S T A R   W A R S

C H A P T E R   F O U R

( eidolons )

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          IF NOT FOR the horses, Aurora and Piper would've died.

Jason and Percy charged each other, but Tempest and Blackjack balked long enough for Aurora to pull Piper out of the way.

She pulled Piper to the edge of the road and looked back, dazed and horrified, as the boys crossed swords, gold against bronze. Sparks flew. Their blades blurred—strike and parry—and the pavement trembled. The first exchange took only a second, but Aurora couldn't believe the speed of their sword fighting. The horses pulled away from each other—Tempest thundering in protest, Blackjack flapping his wings.

"Stop it!" Aurora yelled.

"Please, stop!" Piper shouted, putting charmspeak in her voice.

For a moment, Jason heeded his girlfriend's voice. His golden eyes turned toward the two girls, and Percy charged, slamming his blade into Jason. Thank the gods, Percy turned his sword—maybe on purpose, maybe accidentally—so the flat of it hit Jason's chest; but the impact was still enough to knock Jason off his mount.

Blackjack cantered away as Tempest reared in confusion. The spirit horse charged into the sunflowers and dissipated into vapor.

Percy struggled to turn his pegasus around.

"Percy!" Aurora yelled. "Jason's your friend. Drop your weapon!"

Percy's sword arm dipped, to Aurora's surprise. Aurora might have been able to bring him under control if she tried hard enough, but Jason unfortunately (or fortunately, she wasn't sure) got to his feet.

Jason roared. A bolt of lightning arced out of the clear blue sky. It ricocheted off his gladius and blasted Percy off his horse.

Blackjack whinnied and fled into the wheat fields. Jason charged at Percy, who was now on his back, his clothes smoking from the lightning blast.

For a horrible second, Aurora couldn't find her voice. Gaea seemed to be whispering to her: You must choose one. Why not let Jason kill him?

"No!" Aurora shouted.

"Jason!" Piper's voice dripped with power. "Stop!"

He froze, his sword six inches from Percy's face. Aurora's heart stopped.

Jason turned, the golden light in his eyes flickering uncertainly. "I cannot stop. One must die."

Something about that voice. . . it wasn't Gaea. It wasn't Jason. Whoever it was spoke haltingly, as if English was its second language. The spirits she had seen in her dream! They were here!

"Who are you?" Aurora demanded.

Jason's mouth twisted in a gruesome smile. "We are the eidolons. We will live again."

"Eidolons. . . ?" Aurora mumbled. She searched her thoughts for anything that sounded familiar. Monster classes were taught at Camp Jupiter, but these spirits weren't monsters—they were spirits. "You're—you're some sort of ghosts?"

"He must die," Jason repeated.

Aurora gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, her eyes blazing gold as the blade of Solstice light up with light. She ignored Piper's astounded look and charged toward Jason, stopping his strike before it could hit her boyfriend. She'd fought Jason before many times, and they were equals on the battlefield. However, she was fighting a spirit that didn't know her like Jason did, meaning Aurora was at an advantage.

Parrying a strike, she grit her teeth and swiped her leg at his feet, catching him off guard. Jason fell to the ground, his head hitting the asphalt with a nauseating conk. Aurora winced at the sound and silently apologized to him before turning to see that Percy had stood up. Perfect.

"Stop it!" Piper screamed, but her voice sounded desperate, not powerful like before.

Aurora met Percy's blade, their eyes locking. Aurora's irises blazed a powerful gold, which was warmer and more inviting (despite being incredibly terrifying to most people) in comparison to the cold, cruel golden shade of Percy's eyes. Aurora would do anything to get those sea green eyes back, even if it meant fighting him and knocking him out as well.

They struggled against each other, pushing back and forth with determined eyes. Aurora ducked one of his strikes and blocked another, the sounds from their battle echoing into the wide stretched of sunflower and wheat fields. Aurora didn't mind the sweat and aching in her arms. She just wanted her boyfriend back.

Suddenly, Piper shouted with an angry voice, "Eidolon, stop."

Percy froze, and Aurora was given a moment to breathe. She had to admit, fighting Percy was harder than she thought it would be.

"Face me," Piper ordered. Her command was so strong, Aurora almost did as she was told. But she didn't. She kept her eyes on Percy.

The son of the sea god turned. His eyes shimmered dangerously, his face pale and cruel. This wasn't her Percy.

"She has not chosen," he said. "So this one will die."

"You're a spirit from the Underworld," Piper guessed. "You're possessing Percy Jackson. Is that it?"

Percy sneered. "I will live again in this body. The Earth Mother has promised. I will go where I please, control whom I wish."

Aurora glared harder. "Like Hades you will."

Piper looked as though she'd been hit in between the eyes with the flat of a sword. "Leo. . . that's what happened to Leo. He was being controlled by an eidolon."

The thing in Percy's form laughed without humor. "Too late you realize. You can trust no one."

Jason still wasn't moving. Piper had no weapon to defend herself other than her voice. Aurora was growing tired from fighting two great swordsmen. There was no help for miles. They were on their own.

In the wheat, Aurora caught sight of something moving. She saw the tip of a black wing, and Percy began to turn toward the sound. Piper and Aurora met gazes, and something clicked between them. A plan.

"Ignore it!" Piper yelped. "Look at me."

Percy obeyed. "You cannot stop me. I will kill Jason Grace."

Behind him, Blackjack emerged from the wheat field, moving with surprising stealth for such a large animal. 

"You won't kill him," Piper ordered. Aurora grinned to herself as she watched the pegasus tilt his head in confusion. It seemed like the charmspeak was working on the animal, because Blackjack's eyes flickered with understanding. "You will knock him out."

The charmspeak washed over Percy. He shifted his weight indecisively. "I. . . will knock him out?"

"Oh, sorry." Aurora smiled sweetly. "She wasn't talking to you."

Blackjack reared right as Aurora hit Percy in the chest with the butt of her blade, the pegasus bringing his hoof down on Percy's head.

Percy crumpled to the pavement next to Jason.

"Oh, gods!" Piper ran toward where Aurora stood between two knocked out boys. "Blackjack, you didn't kill him, did you?"

The pegasus snorted. Aurora couldn't speak Horse, but she thought he might have said: Please. I know my own strength.

Tempest was nowhere to be seen. The lightning steed had apparently returned to wherever storm spirits live on clear days.

Aurora checked on Percy while Piper checked on Jason. He was breathing steadily, but he'd been hit pretty hard over the head. She didn't see any blood, but there was a large knot forming where the horse had kicked him. She could feel a concussion forming in his mind.

"We have to get them both back to the ship," Aurora told Piper.

The daughter of Aphrodite nodded, and they looked to Blackjack, who bobbed his head in agreement. The pegasus knelt to the ground, so that Piper and Aurora could drape Percy and Jason over his back. After a lot of hard work (unconscious boys were heavy), Aurora and Piper got them reasonably secured, climbed onto Blackjack's back themselves, and they took off for the ship.

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The others were a little surprised when Aurora and Piper came back on a pegasus with two unconscious demigods. While Frank and Hazel tended to Blackjack, Annabeth and Leo helped get Aurora, Piper, and the boys to the sickbay. 

"At this rate, we're going to run out of ambrosia," Coach Hedge grumbled as he tended to the wounds. "How come I never get invited on these violent trips?"

Aurora rolled her eyes and placed her hands on Jason's head, mumbling a quick healing hymn to her father like she'd done just hours before. She felt the injury on his head lessen before finishing the hymn and allowing Coach Hedge to trickle some nectar into his mouth. She then moved over to Percy and did the same, immediately feeling drained afterward. She'd used a lot of power today and it was really hurting her.

Piper glanced up from Jason, eyes going wide when she noticed Aurora. "Aurora, your arm."

The girl frowned and looked down to see a decent-sized gash along her bicep. Which boy had caused it, she didn't know. The adrenaline had been strong enough to cloud the pain, but the injury looked pretty deep.

"Huh. That's unfortunate." She went to sing another healing hymn, but a wave of dizziness hit her and she had to stop. "That's really unfortunate."

Coach Hedge handed her a square of ambrosia and Aurora took a bite from it, smiling at the comforting taste. She turned to Leo when half of the square was gone. "Leo, are we ready to sail?"

"Yeah, but—"

"Set course for Atlanta. Piper and I will explain later."

"But. . . okay." He hurried off.

Annabeth didn't argue with Aurora either. She was too busy examining the horseshoe-shaped dent on the back of Percy's head. 

"What hit him?" she demanded.

"Blackjack," Piper said.

"What?"

Aurora and Piper tried to explain while Coach Hedge applied some healing paste to the boys' heads. She had to admit that she was impressed by the satyr's healing abilities. Either he was really good at what he did, or the spirits that possessed the boys had also made them extra resilient. They both groaned and opened their eyes.

Within a few minutes, Jason and Percy were sitting up in their berths and able to talk in complete sentences. Both had fuzzy memories of what had happened. When Aurora and Piper described their duel on the highway, Jason winced.

"Knocked out twice in two days," he muttered. "Some demigod. Thanks for that, Ari."

Aurora rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry. Next time I'll let the person being controlled by a blood-thirsty spirit kill you instead. How does that sound?"

Jason made a face before glancing sheepishly at Percy, who was struggling not to laugh at the cousins' exchange. "Sorry, man. I didn't mean to blast you."

Percy's shirt was peppered with burn holes. His hair was even more disheveled than normal. Despite that, he managed a weak laugh. "Not the first time. Your big sister got me good once at camp."

"Yeah, but. . . I could have killed you."

"Or I could have killed you," Percy said.

Jason shrugged. "If there'd been an ocean in Kansas, maybe."

"I don't need an ocean—"

"Boys," Annabeth interrupted after the girls shared an annoyed look, "I'm sure you both would've been wonderful at killing each other. But right now, you need some rest." She turned to Aurora. "You, too. You've used up a lot of strength."

"Food first," Percy said, taking Aurora's hand. "Please? And we really need to talk. Bacchus said some things that don't—"

"Bacchus?" Annabeth raised her hand. "Okay, fine. We need to talk. Mess hall. Ten minutes. I'll tell the others. And please, Percy. . . change your clothes. You smell like you've been run over by an electric horse."

Aurora leaned closer to Percy and sniffed, recoiling. "Eugh! She's right."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

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Leo gave the helm to Coach Hedge again, after making the satyr promise he would not steer them to the nearest military base "for fun."

They gathered around the dining table, and Aurora and Piper explained what had happened at TOPEKA 32—their conversation with Bacchus, the trap sprung by Gaea, the eidolons that had possessed the boys, and how Aurora had fought off the spirits and knocked both boys out.

"Of course!" Hazel slapped the table, which startled Frank so much, he dropped his burrito. "That's what happened to Leo too."

"So it wasn't my fault." Leo exhaled. "I didn't start World War Three. I just got possessed by an evil spirit. That's a relief!"

"But the Romans don't know that," Annabeth said. "An why would they take our word for it?"

"We could contact Reyna," Jason suggested. "She would believe us." He turned to Piper with a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "You could convince her, Pipes. I know you could."

Aurora internally groaned at how oblivious her cousin was and sent Piper a sympathetic look. Annabeth did the same while Sarah scoffed at the boy, as if to say: Boys are so clueless. Even Hazel winced. Aurora would have to talk with Jason after this.

"I could try," Piper said halfheartedly. "But Octavian is the one we have to worry about. In my dagger blade, I saw him taking control of the Roman crowd. I'm not sure Reyna can stop him."

Jason's expression darkened and Aurora felt her eyes flicker with anger. Gods, she hated the legacy of Apollo more than she's ever hated anything in her life. Hazel and Frank nodded in agreement with Piper, Aurora's grip tightening on her spoon.

"She's right," Frank said. "This afternoon when we were scouting, we saw eagles again. They were a long way off, but closing fast. Octavian is on the warpath."

Hazel grimaced. "This is exactly the sort of opportunity Octavian has always wanted. He'll try to seize power. If Reyna objects, he'll say she's soft on the Greeks. As for the eagles. . . It's like they could smell us."

"They can," Aurora said. Her hands were heating up as her anger grew, causing the metal of her spoon to begin to melt. She set it down, the metal burning red. "Roman eagles can hunt demigods by their magical scent even better than monsters can. This ship might conceal us somewhat, but not completely—not from them."

Leo drummed his fingers. "Great. I should have installed a smoke screen that makes the ship smell like a giant chicken nugget. Remind me to invent that, next time."

Hazel frowned. "What is a chicken nugget?"

"Oh, man. . ." Leo shook his head in amazement. "That's right. You've missed the last like, seventy years. Well, my apprentice, a chicken nugget—"

"Doesn't matter," Sarah interrupted. "The point is, we'll have a hard time explaining the truth to the Romans. Even if they believe us—"

"You're right." Jason leaned forward. "We should just keep going. Once we're over the Atlantic, we'll be safe—at least from the legion."

He sounded so depressed, and Aurora felt the same. The legion was her home, and now she was going against it for this quest. It hurt. 

Piper frowned. "How can you be sure?" she asked. "Why wouldn't they follow us?"

Jason shared a look with Aurora. The girl sighed. "You heard Reyna talking about the ancient lands. They're much too dangerous. Roman demigods have been forbidden to go there for generations. Even Octavian couldn't get around that rule."

Percy glanced at her. Aurora was the only one to ever break that rule and get away with it. But that was because she was born in Rome, she didn't go there willingly. The Roman gods acknowledged that it is her home and she was the only Roman allowed to travel freely through the Mare Nostrum without becoming an outlaw.

Frank swallowed a bite of burrito like it had turned to cardboard in his mouth. "So, if we go there. . ."

"We'll be outlaws as well as traitors," Jason confirmed. "Any Roman demigod would have the right to kill us on sight. But I wouldn't worry about that. If we get across the Atlantic, they'll give up on chasing us. They'll assume that we'll die in the Mediterranean—the Mare Nostrum."

Percy pointed his pizza slice at Jason. "You, sir, are a ray of sunshine."

Jason didn't argue. The other demigods stared at their plates, except for Percy, who continued to enjoy his food. Where he put all that food, Aurora didn't know. The guy could eat like a faun. Aurora picked her cooled-down spoon back up and took another bite of her soup, smiling slightly at the familiar taste.

"So let's plan ahead," Percy suggested, "and make sure we don't die. Mr. D—Bacchus—Ugh, do I have to call him Mr. B now? Anyway, he mentioned the twins in Ella's prophecy. Two giants. Otis and, uh, something that started with an F?"

"Ephialtes," Aurora said.

"Twin giants, like Aurora saw in her dream. . ." Annabeth ran her finger along the rim of her cup. "I remember a story about twin giants. They tried to reach Mount Olympus by piling up a bunch of mountains."

Frank nearly choked. "Well, that's great. Giants who can use mountains like building blocks. And you say Bacchus killed these guys with a pinecone on a stick?"

"Something like that," Percy said. "I don't think we should count on his help this time. He wanted a tribute, and he made it pretty clear it would be a tribute we couldn't handle."

Silence fell around the table. Aurora could hear Coach Hedge singing "Blow the Man Down," except he didn't know the lyrics, so he mostly sang, "Blah-blah-hum-de-dum-dum."

Aurora couldn't shake the feeling that Bacchus was meant to help them. The giant twins were in Rome. They were keeping something the demigods needed—something in that bronze jar. Whatever it was, she got the feeling it held the answer to sealing the Doors of Death—the key to endless death. She also felt sure they could never defeat the giants without Bacchus's help. And if they couldn't do that in five days, Rome would be destroyed, and Hazel's brother, Nico, would die.

On the other hand, if the vision of Bacchus offering her a silver goblet was false, maybe the other visions didn't have to come true either. But Aurora's visions always came true. She was a daughter of Apollo, god of prophecies. She never had a false dream, and that scared her. 

The blood of a female demigod, Gaea had said, and the blood of a male. Aurora, my dear, choose which hero will die with you.

"She wants two of us," Piper said, as if reading Aurora's thoughts.

Everyone turned to look at her.

Piper looked uncomfortable being the center of attention. Strange for a child of Aphrodite, but Aurora could understand. Having so many eyes trained directly on you wasn't normal, and it often made people feel awful. But she was used to it since she was a centurion, and she had to be okay with public speaking. But that didn't mean Piper was.

"Today on the highway," she said, "Gaea told Aurora that she needed the blood of only two demigods—one female, one male. She—she asked her to choose which boy would die."

Percy took Aurora's hand and squeezed it while Jason sent her a look. "But neither of us died. You and Aurora saved us."

"And then you complained about it," Aurora said, making a few of the demigods snicker.

"I know," Piper sighed. "It's just. . . Why would she want that?"

Leo whistled softly. "Guys, remember at the Wolf House? Our favorite ice princess, Khione? She talked about spilling Jason's blood, how it would taint the place for generations. Maybe demigod blood has some kind of power."

"Oh. . ." Percy set down his third pizza slice. He leaned back and stared at nothing, as if the horse kick to his head had just now registered.

"Percy?" Sarah asked, perking a brow.

"Oh, bad," he muttered, gripping Aurora's hand tighter. "Bad. Bad." He looked across the table at Frank and Hazel, then at Aurora. "You guys remember Polybotes?"

"The giant who invaded Camp Jupiter," Hazel said. "The anti-Poseidon you whacked in the head with a Terminus statue. Yes, I think I remember."

"I had a dream," Percy said, "when we were flying to Alaska. Polybotes was talking to the gorgons, and he said—he said he wanted me taken prisoner, not killed. He said: 'I want that one chained at my feet, so I can kill him when the time is ripe. His blood shall water the stones of Mount Olympus and wake the Earth Mother!'"

Aurora remembered this dream well, and her blood turned to ice. She wondered if the room's temperature controls were broken, because now she couldn't stop shaking. It was the same way she'd felt on the highway and when Leo attacked the camp. 

Piper looked just as bad. "You think the giants would use our blood. . . the blood of two of us—"

"I don't know," Percy said. "But until we figure it out, I suggest we all try to avoid getting captured."

Jason grunted. "That I agree with."

"But how do we figure it out?" Hazel asked. "The Mark of Athena, the twins, Ella's prophecy. . . how does it all fit together?"

Annabeth pressed her hands against the edge of the table. "Aurora, you told Leo to set our course for Atlanta."

"Right," Aurora said. "Bacchus told us we should seek out. . . oh, what was his name?"

"Phorcys," Percy said.

Annabeth and Sarah looked surprised, like they weren't used to their best friend having the answers. Sarah gaped at him. "You know him?"

Percy shrugged. "I didn't recognize the name at first. Then Bacchus mentioned salt water, and it rang a bell. Phorcys is an old sea god from before my dad's time. Never met him, but supposedly he's a son of Gaea. I still don't understand what a sea god would be doing in Atlanta."

Leo snorted. "What's a wine god doing in Kansas? Gods are weird. Anyway, we should reach Atlanta by noon tomorrow, unless something else goes wrong."

"Don't even say that," Annabeth muttered. "It's getting late. We should all get some sleep."

"Wait," Piper said.

Aurora looked at her with wide eyes.

"There's one last thing," she said. "The eidolons—the possessing spirits. They're still here, in this room."

As soon as Piper mentioned it, Aurora could feel it. She narrowed her eyes at the demigods one by one, sharpening her senses. She could see faint golden outlines surrounding Jason, Leo, and Percy. The thought that the spirits were still possessing her cousin and boyfriend made her blood run cold.

Piper explained to the group that she had a gut feeling about the spirits remaining in the bodies of those they had possessed, and Aurora backed her claim by stating that she could feel them as well. When she was done explaining, the others looked at Piper uncomfortably. Up on deck, Hedge sang something that sounded like "In the Navy" while Blackjack stomped his hooves, whinnying in protest. 

Finally Hazel exhaled. "Piper is right."

"How can you be sure?" Annabeth asked.

"I've met eidolons," Hazel said. "In the Underworld, when I was. . . you know."

Dead.

"So. . ." Frank rubbed his hands across his buzz-cut hair as if some ghosts might have invaded his scalp. "You think these things are lurking on the ship, or—"

"Possibly lurking inside some of us," Piper said. "We don't know."

Jason clenched his fist. "If that's true—"

"We have to take steps," Aurora said. "Piper, you can do this. They'll listen to you."

Piper gave her a thankful smile, but Percy looked confused. "Do what?"

"Just listen, okay?" Piper took a deep breath. "Everybody listen."

Piper met their eyes, one person at a time. Aurora felt pride for her newfound friend swell in her chest. She could do this.

"Eidolons," she said, using her charmspeak, "raise your hands."

There was a tense silence.

Leo laughed nervously. "Did you really think that was going to—?"

His voice died. His face went slack. He raised his hand.

Jason and Percy did the same. Their eyes had turned glassy and gold. Hazel caught her breath. Next to Leo, Frank scrambled out of his chair and put his back against the wall.

"Oh, gods." Annabeth looked at Piper imploringly. "Can you cure them?"

Piper looked like she wanted to run and hide. But she remained strong. She focused on Leo because he was the least intimidating. 

"Are there more of you on this ship?" she asked.

"No," Leo said in a hollow voice. "The Earth Mother sent three. The strongest, the best. We will live again."

"Not here, you won't," Piper growled. "All three of you, listen carefully."

Jason and Percy turned toward her. Those gold eyes were unnerving, but seeing all three boys like that made Aurora's anger return.

"You will leave those bodies," she commanded.

"No," Percy said.

Leo let out a soft hiss. "We must live."

Frank fumbled for his bow. "Mars Almighty, that's creepy! Get out of here, spirits! Leave our friends alone!"

Leo turned toward him. "You cannot command us, child of war. Your own life is fragile. Your soul could burn at any moment."

Aurora winced. She remembered how Frank's life was matched with a single wooden stick that could catch fire within seconds. Frank staggered like he'd been punched in the gut. He drew an arrow, his hands shaking. "I—I've faced down worse things than you. If you want to fight—"

"Frank, don't." Hazel rose.

Next to her, Jason drew his sword.

"Stop!" Piper ordered, but her voice quavered. 

Aurora pursed her lips and rose as well. Placing her hands flat on the table, she glared at the spirits, eyes flickering gold. "Listen to Piper."

Hazel pointed at Jason's sword. The gold blade seemed to grow heavy in his hand. It clunked to the table and Jason sank back into his chair. "Stand down."

Jason glared at Aurora. "Aurora Jacorusso, you have not chosen. Therefore, we still live."

Percy growled in a very un-Percy-like way. "Daughter of Pluto, you may control gems and metals. You do not control the dead."

Annabeth reached out toward Percy as if to restrain him, but Hazel waved him off. 

"Listen, eidolons," Hazel said sternly, "you do not belong here. I may not command you, but Piper does. Obey her."

She turned toward Piper, her expression clear: Try again. You can do this.

Piper steeled her nerves. She looked straight at Jason—straight into the eyes of the thing that was controlling him. "You will leave those bodies," Piper repeated, even more forcefully.

Jason's face tightened. His forehead beaded with sweat. "We—we will leave these bodies."

"You will vow on the River Styx never to return to this ship," Piper continued, "and never to possess any member of this crew."

Leo and Percy both hissed in protest.

"You will promise on the River Styx," Piper insisted.

A moment of tension—she could see the lights of their eyes flickering as their wills fought against Piper's. Then all three eidolons spoke in unison. "We promise on the River Styx."

"You are dead," Piper said.

"We are dead," they agreed.

"Now, leave."

All three boys slumped forward. Percy would have fallen face-first into his pizza if Aurora and Sarah hadn't caught him by the shoulders. 

"Percy!" Aurora said.

Piper and Hazel caught Jason's arms as he slipped out of his chair.

Leo wasn't so lucky. He fell toward Frank, who made no attempt to intercept him. Luckily Annabeth had caught him, sending Frank a look.

"Ow!" he groaned.

"Are you all right?" Hazel asked.

Leo pulled himself up. He had a piece of spaghetti in the shape of a 3 stuck to his forehead. "Did it work?"

"It worked," Piper said, sounding confident. "I don't think they'll be back."

Jason blinked. "Does that mean I can stop getting head injuries now?"

Aurora shook her head with a laugh. "Nope."

Piper rolled her eyes at the girl and stood, grabbing Jason's arm. "Come on, Lightning Boy. Let's get you some fresh air."

They walked off, leaving the rest in the dining hall in silence. Aurora glanced at Percy, who looked exhausted from the day's events, and she sighed. She also felt tired despite eating and resting a bit. Using healing magic and photokinesis was a lot of hard work in one day.

"I say we all head to bed. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, and we'll need all the rest we can get while we can get it." Annabeth nodded in agreement with Aurora.

"She's right. Let's get to bed. Rest up. We'll plan for Atlanta tomorrow at breakfast." With that, the group of demigods stood and made their way out of the dining hall and toward their cabins.

Percy walked with Aurora back to her cabin, the two holding hands the entire way. When they reached her door, Percy spun her around and pressed a kiss to her lips, making her smile.

"Good night, Sleeping Beauty," Percy said softly, pulling away with a sparkle in his sea green eyes. 

She beamed up at him. "'Night, Kelp Head."

With another kiss, they parted ways, Aurora slipping into her cabin and leaning against the door. Her mind raced with thoughts from the day, and she wondered how she'd manage to fall asleep. She washed her face and brushed her teeth, changing into a pair of plaid pajama shorts and an oversized tee shirt. She tied her hair into a messy bun atop her head and got in bed, trying to fall asleep. However, after a few failed attempts, she sat up with a sigh.

A sudden idea came to mind, and she grinned. Only one person ever helped her fall asleep, and lucky for her, he was only a few doors down from her.

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A U T H O R S   N O T E

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This chapter was not very long, but the next chapter will be a Percy chapter! The chapter that I personally like a lot in this half of the book since Percy is talking about a life with Aurora after the quest is done and the world is saved. I will tweak this scene a bit to make it funnier for others and I want some drama going on in the ship, so wait and see how this is going to go.

Anyway, soon we will be traveling into Roman territory and Aurora will be dealing with a lot of issues involving her past very soon. This is going to be a hard time for our precious Aurora Jake.

Please comment and vote!

Love you all!

~ a.h.