The Legend of the Son of Poseidon

by HPfanfictioner66

Percy Jackson was having a perfectly normal day until he started hearing a voice in his head. Turns out the voice belonged to a god. Follow Percy's Journey as the god trains and aids him through his journey to become the Greatest demigod to walk on Earth and save the Western Civilization. Powerful Percy! Powerful enemies! Epic fights! Pertemis romance!

17. The Sea Goes to War

LAST TIME

Once the three left, Tyson and I were left alone on the ship.

"Tyson," I said, "Don't freak out now."

"What?"

I clapped my hands and Annabeth emerged from below the deck. Tyson looked at Annabeth in shock before glancing at the one who was riding the Hippocampi in the sea.

"Allow me to introduce you to Lady Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, Reason, Strategy, Warfare, Crafts and Arts and also Annabeth's mother."

---

Ch17 The Sea Goes to War

"W-what? Bu-but this is Annabeth!" Tyson stammered.

"Correction, she looks like Annabeth. She is her mother though who chose to appear in her twelve-year-old form and used a little mist manipulation to appear like Annabeth."

"Umm... nice to meet you... Lady Athena. But, what are you doing here?" Tyson asked. I grinned and explained what had led Lady Athena to come to our ship.

FLASHBACK

I was sleeping peacefully beneath the deck as our ship traveled towards Camp Half-Blood. Suddenly, I found myself in a cave under the ocean, face to face with my sister Kymopoleia.

"Kym! What happened?"

"Oh, thank gods it worked. Listen, Percy. The ship you had talked about, Princess Andromeda, I have seen it traveling towards Miami... on a course set to intercept your ship! You need to change directions right now and vary your speed. But, still, be careful! Once you're out of the sea of monsters, Tethys will be able to sense you. Your ship has no protection on it as their ship does. I can only sense it because I am physically keeping a watch on it."

Suddenly, the vision shifted and I was looking at the huge cruise ship sailing at impossible speeds for such a huge thing. A couple of luminous strands of hair in front of my eyes were blown away a moment later. I immediately understood that this was what Kymopoleia was seeing.

"Okay, Kym, will Tethys be able to sense people riding Hippocampi?"

"Depends on the Hippocampi," She said. "If they're blessed by father or another sea deity of similar power, Tethys won't be able to sense them."

"They were sent to me when I prayed to dad for transport," I stated.

"Then they're Poseidon's. You can use them to escape while using the ship as a decoy. It is the safest option you have." Kymopoleia said with a relieved smile.

"Yes. Thank you, Kym. But, just tell me where the ships would meet approximately and the path of Princess Andromeda." I asked and Kymopoleia told me the coordinates of the approximate place where we would meet and the current course of the ship. I thanked her and she cut the connection, warning me once more to be careful.

Five minutes later, I woke up and got dressed, started planning.

I removed a few Drachmas from my bag and set my trident on the ground before willing fine mist to shoot from it. I threw a drachma in the mist which was forming a faint rainbow and said, "Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering. Show me, Lady Athena, probably on Olympus. Delta, omega, omega, pi."

Every god and goddess had a special password for an Iris Message. A demigod couldn't just call them whenever they pleased.

The mist shimmered and a feminine voice sounded from it, "Waiting for the call to be accepted. Waiting for the call to be accepted. Waiting for th—" the voice abruptly stopped and the mist suddenly cleared revealing Athena. Her face appeared as if on a video call.

"Percy. What happened?" She asked. She knew it would be urgent if I was calling her... because she had firmly told me to call her only when it was an emergency or something urgent.

"You know about my quest along with Annabeth, Clarisse, and Tyson to retrieve the golden fleece from the sea of monsters?"

"Yes, I do."

"Yeah, so..." I quickly briefed her about our journey, only going into detail about the events on Princess Andromeda and his fight against Tethys and summarizing the rest in a few sentences. Due to the length of the conversation, I had to put two more drachmas in the Iris Message as I talked.

"And so, we are currently heading straight towards Princess Andromeda which will intercept us, and likely take the fleece," I said, finishing my tale.

"We could turn this to our advantage," Athena said with a gleam in her eyes.

"I know," I replied. "And I already have a plan... you can improvise it later though."

"Do tell."

"You goddesses can take any form... right? You can appear as a twelve-year-old if you want, right?"

"Yes."

"So can you convert into your twelve-year-old form and manipulate the mist to appear like Annabeth?"

"Appear like..." She trailed off and her eyes widened. "Trickery! You want to trick them into believing that I am a mere twelve-year-old Demigod! And since there are two titanesses on the ship... You want to score a blow against the titans by finishing off two of their major members. But, what of my daughter and the rest of your friends?"

"I will send everyone except Tyson away on Hippocampi by saying that we have very little time to save the tree. And thus, they should take the fleece, go to the nearest city and take a flight to New York. After they leave, you come on the ship I am traveling in. It is very small as compared to their ship but we have a decent stash of gun powder and canons. We'll make the first move and we both will jump on their ship and fuck shit up there while Tyson takes the ship away to camp. You engage Theia, while I get Tethys. We'll kill them and get off the ship."

Athena frowned. "Once we kill them, why should we leave the ship intact? If we destr—"

"Neither of us have the power to do it, Athena. It will take nothing less than a direct hit from Zeus's master bolt to destroy the ship or a huge internal explosion from their engine room. I tried to cause an Earthquake on the ship with enough energy to destroy a building and all it did was crack a single tile. Also, I don't think I would have enough energy to fight all the monsters after fighting Tethys. And, you can't engage the demigods and monsters unless they attack you first... so, we need to get off it as soon as Tethys and Theia are down. Killing the two titanesses will be a huge blow to their forces."

"Well... okay. But, then why do you need the canons, Percy? If the ship isn't going to be damaged anyways, it will be a waste of time and counterproductive. Why don't we go ahead while the ship stays on course and do a sneak attack? They will think that you are still unaware and they are going to ambush your ship but in reality, we will already be upon them."

"Brilliant. Okay. First, you come here and I will send my friends away. Then we'll attack together while Tyson takes the ship's control and acts as the decoy."

"Yes, close your eyes, I am flashing there," Athena said.

"Bring your weapons!" I called back and closed my eyes. Two seconds later, I felt Athena flash into the captain's quarters in full battle armor which I was still jealous of. I may have an awesome armor but Athena's was more awesome than mine. Add her Aegis shield and stormy grey eyes, she looked absolutely scary. She could just send the weaker ones running in fear on the battlefield with a single look. Heck, even I had felt scared when I first saw her in full battle armor.

"Percy," She greeted with an excited smile.

"Um... you need to look like Annabeth... in normal clothes, Athena," I reminded.

"Err... Yeah... I just got a little excited." She said snapping her fingers. Her stature and age started reducing. In her late twenties, she converted from a lady to an adolescent girl. She looked at me from confirmation and I nodded. Her body structure was very similar to Annabeth's. Athena snapped her fingers again and her facial structure and hair color changed.

She would've easily passed as Annabeth's identical twin. I needed to concentrate to point out the minute differences. Athena's nose was a little sharper, Athena's hair was a bit darker blonde than Annabeth's.

"The hair should be a mild shade lighter than it currently is," I said, ignoring the other micro-minuscule faults as no one would notice them while their life would be on the line. Athena nodded and snapped her fingers again, adjusting her hair color to the required shade.

"Correct?"

"Yeah. And a Camp clothes instead of this." I said, pointing to her armor. She snapped her fingers and it changed to an orange camp half-blood T-shirt.

"Done?"

"Yeah, now I just need to send Clarisse, Grover, and Annabeth away."

FLASHBACK END

Tyson looked at the two of us wide-eyed before finally asking, "So I have to stay here and wait?"

"Yes, Brother" I replied with a nod.

"But I want to help!"

"No," said Anna- Athena. Gosh, it was still weird to remember that it wasn't Annabeth but Athena standing next to me.

"You're an untrained cyclops. You may have a lot of strength and bravery but, you still aren't ready for such a high-profile mission. We will be facing Titanesses and an army of monsters and demigods there, young cyclops. It is for the best that only Percy and I go," Athena said placatingly.

Tyson nodded in defeat.

"Tyson, you keep the ship on course. But, if you see any sign of a storm, back away from there. I am relinquishing the control of this ship to you brother." I said.

"I don't know—"

"It is instinctive Tyson. You'll know what to do. Just don't alter the course of the ship unless you see a storm. Their ship is several miles away from here so you don't need to worry, but for the safer side, be prepared with your bat in case some monster comes aboard."

Tyson nodded and I turned to Athena. "My Lady, hold tight once we jump."

"Excuse me?" She asked.

"We... are going to swim to the ship... well I am while you hold me tightly. We'll be underwater and I will use my powers to propel us at incredible speeds to Princess Andromeda. Then, we climb aboard and kill monsters."

"If it escaped your notice, I can't breathe underwater. I will drown!" She said a little hysterically.

"If you drown while being in the arms of a son of Poseidon, you're the unluckiest goddess ever," I said dryly.

"Are you sure? Like, can't we take a boat?" She asked.

I blinked. Why was she so worried and... dare I say, scared? It was so unlike Athena to behave in such a manner.

#Oh, nothing much. Your father once... well, he wanted to prank Hermes for revenge on one of Hermes's previous pranks on him. Well, instead of Hermes, Athena got in the line of fire and used her pretty little head to break out of the trap, but one of Poseidon's protections for Hermes activated and she found herself at the bottom of the ocean. Now, Hermes as he is the messenger of gods and everything was blessed by both Hades and Poseidon to travel through their domains. Athena, the poor girl, wasn't. So, she nearly drowned but thankfully Poseidon came to her rescue. But, since then she has the fear of drowning. It is also one of the many reasons for the Athena-Poseidon rivalry.# Alexander said.

"Athena, I swear on the River Styx that I will not let you drown while we travel to Princess Andromeda," I said and thunder rumbled in the sky sealing my oath. "Now, shall we leave? We are wasting time here."

Athena nodded and walked to the railing with me. I made sure I had everything on me: Storm-rider, Riptide, Armor, grenades, machine gun, and smoke bombs.

"Hold me tightly," I told Athena. Athena gulped and put her arms around my waist and I held her tightly before jumping into the waves below. Normally, falling from such a height into the sea would've injured a person badly but the sea cushioned our fall. As soon as we were under the water, I formed a bubble of fresh air around Athena's head. She panicked for a moment before realizing that she was breathing perfectly. She looked at me and I nodded before we shot like a bullet towards the sailing course of Princess Andromeda as Kymopoleia had told me.

Also, Alexander did something to temporarily cloak our presence so Tethys and the Titans won't sense us. It would only last a minute more after we were out of the water though.

I soon felt myself nearing the coordinates I estimated Princess Andromeda to be at. I just peeked above water and saw the huge cruise ship sailing in the water only 1.7 Nautical miles away from where I had estimated it to be. I shot off again with Athena towards the approaching ship and not even a minute later, found myself near a service ladder with Athena floating next to me.

"I will go first, you follow," I told her quietly and hoisted myself up before beginning to climb the ladder. I arrived at a maintenance deck, similar to the one I had entered the first time I and my friends had hitched a ride on the ship. As soon as I stepped onto the deck, the two dracaenas and the hellhound perked up, alerted by my presence. But, before they could even move, I impaled the Dracaenas with an ice-spike to their heart before closing the distance between myself and the hellhound and stabbed it with my sword.

The monsters turned to golden dust just as Athena appeared on the deck, completely dry like me. She didn't even ask and gestured towards the door. I took the Balisong knife that Hestia had gifted me and opened the lock before entering the door. I didn't know the ship perfectly but I did know where the position of the main deck was... Approximately at least.

We began going upstairs killing any monster that came in our way. They were hardly any in the way and I took care of all of them, keeping Athena away. She was watching my back and I didn't want her to fall in trouble with the ancient laws for killing anyone unprovoked. Soon we burst onto the main deck. Our initial plan was to cause enough chaos and wait for Luke, Tethys, and Theia to arrive. But, it turned out that Luke was already waiting for us with a small army of Monsters and Demigods. All the demigods were ready and had their weapons out. Some had heavy armor while others had light armor on. The armor had the symbol of the Scythe on them.

"Hey, cuz," said Luke. "Welcome back to the States. I didn't expect you to come here on your own though. It is rare that prey willingly and knowingly walks to the predator, isn't it?" He smiled, the scar rippling on the side of his face. Next to him, his two bear men giggled.

"We'll soon see who the prey is. For now, be a good boy and fetch Tethys. I have a score to settle with her. We'll wait till then." I said in a condensing tone.

"Stop addressing me like that, Jackson!" He snapped. "You will soon understand who your betters are soon. Till then, give me the Fleece. Where is it?"

"I exchanged it for an ice cream and a surfboard," I replied nonchalantly. Athena coughed next to me while Luke rolled his eyes.

"We both know that you're not stupid. Where-is-the-fleece?" Luke asked in a threatening tone pointing the backbiter at me.

"Give me Tethys, I give you the fleece," I replied with a tilt of my head.

"She will come when she wants. Till then, give me the fleece and you would survive till Tethys can kill you." Luke said waving his sword. I couldn't help it, I laughed.

"What makes you think that you can kill me... or even Tethys can?" I asked with an amused expression. It sounded a bit overconfident, but we were just talking. Intimidating the enemy, you know?

"It seems that the situation has compromised your mental facilities, Percy. You're outnumbered and Tethys is a Titaness. She can—"

"Yet she had to flee after our last flight, didn't she?" I asked and saw the incredulous expression come on Luke's face.

"Oh, this is priceless," I chuckled "tell me, Luke, what did Tethys tell you? She almost killed me but I ran away?"

"Yes. Your father saved you from demise by teleporting you away Jackson. Don't—"

"Luke, Luke, Luke, you naïve, naïve cuz. So easily lied to by your masters. Do you want the truth? I stabbed her in the chest and would've destroyed her mortal form had she not gone Nuclear on me." I spat. "She took her divine form and teleported away. After all, a dagger wreathed in Greek fire being stabbed through your body is highly unpleasant. You want to experience it?" I asked.

Luke sneered but before he could say anything regarding the fight, he glazed out before blinking.

"Enough talk, Jackson. The Fleece!" He growled pointing his sword at me.

"Out of your reach. Where do you think Grover and Clarisse are?" I asked.

He paled. "They are not here? Attacking the ship with you both?"

"No."

"And who is steering the ship which exited the sea of monsters? The one which you used as a decoy to attack us?"

"Tyson," I replied

"Then where are Grover and Clarisse?" He half yelled. In response, I made a flying plane motion while producing a whooshing noise from my mouth.

"Agrius!" The bear giant flinched.

"Y-yes?"

"Get below and prepare my steed. Bring it to the deck. I need to fly to the Miami Airport, fast."

"But, boss-"

"Do it!" Luke screamed.

"Or I'll feed you to the Drakon!" The bear-man gulped and lumbered down the stairs. Luke paced in front of the swimming pool, cursing in Ancient Greek, gripping his sword so tight his knuckles turned white. The rest of Luke's crew looked uneasy. Maybe they'd never seen their boss so unhinged before. I started thinking… If I could use Luke's anger, get him to talk so everybody could hear how crazy his plans were and how he had framed Chiron and put the camp in danger… And also remove Tantalus. I had Athena but I wished for the whole camp to witness Chiron's innocence. And the employment of the camp director was technically in Dionysus's hands. I needed to get Tantalus away from his friends at the camp.

I looked at the swimming pool, at the fountains spraying mist into the air, making a rainbow in the sunset. And suddenly I had an idea.

"Tell me one thing though, you wanted us to bring you the Fleece seeing that you won't risk your hide."

Luke scowled. "Of course, you idiot! And you've messed everything up!"

"Traitor!" I dug a gold drachma out of my pocket and threw it at Luke. As I expected, he dodged it easily. The coin sailed into the spray of rainbow-colored water. I hoped my prayer would be accepted in silence. I thought with all my heart: 'O goddess, accept my offering.'

"You tricked all of us!" I said, "Even DIONYSUS at CAMP HALF-BLOOD!" Behind Luke, the fountain began to shimmer, but I needed everyone's attention on me, so I set my sword on fire.

Luke just sneered. "This is no time for heroics, Percy. Drop your puny little sword, or I'll have you killed sooner rather than later."

"Who poisoned Thalia's tree, Luke?"

"I did, of course," he snarled. "I already told you that. I used elder python venom, straight from the depths of Tartarus."

"Chiron had nothing to do with it?"

"Ha! You know he would never do that. The old fool wouldn't have the guts."

"You call it guts? Betraying your friends? Endangering the whole camp?"

Luke raised his sword. "You don't understand the half of it. I was going to let you take the Fleece… once I was done with it."

"You were going to heal Kronos," I said.

"Yes! The Fleece's magic would've sped his mending process by tenfold. But you haven't stopped us, Percy. You've only slowed us down a little."

"And so you poisoned the tree, you betrayed Thalia, you set us up-all to help Kronos destroy the gods."

Luke gritted his teeth. "You know that! Why do you keep asking me?"

"Because I want everybody in the audience to hear you," I said with a smirk.

"What audience?" Then his eyes narrowed. He looked behind him and his goons did the same. They gasped and stumbled back. Above the pool, shimmering in the rainbow mist, was an Iris-message vision of Dionysus, Tantalus, and the whole camp in the dining pavilion. They sat in stunned silence, watching us.

"Well," said Dionysus dryly, "some unplanned dinner entertainment."

"Mr. D, you heard him," I said. "You all heard Luke. The poisoning of the tree wasn't Chiron's fault."

Mr. D sighed, "I suppose not."

"The Iris message could be a trick," Tantalus suggested, but his attention was mostly on his cheeseburger, which he was trying to corner with both hands.

"I fear not," Mr. D said, looking with distaste at Tantalus. "It appears I shall have to reinstate Chiron as activities director. I suppose I do miss the old horse's pinochle games." Tantalus grabbed the cheeseburger. It didn't bolt away from him. He lifted it from the plate and stared at it in amazement as if it were the largest diamond in the world.

"I got it!" he cackled.

"We are no longer in need of your services, Tantalus," Mr. D announced. Tantalus looked stunned.

"What? But-"

"You may return to the Underworld. You are dismissed."

"No! But- Nooooooooooo!" As he dissolved into mist, his fingers clutched at the cheeseburger, trying to bring it to his mouth. But it was too late. He disappeared and the cheeseburger fell back onto its plate. The campers exploded into cheering.

I smiled. Tantalus problem down. Tethys and Theia to go.

Luke bellowed with rage. He slashed his sword through the fountain and the Iris message dissolved, but the deed was done.

"Kronos was right, Percy. You're an unreliable weapon. You need to be replaced."

#Replaced?# Alexander concentrated on the word but I ignored him in favor of seeing the door behind Luke open and Tethys and Theia walk in.

They froze as soon as their eyes lay on Annabeth, who was actually Athena disguised as Annabeth.

"You! How did you come here?" Theia half screamed as her armor and sword appeared.

"She is Jackson's friend, Annabeth. I am sure we can—" Luke began but was harshly interrupted.

"Shut up you idiot. That's Athena, the wisdom goddess herself," Tethys sneered at Luke.

"What? No! That is..." Luke trailed off as Athena removed her disguise and turned to her twenty-year-old form wearing full battle armor. Her Aegis and spear were already in her hands. All of Luke's army reared back in fear due to the fearsome Aegis but Luke remained gaping while the Titanesses looked at Athena with narrowed eyes.

I grinned at Luke and Tethys and yelled, "SURPRISE!" before running at Tethys. I backhanded Luke out of the way, who went flying and hit a wall. I continued towards Tethys and tried to chop Titaness in half. Trying being the keyword as Tethys brought her trident to block the strike causing a miniature shockwave. Barely a second later, Athena engaged Theia next to me.

As Tethys blocked my sword and tried to counter-attack by trying to take my head off with her trident but I tilted my head and the weapon harmlessly passed next to my ear. Before the Titaness of the sea could do anything, I slowed time down and punched her straight in the abdomen with an earthquake punch. The Titaness went flying back into her own army of demigods who were recovering from the shockwave and the Aegis. I didn't waste time and threw three grenades in different directions, straight at the army. As Tethys got up, snarling at me, I willed the whole water from the swimming pool to slam into her. She sneered and waved her hand at the incoming fist of water but, nothing happened. A second later, the grenades went off as at the same time as the water crashed into Tethys who went flying off the ship into the ocean.

Any normal person would've died and even a god would've broken a few bones being impacted by the water with the force I used. But I knew that Tethys won't feel it any worse than a mean right hook as she was a sea deity.

So, I didn't wait or ponder over the fact that the water didn't obey Tethys as it should have. I just rushed towards the railing and jumped off the ship to go after the Titaness, hell-bent on killing her.

Landing into the ocean, I searched for Tethys and saw her a little distance away, frantically trying to do something by waving her hand at the ocean. I used the sea to propel myself like a missile at her and tried to behead her. Unfortunately, she anticipated my attack again and blocked the sword. We engaged in combat immediately. My sword clashed against her trident.

I jabbed my sword at her but she batted away the strike with her trident. I immediately struck again but she flawlessly parried my next strike as well.

This time, the Titaness was on the defensive though. She was rarely attacking me as she continuously parried my strikes. Behind us, Princess Andromeda was still sailing away at full speed. Nearly three minutes later, I found an opening and slashed at her thigh, drawing ichor before slamming my shoulder with her body, sending her skidding on the ocean surface.

Due to our powers, we both could fight in the water as we fought on land.

I pointed my sword at her and shot a fireball from it from where she rolled out of the way. I immediately willed a fist to form out of the water and punch Tethys. Much to my shock, she went flying again instead of blocking the water or redirecting it. I fully expected her to do it.

#Percy, she can't use her powers! It is her punishment for breaking the ancient laws in your last fight!# Alexander exclaimed in realization. I grinned and willed the water to hold the Titaness down where she laid. Water restrained her arms, legs, and torso as she thrashed around. She screamed and grunted but the bonds didn't budge.

"Let me go, you filthy half-blood!" She screamed.

"Wrong fandom Titaness, this is the real world," I replied before charging at her with my sword held high. As I brought down my sword to stab it through her heart, my senses tingled microseconds before a man appeared over Tethys and pulled her out of the way. As a result, my sword scored a deep cut on the man's shoulder instead of killing Tethys. A second later, I felt the sea being wrenched from my control and the next thing I knew was that I was flying through the air.

I bounced on the water surface like a skipping stone... which wasn't as unpleasant as you might think. Just a bit uncomfortable due to all the spinning

My armor and heritage protected me from most of the damage, and water healed the rest. I got to my feet and spat a mouthful of seawater that had a mild tinge of red in it and looked at the offender.

It was a man... A seven-foot-tall man with a black goatee and black hair had a few white streaks running through them. His eyes were much like my own but with more blue in them. Ichor dripped from his shoulder where my sword had penetrated him. I could see his bone underneath. Oh, and the man was glaring daggers at me as if trying to murder me with his eyes.

#Oceanus. The Titan of the sea and Tethys's husband. Oh, and he's free to attack you as technically your attack touched him first.#

I mentally cursed. I was going to face two elder Titans in their home turf, no less. It mattered little that I was on my home turf too, and Tethys could not use her powers against me. Oceanus's powers surpassed mine by a very long shot.

"Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon," He said. "Any last words before I end your existence to punish you for stabbing my wife and myself?"

"Two things. One, I didn't stab you as you sorta got in my way. And two, I pitied you at first when I saw Tethys a few days ago. Now, I pity her seeing your face," I replied and charged at the two titans of the sea. Yes, I know it was stupid but most things are. It is a matter of perspective.

Also, I had no choice.

As I charged, I even uncapped my riptide. I couldn't afford a single mistake or to hold myself back at the moment.

Oceanus roared and prepared himself by summoning his trident and armor. Unfortunately, his right shoulder was still good and he was right-handed.

My swords met with a clanging noise with the couple's tridents. I started slashing and hacking at them as I formed a Hurricane around myself. I tried to behead Tethys while simultaneously blocking Oceanus's trident. I twisted my sword out of the deadlock with both of them and slashed at them again trying to score a cut.

The Hurricane around me became stronger as our battle raged. I tried every power I had. I was mainly trying to dispose of Tethys off first as she was weaker among the two, but Oceanus kept protecting her from everything I threw at her, be it ice spikes or fireballs. For five minutes or so, none of us could gain the upper hand, but I was doing better since I was fighting them two on one even though Oceanus had managed to score a few shallow cuts on me which were healed by the sea already. The problem was that I was tiring rapidly. I knew I couldn't hold for much longer.

So, I started going on the defensive, blocking instead of attacking. A minute later, I successfully blocked both their tridents in a deadlock. None of the two had seen my main trick coming. As my storm-rider clanged with Oceanus's trident, I used my leg to kick the titan in his knee cap with my earthquake powers.

Oceanus roared in pain and lost concentration as he fell to his knees, allowing me to slash at his wife with both my swords. I blocked her trident with the riptide before stabbing her in the abdomen with my storm-rider.

The next second, I was sent flying in the air once again, courtesy of a distraught Oceanus. The problem was, my Stormrider was still embedded in Tethys while my riptide went flying into the ocean as I skipped on the water... again.

As soon as I got a semblance of control, I go to my feet again and I saw Oceanus on one knee with his arms raised to the heavens as a huge sea dragon made out of water formed behind him. I knew that it was coming for me and it would kill me if it even touched my body. One, it was freaking huge and two, it would come with enough force to level a city at me, a single demigod. Not even an energy shield would stop that thing.

#Teleport away. Summon your sword and teleport away as soon as it gets near you. Preferably behind Tethys or Oceanus and stab them in the back.#

I opened my palm and called my sword to me. It came flying towards with a lot of ichor flying around as Tethys screamed in pain. Oceanus eyes glowed with unmatched power and pure hate and he thrust his hand at me.

The sea dragon construct behind him shot at me at impossibly fast speed. Just as I was prepared to teleport away, I felt a wave of power from behind me, and the sea dragon exploded in a fine mist. It was surreal to see that. My head whipped to see who was my savior and my eyes widened. My father was standing behind me on a chariot dressed in full battle armor. His knuckles were white as he grabbed his Trident, which was glowing like his eyes... with pure power.

"OCEANUS! GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY SON, YOU BASTARD!" Poseidon yelled and shot a sea-green beam at Oceanus which the Titan batted away.

Oceanus smiled coldly at him. "Poseidon, you showed up to save your bastard's hide..."

"Well, unlike Titans I care for my children," Poseidon replied curtly. "Now, be gone before my son and I send you and your wife to Tartarus the hard way."

Oceanus just sneered and glared at us before raising a horn to his lips and blowing it. Besides me, my father's eyes narrowed at him. A second later, the ocean churned beneath us and then, with a huge wave, a score of chariots appeared next to Oceanus, all of them filled with sea deities. All of them were dressed for battle. An empty chariot driven by crawfish stopped next to the Oceanus who leaped on it before waving his hand.

Waves enveloped Tethys and she was teleported away from the battlefield.

"Now what do you have to say, Poseidon?" Oceanus asked. "Any last words before we kill you and your son? We will give you a minute if you want... you know, last father-son conversation before they die." Oceanus mocked.

"You seem overly confident for someone who nearly got killed by a thirteen-year-old demigod despite facing him two on one with your wife in your own domain." Oceanus's eye twitched at that and I smirked. "And what makes you think that we are alone?" saying so, Poseidon raised his conch shell to his lips and blew it.

The ocean churned once more beneath us and this time, a dozen chariots emerged on our side. A chariot came to a halt between me and my dad and I saw that the person on it was a beautiful woman. She had bright blue eyes and soft features but looked fierce wearing green battle armor and a pearl-sapphire tiara on her head... with crab claws.

#Amphritite. The Queen of the seas. Your stepmother.# Alexander said.

I looked at the rest who had come to my father's call. Out of all, I only recognized Triton and Delphin. Triton, because I had met him and Delphin because of his Dolphin-ness.

The tension was thick enough to be cut through with a knife by now. Both sides were ready to break into a fight at the drop of a hat.

"Oceanus!" My father boomed. "I give you a chance to surrender and declare neutrality in the coming war as you did in the first Titanomachy. You and your forces will be—"

"No, thank you." Oceanus interrupted rudely. "I've had enough Poseidon and I've decided to retake what was rightfully mine. Once my brother reclaims Olympus, he will also have the seas under his rule through me. The whole world will be heralded into the golden age as one!"

"So... never," I said before I could stop myself.

Oceanus turned to me and glared at me. "And what makes you think that, Demigod? You just got your sorry ass saved by your father."

"Just like you saved your wife's?" I retorted immediately. "Just like I nearly killed her twice despite you both fighting me, a demigod, two on one? How she ran away once and was sent away by you again? Is this your might? I will like you to know, it just shows how puny you both are." I snorted.

Insulting was an important part of a war. It made the enemy angry, and most angry enemies made mistakes.

Before Oceanus could say anything, a young deity from his side leaped at me from his chariot with his trident drawn yelling "YOU DARE!"

Even before I could defend myself, the man was pushed back with an invisible wall... The ancient laws had prevented him from attacking me. So, without wasting time and utilizing the man's shock, I knocked his trident away before stabbing him straight in the heart with my storm rider. All this happened in the blink of an eye. The man's expression turned from anger to shock. He gurgled and started turning to golden dust.

All of a sudden, I felt energy traveling from his body to my sword and from the sword to me. My wounds healed and my energy replenished as the energy I had used. As soon as my energy was replenished, the energy shot a pulse in me making me feel like I was on a sugar high and the flow stopped. My sword glowed faintly and the man turned to dust.

#Woah. We need to investigate this dude.# Alexander said.

I gave him a mental nod and turned to meet Oceanus's eyes and gave him a challenging look, ignoring the gaping sea deities around me.

Oceanus looked at the dust floating in the water and then at me. I could see the moisture in my eyes. "You will pay for this Perseus Jackson. You will pay for killing my youngest one day. I will kill you myself when the time comes."

"Then what are you waiting for? Here I am. Come at me if you have the guts."

Oceanus sneered and said, "Retreat." A huge wave enveloped his cronies and they disappeared leaving Oceanus. "And Poseidon, you and your kingdom will pay too. I will take what is mine. I swear on my honor that I will see the end of each one of you. But, for now, I will suffice with an Olympian." He said and turned into mist.

My eyes widened and turned to Princess Andromeda which had already sailed several nautical miles away from us. "Dad! Athena's on that ship! It is the Titan base! You need to save her! You need to stop them!" I yelled. My dad's eyes widened before he closed his eyes. His face went through a plethora of emotions before he sighed in relief ten seconds later, and said, "I teleported her away to the Atlantean Infirmary. She was injured and almost overwhelmed due to Oceanus and the Titan forces. She jumped into the sea and I teleported her away."

I sighed in relief but, all the sea deities suddenly stiffened.

"What's on that ship, Percy?" Poseidon asked frantically.

"Full Titan base with Luke and a coffin containing your dad." Poseidon's eyes turned to the size of saucers and he started yelling orders rapidly in Atlantean. I could hardly keep up with what his father was saying but I did understand the words: Go near, Teleporting, Time Lord, portal, collapse, and stop. I could also feel the power gathering in the waves around Princess Andromeda even from 3.5 nautical miles away.

Suddenly most of the sea deities around me, including my dad rushed towards the ship at full speed gripping their weapons tightly. I could see they were starting to form a semicircle around the cruise ship. The waves had started getting higher and higher around the ship. I looked around and saw that only two people were trailing behind with me as the sea deities had rushed ahead. One of them was the queen of the seas herself.

I opened my mouth to ask what was going on when she said, "Brace yourself, child. Things are about to get rough... the sea itself is about to get rough. And keep your eyes closed."

As soon as she finished her sentence, the ones who had gone ahead raised their hands in tandem and started chanting. I heeded to Amphitrite's words and cloaked myself in a cocoon of hardened water and closed my eyes. By now, I could taste the power in the air. Something big was happening.

#Big?# Alexander scoffed. #This is bloody massive. And I have a feeling that it is about to get worse. The sea is about to be tossed in a tussle of power and control.#

'But what are they doing? What are they trying to stop?' I asked the resident god in my head.

#I am not sure, but it concerns the ship... which the Titans are trying to teleport away!#

'Are they insane? The ship is so big... It will take Primordial levels of power to teleport it even a few miles!'

#That is the tussle, Percy. Titans are teleporting it away while Poseidon is trying—#

I suddenly zoned out as my insides turned. My body disagreed with itself. Even with closed eyes, I could see the bright flashes of blue and green that were happening in front of me. Heck, my skin had started itching due to the divine power in the air.

#-rcy! Percy! PERCY!# Alexander shouted in my head. I groaned in response.

#Are you alright!?#

'NO!' I exclaimed in my head moments before I felt another bout of a rebel from my body. My insides clenched and lurched. The divine energy in the air spike. The sea was turning warm. The waves were rising as high as ten feet. There was a hum in the air like something waiting to explode. But I ignored it in favor of trying to hold myself together. I felt sick. I was starting to feel dizzy.

Then there was a boom and a feeling of weightlessness, I knew no more.

---

I slowly opened my eyes as I came back to consciousness. I gingerly sat up as my whole body felt sore. Suddenly I felt a wave of nausea hit me but I could thankfully keep myself from puking my guts out. I took a few deep breaths to center myself and looked around.

I was on a bed made of silky woven kelp, in a room paneled with an abalone shell. Glowing pearls the size of basketballs floated around the ceiling, providing light. I was underwater. Now, being the son of Poseidon and all, I was okay with this. I can breathe underwater just fine, and my clothes don't even get wet unless I want them to. But it was still a bit of a shock when a hammerhead shark drifted through the bedroom window, regarded me, and then swam calmly out the opposite side of the room.

#Percy, you okay bro?# Alexander asked with concern.

I remembered what had happened hours ago. Athena and I raiding princess Andromeda, my fight against Tethys, the intervention of Oceanus, my father coming to my rescue, the forces of Oceanus and my father appearing, the sea deity attacking me and getting killed by my hand, Oceanus running away after searing vengeance, and the ship thingy...

Suddenly, the door opened and Amphitrite walked in at a brisk pace. "Lay down on the bed, Perseus, who told you to get up?" She ordered in a tone that reminded me of my mother when she wanted to get something done from me. Without any argument, I immediately lay on the bed knowing what all could probably follow if I didn't. Amphitrite gave an approving nod and checked over me by placing a hand over my head. I felt a tingling sensation journey through my body.

"How are you feeling?" She asked.

"Um... my body is sore and I am feeling a bit nauseous," I replied.

"That is to be expected considering you just fought two Titans. I am honestly surprised that you have no other injuries. And the soreness and nausea you are feeling are due to what happened between your father and Titan forces. You should rest for some time and you'll be light as rain."

"Um... my queen, if you don't mind me asking, can you tell me what happened there?"

Amphitrite sighed softly and answered, "What happened was that the sea went through a tug of war between the forces of House Poseidon and House Oceanus resulting in every water deity feeling the effects of the turmoil. The sea was torn apart as more than a score of powerful sea deities tried to make it obey a command based on the same thing. Now, every son and daughter of the sea has an innate and very deep connection to it... even demigods. The turmoil of the sea was reflected in your body too. That is why you felt nauseous and sore... and also the fact that you were very near to where the incident took place."

"But, what exactly was happening? What was da- Lord Poseidon doing?" I asked figuring that my stepmother may not be pleased with me referring to Poseidon as dad so casually in front of her.

She raised an eyebrow. "You can refer to your father with the appropriate relation, Perseus. You are a son of the sea and House Poseidon will always recognize you as your own, even me. As for what happened, your father and his forces and allies tried to stop the Titan ship from being teleported away. As soon as you told your father that the Time Lord's coffin was on the ship, he was determined to stop the ship and destroy the said object. So, they engaged in a battle of wills and power and divine sorcery to some level. Unfortunately, they failed. The Titans and their forces overpowered your father's and the ship got teleported away."

#Told you they were trying to teleport the ship.#

"So... what is going on right now, Milady?" I asked her.

"Too many things... Atlantis is preparing for a large-scale war... Something on a scale that we haven't ever faced. There is always some small fight going here or there in the sea... old sea deities rebelling, scuffles between two sea gods, and many other battles. But, we have never fought a full-scale war. After the first Titanomachy, my father, Oceanus, peacefully gave control of the oceans to Poseidon in a peace treaty to ensure that he and his wife were not prosecuted or imprisoned like the other Titans. And if you are talking at the moment, many sea deities, especially the ones involved directly in the tussle have been knocked out due to the power surge that erupted after they failed. My husband is running damage control while the healers are running around... like I am."

"You... are a healer, my queen?" I enquired.

She nodded. "Yes, I am quite proficient in the art of healing and combat. My healing skills rival those of Marcus, the chief healer of Atlantis. Unfortunately, I am not the best at divine sorcery... or else I would've joined my comrades in trying to stop the Titan ship..." She said remorsefully.

"Um, then thank you for healing me, milady. I will... err... be on my way if you allow," I said albeit hesitantly. It was incredibly awkward for me to be with my stepmother, behaving like I was a normal guy. I was the symbol of her Husband's most recent infidelity after all... after Tyson that is.

"Absolutely not. One, you aren't completely healed yet and as a healer, I cannot let you leave till I ensure that you're in perfect health. And two, your father wishes to speak with you before you leave... and so do I. Tell me, what was going on before we all arrived. How was Athena of all people on the ship with you? And how did you come to face Tethys and Oceanus, two on one, no less in their own domain and almost killed one of them?"

"That is a long story, my queen."

"We have a lot of time. Your father is very busy at the moment, dealing with the repercussions of what took place not even an hour ago. To be honest, I expected you to be out cold for a few more hours at least, judging from the power you used and the incident after that."

"Okay... um, do you know of the quest issued for the golden fleece?" I asked and she nodded in affirmation. So, I told her of what had happened... till I reached the part where I met Kymopoleia.

"Umm... I do not know if I should voice my opinion on this but Kymopoleia—"

"Kymopoleia was unfairly banished? That we treated her unfairly?" Amphitrite said in a sad voice. I nodded and she closed her eyes before taking a deep breath. "You only have heard her side of the story, Perseus. Kymopoleia... was always a difficult child. Her tendencies were often violent or destructive... or both. She always was an attention seeker and used to do things, usually wrong, to become the center of attention. Over time, she grew resentful and her tantrums became rarer but more violent or destructive each time. After several warnings, shouting matches, disagreements, and all, we were fed up with her. The final straw was when she nearly killed Delphin when he accidentally bumped into her. Had your father not interfered... she would've destroyed Delphin's physical form that day. He banished her to the ancient lands banning her from Atlantis."

A tear rolled down her cheek as she told me the tale.

"We never wanted to do it. No parent does. It broke Poseidon's heart to send her away. But he had to choose between his duty as a king to protect his subjects and a father. We sent her away for the safety of people around her... and the hope that she will understand her mistakes and turn over a new leaf. We waited for five centuries before giving up hope completely. She was still violent, made storms whenever she wished for fun. Also, she hates us now with a passion."

"No, she doesn't. She is just... upset with you all. But, she does think that you hate her. Show her that you don't. I am sure that you all could reconcile with Kymopoleia."

Amphitrite took a shuddering breath and said, "I will discuss this with Poseidon. Continue what happened after Kymopoleia healed you."

It was an order.

So, I followed it, not wanting to upset my stepmother who was behaving civilly with me unexpectedly. I had fully expected her to be resentful and angry at my existence. It took me nearly half an hour to narrate my tale. A short version of my journey in the sea of monsters and a detailed explanation of our plan.

After I finished, the queen of the seas stayed silent for several minutes. Let me tell you, it was really awkward for me. Finally, she said, "You are one brave Hero, Perseus Jackson. Brave, talented, resourceful, and one Hades of a fighter. A true son of the sea if I've ever seen one. You even gained the approval of two goddesses, one of whom hates demigods and the other is choosy as hell... though, I would ask you to be wary of Athena."

I frowned, "Why?"

Amphitrite smirked. "Coincidence or not, the Goddess of Wisdom has ended up falling in love with all sons of Poseidon to who she gave her approval. My son, Triton, then there was Theseus too."

"Triton and Athena were in a relationship?" I asked incredulously.

"No, not exactly. Triton was Athena's trainer after she sprang from Zeus's head. When she had come, she was already a fully grown woman. After a few years, she proposed to Triton but my son said no to her citing that their relationship was purely a student-teacher relationship and he bore no romantic intentions towards her. It broke the poor girl's heart that day. That was the start of the rift between House Poseidon and Athena. Of course, a similar thing happened with Theseus who was already in love with another woman. He too rejected Athena. And now, there is you." Amphitrite said with a smile.

"Err..."

That was when the door opened again and my father strode in, looking every bit of a king that he was. His eyes roamed from Amphitrite to me. His expression changed to a warm smile but I could see the worry behind his eyes.

"Son. Amphitrite. What's up?"

"Perseus was telling me what happened on Princess Andromeda. How Athena and he raided it and what happened there. He also told me about his quest... and Kymopoleia," Amphitrite replied.

Poseidon immediately looked worried. "What did she do now?" He asked in a guarded tone.

"She saved my life," I replied. "And warned me of Luke's ship coming to intercept mine... due to which I made a plan and contacted Athena. By the way, how is she?"

"Unconscious. Ol' Owl head had a poisoned stab wound in her back. Our medics have cured her but it will take some time for her to regain consciousness. The stab wound was inflicted by Oceanus from behind as she fought a horde of monsters, demigods, and Theia... at least that is what she told before the shockwave that happened, knocking her out."

"The shockwave knocked her out as well?" I asked incredulously.

"She was knocked out due to the abrupt disruption in pressure and magic due to the shockwave. The magic I did on her sort of gave her the ability to breathe underwater like a daughter of the sea for some time. It was disrupted... and it acted like a knock to her head in simple terms. The poison didn't help matters. But, she is now safe and is expected to be perfectly fine within a day and a half." Poseidon replied.

"Dad, what about Oceanus and his force... do you need help? Should I stay for the time being? Like, till Oceanus is killed or captured."

Poseidon smiled. "No, son. You've already done enough. Nearly killing Tethys and killing Oceanus's youngest son. You also injured Oceanus and sent him running. And, if I am to estimate, Oceanus won't attack for at least a few more months. I do not even think that he planned to reveal himself against us so soon but you forced his hand as he needed to save his wife. You also did damage to his army's morale if I am to guess." Poseidon said in a tone full of pride.

"The whole sea saw the fight, son. The mighty Titans of the sea, going against a demigod, two on one... and losing. You know, one of the sea deities who stood with Oceanus not even two hours ago is currently at the door of Atlantis, waiting to meet me. He carries no weapons and has told the guards that he seeks forgiveness and an alliance."

"Really?" Amphitrite asked.

"Yes. Percy's fight is already being broadcasted on Atlantis T.V. You're famous, son." He said with a grin.

"Wait, who the hell recorded the fight?" Amphitrite asked incredulously. "There was a category three hurricane around the area caused by Perseus. Thankfully, it was far away from the shore and minimal damage has been done" She added, looking at my worried face.

"A brave water nymph did it. It starts as the fight between Tethys and Percy even before Oceanus intervenes! It is glorious! I am so proud of you my son!" Poseidon said, patting my back.

"Ah... um, thank you."

"So proud!" Poseidon exclaimed again despite my embarrassment while his wife looked at the scene in amusement. So I decided to change the topic.

"Um, dad, is Tyson okay? Has he reached camp yet?" I asked before realizing whom I had asked the question in front of. Amphitrite was already seeing me, but admittedly behaving amiably but would she take kindly to the mention of yet another bastard of Poseidon?

I glanced at her and she rolled her eyes exasperatedly. "Will you please stop doing that?!"

"What?"

"Glancing at me as if I would go on a rampage by seeing you. First, as soon as you were born, Poseidon had confessed to me what had happened... and Poseidon did have his punishment for that. Two, it is not your fault that Poseidon couldn't keep it in his pants." Here, Amphitrite shot my dad a glare that made him flinch. "Three, Tyson, the cyclops was born of the sea... and not in the normal way like you demigods are born. It was just divine magic and not the infidelity of my husband. Most Cyclops sons of my husband are born that way. It is just his big heart that he claims them as his own."

#Even I didn't know that!# Alexander remarked in my head.

"And four, you've already proven to be a good person, Perseus Jackson. You being the first champion of Hestia speaks volumes about your character. You have proven yourself to be a worthy warrior numerous times in the past year. Heck, even Hera approves of you. Like, that lady hates every demigod except you! So, no need to... you know, feel awkward. Everything's cool."

"Yeah, err... um, everything's cool!" I said with a nod before glancing at my dad... who was standing there with an amused face and his eyes were twinkling.

"Superb! Let me give you a special tour of the palace of Atlantis, Perseus!" Amphitrite said cheerfully before putting a hand over my shoulders and starting to take me towards the door before my dad interrupted.

"One second, Amph. I need to warn Percy... Son, whenever you venture into the sea again... be a little careful. Oceanus might attack you to have his revenge. And after you reach your camp, you may be in for a surprise."

I felt my blood turn cold. "My friends..."

"Are perfectly alright and have already reached the camp, courtesy of Chiron and party ponies. Tyson is also sailing completely safe and will reach camp in about 32 hours if he continues on his current course."

"Party ponies?" I asked incredulously.

"You can ask them when you get to the camp."

"Then... what is the surprise?" I asked.

"It is a surprise, Percy," Poseidon said in a grim tone.

"In other words, your father can not tell you, Perseus," Amphitrite said before adopting a cheerful tone. "Come! I still need to show you the grand palace of Atlantis! No child of house Poseidon should be kept from seeing this spectacle!"

I concluded one thing from all this: women were bloody unpredictable.

Alexander just snickered in my head at the thought as I was led away by Amphitrite on a tour.

As it turned out, I ended up staying for the night at Atlantis after the tour. Amphitrite insisted and I didn't have it in my heart to reject her proposal especially after the tour she gave me of the beautiful palace.

In my opinion, Atlantis was even more beautiful than Olympus... at least what I had seen of either of them. There was everything one could dream of in a palace... including a massive game room that would make Disneyland look like a local children's playground. Unfortunately, I couldn't complete the whole tour. The palace of Atlantis was massive and any person would take at least a month to have a detailed tour of the palace. The game room itself would take at least a week. I just saw the main parts of the castle... the throne room, dining rooms, a glimpse of a massive library (which would make Athena and her kids turn into a drooling mess), the cafeteria, the memorial of mermen, the forges, a few of the royal gardens, and a few other things.

In the morning, I showered in the bathroom in my ensuite and wore the sea-green shirt and the khaki pants which had been laid out for me by a naiad. After a few minutes, I was led to a dining room by the naiad (I had my dinner the previous night in my room). Some people were already there: Delphin, Amphitrite, Athena, and another woman whom I didn't recognize at first but Alexander told me that it was Rhode, another one of my sisters. I greeted them all and took a seat that my stepmom gestured me to take... right next to Athena. I had a nagging suspicion that she was trying to set me up with Athena for some reason. Unfortunately for her, I saw Athena as my teacher and an older cousin figure (which she technically was).

Soon my dad and Triton arrived with a few others... all of whom were my brothers or sisters nephews or nieces or related to me in some other way.

Before breakfast began, Poseidon called for everyone's attention and said, "Good Morning everyone. You may have noticed that we have two new faces with us today. You all of course know Athena. And the other person is my son, Perseus Jackson, The first Champion of Hestia, Slayer of the Minotaur, Medusa, Echidna, Chimera, Defeater of Ares, Defeater of Herakles, Subduer of the Cetus Atheniosis, the One who sent the Titaness of the sea running, the Guy who faced off Oceanus and Tethys in a two on one fight and came out on the top, and the One who slew Arastoo in seconds!"

Arastoo was the guy, the son of Oceanus, who had attacked me yesterday and fell to my blade.

Anyways, I swam towards the camp soon after breakfast ended. It was a long journey but I had no problem with it because I was a son of the sea. I could swim from New York to Greece if I wanted... even if it would take several days.

It was nearly sunset by the time I appeared on the beach near the camp where I saw Queen Anne's revenge already anchored. Word of my arrival spread as soon as I walked out of the ocean. Our beach is on the North Shore of Long Island, and it's enchanted so most people can't even see it. People don't just appear on the beach unless they're demigods or gods or really, really lost pizza delivery guys. (It's happened—but that's another story.)

The camp had been through a hard two weeks. The arts and crafts cabin had burned to the ground from an attack by a Draco Aionius. The Big House's rooms were overflowing with wounded. The kids in the Apollo cabin, who were the best healers, had been working overtime performing first aid.

The good news was, that the fleece was already working in magic. The Golden fleece was draped over the lowest branch of Thalia's tree which looked loads better now. It had started regaining its color. The valley was regaining its previous state of happiness and freedom.

My friends met me enthusiastically... that is to say, with a punch to my gut. Apparently, Tyson had run his big mouth and revealed what I had planned to wreak havoc on Luke's forces along with Athena. Annabeth and Clarisse were pissed that I didn't take them along to kill Luke. I just took the tongue lashing, not wanting to tell them that they would've likely died if they had accompanied us.

Heck, Athena was almost overwhelmed when Oceanus joined Theia in fighting her. Oceanus had also destroyed the barrier and my ring of fire with his arrival, making several scores of monsters and demigods join forces to kill the Goddess of Wisdom. It was only by my father's warning, her quick thinking, and her skills with weapons that she had escaped the ship with her physical form intact.

Chiron also called for me and I informed him of everything that had taken place.

The next morning, after the party ponies headed back to Florida, Chiron made a surprise announcement: the chariot races would go ahead as scheduled. We'd all figured they were history now that Tantalus was gone, but completing them did feel like the right thing to do, especially now that Chiron was back and the camp was safe.

Needless to say, I teamed up with Athena again, and this time, I was going to play to win.

Oh, and I nearly got crushed to death by an extremely worried Hestia, but that was not of importance.

The night before the race, I stayed late at the stables. I was talking to our horses, giving them one final brushing, when somebody right behind me said, "Fine animals, horses. Wish I'd thought of them." I turned, recognizing the voice. A middle-aged guy in a postal carrier outfit was leaning against the stable door. He was slim, with curly black hair under his white pith helmet, and he had a mailbag slung over his shoulder.

"Lord Hermes"

"Hello, Percy."

"Thank you for your gifts, sir. They were a great help on our quest. But I am sorry about Luke." The god arched his eyebrows.

"You weren't able to talk sense into him?"

"No, I wasn't... heck, I wasn't able to talk to him properly either. Not with Theia and Tethys in the room. I did try to convey the message to him but, I think he is a lost cause. The Titans have blessed him generously. He is the leader of the Time Lord's forces. When I tried to talk to him about you, his reply was, 'Hermes 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.' And by that, he meant the Titan king who is reforming in a coffin in the room where we were talking."

He just sighed. "Do you ever feel your father abandoned you, Percy?"

"Sometimes... rarely. But I know that he hasn't. He watches over me and answers my prayers. He came to support me against Oceanus. I could hear the pride in his voice when he introduced me to his godly family."

"I can only hope that someday, Luke may realize the same about me. Whether you feel like you succeeded or not, you reminded Luke who he was. You spoke to him, however abruptly it was."

"I had my sword at his throat."

Hermes shrugged. "Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we're related, for better or worse … and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum."

It didn't sound like much of a recipe for the perfect family but, it was the truth.

In the distance, the conch horn sounded, signaling the curfew. "You should get to bed," Hermes said. "I only came to make this delivery."

"Delivery?"

"I am the messenger of the gods, Percy." He took an electronic signature pad from his mailbag and handed it to me. "Sign there, please." I picked up the stylus before realizing it was entwined with a pair of tiny green snakes.

"Hello George, Martha." I greeted as they wriggled under my fingers, forming a kind of pencil grip.

'Did you bring me a rat?' George asked.

"No…" I said. "We didn't find any."

I signed my name and gave the pad back to Hermes. In exchange, he handed me a sea-blue envelope.

Even before I opened it, I could tell it was from my father. I could sense his power in the cool blue paper as if the envelope itself had been folded out of an ocean wave.

"Good luck tomorrow," Hermes said. "Fine team of horses you have there, though you'll excuse me if I root for the Hermes cabin."

'And don't be too discouraged when you read it, dear,' Martha told me. He does have your interests at heart.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

'Don't mind her,' George said. 'And next time, remember, snakes work for tips.'

"Enough, you two," Hermes said. "Goodbye, Percy. For now." Small white wings sprouted from his pith helmet. He began to glow, and I knew enough about the gods to avert my eyes before he revealed his true divine form. With a brilliant white flash, he was gone, and I was alone with the horses.

I stared at the blue envelope in my hands. It was addressed in strong but elegant handwriting.

Percy Jackson
c/o Camp Half-Blood
Farm Road 3.141
Long Island, New York 11954

I opened the envelope and unfolded the paper. Two simple words were printed in the middle of the page: Brace Yourself.

I frowned.

#Something is about to happen... I think your surprise is about to come... and Poseidon thinks you may not like it.#

'Wonderful' I thought sarcastically.

---

The next morning, everybody was buzzing about the chariot race, though they kept glancing nervously toward the sky like they expected to see Stymphalian birds gathering. None did. It was a beautiful summer day with a blue sky and plenty of sunshine. The camp had started to look the way it should look: the meadows were green and lush; the white columns gleamed on the Greek buildings; dryads played happily in the woods.

Annabeth and I won the chariot race by a large margin. No other chariots held a candle to the beauty that the Athena cabin, Tyson, and I had designed.

The best thing was the gift that Tyson had given me. It was a wristwatch that could turn into a shield. It was a round war shield that was four feet wide. The inside was soft leather, the outside was polished bronze that was engraved with designs of my quest intricately carved on it.

We celebrated our victory that afternoon.

Grover announced that he'd be able to spend the rest of the summer with us before resuming his quest for Pan. His bosses at the Council of Cloven Elders were so impressed that he hadn't gotten himself killed and had cleared the way for future searchers, that they granted him a two-month furlough and a new set of reed pipes. The only bad news: Grover insisted on playing those pipes all afternoon long, and his musical skills hadn't improved much. He played "YMCA," and the strawberry plants started going crazy, wrapping around our feet like they were trying to strangle us. I guess I couldn't blame them.

Tyson on the other hand said that he had been called by Poseidon to work in the forges of Atlantis. He left immediately after informing us.

A storm raged that night, but it parted around Camp Half-Blood as storms usually did. Lightning flashed against the horizon, waves pounded the shore, but not a drop fell in our valley. We were protected, thanks to the Fleece, sealed inside our magical borders. Still, my dreams were restless.

I heard Kronos taunting me from the depths of Tartarus: 'young hero, believing he has won a great victory. Are you any less deluded?' The titan's cold laughter filled the darkness.

Then my dream changed. I was following Tyson to the bottom of the sea, into the court of Poseidon. It was a radiant hall filled with blue light, the floor cobbled with pearls. And there, on a throne of coral, sat my father, dressed like a simple fisherman in khaki shorts and a sun-bleached T-shirt. I looked up into his tan weathered face, his deep green eyes, and he spoke two words: "Brace yourself."

I woke with a start. There was a banging on the door. Grover flew inside without waiting for permission. "Percy!" he stammered. "Annabeth… on the hill… she…"

The look in his eyes told me something was terribly wrong. Annabeth had been on guard duty that night, protecting the Fleece. If something had happened—

I didn't even wait. I threw on a T-shirt and summoned my sword.

Grover tried to make a complete sentence, but he was too stunned, too out of breath. "She's lying there … just lying there …" I ran outside and raced across the central yard, Grover right behind me.

Dawn was just breaking, but the whole camp seemed to be stirring. Word was spreading. Something huge had happened. A few campers were already making their way toward the hill, satyrs and nymphs and heroes in a weird mix of armor and pajamas. I heard the clop of horse hooves, and Chiron galloped up behind us, looking grim.

"Is it true?" he asked Grover. Grover could only nod, his expression dazed.

I tried to ask what was going on, but Chiron grabbed me by the arm and effortlessly lifted me onto his back. Together we thundered up Half-Blood Hill, where a small crowd had started to gather. I expected to see the Fleece missing from the pine tree, but it was still there, glittering in the first light of dawn. The storm had broken and the sky was bloodred.

"Curse the Titan Lord," Chiron said. "He's tricked us again, given himself another chance to control the prophecy."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The Fleece," he said. "The Fleece did its work too well." We galloped forward, everyone moving out of our way. There at the base of the tree, a girl was lying unconscious. Another girl in Greek armor was kneeling next to her. Blood roared in my ears. I couldn't think straight. Annabeth had been attacked? But why was the Fleece still there? The tree itself looked perfectly fine, whole and healthy, suffused with the essence of the Golden Fleece.

"It healed the tree," Chiron said, his voice ragged. "And poison was not the only thing it purged."

Then I realized Annabeth wasn't the one lying on the ground. She was the one in armor, kneeling next to the unconscious girl. When Annabeth saw us, she ran to Chiron. "It… she… just suddenly there…" Her eyes were streaming with tears, but I still didn't understand. I was too freaked out to make sense of it all. I leaped off Chiron's back and ran toward the unconscious girl. Chiron said: "Percy, wait!"

But I didn't listen to her.

I knelt by her side. She had short black hair and freckles across her nose. She was built like a long-distance runner, lithe and strong, and she wore clothes that were somewhere between punk and Goth- a black T-shirt, black tattered jeans, and a leather jacket with buttons from a bunch of bands I'd never heard of. She wasn't a camper. I didn't recognize her from any of the cabins. And yet I had the strangest feeling I'd seen her before….

"It's true," Grover said, panting from his run up the hill. "I can't believe…" Nobody else came close to the girl.

I put my hand on her forehead. Her skin was cold, but my fingertips tingled as if they were burning. "She needs nectar and ambrosia, and a little healing," I said.

She was a half-blood, whether she was a camper or not. I could sense that from her.

I took her by the shoulders and lifted her into a sitting position, resting her head on my shoulder. "Come on!" I yelled to the others. "What's wrong with you people? Let's get her to the Infirmary. Medics!"

No one moved, not even Chiron. They were all too stunned. Then the girl took a shaky breath. She coughed and opened her eyes. Her irises were startlingly blue-electric blue.

With a start, I realized who she was. Thalia Grace, the daughter of Zeus.

The girl stared at me in bewilderment, shivering and wild-eyed. "Who-"

"I'm Percy," I said. "You're safe now."

"Strangest dream…"

"It's okay."

"Dying."

"No," I assured her. "You're okay."

The girl's blue eyes stared into mine, and I understood what the Golden Fleece quest had been about. The poisoning of the tree. Everything. Kronos had done it to bring another chess piece into play-another chance to control the prophecy... I had been replaced.

Even Chiron, Annabeth, and Grover, who should've been celebrating this moment, were too shocked, thinking about what it might mean for the future. And I was holding someone who according to Annabeth was destined to be my best friend, or possibly my worst enemy.

"I am Thalia," she said. "Daughter of Zeus."

After being led to the infirmary, I didn't see Thalia for the next couple of days... well, I saw her but never talked to her. Meanwhile, I was trying to shoot energy beams and make energy shields. Since I had returned to the camp, the most success I had gotten in that endeavor was shooting an energy beam when I grew extremely frustrated. The problem was, the beam hit a huge boulder 9 feet to the right of my target and reduced the rock, which was previously taller and bigger than me to rubble... and also caused me to pass out.

Since then, I couldn't even replicate it though. Alexander assured me that I was making good progress but I didn't think so.

Anyways, back to Thalia, I saw her one evening before dinner demolishing training dummies in the camp Arena. She was all alone... which wasn't against the rules as she was technically the Head Counsellor of Zeus's cabin. Normal campers weren't allowed here alone without the supervision of camp counselors.

I leaned against a pillar and watched her demolishing the straw dummies. Her fighting style was good but unrefined. Like she wasn't using her body properly for the best force behind a blow. She was only using the pointed tip of her spear. She was heavy on her right foot... among other things.

"You know," I said. "The dummies can move."

She whirled around and pointed her spear at me and a shield appeared in her hand... a replica of Athena's Aegis. Her eyes were alert and wild. She blinked and lowered her spear but I noticed that it was still held in a position where she could defend herself if needed.

"You're Percy, right?" She asked.

"Yes, Percy Jackson at your service."

Thalia nodded "You know, Annabeth won't shut up about you. I heard your name at least once in every conversation with her since I un-died."

I felt my lips quirking up at her description of turning back into a human from the pine tree. "Annabeth doesn't stop talking about you either. She will always go: Thalia was like this, she did this... you know."

"So... what are you doing here?" She asked after a few moments of silence.

"Dancing," I replied in a dead-pan tone. The girl pursed her lips. I rolled my eyes. "I came here to practice."

It was a lie. I was curious who was practicing in the arena. And once I saw it was the daughter of Zeus, I decided it was time to talk with her. As of now, Thalia was the child of the prophecy. But, according to the resident god in my head, she wasn't. His reasoning was, if Thalia was the prophecy child, he wouldn't have been sent in my head. And two, Kronos was nowhere near reformed enough to gain a form. And Thalia was already 15 and a half years old... the tree had slowed her aging. According to him, Thalia would turn sixteen on the winter solstice. So, if Thalia was the child of the prophecy, we had 6 months. But, according to statistics Kronos would take at least another 10 to 11 months to gain a semblance of form and about three years to get at full power.

Alexander reckoned that if I was the child of the prophecy, Kronos would be powerful enough to be in a physical form and decently powerful to throw around his divine powers by the time my sixteenth birthday rolled around but still not at full power, balancing the odds. So I was the best candidate for the prophecy child at the moment.

"Will you like to spar with me instead, Jackson?" Thalia asked, twirling her spear.

I cocked my head to one side giving her a scrutinizing look. This was turning out to be easier than expected. "I thought you'd never ask," I replied with a smirk.

She nodded and backed away. I ideally noted that she was not turning her back to me. She took a ready stance. The stance was okay... as I could find a few flaws in it but, most were easy to defend against judging from the position of her weapons. Her shield provided her with a huge advantage in defense.

"Why are you holding your shield so high? It will block your line of vision." I asked immediately. It was the greatest flaw in her stance as it would block her opponent's footwork from her sight

She frowned. "If someone attacks my head, I can bring my shield up quickly to protect myself. Headshots are usually fatal."

"There is something known as a war helmet. And a couple of inches lower wouldn't harm and free up your line of sight." I replied immediately.

Thalia lowered her Aegis a little. I nodded in satisfaction. It was still better than before. Once I would take her under my wing to train her as I had started training Clarisse and Annabeth to a degree. I planned to do it properly once the summer ended and most campers went home bar the year-rounders. I was staying for this year as well. I would visit my mom for the weekends and Olympus on Friday morning.

"Are you ready Jackson?" Thalia asked.

"No powers, right?"

"Scared of a little lightning?" Thalia asked with a smirk.

"No, I ain't scared. Tell you what? You can use your powers, but I won't." I replied willing my trident into my hands. I also willed vambraces onto my forearms, foregoing my armor and helm.

"Well then, prepare for an ass-whooping, Jackson," Thalia said and charged at me as her spear cackled with electricity. I met her spear head-on with my trident and twisted it out of her grip disarming her within a second of our duel. Before she could contemplate what I had done, I swept her legs from underneath her causing her to fall to the floor with a thud. I then proceeded to kick her aegis away before pointing my trident at her neck.

Thalia looked at my trident tip at her neck to my face several times, her mouth moving wordlessly.

"Wha- How? What the fuck?" She said after half a minute of processing what had happened.

I smirked. "You just got your ass-whooped, dear Thalia."

"I hardly saw you move! How did you do it! How were you so impossibly fast? You aren't Flash in disguise, are you?"

"I practice a lot. And no, I am not Flash, I am Percy Jackson. And my powers are similar to Aquaman's... and more." I said with a smirk. I could do almost everything that Aquaman could with his water powers and cause Earthquakes, control time, shadows, fire, summon food, among other things. I know I am awesome.

"I want to do it again!"

"What? Get your ass whooped?"

"Of course not. I was playing with you. Now I will go all out! Rematch!"

"Whatever helps you get back up, Pinecone Face. Just don't be upset when I beat you again."

"You're up, Kelp-head," Thalia said and rose to her feet before taking her position in front of me and charging at me again.

---

It was three months later that I found myself firing beams of pure energy at dummies in the arena in my head with Alexander watching over me. The dummies were demolishing left, right, and center as my beams hit them. While the experience was tiring, it was also fun. I knew not to rely on it too much as it tired me out very fast. I could lift and move hundreds of gallons of water in the power it took me to fire a basic beam of energy that would push an opponent back several feet. But shields were awesome.

Shields could stop both physical and divine attacks. It could stop arrows, bullets, divine beams of energy, shockwaves, throwing knives... you name it. It depended on the power you put in the shield. My beams on the other hand could do things from pushing my target back a few feet to reducing huge boulders, the size of Hyperborean giants to dust... even if it caused me to become extremely tired and nearly pass out.

Another of the powers which I had developed was my Earthquake shockwave like the one I had caused on Princess Andromeda. It was still too dangerous but now at least I could direct it in a general direction instead of it causing destruction all around me. I had vowed to use it in real battle only when absolutely necessary or when I was alone surrounded only by enemies.

Another concern of mine was Thalia. I had successfully taken the daughter of Zeus under my wing. She had progressed by leaps and bounds in armed combat in the past three months and so had Annabeth and Clarisse. All three were spear women, though Clarisse was also proficient with a sword. At the moment, Clarisse was better than both Annabeth and Thalia in spear combat while Thalia and Annabeth were close to each other's level. What gave Thalia a huge advantage was her lightning.

Her lightning powers were simply devastating in close range as they were powerful enough to numb any person completely like a taser. But, she still couldn't cause the effects with lightning as she should as a daughter of Zeus. Zeus could level countries with his lightning, so Thalia should be able to level at least a small house. But the best her lightning did was char a dummy severely. It would kill any mortal and injure a demigod severely... perhaps even kill weaker ones.

But, according to both myself and Alexander, it could be loads more powerful. So, I started helping her with channeling her powers about a month ago. The progress was slow though. The girl couldn't direct powerful lightning as she wished to yet. She had gotten better than she was before but it was still not enough. In case she did become the child of the prophecy, she was nowhere powerful or skilled enough to win against Titans at the moment.

"Percy, this is good enough for today," Alexander said and I stopped firing divine beams at the dummies. I sat down on the arena floor built in my head. My T-shirt was sticking to my Torso due to all the sweat that I had produced. Alexander tossed me a towel and a bottle of water which I caught effortlessly.

"You're doing good. The problem is that the divine beams and shields tire you out very fast. When fighting against gods or Titans, those beams, even your most powerful ones, won't kill them. It will injure them, yes. But not kill or incapacitate... okay maybe incapacitate the minor deities if you use your most powerful beam." Alexander told me with a shrug.

"What should I do? Is there something that I can do or use to make them more powerful?" I asked as I wiped the sweat from my neck.

Alexander blinked. "Like?"

"I don't know, some sort of energy gun or a ritual?"

"There... is nothing of such sort. You and your mind." Alexander sighed.

"Might I remind you, that it is my mind where you're staying," I said dryly to him.

Alexander waved my jab off. "Whatever. But you do come up with the weirdest of things, dude, sometimes so weird that I don't know if I should applaud your genius and take you in as a budding scientist or laugh at you."

"The first one is advisable," I suggested.

"The second one sounds so much better to me though."

Before I could retort, a voice boomed, "Percy, Percy, WAKE UP!"

"Grover? What is he doing at my home?"

"It could be an IM, genius. Wake up now."

I opened my eyes in the real world and looked around. Sure enough, Grover's face and upper body were there floating in my room like a holographic video call.

"Hey, G-man. You good?"

"Awesome as always," Grover replied with a grin.

"What happened? You found Pan?"

"I wish that was the news, but no. I am being reassigned from my searcher quest temporarily." Grover said with a sigh.

"What? WHY!?"

"Oh, nothing to worry about. It is a standard protector assignment. A tree Nymph found two powerful half-bloods, a sibling pair, in Maine. I need to go and protect them before some monster can kill them off."

"Why you?" I asked. "There are more than four dozen Satyrs who are exclusively protectors. Surely they don't need to interrupt your quest to find Pan."

"Chiron has put the satyrs on emergency overtime and sent them all over the country, scouring schools from fourth grade through high school for possible recruits. I have experience with powerful half-bloods and am being sent there. My quest to find Pan can wait a few months." He said with a bit of bitterness creeping into his voice.

Grover's dream since he was a kid was to find the lost god Pan. To accomplish what no other satyr had accomplished. He waited for his searcher's license for more than 25 years and when he got it, he was abducted by a cyclops. Then, not even three months since he restarted his quest, it was being interrupted again.

"Well, to be honest, you did bring the daughter of Zeus and a son of Poseidon, a.k.a me, to the camp. You have got the experience with two big three kids. Who knows, this might be your chance to complete the pack if you find a child of Hades." I joked.

"Ha-ha. Very funny. While it may become an accomplishment on my part, a child of the lord of the underworld would open a can of worms I don't think the world wants to handle. So, I hope it doesn't happen."

"Never say Never." I quipped.

"Bla-ha-ha," he bleated. "Whatever. Now, I am going to be at a military school known as Westover Hall near Bar Harbour, Maine. That is where the two go to according to our sources."

"So, near the sea. Don't worry, if you get kidnapped again, I will bring my ship and rescue you."

"You and that ridiculous ship," Grover muttered.

"Oi! It is a work of art!"

"It may be, but you're over obsessing over it now."

I felt a little hurt. Queen Anne's revenge had now become MY ship. I had worked on it along with some of Hephaestus's kids. It was now a complete warship, capable of sailing the toughest seas and engaging enemies. She was armed with an impressive assortment of weapons ranging from a ballista and an improvised version of the Archimedes claw (designed by Athena herself) to modern weapons like machine guns, torpedoes, and missiles.

In addition to all that, I had fitted better propellors and even use some magical runes that made the ship sturdier, more resistant to weathering, and faster. I had found them in a book that had appeared in the Poseidon Cabin out of nowhere one day. I still didn't know who had sent it: Dad, Amphitrite, or Kymopoleia. I had sacrificed food for all three of them after that incident.

Anyways, my ship could now travel about five times faster than it used to before. And I didn't need to actively use my power to control it either now, just think. It took energy directly from the sea now.

There was a knock at the door and my mom peeped in.

"Who is it, Percy? I think I heard voices," She asked before laying her eyes on Grover. "Oh, it is you, Grover. How are you dear?"

"I am good Ms. Jackson," He replied before turning to me, "The time of IM is running out. Stay safe Percy."

"You too. Call if anything comes up."

"No problem, Mrs. Jackson! Bye!" He said and waved his hand through the IM.

---

It was a fortnight before the winter solstice that I found myself in the shotgun seat sitting next to my mom who was driving Thalia, Annabeth, and me to Westover hall in Maine. Grover had contacted us saying he could smell a powerful monster in the school he and the two 'powerful' half-bloods were in and had taken a call to call an extraction team consisting of myself, Thalia, and Annabeth.

The sneaky goat had called Thalia and Annabeth first, telling them to go to my home as I had decided to spend two whole weeks with her as I was going to stay away for Christmas as I would be at the camp. The two girls had arrived at my home and told me of the situation.

It was an eight-hour drive from New York to Bar Harbor, Maine. Sleet and snow pounded the highway. And my mom kept telling Annabeth and Thalia my baby stories all the way. Like it was fun at first but then I realized that she was giving them excellent blackmail material.

By the time we finally got to Westover Hall, it was getting dark, and she'd told Annabeth and Thalia every embarrassing baby story there was to tell about me. Thalia wiped the fog off the car window and peered outside. "Oh yeah, this will be fun."

Westover Hall looked like an evil knight's castle. It was all black stone, with towers and slit windows and a big set of wooden double doors. It stood on a snowy cliff overlooking this big frosty forest on one side and the grey churning ocean on the other.

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" my mother asked.

"No thanks, Mom," I said. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."

"But how will you get back? I'm worried, Percy."

I smiled, "I have fought gods, Titans, and several big bad monsters, and you still worry about me."

"It's okay, Mrs. Jackson," Annabeth told her reassuringly. Her blond hair was tucked into a ski cap and her grey eyes were the same color as the ocean. "We'll keep him out of trouble."

I raised my eyebrow at that statement.

"All right, dears," my mom said. "Do you have everything you need?"

"Yes, Mrs. Jackson," Thalia said. "Thanks for the ride."

"Extra sweaters? You have my cell phone number?"

"Mom—"

"Your ambrosia and nectar, Percy? And a golden drachma in case you need to contact camp?"

"Mom, I'll be fine. Really. Now, go home and get rest." I said kissing her head. "Love you."

"Love you too dear."

Annabeth and Thalia followed me outside. The wind blew straight through my coat like ice daggers. Once my mother's car was out of sight, Thalia said, "Your mom is so cool, Percy."

"Best mom ever, I know. She is my mom after all!"

"We'd better get inside," Annabeth said. "Grover will be waiting."

Thalia looked at the castle and shivered. "You're right. I wonder what he found here that made him send the distress call."

I stared up at the dark towers of Westover Hall. "Nothing good," I guessed and started walking towards the castle.

The oak doors groaned open, and the three of us stepped into the entry hall in a swirl of snow. All I could say was, "Whoa."

The place was huge. The walls were lined with battle flags and weapon displays: antique rifles, battle axes, and a bunch of other stuff. I mean, I knew Westover was a military school and all, but the decorations seemed like overkill. Literally. But there was something sinister here. Besides me, Thalia was rubbing her silver bracelet, her favorite magic item. I knew we were thinking the same thing. A fight was coming.

Annabeth started to say, "I wonder where—" The doors slammed shut behind us.

#It was the wind. Don't worry. No magic.# Alexander said.

I could hear music echoing from the other end of the hall. It sounded like dance music. I frowned. Grover should've informed us that a ball was being held in the school. It would be easier to blend in.

I followed the direction of the music and the girls followed.

We hadn't gone very far when I heard footsteps on the stone floor, and a man and woman marched out of the shadows to intercept us. They both had short grey hair and black military-style uniforms with red trim. The woman had a wispy mustache, and the guy was clean-shaven, which seemed kind of backward to me. They both walked stiffly like they had broomsticks taped to their spines.

"Well?" the woman demanded. "What are you doing here?"

"Visitors are not allowed at the dance! You shall be eee-jected!" The man snapped. He had an accent—French, maybe. He pronounced his J like in Jacques, He was tall, with a hawkish face. His nostrils flared when he spoke, which made it really hard not to stare up his nose, and his eyes were two different colors—one brown, one blue—like an alley cat.

Wait. Cat.

I concentrated on the man's face trying to see through the mist. Alright, there were differences but, I could hardly see his main features as his uniform covered most of his body except his face and palms... which were actually paws.

#Fucking hell! That's a manticore!# Alexander groaned. #Be careful, don't engage here. Not in such limited space.#

I gave him a mental nod just as Thalia stepped forward and snapped her fingers. The sound was sharp and loud and I felt a gust of wind ripple out from her hand, across the room. It washed over all of us, making the banners rustle on the walls.

An admirable manipulation of the mist.

"Oh, but we're not visitors, sir," Thalia said. "We go to school here. You remember: I'm Thalia. And this is Annabeth and Percy. We're in the eighth grade." The Manticore narrowed his two-colored eyes but he was hesitant.

He looked at his colleague. "Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students?" Despite the situation we were in, I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. A teacher named Got Chalk? He had to be kidding.

The woman blinked as someone had just woken her up from a trance. "I… yes. I believe I do, sir." She frowned at us. "Annabeth. Thalia. Percy. What are you doing away from the gymnasium?"

Before we could answer, I heard more footsteps, and Grover ran up, breathless. "You made it! You—"

He stopped short when he saw the teachers. "Oh, Mrs. Gottschalk. Dr. Thorn! I, uh—"

"What is it, Mr. Underwood?" said the man. His tone made it clear that he detested Grover. "What do you mean, they made it? These students live here."

Grover swallowed. "Yes, sir. Of course, Dr. Thorn. I just meant I'm so glad they made… the punch for the dance! The punch is great. And they made it!"

Mrs. Gottschalk said dreamily, "Yes, the punch is excellent. Now run along, all of you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again!"

Grover hustled us down the hall in the direction of the music. Grover hurried us to a door that had GYM written on the glass.

"That was close!" Grover said. "Thank the gods you got here!" Annabeth and Thalia both hugged Grover. I gave him a big high five.

It was good to see him in person after so many months. He'd gotten a little taller and had sprouted a few more whiskers, but otherwise, he looked like he always did when he passed for human— a red cap on his curly brown hair to hide his goat horns, baggy jeans, and sneakers with fake feet to hide his furry legs and hooves. He was wearing a black T-shirt that took me a few seconds to read. It said WESTOVER HALL: GRUNT. I wasn't sure whether that was, like, Grover's rank or maybe just the school motto.

"Who're the kids?" Thalia asked.

"A brother and a sister," he said. "They're ten and twelve. I don't know their parentage, but they're strong. We're running out of time, though. I need help."

"Monsters?"

"One." Grover looked nervous. "He suspects. I don't think he's positive yet, but this is the last day of term. I'm sure he won't let them leave campus without finding out. It may be our last chance! Every time I try to get close to them, he's always there, blocking me. I don't know what to do!"

"Right," I said. "These half-bloods are at the dance?" Grover nodded.

"Then let's dance," Thalia said. "Who's the monster?"

"Oh," Grover said and looked around nervously. "You just met him. The vice-principal, Dr. Thorn."

There were black and red balloons all over the gym floor, and guys were kicking them in each other's faces or trying to strangle each other with the crepe-paper streamers taped to the walls. Girls moved around in football huddles, the way they always do, wearing lots of makeup and spaghetti-strap tops and brightly colored pants and shoes that looked like torture devices. Every once in a while they'd surround some poor guy like a pack of piranhas, shrieking and giggling, and when they finally moved on, the guy would have ribbons in his hair and a bunch of lipstick graffiti all over his face. Some of the older guys looked more like me—uncomfortable, hanging out at the edges of the gym and trying to hide, like any minute they might have to fight for their lives. Of course, in my case, it was true…

"There they are." Grover nodded toward a couple of younger kids arguing in the bleachers. "Bianca and Nico di Angela"

The girl wore a floppy green cap like she was trying to hide her face. The boy was obviously her little brother. They both had dark silky hair and olive skin, and they used their hands a lot as they talked. The boy was shuffling some kind of trading cards. His sister seemed to be scolding him about something. She kept looking around like she sensed something was wrong.

Smart girl.

Annabeth said, "Do they… I mean, have you told them?"

Grover shook his head. "You know how it is. That could put them in more danger. Once they realize who they are, their scent becomes stronger." He looked at me, and I nodded.

"Okay. We get near them and get them out of here, possibly without a confrontation at least in close quarters. The monster is half-lion half-man with the ability to shoot spikes."

"A mantic—" I quickly muffled Thalia's mouth and glared at her.

"Names have power. Now, let us get them out of here." I said and turned to where the Siblings were sitting only to see them gone. The door next to the bleachers was wide open. Dr. Thorn was nowhere in sight either.

We ran through the crowd, maneuvering and avoiding the girls. It took us nearly full five minutes to reach the door. As soon as I exited the door, I saw that about fifty feet away, lying on the gym floor, was a floppy green cap just like the one Bianca di Angelo had been wearing. Near it were a few scattered trading cards.

I extended my senses as much as I could and felt the two half-bloods and a monster almost at the doors which would lead outside.

"Follow me!" I told my friends and hurried down the hallway where Thorn and the siblings had gone. We rushed out of the doors, straight into the chilly winter night. My senses said that the three had gone into the woods. Thankfully, the snow was extending the limit of my senses. It still wasn't as far as I could sense in a water body, but decent enough to feel where the Manticore had taken the demigods.

I hurried into the woods in their direction. At one point, some more demi goddesses entered my sensing field with a goddess. Before I could even ponder over it, Alexander said, #The Hunters and Artemis are here. They must be hunting the manticore.#

I gave him a mental nod and hurried ahead before bursting into a clearing along with my friends. We'd reached a cliff overlooking the sea. At least, I sensed the sea was down there, hundreds of feet below. I could hear the waves churning and I could smell the cold salty froth.

I saw the siblings facing the cliff as the manticore talked on a... phone? Since when did monsters start using mortal technology? This seemed way too modern and creepy—a monster using a mobile phone.

"The package—it is ready to deliver," Thorn said on the phone. There was a garbled reply from the other side which I couldn't make out with my enhanced hearing.

The manticore turned in our direction. "The son of Poseidon, daughters of Zeus and Athena." He greeted.

"Mantiwhore. Release the kids." I said.

The monster roared. "I am Dr. THORN! THE MIGHTY MANTICORE! You will suffer for your insult, demigod."

"Do you have a medical degree?" I asked unperturbed. All the people and the monster looked at me in bewilderment.

"... what?"

"Do you have an MD... or Ph.D.?" I asked.

"...No."

"Uh-huh. Then you aren't a doctor. I'll stick with Mantiwhore."

The monster growled and immediately shot a spike at me. To his credit, it was fast and would've gotten almost anyone. To his misfortune, I didn't fall in that category. I just tilted my body and let the spike soar past me. I also noted that the spike was aimed at my shoulder instead of any vital point on my body.

I immediately willed my armor to appear and the storm-rider in sword form.

"You failed. Try again," I told him.

"Unfortunately," Thorn said, "you are wanted alive, if possible. Otherwise, you would already be dead."

"Who wants us?" The girl... Bianca demanded. "Because if you think you'll get a ransom, you're wrong. We don't have any family. Nico and I…" Her voice broke a little. "We've got no one but each other."

"Aww," Dr. Thorn said turning to them. "Do not worry, little brats. You will be meeting my employer soon enough. Then you will have a brand-new family."

"So you're Luke's lapdog," Thalia said next to me.

"More like Luke's pet cat." I quipped.

Dr. Thorn's mouth twisted with distaste. "You have no idea what is happening, Perseus Jackson. I will let the General enlighten you. You are going to do him a great service tonight. He is looking forward to meeting you."

I felt my blood turn cold... The general... Only one guy was called that in the Greek world: Atlas.

Thorn looked toward the horizon. "Ah, here we are. Your transportation."

I squinted saw a light in the distance, a searchlight over the sea. Then I heard the chopping of helicopter blades getting louder and closer. "Where are you taking us?" Nico said.

"You should be honored, my boy. You will have the opportunity to join a great army! Just like that silly game you play with cards and dolls."

"They're not dolls! They're figurines! And you can take your great army and—"

"Now, now," Dr. Thorn warned. "You will change your mind about joining us, my boy. And if you do not, well… there are other uses for half-bloods. We have many monstrous mouths to feed. The Great Stirring is underway."

#Wow, he sure has a loose mouth.#

"The Great what?" Thalia asked.

"The stirring of monsters." Dr. Thorn smiled evilly. "The worst of them, the most powerful, are now waking. Monsters that have not been seen in thousands of years. They will cause death and destruction the likes of which mortals have never known. And soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus!"

"Okay," I heard Bianca whisper. "He's completely nuts."

At the same time, I felt an invisible figure approach the twins... a girl.

Bless Annabeth and her Athenian mind.

"Ok, Whatever. I ask you again to stand down, Thorn." I said in a threatening voice. "We outnumber you. We out skill you. Leave the kids."

Behind him, I saw the kids' mouths getting muffled by an invisible force before it relaxed. I could see that the siblings were waiting in anticipation now.

"Oh, yeah. What makes you think I am alone, son of Poseidon." Thorn sneered.

"The fact that the only monster I can see here is you?" I asked.

Thorn sneered before pressing a button on his cell phone. Suddenly, I felt power gathering around us and suddenly, several scores of monsters appeared. Dracaenas, Hellhounds, Laistrygonian giants, Cyclopes, and worse of all, a small-sized Drakon and two Hydras... one of which was the Lernaean Hydra with 21 heads. The other was a normal one with currently 5 heads. In the distance, the Helicopter's noise was growing louder. It was likely armed and being piloted by mortal mercenaries or worse, by some Titan.

Besides me, Thalia unfurled her Aegis and took out her mace canister which turned into her spear. The effect was immediate. Several of the monsters including the Manticore reared back seeing Medusa's ugly head.

Thorn roared and began to change. He grew larger until he was in his true form—his face still human, but his body that of a huge lion. His leathery, spiky tail whipped deadly thorns in all directions. Thalia Shielded while I slapped a few aside with my sword to keep myself and Grover, who was behind me, safe.

Thorn grinned ferally. "Any last words demigods."

"Yes, look behind you."

The Manticore's eyes widened and he turned around to see Nico and Bianca missing. I smirked.

"You will pay demigod. I will kill you and find those two. Atta—" Thorn's statement was cut short as a clear, piercing sound was sounded: the call of a hunting horn blowing in the woods.

The manticore froze. "No," he said. "It cannot be—"

His sentence was cut short when an arrow shot past me like a streak of moonlight. and embedded itself in Thorn's shoulder. He staggered backward, wailing in agony. "Curse you!" Thorn cried. He unleashed his spikes, dozens of them at once, into the woods where the arrow had come from, but just as fast, silvery arrows shot back in reply. It almost looked like the arrows had intercepted the thorns in midair and sliced them in two.

Artemis ran a brilliant party.

The Hunters came out of the woods. Nearly a score of girls in silver parkas. I could easily identify Liza among them as she held a bow knocked with a silver arrow, ready to be shot at the monsters. I could also identify Artemis, who looked extremely beautiful as she glowed in the light of the moon. Her beautiful silvery eyes were like miniature moons themselves as I could clearly make them out despite the distance between us.

Next to me, Thalia muttered, "Oh, wonderful."

"ATTACK!" Thorn roared and chaos erupted all around. The monsters charged at all of us. Me, my friends, and the hunters. I myself charged towards the two Hydras and the Drakon killing any monster that dared to intercept me. Over the sound of the war cries and the chopper nearing, I could hear the music that Grover started playing and the crackle of thunder that Thalia made as she charged at Thorn.

As soon as I got near the three snakes, six of the Lernaean Hydra's heads lunged at me. I dodged them all along with two sprays of lethal acid with a grace that would make the best ballerina dancer in the world red with envy. I set my sword to fire and chopped two of the heads off with a clean, single stroke. The mighty Hydra reared back and hissed in pain just as the Drakon lunged at me. I leaped over it, using its head as a springboard to propel myself at the five-headed Hydra end cut three of its head off before rolling away from an acid splash which left the snow on the spot I was a moment ago, smoking.

I leapt at the now-two-headed Hydra and chopped off its remaining heads with my flaming sword, sending the Hydra back to Tartarus as it exploded in golden dust, leaving its chopped-off heads as a spoil. I didn't have any time to make a plan as the Drakon and several of the Lernaean Hydra's heads lunged at me. Instinctively, I raised an energy shield against which the heads bashed, making a clanging noise. One of the Hydra's heads had the idea to spit acid at the shield.

Instead of letting the acid hit my shield, I willed the liquid to stop in its track as I did with water before throwing the acid at the Drakon. The poor Drakon roared in pain as its scales started dissolving in the Hydra's acid. That was all I needed. I dropped the shield and leaped towards the Drakon, my sword turning to its trident form, and drove it through the roof of the Drakon's mouth, making sure to avoid its fangs. The trident pierced the Drakon's brain, turning it to gold dust and scales.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Thalia fighting against the Manticore. Thalia was wielding her spear and aegis with deadly grace. Her spear cackled with electricity as she used her shield to protect herself from the spikes.

On the other hand, the huntresses were holding their own against several different species of monsters. My brain even noted that they weren't as proficient in melee combat as they were with their archery. Several of the girls needed some help from another to take down normal monsters if they closed in. On the other hand, the ones who could put enough distance between themselves and the monsters were shooting arrows with precision, killing with every single shot. I could even see Artemis and her lieutenant... and the word deadly seemed to be an insult to what they were doing. They were wielding a pair of silver daggers each. The daggers were as long as their forearms. They were fighting against some 15 odd Laistrygonian giants and a dozen Cyclopes, who were using clubs and huge-ass war hammers and trying to crush the two.

The two girls weaved between them effortlessly and slashed and stabbed them, reducing them to golden dust.

I dodged the Hydra heads and acid splashes again before sending a burst of Greek fire at it. The Hydra (somehow) roared in pain. None of its heads disappeared but I knew it was severely injured and in pain.

I willed the snow around me to convert into ice blades before sending them at the necks of the Hydra at high speed. The blades effortlessly chopped most of the heads of bar two. The two heads had dodged the flying blade. I didn't concentrate on them though and instead set the stumps to fire. Making the Lernaean Hydra 36-headed was something I had no intention of doing. The stumps turned to dust while the chopped heads stopped swelling.

I turned to what remained of the Hydra. Both heads spat acid at me which I deflected to the ground before swinging my storm rider and chopping the heads off with a fiery strike. The Lernaean Hydra turned to golden dust.

I turned to the remaining monsters which were still fighting against my friends and the hunters and charged at them. We all were still outnumbered at least 7 to 1 and that was not considering that Thalia was locked in battle with Manticore while Annabeth aided her. She had joined the fray when I wasn't looking. The two were holding their own considerably well against the Manticore. Neither had any major wounds as far as I could see.

So, I decided to start helping the hunters who were having trouble. I converted my trident to a sword and hit the button on my wristwatch before charging at them. I immediately became a whirlwind of destruction as I chopped through the monster ranks with ease. My mind went on auto-pilot and my battle instincts took over. I started slashing, hacking, and stabbing the monsters while defending myself with the shield Tyson had gifted me.

I first engaged a dozen monsters who were trying to kill three huntresses who looked no older than twelve. I started disposing of them and within a few seconds, they were piles of golden dust. Before continuing further, I made sure to order the huntress to help others as they were staring at me. I didn't wait to see how they reacted. I continued ahead.

That was when I saw a sight that chilled my blood. A giant stood over the fallen form of Liza with his club raised ready to crush her. I didn't even wait before throwing my sword like a throwing knife. The storm rider sailed through the air at the Giant and embedded in its jugular just as a glowing silver Arrow pierced through the Giant's heart. I suddenly found myself turning towards the source of the arrow and my eyes met with Artemis' brilliant silver ones.

She gave me a small smile before knocking another arrow at a cyclops. I, on the other hand, uncapped my pen which turned into a three-feet-long bronze sword, and continued fighting the monsters.

Nearly a minute later, when nearly all the monsters were killed, I heard the Manticore yell, "If I cannot have these alive, I shall have them dead!"

I turned towards the voice and saw Thalia was sitting on the ground in a daze as Artemis's Lieutenant and four other huntresses surrounded the manticore. The Manticore lunged at the dazed daughter of Zeus to kill her. I was too far to help Thalia.

"No.'" Annabeth yelled and leaped onto the monster's back and drove her knife into his mane. The manticore howled, turning in circles with his tail flailing as Annabeth hung on for dear life. "Fire!" Zoe ordered.

"No!" I screamed and ran towards them killing a hellhound in the way but, the Hunters let their arrows fly. The first caught the manticore in the neck. Another hit his chest.

The manticore staggered backward, wailing, "This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!" And before anyone could react, the monster, with Annabeth still on his back, leaped over the cliff and tumbled into the darkness.

"No! Annabeth!" I yelled and rushed towards the cliff. But our enemies weren't done with us. There was a snap-snap-snap from the helicopter—the sound of gunfire.

Most of the Hunters scattered as tiny holes appeared in the snow at their feet while I raised an energy shield to protect myself. Artemis looked up calmly at the helicopter firing at us.

"Mortals," she announced, "are not allowed to witness my hunt." She thrust out her hand, and the helicopter exploded into dust—no, not dust. The black metal dissolved into a flock of birds—ravens, which scattered into the night.

Immediately the last monsters were killed just as I skidded to a halt at the edge of the cliff from where the Manticore had leaped off with one of my best friends. I couldn't sense her. She just wasn't there.

"Annabeth!" I yelled. Suddenly, Artemis was kneeling next to me, gripping my arm tightly. "I'm sorry, Percy Jackson, but your friend is beyond help." She said softly.

I tried to get up in resignation, but a couple of the girls held me down.

"You are in no condition to be hurling yourself off cliffs," the auburn-haired goddess said.

"I am not. I know A-Annabeth was teleported away. I cannot sense her."

Artemis nodded and gestured the girls to release me.

#Don't worry Percy. We'll find her and rescue her. They won't kill her as they likely want you to come after them... or is a part of a bigger scheme. And if Thorn is to be believed, Atlas is free.#

---

Nearly half an hour, Zoe Nightshade, Artemis's Lieutenant came to inform me that Artemis had summoned me to talk. I got up and followed her.

After Artemis had calmed me, several things had happened, ranging from Grover fan-goating over Artemis, a stand-off between Zoe and Thalia followed by a nearly-faint Bianca, and an overexcited Nico asking questions about the Greek world, an overexcited Liza hugging me while shouting 'BIG BROTHER'.

Finally, Artemis had ordered to treat the wounded before telling Bianca to follow her.

While everyone grouped to be treated or in Grover's case, sit down with Nico to answer more of his questions, I had sat separate from all of them, playing with Annabeth's invisibility cap which I had found on the ground.

Zoe led me to the last tent, Artemis's tent, and waved me inside. Bianca di Angelo was seated next to the beautiful auburn-haired goddess on the floor. The tent had not changed a single bit since I visited it months ago.

Artemis was petting her sacred hind. "Join us, Percy Jackson," the goddess said.

I sat across from her on the tent floor. The goddess studied me before saying, "I promise that I'll try my best to search for your friend who was taken by the monster. She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her."

"Thank you."

"I've asked you here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the… mmm, disturbing things the monster said. But she may not have understood them. I'd like to hear them from you."

"He said many things... the main parts were that the Titans wanted Bianca and Nico for some reason, and wished to kidnap Thalia and me as well. And the great stirring of monsters is happening. The worst of them, the most powerful, are now waking. Monsters that have not been seen in thousands of years. Thorn said one of them will bring the downfall of Olympus."

Artemis put her hand thoughtfully on her silver bow. "I feared this was the answer."

Zoe sat forward. "The scent, my lady?"

"Yes."

"What scent?" I asked.

"Things are stirring that I have not hunted in millennia," Artemis murmured. "Prey so old I have nearly forgotten."

"Oh, and most importantly, the manticore also said that the general will enlighten me and is looking forward to meeting me."

Zoe's face paled. The goddess was so still she could've been a statue.

"And yes, by the general, I think he meant the bearer of the sky."

"Things are not looking good... first the monster stirring... and..." Artemis took a deep breath. "I must hunt this monster." She declared.

Zoe looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded. "We will leave right away, my lady."

"No, Zoe. I must do this alone."

"But, Artemis—"

"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me." "

As… as you wish, my lady."

"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by the winter solstice. It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in."

"Wait. Hold up a moment. First, which monster? And two, what do you mean that you need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in. I presented the proof EIGHTEEN MONTHS ago! And even six months ago to Dionysus and Camp half-blood by making Luke admit his plans! Heck, the sea is already at war! My dad versus the Titans of the sea. What other proof do they need?"

"I can understand your frustration, Percy. But, an official war is yet to be declared by Olympus... which can only happen with full attendance on a Solstice. With definitive proof, not a single god would be able to deny it."

"Okay... You know what the monster is?" I asked.

Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong."

"Can goddesses pray?" I asked because I'd never really thought about that. A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips.

"Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you."

"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?"

"Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return."

"What?" Zoe' blurted out. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there—"

"Yes, I know," Artemis said. "But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just because of a little, ah, misunderstanding. It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down."

Zoe muttered something about foolish campers.

"And now there is one last decision to make." Artemis turned to Bianca. "Have you made up your mind, my girl?"

Bianca hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it."

"Wait," I said. "Thinking about what?"

"They… they've invited me to join the Hunt."

"What?" I asked incredulously. "You can't be considering this."

"You have sent the girl you call a sister to us. What is the problem with her joining?" Zoe asked with narrowed eyes.

"She," I said jabbing my thumb in Bianca's direction "has a younger sibling who loves her dearly. By joining the hunt, she will be abandoning him. Nico can not be a hunter."

"Certainly not," Artemis agreed. "He will go to the camp. Unfortunately, that's the best boys can do."

I just narrowed my eyes at the goddess.

"You can see him from time to time," Artemis assured Bianca. "But you will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to take care of him. And you will have a new family. Us. Forever."

"A new family," Bianca repeated dreamily. "Free of responsibility."

Suddenly, Artemis found herself staring into my eyes which were holding a literal storm. "Stop tempting her to break her into breaking her family, goddess."

Artemis gulped while Zoe took out her bow. "I am merely offering her a choice. It is her decision. We are at war, Perseus and I need as many huntresses as I can. See, I know your domain of home is acting up but, she'll just be a part of something greater. Now back away please."

"Bianca, you can't do this," I said stepping back. "you can't abandon your little brother."

She instead looked at Zoe. "Is it worth it?"

Zoe nodded. "It is."

"What do I have to do?"

"Say this," Zoe told her, " 'I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis.'"

"I… I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis."

"'I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.'"

Bianca repeated the lines. "That's it?" Zoe nodded. "If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding."

"I accept it," Artemis said. The flames in the brazier brightened, casting a silver glow over the room. Bianca looked no different, but she took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide.

"I feel… stronger."

"Welcome, sister," Zoe said. "Remember your pledge, It is now your life."

"A life you'll get by breaking your little brother." I spat at Bianca, who flinched. I just sneered at the three women and stormed out of the tent.

I had just witnessed the greatest slight in my capacity as the champion of the Hearth. A girl had willingly broken a sibling bond to join an eternal girls club.

---

And... done! Hope you guys liked it!

Holy shit, This chapter was long! 22,000 words! phew!

A special thanks to Camillus Gander for beta-ing this chapter

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Thank you all for your support and praises for this story.

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To all who are interested, there's a Haphne Discord server around. There are new story prompts, mayhem, author discussion, movie nights, and bunnies. If that hasn't piqued your interest, I'm on there as well so if you want to talk to me that'd be one way to do it. Also, we're pretty cool people in there and are pretty open to all types of shippers. In case I've finally gotten you interested, here's the link: discord . gg / pKSdvJQvhU [Remove the space]

I am also on the Pertemis server which is a PJO server where I also have my own update channel along with some other famous authors. Link: discord . gg / YEEsa87B [Remove the space]

Along with this, I am also on another server known as the veiled realm which isn't for any particular fandom as we discuss everything in there. Link: discord . gg / EpPH3vTa [Remove the space]

Hope to see you soon!

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Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

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