Percy POV

Arizona. That was where. To be honest it wasn't my favorite place in the world, it was quite dull. I found my cousin to be living with her mom. Like Hera had suggested I watched from a far. She still had the same personality that I remembered. She was still shy, and intelligent, but observant of everything around her. I knew I had to be careful on how I played this. I had to be in the area but far enough away she, or anyone else could find out who I was. I was there for a little of two years before I found out she was moving out to Washington to live with her father.

That was a trip I was not looking forward too. The other issue with that was now I would be worried of both Bella and my uncle Charlie finding out that I was there. Is was a bit more of a problem because it was also a small town. This meant everything and anything spread like wildfire. It meant I had to be smart on how I played this otherwise I, or my cousin and her family could get hurt.

I will say the one nice thing about being in this area in Washington was the fact that it rained all the time. For the first year I was there watching over Bella I had to keep even more distance just based on how small of a town it was. Luckily for me I bought a house that was quite big. Nothing fancy but I had everything I could ever need or want in the house. I ended up trying harder then ever knowing that my luck was not going to continue. I knew I had to be ready in case of anything happening l. That the life of demigod. You always have to be ready, since you never know when everything Is going to fall to shit.

I had a bit of land and the forest surrounding the area around my house. It had a bit of a long driveway so I could hear or see if anyone was coming. It was very private which I enjoyed. I watched as my cousin came and went from Arizona knowing something was up. I knew something wasn't right but I trusted my cousin enough to know she had a reason. However after the incident I started to watch a lot more closely.

I had to leave sometimes for a few month or week wherever I stayed knowing if I ever stayed to long I would attract all kinds of monsters. When I was going I would either travel or on occasion I would find a demigod or two and help them to camp. In a way it was nice to see other demigods now and then just to remind myself I wasn't the only one with this type of lifestyle. Middle of her senior year I started getting an unsettling feeling. Demigod 101 you lead to always trust your instincts.

I had to take the risk of following more closely to make sure she was safe. What ever was happening in the godly world it was not good. It seemed more monsters were finding me no matter where I was the past few months. That mean when Bella was alone or even only with one person I would follow if she was out just to make nothing came out of nowhere. I would have Ms. O'Leary when I was gone follow her the Same. Even when she was at home I had Ms. O'Leary stay in the woods near by just to be safe.

That's how I got to the point I'm at now. Once more running for my life. You see I wouldn't have been running had the Minotaur one stayed dead, and two didn't ram into my car. It's how I started getting more on edge about things. Monsters should have reformed this fast, it was becoming unnerving to say the least.

Luckily I didn't have to do much to kill him considering it was raining which put me in my element and we were in a forest that had trees every which way. I ended up doing almost the exact same thing I did last time. However instead of killing him with his own horn, when he got his horn stuck in the tree I came from behind him and stabbed him in the back with riptide. Honestly a lot easier then the last time. I guess even after reforming monster still try the same thing and don't get any smarter.

That still left me without one of my cars. I knew it wasn't that big of deal considering I had a few vehicles but that was probably the one I used the most. Luckily knowing Hera she probably had the same car sitting back at my house right now just waiting for me. With the more reoccurring monsters popping up and me getting less sleep, I started getting sloppy. With so much going on in my mind I was just let things slip my mind or I would slip up when I was by Bella. I was lucky her or no one else noticed but I knew my luck and I never had any so I knew I was going to get caught with being so close to her of these times and boy was I right.

It was the middle of March on a Thursday when I realized how right I was about having no luck. Since it was her boyfriend had been driving her to school and Charlie had been working a lot more I would follow to school just to make sure nothing attacked. I had an all black 2016 Chevrolet camero. It was newer and a bit expensive so I had to make sure to keep my distance from everyone since in a small town not may people were that wealthy and be able to afford such things.

I knew rumors of who I was and why I moved here and anything about me were spreading around the town. After there was about two miles left until I reached the school I did what anybody in a sports car would do. I started to speed around them and anyone else on the road. I parked in the back of the school parking lot and saw that everyone was staring at my car once again. I've been doing this every school day for the last two weeks never once getting out of my car.

Luckily my car had very dark tinted windows so nobody could get a good look at me in the car. Once again I saw them start talking with one another while glancing in my direction no doubt starting more rumors about who I was. A few minutes later I saw Bella and the guy she's been with pull into the parking lot. I saw what appeared to be his family (after a week of trying to figure out why they all looked similar) standing around waiting for them. I knew that there was more to it then that considering two of them seemed to be together but I mostly just let it be.

My cousin was smart and I trusted that she knew what she was getting herself into. However I saw that even her family, that seemed to keep to themselves, also looking my direction. They both got out of the car and walked towards their little group. I started my car and was trying to leave getting just a little bit away from my cousin when I slammed on my breaks. A kid stepped in front of my car and then a whole bunch of kid started to come around my car.

To say I was pissed was a understatement. I also knew now how much the fates truly hated me. I honestly had nothing to hide behind so I could only hope that when I rolled my window down that my cousin either didn't see me, or didn't recognize me. Once my window was halfway a guy came up to me and tried to start talking to me. "Hey man, I got to go and I'm in a bit of a rush. I don't want to be rude but can you get the others to move" I say as nicely as possible. I saw him nod enthusiastically and just when I thought I got away with it I heard the one voice I was praying I didn't hear "Perseus"? I would know that voice anywhere.

Sure enough pushing through the few kids that were around her she came up close to my car. I saw the boy and his supposed family all looking at me trying to determine who I was. I looked at Bella who was now fully in front of me and gave a small smile. "Hey Bella" I say quietly. Her eyes are wide now with shock confirming to her who I was. I knew there was no way out of this. I also knew that even if I sped away she would have tried to find me so I realized I would have to just face the problem head on.

"W-What are you doing here? Why are you here? Doe-" before she could finish I cut her off. I could see that everyone's eyes were on us, the one thing I didn't want. I knew I had to do this privately, "let go for a drive Bella. We need to talk" I say firmly. I could tell she was a little reluctant and I saw her take a quick glance at who I can only assume now to be her boyfriend. It was also the first time I saw him at a somewhat close distance.

He was about 6'0, with brown hair and what looked to be dark brown eyes that were almost a coppery color. He had really pale skin and a long face with a mouth that always seemed to be in a frown. His hair was messy and a bit longer than mine. I saw him glancing at me then quickly back at Bella as if trying to figure out what was going on. "Please Bella. I... I need to talk to you" I say softly. I could feel the panic in me starting to work it's way up from the bottom of my stomach.

I was worried what us having contact would do. I couldn't lose her too. She looked at me and slowly nodded "get in" I say quietly shrugging my head in the direction of the passenger seat. Once she was making her way that way I saw her take one last glance at her boyfriend before opening the passenger side door. I rolled my window up grabbed her bag from her. I quickly put it in the back seat and waited patiently for my cousin to get in. Once she was in and had closed the door I gave her a side hug as best I could from my seat. "Put your seatbelt on and we can go. I'll explain everything that I can" mad I see her nod.

Once she put the seatbelt on I quickly got out of there. It was quite for the next five minutes neither of us knowing what to say. "Where are we going Perseus" she asks. "We are just going to hang out for the day and talk. Probably just drive around for a while then when schools over I'll drive you to wherever you want to go" I say.

I can see her looking at me using my peripheral vision. "Why are you here? Where have you been? What's goi-" before she can ask me anything more I cut her off. "A lots changed since we last saw each other Bella. It's been about 7-8 years since we last saw each other. How about we do one question at a time" i say taking my eyes off the road to look at her before quickly looking back in front of me.

"What's been going on then Perseus? I saw you on the news a few times. Missing!? And I don't hear anything from you! No letter no call nothing saying that your ok or alive. Then you just pop up here out of nowhere?" Bella says angrily. I grimace a little bit a that but I knew it was the truth. "I told you I could tell you what I could Bella. I just got into some trouble and I didn't have time and I was dealing with so much that for a little bit I forgot about you. With everything that happened I... I guess I was lost and it slipped my mind. Like you said we hadn't seen each other for a while, and even when we saw each other it wasn't for too long and even if it was it was far between. I'm sorry. As for me being here I'm only in town for a week then I need to go" I say getting quieter near the end.

The look that she gives me now is a softer one and I could tell she felt bad for getting angry. "I understand why you were frustrated Bella. I was just under a lot of stress and I didn't forget you I was just... I was struggling with a lot at the time". "Well why don't you stay with me and Charlie and I can introduce you to m-" "I can't" I blurted out interrupting her once more. "Bella" I began, I knew I couldn't tell her the truth and I was trying to come up with a way not to tell her what I'm going but at the same time not lying to her. I didn't want to lie to her but I knew to keep her safe I would have to. "Bella. I got myself into some trouble. That's why I came. I just wanted to make sure you and Charlie were alright then I was planning on going. I wasn't expecting you to see me. I'm not letting Charlie or you get hurt. The people that want me will do anything to get me. Anyone who knows who I am is in danger... even you" I say.

I knew she would understand but like me she could be pretty stubborn. She was also smart and she would always try and get answers I knew I had to be careful not to give anything away. "By the way don't you remember I go by Percy. I still hate Perseus, that's one thing that hasn't changed" I say trying to lighten the mood as best I can. Clearly it didn't work to much "We could help you Percy. I know people who would help that's what family is for right" she asks.

I shake my head "This is different Bella, I can't explain it and I know I'm asking a lot of you. I don't need help I know what I'm doing I just need you to trust me. I know we haven't seen each other for a long time but I promise I'm still the same cousin you once knew it's just I've grown up more, and as far as I can see so have you. We can hang out until I leave and I promise we'll spend as much time together while I'm in town" I say trying to change the topic. Luckily for me she takes it.

"Fine... I won't say anything to Charlie b" I cut her off before she finished. "No Bella. You can't tell anyone. Anyone who finds out will also be in danger. It's a risk for me even to be talking to you. I mean it Bella. Nobody can know not your boyfriend, not Charlie, not your friends" I say strictly. "What am I supposed to say to the rest of them then Percy? I can come up with excuses for my dad but what am I supposed to say to other people?" She cries out indigently.

"Bella what I'm asking of you is a lot, I know. I'm just trying to keep everyone safe. Just tell your dad your out with your boyfriend and then tell everyone else that I was a friend of yours from Arizona and came to see you for a week. If anyone finds out I have to leave" I say hoping that she understands. We're about an hour away from Forks and I now found myself in a different town where I found a pizza place. I pulled into the parking lot and parked before looking back at Bella.