•as the world caves in•

•preperations•

As Typhon drew closer, Percy had vanished from camp. St. Louis was under the storm according to the news, and buildings were collapsing. Percy had sent a vague message from his moms phone, but we didn't understand.

He had asked us to start preparing for the war, protect Olympus, something along those lines. And we were on our way, even thought Ares cabin was refusing to join us. Camp was undefended.

I was relieved when he called again and I quickly picked up. "Percy, where have you been? Your message said almost nothing, we've been worried sick!"

"I'll fill you in later, where are you?"

"On our way, like you asked. Almost to Queens-Midtown Tunnel. But, Percy, what are you planning?"

"Trust me, I'll see you there." He hung up.

I groaned as the van swerved, Argus trying to quickly get through downtown traffic. When we stopped before the Empire State Building, Percy was already there.

I was dressed in all black, matching Annabeth. It felt weird being summer and not wearing my normal camp t-shirt with shorts, but this wasn't a normal summer. I had taken my hair out of its bun to put in my French braids, like I always had on quests.

Percy was looking at me, but not that stupid lovesick way he would when I caught him staring, more in a weird way. I frowned. "What? Something on my face, do my braids look bad?"

"No!" He said quickly. "You look great, you always do!"

I smiled. "Uh-huh, what is it then?"

"It's nothing." Percy said. "Thanks for coming, everyone. Chiron, after you."

He shook his head. "I came to wish you luck. It may not be too late to convince my brothers to join. Meanwhile, you called them here. You are their leader."

Percy looked like he wanted to protest, but I gave him an encouraging smile and nod. Percy returned it before looking at everyone. "Okay, like I told Coriane, something bad is going to happen by tonight, some kind of trap. We've got to get an audience with Zeus and convince him to defend the city, we can't take no for an answer."

We wandered into the building after Chiron and Percy shared a few words, then we looked the guard, clad in armor and carrying swords. I looked at the security guard. "Six-hundredth floor, please."

"There is no six-hundredth floor."

Percy leaned across the desk. "Forty demigods attract an awful lot of monsters, don't you think?"

The guard thought about it before buzzing us in. "Make it quick."

I went with Percy on the first group, when we got on Olympus, it was different. It was silent and empty.

I looked to Percy as we waited for the second group. He had a different aura to him, something had changed. "You're different. Where exactly did you go?"

He went to answer but the second group came. "Tell you later, come on."

As we walked to the palace of the gods, I glared at Hera's statue. "I hate her. Everywhere I go, she sends her stupid cows to give me little presents. They even got on Sam's plants once."

Percy looked like he was trying to fight a smile. "I'm sorry, Coriane."

I looked to the horizon where blue dots that weren't stars appeared. "Those look like sniper scopes."

Michael Yew nodded. "We're being targeted."

We hurried our pace. We walked in, and a small child poked at the flames. Hestia. We bowed.

She looked to Percy, "I see you went through with your plan. You bear the curse of Achilles. Perhaps a vision is due."

I looked to Percy and grabbed his arm. "What is she talking about?" He suddenly collapsed and I grabbed him. "Percy! What happened?"

"Did you see that?"

"See what?" Annabeth asked.

"How long was I out"?

I frowned. "You looked at Hestia for like a second and then collapsed."

Hermes then came in, glaring at Percy. "Hestia, I will take it from here."

She bowed and left the room. I turned to the other campers. "You guys, do a sweep of the city, see who's left. Meet us here in thirty. Silena, Connor and Travis are in charge."

The three nodded and quickly left.

I looked to Hermes. "My lord, Kronos is going to attack New York, we need your help."

Annabeth nodded. "I'm sure my mother suspected this."

Hermes glared to her. "You mother is the reason I'm here, don't get me started. Zeus didn't want any of us to leave the front line, but she kept talking about it being a trap, she even wanted to come here herself, but of course, it's me who gets sent."

"But it is a trap!"

"And Typhon is our worst enemy!" Hermes snapped. "We cannot forget how he once embarrassed us! We have no help from Poseidon as he's waging his own war, Hades sits and does nothing and Demeter and Persephone follow his lead! We have to battle him now, and we're making progress, he only destroyed half of Kentucky, he's slowing down. Now, your mom says to try plan twenty-three."

Annabeth paled. "Go on."

I'd vaguely heard about it from Annabeth, but I knew she didn't like it.

"She also said to tell Percy 'remember the rivers' and something about keeping an eye on Coriane and Percy because 'who knows what Aphrodite is planning."

"Thank you, Hermes." I said, ignoring the comment. "We're sorry about Luke."

He turned even more furious. "You should've left that alone."

"Sorry?"

"Sorry doesn't cut it! You should've saved him when you had the chance, you're the only one who could!" Hermes snarled, Martha and George, the snakes on his staff, whispered, before he crumbled. "My son, my greatest pride, my poor May. I will leave now. I have a war to fight."

I stared at him in shock, maybe in fear, but Percy pulled me the other way so I didn't see his true form.

I sat at my mothers throne, only on the foot of it while Annabeth tried to comfort me, but I wanted Percy to come over and give me a gentle hug. He only stood to the side. He explained how he met May, how she talked about her son's fate and her eyes glowed, how he bathed in the Styx and defeated an army of the dead.

Annabeth pulled out her laptop and started looking at the plan before the Stoll brothers ran in. Connor gasped. "You need to see this, now."

I looked down at Manhattan and heard nothing. "Are they dead?"

Everyone was laying down on the street or in cars, not a single person moved.

"Morpheus has put the entire island of Manhattan to sleep." Percy said. "The invasion has started."