Indigo Eyes

Chapter 51

"The General is here?" Zoë interrupted, a stunned expression on her face. "That is impossible! You lie."

"Why would I lie? Look, there's no time. Skeleton warriors-"

"What?" Thalia demanded. "How many?"

"Twelve," Percy answered. "And that's not all. That guy, the General, he said he was sending something, a 'playmate', to distract you over here. A monster."

"Of course, he did," Cressida sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose and Thalia and Grover exchanged looks.

"We were following Artemis's trail," Grover said. "I was pretty sure it led here. Some powerful monster scent... She must've stopped here looking for the mystery monster. But we haven't found anything yet."

"Zoë," Bianca said nervously, "if it is the General –"

"It cannot be!" Zoë snapped. "Percy must have seen an Iris message or some other illusion."

"Illusions don't crack marble floors," Percy told her.

"And he may be stupid but I'm certain he can tell the difference between a rainbow message and a real person," Cressida defended.

"Thank you," Percy before his eyes widened in realisation. "Hey!"

And while Cressida was muffling laughs, Zoë took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "If Percy is telling the truth about the skeleton warriors," she said, "we have no time to argue. They are the worst, the most horrible... We must leave now."

"Good idea," Percy said.

"I was not including thee, boy, or thy friend," Zoë corrected. "You are not part of this quest."

"Hey, I'm trying to save your lives!" Percy exclaimed.

"And I'm literally in the prophecy!" Cressida added.

"Both of you shouldn't have come," Thalia said grimly. "But you're here now. Come on. Let's get back to the van."

"That is not thy decision!" Zoë snapped and Thalia scowled at her.

"You're not the boss here, Zoë. I don't care how old you are! You're still a conceited little brat!"

"You never had any wisdom when it came to boys," Zoë growled. "You never could leave them behind!"

"And just because you've lived hundreds of lifetimes, doesn't give you more wisdom than us. Because rejecting two pretty powerful demigods who just want to help you is pretty damn stupid," Cressida added, but while her words were logical, they fell on deaf ears as Thalia and Zoë stared each other down, the former looking as if she was going to hit the latter.

At least until a growl ripped through the air, the sound so loud it seemed as if the rocket engines were starting up as a few adults began to scream.

"Kitty!" screeched a little kid's voice as something bounded up the ramp.

"Why does this feel familiar?" Cressida wondered aloud, sarcastically.

"June 14th, two years ago. St Louis Arch. Very big chimera, very small space," Percy answered, taking her question seriously.

"Plan on pulling me down a 630-foot drop with you again, Fish Face?" Cressida asked nervously as she put her hand on her bracelet.

"As much as I would love the peace and quiet, your family wouldn't let me live to see the next sunrise," he retorted as the pick-up-truck-sized ball of golden glittering fur got closer.

"The Nemean Lion," Thalia said. "Don't move."

The lion roared loudly, his fangs gleaming like stainless steel