Author's notes: Oh and the Graecus Papyri, I don't know if it exists but the whole inhaling thing I made up. Just so we're clear.

Oh and since Maria di Angelo did not die by Zeus' hand the Oracle was clearly not cursed and therefore, May Castellan is the current new Oracle ;D

Also, since Luke wasn't with Thalia when Annabeth when she ran away, therefore Annabeth has no crush on him. Luke's been in camp his whole life since May Castellan became an Oracle when he was just a baby. He sees Annabeth as a sister and Annabeth sees him as nothing more than a senior camper or something.

Also, by majority's vote, it would be Luke and Annabeth, accompanying Will Solace. Thank you for your participation.

(Oh my gods, I just realized something. They're in pairs. Guys, this was not done on purpose.)

Also: I notice some inconsistency with the whole "immortal" thing, which I have hopefully edited now. Nico and Thalia are immortal, they can't be killed in normal circumstances (mortal wounds, diseases) but can be killed during battle like Artemis' huntresses.

Chapter IX
Queen of Humanity
"Why can't you place a blessing like that on us?" Percy Jackson

Will and Annabeth respectfully inclined their heads, trying to hide their smiles as May Castellan fussed over her son, despite only just giving a prophecy for their latest quest.

"And don't forget to-"

"Mom," Luke whined as he struggled in his mom's protective hold, cheeks flushed. "We've been over this, this isn't my first quest."

"Right, of course it isn't." His mother soothed him, "But you know, we can't have you forgetting your-"

"Mom!" Luke said, raising his hands, "I get it, I get it. Please just stop embarrassing me." He said running a hand down his red face. The blond shot his friends a dark look when the two of them snickered.

Annabeth cleared her throat and nudged the youngest of them gently by the arm, titling her head to signal a silent exit. Will nodded at her, and was about to follow when she turned to leave, but then-

"Will Solace, just a moment." The current Oracle said, making the son of Apollo turn curiously. She had a kind smile on her face.

"I'm not done with you yet." She tutted, and the youngest of the blond(e)s' flushed.

"Sorry." He apologized.

"No harm done." May Castellan said, "Now, honey, why don't you wait outside with Annabeth, okay? I have something to talk to Will about."

"Is it about the quest?" Annabeth asked, stormy eyes narrowing.

"Yes, but don't worry about it, everything's fine." May Castellan said with a soft smile. She ushered the two out of the Big House's cozy attic, which she'd taken residence and transformed into a homey sort-of place, the two older campers told Will they would be waiting outside.

May turned to the blond son of Apollo.

Pale blue eyes blinked up at her and May Castellan smiled down sadly at the boy. She took out a vial from her pocket and Will's eyes widened.

"The dryads and the naiads were making various healing potions with some of your brothers and sisters for the infirmary months ago. As thanks to helping them scour herbs, one of them gave this to me and I accepted it, knowing that it will one day play a great part in the grand scheme of things." She carefully took Will's smaller hands and placed the vial carefully in his hold.

She held the slightly trembling hand firmly. "I know that you, more than anyone, knows what this is for," Will was shaking his head, trying to pull back but May held firm. "I entrust you with it."

"I-"

"I know your past, Will Solace." Her eyes flashed green before fading as she closed her eyes. "I know it must be difficult to see this again but it is necessary you hold on to it and determine when to give it, and whether or not you will. Since you understand what it means to have someone take this potion."

Will looked at the vial then at her, pale blue eyes wide and scared.

"You are a son of Apollo, an expert in healing and all potions, you are too kind and too wise for your age." May smiled and kneeled in front of him, their eyes at eye-level. "You will make the right choice."

Will searched her eyes, trying to find a way out of this, because having this in his hands can only mean one thing. And he didn't want anyone to go through what he did. When he saw the determined look on the Oracle's face, his shoulders slumped.

Will nodded, his lips pursed. He turned to leave but was stopped once more by the Oracle's words.

"Though, in the end you will realize." May continued, eyes green and bright again, "That it is really not your choice to begin with."

"It seems like they really took precautions against the gods." Nico said with pursed lips as he kneeled down and traced the markings carved in the two largest trees. "We've entered a territory where our parents' protection won't reach us."

"If they were really that prepared, then why did a simple location spell manage to catch them?" Thalia asked, observing their surroundings with sharp eyes.

"Their preparations are against gods, anything less they think they can handle." Nico said in contemplation, "I think that's their mind set."

Thalia snorted, "They clearly haven't met us yet."

Percy's face was pale as he reached into his pocket and gripped Riptide. Sensing their youngest cousin's unease, Thalia and Nico said nothing more and instead chose to move forward towards the dense trees, following a track only Thalia could see.

"She'll be okay, won't she?" Percy finally asked, his hands were trembling, eyes downcast. They'd been walking in silence for a few minutes and Percy's mind keeps coming up with the worst scenarios. "I mean, you don't think that they'd-"

"There's a reason why they took your mother in the first place instead of killing her outright in your home." Thalia said, expression serious. Percy paled even more at her blunt words. "The fact that she's been taken means they have use for her, and that they wouldn't kill her unless that's been fulfilled."

"Most likely, she's being used for bait. And with the gods' sight blinded, then the bait is specifically for demigods. But it's your mother, so it's for us." Nico said, dark eyes narrowed. "We're being led into a trap."

Percy stiffened, "I won't abandon her, I don't care if it's a trap."

"We know." Thalia said, "That's why we're here, right?"

"You didn't have to come-"

"Of course we did." The daughter of Zeus said in irritation, "She may be your mother, but she's important to us too. She's family."

Percy swallowed and nodded, eyes blurry. He was thankful that he didn't have to face this alone.

"You don't have to do this alone." Nico said quietly, giving the youngest of them a sideways look. "You know that, right?"

Percy gave the two of them a hesitant look. At their determined expressions, he nodded.

"Good that you understand," Nico said as he looked ahead. His eyes flashed as the leaves rustled, "Because we've got company."

"You're quiet." Annabeth noticed, giving the youngest member of heir group a thoughtful look.

Will looked up at the daughter of Athena. He gave her a tiny smile, "It's nothing. I'm just thinking about something."

"Does it have anything to do with what my mom wanted to talk to you about?" Luke asked, taking his eyes away from the front scene where Argus was driving. "Is it something we need to know about?"

"If she wanted us to know about it, she wouldn't have asked us to leave her and Will alone." Annabeth gave look a warning glance. "Ignore him, Will."

"It's fine." The youngest blond assured the two. "She didn't exactly say that I couldn't tell you two about it, but I don't want to talk about it. Not right now anyway."

Luke ruffled Will's shaggy blond hair, "If you say so, shrimp."

Will grumbled but accepted the affectionate gesture. Annabeth was the one to swat Luke's hand away. "You know you can tell us anything right, Will? We'll support you in whatever you decide."

Will shot the daughter of Athena a look, "How do you know that it involves me deciding something?"

"There's a pattern to these quests." Annabeth said wisely, "And it always boils down to a choice."

The son of Apollo pursed his lips, "There's a wrong choice and a right one, I just have to pick the right one." I've done it before. He doesn't say.

Luke hummed thoughtfully, leaning back, "I don't think it's as black and white as that. If it is, then it won't be much of a quest if all you have to do is choose the right decision."

"Miracle of miracles, Luke's actually saying something smart for once." Annabeth said, her eyebrows raised in mock surprise.

"Hey!"

"But I'm afraid he's right, Will." Annabeth said, her tone becoming somber. She takes Will's smaller hands in her own. "It's never really as easy as right or wrong. Sometimes both choices are the right choices, and what makes the difference is the people who'll be affected by it."

It's too much to think about, for a person as young as him. Too heavy a burden to thrust in his young shoulders, but this wouldn't be the first time he'd have to decide for something difficult.

But this time, hopefully, he won't have to decide alone.

"I don't know if I should commend you for your stupidity or for your bravery." A masked young boy stepped out from behind the trees. The lower half of his face was covered by a thin black scarf, his eyes covered by tinted glasses, and his hair obscured by a cap. He leaned against one of the thick barks, one hand raised in greeting when Nico unsheathed his sword and Thalia's spear made its appearance. "Relax, I know I'm no match for you."

"Glad to see you know where you place is, scum." Thalia said, eyes narrowed. "But admitting defeat won't help you now."

The kid in the mask snorted, "Please," He said, "There's no reason to harm me. Actually, harming me would be the opposite of what you want right now."

Thalia opened her mouth, "And why would-" But Nico placed a hand on his cousin's shoulder.

"You're going to lead us to where Mrs. Jackson is." Nico said and it wasn't in a tone of demand or question. He stated it like a fact.

"Yes, exactly. I guess you aren't completely stupid." The boy said with a nod. "And I can't lead you to her if I'm dead, now can I?"

Percy stepped forward, sword hand shaking. His cousins stepped with him, giving him concerned side glances. "Where is she?"

The boy held up his hands, "Now, now, violence will get you nowhere. Literally." He said, head tilted. "Harm even a hair of me and you won't see your mother ever again."

Nico's dark eyes flashed and the forest's temperature dropped significantly. "We can get the answer out of you in other ways." He said and the shadows in the forest noticeably lengthened.

"Whoa, impressive." The boy said as he stepped back, "But seriously though, I just don't mean that no one will show you the way. I have a failsafe." He rolled back his sleeves, showing pale skin and some Greek markings on it. "See this?"

The children of the Big Three paused. Nico's eyes widened as he recognized the familiar etchings.

"Exactly, emo boy." The kid said somewhat smugly. "Whatever I feel, she feels. If I die, she dies too."

"What does he mean?" Percy asked. Seeing Thalia's lost expression, he turned towards Nico, "Nico?"

"It's a binding between him and your mom." The son of Hades explained through gritted teeth, "If we hurt him, we hurt her."

Percy felt something thick lodge in his throat and he turned horrified eyes at the kid.

"Sorry." He said, not sounding sorry at all. "Failsafe. Can't talk to the three most powerful demigods currently alive without a failsafe for my life." The masked kid said. He turned around confidently, sure that they wouldn't strike him with his back turned. Still, it didn't stop them from grasping their weapons too tightly. "Now, if you'd all just follow me so we can get this over with." He began walking away.

The children of the Big Three exchanged looks and with little to no choice, marched right after him.

Percy didn't know what to do.

His hand was shaking and his eyes kept darting from left to right, unable to settle. He thought this would be easy, he thought this would simply be fighting monsters, finding his mom, and then getting out. But instead it's this whole complicated thing where there's a kid that seemed about his age, tied to his mom, leading them into a trap.

He didn't know there would be people who would be on a monster's side. He didn't even think that other demigods or mortals could be their enemies this time. Percy was okay with monsters that exploded to dust at the contact of his blade, but he couldn't exactly harm people who are like him. He was twelve, he had practiced fighting monsters, not other people.

Beside him, his older cousins were seasoned warriors. Their expressions were carefully neutral, but their eyes were sharp. They've been on quests before, fought more monsters than Percy could count and possibly have faced evil demigods before.

He was glad that, at least, some people knew what they were doing.

They were entering the darkest part of the forest when the boy began to speak.

"So, I'm sure, you three are wondering why we did this and what do we have to gain from it and everything." The confident boy said in front of them, not even bothering to turn around to mock their stormy expressions. "Well, as you've probably figured it out by now, today's incident and the one before with the Fury attacking Jackson, is all connected somehow."

"You mean, that time when one of the Fury under my father's reign specifically tried to kill a demigod under his protection?" Nico glared.

The boy looked back, "Kill him? Why would we do something stupid like that?"

Thalia gave him a disbelieving look, "What were you doing then?"

"Trying to kidnap him of course." The boy said nonchalantly and Percy felt himself pale. "Young Jackson was not yet under the gods' poisonous brainwashing. He could have been manipulated easily into being our pawn."

Percy cringed and he felt his cousins place a comforting hand on his shoulders.

"Whose pawn?"

The boy didn't say anything. He stopped in front of a large rock and traced a hand down its cracked ridges. He pulled out a long thin whistle and blew.

A high note rang in the air. The atmosphere grew colder and the ground beneath their feet began shaking. The children of the Big Three looked up to see the huge rock crack open in between. Nico grew rigid beside Percy when he sensed the atmosphere of death and evil coming from the newly formed cave.

"If you want answers," The boy finally said as he gestured into the cave, "Then, you have to go through here."

"What? You're not coming with us?" Thalia sneered at him.

"Can't." He shrugged, "I have to deal with some, ah, other things."

"You better not get hurt, not while you're connected with Percy's mother." Nico threatened.

Despite the scarf, they could sense the boy smirking. "Didn't know you'd care." He said, "I can't guarantee anything, but the sooner you guys finish in there, the sooner we can severe the bond."

With those words, the masked boy turned and fled back into the forest.

Silence permeated the air as the three cousins hesitated in the mouth of the cave.

"We have to get her back." Percy said numbly.

Thalia gave him a sad look, "We know."

"No matter what the cost." Percy insisted, green eyes frightened but determined as he looked at Nico and Thalia.

Nico pursed his lips but nodded. "We'll do what we can." He promised.

It was the best Percy could hope for. With a deep breath he stepped forward and led the way into the cave.

Argus dropped the blond trio in front of a non-descript, creepy-looking forest. They were led by an item given to them by the Oracle.

"Well, this is it." Annabeth said, hand tightening around the strap of her bag. "Our first quest together."

"We just have to get in, make sure those demigods are safe and if not, save them, then we get out." Luke nodded determinedly. He gave them a smile. "Easy."

Will squinted into the forest, an uneasy feeling in his stomach.

"Don't worry, Will," Luke said, noticing the youngest blond's uneasy silence. "I promised your brothers I'd protect you, just stay close and don't go running off, alright?"

Will pouted at Luke, "I've been trained self-defense too." He argued, "Just because I'm a healer doesn't mean I can't fight."

Luke seemed abashed, "I didn't mean-"

"Break it up, boys." Annabeth sighed, "We have more important things to worry about." She gestured just as the temperature began to drop. Luke and Will tensed.

A masked boy stepped out of the clearing, dark eyes narrowed, "Lowly demigods, you're trespassing." He said, just as emposai and hellhounds stepped out from the trees. "This is private property."

The blond(e)s took their stances as Luke looked to Annabeth and asked, "What's the plan?"

The daughter of Athena smirked.

"What an honor it is to be in the presence of the children of the big Three." A cackling voice greeted them, the moment they slid down the mouth of the cave and followed the red light to its source.

"Alecto…" Nico's eyes widened when he saw it was one of the three trusted Furies of his father that greeted them. Beside the wrinkled, dark fury was the unconscious form of Sally Jackson, tied to one of the sharp rocks. She was dirty but unhurt, and unconscious.

"MOM!" Percy yelled, his voice never having been so loud before. Thalia reached out and pulled him back just as he was about to run forward.

"My prince,"Alecto said in a mock little bow, "I cannot fully express how thrilled I am to see you and to finally be working with you once again."

Thalia growled, stepping up as Nico helped in pulling Percy back, "What makes you think he'll be working with you?"

"It won't just be him," Alecto said with an evil smile, "All of you will soon be working with us before you know it. It's not like you have much of a choice, if you want this woman to live." She pointed a sharp claw at Sally's vulnerable neck.

Percy paled as Thalia cursed under her breath.

"Why us?" Nico said in a voice shaking with suppressed fury, "Why do you want us?"

"Hm, aside from the fact that you are the three most powerful demigods of this century?" Alecto said as she circled Percy's mother. She ran a clawed hand through the mortal woman's hair. Percy looked like he was about to be sick. "One of the three of you can be the key to bringing destruction to the gods."

Nico and Thalia paled, "The prophecy."

"Exactly!" Alecto said proudly, her fanged smile wide. "Of course, the two of you are immortal but closer to the age of sixteen and besides, immortality can easily be taken away as it is given. My lord can ensure that."

Thalia looked at Nico when Alecto mentioned "my lord". Who was she working for?

"And the child of Poseidon is still mortal and he has a mortal family and can easily be taken advantage of. We can wait a few more years." Alecto said, "And it's always good to have spares, just in case."

Nico unsheathed his sword and aimed it at the Fury, "We won't let you use us or kill Percy's mom. If you do kill her, then you'd have no leverage against us."

"True." Alecto said, "We both need her alive but then…"

Monsters from the underworld and rejected creatures made by the gods suddenly began coming out from behind the rocks and from the caves hidden spaces, surrounding them.

"But then… we can always tire you out and keep you away so that our lord will wake undisturbed." Alecto said with an evil smile, "Either way, it's a win-win situation."

Thalia cursed under her breath, spear held at a ready. Percy's sword hand was shaking but he held his ground, holding his breath as the monsters began advancing towards them. He felt a warm pressure on his side and one on his back, making him jump. He looked behind and saw that it was only Thalia and Nico, leaning their backs against him.

"Don't worry Percy, you're not alone." Thalia shot him a small smile before facing their enemies again.

Nico gave a short nod of assurance, eyebrows furrowed. He straightened and buried his sword into the ground. Fissures spread across the ground as skeletons clawed their way out of the ground. The air in the cave began to feel electric, raising the hair on Percy's arms.

The son of Poseidon breathed in deeply and closed his eyes. He could sense a water source calling him from below the cave.

"There's an underground water channel…" Percy whispered and Thalia's eyes shone mischievously.

"That's brilliant, you have to bring it up here so that I can roast these monsters all at once." Thalia said, a dangerous gleam in her eyes.

"Wha-" Percy blinked, "But how?" The skeletons had begun attacking the monsters while Nico, Thalia, and Percy parried those who got through.

"Poseidon is also known as the great Earth shaker." Nico explained as he ducked and stabbed. He looked at Percy, "Which means he can call up earthquakes, which I know you can do too. If I remember it right, one of your half-brothers was able to cause a great earthquake at their Roman camp."

Determined to ask about the whole Roman camp thing one day, Percy nodded and closed his eyes, sensing the water at the depths. He could feel the water began to bubble in reaction to his attention. The current got faster and small waves began churning as the ground beneath them began to shake.

Nico helped the water along by creating more fissures and water began to seep through the cracks.

"What the-"

The monsters were losing their footing at the cracks and the rumbling of the ground. The cracks grew wider until finally there was on big, great crack right in the middle of the ground and water burst from it like a geyser.

Percy automatically shielded his cousins from the water, keeping them dry. Thalia grinned dangerously as she slammed the butt of her spear into the nearest puddle.

Electricity raced through the water and right up the bodies of the surrounding monsters. The demigods were protected both by Thalia and Percy's power.

Alecto watched all this in silence, perched safely on top of the sharp rock Sally Jackson was tied to. The water carefully does not touch the woman. Despite their distraction of the monsters, the children were dead set on protecting the woman.

"How sweet…" Alecto crooned in her creepy voice, "And so powerful." She said as she looked on at the impressive display of the sky, sea, and earth together. Monsters fell all around them just as more came up to attack. "They will be wonderful additions."

There was a soft grumble in the cave, barely noticed by anyone. and Alecto nodded, almost as if in agreement, her mouth twisted into a predatory smile.

"And the best potential vessels."

Additional information: The Mrs. Dodds who attacked Percy in chapter 5 is different from the fury, Alecto who kidnapped Percy's mom in the last chapter. They just wore the same disguise.

Author's notes: So what do you guys think the potion with Will was? And who is the masked boy? See you on the next chapter!