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macadoodlewrites · 2 years

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Dangerous Love - Part Two (Rafe Cameron x Routledge!Reader)

Summary: Avery Routledge is John B's cousin, and she has just moved to the OBX - just in time for a treasure hunt. But with John B keeping secrets in order to protect her, he pushes her into the arms of the Kook King. She becomes tangled with none other than Rafe Cameron, but will she realise how damaged he is before it is too late, or will he ruin her before she can get away?

Warnings: death, smut, dub-con, toxic behaviour, abuse, kidnapping, non-con

Ships: Rafe Cameron x OC, minor!JJ x OC

Main Masterlist

Dangerous Love Masterlist

Word Count: 4.2k

I had not been to many parties growing up – my mother had not liked me going out too often without her – but standing on the beach and helping the Pogues prepare for their kegger reminded me of just how differently things were done on Kildare Island. Parties back home were held in houses or venues, wine was served, and cliques would form. But not here. We were on the beach, stragglers were already starting to arrive, and my friends were mingling with everyone. That was what life here was.

Despite the sun having set an hour or two ago, the air was still pleasant, and I felt more than comfortable in my black striped tee dress and white sandals.

After hours of sitting on buses and the ferry, I had felt unclean and far from put together, my ponytail greasy and clothes rumpled, and had showered the second I had finished unpacking. Now, my mousy brown hair was hanging loosely down my back in slightly-damp tendrils, and I was feeling much better.

Looking around the beach, I could see that the sand was aglow from both the tiki torches that my friends and I had planted in the sand, dotted along, and the full moon that reflected off of the grainy surface. John B had given me a lesson as to who would be attending the kegger tonight – Pogues, Kooks, and Tourons. Once I had been in the latter category, but this was now my home. After unpacking and adding my personal touches to the spare bedroom at The Chateau, I had sat on the bed and accepted that I was here in the OBX with John B and my friends, and that was not going to change. My mother and her boyfriend could not come and drag me back to my childhood home, back to all of the miserable memories.

“You know that I am so happy to have you here, Avi,” John B had said as we’d stood in the living room. The others were all outside, preparing a list of supplies for the kegger. I suspected that they knew my cousin and I wanted to be alone to catch up.

“I’ve never been happier to be somewhere; right here is where I belong. Every year, all that I would look forward to was coming to stay with you and Uncle John, you know? Going back home was always the worst.”

At this, he had put his arm around me, pulling me in for a hug. I did not think that we looked alike despite being nearly the same age and related, but we shared the same hair colour, presumably from the Routledge side of the family. His eyes were a deep brown, whereas mine were hazel, an odd mix of brown and green. Not to mention how pale I looked compared to his phenomenal natural tan.

“Your mother—”

I pulled away and wrapped my arms around my waist, shaking my head up at him. “I don’t want to talk about her. I am never going back. She doesn’t know that I am here, and I want to keep it that way for as long as possible. All of the family that I want, or need is right here.”

He knew how my mother treated me, had seen her throw harsh insults my way – her overprotective ways were practically a prison sentence when compared with the freedom that John B had. However, he did not know how bad things had gotten in recent years, and especially knew nothing about my mother’s boyfriend.

“I understand,” he mumbled. “I’m glad to have you here with me. After my dad disappeared—”

He broke off, his breath caught in his throat, but I knew what he was feeling. “I know, John B. I know.”

He continued to stare down at me, and I couldn’t keep the grin from my face. Everything about him was familiar to me, down to the bandana around his neck. He reciprocated my smile. “Let your mother come. I’ll just set JJ on her.”

I was shaken out of the memory by JJ’s voice. “Avi, I know that you have had a really long day of sitting on a boat, but do you think that you could help,” he called as he dragged a keg towards John B and Pope who were further down the beach. “Or is that too much work for you, Cupcake?”

I flipped him off and rolled my eyes at the teasing grin on his pretty face but walked towards the pile of supplies. Multiple kegs, hundreds of red cups and dozens of crates of cans all sat unceremoniously in a pile; the Pogues were ready to make a profit tonight. Where they had gotten the money to purchase these supplies, I had no idea, but it didn’t matter if they weren’t going to charge me for the cheap beer. I had run away with all of my savings, managing to pay my way on the buses and ferry, but the money would not last forever.

Standing next to one of the kegs, I tentatively tried to move it. It hardly shifted. Perhaps I could convince Pope to help me —

“Need a hand?” a slightly familiar voice said, and I looked up. On the other side of the supply pile stood Rafe, wearing a pastel-blue button-down shirt and white shorts, with a white cap over his dirty blond hair. The sunglasses from earlier were gone, his cornflower blue eyes fixed on me.

I shook my head, a few of my brown locks falling over my face as I did so. “No, it’s fine. I’ve got this.”

Rafe smirked at me and gestured towards the keg. “Go on then. I would love to see how you have got this. That keg easily weighs double of you, Avery.” A flicker of surprise glimmered in my chest. He’d remembered my name. Of course, it was common curtesy to remember a person’s name, but I was sure that Rafe met plenty of tourists each day. The Outer Banks was popular in the summer.

“Don’t underestimate me. I’m much stronger than I look. I was part of the wrestling team in high school,” I responded, and frowned as he started laughing. “What?”

“Were you really?” I watched as he eyed my bare arms.

I returned his grin. “No. I hate sports.”

Again, he gestured at the keg. “Well then, like I said. Go on.” The taunt in his eyes, the command in his voice, it all sent the slightest shiver down my spine. I straightened up.

The option to get John B, Pope, or JJ had flown far out of reach, so there was nothing left to do but embarrass myself, so I gripped both sides of the metal keg and started to pull, ignoring the sounds of Rafe’s continued laughter. It barely moved mere centimetres, but I did not stop trying to drag it along. Just as I was about to let go and admit defeat, Rafe started to walk over. “Alright, I admit I underestimated you,” he said, and reached forwards. He moved my hands away from the keg with his, gently prying my fingers off. Abruptly, I pulled back at the sudden contact and then watched as Rafe tracked my startled movements, but he made no comment. Instead, he said, “Why are you helping with the kegs?”

Knowing that the truth would possibly cause him to leave — and I really needed help with the heavy keg — I just smiled at him. “Never hurts to be helpful, does it?”

Even in the dim lighting, I could see his eyes roaming my face, a question in his gaze. Apparently helping someone for no reason was not in his vocabulary. “Sure. Where do you want this then?”

Alright, maybe I would eat my words. I gestured further down the beach, towards the cracking bonfire that JJ had erected earlier. It glowed against the night sky, spitting sparks of gold and orange into the night. Rafe lifted the keg – effortlessly – and I gathered a handful of red cup stacks, then walked alongside him. “I did not forget your warning from earlier, you know? About staying off this side of the island. I chose to ignore you, obviously, but it does make me wonder what you are doing here.”

Rafe side-eyed me as we continued walking towards the section of the beach that was much more crowded and where the party was building up. I could see Kiara with a group of people, and if I knew my best friend, she was discussing the benefits of recycling or how we can help fight climate change. Pope was opposite her, and even in my limited time here today, I had noticed that he tended to watch Kie whenever she wasn’t looking.

Further down the beach, JJ and John B were near the bonfire, handing out beer from the keg that they had already tapped. I wondered if any of them knew Rafe and searched my memories for any mention of him from my previous visits but came up blank.

“My sister and her boyfriend wanted to come, and they dragged me with them,” said Rafe. He was still carrying the keg as we walked and my eyes were drawn to the muscles on his arms, the veins that were standing out on his golden skin. The keg was certainly heavy, yet he made it look effortlessly light. “I didn’t to be here, and he didn’t either, but Sarah insisted. The little princess always gets her way.”

I frowned. “You two don’t get on?”

He faltered slightly, his footsteps slowing down as he turned to look at me completely, still holding the keg. “It’s not that. Do you have siblings?” I shook my head. “Then you don’t understand what it is like to be in a permanent rivalry with them.”

The closest thing that I had to a sibling was John B, and I could not remember ever feeling any sort of rivalry with him. I loved him more than anyone else in the world – parents included – but the look on Rafe’s face was daring me to argue with him. So instead, I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly at him.

“Sure. Some of my friends back home — back on the mainland fight with their brothers and sisters like crazy. I guess that I am lucky to be an only child.”

“Lucky doesn’t begin to cover it,” he responded, and we continued walking again. Firelight sparked off Rafe’s ring as he set the keg down near a few other unopened ones, and I placed the cups on top of it. Sneaking a glance over to JJ and John B, I saw that they had not yet noticed me. John B was talking to a small blonde girl, and JJ had attracted himself a small group of both boys and girls. I couldn’t blame them.

My first crush had been JJ Maybank. He had also been my first kiss, the first boy I had ever loved, and then three summers’ ago, we had taken each other’s virginities. We had never officially dated, the most that had happened since was that we continued to hook up on each summer that I visited — and JJ did not hook up with anyone else when I was around, which I understand on JJ’s part was practically commitment — but my feelings for him had settled down. But now that I lived here permanently, who knew what could happen? Although it would take a miracle to tie JJ down for good.

“Can I get you a drink?” Rafe asked, shaking me from my eye-lock on JJ. I nodded at him sceptically. Was he going to drink cheap beer from the keg? Judging from the limited knowledge I had of him so far, the beer in the keg would likely be one of the cheapest things that he had ever touched.

But he did not disappoint my expectations. He picked up two of the red cups out of their packaging, and then produced a silver flask from his pocket.

“What’s in that?” I asked

“My dad’s best whiskey,” he replied, pouring it liberally into the first cup and handing it to me. I scrunched my nose at the sweet yet bitter smell. Rafe noticed. “Not a fan of whiskey?”

“Definitely not. The last time that I tried it, my head was in the toilet for the rest of the night. Not pretty,” I replied, and took a hesitant sip. It was not as bad as I remembered but it certainly did not taste good.

“I find that hard to believe.”

“I’m sorry?”

Rafe continued to pour the whiskey into the second cup before tucking the flask away again, then looked at me. A warm flush rose to my cheeks. “I find it hard to believe that you didn’t look pretty,” he said. “Because you are. Pretty, I mean.”

Thankful that it was dark enough to hide the pink flush, I held my drink up. “Thanks, Rafe. You’re not too bad yourself,” I responded and tapped my cup against his. He mimicked my actions as I took another sip, larger this time, and felt the burn course down my throat. You’re not too bad yourself? God, why couldn’t I flirt? — wait, Rafe had been flirting with me, hadn’t he?

Rafe smiled as he lowered his cup. “Not that bad?” he inquired, the cup tilted against his lips as he looked down at me through long lashes. “Maybe I need to work on something.”

There was suddenly a shoulder shoving into Rafe’s, and I recognised Topper from earlier that day. His hand was in the hand of an extraordinarily pretty, blonde girl, hair the same colour as Rafe’s, who smiled as our eyes met. She was wearing a loose blue dress with pink flowers. “You’re the same girl form this afternoon,” Topper observed, and I watched as he clocked me, taking my measurements and note of my outfit. I could see judgement riddling his gaze. On the other hand, the girl smiled.

“Hi, I’m Sarah, Rafe’s sister,” she said, holding her hand out. I took it. “I see you’ve already met my boyfriend, Topper. Sorry about him, he isn’t great with new people.”

“I can hear you,” Topper chimed, and finally gave me a brief smile. “And sorry about today, Sarah’s right. I’m not great with strangers on our side of the island. You could’ve been a Pogue.”

“Topper,” Sarah admonished, lightly slapping his chest.

The way that he spat Pogue made me take a step back. “And what if I was?”

“Avery, he didn’t mean anything by it,” said Rafe quickly, taking a step towards me. “Come on, have another drink.” He grabbed my cup and poured what looked like the rest of his whiskey into it — wait, when had I finished my first cup? I did not take it as he offered it to me. Rafe had seemed nice enough and I was happy to endure a jab or two, but multiple Kooks insulting my friends? Why should I stand here and listen to it when I could be drinking cheap beer with my cousin and people that I cared for?

“Thanks, but no thanks,” I replied bitterly, crossing my arms. “I wouldn’t want to get my Pogue germs on you.”

And with that, I turned around and walked away from them, towards the bonfire. From behind me, I could hear Topper yelling, “she’s a Pogue, dude!”

As I stormed away, a hand wrapped itself around my wrist, gently tugging me backwards. The touch was warm, the skin calloused, and the grip firm, and I let myself be turned around. I met Rafe’s stare, his chest only half an arm’s length away. I looked up at him.

“I’m sorry about Topper,” he said quietly, and then there was a recognisable smell under my nose. He was offering the cup again, holding it between us. “How can you be a Pogue, Avery? If anything, you’re a tourist.” At my continued silence, he took a step back despite still holding my wrist. “You live here? On the island?”

At the sight of the grimace marring his handsome features, I scowled back. “As of today, I do. Sorry to disappoint you, Rafe,” I spat, pulling my wrist free of his grip. Turning, I started to walk away again.

“I’m sorry, alright!” He rounded me, now facing me again. One of his hands had positioned itself on my bare arm. “You don’t get it, do you? Kooks hate Pogues. Pogues hate Kooks. That’s just how it is here.”

I stared at him, mouth wide open. “I get it! You and your friends have made your opinions of the Pogues clear! But you must understand how ridiculous you sound, though, don’t you? The war that you have on this island?” Feeling a heat in my chest starting to grow, I sighed. “Look, you don’t know me, and I don’t know you, and if you see me around in the future, don’t bother with talking to me.”

“Come on, Avery, don’t be like that,” he said, reaching out again, but I backed up, my feet sliding in the sand. “I’m sorry for insulting where you live, but you’re not a Pogue. You don’t know any of them, or what they’re like—”

Loud yelling from behind us stopped him mid-sentence and we both looked towards the noise. It was slightly further up the beach, by the oceanside. My eyes locked onto two of my favourite people. John B was holding JJ back by the arms as Topper tried to yell in his face. My cousin looked like he was struggling to keep JJ in his grip as he continued to pull away, trying to get to Topper.

“Dirty Pogues!” Topped screamed, his face an ugly sight as it contorted.

Despite everything I knew about John B, and that he was a reasonably calm person — especially when compared to Kiara or JJ — I had to guess that there must have been something more personal and hostile between John B and Topper from the way that he suddenly lunged at Topper himself. Pope had moved quicker than I could keep up with and grabbed JJ.

John B punched Topper, and Topper instantly lurched at him, shoving him down and into the waves. John B was fighting back but Topper had the upper hand, his grip on the back of my cousin’s neck and shoulder was strong. I watched helplessly.

“Don’t make me drown you like your old man!” Topper yelled, and something within my chest snapped painfully. Before my brain could catch up with my body’s movements, I was racing past the crowd towards the fight. I felt a hand brush mine, reaching for me as I pushed past Pope and JJ, but I ignored it and grabbed the back of Topper’s t-shirt. I tried to pull him backwards, my nails scratching at any part of available skin.

“Get off of him, you bastard,” I screamed, and Topper released John B’s shoulder to turn slightly and shove me heavily in my stomach, making me fall backwards. I started to fall towards the ground, but before I hit the sand there was a body behind me and a slim, tanned arm had wrapped itself around my waist and was hoisting me upwards. I was pulled against a hard body and tugged away from the fight. A momentary glance told me that it was JJ.

“Are you alright, Avi?” he asked in my ear, his arm tight. “You can’t get into the middle of that!”

“You heard what he said about Uncle John!” I screamed, trying to push his away, knowing that I was scratching at his skin and not caring. “JJ, let me go! Please! He is my family!”

“I heard what he said,” JJ yelled back, pulling me in even tighter. “Stop fighting me, Avery!”

The crowd was yelling at the scene, either urging them on or telling them to stop, I couldn’t tell, but I could hear Kiara shouting, and saw Sarah yelping at Topper to stop. My eyes briefly met Rafe’s and he looked back at me, eyes darting down to JJ’s arm and then back up to my face. His expression was blank.

Turning again, I looked back to John B — his struggling had stopped. “JJ, I swear to God!” Struggling even harder, I wanted to fling my head back to hit his, somehow get him away so that I could help my cousin — but this was JJ, and I could never hurt him properly. “He’s drowning him! He is going to die!”

And Topper was. JJ finally relented, his arm loosening around my body, but only to push me backwards. “Pope, keep a hold of her, man! I’ve got this!” JJ called, rushing towards his bag as both of Pope’s arms settled around me. He might look skinnier than the other boys, but his grip was strong. There was no use fighting, as there had been no use against JJ. I sagged against Pope, letting tears fall from my eyes as a cold fear flooded my body.

Suddenly, JJ was back in my line of sight with something in his hand. Something shiny and metallic.

“Pope, what is he doing?” I hissed.

My question was answered before I could ask it again. JJ was holding a gun to the back of Topper’s head, and Topper was slowly standing up, his hands raised in surrender. Pope, seeing that I was no longer struggling, released me and I stumbled. He rushed towards them, muttering something about staying incognito.

Shots were fired and suddenly JJ was howling for any remaining stragglers to get the hell off his beach. The crowd started to disperse, leaving only me, my friends, Sarah, Topper – and Rafe. He was walking towards the fight, but I did not waste a second longer looking at him. JJ pointed the gun at Topper whilst Pope tried to talk him down, and Kie was down at John B’s side. I moved to join her, to check on John B, but there was an iron clad shackle around my waist for the third time that evening and I was held back.

There was a presence directly behind me, warm through the material of my thin black dress. “Uncle John?” Rafe’s empty voice hissed directly into my ear, and I did not dare move my head. “You left out that you’re John B’s cousin. You are a Pogue through and through.”

“I would never claim to be anything else,” I spat and tugged my body against his arm. He let me go, sliding away from me like a snake. Rushing forwards, I skidded straight into the sand, landing on my knees directly next to John B. Sea water soaked the hem of my dress. Only seconds later, JJ was at my side, and Pope was kneeling next to Kiara. I placed my hand on John B’s back, rubbing what I hoped was soothing circles as he coughed up water.

I tried to ignore what felt like daggers piercing my own back.

“Are you okay?” I whispered. John B pulled himself shakily to his knees and took my hand in his.

“I’m fine, Avi,” he replied, and Pope helped him all the way to his feet. “Just a day in the life of the Pogues.”

I had to assume that he was joking. JJ offered me a hand — the only not holding the gun — and I took it. Once on my feet, my sandals submerged in sea water, his hand slid up my arm comfortingly.

“Are you alright? You shouldn’t try to run headfirst into fights, you know.”

“Why not, JJ? You do it all the time.”

“And if you’re looking to me as a role model then I’ll know you’ve hit rock bottom,” he said lowly, and pulled me into a hug, his arms a solid loop around me. My arms wove around his neck, and I placed my head onto his shoulder, feeling the sudden burst of adrenaline from the sight of the fight leave my body.

I looked up briefly to see Sarah and Topper as they walked up and off the beach, arm in arm, but flinched as my eyes met Rafe’s. He was staring at the sight of us, and grimacing.

He mouthed something. Dirty Pogue.

I flipped him off behind JJ’s back, and his frown darkened further, but he only turned and started to follow Topper and Sarah. I allowed my body to shiver — JJ seemed to think that I was scared as he tightened his hold reassuringly.

Could Rafe really be that upset with me? I hadn’t lied, just not told the entire truth, and besides, it was his own fault. If his prejudice against the Pogues was not so strong, then I could have told him that I was related to someone on The Cut without question. I hadn’t even known that he was acquainted with John B. It did not matter anyway. I hardly knew Rafe, and now I would likely not see him again. For now, I would make sure that my cousin was okay, and let myself be content in JJ’s comforting arms.

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halothenthehorns · 1 year

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Chapter 19: THE CHARIOT RACE ENDS WITH A BANG

"Buses weren't good enough for you anymore, huh Percy?" Jason grinned as he read the new chapter. "Had to escalate to whole circuits of races."

"Who said I blew it up?" But there was no real protest in Percy, he knew it probably was his fault.

We arrived in Long Island just after Clarisse, thanks to the centaurs' travel powers. I rode on Chiron's back, but we didn't talk much, especially not about Kronos. I knew it had been difficult for Chiron to tell me. I didn't want to push him with more questions. I mean, I've met plenty of embarrassing parents, but Kronos, the evil titan lord who wanted to destroy Western Civilization? Not the kind of dad you invited to school for career day.

"I'll bet the firefighter's and cops could at least use him as a bad example," Thalia said with twitching lips, mostly for the adorable mental idea of baby Chiron holding a blanky surrounded by desks. He still had the beard and tweed jacket too.

When we got to camp, the centaurs were anxious to meet Dionysus. They'd heard he threw some really wild parties, but they were disappointed. The wine god was in no mood to celebrate as the whole camp gathered at the top of Half-Blood Hill.

The camp had been through a hard two weeks. The arts and crafts cabin had burned to the ground from an attack by a Draco Aionius (which as near as I could figure was Latin for "really-big-lizard-with-breath-that-blows-stuff-up").

"How many dragons are out there?" Magnus demanded. First the one on the ship, now this, even the mist had to have limits hiding these things away. Right?

He got no answer, and he really wished somebody would pretend just once there were no more deadly things a head.

The Big House's rooms were overflowing with wounded. The kids in the Apollo cabin, who were the best healers, had been working overtime performing first aid.

Will gave a shaky, exhausted sigh at just the mention of that. It had been great practice at least. He and Katie had spent a lot of time together and he hadn't even gotten a chance to enjoy how easy it was to work with her, the things she could do with those herbs. It had been the first time he'd been allowed in the thick of it all...but they'd lost one Athena kid he hadn't even known the name of...

"You okay?" The impulsive question had just slipped right out of Nico's mouth seeing Will's mouth twitch into a frown like that. He didn't regret it though, it was the least he could do after Will had been so nice to him.

"Mm," he agreed quietly. "Just old memories." Tantalus's leaving had really been the only thing to smile at those two weeks. They'd spent every day and night racing around camp trying to keep monsters away while their 'activities director' kept trying to distract them, and even undermine them with useless suggestions. If they hadn't gotten back when they did, he wasn't sure how many more times they would have woken up to their home existing.

He cheered himself slightly by telling everybody, "Connor won a running bet though, no chores the rest of that summer for him because Clarisse came back alive. Nobody won the grand pot of no more chores for life though because the option for Clarisse coming back alive with the fleece never got a wager," he finished with a grin at Percy.

"Thank you, thank you," Percy gave a mock bow.

Everybody looked weary and battered as we crowded around Thalia's tree.

The moment Clarisse draped the Golden Fleece over the lowest bough, the moonlight seemed to brighten, turning from gray to liquid silver. A cool breeze rustled in the branches and rippled through the grass, all the way into the valley. Everything came into sharper focus— the glow of the fireflies down in the woods, the smell of the strawberry fields, the sound of the waves on the beach.

Gradually, the needles on the pine tree started turning from brown to green.

Everybody cheered. It was happening slowly, but there could be no doubt—the Fleece's magic was seeping into the tree, filling it with new power and expelling the poison.

Chiron ordered a twenty-four/seven guard duty on the hilltop, at least until he could find an appropriate monster to protect the Fleece. He said he'd place an ad in Olympus Weekly right away.

Magnus opened, then closed his mouth because he wasn't really sure he wanted to know.

Alex blurted out, "you can hire monsters in ads!"

"Sure, why not," Thalia shrugged.

In the meantime, Clarisse was carried on her cabin mates' shoulders down to the amphitheater, where she was honored with a laurel wreath and a lot of celebrating around the campfire.

Nobody gave Annabeth or me a second look. It was as if we'd never left. In a way, I guess that was the best thank-you anyone could give us, because if they admitted we'd snuck out of camp to do the quest, they'd have to expel us.

"Have to is a little strong," Will gave a cheerful laugh again, "maybe we would have just to get some peace and quiet."

"Could just suspend him for the summer," Jason smirked, "not everything has to be the full 9's with him."

"Like Chiron would ever," Percy scoffed. "He'd have to prove we were gone while he was, and as far as I know I never left my bunk unattended," he finished with the most foolishly innocent smile.

And really, I didn't want any more attention. It felt good to be just one of the campers for once.

Percy laughed in agreement with that now, it was what he'd been really longing for this whole time in this world. A sense of peace and belonging that had always evaded him because of Poseidon or Tyson, now he strode among his home with both labels.

Later that night, as we were roasting s'mores and listening to the Stoll brothers tell us a ghost story about an evil king who was eaten alive by demonic breakfast pastries,

Carefree laughter echoed around the room once more. This time there was no impending doom of some villain about to appear, not even a great worry on the horizon because instead they were all waiting on tenterhooks to hear the good news and this was all cake in the meantime.

"I can tell you guys the story in detail now," Will offered happily, forcing himself not to grin at Nico in hopes he'd get a kick out of it. "Connor's told it to me a million times, I think I actually annoyed him I asked him to tell it to me so much." It had been the first time Will had admitted to himself he'd had a crush on Connor, though the memory didn't seem as rosy in his mind as usual.

"I'll get the pastries!" Alex agreed as he jumped out of his seat.

"Wait until the book's done," Thalia pleaded, "don't leave me in suspense what happened," she chuckled.

"He'll hold you to that Thalia," Jason already warned as he peacefully kept going.

"Campfire under the sea for the next break, can't wait," Alex agreed stubbornly.

Clarisse shoved me from behind and whispered in my ear, "Just because you were cool one time, Jackson, don't think you're off the hook with Ares. I'm still waiting for the right opportunity to pulverize you."

"Is there a wrong time for that?" Thalia asked innocently.

"Now," Percy mock challenged as he raised his fist. "I can create a cyclone just for you pinecone face." Then he went cross-eyed and muttered to himself, somehow knowing that wasn't the first time he'd called her that.

"Ugh, I liked you better with amnesia about this," Thalia scoffed.

I gave her a grudging smile.

"What?" she demanded.

"Nothing," I said. "Just good to be home."

This underwater place wasn't the worst, but even to Percy it held no attachments to him. Even Alex and Magnus who weren't gung ho on leaving this small safety net couldn't claim this palace felt any less than a very cozy prison.

The next morning, after the party ponies headed back to Florida, Chiron made a surprise announcement: the chariot races would go ahead as scheduled.

"Chiron showing off a bit?" Jason laughed into the stunned silence. "Showing how a real director can handle these if something goes wrong."

"Let's hope nothing goes wrong!" Percy protested.

We'd all figured they were history now that Tantalus was gone, but completing them did feel like the right thing to do, especially now that Chiron was back and the camp was safe.

Tyson wasn't too keen on the idea of getting back in a chariot after our first experience, but he was happy to let me team up with Annabeth. I would drive, Annabeth would defend, and Tyson would act as our pit crew. While I worked with the horses, Tyson fixed up Athena's chariot and added a whole bunch of special modifications.

"Be afraid, be very afraid," Percy cackled with excitement.

"Please don't let him win this race," Thalia even began edging away from him. "If his head gets any bigger it might explode."

"Where's Annabeth to knock him off his high horse when we need her," Will agreed casually, but there was no real heat to any of them, it was nice to see him get so many victories in a row. The camp was saved, he hadn't had any more arguments with Annabeth yet, the little things that kept him smiling instead of poking around in his head and nearly killing them all.

We spent the next two days training like crazy. Annabeth and I agreed that if we won, the prize of no chores for the rest of the month would be split between our two cabins. Since Athena had more campers, they would get most of the time off, which was fine by me. I didn't care about the prize. I just wanted to win.

The night before the race, I stayed late at the stables. I was talking to our horses, giving them one final brushing, when somebody right behind me said, "Fine animals, horses. Wish I'd thought of them."

A middle-aged guy in a postal carrier outfit was leaning against the stable door. He was slim, with curly black hair under his white pith helmet, and he had a mailbag slung over his shoulder.

"Hermes?" I stammered.

Though Jason still slipped up and called him Mercury, but all of them would have stuttered over that name with unease. He'd sent Percy out to do one thing and Percy had somehow done the exact opposite of trying to talk sense into Luke. If he wasn't sitting before them now, they might have thought they were about to hear of their first smiting.

"Hello, Percy. Didn't recognize me without my jogging clothes?"

"Uh ..." I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to kneel or buy stamps from him or what.

"You've bowed to exactly one god, and you can do the other online now," Alex dismissed. "He should be there to give you an apology for putting you on a monster cruise ship without warning."

"I don't see that happening, but thanks Alex," Percy sighed.

Then it occurred to me why he must be here. "Oh, listen, Lord Hermes, about Luke ..."

The god arched his eyebrows.

"Uh, we saw him, all right," I said, "but—"

"You weren't able to talk sense into him?"

"Well, we kind of tried to kill each other in a duel to the death."

"He can't judge you to harshly," Will gave a nervous laugh only because there had been no hole in the stables to speak of. "I'm sure he's tried to kill his own siblings enough to get it."

"I see. You tried the diplomatic approach."

"Annabeth was no more help!" Percy protested, even if he was relieved she hadn't been anymore involved with Luke.

"I'm really sorry. I mean, you gave us those awesome gifts and everything. And I know you wanted Luke to come back. But ... he's turned bad. Really bad. He said he feels like you abandoned him."

I waited for Hermes to get angry. I figured he'd turn me into a hamster or something, and I did not want to spend any more time as a rodent.

"What about a human sized talking rodent?" Alex asked critically.

"Hard pass," Percy assured.

Instead, he just sighed. "Do you ever feel your father abandoned you, Percy?"

Oh, man.

I wanted to say, "Only a few hundred times a day." I hadn't spoken to Poseidon since last summer. I'd never been to his underwater palace. And then there was the whole thing with Tyson—no warning, no explanation. Just boom, you have a brother. You'd think that deserved a little heads-up phone call or something.

Percy glowered at nobody in here as he wondered too if his mom had known. She could see through the mist, she'd probably known exactly who and what Tyson was to him and she'd kept him the dark too. She hadn't even wanted him to come to camp! Everybody kept treating him like a threat, or a child when he'd saved all of their bacon!

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I realized I did want recognition for the quest I'd completed, but not from the other campers. I wanted my dad to say something. To notice me.

"I guess it's to much to ask he show up at the end of every quest to make sure my life is spared from Zeus," Percy huffed.

"At least he answer's your prayers," Thalia said wistfully. Percy was never in doubt his dad at least wanted him alive, for now. She was never even sure about that.

Hermes readjusted the mailbag on his shoulder. "Percy, the hardest part about being a god is that you must often act indirectly, especially when it comes to your own children.

Will smiled, but it was one of those sad grins that didn't quite reach his eyes. Lee had told him that his first night in his new bunk, but strangely the words sounded no better coming from a god than if his dad had popped in to tell him in person.

If we were to intervene every time our children had a problem ... well, that would only create more problems and more resentment.

Nico frowned distastefully. He knew Hermes was right, he'd always suspected his dad had never even claimed him because to acknowledge his existence would just bring more wrath down upon them both. He tried not to hold a grudge against his dad, but being left to wander aimlessly and only ever hear from his dad when he had to interrupt an argument with Persephone to get attention was another kind of resentment he struggled with just as much.

But I believe if you give it some thought, you will see that Poseidon has been paying attention to you. He has answered your prayers. I can only hope that some day, Luke may realize the same about me. Whether you feel like you succeeded or not, you reminded Luke who he was. You spoke to him."

"I tried to kill him."

"It was a two for one deal," Jason huffed.

Hermes shrugged. "Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we're related, for better or worse ... and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum."

"To a minimum," Magnus repeated with a queasy look on his face. "You guys really make me feel like I should brace for the explosion when that minimum hits its limit." His own family had imploded at so young an age he barely remembered his two uncles, and his mom had been taken from him by wolves with glowing eyes he now knew a god must be responsible for. He wanted Annabeth back in his life because she knew of this strange world, but maybe he shouldn't even want that if it might get him killed next. He wasn't happy homeless, but at least he was alive, and she clearly didn't need him.

He glanced at Hearth though and reminded himself he already was involved, as proven by even being in here. His ignorance would not save him from that minimum of the catastrophe line.

It didn't sound like much of a recipe for the perfect family. Then again, as I thought about my quest, I realized maybe Hermes was right. Poseidon had sent the hippocampi to help us. He'd given me powers over the sea that I'd never known about before. And there was Tyson. Had Poseidon brought us together on purpose? How many times had Tyson saved my life this summer?

"Depends on if you're counting specific events or in total," Jason said analytically. "He scared away monsters even before you could start counting at school, there were the five giants, or four if you disqualify the one Annabeth killed, or just one instance in the grand total-"

"And we're not, at all," Percy interrupted sternly.* "I couldn't have done this quest without him or Annabeth."

"You did good work too Percy," Will told him, and if he was mocking him it didn't come through. Percy shrugged that off and glanced around again. His dad had only communicated with him once, and it hadn't even been directly. Whatever he was down here for, he wasn't getting a clear message about it.

In the distance, the conch horn sounded, signaling curfew.

"You should get to bed," Hermes said. "I've helped you get into quite enough trouble this summer already.

'More than enough for a lifetime,' Hearth agreed. He still wasn't sure if Hermes had helped or hindered more on this task. It was interesting to know any gods interference into mortal affairs always felt that way.

I really only came to make this delivery."

"A delivery?"

"I am the messenger of the gods, Percy." He took an electronic signature pad from his mailbag and handed it to me. "Sign there, please."

I picked up the stylus before realizing it was entwined with a pair of tiny green snakes. "Ah!"

Will made a face and muttered, "please never send me anything via Hermes."

Nico looked offended as he said, "If I was going to deliver a message, I'd just visit your dreams, or go there in person."

Will gave him a long look Nico didn't know how to interpret. Almost amused, almost like he wanted to laugh at him? Did Will think he couldn't do it?

Then Will just shrugged and smiled, "sure, anytime you want Nico."

I dropped the pad.

Ouch, said George.

Really, Percy, Martha scolded. Would you want to be dropped on the floor of a horse stable?

"I would," Magnus held his hand up. "I've always liked horses, and barns are warm enough. Sleeping on hay isn't very fun though."

"I will keep that in mind," Alex snickered.

"Oh, uh, sorry." I didn't much like touching snakes, but I picked up the pad and the stylus again. Martha and George wriggled under my fingers, forming a kind of pencil grip like the ones my special ed teacher made me use in second grade.

"I remember those," Thalia nodded, "I kept chewing on mine so they took them away."

"I bet Grover did too," Percy chuckled.

Did you bring me a rat? George asked.

"No ..." I said. "Uh, we didn't find any."

What about a guinea pig?

Jason looked a little ruffled at the mention of that again and muttered something about feeding the pirates to George before moving on.

George! Martha chided. Don't tease the boy.

I signed my name and gave the pad back to Hermes.

In exchange, he handed me a sea-blue envelope.

My fingers trembled. Even before I opened it, I could tell it was from my father. I could sense his power in the cool blue paper, as if the envelope itself had been folded out of an ocean wave.

Percy's fingers were trembling over nothing as he waited for the warm cradle of the ocean to envelope him once more. He'd pick up a snake every day if his dad had to send a single shape of the alphabet at a time to give him an actual message for the millions of things he wanted to say and have said in return.

"Good luck tomorrow," Hermes said. "Fine team of horses you have there, though you'll excuse me if I root for the Hermes cabin."

And don't be too discouraged when you read it, dear, Martha told me. He does have your interests at heart.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Don't mind her, George said. And next time, remember, snakes work for tips.

"Enough, you two," Hermes said. "Good-bye, Percy. For now."

Small white wings sprouted from his pith helmet. He began to glow, and I knew enough about the gods to avert my eyes before he revealed his true divine form. With a brilliant white flash he was gone, and I was alone with the horses.

I stared at the blue envelope in my hands. It was addressed in strong but elegant handwriting that I'd seen once before, on a package Poseidon had sent me last summer.

Percy Jackson

c/o Camp Half-Blood

Farm Road 3.141

Long Island, New York 11954

An actual letter from my father. Maybe he would tell me I'd done a good job getting the Fleece. He'd explain about Tyson, or apologize for not talking to me sooner. There were so many things that I wanted that letter to say.

I opened the envelope and unfolded the paper.

Two simple words were printed in the middle of the page:

Brace Yourself

Nothing had happened in here though, and he felt as foolish now as he had that night. Putting all his hopes into that one godly message that had taken more time to get to him than it had to conjure it into existing. He tried hard not to let the resentment float back and simmer in him, that his dad had given him any sort of sign at all should still mean he knew. He cared.

On the other hand, it was so uselessly vague it felt more like Poseidon was toying with him as much as Kronos was. Were gods allergic to giving a straight answer!

Then he looked around and saw the others looked a lot more impressed than he did. Had Zeus ever done anything like this for Thalia? Jason was scrutinizing that and glancing down at his tattoo again with a familiar longing to Percy, but at least he had a starting point on knowing who he was.

Will was trying hard to laugh off Apollo had never done anything like this for a single one of his kids, maybe the less children a god had the more words were given. Nico wasn't even sure his dad ever gave him a second thought, unknowingly thinking the same as Hearth.

Only Alex was left wishing his mother would stop sending him such clear messages about the roll he should feel obligated to play and was distracting himself by practicing his ASL forwards and backwards while Magnus watched with that same doe-eyed look. Whoever his Norse parent was hadn't reached out to him yet, and he wasn't exactly looking forward to when they inevitably did.

Maybe Percy should be counting his blessings.

The next morning, everybody was buzzing about the chariot race, though they kept glancing nervously toward the sky like they expected to see Stymphalian birds gathering.

"I guess nobody wanted seconds," Alex said.

"I wonder if Grover could have talked to them," Magnus wondered of the metal birds, or the bulls. Were their recorded vocals lifelike enough? It wouldn't have necessarily spared them, after all it hadn't with Cerberus, but he wanted to ask all the same.

None did. It was a beautiful summer day with blue sky and plenty of sunshine. The camp had started to look the way it should look: the meadows were green and lush; the white columns gleamed on the Greek buildings; dryads played happily in the woods.

And I was miserable.

"You go through all that effort to save the camp, and yet," Thalia gave such an exaggerated wave to him one of her Death to Barbie's pins flew off and beamed his cheek. "Does anything please you mister?"

"Straight answers," he reminded as he began fiddling with the clasp, the look on his face unclear if he was going to jab her back with it or put it on. Thalia snatched it away before he could make the choice, and Jason kept reading loudly before the two could start any other sideshows.

I'd been lying awake all night, thinking about Poseidon's warning.

Brace yourself.

I mean, he goes to the trouble of writing a letter, and he writes two words?

Martha the snake had told me not to feel disappointed. Maybe Poseidon had a reason for being so vague. Maybe he didn't know exactly what he was warning me about, but he sensed something big was about to happen—something that could completely knock me off my feet unless I was prepared.

Will was tugging fruitlessly on his ear and fighting back his own tightening throat. His dad was the god of prophecy, had he no warning about the battles to come where his own children would die? Or had he just not cared about the sense enough to warn his kids too? The jealousy as he glanced from Percy and away surprised him, he'd always felt bad for the guy at camp being so singled out for his parentage.

Nico was surprised to see Will pulling his shtick, looking to Percy and quickly away before the son of the sea god could see the jealousy that was there. He almost wanted to laugh at the turn of events, but instead asked Will quietly, "come talk to me after this book?" He owed Will an apology anyways and it would give him something else to think about.

"Yeah!" Will instantly agreed and smiled at him, somehow even brighter than usual. Nico gulped and almost instantly regretted this, but Jason hadn't stopped reading for longer than a breath, so he couldn't take it back.

It was hard, but I tried to turn my thoughts to the race.

As Annabeth and I drove onto the track, I couldn't help admiring the work Tyson had done on the Athena chariot.

"That is a terrifyingly unbeatable team," Jason grinned, "no way you guys lose," though every word out of his mouth made it seem like a challenge he was willing to try.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Percy was grinning and already imagining the laurels to put on Annabeth's head. His dad was going to drive him crazy, the outcome of his life was a mystery, but he would sure take his time now to enjoy these victories.

The carriage gleamed with bronze reinforcements. The wheels were realigned with magical suspension so we glided along with hardly a bump. The rigging for the horses was so perfectly balanced that the team turned at the slightest tug of the reins.

Alex was nearly drooling by the end wanting to see such craftsman ship in person and muttering all over again about wanting to meet Tyson. Magnus tried not to feel like an inept jealous idiot because at least he could teach Alex something in the meantime.

Tyson had also made us two javelins, each with three buttons on the shaft. The first button primed the javelin to explode on impact, releasing razor wire that would tangle and shred an opponent's wheels. The second button produced a blunt (but still very painful)

"Wouldn't be Camp without literally everything being painful and dangerous," Magnus muttered.

bronze spearhead designed to knock a driver out of his carriage. The third button brought up a grappling hook that could be used to lock onto an enemy's chariot or push it away.

I figured we were in pretty good shape for the race, but Tyson still warned me to be careful.

The other chariot teams had plenty of tricks up their togas.

"Here," he said, just before the race began.

He handed me a wristwatch. There wasn't anything special about it—just a white-and-silver clock face, a black leather strap—but as soon as I saw it I realized that this is what I'd seen him tinkering on all summer.

Percy glanced down at his wrist now and saw the empty space with a pang of guilt. Why wasn't he still wearing it? He'd been wrong to mistrust Tyson at the beginning, and there was zero doubt left in him he'd ever want to go back to having cabin 3 alone.

I didn't usually like to wear watches. Who cared what time it was? But I couldn't say no to Tyson.

"Thanks, man." I put it on and found it was surprisingly light and comfortable. I could hardly tell I was wearing it.

"Didn't finish in time for the trip," Tyson mumbled. "Sorry, sorry."

"Hey, man. No big deal."

"If you need protection in race," he advised, "hit the button."

"Ah, okay." I didn't see how keeping time was going to help a whole lot, but I was touched that Tyson was concerned. I promised him I'd remember the watch. "And, hey, um, Tyson..."

He looked at me.

"I wanted to say, well ..." I tried to figure out how to apologize for getting embarrassed about him before the quest, for telling everyone he wasn't my real brother. It wasn't easy to find the words.

"It would have helped if you didn't decide to do this five minutes before you had an excuse to run off," Alex said not unkindly, "but you get credit for wanting to say it at all."

Percy gave him a sheepish grin and didn't deny it, he'd been trying to find the words sense he got back from camp and still had no clue what to say.

"I know what you will tell me," Tyson said, looking ashamed. "Poseidon did care for me after all."

"Uh, well—"

"He sent you to help me. Just what I asked for."

I blinked. "You asked Poseidon for ... me?"

"For a friend," Tyson said, twisting his shirt in his hands. "Young Cyclopes grow up alone on the streets, learn to make things out of scraps. Learn to survive."

"But that's so cruel!"

He shook his head earnestly. "Makes us appreciate blessings, not be greedy and mean and fat like Polyphemus.

Magnus grimaced again. He wouldn't exactly call that a pro of being homeless, but he wouldn't deny he seemed least annoyed about being trapped in here because of these blessings.

But I got scared. Monsters chased me so much, clawed me sometimes—"

"The scars on your back?"

A tear welled in his eye. "Sphinx on Seventy-second Street. Big bully.

The death grip Percy now held on his pen made them all confident there was no longer a sphinx to visit on Seventy-second Street if they wanted a tour of New York.

I prayed to Daddy for help. Soon the people at Meriwether found me. Met you. Biggest blessing ever. Sorry I said Poseidon was mean. He sent me a brother."

There was a feeling Percy had been trying to define about Tyson this entire book, and it now sat on the tip of Percy's tongue as he was dragged away from his little brother again. In the short time they'd been back, even Grover had given the cyclops a tentative smile before darting off to be anywhere else. Everybody he cared about was safe, and he was going to win this race for that cherry on top!

I stared at the watch that Tyson had made me.

"Percy!" Annabeth called. "Come on!"

Chiron was at the starting line, ready to blow the conch.

"Tyson ..." I said.

"Go," Tyson said. "You will win!"

"I—yeah, okay, big guy. We'll win this one for you." I climbed on board the chariot and got into position just as Chiron blew the starting signal.

The horses knew what to do. We shot down the track so fast I would've fallen out if my arms hadn't been wrapped in the leather reins. Annabeth held on tight to the rail. The wheels glided beautifully. We took the first turn a full chariot-length ahead of Clarisse, who was busy trying to fight off a javelin attack from the Stoll brothers in the Hermes chariot.

"I'm glad they've improved over getting past the starting line before causing trouble," Alex chuckled.

"They're nothing if not resilient, what kind of trouble makers would they be if they quit after the first time?" Will agreed brightly. "Connor's lucky he didn't break his neck he spent so much time practicing trying to stand on his horse, and then we kept constantly being attacked, it's a miracle Katie didn't kill him herself," he chuckled with far less humor than he'd felt at the time as the Stoll brothers always endeavored to keep spirits up, Connor especially when Katie was around.

"We've got 'em!" I yelled, but I spoke too soon.

"Incoming!" Annabeth yelled. She threw her first javelin in grappling hook mode, knocking away a lead-weighted net that would have entangled us both. Apollo's chariot had come up on our flank. Before Annabeth could rearm herself, the Apollo warrior threw a javelin into our right wheel.

"Was that you?" Nico asked eagerly.

"Nah," Will waved off, "I'm not much for the heat of battle." Nico didn't understand the odd way he said that. "It was Arjun and Vicky," he finished quietly. One had died, the other had defected to Luke's side and was never seen again. To many old memories were haunting him this chapter, and so he tried to shake it off and smile at Nico, "you have got to be there for the next race though, I'll bribe our best racer to sit out so I can team up with you. You can have all of the rewards of no chores if we win."

Nico didn't really believe any of the other kids would dare race against him without wondering if he'd curse them when he lost, but he at least didn't immediately dismiss the idea of sitting in the stands- wait was he supposed to do this before or after Tartarus? After, obviously!

The javelin shattered, but not before snapping some of our spokes. Our chariot lurched and wobbled. I was sure the wheel would collapse altogether, but we somehow kept going.

I urged the horses to keep up the speed. We were now neck and neck with Apollo. Hephaestus was coming up close behind. Ares and Hermes were falling behind, riding side by side as Clarisse went sword-on-javelin with Connor Stoll.

Will smiled, he could have told them that without the book, he'd been sitting in the stands next to Katie cheering him on while trying to stop Kayla from glancing at the woods nervously every other second. Now he found he didn't give the memory much of a second thought. Odd, as it had been the first cheer the camp had had in weeks, but instead found himself watching Nico intently as if still waiting for him to answer.

If we took one more hit to our wheel, I knew we would capsize.

Jason was all but bouncing in his seat with joy at their near demise and everybody was fighting hard not to laugh at how enthusiastic he was being about this, especially in comparison to the last time he'd had the book.

"You're mine!" the driver from Apollo yelled. He was a first-year camper. I didn't remember his name, but he sure was confident.

"Yeah, right!" Annabeth yelled back.

She picked up her second javelin—a real risk considering we still had one full lap to go— and threw it at the Apollo driver.

Her aim was perfect. The javelin grew a heavy spear point just as it caught the driver in the chest, knocking him against his teammate and sending them both toppling out of their chariot in a backward somersault. The horses felt the reins go slack and went crazy, riding straight for the crowd. Campers scrambled for cover as the horses leaped the corner of the bleachers and the golden chariot flipped over. The horses galloped back toward their stable, dragging the upside-down chariot behind them.

"You guys literally cause mayhem even when you're not trying," Thalia said approvingly.

"I'm still waiting for the actual explosion, do you go against the Vulcan cabin and set the place on fire?" Jason asked eagerly.

"We were just having fun," Percy reminded, "but nooo, everybody else has to get in our way."

"Wouldn't be fun if it was just a straight shot," Alex grinned.

I held our own chariot together through the second turn, despite the groaning of the right wheel. We passed the starting line and thundered into our final lap.

The axle creaked and moaned. The wobbling wheel was making us lose speed, even though the horses were responding to my every command, running like a well-oiled machine.

The Hephaestus team was still gaining.

Laughter burst all around the room their guess had been right. Will alone knew the details and outcome of what was coming, and he was sitting on the edge of his seat like everybody else smiling along for the pure, happy energy in the room, for once. No monstrous threats on the horizon, nothing bad at all, just fun.

Beckendorf grinned as he pressed a button on his command console. Steel cables shot out of the front of his mechanical horses, wrapping around our back rail. Our chariot shuddered as Beckendorf's winch system started working—pulling us backward while Beckendorf pulled himself forward.

Annabeth cursed and drew her knife. She hacked at the cables but they were too thick.

"Can't cut them.'" she yelled.

The Hephaestus chariot was now dangerously close, their horses about to trample us underfoot.

"Switch with me!" I told Annabeth. "Take the reins!"

"But—"

"Trust me!"

She pulled herself to the front and grabbed the reins.

"Remind me of this next time I say magic words aren't real," Percy couldn't stand it anymore and now leapt free of his seat, and Thalia let him without concern for once. He was so hyperactive to hear this, he'd knock himself out before he let the book be interrupted.

I turned, trying hard to keep my footing, and uncapped Riptide.

I slashed down and the cables snapped like kite string. We lurched forward, but Beckendorf's driver just swung his chariot to our left and pulled up next to us. Beckendorf drew his sword.

He slashed at Annabeth, and I parried the blade away.

We were coming up on the last turn. We'd never make it. I needed to disable the Hephaestus chariot and get it out of the way, but I had to protect Annabeth, too. Just because Beckendorf was a nice guy didn't mean he wouldn't send us both to the infirmary if we let our guard down.

Will laughed boisterously in agreement with that, and Nico gave him a side look of admiration, thinking Will might be underestimating himself a bit. If he was the only person who would team up with Nico during this race, Nico would bet his share of no chores Will could be plenty formidable if he put that stubborn streak to good use in a race like this.

We were neck and neck now, Clarisse coming up from behind, making up for lost time.

"See ya, Percy!" Beckendorf yelled. "Here's a little parting gift!"

He threw a leather pouch into our chariot. It stuck to the floor immediately and began billowing green smoke.

"Not even a bow and card to go with it?" Will scoffed, "he needs a lesson in gifting."

"I'm sure you'll teach him with a nice bandage," Nico chuckled, and was surprised to feel a bit of strain on his smile he wasn't used to. Almost like his lips was sore from it.

"Greek fire!" Annabeth yelled.

I cursed. I'd heard stories about what Greek fire could do. I figured we had maybe ten seconds before it exploded.

"Get rid of it!" Annabeth shouted, but I couldn't. Hephaestus's chariot was still alongside, waiting until the last second to make sure their little present blew up. Beckendorf was keeping me busy with his sword. If I let my guard down long enough to deal with the Greek fire, Annabeth would get sliced and we'd crash anyway. I tried to kick the leather pouch away with my foot, but I couldn't. It was stuck fast.

Then I remembered the watch.

I didn't know how it could help, but I managed to punch the stopwatch button. Instantly, the watch changed. It expanded, the metal rim spiraling outward like an old-fashioned camera shutter, a leather strap wrapping around my forearm until I was holding a round war shield four feet wide,

"Ha!" Percy cried in triumph as if he were imagining smacking Luke in the face with that. What would he ever have done without his little brother!

the inside soft leather, the outside polished bronze engraved with designs I didn't have time to examine.

All I knew: Tyson had come through. I raised the shield, and Beckendorf's sword clanged against it. His blade shattered.

"What?" he shouted. "How—"

He didn't have time to say more because I knocked him in the chest with my new shield and sent him flying out of his chariot, tumbling in the dirt.

I was about use Riptide to slash at the driver when Annabeth yelled, "Percy!"

The Greek fire was shooting sparks. I shoved the tip of my sword under the leather pouch and flipped it up like a spatula. The firebomb dislodged and flew into the Hephaestus chariot at the driver's feet. He yelped.

"I'll remind you of this the next time you say a part time gig flipping burgers won't ever help," Thalia cheered.

Percy was grinning like a fiend to much to even retort back as he shuffled back and forth with excitement and tried not to cause waves in the room.

In a split second the driver made the right choice: he dove out of the chariot, which careened away and exploded in green flames. The metal horses seemed to short-circuit. They turned and dragged the burning wreckage back toward Clarisse and the Stoll brothers, who had to swerve to avoid it.

Will was laughing along and watching the pure fun dance along Nico's dark brown eyes when he decided he could spend every day like this-

Oh Apollo.

Did he have a crush on Nico? When did that happen?

Annabeth pulled the reins for the last turn. I held on, sure we would capsize, but somehow she brought us through and spurred the horses across the finish line. The crowd roared.

Once the chariot stopped, our friends mobbed us. They started chanting our names, but Annabeth yelled over the noise: "Hold up! Listen! It wasn't just us!"

The crowd didn't want to be quiet, but Annabeth made herself heard: "We couldn't have done it without somebody else! We couldn't have won this race or gotten the Fleece or saved Grover or anything! We owe our lives to Tyson, Percy's ..."

"Brother!" I said, loud enough for everybody to hear. "Tyson, my baby brother."

Percy sighed in relief as his smile grew impossibly wide. Pride. That was the elusive feeling he'd been chasing this whole dang quest. He was so proud of Tyson he wished he could ever be strong enough to hug him so hard his baby brother would feel it for the rest of his life.

Tyson blushed. The crowd cheered. Annabeth planted a kiss on my cheek.

Percy's cheeks burned red with a blush and he sat quickly back in his seat, only for Thalia to snort and tell the others, "enjoy that shyness while it lasts, they're nauseating by now."

Magnus gave Percy a once over with a very concerning, 'big brother,' kind of look like he was about to receive a shovel speech, and Percy begged Jason to hurry up and finish.

The roaring got a lot louder after that. The entire Athena cabin lifted me and Annabeth and Tyson onto their shoulders and carried us toward the winner's platform, where Chiron was waiting to bestow the laurel wreaths.

"That one's done," Jason said as he looked around. "Can't be much of this one left."

"Gee, wonder what else it could possibly be," Magnus chuckled as he jumped up and jogged over to take the book. Jason let it go with a reluctance that surprised him as he watched Thalia, grisly images in his minds eye of her coming out of that tree half dead or killing half the camp in her distress of what was going on.

She was just lounging around laughing with Percy though, the two most dangerous demigods on the planet challenging each other to a race when they got back and he was starting to feel a little paranoid just what it was about them that bothered him so much.

PJOPJOPJOPJO

*I count the cannibals' as one, the bulls as two, punching Oreius to escape as three, he saved Annabeth during the Hydra attack which counts here, he helped defeat Polyphemus and had the cash to get the fleece back home. That's six times he saved this quest by my count, but I'd love to hear yours.

#pjo #Percy Jackson #Reading the books #fanfiction #Percabeth #Thalia Grace #Jason Grace #Nico di Angelo #Will Solace #solangelo #Alex Fierro #Magnus Chase #fierrochase #Hearthstone #Sea of Monsters #HDYSG

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firstclassmaxicabs · 13 days

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Book The Best Maxi Cab & Mini Bus in Singapore For A Seamless Travel Experience with FirstClassMaxiCab

Singapore, a bustling metropolis known for its efficient transport system, rich cultural heritage, and stunning skyline, is a destination that promises an unforgettable experience. Navigating this dynamic city can be a challenge, especially for large groups or families. To ensure a seamless and comfortable journey, FirstClassMaxiCab offers the best Maxi Cab and Mini Bus services in Singapore, catering to all your travel needs with professionalism and reliability.

Why Choose FirstClassMaxiCab?

1. Comfort and Convenience

FirstClassMaxiCab prioritizes your comfort, providing spacious and well-maintained vehicles that can accommodate groups of various sizes. Whether you are traveling with family, friends, or colleagues, our Maxi Cabs and Mini Buses offer ample legroom and seating, ensuring everyone enjoys a comfortable ride. Our vehicles are equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, plush seats, and advanced entertainment systems, making your journey enjoyable from start to finish.

2. Professional and Experienced Drivers

Our drivers are not only skilled and experienced but also courteous and knowledgeable about Singapore’s roads and landmarks. They undergo rigorous training to ensure your safety and comfort. Punctuality is our priority, and our drivers are committed to providing timely services, ensuring you reach your destination without any hassle.

3. Versatile Fleet for Every Occasion

FirstClassMaxiCab offers a versatile fleet of vehicles to meet various travel requirements. Our Maxi Cabs are perfect for smaller groups or families, providing a comfortable and intimate setting. For larger groups, our Mini Buses are the ideal choice, offering spacious interiors and the ability to transport up to 13 passengers. Whether it’s airport transfers, corporate events, city tours, or special occasions like weddings and parties, we have the perfect vehicle to suit your needs.

4. Easy Booking Process

Booking with FirstClassMaxiCab is a breeze. Our user-friendly website allows you to make reservations quickly and efficiently. Simply select your preferred vehicle, provide your travel details, and our team will handle the rest. We offer flexible booking options, including advance reservations and last-minute bookings, to accommodate your schedule. Our customer support team is available 24/7 to assist you with any inquiries or special requests.

5. Affordable and Transparent Pricing

We believe in providing value for money, which is why our pricing is competitive and transparent. There are no hidden charges or surprise fees; what you see is what you get. We offer various packages and discounts, especially for long-term bookings or frequent travelers. Our goal is to make premium transportation services accessible to everyone.

6. Commitment to Safety and Hygiene

In today’s world, health and safety are paramount. FirstClassMaxiCab adheres to strict hygiene protocols to ensure the well-being of our passengers. Our vehicles are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each trip. We also provide hand sanitizers and enforce mask-wearing to minimize health risks. Your safety is our top priority.

7. Tailored Travel Solutions

Understanding that every travel plan is unique, we offer tailored solutions to meet your specific needs. Whether you require a vehicle for a few hours, a full day, or an extended period, we can customize our services to fit your itinerary. Special arrangements, such as child seats, luggage assistance, and guided tours, can be made upon request to enhance your travel experience.

Experience the Best of Singapore with FirstClassMaxiCab

Exploring Singapore has never been easier. With FirstClassMaxiCab, you can enjoy the city's attractions without the stress of navigating public transport or dealing with parking issues. Visit iconic landmarks like Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa Island, and Chinatown in comfort and style. Our drivers can also recommend hidden gems and local favorites, giving you an authentic taste of Singapore.

Conclusion

For a seamless and memorable travel experience in Singapore, FirstClassMaxiCab is your go-to solution. Our commitment to comfort, safety, and exceptional service sets us apart as the best Maxi Cab and Mini Bus provider in the city. Book with us today and discover the ease and convenience of traveling with FirstClassMaxiCab. Let us take care of your transportation needs so you can focus on creating unforgettable memories in the Lion City.

#singapore cab #singaporetravel #singapore trip

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sfdriven · 24 days

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Group Transportation in San Francisco Can Make Your Trip Smoother

San Francisco is a bustling city filled with incredible landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, and a vibrant cultural scene. Whether you're planning a corporate event, a wedding, a family reunion, or just a fun outing with friends, arranging group transportation in San Francisco can make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s everything you need to know to ensure your group travels around the city comfortably and efficiently.

Why Choose Group Transportation?

Choosing group transportation in San Francisco offers numerous benefits. It ensures everyone in your party stays together, reducing the risk of anyone getting lost in an unfamiliar city. It also alleviates the stress of navigating through heavy traffic, finding parking, or dealing with public transportation schedules. With a dedicated vehicle and driver, you can focus on enjoying the city’s sights and activities.

Options for Group Transportation

Charter Buses: Ideal for large groups, charter buses can accommodate up to 56 passengers. These buses come equipped with amenities such as reclining seats, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and restrooms. They’re perfect for long trips and offer a comfortable way to travel around San Francisco and its surrounding areas.

Minibuses: For smaller groups, minibuses are an excellent option. They can carry between 18 to 30 passengers and provide a cozy, convenient mode of transport. Minibuses are great for airport transfers, city tours, and shuttle services between event venues.

Luxury Vans and SUVs: If you’re looking for a more upscale experience, luxury vans and SUVs offer a stylish and comfortable ride. These vehicles are perfect for corporate clients, weddings, or any event where you want to make a great impression. They typically seat up to 14 passengers and come with high-end amenities.

Ride-Sharing Services: For more flexibility, consider using ride-sharing services that offer options for larger groups. While not as spacious as charter buses or minibuses, they provide a convenient and often cost-effective solution for short trips within the city.

Tips for Booking Group Transportation in San Francisco

Plan Ahead: San Francisco is a popular destination, so it’s crucial to book your transportation well in advance, especially if you’re traveling during peak tourist seasons or major events.

Consider Your Group’s Needs: Think about the size of your group, the duration of your trip, and any specific amenities you may need. This will help you choose the right type of vehicle.

Check Reviews and Ratings: Look for transportation companies with positive reviews and high ratings. This will give you confidence in their reliability and service quality.

Ask About Customization: Many transportation providers offer customizable packages. Whether you need a specific route, multiple stops, or additional services, don’t hesitate to ask.

Enjoy Your Trip!

San Francisco offers a wealth of experiences, from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island to vibrant neighborhoods like Chinatown and the Mission District. By arranging group transportation in San Francisco, you can ensure that your group travels together in comfort and style, making the most of your time in this beautiful city.

Certainly, group transportation in San Francisco provides a seamless way to explore all that the city has to offer. With various options to suit different needs and budgets, you can easily find a transportation solution that ensures a memorable and hassle-free experience for your entire group.

#group transportation in San Francisco

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limokingnewyork · 2 years

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Contact Limo King New York to book your Party Bus Rental in Long Island NY

Are you looking Party Bus Rental in Long Island NY? Limo King New York is an affordable, fast and easy way to get party buses anywhere in Long Island New York. Party buses are available in all shapes and sizes and can accommodate any group size. Whether you're looking for a small party bus that can seat up to 7 people or a large bus that can seat up to 60 people.

Why Choose Limo King, NYC

Variety of Car Brands

Best Rate Guarantee

Awesome Customer Support

We have all styles of party buses and limousines for rent. Limo King New York is the most trusted Party Bus Rental service provider in Long Island NY and serving for over 30 years! Below are party buses you can book directly from the website. Also, a minimum booking of 6 hours is required.

FORD E450 Party Bus:

20 Passengers

Black Exterior

Ford F550 Party Bus:

30 Passengers

Black Exterior

FORD F550 Party Bus:

30 Passengers

White Exterior

Freightliner Tiffany Party Bus:

35 Passengers

White/Black Exterior

FREIGHTLINER XMH Party Bus:

40 Passengers

White/Black Exterior

Frieghtliner Executive Party Bus:

45 Passengers

White/Black Exterior

FREIGHTLINER XMH2 Party Bus:

50 Passengers

White/Black Exterior

MERCEDES SETRA Party Bus:

60 Passengers

White Exterior

Whatever the occasion, Limo King New York is a fantastic choice to book a birthday party bus, Prom Party Bus Long Island, Weddings, Wine Tours, Corporate Travel, Night Out, Sweet 16’s, and Long Island Bachelor Party.

When you're ready to get a quote, or book, or need to ask any questions about our party buses. You can contact Limo King New York by phone at 866-259-8123 or by email at [email protected].

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nycpartybusrental1 · 3 months

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Get the Party Started with Your One-Stop-Shop for Party Bus Needs in NYC

Please have a look at NYC Party Bus Rental, the best party bus rental service in New York City. Our goal is to ensure that your journey becomes memorable, safe, and luxurious. We know how to provide the best rental services that’s why each vehicle in our fleet is one of the most recent models that are equipped with all the necessary comfort and safety features. They are thoroughly cleaned and driven by licensed and professional chauffeurs.

Our Fleet includes Sedans, SUVs, Party Bus, Limo, and Coach Bus. We can make your journey stress-free, comfortable, pleasant, and enjoyable when you choose us you choose these many benefits so, Without wasting any time choose our Best Party Bus Rental in NYC Staten Island for an unforgettable journey.

It is necessary to arrive at the airport on time. We can assist you with that. We are professional drivers experienced in guiding city traffic and confirming timely pick-up and drop-off, giving you peace of mind during your travels. We provide the best Airport Bus Rental in Staten Island. We have served thousands of customers with the ultimate party bus rental in New York City. Through years of experience, we have gained knowledge on how to best serve our customers at the most relevant price.

The Bachelorette party is an important occasion that deserves to be celebrated in style and in a unique way. What better way to create unforgettable memories with your best friends? By renting a luxurious party bus you can make it unique, special, memorable, and different. NYC Party Bus Rental can make your Bachelorette party more special. We provide an amazing opportunity for an unforgettable bachelorette party on our incredible party buses, complete with advanced amenities and a fun-filled atmosphere.

NYC Party Bus Rental offers the best party bus and limo services in New York. We provide comfortable seating, dazzling LED lights, premium sound systems, and even a dance floor - everything you need to keep the party going all night long is at your hand. Take a tour of our website to explore all your party bus needs. Contact us at 347-506-1682 for more information visit us at www.nycpartybusrental.com.

#wedding transportation rental #limo coach bus #birthday bus rental #limo vans #bus rental #nyc party bus rental

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thelongislandlimo · 6 months

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Prom party bus Long Island

Arriving at prom with friends is super fun on a prom party bus Long Island! The buses have colorful lights, comfy seats, and loud music to get you excited. It's like a dance party on wheels! No need to worry about a driver; the bus is yours for the night. Bring your whole crew and let us take you to prom in VIP style!

prom party bus Long Island

#limousine #thelongislandlimo #travel #trending #new york #Prom party bus Long Island

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goldstarlimousine · 7 months

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Party Bus Rentals Long Island

Elevate your celebration with our premier Party Bus Rentals in Long Island. Whether it's a milestone birthday, a bachelor/bachelorette party, or a night on the town, our fleet of luxurious party buses is designed for style and entertainment. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere, complete with cutting-edge amenities and professional chauffeurs, ensuring a seamless journey. From the first pick-up to the final drop-off, your event becomes a memorable experience in motion.

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jaydeemedia · 7 months

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[ad_1] If there’s one country that made me fall in love with slow travel, it’s Croatia. Since my first visit, an unforgettable late spring trip where I travelled with a tent rather than a plan, it’s firmly cemented in my heart. Crossing from Dubrovnik in the south to neighbouring Slovenia in the north using buses, ferries, trails and trains, I found myself not just falling in love with the country but extending my trip every day. Indeed, it’s a destination that deserves to be explored slowly — making the contenders for best places to visit in Croatia almost as long as the country itself. From the (over)touristed walled city of Dubrovnik, famed for its gorgeous mediaeval fortified Old Town, to the laid-back islands — around 50 are inhabited, while the islets stretch into triple figures — ideal for lazy days swimming, sunbathing, and snorkelling, Croatia promises a kaleidoscopic mix of experiences. Sure, it’s one of the best beach destinations in Europe, but inland, you’ll find national parks peppered with gushing waterfalls, while the historic cities that once guarded the coast easily make for stand-alone city breaks. Whether you’re visiting Europe in winter to try and seek a spot of off-season sun or planning a summer island-hopping escape, I’m sure you’ll also fall in love with at least a few of my favourite places to visit in Croatia. Korcula’s beaches and crystal-clear waters are sublime Korčula Due to bus and ferry delays, I nearly skipped Korčula. But thankfully, I decided to continue with my detour, as this handsome verdant island ended up being one of my favourite places to visit in Croatia. For the most part, the main reason to visit is Korčula Town, a small, fortified settlement on a peninsula, often compared to Dubrovnik in miniature. But as I was camping a bit further away, I saw just how special the island is beyond the labyrinth of narrow old-world streets. There are some gorgeous beaches, quiet swimming spots, peaceful pine forests to stroll through, and the island’s vineyards pump out delicious white wines that taste even better at sunset. Only a short hop from Orebic (also rather pretty) or a few hours by public ferry from Dubrovnik or Split, Korčula is also reasonably easy to access on your own. However, if you want to experience the Adriatic properly and explore a few islands, such as ancient Vis or party-centric Pag, you’ll want to book a cruise or private gulet charter rather than rely on ferries; you’ll maximise on time, and it makes for a more leisurely journey, especially to the more isolated isles. Spend a little time exploring Orebić before taking the ferry to Korčula Pula & Rovinj (Istria) The Istrian peninsula is one of the best places to visit in Croatia if you want to experience another side of the country. Once under Italian control, there are plenty of Roman sights to see. Plus, compared to the Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian coast, it’s still something of a European hidden gem. In coastal Pula, you’re never far from a gorgeous Adriatic beach, but you’ve also got magnificent attractions to explore, such as the Pula Arena — a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre — and the two-thousand-year-old Temple of Augustus. Postcard-perfect Rovinj is another must-visit in Istria, although it can get a little busy given its size. Here, jutting out into the calm waters, the cluster of colourful houses decorate a web of narrow streets, while a collection of small islands is best explored on a lazy boat day trip. Hvar Long a bolthole for the rich and famous, Hvar established itself as a holiday hotspot and one of the best places to visit in Croatia some fifty years ago, continually growing in popularity ever since. Founded by the ancient Greeks and shaped by the Venetians, there’s some gorgeous architecture here to admire alongside the equally beautiful views, with Fortica Fortress, a mediaeval castle high above the Old Town, combining the best of the two.

Be warned, though, Hvar comes with a bit of a price tag compared to some of the other islands. There are plenty of upscale bars and restaurants here — the island has five listings (not stars) in the Michelin Guide — and some of the most gorgeous and luxe villas in Croatia are tucked away in the island’s prettiest corners. Still, while I was dubious about visiting, thinking it would break my budget, there are a few affordable deals and local restaurants to enjoy; you’ll just usually need to sacrifice the sea views. Hvar has long been considered one of the top destinations in Croatia Split (and Trogir) The history of Split is one of the most interesting in Croatia, and it spills out across the streets of the historic Old Town, centred on a former Roman emperor’s palace, the Diocletian’s Palace. Mighty and mesmerising, this palace is one of Croatia’s best places to visit. Slip into the magnificent Saint Domnius Cathedral, visit the underground cellars, and then get away from the crowds inside the walls to walk the Split Riva esplanade. Continue a bit further, and you’ll find the stairs climbing up to forested Marjan, where epic viewpoints await. You should also leave some time to take a day trip to nearby Trogir (a 30-minute drive), a UNESCO-listed town crammed with architectural wonders. Throwback to my first visit to Split, captured on film Plitvice Lakes National Park One of the best places to visit in Croatia’s interior is the UNESCO-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park, but be warned, in summer, it’s going to be crowded. Still, it’s absolutely worth making the journey from Zadar (two hours) or Split (2.5 hours) to see this protected park of wonderful waterfalls and lakes shrouded by forest. The waters are crystal clear, and as you cross the wooden walkways that weave through the park, you aren’t just admiring nature from afar, but you feel like you’re part of it. The most impressive points are where the terraced lakes tumble from a high inside the limestone canyon, but there’s also an underground world of caves inside the canyons that are worth exploring. Plitvice Lakes National Park is a must-visit in Croatia Zadar Many people told me that Zadar wasn’t worth spending much time in, but it actually ended up being one of my favourite places to visit in Croatia. Perhaps it’s because it’s more of an underrated European city compared to Croatia’s big hitters, but I enjoyed that there were fewer tourists, and it felt a bit more ‘local’. That said, I’m assuming it might be a different story if you’re here on a day a cruise ship docks. Like many of Croatia’s finest cities, most attention goes to the Old Town, which has more than one thousand years of history. The Roman Forum, various religious buildings, and the archaeological museum will keep you busy for at least a whole day, while the quirky ‘Sea Organ’ – an instrument built into the promenade that creates sounds from the waves – makes for some excellent sunset entertainment. Dubrovnik’s Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Dubrovnik While Dubrovnik is considered one of the top places to visit in Croatia, I’ve got to admit it’s become harder to enjoy since Game of Thrones came out. On my first trip, it was a delight to walk around, but when I returned a few years ago after a journey across Bosnia and Herzegovina, I couldn’t believe just how busy and unpleasant the experience was: pushing and shoving an Old Town devoted to souvenir shops, and seriously overpriced and poor food. That’s not to put you off visiting; there’s a reason for all these crowds, after all. But just be prepared, especially on the busiest summer and cruise days, that it might be a bit overwhelming. Still, mass tourism aside, Croatia’s exclave is an incredible destination, with the mighty Old Town Walls (do walk atop them) and views from high above via the cable car two of my highlights. You might also want to consider staying outside the old

town if you want a little more peace (I lodged near Lozica), though often the late evenings are the best time to walk around the city, as day-trippers and cruise ships are long gone. Pin it: Best places to visit in Croatia | Top: Dubrovnik / Bottom: Krka (Canva) Krka National Park If you’re exploring Croatia’s coast and want a slightly quicker-to-reach alternative to Plitvice, Krka National Park is a great alternative. While Krka doesn’t have the same number (or beauty) of waterfalls that Plitvice has, it does have a couple of impressive cascades, and the water is equally as enchanting. Another reason I loved Krka is you could swim in some of the waterfalls here, but sadly, a couple of years ago, it was banned, bringing it in line with the rules of Plitvice. Krka is also not far from Šibenik, another of my favourite places in Croatia and an excellent place to spend a night or two while visiting the park. Again, it’s a gorgeous millennia-old city, but it doesn’t quite see as many tourists as the more famous destinations. Croatia’s capital of Zagreb is crammed with museums Zagreb Of all the places to visit in Croatia, Zagreb is often criminally skipped or rushed as people take a quick tour before exploring more of the country. But I’d suggest staying for a couple of nights to get to know the largest city in Croatia better. There is an abundance of museums that will help you get to know the country better, such as the Zagreb Ethnographic Museum, and also some somewhat quirky spots like the now-infamous Museum of Broken Relationships. Then there are the more typical expectations of any European capital: Cathedrals, S. Mark’s Church, and grand squares to enjoy a drink. Yes, it’s got a different look to the south of the country due to the Austro-Hungarian architecture, but I found the atmosphere to be really welcoming, and there are some outstanding wine bars around the mediaeval Upper Town. Make a day trip to Mostar while you’re visiting Croatia Bosnia & Herzegovina or Slovenia Rounding off my list of favourite places to visit in Croatia, I’m actually crossing into two other nations. Both of my big trips to the country have either started or ended in a neighbouring country, and given the ease of combining Croatia with Slovenia or Bosnia & Herzegovina, I’d urge you to consider doing the same if time allows. To the north, Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is easily reached in around three hours from Zagreb. Here, in one of Europe’s greenest capital cities, you can sip wine along the river, take a day trip to Lake Bled, or explore the incredible vineyard region of the Vipava Valley. Meanwhile, if you’re heading to Dubrovnik, then you might want to consider touring some of the best sights in Bosnia & Herzegovina. While the old and bizarre double border-crossing bus journey through Neum — Bosnia & Herzegovina’s tiny spot of coastline — has become less enticing since the bridge connecting Croatia’s exclave and the bulk of the country was built, there are still plenty of day trips or more extended options which could be taken. Mostar, best known for its gorgeous Old Town and history-defining Stari Most Bridge, could be combined with Blagja. However you decide to spend your time exploring Croatia’s best towns, cities and coastal hotspots, I’m pretty certain you’re going to love it — this is a country that certainly leaves a lasting impression. [ad_2] Source link

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