It didn't make sense to her. Mortals were never grateful for anything.

Persephone Jackson stared at the poster pinned on the lamppost in front of her depicting the symbols of the Olympians: GREEK GODS AND DEMIGODS ARE REAL! GREEK MYTHOLOGY IS REAL! BOW DOWN, THANK THEM FOR KEEPING US SAFE!

"Move aside, girlie," grunted an obese man from behind her. He didn't even wait for her reply and shoved her aside.

Percy was far too used to this treatment and so, didn't say anything. She watched silently as he tore down the poster and put a new one up: D.E.D: DEMIGOD EXTERMINATING DEPARTMENT! WE WILL FIND THESE VILE CRETINS AND PUT AN END TO THEM!

At first, they were grateful—teachers were giving lessons on Greek Mythology, novels were written, the Heroes of Old were put on pedestals. So far, "Modern Mythology" was kept a secret from them. The mortals had believed that demigods had existed once, long ago, but not anymore. Keyword: they had.

They knew about modern demigods now. And they weren't happy. At All.

The knowledge of modern demigods was a huge downfall. Most demigods who lived with their families during their school years were keeping their identities hidden like Percy was. Thankfully, she had taken up online schooling, having been admitted into the University of Florida—being a child prodigy and all—and so far, things were good. After the war with Gaea, the number of monster attacks had been reduced greatly. Now it was just the occasional hellhound and Empousa and those were in dark alleys or empty parking lots.

Most of the demigods had retreated to Camp Half-Blood and the Roman ones were being recruited back to Camp Jupiter in fear of being discovered.

The reason why they had been discovered was that Hecate was upset. The reason why was still unknown though her children and Hazel were on the case. Even Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Camp Half-Blood's Oracle, had joined on occasion. Whatever had caused the Goddess of Witchcraft to be upset was the reason why she had removed the Mist about a month ago, making all the demigods vulnerable and exposed to mortals.

Percy was brought back to the present by the same obese man who had rudely pushed her aside. "Don't know why this was even up in the first place."

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying to sound innocent and naive. To her, she sounded pretty convincing.

He waved his hand at the ripped poster he threw on the ground. "Hybrids are what they are. Freaks, to put it bluntly. They're dangerous and if you ask me, we're better off without them."

Well then, it's a good thing nobody asked you, Percy thought hotly. She ignored the slight blow of pain in her chest by his hurtful words and said, "They can't help what they are, you know? They didn't choose to be demigods."

"Fact remains, girlie is that they exist," he grunted, pulling a cigarette out and blowing on it.

Percy wrinkled her nose. She really hated people who harmed themselves with products like this and she was sure her boyfriend Will Solace would agree, seeing as he was a Medic. Although, she did have to admit that the mortal man was right about one thing: demigods did bring monsters to mortals, who had to suffer sometimes, but they had also saved the world twice from utter destruction, so the pros outweighed the cons.

She walked away from the man and climbed on her bike, not sparking a glance back. Over the past 4 months, Percy had grown a fear of being away from home. What if a monster or god showed up in front of mortals? Without the Mist, she'd be exposed and vulnerable.

While she rode her bike, memories of her boyfriend swan into her mind like a school of fish. Percy smiled in a silly, lovesick way. In the words of Aphrodite, she had it bad.

Percy didn't mind. She and Will had hit off right away, seeing as he'd been the one to heal her after her first fight with the Minotaur. Her mother had, thankfully, left before the bull-man had showed up. Will had been one of the only people to stick by her after the rest of the campers avoided her like the plague after finding out about her godly heritage.

She had first realized she had a crush on him when he stood up for her in front of Tantalus, damn the consequences. Aphrodite had convinced her that it wasn't just some silly little crush but true love by recalling all the little moments they had shared. Their first kiss was nothing but magical...and she was getting off track. Literally.

The young Daughter of the Sea swerved her bike back on the sidewalk and skidded to a stop at her house. Chaining her bike to its rack, she unlocked the door and went inside.

"Mom?" Percy called.

No reply. Percy heard some shuffling in the kitchen, which meant that someone was there, they just hadn't said anything. The question was, why?

Percy entered the kitchen, which was across from the living room, and found her question answered. She was met with the sight of Sally and Jackson and Poseidon in the middle of a heated moment. They were in the middle of a kiss, Poseidon perching one hand on his wife's waist and the other on her pregnant stomach. Sally, pushed against the kitchen counter, had both hands wrapped around the Sea God's neck.

Percy scrunched up her nose. "Sweet Aphrodite, at least put a sign up above you!"

Her parents jumped apart. Poseidon coughed awkwardly and Sally refused to look either of them in the eye. Percy laughed and settled herself on the counter. It was hilarious how flustered those two could get whenever she caught them.

Poseidon coughed awkwardly. "So...back already?"

Percy's smile dropped. "Yeah. And I've got some bad news."

Her parents looked more serious now.

"Apparently the government has created something called D.E.D—Demigod Exterminating Department," she explained. "The poster I saw said that they have a sure way to get rid of demigods. I don't think they know that demigods are twice as vulnerable."

Her parents traded glances like they were having a secret conversation. Percy narrowed her eyes.

"What?" she demanded, looking to one and the other furtively. "What is it? There's something you aren't telling me, isn't it?"

Poseidon sighed and ran a hand through his beard. "Percy...your mother and I have been thinking it might be a good idea to stay at Camp Half-Blood. For your safety, of course. Or you could join your mother and I in Atlantis, where you will be protected. It's your choice, but we cannot remain in the mortal world any longer—it's just too dangerous."

Percy was silent. If she had been asked a few years ago this same question, she would have fought tooth and nail to stay in the mortal world, refusing to allow herself to be scared into hiding, but now Percy was smarter. She was wise enough to put her safety into the mix and her mother's. She would never forgive herself if something happened to her mother, or if she hurt Will by letting herself get hurt with such a foolish decision.

If she chose Camp Half-Blood, she'd see her old friends and her boyfriend. It was safe, yes, but what about her mother? Sure, they could I.M, but it wouldn't be the same. And it would be nice to see her brothers again. She looked up, having made a decision.

"I'll come to Atlantis, but I'll use the waters to visit my friends...and Will." Percy watched her father's reaction carefully.

When he first heard about Will, he wasn't happy because, in his words, "How dare that punk approach my daughter!"

It always amused Percy that her father called someone like Will a "punk". Will wore Camp Half-Blood shirts underneath a doctor's coat and converse (flip-flops if it was really hot). It didn't exactly scream "punk".

Nevertheless, Poseidon had gone as far as to have Triton "chat" with Will. She still didn't know what had happened at Santa Monica, seeing as she had been bombarded by naiads waiting on her.

But gradually Will had grown on him. Poseidon had seen that Will was usually calm and cool, but still, a good fighter when the need to be one occurred. He insisted on healing her every time she needed medical attention—which was many times, considering the mount of trouble she'd gotten into—and when she asked, his explanation was, "The others don't do it right."

Poseidon's eyes hardened for a split second, but softened when he noticed Percy giving him a look that clearly said, He's my boyfriend, Dad!

The Sea God groaned.

For thousands of years, he had been granted dozens of demigod sons and while he couldn't be more proud of some of their accomplishments, Percy held a special place in his heart. The effect she had made with the Olympians and beyond was as though she was a completely different string of thread rearranging itself in a tapestry, tearing said tapestry apart and renewing it into something else entirely but a much better version.

He had wished for a demigod daughter for eons and now he had gotten it. But, with the pros, there were also cons.

The day Sally had shown him the little pink bundle that was his daughter, he had been over the moon, ecstatic even. But, he had foolishly forgotten one thing—Percy was a female. Boys would be attracted to her, especially since she was a mix of Sally and him. Being a member of the male species himself, he knew how one would think of a beautiful woman such as Persephone Rhea Jackson.

"Fine," Poseidon grumbled. "But if things are getting out of hand with the mortals, I will have you escorted."

"But—" Percy protested. She stopped and saw that there was no getting out of this. She reached for her only option. "Fine, but only if things get out of hands, and please don't overdo it."

Poseidon nodded. Percy gave him a look and he sighed, holding up his hand. "I swear on the River Styx that I will not go overboard if I must give you an escort."

Percy smiled. "Thanks, Dad."

The day went by quickly. She read, ate, did her homework with her mother translating the English words ("Mom, why does this say, "hoots lal het yulbo jeysua tawn, yifou tic het, member bum sit's nasi kotlli mocking brid?" "It says, "Shoot all the bluejays you want if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." "Oh. Makes sense."), and then came dinner.

Dinner that evening was a painful event. Both Percy and Poseidon could see that Sally was clearly distraught over the news Percy had shared. She barely touched her plate and continuously bit her lip.

"Mom," Percy said gently, "you need to eat."

Sally nodded numbly. She pierced a piece of mashed potato with her fork and chewed it carefully as if waiting for something. Then, her head jerked up quickly, her eyes wild and wide open. Percy briefly wondered if it had something to do with the food (Poseidon was not a good cook) before her dad asked, "What's wrong, dear?"

"Oh, nothing major," Sally coughed, causing her husband and daughter to slump their shoulders in relief. "I just noticed this: where's Triton? He usually never misses dinner."

"There have been some minor messes in Atlantis and he's dealing with his. It's nothing serious," Poseidon reassured them. "I'm sure it'll be sorted through with by the time we move in there."

Percy nodded. "Speaking of which, when are we leaving for Atlantis?"

"If all goes well, we will leave by the end of the week," Poseidon said.

"So, it'll probably be postponed." Percy raised her hands in defense at the look she got. "Don't give me that look! You know things never go according to plan when I'm involved!"

Dinner ended soon after that. Percy trudged up to bed a yawning mess. Before she threw herself on her fluffy bed, she opened her drawer and grabbed a drachma from a box made entirely out of green sea glass and decorated with aquamarine gems and pure alabaster pearls; a birthday gift from Triton a couple years ago, who had informed her that it would never run out of drachmas and that she'd better use them to call him daily so he could be updated on her life. If she didn't...Percy didn't want to think about what could happen.

The Daughter of Poseidon tip-toed to the small fountain tucked away in the corner of her room and tossed the gold coin in.

"O Iris, Goddess of the Rainbows," Percy announced, "if it isn't too much to ask, I would like to see Will Solace...in Austin, Texas?"

Her boyfriend's sleeping form appeared in the mist. His face was planted face-first onto his paper-covered desk. Percy shook her head disapprovingly. She had told him time and time again not to overwork himself at Camp Half-Blood with his healer shifts, and now, here he was, overworking himself with something else of the entirety: homework.

Percy peered at the papers and winced when she realized it was math homework. Will hated math.

"Will," Percy sang sweetly, frowning when he didn't wake up. She tried again, this time with more force. "Will, wake up."

The mass of blonde hair shifted slightly.

"WILLIAM ANDREW SOLACE!" That did the trick. Will hated it when someone used his full name, just like Percy.

"Huh?" Will slurred, slamming his hands on the table, his eyes wide and blown with alertness. "I finished the assignment, Mrs. Clarkson!"

"Will, it's me," she sighed. "It's Percy."

Will turned to face the fountain with a look of exhaustion and pure astonishment. "Sephie?"

Her heart fluttered at the nickname—when Will said it, it was different. She finally noticed what he was wearing and thanked her lucky stars her dark skin prevented her from blushing. His flannel was unbuttoned, revealing a bit of his chest. He was wearing no shoes or socks and his hair looked messier than ever—unkempt unintentionally, even after he ran his fingers through it a few times.

"How are things?"

"Good."

She arched an eyebrow. "Really?"

He sighed, but a faint smile could be seen. "You got me. I'm swarmed with homework. Mom's doing what she can to help me, what with my dyslexia and all, but she's been busy with her songwriting."

"True that," she agreed. "My eyes are killing me every time I try to decipher a page from To Kill A Mockingbird."

Will laughed lightly before his face became stony serious. "There's another reason you called me, isn't there?"

"You know me too well. A saw a poster being put up. It's all about how the government created something to destroy all demigods, or so they claim. It's called the D.E.D—Demigod Exterminating."

"Babe, we may be half-mortal, but we're also half-god," he reminded her. "I think it's all just talk, but if it's any consolation I'll be going back to camp in a week. Winter break's coming up, so it'll seem like a less questionable time to disappear."

"Oh that's great news," Percy said happily, smiling brightly. "I'm going to be going back to Atlantis in a week if everything goes according to plan and my dad agreed to let me visit you at camp."

Will beamed. "That's great. I'm gonna miss you, but I'm glad your dad let you see you, seeing as he isn't that fond of me."

"Oh don't worry. I think you're growing on him. And Triton, too."

"Seriously?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

Will smirked. "Touche."

Percy hugged her legs and rested her chin on her knees. "So tell me, how are things for you with the whole "mortals know about demigods" deal?"

"So far, so good," Will shrugged. "I've been under the radar and no one's suspected me of being anything other than a typical teen."

"Same here," Percy agreed. "It's easier for me since I study online at home."

Will looked dubious. "That doesn't mean you won't be suspected. You haven't done anything demigod-like since the Mist disappeared, right?"

"Of course not! Why would —"

"Just checking, Damselfish." Percy's mouth clammed shut, thankful once again that she couldn't color her skin because of blood rushing upwards. It was the first nickname he had given her after he told her he wanted to give her something special that only he could call her.

"I gotta call Triton before I, uh, go to sleep," she stuttered, running her hand through the haze and disconnecting the call.

She tossed another drachma in the fountain. "O Iris, Goddess of Rainbows, please show me my brother, Triton."

Needless to say, Percy didn't get much sleep that night.

A/N: Hey, so what do you think of my first chapter? Good? Bad? I will admit that I only got the idea after I read someone else's fanfiction, but I promise that I am not copying their work. This was slightly inspired by that, but the entire plotline is mine and mine alone. Don't like, don't read.

I love PJO!

Please follow, favorite, and review this! I would really appreciate it!

—LEOVALDEZ765