WARNING: I have edited the previous chapters for little mistakes made by me, so go check those out if you want. It would probably help if you did...

Annabeth decided she hated dreams. After entering the capital of Memer, she noticed a change in atmosphere. Unlike the guards outside, the people inside the walls were joyful. Not to mention the magic in the air. She had felt magic before- Percy was a powerful water elf- but she had never experienced anything like the air thrumming with the powers of hundreds of people.

She spotted a middle-aged woman closing up her shop for the day, an animated broom sweeping up her shop. Over on her left was a butcher, cleaning pig meat while another knife was somehow sharpening itself. Some children ran around the road, one in particular using teleportation magic to play tag with the other kids.

She noticed how Jason had stiffened at the sight of so much public magic, but he also seemed curious, invigorated. However, Frank kept sending glances at the prince, daring him to attack someone. Percy had a bounce to his step, excited to be back in Ritlad. Annabeth herself was also excited to be back in the town where she had met her boyfriend. However, she also noticed the glares that were being shot her way.

She knew why. Back then, she had been a different person. When she met Percy, she had found someone who looked past the wall she had built up, someone who could see how scared she was. Who wouldn't have been scared? She was only sixteen at the time, and that seemed like a lifetime ago. But it wasn't- it was a year ago.

She looked back at Leo and Piper, who were walking in front of her, side by side. It was weird, though, that they wouldn't meet each other's eyes. Something was going on there. Leo himself seemed like quite the character. With his impish features, he seemed like someone who had magic, and with what Hazel said, he did. She would figure that out later, right now, she had to find Sally Jackson.

Sally was a middle-aged, beautiful woman, who had fallen in love with a water spirit, Poseidon, some years ago. However, Poseidon had been hunted down by one of the many conflicts between Ritlad and Cardin, fled. The Jackson's had not heard from him in many years.

Percy knocked on the door of the stone building, which was currently used as a hotel. His mother ran the place, which was good news for the travelers since they had no place to stay. The door opened revealing a brown haired woman wearing a dark blue gown.

She smiled. "Percy," she breathed, bringing the boy in for a hug. She pulled back, seeing the rest of the group. "You should come in. Especially you." She pointed at Jason. "You have the family crest of Cardin on your armor. I'm surprised you haven't started a riot yet."

They came inside, immediately smelling a large pot of stew that was cooking. The kitchen was off to their left, living space to the right. Which meant, up the stairs, were the bedrooms.

"Come on, let's get you nine fed."

A few minutes later, the group sat around a round table that had several candles burning in the middle to keep the room lit. Annabeth sat next to Percy, Hazel and Frank to her right.

"Here," Sally said, coming over with a few bowls and the pot.

Nico held up his hand. "Sorry, Ms. Jaskson. I'm not hungry."

"Nico, you haven't had anything in awhile. You should eat," Reyna said.

The necromancer narrowed his eyes, and the shadows quivered around him. "I'm fine, thank you."

They left it at that. Percy finished before everyone else. "So, uh, Leo. Why were you in Minos' castle?" Leo froze. Annabeth winced at the insensitive question, and a few others had wary glances. However, Hazel straight up glared.

"Nothing too bad," Leo said, after collecting himself. "I was captured when I was, uh, walking." Annabeth saw Piper look away at the word 'walking'. Reyna nodded, dropping the subject.

"So, Katoptris," Reyna said. "The closest beach would be south, maybe a week's walk."

Leo grinned. "About two days with my baby." Annabeth was still amazed at how the massive thing could fly. Whatever this 'engine room' was, she had to get a look at it.

Percy grabbed a piece of parchment. and ripped into the shape of Ritlad. He pointed towards the top right area. "This is Memer." He ran his finger across the left side. "And this is the shore."

Annabeth nodded. "And considering size, we can't just go around searching for the dagger. It would take to long. Do we have any other clues."

"Dagger?" Sally asked.

Hazel nodded. "Yes. Katoptris."

Sally sat at the table. "If you're looking for that dagger, you might want to try around here." She pointed at the northwest shore on Percy's makeshift map. "A few priests might have it." She got up and gathered everyone's bowls. "Tell them I sent you. They aren't very nice to strangers."

Percy looked confused. "Have you been there before?"

Sally bit her lip. "Yes. When you were little, I was looking for your father. They gave me shelter."

They nodded. Annabeth clapped her hands. "Okay! Leo, think you can get us there?"

Leo nodded. "No problem, Annie!"

"Don't call me Annie," she growled. Percy laughed.

"Come on, Wise Girl. Let's all go to bed."

Her dreams were filled with unfortunate news.

A tall woman stood in the middle of an underground throne room. The ceiling was high, much unlike the caverns she had been in before. With her back to Annabeth, she couldn't tell what she looked like, except a long dress, that constantly shifted from brown to green- colors of the earth. Hair cascaded down to her back, the color of tree sap.

The throne was made of twisted branches, vines wrapped around the arms. The seat was one of grass, flowers of every color at her feet.

"They what?" She asked, her voice like a breeze running through trees. She knew that voice. It was the same one that had talked on the Argo ll- the sorceress. Another person came into view. He had shaggy hair, pointed teeth, and wore a long white nightgown.

Lastrogonians. The word popped into Annabeth's head easily, her eyes analyzing the situation.

"T-they assemble group," the ogre stuttered.

The woman turned around smoothly. Her face was beautiful. Her eyes were a bright green, her nose small. Her cheekbones were high, but all of this was put aside at the look of rage in her features.

"All of them? I guess I didn't break his heart as much as I had hoped." Annabeth didn't know what that meant, but it could be nothing good. The sorceress sighed. "I suppose we'll have to send in a few... distractions." She smirked.

"Besides, if I don't kill them, I still wouldn't worry. When they find out the secrets a few of them are keeping, they'll kill each other."

She screamed as she shot up from the bed. Her door burst open. "Annabeth!" Percy ran into her room. "Are you alright?"

Annabeth held his arm, pulling herself out of bed. "Get the others. I have some news. And you aren't going to like it."

His face turned grim. "Okay."

As she explained her dream, she didn't think Reyna's face could get darker.

She was proven wrong each sentence.

Annabeth knew it was wrong, but she left out the last part. If a few of the nine were keeping secrets that big, she honestly didn't want to know. The fact scared her too much.

Frank spoke first. "Lastrogonians... You don't think they could be the 'distraction'?"

Annabeth shook her head. "No, if she wants us to be taken down quickly, she'd send in something closer. Lastrogonians are native to Owrothen."

Frank looked a little uncomfortable at the fact that they came from his home territory, but Annabeth couldn't blame him.

Leo sat in silence at the part where Annabeth described her, Jason looking at him in curiosity.

Piper spoke up. "But I thought the sorceress was sleeping, like it said in the prophecy."

Percy sighed. "Most prophecies have double meanings. Maybe her full power or something."

"Okay," Hazel said. "We should be careful on our way to get Katoptris."

Leo blinked. "Uh, yeah. Let's go."

The Argo ll was soaring in the clouds, Leo at the helm. Jason was also on deck with Piper, but they looked deep in conversation. With the others below deck, Annabeth approached the blacksmith.

"You know who the sorceress is, don't you?" She said it softly, trying not to come off to strong.

Leo jumped at the new presence, but didn't look at her. Instead, he looked down. "Yeah. Her- her name is Gaea."

"How do you know?" Annabeth was curious now, she had honestly just met the boy and there was more than what he had led on.

"The night my mo-" He let out a shaky breath. "Annabeth, I really don't want to-" He was cut off by a yelp that escaped his throat as the ship lurched sideways.

Annabeth stumbled as she saw what was knocking the ship around. "Boreads!"

"Great," Frank mumbled, coming up the stairs, an arrow ready.

The others rushed up the stairs, grabbing their appropriate weapons. Piper, who was still on deck, didn't have a weapon, but she stood ready to defend the ship and the others.

"Destroy!" One of them cheered happily.

There's that chapter. So, what's up with Nico? And Piper and Leo? You'll find out soon enough... MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ha ha... ha. Okay.

I finally made a map! So since I did that, I will not be as confused, which means you won't be confused, so YAY! I feel really bad for Piper right now... She doesn't have her dagger yet and she only has her voice. Welp, what can you do, right?

I cross my heart, I don't own PJO or HOO. I'm not good enough of a writer to have that privilege.

Questions? Comments? Concerns?