PERI'S POV

It was only a few hours later, but now the rest of the demigods had gathered in the mess hall, Coach Hedge patrolling the table for "possible attackers." The meeting was like a war council with donuts, but it felt right.

I munched on a glazed donut next to Leo who had thankfully put on a shirt. He still looked unbearably attractive in his shorts and blue shirt, but I forced myself to stay focused on the sweetness presently tantalizing my taste buds. Yes, that's the safest option I believe.

Percy cleared his throat. "Um, guys, there's something I think I need to say. . ."

My eyes widened as the son of Poseidon began to tell the group of his dream last night - twin giants planning a reception for us in an underground parking lot with rocket launchers; Hazel's brother Nico di Angelo trapped in a bronze jar, slowly dying from asphyxiation with pomegranate seeds at his feet.

As he spoke, I wondered if I should tell the others of my own squeamish dream. I gave an almost imperceptible shake of my head as I thought against it. No, I could handle this on my own. Everything would be fine; we all had enough to worry about.

Hazel choked back a sob as Percy finished his tale. "Nico. . . Oh, gods. The seeds."

"You know what they are?" Bonnabelle asked.

Hazel nodded. "He showed them to me once. They're from our stepmother's garden."

I furrowed my brow. "Stepmother. . ? You mean Proserpine?"

Jason nodded. "The Greeks call her Persephone, though."

"The seeds are a last-resort food," Hazel said. Her skin broke out in goosebumps, and it seemed as though all the silverware on the table had begun to migrate towards the curly haired lass. "Only children of Hades can eat them. Nico always kept some in case he got stuck somewhere. But if he's really imprisoned-"

"The giants are trying to lure us," Bonnabelle said. "They're assuming we'll try to rescue him."

I looked at her strangely. "Um, well we are going to save him, right? I mean, that's Hazel's brother we're talking about."

Hazel looked around the table, her confidence crumbling by the second. A ring of diamonds embedded themselves into my golden plate, and I was almost sure they weren't there before.

Frank took her hand. "Hazel, don't worry, of course we'll help him. But how long do we have before. . . uh, I mean, how long can Nico hold out?"

"One seed a day," Hazel said miserably. "That's if he puts himself in a death trance."

"A death trance?" Bonnabelle scowled. "That doesn't sound fun."

"It keeps himself from consuming all his air," Hazel informed. "Like hibernation, or a coma. One seed can sustain him one day, barely."

I frowned, thinking of how horrible it would be to have to live off of one measly seed a day. I got hungry every five minutes! Poor guy.

"He only has five seeds left," Percy said. "That's five days, including today. The giants must have planned it that way, so we'd have to arrive by July first. Assuming Nico is hidden somewhere in Rome-"

"Then we're short on time," I summed up. I put my hand on Hazel's shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we'll find your bro."

"At least we know what the lines of the prophecy mean now," Piper determined. "'Twins snuff out the angel's breath, who holds the key to endless death.' Hazel, your brother's last name: di Angelo. Angelo is Italian for 'angel.'"

"Oh gods," Hazel muttered. "Nico. . ."

"We'll rescue him," Percy promised sincerely. "We have to. The prophecy says he holds the key to endless breath."

"That's right," Piper said encouragingly. "Hazel, your brother went straight for the Doors of Death in the Underworld, right? He must've found them."

"He can tell us where the doors are and how to close them," Percy finished.

Hazel took a deep breath. "Yes. Good."

"Uh. . ." Leo shifted in his chair, bringing my eyes to him. "One thing. The giants are expecting us to do this, right? So we're walking into a trap?"

I frowned. "That's true, but-"

"We have no choice!" Hazel cried, looking at Leo like he'd made a rude gesture.

"Don't get me wrong, Hazel," he said quickly. "It's just that your brother, Nico. . . he knew about both camps, right?"

"Well, yes," Hazel murmured.

"He's been going back and forth, and he didn't tell either side." Leo said. "Don't you think that's a little. . . well, a little shady."

Jason sat forward, his expression grim. "You're wondering if we can trust the guy. So am I."

Hazel shot to her feet, scattering a perfectly good plate of donuts in the process. "I don't believe this! He's my brother! He brought me back from the Underworld, and you don't want to help him?"

Frank put a hand on her shoulder in a calming manner. "Nobody's saying that." He glared at Leo. "Nobody had better be saying that."

Leo blinked, obviously shocked and confused at the sudden escalation of the situation. "Look, guys. All I mean is-"

"Hazel, calm down." I urged. "Leo's just saying stuff, and maybe we should listen to his perspective," I glanced at him, a frown on my features, "even if he is dogging your bro, maybe we should listen to him."

"Hazel," Jason said. "We don't really know where your brother's loyalties lie. We just have to be careful."

Hazel's arms shook. A silver platter zoomed toward her and hit the wall to her left, splattering scrambled eggs. "You. . . the great Jason Grace. . . the praetor I looked up to. You were supposed to be so fair, such a good leader. And now you. . ." Hazel stomped her foot and stormed out of the mess hall.

"Hazel!" Leo called after her. "Ah, jeez. I should probably go apolo-"

"You've done enough, Graecus!" Frank growled.

"Wow, Leo," I muttered, watching the cinnamon curls disappear around the corner. "You're so freaking smooth with the ladies, my gods!"

Frank got up to follow her, but Piper gestured for him to wait.

"Give her time," Piper advised. Then she frowned pointedly at Jason, Leo, and I. "You guys, that was pretty cold. You basically ganged up on her."

I threw my hands in the air. "What did Peri do?!" I grinned and gestured to my right. "Leo over here was the one being the sweet talker he is and got her all mad."

Leo gave a chuckle. "I didn't mean to! I was just saying-"

Piper pursed her lips, her voice tight. "Her brother's dying, guys. It isn't funny."

"We weren't laughing about-"

"I should go talk to her," Frank insisted.

My eyes narrowed at him. "And who were you trying to get all loud with back there, huh?"

Leo pouted. "Yeah, man. That wasn't cool at all."

Frank huffed like an irritated bear. "Whatever," he said flatly and seemed to deflate in his chair.

From up above came a whirring sound like a large drill.

"Festus says we're nearing Atlanta," I informed the others. "Where should we be landing?"

Everyone turned to Percy.

Jason raised an eyebrow at him. "You're Captain Salt Water. Any ideas from the expert?"

Wow. He went there. Was that a dash of resentment in his voice? Is there some jealousy going on here? Uh-oh shit just got real like the housewives of Atlanta.

"I'm not sure," Percy admitted. "Somewhere central, high up so we can get a good view of the city. Maybe a park with some woods? We don't want to land a warship in the middle of downtown. I doubt even the Mist could cover up something that huge."

Leo nodded and replied instantly. "On it." He pushed back from his chair and stood before holding his hand out to me. "Come on, Peri."

As soon as my hand connected with his, Leo whisked me away, practically dragging me up the stairs to the deck. I yelp escaped my lips as he raced up the stairs, my legs stumbling up after him. And Leo didn't stop running until we were at the controls where he doubled over to catch his breath.

I couldn't stifle the laugh building in my chest. "In a bit of a rush are we?"

Leo peered up at me from behind his lashes, and a smile played on his lips through his shallow breaths. "You think. . . you think this is funny?"

I snickered and shrugged my shoulders slowly. "I dunno, Leo, is it?"

He shook his head violently in a way that his lips jiggled with the lag-time. "No way. I failed to find the hilarity in that situation. The amount of humor I just experienced was damn near nonexistent. Someone call a meteorologist because the laughter count in the air is at an all time low! I've gotta-"

I clamped a hand over his mouth, biting my lip to suppress the giggles. "Alright, alright! I get it!"

He laughed and removed my hand. "Okay, time to get down to business!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I watched as the sky shot past us like a dizzy memory. Leo and I scanned the ground for a suitable place to land, Festus whirring and creaking out suggestions occasionally. The clouds as wispy as ever, I couldn't help but notice how ironically serene things were. The scenery was almost mocking us with its beauty that we could only wish to enjoy.

I reached over Leo's shoulder and pointed to a spot on the rolling land beneath us. "Ooh! Ooh! There! That's a perfect place!"

Leo narrowed his eyes at the area before grinning. "Yeah, that could work."

He began to set the ship down near the summit of a forested hill. A complex of white buildings, like a museum or a university, nestled in a grove of pines to the left. Below us spread the city of Atlanta - a cluster of brown and silver downtown skyscrapers two miles away, rising from what looked like endless flat sprawls of highways, railroad tracks, houses, and green swathes of forest.

I pumped my fist in the air enthusiastically, happy to have contributed. "Aww yeah! I'm awesome! I'm fabulous! I'm-"

My very true and well deserved self praise was cut short by the sound of footsteps - and hooves - on wood. Leo and I turned to see Percy, Frank, and Coach Hedge climbing on deck.

"Wow," Percy breathed, looking around himself in awe.

"Ah, lovely spot." Coach Hedge inhaled the morning air.

"'Twas all me!" I beamed proudly.

Coach Hedge looked over the side of the ship, his hands on his hips. "Do any of you realize what happened on this hill? Frank Zhang, you should know!"

Frank flinched. "I should?"

"A son of Ares stood here!" Hedge cried indignantly.

"I'm Roman. . . so Mars, actually."

"Whatever!" Famous spot in the American Civil War!"

"I'm Canadian, actually."

"Whatever!"

I laughed at their little exchange, shaking my head in amusement. Frank and his subtle sass.

"Anyway," Percy stepped towards the side of the ship as if he were leaving. "Let's try not to burn down the city while we're out."

I furrowed my brow. "You guys are leaving?"

Percy nodded. "We're gonna scout around Atlanta."

"I wanna come!" I exclaimed immediately.

Percy shook his head. "We've already got Coach Hedge; we don't need another homicidal being with a dangerous weapon with us."

I pursed my lips. "Fine."

Frank gave me an apologetic look as they headed down the gangplank. I peered over the side of the Argo II and watched the trio's descent.

"Hey, Coach Hedge!" I called out, making them all turn around. "Kill something for me, okay?!"

The old faun grinned and gave me a thumbs up. "You know it!"