THREE OLD LADIES KNIT THE SOCKS OF DEATH

"What kind of title is that?" Thalia asked.

Poseidon paled, "Please don't tell me it's what I think it is."

Percy pretended to zip his lips. Poseidon groaned.

The other demigods looked at their friend with concern. Percy just waved them off, feeling slightly uncomfortable with everyone looking at him.

I was used to the … more than I could handle.

"Like when I woke up on that bus." Jason said.

"Oh, that must've sucked," Leo said.

For the rest of the school year, … teacher since Christmas.

"The Mist," Hephaestus said, playing with some wires and metal.

Every so … like I was psycho.

"You are," Nico said.

"Thanks," Percy said sarcastically.

"You're very welcome."

It got so I almost believed them—Mrs. Dodds had never existed.

Almost.

"Grover." They all groaned.

Grover blushed. "I tried"

"We know." Annabeth said.

"Can I have some of my kids teach them to lie?" Hermes asked Dionysus.

"Whatever." Dionysus.

But Grover couldn't … happened at the museum.

"No duh." Demeter said.

I didn't have … up in a cold sweat.

"Your dreams are always the worst," Annabeth said.

"Yeah, we don't envy you," Thalia said, everyone else nodding along.

"Prophetic dreams may be ominous sometimes but at least they're not all terrifying." Will adds. "I don't envy you."

The freak weather continued… in the Atlantic that year.

Everyone looked at Poseidon and Zeus.

"What is up with you two?" Aphrodite asked.

"How would we know this hasn't happened yet," Zeus said.

Aphrodite shrugged.

Everyone who had been there that summer looked at each other with grins, wondering how the gods would react when they figured out what had happened.

I started feeling cranky … hallway in almost every class.

Athena huffed. "You're not gonna pass with that attitude."

Percy shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time."

"Felt that." Most of the demigods said in unison.

Finally, when our … but it sounded good.

"It means drunkard," Annabeth said.

Everyone laughed.

The headmaster sent …I was homesick.

"Mama's boy." Ares sneered.

"Didn't we go over this already? So, what." Percy said, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, you're asking for it punk." Ares said, starting to stand up.

"Oh no, you don't," Aphrodite said, pulling him back down.

Ares settled for glaring at Percy from his couch. Percy smiled right back.

"He's crazy." Hazel whispered, staring at Percy. "Baiting a god. Crazy."

"Wouldn't be Percy if he didn't." Will whispers back.

Percy just winked.

I wanted to be … stupid poker parties.

"That doesn't sound like Paul," Nico said.

"This is before Paul," Percy said, with a dark look on his face.

All the demigods, except Percy, looked at each other. That didn't sound good. Thalia looked downright murderous.

Poseidon looked concerned.

And yet… next year without me.

"I was supposed to be worrying about you." Grover says.

"Loyalty is my flaw for a reason." Percy says.

I'd miss Latin class…I'd started to believe him.

"That's good." Frank said.

The evening … across my dorm room.

"Why would you throw a book?" Athena asked horrified.

"It was getting to hard to read," Percy said.

"Don't we all know the feeling." the demigods said.

"I don't." Frank says.

"Shush!"

Words had started swimming … Chiron and Charon,

"He knows now." Thalia, Nico and Annabeth said.

"What does that mean?" Poseidon asked looking at the three.

"Oh nothing." Grover says with a smile.

Everyone else looked very confused. Even the demigods who had been there that summer. No one really told them exactly what had happened.

or Polydictes and … around inside my shirt.

Percy shifted uncomfortably and scratching at his arms, internally cursing the fates. He was pretty sure what the price was, but he was really hoping he was wrong. Only time would tell.

I remembered Mr. Brunner's … the mythology book.

"Good." Athena huffed.

I'd never … thinking I hadn't tried.

"Aww, that's sweet," Aphrodite said.

Piper silently agreed with her.

I walked downstairs …I'm not usually an eavesdropper,

"Oh really?" Thalia smirked, "What about that one-time wh-"

Percy leaned over Clarisse and put a hand over her mouth.

"We do not speak of that."

"But y-" Nico tried to say.

Percy jumped up and did the same to him.

"Never."

Travis and Connor opened their mouths but quickly shut them at the glare that was sent towards them.

Athena started reading again and Percy sat down giving his friends one more look.

but I dare you to try not listening if you hear your best friend talking about you to an adult.

"But still. It's rude." Artemis said.

"But he has a point." Apollo and Hermes said. The demigods nodded in agreement.

I inched closer.

"... alone this summer… "We need the boy to mature more."

"Did he ever mature?" Frank asked Annabeth.

"Nope," Annabeth said.

"Thanks," Percy grumbled.

"Well, maybe a little," Annabeth said. Percy smiled.

"But he may not have time… while he still can."

"Ignorance is bliss." Will says.

"Until it slaps you in the face with a monster." Percy adds.

"Sir, he saw her..."…enough to convince him of that."

"Nope." Percy said.

"Sir, I ... that would mean."

"Do you still blame yourself for that?" Thalia asked Grover.

Grover's eyes widened as the girl stared into him. "Um…"

"Grover." Thalia said calmly. "We're having a talk later."

Grover nodded.

"You haven't failed, … floor with a thud.

"NOOOO!" Hermes yelled. "You broke rule #2! Never give away your position!"

Mr. Brunner went silent.

My heart hammering, I picked up the book and backed down the hall.

Hermes sighed in relief, "Good. You saved yourself. There is hope for you yet."

"Shut up," Artemis said.

Percy took a deep breath as his heartrate picked up again.

A shadow slid …like an archer's bow.

"That's because it is Kelp Head," Thalia said.

"Yeah yeah, I know," Percy said.

I opened the nearest door … since the winter solstice."

"What happened?" Hades asked.

"Spoilers." The demigods all said.

The gods looked put out.

"Mine neither…"Don't remind me."

"I hate finals." Was the unanimous consensus of the demigods.

"Try having to take the same ones for years on end." Grover moans.

The lights went … "You going to be ready for this test?"

"No." Everyone said.

"Were never ready for tests," Hazel said.

I didn't answer.…"Just... tired."

Percy stifled a yawn.

I turned so he couldn't read my expression,

"We read emotions Perce." Grover says.

Percy waved his hand. "Yeah yeah."

and started getting ready … three-hour Latin exam,

"THREE HOURS?!" All the demigods yelled.

"How did you live?" Apollo asked with wide eyes.

"We don't." Katie says.

Apollo blinked at that before chuckling.

my eyes swimming with all the Greek and Roman names I'd misspelled, Mr. Brunner called me back inside.

"Is he still bad at talking with you guys?" Demeter said.

"Oh yeah." all the people who knew who she was talking about.

"Cereal would fix that," Demeter said.

"NO CEREAL!" Hades yelled, speaking for the first time in a while causing the people nearest to him to jump.

For a moment… It's ... it's for the best."

Everyone winced.

"He needs to get better at that," Poseidon said.

His tone was kind, … motions with her lips.

"That's gross," Piper said.

I mumbled, "Okay, sir."… It was only a matter of time."

"He is seriously bad at that." Hermes said, "My kids need to teach him how to approach you guys."

My eyes stung.

Percy blinked, looking at the ceiling. Stupid fates.

Annabeth eyed him concerned but he didn't meet her gaze.

Here was my … That's nothing to be—"

"This has to be one of the worst interactions though." Will grimaces, Clarisse nodding along.

"Tell me about it." Percy says.

"Thanks," I blurted. …But I was already gone.

"If we were normal things would have been so different." Nico says.

"Maybe it would have been better." Percy says.

"No, it wouldn't have." Clarisse says quietly. "We would have lost to Him if we didn't have you."

Percy looked around to his friends who knew what she was saying, and they were nodding along. He looked down uncertainly.

On the last day of the term… from a family of nobodies.

"I wouldn't say nobodies." Zeus said.

"Well…" Percy said thoughtfully.

Hades and Poseidon laughed as Zeus sputtered.

They asked me … I'd go to school in the fall.

"Is it always like that?" Hephaestus asked.

"Yup," Leo said.

"Oh," one of the guys said. "That's cool."

They went back to their conversation as if I'd never existed.

"That's not very nice," Aphrodite commented.

The only … Greyhound as I had,

"STALKER!" Nico yelled.

"I wasn't stalking him!" Grover exclaimed.

Nico just pointed at him. "Stalker." He whispered

so, there we were… watching the other passengers.

"STALKER!" Thalia joined in.

"I'm not!"

It occurred to … "Looking for Kindly Ones?"

"Scared me half to death there." Grover said.

"Whoops." Percy smiled.

Grover just chuckled and shook his head.

Grover nearly jumped … the night before the exam.

Hermes groaned, "You never confess. That's rule #8."

"How many rules are there?" Jason asked.

"10." Hermes said, "All my kids learn them when they're claimed."

"Yup!" Travis and Connor confirm.

Grover's eye twitched. "How much did you hear?"

"Oh ... not much. … hallucinating about demon math teachers ..."

"You tried." Annabeth said patting her friend's shoulder.

"Grover—"… really, really bad liar."

"Yes, yes he is," Hazel said.

His ears turned pink.

Same as they were now much to everyone's amusement.

From his shirt pocket… on my dyslexic eyes,

"Why is it in fancy script?" Zeus asked Dionysus.

"It's fun to see them try and read it," Dionysus replied.

All the Greek demigods glared at him. It was hell on their eyes.

"You should change it." Aphrodite tells him.

He didn't listen.

but I finally made out something like:

Grover Underwood

Keeper

Half-Blood Hill

Long Island, New York

(800) 009-0009

The Greek demigods looked wistful, especially the ones that were part of the seven.

"Can't wait to go back home." Leo says.

"I think that speaks for all of us." Nico says.

"Why aren't you at home?" Hermes asks.

The seven looked to each other.

"The future is…. Kind of a mess." Percy says.

The demigods snorted. That was an understatement.

"What's Half—" … come visits your mansion."

"Not really a mansion." Piper smiled.

He nodded. "Or ... or if you need me."

"Why would I need you?"

"Be nice to him." Demeter chided.

It came out harsher than I meant it to.

"Good," Demeter said, nodding her head.

"I knew." Grover said quietly.

Percy nodded with a small grin.

Grover blushed… one who defended me.

"Bullies and monsters are two different things." Katie says.

"Grover," I said, "what exactly are you protecting me from?"

"Monsters," Connor said.

"Angry monsters," Travis added.

"The Furies," Annabeth said.

"From making stupid decisions," Clarisse said.

"Everything," Katie said.

Percy didn't even try to say they were wrong.

The Olympians frowned. Were their children's lives really that bad?

There was a huge grinding … the side of the highway.

"That doesn't sound good." Athena says.

"It works out in the end." Percy says.

After a few …outside with everybody else.

"I don't have a good feeling about this." Poseidon muttered to himself.

We were on a stretch of country road… was an old-fashioned fruit stand.

Everyone glanced at Percy. If this was who they think it is how was he alive?

Annabeth gripped his hand tighter.

The stuff on sale …biggest pair of socks I'd ever seen.

"No." Poseidon whispered. "Is that who I think it is?"

Percy nodded and his dad paled.

"You didn't tell me about this." Annabeth glared.

"I didn't want to worry you," Percy said.

The demigods looked to their friend worried. He didn't tell anyone about this.

I mean these socks … bleached cotton dresses.

Hades cowered on the couch as Poseidon glared at him. He didn't control the fates, but why would they go and seek out Percy?

The weirdest thing was, they seemed to be looking right at me.

All the demigods looked to Percy.

"How are you alive?" Clarisse asked.

"Honestly," Percy said. "I have no idea."

"That's not comforting," Poseidon said, white faced.

I looked over at … socks would fit me?"

"That is not something to joke about," Hephaestus said.

All the gods nodded in agreement.

Percy just shrugged, not much could phase him anymore.

"Not funny, Percy. … "Come on."

"Yes, get on the bus." Poseidon whispered. "Get on the bus."

"Dad." Percy said. "I'm fine. Sitting right here."

Poseidon looked his son over and nodded, relaxing a bit.

"What?" I said…snip across four lanes of traffic.

Annabeth hugged Percy closer to her.

"How are you alive." Will asks, repeated the earlier question.

"It's not mine." Percy says.

"It has to be!" Hades says. "The fates don't show other's strings!"

The demigods looked at each other nervously. They knew where Percy was right now, and if what Hades said was correct… well.

"Guys I promise I'm okay." Percy says.

They nod but still look skeptical.

Her two friends …as if I'd caught the flu.

Percy started shivering slightly. He felt cold and hot all at the same time. It was an uncomfortable feeling.

"You okay?" Thalia asked, eyeing him.

"Yup." Percy said. "Fine and dandy."

Grover didn't look much better…"What are you not telling me?"

"Everything," Piper said.

He dabbed his … Mrs. Dodds, are they?"

"Much worse," Hades said.

"Are the fates under your control?" Poseidon asked.

"No," Hades said.

The sea god's frown deepened.

His expression was … and she cut the yarn."

Everyone looked to Percy.

"Really how are you alive?" Hades asked staring.

Percy just shrugged.

"Not very helpful."

He closed his eyes … I knew it was a big deal.

Annabeth stood up, angry. "It is a big deal though!"

"We need you!" the others yelled.

Percy blushed. "You'd be fine without me." He whispered.

His friends just looked at him like he was crazy.

"This is not happening… They never get past sixth."

"That's creepy man." Will says.

"Sorry." Grover said sheepishly.

"Grover," I said… but I promised he could.

"You're not keeping that are you." Clarisse says.

"Nope."

"Is this like a … I'd like best on my coffin.

"That was fun." Percy said, ignoring the scoffs from everyone. "Who's reading next?"

"I will," Nico said.

Thalia threw the book at his head, but Nico caught it. "Next time pine tree."