Disclaimer: I own nothing in the Percy Jackson series. Rick Riordan does.

Chapter 2: Trouble Comes In spades

"It feels like he's dying all over again."

Luke Castellan knelt by the base of the large pine tree that sat at the top of Half-Blood hill. His face was streaked with dirt, a few nasty looking gashes covering his cheek from his and Percy's run-in with Laistrygonian giants.

He found her cornered in a life-or-death game of dodge-ball. Stabbing one with his sword provided them the chance for escape into an alleyway.

Upon arriving back at camp, however, Clarisse informed them of trouble.

"Where's Chiron?" Percy asked, turning to face Clarisse. She tore her eyes away from where they were previously glued to the look of depression that was etched into Luke's features. She didn't know Nico, but the son of Hermes did.

Clarisse pinned Percy with a glare sharp enough to slice through through metal—at least that was how Percy felt—no doubt a side effect from the beat down she had given Ares last year on her quest to retrieve her father's bolt. It was only natural all his kids hated her guts afterwards.

"Well?" Percy demanded.

From behind her, Tyson came jogging up. The baby cyclops tugged at the daughter of Zeus's sleeve worriedly—Luke had let him into camp—pointing towards the son of Hermes. Clarisse looked over as well, for the smallest of moments Percy could have sworn she saw a small little pang of sympathy in those hardened brown eyes.

The two girls were silent. Watching Luke pick up one of the rotting twigs that had fallen to the ground. The soil around the base of the tree actually looked worse than before, if possible. Most of the pines were turning a sickly yellow and gray—withering before they hit the ground-fading into nothingness.

"Who would do this?" Luke asked. He sounded desperate for an answer, his clear blue eyes shining with despair.

"You two have been gone for too long." Clarisse said, finally breaking the moment of silence. Both Persephone and Luke looked at her. "Things are changing."

The trek down into camp was a silent one. And eerily foreboding for Persephone.

She wasn't sure what to say, she just kept glancing over her shoulder at Luke who was still holding the little branch he picked up from Nico's tree. He was looking at it with this odd, unusual look of hopelessness like his puppy had just died. She tried to distract herself, answering Tyson's questions whenever his hand shot out to point at a random section of Camp.

"Those are the pegasi stables," Percy said.

"Whasthat!" Tyson asked, excited.

"Uh... those are toilets."

"Whasthat!"

"Those are the cabins," Persephone answered, looking out towards the U-shaped buildings. Each design varied depending on the god or goddess. "They're where campers stay, but if you don't know your parent—are undetermined—you get put into the Hermes cabin. Right Luke?"

Luke looked up, pulled form whatever thoughts he may have been having. He nodded. Percy's lips pulled down into a deep frown.

"You... have a cabin?" Tyson said. He sounded in awe of the idea.

"Yeah. Cabin One." Percy said pointing to the largest cabin with white stone columns on either side of the holographic bronze doors, each emblazoned with a lightning bolt.

"You have friends that live with you?"

The question brought a pang of sadness to Percy's heart slowly shaking her head. Technically speaking she wasn't even supposed to be alive herself, so her having siblings was next to impossible.

Everyone at camp knew of the pact the Big Three made—Zeus, Poseidon, Hades—to not have anymore kids after what happened in World War II. Their kids were too dangerous and unpredictable. Naturally though Zeus had fallen off the wagon, having sired Percy.

The daughter of Zeus cast a small, knowing glance up towards the withering pine tree in the distance.

She didn't know what the story was with the son of Hades. Luke said he never really liked talking about himself, only ever revealing his parentage when it became absolutely necessary—even then he didn't get very far—having been turned into a tree to prevent him from dying.

I wonder if Hades was sad? Percy thought. Or maybe he didn't care.

"Chiron!"

The two demigods found the old centaur in the Big House, listening to his favorite 1960s lounge music. He looked like he was packing.

"Pony!" Tyson cried in glee.

"I beg your pardon?" Chiron said, looking mildly offended.

"Chiron, what's happening?"Luke said after Percy pulled away from hugging him. He was still holding the small part of Nico's tree. When Chiron saw it his eyes saddened, and he looked older than he was.

"Why do you look like...your leaving?"

"Sad as it maybe," Chiron said, dark humor glinted in his eyes. "I have been 'released' from my services here at camp—"

"You mean fired?" Persephone interrupted, she sounded outraged. "But why!"

Chiron gestured to the branch in Luke's hands. The two demigods felt their hearts sink.

"Someone must take the blame for what has happened," He said. "Lord Hades was not too pleased to find his only child was dying yet again. Naturally his first suspects being his own brothers, which lead to a dispute among them."

"Lemme guess, that didn't go over well with dad," Persephone remarked dryly. She rolled her eyes at the thought, picturing daddy dearest waving his master bolt around throwing threats at the Lord of Dead. "Doesn't Hades know Zeus couldn't have done it though? Didn't we have this conversation last summer?"

"Yes, but as was the case before child," Chiron said. "You are Zeus's child. Where he cannot act, you can."

"You mean—"

"—Hades thinks Persephone poisoned the tree?" Luke finished, shocked.

Persephone spluttered. Her mind reeling, she was being accused again.

"But-but I didn't... I couldn't have!" She cried, dramatically stomping her foot for good measure.

"Yes. I know, the poison used on the tree looks to be something from a creature that lies in the depths of Tartarus. Even I am unfamiliar with it." The old centaur admitted grimly.

Kronos. Percy thought clenching her fists in barely contained fury. He was behind it, who else would stop so low as to attack the last remnant of a hero who had given their life to save their friends. Then again the Titan lord had recruited one of those friends into joining his ridiculous cause.

Persephone was furious.

Things were bad enough with just Mr. D around. This new guy, Tantalus, was worse.

"I hate him." Persephone muttered under her breath ducking as another random camper was hurled off the Obstacle course tower. Better thought of as the 'Obstacle course of Death'. It didn't help matters that Tantalus had seen fit to laugh at every camper who failed, or was seriously injured.

"Jerk," Percy rumbled stepping up to take her turn. A small little smirk came onto her lips when Tantalus's mouth zipped shut at her appearance.

One of the perks of being the king of gods' daughter. Less people had the guts to laugh at you.

"Oh, come to watch me win?" Clarisse goaded adjusting the straps of her armor.

"Funny, I was about to say the same to you." Percy said with a grin, just before breaking off into a sprint to get to the tower first. Clarisse snarled like an enraged animal speeding after her. The two girls dodging and weaving their way to the ladders.

"Go, Persephone!" Luke cheered from the sidelines. Persephone didn't really notice how it sounded halfhearted, missing the moment when Luke looked away, seeing something unusual near the crest of where Nico's tree stood.

She was too focused on making Clarisse eat her words.

"Aren't you tired of getting beat, Jackson?"

Percy didn't answer.

Focus on climbing. Focus on climbing. She repeated mentally swinging to the side when Clarisse pulled on one of the silver poles going along the side of the tower, trying to make Persephone fall. Instead, Clarisse nearly hit the ground when Percy returned the favor by yanking out the one her foot was on.

Persephone was nearly at the top. She peeked over the edge seeing Clarisse about halfway now.

"Percy, look!"

Persephone froze, hearing Luke shout at her. Her eyes followed his to where Nico's tree was—withered, rotted, but still standing—the blue shield around it pulsed wildly. Something was fighting to get in. Then all at once it shattered, like a million shards of glass falling apart.

The sound reached the rest of the campers ears. They all scattered screaming when something—no, two—there was two of them.

"Colchis bulls," Luke muttered under his breath, taking a small step back. "Percy, get off the tower!"

Her ADHD kicked into high-drive. Doing a series of flips Percy was at the base of the tower in a matter of seconds, Clarisse following suit. Once on the ground the two warriors realized neither had their weapons on them, they had left them behind for the event.

"Run," Percy said. "Go, I'll distract them!"

Luke grabbed her arms yanking her back.

"No way," The son of Hermes said, a deadly seriousness was in his voice. "I've seen how that sort of thing ends, Percy, and there's no way I'm leaving you."

There was no time to argue. One of the bulls broke off and went after the cabins, starting to burn them to a crisp while the other came barreling after Percy, Luke, and Clarisse.

"Move!" Clarisse yelled tackling the other two to the ground.

Begrudgingly, Persephone mumbled her thanks, hearing Luke do the same thing. The trio staggered to their feet to face off with the mechanical bull.

"Clarisse, go help the other campers," Persephone said, her eyes settling on a nearby chain and hook hanging off one of the weapon stands. "I have an idea." An idea was a stupid way of putting it.

It worked. One of the bulls was definitely down for the count.

"Dammit, Jackson." A feminine voice said out loud. One Persephone recognized immediately. Her vision swam with little gray dots, her ears were still buzzing. A few more seconds passed until she was able to make out the familiar blonde head of hair and piercing storm colored eyes.

"Annabeth."

The other girl still looked much like a Californian princess if ever there was one. Same tanned skin, grimly determined looking eyes, and full pink looking lips. Unlike some of the Aphrodite girls, Annabeth had brains to match every ounce of beauty.

She proved that all too well last summer. Framing not one, but two gods. Stealing Zeus's own master bolt from right under his nose.

"Do you have even the slightest idea how hard colchis bulls are to come by?" Annabeth chided, tucking something blue away into her pocket.

"Well I'm sure, knowing you, you'll think of something else," Persephone rasped, bloodied and bruised. She caught a glimpse of some weird looking vial thing, bracing herself for a fight. The gears in her own head starting to turn, putting the pieces together pinning Annabeth with a harsh glare.

"It was you." Persephone said. "You poisoned Nico's tree. How could you?"

Persephone was determined to wipe the smug look off the child of wisdom's face, even if it meant unintentionally digging herself a deeper grave. It succeeded when Annabeth's smile dropped into a frown, slowly accompanied by pure murderous rage.

"To think Nico died for you. I bet he'd be disappointed-"

"Shut up." Annabeth's control was slipping. "You know nothing about him. Or me."

Persephone watched her, eyes blazing and sparks flying out from her being. The daughter of Athena backed away, her gray eyes calculating.

"Gonna run again?" Percy goaded. She was trying to bait her into a fight, but Annabeth wasn't taking the bait.

"Nice try, but I'm not you Persephone." She pulled out a green medallion. It started to glow in the palm of her hand. "We'll see each other again though, I sure. Until then maybe you should think long and hard over whose side you should really be on."

Then she vanished. An aura of green light wrapping around her, whisking her away and out of sight. Persephone was left standing amongst the blown apart pieces of one colchis bull, glancing overhead at the dying source of protection for camp. Anger welled inside her.

Frustrated, the daughter of Zeus slammed her fist into the nearest wall.

Above her storm clouds churned, a few streaks of lightning racing through them. If something wasn't done, her and the rest of camp were through. She needed a plan.

Review. Share your thoughts, and lemme know whatcha think? Peace!