Wow.

First of all, thank you so much for the reaction to the first chapter. I'm seriously blown away. None of my other stories are getting anything close to the feedback that this one's getting (no, that's not a hint. Honest.)

Secondly, I had a few people comment to tell me why Silena joined Kronos. Thank you, but I am aware of it. Thalia, however, I don't think was present when Silena died, and hasn't a) asked anyone or b) been listening when people talked about it.

Third of all, Leo. So many people have asked for Leo. And I'm not saying he's not coming. However, I do want to stick to three timelines, because I'm already getting confused! As far as Jason, Piper, Reyna and future Will are concerned, Leo is dead. We all know differently, but they don't.

Yet.

At the moment, I am planning on new readers joining for each book up to Son of Neptune. I don't think I'm planning any after that, but hey things can change.

My plans, also, may not match up with their plans. For example, the people from 2010 (after the Giant War), are planning on their Percy, Annabeth and Nico staying where they are, because it's not fair to make them relive Tartarus.

I can't promise them they won't have to.

My day job is frustrating so in my spare time I torture fictional characters.

The last thing people asked for is a list of readers, so I'm going to add it to my profile. Just click on my pen-name, open the bio (if you're on mobile) and find the Percy Jackson section.

Thalia woke the next morning with the feeling that there was something very important she needed to do.

"Thalia," Annabeth said. "Did we get visitors last night?"

"Oh yeah," Thalia mumbled. "I'd forgotten about that." She sat up, running a hand through her hair, blinking in the sudden light. "Annabeth, Rachel, this is Reyna and Piper."

"She's not good in the morning," Annabeth said apologetically.

"I'm fine in the morning," Thalia said. "I can manage it with the hunt. I'm just not very good when I've been sleeping in a bed rather than a sleeping bag." She glanced at the clock. "You two were exhausted last night; how are you awake?"

"Habit," Reyna answered.

"Nightmares," Piper added.

"I'd ask if you want to talk about it," Thalia said, "but since you can't tell us anything, I'm probably not the best soundboard."

"Well, thank you for the offer," Piper said. "It's the thought that counts. But if I'm having nightmares …"

"Right," Thalia said, swinging her legs out of bed.

"Thalia?" Annabeth asked.

Thalia didn't answer, throwing on a robe, and darting out of the room.

The boys were already up.

Jason and Will were having a quiet conversation nearby. When she emerged, Jason broke off mid-sentence to smile at her. "Morning."

"Nightmares?" Thalia asked.

Jason shrugged. "One or two."

Thalia hugged him tightly, beyond grateful for the chance to do so again.

"Thalia?" Percy asked.

"Have you not introduced yourself?" Thalia asked.

Jason shrugged, giving her a squeeze and releasing her. "Not in any detail."

"You're unbelievable," Thalia said, glancing over her shoulder as Annabeth and Rachel emerged, looking bewildered. "Guys, this is Jason, my little brother." She ran an eye over her brother's frame. "Younger brother."

"The younger brother we never knew about," Annabeth said, a little dryly. "So to clarify – Piper, Reyna, Jason – anyone else we're expecting?"

"Not that we know of," Piper answered.

"Not that we're expecting," Jason added, kissing his girlfriend quickly. "Then again, we all know how predictable demigods can be."

Percy cracked a smile. "So, ladies, who are your parents?"

"We can't tell you," Piper said with a disarming smile. "The Fates won't let us. It'll come up in the books."

"Huh, that's weird," Percy said. "We could all say ours."

"Well, we're all already here," Annabeth pointed out reasonably.

"Nico and Thalia aren't," Percy said.

"Yes, but everyone knew mine," Thalia pointed out. "And maybe the Fates figured out it was better for Nico to say his in a controlled environment rather than have the books spring it on them."

"Younger brother we never knew about," Annabeth repeated. "Is this a story you can tell?"

"Not with any kind of satisfactory explanation," Jason said.

Thalia sighed. "I was seven when Jason was born. When he was two, our mother took us out for the day. She sent me back to the car to get something; when I came back, Jason was missing and she told me she'd given him to Hera to appease her. I thought he was dead, freaked out, ended up running away."

"So where were you?" Percy asked, with interested.

Jason shrugged. "Can't tell you. Spoilers and all that."

"It's convenient, isn't it?" Will asked with a grin.

"I'd forgotten what a morning person you are," Thalia grumbled. "It's indecent. I'm going to get dressed, and then we should probably go and get some breakfast. It's going to be a long day."

"Medical bag's stocked," Will assured her.

"Okay, thanks," Thalia said. "I'm glad you're optimistic."

"Optimism is great," Will said. "Realism keeps people alive."

"I'm only going to get the symptoms," Thalia reminded him, disappearing back into the girls' room.

"I'm not taking any chances!" Will called after her.

When the time travellers stepped into the throne room, all eyes settled on them.

"Good morning," Annabeth greeted. "We've got some more."

"I'm going to assume you don't know everyone here," Thalia said. "So I'll do a quick run through." She went around the younger demigods, giving their names and parents, before returning to their new companions.

"So you know Will. This is Piper, Reyna and Jason. They can't actually tell us who their parents are because the Fates don't want them to for some reason, but I can tell you that Jason is my little brother. Younger brother."

"Again?" Jason asked. "I'm about a head taller than you."

"Look, in my head you're still two years old and trying to eat stationery items," Thalia said. "I can't help that."

"One stapler," Jason said. "Would you let it go?"

Hestia smiled. "Something tells me this could keep going, so why don't we all have breakfast, and then we can figure out who's going to read first."

Breakfast was already more or less ready, and Sally was just placing a plate of blue pancakes on the table.

"I couldn't sleep," she said by way of explanation. "Although that pill is still working I think, Will, so thank you."

"You're welcome," Will said. "I'll put you down for another dose in a few days' time, shall I?"

"I'm hoping I won't need one," Sally said. "I'm going to, aren't I?"

"I hope not," Percy said. "But probably, yes."
Thalia sighed. "Between you and Annie, you're going to give me a heart attack."

"Join the club," Sally said, putting a plate in front of Luke. "Starving yourself is not going to change anything. Eat."

Breakfast was finished quickly, everyone eager to learn what happened next.

Finally, they all settled down again, and Amphitrite picked up the book. "Does anyone mind if I start?"

"Go ahead," Hera said. "I think we're all ready."

"Very well. Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters," Amphitrite began. "Chapter One. My …" She trailed off, blinking at the page.

"My what?" Sally asked, concerned.

"My Best Friend Shops for a Wedding Dress," Amphitrite finished, a little bemused.

There were a few giggles.

"Why am I shopping for a wedding dress?" Annabeth asked. "I'm twelve."

"Actually, thirteen by this point," Percy said. "If this is what I'm thinking of, it's next summer for you guys."

"Out of interest," Annabeth said. "Is anyone taking notes? I feel like someone should be taking notes."

"I'll do it," Malcolm offered, scrambling for a notepad and a pen. "Do you think it matters that we didn't take notes last time?"

"Well, I should hope that the master bolt and the helm of darkness are back where they belong now," Annabeth said. "So that quest won't need to happen. Feel free to backdate though."
Her past self sighed. "Why am I shopping for a wedding dress?"

Percy shrugged. "I don't know."

"Be fair," Thalia added. "He never said which best friend."

Amphitrite cleared her throat. "Well, let's find out. My nightmare started out like this."

"A dream would make more sense," Athena said. "Although wedding dress shopping doesn't exactly sound like a nightmare."

"It depends wholly on who's doing the shopping, ma'am," Percy said.

I was standing on a deserted street … Florida, I thought.

"It sounds like Florida," Nico said.

Though I wasn't sure how I knew that. I'd never been to Florida.

"Well, it's your dream," Thalia said. "Unless it's a demigod dream, in which case, hold on."

Then I heard hooves … I turned and saw my friend Grover running for his life.

Grover looked worried. "Uh oh."

"It's just a dream, buddy," Percy said. "Right?"

Yeah, I said hooves. Grover is a satyr …

Amphitrite hesitated. "The next few paragraphs are just a summary of the last book, so I'm just going to skip them."

There was a murmur of agreement and she moved on.

Anyway, in my dream, Grover was hauling goat tail … He'd escaped from somewhere.

"Well, that's good," Katie said. "At least you got away."

He was trying to get away from … something.

"That's not," Lee said. "Means it's still following him."

A bone- rattling growl cut through the storm.

A shudder ran through Percy's body. "Seriously?"

"Starting early, I see," Thalia said.

"I don't understand," Jason said.

"Bone-rattling," Thalia repeated. "Percy's bones rattled."

"But that's just an expression," Reyna pointed out. "He didn't mean it literally."

"Welcome to my world," Percy grumbled.

… He muttered to himself, Have to get away. Have to warn them!

"Warn them about what?" Grover asked nervously.

"And warn whom?" Sally asked.

I couldn't see what was chasing him … The ground shook as it got closer.

"Something big then," Hermes said grimly, his mind racing.

...He'd run into a dead end courtyard full of shops.

"Hide," Katie whispered.

… The nearest door had been blown open by the storm … ST AUGUSTINE BRIDAL BOUTIQUE.

"That's why he's shopping for a wedding dress," Connor said. "That's a bit of a let-down."

… The monster's shadow passed … I could smell the thing – a sickening combination of wet sheep wool and rotten meat …

Luke sucked in a breath. "Uh oh."

"What?" Grover asked nervously.

"I've smelt that before," Luke said. "On the streets."

Thalia nodded. "Cyclops."

Grover whimpered.

… and that weird sour body odour … like a skunk that's been living off Mexican food.

"Okay, that's oddly specific," Annabeth said. "Although surprisingly accurate. Are you alright?"

Percy was quietly gagging. "Fine," he choked out. "The sooner we can move away from the smell, the better please."

… Grover took a deep breath. Maybe the thing was gone.

Grover relaxed against Sally.

… The entire font of the store exploded, and a monstrous voice bellowed, 'MIIIINE!'

"Is that usual for cyclopes?" Travis asked.

"Not really," Poseidon said, frowning.

I sat bolt upright, shivering in my bed.

"I hate demigod dreams," Percy muttered.

… I thought I saw a shadow flicker across the glass … It must've been my imagination.

Annabeth smirked. She knew it wasn't.

A fifth-storey window with a rickety old fire escape … there couldn't have been anyone out there.

"Well, that's not strictly true," Katie said. "Most demigods could probably get up there. Although why they would, I don't know."

'Come on … Last day of school … You've almost made it!'

"Without any problems?" Percy asked. "How?"

"Luck," Percy said. "Mostly."

He wouldn't be able to tell them about Tyson's effect on the monsters of Manhattan yet anyway – although he was sure that they had mentioned Tyson before as well.

… My fingers closed reassuringly against the ballpoint pen … I thought about uncapping it, but something held my back. I hadn't used Riptide in so long …

"How long?" Lee asked.

Percy thought about it. "Probably since the previous summer."

"Seriously how did you manage a whole year with no monsters?" Lee asked. "I didn't think any demigods could manage that and you should have a stronger scent than the rest of us."

Percy shrugged. "There were extenuating circumstances. You'll see."

Besides, my mom had made me promise not to use deadly weapons in the apartment …

"Really?" Sally asked.

"You put in a caveat for emergencies," Percy said.

… after I'd swung a javelin the wrong way and taken out her china cabinet.

There were a few sniggers, and Sally sighed.

"This is when it would be nice to be able to speak to other parents," she said. "So I can know that it's not just me."

"I'll give you my mom's email address," Lee offered immediately. "She always says the same thing."

Sally smiled at him. "That would be lovely; thank you."

… I tried not to think about my nightmare … What had Grover meant?"

"And who?" Sally repeated.

I made … an ancient gesture Grover had once taught me for warding off evil.

"That would only work if there was something right there," Hermes said. "And only something minor."

The dream couldn't have been real.

Thalia patted Percy on the head. "You keep believing that."

"Don't be so condescending," Percy said, rolling his eyes.

"Who's being condescending?" Thalia asked innocently. "Optimism can be a wonderful thing."

For the first time in my life, I'd almost made it an entire year … Tomorrow, I'd be on my way to my favourite place in the world – Camp Half-Blood.

The campers cheered and whistled.

Only one more day … Surely even I couldn't mess that up.

"Percy!" Piper sighed. "Don't you know better than to think something like that?"

"Well, I do now," Percy said. "I hadn't quite got that yet."

… My mom made blue waffles and blue eggs for breakfast … her way of saying anything is possible.

Sally smiled. "It really was just to irritate Gabe to start with."

"But not anymore," Percy added. "Otherwise you wouldn't keep doing it."

… But she could always tell when something was bothering me.

"That's because she's your mother," Aphrodite said.

"I don't think it's just that," Annabeth said. "She can always tell when something's bothering me as well, and she's not my mother."

"Yet," Thalia said under her breath.

Annabeth pretended not to hear her.

… 'I think Grover's in trouble,' I said, and I told her about my dream.

"At least you're telling me things now," Sally said with a sigh.

… 'I wouldn't be too worried … I'm sure we would've heard from … from camp …'

Her shoulders tensed as she said the word camp.

"What's wrong at Camp?" Chiron asked immediately, looking worried.

"It might be nothing," Sally said reassuringly. "Maybe I'm just not looking forward to Percy being away for a few months."

… 'I'll tell you what … I'll take you and Tyson to … to that skateboard shop you like.'

"You hate that shop," Percy said immediately. "You say it's a rip-off."
"Well, it is," Sally admitted. "Other places sell exactly the same things, for half the price. You're just paying for the label."

"Well, yeah," Percy said. "That's the point."

… 'Wait a minute,' I said. 'I thought we were packing me up for camp tonight.'

"Okay, now it might be something," Sally said, frowning.

… 'Ah … I got a message from Chiron last night … it might not be safe for you to come to camp just yet. We might have to postpone.'

"But that doesn't make any sense!" Lee protested. "Whatever's happening, Percy's going to be in no more danger at Camp than the rest of us, is he? I mean, we wouldn't have sent home the year-rounders."

"It depends on the problem," Chiron said, with a frown. "And why it isn't safe. Certainly it can't be a direct threat against him, because then camp would be safer than Manhattan."

… 'Percy … I'm very, very sorry … I can't explain it all now. I'm not even sure Chiron can. Everything happened so suddenly.'

Hermes and Apollo exchanged a loaded glance.

"Are you going to be okay, Will?" The latter asked.

Will did not bother asking how his father had guessed. "I should manage."

"Why would he not be?" Artemis asked.

"Well, if I was Kronos, and I was going to go after Camp," Apollo said, "the first thing I'd do is do something about the magical barrier. And since that's tied to Thalia … How bad was it?"

Luke stiffened. His father squeezed his shoulder.

Thalia just about kept herself from rolling her eyes. "I'm not in a position where I can confirm or deny anything, you know that. If anything happened, it would have been dealt with or I wouldn't be here, would I?"

Luke did not look any more reassured.

… 'Seven thirty, dear. You should go. Tyson will be waiting.'

"That's the second mention of Tyson," Silena said. "And I'm sure I've heard the name somewhere before. Who is he?"

"Friend from school," Percy said with a shrug.

… That was the last thing I wanted to do, but my mom had this fragile look in her eyes … if I pushed her too hard she'd start to cry.

Sally gnawed on her lower lip, trying not to voice her concerns. This version of her had no emotional connection to Camp Half-Blood if Percy wasn't there, so what on earth could be so bad that it would make her cry?

Besides, she was about my friend Tyson … He was scared of travelling underground alone.

"He's not another satyr, is he?" Grover asked.

Percy opened his mouth, paused and said, "I can't actually tell you."

… 'Mom, this problem at camp. Does it … could it have anything to do with my dream about Grover?'

"I hope not," Katie said. "Did it? Sorry," she added belatedly. "You can't answer that."

She wouldn't meet my eyes.

"That doesn't mean it does," Sally said hastily. "It could mean that I don't know."

'We'll talk this afternoon, dear. I'll explain … as much as I can.'

"I don't like that," Athena said, frowning. "Surely Chiron would give you as much information as possible; he knows you're clear-sighted. And you're certainly intelligent enough to understand it."

Sally blushed a little, but nodded. "Which suggests that Chiron doesn't know exactly what's going on either. That's what I was thinking."

… I didn't know it at the time, but my mom and I would never get to have our afternoon talk.

"Why?" Percy asked, worriedly.

"It's alright, dear," Sally said. "We know that Thalia and Nico are going to meet me, and you haven't met either of them yet. So nothing will happen to me, I don't think."

In fact, I wouldn't be seeing home for a long, long time.

Now it was Sally's turn to look worried.

"He might just go to Camp," Artemis said kindly. "Despite the issues, whatever they may be."

… Just for a second, I saw a dark shape … a shadow that belonged to no one.

Malcolm frowned, his pen hovering above the page.

Then it rippled and vanished.

"Annabeth," Malcolm said, "why are you following him?"

"What makes you think it's me?" Annabeth asked.
"Because that's what your silhouette looks like when you're wearing your Yankees cap," Malcolm said. "If it's not you, it's someone else who can turn invisible."

Annabeth shrugged. "Maybe I heard about Camp too and decided to come and find out for myself."

"That does sound like something you'd do," Clarisse muttered.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Oh, like you wouldn't."

"Alright, that's enough," Amphitrite said, turning to the next page. "That was the end of the chapter. Who would like to read next?"

"May I?" Piper asked. "Since we won't be in it for a bit?"

"Certainly, my dear," Amphitrite said, handing her the book.

Piper settled down with the next chapter. She just hoped that Thalia's predicament wouldn't come up in this one – she didn't particularly want to be reading for that.