•as the world caves in•

•we visit the spa•

"Did the prophecy give any hints?"

I hesitated. I wished Annabeth was awake so I could ask her for advice, but I knew she needed sleep. I was thinking about it, but a seagull dropped leaves into my lap.

"Land," I muttered. "Land! There's land nearby! Annabeth, wake up!"

Annabeth groaned and sat up and when I looked out, I could see a island in the distance and we were sailing right towards it.

•.•.•.•

"Welcome!" Said a lady with a clipboard. She smiled at us, as though we didn't look like we just went through the Sea of Monsters, through a boat explosion, through a Hydra, and the long list of things that seemed to keep growing,

I looked around and noticed a ton of different ships, so I guess we weren't the weirdest people to arrive here.

"Is this your first time with us?" She asked. I looked at Percy and Annabeth, but the lady just went on, writing down stuff. "Let's see. An herbal wrap to start for the two young ladies, and of course; a complete makeover for the young gentleman."

"A what?" Percy asked like she was crazy.

"Right!" She smiled. "Well, I'm sure C.C will want to speak with you personally before the luau, come, please."

This seemed an awful lot like that one time we ran into Medusa last year, but it was really tempting to have a spa day, especially with Annabeth and then see whatever this makeover was for Percy.

We passed by pools and what looked like beach houses, a bunch of animals just peacefully roaming around. We came into a big room, where a woman was singing and the place was beautiful.

She turned to us. "My name is C.C. I'm so glad you've come."

In a corner of the room, was a cage of guinea pigs that started squealing. We ignored them and introduced ourselves.

C.C looked at the lady with the clipboard. "Hylla, take Annabeth and Coriane on a tour, will you? Show them what we have available. The clothing will need to change, and the hair, my goodness. We will do a full imagine consultation after I've spoken with this young gentleman."

I was upset. "What's wrong with my hair?"

Annabeth nodded. "I like my hair."

"My dears, you are lovely! But you're not showing off yourselves, so much wasted potential!"

"Wasted?" Annabeth asked.

"Well, surely you're not happy the way you are! My goodness, there's not a single person who is. But don't worry, we can improve anyone here at the spa. Hylla will show you what I mean. You, my dears, need to unlock your true selves!"

I looked at Percy, confused as to why he wasn't coming with us. "What about Percy?"

"Oh, definitely, but he requires my personal attention, he needs much more work than you."

"Well, I suppose," I muttered. "I'll see you soon, Percy."

He nodded. "You too, Cor."

Hylla dragged Annabeth and I to some spa chairs a bit away and two other girls came up and immediately went to work.

One girl trimmed down my nails and painted them while the other washed and brushed my hair, then braided it with silver strands. Once that was done, they did my makeup, a natural look that Silena would always do on me when I let her, and then put me in a sleeveless silk dress like every other girl seemed to wear, but mine was white, along with Annabeth.

We excitedly walked back to where C.C. was, wanting to show Percy what we looked like and to see what Percy did, but when we entered, he wasn't there.

"Where's Percy?" I asked.

"He's having one of our treatments, not to worry. You look wonderful, what did you think of your tour?"

"The library is amazing!" Annabeth gushed and I nodded.

"The best knowledge of the past three millennia," she nodded. "Anything you want to study, anything you can be, my dear."

"An architect?"

"An archeologist?"

"Pah! You, my dears, have the makings of a sorceress, like me."

"A sorceress?" I asked.

"Yes, my dears." She smiled and a flame appeared in her hand. "My mother is Hecate, Goddess of Magic, I know a daughter of Athena and Aphrodite when I see them. We're not so different. We all seek knowledge, we all want greatness. None of us need to stand in the shadow of men."

"I don't understand," Annabeth said shakily.

"Stay with me, study with me. You can join our staff, become a sorceress, learn to bend other to your will. You will become immortal!"

"But..." I trailed.

"You two are too intelligent, my dears. You know better than to trust that silly cannot for heroes. How many great female half-blood heroes can you name?"

"Uh, Atalanta, Amelia Earhart..." Annabeth started.

"Bah! Men get all the glory! The only way to power for women if sorcery. Medea, Calyposo, now they were powerful women! And me, of course."

"You're Circe!" I almost groaned. "What have you done to Percy?"

"Only helped him realize his true form."

I looked around and saw the cage again, seeing a single guinea pig squealing.

"Your friend will be well cared for. He'll be shipped to a wonderful new home on the mainland c the kindergarteners will adore him, meanwhile, you both will be wise and powerful."

I looked at Annabeth, hatching a plan in my head and from the look on her face, she shared the same idea.

"Let us think about it," Annabeth muttered. "Just let us say goodbye."

Circe left, but not before locking the door.

I rushed over, kneeling at the cage. "Which one is you?"

All the guinea pigs squealed, and none of them had defining features for me to find Percy.

Annabeth tossed me a vitamin and I frowned at her, but ate it anyway.

Circe came back in the room, and I drew my sword on her, Annabeth doing the same with her knife.

Annabeth lunged at her, holding her knife to her neck. I glared at Circe. "Change Percy back. Now."

"I can't!"

I shrugged. "You asked for it." I grabbed the rest of the vitamins and poured them into the cage, watching them eat them.

Percy popped back into a human and I don't think I'd ever been more happy to see him, but I quickly turned back to Circe, Annabeth still holding her at knife point.

I gasped at one of the men. "Edward Teach, son of Ares?"

"Aye, lass," he nodded. "Thought most call me Blackbeard! And there's the witch that captured us, lads. Run her through and then I mean to find me a big bowl of celery! Argh!"

The men chased after Circe and I put my sword away, Annabeth watching after the men.

"Thanks," Percy faltered. "I'm really sorry..."

I tackled him with a hug, squeezing him so tight my arms hurt. I pulled away from him and cupped his face, making sure it was actually him. "I'm glad you're not a guinea pig."

He was blushing a ton. "Me, too."

Annabeth undid her braids, but I opted to keep them in. I looked at them. "Come on, Seaweed Brain and Wise Girl, we have to leave while Circe's distracted."

We ran around, finding the different boats and Percy dragged us to a pirate ship, probably belonging to Blackbeard.

Percy closed his eyes and focused, sending the ship away from the dock, and setting us back on our journey.