Percy, Thalia, and I set out that night. It was almost like old times, except I never would've been looking for my daughter... that would just be weird. But every step of the way, I thought of her. Taylor was my baby girl, and no one could mess with her like Gaea had. It just wasn't cool. 

We'd figured out that Gaea's new 'lair' was in Nantucket, a little island off the coast of Massachusetts. That was where Ancient Troy, and the Trojan War, were both located. It was also where Cassandra's ghost would've been. 

Cassandra was a princess of Troy during the Trojan War, and she had the power to see the future, like Rachel, and the old Oracle. If Gaea needed to see the outcome of things, that would be exactly hwere she'd go.

I had no idea what Gaea wanted Taylor for. I mean, she was a 6-year-old little girl with barely any power in the world. But that was probably why she'd been chosen; Cassandra had told Gaea the rest of the story. 

"Which way now?" Percy was driving the car down a dimly lit road. It was almost 2:00 a.m.

"Uh... turn left?" Thalia turned the map upside down, trying to align it with the direction, but it was no use. We couldn't use our phones either; no cell service.

Percy veered to the left, going straight through someone's backyard. A dozen lights flicked on, and off again, in a millisecond. 

We came out on a larger road, and I could hear waves. That was a good sign. Finally, we reached a small dock. Only a dingy and a raft floated in the dark waters. 

To be honest, I didn't want to go there by boat- not one bit. But apparently it was the safest way to go. So that was what happened.

Percy helped Thalia and I into the boat. I saw Thalia glance at a picture of Nico and Paige, and I knew she was missing them, and hoping she'd see them again. Percy's eyes were sad as he looked at her, but he tried his best to hide it. 

The night seemed to drag on for hours on end. Eventually, I saw a lighthouse, and I knew we were almost there. 

"Let's close up shop, Karen," an old man's voice said. 

"But I think I hear something!" An old woman's voice replied. I saw the two figures standing on the cliff's edge. 

"Karen, you're going insane. Now get in the car." 

"Well, no need to be so fussy, Ralph!" Karen answered, slamming the car door. 

"You haven't heard a thing in 25 years." I saw Ralph walk over to the car and close the door. We had begun our ascent. 

Climbing up a cliff over water is much different from climbing a climbing wall. If you fall, you die. If you miss a foothold, you die. If you sneeze, you pretty much... die. Every scenario I played in my head involved me dying in some horrifying way, and not being as cheery as Olaf was in Frozen when I get impaled.

"You okay, Wise Girl?" Percy handed me a rope fromt the top of the cliff. He'd already scampered up and was helping Thalia up. I nodded, easing my way up the cliff. 

By the time we were all at the top, it was 3 in the morning. We ran through multiple backyards, and avoided the ones with dogs. My mind blocked out all my other thoughts. I needed Taylor back. 

At around 4:15 am, we reached a large estate. It had a sort of green aura, and vines draped the front. Most of the windows were shattered, and the door hung open. It was too easy. Percy read my mind. He reached for my hand, and I grasped it tightly. It was the only thing I could do that didn't involve me ultimately letting go.

Thalia crept into the front parlor, and motioned for us to follow. Silently, I followed, my heart racing. The greenish aura spirled from under a closed door. 

"Thalia, is this what we're following?" Percy bent down and touched the fog-like substance. 

"I think so, but I dunno." With that, she opened the door. Darkened stairs led down to a fully furished room, red in color, with satiny deep-wine colored sofas and a maroon rug. An altar stood in the center of the room. I got a deadly sense from the room, as if someone else was there. And someone was. 

"Oh!" I heard Taylor's voice behind me. In her hand was a glass of milk. She donned a long nightgown, and a three-foot train. It almost resembled a wedding dress.

"Taylor!" I exclaimed, bending down and hugging her. But she didn't respond. Instead she glanced beyond my left shoulder. I followed her gaze and spotted a beautiful woman.

The woman wore long flowing white robes. She was in her later years, probably around 50 or 60. Her curly brown hair fell perfectly on her side. It was the first time I'd truly seen Gaea. And all in the same instant, I wanted to kill her and worship her. 

Taylor drifted to Gaea's side, and Gaea motioned for her to sit. 

"Deirdre, darling, did you get me my milk?" Taylor/Deirdre nodded, and handed over the challas. Gaea took a sip, and immediately lost 15 years of age. By the time the challas was drained, she could've been 20 years old.

"Madam Gaea, who are these people?" And that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Tears rolled down my face. Taylor had forgotten. She was gone. 

"No!" I screamed, running towards her. But only confusion and fright came to her face. 

"They've gone insane, darling. They want to hurt you." I begged and pleaded, and was so wrapped up in my emotions that I didn't realize when Percy and Thalia were captured. My tears enveloped me, and Taylor was led away from me. One last glance from her gorgeous face met mine, and then she was plunged into darkness. The door closed. I was alone, sitting on the cold stone floor, with no one to save me but myself. 

I don't know how long I was in the room. But my mental health went downhill rapidly. I began to halluncinate images that seemed so real I reached out to touch them. Images of Percy, Taylor, and the kids flooded my mind, escaping with crying fits every few minutes. From time to time, Taylor came and sat down. She watched with such discontent that I almost thought she was back. But it was too late. 

I don't know when it was that Gaea came to speak to me, but it was night. She told me how Deirdre was quite frightened by my recent outbursts, and that I 'must stop.' But then the real Gaea emerged, and told me what she really wanted. 

"You're going to die, Annabeth Jackson. You, your little husband, and your best friend... of course, they're already dead." My heart tore open with that comment, never to be entirely resealed. And with that I was lead to a chamber in an upper level, tears blinding my vision.

The new room was lavishly furnished, every piece sure to have cost more than $1000. There, sitting in a chair across the room, was Taylor/Deirdre. Her innocence was shadowed by her white dress. Gaea led me to a chair, and whispered something to Taylor/Deirdre. A fire in Gaea's eyes burned higher than I'd ever seen. But Taylor resisted. Her mouth hung open. But Gaea placed the knife in her hand. And Taylor advanced. 

"I don't want to do this, but I have to..." Taylor sighed, tears forming in her eyes. Gaea smiled, pleased with how nicely her plan was working out. I didn't even have the strength to plead to Taylor just to remember one memory. I barely had the strength to live. I'd long lost my drive. 

"No, you don't." I stopped crying for a moment long enough to see Luke standing there. Both my older brother and my son, condensed into one person. Taylor glanced at him, eyes wide. Gaea frowned. 

"Hurry along Deirdre, let's go!" But Taylor couldn't. She stood frozen in fear and fright and confusion once more. 

Luke walked forward, his height of 4 feet braver than ever. 

"Taylor, stop! You can't kill Mommy." Something clicked. I saw Taylor's short life pass in front of her eyes; all the picnics, hugs, movies, dinner, late nights, rainy days, sunscreen tantrums, vacations, family, love, time... Who she was. 

"Mommy?" A smile crept onto my lips and I hugged my baby girl tightly. But Gaea wouldn't let her go that easily. 

"Deirdre, what are you doing?" She loomed over Taylor, but Taylor wasn't scared. 

"No." And she stabbed Gaea in the heart. I cried and pulled my youngest twins close to me. 

"You're... amazing." I only caught a glimpse, but I saw Zeus push Gaea to Tartarus once more. Rain poured down on the old house, but even with Taylor back, it wasn't right. Gaea had killed Percy and Thalia. I tried to stay strong for Luke and Taylor's sake, but I couldn't. I let them lead me outside, and I sat down on the front step and cried some more. 

"Why are you crying, Mommy?" But I couldn't answer. It was too hard. Eventually, Taylor gave up asking. I vowed to never move on. I couldn't. But I got up to leave. Taylor and Luke took my hands, then ran ahead to the gate. 

"Wait..." I heard a voice croak. I stole a glance back, and almost had a heart attack from shock. I ran with my arms wide and my last tears of joy left. 

"Percy!" I jumped into him, and he caught me in a passionate kiss. There in the rain in front of Taylor and Luke. There was no shame in it. My love spoke louder than any words could've. I wrapped my arms around Percy's neck, never letting go. My lips were still pressed against his, and I never wanted to need air. Percy held me close to him, and I heard his heart beat, soft and gentle and steady. 

"I thought... Gaea told me... you were-" Percy stopped me, wiping the tears from my face.

"She told me the same thing, but I knew you'd make it." The loyalty in his eyes met mine, and locked.  We stayed there for a while, me resting on his chest in the rain. 

I was too scared to ask about Thalia. But I never needed to. 

Thalia stood at the gate, her eyes wet with tears. I grabbed Percy's hand and dragged him with me to Thalia. We hugged for awhile, and finally, things felt right. I saw my family in thirteen cars along the road. I didn't ask any questions; just thanked the gods of Olympus that we made it out alive and together.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey guys! What did you think? I really hope you liked the ending to 'Missing'! This is not the end of the book, though... you can't get rid of me that easily!! Thank you so much for 1,000 reads on Hero's Daughter! That means so much to me! You have no idea how much it means, actually. Also, thanks a bajillion for 491,375 reads on this!!!!!!!!! That's amazing. Truly, I don't know how to thank you enough. This is probably one of the TOP TEN BEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE!!!!! I love you guys to pieces, I hope you know that!!!!!!!

So... Happy Memorial Day! I want to say thank you to every single member of United States Armed Forces, your service is the reason that our country is still going strong. Let's all take a minute to remember those who lost their lives serving in the military. You remain in our hearts this Memorial Day!

So, I haven't gotten much feedback regarding the new Lena-Generation story, so thats what I'm asking about today!

Question of the Chapter:

1. Should I do the Lena-Gen Story?

2. What are some ideas you want for it? 

Just a reminder, you are amazing~~ have an awesome day!

~PercyAnnabeth20owl