"Percy, pray to your dad. For safe passage."

Percy nodded, then made his way to the water.

"Dad, uh, give Grover passage. Keep him and the creature safe. Get them to Camp Half-Blood."

Thalia had walked over to him.

"A sacrifice needs to be made for a prayer like that. Something big." She was right. But Percy had nothing. No one did. Except me. I sighed. It was really useful, but I shrugged the Nemean Pelt of my back. As I walked over to Percy, everyone stared.

"Wait, really? That coats really useful."

I wordlessly shrugged, handing it to Percy. Zoe was watching both of us carefully. She looked impressed at me for handing over such powerful armour just like that. I'd already figured out her secret. Unlike a certain Son of Poseidon, who was painfully dense, to me it was obvious. The way she glared at the lion's pelt, at Percy's sword, and the way she had choked when she spoke about her father. It was the same reaction when Percy told her the general was nearby. With Titans as our enemies, it was obviously Atlas we faced. Now if Atlas was Zoe's father, and Percy's sword was from the sea, that explained her mother. But the only daughters of Atlas and a sea goddess were the Hesperides. And all four were guarding Atlas' resting place. But if Atlas was here…Oh god!

Grover had sailed…sailed? Grover had ridden off, and I said out loud, more to myself,

"Atlas."

Zoe spun round; eyes wide. She had heard me.

"What did you say?!"

I tried to play dumb, but it didn't work.

"Atlas. The General of the Titans." Zoe looked scared, but Percy and Thalia were shocked.

"But. How? He holds up the sky. If he was the General, he'd have been in the Smithsonian Museum. So who stopped the sky falling?" Thalia had a point.

"Artemis."

Now Zoe was terrified. She seemed to have known all this, and was shocked at how much I had figured out.

"Artemis!" Percy choked.

"Yeah. How else do you capture someone that powerful? Put her in a prison that she can't leave without destroying everything. We need to get to the Garden of the Hesperides."

Thalia was silent, then fished out an address.

"I think I know who could help us."

I glanced at the piece of paper, then immediately said,

"No. No!"

Thalia sighed.

"He can help us!"

"Who?"

Thalia turned to Percy.

"Professor Chase. Annabeth's dad."

"No!"

Percy looked confused. "Why don't you wanna see Annabeth's dad?"

"He…doesn't like me."

Now Thalia looked confused. "Wait, I thought you didn't like him? You've met him?!"

"Over an Iris Message. I had dared her to call her dad, and she did. He didn't like me very much."

"Well, you going to have to get over it."

"No. I'll meet you guys at the foot of Mount Tamalpais. That's where we're going right?"

I looked at Zoe, and she nodded. Thalia looked like she wanted to complain, but I had started walking off. I looked back. They seemed shocked that I'd actually leave the group just to avoid Professor Chase, but I really didn't like him. And, time to myself. Don't get me wrong, I love people. But they also suck. I'm like a sociable sociopath. I watched as they turned to walk off. Thalia turned to walk over to me, but Phoebe grabbed her, making her follow the others. I walked over to a café. It seemed to be just shutting. Damn. Then I thought. Maybe I should have a little fun. I held out my hand. The now familiar band appeared. I know, I know. Wasting my energy for food. I like food. I twisted, but I clearly hadn't got my powers fully under control, because not only did the store open, but everyone around me froze, and started reversing. I glanced over. I could see my friends walking backwards, and Thalia had turned back towards me, her face frozen in a look of offence and hurt that I had walked off. I cursed, quickly turning my hand back, and set everything to the present. Damn. No coffee for me. As I sat down on one of the tables outside, I pulled out my phone. As I flicked through the images, some made me sad, while others made me burst out laughing. Maybe Apollo or some god had blessed this tech, because things that I didn't take a picture of were in my gallery. My and Thalia wrestling in the canoe lake. Me diving out the window with Annabeth's hat (A different window, and a different time to the one almost a week ago). Then me, holding down the Nemean Lion, almost bored. It did weigh as much as a new-born. Zoe's face when I said I'd sit on her lap. Bright red, angry glare. A bird's eye view of the campfire, before the junkyard, Bianca curled up close to the fire. I smiled sadly, and the next photo made me sob. It was Bianca, dressed up in the gold and jewels that everyone had laid around her. Her face was clear of the dirt and grime of the fight, her hands lying protectively over her hunters bow. She was expressionless, for the first time since I saw her. She was Italian. I swiped through some more, then came to when I had leaned into Zoe. My lips were pursed, merely centimetres from hers, and her face! I actually fell off my chair. She seemed to have forgotten to be angry, or disgusted, and lay there, as red as the sun as it started lowering around me. My laughs were interrupted by a loud hiss. I jumped to my feet. Looking around, I saw three women standing there. One looked normal enough, but her skin was deathly pale and her eyes were red. The other two were green. With snake legs. Dead giveaway. I stared at them, before crying out,

"Why! Why can't you leave heroes alone for five minutes?!"

They looked taken aback, apparently expecting me to be shocked, or scared. Not annoyed at them being there, like they were mosquitos, or annoying kids. Or lawyers. The pale girl, for she was a girl, looking no older than 14, seemed to actually consider this, and I frowned. I didn't actually mean it. Well, I did, but I didn't expect them to listen. The dracanae hissed at me.

"We do not want to kill you, hero. We felt ssstrong power come from you."

The first one seemed nervous, as if it was a teenage girl about to be asked to the prom. The other however, was looking as ssslutty as possssible, as she would put it. I frowned. Then almost threw up. I remember the story of the original Scythian Dracanae, and Heracles. They wanted to…nope. I swallowed the vomit in my mouth.

"Alexas, dear, come here." The second Dracanae had beckoned to the pale girl. It was then I saw her legs. One bronze, the other like Grover's. A goat's leg. She was an Empusa. With her 'hypnotic to men' powers it was obvious why she was there. Nope, nope nope nope. I raised my fists. One of these days I'll remember I have a sword, that's probably magical. The Empusa girl transformed, and I saw her hair burst into flames, and her canines lengthened into fangs. I knew it was magic, but she looked more attractive that way. My arms lowered slightly. The Dracanae, who I just realised weren't wearing clothes, a welcome sight amongst other humans, downright creepy as I watched the green tits slowly walk towards me. I mean, I watched the Dracanae walk towards me. The Empusa had grown bolder, and her eye were flaming to. My inhibitions, and self-control went out the window. My arms completely lowered, I just stared as I was pushed to the ground. I couldn't do anything. The sun however, didn't seem to want to shine on this unholy sight. Three rays of pure white light shot through all three monsters. They disintegrated. A man, all glowing yellow was standing above me. I took his hand, and grinned at Apollo.

"Oh, gods. Apollo! Thank you so much! They were going to kill…" Apollo gave me a look. I stopped, before shrugging.

"It wouldn't have been the worst way to die. If they had human legs."

Apollo stared at me, before bursting out laughing.

"Oh, god! You. Almost. Had sex. With…" He saw me glaring and took a knee, laughing hard. I leaned in, my face next to his. It was a joke threat, but I whispered.

"No one, can here of this. No on…No! Look at me. No one."

He nodded, still laughing.

"That's fair. But man."

I grumbled. "You actually here to help me?"

"Oh yeah!" he cried. "Your friends are the foot of Mount Tam. They seem annoyed." My eyes widened.

"Can you take me there?"

He nodded, still choking slightly, before snapping his fingers. I dissolved into white light, before zooming across Frisco. I materialised again, but frowned. I was staring out into the city.

"You!"

Ah. I turned, and there was everyone. Thalia was storming up to me.

"Meet me at the foot of the mountain. I'll be there," she waved her hands, making mouth movements. "Idiot!"

I stared at her. "I…um. Got held up."

"By what. It had better have been monsters, or I'll kill you myself."

"It was monsters!" I had stepped back when she pulled her mace cannister out of her pocket.

"Two Dracanae and an Empusa. They attacked me!" I mean. I wasn't lying.

She frowned. "And. That isn't hard. Why didn't you kill them?"

"Because they tried to ra…" I stopped. "They tried to kill me," I finished lamely.

"Ra? 'ra' and killed are different sounds Fayden. What happened."

Damn. Screw it.

"You, uh, ever hear the story of Heracles and the Scythian Dracanae?"

Apparently, they all had. Zoe and Phoebe looked like I'd just swore loudly in the middle of dignified conversation. Percy was green. Thalia. Well.

"WHAT!"

Her spear elongated, and I stepped back to avoid the point.

"Hey, hey look! It's nearly sunset! Isn't there a thing about only entering the garden at sunset?" I looked at Zoe pleadingly.

"Uh, yeah. We do have to go."

Thalia looked murderous, but her spear transfigured back into the cannister, and she pocketed it. We all got in the yellow car. I recognised it as Professor Chase's. As me and Percy squeezed together in the back, he looked at me.

"So…Dracanae?"

I turned to him smiling. "Oh, man. You should've seen the breas…" I stopped, noticing the look Thalia gave me. I couldn't dodge the spear in here. Percy had burst out laughing, the humour of the situation overcoming the disgust. Thalia was angrily grumbling, but started the car, and we trundled up the side of the mountain.

There. Nice and easy ending. You're going to need it for next chapter. Oops. No more spoilers. I was reading how to spell Dracanae when the story of Heracles popped up. I thought it would be hilarious for Fayden to be attacked by monster MILFs. Maybe cause I'm 15, maybe cause it's actually funny. Who knows? Apollo knows. God of Truth. He's too busy trying to compose a haiku about what happened up on Olympus. Please Review. Hope its good so far…blah de blah de blah. Peace.