𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐋¹ || 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍

𝐗𝐋𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈

✦ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐗 ✦

PERCY TORE ACROSS THE MALL, NOT DARING TO LOOK BEHIND HIM. He burst into the Air and Space Museum and took off his invisibility cap once he was through the admissions area. The main part of the museum was one huge room with rockets and airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Three levels of balconies curled around, so you could look at the exhibits from all different heights.

The place wasn't crowded, just a few families and a couple of tour groups of kids, probably doing one of those holiday school trips. Percy wanted to yell at them all to leave, but he figured that would only get him arrested.

He had to find Aurora, Thalia, Grover, and the Hunters. Any minute, the skeleton dudes were going to invade the museum, and Percy didn't think they would settle for an audio tour.

Percy ran into Aurora – literally.

He was barrelling up the ramp to the top-floor balcony and slammed into her, knocking her into an Apollo space capsule (which was ironic).

Grover yelped in surprise. Before Percy could regain his balance, Zoë and Bianca had arrows notched, aimed at his chest. Their bows had just appeared out of nowhere.

When Zoë realized who he was, she didn't seem anxious to lower her bow, "You! How dare you show thy face here?"

"Percy!" Aurora practically beamed upon seeing him.

"Percy!" Grover said. "Thank goodness." Zoë glared at him, and he blushed. "I mean, um, gosh. You're not supposed to be here!"

"Luke," Percy said, trying to catch his breath. "He's here."

"What?" Aurora started looking around with anger in her eyes.

Meanwhile, the anger in Thalia's eyes immediately melted. She put her hand on her silver bracelet. "Where?"

Percy told them about the Natural History Museum, Dr. Thorn, Luke, and the General.

"The General is here?" Zoë looked stunned. "That is impossible! You lie."

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

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

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

Aurora, Thalia, and Grover exchanged looks.

"We were following Artemis' 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."

Aurora's ears began to ring, a sensation she couldn't ignore. It felt like a warning, a primal instinct screaming at her that something dark and dangerous was approaching. As the others exchanged worried glances, she felt compelled to speak up.