I knew where we were going, and I knew how to get there, but it seemed like muscle memory. I didn't actively know that I was going to have to go right on Kingsmen Street, but when we came upon it I remembered to turn.

"Jack, I think that dude is following us," Charlie spoke.

Like Daedalus.

I had to squint to see the man. He was very tall, at least six feet. He was skinny and wore a long black coat and a hat.

"He's wearing a fedora, probably a creep," I decided.

Charlie frowned. "I have a fedora," he said.

"Exactly," I joked.

He rolled his eyes and shoved me, but the smile he wore was well worth it. We kept going.

Maybe it was lack of sleep, or the excitement of possibly seeing my family again, but I forgot about the creepy fedora man.

It wasn't until five minutes later when he popped up again. He was in front of us this time, leaning against the gate to the entrance of Sunken Meadow Park. We were more suspicious by now.

Once might be a coincidence, twice was a warning, three times was usually too late. He had one of those old timey pipes with nothing in it, but he was chewing on the stick end anyway. He stared indiscreetly at Charlie and I, a smile drawn across his lips.

Now that we were back in the mortal world, I couldn't just start every conversation with who are you? So I smiled politely and nodded as we passed. He nodded back, pleased.

"I smell Athena on you, boy, and Poseidon. What's the deal with that?"

Charlie groaned and hung his head. "Why? Dude, not cool! Every two seconds; seriously. I just want like five minutes without a monster interruption. Is that too much to ask?"

Fedora-dude took his pipe and pointed it at Charlie with a smile. "A monster I am not, my young man. I am a god, and an attractive one by the looks of it," he said, winking at Charlie.

Charlie looked at him with a bored expression. "Great. What do you want? To kill us, I assume. Maybe you want revenge too. Which one of our parents wronged you this time?" he said sarcastically. "Was it Jase's? It's usually Jase's."

The god's face lit up and he grinned, his cheekbones casting a shadow on the lower part of his jaw. "Oh no you've got me all wrong! Your parents have done nothing to wrong me! In fact, demigods, your parents make me thrive."

Charlie snorted. "That's new." He discarefully leaned against the fence post and looked up to watch the birds.

"Who are you?" I asked defensively.

I got a joyful smile in return. "I am Alastor, god of blood feuds in both Roman and Greek, which makes things interesting when the feud is in both. Such as you, grandson of Poseidon and Athena. Oh, I understand! You must be the child of Perseus and Annabeth, correct?" He asked cheerfully, as if he was speaking of his favorite celebrity and not my parents.

"What's it to you?" I asked suspiciously.

"I love your parents!" he blurted, waving his arms wildly. "You see, your grandparents have the biggest godly blood feud that's spanned this many years with so few deaths. Don't get me wrong, I love the deadly feuds, but Athena and Poseidon just astound me. And your parents went directly against that and had you. Can I get an autograph?"

Charlie laughed again. "You know, the monsters up here are much nicer than the ones downstairs. I like this guy!"

Alator smiled almost flirtatiously at Charlie. "Don't think you've slipped my radar either; your own grandfather's own mother dropped-kicked your him from Olympus because he was deformed!"

Charlie frowned. "I never really thought about that. You know, Hera seems like kind of a jerk."

I snorted and looked away. "That's an understatement. She once kidnapped my dad and took his memories for a few months and he had to fight Gaea before he could go home and see his family again," I mentioned.

Alator and Charlie looked at me with the same mortified look. "She did that to Perseus? My, I don't think I'm very fond of the queen. Do me a favor and don't tell her I said that. She doesn't seem to be very forgiving…" Alastor stroked his chin thoughtfully. Then suddenly, he jumped up and clapped us both on the shoulders. "Anyway! You two are headed for another blood feud, are you not?"

I said nothing but Charlie shrugged. "I don't know, we're just looking for his family," he said, nudging his thumb towards me.

"You refer to Perseus and Annabeth?"

"Uh, yeah, and the rest of their kids."

"There's more of you?!"

I rolled my eyes and grabbed Charlie's hand, pulling him away from the fangirling god.

"Yes, there is, all of which are in danger. So we really should get going. Why are you following us anyway?" I snapped.

"I could smell your bloodlines and I wanted to know more. I haven't gotten this much pazzazz since I met the Kardashians!" Alastor stared dreamily ahead and waved his fingers around.

I drew away slightly. "I've had enough of gods sniffing me out, whether it be secrets or blood or blood feuds. If you want to say hi, fine, hi. But we have to be on our way now so that I can save my family," I quipped.

"Can Alastor come?" Charlie asked.

"No!"

I stormed away, continuing on my way to Sunken Meadow Park. Charlie shrugged at Alastor and followed, but the god caught his arm.

"I can't just let them all die!" he said "They're like superheros to a god like me, so many feuds."

I walked away but I stayed close enough to hear the conversation.

Charlie smirked. "Jase isn't really the type to bend to the will of gods. He isn't going to let his family die."

He moved to walk away but Alastor tightened his grip for just a moment, just enough to tell him to hold back.

"Charles Valdez, please. Just listen, and tell nobody I've said what I am about to say. The gods, they don't realize many important things. I am the god of blood feuds, I see things. I see what the demigods do, I know that their lives are worth more than the other gods might think. And that life right there," he motioned towards me, "that life is worth a lot. Don't let life get away from you, Charles… The god you are about to face, his name is Ate. God of delusion, ruin, and mischief. He can make you see whatever he wants you to see, and he will stop at nothing to bring the world to ruin." His face grew serious.

"Why are you telling me this?" Charlie asked. Ahead, I turned around, frowning, to see why Charlie wasn't following.

Alastor threw a smile towards me. "Because," a sad look filled his eyes. Regret. "I don't want to be like the other gods. Lives have meaning. Ever wondered why gods have so many more feuds than mortals? Because mortals understand the meaning of life. You; you must know. Don't let the gods win. Not this."

"Charlie, you ok back there?" I called, jogging back.

"Yeah, I understand," Charlie whispered to the god. "And thank you."

Alastor winked in gratitude. "Your boy's fine, Jackson. Take care, and good luck!" He pushed Charlie towards me.

My expression grew protective, angry, and I reached for the god but Alastor disappeared before I could catch him, leaving a purple cloud of fairy dust behind him.

"Well, I liked him," Charlie said as he took my hand.