Now that the impending doom of war was past, Percy felt his body finally relax. Once he was washed, fed, and got some proper rest, he felt ready to go back to training. His ribs still ached, but he could manage the pain. He ended up crashing in Tyson's bunk, as he still didn't have one. For some reason, Tyson's bunk was never cleared away. By that evening, however, his bunk had retuned along with all of his things.

Athens still had to play host to Zeus the remainder of the week. Tensions were high, but not as bad as it had been. Zeus's soldiers were busy repairing the damage done to the townspeople. Percy did his best to stay out of the way and return to his previous position as private and therefore insignificant, just as he preferred. Percy resumed his duties of doing chores for Castellan, but he rarely saw him. When he did, it was short and there was no conversation. He would just look and Percy and walk away as if he were upset with him. Percy didn't understand it. He looked forward to his nightly visit to the arena to practice his swordsmanship. Princess Annabeth never showed up, but he supposed it had to do with the fact she was still entertaining the dangerous guests up in the palace.

When Zeus finally left Athens, it was with a great sigh of relief. Percy expected to find Annabeth in the arena that night, but it remained empty as usual. He picked out his sword and chose his dummy to work on. A little while later, Percy saw movement out of the corner of his eye. When he turned to confront the presence, it wasn't a head of curly blond hair that greeted him. It was a man.

"Lieutenant Castellan." Percy came to attention smartly.

Castellan didn't answer. He approached Percy and began circling him like a predator circles a prey. "So this is what you do with your free time." It wasn't a question.

"Yes, sir." Percy answered automatically. Percy was worried that he was in trouble now.

"You kept your word. You are a hard worker. You've been the best squire I've ever had."

"Thank you, sir."

"I thought I'd seen the last of you when Zeus sent you to find his lightning rod, but the way you tracked down those thieves and brought them back. Amazing. Very clever."

"Thank you, sir."

"You're a fighter, alright. I can see you becoming a great warrior one day."

"Thank you, sir."

"Athena doesn't deserve a warrior like you. Not even all of Olympus does. What have they ever done for you?"

"Sir?"

"The Kings and Queens of Olympus are greedy and selfish, they are hurting so many people and they don't care what happens to them. Their reign is at an end. It is time for someone else to rule Olympus."

"Who?"

Castellan's eyes glinted wickedly in the firelight. "Someone better. Someone who deserves to rule. Will you join us?"

All while Lieutenant Castellan was talking an idea was forming in his mind. "You were the one the thieves were waiting for."

"See what I mean, clever."

"You were trying to start the war between Olympus and Athens. But that's only two cities."

"Oh, don't worry. I have the rest ready to join the fight. As we speak, Hade's crown is moving toward Olympus. He'll be furious." Castellan said all this with great excitement.

"Once the countries are at war . . ."

"Our armies will sweep in and wipe out the rest." He said with glee. "I think I'll ask for Athens. It's nice here. Maybe if Princess Annabeth survives, I'll take her as queen."

Percy felt sick. "It won't be the Kings and Queens that will suffer the most; It'll be the people, the soldiers, the innocent."

"A casualty of war."

"Too high of a casualty."

Castellan sighed as though he were disappointed. "Then I have no choice but to kill you. It's a shame, I really liked you, kid." He drew his sword.

Percy raised the sword in his hand. Castellan advanced expertly. Percy knew he didn't stand a chance, but he also knew that he couldn't let him get away. "I looked up to you. I trusted you." Percy spat.

"You can't trust anyone, Jackson. A hard lesson to learn."

Their swords clanged against one another. "Come on, Jackson, remember your parry's." Percy scrambled to keep up with Castellan. He was deadly quick and Percy struggled to keep up. Percy felt his hand cramping from the ill fitted sword slamming against Castellan's strong sword. Percy charged at him, but Castellan deftly moved out of the way and Percy felt Castellan's sword slash across his back. As much as it hurt, Percy refused to give him the satisfaction of yelling out. He turned to face him again. "Make sure to watch your back." Castellan acted as though he were giving a lesson. Percy squared his shoulders and placed both hands on the sword. Castellan raised an eyebrow. Percy charged again, barely keeping up with Castellan's blows. "That's better. Eye's on the opponent, look for tell-tell signs. Watch your posture." Castellan sword suddenly dipped down and before Percy could react Castellan's sword sliced open his thigh. Percy tried to push past the pain, but his leg refused to move like it did. "Make sure you protect your legs, because once you are immobilized, your dead." Castellan moved so quickly Percy barely caught the first swing, but he couldn't catch the second as Castellan's sword slid right into Percy's midsection. He stared at the sword sticking out of him in shock and then back at Castellan. "So much to learn." He said as though disappointed. Percy swung at him again, but all it did was cause him to fall over. Castellans sword slid smoothly out.

"Well, I had better get going." he wiped the blood off his sword on Percy's chest. "Since you ruined all my months and months of planning and preparation to start a war between Athens and Olympus, I am going to have to improvise. You want to know a secret. You'll have to take it to your grave." He chuckled at his inside joke. "I am going to kill the queen with this." He pulled out a long dagger that had an ornate hilt. "It belongs to Zeus's royal guard. Once everyone finds it in the Queen of Athens's heart, it should jump start things up again. She's called me in for a private meeting. I think it's about you. Probably wants to give you a medal." With that he got up and strode out of the arena.

Percy tried to get up. But his body would only scream in pain. He began to feel cold. He vaguely wondered if this was how his mother felt when she was stabbed. Would she be waiting for him, or would there be nothing. Percy was disturbed out of his thoughts when he heard someone enter the arena. He struggled to lift his head and saw Princess Annabeth's curly blond hair haloed around her head in the firelight.

"Annabeth." His voice came out a rasp and he felt blood in his mouth.

"Typical. He becomes a hero and stops training." Her voice echoed across the arena. She hadn't heard or seen him.

He spat out the blood and tried again. "Annabeth." His voice came out a bit stronger but pain shot through him as he said it and he groaned from the effort.

"Seaweed Brain?" came the reply. Relief flooded Percy. He saw her face hover over his. "Oh my gods! What happened?" Percy wanted to tell her everything he learned from Castellan, but he was so tired. "Don't move. I need to get a doctor."

He had just enough energy to grab her arm. "No!" Every breath took so much energy. "The queen. He's going to kill the queen."

Annabeth's eyes widened. "You're going to be okay, seaweed brain." He heard cloth tearing. She grabbed his hand and put it over his wound which now had a wad of cloth over it. "Hold onto this. Don't you dare die, Percy Jackson. I'm going to get help." With that she was gone.

Percy stared up into the star filled night. His thoughts wandered to his mother again. He thought he could smell her candy shop. The delectable smell of sugar, chocolate, and other sweet things to eat filled his senses. He vaguely heard bells ringing in the distance. He thought he saw Chiron's face looking over him. He heard voices shouting as though they were in the distance, or were they around him, and he thought he was floating. Then he closed his eyes and embraced the darkness.