Chapter 12: Zugzwang

The day barely begun, and I was already making a fool of myself.

Reyna said one of Circe's nymphs found her wandering Puerto Rico with her sister and brought them to the sorceress. At the time, I was trying to decide if wrapping my arms around her would get me a hug or a slap. Asking about little details like where they met, where the island was, or what a nymph even looked like somehow escaped my mind.

We reached the New Orleans airport last night, safe despite all odds, where Izzy exchanged a teary farewell with Alistair. I had enough tact to give them some privacy, and despite my worries, Izzy was even more eager to finish the quest now that she had something to fight for.

The bravado started to fade after we spent hours in the plane to San Juan and disappeared altogether when we realized that we had no idea what to do next. Being the brilliant tactician that I was, I told my team to scatter to the poorer areas of the city and pretend to be homeless demigod orphans in the hopes that we'd attract some attention.

I succeeded in that at least, though it was the wrong sort altogether. The only people I managed to attract so far were hobos and beggars equally as eager to shout at me as they were to mug me. Maybe I should just be grateful that I hadn't attracted a monster.

But it was hard to see any kind of silver lining from my perspective – that is, squatting in an alley, rubbing my forehead with a knuckle in a vain attempt to kickstart a better idea, or at least get my brain to function.

I was always too stupid to give up easily, though I welcomed the wash of relief when the church bells chimed eleven times. That was our cue to meet at a café and share what we'd found out, however depressing.

None of my teammates were there even after a few wrong turns. It was a small place, quite literally a hole in the wall of someone's house, indulging a few old customers as they sunned themselves over coffee and news.

I ordered churros and drinks, wincing when I handed over almost all the cash we had left. Barely enough left for six tickets to San Francisco. Still, it was more than we had a few days ago. Izzy's reserves were the reason why we only pretended to be beggars.

The wait stretched longer and longer, feeding the anxiety huddled in the pit of my stomach. I should've known something was wrong when I was the first to arrive.

The queasiness in my gut whiplashed when I spotted Jun. His wounds were almost gone after much needed rest and ambrosia, but the way he set his shoulders and prowled instead of walked was unmistakeable – he'd seen action.

He plopped onto a chair, spraying gold dust from his arms and chest.

"What happened?" I demanded.

He followed my eyes and frowned at the state of his clothes. "Something attacked me. Nothing I couldn't handle."

"Was it the kind of monster to have friends who'd come looking?"

Jun considered for a moment and shrugged. "I don't know. Couldn't get a good look. I killed it too fast."

Well, I guess that's Jun for you.

"Have you ordered anything?" Felix said, appearing out of nowhere. I looked over his shoulder and spotted Izzy materializing a little behind him, the twins approaching from the other direction. They settled to their seats and started chatting, though gold dust smudged all their clothes. The waiter didn't react even when he stepped in to bring our food, but to me, they might as well have been wearing neon signs.

"You guys had to fight monsters?" I asked after he left. "All of you?"

"Yeah," Eli said. "It wasn't too bad, though, especially compared to everything else that's happened."

Felix nodded. "Even I could handle myself. What, you didn't find any?"

"No."

"Wait, what?" Ellie said. "How is that possible?"

"Beats me. I didn't even try to hide my scent. Did you guys do anything that would attract them?"

"I just followed your instructions," she replied. "Walked around, trying to look depressed and poor and all that. Nobody cared. I even met up with Eli and did the classic 'my brother is sick, please give me all your money' play. Nothing."

"Same," Felix said. Jun and Izzy nodded.

"Did you guys see anyone suspicious?"

"Other than the monster who tried to eat me and my sister, no, nothing out of the ordinary."

"Fuck."

"I'm guessing you didn't either?"

"I had it even worse than you. Couldn't even find a monster, let alone a nymph."

"Well, maybe you just have that effect on women," Eli shrugged.

"Did you do anything different?" Felix asked.

"No. I guess I was just in a different area," I said, waving my hand in the general direction.

Felix considered that for a moment and waved a waiter over. "Hi. My friend here is a photographer, he's trying to take pictures of the people of San Juan. But he can't seem to find any over there."

He pointed in the same direction. "Do you know why it's so quiet?"

The waiter gave him an incredulous look, then glanced at the rest of us and remembered we were tourists. "Nobody told you? Old house there. It's, how to say… haunted?"

My stomach started tap dancing. There's no way, right? But how many haunted houses could there be in one city?

"Do you know when it became haunted?" I asked.

The waiter shrugged.

"About seven or eight years ago, maybe?"

He gave a slow nod. "Maybe."

"Thank you," I managed to choke out. "Can I have the bill?"

"We just got here," Eli said.

"Do you have something?" Jun asked, already reaching for his coin.

"Maybe," I said. "I could be totally wrong, but…"

"If you're thinking what I'm thinking," Felix said, "then you're totally right. But how did you find her house? Did she give you an address?"

"No, I just followed a map to get to the coastline. That must've been where the nymph found her. I didn't think…"

"Who are we talking about?" Eli said. "Reyna? She used to live here?"

"Let's find out." The waiter showed up with the bill. I paid it and left without waiting for change. I retraced my footsteps, this time with the whole team behind me, stopping only to ask the locals for directions. They may not speak English, but haunted houses were universal.

It was closer than I thought. I must have passed by it several times. The house was neglected but not derelict. No broken windows or creaking wood, just a messy garden and peeling paint. It was no different from its neighbours, though now that I was paying attention, there was a deadness surrounding it. Even the moss and ivy stopped in their tracks just before the threshold.

I put one foot on the grounds and my stomach lurched. The Mist wove itself so thick here, we should've been able to feel the abject wrongness of this place all the way from the café. Instead it wrapped around the house like scabs on a wound.

"Wait!" Izzy hissed, yanking my shirt. "Did you hear that? Over there?"

I strained my ears to catch a hint of anything out of the ordinary. Even with the street being deserted there was nothing strange. Nothing at all, actually.

"No, but if you did, then it's good enough."

I wove a few hand signs and my team crouched in unison, shuffling away to whatever scraps of cover we could find, eyes and ears scanning the vicinity. There were no mortals to stare at us, but we didn't have the luxury of feeling ridiculous. Soon enough our caution paid off.

A woman walked down the street. Long brown hair ended in artful curls just below her shoulders, thin eyebrows scrunched together over striking eyes and high cheekbones, the neutral expression on her face speaking more of boredom than restrained emotions. She wasn't carrying a weapon, but that didn't count for much. If I can keep a gladius in my pocket, then she could too.

I guess it shouldn't be a surprise to see her enter the building, but it still was. She didn't even bother looking around before she went inside, making her either very stupid or very confident.

My coin was spinning in the air before I moved an inch closer. More weapons were drawn behind me, yet they were little comfort. If the mere presence of that woman can scare away monsters and mortals alike, she won't be something we could beat with swords.

Still, I felt a little better with Imperial gold in hand. At least I could pretend to have put up a fight if I got killed.

A few more signals scattered my team and they surrounded the house. Izzy and Jun slipped away to cover the back, taking one twin with them, the other joining Felix and I to breach the main entrance.

We've done this a million times. Small comfort.

I kicked down the door and charged through. Wood banged from the other side of the house as we burst inside, swords raised, arrows nocked.

"What the fuck!" the woman screamed.

"Don't move! You're surround – "

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, hands on her hips, more offended than scared. "Don't you know who I am?"

"Nope," I said. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you, of course!"

I clenched my gladius. "You're with the Titans?"

"What? No! Do I look stupid?"

"Well…"

"I can't believe this," she huffed, crossing her arms and looking down on me, which is impressive given that she was unarmed, surrounded, and five feet zero.

"I'm out of work for a few years and suddenly every skinny teenaged demigod thinks they can talk down to me. I don't know why I even bother with men. Where's Reyna?"

Somehow this was even worse than a fight. This girl or woman – her age was hard to pin down now that I was closer – reminded me of those spiteful teachers who only feigned empathy in the presence of other adults. I wanted to cut to the chase and have Jun throttle her until she gave us what we wanted but froze at her words.

"You know Reyna?" I asked. "So this is her house?"

"Of course it's her house. Why else would anyone go here?"

Doubt crept in for the first time as she creased her brow and looked at the rest of my team.

"Who are you people?"

"You first," Felix called out.

The woman scowled. "I'm Lorelei. Reyna is an old friend."

"How do you know her?"

"I might ask the same of you."

"Okay, okay," Ellie said, lowering her sword. "These empty threats aren't going anywhere. Let's talk like normal people."

"Thank you!" Lorelei beamed. "See? Everything gets easier when it's the women who do the talking."

I wasn't sure if I agreed with that, though there were more pressing concerns. "We're legionaries from Camp Jupiter."

"Obviously. I know Imperial gold when I see it. Why don't you tell me something I don't know?"

I swallowed an insult and kept going. "Reyna's a friend. She sent us on a quest to find… something important. Something near Circe's island. We came here looking for clues."

"And somehow I'm even more confused," she said. "Why the hell would Reyna ever want to go back to Circe? I can understand why she'd go back here, but Circe? And she didn't even bother coming here herself!"

"Not like she had a choice. Reyna's praetor. She has more important stuff to do."

"Reyna? Praetor? As if that could happen. And there's nothing more important than helping me! I can't believe she's got such an ego now."

"You know, you're talking a lot of shit for someone she's never mentioned."

"Oh, of course. I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm just the nymph who saved her and her sister's lives. Who do you think led her to Aeaea in the first place? Lady Circe entrusted me for the task, above all my sisters, and now I'm being condescended by a child."

"If you're so important, then what are you doing in her house?"

"Well, I figure it's only a matter of time before she comes back, then I'll cash in the favour and finally move out of this awful place. Privacy is a poor substitute for warm food and good company."

"You mean you'll take advantage of her kindness."

"I helped her. It's only fair that she helps me."

"So you do need her help."

"I need her to get the best results with the least effort. It's called efficiency, demigod. I don't know what's so hard to understand."

I'd almost forgotten how arrogant divinities could be. Even a squatting nymph was more conceited than most senators in Camp Jupiter, and that was saying something.

"Reyna's not here, obviously," Jun said. "But we can still help you out."

"Finally. A reasonable man! Only took ten years for me to find one."

"But only if you help us in return," Ellie added, her mouth twisting not unlike the nymph's.

"Fine. I can tell you the coordinates."

"And lead us to a trap? We're not that stupid."

"I'm not that stupid either. I'm never going back to that island even if it means I have to wallow in this filth a little longer."

Jesus. She actually thought she was that important. What hurt most was the fact that she was probably right. It's only a matter of time before Reyna returns, and gods know she has a soft spot for anything that concerns her past.

"Is something wrong with the island?" Eli asked.

"No, I just don't want to look at it. Brings back far too many memories. Blackbeard and his pirates had us peeling potatoes for months. Months!"

"Blackbeard?" Eli repeated. I waved a hand to shoo away that conversation. We've wasted enough time here.

"Fine, fine. Tell us the coordinates. We'll do our thing, get out, and take you with us to Camp Jupiter. Deal?"

"Deal," Lorelei grinned.

"Are you sure?" Felix said.

I nodded as Lorelei scowled and spat colourful words about Felix. His reluctance was understandable, but I think we can count on her cooperation if it aligned with her greed.

"Percy," Felix warned again. "Don't forget how we came here. She's the one who drove out every monster in the area. She's dangerous."

"What? No! That wasn't me!"

"No? Then how do you explain why nobody would even come close to this house?"

"It's…"

Lorelei hesitated. It might as well be an admission of guilt coming from her. We really should be on our way, but she was hiding something, and I'm tired of making bad deals with people I don't fully understand.

"Answer him," I said. Something in my voice made her lift her head, and she wasn't the only one. Even Izzy lifted an eyebrow at my tone.

"There's a… a shade that lives here. No, not a Lare. It's something else. The ghost of a man, more powerful than most monsters, who appears at night to kill anyone who comes too close to the house."

"Why doesn't it attack you?"

"Weren't you listening? It only comes at night. The mortals and monsters don't want to take that chance, though, and avoid the house no matter the time of day. I try to be here as much as possible, because who knows when Reyna will come back?"

"Did you get a good look at the ghost?" Eli said.

"It's not a ghost," Lorelei sighed. "And I'm not dumb enough to come here late at night. Everything I know, I heard from the locals. Though some of them have seen him. Apparently, he kind of looks like – "

"Okay," I said loudly. "Thanks for the information. Now we know it's not going to surprise us right now. Let's move on to more important things."

"Hold on," Ellie frowned. "Shouldn't we stay a while to get rid of it? One more night won't hurt, and the locals – "

"Percy's right," Felix interrupted in the same too-loud voice. "We have to stick to the mission. And anything that kills monsters is good in my book."

The look he gave me told me he'd come to the same conclusion. Unfortunately, everyone else picked up on that too, though they trusted us enough not to ask too many questions or spread rumours once we get back to camp. But still, the fact that so many people knew more about her past… Reyna won't be happy.

"Where is Circe's island?" I asked.

Lorelei recited the longitude and latitude. As she did, a location swam into my mind like a half-forgotten memory.

"It's not that far. Only – "

"37.2 miles north-northwest," I said.

Lorelei blinked. "Yes. Almost exactly."

"Not 'almost'," Eli said with a smile. "Do you have it?"

"Somehow. Let's get going."

We left immediately, me pushing my team to move like Lycaon's wolves were right on our heels. Palpable tension – or was it excitement? – stirred from somewhere in my gut.

It felt like forever since we left camp. We were lost from the very beginning, even before Oceanus showed up. We just didn't know it yet. But now – now! – we had everything we needed. A destination. A precise location etched into my mind as sure as the tide. We just need to go there and back.

I'd also have to bargain with a primordial entity that terrifies both Titan and Olympian, but hey, what's new.

We scrambled down the street and to the harbour. Felix was the first to spot a fast-looking boat that could hold all six of us, and my friends jumped on board without hesitation.

"Do you know how to steal a boat?" Eli asked Izzy.

"I hope so."

She got to work while everyone found a seat on board. Felix paused to look at me standing alone on the pier.

"Something wrong?"

I shook my head. "The second I get on a boat, Oceanus will know where we are. I think I should stay on land until the last moment."

Might as well. I didn't want to admit it, but gods know I need this moment. This last, most important part of our quest is entirely on me. Maybe I should be grateful to know that my friends won't be in danger, but I'm smart enough to know that I could never have done this on my own.

"It's more than that, isn't it?" Felix asked.

I opened eyes. When had I closed them? Felix leaned against the boat and stared up at me, finally returning to his role as the team's counsellor. I took a seat on the rough wooden planks, feet dangling over the water.

"You scared?" he asked.

"Terrified. I always managed to brush off this part of the mission, but now it's becoming very real all at once. I don't even know what I'll do."

"You'll figure it out. You always do."

"Only because I have you guys. I like to pretend that being a leader is a heavy duty, but if I'm being honest, I've only been using it to hide behind the responsibilities that I have to do on my own. Does that make me a coward?"

"Maybe. More importantly, why does it matter? Right or wrong, good or bad, who cares about any of that. We're not heroes, and this isn't a story. That's why we gang up on monsters and kill them efficiently, not honourably. Just do the same thing with Trygon. I'm sure he'll respect that."

Was it more than empty words? Probably not. But he said them anyway, and that was enough to make me smile. It wasn't enough to dissuade my worries – the fact that Felix felt the need to give reassurances made them double down and sink deeper into my gut – but somehow, I felt more prepared.

"Right," I said. "Who needs heroes? We're legionaries."

Felix returned the smile and went to help the others. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was overthinking this. I just need a few deep breaths –

There was a sputter and a roar as the engine came alive.

Of course. A few seconds to calm myself down is too much to ask after all. Why am I not surprised?

I jumped on board, and the surge of power terrified me now that I knew what hid beneath the water.

"Let's go."

Izzy stood at the dashboard, trying to puzzle out the controls, though she moved aside when I stepped up. Muscle memory took over and I piloted the boat with as much familiarity as I would with my gladius.

We were already cruising through the water by the time somebody noticed us, his shouts lost before the roaring engine. Our boat skimmed through the ocean, carving a white trail behind us, a nice change of pace from the pedantic Paragon last night. Still, we weren't going as fast I'd liked.

Well, Oceanus must already know where we are. A little showboating won't hurt.

I reached out with my senses and they jumped at my command, eager to merge with the water. There was something about the ocean that fuelled me, far more than any lake or river ever could. I thought the Little Tiber was the strongest source I'd ever feel, but the Atlantic offered unprecedented strength.

I've never felt more powerful in my life.

A sudden lurch rocked my friends' heads as they grabbed onto the railings. Wind and saltwater started clawing at our faces and rocked our footing. I leaned forward while they strapped down. This is what it means to be at home. It would be all too easy to push the boat to its limit, its breaking point, but I didn't trust even a modern vessel to withstand the full power of the sea.

Still. It was tempting.

I made slight adjustments to our course every now and then, though it was unnecessary. I knew where the island was like I know my own name. There's no way we'll miss it. Unless, of course, something tried to stop us.

About half an hour into the ocean, a thick fog settled onto the surface of the water, choking out sunlight and visibility. I shuddered and felt sweat run down my spine, a metallic taste in my mouth, trepidation crawling on my skin, hyperaware of my body down to the roots of my hair. The Mist here was far stronger than the magic enshrouding Camp Jupiter.

Outside of unease and a bit of nausea, though, I felt fine. The others weren't. The fog muffled the engine but not my friends, and I heard them trade whispers of encouragement and laugh at forced jokes.

I willed the boat to move deeper into the Bermuda Triangle. At this chokehold, my powers were more reliable than the engine, but even that was a little dampened, its effectiveness flickering. I had to start directing the current instead of pushing it. It was a lot like learning how to drive a car. Or in my case, learning how hard I could press the pedal before my mom started screaming.

It took longer than expected, but I sighted the island. Aeaea was far less impressive than its name would suggest. There was no fog, no shroud of mystery, no boulder-throwing Cyclopes waiting for stupid demigods way out of their depths to step foot on land, only a bland forest more brown than green.

There was a small pier fit for only one or two vessels sticking out like a splinter. I guided the boat towards it and killed the engine once we got close enough. Eli grabbed the old wooden docks and tested its strength before jumping off the boat.

We started walking inland after finding some rope on deck to dock our ship. Birdsong and insects twittered and buzzed from the dense forest ahead. If there had ever been signs of human life here, it was lost in the undergrowth.

Izzy took the lead, following a trail only she could see, darting between the shrubs and ferns while the rest of us waded through. Wild growth ran rampant here, though there were no fruits or large game. Other than the occasional squirrel and a surprisingly well-organized colony of guinea pigs, we were the only sentient beings I could see.

But while there wasn't anything edible, there was nothing harmful either. I didn't trip over weeds or get brambled by thorns. No poison ivy, no low-hanging branches, not even mosquitoes bothered our passage. That was the surest sign that magic was involved.

"Are you sure you got the right place?" Felix asked.

"I'm pretty sure I know how longitude and latitude works."

"You didn't even use a GPS."

"A GPS in the Bermuda Triangle?"

"Fair enough," Felix muttered. "But there's nothing here. This island's not that big, but we've been walking for thirty minutes and there hasn't been a single sign – "

Izzy held up a fist. Instantly we dropped to a crouch and went for cover, weapons at the ready and heads on a swivel.

I prepared for a charge of hellhounds, or Cyclopes, or three very angry Titans falling on top of us with their chariots. There was nothing. Not even that much cover here – the grass was a lot shorter than the woods we passed through. Though I'll be damned if I let that intimidate me. The day I let grass scare me will be the day I'll give up being a demigod.

"What – "

"Shut up!" Izzy hissed.

I tried to focus. Salty air, hot sun, a blade of grass somehow finding the tiniest gap between my pants and socks mercilessly tickling me – and was that… mooing?

"Alright, follow me," somebody sighed. "We're stuck here for gods know how long. Isn't it past time that we get along? No? Didn't think so."

A woman stepped out of the bushes and I knew we were screwed.

Not even her scowl and simple clothing could hide her beauty. She had all the classic Roman features in those high cheekbones and sharp brow, but it went deeper than that. She carried a simple stick like it was a spear, walking as arrogant as any demigod with her head tossed back, though she was more grounded, her haughtiness justified with experience and the self-surety all truly arrogant people only pretended to have. She took in more information with a glance than I could with a microscope.

Worst of all, she reminded me of Reyna. If she had her beauty and grace, why not her stubbornness too?

I considered waiting until we had her surrounded, but that would send the wrong message. If she really was like Reyna, she'd fight without a second thought.

So I took a deep breath and stepped out of cover with my hands up.

"Circe," I started. "We come with – ow! The fuck?"

I rubbed my cheek where a bruise was starting to take shape. How the hell did she hit me from way over there?

My team leaped to my defence, weapons out. Circe replied in kind and hefted her staff, which was still contracting like a telescope. Right. She was a sorceress.

"Stop, stop, stop!" I cried out. "We don't mean you any harm!"

"And yet you show up with Imperial gold weapons," she snapped. "Who sent you? Perses? Pasiphae? Or is Aeetes finally showing his true colours?"

"Look, lady, I have no idea who you're talking about. Nobody sent us. We're only here to talk to you about something and get some advice."

"Really? Is that all? I don't suppose you want me to brew you some potions too?"

"That would be great, actually. What kind of – "

"Idiot! Who do you take me for?"

I frowned. "Uh, you are Circe, right? Or is this a really big misunderstanding?"

That blow to the head must have knocked some things loose. I'm surprised I was able to say something that stupid.

Circe took a step in my direction and my team surged forward in response. The only reason things didn't become bloody was the timely arrival of several cows.

They clopped into view from behind Circe, drifting along like fat clouds, chewing grass with the self-importance of an animal too dull to do anything else. Though there must be something special about these cattle to make Circe pull back immediately. Maybe it was the fact that they were bright red.

"The sacred cattle of Helios," Felix breathed. "What's going on? I thought you ran a spa?"

"I wish I was back with my nymphs, putting men in their place while getting my nails polished," Circe grumbled. "Now I'm out here stuck here and – wait. How did you know about the spa?"

She recoiled and lifted her staff again, cows be damned. "Are you Blackbeard's?"

"No," I sighed. "We just want to talk!"

"It's never just a talk with you demigods! You call us tricksters, yet you take more from us than we ever did from you. Haven't I done enough for your kind?"

"I don't care what's happened to you, and you don't need to care about us. Just answer one question and we'll leave you alone forever."

"Really? And will answering this question indirectly help you and directly implicate me in your latest efforts to anger the Titans?"

"Well…"

"I knew it," Circe said, lowering her staff. She drove it to the ground and leaned on it, dropping her ageless air and looking to all the world like any other overworked woman.

"This has got to be a joke. Three thousand years and nothing's changed."

"Everything's changed," Eli said. "You're the only thing that hasn't moved on. Have you ever helped someone in need? Ever tried being a good person? Maybe if you fight for the right cause, you might not need to have the same regrets."

Circe's eyes flashed gold for an instant. "I was the one who helped Odysseus thousands of years ago. Then that fool went and broke my heart. I tried to help my son, the one good thing in my life, and he died because of it. Because of me! And when I shut myself off from the world and amused myself with that spa, someone came along and ruined it all for me. Now I'm stuck here tending cattle like a peasant. And of course, all those people were demigods. Who else can cause so much harm with so little care?"

It was too late for inspirational speeches. Her self-pity had gotten the better of her. Playing the victim was the only card she had to play. But maybe…

"It's not demigods who hurt you," I started. "You're only doing this because of the Titans, aren't you? They're the ones who punished you, forced you to look after the sacred cattle of… Helios? If you really want to break free and get revenge, then help us. We want the same thing you do."

"Stop," she sighed. "That's enough. I've heard that speech a hundred times. I've said it to myself a hundred more. I don't want anything to do with you and yours. Go, and never come back. Just leave me alone."

"I always knew you were a bitter old woman, but I didn't know you were a coward too!" I called out. My taunts didn't work. Circe brushed right past us and went back the way we came.

"That went well," Eli said. "Now what?"

"Just follow my lead."

I ran after Circe and caught up after a few moments. This time, I was the one who walked past her.

"If you don't want to help us right now, that's fine," I said. "You have all the time in the world. But we can offer you a way out of here. We came here by boat and we can get out the same way. You'll never have to tend cattle again."

"What makes you think I want to leave?" Circe said. "I always thought this was a punishment, but I see now that it's a blessing. Cut off from the world, the gods, mortals. My family still torments me whenever they can, but even that is better than talking to demigods."

"Really? You're okay with this? Circe, the greatest sorceress of all time, cleaning up literal bullshit. I can't imagine that your family would let you use your magic. Don't you want that, at least?"

Her brow furrowed for a fraction of a second. She was quick to smooth it out, but I've spent enough time around Octavian to know that I struck a nerve. I pressed my advantage.

"You need your own laboratory, don't you? A place to make potions, and access to herbs you'll never see on this island. Think about that! Think of what we can give you."

She stopped walking to look into my eyes, probing for lies. It helped that I was telling the truth, but I also stopped giving her puppy dog eyes and instead tried my best imitation of Octavian's crazed look.

"You get me off this island, give me my own laboratory, all the materials I would ever need, and safe haven. Somewhere the Titans can't find me. Then I'll help you."

"You want to go to Camp Jupiter?"

"I don't care where I have to go. Just give me all of that."

It was my turn to frown. Accepting help from runaway monsters and rogue demigods was one thing. Allowing Circe into the legion was something else entirely. She might be the most powerful sorceress of all time, but she's also the most notorious. But if we could get her on our side…

My friends positioned themselves behind her, shaking their heads or mouthing 'no'. But I could see no other way. I thought she'd leap at the chance to get back at the Titans. I didn't expect to find this shell of a person instead. This is the only time she showed any sign of life, glaring at me, daring me to take the risk.

Maybe if I had more time to think, I could come up with something. But with Oceanus on our tail, my only choice was to make promises now and meet them later.

"Deal," I said, putting out my hand. Circe scoffed.

"Where is this boat?"

"That way. It's not too far, but we have to hurry."

"You said you had all the time in the world."

"I do, but not right now. Oceanus is chasing after us, and – "

"What?" she said. "You mean – you're the one they want? My father and his siblings, even Lord Oceanus, all this time – they've been searching for you?"

Fuck. "I – "

Of course that was the moment everything went to hell. A piercing screech forced me to duck down and cover my ears, a ripping metal sound so loud it shook the earth. I couldn't pin the direction. It sounded like – gods help me, it sounded like it came from everywhere.

The next sound was even worse.

"Percy Jackson!" a voice thundered. "Where are you?!"

Circe spared one last look at me and took off running. "Over here!" she screamed, waving her arms, staff forgotten. "He's over here!"

"Get her!"

I burst into motion, heard my team follow close behind. Eli was the first to catch up to Circe, sprinting ahead and tackling her, sending them both tumbling to the ground. I skidded to a halt a split second later, gouging the earth with my foot before turning and jumping on the sorceress.

"Here! He's – "

I cut her off with a hand clamped tight over her mouth. Circe never stopped struggling, kicking up dirt and grass, but the rest of my team reached us in time to grab her limbs and dogpile on her before she could make things any worse.

We were at the edge of the island, the point where forest was starting to become beach. Oceanus's monsters were shuffling restlessly on the shoreline, slobbering and snorting mounds of flesh sculpted into impossibly ugly shapes. One of them, a kaleidoscopic sea snake with a hundred eyes sparking with electricity along its body, vented its frustration on the first thing it could find – our boat. It coiled around the vessel, tiny against its form, and crushed our only escape and bargaining chip.

Circe kept fighting. She was a lot stronger than she looked, and when it was clear that nobody could hear her muffled screaming, she started biting my fingers. I grit my teeth, trying to contain my own shouts, before a man came into view and silenced us both.

Oceanus circled the island on a pillar of water, his armour of dead coral glistening bone-white in the spray and sun. Even from this distance, the anger and excitement on his face was unmistakeable. We were cornered and he knew it.

Circe redoubled her efforts. She took us by surprise and almost threw us off, until Jun adjusted his position and caught her in an armbar. That pinned her down alright, but it also made her screams louder – but even then, I could hear Oceanus's pillar coming to a stop.

"I can hear you!" the Titan shouted. "Show yourself!"

Circe struggled to keep shouting.

"Shut the fuck up," I hissed. "Shut the fuck up, shut the fuck up!"

"What do we do?" Ellie whispered.

"Quiet!" Felix snapped. "Let him think."

They were depending on me. What do we do? What do I do?

"Reveal yourself before I sink this island!"

Circe squirmed beneath us, her eyes wild. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth. I don't know if it was hers or mine.

"Percy Jackson!"

We can't fight, we can't run. What now?

Then she stopped.

I froze. Did we choke her out? What was I thinking, piling on her like this? But no, she was breathing, and I could feel a heartbeat.

I looked at my team to see if they had done anything, and they looked back at me with the same expression.

Circe wasn't moving, though her eyes was looking down on her nose, focused on something. There was nothing on the ground but dirt and grass, and nothing on my fingers, other than – ah.

I inched my hand away from her mouth, ignoring Ellie's strangled cry. Circe won't do anything now that she knew who I was.

"Can I trust you not to betray us?" I said quickly. Oceanus's eyes scanned the forest, but he can't see us. Not behind all the bushes. He can't.

"Where did you get that ring?" she breathed, with no indication if she'd heard me.

"Reyna gave it to me. You know her, don't you? The little girl from Puerto Rico? She's had it just as bad as you – worse, even, but she's now the praetor of Camp Jupiter. And she did it alone. She was a mess when she first showed up and things never went right for her. But she never stopped fighting, and now she's part of something bigger than her."

"She's alive?"

My little speech didn't get to her. But now I've learned that with immortals, you just have to appeal to their vanity.

"Yes," I said, taking on a much more flattering tone. "She survived because of you. You saved her. And we helped her even after her life went to shit, again and again. You don't believe anything could come out of that little girl, didn't you? The same way you don't believe anything can come out of your hopeless situation. But she made it. So why don't you see if you can surprise yourself too?"

Circe stared at the ring. But I knew better. It was all too easy to cry out one more time, and with Oceanus so close, he'd hear her this time. She hadn't made a sound. Her mind was made up. It was only a matter of time before she admitted that to herself.

After all, no mortal could convince the gods to do what they want. The trick is to convince them that they were the ones who want it.

"Enough of this!" Oceanus leaped off the water and landed on the beach. He started toward us with frightening speed, a riptide promising death.

"Hide among the cattle," Circe hissed. "Go!"

I slid off her body and was surprised to find the herd right behind us. They must have followed their shepherd. Whatever the reason, I have never been so happy to be surrounded by farm animals. I crawled into their midst. It was all I could do to stop myself from running deeper into the forest.

Rustling footsteps announced Oceanus's arrival right after Circe peeled herself off the ground. I could only press my cheek against a cow, trying to make myself smaller and telling myself that it would help.

"Lord Oceanus!" Circe exclaimed, popping out of the shrubbery. "What a pleasant surprise!"

Oceanus didn't reply. A few more questing footsteps in our direction. My heart hammered in my chest.

"A surprise? You did not hear me shouting?"

"Of course I did! I was just confused – I don't know anyone named Percy Jackson, certainly not on this island. I'm alone here. If you don't count father's cattle, that is."

She tittered a laugh that fooled no one.

"Ah, yes. Your punishment for making a fool of yourself all those years ago. I'm surprised Helios hasn't banished you already. But I suppose someone must tend to the cattle."

"Of course." I could just see Circe grinding her teeth. Gods, I hope that her pride won't get the best of her. She had to realize that, right?

"So. You did not hear me because you were tending the cattle?"

"That's right, my lord. I was in the forest, trying to find a better spot for grazing, and only when I got close to the shore did I hear your voice, and so here I am!"

"Did you run or crawl?"

There was a pause before Circe answered. "My lord?"

"You have legs, do you not?"

"I… that is true, my lord."

"Then you must have run."

"Yes, my lord."

"Then why is your dress covered in dirt, and why is there a rut in the earth the size and shape of your body?"

"I tripped, my lord."

"You tripped."

"Yes."

"You, Circe, the greatest sorceress of all time. You tripped."

"It happens to the best of us."

The silence was nauseating. My heart seemed to be churning my stomach and forced bile up my throat.

Then one of the cows mooed.

It was loud, far louder than a normal animal, and got both Titans' attention. Oceanus quickly pivoted and hefted his spear, but Circe was the first to act.

"Oh, the cattle!" she cried out. "We must move further inland, my lord. They're extremely sensitive to the slightest changes in the environment and must always be kept in comfort. We might need to bring them to the palace! My father always said – "

"Where is Helios?"

"I do not know, my lord. The last I saw of him, he was flying off on his chariot. To do an… errand. At your request."

"Summon him. I will search the island while he burns the truth out of you."

"I – I have no way of messaging him, my lord. Perhaps we could – "

Oceanus speared my cow in the neck. Fountains of steaming blood spouted as the animal screamed and collapsed. I matched its movements as best I could, tucking myself beside its shuddering body as blood drenched my body.

I laid stiff on the ground, trying not to breathe, pressing my face into the dirt. The cow's burning hot blood kept pouring as it moaned, though I had to suppress a cold shiver down my spine.

He can't see me. He can't see me. He can't possibly see me.

Then there was an explosion of light. Even facedown I could spot it from the corners of my eyes, a blazing ball streaking through the sky and settling on the clouds.

"Bring him to me," Oceanus said. Heavy footsteps grew quieter as he moved away, presumably to the ocean.

"Your will, my lord," Circe murmured.

Circe shepherded the cattle inland with deliberate sloppiness. One of the cows wandered towards me, and I took the opportunity to scramble up and stick to it like glue, following it back to the herd.

We crept back into the forest, shuffling behind our respective cows. I slipped deeper inside the herd and started sweating. The animals radiated heat like a sauna, far hotter than any living thing had a right to be.

Circe led us deeper into the island, walking for an eternity before stopping before a golden ramp I didn't notice until we were next to it. She ushered the cows to move up, forcing my team to keep pace.

"What the hell is this?" I hissed once I got close enough to Circe.

She arched an eyebrow. "You didn't see it when you were coming to the island? Good. I still have a little magic in me after all. This is a stairway, demigod. A cattle-accessible one, at least. One that leads to the Palace of the Sun."

She pointed a finger straight up, and my jaw dropped as I beheld the most outrageous thing I'd seen in a lifetime of impossibilities. I've always known that there was still magic in the world, seen it work first-hand back in camp. But only now did I realize we were Neanderthals struggling to use sticks and stones compared to the immortals.

It was a floating villa. Golden light shone from its walls, bright as the Sun, but delighting the viewer instead of blinding him. Columns lined up like dutiful soldiers holding up slanted rooftops and ornate reliefs, the workmanship coming to life as we ascended. At this height, the wind should be biting cold, but just looking at the marvel above provided warmth and comfort. The Mist was shaped to enhance the vision instead of concealing it, manipulating my sight, as though refracting an already grand building into something divine.

"You would think," Eli huffed behind me, "that they'd fit in an elevator or two in there. A flying mansion and no elevators."

"Quiet," Circe snapped. "We're about to enter. Once we're inside, be silent until we reach my chambers."

We followed her lead, passing through a set of double doors that crawled open, into the Palace. What wasn't covered by rugs and tapestries held suits of armour, amphorae, friezes, and furniture alternating between delicate and enormous. Decor designed by inhuman minds danced and posed at regular intervals along a wide hallway. Tendrils of a strange material clustered together like anemone and swayed in the air, threatening to float away if they were not pinned down on translucent pedestals.

Though there wasn't much else to see. No servants, no lords, no guests, nobody to challenge Circe and her herd of cattle. Silence in so large a building became something oppressive, a faint buzzing in my ears.

Before long Circe halted by a plain door, the only break from a gallery of ostentation. She took a quick look around before swinging it open and shepherding us inside along with the cattle.

Her room was miserable. The bare necessities squeezed together in the few clean corners of the place. Dirt and hay filled most of a five-star hotel room that doubled as a stable. Circe filled the few pockets of open space with a rudimentary laboratory, though they couldn't be more sophisticated than the stuff I used in middle school to do litmus tests.

I was wrong. She needed an escape almost as badly as we did.

Once the cows settled down, Circe turned to us with a grim smile. "Welcome to my home. Ours, I suppose, until we can figure out a way out of here."

"Hopefully that's soon," Felix mumbled. "Wouldn't want to impose, you know."

"Insult me while you still can, mortal. It's only a matter of time before I have you bowing before me. Now, what is it that possessed you to come all the way here and upset four Titans at once? Even I struggle to come up with something that could bring Oceanus to leave his palace. I've never seen him so furious, not even during the first Titanomachy."

"It's a long story," I said. "It actually started with you."

Circe frowned. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath. Don't want to freak her out more than we already have. Things might get ugly if she thinks helping us get the Spear of Trygon is worse than living in this shithole for eternity.

"You've always been the rebellious type, right? So much so that you've upset the gods and Titans more than once."

"Often not by choice, but true enough."

"And you've used knowledge and magic to fight back, despite them being much stronger than you. But there was a time when you didn't even have that, did you? When your back was against the wall and you needed help from someone else. You needed something so powerful that even in the hands of a boy the gods wouldn't dare hurt your son."

"Where did you get all this?"

"Reyna heard it from you as a child."

"Then you should know how it ends. I see now. You need my help to create some other kind of deterrent, one that's nearly as effective without being so destructive. I don't know if such a solution exists, but if it does – "

"That's not it," I interrupted. "We want the weapon. We're looking for the Spear of Trygon. And since you're the only one who knows where he is…"

I couldn't read the expression on her face. Circe stood still, silent, but looking at me with new eyes. Was it shock? Disbelief? Or some new emotion brought into existence at hearing a new kind of stupid.

"Why?"

"Because we don't have a chance," I said. "The legion wins wars by being more disciplined and organized than its enemies. But that's changing. We're scrambling for power while the monsters are starting to train and learn. Maybe we're still a match for them, but the Titans are something else. We've repelled one or two attacks, sure, but if they all move at once… there's nothing we can do about them."

I drew myself up. "We need a way to kill Titans. We need Trygon."

I leaned back, trying to convince myself that I was right. The silence was interrupted only by the mooing of cows, though even they seemed subdued at the mention of its name.

"Children," Circe sighed. "I forget. I am dealing with children."

"We're not – "

"I was like you, once. If someone has a big stick, the only logical solution must be to get a bigger stick. But that's not how it works. Mankind's strength has always been trickery and ingenuity. That's how you talked your way into the Palace of the Sun, by flattering and tempting me – don't deny it, give me that much credit at least. But what you're asking for is impossible."

"We're in an impossible situation."

"So was I. And now I spend my days tending cattle."

"Well unlike you, we're not self-pitying cowards," I snapped, patience fraying to tatters. "We've had enough of living beneath everyone. We're going to fight back."

"You don't understand!" Circe screamed. "There is an order to things! The gods torment demigods, demigods take it out on the gods, mortals get caught in between, and the Fates laugh at everyone behind their tapestry. If you threaten that order, destiny itself will weave a cord around your neck. I understood that too late and everything I ever loved died. But I've learned my lesson. Why can't you?"

"Because we're better than you!" I screamed just as loud, trying to drown out my fear. "Demigods don't get the best of gods and mortals. We get the worst! Yet we keep going and have kept going for thousands of years. That's why we're better! That's how we survive! We take our lives in our own hands and make things better for the future. That's what you gods don't have. Self-sacrifice! It means something. Somehow you think that to suffer is to lose. You don't understand that it's the beginning of victory. Of change!

"You can spend eternity working magic the world has never seen before and still have no impact on the world. I don't care that you can't do it yourself. Tell us so we can do it for you. Maybe when demigods remake the world, you can understand the price of victory."

Circe and my friends all stared at me, panting for breath, hoping that somehow, they didn't hear any of my words.

Circe looked away. "You're right. Misguided, half-wrong, but there is truth in your words."

Some of the tension fled my shoulders and I felt my body relax. "Thank you. So – "

"I can't help you."

"What? Just tell us where to find him!"

"You make it sound easy."

"You did it all those years ago, and before any of the gods could get to your son. It must be close by, somewhere in the Sea of Monsters. So where is it?"

"You don't know," Circe breathed, understanding dawning on her face. Somehow that unsettled me more than her anger.

"Of course I don't know, since you're not – "

"Trygon is the primordial being of the ocean, equalled only by Gaia and Uranus, Tartarus and Nyx. You will find him in the deepest, darkest corner of the sea, a place where time and fate cannot reach him, separate from our world, where his existence can manifest without shattering reality."

"What do you mean?" I already figured it out. I hoped I was wrong.

"To reach him, you need to go to the deepest part of the ocean, a place isolated beyond any creature."

"What're you saying?" Eli asked, terror creeping into his voice. "Percy, what is she saying?"

"The deepest part of the ocean," I repeated, transfixed. Circe met my eyes for a moment before averting hers.

"What you call the Challenger Deep," she whispered. "The Mariana Trench."

"The other side of the world."

Author's Note

Friendly reminder that I can't reply to reviews when they're made as Guest

Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.

It's been such a long time since I last updated! Again, real life responsibilities are piling up and it can get overwhelming, but rest assured, I have not forgotten this story and will not stop until it is finished.

Like my other 'delayed' chapters, I actually finished writing it a few days or weeks after uploading the previous chapter, but spent far too long editing and second guessing myself. We're approaching the climax of the story and I'm trying to do what Brandon Sanderson fans call a Sanderlanche: a very fast-paced climax with a lot of plot twists and reveals all at once. I thought I had a pretty good plan for it, but then I started to get bogged down by the details.

First and foremost, Lorelei. I always trusted myself to improvise when Percy and friends had to locate Circe's island, and I think I did an okay job of it, but I can't help but feel like it was rushed. Introducing entirely new minor characters at the climax may not have been the best idea, even if it makes sense and is explained in the story. Second thing is the quick and relatively easy time Percy had in convincing Circe to help them. Again, I think I did an okay job at this and am pretty proud of some lines and scenes, but I still stressed over whether it was too rushed or not. I'm especially proud of using Chekhov's Gun for the first time with Reyna's ring: it's an important plot device that came in clutch when Percy needed it, and I was able to constantly remind you guys of its existence by disguising the reminder as Percy's longing for Reyna. I think that was the first clever thing I did with the story so far. I guess I'll have to leave that up to you.

Not much else to say. It's past midnight and I can't think straight.

Again, since we're approaching the climax, I decided not to follow the pattern of treating each chapter as a self-contained story and instead jumped right into what would be the middle of the chapter. Each chapter will have even faster pacing and should hopefully come out just as fast. Like I said in the past, I start a story with the beginning and end in mind, and from here on out, almost everything is planned - some scenes are even partially written because I was so excited to write them.

That's all from me. This A/N is short because it's quite late, though I won't forget to thank you for reading this far and staying with me and the story for so long. I can't thank you enough, but I try anyway.

Question: How do you think Percy and his friends will escape the island?

And if I could have a second of your time: how would you rate the chapter out of 10?

And if I could have a minute of your time: how would rate the following out of 10:
Plot: /10
Dialogue: /10
Action: /10
Tension: /10
Prose/writing quality: /10
Character development: /10

This chapter has been a long time coming and I'm excited to finally hear your thoughts. Please let me know through reviews and PMs! I always love hearing from you guys and appreciate any kind of feedback.

Until next time!