Sorry for no update yesterday. It just didn't happen.

Anyway, guys, I have a serious question to ask you. I've been planning something for a while now, but since it'll slow down the story a bit, I'm going to go to you guys.

I was going to put in a series of once-only, limited-edition, never-before-seen POVs from characters like Thalia, Coach Hedge, Mellie, Clarisse, one or both of the Stoll brothers, Octavian, Chiron, and maybe some others. But now, my problem is that it'll slow the development of the story. Right now, I need all of the remaining chapters before 100 to wrap this story up-and I'll probably still go over. So, my question is: Do you guys want the POVs? Or would you rather I skip them and focus on the POVs I already have?

I'm setting up a poll on my account for those of you that can vote-meaning those with accounts. For those that don't, please put your answer in your review. And if your answer is yes, please tell me which POVs you want, and maybe why, too. Because I probably won't be able to do all of them, and I want to know which ones are most wanted.

So, guys, PLEASE VOTE. I need to know the answer soon-if I do this, it'll probably be during the ninety chapters. And if I update pretty much every day, it won't be long before we're there.

Meow Mix (guest): I will. Don't worry...

sammi (guest): In case I forget on the actual day, HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY! By almost two weeks...

tammywammy9: Hmmm...where do my creative juices come from...you know, I honestly have no idea. My head? I just...like writing...Oh, and THANKS! I'm so glad you like it, and I hope to see more reviews from you in the future!

FrostyDiamonds77 (guest): A lot of people have been doing that...discovering and then totally binge-reading this fanfic. And while I feel bad that so many people are being deprived of sleep because of that, it also makes me super happy! ;)

BunnyBo: OMGs, you said I'm your favorite author! You have no idea how happy that makes me! I think I started hyperventilating when I saw your review, it made me so giddily, wonderfully, insanely happy!

Wild-at-Heart14: I'm glad my story is helping you through tough times-I hope they end soon. And good luck on the Iris Day thing-here's hoping you don't get in too much trouble! ;)

Blackberry Explosion: Okay, not going to respond to your freak out, because no doubt I'll end up giving you some hint that will completely spoil the story. Moving on...Don't worry, Octavian is going to get punched again. Most likely more than once, and by people you might not guess...

KingmakerN: Glad to see you got an account, and some Percabeth is coming up. Actually, lots of fluff, including Frazel, Jasper, and hopefully some Caleo along with the Percabeth.

DaughterOfTheTrident: I get your point, about the dependence thing, but hopefully my reasons will become clear...And you will discover what is wrong with Percy very soon. I've already written that chapter, so that means...sometime in the next five chapters? You should find out.

Cherriesawesome: No, no, I meant Camp Fish-Blood. You remember when Shrimpzilla attacked in MoA? Frank, Hazel, and Leo all visited that merhero training camp under the sea, and Leo called it Camp Fish-Blood. You can't say the actual name, so I figured that would work. But kudos to you for noticing that.

RMS Titanic (guest): You are welcome, it was my pleasure. I'm glad they're okay now. And you should read Staff of Serapis ASAP, it's pretty cool. My friend bought me the special edition Mark of Athena that has it in the back (she's the bestest friend ever) so I've read it, and it is totally worth it.

HoOisawesome (guest): Next group of Reyna/Nico chapters should reveal the third factor...here's a hint...Rachel plays a part in the revelation.

Aliana (guest): Thank you, very much, for noticing that. You are the only one, and now I get to explain myself! Okay, so Frank is Roman, yes. And Jason definitely is as well. But both of them have now spent several months with Greeks, and are used to hearing it both ways-so it makes sense that they would often think of the different aspects as the same people, and recognize the gods by either name, which plays a part in the reconciliation of the gods' different aspects. That was my thinking when I wrote that, and, no, all of my little details don't have as much thought put into them as that. I was just sort of musing about that one day when I was staring at my ceiling, and decided to write it in and see if anyone noticed, because most people don't notice when I put stuff like that in, and it's very disappointing. And also, thank you for realizing the difficulty of Frazel chapters. Because she is really young, although I'm starting to suspect that she might be 14-think about it, if Nico brought her out of the Underworld before December, in which she has her birthday, wouldn't she technically turn 14? But anyway, just thinking...well, not out loud. On paper. Whatever.

Piper (guest): Eh, normal is overrated anyway. Most of the people at my school think I'm completely insane-at least those that know me. Go big or go home, right?

Albert25Einstein: No, it is not a cover-up by Rick Riordan. I am a 15-year-old girl. A girl. I promise. I swear on the River Styx. Not Uncle Ricki-kapeesh? 'Kay. Oh, and thanks for doing the math-hey, that means Leo's either the same age as me or only a year older. Sweet.

alwaysreadbooks: Thank you, and yes, I've read the Son of Sobek. Pretty cool, huh?

AresWarMax152 (guest): I'm planning on updating soon, I promise. If not today, than tomorrow, hopefully. Or at least sometime this week.

Aurora (guest): Yeah, I've been told that about the fluff. And the whole Jason/Piper thing-that's mostly because I see them more like normal teen couples-or at least the ones closest to it. I'll work on it, though.

warisk8: I am definitely planning on writing my own book-bookssss, actually. I already have hundreds of ideas. I just need to figure out where to start, because it's so much harder when you're writing your own book from scratch. I think the hardest part is breathing life into your characters-making them like real people, not just words on a page.

Silverspy (guest): I know I haven't had a lot on Roseus and the trident; I'm really trying hard to work them in more. Roseus references are coming up soon, so don't worry about that, and I'll probably have Percy train with the trident or something.

Rajell Cellar (guest): Got it. And I don't have to go nuts, either-I'm as far from normal as you can get.

Enjoy the chapter, my lovelies!

Chapter LXXXI

Annabeth

Stupid Seaweed Brain. Annabeth thinks to herself angrily as he comes back to her mind for the thousandth time.

All evening, she's been trying not to think about his absence-along with Frank and Jason. But that's proven to be impossible-no matter how many times she forces her thoughts onto a different subject, she keeps drifting back to him.

And his absence. And the fact that he's on a dangerous quest without her.

And then she proceeds to worry endlessly about everything that could go wrong for him and Jason and Frank, all the while battling a horrible ache in her chest that's even worse than when he went missing, even though he's only been gone for a few hours and should be back soon.

She misses him. Without him here, she's missing a part of herself-because wherever he goes, her heart goes with him.

She sighs and tilts her head back to look at the stars. Her eyes immediately trace the familiar pattern of the Huntress-Zoe Nightshade.

Annabeth had only known Zoe for a few minutes before her death, but Percy had told her more since then. It was always obvious when he talked about her that he'd counted her as a friend.

Say hello to the stars for me. Bob's words come unbidden into her mind, and she quickly looks down, blinking back tears.

Keep it together. Annabeth tells herself, staring-determinedly dry-eyed-across the ethereal silvery gray clouds drifting by. Percy isn't here to keep the memories away, so I have to keep my mind off of them.

Percy's absence hits her again, hard, a wave of pain, longing, and love so powerful that her vision blurs and she sways a little on her feet. She grabs the railing to steady herself and tries to discreetly wipe away the tears welling in her eyes.

Being discreet is mostly just a precaution, though-Piper and Hazel are both at the other end of hte ship, talking and joking around while they try to organize all the different crates and boxes. Leo is standing at the controls, researching the safest/fastest route to Athens and programming it into the system for when the boys get back.

Either that, or he's playing Clash of Clans. With Leo you can never really say for sure.

Cold suddenly tingles on the back of Annabeth's neck-something's wrong. A shadow swoops by her over the clouds, confirming her foreboding.

She draws her sword and calls to the others. "Guys, something's wrong."

She backs slowly away from the railing, scanning the skies, and then turns to talk to the others-but they're not there. It's like they've vanished-Annabeth's still on the deck of the ship, but they aren't. And everything looks eerily misty and shadowy-not quite real.

Annabeth freezes, her drakon bone sword shimmering eerily in the pale moonlight.

"Piper?" She calls hesitantly. "Hazel? Leo?" Her voice echoes strangely-she's not in an enclosed space; sounds shouldn't echo.

No answer.

Everything seems muffled and murky, yet somehow open and clear at the same time. She feels like she's in a different dimension-in the same place, but in a different layer, or something-if that makes any sense. Which it doesn't.

She doesn't call out "Hello?" She's not that stupid-she's not going to be the victim in ninety percent of horror movies. Although it doesn't really matter anyway-she has the feeling that whatever is out there knows exactly who, what, and where she is.

A cold breeze that smells of blood, ash, and fear lifts the hair from the back of Annabeth's neck, and she whirls around, searching for the source of it. But there's nothing there.

Mad laughter suddenly sounds behind her, and she whirls again-but this time, there is something there. Or someone, more accurately.

A woman is crouched on the railing, baring sharpened teeth in a mad, feral grin. She has deathly pale skin like chalk, eyes and lips the dark crimson coor of blood, and long, wild raven hari. An enormous pair of feathered black wings rises behind her. Her clothes flicker from a torn, tatterd black toga to a claw-ripped black t-shirt over a black tank top with dark skinny jeans.

Not a woman. Annabeth corrects herself. A goddess.

"Who are you?" She asks, her voice once again echoing-a fact that really bothers her, as there's nothing for her voice to be echoing off of.

I am Eris. A feminine voice hisses from everywhere, without the woman opening her mouth.

"Goddess of strife and discord." Annabeth states, her tone slightly questioning.

Yes. Eris answers. Sister goddess to Ares, patroness of blood and battlefields.

Because those are things to be proud of. Annabeth thinks.

"What do you want?" Is all she says out loud.

Eris chuckles. Straight to the point. I think I like you, daughter of Athena.

Her wings snap open, and she soars skyward, momentarily disappearing-behind Annabeth.

The gods have sent me to test the Seven of the prophecy. The voice whispers.

Annabeth shivers-the voice is more like multiple voices talking at once, and it reminds her of the arai.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

I am the goddess of discord. Eris replies. I plant the seeds of mistrust and suspicion. I am the cause of every war, every fight, every feud between friends. So the gods have sent me-they believe I am the best suited to test your capabilities.

While a part of Annabeth is relieved to find out that Eris is on the gods' side-Gaea's minions are always much more open about where their loyalties lie-she in no way likes what Eris is telling her.

"What do you mean by 'test'?" She asks suspiciously.

Eris laughs. A little slow, aren't you, for a daughter of Athena? Or perhaps you just do not want to see it. She cocks her head to the side, studying Annabeth like a curious bird. Or perhaps I'm not being specific enough.

"Let's go with the last one." Annabeth suggests.

I am here to test the strength of your bonds, child. Eris says. To find out where your true loyalties lie-and how strong they are.

"If you're talking about our loyalties to the gods, I'd say they're pretty weak." Annabeth replies. "I'm pretty sure we'd all say the same thing-the gods can go screw themselves."

Dangerous? Yes. Stupid? Also yes. But Annabeth doesn't care. She's tired of the gods and their stupid ideas that they can mess with her life and expect her to be okay with it.

The sky rumbles ominously, but no lightning strike incinerates her or anything-so that's good. But it's probably just because she's essential to the success of the quest-she's one of the Seven. Also, her death would turn Percy against the gods indefinitely. Probably forever. And he isn't a good enemy to have.

Eris looks at her for a few seconds and then bursts out laughing-loud, boisterous laughter that makes her whole body shake and tears stream from her eyes. When she finally calms a little, she changes her position on the railing so she's sitting with her legs swinging free-like a little kid-and wipes the tears from her eyes. I do like you, Annabeth Chase. But no, I am not refering to your loyalties to the gods. I'm refering to your loyalties to each other. How strong are they? Are you truly a team, or are there frayed ends between you? Tense relations? Would any of you forsake one to save another?

She smiles happily. What fun this will be. I'm interested to learn more about you all.

"Why? Why do the gods have to mess with everything?" Annabeth demands. "We don't have time to be 'tested'; we have to get to Athens before August 1."

Oh, the gods know that. Eris replies dismissively, waving her hand. The test should really only take a few hours at most-if you do well.

Annabeth is liking this less and less. And she really doesn't like the way Eris says 'if you do well.'

"Do we have a choice?" She asks, her tone exasperated, desperate for a way out of it.

Actually...no. The gods are insisting on it. Eris answers.

"The gods insist on a lot of things." Annabeth mutters. "That doesn't mean they happen."

Eris inclines her head in recognition of Annabeth's statement. Good point, daughter of Athena. Unfortunately for you, they're enforcing this test no matter what you think. I believe their exact words were somewhere along the lines of 'We must know if the so-called saviors of Olympus are worthy to be saviors.' Or something like that. Rather stupid statement, really.

Annabeth nods. "Very stupid statement."

Although I'm not really complaining. Eris adds. I haven't been out of the Underworld in a long, long time.

"Wait...the Underworld?" Annabeth asks, confused.

Yes, yes. Eris replies. I've been stuck there for centuries-they don't allow me to leave, you know. Sort of similar to Persephone, although she still gets a vacation every year. The gods banished me there after the Trojan War-they didn't want anything like that to happen again.

"You-you caused the Trojan War?" Annabeth says weakly, her head spinning.

Yes-quite an accomplishment, isn't it? Eris muses. I wasn't invited to the wedding of the century, you see, a couple thousand years back, and when I showed up anyway, the gods scorned me, laughed, even-they've never accepted me. So, I through a golden apple to Aphrodite, Hera, and...Athena, was it? The Apple of Discord, labeled 'To the Fairest.' Their reaction was quite amusing.

She sighs happily in remembrance. Of course, their argument soon blossomed into an all-out feud, and it was their petty mistrust and jealousy that eventually led to the Trojan War.

"I think you should be testing the gods instead." Annabeth tells her. "It sounds like they need it."

Eris laughs again. It does, doesn't it? As I said before, though, they don't accept me. They would never consent to one of my tests.

"Then why'd they ask you to test us? If they wouldn't want it for themselves, why would they wish it upon their children?" Annabeth argues.

Well, Zeus is still a little miffed about that Jackson boy-your boyfriend, I believe. Eris tells her.

Annabeth feels a rush of anger-what is Zeus' problem? Can't he accept that he's wrong? And shouldn't he be used to being wrong by now anyway?

He has quite a twist in his toga-and no matter how many times the other gods tell him to untwist it, he refuses to listen. She snorts. Idiot. He's been wrong so many times, you'd think he'd be used to it by now.

Annabeth starts-that's almost exactly what she'd been thinking.

He was wrong about trapping me in the Underworld, for example-he believed it would prevent another war like the Trojan War. But my powers can't be contained like that-and I don't like being restrained. Eris' expression is hard, her eyes steely. My anger and despair at being imprisoned in the Underworld bled into the mortal world-and eventually caused the Civil War. Both between the Greeks and Romans and the mortals.

Annabeth sees something in the goddess' expression-almost like remorse. But then the steely fire is back. Zeus should have realized then that his ways were wrong. But he refuses to see it-rather like the mortals. I didn't intend for the Civil War to happen-I didn't intend for the Trojan War to happen, either, for that matter. The Apple of Discord was nothing more than revenge and a source of amusement at the time that it happened. And my strife seeped into the gods' relations-sowed mistrust and suspicion; jealousy and animosity. They let it affect them-I had nothing to do with that.

"It sounds more like they were the ones who cause the wars." Annabeth observes. "Not you."

Eris looks-sad, almost, despairing, but grateful-at Annabeth's words. Perhaps. She finally replies.

Back to the matter at hand, now. She starts, her voice brisk. I came here today to warn you-the test will not be easy. It won't be life-threatening, either-the gods won't risk that. It is meant to test your friendships, your loyalty to each other-you must stand together against Gaea, or fail.

Eris slides off of the railing and glides over to Annabeth. "I am the goddess of strife." She muses out loud.

Her voice startles Annabeth-she was expecting a rasp. But instead, her voice is rich, layered with different tones. Annabeth didn't know someone's voice could be beautiful-but that's the only word to describe Eris' voice.

Eris looks down at Annabeth-her eyes momentarily softening, warming, and changing from crimson to dark, stormy gray. Remarkably similar to Annabeth's own eyes-but darker.

"I like you, daughter of Athena." She says, and she talks as if savoring the words. "I like you, Annabeth Chase. You're a fighter, a warrior-and, being a goddess of war of sorts, I can appreciate that."

She leans closer and puts her lips next to Annabeth's ear. "You have power that you have not yet realized. Find your inner strengths-and perhaps you will yet succeed.

"Percy Jackson is doomed to die." She continues, oblivious to Annabeth's flinch. "You are the only one who can stop that from happening. He lives for you, and for those who have gained his loyalty. Live for him, and perhaps he will live."

Eris leans back and looks directly into Annabeth's eyes, causing her to see hundreds of different things-scornful laughter, blood and tears, remorse and despair. "My tests are meant to strengthen, not break." She tells her. "If your loyalties are already strong-if your glue withstands my challenge-then you will leave me with an unbreakable bond."

Eris steps back and spreads her feathered black wings wide. She solemnly inclines her head to Annabeth one last time. "Tread wisely, Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena." She finishes, with both her true voice and the other.

Then she flies straight up into the clouds and disappears in the darkness.

A stabbing pain behind Annabeth's eyes makes her double over and cry out-but it's gone within seconds, and when she straightens, the strange, misty quality of her surroundings has vanished, and Piper, Hazel, and Leo are all back exactly where they were, seemingly as if nothing happened.

A single, elegant black feather is lying on the deck in front of Annabeth-she bends down to pick it up, and then looks around, searching for any other sign.

She finds nothing. The goddess of strife has vanished into the night, leaving hardly a trace that she was ever here.

But there's another surprise-across the sky, not far off, are Percy, Frank, and Jason, returning from their quest.

See? I put more action into this chapter. Eris, and then the boys returning! Even if I technically only wrote one sentence about the boys. It still counts, 'kay?

I love you, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, try not to attract too much of Aphrodite's attention (it's dangerous), and don't forget Zoe Nightshade!