Annabeth

As we headed out the door, I groaned. Little Kay or Benna was NOT making this easy and my stomach throbbed in pain. I eat a bit of ambrosia and urge Percy to continue.

We get into our car, and in a few minutes we were back home. I look at the clock, "Percy, 5 minutes, HURRY!"

Piper's eyes became half unglazed and everyone else's face gained color again. I panicked. I started setting up the house. Percy put the Styx Ivory sword in our SAFE room, which was full or armor and weapons. 10 seconds. Me and Percy started talking and pretending nothing happened just as everyone unfroze.

"Yummy!" we heard Ladea squeal.

We came in the kitchen and smile. Percy pulls of a serious face and says, "Things have been arranged." Before bringing back the mood by opening the TV and cutting the cake.

"I think you should name it Ameena or Liam," Piper said.

"Fenitie or Zach," Jason bites a chunk of cake.

"Fiona!" Ladea joins the fun, but looks confused at what we're doing. '

Nerita eats slowly, her eyes concentrating on her cake. The frosting sizzles and weakens and turns dry and brown. I gasp, but quickly cover it by pointing to my stomach.

Ladea cocks her head and glances at the piece of cake. She sighs and swirls her finger over her remains, creating the Eiffel Tower, then shoving it back in her mouth.

When the party is done and everyone has left, I start cleaning up and Percy helps Ladea get ready for her shower. I may be hallucinating, but I saw a grey mist in the distance and the house creaks faintly. I stiffen, but continue when I hear Percy's voice trying to get Ladea in the bathtub.

Finally, when I'm done and everyone else has showered, I go in myself. Again I see the grey mist and it feels disastrous, a burning chill on my back. Then, it goes away and the steam of the water warms my spine. When I finish, I get into bed with Percy and grab his shoulder, "I think something is here. Chills. Monster."

"When it comes we'll deal with it," he nods off, but I had felt him tense.

I sigh, not daring to protest, and lean into him, trying to get some sleep.

Percy

Annabeth's head touches my back and I feel her doze off. I felt the mist too. It was dark and dangerous, but I needed to sleep to defeat Harintok. I go to the SAFE and place my best armor, the Styx Ivory sword, and Riptide in my "get ready" area and head back to sleep.

A cold chill is washed over me as Annabeth removes her head, and I have a dream. Aphrodite stands there, her hair lacy and falling over her shoulders. Her eyes are piercing blue and her cheekbones show proudly. She wears a strapless white dress and heels. She is flawless and, well, perfect in the area of beauty. But, in my eyes, Annabeth is more beautiful. More real. Her gaze hardens on me.

"Percy," she grins. "How is it with Annabeth?"

I feel myself blushing as I stutter out, "Good."

She touches my forehead and everything I love and care about comes to mind. Annabeth, my mom, Paul (hardly of this since I'm probably one of the few demigods who doesn't hate their step parents), Ladea, my dad, and my closest friends.

As I snap out of it, Aphrodite looks at me pitifully, "You will lose this if you do not defeat Harintok."

I stiffen, and Aphrodite waves her hand, sending my off to a place with tapestries and owls and a LOT of books.

*Thanks for support and reviews! I really hope you liked this chapter, and I am starting Chapter 10 soon. Please review, favorite, follow . . . Thanks a ton! :D*