In hindsight, this may not have been the best idea.

  However, Percy had the advantage of knowing his past/future, so his hindsight was also foresight.

  This was definitely not the best idea.

  Red flags were popping up left and right. First, of course, was the sudden weight that appeared in Percy’s backpack. He ignored it, but it felt like it was getting heavier and heavier as they got closer to Hades’ palace.

  Next, the guards didn’t stop them at the doors, since there weren’t any in the first place. Annabeth tossed Cerebus red rubber balls and they made their way past the judges and across the castle grounds, unhindered. Percy gritted his teeth, his senses on high alert. Strange happenings for demigods were usually bad signs, even if they were convenient.

  Finally, the metaphorical fire alarm came right at the final doors to the throne room. Percy was expecting a jump-scare attack at any moment; it was just too easy. Annabeth looked like she was about to enter a den of spiders, and Grover kept chewing his last tin cans nervously.

  The suspense built up like a premier horror movie, so when Hazel tried to surprise her friends, he may have overreacted.

  “Boo—!”

  “ Di immortals!”

  Thankfully, Riptide passed right through her harmlessly, though she didn’t seem too happy about it. “Hey!”

  “You scared us!” Annabeth hissed, but relief was pouring into her voice.

  Hazel held up her hands in apology, and as Percy’s breath returned to his lungs, he noted her golden eyes and curly cinnamon-brown hair looked more faded than usual.

  Unlike his mom who was also here, Hazel was actually dead. It just wasn’t fair. “Haz—”

  Annabeth elbowed him in the ribs, eyes pointing at Grover, who was still recovering from the jump scare. “Um, I mean, who are you?”

  Hazel’s mouth formed an ‘o’, realizing who was with them. Percy could see her brain frantically try to come up with something. “I’m…dead. As you can see.”

  Annabeth facepalmed, and Percy tried not to laugh. He helped Grover up, and the satyr blinked in confusion. “If you’re dead, why aren’t you in any of the Fields?”

  That was a good question, now that he thought about it. Percy looked curiously at Hazel, who looked a little embarrassed. “That’s uh…that’s because I’m not just any dead person. I’m the daughter of P—Hades.”

  Annabeth tilted her head, obviously still curious as to why Hazel actually was at the palace. It seemed to be convincing enough for Grover, however.

  “A child of Hades?” He whispered. “But that means Hades broke the oath too? She looks so young!”

  Hazel sighed as Percy tried not to grin. They always teased Hazel for being the youngest of the Seven, and their reasons were now validated. “I might look young, but I’ve been dead for decades.”

  “Oh.” Grover relaxed. “Y—yeah, that makes sense.”

  “More importantly, I’m here to warn you.” Hazel turned to Annabeth, suddenly serious. “My father is really angry that you’re here. If you’re trying to talk to him, you might want to come back another time.”

  “We don’t have much of that.” Annabeth pointed out.

  Hazel shrugged in response. “I think he might disintegrate you the moment you go through the door if you try right now.”

  Percy gulped, since he had a good guess why Hazel would think so. After all, Hades believed Percy was trying to threaten him with the Master Bolt for his mother, and assumed he was working on Poseidon’s command. Safe to say, he didn’t think too highly of Percy.

  In actuality, all Percy was here to do was to ask Hades to give his mom back if he could get the god’s helm. Still, something told him that the conversation wouldn’t go down well.

  It’ll be fine. He didn’t kill me immediately before.

  Past-Percy had no idea what he walked into. Sometimes, ignorance really was bliss. Now, Percy was well aware he was walking toward a death trap, and he nervously checked his pockets for the pearls again.

  “We have to go in.” Annabeth was saying, and Hazel relented.

  “Are you sure?” Grover skittered back and forth. “I’m a big fan of not being disintegrated.”

  Percy took out the pearls, handing one to Grover and Annabeth. “If things go wrong, I promise these will bail us out.”

  Grover eyed the last pearl in Percy’s hand. “Perce—what about your mom?”

  “Don’t do anything stupid.” Annabeth reminded him with a glare as she palmed her pearl.

  Saving people was the worst when you had to wait to save them. Not just his mom, but also one of his best friends. She knew Percy’s promise didn’t apply to her like Grover and Annabeth. Percy felt an irrational urge to give the last pearl to Hazel, even though he had no idea if it would work or what it would even do.

  “So…” Grover coughed. “Are we going in?”

  “Let’s go.”

  Annabeth and Grover stepped to the doors, and a sharp wind threw them open. As it did, Percy quickly turned to Hazel.

  “We can’t get you out yet. I–I’m sorry.”

  She just smiled as if she already knew. “You said ‘yet’. What’s your plan?”

  For once, he had one. “In a few years, I’ll have to come back to this place. I’ll be able to save you then…I swear it on the River Styx.”

  Thunder didn’t exist in the Underworld, but the finality of the promise was louder than any storm. Hazel looked a little bashful at his seriousness. “You can always wait until Nico gets here…unless you have a plan?”

  “Percy!”

  “Tell you later.”

  He ran up to join his two friends, and together, they entered the throne room of Hades.

  Hades sat on his throne of skeletons, tortured faces decorating his seat. He definitely looked as displeased as Hazel described, though thankfully Percy had not been disintegrated just yet. The god stared at them silently, his gaze dark and brooding, and Percy wondered if he was waiting for them to speak. Just as he tried to say something though, Hades cleared his throat.

  “You are very brave to come here, son of Poseidon.” Hades drawled out. “After what you have done to me, very brave indeed. Or perhaps you are very foolish.”

  Percy shivered as Hades’ aura swelled, compelling total submission. This was the ruler of the dead, the one whom all mortals would eventually serve. He was the one who should be giving orders, and who was Percy to try to request of the god?

  He fought the feeling. Percy had faced bigger threats than even Hades. He wouldn’t falter, even to the God of the Dead. “Lord Hades.”

  Percy wanted to say something diplomatic like ‘give my mom back you jackass’, but he decided that might not end up very successful. “I have a proposal.”

  Hades glared at him with pitch-black pupils. “After everything you’ve already dared to do, now you try to threaten me?”

  “Lord Hades…I know you did not take the Master Bolt.”

  Grover made a strangled noise behind him while Hades snarled. “So you admit it then. I am not so stupid as to not know why you did it, Perseus Jackson.”

  “But I didn’t take it either.” Percy added.

  “You still play games?! Then what is in your backpack?” Hades asked triumphantly, and the weight in Ares’ pack seemed to obligingly grow heavier.

  Percy wasn’t so stupid to bring it out again, so he kept his eyes focused and insisted, “It’s a trick. By someone trying to start a war.”

  “A war that will happen if you do not return to me what is mine.” Hades warned. “After what you’ve done, you should be lucky I don’t let the Furies whip you until your screams grow louder than the Fields of Punishment!”

  Up above, Mrs. Dodds seemed to like that idea, as the Furies began to hiss maniacally. Percy gritted his teeth, a little irritated. Talking to a brick wall would have been easier than this. “Uh, there’s no need to resort to violence so quickly, you know.”

  The ground began to shake with Hades’ rage. “I do not want war, godling! But if your father wants to begin the conflict once more, then I will show my brothers the House of Hades unleashed!”

  “My father had no part in the theft, and neither did I!” Percy shouted back.

  “Return my helm now, or I will stop death,” Hades threatened. “You say you have a proposal. Here is mine. I will open the earth and have the dead pour back into the world. I will make your lands a nightmare. And you, Percy Jackson—your skeleton will lead my army out of Hades.”

  “You mean…your helm is missing too, Lord Hades?!” Grover yelped from behind them.

  The God of the Dead whirled his head toward him and Annabeth, so Percy shifted to move in between them and Hades’ gaze protectively. “I had no illusions that anyone on Olympus would offer me the slightest justice, the slightest help. I can’t afford for word to get out that my most powerful weapon of fear is missing. So I searched for you myself, and when it was clear you were coming to me to deliver your threat, I did not try to stop you.”

  “You sure didn’t make it easy.” Percy grumbled, before raising his voice to match Hades’ angry shouts. “I’ll get your helm for you only if you give me back my mom!”

  “You think you can bargain with me?!” Hades roared, and the whole palace trembled as shockwaves rocked the Underworld.

  This was going about as well as Percy feared. The undead guards were still gone, but Percy had no doubt Hades could just kill them himself.

  Hades jabbed a shaking finger at Percy accusingly. “Your arrogance after stealing weapons of the gods leads you to believe you can do whatever you want!”

  “You’re just as crazy as Zeus with your insane theories.” Percy declared, blood starting to boil. He hated getting accused of something he didn’t do, and the constant blaming was setting him off. “If you spent more time playing with Cerebus than brooding, maybe you’d be a little less grouchy!”

  “Percy!” Annabeth shouted in exasperation.

  Hades suddenly stood, and the ground heaved. All three were thrown off their feet as the earth violently shuddered.

  Whoops. It was probably time to go.

  “Guys, the pearls!” Percy shouted, digging into his pockets.

  “Do not think you can escape now!” Hades snapped. “Poseidon’s paltry pearls will not be able to save you.”

  The ground cracked open, and skeletons began to crawl out of the earth. A bony arm grabbed onto Percy’s ankle, throwing him off balance. He tried to reach for the pearl with one hand, then Riptide in the other, but more skeletons seized his limbs with unnatural strength.

  Meanwhile, Grover kicked his hooves uselessly, the undead brushing off all his hits. Annabeth put on her cap and disappeared, but evidently, skeletons didn’t need eyes to see as they quickly knocked the air to the ground.

  “Annabeth!” Percy tried to run toward her, but the skeletons dogpiled onto him, pinning him to the ground.

  “Father, stop!”

  Instantly, all the skeletons froze. Annabeth’s cap rolled off her head as she warily watched the skeleton guard who hit her. Percy shook off his foes and got to his feet, but the skeletons still ignored him, staring at one person.

  “Please, just give him a chance to help, father.” Hazel glared up at Hades, chin tilted defiantly.

  Hades looked stunned, and his form began to flicker. A toga began to form over his Greek robes, but the god slammed his hand on his throne with a growl, and his form stabilized. “Hazel…what are you doing?”

  “Father, can you sense if he has your helm?”

  Hades’ eyebrows knitted in a frown. “…No. But the little rat must have hidden it somewhere.”

  Percy growled. “If you don’t believe me—“

  “Percy, let me handle this.” Hazel sharply said, surprising Percy into abrupt silence.

  “Father, I don’t believe he stole your helm,” As Hazel spoke, the ground began to stop shaking. “And even if he did, he’d return it to get his mother back. But you have to let him go.”

  Hades sat back down, eyes stone cold. “Why do you help them, Hazel?”

  Hazel turned, her golden eyes meeting Percy’s. “I know what it’s like to feel the blame for something that wasn’t my fault.”

  “Hazel…” Annabeth whispered, and Percy swallowed thickly.

  Her life was the definition of tragic. She was forced to revive a giant, and her future became desolate and hopeless. Still she made the right choice, collapsing the goddess’ plan with the cave.

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  She even saved her mother at the cost of her own afterlife being stolen away. All this happened because of circumstances beyond her control, yet Hazel bore the weight anyway, making the ultimate sacrifice.

  And now, she was placing herself in the fire again.

  “I’ll find the location of my helm from him if I must.” Hades stubbornly said. “Step aside, Hazel.”

  She sighed, shaking her head. “Is that so? Then…I’m sorry, father.”

  “Wha—?”

  All the skeletons surged forward, running around Hazel whose eyes were glinting bright gold. Percy watched in disbelief as they swarmed Hades, who spluttered in surprise. When did Hazel have so much control over the dead?

  “Go! Now!” Hazel commanded, and as if under a spell Percy’s hands moved instinctively.

  The three of them grabbed the pearls and smashed them at their feet. In a moment, green bubbles sparkled where they landed.

  As soon as the protective spheres covered them, the skeletons were sent flying away like rag dolls by a wave of power. Hades roared like thunder, and the whole Underworld seemed to quake violently.

  Sorry, Los Angeles.

  He fired black energy at the bubbles, but they held firm, soaring up and away.

  “We’ll get your helm back, Lord Hades!” Annabeth shouted down at Hades, but Percy was more focused on someone else.

  Hazel watched them fly away, her face pensive. “I’ll be back for you, Hazel! I promise!”

  Two figures stood below them, rapidly growing smaller. One was screaming in rage while the shaking fortress around him mirrored his wrath.

  The other looked up at her friends and smiled patiently. Hazel didn’t need to know the future for this prediction. She believed him with utmost faith.

  So Hazel calmly waved goodbye, ready and waiting for when they would return.

  Jason liked the wind. He felt no fear of thunder and thrived in storms. The chaos felt like a part of him, and he enjoyed harnessing the lightning so that it ran through his veins and electrified his blood.

  That being said, the rain was a lot more annoying. It got into his eyes and made things hard to see, and Jason wasn’t a huge fan of being drenched either. Maybe he should have brought an umbrella.

  The downpour over Gull Rock showed no signs of slowing down after hours, which meant the Trojan Sea Monster was getting close. Any moment now, it would be upon them. If they weren’t prepared, it would wipe them out before they had a chance to react.

  Somewhere in the raging waves, Frank the Shark would be scouting the waters, ready to enact the plan. The son of Mars would lure it into the shallow alcove, and Jason would go around to cut off the exit.

  Oh, and Bryce was there too, he supposed.

  From then on would be an all-out brawl, but if he could pull off Frank’s idea, then they had a chance. It all depended on Jason’s control and endurance.

  Jason frowned, studying the crashing waves. The rain blurred his vision slightly, but he was pretty sure he didn’t see any sign of Frank. His friend should have been done scouting by now…

  Come to think of it, where was Bryce Lawrence?

  An uneasy feeling built up in Jason’s stomach. Had he been too lax? Did he underestimate the descendant of Orcus?

  He flew into the air, looking for any signs of either one of them. Still nothing.

  Jason cursed in Latin. There was no way, not right now. Absolutely no way that the dude was such a psychopath that he would risk his own life for his sadistic practices.

  Then again, these types of people didn’t follow normal logic.

  He heard a screech in the air. Then a distinctly human cry of surprise, cutting through the wind and thunder. It took a moment for Jason to process the sound, but the dread quickly set in when he did. His stomach churned as angry disbelief clouded his mind.

  Jason took off in that direction, almost breaking the sound barrier. Soon, he spied multiple figures up ahead overlooking the ocean and recognized the foremost one as Bryce Lawrence himself. And once he saw who was hunched over next to him, it was all the confirmation he needed to go and knock the legacy off the cliff.

  “Bryce!” The wind grew harsher, and Bryce turned to see the son of Jupiter flying at him like a heat-seeking missile.

  Yet he was clearly unintimidated, as spread across his face was the cruelest smile Jason had ever seen. “Now, now, Centurion. Don’t be too hasty.”

  He flicked his hand, and the figures behind him lurched forward to stand in front of Bryce and shield him. Three of them were reanimated skeletons. And the fourth, they held him the struggling in their grip.

  “Frank!” Jason stopped his Superman attack lest he hit Frank.

  Instead, he landed in front of them with a fury, ready to zap Bryce to oblivion. The storm raged with him, thunder rumbling dangerously.

  Yet Bryce just grinned in obvious enjoyment. He moved closer to Frank and angled his sword at the restrained demigod. “Stay still or I’ll slit his throat. Which would be a shame for both me and you, honestly.”

  “Bryce.” Frank gritted out, teeth clenched in pain as the skeletons twisted his arms. “What are you doing?”

  “Just having some fun.” The maniac’s eyes widened with madness, his crooked nose flaring. “I’ve killed all sorts of creatures, but I’ve never tortured anything like this!”

  “You’re insane!” Jason shouted, drawing his gladius.

  Bryce flicked his hand, and two more skeletons crawled out of the ground with frightening speed. They stood between Jason and Bryce, and one held a spear at Frank’s neck. “One more move and he’s dead. And that would be such a waste of an experiment.”

  Hearing this psycho talk about his friend like he was a science experiment turned Jason’s vision red. But he was forced to stand rooted in place, trembling with rage as Bryce eyed Frank gleefully. If he charged, then Frank would die. If he called a lightning bolt, he would probably electrocute Frank along with Bryce. If he tried summoning the wind, everyone including Frank would likely go flying like a rag doll. The storm that had once seemed like a pleasant amplifier for his powers now felt like a restricting chain, binding him to inaction.

  He wondered if Bryce realized this. Evidently, the descendant of Orcus had long since planned this ‘experiment’. Jason couldn’t understand it. How could someone dedicate so much thought and effort solely to inflict pain on another? It was disgusting and inexplicable.

  Even if Jason were to ask, there would be no possible justification for ‘his side of the story’. No matter how much of an open mind Jason liked to keep, there was nothing to learn or understand from these types of people.

  “Now then, Frank,” Bryce sneered, pressing his blade against Frank’s throat. “I want to see how your pain tolerance is affected when you shift from animal to animal. Do different animals have more resistance, I wonder? I can’t wait to find out.”

  Frank showed no signs of fear, despite death being just a cut away. “What if I turn into a dragon and just kill you all?”

  “I’m no fool, Zhang.” Bryce growled, pressing harder on Frank’s neck. “Your transformations aren’t instant. Try to turn into anything I don’t tell you to, you’ll bleed out before you can do anything.”

  Jason snapped, “How long have you been doing this, Bryce?”

  He snorted, pond scum-green eyes gazing at him disinterestingly. “I already told you I’ve experimented on all types of animals. Would have moved on to humans soon, but funnily enough, a prime subject was conveniently on the quest.”

  Jason wanted to turn him into a grease spot, but Frank caught his eye. The son of Mars was gesturing to the left with his eyes, off the cliff to the seas below. Jason followed his gaze, watching the thrashing waves and shapes writhing underwater–

  Oh.

  “What should I try first?” Bryce mused, looking sadistically excited. “I hear some fish don’t feel pain, but will that change if the fish is a human?”

  He pondered with an evil grin for a little while more, looking more and more sinister with each passing moment. Jason watched him carefully, slowly counting down the seconds in his mind. He could hear the familiar rumble below now; the only question was if Bryce would recognize and realize what it was.

  The answer was obvious, with Bryce being so excited. An idea seemed to strike him like lightning as he lit up, laughing remorselessly. “Got it! Frank, turn into–”

  His request was drowned out by an earthshaking roar, and Bryce’s sadistic grin was quickly replaced with panicked shock as several tons of scaly monster seemingly appeared out of thin air.

  The Trojan Sea Monster rose out of the ocean with frightening speed and was suddenly staring down at them, its lock neck coiled and ready to lunge. Poison and fire dripped out of its mouth as its one remaining eye blazed with malice.

  It was the exact distraction Jason needed. He ignored its terrifying gaze and flew forward as Bryce couldn’t help but stare in incomprehension.

  That lapse in concentration cost the legacy his life. While Jason swooped through and snatched Frank away, blowing apart the skeleton guards into dislocated pieces of bones, Bryce watched in frozen shock.

  The sea monster lunged like a striking viper, and Bryce’s eyes finally seemed to snap into concentration, and he began to tremble. “W-Wait–!”

  BOOM!

  Jason got just enough distance away, but the impact still threw off his balance with a wave of force. He and Frank crashed into the ground hard and tumbled to a stop painfully. However, when Jason looked up, he could at least say it was better than how Bryce fared.

  A chunk of the cliff was now gone like the monster had taken a bite of a birthday cake. There was no sign of Bryce or his skeletons, and the sea monster seemed to chew the earth with relish. Once it swallowed, it hissed at the two demigods, clearly unsatisfied with its meal.

  “Did it grow bigger?” Frank weakly asked.

  He had been wondering the same thing, but Jason steeled his nerves. “Remember the plan. You’re up.”

  Frank looked a little pale, but he nodded. “Alright.”

  Jason readied his gladius, flying up into the air. Frank the giant eagle pecked at the monster’s remaining eye to get its attention, letting Jason mentally prepare his speech to the Senate.

  Bryce Lawrence of the Twelfth Legion. He served the legion for three years as a soldier of Rome and the gods to the very end. Tragically, Bryce was killed by an attack from the Trojan Sea Monster, after trying to torture and kill one of his fellow questers. May he rest in the Fields of Punishment. He might be missed.

  Unfortunately, the Lawrence family wouldn’t be too happy with that, and much to Jason’s irritation they had a large influence over New Rome. They had a long history of serving in the legion, and he knew they were a large part of the committee that governed the city. After all, the Senate was more reserved for matters regarding the legion, quests, or the gods.

  Anyway, it looks like he’d have to work on the eulogy a bit more.

  The Trojan Sea Monster thrashed at the cliff, causing a small landslide as it tried to tackle the giant eagle. Frank skilfully weaved around falling rocks, determined to get it to chase him.

  Jason watched as Frank flew tauntingly slow right in front of the sea monster’s jaw, only to dart away at the last second. The monster screeched in a rage as it happened again and again, slowly being lured farther and farther away.

  Perfect. Jason got ready, feeling his inner storm swell in his gut, ready to be released to join the tempest around him. If all went well, by the end of the day Bryce would get a new experiment to work with in the Underworld.

  The camp was uneventful, and Piper suspected everyone was trying to keep it that way on purpose. They went about their sword-fighting classes and capture-the-flag games according to routine. They sat around the campfire and shared s’mores, singing the same old songs over and over.

  However, she would often catch the older campers looking nervously at the dark and ominous clouds. Instead of the storm clouds parting around them like normal, they rolled over the invisible dome like a coffin being sealed.

  Every so often a clap of thunder would echo across the fields, and everyone would jump. But the rain and lightning never fell, so camp activities continued as normal. The tension and anxiousness were obviously there, but Chiron and Dionysus actively pretended like nothing was wrong. It was as if they thought that by waiting long enough the problem would vanish and they could act like it had never happened.

  Piper didn’t like it, but there was nothing she could do but wait like everyone else. Whether this weather got better or worse depended all on Percy and Annabeth.

  Still, it wouldn’t hurt for the campers to be more supportive, right?!

  Piper had headed to the Arts & Crafts Center during her free time, feeling creative at the moment. However, the prospect of making art was quickly shattered when she came across the Athena Cabin weaving together what seemed unmistakably to be a burial shroud.

  “What are you doing?!” Piper incredulously asked, unable to believe what she was seeing.

  Malcolm Pace, the temporary counselor, looked at her apologetically. “We’re making a shroud in advance. For Annabeth.”

  Piper tried not to splutter indignantly. “But–you don’t know if she’s going to die! She’ll come back alive!”

  Their faces of doubt and hopelessness shook Piper out of her anger. She hesitated a little, before adding, “S-she will, right? Don’t you believe in her?”

  “Of course we do, or at least try to!” One of them quickly says. She shared Annabeth’s gray eyes and blonde hair, but sounded meek in a way Annabeth never would. Annabeth was always strong and determined, even when she was stuck in pure terror (which Piper knew from experience). The daughter of Athena held a distinct pride in her level-headed nature.

  But looking at her siblings' expressions and actions, it seemed that the confident resilience was from Annabeth herself, not Athena.

  “No camper has returned from a quest alive since Luke,” Malcolm explained. “That was four years ago.”

  “And how many quests have we had since his?” She challenged.

  “Enough for this to become a regular thing.” He replied bitterly. “Look, we’re not hoping for her death or anything. But the odds are stacked against her.”

  Piper glared at all of them, angry again. These were Annabeth’s siblings. They of all people should have trusted and believed in their longtime head counselor, especially if Piper could. “Annabeth’s one of the most intelligent and stubborn demigods ever! So if anyone can win despite the odds, it’s her. You of all people should know that.”

  Then she left, storming out of the Arts & Crafts Center. They didn’t call or follow her, probably confused as to why Piper spoke as if she was very familiar with Annabeth. They had never met in this time, after all. However, Piper’s mood was ruined and she didn’t give them the liberty to ask.

  As she stomped back to the cabins, she glimpsed the Ares cabin heading toward the Arts & Crafts Center with an unfinished shroud. Piper snorted in half-amusement and half-annoyance, realizing it must be for Percy. Clarisse wasn’t with them, probably fixing up her broken spear somewhere.

  My friends will be fine. Piper assured herself. The campers are just paranoid.

  As Piper walked to her cabin, she noticed the door to the Hephaestus Cabin ajar. She heard voices speaking from a television, which didn’t make sense. Camp Half-Blood didn’t have any technology.

  Then again, it was the Hephaestus Cabin. They probably made it. Also, the soundtrack is eerily familiar, she realized. It’s as if…

  She kicked the door open. “Leo Valdez!”

  “Aagh!” The demigod in question jumped impressively high into the air. A small fire erupted from his nose, but no one noticed it since all eyes turned to Piper, instantly drawn to her like moths to a flame.

  She glares right back at them. It’s just as she thought; the children of Hephaestus were sitting around a projector made of celestial bronze, watching a movie that Piper was very familiar with.

  “As long as there are warriors, there will always be war!” King Pleistonanax (more commonly known as Piper’s dad) roared, drawing his sword with a flourish. He threw his arms out wide, showing off his chiseled abs. “And we Spartans are nothing if not warriors!”

  ‘King of Sparta’ was nearing the climax from what Piper can tell, which explains why some of the Hephaestus campers look annoyed at her interrupting the film.

  Charles Beckendorf blinks at Piper, then back at the movie like he’s checking something. “Huh. Leo was right. You do look like him.”

  That got the attention of the other campers very quickly, and they all looked at Piper in a new light. Surprised murmurs began to rise while Piper flushed, and she narrowed her eyes at her best friend. “You told him?!”

  “It was going to get out eventually!” He defended with a squeak. “The movie was just released! Don’t you remember how much hype there was?”

  Of course, she remembered. She remembered all too well. That movie skyrocketed Tristan McLean’s role from a prominent side actor to a bonafide Hollywood star. It was also well deserved. Piper even remembered helping him research Greek history and mythology for this movie, savoring the little time she was able to spend with her dad. ‘King of Sparta’ was a hit on every level, but Piper hated playing the ‘famous dad’ card.

  “So Tristan McLean is actually your dad?” Jake Mason asks from the corner, pausing the movie. “That is so sweet!”

  The rest clamor in agreement, but Piper ignores them. She taps the projector with an accusing look at Leo. “Did you make this?”

  “Yup.” He’s quickly gotten over the guilt and looks completely unapologetic now. “Doesn’t send out the monster-alert either. Just a little something I cooked up to watch ‘King of Sparta’.”

  Piper can’t stay mad at him with that cheeky grin of his, so she rolls her eyes. “I can’t believe this.”

  “That’s what we all said,” Beckendorf interjects, before also giving a disapproving look to Leo. “I was under the impression he asked you, though.”

  Leo complained, “Don’t act like you all didn’t want the movie!”

  “Speaking of which, can we continue?” Another camper whines. “We talk about Piper later, right?”

  They all agree on that surprisingly quickly, so Jake unpauses the movie. Piper wasn’t sure whether to be miffed they were blowing her off for her dad or relieved the attention was no longer directed at her. The Hephaestus kids were definitely a lot more laid-back than her siblings.

  “You gonna watch with us, Pipes?” Leo asked, and she raised an eyebrow at him.

  She’s already watched it many times. Probably enough exposure to the franchise for a lifetime. After thinking for a moment though, Piper smirks. “Sure. It’s still a good movie, especially when King Pleistonanax d–”

  “Spoilers!” Jake Mason put his hands over his ears, the action was mimicked by a few others.

  She laughs, sitting down next to Leo. They watch the movie with rapt attention, and Beckendorf remarks, “We should ask Chiron for a field trip to have the whole camp see this movie.”

  The thought of the whole camp all talking about her dad (and by extension, her) makes Piper shudder. “What about the monsters, though? We’ll get swarmed and killed, probably.”

  “It’d be worth it.” He mutters.

  “So commands your king!” A roar erupts from the soldiers as Tristan McLean finishes his rousing speech. “The King of Sparta!”

  As the final battle commenced on the screen, Piper felt a little nostalgic. She remembered being on set for some of these scenes, watching her dad act out the daring battle to save everyone.

  Piper wished that she and her friends were just acting out a film as well. But their situation wasn’t fiction; it was reality. They had already failed once, and if they failed again there would be no sequel to their movie.

  This was the first of many trials to come, but right now it relied on Piper’s friends. If they could complete their quests and achieve a better result than last time…then Piper might be able to believe that ultimately, they could defeat Gaia too.

  ‘The best is yet to come, Piper McLean. I can assure you of that much.

  The hardest part is waiting, but the reward is ever the sweeter because of it. Jason Grace will have his first true challenge with the Trojan Sea Monster. But he knows that to destroy it from the inside will almost certainly mean to destroy himself with it. Will he be able to find a better way to defeat the beast?

  Percy Jackson has to face a god and his pride. The god of war is arrogant and foolish. Trickery, not brute force, is the way to victory…the son of Poseidon must remember that. If he were to grow overconfident in his ability, I daresay he may be in for a rude awakening.

  What am I saying? These children will not fail where they have already succeeded. They know what’s at stake, what’s at risk.

  I know they will succeed in this. For I will not let the fate end so soon.