They didn't make it to the ship.
Halfway across the dock, three giant eagles descended in front of them. Each deposited a Roman commando in purple and denim with glittering gold armour, sword, and shield. The eagles flew away, and the Roman in the middle, who was scrawnier than the others, raised his visor.
"Surrender to Rome!" Octavian shrieked.
Hazel drew her cavalry sword and grumbled, "Fat chance, Octavian."
Annabeth cursed while Cressida had the audacity to bust out laughing. "You really think you can take us?"
"Can we try peace first?" Piper asked as she raised her hands in a placating gesture. "Octavian, what happened at camp was a setup. We can explain."
"Can't hear you!" Octavian yelled. "Wax in our ears—standard procedure when battling evil sirens. Now, throw down your weapons and turn around slowly so I can bind your hands."
"Let me skewer him," Hazel muttered. "Please."
"Oh, no," Cressida said as she walked forward casually. "I have a better idea."
She made no move to draw her spear or use her fire as she walked halfway between them and the Romans, the Romans backing up slightly as Octavian's friends brandished their swords.
"Surrender, girl!" he spat at her, and her eyes burst into flames for dramatic effect.
"If you're going to brand us enemies," she said, her head angling to the side. "You have to know your enemies. For example, I'm the daughter of Dionysus. And these are my friends that you are threatening. I'm rather dangerous when annoyed and another god just royally pissed me off and we won't be going anywhere with you."
And grapevines burst out of the Charleston harbour as they wrapped around the three Romans, holding them tight.
Octavian began hurling insults and threats if they didn't let them go as they struggled, and all Cressida did was wave her hand as another vine grew to wrap around his mouth.
"I've been wanting to do that since I came back to life," Hazel grinned as Cressida turned back to her friends.
"Shall we?" Cressida asked as she gestured to the ship and the Charleston harbour erupted.
A wall of saltwater washed over the Romans as Cressida felt her grapevines sink back into the sea floor and she let them because while the other girls wore looks of horror on their faces, she just rolled her eyes as she put her hands on her hips and the water began to recede.
When the wall of seawater subsided, the three Romans were in the bay, spluttering and frantically trying to stay afloat in their armour.
Percy stood on the dock with a grin on his face.
"I felt your vines. Thought you could use a hand," he said as his girlfriend walked over to him.
"I had it under control, but that's sweet," she said as she kissed his cheek.
"Guys," Hazel interrupted. She had a little smile on her face. "We need to hurry."
Down in the water, Octavian yelled, "Get me out of here! I'll kill you!"
"Tempting," Percy called down.
"What?" Octavian shouted. He was holding on to one of his guards, who was having trouble keeping them both afloat.
"Nothing!" Percy shouted back. "Let's go, guys."
Hazel frowned. "We can't let them drown, can we?"
"Sure we can," Cressida said and Percy just elbowed her arm.
"They won't," Percy promised. "I've got the water circulating around their feet. As soon as we're out of range, I'll spit them ashore."
Piper grinned. "Nice."
They climbed aboard the Argo II, and Annabeth ran to the helm. "Piper, get below. Use the sink in the galley for an Iris message. Warn Jason to get back here!" Piper nodded and raced off. "Hazel, go find Coach Hedge and tell him to get his furry hindquarters on deck!"
"Right!"
"And Percy—you and I need to get this ship to Fort Sumter."
"I got the crossbow!" Cressida called as she ran for the weapon she'd been dying to operate.
Her aim was flawless as she incapacitated the Romans that tried to board their ship as Percy ran for the mast. Ropes flew on their own—releasing the dock ties, weighing the anchor. The sails unfurled and caught the wind. Meanwhile, Annabeth fired the engine. The oars extended with a sound like machine-gun fire, and the Argo II turned from the dock, heading for the island in the distance.
The three eagles still circled overhead, but they made no attempt to land on the ship, probably because Festus the figurehead blew fire whenever they got close. More eagles were flying in formation toward Fort Sumter—at least a dozen. If each of them carried a Roman demigod...that was a lot of enemies.
Cressida debated shooting at them but no good would come of it as she would've sealed the idea that they were enemies.
Coach Hedge came pounding up the stairs with Hazel at his hooves. "Where are they?" he demanded. "Who do I kill?"
"No killing!" Cressida scolded. "Help me keep the Roman's away from the ship!"
"But they interrupted a Chuck Norris movie!"
"Gleeson!"
"Got it!"
Piper emerged from below. "Got a message through to Jason. Kind of fuzzy, but he's already on his way. He should be—oh! There!"
Soaring over the city, heading in their direction, was a giant bald eagle, unlike the golden Roman birds.
"Frank!" Hazel said. Leo was holding on to the eagle's feet, and even from the ship, you could hear Leo cursing and screaming. Behind them flew Jason, riding the wind.
"Never seen Jason fly before," Percy grumbled. "He looks like a blond Superman."
"Hey, Captain Nemo!" his girlfriend called, and she smirked at him. "Superman's overrated. I've always loved Aquaman."
And he grinned at her before Piper scolded, "This isn't the time! They're in trouble!"
Sure enough, the Roman flying chariot had descended from a cloud and was diving straight toward them. Jason and Frank veered out of the way, pulling up to avoid getting trampled by the pegasi. The charioteers fired their bows. Arrows whistled under Leo's feet, which led to more screaming and cursing. Jason and Frank were forced to overshoot the Argo II and fly toward Fort Sumter.
"I'll get 'em!" yelled Coach Hedge. He spun the port ballista.
"NO!" Cressida screamed but it was pointless.
Hedge fired. A flaming spear rocketed toward the chariot. It exploded over the heads of the pegasi and threw them into a panic. Unfortunately, it also singed Frank's wings and sent him spiralling out of control. Leo slipped from his grasp. The chariot shot toward Fort Sumter, slamming into Jason. Annabeth watched in horror as Jason—obviously dazed and in pain —lunged for Leo, caught him, and then struggled to gain altitude. He only managed to slow their fall. They disappeared behind the ramparts of the fort. Frank tumbled after them. Then the chariot dropped somewhere inside and hit with a bone-shattering CRACK! One broken wheel spun into the air.
"GLEESON!" Cressida shouted.
"What?" Hedge demanded. "That was just a warning shot!"
"I'll show you a warning shot," Cressida said as she started on the satyr only for Percy to intercept her.
Annabeth gunned the engines. The hull shuddered as they picked up speed. The docks of the island were only a hundred yards away now, but a dozen more eagles were soaring overhead, each carrying a Roman demigod in its claws. They would easily be outnumbered at least three to one.
"Percy," Annabeth said, "we're going to come in hard. I need you to control the water so we don't smash into the docks. Once we're there, you're going to have to hold off the attackers. The rest of you help him guard the ship."
"But—Jason!" Piper said.
"Frank and Leo!" Hazel added.
"I'll get the boys," Cressida offered. "I can by Books time to get to the Fort as well."
"Cress, Wise Girl-"
"We'll be fine," Annabeth promised. "I've got to figure out where the map is. And I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who can do that."
"The fort is crawling with Romans," Percy warned. "You'll have to fight your way through, find our friends—assuming they're okay—find this map, and get everybody back alive."
"Just your average demigod day, Aquaman," Cressida said as she kissed him and Annabeth shouted,
"Whatever you do, don't let them take this ship!"