Percy's POV:
I tossed and turned as I slept, kicking off all my blankets. I woke up with a start almost falling off my bed. Everything was dark. I couldn't see any of my siblings so I reached for the light switch that was supposed to be on the wall beside my bed. Nothing, everything was open air. There wasn't even a floor. I gave a sigh and a glowing figure started walking to me. It took a while for my eyes to adjust but I had a feeling it was a god trying to contact me again.
"Hello Perseus" said the goddess as she sat on my bed. It was Athena. "I know I do not approve of you and Annabeth and I dislike your father very much but I must put that aside …. for now". "Um, Lady Athena, I mean no disrespect or anything but why did you try to contact me?" I asked. "Hmm, yes I am sorry for disturbing your sleep but I come bearing an important message. You must find Hestia soon. The gods are now in an endless blame game as you would call it. It's driven my aunt away and the hearth is now just a flickering light. If no one tends to it soon, I'm afraid for the first time I d-don't know what would happen" with that she slowly faded and I was back in the Poseidon cabin.
From the view of the window, it was around dawn. 'No use trying to go back to sleep' I thought. I got out of bed, put on some fresh clothes and walked over to Fireworks Beach. Apparently Annabeth had the same idea too.
"What are you doing up so early?" I startled her and she put Daedalus' laptop on the sand. "Oh, um I just couldn't sleep" she explained staring out into the water. "You too? Your mom decided to pay me a visit." I said sitting down next to her. "What did she say?" she asked scribbling in the sand. "Kind of something like 'you have to find Hestia soon or for the first time I don't know what will happen'. If even Athena doesn't know what could happen that's really bad." I told her about everything else that happened and she just nodded. "Okay, what's wrong? Don't say nothing because I'm 99% sure there is something wrong." I demanded. "Uhgg. This whole thing, it's so annoying. We almost had Hestia 2 times already but she got away. I feel like it's my fault. And now we have no other leads to where she could be hiding … ughhh." she grumbled hanging her head in her hands. "It's not your fault and you know that. We'll find Hestia. Okay?" I reassured her. "I know that Seaweed Brain. My head isn't agreeing with my instincts. I didn't even think that was possible" she said slapping my arm. "Ow! Didn't need to do that. But anyway, see nothing's wrong. Why don't we just go back to our cabins and go back to bed. I'm getting sleepy again." I stood up and lent out a hand. She happily took it and got up too.
I thought that after Athena's little warning I wouldn't be able to sleep. I was wrong. As my head hit the pillow I fell asleep as if it was charmed. Right before I was completely asleep I squeezed in a short prayer to Hypnos that I would have a peaceful sleep.
Luckily I didn't have any more visits, but maybe my pillow was charmed after all. The only reason I woke up was because Brent –my 6 year old half brother- was slapping me with a fish. "Why are you slapping me with a fish?" I asked him sitting upright. "Annabweth said sow. Yow were wate. Thew gwowing now." He tried to tell me. Even if he was 5 he just lost his 2 front teeth and you could barely understand a thing he said. I looked at the clock and ran to the bathroom right away.
I rushed out of my cabin and almost rammed into Nina. "Come on we have to go, now!" She yelled pulling me by the wrist towards the Big House. "I know I am not to help you on a quest but- Oh sit down Percy we have something to discuss." Chiron said frantically. Everyone was sitting around the ping pong table looking as agitated as Chiron. "As I was saying, I have asked permission from the gods and they said I could help you on this one quest. The hearth fire is becoming weaker as we speak and according to Jason's dream-" Chiron continued but I couldn't help but interrupt. "I had a dream, well more of a visit from Athena giving me a warning." Chiron blinked his eyes in shock and that was the last thing I remember before doubling over and passing out which Jason did as well.
When I opened my eyes I was in the black whole you could call it, just like when Athena visited me. Only Jason and I were there until a faded image appeared. "Hestia?" both of us asked. She gave a faint nod. She didn't glow like Athena did, she was much paler and almost see through, like a ghost. "I-I am … I've been captured. I don't have much time. He might come back soon. I am in the underworld but Hades will not be able to sense me. As the hearth's light fades so do I. You must come here and rescue me. I should have come back to Olympus when, I really shouldn't have run away in the first place. I am sorry. Hurry!" she said before disappearing.
I didn't remember closing my eyes but when I opened them I was lying on the ground with Jason and everyone was crowding over us with worried looks. "What?" Jason and I asked at the same time. "We heard just everything" Patricia explained.