The Friday before winter break, Percy received a distress call from Grover. When he got it, it took a lot of effort not to jump up and down giddily.

  He had been eagerly awaiting this day for weeks. And now that the time was finally here, Percy found his heartbeat quickening in excitement, anticipation, and fear.

  (“Here. If anything happens…give that to Nico.”

  “...Where’s my sister?”)

  As soon as he got back from school, Percy dumped everything out of his backpack and replaced it with clothes and a few deadly weapons. He ran out of his room with his bag in tow, ready to go.

  Sally Jackson, being the best mom in the world, had agreed to give Percy and his friends an eight-hour ride to Westover Hall in Bar Harbor, Maine. They picked up Annabeth and Thalia on the way, and they all headed to the boarding school.

  Sleet and snow pounded the car as a blizzard raged on the road. However, even the weather wasn’t able to dampen Percy’s mood. He hadn’t seen Thalia in months, so in between his mom telling embarrassing baby stories, he took the chance to catch up with her.

  It was just them three again for this operation. Leo was at camp, preparing for their arrival. Frank was in California and Hazel was in the underworld, as usual. Piper was in New York this year since her dad was shooting a movie in the city.

  Similarly, Jason was also here. Percy had no idea how he managed to convince the praetors to give him time off, but he offered to help Percy and Annabeth extract the Di Angelos.

  They considered it, but Annabeth ultimately decided it was a little too risky since the Hunters of Artemis were likely going to get involved. This meant the son of Jupiter was probably with Piper right now, galavanting through the streets of Manhattan together while Percy and Annabeth prepared to fight a manticore.

  On the bright side, they were getting Christmas presents for the rest of the Seven. So that was something to look forward to.

  The real reason Jason was here wasn’t to see Piper or buy presents, though they were very nice bonuses. He was here to finally meet his sister.

  Said sister was peering outside the window with a scowl. “Oh, yeah. This’ll be fun.”

  After the Seven had discussed it extensively, they had agreed that Jason deserved to meet Thalia, godly mandates be damned. So, after they got Nico and Bianca, they would find time before the quest to get the Graces to meet each other.

  Percy really wasn’t sure how it would go. It was hard to predict how Thalia would react. But withholding it from Jason any longer felt wrong.

  The car finally screeched to a halt. His mom put the car in park and smiled at them. “We’re here!”

  Westover Hall looked like an evil knight’s castle–black stone, towers, slit windows, the works. Percy had no idea why Hades wanted Bianca and Nico to come here of all places.

  Percy hugged his mom as Annabeth and Thalia got their stuff from the truck.

  “You sure you don’t want me to wait for you?” She asked.

  “It might get dangerous,” Percy said. “But we’ll find our own way back, promise.”

  Sally sighed. “I’m worried, Percy.”

  “You know I’ve survived a lot worse, Mom.”

  “Of course I do,” She chided. “But it’s my job to worry no matter what. Even if you’ve done it all before.”

  Her arms were warm. It was really nice in the cold weather. Percy exhaled slowly, once again feeling extremely grateful he had revealed the time-travel stuff to her.

  “We’ll be okay, mom. Annabeth will keep me out of trouble.”

  “Now that, I believe.” Sally chuckled, pulling away. She turned to Thalia and Annabeth, who were waiting patiently. “All right dears. Do you have everything you need?”

  “Yes, Ms. Jackson,” Thalia nodded. “Thanks for the ride.”

  “You have my cell phone number?”

  “I do,” Annabeth raised her phone, the only one between the three of them.

  Sally breathed out slowly. “Okay. Okay. Stay safe, all of you.”

  She got back in the car and drove away as all three of them waved goodbye. Once it was out of sight, they began walking for the big wooden doors of Westover Hall.

  “Your mom’s cool, Percy,” Thalia said.

  “Yep,” Percy agreed.

  The wind was like icy daggers, and Percy’s coat did little to block out the cold breeze.

  “Let’s get inside,” Annabeth said, pulling her beanie lower onto her head. “Grover will be waiting.”

  “Yeah, also, it’s cold,” Percy added, trying not to shiver. He looked dubiously at Thalia. “How are you fine in that?”

  Thalia was wearing the punk clothes she always wore–a ripped-up army jacket, black leather pants, chain jewelry, and black eyeliner. She didn’t even put on an overcoat.

  She shrugged. “Dunno. Sounds like a personal problem, honestly.”

  He rolled his eyes at her.

  They opened the huge oak doors and walked into the entry hall. Westover Hall was really committed to the military school bit. Battle flags and weapon displays lined every inch of the walls as decoration.

  From the other end of the hall came echoing music. Percy pointed. “That way.”

  Before they could enter, a man and woman marched out of the shadows to intercept us. Dressed in military-style uniforms, they stiffly stared down at them with no little irritation.

  “Well?” The woman demanded. “What are you doing here?”

  “Visitors are not allowed at the dance!” The man added. “You will be ejected!”

  His French accent made Percy’s brain tingle. He glared up at the man, unsurprised to see his heterochromatic eyes–one brown, one blue.

  Thorn.

  Percy’s fingers slipped into his pocket, grabbing Riptide in pen form. Should he just kill the Manticore right now…?

  Before he could decide, Thalia stepped forward and snapped her fingers. A gust of wind rippled out from her hand, and the banners rustled slightly on the walls.

  “We’re not visitors sir. We go to school here, remember. I’m Thalia. This is Annabeth and Percy. We’re in eighth grade.”

  Thorn hesitated and turned to the woman. “Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students?”

  Percy was ashamed to say that he was not able to stop himself from laughing this time. He snorted out a few chuckles before Annabeth smacked him on the back of the head.

  Thorn gave him the evil eye, but fortunately, the Gottschalk didn’t seem to notice. She blinked slowly as if waking up from a trance.

  “Oh, yes. I believe so. Annabeth. Thalia. Percy.” She frowned. “What are you doing away from the gymnasium?”

  Thorn did not seem convinced, looking like he wanted to throw Thalia off the castle’s highest tower.

  At that moment, Grover appeared, running out of the gym. “You made it–!”

  “Mr. Underwood,” Thorn growled, clear distaste in his tone. “What do you mean, they made it? These students live here.”

  “Uh, right, of course. I just meant, uh, I’m so glad they made it to…the dance! The punch is, um, great, and they made it!”

  “Yes…the punch is great,” Ms. Gottschalk said dreamily. “Now, run along, all of you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again, understood?”

  They all nodded, said ‘yes, ma’am’ and ‘yes, sir’, and saluted once or twice. Percy and his friends followed Grover down the hall in the direction of the music, even though he could still feel Dr. Thorn’s eyes on his back.

  “How’d you make that look so easy?” Percy asked Thalia.

  “You mean the Mist?” Thalia asked, and he nodded. “I thought Chiron taught you.”

  Technically, yes. Chiron hadn’t taught Percy the Mist yet, but he did teach him in his last life.

  “He did, but I can never really get the hang of it.”

  “It’s pretty simple. But you have to focus on what the target wants to see, not yourself.”

  Percy recalled Hazel saying something similar years ago. He didn’t really understand it then, and he still didn’t now. Frankly, Percy had never really liked using the Mist. Usually, he just kept thinking ‘ Don’t look at me ’ really hard.

  “That was close,” Grover said, stopping in front of the door to the gym. “Thank the gods you got here!”

  They exchanged hugs and high-fives. It was good to see Grover again after the months. Besides being a little taller he looked mostly the same–the red cap, baggy jeans, a whisker here and there.

  “What’d you find?”

  “Two demigods,” Grover said breathlessly.

  “Two? Here?” Thalia sounded amazed.

  “A brother and a sister. Ten and thirteen. I don’t know their parentage, but they’re strong. We’re running out of time, though, and I need help.”

  “Monsters, then,” Annabeth surmised. “Dr. Thorn?”

  Grover nodded nervously. “I don’t think he’s positive yet, but he definitely suspects. He’ll try something, I’m sure of it. And every time I try to get close to the siblings, he’s always there! I don’t know what to do.”

  He looked desperately at Thalia as if she had all the answers, which Percy decided not to take offense to.

  “The halfbloods are at the dance?” Thalia asked Grover, who nodded. “Then let’s dance.”

  Percy looked at the chaotic floor. Black and red balloons were strewn all over, and kids kicked them into each other’s faces because that was obviously what the balloons were here for. Big groups of girls wandered around the floor, shrieking and giggling. Some guys ambled at the edges of the gym, just trying to avoid the drama.

  On the bleachers, two kids were arguing, waving their hands as they talked. Both had dark silky hair and olive skin. The boy shuffled trading cards in his hands, while the girl kept looking around mid-argument warily.

  Percy felt elation building in his limbs. There they were.

  He took a step forward, but Annabeth put her hand on his shoulder and pointed. Dr. Thorn had slipped out of a doorway near the bleachers, eyes glowing dangerously. It was pretty clear he wasn’t fooled by Thalia’s trick.

  “Let’s wait for a better chance to get them,” Thalia decided. “We need to pretend we’re not interested in them, and throw him off the scent.”

  “How?” Percy asked.

  “We’re three powerful halfbloods. If we mingle with the crowd, our presence should confuse him,” Thalia gestured to the dance floor. “Act natural, do some dancing, and keep an eye on the kids.”

  Percy nodded begrudgingly. Maybe Grover had a reason for looking at Thalia like that. He wouldn’t have come up with a plan like that. Even compared to Percy, Thalia was clearly the expert in surviving.

  The daughter of Zeus cocked her head to the music. “Ugh. Who chose Jesse McCartney?”

  Grover looked hurt. “I did.”

  “Of course, you did, Grover. That is so lame.” Thalia said. “Whatever. Let’s dance.”

  “I can’t dance!”

  “You can if I’m leading. Let’s go, goat boy.”

  Percy and Annabeth grinned at each other as Thalia pulled Grover onto the dance floor.

  “It’s good to have Thalia back, right?” She asked.

  Percy shrugged. “Sure. As long as you’re here.”

  “I heard you two fought when I was gone last time around,” Annabeth looked at him disapprovingly.

  Percy raised his hands quickly. “Hey, in my defense…I won.”

  Annabeth gave a surprised laugh. “That’s not the point!”

  “Right, sorry,” He smiled, happy to see her laugh.

  Percy hadn’t been able to see Annabeth this year as much as he liked. She had gone to New York for boarding school to be with Thalia, but because it was an all-girls school, he had to go way out of his way to meet her.

  It didn’t stop him, of course. But it was a little annoying.

  He poured two cups of fruit punch and handed one to her. “Are you staying for the rest of the year?”

  Annabeth blinked, humming. “Well, maybe. My dad moved to California a few weeks ago, remember?”

  “Oh, right,” Percy sipped his punch. Grover was right; the punch was really good. “He helped us out last time we went on this quest.”

  “I might move back there,” Annabeth said, looking a little conflicted. “It’s been too long since I saw Frank, and I’ll be closer to Piper when she goes back there too. But…”

  Percy felt similarly hesitant. Of course, he was reluctant to be so far away from Annabeth. She would be back in the summer, but that was a long time. And Percy wanted to hang out with her in free time outside of camp. The war against the Titans was getting closer and closer. Free time would soon become a luxury.

  Annabeth grabbed his arm. “Have you been sleeping okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Percy.”

  He smiled ruefully. “I only woke up screaming twice this week.”

  Annabeth took a deep breath. “That’s…better, I guess. You should have called me, though.”

  “You had already snuck out like, six times this month,” Percy said. “I didn’t want you to get into trouble.”

  Sometimes, when the nightmares were really bad, the best thing they could do was sleep side-by-side, just like the days on the Argo II. It was worth breaking the rules here and there for each other.

  Percy obviously couldn’t sneak into Annabeth’s boarding school. But on many occasions, Annabeth would just appear at the doorstep of the Jackson’s residence. Eventually, Sally had just given her a key to their apartment.

  She rolled her eyes with a smirk. “Like I would get caught, Seaweed Brain.”

  He huffed a quiet laugh, finishing his punch. “And what about your sleeping?”

  “Me?” Her smile faded slowly. “Well…it’s relatively better, I guess. Thalia being my roommate helps a little.”

  Percy stared at her gray eyes with a sad smile. “Yeah. My mom knowing everything has helped a lot, actually. Sometimes, she–”

  “Hey!” Thalia called from across the hall. She was spinning around with Grover, who looked like he was regretting his life decisions. “Dance, you guys! You look stupid just standing there!”

  They looked at each other, a little irritated at being interrupted. Percy sighed and shook his head good-naturedly.

  “Never change, Thalia,” He held out a hand to Annabeth with a smile. “She’s right, though. Shall we?”

  She took his hand, and they walked onto the dance floor. Percy put his hand on her hip, and Annabeth grabbed his other hand and placed her free hand on his side.

  “You’re not going to judo-throw me, right?”

  Annabeth half-laughed, half-sighed. “That was one time, and you never let me forget it.”

  They shuffled around for a while. Percy kept stepping on Annabeth’s toes, but she didn’t seem to mind. It was nice, dancing with Annabeth. He didn’t get the chance to do so often.

  “Honestly, don’t you have dances at your school?” Annabeth chuckled as Percy tripped on his feet for the third time.

  “I never actually dance at them,” Percy said. “I was usually one of the guys playing basketball in the corner.”

  Annabeth looked at him disapprovingly. “I should get Thalia to teach you someday.”

  “Please don’t,” Percy smiled dryly. “She’ll kill me.”

  “Oh, you big baby.”

  They danced for a while longer, and Percy would be the first to admit that he got distracted. To be fair, Annabeth’s long golden hair and shining gray eyes usually had that effect on him.

  “Uh-oh,” Percy said, finally snapping out of it as he saw something in the corner of his eye.

  “What is it?”

  He pointed at the bleachers where the Di Angelos were. Only a floppy green cap and a few scattered trading cards remained.

  Annabeth cursed in Ancient Greek, spinning around. “Where are they?!”

  Percy quickly turned around, trying to remember. There! At the opposite end of the room, Dr. Thorn was scuttling through a doorway.

  “There! Quick!”

  They ran for it. There was no time to get Thalia or Grover. They burst into the corridor. It was a dark hallway, so Percy uncapped Riptide, casting a celestial bronze glow on the rows of lockers.

  Percy and Annabeth ran through the hallway, but no one was there. They opened the door at the end and ended up back in the main entry hall where they had met Ms. Gottschalk.

  At the huge oak doors that let outside was Dr. Thorn, guiding the Di Angelos by the scruff of their necks.

  “Stop!” Percy yelled.

  Thorn spun around, snarling. “I knew it. Perseus Jackson.”

  Annabeth drew her knife. “Let them go!”

  “I think not.” The man reared up like a striking cobra.

  WIISH!

  Percy and Annabeth dove in opposite directions as half a dozen spikes planted themselves into the wall behind them.

  Thorn’s face slowly began to pale, turning ghoulish. His teeth sharpened and an insect-like tail slowly rose up behind him.

  “Thank you for coming out of the gym, godlings,” He sneered. “I hate middle school dances.”

  Thorn was all the way on the other side of the room. Percy tried to get close, running zig-zags to try and throw off Thorn’s aim. Three more thorns came flying at him.

  He slashed two out of the air, but the third grazed his shoulder. The cut burned like it was on fire, forcing Percy to stop and check.

  Poison. Awesome.

  “Foolish demigods!” Thorn crowed. “You cannot beat me at my own game.”

  “He’s right. He’s too far away,” Annabeth said. She pulled out her invisibility cap. “I’ll get close.”

  “Wait–” Too late. Annabeth vanished.

  Percy growled, getting back up. Thorn was about twenty feet away; a pretty terrible disadvantage for Percy. But when Percy looked up again, he saw Nico’s terrified expression and Bianca’s desperate eyes.

  He ignored his burning shoulder and charged.

  Thorn launched a volley of missiles at his head. Percy dropped and slid under them, baseball style. The manticore growled in annoyance, launching a second volley right in front of Percy.

  Percy was forced to suddenly halt, nearly tripping as spikes appeared right in front of his feet. He quickly started running again, preparing for the next barrage.

  Thorn was looking around warily, trying to find Annabeth. “Tch. I don’t have time for this.”

  He scooped up the Di Angelos like potato sacks with one arm each and kicked the oak doors open. In a flash, he ran outside as Bianca and Nico screamed and kicked futilely.

  “No!” Percy sprinted after him. “Get back here!”

  He chased Dr. Thorn out into the parking lot and into the woods. As he did, Percy sent waves of panic through his empathy link with Grover. With any luck, Grover and Thalia would soon be on their way as well.

  Thorn was fast. As he ran, he began to shift into his true form–the body of a lion, the wings of a dragon that replaced the arms carrying the Di Angelos, and a leathery scorpion tail that whipped deadly thorns.

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  He kept throwing thorns in every direction behind him without even looking back, sort of like suppressing fire. Percy ducked and weaved as a few came his way, but most of the deadly spikes crashed into cars and trees, obliterating them.

  Percy really hated this guy. If he landed one clean hit with his spikes, Percy was done for.

  They broke through the trees into a small clearing and a cliff overlooking the sea. Thorn reached the edge and dropped Bianca and Nico unceremoniously into the snow as Percy finally caught up.

  “Pesky brat!” Thorn growled.

  He raised his scorpion tail, ready to fire. Percy concentrated and slammed Thorn in the face with a giant wave of snow. As the manticore spluttered and shook the snow off his face, Percy charged.

  He finally got in close, slashing and jabbing at the monster. Thorn’s huge claws swatted his strikes aside. Percy leaned back as the manticore snapped at him with his jaws, then struck back with Riptide.

  Thorn reared back just in time, the blade grazing his nose. He roared and fired a round of spikes at Percy. The son of Poseidon ducked under the barrage and lunged for his chest.

  Only for Thorn to spin around and smack him cleanly with his tail. Percy tumbled into the snow, groaning.

  He glared at Manticore, who was crowing in triumph. Slowly, a smirk grew on Percy’s face. “Idiot.”

  Thorn turned around to grab Bianca and Nico but reared back in shock. They were gone, imprints still on the snow.

  “What?!”

  “Annabeth?” Percy called.

  Annabeth appeared beside him, taking her Yankees cap off her head. Behind her were Bianca and Nico Di Angelo, frightened and confused but unharmed. She gave him a high five.

  “You…you…!” Thorn’s lion face was turning red.

  Thalia and Grover chose that moment to finally arrive. With a battle cry, the daughter of Zeus advanced on the manticore with her spear held high and her shield blazing the face of Medusa. It was a terrifying sight, honestly. Thorn was so taken aback that he almost fell off the cliff.

  Grover played a quick jig on his reed pipes, and weeds burst out of the snowy ground, trying to tangle Thorn. Thorn thrashed, swinging his claws wildly and launching spikes in every direction.

  “Get down!” Annabeth pushed the Di Angelos flat onto the snow. Percy hovered over them protectively as Thalia and Grover dueled Dr. Thorn.

  “What is that?!” Bianca demanded. Her voice was shriller than Percy remembered, probably because of the whole monster kidnapping thing. “And what is happening?!”

  “Is that a manticore?” Nico gasped, sounding much less panicked and much more excited. “He’s got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!”

  Annabeth and Percy exchanged a wry look. It had been so long, Percy had almost forgotten how…energetic, Nico had been.

  Annabeth looked over nervously at Thalia and Grover, still battling Thorn. She pointed to the two siblings. “Watch over them!”

  Then, she put on her cap and disappeared.

  “Did she just vanish?” Bianca asked. “Who are you people?”

  “We’re here to help!” Percy told them. “Just stay–”

  A thunderous noise interrupted him, and a blaze of light came out of nowhere. A helicopter came flying out of the mist, hovering over the cliff behind Thorn as a clear sign of backup. It was armed to the teeth with guns and rockets.

  Percy took a moment to stare. “Oh yeah…forgot about that…”

  Thalia, momentarily blinded by the lights, was whacked aside by Thorn, leaving Grover to face off against Thorn alone. He sent a spike at him, but Grover was tackled to the side by an invisible force.

  Thorn loomed over Thalia and Grover menacingly. The light from the helicopter made it even more ominous.

  “Do you see how hopeless it is?” He laughed. “Yield, little heroes.”

  Percy clenched his grip around Riptide. They were really taking their sweet time…

  As soon as he thought that, a piercing sound blew through the woods–the call of a hunting horn.

  The manticore froze. “No. It can’t be–”

  A glowing silver arrow streaked out of the air and impaled itself into Thorn’s shoulder. He wailed in agony and staggered back from Grover and Thalia. The daughter of Zeus stared at the arrow in surprise and disgust.

  “Curse you!” He fired a volley of spikes, dozens flying into the woods where the arrow had come from.

  The Hunters returned fire, silver arrows intercepting the thorns in mid-air and destroying each and every one before the spikes could reach their target. The Hunters revealed themselves from the woods, bows on the ready.

  An archer with copper-colored skin stepped forward. A silver circlet was donned atop her long dark hair. Zoe Nightshade.

  “Permission to kill, my lady?”

  “This is direct interference!” Thorn cried out, grabbing his shoulder. “Against the Ancient Laws!”

  “Not so,” A girl with auburn hair and silver eyes replied, her expression stern and dangerous—Artemis herself. “The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. That includes you, foul creature. Zoe, permission granted.”

  “No! I will have them, dead or alive!”

  Grover and Thalia had staggered to their feet, and Dr. Thorn lunged at them. They dove out of the way as he thrashed forward, but by sheer luck, Thorn’s huge claws hit something anyway.

  There was a loud thump. And then Annabeth cried out in pain as she was knocked to the ground, hat rolling off her head. Her knife landed in the snow. Thorn loomed over her, tail tensing and ready to throw.

  “No!” Percy screamed.

  They were impossibly far away, but it didn’t matter.

  Annabeth was in danger.

  The snow reacted with his panic. Percy slid atop the snow like it was a wave, moving faster than he could even think. In the blink of an eye, he reached Thorn and slammed into the monster with his entire body. They both tumbled backward through the collision.

  “What in the–get back, half-blood!” Zoe yelled at him. “Get out of the line of fire!”

  Her familiar, order-like voice snapped some sense back into Percy. He scrambled, rushing to push himself off Thorn.

  The manticore spun and lashed out with his tail, firing a dozen more thorns. Percy turned and dove, throwing himself over Annabeth and shielding her with his body.

  But nothing hit him. Percy looked up, confused.

  The first thing he saw was Zoe staggering. A spike was buried in her shoulder. Around her, two or three figures in silver parkas were lying motionless on the ground.

  Percy realized Thorn hadn’t been aiming for him.

  “Percy!” Beneath him, Annabeth urged and pointed. He turned his head.

  Thorn was sprinting away from them. For a moment, Percy was completely bewildered.

  Then, he remembered Thorn’s original mission. The manticore had been tasked with capturing the children of Hades.

  The same children that Percy had abandoned to help Annabeth just seconds earlier.

  The same children that were now sitting helplessly in the snow as a manticore barrelled toward them.

  Bianca moved herself protectively in front of Nico and closed her eyes.

  “Bianca!” He yelled, trying to stand.

  He could never make it in time.

  So someone else was forced to.

  Thalia Grace, who was much closer, recklessly leaped onto the monster’s back. She drove her spear into his mane just milliseconds before Thorn’s claws could reach Bianca.

  Electricity coursed through the manticore, making him stop and howl. Thalia yanked on her spear with all her weight, pulling Thorn away from the Di Angelos.

  “F-fire!” Zoe finally managed to order, agony leaking into her voice.

  “Wait!” Annabeth screamed.

  But the Hunters let their arrows fly. Thorn roared as a silver shaft sprouted on his neck, then again as another hit his chest. He stumbled toward the edge of the cliff, wailing, “This is not the end, Huntresses! You shall pay!”

  And with Thalia still hanging on to his mane, Thorn turned and leaped into the cliff, plunging down, down, down.

  “Thalia!” Annabeth rushed to the edge.

  Percy followed her hastily, and they stared at the dark void together. Neither Thorn nor Thalia were anywhere to be seen. Percy felt shell-shocked.

  The Hunters checked Grover and the Di Angelos for injuries. Artemis turned the assault helicopter into a flock of ravens. But all the while, neither Percy nor Annabeth moved from the edge.

  It was only when Artemis called them that Percy stirred.

  “Percy Jackson. Annabeth Chase.”

  Grover fell to the ground with a gasp. “Lady Artemis!”

  Percy, on the other hand, got up and stared at the goddess numbly. He helped Annabeth up, who was wringing her hands in distress.

  “Thalia—she's gone,” Annabeth said. “Lady Artemis, can’t you save her?”

  “I am sorry, Annabeth Chase, but she is beyond my help,” Artemis shook her head.

  Annabeth choked back a sob, and she grabbed Percy's arm. She whispered, "Oh, gods. Jason."

  "I know. I know." He whispered back.

  Percy swallowed slowly. He looked around, finding Zoe Nightshade glaring at him, still holding her injured shoulder. It was bandaged, but judging by her face, the poison from the thorn was still agonizing.

  (“The wound is poisoned.”

  “Atlas poisoned her?”

  “No…not Atlas.”)

  “Hey, are you—” He took a step forward, but Zoe held out an open hand and gave him a look colder than the winter moon.

  Percy stopped.

  Annabeth waved half-heartedly at Zoe. “‘Nice to meet you again.”

  Zoe’s expression softened slightly.

  “Indeed, Annabeth Chase. I regret that it was under these circumstances,” She stood up straighter. “Despite our…differences, Thalia Grace was a brave maiden.”

  “ Is,” Percy automatically corrected, a little defensive. “She’s still alive.”

  Zoe glared at him again, looking like she wanted to slap him. Her old-fashioned accent was clipped with pain and anger.

  “Perhaps. But if thou, boy, had not run into the line of fire she might still be here.”

  Percy bristled. “I had to save Annabeth!”

  Zoe pointed behind her. Two bodies were already wrapped in silver shrouds by the Hunters. Percy's stomach sank a little.

  “As far as I’m concerned,” Zoe said coldly. “Thou saved no one .”

  It was hard not to wilt under her accusing gaze. Percy trembled, both in anger and guilt. He turned his gaze away, trying not to look at the faces of the Hunters. He didn’t want to see their expressions of disappointment.

  Annabeth took his hand and stepped forward territorially. “This isn’t Percy’s fault.”

  Zoe’s eyes darkened. “That is not what it looks like to me.”

  “Peace, Zoe,” Artemis sighed. “They are in distress.”

  “They’re not the only ones,” Bianca cut in, looking completely lost. “Time out. Can we get an explanation?”

  She pointed her finger at each of them as if trying to connect the dots. Evidently, she came up blank.

  “Seriously, who are you people?!”

  “It might be a better question to ask who are you? ” Artemis asked kindly. “Who are your parents?”

  Bianca looked at Nico nervously. Her brother was currently staring at everything and everyone in awe.

  Percy took the moment to look at them closely. He had forgotten how Nico looked before his Tartarus episode.

  He noticed Nico looked a lot better when he wasn’t deathly pale.

  “Our parents are gone,” Bianca said. “We’re orphans. There’s a bank trust that pays for school, and…”

  She trailed off, looking at their disbelieving faces. “I’m telling the truth!”

  “Thou art a half-blood,” Zoe said bluntly. “One of thy parents was a mortal. The other was an Olympian.”

  “Olympian…athlete?”

  “No. One of the gods.”

  Nico grinned. “Cool!”

  Percy almost flinched. When was the last time he had seen Nico smile like that?

  “No!” Bianca’s voice quavered. “Not cool!”

  Nico danced around joyfully. “Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for—”

  “Nico, shut up!” Bianca put her hands in her face. Her voice was bordering on panic. “This isn’t your stupid Mythomagic game! Th-there are no gods!”

  Percy watched the scene with mixed emotions. It was honestly bizarre to see Nico like this again. He had forgotten what the son of Hades was like before his life turned upside down.

  Without that familiar scowl, it’s almost hard to recognize Nico. Or even believe he was real.

  Bianca on the other hand…

  “I know it’s difficult to believe,” Percy tells her. His voice trembles slightly, but he thinks he sounds pretty calm for a guy talking to the first person he ever got killed. “The gods are real and around, and sometimes, they have kids with humans. That’s what you and I are. And…well, as you saw, our lives get dangerous.”

  “Dangerous…like the girl who fell?” Bianca said. Her voice shook. “She saved us.”

  Percy flinched and looked away. He felt something bubble up in his throat that felt suspiciously like a sob. This wasn't supposed to happen. He couldn't believe how terribly everything had messed up.

  Jason was supposed to come and meet Thalia tomorrow.

  What were they supposed to tell him?

  Annabeth turned to Artemis. “You’re the goddess of the Hunt. Is there a way you can track down Dr. Thorn and Thalia…is there anything you can do?”

  “I—”

  “Ooh, Dr. Thorn!” Nico rudely interrupted Artemis. “It was awesome how you shot him with arrows! Is he dead?”

  The goddess of the moon stared at Nico, her eyebrow twitching in irritation ever so slightly.

  “Hopefully, but monsters never truly die,” Artemis said. “They reform over and over after being destroyed.”

  Percy nodded. “And then they start hunting us.”

  Bianca looked at Nico, looking unnerved. “Nico, do you remember those two guys who tried to attack us in D.C.?”

  “And the bus driver. I told you he had horns.” Nico nodded, with all the ‘I told you so’ energy of a younger sibling.

  “So you’ve seen monsters before?” Annabeth frowned. “How’d you guys get away?”

  Bianca hesitated. “We…we ran away and hid. That’s what we usually do.”

  Percy and Annabeth exchanged glances.

  Once a monster spotted you, running away and hiding usually didn’t work, since all monsters could smell and track demigods. The daughter of Hades wasn’t telling them everything.

  Bianca looked down and shuffled on her feet uncomfortably, as if she wanted to leave. The way she was standing reminded Percy of Nico, and how he would often blend into the shadows and disappear whenever he wanted to hide.

  “Well, in any case,” Percy changed the subject. It wasn’t a good time to interrogate the siblings, after all. “That’s why Grover has been watching you. To keep you away from danger.”

  Nico bounced excitedly toward Grover. “You’re a demigod, Grover?”

  “Well, a satyr, actually,” Grover kicked off his shoes and proudly displayed his goat hooves.

  Nico choked. Bianca’s eyes went as wide as saucers.

  “Grover, you’re scaring them,” Annabeth chided.

  He looked offended. “My hooves are clean!”

  “We want to bring you to a safe place,” Percy told Bianca. “You need to come to Camp Half-Blood, where other half-bloods like you learn to fight and survive. Dr. Thron won’t be the last monster you meet.”

  “Cool! Let’s go,” Nico nodded.

  Bianca put a hand to her forehead, looking lightheaded. “Wait, no. I mean, I don’t know. Maybe–”

  “There is another option,” Zoe suddenly said.

  “But camp is the best one,” Percy quickly countered.

  The lieutenant gave him an unimpressed look. With her proud expression and silver circlet, Percy felt like he was staring at royalty.

  “Perhaps for you boys. But Bianca di Angelo has an opportunity you do not.”

  “Let us rest before discussing these things,” Artemis decided. “Zoe, raise the tents. Retrieve our guests’ belongings from the school. Treat the wounded–that includes yourself, mind you.”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  “And Bianca, please come with me. I would like to speak with you.”

  Bianca nodded slowly and followed the goddess along the cliff. Percy wanted to stop her, but he couldn’t find the words to say. He hesitated a moment too long, and they disappeared into a tent that Zoe set up. Around them, the Hunters began unpacking their knapsacks and making camp.

  Nico turned to him. “What about me?”

  Percy managed a smile but found it hard to speak again. Staring at Nico, he felt his mouth dry in dread. How was he supposed to tell Nico that Bianca was about to abandon him?

  Percy couldn’t help but feel like if he talked to Nico, he would screw him up for life. Again.

  (“Before she sacrificed herself, Bianca gave this to me. She wanted you to have it.”

  “...You promised you would protect her.”

  “Nico, I tried. But–”

  “You promised!

  “S-she gave herself up to save the rest of us. I told her not to–”

  “I shouldn’t have trusted you. You lied to me!”)

  Percy awkwardly stayed silent, struggling to think through the memories of guilt. Eventually, Annabeth was forced to step in.

  She smiled weakly at Nico, extending a hand. “Why don’t you show me how to play that card game you like, Nico?”

  Annabeth never really met Nico before his sister died. Before he grew up. Percy had described him as much happier and excitable, but Annabeth had never truly believed him. It was just so hard to imagine the semi-depressed Son of Hades being jovial, of all things.

  Today, Annabeth got the chance to see it.

  She was still working on believing it.

  “Athena being your mom is so awesome!” Nico was gushing. “She’s got three thousand attack power AND plus one hundred knowledge! This one time, I was playing this guy with an Ares-centered deck, and I totally destroyed him when I pulled out her card and figurine…”

  Annabeth had to try very hard to keep a smile on her face. “Nico, could just you calm down for a second…”

  The son of Hades was barely listening. The Hunters had grabbed his bag from the school, which had all his Mythomagic stuff. He was lining up a bunch of his figurines on the snow, talking non-stop as he did. It was like the manticore attack had zero effect on him.

  At the very least, it helped distract her from what had just happened. Because Annabeth was pretty sure if she thought about what went down, about...Thalia, for too long, she'd collapse and break down right in the snow.

  “Can I see that dagger?”

  “No, you’ll hurt yourself,” Annabeth said bluntly.

  “Since you’re the daughter of Athena, you must be super smart, right?”

  Annabeth took a deep breath. “Well, I try my best.”

  “Maybe you could help me with my homework! Wait, no, that probably doesn’t matter anymore…hey, how does that cap work?”

  He reached for it, but Annabeth quickly moved out of the way. Nico was bouncing from one question to another without even taking a breath, and Annabeth was starting to realize why Percy found him annoying.

  “It was a gift,” She told him.

  “From your mom?”

  “Yep.”

  “And it turns you invisible? Cool!” Nico said. “Does it make you smarter? Does it give you super strength? Can you fly?”

  Annabeth massaged her temples, fighting back a groan. She glanced at Percy. His cheeks were puffed up in a way that she was very familiar with—about five seconds away from bursting into full laughter. Beside him, Grover wasn’t too far off. The satyr was hunched over Percy’s shoulder, trembling and snickering.

  She grabbed Nico by the shoulders and spun him around to face them.

  “Hey, Nico, don’t you have any questions for them?” She grinned.

  Percy choked in surprise and began to cough, his glee gone.

  Grover stammered, “Wait, hold on—”

  Nico’s eyes brightened eagerly.

  But before he could start talking again, Zoe Nightshade walked up.

  “Annabeth Chase,” She called first. Her tone soured as she added, “And Percy Jackson. Come with me. Lady Artemis wishes to speak with thee.”

  Percy breathed an audible sigh of relief. “Um, sorry Nico, but it looks like I gotta go. Grover will keep you company, okay? He knows how to play Mythomagic, and he’s pretty good too.”

  Nico gasped and turned to the satyr, looking like he found a buried treasure. Grover stared at Percy, looking betrayed.

  As Nico dragged Grover to his deck setups and figurine formations, Annabeth and Percy followed the Lieutenant of the Hunt.

  Zoe led them to the last tent and ushered them inside. Bianca and Artemis were waiting. The room was decorated luxuriously, but still felt like a hunter’s camp, like a royal suite in a nature preserve.

  Artemis was petting a live deer, and she gestured to the silk cushions on the floor. “Sit.”

  They sat.

  “Annabeth,” Artemis greeted first. “You seem to be doing well since the last time we met.”

  “Thank you, Lady Artemis,” Annabeth said.

  “And Percy Jackson,” Artemis continued. Was it just her imagination, or did Percy sit up straighter? “You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you. Boys are usually forbidden from contact with us, so they are not used to it.”

  “Yeah sure,” Percy shrugged. “No biggie.”

  The goddess nodded slowly. “Back to the point, then. We came tonight to hunt the manticore, but that is not the one I seek. Bianca has told me about some disturbing things Thorn said.”

  “What does that have to do with us?” Percy asked.

  “There are signs of inciting, Perseus,” Artemis said. She was staring at them intently. “Thorn described it as the ‘Great Stirring.’ There are beasts who have hid and slept for millennia–prey so old I have nearly forgotten–that are now waking. They are gathering and uniting like monsters have never before. And I’ve been told you two have experience with related events.”

  “You mean our quest last year,” Annabeth assumed.

  “Correct. The manticore is no outlier. I believe it is merely one part of a larger, growing effect.”

  Percy seemed to catch on to what Artemis was thinking. “You’re right. And it’s because of what Luke Castellan’s doing. Now that he’s trying to raise the Titans, old enemies of the gods must have taken the chance to rise as well.”

  “Luke Castellan,” Artemis murmured thoughtfully. “The son of Hermes.”

  “He’s raising an army to serve Kron–the Titan Lord,” Annabeth jumped in.

  She described to Artemis their encounter with Luke in the summer, from the golden sarcophagus to the cruise ships full of monsters, huge and ancient ones such as drakons. She tried to emphasize how dire this was–the gods needed to understand that this was a threat, instead of ignoring it like they so often did. Thankfully, Artemis seemed to be paying attention the whole way through. The goddess was a good listener.

  “He’s leading the Titan army, trying to bring the Titan Lord back. They’re growing stronger by the day.” Annabeth finished.

  Artemis closed her silver eyes, her hands running across her silver bow anxiously. “It is as I feared. We can no longer pretend otherwise. I must discuss this with the Council at the Winter Solstice. But before that…”

  She gestured to Bianca. “Bianca, please tell them what you told me.”

  “Um, Thorn said something about bringing me to someone called the General,” Bianca hesitated. She looked a little pale, which was fair considering she had just heard Annabeth go on a speech about how the Titans and monsters were trying to take over the world and kill them all. “He sounded like a leader, so maybe it’s that Luke guy you were talking about.”

  Zoe flinched. She tried to say something to Artemis, but the goddess raised her hand firmly. “Go on, Bianca.”

  “Right. Then, he said something about having the most important monster of all, the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus,” The daughter of Hades’ lip quivered. “I thought he was just nuts, but…”

  “I’d hoped he was lying,” Artemis told Percy and Annabeth. “But now that I’ve learned of what you have seen, there is every reason to believe that Thorn was telling the truth. I must hunt this monster immediately.”

  Zoe swallowed, eyes shining in what could only be barely veiled fear. “We will leave right away, my lady.”

  “No, Zoe. I must do this alone.”

  “What? But, Artemis–”

  “This task is far too dangerous, even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search, after all,” Artemis gave Zoe a warning look. “You know you must not go with me there.”

  The lieutenant winced, bowing her head. “A-as you wish, my lady.”

  “I will find this creature and bring it back to Olympus for the winter solstice council,” Artemis vowed. “It will be the proof to the rest of the gods of the danger we are in, as you young half-bloods have already seen.”

  Percy glanced at Annabeth in alarm. She could read his face: ‘What do we do? Should we stop her?’ Annabeth could understand his concern. Artemis going on this solo mission was bad on so many levels and outcomes.

  Once Artemis left for this hunt, she would be captured. And…most likely, she would be forced to take the sky. The quest to Orthys would happen again.

  She looked at Bianca Di Angelo and Zoe Nightshade. The two who had died on the quest in the first timeline.

  If Artemis never got captured, wouldn’t that mean they would survive?

  Annabeth opened her mouth to object. To tell Artemis to not go.

  And then she closed it.

  Thalia had been kidnapped this time instead of Annabeth. That meant Thalia was going through the same thing Annabeth did.

  Her oldest friend, Thalia Grace, would have to hold up the sky.

  The daughter of Zeus would find Luke getting crushed under the huge weight of the sky. It would be the first time she had seen her best friend in years.

  Thalia had been told Luke had betrayed them. But she had never seen it. Thalia had never seen Luke do all the terrible things; she had never seen him change . How could she suddenly stop seeing him as her best friend? The closest thing she had to family?

  Annabeth knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Thalia would help Luke just like she did. Thalia would save Luke from the weight of the sky.

  That was just who Thalia was.

  And that was what Luke meant to her.

  (“Luke…what happened to you?”

  “Don’t you remember those times we talked? All those times we cursed the gods? Our fathers have done nothing for us. They have no right to rule the world!”

  “...Luke, let Annabeth go.”

  “Of course. If you join me, it can be just like old times. The three of us together, fighting for a better world. Please , Thalia. If you don’t agree…it’s my last chance. Please.”

  “...”)

  Annabeth almost felt like she was under the weight of the sky again. The thought of Thalia suffering under that swirling tornado for hours, with no idea if she would be saved. The all-consuming agony where you could barely even think. The only reason Annabeth survived was because Artemis took the sky from her just in time.

  If Annabeth stopped Artemis from going on this quest, would she be condemning Thalia to die?

  But Luke wouldn’t let her die.

  Would he?

  It seemed like he would have let Annabeth die, last time. Would he do the same to Thalia?

  No.

  She didn’t know.

  She couldn’t risk it.

  Artemis was talking to Percy about escorting the Hunters to camp. Annabeth stayed silent through it all, feeling like the worst person in the world.

  “Then it is settled,” Artemis nodded resolutely, despite the fact that Zoe was grumbling harshly about ‘foolish campers’. “Then there is one last decision to make.”

  She turned to Bianca di Angelo. “Have you made up your mind, my girl?”

  Beside her, Annabeth saw Percy’s jaw clench.

  “I…I don’t know,” Bianca grabbed her head. “I’m just a normal teenager. I don’t want to deal with Titans and monsters and the end of the world. I just want to keep Nico and me safe.”

  “There is no true ‘safe place’ for demigods,” Zoe responded gently. “Whether it be Camp Half-Blood or the Hunters. But the next best thing is to fight, to survive. Learn and grow. It is your choice.”

  “Bianca, camp is cool!” Percy promised. “It’s not just surviving, we have fun too! There’s a pegasus stable and a swordfighting arena…I mean, it’s where heroes are made!”

  “I don’t want to be a hero,” Bianca mumbled. “I don’t want to be some part of some grand war between gods.”

  Percy flinched, the comment striking too close to home. Annabeth took his hand comfortingly, and she could practically sense the change in him. The resigned pity.

  Unbeknownst to everyone but them, Bianca was the daughter of Hades. Like it or not, she was going to have a role to play in this war.

  But if she turned down becoming a Hunter, she would get all the extra pressure of becoming the next prophecy child. Of course, the Seven knew she wasn’t , but no one else did.

  As such, everyone would look at her as one of the heroes, one of the figures of the grand war. The daughter of Hades, one of the potential saviors or razers of Olympus, they would say.

  Percy knew that pressure, the expectations. He talked to Annabeth a lot about it. It haunted him for a long time.

  If Bianca wanted an out from that…who were they to blame her?

  “You need not stand out with the Hunters,” Zoe told Bianca. “Falling in battle is unlikely, far less likely than a regular half-blood.”

  Bianca looked at Annabeth as if to confirm.

  “Unfortunately, she is correct about that,” Annabeth admitted.

  Zoe looked at her significantly. “It is not too late for you, Annabeth. I hope you have reconsidered. You would do well as a Huntress.”

  Percy snorted loudly, and would probably have said something rude if Annabeth had not taken his hand, stepped in front of him, and flashed a fake smile full of teeth at the lieutenant.

  “Thanks, but I’m not interested.”

  Zoe looked at their intertwined fingers, made a face, and turned back to Bianca. Annabeth knew without turning around that Percy had a very smug expression on his face.

  “You decided against joining?” Bianca asked Annabeth.

  Annabeth’s felt her expression soften involuntarily. Bianca just felt so young. Innocent and pure, like the child she was. Not like Annabeth at all.

  “It was my choice, and this is yours. I’m not going to tell you what to do.”

  Bianca nodded slowly. She looked at Artemis hesitantly. “W-what about Nico?”

  “He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that’s the best boys can do.”

  Percy blinked. “Hey, wait a second–”

  “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.”

  “A new family,” Bianca repeated. Her face was a war of emotions. “Free of responsibility.”

  She took a deep breath and exhaled. She turned to Zoe. “Is it worth it?”

  “It is.”

  “What do I have to do?”

  “Say this,” Zoe told her. “I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis.”

  Bianca glanced at Annabeth and Percy again, one last flicker of doubt on her face. Her jaw tightened slowly.

  Then, she turned and repeated, “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.

  “I accept your pledge,” Artemis said.

  A silver glow was cast over the room. Bianca took a deep breath and blinked twice, her eyes widening. “I feel…stronger.”

  “Welcome, sister.” Zoe looked like a proud older sibling.

  “Remember your pledge,” Artemis said. “It is now your life.”

  The goddess closed her eyes. “Dawn is approaching. Zoe, break camp. The demigods must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother.”

  Zoe gestured for Bianca to follow her, but the daughter of Hades stopped in front of Percy and Annabeth first.

  “Congratulations,” Percy said half-heartedly.

  “Um…thanks,” Bianca looked uncomfortable but managed a smile. “I’m sorry. But I want this. I really, really do.”

  “That’s good,” Annabeth told her. “As half-bloods, we usually don’t get what we want.”

  “I have to go talk to Nico. I…I don’t know what to say to him…” Bianca sighed. She glanced at Annabeth hesitantly. “Artemis said you had…camp counselors who would look after him–”

  “I watch him,” Percy interrupted. “I’ll look after him.”

  Bianca looked surprised. Her expression slowly turned grateful, as if she couldn’t believe it. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  “As long as you don’t leave him completely,” Annabeth told her, getting more serious. The image of Luke handing a dagger to her came to her mind. “I know you have a new family…but don’t forget about him, okay?”

  Bianca nodded fervently. “Of course, I won’t. Of course, I won’t.”

  She left the tent after that, following Zoe, leaving Percy and Annabeth alone in the tent.

  “So, a ride with Apollo, huh?” Annabeth recalled. “But Thalia isn’t here.”

  Percy winced. He half-smiled sadly. “Yeah…but look on the bright side.”

  “Bright side?”

  A wry grin spread across his face, the sad but still crooked smile Annabeth knew and loved. “I think I’m gonna get to drive this time.”

  ‘...It is an unfortunate turn of events, but I must say it is not surprising. They have grown too comfortable, and too complacent with their successes early on. Sooner or later, something would have happened to remind them that the life of a demigod is a cruel, relentless series of dangers.

  Sometimes, things that are out of our control will happen. The slightest changes can cause much bigger shifts later on. There is no predictability in life. That is what makes life living, after all.

  Things will never be exactly the same, no matter what they do. This can be helpful at times, and harmful in others.

  They are hurting. But in the darkest times, they grow stronger. They always do.

  While the Seven may be the greatest heroes of all time, no hero is perfect. They all have their flaws…and there is a reason they are called fatal flaws.

  Perseus Jackson. With an iron loyalty to his friends, he cannot step away when the time is needed. For a friend, he will sacrifice the world. For a friend, he will abandon all thought and strategy.

  It is a flaw that hinges on those close to him, his friends.

  So it only makes sense that those who suffer the fallout of his flaw will be his friends, not himself.

  Oh...and Bianca di Angelo.

  I believe she will not find escaping responsibility to be as easy as she thinks.