The Unexpected: Meeting Half Bloods: Book 1 The Lightning Thief

Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I do not and will not own anything, all rights go to; Disney, Marvel and to Stan Lee, as well has for Rick Riordan!

The story truly begins in this chapter!

I would like to explain a few things before this story get too far.

Peter will have ALL of his powers, but they will be more passive i.e. Nyx's bless will be in effect as is Artemis's, but due to Hades' domain of shadows, people will assume because the night is dark and shadows are stronger at night so he is too also.

Gaia's bless in still in effect because Poseidon, and Hades control some of the earth (Poseidon: Earth Shaker)

Peter will remain immune to the cold and to heat due to all of his blessing, but due to Poseidon's heat resistance and because the ocean in known to be cold. Peter can control water; any water, anywhere.

Peter will have some dominion over monsters (Hades and Tartarus) (especially Hell Hounds) except for those who side with Kronos or are powerful enough to think on their own.

He will have control over the dead; Hades, Ares, Thanatos

However control over; Light, Fire, and other things will have to wait till a little. BUT he will still have his "Danger Sense" and his "Spider Sense" though the spider sense does not play a part in this chapter. The story begins…

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(Peter's Point of View)

I woke up groggily to the sound of my alarm clock. I sat up in bed and stretched. I gave a huge yawn before I rolled out of bed and landed on my feet. I remember dreaming, but I can't remember the dream… I am drenched in sweat, so I assume that either it was a cold sweat from a nightmare, or I simply overheated and I sweated. I sat down on the edge of the bed and I pinched the bridge of my nose. I gave a sigh as I went into the bathroom to get my morning routine started. I took a quick shower; the shower was neutral in temperature. Once I got out of the shower I looked into the mirror as I fingered one of my many scars that littered all over my body.

(Line Break)

(Flash Back)

(Peter's Point of View)

Today is my fifth birthday and my sister and I were looking forward towards Mom letting us go camping on the beach near the Pacific Ocean where the sea stags stood tall and proud and the forests was thick and full of game. We go there for my birthday every year. For my sister's birthday we go a little further south were the surfing was better. My sister's name was Amy. Amy is French but it comes from Latin meaning "Beloved". She certainly was beloved by both me and our mother. My mom's name was Alice, meaning "Noble". Me? I am Peter Perseus. Ok anyways…. But this birthday was to be the first yet.

My stepfather, Charles who was a former marine, was drunk, well drunker and meaner than normal.

My sister was four years older than I was. She was at school and Charles actually came early…

I tried hiding in my room under my bed.

I heard him open my door, I held my breath and shut my eyes… waiting for him to leave. I heard the door open and shut, but I could just feel something was not right. I felt it in my gut, it was a nauseous feeling, it was a dull ache in my stomach. I knew that something was wrong. My mom and sister have always told me to follow my instincts and to my gut.

Without warning I felt someone jerking me out from under the bed. I felt my knees crack from the angle I was being jerk. I bit the inside of my cheek not to scream. I will not give this "monster" the satisfaction of it!

Charles growled and I could smell ale on his breathe. He was short and fat. He stood about five foot six inches and was four feet wide. He smelt like bad alcohol, moldy garlic, covered in dirty underwear. He was bald on his head, but everywhere else he was covered in thick course brown hair. Charles growled at me and said "Time to play…" He said with an evil light in his eyes.

I did nothing in response I gave him a blank, stoic face. He growled and slapped me with the back of his hand, his ring cut into my left cheek. He hit me hard enough to send me tumbling to the ground.

Once I was on the ground he began to kick me in the ribs. I felt my ribs break again. A few tears mangled with the blood running down my cheek.

Charles pulled out a rusty blade and said "Let's see what we can draw shall we?"

I tried to take a step back, but he grabbed my hair and jerk, I felt my neck pop, somehow my neck did not break.

He began to drag me down into the cellar where he would tie me up.

I began to resist he stabbed me in the gut, just missing my organs. I doubled over in pain as I let out a loud groan. I whispered "I hate you!"

Charles smirked darkly and said "So you CAN talk… Let's see how long it takes to have you crying for your mommy!"

He slammed the butt end of the knife on my head and my world faded into darkness. I welcomed the numb feeling of being unconscious. I began to feel again, a groan escaped my lips. As soon as it so I felt Charles grabbed me by my face and said with a dark growl with an evil light in his eyes "I am going to make you mine…"

I spit in his eye.

Instead of slapping or hurting me he laughed and said "I am going to have a fun time breaking you in…" He went to the table and pulled out a bull whip. I whimpered slightly knowing the pain of the whip. HE grinned and said "I see you love the whip. This is just foreplay…"

I struggled against the strong rope that bond me just above the ground. They bit into my wrist, cutting off circulation. My wrists began to bleed as I began to struggle.

He brought back the whip and *CRACK* the first strike dug right on my spine. I choked back a cry. *CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK* the blows kept coming I felt myself grow faint from the blood loss. I lost my voice when he poured vinegar on my back and literally rubbed salt into my wounds on my back.

He walked to my front and he began to beat me, my ribs were all broke. He pretty much left my face untouched, but my body… that is a completely different story.

Charles said "Looks like I get have you the fun way."

I gave him the best defiant look I could muster.

I felt Charles go behind me and I felt my pants drop…

(Line Break)

(Time Skip: 3 Hours Later)

(Still Flash Back)

(Peter's Point of View)

I was dragged feet first up the stairs. I did not have any strength left. My head banged against the steps. I felt so dirt, filthy, used. I lost something that no one should have lost.

Charles threw me onto my bed and said with a snarl "Tell anyone of this and I will kill you…"

I was about to say "Good!"

But he continued and said "And your mother, sister and whoever you tell."

I knew I was good as dead. I barely get enough to eat, if it was not for mom and my sister Amy. I would be dead.

Charles left the room, but not before he kicked me in the head knocking me out into blissful darkness.

I woke up a few hours later to my sister's concerned eyes. The eyes was somewhere between a ocean blue and an electric blue. She was looking into my eyes that were an icy blue with a hint of greens. Amy asked "Are you ok?!"

I shook my head 'no'.

Amy brushed my hair out of my eyes and kissed me on my forehead and said "Happy birthday little brother!"

I smiled weakly then cuddled closer into her body. She was always there for me. Mom was when she could, but she was unable to for the most part, always at work always trying to find new jobs.

Amy sighed as she gently began to clean my beating. She knew about it, but I begged her not to tell anyone. I told her what Charles told me. She knew that he meant every word of it.

I fell asleep in my sister's arms…

When I woke up I heard shouting down stairs. I snuck down stairs to see my mom and Charles fighting. Amy was standing behind mom.

Charles growled and said "I am the MAN of the house! My word is law!" He slapped my mother. I felt my rage go almost complete unbridled.

My mother growled and stood tell, I could smell ozone and I saw the shadows darken. My mother turned to Charles, but before she could say a thing he shot her in the head. Blood spattered all over the walls. I let out a primeval roar. Charles turned around to me and pointed the gun at me, but my sister pushed him away and towards the heart were he tripped over his own feet because he was drunk, he began to fell into the hearth, were I swear I saw someone in with a look of absolute hate. Amy grabbed my hand and began to pull me out of the house.

She run outside dragging me along I said to her "Stop."

She stopped and about to ask why when right in front of us was a bear trap. She gave me a grateful look. I asked her "What do we do now?"

Amy gave me a forced sad smile and said "I don't know. You know what? We can do whatever we want now!"

I wished I could have been happy, but all I felt was numb… I could not feel anything. My emotions were murdered. I was unable to feel anything.

Amy hugged me close and started to rock back and forth trying to sooth me.

I looked behind us and the house that we grew up in was up in flames. My past, everything was lost. All of have now is my sister. I am going to protect her with everything I got!

Amy began to hum a soft tune, soon I was falling asleep…

(Line Break)

(Time Skip: 2 Years Later)

(Peter's Point of View)

(Flash Back still)

Amy and I have been living alone together for the past two years.

Over the two years I am now seven years old and Amy is almost twelve years old.

Over the past two years we have seen and fought against giant demon dogs (Hell Hounds) several snake ladies things (dracanae), And some weird girl, donkey and prosthetic leg thing (empousai).

We learned that water could heal us as well as control it. We could call down lightning. I could shake the earth and use shadows. She could make the dead rise and control them, as well as using shadows. We both could summon precious metals.

Amy learned and taught me about demigods and the whole Greek Mythology.

She thought we were children of Poseidon because of the water gift, but the dead is not of Poseidon, it is of Hades, ruler of the Underworld and the dead.

Whoever child we were I hated them. They never help us. They have done nothing for us. They never said a word to us!

I had the fatal flaws of; Grudges, Untrusting, and Loyalty

Amy had to fatal flaw of; Loyalty and Anger

However, that all changed when my sister was killed by the Manticore. She jumped in the way of the poised barbed aimed for my heart. With her final breath she made me promise her to live for her and for mom.

She made me promise to become a hero and not go towards the darkness. I gave her my word. When she died I felt all of my rage go. It was more than when Charles murdered my mom. The earth shook, the shadows darkened and grew, the ocean began to roar and beat the surf with rage. Lightning flashed angrily across the sky. I gave a yell as I felt a sharp pain in my gut.

The Manticore turned to gold dust by a huge bolt of lightning coupled with shadows smothering him into nothing. I was alone, completely alone… I had no one but myself. I lost everything. I felt shattered and empty. I bent down and picked up a gold coin, I put it into Amy's mouth remembering the ferry man from Greek Mythology.

I wiped some tears out of my eyes. I felt drained and exhausted. The storms slowly died down as I began to fall into a deep dreamless state…

(Line Break)

(End of Flash Back)

(Present)

(Peter Point of View)

Anyway that was four years ago, I am almost twelve in fact tomorrow is my twelfth birthday, Yay me (note the sarcasm)! I got out of my dorm room and skipped breakfast completely as I went towards my first class, history. I was actually good at this. I stopped by my locker to grab the history textbook. I I looked into my reflection I saw my eyes were closer to a dark ocean blue, cold and wild. There was still a green hue to it, but it faded more and more. My hair was a dark auburn, almost a chocolate brown. My sister had the best tan. Me? I have a pale tan. I have tan, but I seldom get direct sunlight. I was wearing black military combat boots; I had a silver knife in both of the boots in case I saw a monster. I have not seen any around me, but you can never be too safe, I wore a black trench coat with a hood. I wore thick black leather jeans. I had two short swords; both of them were some sort of bronze, they would not affect normal things like bear, humans or anything like that, but it worked well on monsters of all sorts. They were on my back covered by the trench coat. I sat in my dark corner of the room. As I neared the corner the shadows seemed happy to see me. As I sat down it darken the room slightly, since I was the only one here no one else could notice the change. I began to do the lesson that was due today. I finished the lesson just as people began to rush in before the bell rings to start the class. I pulled out a MP3 and hit the first song that came on: Boulevard of Broken Dreamsby Green Day

I walk a lonely road

The only one that I have ever known

Don't know where it goes

But it's only me, and I walk alone

I walk this empty street

On the boulevard of broken dreams

Where the city sleeps

And I'm the only one, and I walk alone

I walk alone, I walk alone

I walk alone and I walk a

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me

My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating

Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me

Till then I walk alone

Ah ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah ah

I'm walking down the line

That divides me somewhere in my mind

On the border line of the edge

And where I walk alone

Read between the lines

What's f****d up and every thing's all right

Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive

And I walk alone

I walk alone, I walk alone

I walk alone and I walk a

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me

My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating

Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me

Till then I walk alone

Ah ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah ah

I walk alone, I walk a

I walk this empty street

On the boulevard of broken dreams

Where the city sleeps

And I'm the only one, and I walk alone

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me

My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating

Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me

Till then I walk alone

I finished my work and I walked towards the desk, I placed my papers in the completed pile and I left the room before the teacher came in. I made my way towards torture; English… I HATE English! I sat in the back corner where I noticed two new kids, one smelled like a goat, the other smelt similar to my sister, he smelt like the sea! He also smelled of alcohol and dirty laundry. I arched an eyebrow but that went unseen.

I then unleashed some of my scent to see if I could get their attention. I finished the class I walked up to the newbies and the one that smelled like a goat flinched. He turned around and saw me. He backed up in fear. I took a step back in said in a low tone "Talk with me after school." With that I disappeared among the flood of students. I had a gut feeling I would need to eat now otherwise I will not be able to later. As I walked through the school, people gave me a wide berth. People usually feared me, with good reason. I seldom spoke, my glare made even the teachers back down. I could do what I want when I want. I could skip a day and no one would say a word. Heck even if they did, I live alone, but they do not know it!

I saw them at lunch, I focused on my scent, I pulled out the ocean scent and the ozone, I hide the smell of death and the dead. As I did so I looked into the glass window, my eyes had more green in them, a sea green, but it was still mostly an ocean blue. The boy with a perfect sun tan, wild black hair and he had vibrant sea green eyes smiled at me and said "Percy Jackson." He held out his hand.

I took it and said "Peter Perseus."

Percy asked "Perseus?"

I rolled my eyes and said "Yes Perseus, but do not call me Percy!"

Percy chuckled and said "Then do not call me Perseus, call me Percy!"

I chuckled for the first time in years! I had a feeling that this boy would bring A LOT of trouble and adventure with him. I looked at the small African American that smelled like a goat.

He stood up and said "I am Grover Underwood."

I gently shook his hand. The lunch bell rang signaling that lunch was over. Percy asked "What class is next?"

I shrugged not caring.

Grover said "Latin."

I sighed and thought "I would prefer Greek."

Grover said "Come on you two!" I rolled my eyes not really caring, besides I should have math now, not that it mattered to me.

Percy, Grover and I made it to Latin where we had a new teacher who smelt like a horse, his name was Mr. Brunner. Mr. Brunner and I made eye contact. I could see thousands of years in his eyes.

I smelt the goat boy and now the horse man. I gave a low growl that Grover and Mr. Brunner heard. I thought the next one I would see would be the Minotaur; the bull man! Mr. Brunner gave me a look and said "Stay with me after class, Peter."

I chuckled and said "We will see Mr. Brunner, we will see." I took my chair in the back of the corner where I usually sat.

I began to think of what I was feeling. I felt connected to Percy, but I never met him before in my life! I growled at myself and thought "It must be a trick in the Mist!" I could not allow myself get attached to anyone or anything, that only leads to bad things. Class was over after an hour, I simply shadow traveled into the bathroom from my chair. I walked out of the stall and I washed my hands, dried them and walked out as if nothing was wrong.

(Line Break)

(Time Skip: 9 Months Later….)

(Peter's Point of View)

Today is the day of the field trip. I was not excited, but it was almost the end of the year, even then I was not too thrilled. At least I had a few weeks left with Percy and Grover. I knew I could easily go anywhere I wanted. We (Percy, Grover and I) sat in the back of the bus. I could feel a monster nearby; I think it is a Hades thing. It was little danger to me, but I feel as though it is directed towards Percy.

Mr. Brunner said "Peter, Percy, this picture depicts what?"

I gestured for Percy to go, he gave me a half hearted glare, I rolled my eyes in response.

He said something like "Kronos ate his children, they fought a war. The gods won the Titans."

I cleared my throat. Mr. Brunner said "Peter can you explain this?" I sighed and said "This depicts the tale of Kronos King of the Titans, Lord of Time! He ate his offspring because of a prophecy that said his children would overthrow him, much like he did to his father. He and his wife, Rhea, gave birth to Hestia. Hestia was the first born of the gods. Kronos did not swallow her right away. A few centuries later, Hades was born, that was when paranoia set in. He swallowed up his children. He had four others, Hestia, Hades, Demeter, Poseidon and Hera. Rhea hid the youngest child Zeus; she fed Kronos a rock instead. Was Zeus that ugly? Or was Kronos just stupid? Anyways…. Rhea hid Zeus where I believe was Crete, where he was trained. There are several legends; I like the one where The Wanderer trained him. Years later Zeus poised Kronos with bad wine and mustard making him throw up the children. There was a war that lasted several centuries. It ended with the Olympians winning the war. The Wander accepted the blessing from them. He was the first being to receive such a blessing. He was mortal and he wandered westward."

Mr. Brunner looked at me and said "Correct…" He looked around and asked "Why would this matter nowadays? How can we apply this today?"

I sighed and said "A few things; One, trying to change the future, trying to change fate is what causes your down fall. Two Karma what comes around goes around. Three, paranoia can be deadly."

Mr. Brunner gave me a nod and said "You are correct."

I gave him a nod in return.

Nancy coughed, muttered "Greek geek alert!"

I rolled my eyes and asked "Mr. Brunner should there not be anything else besides legends about The Wander? "

Mr. Brunner said "He had a strange request, he wished to remain anonymous, yet not to be forgotten."

I gave him a nod. I looked at Percy he was staring into space in deep thought. Mr. Brunner said "On that uplifting note I think it is time for lunch."

I was not hungry so I gave my food to Grover who was more than happy to eat it. Nancy tried to pick on Grover, key word tried, but one glare sent her quickly away.

Mrs. Dobbs came to Percy and I. She was the Pre - Algebra teacher at Yancy Academy. She said "Come here honey…"

Percy asked "What did I do this time? I did nothing wrong!"

I put my hand on Percy's shoulder to calm him down. I looked at her and I realized that SHE WAS the monster! I said to Percy "Hey Perse, can you get my a water bottle from the vending machine?" I tossed him a ten dollar bill.

He gave a nod and quickly walked off.

Mrs. Dobbs asked me "How well do you know Percy Peter?"

I growled "I know better than to speak about my friends." I unleashed my dark scent, the scent of Hades. Mrs. Dobbs staggered backwards.

Then she said with her mouth agape "A young master?"

I growled but did not say a word. I hide my scent to the standard smell. Percy handed me the water battle and he sipped on some diet coke.

Mrs. Dobbs asked "Can I see you alone Percy?" She asked while looking at me. I gave them both a single nod. They left and I shadowed them, pun intended. I walked from shadow to shadow being invisible as I did so. I heard Mrs. Dobbs screech "WHERE IS IT?!"

Mr. Brunner threw a pen at Percy; I threw my silver knife, hitting Mrs. Dobbs in the heat, while at the same time Percy cutting her in half. My knife landed in the shadows of the far corner and I transported it to myself. I walked out of the shadows. I saw one of the Kindly Ones, one of the Three Furies. This was not good! Not good at all!

Percy asked me "Did you see that?!"

I gave him a grim nod and said "That bat creature. Yes I did. I also saw the pen turn into a sword and back into pen."

"What do we do now?" Percy asked me.

I told him "Try to forget it, and if you can't. I think we should stay together for a while. We might see more things of that short."

Percy gave a shaky nod. He was clearly shaken up and almost in shock. He looked at me and asked "Aren't you afraid, or nervous?"

I chuckle a dark humorless laugh and said to him "Percy, I watched my own mother's head blown to bits by my step father. I watched my sister murdered as I held her hand just before she died…" I swallowed a lump and said "Percy, I have lived on my own since I was about seven. Alone… Or at least I thought I was alone, I found you, you and Grover. You are the only friend I have ever had. It feels as though you are my brother. The brother I never had."

Percy looked shocked he began to stutter trying to come up with something intelligent, but nothing would come out. I placed a hand on his shoulder. I said calmly "There is no need to say anything, there is nothing to be said."

Percy gave me a look of sympathy. I gave a low growl and said "I need not anyone's pity!" The shadows in the room darken in my rage. I took a few calming breathes before saying to Percy "Percy, my brother. I hate being pitied. I hate being underestimated. I hate accepting help. I hate feeling weak and defenseless. I have not told my story to anyone before, you are the first very person I have told." I walked out of the room leave behind a bewildered Percy Jackson.

I heard Percy running to catch up. I slowed as he got close. We walked a few seconds in awkward silence until Percy asked "Summer is almost here, I was wondering if you would like-"

I held my hand up without turning around. I took a deep breath before turning around and saying "Percy…"

He gave me a nod.

I said to him "I would greatly appreciate it if you tell no one of this, except MAYBE your mother; Sally." Percy opened his mouth to ask something I cut him off and said "If you are wanting to know how I got your mother's name, you talk in your sleep, and you drool rivers of saliva"

Percy closed him mouth and turn a bit pink from embarrassment. I chuckled as I left him speechless. We walked out of the museum and into the open air; I could feel the tension in the sky and in the ocean. I knew Zeus and Poseidon was fighting worse than normal, as if war could break out at any moment.

Percy felt something off as the weather changed. I chuckled and I slung my arm around his shoulder and said "You best keep that pen / sword with you at all times."

Percy was about to ask me a question when Nancy walked up to us and said "I hope Mrs. Kerr taught you a lesson!" Percy opened his mouth to probably asked who was Mrs. Kerr, but I cut him off again (sorry bud!) and I told her "You know Nancy, Ms. Kerr is actually too nice." I gave her a smirk and a wink.

She blushed. I mentally face palmed she had a crush on either me or Percy, maybe the two of us. Why did I not realize this earlier?! Oh well, at least she is flustered and walked away from us!

Percy asked "Who IS Mrs. Kerr? What did you do to Nancy?"

I rolled my eyes and said "I will tell you when you are ready about both questions." I walked into the crowd of kids where I disappeared from his view… Percy was too confused to follow. I walked into a nearby alley that was dark. I shadow traveled to my dorm. I came out of my dark closet. I went to my bed and flopped down. I was too drained to even think too much. I fell asleep clothes and all face down on the twin sized bed.

(Line Break)

(Time Skip: One Month)

(Percy's Point of View)

It has been about a month since the Mrs. Dobb's attack. I have been having nightmares about that. I also have been having nightmares about a horse, an eagle and a voice underground. I woke up with night sweat quite often. At least I could finally go home and see my mom! Call me a mama's boy, I don't care! As I thought about being excited about seeing my mom, I felt slightly guilty, AT LEAST I had a mom that cared. Peter he had nothing but himself…

I always wondered why we always studied at my and Grover's room. Now that I think about it, maybe he lived on the streets? Maybe I can convince Mom to help Peter. I know she will be more than happy to help him, the problem is my step father; Gabe Ugliano, or as I like to call him Smelly Gabe. When I was young, I nicknamed him Smelly Gabe. I'm sorry, but it's the truth. The guy reeked like moldy garlic pizza wrapped in dirty gym shorts.

I hated Gabe! He was a drunk and a gambler. He was mean, but I guess I still am lucky. I thought Gabe was abusive, but hearing Peter's short version of his story I feel very lucky and I thought maybe Gabe is not ALL that bad… At least today is the last day of school.

I was at Latin Class when Mr. Brunner called me up. So I went up."Percy," he said to me. 'Don't be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It's… it's for the best." His tone was kind, but the words still embarrassed me. Even though he was speaking quietly, the other kids finishing the test could hear. Nancy smirked at me and made sarcastic little kissing motions with her lips.

I mumbled, "Okay, sir."

"I mean…" Mr. Brunner wheeled his chair back and forth, like he wasn't sure what to say. "This

Is not the right place for you. It was only a matter of time."

My eyes stung.

Here was my favorite teacher, in front of the class, telling me I couldn't handle it. After saying he believed in me all year, now he was telling me I was destined to get kicked out.

"Right…"I said, trembling.

"No, no," Mr. Brunner said. "Oh, confound it all. What I'm trying to say… you're not normal, Percy.

That's nothing to be –"

"Thanks," I blurted. "Thanks a lot, sir, for reminding me."

"Percy –"

But I was already gone. I rushed out and went into my room where I began throwing my clothes into a suitcase. Who cares if I ditch the last day! I already failed! My anger was beginning to get the better of me I calmed down a little. Grover and I both had a ticket to the same bus.

He'd booked a ticket to Manhattan on the same Grey Hound as I had, so there we were, together again, heading into the city.

During the whole bus ride, Grover kept glancing nervously down the aisle, watching the other passengers. It occurred to me that he had always acted nervous and fidgety when we left Yancy, as if he expected something bad to happen. Before, I'd always assumed he was worried about getting teased. But there was nobody to tease him on the Grey Hound. Finally I could not stand it anymore. I said, "Looking for Kindly Ones?"

Grover nearly jumped out of his seat. "Wha – what do you mean?"

I confessed about eavesdropping on him and Mr. Brunner the night before the exam.

Grover's eye twitched. "How much did you hear?"

"Oh… not much. What's the summer-solstice deadline?"

He winced. "Look, Percy… I was just worried for you, see? I mean, hallucinating about demon math teachers…"

"Grover –"

"And I was telling Mr. Brunner that maybe you were overstressed or something, because there was no such person as Mrs. Dodd, and…"

"Grover, you're a really, really bad liar." His ears turned pink at this

From his shirt pocket, he fished out a grubby business card. "Just take this, okay? In case you need me this summer"

The card was in fancy script, which was murder on my dyslexic eyes, but I finally made out

Something like:

Grover Underwood, Keeper

Half-Blood Hill

Long Island, New York

(800)009-0009

"What's Half –"

"Don't say it aloud!" he yelped. "That's my, um… summer address."

My heart sank. Grover had a summer home. I would never considered that his family might be as rich as the others at Yancy. "Okay," I said glumly. "So, like, if I want to come visit your mansion."

He nodded. "Or… or if you need me."

"Why would I need you?" It came out a lot harsher than I meant it too.

Grover blushed right down to his Adam's apple. "Look, Percy, the truth is, I – I kind of have to protect you."

I stared at him. All year long, I had gotten in fights keeping bullies away from him. I had lost sleep worrying that he would get beaten up next year without me. And here he was acting like he was the one who defended me.

"Grover," I said, "What exactly are you protecting me from?"

There was a huge grinding noise under our feet. Black smoke poured from the dashboard and the whole bus filled with a smell like rotten eggs. The driver cursed and limped the Grey Hound over to the side of the highway. After a few minutes clanking around in the engine compartment, the driver announced that we'd all have to get off. Grover and I filed outside with everybody else. We were on a stretch of country road no place you'd notice if you didn't break down there. On our side of the highway was nothing but maple trees and litter from passing cars. On the other side, across four lanes of asphalt shimmering with afternoon heat was an old-fashioned fruit stand.

The stuff on sale looked really good: heaping boxes of blood-red cherries and apples, walnuts and apricots, jugs of cider in a claw-foot tub full of ice. There were no customers, just three old ladies sitting in rocking chairs in the shade of a maple tree, knitting the biggest pair of socks I'd ever seen.

I mean these socks were the size of sweaters, but they were clearly socks. The lady on the right knitted one of them. The lady on the left knitted the other. The lady in the middle held an enormous basket of electric-blue yarn. All three women looked ancient, with pale faces wrinkled like fruit leather, silver hair tied back in white bandannas, bony arms sticking out of bleached cotton dresses. The weirdest thing was, they seemed to be looking right at me. I looked over at Grover to say something about this and saw that the blood had drained from his face. His nose was twitching.

"Grover?" I said. "Hey, man –"

"Tell me they are not looking at you. They are. Aren't they?"

"Yeah. Weird huh? You think those socks would fit me?"

"Not funny, Percy. Not funny at all." He said to me.

The old lady in the middle took out a huge pair of scissors – gold and silver, long-bladed, like shears. I heard Grover catch his breath.

"We are getting on the bus." Grover told me. "Come on."

"What?" I said. "It is like a thousand degrees in there!"

"Come on!" He forced open the door and climbed inside, but I stayed back. Across the road, the old ladies were still watching me. The middle one cut the yarn, and I swear I could hear that snip across four lanes of traffic. Her two friends balled up the electric-blue socks, leaving me wondering who they could possibly be for Sasquatch or Godzilla.

At the rear of the bus, the driver wrenched a big chunk of smoking metal out of the engine compartment. The bus shuddered, and the engine roared back to life. The passengers cheered.

"Darn right!" yelled the driver. He slapped the bus with his hat. "Everybody back on board!"

Once we got going. I started feeling feverish, as if I had caught the flu.

Grover did not look much better. He was shivering and his teeth were chattering.

I spoke to him "Grover?"

"Yeah?" was his reply.

"What are you not telling me?"

He dabbed his forehead with his shirt sleeve. "Percy, what did you see back at the fruit stand?"

"You mean the old ladies? What is it about them, man? They're not like… Mrs. Dodd, are they?"

His expression was hard to read, but I got the feeling that the fruit-stand ladies were something much, much worse than Mrs. Dodd. He said, "Just tell me what you saw."

I told him what I saw "The middle one took out her scissors, and she cut the yarn."

He closed his eyes and made a gesture with his fingers that might've been crossing himself, but it was not. It was something else, something almost older. He said, "You saw her snip the cord."

"Yeah…. So?" But even as I said it, I knew it was a big deal.

"This is not happening,"Grover mumbled. He started chewing at his thumb. "I do not want this to be like the last time!"

"What last time?" I asked, but he ignored me and continued his rant.

"Always sixth grade, they never get past sixth."

"Grover," I said, because he was really starting to scare me. "What are you talking about?"

"Let me walk you home from the bus station. Promise me."

This seemed like a strange request to me, but I promised he could.

"Is this like a superstition or something?" I asked.

No answer.

"Grover that snipping of the yarn. Does that mean somebody is going to die?"

He looked at me mournfully, like he was already picking the kind of flowers I'd like best on my coffin.

I ditched Grover as soon as we got to the bus terminal. I know, I know. It was rude. But Grover was freaking me out, looking at me like I was a dead man, muttering, "Why does this always happen?" and, "Why does it always have to be sixth grade?"

Whenever he got upset, Grover's bladder acted up, so I was not surprised when, as soon as we got off the bus, he made me promise to wait for him, then made a beeline for the restroom. Instead of waiting, I got my suitcase, slipped outside, and caught the first taxi uptown. "East One Hundred and Fourth and First Avenue," I told the driver.

A word about my mother, before you meet her.

Her name is Sally Jackson and she's the best person in the world, which just proves my theory that the best people have the most rotten and the worst luck. Her own parents died in a plane crash when she was five, and she was raised by an uncle who didn't care much about her. She wanted to be a novelist, so she spent high school working to save enough money for a college with a good creative writing program.

Then her uncle got cancer, and she had to quit school in her senior year to take care of him. After he died, she was left with no money, no family and no diploma. The only good break she ever got was meeting my dad. I don't have any memories of him, just this sort of warm glow, maybe the barest trace of his smile. My mom doesn't like to talk about him because it makes her sad. She has no pictures. See, they weren't married. She told me he was rich and important, and their relationship was a secret. Then one day, he set sail across the Atlantic on some important journey, and he never came back.

Lost at sea, my mom told me. Not dead. Lost at sea.

She worked odd jobs, took night classes to get her high school diploma, and raised me on her own. She never complained or got mad. Not even once. But I knew I wasn't an easy kid. Finally, she married Gabe Ugliano, who was nice the first thirty seconds we knew him, then showed his true colors as a world-class jerk. When I was young, I nicknamed him Smelly Gabe. I'm sorry, but it's the truth. The guy reeked like moldy garlic pizza wrapped in gym shorts. Between the two of us, we made my mom's life pretty hard. The way Smelly Gabe treated her, the way he and I got along… well, when I came home is a good example. I walked into our little apartment, hoping my mom would be home from work. Instead, Smelly Gabe was in the living room, playing poker with his buddies. The television was blaring. Crisps and beer cans were strewn all over the carpet. Hardly looking up, he said around his cigar, "So, you are home"

"Where is my mom?" I asked.

"Working," he said. "You got any cash?"

That was it. No Welcome back. Good to see you. How has your life been the last six months? Gabe had put on weight. He looked like a tuskless walrus in thrift-store clothes. He had about three hairs on his head, all combed over his bald scalp, as if that made him handsome or something. He managed the Electronics Mega-Mart in Queens, but he stayed home most of the time. I don't know why he hadn't been fired long before. He just kept on collecting pay cheques, spending the money on cigars that made me nauseous, and on beer, of course. Always beer. Whenever I was home, he expected me to provide his gambling funds. He called that our 'guy secret'. Meaning, if I told my mom, he would punch my lights out (Which he did once to prove a point).

"I don't have any money."' I told him.

He raised a greasy eyebrow. Gabe could sniff out money like a bloodhound, which was surprising, since his own smell should've covered up everything else.

"You took a taxi from the bus station,"' he said. "Probably paid with a twenty. Got six or seven bucks in change. Somebody expects to live under this roof, he ought to carry his own weight. Am I right, Eddie?"

Eddie, the superintendant of the apartment building, looked at me with a twinge of sympathy. "Come on, Gabe," he said. "The kid just got here."

"Am I right?" Gabe repeated with a hint of a growl.

Eddie scowled into his bowl of pretzels. The other two guys passed gas in harmony.

"Fine," I said. I dug a wad of dollars out of my pocket and threw the money on the table. "I hope you lose"

"Your report card came, brain boy!" he shouted after me. "I wouldn't act so snooty!"

I slammed the door to my room, which really was not my room. During school months, it was Gabe's 'study'. He didn't study anything in there except old car magazines, but he loved shoving my stuff in the closet, leaving his muddy boots on my windowsill, and doing his best to make the place smell like his nasty cologne and cigars and stale beer.

I dropped my suitcase on the bed. Home sweet home. Gabe's smell was almost worse than the nightmares about Mrs. Dodd, or the sound of that old fruit lady's shears snipping the yarn. But as soon as I thought that, my legs felt weak. I remembered Grover's look of panic – how he'd made me promise I wouldn't go home without him. A sudden chill rolled through me. I felt like someone or something… was looking for me right now, maybe pounding its way up the stairs, growing long, horrible talons.

Then I heard my mom's voice. "Percy?" She opened the bedroom door, and my fears melted.

My mother can make me feel good just by walking into the room. Her eyes sparkle and change colour in the light. Her smile is as warm as a quilt. She has got a few grey streaks mixed in with her long brown hair, but I never think of her as old. When she looks at me, it is like she is seeing all the good things about me, none of the bad. I have never heard her raise her voice or say an unkind word to anyone, not even me or Gabe.

"Oh, Percy." She hugged me tight. "I can't believe it. You have grown up so since Christmas!" Her red-white-and blue Sweet on America uniform smelled like the best things in the world: chocolate, licorice, and all the other stuff she sold at the candy shop in Grand Central. She'd brought me a huge bag of 'free samples', the way she always did when I came home.

We sat together on the edge of the bed. While I attacked the blueberry sour strings, she ran her hand through my hair and demanded to know everything I had not put in my letters. She did not mention anything about my getting expelled. She did not seem to care about that. But was I okay? Was her little boy doing all right? I told her she was smothering me, and to lay off and all that, but secretly, I was really, really glad to see her.

From the other room, we heard Gabe yell, "Hey, Sally how about some bean dip, huh?"

I gritted my teeth.

My mom is the best, most kind lady in the world. She should've been married to a millionaire, not to somejerk like Gabe! For her sake, I tried to sound upbeat about my last days at Yancy Academy. I told her I wasn't too down about the expulsion. I'd lasted almost the whole year this time. I'd made some new friends. I'd done pretty well in Latin. And honestly, the fights hadn't been as bad as the headmaster said. I liked Yancy Academy. I really had. I put such a good spin on the year, I almost convinced myself. I started choking up, thinking about Grover and Mr Brunner. Even Nancy suddenly didn't seem so bad… Until that trip to the museum…

"What?" my mom asked. Her eyes tugged at my conscience, trying to pull out the secrets. "Did something scare you?"

"No, Mom." I lied. I felt bad lying. I wanted to tell her about Mrs. Dodd and the three old ladies with the yarn, but I thought it would sound stupid.

She pursed her lips. She knew I was holding back, but she did not push me… yet.

"I have a surprise for you," she said. "We are going to the beach."

My eyes widened. "Montauk?"

"Three nights the same cabin."

"When?!" I asked her getting excited.

She smiled. "As soon as I get changed."

I could not believe it. My mom and I hadn't been to Montauk the last two summers, because Gabe said there wasn't enough money.

Gabe appeared in the doorway and growled, "Bean dip, Sally? Did you not hear me?"

I wanted to punch him, but I met my mom's eyes and I understood she was offering me a deal: be nice to Gabe for a little while. Just until she was ready to leave for Montauk. Then we would get out of here.

"I was on my way, Gabe," she told Gabe. "'We were just talking about the trip."

Gabe's eyes got small. "The trip? You mean you were serious about that?"

"I knew it!" I muttered. "He would never let us go."

"Of course he will," my mom said evenly. "Your stepfather is just worried about money. That is all. Besides," she added, "Gabriel won't have to settle for bean dip. I'll make him enough seven-layer dip for the whole weekend. Guacamole, Sour cream. The whole works."

Gabe softened a bit. "So this money for your trip… it comes out of your clothes budget, right?"

"Yes, dear," my mother said.

"And you won't take my car anywhere but there and back."

"We will be very careful." She replied

Gabe scratched his double chin. "Maybe if you hurry with that seven-layer dip… And maybe if the kid apologizes for interrupting my poker game."

Maybe if I kick you in your soft spot, I thought. And make you sing soprano for a week. But my mom's eyes warned me not to make him mad. Why did she put up with this guy? I wanted to scream. Why did she care what he thought? "I am sorry," I muttered. "I'm really sorry I interrupted your incredibly important poker game. Please go back to it right now."

Gabe's eyes narrowed. His tiny brain was probably trying to detect sarcasm in my statement. "Yeah, whatever," he decided. He went back to his game.

"Thank you, Percy," my mom said. "Once we get to Montauk, we will talk more about… whatever you have forgotten to tell me, okay?"

For a moment, I thought I saw anxiety in her eyes – the same fear I'd seen in Grover during the bus ride – as if my mom too felt an odd chill in the air. But then her smile returned, and I figured I must have been mistaken. She ruffled my hair and went to make Gabe his seven-layer dip.

An hour later we were ready to leave. Gabe took a break from his poker game long enough to watch me lug my mom's bags to the car. He kept griping and groaning about losing her cooking, and more importantly his 1978 Camaro for the whole weekend.

"Not a scratch on this car, brain boy," he warned me as I loaded the last bag. "Not one little scratch."

I snorted at the comment like I'd be the one driving. I was twelve. But that didn't matter to Gabe. If a seagull so much as pooped on his paint job, he'd find a way to blame me. Watching him lumber back towards the apartment building, I got so mad I did something I can't explain. As Gabe reached the doorway, I made the hand gesture I'd seen Grover make on the bus, a sort of warding-off-evil gesture, a clawed hand over my heart, then a shoving movement towards Gabe. The screen door slammed shut so hard it whacked him in the butt and sent him flying up the staircase as if he'd been shot from a cannon. Maybe it was just the wind, or some freak accident with the hinges, but I didn't stay long enough to find out.

I got in the Camaro and told my mom to step on it. Our rental cabin was on the south shore, way out at the tip of Long Island. It was a little pastel box with faded curtains, half sunken into the dunes. There was always sand in the sheets and spiders in the cabinets, and most of the time the sea was too cold to swim in. I loved the place.

We have been going there since I was a baby. My mom had been going even longer. She never exactly said, but I knew why the beach was special to her. It was the place where she'd met my dad. As we got closer to Montauk, she seemed to grow younger, years of worry and work disappearing from her face. Her eyes turned the colour of the sea. We got there at sunset, opened all the cabin's windows, and went through our usual cleaning routine. We walked on the beach, fed blue corn chips to the seagulls, and munched on blue jelly beans, blue saltwater taffy, and all the other free samples my mom had brought from work. I guess I should explain the blue food. See, Gabe had once told my mom there was no such thing. They had this fight, which seemed like a really small thing at the time. But ever since, my mom went out of her way to eat blue. She baked blue birthday cakes. She mixed blueberry smoothies. She bought blue-corn tortilla chips and brought home blue candy from the shop. This – along with keeping her maiden name, Jackson, rather than calling herself Mrs. Ugliano – was proof that she wasn't totally suckered by Gabe. She did have a rebellious streak, like me.

(Line Break)

(Peter's Point of View)

I skipped the last day of school; I told Percy and Grover I would see them again someday, one day. I walked towards an abandoned beach cabin. I have been going there for the past three and a half years. It is near the sea.

I chose to take a nap in the cabin, the problem was; was that I got unexpected company. I barely had time to shadow travel out of there. I recognized Percy's voice after I was long gone.

I appeared on the east side of the cabin. The sun was setting in the west and the moon was rising in the east, it was a full moon. I smiled at it as I jogged into the water. I dove straight in. I had nothing to fear. The ocean and sea protects me. I may hate Poseidon, but the seas never forget one of its own. I am NOT his son! I am a child of the sea. I am wild and unpredictable.

Water gave me power and the ocean and the sea gave me much more than a simple brook would.

I felt the moon and the ocean beginning to dance, the dance of the tides.

I swam deeper and deeper into darker and darker water. It should have gotten colder, but I did not feel a thing.

I pulled out my MP3 and played music underwater. You should try it some time! Anyway the music I was listening to was: Young and the Hopelessby Good Charlotte

Hard days made me, hard nights shaped me

I don't know they somehow saved me

And I know I'm making something out of this life they called nothing

I take what I want

Take what I need

They say it's wrong but it's right for me

I won't look down

Won't say I'm sorry

I know that only God can judge me

And if I make it thru today will tomorrow be the same

Am I just running in place?

and if I stumble and I fall

Should I get up and carry on or will it all just be the same

'Cause, I'm young and hopeless

I'm lost and I know this

I'm going nowhere fast that's what they say

I'm troublesome, I've fallen

I'm angry at my father

It's me against this world and I don't care, I don't care

And no one in this industry

Understands the life I lead

When I sing about my past

It's not a gimmick, not an act

These critics and these trust fund kids

Try to tell me what punk is

But when I see them on the streets, they got nothing to say...

And if I make it thru today will tomorrow be the same

Am I just running in place?

If I stumble and I fall

Should I get up and carry on or will it all just be the same

'Cause, I'm young and hopeless

I'm lost and I know this

I'm going nowhere fast that's what they say

I'm troublesome, I've fallen

I'm angry at my father

It's me against this world and I don't care, I don't care

I don't care, now I don't care

I'm young and hopeless

I'm lost and I know this

I'm going nowhere fast that's what they say

That I'm troublesome, I've fallen

I'm angry at my father

It's me against this world and I don't care, I don't care

I don't care

I don't care!

The next song started up right away: Good Charlotte: Emotionless

Hey dad

I'm writing to you

Not to tell you

That I still hate you

Just to ask you

How you feel

And how we fell apart

How this fell apart

Are you happy out there in this great wide world?

Do you think about your sons?

Do you miss your little girl?

When you lay your head down

How do you sleep at night?

Do you even wonder if we're all right?

Well we're all right

We are all right

It's been a long hard road without you by my side

Why weren't you there all the nights that we cried?

You broke my mother's heart, you broke your children for life

It's not ok, but we're all right

I remember the days you were a hero in my eyes

But those are just a long lost memory of mine

I spent so many years learning how to survive

Now I'm writing just to let you know I'm still alive

The days I spent so

Cold, so hungry

Were full of hate

I was so angry

The scars run deep inside this tattooed body

There's things I'll take

To my grave

But I'm okay

I'm okay

It's been a long hard road without you by my side

Why weren't you there all the nights that we cried?

You broke my mother's heart

You broke your children for life

It's not ok, but were all right

I remember the days you were a hero in my eyes

But those are just a long lost memory of mine

Now I'm writing just to let you know that I'm still alive

Yeah I'm still alive

And Sometimes

I forgive

Yeah and this time

I'll admit

That I miss you, said I miss you

It's been a long hard road without you by my side

Why weren't you there all the nights that we cried?

You broke my mother's heart

You broke your children for life

it is not ok, but we're all right

I remember the days you were a hero in my eyes

But those are just a long lost memory of mine

Now I'm writing just to let you know that I am still alive..

And sometimes

I forgive

And this time

I'll admit

That I miss you, I miss you

Hey dad…

I sensed something brewing topside. I swam to the surface and when I got there I was shocked. There was a hurricane out over the ocean and it was coming in quick!

I ran towards the cabin I knocked, but the door was already unlatched so it looked like I threw the door open.

I saw Grover, Percy and Sally. All heads turned to me. I realized I was still wearing my trench coat, black leather pants, but this time I had leather gloves with silver spikes on the knuckles. I pulled down my head and said "We have to leave now!"

Sally stood up and asked "Who are you?"

Percy rushed over and gave me hug, or tried to. I took a step back and then a side step. I said "I am a friend of Percy. I give you my word, I am a friend of Percy and I have no intention of harming him."

She looked hard into my eyes. She gave a nod and said "You are telling the truth, that much I can see that much."

I gave her a nod and said "We need to go. NOW!"

They noticed the storm brewing behind me.

They all rushed to the car.

I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I shadow traveled behind them. They turned around to see where I was I stood calmly and said "Go. I have a feeling something is coming from the storm… something sinister…"

Percy grabbed on my arm and dragged me into the car. It was rather cramped in the back with Grover, Percy and me, but we managed.

I zoned out on their communication. I was feeling the storm all around us. This was not part of the hurricane; this was more like a thunder storm. My eyes widened. Zeus! I growled at my grandfather s***h uncle.

I had a sick feeling in my gut. I had to look out the window! I wish I had not. There who was running toward us was the Minotaur. I ran into Beef Head with my sister. I saw something else, I saw some Cyclopes I knew Percy and Grover had a chance against the Minotaur, if I could slow down the other monsters.

I said to Sally "Sally do not slow down for anything."

As I said this everyone looked back. Too bad we were already flooring.

I hoped the door and I rolled out. I landed on my feet and rolled, and rolled, and rolled. Once I stopped I shadow traveled towards the small army that composed of three Cyclopes and about six Hell Hounds. I growled as I pulled out my twin short swords. The darkness thickened, the storm grew even more fierce, and out of the ground came a undead redcoat, a British soldier from the Reflationary War. A Cyclopes just dropped his club putting six feet under again.

I stabbed one of my blades into the earth and I let out a primeval roar. The earth shook and a crack formed out of the earth. The earth began to shake and shift. Most of the Cyclopes fell into the pit. I could tell it was a VERY long way down. The Hell Hounds shadow traveled away, leaving me with the two big Cyclops.

I used much of my energy into the crack, which sealed itself up. I stood up on shaky legs.

One of the Cyclopses said "Stupid demigod, putting all of your strength in one attack!"

I threw both of my swords turning the one trying to sneak up on me into monster dust.

Cyclopes gave a evil grin and said "And you just threw away your life. You are weaponless…"

I reached into my boots and I pulled out one silver six inch double edged dagger and out of the other boot I pulled out an assist opening silver knife that was ten inches long, but was five when folded.

The Cyclopes growled as he took huge lumbering steps in my direction.

I stabbed him in his right foot with the knife when he came into range. I shadowed traveled and stabbed him in the back with the dagger.

The Cyclopes said "Such puny weapons cannot kill me!" He boasted.

I smirked and said "You are absolutely right! They would never kill you where I placed them!"

The Cyclopes took a few steps towards me not even bothering to remove the one in his foot. I took a few steps back so in a few steps he would be out in the open.

I fell to my knees hoping he would to the bait.

He smirked and stepped into the clearing and said "You were powerful, but lacked wisdom. Time to meet Hades!"

I smirked and said "No you will be seeing Tartarus soon!" I summoned the last bit of energy and I called down a huge lightning bolt. The lightning bolt found the silver first and it instantly vaporized him.

I slumped down against a tree in pure exhaustion. The knife and dagger dissolved into the shadows and reappeared in its respective boot.

As I began to shut my eyes I saw a few nature spirits looking at me. I looked at them in the eye before I blacked out, I swear I saw one of their eyes widen as if she knew me…

(Line Break)

(Percy's Point of View)

We tore through the night along dark country roads. Wind slammed against the Camaro. Rain lashed the windshield. I didn't know how my mom could see anything, but she kept her foot on the gas. Every time there was a flash of lightning, I looked at Grover sitting next to me in the backseat and I wondered if I had gone insane, or if he was wearing some kind of shag-carpet trousers. But, no, the smell was one I remembered from kindergarten field trips to the petting zoo – lanolin, like from wool. The smell of a wet barnyard animal. All I could think to say was, "So... uh, you and my mum… know each other?"

Grover's eyes flitted to the rearview mirror, though there were no cars behind us. "Not exactly," he said. "I mean, we have never met in person. But she knew I was watching you."

"Watching me?" I asked confused.

"Keeping tabs on you. Making sure you were okay. But I was not faking being your friend," he added hastily. /'I am your friend."

Ok... um… what are you, exactly?"

"That does not matter right now." Grover said quickly.

'It does not matter? From the waist down, my best friend is a donkey –"

Grover let out a sharp, throaty "Blaa-ha-ha!" I'd heard him make that sound before, but I'd always assumed it was a nervous laugh. Now I realized it was more of an irritated bleat.

"Goat!" he cried out in outrage.

"What?" I was so confused with everything.

"I am a goat from the waist down!" Grover said to me.

I replied "You just said it does not matter."

"Blaa-ha-ha! There are satyrs who would trample you under hoof for such an insult!" Grover bleated.

"Whoa. Wait. Satyrs. You mean like… Mr. Brunner's myths?" I asked.

"Were those old ladies at the fruit stand a myth, Percy? Was Mrs. Dodd a myth?"

"So you admit there was a Mrs. Dodd!" I smiled at my little victory.

"Of course."

"Then why –" He cut me off

"The less you knew, the fewer monsters you would attract," Grover said, like that should be perfectly

obvious. "We put Mist over the humans' eyes. We hoped you would think the Kindly One was a

hallucination. But it was no good. You started to realize who you are."

"Who I am? Wait a minute, what do you mean?" I asked.

The weird bellowing noise rose up again somewhere behind us, closer than before. Whatever was chasing us was still on our trail.

"Percy," my mom said, "There is too much to explain and not enough time. We have to get you to safety."

"Safety from what? Who is after me?"

"Oh, nobody much," Grover said, obviously still miffed about the donkey comment. "Just the Lord of the Dead and a few of his blood-thirstiest minions!"

My mom exclaimed "Grover!"

"Sorry, Mrs. Jackson, but could you drive faster, please?" Grover asked my mom, well more like begged.

I tried to wrap my mind around what was happening, but I just could not do it. I knew this was not a dream. I had no imagination. I could never dream up something this weird. My mom made a hard left. We swerved onto a narrower road, racing past darkened farmhouses and wooded hills and PICK YOUR OWN STRAWBERRIES signs on white picket fences.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"The summer camp I told you about.'" My mother's voice was tight; she was trying for my sake not to be scared. "The place your father wanted to send you."

"The place you did not want me to go." I stated flatly

"Please, dear," my mother begged. "This is hard enough. Try to understand. You are in danger."

"Why because some old ladies cut yarn?" I said with a huff.

"Those were not just some old ladies," Grover said. "Those were the Fates. Do you know what it means – the fact they appeared in front of you? They only do that when you're about to… when someone's about to die."

I caught him say 'you' and I called him out on it by saying "Whoa. You said 'you'!"

He tried to lie his way out of it by saying "No I didn't. I said "someone"."

"You meant 'you'. As in me!" I exclaimed.

Grover said trying to explain "I meant you, like "someone". Not you, you."

"Boys!" my mom yelled.

She pulled the wheel hard to the right, and I got a glimpse of a figure she'd swerved to avoid – a dark fluttering shape now lost behind us in the storm.

"What was that?" I asked unnerved.

"We are almost there," my mother said, ignoring my question. "Another mile. Please. Please.

Please."

I didn't know where there was, but I found myself leaning forward in the car, anticipating, wanting us to arrive.

Outside, nothing but rain and darkness – the kind of empty countryside you get way out on the tip of Long Island. I thought about Mrs. Dodd and the moment when she'd changed into the thing with pointed teeth and leathery wings. My limbs went numb from delayed shock. She really had not been human. She'd meant to kill me.

Then I thought about Mr. Brunner… and the sword...

The hair rose on the back of my neck. There was a blinding flash, a jaw rattling boom, and our car exploded. I remember feeling weightless, like I was being crushed, fried and hosed down all at the same time. I peeled my forehead off the back of the driver's seat and said, "Ow!"

"Percy!" my mom shouted.

"I am okay…." I tried to shake off the daze. I was not dead. The car had not really exploded. We'd swerved into a ditch. Our driver's-side doors were wedged in the mud. The roof had cracked open like an eggshell and rain was pouring in. Lightning. That was the only explanation. We'd been blasted right off the road. Next to me in the backseat was a big motionless lump.

'"Grover!" I yelled.

He was slumped over, blood trickling from the side of his mouth. I shook his furry hip, thinking, No! Even if you are half barnyard animal, you're my best friend and I don't want you to die! Then he groaned, 'Food,' and I knew there was hope.

"Percy," my mother said to me, "we have to…" Her voice faltered.

I looked back. In a flash of lightning, through the mud-spattered rear windshield, I saw a figure lumbering towards us on the shoulder of the road. The sight of it made my skin crawl. It was a dark silhouette of a huge guy, like a football player. He seemed to be holding a blanket over his head. His top half was bulky and fuzzy. His upraised hands made it look like he had horns. I swallowed hard. "Who is –"

"Percy," my mother said, deadly serious. "Get out of the car."

My mother threw herself against the driver's-side door. It was jammed shut in the mud. I tried mine as well. Stuck too. I looked up desperately at the hole in the roof. It might've been an exit, but the edges were sizzling and smoking.

"Climb out the passenger's side!" My mother told me. "Percy, you have to run. Do you see that big tree?"

"What?" I asked still dazed and confused.

Another flash of lightning, and through the smoking hole in the roof I saw the tree she meant: a huge, White House Christmas-tree-sized pine at the crest of the nearest hill. "That is the property line," my mom said. "Get over that hill and you will see a big farmhouse down in the valley. Run and do not look back. Yell for help. Do not stop until you reach the door."

"Mom, you are coming, too!" I said with determination.

Her face was pale, her eyes as sad as when she looked at the ocean.

"No!" I shouted "You are coming with me. Help me carry Grover."

"Food!" Grover moaned, a little louder.

The man with the blanket on his head kept coming towards us, making his grunting, snorting noises. As he got closer, I realized he couldn't be holding a blanket over his head, because his hands – huge meaty hands – were swinging at his sides. There was no blanket. Meaning the bulky, fuzzy mass that was too big to be his head… was his head. And the points that looked like horns…

"He does not want us," my mother told me. "He wants you. Besides, I can't cross the property line."

"But…" I tried to wrap my mind around what she was trying to say.

"We do not have time, Percy. Go. Please." She begged me.

I got mad, then, mad at my mother, at Grover the goat, at the thing with horns that was lumbering towards us slowly and deliberately like, like a bull. I climbed across Grover and pushed the door open into the rain. "We are going together. Come on, Mom."

Sally said to me "I told you –"

"Mom! I am not leaving you. Help me with Grover." I didn't wait for her answer. I scrambled outside, dragging Grover from the car. He was surprisingly light, but I couldn't have carried him very far if my mom hadn't come to my aid. Together, we draped Grover's arms over our shoulders and started stumbling uphill through wet waist-high grass. Glancing back, I got my first clear look at the monster. He was seven feet tall, easy, his arms and legs like something from the cover of Muscle Man magazine – bulging biceps and triceps and a bunch of other 'ceps, all stuffed like baseballs under vein-webbed skin. He wore no clothes except underwear – I mean, bright white Fruit-of-the-Looms, which would've been funny except for the top half of his body. Coarse brown hair started at about his bellybutton and got thicker as it reached his shoulders. His neck was a mass of muscle and fur leading up to his enormous head, which had a snout as long as my arm, snotty nostrils with a gleaming brass ring, cruel black eyes, and horns – enormous black and- white horns with points you just couldn't get from an electric sharpener.

I recognized the monster, all right. He had been in one of the first stories Mr. Brunner told us. But he couldn't be real. I blinked the rain out of my eyes. "Is that the–"

"Pasiphae's son," my mother said. "I wish I would have known how badly they want to kill you."

"But a he is a min–"

"Do not say his name," she warned. "Names have power."

The pine tree was still way too far – a hundred meters uphill at least. I glanced behind me again.

The Bull Man hunched over our car, looking in the windows – or not looking, exactly. More like snuffling, nuzzling. I was not sure why he bothered, since we were only about fifteen meters away.

"Food?" Grover moaned.

"Shhh" I told him. "Mom, what is he doing? Doesn't he see us?"

"His sight and hearing are terrible," she said. "He goes by smell. But he will figure out where we are soon enough."

As if on cue, the Bull Man bellowed in rage. He picked up Gabe's Camaro by the torn roof, the chassis creaking and groaning. He raised the car over his head and threw it down the road. It slammed into the wet asphalt and skidded in a shower of sparks for about half a mile before coming to a stop. The gas tank exploded. Not a scratch, I remembered Gabe saying. Oops…

"Percy," my mom said. "When he sees us, he will charge. Wait until the last second, then jump out of the way – directly sideways. He can't change direction very well once he is charging. Do you understand?"

'"How do you know all this?" I asked, my ADHD was acting up, I almost forgot about the Bull Man.

"I have been worried about an attack for a long time. I should have expected this. I was selfish, keeping you near me." My mother said.

"Keeping me near you? But –" I was cut off by another bellow of rage, and the Bull Man started tromping uphill.

He'd smelled us. The pine tree was only a few more meters, but the hill was getting steeper and slicker, and Grover was not getting any lighter!

The Bull Man closed in. Another few seconds and he'd be on top of us. My mother must have been exhausted, but she shouldered Grover. "Go, Percy! Separate! Remember what I said!"

I did not want to split up, but I had the feeling she was right – it was our only chance. I sprinted to the left, turned, and saw the creature bearing down on me. His black eyes glowed with hate. He reeked like rotten meat. He lowered his head and charged, those razor-sharp horns aimed straight at my chest. The fear in my stomach made me want to bolt, but that would not work. I could never outrun this thing. So I held my ground, and at the last moment, I jumped to the side. The Bull Man stormed past like a freight train, then bellowed with frustration and turned, but not towards me this time, towards my mother, who was setting Grover down in the grass.

We had just reached the crest of the hill. Down the other side I could see a valley, just as my mother had said, and the lights of a farmhouse glowing yellow through the rain. But that was half a mile away. We would never make it!

The Bull Man grunted, pawing the ground. He kept eyeing my mother, who was now retreating slowly downhill, back towards the road, trying to lead the monster away from Grover.

"Run, Percy!" she told me. "I can't go any further. Run!"

But I just stood there, frozen in fear, as the monster charged her. She tried to sidestep, just as she had told me to do, but the monster had learned his lesson. His hand shot out and grabbed her by the neck as she tried to get away. He lifted her as she struggled, kicking and pummeling the air.

I shouted "Mom!"

She caught my eyes, managed to choke out one last word: "Go!"

Then, with an angry roar, the monster closed his fists around my mother's neck, and she dissolved before my eyes, melting into light, a shimmering golden form, as if she were a holographic projection. A blinding flash, and she was simply… gone.

"No!" I roared with rage.

Anger replaced my fear. Newfound strength burned in my limbs – the same rush of energy I'd got when Mrs. Dodd grew talons. The Bull Man bore down on Grover, who lay helpless in the grass. The monster hunched over, snuffling my best friend, as if he were about to lift Grover up and make him dissolve too. I couldn't allow that. I stripped off my red rain jacket.

"HEY!" I shouted, waving the jacket, running to one side of the monster. "Hey, stupid! Ground Beef!"

"Raaaarrrrr!" The monster turned towards me, shaking his meaty fists.

I had an idea, a very stupid idea, but better than no idea at all. I put my back to the big pine tree and waved my red jacket in front of the bull-man, thinking I would then jump out of the way at the last moment. But it did not happen like that. The Bull Man charged too fast, his arms out to grab me whichever way I tried to dodge. Time slowed down.

My legs tensed. I could not jump sideways, so I leaped straight up, kicking off from the creature's head, using it as a springboard, turning in midair and landing on his neck. How did I do that? I didn't have time to figure it out. A millisecond later, the monster's head slammed into the tree and the impact nearly knocked my teeth out.

The Bull Man staggered around, trying to shake me. I locked my arms around his horns to keep from being thrown. Thunder and lightning were still going strong. The rain was in my eyes. The smell of rotten meat burned my nostrils. The monster shook himself around and bucked like a rodeo bull. He should have just backed up into the tree and smashed me flat, but I was starting to realize that this thing had only one gear: forward.

Meanwhile, Grover started groaning in the grass. I wanted to yell at him to shut up, but the way I was getting tossed around, if I opened my mouth I'd bite my own tongue off.

"Food!" Grover moaned.

The Bull Man wheeled towards him, pawed the ground again, and got ready to charge. I thought about how he had squeezed the life out of my mother, made her disappear in a flash of light, and rage filled me like high octane fuel. I got both hands around one horn and I pulled backwards with all my might. The monster tensed, gave a surprised grunt, then – snap! The Bull Man screamed and flung me through the air. I landed flat on my back in the grass. My head smacked against a rock. When I sat up, my vision was blurry, but I had a horn in my hands, a ragged bone weapons the size of a knife. The monster charged.

Without thinking, I rolled to one side and came up kneeling. As the monster barreled past, I drove the broken horn straight into his side, right up under his furry rib cage.

The Bull Man roared in agony. He flailed; clawing at his chest, then a bolt of lightning struck down and he disintegrated.

The monster was gone.

The rain had stopped. The storm still rumbled, but only in the distance. I smelled like livestock and my knees were shaking. My head felt like it was splitting open. I was weak and scared and trembling with grief. I'd just seen my mother vanish. I wanted to lie down and cry, but there was Grover, needing my help, I then realized Peter was laying on the ground smoking. He weakly sat up and said "Get Grover to the Big House."

So we managed to haul him up and stagger down into the valley, towards the lights of the farmhouse. I was crying, calling for my mother, but Peter and I held on to Grover I was not going to let them go.

The last thing I remember is collapsing on a wooden porch, looking up at a ceiling fan circling above me, moths flying around a yellow light and the stern faces of a familiar-looking bearded man and a pretty girl, her blonde hair curled like Cinderella's. They both looked down at me, and the girl said, "He is the one. He must be!"

"Silence, Annabeth," the man said. "They are still conscious. Bring them inside."

(Line Break)

(Peter' Point of View)

I woke up after fighting a few Cyclopes feeling weak and tired, I knew then I used too much of my energy.

I looked around and I noticed I was in a stream, underwater. I then noticed a Naiad. She looked at me and smiled and asked me "Are you ok?"

I groaned as I felt my body creak and groan with every moment I made. I said "I am a little sore and I will not be using my powers for a while. But I will live."

She smiled and said "Thank you?"

I was confused, she saved me and she was thanking me? I should be thanking her! I asked "No offence milady but it is I who should be thanking you!"

She looked at me and was about to say something, but the earth rumbled and the creek babbled. She frowned then her eyes widen as if she got something out of it. She said to me "You have done more than you think for nature. Nature and the wild will always back you up."

I said "Umm… ok… uh… so… uh. What did I do to help nature? As for the wild, I tend to be carnivorous, I eat a lot of meat…"

She gave me a smile and said "You will learn what I mean in time."

I asked her "Do you have any Nectar or Ambrosia?"

She nodded her head and pulled out a small bag and a flask. She handed it to me and told me to "Eat and drink"

I gave her a thankful nod before eating and drinking. Right away I felt my energy returning.

Before I could take another bite or sip another drink she took the bag and flask. She said "I am sorry, but that is all I am able to give you. Too much more is liable to kill you."

I sighed. I told her "I just need a little more. My friends are in danger!" I put a little authority in it.

She looked conflicted before giving me a grim nod. I thanked before stuffing another cube into my mouth. I knew something was not right. I began feeling hot. I knew I was at my very, very limit. I swam to the top and got I land. I said to her "Thank you!"

I myself have never been to Camp Half Blood, so I cannot shadow travel there. Vapor Travel is extremely tiring. There was only one thing left to do.

I shut my eyes to focus. I pulled out my silver dagger and held it skyward. I summed a lightning bolt.

I became one with the lightning.

I sensed a surge in power I knew it was Percy. I shot down out of the sky, like well…a lightning bolt.

I landed on the Minotaur with my silver blade in it back. I stuffed the knife in my boot.

I was smoking from both too much Nectar and Ambrosia as well as from the lightning.

It took a little bit to recover; moving at the speed of lightning is rather shocking and is hard to get use to.

I told Percy that we needed to get Grover to the Big House. Percy and I stumbled and half dragged half carried each other and Grover towards the Big House.

Percy drop once he was on the porch, he looked up and saw a blond girl that looked to be the same age as us.

She said something about "The One!"

I saw Mr. Brunner rebuke saying something about them being awake. I felt myself slip into unconsciousness….

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Here is another chapter.

Percy will have another chance at the point of view in the next chapter.

Please drop a review!

Death Fury out!