Percy Jackson woke up from a restless sleep, flipping over in bed to see the early morning sun shining. He groaned, realizing that he couldn't go back to sleep. The nightmares were getting better, but reliving his time in Tartarus was not something he wanted to do every night. He pushed himself up into sitting position, looking out the window. It was unusually windy, and the water in the lake had little whitecaps. He stretched, and rose from the bed, padding over the cold hardwood. Percy slipped his favorite hoodie over his head before walking down the dock to where Chiron was standing.

Percy frowned. "Is something wrong, Chiron?" The centaur turned his head to acknowledge Percy.

"I'm afraid I feel a change in the wind, my boy." Percy chuckled a little.

"I guess winter's coming a little earlier than we expected."

"No, it's not that." He turned fully now, and looked Percy dead in the eye. "Something is coming. I can feel it. Something that I haven't seen in… oh, over thirty years." Percy looked back at Chiron uneasily.

"Morning, guys," Annabeth Chase said from behind them, "You're up early."

"So are you," Percy commented, breaking eye contact with Chiron. She shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."

"You either, huh?" Chiron clopped over.

"So you both have felt it as well!" Annabeth frowned, as Percy had.

"Felt what?" Chiron looked down.

"If it's what I believe it is, we may have some problems at hand. Let us pray I am wrong."

"What do you think it is?" Annabeth asked. Chiron usually told her everything before he announced it to the camp, giving Annabeth time to do her research. Before Chiron got the chance to speak, Rachel came running over, still in her pyjamas.

"Hey," she said breathlessly, "glad you're all up. I was having some pretty crazy dreams last night. Something's heading to camp. I don't know if it's good or bad or what, but it's on its way."

"So you have no clue what it is?" Annabeth interrogated Rachel. "No shape? Size? Sounds?" Rachel just shook her head. Annabeth frowned in disappointment before turning to Chiron. "You're sure-"

Suddenly, Rachel's eyes closed and she started to swoon. Annabeth and Percy ran to stop her from falling into the lake. They sat her down against the railing, one of them crouching on either side of her to make sure she didn't fall over. Her eyes snapped open and she spoke in a raspy voice,

"A peaceful stranger in your wake,

Give your allegiance, for his to take,

Not a soul may you tell,

Your stranger's name is Castiel

The world in the balance, fire consume,

The end of all does creeping loom.

A bond of faith you need to win,

Hell hath no compassion.

Percy and Annabeth supported her as she slumped forward, looking at each other in confusion, and Chiron paled. "No… it can't be."

Suddenly, the camp conch sounded loudly, bleating warning to the other still-sleeping campers. Chiron pulled the demigods onto his back. "Come with me. We must hurry." Chiron galloped out, and officials came running up to him.

"Chiron, the border has been broken!"

"I know. Keep everyone in their cabins."

"Chiron, what are you not telling us?" Percy asked from the centaur's back. Chiron didn't answer, only went up to the border.

"Where are you?!" he shouted. "I KNOW YOU'RE HERE! SHOW YOURSELF!" There was no answer, and Annabeth caught up as well, dagger at the ready.

"What is it? Is it the Minotaur? A minion from Kronos' army trying to make a comeback?!"

"No," he sighed, "Something much worse."

Just then, there was a blinding white flash from the Ares cabin, and a loud scream was heard. Clarisse emerged, holding her hands over her face. She thrust one arm out in front of her, the other not daring to leave her eyes. The three ran up to her, and saw blood dripping down her face.

"Clarisse, what happened?" Annabeth questioned cautiously, and when Clarisse removed her hand from her face, the demigods screamed. Her eyes were gone, in their place, two empty sockets with blood pouring down her cheeks.

"M- my…my… eyes… I…" she cried, and Annabeth put an arm around her, which Clarisse threw off. "My eyes! They're gone! I can't live anymore! How can I fight, how can I… do anything?! My father will be so disappointed in me…" Chiron put a hand on her shoulder.

"It will be alright, Clarisse." She turned angrily to where his voice was coming from.

"How would you know? Just kill me, please!"

Percy sighed. "Look, you know we -"

"You, Jackson, stay away from me," Clarisse said, her voice wavering as she stumbled back into Chiron.

Suddenly, the blinding light emerged from the cabin, and as it came closer, it seemed to dim and dim, until it became the form of a man. He was wearing a beige trench coat, with mussed dark brown hair and light stubble on his face. His hands were in his pockets as he walked toward them.

"Stay back!" Chiron shouted forcefully, "You've already caused enough harm!"

The man advanced anyway, calmly looking back and forth between Chiron and Clarisse, expression monotone and eyes unblinking. "Ah. I did not intend to appear in my true form. I apologize greatly for the inconvenience."

Percy opened his mouth, walking forward angrily. "Inconvenience?! She lost her eyes because of you, man, yeah, that's a real inconvenience!" Annabeth came forward, gripping Percy's shoulder and yanking him back.

"Percy," she whispered, "I wouldn't do anything to make him mad."

"Why?!" he hissed back, "We can take him!"

"No, we can't." "Why not?" Annabeth looked at him solemnly. "Because he's an angel."

~~~

"An angel?" Percy laughed.

"Yes." Chiron stepped forward. "I didn't want to believe the prophecy- I didn't want to believe that you were coming." Percy stepped forward.

"Wait… are you… Castiel? Like from the prophecy?" The angel turned to him.

"That is my name. We come on important business."

"Well, take your business elsewhere!" Chiron said, pushing to the front.

"Why?" Annabeth asked, in awe of the being before her, "Angels are majestic creatures… why send them away?" Chiron sighed.

"Annabeth, angels in folklore and angels in real life are two very different things. Angels, they… they bring death and ruin wherever they go."

"That is not entirely true," Castiel said, face never breaking its stone expression. "Although in this particular case, it may be."

"How do you mean?" Annabeth asked. "I am here on a mission from God."

"Which one?" Percy snorted. Castiel frowned.

"Him, the All-mighty one," he said, as though it should be obvious.

"So… Zeus?" Annabeth asked, and Castiel nodded slowly.

"That is one name for him. He has sent me to carry out His holy will."

"Who is this psycho?" Clarisse suddenly interrupted, arms splayed in front of her as she tried to feel around, hands tightened into fists.

"Stay back, Clarisse, he may burn your teeth out this time," Chiron said, shooting an accusatory glare at the angel. Castiel sighed, and looked down.

"Please do not let the actions of my brother those many years ago taint your view of us. We are not all like him."

"I don't believe a word of it," the centaur backfired, and Castiel pursed his lips.

"Uriel is dead now. He had devoted himself to Lucifer, so I had to kill him."

"Uriel?" Annabeth asked, and Castiel looked back to her.

"That is not of importance at present. There is something much bigger upon us. Upon Earth. Lucifer is rising. As it is written, the last seal has been broken, and once he rallies his army, he will take Earth and its inhabitants, burn all of it to ash, and his legacy will be reborn. Zachariah has returned from his quest to bring us reputable information that your Titan of Time has joined forces with Lucifer, for promise of a share of control in the New World."

"What does this have to do with us?" Chiron asked. Castiel paused.

"Heaven needs your help." Annabeth grinned widely, but her smile dropped when Chiron refused. "You are our last hope," Castiel deadpanned, "We desperately require your assistance. Your allegiance is imperative for success." Chiron sighed.

"Why should we help you? You could turn on us! You're no better than Kronos himself."

"Don't say that," Castiel said, his voice rising a little.

"Wait," Percy cut in, stepping forward. "You mean Kronos has teamed up with… Lucifer, to bring on some sort of apocalypse?" Cas nodded, and Percy continued incredulously. "Why us?"

"Because you are the children of the gods themselves. Your blood is pure; therefore we have a chance against Lucifer's army of bloodthirsty demons."

"I won't have them in such danger," Chiron said, but Annabeth shook her head.

"Chiron. If the world is on the brink of war with hell, and heaven needs our help, who are we to refuse them?"

Castiel looked around. "Then let us retire to your centre of diplomacy to discuss your terms of allegiance."