I can't believe it! I'm finally at the last chapter of this story. It has been exactly one year since I started, and I am so grateful to each and every one of you who have read, reviewed, favorited, or followed. Thank you so much! This would never have been completed without all of your kind enthusiasm and encouragement! I love all of you guys so much! Thank you!

Katie

The truth was, the last thing Katie wanted to do was follow Marvin outside to the nearby clump of trees just on the outskirts of the forest, but Marvin was so determined, she ended up agreeing. Connor was with Travis anyway, so it wasn't like it was cutting in on anything.

I'll just listen to what he has to say and then come back, Katie decided.

Finally, they reached the trees and Marvin turned around to face her.

"Katie, I really, really like you, and I just want you to know, I want us to be more than friends. I want to grow up with you, grow old with you, and die with you." Marvin began.

Katie took a step back. Her skin was crawling at his words, no matter how sweet they would have sounded coming from someone – anyone – else.

"Marvin, that's sweet and all, but we barely know each other." Katie finally cut in.

Marvin looked disappointed. "I understand. Can I at least have a hug, then?"

Katie took a step forward, but for some reason, her heart was pounding. She didn't know why she felt so nervous, but alarm bells were screeching in her mind.

Don't be stupid. This is Marvin, Katie snapped to herself.

As Marvin wrapped his arms around her, she felt him reach for something in his pocket.

She started to pull away, but he held on to her, tighter.

"Marvin, you can let go now." Katie choked out, trying to keep her voice light and teasing.

Why couldn't she be more like Travis? He was the best at stuff like this.

"Marvin?"

Marvin didn't answer, but his grip once again tightened. Katie could barely breathe.

All at once, her claustrophobia flared up, and she struggled to break out of Marvin's iron grip. Her throat constricted and she felt the familiar fear take her over.

"Marvin!" Katie managed to squeak out.

His grip suddenly loosened, and Katie collapsed on the ground, shivering, trying to catch her breath.

That's when she realized Marvin had a dagger pointed at her throat.

He grinned when he noticed her fear.

"I want to die with you, Katie." He imitated his own words.

"Marvin, please!" Katie pleaded. "What the Hades in going on?"

"You all thought Jordan was the evil one. That's always what everyone thinks, because he looks more evil and sounds more evil. What about me? I'm the one who came up with the plan; I'm the one who put the plan into motion; I'm the one who does all the legwork, and who gets all the credit? That no-good, rotten, lowlife, Jordan!" Marvin ranted. "Well, here's a little evil for you, from me, without anyone to come in and steal all the glory! I'm going to kill you, and then I'm going to find those freaks that played your brothers and kill them, too! By the time I'm caught, the only way anyone will be able to find you is at your gravesite!"

Travis

"I swear to the gods, if he hurts a single hair on her head, I will kill him!" Travis roared as he leaped out of bed.

The two barreled out of the room, Chiron not far behind. They barely paused to clink their fists together for their swords.

Chiron didn't even blink when he saw two swords spring up from what seemed like nothing.

"Wait! Where would Marvin take her? He might be crazy, but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't show up in the middle of the dining pavilion where hundreds of trained campers with weapons are eating with Katie hostage." Connor called out.

Travis froze, his brain leaping once again into overdrive.

That's when a clump of trees seemed to call out to him.

"He's there." Travis pointed.

"Are you sure?" Chiron wondered.

"He's sure." Connor knew better than to question his brother's certainty when the topic was on Katie Gardner.

"I'll go get the camp ready in case, and grab some campers for backup." Chiron nodded.

The boys were off before Chiron could tell them to hang back until backup arrived.

Katie

Katie was petrified, both from terror and for safety. She knew if she made a single sound or move, the dagger would plunge straight through her neck. All she could do was pray to every god she knew that Marvin would continue talking and someone would find her.

WHAM!

Katie blinked at the sound, and when she opened her eyes, the dagger had been tossed a little ways off into the grass. One of the trees turned into a little ten-year-old and she swiftly picked up the dagger and threw it deep into the forest, where a silhouette of another tree nymph caught it and threw it somewhere else.

Then, she noticed that Travis was standing over Marvin, practically growling.

"Travis!" She shouted. "He's working with Jordan! Be careful!"

"He also belongs in a loony bin." Connor added behind her. He helped her up, and then joined his brother, glaring at the whimpering boy.

Travis

It hadn't been all that hard to find a really big rock and throw it right at Marvin's hand. It was harder knowing that one misstep meant Katie's life was over.

"I could kill you right now." Travis snapped. "But I'm not going to. I'm going to send you up to Olympus, where you and your sleazy friend will spend the rest of your very, very short lives repaying the debts you owe to demigod society, and, probably, monster society, too."

He turned to Connor, who gladly tied up Marvin with some rope the always-prepared-prankster happened to have in his pocket.

While Connor dealt with Marvin, Travis rushed over to Katie.

"Are you alright?" He questioned, looking for any broken bones or bruises.

"I'm okay." Katie whispered.

Travis leaned close and looked seriously into her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Katie. I know you really liked Marvin and all…" He trailed off. What did you say to someone whose crush had just tried to kill them?

Katie gripped Travis's shoulders and closed the gap between their lips.

Who knew a kiss could feel so darn magical? Travis's whole body warmed, and a tingly feeling ran through him, like he was being electrocuted again, only with love instead of electricity.

When they finally pulled away for air, Katie looked back at Travis. "Marvin…is nothing compared to you."

"Aphrodite help me, you're the most beautiful woman on this planet." Travis breathed, pulling Katie close.

At the moment, Travis's shirt was wet, Katie's clothes were grass-stained, and Connor was staring at them like they had announced they were actually aliens from the sun, but neither of them would forget it, or trade the moment, for anything else.

Aphrodite

Athena massaged her temples as she listened to Aphrodite going on and on and on about some stupid demigod couple or something.

"Don't you just love it, Athena?" Aphrodite squealed. "It really is The Day of a New Tratie!"

"Somebody kill me now." Athena begged under her breath. "Throw my soul into Tartarus if you must, but please, please, get me away from this lunatic!"