Hey guys! Ok so school is starting up again and I won't be able to update as much as I would like. I am going to try to update every weekend. So there was a bit of a twist in the last chapter. Not entirely sure where I'm going to go with it, but just go with me. Also, I'm going to try to bring some more old and new characters to the story. This chapter is set the day before Capture the Flag and Percy and Annabeth are on separate team.

*Percy PoV

"Why can't you think outside the box and realize that my idea is better than yours! If we place a small force of Dionysus kids to the East and the Tyche kids to the West and a larger for in the middle, the blue team will focus more on the middle group and we can get to their flag!" It was only three in the afternoon and two hours spent with Clarisse made him want to fight something. They were supposedly supposed to be going over tactics and strategies for Capture the Flag tomorrow, but Clarisse was so bent on not listening to any of my ideas. I am starting to hate Mr. D more and more.

"Because Sea Dork! That will spread our forces way to thin!"

"It's a risk we should take!"

"Or you could just shut up and admit my plan of two forces rushing the flag is the best way!" Clarisse was two inches from my face, her face the color of the strawberries growing on the other side of camp.

"You're such an idiot! Annabeth will crush us!"

"Well you seem to be very sure of that. What are you telling her about all of our plans?!"

"Are you calling me a traitor!"

"Well I know how much you like her!"

"You are impossible Clarisse! Fine do whatever, but if we go with your plan we. Will. Lose," I stalked off in the direction of my cabin. If I had to stay and talk to her any longer I was going to lose it. Suddenly the air became much colder and the sun didn't seem to be shining as bright. Quickly I pulled Riptide out of my pocket and uncapped it, holding it out in front of me. A flash of light appeared in the corner of my eye as I spun around ready to fight whatever was there. I slashed blindly in front catching something fabric.

"Jeez, Perc! Put that thing away before you hurt something!" The small figure told me. He was dressed in all black like usual. His obsidian sword hung at his side. His backpack however what cut in half with his clothes and items spilling out.

"Nico! Don't scare me like that!"

"Sorry, I haven't really gotten the hang of this whole shadow travel yet. Never very sure where I will land." He suddenly turned a shade of green and started to lose his balance.

"Whoa, you ok?" I asked, catching him before he hit the ground.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Help me pick up my stuff, I don't trust my feet yet."

"Yeah," gulping down his lunch he added, "Still haven't gotten used to the shadow sickness either."

"Yeah ok." I stooped to the ground picking up cloths that has some mysterious holes and slash marks in them. Dang kid. What have you been doing? One shirt caught his eye though. It was purple with some kind of gold stitching in it. Normally he wouldn't have thought twice about it, but purple wasn't really Nico's color.

"Hey Nico," I said picking it up. It was to dirty to really read the gold stitching but I could make out S.P.- and a wing of some bird on the sleeve. When I held it up to Nico, he went pale, "Is purple your new color?" Before I could even process what was going on, he snatched the shirt out of my hands and shoved it into his torn bag.

"No, I'm just holding that for a friend. Nice to see you again Percy, but I am really tired. I think I'm going to go lay down in my cabin for a few hours. Say hi to Annabeth for me!" He raced off leaving me behind, thinking about his odd behavior. What was he hiding? And why was he lying about holding that t-shirt for a friend? Nico had never been a very good liar, and he knows it, so why was he trying it with me?

You're just being paranoid Percy. It's just a purple t-shirt. But as much as I wanted to convince myself of that I couldn't. I was almost back to the cabins when something strongly resembling flowers and coconuts wafted by. I then felt an arm link through mine.

"Hey, Percy! Are you excited for Capture the Flag tomorrow? I know the Aphrodite kids are!"

"Hey Lacey," I said turning my head towards the girl. He couldn't deny she was beautiful with her perfect brown hair, and perfect skin, and really perfect everything. Every guy in the camp was dying to talk to her and be her boyfriend, but not me. She was beautiful, but that was really it. No depth at all. I don't even think she has ever held a sword in her life, and at a camp where you train for battles that is saying something.

"The Aphrodite kids are throwing a party tonight by the lake. You should come!" She had a charisma that was contagious, and for some reason he was having a hard time thinking around her. Without even thinking he said, "Sure why not. Nice little break before Capture the Flag tomorrow."

"Right! Well see yah tonight then! We're going to have a blast," With that she skipped off to the direction of a huddle of girls who were giggling and pointing his way.

"Ok, sure," as soon as she was going the feeling of fog on his mind faded. What the heck was that any why was I having a hard time forming the word no? I just shook my head. Probably something having to do with her mom. But Aphrodite kids don't have persuasion powers. Just the power to be shallow. Right?

So what's going to happen at the party? Is Lacey going to finally get what she wants, which is Percy? Sorry this chapter is so short. I will have to start updating every weekend now since school is starting back.