I've been sulking and it's a flipping miracle I'm updating tonight. I'm not overly happy with this chapter, but I can probably blame that on why I'm on sulking.

Elmlea, I know you love the couples, but CALM DOWN! :D

"I think that cloak suits you. It's all mysterious and misleading." She ran the soft material through her fingers and then looked up at her newly reinstated boyfriend. He was prodding her phone, listening to the voicemails left by Strike. They all had the same underlying threat, each worded differently. He spoke serenely, his voice level and manipulative.

Alvie was momentarily distracted as she put his cloak about his shoulders and smoothed it down. "Very nice." She smiled. He held her gaze for a handful of moments and then looked back at her phone. "Can you get anything?"

"I'm trying." Crystal fell silent and let him focus.

It was quiet for ten minutes save the buzz of Strike's voice on the phone and the waves lapping up outside onto the beach.

The silence only broken when Percy run in, the door slamming against the wall in his hurry. He frowned briefly at Crystal and then looked at his son.

"Alvie, come on, up." Alvie stared at him. "I need to get you to the Big House. You too, Crystal." He moved forward and gently pulled Alvie to his feet.

"Why?" Crystal demanded, rising. Percy's eyes shifted to the door. Crystal darted past him and hurried down the steps of the Poseidon cabin.

The border of the camp, Thalia's tree, was visible from here, but there was an endless black smudge surrounding the Camp.

Crystal squinted and saw it was a long line of soldiers in black protective gear- bulletproof vests, greaves, shin pads and various other equipment. "Who are they?"

"Look, Big House first and then I'll explain." Percy promised, his hand on Alvie's shoulder. Crystal felt like arguing, but another voice cut across.

It was loud, very loud, and every demigod outside turned to face a figure in a red sash- a leader- as they spoke into a megaphone from the top of the hill.

"Camp Half-Blood," He called. Chills pinched Crystal's spine as she recognised Strike's voice. "You have somebody here who needs to come back with me." He paused. "You have an hour to turn Alvie Jackson over or we start killing you off, one-by-one, with each quarter of an hour that passes."

"They can't get in." Crystal squeaked, looking fearfully at Percy. "Right?"

"That's what I thought, but look." He pointed skyward. Crystal didn't understand at first, but then she saw what troubled Percy. The magical barrier protecting the camp rippled with dark purple energy every few seconds.

Alvie muttered something to himself, frowning at the sky. Another ripple, a lighter and more vibrant purple. The barrier was weakening.

The figure in the red sash- Strike- raised his megaphone again. "Your time starts now. Any sign of retaliation, the countdown stops and my men will advance and start killing every man, woman and child."

Alvie looked at his father.

"What do I do?"

"You stay here. Crystal, don't let him do anything stupid."

"Where are you going?"

"We need to sort this out." Percy sprinted off. Alvie watched him disappear into Cabin Six.

"What are you thinking?" Crystal demanded carefully, grabbing his wrist and turning him around to make him look at her.

"I can't sit here. People will die."

"There's a solution to everything. You are staying here and that's final." She tightened her grip on his wrist as he tried to pull away. "I mean it, Alvie. Don't fight me."

"I'm… I'm not going to give myself in."

"Then, what-?" He looked her in the eye, his gaze hardening. She recalled his words from earlier- I can drive people insane with my mind. He hadn't been lying.

Crystal sighed. "Be careful." She pleaded, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. "I just got you back." He nervously returned the hug, pulling his hood up when she moved back.

He left her on the doorstep to Cabin Three, steadily working his way up the hill. He heard shouts behind him, but ignored them, stopping this side of the barrier where Strike couldn't get him.

Another purple rippled creased the barrier, luminous. Alvie could sense the magic growing weaker, seeing the Golden Fleece's glow ebb away. He reached out to it, curling his fingers in the soft material. Sturdy warmth washed gently up his arm, steeling his nerves. Peleus growled at him, but made no motion to attack, more concerned about the men ringing the borders.

"You gave up sooner than I expected, Alvie." Strike smirked. Alvie looked at him, letting the Fleece fall. Strike was focused on him, not the magical item his parents so bravely retrieved. "No-one tried to stop you then? Coming up here only to die sooner or later."

"I didn't come up here to give up." Strike marvelled at him, squaring his shoulders angrily. Alvie met his gaze, feeling an icy sheet descend over him, his emotions and thoughts pulse away.

Strike took an involuntary step back at the menacing and sudden scarlet flare in his previous victim's eyes. The tables had been turned, he realised too later, and now he would suffer.

Alvie clenched his fists, his nails cutting into his palms. He focused more instead of giving in to the faintness tugging insistently at his mind. He would not give in with the Camp at Stake. Strike had a stronger mind than those Alvie had formerly turned a crimson glower on, but Alvie persisted.

He wasn't sure how much time passed, but Strike eventually paled and his eyes widened. He started trembling.

Alvie held his hands out to the sides, closing his eyes. Strike's screams were soon joined by the men either side of him.

It was like dominos, Tobias had told him later. Each man collapsed to his knees, screaming incoherently; reduced to pitiful, beyond petrified shells. All around Camp, their agonizing cries could be heard, enticing a slither of the fear they felt into everyone else.

A hand on his shoulder drew Alvie back. He turned; warmth and thoughts slamming the cold from him.

Percy and Annabeth stared at him, her in armour with her knife in her belt while he held Riptide.

The extent of what he had done caught up with him and he realised that he had another nosebleed, blood seeping over his lips and filling his mouth.

"Alvie, how'd you do that?" Annabeth asked quietly, grabbing his elbow kindly as he swayed unsteadily on the spot.

He opened his mouth to admit he didn't know, but all that came up was blood.

They both grabbed him as he blacked out, but it was nice to give in to that, a nice sleep. The only thing that annoyed him was a dull throbbing at the back of his mind.

Something was wrong.

No, I'm still not keen on this.

What'd you guys think? AND BE HONEST!