Prologue: Safe and Sound

Percy and Annabeth were lying on one of the small bunk in Cabin 3. It had been three months since the end of the Second Giants War; their physical wounds had healed: now they tended to their psychological ones. The process had been going smoother than anyone expected, especially since Mr D had 'volunteered' to help (after many threats from their godly parents). At that moment, they were just happy to be alive and together.

"Good thing Coach Hedge is visiting Mellie in California. He would go ballistic if he saw us now. Remember how angry he got when he found us together on the Argo?" Percy joked sleepily, half yawning as he pulled Annabeth closer to him.

"Didn't he say he would skin you alive," she laughed softly, burying herself into his side, which was warm and confortable. The cabin smelled like a summer breeze coming off the ocean, which lulled the young demigods to sleep.

"Goodnight, Wise Girl," Percy said before kissing Annabeth's head and settling into the mattress.

"Hey, Seaweed Brian," Annabeth muttered in reply, barely awake herself, "Do me a favour and don't drool on me." Percy gave her a goofy smile before drifting off to sleep.

While Percy and Annabeth slept soundly, a thousand miles away in the Sea of Monsters, a threat was rising.

A/N: So, inspiration for this story came to me whist I was on spring break in Vienna. I went to a really cool museum (The Hofburg/Sisi Museum/Imperial Apartments) and it had a lot of information about the Emperor Franz Joseph (1848-1916)-who has awesome facial hair, by the way-and his wife Empress Elizabeth 'Sisi' (1854-1898). Story goes that he was madly in love with her while she did not quite feel as strongly. At the beginning of their marriage, she was fond enough of him; but as time went by and after a few devastating events she fell into a deep depression. During this time she could not stand being with her husband, and since he loved her so much he kept his distance. It's a very sad story. A little history lesson there, for ya'. I do really suggest reading up on them because they were fascinating people. And they were obviously an inspiration for this story.

I really hope you enjoy. If you did I would love if you said so by leaving a review (even if you didn't like it, I would like to know)!