Hey guys! I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's not quite so painful as the last few were though there's gonna be that sense of loss for quite some time- like I said before, stuff like what they've been through doesn't just go away the next day. Also you'll get to see some good stuff in the next few chapters- such as Rachel! Also, Annabeth is an adorable nerd at times and is in awe.

Percy stared at Zoe for a long moment before she let out a slow slightly shaky breath. "Ah." she hesitated, "I..." she looked away, face flushing, "There's something I wanted to talk to you about-about your past and I guess now's probably the best time-" Zoe's eyes narrowed slightly, though she didn't speak. "See-um, when.. when I had my god enforced nap on the train I think I also had a god enforced dream- which involved the creation of my sword."

Zoe looked away quickly, shoulders tightening some as she did, and after a long beat of silence she spoke, "It was a gift and a mistake."

"The hero-I don't know who he was." Percy's voice was soft, "I saw it all from his point of view but you never said his name-I guess there was no need to. He was the one who hurt you." because there was no question that the man had hurt Zoe badly-incredibly so. Whoever the hero had been, he was the one who had made her the way she was.

"I will not say his name." Zoe stated sharply, "I swore that a long time ago."

"Should I know it?"

"Most do." the bitterness was palpable, "He's a well known hero." the last word was sneered and Percy found herself reaching out, laying a hand on Zoe's shoulder-which earned her a startled look. "You are a strange one Persephone Jackson. You're..." she reached out, fingers brushing over the transformed fur. "I see similarities between you and yet you are different too."

"I feel like I'm gonna be annoyed at that comparison."

"Most would not be." a smile twitched at Zoe's lips, "And yet I believe you will too." she looked away and there was more quiet before Percy spoke again.

"So you made Riptide-your mom was a water goddess?"

"Yes, Pleione. She had five daughters. My sisters and I. The Hesperides."

"Those were the girls who lived in a garden at the edge of the West. With the golden apple tree and a dragon guarding it."

"Yes," Zoe said wistfully. "Ladon."

"But weren't there only four sisters'?"

"There are now. I was exiled. Forgotten. Blotted out as if I never existed."

"Why?"

Zoe gave a sad smile. "Because I betrayed my family and helped a hero. You won't find that in the legend either. He never spoke of me. After his direct assault on Ladon failed, I gave him the idea of how to steal the apples, how to trick my father, but he took all the credit."

"The hero from the dream-" Percy's brows furrowed as she thought. But no, no she couldn't figure it out, she couldn't remember who'd stolen the apples. "Nope, I dunno who he is."

"Well." Zoe looked away, and Percy could see the mix of grief and pain and anger in her eyes as she did. "He cast me aside when all was done-as if I mattered nought to him."

"I-" Percy felt the shock wash over her, but she believed the Huntress. How could she not? But what sort of hero could do that to someone?

"I-I never loved Alabaster. It was never more than a crush-but it hurt a lot-what he did. I can't imagine how it felt for you Zoe. I don't- I don't want to
be like someone who could toss you aside like that-"

"You are not." Zoe shook her head, "You are a strange one. You have his sword-you've faced Stymphalian birds and you slayed the Nemea-"

"That wasn't just me-" Percy really should know who Zoe was talking about she was sure of it.

"And that s why you are not like him." Zoe's laugh was bright and genuine-and it was the first time Percy had ever heard it. "He would never be so humble. It was your plan-your spoil." she shook her head. "No. No you have a similar strength-not physical but you know what I mean."

"I... I guess but-"

"You should not downplay your achievements Percy." Zoe shook her head. And for the first time Percy found herself thinking that they might just come out of this as friends-at the very least she no longer wanted to strangle the hunter.

"Uh, I'll try not to-" she paused when the naiads tried to get her attention ad she realized that they were slowing-and when she turned her head her
eyes widened in surprise, they were as far as the Naiads could take them-the river was blocked.

A dam the size of a football stadium stood in their path-she swung her head and she let out a laugh. Grover was having to physically pull Annabeth down, she was standing, trying to get a better look.

She exchanged exasperated looks with both Thalia and Grover, and Percy felt her heart aching a moment later-Nico wasn't with them to laugh at Annabeth-but Percy forced that pain down.

She'd see him soon, she'd visit the Underworld once they'd fixed things, she'd convince her uncle to bring Nico back. Right now she couldn't let herself get lost in the grief-she needed to focus on the present. Even if it was hard not to be reminded of her baby brother.

Soon enough they were on the land and Percy waved goodbye to the Naiads before turning to the others.

Annabeth looked like she was in physical pain, holding back from saying anything.

Percy let out a slow breath as she turned her gaze to the Dam in front of them. The huge wall of concrete loomed between the the cliffs. People were walking along the top of the dam. They were so tiny they looked like fleas.

"It's pretty big." Percy said after a moment-almost laughing at the offended look that crossed Annabeth's face as she opened her mouth.

"Pre-"

"Seven hundred feet tall to be accurate, built in the 1930's. It holds-"

"Five million cubic acres of water," Thalia finished, lips twitching slightly.

Grover looked like he was trying not to laugh. "Largest construction project in the United States."

Zoe stared at them. "How do you know all that?"

And Annabeth was gaping, her eyes wide and almost shining.

"Well Zoe." Percy was looking at Annabeth as she spoke, "When you have a best friend, little sister or girlfriend who's obsessed with architecture you tend to pick up a few things."

"Especially when she spouts facts all the time-"

"So annoying." Thalia's voice was teasing.

"You guys-" Annabeth looked at them all, "You actually listen-"

"We'd be pretty crappy friends if we didn't." Grover pointed out.

"That-" Annabeth let out a soft laugh, "I love you guys."

"And." Percy let out a breath, "I think we should go in. Before you explode-"

"Percy!"

"What! You look like you're gonna explode!"

"You kinda do-" Grover laughed.

"I hate you-"

"I thought you loved us." Thalia wrapped an arm around Annabeth's shoulder, "C'mon Annie, your girlfriend has a point."

"You are all mad." Zoe decided. "But that's where the road is." She pointed to a huge parking garage next to the top of the dam. "And so, sightseeing it is."

And Percy had to admit it was worth it for the look on Annabeth's face as the blonde pulled away from Thalia to throw herself at Percy, wrapping her arms around her and kissing her cheek. "You're the best girlfriend ever Percy-are you sure I know-"

"I'm sure Wise girl. I.. I need to focus on the here and now if I wanna get through this so that's what I'm doing." she could bury the pain, hide it away and maybe if she pretended it wasn't there it would fade-though she could see the sad smile Grover shot her-he knew how she felt but at least he wasn't telling everyone.

Annabeth grabbed Percy's hand and squeezed, "We'll get through it all together."

They had to walk for almost an hour before they found a path that led up to the road. It came up on the east side of the river. Then they straggled back toward the dam. It was cold and windy on top. On one side, a big lake spread out, ringed by barren desert mountains. On the other side, the dam dropped away like the world's most dangerous skateboard ramp, down to the river seven hundred feet below, and water that churned from the dam's vents.

Thalia walked in the middle of the road, far away from the edges with Bianca and Zoe. And Percy and Annabeth walked hand in hand on the side that led down to the lake.

Grover kept sniffing the wind and looking nervous. He didn't say anything, but Percy knew he smelled monsters.

"How close are they?" she asked after a moment.

He shook his head. "Maybe not close. The wind on the dam, the desert all around us… the scent can probably carry for miles. But it's coming from several directions. I don't like that."

"That's not good." Annabeth grimaced, "We have two days before the winter solstice and we still have a fair distance to cover-monster attacks are gonna slow us down a lot-"

"There's not much we can do for now." Percy shook her head, "You focus on enjoying our visit-"

"And you two try not to blow up this place like you did the Arch-"

"Rude!"

"But true-"

"Coming from the goat boy who nearly ma-"

"And I'm shutting up."

"I thought so." Percy poked her tongue out at Grover before pulling a face when her stomach grumbled.

"There's a snack bar in the visitor center." Thalia spoke up with a snort, "I could actually hear that."

"Shush." Annabeth snickered. "Don't be mean to my girlfriend. And how would you know?"

"I've been here before-I came before I met you. To see the guardians." She pointed to the far end of the dam. Carved into the side of the cliff was a little plaza with two big bronze statues. They looked kind of like Oscar statues with wings.

"They were dedicated to Zeus when the dam was built," Thalia said. "A gift from Athena-"

"I know that-" Annabeth started and Thalia grinned.

"I wasn't saying it for your benefit-" Percy poked her tongue out at the older girl very maturely.

Tourists were clustered all around them. They seemed to be looking at the statues' feet.

"What are they doing?"

"Rubbing the toes," Thalia said. "They think it's good luck."

"Why? Do they have foo-"

Annabeth's hand slapped over Percy's mouth, shutting her up before she could finish the sentence as Thalia spoke up again.

She shook her head. "Mortals get crazy ideas. They don't know the statues are sacred to Zeus, but they know there's something special about them."

Annabeth nodded, "Of course they do-did you have any luck when you came here last?" Annabeth's voice was hopeful.

Thalia's expression darkened. And Percy winced-it was obvious that she'd come here before hoping for exactly that—some kind of sign from her dad. Some connection. "No. They don't do anything. They're just big metal statues." and Percy did feel sorry for Thalia there. Percy had at least met her father, spoken to him and been given letters from him-Thalia had never had that. It wasn't fair.

"Let us find the dam snack bar," Zoe said. "We should eat while we can."

Grover cracked a smile. "The dam snack bar?"

Zoe blinked. "Yes. What is funny?"

"Nothing," Grover said, trying to keep a straight face. "I could use some dam french fries."

Even Thalia smiled at that. "And I need to use the dam restroom."

"I wonder if they have dam souvenirs." Bianca joined in-and the fact that she got the joke just made it that much better.

"I might get a dam tshirt." Annabeth spoke up, smiling too as Percy pressed a hand to her mouth to try and stifle her own giggles. It wasn't even that funny really-but after all they'd been through it felt like the funniest joke in the world-especially when Zoe gave them a confused look.

"I do not understand."

"I want to use the dam water fountain," Grover added, snickering.

"Can we get some dam burgers too d'ya think?" Percy managed-and they were all laughing.

Percy probably would have kept laughing all day if it wasn't for the faint sound that made her eyes widen in horror and her back stiffen.

A soft barely audible moo. Percy forced down her panic. Maybe it was in her head-she caught Annabeth's eye-saw the look of concern on her face
and she shook her head very sharply to tell her not to ask.

Of course her hope disappeared a moment later, because Grover had stopped laughing too. He was looking around, confused. "Did I just hear a cow?"

"A dam cow?" Thalia laughed.

"No," Grover said. "I'm serious."

Zoe listened. "I hear nothing."

And Percy tried to push down her panic as Annabeth stiffened beside her, clearly thinking along the same lines as Percy.

"Are you two okay?" Bianca was watching them, her brows furrowed, "You look-"

"We're fine." Annabeth's voice was tight, "I think Percy just needs a moment." she squeezed Percy's hand tightly and Percy nodded.

"You guys go ahead. We'll meet you inside."

"Are you sure?" Zoe looked almost concerned, "After all-"

"We're sure, Percy and I can handle ourselves and I think it's just a bit much."

"Yeah." Percy nodded, forcing down the guilt for lying as they watched the others nod and head inside.