︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

DAYS IN THE SUN

chapter fourteen
❛ 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝, 𝚓𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜𝚘𝚗. ❜

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

     SOLIDERS RUSHED AROUND the deck as Amara made her way to a railing, staring at the sea as she watched the waves go up and down then repeat. Her hands gripped the railing tightly as they hit a strong wave, humid steam looming over her head as she flinched back from the water that was splashed her way.

"Staring," she called out, aware of the son of Poseidon's gaze. "Is rude." He shrugged as he made his way to her side. "And calling people monsters isn't the nicest thing either," he pointed out with a small smirk knowing he had a point.

"It's true."

"Not without reason," the boy corrected as his voice turned soft. Her eyes narrowed as she looked over at Percy. "What are you trying to say, Jackson?"

"That maybe, if you talk to me about—"

Clarisse's cheer cut the boy off. "At last," the daughter of Ares held a proud smirk as she called for the captain. "Captain, full steam ahead!"

A groaning noise could be heard from underneath their feet as Annabeth and Tyson joined the duo. The cyclops held a nervous expression as he looked around. "Too much strain on the pistons," he muttered. "Not meant for deep water."

Sparing a glance to the monster on Percy's left, she switched her gaze to her surrounds. The north side were littered with cliffs clustered in island, the south side was a storm. The sky and sea were mixed together dangerously, boiling together in a roaring mess. A quiet question arised in the back of the girl's mind as she subconsciously looked at the raven haired boy besides her, is that what it would looked like if their abilities ever mixed?

"Hurricane?" Annabeth asked, bringing the brunette from her thoughts.

"No," Amara said, shaking her head. "Charybdis."

The blonde glanced towards Clarisse. "Are you crazy?"

The daughter of Ares shrugged. "Only way into the sea of monsters," she pointed to the top of the cliffs. "Straight in between Charybdis and her sister Scylla."

A frown appeared on Percy's features, "the sea is wide open! Just sail around them."

The La Rue girl rolled her eyes. "If I tried to sail around them, they would only appear in my path again. You have to sail through them in order to reach the sea of monsters."

"And the clashing rocks?" Annabeth questioned. "Jason once sailed through those and reached the sea of monsters."

"Well, I can't blow apart rocks with my cannons. So . . . monsters it is." Clarisse explained.

"You are crazy," Amara remarked, earning herself a wide grin from the older demigod.

"Watch and learn, Thora," the dirty blonde faced her captain. "Set course for Charybdis!"

"Aye, m'lady."

As the engine groaned louder, a small whine escaped from Tyson. Iron plating began to rattle while the ship picked up speed. "Clarisse," the son of Poseidon called out. "Charybdis sucks up the sea. Isn't that the story?"

"And spits it back out again, yeah."

"What about Scylla?"

"She lives in a cave, up on those cliffs. If we get too close, her snaky heads will come down and start plucking sailors off the ship." Clarisse moved to face
Amara, a smirk twisted onto her lips. "Grace, give us some wind to pick up the speed!"

Rolling her eyes at the demigods command, she gave a mock salute and turned to the back of the ship. Stretching her arms out from her sides, she grabbed ahold of a wind current. Clarisse narrowed her eyes at the Grace girl. "Well? What's taking so lo—"

The daughter of Ares was flung forward along with the crew, demigods, and cyclops as the ship picked up speed and went faster. Amara moved her arms in a pushing motion, guiding the wind spirits to move the ship forward.

"At this rate," Annabeth spoke up after getting to her feet. "We'll be there quickly, so choose fast."

"Choose Scylla then," Percy said. "Everybody goes below deck and we chug right past."

"No!" Clarisse insisted. "If Scylla doesn't get her easy meat, she'll pick up the whole ship. Besides, she's too high up to make a good target. My cannon can't shoot straight up. Charybdis just sits there at the center of the whirlpool. We're going to steam straight towards her, train our guns on her, and blow her to Tartarus!"

Rolling her eyes once more from the demigod's ignorance, she harshly pushed her arms back. Wind shoved against the ship as everyone flew forward once more. "Grace!" The La Rue girl snapped.

"I think that's her opinion of your plans," Percy explained, a small grin curled on his lips from the brunette's actions.

Smokestacks billowed as the engine hummed, the deck underneath her feet getting warm from the boilers. The sound of Charybdis got louder the closer the ship got to the creature. The monster of the sea inhaled, causing the ship to suddenly lurch forward. Amara lost her grip on the winds as she flew backwards, barely grabbing onto the railing in time besides the son of Poseidon.

She barely had time to register who she had landed besides, when Charybdis exhaled and they rose out of the water by three meter waves. The daughter of Zeus gripped tightly onto the railing, knowing if she got flung over it would be game over and she didn't trust herself with the wind. Especially with how much she's been using her powers.

"Percy," Annabeth called. "Do you still have your flask full of wind?"

The Jackson boy nodded. "But it's too dangerous to use with the whirlpool, more wind would make things worse!"

"What about controlling the water? You're Poseidon's son, you've done it before."

Percy closed his eyes besides the brunette as he gripped on the railing tightly, but when his eyes opened she knew nothing had happened. "I—I can't."

"We need a backup plan." The blonde demanded. "This isn't going to work."

"Annabeth's right," Tyson said. "Engines no good."

"What do you mean?"

"Pressure, pistons needs fixing."

It seemed Percy had chosen the wrong time to loosen his grip on the railing as he folded his arms across his chest. The creature of the sea proved him correct as it let loose a mighty roar. The ship got hit with waves as the son of Poseidon got catapulted over the railings and began falling towards the open sea.

Amara quickly let go of the railing, her eyes wide as she reached over and interlocked her hand with his. His body smacked against the side of the ship as he finally looked up, sea green meeting electric blue as his free hand gripped onto her forearm. "Amara—"

"Shut up, Jackson." She scowled, digging her feet into the ship as her eyes flickered teal momentarily. The wind around the boy picked up, circling his figure before he was launched into the air. Percy's body collided into hers, sending the children of the Big Three to the ground as they collapsed against one another.

They didn't have time to process what happened before Clarisse began screaming orders and waves crashed over the deck, sending the two in different directions.

"Amara," Percy appeared in her eyesight not long after as he pulled her to her feet. She grabbed onto the railing as she began observing what was happening around her. The dead crew were rushing back and forth as they attempted to slow the ship down, but they only kept sliding in the direction they didn't want to go.

"The Boiler room," a dead confederate appeared from the hold, his uniform smoking and beard on fire. "Overheating, ma'am. She's going to blow!"

"Well, get down there and fix it!"

"Can't! We're vaporizing in the heat."

Clarisse pounded the side of the casemate. "All I need is a few more minutes! Just enough to get in range."

"No!" Tyson bellowed. "I can fix it!"

The daughter of Ares looked at him incredulously. "You?"

"He's a cyclops," Annabeth explained. "He's immune to fire. And he knows mechanics."

"Go!" Clarisse yelled.

"Tyson, no!" Percy grabbed his arm. "It's too dangerous!"

Tyson patted the Jackson's hand. "Only way, brother." His expression was determined. "I will fix it. Be right back."

"No, wait—" Percy began to run after him, but Amara grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "Tyson!" He struggled, but the ship lurched again—and then she saw Charybdis. She was shrouded in a swirl of mist, smoke, and water. She had an enormous mouth with slimy lips, and mossy teeth the size of rowboats.

"Lady Clarisse." The captain shouted. "Starboard and forward guns are in range."

"Fire!"

Three rounds were blasted in the monster, one disappearing into her gullet, another hitting her retaining bands, and finally the last blowing off the edge of an incisor. "Again!" Clarisse ordered. The gunners reloaded as the vibrations in the deck changed. The engine got stronger and steadier as the ship started pulling away from the creature.

"Tyson did it!" Annabeth cheered.

"Wait! We need to stay close." Clarisse yelled.

"We'll die!" Percy shouted. "We have to move away . . ."

He stopped midway when the monster's mouth shut, the sea dying down to absolute calmness as the water rushed over Charybdis. Slowly, the Grace girl and Jackson boy looked at one another as a wave of dread rolled over the former.

"Amara—" the mouth erupted back open, interrupting the raven haired boy as the creature spat out a wall of water roughly fifteen meters high. It was filled with the ship's cannonballs as they slammed into the side of the ship. Looking up, an annoyed look formed on the brunette's expression as the waves crashed over the ship.

Amara was thrown backwards as water pushed itself down her throat, when her back crashed into the railings she was thrown into a coughing fit as she tried to get rid of all the water. The world around her was spinning as she attempting to get her bearings straight as she heard yelling from all around her.

"The engines about to blow!"

"Where's Tyson!"

"Holding it together somehow, though I don't know for how much longer."

"We have to abandon ship!"

"No!" Clarisse yelled.

The brunette managed to get to her feet as she gripped onto the railing, a certain blonde daughter of Athena racing to her side as they made a mental promise to themselves to stay near one another.

"We have no choice, m'lady." The captain explained. "The hull is already cracking apart! She can't—"

He was never able to finish as something brown, green, and semi yellow, shot down from above, snatching him up into the sky. "Scylla!" A sailor yelled as the same reptilian arm shot from the cliff and grabbed him as well.

"Everyone!" Percy yelled as he uncapped Riptide and tried to slice at the monster, but he was too slow and it took another victim. "Get below!"

"We can't!" Clarisse drew her own sword as Amara follow suit, tearing her necklace from around her neck free. "Below deck is in flames."

"Lifeboats," Annabeth shouted. "Now!"

"They'll never get clear of the cliffs." The La Rue girl replied. "We'll all be eaten."

"We have to try. Percy, the Flask—"

"I can't leave Tyson!"

"We have to get the boats ready!"

The daughter of Ares didn't argue against the daughter of Athena as she and other soldiers uncovered an emergency rowboat while Scylla continued her attack on the ship. "Get the other boat," Percy threw the brunette the flask. "I'll get Tyson."

The sea green eyed boy didn't give them any room for arguing as he took off running for the boiler room hatch. Amara shook her head as she and the blonde took off to the boat, jumping in and splashing into the rough water.

Turning around, the girl's eyes widened as Scylla managed to snatch Percy with one of her arms and began pulling him up. "You gotta be kidding me," the girl groaned as she grabbed a nearby wind current.

"Don't let her get you too."

"Wasn't counting on it."

She took off using a wind, soaring through the air towards the demigod and monster. The Jackson boy stabbed the arm in the eyes with his sword just in time for the creature to drop him. Percy began falling through the air only for Amara to crash into the older boy. His arm wrapped around her torso as he spared her a look. "Twice in one day, you're losing it Jackson."

She mocked, only for the smirk to be wiped off her lips at the sound of ticking. "Oh no," the demigods muttered in unison as the boat exploded. The brunette grabbed any nearby wind spirits she could in order to shield them from the explosion. Her efforts weren't in vain as neither one of the Big Three children had been injured, but they were currently crashing towards the ocean.

Miraculously, the duo crashed into Annabeth's life boat as the blonde held an amused smile on her face. "Twice Percy, you might be owing Amara for awhile."

But the raven haired boy wasn't paying attention, an upset look had formed on his expression, his eyes sad. "Tyson," he spoke low. It clicked within the two girls what the ship exploding meant, the cyclops was more than likely dead.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

They had been sailing in the sea of monsters for awhile, water glittering, wind smelling fresh and salty and it looked as if a thunderstorm was on its way. As they sailed, Percy described his recent dream about their lost protector. Annabeth estimated they had less than a day to find Grover, if Percy dream's was correct and assuming Polyphemus didn't try to marry the satyr earlier.

Percy shot Amara a look as she arched a brow at his actions. "You can never trust a cyclops."

The brunette's eyes narrowed as the blonde stared across the water. "Look, I'm sorry Percy. I was wrong about Tyson, okay? I wish I could tell him that."

The Jackson boy looked over to the Grace girl next, as if expecting her to do the same. But she merely shook her head and returned her attention to the sky. He skipped over the subject once he realized he wouldn't get anything out of her. "Annabeth," he asked. "What's Chiron's prophecy?"

Annabeth pursed her lips. "Percy I shouldn't—"

"I know Chiron promised the gods he wouldn't tell me. But you didn't, did you?"

"Well, no. But knowledge isn't always good for you."

"Your mom is the wisdom goddess!"

"I know! But every time heroes learn the future, they try to change it, and it never works."

"The gods are worried about something I'll do when I get older," Percy guessed. "Something when I turn sixteen."

The daughters of Zeus and Athena shared a look. "Percy, I—" Annabeth gave Amara one finally look, receiving a nod. "We don't know the full prophecy, but . . . it warns about a half-blood child of the Big Three—the next one who lives to the age of sixteen. That's the real reason Zeus, Poseidon and Hades swore a pact after World War II not to have any more kids. The next child of the Big Three who reaches sixteen will be a dangerous weapon."

"Why?"

"Because that hero will decide the fate of Olympus. He — or she — will make a decision that either saves Olympus and the age of the gods, or destroys it."

Percy frowned. "That's why Kronos didn't kill me last summer."

Amara nodded, finally speaking up. "You could be very useful to him. If he can get you on his side, the gods will be in serious trouble."

"But if it's me in the prophecy—"

"We'll only know that if you survive three more years." Annabeth said. "That can be a long time for a half-blood. When Chiron first learned about Thalia and Amara, he assumed Thalia was the one in the prophecy. That's why he was so desperate to get her safely to Camp. Then she went down fighting and got turned into a pine tree and Amara here was the child of the prophecy. Until you came along."

"This kid in the prophecy . . . he or she couldn't be like, a Cyclops?" Percy asked. "The Big Three have lots of monster children."

Annabeth shook her head. "The Oracle said 'half-blood'. That always means half-human, half-god. There's really nobody alive who it could be expect you. Unless you up and died then it would be Amara."

"Then why do the gods even let me live? It would be safer to kill me."

"You're right." Amara smirked.

Percy gave her a look. "Wow, thanks."

"Anytime."

"Percy," Annabeth brought their attention back to her as she shot the brunette a look. "We don't know. I guess some of the gods would like to kill you, but they're probably afraid of offending Poseidon. Other gods . . . maybe they're still watching you, trying to decide what kind of hero you're going to be. You could be a weapon for their survival, after all. The real question is, what will you do in three years?"

"Did the prophecy give any hints?"

The blonde hesitated as stormy grey eyes locked gazes with electric blue, luckily the girls were saved from explaining more by a seagull landing on their makeshift mass. Annabeth jumped slightly as the bird dropped leaves on her lap and flew off.

"Land," she cried as a smile reached her features. "There's land nearby!"

Amara sat up as she look across the water and was able to make out lines of blue and brown somewhere in the distance. A moment passed and she could fully make out an island with dazzling white collection of buildings, palm trees, and a harbor filled with boats. The current began pulling their lifeboat toward what looked like topical paradise.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Amara raised a brow at the women who stood in front of the trio. She held a clipboard in hand and looked like a flight attendant, blue business suit, tight pony and perfect makeup. She held a tight smile as she shook the demigods hand and began questioning them. "Is this your first time with us?" She asked, pen ready to write down whatever they had to say.

Sea green, stormy grey, and electric blue eyes met as they exchanged looks with one another. The lady took that as their answer and began writing on her clipboard. "First—time—at spa," she hummed. "Let's see . . ."

She scanned the teenagers, eyes going up and down critically. "Mmm . . . a herbal wrap to start for the young ladies and for the gentlemen a complete makeover."

"A what?" Percy asked, stunned while Amara began to slightly laugh at the boy who shot her a look. "Well," the women ignored the Jackson boy as she put the clipboard to her side. "I'm sure C.C will want to speak with you personally, come please."

"I guess it couldn't hurt." Annabeth muttered as they followed the worker. Everywhere the Grace girl looked, there was white marble with swimming pools connected by water slides, waterfalls, and underwater tubes with fountains spraying water that formed impossible shapes. "Lot of water," she mumbled.

The voice of a women singing reached her ears as they slowly climbed the marble staircase. The voice laced together in a language older than ancient greek, as it sang about olive groves, color of sunshine, and magic. The trio stepped into a room where the front wall was littered with windows. The furniture was white and expensive looking, but in the corner was Guinea pigs in a cage staring at a women where the voice had been coming from.

The woman had long hair and soft features. She sat at a loom the size of a big screen television, her hands weaving colored thread back and forth to create a shimmering tapestry of a waterfall so realistic Amara could see the water falling and the clouds drifting across the blue fabric sky.

"It's beautiful," Annabeth breathed out.

The woman turned, her dark hair was braided with threads of gold and her piercing green eyes watched them with curiosity. A silky dress was wrapped around her slim body, morphing into shapes of animal shadows, black upon black, like deer running through a forest at night

"You appreciate weaving, my dear?" She asked Annabeth.

"Oh, yes, ma'am! My mother is—" the daughter of Athena managed to stop herself in time.

The women smiled softly. "You have good taste, my dear. I'm so glad you've come, my name is C.C." The guinea pigs in the corner began squealing as the demigods introduced themselves to the older women. But once C.C's green eyes locked on Percy, her once gentle smile faded as her eyes narrowed. "Oh dear," she looked the Jackson boy up and down with disapproval. "You do need my help."

"Ma'am?"

C.C called to the worker in the business suit and a girl next to her. "Hylla, Reyna, take Annabeth and Amara on a tour, will you? Show them what we have available. The clothing will need to change." Amara's eyes narrowed at C.C as her grin dropped. "And their hair, my goodness. We will do a full image consultation after I've spoken with this young gentlemen."

"But . . ." Annabeth's voice sounded hurt. "What's wrong with my hair?" The Grace girl tugged on her own before moving her graze down to her clothes. Her black jeans, leather jacket, and loose t-shirt that was drenched from the waves. "I like my clothes," the brunette snapped. "So, no thanks."

The women just smiled. "My dear, you are lovely. Really! But you two are not showing off yourself or your talents at all. So much wasted potential!"

"Wasted?"

C.C grabbed their hands, but the daughter of Zeus tore her's away. "You will be the most beautiful girls at my salon. Reyna, you must take Amara to a full facial, and perhaps gave her hair a small trim — get all those dead ends off — and she should be wonderful!"

Amara glared at C.C after the last sentence. "Hylla and Reyna will show you what I mean. But, you, my dears, need to unlock your true selves!"

"And Percy?" Amara asked as a smirk curled onto her lips at the thought of the raven haired boy getting a full makeover. "You're going to 'unlock him' too?"

"Oh, definitely." C.C said. "Percy requires my personal attention. He needs much more work than you two."

"Well . . ." Annabeth sent a look towards the younger girl, receiving a nod. "I suppose . . ."

"Right this way, dears!" Hylla said as she wrapped her arms around their shoulders, but the electric blue eyed girl shrugged her off and walked besides Reyna.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

The Grace girl bore an annoyed look as she glanced at Reyna. "You realize," she started, watching the worker put her old clothes into the demigod's backpack. "I'm switching the minute we leave, right?"

Reyna nodded as she zipped up the bag. "I understand," she hoisted the strap over her shoulder as she gave the brunette a small smirk. "You seem like a warrior, only reasonable you prefer the clothes you're comfortable in."

A grin curled onto Amara's lips as the raven haired girl stood behind her chair. "Let's see how well you like the new you," Reyna spun the chair around to face the mirror, and the daughter of Zeus began taking in her appearance.

Her skin glowed a brilliant gold as it glittered with her bronze tan, silver glitter dusting her eyelids and hints of lilac. Her cheeks had been highlighted with silver and gold, lipgloss coating her once pale pink lips. Her curly hair was now throw down in ringlets of midnight silk with the rest falling down her back in soft waves. Golden threads had been braided within the brown strands as a golden leaf crown rested on the tip of her head. She was in awe looking at herself, not believing she was actually seeing herself in the mirror.

Her usually day to day wear had been swapped out for a white chiton which fitted her form perfectly, flowing to her ankles and stopping right above the golden sandals that had been replaced for her converses. She looked . . . she looked like her mother before she first met Zeus, before she turned into a alcoholic, before becoming obsessed with the king of the gods, before allowing her hatred towards Hera to be taken out on her children.

A smile rested on Reyna's lips as the girls made eye contact through the mirror. "Fitting," the brown eyed girl spoke as she turned the chair around. "For a warrior of Zeus," a smirk overtook Amara's features.

"I like you."

A grin cracked on the worker's features as she pulled the demigod from the chair. "Come, let's get you to C.C."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

The blonde and brunette arrived back at the room around the same time, but Percy was nowhere to be seen. "Miss C.C," Annabeth called softly as the two entered the room. The women jumped from her spot by the guinea pig cage as a guinea pig fell from her hands back into its pen.

"Where's Percy?" The Chase girl questioned as a guinea pig began squealing up a storm from its place in the cage.

"He's having one of our treatments." C.C smiled. "Not to worry. You look wonderful! What did you think of your tour?"

Annabeth's eyes brightened. "Your library is amazing!"

Amara shrugged as she concealed her true feelings, in reality she loved the library. All those books were at her fingertips, ever since she was little she had been obsessed with reading. Which made C.C's library like a dream come true.

"Yes, my dears." The women said. "The best knowledge of the past three millennium, and the oldest lasting ancient greek theatre. Anything you want to study, anything you want to be."

"An architect?"

"An archivist?"

"Pah!" She waved her hand at the duo. "You, my dears, having the makings of a sorceress. Like me."

"A sorceress?"

"Yes, my dear." C.C held up her hand. A flame danced across her fingers as it appeared in her palm. "My mother is Hecate, the goddess of magic. I know daughters of Athena and Zeus when I see them. We are not so different. We all seek knowledge. We all admire greatness. None of us need to stay in the shadow of men."

"I—I don't understand." Annabeth stuttered and once again, the one guinea pig squealed even louder.

"Stay with me." The sorceress told them. "Study with me. You can join our staff, become sorceresses, learn to bend others to your will. You will become immortal!"

"But—"

"You're too intelligent, my dears." C.C said. "You know better than to trust that silly camp for heroes. How many great female half-blood heroes can you name?"

Amara held a slight frown as she tried to think. "Amelia Earhart, Atalanta . . ."

"Bah! Men get all the glory." The daughter of Hecate closed her fist and the fire extinguished. "The only way to power for women is sorcery. Medea, Calypso, now there was powerful women! And me, of course, the greatest of all."

And finally it clicked what C.C stood for to the brunette, the women standing in front of her was an all powerful sorceress named Circe. Instinctively, Amara backed up a step as her fingers wrapped around the necklace that rested around her neck. "You need not worry," Circe let out a laugh. "I mean you no harm."

"What have you done with Percy?" The Grace girl asked as a glare formed in her eyes, the same Guinea pig squealing again.

The older women shrugged, "I helped him realize his true form." She waved her hand. "Forget him, join me instead and learn the ways of sorcery."

"But—" Annabeth's voice got caught in her throat as she glanced at Amara. But by the look in her stormy grey eyes, the younger girl could tell she already had an idea.

"Your friend will be well cared for," Circe carried on her speech. "He'll be shipped to a wonderful new home on the mainland. The kindergarteners will adore him. Meanwhile, you will be wise and powerful. You will have all you ever wanted."

The duo shared a look. "Let us think about it," the Chase girl reasoned. "Just . . . give us a minute alone. To say goodbye."

"Of course, my dears." The sorcerer cooed. "One minute. Oh . . . and you'll have absolutely privacy . . ." With a flick of her hand iron bars appeared on the windows and once she exited, the door shut and locked behind her.

Annabeth rushed towards the cage in search of Percy while Amara took her time and walked. "All right, which one is you?"

Snickers escaped from the latter as she couldn't believe the situation they were dealing with. Percy, the Seaweed Brain who acted invincible at times, had been turned into a Guinea pig. If that wasn't karma towards the boy, she didn't know what was. The blonde had given up searching for the Jackson boy, instead she found his jeans and pulled out the multivitamin container from his back pocket.

"Here," Annabeth dug her hand into the container and pulled out random colored vitamins. "Eat it," she tossed it at the brunette who didn't hesitate to quickly get it down. "Well," the door swung open as Circe made her way back into the room. "How fast a minute passes, what is your answer my dears?"

"This," the daughter of Athena drew her dagger while Amara pulled her necklace free. The daughter of Hecate took a step back as the daughter of Zeus spun her sword around. "Really?" The older women chuckled. "Weapons against my magic, is that wise?"

"Her mother is the goddess of wisdom," the younger demigod pointed out as her sword rest between her shoulder blades, a smug expression resting on the girl's face. "I believe it is wise."

"What will your makeover be?" Circe pretended to be in thought as she tapped her fingertips against her cheek. "I know . . . a shrew!"

Flames were sent the girls way as Annabeth pounced on the women, digging her dagger underneath the sorceress's throat. "How about turning her into a panther instead?" Amara mocked. "One that has her claws at your throat?"

"How!" Circe yelped. The Chase girl held up the multivitamins and the daughter of Hecate scoffed. "Curse Hermes and his multivitamins! Those are such a fad. They do nothing for you!"

"Turn Percy back to human, or else!" Annabeth demanded.

"I can't!"

Attendants stepped forward to fight but Circe stopped them. "No, get back! They're immune to magic until that cursed vitamin wears off."

Stormy grey met electric blue as a mutual thought passed between the two. Within a blink of an eye, Circe was free from Annabeth's dagger as they swapped places. Amara held her sword to the women's neck with her arm behind her back while the blonde dumped the remaining of the vitamins into the guinea pig cage.

"No!"

Guinea pigs scrambled all over the cage for a vitamin, then one who reached a chewable was growing rapidly until Percy — fully clothed — sat on the floor as the cage exploded. His sea green eyes wide.

Six others followed him, blinking and shaking. "No!" Circe cried as Amara lowered her weapon. "You don't understand! Those are the worst!"

One of the men stood tall with a black beard covering most of his face, he wore wool and leather clothes. "Argh! What's the witch done t'me!"

"No!" Small tears were in the corner of the sorceresses eyes as she slowly backed up from the demigods.

Annabeth let out a gasp. "I recognize you! Edward Teach, son of Ares."

"Aye, lassies." He growled. "Though most call me Blackbeard! And there's the sorceress that captured us, lads." The man looked towards his men who were dressed similarly to him. "Run her through, and then I mean to find me a big bowl of celery! Argh!"

Circe screamed before taking off with her attendants, pirates chasing after them. Shouting and screaming before their voices faded as a smirk curled onto the brunette's lips at the actions. Turning away from the door, she met gazes with Percy. The Jackson boy's eyes were wide as his cheeks began to grow red and were becoming redder the more time passed.

"Thanks . . ." He started. "Uh—look, I'm sorry—"

Amara cut him off with a snicker as she was oblivious to his obviously growing red cheeks. "I still can't believe you got yourself turned into a guinea pig."

"It wasn't like I had a choice in the matter!"

"Come on, guys," Annabeth called, tilting her head to the door. "Let's get out of here."

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

6-13-23

hello, hello ! i hope you enjoyed this chapter and the tides being turned as amara saved percy twice, technically three times when he turned back into a human. i know i enjoyed writing them. Anyway, if you could please do me a huge favor and check my announcements I would appreciate it more than you know. i thank you all for being so supportive and patience, and i'll see you in the next chapter <3