All I seem to be doing in author's notes is apologizing for not updating. I am sorry, but I have a small idea. The only reason I'm not updating is because I don't want the story going too fast and I'm trying to work on the triplets' story as well, but I don't want that moving too fast either.

My gods, this is so confusing…

I don't know how many of you are on Facebook, but I found this thing and it is horrible- like, HORRIBLE:

Percy wasn't acting much like himself during many scenes in the House of Hades, two examples being the battle scene with the goddess of misery and leaving Bob in Tartarus. His personality kind of reminded me of Luke's right before he got possessed by Kronos, which brings me to the following statement- I believe Gaea is trying to possess Percy or is already possessing him. Percy legitimately went against his fatal flaw (loyalty) in HOH when he left Bob in Tartarus. Yes, he did feel bad about it afterwards, but regular Percy would have found a way to get everyone out. Also, in the scene with the goddess of misery, Percy acted out of character while controlling poisonous water. Where did the water come from? The flowers. Where did the flowers come from? The earth. Who is the goddess of the earth? Gaea. Which brings me to my next point. We all know that Sally and Paul haven't been mentioned much in the HoO series- I suspect they're being held captive at the actual Mount Olympus, where Gaea will likely finally fully possess Percy by using his fatal flaw against him. She will tell him that he can either watch his parents die or spill his blood on Mount Olympus in order to wake her, which he will obviously do because the two things he loves most in the world are Annabeth and his mom. After spilling his blood, Percy will become fully possessed by Gaea, who has obviously been trying to possess him the whole book, which explains why she was so quiet during HoH. So basically, Percy's blood will be 'spilled' on Mount Olympus (based on what Polybotes said in SoN) and Percy will be possessed by Gaea. This explains the title, Blood of Olympus.

I don't know who wrote this… but I will find them…

And yes, there is such a thing as 'gently crash land':

It was an uneventful afternoon back to Camp Half Blood. They had managed to gently crash land a short distance from Camp, much to Tobias's relief- he was hungry. The journey itself was tiring. Alvie was unconscious for most of it, Percy carrying him in a piggy back. The psychic woke up fifteen minutes from Camp and panicked, fighting and startling Percy only to collapse to the ground. It took a good ten or more minutes to restrain him, but it appeared he had failed to recognise any of them. Lucy-Jo offered to knock him out again, but Annabeth silenced her with a look- a talent very special people had, according to Joel.

"Gods dammit, Alvie, stay still." Alvie froze and looked his father square in the eye, his own eyes burning that sheer and venomous scarlet. Moments passed; Percy's shoulders slouched and his face went slack. Annabeth and Louisa pulled him back, breaking his locked gaze with Alvie.

Alvie's eyes returned to normal and Percy's features twisted. Alvie noticed nothing of his father's torment, staring blankly at a nearby oak tree. Annabeth talked to Percy in low tones, Ancient Greek, while holding his hand in both of hers.

Nobody met Alvie's eyes over the next half an hour. Percy had calmed down considerably, shakily getting to his feet. Tobias and Max were sharing quizzical looks, but Percy ignored them. Joel was humming to himself while Leo was tinkering nervously with scraps from his pockets. Lucy-Jo was picking throwing knives from her belt, cleaning them and returning them back to their orderly slots.

After making sure her husband was OK, Annabeth came up with the idea of blindfolding Alvie.

"Or we could just knock him out 'n' carry him back without a problem." Lucy-Jo replied.

"No."

"Just sayin' it'd be easier." The Assassin shrugged, turning around to talk to Joel.

Leo drew a strip of material from his tool belt and carefully secured it around Alvie's head, double checking that his eyes were covered. Percy picked Alvie up again in a fireman's lift and started off for Camp. Annabeth saw that he was treading carefully and wary of jostling Alvie. Whatever Alvie had done, Percy had seen them all dead. His friends, his family- all of them. Dead.

"Aaahhh, why is he wearing a blindfold?"

"He has magic glowing eyes that change colour and make people scream and fly planes." Tobias replied. Chiron blinked at him before turning to the boy's parents.

"Translation?" He requested. Annabeth explained, shooting a son a look that labelled him as impossible or a right nutcase- Tobias wasn't sure. It could be both.

"And then he woke up, but he started fighting us, like we were the danger. Percy managed to restrain him, but his eyes… they went red and…" Annabeth glanced at her husband. He was talking to Grover with Lilly in his arms and the boy triplets at his feet. "Fatal flaw." Annabeth settled with, looking her mentor in the eye. "Everyone." Chiron just nodded slowly in understanding.

"Has Alvie said anything?"

"No."

"I suggest someone remains with him at all times."

"Oh! Me!" Tobias volunteered, raising his hand enthusiastically.

"A rotary." Chiron continued, studying Tobias in amusement. "Remind him that he needn't be scared of any of you and remind him who, where and what his home is."

"Me first!" Tobias insisted.

"Take Sophia." Chiron advised. Tobias stared back, unimpressed. "You are as loyal as your father, but you're also eccentric and have refused to take your ADHD medication for four months." Tobias bit his lip and glanced anxiously at his mother, who was glaring at him.

"I may have miscounted?" He suggested, offering a sheepish smile. Annabeth rolled her eyes at him, shaking her head. "Oh, come on! Why is it so bad if I don't take mine? Max never does."

"I do too!"

"Children!" Annabeth cut across before they dissolved into bickering. She gestured at Alvie sharply and pointedly and her eldest two fell silent, hands behind their back and trying to look as innocent and as obedient as they could. Annabeth studied them warily for a short while before giving a content nod and turning back to the situation at hand.

Her husband caught her eye, giving a reassuring smile. He was better now. Annabeth thought it would be safe enough for him now, so she stepped forward and removed Alvie's blindfold.

He blinked and squinted in the sudden brightness.

"Alvie." Chiron called gently. "Alvie, my boy." He tried again after lacking a response. "How are you?" Alvie stared at him vacantly. Chiron waited a full minute before instructing them all to dinner, just as the conch horn sounded.

"Oh, thank gods…" Tobias sighed in relief.

"Tobias!" Annabeth protested.

"I'm hungry!" He retorted childishly. "Come on, Max. I want food."

Crystal was sat at the Hades table, feeling stupid and useless.

First quest and she had done bugger all.

Nico set his plate on the table and slid onto the bench opposite. He had just made his offering to the gods. Crystal had before him, having been here earlier, but she didn't offer it to anyone in particular. She just asked that Alvie would be alright, be himself once again and stay like that.

"OK, so, it wasn't a proper quest. But just because you're back doesn't mean it's over." She frowned up at him. Nico glanced around and then spoke in low tones. "Look, Alvie's in bad shape. Whatever happened has screwed with his mind a bit too much and that red eye thing- freaked Percy out." He poked at his meat and pulled a face. "I've got this feeling… you're going to help him somehow. I don't know how, but you will. But for now… we've got… Dark Alvie or whatever you want to call him."

"Alvie." Crystal insisted, gritting her teeth stubbornly. "I'm calling him Alvie. He's still there, he's just hurting."

"I wonder why."

"You don't have to be sarcastic!"

"It's a natural gift. Can't help it." She glared at him, her knuckles white as she clenched her dinner knife tightly. He held her gaze calmly, sipping from the goblet. He was so relaxed, so casual- this only annoyed Crystal further. She was on her feet in a second, lodging the knife in the table a mere hairsbreadth from his hand. He didn't even flinch, but she didn't linger long enough to see if he had any other reaction.

Nico watched her storm out, how harshly she shoved one of Ares' sons out of the way. Ares' brat shouted after her, but she didn't reply, stomping off somewhere.

Pulling the knife from the table, Nico noticed a shadow fall over him. He looked to his left and saw Percy take a seat next to him.

"What was that about?"

"She's sulking because her first quest was a flop, so I told her it wasn't necessarily over. She can still help Alvie- I don't know how, just a hunch that she can- but until then we've got to deal with Dark Alvie." Percy frowned. "Then she stabbed the table."

"You missed a bit." Percy replied instantly. "You always miss a bit."

"You know me too well." The son of Poseidon gave a grim smile. "That's not a good thing. It's quite worrying actually."

"What did you say to her?"

"She said he was hurting and I wondered why. Out loud. And she had a go at me for being sarcastic- I can't help it!" He defended.

"Surprise surprise."

"See. You do it too." Percy nudged him. "Oh, then she stabbed the table and left."

"Great father skills you've got there."

"Also can't help that."

"Mmm…" Percy hummed. Chiron cleared his throat from the main table. "Talk to you later." Percy returned to his table, Tobias instantly declaring him to a chicken leg sword fight. Nico watched the Jacksons and the Valdezs-minus-Leo joking about. Alvie was sat at the end of the table to Percy's left, but he was so motionless and quiet, Nico wouldn't have noticed him had it not been for the sunshine golden-white cloak he wore. Nico pondered where he had gotten that, but he was distracted again by the joyous laughter and jokes bubbling from the Poseidon table.

It must be nice to have a big family like that, the children close to each other and their parents. They always looked out for each other and no-one was left behind, even if they were a mental and social recluse.

He thought of Joy and Crystal and the unborn child, the son and found himself smiling.

Yes, it did seem rather nice, even with all the complications that were attached to family life.

Crystal cried out in frustration, sweeping everything from the surface of the chest of drawers. Madam squawked at her in annoyance, fluttering about her head.

"Go away!" Crystal ordered, swatting at the bird. She glanced around the Hades cabin, realising what a mess she had made, but also how it wasn't enough. She needed to hit things, to scream, to make something hurt as much as she was.

Nico had been no flipping help whatsoever. Of course he hadn't. It was in his heritage to enjoy other people's suffering and have the morbid sense of humour.

She tore the curtains from the rails with a swift, strong movement and a furious scream, tears cascading down her cheeks. Her father's pet crow batted about her head, but she whacked the pesky creature away, uncaring for it in her temper. The rails crumpled and the wall around the supports cracked, bits of plaster and paint scattering to the floor.

By the time Nico got back, she had run out of things to break, other than him.

Stupidly, in her anger, she ran at him, tried to hit him. He grabbed her wrists and spun her round, paralysing her effectively and easily in a single movement. She fought him, trying to get her arms free while he studied his cabin.

"Love what you've done with the place. Really screams toddler temper tantrum." He let her go when he noticed Madam hopping feebly about amongst the mattress. Crystal had torn the bedding from the beds as well.

Nico's sarcastic, light tone vanished instantly when he saw Madam's wonky wing. He glared at Crystal over his shoulder before gently lifting his beloved bird into his hands. She squawked pitifully at him, awkwardly moving her injured wing. He left without another word, the door closing firmly behind him.

Crystal hadn't meant to hurt Madam. She hadn't been thinking, just venting pent up anger, guilt and frustration.

Now, looking around at her mess and recalling the events of the past week, she felt all her anger leave her. She sank to her knees and cried.

She didn't know how long she cried. She only knew that it was uncontrollable and unpleasant.

At some point, she ran out of tears to cry, having reached that hiccupping and shaky breathing stage. She trembled all over, her legs barely supporting her as she got to her feet and faltered out.

She had to find Nico, find Madam, apologize to them.

She needed to find Alvie. She didn't know what to do or how to help him, but she wanted to see him, even if he wouldn't recognise her or if her presence triggered some form of strenuous psychic attack.

For the half an hour, she tripped about Camp, not talking to anyone and scanning every corner, every shadow, for the others. They had to be here somewhere!

When she saw Nico, he was leaving the Poseidon cabin, Madam nestled on his shoulder. He saw her seconds later, his eyes hardening and a frown settling in. She ran towards him, a barely audible strangled cry brushing past her lips.

Nico raised his hands slightly, ready to immobilize her should the need arise, but it didn't.

He must have gotten the second, third- no fourth biggest shock of his life when she hugged him. First and second were reuniting with Joy, finding out he had a daughter and then learning that his lost love was expecting another of his children some months later.

"Who are you and what have you done with Crystal?"

"I'm sorry." Crystal mumbled. "I didn't mean to hurt Madam, it was an accident, I swear."

"You still trashed the cabin. And I'm not clearing up after you." He patted her awkwardly on the back and managed to free himself. "You've been crying." He stated. Crystal dropped her gaze to her shoes. "What's going on with you? One minute, you're a cabin-trashing, bird-attacking, raving lunatic. Next minute, you're giving me a hug." Crystal gave a soft laugh, wiping at her eyes. "I'm not a hug person."

"Unless it's Mom."

"Joy's OK. She doesn't attack me every day. Just on special occasions."

"You don't sound very mad at me."

"Oh, I'm mad at you. You hurt my bird." Madam ruffled her feathers indignantly, her beady eyes glinting as if she were glaring at Crystal. "But I've talked to Percy and he's healed Madam up for me. Bird bones are a lot easier to fix than human bones, I'll give him that."

"Is Alvie with Percy?" Her eyes slid past him to the Poseidon cabin, but she saw Nico shaking his head.

"As far as I know, Alvie's with Max in the arena. Why? Going to attack him too? Or do you want to trash another place?"

"No, just you and your face." He cocked an eyebrow and she stared him out. An amused smile gave his lips a lopsided effect and his eyes shimmered cheekily.

"Leave Madam out of it then."

"Yeah." Crystal glanced at the crow. "Sorry, Madam. I'll get you cookies." Madam lifted her head interestedly at 'cookies', much to Crystal's relief.

Nico scratched the crow's chin and smiled.

"Sounds good, doesn't it?" Madam gave a soft burst of song and hopped excitedly about her owner's shoulder. "Yup, that's a deal." He grinned at Crystal. He looked past her and his grin faltered. "Chiron doesn't look happy." Crystal turned and saw Chiron slowing from a gallop with a grim expression. They stepped aside for him and he called for Percy, who arrived seconds later.

"Come quickly, Percy. Leave the others here."

"Nico, watch them." And they were gone, just like that.

"What?!" Nico shouted after his cousin. "No 'please'?!" He grumbled an Ancient Greek curse and looked at his daughter. "Go and be nosy. I'll keep an eye on this lot."

"OK." Crystal ran after the centaur and Poseidon's son as fast as she could, dread seeping through her. If Chiron himself had come to get Percy, then things had to be serious.

And they were.

As they neared the arena, they could hear yelling from inside. It wasn't a normal, pained yell. This one was beyond that, almost inhuman with terror and hopelessness. She made her way through the doors seconds after the two teachers, trying to catch her breath while taking in the scene.

One of her classmates, a legacy of Ares whose name escaped her, was curled up in the foetal position on the floor with his hands over his ears. He was the source of that ungodly yelling.

A few feet from him, Max was wrestling to restrain Alvie while fighting his own nightmarish vision. Alvie's eyes were bright crimson, the other kids in the arena shying away from the demonic look of them.

Percy darted towards his sons, pulling Max away from Alvie and then slinging that cloak over Alvie's head. The yelling gradually stopped and Clarisse's son was left a nervous wreck on the sandy floor.

Alvie fought against his cloak, his visual of his 'victim' broken. The boy was taken away by Chiron, shaking from head to foot and giving terrified whimpers, startling at every noise.

Alvie didn't outright attack people.

He attacked their minds.

Ta da!

Is this good? Does it make up for the no-updating-on-this-story-for-a-while thing?