A/N: Readers...I'm back. Be prepared in this chapter for a twist. You may have thought one thing...but, I'm pretty sure you were wrong. Don't worry, things wont stay the way they are...

I also had no intention of writing this chapter this way...in fact I had it written much differently. But it wouldn't be much of a story if I didn't split the gang up. Hope that this is chapter is rewarding and a good kick start to getting back on the horse with this story. Happy reading.

VI

The hour given to prepare almost didn't seem like enough. Everyone convened back at Percy's place, all awaiting the arrival of Arina and Alcander to set off this very unknown and questionable quest. Percy took to pacing, whilst Grover was propped up against a table and Annabeth sat on Percy's bed watching him stress himself out. It was then Arina and Alcander walked back in, the both of them dressed in new clothes looking a little less worse for wear, but still like they where different from everyone else. Percy saw Arina, a black t-shirt under a thick leather jacket, jeans and boots. She looked up at them blue eyes scanning and she nodded.

"Alright, there's a lot of us, it's going to be hard getting to where we need to go."

"Which is all the way across the United States." Grover said and Arina shrugged.

"My mom's place is the safest place to go. Besides there's something there I need and it'll give us a little down time before the next stage of our journey. I ask you just to be patient." Arina then folded her arms over her chest and examined the small group. "Alright, Alcander, will be taking Annabeth with him. The both of you are very good with battle strategy and you'll be able to pave a safe road to the airport. Grover and Percy will go with me, since two guards are better than one."

The group nodded it's approval and Arina then pulled her sword from her side and picked up her pack as she clipped it around her shoulder and waist.

"Once outside the temporary barrier, you will be sitting ducks. Anything that will come after you, will come after you. There's a truck waiting off the highway three miles up the bank. You will all need to run. Good luck, and let's hope we all make it..." but Arina froze then as hard lines set over her features. She drew her sword and took in a breath as her head slowly turned outwards towards the camp and Alcander did as well. "Stay here." Arina commanded.

Alcander and Arina were darting out of the cabin at a rushed speed, discarding their traveling packs on the ground. Grover, Annabeth and Percy all looked at each other and nodded and sprinted after the duo not feeling too sure about being left behind, especially with that hard look on Arina's face. There was crashing in the distance anyways.

As they came upon the main camp site it looked like a siege was taking place. Some of the cabin roofs were on fire, some of the trees and arrows and axes were being fired in one general direction. Arina froze as many ran past her, as she looked up towards the top of the hill. There stood Dea, Callus and Caius and a whole new battle strategy. Hell hounds were running loose, and from the mouth of the center head was a Hydra spewing fire.

Guess they came back for round two and this time they weren't lacking in force either.

Those golden crowns, locked tight around their foreheads with the blood jewel of Hades shining in the center. Dea, looked down at her and smirked as she raised a bow and aimed it right at her cousin. It burst into flames as it rocketed towards her and Arina lashed her hand forward producing a wall of water in front of her from the ground. The arrow was extinguished but it still went through the wall and it broke right over Arina's chest.

The wooden bits fell to the ground and Arina let the water wall fall.

"Change in plans. Get the camp evacuated." Arina said to Percy not looking back at him.

"No I'm staying with you."

"No." Arina said sternly. "You will go, or you will die here today. I will handle them."

"That's three against one, Arina." Annabeth protested as she unsheathed her sword. "You wont make it alive."

"I know. But I'm the only one strong enough to take them. Alcander, go." Alcander tugged on Annabeth's sleeve by no one was moving.

"You'll die." Percy said grabbing her hand.

"If that is my destiny then so be it." and she shoved Percy away and suddenly the forest shook once more. A trench of water separated the camp, all of the children of the gods kept behind it and the instructors as Arina pushed them back. The wall towered at least fifty feet and it kept holding strong as no one could get through. The only thing people could see was through to the other side...Arina, facing off three of her cousins.

"You will come with us cousin, back to where you rightfully belong." Dea said her eyes boring into Arina's. The yellow-ness of the iris's gave off that impression as they did in Arina's...it was as if someone was seeing through Dea's eyes, as if speaking through her mouth, moving her body. Though Arina was sure, Dea was more willing to do anything at this point that involved thwarting her cousin and taking down the Olympians and their offspring. Bitterness emulated around them all. "Come now, and you will not have to bestow upon the Son of Poseidon the agony of seeing you fall. Come now and Cronos will forgive thee."

"You've always been weak minded Dea. To be succumb to this...I do not know you anymore."

And at those words, Dea's face became dark and angry. She rose her bow and fired off three fired arrows and Arina did her best to dodge them but a few would end up breaking over her. And as more were fired, it ended up making little dents in her skin, little spindly cracks would appear and then disappear as her regeneration kicked in.

"You are the weak one, cousin." At that Dea snapped her fingers and the hydra started forward and down the bank flanked by Callus and Caius.

How they broke the secondary barrier was beyond anyone at this point. All anyone knew was that Arina was facing off alone and the whole came was being shielded away.

Arina rubbed her hand a bit that was now healed as she watched her beloved cousins walk her way. Taking the water that was available to her she thrust it at the Hydra only to have it burst through, going on strong with no fear for it's life.

The Hydra was the first to breach as it swiped at Arina sending her flying into some tree's. But as trunks feel she had already recovered as it was a massive dark blur that pushed itself into the Hyra knocking it back as it did her. Arina then started to engage with Callus and Caius and now Dea was entering as she sprang forth the sounds echoing through the forest fierce. It was like hearing thunder and lighting at the same time, and the crackle of fire as metal and flesh hit one another.

The weapons they were using where strong as Caius made a strike across Arina's back, cutting deep into the skin. It was the first time Percy ever saw Arina bleed. But as soon as the ashen grey skin cracked, it healed back over once more. If things kept going the way they were, then Arina was going to end up dead.

"We have to do something." Percy fidgeted his hand tightening around the hilt of Riptide.

"The water will push us back if we try to go through it." Grover stated as he tried to put his hand up to the wall but the water lashed out pushing it back.

"Her concentration will be broken anyways if she dies." Annabeth said worriedly her hand on her sword ready to go once something happened. "After that, all of the campers are free range."

"I gotta do something. I can't watch this."

Percy watched as Arina fought hard, her cousins trailing after her the moment she made distance. Percy lunged forward as he met the water and it tried to push him back, but with his own control he managed to push his way through, though, it was like walking through mud. He vaguely heard Annabeth and Grover behind him trying to call him back, but his mind was set forward.

Arina needed backup.

The moment he entered the arena, everything stopped. Callus, Caius, and Dea all snapped their gazes to Percy who had broken through the barrier. Arina looked at him horrified as she then took this moment to take the hilt of her sword into Dea's face, and then kick out the twin's feet from under them. Once that was done, she sent turrets of water streaming at them knocking them against numerous trees and they fell unconscious. It wouldn't be long however till they woke.

Arina made to run up to Percy, but it was then that Dea appeared behind her in a split second.

Percy's eyes widened as an arm came around Arina's throat, holding her hard as a knife was produced and sent right up into her arm right under the armpit.

"If you will not join us, then it's time to die."

"No!" Percy screamed as Arina gave a gasp or more of a choke as all the air in her body left her.

Arina dropped to the ground then, blood pooling out onto the forest floor as she lay still and motionless. Dea sheathed the knife and looked to Percy her head tilted to the side as if mocking him, testing him, bating him to come at her.

"How does it feel to have her ripped away?"

"I'm going to kill you."

But at that threat, the wall of water dissipated and Dea smirked as she jumped up high into the air, taking to the tree tops and fled. Caius and Callus where detained, but Percy dove down on his knees, discarding Riptide and taking Arina into his arms.

Her face was ashen white and her lips almost a grey as her eyes where frantically searching for something until they locked onto his face. Her breathing was raspy, her pulse faint and Percy felt the cold stiffness of her body as he held it.

"Stay awake, Arina. You gotta stay awake."

She nodded faintly but her eyes just lazily drooped. Percy placed a hand on her face and stroked her cheek gently as he cradled her. He looked up, for any help but the whole camp was still in a frantic.

"Percy!" Percy looked up to see Grover and Annabeth pushing their way through the crowd. They too knelt next to Percy and looked down to Arina whom was still bleeding. Annabeth lifted her arm and looked at the knife wound and winced as she pressed her hand to it to try and stop the bleeding.

"I thought you were invulnerable?" Grover asked her and she smiled slightly and shook her head.

"Titan offspring...h-have weaknesses." she managed to choke out.

"Don't talk." Percy said and she shook her head.

"They need to know...our secret." Arina took another shaky breath and continued. "Mine, is here," Arina placed her hand over Annabeth's and then licked her lips and tried to swallow but she winced in pain. "D-Dea's is...between her shoulder blades. Callus his right heel, Caius...his left. S-trike them, and rid of us. Too, dangerous."

"No, Arina, you'll be here to help us." Annabeth said.

Arina turned her gaze to Percy's and removed her hand from Annabeth's as she placed it on the golden chain around his neck. Gently she pulled the pennant out from under his blue shirt and armor and it rest gently on his chest. She placed her hand over it and closed her eyes.

"As long as you have this, you-will...always be protected. If you do not trust in anything...at least trust in this."

And that's when her eyes closed and her head fell back and her breath seemed to be gone from her body.

Percy couldn't move, as he stared down at her body. He couldn't even bring himself to cry.

"Percy." Annabeth said shakily and Percy lay Arina down gently and then gripped Riptide. Percy arose as he strode through the chaos and walked straight up to one of the twins who was now free of his crown and took the hilt of Riptide striking it across Callus's face. The skin cracked leaving the half side of his face cracked. Callus glared up at Percy as Percy glared down at him and the skin on Callus's face began to heal.

"Percy!" people tried to hold him back but Percy just started struggling.

"You killed her!"

"Where's Arina?" Alcander asked as he looked around and then spotted ten feet off her body lying on the ground having just made his way through the crowd. "Arina!"

Alcander scrambled to his feet as he pushed past people and dove for his cousin. He took her face in his hands and then looked at the blood pooling from her side.

"A-Ari?" he choked out as he stroked her ashen face. He then pressed his ear to her chest and pulled back as he just stared at her body. "Oh...gods. Please, no."

Percy turned around as he rubbed his face nervously. His whole body was on fire with agitation and literal pain. Nothing ever prepares you for the death of a beloved one. Beloved... that word, it sparked something in Percy's brain.

Riptide formed back into a pen on his command as he stuffed it in his pocket and nervously touched the golden shell around his neck. Her last wish was to trust in the item but how and what did it mean. Percy picked it up and looked at it as the Greek words shone out at him but this time they glowed an erie green. Her blood was all over it, so he gently rubbed it off and suddenly it seemed like the whole ocean was around him yet he saw nothing. A light tune started to play. It was the ghost of a flute, carried by the wind, hollow in itself but merry in it's soul. It called to him, made him feel powerful.

"To my Beloved One, may the Seas protect you when I cannot." Percy said softly. Then a voice echoed in his head.

"Take her to the pathway of death, bathe her in the waters anew." the voice was deep, and held a air of familiarity to it.

"Percy?" Annabeth asked from behind him and he turned looking at them all.

"River Styx...we have to bring to the River Styx."

"What?" Annabeth questioned not quite sure why Percy was suddenly changing their plan.

"She'll be healed, if we bring her to the River Styx."

"But we need to get the key from Arina's mother. It's the only way to unlock Oceanus." Alcander said.

"Not without this." Percy gently unhooked the chain from around his neck and held out the pennant. "This is half of the key, the other is living blood. Arina's other half...her mother. Arina wanted me to do this."

It dawned on them all why Washington was such a safe place to be at the moment. Arina's mother was a key to unlocking Oceanus from his cold tomb because during the first war Cronus could not oppose Oceanus and his decision to stay neutral. But this time around his daughter was dead and hope lay in the knowledge that came from his memory and soul that was trapped in the pennant until Arina's blood unlocked it.

"But Arina?" Alcander asked and Percy sighed.

"If you take her to the River Styx, Annabeth, Grover and myself will get Arina's mother's blood, and then meet you in the LA."

"You'll face dangers you've never faced before. Hell is unleashed." Alcander said strongly.

"Well there's going to be hell to pay for taking Arina away." Percy said as he looked at Arina one last time. "You just heal her...we'll do the rest."

Annabeth and Grover walked up to him as they each flanked Percy's side and together the trio made it up and over the hill. Alcander returned back to his cousin as he knelt at her side, and reached over closing her eyes. Gently he wrapped her in his coat, and picked her up. It was then that several members of the Ares Cabin came walked over and surrounded Alcander.

"We shall follow you brother to the depths of hell, and for the one who saved us."

"Let's move then." Alcander turned heading west as he jogged through the trees. The barrier was gone, he didn't need to worry about anything much. The scent of blood however was overwhelming. He only hoped the Hell-Hounds couldn't smell it and that they could at least get transportation and out of the state as soon as possible.