MΛЯK ӨF ΛƬΉΣПΛ

IF THIS SNAKE GUY CLAIMING HER COLOR wasn't enough to make her dislike him. The fact he forced his annoyingly noisy soldiers on her to steal her golden bow and arrows, made her want to scorch him even more.

Chrysaor walked back and forth, inspecting them like prized cattle.

A dozen of his dolphin-man warriors stayed in a ring around them, spears leveled at Percy's chest, while dozens more ransacked the ship, banging and crashing around belowdecks. One carried a box of ambrosia up the stairs. Another carried an armful of ballista bolts and a crate of Greek fire.

"Careful with that!" Annabeth warned. "It'll blow up both our ships."

"Ha!" Chrysaor said. "We know all about Greek fire, girl. Don't worry. We've been looting and pillaging ships on the Mare Nostrum for eons."

"Your accent sounds familiar," Percy said. "Have we met?"

"I haven't had the pleasure." Chrysaor's golden gorgon mask snarled at him, though it was impossible to tell what his real expression might be underneath."But I've heard all about you, Percy Jackson. Oh, yes, the young man who saved Olympus. And his faithful sidekick, Annabeth Chase. Along with you." He looked at Lucia with an inconclusive expression. "The delicate young daughter of Hyacinthus and Apollo."

Lucia started laughing. But she was not amused. "Delicate?" She hissed, "You're as dumb and tacky as you look! Come closer! So I can shove your dumbass comments down your throat!" Lucia's voice caused some dolphin soldiers to inch away at the volume. Chrysaor's face shifted in delight as he noticed the power in her voice, the golden aura around her also seemed to spark brighter.

"I'm nobody's sidekick," Annabeth growled. "And, Percy, his accent sounds familiar because he sounds like his mother. We killed her in New Jersey."

Percy frowned. "I'm pretty sure that accent isn't New Jersey. Who's his-? Oh." He sneered. "Medusa is your mom?" he asked. "Dude, that sucks for you."

Lucia recalled Percy telling her the story of meeting the Gorgon Medusa in New Jersey on his first quest. Right before Percy hacked her head off and sent it to Mount Olympus.

Judging from the sound in Chrysaor's throat, he was now snarling under the mask.

"You are as arrogant as the first Perseus," Chrysaor said. "But, yes, Percy Jackson. Poseidon was my father. Medusa was my mother. After Medusa was changed into a monster by that so-called goddess of wisdom.." The golden mask turned on Annabeth. "That would be your mother, I believe... Medusa's two children were trapped inside her, unable to be born. When the original Perseus cut off Medusa's head—"

"Two children sprang out," Annabeth remembered. "Pegasus and you."

Percy blinked. "So your brother is a winged horse. But you're also my half-brother, which means all the flying horses in the world are my...You know what? Let's forget it."

"Did they just spring out of the decapitated body or—Cause a horse is crazy—?" Lucia wondered, "You know what, Ignorance is bliss."

"But if you're Medusa's kid," he said, "why haven't I ever heard of you?"

Chrysaor sighed in exasperation. "When your brother is Pegasus, you get used to being forgotten. Oh, look, a winged horse! Does anyone care about me?"

"No!" He raised the tip of his blade to Percy's eyes. "But don't underestimate me. My name means the Golden Sword for a reason."

"Lame," Lucia grumbled

"Imperial gold?" Percy guessed.

"Bah! Enchanted gold, yes. Later on, the Romans called it Imperial gold, but I was the first to ever wield such a blade. I should have been the most famous hero of all time! Since the legend-tellers decided to ignore me, I became a villain instead. I resolved to put my heritage to use. As the son of Medusa, I would inspire terror. As the son of Poseidon, I would rule the seas!"

"You became a pirate," Annabeth summed up. Her face was blank with unamusement.

"I bet the mask is to cover up all the scurvy huh" Lucia guessed.

Clearly, she realized it could be for multiple other reasons. Perhaps Chrysaor could petrify people into stone with just one look like his mother. Still, she wouldn't be surprised. With that breath, she doubted he stole much fruit.

Chrysaor spread his arms, which was fine with Lucia since it got the sword point away from Percy's eyes.

"The best pirate," Chrysaor said. "I've sailed these waters for centuries, waylaying any demigods foolish enough to explore the Mare Nostrum. This is my territory now. And all you have is mine."

One of the dolphin warriors dragged Coach Hedge up from below.

"Let me go, you tuna fish!" Hedge bellowed. He tried to kick the warrior, but his hoof clanged off his captor's armor. Judging from the hoof-shaped prints on the dolphin's breastplate and helmet, the coach had already made several attempts.

"Ah, a satyr," Chrysaor mused. "A little old and stringy, but Cyclopes will pay well for a morsel like him. Chain him up."

"I'm nobody's goat meat!" Hedge protested. "You little—"

Hedge's insults were cut short when the dolphin put a greasy wad of canvas in his mouth. Soon the coach was trussed like a rodeo calf and dumped with the other loot crates of food, extra weapons (Including Lucia's), and even the magical ice chest from the mess hall.

Lucia felt her blood run cold. She may have had her squabbles with Coach. But that didn't mean she didn't care about him. They couldn't let these pirates take him to his slaughter.

"Stop this!" Lucia demanded, "You can't do this!"

Chrysaor's laughter reverberated inside his gold face mask."I can do anything I want," Chrysaor said. "My warriors have been trained to perfection. They are vicious, cutthroat—"

"Dolphins," Percy noted.

Chrysaor shrugged. "Yes. So? They had some bad luck a few millennia ago and kidnapped the wrong person. Some of their crew got turned completely into dolphins. Others went mad. But these...these survived as hybrid creatures. When I found them under the sea and offered them a new life, they became my loyal crew. They fear nothing!"

One of the warriors chattered at him nervously.

"Yes, yes," Chrysaor growled. "They fear one thing, but it hardly matters. He's not here."

Lucia could easily guess who that someone was.

More dolphin warriors climbed the stairs, hauling up the rest of her friends. Jason was unconscious. Judging from the new bruises on his face, he'd tried to fight. Hazel and Piper were bound hand and foot. Piper had a gag in her mouth, so apparently the dolphins had discovered she could charmspeak.

Frank was the only one missing. But two of the dolphins had bee stings covering their faces. Lucia wondered if Frank could turn into a swarm of bees. She hoped so. If he was free aboard the ship somewhere, that could be an advantage, they simply had to figure out how to communicate with him.

"Excellent!" Chrysaor gloated. He directed his warriors to dump Jason by the crossbows. Then he examined the girls like they were Christmas presents, which made Percy grit his teeth.

"The boy is no use to me," Chrysaor said. "But we have an understanding with the witch Circe. She will buy the women—either as slaves or trainees, depending on their skill. But not you, lovely Lucia."

He put his sword under her chin, forcing her to raise her head. "I underestimated your temper and power. I see now that was my mistake..."

She didn't need to use her hands as a medium with how close he was. Lucia screamed in his face.

In an instant, Chrysaor skidded backward. His sword almost fell from his hands but he quickly regained his grip.

"Yeah, It was." She growled.

"Gag her." He demanded.

A dolphin soldier stepped forward, he tried shoving a cloth into Lucia's mouth but the second she felt his touch on her she bit his fin and drew blood. The soldier shuffled away and cried in pain.

Lucia spit out the excess blood from her mouth and grinned manically, "Who wants to try and silence me next? I dare you."

Annabeth pulled Lucia toward her by the arm. "You are not taking her anywhere."

The golden warrior tutted. "I don't care for you Annabeth, I simply promised Circe she could get a second chance with you. But Oh, sadly, Lucia, you will not be staying with me. I would love that. Having the daughter of two of the most desirable men in Ancient Greek history."

The way he watched her made her heartbeat thud in the back of her throat. A stifling wave of fear swept over her.

"You and your friend Percy are spoken for. A certain goddess is paying a high bounty for your capture—alive, if possible, though she didn't say that I couldn't take you for myself afterward, or even before..."

"Go fuck yourself!" She hissed, horror and anger bubbled within her.

In that instant, Piper caused the disturbance they needed. She wailed so loudly it could be heard through her gag. Then she fainted against the nearest guard, knocking him over. Hazel got the idea and crumpled to the deck, kicking her legs and thrashing like she was having a fit.

Before Lucia could even step forward, Percy drew Riptide and lashed out. The blade should have gone straight through Chrysaor's neck, but the golden warrior was unbelievably fast.

Lucia stepped forward but was immediately stopped by the soldier she wounded. He held a knife to her throat, but the shakiness of it told her she had made a mark on him. "So you have a death wish?" She threatened.

Percy dodged and parried against Chrysaor. The dolphin warriors backed up, guarding Lucia and her friend's captives while giving their captain room to battle.

They chattered and squeaked, egging him on, and Lucia got the sinking suspicion the crew was used to this sort of entertainment. They didn't feel their leader was in any sort of danger.

They battled back and forth, thrusting and parrying. Percy feinted and thrust at Chrysaor's gut, but Chrysaor anticipated the move. He knocked Percy's sword out of his hand again, and once more Riptide flew into the sea.

Chrysaor laughed easily. He wasn't even winded. He pressed the tip of his golden sword against Percy's sternum.

"A good try," said the pirate. "But now you'll both be chained and transported to Gaea's minions. They are quite eager to spill your blood and wake the goddess."

༄

AS PERCY STOOD THERE, DISARMED. Lucia knew him well enough to notice he was resisting the urge to smile. Meaning, he had a plan...

"Fine!" Percy shouted, so loudly that he got everyone's attention. Lucia was proud of him. "Take us away, if our captain will let you."

Chrysaor turned his golden mask. "What captain? My men searched the ship. There is no one else."

Percy raised his hands dramatically. "The god appears only when he wishes. But he is our leader. He runs our camp for demigods. Doesn't he, Annabeth?"

Annabeth was quick. "Yes!" She nodded enthusiastically. "Mr. D! The great Dionysus!"

A ripple of uneasiness passed through the dolphin-men. The one that held a knife to Lucia dropped his weapon.

"Stand fast!" Chrysaor bellowed. "There is no god on this ship. They are trying to scare you."

"You should be scared!" Percy looked at the pirate crew with sympathy. "Dionysus will be severely cranky with you for having delayed our voyage. He will punish all of us. Didn't you notice the girls falling into the wine god's madness?"

Hazel and Piper had stopped the shaking fits. They were sitting on the deck, staring at Percy, but when he glared at them pointedly, they started hamming it up again, trembling and flopping around like fish out of water.

He then looked at Lucia. She cocked an eyebrow, she didn't appreciate that she had to be one of the mad girls. But she relented and quickly got into character. She turned to the warrior in front of her, a strange scared dolphin noise fell from his snout as she showed her teeth.

She began to chase him around the boat. Gnawing her teeth at him like a chipmunk (Lucia would like to emphasize, that she would be one of the very cute chipmunks). "Run faster! Or I'll eat you alive!"

The dolphin-men fell over themselves trying to get away from their captives. But especially Lucia. She felt a strange sense of pride at that.

"Fakes!" Chrysaor roared. "Shut up, Percy Jackson. Your camp director is not here. He was recalled to Olympus. This is common knowledge."

"So you admit Dionysus is our director!" Percy said.

"He was," Chrysaor corrected. "Everyone knows that."

Percy gestured at the golden warrior like he'd just betrayed himself. "You see? We are doomed. If you don't believe me, let's check the ice chest!"

Lucia stopped beside Annabeth.  She scratched her head, and  whispered beside her  "What is he talking about."

"I have no clue." Annabeth sighed, "If worst comes to worst, I need you to bite more dolphins."

Lucia crossed her arms over her chest. "I do not like that plan."

Percy stormed over to the magical cooler. No one tried to stop him. He knocked open the lid and rummaged through the ice.

"Behold!" Percy shouted. "The god's chosen beverage. Tremble before the horror of Diet Coke!"

The dolphin-men began to panic. They were on the edge of retreat.

Annabeth's mouth fell open, "That was actually good."

Lucia sighed in relief, "My dentist and I are grateful..."

"The god will take your ship," Percy warned. "He will finish your transformation into dolphins, or make you insane, or transform you into insane dolphins! Your only hope is to swim away now, quickly!"

"Ridiculous!" Chrysaor's voice turned shrill. He didn't seem sure where to level his sword—at Percy or his own crew.

"Save yourselves!" Percy warned. "It is too late for us!"

Then he gasped and pointed to the spot where Frank was hiding. "Oh, no! Frank is turning into a crazy dolphin!"

Nothing happened.

"I said," Percy repeated, "Frank is turning into a crazy dolphin!"

Frank stumbled out of nowhere, making a big show of grabbing his throat. "Oh, no," he said, like he was reading from a teleprompter. "I am turning into a crazy dolphin."

He began to change, his nose elongating into a snout, his skin becoming sleek and gray. He fell to the deck as a dolphin, his tail thumping against the boards.

The pirate crew disbanded in terror, chattering and clicking as they dropped their weapons, forgot the captives, ignored Chrysaor's orders, and jumped overboard.

"Yeah! You better swim away!" Lucia grinned in triumph. She knew Dionysus was the god of theatre but she would have made both her dad and Mr. D proud with her performance.

In the confusion, Annabeth moved quickly to cut the bonds on Hazel, Piper, and Coach Hedge.

Within seconds, Chrysaor was alone and surrounded. Percy and his friends had no weapons except for Annabeth's knife and Hedge's hooves, but the murderous looks on their faces evidently convinced the golden warrior he was doomed.

He backed to the edge of the rail.

"This isn't over, Jackson," Chrysaor growled. "I will have my revenge—"

Lucia's golden aura surrounded her, enveloping her in light. She hissed, "Don't threaten my boyfriend."

She flashed a light towards him and rushed forward. In Chrysaor's daze, she was able to disarm him and take his weapon from his bare hands.

She held his sword up to his face, showing him how she made the molten gold dribble down her wrist. "I suggest you leave, Or else, You're next."

She backed away, and Frank changed form again, crawling in front of her.

An eight-hundred-pound grizzly bear can definitely solidify a threat.

He sideswiped Chrysaor and raked the golden mask off his helmet.

Chrysaor screamed, instantly covering his face with his arms and tumbling into the water.

They ran to the rail. Chrysaor had disappeared.

༄

"MI AMOR THAT WAS BRILLIANT!" Lucia kissed him, which caused a small prideful smile to grace his lips.  my love

"It was desperate," Percy corrected. "And we need to get rid of this pirate trireme."

"Burn it?" Annabeth asked.

Percy looked at the Diet Coke in his hand. "No. I've got another idea."

It took them longer than expected.

Leo got back on his feet, thanks to a little nectar. Lucia tended to Jason's wounds, but he wasn't as badly hurt as he looked. Mostly he was just ashamed that he'd gotten overpowered again. Lucia brought up the helmet idea again, but he didn't seem to appreciate her suggestion or her lighthearted teasing.

They started to return all their own supplies to the proper places and tidy 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 and Lucia 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.

Lucia honestly didn't care about any treasure, she simply wanted her bow and arrows back.

When she saw that Annabeth found them for her as she cleared out another pile of what would have been stolen loot, she became ecstatic.

Lucia didn't even focus on the fact that she had almost lost them for good.

"My babies!" Lucia beamed unconsciously, she threw her quiver over her shoulder before kissing the intricate sun design on the bow.

She then turned on her heel, kissing Annabeth square on the cheek. "You're the best Beth!"

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

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

"Leave it," Percy said. "It's part of the tribute."

"Wait, Tribute?" Hazel asked.

"Oh." Piper had a frown stitched on her face. "Kansas."

Jason grinned. He'd been there too when they'd met the wine god. "Crazy. But I like it."

Finally, Percy went aboard the pirate ship and opened 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.

The crew of the Argo II assembled at the rail and cut the grappling lines. Piper brought out the horn of plenty, a battle prize the crew got from her defeating Achelous.

On Percy's direction, she willed it to spew Diet Coke, which came out with the strength of a fire hose, dousing the enemy deck. Percy thought it would take hours, but the ship sank remarkably fast, filling with Diet Coke and seawater.

"Dionysus," Percy called, holding up Chrysaor's golden mask. "Or Bacchus—whatever. You made this victory possible, even if you weren't here. Your enemies trembled at your name...or your Diet Coke, or something. So, yeah, thank you."

The words were hard to get out, but Percy managed not to gag. "We give this ship to you as tribute. We hope you like it."

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

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

Lucia held her bow to her chest, She hadn't realized how much she loved the simple object. The material value was far from the reason why she cared about it so dearly. It was right up there with her iPod. She couldn't lose the gifts given by them...Especially now that she was separated from them both.

The sun and The flower love you so much.

Percy threw the golden mask aboard the vessel, which was now sinking even faster, brown fizzy liquid spewing out the trireme's oar slots and bubbling from the cargo hold, turning the sea frothy brown.

He summoned a wave, and the enemy ship was swamped. Leo steered the Argo II away as the pirate vessel disappeared underwater.

"Isn't this polluting?" Piper asked.

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

Lucia didn't know if that would happen, but she felt like they'd done all they could.

They had decided to fly the rest of the way. Jason insisted he was well enough to take sentry duty,

Lucia kissed Percy goodnight before they went off to their designated rooms.

As she lay in her berth, she tried to have faith that Dionysus would hear them and care, maybe even help them in their battle against the twin giants.

Maybe that was naive. Especially because she knew how Mr. D. could be firsthand, But deep in her heart she kept choosing to hold on to her hope.

That was her way of protecting herself. That was her way of keeping the pain and suffering in the dark.

Just, Be brave Lucia. She told herself like a mantra. She tried to ease herself to bed, tried to ignore the dread that stabbed at her chest as they began their ascent to Rome. Be brave...