Hey peoples! So I know I haven't updated in about three months which is pretty bad

So...I hope you like the new chapter! The climax of the story is coming soon. (In two chapters, maybe?)

I can't guarantee that I will update sooner. But! I will finish the story. You might just have to check in in half a year's time

Oh yeah! When Mt. Tam is mentioned, it might be Mt. Orthys :/

I'm not entirely sure.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 14: Twist of Instance

Felix POV

Looming, jagged objects flew by as I fled from the mountain. The mountain where Idylla was. I gasped for air as I half-stumbled, half-ran to the edge of a cliff. Willing some energy, I slowly scaled the cliff face.

Run! Byron's command echoed in my mind.

I leapt off the cliff. The earth jarred my feet as I landed. I took a quick intake of breath and started off running again. My chest throbbed from the exertion. Suddenly, my legs gave way. The rocks jarred against my knee, shooting pain up my leg. Resting my palms against the rocky earth, I took a moment to breathe. The scene of Idylla leaping at Garry flashed in front of me. I groaned and shut my eyes. I struggled to straighten my thoughts. What had Byron said? I struggled to remember. Something about leaving?

"Felix!" he shouted. "Get away from here! Send an Iris-message to camp, the other demigods, whatever!

"Iris-message," I muttered. "Send an iris-message."

I fished a prism out of my bag and angled it to the sunlight. Miraculously, my muddled thoughts managed to recollect long enough to remember how to send an Iris-message.

"Felix, what's wrong?" Percy said. His concerned face studied me. Did I really look that terrible?

"Um, uh, Byron…Idylla," I babbled senselessly.

"Whoa, Felix, calm down," Percy said. "Take a couple of deep breaths."

After I had some clear air circulating through my mind, I explained what had happened. Percy stroked his imaginary beard for a moment and then told me his shocking discovery.

"We just got away from Achlys. We were barely able to get away; we weren't able to destroy her. But, as we were away, some dolphins heard something interesting. Achlys was discussing some things with another wrath, Proteus. They said that they were going to gather all of the wraths and meet and Mt. Tam."

"Th-the mountain with Atlas?" I said.

"Yeah. The gods mentioned how the wraths might try recruiting some of the Titans and such. Whatever it is, I'm pretty sure it's gonna be important. Maybe you could try gathering some demigods to create a group to go after the wraths," Percy suggested.

"I'll do that," I said. For Byron, I thought. It was the least I could do.

After some discussion, it was settled that Percy's group would meet me. In the process of the fight, Achlys had destroyed their pithos, so it was useless to try and track her any further. Meeting all the wraths at Mt. Tam by themselves would be suicide.

"Until then," he said. Before cutting the connection he added, "Don't worry about Byron, Felix, I'm sure he'll be fine."

"Yeah," Grover piped up. "Byron's the son of Zeus!"

I smiled feebly. "Thanks."

Percy smiled reassuringly and cut the connection. I shut my eyes, feeling strangely at rest with the prospect of having something to do. My bag had enough drachmas to connect with the rest of the teams. Queena's team, Thalia, and Hector said they'd be able to meet. Everybody else was either helping the injured or injured. Only two wraths, Melanctha and Alecander, were destroyed. These monsters were stronger then any of us had expected. Winter's team still had yet to meet their wrath.

Winter POV

"We have to go," I insisted.

"But the Centaurides are so hospitable. I know it'd break their hearts if we left!" Josie argued.

"Their hospitality doesn't matter right now! The Centaurides don't matter!" I said harshly. "While we were here, we didn't do anything and all the rest of the teams have already faced their wraths."

"What?" Ash exclaimed. "We couldn't have been here that long."

"We were. We have to go now."

"But-" Josie started.

"Now!"

It was infuriating. I realized my team members had to heal from their injuries, but they were already far from healed. The Centaurides seemed like they hadn't had a guest in centuries and were constantly pampering Josie, Ash, and Neville. I refused their hospitality. I didn't have time to drop my guard when we still had a quest to complete. I decided that today we had to go. It was absolutely ridiculous we had stayed as long as we had. I supposed that my team members didn't want to hurt the Centaurides' feeling by leaving. However, right now it didn't matter and Felix's call reminded me of that.

"You have to leave? I'm sure you could-" the Centauride started.

"We have to go," I stated bluntly.

I lightly brushed past her and pushed open the door. Pausing, I waited for the rest to follow.

Josie whispered to the Centauride, "I wish we could've-"

"Josie!" I said. "Enough with the formalities. We are disrespecting the gods by taking our 'sweet time' with the quest they entrusted to me."

I felt reluctant human footsteps and satyr hoof steps shuffle forward.

The Centauride said, "Are you sure you-?"

"Yes," I said firmly without turning around. "Thank you for your hospitality."

I walked away from the hotel.

I could sense Proteus waiting for us. Why he hadn't met yet with the rest of the wraths at Mt. Tam like Felix said, I didn't know. What mattered now was I got my team to continue the quest. The first step was pulling away from the Centaurides.

"Winter totally hurt their feelings. We're being disrespectful to the gods? Winter could at least remember his manners," Ash muttered quietly.

"I can't believe him," Neville whispered.

I continued my pace. What I though wasn't the important issue. I sighed. Proteus was waiting.

Poseidon POV

"What is it?" I asked.

"That son of Hades!" Maria sobbed.

"Don't cry, dear Centauride," I said.

"We offered him and his team infinite generosity and kindness and he completely ignored our invitation."

"That's not too terrible."

"Not too terrible? He said that we didn't matter! I quote, 'The Centaurides don't matter!' How could he be so terribly insolent!"

"He's a bad guest, that's all it is," I said. I had to get back to a battle in the Gulf of Mexico. It was some sort of legion of serpents…

"Lord! When he left, he said that you made him leave. Is that true, lord?"

I snapped back into attention. "He said it was of my command that he had to leave?" My voice rose.

"He implied it, Lord," she said quietly.

"The insolent son of Hades," I seethed. "HADES!"

My voice thundered through the halls. A light wisp of shadows slowly materialized into my brother.

"What?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

"Your son blamed his insolence on me!" I shouted.

"You're just overreacting. You always had a short temper."

"This is your son! Aren't you going to apologize for his insolence!" I demanded.

"Uh, no? If Winter did something, that is his issue. Besides, he's on an important quest. Whatever he did, it's probably because he stressed." Hades yawned.

I fumed. Ever since Hades was allowed on Mount Olympia, he'd been getting more and more arrogant. And now, his son had directly insulted me and he wasn't going to do anything!

I said, "If you aren't going to do anything about your insolent…"

"Why do you keep using the word 'insolence'? Your new favorite word?" Hades said.

"That doesn't matter! If you aren't going to do anything about your son, I'll present his punishment on my own."

Hades eyes flickered with uncertainty. My flame of fury still burned brightly.

"What punishment?" he demanded.

"Well, I always wanted to bring back Perseus' greatest achievement, the slain sea monster."*

"The sea monster!" Hades exclaimed. "You can't summon another one! Perseus only managed to defeat it because of Medusa's head!"

"Ah, well, your son is so high and mighty. I'm sure he'll find another head to defeat this one!" I shouted angrily. How dare that lowly demigod insult me!

"Never mind about what I said earlier," Hades pleaded. "I apologize for my son's…insolence. I'll talk to him; reprimand him on respecting the great Sea God. Whatever you want!"

"What I want," I said slowly, "is for Winter to know the power of the 'great Sea God'."

Hades stood uncertainly. His eyes were filled fear and indecision. He bowed his head and shakily moved down. What was he doing? Painfully, he went on his knees.

"Please, brother," he said quietly. "Not Winter."

For a moment, I was stumped. This wasn't at all like Hades. I pressed my lips together. I regained my composure and laughed.

"The great Hades is bowing to me?" I taunted. "One of the Big Three isn't supposed act like this."

Hades looked up and glowered. "I do not do this willingly, brother."

"Whatever," I said. All I could think of was my wounded pride. Did that Winter child think that he could insult me and just get away with it? "I am summoning a sea monster for Winter to battle and you can't do anything about it."

"Immature child," Hades muttered.

"What!"

"I said, 'Invincible man,'" Hades said, standing up. "Since you won't back down summoning this monster, I'll make a deal with you, you stubborn man."

"What is it?" I said curiously. His attitude had changed dramatically.

"If Winter ever owes servitude to the gods, you can decide it if he loses against your monster. If he wins, I'll choose his terms of servitude, and you'll make sure the rest of the gods, especially Zeus, agrees," Hades said firmly.

"Why would Winter owe servitude to the gods?" I asked.

"You don't need to know. Will you agree to my terms?" Hades said.

"Sure, fine, but-"

"Swear on the Styx!"

I was taken back.

"Or are you too scared, brother?" Hades taunted. "You don't trust your monster?"

I was infuriated. "Fine! I swear to your terms by the River Styx."

Hades waved his hand and he began to turn into obsidian shadows. Wispy wolves and crows were shaped and dissipated.

"Wait! Why would your son owe servitude? You aren't telling me something!" I said.

"You're darn right I'm not," Hades said. He faded into nothingness.

I sat there baffled. Then, I curled my hand into my fist.

Josie POV

I followed Winter. I felt bad that I had hurt the Centaurides' feelings but I suppose Winter was right. We still had yet to fight Proteus. It was reasonable that we had to go. But still, Winter could've been a bit more polite. All I could see of him right now was the back of his head, his messy black hair that looked a little azure in the bright sunlight. He seemed even more solemn then before. I pursued my lips. Neville, Ash and me hadn't done much but avoid Winter and his silence. Maybe that wasn't the right thing to do.

I shuffled sideways to avoid a jagged rock. On the seashore there were a couple of them. Suddenly, my head felt a bit dizzy. Holding my head, I glanced sideways at the sea. The water seemed to be churning more violently then before.

*Poseidon is talking about the ancient Perseus, the Perseus of Greek legend, not Percy Jackson. Just to clear up some confusion x)

Yes! An epic battle between Winter and Poseidon's sea monster will commence in the next chapter. When? I cannot guarantee.

Hopefully, you enjoyed the chapter! Hope you stick till the end x)