The 12 Days of Christmas - The Great Holiday Mystery

The Sixth Day of Christmas

~The Canoe Lake~

Percy, Annabeth, Thalia and Leo relaxed by the canoe lake, waiting to see who showed up ... and who didn't.

Percy and Leo made straight for the water, not wasting any precious time. Percy didn't bother changing, but settled for diving straight in the lake fully dressed. The splash he made, splattered Annabeth and Thalia who were sitting by the edge, trying to figure out who the messenger was.

'Percy,' Annabeth scold. 'We're trying to concentrate.'

Percy kicked back and floated on the lakes surface, 'Sorry, Wise Girl. You know water's the best place for me to think.'

Annabeth sighed, 'Unfortunately, that's true.'

'So,' Thalia drawled. 'Has your seaweed filled brain come up with anything yet?'

Percy stopped floating and stood upright in the water, 'I only just got in, Thalia. You can't expect me to become a genius as soon as I step in the water.'

'Don't worry, I don't,' she rolled her eyes. 'Anyway, Annabeth, what were you saying?'

Annabeth blinked and turned back to her notebook. Percy and Leo swam closer to shore so as to hear better.

'Well, I was saying I wrote a list of possible suspects,' Annabeth swept a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. 'I was thinking that maybe the gods could be behind all this, or maybe even Chiron.'

'Chiron doesn't have that sort of power, though,' Thalia pointed out.

'And why would the gods bother abducting campers,' Percy added. 'It just doesn't seem like something they'd do.'

'True,' Annabeth pointed her pencil a the two cousins. 'That's why I also made a list of any enemies we have that might be want revenge.'

'Now,' Leo smirked. 'Is that list longer or shorter than twenty pages.'

'Ha ha,' Annabeth said. 'But, it is a long list. I'm trying to cut it down by figuring out which ones would want revenge on all of us.'

'That's still a long list,' Percy muttered.

'Well, not really,' Annabeth frowned. 'What enemy would want revenge on Travis, Connor and Reyna.'

'Uh, lots,' Thalia said.

Annabeth shook her head, 'No, not lots. Yes, Travis and Connor would have a lot of enemies. And yes, Reyna would have a lot of enemies. But what enemies would they have in common.'

The group fell silent as they contemplated that.

'Good point,' Leo nodded appreciatively.

'And,' Annabeth continued. 'It would have to be someone smart, because the riddles are incredibly crafty. They would also have to have the power to abduct demigods.'

'Don't forget they knew I was in the woods yesterday,' Percy pointed out. 'They would have to be able to see us at camp.'

'Or be at camp themselves,' Leo mumbled.

'A spy?' Thalia suggested.'

'We don't know that,' Annabeth said quickly. 'And we can't go accusing campers until we know for sure.'

'Guys!'

The group of four turned as Hazel and Nico came running towards the lake. Hazel held the next note in her right hand. They reached Annabeth and Thalia sitting on the shore and doubled over, panting.

'What does it say?' Thalia asked immediately.

'Hold up, Pinecone Face,' Percy interrupted. 'So, if I'm here, and Annabeth's here, and Thalia and Leo are here-'