A/N: I do not own Percy Jackson

Chapter 22

On the Road

Annabeth and Thalia sat on the little craft, watching Percy fiddle with the ropes and moorings. Thalia looked curious and a little impressed with Percy's aptitude, while Annabeth was watching him with a weird, peculiar expression. It could almost classify as tenderness.

"What are you two looking at?" Percy snapped, making both girls jump.

Annabeth quickly recovered, and snapped back, "Nothing at all." She paused and quickly lied, "You just look ridiculous, hunched there and toying with the ropes."

Percy shrugged in defeat. He could never beat Annabeth in verbal fights. He turned his back on them and continued with the ropes.

Soon, the craft was gliding like skates on ice through the ocean.

"Percy...How did you do it?"

Percy turned and stared at Annabeth. "Do what?"

"Well, the other time you rescued me, you had Poseidon's chariot with you. How did you manage to get your father to lend it to you?"

Percy blushed a little. "I'd rather not go into that."

Annabeth frowned and glared at him. "Tell me you dipshit!"

Percy grinned and replied. "If you want it on your conscience, fine. It cost a bomb. My dad likes money. A whole sack full of drachmas."

Annabeth turned red and closed her mouth. For a moment there she really really wanted to kiss him. "How much trouble did he go through to rescue me?" she thought. She felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and maybe, love…?

She shook her head. They were just friends.

Thalia rolled her eyes and thought discreetly, "They aren't going to stay away from each other for long."

She then drew her bow and began aiming at murky shapes in the sea. Thalia's eyes glowed with excitement when she spotted a particularly large shape. She took careful aim.

"I'd advise you NOT to, Thalia." Percy quickly said, but too late. The shape squealed in pain, and rose out from the ocean.

"What the heck? Andromeda?" Percy blanched, flabbergasted.

Andromeda rose from the sea and glared at Thalia, rubbing her waist. Annabeth's eyes narrowed and Thalia grinned.

"Aww too bad, I was aiming for the throat. You're just too slippery!"

That earned her a smile from Annabeth and a glare from Percy and Andromeda.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Percy asked.

"Well, I was just looking out for you!" Andromeda replied, smiling.

"Go back to Atlantis, fish girl. We don't need your help!" Annabeth snapped.

At that Andromeda gave her a devious smile. "Jealous now, aren't we?"

Thalia rolled her eyes and lifted her bow, aiming at Andromeda. "If you don't disappear in five you'll be sorry!"

Andromeda glared and a wave erupted from the sea, splashing Thalia in the face. Thalia's eyes seem to overcharge, and it was now a clear film of electric blue. She raised her bow and shot it towards the heavens. A jagged lightning bolt came down and struck the water near Andromeda. The Water immediately conducted the electricity, frying the Nereid.

Annabeth laughed loudly and Percy scowled. "Andromeda please go back to Atlantis. I'll catch up with you after my quest."

Andromeda looked a bit hurt, but nodded and dove back into the water. Percy sighed. "What was that Thalia? Are you like, Storm from X-men?"

Thalia grinned. "Better than Storm."

"Yeah you look better than Halle Berry!"

"WHAT was that Barnacle boy?"

"Guys stop arguing. We'll be at the Puerto Rico Trench soon… That's where they were last seen, right? "

Percy stopped grinning at Thalia and nodded. "Yeah we'll be there soon."

Thalia huffed and continued murderously glaring at Percy. "How would he know?"

"Percy has perfect bearings at sea."

Thalia stopped glaring and looked mildly impressed. "That's…handy."

Percy got up and stood at the stern of the ship, looking towards the horizon. He shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand, and for a moment there with that pose he looked hilariously like The Monkey King.

"I see it guys…Puerto Rico!"

Annabeth got up and stood next to Percy. "I don't see anything, Seaweed brain!'

"Well I can!"

Thalia got up and pushed Percy away. "Yeah it's faint but I can see it…"

Annabeth looked shocked. "You can see it to? What's going on?"

Both Thalia and Percy shook their heads.

"You are getting old Annabeth. Your eye sight is failing."

"Shut up. Let me see it again."

"…"

"STILL NOTHING."

"No Surprises there…"

"Shut up." Annabeth paused thoughtfully and stared at the horizon. "What do I know about the Puerto Rico Trench? There have been several Earthquakes in the area, and there are frequent tremors. There was also an earthquake that measured 8.1 on the Richter scale..."

"Definitely fishy."

Percy suddenly looked serious. "Yes…I can feel it. The disturbance in the water…"

He shut his eyes. "The Nereids and Merman guards assigned to that sector have abandoned it long ago…"

Annabeth stared curiously at him. "How do you know?"

Percy opened his eyes and stared directly at her, his deep sea-green eyes grim and solemn. "I can feel it. I feel the ocean like its part of me. I see things through my father's vassals, the Merman and the Nereids. I feel as if that part of the ocean in that region has been torn from my scope…Our scope…"

Annabeth turned pale and looked at Thalia. "Briareos and his father Aigaios…They are in control of the trench! That's why Poseidon cannot destroy the Princess Andromeda!"

Annabeth slapped her own forehead. "Banished to the deepest points of the ocean… the Puerto Rico Trench is the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean!"

"How about the Marianas Trench in Australia? It's deeper!" Thalia asked.

Percy was the one who answered. "That accursed Trench harbors a greater evil. It is the prison of Ketos, the gigantic sea serpent that personifies all sea dangers. The enormous weight of the pressure there keeps it at bay, ensuring that it never escapes for all eternity."

Annabeth's mind raced ahead. "If we don't stop them soon there's going to be trouble. Oceanus is not taking sides now, but if it's clear that the Titans might win he will without a doubt aid Aigaios… He's always hated Poseidon."

Thalia interrupted. "WAIT! Time out! We've gone from retrieving the Oracle to stopping Titans? What the heck?"

"We have no choice Thalia. The Titan War is upon us, whether we like it a not. My sixteenth birthday is in a few weeks time…" Percy interrupted softly. "We'll be reaching the trench shortly. How bad can it get? We always foil Luke's schemes and stop some mad Titan from taking over."

At that Annabeth smiled and entwined her arms with Percy's. Thalia placed a hand on Percy's shoulder and squeezed it.

Annabeth looked at her two dear friends, and said, "You know, whenever we three are together, I can't help but feel as if there is nothing we can't do…"

"You're right guys. Let's do what we do best. Kicking Luke and Titan ass." Thalia added, grinning.

Together, they sailed towards the dark end of the Atlantic…

A/N: How did you like it? I've got absolutely nothing to do now, so maybe I'll be able to update on a regular basis. I'll try to finish this story by March because after the end of Feb I won't have anymore time. Please Review and tell me what you think of my plot.