Hello my readers! Since this chapter and the last one are pretty small, I decided to publish two tonight. This is a short one, but pretty darned important. Also, I'm posting an extra because, for some reason, it really boosted my spirits at the response I got in just one day. Maybe I'm making a big deal about it, but eh. Appreciate the little things, right?

Also, I'm pretty sure it's a prerequisite for writers to enjoy watching their readers suffer(*cough*Rick*cough*) through the characters. Hey Ma, I'm a natural at that!

Good luck, readers.

—Alex

(Malcolm's POV)

I admit it. I get seasick fairly easily. Not the best idea to lead a quest into the Sea of Monsters, but what could one demigod do? Also, I would've felt bad about leaving Irida up there, but I was going to throw up, and Will had to tend to our friends.

After I threw up my lunch and breakfast of the day, I curled up in my bed and fell asleep.

Unfortunately, that's when the nightmares found me.

"So this is the boy who thinks he's going to save his sister," a voice echoed across the cavern that I found my dream-self in. I couldn't see the speaker, I could only hear the voice, echoing across the cavern. "Oh, and the other boy, too. The one who ruined it all. I am going to take special joy in turning you into a rodent, little boy. I'll turn you into a rat, maybe, and let you loose on the city you call home. Or maybe sell you to a pet shop. You'll fetch a nice price." I wanted to run, to shout that we'll save Percy and Annabeth, but I couldn't move or speak. The voice laughed in the darkness. "And your other friends?" She taunted, laughing cruelly. "For the boy, I'll turn him into a nice little cat. Seems appropriate. Small, cunning. But the girl. Oh, the girl. I won't even try to recruit her. She'll make a nice little bird. I'll lock her and her friend in a room together. They won't at first, but soon the boy's animal side will come out, and his little friend will be lunch. For your sister, she'll make a nice, big fish. But don't worry. I'll release her. At least, into the nice little pond where the fisherman like to fish. And the boy. That boy. He will be a nice little rabbit. A little rodent, learning what it's like being held captive, with the only thing keeping him alive is a small child, feeding him and playing with him. A small rodent, with everything to fear, and nothing to fear him. But I'll give them a special twist. In fact, I already have." I was shaking, burning with rage. The lady was really starting to make me mad. Suddenly, a shadow lengthened, and a lady stepped out of the shadows. She might've been beautiful once, but now her face was full of hatred, and her hair was short and choppy, like she had a haircut similar to a man's, and then grew it out.

"Circe," I somehow breathed, though I couldn't say—or do—anything else.

"That's right, little hero," she said, putting as much venom in the word as she could. "Also, enjoy the guardians. They're my main source of income, after all." The nightmare faded, and I sat up, drenched in a nervous sweat.

When I looked out the little pothole window, I saw the sun beginning to rise. Irida, I thought, she must've been up there all night!

I walked quickly up the steps, two at a time. The sunrise was beautiful, the pink and orange and blue melding together like an Easter egg.

"Irida!" I called softly. She was watching the sunrise.

She turned around at the sound of my voice. "Hey, it is sleeping beauty." She called teasingly.

I made a childish face at her. "Did you sleep at all last night?" I asked.

She gestured to a pile of blankets and pillows on the deck. "I kind of figured the boat would guide us there on its own. Plus if it needed me, I was right here." She stopped, as if the boat was talking to her. Coincidentally, a sporadic rumbling noise came from below deck. "Ah, the Rainbow says we are nearing the Clashing Rocks."

"The Clashing Rocks?" I said incredulously. "Of the three entrances, you picked the one that was gonna smash us to little bite-sized pieces."

"Well, Scylla and Charybdis were not any better. I would rather not be eaten before my thirteenth birthday." She deadpanned. I stared at her. I'd forgotten that she was only twelve.

Suddenly, looming on the horizon were two boulders. Big, tall cliffs a couple dozen yards apart. "We're screwed," I muttered.

705 words. Definitely not my best. The next one, oh man, that was fun to write. I don't know if there should be sarcasm there or nah...

All I can say is good luck to our poor characters.

—Alex

Next time on Circe's Revenge:

"Row, row, row!" I faintly heard Irida yell through the deck.