We sail with the dead

Alexander looked out to the sea, they didn't have much time, "say… what is your plan for getting to the sea of monsters?"

"the only way there is, between Charybdis and Scylla", Clarisse said, standing next to him. The undead sailors looked uncomfortable, they knew how dangerous that route was. They could feel the shiver of danger run down their dead spines when hearing about the two sea monsters.

"Charybdis sucks in the water and Scylla eats anyone who gets close to her cliff", he stated the obvious, "not a good situation for us…"

"It is the only way. If we try to go around, the cliffs will just reappear where we have sailed. It is a lose-lose situation. Our only way is to bombardier Charybdis with as many cannon balls as possible and hopefully make it to the other side…", Clarisse stared out to the sea, "I don't know if we will make it but- in case our ship is destroyed, you can carry me and fly away. There has to be an island somewhere where we can regroup"

"Already planning for failure, didn't realise that Ares kids-"

"Don't. even.", she hissed, walking down into her quarters, "it is getting late, we should get some sleep"

"Yeah- sleep", he agreed and for once, he actually meant it. Sleep was preferable over worrying all night. So, he headed through the iron walls of the ship, the waves crashing against the hull, the metal creaking. His bed was okay at best, a bit too hard, a bit too wet and all in all not very comfortable but it would suffice. He closed his eyes and drifted off into sleep.

In his dreams, he saw Percy, Annabeth and Tyson in a hidden sanctuary, presumably one made by Thalia, Annabeth and Luke. Thalia had mentioned it once or twice during their conversations in between battles. His vision shifted, a monster donut store, a hydra about to attack them and- Boom!

He woke up with a gasp, that boom hadn't been in his dream, it was real. He ran up to the deck and saw Percy, Annabeth and Tyson climb on the boat, "You are in so much trouble, losers. Tantalus expelled you for eternity. "Mr. D said if any of you show your face at camp again, he'll turn you into squirrels and run you over with his SUV"

"Did they give you this ship and- Hey alexander, you are here too?"

"My dad gave me the ship… You think your daddy is the only one with sea power? The spirits on the losing side of every war owe a tribute to Ares. That's their curse for being defeated. I prayed to my father for a naval transport and here it is. These guys will do anything I tell them. Won't you, Captain?"

The captain stood behind her looking stiff and angry. His glowing green eyes fixed Percy with a hungry stare. "If it means an end to this infernal war, ma'am, peace at last, we'll do anything. Destroy anyone"

Clarisse smiled, "Destroy anyone. I like that"

"Of course you do", Alexander rolled his eyes, "remind me, who was planning to lose yesterday?"

"I said not a word… if you weren't so damn powerful, I would never have let you join me on this quest", she growled, gripping her spear until her knuckles turned white, "I could throw you overboard any time"

"Hey, no need to be so hostile, just lightening the mood a bit. Gods know the sailors don't have any humor left in their undead flesh", Alexander raised his hands in defeat.

Annabeth snapped, "we don't have time for this! Clarisse, Luke has the coordinates, he is heading south with a cruise ship full of monster-"

"Good! I'll blow him out of the water" Clarisse grinned like a mad dog.

 "You don't understand," Annabeth pleaded, clearly worried "We have to combine forces. Let us help you to-"

"No!" Clarisse pounded the table, anger flashing in her dark eyes, "This is my quest, smart girl! Finally I get to be the hero, and you two will not steal my chance. Dorn, I can respect, he is a warrior but you two Dorks? A bookworm and an insolent brat. I should kill the seaweed brain for embarrassing my father but-"

"Come on and try it then", Percy had a cocky smile on his face, "remember the last training session before Luke left? I had you in the dirt"

"Not now Percy", Annabeth scolded, "Clarisse, Alexander, where is your third person? Quests always consist of three demigods, the number three is sacred"

"We- left the rest behind… to protect the camp. We couldn't spare anymore campers. All the competent ones are busy ensuring we don't get overrun and- well why would I take one of the helpless cases with me?"

"Clarisse, Tantalus is using you, he wants the camp to fall, that is why he let you set sail without two others. Annabeth is right, the three is sacred. Going on alone or as two is way less safe", Percy seemed to have forgotten his earlier hostility, "We might still not make an even three but five is better than two, right?"

"All you need to know is that I'm finishing this quest and you're not helping. On the other hand, I can't let you go…"

"So we are prisoners?"

"Guests. For now" Clarisse propped her feet up on the white linen tablecloth and opened a Dr Pepper, "Captain, take them below. Assign them hammocks on the berth deck. If they don't mind their manners, show them how we deal with enemy spies"

The day passed rather quickly. Percy and the others had filled him in about the situation with Luke. Alexander couldn't stop grinding his teeth just thinking about it. He hated Luke with every fiber of his body and now, he was recruiting other demigods and even worse, Kronos was reforming. If only he had known sooner… He had slept next to the college age kid for months. He could've killed him in his sleep and none of this would be happening…