Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Percy Jackson.

Okay, so they're making the Sea of Monsters movie. I'm going to HAVE to watch it because it apparently will have Nathan Fillion as Hermes and Anthony Steward Head as Chiron; also the actress who plays Shirley on Community will be one of the Grey Sisters. But the girl set to play Clarisse… she looks like Luna Lovegood! For real! MY MIND IS BLOWN.

Edited by Mellie Erdmann.

Chapter Thirteen: Annabeth Tries to Swim Home

For a while, the group was too stunned by what had happened on the island to talk. Harry continued to steer the boat, trusting Percy's demigod instincts. So far they hadn't led him astray. Carter was curled up, clearly unsettled by the whole 'turning into a guinea pig' thing. Sadie was petting Muffin, still in the outfit the spa had put her in. Annabeth and Clarisse had changed into their spare sets of camp clothes, now talking quietly at the front of the boat.

Staring up at the cloudless sky, Harry wondered what challenge would be next. Soon the sun set, and the others went into the hut to sleep. Wearily Harry continued to man the rudder, watching out for anything out of the ordinary. He saw a row of green spines slithering across the waves, possibly a sea monster. Another time there was a plume of water spewing a hundred feet into the air.

Shortly after midnight, the boat was passing a smoking volcano island. The sea bubbled and steamed around the shore. Exiting the hut, Annabeth walked over to Harry.

"That's one of the forges of Hephaestus, where he makes his metal monsters."

"Oh. So… avoid it?"

Nodding, Annabeth agreed, "Go around. Far around."

Harry steered clear of the island, which soon became a red blob behind them. "Bird brain, is everything okay?"

"No. I'm not exactly eager to go to the Cyclops' island," the blonde confessed. "I don't like them."

"Why?"

She looked away for a minute before sighing. "I don't want to talk about it."

"What's going on?" grumbled Clarisse, walking over to them. "Can't sleep either, bird brain?"

"Shut up, blood brat." Annabeth stalked off to the other end of the boat.

Clarisse stared after her. "What's with her?"

Harry just shrugged. Clarisse called out, "Come on, Annabeth. What's the issue?"

Leaning against the boat's edge, Annabeth said, "I guess… I guess it can't hurt. When Grover was escorting me, Luke, and Thalia to camp, he got confused and took some wrong turns. Well, the worst wrong turn was into a Cyclops's lair in Brooklyn."

Annabeth stared down into the waves. "This Cyclops, he tricked us. He managed to split us up inside this maze of corridors in an old house in Flatbush. And he could sound like anyone. He lured us, one at a time. Thalia thought she was running to save Luke. Luke thought he heard me scream for help. And me… I was alone in the dark. I was seven years old, a year younger than Sadie is now. I couldn't even find the exit."

"Harsh," conceded Clarisse. "How'd you get out?"

"I- I remember finding the main room. There were bones all over the floor," Annabeth recounted, clearly lost in her memories. "And there were Thalia and Luke and Grover- all tied up and gagged, hanging from the ceiling like smoked hams. The Cyclops was starting a fire in the middle of the floor. I drew my knife, but he heard me. He turned and smiled. He spoke, and somehow he knew my dad's voice. I guess he just plucked it out of my mind. He said, 'Now, Annabeth, don't you worry. I love you. You can stay here with me. You can stay forever'."

Clarisse and Harry exchanged uneasy looks. There had been several occasions they had gone down to Jamestown to do damage control on Annabeth's relationship with her dad and stepmom. No way was Harry letting Annabeth lose her dad. For the most part it had worked.

Softly as she could manage Clarisse asked, "What did you do?"

"I stabbed him in the foot," Annabeth stated coldly. "He would've killed me, but I surprised him. It gave me just enough time to run to Thalia and cut the ropes on her hands. She took it from there."

"That's really brave, Annabeth," Harry commented admiringly. Clarisse nodded, saying, "Almost something a child of Ares would do."

But Annabeth shook her head. "We barely got out alive. I still have nightmares… the way that Cyclops talked in my father's voice. It was his fault we took so long getting to camp. All the monsters who'd been chasing us had time to catch up. That's really why Thalia died. If it hadn't been for that Cyclops, she'd still be alive today."

For a while there was silence, the trio watching the Hercules constellation rise in the night sky. Stretching, Clarisse ordered the two, "Get some rest. I can steer the boat for a bit."

"Thanks," smiled Harry, stepping away. Tiredly Annabeth and Harry returned to the hut. As they settled down to sleep, Harry told Annabeth, "I can't believe you're going straight into another Cyclops' lair to save Grover after what happened when you were seven."

"I have to. It'll save Grover and the camp," Annabeth responded tiredly, her back to him.

HPJHPJHPJ

Harry dreamed of the Princess Andromeda. He was in a beautiful stateroom, the curtains open to reveal the night sky. The air swirled with shadows as the voices of dead spirits whispered all around. They warned Harry: Beware. Traps. Trickery.

In the center of the room glowed a golden sarcophagus. Just the sight of it filled Harry with dread. Harry decided it had to be connected to Kronos, because the feeling was very much like what he felt when he dreamt of Kronos's pit.

As he thought this, Kronos's cold laugh suddenly filled the room. The Titan told Harry, "You don't have the courage, young one. You can't stop me."

Harry got out Caledfwlch, releasing it to its true form. The ghosts swirled around him, whispering their warnings. His heart pounding, Harry found that he couldn't move despite knowing he had to destroy whatever was in that box.

Then came a female voice right next to him: "Well, Hairball?"

Looking over, Harry expected to see Annabeth but the girl wasn't her. She wore punk style clothes with silver chains on her wrists. She had spiky black hair, dark eye liner around her stormy blue eyes, and a smattering of freckles across her nose. Harry gulped, unable to speak.

"Well? Are we going to stop him or not?"

"Um…"

Rolling her eyes, she snapped, "Fine. Leave it to me and Aegis."

The girl tapped her wrist and her silver chains transformed- flattening and expanding into a huge silver and bronze shield. The monstrous face of Medusa protruded from the center, the sight of it filling Harry with fear. Drawing her sword, the girl advanced on the sarcophagus. The shadowy ghosts parted for her, scattering before the shield's terrible aura.

"No," Harry got out, frightened for her.

Ignoring him, she marched up to the sarcophagus and pushed aside the golden lid. For a moment she stood there, gazing down at whatever was in the box. The coffin began to glow. Her voice trembling, the girl insisted, "No. It can't be."

Kronos laughed so loudly that the whole ship trembled.

"NO!" screamed the girl as the sarcophagus engulfed her in a blast of golden light.

HPJHPJHPJ

"Ah!" went Harry, waking up. Carter and Sadie were staring at him. Seriously the latter informed him, "You were having a nightmare."

Her big brother nodded seriously. The two had changed outfits at some point- Sadie into a set of camp clothes, Carter into a pair of khaki pants and a blue buttoned shirt.

Stumbling out into the bright sunlight as he nibbled on an ambrosia square, Harry heard Annabeth and Clarisse arguing.

"Let's just sail far around it," Clarisse was insisting. "I'm not even sure if we have anything to block our ears with…"

"I want to hear their singing," Annabeth retorted. "Besides, Mr. Kane had Carter bring along some candle wax. Apparently he had a good idea what we'd be facing somehow. So you guys would be fine. Just tie me up or something!"

"Uh… no," retorted Clarisse, her eyes on a dark spot in the mist.

"But blood brat, they say the Sirens sing the truth about what you desire. They tell you things about yourself you didn't even realize. That's what is so enchanting. If you survive… you become wiser."

"Aren't you already a daughter of the goddess of wisdom?" interjected Harry.

Annabeth ignored him, saying, "I want to hear them. How often will I get that chance?"

"If you're sure…" went Harry doubtfully. "Look, Clarisse, let's help her or she'll just unplug her ears at some point."

"Fine," muttered Clarisse. Looking rather unhappy about it all.

Carter took over the rudder while Clarisse and Harry tied up Annabeth with rope before tying her to Maimer, which Clarisse had jabbed into the reed deck. Annabeth warned them, "Don't untie me, no matter what happens or how much I plead. I'll want to go straight over the edge and drown myself."

"Jeez, don't make it sound so tempting," Clarisse commented wryly, tightening the bonds on Annabeth's wrists.

"Sadie," called Harry. The young girl came over. "Yes, Harry?"

"While we're near the Sirens' island, keep an eye on Annabeth, okay? Make sure she stays put."

Sadie nodded seriously. Meanwhile, Carter had gotten out and kneaded enough wads of candle wax for the rest of them. They stuffed them in their ears.

Harry retook the rudder, not enjoying the sensation of hearing nothing but the blood rushing in his ears. As they neared the island, jagged rocks loomed out of the fog. Harry kept the boat a good distance away; since it was just a lot of reeds, the boat would be easily shredded.

Looking forward, Harry watched Annabeth. At first she seemed normal, but then she got a puzzled look on her face as her eyes widened. She strained against the ropes, calling out stuff. Sadie winced at how desperate she looked, and it tore at Harry's heart as well.

Unable to take it anymore, Harry refocused to study the island. He could only see mist and rocks, but floating in the water were pieces of wood and fiberglass, and even some flotation cushions from airplanes. Harry didn't like this evidence of how powerful the Sirens' song was.

A few minutes later, Harry felt rather than heard someone topple to the deck. Looking forward, he saw Sadie sprawled out on the deck just as Annabeth, having gotten out her knife, jumped overboard. Clarisse swore and headed forward but Harry stopped her.

"Son of Poseidon," he mouthed as Carter took the helm. Harry saw Annabeth swimming towards the island, the waves carrying her straight towards the jagged rocks that would kill her. He jumped over the side into the water. Taking control of the water, Harry created a jet stream that shot him forward towards the demigoddess. But a wave caught her, sweeping her between two razor sharp rocks. Plunging underwater, Harry kept swimming, using all of his watery powers to keep himself alive.

When he resurfaced, Harry was in a bay shaped like a semicircle. The water was full of wreckage and rocks, with the sand pitch black. Looking around, Harry saw Annabeth had also reached the bay, nearly at the beach.

As the mist cleared, Harry saw the Sirens on the beach. They possessed the bodies of giant black birds with human heads that were constantly changing. As their mouths moved, Harry saw them turn into people he had seen in his dreams: the four the Oracle had shown him, the brown haired girl and redheaded boy Kronos had shown, the Stoll brothers, and even the black haired girl he had just dreamed about. They smiled reassuringly, inviting him forward. But no matter their shape, their mouths were greasy and caked with the remnants of old meals. Yet Annabeth continued to swim towards them.

With a final burst of speed, Harry swam up to Annabeth and grabbed her ankle. A shock went through his body, and suddenly he saw the island as Annabeth must have been seeing it.

Three people sat on a picnic blanket in Central Park, a feast spread out before them. One of them was Annabeth's dad; a sandy-haired guy in his forties. He was holding hands with a beautiful woman who bore a marked resemblance to Annabeth and radiated such power that Harry figured she had to be Annabeth's mom Athena.

Next to them sat Luke, of all people. The whole scene glowed warmly as the trio talked and laughed. When they spotted Annabeth, their faces lit up with delight. Her parents held out their arms invitingly while Luke gestured for Annabeth to sit next to him as if his betrayal had never happened.

Behind the park was a city skyline. It was a rebuilt Manhattan in dazzling white marble, bigger and grander. It was the most magnificent city Harry had ever seen. And he knew that Annabeth had designed it all, that she had been the architect for a whole new world. She had reunited her parents, she had saved Luke, and she had done everything she'd ever wanted.

Blinking hard, Harry restored his vision to the reality of the monstrous Sirens ready to feast on Annabeth. He pulled Annabeth back despite her furious struggles. Harry had the currents pull them away from the bay but she kept fighting fiercely. Then they went under and Annabeth stopped struggling, looking rather confused. But upon resurfacing, she resumed fighting.

Harry realized that the Sirens' song was weaker or even gone underwater. Harry got the waves to push them down. Then he remembered Annabeth couldn't breathe underwater once they were nearly twenty feet down. But then he saw the bubbles produced by her fighting, and got an idea. Harry pulled all the bubbles in the area together, creating a huge bubble of air around them with their legs alone sticking into the water.

Gasping and coughing, Annabeth shuddered. Then she started to sob so brokenly it tore at Harry's heart. Awkwardly he patted her shoulder. When fish, including some marlins and a school of barracudas, started to approach Harry told them telepathically to scram. Reluctantly they did so.

"Let's get back to the boat," Harry suggested. "It's okay. Just hang on."

Annabeth nodded as she finished crying, muttering something Harry couldn't hear due to the wax in his ears. Harry had the current steer the bubble through the rocks and wreckage until they came upon the reed boat still heading away from the Sirens' island. The duo stayed underwater until Sadie gave them a thumbs up from over the boat's side.

So Harry had them surface, the bubble popping. Clarisse and Sadie helped them back aboard. Annabeth sat huddled in a blanket near the hut. When the island was out of sight, she looked up and mouthed the word 'safe'. Only then did the others take out their makeshift earplugs.

"Are you okay?" asked Sadie with a frown. Annabeth just murmured, "I didn't realize…"

"Didn't realize what?" asked Carter from the rudder.

Annabeth looked up, her grey eyes tense. "How powerful the temptation would be."

"I knew it was a stupid idea," muttered Clarisse, too quietly for Annabeth to hear. Harry still glared at her anyway.

Warily Harry confessed, "When I grabbed you… I saw what the Sirens showed you. I can't say I blame you…"

Annabeth pulled the blanket tighter around her. "My fatal flaw. That's what the Sirens showed me. My fatal flaw is hubris."

"Hub-what?" went Sadie in confusion. Carter explained, "Excessive pride."

"Deadly pride, really. Thinking you can do things better than anyone else… even the gods."

"Bird brain, you feel that way?" demanded Clarisse.

Looking down, Annabeth asked, "Don't you ever feel like, what if the world really is messed up? What if we could do it all over again from scratch? No more war. Nobody homeless. No more summer reading homework."

"I like that last one," Sadie commented.

Wearily Annabeth sighed. "I mean, the West represents a lot of the best things mankind ever did- that's why the fire is still burning. That's why Olympus is still around. But sometimes you just see the bad stuff, you know? And you start thinking the way Luke does: 'If I could tear this all down, I would do it better'. Don't you ever feel that way? Like you could do a better job if you ran the world?"

"Uh… no," Harry shook his head. Clarisse snorted, "I'd just mess it all up again."

"Then you two are lucky. Hubris isn't your fatal flaw."

"What is then?" frowned Harry.

"I don't know, but every hero has one. If you don't find it and learn to control it… well, they don't call it 'fatal' for nothing."

Clarisse asked dryly, "So was it worth it? Do you feel wiser or whatever?"

She stared off in the distance. "I'm not sure, blood brat. But we have to save the camp. If we don't stop Luke…"

"The world will end," Harry finished her sentence. Taking back the rudder from Carter, Harry thought about his dream. Clearly Kronos was up to something again… but who was that girl?

"Look," went Annabeth suddenly, eagerly. They all turned to look. Up ahead was another island covered in forested hills and white beaches and green meadows. Closing his eyes, Harry sensed it. They were at 30 degrees, 31 minutes north, 75 degrees, 12 minutes west. They had reached the home of the Cyclops.