I jerked awake. Something was wrapped around me and I thrashed around, trying to break free. I only succeeded in making my restraints tighter.

"Percy, you're okay. Sh, it's okay. It's just me."

"Dad?" I settled and looked up at him. He nodded and kissed my head. "Why are you here?"

"I could tell something was wrong, so I decided to check on you. Good thing I did, you probably would've died." For once there wasn't any concern from anything else. This was just concern from that, no worry or accusations that I was trying to get myself killed. Dad sighed. "Why were you in the woods so late?" Spoke too soon.

"I wanted a break. Mom was hovering, so I decided to go on a walk. I had Riptide with me, so don't go accusing me of trying to get myself killed."

"I wasn't planning on it." He smoothed my hair. "You said something about Nico. Do you remember what it was?"

A frown settled on my face and I shook my head. There was something tugging at the back of my mind, something important, but the more I thought about it the more it retreated. Eventually I gave up. It would come back in its own time.

"How long have you been here?"

It was Dad's turn to frown. "You were awake when I showed up. Maybe your blood loss made you forget some of what happened. Or maybe you're just that forgetful." He forced a laugh. "Do you mind if we sit here for a little bit?"

"I'm fine with that." The shadows made the area where we sat cold, so Dad's almost unnatural warmth felt nice. Water lifted from the pond and moved around us, making shapes. "Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"You're my daughter. If I had raised you, I would've done this for you at least once." The water fell and Dad sighed. "I really am sorry. I forget how attached mortals get to each other. I just- I wish you would've accepted immortality. Do you know how nice it would be not to wake up and worry about you dying? I've watched so many heroes die and it's almost never pretty."

"Dad, thanks for ruining the moment." I mumbled. I should've stood up, but Dad's grip was so warm and calming. I couldn't bring myself to leave it.

"We should probably get you back to the house, your mother has to be freaking out."

"You didn't tell her right?" Panic surged through my veins.

Dad smiled at me and he kissed my forehead. "Not this time. I haven't said  a word of this to her. I know I'm not the best dad in the world, but I'm trying. It's hard, but I'm trying. I just need you to try to work with me on this."

"What do you mean?"

"Just...talk to me. I'm your dad." He ruffled my hair. "If you need me, I'll do what I can to help. I'll need to send Apollo or someone if you're not here or undersea. But I'm going to try to help you okay?"

I stared at him. I couldn't tell if he was doing this because he actually cares, or because he has some hidden agenda. It didn't matter because I nodded.

"Good. Come on, I wasn't kidding about your mom. I can tell her you were with me, I can stand getting yelled at."

"I don't like it when you guys fight," I said, not explaining why. It's the same reason why Mom got angrier than normal when she argued with him. She didn't like that he had ahold of me, that she couldn't put herself between him and me. It's been years since that was necessary, but old habits die hard.

Dad and I walked back to the house without saying anything else to each other. He hummed a little bit. It sounded like something you'd hear on a boat, almost like a sea shanty. I don't know why I found that surprising considering who he was. When we entered the house, Mom rushed over and hugged me.

"Where were you?" Kendra asked.

"At the pond with my dad. Before that, I don't remember. I think I passed out for a little bit."

"Here." Bracken pressed a cup of water into my hands. "You were gone for a while."

I quickly drained the cup and listened to the others talk for a little bit before I realized something.

"Where's Nico?" I asked.

"Sleeping." Mom broke away from her quiet conversation with Dad. I nodded and looked out the window.

"Is something wrong?" Grandpa asked.

"You ever get that feeling that something bad is going to happen? I've got that feeling right now."

"As long as you stay in the yard, you'll be fine. There's nothing to worry about-"

"Except for solstices and equinoxes. Then the barriers drop." Seth said. "That was a fun night."

"Seth makes a habit to cause a lot of trouble." Kendra rolled her eyes. "Grandpa tries to keep tech out of the hands of the satyrs as much as possible but Seth keeps getting them batteries and other stuff."

"It doesn't matter too much." I said.

"How can you say that? You don't know how-" Grandpa started before I interrupted.

"One of my best friends is a satyr. His name's Grover and he's the Lord of the Wild, chosen one of Pan and trust me, there are worse things for satyrs to do. We got stuck in the Lotis Hotel and Casino and he played a game where he was a deer hunting humans. It was kinda unnerving."

"The equinox is coming up soon. It might be best for you to leave before then. There are plenty of creatures here who will want to harm Percy and those close to her." Dad looked at the calendar. "I know you take precautions, but I would rather keep my daughter safe and not start a war with my brother."

"It'll be fine, Dad. I've survived the Pit, I think I can survive one day."

"I hope so," he mumbled.

Woah

An update?

Looks like my crappy senior year is being helpful in some way.

Anyway...

I have more chapters to type.

See yah