PERCY HAD LEFT her cabin a little after 11 o'clock that night, right after they had finished a very intense game of monopoly (karina won, obviously) and had just talked with each other. percy told her more about the small places in new york he wants to take her one day— which definitely didn't make her blush like a mad woman— and she told percy more about her home town, and all of the small places she would sneak off to when she was younger.

but, after that, they both went to sleep, and karina wished that leo could invent an anti-dream hat.

her dream started off normally, she was in camp jupiter, sparring with daniel, and everything around her was the same. the smokey gray walls of the training facility, the huge rock wall in the back corner, the rubber mats placed all across the floor for when people did hand-to-hand combat training. everything felt normal to her. and that's when she realized it wasn't just a dream, it was a memory.

"how much money are we betting on today?" daniel asked as he took a swipe at her weak spot on her neck, to which she ducked instinctively, her ponytail whipping across her face as she bounced back up.

"five denarii?" karina asked breathlessly, swiping her foot around the back of his knees, to which he jumped up above it, landing with a soft thump back onto the mat. "loser has to kiss octavian's cheek?"

"gross!" daniel exclaimed, blocking a hit to his face. "why not just five denarii?"

"because," karina replied, swiping her hand across her forehead to wipe off the line of sweat that had formed. "if i make it that easy, there will be no winner."

daniel paused, pursing his lips. "you're right," he finally said. "but, let's make it hand-to-hand, now. whoever can keep the other on the ground for six seconds wins."

karina smirked, and clasped her gladius back into her necklace, tying it around her neck. "okay, danny," she agreed. "it's on."

daniel threw his black iron sword onto the mat next to them, and got into a sparring stance, his fists positioned strategically in front of his face, his eyes narrowed into slits as he stared at her. "i'm not kissing octavian."

karina's smirk widened, and she got into the same stance. "suck's to suck," she said, and immediately threw a left hooked punch into his side, catching him off guard.

daniel staggered slightly, his right foot losing its footing for a moment, and he looked at her with a competitive smirk. "oh, so that's how we're going to play?"

karina gave an innocent shrug of her shoulders. "i'm just doing what you asked."

daniel chuckled, shaking his head. "it's so on, nina."

and with that, they both began to fight.

they circled each other with calculating eyes, both of them knowing where each other's weak spots are. daniel attacked her waist with a round kick, knocking her backwards, and karina quickly retaliated by latching his wrist in her hand, judo flipping him over her shoulder, making him slam to the mat with a loud smack!

karina immediately dove down on top of him, clasping his arms on either side of him to keep him in place, and she began to count. "one, two three . . . "

daniel thrashed under her weight, and began use his legs to try and bounce her off of him, but she didn't budge, she continued to count, a wide smile plastered on her face. "four . . . five . . . "

"six!" daniel exclaimed, and knocked his hand free from her grasp, sending a punch right into her cheek.

but, just as his fist collided with her face, the scene changed, and karina was no longer in the safe home scape of camp jupiter anymore.

she was alone, and in complete darkness.

karina breathing began to increase as she began to hear the sound of low frequency vibrations reverberating all around her, surrounding her and filling up her senses with a low hum. she began to walk forward blindly, stumbling around to try and find something, anything that may be able to give some sort of stability.

but, searching for something in the darkness was a lost cause, and she knew that. she'd been here before, almost every night. she every time, she'd search and search for hours, for anything that could help her. and, all while doing that, she'd continue to here the low frequency ringing in her ears, slowly driving her insane.

karina stopped moving, standing still in the middle of the endless darkness, and just stayed there.

she didn't move a single inch, mutter a single word, or anything of the sorts. she didn't cough, or sneeze. she didn't cry, or scream for help. she didn't do anything, and she just listened to the sounds of the darkness echoing off the non-existent walls that resided in the deep depths of this prison she was stuck in. she felt the frequencies flowing through her ears and into her brain, entangling it like vines to a rose bush.

you're friends are keeping you chained . . . said a whisper from the darkness.

they keep you restrained from your true power . . .

"what?" karina whispered, backing up slightly, and whipping her head in all directions, trying to find the source of the voice. though, she knew deep down who it really was.

don't play dumb, karina, the voice chided, like a cold breeze in the middle of summer. you know who i am, and you know exactly what i am telling you.

"get out of my head, gaea," karina growled, reaching up to unsheathe her gladius, only to realize that her necklace was gone. she let out a shaky breath, and slowly put down her hand, realization setting into her bones.

she was completely defenseless.

this is just a dream, karina thought to herself. she can't hurt you.

don't be afraid, dear . . . the soft, earthy voice said from all around her, chuckling softly. it was as if gaea had read her mind. i'm not going to hurt you, yet. but, i am going to give you a choice.

"i will have nothing to do with you," karina said hardly, her fists clenched in anger. "get out of my mind! i know you read my thoughts!"

the voice chuckled again, but it wasn't friendly. it was evil, sadistic. very good, dear . . . i was hoping you would come to the realization that we are finally together as one.

karina breathing stuttered, and she felt her stomach clench tightly. "what do you mean . . . together as one?" she asked slowly, her voice shaking in the slightest of ways.

what do i mean . . . ? the voice repeated, as if she was mocking karina. you know exactly what i mean. i have been waiting for this moment since you were born, karina. i've watched you for your whole life, waiting for the time where i am strong enough to finally get to you!

karina frantically shook her head, backing up. "no . . . no! stop lying!" she screamed into the darkness, her voice echoing for miles after her. "you haven't been watching me! you've been asleep!"

that is true, gaea said. but that does not mean that i wasn't still working, and slowly waking. i've known since the second you opened your eyes that you were going to be strong. i could feel it . . . i could feel the potential radiating off you in waves. i knew that you were destined to be great, and i knew that i had to help you get there.

"i'm not destined for anything!" karina insisted. "i'm not destined for whatever greatness you're talking about. and i'm certainly not destined to be anywhere with you."

gaea chucked again, and the sound sent shivers through karina's body. she felt the horrible thoughts and actions gaea has done seep into her body, and into her mind, now becoming her's. she grimaced, and put her hands to her head, cradling it. "stop it! stop putting your thoughts in mine!"

oh, dear . . . you really are clueless, aren't you? gaea sighed, and it felt as if a tornado had blown through the room, making karina stumble onto the floor. let me remind you that you didn't get those certain . . . powers, of yours, from your mother. you got them from me. i gave you those abilities to set you up on the path to greatness. to set you on the right path, with me. join me, karina ashwood. join me and my army, and i will make sure you get the recognition, and power you've been fighting for, and deserve.

"no," karina said lowly, her jaw clenched. "i don't want your power. i don't want to be recognized . . . o—or seen as some queen. i don't care! if you think i'll ever join you . . . or even think of joining you, you're wrong."

we'll see, gaea said amusedly, as if she were laughing at karina. soon enough, you'll be begging me to let you have this offer again. and . . . i might not be so forgiving next time. this is your last chance, karina. join me, or suffer the consequences.

"give me your hardest," karina growled. "i'm not taking shit from you. do whatever you want to me. i'll never come to your side."

karina could almost see the evil smile that was plastered on gaea's face.

you will regret that decision, karina. you will regret not taking the offer while you had the chance.

karina laughed. it wasn't amused laugh, it was humorless, and full of hate. "i'm flattered that you would even think i would ever join your army. it warms my heart, really."

you're attitude will get you nowhere, daughter of ceres, gaea said threateningly. it will only get worse from here. i am warning you now, karina. i don't hold back on my enemies.

karina shrugged her shoulders, but she couldn't help but feel unnerved by gaea's words. "i've already died once, i don't think i can die again quite yet."

gaea chuckled. we'll see about that, dear. now, wake up, you're little boyfriend awaits you. and, so do i.

karina awoke with a gasp, and let out a strangled scream, quickly clasping a hand over her mouth to try and stifle it, so the others don't hear. her breathing was heavy, and labored, and there was a thin layer of cold sweat coated across her forehead.

she ripped the covers off of her body, and sat on the edge of her bed, watching as her whole body shook frighteningly, and she swallowed thickly, trying to slow her breathing down. she tried to make herself seem strong, and unafraid in front of gaea, but in reality, she was terrified. what gaea had said . . . it scared her.

we are finally together as one.

karina's hands shook as she raked them through her hair nervously. she didn't want to think about it anymore, she didn't want to think about anything right now.

she slowly began to get up from her bed, and she walked into her bathroom, splashing some water on her face repeatedly, trying to shake the thoughts and memories of gaea from her mind. she sighed deeply as her hands dug into the counter, staring at herself as she looked in the mirror.

her hair was a mess, and her clothes were wrinkled all across her body. but, there was one thing that made her do a double take.

karina leaned closer to the mirror, and looked at her eyes. she gasped at the sight she saw. when she looked closer, she could see a thing lining of gold that surrounded her pupil, a few specks of gold fanning out around it, and then just leaving the rest of her eye to its normal green. she touched her finger to the skin just below it, and her heart dropped in fear.

gaea was right. she had become one with her.

karina put her back against the wall, and closed her eyes, just wanting this all to be nothing more than a dream.

but it wasn't, and she knew that it never would just be a dream.

karina suddenly remembered what gaea had said before she woke up: your boyfriend awaits you.

karina let out a soft exhale, and began to quietly walk out of her room, making slow and careful footsteps out to percy's room— making sure that she didn't get caught by coach hedge.

she definitely did not want to be on the other end of his baseball bat.

karina opened his door with ease, and padded into his room, that was dimly lit from the small light in the hallway.

she could faintly see the outline of him sprawled across his bed, his covers draped loosely around him. he was only clad in a pair of low-sitting finding nemo pajama pants, exposing his toned upper body, and prominent v-line. but, she couldn't help but smile amusedly at his choice of pajamas.

karina swallowed, and averted her gaze from his toned abdomen, and instead walked over, and sat down on the edge of the bed, admiring how peaceful he looked as he slept.

his hair was swept messily over his forehead, and his mouth was parted slightly, a small trail of drool slipping down the corner of his lips, making karina smile.

"percy." karina whispered softly.

percy awoke, and he saw her smiling down at him.

her brown hair fell across her shoulders. her vibrant-green eyes were bright with amusement. he remembered the first time he saw her, and how he completely caught her off guard with his huge statement of: "you were in my dreams!" he shook his head at his own embarrassment.

"wh— what's going on?" he asked. "are we there?"

"no," she said, her voice low. "it's the middle of the night."

"you mean . . . " percy's heart started to race. he realized he was only in his finding-nemo pajama pants, in bed. he probably had been drooling, or at least making weird noises as he dreamed. no doubt he had a severe case of pillow hair and his breath didn't smell great. "you sneaked into my cabin?"

karina rolled her eyes. "percy, you'll be seventeen in two months. you can't seriously be worried about getting into trouble with coach hedge."

"uh, have you seen his baseball bat?"

"besides, fish face, i just thought we could take a walk. i had a bad dream, too. i want to show you something— my favorite place aboard the ship."

percy's pulse was still in overdrive, but it wasn't from fear of getting into trouble. "can i, you know, brush my teeth first?"

"you'd better," karina said. "because i'm not kissing you until you do. and brush your hair while you're at it."

karina waited patiently outside his room for him to finish, and once he came out, she began to lead him to the destination.

for a trireme, the ship was huge, but it still felt cozy to karina— like her bunk at camp jupiter. her and percy crept downstairs to the second deck, which karina had explored the day before.

she led percy past the engine room, which looked like a very dangerous, mechanized jungle gym, with pipes and pistons tubes jutting from a central bronze sphere. cables resembling giant metal noodles snaked across the floor and ran up the walls.

"how does that thing even work?" percy asked.

"no idea," karina said. "and annabeth is the only was besides leo who can operate it. she has no clue either."

"that's reassuring."

"it should be fine. it's only threatened to blow up once."

"you're kidding, i hope."

she smiled. "come on."

they worked their way past the supply rooms and the armory. toward the stern of the ship, they reached a set of wooden double doors that opened into a large stable. the room smelled of fresh hay and wool blankets. lining the left wall were three empty horse stalls like the ones they used for unicorns back at camp. the right wall had two empty cages big enough for large zoo animals.

in the center of the floor was a twenty-foot-square see-through panel. far below, the night landscape whisked by— miles of dark countryside crisscrossed with illuminated highways like the strands of a web.

"a glass-bottomed boat?" percy asked.

karina grabbed a blanket from the nearest stable gate and spread it across part of the glass floor. "sit with me."

they relaxed on the blanket as if they were having a picnic, and watched the world go by below. karina's right leg sat on top of percy's left leg, and their hands were connected in between them, karina's head leaning down on percy's shoulder peacefully.

"annabeth told me that leo built the stables so pegasi could come and go easily," karina said. "only he didn't realize that pegasi prefer to roam free, so the stables are always empty."

"what do you mean come and go easily?" he asked. "wouldn't a pegasus have to make it down two flights of stairs?"

karina rapped her knuckles on the glass. "these are bay doors, like on a bomber."

percy gulped. "you mean we're sitting on doors? what if they opened?"

"i suppose we'd fall to our deaths. but they won't open. most likely."

"great."

karina laughed. "tell me something about your life at camp half-blood. something interesting."

percy looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. "well, i have a lot of those," he began. "but, this room reminds me of the time me, annabeth, and my bestfriend grover were all riding in the back of a zoo truck in las vegas, trying to find zeus's lightning bolt that i was accused of stealing. i was twelve."

karina raised her head from percy's shoulder, looking at him with an incredulous expression. "you were accused of stealing the master bolt?"

percy nodded. "yeah, and i had to return it to him myself. my twelve year old self was peeing himself."

karina let out a laugh, and shook her head at him. "that's not even close to all the insane stories you have, isn't it?"

percy shook his head. "definitely not. i could go on for hours about the crazy, and probably illegal things that i was forced to do before meeting you."

"i want to hear every-single-story," karina told him. "not all at once. but, over time."

percy smiled at her. "i'll tell you anything you want, rina."

she let out a deep breath, and leaned her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart— which, was beating a little faster than normal.

"karina," percy said hesitantly. "in new rome, demigods can live their whole lives in peace, right?"

karina's expression turned guarded. "well, of course. but, percy, i don't want to take you away from your true camp. you belong at camp half-blood, with your family— "

"i know," percy said. "but, while i was there, at your camp, i saw so many demigods living without fear: kids going to college, couples getting married and raising families. there's nothing like that at camp half-blood. i kept thinking about you and me . . . and maybe someday when this war with the giants is over . . . "

it was hard to tell him the golden light, but he thought karina was blushing. "oh," she said.

percy was afraid he'd said too much. maybe he'd scared her with his big plans of the future. she was usually the one with the plans. percy cursed himself silently.

even though he hadn't known karina for as long as he'd liked, he still felt like he should know so much more about her than he does. he doesn't know where any of the scars that decorate her body are from, or what her childhood was like. he was terrified of doing something wrong and ruining things.

"i'm sorry," he said. "i just . . . i had to think of that to keep going. to give me hope. forget i mentioned—"

"no!" she said, grabbing his hands. "no, percy. gods, that sounds amazing. it's just . . . i'm scared that we may have burned that bridge. if we can't repair things with the romans— well, the two sets of demigods have never gotten along. that's why the gods kept us separate. i don't know if you could ever belong there anymore. hell, i might not even belong there after this."

percy remained silent, his eyes trained their entwined hands as he silently traced his thumb over her knuckles. "i was having a nightmare when you woke me up," he admitted.

he told karina what he'd seen.

even the most troubling parts didn't seem to surprise her. her heart dropped and she shook her head sadly when he described nico's imprisonment in the bronze jar. she got an angry glint in her eyes when he told her about the giants planning some sort of rome-destroying extravaganza that would include their painful deaths as the opening event.

"nico is the bait," she murmured. "gaea's forces must have captured him somehow. but we don't know exactly where they're holding him."

somewhere in rome," percy said. "somewhere underground. they made it sound like nico still had a few days to live, but i don't see how he could hold out so long with no oxygen."

"five more days, according to nemesis," karina said. "the kalends of july. at least the deadline makes sense now."

"what's a kalends?"

karina smirked. she found it funny whenever she could explain roman aspects to percy, even though he had become a roman himself for a few days. "it's just a roman term for the first of the month. that's where we get the word calendar. but how can nico survive that long? we should talk to hazel."

"now?"

she hesitated. "no. it can wait until morning. i don't want to hit her with this news in the middle of the night."

"the giants mentioned a statue," percy recalled. "and something about a talented friend who was guarding it. whoever this friend was, she scared otis. anyone who can scare a giant . . . "

karina gazed down at a highway snaking through dark hills. "percy, i was having a nightmare, too. before i came to get you."

percy waited for karina to explain, looking at her with a patient expression.

"i talked to gaea," she finally said, and it felt as if an anvil had been released off her shoulders, but the pit that had began to form in her stomach only replaced the feeling. "and . . . it wasn't good."

percy's expression turned worried, and he scooted closer to her. but, before he began to speak, he cut himself off when he looked into her eyes, which were illuminated by the moonlight. he looked at them quizzically, and put his fingers to her cheek, tracing the skin just below her eyes softly. "your eyes . . . " he whispered, his heart feeling heavy.

karina swallowed, and looked at the stables behind percy. "i know," she said. "that's what i was going to talk to you about."

karina began to explain her dream to percy, telling him what gaea said, and how they are finally together as one. percy tried to remain neutral as she told him about this, but he couldn't subside the pit that began to develop in his stomach at the sound of this.

"she's been watching you, your whole life?" percy asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

karina shrugged her shoulders tiredly. "that's what she said. and . . . she's the one that gave me these powers. no other child of ceres can do what i do with the earth."

percy gripped karina's hand tighter. "and your eyes . . . does that mean, she's now a part of you?"

she hesitated. "i . . . i wish i could say no. but, i don't think there is any of answer except, yes."

percy hated to see the look of pain that was showing in his girlfriend's eyes. they were not the same soft sage green eyes that he got lost in. they seemed to make her features look more bold, and the gold lining that danced in her eyes seemed more vibrant than the rest of it, making it pop out every time you look at her.

"we're going to defeat her, rina," percy promised, taking her face into his hands. "we're going to make sure that she doesn't hurt you anymore after this. you're going to get through this."

karina let out a soft breath, leaning her head into his hands, closing her eyes. "don't make promises that you don't know if you can keep," she whispered.

percy shook his head. "don't think like that, rina," he chided. "this war will end. we are going to make sure of it."

karina nodded slightly, though her mind refused. she didn't want to have false hope that she would make it out of this alive, especially now with gaea controlling her.

though, despite this, karina managed a faint smile. "some romantic evening, huh? no more bad things until the morning." she kissed him softly. "we'll figure everything out. i've got you for now. and that's all that matters."

"right," percy said. "no more talking about gaea rising, nico being held hostage, the world ending, the giants— "

"shut up, kelp face," she ordered. "just hold me for a while."

they sat together cuddling, enjoying each other's warmth. before karina knew it, the drone of the ship's engine, the dim light, and the comfortable feeling of being with percy made her eyes heavy, and she drifted to sleep.

when she woke, daylight was coming through the glass floor, and a boy's voice said, "oh . . . you are in so much trouble."

karina had seen frank surrounded by cannibal ogres, facing down an unkillable giant, and even unleashing thanatos, the god of death. but she'd never seen frank look as terrified as he did now, finding the two of them passed out in the stables.

"what . . . ?" percy rubbed his eyes. "oh, we just fell asleep."

frank swallowed. he was dressed in running shoes, dark cargo pants, and a vancouver winter olympics t-shirt with his roman centurion badge pinned to the neck (which seemed either sad or hopeful to karina, now that they were renegades). frank averted his eyes as if the sight of them together might burn him.

"everyone thinks you've been kidnapped," he said. "we've been scouring the shop. when coach hedge finds out— oh, gods, you've been here all night?"

"frank!" karina exclaimed. "we just came down here to talk. we fell asleep. accidentally. that's it."

"kissed a couple of times," percy said.

karina glared at him. "not helping!"

"we'd better . . . " frank pointed to the stable doors. "uh, we're supposed to meet for breakfast. would you explain what you did— i mean didn't do? i mean . . . i really don't want that faun— i mean satyr— to kill me."

frank ran.

when everyone finally gathered in the mess hall, it wasn't quite as bad as frank had feared. piper and annabeth looked mostly relieved, but jason was glaring daggers at percy, thinking he did something more with karina. leo couldn't stop grinning and muttering, "classic. classic." only hazel seemed scandalized, maybe because she was from the 1940's. she kept fanning her face and wouldn't meet percy's eyes.

naturally, coach hedge went ballistic; but karina found it hard to take the satyr seriously since he was barely five feet tall.

"never in my life!" coach bellowed, waving his bat and knocking over a plate of apples. "against the rules! irresponsible!"

karina winced at the satyr's yelling, her head pounding slightly as she was still recovering from her concussion. "coach," she said, "it was an accident. we were talking, and we fell asleep."

"besides," percy said. "you're starting to sound like terminus."

hedge narrowed his eyes. "is that an insult, jackson? 'cause i'll— i'll terminus you, buddy!"

percy tried not to laugh. "it won't happen again, coach. i promise. now, don't we have other things to discuss?"

hedge fumed. "fine! but i'm watching you, jackson. and you, karina ashwood, i thought you had more dignity, as a roman— "

jason cleared his throat. "so grab some food, everybody. let's get started."

karina sat down beside leo, who was sitting at the head of the table. as she began to eat, leo leaned toward her with an sarcastic grin on his face, and he whispered: "hey, if you're going to "talk" with percy, on my ship, at least pick somewhere better than the stables."

karina's mouth gaped open, and she whacked leo's head away from her's. "leo!" she hissed. "i didn't do anything with him!"

leo flicked his tongue between his teeth as he grinned. "okay, chica. just saying, though, doing it in the stables is basically asking for an std."

karina flipped him off, sending an evil look in his direction as he cracked up, stuffing his face with a spoonful of eggs as he giggled childishly.

karina rolled her eyes, and when leo finally settled down, the meeting started.

the meeting with like a war council with donuts. percy told them about his dream— the twin giants planning a reception for them in an underground parking lot with rocket launchers: nico di angelo trapped in a bronze jar, slowly dying from asphyxiation with pomegranate seeds at his feet.

hazel choked back a sob. "nico . . . oh, gods. the seeds."

"you know what they are?" annabeth asked.

hazel nodded. "he showed them to me once. they're from our stepmother's garden."

"your step . . . oh," percy said. "you mean persephone."

karina had never met her . . . sister, (that was really weird to say). but, she can always sort of sense her looking over her. she knew that persephone was the one that kept her farm from dying when she was younger and unable to work. she also knew that because they'd get fresh pomegranates every year when they went in season.

"the seeds are a last-resort food," hazel said. karina could tell she was nervous, because all the silverware on the table was starting to move toward her. "only children of hades can eat them. nico always kept some in case he got stuck somewhere. but is he's really imprisoned— "

"the giants are trying to lure us," annabeth said. "they're assuming we'll try to rescue him."

"well, they're right!" hazel looked around the table, her confidence apparently crumbling. "won't we?"

"of course, hazel," karina said reassuringly, looking at her with a promise showing in her eyes.

"yes!" coach hedge yelled with a mouthful of napkins. "it'll involve fighting, right?"

"hazel, of course we'll help him," frank said. "but how long do we have before . . . uh, i mean, low long can nico hold out?"

"one seed a day," hazel said miserably. "that's if he puts himself in a death trance."

"a death trance?" annabeth scowled. "that doesn't sound fun."

"it keeps him from consuming all his air," hazel said. "like hibernation, or a coma. one seed can sustain him one day, barely."

"oh, gods," karina whispered to herself in distress, her hands pressing against the arms of her chair.

"and he has five seeds left," percy said. "that's five days including today. the giants must have planned it that way, so we'd have to arrive by july first. assuming nico is hidden somewhere in rome— "

"that's not much time," piper summed up. she put her hand on hazel's shoulder. "we'll find him. at least we know what lines of the prophecy mean now. 'twins snuff out the angel's breath, who holds the key to endless death.' your brother's last name: di angelo angelo is italian for 'angel'."

"oh, gods," hazel muttered. "nico . . . "

"we'll rescue him," percy promised her. "we have to. the prophecy says he holds the key to endless death."

"that's right," piper said encouragingly. "hazel, your brother went searching for the doors of death in the underworld, right? he must've found them."

"he can tell us where the doors are," percy said, "and how to close them."

hazel took a deep breath. "yes. good."

"uh . . . " leo shifted in his chair. "one thing. the giants are expecting as to do this, right? so we're talking into a trap?"

hazel looked at leo like he'd made a rude gesture. "we have no choice!"

"don't get me wrong, hazel. it's just that your brother, nico . . . he knew about both camps, right?"

"well, yes," hazel said.

"he's been going back and forth," leo said. "and he didn't tell either side."

jason sat forward, his expression grim. "you're wondering if we can trust the guy. so am i."

karina's eyes averted to jason immediately, a death stare forming on her face. "are you being serious right now?"

hazel shot to her feet. "i don't believe this. he's my brother. he brought me back from the underworld, and you don't want to help him?"

frank put a hand on her shoulder. "nobody's saying that." he glared at leo. "nobody had better be saying that."

"yeah," karina said, slowly rising to her feet, her eyes staring directly at jason. "nobody's saying anything like that."

leo blinked. "look, guys. all i mean is— "

"hazel, karina," jason said. "leo is raising a fair point. i remember nico from camp jupiter. now i find out he also visited camp half-blood. that does strike me as . . . well, a little shady. do we really know where his loyalties lie? we just have to be careful."

hazel's arms shook a silver platter zoomed toward her and hit the wall to her left, splattering scrambled eggs. "you . . . the great jason grace . . . the praetor i looked up to. you were supposed to be so fair, such a good leader. and now you . . . " hazel stomped her foot and stormed out of the mess hall.

karina turned to the two boys with anger fuming in her eyes, but her main focus was on jason. "how you would feel if that was thalia stuck in a bronze jar?" karina asked with a deadly tone, and from the center of the table, small vines began to move toward jason slowly from the bouquet of flowers in the middle, threateningly inching closer to him. "how would you feel if i was questioning her loyalty to her family? and questioning whether we should save her, or let her rot to death?"

jason scoffed, his eyes glancing at the sharp thorns that were nearing his fingertips, and back to her death glare, which unnerved him. "you know that's not the same thi— "

"how?" karina asked hardly, her jaw clenching. "how is it not the same thing? is it because you know that if it was that situation, you'd be in the wrong? or is it because you're a fucking asshole, who only thinks about himself?"

jason widened his eyes, and began to back up slowly, watching the vines began to wrap around his arms, increasing speed. "karina, you need to calm down— "

"calm down?" she seethed. "what i need to do, is leave this fucking room before i knock one of you two unconscious." she moved her eyes between the two boys, who were both looking at her with looks of terror, and she stepped back so harshly, her chair flew backwards, slamming against the wall. and then, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

"hazel, karina!" leo called after them. "ah, jeez. i should— "

"you've done enough," frank growled. he got up to follow her, but piper gestured for him to wait.

percy stood up from his chair, staring hardly at jason as he struggled to get his arms out of the sharp vines that had entangled his arms. red scratches were littered across him once he removed them, and percy couldn't help but feel good to see them. "what the fuck is your problem?" percy asked jason, his hand clenched in a fist.

"what are you talking about? i was only saying what could be true— "

"no," percy interrupted. "what you did was you pushed hazel and karina's buttons," he turned to leo. "you too. and you caused her to lash out. and she was being nice. she could've done a lot worse to you, and you know that. you're just lucky she fucking loves you."

jason glared at percy. "you think i don't know what she's capable of? i've known her way longer than you, big guy, you can't say anything."

percy smacked his fist against the table, and began to walk over to the other side. "that's it— "

"enough!" annabeth demanded, grabbing percy's arm harshly, forcing him back into his seat. "you both are acting like children. cut it out."

percy grinded his teeth in seething anger, and jason roughly sat back down, turning to the window, but they both stayed quiet.

"give them time," piper advised. then she frowned at leo and jason. "you guys, that was pretty cold."

jason looked shocked again. "cold? i'm just being cautious!"

"he's hazel's brother, and karina's best friend, and he's dying," piper said.

"i'll go talk to hazel," frank insisted.

"i'll go calm karina down," percy said.

"no," piper said. "let them cool down first. trust me on this. i'll go check on them in a few minutes."

"but . . . " frank huffed like an irritated bear. "fine. i'll wait."

percy still looked ready to shoot up from his chair and race downstairs, and annabeth kept a firm grip on his arm, her eyes narrowed at him, and he stayed put.

from up above came a whirring sound like a large drill.

"that's festus," leo said. "i've got him on autopilot, but we must be nearing atlanta. i'll have to get up there . . . uh, assuming we know where to land."

everyone turned to percy.

jasom raised an eyebrow, seemingly calmed down from his previous outburst on percy. "you're capatin salt water. any ideas from the expert?"

was that resentment in his voice? percy wondered if jason was secretly miffed about the duel in kansas. jason had joked about it, but percy figured that they both harbored a little grudge. you couldn't put two demigods in a fight and not have them wonder who was stronger.

"i'm not sure," he admitted. "somewhere central, high up so we can get a good view of the city. maybe a park with some woods? we don't want to land a warship in the middle of downtown. i doubt even the mist could cover up something that huge."

leo nodded. "on it." he raced for the stairs.

frank settled back into his chair uneasily. percy felt bad for him. on the trip to alaska, him and karina watched hazel and frank grow close. he knew how protective frank felt toward her, since he felt that way for karina as well. he also noticed the baleful look frank was giving leo. he decided it might be a good idea to get frank off the ship for a while.

"when we land, i'll scout around in atlanta," percy said. "frank, i could use your help."

"you mean turn into a dragon again? honestly, percy, i don't want to spend the whole quest being everyone's flying taxi."

"no," percy said. "i want you with me because you've got the blood of poseidon. maybe you can help me figure out where to find salt water. besides, you're good in a fight."

that seemed to make frank feel a little better. "sure. i guess."

"great," percy said. "we should take one more. i'll go find karina— "

"oh, no!" coach hedge barked. "karina is grounded."

percy stared at him like he was speaking a foreign language. "excuse me?"

"jackson, you and ashwood are not going anywhere together!" hedge insisted. he glared at percy, daring him to mouth off. "karina is especially not allowed to, either, with that concussion of her's. i've put her on lockdown. i'll go with frank and mr. sneaky jackson. the rest of you guard the ship and make sure karina doesn't break anymore rules!"

wonderful, percy thought. a boys' day out with frank and a bloodthirsty satyr, to find salt water in a landlocked city.

"this," he said, "is going to be so much fun."

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ok hi i'm actually rlly proud with this chapter ?? like i'm fr rly happy with my writing ??

anyways jason and percy arguing over karina⁉️ yes i agree.