The sea was quiet. Two ships drifted on the still water, four cable lengths from each other.

At about midnight, there was a quiet thunk on the wood planking of one of the ships.

A sentry moved stealthily across the deck and picked up a small bottle with a note tucked inside it.

While anyone watching would have assumed he would take it to the captain, the man carefully opened the bottle and pulled the paper out, unfurling it.

'We spotted some movement on the horizon a few moments ago, but at the moment are unsure what it is. Solace has good eyes, thank you for letting us borrow him for lookout.'

The man pulled a second piece of paper from a pouch at his hip, along with a writing utensil, and quickly scratched a note in response.

'Have your men ready to respond to an attack, but do not call them on deck.'

Stuffing the message in the bottle, he shoved the cork down on it and strode to the rail, tossing the bottle over the edge of the boat and into the depths.

"Leo." He hissed across the desk. "Leo, come here."

The other sentry appeared from the shadows. "Yeah?"

"Wake the crew, but don't bring them up here. Send Piper to replace you so it looks natural."

"You think someone's watching?" The scrawny boy asked.

"I'm positive."

"Alright." Leo jogged off, leaving the other boy alone on the deck. He breathed in the salty sea air and resumed his rounds.

"Did you get a message from Nico?" A female's voice asked from up above him.

"I thought you were asleep." The man looked up to see his first mate sitting in the rigging.

"Not on a night like tonight. I've been checking things."

"In the dark?"

"Why not? I've got pretty good night vision." Reyna dropped down onto the deck. "Why are you up?"

"I'm on sentry duty."

"You aren't fooling me, Jackson. No captain takes sentry duty unless something big is coming."

"I think the attack might be tonight." Percy replied. "We've gone two and a half weeks without conflict."

Footsteps padded toward them on the deck and Piper came out of the shadows, alert despite the fact that she had most likely been woken only minutes before.

"Well, Reyna, if you were awake anyway, you wouldn't mind going back up and being lookout, would you?"

"I'd have no objection to it." Reyna responded with a nod.

"Thank you. Piper, take the upper deck, I'll stay on the lower one."

"Yes, Cap'n." Piper's bare feet slapped lightly on the deck as she walked off and Percy shook his head. The daughter of Aphrodite absolutely refused to wear shoes unless she had to. If an alarm was raised on either ship, the first thing she would do was pull on the shoes that were tied under her belt at the moment.

Splashing at the bow alerted him to a familiar face.

"Maurai." The mermaid's silvery face looked up at him. He could see her tail glowing beneath her as she swished it back and forth to keep herself at the surface.

"My prince." She spoke slowly. "The sea grows restless. We know not why."

"Where?"

"The waters nearest your father's palace. He is angry, I fear."

"His only son, working with the children of his brothers and his sworn rival? I can see why." 

Percy knew that having a child of Zeus on his ship alone would make his father cross, how much more so the feeling must be with two children of Zeus and a daughter of Athena on board, all the while working with two children of Hades was basically asking for his father to send a great wave or fish to destroy them.

"I do not believe that is what has incurred your father's wrath, my prince." Maurai said urgently. "Come away from possible listeners, I must speak with you about this."

Percy nodded. "Give me a moment." He stood and turned to his sentry partner. "Piper. I need you to watch both decks for a few minutes."

"You got it, Cap."

Satisfied, Percy leaned backward and let himself fall into the water.

"This way, my prince." Maurai led him a few feet away from the ship and deeper in the water.

"Are you satisfied now?" He asked.

"We are safe now from prying ears." Maurai nodded.

"What do you wish to tell me about my father's anger?"

"I believe it is directed at Lord Hades, not you."

Percy frowned. "Why would it be directed at Hades?"

"I do not know.  But your father turns not on you."

"Maurai, how did you find this out?"

"I..." The mermaid blushed a deep silver color, seeming embarrassed. "I was at the palace, visiting someone..."

"Someone?" Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Do not look at me that way, I wasn't out of line!" Maurai exclaimed.

"It matters not who you were visiting." Percy finally waved it off. "You heard my father speak of it then?"

"Yes. 'Blasted brother.' He said. I see no sign of anger in Lord Zeus' realm, so I concluded it must be Lord Hades."

"Thank you, Maurai. I must go now." Percy said.

"Please, do not judge me for what you believe I did at the palace." She spoke softly, like she was afraid of his reaction.

"I will not." Percy shot away from her before she could say any more.

He exploded out of the water and landed lightly on the deck.

"Better now?" Piper asked.

"I've got some important information, yes." Percy replied.

Reyna suddenly dropped from the mast.

"Fire, Captain! There's a fire on Nico's ship!"

[A/N What did Hades do? mwahahahaha (I haven't quite decided yet. I have two options)]