Part Two: Chapter Three: Stories

=Nico=

The last thing I expected to be doing that night was having a nice dinner with my favorite navigator, the guy I loved and his two friends. The only one really eating was the boy he brought along, but I could tell that he was nervous. Percy just took a chair and studied the room, seeing what's changed, then when he finished looking at the room he turned his attention to Annabeth, then me. The girl he was with, Katie, eyed us both suspiciously while Jake stuffed his mouth. We were exchanging stories, well everyone but Percy. He remained mostly silent, listening.

Jake was from New York, where he had lived his entire life. He knew both Percy and Annabeth growing up. He worked at the Demigod forge there, or the Blacksmith. Whichever. Like so many of Percy's friends he had been saved by the sea prince. There had been a fire in the forge, as ironic as it sounds, and Percy had doused the flames, saving Jack from death or major burns.

Katie was from a small town on the east coast of America. She grew up there and was the assistant to the town healer and had met Percy two years ago when he washed ashore. She had nursed him back to health and he had spent the majority of the last year helping them. That's it, the end.

"Lost my memory," Annabeth was explaining when I tuned into the conversation. "I couldn't remember who I was but I quickly learned what I was. The people that had found me were slavers, they had sold me time and time again, then after a few days or weeks at a house they would kidnap me and put me back on the market. I had escaped several times, I was smarter than them but there were more of them, they were faster and stronger than me. My memory started to return around the time Piper found me. I remembered my name and a few things, who my mom was, where I was from, who my friends were. After Piper liberated me and the ship of slaves, she charm spoke my memories back."

"Naturally," Percy nodded, his eyes left Annabeth and turned towards me. They were stormy, as if he'd seen hell and survived. I couldn't stop wondering what had happened to him, as I told my story. Where we had ventured, what we faced. How I got my name out to the sea. Jake stopped eating while he listened, it was like he couldn't believe the story I was telling. I guess it did sound far fetched.

"What about you?" I asked Percy after my story ended. His eyes drifted to Katie.

"I don't know," he answered, sounding genuine. "I went under while fighting the Kraken, and woke up under the watchful eyes of Katie. After recovering I stayed inland, helping the small apothecary she ran."

"What made you leave?" Annabeth asked.

"A few nights ago we were raided." Katie answered. "My partner was kidnapped, Percy said that he could find and bring him back."

"But to do that I'd need a ship and a crew." Percy agreed. "Of course I can pay you if you want it," he continued. Going after another group of pirates isn't what you'd normally want to do, especially if their demigods."

"Demigods?" Annabeth questioned. "Who exactly took your friend?" There was silence, Kate's eyes met Percy's for a second before she looked away and he returned his attention to the room. Somethings happened between them.

"Luke Castellan." Percy answered her. "And his merry band of traitors." Annabeth was silent and his eyes returned to her, they seemed to have a silent conversation. One in which I couldn't read, it was unsettling. Katie noticed this too, she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest watching them. A frown played her lips, as if she had been used too Percy's antics but this was new to her.

"Everyone's up at the house, we recently acquired one for Silena and Beckendorf." Annabeth told him. "If you want to ask them you'll have to face them first."

"Wait," Jake spoke up. I turned my attention to him, and he shrunk back into his seat. "Charles Beckendorf?" He asked.

"Yes?" Annabeth pressed.

"I… just thought he was a legend." Jake murmured sheepishly. That confused me. What did Beckendorf do to make himself a legend? I shouldn't be surprised, I barely knew anything about my crew, just who they were and why they followed me. I didn't take the time to get to know them like I should've.

"He did have quite the name for himself among your siblings." Percy said thoughtfully, then shrugged. "Is Zoe still among everyone?" He asked curiously.

"She's been missing for a little over a year now." I answered, he nodded as if this were normal.

"I figured, she wouldn't want her secret to be exposed. Too many deceptive people among the crew." I frowned, what secret? He stood and stretched, Jake looking at him and setting down his fork. "Well if Clarisse and Thalia are going to kill me I better go and meet them for it." He said.

"Two years later and you're still the most insane man I've ever met." I commented, he smiled.

"Surely there's been worse then me." He shrugged.

"None that willingly walk into deaths hands as often as you." I responded, he considered this.

"I enjoy a little risk." He offered. "And besides it's all a big show for them." He pointed up, "might as well make it interesting." He smiled and I rolled my eyes. "Aphrodite quite enjoys our show." He noted, "nice necklace you got there, where'd you get it?" The smirk on his lips was playful and teasing.

"Oh, you know, the usual shopping trip into the Sea of Monsters." I shrugged. "They were having a sale, sacrifice a demigod get an Ancient Greek Artifact for half off. Your payment would be knocked down a boat." Percy nodded.

"I heard the clerk was a real ass."

"Well between the blind cyclops and the giant squid," I weighed my hands. "At least he didn't have carnivorous sheep." Percy laughed and I couldn't stop myself from smiling in return. Beside me Annabeth rolled her eyes, while Katie and Jake looked at us both confused.

So, the next chapter is coming with a bonus chapter. Who would you like to see? Thalia, Leo or Chris?