Annabeth's POV

We swam for what seemed like hours. Finally, we climbed back onto the boat and dispersed into our seperate rooms to change out of our swimsuits.

"So. Freakin. Exhausted." Thailia groaned. She threw her arms out and let herself fall face-first onto the bed.

Katie rubbed her hands together and grimaced. "My skin is all pruney."

All I really wanted to do was throw myself on the bed and take a long nap, but I grudgingly forced myself to put some clothes on. I pulled on a nice, comfy pair of baggy, gray sweats and a white spaghetti strap. I carelessly threw my tangled hair into a messy bun and threw myself next to an already unconscious Thalia on the bed. Katie announced that she was going to take a quick shower but I barely heard her. She flipped off the lights and I heard the click of the lock on the bathroom door. The glow of light from the cracks of the bathroom door made me drowsy. I closed my eyes and fell asleep to the gentle sound of Katie's shower.

...

Someone was shaking me. "Go away Thalia." I murmured. My pesterer laughed. But it wasn't her. My eyes fluttered open and I looked up at a smiling Percy. "Morning Wisegirl."

I looked around. Katie and Thalia were gone. I groaned and sat up. "How long was I out?"

"Three hours." he replied.

"Where is everybody else?"

"Upstairs. Grover made pizza."

"Do I get a good-morning kiss?"

He chuckled. "Of course."

He leaned in and kissed me lightly. "Now let's go get some pizza."

I sighed. I was still so tired. "Can you carry me?"

He stood. "Hop up." I grinned and leapt onto his back. His hair smelled like Axe. I silently thanked the gods for Percy. I didn't know what I'd do without him.

...

Percy's POV

Once everybody had finished eating, we decided to sit out on the deck and watch the sunset. I sat down and pulled Annabeth into my lap. She kissed me on the cheek.

Clarisse made a sound of disgust and wrinkled her nose. "You guys are gross."

Chris came up and hugged her from behind. "Are they?" Clarisse giggled, which was odd. Daughters of Ares weren't really known for giggling.

Everybody settled down just as the sun began to sink. The clouds were streaked with bright pinks and oranges. We watched quietly until the sun had set completely and the stars became visible. Travis and Katie were making out in the corner. Frank was changing into various animals for Hazel's entertainment. He morphed into a black and white puppy and she giggled as he jumped around the deck playfully. Connor, Nico, and Thalia were sitting in a circle playing "Never Have I Ever." The other couples were either kissing or talking to each other in hushed voices.

Annabeth sighed and laid her head on my shoulder. "I wonder what the others are doing." she said quietly. Piper's dad was doing a movie in Puerto Rico and had invited Piper, Jason, and Leo to come with him for spring break.

"Leo's probably burning something down." I answered. Annabeth laughed.

We talked for a while. She told me about her new school and the things she had discovered on Daedelus's laptop. I told her about how my Dad had asked me to come visit him at his palace. Then we talked about Camp and other various things until neither other us could keep our eyes open. I'm not sure exactly when we fell asleep but I awoke to someone frantically shaking my shoulder.

"Percy! Seriously dude, wake up!" I opened my eyes groggily.

"Finally." Frank stood over me, his eyes wide in panic, "Percy, something's wrong." I looked down at Annabeth, still sleeping soundly in my arms. Nobody else was awake. I gently moved her and followed Frank to the rail.

"Shhh.." Frank told me. Then he pointed. "Look."

I studied the waves, searching for what he was trying to show me. "Frank what-" Then I saw it. A long, scaly tail surfaced and then slithered back into the waves. Crap. A monster. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the water. Maybe I could create a current to push it away from us...

Meanwhile a storm was brewing. The sky was swirling with dark clouds. I heard a clap of thunder in the distance. What was Zeus's problem now? Frank was hurrying around the deck waking the others. By the time everyone was awake, it was pouring down rain.

Nico appeared next to me, gripping the rail for balance as the waves rocked the boat. "What is it?" He had to raise his voice to be heard through the rain.

"Some kind of serpent." I yelled back. Then something hit the hull. Hard. The force was so great the boat almost capsized. Nico nearly slipped under the railing. I grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him to his feet. The deck was now flooded with seawater. Lightning lit up the sky.

"Grab the buckets!" Travis ordered. His wet, blond hair was plastered to his forehead. His blue eyes flashed with excitement and panic.

I gave up on trying to make a current. The water was too vigorous to control. Instead, I used my powers to guide the gallons of seawater accumulating on the deck back into the ocean.

Smack. The serpent struck our boat again. We lurched forward and everyone was thrown to the deck. My forehead collided with a metal barrel, causing me to black out breifly. My vision returned and I pushed myself up. The pain in my head was almost unbearable. I reached a hand to my forehead. When I pulled it back, it was covered with blood. Adrenaline pumped through my veins. I had to get my friends to the lifeboat. I could breathe underwater, but if the boat capsized they would drown.

"Get back you overgrown reptile!" yelled a familiar voice.

The serpent now loomed over the deck. It's needle-like teeth gleamed with each flash of lightning. A forked tongue flicked threatingly between it's maw. It's huge yellow eyes were fixed on Clarisse, who was desperately trying to stab it with her electric spear.

I grabbed Riptide and ran to help her. The creature was still focused on Clarisse, so I seized the opportunity and lunged. My sword made contact with the serpent's neck and it wailed in pain. A black liquid seeped from its wound. I jumped out of the way just as a glob of bright green acid landed on the deck where I had been standing. I stared up at it in horror. Was it like...the aquatic cousin of the hydra or something?

Clarisse took a chance and stabbed at the creature's face. Her spear pierced its eye and it roared. Half blind, the thing flailed and writhed in the water. Annabeth appeared next to me, armed with her dagger.

"It spits acid." I warned her. She nodded. The beast recovered and rose up out of the waves.

"Get ready guys!" Clarisse called. In rage, the serpent gripped the rail in its jaw and ripped it off. It swung back its head and the mangled railing came flying toward us. Annabeth and I dodged it, but Clarisse wasn't fast enough. The rail struck her hard in the head, and she fell limply to the deck.

Where were the others? I glanced backwards and my stomach churned. Behind us, Connor, Thalia, Chris, Frank, and Hazel were battling a second monster, exactly like the first. Travis lay unconscious and bleeding on the deck. Katie was trying desperately to drag him to safety. Grover, Nico, and Juniper were nowhere to be seen.

"PERCY!" Annabeth tackled me to the deck as another glob of acid sailed over our heads.

Before we had time to get back up, the creature lunged. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. I looked up at the serpents open jaw, acid dripping from its dagger-like teeth. It was over. I pulled Annabeth close and prepared for death. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited. But nothing happened.

I cautiously opened my eyes, but the creature was gone. I sat up. Nico stood gazing into the water, gripping a bloody sword. At his feet was the serpent's head, jaw still open wide. He glanced up at Annabeth and I.

"You guys okay?"

We nodded. "Thanks Nico." I told him.

"No problem." He gently kicked the monster's head.

"Where are Juniper and Grover?"

He looked at the ground solemnly. "I don't know."

My heart sank. My brain ran through all of the possibilities. Drowned. Hit by acid. Eaten. I silently prayed to my father. Please let them be okay. Then I remembered the second serpent.

Frank had transformed into a dragon. He breathed columns of flame at the serpent, but it dodged them easily. Connor had a nasty cut on his arm, but he continued to fight. Thalia seemed to be in fairly good shape, and rapidly shot arrow after arrow into the monster's thick hide. Chris was tending to Clarisse.

Nico, Annabeth and I rushed to our friends' aid. I gripped Riptide and glanced at Annabeth. We silently agreed on a battle strategy and then returned our focus to the action. Annabeth stabbed at the serpent with her dagger. It turned towards her and roared angrily, snapping wildly. While the creature was distracted, I took the opportunity and plunged Riptide into the monster's throat. It screamed and jerked violently, rocking the boat. Anyone who wasn't already down was thrown to the deck. The serpent wailed and sank into the waves, still thrashing dangerously. Then, it flung its head at the boat and shattered the hull. It struggled weakly and then went limp, sinking beneath the surf. Before we knew it, we were sinking too.

The boat tipped and we were all thrown into the ocean. I called out Annabeth's name and heard a faint reply over the roaring over the waves. For a second I saw her, clinging desperately to a piece of driftwood. I could tell she was doing her best to conceal her emotions, but her vivid gray eyes shone of terror. I tried to swim to her, but the waves were so chaotic I couldn't control them. The wreckage of the ship stirred around us. Out of nowhere a wooden floorboard flew out of the waves and struck her forehead. I watched helplessly as her arms slackened on the driftwood and she slid silently beneath the surface. I shouted out her name and desperately tried to reach her, but this time, the sea was against me. The more I struggled, the weaker I became, until I could barely stay above the surface. I went under and couldn't find the strength the return to the surface. Rainbow..I need you..to find Annabeth..and keep her safe… I channeled the last of my strength into summoning the hippocampus. Through the murky water I saw the shimmery flick of a colorful tail. My vision blurred and I slipped into unconsciousness.