Hi darling people :)

I can't believe it's been so long! I would say I'm sorry for not writing, but that would be a lie. Sorry. I'm not super into fanfiction right now. But anyways...we're getting to the climax in this chapter! Happy new year, etc. etc, and this chapter *should* be a bit interesting.

I like to think I've gotten better at writing since I started writing I&I...but I'm not exactly sure that's true. And after I finish this, I'll be crawling back into my dark cave away from fanfiction. ^_^

It's been SO LONG and SO MANY things have happened, both online and IRL. But most of those things aren't mine to tell, so I won't be telling them. You're not here to read me whine about life though, are you. :)

Reviews:

Nymph of Faeryland: You made me cry too with that review...and with every single ending of your stories...but it's not like I'm ending talking to you. We're still reading each other's' writing, remember? I sent you that rewrite snippet of NW yesterday...and yeah, I hope I'm still here in twenty years. While we may have started talking to each other on here, it won't be how we stop.

Wow. That sounded poetic.

I choke on tea all the time. Did it this morning, actually...

And I hope you're here in twenty years. I hope we're still friends in twenty years, I hope instead of looking at colleges together in twenty years, we're looking at life the same way.

And yes...I will always talk to you.

I promise. See you in New Pine Creek.

Azure Bluet: Well, now you've left ff. I've definitely decided that fanfiction isn't my thing...but expressing my opinions and thoughts through writing definitely is. Good luck.

Don't Forgive: That's kinda gross. Please say you didn't drink the tea afterwards.

Tbrucks: I would never, ever, ever not listen to my readers. That's what makes this a team effort, and not just me. Cheers.

Percabethlover ArcAlphaFordo77: There are a lot of people I will always miss, too...and every single one of the people who have supported me on this journey, read this, and reviewed will always be in my heart.

Perceannie: Obviously, I haven't abandoned it...you can tell by the words you're reading right now. And while I won't say I'm back, I'll say I will post again sometime. Promise.

Potatoqueensnow: I sure hope so. You're a great person. :))

Daughter of Sally Jackson: Giving up stories is like...giving up pieces of your soul. When you finish a story, it's like something inside of you feels complete, but when you give one up, it's like that thing inside of you just...breaks. Does that make sense? I don't think that makes sense.

1234booklover: It'll be completed...it'll just take some time. And yes, I think it's explained sorta in this one...but it creates more questions than it answers.

You like the way it's written? That makes one of us...haha... :)

sranupama2005: I certainly didn't update soon, but I did update. I'm suspicious of Max too - no idea what he's up to.

DISCLAIMER: I really like putting disclaimers in...even though I probably don't need it. Lol.

(Oh and note: some formatting kinda messed up when I copy/pasted the chapter onto the doc, sorry for that)


After that rather strange meet-up with Alex, I felt different inside. I trudged back to Mr. Darren's apartment, the tall gray building looming gloomily above me.

I didn't want to feel like this. But I had to understand - understand why I knew what Alex was talking about.

Sometimes I didn't know what I was talking about. Alex and I at Mikey Likes was one of those times. I had acted on impulse, answered her question, and probably just gotten myself into something deeper than I wanted.

The thing was, though, I didn't get anything about Percy from that visit. I had just gone to an ice cream shop with a friend and had a conversation. Nothing that had helped my case for a delusional Percy was given in that conversation.

So I made an executive decision.

I would focus all my attention on rooting out Percy, and nothing else.

Swim could wait.

I already aced all my classes without studying. Who cared about school, when you were this close to achieving so much fame and rooting out a secret cult that you would never have to worry about college ever again?

I smiled. Percy would never know what was coming.

Meanwhile…

"WHO DARES COME HERE?" a voice boomed, in a way she couldn't quite pin down. It was deep, and it was loud...but it wasn't shouting. Probably just a god-type of thing.

"With all due respect, I have reason to believe a mortal-" she started, but got cut off by the voice. It was angry now.

"DO NOT SAY THAT WORD IN THE REALM OF THE DARKNESS! THEY HAVE CAUSED ME ETERNAL PAIN…AND THE ANCESTORS WILL PAY!"

She backed away, looking around. "Uh, sorry. Didn't mean to offend you. But one of them...they're so close to knowing. I need help. Your help." The voice almost seemed shifty in the next few words, and the girl knew that she would pay a high price in order to get what she needed, but it was worth it. It had to be.

"THE DAUGHTER OF ATHENA NEEDS MY HELP, AM I HEARING CORRECTLY?" it said smugly. "I SUPPOSE…FOR A FAVOR."

Meanwhile…

The ink still glistened on the parchment. He sighed, then carefully folded it up into an unsuspecting manilla envelope, handing it to Lilith.

What has to be done has to be done, he thought, watching Lilith work her power, the envelope rising and sweeping away in the wind. For the sake of us...and generations of demigods to come. He sat back, ready to enjoy the one of the last crisp autumn days before what could only be described as drama was about to erupt.

Meanwhile…

I woke up. Had I just fainted? In the lobby of Mr. Darren's apartment building? I looked around, but was on a couch somewhere, in a seafoam colored room with hardly any furniture except for the bright purple sofa I was lying on and a glass coffee table. What had I just seen? Annabeth...being called the daughter of Athena, in a dark chasm, with a creepy voice talking to her, and then some horsey-guy writing a letter, the words loopy but too small for me to read. Whatever was happening, I couldn't think right now - but I assumed it was related to Percy. That was the only explanation, and, even then, didn't quite make sense. Who was the mortal? Who had caused the thing immortal pain? And...in the last vision, it was like I could hear the horse guy's thoughts. What had to be done?

A lady in a wispy dress full of shades of red and orange entered the room. "He's awake," she called out, but to whom, I didn't know, and just as I was thinking she was crazy, something in my mind made me fall asleep again, drowning in the air.

When I finally came to, I was lying in Mr. Darren's apartment again. I had the distinct feeling that something important had happened, but I couldn't quite remember what. My mother hugged me, nearly crushing my windpipe.

"Oh Max," she started, "we found you on the floor of the lobby...what happened? Did someone mug you? We should get home-" she shot an apologetic look at Mr. Darren, and her words relieved me- "so you feel better." My mother made me get up and say goodbye to Mr. Darren, which I did, even though he still wasn't my favorite person, before we left.

"So," she started when we were on the way home, "do you know how that happened?" I shook my head and said,

"It was super strange...one second I was standing in the lobby, and then something happened, I swear I almost remember...I know something happened, I just don't remember what. And then I woke up." My mom bit her lip thoughtfully, thinking. I was thinking about things too - just not the same ones she was.

Whereas she was concerned for me, I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to find out who exactly Percy Jackson was. When she was ready to go to the hospital, I was ready to send Percy to the hospital. And where she wanted to go home so I could feel better, I wanted to go home to dig up more information on Percy.

But when we finally opened the door to the apartment, my plan changed almost immediately. On the table was one of those big yellow envelopes, with my name scrawled on it in big loopy writing - Maxwell Raleigh Vestron.

"What's this for?" my mother asked, but I was barely listening.

"Just a...swim thing, probably," I said, and to avoid any more questions, took it to my room to open.

A piece of folded paper with a strange texture fell out. That was it. I was mildly disappointed, hoping that there was something more. There wasn't, so I unfolded the paper.

Meet me, October 8, 2020. 5:00 EDT.

Delphi Strawberry headquarters.

30 Strawberry Lane, Brooklyn, New York, 11219

We'll talk.

- Someone Watching

My heart sounded pounding. There was something strangely familiar about this letter...but I couldn't place it. This had to be about Percy, it just had to be. And tomorrow was the eighth...I would go. Afterall, they couldn't do anything to me in the middle of the city...right?


Cliffhanger...again. Hope you enjoyed, hope you have a great life, etc. etc.

Reviews:

MagicEnchiladas: I honestly didn't notice that...shoot. It's great though XD

Beegirl9: I love it too

Beegirl9: Thanks...and hope you liked the update. :)

Fairyn: I don't know how my OCs came into being...I just kept writing and their personalities just sort of..appeared.

I agree. Cats are nice. The only reason my username is what it is is because KittenLuv was already taken. KittenLuv is a really bad name. ThatGirlWithaCat isn't much better, though...

That's sad. I used to have another cat...her name was Pandora. Hah, Pandora and Zeus (Zeus is the one I have now.) I have...like 30 fish, my cat, and a hamster...and yeah that's about it. Bees are cool. The person who reviewed before you was named Beegirl9...strange...

My grammar was good...but my spelling is not. I mean, my spelling is usually fine, but I type too fast and the keys get jumbled up and I don't really fix it. :/

Bye :)

One Caged Wing: I think you could post that review as a poem. I'm trying to be chipper here...and we've already talked about this...so I'm not sure what else to say...this is getting kind of awkward and I'm missing the point of this review I know...

(I know you would post for me)

Imagine Coldplay: ...nope. Unless you're gone. But look! You just read another chapter!

Hayasachin: Honestly, the only reason I have half those cliffhangers is 'cause I didn't feel like writing anymore...but thanks, I guess.

And I have no idea how your friend Max feels about you and your boyfriend. I'm not a psychic...and I don't want to be. :)


Well, that was awfully nostalgic. I can't believe so many people have been rooting for me, I can't believe so many people enjoy this, and I can't believe how many friendships I've created on this site.

When I started this, I didn't know who it was for. I still don't. But what I do know is that there will always be people, people having my back, and people who I would do anything for. Thank you for reading this horrible piece of work on the internet.

Love ya,

Kitten/TGWAC