Hello! It's the school holidays, so I decided, hey, why not upload another chapter?

CHAPTER 4: DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

"Zoë," Thalia said. "You look thirteen at most. You shouldn't be driving."

Zoë looked offended, gripping the wheel harder. "I am elder than the invention of cars!"

The group had found a car, and were currently nearing the border to Nevada.

And Zoë and Thalia, Perseus found, were at each other's throats more often than not.

"That won't really matter if we get pulled over. And I doubt a cop will be impressed by your ancient wisdom," Thalia retorted, crossing her arms.

Grover snickered from the backseat of the old pickup truck they'd managed to acquire. "Just don't forget to wear your seatbelt, Zoë. Safety first, right?"

Zoë shot him a glare, her eyes narrowed. "I do not require safety devices to protect me from mere mortals."

"It's not protection from mortals, Zoë," Thalia shook her head. "It's protection from crashes. What happened to being 'elder than the invention of cars', hmm?"

Zoë scowled.

Perseus couldn't help but smile at the banter, a welcome distraction from the heaviness that weighed on his heart.

"Hey," Thalia said. "I'm pretty sure we're close to the Hoover Dam."

"What is a dam?" Perseus asked.

Thalia blinked, then let out a half-laugh. "You're kidding, right?"

He gave her a flat look. "No. What is a dam?"

Zoë, still focused on driving, muttered, "It is a structure built to block a river or other body of water. The Hoover Dam is one of the largest in your country."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Right, thanks for the history lesson, Zoë. It's also a massive tourist trap. It's 221 metres high…"

"…and 379 metres long!" Grover finished..He leaned forward, eyes wide with excitement. "Oh, it's really cool, Percy! It's like this giant wall holding back a whole lake! You can take tours inside it and everything."

Perseus stared at Grover, unimpressed. "Why would I want to go inside a giant wall of water?"

Thalia chuckled. "For the view? Or, y'know, for the sake of not being completely out of touch with modern-day stuff. Annabeth would kill you if she heard you."

"Who?"

"A friend of ours. She's been taken, with Artemis."

Perseus frowned, the name unfamiliar to him. "Annabeth?"

Thalia's smile faltered slightly. "Yeah... Annabeth Chase. She's a demigod, like us. Daughter of Athena."

The mention of Athena drew a sharp glance from Perseus. His eyes hardened for a brief moment, before he forced a neutral expression. "Athena's daughter, you say? And she's been taken?"

"By Luke," Thalia said, her voice bitter. "Along with Lady Artemis. We think they're being held at Mount Othrys."

"Who is this Luke?"

"A son of Hermes," said Grover. "He's helping the Titans."

Perseus' grip tightened on the hilt of his sword as he turned his gaze back to the road ahead. "I see."

Zoë spoke without looking back. "Lady Artemis will not fall easily. We must reach her soon, though. Time is not on our side."

Grover nodded eagerly. "And Annabeth too! We'll save them both, Percy. I know we will."

Perseus remained silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of what they were up against. "Then we'll move quickly," he said, his voice grim. "No distractions."

The pickup truck sped along the desert road, dust kicking up behind them as the sun sank lower in the sky. Perseus kept his gaze forward, but his mind wandered, piecing together what little he knew about this "Annabeth." A daughter of Athena, a friend to Thalia, and apparently important enough to be held alongside a goddess. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling in his chest.

"Do you think they'll use her?" Perseus finally asked, breaking the silence. "To get to you?"

Thalia's expression darkened. "Luke might. He... has a history with her."

Perseus didn't press further, sensing the raw emotion behind her words. He knew all too well the complexities of war when friends were involved.

The Hoover Dam loomed closer now, a massive silhouette against the fading light. Perseus could feel the tension mounting within the group. They were heading into something bigger than any of them had fully realized.

Zoë pulled the truck into a parking lot, the engine sputtering as it came to a stop. "We will cross here," she announced, her eyes fixed on the colossal structure ahead.

Perseus glanced at the dam, feeling the power radiating from it. Something ancient lingered in the air, something that made his skin crawl. "What exactly is waiting for us?"

Zoë's expression remained stoic. "If we are fortunate, nothing. But we must be prepared for anything."

Thalia tightened her grip on her spear, her eyes scanning the area. "Let's get this over with. The sooner we cross, the closer we are to Othrys."

Perseus nodded, stepping out of the truck and drawing his sword. The metallic sound echoed in the still air, a reminder of the battles yet to come.

ETERNITY

Perseus was willing to admit that he might be lost.

The sprawling corridors inside the Hoover Dam all looked the same, twisting in strange patterns, lined with strange walls and flickering lights.

The others had gone ahead, searching for a snack bar, but Perseus found himself trailing behind.

"This place is a labyrinth," he muttered to himself, though it was hardly comforting. He had faced worse, much worse, but there was something unnerving about the dam's sterile, industrial atmosphere.

The echoes of his own footsteps followed him down another corridor. He paused for a moment, unsure of which direction to take, when a voice broke the silence.

"You're not as invincible as you think you are."

Perseus spun around, his sword raised. There was no one there.

The voice continued, soft and taunting. "You've seen wars, Perseus. But the war that's coming? It's unlike anything you've ever known."

"Show yourself," Perseus growled, his grip on the sword tightening.

A shadow flickered against the far wall, and out of the darkness stepped a figure - or rather, three figures. The Fates.

Perseus's heart skipped a beat. The Fates. He lowered his sword but remained tense, unsure whether to feel fear or anger. The last time he had encountered them, they had orchestrated his demise. To see them now meant only one thing: something big was on the horizon.

The three figures stood before him, draped in their signature gray cloaks, faces half-hidden by shadow. Clotho, the spinner of life's thread, held her spindle in hand, her fingers twitching lightly. Lachesis, the measurer, stared at him with unsettling intensity as if weighing his worth. Atropos, the cutter of the thread, smiled faintly, her silver shears glinting in the flickering light.

"What do you want?" Perseus asked warily, his voice steady though his mind was racing.

"You know what's coming, don't you?" Clotho's voice was smooth, almost gentle. "The rise of the Titans, the fall of Olympus."

Perseus clenched his jaw. "I'm going to stop it."

Lachesis stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "You think you can, child of the sea? You've been given gifts, yes. Strength, power, the favor of the gods. But what is that in the face of eternity?"

Perseus frowned, confusion washing over him. "What do you mean?"

Atropos, the eldest of the three, let out a small laugh, cold and sharp. "You are caught in time's current, Perseus. You cannot see all the threads, the full tapestry. We can. And what we see... is inevitable."

"I don't believe in inevitable," Perseus snapped. "I've changed fate before."

Clotho's eyes softened. "You've bent it, yes. But even the greatest heroes cannot escape destiny forever. Your thread has been stretched, twisted, and knotted. But it is not unbreakable."

Lachesis raised her measuring rod, pointing it directly at his chest. "You will soon face choices. Harder choices than any you've ever made. And even we cannot see what you'll decide."

"I don't have time for your riddles," he growled. "If there's something you want me to do, just say it."

Atropos smirked, lifting her shears. "Do? Oh no, Perseus, we are not here to guide you. We simply... observe." She snapped the shears together, the sound echoing ominously. "You're running out of time. Do you even understand what you face?"

"I know exactly what I'm up against," he shot back. "And I've faced worse."

Atropos stepped closer, her smirk twisting into something colder. "Worse? You cannot even comprehend what is coming, Perseus. The thread of your life has frayed, stretched beyond its limit. Every choice you make now could be your last."

Perseus raised his chin, refusing to back down. "I've made it this far because I don't give in to fear. And I'm not about to start now."

Clotho's eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "There is a war coming, Perseus. One that will drown Olympus in blood. And you-" she paused, her voice like silk wrapped around steel, "you will face a choice. Do not believe that you can run from it."

"I'm not running from anything," Perseus growled. "If you have something to say, say it. I don't have time for your cryptic nonsense."

Atropos's smile faded as she lifted her shears. "Time is exactly what you lack, demigod. You think you're invincible, that you've bent destiny to your will. But eternity always wins."

She snapped the shears, the sharp sound echoing like a death knell. Perseus flinched, but held his ground, defiant. "Cut my thread then? You can't anymore, can you? You need me for something."

"Mark our words," Lachesis intoned. "Your thread will be tested soon. More than it ever has been. And when the time comes, your strength will not be enough. What will you do then?"

"I'll do what I always do," Perseus said through clenched teeth. "I'll fight."

The Fates stared at him for a long, chilling moment. Then, as one, they turned and began to fade back into the shadows, their voices trailing behind them like an ominous whisper.

"Eternity is not yours, Perseus. You can't fight forever."

Perseus stood there, breathing hard, the tension in his body refusing to release even after they were gone. His heart thundered in his chest, their words echoing in his mind.

He sheathed his sword, looking for the snack bar where his friends waited. But the conversation replayed in his head, a dark cloud hanging over him. He had faced gods and monsters before, but this felt different.

The Fates had never lied to him before.

He walked through the Hoover Dam, trying to find the snack bar that his companions were at.

A woman with black hair and glasses bumped into him. "Old man, the turbines are this way. Where are you headed to?"

Perseus frowned. He was in the body of a fourteen year old. How could she mistake him for an old man? "I'm not lost, just… exploring," he replied evenly. "What's your name?"

She took off her glasses, revealing stormy grey eyes. "Do you truly not remember me, Perseus?"

"Athena," he said, voice flat. "What are you doing here?"

Athena crossed her arms, a bemused smirk on her lips. "What, I'm not allowed to check in on an old friend?" Her expression shifted, becoming more serious as she regarded him. "I'm glad to see you again, Perseus. It's been too long since we fought together."

"True," he replied, his voice softening. "I've missed our battles… and our talks, Little Owl."

Athena chuckled softly, the sound a soothing balm amidst the chaos surrounding them. "I know that all too well, but you also have a knack for getting lost in thought. You always did."

He couldn't help but grin, memories of countless battles fought side by side flooding back. "It's good to see you, Athena. I've missed our adventures… and our talks. This place is strange and unfamiliar."

"Strange? You're an immortal demigod who fought monsters and traveled to the depths of the Underworld. The Hoover Dam isn't much compared to that." She smirked, but her eyes held a deeper understanding. "Still, it must be jarring. You've had a lot on your mind since you returned."

"I have. What has happened since the Fates decided to let me die?"

Her smirk faded. "You… you were dead, Perseus. We thought you were lost to us. Your father nearly flooded the entire earth - the humans believed it to be some sort of higher power than even us. Few mortals survived."

Perseus's expression darkened as the weight of her words settled in. "I had no idea."

She sighed. "It was not your fault, Perseus, truly, but- I missed you."

"For what it's worth, I missed you too," Perseus said quietly, his gaze softening.

Athena's stern demeanor wavered for a moment, and the goddess let out a sigh. "You always knew how to navigate through the chaos, Perseus. Even when all seemed lost. But things are different now."

Perseus met her gaze, his brow furrowing. "Different how?"

"Things have changed in your absence, even for the gods," Athena explained. "The balance of power has shifted. The Fates may not have given you the full picture, but Olympus is under threat, more than it ever has been."

Perseus frowned. "And yet you're here… instead of with the other gods, preparing?"

"I am here because I believe in you," she replied, her voice firm but gentle. "Olympus needs a champion. We need you."

"And what am I supposed to do, Owl?" Perseus said, his frustration starting to surface. "I cannot change fate. The Fates told me as much - what's coming, it's bigger than me."

Athena stepped closer, her stormy eyes piercing into his. "Fate is not a cage, Perseus. It's a path. And while you may not be able to alter its course, you can still decide how you walk it. You are not powerless."

He clenched his fists, the weight of her words heavy on his shoulders. "The Fates said I can't fight forever. But I don't know any other way."

Athena placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch surprisingly warm. "No one fights forever, Perseus. But you're not alone in this. Trust in your companions, trust in yourself. You have more power than you realize."

"What of your daughter, Annabeth?" Perseus tried, attempting to change the subject. "Thalia told me she had been captured by the Titans."

Athena looked away. "A manticore captured her. She is alive but-"

Perseus wrapped her in a hug. "I shall rescue her, Little Owl. I promise."

"Thank you, Perseus." Her eyes hardened. "You must find the beast tha Artemis was hunting."
"Artemis was hunting a monster?"

Athena nodded. "We do not know what monster, but it is apparently a 'bane of Olympus'."

Perseus frowned. "Bane of Olympus? If it is Artemis alone hunting it, it cannot be Keto or Typhon - she would be outmatched. It would have to be… the Ophiotaurus!"

"Wise as always, Perseus." Her gaze sharpened, a flicker of concern crossing her features. "Yes, the Ophiotaurus. It is said that its blood can grant immense power to anyone who sacrifices it, making it a sought-after prize by enemies of Olympus."

Perseus's heart raced as the implications sank in. "If the Titans have gotten wind of this, they'll stop at nothing to capture it. We need to act quickly. The longer Artemis is away, the greater the danger."

"Exactly," Athena agreed, her expression grave. "If the Ophiotaurus is still alive and unprotected, it poses a dire threat to all of us. The Titans could leverage its power to turn the tide of this war."

Perseus clenched his fists, determination surging within him. "Then we must find it before they do. We can't let them use its power against us."

Athena nodded, her eyes glinting with pride at his resolve. "You're right. But I cannot help you, for now."

"Then I shall have to do it without you. Am I to believe you have something for me?"

"Perceptive," she replied, a smile breaking through her serious demeanor. "If anyone can find the Ophiotaurus, it's you." She handed him a worn blue hat.

"What is this?"
"It was- is my daughters," said Athena. "It was a gift from me. Wearing it will turn you invisible."
Perseus whistled low. "You never spoiled me like that."

She laughed. "Remember your mission."

"I will not fail, Athena."

Athena's expression softened, her eyes shining with pride. "That's the spirit, Perseus. Trust in your friends and in yourself. You are capable of great things, and I will always be here for you."

"Thank you, Athena," he said sincerely. "It means more than you know."

Her expression was calm but focused, and she held out her hand. In Athena's palm were four small, blueish pearls, glowing faintly.

"Take these," she said, her tone firm. "They're pearls from your father. Use them when the time comes. Crush them beneath your feat, and they'll take you anywhere the sea is. You'll need them to get to Othrys quickly, and the path ahead won't be easy."

Perseus raised an eyebrow as he took the pearls, feeling the cool, smooth surface against his palm. "You and my father agreeing on something… what is the world coming to?"

Athena's expression softened, her gaze lingering on him. "If there is one thing we both love, Perseus, it is you."
Perseus smiled, a rare warmth filling his chest. "Well, I suppose I should take that as a compliment."

"It is, Perseus. Don't forget that. We may have our differences, but you've always been someone worth fighting for."

He stared at the pearls in his hand for a moment, then looked back at Athena. "You're not coming with us, are you?"

She shook her head. "No. My place is with the other gods for now. But these will give you the speed you need to stay ahead of the Titans."

He nodded, his grip tightening around the pearls. "Thank you, Athena. We'll get Annabeth and Artemis back, and we'll stop the Titans."

"I know you will," she said softly, a small smile gracing her lips. Athena pecked him on the cheek before fading away.

Perseus watched her vanish, his mind heavy with the weight of her words. When he finally found the snack bar, his companions were already there, completely oblivious to the encounter that had just transpired.

As he sat down beside them, Thalia raised an eyebrow. "Took you long enough."

Perseus shrugged, running his fingers over the pearls. "Ran into an old friend."

"Who?"

Perseus glanced at the worn blue hat in his hand, his fingers brushing over its fabric. "Just someone from the old days."

Thalia eyed the hat with suspicion. "Where'd you get that from?"

He admired the hat. "Athena. She thought I might need it for what's ahead."

Thalia's brows furrowed. "Did she say anything about Annabeth? How is she? Where is she?"

"She's... alive," Perseus said carefully. "Captured by a manticore, but I'll get her back. She's on Othrys."

Thalia's face tightened, a mix of anger and concern flashing in her eyes. "We'd better, or I'll rip Kronos apart myself."

Grover, who had been quietly nibbling on a tin of tin cans, perked up at the mention of Annabeth. "So, what's the plan? We're going after her, right? And Artemis too?"

Perseus nodded, his mind already forming a plan. "We don't just have to rescue Annabeth. There's a bigger threat. Artemis was hunting the Ophiotaurus-"

Thalia blinked. "The what now?"

"The Ophiotaurus," Perseus repeated. "If it's sacrificed, whoever does it gains the power to destroy Olympus. And the Titans want it."

Zoë gasped. "if the Titans find it before we do…"

Thalia's eyes widened in realization. "Then everything's at stake."

Grover paled. "So… not just rescue missions, but also stopping the end of the world?"

"Pretty much," Thalia replied sullenly.

"But we're not alone." Perseus said. "Little Owl is watching, and she gave us a tool to level the playing field." He patted the jacket pocket where the hat was hidden. "We just need to figure out where Artemis and the daughter of Athena are being held - and find the Ophiotaurus before it's too late."

"Who's Little Owl?" Thalia asked.

Zoë allowed a rare smile. "Athena. 'Tis a nickname."

Grover stopped chewing, the tin can falling from his hand "You call the goddess of wisdom Little Owl?"

Perseus chuckled, shaking his head. "I wouldn't try calling her that if I were you. It's... personal."

Thalia arched an eyebrow. "You've got pet names for gods now?"

Perseus smiled, the memories of his past with Athena clear in his tone. "You could say we've been through a lot together. She's helped me more times than I can count."

Zoë nodded. "A personal relationship with the goddess Athena... 'tis not something many can boast of."

Grover, still wide-eyed, fumbled to pick up the tin can he had dropped. "Well, if Athena's backing us, we've got a fighting chance, right?"

Perseus tapped the cap. "We've got more than a chance. We have a head start. But it won't be easy. We need to track down the Ophiotaurus before the Titans do, and rescue Annabeth and Artemis in the process."

Thalia clenched her fists, determination gleaming in her eyes. "We can do this."

Perseus nodded, glancing at each of his companions. "We must find the Ophiotaurus."

"But how?" Thalia asked.

"I do not know," Perseus said. "I have no idea of it's whereabouts."

"Nereus," Zoë said. "We could ask Nereus."

Perseus raised an eyebrow. "Zoë, last time we asked the old man, he-"

"It's been thousands of years, I'm sure he has forgiven you."

Thalia frowned, glancing between Zoë and Perseus. "Wait, what happened last time?"

Perseus scratched the back of his neck, clearly reluctant to explain. "Let's just say Nereus didn't appreciate me dragging him out of his comfortable spot by the sea to answer some questions." He winced. "Old gods don't really like being disturbed."

Zoë folded her arms. "Regardless, Nereus is one of the only beings who might know the whereabouts of the Ophiotaurus. If anyone can help us, it's him."

Thalia sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine, but if he tries anything funny, I'm throwing him in the nearest river."

Perseus chuckled. "Good luck with that. He's slippery, but if we can find him, he'll talk. Eventually."

Zoë gave a curt nod. "Then it's settled. We find Nereus, and we will have our answer. He resides near Othrys now - in a mortal city known as San Francisco."

Perseus stood up, determination burning in his eyes. "Right. Let's get moving. We don't have time to waste. Annabeth and Artemis are counting on us."

Thalia frowned. "How will we get to San Francisco in time?"

He handed each person a pearl, the faint clink of the pearls echoing softly. "We have these," he said, his voice steady. "Athena gave me transportation pearls from my father. They'll take us wherever we need to go as long as it's near the sea. We'll use them to get to San Francisco."

Thalia's eyes narrowed. "Athena really gave those to you? When did you become so chummy with the gods?"

Perseus shrugged. "It's complicated. She's… a friend. That's all that matters right now."

Zoë's sharp eyes softened a bit at the sight of the pearls. "'Tis a rare gift, especially from the gods. Athena and your father working together… the situation must be dire."

Grover blinked. "So... we're teleporting to San Francisco? Just like that?"

"Just like that." Perseus confirmed. "Put the pearls under your feet and crush them."

Thalia raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical. "Crush them? And then what, we just magically appear on the other side of the country?"

Perseus nodded. "Pretty much. It's Poseidon's magic. Trust me, it'll work."

Thalia rolled her eyes but stepped forward, placing the pearl under her boot. "I've had enough of wandering around here. Let's get to San Francisco and save our friends."

Perseus followed suit, placing his own pearl on the ground. "Once we're there, we'll split up. Zoë and I will find Nereus, and the rest of you keep an eye out for any sign of the Ophiotaurus. We need to move fast."

With everyone in agreement, they each crushed their pearls underfoot. There was a moment of stillness, then a sudden rush of wind as the pearls shattered, releasing a burst of seafoam that engulfed them.

The world blurred for a split second, and then - just like that - they were gone.

ETERNITY

They appeared outside a small shop near the San Francisco shoreline, the salty scent of the ocean heavy in the air. The sudden shift left Perseus momentarily disoriented.

Thalia looked around. "I've got to admit, that was fast. But where exactly are we?"

Zoë scanned their surroundings. "This is San Francisco. We're close to Othrys, but we must tread carefully. Kronos's forces are near."

Grover swayed a little, still pale from the teleportation. "I feel like I left my stomach back at the dam…"

Perseus steadied Grover with a quick pat on the back. "You'll be fine. We don't have time to waste."

"We must find Nereus," Zoë said. "He blends in with the make vagrants."
"With the what?" Grover asked.

"Homeless people," said Thalia. "Zoë just speaks funny."

They entered the store, and Zoë outfitted Perseus in a ragged shirt and pants three sizes too big, bright red trainers, and a floppy hat.

"Oh, yeah," Grover said, trying not to burst out laughing, "you'll blend in perfectly."

Zoë nodded with satisfaction. "A typical male vagrant."

Percy grumbled. "Why am I doing this again?"

"I told thee. To blend in."

She led the way back down to the waterfront. After spending a while searching the docks, Zoë finally stopped in her tracks and pointed down a pier where a bunch of homeless men were huddled together in blankets, waiting for the soup kitchen to open for lunch.

"He will be down there somewhere," Zoë said. "He never travels very far from the water. He likes to sun himself during the day." She frowned. "Sneak up," she instructed. "Act homeless. You will know him. He will smell… different."

Perseus nodded.

"Grab him," Zoë said. "And hold on. He will try anything to get rid of thee. Whatever he does, do not let go. Force him to tell thee about the monster."

"We've got your back," Thalia said. She picked something off the back of his shirt – a big clump of fuzz from who knows where. "Ew. On second thought… I don't want your back. But we'll be rooting for you."

Grover gave him a big thumbs-up.

Perseus grumbled how nice it was to have super helpful friends, then headed toward the dock.

He pulled his cap down and stumbled like he was about to pass out. He passed homeless man after homeless man.

They didn't smell good, but they didn't smell… different. He kept walking.

A couple of grimy men with plastic grocery bags for hats checked him out as he came close.

"Beat it, kid!" one of them muttered.

Perseus moved away. They smelled pretty bad, but just regular bad. Nothing unusual.

There was a lady with a bunch of plastic flamingos sticking out of a shopping cart. She glared at him like he was going to steal her birds.

At the end of the pier, a man who looked about a million years old was passed out in a patch of sunlight. He wore pajamas and a fuzzy bathrobe that probably used to be white. He was fat, with a white beard that had turned yellow.

And his smell? As Perseus got closer, he froze. The man smelled bad, all right – but ocean bad. Like hot seaweed and dead fish and brine. If the ocean had an ugly side, this guy was it.

He tried not to gag. He sat down near the man, acting as if he were tired. The man opened one eye suspiciously, staring at Perseus, who didn't look back.

Nereus went back to sleep.

Perseus tensed, knowing what he was about to do would look strange. But he tackles Nereus.

"Ahhhhh!" Nereus screamed. It was as if he'd never been asleep at all. He certainly didn't act like a weak old man. He had a grip like steel. "Help me!" he screamed, squeezing Perseus.

"That's a crime!" one of the other homeless men yelled. "Kid rolling an old man like that!"

He rolled all right – straight down the pier until his head slammed into a post. He was dazed for a second, and Nereus's grip slackened. Nereus was making a break for it. But before he could, Perseus regained his senses and tackled him from behind.

"I don't have any money!" Nereus yelled. He tried to get up and run, but Perseus locked his arms around the man's chest. The rotten fish smell was awful, but he held on.

"I don't want money," he said as Nereus fought. "I want information!"

That just made Nereus struggle harder. "Heroes! Why do you always pick on me?"

"Because you know everything!" Perseus retorted.

Nereus growled and tried to shake him off his back. It was like holding on to a roller coaster. He thrashed around, making it impossible for Percy to stay on his feet, but Percy gritted his teeth and squeezed tighter.

Nereus collapsed on the edge of the boat dock. Above them was one of those tourist piers lined with shops, like a mall on water. Nereus was heaving and gasping.

His friends ran down the steps from the pier.

"You got him!" Zoë said.

"You don't have to sound so amazed," Perseus said.

Nereus moaned. "Oh, wonderful. An audience for my humiliation! The normal deal, I suppose then, Perseus? You'll let me go if I answer your question?"

Perseus nodded. "Where is the Ophiotaurus?"

Nereus took a deep breath, the smell of brine and decay mixing in the air around them. He looked at Perseus with weary eyes, clearly resigned to the situation. "Ah, but you know I can't just give away information that easily. I remember he last time I gave you and the Huntress over here knowledge, I ended up stuck in a fishnet for a week."

"Tell us what we need to know," Zoë interjected, her voice firm as she crossed her arms. "Or we'll make sure your next nap is a permanent one."

Nereus sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. "You're all so eager to threaten an old man. Very well, very well. The Ophiotaurus... it's not in one place for long. It's been moving, you see, always on the run from those who seek to use it for destruction." He paused for effect, glancing at Perseus as if weighing the consequences of his next words. "But it's currently in the possession of the Titans. They're keeping it atop Othrys."

Perseus frowned. "Why? Why not kill it, if they needed its power?"

"They are waiting, Perseus."

Zoë frowned. "For who, Nereus?"

Nereus ignored her, looking Perseus dead in the eyes. "They are waiting, Perseus, for you."

Bang! Semi-cliffhanger, cause I'm mean.

So, Percy and Athena are friends. Just friends, though, right... ;)

And why do the Titans want Percy?

Review responses!

Guest2932: Thanks! Yes, I have a pairing for Percy in mind, and it's not Thalia.

Guest: Thank you!

Robotdocter: Ares gets a bad rep lmao. He deserves better. The gods will make all their thoughts towards Percy known during the throne room. Wonder how Othrys changes that...

Vallier2417: I really appreciate it! I tried to make the gods mythology-accurate. Of course, some won't be, too many interpretations lol. I'm glad your brother likes the fic as well!

Damian Cholmondeley: Glad to hear it!

J: I'm flattered. Thanks!

KINGShaheed: Thank you! Hopefully you like this chap as well.

: Yup!

Guest: Sadly, i am not. The other gods though...

HughJasz: I don't think so. FFN is just glitchy sometimes.

Guest: Yessir.

Turtle: Thank you for the amazing review! Yeah, Percy will have a happy ending. Yes, there will be romance. Zeus' intentions won't be revealed just yet, and the gods too. Thanks!

Guest: Just as you asked.

That's about all!

MoSizzle, out.