Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

   Ignoring the coleslaw incident, Percy thought the rest of his day went pretty well. They – Travis, Connor, Nico, Will, Jason and Percy – went to explore the woods they found, where they found berries.

   ( “Don’t touch my fucking berries, jackass!”

   “Why would I want those when you’ve licked them?”

   “I don’t know? You’re weird!” )

   They also saw some trees.

   ( “I think we’re lost, guys.”

   “No shit.”

   “Shut up, Connor. But, yeah, we’ve passed this tree like, five times already.”

   “Are you sure it’s the same tree, Travis?” )

    A little river with a bridge surrounded by flowers.

   ( “I need to show Katie this place, she’ll love it.” )

   And some more trees.

   ( “Is it more if they’re the same trees?”

   “It’s not the same tree , I swear!” )

   So, yeah. Great success.

   It was dinner time when their group came out of the woods, so they went straight for the pavilion, already discussing what they’d be eating.

   “Do you think I’d be able to get chicken noodle soup? I feel like–” Travis halted.

   “Hey…” Percy gave a pained smile to the people around him.

   Though ‘people’ might be the wrong word. The gods were there, cornering them.

   “We’ve all come to the decision that we’d like to continue reading tomorrow,” Hera started. “Would you six also be okay with that?”

   Percy only snapped out of his shock when a hand wrapped around his arm, urging him to speak – Jason probably didn’t want him to get incinerated, but Percy decided to ignore the rational side of his brain and listened to the part that was jumping up and down, throwing a party at the contact omg he likes us – “Uh… Yeah, that’s okay.”

   Smooth.

   Percy completely spaced out until he was halfway done with his dinner.

   “Are you doing okay, Perce?” Jason asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

   He blinked and hummed, “Yeah, sorry. I think I'm just tired.”

   Jason put a hand on his shoulder with a worried frown, “Do you want to leave early? I don’t think the rest will mind.” After a hesitant nod from Percy, he started quietly gathering their dishes to put them away.

   When he came back, he whispered, “Your cabin?”

   “Yeah. Thanks a lot, Jason,” Percy said, smiling tiredly.

   After a while, he opened the door to his cabin, immediately heading for the bed, throwing himself onto it, face first.

   “Careful,” Jason chuckled. Percy motioned for Jason to come closer, waiting until he was sat on the bed before he laid his head back down.

   “‘Night,” he mumbled.

Chapter Text

   Only when he woke up, did Percy remember what today’d have in store for him.

    Fuuuuuuck.

   He got up as quietly as he could, being careful not to wake up Jason – who was sleeping next to him! – and went to brush his teeth.

   While looking in the mirror, he went over the plans for today:

1. get ready for the day trying not to be too embarrassing around Jason
2. devour all of Ithaca’s supplies for the Trojan war (yes, Percy would be the reason Polites died)
3. read those godsdamned books
4. eat some more
5. and sleep, because gods knew he needed it

   All in all, Percy thought his plans for the day were great and quite achievable.

   Try to imagine Percy’s surprise when Jason was already up by the time he was done in the bathroom. (And now add some more surprise, he wasn’t that brave.)

   Jason had changed into new clothes, clothes Percy didn’t recognise, but looked so good on him, Percy had to consciously keep his mouth from falling open. He was wearing a white tank top and a pair of too-big jeans. His hair had grown out a bit, but was still short, and his glasses sat on his nose, framing the pale blue beauties that were his eyes.

   “Good morning,” his voice was raspy from waking up, causing Percy’s brain to short-circuit.

   Who was he kidding, he’d already been staring for at least a minute now. “Good morning, Jason. Do you wanna go to the pavilion; see if they left us any food? I’m starving.”

   The blond chuckled and nodded, walking with him to the pavilion.

   Eating breakfast went well, they all talked about what to expect for the next book, what they thought of this book, about what they were planning on doing here in this timeless place, honestly anything .

   “Let us get back to reading,” Hera called. Prompting everyone to get up and go toward the tree.

   “ The sea of monsters ,” Hestia said, passing the book to Demeter.

   “ My best friend shops for a wedding dress ,” she read.

   Those who didn’t know what had happened during Percy’s second quest – meaning, almost everybody – looked confused. “Why is Grover looking at wedding dresses?” Travis asked.

   Grover bleated, “You’ll see.”

    My nightmare started like this. … I’d never been to Florida.

   “Social studies,” Annabeth thought out loud, confusing everyone around her, but when she looked up at Percy for confirmation, he nodded.

   Then I heard hooves clattering against the pavement. … I said hooves .

   “We know…” Katie said, her eyes narrowed.

   Grover is a satyr. … —a quest no satyr had ever returned from.

   “A recap,” Apollo muttered. Hermes looked down at the mention of his son being lost.

   Anyway, …   Have to warn them!

   Grover was pulled into a hug with those around him. He sputtered and tried to push away halfheartedly at first, but quickly gave in and sagged against Thalia.

   I couldn’t see what was chasing him, … He dove behind a rack of wedding dresses.

   “Wait, so he’s not actually getting a wedding dress?” Leo whined. “I would’ve loved that, though!”

   “Well…” Percy coughed, getting a glare from his best friend.

    The monster’s shadow passed in front of the shop. … like a skunk that’s been living off Mexican food.

   “You can smell things in your dreams?” Gwen asked.

   Percy shrugged, “This wasn’t a normal dream and I don’t really remember if I did smell anything in any of my demigod dreams…”

   “In normal dreams, you can’t smell things,” Athena added. As she went to explain, Demeter quickly resumed reading.

   Grover trembled behind the wedding dresses. … “MIIIIINE!”

   “Wait,” Leo said, hands waving in the air. “We just completely skipped over the fact that whatever is chasing Grover smells like ‘a skunk that’s been living off Mexican food’? What does that mean?”

   Grover blinked. “It means that the monster smelled exactly like that, Leo.”

   I sat bolt upright, … and the shadow at the window disappeared.

   “Oh, wait! I remember this!” Percy yelled victoriously, glancing at Annabeth, whose face was slowly looking more and more like she’d swallowed a lemon.

   It must’ve been my imagination. … The dream couldn’t have been real.

   “That’s your best friend, what if he is in danger?” Hazel couldn’t help but ask.

   “Don’t worry, I took it seriously, Hazel,” Percy replied.

   Last day of school. … I didn’t have a clue how wrong I was.

   “Well. I mean, you jinxed it,” Chris mumbled.

   My mom made blue waffles and blue eggs for breakfast. … and I told her about my dream.

   Hazel nodded.

   She pursed her lips. … We might have to postpone.”

   “What?” Piper gaped. She had never known a time where camp wasn’t safe – well, there was the Giant War, but nowhere was safe, then.

   “Postpone? … Tyson will be waiting.”

   Tyson perked up at hearing his name, like an excited puppy. Percy couldn’t help himself, he ruffled his brother’s hair.

   “But—” … Then it rippled and vanished.

   Some of the gods looked at the book contemplatively, remembering Annabeth’s invisibility cap.

Chapter Text

   “ I play dodgeball with cannibals ,” Hestia read when she sat down.

   “Oh,” Frank blinked. “That’s interesting.”

   My day started normal. … well, bright.

   “Shady as fuck?” Connor exclaimed, looking at Percy as if he’d told a ‘your mom’ joke in the book. Not that he’d never done that, but he’d vowed to never let the Stoll brothers know about that.

   Take my first class today: … our teachers sent us into the break yard to spend an hour with no adult supervision to see what would happen.

   Annabeth’s eyebrows furrowed. “Because of the book? That’s stupid! The whole point–” She got cut off by Piper putting an arm around her waist. Both girls blushed, Annabeth stuttering before just closing her mouth.

   “I agree with Annabeth, though,” Jason muttered to Percy.

   What happened was a massive wedgie contest between the seventh and eighth graders, … Sloan was giving everybody wedgies until he made the mistake of trying it on my friend Tyson. 

   Tyson perked up at being mentioned, poking at Poseidon. The god of the Seas looked at his son fondly.

   Tyson was the only homeless kid at Meriwether College Prep. … in a cardboard refrigerator box off 72nd Street.

   “I’m taking him.” Piper decided. She didn’t even look at Tyson’s father when she declared she’d be adopting him. “He’s so cute!”

   Turning to Tyson, Percy said: “She’s right, you deserve everything.”
  “Can we go to the ponies after this?” Tyson asked. Piper made a cuteness-aggression noise – was that the accepted term? – at the cyclops.

   Meriwether Prep had adopted him as a community service project so all the students could feel good about themselves. …  I don’t know.

   “The mist,” Athena mentioned offhandedly.

   Anyway, … “You are so dead.”

   Poseidon wrapped Tyson up in a hug.

   When first period ended, …  “Matt Sloan is the freak.” 

   “Yes he is!” Piper shouted at the book. She calmed down slightly when Annabeth’s hand came down to rub her back.

   Tyson sniffled. … How could I promise a kid like him that anything would be fine?

   “You were trying your best, but you were still a kid yourself, Percy,” Jason whispered, trying to comfort his friend.

   Our next exam was science. … We were the first ones who’d ever aced her exam in under thirty seconds.

   Nico opened his mouth before deciding it’d be better to remain oblivious.

   I was glad the morning went fast, … She’s weird that way.

   If Piper hadn’t been distracting her, Percy was pretty sure Annabeth would’ve flayed him for that comment.

    She’d e-mailed me the picture after spring break, … even if she was annoying sometimes.

   Forget being flayed, he was pretty sure she’d learn how to cook just to serve him to the monsters herself.

   I was about to close my notebook when Matt Sloan reached over and ripped the photo out of the rings. … No human beings had names like that.

   Percy looked down, disappointed in himself.

   Travis snorted, “What kind of monsters were they?”
  “Canadians,” Annabeth replied, looking completely serious.

   Frank looked up, confused, before realising what they were talking about. He just sighed.

   “These guys are moving here next year,” … I had to save my fighting for monsters.

   Apollo snorted, before looking away whistling. Percy glared at him.

   Still, …  Like any girl at Meriwether would ever be caught dead calling my name.

   “What does that mean?” Leo whispered to Rachel, who shrugged.

   Before I had time to consider whether or not I’d been imagining things, … at least not that I’d observed.

   “Damn, he should’ve gotten the job,” Rachel joked.

   Matt Sloan said, … Someplace where they fed kids raw meat and beat them with sticks.

   Frank opened and closed his mouth a few times, looking unsure what to think of that.

   Sloan blew the coach’s whistle and the game began. … A ball slammed into my gut.

   Percy winced, remembering how that had felt.

   I sat down hard in the middle of the gym floor. … “You could kill somebody!”

   “I don’t think they’re worried about that…” Gwen winced.

   The visitor named Joe Bob grinned at me evilly. … Monsters.

   “Took a while, didn’t it?” Annabeth snorted.

   All around Matt Sloan, … We want lunch!”

   “Can’t they just eat at KFC or something?” Nico grumbled.

   He waved his hand and a new batch of dodgeballs appeared on the center line— … I was completely defenseless.

   “Oh fuck,” Leo muttered, leaning forward with everyone – Percy thought they might’ve forgotten this was in the past again.

   Another fireball came streaking toward me. … as the bronze spheres exploded against their chests.

   “Yeah,” Dakota deadpanned. “‘Bad.’”

   The giants disintegrated in twin columns of flame— … watching in disbelief as balls of death flew around him.

   Leo twisted his mouth to keep from smiling; this was not a funny situation. Not even if the word ‘balls’ was being mentioned.

   Coach Nunley still wasn’t seeing anything.

   “Are you sure he’s not blind?” Clarisse cut in.

   “I don’t know, actually,” Percy said.

   He tapped his hearing aid like the explosions were giving him interference, … I had a crazy idea.

   “Uh oh,” Thalia breathed.

   I ran toward the locker room. … so I wasn’t surprised when the flaming dodgeball ignited a huge WHOOOOOOOM!

   “That’s disgusting,” Gwen grimaced.

   The wall blew apart. … into a pile of cinder blocks.

   “Okay,” Chris looked pained, making a motion for everyone to be quiet. “How did you still think he was just an ordinary kid?”
  “Hey, hey, hey,” Percy tried to defend himself. “I didn’t think he was ordinary!”

   “No, but you did think he was a mortal,” Clarisse pointed out.

   “Well!” … but I charged.

   “It’s a wonder you’re still alive.”

   If he focused really hard, Percy thought he could hear Will said ‘the fact that you’re alive is a miracle’ under his breath.

   The giant laughed. … the glowing tip of a blade.

   “Taking bets on who it is!” Travis shouted.

   “Well it can’t be Grover, so probably Annabeth.”
  “What if it’s Clarisse?”

   “That’s absurd, Connor.”

   The ball dropped out of his hand. … which I figured was going to make Babycakes pretty upset.

   “Such a gentleman, worried about the monster’s significant other,” Rachel mock-swooned, laughing when she got pushed by Percy. “I’ll just continue listening like this,” she said, her face in the grass.

   Standing in the smoke was my friend Annabeth. 

   Cheering.

    Her face was grimy and scratched. … “lay off my friend.”

    “That’s powerful as fuck,” Katie said.

   The gym was in flames. … you were looking in my bedroom window?” 

   “Priorities,” Grover snorted.

   “There’s no time to explain!” … He saw it all!”

   “What the fuck!”

   “Snitch!”

   Coach Nunley had been dutifully reading his magazine, … Mm-hmm.”

   Everyone looked at the book, unbelieving.

   The other adults turned toward me. … and jumped through the gaping hole in the side of the building.

   “Yeah, and that must’ve helped your image.”

Chapter Text

   The book was handed to Athena, who read out the title.

   “ We hail the taxi of eternal torment .”

   Annabeth was waiting for us in an alley down Church Street. … pointing at Tyson.

   The girl looked down, disappointed at her past self.

   Now, … “You are pretty.”

   “Thank you, Tyson,” Annabeth told him, before Athena could read her original reaction to the compliment.

   “Ah! … “Your hands aren’t even burned.”

   Percy huffed, refusing to look up – he knew now that Tyson was a cyclops.

   “Of course not,” … we have to get out of here.”

   “That was you ?” Will asked, referring to the name ‘Canadians’ when talking about Laistrygonians.

   “The police’ll be after me.” … like he was still waiting for me to get to the point.

   The demigods started snickering, not even Percy could hold back a quiet snort.

   “Uh, … “But then . . .”

   “Brother,” Tyson declared proudly, looking at Percy.

   A siren wailed. … “You know how much money—”

   “Did none of you have the Lotus Casino cards anymore?” Apollo asked.

   “Trust me.” … The slashes on the hems of her jeans looked suspiciously like claw marks.

   Athena quietly looked over to her daughter, checking her over.

   “What are you looking for?” …  “ Ô hárma diabolês !”

   The Romans and Rachel looked confused, eyebrows furrowed and eyes glancing over to the people that could translate.

   As usual, … That didn’t exactly make me feel real excited about whatever her plan was.

   Based on everyone’s frowns; they didn’t either.

   She threw her coin into the street, … Passage?”

   “Excuse me,” Leo broke in. “‘Like she’d just had a shot of Novocain.’ Huh?” Percy just shrugged.

   “Three to Camp Half-Blood,” … I always buckle up!

   Will’s eyes were wide, “They have Captain America-style PSAs? That’s horrible!” Though he said the last with a huge smile, so Percy was pretty sure that he was thinking of ways to use the knowledge.

   I looked down and found a large black chain instead of a seat belt. … Give her the eye?

   Hazel looked queasy.

   I didn’t have time to ask questions because the driver swerved to avoid an oncoming delivery truck, … One eye total.”

   Nobody looked truly unaffected at this point.

   Next to me, … You remember him?”

   Jason startled.

   “Don’t remind me!” … Tempest added.

   “Location?” Jason mumbled.

   Immediately her sisters pummeled her from either side, … and straight into my lap.

   That was apparently her last straw, as Hazel gagged and turned her face away.

   I jumped so hard, … and used it to pick the eyeball off the floor.

   Hazel breathed in hard through her nose, her eyes clenched shut.

   “Nice boy!” … “I’m rolling down the window.”

   “It kind of reminds me of a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way,” Jason whispered in Percy’s ear. “Before, the heroes knew about them and got the information; which is why they don’t want you to ask. But in trying to prevent being threatened, they informed you about the information they have, resulting in you doing the exact thing they tried to keep you from doing.”

   “Wait!” … which contained the life force of a fallen hero.

   Percy’s mouth pulled into a frown at being reminded of that summer.

   “Percy!” …  And they were under attack.

Chapter Text

   “ Tyson plays with fire ,” Amphitrite read.

   Mythologically speaking, … Tyson and me still in our burned-up tie-dyed gym clothes.

   “Wait, actually?” Travis had a concerningly big grin on his face.

   “Oh, … rushing to Clarisse’s aid would not have been high on my “to do” list.

   Clarisse raised an eyebrow; that’s exactly what Percy had done for the rest of the summer.

   She was one of the biggest bullies at camp. … “Medea’s what ?”

   “Okay,” Piper blinked. “Firstly, I don’t think that’s what you should be focused on, Percy. Secondly – which you should be focused on – the Colchis bulls ? The ones with Bronze feet and mouth? The ones that breathe fire ?!” At Annabeth’s nod, she visibly tried to calm herself.

   Annabeth rummaged through her backpack and cursed. “I had a jar of tropical coconut scent sitting on my night-stand at home. Why didn’t I bring it?”

    “You bought sunscreen from Medea? Wasn’t she dead?”

   I’d learned a long time ago not to question Annabeth too much. … but I didn’t see how even she could stand against that bull’s charge. 

   She looked conflicted, caught between feeling gratitude for the compliment and annoyed at the last comment.

   Unfortunately, … because all I did was startle her. 

   “It’s fine,” Clarisse muttered gruffly.

   Bull Number One crashed into her shield, … Its body temperature could’ve microwaved a frozen burrito.

   Amphitrite furrowed her eyebrows at the analogy, before subtly shaking her head and resumed reading.

   “Let me go!” … curse you!”

   Annabeth frowned.

   I dropped her in a heap next to the pine tree and turned to face the bulls. … how out of practice I was.

   Percy grimaced.

   I lunged but Bull Number Two blew flames at me. … maybe broken.

   Will glared at Percy from the other side of the circle, grumbling under his breath about reckless campers.

   Bull Number One charged straight toward me. … I yelled.

   Even though they all knew Tyson was a cyclops, people looked worried.

   The blast swirled around him like a red tornado. …  steam coming out of its ruined head in odd places.

   The Greeks cheered for Tyson.

   Annabeth ran over to check on me. … “I had it under control!”

   Chris put an arm around Clarisse, who huffed.

   I was too stunned to answer. … EVER try saving me again!”

   Percy expertly avoided Clarisse’s gaze.

   “Clarisse,” … How had I never realized what Tyson was?

   Jason offered Percy his shoulder. Percy gladly took the chance to lay his head down.

   But I didn’t have much time to think about it just then. …  let Tantalus know what’s happened.”

   Other than the Greeks, everyone was startled.

   “Tantalus?” … “Argus got fired.

   Hera scowled at the book.

   You two have been gone too long. … The magical borders were failing because Thalia’s tree was dying.

   Thalia was sent concerned looks which she waved off.

    Someone had poisoned it.

    Luke looked down at his shoes.

Chapter Text

   Amphitrite gave the book to Aphrodite.

   “ I get a new cabin mate .”
  Ever come home and found your room messed up? … a happy camper.

   Everyone looked at the book with distaste – whether from the joke or the description of camp depended on the person.

   As we made our way to the Big House, … those are the toilets.”

   Hazel snickered, imagining Percy’s face saying that.

   “Whasthat!” … Or a floating patch of kelp.

   Percy’s friends started laughing, discussing different forms to get turned into that’d be better than kelp or plankton.

   When we got to the Big House, … “I beg your pardon?” 

   “That’s not funny,” Leo got out, looking very much like he thought it was funny but trying to hide it.

   Annabeth ran up and hugged him. … You’ve grown over the year!”

   “Is that gonna happen in every book,” Will asked. “That they tell you you’ve grown?”

   “Maybe, I’ve been told that quite a few times.”

   I swallowed. … made me angry. 

   Dionysos raised an eyebrow.

   “But this is crazy!” … that traitor.”

   Thalia glanced at Luke from her peripheral vision.

   “Perhaps,” … “We’ll go find it!”

   Chiron looked at Percy and Annabeth, and – from just looking at them – came to the conclusion that they had in fact gone to go find the mysterious item.

   Chiron closed his saddlebag. …  but the gods have forbidden you to tell me about?”

   Piper snorted.

   Nobody answered.

   “Absolutely,” Annabeth said with a scheming smile on her face.

   “Right,” … But nobody in her cabin was bothering to tell her about it.

   Clarisse’s eyes narrowed.

   After the Ares kids came the Hephaestus cabin … Whatever you wanted.

   Leo looked at the book in awe.

   The other cabins filed in: … but I couldn’t figure out who’d spoken.

   Will shrugged at the looks he got.

   From the head table a familiar voice drawled, … Angry and frustrated and hungry all at the same time.

   The gods scowled.

   “This boy,” … . Like it was my fault the gods had almost gotten into a civil war?

   Percy could get angry all over again remembering the temporary activities director.

    A satyr inched forward nervously and set a plate of barbecue in front of Tantalus. … “Perhaps now it will work.”

   “Oh, I know what that ‘strange sparkle’ is,” Dakota snorted.

   Tantalus grabbed for the glass, … “What was it?”

   “I know now,” Percy said.

   Tantalus’s eyes narrowed. … . . .sir.” 

   “Yes! Go off!” Katie started yelling, roping in all of the Greeks.

   “Oh, … “His name is Tyson.”

   Poseidon smiled at his sons.

   The new activities director raised an eyebrow. … Please .

   Annabeth opened her mouth, stopping when Percy nodded at her.

    The smoke from the burning pizza changed into something fragrant … “We are reinstituting the chariot races!”

   The Romans looked confused.

   Murmuring broke out at all the tables … ” someone at the Apollo table called.

   “Excuse me?” Reyna blurted out.

   “Yes, … I didn’t—”

   Clarisse looked uncomfortable again.

   “And modest, … I wanted to kill Tantalus.

   From all the grumbling, Percy gathered that most (if not all) of the people present agreed.

   “Now, … There was no way they could take in a six-foot-three Cyclops. 

   Hermes sighed.

   “Come now,” … I can see the family resemblance!”

   Percy frowned, while Poseidon looked at the book with thinly veiled disgust.

    Everybody laughed except Annabeth and a few of my other friends. … I had a monster for a half-brother.

Chapter Text

   The book was handed to Ares, “ Demon pigeons attack ?”

   The next few days were torture, … Nobody bought it.

   Nico shook his head with a grim smile.

   I admit— … eyes .”

   Piper frowned, “Who was that?” Annabeth shrugged.

   As they walked away laughing, … “He saved my life.”

   Tyson smiled at his brother.

   Annabeth threw down her pencil and stood. … “Maybe I should.”

   Thalia frowned at the book; she’d only known the two when they had already gotten over most of their problems.

   “Fine!” … People always compared me to Luke.

   When Luke looked over, Percy had a bittersweet smile on his face.

   I thrashed the Apollo guys easily. … and the whole time he’d been Kronos’s number-one servant. 

   Luke wanted to stop listening and look away from Percy – he really did, but he felt like he deserved this. He deserved listening to how his actions affected the people he’d called ‘friends’.

   I opened the palm of my hand. … She would’ve thought I was crazy.

   Annabeth opened her mouth to defend herself when she got a look from Grover. Because, yes, she would have thought he was crazy.

   The night before the race, …  Then you will not have to be mad.”

   Poseidon audibly cooed at his son.

   I didn’t know what to say. I stared at the ceiling and felt like I was dying slowly, right along with Thalia’s tree. 

   Rachel looked alarmed.

   “It’s just . . . … but I don’t know what.” 

   Grover offered a hand to Percy, who took it, gratefully.

   Tyson said nothing. … Tyson was snoring.

   “Oops,” Tyson blushed.

   I sighed. … A tattered veil covered his face.

   “Are you judging his choice of wedding dress?" Gwen asked.

   “Uhh,” Percy avoided her eyes.

   He was standing in a dank cave, … as if there were a much larger cavern beyond it. 

   Poseidon looked to be the only god to immediately recognise the cave.

   “Percy?” … Are you done yet?”

   While most listened with furrowed eyebrows; Clarisse, Annabeth, and Percy looked like they were trying not to laugh – some doing better than others.

   Grover flinched. … heh-heh-heh.” 

   “Is that a sea joke?” Leo perked up. “‘I want to see under that veil’ with the emphasis on ‘see’ makes it feel like a joke about him being a son of the sea god.”

   Grover turned back to me. … I went to Florida and turned left.” 

   Reyna blinked, “Those are the only instructions you gave him? ‘ To Florida and turn left’?! ”

   “Well, in my defense I was being kept hostage,” Grover tried to excuse.

   “What? … and they get trapped and eaten by Polyphemus!” 

   Athena’s eyes widened.

   “Poly-who?” … He was shaking with fear.

   Now, under different circumstances, Percy snickered at his friend's situation.

   “I’ll come rescue you,” … “The sea of what ?” 

   Piper, Leo, and the Romans – minus Reyna – echoed the book.

   “I told you! … Don’t let me die!”

   “Not your best attempt at reassuring me,” Percy told his best friend.

   The dream faded and I woke with a start. … They made this annoying metallic screeching sound that reminded me of submarine radar.

   Artemis’s eyes widened, recognising her pets immediately.

   The racetrack had been built in a grassy field between the archery range and the woods. … He never got up before ten o’clock.

   “Real,” Piper muttered.

   “Right!” … I had no doubt that their chariot had all kinds of mechanical traps and more fancy options than a fully loaded Maserati.

   Leo cheered for his cabin.

   The Ares chariot was bloodred, …  and I shuddered to think what dirty tricks they’d schemed up.

   “Whatever do you mean, Percy?” Travis and Connor spoke in unison, tilting their heads, creepy smiles on their faces.

   That left two chariots: …  Like Grover would just happen to stumble across the one thing that could save the camp.”

   Reyna tilted her head slightly to the left.

   “What do you mean?” … And I knew she would never want anything bad to happen to Grover.

   “I mean, I’d hope not,” Grover smiled.

   “Percy, … Annabeth knew I’d never suggest going back there if I wasn’t completely serious.

   “And look how that turned out,” Percy sighed. “Like seven more prophecies I was a part of.”

   Before she could answer, … Did I mention the apples?

   “The bribing will be a recurring thing in these books, no?” Hermes smirked at his uncle.

   Finally they agreed to let me harness them. … Maybe that they hadn’t hurt me with all their jokes and namecalling? 

   Poseidon frowned.

   As the chariots lined up, … maybe not.

   “Most probably on purpose,” Apollo said.

   The riders were thrown free, …  He was about to throw when we heard the screaming. 

   Jason wrapped an arm around Percy.

   The pigeons were swarming— … “They’ll strip everyone to bones if we don’t drive them away!” 

   The hand around Percy’s waist tightened.

   “Tyson,” … Chiron’s collection!” 

   Chiron had to visibly restrain himself from commenting on the insult to his music taste.

   I understood instantly.

   A small sound came out against Chiron’s will, prompting Annabeth to snort.

   “You think it’ll work?” … Not to worry!”

   Jason growled under his breath – Percy was honestly impressed how much it sounded like an actual wolf.

   We pulled up to the finish line. … Suddenly the air was filled with violins and a bunch of guys moaning in Italian.

   Nico’s face scrunched up.

   The demon pigeons went nuts. … The kids from Aphrodite’s cabin were screaming because their hairdos had been ruined and their clothes pooped on.

   “Ew,” Gwen grimaced.

   “Bravo!” … “And now to punish the troublemakers who disrupted this race.”