"That's impossible- how did you-"

"There are two main reasons you just failed." Percy said casually, spinning the knife he was holding in his free hand. He shoved Alabaster's wrist away from him, hard enough to make the son of Hecate stumble. 

Percy advanced, watching his every move like a massive bird of prey. "First of all: though you're stronger than most that control the Mist, Hecate's magic often requires a grudge to take hold. Hazel and Jason both held rather impressively large grudges towards me, which made it easy for you to turn them on me, but as we just discussed, I find holding grudges to be tedious and unnecessary."

Alabaster ducked frantically as Percy took a wicked swipe with the knife. The son of Hecate could see now that it was painted with incantations and other Greek symbols, which made him very, very nervous.

"Once I actually thought about the two people who you turned against me, it was easy for me to make the connection. I kidnapped Jason from his ship, which put him in the position where he felt that he couldn't go back to the sea, and whether he thought about it or not, that would have lodged itself in the back of his mind, blaming me for what happened."

He finally managed to draw his sword, but it only served to keep Percy's attacks from landing. The son of Poseidon's moves were quick, neat, and deadly, not leaving any room for retaliation and barely allowing Alabaster to even stop him.

"Hazel, along with Nico, strongly blamed me for the death of their sister Bianca, as well as blaming Frank Zhang, who was on my ship. You could have turned her against either of us easily. She was also one of the pirates who was going after me when the others didn't know who I was. She can be a very vindictive person.

"The other reason you were unable to bend me to your will," Percy continued, his voice like ice, "is because my dear cousin Nico di Angelo happens to have a very strong young woman by the name of Lou Ellen, who is a very strong relative of yours."

"I assume she provided the knife." Alabaster sneered through gritted teeth. 

"She did." Percy opened a long gash down Alabaster's arm. He hissed sharply in pain.

"She also figured out the way you had been taking control of people, and cast several protective spells to keep it from happening when I arranged this meeting. I'd argue that her incantations are much stronger than yours, as well as her magic in general." 

"That's a lie." Alabaster snarled, pushing Percy back and finally getting an attack in. The son of Poseidon sidestepped easily, but Alabaster attacked him again, angry now. "I am the most powerful child of Hecate to ever live. She trained me personally, and none of her children has ever been, or ever will be, more skilled with her magic than I am."

Percy knocked his sword aside again. "Maybe you are more powerful than she is. Maybe your training with your mother paid off in that respect, but Lou Ellen has a support base in her crew, and with her friends. Her magic will outpace yours easily, even without your mother's mentoring, and you will be left in the dust because of your solitary quest for vengeance."

"Who said it was solitary?" Alabaster smirked now, but Percy was smirking as well.

"Even as we fight here, my crew, those left on Thalia's, and Nico's crew are all seeking out what's left of your team of bodies, and your henchmen. Thalia never really liked Drew anyway, I'm sure the vengeance will be swift."

"No! How did you find out-"

"We have a little friend who fits in very tight spaces." Percy tackled the son of Hecate to the ground, knocking his sword aside and pinning him there.

Alabaster grimaced. Clearly this was the end, but he wasn't going to shy away from it. He shifted his head and glared at 
Percy violently.

"Are we ready to give up yet?"

"What?"

Percy had the knife under his chin, holding him in place but not putting pressure on it.

"I've made a crew by employing misfits and people who feel like their grudges have been ignored. Most importantly, I give second chances to those who otherwise wouldn't get those chances."

Alabaster seemed to think about it for a moment before he sneered again.

"I would rather die than work under your command, sea scum."

Percy sighed, then brought the knife above his head.

"That's really the only other option you have."