Firstly, this is dedicated to Greenninjagal . For I have been murdering her with quotes from it for the past few days as I finished it.

Secondly, yes I named it after my favorite song on Pretty Odd and I am major trash. Thanks for asking.

Thirdly, THIS IS 9.6k WORDS AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AU SINCE OCTOBER.

Fourthly, my apologies to Frank Zhang who I couldn't fit into the final draft of the story. Though perhaps considering what happens maybe he's better off...

ENJOY. ( Or cry, they both work.)

::

Luke thought he was hallucinating. Maybe he had sunstroke, or maybe he should've just listened to Annabeth and ate some citrus. He held his hand over his eyes to block the glare of the sun as he looked up the mast. The netting along the side flapped against the mast in the wind, but up above was the crow's nest; a three foot tall wooden circle with a platform underneath that Luke often lingered in. However, as of current, it appeared to be occupied.

Through the spray of the sea and the glare of the sun, Luke saw a figure standing  in the crow's nest, faded out grey, as though the dye from their clothes had long been washed out.

Curious, Luke set down his arm, gripped the rope tightly with both hands and began to climb. Pushing his feet against the mast, Luke bit the corner of his mouth in concentration as he slowly progressed, inching closer to the crow's nest.

Finally, red indents across his palms,  Luke pulled himself up and into  the crow's nest. Pushing back his blonde hair, Luke glanced around and nearly fell out of the crow's nest.

A girl was sitting on the edge of the crow's nest, her hands gripping the edges. Her short hair was dark and spiky, the wind blowing it across her face.  Her clothes were similar to his crew's (technically Annabeth's since she was  Captain.) A striped black and grey skirt was wrapped around her legs, ripped and torn. She had a black ruffled button down, with large slashes down the sleeves.

Stumbling backwards, Luke pressed his hands against the edge of the crow's nest.

"Careful." The girl turned her head to face Luke. Her skin was pale and had a light dusting of freckles across the nose. Her eyes were the only color she had, mirror like and electric blue. Luke's own bright blue eyes were dull in comparison.

"Who are you?" Fumbled Luke approaching the girl, who had turned her head back to the horizon.

"Thalia." Luke stepped next to her and she turned to face him once more, "Thalia Grace."

"Luke. " he replied,  leaning against the edge of the crow's nest. "How'd you get here?"

"Flew." A grin graced Thalia's face, and a thick wind blew over them, making Thalia drift a few inches above the edge of the crow's nest.

Realization dawned on Luke, "You're a wind spirit."

"Yeah." Thalia gave a side smile, the ocean below them reflected in her eyes. "I am."

"That's cool." Commented Luke, just slightly awe-struck. "Whatcha doing here?"

"Bored." Supplied Thalia, tapping the edge of her heel against the weather worn wood. "My best friend only comes out at night."

"She's a star?" Asked Luke, glancing up as if he was expecting to see it filled with small silver dots.

"Better." Now her smile was soft, and Luke swore he saw the night sky dancing in her eyes, "She's a constellation."

"Woah," breathed Luke, standing up straighter, "What'd she do"

"She saved the moon." Thalia's voice was breathy, a wisp of a laugh in her voice.

"The Huntress." Stated Luke in disbelief, "You're friends with the huntress."

"She prefers Zoë, " laughed Thalia, "But, yeah." They were silent for a moment, Thalia's laugh still lingering in the air.

"So, what are you doing sitting at the top of a pirate ship, is it like, super enjoyable or something?" Asked Luke, crossing his arms as he leaned against the crow's nest again.

"I'm a wind spirit. I prefer pushing pirate ships. My brother likes royal ships, protecting them from sirens." responded Thalia before adding, "But I think they're boring. At least on pirate ships something happens every once in a while."

Luke snorted, "Thanks. Nice to know we're somewhat interesting."

"One of your crew is attempting to seduce a mermaid. And considering the fact that she hasn't attempted to sink this ship yet is very impressive. I think it might be working."

"Wait," said Luke, turning to stare at Thalia, "Katie is real? I thought she was just another one of Travis's jokes."

"I don't know how he caught her attention, " commented Thalia, "She's in Posiedon's court."

"Is she now?" Questioned Luke.

"She's friends with my cousin, Percy." explained Thalia, with a lazy flick of her hand, "He's the Prince of the Sea." She added thoughtfully after a few moments. Luke felt something bubble up in his chest; something pleasant and warm that heated up his face.

"That would make you Princess of the Sky." said Luke, trying to keep the awe out of his voice, "Right?"

Thalia sighed, and the warm feeling in his chest subside, replaced with an unpleasant sinking feeling, "Yeah." She turned to face Luke, "Families joined a while back."

"Should I even be in your presence?" joked Luke, taking a step backwards towards the mast, "Your highness." he added for good measure. Thalia laughed, bending over slightly as her eyes lit up. Luke felt the warmth again, blossoming in his chest and spreading down his body, causing him to shudder.

"I think you should bow." commented Thalia, sliding off the side of the crow's nest. Drawn up to full height, she was roughly as tall as Luke, but considering her feet hovered half an inch above the wood she appeared to be slightly taller than he was.

Luke grinned, "Of course, your highness." Sweeping his arm behind his back he bowed, grabbing Thalia's hand and brushing his lips against it. Luke's face got warm, and he immediately dropped her hand.

He glanced up at her, and she appeared to be unaffected (however Luke couldn't see her ears, which were glowing the same color as a setting sun). Standing up straight, he noticed that Thalia was hovering slightly higher above the platform.

She was staring up; the sky had gone all sort's of shades of rosy pink, the sun shining orange as it dipped below the horizon. A dark navy was slowly spreading from behind Thalia, revealing thousands of shinning silver stars. A slow smile was forming on her face, soft and sweet, and tying Luke's stomach into knots.

For a moment Thalia's smile faltered, remembering Luke. She seemed to be flickering, her stripped skirt billowing around her legs, fading grey. A wind drifted around them and Thalia met Luke's eyes; electric on dull. She leaned in, lightly brushing her lips, and Luke found a moment of bliss.

Thalia pulled away, her eyes bright. Her gaze went up, staring at a huntress running across the sky. She grinned, "See you tomorrow, Luke." fell from her mouth, breathy, and swirled around by the wind, waving farewell before she disappeared, wind breaking out and whipping around the ship.

And Luke stood there, a soft smile etched on his mouth as he brought up his fingers to lightly brush his lips, still tingling from the kiss.

::

There was something wrong with Luke, decided Annabeth. To be fair, Annabeth told Luke this to his face multiple times (including when he made her play the game of cards that won her the Half-Blood, her ship), but this time she wasn't joking around.

For the past two weeks she'd watched him sulk around, dragging his feet against her pristine decks (that Travis and Connor often found themselves cleaning) with a defeated look in his eyes and a slouch in his posture so big that he was now the same height as Annabeth.

She watched him now, leaning against the mast and playing with the brass buttons on the sleeves of her long, woolen coat. The brim of her hat was drawn low, and the large white feather (Lacy insisted that no respectable pirate captain could go without a feathered hat) drooping low over her eyes. Luke dragged the mop around the deck, leaving a trail of soap behind him. Annabeth was so concerned, she didn't even bother yelling at him for dirtying up her ship. Someone swiftly slide next to her, their boots squeaking against the floor of the boat.

"Hello Travis." Annabeth sighed, lifting the brim of her hat up in acknowledgement. Travis grinned, pushing his floppy brown hair our of his face. (Annabeth made him keep his hair longer than his brother's as a mean's to identify them when they were around each other. One would think that their manner of dress would give it away, but they both insisted that dressing the same gave them an advantage over the enemy. What that advantage was, Annabeth didn't know.)

"You watching poor Luke mope around?" he asked, cocking his head towards Annabeth's miserable first mate. Annabeth nodded, dropping a hand by her side, the large coat's sleeves were slightly too short,  a few inches above her wrist.

"It's like he's had all the life sucked out of him. I've known him since I was seven and for the life of Posiedon I can't figure out what's wrong with him! I'm some friend, huh?" Travis thought for a moment, his gaze drifting over to Luke.

"Well, " he started,  "There are a lot of mermaids, and sirens, and nature spirits in our area of the ocean, according to Katie, at least. Maybe one got inside his head... I'll ask Katie if she's heard anything." Noted Travis, crossing his arms, the huge sleeves of his shirt falling down around his elbows. Annabeth smiled slightly, being one of the few on the ship that believed Travis was indeed friends with/ attempting to seduce a mermaid. She knew if anyone could do it, it would be a Stoll brother. (The incident in which Connor fell in love with one of the more powerful sea-witches in the ocean was still fresh in her mind. Annabeth was still finding green fireworks littered over the ship.) "She kissed me you know." added Travis, a smile etched into his eyes, "I'm pretty sure I've won her over."

"That's great." Annabeth smiled. "Thanks for offering. When can you ask her?:

"In about five minutes." said  Travis coyly, a sly smile crossing his face.

::

Travis pulled on the ropes, lowering the small wooden platform down the hull of the ship. The spray of the sea had Annabeth squinting her eyes, but Travis was positively beaming. His dull blue eyes were alight with a thousand fireworks.

After securing the platform, he sat down, legs dangling over the side, and Annabeth hesitantly followed, the rips of her worn leather boots brushing the waves.

"Katie, you here?" Called Travis out, kicking his feet and beginning to whine, "Katiekatiekatiekatiekatiekati--"

"Oh shut up." Annabeth suddenly found herself wet, the feather of her hat dripping over her face. She blinked several times to clear the water out of her eyes, and discovered Travis practically glowing as he stared at a mermaid.

Annabeth could see shimmering silver and green scales that rippled under the water. Katie had tanned skin, and shining eyes the color of seaweed. Her hair was brown and stringy, braided and twisted out of her face.  Her shirt was made of grey fish scales that lit up in a thousand different colors as the sunlight hit it, thought it compared nothing to the soft smile she was bore as she looked back up at Travis

"Annabeth," said Travis excitedly, gesturing widely with his hands, "This is Katie Gardener. She's a councilperson on Lord Posiedon's court." Katie turned her smile on Annabeth, giving a slight wave.

"And Katie-Kat, this is Captain Annabeth Chase. She's my boss, and she's pretty awesome when she's not telling me to scrub the deck. She was also the only person besides my brother who didn't think I was going insane when I told everyone about you." He grinned broadly, looking back and forth between the two.

"That's because you're already insane, Travis." Annabeth laughed, "And I don't know how you got her to like you, I love you and all Travis, but she's a mermaid on Posiedon's court. You're a pirate that is way too fond of my cannons."

Travis, unfazed, puffed out his chest, "My astonishing good looks and impeccable charm, of course."

"I think he grew on me, " interjected Katie, looking at Travis fondly, "Like mold."

"True." laughed Annabeth.

"Hey, cheese is mold and you love cheese Annabeth! Now on the subject of Annabeth, Katie, Cap'n  here wanted to talk to you." He gestured for Annabeth to speak, and began to kick his feet in the water again.

"My first mate, Luke, has been acting strange for the past two weeks. Ever since that huge storm he's been dragging his feet around my ship and moping. Travis thought maybe a mermaid, or siren, or nature spirit could've gotten into his head, said you might be able to help."

Katie thought quietly for a moment, crossing her arms and staring up at the sky, sticking her tongue between slightly pointed teeth, "Two weeks ago," she started, "Prince Percy's cousin went missing, she was the heir to the sky throne, a wind spirit. When the storm began she disappeared, and no one could find her after. But before... There were rumors, more then rumors, for the last six months, that she was courting a human. A pirate." She looked pointedly at Annabeth, who nodded slowly.

"So you're saying that my best friend's hung up over a girl." She thought about it for a second then rolled her eyes, "That sounds a lot like Luke."

Katie shrugged, "I  suppose that makes the most sense then. Posiedon's been aiding with the search, but there's this siren that no one's checked with. But I'm sure that if I tell Percy he can get someone to check up with her. If anyone knows where she is, it'll be that siren."

Annabeth smiled gratefully, "Thank you."

::

"Percy-- wait up!" Percy stopped in the halls, and turned back before a smile split on his face as Katie swam over.

"Katie! You're back!" Percy grinned, "So. How's Travis?" Katie waved him off with a  laugh.

"Fine, fine. It's just that I've got a favor to ask." She began, "The first mate of Travis's ship--or rather Annabeth's since she's the Captain-- is all depressed, and we discovered that it's because he was the pirate that was courting Thalia, so he's sad because she's missing. I wanted to ask if you could convince Jason to ask his siren friend." She said the last part with a grin. "Ask her if she's seen Thalia. And if not, she can keep an eye out."

"Jason? He's already checking with all the wind spirits. Why don't I ask some guards? At least they won't hate me if I ask."

Katie sighed, "See, that's what I originally thought. But they already check with all the siren's, except her. And he may dislike it, but he's got a way with her that no one else does."

Percy laughs, "Okay. But dude, you've so got to make it up to me." Katie chuckles, and swings her arm around Percy's neck.

"You're the best."

"Yeah. I know."

::

Annabeth found herself in the crow's nest, a book held tightly between her fingers as the strong wind threatened to tear it out and send it spiraling into the ocean below. She rolled her shoulders back, then turned the page of her book with some difficulty. Some of her hair came lose in the gust of wind, pulling it out from the ripped strip of fabric she used to tie it back. Sighing, she gripped the book tightly with her left hand, and used the right to tuck the free flying strands behind her ear.

She shouted out in protest as half of the book was ripped free from the spine, and plummeted towards the ocean below. She sighed and leaned backwards against the mast, closing her eyes.

A few second's passed and Annabeth opened her eyes as someone asked, "This yours?" The guy was obviously a wind spirit; the pale hair and skin, the plain white shirt and black trousers, and the only sign of color: electric blue eyes that seemed to hold the sky. Gripped tightly in his outreached hand was the other half of Annabeth's book, which she took graciously.

"You're Captain Chase, I presume?" The blonde boy questioned as Annabeth tucked the two halves of her book inside her coat. Annabeth nodded and the boy continued to speak, "I'm Jason Grace. Thalia's brother."

"Did Katie send you?" asked Annabeth, standing up.

"Percy did, but it's likely she told him to. " Jason frowned slightly, " I just wanted to let you know that I will be asking one of the more powerful, should we say, sirens. Which might increase her activity. Thought you might like a warning."

"Thank you, that's very considerate." Annabeth inclined her head towards Jason, smiling.

"Your welcome, hopefully I'll find Thalia soon." Wind whipped around Jason, messing up his long, pristine hair just enough fro Annabeth to see the thin silver crown tucked underneath.

Jason rose from the crow's nest, sent a small salute to Annabeth before shooting into the sky and quickly disappearing from view..

Annabeth sighed. slumping down against the mast and closed her burning eyes, just wanting the whole ordeal to be over as soon as possible.

::

Jason glided over the ocean, his arms tucked into his body and wind sending his hair flying in multiple directions.  The ocean reflected in his mirror-like eyes, waves of green and blue with thick white foam that formed as they crashed into each other.

Jagged rocks began to slice through the waves, dark and dangerous that had lead many a sailor to their doom. Jason shivered, he hated sirens. Or at least tried to.

"Jason Grace!" A voice rang out, crisp and clear, that halted Jason above the ocean, his feet hovering slightly above a jagged rock. "What are you doing over in my territory?"

Jason sighed, and turned to face the siren, "Hello Piper." Piper was lounged across a rock, her dress was long and dark, ripped along the skirt and classed around he waist with a belt of gold. Her hair was stringy, cut short on onside and long on the other. Jason felt uncomfortable as she smiled at him with those pointed teeth, his stomach turning over as she stared at him with those strange swirling eyes.

"Go Graceless." Piper said, "What are you doing back in Sirenswater?"

Jason sighed, dipping his head low, his hair drooping over his eyes. "I need..."

"A sense of humor? A girlfriend? A boyfriend? Any friend? A life?" Supplied Piper, sitting up and crossing her legs underneath her dress.

Jason scowled, "No, a favor." Piper's eyes lit up, and a wolfish grin spread across her face. She clasped her hands together, "A favor, Graceless! Well, isn't that interesting, what's in it for me?"

"It's a favor Piper, not a deal." said Jason, and Piper laughed, hugging her right arm against her stomach.

"Someone's grumpy." mocked Piper, "What's the issue Graceless? What's the favor?"

"Thalia's missing. And everyone knows that you know everything."

Piper placed a hand on her heart, "You fatter me, Graceless."

Jason groaned inwardly, it was impossible to get anywhere with Piper, "Yes I do. Now do you know where Thalia is?"

Something glinted in Piper's eyes, and the swirling colors seemed to spin faster. Something fluttered in Jason's stomach as Piper pulled herself to her feet. "Thalia." The word rolled over Jason in a wave, warming him and sending a shudder over his body. "Let me see." She drawled out the vowels, pressing her hand to her cheek. Jason felt something sink in his stomach, and something in the back of his mind was pulling him down towards the rock which Piper stood.

Piper was slowly pacing along the length of the rock, tapping her middle finger slowly against her cheek. She was humming a light melody, and it seemed to resonate with the crashing of the waves and the whistle of the wind in Jason's ears.

"Thalia Grace." said Piper at last, and it took Jason a moment to realize that she was singing the words, her voice voice an octave lower and smoother than silk. Piper turned to look up at Jason and smiled, taking a step off the rock and onto the ocean. The water twisted around her ankle, and up her leg, doing the same with the other as she stepped completely off the rock. "Oh yes, I know what happened to her. But not what place."

"Then--then I'll ask someone else." Stuttered Jason, his face starting to feel hot. The corner of Piper's mouth twitched. She rose on the water until she was eye level with Jason, who was beginning to hear his heartbeat, loud in his ear.

"Just because I don't know doesn't mean I don't know someone who does." Piper wrapped her arms around Jason's neck as she sang. Jason's face felt hot and his stomach churned; he didn't know what was happening.

"Who." managed Jason, not comprehending why he was having trouble speaking.

Piper hummed, "You're persistent." Her r's were rolled and there was a laugh woven in with the words. "That's not a good thing, my brother likes to be left alone." She pulled on Jason's neck, and Jason stumbled through the air and found Piper's mouth on his.

It was like something sparked and short circuited in his brain. Warmth exploded in his chest and his stomach fluttered. Jason felt content. A fuzzy feeling has settled around his brain and it was like he was numb, his vision and hearing gone. All that mattered was that Piper's mouth was on his. All that mattered was Piper.

Piper, Jason thought, PiperPiperPiperPiper. Piper is pretty, Piper is beautiful, Piper's voice is beautiful. Piper is a beautiful siren.

Siren.

Siren.

The word clicked in Jason's head and seemed to reboot it. His mind cleared and suddenly he could hear the slap of the waves against the rocks again. Jason felt a spark in his stomach, smelled ozone in the air, and a crack of lightning sliced through the air and blasted him and Piper apart.

Jason hovered over the ocean for a moment, bent over, breathing heavily and his hand on his tingling lips. Then he heard laughter.

Piper was swaying atop her rock, laughing, her eyes looking... normal. A glistening sky blue instead of the swirl of colors. Her hair was windswept, curved over the side of her head and curling down her shoulder. In the back of his mind Jason thought she looked better like this, almost beautiful without her siren charm.

"You've certainly earned it Graceless, and try not to piss my brother off." She flicked her hand and the water started to swirl in the gap between the, and Piper's image became hazy in the spray of the sea that was thrown up.

Jason took a step towards the whirl pool, looking down but seeing only darkness. He glanced back up at the sound of Piper's voice, it sounded raw, briefly stripped of the musical sound.

"See you later, Jason." Jason felt a fluttering in his chest, and he stepped down into the unknown.

::

The first thing Jason realized, was that it was hot. Really hot.

Piper's whirlpool had deposited him in some sort of volcanic cavern that stank with metal and a sweltering heat. He rubbed the back of his neck, messing up the strands of hair that had been matted down with sweat.

He looked around,  and was slightly confused by the bent and burned scraps of bronze that littered the floor.

"Oh." Jason said, slapping his plan to his forehead. He was an idiot; a sweltering temperature, volcanic rock, and metal? It was so obviously a forge. Which would mean...

"Piper's brother is a volcano dweller?"  mused Jason, taking  tentative step forward. He heard a distant clanging sound, a hammer on metal, and ventured towards that.

Slightly nervous, Jason ventured closer to the sound, the cave getting hotter with each step.

At last he found the source: a lean figure with curly hair was bent over a forge, banging a large hammer to flatten out large sheets of bronze. Jason noticed, oddly, as he stood in the entrance way, that the heat seemed to be emanating from Piper's brother, instead of the forge.

"I assume Piper sent you." Jason was startled slightly as Piper's brother set down the hammer and turned around. His nose was sharp and his skin dark. His clothes were made from the same dark fabric as Piper's, only his appeared to be peppered his burns.

His iris's glowed like molten lava, and his hands emitted a soft red glow that lit up Jason's face.

"Uh, yeah. My name's Jason." Piper's brother's face split into a devilish grin, his teeth sharp and bright white.

"Graceless!" he exclaimed, his grin starting to make Jason uncomfortable, "I've heard a lot about you from Piper. I'm her brother, Leo." Leo spread his arms and his hands glowed a brighter red that sent shadows across the cavern, "It's nice to meet the wind spirit that's captured my sister's heart. Welcome to my volcano. Beauty Queen up there guards the entrance for me. " Jason's stomach churned at the mentioned of Piper, "But that's what happens when your parents are sea-warlocks. A water elementalist siren, and a fire wielding volcano dweller." Leo's grin seemed to widen, "But Graceless, that's not what you're here for. So why don't you tell your future brother-in-law what you're looking for." Jason stood awkwardly for a moment, his face hot, Leo still grinning with his glowing eyes.

"I'm looking for my sister, Thalia Grace." Leo's smile dropped and his hands fell to his side, the light emmitting dimmed.

"She was here two weeks ago. Night of the storm. Bought my best shield and spear, I asked who for, and she said she was defending the stars. Then I told her, to stab the bitch in the face for me." Jason looked at Leo in confusion, and the volcano dwelling clenched his hands into fists, and the temperature in the cave started to rise, "There's a sea-witch, name Pasiphaë. She goes after our people, human-something hybrids. She killed my--mine and Piper's-- parents, and she's started to go after the stars. Um," Leo placed his hand on his cheek, a habit that mirrored Piper's, "A few months back she got King  Posiedon's Captain of the Guard, a mermaid-seawitch hybrid girl named Bianca. Super cool girl, super awesome, and super powerful. Her brother and sister, the latter who, like Bianca, also practices magic, that still live in the castle. They'll help you find her. Called Nico and Hazel, tell them Leo sent you and you should be good."

"Thank you." said Jason, bowing his head.

"Hope to see you soon Graceless." said Leo, giving Jason a knowing smile that he awkwardly returned.

::

"Percy you need to run!" shouted Bianca, thrusting her left hand back, spinning her spear in her right. The sea above them was glowing green and seemed to shake. A large black figure was silhouetted in the light with rippling robes and hair that spiraled up atop their head. The water around Bianca was starting to shake, like the surface waves were effecting them down below.

Percy was still there, refusing to flee with the rest of the royal family. "No! I won't leave until everyone has! Until you have!"

"Percy, I'm the Captain of the Guard! This is my job!" Bianca was on edge, her fingers tingling as she spun her spear, staring up at the sky. Percy started to make a sound of protest, taking a step forward. "Now go!" Swinging around the wrist of the hand she thrust backwards she made a fist. A ripple of black energy emitted, swirling around the Prince.

"No--Bianca, No!" Percy screamed, stretching out his hand to the Captain, before disappearing with a ripple in the water. Flipping the spear over in her hand, Bianca turned to face the sky.

Percy appeared in a swirl of black, a considerable distance away from the glowing green waters of the palace.

"Percy!" exclaimed Posiedon, breaking through the wall of guards, "We were so worried--how?"

"Bianca, Dad!"  said Percy, gesturing wildly towards the castle, "I tried to stay and help. but she used her magic-- sent me away." he was quiet for a moment, " Probably saved my life. But she's gonna die, Dad--" Posiedon held up his hand, silencing his son.

"Percy, look."  Percy turned around, and what met his eyes made his mouth drop slightly in shock. The silhouetted figure in the green water seemed to be peeling out, into a third dimensional form. A gathering cloud of black ink seemed to be gathering from the grounds of the palace, spiraling towards the object.  Percy saw the glint of a silver spear at the top and his heart sank.

"Bianca." he whispered, "Oh gods."

The spiral of black collided with the figure and a flash of green light had Percy blinking spots out of his vision. Through the flash of light, Percy managed to see the swirl of black disappeared as though the green was devouring it.

As soon as Percy's vision cleared he saw the shadow leaning over the castle, as though it was injured, and Bianca was nowhere to be seen. Percy was nauseous and he felt a tug in his heart.

Hopeless, he watched as the silhouette glanced over in their direction, almost seemed to make eye contact with him, before emitting a great laugh that echoed in his ears, then disappearing into nothing.

The laugh still lingering in Percy's mind.

::

"Hurry up, Hazel!" Grumbled Nico, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't want to be in the open corridors longer then we have to be." Hazel frowned, and brushed a curly strand of hair out of her face.

"Nico, we're allowed to be here. We were invited to stay." Nico scowled, and Hazel pursed her lips in concern, "It's because they pity us, Haze." Hazel started to protest, but Nico cut her off sharply, "You do know that right? Because of Bianca's sacrifice. Despite the training they gave us, we won't even reach the level she was at before training. I'll never be as good a fighter as her, and you'll never be as good as magic, so what could it be, besides pity?" Hazel was silent, holding her head low so her curls covered up her golden eyes.

"Hazel! Nico! Hey--guys--wait up!" Nico sighed, the Prince swam up behind them, a huge grin plastered over his face, "Hey, I needed to ask you guys something, is that okay?" Nico held back a groan.

"Of course, Percy." Hazel quickly said on behalf of them both.

"Well, Thalia has been missing. And I asked Jason, who asked Piper-- she's a siren by the way, who had Jason ask her brother Leo, who told Jason who told me..." Percy took in a deep breath, "That the same sea-witch that killed Bianca is responsible for Thalia's disappearance and that you'll help me find her." Percy looked at them both, eager for their reaction.

"Leo." said Nico slowly, "As in the volcano dweller?" Percy nodded, and Nico groaned, "We owe him a favor, or well, Bianca did..."

"What he means to say," Hazel cut in, managing a smile, "Is that we'd love to help. We," She gestured to herself and to Nico, "Have a general idea of where her lair is and how to grasp her attention. But you'd need to go there by ship, and we don't even know if she keeps prisoners. "

"We have to try." Declared Percy, "And I think I can get us a ship. Can you guys make four humanizing potions for us?"

"Four?" questioned Nico, crossing his arms, "Who else is coming?" Percy gave a broad grin. his eyes twinkling.

"Katie." he told them, "After all, her boyfriend works on the ship!"

::

"You sure this is a good idea, Pipes?" Leo flipped his hammer over in his hand as the two crossed the ocean, walking on water. "I mean, I'm all for helping you impress Graceless, but this lady killed our parents."

"Exactly why we are going." declared Piper as they walked over a wave in the water. "I'm a kickass siren with control over water, and you're a volcano dweller forger that literally has lava pumping through his veins. We're more then a match for some sea-witch." Leo couldn't help but think of Bianca, who he forged a spear of moonlight for.

"Yeah." he said, squinting his eyes while he looked into the distance, "Is that the ship?"

Piper glanced over, "Yeah, the Half-Blood." Leo snorted.

"Sort of an ironic name." Piper laughed, the the water that was pushing them speed up, "That's a pretty sturdy ship. But man, those cannons could do with some work."

"Dude, we're like half a mile away, how can you even see the cannons?"

"Please, Piper, I know my cannons."

::

"Are you sure they're coming?" Nico asked Jason, still shifting uncomfortably on legs, "Piper and Leo are kinda hermits."

Jason furrowed his eyebrows, "Really? Piper is always really outgoing when I see her. But yeah, I asked her and she said her and her brother would be here. Guaranteed."

"She must really like you, man." commented Nico, looking for a sign of the duo in the ocean, and Jason's ears flushed red.

"Why does everyone keep saying that." Jason grumbled, crossing his arms.

"Because it's true. " Percy was grinning, standing a few feet behind them, bouncing excitedly from one foot to another, his sword bouncing on his belt. Standing behind him was Annabeth, desperately pleading with her eyes. Jason looked down and saw that Percy's feet were covered in dirt, as well as the deck of Annabeth's ship.

"Shut up, Perce. Go bother Katie."  Jason scowled, turning back to back the ocean again. Percy leaned over his shoulder, where, much to Jason's discomfort, he rested his chin.

"I can't. Travis was complaining about how she was taller then he was, and somehow that lead to them kissing. I'm not sure if they still are, but that's a risk I'd rather not take." Jason's stomach turned as am image of Piper came to mind, her song drifting into the forefront of his mind and making his lips tingle.

"There they are." Speak of the devil. Piper and Leo were casually gliding on water. Piper's dress was billowing around her legs, and hanging from her gold belt was a bronze knife. She was laughing, leaning on her brother's shoulder as he pointed at the cannons with a hammer.

As they approached, Piper swirled her hand and the water around them began to twist, propelling them to the bow of the boat.

They all hastily retreated, Annabeth grumbling how Luke's girlfriend was so not worth messing up her ship.

Within moments Piper and Leo landed on the ship with a crash of water, leaving the deck soaked and Annabeth looking extremely threatening  under her dripping hat.

"Sorry." Piper grinned, and Jason could see the point of her teeth. She snapped her fingers, and the water raised into the air in tiny droplets. Leo's eyes glowed brighter, and the water droplets burst into a steam that left sweat on Jason's forehead. Jason noticed, once the steam cleared, that Piper's eyes were once against swirls of color, and Jason found them rather hypnotizing.

"Hey, Graceless. So where's the witch's lair?"

::

"This seems a bit underwhelming." Commented Percy. Nico sent a glare in his direction, "What?" he protested, "It is!" He pointed to the ocean in front of them. There were no waves. the water was grey and there was no wind (except for the breeze Jason generated to push the ship, ignoring Piper's offered to simply push the ship on it's own.)

"Just wait. " said Nico, "She'll come in a moment." He stepped to the edge of the boat and drew a knife, causing Percy to step forward in alarm. Nico drew the knife lightly across his wrist, his blood spilling into the sea below.

"What the fuck is going on here." Annabeth swung around, eyes wide. Luke was standing behind them, his hair sticking up on one side and his eyes wide with confusion.

"Luke!" she exclaimed, rubbing the back of her neck, "We, are um... You see, we... I agreed to help the Prince of the Sea and the Prince of the Sky. It's top secret and you can't know anything about it."

"And the Stolls can?" questioned Luke, gesturing broadly to the identical brothers, "I mean, I can understand the rest of the crew, but the Stolls? And not me?"

"Travis is dating Katie here, who's one of Posiedon's council people. So... in relation, they uh, get to..." Annabeth sucked in a breath, puffing out her cheeks. After a moment she breathed out and sighed. "I volunteered to help them rescue the Princess of the Sky from a sea-witch. The one you've been moping about. For the past two and a half weeks."

Luke blinked. "What."

If he were about to say anything else, it wouldn't have mattered. The ship lurched to the side, and Lacy nearly went tumbling over the edge and into the ocean. Percy turned to Nico, hands firmly gripped on the edges of the ship.

"That her?" He questioned, letting go of the ship to gesture around before quickly grabbing on. Nico nodded, his face pale and tinted green.

"Yeah. She was attracted to my blood. " answered Nico through clenched teeth. The ship rocked again, nearly swinging Percy and Nico upside down.

"You did that on purpose?" Shrieked Annabeth, gripping onto the rope netting of the mast, "You're tearing my ship apart!"

"Maybe you should be more worried about something else!" Shouted Percy as the boat rocked again, his heart in his throat as he nearly let go of the edge of the boat, "Like, maybe your life?"

"Please!" shouted Annabeth, "This ship is worth more than your life!"

"I'm the Prince of the Sea!" Argued Percy, his knuckles starting to turn white, "Pretty sure that's not possible!"

"Exactly! You're human right now, and on my ship-- if it goes down then so do you!" A wave rolled over the ship as she finished, and Percy choked on the salt water as it splashed into his mouth. Annabeth shouted something else that Percy couldn't hear, but by the angry tone he was kind of glad he didn't.

Something tingled at Percy's ears under the wave, but once he came up, gasping and sputtering, he realized what it was. A broken melody was stinging the air, cut up with sharp gasps and gargles as the water flowed over the ship. Some of the water was redirected off, but not enough. Moments after Percy heard the first piercing note, Piper went under, and she didn't come up.

Even Jason, who could fly, was submerged in the water, struggling for breath. Percy didn't know what to do--he couldn't do anything. Except try to breath.

He let go of the boat when the next wave crashed over head, attempting to break the water and get as much air as he could. But it didn't work out like that.

As soon as he let go of the boat his vision started to disappear, the water started to choke down his lungs, burning his throat and nostrils.

But there's nothing he can think of, nothing he can do. Because all he can think of is shit--oh gods--oh fuck--crapcrapcrap, and nothing else because in a situation like that what else can you think of? What else should you think of.

Because in those last moments before the world goes back what else can Percy do but curse the world?

::

Thalia felt faded. Her body was cold and heavy, but her mind warm and light. She couldn't think of anything, but memories swarm around her. Quick flashes that were edged in white light, enough to captivate Thalia's attention for all eternity.

But one seemed to keep repeating, edged in darkness that seemed to ground her more, make her mind feel heavier and real.

"Thalia!"

That seemed to be what nearly jolted her awake, that desperate cry of a friend. A friend who's name she can't remember.

"Zoë!" She'll see herself shout, and for a moment she remembers. She sees herself running across the sky, holding a shield of silver and a spear of moonlight. She watched herself run, and feels a sinking feeling in her chest when she watches herself not arrive in time.

"Oh gods, Zoë... I'm so sorry, I couldn't get here in time--" She watches herself cry, holding a broken body that's fading into silver specks. She watched Zoë place a soft hand on her cheek, and smile softly.

"It's alright, Thalia." Zoë will assure her, "I'll still be here at night. We just won't be able to talk. It's alright Thalia, you stopped her. You saved my soul. With your storm, Thalia. You saved the sta--" The word gets choked up in the girl's throat, the name forgotten again. She watched herself sob over and over. Holding a broken body as it dissolves into silver light.

Then the shadow comes.

Thalia watched herself stand, shakily, and trying to hold back tears. Her shield was on her back but the speare was gone, dropped and landed somewhere in the ocean below.

"You've caused me a lot of trouble, dear." The voice will make Thalia's consciousness feel unease, feel thrown off. "You cost me a powerful star." She'll see herself turn to face the shadow, her hands shaking by her side and she wonders why she looked so weak.

"You can never have her." She'll say, her voice shaking, "Not for a thousand years." And the voice will laugh, a laugh that shakes the blackened borders of the memory.

"I can find a replacement, easy." The voice will hiss, "My star's don't need to be ready made. I've got one brewing already. I always have a backup. All I need is a voice, and you my dear, can get me that."

Thalia will want to wake up, skimming the surface of consciousness, but then the memory disappears and any fight she puts up falls as another memory appears. This one soft and edged in white.

And Thalia dreams on.

::

Luke wakes up in a cave. An underwater cave to be more specific. His head is throbbing and his body feels like lead, but he's alive. And really after drowning that's the best thing someone can hope for. But that brought up another point, how was he breathing? It probably wasn't importatant, probably some spell, but it was the first thing that appeared in Luke's head after he woke up and his mind cleared.

He managed to get on his feet, stumbling slightly as his vision blacked, all the blood rushing to his head. Breathing heavily, he looked around, and instantly his heart sunk.

He was in a cell. The bars were made of rock and were crusted with barnacles, which normally wouldn't have worried him, but the green that seemed to shimmer around them did.

He moved closer to the bars, and found that he was able to get quite close before the magical barrier halted him. Once he discovered that he was as close to the bars as he could possibly get, he looked around.

Shelves lined the cave's walls, colorful jars stacked upon and labeled in a language that Luke didn't understand. A thick black cauldron was pushed off towards the side (Of course there was a cauldron, Thought Luke, What evil lair didn't have them?) and bubbling, shooting up silver sparks. There were other cells, like his, that lined the cave, and in them he saw his crew, and the other people that Annabeth had invited on their ship. Sitting down, with a rather defeated expression, in a cell two away from his was someone that looked really familiar. Luke could see a silver crown under his hair when he moved his head, and when Luke caught a glimpse of the guy's eyes something in his body froze. It was Thalia's brother.

But once he drew his eyes away from Thalia's brother, he found his attention captivated by the table that took up most of the cave. Atop it were two large jars, at least three feet tall. One was filled with white fog that occasionally crackled with a spark of lightning. The other was more interesting by far; it was black, and looked like ink that swirled and crashed against the glass occasionally crackling into silver sparks, before swirling into black ink once more. Luke could practically feel the power radiating from it, something that made the hairs on the back of his neck send up.

Luke wasn't sure how long he spent staring at the jars, his eyes feeling raw and sore. It felt like forever, and the moment was only broken when the sea-witch entered.

Pasiphaë was tall and willowy, her presence cast a cold shadow across the cave, causing goosebumps to form on Luke's arms. Her hair was spiraled tall atop her head, and woven through with diamonds (which was totally unpractical in Luke's opinion), and her robes fell to the ground, silky and rippling like the waves of the ocean. When she entered, everyone in the cells immediately straightened, some people hopping to their feet and pressing against the bars like Luke was.

"You're all awake." she noted, moving to the shelves to pick up a black jar and bring it to the table, "I thought at least one of you might die. How disappointing."

"Why didn't you kill us then?" the words escaped Luke's mouth as he thought them, and the witch faced him.

"Because killing you directly would have no point. I need some of you, and those I need would not cooperate if the others were dead." She opened the jar, stared at it's contents for a moment, then made her way over to the bubbling cauldron in the corner.

"What would you need us for?" It was Thalia's brother, Jason, that spoke, cocking his head to the side in curiosity. Luke thought he was very good at hiding his fear.

"I need to make a star, my dear boy." Pasiphaë carefully emptied some of the contents of the jar into a cauldron, from what Luke could see of it, the liquid appeared to be thick and black. "A powerful star. I had one too, perfect for what I needed. But your dear sister was somehow able to fight me back. But it's no issue, I've taken care of her, and momentarily I will have a star, perhaps even more powerful than Miss Nightshade." Luke's stomach turned over, and he felt nauseous.

"What do you need a star for? And where's Thalia?" Jason demand, slaming his hand against the barrier which can't have felt good.

The sea-witch laughed, replacing the jar on the shelf and moving back towards the table, in front of the two jars. "Stars, my dear boy, are very good for you. They're immortal you know. Unlike most things, having to commit acts of the purest good or the vilest evil. And if you consume one, it will englengthen your life. I'm just about due for mine. I made Miss Nightshade myself, creating the danger that threatened to destroy the moon. But as you know, thanks to your sister I never did get to consume my creation." Luke found the thought of consuming a star disturbing, but couldn't help but wonder exactly how someone would manage to consume a star.

"Where's Thalia." he echoed, repeating Jason's question, and Pasiphaë's eyes lit up in a way that ties Luke's stomach into knots.

"Straight to point. Well I understand, that's the reason why you're all here. That's the reason why I took her too, knew that was the only way I'd get all of you here. Of course I didn't know that, my oracle told me." She went over and plucked a large green jar off the shelf, and screwed the lid off. Green smoke billowed out, forming a thin girl with red hair and glowing green eyes. The sea-witch twisted the lid shut and the smoke disappeared, along with the girl. She spoke again, replacing the jar and walking back in front of the table, "But yes, I have Miss Grace and she is indeed alive. I have her right here." She tapped the top of one of the jar's, the one filled with soft white smoke, "I could let her go now if I wished, but would't be good for her. Her form's currently unstable after being exposed to some of the potion I've been making. I wanted to see if I could turn her into a star, seeing as she's got the right composure, unlike this one over here..." She moved her hand, patting the top of the black jar, "But she's not nearly powerful enough. Which would bring me to my point. I need the Siren's voice."

Luke saw Jason tense up, the color draining out of his face as he stared into the cell between him and Luke, fear filling his eyes. The siren cocked her head to the side, parting her mouth slightly.

"What for?" Her voice was musical, dancing in the underwater currents, yet steeled with a cool rage.

"You certainly are curious, Piper. Well I'll tell you, this one here-" She patted the black jar once more, "- her composure doesn't resonate with the sky properly. Plus she keeps putting up a fight, seems to be fighting the spells I put on her" She turned towards two people, a pale boy and a dark skinned girl who's bottom halves dissolved into a cloud of black ink, "Your sister is quite the fighter, decent at magic too. I'd feel honored to have her as my sister, or-" She turned to who Luke assumed was Thalia's cousin Percy, "Captain of the Guard." Percy seemed to tense up, his soft green eyes hardening.

"I would've rather you killed her." The pale boy said softly, looking up at the witch with hard black eyes, "Bianca's too good to be a star." At the sound of the boy's voice the black ink (or Bianca, supposed Luke) seemed to swirl faster in the jar, more silver sparks setting off. And Luke could've sworn he saw the jar rock closer to the edge of the table.

"Yes, yes, well no one asked for your opinion Nico." Pasiphaë waved him off with one hand, turning her attention back to Piper. Luke glanced back at the jar and decided that, yes, it was definitely closer to the edge.

"Now, Piper. Will you sing for me willingly, or will I have to persuade you. " She held up her hand and the jar that held Thalia raised into the air, and moved above the ground, and Luke's heart climbed into his throat. "I know how fond you are of Jason Grace here, it would be quite a shame if his sister's death were to be your fault." Piper clenched her fists, her eyes steel. Jason looked at a loss for words, his gaze constantly shifting between Piper and Thalia.

"I'll do it." she says at last, and Luke feels a sense of relief as Pasiphaë sets Thalia jar on the table. And he totally sees that Bianca's jar is teetering on the edge, practically hanging off. And he totally doesn't say a thing about it.

"Good girl." smiled Pasiphaë, turning around to pick up Bianca's jar. As she reached for it with her narrow fingers, the jar sparked once more, insanely bright and enough to make the sea-witch draw her hand back with a hiss as the jar tumbled off the side.

The glass shattered on the ground, spilling in every direction and time seemed to slow as he watched the shards of the jar spill over the floor. The black ink swirls around itself, briefly forming the outline of a girl with a spear gripped tightly in her hand as it hangs by her side. For a moment the world is frozen, everyone staring at Bianca with wide disbelieving eyes, even if most of them had never met her. She makes quick eye contact with her siblings, and Nico nods in a sad way.

Then Bianca screams. Loud and clear, piercing Luke's ears. And the split second where her form was whole disappears, the black ink that makes of her exploding outwards in a wave of energy. Luke is thrown back into his cell and the barnacle crusted bars in front of him dissolve.

Blinking spots out of his vision he pushes himself to his feet, and exits his cell, his head pounding. He doesn't know what to make of the scene in front of him.

Pasiphaë is standing in the corner, her hair lopsided  (Luke totally called that, he knew that her hair was unpractical) and dangling over her face. Her palms were stuck out, and glowing with a green energy. Two people were facing her, one of them Piper, and the other a guy with eyes that glowed like molten lava and radiated heat. Everyone else was hovering in near their cells, watching intently.

"You killed our parents." stated Piper, the color in her eyes swirling hot with anger. "I think we should return the favor, Leo." Her brother, Leo, nodded, raising his own hand which began to glow red.

"I have to agree, Piper." he said, flipping a hammer over in his other hand. His eyes burned brighter, and the ground around Pasiphaë and lava glowed from beneath the cracks. Raising his glowing hand, the lava floated upwards, sending heat radiating across the cave. The glow of the magma reflected in the sea-witch's eyes, and she looked around in a panic, before her eyes lit up in a way that Luke did not like.

Her hands glowed a brighter green, but Piper drew her dagger, and it glinted in the light of the magma. From the corner of Luke's vision, he saw something light up green, a beacon in the cave. It rose up into the air, just as Piper threw her knife.

The witch let out a cry, the knife implanted itself in her gut, glowing bronze, and she slumped over. The green beacon disappeared, and Luke heard a loud shattering sound. Like glass breaking.

Like a glass jar breaking.

Luke swung around, blood roaring in his ears and his heart leapt into his throat. White smoke billowed around the remains of the shattered glass jar, sparking slightly as it began to form the rough outline of a body.

"Thalia." he whispered, "Oh gods." He scrambled over the shattered remains of Bianca's jar, kneeling by Thalia's form as she solidified out of smoke. The other's gathered around him, Jason hovering over his shoulder.

Thalia appeared, and immediately sucked in a gasp, then began to cough out a thick white smoke, her eyes were glazed over. Fear grasped Luke as he saw thin cracks along Thalia's form that glowed an intense silver, like she was breaking up into a star.

"Lu--Luke." She coughed, meeting her eyes with Luke's. Only now her's were dull, and in comparison his were electric. She made a movement with her hand, like she intended to grab Luke's, and at once he gripped her's tightly. Thalia shifted her head back and forth, like it weighed a million pounds, her eyes scanned as much of the room as they could, and she coughed up more smoke before she spoke again, "Where's Zoë. I.. she's in danger... Where--" She winced in pain as the cracks along her form glowed bright, like they were burning her.

Luke's felt a sinking feeling in his chest, and lied, "She's fine, Thalia. You saved her." Bliss crossed Thalia's face, staying even as she coughed up more smoke. "You're going to be fine." he assured her, stroking her hand. "You're going to be just fine."

Piper kneeled next to Luke, and Jason gave a strangled cry of protest from behind Luke, but Piper ignored him and spoke to Thalia, "He's right Thalia. You just need to sleep, and you'll be fine." The words washed over Luke, and they felt warm making his eyes feel heavy.

Thalia jerked, the silver glow searing into her body, contorting into herself, but when she spoke it was calm and tired, "Sleep." She agreed, her eyes flitting shut, "Sleep is good. Goodnight." Her breath hitched on the last word as she closed her eyes, squeezing tight on Luke's hand. Luke blinked, his eyes wet, and shook his head.

For a moment Thalia seemed peaceful, her hand still gripped tightly around Luke's, and the cracks on her form glowing brighter and hotter. Then her hand went limp, and Luke gasped.

Thalia contorted in on herself, her hand slipping out of Luke's. The cracks along her body burned brighter, glowing and spreading until her body was glowing so hot and bright that Luke had to back up, leaning heavily on his hands.

Then, right before his eyes, her body shattered, breaking off into thousands of silver sparks that floated through the water, and rose through the roof of the cave, disappearing in moments, only leaving the shattered glass as the only sign that Thalia Grace was once there. Luke's throat felt tight, and he couldn't breath, only staring at the spot where Thalia was laying moments before.

Annabeth leaned down next to him, wrapping both her arms around him, and Luke relaxed into her grip and cried.