Without Annabeth, Percy was a shell without a soul. He didn't even fidget on the bed and kept staring at the empty ceiling. Will couldn't even force him to eat or drink. Jason had to fetch Piper out of the Aphrodite cabin - which for some reason has been shrieking for days - to charmspeak him into doing it. When it comes to stubbornness, Zeus would be jealous.

"Percy." Rachel tried to get him to talk, but all she got so far was "mmm" or just a "hm". Even when the feelings for him had disappeared, but seeing Percy like this was still hurting her. She was an Oracle, not a Charmspeaker. "Everyone's worried for you."

His eyes were dark like he lost his soul. He didn't look away from the ceiling.

She buried her face in her hands. "Perce, you're . . . you're different when Annabeth became your girlfriend. You became more distant and aggressive."

His mouth quivered. "A . . . aggressive?"

He spoke! Thank the Gods! Rachel wanted to dance and throw flower petals like she'd won the drachma lottery, but she still kept herself together.

She nodded timidly. "I don't know - maybe it's because you're overprotective of her." She took in a deep breath. "I can't date anyone, and I'm not an expert in love, and I probably don't have the right to say this, but I don't think Annabeth's the right girl for you. Relationships work in both ways, yet you spent all your time protecting her."

Percy was silent again, but he closed his eyes and took in a slow breath.

"Thanks," he said, his voice hoarse, "Red."

Rachel Elizabeth Dare. That's how she got her stupid nickname. But if that is the key for Percy to get better, she would broadcast her nickname all over the world.

She blinked back tears. "I worry. Jason worries. We all do. Nico is back in the outside world, searching for Annabeth. She disappeared . . . she wanted to join the Hunters or something. I understand if you want to go after her, but -"

"I'm not going after her."

"What?"

"I said, I'm not going after her," Percy repeated, his voice firm. "If that's what she wants, so be it."

Now it was Rachel's turn to play the silent game.

The door opened.

"I see you finally got him to talk," Chiron said, obviously more relieved. "That is quite a relief. My boy, how are you feeling?"

"I've been better," Percy mumbled and turned his head to face the centaur. He forced himself to sit upright. "Chiron, I'm perfectly fine."

Chiron raised one of his scruffy eyebrows. "Perseus, you aren't to step out this infirmary."

"I'm not. I just want to go to Camp Jupiter for a while to let some steam off. I'm not going to push myself again, OK?"

Chiron stared at him in disbelief. He turned to Rachel to clarify whatever Percy said was true. She nodded and shrugged.

He stroked his beard and exhaled. "Fine. I will grant you permission and transportation to New Rome. Would you like me to inform Praetor Reyna and Frank Zhang?"

Percy sat at the side of the bed. Will poked his head in and glared at the son of Poseidon. Rachel wanted to know how Will became the main camp medic. By threatening patients to stay in the bed? Almost everyone is ADHD, after all.

"Nah. I'd like to give them a surprise. Someone has to be there for Camp Jupiter, right?" Percy forced out his lopsided grin, but his eyes were dull. "Besides, they're busy innovating New Rome. I heard everyone there got pranked by the Hecate cabin by pig balls."

"Trust the Hermes and Hecate cabin in pranks," Rachel remarked sarcastically. "I wonder what they will come up next."

Chiron frowned. "Is that so? Percy, bring them a message when you go to Camp Jupiter: the Hecate and the Hermes cabin gets to do every cabin's chores for a year. I'll get Argus to drive you."

* * *

"Reyna, I think they're chewing on my robes!"

"Zhang, these are mere - get off the council, you pigs!"

Reyna wanted so badly to unsheath her sword and turn all these pigs into pork chops. Unfortunately, these were Roman demigods. Some kind of sorcery had turned them into animals. Probably some mischief of those insufferable Hecate kids, alright.

"Frank! Can you turn into a pig?" Hazel tried to get the pigs away from Terminus, or he'll blast them all into cooked meat. "Try to talk to them."

"I don't know anything about pigs!" Frank protested.

Reyna scowled and impaled the marble floor with her sword. "I will get Camp Half-Blood for this insult."

A new voice said, "Hey, you're really starting World War III just because of a few pigs?"

Reyna turned. "Percy?"

Percy grinned, though his eyes were stormy like the violent ocean.

"Am I too late for the pig party?" he asked. "This is quite a sight."

"What did you Greeks do?" Frank demanded jokingly. "I shall have you executed!"

"Oh no." Percy pretended to be intimidated. "What shall I do."

"Boys!" Reyna and Hazel shouted.

Percy laughed and dragged Lou Ellen from the Hecate cabin in front of him. She crossed her arms and huffed, seeming rebellious.

"Ellen, do it or I'll tell Chiron to add a couple more of zeroes at the back," Percy threatened.

The daughter of Hecate groaned. Soon, all the pigs were back into demigods. Frank had Dakota sitting on him whilst Gwen collapsed on Hazel. Many of them were confused and spat hay out of their mouths, but overall they were fine.

Reyna sheathed her sword. The marble floor still had a slot on it from the blade. "What brings you here, son of Poseidon?"

Percy spread his hands, palms up. "Oh, fearsome praetor of Rome!" Frank coughed. Percy sent him a snarky grin. "I have come to explore this wonderful haven, New Rome! Do I have my request granted?"

Dakota burst out laughing. Gwen smacked him on the head. Hazel leaned on Frank for support as she was laughing her guts out as well as her praetor boyfriend.

Reyna cracked a smile. "Permission granted. No seriously, Jackson. Is Camp Half-Blood okay? How's Annabeth?"

Percy's expression wavered a little, but he covered up as fast as it did. Reyna was kind of worried for the son of Poseidon, but not like a friend. She felt like she wanted to wrap her arms around the Greek and take him away from any harm.

"She joined the Hunt," he said it casually. "And I'm just here."

The others had to take some time processing the sentence's meaning. Hazel's eyes widened. "Percy!" she shouted in exasperation. "You guys broke up! Why?"

"You broke up?" asked Gwen.

"The Aphrodite cabin is going to be furious!" added Frank.

"What happened?" said Dakota.

He sniffed. "Nothing. My fault. I accidentally insulted her Mother and shit got serious. I spent quite some time in the infirmary, and I came to a conclusion that she wasn't right for me. I can't date someone like an Athena girl."

"Oh, my." Reyna's tone was laced with sincere sympathy. "Are you okay? Do you need to rest?"

Another couple broken up by Aphrodite. Another one of her stories.

Another one of her pawns to play like dolls.

Percy shrugged. "That's why I came here. I needed something to get my mind off of things for a bit. Got anything for me to do?"

Reyna looked at Frank and he looked at Reyna.

"Actually," Frank offered, "I could take a few days of rest. Reyna, you should too. Perce can cover for me."

"Frank!" Hazel scolded.

Reyna considered this. "But that is not allowed in the Roman Law."

"You broke almost every law," Frank said to Percy, "so why not another? Reyna needs a day off. And so do all of us. If you need something to keep you busy, this is the perfect -"

"Zhang!" Gwen chided. "The rules are one thing, but telling someone that has just went through an emotional breakdown to cover up for you as praetor? Are you mad?"

Percy waved his hands. "No, actually, it's awesome. I could cover up for you guys. Jason is at Camp Half-Blood so I have nothing to do there. So, when do I start?"