AN: Another review response. As reviewer Sonic2610 noted there is heavy inspiration for this story taken from the Fate/Stay Night Anime and Visual Novel. This is actually one of the reasons I say 'anything you recognize from officially licensed/published works' as I am not only taking inspiration from Rick Riordan. It is accurate to say that Percy's weapon domain powers were inspired almost exclusively by Fate but I have tweaked them slightly to fit this story better. However, his powers are the extent of the inspiration I have taken from Fate, at least consciously. This is not a crossover story so there will be no characters or anything like that from Fate. For those who haven't seen Fate, there is a character called Archer who serves as the inspiration for Percy's ability to copy, create, and alter weapons that he interacts with.

As always I own only my own imagination and nothing you recognize from officially published/licensed works.

Chapter 11: We Take A Sun Bath

Apollo rolled over hoping Percy and Calypso would either fall asleep or just kiss and be done with it. Watching them together was strange for Apollo as on one hand it was obvious that they cared about each other but on the other Percy was still in many ways broken. Apollo hated to admit it even to himself but Percy was not the same and there was no guarantee he would ever be the same again, quite the contrary. Apollo had been awake as soon as the pair started to talk to each other as they weren't nearly as quiet as they seemed to believe they were. Just before Percy had shouted the hair on Apollo's neck had stood up, the swell of Percy's anger had been enough to send a pulse of power through the room. Not for the first time Apollo wondered just how powerful Percy would become when he had finally mastered his domains and was not just drawing on them for a boost. He also knew there was no danger to either him or Calypso from Percy but then again he didn't feel like trying to get out of a building that Percy brought down without meaning to. After it seemed that Calypso had managed to get him to calm down, or so he guessed, Apollo waited for them to get quiet again. They kept talking and now he could hear what they were saying, he didn't begrudge Percy the help they all knew he needed but the very human part of Apollo was dead tired.

"I appreciate the therapy session for our friendly neighborhood hero but could you do it at not," He looked over to the small digital clock on the nightstand exaggeratedly, "One AM?"

He rolled back over so that his back was to them once again and closed his eyes doing his best to tune out their voices as best he could and eventually the room grew quiet. When sleep finally found Apollo it was many things but unfortunately restful was not one of them. Apollo found himself in a dark place that after Percy's descriptions he had little trouble identifying as soon as he beheld the dimly glowing brazier, and smelled the overwhelming odor of snake. Scales scraped over stone and high above Apollo two massive eyes appeared in the darkness, they were filled with malevolence and hunger in equal measure it seemed to Apollo, just as they had millennia ago. On instinct, he held his hand out as he always had to summon his bow, and to his slight surprise, a bow appeared. This wasn't his bow however, it was the bow Percy had created for him that was imbued with a small piece of his power. Apollo forced his breathing to remain steady and his eyes to remain on the bow, and not rise to the vision of his deadliest foe.

"Feel it, Apollo, just like Mother taught you."

He closed his eyes despite every instinct screaming at him to run, to fight, to do anything but leave himself vulnerable to Python's rage. He did nothing, he didn't move, or run, he only closed his eyes and delved within himself. He searched the depths of his being, searching for the light that he knew he had to find because if he didn't find it then this quest was doomed to fail, with or without the arrow his sister had brought. Even if Percy could replicate the arrow it meant nothing if Apollo couldn't fire the arrow, and draw out the power he had created it with. Just when he had thought he was going to fail there was a spark, a tiny light in the darkness. The spark bloomed into a ball of fire, like a fiery star that spat and roared into the darkness that surrounded it, raging as Apollo did against the inevitability of fate, of disease, of death. A golden light shone through Apollo's eyelids and he opened them where he found he was no longer in the dark cavern but standing looking out over a familiar sight.

Cresting waves rolled in toward him and crashed on the beach in front of him, but it wasn't a beach in North America. He was home, he would recognize the beaches of Delos anywhere no matter what. The golden light came from his bow, it glowed softly in his hand even as he looked around the dark beach for any clue as to why he ended up here in this dream. He heard the crunch of footsteps on sand and turned to face the sound sending sand flying from under his heels. He nearly dropped the bow as he beheld his mother walking toward him down the beach.

"What are...Mom? How are you here? Are you really free or is this just a dream?"

"It seems that someone made a deal that freed me. You are asleep my son but why should that mean that this is not real?"

She spoke in ancient Greek and the words flowed over him like water. Her voice was so familiar despite the years since he had last heard it so long ago. Apollo hung his bow over his shoulder and moved forward to embrace his mother. As soon as his arms were around her he felt a ball of longing and pain that he had not even realized he was carrying finally release. He loved his sister but there was no one in the world he loved more than his mother. A wide smile grew on Apollo's face as he embraced her and he could feel her shoulders begin to shake slightly as she started to cry. Apollo very nearly lost his composure as well but he was still too preoccupied with his waking life to fully celebrate. His mother eventually calmed and held him at arm's length examining him from the top of his head to his toes.

"Apollo? Why are you seemingly a mortal my son?"

"Uhhhh... Long version or short version?"

He smiled cheekily at her even as she glared at him with slightly narrowed eyes.

"I have not seen you in millennia my son. Tell me the version you think is best."

Apollo nodded and considered the question for a moment trying to figure out how to explain the situation best.

"First thing to tell you is the reason you were freed was because of a demigod named Percy Jackson, well former demigod he's a full god now. Secondly, the reason I'm stuck like this is because Father blames me in part for the last war."

Apollo couldn't look at his mother as he felt his guilt well up as he spoke. 'What right did he have to complain after everything he had done not to mention the things he should have done.' The next moment he felt his mother's arms wrap around him and he may as well have been a child again. There was something so incredibly comforting that he couldn't even begin to describe as he felt his worries fade.

"Thanks... Mom."

"I will be here on Delos waiting Apollo. When you have regained your godhood bring your sister and visit. I love you Apollo noe you must wake my son."

With a start Apollo's eyes flew open and he found himself looking at the ceiling of their hotel room. A tiny key of pale light streamed into the room and Apollo would recognize the light of dawn anywhere. Standing up and walking to the door, Apollo did his best to remain silent as he eased his way outside. Apollo wandered around until he found a set of stairs that took him to the roof where he ignored the 'Employees Only' sign. Stepping onto the roof filled Apollo with warmth as the light of the sunrise struck him in golden light. He walked to the edge of the roof and leaned against it looking out toward the east where he watched the sun as it peaked from below the horizon and filled him with renewed strength and hope.

Percy of course didn't wake up until he felt a hand gently shaking him, and a voice called his name.

"Percy. Percy. You need to wake up Percy."

He cracked an eye open and saw Calypso sitting next to him again, and it reminded him of the first time he saw her on Ogygia. She was lit from behind by golden sunlight, her caramel hair almost glowing as a soft smile played across her lips. Percy rubbed his eyes and sat up turning away from her as he did so trying to avoid her eyes. He had dreams that had reminded him of how at peace he had been on her island and the memory was bittersweet for him. The feeling of sand under his feet, the smell of her garden in the sun, and the feeling of his strength returning under her care. His heart longed for those days despite how desperate they had been because no matter how dark they had seemed his friends were still alive. Even that thought gave him a sense of disjointed melancholy as even then he had lost friends. A soft hand turned his chin and he made eye contact with Calypso again.

"Percy stop torturing yourself. I can see it in your eyes no matter how responsible you feel it wasn't your fault."

Percy clenched his fists, squeezing so hard that the skin on his knuckles turned white. Getting to his feet, Percy looked around the room as his mind raced.

"It doesn't matter how many times you tell me that, it doesn't matter how many times I tell myself that. I just... I was supposed to protect them, that was my job, right? That's what heroes are supposed to do."

"You are a hero Percy but you're a person too you can't..."

"Calypso do you know how many people would be alive if I had just been stronger? Or faster, or more powerful? Twelve at least, and those are just the ones I can remember clearly. Bianca, Zoe, Charles, Lee, Silena, Luke, Leo, Piper, Frank, Hazel, Jason, Annabeth, and more! Ethan died because he felt abandoned by the gods and I don't blame him!"

Thunder rumbled above and Percy glared at the sky defiantly.

"I'm an Olympian now Zeus! I had to force all of you to promise on the Styx to do right by your kids!"

If Percy was less agitated then the lack of another rumble of thunder might have surprised him more, but as he was he didn't even notice.

"I failed them all Calypso. All my friends, I couldn't... I couldn't even..."

His rage collapsed in on itself in an instant like a candle being blown out in a hurricane. The manic energy that had filled him drained out and he felt as though his whole body had grown heavy as lead. Percy refused to cry again, he had cried more in the past few months than he had in years and he hated feeling so weak. In the next moment, Calypso slipped her arms around his waist again and he found himself holding her close to his chest. He didn't know what he would do if anything happened to her now, or any of his other remaining friends, they were all he had left. He knew that he would outlive the demigods but he was able to ignore it most of the time because he would never outlive the memories, and how he felt. He had lost his family, and almost everyone he loved in this world and he had to cling to whatever he had left. At that thought he realized Apollo wasn't in the room.

"Calypso... Where is Apollo?"

She pulled away from him slightly, and he noticed her cheeks were slightly golden as she did so that she could look at the couch.

"Wasn't he just there?"

Percy extended himself outward searching for Apollo with his power, and he found him. He walked toward the door and took Calypso's hand without thinking about it. Pulling the door open he looked left and right checking to see if anyone could see them from where they stood. He saw no one and turned to Calypso only then realizing he was holding her hand. He dropped it and stepped back stammering an apology.

"I'm sorry I didn't..."

There was a sad smile on her face as he struggled to find words.

"You don't have to apologize Percy. Now where's Apollo."

He snapped back to the task at hand shaking his head slightly and looked up.

"He's on the roof. I think. Got any ideas?"

He looked down at her and found her looking at him with a slightly incredulous look on her face.

"You, the god, are asking me, the minor titaness if I have any ideas about how to get to the roof of a mortal hotel?"

Percy felt himself go gold as he realized how insane the question was.

"Right... Well, then would you care for a lift?"

Percy shifted his weight from one foot to the other awkwardly and hated how he had asked the question. Calypso spared him further ridicule and stepped closer.

"You need to relax Percy. I'm not going to yell at you or something."

Blushing further he decided to forgo saying anything more and just do something instead. He bent at the waist and then hoisted Calypso easily into his arms before jumping skyward. He touch down on the roof with only a slight stumble and after stopping them from toppling to the ground he set Calypso back on her feet. The two of them turned and found Apollo facing the rising sun a dozen or so yards to their left. Surprisingly it seemed like he hadn't seen them even with the jump from the ground to the roof. They walked over to him then stood on either side of him looking out toward the horizon, and as they did Percy realized he could feel the barest hint of Apollo's true power coming from him. It was warm and bright, filled with the ghost of melodic music, and under it all there was a sort of pattern or rhythm that waxed and waned. It reminded him of the time that Apollo and Hermes had spent doing their best to just be there for him in the weeks after he became a god.

Apollo's attention was still fixed on the rising sun but Percy couldn't read his expression and he decided to just wait. It was so unlike him that for a moment he wondered if something was wrong but the thought passed. He turned and found himself looking out at the horizon as well, his thoughts once more turning to everyone that he still had left, and the things that had made him say yes to the god's offer. He felt more at peace in that moment than he had in a long time, since he stood on Half-Blood Hill looking out on the dawn before they left on this quest. Here they were thousands of miles from New York, and they were close to the end of the road now. Despite how large the canyon was he had a feeling that this would not drag on for too long. They would find the cave, they would face Python, and see the Oracle reclaimed for Olympus.

Percy shook his head, the optimism and good feelings had begun to feel unnerving and unnatural to him. Turning to look at Apollo again he now noticed that his eyes were glowing golden, and not just in the light of dawn. His irises had turned gold and Percy felt the briefest flash of fear, Kronos' eyes had looked like that as well. The momentary reaction had been enough however and he felt the influence of Apollo's power lessen on him, his doubts and fears creeping back in. He looked at Calypso and found her smiling contentedly, her eyes out of focus and she seemed lost in her mind.

"Calypso. Apollo."

His voice sounded harsh and loud in the dawn stillness and quiet. His companions both jumped at the sound and Percy felt the last of Apollo's influence on him fade into nothing, though the hint of his power remained.

"Apollo? What was that?"

"What was what?"

Apollo looked confused, he glanced at Calypso and then back at Percy as though he was unaware of what was happening.

"You were sort of affecting us? I guess that would be the best way to say it?"

Apollo looked surprised at first then a smile grew on his face, a giddy smile.

"I was? Well, that's good news! It means my powers are starting to come back!"

"What do you mean by your powers? You've never done that to me before that I can remember?"

"You wouldn't. I learned to control that power when I was still young before I had left Delos. I normally only let it out when I'm healing someone to be perfectly honest."

Percy raised an eyebrow and considered Apollo again as he again readjusted his idea of him. Percy knew he shouldn't be surprised after all he was several thousand years younger than Apollo, but he was constantly reminded how little he knew about one of his only friends. A thought struck Percy and he looked at Calypso.

"You said you could feel I was powerful even when I was injured right? What do you mean?"

She looked at Apollo and they both laughed at the question, Calypso contained it but Apollo just let himself keep chuckling.

"Oh, you truly have no idea, Percy. Anyone near you even when you are calm can feel power coming off of you. Have you ever felt that just being near your father was just a little dangerous? Or that you could feel something just being close to him?"

"Well yeah but mostly just when he was angry. though I did sit on his throne once and that was risky."

"Well, being near you is like that just less intense at least most of the time."

For whatever reason Percy felt slightly odd knowing that Calypso, and as Apollo was nodding in agreement, other people must be able to just feel when he was around. He looked around searching for a way to change the topic and his eyes fell on the road north toward the canyon. A bus was already leaving headed to the canyon and Percy could have kicked himself.

"Well as fun as talking about this is I think we had better head north. We do have a quest to...quest..."

Calypso sighed and walked back to the section of the roof where Percy had landed carrying her. The two of them followed her and Percy brought all three of them down to the ground below.

"You do hate talking about yourself don't you?"

Calypso asked lightly though Percy could feel the serious edge to the question. He made his way into their room choosing to ignore the question in favor of getting ready to leave. Unfortunately for him that meant next to nothing as he had simply dropped his bag on the ground before collapsing next to it and falling asleep. Picking up the bag Percy walked back outside to wait for Apollo and Calypso, but after the quiet night and morning, he was on edge. The lack of anything attacking them for this long somehow seemed even odder given their proximity to the canyon and by extension Python. The Dracanae shouldn't have surprised him though now that he was thinking about it the lack of regular monster attacks gave him pause. He cast his eyes around half expecting to see an army of monsters flooding toward them, but there was nothing. His skin began to itch slightly as he realized that he was right, there was nothing there, no monsters, no cursed heroes, no gods, and no mortals. Casting his power outward as far as he was able he found nothing, he could sense knives, a few guns, and even a few cans of pepper spray, but no people. The only thing he could sense that moved was the water through the pipes around him. Even when he focused on his hearing there was no sound coming from the city around them and now Percy was afraid.

"Apollo, Calypso, we need to get out of here. Now."

He tried to keep his voice calm but he knew he hadn't succeeded fully when both of them appeared seconds later. They both looked concerned and he explained everything he had found to them as quickly as possible.

"Percy? What are you talking about? We can both see people walking around, right Calypso?"

She didn't answer immediately, closing her eyes she started to chant in Ancient Greek, and soon enough Percy felt an odd rushing sensation. As soon as he felt it he also heard Apollo suck in a sharp breath. Her chanting stopped and her eyes opened.

"There. The mist should remain at bay for now. How did I miss this?"

Percy was still focused intently on their surroundings and he almost missed the faint sense that came from his left. Reacting on instinct he reached out and grabbed the barbed arrow out of the air as it streaked toward Calypso. As soon as his hand touched it he spun to face the direction it had come from and searched for the bow or whoever had shot the arrow.

"Apollo. You got this one? Hundred yards out, top of the taller building over there."

Percy pointed to the building he was talking about and with amazing speed Apollo drew aimed and fired a half dozen arrows one after the other. None struck their target as they ducked behind a large HVAC unit on the roof but the shooting was still impressive.

"Apollo watch our back, you're the best shot. I'll watch the front while we move. Calypso, you watch everything else, you've got magic, use it. No mortals to hide from so gloves off. Anyone we see is a potential enemy."

Now that he had a better idea of the circumstances Percy's experience was beginning to take over. His thoughts raced and he felt his heart seemed to remain calm, he realized he wasn't as afraid as he was tense. His muscles coiled and ready for the slightest provocation. He knew he had to be careful as he couldn't kill any monsters until they had proof Python had sent them or Moros. Artemis had reminded him of the rules and he hated to disappoint her. That thought surprised him at first but after a moment he realized that like Apollo and Hermes, she was a part of his new family too. Like a slightly odd and terrifying older sister.

"Percy. There's movement to the southwest can you..."

He swiveled and saw a group of Dracanae filtering between buildings. He immediately started to move around the hotel in a generally north direction but let the others keep up. He summoned a small shield, and ignoring the drain on his powers, handed it to Calypso.

"Take this. I can get you a weapon if there are any you're comfortable using but the shield at least can block arrows."

She nodded and swallowed hard, and Percy realized that the past week would be the first armed conflict she would have seen since the war between the Titans and the gods. That thought made him curse the fates again, he hated that she was in harm's way because of him. Moving as a group they didn't stop for almost thirty minutes at which point they reached the northern end of the city. Percy looked around and examined parked cars as they passed by, looking for anything he might be able to use. Then he saw them, a set of keys tucked haphazardly into the visor of a beat-up work truck that was parked outside an apartment complex. Snapping his fingers the doors popped open and he stood aside.

"Apollo, can you shoot from the back while we move?"

Apollo's face paled slightly but a determined expression soon adorned his features and he nodded in the affirmative. Percy summoned more arrows and handed them to Apollo so that he would have plenty for the time being, and hoped he wouldn't need more. Calypso hopped in the passenger seat and he got in the driver's side then snagged the keys. The engine roared to life and he ripped out of the parking space heading toward the road he had seen the bus departing along.

"Why did the mist suddenly stop affecting me?"

Percy knew it wasn't the time to be talking but he wanted to know. He continued to scan the horizon as he had the accelerator flat to the floor.

"Not sure to be honest Percy. I know far less about the mist than I would like. The more pressing question is why did it affect you in the first plaAAAAAHH!"

The wheel jerked in Percy's hands as the road buckled in front of the truck sending them into a spin. Somehow Percy managed to keep the vehicle from spinning out entirely and gunned it back onto the road looking back at the fissure. Apollo seemed like he was barely hanging on and looked white as a sheet.

"HOLD ON!"

Percy's voice was painfully loud in the cab of the truck but Apollo seemed to hear him and lay down in the bed clinging to anything solid he could grab. The truck began to shake as the ground rumbled beneath them and then split, forming a dark hole in the earth. From it leaped a massive terrifying monster that Percy didn't recognize at all, but Apollo seemed to.

"Are you freakin kidding me?! The Odontotyrannus?"

Percy had absolutely no idea what that meant but it didn't sound good. Unfortunately, the monster seemed to take issue with them getting away and pursued them quickly gaining ground. Percy swore and slammed on the brakes, as soon as they were stopped he jumped out of the vehicle and sprinted to the side. 'On the bright side, it's working.' Was the first thing that went threw Percy's head as the monster bore down on him. It was massive, easily the size of a large elephant and its head appeared to be similar to a horse though only very loosely. Three jagged horns protruded from its head like the tines of a trident and yellow foam dripped from its hanging jaws. The only thing that saved Percy was that while it was fast, much like the minotaur, it couldn't turn quickly. Its feet were wide and splayed like a crocodile or other lizard and not well suited to running. Dodging to his left Percy placed himself between the monster and the truck. Percy was feeling absolutely wired now like he had just slammed several cups of coffee made with Redbull instead of water.

"Apollo! Bring it down! I will distract it as best I can but I can't kill it. We don't know who sent it and I can't risk breaking the ancient laws!"

Percy charged at the monster and knew he had to keep it away from Apollo and Calypso without touching it.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH"

Apollo was screaming at the top of his lungs as soon as the truck started spinning. He felt like he was about to fly out of the bed at any second despite him clinging to the truck as best he could. When the truck corrected he popped his head up to look around and saw only cracking earth before hearing Percy's voice from inside the truck.

"HOLD ON!"

Apollo dropped back down and clung to the bed as best he could as a roar filled the air. Even from in the truck bed, Apollo recognized the creature that had attacked Alexander the Great and his army when they reached India.

"Are you freakin kidding me?! The Odontotyrannus?"

Apollo's skin crawled as he remembered the sight of the monster rending flesh and swallowing men whole. Apollo felt the truck decelerating and saw Percy fly out as soon as they stopped.

"Apollo! Bring it down! I will distract it as best I can but I can't kill it. We don't know who sent it and I can't risk breaking the ancient laws!"

Before Apollo could reply Percy charged the beast and started to draw its attention. Without delay, Apollo jumped up and knocked an arrow, sighted in, and fired in a single breath. Some of his godly skill seemed to be returning as well and the arrow flew true striking the creature just behind the left shoulder. On a smaller monster, the blow might have ended the fight entirely as it was the most direct shot at the heart, but not in this case. It roared in pain and only seemed to be enraged by the wound so Apollo began to pour arrow after arrow into the monster. No matter how many times he shot however it seemed not even to be slowing the Odontotyrannus. Apollo almost jumped out of the truck bed when he saw movement just to his left. It was Calypso looking frantic.

"Apollo can't you do something? Or at least..."

"How am I supposed to do anything? it's immune to fire and I can't even reliably summon my sun arrows. Even when I can..."

"I get it Apollo, but did you just say it's fireproof?"

"Yeah? I just remembered but... Damn, this isn't a random chance. We need to tell Percy."

"Percy can kill it. You need to tell him, Apollo."

"How he's..."

Apollo gestured wildly to Percy who was still managing to evade the creature successfully. Apollo fired another half dozen arrows aimed at the creature's eyes which to his frustration didn't land, then he turned back to Calypso only to see her running toward Percy.

"Son of a..."

Apollo knew he had to stay where he was and do his best to give the monster something else to focus on. Apollo took a deep breath, then another, feeling his heart rate drop as he focused on his power. As he did the arrow he held knocked on the string began to glow golden. Apollo knew the fire wouldn't hurt the creature but he hoped the power would help the arrow penetrate deeper. He drew the bow back to full draw and exhaled releasing the arrow and watching it slam into the monster's left eye just as Percy turned and saw Calypso. Apollo saw surprise and concern in Percy's face as he realized Calypso was moving in his direction but Apollo couldn't hear her talking if she was. As soon as his arrow struck the monster, it screamed in pain, and calling it a scream was an understatement Apollo thought. The world seemed to vibrate and he wanted to shove his fingers in his ears to protect them from the sheer volume of the noise.

Almost too late Apollo recognized that the creature was barreling toward him. He jumped out of the truck and began running as fast as he could, changing directions at random. The monster roared again and Apollo heard a loud 'huhh' in the distance that sounded like Percy. A wet cracking noise followed and that was followed in turn by another deafening scream. Apollo turned to see one of the monster's horns had been torn from its skull. Then Calypso was there pulling him away and yelling.

"Faster Apollo, we need to get clear. Percy said..."

Whatever Percy said Apollo never found out because he felt as though the ground had fallen from beneath his feet. Turning to look in front of him terror filled him as he looked down and saw yawning blackness beneath him and Calypso. They both tumbled into the darkness and Apollo knew no more.

"Son of a..."

Percy grunted with effort as he had to jump back to avoid being gored by the horned monster. He could see arrow after arrow piercing its hide but none of them seemed to be doing anything.

"Come on Apollo. You need to..."

With another grunt Percy jumped forward, rolling between the monster's front legs and sprinting away as fast as he could. As he did he saw Calypso running at him and he sped up even further, determined to reach her and get her back away from the monster.

"Percy! You can kill it!"

Even as she said it he saw Apollo loose an arrow that seemed to be glowing slightly, and the monster screamed in pain. It was a horrific sound that made Percy feel like someone was driving nails into his ears. He didn't hesitate he turned and spun his ring taking in the monster's position and current condition. As soon as Riptide's familiar weight settled into his hand he threw himself at the monster's legs trying to cut at the back of its knees to cripple it. His sword barely cut into the thick skin and he realized why Apollo's arrows had been so ineffective against the monster. Percy again remembered the minotaur, his first monster, and an idea came to him. He dodged its attempts to stomp on him and waited for it to try and rake him with its horns again. When it did he was ready, he caught the tip of one of the massive horns in one hand and it carried him skyward until he was now high above the ground. Letting go of the horn Percy gripped Riptide in both hands as he fell intending to drive the blade into the top of the monster's skull, but he misjudged the fall. The blade drove deep into the back of the monster's shoulder and stuck fast which turned out to be a blessing for Percy. He was able to cling to the monster's back only by holding onto the hilt of his sword when the monster began to thrash violently in an attempt to dislodge him.

Leaving Riptide in its shoulder, Percy lunged at the monster's head and again grabbed its horns but this time he braced himself against one of the other horns and began to pull with all his might. He felt a crack near the base of the horn and the monster tossed its head in pain still trying to shake him off, but Percy held on and heaved again, the horn tore free from the monster's skull and Percy felt hot blood spray his legs. The monster screamed in pain again, the same scream as when Apollo's arrow had blinded it in one eye. Percy summoned his godly strength and jumped off of the monster's head, propelling himself as far from the monster as he could. He landed heavily skidding for almost a dozen feet before he came to a stop in the dirt. When he did he braced his feet and heaved the horn like a javelin at the monster, it struck the monster in the chest, sinking at least a foot and a half into its flesh. The monster tripped, its chest plowing into the dirt which only served to drive the horn deeper until it came to a stop, its eyes burning with hate even as it began to dissolve into sand.

Percy was bent almost double as he tried to get his heart rate and breathing to calm down again when he realized that he couldn't see Apollo in the back of the truck. He spun and he felt like someone had just dumped ice on his head. The truck was still there but neither Apollo nor Calypso were visible, the only thing he could see out of the ordinary was a large fissure between the truck and the direction of the canyon. Extending his powers as far as he could he felt absolutely no sign of either of them, not even Apollo's weapons, or the shield he had created for Calypso. He sprinted to the edge of the fissure and found their footprints in the dust leading up to the edge, Apollo and Calypso were gone, where he didn't know but the monster had only been a distraction so that he would be separated from the other two. Percy clenched his fists and felt them beginning to shake as he fought to maintain control of his powers. After talking to Calypso he thought he understood what she meant about being able to feel his power, now that he was focusing on it he could feel the air around him growing heavy and pulsing with his power.

Percy fought it down and forced himself to contain both his power and his anger, losing control couldn't help him now, he needed to find his friends before it was too late.

AN: Sorry about the shorter chapter this week, this week has been a little crazy because I am going on vacation next week. Because of the vacation, there is going to be a gap before the next chapter as I won't be able to have as much dedicated writing time as I would like. Don't get me wrong I will still do my best to keep writing but I wanted to let you know that it won't be until June that you get a chapter after this most likely.