Chapter Thirty-Six:
To Trusting An Unlikely Friend.
— Now, at last, the worst is over.
See the way you hold yourself,
your body's borders !

The Golden Fleece truly worked miracles for those in need, like the stories said.

It was unbelievable, really. How six teenagers were able to sail through the Sea of Monsters to obtain a Fleece they'd only heard of through the stories of their predecessors, heroes who faced nothing but tragedy in order to achieve the things they'd managed to do. Annabeth Chase couldn't quite believe it. Her ribs were still sore, but much better than how they originally were — all because of the magic in the Fleece. In the distance, the sun was setting behind the city skyline. There was a beachside highway lined with palm trees, storefronts glowing with red and blue neon — a harbor filled with sailboats and cruise ships. (Annabeth thought about how beautiful it was, how both the people she kept close to her heart would flourish in a place similar to what she'd been seeing.)

Realizing just how close they were to land, Annabeth took it upon herself to wake those who'd yet to rise. She gently shook Colette's shoulder, smiling brightly when the eyes that resembled the pale blue and orange gradient of the sky looked at her softly. Then, out of sheer entertainment, she splashed Percy with the salt water below them.

She snickered when his eyes shot up, only just noticing how his irises were the same crystalline blue of the water she'd splashed him with.

He was inquisitive as he took in the same surroundings she'd appreciated.

               "Miami, I think." Annabeth filled in the blanks for him, sparing a quick glance at her best friend whose eyes were closed underneath the Sun's limelight, soaking in its last rays of the night before it settled behind the clouds to open room for the Moon. "And the Hippocampi have been acting funny."

Sure enough, the fishy friends they'd made along the way had slowed down and were whinnying and swimming in circles, sniffing the water. They did't look happy. One of them even sneezed.

               Annabeth watched as realization flooded Percy's eyes. "This as far as they'll take us," he translated the creatures' behavior, "too many humans. Too much pollution. We gon' have to swim to shore on our own."

None of them were exactly psyched to do that, but they all thanked their sea friends. Tyson even shed a tear as he unfastened the makeshift saddle pack he'd made, which probably contained his things and anything else he'd managed to salvage from the Birmingham wreck. He hugged the Hippocampi (deemed Rainbow?), gave him a soggy mango he'd picked up on the Cyclops' island, and said goodbye.

Once the Hippocampi's white manes disappeared into the sea, the group of six teenagers swam to shore. The waves pushed them forward and, in no time, they were back in the mortal world. They wandered along the cruise line docks, pushing through crowds of people arriving for vacations. Porters bustled around with carts of luggage. Taxi drivers yelled at each other in Spanish (Percy had interjected when he'd heard something evidently vulgar: "¿Así hablas con tu 'amá, coño? Respeta la gente alrededor!" What he said to them, Annabeth had no clue, but she nodded along when Colette snickered slightly) to cut in line for customers. If anybody noticed them — six kids dripping in ocean water and looking like they'd just been in something dangerous — they didn't let their observations on.

Since they were back among mortals, Tyson's single eye morphed back into two because of the Mist. Grover had put his cap on along with his sneakers. Even the Fleece had transformed from a sheepskin to a red-and-gold letterman jacket with a large, glittery Omega on the pocket.

Annabeth, after taking a second to think, ran to the nearest newspaper box to check the date on the Miami Herald. "Fuck," she swore, "June eighteenth! We've been away from camp for ten days!"

"That's impossible!" Clarisse denied.

It wasn't impossible. In their world, nothing was impossible. Especially knowing that time passed differently in enchanted places.

"Thalia's tree must be almost dead!" Grover wailed, eyebrows furrowing in distress. "We have to get the Fleece back tonight!"

Clarisse slumped against the pavement. "How are we supposed to do that?" Her voice trembled. "We're hundreds of miles away. No money. No ride. This is just like the Oracle said." A flip switched behind her eyes. "It's your fault, Jackson! If you hadn't interfered—"

"—La Rue." Colette warned, voice low and accent thick.

Annabeth was in the same boat. "Percy's fault?" She exploded. "Clarisse, how the fuck can you say that? You are the biggest—"

"Yo, chill!" Percy stepped in.

Clarisse put her head in her hands. Annabeth stomped her foot in frustration. And Colette looked between both girls, jaw clenched.

"Clarisse," Percy began after a second, "what'd the Oracle tell you exactly?"

She looked up at him, nostrils flaring in refusal before looking at Colette in defeat.

"You shall sail the iron ship with warriors of bone / You shall find what you seek and make it on your own / But in despair for your life entombed within stone / And fail without friends, to fly home alone."

Power seeped in her voice, her father's true power flooding her — there seemed to be a light green mist escaping her mouth, too. She blinked firmly, harshly, as she finished the prophecy.

"Ouch." Grover mumbled, looking down, and kicking a stray pebble.

"No ..." Percy's voice trailed off in thought. "No, wait a minute. I've got it!" He searched his pockets frantically, but came up short with whatever he was looking for — nothing but a singular drachma that wouldn't get them anymore in the mortal world. "Do anybody got any cash on 'em?"

Annabeth and Grover shook their heads morosely. Clarisse pulled out a wet, Confederate dollar from her pocket and sighed.

Colette had been helpful. She opened her backpack (how she still had it, Annabeth wasn't sure at all, but she was thankful for it), and pulled out a few stacks of twenties.

               "That's everything my dad gave me." She explained, placing it all in Percy's hands.

               As he looked at it, Tyson's face seemed to go sheepish. "Cash?" He asked hesitantly. "Like the ... green paper?"

               "Yeah?" Percy looked up from the stacks of twenties, confused.

               "Like ... the kind in duffle bags?"

               "Yeah, but we lost 'em bags days ago—" Percy stuttered and stammered to a halt as Tyson rummaged through his saddle pack and pulled out the Ziploc bag full of the cash Hermes had gifted them in their supplies. "Tyson!" Percy exclaimed in shock. "How'd you—"

               "—thought it was a feed bag for Rainbow." He looked down apologetically. "Found it floating in the sea, but only paper inside. Sorry."

Tyson handed over the money. There was at least three hundred in that bag alone, along with triple that from Colette — it all seemed perfect for Percy's conjured up plan. He was quick to hail a taxi over, whistling sharply at the driver who was helping a family with their luggage.

               "Clarisse," he called to her from where he'd approached the driver, "c'mon! Ya' goin' to the airport. Annabeth, give ha' the Fleece."

Annabeth's face fell into quiet shock as Percy took the letterman jacket from her arms, but she was sure Clarisse looked the very same as they watched him tuck all the money into the jacket's pockets before putting it in Clarisse's arms. Colette was smothering her smile through pursed lips as she watched on.

               "You'd let me—" he cut her off.

               "It's ya' quest." He admitted. "We only got enough money f'one flight. Besides, I can't travel by air. Zeus would kill my dumbass. That's what the prophecy meant, though! You'd fail wit'out friends, meanin' you'd need our help, but you'd have t'fly home alone. You gotta get the Fleece back safely."

They could all see her mind working — suspicious at first, wondering if he was playing a trick, then deciding he was truthful.

               She was quick to jump in the cab. "Y'all can count on me." She nodded firmly with her words. "I won't fail."

The cab peeled out in a cloud of exhaust. The Fleece was on its way.

               "Percy." Annabeth enunciated his name slowly. "That was so—"

               "—generous?" Grover offered.

               "Insane!" She immediately corrected him, shooting the Satyr an incredulous look before returning her scolding eyes to the one who deserved it. "You're betting the lives of everybody at camp that Clarisse will get the Fleece safely back by tonight?"

               Colette shook her head at the brunette. "It was the right thing to do." She corrected both Annabeth and Grover, looking at Percy appraisingly — smirking slightly when his neck turned pink along with his nose. "Clarisse cares about camp. She won't fail."

               "It's ha' quest." Percy shrugged, albeit sheepishly. "She deserves a chance."

               "Percy's nice." Tyson smiled.

               "Percy's too nice." Annabeth grumbled, but she bit the inside of her lip as she analyzed him. He had made the right move. He'd just surprised her in a way he hadn't yet.

               Percy smiled to himself boyishly. "C'mon, let's find anotha' way home."

But, when he turned, he was met with a sword's point on his neck.

              "Hey, cuz'," Luke Castellan grinned, "welcome back to the States."

Immediately, the twins appeared on either side of the group. One grabbed Annabeth and Grover by the collar of their shirts. The other tried to grab Tyson and Colette, but Tyson knocked him into a pile of luggage and roared at Luke.

              Luke inhaled calmly. "Percy, tell your giant to back down or I'll have Oreius bash your friends' heads together."

Oreius grinned and raised both Annabeth and Grover off the ground, the pair of them kicking and screaming — the Satyr's panic more genuine than Annabeth's who just wanted to cause a scene in hopes it would help.

              Colette was looking at the traitor blankly. "I dare you to make that order, Castellan." His eyes shot to hers, lips quivering ever so slightly when she flashed them at him. "Hurt them. I fucking dare you."

              "What do ya' want, Luke?" Percy growled, interrupting what could've escalated.

Luke smiled at Percy, his scar — the one Colette had taken the time to heal — rippling on the side of his face. He gestured toward the end of the dock where the biggest boat in the port was. The Princess Andromeda.

              "I just want to extend my hospitality." He shrugged slyly, smirking.

The twins herded them aboard the Princess Andromeda, Colette following closely behind the one holding Grover and Annabeth. The other had tried to grab the blonde, but she'd flashed her eyes and veins at him and he left her alone. Once they were down on the aft deck in front of a swimming pool with sparkling fountains that sprayed into the air. A dozen of Luke's assorted henchmen — Scythian Dracaenae, Laistrygonians, demigods in battle armor with helmets to hide their identities — had gathered to watch the group of five receive Luke's "hospitality."

"And so, the Fleece." Luke mused, becoming different — a showman with his audience. "Where is it?"

He looked them over, prodding Percy's shirt with the tip of his sword, poking Grover's jeans.

"Hey!" Grover yelled, clearly violated. "That's real goat fur under there."

Luke smiled, amused. "Sorry, old friend. Just give me the Fleece and I'll leave you to return to your little nature quest."

Grover bleated in protest. "Some old friend!" He spat the words back.

"Maybe you didn't hear me." Luke's voice became dangerously calm. "Where is the Fleece?" He enunciated each word dramatically.

"Not here." Percy answered. He shouldn't have been that honest, not with Luke, but Annabeth knew there was satisfaction in throwing his backfired plans back in his face. "We sent it ahead of us. You fucked up."

Luke's eyes narrowed. "You're lying. You couldn't have ..." his eyes darted to Colette's small smirk, his face reddening with the realization of what happened. "Clarisse?"

Percy smiled.

"You trusted ... you gave ..."

Percy hummed with a nod.

"Agrius!"

The bear giant flinched. "Yes?"

His nostrils flared. "Get below and prepare my steed. Bring it to the deck. I need to fly to the Miami airport, fast!"

"But, boss—"

"—do it!" Luke screamed. "Or I'll feed you to the fucking Drakon."

Agrius gulped and lumbered down the stairs. Luke paced in front of the swimming pool, cursing in Ancient Greek, gripping his sword so tight his knuckles turned white.

The rest of Luke's demigod crew looked uneasy. It was clear they'd never seen him so manic, so unhinged before that day.

Annabeth was silent, nervously biting her bottom lip. She may have been quiet, but she was watching everything — everyone carefully. She'd always been the observer.

She watched as Percy's eyes focused on the fountain and its sprayed water, a new light shining in his eyes.

He seemed to glance at Colette, eyes widening ever so slightly to get her attention. Colette's narrowed hers in response. There was an exchange before she tilted her chin down, discreetly nodding at him.

"You been fuckin' wit' us all along." Percy declared suddenly. "You wanted us to bring you the Fleece 'n save you the trouble of gettin' it."

Luke scowled. "Obviously, dumbass! And you messed everything up!"

"Traitor!" Percy dug into his pocket, throwing a golden drachma at the older boy who dodged it easily. The coin sailed into the spray of rainbow-colored water. After a beat of silence, he continued. "You tricked all of us!" He yelled. "Even Dionysus at Camp Half-Blood!"

Behind Luke, the fountain began to shimmer. That was when Annabeth caught onto the plan. Gods, she thought as she smothered a smile, that boy just keeps surprising me. It was clear Percy still needed everyone's attention while the IM set up, so he uncapped his sword.

Luke just sneered. "This is no time for heroics, Percy. Drop your little sword, or I'll have you killed sooner rather than later."

"Who poisoned Thalia's tree, Luke?"

"I did," the traitor snarled, "I already fucking told you that. I used Elder Python venom, straight from the depths of Tartarus."

"So Chiron ain't have nothin' to do wit' it?" Percy kept his questions on track.

Luke rolled his eyes. "We all know he would never do that."

"How could you? Ya' betrayin' everyone f'what? Some glory?"

"You don't understand the half of it." Luke raised his sword. "She is the only one who does." He pointed it at Colette briefly, immediately moving it when she arched an eyebrow sharply. "I was going to let you take the Fleece ... once I was done with it."

Percy hesitated for a second. "You were gonna' use it to heal Kronos."

"Yes! The Fleece's magic would've sped his mending process by tenfold. But you haven't stopped us, Percy. You've only slowed us down a little bit."

"And so you poisoned the tree, you betrayed Thalia, you set us up — all to help Kronos destroy the gods."

Luke gritted his teeth. "You know that! Why do you keep asking me?"

Percy smirked slowly. "'Cause I wanted e'erybody in the audience to hear ya'."

"What audience?"

Then his eyes narrowed. He looked behind him and his crew did the same. They gasped and stumbled back. Above the pool, shimmering in the rainbow mist, was an Iris-Message vision of Dionysus, Tantalus, and the whole camp in the dining pavilion. They all sat in stunned silence, watching it all.

"Well," Dionysus drawled dryly, "some unplanned dinner entertainment."

"Mr. D, you heard 'im." Percy pleaded. "You all heard Luke. The poisonin' of Thalia's tree wasn't Chiron's fault."

Mr. D sighed. "I suppose not."

"The Iris-Message could be a trick." Tantalus suggested, but his attention was set on the cheeseburger in front of him, which he was trying to corner with both hands.

"I fear not." Dionysus snipped, looking at Tantalus in distaste — the way he'd always had. "It appears I shall have to reinstate Chiron as the activities director. I suppose I do miss the old horse's pinochle games."

Tantalus grabbed the cheeseburger. It didn't bolt away from him. He lifted it from the plate and stared at it in amazement, as if it were the largest diamond in the world.

"I got it!" The prisoner cackled.

Dionysus grinned cruelly at the sight. "We are no longer in need of your services, Tantalus." He announced.

Tantalus looked stunned. "What? But—"

"—you may return to the Underworld. You are dismissed."

"No! But—" his voice trailed off into a scream as he dissolved into mist.

His fingers clutched at the cheeseburger and tried to bring it closer to his mouth to take a bite, but he was too late. He disappeared and the cheeseburger fell back onto its plate.

The campers exploded into cheers, none louder than the rest of the Apollo cabin.

Luke bellowed in rage. He slashed his sword through the fountain and the Iris-Message dissolved, but the deed was done.

Percy seemed to puff his chest out, clearly proud of the plan he'd concocted on the spot. Though it all fell flat when Luke turned and gave him a murderous look that had even Colette straightening up her posture.

"Kronos was right, Percy." Luke spoke in a low tone. "You are an unreliable weapon. You need to be replaced."

No one knew what he really meant, but one of his henchmen blew a brass whistle, and the deck doors flew open. A dozen more warriors poured out, making a circle around them — the brass tips of their spears bristling.

Luke smiled at Percy. "You'll never leave this boat alive."

That was all it took for Colette to finally step forward. Her golden eyes were dead set on Luke, two twelve-inch golden daggers twirling around her wrists as she tilted her head.

"Who is not leaving this boat alive?"

The question was rhetorical, but Annabeth shivered at how much the blonde sounded like her father at his worst.

It was funny how everything horrible happened after they'd trusted an unlikely friend.

ICARUS INQUIRES:

^^^^^^^^^^Lettie's urges the second she sees L*ke anywhere nowadays.

A much longer chapter this time — some more dialogue, y'know. I'm so proud of how this story is coming together I can't wait for everything to make sense and all of Lettie's secrets to be out in the open. Eek 3 more chapters until TTC!!

DEBRIEF:

— Annie pov now that she's fully conscious

— Annie thinking about how the three of them could really have a life in Miami because it has everything Percy and Lettie could want. Miss girl is really a futuristic thinker

— Annie is definitely not picking fights with Clarisse because she's jealous of how close Clarisse is with Lettie. No, she's definitely not doing that. Definitely not.

— Annie is finally impressed by Percy. Wow, look at them maturing, guys

— Ewww, L*ke's back wtf

— Annie has been rendered silent this time around in Luke's presence, finding it better to watch and listen

— Percy being smart for the 3rd time in a row? Gotta be a record

— Oh, Lettie angy again, guys

Anyways, I LOVE YOU ALL <3333

(I updated)