Oh gods, the death threats I got last night- BRILLIANT! And a lot of you asked about Ava and Mava and all that… if I'm honest… I'M GOING TO BE REALLY MEAN! (Well, meaner…)

Um, yes, very sorry for killing Max and all, BUT YOU WILL NEVER FIND ME!

And I show my friend all your death threats- he finds them funny too, but he's got to that point where he's rolling his eyes like 'whatever next, Toni?' Very good question indeed…

Anywho:

Iris Messaging the parents was the hardest thing Elsie had ever done. Before they noticed the IM, she saw her mother and her uncle quite happily lobbing a Rubix Cube from one side to the other, catching it and holding it for a second, twisting a section for the moment they held it. Annabeth and Leo were sat on the sofa, Leo smiling in amusement and Annabeth glowering at her husband's immaturity.

It all seemed so normal, so happy and just right. Homely.

Why did Elsie have to be the bearer of bad news?

Well, Alvie hadn't moved after curling up with his head on Max's shoulder. They checked on him every few minutes and the best they could work out was that he had cried himself to sleep. Alokia was pacing around, trembling and pale, tears falling unchecked. She hadn't spoken for fifteen minutes or so.

"Elsay!" Charlie pointed at the IM, beaming. Elsie saw he had the start of a Lego in his small hand and he was sitting with Sage and Phoenix, happily piecing together a castle or something, obviously Sage's plan. "Daddy, Elsay on shiny thing!"

"That's an IM, Charlie. Twins!" Leo called. Percy caught the Rubix cube and held it to his chest.

"Yeah?" Leo nodded at the IM. "Hi, Elsie." Percy beamed. Louisa moved over and stood in view, shoulder-to-shoulder with her brother. She frowned slightly, studying Elsie with that knowing look all mothers got when they knew something was up.

Annabeth had the same look, sitting up straighter, her glower fading into concern.

"What's happened?" Elsie drew a shaky breath and exhaled slowly, slowly and carefully describing their latest dilemma.

The happiness she had felt through the IM was sapped from the room. Every face had turned pale or disbelievingly. Percy started shaking his head, his lips moving: "No, no, no…" Louisa put a hand on his shoulder, her expression tight, yet blank. Leo was comforting Annabeth as best he could, but she pulled away from him, jumping to her feet. Tears tumbled down her cheeks.

"No, that's not right…" The protest in her tone was weak and crumbled when Elsie moved aside, showing the two brothers. "Alvie…"

"He's asleep." Elsie assured.

"Where Kia?" Charlie asked, frowning at the IM. Alokia stumbled into view at the sound of her name, stubbornly wiping at her eyes. "Kia!" Charlie loved his Kia to bits and he hated seeing her upset. Normally, whenever she was upset, it was the death of a fictional character, but this was a real person she was crying for and Charlie didn't know how to cheer her up.

Elsie looked at her uncle and saw that he had sunk to the floor, his head in his hands. Louisa was knelt next to him, talking to him quietly. Annabeth's protest shattered and she collapsed on the sofa, staring into space, tears falling freely.

"Do… do I call back later or something?" Elsie asked tentatively. Leo looked up then. His eyes were kindly and understanding, as warm as always, but sad.

"We'll call you."

"Tobias…"

"I'll tell him." Louisa said. Her tone was monotonous, yet strong and steady. She looked up, her hand closed around her brother's. "I'll ask Dad ta get Max. You lot carry on."

"Alvie…"

"Has to. Max risked himself 'n' you've gotta carry on."

"Alvie won't leave."

"I'll get it sorted." Louisa's tone carried finality. "Wake him up; give him ten minutes 'n' get goin'. Dad'll have Max by then."

"OK." Elsie nodded. "Talk to you later." Louisa nodded and Elsie passed her hand through the IM, cancelling the call.

She turned back to see Alokia was bravely and gently waking Alvie. He looked confused for a few seconds, staring at Alokia with bleary, red eyes.

The tears quickly returned when he turned and saw Max. He panicked when Max shimmered and vanished. The two sisters had to restrain him from running around and shouting for his brother and they were surprised at his strength. Elsie put it down to grief and desperation for his brother, managing to secure him in a headlock, striking the back of his knees and pinning him to the floor.

"Alvie, stop it! Poseidon's got him so we can take him home!" Elsie had to repeat this a few times before her words registered in his mind. He slowly stop fighting her, hiding his face in his hands. Elsie hesitated. Comforting people was not really her thing.

Thankfully, Alokia was there. She knelt and pulled Alvie into a hug, talking to him quietly and reassuringly. Elsie stood back awkwardly, rubbing at the back of her neck and staring at where Max had been.

Now it was too late, she realised how harsh she had been to him. Guilt struck her like a speeding lorry and she wished that she could somehow apologise to Max. Maybe Nico could summon his spirit for a short while and she could say sorry that way.

Oh, who was she kidding? Max was gone. Nico might not even be able to summon him and even then, Max probably wouldn't even listen to her.

Something glinted beneath the water, near Alvie's foot. Frowning, Elsie moved forward and peered closely at it. Whatever it was, it was golden and Elsie was in half a mind to stash it in her pocket and sell it on later. Charlie would be showered in chocolate cakes.

"Guys, what is that?" Alokia looked round; Alvie didn't move.

"Alvie? What is it?" Alvie looked round miserably, following Alokia's point. He frowned at it, as if it were more trouble than it was worth.

"Stupid." He eventually said.

Elsie stooped to pick it up, but a sharp jolt fired up her arm. She gave an uncharacteristic cry of pain, gaining a weird look from Alokia.

Alvie pulled away from his cousin and climbed out of the pool, sinking to his knees about five metres away and shivering. Alokia tried to pick the gold thing up too, but was shocked by it, just like Elsie had been.

"Uh, Alvie? I think you've got to get it." Alvie didn't turn around, wrapping his arms around himself and hunching his shoulders. Elsie sighed. Of course he wouldn't want it- it had cost Max. In comparison, (whatever it was), it was worthless and Alvie wanted nothing to do with it.

Drawing her sword, Elsie flipped the thing from the pool. It flew through the air and she saw a thin golden chain attached. It bounced on the floor once before skittering towards Alvie. He cringed away from it, a sob racking his frame. Elsie mumbled an apology, but it quickly faded into a curse when she saw the bubbly corrosion on her sword- where the medallion had touched it.

She scowled, making a mental note to ask her dad to check it over later. Her sword snapped back into her watch and she moved forward, placing her hand gently on Alvie's shoulder. He shook his head and pulled away.

"No…" He whimpered quietly.

"It's got to mean something, Alvie. Look." The medallion had a bronze and silver picture of the sun with a chariot being pulled by pegasi in the centre. "It might be Apollo's."

"I don't care."

"Alvie-"

"I don't care!" Elsie was drawn back by the sudden anger in his tone. Alvie never got angry.

"Elsie…" Alokia called quietly. "Leave him alone for a bit." Sighing irritably, Elsie stomped back to her sister's side. It was then that she noticed they were all perfectly dry, even though none of them had their father's/mother's natural water-proofing.

Alvie sensed that they were watching him, but he didn't care, glaring at the stupid medallion. He hated this quest more than anything now and he just wanted to go home.

No.

What he really wanted to do was rewind time. Get his brother back. Keep quiet about those stupid prophecies so that they never had to go on this stupid quest.

A sudden burst of anger had him snatching up the medallion and hurling it at the wall. He got even more annoyed when it didn't break. It didn't even dent or scratch.

"Alvie?" Elsie's voice had a tone to it Alvie barely registered, but he didn't care."

"Are-?" Alokia cut off. "What-? What was-?" Every question faltered. He was not OK. It was obvious what the matter was and it was really obvious as to why he threw the medallion.

An angry Alvie was alien to them though and they had no idea how to react.

I'm working on the medallion and whatever gifts or powers or whatever and blah blah blah.