Hey everybody. I just want to say thanks so much for reading and reviewing on this story. It means the world to me, and I'm so glad you all like it.

Reviews:

ghostmistwho: Thanks a lot. I feel so bad making Luke creepy, but I need to.

Ghostunderasheet: I can't make Luke not-bad, at least for awhile. The plot of this story, which I have entirely worked out, depends on Luke working for Kronos. Don't worry though, because Luke's end of the deal won't be so crappy if Sirius has something to say about it. *wink*wink*

Timeywimeybadwolf: Here's more, I hope you like. Thanks so much. I have the entire story planned out, so not everything your suggesting will be there, but a few of those things are actually in my plan. Don't worry, Sirius is going to Hogwarts for the next two chapters, and it'll be quite the adventure for everyone.

There was a feast when Percy, Annabeth, and Grover came back successful. It didn't matter that it was still lunch time. Chiron said a feast was a feast no matter the time. Sirius didn't care either way. He had grabbed some food and left to wander the woods. Crowds had never appeased to Sirius. He would much rather just sit by himself or with a few close friends. James understood that about him. They would normally grab some food from the feasts and then go plan pranks in a deserted classroom together. More often than not, Remus and Peter would join them.

"Luke, where are we going?"

Sirius lifted his head to see Percy and Luke walking together into the woods. Sirius stood up near silently. It was a trick he had learned from his father. Hiding in the shadows made him quiet and invisible. It was about as good as James' invisibility cloak. Sirius silently followed Percy and Luke into the woods. He didn't trust Luke. Not after what Luke had said to him. Sirius knew he should have told someone, but he couldn't do that to his brother. No. He cared for Luke too much.

The two sat in silence for a while, but then Luke spoke, crumpling the can of coke he had been drinking from. "You miss being on a quest?" he asked.

"With monsters attacking me every three feet?" Percy asked, looking up at Luke. "Are you kidding?" Luke looked at Percy, but he was turned away from Sirius. "Yeah," Percy admitted. "I miss it. You?"

Sirius didn't know what Luke's face was like, but whatever his expression was, it was enough to startle Percy.

"I've lived at Half-Blood Hill year-round since I was fourteen," Luke said sullenly. "Ever since Thalia ... well, you know. I trained, and trained, and trained. I never got to be a normal teenager, out there in the real world. Then they threw me one quest, and when I came back, it was like, 'Okay, ride's over. Have a nice life.'"

Sirius shivered at the malice in Luke's voice. Just a week ago, Luke had been a doting big brother to all of his siblings. Now? Sirius had seen Luke snapping at some of the younger Hermes' kids. Luke had even snapped at Sirius earlier today. He wondered if it had to do with their disagreement the other day.

Luke kept talking, and Percy's face kept getting darker and darker. Sirius couldn't tell what he was thinking, but from what he was arguing, he didn't agree with Luke, much in the way Sirius had.

Sirius frowned when Luke snapped his fingers. He couldn't see what was happening, and Percy's voice had gone deathly quiet. Sirius couldn't hear either him or Luke. Slowly, Sirius crept forward. He could only watch as Percy pulled out his sword and swung it wildly in the air. Whatever he was swinging at, Sirius couldn't see it.

Luke was already running by the time Sirius noticed Percy was falling. He lunged forward and caught the younger boy, whose skin had turned gray.

"Pit scorpion," Percy mumbled, his head resting against Sirius' chest where it had landed when Sirius caught him. "Poison. Help." Percy's eyes closed.

"No, no," Sirius muttered desperately. He rose to his feet, pulling Percy with him. "Merde," he cursed. "You are not dying on me now, Jackson. Not after you just completed that quest."

Struggling with the extra weight, Sirius dragged Percy into the shadow of a nearby tree. His only thought was getting the boy to a child of Apollo.

Percy groaned as he woke up. Sirius immediately jumped to attention. He, Annabeth, and Grover had all taken turns watching over Percy.

"How're you feeling?" Sirius asked. He waved to a Lee Fletcher, the healer stationed in the infirmary at the moment. "Can you get Annabeth?" Sirius asked softly. Lee nodded and left the infirmary to find the aforementioned girl.

"Like I died," Percy informed Sirius grimly. "My mom?"

"Chiron says she's safe at your home," Sirius said quickly.

"Thanks," Percy mumbled.

The door swung open, and Annabeth and Lee reentered the room. Sirius said goodbye to Percy and left the infirmary. Annabeth deserved some alone time with Percy, and the Apollo kids didn't really like the son of the god of death being in their infirmary. Thanatos wasn't exactly the symbol of healing.

"Luke got away," Sirius said to his father.

The father and son were sitting together with their backs against a cave wall. Thanatos had a comforting arm around his son's shoulders.

"That happens sometimes, Sirius," Thanatos said. "You can't win every battle."

Sirius looked down at his lap where his hands were twisting together.

"What happens now?" he asked as he lent his head on his father's shoulders. He relished the comfort he had been denied his entire life.

"A war is brewing, Sirius," Thanatos sighed. "History repeats itself, and Kronos will rise again. When that happens, we must be ready to fight. For now, though, we will train and hope for the best."