Hello everyone! Okay I know I usually right after the story (rarely, only once before I think) but I'm writing before the story today because…... we've completed ten chapters! It's a very silly thing to celebrate, but honestly it's very important for me because I like rejoicing in every small happy moment of my life. And I'm loving all the support. So today, I'd like to share something from my side too. Strictly speaking, I wasn't so much interested in writing fanfictions. I started this because I want to write a book, and so I thought that writing something and practicing would sharpen my skills and help me present my story in a better way. And all of you've been helping by giving your reviews, and it really encouraged me, so now, I'm trying to make the plot mine as much as possible. I'm gonna complete this fanfiction, and I'm really liking the story now. I'd love more suggestions about how to improve, and if you're liking it, and if it makes you happy to read this fanfic, then it's worth it for me.

Enjoy,

Silverstriker27

Chapter 11

Natalie's P.O.V.

As we were walking towards Frank's house, I couldn't help but remember our tiny visit to my place. I guessed Frank would be feeling the same too, because he looked tense. My pack had become considerably lighter, since the rations had already been finished, and well, my water bottle and my spare bag of ambrosia had been left on the boat, and since we'd dumped it, there was no getting them back. It didn't matter, we had enough ambrosia, and, if we were to die, no amount of ambrosia would save us. Real happy thoughts!

Though one thing was running in my mind. If we survived Gaea, then what? I'd almost forgotten it, but it had come back to me when we were zipping past towns in blinding speed on the chariot pulled by Arion. Tomorrow, I'd complete my ten years at camp. I remembered the first time I'd been there. The only thing in my mind at that time was Whoa! But since then, a lot has changed. Such as no longer being called a probatio, or kid. It was loser, or bad luck, and many other things now.

After completing ten years, legionnaires could choose to retire, study at New Rome University, have a dream life. I often imagined myself living somewhere away from camp, not that I didn't like it, but for once, I wanted a life of my own. I could deal with monsters. I wanted a normal life. But the thing that always dampened it - I didn't have anyone. No brother, not even someone to spend the life with, and for that matter, no boyfriend. I didn't know who I could have as my family. Many people at camp were dating, almost all had boyfriends or girlfriends, but me, I had no one.

Not that I was like a Hunters of Diana type, with the eternal maidenhood vows and feminism and stuff, but no one just didn't strike me as - well, you get the idea. But I'd been thinking about a life of my own since I'd been handed the property papers. I wouldn't be going back to Portland. I was done with that place. I could sell it, get a new place somewhere, like in San Francisco, near Camp. Or NYC. I'd always wanted to go there. I could graduate or something and get a job, live my own life. But I jerked back to reality. First, there was the quest. Then, the attack on camp. And if we were fortunate enough to survive, then it was Queen of the Dirt, Gaea, herself.

"You look distraught," Percy said, shaking me away from my thoughts.

"Me? No, it's nothing," I said hastily.

"Come on, I'm not that bad at reading emotions and faces. I can get the usual idea."

"I was just thinking," I said. "About how time has passed. I'll complete my ten years at camp tomorrow."

Frank and Hazel, who were walking in the front talking with each other, were completely oblivious to our conversation.

Percy whistled appreciatively. "Cool. So then you're gonna attend the university? Retire?"

I shook my head, smiling. "I haven't yet given it much thought. I'll see, after we get back safely and survive this battle, and Gaea. So, what're you gonna do? You remember something else."

"I haven't given it much of a thought too, but I do remember things now. I've got a clear memory upto I was fourteen, after that everything's still blurry." he said dejectedly.

It must have been really annoying, losing memory like this. And when it was coming back, having patience for letting it become clearer.

I put my hand on his shoulder. "Just don't push yourself too hard. And you've got to tell me all your adventures after we reach Frank's place."

He chuckled. "Sure."

We kept walking. It was starting to get dark Frank and Hazel were holding hands now. I felt good for them. It was time they'd opened up with each other. It was so obvious that everyone at camp just sighed when they were awkward with each other. Many people had said to them that they liked each other too, but those two were such doofuses that, well, they just blushed and avoided each other.

"Guys?" Frank said, stopping abruptly. "What do we do about these - whatever they are?"

Percy went forward. "What?"

In a small slope below us, eight or nine giant people were sitting around a campfire. They seemed to be in the middle of a poker game. I gazed at the others. Their faces appeared glowing from the campfire. So you get the idea how close we were.

"They're cannibals." Percy said.

"What?"

"Laistrygonian giants. I met them once, in my seventh grade. They blew up the school's gym room."

"Cut the explanation," I said. "How do we get rid of them?"

"They're kind of fireproof, and can throw it too. So I don't think we've got much competition, since none of us is, you know, fireproof and all. And, of course, they'll keep reforming."

Frank sighed. "The house is over there. We can't get to it without coming in their line of sight."

"We need a distraction," Hazel suggested.

For a distraction, we had nothing. One of us could distract them, but I doubted all of them would go.

"Okay," I said. "I'm gonna go to that edge and take them on me. When the way is clear, you all run towards the house."

"Yeah," Percy said sarcastically. "And leave you to die."

"What other plan have you got?" I argued.

"Guys!" Frank whispered forcibly. "I can get a distraction without any of us dying. Just promise me you won't freak out."

Hazel looked at Frank with a strange look. "Is it something with that 'special gift' of yours? Have you figured it out?"

"No, I haven't done that. It's this," he said, taking out a spear. I remembered it. Mars had given that to him. I half expected that spear to carry some blessing or vapourize the giants from a distance. Frank flipped it and pushed at the ground with its point. It broke.

"Not to be a sulky obvious guy, but what exactly is gonna happen if that spear is broken?" Percy said.

Suddenly a cracking voice came behind us. We turned. It was almost dark now. A crack had appeared in the ground. A hand clawed out. A skeleton hand. Slowly the whole thing came out. Percy uncapped Riptide. I willed my sword to appear in my hand. Hazel was holding her sword too. Only Frank was a bit, well, relaxed.

It was a skeleton figure, with a sword in his hand. It snarled at us, and looked at the weapons with disgust.

"Lower your weapons. He'll get restless."

Hazel turned to him. "What? Are you stupid?"

"No, he's the gift from Mars. His name is, uh, Grey," Frank said embarrassedly.

Grey the skeleton nodded, still snarling.

"Uh, could you, you know, I mean," Frank coughed, then spoke in a somewhat ordering voice. "Just go and distract all those giants. Make sure they don't see us. And kill them if possible."

Grey gave us one more snarl, then nodded, and jumped. He landed just in between the fire and roared. The giants were shocked. Grey smacked one and vaporised the other. The giants charged at him. He ran off to the left. But the laistrygonians were catching up. Seizing our perfect chance, we ran off towards the other side. Hazel suddenly fell. Hazel suddenly fell. She had tripped over a chunk of rock. She cursed. Her leg was bleeding. Drops of blood fell on the ground.

"Come on," I flung Hazel's arm over my shoulder and supported her. "Let's get there fast."

After running at super high speed for two minutes straight, with Hazel limping and cursing, we finally reached a safe place to hide. The house was a few metres away, with light coming from the window of the top room. The giants were coming back. There was no sign of Grey.

"Sorry about your skeleton," Percy said.

"I still have one use left out of that spear. He'll come back."

"Oh. Let's get inside, before they smell, or spot us."

We rushed towards the house. The gate was open. A blue car was parked in the garage. The front garden was untended. Plants grew wild. The tap was rusty. Frank led us inside, and apparently, the door was open, as though someone had already been expecting us, and left it open. The interior was gloomy. But it looked exactly like a house where Chinese people would live. Dragon heads adorned the wall. Most of the furniture was red and yellow. A fireplace burned bright and warm, but I didn't have any idea who might tend it, since there was a thin layer of dust on the tables.

"Where's your grandmother?" I asked.

"She must be upstairs. Her room was lit up."

"Wouldn't she mind? I mean the four of us just popping up like this?" Hazel asked, wincing.

"No," Frank said. "Sorry I didn't remember you're injured. It's all dirty here. There's the guest room. Come on, there's a first aid kit in the cupboard there."

He led us into the room. It was unlike the house interior, because it looked exactly like a hotel room. A king size bed, a couch in the corner, a cupboard, everything perfectly arranged and clean. I helped Hazel into the bed. Frank took out the first aid kit from the cupboard.

"Why don't you go and meet your grandmother? We'll take care of Hazel," Percy said.

"Uh, no, it's fi–,"

"It's okay, Frank. You should go and meet her. We're here with Hazel."

He nodded uneasily and left the room. I cleaned her wound and dressed Hazel's leg. Percy gave her a square of ambrosia.

"Hold still – yeah, perfect."

"Thanks," Hazel said.

"Just rest, it'll heal by tomorrow."

Hazel was asleep in two minutes. Percy fell on the couch and sighed. I sat down next to him.

"Big day," I said.

"Yeah."

"So, about your adventures….,"

We spent about an hour talking about Percy's life. One thing was clear now. He was a Greek. And he also told me his history with Reyna and Hylla. Honestly, I'd been expecting it. All the dangerous things he told me, it just seemed right. A battle hardened warrior like Percy? He was definitely an experienced demigod.

"So what have you been thinking? About after we defeat Gaea?"

Percy shook his head. "I just dunno. If we get out of this mess, the first thing I need to do is meet my mom. She'd probably be worried sick. Then high school, and after that, well I was thinking about attending college in New Rome with Annabeth."

"Lovebirds, huh?"

His face turned pink. "I – I didn't – I mean–,"

I cracked up. He looked at me confused. "What?"

"Just see your face. You're blushing so hard," I said, laughing.

After a lot of time, it was genuine laughter. It was like a tap opening and fresh water spraying out. I didn't even remember when I'd really laughed like that last time. Smiling, grinning, that was different.

"Hey!" he argued.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"I don't even know if they'll allow me in, being Greek and all. But what's the loss in speculating? So what about you? Do you have any boyfriend? Anyone you fancy?"

"No, nobody yet. But I've been thinking about life after all this. I could sell the property. Get a new home. Live a peaceful life."

Percy sighed. "Peace is really something I've wanted ever since I found out I was a demigod. Even before. With Gabe and all, life was never easy. My mum had to put up with so much. Sometimes, I really feel very bad for landing her in trouble. Everytime I look at her, I just think - 'She deserves to be a queen.'"

"I'm sure she's a great woman," I said.

Percy's eyes lit up at a thought. "After this is over, you've got to come with me to New York. You said you'd always wanted to be there. You can meet my mum, see the camp. We can even visit Mount Olympus."

"Sure. Don't you think it's been too long since Frank went upstairs? Should we check him?"

Percy got up. "I'll go. I'll call you if I need help."

He left the room. I pondered over Percy's proposition. Maybe I could go to NYC. Visit Mount Olympus. Spend time with Percy, maybe even study and get settled there. The home of the gods was in the city. Visit the Greek camp, if things between Greeks and Romans cool down. Explore Greek mythology. The world in which Percy grew up. Percy came back.

"He's asleep. Beside his grandmother. Everything is fine. Come on, let's sleep too. I think we'll be safe here. I'll take the couch."

I fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow. If I could have sighed in a dream, I'd have, because nightmare was exactly the thing I didn't want, but it always came to me. It was the same with every demigod. Monsters and evil primordial gods and goddesses don't let us live peacefully, and nightmares don't let us sleep peacefully.

I was standing outside Frank's house. A sleeping woman's face appeared on the ground in front of me. Gaea smiled.

"You've made it this far, Natalie, but only because I wanted you to."

She chuckled evilly. Her eyes remained closed. "You think you can defeat me, demigod? Even if you make it to Alaska, there's Alyceoneus. If you succeed there, you will only free Thanatos. The Doors of Death are still in my grasp. And Polybotes will have your camp destroyed before you even reach there. Even if Fates favour you, and you survive, you don't know what's written in your destiny. Mortals, they always keep hoping. Thinking about their future. Dreaming about a life that can never be theirs."

I wanted to yell at her to shut up. I half wanted to move forward and smack her in the nose with my foot, but I couldn't move or talk in the dream.

"My lectures could get a bit boring. So see, what's important for you at the moment."

Suddenly, I was standing near the laistrygonians' camp. Two seemed to be arguing. The others were watching them.

"That skeleton must have been a distraction," one argued.

"No, we would have seen them," the other argued back.

The first giant sniffed. He turned and looked straight at the rock where Hazel had tripped. He went and touched the rock. Something red appeared at his finger. Hazel's blood.

"See, this is mortal blood," he said triumphantly. "This trail of drops leads towards the house. They've arrived there."

The other one stiffened. "So what do we do now?"

"What Gaea has asked us to."

Then he stiffened. He made a grab for the place exactly where I was standing. I woke up. Someone was shaking me. Percy loomed over.

"There's bad news. The laistrygonians know we're here," I said breathlessly.

He nodded glumly. "Yeah I know. Come on."

He led me to the balcony. The giants had surrounded us. Hazel was standing there already. Her leg looked perfectly fine. A giant spotted us. He cleared his throat.

"Demigods, you have two hours to surrender. After two hours, we'll come in and take you ourselves."

He just said this and went away. The giants moved a bit away.

"Was that all?" Hazel asked.

"Seems like it," I said.

"Let's get inside. Where's Frank?"

"He's sleeping."

We went inside.

"We're not gonna surrender, right? Because that didn't quite work out last time. If it hadn't been for Alisha….," I trailed off.

"There was some food in the kitchen. We should get freshened up, and then find a way. Let's ask Frank first. I'll go check him," Hazel said, and went upstairs.

I freshened up, had the food Hazel had brought, and then I and Percy went to the rooftop. The giants were still there.

"So, happy ten years at camp, I guess," Percy grinned.

"Thanks, I just wish we can survive this and get back. I can get my tenth stripe."

"We will."

"So you have a plan?" I asked.

"No."

"If we don't have any option, then we'll just fight them. That's the only way. Surrendering could mean something much worse."

"I know," Percy said. "Last time, there was still some hope. This time…"

Frank and Hazel came upstairs. Frank looked glum.

"We have an hour left. What have you guys planned?" Hazel asked.

We shook our head. This was do or die. To be specific, go down trying. Suddenly, Percy lit up. He turned to Frank.

"The plumbing!" he asked.

Frank looked stunned. "Yeah, what about it?"

Percy looked at me. "D'you think we can trap them with water and hold them long enough to escape in the car?"

I nodded. "Yeah, maybe we can. I can control water pretty much fine."

"Great, we get them all in one place, we trap them in and we escape. You and Frank are good with your bows, if they follow, we can keep them for some time."

"That's all really great," Hazel said. "But we can hold them for some time, not forever? Where do we go? How're we gonna get to Alaska, keeping those giants all time while driving? Even if we can do this, going in a car would take too long."

Frank took out an envelope from his pocket. "Yesterday, Mars gave me this. It can get us a chartered plane. We can get to Alaska fast that way."

My stomach rolled over. The hairs on my neck stood up. Thunder boomed overhead, even though it was a clear day. Percy looked uneasy too. "Uh, that's great, but Natalie and I, being you know, Neptune's children...we can't travel in Jupiter's domain."

Frank looked at us with pleading eyes. "Mars told me this would work. Come on guys, what other option have we got? Trust me, this will work."

I nodded uneasily. "Okay, we trust you. But how do we get them together? They're spread out."

Hazel smirked. "I have a plan."

Five minutes later, I and Percy got out of the house. We'd met Frank's grandmother, thanked her and agreed on our plan. Hazel and Frank were in the car, and it was lucky the giants hadn't spotted them.

"You think they'll buy the story?" I muttered.

"Last I saw them, their types were thick headed. So, you can bet on it. The story's good enough."

"Thanks, that reassures me a lot."

Percy yelled, "We've come here to surrender."

This shook them out of their usual boring mood. A giant left and came back with the other giant, the one who I'd seen in my dream, who'd sensed our presence. He looked like he was the head of all giants.

"You've come to surrender?" he asked, amused.

"I think that's what I just said," I told him, as a matter of factly.

The giant raised an eyebrow. "And the Pluto girl and Zhang? Where are they?"

"They're just coming down in moments. Saying goodbye," I said, pointing towards the house.

The giants laughed.

"But," Percy said. "We have a condition. We want assurance you will not attack us from the back. We want all of you to come here, so we can be sure none of you are hiding, trying to kill us."

The giant thought for a moment. "Fine."

He clapped his hands. In five minutes, all the giants, about ten, were standing together.

"They didn't even think why we'd think they'll kill us when they want us captured," I whispered.

"Told you they were thick headed."

"Did you say something?" the giant asked.

"Yeah, that you're really, really stupid," Percy said. "Now!"

I focused on a cage of water, holding all the giants inside. Water came bursting out of pipe, some from the ground, and started forming the structure. The giants were stunned. The cage was holding them, but it took a lot of focus. Frank burst out of the garage, and immediately got off the driver's seat and sat in the backseat. Percy got in the driver's seat and Hazel rode shotgun. I got on the backseat and we closed the doors and set off. My bow and quiver materialized. The cage was getting weaker.

"Focus," I said to Percy. "We have to hold them for a bit longer."

"You know," he replied. "That's really hard to do when you're driving a car at a mad speed."

The giants' cage burst open and ran after us. They were fast, and gaining on us.

"Oh, that's bad."

As they came on a shooting range, we immediately started shooting our arrows at them from the window(which was quite hard).

"How far?" Percy asked.

"Just keep driving straight," Frank said, hitting a giant right in the head.

"He means how far it is in time!" I said, vapourizing another, which immediately reformed.

"Five minutes."

I and Frank killed the giants again and again, but they just kept reforming and chasing us, falling back only a bit.

"Gods of Olympus! What use is even shooting them when they'll just keep coming back!" I said.

But they were falling back. At one point, they were so far that they just looked like little specks of light, but then again, they were fast. Finally, we reached the airstrip. The giants were quite far.

"Come on," Frank said, pulling us towards a plane at the end. He pulled out the envelope and gave it to the pilot, who was leaning on the plane. He sleepily took it and yawned.

"You know," I said, irritated. "Would you mind being a bit fast? We're being followed by laistrygonian giants, if that helps."

That seemed to shake him. He saw the letter inside, nodded curtly and said, "Get on board."

We got on board and buckled up. The engine roared to life. My stomach felt really bad. The hairs on my neck stood up. My spine tingled as we took off. We could hear a loud yell from the giants, who were obviously not pleased.

"Where do you have to go, by the way?" the pilot asked (yelled, actually) from the cockpit.

"Alaska," Frank said. "The land beyond the gods."