LEO'S POV

Aphros is a pretty frightening guy.

But it's not the blue skin, or the enormous Afro (I freaking called it!), or even the huge Conan-approved sword strapped across his back. It was his never ending ability to talk.

He told me how he trained merpeople down here in this undersea camp, how he'd trained all the great mer-heroes. Funny thing, though, this guy Aphros was basically the underwater home economics teacher, and Bythos, the green ichthyocentaur that took Frank, was the combat trainer. But the part of the entire ordeal that had probably shaken me the most was the fact that Aphros made me tell him my own story. I hesitated, but not for very long. Somehow I sensed that I should tell the truth.

And so I started at the beginning and told him everything. How Hera had been my babysitter who put me in a fireplace; how my mother died because of Gaea; how I spent my childhood bouncing from foster homes; how I finally found friends and a place to call home at Camp Halfblood. I explained the Prophecy of Seven; the building of the Argo II; and our quest to reach Greece and defeat the giants before Gaea woke.

As I talked, Aphros drew some wicked looking metal spikes from his belt. I started to panic, afraid that I'd said something wrong, but Aphros pulled some seaweed yarn from his pouch and started knitting, and I was completely done.

By the time I had explained the eidolons, the problem with the Romans, and all the troubles the Argo II had encountered crossing the US ad embarking from Charleston, Aphros had knitted a complete baby bonnet.

"Very well," Aphros said, putting away his supplies. "I believe you."

"As simple as that?"

"I am quite good at discerning lies. I hear none from you. Your story also fits with what Mistresses Levesque and Storm told us."

My head snapped up to attention. "Wait, the girls? Are they-?"

"Of course," Aphros said. "They're fine." He put his fingers to his mouth and whistled, which sounded strange underwater- like a dolphin screaming. "My people will bring them here shortly. You must understand. . . our location is a carefully guarded secret. You and your friends showed up in a warship, pursued by one of Keto's sea monsters. We did not know whose side you were on."

I gulped. "The ship. . . Is she alright?"

"Damaged," Aphros said, "but not terribly. The skolopendra withdrew after it got a mouthful of fire. Nice touch."

"Thank you. Skolopendra? Never heard of it."

"Consider yourself lucky. They are nasty creatures. Keto must really hate you."

"Yeah, I get that a lot." I pursed my lips in thought. "Wait, you said that just Hazel and Peri were here? Then where are our other friends?"

"They are still above, searching for you.; but we have obscured their vision. We had to be sure you were not a threat. Otherwise, we would have to . . . take measures."

I gulped. I was pretty sure taking measures did not mean a lesson in baking brownies. And if these guys were so powerful that they could keep their camp hidden even from Percy with all his Poseidonish powers, they were not fish dudes to be messed with.

"Ah." Aphros pointed.

Hazel emerged from the kelp forest, escorted by two vicious-looking mermaids who were baring their fangs and hissing along with another, much more humanoid creature glowing an iridescent green color. I thought Hazel might be in danger, my instincts kicking in, and I paddled towards her, almost calling out her name before I saw that she was completely at ease. She was grinning and talking with her escorts, and I realized that the mermaids were laughing.

And then I choked on the limited amount of air supplied to me down here when I saw the green sea creature next to her up close.

Because it wasn't a sea creature. It was Peri.

When she spotted me, she waved and grinned and swam the last few meters between us, closing the gap and hugging me tightly, almost knocking me off my feet in a swift, green blur of limbs. Her laughter bounced around the waves, as she embraced me tightly. She was smiling and laughing and happy and probably relieved too but most importantly she was green.

I must've looked pretty shocked because when she pulled away, she laughed at my expression, and I was stiffer even still because even her mouth was green holy crap.

She squeezed my forearm and looked up, grinning. "Aww, what's wrong, don't think green is my color, then?"

I touched her face, which to my surprise, still felt the same and not like kelp or sea foam or anything else frighteningly aquatic. Hazel paddled towards us. She seemed unharmed, but with the words that came out of her mouth next, I worried she might have suffered fatal brain injury.

"Isn't this place amazing?" She chirped. "And don't you think green suits her so well?"

"Oh yeah definitely, especially if you enjoy looking like the illegitimate offspring of spearmint and marijuana." I turned to Peri. "What happened?"

My outburst seemed to amuse her, hence the mischievous glint in her eye. "Calm down, tiger, it's just some fancy mermaid magic." She pursed her lips. "My dad and seawater don't exactly mix."

I knit my brows at that. "Wait, this is about Anastasios?" I placed my palm on her forehead. "Are you feeling sick? Do you need to sit down? Aw man, you should have told me-"

She laughed and pushed my hand away. "I'm fine. I told you-mermaid magic, the stuff does wonders." She pulled at her cheek. "As long as this green goop is on me, I'll be alright. When we reach the surface, the spell will wear off."

I wanted to find out more about this spell and ask more important questions like where the hell they've been don't they know I've been worried sick, but Hazel spoke first.

"Uh, guys, where's Frank?"

Peri's hand tightened in my own, and I realized she hadn't let go of me since we'd reunited. Not that I minded.

"Hey, yeah, where is Frank?" She looked around for him, her fluorescent green locks floating about.

I cleared my throat. "He's being interrogated by Bythos."

Hazel wrung her hands anxiously, and I opened my mouth to reassure her, but to my surprise Peri beat me to the punch.

"Don't worry, Hazel, I'm sure he's fine," she said with an encouraging smile. "Frank is a strong guy, and I'm sure he'll be out here any moment to see his girl."

Hazel's cheeks dusted pink, and Peri only laughed at her reaction.

Okay. So this is new.

My face must've gone back to that huh? durr what? look again, because Peri looked up at me with a snort. Even her eyes were glowing green as she whispered with a light smirk, "Hazel and I are best buds now, hope you don't get too jealous."

I feigned hurt. "Oh no whatever will I do?" I stuck my tongue out at her, "Oh that's right I'll hang out with Frank since he's ten times cooler that you, ya dork."

She pushed me playfully, and our wrestling probably would have gone further if I hadn't heard the giggles rippling across the water.

Hazel and the mermaids were elbowing each other and laughing and whispering in our direction and just being girls.

"There you are!" Bythos's voice made us all flinch.

Bythos and Aphros floated over with Frank between them, looking pale but okay. Hazel gave him a hug and smiled, understandbly happy to have him back with her.

"Holy crap," Peri whispered beside me, standing stark still. "What's up with Papa Smurf and his bro the Lima Bean Man?"

"Right?! That's what I said!" I hissed back.

"You are free to go," Bythos said. He opened his saddlebags and returned our confiscated supplies. I had never been so glad to fit my tool belt around my wait.

"Tell Percy Jackson not to worry," Aphros said. "We have understood your story about the imprisoned sea creatures in Atlanta. Keto and Phorcys must be stopped. We will send a quest of mer-heroes to defeat them and free their captives. Perhaps Cyrus?"

"Or Bill?" Bythos offered.

"Yes! Bill would be perfect," Aphros agreed.

Bill? Hazel mouthed, and Frank patted her shoulder and shook her head like he'd heard plenty about Bill while being interrogated by Bythos.

"Nevertheless, we will do what we can to speed you safely across the Atlantic without further interference from Keto's monsters, but be warned: in the ancient sea, the Mare Nostrum, more dangers await."

Frank sighed. "Naturally."

Bythos clapped the big guy on the shoulder. "You will be fine, Frank Zhang. Keep practicing thos sealife transformations. The koi fish is good, but try for a Portuguese man-of-war. Remember what I showed you. It's all in the breathing."

Frank looked mortally embarrassed. I bit my lip, determined not to smile.

"And you, Hazel," Aphros said, "come visit again, and bring that horse of yours! I know you are concerned abiut the time you lost, spending the night in our realm. You are worried about your brother, Nico."

Hazel gripped the hilt of her cavalry sword. "Is he- do you know where he is?"

Aphros shook his head. "Not exactly. But when you get closer, you should be able to sense his presence. Never fear! You must reach Rome the day after tomorrow if you are to save him, but there is still time. And you must save him."

"Yes," Bythos agredd. "He will be essential for your journey. I am not sure how, but I sense it is true. "

Aphros planted his hand on Peri's shoulder next. "Periwinkle Storm, your journey is just beginning. Doors you once thought were closed will reopen, and your past shall resurface."

Peri visibly stiffened at that, and I could almost swear the green light coming from her flickered. "My past?"

"You will know when the time comes," Aphros stated. "And also know this: though the path you follow is a hard one, you are not alone. The choices you make shall effect the entire world and its very existence, so I'd advise you to lean on your friends when necessary.

Finally, Aphros stood before me. "As for you, Leo Valdez, stay close to these three when you reach Rome. I sense they will face. . . ah, mechanical failures that only you can overcome."

"Mechanical failures?" I asked.

Aphros smiled as if that was great news. "And I have gifts for you, brave navigator of the Argo II!"

"I like to think of myself as captain," I said, sticking out my chest a little. "Or even supreme commander."

"Brownies!" Aphros said proudly, shoving an old fashioned picnic basket into my arms. It was surrounded by a bubble of air which I hoped would keep the brownies from turning into saltwater fudge sludge. "In this basket you will also find the recipe. Not too much butter! That's the trick. And I've given you a letter of introduction to Tibernius, the god of the Tiber River. Once you reach Rome, your friend the daughter of Athena will need this."

"Annabeth. . ." I muttered. "Okay, but why?"

Bythos laughed. "She follows the Mark of Athena, doesn't she? Tibernius can guide her in this quest. He;s an ancient, proud god who can be. . . difficult; but letters of introduction are everything to Roman spirits. This will convince Tibernius to help her. Hopefully."

"Hopefully," Peri repeated.

Bythos produced four small pink pearls from his saddlebags. "And now, off with you, demigods! Good sailing!"

He threw a pearl at each of us in turn, and four shimmering pink bubbles of energy formed around us.

We began to rise through the water. I had just enough time to think: a manly pink hamster ball elevator? Then I gained speed and rocketed toward the distant glow of the sun above.