We ate in relative peace with the only problem being a group of teenage boys coming over, but they left after Zoë threatened to severe the only reason they call themselves men from their pathetically weak and fragile body, only to then punch their leader in the nose breaking it.

They looked at me like why aren't you saying or doing anything, "she's my sister. I'll gladly help her remove your manhood with a plastic knife is she ask me to help" I said, and the boys scrambled away with a hand covering their privates.

That was fun and Thalia was laughing at how easy it was to scare them off. "I wish I could do that. It would definitely help with all the bastards at school"

"I thought you go to an all girls school" Zoë stated

"It is. Still doesn't stop dumbasses from bring their boy toys onto school grounds, who in turn bring their friends as well" Thalia fumed, "but Chiron and Perseus said no hurting the mortals"

"Yeah we don't listen to that unless Artemis tells us not to" I said, "and/or Hestia in my case"

"Ehh...well we should get going. We don't want skeletons that can't die catching up to us" Thalia said, as we were all finished with our food.

I agreed and got up properly disposing of waste that came with it, though if Grover was here he would probably want to eat it, but he's on a separate mission.

Of course I stroke of good luck has to come to an end as we are demigods after all and the only luck we get is bad luck. We walked out and I noticed that the two exits to the dam were somewhat blocked, by the Spartoi who were letting the mortals pass. Though I doubt they would let us pass as well.

They left their post and started closing in on us. We did one of the only thing we could do and that was get into a semi defensible position near the two winged...wait a minute, "Zoë are these the statues Athena gifted Zeus that you told me about. You said she placed them with a dam" I asked, Zoë looked at the statues and sighed in relief, as I payed attention to where the spartoi were and they were forming up around 100 feet away

"Yes these are the statues" Zoë said, but I don't see how they'll help us kill these things"

"Who said anything about killing them" I said, as the spartoi started advancing on us "Thalia pray to your father for help"

"What why? he never answers"

"Just pray to him. This time will be different"

"How do you know"

"I don't know. Maybe because his daughter and grandchild are in mortal danger of being sent on a one way trip to his oldest brother"

"No"

"Just do it Thalia it may be our only hopes of survival" Zoë stated, as they were now 50 feet away. "Even though I don't like putting my life in your fathers hands it's our only chance of survival"

"Fine Thalia stated highly annoyed, but she began praying to Zeus.

Now you're probably wanting to know why I didn't pray to him. Well that's easy. I may have his blessing and be my mother's adoptive child. I just don't want to push my luck and he's more likely to listen to Thalia's plea for help than mine.

However nothing happened at first. The statues just remained as they were staying still, not doing much of anything. The spartoi however kept advancing. Thalia and I both pulled out our shields, as some protection is better than none.

The spartoi, raised up some handguns taking aim, which I'm wondering where in the name of hades did they get. "It was nice knowing you two" I said

"I can't believe my father" Thalia responded flinch back as soon as she was done as the spartoi opened fire. I was expecting to get hit as well but the pain never came. Instead I heard what sounded like metal hitting metal and the sound of the bullets going off in different directions.

The statues stood using their wings to shield us, there quickly was a break in the fire and the statues sent their wings outward send most of the spartoi over the edge of the dam, and the others disintegrated.

"Man does it feel good to finally stand up again" one of the statues said.

"Ahh my toes" said the other, "what were those mortals thinking" The only problem the disintegrated skeletons were starting to reform

"Hey I'm statue guys. Do you mind helping us we are in some trouble here" I said indicating to the reforming skeletal hand reaching for a weapon.

Thalia meanwhile had less tact, "CAN YOU JUST GET US OUT OF HERE" she yelled

Both of the statues looked down at her, "Zeus's kid right?"

"Yes"

"Can we get a please miss Zeus's kid"

"Please" Thalia stated a little annoyed at the semantics

The statues looked at each other and shrugged, "I could use a good stretch

One of them grabs Zoë while the other grab Thalia and myself, only to take off and begin flying away from the Hoover dam with a few gunshots echoing in the value below us. I'm also pretty sure I saw a mortal red headed girl see us and point, and deep down I knew she was clear sighted somehow. Hopefully she just forgets about this and I don't see her again.

Thalia however closed her eyes tightly and I grabbed onto her hand to reassure her. "Hey we will be fine" I said

"Just tell me when it's over"

"We are in the Sierras. At this speed it should be long before we reach our destination" Zoë said

"That's good to know" Thalia breathed squeezing my hand tightly. I hope she doesn't break it even though it's my shield hand I still like it and use it in combat.

"Hey where is you destination by the way, Zeus only told us to head west" one of the statues said

"The base of Mount Tamalpais" Zoë stated

"Oh that place is dangerous. Why there"

"We need to save lady Artemis and we believe her to be there"

"Alright" the statues said and picked up speed.

They dropped us off at the base like we asked and thankfully it was before nightfall so we would be able enter the garden tonight to free Artemis and Annabeth. The statues however flew off to San Francisco claiming they heard about a party there that they wanted to attend.

It wasn't quite sunset yet so we couldn't enter, but it gave me time to look around and see a cruise ship arriving into the harbor. It looked like Luke's ship, especially with the obvious patch work on the side. "Hey I think Luke's ship arrived" I said pointing it out

"What makes you say that is his ship"

"They planned on moving his troops out here and I recognize the ship as it's the one I fired the Queen Anne's Revenge's cannons at" I explained

"You sure that's the same ship"

"Absolutely"

"We will have to be quick and be done by the time reinforcements arrive" Zoë said, "Lady Artemis will be able to get us off the mountain, but we mustn't be engaged in battle"

"Well then why aren't we heading up yet"

"My sisters are nymphs of the sunset we can't enter until day starts becoming night which is...now in fact" Zoë said and started hiking up the mountain.

Thalia and I followed and I could feel the change after a few feet. The aura of the place became more...ancient feeling kind of like the difference between the Empire State Building and Olympus.

However it just seemed we were walking into a thick forest but I trusted Zoë, and followed her. Until we eventually came to a stop at the beginnings of a clearing revealing a beautiful garden...well if it wasn't the dragon with terrible breath sleeping in the middle of the garden curled up around the tree that produced the golden apples of immortality

The Hesperides shimmered and appeared before us and I ignored them, I mean they kicked out the third best sister to have in the world, and my favorite sister. I however studied the top of the mountain noticing a storm of swirling clouds up at the top.

That is not good it means they are gain power if they are able to influence storms into obscuring themselves.

"We see a hunter and two demigods. All of whom shall soon die"

"Hey you got it wrong. We aren't going to die"

" Perseus Jackson" one said

"I don't see why he's a threat"

"I'm surprised he still alive"

"Wait who said I was a threat"

"They fear thee, for his mental fortitude and determination"

"Not mentioning the years extra of training and having the favor of multiple gods"

"And being Hestia's champion"

"Leave and your lives shall be spared for another day"

"Not with out Annabeth and Artemis" Zoë stated fiercely, honestly I'm surprised they still stand against Zoë as I've been on the receiving end of an angry Zoë more times than I admit. "We must approach the mountain"

"He will kill thee"

"We must get pass to free Artemis and Annabeth" Zoë said looking super annoyed, "let us pass"

"You have no power here anymore. All we need do is raise our voices and Ladon will wake"

Zoë then got an evil smirk on her face. Oh no I hate whatever this plan she is forming.

"LADON WAKE" she commanded and the sleepy 100 headed dragon woke up.

"Are you mad"

"You all never had any courage sisters" Zoë said with a straight face, " that is your problem"

The Hesperides disappeared after that. "Good riddance. I never really liked them anyways" Zoë stated only to then raise her hands and step towards Ladon

"Zoë don't you're not a Hesperides anymore he'll kill you" Thalia pleaded

"You two must skirt around the edges. He's trained to protect the tree. Go around and up the mountain. As long as I pose the bigger threat he'll leave you two alone"

"But" I interjected

"No buts brother. This is the only way"

I nodded resigned to what will happen and slowly started moving around the edge. Zoë however spoke to Ladon as if he was a long lost dog she recently found again.

Thalia and I almost made it to the top but something went wrong. Ladon suddenly lunged at Zoë, to which she dodged expertly. I drew riptide to go run in and help her but she shouted at me to run as she started running up the hill as well

As she was around the side of the tree Ladon nicked her with his teeth and I'm pretty sure drew blood which isn't good. It means she's been poisoned.

Thalia and I however, pulled our shields out and Ladon backed off of Zoë and allowed us to go up the mountain.