Getting out of the mansion was harder than either had planned. They were able to leave the building undetected, nothing short of a miracle considering Castellan and a guest where in the house. However, leaving the compound was a much bigger challenge. Not only did the walls prevent people for getting into the area it also keep everyone in side. The only way out where they did not have scale over the wall was though the guard training area—located down the hill below the main house courtyard. It was so late at night that there was only a few guards outside; the rest either are out on patrol or sleep in the straw roofed barracks.

The watch down was placed between the barracks and the actual training area where the straw targets lined up. There were two barracks and one smaller building, possible for storage. The well sat in the center of an open area sounded by the buildings. From where they were hiding he could see only three guards. Two standing by the well and another up in the watch tower.

"We are going to have to run for it," Perseus whispered, crouching low between the smallest building and the well separating them from the main mansion.

"And get shot down?" Annabeth rolled her eyes. "You're such a seaweed brain for thinking that we will get past that watch tower and those men by the well."

He glared and frowned. "What do you suggest we do then?"

"I use this." She said pulling a thin wooden tube from off her belt.

Perseus stared at the stick like thing in her hand. "What is that?"

"Blow pip. It's silent and we can use these sleep darts on the guards." She explained while loading up the pip with darts. "It will take a minute for the poison to knock them out but when it does we will need to go before they wake or before someone finds their bodies."

"How long will they be asleep for?"

"It varies. Now hush. I got to concentrate." She said moving in to positon. Using the shadows of the buildings she peaked around the corner and aimed high at the watch tower. With expert aim, the dart stuck to the guard's neck. Taking out the two guards by the well was more challenging because they were facing each other talking. She had to be quick and take down the second guard before he alerted anyone else. Perseus watched in amazement as the three guards wordlessly fall to the ground.

"Let's go." Annabeth whispered putting the pip back where it was hanging on her belt. "Stay quiet, we don't know who else is around."

"How did you do that?" He asked falling into step right next to her. "I have never seen a weapon like that."

"Lower your voice," she reminded him. "I will explain more once we are safe."

Perseus was on high alert as they crossed the open area of the training grounds. His ears noticed every sound—their footsteps on the sand, the jingle of his weapons, and the birds chirping from the trees.

"Hey you there, halt!" Someone behind them called out. The two of them turned and saw on the other side of the area was a group of guards—possibly returning from their shift.

"Run!" Annabeth yelled picking up speed. Behind them the guards called out for them to stop and for others to help. Perseus heart speed up heard the familiar sound of the loading of a gun.

"Jump down and keep running," Annabeth instructed as they reached the end of the training area. Below them was a small farming area, one used specifically for the mansion. The jump wasn't that high, he has done worse so falling into a pile of leaves was easy. Annabeth was a few steps faster but he was easy to catch up to her.

"Stop them!" A deep voice echoed through the night. A line of guards took stance a way in front of them, blocking their way on the dirt path. Well they would had they not taken in consideration that Annabeth and Perseus has no issue running though the fields, effectively advoiding those blocking ahead. Once they did that, the guards up ahead left their stance and joined in the chase.

"We need to shake them off," Annabeth said looking back behind her for a moment. Not too far behind them was at least seven guards.

"Hold your breath," Perseus said grabbing one of his smoke bombs from off his belt.

Annabeth glanced at him frowning. "Hold my breath? What are you—" Perseus cut her throwing the bomb to the ground. A large plume cloud of think smoke surrounded everyone making it hard to breathe and see. Next to him Annabeth was caught up in a coughing fit, as was the men behind them. Expertly he reached out and grabbed Annabeth's arm to keep her moving. The smoke temporally blinds him, like it does for anyone, but he was able to hold his breath long enough to get them both out of the smoke.

"You—are—an—ass—Jackson!" Annabeth told him between coughs.

The smoke bomb worked for distracting the guards around them however those on the roof tops still looked down on them. Their saving grace was that the streets between the houses where narrow enough that the gunman can't aim down below at that them as they race past. Those still out on the streets this late at night pushed themselves against the building's walls to get out of their way. Taking a sharp turn Perseus tugged on Annabeth's arm pulling her along into a random ally way.

"You should have warned me you were going to do something that stupid!" Annabeth growled, her voice raspy from her coughing fit.

"I did." He told her, pulling her into a shed in located in a random backyard. It was a very tight space, leaving him just enough room to pull out a small piece of cloth and handed it to her. "Here whip your eyes with this."

"Thank you," she muttered, rubbing her face with the piece of cloth. She blinked her eyes a few times, testing to see

"Search everywhere! Every house, every bush! I want these invaders found!" A deep booming voice shouted. It sounded far enough away that Perseus knew they had a small window of opportunity to escape.

"We need get as far away from here as we can now." Annabeth whispered her grey eyes fixed on the closed wooden door, the only thing separating them from the guards.

"We should head for my ship." He said watching as she visibly was trying to think of a plan. In this close vicinity he could see her eyebrows frowned together slightly, her nose slightly crunched up as well, and her lips pressed thin.

"I need to get a few things out of my house first. I will meet you at the docks." She reached out to push open the door but his hand reached out and stopped her. She glared at his hand for a moment before her eyes meet his.

"I'm coming with you."

"What? It's safer if we split up."

Perseus shook his head, dropping her hand. "No. We stick together. You have information that I want and I got your map."

He can visibly see her get annoyed but she nodded anyways. They didn't have time to waste arguing. Annabeth slowly pushed open the old wooden door, checking the surroundings for guards. They could hear voices nearby but didn't see anyone. Together they slowly creeped their way across the town using the side allies between the building and though fenced areas as much as they could. Several times, they had to hind in bushes or unlocked sheds to hide from passing guard patrols.

Perseus sighed in relief when they finally stepped into Annabeth's house. Annabeth quickly ran to her chest and pulled out a knife and a holster, strapping it to her upper left leg. She also grabbed a small leather bag and went over to her deck putting other random objects and papers into it.

"Need anything else?" He asked when she headed to the door.

"No. Now let's go to your ship. I will explain all when we are out at sea." She said pushing past him.

"See these places here?" Annabeth asked pointing different locations that he didn't know on the stolen map. "These are Olympus Navy Forts. They are strong fornications that can and will destroy any ships that aren't under Olympus's control. Those forts are what Olympus use to control these islands. The Olympians quickly learned that if they control the waters they can control the trade between the islands. Effectively controlling the trade industry and able to impose harsh taxes. You pirates also helped with this happening. The cities welcomed the protection that the Olympian soldiers can offer against your kind by patrolling the cities and waters. Castellan is now calling for bigger and more dangerous ships to hunt down you pirates."

Annabeth pulled out one of letters from her bag. "According to this letter from Castellan to Di Angalo in the coming weeks at least a dozen frigates to Conttoyor." She pulled out a handful of folded notes. "The other forts will be also receiving reinforcements. Should this happen the water will be completely under their control. Which in turn will give complete control of the trade and cities."

"What does this have to do with you?" Perseus asked crossing his arms. He knew already that their, as in the pirates, actions have never gone unnoticed. Since they are clearly breaking many laws they have always been hunted down so they can either be arrested or killed. Killed on the battle field or in the prison cells. The reinforcements to patrol the waters where concerning but he knew that it will take more that to whip out the pirates.

Annabeth sighed her shoulders slumped as if she didn't like what she was about to say. "Because my cause needs your help."

Out of all the things she could have said he wasn't expecting that. "Your cause? What cause?"

"I am part of a secret group called The Nightingale. For longer than I have been alive we have worked in the shadows gathering information and eliminating those who are threats. All for the protection of the people in these islands and other places in the world. We work best with in the cities around the people. However, we need to expand out to sea. That is where we need you, the pirates, to help. My people don't have a strong Navy force. We have a few ships used to travel from port to port with basic protection on them. It would take years to build up ships strong enough to do what needs to be done. In order to stop these reinforcement and gain more control we need these Naval Forts destroyed. You pirates are the only ones with ships strong enough that aren't owned by Olympus."

He was quite for a while, staring down at the table covered in maps in thought. Picking up some of the letters Annabeth has gather he saw they were more than just orders, many even had the official seal of Olympus. They were inventory reports, battle reports, and lists of every ship in the area and where they are satiation at. Some even had tracks of a few pirate ships.

He has never heard of Nightingale and this was the only the second time he has meet Annabeth before. However she was clearly telling the truth, the letters where enough evidence to convince him of that. She must be desperate to come to pirates for help, he thought.

"You need to capture these forts not destroy." He said after a few moments. "If you destroy them they will just be rebuild. But if you take control the water ways will be yours."

Looking up from the papers his green eyes meet her grey ones. "As someone who grew up under that control of Olympus I understand just how tough their taxing can get. I have seen my fair share of what happens when families don't have the needed coins. I sympathized with you and the people being effect."

"The you owe it to the people of these islands." Annabeth pleaded as a way to persuade him more. "All the plundering ships, warehouses, and plantations your kind has done has a ripple effect. The money lost has to be replaced somewhere. If you truly know what that is like then you will help us bring this to a stop."

Perseus sighed and ran a hand though his hair. "I want to help you. I really do. However, you have to understand I cannot speak for all my kind. Every ship and every person sailing under the black flag has the freedom to choose what they do and whom they follow. I cannot ask my crew to do this without telling them what they are getting themselves into."

Annabeth held his gaze, her grey eyes staring into him full of determination. "Then talk to your crew and the other captains. They might sympathize more than you think."

"How can you be sure she is telling the truth?" Grover asked his eyes focused on Annabeth as she stood on the front of the ship. "She could be setting us in a trap."

Perseus clenched the large wooden wheel. "I was skeptical at first as well. However, there is too much evidence that supports what she is saying. Look I am not suggesting we imminently call ourselves allies with this Nightingale group. We should just take her offer in consideration."

"You want us to go capture a fully operational Olympus Naval Fort? That will get us killed! Halton had us avoid them at all possible for a reason. How can you ask that of your men after what we had gone through with the Galleon?"

Perseus sighed heavily and looked over at his Quartermaster. "Just as Halton did I will allow the men to choose. If they decide this isn't our battle to fight I will respect that."

Grover crossed his arms and sighed heavily. "You know your men are loyal. They will follow whatever you wish to do."

"I am unsure what I want to do." Perseus admitted. "That is why I am relying on the crew to choose. We will be in Havana in two days. They will need to come to a decision by then. Go gather the men from down below."

Grover nodded and a few minutes later all of his crew where gather on the deck.

"All right, listen up lads." Perseus called out sanding on the quarterdeck to stare down at his men. He could feel Annabeth's eyes boring into him from her place at the back of the crowed. "As some of you might have expected our battle against the Galleon six months ago has not gone unnoticed by Olympus's eyes. In the coming weeks and months Poseidon will be sending reinforcements as a way to oppose our actions. Now normally we can fend off any ships Olympus can throw at us—" some of the men cheered. Perseus silenced them with a raise of his hand. "However it has been suggested to me that we take a more stragistic approach. Eliminate the threat before they even arrive by capturing and take control over the Olympus's Naval Forts."

Just as he knew they would his crew shifted uneasy and muttered among themselves. They all have seen and heard of the power that those forts can do. It is not uncommon for inexperienced pirates to wonder too close to the forts and find their ship broken in half at the bottom of the sea.

"Captain are you suggesting that we are doing to be doing this?" Chris asked, taking a step forward. The rest of the men silenced, waiting to hear what their captain had to say.

"That is up to all of you." Perseus's eyes swept over the crowed. His eyes meeting each one of his men's as he continue to speak, "If it helps think about what this could mean for us pirates. If we capture, even just one of these forts, then we will have the ultimate control over these parts. However, you will have to judge if the risk is worth the reward. We will be arriving in Havana's ports in two days. You all will have to come to a unanimous decision by then."

He stepped down and head for his chambers, signaling the meeting was over. He could hear his men talking and their eyes following him. Once inside he opened a bottle of rum and took a long drink. The liquid burned his throat but it was a welcome pain.