Annabeth and I walked into my hotel room where Nico was asleep on the floor. I threw my bag down on the bed as Annabeth frowned at our friend gently snoring.

"What?" I asked.
Annabeth shrugged. "I just think he missed out on all the awesome history today." And she grinned at me and gave me a peck on the cheek, "night Percy."

The dreams of a demigod are never normally all fun and games, the one I had that night was no different.

I was walking through a deep chasm, the voices wailing all around me. The cliff faces either side of me spattered with yellowing grass and wispy trees. Continuing forward, the colour drained out of the plants, like I was getting closer to death. I couldn't help thinking that I was heading to the underworld again. Soon enough it was just rocky cliffs to my left and right. The wailing inconsistently was getting louder and quieter.
Without my noticing, the gorge grew narrower as I walked, until the sides met, leaving me facing a dark cave. The thing reminded me of the home of Polyphemus, a cavern on a paradise island that Annabeth, Tyson, Clarisse and I rescued Grover and the Golden Fleece from a few years back.

I waited at the entrance to the cave for a few minutes, but eventually my curiosity got the better of me and I crept inside. Hot winds blew all the way through the corridor until I reached the main room.

I was starting to think that there wasn't much that could shock me, after so many years of this whole half-blood business. But I was not expecting to be greeted by Phobos and Deimos, sons of Ares.

Just looking at the pair of them sent shivers up my spine. Phobos smiled at me cruelly while Deimos sharpened various swords, knives and dismantled guns. "Perseus Jackson." Phobos sneered. "Did I not tell you that I would be seeing you again?" Deimos' roaring laughter echoed through the cave. The stalactites above my head shivering purely from the sound that Deimos was making. I thrust my hand into my pocket, bringing out Anaklusmos for protection. Phobos saw what I was doing and stopped my hand with a flick of his wrist. "Wait your turn Perseus. You will get your chance to fail once more. Before you die I mean. But for now, I will allow you to sleep peaceful dreams.

With a wink, the cavern floor fell from beneath me.

The walls of the pit etched with images of all of the things that I had grown to fear. Typhon attacking New York again, Kronos slicing up my friends with a grin on this face, my father, withered and old, fighting for his life. The air was ripped from my lungs as I plummeted indefinitely.

My left cheek stung. Before my eyes could even focus I heard voices.

"Oh Percy, thank the gods." Annabeth gripped me in a hug.

I groaned. "Which ones? I refuse to if they're related to Ares." Rubbing the left side of my face. I tasted salty tears. "What actually just happened?" Annabeth opened her mouth to speak. I cut her off with a glare. "Actually, who slapped me?"

She blushed pink. "I had to Percy; you were screaming and crying in your sleep."

I groaned, crawling out of the bed. "Happy birthday, Annabeth." As I reached the bathroom door I turned to see her trying to contain a grin.

About six hours later we heard our stop being called over the loudspeaker and made to grab our belongings. Plenty of touristy types were grabbing their things too, obviously here to see Mt Olympus, like us. I couldn't help but think about how nice it must be to be normal. To not be related to anything mythical or legendary in any way.

"Okay. So the road to Olympus is that way." Annabeth said checking a map. "Come on guys." I still hadn't told them about my dream. The time hadn't really come up. All we'd talked about on the train was Nico's decision to stay in the underworld indefinitely, Selena and what the thing that Ares wants could be. I was still trying to think about what my dream could have meant, but I was already harbouring an idea that I'd be seeing those two sons of Ares again soon.