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"the tides are uneasy between them"
SHE LOOKED A BIT MANIACAL WITH HER GRIN. Despite her crazed look, the girl was utterly ready to throw up. Whatever Aphrodite had said made an impact on her well-being. She felt horribly sick, ready to topple over, but she couldn't.
All around the Romans, Charleston Harbor erupted like a Las Vegas fountain putting on a show. When the wall of seawater subsided, the three Romans were in the bay, spluttering and frantically trying to stay afloat in their armor. Percy stood on the dock, holding Ariadne's sword.
"You dropped this," he said, totally poker-faced.
Ariadne ruffled his hair with an enamored smile. Her other hand gripped his tightly. "I love you!"
"Guys," Hazel interrupted. She had a little smile on her face. The embarrassment from earlier must've worn off at the sight of the loving couple. "We need to hurry."
Annabeth seemed shocked her best friend had said those three words, but smirked, nonetheless.
Down in the water, Octavian yelled, "Get me out of here! I'll kill you!"
"Tempting," Percy called down.
"What?" Octavian shouted. He was holding on to one of his guards, who was having trouble keeping them both afloat.
"Nothing!" Percy shouted back. "Let's go, guys."
Hazel frowned. "We can't let them drown, can we?"
"They won't," Percy promised. "I've got the water circulating around their feet. As soon as we're out of range, I'll spit them ashore."
Piper grinned. "Nice."
They climbed aboard the Argo II, and Annabeth ran to the helm. "Piper, get below. Use the sink in the galley for an Iris-message. Warn Jason to get back here!"
Piper nodded and raced off.
"Hazel, go find Coach Hedge and tell him to get his furry hindquarters on deck!"
"Right!"
"And Percy, Ari—all three of us need to get this ship to Fort Sumter."
Percy nodded and Ariadne joined him at the mast. Annabeth took the helm. Her hands flew across the controls.
Ariadne had seen Percy control full-sized sailing ships before with only his willpower. This time, he didn't disappoint. Ropes flew on their own—releasing the dock tied, weighing the anchor. The sails unfurled and caught the wind. Meanwhile Annabeth fired the engine. The oars extended with a sound like machine-gun fire, and the Argo II turned from the dock, heading for the island in the distance.
