The Twins Of Poseidon

God Fight! God Fight! God Fight!

A boat apparently called 'coast guard', picked us up, but they were too busy to keep us for long, or to wonder how four kids in street clothes had gotten out into the middle of the bay. There was a disaster to mop up. Their radios were jammed with distress calls. They dropped us off at the Santa Monica Pier with towels around our shoulders and water bottles that said I'M A JUNIOR COAST GUARD! and sped off to save more people. 

Our clothes were sopping wet, even mine and Percys. When the Coast Guard boat had appeared, I telepathically told Percy to dry himself cause if they picked us up and half of us were dry, it might've raised some eyebrows. So we both willed ourselves to get soaked. Sure enough, our usual waterproof magic had abandoned us. But at least I had shoes, Percy gave his to Grover, I offered to give mine but they didn't fit. Either way it was better the Coast Guard wonder why one of us was barefoot than wonder why one of us had hooves. 

After reaching dry land, we stumbled down the beach, watching the city burn against a beautiful sunrise. I felt as if I'd just come back from the dead—which I had. My backpack was heavy with Zeus's master bolt, since I put it in my bag after we were fighting over who should stay in the underworld. Now I understand why Percy was walking slightly slower, why does a bolt of lighting have to be so heavy? My heart was even heavier from seeing my mother. I know I've never technically met her but, it was still scary seeing her like that and not being able to do anything about it. 

"I don't believe it," Annabeth said. "We went all that way—" 

"It was a trick," Percy said. "A strategy worthy of Athena." 

"Hey," she warned. 

"It was kind of a compliment." I remarked. 

"But you get it, don't you?" Percy continued. 

She dropped her eyes, her anger fading. "Yeah. I get it." 

"Well, I don't!" Grover complained. "Would some-body—" 

"Percy ..." Annabeth said. "I'm sorry about your mother. I'm so sorry...." 

Percy looked like he would cry if we kept talking about it so I continued. "The prophecy was right though, wasn't it?" I asked. 

"Yes, it was." Percy said, "You shall go west and face the god who has turned.' But it wasn't Hades. Hades didn't want war among the Big Three. Someone else pulled off the theft. Someone stole Zeus's master bolt, and Hadess helm, and framed us because we're Poseidon's kids. Poseidon will get blamed by both sides. By sundown today, there will be a three-way war. And we'll have caused it." 

Grover shook his head, mystified. "But who would be that sneaky? Who would want war that bad?" 

"Gee, let me think." Percy sarcastically said, looking to behind Grover. 

There he was, waiting for us, in his black leather duster and his sunglasses, an aluminum baseball bat propped on his shoulder. His motorcycle rumbled beside him, its headlight turning the sand red. 

"Hey, kids," Ares said, seeming genuinely pleased to see Percy and I. "You two were supposed to die." 

"You tricked us," I said. "You stole the helm and the master bolt." 

Ares grinned. "Well, now, I didn't steal them personally. Gods taking each other's symbols of power—that's a big no-no. But you're not the only hero in the world who can run errands." 

"Who did you use? Clarisse? She was there at the winter solstice." Percy interrogated. 

The idea seemed to amuse him. "Doesn't matter. The point is, kids, you're impeding the war effort. See, you two have got to die in the Underworld. Then Old Seaweed will be mad at Hades for killing you both. Corpse Breath will have Zeus's master bolt, so Zeus'll be mad at him. And Hades is still looking for this ..." From his pocket he took out a ski cap—the kind bank robbers wear—and placed it between the handlebars of his bike. Immediately, the cap transformed into an elaborate bronze war helmet.