Chapter 10 - Ch: 3-4

Chapter 3

The flying mage noticed with his keen gaze Nico crouched behind a pillar at the dining pavilion. Shifting his flight in that direction the warlock was soon touching down on silenced wings and feet just behind the kneeling figure. As soon as the reality traveler reached the younger demigod the wizard heard the arguing of Zoe and Bianca.

"It cannot be cured in time," Zoe announced.

"But how was it done?" Bianca wanted to know.

"Those Stoll boys from the Hermes cabin played a stupid prank. They sprayed the insides of that Artemis Hunting Tour t-shirt with Centaur blood. It acts like acid," Zoe explained. "Phoebe will live but she will be bedridden for weeks."

"If Phoebe can't go then we will only have four and will have to pick another to join the quest," Bianca suggested.

"There is not time. We must depart at first light. Besides that the prophecy said that we would lose one in the land without rain. The magic borders of the Camp prevent even rain should Dionysus choose," Zoe explained. "I have a strong feeling that we should not pick someone else to replicate Phoebe."

That was the end of any discussion. The invisible and silenced sorcerer molded his form to one of the columns as Nico hid from the two females even further. After the two females had left Nico stepped out and looked about ready to rush after his sister.

"Wait Nico," Harry addressed the boy as the wizard dropped the invisibility field cloaking his form.

"Percy, where did you come from?" Nico whispered in surprise.

"I've been watching invisibly the entire time," the immortal warlock replied. Speaking up again before Nico could shout what would probably be another exclamation of cool the wizard advised, "Nico you can't be following Bianca on the quest. I know that is what you were thinking of doing."

"Because I'm too young," Nico probed defiantly.

"Partly," Harry agreed. "But you also can't go because the quest party will find you and send you straight back to Camp. They won't find me."

"Watch over Bianca. Promise you will keep her safe," Nico pleaded.

Looking Nico directly in the eye Harry replied, "Nico you need to learn that there is no such thing as an absolute promise in this world but I do promise you that I will do my best to keep Bianca safe."

"Then go and good luck," urged the young boy.

As the warlock vanished beneath another invisibility field his wings returned and he leapt into the air. The animagus quickly shifted form fully until he was a gorgeous phoenix which nobody could actually see. The invisible warrior kept fairly low to the ground to keep the white Camp van in sight as the four wheeled vehicle wove through the poor traffic conditions. The icy rain didn't bother the firebird at all as the green eyed being enjoyed flying. By mid morning the van had reached Manhattan with Zoe at the wheel.

Zoe drove at a fairly fast speed until she finally pulled over at a rest stop in Maryland. The sorcerer retracted his wings and casually approached the convenience store the questing group had entered, still quite invisible. It was only a few minutes before Zoe, Bianca, Thalia, and Grover exited the store.

"Are you sure about that Grover?" Thalia questioned.

"I'm about eight-five percent sure of the tracking spell's results," the satyr replied.

"D.C. is about sixty miles or so from where we currently are. Nico and I…," Bianca began but trailed off for a moment with a frown on her face. "We used to live in D.C. That's really strange…I had forgotten."

"I do not like this detour. The prophecy said to go straight west and that is what we should be doing," Zoe commented.

"It isn't that far of a detour Zoe," Thalia pointed out.

"No it's not," Bianca agreed.

"Very well then," Zoe acquiesced with a sigh as the group piled back into the van.

The invisible sorcerer followed the white van as it traveled towards D.C. soon crossing over the Potomac River into the central part of Washington. Zoe parked a few blocks away from the Washington Monument. The son of Poseidon watched as the foursome made their way towards one of the large buildings lining the Mall.

The invisible teen observed area surrounding the group from Camp Half Blood as a male got out of a nearby black Sedan. The flying sorcerer had noticed the Sedan following the white van for some time. Harry quickly recognized the form of Dr. Thorn, the Manticore that was responsible for Annabeth's disappearance. Thorn trailed behind the two Campers and two Hunters from a distance. The group entered the national air and space museum, a building Percy had been to with his mother years ago. Thorn did not follow but instead crossed the Mall and entered the museum of natural history. The building was closed for a private event but the invisible warlock easily slipped inside.

The silenced mage stalked the Manticore as the monster approached a set of large closed double doors through which voices could be heard. Two guards opened the door for the newly arrived monster, also unwittingly allowing the invisible warrior to enter. The room was large with a balcony circling around the second story. There were over a dozen mortal guards along with several Scythian dracaenae, reptilian women with double snake trunks in place of legs. The half blood traitor Luke was standing casually between the two dracaenae nearest the door. The son of Hermes wasn't looking so good, older and more tired than when the water wizard had previously encountered the angry demigod.

Positioned next to Luke was a male half shrouded in shadows sitting in a throne like chair, only his knuckles visible.

"Well?" The male in the chair prompted with a voice that was recognizable to the reality traveler as the one taunting Artemis in the vision the green eyed teen had recently had. "Where are they?"

"In the rocket museum," Thorn supplied.

"In the Air and Space Museum," Luke clarified with a glare at the not too articulate Manticore. "How many are there?"

"Four," the monster replied. "There are two Hunters, one with a silver circlet. Then there are two Campers; the satyr Grover Underwood and the demigoddess that was once a tree."

"Thalia," Luke supplied.

"And I know the Hunter you speak of," the shadowed male's deep voice declared with the hint of a growl. "I have sent a little playmate to keep them occupied for the time being," announced the mysterious male as he stood up.

The now revealed male was lightly tanned with dark hair that was slickened as if with gel. The being wore a brown silk suit while sporting a lethal face, large shoulders, and equally massive hands. The male appeared as if a living sculpture but not one of beauty but more terror.

"You have failed me Thorn," the man growled.

"But General," the Manticore began to protest.

"Silence fool…you're lucky I don't toss you into the depths of Tartarus. I ordered you to retrieve for me a child of the three elder gods and instead you brought me a runt child of Athena. Be gone from my sight Thorn until I find something else of your meager capabilities for you to do," the General boomed.

The internally raging Manticore stalked from the room.

"The next thing to be done is isolate the demigoddess Thalia. The monster we search for will then find her," the General announced. "Let me show you how the Hunters that accompany Thalia will be taken care of. Do you have the teeth?" The powerful male questioned a mortal guard.

"Yes General," the man answered as he held up a ceramic container.

"Plant them there," the General commanded while indicating a circle of soil in the center of the room.

The guard did as instructed with sharp ivory teeth.

"Now add the water," the commanding male instructed.

The guard poured what appeared to be blood out of a tin watering can onto the planted teeth. Immediately the soil began to froth and bubble.

"These soldiers will make your army from that little boat look pitiful by comparison. Under my guidance the forces of Lord Kronos will increase a thousand fold. And now…my ultimate killing machines," the General declared as he gestured towards the soil patch.

A small being clawed its way out of each place where a tooth had been planted. The creature gave a meow. Each of the kittens began to roll around and play.

"I said Tyrannosaurus teeth you imbecile, not saber toothed tiger teeth," raged the General. "Take these beasts away and never let me see you again or you will not live to regret it. Now get me the right teeth," the tall male demanded while glaring directly at another guard.

When the guard brought the correct teeth in the General jumped down from the balcony he had been standing on, cracking the marble floor where he arose from a crouch.

Snatching the teeth from the mortal guard the General mused, "Stupid mortals think they have dinosaur teeth but instead they have dragon teeth from the ancient Sybaris herself." By this time the General had planted and watered the new teeth. "Arise, my new servants!"

As a skeletal hand shot out of the soil the General demanded of one of the snake women, "Do you have the scent?" At the snake woman's nod while pulling out a silver sash the green eyed teen recognized as belonging to a Hunter the General added, "Once these soldiers have that scent they will pursue the target relentlessly until the Hunters are dead."

As the snake woman tossed the sash towards the General twelve skeleton warriors emerged from the earth. Dull gray flesh and yellow eyes attempted to mask the skeleton warrior's true nature but the son of Poseidon easily recognized the monsters for what they were. To neutralize the threat to his girlfriend the warrior mage called forth the water in the sprinkler system running throughout the room. The water burst forth and coated every surface. The water guided the sash towards its master as the earthen pit turned to mud.

"An invisible intruder," the General growled.

"It's Percy Jackson…he can control the water," Luke shouted out.

"Seal the doors," ordered the General.

But the super wizard was already through the door and heading at an above mortal speed towards the air and space museum to warn his friends. Once the water mage was inside the air and space museum he became visible. The three levels of balconies surrounding the building allowed for a good examination of the many models suspended from the ceiling. There were few families in the building at that time and Harry was grateful for small blessings. The sorcerer zeroed in immediately on his blue eyed demigoddess near the top floor and sought her out quickly.

"You…Why have thee shown thy face here?" Zoe demanded as soon as she recognized the handsome demigod that plagued her dreams and many of her waking thoughts.

"We've got bigger problems to worry about. Some type of minion of Kronos called the General and Luke are across the Mall in the natural history museum. The general was summoning some kind of skeleton warriors. He was going to use one of your sashes to have the warriors track your scent," Harry quickly explained to a suddenly pale Zoe Nightshade.

"The General cannot be here," Zoe muttered. "It isn't possible. Never mind that…if there's the slightest chance you are correct…how many skeleton warriors?"

"A dozen," supplied the green eyed mage.

"We must leave now," Zoe urged.

"I'm right with you sister," Thalia agreed.

"He's not coming with us. He's a boy," Zoe argued while indicating the demigod.

"I AM NOT A BOY," Harry growled while dropping his pants and displaying his proof of manhood.

There was stunned silence for a moment as the two Hunters gaped in amazement at the impressive wand of the wizard.

"No…no, you're not," Bianca admitted while subconsciously licking her lips.

Just then there was a loud growl coming from the ground floor while a child yelled excitedly, "Kitty!"

As adults began screaming and running for the exits a form the size of a truck rushed up the ramp towards the group of magicals.

"The Nemean Lion," gasped Thalia as she identified the monster quickly. "Everybody but Percy freeze. If we move to run it will attack us as we flee. Percy honey, please go make the nice kitty go away," requested the blue eyed demigoddess.

"But he's just a…," Zoe paused to correct what she was about to say. "Young man…what can he possibly do against that?"

"Have you forgotten what he did to your goddess?" Grover pointed out as the lion roared loud enough to rattle the windows in the air and space museum, causing the group of Campers and Hunters to duck down, except for the green eyed warlock who casually strode up to the beast.

"Actually I had," Zoe muttered as she gazed intently at the powerful offspring of Poseidon.

The lion crouched as it growled and readied itself to pounce. When the beast leapt into the air the immortal warlock moved quickly; ducking under the large leaping feline with a swift roll and popping up fast. The mage shot up and smashed the Nemean Lion in the stomach with a blow strong enough to shatter steel. The cat flopped onto its side and half groaned half gasped as it tried to catch its breath. The monster recovered quickly, making to get up and attack again. But it was too late for the big cat as the skilled sorcerer pounced on the predator, wrapping his powerful arm around the lion's neck.

With a sharp twist the creature's neck snapped. The lion moved no more. The victorious water wizard saw his girlfriend throw Zoe a smug look before walking forward with Grover trailing behind.

"That was great, honey," Thalia declared before kissing her favorite male heatedly while slipping him enough tongue to leave the mage grinning afterwards. "Hmm…you're a bit sweaty," pointed out the young woman.

With a bit of a smirk the sweat flowed off the fluid manipulator's form.

"Much better," Thalia agreed with a nod.

"What are thee?" Zoe inquired curiously as she joined the group along with Bianca.

"Someone you had best be glad is on our side," Grover replied for his demigod friend.

"Take the pelt, Percy. It's yours as a spoil of war," Thalia instructed while indicating the glittering fur coat that was all that remained of the lion.

As the warlock picked up the impenetrable fur coat he formed a plan as to what he would do with the spoil of combat. For the time being the mage banished the magical pelt to his trunk for later.

"You guys had best get out of here and continue on with your quest," suggested the green eyed demigod. "I will handle them," added the teen while nodding towards the thin gray skeleton warriors disguised as men that were approaching from across the Mall.

"No…I think it would be best if you went with us as well," Zoe replied. "Besides…you are the fifth member of this quest. That much is obvious."

The group made it to the white van and hastily made their exit from the museum area. Once the van was across the Potomac a new trouble arose in the form of a military helicopter.

"Mortals," Zoe cursed. "Some mortals are much worse than any monster."

"I could probably take that copter out but they have likely already radioed in our position. We will have to abandon the van," declared the reality traveler.

"Go into that parking lot," Bianca urged.

"But there is no other exit…," argued Zoe.

"Trust me…I know an exit," assured the dark haired newest Hunter.

That was good enough for Zoe who guided the vehicle into the lot. The group followed Bianca into a nearby subway entrance onto a train headed for Alexandria in the south. When the train exited the station's tunnel onto the surface the group was relieved to see the helicopter circling the parking lot while ignoring the train.

"I'm glad I remembered that station. I first noticed it when Nico and I passed through this area last summer. It wasn't here when we used to live in D.C.," explained Bianca.

"But, that station is old," pointed out Grover.

"When Nico and I lived here as kids, there was no subway in that spot," insisted Bianca.

At that moment the powerful sorcerer sensed the helicopter finally catching up to the train. The powerful telepath reached out with his mind and urged the craft's pilot to fly away, reporting an inability to locate the train.

"Are you saying there was no subway system at all?" Thalia clarified.

At Bianca's nod a suspicion formed in the daughter of Zeus and her boyfriend's minds.

"What's the name of the current president, Bianca?" Harry queried.

When Bianca had answered correctly Zoe caught on and probed further, "And before that?"

"Franklin Roosevelt," Bianca supplied.

"That was over seventy years ago, Bianca," Zoe answered.

"Did you stay at a hotel in L.A. when you were there called the Lotus Hotel and Casino?" Grover questioned, having caught on at last.

"Why yes…how did you know that? I can't be that old can I?" Bianca declared in bewilderment.

"I'm afraid you can, Bianca. You see Percy, Annabeth, and I were trapped in that hotel several years ago," Grover explained. "Time travels faster inside that casino than outside. It was only Percy that allowed us to escape within a few days relative to the outside."

"Bianca, the important thing is that you and Nico are out now. You made it out alive," comforted Thalia while Zoe nodded her agreement.

"We will figure this out later after you have had time to adjust to the idea," Zoe suggested. "For now we had best switch trains just to make sure we lost our pursuers."

The group boarded a train heading west. Harry paid for first class tickets while also buying out the remaining space in their sleeping car. The travelers would not be disturbed for the journey this way.

During the trip the green eyed mage received a message that appeared in the compartment in the middle of the night. The message was a short card and to the point.

Seek out Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea in San Francisco in order to find out what the monster Artemis sought is.

There was no signature but there was a basic picture of the sun down in the corner which led Harry and Thalia to believe the note was from Apollo.

The previous night the reality traveling immortal had experienced another dream vision. In this one the mage was wearing the Nemean Lion pelt while being dragged along hurriedly by a very familiar girl, Zoe.

"Hurry," urged the attractive female. "Ladon will find us. He is too strong even for you."

The pair traveled through a beautiful garden with the stars blazing clearly overhead. The duo took refuge behind a thorn bush partway up the nearby slope to catch their breath.

"There is no need to flee. I have defeated a thousand monsters with only my bare hands," the warrior wizard felt himself saying while in truth the male he was impersonating only possessed a small fraction of the Hallow Master's strength.

"It won't be that way with Ladon. You must go to my father up the mountain or you will be defeated," Zoe rebutted.

"I don't exactly trust your father," the male pointed out.

"You are right to not trust him. But you can trick him into acquiring the prize for you. Otherwise you will perish against Ladon," explained the platinum haired female.

With a chuckle the male Harry was portraying suggested, "Then why don't you aid me pretty one."

"I can't," Zoe replied with hesitance. "My sisters would stop me. I'm afraid…they would disown me."

"Then there's no other way," announced the arrogant male as he stood up while rubbing his large palms together.

"Wait," Zoe suggested while appearing to fight an internal battle with herself. With shaking hands Zoe removed a long white broach from her silky hair and offered it to the demigod. "If you must fight then use this. It was given to me by my mother Pleione, a daughter of the ocean. This contains the ocean's power, my immortal power."

Zoe breathed on the pin, causing it to glow briefly, before offering it to the male warrior.

With a laugh the male inquired, "How will a mere hairpin slay Ladon pretty one?"

"It may not…but this is all I can offer if you insist on being stubborn," answered the female.

The gorgeous female's voice softened the heart of the warrior and he took the gift, feeling it shift into a bronze sword which Harry instantly recognized.

"A fitting weapon although I usually prefer to use my hands. What shall I name this blade?" The warrior questioned.

"Anaklusmos, the current which takes one by surprise," answered Zoe. "Before you know it you have been swept out to sea."

There was a hissing sound coming from nearby along with the stamping sound of a large body moving in their direction.

"It's too late…he is here," the silver haired future Hunter declared.

At that point the mage woke up. The note was waiting. Not long after, the train stopped in a little town called Cloudcroft, New Mexico. The railroad didn't have any other trains that would take the group of quest goers towards their destination so the group of five made their way out into the snow covered town.

"This is what we get for taking the lines which were less conspicuous. We end up in a dead end town with no buses, no taxis, and no car rentals," Thalia spoke up as the group walked into the center of the town.

"Plus it's super cold out here," Grover pointed out.

Harry swept his hand over the group while wielding his power.

"Thanks," Bianca told the mage.

"That was not mist manipulation," observed Zoe.

"There's energy all around us if you know how to find it," the water wizard answered without being too specific about his magical abilities.

"Zoe, how about you and Grover go get some food from that coffee shop while the rest of us go ask about directions in that grocery store," suggested the daughter of Zeus to derail any further questions from the head of Artemis' Hunters.

The two Hunters and three Campers agreed to the arrangement as well as rejoining each other in a quarter of an hour. The grocery store was more of a general store given its size. Harry purchased a rubber rat from the clerk for answering the trio's questions. The male and two females learned that there wasn't any fast way out of town without owning a car.

"You could always call for a taxi from Alamogordo but doing that will cost quite a bit of money and take over an hour just to get here," suggested the clerk.

The trio thanked the man for his information and went back out in front of the store to wait for the others.

"Percy," Bianca said, breaking the silence that had fallen over the group that stood in front of the store. "I wanted to thank you for helping Nico understand my decision. I know he would have taken it a lot worse without your help. You are a great guy."

"Yes he is," Thalia agreed while giving her boyfriend a loving glance. "It is just too bad you will never get to experience just how great guys can be," the blue eyed demigoddess told the immortal girl.

Looking somewhat wistful Bianca pointed out, "Well it is not exactly easy to turn down Lady Artemis."

"I wouldn't worry about it Bianca. Very few things last forever, even Artemis and Zoe's hatred of mankind," mused the sorcerer.

Grover and Zoe chose that moment to rejoin the main group while carrying quite a few bags of pastries and cups of caffeinated drinks.

"We should do the tracking spell again," suggested Zoe. "Do you have any acorns left Grover?"

"Umm…I believe I do…just let me…," Grover answered before trailing off as something else caught his attention.

A warm breeze had blown by bringing with it the scent of wild flowers and sunshine. There was the hint of a voice there that couldn't quite be discerned.

"Grover, thy cup," Zoe pointed out as the pictures of birds on the side of the cup came to life, flying out of the drink container.

Harry's rubber rat became real and scampered into the woods. Grover collapsed unconscious. The concerned group of quest goers gathered around their friend. The satyr's eyes began to flutter open just as the son of Poseidon sensed danger approaching.

"Skeleton warriors…they are nearby," Harry warned while scooping the satyr up and tossing the teen over a shoulder.

The group quickly took off towards the edge of town with all due haste. At the town border two skeleton warriors wearing New Mexico State Police uniforms emerged from the tree line next to the road. By then Grover had fully awoken so stood on his own. Thalia summoned forth Aegis with a tap of her bracelet. The two Hunters drew their bows. The duo of skeletons drew their handguns and took aim. Luckily both enemy soldiers were aiming at the immortal sorcerer among the group.

"Let's go the other way," suggested Thalia.

But before the group could change directions two more skeletons appeared behind the living from the edge of the woods. One of the skeletons spoke into a cell phone in a clattering and clicking language.

"It's so close…the gift from the Wild," Grover muttered deliriously.

"There are four of them and only four of us that can fight. We will have to each take one," Bianca suggested.

"I agree," Zoe concurred.

"The Wild," Grover shouted at the same time another breeze drifted through the canyon.

Harry charged the enemy, causing the skeletons to fire. The liquid manipulator could sense the projectiles moving through the air. The air contained moisture which the son of Poseidon used, condensing the moisture into water vapor and then ice in quick succession. The bullets struck the small spheres of ice that appeared as if out of thin air. The ice spheres then exploded but not before absorbing the kinetic energy from the bullets. Large spears of ice impaled the skeletons as the snow laying on the ground twisted and writhed to its master's command.

For several moments the piles of bones did nothing but then the bones started moving and reforming the monstrous undead. Harry had targeted the two skeletons in front but the three females were fighting the other two. The surrounding snow quickly turned into water and flowed at the sorcerer's command. Suddenly the guns were all encased in thick forms of ice.

One of the warriors chose to attack Bianca physically but the young demigoddess used her hunting knife to stab the enemy. The enemy warrior burst into green flames until the creature was ash.

"How did you do that Bianca?" Zoe questioned with disbelief clearly conveyed in both her tone of voice and body language.

Zoe had thought the skeleton warriors were unkillable.

"I don't know…a lucky stab maybe," Bianca supplied nervously.

But it wasn't a lucky stab. The Hallow Master had sensed the death magic emanating from the dark haired youngest Hunter. The magic had felt like the killing curse.

"Do it again," encouraged Thalia.

Bianca didn't get the chance because the three remaining skeletons were cautious now that there was a threat to them. Police batons were used by the enemy as a way to keep apart from that threat. Harry wanted to test a theory and so grabbed one of the ends of the batons. With the speed of a true immortal the warlock pulled the enemy forward and smashed his hands together against the enemy's skull. A green glow suffused the mage's hands. The killing energy worked to cause the enemy to turn into dust as flames consumed it.

"A gift," Grover declared as the trees behind the skeletons shivered before a wild board at least thirty feet tall came crashing out of the woods.

"Reeet," wailed the pig as it smashed the two remaining enemy skeletons to the side as if they were nothing using its impressive tusks.

As Thalia raised her spear at the boar Grover shouted, "Don't kill the gift!"

"That is the Erymanthian Boar," observed Zoe. "I am not sure we can kill it," the nervous Hunter pointed out. "Well, maybe Percy could," amended the platinum haired immortal as she edged slightly closer to the son of Poseidon.

With another squeal the boar swung its tusks towards the group. The others dove out of the way while Harry calmly stood his ground. The extremely fast warlock caught the tusks in a grip that could move mountains. The boar's eyes were wild as it squealed in outrage and obvious surprise that the much smaller being could hold it immobile. The sorcerer noticed the skeleton warriors trying to reform so pushed the boar's rear end back towards the enemy, flattening them against the nearby cliff so they couldn't reform for the time being.

"How are you holding him?" Bianca questioned in amazement.

"Hello, Percy kicked Artemis' butt remember," Thalia pointed out as she dusted herself off. "Are you alright there, Percy?"

"Just peachy, love," answered the dark haired male with a grin. "I think we have just found our ride West."

"I agree," Zoe spoke up. "This boar can travel extremely fast. Climb onboard."

Grover jumped on the front and started playing a magical tune on his pipes. The satyr tossed an apple into the air in front of the boar and made the piece of fruit float just in front of the massive pig's eyes. One by one the others climbed onboard until Zoe was at the end.

"Ok…how are you going to get onboard, Percy?" Grover inquired.

"Like this," answered the well trained reality traveler as he jumped high into the air and did a twisting flip that had him land seated firmly behind Zoe.

Harry held on tightly to the suddenly nervous Zoe as the boar began to chase the apple. Grover could manipulate the pig in the direction he wanted by moving the apple around.

"I never thought I would sense that presence again," Zoe muttered as she held on to the running boar. "We all thought Pan was dead."

The group rode the giant boar until night began to approach. Zoe was extremely aware of the handsome demigod firmly pressed against her backside. The beautiful Hunter ruthlessly tried to suppress the desire she felt for the green eyed male but was finding it harder and harder to do so the longer Percy held her during the ride. The constant bouncing and shaking of the boar's running insured the pair were constantly jostling and rubbing against each other.

The mountains gave way to flat dry areas until eventually the travelers entered a desert. The boar halted for a drink and to snack on a cactus by a stream.

"This is where we get off," Grover announced.

The group quickly dismounted the boar and walked a short distance away. Presently the boar departed back for the east.

"What do you make of that?" Thalia inquired as she pointed towards a junkyard that seemed to stretch into the horizon lying before the group.

"I am not quite sure but almost all of those items in that junkyard are enchanted," observed Harry.

"How can you tell?" Bianca queried.

"A little trick my father taught me," replied the mage.

Grover performed another tracking spell which resulted in a concerned look playing across the Satyr's features.

"This means trouble. I don't smell any monsters but the tracking spell doesn't lie, especially about trouble. Our next challenge is there," announced the human-goat hybrid while pointing towards the piles of enchanted trash.

Considering it was night the group decided not to chance the junkyard until morning.

As the two hunters began to pull out sleeping bags from their enchanted backpacks the sorcerer halted them with, "Don't bother with those. We will use mine," suggested the son of the sea god as the male summoned a wizard's tent from seemingly nowhere but was in fact his trunk dimension.

"A gift from your father," Zoe commented with a raised eyebrow as the group entered the expanded dimension within the tent.

"No, I made this myself. Although my father did help a little with charging up the runes," the warlock fibbed a bit.

The travelers convened in the tent's living room. The warlock tapped a set of runes on the wall and the ceiling proceeded to shift to the view of the sky overhead. Harry adjusted the settings and watched in satisfaction as the image cleared to show the stars brightly shining.

"How did you do that?" Zoe questioned curiously as she saw the sky like she hadn't been able to view it for millennia due to human light pollution.

"Magic," Harry answered cheekily with a grin.

"I have never been able to see the stars so clearly," Bianca announced.

"This is like it was in the old days before human's polluted the sky with their lights," Zoe spoke up to inform her companions.

"If Pan was here he might be able to do something about the light pollution," Grover declared. "I was drinking coffee at the time I sensed him. Maybe if I tried a lot of coffee I could sense him again," the seeker mused.

"Don't worry about it buddy. If we were meant to find Pan we will. After this whole Titan thing is over I will even help you look," promised the mage.

"Thanks Percy," a grateful satyr answered.

"You talk of this war like it is a sure thing the gods will win," Zoe observed.

"They will as long as they don't all treat their children like Ares does," replied the sorcerer. "Some gods don't deserve their divinity let alone the position of parenthood. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be difficult to become a parent."

"What you say is true," the ancient Hunter agreed. "I think we should head towards Las Vegas once we get through this junkyard tomorrow," suggested the exotically attractive female.

"No…not there," protested Bianca.

"Why?" Zoe inquired with a confused frown.

"That is where the Lotus Hotel and Casino is located," Bianca pointed out.

"Hmm…you make a good point," agreed the second of Artemis.

"Maybe we should just play it by ear tomorrow and see what happens after we get out of the junkyard," suggested Thalia.

"Agreed," Zoe replied. "Well we should probably head to bed. We have a long day ahead of us."

The others concurred and said their goodnights before heading off to bed. Zoe Nightshade noticed Thalia heading into the room the daughter of Zeus shared with the handsome and enigmatic green eyed male. Zoe couldn't help the jealousy she felt for the younger woman. Nor could the silver haired immortal suppress the dreams of the gorgeous warrior water manipulator that were her constant companions throughout the night. Slowly Aphrodite's influence was overcoming old wounds and allowing Zoe's natural attraction towards Percy Jackson to take over.

That night the warlock was watching over Annabeth in the vision like state he sometimes dreamt of. The daughter of Athena had finally managed to fool her guards by wielding some of the powers granted to her by her connection with her mate. The intelligent young woman put those abilities to good use and snuck up to where Artemis was holding her burden with great strain showing on the goddess' attractive features.

"Artemis," Annabeth whispered to gain the immortal's attention.

"Annabeth," the deity whispered back in surprise when Annabeth became visible, dropping the invisibility enchantment. "How are you up and walking? I am amazed you survived holding this burden…but to be up and walking. That is amazing."

"It was Percy's doing. I am bonded with him on an incredibly deep and magical level. He channeled some of his powers into me and helped me hold up that load. I feel better than I have ever felt before," explained the grey eyed Camper.

"That young man continually surprises me. I do not understand how he is as powerful as he is with a mortal parent. But by rights even I am not supposed to hold this load for long. Only a Titan should bear this burden without ill effects. I can feel it draining my strength even now," the overtaxed goddess explained.

Annabeth hesitated for a moment before closing in on the fire haired deity. Harry's mate kissed Artemis passionately, causing power to flood the tired immortal's form and sending the moon goddess into rapturous climax.

"Annabeth, what are you doing?" Artemis questioned in the younger woman's mind as she felt her strength returning.

"I am channeling some of my mate's power into you to help you,"replied the daughter of Athena. "Since we aren't bonded together the best way to transfer the energy is sexually."

"This can't be good for you Annabeth. You are mortal…judging from the amount of power I am feeling then our young Mr. Jackson isn't exactly as mortal as we Olympians think. You should stop or you will hurt yourself," the concerned goddess suggested although secretly she didn't want the attractive younger female to stop the heated embrace.

"It is true…I can't maintain the transfer in this form for too long without hurting myself…but there is a way. We could bond…you and I," suggested Annabeth. "If a bond existed between you and I much less power would be lost in the transfer process."

"And how would we bond?" A curious goddess of the hunt questioned.

"Sexually…an act of mutual pleasure will do it. Such a ritual basically mixes our essences together," Annabeth explained.

Artemis found the idea of giving and receiving pleasure from Athena's attractive daughter very much to her liking. The matron of pure young women hadn't exactly been celibate throughout her long existence. The only restriction set forth by one of her divine charters was that Artemis couldn't partake of the male form carnally. There was nothing restricting the auburn haired deity from enjoying the company of other females.

"I am holding up this burden…I can't exactly set it down," pointed out Artemis.

"Leave that to me…you just climb on top of me," instructed the grey eyed young woman as she lay down on her back.

As Artemis lowered herself down a powerful shield formed in the shape of a dome and expanded up to cover the two beauties, lifting the heavy burden off the goddess' shoulders.

"That is much better," the brown eyed immortal declared with a sigh of relief. "Now I see what you have in mind," Artemis added as she joined her younger paramour on the ground.

"Less talking…more fun," purred Annabeth.

The rest of the night passed in an erotic trance for Harry as he watched the two gorgeous females bonding with each other. Needless to say Thalia had a very pleasant morning working off some of the amorousness her mate was struck with. Aphrodite even showed up to assist her sister mate calm the phoenix enhanced male's libido. Neither female complained that they had to participate to participate in the enjoyable task.

The next morning the group set out into the junkyard. Zoe had been glancing weirdly at Harry and Thalia since the quartet woke up.

"What's up?" Thalia asked the older female.

"You were very loud last night," Zoe pointed out.

"You heard us," an amused Thalia realized, thinking back to the passion she and her boyfriend had partaken in during various points throughout the night. "I guess those silencing wards were overtaxed."

"Indeed," Zoe agreed. "You sounded like you had a very enjoyable evening."

"I did," the daughter of Zeus answered. "You should try it sometime."

Zoe glanced at the green eyed demigod and simply stated, "Perhaps."

"I think she might actually be coming around to the correct point of view regarding your gender," the blue eyed beauty projected to her telepathic mate.

"That would be most pleasant," the mage responded while admiring Zoe's nubile form.

"Indeed it would," the demigoddess concurred.

"This looks like real gold," observed Bianca.

"Do not touch any of the items you see around you no matter how much you are tempted to do so," Zoe commanded. "This is the junkyard of the Gods we are standing in. Hephaestus will have taken precautions against thieves."

The junkyard was littered with shields, smashed chariots, modern appliances composed of various precious metals, and all manner of contraptions.

"Look at that," an excited Bianca pointed while making to run towards what appeared to be a Hunter's bow.

"Not so fast," the son of Poseidon admonished while catching Bianca's arm. "You heard Zoe. I agree. It could be cursed. Don't touch anything."

"Listen to Percy and I, Bianca and you will live to enjoy your immortality," Artemis' second pointed out.

The group worked their way through large mounds of the refuse of the Olympians. The fact that the immortal beings lived so long meant that they had thrown away a lot of things. The traveling companions tried to stick close together but Harry lost sight of Grover and Bianca a time or two as the pair checked out this or that item. Thalia, Zoe, and the messy haired wizard were more cautious of the dangers of the divine scrap. When the quintet finally caught sight of the road in the distance they noticed a massive figure in the way.

"Those look like toes," Bianca observed, not yet catching on.

"There are two feet attached to those toes," Grover agreed. "That thing is huge!"

Zoe and Thalia were exchanging nervous glances with each other.

"Why don't we skirt around that," suggested the electrical young woman.

"I agree," Zoe added.

"Sure," consented the warrior mage.

Grover chose that moment to toss a piece of metal at one of the bronze feet. The metal let out a loud ping that reverberated throughout the scrap heaps of the yard.

"Grover," hissed Thalia.

"What…I don't like fake feet," the satyr objected.

Thalia shook her head before leading the group around the eerie figure. As soon as the five hit the highway the magically in tune sorcerer sensed a trip ward going off.

"Shit…we just triggered some kind of trap," the warlock whispered in warning before turning and examining the junkyard.

One of the mountains of scrap began to break apart to reveal a bronze giant in full Greek battle armor. The left side of the sky scraper sized giant's face was partially melted. Someone had written wash me in dust across the figure's armor.

"Talos," the eldest of the immortals present managed to gasp out as the nubile woman took a step back in dread. "Or at least a prototype of Hephaestus' final version of Talos…This one is too small."

As Zoe finished her hasty explanation the giant drew a one hundred foot long rusty blade from the sheath attached to his belt.

"Someone took something," Zoe concluded.

"I doubt putting it back will do any good now," the warlock pointed out as he quickly examined the ward structure he hadn't noticed before.

In one step the giant covered half the distance separating him from the group. The five travelers immediately took off running. The group split up because the giant was just too fast.

Harry made sure to go with Bianca because the warrior's instincts were telling him she was in the most danger. The power lines lining the road exploded with energy discharging everywhere as the giant swept his sword through them.

"Bianca, throw whatever you took down," the wizard instructed the younger immortal.

"It's too late now. It will do no good!" Bianca argued just as a shadow darkened the son above the pair.

Harry grabbed his companion and jumped hard, soaring through the air and landing clear of the crater that was formed where the duo had just been hiding.

"He's targeting us. Whatever you took is drawing him right at us," realized the sorcerer. "Get rid of it!"

"It was for Nico…a god he didn't have," Bianca explained as she drew a small figurine from her pocket and threw it on the ground.

Getting rid of the item didn't help for the giant just prepared to stomp again.

"Enough of this shit," Harry growled while gesturing at Bianca, the warlock's telekinesis shoving the Hunter a dozen yards down the row between stacks of trash where she landed harmlessly against a suddenly appeared mattress.

"Percy!" Thalia shouted in alarm, unsure if even her lover could survive the foot coming down on him at that moment.

Grover had been playing a song on his pipes which caused the power lines to wrap around the giant bronze warrior. Those power lines began to discharge their energy into the metal monstrosity at the same instant the giant's foot came down on the sorcerer.

"Fuck," Harry grunted as the weight of the massive bronze warrior dropped onto his muscular shoulders.

The reality traveler summoned forth his power and pushed upwards hard. The electricity ran through the mage's body and set his clothes ablaze. Even the enchanted body armor the sorcerer wore couldn't withstand the energy mixing with the immortal male's magical aura. The garments disintegrated as the sweaty and grimy wizard toppled the giant. With rage at the minion of the gods flowing through his mind the Potter heir leapt high into the air. The water manipulator's arc took him down onto the recovering giant's chest.

As energy began to swirl around the mage he started raining down blows on his enemy. The bronze deformed and twisted with each powerful impact of the phoenix animagus' fists. Using his flight abilities in conjunction with some of the techniques Poseidon had schooled the demigod in to keep stationary when pushing against larger masses the teen continued to deliver destructive energy onto his enemy. Dust clouds rose into the air as the sounds of bronze metal breaking apart filled the junkyard. Several minutes passed before the sounds ceased.

"Percy," a concerned Thalia called out moments after she could be heard.

"I'm over here," the warlock answered gruffly while Thalia used some of her powers as the daughter of Zeus (a god of the air) to channel a gust of wind into dispelling some of the dust.

"By the gods," Zoe whispered as she caught sight of the dirty and very naked male.

Thalia rushed up to her lover, jumping over piles of shattered bronze.

"I am so glad you are ok," the blue eyed beauty declared as she embraced her man, uncaring that he was naked and dirty.

"I do believe you just averted part of the prophecy, Percy," Grover suggested as he rejoined the group along with Bianca.

"Yeah…you saved my life. Otherwise I would have been lost in the land without rain," Bianca pointed out, quoting part of the prophecy.

"I agree," Zoe added while unable to draw her gaze away from the nude form of the powerful male.

Zoe felt herself drawn closer and closer to the mysterious son of Poseidon who had the power to defy the gods. The young demigod was so like the one that betrayed Zoe's trust so long ago but in many ways he was completely different. Hercules would never have stood a chance against Artemis in a fight. The son of Zeus was definitely not as modest as the son of Poseidon. The lead Hunter began to see the many differences between Percy Jackson and Hercules.

"Come on…let's get the hell out of this junkyard," Harry urged.

"Umm…Percy dude…you should probably put on some clothes," Grover suggested, being the only other member of the party that thought that was a good idea.

"I don't know Grover…I think I like this attire," Thalia teased the satyr while being perfectly honest.

"You are overruled in this matter Grover," Bianca piped up.

"I suppose I should at least put on a pair of shorts and shoes," the wizard surmised while summoning those items out of his trunk dimension.

"Good enough," Thalia declared with a playful laugh and a pinch of her boyfriend's bum.

Bianca and Zoe were quite jealous that Thalia got to do that to the water warrior though neither was ready to admit that fact aloud.

Chapter 4

The group of quest participants happened upon a tow truck at the edge of the junkyard parked alongside the road. The travelers piled inside the vehicle after Harry quickly made sure the vehicle would start. The mage began driving along the highway. The quintet drove for around an hour under the bright sun until the path hit a dead end at the edge of a canyon. A fifty yard river wound through the canyon below.

"What do we do now?" Bianca inquired as the group exited the vehicle.

"We could use that path to get to the river," Grover suggested while pointing towards a narrow goat path along the cliff face.

Harry could sense his girlfriend didn't like that particular idea so much. Even though Thalia was less afraid of heights than she was before meeting her phoenix animagus mate the attractive demigoddess still didn't care for heights. The only way Thalia would conquer her fear of heights was if she was in her lover's embrace at the time.

"I've got a better idea," the sorcerer announced before gesturing towards the river winding its way through the canyon below.

A tower of water rose up out of the river until it reached the height of the cliff.

"Impressive," Zoe declared.

"Jump in," instructed the water wizard.

The group quickly did as ordered and was gently lowered down the tube of water into the river. Kayaks of ice began to form around the travelers as they rose to the surface, their forms completely dry.

"It's not cold," Grover observed with amazement in his tone.

"I am keeping an energy barrier around the bottoms of the kayaks to separate our bodies from the ice," Harry explained.

"We should go upstream. Can you handle those rapids Percy?" The lead Hunter inquired just for clarification purposes.

The platinum haired beauty felt confident the son of Poseidon could easily handle a few rapids given the powers he had already displayed.

"Indeed," agreed the mage as the watercraft began to knife their way upstream.

Each person had their own kayak. Zoe's craft was running along the right side of the warlock while Thalia was floating on the other side. Grover and Bianca were on either side of the two older females. Soon into their journey Harry sensed the presence of several naiads approaching.

The naiads followed alongside the craft even though their presence wasn't really needed. This seemed to irritate Zoe.

"I hate Naiads," the immortal doppelganger of Fleur Delacour declared with a frown.

In response one of the water spirits spit a stream of water up at Zoe.

"She-devils," hissed the Hunter as she reached for her bow.

"Hold on Zoe…their just playing," cautioned the Hallow Master as he dried the intelligent older woman.

"They have never forgiven me," muttered Zoe.

"Forgiven you for what?" The curious warlock questioned.

"Never mind…it was a long time ago," the female replied.

"We all make mistakes Zoe. I'm sure they'll forgive you eventually. Right," Harry spoke with a raised eyebrow at the Naiads.

A slow nod interspersed with air bubbles was the response.

"I've led the Hunt for over two thousand years Percy and my wisdom hasn't increased. Because of this my Lady Artemis is in danger," Zoe admonished herself.

"Well the first step is forgiving the male gender. It isn't right to hold a grudge against all of us for the mistakes of one. We aren't all like Hercules you know," the warlock pointed out, expressing some of the same sentiments Zoe had been telling herself.

"Who told thee about Hercules?" Zoe quickly demanded while slipping into her former way of speaking as old memories surfaced.

"I had a vision or dream about it. I could feel the connection via Riptide," the enchanter explained as he drew the pen form of the blade from his pocket.

"It was a mistake giving that away, especially to him," Zoe lamented.

"Pleione was your mother…a water goddess right?" The mage clarified.

"Yes…there were five of us that were her daughters. We were the Hesperides. We lived in a beautiful garden at the edge of the west with Hera's golden apple tree. Ladon guards it. I was exiled for helping a hero steal the apples. He never even mentioned me. It's as if I never even existed as far as legend is concerned," Zoe explained sadly.

"Well you can move beyond your past Zoe. Take this back as it is rightfully yours," the green eyed immortal offered as he held out the enchanted object that was currently called Riptide.

"I can't have back what was lost. I've lost my immortality in that way," explained the Hunter while looking forlornly at the pen.

"You'd be surprised," the water wizard told the attractive female immortal as he leaned over and slipped the now transformed hair clip into the woman's hair.

A glow pervaded Zoe for several moments as she gasped and clutched the hair clip.

"My immortality…but how," Zoe questioned in amazement while staring at the dark haired demigod. "This should not be possible."

Zoe felt the magic of her immortality anchor back into her being, superseding the conditional immortality provided through her service to Artemis. The disowned Hesperides was now restored to her everlasting birthright without any outside interference required to maintain her youth.

"There's always hope for those who are willing to grow and learn, even at your age," Harry pointed out.

"Thank you Percy Jackson," Zoe whispered before leaning over and kissing him lightly on the lips for a moment.

At that moment the Naiads released more bubbles to draw their Lord's attention up ahead. The silently conversing pair looked forward to see a damn blocking the river.

"The Hoover dam," announced Thalia while smiling to herself at the byplay between her mate and the lead Hunter.

Thalia found the latest set of events regarding Zoe extremely interesting. Hopefully soon Zoe would get the stick out of her ass and find something more fun to replace it with.

The canoes glided over to the bank of the river before the group climbed out. Harry bid farewell to the naiads as the ice canoes disappeared back into the river. The group of travelers could see what appeared to be tiny people from such a distance walking along the top of the dam.

"It's 700 feet tall and built in the 1930's," Grover declared.

"Holding back five million cubic acres of water," the sorcerer added.

"The largest construction project ever undertaken in the United States to date," Thalia finished.

"How do you know all of that?" Zoe questioned in surprise.

"Annabeth loves architecture," the green eyed magical explained.

"She was nuts about monuments and large buildings," the daughter of Zeus agreed with her lover.

"She spouted boring facts all the time and could be so annoying," the satyr sniffled.

"We will get Annabeth back…and Artemis as well," the messy haired warlock assured his traveling companions.

"The road is up there over the dam. We can probably also find some food and take a short break up there," Zoe pointed out.

"Sounds like a good idea," agreed Thalia.

The group didn't have far to travel from the point Harry had guided the kayaks to shore until they reached the start of the road. The wizard cast a mild warming charm on his companions to keep them comfortable as the cold wind rushed over the roadway on top of the water barrier which held back a massive lake ringed by mountains. Thalia made sure to stay in the middle of the roadway, uncomfortable with the seven hundred foot drop to the river below. Just to be on the safe side Harry walked beside his girlfriend on the side the drop was on.

The phoenix animagus could smell monsters in the air as did the satyr. But neither male could be sure of how close the monsters were due to the wind whipping up over the dam carrying the scent from miles around.

"The snack bar is in the visitor's center," Thalia supplied helpfully. "I came here once before to see the guardians," the blue eyed demigoddess explained as she pointed to two bronze statues sporting wings situated against the cliff. "The guardians were a gift from Athena to my father when the dam was built. Tourists rub the toes of the guardians because they think that will bring them good luck. Mortals don't understand that the statues are sacred to Zeus but they can tell there's something special about them."

Harry took his girlfriend's hand comfortingly as he sensed her emotions turn darker as her mood shifted. The demigoddess had come to the dam before probably to talk to her father. But judging from Thalia's mood Zeus hadn't given a response.

"Let us visit the dam snack bar so that we can eat while we still can," suggested Zoe.

"The dam snack bar," Grover spoke up with a grin.

"What's so amusing?" Zoe questioned in confusion.

"Damn is a swear word in the English language. It's a homonym for dam. It just sounded like you swore," explained the dark haired water wizard helpfully.

"Oh…ok," Zoe agreed as she nodded in understanding.

"Mooo," was suddenly emitted from the nearby body of water.

"I'll be inside in a minute. There's a sea friend calling me," Harry announced as he walked towards the side of the dam overlooking the lake.

"A sea cow," Grover commented in surprise, the satyr's sensitive hearing allowing him to pick up the sound almost as well as the senses of the Phoenix animagus.

"What are you doing here girl?" Harry called down to the cow serpent he had named Bessie after rescuing her hundreds of miles away.

The sorcerer quickly erected muggle repelling charms around the area so as to not draw the attention of the surrounding mortals.

Bessie bumped her head against the dam before swimming in circles and mooing. It was obvious the cow serpent wanted the son of the sea ruler to come with her.

"Sorry girl but I've got to stick with my friends," the warlock told Bessie.

With a sad gaze directed at the mage standing on the dam the cow serpent let out one last moo before disappearing beneath the surface. At that moment Harry sensed what the cow serpent had been trying to warn him of. The mage looked down the dam in the east and saw two skeletal men in gray camouflage outfits.

Harry didn't wait for the two enemy agents to get any closer as he took off for the visitor center of the dam to warn his companions. Before the warlock reached the entrance a black van disgorged more of the skeleton warriors. The agile demigod diverted his path down the steps and into the entrance to the museum. The wizard ignored the security guard manning the metal detector station. The sorcerer darted into an elevator with a tour group inside.

Immediately the immortal noticed the presence of a powerful being in the elevator but one that didn't mean him any harm. With a casual wave of his hand the enchanter confounded the mortals.

"Hello Athena…finally decided that Zeus' rules are out of date and foolish? Come to help us save your daughter," Harry suggested.

The goddess of wisdom disguised as a dark haired park ranger was surprised for a moment at the abilities of her cousin but quickly shook it off.

"Percy Jackson…you surprise me. That doesn't happen often," Athena replied. "Of course you've surprised a lot of us on Olympus the last few years. No I can't really step out and help. Zeus' rules forbid it. But you have my blessing on your quest to save my daughter," the gray eyed deity answered as the elevator reached the bottom of the shaft and the doors chimed open. "Oh and Percy…don't hurt my little girl," Athena warned as her eyes flashed with wisdom and power.

With that the mortals came out of their stupor and flooded out of the elevator. The doors closed quickly after. The immortal mage didn't stop to consider the encounter as the distinct sound of skeleton chatter was heard when the second elevator doors chimed open. The phoenix empowered wizard ran towards a tunnel and let his instincts guide him. The moist tunnel was carved out of the rock surrounding the dam. The tunnel exited onto a U shaped balcony that overlooked a massive open space which held the generators connected to the hydro turbines.

The perceptive male spotted a hallway on the other side of the tourist group present on the balcony. The skilled wizard became invisible and silently apparated into the hallway. Harry could have just as easily apparated topside but some feeling…some instinct drew him down that hallway. Besides that…the more skeletons that chased the sorcerer then the less enemy soldiers there were to hunt his friends.

The warrior wizard heard a sound from the hallway behind him as he gazed towards the tunnel he had been standing in moments before. With a mental call the sword of Gryffindor appeared in his hand as the demigod spun. The enchanted blade halted inches before a familiar figure's neck. The startled young woman dropped the tissue she'd just used.

"I'm just blowing my nose," whispered the startled girl that looked identical to Hermione Granger.

"Hermione," Harry asked hesitantly as the sword disappeared from his hands back to his trunk dimension. "Is that you?"

"My name is Rachel Elizabeth Dare. Who are you?" The young mortal that could be the identical twin of Hermione Granger questioned.

"Percy Jackson…I'm sorry you just look identical to this girl I once knew," the reality traveler explained.

"How did you get that sword past security and where did it go?" The curious young woman inquired.

At that moment the sorcerer sensed his opponents approaching rapidly. Rushing forward the mage pressed Rachel against the wall with his body as he willed his Hallow cloak to come up and cover their forms.

"Be absolutely silent," urged the enchanter.

"What are you…," Rachel began but was cut off by the extremely fit young man's lips crashing against her mouth.

Rachel Elizabeth Dare had the breath knocked out of her as the handsome green eyed teen pressed his lips to her mouth. The young man who had identified himself as Percy Jackson slid his tongue into her gasping mouth and proceeded to demonstrate how skilled of a kisser he was. The young woman was filled with pleasure as she partook in the delights of her companion. Rachel actually experienced a short but intense orgasm.

As the two broke apart so Rachel could breathe the young woman noticed several animated skeletons running past.

"What were those?" Rachel gasped in amazement as the handsome male backed off.

"You don't want to know. I've got to go now," replied the sorcerer.

"Wait…what's going on?" The brown haired beauty demanded.

"I don't have time to explain right now. But we'll meet again Rachel, you can be sure of it," the warlock assured with a grin as he subtly tagged the young woman with a tracking charm.

With that Harry disappeared silently, leaving Rachel Elizabeth Dare bewildered and with something new to haunt her dreams for a long time to come.

Luckily the mage had already mentally contacted his girlfriend. The quartet that had gone to the snack bar therefore met the sorcerer off to the side of the entrance which overlooked the lake side of the dam.

"We got you some food to go," Grover whispered as the green eyed son of Poseidon appeared beside the four.

"Thanks Grover," replied the wizard as he scanned the dam which was crawling with skeleton warriors.

"I think it's about time you called your dad for a lift, honey," Thalia suggested to her boyfriend while mentally adding, "Or at least pretending to call your dad."

"Right you are, love," the sorcerer agreed. "This way," directed the warlock as he stepped over to the edge of the dam on the lake side.

The water wizard closed his eyes for a moment to pretend to contact Poseidon. In reality the mage was opening up a portal, a dimensional conduit in the water below very similar to floo travel. Except that instead of traveling by magical fire the traveler was transported via enchanted water. The technique was how the attendees of the Olympian School got to and from the institution of learning when they visited their families every weekend.

"Ok…jump," ordered Harry.

"What…are you crazy," Bianca protested as Grover and Thalia jumped over the side of the dam without a moment's hesitation.

Unfortunately Bianca's protest drew the attention of the skeleton warriors.

"No but you are for shouting," the sorcerer growled before wrapping his arms around the waists of the two Hunters and leaping over the edge of the dam.

Bianca screamed on the way down until the trio hit the water and disappeared inside the shimmering portal. The three quickly surfaced a few moments later but with a beach in front of them instead of the lake held back by the Hoover dam.

"What was that?" Bianca questioned.

"A water portal…I have not experienced one of those in many millennia," supplied Zoe. "Not since…since the last time I visited my mother."

Harry willed the tides to take himself and the two beauties towards the shore where Grover and Thalia were already standing dripping wet. As the trio exited the surf the green eyed demigod noticed Zoe wasn't the least bit wet.

"Can you breathe underwater as well?" Harry asked curiously.

"Yes," Zoe answered with a nod. "I am a child of the ocean just like you Percy."

"Good to know," the warrior wizard pointed out with a warm smile for the lead Hunter, one Zoe tentatively returned.

"What now?" Grover spoke up as his demigod best friend dried the wet members of the group off.

"We find Nereus like the note suggested," Thalia answered.

"I know where to find him," Zoe supplied helpfully with a wrinkled nose that signaled her disgust at the idea of tracking down the Old Man of the Sea.

Harry thought the wrinkled nose made Zoe look cute.

"Lead the way my dear," suggested the sorcerer.

The portal had dropped the group off on one of the beaches along the San Francisco shoreline. The area was deserted due to the muggle repelling charms the Potter male had automatically projected through the dimensional rift. Zoe led the quintet towards the San Francisco dock while explaining that Nereus had a distinct odor that stood out for children of the sea. The blue eyed platinum blonde Hunter taught the demigod she was seriously and secretly crushing on how to track Nereus' scent as they walked.

"Do you have any old dirty clothes?" Zoe inquired. "You need to look like a drifter to get close to Nereus."

"I can make myself look like that," assured the sorcerer as he stepped into the surf and changed his clothes to the type Zoe had indicated.

"Impressive…your father has taught you much," declared Zoe. "I'm assuming you can tap into your greater powers easier when you are in the water."

"Yes," agreed the warlock even though he hadn't needed the water to perform the transfiguration.

"I don't mean to pry…but do you see your mother often?" The warlock inquired.

"No," Zoe answered after a moment. "Pleione retreated from notice after the Titans fell. She was considered a little too friendly with Titans. Of course Zeus himself has taken several Titan lovers. Unfortunately my mother's choice of Titans was not among the acceptable few. Given how my father turned out…I guess I can see why."

Harry understood. Zoe was the daughter of one of the Titans who fought against the gods in the last war.

"We can't choose our family but we can certainly choose how we act when we are older," comforted the warlock.

"Thank you Percy," Zoe whispered with a small smile as the group approached the docks.

It didn't take a long period of time searching the docks until Zoe paused.

"Can you smell him?" Zoe questioned her fellow child of the sea.

"Yes," the wizard agreed as his phoenix enhanced senses easily discerned the distinctive odor of Nereus.

"Nereus likes to sun himself during the day. When you discern which one of those apparent mortals Nereus is, grab on and don't let go. You can force him to tell you about the monster we seek. You can do it Percy," the daughter of Pleione encouraged.

With a nod of understanding Harry set off down the pier towards a cluster of homeless males.

The green eyed sorcerer walked past several of the homeless men. The phoenix animagus channeled a bit of his power into his eyes and was rewarded with the ability to see the auras of the beings surrounding him. The aura of Nereus stood out plainly as a glowing seaweed green color. The Old Man of the Sea smelled like decaying kelp and lifeless fish rot. Nereus was wearing a frayed bathrobe and was sporting a white beard.

The younger immortal grabbed onto Nereus with the speed of his magical form. Immediately the man who had appeared asleep let out a cry as he struggled against his younger opponent.

"Help me," Nereus shouted as he tried to squeeze the life out of the dark haired wizard to no avail.

"There's no help coming for you Nereus," growled the warlock as he put the muggles on the pier to sleep with an area effect sleeping spell.

At the water manipulator's command the ocean rose up and covered the dock. Harry diverted the thermal energy out of the water in the way he wanted until a cubical cage of thick hard ice encased the two immortals.

"What do you want halfblood?" Nereus demanded as he recognized a particularly powerful son of Poseidon he had been hearing rumors about for the last several years, ceasing his struggles as he realized they were futile against his current opponent.

Harry released his opponent and let the old man up. For a second nothing happened but then Nereus decided to try one last trick. The old man lunged towards the younger male while shifting into a killer whale. The incredibly strong demigod caught the surprised Nereus before pushing the large animal away. Nereus shifted back.

"Will you release me after I answer your question like the usual deal?" Nereus inquired with a sigh.

"We shall see old man," answered the sorcerer as a chair of ice formed behind each of the males.

"You have learned to use your powers well but I expected nothing less from the offspring of that upstart Poseidon," Nereus declared.

Harry only needed one question answered and that was concerning the monster threatening Olympus. The sorcerer had long since divined the location of Annabeth and Artemis. When the two beauties had started bonding the reality traveler was able to pick up their true location. But since Annabeth was no longer in any real danger cooler heads prevailed. The intelligent young demigoddess urged her lover to continue the quest and not let on about his true nature yet. The gods knew Percy Jackson was powerful. The pantheon of immortals with several exceptions just had no clue exactly how powerful the phoenix formed teen was.

"Tell me what you know about the monster threatening to destroy Olympus, the one Artemis went hunting," commanded Harry.

"It's right there," Nereus pointed out conversationally while indicating a blurry form through the ice barrier beside the dock.

The skilled wizard melted through the ice, sealing the hole back up behind him. The indicated monster turned out to be the warlock's friend Bessie.

"Percy, is this the friend you saw back at the Hoover Dam?" Thalia questioned her mate as the remaining members of the quest group approached the edge of the dock.

"Yes, I call her Bessie the cow serpent. But according to Nereus she's also the monster that Artemis was hunting," answered the mage.

"Mooo," Bessie interrupted.

"I can understand him, Percy," Grover announced. "He says his name is the Ophiotaurus. It's a very old dialect of the animal tongue but I can understand that much."

After another sound from the renamed bull serpent (what Ophiotaurus means in Greek) Grover added, "Your friend says you are his protector Percy."

Of course a bull serpent could only be male.

"Wait a moment…I know this story," the very old immortal Zoe spoke up suddenly. "My father told me this tale millennia ago. The Ophiotaurus doesn't consciously control its great power. He brings low the gods through his sacrifice. The fates gave a prophecy eons ago that foretold whoever sacrificed the innocent Ophiotaurus, specifically its entrails to fire, would possess the power to end the Olympian pantheon. It's a terrible power gained through the sacrifice of innocence but a power none the less."

Bessie (for that was what the bull serpent would always be to the creature's rescuer and protector) was unsettled at the mention of sacrifice but the sea wizard calmed the hybrid creature down by rubbing Bessie's neck.

"Did the Titans seek out the Ophiotaurus to use in the last war?" A curious Thalia questioned the older female.

"Yes, in fact during the first war a giant ally of the Titans slew the Ophiotaurus. Thy father Thalia sent an eagle to snatch the entrails from the grip of the enemy but it was a very near thing," explained the blue eyed Hunter.

"It looks like Bessie was just recently reborn," the sorcerer mused. "But in any case nothing is going to happen to him now."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that Percy Jackson. Your little girlfriend is going to be the one to destroy her father's power," a newly appeared Dr. Thorn declared while indicating Thalia.

The manticore had snuck up on the group as they faced the docks with two mortal mercenaries on either side.

"You know Thorn…you aren't really that intelligent are you?" Harry mused.

"Why would you say that?" The manticore questioned, suddenly not so confident given the casual way the sea god's son treated the new threat.

"First of all...you dare show your face to us again after taking our Annabeth. Then you threaten me in front of my boyfriend. Lastly you attack the son of Poseidon on a pier set into the ocean," Thalia pointed out with a feral grin.

Before Thorn could make another sound three spears of ice shot up through the wooden pier and impaled the trio of enemies. The mortal mercenaries died without a chance to scream while Thorn exploded into dust.

"Idiot," Harry muttered.

"Did Nereus tell you where to go?" Bianca asked hopefully.

"Yes," the warlock answered while looking in concern at Zoe. "There," the mage added while pointing towards the mountain in the distance, the site of Zoe's former home and where her father was imprisoned.

"I must return home then…the garden of my sisters. We must enter at sunset," Zoe said, her tone and expression devoid of emotion.

Harry sent Bessie into his trunk dimension while conjuring the bull serpent a temporary habitat until a more permanent home could be created.

"Let's keep where Bessie is located to ourselves shall we," suggested the sorcerer to his friends after the creature disappeared.

"What bull serpent," Grover supplied helpfully with a grin while the others nodded their agreement.

"Right…everybody aboard," the mage commanded even as a familiar yacht, the Trident, rose out of the ocean.

"Nice ship," Bianca complimented as she clamored onto the vessel.

"Thanks, it was a present from my dad," explained the wizard as the Trident cast off and quickly set sail for the opposing shore across San Francisco Bay.

"The Hesperides are the nymphs of the sunset so we can only enter their garden as day changes to night," Zoe cautioned as the group rapidly approached the opposing shore.

"Zoe, put this on," instructed the enchanter as he summoned forth a modified Nemean lion coat.

"Percy…are you sure?" The lead Hunter questioned as she took the precious gift.

"Yes…I want you to be protected…Thalia and Annabeth already have protections on them. You've…you've become special to me in the short time I've known you. I think you will need that protection if you are going home," Harry explained.

Zoe was touched deeply by the handsome demigod's concern for her. After slipping the form fitting armor on her lithe form the blonde beauty stepped forward and embraced the green eyed male, pressing her lips to his in a heated kiss that stoked the fires of passion between both participants. Zoe was forced to hold onto her crush as her form was wracked with a powerful orgasm courtesy of said crush's abilities.

"Thank you Percy Jackson. You are a good man, I think the best I have ever had the pleasure to meet," Zoe whispered huskily into the wizard's ear before stepping back and calming her racing hormones.

Now was not the time to indulge in her desires.

Bianca was staring at her leader in amazement.

"What," Zoe rhetorically demanded.

"Nothing," Bianca muttered with a blush.

"We need to concentrate in order to get into the Garden. The Mist is extremely dense here," Thalia pointed out.

A maelstrom of turbulent clouds swirled over the mountain like a gathering storm.

"Uh oh…we have company," Grover announced as he indicated a large white craft docked near one of the beaches ahead.

"Don't worry…they won't see us," assured the sea ruler's offspring as he made sure the Trident's wards were functioning correctly, including the stealth wards.

The ship in question was none other than the Princess Andromeda, Luke's vessel.

At that moment a buildup of charge in the air had Harry and his girlfriend sharing a quick glance before a crack rent the air and a lightning bolt impacted the Trident's wards. The energy barrier held against the assault.

"That was made to look like it came from your father," Harry pointed out a moment later to Thalia.

"Yeah…my dad wasn't the first being able to wield lightning and he won't be the last," Thalia agreed as the Trident cut through the water unimpeded by the attack.

A minute later the ship pulled up to the shallow parts of the serf and the five travelers disembarked, sneaking up the beach to the woods running alongside the waterfront.

"Follow me," Zoe directed with a whisper to keep the several monsters visible down the beach from noticing the quintet's arrival.

The area was heavy with fog. Zoe stepped forward into a bank of the vapor and through the portal into the garden of her sisters. The other four quickly followed with the idea of following Zoe on their minds. When the sorcerer stepped out of the other side of the portal into the pocket dimension he noticed the subtle differences. The surrounding vegetation was wilder and the sky possessed a more reddish hue. Most obvious of all was the beauty of the garden with wild flowers growing everywhere and the large dragon and tree sporting golden apples. The smell of the apples sent the phoenix animagus' senses alight with desire.

"Those are Hera's wedding gift from my dad, the apples of immortality," Thalia announced in a whisper so as to not disturb the sleeping guardian.

The apples granted the type of immortality that was not only ageless but virtually invulnerable as well. But the dragon possessing dozens of heads was enough of a deterrent to make the apples less appealing.

At that moment the shadows writhed in twisting and swirling shapes until four beautiful women very easily recognizable as Zoe's sisters appeared. Caramel colored skin and smooth midnight black hair were all distinctive traits of the Hesperides.

"Sisters," Zoe greeted coolly.

"There is no sister of ours here; only two Hunters, a satyr, and two half bloods that are about to die," one of the immortal garden dwellers declared with an unaffected tone.

"I hope," Harry began stepping forward. "That you weren't just making a threat," the sorcerer finished with a sibilant tone to his voice.

The four sisters inspected the son of Poseidon. The quartet stared intently into his glowing green eyes and what they saw caused them to shiver simultaneously.

"Perseus Jackson…you cannot hope to stand up to our father," one Hesperides declared. "Although the monsters fear thee our father does not."

"Go back," another warned.

"Well Atlas should fear Percy. Any sane enemy should," Zoe rebuked her siblings.

"You know Ladon will kill thee. All we have to do is raise our voices and Ladon will wake," another of the four Hesperides threatened.

"Ladon wake," Zoe shouted causing her sisters to scatter and hide.

The dragon writhed and surged to its feet in a matter of moments, tasting the air with its many tongues.

"Ladon will protect the tree. Skirt around the garden and he should ignore thee. I am the bigger threat," the Hunter hesitantly announced.

The smell was horrendous as Ladon opened his mouths and hissed menacingly.

"I'm not about to leave you to his mercies," Harry promised the lead Hunter. The warlock raised his hand and summoned several dozen apples from the boughs of the tree. "Come get me big guy," the wizard taunted as Zoe's eyes grew comically wide in alarm.

Ladon charged the sorcerer as the apples disappeared into his trunk dimension. The dragon was upon the mage in a matter of seconds as Zoe dove out of the way. The many heads snapped at the warrior as a shimmering shield appeared around his form, blocking the many pronged assault.

"Get the others around the garden and partway up the hill. Whatever you do don't look what I'm about to summon in the eye," the telepath sent to his girlfriend.

"Percy you crazy man…you're lucky you're virtually invulnerable and so damn tough, otherwise I'd be hurting you," Thalia growled back.

As the dragon hissed impotently at the wizard inside of the energy shield the immortal warrior concentrated on summoning forth a creature from the facilities he had created on Mars. Using a variation on the same spell he had originally used to transverse the barrier between universes mixed with his growing proficiency with temporal manipulation the Potter male was able to summon forth various creatures and fauna from his home universe throughout different points of the time stream. Using these samples Harry began breeding and growing many more.

Once he was completely sure his friends were far enough away the sorcerer summoned forth a distraction in the form of a basilisk. The basilisk had been enhanced in size using a time dilation field to speed up the aging process. The dragon picked up its opponent's scent immediately and switched to the larger threat the king of serpents represented. As soon as he was sure Ladon's attention was diverted Harry apparated to his friends' side.

"By the gods," Zoe whispered in awe as the two mighty beasts clashed.

"The gods have nothing to do with my little pet honey. They wouldn't know where to start," the warlock declared. "Now come on. We've got two beautiful women to save."

"Do you control that beast?" Zoe questioned as the group sprinted up the mountain.

"Yes," replied the Potter wizard.

"Because, you can call it off," answered the immortal female. "Ladon is well trained to guard the tree. He won't leave his post."

Taking her word for it the green eyed immortal sent out a spell that banished the basilisk back to its home on Mars. Zoe had been right. Ladon wouldn't go very far from the tree. The four Hesperides began singing once more, an eerily beautiful tune that caused Zoe to smile in reminiscence.

When they crested the mountain the quintet found the ruins of some ancient city. Shattered columns, black granite pieces of structural material, and partially melted bronze figurines adorned the landscape.

"Is that what I think it is?" Thalia questioned Zoe worriedly.

"Yes…if you think it's the ruins of Mount Othrys it is," Zoe answered with a nod and a worried frown adorning her features.

"What is Mount Othrys and why do you two look so worried?" Bianca questioned, not quite up to date on her history concerning the ancient Greeks.

"Back when the first Titan Olympian war took place Olympus and Othrys were the two rival capitals of the ancient world. But Othrys was blown to pieces," Zoe explained. "The reason this isn't good is because Othrys has shifted to this location…where the gods sentenced Atlas to hold up the sky."

At that moment the group reached the very peak of the mountain and was greeted with the sight of Artemis holding up the sky, chained to the rocks with celestial bronze.

"My Lady," Zoe cried and made to run forward before Harry halted her with a firm grip on her arm.

"You must leave now…it's a trap," gasped out Artemis, affecting a pained look when she actually wasn't feeling much strain thanks to the powers of her new bonded via Annabeth's connection with the warrior wizard.

"How predictable," the General's voice declared from off to the side where he had just stepped from behind a clump of boulders.

Along with Atlas there were several snake women, dracaenae, who were carrying the golden coffin which contained the remains of the reforming Kronos. Annabeth was standing beside Luke, bound and gagged with Luke's blade at her throat.

Despite her current state there was amusement dancing in Annabeth's eyes that only her three present lovers noticed.

"Luke…I suggest you let Annabeth go or you will regret your actions greatly," Thalia suggested calmly.

"Annabeth's fate is up to the General, Thalia. But I'm happy to see you once more," the pale traitor replied.

"Hello Zoe," the General spoke up. "How is my little traitor these days? I'm going to enjoy destroying you."

"None of you challenge him," Artemis warned.

"Let Artemis go now," the lead Hunter demanded.

Stepping closer to the moon goddess Atlas suggested, "Only if you were to take her place."

Before Zoe could respond Artemis shouted, "No Zoe…you are not to take my burden. That is an order!"

"Explain something to me Titan," Harry spoke up with a casual grace and calm that unnerved his opponents. "Is it true this spot is where your brother Kronos castrated your father Ouranos and that is why a Titan has to hold up the sky…because of your father's injury?"

"No…that's a foolish mortal legend. In truth this is where my mother Gaia the goddess of the earth and my father Ouranos the god of the sky first met. Out of that union my siblings and I were born. My father still desires my mother and so someone must hold him at bay or he will crush down upon this area and destroy all within a hundred leagues. Only someone else willingly taking the burden will release you from the task," the evil Titan explained with a feral grin. Atlas examined Thalia and her boyfriend before commenting, "You are examples of the best heroes this age has to offer? How pathetic," the Titan commented with a sneer.

"How about you back up your arrogance with action," suggested the green eyed male. "I'll lay you to waste."

"Haven't the gods taught you anything boy," Atlas sneered. "Immortals do not fight mortals directly. It is beneath us. Instead I shall task Luke with your end."

"First of all Hatlas," Harry spoke in a mocking tone. "Ares fought me on my first quest and lost. Second of all," the sorcerer began before summoning an object from his trunk.

Before the other beings present had enough time to register what the object was the golden apple was being bitten into. The fruit was quite delicious but more than that Harry felt more power surge into his being. Oddly the energy diverted into the power core which the reality traveler gained from merging with Fawkes.

"I'm no longer mortal," the wizard finished as he banished the rest of the apple back into his trunk.

"So be it foolish boy," Atlas agreed before charging.

Now Harry might have slightly underestimated Atlas' strength and speed. The blow from the Titan when it landed was like the feeling of being hit by a hundred freight trains. The green eyed water wizard was sent hurtling through the air and would have tumbled along for a mile or more had he not arrested his movement using the technique taught to him by Poseidon to anchor his position in spacetime.

"Hmm…your father has been teaching you tricks. This could be more fun than I thought," Atlas declared with a grin.

Harry didn't respond in word but in deed. The raven haired sorcerer rushed down and delivered a powerful kick to the Titan's jaw.

"Free Artemis from those chains Zoe," Harry instructed as he and Atlas began to exchange blows and jabs.

The Earth was gouged up into deep rifts as the two powerhouses battled. Atlas magically drew a large javelin and Harry responded in kind by summoning his enchanted blade, the Sword of Gryffindor. As the two weapons clashed the well trained water mage noticed Annabeth and Thalia hold off Luke while Zoe freed Artemis.

"Give me thy load my Lady. Go help in the fight," Zoe urged.

"You can't hope to survive this burden Zoe," answered Artemis.

"I think you'd be surprised," the daughter of Atlas replied, the light of her natural born immortality shining plainly in her eyes for the Olympian to discern.

"How…how did you get it back?" An amazed Artemis questioned.

"Percy accomplished it. I think he can handle father. But I think the other two could use your help against the traitor," suggested Zoe as she heaved and took the load.

"Yes…he's no longer quite mortal," Artemis noticed as she rushed forward to attack the partially possessed son of Hermes.

"Be prepared Zoe," the immortal sorcerer projected into the beauty's mind.

"You may be powerful boy but you can't hope to beat me," Atlas declared with a feral grin as the javelin and blade were locked together in a contest of strength.

"Want to bet," Harry argued. "Let me show you how we fight in this millennium," answered the animagus as the two weapons became frozen together in a thick block of ice.

Before Atlas even comprehended what was happening his opponent had reached under the weapons, grasped the Titan by one arm and the evil immortal's package. If the crushing force Harry exerted on the General's bits wasn't enough to slow the Titan down then the killing curse the water wizard blasted into his handholds certainly was. Kronos cried out in agony as his immortality fought the killing curse, causing the male to experience excruciating pain.

The agile son of Poseidon whipped Atlas around and hurled the Titan towards his daughter. Zoe was ready and used her natural speed and grace to dodge out of the way just as her sire brushed against her form and took up his old position, the weight of the sky dropping onto his shoulders. Atlas was not without his tricks though as he managed to lash out with a powerful kick delivered to Zoe's midsection. The daughter of a sea goddess flew back and hit a nearby crag of rock.

Harry winced before rushing forward. Zoe's Nemean enchanted lion coat took the edge off of the blow but there would still be internal damage. As he approached the downed Hunter the mage glanced over in time to see Artemis, Thalia, and Annabeth deliver a three pronged assault which sent the traitor flying over the nearby cliff.

"Not again," the Titan shouted in agony.

When he reached her side Zoe gasped in pain. The warrior warlock scooped her up with ample use of a partial body bind charm to immobilize the injured woman's damaged form. The wizard glided over to where Artemis and the two demigoddesses were looking over the edge of the cliff at Luke's broken body on the rocks below. Both of Harry's girlfriends had tears in their eyes.

The army below charged forth in retribution for their leader's downfall.

"Again none of these monsters are very smart for attacking me on a beach," the mage muttered as he nodded towards the ocean and caused a giant wave to rise up.

The micro tidal wave washed over the screaming monsters and washed them out to see. The enemy would likely wash up on the beach a few miles down the coast but the sorcerer couldn't be bothered to permanently attack the army at the moment, he had greater concerns.

"How is Zoe?" A concerned goddess inquired as she approached her fallen warrior.

"She'll live…although she has internal bleeding. She's a daughter of the ocean…I can heal her better in the water," the animagus suggested.

"Go…I'll clean up any stray enemies," Artemis agreed.