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LUCIA GOT HER PLATE OF PASTA BUT THE UNIVERSE SEEMED TO THINK SHE WAS PUSHING IT BY ASKING FOR EIGHT HOURS OF INTERRUPTED SLEEP.

The girl awoke to an incredibly loud horn blast. She shot up from her bed frantically, accidentally bumping her head against the wall.

"Ow!" She whined, "Ugh." She rubbed at the growing bump on her temple, her head beginning to ache.

She wondered if Leo was pulling another joke. Then the horn boomed again. It sounded like it was coming from several hundred yards away—from another vessel.

She already had a restless night full of Coach Hedge's threats. He even suggested putting a collar on her and Percy.

It was now his go-to warning when it came to the couples on the ship. Lucia didn't think he realized that she could control the sound coming from a bell if she wanted to.

Percy did. That was why he was grinning like an idiot the entire time Coach was making the threat. Which really didn't help with his anger...

Coach Hedge had also been on watch throughout the night to ensure the couple wasn't sneaking out anymore. Lucia heard banging on her door every few seconds the entire night.

Coach Hedge did know she could turn invisible and had to keep checking that she wasn't sneaking around to do any "funny business".

Seriously why can't this goat just say sex?

She had no time to get properly dressed. So she hastily threw one of Percy's T-shirts over the pajama shorts and sports bra she slept in. Lucia grabbed her quiver from its hook and ran up the stairs, her bracelet dangling on her wrist like always. When her bare feet hit the deck she saw that the others were already gathered.

Piper's clothes were not quite on right, her kuromi shirt was on backward. Frank's Vancouver Winter Olympics shirt was inside out. Percy was wearing pajama pants with a bronze breastplate over his bare chest (Lucia's eyes lingered for a little too long).

Hazel's curly hair was all blown to one side. Leo had accidentally set himself on fire and his t-shirt was in charred tatters while his arms were smoking. And Jason was in a purple pajama set with a bald eagle print. Well, that's a sight...

Annabeth came up to Lucia cursing under her breath in annoyance, She handed her the second mug of coffee she held.

"You are an angel." Lucia hummed taking a sip from the rich bitter coffee. Of course, Annabeth knew exactly how she liked it.

About a  hundred yards to port, a massive cruise ship glided past. Tourists waved at them from fifteen or sixteen rows of balconies. Some smiled and took pictures. None of them looked surprised to see an Ancient Greek trireme. Maybe the Mist made it look like a fishing boat, or perhaps the cruisers thought the Argo II was a tourist attraction. The cruise ship blew its horn again, and the Argo II had a shaking fit.

"Ow!" Lucia whined, She flinched and droplets of hot coffee spilled onto the deck. Percy walked over and put his hands over her ears in the meantime.

Even Coach Hedge needed to plug his ears. "Do they have to be so loud?"

"They're just saying hi," Frank speculated.

"That's it?! I woke up and bumped my head for a hi?!" Lucia huffed, "Percy throw them overboard!."

"Luz? I can't?" Percy said, though he seemed to be considering it.

"Lucia!" Piper chided,

"Tough crowd." she huffed. Sipping on more of the hot liquid.

"WHAaaat" Hedge tried yelling at the ship full of people but Lucia immediately made his voice die in the air.

"Can we not shatter my eardrum?." Lucia sassed.

Coach started silently yelling at her. Which was honestly kind of hilarious. He looked like a furry mime.

Well now he knows the bell won't do anything

The ship edged past them, heading out to sea. Which left Percy to stop being her makeshift earplugs.

"Thanks." She smiled. They had hardly talked to each other since Lucia went to visit Aphrodite and defeated the sea monster. Both were too distracted and caught up with all the attacks. Lucia also needed some time to herself after everything she witnessed.

"Nice shirt." Percy teased, "I swear I had one just like that before it was stolen from me."

She shrugged innocently, "That sounds like a personal problem."

The tourists kept waving. If they found it strange that the Argo II was populated by half-asleep teenagers in armor and pajamas and a man with goat legs, they didn't let on.

"Bye!" Leo called, raising his smoking hand.

"Can I man the ballistae?" Hedge asked.

"No," Leo said through a forced smile.

Hazel rubbed her eyes and looked across the glittering green water. "Where are—oh...Wow."

Lucia followed her gaze and gasped. Without the cruise ship blocking their view, she saw a mountain jutting from the sea less than half a mile to the north. It was a massive fist of blinding white rock thrust into the sky.

On one side, the limestone cliffs were almost completely sheer, dropping into the sea over a thousand feet below, as near as Lucia could figure.

On the other side, the mountain sloped in tiers, covered in green forest, so that the whole thing reminded Lucia of a colossal sphinx, worn down over the millennia, with a massive white head and chest, and a green cloak over its back.

"The Rock of Gibraltar," Annabeth said in awe. "At the tip of Spain. And over there—" She pointed south, to a more distant stretch of red and ochre hills. "That must be  Africa. We're at the  mouth of the Mediterranean."

The morning was warm, but Lucia couldn't help but shiver.

Despite the wide stretch of sea in front of them, she felt like she was standing at an impassable barrier. Once in the Mediterranean—the Mare Nostrum—they would be in the ancient lands. Meaning, that their quest was about to become ten times more dangerous.

"What now?" Piper asked. "Do we just sail in?"

"Why not?" Leo said. "It's a big shipping channel. Boats go in and out all the time."

Lucia gazed at the Rock of Gibraltar. "In the old days," She recited like a textbook, "they called this area the pillars of Hercules. The Rock was supposed to be one pillar. The other was one of the African mountains.."

"Hercules, huh?" Percy scowled. "That guy was like the Starbucks of Ancient Greece. Everywhere you turn—there he is."

Lucia furrowed her eyebrows together, "Sure babe that's exactly how I would describe Hercules. The Starbucks of Ancient Greece."

A thunderous boom shook the Argo II, though Lucia wasn't sure where it came from this time. She didn't see any other ships, and the skies were clear. Her mouth suddenly felt dry.

Piper hummed, "So...these Pillars of Hercules. Are they dangerous?"

"That's all I got." She admitted with a shrug, "Annabeth?" Lucia asked.

She stayed focused on the white cliffs as if waiting for the Mark of Athena to blaze to life. "For Greeks, the pillars marked the end of the known world. The  Romans said  the  pillars were inscribed with  a  Latin warning—"

"Non plus ultra," Percy said.

Annabeth looked stunned. "Yeah. Nothing Further Beyond. How did you know?"

Percy pointed. "Because I'm looking at it."

"Directly ahead of them, in the middle of the straits, an island had shimmered into existence."

Lucia was positive no island had been there before. It was a small hilly mass of land, covered in forests and ringed with white beaches. Not very impressive compared to Gibraltar, but in front of the island, jutting from waves about a hundred yards offshore, were two white Grecian columns as tall as the Argo's masts.

Between the columns, huge silver words glittered underwater—maybe an illusion, or maybe inlaid in the sand: NON-PLUS ULTRA.

"Guys, do I turn around?" Leo asked nervously. "Or..."

No one answered—maybe because, like  Lucia,  they had noticed the figure standing on the beach.

As the ship approached the columns, she saw a dark-haired man in purple robes, his arms crossed, staring intently at their ship as if he were expecting them. Lucia couldn't tell much else about him from this distance, but judging from his posture, he wasn't happy.

Frank inhaled sharply. "Could that be"

"Hercules," Jason said. "The most powerful demigod of all time."

The Argo II was only a few hundred yards from the columns now.

"Need an answer," Leo said urgently. "I can turn, or we can take off. The stabilizers are working again. But I need to know quick-"

"We have to keep going," Lucia frowned. "I think he's guarding these straits. If that's Hercules, sailing or flying away won't do anything if he wants to talk to us."

"Won't Hercules be on our side?" Piper asked hopefully. "I mean...he's one of us, right?"

Jason grunted. "He was a son of Zeus, but when he died, he became a god. You can never be sure with gods."

"Or men like him," Lucia muttered under her breath, She recalled Zoe Nightshade with an ache in her heart.

"Great," Percy said. "Eight of us against Hercules."

"And a satyr!" Hedge added. "We can take him."

"I've got a better idea," Annabeth interrupted with an exhausted sigh. "We send ambassadors ashore. A small group one or two at most. Try to talk with him."

"I'll go," Jason said. "He's a son of Zeus. I'm the son of Jupiter. Maybe he'll be friendly to me."

"Or maybe he'll hate you," Percy suggested. "Half brothers don't always get along."

Jason scowled, "Gee thanks."

"Way to be optimistic love." Lucia hummed, "Always looking at the bright side!"

"Sure do, Sunlight."

"It's worth a shot," Annabeth said. "At least Jason and Hercules have something in common. And we need our best diplomat. Somebody good with words."

All eyes turned to Piper.

"What—" Piper hesitated, "But Lucia is also—"

"Oh hell no!." She interrupted. When all eyes turned to her she bit her lip timidly. She noticed the ship trembled at her outburst. "I mean...I'm still recovering from yesterday. And you know charmspeak. I'm not feeling diplomatic. If go I will a thousand percent try to blow that son of a bitch up..."

"Lucia." Hazel warned, "His father is Zeus.."

She nodded, "Yup!"

He's too busy having an identity crisis to try and strike me down!

Lucia might have relented if she were feeling alright. But after almost drowning and the terrible visions she was shown. Hearing that strange voice, and getting hit with way too many premonitions. She felt overwhelmed, disorganized, and anxious. And she didn't trust herself to keep her cool facing Heracles...not at all.

Annabeth noticed her friend's troubled face, she focused her eyes on Piper. "Please Pip, You're the only person who can get us through right now...."

Piper looked like she was trying to avoid screaming and jumping over the side. Lucia didn't blame her, she herself felt gnawing in her gut.

"Fine," she said. "Just let me change my clothes."

Piper and Jason left to get ready. Lucia frowned and finished chugging her mug. There was nothing she wanted more than to go back to bed and sleep, but she knew even if she tried she couldn't. The sun was out which meant she was too.

"I'm gonna go get dressed." Lucia sighed, she rested her mug on Buford the table. Taking the steps down to the lower deck to get into some real clothes.

༄

IT DIDN'T SURPRISE LUCIA to hear from Piper and Jason that Hercules turned out to be a complete asshole. She expected nothing less.

When the duo touched down on the deck of the Argo II. Leo was quick in doing his part. The ship's oars were already in aerial mode. The anchor was up.

Jason summoned a gale so strong, it pushed them into the sky, while Percy sent a ten-foot-tall wave against the shore, knocking Hercules down a second time, in a cascade of seawater and pineapples.

By the time the god regained his feet, he started lobbing coconuts blindly in every direction. He roared, and Ichor trickled down the wound that formed in his abdomen. Lucia grinned, her fingertips still tingled with heat as she looked up at the sky. The stars weren't out yet, but she thought of her favorite constellation.

By the time his screams of frustration began to grow worrisome, the Argo II was already sailing through the clouds above the Mediterranean.

After leaving the Pillars of Hercules unscathed except for a few coconuts lodged in the hull's bronze plating- the ship traveled by air for a few hundred miles.

Several times an hour, something attacked the ship since they officially entered the Mare Nostrum. A flock of flesh-eating Stymphalian birds swooped out of the night sky, and Lucia torched them. Storm spirits swirled around the mast, and Jason blasted them with lightning.

While Coach Hedge was having dinner on the foredeck, a wild pegasus appeared from nowhere, stampeded over the coach's enchiladas, and flew off again, leaving cheesy hoof prints all across the deck. Which Lucia mopped up grudgingly.

Finally around midnight, after the ninth or tenth aerial attack,
Jason turned to her. "How about you get some sleep? I'll keep blasting stuff out of the sky as long as I can. Then we can go by sea for a while, I'll wake up Percy."

"Mhm." Lucia hummed sleepily. "Thanks, Jay."

"No problem. Sleep well, Lucia..." Jason looked away. He shot down another monster. His shoulders tense and his expression sour as he glared at the sky.

"You okay?" She asked hesitantly. She could have just gone to sleep. But Lucia never was able to leave someone who was upset alone...

"Mhm. Fine." He said. The scar on his lip curled up in a scowl.

Lucia crossed her arms over her chest.

The blonde boy sighed, "Piper broke up with me after we left the island."

"Oh." Oh no...

Lucia shifted on her feet. She felt guilt accumulate in her gut. "I'm really sorry Jason." 

"It's fine, I don't know if I even loved her. Well I do, I love her, but I don't think I'm in love with her..." He sighed. "Hera, she made things so complicated."

"Then It's for the best," Lucia spoke softly. "Right?"

"Yeah, but getting dumped isn't fun." He huffed.

Lucia could tell Piper breaking up with him was a big blow to his ego. She cocked an eyebrow, "I'm guessing Sparky has never been dumped before."

"—Or even rejected." He admitted blasting down another bird.

Lucia rolled her eyes. "That was such a cocky response."

He shrugged, a shy look on his face. "But it's true.."

Lucia shoved him playfully. He laughed, his smile growing wider.

At that moment, Lucia remembered the visions she had in her near-death experience. Her heart sank in her chest and her smile fell from her lips.

I don't want him to get hurt...

"Get some sleep." He hummed.

Lucia hesitated. Her mouth opened and closed. "Stay safe Jason."

He turned to her. Wind spirits sailed around his head but he was able to keep them at bay even with his back turned. It was incredibly impressive. She realized how much of a strong demigod Jason truly was at that moment. "Don't worry. I feel good now after we talked... Plus we have a great medic on the ship. I'm not going anywhere."

Lucia smiled, "Good." Then she scowled. "And doctor!"

Jason laughed, he turned back to the wind spirits, "Will would disagree. He said I can't call you doctor until you can figure out stitches."

She scoffed, "Oh. He's getting an earful!"

༄

SNEAKING PAST COACH HEDGE WAS PRETTY EASY.  The fact he was knocked out on a wooden chair in the middle of the hall helped. The wooden bat he used to threaten everyone with had rolled away and was sitting at the entrance of Franks's door.

He scratched his furry belly in his sleep, loud snores bellowing from his open lips.

Lucia played it safe and focused on not being visible as she made her way to Percy's room. She didn't knock, slipping inside quickly as she shut the door behind her.

"Princess ?" Percy's deep sleepy voice echoed through the dim glow. Lucia could tell he had just woken up. But his heart rate was abnormal. She had heard it from the top deck. Now even as she walked farther into his room, she could almost feel his anxiousness radiating off him.

Lucia didn't hesitate to walk closer. "Are you okay? I heard you... Does something hurt?"

He reached out when she made her way onto his bed, his hand slipping into hers. "I was about to go find you..."

"Really?" She asked, a small laugh falling from her lips.

He frowned. "Luz...I love you..." He inhaled sharply. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

She frowned, "Hey, I'll be fine." her hand caressed his cheek. "I'm a strong girl Perce..."

"I know that." His face dulled like that scared him even more, "But I swear okay?" He stuttered, "I won't let what happened last time happen again. No matter what. Whatever happens, you're going to survive this. Even if I don't."

Lucia's face soured. The thought itself causes her entire body to freeze up. "Don't say that. Don't ever say that."

"Luz—"

"No!" Tears pooled in her eyes. She grabbed his shirt pulling him closer. When she clung onto him, she nuzzled into his chest. In response, he rested his chin on the top of her head. And wrapped his arms around her. "Shut up. Don't. Please. I can't lose you. I've lost so much. Not you. I can't...I won't.. It would kill me faster than any blade..."

He kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry. Don't cry. I don't want you to cry, Luz...."

Her voice was shaky. "You can't protect me from everything. Even pain Percy... Last time you couldn't have done anything. You're not to blame for what happened. Just know...I can handle myself."

He hesitated, "O-Okay I know that... But-"

Lucia interrupted him with a kiss. She kissed him deeply. Pouring her emotions into the single gesture. When she pulled away, she gazed into the sea-green eyes that sparkled under her sunlight. She couldn't help the smile that graced her face.

"I love you." She admitted, "But there's only one thing I ask of you. Okay? I just want you to love me. No matter what happens to us...Love me."

He stopped. "Today, Tomorrow, Forever."

Lucia grinned. She leaned in and pressed her lips onto his. Their lips connected, moving in complete sync. He pressed her body against his berth. Moving to be atop of her. Feeling his weight pressing her down caused Lucia to become warmer.

Percy hummed at the heat. He moved to kiss down her neck and her breath got caught in her throat. He began to suck on the sweet spot he had discovered the first time they were intimate. In an instant a moan fell from Lucia's pink lips, her hand combing through his hair.

"Shhh." Percy hushed against her skin. He kissed her collarbone softly. "They'll hear.."

"So shut me up." She hummed.

He looked down at her with a smug grin. His lips met hers for a single moment. He quickly pulled away, only giving her a peck.  which caused Lucia to grumble and her eyebrows to furrow.

"What the hell was that?" She said, feeling insulted," For a son of Poseidon that was the driest kiss ever."

"Hey!" He poked her side. His mouth fell agape at the actual insult. "I'm just thinking...Coach is going to bother us more if he finds out you're in here." He said innocently

She stared at him dumbfounded, "Since when do you care? You've been grinning like an idiot every time he mentions us doing it."

The dopey grin appeared on his face again. Seriously could he even control it?

"Well...I'll gladly die a happy man. I'm just saying...I don't want him or anyone bothering you for being with me...I want you, to think about it."

She smiled, leaning up and kissing his soft lips. How could she ever regret him? It was impossible, If Lucia was the bad guy for loving him. Then so be it...

She loved Percy Jackson. That was something she simply couldn't ever deny or hide. No matter how hard she tried.

"I love you. Gods I do. But you need to shut up and start fucking me before we get back to sea. And trust me. I've thought about this. Since this morning to be exact..."

Percy's eyes darkened under the dim light at her words. He ran his hands over her skin, causing goosebumps to form as she felt his touch slip under her shirt.

The circles he usually drew for comfort caused another feeling to erupt from her belly.

"You won't be needing this, Princess..."

A/N: was that too much? oop well I'll wait to see your reactions first hehe. Anyway heyy guys this is mostly a filler chapter. But I just wanted to let you know I'm going to be working a lot more on this story and others, as well as editing Heliophilia. But I have started school again so updates may not be as frequent! (except maybe the next one) also, I recommend enjoying this because I have looooots of plans for House of Hades and Blood of Olympus :D Anyway! as always I love reading your comments and all your support! seriously it's insane to me how much traction my little stories have gotten but I appreciate it greatly! anyways enjoy !!! also just out of curiosity do you guys like Pipabeth or Reynabeth more?

-V