Renee POV

Luke grabbed my arm and tried to pull me up, but Clara was faster. "Don't touch her!"

Luke looked shocked. "Frankly, Clarissa, I didn't think you'd had that in you."

We quickly followed him, seeing no other choice. I gasped when we got to the stateroom. Luke nodded. "A lot nicer than cabin eleven, isn't it? Although you never joined us, Sanderson."

I grasped Clara's hand. "Your insults can't get to me, Luke."

"Oh, is that so, Black?"

I stood my ground, not wanting him to see any reaction from the name. The room was beautiful, beautiful and horrible. It was almost as nice as the Aphrodite cabin and the Slytherin and Hufflepuff common rooms put together, but there was a giant coffin in the back.

"Sit down, sit down," He motioned, but none of us did. "Oh how rude of me. I haven't let you meet my assistants. This is Agrius, and this is Oreius. The bear twins, perhaps you've heard of them?"

I said nothing. Percy looked terrified but Luke kept talking.

"No? Well, their mother….it's sad, really. Aphrodite ordered her to fall in love, but the young woman refused and ran to Artemis for help. Artemis let her become one of her maiden huntresses, but Aphrodite got her revenge. She made the woman fall in love with a bear, and Artemis abandoned her when she found out."

He looked directly at me, baiting me to say something to my mother's defense, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Typical of the gods, really," he continued. "They fight with each other and humans get caught in the middle. Agrius and Oreius here are the girl's sons. They have no love for Olympus, but they like half-bloods okay."

"Yeah, for lunch," Agrius growled.

"Hehe! Hehe!"Oreius kept laughing like he was having an asthmatic seizure, until both Agrius and Luke stared at him.

"Go punish yourself," Agrius growled.

Oreius whimpered and went over to the corner to bang his head against the wall. Luke was unfazed.

"So, Percy, we let you live another year. How's your mom? How's school? And what about you, Clara?"

"You poisoned Thalia's tree," I shot at him, injecting venom into every word. He would not talk to my friends like that!

"Right to the point, then. Okay, sure, I poisoned the tree. So what?"

"How could you?" Annabeth looked hurt. "She saved your life! How could you dishonor her?"

"The gods are the only ones doing her a dishonor. If Thalia were alive, she'd be on my side."

"Liar!" Annabeth looked ready to explode.

"If you knew what was coming, you'd understand-"

"I understand you want to destroy the camp! You're a monster!"

"And Clara, think of your dear old Pomona. She saw what was coming too, that's why she doesn't get along with Chiron."

"Again with the lying, Luke. Stop!" I screamed. "You won't treat her like this!"

"Careful, beautiful, you might break a nail." My charmspeak seemed to have no effect on him. "The gods have blinded you, all of you. Can you imagine a world without them, Annabeth? What good is that ancient history you study? Three thousand years of baggage! The West is rotten to the core, it has to be destroyed. Join me, Annabeth. Come on, I know you. We could use your intelligence to start the world anew."

"Just because you have none of your own!" Clara fired.

"Annabeth, you deserve better than tagging along on some hopeless quest to save the camp. Within a month, Half-Blood Hill will be destroyed, and all the campers who are left will either be forced to join me or be hunted to extinction. You really want to be on a losing team….with company like this?" He pointed to Tyson.

"Hey!" Percy snapped.

"Traveling with a cyclops! Talk about dishonoring Thalia's memory. I'm surprised at you, Annabeth. You of all people-"

"Stop it!" She screamed.

I glanced at Percy and Clara, who looked as confused as I was. Annabeth buried her face in her hands, looking ready to cry.

"Leave her alone. And leave Tyson out of this!" Percy demanded.

"Oh, that's right. Your pathetic father claimed him, too. Yes, that's right," he said, seeing our shocked faces, "I still have friends from camp who tell me what's going on."

"Spies, you mean," I retorted. Luke sneered.

"I know all about your plan to find the Fleece. And those coordinates. 30, 31, 75, 12, wasn't it?"

"Shut up!" Clara and I yelled at the same time, and I whipped out my wand.

"Oh, put away the wand, Renee. You can't harm me with magic."

That one had shocked me. Whoever Luke's spies were, they would have had to be close to me or Clara to know that we could do magic. Unfortunately, Luke noticed my discomfort.

"Ah yes. My friends tell me everything, Black. And Percy, how many more insults from your father can you take? You think Poseidon cares for you any more than he does for this monster?" Tyson moaned and clenched his fist.

Luke chuckled. "The gods are so using you, Percy. Do you have any idea what's in store for you if you reach your sixteenth birthday? Has Chiron even told you about the prophecy?" Luke laughed.

"I know what I need to know," Percy said evenly. "Like, who my enemies are."

"Then you're a fool."

Tyson's anger finally reached the surface. "My brother is not a fool!" He charged Luke before any of us could stop him, and ran his fist at his head with a force that would have killed him, but the bear twins intercepted.

Luke smirked. "Too bad, Cyclops. Looks like my Grizzly friends are more than a match for your strength. Maybe I should just let them-"

"Your father sent us," Percy said quickly.

Luke's eyes narrowed. "Don't….even….mention him!"

"He directed us toward your boat," Clara continued. "We thought it was just for a ride, but no. He wanted us to find you. He told Percy and me that he won't give up on you, no matter how angry you are."

"Angry?" Luke yelled. "Give up on me? He abandoned me, Percy. Just as your father did to you, Clara. When you were petrified, he could have healed you, but no, he just had to leave it up to fate."

"Who told you that?" I screamed at him. "WHO'S THE SPY?"

"Oh, this wasn't a spy, Renee. This was a friend of yours who's helping me out. A witch friend. What was her name….Katie? Kelly? Oh that's right, Kaylee." I glared at him. "Funny how I know these things, isn't it?

"Anyway, Percy," he continued, oblivious to the tears sparkling in my eyes, "I want Olympus destroyed! I'll tear down every last throne! You tell Hermes it's going to happen, too! Each time a camper joins us, you grow weaker, and we grow stronger. He grows stronger," Luke said, indicating the gold sarcophagus.

"He….you don't mean….?" Percy mused, shocked.

"But I do. He's reforming, little by little. Every time we get a new recruit, another piece comes in."

"That's disgusting!" Annabeth made a face.

"Your mother was born from Zeus's split skull, I wouldn't talk." Luke sneered at her. "Soon there will be enough of the titan lord that we can make him whole again. We'll piece together a new body for him, a work worthy of the forges of Hephaestus."

"You're insane," I spat at him.

"Join us and you'll be rewarded. Sponsors rich enough to buy this cruise ship and much more. Percy, your mother will never have to work again. She could live in a mansion. So could your oversized family, Clara. Your brothers could go to college, Renee could live with you guys. And you, Annabeth, you can help us rebuild a new golden age, your every dream….think of the possibilities! A temple to the lords of the next age!"

"Go to Tartarus!" Annabeth screamed.

Luke clucked his tongue. "A shame."

He picked up something that looked like a TV remote and pressed a red button. Within seconds, security had appeared. The men had the same glassy look as the others, but Clara was already summoning a sunbeam, their dreamlike qualities wouldn't make them any less dangerous in a fight.

"Ah, good, security. We have some stowaways."

"Yes, sir," the men said, dazed.

"Oreius, it's time to feed the drakon. Take these down to the cargo hold to show them how it's done."

Oreius looked gleeful. "Hehe. Hehe."

"Boss, can't I go too? My brother's worthless, and they have a cyclops, and it's five against one!" Agrius roared.

"Oreius can handle them."

"But-"

"Agrius, stay here. We have important matters to discuss."

The bear nodded glumly. "Yes boss."

"Oreius, don't fail me. Stay in the hold to make sure the drakon is properly fed."

I whimpered as Oreius prodded us with his javelin.


Clara POV

"Wren," I whispered. "We've gotten off a cursed ship before, we can do it again. He said the bear twins together are better than Tyson, but what about separated? We've got charmspeak, magic, sun, and water on our side too."

She nodded, but her hands were cold. "Wren, what is it? You're not usually this quiet."

"He's working with Kaylee," she hissed. "That means Kaylee knows. That means that not only do I have to watch out for her because she's a bully, but now I have to be super careful what I say. If she knows this much already, what will happen if I let anything slip?" The tears rolled down her cheeks. "She's too powerful, Clara. And if she knows, the whole Slytherin house could know! Why didn't I take the offer of Gryffindor when I had the chance?"

"Is that what this is about? Because I'll let you know, you're more powerful than Luke and Kaylee any day! I mean it! Plus, you've got us, and Harry and Ron and Hermione and Sandra and Gill and….Kaylee can't do anything to you. I promise." I was convinced that Renee was better than worrying about this.

"How are we going to get off the ship?"

"With those," Percy said, indicating a row of lifeboats behind us.

"How long were you listening?" Renee snapped.

"Long enough. Now, Tyson!"

Tyson lifted a fist and whacked Oreius in the head, knocking the bear out, but I barely saw it as I zoomed to the lifeboat on a sunbeam. I heard the alarm go off and decided to try something I had never done before.

"Dad," I whispered, "If ever you were listening, the time would be now. Give me a sunbeam to send to the others, quickly!"

I focused hard on Renee, who was closest to me. A flash appeared, and Tyson noticed. "Pretty lights."

Renee saw me. "Tyson, wait for us to get on, then follow! Now!"

I finished hacking at the ropes and saw my friends speed toward me.

"I'll try to get this on a sunbeam, but we'll have to take the risk, okay?" I pleaded.

"Clara, why aren't you in the boat?"

"I'm going to cut the last rope, just go! Can you all fit?"

"You're not going to….?" Percy asked, finally understanding.

"Yes. I'm going to push now. Hang on! One, two, THREE!" I let the rope go as javelins and arrows went flying past them, and then summoned a sunbeam for myself.

"Get her!" Someone yelled, and I recognized the voice, but there was no time to think about it. I caught up to the others as Percy yelled, "Thermos!" and Tyson pulled it from his bag. He tossed it to me.

"Just a little," Percy screamed, but I knew what to do. "Annabeth, Renee, hang on!"

Annabeth and Renee tightened their grip and I unscrewed the lid. Within seconds we were out of weapon range.

I lowered my sunbeam so it was just skimming the water. The boat sped up to match me.

"Guys," I said. "I don't know when I'll lose steam, so be careful."

Percy nodded. "We should try to IM Chiron," he said, pulling out a golden drachma.

"Good thinking. Tyson, can you keep watch?" I asked. The cyclops nodded.

Percy threw the Drachma. "Chiron!"

Because of the wind, water, and speed, I wasn't sure how clear we came across, but we told the centaur about leaving camp and about Luke.

There was a loud crash as a plate came flying next to Chiron's head, and we suddenly heard loud music.

"Where are you?"

"...Cousins. If you do get the fleece….Miami."

"What?" I yelled, but the image cut out. We looked at each other and shook our heads.


We took turns keeping watch until the sun rose. "Wow," said Renee. "We must be at-"

"Virginia Beach," finished Percy. We all stared.

"But that's gotta be-" Annabeth started.

"Five hundred and thirty nautical miles." Percy looked confused.

"Percy, what are our coordinates?" I asked suddenly.

"Um….36 degrees, 44 minutes north, 76 degrees, 2 minutes west." He paused, shocked. "How did I know that?"

"It's because of your dad," Annabeth said in wonder. "You have perfect bearings while at sea. That's so cool!"

"Um….I don't exactly want to be a human GPS system…."

Tyson tapped Percy's shoulder. "Other boat is coming." We hadn't noticed the coast guard, but he was gaining on us. I threw a sunbeam under the boat, and we sped into the air. I had no idea what the coast guard thought.

"Keep heading to Chesapeake Bay, if this thing is steerable. I know a place where we can hide."

I had no idea how Annabeth knew this place so well, but I followed her instructions, with Percy yelling out coordinates every few minutes until we landed on the ground with a bump.

Annabeth motioned for us to follow. "In here, come on guys, hide the boat with us." She pushed away some of the bushes to reveal a little clearing.

"A hideout?" Renee asked incredulously. "What is this place,, Annabeth?"

"Come on, we made them with extra space, should be just big enough for the five of us, although it'll be a squeeze."

There were sleeping bags and rations for both mortals and demigods. "You made this?" I asked. "This half-blood hideout or whatever?"

"Yep." Annabeth beamed at our impressed faces. "With Thalia. And Luke." Her face fell, and I reached out my hand to comfort her. She took it, grateful.

Percy looked uncomfortable, and I had a theory about what was bothering him. I didn't want to ask him anything in front of Annabeth, though, so I just said, "Annabeth, are you sure this place is safe? I mean, if Luke knows about it….?"

"He's probably not even thinking about it. We made tons of these when we were on the run."

"Okay." Renee looked skeptical.

Percy realized there was a conversation we needed to have. "Um, Tyson? Would you mind scouting outside for a wilderness convenience store so we can have snacks?"

"Snacks?"

"Just look for some, like, powdered donuts or something," I told him. He nodded, happy to have something to do.

"I will go find donuts in the wilderness. Here, donuts," he called as he left the cave.

"Hey," Percy said. "I'm sorry about, you know, seeing Luke."

Annabeth stared at the wall. "It wasn't your fault, Percy."

Renee thought for a second. "He let us go too easy."

I looked around at the others, realizing it was true. They both seemed to agree as well, and my heart sank.

"I was thinking the same thing," said Annabeth solemnly. "When we heard them in the bathroom, he said something about how 'they'll take the bait.' I think we're the 'they.'"

"But why? Is it the Fleece?" I asked.

"I don't know, Clara. Maybe he wants the Fleece for himself, but he'll get us to do the hard work. I just can't believe he'd poison the tree!"

"What did he mean," Renee asked cautiously, "that Thalia would have been on his side?"

"He's wrong."

"You don't sound sure."

Annabeth glared at me and Percy. I tried to reach out a hand and calm her, but she just slapped it away.

"Renee, you know who you remind me of most? Thalia. You too, Percy. Both of you are so much like her, it's scary. Like, you would have either been best friends or strangled each other."

Percy and Renee exchanged a glance. "Let's go with best friends," said Percy.

"Thalia got angry at her dad sometimes. So do you, both of you, at your godly parents. But that wouldn't have turned you against Olympus, would it?"

Percy and Renee stared. "I guess not," she finally mumbled. "No."

"Then she wouldn't've either!"

"Okay," Percy whispered. "You're scary sometimes, Annabeth."

"Good." She reached for my hand and pulled me in for a hug. "Thanks, Clara."

"For what?"

"For being a good friend. I'll need someone like you to keep my anger from reaching the top."

Renee rolled her eyes. "So sappy."

"Like it hasn't happened with us," I retorted playfully. She grinned.

I could tell Percy had something on his mind, but he thought for a minute and then shook his head.

"Annabeth," Renee asked, and I was surprised that she was being so bold with her questions. "What did Luke mean, travelling with Tyson was dishonoring Tahlia's memory?"

Annabeth buried her face in her hands. "He was talking about the reason Thalia died. The real reason."

"Which was….?" Percy pressed.

"You can never trust a cyclops, Percy. Six years ago, on the night Grover led us to camp-"

The door creaked open. Tyson was beaming. "Monster Donut. Fifty feet away."


Annabeth grabbed my arm and raced out of the clearing. Percy and Renee followed us. "This is bad," Annabeth murmured, pointing at the donut shop in front of us.

The shop looked brand new, with bright lights and a large sign reading, "Monster Donut" in huge letters. There was a single employee behind the counter who was reading a magazine, and that was it.

"What's so bad about it?" Renee asked. "It's just a chain."

"This shouldn't be here. It's wrong."

"Why are we whispering?" Percy demanded in a loud whisper. "Tyson went in and got a dozen, and he's fine."

"Because he's a monster," said Annabeth plainly.

"Aww, come on Annabeth. I know Monster Donut. We have them in New York. It's just a regular chain, like Renee said."

"Clara, be quiet!" She hissed. "It could be a nest!"

Tyson groaned. He didn't seem to have any idea what she was talking about either, but her tone made us all uncomfortable.

"Um, Annabeth? A nest for what?"I decided to end our confusion.

"Have you ever wondered how chain stores pop up so fast? Like one day there's nothing, and then the next day, boom. A new coffee shop or hamburger place or whatever shows up?"

"Can't say that I have," Percy whispered. Annabeth glared at him.

"Well, sometimes it's because they're connected to the life force of a monster. Some children of Hermes figured out how to do it back in the 1950's. They breed-"

"They breed what?" Percy pressed, but Annabeth was suddenly stiff as a statue.

"No….sudden….moves." Her whisper was quieter than before. "Very slowly turn around."

We did, and something the size of a rhino was lumbering through the bushes around our camp. It took me a minute to realize the monster had several heads. Renee was about to scream, but I clamped my hand over her mouth. Annabeth shot Percy a look, and I saw he was about to uncap riptide.

Good thinking, Annabeth.

The Hydra was only a few feet away, but monsters have terrible eyesight. It may not have seen us yet. "What is it, Miss Sunshine?" Renee asked me.

"Hydra," I said, without knowing exactly how. There was a nasty tearing sound.

"He's got our tent," Annabeth mumbled. "He's got our scent."

Suddenly, the heads lunged at Tyson. "Scatter!" Annabeth screamed. We spread out, but Tyson didn't move.

"Tyson!" Percy yelled.

"Uh?"

"Move!" The cyclops ran.

Percy pulled the cap off of riptide. "That should distract him."

I nodded. The sight of celestial bronze was hateful to monsters, and the hydra noticed it right away. It hissed and charged Percy, and without thinking, he swung his sword. "No!" Annabeth and I yelled simultaneously.

But the damage had been done. Each of the Hydra's necks split, and another head sprouted from each one. "Percy! You just opened another Monster Donut!"

"Really, Annabeth?" Renee screamed back. "We're about to die and you're worried about that?"

"How do we kill it?" I asked.

"Fire!" Annabeth yelled. "We need fire!"

"Will sunbeams work?"

"Clara, there's a spell, remember?" Renee was pulling her wand from her back pocket, and I did the same. "Caerula flammis!" We shouted, which we knew as the spell Hermione had used to set Snape's robes on fire a year before we started. But the bluebell flames were tiny and didn't do much good. Tyson tried to pummel the heads, and he did a pretty good job of it, but even he couldn't hold the heads off forever.

We dodged acid and ran toward the river. The hydra followed, but there was a noise like heavy panting, and it made the river shake.

"What is that?" Renee screamed.

"Steam engine," said Tyson.

"What?" We all asked in disbelief.

There was indeed a ship, an iron-clad, Civil War cruiser.

"Great," Renee muttered. "We now have enemies on two fronts."

"They're too close, m'lady," a gravelly male voice said.

"Damn those heroes. Full steam ahead!" Crap, I knew that voice. That was Clarisse.

"Aye, m'lady."

"Fire at will!"

"Hit the ground!" Annabeth screamed. We dove onto the earth. Fire shot above us.

Clarisse was dressed in full battle armor, on a gigantic ship. "Losers. But I guess I had to rescue you. Come aboard." She lowered the ladder, and we rolled our eyes, our hearts racing.


Renee POV:

I grasped Clara's hand as Clarisse gave us a tour I can't say I actually appreciated. I was relieved that the name of the ship was called the CSS Birmingham. "No more Andromeda," I whispered to Clara, who giggled nervously.

"You guys are in so much trouble!" Clarisse told us as we finished the tour and exited into the captain's quarters for dinner. As far as we could tell, the only others on the ship were the ghosts of confederates. They creeped Tyson out, and to be honest they creeped me out too. I didn't really want to eat anything served by skeletons, but my hunger overcame my squeamishness. I could tell Percy was thinking the same thing.

"Tantalus expelled you for eternity," Clarisse continued, glaring at us. "Mr. D said if any of you ever show your face at camp again, he'd turn you into squirrels and run you over with his SUV."

Percy gulped, but it was all strangely funny to me. "Did they give you this ship?" I asked, smirking a little.

"No, my father did."

"Ares?" Percy gasped.

"Despite what you think, your dad isn't the only one with sea power. The soldiers on the losing side of every war must pay tribute to him."

I raised my eyebrows. "I prayed to my father for naval transport, and here it is," she continued. "These guys will do anything I want them to. Right, captain?"

"Do anything. Kill anyone. As long it brings an end to infernal war."

Clarisse smiled fondly. "Kill anyone. I like that."

"Clarisse," I said, "Luke might be after the Fleece too. We saw him. He has the coordinates, and he's travelling on a ship full of monsters."

"Great. I'll blast him out of the water!"

"Clarisse, you don't understand," Annabeth pleaded. "We have to work together!"

"No way! This is my quest, and you four are not going to ruin it! You two already ruined my last one!"

I was about to react harshly to that, but Clara got there first. "Clarisse, please. We can help you, I promise."

Clarisse's face relaxed a little bit. I had forgotten that Clara had that effect on Clarisse, but it was good to see. "Clarisse," I asked suddenly, "where are your teammates? Weren't you allowed to bring two with you? Where are your other Ares kids?"

"I was wondering that, too," added Percy.

"They didn't….I let them stay behind to protect the camp."

"You mean even your own cabinmates wouldn't…." I trailed off as Clara gave me a sharp nudge. "Tantalus is using you, Clarisse. He'd love to see camp destroyed. He's setting you up to fail."

"Shut up, prissy! I don't care what the Oracle-never mind!"

Clara shot me a look that plainly said, shut up. I'll take it from here.

"What did the Oracle say?" she asked innocently.

"Nothing! It's nothing! All you need to know is, I'm finishing this quest, and you're not helping me! On the other hand, I can't let you go, so…."

I forgot Clara's warning. "So we're prisoners?"

"Guests. For now. Captain, take them below and give them bunks. But make sure they mind their manners, or we'll show them what I do with enemy spies!"


I woke up disoriented, until I remembered the events from the previous night. But as soon as I was awake, Clara was banging on my door. "Wren," she called. "I had another dream!"

I groaned. "What was it?"

Clara pulled opened the door. "Polyphemus found Grover unraveling his wedding train, and then we got a view of the island. And the Fleece. He gave Grover a thread that wouldn't unravel, and then Grover asked about being kidnapped off the island, and Polyphemus said they'd have to get through his pets, which were more sheep, but probably not, like, regular sheep."

She said all that without taking a breath. Bells rung from somewhere, and then the captain's gravelly voice came over the intercom. "All hands on deck! Find Lady Clarisse! Where is that girl?"

Clara threw me the nearest clothes, which happened to be a cute tank top and shorts that I couldn't actually remember having, or putting out. The top was pink, and the shorts were black. I noticed that Clara was dressed similarly, but her tank top was golden. Ah, that would explain it then. Mom.

I pulled them on, grateful for the godly assistance, and followed Clara out of the room. We met up with Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson on the deck, and Clarisse showed up a moment later.

"Captain says we're approaching the entrance to the Sea of Monsters," Annabeth said. "You two have your wands?"

We nodded. "I don't think we can ever travel without them," Clara said. "Being who we are, I mean." I nodded in agreement.

"Good."

I noticed Percy was making an effort not to make eye contact with Clarisse. Clara had already established with him that he'd had the dream as well, but I didn't think that was it.

"At last. Captain, full steam ahead," Clarisse ordered.

"Percy, where are we?" Annabeth asked.

"Off the coast of Florida."

I gasped. We'd travelled a long distance overnight, then. The engine groaned as we increased speed.

"Too much strain on the pistons," Tyson mumbled. "Not meant for deep water."

I glanced at the others, worried. Percy shrugged, but then said, "He's probably right."

There was a black swirling mass in front of us. "Hurricane?" Annabeth asked.

Clarisse shook her head. "Charybdis."

"Are you crazy?"

Clara put her arm around her. I noticed we all had been blessed with clothes from Aphrodite today. Even Clarisse didn't seem to mind her blood-red tank top. Percy was looking nice in a sea-green tie-dye t-shirt and bermuda shorts. Bermuda shorts? Really, Mom? I didn't think you were the jokey type.

I didn't expect any sort of answer to that, so I wasn't surprised when she didn't respond. I didn't even know if the gods could hear my thoughts, but I really hoped not. That would be creepy.

"Annabeth," Clara was saying, "it's the only way into the Sea of Monsters, right between Scylla and Charybdis."

"What do you mean, the only way?" Percy asked.

"Yeah, the sea is wide open," I agreed.

Clarisse rolled her eyes. "Gods, Percy, you'd think being a son of the sea god, you'd know this stuff. Anyway, they'll just move wherever we are to trap us."

"What about the clashing rocks?" Annabeth asked. "Jason used that way."

"I can't blow apart rocks with my cannons. Monsters, on the other hand…."

"You are crazy," I said.

"Watch and learn," she said. "Set course for Charybdis!"

"Aye, m'lady."

"Clarisse?" Percy asked, "Charybdis sucks up the sea, right?"

"And spits it back out again, yeah."

"Then why don't we just go for Scylla? We have a better chance that way. Everyone goes below deck, and we just chug right past."

Clarisse laughed dryly. "No! If Scylla doesn't get her easy meat, she'll pick up the whole ship! Besides, she's too high to make a good target! My cannons don't shoot straight up. We'll just blast Charybdis to pieces! We'll blow her to Tartarus!"

The deck was heating up below us. Charybdis sounded like a gigantic toilet sucking up the sea. It seemed to take her about three minutes per cycle.

"Percy, do you still have the thermos?" I asked

"It's not going to work, not with all the water at this speed!"

"What about controlling the water?" Annabeth asked. "I've seen you do it before."

Percy sighed. "I'll try."

He scrunched up his face in concentration, but we could all tell the water was too powerful for him. "We need a backup plan," Clara said. "This isn't going to work."

Tyson nodded. "Pistons need fixing. Engine's no good."

Annabeth looked startled. "What do you mean?"

But before he could explain, there was a mighty roar and Charybdis sucked us in. "Full reverse!" Clarisse shouted. "I just need to get in shooting range!"

Zombie confederates rushed back and forth. They didn't seem scared of the impending doom, maybe because they had already fought a losing cause, or maybe because they were already dead. Neither was much comfort.

"We're not going to make it, m'lady," the captain shouted. "Prepare for death!"

"No!" Tyson bellowed. "I can fix it!"

Clarisse looked incredulous. "You?"

"He's a cyclops," Annabeth explained."They're immune to fire. And Tyson builds stuff."

"I'll go too," Clara piped up. "I'm a witch, I know a spell! And I think I'm also immune to heat! I ride around on sunbeams all the time, that's hotter than fire!"

"No!" Percy and I yelled at the same time. "It's too dangerous. And I am not losing you again!" I continued.

Tyson patted Percy's hand. "Only way, brother. I will fix the pistons. Be right back."

"Renee, I'm sorry. I have to do this. I swear, we'll be okay." She followed Tyson.

Percy and I stared at each other, not believing what we had just let happen. But then, we got our first glimpse of Charybdis. She was just by the reef, with an enormous mouth with slimy lips and mossy teeth the size of rowboats. Worse, the teeth had braces, scummy bands of corroded metal with pieces of driftwood and fish stuck between them.

As I watched, the entire sea was sucked into the void, including fish, a few sharks, and a giant squid. And we would be next.

"Lady Clarisse," one of the soldiers called. "Starboard and forward guns are in range!"

"Fire!" She commanded. They fired heavily, but it was no use. We would have to pound the monster a hundred more times before we did any real damage, but there was no way we had that long.

Suddenly, the vibrations of the deck changed. The hum of the engine got stronger and steadier, and the ship shuddered and started pulling away from the mouth.

"Tyson and Clara did it!" Annabeth yelled.

"We need to stay close!" Clarisse shouted.

"We need to move away, we'll be killed! Percy retorted.

We clutched onto the railings as the broken Ares flag came loose and collided with one of the monster's braces. We weren't making much progress, but somehow Clara and Tyson had given us just enough energy to keep the ship from being sucked in.

Suddenly, the mouth snapped shut. The sea died to absolute calm. Water washed over Charybdis.

Then, as quickly as it had closed, the mouth exploded open, spitting out a jet of water forty feet high. It ejected everything inedible, including our cannonballs, one of which hit the ship with a loud resounding ding!

We were thrown backwards on a wave as tall as a house. Percy was trying to control the water, but we were still spinning out of control, hurtling toward the cliffs opposite of Charybdis.

A smoldering solder ran out from the hull, colliding into Clarisse. "The engine is about to blow!"

"Where's Tyson and Clara?" Percy demanded.

"Still holding it together. But I don't know for how much longer."

I glared at Clarisse. "If my best friend dies down there, I'll kill you! I have a wand and a sword!"

The captain ignored me. "We have to abandon ship!"

"No!" Clarisse yelled, too scared to argue with me.

"We have no choice, m'lady. The hull is already cracking. She cant-"

He never finished his sentence. Quick as lightning, something brown and green shot from the sky, snatching up the captain and lifting him away.

"Scylla!" Another soldier yelled as he was picked up and carried away as well.

"Everyone below deck!" Percy yelled without thinking.

"Below deck is in flames!" Clarisse shot back at him. "Get the lifeboats!"

"We'll never get clear of the cliffs," I moaned. "We'll all be eaten! And Clara!"

"I can't leave Tyson!" Percy agreed!"

"We have to ready the boats!" Annabeth screamed. "Percy, the thermos!"

He pulled it out of his bag and threw it to her. "I have to get Tyson!"

"I'm going with you!" I yelled, running after him.

"Percy, it's too hot!" Annabeth called after us. "You'll die!"

We didn't listen, but ran toward the boiler hatch. Suddenly, we were no longer on the ship. Scylla had grabbed hold of our bags and lifted us up. I wanted to scream but knew it was a bad idea.

Thinking quickly, Percy pulled out his sword and stabbed at Scylla. I pulled out my wand and yelled, "Releashio!" hoping I remembered the correct incantation. She grunted and dropped us.

The hundred-foot drop would have been bad enough, but as we fell, the CSS Birmingham exploded below us. The engine room blew, sending chunks of ironclad flying below us in every direction like a fiery set of wings. "Tyson!" Percy yelled. "And Clara." We were going really quickly, but I could still see the tears forming in his eyes. I tried to reach out my hand so we would fall together.

The lifeboats had managed to get away from the ship, but not very far. Flaming wreckage was raining down, and Clarisse and Annabeth would either be smashed, burned, or pulled to the bottom by the force of the sinking hull, and that was thinking optimistically, if they got away from Scylla.

Then there was a different kind of explosion: the sound of Hermes' thermos being opened a little too far. I couldn't see anything as we clutched at each other and sped toward the water.

Percy must have been my protection as a son of the sea god from me breaking every last bone. The last thing I remembered before sinking into the burning sea was that I would never see Clara again.


A/N: Sorry this was so long. I wanted to do a big one for the start of summer, so I hope this is good. Am I getting better with action scenes? I love doing this, and now I'll have so much more time.

Also, I think I've figured out what I want to do with Letters to My Roommate: I'll delete what I currently have and start in second year, because that's where I can really see a Rarry thing starting to form. I hope you guys think this is a good idea.

Poor Renee, losing her best friend twice in the same month, sure Clara's going to die….I'm evil, aren't I? *Maniacal laugh*

Please review, sorry for the long wait. I can update more now, and I might even go back to one of my old ones, or I might start something new.