THey guys! I'm back from my vacation! It was awesome! Except my flight there was delayed by about 20 hours... First it was cancelled at 4:20 in the morning, and then my new flight was a joint one, so it stopped in Philadelphia. Then the plane from philly had something wrong with a generator. WE waited for two and a half hours on the Tarmac for them to fix it, but they couldnt. So they got a new plane, but not a pilot. Then when the pilot finally arrived, the AC was broken and he refused to fly the plane! By then it was already past 10 at night. I got on a third plane (still in philly) that took off at 11:45 at night. I landed in Florida at 2 something in the morning. My original flight (the one cancelled) was supposed to land at 2:30 in the afternoon. But everything worked out in the end! So I'm back! Thanks for all the reviews! Disney was great! :) I own nothing but enjoy this long awaited chapter!

Percy's POV

"I think I've found where Pontus and Aether are hiding out!"

Zoë and I looked at Chaos in shock, but for two different reasons. While she was overjoyed at the prospect, I was dreading it. I just told those two that I'd pretend I didn't know them! I figured it'd be hard, but I thought I'd at least be given some time before having to come up with lies!

"How can you tell?" Zoë asked Chaos, a hint of awe in her voice that sparked an ugly feeling in my gut. I quickly tried to cover it up or get rid of it so I could hear the response, but it refused to disperse. Frustrated with myself, I had to ignore it and continue on.

"I can feel it physically. It's only a slight connection, but since I'm so powerful, they can't hide from me forever. It was only a matter of time," Chaos explained. He pointed to something on the map. I went over to investigate.

It it was a map of Tartarus, which would've been really useful when I was traveling alone to find the primordials. All the areas were labeled, with occasional lists of the usual occupants. Chaos has his finger pointed at one spot that wasn't labeled at all. he moved it to talk to Zoë, so I put my finger where his was.

I could feel power radiating from that spot on the map instantly. It was strange how I could feel their power on a map, but there's probably some long-winded scientific explanation that'd bore me to death.

Zoë stood next to me to examine the map too. She looked at me out of tthe corner of her eye, then at my stubborn finger sticking to the map.

"I can feel the power," I explained. Except it wasnt weak at all. It was practically pulsing under my finger tips, waiting to be unleashed. I could feel it as soon as I touched the map. Maybe compared to Chaos's powers it felt weak, but to me it was powerful.

"Can I try?" Zoë asked me, her fingers hovering over mine. Nodding, I reluctantly moved mine.

She stood there for a moment, eyes closed in concentration. Her fingers in the exact spot mine had been in previously. After a minute, she opened her eyes and looked at me in frustration. "I can't feel anything."

I frowned and tried it myself. The power was still there, pulsing under my finger tips.

"I can still feel it," I told her, confused. "The map is practically vibrating with the power."

She tried again, with no luck. Chaos tried next. "I can still feel it," he said, "but it's very weak. I can barely tell it's there. Only my most acute senses can pick it up."

My two companions frowned at me. "How can you feel it and I can't?" Zoë demanded to know.

"How can you feel it at all?" Chaos added.

I shrank back from their angry scowls. "I don't know! To both of you! I'm as confused as you are!"

For once, that was the truth.

That seemed to calm them down. "Ok," Zoë said, still sounding angry but not pointing it at me. "Now what? Storm the castle?"

Chaos nodded. "We needed to walk before so they weren't aware of my presence, but if I've found them it's only a matter of time before they find me too. It's easier to just flash there now." He held out his dark-skinned hands to Zoë and I. "Hold on! Next stop, Aether and Pontus."

8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8

We popped into existence right where I had seen the fake boy Tyler "die" just hours ago. I bit my tongue at the gruesome memory, not wanting to remember his blood splattering across my clothes, skin, face.

"This is it!" Chaos spoke softly but enthusiastically. Louder, he announced, "Aether and Pontus! I am Chaos! Show yourselves at once!"

The two appeared in a flash of glitter, which seemed to be their customary entrance/exit. However, they seemed different. More serious. Aether had changed out of his leather biker jacket into a black suit. His blindingly white smile was hidden under a frown. Pontus had switched from the pin striped suit to a black one that matched that of Aether. In his hand, the aquatic primordial held a trident. Aether's hands were clasped together behind him, possibly concealing another weapon.

"Chaos," Pontus spoke emotionlessly. "How unexpected." While all eyes were on Pontus, Aether winked at me quickly, breaking his façade.

"I am here to speak with you both about the coming war. Surely you can feel it?" Chaos asked formally.

Both primordials nodded. "Yes," Aether answered, "we knew the war was coming. Therefore, we've already made our alliances."

Chaos's black eyes widened and his jaw tensed. Other than that, he had no reaction. Zoë's jaw, on the other hand, dropped. My eyes widened as well, wondering what they were doing. Were they about to drag me into this?

Before I could stop her, Zoë marched right up to the two intimidating men. "What are you talking about? Who did you make this alliance with?"

Chaos stopped the angry huntress before she could rip their faces off. Even Aether and Pontus looked mildly surprised that she was so forward.

"Zoë, calm down!" Chaos ordered. "They're extremely powerful, almost as powerful as I am, and certainly more powerful than the idiot that cast you down here. Let me do the talking now."

In my head, I could hear Aether say, "She's feisty. I like her."

Mentally, I accidentally let out a growl.

Aether raised his eyebrow a minuscule amount from his spot next to Pintus. In my head, he said, "Calm down, boy! I was kidding. You've obviously got a thing for her."

I tried to will my face not to blush, but it didn't listen to me. I could hear Aether laughing in my head. I cursed at him, and he withdrew from my mind.

Chaos had already stepped forward by the time I tuned back into the conversation.

"Who, may I ask, are your allies?" He asked politely. He was more powerful than the two of them, but in order to win them over, he was being as polite and respectful as possible.

I had no doubt that Aether, if not Pontus as well, were mocking him mentally.

Pontus crossed his arms, the trident tapping his left arm with the tips with its base in the ground. "You may not ask."

Aether nodded his agreement. "We will only speak to the lady that you so rudely cut off."

Chaos gulped, worried he had offended the two and that they'd declare war on us. He stepped back while gesturing Zoë forwards.

Pontus looked at her with the same emotionless face. "You questioned us, the great primordials?"

Zoë frowned at the arrogant tone, but one look at Chaos made her sigh. Nodding, she took a deep breath. "Yes. Who are your allies?"

Pontus and Aether exchanged a glance, as if asking each other if they should tell Chaos and Zoë. In unison, they nodded.

"Alright," Pontus declared. "We will tell you who our allies are."

"Finally," Zoë muttered under her breath. I was wondering if the two primordials planned on asking me for my opinion in the matter, as I was their ally. But it seems they didn't care.

Aether cleared his throat, not a hint of a smile anywhere on his face. The usually smiling mouth was masked with a concrete frown. "Our allies are..."

I held my breath. This is it. They'll know I lied to them. Chaos and Zoë (especially Zoë) won't forgive me.

"... The Olympians."