JASON

"So, am I wrong that it's been a week?"

The others just stared forlornly at Jason. Annabeth gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "And that puts us at September twenty-first."

"But that's kind of okay though, isn't it?" Leo said the thinest shred of hope squeezed into his voice. "This eclipse thing isn't supposed to go down until the twenty-third."

"Technically the twenty-second," Hazel said. "It supposed to happen in the morning. So, like, midnight."

Leo nodded in defeat. "Of course it is."

"But how in Olympus are we supposed to make it to the island by then if we can't even find it?" Frank put in. "I mean, it's not like they're just going to reveal it to us at the last second."

"Maybe they're working on getting the neon sign put up."

"Yeah, something nice and simple like, Apocalypse Headquarters."

"And an arrow."

"An arrow would be nice."

"Why do I think that's not happening?" Jason interjected. "Our best bet now is to just try one last time. We've found it before, or Hazel has, rather."

Eugene cleared his throat loudly.

"Okay, Eugene found it. It doesn't really matter. It was found. I'm sure we can do it again."

"I could find it again. After all, it's coordinates are the same," Eugene protested.

"I don't think anyone doubts you, Eugene," Hazel said calmly. "But I do think it's pretty clear that someone is preventing us from finding it at all. Someone who knows when we're coming and how to hide it from us."

"You think Koios?" Percy said. "He's got that whole predicting the future thing going for him."

"Probably a good bet," Annabeth said. "And he's probably using Oceanus to hide the island."

"Awesome. So how do we get around that?" Jason said.

"Wait," Piper said suddenly. "You guys remember that shell that Triton had?"

Jason shivered. "How could we forget?"

"Do we actually know what it does? I mean, it seemed to be doing something to the water, or was that just me that noticed?"

Percy nodded. "No, you're right. It created a current everywhere around him. But I don't see what that has to do with anything."

"I feel like there was some odd little fact about Triton that I half-remember from someplace. Something to do with shells; weapons he uses, maybe?" She looked around for any takers.

"The only thing I've ever seen him carry is a trident," Percy said. "But I didn't see it on him this time."

"You've never seen the conch then?" Jason said. Percy shook his head, miffed as to what the obvious weapon had been.

"Hang on," Annabeth said, apparently coming upon some Athenian breakthrough. "Hang on, you might be right, Piper. I remember something too."

"Would you like to share?"

"Triton was known for carrying a conch. It was like his signature, just like Poseidon's is the trident. He used it against the giants way back when. Scared them back into the mountains." She paused. "And, if I'm getting this right, it also has the ability to raise and calm the waters."

"And that would mean that he's the one concealing the island?" Jason said. "Is that where we're going with this?"

Annabeth nodded, looking around the circle and finding that the theory seemed to be sticking. It was logical, Jason had to admit. And, given the little sibling rivalry that seemed to be up between Percy and Triton, it only made sense that the merman would want to mess with them like that.

Percy stood up. "We're not going out tonight," he said certainly, to which the others simply stared at him like he'd just suggested they set up a lemonade stand on their little abandoned island. "If Triton is expecting us, not going will throw him off guard."

"Or he'll just assume he missed us," Nico said.

"No, I don't think so. He's stupid, but he's not a total moron. He'd know better than to assume anything. Tomorrow, we'll leave early and go around. Find it from the opposite shore."

"But there's still the problem of Koios to worry about," Hazel said. "Won't he still see us coming and warn Triton?"

"I don't think that will be a problem," a deep, singsongy voice said from behind them.

Eugene the hippogriff perked up immediately from across the beach and made his way hastily over to the new arrival, bowing low before the jean-clad, bright eyed man. "Lord, I have done as you requested, helped the demigods on their quest, though now, I feel, you know how to continue the best."

"Thank you, friend Eugene. I can take over from here. You have served me well," Apollo said, counting off the syllables on his fingers and, giving a little bow, approached the fire.

"Uh," Jason said.

"What are you doing here?" Percy added.

"What, didn't you just hear me? I'm here to help, Jackson, but don't get too excited or anything."

"Why did you say Koios wouldn't be a problem?" Annabeth said.

"Oh, for Zeus' sake, (cue thunder), do all of you have a hearing problem? I said - "

"You're going to help, yes, we heard. How?" Percy interrupted, earning a winning Annabeth signature, I'm going to slap you when this is over look.

The god shrugged. "I'll just poof you over there. Simple. But you might want to pick up that trident first. I hear those things rust pretty quick out of water."