It turned out we were thinking the same thing: offer the pirate trireme as tribute to Bacchus. It took longer than we had planned. As we worked, I kept glancing into the waters looking for Chrysaor and his dolphins to see if they would return. They didn't.

Leo got back to his feet, thanks to a little bit of nectar. Piper tended to Jason's wounds, but he wasn't as badly hurt as he looked. Mostly he was just ashamed he'd gotten overpowered again.

We returned all our supplies to the proper places and tidied up from the invasion while Coach Hedge had a field day on the enemy ship, breaking everything he could find with his baseball bat. When he was done, Percy loaded the enemy's weapons back on the pirate ship. Their storeroom was full of treasure, but Percy insisted that they touch none of it.

"I can sense about six million dollars' worth of gold aboard." Hazel said. "Plus diamonds, rubies-"

"Six m-million?" Frank stammered. "Canadian dollars or American?"

"Leave it." Percy told them. "It's part of the tribute."

"Tribute?" Hazel asked.

"Oh." Piper nodded. "Kansas."

"Crazy." Jason grinned. "But I like it."

"He should take this as tribute." I bit my lip, praying to my dad that he would accept it.

Finally Percy went aboard the ship and opened up the flood valves. He asked Leo to drill a few extra holes in the bottom of the hull with his power tools, and Leo was happy to oblige.

We assembled at the rail of the Argo II and cut the grappling lines. Piper brought out her new horn of plenty and, on Percy's direction, willed it to spew Diet Coke, which came out with the strength of a fire hose, dousing the enemy deck. I suggested she also use Diet Pepsi. She nodded and switched the drinks. The ship sank remarkably fast, filling with my dad's chosen beverages and seawater.

"Dionysus." Percy called, holding up Chrysaor's golden mask. "Or Bacchus-whatever. You made this victor possible, even if you weren't here. Your enemies I trembled at your name...of your Diet Coke, or something. So, yeah, thank you. We give this ship to you as tribute. We hope you like it."

"Six million in gold." Leo muttered. "He better like it."

"Shh." Hazel scolded. "Precious metal isn't all that great. Believe me."

Percy threw the golden mask aboard the sinking vessel, brown fizzy liquid spewing out of the trireme's oar slots and bubbling from the cargo hold, turning the sea a frothy brown. Percy summoned a wave, and the enemy ship was swamped. Leo steered the Argo II away as the pirate vessel disappeared underwater.

"Isn't that polluting?" Piper asked.

"I wouldn't worry." Jason told her. "If Bacchus likes it, the ship should vanish."

I glanced at the murky water. Bacchus had to like it for us to have help defeating the twin giants. I gave a silent prayer to my father, hoping he would accept our tribute. A Diet Coke can floated to the top of the water before it sunk and a smile grew on my lips.

🍇

After the bout with the pirates, we decided to fly the rest of the way to Rome. Fighting against the water to grow the vines and controlling the madness drained me. My bones felt exhausted. I couldn't keep my eyes open and it if weren't for Percy being next to me I would have fallen asleep and fell face first onto the deck.

"Why don't you go ahead and go back to sleep, yeah?" Percy softly told me, my head on his shoulder. I let out a hum and I thought I nodded, but Percy tapped my shoulder. "Ivy?"

"Okay." I mumbled out, forcing my eyes to open. "Are you going to bed already?"

"In a little bit-"

"It's fine, man." Jason said. "Take Ivy down to her cabin. I don't think she'll even make it to the stairs before falling asleep again. Plus, give somebody else a chance to save the ship, huh?"

"Yeah, okay." Percy wrapped an arm around my waist as we both went to our cabins. "You awake Ives?"

"Just until I get to my bed." I tiredly smiled at him. "I don't know why I'm so exhausted."

"You had like three hours of sleep and controlled the vines and madness." Percy pointed out. "And I swear for a second your eyes glowed like your dad's."

"Really?" I furrowed my brows. "That hasn't happened before...right?"

"Not that I'm aware of, no." Percy shook his head. We stopped outside my cabin door. "Good night. Rest, and I'll see you in the morning."

"It is the morning."

"You know what I mean." Percy pecked my lips and gave my hand a squeeze.

"Goodnight, Shark Boy."

We went our separate ways. Once my head hit the pillow I was out. At first, I had no dreams. I was caught up in a deep sleep. I didn't even realize I was asleep until I was pulled into a demigod dream.

🍇

I was in a cavern of sorts. The room was dark and dreary. My ankle felt like something was wrapped around it and was being lightly tugged at. I glanced down to see nothing. Scattering echoed in the cavern.

The room rumbled with laugher and I knew right away it was Gaea. I glanced around, trying to find the earth goddess. The poorly lit room made it hard to see anything. A small spider ran across my foot. It appeared to be running away from something. The spider came from further inside the cavern.

You don't have much time left, my little pawn. Gaea muttered.

Her voice seemed more awake compared to the last few times. Goosebumps appeared on my arm. I looked around, trying to see where she is. A couple yards in front of me, on the other side of the room, was a woman. Her eyes were closed as if she were sleep walking. Her robes were a forest green with gold and white. Her hair was dark, it was hard to see the specific color in the dim lighting. A cold and distant smile was on her lips.

"Gaea..." I muttered, never truly seeing her before, just her voice in my past dreams.

"You will realize soon just how powerless you truly are. You and your friends can't stop me. It doesn't matter when you fall, little pawn. My dear twins have something in store for you. They're not a fan of your father, you see, and who to take it out on than his daughter?" Gaea took a small step forward. "You will fall, and I'll be waiting to devour you. You have a choice... Will you fall alone? Come with me willing, bring the boy."

I couldn't speak. It was as if my words got caught in my throat. I shook my head at her with a glare. Gaea's smile widened. There was a sharp tug at my ankle. I stumbled a bit, getting my bearings. I glanced down to see nothing was around my ankle, but it felt like someone was holding on to it and yanking at me.

Another hard tug forced me to fall to the ground. I let out a hiss as I felt my elbows and hands scrap against the rocky dirt floor. Before I had the chance to get back to my feet, something started to drag me closer to Gaea. I thrashed and clawed at the ground to stop. Fear crawled into my throat. I was growing closer to her and she started to laugh again.

My feet hung in open air and my blood froze. Whatever was dragging me, pulled me down. My body scraped against a rocky edge as I was tugged into a hole. My hands tried to grasp for a rock or the ledge.

"Enjoy Tartarus my little pawn."

I fell into the black hole screaming.

🍇

I woke up gasping for air. My face was beaded with sweat and my bangs stuck to my face. I sat up and pulled the covers off me with shaking hands. That dream felt too real. A knock came from my door.

"Ivy, you awake?" Annabeth called from the other side. I was trying to control my breathing. The door swung open and Annabeth froze when she saw me. Concern grew in her face. "Ives, you okay?"

"Demigod dream." I swallowed. "What's up?"

"We're in Rome." Annabeth studied me. "You sure you're okay? You look shaken up."

"I'm fine." I stood up from the bed to go change. "Upper deck?"

"Yeah." Annabeth nodded slowly, not believing me.

"I'll see you there. Just going to get changed."

I grabbed my things and went to the bathroom. Annabeth stared at me before she left, looking down the hall for someone. I quickly got ready, trying to get the nightmare out of my head. When I got to the upper deck, everyone was already there. Percy looked at me with furrowed brows. I stood beside him and he slipped his hand into mine.

"You okay?" Percy whispered as we looked at the beautiful city of Rome.

We had landed the ship in a park. No one was screaming or waving at us, so the Mist was working. There was noise of the traffic around the park that was peaceful and deserted. My eyes drifted to the Colosseum. The ruins rose above the rooftops. I was actually staring at the real Colosseum and my hands started to shake again. Something about it struck a cord in me. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something about the architecture and the color of the stones reminded me of something.

"Yeah. I'm fine." I muttered.

I glanced at my boyfriend to see his legs shaking slightly. He must have felt something as well. Percy squeezed my hand and pulled me closer to him.

"I think I know where we are." Jason pointed to the base of the archers' wall, where steps led into some kind of tunnel. "That's the Tomb of Scipios."

"Scipio...Reyna's pegasus?" Percy frowned.

"No." Annabeth put in. "They were a noble Roman family, and...wow, this place is amazing."

"I've studied maps of Rome before." Jason nodded. "I've always wanted to come here, but..."

Nobody bothered to finish that sentence. Rome was beautiful, it was as if I were standing inside a picture. We made it to Rome after all the trials.

"Plans?" Hazel asked. "Nico has until sunset-at best. And this entire city is supposedly getting destroyed today."

"You're right. Annabeth..." Percy turned to our friend. "Did you zero in on that spot from your bronze map?"

"Yes." Annabeth said carefully. Her eyes turned extra dark and stormy. "It's on the Tiber River. I think I can find it, but I should-"

"Take us," I motioned to Percy and I, who nodded along, "along. Yeah I agree."

"That's not-"

"Safe." Percy added. Annabeth shot us both glares. "One demigod walking through Rome. Ivy and I will go with you as far as the Tiber. We can use that letter of introduction, hopefully meet the river god Tiberinus. Maybe he can give you some help or advice. Then you can go alone from there."

Annabeth had a staring contest with us, trying to make us change our mind. I crossed my arms and gave her a look.

"It's safer for all three of us. After we drop you off, Percy and I will be together. Safety in numbers." I told her. Annabeth still didn't look fully convinced. "We're going and you're not changing our minds."

"Fine." Annabeth muttered. "Hazel, now that we're in Rome, do you think you can pinpoint Nico's location?"

"Um..." Hazel blinked, as if coming out of a trance from watching the three of us. "I'll have to walk around the city. Frank, would you come with me?"

"Absolutely." Frank beamed.

"And, uh...Leo." Hazel added. "It might be a good idea if you came along too. The fish-centaurs said we'd need your help with something mechanical."

"Yeah. No problem." Leo said.

Frank's smile turned upside down. I wasn't exactly a genius when it came to relationships, Percy's my first ever boyfriend and crush, but I could feel the tension between the three of them. Ever since they'd gotten knocked into the Atlantic, they hadn't acted the same. It wasn't that the two guys were fighting for Hazel's attention. It was like the three of them were locked together:

"Jason and I can watch the ship for now." Piper drew her knife and set it on the rail. "I'll see what Katoptris can show me. But, Hazel, if you guys get a fix on Nico's location, don't go in there by yourselves. Come back and get us. It'll take all of us to fight the giants."

"Good idea." Percy said. "How about we plan to meet back here at...what?"

"Three this afternoon?" Jason suggested. "That's probably the latest we could rendezvous and still hope to fight the giants and save Nico. If something happens to change the plan, try to send an Iris-message."

The others nodded in agreement, but I noticed a lot of them glancing at Annabeth. She would be on a different schedule. She might be back at three, or much later, or never. But she would be on her own, searching for the Athena Parthenos.

"That'll give me time to eat the coconuts-I mean dig the coconuts out of our hull." Coach turned his attention to Percy and I. "Percy, Ivy...I don't like you two coming back on your own. Just remember: behave. If I heard about any funny business, I will ground you until the Styx freezes over."

"We'll be back soon." Percy smiled at him. He looked around at our friends. "Good luck, everyone."

Leo lowered the gangplank, and Percy, Annabeth, and I were the first off the ship.

We're getting closer to the end