Ch. 15 The Quest to Save the Camp

PERCY POV

I spent a couple of hours tossing and turning in my bed but sleep still evaded me. I guessed that I had a lot on my mind and Tyson snoring like a chainsaw in the next room did nothing to help matters.

I got out of bed and pulled on some clothes. I grabbed a beach blanket and a six-pack of Coke from under my bunk. The Cokes were against the rules. No outside snacks or drinks were allowed, but if you talked to the right guy in Hermes's cabin and paid him a few golden drachmas, he could smuggle in almost anything from the nearest convenience store. Sneaking out after curfew was against the rules, too. If I got caught, I'd either get in big trouble or be eaten by the harpies. But I wanted to see the ocean. I always felt better there. My thoughts were clearer.

I left the cabin and headed for the beach.

I spread my blanket near the surf and popped open a Coke. The sky was clear and starry. I was checking out the constellations in the clear and beautiful night sky. It was a rarity for a New Yorker like me to see the stars in the night sky.

I breathe in the smell of the ocean and felt a calmness wash over me. A calmness that I could only feel in the ocean and the presence of Hestia. I had come here instead of going to the Hearth because I didn't wish to disturb the goddess at this ungodly hour of the morning. I knew that if she saw me, she would instantly come over to ask if I was alright.

I glanced at the sky and saw Artemis making her journey across the sky... or her chariot at least. Apollo and Artemis could set their chariots on autopilot once they had launched for the day and had to take control when it was time for sunset and sunrise.

Suddenly I felt someone appear out of thin air a little distance away from where I was sitting. I could sense that it was a god. I immediately turned and saw a man in nylon running shorts and a New York City Marathon T-shirt jogging towards me. He was slim and fit, with salt-and-pepper hair and a sly smile.

#Hermes. The god of roads, travel, gymnasiums, athletes, diplomacy, orators, thieves, messengers, commerce, trade, and invention. The messenger of gods and the eleventh Olympian.# Alexander informed me of the man's identity. To be frank, the word 'Hermes' would've done the deal but, Alexander had his little flair for dramatics.

But he had forgotten to mention an important fact. Hermes was Luke's dad.

"May I join you?" he asked once he neared me. "I haven't sat down in ages."

"Of course, you may Lord Hermes. Coke?" I replied almost nonchalantly.

Hermes wasn't one of the gods who went around smiting people for behaving familiar with him. And I sort of didn't exactly like him because he was a horrible dad to Luke and the reason Luke had chosen to serve Kronos. And, I was offering him a coke.

He smiled. "You're a smart boy Perseus Jackson. And your hospitality does you credit. Oh, and Coca-Cola! Thank you!"

He sat at the other end of the blanket, popped a soda, and took a drink. "Ah… that hits the spot. Peace and quiet at—"

A cell phone went off in his pocket.

Hermes sighed. He pulled out his phone and my eyes got big because it glowed with a bluish light. When he extended the antenna, two creatures began writhing around it: green snakes, no bigger than earthworms.

It was his caduceus. His symbol of power.

Hermes checked his LCD and cursed. "I've got to take this. Just a sec…"

Then into the phone: "Hello?" He listened. The mini-snakes writhed up and down the antenna right next to his ear.

"Yeah," the god said. "Listen-I knows, but… I don't care if he is chained to a rock with vultures pecking at his liver, if he doesn't have a tracking number, we can't locate his package…. A gift to humankind, great… You know how many of those we deliver Oh, never mind. Listen, just refer him to Eris in customer service. I got to go."

He hung up. "Sorry. The overnight express business is just booming. Now, as I was saying... Peace and quiet."

He crossed his ankles and stared up at the stars. "Been a long time since I've gotten to relax. Ever since the telegraph-rush, rush, rush. Do you have a favorite constellation, Percy?"

"The Pegasus," I replied. At least I liked that constellation.

"I assume which is due to your father?"

"No... well yes. I just like Pegasus. What can I say?"

"You're an interesting young man. And so, what now?"

"Well, tomorrow I am—"

I was interrupted by a voice that sounded in Hermes's pocket stating: I have Demeter on line two.

"Not now," the god said. "Tell her to leave a message."

'She's not going to like that. The last time you put her off, all the flowers in the floral delivery division wilted.' The voice replied.

"Just tell her I'm in a meeting!" The jogger rolled his eyes. "Sorry again, Percy. You were saying…"

"Err... sorry, but are your snakes speaking?" I asked, wanting to know if it was something like an AI system or actually the earth-worm like snakes who spoke.

"What? Ah. Wait. I'll show you. Original form please." Hermes said taking out his phone.

The phone glowed a brilliant blue. It stretched into a three-foot-long wooden staff with dove wings sprouting out the top.

"Say hello, George and Martha."

"Hello, George and Martha," a raspy male voice said... whom I assumed to be George.

"Don't be sarcastic," said the other snake in a female voice.

"Why not?" George demanded. I do all the real work."

"Oh, don't mind George." Martha flicked her tongue at me. "He's just bitter because Hermes likes me best."

"He does not!"

"Does too!"

"Behave, you two," Hermes warned, "or I'll turn you back into a cell phone and set you on vibrate! Now, Percy, you still haven't answered my question."

"Hmm... yes, I intend to set out on the quest tomorrow. I have to save my friend and retrieve the Golden Fleece."

Hermes nodded.

"I am sorry Lord Hermes, but in the most respectful way possible, why are you here exactly? I don't think you came all the way here, leaving your work, just to have a chat with me."

Hermes's eyes twinkled. "Martha, may I have the first package, please?"

Martha opened her mouth … and kept opening it until it was as wide as my arm. She belched out a stainless-steel canister-an old-fashioned lunch box thermos with a black plastic top. The sides of the thermos were enameled with red and yellow Ancient Greek scenes-a hero killing a lion; a hero lifting up Cerberus, the three-headed dog.

"That's Herakles," I said with narrowed eyes.

"The design on it is of Herakles because this is a collector's item from Hercules Busts Heads. The first season. Never question a gift, Percy."

"Hercules Busts Heads?" I asked incredulously.

"Great show." Hermes sighed. "Back before Hephaestus-TV was all reality programming. Of course, the thermos would be worth much more if I had the whole lunch box-"

"Or if it hadn't been in Martha's mouth," George added.

"I'll get you for that." Martha began chasing him around the caduceus.

"Wait a minute," I said. "This is a gift?"

#He wants something from you.# Alexander stated

'Great deduction Sherlock' I told Alexander.

"One of two," Hermes said. "Go on, pick it up."

I almost dropped it because it was freezing cold on one side and burning hot on the other. The weird thing was, when I turned the thermos, the side facing the ocean- north-was always the cold side….

"It's a compass!" I said... though I knew that there was something loads more powerful in it.

Hermes looked surprised. "Very clever. I never thought of that. But its intended use is a bit more dramatic. Uncap it, and you will release the winds from the four corners of the earth to speed you on your way. Not now! And please, when the time comes, only unscrew the lid a tiny bit. The winds are a bit like me-always restless. Should all four escape at once… ah, but I'm sure you'll be careful. And now my second gift. George?"

#That, is a hell of a gift.#

"She's touching me," George complained as he and Martha slithered around the pole.

"She's always touching you," Hermes said. "You're intertwined. And if you don't stop that, you'll get knotted again!"

The snakes immediately stopped wrestling.

George unhinged his jaw and coughed up a little plastic bottle filled with chewable vitamins.

"You're kidding," I said. "Are those Minotaur-shaped?"

Hermes picked up the bottle and rattled it. "The lemon ones, yes. The grape ones are Furies, I think. Or are they hydras? At any rate, these are potent. Don't take one unless you really- really need it."

"How will I know if I really- really need it?"

"You'll know, believe me. Nine essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids … oh, everything you need to feel yourself again."

#Those are Hermes's multivitamins! They're magical and can nullify almost any powerful magic being cast at or already affecting the eater. It works against even godly magic bar extremely powerful variants.#

Two big gifts then.

"Um, thanks," I said. "But Lord Hermes, why are you helping me? Why are you helping me?"

He gave me a melancholy smile. "Perhaps because I hope that you can save many people on this quest, Percy. Not just your friend Grover."

I stared at him. "You don't mean … Luke?"

Hermes didn't answer.

"Look," I said. "Lord Hermes, I mean, thanks and everything, but you might as well take back your gifts. Luke can't be saved. Even if I could find him … he told me he wanted to tear down Olympus stone by stone. He betrayed everybody he knew. He-he hates you especially. And I think he is beyond redemption already. He poisoned his friend's and savior's greatest memory and put his first home in great peril. He didn't care that he once had friends in the camp. He didn't care that he poisoned Thalia, the girl who sacrificed her life for him. He didn't care for Annabeth's safety."

Hermes gazed up at the stars. "My dear young cousin, if there's one thing I've learned over the eons, it's that you can't give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it. It doesn't matter if they hate you, or embarrass you, or simply don't appreciate your genius for inventing the internet! And, as the champion of the goddess of the home, you should understand this."

"I am not blaming you. I am neither telling you to give up trying to redeem your son. Just telling you that you shouldn't keep your hopes high. For your sake, I will try to talk with Luke. But I don't guarantee I will be successful. If he attacks, make no mistake, I will strike back and make sure that he is either captured or dead at my feet. Unless... he runs away like last time."

"That is all I ask. Thank you, Percy. I pray that you're successful and my son can be brought back. In the meantime, I must be going."

"You have sixty calls to return," Martha said.

"And one thousand-thirty-eight e-mails," George added. "Not counting the offers for online discount ambrosia."

"And you, Percy," Hermes said, "have a shorter deadline than you realize to complete your quest. Your friends should be coming right about … now."

I heard Annabeth's voice calling my name from the sand dunes. Tyson, too, was shouting from a little bit farther away. And so was Clarisse.

"I hope I packed well for you," Hermes said. "I do have some experience with travel." He snapped his fingers and four yellow duffel bags appeared at my feet. "Waterproof, of course. If you ask nicely, your father should be able to help you reach the ship."

"Ship?" I asked in confusion.

Hermes pointed. Sure enough, a big cruise ship was cutting across Long Island Sound, its white-and-gold lights glowing against the dark water. The peculiar thing was, that I couldn't sense the ship in the water.

"Wait," I said. "I don't understand any of this. I was going to set off in the morning for the quest!"

"I'd make up your mind in the next five minutes, if I were you," Hermes advised. "That's when the harpies will come to eat you. Now, good night, cousin, and dare I say it? May the gods go with you. Oh, and if you choose to go, I've already left a message for ol' Dionysus."

He opened his hand and the caduceus flew into it.

"Good luck," Martha told me.

"Bring me back a rat," George said.

The caduceus changed into a cell phone and Hermes slipped it into his pocket. He jogged off down the beach. Twenty paces away, he shimmered and vanished.

#We've got to go with what he has said. This is a way given by the god of travelers Percy. You should follow what he said.# Alexander advised. #And Hermes has already manipulated the mist to bring your friends here. You all will be in danger if you don't leave right now!#

"What's going on?" Annabeth asked as she skidded to a halt next to me. "I heard you calling for help!"

"Me, too!" Tyson said. "Heard you yell, 'Bad things are attacking!'"

"Percy! You said there was a monster attack." Clarisse said, looking around for monsters as her spear cackled with electricity.

"But then who…" Annabeth noticed the four yellow duffel bags, then the thermos and the bottle of vitamins I was holding.

"What—"

"Just listen," I said. "We don't have much time," I told them about my conversation with Hermes. By the time I was finished, I could hear screeching in the distance-patrol harpies picking up our scent.

"Percy," Annabeth said, "we have to start the quest now."

"Yes. Starting a few hours earlier never hurts." Clarisse grunted. "And he gave us a way for transport."

"Let's go then!" Tyson said.

"No!" Annabeth's voice sounded close to panic. "I mean… Percy, come on. You know that's impossible." I wondered again why she had such a grudge against Cyclopes. There was something she wasn't telling me.

"This isn't the time for arguments!" Clarisse said.

"Clarisse here is correct. We can't leave him." I decided. "Especially not with Tantalus around. And he could be of help. Also, Hermes sent him. Not me."

"All right," she said. "How do we get to that ship?"

"Hermes said my father would help."

"Well then, Seaweed Brain? What are you waiting for?"

"You were the one protesting owl-head!" I said kneeling on the turf before praying to my father.

At first, nothing happened. Waves crashed against the shore like normal. The harpies sounded like they were right behind the sand dunes. Then, about a hundred yards out to sea, three white lines appeared on the surface. They moved fast toward the shore, like claws ripping through the ocean. As they neared the beach, the surf burst apart, and the heads of three white stallions reared out of the waves.

Tyson caught his breath. "Fish ponies!"

He was right. As the creatures pulled themselves onto the sand, I saw that they were only horses in the front; their back halves were silvery fish bodies, with glistening scales and rainbow tail fins.

"Hippocampi!" Annabeth said. "They're beautiful." The nearest one whinnied in appreciation and nuzzled Annabeth.

"We'll admire them later," I said. "Come on!"

"Prissy. In case you didn't notice, there are four of—" Clarisse began but I interrupted her.

"The sea is my home turf, Clarisse. I don't need Hippocampi to travel. I can just swim."

"There!" a voice screeched behind us. "Bad children out of cabins! Snack time for lucky harpies!"

Five of them were fluttering over the top of the dunes-plump little hags with pinched faces and talons and feathery wings too small for their bodies. They reminded me of miniature cafeteria ladies who'd been crossbred with dodo birds. They weren't very fast, thank the gods, but they were vicious if they caught you.

"Tyson!" I said. "Grab a duffel bag!" He was still staring at the hippocampi with his mouth hanging open, "Tyson!"

"Uh?"

"Come on!"

Soon, we reached near the ship which was named PRINCESS ANDROMEDA.

Attached to the bow was a huge masthead-a three-story-tall woman wearing a white Greek chiton, sculpted to look as if she were chained to the front of the ship. She was young and beautiful, with flowing black hair, but her expression was one of absolute terror. Why anybody would want a screaming princess on the front of their vacation ship, I had no idea.

I remembered the myth about Andromeda and how she had been chained to a rock by her own parents as a sacrifice to a sea monster but was saved in the nick of time by my namesake, Perseus. The Sea monster was, of course, the Cetus Aethionius. The same monster I had slain a few months with the Huntress of Artemis.

"How do we get aboard?" Annabeth shouted over the noise of the waves, but the hippocampi seemed to know what we needed. They skimmed along the starboard side of the ship, riding easily through its huge wake as I followed them, and pulled up next to a service ladder riveted to the side of the hull.

"You first," I told Annabeth as I floated easily in the water.

She slung her duffel bag over her shoulder and grabbed the bottom rung. Once she'd hoisted herself onto the ladder, her hippocampus whinnied a farewell and dove underwater. Annabeth began to climb. I let her get a few rungs up, before motioning Clarisse to follow her. Finally, it was just Tyson and me in the water. His hippocampus was treating him to 360° aerials and backward ollies, and Tyson was laughing so hysterically, the sound echoed up the side of the ship.

"Tyson, shhh!" I said. "Come on, big guy!"

"Can't we take Rainbow?" he asked, his smile fading.

I stared at him. "Rainbow?"

The hippocampus whinnied as if he liked his new name.

"Um, we have to go," I said. "Rainbow … well, he can't climb ladders."

Tyson sniffled. He buried his face in the hippocampus's mane. "I will miss you, Rainbow!"

The hippocampus made a neighing sound I could've sworn was crying. "Maybe we'll see him again sometime," I suggested.

"Oh, please!" Tyson said, perking up immediately. "Tomorrow!"

I didn't make any promises, but I finally convinced Tyson to say his farewells and grab hold of the ladder. With a final sad whinny, Rainbow the hippocampus did a back-flip and dove into the sea.

I followed Tyson up the ladder.

The ladder led to a maintenance deck stacked with yellow lifeboats. There was a set of locked double doors, which I opened with my Balisong knife.

Locked doors weren't a problem for me. The problem was, I couldn't feel the water... or control the ship like I should. Also, my senses said that the ship was moving faster than it should be possible.

#There is something seriously wrong with the ship if Poseidon has no control over it Percy.# Alexander said. #This ship is outside the influence of gods. Like its own territory. This is the work of a god... or a Titan Percy.#

'Should we get off right now?'

#No. Hermes must have sent you here for a reason. He could've easily told you to pray to your father for a ship. Or even give you a boat. But he went out of his way to get you to this ship including preponing your quest by a fourth of a day. You should stay here. But, don't let your guard down under any circumstances. We'll face what is to come. See if there are any divine beings on the ship.#

I expanded my senses but could feel no one other than my own companions. I couldn't even feel more than 20 yards away from me.

At the sea, I could sense everything in a half-nautical mile radius. And even normally on the land, I could feel a radius of 50 to 70 meters depending on the humidity in the air.

#Definitely godly magic.# Alexander said.

"Guys, be careful. Something's wrong in this ship." I told my friends as I pushed the doors open. "Keep your guard up at all times."

They nodded and we started to venture deeper into the ship.

After nearly twenty minutes of sneaking and exploring, I concluded one thing: For such a well-protected ship, it certainly was deserted.

#Perhaps it is transporting something.#

'In such a luxurious ship? Cargo would be understandable.'

#It is possible that it may be a guise. Who would check a luxury cruise for weapons of mass destruction?#

'You say it is a deception... that is certainly possible. But then we need to find the weapons... or whatever treasure this ship is carrying. And destroy it... or hopefully, take it for ourselves.'

#The second option does sound loads better. Well, let's loot this ship! First, you need to ensure that your friends can get some sleep. They don't have the same endurance and abilities as you do.#

'Fair enough.'

"It's a ghost ship," Clarisse murmured.

"No," Tyson said, fiddling with the strap of his duffel bag. "Bad smell."

Annabeth frowned. "I don't smell anything."

"Cyclopes are like satyrs, Annabeth," I said. "They can smell monsters. Isn't that right, Tyson?"

He nodded nervously.

"Okay," Annabeth said. "So, what exactly do you smell?"

"Something bad," Tyson answered.

"Great," Annabeth grumbled. "That clears it up."

We came outside on the swimming pool level. There were rows of empty deck chairs and a bar closed off with a chain curtain. The water in the pool glowed eerily, sloshing back and forth from the motion of the ship.

#This means there are at least a few monsters on the ship. They must be here to protect whatever they are transporting.#

I gave Alexander a mental nod and looked around. There was no sign of life on the ship yet. But the fact that I couldn't sense the ocean despite being in the middle of the sea was worrying me... irking me more like it.

"We need a hiding place," I said. "Somewhere safe to sleep for the night."

"Sleep," Annabeth agreed wearily while Clarisse just grunted in agreement.

We explored a few more corridors until we found an empty suite on the ninth level. The door was open, which struck me as weird. There was a basket of chocolate goodies on the table, an iced-down bottle of sparkling cider on the nightstand, and a mint on the pillow with a handwritten note that said: Enjoy your cruise!

We opened our duffel bags for the first time and found that Hermes had thought of everything-extra clothes, toiletries, camp rations, a Ziploc bag full of cash, a leather pouch full of golden drachmas. He'd even managed to pack Tyson's oilcloth with his tools and metal bits, and Annabeth's cap of invisibility, which made them both feel a lot better.

"Clarisse and Annabeth, you girls sleep here while Tyson and I will go next door. Just don't eat or drink anything that is on this ship before being sure that it is safe. Alright?"

The two girls nodded.

Tyson and I went out of the room to the adjacent room. I let Tyson take the bed to sleep while I lay down on the couch.

Tyson tinkered for a few minutes on his metalworking project-which he still wouldn't show me-but soon enough he was yawning. He wrapped up his oilcloth and passed out on the bed. Once I made sure he was asleep, I went outside the suite and covered the whole suite with the strongest mist I could muster. I couldn't let my friends be in any type of danger. I ensured that no one less than an Olympian god could see through the mist I had layered on the door. Any lesser being would see or sense nothing but a plain wall.

Thankfully, I won't be affected by my own mist manipulation.

Then, I cloaked myself with the darkness and started exploring the ship further. My shoes ensured that my movements made no noise. For protection, I was already in my complete armor and my dagger was in my hand. I wasn't taking any risks especially when I knew I was likely in enemy territory.

I explored through the rooms on the floor I was on, most of which turned out to be empty. The ones which were occupied were occupied by Mortals. I found nothing out of the ordinary till I walked down to the Promenade in the ship. There was an Arena that had been made there. An arena similar to the one we had at the camp, just bigger. But, the most concerning thing were the dummies around the room... or specifically what was on them. The dummies were wearing a very familiar camp-half blood shirt.

I sucked in a sharp breath. The monsters were being trained to specifically attack demigods who went to the camp.

#Percy, continue further. We need to see what is in the ship.# Alexander urged. #We don't have much time. An hour tops before you need to return to your friends. After that, I suggest you take a lifeboat and get the hell off this ship. And, I don't think you can destroy it, Percy.# He added the last part as soon as I thought about destroying the ship.

'Why can't I? An earthquake would sink the ship well and good.'

#Try it.#

'I beg your pardon!?'

#Try it. Channel your earth-shaker powers through your trident and slam it on the floor. Trust me.#

I decided to do as Alexander said and slammed the butt of my trident on the tiled floor. The Earthquake was powerful enough to rock the ship badly and demolish the floor area I was standing on... or so I thought. The result I got was the tile, which I had slammed the butt of my trident on cracking badly. The surrounding tiles only had mild cracks on them.

"What the hell?" I whispered out loud.

#See? The ship is well protected especially against Poseidon's powers as I assumed. The whole floor should've been demolished by the power you put in that Earthquake. Instead, only a single tile was cracked.#

Suddenly the hair on my neck stood up and I ducked beneath a counter immediately.

"Ssssee, I told you no one was here!" A serpent-like feminine voice said.

"I heard something from here!" A gruff voice replied.

"You're hallucinating you moron!" the female snapped.

I immediately manipulated the mist to cover the cracks on the floor.

"But I smell a demigod!"

"Of course, you do! The sssship is full of them."

"It smells like the sea."

"We're in the middle of the ocean, you idiot! Of course, you can smell the sea."

The gruff male voice grumbled under his breath.

"Now, don't disturb me again! We've Practice in a couple of hours. I need to sleep!" The female voice snapped and the two walked out of the room.

I peeked to confirm that the coast was clear. I didn't kill them because, for all I knew, there could be someone waiting to raise alarm if the two didn't return or went missing. I couldn't take risks till I knew for sure what the Hell was going on here.

But, one thing was sure. The ship had monsters and demigods serving the Titan lord. How many? That was the question.

Also, I needed to know if they were just transporting something... like weapons and demigods, or was this a floating base for the titans.

#By what I am seeing, I think that this is a base for the Titans Percy. Maybe a moving army which would go places and attack when they have to or defend other bases.#

'That means they have at least a decent amount of force here.'

#Yes. See kid, complete exploring this level and the level below this before returning to your friends. Then take a lifeboat and get the hell off here.#

'Fair enough.'

Half an hour later, I found myself sneaking back to the suite my friends were sleeping in. The loot wasn't as successful as I wanted it to be.

All I had found was a small armory with a few weapons. There were a dozen standard swords, spears, bows, and several quivers full of normal arrows, all of which were currently stored in my tent. The best thing I had found was a dozen smoke grenades, a dozen tear gas grenades, a crate full of Greek fire grenades, and finally ten machine guns capable of firing 300 rounds in a minute... and had 150 rounds in a magazine.

But the guns were already loaded and ready for use at a moment's notice. It signified that the army on this ship was sufficiently prepared for an attack.

So anyway, I took all of those things and sneaked back to the suite my friends were in. None of them had woken up from their slumbers yet. So, I just plopped myself on the couch and took off my shoes and upper apparel, and put the clothes in my bag. After that, I took a pair of fresh clothes out and went to the bathroom to freshen up and get ready to get off this ship and proceed with my quest.

As soon as I came out of the bathroom, completely dressed and prepared for the day, the P.A system played a soft tune before an announcement started: "Good morning, passengers! We'll be at sea all day today. Excellent weather for the poolside mambo party! Don't forget million-dollar bingo in the Kraken Lounge at one o'clock, and for our special guests, disemboweling practice on the Promenade!"

Tyson groaned and woke up as the adjoining door of our room slammed open and Annabeth rushed in followed by Clarisse.

"Disemboweling practice?"

I nodded. "Get ready. We're getting the hell off this ship in half an hour. Go! Go! Go!" I ordered them.

The girls immediately went back to their rooms while Tyson rushed to the bathroom.

Exactly twenty-five minutes later, the four of us were ready to leave. Everyone had changed into fresh clothes and had their duffle bags slung over their shoulders.

"Ok. This ship has monsters and demigods both. This is Luke's ship... or one of them at least if I am to assume. This ship is outside the influence of gods as far as I can tell because I cannot feel the ocean beneath us."

"That is impossible!" Annabeth exclaimed. "We are in the middle of the ocean!"

"Yes. There is magic at work. The Magic is so powerful that this ship is hidden from my father too and completely outside godly influence. Want to see? ZEUS IS UNFIT TO BE THE KING OF GODS!" I shouted.

Annabeth and Clarisse immediately looked at the ceiling in fear but, no rumble of thunder ever came. There was no sound, no lightning, no change around us.

"Wow. We are completely hidden." Annabeth said after a few moments.

"And in the enemy territory," Clarisse added.

"Let's get off then!" Tyson exclaimed and we nodded in agreement.

We headed out into the ship and saw several people around. A dozen senior citizens were heading to breakfast. A dad was taking his kids to the pool for a morning swim. Crew members in crisp white uniforms strolled the deck, tipping their hats to the passengers. Nobody asked who we were. Nobody paid us much attention.

As the family of swimmers passed us, the dad told his kids: "We are on a cruise. We are having fun."

"Yes," his three kids said in unison, their expressions blank. "We are having a blast. We will swim in the pool." They wandered off.

"Good morning," a crew member told us, his eyes glazed. "We are all enjoying ourselves aboard the Princess Andromeda. Have a nice day." He drifted away.

"Percy, this is weird," Annabeth whispered. "They're all in some kind of trance."

"The titan lord is powerful enough to influence an Olympian Annabeth. A few dozen mortal are nothing for him."

Then we passed a cafeteria and saw our first monster... well first for the rest of my companions at least.

It was a hellhound-a black mastiff with its front paws up on the buffet line and its muzzle buried in the scrambled eggs. It must've been young because it was small compared to most-no bigger than a grizzly bear.

The weird thing was: a middle-aged couple was standing in the buffet line right behind the devil dog, patiently waiting their turn for the eggs. They didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary.

"Not hungry anymore," Tyson murmured.

Before Annabeth, Clarisse, or I could reply, a reptilian voice came from down the corridor, "Ssssix more joined yesssterday."

Annabeth gestured frantically toward the nearest hiding place: the women's restroom- and all four of us ducked inside.

Something-or more like two somethings-slithered past the bathroom door, making sounds like sandpaper against the carpet. "Yesss," a second reptilian voice said. "He drawssss them. Ssssoon we will be sssstrong."

The things slithered into the cafeteria with a cold hissing that might have been snake laughter.

Clarisse looked at me. "We have to get out of here."

"Yes. But first I want to get out of here... this is a women's restroom. It is inappropriate for me to be here. Even Tyson."

"Smells bad," Tyson agreed. "And dogs eat all the eggs. Percy is right. We must leave the restroom and ship."

Then I heard another voice outside. One that chilled me worse than any monsters.

"—only a matter of time. Don't push me, Agrius!"

It was Luke, beyond a doubt. I could never forget his voice.

"I'm not pushing you!" another guy growled. His voice was deeper and even angrier than Luke's. "I'm just saying if this gamble doesn't pay off—"

"It'll pay off," Luke snapped. 'They'll take the bait. Now, come, we've got to get to the admiralty suite and check on the casket." Their voices receded down the corridor.

Tyson whimpered. "Leave now?"

"We should follow Castellan!" Clarisse growled.

"And find out what he is up to," I added.

"And if possible, we're going to beat him up, bind him in chains, and drag him to Mount Olympus." Annabeth said. "I am sneaking after him under my invi—"

"No. We all go or we don't." I said firmly. "You're a good fighter Annabeth but we don't know what's out there. It is either all or it is none."

"Nobody!" Tyson voted. "Please?" But in the end, he came along, nervously chewing on his huge fingernails. He also carried all of our duffle bags as he could carry them as easily as a guy could carry a small backpack.

I didn't care much about the duffle bags as my main bag was with me at all times... the bag I had taken from the vault on Alexander's orders before I came to the camp. It had everything I needed including enough weapons to arm a small army.

We sneaked through the corridors, following the ship's YOU ARE HERE signs toward the admiralty suite. Annabeth scouted ahead invisibly. We hid whenever someone passed by, but most of the people we saw were just glassy-eyed zombie passengers. As we came up the stairs to deck thirteen, where the admiralty suite was supposed to be, Annabeth hissed, "Hide!" and shoved us into a supply closet.

I heard a couple of guys coming down the hall.

"You see that Aethiopian Drakon in the cargo hold?" one of them said.

The other laughed. "Yeah, it's awesome." Annabeth was still invisible, but she squeezed my arm hard. I got a feeling I should know that second guy's voice.

"I hear they got two more coming," the familiar voice said. "They keep arriving at this rate, oh, man-no contest!"

The voices faded down the corridor.

"That was Chris Rodriguez!" Annabeth took off her cap and turned visible. "You remember-from Cabin Eleven?"

I sort of recalled Chris from the summer before. He was one of those undetermined campers who got stuck in the Hermes cabin because his Olympian dad or mom never claimed him. Now that I thought about it, I realized I hadn't seen Chris at camp this summer.

"He has joined the enemy," Clarisse said.

I nodded before pushing open the supply closet door and peeking outside to see if the coast was clear. It was.

We kept going down the corridor. I didn't need maps anymore to know I was getting close to Luke. I sensed something cold and unpleasant-the presence of evil.

#KRONOS!# Alexander shouted in my head. #This is my father's presence. You need to get out Percy. Abort mission.#

"Percy," Annabeth called my attention. "Look."

She stood in front of a glass wall looking down into the multistorey canyon that ran through the middle of the ship. At the bottom was the Promenade-a mall full of shops- but that's not what had caught Annabeth's attention. A group of monsters had assembled in front of the candy store: a dozen Laistrygonian giants like the ones who'd attacked me with dodge balls, two hellhounds, and a few even Scythian Dracaenas- humanoid females with twin serpent tails instead of legs.

"Scythian Dracaena," Annabeth whispered. "Dragon women."

The monsters made a semicircle around a young guy in Greek armor who was hacking on a straw dummy wearing a camp half-blood t-shirt.

We watched, the guy in armor stabbed the dummy through its belly and ripped upward. Straw flew everywhere. The monsters cheered and howled. Annabeth stepped away from the window. Her face was ashen.

#Percy. Get. Out. Of. Here.# Alexander said in frustration.

"Let's get out of here," I told my friends.

"No. We need to find what Castellan is up to." Clarisse said.

"Yes. Intel on the enemy is the most important part while fighting." Annabeth agreed. "We're finding out what that traitor is up to."

I looked at Tyson for support. He just shrugged.

He changed sides. Goddamn it!

I sighed and followed them, preparing myself for a fight.

"Come on," Clarisse told me, "The sooner we find Luke the better."

At the end of the hallway were double oak doors that looked like they must lead somewhere important. When we were thirty feet away, Tyson stopped.

"Voices inside."

"You can hear that far?" I asked.

Tyson closed his eye like he was concentrating hard. Then his voice changed, becoming a husky approximation of Luke's. "-the prophecy ourselves. The fools won't know which way to turn."

Before I could react, Tyson's voice changed again, becoming deeper and gruffer, like the other guy we'd heard talking to Luke outside the cafeteria. "You really think the old horseman is gone for good?"

Tyson laughed Luke's laugh. "They can't trust him. Not with the skeletons in his closet. The poisoning of the tree was the final straw."

Annabeth shivered. "Stop that, Tyson! How do you do that? It's creepy."

Tyson opened his eye and looked puzzled. "Just listening."

"Keep going," I said. "What else are they saying?"

Tyson closed his eye again. He hissed in the gruff man's voice: "Quiet!"

Then Luke's voice, whispering: "Are you sure?"

I suddenly felt them nearing and my blood turned cold. But, before I could react, the doors of the stateroom burst open and there was Luke, flanked by two hairy giants armed with javelins, their bronze tips aimed right at our chests.

"Well," Luke said with a crooked smile. "If it isn't my two favorite cousins. Come right in."

I normally would've immediately engaged in combat but I compiled with Luke's wishes.

The stateroom was beautiful, and it was horrible. The beautiful part: huge windows curved along the back wall, looking out over the stern of the ship. The Green sea and blue sky stretched all the way to the horizon. A Persian rug covered the floor. Two plush sofas occupied the middle of the room, with a canopied bed in one corner and a mahogany dining table in the other. The table was loaded with food-pizza boxes, bottles of soda, and a stack of roast beef sandwiches on a silver platter.

The horrible part: On a velvet dais at the back of the room lay a ten-foot-long golden casket. A sarcophagus, engraved with Ancient Greek scenes of cities in flames and heroes dying grisly deaths. Despite the sunlight streaming through the windows, the casket made the whole room feel cold.

#My father's energy radiated from that.#

"Well," Luke said, spreading his arms proudly. "A little nicer than Cabin Eleven, huh?"

He'd changed since the last summer. Instead of Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt, he wore a button-down shirt, khaki pants, and leather loafers. His sandy hair, which used to be so unruly, was now clipped short. He looked like an evil male model, showing off what the fashionable college-age villain was wearing to Harvard this year. He still had the scar under his eye-a jagged white line from his battle with a dragon. And propped against the sofa was his magical sword, Backbiter, glinting strangely with its half-steel, half-Celestial bronze blade that could kill both mortals and monsters.

"Sit," he told us. He waved his hand and four dining chairs scooted themselves into the center of the room.

He certainly had received a few powers from the titans.

I gave him a snobbish look before waving my own hand.

Immediately, the grandest chair in the whole room scooted towards me while a dining chair scooted at Luke's feet.

It actually wasn't my own power but actually Alexander's. I just did it as a little showmanship never hurt.

I sat on the grand chair like I owned the ship. But my other friends were still standing.

Luke's large friends were still pointing their javelins at us. They looked like twins, but they weren't human. They stood about eight feet tall, for one thing, and wore only blue jeans, probably because their enormous chests were already shag-carpeted with thick brown fur. They had claws for fingernails, feet like paws. Their noses were snout-like, and their teeth were all pointed canines.

#Agrius and Oreius.# Alexander informed. #They will be tough opponents to defeat especially when there are two of them.#

"Awfully inhospitable of you Luke. You invited us in as guests and you're having your friends pointing spears at me."

"Oh, this is till the rest of my friends arrive, they would be coming here about... now." As soon as he said it, two women entered the room followed by a score of cyclopes and Scythian Dracaena. They were followed by a dozen mortal men with machine guns.

My blood turned cold when I realized who the two women were. They were titanesses.

#Theia and Tethys! Percy, do not engage them. I repeat do not engage them unless absolutely necessary. Try to talk diplomatically till you can find a way to escape with your friends.#

The identity of the two ladies certainly explained the grandeur and protection on the ship.

I maintained a completely neutral expression as the two elder Titanesses stood in front of me. Theia snapped her fingers and two thrones studded with jewels and diamonds appeared in front of us.

Theia looked like a queen would look like during an important royal function. Her gown looked like it was made of pure gold and silver while her jewelry looked worth millions. Tethys on the other hand looked more like a woman who was a mother to several children. She wore a simple bluish-green top with jeans.

The expressions on their face mirrored mine. Completely neutral and aristocratic-like. But it looked loads better on them than it looked on me.

Luke smiled coldly at us. "Let me introduce you to—"

"Ladies Theia and Tethys. Titaness of splendor and Titaness of the sea respectively. I know. Go fetch us some refreshments, Luke." I said.

Luke's eyes twitched at being addressed like a servant. Before he could say anything, Tethys said, "Yes boy, go bring us some refreshments."

From Luke's face, I could tell that Tethys and Luke didn't get along well.

#Use it to your advantage Percy.# Alexander said. #I don't think they are looking to kill you and your friends. Or else you would be engaged in battle by now.#

Luke just gestured to Agrius and Oreius to fetch us refreshments which were lying on the table.

"Oh, and where are my manners?" Luke said in a fake apologetic tone.

"You don't have any," I replied instantly but Luke ignored me.

"These are my assistants Agrius and Oreius. You know their story, don't you? Their mother… well, it's sad, really. Aphrodite ordered the young woman to fall in love. She refused and ran to Artemis for help. Artemis let her become one of her maiden huntresses, but Aphrodite got her revenge. She bewitched the young woman into falling in love with a bear. When Artemis found out, she abandoned the girl in disgust. Typical of the gods, wouldn't you say? They fight with one another and the poor humans get caught in the middle. The girl's twin sons here, Agrius and Oreius, have no love for Olympus. They like half-bloods well enough, though…"

"Luke, thank you for your very informative but completely useless monologue," I said with a sweet smile. "Now, if you're done, may I talk to the important people in the room?"

Luke's eye twitched again. It looked like he was controlling his temper.

"The boy at least has decent sense." Tethys mused.

"And he knows who is important, unlike this one," Theia said pointing at Luke dismissively.

I ignored both of them and turned to my friends. "Annabeth, Clarisse, Tyson, you all can eat and drink if you want. After all, we do not want to waste our hosts' precious hospitality, do we?"

I gave them a look to go with it. I knew that the food wasn't poisoned or drugged. Alexander had checked as much.

"Now," I said turning to the titanesses in the room. "What can I do for you both?"

"Perseus Jackson," Theia said. "Welcome to our humble abode."

"You know, humble isn't a word I expected from the Titaness of splendor."

She just smirked in response.

"Why are we wasting time!?" Clarisse growled; her patience finally having run out. "This Traitor," she spat at Luke, "poisoned Thalia's tree."

Luke sighed. "Right to the point, eh? Okay, sure I poisoned the tree. So what?"

"How could you?" Annabeth sounded so angry I thought she'd explode. "Thalia saved your life! Our lives! How could you dishonor her-"?

"I didn't dishonor her!" Luke snapped. "The gods dishonored her, Annabeth! If Thalia were alive, she'd be on my side."

"LIAR!"

"If you knew what was coming, you'd understand-"

"I understand you want to destroy the camp!" she yelled. "You are working with the likes of them," Annabeth added jabbing a finger at the two titanesses. "You're a monster!"

Tethys and Theia who were watching their exchange like a Tennis match till now narrowed their eyes at Annabeth's remark.

I cleared my throat. "The Ladies and I were about to talk. Luke, hasn't your mother taught you that it is inappropriate to talk when your superiors are talking?"

Luke's face turned red but before he could do anything, the Titanesses laughed.

"Oh, I like this one already," Theia said.

"Of course, you do. He is a descendant of the sea. He is of course better than the Hermes spawn." Tethys added.

Luke by now looked ready to explode in rage but indecisive of whom he wanted to kill first. But, if he attacked either of us, he would end up dead or horribly injured.

"Join us, Perseus Jackson. You would make a great leader for our army. The Titan Lord will give you everything you wish. The gods have blinded you, Perseus Jackson. You and your friends are all blinded by the gods. They have made this world a rotten place. Join us Perseus and make this world anew. Be the Herald to the new golden age." Theia said grandly as she spread her arms.

"You have great potential Perseus Jackson. Like the sea, your potential has no limits. You are very powerful. You're extremely skilled. You have already defeated two gods in one-on-one combat. You've killed Echidna, Chimera, Medusa, the furies, the Minotaur, and several other monsters to date single-handedly. You are a born leader Perseus. You're the avenger and you're the destroyer. Your name itself stands for that. Join us to destroy the gods and avenge the world from the gods' Tyranny. Join us and make the world a better place."

"You know, if I didn't know a lot about you Titans already, believe me, I would've fallen for that. But, unfortunately for you, you guys are pretty famous... or should I say infamous for your cruelty and Tyranny. Kronos... is just the worse. I, in good conscience, cannot let him take over." As I invoked the Titan Lord's name, the room darkened and an evil aura spread from the coffin.

"You must remember that History is written by victors demigod. The age of Titans is also known as the Golden age. It was a Titan who gave fire and shape to you mortals. It was a Titan who whispered into the ears of you mortals that has led to so much advancement. The gods have done nothing but—"

"Might I remind you, that Prometheus supported the gods against you guys in the Titanomachy... because he knew you were pathetic despite the numbers you had?" I replied.

"And see where it led him! He was punished by the gods and chained to a rock for helping mankind! The poor boy's liver is—"

"Ahem. Correction. The gods punished Prometheus because he broke several ancient laws by directly interfering with mortals. Might I also add, he did nothing more than speed up their advancement by a few years? And, might I also tell you that fire existed and was used by mortals much before Prometheus took fire to them. And while we are at it, let me tell you, Prometheus taught mortals to use fire as a means of destruction and power rather than for warmth and protection. The fire of the hearth burned in every home in peace before Prometheus did that. He gave mortals the means to fight wars on a bloodier scale. That was why he was punished. He didn't want advancement, he wanted war. He had the idea that by giving mortals superior weapons, they may be able to overthrow gods in the long run. That was why he was punished."

The two titanesses were silent while the other demigods, including Luke, looked at them in surprise for confirmation.

"What... I always thought that..."

"Prometheus was unfairly punished." I completed Annabeth's sentence. "But he wasn't. Mortals used fire for protection, warmth, cooking and other good things way before Prometheus was punished. The fire of the hearth burned in every home since the dawn of Olympus. Prometheus just gave mortals the means to use fire destructively and as power. He is the reason why mortals have such destructive weapons today. He is partially the reason for destructiveness in wars mortals have fought. Ain't, I correct Theia, Tethys?"

They just sat there with pursed lips.

I turned to Luke, "You see Luke? How do the Titans lie to you? How they... manipulated you. They manipulated you so badly that they made you destroy and dishonor Thalia's memory and made you put the ones whom you considered friends in mortal danger." I said.

He sneered. "Dishonoring Thalia's memory? You don't even know who she was Jackson! You have no right to talk about her!"

I shrugged.

I had planted the seeds of doubt in Luke's mind. It was bound to cause some discord between Luke and Kronos now.

"You talk to Luke about dishonoring a hero's memory Jackson when your friend, Annabeth Chase herself does it? She travels with one of the very kin who is responsible for her friend's death." Theia said giving a pointed look to Annabeth.

"Shut it!" Annabeth shouted.

I didn't know what the Titaness was talking about, but Annabeth buried her head in her hands like she was about to cry.

"Theia, leave Annabeth and Tyson out of this. We're doing the talking here."

Theia laughed. "Oh, yeah, I heard. Your father claimed the Cyclops, didn't he?"

"...So?" I asked, completely clueless of where she was going.

"How many insults from your father can you stand, Perseus? Do you think he's grateful to you? You think Poseidon cares for you any more than he cares for this monster?" Theia said.

Tyson clenched his fists and made a rumbling sound down in his throat.

Theia just chuckled. "The gods are so using you, Percy. Do you have any idea what's in store for you if you reach your sixteenth birthday? Have they even told you the prophecy?"

"A half-blood of the eldest gods...? Yeah, I know that one." I said, throwing the Titaness of her game.

"Then you are a fool, Perseus Jackson."

Tyson smashed the nearest dining chair to splinters. "Percy is not a fool!" Before I could stop him, he charged Luke who was the nearest to him.

His fists came down toward Luke's head-a double overhead blow that would've knocked a hole in titanium-but the bear twins intercepted. They each caught one of Tyson's arms and stopped him cold. They pushed him back and Tyson stumbled. He fell to the carpet so hard the deck shook.

"Too bad, Cyclops," Luke said. "Looks like my grizzly friends together are more than a match for your strength. Maybe I should let them—"

Luke stopped short as he felt the touch of the cold metal of my storm-rider on his neck. Even the Titanesses blinked in shock at how fast I had moved. A second later, even Clarisse and Annabeth were on their feet but I gave them a warning look that said: Don't do anything.

"I dare you to order them Castellan. I dare you." I said, my voice colder than Antarctic storms. "You know, your father sent us here. He—"

"Don't-even- mention him," Luke growled.

"He told us to take this boat. I thought it was just for a ride, but he sent us here to find you. He told me he won't give up on you, no matter how angry you are. In response—"

"Angry?" Luke roared. "Give up on me? He abandoned me, Percy! I want Olympus destroyed! Every throne crushed to rubble! You tell Hermes it's going to happen, too. Each time a half-blood joins us, the Olympians grow weaker and we grow stronger. He grows stronger." Luke pointed to the gold sarcophagus.

"Stop interrupting me!" I said pressing my blade deeper into his neck. "As I was saying, I said, you were too far gone and there was no hope for you. I told him, if you don't listen, we will fight till you're dead or captured. I can kill you in a swipe of my sword Luke. I give you an offer. Leave him and I don't kill you right away."

"Jackson, we outnumber you and your friends ten to one in this very room. We are two Titanesses and there are several monsters here. Drop your sword if you want your friends to live." Tethys said standing up from her throne and Theia followed her lead. A trident appeared in Tethys's hand while a spear in Theia's.

"And what is the guarantee that once I drop this sword you won't kill me?" I asked as my armor appeared on my body.

"I swear on the five sacred rivers that no one in this room will kill you or attack you today unless you attack first once you drop your sword. If they even try to attack you first, I will make sure that none of you or your friends are injured." Tethys said.

A huge thunder rumbled in the sky.

I raised my eyebrow. A vow on all the rivers of the underworld? That was a serious oath that even affected immortals severely if they broke it.

"Jackson, drop your sword unless you want us to kill your friends." Theia warned.

I dropped my sword on the ground and my armor disappeared.

Luke breathed a sigh of relief before distancing himself from me.

"Luke, you know what to do." Theia said.

Luke grinned. "Security! We have some stowaways. Take them away."

The monsters advanced on us. I looked at my friends and shook my head slightly. Annabeth and Clarisse raised their hands in a signal of surrender. Tyson followed their lead.

Luke turned to Oreius. "It's time to feed the Aethiopian Drakon. Take these fools below and show them how it's done."

Oreius grinned stupidly. "Hehe! Hehe!"

"Let me go, too," Agrius grumbled. "My brother is worthless. That Cyclops—"

"Is no threat," Luke said. He glanced back at the golden casket as if something were troubling him. "At least not compared to the other three especially Jackson. Agrius, stay here. We have important matters to discuss. Lady Tethys will accompany them to make sure the Drakon is well-fed"

"You have no right to order me around boy." Tethys snarled at Luke.

"I don't. But, my lord does." Luke said.

Tethys suddenly froze and her eyes glazed a bit.

She blinked before nodding at no one in particular.

"Come everyone. We will accompany the prisoners." Tethys said.

"A Titaness and around fifty guards for four people. I love your fear." I said giving a short laugh.

Tethys just raised an eyebrow. "I am not going to fall for that Jackson. I can feel the power you wield. You'll make a hundred times better commander in the Titan army than this boy here. Join us, Jackson. I give you one more chance. The Titan king will award you with a place on the Titan council once the gods are overthrown. You'll have your place as the commander of the seas too."

"No thanks. I will pass." I replied

"Then you and your friends are about to become Drakon Lunch. Come. And no smart moves." Tethys said jabbing her trident in our direction.

Oreius lightly poked my friends in the back and we were led out. Oreius walked directly behind Tyson while Tethys walked just behind me. The two girls were surrounded by the Dracaenas. The Cyclopes took the front of the group while the mortals took the rear.

We exited the corridor amidships and walked across an open deck lined with lifeboats. I knew the ship well enough to realize this would be our last look at the sunlight. Once we got to the other side, we'd take the elevator down into the hold, and that would be it. I needed to act now.

I shared a sideway glance with my friends before yelling, "NOW!"

As I said it, I backhanded Tethys while channeling earth-shaker powers in my hand. Tyson on the other hand smacked Oreius. Both flew several feet back. Oreius landed in the pool while Tethys hit the floor.

The girls immediately took their spears out and swung them, decapitating more than half-dozen unprepared monsters in a single swipe each.

The mortals pulled the safety of their guns but before they could do anything, I let out a yell and they were burnt by a wall of fire. The mortals screamed in pain and rolled on the floor trying to put out the flames.

My armor appeared as Storm breaker came back to my hand in trident form. I slowed time down for me and my friends and we started demolishing the monsters that surrounded us.

I felt my senses tingle and raised my trident just in time to block Tethys's strike as she suddenly appeared beside me in sea mist and tried to take me by surprise. She was in full battle armor and her eyes were glowing dangerously. She furiously attacked me.

A person less trained than I was would have fallen to her trident within seconds but unfortunately for her, I was trained by three war gods. I met her strikes head-on.

Tethys could attack me now, both in accordance with her oath and the ancient laws as I had struck her first.

I engaged in combat with the Titaness of the sea while my friends killed Cyclopes and the remaining Dracaenas.

I ducked under a swipe of her trident before jabbing my own towards her midsection. She parried the strike effortlessly and attacked me again.

"GO YOU ALL!" I ordered my friends as I parried the strikes by the Titaness and analyzed her fighting style.

"We aren't leaving—" Annabeth started but I interrupted her.

"JUST GO! TAKE THE LIFEBOAT AND THE THERMOS! I'LL BE RIGHT BEHIND! GO!" I yelled putting war command in my voice.

They obeyed immediately and rushed to the lifeboats and climbed in one. The lifeboat was hanging over the side of the ship, high above the water. Annabeth and Tyson were having no luck with the release pulley.

I swung my trident at Tethys who raised her own to defend herself but just before the Tridents could connect in a clang of metal, I willed my trident into its sword form. Tethys eyes widened a fraction of a second before my blade connected with her torso and scored a gash on her abdomen. Ichor dripped from the wound as she stumbled in surprise. I headbutted her hard before drawing a throwing knife from my shoulder and threw it straight at the rope tying the lifeboat in which my friends were in.

The knife cut through the rope with deadly precision and the boat free fell towards the ocean just as I blocked another strike from Tethys as alarms wailed on the ship.

"That was foolish Perseus. You attacked a Titaness and let your backup go away. Now you'll understand the severity of your mistake to attack a titan base without backup." Tethys said in a mocking tone.

I gave her a grin from underneath my Helmet as I parried one more of her strikes. "You were seeing the avenger till now Tethys. Now, I will show you the destroyer!"

ANNABETH POV

I watched in fascination as my best friend, at least my best friend after Luke's betrayal went toe to toe with the Titaness of the sea herself. I was still being vastly unsuccessful to loosen the pulley and so I had decided to look at what Percy was doing.

I saw him effortlessly parry every strike from Tethys almost effortlessly as they engaged in a dance of death. I had no illusions that I would've been dead by now had I been in Percy's place. Suddenly, Percy's trident converted to a sword in mid-swing and connected with Tethys's torso drawing the first blood in the fight. He then head-butted the surprised Titaness just before throwing a knife in our direction.

My eyes widened as I realized what the idiot had done but it was too late as his knife struck the rope holding our lifeboat with deadly precision and cut through it.

The next moment, we were free-falling towards the ocean. I knew what I had to do. What Percy had told me to do.

"Thermos!" I screamed as we hurtled toward the water.

"What?" Clarisse must've thought I'd lost my mind. She was holding on to the boat straps for dear life, her hair flying straight up like a torch. But Tyson understood. He managed to open Percy's duffel bag and take out Hermes's magical thermos without losing his grip on it or the boat.

"I am hanging on!" Clarisse yelled.

"Tighter!" I hooked my feet under the boat's inflatable bench, and as Tyson grabbed Clarisse and me by the backs of our shirts, I gave the thermos cap a quarter turn. Instantly, a white sheet of wind jetted out of the thermos and propelled us sideways, turning our downward plummet into a forty-five-degree crash landing. The wind seemed to laugh as it shot from the thermos like it was glad to be free. As we hit the ocean, we bumped once, twice, skipping like a stone, then we were whizzing along like a speed boat, salt spray in our faces and nothing but sea ahead.

We were traveling at speeds that shouldn't have been possible. The Princess Andromeda was already becoming a speck in the distance within a few seconds. I felt tears cloud my eyes as I realized what I had done.

I had just left my friend behind to die on a ship that had monsters, demigods, and Titans. I had left him in the enemy territory as he sacrificed himself to let us escape. The same thing Thalia had done when I was seven to let me escape from a hoard of monsters. This time it was Percy who had done it.

"Don't worry," Clarisse said as if reading my mind. "Prissy is the toughest guy I know. He is the best there is. If someone could escape from there, it would be Percy Jackson. And I know he will. Remember, he still has to save Grover. Percy has defeated the odds previously. He will be back."

I just prayed to every deity whose name I knew that Clarisse was right. I prayed to the gods that Percy Jackson was alive and escaped the ship.

PERCY POV.

As soon as I said those words, I let out a huge fireball made of Greek fire towards Tethys. Her eyes widened and she ducked. But my fireball wasn't wasted as it hit a group of monsters that were spilling onto the deck and exploded killing them instantly.

I attacked Tethys with renewed vigor and immediately put her on backfoot. She was doing her level best to stop my sword from hitting her but, I was still successful to draw ichor as I scored several cuts on her body.

More monsters were flooding onto the deck by the second.

'Alexander, tell me what will happen if I channel Earth-shaker powers into my swords and bang them together?'

#Theoretically, it will cause a devastating three-hundred sixty-degree shockwave. Everything except the person at the epicenter would be hit with the shockwave. If you want to try it, do it over your head so you don't get injured by your own doing. It can be extremely dangerous though but less than the situation you are in. You should put distance between yourself and Tethys before you do it.#

'Ok.'

I blocked a jab from Tethys's trident, easily avoiding the feint she wanted to perform, and slowed time down before kicking the Titaness on her chest with an earth-shaker kick. Tethys went flying and hit a wall, breaking through it.

I immediately uncapped my riptide and started imbibing my swords with Earth-shaker powers.

The monsters on the deck roared and charged at me. Just as the first monsters were a few feet away, I brought my swords over my head and clanged them against each other. I felt the bones and organs in my body rattle as a devastating shockwave was released all around me. The monsters nearest to me immediately disintegrated to dust while the ones a little farther flew back and hit the wall before disintegrating into monster dust. Several structures on the ship around me were demolished too.

#Percy, escape NOW!# Alexander ordered and I did as he said. I threw the riptide and retracted the storm-rider before running towards the railing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dozen demigods in full Greek armor running towards me with weapons drawn, being led by Luke himself.

I put my hand in my pocket and removed a machine gun that I had taken from the ship itself before open firing on them as I continued running.

Luke's eyes widened and he let out a yell and all the demigods hit the dirt as if pushed by an invisible force. As a result, none of my bullets hit them.

"Take cover!" Luke ordered, but his cronies had nowhere to go. I continued shooting at them but a shield suddenly was formed, protecting them from the assault. I saw Theia striding towards the deck in full battle armor. I put the gun back in my pocket and willed the water in the swimming pool to slam into the shield with full force just before jumping off the railing straight into the sea.

Had I been a normal demigod, I would've become a Percy-pancake within seconds due to the height I was falling from onto the sea. But I was a son of Poseidon, so I effortlessly dived in, pushing myself deeper into the sea, as I felt the arrows being shot towards me.

I immediately sighed in relief as I could feel the sea again. My senses came into full force and I could feel everything in a half-nautical radius around me... except Princess Andromeda that is, despite the ship being directly above me. Another thing I felt was my position. The ship had traveled a freaking 450 nautical miles in less than four hours. That should not be possible for any cruise ship, especially one this big.

I looked up and saw the huge propellers rotating. They were rotating unusually fast. But if I destroyed them...

#The time around them is slowed to make them move at normal speed in a fourth of the normal time. My father's work no doubt. By the way, great idea. That will slow them down considerably if you destroy the propellors especially while they aren't near any port. Use ice-spikes.#

I positioned myself properly and made half-dozen ice spikes bigger than fully grown Pythons at the propellors before shooting them as fast as I could at the propellors. My plan was successful as the spikes damaged the Propellors. I could see the sparks that the propellors were emitting despite being in the water. I shot a fireball at each of the propellors made of Greek fire, further damaging them.

#Now let's get the hell away from here.#

I heeded Alexander's words and water-teleported five nautical miles away from the ship, hoping I went in the direction my friends had gone.

I looked around and extended my senses but couldn't feel them. I needed help to find them. Before I could send a prayer to my dad to guide me, I felt someone teleport near me.

I turned and saw Tethys standing in the water, still in full battle armor. Most of her injuries had healed but stains of ichor still coated her armor. I could also see that she was pissed as her eyes were miniature hurricanes and the knuckles of her hand in which she had her trident were white.

I willed my trident in my hand and I already was in my armor. I pointed my trident at the Titaness of the sea and sassed, "Tethys, why are you stalking me? Don't you have a husband?"

She roared and a huge wave of water was propelled at me with enough force to drill a hole through a half-foot thick steel wall. I intercepted the attack with my own wave before calling forth my storm powers.

A huge hurricane started forming around me. Tethys snarled and charged at me.

This time, the combat was loads deadlier than before as we were in the sea and actively using our powers. Here, Tethys was loads better than me though as she was the Titaness of the sea while I was a mere demigod. Her eyes shone with unmatchable power as the water swirled around her and she manipulated it to her benefit much more efficiently than I ever could. Within seconds I knew that it was going to be a close call with me probably being on the losing side.

#Percy! Here!# Alexander shouted. Suddenly I felt an influx of power and the storm around us grew stronger.

I came down harder on Tethys as the winds blew faster and lightning flashed around us. Dark clouds had gathered overhead and it had started to rain as Tethys and I engaged in a dance of death. Any injuries that we were getting were healed within seconds due to us being in the water.

As we parried each other's strikes, each of us was trying to use water to subdue the other. Tethys was sending waves of water at me powerful enough to kill me while I was shooting ice spikes at her along with other attacks. We made hands and weapons out of the water and sent them at the other, trying to kill our enemy. But, neither of us was successful enough to land a good enough blow.

I thrust my trident and a dozen ice spikes flew towards the Tethys who roared and destroyed them with a wave of power before shooting another jet of water at me. I ducked under that before forming a fist out of the water and sending it at her which she blocked with a wall of water. She thrust her trident and a dozen spears of water shot at me. I felt a tug in my gut and the spears were deflected.

None of us were getting an upper hand. I was tiring rapidly though. Even with Alexander feeding me power, there was a limit to what he could give to me without burning me from the insides. We were fighting for more than ten minutes now and that was not considering the fight on Princess Andromeda minutes ago.

I needed to do something fast.

#Time power is the only way, Percy. I'll help you.#

I felt a gut-wrenching tug as I slowed time down the best I could and blocked another strike from the Titaness and before she could do anything, I plunged my dagger, lit in Greek fire straight into her abdomen.

She roared in pain before she started glowing. I averted my eyes, knowing she was about to take her godly form. I felt immense heat and a humungous force slamming into me before my world went black.

When I came to my senses, I felt water all around me, meaning I was in the sea. And the water was friendly... like it fell under my father's jurisdiction.

'Alexander?' I asked in my head.

#Percy! You're awake!# Alexander shouted back but I could feel the tiredness in his tone.

'What happened?'

#Tethys attacked you by going nuclear. Thankfully, I anticipated that move and had formed a shield around you or you would be dead by now. Tethys broke ancient laws by going nuclear at a mortal with the intent to kill. The fates will make her pay. But yeah, once you stabbed her, she did a runner while simultaneously trying to kill you. She probably thinks you're dead. But you aren't. I have healed you the best I can and thankfully, you're in the ocean. Your half-sister helped too and saved you... like she found you and brought you here. Now, slowly open your eyes#

I slowly blinked my eyes and saw big violet eyes staring at me.

I did the natural thing. I screamed and rolled away from her.

Suddenly I heard snickering. I turned and saw a woman snickering at me. She was a goddess... that was all I could tell. She stood at an impressive height of seven feet. Her skin was as white and luminous as algae fields and hair that glowed like jellyfish tendrils.

I glowered at her and she shut up for a moment before giggling again.

#She is Kymopoleia, the goddess of violent seas and storms. While her powers over storm aren't as strong as mine and your father's, she is pretty powerful. But she has ridiculous mood swings due to her nature and tends to become from a giggling girl to a violent woman in seconds. Oh, and she has always been bitter towards her family because they never accepted her due to her... rather violent tendencies.#

'Sounds fantastic.'

"Kymopoleia! Stop laughing! You scared me." I said, trying to stop the woman from giggling.

She abruptly stopped laughing and stared at me with her big violet eyes. "You know who I am?"

"Considering I just called you by your name, I do know who you're, sister," I stated simply.

She blinked.

"You know who I am... but how?"

"Why are you so shocked that I know who you are?" I countered.

"Because no one knows me! I am a nobody! Even my parents don't remember who I am! Not my brothers! Not my sisters! No one does!" She yelled and water swirled around her, mirroring her mood.

"That's not right. I know who you are." I said simply.

She stopped shouting and just stared at me blankly as if processing the statement. I waved my hand in front of her face to get her attention.

"Huh? Oh yeah... you do know who I am... but, you hate me, don't you?" she asked despondently.

"What?" I asked incredulously. "Why would I hate you? I just met you."

"Cause everyone hates me! Even my parents! Dad thinks that I am good for nothing and only destroy things. Amphitrite hates me for being born. Triton is an asshole and I don't care what he thinks but he never liked me either." She sobbed.

I could completely understand what Alexander meant by her having mood swings. One moment she was laughing, then shouting, then crying.

"No one wants me around. No one likes me. Is it my fault that the fates made me the goddess of violent seas and storms? Is it my fault that I have been given a destructive nature?" She continued sobbing.

"Kym, Kym... shhh... don't cry." I tried to stop her from crying.

She looked at me with teary eyes before she started to outright cry. "No one... no one has ever- ever given me a pe-pet name."

'Alexander, what should I do?' I asked frantically.

#Sorry, crying girls with extraordinary mood-swings are outside my area of expertise.# Alexander said unhelpfully. #But, try to hug her. Do not use your powers... as you have already used enough. We don't want you burning up, do we?#

I knew that. My capacity for using divine power was largely finished for the day. It was only due to being in the sea that I was standing properly and was able to move around. The moment I would get out of the sea, I was likely to collapse.

So, anyway, I couldn't use the influence of the hearth to calm the goddess. So, I did the next best thing I knew. I hugged her tightly. She stiffened and immediately pushed me away.

"W-what are you doing!"

"Umm... hugging my sister..." I replied uncertainly.

"Why?"

"To calm you. You were crying."

"Don't give me false hope of being liked, demigod." She said stiffly. "I am ok with being hated but, I don't think my mind would take the damage of heartbreak. Do not..."

"I am not giving you false hope Kym. But anyway, tell me how did I get here?" I asked, trying to change the topic.

"I brought you here. I found you floating in the ocean near the place I had felt a huge spike in my domains being caused by two sea deities. A storm that could only be caused by myself and father. But I found only you there, burning up. You had several injuries but the water was healing you already. Then, I speeded up the process and here we are."

"See, you are such a good person Kym. You saved a demigod you didn't even know." I said with a smile.

She snorted. "I was just curious as to what caused the storm. Not concerned about you. But I do know who you are Perseus Jackson. The tales of your deeds have reached even the ancient ruins around the sea. You're a famous guy in the sea especially since you defeated Ares. Now, tell me what caused the storm?" Kymopoleia asked.

"Technically, it was me who was causing the storm but Tethys did make it stronger than I ever could," I replied lying a bit. It was Alexander and I who had caused the storm... largely Alexander but I and Tethys had enhanced it too.

"Tethys... as in my maternal grandmother Tethys?" Kymopoleia asked cautiously.

"Yes."

"Like the Titaness of the sea, Tethys?"

"Yes."

"Oceanus's wife?"

"YES KYM! There's only one Tethys I know of." I snapped.

"Where the hell did you see her? And what the fuck happened that you had to cause such a huge storm?" She asked gripping my shoulders tightly.

"We fought."

"You... fought? Why? And how did you even meet her? She has been hardly active for the past few centuries. Fuck that! How are you even alive?" Kymopoleia asked.

So, I told her the story of what had happened between Tethys and me.

By the time I finished, she had started pacing around the room worriedly, muttering to herself. The water around us remained calm enough though.

"Kym," I called.

"Yes?" She asked, stopping her pacing

"Thank you for healing me by the way."

"I just speeded it up a bit cause I didn't want to watch you sleep." She replied dismissively.

I rolled my eyes. "You underestimate your goodness, Kym. Can't you just accept my gratitude?"

"... Well, you're welcome." She said finally, not meeting my eyes. I smiled at her nonetheless.

"And may I ask what are you going to do with the information you got from me?"

She snorted. "Nothing. What am I going to do with the fact that you fought Tethys and nearly killed her and she did a runner by going nuclear at you?"

"Aren't you going to act on it? Like—"

"Like what? Tell Poseidon? I doubt he even remembers who I am. And even if he does, he won't give me the time of his day. I do not serve in his court. He always thought that I was unworthy to serve there."

"Then prove him wrong."

"How?"

"Prove that you're better than him. They ignore you because they think you're too destructive, violent, and unworthy. Well, show them that you're better than that. They ignore you and don't care for you, right? Show them that you would still not give up on family despite whatever they have done. Cause that is what family should do. Make them realize their mistake, you know?"

She remained silent for a moment before she said, "Yeah, whatever. So, I wish you luck on your quest kid. Bye."

#She is conflicted but isn't showing it.# Alexander told me.

"You know Kym, I would love it if we stayed in contact," I told her.

"Why?"

"You're my sister. And I would like a new friend." I said with a shrug.

"You do realize that you're befriending one of the most destructive goddesses in the Greek world."

"You do realize that one of the meanings of the name Perseus is Destroyer?" I replied instantly with a smirk.

"You're serious. You're actually serious. I can't believe it." Kymopoleia said in a flabbergasted tone.

I shrugged. "I am told that I do tend to do unbelievable things. Well, anyway, if you ever wish to talk to me, you can IM me. Now, I am afraid that I have to go and find my friends and continue on my quest Kym. I will await your call." I said and turned to leave the cave-room I was in. The cave room was bigger than the main pavilion at Camp half-blood and as grand as a room a person would expect in a palace.

I was about to exit the cave when Kym called from behind, "Percy, your friends are in the Chesapeake Bay... like a little away from where the sea opens into a river. They are currently there going at unnatural speeds for a group of three people traveling in a simple lifeboat. I will teleport you there as you are in no condition to swim so far but before you go, drink this." She said, snapping her fingers and a 500ml bottle full of glowing golden-green liquid appeared in my hand.

"What's this?" I asked swirling the liquid in the bottle.

"That is a sort of energy drink and medicine. It doesn't have a name you would be able to say or even understand. It is a concoction of several underwater herbs, ambrosia, and nectar. A lesser version of this is usually used by soldiers in Atlantis' army while in battle. It replenishes divine energy like nectar does and heals the body. The advantage is that it works faster than nectar and its effects stay for a longer period of time. But you shouldn't drink it unless you're completely spent or you are moments away from the battle of your life. You are on the verge of collapse Percy. After you drink it, make sure that you sleep after a few hours and get a decent sleep."

"That's true, I am almost spent."

"And severely injured. You aren't feeling the injuries because of the number of numbing medicines that I have put on you. I am surprised that you aren't behaving like a drunk man. You must have an excellent mental fortitude to talk with me like nothing has happened. You also healed pretty fast for a demigod."

"What do you mean? I feel alright apart from the fact that I am a little sore."

She snorted. "Kid, you're feeling alright because of the medicines. If it hadn't been for those painkillers and everything I gave you, you would be moaning in pain or still passed out."

#She has me to blame for your fast healing and mental fortitude. She is right though. You did be still passed out if not for her. You would've loved but it would have taken a few days for you to heal and a week or so to be at full power again even with me helping you out.#

"Ah, Thank you once again then sis."

She waved her hand dismissively just before the water started swirling around me.

"Give me a call when you reach the camp safely Percy. And I would love to talk again." She said just before I found myself near a shore.

I could tell that I was a little far from Virginia Beach, into the Chesapeake Bay.

I immediately drank the bottle Kymopoleia had given me and felt a surge of energy. The liquid tasted a bit bitter but it wasn't that bad.

#It is certainly a powerful concoction that she gave you. You should make a good sacrifice to her soon.#

'I know. First, I need to find my friends.' I told Alexander before I began to swim down the bay towards the place where it extended into a river. I could immediately feel the change from seawater to freshwater. I swam further after extending my senses.

Two hundred meters down, I felt a boat hidden several branches and grass. I climbed onto the ground and immediately felt the energy leave me as if I had just come down off a sugar rush.

I breathed deeply for a few minutes before trudging ahead. I was barely thirty meters away from the river when I heard a female voice, I recognized as Annabeth yell, "SCATTER!" followed by voices of commotion.

I immediately ran towards the place where the voice had come from. I reached a clearing and saw my friends fighting a Hydra. A seven-headed Hydra with leathery skin and under each neck it wore a plastic bib that read: I'M A MONSTER DONUT KID!

I decided to ponder over that later and instead help my friends who were dodging the acid that the Hydra was spitting at them. I saw Clarisse roll out of the way of an acid splash that burnt the bark of a fallen tree to a molten goo. While Annabeth and Tyson ran in different directions.

I brought forth my storm rider in sword form and yelled "Oi Snakey!"

The good news: My friends were momentarily out of danger. The bad news: The Hydra's complete attention was on me now and I realized that I was barely in the condition to fight a Hydra at the moment. The concoction that Kymopoleia had given me was healing me and giving me energy but it was nowhere enough that I could use my powers or even fight properly.

#You are in no condition to receive a boost from me neither can I give you one. I am awake as long as you are Percy. The moment you hit the bed; I am going to pass out too. But you can use Hestia's dagger. The rest is up to how well you can battle in this state.# Alexander told me just as my instincts tingled and I dove out of the way just as three jets of greenish acid arced over me.

One of the heads snapped at me. I swung my sword and sliced the Hydra's head clean off. It rolled away into the grass, leaving a flailing stump, which immediately stopped bleeding and began to swell like a balloon.

"No!" Annabeth yelled.

But I paid her a little heed and thrust a small flame from Hestia's dagger onto the stump which immediately burnt to ash for something so big.

The Hydra reared back from me, knowing that I had instruments to kill it.

Annabeth moved in from my left and tried to kill one of the heads, attacking with her celestial bronze spear, but another head swung sideways like a club and knocked her into the muck.

"No hitting my friends!" Tyson charged in, putting himself between the Hydra and Annabeth. As Annabeth got to her feet, Tyson started smashing at the monster heads with his fists so fast it reminded me of the whack-a-mole game at the arcade. But even Tyson couldn't fend off the Hydra forever.

I looked at Clarisse and tossed my riptide to her. She immediately understood what I wished for her to do and uncapped the riptide and charged at the Hydra before chopping two of its heads off in one clean strike. I immediately sent a small flame at the two stumps and they turned to ash.

The Hydra reared back again before trying to knock Clarisse off her feet, but she was faster and cut the head clean off before it could hit her. I sent another flame at it and that stump too turned to ash.

The Hydra had three heads left now. Clarisse and I advanced as a pair and attacked the Hydra while Annabeth tried to distract it. A minute later, all that was left of the Hydra were seven heads that were rolling on the ground.

I breathed a sigh of relief seeing the Hydra dead moments before a blonde missile slammed into me.

"Percy, you're alive, you're alive. Thank the gods. I was so scared that you..." Annabeth sobbed.

"I am alright owl head," I said as Annabeth hugged me tighter. Thankfully, I had my armor on or else she would've aggravated my injuries. I was still healing after all.

Suddenly I felt Tyson approach from behind and he wrapped his arms around both of us.

"Brother is alive!" He said. We soon separated and I saw Clarisse standing at one side awkwardly looking at us.

"Good to see you're alive Prissy." She said after a few moments.

"What happened after you sent us away Percy?" Annabeth asked in a somewhat dangerous tone signifying that I had to give her a good answer or else she would give me hell... or so she thought. After facing Tethys and training with Athena for a year, there were very few things that could intimidate me. Annabeth certainly wasn't one of them.

So, I gave them a brief summary of what had happened.

"So, to cut it short, you fought the Titaness of the sea, summoned a storm of epic proportions, nearly killed her before she blasted you with godly energy, and then you went to befriend your wayward half-sister, who happens to be one of the most destructive goddesses in Greek world before coming here and saving our asses," Annabeth concluded.

"That is about right." I nodded.

"Why is it always you Percy?" Annabeth asked exasperatedly.

"Cause I am Percy Jackson," I replied dusting the dirt off my shoulders. "But, that aside, tell me how do you plan to enter the sea of monsters? That lifeboat isn't fit for a journey to that place."

"No, it isn't." Annabeth agreed. "We haven't thought of anything yet."

For the first time, I noticed that her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. She had been crying a lot. Probably because she thought I died... sacrificed myself to save her as Thalia did all those years ago.

"Well, I do have something," Clarisse said interrupting my thoughts. "You see... before we left abruptly, I had a plan to pray to my father for help and request him for a warship to sail through the sea of monsters. But it got interrupted by Hermes starting the quest off abruptly."

"And that is good. Cause you need a good sacrifice to ask such a huge thing from a god." I told her. "Now we have a sacrifice," I added pointing at the Hydra heads.

"How many should I sacrifice?" Clarisse asked me.

#Two or three should do if Clarisse is the one to sacrifice.# Alexander told me.

"Three" I replied to Clarisse. "You sacrifice three heads to Ares; I want two heads and the rest can go to camp as a trophy or something."

"Alright." Clarisse agreed. "We need a fire though."

"I am in no condition to light a fire by myself. Gather wood. I will set it aflame and the sacrifice can happen." I told them and my friends got to work. Ten minutes later, we had a merry fire burning.

Clarisse knelt in front of the flames and began praying to her father before tossing three Hydra heads in the flames. The flames turned bright red for a few moments and Clarisse went into a trance.

Finally, she got up and said, "My father is sending us a ride. It will arrive here in fifteen minutes."

"That's good," Annabeth said.

I also nodded in agreement before picking up another Hydra head and tossing it in the flames. "To Kymopoleia. Thank you for your help." I intoned.

'Thank you, brother,' I heard Kym say in my head.

Ten minutes later, I heard a strange sound-a chug-chug-chug. It was so powerful it made the riverbank shake.

"What's that noise?" Annabeth asked.

"Steam engine," Tyson said, somehow knowing what a steam engine sounded like.

Chugging toward us down the river was the strangest ship I'd ever seen. It rode low in the water like a submarine, its deck plated with iron. In the middle was a trapezoid-shaped casemate with slats on each side for cannons. A flag waved from the top-a wild boar and spear on a bloodred field. Lining the deck were zombies in gray uniforms- dead soldiers with shimmering faces that only partially covered their skulls, like the ghouls I'd seen in the Underworld Guarding Hades' palace.

The ship was an ironclad. A Civil War battle cruiser. I could just make out the name along the prow in moss-covered letters: CSS Birmingham.

"The gift from my father," Clarisse said, coming to stand next to me. "The spirits on the losing side of every war owe a tribute to Ares. That's their curse for being defeated. They are one of them."

The ship docked and we climbed aboard.

AND... CUT!

Hey everyone. First, sorry for the time I took to update but, in my defense, I have been busy af since the past week and this trend will continue till the year's end. So my December schedule is hectic and, as a result, my update time has increased.

I originally intended to complete the whole SoM arc in this chapter but, unfortunately, this chapter had already become too long... like 16500+ words already. So, I will complete that in the next chapter.

I hope you like the Percy v/s Tethys fight and I promise a rematch soon.

I also hope that you guys like the changes I made to the travel plan that uncle Rick wrote in canon.

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Blinded: About Percy and Dionysus's unique relationship... I actually haven't planned about that yet. He will be an okay-ish guy though... sort of like canon, just a minuscule bit better.

Mark Andrew: I almost planned that tbh but didn't find a good enough place and reason to put it.

A-gods-flame: It is undecided so far.

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A very special thanks to Theseus Theo for beta-ing this chapter.

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That is all for now! Just remember, the next update will take a little while cause I will write my HP chapter first and then start chapter 16 for this fic. And, as you guys know, the chapters of this fic are long so it will take time to type it all out.

Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep Smiling! Keep reading!

HPfanfictioner66