So here we are again! You look good! Have you lost weight? You look like you've lost weight…

Again, thanks to: claire96 (your commitment is most DEFINITELY appreciated), C-Nuggets N.L (who isn't as bad of a guesser as them might think…), booklover484 (I dig the minimalistic approach), percabeth4evr (enthusiasm much appreciated), and AnnabethChaserocks (worry not my dear!).

Oh also, the reason Annabeth would be in a mortal hospital is that the accident was in a public area so ambulances would have arrived before mythological help would have arrived. Plus, I imagine she wouldn't be able to go on the normal nectar/ambrosia regimen because of the baby.

"I just need to hear this one more time," I said while pressing my fingers to my temples.

"Annabeth, we have told you all that we know… Like five times!" Thalia hit Nico's arm again. As much as I appreciated her solidarity, I was starting to worry that his arm might never recover. I'm pretty sure he had been hit ten times in the last hour. "Why do you always hit me?"

"Because you always deserve it!" replied Thalia. Nico looked like he wanted to say something but stopped when he saw Thalia take out her knife and start cleaning it. "You want to say something, Nico." I was about to turn around and ask Percy to intervene, but then I remembered. I looked down at the scratchy hospital sheets and began picking at the fibers. Chiron seemed to be the only one who noticed my sudden change of mood and placed a comforting hand on mine.

"Has," I swallowed, "has anyone contacted Grover? I mean, he might know something… Or sense something." The three looked at each other and Chiron sighed. Thalia and Nico seemed to be having a silent conversation when Thalia raised her hand as if to hit him again. He winced and then turned to me, "We were kind of hoping you wouldn't ask that."

My heart stopped. "Has something happened to Grover?"

"No, it's nothing like that, it's just," his forehead creased, "there's kind of an additional problem with this whole Percy situation. See, the thing is, whoever took him, and we are sure he was taken… You know, as opposed to the other option… The one I can guarantee didn't happen…"

"You got a point Nico?" I immediately regretted my angry tone. I knew he was just as worried about Percy as I was, well maybe not as worried, but he was definitely upset. "I mean, go on."

He nodded, "Right well it seems that they have a lot of power. Enough to interrupt the empathy link between Percy and Grover. As far as we can tell, it is still there. Grover is sure that Percy is still alive, but beyond that it's sort of… Well Grover described it as fuzzy." Nico ran a hand through his hair; it reminded me of Percy so much that I wanted to cry. "It's got Grover really scared. He's going through cans like you wouldn't believe!"

"But empathy links are known for being a little unreliable aren't they?" I could hear the desperation in my voice but I didn't care. I felt like I was seconds away from drowning and I really needed something to hang on to.

"I'm afraid it goes a lot deeper than that my dear," said Chiron, "it's not just affecting Grover. Rachel can't sense anything either."

"And what does that mean, exactly?" I was so afraid I knew, but I had to hear it out loud.

"If the Oracle of Delphi can't sense anything, then the Gods probably can't either." I looked at Chiron, hoping he would say something encouraging, but he just looked at me sadly. Maybe it was just the unflattering light, but I realized he looked really old… and sad. I suddenly pictured Chiron's life. Find a hero, befriend the hero, train the hero, go to the hero's funeral, repeat. It had just never occurred to me that I would have to be part of that cycle.

"Annabeth are you okay?" Chiron asked gently.

"Oh sure," my voice sounded dead, "my husband has been kidnapped by someone… something powerful enough to blind the gods… Not to mention, I'm several months pregnant and stuck in a hideous mortal hospital… Yup, it's just an awesome day to be a half-blood."

(Percy P.o.V.)

I woke up on the floor in a substantial amount of pain. I also noticed I was alone. I was about to call for Annabeth, but I realized that might not be the best idea. In a situation like this, quiet was probably best. I tried to move my left hand an inch to the side but was suddenly hit with a bolt of energy. It was agony. Through a lot of careful shifting I was able to slowly sit myself up and check out my surroundings. I looked down to see chains around both of my wrists and gingerly tried to raise my hand. Again I was hit by the painful energy. I inspected the chains more closely and realized there were markings all over them. It reminded me of the blocks used to build the Hecate cabin. Magic… I really hate magic. (I've met one to many evil sorceresses in my life.)

I continued to look around me and realized I was in some sort underground chamber. That would have been uncomfortable all on its own, but what was worse was how dry it felt. As a son of Poseidon I have a way with water. This has helped save my life too many times to count but it also has a downside. When I'm away from it, I get weaker. It's similar to what most people would feel in a room with low oxygen. I hardly notice it most of the time though. It's actually kind of hard to find a place with absolutely no humidity, rain, or at least one body of water. The point is, whoever is keeping me here, was able to create exactly those conditions, find a location in which I couldn't even feel the sea, and that kind of scared me.

"I see the guest of honor as woken up at last!" I looked around for a speaker, but could see none. It was definitely a man, but after that I was clueless. "Oh I don't think I'll let you see me just yet… We've met, you see, and if you knew who I was it might ruin the fun." I tried to speak, but my throat was too dry.

"Don't try to speak, not yet anyway." I ignored him, I was always really bad with instructions. "What did you do with Annabeth?"

"Hmm… Well I admit your wife is a bit of a problem, but I'm sure that can be fixed."

"What have you done with her? I swear whatever it is you'll experience tenfold!" He just laughed. I was really starting to dislike this guy.

"Oh don't worry about her, she's fine. In fact, I'd even be willing to promise that she will stay that way if you agree to cooperate." I wanted to say no, but he was threatening Annabeth.

"I'll take your silence as a good sign. You see, I've got plans for this world, big plans. See, I want to remake it. I'd give you the whole the-gods-are-bad spiel, but we both know you've already heard it, so let's get down to basics. I was hoping I could just ride the coat tails of Kronos to power, but then, well you already know that didn't pan out. Then I had a similar plan when Gaea tried her little bid for power, but then that unfortunately failed as well. I was starting to get desperate when I realized, why was I putting all of my hope on imbeciles. So I started to plan. I began to think of the attempts of predecessors…"

"You almost done?" I asked, my impatience getting the better of me. I mean I thought super villains only had these long speeches in movies. I was starting to think that when I did eventually see this guy he would have a handlebar mustache perfect for twirling and a black trench coat.

"My, my, my, surely you have learned patience in your travels my young friend."

"I'm NOT your friend."

"Fair enough. The point is, Mr. Jackson, I began to think about what worked and what didn't work in those other attempts. Do you know what I came up with, Mr. Jackson?"

"A wasted Saturday?"

"Tuesday actually, but no. I came up with you. You see, in both wars, you played a large part in their failures."

"I would hardly call them failures."

"Perspective is everything, I suppose. Anyway, I realized there seemed to be something about you that had helped tip the scales. Well you and one other, Jason Grace, actually."

"What do you have to say about Jason?" I fought against my chains. It really hurt, but I could care less. Whoever this creep was he could not talk about Jason.

"Bit of a touchy subject is it? Well yes, if you must know, I did have Jason killed. He…"

"How dare you? Jason's death had nothing to do with you!"

"Quite the contrary, is death has everything to do with me." I could hear a smile in his voice; it made me sick.

"But that's despite the point. I'm experiencing quite the problem. Before I move ahead with my plans, I simply must insist upon your death as well, but," his tone turned very sad, "you are not the easiest half-blood to kill. Obviously drowning is out of the question, and probably burning as well. Guns certainly won't work and I've crossed out any sort of chemical… Yes quite the quandary. Really that just leaves us with the old fashioned sword, but then the question becomes where? You know what I mean of course…"

"I would never tell you!"

"I thought you might say that… Oh well, I suppose that's your prerogative."

"Wait, you're just going to let me go?" Again, he laughed.

"Of course not! No, no, that would be a bit counterproductive don't you think? No, no, no. In a little bit I'll send in one of my friends, I'm sure you will find her most convincing."

"Nothing will ever make me tell you."

"Oh we both know that's not true! Regardless, Mr. Jackson, know this. You will not be stopping me. This time you will fail. At best, it will delay me, but that's at very best."

Then stopped speaking and I got the sense that he was gone. All I could do was sit there in the dark, slightly hopeless and very much alone.

Well another chapter for you. And yes, a certain Mr. Grace really is dead. I have NOTHING against the character, it just worked better for my story for him to be dead… Lots of love, J-B