Maybe Octavian had a point, and I was stupid. I could feel the evil radiating off the Princess Andromeda. It was creepier than being in the literal underworld.

A feeling of dread coming over me as I shot out of the water, unsure of which song I'd belt as I cut down monsters.

"Tumble out of bed

And stumble to the kitchen

Pour myself a cup of ambition

And yawn and stretch and try to come to life!" I sung loudly, stabbing a hellhound back to Hades before turning and pressing the alarm. They knew I was here now.

"Jump in the shower

And the blood starts pumpin'

Out on the streets, the traffic starts jumpin'

For folks like me on the job from 9 to 5!" I continued to sing, doing a little dance before reaching out and blasting a group of harpies to dust with electricity.

"Workin' 9 to 5

What a way to make a livin'

Barely gettin' by

It's all takin' and no givin'

They just use your mind

And they never give you credit!"

I mowed through the army of Kronos, singing happily as I turned them into dust and sent them back to Tartarus, not really worried until after I turned a corner, and there was Luke

"Can I finish my song and your army off?" I asked, capping Riptide as i looked up at him.

"Practice with the Apollo cabin?" He asked, the two of us talking like old friends.

"Yeah, that and banjo." I replied, putting my pen away.

"Not bad, but you're no Dolly." He told me, the both of us looking at one another cautiously.

"You know why I've come. The war ahead can be prevented, and the gods can be forced to change their ways at the same time. Just come home." I told him, watching emotions flash across his face before he answered me.

"I can't do that. I've made my choice long ago." He told me, but even I could see that he was considering it.

"That's not true. Things will happen that can't be undone, but this is your last chance for redemption before then. The last chance for you to be with your family. With Annabeth and Thalia."

I let the words hang in the air, my ace already spent, watching him consider the offer.

"I've defied the gods. They would never forgive me." He told me, reaching for his weapon.

"But I would. Percy would. Annabeth and Thalia would. Your brothers and sisters would. You would be an example for gods to never underestimate half-bloods, to be better than they are now." His fingers lingered on his sword before he drew it, and I stood there. He wouldn't attack me, I knew he wouldn't.

He turned and slashed at a monster who'd come to warn him, turning it to dust.

"Alright then, we have maybe five minutes to blow this thing and get to a safe distance. He told me, taking an intercom and speaking. "Any demigods aboard better get off now. Anyone who we cross better surrender. Otherwise, we'll do what we have to," He spoke, his voice echoing through the empty ship, scampering from the dozen or so demigods as they took his words to heart, jumping over or taking lifeboats.

He lef me, the two of us running through opposite sides of the ship and taking down monsters.

"Why five minutes? You're indestructible, and I can breathe in the water or fly away." I asked, throwing my shield at a monster to hit it and using the upgrade that Beckendorf had made me recall it.

"We're both indestructible, but we don't want to be passed out in the ocean. I can't breathe water like you can." He called, and I wondered how he knew I'd taken the plunge into the styx.

"Fair enough." I replied, the two of us working our way down to the engine room, Luke messing with valves and nozzles while I held off the remaining monster crew.

"Let's go!" He yelled as we ran like Hades up through the decks, taking out the monsters that were stupid enough not to try and escape.

I took Luke's hand, the both of us jumping over the side as I willed the water up to catch us, using the wind to push us faster, willing the waves to protect us as the ship exploded, and we were thrown forward, my hand slipping from Luke's for a second before I grabbed his arm and held him. We would both make it to shore. We had to.

Still, I willed the waves to take us to the shore, running low on energy from taking on half an army, I closed my eyes for a moment and woke up on the sands, Luke laying there next to me, the both of us breathing heavily as footsteps came down to meet us.

"Hey, Luke?" I mumbled, too tired to move.

"Yes, Alex?" He replied, just as exhausted as I was.

"Are those our forces or monsters?"

He squinted, lifting his head enough to check.

"I don't know. They have weird armor."

Slowly, I stood, facing the strangers and seeing the Roman army.

"Oh good. They're on our side." I mumbled, helping Luke up and pulling out my pen, facing the forty or so demigods that had rowed up to shore or were swimming.

"Throw down your weapons and surrender! The army of Kronos is over! This war will not pass so long as I stand!" I yelled, uncapping my sword and shield.

I could see fear and confusion on their faces, but I could see them throw down their arms, but that could be because of the Roman army coming down to back us up.

Once we'd gotten the demigods a hot meal and explained that Luke and I were the ones who'd taken out the ship, they were less eager for a fight anyway.

"Okay, so we'll take you back to camp, and we'll keep building cabins for all children of all gods. No more unclaimed kids, so, no more reason to fight. Uh, and you're all Greek, right? No Roman demigods?" I told them, making sure that I didn't bring back the wrong one. I guess it didn't make too big of a deal. We were all cursed simply by our blood.

Once I'd confirmed there were no Roman demigods, I went to get some sleep. They probably wouldn't try anything, especially since the golden casket was now buried deep at the bottom of the sea.

I cursed and went to find someone with a coin, finally getting a golden one from a tall, chubby Asian kid and going to make a call.

"Oh, Iris, goddess of rainbows. Please accept this offering. Show me the God of the Sea, Poseidon!" I was shown Poseidon in his throneroom, making plans before he noticed the call.

"Grandfather, the golden coffin, it lays buried beneath the waves, where the broken Princess Andromeda is. Please, for the sake of Olympus and preventing war, you have to help." I begged, watching him stroke his beard.

"I will do this for you, Grandson. We'll call it gratitude for helping prevent this war. But next time, do not order a god." He spoke, his voice calm and relaxing, like watching the waves from a pier.

"Sorry, Grandpa. It's just been a weird day. Thank you for helping, I appreciate it." I told him, flashing the same smile he once gave me on Olympus.

As the call ended, I fell on my butt, grinning wildly as exhaustion took hold, the price of my newest curse.