I do not own Percy Jackson nor Heroes of Olympus, they belong to Rick Riordan.

Chapter Three - Carlos

"Find my daughter!"

He sat up in a cold sweat, panting. He glanced at the clock; 5:44 AM. He sighed, slowly getting out of bed and taking a shower. He took a hot shower, then stared at himself in the mirror, frowning. He squeezed his thighs, then hips. God I'm fat... He sighed.

He got dressed and went downstairs. He made himself eggs and toast, ate and left a note on the table for his dad. He grabbed his sweater and backpack, and headed out, locking the house as soon as he left.

He spent the day out of it. He was tired for some reason, his head hurt and his stomach was churning. He avoided conversation as much as he could.

Find my daughter…? He thought as he waited for his mom. She sent a text (monster proof phones) about saying she'd pick him up that day. So obviously someone's looking for her. I wonder why it's taking so long to find her. He sighed.

"Hey." He turned, meeting Andrew's eyes, the captain of the football team and the guy who continuously kept hitting on him. Andrew pressed a hand against the wall beside his head. "I haven't gotten my answer yet." He sighed.

"No."

"Why not? Come on."

"No, Andrew."

"Carlos, come on…" Andrew said, putting his other hand the wall, leaning down dangerously close. "If you get together with me, I could treat you like a prince." He resisted rolling his eyes. He heard someone clear their throat.

"Excuse me." Andrew turned, revealing Alyx, Pearl behind her and gripping her hoodie. She looked like a juvie delinquent, someone who'd give the teachers heart attacks if they met her or saw her. Her hair, earrings (which he'd noticed after her hair had be cut) and dressed in all black, plus her scars, made her look like a punk.

"Who are you?" Andrew sneered. Alyx put her hands in her hoodie pockets. She wore black jeans, black Converse hi-tops and a black hoodie, her hair styled like she'd just rolled out of bed but somehow combed it.

"His friend." She said, smiling sweetly. "I suggest you step away before I knock your pretty little teeth in."

"Excuse me?" He waved his hands at his throat, shaking his head, his eyes wide. He did not want to get in trouble for this.

"You're harassing him." She said calmly, unaffected by his rising anger and Carlos's frantic gesturing.

"No, he's been turning me down for months."

"Then that's telling you that he does not like you and doesn't want to be with you." She tilted her head, her eyes glittering dangerously now. "Please step away and proceed to not talk to him ever again." Andrew frowned, looking at him and then at her.

"And if I don't?" She sighed, slamming her hand on the wall beside Andrew's head. She was the same height as the football player, maybe an inch shorter. She wore black fingerless gloves that he hadn't noticed before, ending just before the middle knuckle.

"Like I said, I'll knock your teeth in." She smiled. "And that won't be good for your ego, would it?" By now, people were staring, guys staring at her and girls whispering among themselves. He caught such things as 'Whoa, that girl is hot' or 'Should we get a teacher'. Andrew glared and left, looking over his shoulder and scowling.

She put her hand back in her pocket, clearly satisfied with her threat.

"You really didn't have to do that…" He mumbled, patting Pearl's head as she hugged him. Alyx shrugged.

"It's okay. I caught him just in time." She looked around, obviously a bit uncomfortable. "Let's get going."

They walked down the sidewalk, Pearl begging to be picked up. Alyx picked her up and set her on her shoulders, making her giggle and pat her head, running her fingers through her hair.

"Where'd you get those clothes?" He asked.

"Your mom took me shopping this morning before she let me come here." She replied. She shivered. "People gave me so many weird looks."

"Well…" He mumbled. "You look like you just got out of juvie."

"Hey!" He snickered.

"What'd you do in the time you had left?"

"Just roamed. Went and picked up Pearl and we went to the park for a minute." She patted Pearl's legs. "Have fun on the swings?"

"Yeah!" She smiled and they passed a Starbucks.

"Ooh, coffee sounds really good right now…" Alyx said.

"Hot cocoa!" Pearl giggled.

"Want some?" He asked. "I'll pay." She grinned and nodded. They went in, Alyx telling him what she and Pearl wanted (since the cashier would have a heart attack with Alyx) and went to sit by the window. He ordered, got their drinks when they were called and sat down with them.

"Ah…" Alyx sighed. "I love coffee." He shook his head, smiling a bit. She put her chin in her hand, looking out. He looked with her, watching as people adjusted their coats and scarves. She frowned.

"Wow, do people not like the cold out here?"

"No. They like summer way more." He leaned back, watching a couple and their boy.

"I see…" She locked eyes on a girl by the AutoZone, her eyes clouding over.

"What?" He followed her gaze. The girl had wild brown curly hair, like she'd just rolled out of bed and didn't bother brushing it, amber eyes and dark skin like his own. She wore a red hoodie, blue jeans and black combat boots. A tool belt was around her waist. She disappeared inside.

"Do you know her?" Alyx pursed her lips.

"I-I…" She looked down, gripping her cup. "I don't know… There's like a tugging at the back of my mind, but it faded immediately." She sighed.

"It's okay." He patted her hand. "We'll get your memory back." She smiled a bit, then glanced out again. Her fingers were slender, elegant and beautiful. Her fingernails had been trimmed, but he would not like to get scratched by them.

"The tattoo on your hand…" He tapped her right hand. "What's that? It's similar to the one on your back." She pulled off her glove. The three headed weapon from the beginning of her wrist, then up and separated onto three of her fingers. Index, middle and ring. She slipped it back on.

"Let's get going."

They walked down the same route that he always went from school to home. They finished their drinks and threw them in a trash can. Pearl pointed at the swing set.

"Can we?" She asked.

"Sure." They walked up the hill, Carlos taking off his backpack and setting it by the pole before sitting on one of them. Pearl sat on the one next to him, Alyx pushing her. He watched, slightly swinging but not much.

"Thanks for sticking up for me…" he said.

"Of course." She pushed Pearl, making her giggle. "When I meet someone that I know is good, I'm loyal to them."

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. When I'd take jobs for the police department and stuff, I still feel like I should help them." He smiled a bit then looked down. Should he tell her about the dream? Or should he keep quiet and not put any more stress on her?

They got back to the house, Pearl pouting about having to do homework. He patted her head.

"We'll do it together." She nodded. They pulled off their shoes and hung up their jackets. They sat at the table, pulling out their folders. He pulled out the papers for algebra, a bit irritated with it.

"If you want, I can help Pearl with hers." He looked up, meeting her eyes and smile.

"But um… Not to be mean but…" He scratched his head. "Do you remember anything from school…?" She shrugged.

"I can try. What grade are you in, Pearl?"

"5th!"

"Alright."

He finished his math, and then went to the essay for history. He glanced at Alyx and Pearl, both of them focused on Pearl's homework.

"How's it going?" he asked, sharpening his pencil.

"Good! Alyx is smart!" Pearl giggled, holding up her paper and handing it to him. He scanned it, his eyes widening.

"Everything's right…" He said, handing it back. "And you're not using a calculator?"

"Nope." She pulled it from the pouch. "It's actually really easy. Then again, it's fifth grade math. How's yours going?" He shrugged.

"I have to do a history assignment."

"About?"

"Greek gods." He proudly puffed out his chest. "I mean… If I get through the dyslexia…"

"Lemme see." He handed it over. She read the question, then handed it over.

"That's easy." She said, putting her chin in her hand. "You know the answer already." She scoffed. "Like it's hard." He nodded and started writing.

He finished, glancing up at Alyx and Pearl. They were finishing up, Pearl putting her folder into her backpack then hugging Alyx.

"Thank you!" She patted her head.

"You're welcome."

"We're home!" He got up, peaking around the pillar.

"Hey." He greeted. His parents came in, patting his head.

"Hey, sweetheart." His mom kissed his cheek, making him blush brightly. "You guys doing homework?"

"Alyx is super smart!" Pearl said. "She helped me today."

"Oh?" His mom set some grocery bags down.

"Yeah!" Pearl ran up, looking in the grocery bags.

"It's nothing really. I'm glad to help out." She said, running her fingers through her hair. "Do you guys need any help?" She stood.

"Uh…" His mom thought. "I'm not sure…"

"Alyx," his dad said, making him freeze. Oh boy. Usually his dad was a big softie, but when someone new or someone he didn't like, he used that tone of voice. "Come with me." Alyx looked a bit confused, but followed him outside. He followed, biting his nail. His dad led her to his shop, opening the door and allowing her in first. He peaked in after his dad went in, gulping.

"Wow…" Alyx said in awe, looking around. Blueprints were pinned on the boards, his tools were neatly put away, and metal consisting of iron, steel, Celestial Bronze and Imperial Gold sat in buckets. A few weapons, like bows, swords, daggers and other weapons that were masterpieces hung on the walls.

"Have a seat." She sat down on a stool, looking up at him like a dog waiting for a treat.

"So, what are you intentions with my son?"

"Um… Pardon?"

"What are you intentions with my son?" He repeated. She raised her eyebrow.

"Nothing, sir." She said. "He saved me."

"I know that." He bit his lip, crossing his arms, veins rippling through his arms. "I had a dream last night. I saw you fighting with my boy and another guy."

"Okay…" She said, intertwining her fingers.

"And I'm sure that you have some sort of…" He chewed his lip, trying to find the word. She reached into her pant pocket and pulled out her pen, extending it to him.

"Uncap it. If you know anything about my past, tell me, please." He raised an eyebrow, before uncapping it. It sprung into the sword, making his eyes widen and nearly drop it.

"Where'd you get this?" He demanded.

"I had it on me when I woke up." She said calmly. "As well as a dagger."

"What sort of dagger…?" She got up and left, making him hide quickly. She came back, handing the dagger over and sitting back down. His eyes widened even more as he unsheathed it.

"You…" He narrowed his eyes.

"I'm sorry if I've offended you in any way." She said, wringing her hands together. "I lost my memory and I've been homeless for a month. Then Carlos found me." She looked up at him, her eyes serious. "I promise I'll protect him with my life. If anything dares threaten him, I will rip them apart with my bare hands."

He gulped.

To Be Continued...