Note: Finally updating! Yay! I hope you enjoy this chapter! :D Thanks to all who reviewed, favored, followed, or simply read this story! You're the best!

The Mark of Athena is coming in 11 days! YAY! :D

-.-

Chapter 4

"Percy Jackson."

He held in his sigh. She always, always, called him by his full name. And she always, always, forgot the Captain that came before his full name. Annabeth squeezed his hand, comfortingly, although she was clearly amused.

"Hello, Reyna. To what do we owe this pleasure?" Percy asked, forcing a smile even though he was still crossed about the title.

"Curious as to why you are in the middle of the Atlantic. Another adventure?" the Roman praetor asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Something like that. A favor to the gods."

"Naturally." She said, airily. "Hello, Jason."

Jason, involuntarily, tensed. "Hey, Reyna."

She averted her eyes away from him, and Jason breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing. Piper watched him, confused—what was wrong with him?

"And what exactly is this favor to the gods?" Octavian's voice came from behind Reyna. He was just as Annabeth remembered—tall, fair-haired, and looking like a sick scarecrow.

Percy shot her a questioning look. She shrugged, not knowing if it was okay to share this information with the Romans or not.

From behind Octavian and Reyna, two familiar faces approached and grinned at their companions.

"What's this I hear about a favor?" Frank asked, tilting his head. "Are we doing it?"

"Doing what?" Hazel asked, eyes sparkling as she waved to her friends at the Sea Pearl.

"We are not doing anything," Octavian said, shooting the Greek ship a disgusting look. "We should move along, Reyna. We have no business here."

Reyna looked like she was in pain, and restraining herself from stabbing the scarecrow. Piper stepped forward, a sudden rush on inspiration hitting her.

"Actually, we could use some help," she looked over to Percy and Annabeth. "They can help us, if they want to, of course," she quickly added, glancing at Reyna.

Reyna looked at her, eyes emotionless. Piper tried not to let that bother her.

"Piper…" Jason said, voice strained. He looked pale and almost in pain. "What are you on about?"

But she kept her focus on Percy and Annabeth. "Not counting today, we have three more days to make sure all the stuff is back where it belongs. And you know as well as I do we can't make it happen alone." She glanced at the Roman ship.

Annabeth's eyes widened. "We split."

"Yes." Piper nodded.

Jason shook his head just as Octavian snorted. "You expect too much, graecus, if you think we will—"

"What is it you need help with?" Reyna interrupted.

Octavian sent her a furious glance. Jason sighed loudly and painfully. Piper looked back at him, confused more than ever.

Percy and Annabeth shared another wordless conversation, before Annabeth took the initiative and explained to the Romans their current predicament. Once she was done, Hazel asked, "So, ten more items are missing? And you already know where Zeus' eagle is at?"

"We'll ask the map for the rest." Percy said, waving the map. "We can divide the items. Five for us and five for you. But we have to make sure they are back to Olympus before the sunset of the 25th."

"It is hard, but not impossible," Reyna commented.

"That's why it will be easier if we divide it between us," Piper clarified.

"Alright. Let's say we actually have the items, how are we going to contact each other?" Frank asked.

"Iris-messaging, of course," Leo answered.

"We don't know how to use it." Hazel shook her head.

Octavian sneered. "And we are not using any kind of Greek communication, either."

"Why don't some of you travel with us?" Reyna suggested, looking at Percy inquiringly. "That way, they'll keep you updated and they'll assist us in finding the items as well."

Octavian looked stricken. "You're inviting them—?"

"That's not a bad idea." Frank mused.

Percy looked uneasy. He wasn't sure if he wanted to have some of his crew on the Roman ship with Octavian around. However, on the bright side, he knew Hazel and Frank. The two won't allow anything to happen to any Greek demigod, and Reyna will treat them as equals. But just to make sure…

"Jason," Percy called, looking at his cousin. "How about it?"

Jason stared. "What?"

"Piper is right; we need help. And you know us…" he glanced at Octavian from the corner of his eyes and Jason seemed to understand. "So, will you assist them?"

Hazel's eyes sparkled. "Please, Jason!"

Jason glanced warily at the Rome, before looking back at Percy. "Some of us will accompany me, right?"

"Of course, man!" Leo enthused, slapping Jason's back. "I'm here for you all the way. Same goes with Beauty Queen, right?" Leo looked at Piper.

"Of course," she grinned, but she was still looking at Jason and trying to assess his reluctance to join his family on an adventure.

"See? This is going to be fun!" Leo grinned.

Jason allowed a small smile to grace his lips as he met Piper's eyes. "It'll be okay?"

Although it seemed like he was framing it like a question, Piper smiled back, and reached out to squeeze his hand. "Yes. It will be."

He squeezed back.

Percy opened the map and asked for the locations of the ten items. However, the map would only give him the locations of three scattered items, so he and Jason took turns asking the map. In the end, they got the location of six items and decided that they'll take it slow from here. They find the first six and then they'll worry about the other four.

After Leo jotted down what they'll be finding and where, the Romans lowered a gangplank between the two ships. Leo climbed up and walked confidently, with a huge grin, towards the other ship. Jason helped Piper up—and she scowled at him for treating her like a porcelain doll; his only reply was a grin.

Percy and Jason faced each other from either ship, and for the first time, felt uneasiness in their friendship. It was almost like a wall had fallen down in front of them, and they both cleared their throats at the same time.

They gave weak smiles.

"Good luck," Percy said.

"You too." Jason replied.

And the ships took opposite routes.

-.-

Percy Iris-messaged Nico in the Underworld.

"What is it that you want, Percy?" Nico asked, irritated. "Now is not a good time."

"What's happening?" Percy asked, confused by the noises coming from the other end of the Iris-message.

"Some of the spirits have caught word about Dad's stolen sword," Nico grimaced, looking behind him. "Not very good spirits, if you know what I mean. They're trying to…well, trash the castle, if that's what you want to call it."

"I have a solution," Percy said as Annabeth came up beside him. She waved at Nico. "We know where the sword is."

Nico's eyes widened. "You do?"

"Yes. It's somewhere in the Fields of Asphodel." Percy recited from a small paper where he had jotted down the location. "I am not sure with who or what it's doing there, but you'll find it there."

Nico stared at him. "You're crazy! The Fields of Asphodel are huge! It could take years to search them all!"

"I know." Percy said, dejectedly.

Annabeth glanced at the dark sky. It was already night. The Iris-message rippled, the small diamond used to make the rainbow in the small cabin rolled to the left of the table as the ship jerked softly. "We don't have much choice. Can you search for it? Since you know the place well."

"I repeat, it'll take a long time."

Annabeth bit her lip. "I can help."

Percy stared at her as did Nico. "What?"

"I'll go to the Underworld, help Nico find it," she looked at Percy. "I'll take my shield. To some extent, it'll be able to give us an almost location."

"The living are not allowed down there," Percy said, voice strangled. "What if—?"

"Well, I could use the help," Nico said, glancing at the two of them. They seemed to have a silent conversation. "She'll be with me, Perce. No one will touch her."

Percy looked back at Nico. The son of Hades nodded, reassuring his cousin. The son of Poseidon looked back at his girlfriend. She grinned.

"I can take care of myself, Seaweed Brain."

He grunted. He knew she could, but that didn't mean that he should stop worrying.

"Alright. We're ten minutes away from the Coast Port. Can you meet us there?" Percy asked.

"I'll shadow travel."

And the Iris-message ended.

Percy looked back at Annabeth, scowling. "For the record, I don't like this idea."

"For the record, I will not sit back while you go swimming towards your father's castle." She smirked. "Percy, we're hitting two birds in one stone. Thalia is on her way, too. That was a brilliant idea you had to contact the Hunters as well."

He looked away, sighing. "Let's just hope we get back before the second day ends. I have a bad feeling about this!"

Annabeth stared out of the small window in the cabin. The sea's waves outside lapped at each other playfully. She knew that Percy will take at least one night to get to his father's castle. He was the only one who can swim and breathe underwater. She knew she signed up to an almost impossible mission as well. She hoped that Jason, Piper and Leo will have better luck in finding their three items.

-.-

The Rome wasn't bad, Leo thought, it was almost identical to the Sea Pearl, if a bit smaller. What actually caught his attention was that the whole lower deck was a huge training area. It should have been expected, but it still blew his mind.

Romans were really, really hardworking.

Hazel and Frank were giving them the customary tour. Jason would sometimes jump in and comment. It really perplexed Leo that his best friend was reluctant to join the Romans in helping the Greeks find the stolen items. Wasn't Jason supposed to jump at the opportunity to be home?

"And this is your cabins!" Hazel said, opening one door. "Leo, you can have this one."

"Cool."

"Piper, you can have the one beside it. And Jason…" Hazel looked at him, hopefully. "Your cabin is still the same. No one used it. So, um…"

"Yeah, sure," he said, distractedly. "I'll stay there."

Hazel smiled. "I am so glad you're back. It's been a long time since you've traveled with us."

Frank nodded.

Jason tried not to feel guilty. Glancing at Piper, he could see the guilt on her face too as she looked down at the ground. He made a mental note to talk to her the first opportunity they got alone.

Frank glanced out of the small window in Leo's temporary cabin. "It's getting dark. We should be there by now."

True enough, it wasn't long until they found themselves anchoring the ship beside a small island full of trees. The Tropics looked sinister and dark with the fading light and increasing darkness. The two Greek and four Roman demigods stood at the helm, staring out into the dark forests. The wind blew, rustling the leaves and the demigods looked around each other.

"Should we go there now?" Leo asked, eyeing the sinister looking forest. "It doesn't look safe."

"Nothing is ever safe," Piper commented, gripping the hilt of her knife.

"I think we shouldn't waste time," Hazel said, looking back at Reyna. "We can go, right?"

Reyna's lips tightened into a thin line. "Maybe we should." She looked at Jason. "What do you think?"

"I think we should stop losing time," he said, and whirled around, ordering a gangplank to be lowered immediately.

Frank asked, "How are we going to find our way in the dark? And the eagle itself for that matter?"

Piper smiled. "Repair boy can be our light."

Leo grinned. "Do you have any fine rats?"

Reyna, Hazel, and Frank stared. Jason suppressed his grin.

-.-

Nico di Angelo was waiting from them when they docked the ship at Coast Port. As Travis and Conner lowered the gangplank, Percy took hold of Annabeth's arms, looking at her right in the eye.

"You know what you're doing, don't you?" he whispered, softly, his sea-green eyes staring intently at her.

"Yes." She murmured back, tracing her fingertips over his jawbone. "Stop worrying so much. And good luck, Seaweed Brain."

"Come back in one piece, Wise Girl." And he kissed her deeply.

Flushed, Annabeth walked down the gangplank, and Nico rolled his eyes. "Typical son of Poseidon. Are you ready?"

She scowled at the son of Hade's obvious smirk. "Yes. Are we going to shadow travel?"

"The easiest way." He nodded, extending his hand. Annabeth took one last look at Percy, who stood watching her intently from the deck of the ship, before taking Nico's outstretched hand and sinking into the earth, shivering all the way.

Percy closed his eyes momentarily as he watched them disappear, before he turned to his crew. "Alright. You'll be staying here tonight. Grover, guard the ship. If Thalia comes over before either Annabeth or I come back, tell her the quest. The map is in my cabin, if you need it."

"Are you going to be okay, Perce?" Grover said, chewing his shirt.

"I'll be fine, G-man," Percy grinned. He glanced warily at the Stoll brothers. "Please, don't burn anything."

They crossed their fingers. "Promise."

"When will you be back?" Katie asked, concerned.

"I should be back tomorrow afternoon." Percy replied. Hopefully, he added, mentally. And Annabeth should be back about the same time as well…

"Good luck, Percy," Grover said.

And without looking back, Percy jumped off the railing and splashed into the icy, dark water.

-.-

The fireball Leo conjured in his hand lit up a good 50 radius of the area. Jason was able to see everything around him—trees, trees, and more trees. In a way, it was unnerving, especially since they were at night. He wished they waited for the morning, but he knew that half the morning will be wasted tomorrow, considering that they'll have to travel to Viscaria Port, Italy.

The trees rustled.

Leo sighed, holding up the plastic rat his belt provided him with. "Do you think your father will zap us for tricking his sacred animal?"

Jason grinned. "Maybe."

Leo grumbled. "Why couldn't Frank just change himself into a rat?"

Hazel linked her arm through Frank's. "I am sorry, Valdez. But I am not about to allow an eagle to eat my boyfriend."

Frank blushed and thanked the gods that it was as dim as it could possible get with Leo's fireball in hand.

Piper smiled, amused. Reyna rolled her eyes.

The leaves rustled above their heads, and the demigods looked up. Leo held the plastic rat higher. "Fluff?" he called.

Reyna stared. "Fluff?"

Piper shrugged. "That's his name."

Jason ran his hand through his hair, trying to suppress his smile. "Maybe I should go up."

"Be careful," Piper said.

Taking the rat from Leo's hand, Jason willed the winds to shot him upwards. They obeyed. He hovered in front of a thick branch, trying to make out anything alive with the minimum amount of light coming from Leo's fireball below.

"Don't we have a flashlight or something?" he called down.

Leo patted his tool belt, asking for a flashlight. His belt produced a mini flashlight and Leo tossed it into the air; Jason caught it. To his disappointment, it was just a squirrel trying to hide in his home. Jason lowered himself.

"Nothing."

"Oh come on, Fluff!" Leo called out, looking around. "We are only trying to help you!"

Piper looked around. "Something isn't right."

Reyna looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"It's the way the items are scattered," the daughter of Aphrodite answered, as they began walking again with Leo calling out, "Fluff! Come here, boy! We have nice, fine rats for you, Fluffy boy!"

"I don't think he'll like being called Fluffy boy," Frank said.

Meanwhile, Jason was nodding at Piper's comment. "I agree."

"If it is the same thief, then why in Hades is he scattering the items for us?" Piper continued. "It's almost like he wants us to find them."

"It's like with Echidna and Chimera," Jason replied. "The thief knew the gods were going to ask for help—they are trying to kill us so that we don't restore the items in time."

"And separate you," Hazel said, looking worried. "Maybe we shouldn't have divided into two teams."

"It was the only way—"

"Aha!" Leo exclaimed, pointing at a low branch. "I got you, Fluff."

Sure enough, a majestic-looking eagle with midnight feathers and a long neck sat elegantly on the branch. Its yellow eyes looked down at the demigods distrustfully, and it puffed its chest proudly.

Leo gave the rat to Jason. "Do the honors."

"He doesn't look too friendly," Reyna muttered, eyeing the eagle with distrust as well.

Jason shook his head. "You do the honors."

Leo scowled. "Fine." And he walked a few paces and stood. The branch reached his forehead. Fluff the eagle looked at Leo like: What in Zeus' name is this human doing with the dummy rat?

Very slowly, Leo raised the rat so it dangled between his eyes and the eagle's eyes. "Do you see the rat, Fluff? The finest rat—"

If eagles could roll their eyes, Piper was sure Fluff was doing that. With blinding speed, the eagle reached forward and snapped the artificial rat in half, giving a loud cry of victory.

Leo stumbled back. "Hey, that wasn't polite at all!"

Fluff the eagle looked smug.

Crack! Crunch!

The six demigods froze as Fluff the eagle looked to the side, confused. He emitted a small cry. Jason advanced forward, his blue eyes on the eagle.

"Fluff, hop on my arm, now!" Jason said, sternly, his eyes boring into the eagle's yellow eyes.

Fluff stared at him, flapped his wings quickly, and hopped into Jason's extended arm.

Crack! Crunch! Click!

The sinister voices were coming closer and the leaves were rustling. The six demigods backed up quickly as the enormous crustacean emerged from the dark trees, snapping its vicious looking claws gleefully.

-.-

Note: Hahahaahahaha, I love Leo! :D Soo, what do you think? Good? Bad? Rushed? Please let me know! ;) As always, your opinion matters the most! :D

Keep a weather eye on the horizon! :D

Take care!