Percy's life really can't just be normal. Well, obviously it actually can't, what with being the daughter of Poseidon and everything, but she's been trying so hard to stay away from quests and prophecies and anything seriously related to the world of demigods. She has a baby sister on the way. She has to make it through high school so she can go to college. She's done more than enough for the world, she deserves a break.

So why is Apollo, of all the gods, asking to be let in to her apartment?

She takes a moment to suck in a deep breath and think about calming, nice things like the soft stuffed seahorse she bought for the baby's nursery yesterday and the smell of the blue chocolate chip cookies her mom made before heading out to do errands, and maybe whisper a quick prayer to her father that this isn't about to turn into something dangerous, before agreeing to let Apollo up. (Which is weird enough on its own. It's not like the security in their apartment would actually be able to stop him if he wanted in.)

His appearance when she opens the door does give her pause. Banged-up teenage boy with acne really isn't his usual style (not that she looks amazing, either; jeans and a sweatshirt aren't what you'd call god-appropriate attire, but she's never cared much about how she appears to them). "What do you want?"