I slowed down, pretending to be tired, so that he could catch up.

"Stop, Thief!"

Finally.

He grabbed me roughly around the waist, holding me tightly.

"You're trapped," He told me.

"I am ten times stronger than you. I could snap your neck in an instant. If you come quietly, I might go easy on you,"

I laughed, a loud and carefree sound, and he seemed taken aback.

"That's where you're wrong,"

"I'm not trapped,"

"You are."

I smiled to myself.

He was in my territory now.

He looked bewildered. For such a huge guy, he was a huge softy inside, or so I'd heard.

I could keep him as my Chinese-Canadian Huge-teddy man.

Getting off track here.

I slipped through his tight hold, swimming away.

He gasped.

I looked back at him to see why he was so shocked, and spotted...my tail.

Great.

I thought I had learnt how to control it, but apparently when I needed it, instinct took over.

Actually, maybe it wasn't a bad thing...

He had stopped swimming, in shock, I suppose, but luckily for him we were in shallow waters now, so he was just standing there.

I swam towards him, flicking him with my tail, which must've sprung him into action, because he immediately gave chase, swimming as fast as he could after me.

I was just toying with him, really, and I think he knew that, but he was too determined to give up.

I led him further into my lagoon, before I suddenly stopped.

Here. Right here.

"Come and get me!" I called out

Foolishly, he continued to swim, spurred on by my taunting.

"Over here!"

That did it for him.

He grunted in frustration and leapt in a desperate attempt to catch me.

Right into my trap.

A net of seaweed fell over his head, and while he struggle to escape it I sprung out of the water and onto land, getting rid of my tail and willing myself dry.

Thankfully my clothes were back, including everything that was in the pockets. It had taken me a while to master that, and I still had no idea where the clothes went when I transformed.

I dug my hand into my pocket, bringing out the small, airtight bottle of sleeping drugs I had stole for my nightmares. Instantaneous sleep, they said.

Let's see how well it works.

Using my hydro-telekinesis, I got a blob of water, chucked in the sleeping powder, and shot it right at his face, hoping some of it would go into his mouth.

Please, I thought.

He began to get more, and more drowsy, slowly falling asleep.

When it looked like he had stopped moving completely, I tried to move him to my makeshift bed.

But that proved to be more difficult than I had initially thought.

He was heavy.

Really heavy.

I eventually was able to drag him out of the water, before I collapsed exhausted beside him.

Now to tie him up.

I had just gone to pack my bag when I heard my sister come up behind me.

"Hi-Nico? What are you doing? Why are you packing?"

"Hazel...I've been meaning to talk to you about something," I told her

"What's all this? Are you running away? I know your duties are hard Nico, and I know the possible wives dad keeps forcing on you are getting on your nerves, well everyone's nerves," She said, mumbling the last bit under her breath.

"But you can't leave," she pleaded

"Calm down Hazel. I just...need some time away from being a Prince. Just for a day. I promise I won't take too long."

"Oh...I kind of overreacted,"

"It's fine, sis. After Bianca left..." I sobered up

"I couldn't possibly leave you."

"So. What did you want to talk to me about?" She exclaimed brightly, trying to lighten up the mood.

"Uhh..." I couldn't avoid this any longer

Could I?

No, no Nico, just go ahead and tell her.

"Hazel. You know how father's always trying to introduce me to possible wives? Well, I, um..."

"I'm gay. I like boys," I blurted it out, covering my face with my hands.

She gently pried my hands away from my face.

"Feels good to finally let it out, doesn't it?"

"So...you're okay with it?"

"Of course I am Nico! And I've known for a while now, did you really think I wouldn't notice how uninterested you were in even the nicest ones? I'm your sister for gods sake!"

"I only wish father was as accepting and observant as you are. Why didn't you confront me about it though?"

"I was waiting for you to come to terms with it yourself, and for you to be ready," She replied

"You know," She said softly

"You have to tell father soon."

Those dreaded words.

"I know, I know, it's just...I don't want to let him down. What if he doesn't approve? What if he thinks I'm weird, a freak? What if, what if he wants heirs from me?"

"Nico, Nico, calm down, you don't have to tell him right now, just...think about it, okay?"

I nodded in response.

"Hazel? Would you mind covering for me when I go on my little...outing?"

"Sure," She replied

"But first, you might want to have a look at the creature my newest guard captured."

Percy's POV

Tying him up was hard work.

But when I was sure the ropes were secure, I was finally able to sleep.

Unfortunately, I was woken up what seemed like only minutes later by screams.

I guess my guard woke up too.

"Good morning!" I said cheerily

"For you, maybe," he muttered under his breath

"What was that?" I asked, pretending I didn't hear what he had said.

"I said, maybe for you, but for me, this is just humiliating,"

"I see. Well let's get right to it, shall we?" I said

"Get to what?" He replied in confusion

"What I'm going to do with you of course,"

He gulped.

"No, no, not like that,"

"I mean that, well, that we can negotiate something,"

"Huh? Negotiate? I'm not sure I like the sound of this..."

" Well, the way I see it, you can get me what I want, and I can get you what you want,"

"What?! What do you mean by that?"

"So, here's the plan. I can get Princess Hazel impressed by you, If you-"

"Woah, woah, woah, what makes you so sure I want Princess Hazel to be impressed, thief?"

"I know all the gossip about you, Frank,"

"Great. You even know my name,"

"Anyway, as I was saying, I can get Hazel impressed by you, while you get me...access to the Prince,"

"What do you mean, access to the Prince?" He said, immediately suspicious and on guard

"I mean, you pretend you've captured a 'merman', me by the way, to impress Hazel, while you get Prince Nico to you know, notice me,"

"Plus, I need you to smuggle me out of the castle when possible,"

"That's impossible!" He exclaimed loudly.

"Do you want to stay tied up here forever, or do you want to impress Princess Hazel,"

"Okay, okay, fine,"

"Great!"