I woke up the next morning, exhausted yet refreshed. I would be starting my solo quest today. The last time I had gone on my own was underneath Rome, rescuing the Athena Parthenos. That time, my friends had been there to save me. I would not have the same luck this time.

I knew where I was to go. The beach of glass could only be one place. Fort Bragg California. The beach had once been a garbage dump, but then the locals picked up most of the trash. The beach was still covered with glass shards, though. Those glass shards were softened and rounded by the sea. That's the story any way.

I picked up my bag. Then I left. I stopped at Half Blood Hill. I looked at the valley below. I said goodbye to the only home I truly had.

I didn't even get into the camp van. I just ran to New York. The camp didn't want to supply me with money, so I had to bring my own. I didn't mind though. My dad had given my plenty as an apology. I had roughly $4,000 in my bag.

I ran into Manhattan and booked a flight at the nearest airport. This would be the quickest way to California. When my flight number was called, I all but ran onto the plane. I quickly strapped in to the seat and sat there. A flight attendant came over and asked if I wanted anything to drink.

"Just a bottle of water will be fine," I told her.

The attendant nodded and left. I quickly brought out my phone and attempted to text Percy for the millionth time since he left. Ever since the prophesy, I had new found hope that he was alive. I had also convinced him to get a phone when we were still dating. When I hadn't abandoned him.

'Don't think like that Annabeth,' I scolded myself.

The attendant came back. She handed me a bottle of water. I thanked her and she walked away to help the other passengers. Then the plane took off and I quickly fell asleep. You know what they say. With sleep comes dreams. Who am I kidding? I made that up! Sadly, dreams are nightmares for demigods.

In my nightmare, I was at a foggy beach. I stumbled my way around, desperately trying to find my way. I slipped and fell on the rocks. I felt something smooth beneath my hands. I lifted a piece of the stuff to my face, where I could see it. Smoothed glass. I was standing on Glass Beach in Fort Bragg California.

At least I knew where I was in my dream. I hated not knowing stuff.

"Well hello, my dear," a voice in the fog said.

I whipped around, trying to find the source of the voice, but I couldn't see anything through the fog.

"It's useless trying to look for me. You will never find me," the voice said.

"Who are you?" I called.

The voice laughed. "You will have to find that out yourself," the voice sang.

I stomped the ground angrily. I hated not knowing.

"What do you want?" I demanded.

The voice laughed again. "I want you to suffer. You tricked me in my home court. Now you will feel the same pain. You will be deceived in your home. You will be tricked in the mortal world. Even now, your friends are trying to find me. I will let them. The boy knows what he's looking for. He knows what he is up against. But you, dear Annabeth, will be left in the dark. And darkness is quite easy for me. I will spare the boy, but the others shall suffer. You will be made to work for me. I already have a way to get the boy on my side. And if I estimated correctly, you will come with me in exchange for his safety." the voice said. I had long ago determined that it was female. I didn't know who she was.

"Who is this boy?" I asked.

"You will find that out soon enough," she said. Then she drew her knife and threw it at me as I disappeared.

I woke up sweating. I knew that another immortal being wanted me to suffer. Something about how I tricked her in her own territory? That doesn't narrow it down. I've tricked a lot of immortal beings in their home. I tricked Arachne in her cavern, were she had killed so many of her other siblings. My tactic is always trickery. I talk for time.

I momentarily forgot where I was. I struggled against whatever was holding me down. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and realized I was in a plane. Passengers where filing out of the plane. I quickly grabbed my bag from the overhead carrier compartment and walked out with the passengers.

The first thing I realized when I walked out of the plane was: this is NOT Fort Bragg. I tried to get back on the plane, but I couldn't. The other passengers blocked my way. I couldn't get back on the plane. I was carried away with the croud.

I didn't have enough money for another flight if I was going to get a taxi from the airport to a convenience store and get some supplies. I didn't know what to do. I had to get to California before this boy did. There were hundreds of boys in Cali. How would I know which one was the boy the woman in my dream was talking about? Something told me I would know when I saw him.

I had to find another way to Cali. Unless I could make it to Glass Beach and stop some creepy lady in the fog, this mystery boy would be used to bait me into some kind of torture.

Finally, I came across a Walmart. I rushed in as quickly as I could. I huriedly grabbed a cart and ran to the eisles. I got some lunch meat, cheese, and bread for food. I also grabbed some Nutrigrain bars for breakfast. Then I grabbed some rope, fishing hooks, a camo jacket, and many more items that could mean the difference between life and death. I hurriedly paid and ran outside.

I ran through the city trying to find where exactly I was. Soon enough, I came across a rather large sign. After reading it, I knew exactly where I was. And I also knew that I was still about 164 miles away from Fort Bragg. I was in my father's town. I was in San Fransisco.

That worried me. Even without traffic, that would take me three hours to get to by car. And this looked like a very busy day. I could walk about 2 miles per hour. At that rate, I'd reach Fort Bragg in about 82 hours or so. I don't think I have that long. If this male was already in California, I did not have the time to be walking nonstop for nearly 7 days. Maybe I could ask my dad for help...

I walked around the city, trying to hail a taxi. After 10 minutes, I finally succeeded at getting a cab. I have the driver a wad of money and my dad's address and he took off.

I stared out the window thinking of my quest. I silently prayed to all the gods that I would make it to my dad's place without any interception from monsters. Apparently, the gods didn't want to be prayed to because 10 seconds after I finished my prayer, a jet of flames erupted 50 yards away.

"Crap," I muttered. Then I say, louder, "Here is good. I'll walk the rest of the way."

The driver nodded and pulled to a stop. I got out of the cab and ran to the flames. Of course, the monster had to be this one. Standing in front of me was a 30 foot long, fire breathing, dragon.

I pulled out my drakon bone sword and charged the beast.

I was already in a bad mood. I had gotten off at the wrong stop. I didn't have the money for another flight. I had to face a dragon. Not the best wake up call, don't you think?

I whipped out my cap of invisibility and put it on my head. I vanished, leaving the dragon confused and looking for its victim. I charged it again and ran up it's back. I sat down in between its wings and neck. The dragon felt me and tried to shake me off.

The dragon shot up in the air. I held my grip. The dragon began to breath fire, lighting the buildings around us. And the dragon naturally had to breath Greek fire. That stuff is soooooo hard to put out. I groaned.

Then the dragon did something I did not expect. From the thing's tail, a red material of some sort was flicked to the ground. An explosion rang out me beneath me. I realized that this massive creature could throw dynamite projectiles.

Yup. This dragon definitely fell under my already long 'What Were The Gods Thinking?' list. A dynamite-chucking, fire-breathing dragon the size of a whale? Yeah. Totally a bad idea.

I was irritated now. I grabbed the dragon at its week spot. All dragons have it. It's usually right at the base of their skull. I heard that if a person were to grab a dragon there, the dragon would have a telepathic connection with the person and be forever under their command. If that was correct, then this dragon is now mine.

I felt a tingle in my fingers as soon as I touched the dragon. Then a burning pain in my palm. I tried to jerk away, but it was like my fingers were glued fast to the dragon's hide. Just when I couldn't bear it any more, the pain abruptly stopped.

I whipped my fingers from the dragon's hide and studied my palm. A new mark was burned into my skin. It was an owl with a dragon tail wrapped protectively around it. I stared at it in wonder until a voice in my head broke me from my thoughts.

"My name is Aragon. I am pledged to you my mistress," the voice said.

"Are you the dragon?" I asked.

"I am. And you now bear the mark of our bond," Aragon said.

"Cool. So how does this whole thing work? I have never owned a dragon before and I don't think my dad will have room in his whole house for you let alone the Athena cabin back at Camp," I tell my new friend.

"I will come when you call for me. I will be at your command whenever you need me. And I can shrink myself to the size of a mouse and slip into your pocket if you wish," Aragon replied.

"Cool. Could you take me to Fort Bragg California after you put out the fires?" I ask.

"Of course M'lady," he said.

"Thank you. And don't call me that!"

"Alrighty boss."

"Not another Blackjack!" I exclaim.

"Whose Blackjack?" He asks.

"My... friend's Pegasus."

"Cool. Can I meet him?" He said.

"Ummm.... Maybe later," I reply.

"Ok," Aragon said happily.

"Now can you please put out the fires?"

Aragon put out the fires and explosions and we flew off to Calfornia.