Characters: Percy Jackson- Omega, Luke Castellan- Alpha, Zoë- Beta, Bianca di Angelo -Theta, Phoebe-Eta, Charles Beckendorf- Delta, Silena Beauregard - Gamma, Ethan Nakamura- Iota, Castor- Kappa, Lee Fletcher- Zeta, Michael Yew-Epsilon

Chapter 8

As they walked through the city Percy talked with Thalia and Bianca with Nico. It was nice being all back together. Bianca was still surprised that Thalia was the leader of the hunters, since last time she saw her she hated them.

As they walked quietly into Sally's house, Percy and Bianca took their hoods off. There was no need to hide who they were here. Sally and Paul were saying goodnight to Sarah and Odysseus, so they went into the kitchen and sat at the counter.

"Sorry you had to wait," Sally said as she went and hugged Percy.

"It's no biggie mom," he said. "I hope you don't mind my bringing friends along. Bianca can help relate the story and Nico and Thalia need to hear it too."

"Oh don't worry about it. You guys are always welcome here," she replied hugging all of them. "Now are you guys hungry? As I was waiting I made you guys some cookies."

"Yes!" Percy yelled and Sally turned around and shushed him. "Sorry I have been craving these ever since I left. You know how much I love these mom." He apologized.

"It's alright son, I'm sure the kids are just playing on their DSi's anyways." Paul waved the apology off and poured 6 glasses of milk to go with the cookies, which Sally got out.

"Thank you Mr. Blofis." Nico responded politely.

"It's always a pleasure to see you Nico, and you too Thalia." Paul said and Percy raised his eyebrows at the three.

"They would come over and visit sometimes getting comfort from us and in turn comforting us. We reminded each other of you, so we started hanging out more when you were- gone." Sally choked up at the end and looked away. Percy got up and gave her an everlasting hug and mouthed thank you to Thalia and Nico. They nodded back.

"I'm sorry,"Sally said when gained control of herself. "Now what were we talking about?"

"I was just going to ask who else visited while I was… Away." Percy said wondering how many people bothered his mom and her new family.

"Let's see. Annabeth, Thalia and Nico, Tyson-"

"The kids loved him," Paul cut in.

"Don't forget Leo, too, and his girlfriend Calypso."

"Yeah and Poseidon. Hmm, who else? Piper and Jason, Hazel and Frank, Grover and Juniper. There were a couple more, but my memory isn't what it used to be sweetie." His mom finished sadly.

"It's okay mom. Thanks for telling me what you could." Percy said, grabbing his fifth cookie. "How many times did Annabeth come?"

"She came probably once a week. In fact I'll be expecting a visit from her tomorrow. Does she know you're alive?" Sally asked, just now realizing that Annabeth wasn't one of the guests sitting in her kitchen.

"She didn't tell you?" Percy ashes unable to keep the disbelief out of his voice.

"Didn't tell me what?" Sally was now very confused, same with Thalia and Nico. Bianca looked at him with pity.

"Let's start with the story then, since this is the beginning of it all." He said in answer. "You'll help me right?" He asked Bianca.

"Always Perce," she replied. He nodded in response.

"Maybe we should go into the living room. It's going to be a long story."

Once they were all seated with glasses of blue Coke Percy began with, "it all started when Stephen arrived at camp. Aphrodite claimed him that night and since that moment everyone, save a few exceptions, started to turn against me.

"Everyone became distant, I never had anyone to hang out with, except for special occasions; Nico coming to visit, the hunters coming to check in, when Leo and Calypso returned with Festus. Annabeth had become more distant than ever, and always had an excuse to not hang out with me. The last time I saw her was one of the days the hunters came to visit. I was talking to Thalia about everyone growing distant and decided to go look for Annabeth and ask what was wrong.

"When I was walking back to camp I heard some people in the bushes and went to check it out. Annabeth was cheating on me with Stephen and talking about breaking up with me later that day." Sally gasped and Thalia gripped his hand. A tear slid down Percy's face, but he continued.

"I broke up with her right then and there, and went back to my cabin. I ripped up my papers of ideas on how to ask Annabeth to marry me and threw the ring in the trash. I gathered a backpack and some clothes. I also grabbed nectar, ambrosia, and a couple other things. I headed out of camp and wasn't stopped by anyone. They were all so focused on avoiding me, that no one stopped me from leaving. I guess that's what they all wanted from me. I did leave some notes for a couple people though."

"They weren't very explicit Percy. You just said you couldn't handle it anymore so you had to leave." Thalia responded quietly. "And that you loved us."

"Yes, and I'm sorry for not explaining more to you, or for coming back to tell you what had happened. But before I continue, why did Annabeth tell my mom I had died?" He asked Thalia and Nico.

"Well after you I found your notes I asked Nico to come over through iris message. Your fountain is pretty handy. When he came we decided to go to Chiron. He called a meeting immediately. Stephen was the new leader of the Aphrodite cabin already so he was there, but so were the rest of the 7, and Calypso. Stephen was saying you were probably dead, and by the end of the meeting all of us believed it. Annabeth went to Sally's house right after and me and Nico delivered the rest of your notes." Thalia explained.

"I never felt your presence in the underworld, but I couldn't say anything against Stephen. Soon the whole camp had heard that you died. Only a few of us believed you were still alive." Nico added.

"Thanks for not giving up on me guys. I found out what Stephen did to have everyone believe him so vigorously. I noticed it today at the meeting." Percy paused and looked around.

"Well? What is it?" Thalia asked anxiously.

"He's using charmspeak. It's a different form of charmspeak though. One I haven't seen before. It's dark and it's powerful, not something that you want to go against. I was going to ask Chaos tonight, maybe have a council with her and Aphrodite." He explained.

"I should've known. I can't believe I didn't think of that. Gods, I'm stupid." Nico chided himself.

"Nico,you're not in the wrong with this. I didn't know either until earlier today." Percy assuaged.

"And I never would have guessed," Thalia added.

"Wait, what's going on?" Paul asked looking lost.

"Okay here's the summary: a new camper named Stephen arrived and started telling everyone that he was the hero, he was the one that won the war, he was the one that defeated Gaea. I never knew how he got everyone to believe it. He even got Annabeth to cheat on me. And now as I come back he tries to get my team and I killed. Thanks to Thalia we weren't, but it also showed me how he controlled everyone thus far: through charmspeak." Percy explained quickly to Paul and his mom.

"What I don't get is why he is so against you, and why he wanted us dead in the first place," Bianca thought aloud.

"Maybe he's a spy." Nico said.

"How old was he when he came to camp?" Sally asked thoughtfully.

"Around 16, which is quite old for a new camper. Oh, I see what you're getting at mom. How could he not have been in pursuit and be 16 entering Camp Half- Blood? Especially since the forest is infested with monsters. Also, how did he get this new type of charmspeak." Percy added. The whole situation was weird and confusing. There were so many puzzle pieces missing that he could only decipher some edge pieces.

"I don't know, but we definitely need to talk to Chaos and Aphrodite about the weird charmspeak. Also, why doesn't it affect everyone?" Bianca asked.

"So far the people who it didn't have an effect on were immortal or have cheated death. That's something I'll have to bring up with them." Percy responded.

"What if it's like that so that he can't use it on his employers? Then maybe the cheating death part could be a side effect." Nico acquired.

"That would make sense," Sally said. "All together,we just need to learn more about him. Learn his past, present, and future. I can ask what Annabeth knows tomorrow and you guys can ask around camp. Percy once you guys leave you need to set up that meeting and find out about this charmspeak stuff."

"Alright I'm sorry mom but it's getting late. I didn't explain what happened completely but I'll come back tomorrow night unless I'm fighting. If that happens I'll send a messenger over." He got up and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I love you," he whispered in her ear and stood up. "Get some sleep while you can." He said to her and Paul.

"Let me walk you guys out at least," Sally said standing up. Percy nodded and she smiled. They all walked the short distance to the door. She gave everyone a hug before they walked out. She stopped Bianca on her way out and said, "keep my baby safe please, I couldn't lose him again."

"Of course Mrs. Blofis," Bianca responded.

"Please, call me Sally." His mom said and Percy laughed behind her. "And you my boy, you keep dear

Bianca safe too." That shut him up. He gave her a mock salute and then a big hug.

"Goodbye mom, stay safe. Watch over her Paul. I expect her to be perfectly fine when I come back." Percy said seriously.

"Always Perce," Paul relied. "It's good to have you back." Percy hugged him and his mom one last time and they all left.

AN: Hello fellow readers, I have only received one character and I very much need more. I need some characters with names, descriptions, powers and weapons, and parents or breeds. Some will be new campers and some will be soldiers. Submit as many as you would like. Remember I will make a shout out to you in every chapter I use the character. :) Peace, your fellow author