Always Protect

Chapter 27

Making sure they had their things, the trio set off through the trees.

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It was reaching nightfall when they came across a low building decorated with a multitude of statues lying around the front lawn. The smell of burgers and fries wafted through an open window.

"Can either of you read that?" Percy asked, squinting at the sign. The more he tried to focus and puzzle out the words, the more the letters danced around, as though to taunt him.

Castor, having the lightest case of dyslexia, stepped closer.

"I think it says... Aunty Em's... Garden Emporium?"

"Maybe this Aunty Em woman would be willing to share some food." Annabeth said hopefully.

They had packed some food but were hoping to keep it for as long as possible and this could provide the perfect opportunity to save what they had. With that in mind, the blonde members of the quest started forwards.

"Hang on guys, doesn't this seem a bit too... convenient?"

Annabeth hesitated but the son of Dionysus just brushed it off.

"Oh come on, we're three demigods and none of us are slouches. Even if there's something nefarious going on I'm sure we can handle it. I'm starving."

Both boys looked to their resident strategist who looked torn, biting her lip as she tried to think through her indecision.

"Well, we are pretty hungry." She said hesitantly, earning a cheer from Castor.

"Yes! Thank you! Let's go."

Knocking on the door, it was opened by a woman in a black veil.

"Why hello children, whatever could you be doing out here all alone?"

"Hello Ma'am," Castor said, being the most eager for food. "We are with the circus but we got terribly lost and fear they have left without us."

Behind him, Percy and Annabeth exchanged incredulous looks at the tale their friend was weaving.

"Oh that's dreadful!"

"Yes," Castor said mournfully. "We were wandering the woods when we came across your emporium. We don't have much money but we hoped you could spare some food?"

They could just see the shade of a smile through the veil as she moved aside to allow them entry.

"Of course! Such polite children, do come in. And please, call me Aunty Em."

The three of them entered and the smell of food got stronger. Aunty Em led them to a table laden with typical American foods. Everything smelled deep-fried and delicious. After getting an encouraging nod from their host, the demigods dug in.

The more they ate, the more they were filled with a warm floaty feeling. For Annabeth and Castor, they loved it, they felt sleepy in the way one feels with warm, weighted blanket after a long day. Percy however, was not a fan. He had felt that way before, after particularly hard beating. The pain would overwhelm his senses, becoming so much that his mind would be unable to handle it and everything would go numb as sleep claimed his consciousness. Whatever was going on, something wasn't right.

As Percy struggled to clear his fuzzy mind, Aunty Em started to speak.

"You are such darling children, I would just love to sculpt you."

"Really?" Castor asked with a vapid smile. "That sounds cool."

"Yes it is quite. I usually get willing visitors to pose for a photo from which I work when they are gone."

"That sounds awesome, doesn't that sound fun guys?!"

Annabeth's grey eyes were hazy as she turned to the boys.

"Yeah, we should do that! If you'd like to Aunty Em?"

"Why that would be lovely Annabeth dear, follow me and we'll get you three into just the right pose."

They followed her deeper into the building, past countless statues.

"You know Annabeth, you have such lovely hair. I used to have soft hair like that. And Perseus, so handsome, so much like your father. Ah! Here we are, if you will sit on this bench. There, just like that."

"Aunty Em, where's your camera?" Percy asked, the fog lifting slightly.

"I don't remember telling you our names." Annabeth said, her own gaze clearing.

"Smile children."

"GET DOWN!!!" They yelled, shoving poor Castor to the ground and closing their eyes just as the sound of hissing filled the air.

"Now, now, demigods. You really shouldn't close your eyes when having your image immortalized." Aunty Em's voice was smooth as silk.

The fall had snapped the violet-eyed boy out of his trance and he quickly closed his eyes too. The three of them crawled away among the statues, trying to increase the distance between themselves and the monstrous woman.

"Of course, I can't believe I didn't realize it from the beginning." Annabeth groaned even as they kept moving. "Aunty 'M'. It's bloody Medusa."