𝒗. 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘

𝒙𝒊.

Back at the Plaza, Thalia pulled Percy aside while Noelle went and found a room to take a nap in before their battle that night. As she settled in, her eyes closing, the unusual occurrence of a dream overtook her peaceful sleep.

It was nothing at first, silence in an oddly familiar room. As she continued to look around things seemed to click into place as she recognized Medusa's garden of statues from over four years ago. 

After realizing where her dreams had transported her to, weapons and armor began to materialize right before her eyes. Swords and shields organized in an unorganized way. The last thing to materialize was a familiar face with a cruel smile sat in front of her on a makeshift throne.

"Noelle Grove," Kronos greeted. "It's so nice to finally meet you, though I'm disappointed it cannot be in person. Luke has told me a lot about you."

Noelle didn't dare speak, too many memories being forced into her mind at the sight of her old friend. It was painful to watch someone she once thought of as a brother be someone so utterly and completely different.

"He's told me of your upbringing, how your mother left you abandoned and questioning who she was for fourteen years," Kronos said. "How, instead of being able to live a normal life, you've had to be isolated at Camp Half-Blood because of threat her bringing you into this world imposed upon your life. How she chose a shorter sentence instead of claiming you as her own."

Noelle grit her teeth. "That was my choice. I was protecting myself. My family."

"Yes, you and your blind loyalty," Kronos said. "You would have made such an excellent right hand had you accepted Luke's offer two years ago. The power you hold is extraordinary, but with my help it could've been more."

"Why would I want your help?" Noelle spat.

"Because we'd be helping each other. You would help me overthrow the gods, and I would help you in seeing to your mother's punishment for her neglect towards you. I could bring your father back." Kronos sat forward in his throne, his golden eyes unnerving. "It's not too late, you know."

Noelle's brows furrowed, the mention of her father bringing back some of her rational thought. How was Kronos in her dream? Maybe he had some help from Prometheus to get into her head. It was possible that he was manipulating her thoughts at that very moment. Yes, that had to be why she found his offer the tiniest bit intriguing.

As if sensing her thought, Kronos smirked, making Luke's scar ripple in a horrific way. "If you end up changing your mind... you know where to find me."

"Wait," Noelle spoke quickly, but the mirage of Kronos was already waning as she heard warbled talking before everything seemed to disappear in a mist.

Then she woke up.

~

Percy had also been plagued by nightmares as he slept.

First he saw the undersea palace of his father. The enemy army was closer now, entrenched only a few hundred yards outside the palace. The fortress walls were completely destroyed. The temple his dad had used as his headquarters was burning with Greek fire.

Percy zoomed in on the armory, where his brother and some other Cyclopes were on lunch break, eating from huge jars of Skippy extra-chunky peanut butter (and don't ask how it tasted underwater, because you don't want to know). As he watched, the outer wall of the armory exploded. A Cyclops warrior stumbled inside, collapsing on the lunch table. Tyson knelt down to help, but it was too late. The Cyclops dissolved into sea silt.

Enemy giants moved toward the breach, and Tyson picked up the fallen warrior's club. He yelled something to his fellow blacksmiths—probably "For Poseidon!"—but with his mouth full of peanut butter it sounded like "PUH PTEH BUN!" His brethren all grabbed hammers and chisels, yelled, "PEANUT BUTTER!" and charged behind Tyson into battle.