Chapter 5

After an unexpected visit from Percy's relative, the team got ready for bed. The boys took one room and the girls took another. That's when Annabeth saw the massive amount of luggage Lonnie was preparing to take. Needless to say…Annabeth had a few…constructive criticisms.

"Are you sure I can't bring a second bag?" Lonnie asked, trying to figure out how to reduce three suitcases into one duffel bag.

Annabeth shook her head. "First of preparing for a quest: pack light. It makes it easier when you're running for your life."

She was in full camp counselor mode now. Whenever one of the other children of Athena were sent on a quest back at Camp Half-Blood, Annabeth always made sure to inspect their packs before they left.

"You won't need jewelry. Not unless it's enchanted. Or your textbooks. Studying on a quest doesn't work. Believe me, I've tried. Leave the cell phone, it attracts monsters. Nectar and ambrosia, good. Imperial Gold sword, good. Swimsuit, always handy on an ocean voyage. An enchanted steel breastplate is only going to weigh you down. I have a spare leather one you can borrow."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow as she pulled out a small tube of makeup. "Lip gloss? Really?"

Lonnie's cheeks turned red as she played with her hair. "For true love's kiss. Just in care."

"I'm packing breath mints," Mal said shamelessly as she walked into the room with a book under her arm.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, then she found a pale pink ballgown covered in white lace. "Seriously?"

"It's not for the quest," Lonnie said quickly "It's for after. Jay had I had our first date at senior Cotillion, it was on a cruise ship. And since so many couples are going on the quest, I thought maybe we could have a mini-ball on the way back?"

"Seriously? Guys, this is a quest. Not a romantic getaway," Annabeth reminded.

"Who says it can't be both?" Mal suggested "According to Hazel, you and Percy have been treating quests as your own personal getaways for years."

"Percy and I didn't start dating until we were sixteen."

"Uh-Huh. Ad I'm sure everything was completely platonic until that point," Mal joked "That goddess, how do you know her?"

"I don't. Percy and Jason met her on our quest to Greece. She tried to kill them."

"And now she's giving us directions to Circe?"

"Percy and Jason built her a shrine in New Rome. That put them back in her good graces."

"Is that really all it takes?" Lonnie asked.

"If you're lucky. Remind me to tell you about Hera and her cows one day. You doing a bed check?" Annabeth asked Mal.

"looking for help. I wanted to know if we can use this against Circe."

Mal handed her a large old book bound in dark green leather, covered in strange gold symbols.

Annabeth's face turned pale. "Where did you get this?"

"From Baragan Castle. It's the book the Evil Queen told us about, the one that used to belong to Evie's dad. Whatever's in this book, it's powerful enough to scare Circe. If we can figure out how to use, saving Evie and Uma will be a piece of cake."

Lonnie opened the book and started flipping through the pages. She frowned at the strange writing.

"I've seen these symbols before. On our ski trip to Arendale, remember? They were all over Anna's castle."

Mal nodded. "When I was growing up, my mom taught me all types of magic. Everything except the magic in this book. I've never seen anything like this before."

"I have," Annabeth said gravely "at my uncle's."

"Your uncle? Annabeth, can you read this? Whatever magic Evie's dad was using, it was powerful enough to scare Circe. If you can read this, we might be able to,"

"No!" Annabeth slammed the book shut.

"Annabeth,"

"I said no! It's too dangerous."

"Circe has Evie," Mal reminded "anfd Uma! She's planning to conquer Auradon, Annabeth. We need to dangerous. Look at what she did to Doug!"

"That magic got half my family," Annabeth's voice trembled as she stopped herself.

She took shaky breath. "The reason Circe didn't want her daughter practicing this magic is because the cost of its power is too high. So let this go."

After striking out with Annabeth, Mal decided to get some sleep. She walked into one of the guest rooms and found Ben waiting for her. With Nico.

Mal sensed the tension in the air and frowned. "You guys okay?"

"You brother has some…concerns about the quest," Ben answered carefully.

"The team's too big," Nico said bluntly "We take a dozen heroes into the sea of monsters, and we'll be fish food before lunch. At Camp Half-Blood, the standard questing party is never more than three."

"This isn't Camp Half-Blood," Mal reminded.

"I hate to admit it, but he may have a point," Ben confessed "The Queen of Hearts is still out there. We send all our best warriors after Circe, and Auradon will be virtually defenseless. Keeping a few of us here on the mainland would be the tactfully wise decision."

"Thank you. Let me take and Annabeth and Percy to deal with Circe," Nico requested "We'll stop whatever she's planning and get Evie and Uma back home safe and sound."

"Do you honestly think anyone other than Gil or Harry could convince Uma to come home after all she's been through?" Mal asked "Triton needs to be help bring Uma home so he can stop scrubbing tables and be a god again. The whole reason Grover and Tyson are here is to help Percy bring Uma home. And there is no way the rest of us are going to just sit around and wait around for someone else to save Evie from her crazy goddess grandma.

"Look I know that this isn't the way you're used to doing things," she acknowledged "But this fight is personal for all of us. Even if we did find a way to cut the team down to three, the rest of us would just sneak off and go after Circe ourselves."

"I gave it my best shot," Nico said, sighing as he noticed the book in his sister's hand "What's that?"

"It was supposed to our secret weapon. But right now, it's just a paperweight. According to the Evil Queen, Evie's dad was some sort of wizard king. This was one of his spell books. Ben, Lonnie said you saw these symbols in Arendale?"

Ben took the book from his wife and flipped through the pages. "Yeah. The locals call it the language of giants. They say Arendale was once overrun with icy monsters the size of mountains. Legend says that these symbols mark the ruins of ancient battlegrounds, where dozens of Arendale warriors laid down their lives to protect the kingdom. Some say their spirits haunt the ruins to this day, waiting for their next glorious battle."

"Remind me to go skiing in Arendale this winter," Nico requested.

He took the book from Ben and flipped through the pages.

"This alphabet…it's not based in Latin or Greek."

"It's a dead language," said Ben "No knows what it means."

"Annabeth does. She recognized it," Mal informed "She said it had something to do with her uncle. Then she freaked out and said it was too dangerous for us to use."

"Annabeth never mentioned having a wizard for an uncle. Then again, she's never been really open when it comes to her mortal family. She ran away when she was eight. Didn't get on good terms with her dad until a couple years ago."

Nico closed the book and handed it back to Mal.

"Ask Percy about it in the morning. If anyone knows about the Chase family history, it's him. But I wouldn't get my hopes up."

"Why not?"

Nico jerked his head towards Ben. "Would you air out his family's dirty laundry just because someone asked you to?"

"Touché. Goodnight, little brother."

"Night sis."

Nico paused as he brought a hand to the doorknob. "Annabeth's the smartest person I've met. If she says this giant magic is too dangerous to use, she's probably right."

That night, Percy's dreams were haunted by cruise ships. He had a feeling he'd have some sort of vision about Uma when he went to sleep. At least, he'd hoped so. Good news, he was right. She stood alone on the forward aft of her new boat, starring out over the Atlantic Ocean. The bad news, Uma's new ship was the Princess Andromeda.

Even in his dreams, that sight of that boat chilled Percy to the bone. For the better part of four years, that ship had been the headquarters of Luke Castellan, the son of Hermes who attempted to raise Kronos from the depths of Tartarus. Percy came close to death many times on that boat. And lost a dear friend sending it to the depths. He hoped he'd never have to see the Princess Andromeda again. But it looked like the Fates had other plans.

Even though she was the only one on the deck, Percy could tell that Uma wasn't alone. He could feel a presence in the water. A dark-hearted creature with powerful magic.

"You seem troubled child," a voice said from the deep.

Percy didn't know why, but it sounded familiar.

Uma kept her eyes on the stars. "It's nothing."

"If it were nothing, it would not weigh on you so heavily."

Uma glanced at her feet. "Circe didn't say anything about taking kids."

"Not taking. Liberating," voice corrected "Those poor girls were fated to be pawns of Zeus in Chiron's so-called care. We are giving them a chance at a better life. The life Poseidon denied you."

"Poseidon denied me," Uma repeated as her eyes turned glassy.

Percy what that look meant: charmspeak.

"That's right. He left you to rot in the filth while his sons swam over streets paved with pearls. And soon, he will pay for the wrongs he has wrought on our family," the voice promised.

Percy didn't know what worried him more: the fact that Ursula was back or that she was willing to brainwash her own daughter just to get back at Poseidon.

"I'm going to scout ahead, make sure the path is clear. If you need me, just holler."

Percy watched the charmspeak fade from Uma as her mother swam away, waiting until the sea-witch was out of ear shot before he spoke.

"Uma."

She jumped, grabbing the hilt of her sword as looking around.

"I'm not here to fight you," Percy promised "I just want to talk."

Uma scoffed. "I don't how you're doing this, but we have nothing to talk about."

"Uma, don't do this. Circe is using you," Percy insisted "She's trying to take over Auradon."

"Good! Auradon left me to grow up a prison. Condemned me to a life sentence for a crime that happened before I was even born! Those self-righteous royals deserve to suffer."

"What about Gil and Harry?"

Uma's face softened.

"Those guys would fight an army for you. They love you Uma," Percy reminded "Harry's in love with you. And if you help Circe get what she wants, she's going to take them away from you."

"You're lying," Uma said with uncertainty.

"I know the gods aren't perfect. Some are good, some are bad. But most are creatures of habit. Circe's habit is turning men into pigs. You think she'll take it easy on Gil and Harry after turning Evie's boyfriend into,"

Percy's voice trailed off as he saw something out of the corner of his eye: the glint of celestial bronze. At the top of the deck stairs were two girls. A lean native-American with a knife, wearing a large pink flannel shirt and wool socks. The other was tall and muscular, wearing a black tank top and camo sweatpants and holding an electric spear. Piper McLean and Clarisse LaRue.

Percy didn't know what surprised him more: the fact that Uma was able to kidnap two of the most powerful girls at Camp Half-Blood or that they were getting ready to take out his sister. Piper was getting ready to flank Uma while Clarisse was getting ready to stab Percy's sister in the back.

"Clarisse wait!" Percy shouted.

Clarisse jumped. Uma spun around and drew her sword. Clarisse deflected the blow. Piper charged. A wave of dark Mist snaked its way across the deck. It split in two like a pair of Hydra heads and coiled around Clarisse and Piper, raising them both three feet into the air.

"My, my," a female voice said "shouldn't you girls be in bed?"

Piper paled as a beautiful woman in a black pinstripe suit walked into view, her stiletto heels clicking across the deck.

"You," Piper snarled.

"Hello Piper," the woman greeted with a cold wave and a smile "so nice to see you again."

"You know this witch?" Clarisse asked, struggling break free.

"Yeah. That's Medea."

Percy's stomach got sucked into a whirlpool. He knew all about Medea. The legendary sorceress who came back to life during the Giant War and nearly made Jason and Leo kill each other in Chicago.

"Enjoying the show, Percy Jackson?" Medea asked, looking right at him.

Percy's blood boiled like an undersea volcano. He focused on the waves surrounding the ship, causing the Princess Andromeda to rock heavily back and forth.

Medea shook her heard. "Tisk tisk. Wouldn't want to risk drowning your friends, wound you?"

"Jackson. When I'm done finishing kicking that hag's hide I'm gonna," Clarisse's threat was cut short as the Mist crept up to cover her mouth.

"You daughters of Ares. Always so stubborn," Madea chided "Don't worry. Aunt C.C. will take care of that."

"Uma. You don't want to do this," Piper pleaded "Percy cares about you. Poseidon cares about you. When you ran away, he was devastated. His cries could be heard from every corner of,"

"That's enough charmspeak out of you," Madea decided, causing the Mist to cover Piper's mouth.

"Uma help them," Percy begged "You have no idea what Medea,"

"Shut up!" Uma snapped "I'm done listening to you! Madea, show these two how we deal with mutineers!"

The last thing Percy heard before his dream ended was the sound of Clarisse and Pier's muffled screams.

That night, Mal dreamt of her little sister.

Hazel Levesque, daughter of Pluto, stood alone in her barracks at Camp Jupiter, hastily packing a bag of spare clothes, golden drachma, nectar and ambrosia. She glanced at a photo sitting on her bedside table: the children of the Underworld smiling together at Mal's wedding reception.

"Hang on guys," Hazel whispered, "We're coming."

Focusing as hard as she could, Mal put into practice everything Nico had taught her about dream magic.

"Hazel," she managed, her voice coming out in little more than a whisper.

"Hazel!" Mal repeated, struggling to project her voice.

"Mal?" Hazel blinked and looked around "Mal, where are you?"

"Dreaming. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. Look, don't worry. Jason and Leo told us everything. Frank and I going to meet with them at Camp Half-Blood and fly to Auradon as fast as we,"

"No."

Hazel blinked. "What?"

"I don't want you to help us," said Mal, wincing at the hurt expression on her sisters face.

"Mal, Circe is going to invade Auradon. She's got a boatload of brainwashed demigods ready to break down your front door."

"Listen to me. Auradon has to fight this fight alone. We can't keep running to Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter every time we get into trouble."

"Of course, you can!" Hazel insisted "We're your friends. You're my sister!"

"I know. But I'm also the queen of Auradon. I can't let other people fight my battles for me. Even if it is an excuse to see my amazing baby sister."

"Mal."

"Hazel. Promise me you won't come."

Hazel squeezed her eyes shut and set down her bag. "Fine. But if I get one dream vision about you guys in trouble, I get to come running."

"Deal," Mal said with a smile "I love you, sis."

"I love you too."

"Hazel!" Frank Zhang called as the dream started to fade "come quick! Something's wrong with Reyna."

That night, Carlos dreamed of Auradon Prep. More accurately, two trespassers climbing through the window into Auradon Prep.

Two girls, each about Jane's age. One had dark skin, hazel green eyes, and curly black hair with silver streaks. She wore a purple leather vest over a tattered red dress, grey leggings, white boots and a purple top hat.

The other girl had skin as white as milk, cold blue eyes, black and red hair that matched her clothes: A red leather jacket, a black top, red tattered pants and matching boots. An imperial gold sword hung around her waist and a heart shaped ruby necklace around her neck. Jacklyn Red. The daughter of the Queen of Hearts.

"I thought you said she'd be here," Jackie hissed.

"She is," the other girl whispered "as least, she's supposed to be."

"So, where is she?" Jackie asked.

"I don't know."

"Well then, go ask your sister and find out."

The other girl's face hardened. "Leave her out of this."

Jackie gripped the hilt of her sword. "Either you talk to her, or I do."

The girl scoffed and led Jackie down to the freshman dorms. Carlos wanted to scream. He wanted to go to Fairy Godmother for help. But he couldn't. All he could do was watch.

Jackie and her friend crept into another dorm room, where Celia and Dizzy were sleeping peacefully in their beds.

The girl in the top hat clamped a hand down on Celia's mouth, causing her to scream into her attacker's palm. The top hat girl smiled and brought a finger to her lips.

Celia gasped. "Freddie?"

"Hey little sister. You miss me?"

Celia's answer came in the form of a massive bear hug.

"I'll take that as a yes," Freddie said with a chuckle.

Carlos knew all about Freddie Facilier. She was the brains to Jackie's brawn. A daughter of Hecate who had come close to outsmarting Mal and Uma on multiple ocasions during their days on the Isle.

"What are you doing here?" Celia's eyes widened as she noticed Jackie in the corner of her room "You're still working with her?"

"She's my friend," Freddie justified "And I don't stab people in the back."

"I never stabbed you in the back," Celia insisted.

"I hate to interrupt the family reunion," Jackie chimed in "But we're sort of on a deadline here. Where's Jane, CeCe?"

Celia's face paled as Jackie drew her sword and pointed it at Dizzy.

"Celia," Dizzy whimpered. "What's going on?"

"What do you want with Jane?" Celia asked.

"Nothing," Freddie said sincerely "We just need her to find something for us. That's all. Nobody's going to get hurt."

"Unless they make me mad," Jackie said obviously.

"Jackie," Freddie scolded "Big changes are coming Celia. And you don't want to be on the wrong side of things when the dust settles."

"What are you talking about? Why are you doing this?" Celia asked.

"Because I'm sick of having nothing!" Freddie hissed "Your little schoolmates left us to rot in with their trash while they slept on silk sheets. Hearts and her new partner have a plan to give us all a taste of the good life, and we're taking it."

"When Mal finds out what you're up to,"

"There it is," Freddie interrupted spitefully "Mal. Mal this. Mal that. Mal's so brave. Mal so tough. Mal, Mal, Mal. Mal's not the one who protected you from the Hook sisters, I did! Mal's not the one who went to be hungry so you could eat, I did. I've been taking care you my whole life and yet you care more about your hero than your own family!"

Celia's eyes stung. "That's not true."

"Prove it. Tell us where Jane is."

"Leave her alone," Melody ordered.

The daughter of Ariel stood in the doorway, still in her coral pink pajamas, pointing a celestial bronze trident right in Jackie's face.

Jackie laughed. "What are you going to do with that? Comb your hair?"

Melody tightened the grip on her trident. She lunged her weapon at Jackie, but Jackie just swatted the blow away dismissively with her sword.

Melody stumbled back, replanted her feet and struck again. Jackie parried and delivered a counter strike. Melody blocked the blow with the shaft of her trident. Then she caught Jackie in the jaw with the blunt end of her trident.

Jackie wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and gave Melody a dark smile. "Okay princess. You want to play? Let's play." And she went on the offensive, delivering a powerful blow that sent Melody tumbling out of the room.

"Melody!" Dizzy shrieked.

"Leave her alone!" Celia shouted.

The two young VKs jumped up to help their friend, only for a pair of misty white columns to appear in front of them. The Mist solidified, turning into a pair of snarling empousai.

"You're not the only one with friends on the other side," Freddie reminded.

Carlos admired Melody's courage, but Jackie was one of the best sword fighters on the Isle. She knew Melody was undertrained and was using it to her advantage, keeping the pressure on so that Melody couldn't even think of counterattacking.

In less than a minute, Jackie had disarmed and cornered Melody, her sword less than an inch from her face.

"You should've stuck to playing with goldfish," Jackie scolded, right before a hand grabbed her from behind and tossed her down the hall like a beach ball.

"Leave my friends alone," Henry demanded.

The son of Hercules came ready for war, wearing an Imperial gold breastplate with a matching helmet, sword, and lion-blazoned shield. He might've looked heroic. If he wasn't for his purple Camp Jupiter pajamas. He looked like a sleep-walking gladiator.

Jackie took one look at him and laughed. "Nice slippers," she said, pointing to the Pegasus-shaped shoes on his feet.

"Who's this guy?" Freddie asked "Your boyfriend?"

Celia and Henry both turned bright red.

"No!" they said at the same time.

"Definitely the boyfriend," Freddie decided "I thought Pinky was supposed to make sure we weren't interrupted."

"Pinky?" Celia repeated.

"I'm the son of Hercules. Surrender now," Henry demanded "or face the might of Olympus!"

Jackie laughed. "Is this guy for real?"

"He's definitely been eating his corn flakes," Freddie agreed.

"Last chance. Surrender," Henry ordered "or face the consequences."

"Don't you disrespect me little boy. Don't you derogate or deride," Freddie warned as she started to sing.

"You're in my world now, not your world. And I got friends on the other side."

White mist flowed from Freddie's fingertips like running water. It pooled at her feet, swirling like a miniature whirlpool. A fiery shadow leapt out of the pool. A snarling empousa pounced on Henry with blinding speed, pinning him to the floor and keeping him from his sword.

"Henry!" Celia shrieked.

Henry kept his shield raise high as the monster slashed and snapped at him, looking for some sort of opening. He grabbed the monster by its prosthetic leg. The empousa screamed as the celestial bronze began to crumple in Henry's grip, right before he kicked her square in the stomach. There was a sickening Pop! And the empousa was sent crashing into the wall. It hissed and snarled as it struggled to its feet. No, not feet. Foot. The empousa was hoping on its lone goat foot. Henry looked down and realized that he was still holding the monster's bronze prosthetic.

Henry grinned. "Sweet. Battle trophy."

"Henry, look out!" Celia shouted.

The empousa attempted to lunge at him again. But with only one leg, the attack was sloppy at best. Henry rolled out of the way and prepare to strike. Then he remembered he lost his sword. Fortunately, a golden trident tore through the monster's back and turned it to dust.

Henry gave Melody a grateful smile. "Thanks, cuz."

"Don't mentioned it," said Melody, tossing handing Henry his sword.

The two heroes raised their weapons and aimed them at the two VKs.

"Didn't your daddy teach to play nice?" Melody asked.

"No. My daddy taught me to play to win," said Freddie "Jackie, give them the trump card."

Jackie giggled like a maniac she pulled something out of her pocket: a stack of gold laced playing cards. She threw two in the air, and they expanded. Within seconds, the two young heroes were staring down a pair of seven-foot automatons. One was gold with the number ten on its chest and a hearts symbol where its face should be. The other was pure silver with the diamond symbol for a face and the number 3 on its chest. They reminded Nico of Reyna's dogs, Argum and Argentum. Only these automatons didn't make Nico want to play fetch.

"Oh Styx," Henry muttered, right before the number ten swatted him aside like a balloon.

"Henry!" Melody cried. She swung her trident and slashed the silver three across the face. Sparks flew, but the automaton was undamaged. It grabbed the shaft of Melody's trident and ripped it out of her hands. It grabbed her by the throat and raised her into the air.

Henry groaned as he picked himself off the floor. His eyes were dazed as he raised his weapons and stared down the solid gold murder machine. Henry swung his sword. The automaton dodged. It swung with a massive left hook. Henry blocked the blow with his shield, the impact ringing like a church bell. His knees buckled. Henry gritted his teeth and pushed back with all his strength. The automaton could feel itself moving backwards, so it slammed its other fist into Henry's shield. Henry's knees buckled. The automaton slammed both fists down on the shield. Henry fell to one knee. The automaton ripped the shield out of Henry's grip and pinned him against the wall.

Jackie gripped her stomach and laughed. "This is so much fun! I love my new toys!"

"STOP IT!" Celia shouted.

Freddie's face softened at the tears in her sister's eyes. She snapped her fingers. Mist swirled around the card soldiers and reverted them back to simply playing cards. Melody hit the floor with a thud, coughing and gasping for air. Henry groaned and leaned heavily against the wall.

Jackie scowled. "Who told you to touch my stuff?"

"We came here for Jane," Freddie reminded "Not to pick on a bunch of kids."

"Hello? Villains!"

"Eyes on the prize. Where's Jane, Celia?"

"I'm right here."

All eyes fell to Jane as she walked into view, an Auradon Prep backpack slung over her shoulder.

"I know wat you're looking for," she said "The source of the music. I can lead you to it."

Henry paled. "Jane, no!"

He jumped to his feet and charged at Jackie, only for her to sweep his knees out from under him and pointed her sword at his face.

"Slow your roll, Wonder Boy."

"If you know what we're after, why help us?" Freddie asked.

"Because my father wants me to find it," Jane answered, "Just let the kids go, and you can have me."

"Jane you can't!" Henry insisted "If they get their hands on,"

"It's gong to be oaky Henry," Jane promised "Let them go and I won't resist. I swear on the River Styx."

"Deal." Jackie grinned and grabbed Jane's arm, placing her sword against her throat "Just in case your little friends get any ideas. Get us out of here, Freddie."

As shroud of Mist began to eclipse the two VKs and their hostage, Carlos felt as if Jane were looking right at him. At first, he thought that was impossible. Then she said something that sent a chill down his spine.

"Come find me, Carlos."