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I have AMAZING readers who review and/or favorite and/or follow!

Virtual Hugs To: Meepmeep123, veeee, The Avian-Olympian, Aquarius-Otter, and Complicated-Little-Jellie

Replies to reviews:

Meepmeep123: AW! Your's like made my day so much! As an aspiring author (I know I've said this 59374973 times) having someone engrossed and invested in your characters is so amazing! The fact that your attached to me characters...AH! Fantastic! :DDD (I literally used this earlier! LOVE IT!)

The Avian-Olympian: YAY! Glad your feeling better! Maybe my hugs have feeling qualities! And yeah, I'm kinda doing Zack kind of like Percy and Lena KIND of like Annabeth, except I'm kinda ramping up some qualities. For Zack, kindness and loyalty (though Percy kinda already had the max amount but you know what I mean) and stuff like that, while Lena, I'm ramping up Annabeth's independence and such. And thank you! I thought that tattoo would look coool. And think of how much fun you'd have explaining it? A PERFECT excuse to turn the conversation to Percy Jackson! :D And. omigod, I need to find that fanfic of 100 ways to kill Dylan! Made me crack up just hearing that there was one! And, I agree, Patterson would be dead if he had put max and Dylan together.

Aquarius-Otter: ha! I love that! Unfortunately, I'm making her powers weaker than Percy. But I bet Percy could do that! But Riordan either didn't think of that or thought it wouldn't be good for the 'children' who read this series. Please, his REAL fans, are like teens. ;) (No offense to you younger Jackson-Heads. It's just my experience that teens and such (meaning 13+) tend to get more fan-girl/boy like. Hey, if you wanna review and be like "I'm ELEVEN or however old and I LOVE EM!" Knock yourself out! :) I read it when I was in fourth grade, before the Last Olympian came out. I remember thinking when I was first reading the first book that 'My god this book is odd!' haha!) Sorry, off track. ADD moment! Anyhoo, but I agree, that would be bad-ass to the max! Probs make the giants war easier for Perce if he could learn that trick. :)

Complicated-Little-Jellie: You know, I don't understand your name, but I love it anyways. :) And well, the wait is over! Here ya go!

Thanks SO MUCH for reviewing! PLEASE REVIEW! IT MAKES MY LIFE 683492460298436983 TIMES BETTER!

Okay, random topic: Anyone seen How To Train Your Dragon? Watched with my friend the other night and I LOVED it! Became one of my fave movies along with Tangled, Muppets, Avengers, and Iron Man. (I'm so conflicted on the PJO movie! On one hand...EVERYTHING IS WRONG! ...On the other...It's Percy Jackson...kinda...) Anyway, seriously recommend it. It's so cute!

Well, there ya go peeps.

Music: Um...nothing...

Disclaimer: I'm not gonna say it. You all know it.

READ ON! :DDD

"What are you doing?" Zack demanded, sounding angry and confused at the same time.

"Shut up!" I snapped. My entire body was shaking, but I was fully aware that if he tried to move or attack, I could counter without any notice. It was my instinct.

"Lena!"

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice sounding feral and animalistic.

"Zack!" He shouted. "What is up with you, Lena?"

"That's not what I mean and you know it!" I lashed out, kicking him straight in the gut with my heel. Unprepared and startled he fell straight to the ground, his sword once again flying out of reach. I kneeled down and placed one knee on his stomach and held the long edge of my sword directly in front on top of his throat. Theres a chance that if he even tried to swallow, he may get cut.

"Don't move or make sudden movements. Speak when I ask a question, or you won't like the outcome." I said quietly and sternly.

"Lena, the hell are you-"

I pushed my knee into his stomach with more force and he grunted. "I warned you. Now WHO are you?"

"Zack!" He repeated.

"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!" I shouted, still aware the mortals had no idea that we were in the room. "Who's you parentage? Your GODLY parentage?" I dug my knee in just a little. He caught his breath but didn't grunt.

"Zeus!" He managed to shout.

I felt my entire body go numb. My eyes widened and my jaw opened just a bit. A thousand replies swam through my head, many were very descriptive with a dozen different swear words.

Yet, all that came out of my mouth was a feeble "I knew New York was a bad idea."

I stepped off of him, but to be cautious, I kicked his sword farther out of reach. I then turned and began running away.

"Lena!" I heard Zack shout, but I wasn't focused on him.

'I have to get out of New York, I have to get out quick,' I thought. 'Somewhere far, not California, too close to the Romans, though they aren't as pesky as Greeks.' I ran out of the gym and sprinted toward my locker, aware Zack was following, shouting my name. 'Where haven't I gone. Texas maybe, or Wisconsin. No one checks Wisconsin. I'll find some small no ones ever heard of.'

I arrived at my locker and I opened it with impatience. I gripped what was in here and threw my backpack on my back. Normally, I would have ditched the pack, but my mothers Yankees cap was in it.

I tunred to run away, and ran smack into Zack. He gripped my wrist, but, probably on accident, I was shocked. Literally SHOCKED.

I yanked my hand away. "Ow!"

"Sorry," he said swiftly. "Lena, where are you going."

"Anywhere but here," I told him. I tried to move past him but he grabbed me by the shoulders, it seemed more gentle, as if he was being extra cautious not to hurt me, even though I had kicked him in the gut, kneed him in the gut twice, and held my sword to his throat. I noticed he didn't appear to have his sword with him then.

"Lena, please, I don't get what's going on here." I heard the hurt in his voice, it felt as if I had taken the blow to the gut instead.

"No, you don't," I agreed. "Trust me, this isn't a mess you want yourself getting into." I pulled myself away and stormed past him. He didn't try to stop me, but he followed me.

"I think that's for me to decide."

"Please, Zack," I pleaded, unwilling to look him in the eye, "Trust me. I'd give anything to have had a say in whether or not I got in this mess. Please, just...just let me walk away." My throat was getting this tight sore feeling.

"Will I ever see you again?"

A burning in my eyes joined the fun. I closed them and, not trusting myself to speak, I shook my head.

"Then, Lena, I can't let you walk away, okay?" I kept walking, he kept following. "Lena." I didn't face him. "Lena, Lena look at me." I refused.

"Lena, look at me!"

That was the first time I heard him shout, much less shout from anger. I turned around, feeling the tears in my eyes.

I was Lena, I didn't cry.

So why was I now?

"Lena, please," he pleaded, sounding much softer, "Talk to me."

I shook my head. "I can't." my voice cracked.

"Yes, you can."

"No, I can't." I insisted.

"Can't or won't?"

I looked him dead in the eye. "Can't."

He frowned and studied my face. "Why?'

I looked away again. "Because."

"Why?"

"Because your father wants me dead!" I snapped.

My eyes widened. I hadn't meant to shout that, much less say it. Zack's eyes widened too as he took a step back.

"I don't understand," Zack whispered.

"Exactly." He gripped my wrist again and looked at me in the eyes, but I wouldn't meet those blue eyes. My mother would have met them with her gray eyes dead on, making the other back away in fear. But I was not my mother. My father would have trusted him. He would have told him everything. But I was not my father.

I was Lena. And I worked alone.

"Lena, please."

"Why am I so important to you?" I questioned suddenly. "I've known you for barely a week and yet..." I wasn't sure how to finish that question.

He paused. "Honestly?" I nodded. "Because you saw me, and hated me me instantly."

I frowned. "What?"

He chuckled. "I mean, even mortals kinda, I don't know, SENSE something about me and veer away. When I talk to them, they're always...over friendly. Demigods treat me like Zeus himself. But you, you treated me like everyone else."

"I treated you like dirt."

"Exactly!" He smiled wide. "No one has ever done that to me. Even before I was claimed, before I started switching schools, because they all knew I was rich so again, they were over friendly. After I was claimed, they more just avoided me. You, you avoid everyone and treat me just the same. Lena, ironically, I was drawn to that. And then I met you for real, and...and I got to know you-"

"You know nothing about me."

"No, I don't know much about you. But how many people in this world know you as well as I do, even if I don't know you well."

At first I was tempted to list my parents friends. But then I realized...they knew my parents, but they didn't really know me. I didn't respond, which was enough response for Zack.

"Who are you anyway? I mean, who's your god?"

"Athena." I said on impulse. When caught in a situation, I found it easiest to stick to the truth as much as possible, and I also learned saying 'Poseidon' raised too many red flags.

"Athena," he repeated. "So, why, does my father want you dead?"

"'Cuz he's a coward," I spat with menace. At first, I thought this would anger Zack, but instead he just smiled.

"I don't doubt that, but why, exactly, does he want you dead."

"It's complicated."

"Then un-complicate it," he insisted. "I know I'm not a wise daughter of Athena like your self but I'm sure I'll catch on."

I sighed. "I honestly don't even know the full story. All I know is that if YOU learn even the part I know, it'll be extremely dangerous for you."

"I'm a demigod! A son of Zeus! I know how to deal with danger!"

"No you don't!" I shouted, finally looking him in the eye. "You think you know danger? Ha!" I laughed bitterly. "You've been expelled from, what, nine schools? How many of them from monster attacks?"

"Seven." He said quietly, looking concerned for my sanity.

"HA!" My smile was wide and insane. "Zack, this is my tenth HIGH SCHOOL! In my entire life, I've been expelled from NINETEEN schools! SEVENTEEN of those were due to monster attacks. I've attended thirty-two other schools in my life."

I calmed down, but I was still shaking. "Every year, you attend a safe haven. Camp Half Blood. I've never known the meaning of safe, at least, not after I found out the truth. I was five, Zack. Five years old when my life went to Tartarus. You know what it's like to be attacked, yes. To have to fight for your life, yes. But true, real danger? You don't even know the definition. I killed my first monster at age seven. That, Zack, that is true danger." His eyes were wide. "And for a reason I can't understand, I don't want you to ever know the meaning of true danger."

He took a deep breath and took a step forward. He looked at my eyes while I looked at his shoes. "And for a reason I can't understand, I don't care."

I angrily wiped the tears falling down my cheeks. "I have to go."

"No."

"I'll stay in New York for a few days." I told him reluctantly. "But not longer. If you REALLY want to know, I'll tell you," I couldn't believe the words coming out of my mouth. "But you must think about it Zack. I mean, REALLY think about it ,and what you're getting yourself into. I'm staying at the motel on Calling St."

With that, he finally let me walk away.

And I finally allowed the tears to fall.

Five years, Nine months, and twelve days ago.

That was the last time I had cried.