"And then Bob came." Percy explained to Hazel, who listened intently. "Who's Bob?" She asked gently. Percy slumped his shoulders from where he sat next to Hazel on his bed. Everyone else was outside, and everyone knew to not disturb their little consolation sessions.

"Do you know Thalia?" Hazel nodded, but she didn't know why he asked. "Well once me, Nico, and Thalia went to the underworld for a little quest we had to do. When we were there, we came across a Titan. We fought him aside the River Lethe, and then he was exposed to the water. He lost all his memory, and I told him he was our friend and his name was Bob. He became a janitor for Hades."

After explaining, Percy resumed the story. "So Bob came. He saved our lives and he healed our wounds. He led us to a temporary shelter." "That was nice of him." Hazel commented. Percy nodded in agreement.

Percy was about to tell Hazel about the arai attack when his door was knocked. Percy sighed deeply. "Come in." The door opened and Frank walked in. "Uh, sorry to interrupt the, uh, thing, but Chiron wants you to teach a sword fighting session at the arena in five." Percy stood up. "Thanks Frank." He walked out after waving to them.

Hazel got up off Percy's bunk and hugged Frank. Frank hugged back. Hazel sighed. "It's so bad about what happened to Percy down there." "I know. And out of all the people it could've happened to, it happened to him." They stood there, hugging, in a comfortable silence. "Come on, let's get out of here before Neptune gets mad at us."


Hazel watched Frank hit the bullseye, again. She tried to focus her mind on something, but her thoughts kept wandering back to one topic: Tartarus. How had Percy not gone insane? Annabeth had slight effects of it, but Percy always kept himself controlled.

And Hazel kept wandering to one conclusion: It would suck to have the life of Percy Jackson.

She saw him in the arena, conducting his class like a professional, which Hazel guessed he kind of was, in a way. He disarmed each and everyone who challenged him with ease. Percy said something to his students, and the sweaty campers rushed over to the water cooler.

He came over and his large frame sat down next to her. He gave a genuine smile and wiped the sweat of his forehead with the back of his hand. They sat in comfortable silence, until a boy that looked about 17 came over.

"Hazel, I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine." Percy said. Hazel turned to him and the boy. "This is Max, he's a son of Apollo and a good fighter." Hazel waved. "Hello," she greeted. Max grinned back. "Hey, you must be Hazel Levesque? Hero of the prophecy?" Hazel gazed at him. "Yeah..." "Awesome! You guys are so cool, you know? With explosions and fighting Giants and everything!" Max was reminding Hazel of Leo - a little kid trapped in a teenager's body.

"Max," Percy said, "you're overwhelming her." Max smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. Anyway, I'll see you later!" He ran off towards his cabin.

"So what do you think?" Percy asked her. "About Max?" Percy nodded. "He's alot like Leo. Very excitable and random." Percy grinned. "I thought that too. But he's a really nice guy. He's turning 17 soon." "He doesn't act like it." Hazel commented. Percy laughed. "Like me."

Hazel agreed with his comment.


Hazel stabbed another piece of fish with her fork. She popped it into her mouth and was overwhelmed with the amount of flavour (again). The fish was cooked perfectly and the amount of seasoning was just right.

Nico was absent from camp, but Hazel wasn't fazed nor suprised. Nico always seemed to be doings things for their father, and he was constantly visiting him in the underworld.

She spotted the son of Apollo, Max. He was looking at something. Hazel followed his gaze and realised that was staring at Annabeth, rather.. hungrily.

Hazel might've been wrong, but last time she checked people didn't really look at others like that without having feelings for them. At least not in the 1940's.

It was creepy.

Hazel tapped Percy on his shoulder. He turned around. "Yeah?" She nodded her head in the direction of Max. Percy spotted him and what he was looking at, and his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Hazel raised an eyebrow at him. "I may not be a daughter of Venus, Percy, but I think Max fancies Annabeth."

Percy shook his head. "I highly doubt it." Hazel raised her eyebrow further. "How long have you known Max?" "A couple weeks." Percy responded. Hazel narrowed her eyes towards the son of the sun god. "There's something off about him. I smell a rat."

"Hazel, Max is a nice guy. He wouldn't do something like steal someone's girlfriend." Percy reasoned. Hazel looked at Percy, then back to Max. "I don't know... Just keep an eye on him." "What are we, spies?" Hazel glared at him. "Fine. I'll keep an eye on him."


(A few days later)

Percy spotted Max on the way to his cabin. He seemed to be excited for something. "Hey Max!" Max smiled at him. "Hey Percy." "Why do you look so excited?" Percy asked. "Oh, I'm meeting someone." Percy decided that if he looked this rushed, he should leave him to it. "Well I'll see you later." He farewelled. Max waved and continued on his way.


The hooded man stared into a dark sphere that depicted Percy Jackson. "The plan is going quite well.." He mused to himself. "..Although.." He swiped his hand and the image formed the face of Leo Valdez. "This doesn't seem to be a very strong friendship." He drummed his fingers against the cold marble frame that surrounded the globe.

"That won't do.."

He muttered something that sounded ancient and powerful, something that should've be left alone. But the man liked taking risks, so he chanted it anyway.

Moments later a look of confusion appeared on the son of Hepheastus. Then it changed to realisation and thoughtfulness. Then he smiled.

Pleased with his sneakiness, the man clicked his fingers and the globe went dark.

"That's more like it."