I 020. I

𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔

❝ grey sisters ❞

THERE WERE TIME WHEN SHE WAS HAPPY TO SEE KELP HEAD. But this time was not one of them. He had successfully befriended a Cyclops all year, didn't know what he was, and ended up burning down his school's gymnasium on the last day. Her Kelp Head was something.

Wait. Why did she say her Kelp Head. Percy Jackson was not hers, what? She decided to ignore herself, focusing on the situation at hand.

She waited in an ally on Church Street, hiding in the shadows while keeping an eye out for them. Her purple eyes caught hold of Percy and Tyson, she grabbed them by their shirts and pulled them off the street while a fire truck raced by, sirens wailing as it headed to Meriwether Prep.

Ariadne pulled them farther into the alleyway and closer to her, able to hide out from prying eyes. She immediately turned to Percy, "Where the hell did you find him?"

He frowned slightly at her tone, "He's my friend?"

"Is he, like, homeless or something?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" He rolled his eyes, "He can hear you, you know. Why don't you ask him?"

The girl gave a once over of the Cuclops, surprised he was intelligent. Most aren't at that age, "He can talk?"

"I talk," Tyson said. "You are pretty."

If he had said that to Annabeth, the girl would've looked sick and immediately rejected the idea. But Ariadne was her own person, and she may not be fond of the creature he was, but that didn't mean she was going to be rude about it.

She gulped, "Um... thanks." Percy noticed her hesitancy and frowned, but the Cyclops wasn't fazed. He reached out to a strand of her curly hair, pulling at it and laughing once it sprung back.

The girl tried not to shove him away, for Percy's sake. He noticed how Tyson's hands were not scarred from the fight in the gym, "Your hands aren't even burned!"

Her purple eyes bore into the side of the demigod boy's head, wondering why he couldn't see the Cyclops's one eye. "I'm surprised the Laistrygonians attacked you with him around."

Tyson noticed her eyes, staring at them with wide eyes while he awed slightly. "Pretty eyes."

Ariadne tried not screaming but it was hard, and the night Thalia died played through her mind on a loop, a reminder that she had failed saving someone.

"Aidan," Percy said. "What are you talking about? Laistry— what?"

She shrugged, "Laistrygonians— hard to say, I know." Her eyes watched Tyson wearily, "They were those monsters in the gym. They're a race of giant cannibals who usually live in the far north. Annabeth said something about Odysseus running into them once— but, I've never seen them this far south in New York."

"Laistry— I cant even say that. What would you call them in English?"

"Canadians?" She guessed. "But that doesn't matter now. Come on, we need to go."

"The police'll be after me."

The girl faced him, "That's the least of our problems. Have you been having dreams?"

He hesitated, "The dreams... about Grover?"

She froze before nodding, the girl had only had one that night, the others were just of camp. But if Percy was having more, than that meant she wasn't just crazily paranoid about the Satyr. "Yeah. What did you see?"

Percy explained his dream and it was similar to hers, she knew Chiron and Annabeth once they arrived back at camp. "Why?" Percy asked. "What were you dreaming about?"

Ariadne lost her breath and felt her body cool, she spared a glance at the Cyclops watching them. She remembered that night clearly, and the pits dragging her and camp under, the monsters invading.

"Camp's in trouble."

He snapped his fingers, "My mom was saying the same thing! But what kind of trouble?"

"I-I don't know exactly," she busied herself with the straps of her pack. "But something is definitely wrong— Thalia..." Another glance at Tyson, "I've been having more monster attacks when I was at school."

"Like," Percy's said, "minor ones?"

She shook her head, "No. One day it was a giant, the other it was a giant snake. I was attacked by a Hellhound for a few days, it hid behind the barrier around my house. Have you had a lot?"

Percy was surprised but shook his head, "None all year... until today."

Ariadne looked to Tyson, "None? But..." She watched as the one eye blinked before piecing it together, "Oh."

"What do you mean, 'oh'?"

Tyson raised his hand, "Canadians in the gym called Percy something... Son of the Sea God."

Both Percy and Ariadne gave each other glances, arguing with their eyes until finally Percy was the unlucky loser. "Big guy, you ever heard those stories about the Greek gods? Like Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo, Athena—"

"Yes," Tyson said.

"Well..." Percy looked to the brunette who raised an eyebrow. "Those gods are still alive. They kind of follow Western Civilization around, living in the strongest countries, so like now they're in the US. And sometimes they have lids with mortals. Kids called half-bloods."

"Yes," Tyson answered. Ariadne smirked knowing the Cyclops knew everything, but it was amusing for Percy to explain it in the most awkward way.

"Uh, well, Ariadne and I are half-bloods. We're like... heroes-in-training. And whenever monsters pick up our scent, they attack us. That's what those giants were in the gym. Monsters."

"Yes."

Percy gaped up at him, "So... you believe me?"

Tyson nodded, "But you are... Son of the Sea God?"

"Yeah, my dad is Poseidon."

"But then..."

A police car drove past the ally they were in, she shook her head. As much as this was funny to watch, they needed to get to camp. "We need to go. We'll talk in the taxi."

"A taxi all the way to camp?" Percy asked, a frown crossing his face. "You know how much money—"

The girl looked at him, "Just trust me."

Percy looked towards Tyson, "What about Tyson? We can't just leave him. He'll be in trouble, too."

Ariadne debated what she did next, Percy wouldn't leave without him and Chiron would want to see him. She had no choice but to bring him along, "Alright. Yeah— we need to take him. Come on."

She led them out of the ally and downtown, Percy wasn't happy but she ignored it, they're pick IM his mom later.

Smoke was flowing down the street as the fire department handled it, but they kept walking, never looking back.

***

     ON THE CORNER OF THOMAS AND TRUMBLE WAS WHERE THEY STOPPED. She threw her pack to the ground, unzipping it quickly while looking through the pockets. Her hand rummaged around as Percy and Tyson eyed the streets nervously. "Yes!" She whispered.

When she pulled her hand out it gripped a small velvet bag, it shook while she zipped up her pack and placed it over her shoulder once more. She opened the bag brought out one golden drachma, holding it in her palm tightly.

"Aidan," Percy said slowly, like he was ready to lecture her. "New York taxi drivers won't take that."

The girl ignored him while raising the coin over her head, letting the sun hit it just right. "Anakoche," she yelled out in Ancient Greek. "Harma epitribeios!"

Stop, Chariot of Damnation!

The coin landed in the middle of the street once she threw it, sinking right into the tar.

Nothing happened for a few seconds and Percy groaned behind her, which she shot him a glare for. Soon, the tar darkened into a rectangle pool. A red liquid that reminded her of wine pooled from it, a ghostly taxi emerged from the space.

The passenger window rolled down to reveal an old women who stuck her head out. She had tangled hair sitting atop her head whilst covering her eyes. She spoke up, "Passage? Passage?"

"Three for Camp Half-Blood," Ariadne told one of the Grey Sisters. Her hand pulled open the door, urging for Percy to get in.

"Ach!" One of the sisters shouted, "We don't take his kind!" While pointing at Tyson, her bony finger shaking.

The brunette grumbled, "Extra pay if you let him come. Three more drachmas on arrival."

"Done!"

Percy stepped into the cab, and she motioned for Tyson to get in but he shook his head. "Ladies first."

Ariadne was astonished and surprised at his manners, giving him a small smile before getting in. The Cyclops followed, shutting the door.

Inside it was smoky, like they were in a room full of smokers. Her hand rubbed against the cracked and lumpy seat before pulling it away, letting it rest in her lap instead. There was no plexiglass between them or the sisters, which she cringed at.

One of the Grey Sisters who was the designated driver spoke, "Long Island! Out-of-metro far bonus! Ha!"

Her foot pressed down on the accelerator, jerking them all forward. Ariadne felt her head slam against the headrest, hissing slightly. All three of the sisters had wrinkly and cracked skin, which had pieces flying off.

The brunette gagged once she felt a piece go down her throat, coughing slightly. A pre-recorded voice spoke through the speaker: Hi, this is Ganymede, cup-bearer to Zeus, and when I'm out buying win for the Lord of the Sky, I always buckle up!

Percy looked down at the metal chain beside him, he opted for grabbing onto Ariadne's arm, which she didn't shake off.

The car sped around the corner of West Broadway, the sisters screeching at one another. "Look out! Go left!" The middle yelled.

"Well, if you'd give me the eye, Tempest, I could see that!" The driver shouted back.

Her hands turned the wheel sharply, avoiding an oncoming delivery truck before hitting the curb and flying onto the next block. "Wasp!" The third complained. "Give me the girl's club! I want to bite it."

"You bit it last time, Anger!" Wasp said. "It's my turn!"

"Is not!" Anger told her.

Tempest, who sat in the middle, screeched, "Red light!"

"Brake!" Anger cried out.

Wasp pressed even harder on the gas pedal, convincing the brunette demigod that she had a lead foot. The car smashed against a newspaper box when it swerved around another corner, sending her into Percy's side.

Tyson smashes against her, successfully squishing Percy against the window. The demigod boy groaned slightly before pushing them back, having space to breathe. "Excuse me," he said. "But... can you see?"

"No!" Wasp shouted.

"No!" Tempest screamed.

"Of course!" Anger told them, pressed against the window.

Percy looked at Ariadne with a pale face, like he was about to die at any second. "They're blind?!"

"Er— not completely," she told him. An awkward chuckle escaped her, "They have an eye."

"One eye?"

"Yeah."

"Each?"

"Um, no. One eye total."

Tyson was not having a good time, "Not feeling so good." He grabbed his seat.

"Oh, man," Percy said. "Hang in there, big guy. Anybody got a garbage can or something?"

But the Grey Ladies weren't listening, to busy bickering over their eye to pay attention. Percy gave Ariadne a defeated look, wondering what he had done to deserve this.

She huffed, "Fine then. If you're gonna be that way, walk to Long Island. This is the quickest way."

"We've has famous people in this cab!" Anger exclaimed. "Jason! You remember him!"

"Don't remind me!" Wasp yelled out. "And we didn't have a cab back then, you old bat. That was three thousand years ago!"

"Give me the tooth!" Anger reaches at Wasp's mouth, but the driver just hit her hand away.

"Only if Tempest gives me the eye!"

"No! You had it yesterday!"

"But I'm driving, you old had!"

"Excuses! Turn! That was your turn!"

Wasp swerved the car onto Delaney Street, Ariadne colliding with Percy once again. The driver's foot pressed harder onto the pedal before going down Williamsburg Bridge.

The fight between the sisters had turned physical, ignoring the road in front of them. Anger prying at Wasp's mouth, trying to remove the tooth, while Wasp was grabbing at Tempest's face. Hair faking form their heads while mouths were open and screaming, bloody gums flashing the three in the back.

Anger yanked the tooth from Wasp's mouth, placing it in her own whirl she also had the eyeball. Wasp steered the car onto the edge of the bridge, " 'Ivit back! 'Ivit back!"

Tyson held his stomach while he groaned louder.

"Uh, if anybody's interested," Percy cut in, "we're going to die!"

Ariadne tried reassuring him and herself, "Don't worry. The Grey Sisters know what they're doing. They're really wise."

"Yes, wise!" Anger gave her a grin through the mirror, "We know things!"

Wasp hit her sister, "Every street in Manhattan!" She bragged. "The capital of Nepal!"

"The location you seek!" Tempest jumped in.

Anger and Wasp pounced on her, "Be quiet! Be quiet! He didn't even ask yet!"

Percy was invested in what she had said, "What? What location? I'm not seeking any—"

"Nothing!" Tempest snapped. "You're right, boy. It's nothing!"

"Tell me," he demanded.

They all screamed at him, "No!"

"The last time we told, it was terrible!" Tempest explained.

"Eye tossed in a lake!" Anger shouted.

"Years to find again!" Wasp spoke. "And speaking of that— give it back!"

"No!"

"Eye! Gimme!"

Wasp and Anger fought again. Slapping and scratching ended when the eye popped from Anger's head, she swatted for it only to hit it over her shoulder and into Percy's lap.

He jumped up, smashing his head against the top while the slimy eye rolled away.

"I can't see!" All three sisters shouted.

"Give me the eye!" Wasp moaned.

Ariadne gave him wide eyes, "Give her the eye, Perc!"

"I don't have it!" He shouted back.

"What do you mean you don't have it?! You just had it!"

"Well now I don't!"

She noticed it, "There! By your foot!"

"I'm not picking it up!"

"Just do it!"

They hit the guard rail, smoke billowing while the car shuddered. "I'm going to be sick!" Tyson cried out.

Percy whipped around to the girl, "Let him use your backpack!"

"No!" She shouted, "Grab the eye!"

Wasp continued on swerving, the taxi following her movements. They shot towards Brooklyn, accelerator grinding. All the sisters fought again, screeching at each other.

Percy ripped off a piece of his shirt, but he was still hesitant on picking the eye up. Ariadne groaned slightly, deciding if he wouldn't do it, she would.

Ariadne pressed against Percy, her hair in his face. Her fingers wrapped around the slimy ball before lifting it up. The girl was gagging at the slime dripping down her hand before Anger cried out, "Nice girl! Give it back!"

Percy use the ripped cloth to take it from her hands, allowing her to rip a smaller part off the end of his shirt to wipe her hands off. "Not until you explain. What were you talking about, the location I seek?"

"No time!" Tempest said. "Accelerating

The brunette looked out the window and felt a bit sick. Trees, cars and neighborhoods were blurring together into a grey. They're ere already out of Brooklyn and going through Long Island.

"Perc," she warned, "they can't find our destination without the eye. We'll just keep accelerating until we break into a million pieces."

"First they have to tell me," Percy told them. "Or I'll open the window and throw the eye into oncoming traffic."

"No!" All of the sisters screamed. "Too dangerous!"

"I'm rolling down the window!" He threatened.

"Wait! Thirty, thirty-one, seventy-five, twelve!"

"What do you mean? That makes no sense

"Thirty, thirty-one, seventy-five, twelve!" Anger shouted back. "That's all we can tell you. Now give us the eye! Almost to camp!"

Ariadne watched them driver closer and closer towards Half-Blood Hill. Her eyes widened once she saw Thalia's tree. "Percy!" She shouted but he ignored her. "PERSEUS JACKSON GIVE THEM THE EYE NOW!"

Her roar caused him to throw the eye into Wasp's lap. The lady shoved it into her socket, blinking. "Whoa!"

The brakes were slammed into the floor, squeaking to a stop. Ariadne felt her body jerk forward as the Chariot of Damnation spun multiple times, smoke drifting off of it.

Tyson burped loudly, "Better now."

"All right," Percy turned to the sisters. "Now tell me what those numbers mean—"

Ariadne panicked, slapping the boy repeatedly whirl he glared. "No time! Get out! Get out now!"

Camp was under attack.

***

FIRE BLAZED ACROSS THE HILLSIDE. A sight she never wanted to see. Her second home was being burned to the ground. They had never faced an overrun by monsters the entire time she had been at camp, especially with Thalia's tree as protection.

For two years before, they had some minor attacks and a border patrol, but after the pine tree grew, there wasn't a problem.

Ariadne saw the two monsters and cursed. They were Colchis Bulls. Pure celestial bronze creatures the size of elephants, with eyes made of rubies and silver horns, Hephaestus had created true monsters. But the worst part of them was that they could breathe fire and melt the skin right off the bones.

The Grey Sisters didn't even bother waiting around for the extra payment she had promised, speeding away and down the road, leaving them on the side of it.

Her ring twisted into its golden sword, glistening in the fire and sun. Lunacy was non match for two Colchis Bulls, unless she could get vines wrapped around them, but even then they would burn right off.

"Shit," she muttered. Only ten campers were left to defend the camp, most were injured and burned. Her heart raced in her chest.

"Border patrol, to me!" A gruff voice shouted out, it was familiar.

A second one followed, "Try piercing underneath their armor!" She caught sight of blonde curls with singed ends.

Ariadne spun to look at the boys, "Annabeth and Clarisse. Quick, we need to help them."

Percy and her sprinted up the hill while Tyson ran after them. Ariadne noticed a bull running straight at a camper who was on the ground, scrambling away. The girl flung her sword out while vines followed, they wrapped around the bull and pulled it back.

Although they couldn't pierce the armor, it gave the camper enough time to run. The bull whipped to look at her with its ruby eyes. Vines burst into flames before burning to ash, freeing the monster.

Annabeth was attempting to pierce underneath the armor of the bulls with the help of a group of Athena campers and Apollo. Arrows were no use against them.

Clarisse was wearing burned armor. In her hands lay a broken spear, one half lodged inside the joint of a bull's shoulder.

Shouts and screams were causing confusion among the heroes, no one knowing where to turn or if they were able to battle against the monsters. She only wondered where her brothers were and if they were safe.

Percy uncapped Riptide to reveal its celestial bronze sword. "Tyson, stay here. I don't want you taking anymore chances."

Ariadne shook her head, "No! We need him!" He could fight against the bulls without getting burnt, no matter how hesitant everyone would be, they needed him.

"He's mortal, Aidan," Percy told her. "He got lucky with the dodgeballs but he can't—"

This got her frustrated, "Percy! Look. Do you know what those are up there?!" He was confused but she pointed at the bulls, "Those are the Colchis Bulls, made by Hephaestus himself! We can't fight them without Medea's Sunscreen SPF 50000. We'll get burned to a crisp!"

"Medea's what?"

"It doesn't matter, alright! Mine is in my cabin! But Tyson, he—"

"Look," Percy cut her off, "I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not going to let Tyson get fried."

"Perc, listen to me—"

"Tyson, stay back," the boy raised his sword. "I'm going in."

Ariadne and Tyson protested but he ignored them, running towards Clarisse. The girl seethes with anger, eyes glowing brighter. Lunacy shifted in her hand before Tyson watched, "Your boyfriend doesn't listen."

She snapped towards the boy, "He's not my— we're not— WHATEVER!" The girl ran towards Annabeth, who was shouting to the campers about forming a phalanx formation. It would work if they had more campers, but most listened. Shoulder to shoulder and locking their shields to form a bronze wall.

But there was only six campers, four running around with their helmets on fire. Annabeth gasped once she saw the brunette, "Aria! Hi! I—"

A flame burst out over their heads, Everton ducking. "How did this happen?!" The girl yelled while covering her head. The blonde couldn't respond because more fire burst out, causing Ariadne to jump up and create a wall with vines.

Fire burned at the wall while she added more and more layers, glancing back at Annabeth who watched in shock, "Go! Help them!"

Her friend nodded bride running off towards the heroes in a line. One of the bulls shot out a jet stream of fire, burning her last wall while she fell back. The girl growled before a large vine grew from the ground and wrapped around the neck of the creature, yanking it to the ground.

Annabeth distracted the other one, letting the bull head towards her before placing her Yankees cap on and disappearing. The creature rammed into strawberry bushes which she used to hold it down.

"Phoenix!" Clarisse shouted towards her, "How much longer can you hold them down?!"

The girl could do it, although they were fighting against her vines girl, more wrapped around it. "Do whatever you need to do!"

A vine held a shield before her, protecting her body from the streams of fire aimed at her. The vines squeezed the beasts tighter while they heated up, burning a layer away while another grew behind.

She didn't know where Percy was, and yes she was worried, but he could handle himself.

The bulls fought against her hold even more, causing her to strain slightly. "Hold the line!" Clarisse ordered as white flames bounced out of the creature's mouths. "Ariadne— now!"

Enormous vines sprouted from the ground as she let out a yell, they swatted both away and to the ground. Both crumpling to the ground in a heap, but that apparently wasn't enough to stop them.

She was so focused on her vines, that she didn't know who spoke. "Behind you! Look out!"

A bull charged towards Clarisse, smashing into her shield and sending her into a burning patch of grass. The phalanx broke and people ducked as more fire streamed out. Ariadne ducked down along with everyone else, the heat burning the hair off her arms.

The fire didn't hurt her as much as others thanks to her shield being placed over her body. Unlike others which melted in camper's hands. A second bull ran at Clarisse for the kill. Percy pulled Clarisse out of the way just as the bull ran past, saving her life.

Ariadne's eyes narrowed before an idea popped into her head. She searched for Annabeth and yanked her, "I have a plan."

The blonde nodded, "What is it."

"Get the bull my way, make sure it's mouth is opened."

She took off as the blonde screamed for the creature, running as fast as she could towards the brunette. Once Annabeth had disappeared, the bull let out a snort and pawed towards the ground.

Campers screamed for her to move but she waited for it to grow closer. Vines followed her sword and stuck through the mouth, fire spluttering while the bull short circuited.

More vines stabbed it through, ending up in its sides and back. The creature fell to the ground with a loud crash, turning off while she let her vines rip it to pieces, pulling armor and bronze from its body.

Once that was down, the girl focused on Annabeth calling out orders to distract the last bull while Clarisse stood from the ground. Percy raised his sword in a challenge, a determined look in his sea-green eyes.

He swung at the bull but it blew flames at his face. He rolled before jumping away from a jet of heat. The boy's foot caught onto a tree root, she winced. Percy ignored the pain while slashing part of the bull's snout off.

It was dazed for a second while Percy tried standing up, but she assumed his ankle was sprained because his knees gave out. It charged and he couldn't move, Ariadne's eyes widened.

She turned to Tyson because she needed his help, "Tyson, help him!"

The barrier held him back, "Can't— get— through!"

"I, Ariadne Phoenix, give you permission to enter camp!"

Thunder shook the ground before Tyson sprinted up the hillside, running for the demigod. "Percy needs help!"

He dove between the creature just as it released a firestorm.

"Tyson!"

A red tornado swirled around the Cyclops. Only a black silhouette. When the flames died down, Tyson wasn't harmed. No ash lay on his body, no burns or scratches. The bull was surprised but decided to send another blast. Tyson slammed his balled fists into the bull's face before it could, "BAD COW!"

The bull was left with a crater in its snout, flames shooting from its ears. Tyson lunched the bronze creature folded under his hands.

Ariadne sprinted towards Percy and collapsed before him. She placed her hands on his cheeks while looking his face over. Percy almost let out a sigh once she grabbed his face lightly.

Annabeth fell to his side as the brunette handed him the canteen, helping him pour some nectar into his mouth. The boy smelt terrible and his arms were red from the heat.

"The other bull?" He asked her.

Ariadne nodded towards the heap of bronze and vines, "I got it." Percy looked impressed.

"Are you alright?" He asked her while she nodded, sighing a bit.

Clarisse matched over to them while pulling off her helmet, a strand of hair smoldering. "You— ruin— everything!" She yelled at Percy. "I had it under control!"

"Uh, no you didn't." Ariadne pointed out but received a glare from the girl.

"Good to see you too, Clarisse," he grumbled under his breath.

"Argh!" She cried out. "Don't ever, EVER try saving me again!"

"Clarisse," Annabeth spoke up, "you've got wounded campers."

"I'll be back," the girl said before stomping off.

Percy looked to Tyson in surprise, "You didn't die."

"I am sorry," the Cyclops looked down in embarrassment. "Came to help. Disobeyed you."

Annabeth sent the boy a strong glare but Ariadne needed to defend him, he had saved them after all. "That was my fault. I had no other choice. If I hadn't let Tyson across the boundary line, Percy would've been killed."

Her glare softened slightly. Percy was as confused as ever. "Let him across the boundary line? But—"

"Perc," she said firmly. Her hands moving his chin to look at the taller boy, "Have you ever looked at Tyson clearly? I mean... in the face. Ignore the Mist, and really look at him."

She let go of his face and he slightly missed her, but he shook it off and focused on his friend's face. "Tyson. You're a..." he stammered with wide eyes.

"Cyclops," she told him. "A baby, by the looks of it. Probably why he couldn't get past the boundary line as easily as the bulls. Tyson's one of the homeless orphans."

"One of what?"

"They're in almost all the big cities," Annabeth explained like it was a bad taste in her mouth. "They're... mistakes, Percy. Children of nature spirits and gods... well, one god in particular, usually... and they doesn't always come out right. No one wants them. They get tossed aside. They grow up wild on the streets. I don't know how this one found you, but he obviously likes you."

Ariadne nodded, "We should take him to Chiron, let him decide what to do."

"But the fire. How—"

"He's a Cyclops," she explained. "They work for the forges of the gods. They have to be immune to fire. That's what I was trying to tell you."

Her eyes scanned the wreckage and sighed at the wounded campers and scorched grass patches on the hillside. Some with flames still burning, she allowed her vines to fall back into the ground.

Clarisse walked back over, wiping soot and ash off her face. "Jackson, if you can stand up, get up. We need to carry the wounded back to the Big House, let Tantalus know what's happened."

"Tantalus?" He asked.

She was impatient, "The activities director."

Ariadne frowned, shaking her head. "No, Chiron's the activities director. And where's Argus? He's head of security. He should be here."

"Argus got fired. You two have been gone too long. Things are changing."

"But Chiron..." Percy trailed off. "He's trained kids to fight monsters for over three thousand years. He can't just be gone. What happened?"

"That happened," she pointed past them.

The brunette looked at Thalia's tree and almost let out a gasp. Her one tall and green needles were now an ugly yellow, many at the base of the tree, dead. At her center was a bullet sized hole with green sap oozing from it.

Someone had poisoned Thalia.

She gulped and felt her heart stop, the girl rose to her feet and walked over. Once she stepped on the dead needles she crumbled to the ground, knees no longer supporting her.

Purple eyes flowed brighter until vines made a nest around her and the pine tree. Percy's eyes were wide once he saw them grow tighter before Clarisse stalked forward, "No. Clarisse, What are you—"

The girl slammed the end of her broken spear into the back of Ariadne's head. She slumped to the ground, unconscious. Clarisse sighed heavily when the vines laid there but had stopped growing.

Percy glanced over at Annabeth, "How did she...?" The blonde shrugged and gulped.

Clarisse gave Percy a fleeting glance, "If you think that's bad, you should see what she did to the creek." Campers looking away with terrified looks in their eyes.

And that left the boy to wonder, what had she done to scare the other campers?