Warnings: Violent fight, onscreen murder (temporary)

The phone rang and Annabeth picked it up without moving her eyes away from Percy who was now having the world's least subtle stare-off against Sky.

"Annabeth Chase speaking," she rattled off. "If your news is more important than my day off, speak."

"Ajax has a daughter in one of the camps," Reyna responded.

Annabeth stilled. She pushed away from the kitchen table and walked out on the porch, closing the doors behind her. Harry, Hermione, and Nico, were none the wiser, also watching Percy and Sky.

"What the Hades?" she whispered, stunned.

"Piper and Medea had a little verbal joust," Reyna explained. "There was enough Charmspeak in the room to convince Typhon to befriend Jupiter. Piper managed to charge it Medea's way."

"Media?" Annabeth said confused. "That's a name?"

"Medea of Corinth."

Her blood chilled. "How?"

"Jason just called with the news. Medea has been alive for years working for the Earth Goddess. You remember what Dylan the Venti spirit said about things a-stirring," Reyna sighed. "I think Terra has been bringing more monsters and people back from the dead. She did it with Sciron, intending for him to replace Ajax. Worse yet, Jason mentioned how monsters are reforming much faster now even after killing them."

Annabeth exhaled. "She's getting stronger. She's still asleep, but if she's channeling more energy into her armies, we're going to have more problems than Ajax's daughter."

"Yes, but I'm calling to talk specifically about her," Reyna interjected. "What d'you think Ajax is gonna do if he thinks his kid is at one of the camps?"

Annabeth nodded stiffly. "He'll want to break in. He won't care who gets in his way. But which camp?"

"I think it's ours," Reyna said in a low voice. "CJ is much larger than your camp. We have more people, not to mention New Rome is right beside it. It would be much harder to locate one person here than to search Camp Half-Blood."

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah, I get it. But if he has this information, then we better believe that he already has an in. How many entrances do you have?"

"A fair few," Reyna admitted. "We can't conduct a city-wide search on short notice. And if we go public, there would be pandemonium."

"He probably has a spy there," Annabeth guessed. "One of the Locrians whom he trusts. Check up on people who are new in low and middle-management posts. Easier to sneak than other positions, but still vital to the city. Security personnel, hospital records, newspaper stands, diners and mess halls; anything that has loads of people visiting every day."

"I'll draft a plan," Reyna said. "And I should tell you about Jason's nightmare."

"Okay," Annabeth said. "We'll need to get the news to Cassandra… make them tell us where Ajax's daughter. They ought to know."

The call left Annabeth reeling. Ajax has a demigod daughter somewhere in their midst… the only way things could get more convoluted if this girl turned out to be Pandora.

But Annabeth calculated the odds of that. Too slim. She'd bet all her gold against it.

When Sally and Rachel returned with Sky's mother, he didn't let go of Cassandra for a good few minutes. Or it might have been the other way around, it was hard to tell.

Rachel sat on the couch, only half-listening to Harry and Hermione's complaints about her seeking lessons from Trelawney of all people. But she couldn't look away from the way her Aunt Sandy was embracing Sky.

She'd known Sandy and Genie for years. Yet they'd never told her they had a kid. True, they kept Sky a secret so he'd be safe from Gaia's army. But it still hurt.

"Rach, are you listening?" Harry asked. "Trelawney is a shit teacher."

She sighed. "Aren't you both being a tad mean?"

"No," Hermione huffed. "She starts off the term by 'predicting' a student's death."

"And only one has ever come true in all her teaching career," Harry added.

Rachel frowned down at the Tarot cards the woman had given her at the diner before leaving. "Was it you, Har-Bear?"

"You don't need to be a Seer to guess it was me!"

Hermione ripped into Trelawney. "Her lesson plans are all over the place. She picks and chooses the curriculum to her liking, not based on what students need to know. So much of her teachings are just reaching out into space and grasping non-tangible ideas!"

Rachel shrugged. "She knows the theory. Aunt Sandy thinks I just need a bit of hand-holding to try all these techniques. Doesn't matter if Sybill isn't a decent Seer herself."

"Sybill?" Hermione said, aghast.

"We've lost Rachel," Harry told Hermione. "She will forever be remembered fondly."

"Shut up," Rachel said, unable to stop grinning. She spread out the Tarot cards in front of them and said, "Pick one each."

Hermione made a face, but chose one of the face-down cards. Harry took two just to spite her.

"You forgot how to count, moron?" Rachel asked, grabbing the Tarot reading book Trelawney had passed on.

"Have I thrown you off your rhythm, Frenchie?" he asked innocently. "Are you floundering in space, unable to use your Inner Eye?"

Rachel snorted. "Hermione's also a Frenchie."

Harry blinked. Hermione shrugged.

"Just read us our future or whatever," Harry grumbled.

Rachel flipped the pages. "Okay, show me your cards."

Hermione showed a Heirophant card. It was a figure clad in a red robe, seated on a thrown. They held a raised sceptre in one hand.

"Okay," Rachel said, finding the right page. "As the Heirophant, you will be keen on learning practical lessons from the study of natural law."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Are you saying she'll become studious and have a thirst for new knowledge? Wow, this Divination stuff is really helpful. Who'd have thought Hermione would ever be such a Ravenclaw!"

Hermione giggled, dropping the card back onto the others.

"Yours," Rachel said, not getting distracted by his teasing. "One card, Harry. Or I'll pick it for you."

"Fine, this one," Harry said, showing the Tower. The card depicted a white tower with fire climbing out of its windows. Lightning flashed in the background.

"Disaster is about to strike," Rachel read. "This one might be about our visit to the Wolf House tomorrow."

Harry tossed the card and groaned.

"Aren't you supposed to pick three cards each?" Nico asked, walking over to the couch. Annabeth peered over Harry's shoulder to eye the cards closely.

Rachel urgently flipped the pages of her new book. "Ooh! You're right. Three-card readings are more popular! Okay, guys. Take three—"

"No," Harry and Hermione responded.

"I'll do it," Annabeth laughed, sitting opposite Rachel.

It was a thankful distraction from the quiet but furious conversations happening in the kitchen.

Cassandra and Sally stood on either side of the island, both of them unsmiling. Their sons flanked them, equally wary.

"Nico will drop Sky back at camp," Sally promised. "You and Iphigenia will be safe under my patron's protection. But you need to confirm when you can start helping us."

Sky flinched. He didn't like the idea of either of his parents going undercover or going on the front lines, let alone both.

Cassandra frowned, thinking quietly. Then she took off her green jacket. She rolled up the right sleeve of her shirt and revealed Gaia's gift. Her gold metal bracelet was branded on the upper arm, at about the same place as Percy, Harry, and Rachel's. Except Nyx's champions had the bracelets on their left arms.

Cassandra tapped the bracelet. "This has been on me for millennia. Iphy and I spent a long time figuring out how to go under her radar and report regularly to the Olympians. I've been thinking of removing it. It would be a point of no return, but might make things easier for all of us going forward."

"Can you remove it?" Percy asked, raising an eyebrow. " 'Cause mine is stuck to me."

Cassandra hesitated. "If the goddess doesn't wish to relinquish her hold, it would be a serious hurdle. But the rules for Primordials are even more strict and unyielding than it is for the Olympians. The bracelets work because our permission was given in the first place."

Percy watched Sally's expression. He and Harry had never explicitly allowed Nyx to grant them powers. But Sally had done so on their behalf (since they were dead and all). It was similar for Rachel, where Sally had essentially chosen her when she'd been in mortal danger.

Sky spoke up, "Ma, maybe you should think this through. You haven't been human in so long. It's no walk in the park."

She held his hand tightly. "It's okay, fili. No one can truly outlive Chaos. Even immortality has expiration dates. I'd rather make this decision now than have it made for me by someone else. You know how the Fates work. Perhaps, it is time."

Sky exhaled shakily.

Sally said in a softer voice, "You gave the Earth Goddess your permission all that time ago. Are you ready to take it back?"

"Yes," Cassandra said. "I've had many regrets, none as vital as that. But there's no use ruminating on the past. The Earth Goddess is still asleep, but she speaks in her sleep. Thankfully, it's Beatrice who communicates most of the time. The Dares have been reluctant to admit to her that Iphy and I have deserted. So we have some time."

"How little?"

"Better sooner than later. But if you can give me your word, Iphy and I will work to get rid of it right away."

Percy stood up, jolted. "Wait, you can actually just remove it?"

Cassandra frowned. "I've never truly tried, but yes, we should be able to."

Percy shot Sally an alarmed look. "Does that mean Harry, Rach, and I can take ours off too?"

Sally grimaced. "Percy, you weren't the one to give your permission to her. It's a little more complicated for you three."

"You need to approve it?" he asked, skeptically. "Why didn't you say so? She's in your head anyway!"

Sally frowned. "You think I'd simply do that now? When it looks like things are getting bad again? What if we get rid of the bracelets today and tomorrow, something happens to the three of you?"

Percy groaned. "Mom, this is why Harry's upset with you. You can't just make these decisions for us!"

"I can't just let you get rid of the best protection—"

"You're just like Dad," Percy interrupted her.

Sally fell silent, eyes watering.

"I'm sorry you feel that way," she whispered.

Percy couldn't fault her. Try as he might, he just couldn't find it in himself to hate her. But that didn't mean he had to like her choices.

He pushed it aside for now. Turning to Cassandra, Percy asked, "So. Who's Ajax's kid?"

Cassandra blinked. Sky was surprised too.

"I… I'm sorry?"

"Sciron told us in his rendition of the incident of 1997," Percy reminded them. "He said, Ajax came straight from South Korea to interfere with what you were doing in Egypt. Sciron said Ajax had a kid. A baby."

Cassandra shot her son a look. Sky held out his hands. "You told me to tell them everything!"

She sighed. "Yes… yes, I did. Ajax has a demigod child."

Sally gawped. "What god would be involved with him?"

"Someone who didn't care, or who believes the Earth Goddess will win," Cass pointed out. "If she does, it's her champions who will rule the next world."

Percy frowned. "Next world?"

Cassandra nodded slowly. "Well, of course! That's the whole point, isn't it? To end the Olympians' rule; get rid of their kingdom entirely and start from scratch."

Percy made a noise like a dolphin being strangled.

"The wasteland," Sally muttered and things snapped into place. Percy realised that was what Rachel kept seeing when she died. She was witnessing an era after the war when all life perished and a new cycle would begin.

"She wants Ajax to rule Olympus?" Sky hissed, alarmed and terrified.

Cassandra's eyes drifted out the kitchen, listening to the conversation in the living room. "That was her original plan. But I wonder how things will change."

Once Cassandra had said her goodbyes and left; once Sky reached Camp Jupiter, they had a few hours rest.

But there was no such thing as a true recovery. The sun shone over California when Rachel, Harry, and Percy reached the Wolf House, meeting Lupa again.

The giant wolf glowered down at them. "Are you prepared?"

They shared quick glances before nodding.

"Follow me."

Lupa walked into the antechamber of the rustic, stone cabin house. The tall ceilings and wide windows made the place rather echoey. The halls were cool and Rachel stuck close to the boys, wondering where the next arrows would fly from.

"Note the painted line on the ground," Lupa announced. Her voice had a low growl to it that was almost natural for her.

Rachel spotted a thick purple curved line painted on the floor. It stretched from one side to the opposite wall, dividing the back porch from the rest of the stone cabin.

"It is the safety line," she explained. "As long as you're inside the purple line, you will not be physically harmed. The backyard is my training grounds. You will learn to fight and use your powers in the way that works best for the situation and others. On the grounds, everything is fair play."

Harry stared at the vast expanse of the grounds in awe. Percy hesitated. "Everything?"

"Everything to enhance your fighting skills," Lupa amended.

"That includes killing us," Rachel murmured.

"Of course," Lupa said, her eyes piercing into Rachel's. "If you do not wish to die, you better learn how to fight back."

The threatening quality in her voice made Rachel actually miss Destin. At least he didn't kill them.

"We're ready," Harry spoke up.

"Then cross the boundary," Lupa said.

They eyed the purple line on the floor. Rachel and Percy stuck close to Harry and they stepped over the line, crossing onto the open porch outside.

Harry's shield immediately jumped up, covering Percy and Rachel as well.

It was the right move, seeing as how three arrows were already embedded in the shield wall, mere inches from their faces.

Rachel swore under her breath and held onto Harry's hand. They walked as a unit onto the porch and into the backyard but no other projectiles came at them.

"You cannot hide behind the shield forever," Lupa called from outside.

Harry gritted his teeth. "She's right."

"Ready?" Percy whispered.

"No," Rachel pleaded.

Harry turned back to look at them. "What do you think will happen if all three of us die at the same time?"

Percy glanced at Lupa, steeling himself. "No clue. But I think it's something we need to do."

He held out his hands and Harry and Rachel grasped them tight. She held back a sniffle. It's okay. She won't remember this. She won't remember the pain.

Harry took down the shield. In the next instant, Lupa was on top of them, her immensely large and heavy paw striking at Rachel's throat, snapping her neck and—

Rachel was back in the Wasteland. Her butt was planted on the rough sands of Camp Half-Blood's shoreline.

She jumped up to her feet, spinning in place. This was the future! She remembered now! She had to die to appear here. But if this was really her future, then she could find out how things went down. She could find out who Pandora is!

The problem was there was nobody in sight.

Everyone is dead.

Rachel winced.

The future is set in stone.

"No, it's not!" Rachel shouted. "I don't believe it!"

The waves lapped at her feet, but her shoes remained dry.

"That's good," Percy whispered. "It's good that you still believe that."

Rachel scowled at him. He sat on the shore, water ebbs and flowing up to his waist. It was clear enough she could see through the minimal foam and at the shallow sands.

Future!Percy was older and sadder. She didn't like this version of him. She didn't like this future.

"Who is Pandora?" Rachel asked.

Percy's hard, sad face cracked. A chuckle burst through his chapped lips and he began to laugh. He laughed so hard he started to cry.

Rachel backed away. This was not her Percy. Not her friend who was ready to do the tough job to make sure everyone was safe.

Percy fell into the shallow ocean shoreline, still cackling on his back. His laugh echoed through the silent planet.

"Either answer me or I'll find Harry. Or myself!"

Percy rubbed his face, striving to calm his laughter. When he finally caught his breath, he said, "I'll tell you right now, Rachel. But I'm afraid you won't remember when you wake up."

At her puzzled face, he explained, "Our souls cross over the Lethe each time we die. You'll always forgot something. I bet you don't really remember how you died right now."

Rachel frowned, trying to think back. An arrow? No. Harry's shield had stopped them…

"Lupa?" Rachel asked. "But her arrows didn't work…"

Percy nodded. "The first time Lupa killed you. Her claws couldn't get through your skin, Ray-Ray. So she snapped your neck. It was quick for you. It took a little longer for Harry and me."

She flinched. Percy smiled.

"Don't distract me," Rachel whispered. "Who is Pandora?"

Future!Percy told her. She didn't believe him.

And Rachel didn't remember either when she woke up in a puddle of Harry and Percy's blood with Lupa growling down at her.

Percy saw Lupa strike Rachel down, half a second before her claws raked his throat.

He found Pandora standing by the open walls of an outdoor corridor, gazing out to sea.

Damn that wolf! Percy exhaled, even though he didn't really need the air.

The open corridor was a beautiful lookout point. One side was completely open to the elements. The stones that made up the corridor's floor were cobbled by hand, warm from the slanting sun rays. Thick shrubs and ivy grew over the roof, dangling over their heads carrying bright pink flowers and heavy green leaves. Marble statues adorned the corridor and Percy guessed the closest one was Aphrodite.

Pandora stood by a pillar, looking out into the distance. Her arms were crossed, with a gleaming yellow apple tucked in the crook of her elbow. Her off-white chiton fluttered in the breeze. Despite the simple attire, she glowed a regal light.

"Percy," Pandora greeted him with stars in her eyes. "I'd hoped you would return, dear traveller!"

Considering all the titles Percy had received in the past, traveller was a monumental step up. He grinned back at her. "It's good to see you too, Lady Pandora."

Pandora gestured to the stone corridor they were in. Percy joined her and gazed upon the horizon. The sun had crossed midday and was slowly making its way down.

"Apple?" she offered.

"Um… I'm not sure I can eat it," Percy said frowning at the immaculately formed fruit in her hand.

"You can't," she said, eyeing him sardonically. "You do remember I fell through your body when we first met?"

Percy stared. "Then why'd you ask?"

"I was being polite!"

He scoffed. "You can have it! No one really likes apples anyway."

She gawked at him. "You lie! I love apples! Look!"

She took an overly large bite of the crisp fruit, savouring the taste. Her eyes fell shut and she smiled, chewing happily.

"Yeah, yeah," he rolled his eyes. "Where's your pet snake, Pire?"

"Pyr," she said through the scrunched-up apple in her mouth. She sounded so scandalised, Percy sniggered.

He was supposed to do something, wasn't he?

Pandora was a mystery to everyone. Percy was supposed to figure out who she was reborn as. But it's not like she'd know now in the past!

So why was Percy here?

"My Lady," someone called and Percy and Pandora turned to get a look at the newcomer.

He was older than Epimetheus, with a well-groomed beard and dark blue eyes. His dark-skinned body glowed gold in the slowly setting sun. Percy gawked up at him, the creator Titan in his prime.

"Lord Prometheus!" Pandora gasped. She leaped away from the edge of the view point, hid the half-eaten apple behind her back and bowed hastily.

"My dear, you need not bow to me," Prometheus said. He was soft-spoken and serious, unlike the eager voice of his brother. Percy stared at him and waved a hand. The titan took no notice of him.

"I am staying at your palace, my Lord," Pandora responded graciously. "It's such a beautiful place. I would like to thank you."

"Yes," he responded quietly. "I assume you are merely visiting my brother. He has spoken much of you. But I'm afraid I am still in the dark regarding your presence here."

Pandora faltered. Even Percy caught the less-than-happy quality of his voice.

"I… er…"

"I only mean to ask if you are a messenger of the king," Prometheus placated her.

"Ah," she said. "I'm afraid not, sire. I am a guest here. But I shall, of course, not overstay my welcome. I wouldn't dream of causing anyone any discomfort."

Percy frowned. Had Prometheus known what calamity Pandora could bring?

"As you wish it," the titan answered. He eyed her hand. "Are you hungry? I can have food packed for your journey."

Pandora sent a panicked look over to Percy. He whispered, "Show him the fruit."

She slowly extended her hand from behind her, revealing the half-eaten crisp fruit. Prometheus stared, sullen and quiet. Panic flared in his eyes, but he stamped it down quickly.

"Your brother offered me the apple," Pandora said quietly.

Prometheus said nothing more.

When the engagement of Epimetheus and Pandora spread all across the land, Prometheus was the only one to fear the future.

Percy woke up in Harry's blood, and the only thing he could remember was the half-eaten apple.

Harry saw Rachel fall, her neck snapped with the bones dislocated grotesquely within the skin of her neck. Percy was next, blood gushing from the lacerated tear in his throat.

All of Harry's panic, fear, and rage coalesced into a microcosm of a second, threatening to tear apart the goddess in front of him. Perhaps she recognized this. Maybe that's why Lupa lunged at his face with her wickedly sharp teeth.

He was surprised when he woke up in the darkness.

"Lily?" Harry called. "James?"

His jeans were soaked. He was in a small well with smooth walls. Cold water drenched his legs, reaching up a few inches of the smooth floor.

It ought to have been pitch-black, but Harry could see his hands and body fairly well.

"Anyone?" he said. His voice echoed strangely. Harry craned his neck high, peering up.

The walls of the well inclined sharply, reaching a small circular opening several feet above him. But the opening was shut tight with layers of leather to seal him inside the well.

Harry panted, now panicking. What was this? Had he ever been here before? No, he was supposed to be on a beautiful island, seeing his parents, letting them comfort him after he got his face ripped off by that devil wolf!

He scrambled to his feet, loudly splashing through the water. Harry slapped his palms on the wall, letting the noise echo like thunder.

"LUPA!" he roared. "Get me out of here! Now!"

You said you would help me.

Harry flinched, leaping to the wall and pressing his back against it. He had no wand or dagger here, no magic in his veins. Harry was cold and soaked, trapped in this sleek, echoey well… with that voice.

"Elpis?" he breathed. He was alone here. But he could hear the spirit of hope.

Harry.

Her voice was soft, like gentle music, calling him hither. Harry had heard her before when Petunia had shot him dead.

He gazed around his strange prison. If Harry's heart had been beating, it would have stopped from sheer shock.

"This is your jar," he realised.

This is my pithos, Elpis replied.

"Why am I here?" Harry demanded.

You are dead, Elpis said. You promised to help me, did you not?

Harry gripped his hair with wet hands. "No! I didn't promise you anything!"

Elpis didn't answer him.

"Let me go!" he demanded.

Elpis breathed quietly and the air tickled Harry's neck. He jumped, sliding down to the water, trying to find a corner, but there was nowhere to hide. The pithos was rounded and the only thing could see was himself and the water.

You said you would help me leave, she said quietly.

Harry inhaled stale, dead air. "Are you threatening me?"

Elpis fell silent again.

Harry dropped his arms. "Look, I can't help anyone if I'm stuck in here. Let me go talk to my parents. I think they know more about this."

Elpis made a noise of frustration. Harry Potter… every time you have died, I heard you. You visit Lily and James in Elysium. You are lucky. I wish I could visit my family. But I am trapped here.

Her voice hitched and broke. Harry winced. She better not start crying. Harry was useless around sad, crying people.

"Why would you think I'd help you get out?" Harry finally asked. "The whole point of the bloody war is to make sure you stay safe in here."

The jar went quiet. Water lapped at his feet, soaking his trainers and socks.

Is that what the king told you?

Harry frowned. "You mean Zeus?"

Did he tell you I am safe in my prison?

Elpis's voice was deadly quiet and patient. Her whisper made his skin erupt goosebumps despite his very non-alive body.

"El…" Harry whispered. "What did Zeus tell you?"

She didn't answer him. But the silence spoke for itself. Harry shook his head, pained. "I can't open the jar. None of us can. There's only one person who can do it."

… Pandora.

Harry swallowed. "Who is she?"

I think we shall find out together, Harry Potter.

Harry opened his eyes and found Rachel and Percy blinking down at him. Their clothes were splattered with blood. He touched his face, trying to recall… Lupa…

"Did that sack of bones kill all three of us?" he hissed, sitting up.

"Oh, yes, she did," Rachel whispered, equally annoyed. "But look at the time."

Harry checked his watch. They'd arrived at the Wolf House at 8 in the morning. It wasn't even nine yet.

"We woke up fast," he said surprised.

"Wrong!" Lupa announced. She was seated on her haunches, either posing for an 18th-century photograph or preparing to spout the glories of Rome. "You were slow. You will be of no use to anyone if your bodies take so long to recuperate. You must learn to heal and wake up in minutes. Less so if you fall in battle!"

Percy scowled. "You want us to force ourselves awake while we're healing?"

"It's possible," Lupa said. "CIA managed it. They can control the timing with some prior preparation."

Harry frowned. "What? Who?"

"Cassandra, Iphigenia, and Ajax," Lupa explained, lowering her snout to glower at him.

Percy hummed. "Does that make us RHP? PHR? Phrrrr!"

"HRP?" Harry suggested.

Rachel shook her head. "Nah, that sounds like herpes."

"You are no acronym!" Lupa thundered. She stood up, her massive head looming over them. They scrambled away, slipping on the bloody grass and mud underneath them.

"You are no team," Lupa warned. "Not yet. Not until you learn to think, rationalise, and fight together. On your feet!"

Harry had his wand and dagger out, thankful to sense the active magic running seamlessly within him. It had been a nightmare to be deprived of it…

"I remember something!" Harry blurted. He held a hand out against Lupa, pleading her to stop. "I remember not having my magic when I was dead!"

Lupa paused. She waited.

"Um…" Harry racked his head. He nudged Rachel and Percy who tried to recall their deathly journeys too.

"I was in the wasteland," Rachel said. "It's the future. I mean, a future. It's one where we all lost the war."

Lupa's ears twitched, agitated by the news. Rachel shrunk back.

"Apple," Percy murmured. "I remember an apple. And I was dead, like a ghost."

Lupa scowled. "Where were you?"

Harry and Rachel watched Percy think hard. "I can't remember. But there was someone with me. Someone with an apple."

"There was someone with me too," Harry whispered.

Rachel breathed out heavily, fluttering the bangs off her forehead. "Why can't we remember exactly what happened? I know you killed me, but there's no way you cut me up!"

Lupa raised her hackles in a demented approximation of a smile. "I snapped your neck, invincible one. Your iron skin will not protect you from everything."

Rachel lowered her head to check her wrist. The bite marks left by Destin's teeth were already extremely faded.

"The scars heal when we're dead," Harry explained. "And we forget a lot as well."

"A result of the Lethe," Lupa said. "Your souls, as do everyone's, cross the river with each death. It helps clean out lingering sentiment and ensure a smoother revival. Of course, there have been exceptions."

"Like?" Percy asked in his 'duh' voice.

Lupa tilted her head at Harry. "You made a wraith once, did you not?"

Ah, crud.

"Is the Lethe not affecting me enough?" Harry asked, sourly.

"Partially," Lupa hedged. "The other reason is that there is more to the wraith than its original intention. True wraiths are a manifestation of vengeance. They haunt their murderers and eat them alive. Unlike ghosts and lares, wraiths do not stay back in our realm too long. Once their objective is completed, they fade."

Rachel gathered some of her wits. "By objective, you mean haunting and eating their murderers? Great. So if Haydn is still around, that means the murderer is still alive?"

She got her answer because at the mention of his name, the wraith was summoned. Haydn emerged from Harry's body, shrieking like a banshee. He landed on the ground, ready to wreak havoc.

"Thanks a lot, Rach!" Harry snapped, grabbing the chaotic, screaming five-year-old-looking child by the collar of his shirt.

Haydn snarled at Lupa. The wraith had no conscience to speak of, it was a dead and deadly embodiment of Harry's pure wrathful id.

"Haydn!" Percy warned. "Cool it. We're here."

He grabbed Haydn and picked him up like a fussy child. Haydn calmed down immediately, grumbling into Percy's neck.

"Yes," Lupa said calmly, unphased by the appearance of the vengeful spirit. "The murderer has not been caught. But that's something you may consider down the line. For today, we will practice this."

Harry watched with trepidation as Lupa jerked her head, summoning her wolves. She prowled away as they arrived.

Rachel spun on her heel, standing back-to-back with the boys. Percy dropped Haydn on his little feet, Riptide already out and gleaming. Harry summoned the shield around the four of them as they were completely surrounded by hordes of dangerous, alert, and blood-thirsty wolves.

These beasts were bred for war, larger than the general Californian population. Their paws thudded the ground, claws racking through the mud. But the sounds of it, they were surrounded on all sides.

"You will not learn anything with the shield," Lupa called. She trotted up to the porch of the stone cabin and gazed upon the scene.

"Shields down, weapons in," Lupa said. "You are allowed to defend yourselves, but with no weapon or power."

"You want us to punch them?" Percy choked.

"Go ahead," Lupa said.

"My hooks would kill them," Rachel said, though her voice sounded doubly frightened. Harry tried to count the wolves, but there had to be dozens.

Lupa wanted them utterly outnumbered. She wanted them to be ripped apart.

"Haydn, leave," Harry whispered.

Percy stared at him in disbelief, "We need all the help we can get!"

Harry shook his head, pained. "The sooner we die, the faster we learn."

"I'm not waiting to get my throat ripped out. Again!"

"Fight back with your hands," Harry agreed. "It's like a sparring session. We've all done that before."

Rachel gawked. "Not against multiple giant wolves hellbent on eating us."

Harry turned back and watched Lupa's sharp eyes. She observed him quietly.

"I bet you," Harry said slowly, "that we can kill at least a few of them before they take us out."

Percy eyed the hungry wolves. "It's gonna hurt."

"Like hell," Rachel whispered, tears already obscuring her vision.

Harry pocketed his wand and slipped his dagger back into the bracelet. His hands shook. "Yeah."

Percy exhaled, nodding his head like a squirrel on an acorn high. Rachel gulped.

They made a quick game plan. No weapons or powers put Percy on the backfoot. He stayed on the inside while Harry and Rachel stood with him at their backs.

They were going to die. But it would be fine.

It would hurt. But they wouldn't remember.

One day, these sentiments might actually help them. But for now, all three flinched as the shield went down and the wolves pounced on them.

Rachel grabbed the maw of the closest hound and swung it around like a baseball bat, smashing it into two other wolves. Percy and Harry ducked under her 360° swing.

Harry caught the front legs of the next wolf, crushing it in his hands while Percy brought his foot down on its skull. But the next wolves were smarter, attacking their unprotected flanks.

Bones broke, theirs and the wolves. A larger wolf caught Harry's calf, sinking its fangs deep and Harry cried out. He lost control, bringing the grass alive to grab the wolf and yank it away from him. Percy lost his arm even as he snapped the neck of a third wolf.

Three lucky wolves finally caught Rachel's weak spot. She was the first to fall (once they got the claws in her mouth, it was game over).

By the end of the day, after they'd killed tens of wolves with their bare hands, after they'd been slaughtered a dozen times over, waking up in their own blood didn't feel so traumatizing anymore.

Not even Rachel flinched when she saw the remains of her own guts. In fact, she had stared at them for an additional few seconds, which was when the remaining wolves had taken her down again.

Maybe Lupa had the right idea, maybe she didn't. Rachel certainly didn't appreciate it. Percy saw why the goddess chose this route, but wouldn't trust her completely just yet. Harry, alone, was fully receptive.

And maybe that was why he woke up for the tenth time and suddenly recalled Elpis's voice in his head.

You remember me, she whispered happily.

He said nothing. Harry sat cross-legged on the grass amid the bodies of wolves, Percy, and Rachel. He watched their glassy, lightless eyes. Blood no longer smelled awful and alarming.

When they woke up, the three sat quietly and wondered where their mortality went to be extinguished. It was easy to not mourn it.

Gaia wanted a war? She'd get one.

Stay tuned for another Destin appearance soon!

Cabba K.