I tossed and turned. I couldn't sleep. Michael and a few others stayed up planning how they were going to get back at Areas Cabin. While we were in the council, Clarisse and a few others tried to steal the chariot, but Cabin 7 had set up traps and things around it so now a bunch of the Ares campers were cursing in rhymes and a few could only sign show toons or talk in song lyrics. I finally had enough and got up dragging my blanket with me and marched out the door.

Will and Kayla tried to stop me, but I was too tired angry and overwhelmed by everything and these guys didn't seem to take anything seriously except the dam chariot. Sure it was almost the exact same as our fathers sun chariot.

It looked the same, similar in details carved into the edges and pictures of the sun. This one wasn't as bright gold as Apollo's, but still gold with rose gold accents. The chariot flew on its own, which was aided with the bright white, pink, saffron and bright red feathered wings. And then it hit me as I walked out of the cabin, like a punch to the gut. It looks familiar to Apollo's chariot, because in fact Apollo's chariot belonged to Helios...and the chariot we looted was Eos's the goddess of dawn. She also had a chariot which, she drove.

I growled even more. I didn't want anything to do with that stupid thing. I stomped out of the cabin and slammed the door. I would have gone to the Area cabin but nope, not until Raph came to apologize. I spun in the other direction and stomped to Cabin 3.

I knocked gently on the door. There was no answer after waiting. I tried a little louder. Still no answer. I slowly and carefully pushed the door open. I knew Percy slept like the dead sometimes, but this seemed excessive. I closed the door behind me and as I turned I saw why he wasn't getting up.

I sighed sadly. He was twisted in his blankets thrashing. Nightmares or dreams are a normal demigod thing, but it always sucked. I dumped my blanket on Tyson's bed, and knelt down beside Percy. I shook his shoulders. Instead of waking up, it was like I froze suddenly and somehow my Sight appeared. But I was now seeing what Percy was seeing. I could feel my knees on the hardwood floor, and my hand on his shoulder, but I was sucked into his dream.

In my mind's eye, I saw Rachel Elizabeth Dare was throwing darts at Percy's picture.

She was standing in her room.

(I had been in her room twice. I was doing my best to be friends with her, considering we almost went to the same school, and her and Percy were kind of friends. She had a weird fascination with the Greek stuff- maybe because she could see through the mist and Percy had asked for help and she saw a whole bunch of crazy Greek Mythology shit for a mortal. If I got past her weird thing with Percy, she was kinda cool. I liked her better then Annabeth. And I told Percy that. Anyways. Her room...Rachel doesn't have a room. She has the top floor of her family's mansion, which is a renovated brownstone in Brooklyn. Her "room" is a huge loft with industrial lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows. It's about twice as big as my mom's apartment.)

Some alt rock was blaring from her paint-covered Bose docking system. (I smiled, I missed the sound of music. I kind of wished I could call the sight whenever I wanted to listen, but it took a lot of energy to call The Sight and pay attention to my surroundings.) Rachel's only rule about music was that no two songs on her iPod could sound the same, and they all had to be strange- I loved it. I had shown her a few indie bands and some of my old school rock vinyl. I liked a girl who appreciated the old music.

The picture she was attacking was a painting of Percy standing over the giant Antaeus. Rachel had painted it a couple of months ago, apparently. Percy's expression in the picture was fierce- disturbing, even- so it was hard to tell if he was the good guy or the bad guy, but Rachel said he'd looked just like that after the battle.

"Demigods," Rachel muttered as she threw another dart at the canvas. "And their stupid quests."

Most of the darts bounced off, but a few stuck. One hung off his chin like a goatee. Someone pounded on her bedroom door.

"Rachel!" a man shouted. "What in the world are you doing? Turn off that-"

Rachel scooped up her remote control and shut off the music. "Come in!"

Her dad walked in, scowling and blinking from the light. He had rust-colored hair a little darker than Rachel's. It was smushed on one side like he'd lost a fight with his pillow. His blue silk pajamas had "WD" monogrammed on the pocket. (Seriously, who has monogrammed pajamas?)

"What is going on?" he demanded. "It's three in the morning."

"Couldn't sleep," Rachel said.

On the painting, a dart fell off Percy's face. Rachel hid the rest behind her back, but Mr. Dare noticed.

"So . . . I take it your friend isn't coming to St. Thomas?" That's what Mr. Dare called me. Never Percy. Just your friend. Or young man if he was talking to me, which he rarely did. I snorted. Girls and their boy problems. I had told Rachel Percy wasn't available. But she had insisted he go with her on this trip. He had been humming and going, stalling for time.

Rachel knit her eyebrows. "I don't know."

I rolled my eyes. Clearly he wasn't, she needed to get her head wrapped around the idea that Percy and Annabeth were an unofficial thing.

"We leave in the morning," her dad said. "If he hasn't made up his mind yet-"

"He's probably not coming," Rachel said miserably. "Happy?"

Mr. Dare put his hands behind his back. He paced the room with a stern expression. I imagined he did that in the boardroom of his land development company and made his employees nervous.

"Are you still having bad dreams?" he asked. "Headaches?"

Rachel threw her darts on the floor. "I should never have told you about that."

"I'm your father," he said. "I'm worried about you."

"Worried about the family's reputation," Rachel muttered.

Her father didn't react- maybe because he'd heard that comment before, or maybe because it was true.

"We could call Dr. Arkwright," he suggested. "He helped you get through the death of your hamster."

"I was six then," she said. "And no, Dad, I don't need a therapist. I just . . ." She shook her head helplessly.

Her father stopped in front of the windows. He gazed at the New York skyline as if he owned it- which wasn't true. He only owned part of it.

"It will be good for you to get away," he decided. "You've had some unhealthy influences. Your friends sister..."

"They aren't related by blood. Their parents are getting married. And I've told you this."

"Doesn't make the statement less true. I think her and that motorcycle boyfriend if hers are terrible influences!" Her dad stated. Stopping his pacing and folding his arms, he turned towards his daughter.

"I'm not going to Clarion Ladies Academy," Rachel said. "And my friends are none of your business."

Mr. Dare smiled, but it wasn't a warm smile. It was more like, Someday you'll realize how silly you sound.

"Try to get some sleep," he urged. "We'll be at the beach by tomorrow night. It will be fun."

"Fun," Rachel repeated. "Lots of fun."

Her father exited the room. He left the door open behind him.

Rachel stared at the portrait of me. Then she walked to the easel next to it, which was covered in a sheet.

"I hope they're dreams," she said.

She uncovered the easel. On it was a hastily sketched charcoal, but Rachel was a good artist. The picture was definitely Luke as a young boy. He was about nine years old, with a wide grin and no scar on his face. I had no idea how Rachel could've known what he looked like back then, but the portrait was so good I had a feeling she wasn't guessing. From what I knew about Luke's life (which wasn't much), the picture showed him just before he'd found out he was a half-blood and had run away from home.

Rachel stared at the portrait. Then she uncovered the next easel. This one was like a punch in the gut. It was me. Standing on a rocky beach, Nico behind me, skeletons scattered all over the floor and my twin blades slashing at Alecto's  leathery bat wing.

She yanked another sheet of a canvas. This picture was even more disturbing. It showed the Empire State Building with lightning all around it. In the distance a dark storm was brewing, with a huge hand coming out of the clouds. At the base of the building a crowd had gathered... but it wasn't a normal crowd of tourists and pedestrians. I saw spears, javelins, and banners- the trappings of an army.

"Percy, Nora" Rachel muttered, as if she knew I was listening, "what is going on?"

The dream faded. I blinked a few times and then shook my head. The Sight was gone and my head was pounding. I shook Percy awake. He groaned and rubbed his eyes. Sitting up he tossed his legs over the side of the bed.

We sat in silence for a second. Both knowing something awful was gonna go down. Something terrible was going to happen. Rachel's drawings were clear. She knew something...but what...that was a whole different issue.

"You saw what I saw, ya?" He signed finally.

I nodded.

"The one of you...?"

"Ya. What about it?" I asked.

He picked his head up and looked at me. His sleep laden eyes studied me. I always had a hard time lying to Percy. Nico's words came back to me again.

"That happened already. Didn't it."

His face was flat. It was a statement and not a question. I nodded. He straightened his back, never taking his eyes off me. Then as if realization finally dawned. His eyes went wide.

"You went through with Nico's plan."

I nodded again. Percy opened and closed his mouth a few times, looking like a very sleepy fish.

"It worked?"

"Well I ain't dead." I signed back rolling my eyes.

"But...it worked?"

I nodded again.

"You...took out a Fury?!" I could see the shock and disbelief on his face.

I spent a good chunk of the night explaining exactly what happened the day I disappeared for a few days last month. He stayed quiet listening. It felt good to finally tell someone fully what happened.

"But please don't tell anyone, I don't need that kinda attention."

"You didn't tell Raph?"

I shook my head. Feeling a little bit of regret, but not too much. He still thinks I'm mortal and he left me to fight this war alone. He's lucky I'm invincible.

"Dude. He's gonna be pissed."

"In case you missed it. He left the war council with Clary, over Eos's damn stolen chariot. We're on our own, Perc."

"Wait ..Eos's chariot? As in the goddess of dawn? The one who messed with Raph's head and you ended up cursed? And the one who tried to kidnap you on your birthday?"

I just nodded glummly. "Same chick." I signed.

I saw Percy whistle. We lapsed into silence. (Ha. Good one. I'm always silent except in The Sight, dreams and The Underworld.)

"I see your stuff. You crashing in Tyson's bed?" Percy asked.

I nodded. "I can't stand Michale right now. I needed...away."

Percy nodded and held his hand out and hefted me off the floor and I crashed in Tyson's bed for the night. I didn't care about the rules or what the others would think or what Chiron had to say later. I needed my brother and that was the end of it. They could fight me.

🔆

Next morning I ate breakfast at the end of my table, while everyone else seemed enthralled in the plans for the chariot. I finally had enough and slammed my spoon down grabbed my coffee and slouched over to Percy's table. Chiron tried to do something but I just held my middle finger up and ignored them all.

"Nora...one of these days Posiden or Apollo are going to smite you." Percy tried to lecture me.

I just flipped him off too.

"Curse of Achilles. I can't be smitted. Also, your dad loves me. And I'm Apollo's favorite. It's fine."

I pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and handed it to him. He smoothed it out and then snorted in amusement. I smirked.

"Still have my official doctor's note. I'm good to sit here."

Percy rolled his eyes and went back to his scrambled eggs and blueberry pancakes.

"I really wanna call Rachel and ask what's going on!" He finally let his fork fall while he signed.

"Well camp doesn't have phones..." I signed back thinking. "Mr D and Chiron use IM."

"Can't use cell phones." Percy looked miserable.

"Not when the signals agitate every monster within a hundred miles. Its sending up a flare: Here I am! Please rearrange my face! Even within the safe borders of camp, that's not the kind of advertising we wanted to do, especially not now!"

"Yes I know Nora."

"Well...you can ask Annabeth for her cellphone to call your side Chuck. Sure she would love that!"

Percy's face went white and then became horror stricken.

"I will admire that from her though. It's a literal FIGHT ME." I signed with a cheeky smile.

"No. I won't be asking Annabeth that."

"I could ask her."

"You don't like her. You would ask her that?"

"Ya. Your my brother. We need answers. I saw what you saw during the dream...why wouldn't I do that for you?"

Percy was quiet for a while, chewing his mouth full of pancakes before answering.

"Not right now. Thanks though."

I shrugged.

"And besides she's on the plain now anyways. I wouldn't be able to reach her."

After breakfast was chores. I had already cleaned up after Miss O'Leary and taken her for a long run through the forest and was now sitting on the front step of my cabin steps, I had my note book and pencils in my hand and was trying to ignore the fight between my cabin and Ares cabin. But it's difficult when they keep swooping past your head. I finally gave up, putting my stuff back I walked away from the fighting.

I was on my way to the archery range when I saw Raph coming out of the Ares cabin. I froze. I felt my heart pick up its pace. But then it dropped. Right into my stomach and then my stomach fell out onto the floor. Hot tears burned my eyes. He stopped and turned his head. His dark eyes found me. And for a split second it was just the two of us. Everything else faded.

Until an arrow whizzed passed my head and he had to duck before the arrow got him in the forehead. It burried into the front door of the cabin. Raph spun grabbed one of the many spears that where leaning on the wall and tossed it at Michael and Austin who were driving the chariot. They served out of the way.

I felt the anger and resentment building again. I spun on me heel and stormed away. I saw Percy and Annabeth coming out of Percy's cabin. At this point I figured what the hades. I went to join them. I had to read lips for the first bit.

Annabeth made a face. "You're being generous." She had tripped over a pair of shoes on the front step. I threw an arm out before she tripped down the stairs. She nodded in thanks.

"Hey, give me a break. I don't have Tyson cleaning up after me this summer." Percy came out of the cabin, spotted me helping Annabeth up and started signing. "Hey Nora. Oh, also...thanks for cleaning up!"

Annabeth brushed herself off and glared at Percy. "Three out of five," Annabeth said.

"Hey. I only crashed for a few hours. I cleaned up Tyson's bed. You live in there. My cabin is clean, thank you!" I signed back.

"Why'd you not sleep in your own cabin?"

I sniffed and regarded Annabeth. She looked genuinely concerned.

"My...siblings are being stupid. That Chariot is the worst thing to happen to this camp!"

"Well...anything Eos is the worst." Percy signed. "But I need to know what happened!"

Annabeth held her hand out to stop us. "Wait! Eos?"

I nodded. And explained what I discovered last night.

"Di immortals!" She really is a curse!"

I nodded in agreement.

"Walk and talk. We got a job to do."

Percy handed me a stack of paper. I took them and flipped through. His chore was to sort through reports for Chiron. I didn't mind this job, I liked knowing what was going on. I skimmed through Chiron's stack of reports as we walked. There were messages from demigods, nature spirits, and satyrs all around the country, writing about the latest monster activity. They were pretty depressing.

Little battles were raging everywhere. Camp recruitment was down to zero. Satyrs were having trouble finding new demigods and bringing them to Half-Blood Hill because so many monsters were roaming the country. Our friend Thalia, who led the Hunters of Artemis, hadn't been heard from in months, and if Artemis knew what had happened to them, she wasn't sharing information. Though now she was stuck in a battle with Typhon.

We visited the Aphrodite cabin, which of course got a five out of five. The beds were perfectly made. The clothes in everyone's footlockers were color coordinated. Fresh flowers bloomed on the windowsills. Percy wanted to dock a point because the whole place reeked of designer perfume, but Annabeth ignored him. I agreed though. The cabin made my eyes water with the smell.

"Great job as usual, Silena," Annabeth said.

Silena nodded listlessly. The wall behind her bed was decorated with pictures of Beckendorf. My heart felt like it had fallen out of my chest again. She sat on her bunk with a box of chocolates on her lap, and I remembered that her dad owned a chocolate store in the Village, which was how he'd caught the attention of Aphrodite.

"You want a bonbon?" Silena asked. "My dad sent them. He thought—he thought they might cheer me up."

"Are they any good?" Percy asked.

She shook her head. "They taste like cardboard."

I couldn't say no to Selina's broken face, so I took one with a watery sad smile.

"I'll come find you later okay?"

Selina just nodded glumly and I had to leave, my chest was feeling tight and I felt short of breath. Percy and Annabeth followed quickly behind me.

As we crossed the commons area, another fight broke out between the Ares and Apollo cabins. Some Apollo campers armed with firebombs flew over the Ares cabin in the chariot in question pulled by two pegasi. I watched with a blank face as the roof of the Ares cabin was burning, and naiads from the canoe lake rushed over to blow water on it.

Then the Ares campers called down a curse, and all the Apollo kids' arrows turned to rubber. The Apollo kids kept shooting at the Ares kids, but the arrows bounced off.

Two archers ran by, chased by an angry Ares kid who was yelling in poetry: "Curse me, eh? I'll make you pay! I don't want to rhyme all day!"

Annabeth sighed. "Not that again. Last time Apollo cursed a cabin, it took a week for the rhyming couplets to wear off."

"What are they fighting about anyway?" Percy asked.

While Annabeth wrote something, I started to explain about the train station mission, how we found it and sending Michael back with wounded campers.

"So they've been fighting about who gets it ever since. All week..." Annabeth added.

We ducked as Michael's chariot dive-bombed an Ares camper. The Ares camper tried to stab him and cuss him out in rhyming couplets. He was pretty creative about rhyming those cuss words.

"We're fighting for our lives," Percy said, "and they're bickering about some stupid chariot."

"Yep." I signed glaring at my half brothers and sister.

"They'll get over it," Annabeth signed and then waved her hand dismissively. "Clarisse will come to her senses."

I wasn't so sure. That didn't sound like the Clarisse I knew. I sighed in frustration and shook my head. That wasn't going to happen.

🔆