The cloaked woman sat on a foldable metal chair. Her foot tapped the ground irritably while her hand pinched the bridge of her nose. Before her, Zoe's father was still kneeled down and chained in glowing bronze. His hair was even more grey than last time, bordering on white. The crack beneath him slightly larger than Zoe's previous dream. Zoe could feel the pull of the crack, even several yards away. Despite his withering face, Percy's eyes were alight and attentive. A troublemaking grin spread across his face. At the edge of darkness surrounding the island of light stood a large figure barely seen by Zoe's eye.

"You should have sent me after her," the large figure spoke. His voice deep and craggily, though he spoke in a pleasant tone. Like he was planning a picnic. "I could have killed them all and brought back her corpse to play with. I certainly would not have been made a fool of by such a pathetic demigod." Percy scowled at the man, a seething anger pooling into his eyes. The woman's foot stopped tapping. She stood up, grabbed her chair, and threw it at the man in shadows. The chair crashed into his head, rocking the being backwards with a grunt.

"You idiot," the woman chastised him. Frustration edged her voice. "We want her alive, not dead. What good is she to my patron in the realm of Hades? For a titan you are supremely stupid."

The titan straightened up slowly, a low growl vibrated the air. "That hurt you little wench. My master tolerates your interference, but don't think I won't gut you and feed your entrails to pretty boy here," he gestured to Zoe's father. "Although, right now he's not so pretty."

The cloaked woman scoffed. "Please, even you are not stupid enough to dare risk the wrath of my patron. Even if you were, you wouldn't lay a hand on me. You couldn't even capture the puny godling on your own."

Percy's angered eyes transitioned to the woman. "It was a cheap shot. You two never would have captured me otherwise."

The cloaked woman turned to Percy, kneeled down and patted his cheek. "Sure love, keep telling yourself that," she taunted him. She turned back to the towering man. "Your master's plan hinges on our support and we want Perseus and the girl."

The large man grumbled. "Would have been better to just start already. More bloodshed means more fun. I mean, what good is one demigod to our plans? It is not like we aren't spoiled for choice. Why not the child of lightning? At least his father is an Olympian. The king at that."

"That is missing the point you imbecile," the woman snarled. "Did you think the demigods are complacent in their peace? The Consul and the young god here have been preparing just for your master's plan for over a decade," she told the massive man. Percy's eyes widened as his head turned towards the woman. The woman noticed his gaze and smirked. Or at least, Zoe assumed she did. "Oh love, you didn't think we were only keeping tabs on your dear Zoe did you? Not after everything we did for you. You're an investment. Like a guinea pig." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Though, I guess this time there will be no multi vitamins huh?" Percy again eyed the woman. This time in confusion.

The being in the shadows snorted. "What's so special about this one? Wouldn't any godling do?"

The woman looked down, rubbing at her temples. She then looked to Percy. "See what I have to deal with?" she complained before turning back towards the being. "Yes. Any god would have made this work though only Perseus could draw the daughter out and make her vulnerable to capture. As I have stated, we want her and so we will capture her." She noticed Percy's gaze still on her. He looked her up and down as if trying to solve some puzzle. "Leave us," she commanded the titan.

"You don't order me about girly," snarled the titan. "You may be the favorite, but that doesn't-" The woman was a blur. She toppled the titan and pressed her dagger into his neck. "You wretched creature," he snarled. "I swear to Chaos I will-gulk."

The woman forced the dagger into the titan's throat, drawing ichor. "You'll stay as quiet as possible, or I'll put one in your lap first," she warned, tapping a second dagger against the inside of his thigh. "You really shouldn't invoke her name like that. You know how she feels when she is disturbed. Now be a good lap dog and check in on your brother. I am sure he is still smarting from having a building dropped on him." Perses eyed the woman carefully before vanishing in a golden light. "Sorry about that," the woman genuinely apologized. She stood and sheathed her two daggers. "Some people have no manners." She walked in front of Percy, her back to Zoe. "You've been trying to figure out who I am for some time. Any guesses?"

Percy looked down to the floor. "None that make any sense," he answered as he refused to meet her eyes.

The woman hummed. "I'll make you a deal. I'll drop my hood and you get to be my sworn servant for all of eternity," she said chipperly.

Percy coughed in surprise. "Really? That's what you came up with? I thought we were having a moment."

A velvety laugh left the woman's lips. "Sorry, couldn't help myself." She crouched down to eye level with the restrained god. "I guess you deserve to know. After all this time." She reached for her hood. Zoe's vision turned black.

Zoe jerked awake. Lifting her head from the window and smacked it against the person next to her

"Gah. Zoe," cried Liam as he rubbed the side of his head. "Come on, I'm still hurting from that beating I took."

Zoe rubbed her own head, already feeling a small bump forming. "Sorry Liam," she groaned. "Just had a bad dream." She glanced around them. The bus had fewer occupants than expected. Most of them hovering around the front of the bus, while Zoe, Liam, Karina, and Thalia stuck with the back. The latter two sitting across the aisle from them. Karina was slumped against Thalia, silently snoozing her worries away and Thalia gazed out the window at the rolling grassy hills. The morning sun having broke over the horizon, bathing the landscape is orange hues. The huntress looked in their direction before continuing her sightseeing.

Liam stopped his rubbing and looked at her concerned. "Yeah, my dreams haven't been the greatest either," he said, giving his best friend a once over. "You got drool on your cheek."

Zoe's eyes widened before she frantically wiped the drool away. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She cursed her father for leaving her with these traits. "So, um, what was your dream about?"

"Oh, you know, doom and gloom and all that," Liam shrugged. "Ares has been talking to me. Asking me about you," he told her sheepishly.

Zoe's eyes scrunched together. "Why would Ares ask about me?" she asked him.

Liam shrugged. "Apparently Dad can't contact me directly. You know, his whole 'no contacting your kids' thing. And Ares is one of the few Olympians that don't like Percy," he explained to her. "But he asked about how powerful you are, your loyalties...and mine." Zoe understood his meaning when he refused to meet her eyes. Would he fight her if she proved an enemy of Olympus? She didn't want to ask and put that on him. She would never fight her friends and family. Liam took a deep breath and shook his head. "So," he looked to her finally. "What was your dream?"

"Uh, you know, a super dark room with only a single light illuminating Dad. Same lady antagonizing Dad. Though apparently we also have Pallas' brother, Perses, after us as well." Zoe explained the events of her dream in further detail.

"Well," Liam said with slight bewilderment. "That's just peachy. Seems like we have our work cut out for us."

"Understatement of the century," Zoe and Liam shared a chuckle. Zoe took a moment to examine her friend. The swelling of his face had lessen significantly from the beating he took the day before. The cut above his eye nearly healed. "How's the head?" she asked, gesturing towards his head.

Liam shrugged. "It's fine, it only hurts to laugh, breath, speak, smile-" Zoe lightly punched his shoulder. Liam smirked at her. "Right. Yeah I'm doing okay," he told her truthfully. "How about you? You took a bit of a beating."

"I'm fine," she answered quickly. "Concussion seems to have gone and my ribs are still sore but aren't broken anymore."

"Why do you get all the cool abilities?" Liam asked, playfully annoyed. "You've healed faster than I have and I had Nectar to jump start the process."

Zoe raised an eyebrow at the boy. "Says the boy who can fly and throw lightning?"

"Yeah but you can conjure lightning too apparently," Liam answered immediately. "And I can't do nearly the amount of things you can."

"Yeah, well," Zoe said quietly. "Didn't seem to help stop Pallas yesterday."

"I mean," Liam began, "you did bury him in rubble. I think that counts as stopping him." Liam pointed out, amusement flashing in his blue eyes.

Zoe rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but I still don't know what that even was. I've never felt that rush of power before," she looked out the window, rays of sunlight piercing the night sky. "It felt like it was coming from somewhere else. Somewhere deep inside me. Honestly, it's terrifying."

"Why is it terrifying?" he asked concerned.

Zoe pulled Riptide from her pocket before twirling the pen in her fingers. "It's just, I don't know what it was, you know? What was that beam of light. Where did it come from? Why was I able to conjure it?" She asked him, not really wanting an answer. "Dad has never done anything like that before. Does that mean it came from my mother? Or something else? I just don't know and it scares me."

Liam gained a thoughtful look. "I don't know Zo," he finally told her. "This is like nothing we've even heard of. We need to meet up with Reyna, she'll have the answers."

"I hope so," Zoe spoke softly.

"Anyways," Liam began, "I want to clear the air on something."

Zoe turned to her friend, eyebrow raised. "Um, okay?"

"I'm sorry about the other night when I was pushing to know what Malik said," Liam apologized. "It's not really my business and if you don't want to talk about it that's okay."

Zoe looked her friend up and down before sighing. "...my little princess," she finally answered. "Amir'te Asaheera translates roughly in Arabic to 'my little princess.'"

Liam looked at his friend in confusion. "Uh, okay? What's the problem with...oh," he realized her implications.

"Yeah," Zoe spoke softly.

Liam shook his head before bewilderment overcame him. "But...he treats you like a little sister. He's never showed he likes you like that."

"I know," Zoe answered rather loudly, causing Thalia to look to them again with an eyebrow raised. Liam gave her a questioning look, wanting an answer. "Look, he doesn't mean it romantically. He genuinely means it as term of endearment but merely as one would a family member. He doesn't like me in that way."

"So what's the problem?" he asked again.

Zoe gave him a deadpanned expression. "Oh, I don't know Liam. Maybe a good look young man gives me a very sweet and very affectionate nickname and I let myself dream a little. Maybe I got a little over protective about it," she explained before looking out the window again.

"Well then," Liam said, seeming at a lost. "I guess, okay? I mean, there is not a lot we can say about it."

"I'm sorry for overreacting," Zoe apologized.

"Pbbbt," Liam lightly blew a raspberry at her. "You have nothing to apologize for. Honestly it's still kinda confusing but I'm glad we've cleared the air on this one."

Zoe stared at her friend before smiling. "Yeah, me too."

"So," Liam drawled. "What did the women mean saying we've been preparing for over a decade?" He asked his friend. "I've never heard mention of potential conflict."

Zoe shrugged. "I have no idea," she told him. "Though, I do remember occasions where the Senate would question Reyna on the money she spent on the legion."

Liam raised an eyebrow at her. "What was she buying?"

"I don't know, armor, weapons and stuff," she said. "I wasn't really in a position to question these things. Not only am I greek but I'm also not a legionary so I can't really interact to much in Senate meetings."

"Well, I guess add that to the list of things we have to ask Reyna," Liam chuckled.

Zoe joined him, a smile breaking across her face. "Yeah, I guess so."

It was another hour before they stopped in Richmond, Virginia. Exiting the bus, the four demigods made their way down the old cobblestone roads until finding a hotel they could regroup at. People and vehicles crowding the streets, going to and from antique shops and small grocery stores. The morning sun rose through the sky and cast the beginnings of a raging heat down upon the passersby. The group entered the first hotel they found, a refurbished brick structure that looked to be several centuries old. After a brief and heated discussion with the clerk in the lobby about the presence of a group of raggedy teenagers in his pristine hotel, Thalia managed to get a room on the second floor of the complex. The double queen sized bedded room was excellent by most standards. Though rarely could mortals top a godly run business like the one in Miami. This one for instance lacked a balcony. The nightstands, dressers, and desk had a mahogany appearance, but Zoe figured it was probably fake.

"Alright," Thalia said, throwing her silver pack on the nearest bed before jumping on it. "Today we are focusing on recovering our strength. The past couple days have been a drain on us all," she glanced at Zoe who was slumped in the rolling desk chair, then at Liam and Karina. Both of whom sat on the other bed leaning on each other for support. "I've already asked the desk to send up some food. So I think we should contact Reyna and inform her of yesterdays events." She heard a spattering of agreement and dug into her pack where she pulled out a small glass prism. "Anyone got a light?" she asked.

"Don't you need sunlight to make those work?" Zoe asked with a raised eyebrow.

Thalia shrugged. "Magic," was the only answer she gave. Liam slowly separated from Karina, who slumped onto the bed, before digging into his bag. He pulled a flashlight from his pack and turned it on. Thalia tossed Liam the prism, who shown the light through it, creating a rainbow within the hotel room.

Thalia pulled a drachma from her pocket. "Oh Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering and show me Reyna, Consul of New Rome." Thalia tossed the drachma into the rainbow, which disappeared before the rainbow shimmered.

Reyna appeared in the rainbow, slamming her shield into the snout of a hellhound. The Consul shoved the black dog off her shield before ending the beast with a quick thrust of her gladius. Water dropped from the pipes overhead and striking her indestructible cloak. Reyna flicked golden dust off of her sword, the sounds of battle ringing out around her. "Junge!" she shouted, the stomping of feet and jangle of heavy armor filled the room. Multiple soldiers closed in on Reyna, forming a protective wall. "Repulsus!" her voice thundered through the Iris Message. Her troops reacted instantly, driving the enemy back with their shields before lashing out with their short swords, cutting down their adversaries. "Impetus!" The legionaries rushed forward, cries for battle echoing through the concrete tunnel.

"Reyna!" Thalia shouted at the floating window. The woman spun around, bringing her sword to bear. Reyna's eyes widen as she noticed the message before her. She scanned the area before sheathing her gladius, satisfied that her praetorians were finishing up their pack of hounds.

"Thalia," Reyna spoke clearly, looking no worse for wear having just finished a battle. "I trust that the kids are safe and sound?"

"Hey Reyna," Zoe spoke up, having stood from her chair and joined Thalia in frame.

Reyna seemed to slump slightly. If Zoe hadn't known her for so long, she might have missed the look of relief that flashed through her eyes as they found her. Reyna glanced around as her form straightened up, her guard finished off the remaining hellhounds and were treating the injured. She turned back to the Iris Message. "Report," she said, her commanding tone made Zoe nearly spit out the information required before she reigned it in.

"The titans are active," Thalia told her plainly. She was slightly muffed at the lack of reaction Reyna showed. "Annabeth's tomb was raised and looks like the location Percy was captured. After checking the tomb, we were ambushed by Pallas, the Titan of Warcraft."

"Pallas?" Reyna asked, her eyes bore into Zoe. "You're sure it was him?"

"He confirmed it," Zoe stepped in. "Right before he handed me my rear. I can still feel his fingers wrapped around my throat," she said, rubbing her neck.

Concern dominated Reyna's face, her eyes giving Zoe a once over. "Are you okay?"

Zoe nodded. "I'm okay. Ribs are a little sore still."

"You fought like a true maiden," Thalia boasted. "If you hadn't stopped him when you did, we would all be visiting Uncle Hades."

Reyna's eyes narrowed a fraction. "Zoe defeated Pallas? Explain."

"I-I'm not sure," Zoe admitted. "Thalia and Karina were on top of me, Pallas stood over Liam ready to strike and I just...snapped." She hung her head slightly, refusing to look at anyone.

Thalia took over for her. "Some kind of light pierced the clouds. It struck Pallas and shot him into the barracks. It pretty much made her a vegetable. We had to carry her to the train station."

"Light?" Reyna clarified, hand on her chin with her other arm supporting the former. "What kind of light?"

Zoe looked up. She tucked a bang of hair behind her ear. "It was blinding, the heat was scorching, and it hit Pallas with enough force to burry him in rubble. It felt like fire was pumping through my veins," she explained to Reyna before she shivered at the memory. "Please Reyna, tell me what is going on. I'm scared." Tears stung her eyes as she pleaded with her guardian. She really was scared. Scared that she didn't know how she did it. Scared that she was never told she could do this. Scared of what it all meant. That maybe her mother was something more.

Reyna's stoic stance broke. "I'm sorry Zoe but I can't. Not now. We have no idea who could be listening in. We will meet up soon and I will tell you what I can. I promise."

"Well to do that we'll have to meet up. Where you guys at?" Thalia asked.

"Pittsburg, we found several groups of monsters hiding out here. It's almost like this city was meant to be a staging area," she speculated.

"You think they're preparing for war?" Thalia asked.

"It's the only thing that makes sense."

"Well we are in Richmond, maybe we can meet up in Baltimore?" Zoe interjected.

"Sounds like a plan. We will make haste with our buses. You should probably take a train."

Liam chuckled. "Yeah no thanks. I think we've had enough train catastrophes to last the trip at least."

"Well however you decide to do it I'm sure you'll figure it out," Reyna admitted.

"I'll make my way to Olympus," Thalia said. Zoe and Liam turned to look at the huntress, Karina finally lifted her head to look at them. "We need to inform the Council. Once they know the titans are involved, Dad will have no choice but to respond."

"Do it," Reyna agreed and turned to Zoe. "Take the night to rest and then make your way to Baltimore. We can figure out our next move from there."