𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓: 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭
June 11, 2018
PERCY HADN'T HEARD FROM OLIVIA ANWORTH SINCE HE'D BEEN CLAIMED BY POSEIDON. She hadn't even come to see him when he got moved into his own cabin the next morning.
And in all honesty, he hated it. He had the Minotaur's horn, one set of spare clothes, and a toiletry bag to move into the cabin, his own dinner table, the chance to pick whatever activities he wanted, and he call "lights out" when he wanted to.
And yet, he hated it.
It felt like the home he'd found in cabin eleven had been ripped away from him and he'd been forced into isolation. Nobody mentioned the hellhound thing, but Percy could sense them talking about it behind his back. The attack had scared everybody. It sent two messages: one, that Percy Jackson was the son of the Sea God; and two, monsters would stop at nothing to kill him. They could even invade a camp that had always been considered safe.
The other campers steered clear of Percy as much as they could. Cabin eleven was too nervous to have sword class with him after his how badly he'd hurt the Ares kids in the woods, so his lessons with Luke became private. Luke started to expect more of him now, and now he was less afraid to bruise Percy up some.
"You're going to need all the training you can get," he told Percy while they worked with swords and flaming torches. "Now let's try that viper-beheading strike again. Fifty more repetitions."
He kind of missed Olivia, too. Annabeth still taught him Greek in the mornings, but she seemed distracted. Every time Percy said something, she scowled at him. Olivia used to jab at her for gainful rude before and mumble something, but now she wasn't there to do it anymore. Occasionally, Alice Rosario would show up, talking nonsense and referencing some Netflix show her and Olivia watched.
After lessons, Annabeth would walk away muttering to herself: "Quest... Poseidon?... Dirty rotten... Got to make a plan..." and Alice would hum a song that gave Percy the vibes of some kind of 1980s synth music as she followed her.
Even Clarisse kept her distance, though her venomous looks made it clear she wanted to kill Percy. Honestly, he would've taken her trying to beat him up over her silence.
But now, with strange dreams and fear lingering in his mind, a summons to the Big House had not helped him. Given he was the son of one of the gods who wasn't supposed to have a kid, he figured it was a crime for him just to be alive. The other gods had probably been debating how to kill him, and now Mr. D was ready to deliver their verdict.
Grover had explained to him that it never rained within the camp boarders unless it was specifically allowed by Mr. D. That being said, Percy still felt uneasy about the storm hovering over them.
At the volleyball pit, the kids from Apollo's cabin were playing a morning game against the satyrs. Percy didn't see Olivia among them. Dionysus' twins were walking around in the strawberry fields, making the plants grow. Alice—that was her name, right?—wasn't with them. Everyone looked tense, though. They kept their eyes on the storm worriedly.
Grover and Percy walked up to the front porch of the Big House. Dionysus sat at the pinochle table in his tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt with his Diet Coke, just as he had when Percy first arrived. Chiron sat across the table in his fake wheelchair. They were playing against invisible opponents—two sets of cards hovering in the air.
"Well, well," Mr. D said without looking up. "Our little celebrity."
"Dad, there's no more Diet Coke in the cooler," Alice complained, walking out of the Big House. "That was supposed to be for me. Why'd you drink it all?"
Almost instantly, the cooler floated outside, sitting next to Dionysus. He waved a hand, and it was restocked. "There," he said. Alice smiled and grabbed a drink while Percy awkwardly waited.
"Come closer," Mr. D told Percy. "And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father."
A net of lightning flashed across the clouds. Thunder shook the windows of the house. The canoe lake seemed to roar.
"Blah, blah, blah," Dionysus said. Alice snorted as she opened her drink and watched the game. She was a weird girl, even by Percy's standards. He wasn't sure how annabeth of all people could be friends with her. He would've thought the blonde girl's lack of patience would be even shorter with the dirty blonde-haired daughter of Dionysus.
Chiron feigned interest in his pinochle cards. Grover cowered by the railing, his hooves clopping back and forth.
"If I had my way," Dionysus spoke, "I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp: to keep you little brats safe from harm."
"Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D," Chiron added.
"Plus, you wouldn't stop the prophecy," Alice said. "Just prolong it. And possibly get yourself an extension on your sentence."
Dionysus sighed. "You're right, unfortunately," he grumbled. He frowned at Percy. "Nevertheless, I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking of turning you into a dolphin instead, sending you back to your father."
"Mr. D—" Chiron warned.
"Oh, all right," Dionysus relented. "There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness."
He stood up, and the invisible players' cards dropped to the table. "I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I'll turn him into an Atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand?"
"Dad that's mean," Alice said. "Fun, but mean."
"Nonsense," Dionysus said. "Perseus Jackson, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do."
He picked up a playing card, twisted it, and it became a plastic rectangle. A credit card? Percy wondered. No. A security pass.
Mr. D gave Alice a quick kiss on the forehead before he snapped his fingers. The air seemed to fold and bend around him. He became a hologram, then a wind, then he was gone, leaving only the smell of fresh-pressed grapes lingering behind.
Chiron smiled at Percy with tired eyes. "Sit, Percy, please," he said. "And Grover."
🌣⸻➳⸻🌣
OLIVIA HAD NOT SAID ANYTHING TO PERCY SINCE HE'D BEEN CLAIMED. She wanted to think in peace while she contemplated the consequences of this. Now that it was public that Poseidon had sired a forbidden son, the ongoing conflict between the gods that'd been storming over the camp would only get worse.
But when she was sitting with Aurora, the subtle shift in the air made her breath catch.
"What?" the daughter of Demeter asked, playing around with the strawberry fields they sat in.
"I had a weird feeling," Olivia murmured.
"What is it?" Paris asked, sitting behind Aurora as she braided the younger girl's hair. "What happened?"
"I don't know," Olivia said. "Just that something big is happen—"
She glanced towards the Big House and caught a glimpse of green mist in the attic. "A prophecy," she realized. "The Oracle is giving a prophecy."
"And?" Paris asked.
"Isn't it obvious, Paris?" Aurora asked. "It's big. A very big deal."
"They must be sending Percy on a quest," Olivia said. "Annabeth is gonna want to know about this.
She took off without another word, racing towards the Big House. As she got closer, she noticed Annabeth putting on her Yankees cap as she hid close by, very obviously listening in on the conversation.
Well, two could play that game.
Olivia used the light and shadows around her to mask her presence. She stood close to Annabeth's hiding place, invisible to the naked eye as she also eavesdropped.
Could this be considered stalking? Oh, well. Percy did it first.
"Well?" Chiron asked Percy.
The son of Poseidon slumped into a chair at the pinochle table. "She said I would retrieve what was stolen."
Grover sat forward, chewing excitedly on the remains of a Diet Coke can Alice handed him while she cracked open another one. "That's great!"
"What did the Oracle say exactly?" Chiron pressed. "This is important."
Percy frowned, hesitating slightly. "She... she said I would go west and face a god who had turned," he said. "I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned."
"I knew it," Grover said. Alice shrugged and poured her Diet Coke into a miniature wine glass.
Chiron gave her a weary look before turning back to Percy. "Anything else?" he asked.
"She told me to... she said I should tend to the light 'cause it knows what I need," Percy went on. "And that without it, my enemy will surely succeed."
Chiron nodded. "Is that all?"
There was a long silence before Percy nodded. "Yeah," he said. "That's about it."
Liar, Olivia thought. Percy was a really bad liar.
Chiron studied Percy briefly. "Very well, Percy," he sighed. "But know this: the Oracle's words often have double meanings. Don't dwell on them too much. The truth is not always clear until events come to pass."
"Okay," Percy said, clearly anxious to change the subject. "So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?"
"Ah, think, Percy," Chiron said. "If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?"
"Somebody else who wants to take over?" Percy guessed.
Annabeth scoffed quietly from beside Olivia.
"Yes, quite," Chiron said. "Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided eons ago, whose kingdom would grow powerful with the deaths of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have now broken."
Percy was silent for a long time as he thought it over. "Hades."
Chiron nodded. "The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility."
Olivia frowned. Why was Hades the go-to bad guy? He was actually very chill at the winter solstice meeting, thank you very much.
A scrap of aluminum dribbled out of Grover's mouth as he stared at Percy in horror. "Whoa, wait," he said. "Wh-what?"
"A Fury came after Percy," Chiron said. "She watched the young man until she was sure of his identity, then tried to kill him. Furies obey only one lord: Hades."
Curious, Olivia took another step forward.
"Yes, but-but Hades hates all heroes," Grover argued. "Especially if he has found out Percy is a son of Poseidon..."
"A hellhound got into the forest," Chiron continued. "Those can only be summoned from the Fields of Punishment, and it had to be summoned by someone within the camp. Hades must have a spy here. He must suspect Poseidon will try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like to kill this young half-blood before he can take on the quest."
"Great," Percy grumbled. "That's two major gods who want to kill me."
"But a quest to..." Grover swallowed. "I mean, couldn't the master bolt be in some place like Maine? Maine's very nice this time of year."
"Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt," Chiron insisted. "He hid it in the Underworld, knowing full well that Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don't pretend to understand the Lord of the Dead's motives perfectly, or why he chose this time to start a war, but one thing is certain. Percy must go to the Underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth."
Olivia frowned. That made no sense. What would Hades have to gain from this? More dead people? Hades didn't really seem to like dealing with that, at least least not from what she could tell of him. Besides, the Underworld had a very complicated system. And on top of that, who could possibly be working for Hades?
Chiron might as well suspect me, Olivia thought sarcastically. It was a silly thought, but for the briefest of moments, it passed her mind.
Grover was trembling. He'd started eating pinochle cards like potato chips. Alice smiled softly as she handed him one after the other.
"Look, if we know it's Hades," Percy spoke, "why can't we just tell the other gods? Zeus or Poseidon could go down to the Underworld and bust some heads."
"Suspecting and knowing are not the same," Chiron said.
"Dude, weren't you saying that Hades was the only person who could possibly do this, like, five seconds ago?" Alice demanded.
"Besides, even if the other gods suspect Hades—and I imagine Poseidon does—they couldn't retrieve the bolt themselves," Chiron explained, ignoring her question. "Gods cannot cross each other's territories except by invitation. That is another ancient rule. Heroes, on the other hand, have certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as they're bold enough and strong enough to do it. No god can be held responsible for a hero's actions. Why do you think the gods always operate through humans?"
"You're saying I'm being used," Percy deadpanned.
"Yep," Alice said.
"I'm saying it's no accident Poseidon has claimed you now," Chiron said. "It's a very risky gamble, but he's in a desperate situation. He needs you."
Percy stared at the table, lost in thought. Eventually, he looked up at Chiron. "You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?" he asked.
"I had my suspicions," Chiron answered. "As I said... I've spoken to the Oracle, too."
"Livvy knew and you ignored her," Alice said through fake coughs.
Percy gave her a weird look. "She knew?"
"Yeah, she told all of us, but they were clinging to the hope that you were Zeus' son or whatever," Alice said. "People are kind of dumb here."
"So let me get this straight," Percy sighed. "I'm supposed go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead."
"Check," Chiron said.
"Find the most powerful weapon in the universe," Percy continued.
"Check."
"And get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days."
"That's about right."
Percy turned to Grover, who was gulping down the ace of hearts. Alice was chewing on a piece of Candy she'd grabbed from nowhere.
"Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?" the satyr asked weakly.
"You don't have to go," Percy told him. "I can't ask that of you."
"Oh..." Grover shifted his hooves awkwardly. "No... it's just that satyrs and underground places... well..."
He took a deep breath, then stood, brushing the shredded cards and aluminum bits off his T-shirt. "You saved my life, Percy. If... if you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down."
"All the way, G-man." Percy smiled at Grover before turning to Chiron. "So where do we go? The Oracle just said to go west."
"The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west," Chiron answered vaguely. "It moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of course, it's in America."
"Where?"
Chiron looked surprised for some reason. "I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles."
"Oh," Percy said. "Naturally. So we just get on a plane-"
"No!" Grover shouted. "Percy, what are you thinking? Have you ever been on a plane in your life?"
Percy shook his head, a light blush forming on his face.
"Percy, think," Chiron said. "You are the son of the sea god. Your father's bitterest rival is Zeus, Lord of the Sky. Your mother knew better than to trust you in an airplane. You would be in Zeus' domain. You would never come down again alive."
Overhead, lightning crackled. Thunder boomed, as if Zeus was confirming that.
"Okay," Percy said, looking away from the storm. "So, I'll travel overland."
"That's right," Chiron said. "Two companions may accompany you. Grover is one. The other has already volunteered, if you will accept her help."
"Gee," Percy said sarcastically. "Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?"
The air shimmered behind Chiron as Annabeth removed her Yankees cap, stuffing it into her back pocket.
"I've been waiting a long time for a quest, Seaweed Brain," she said coldly. "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you're going to save the world, I'm the best person to keep you from messing up."
"Love you, Beth, but that sounds catty as hell," Alice commented.
"Language," Chiron chastised her.
"English," Alice replied, pulling a pen out. "But I also know Ancient Greek and a little bit of Italian."
Percy gave Alice a nod, as if he respected her sass. "If you do say so yourself," he shrugged, turning back to Annabeth. "I suppose you have a plan, Wise Girl?"
Her cheeks turned a light pink. "Do you want my help or not?" she scoffed.
Percy looked between the two of them. Olivia smiled at Annabeth proudly, happy she would finally get to see the world after so long.
"Wait, I need Olivia to go with me, too," Percy said.
🌣⸻➳⸻🌣
"WHAT?!" ANNABETH, ALICE, GROVER, AND CHIRON ALL EXCLAIMED IN UNISON.
"That's not how this works, Percy!" Olivia shouted at him, seemingly manifesting from thin air as shadows fell from her body. "I can't go with you."
"Why not?" Percy demanded, crossing his arms despite knowing he looked like a spoiled child.
"Percy, don't you know anything about prophecies?" Grover asked. "If three go, only three can to come back. If more than three go, something will prevent the spares from coming back with everyone else. A sacrifice, a death, a capture. Something!"
"Grover is right, Percy," Chiron said. "It wouldn't be wise for you to bring more than two companions."
"But the prophecy told me to tend to the light 'cause it knew what I needed," Percy said. "Isn't her dad the god of light?"
"Prophecies don't always mean what you think at first," Annabeth said. "It could mean any number of things that have nothing to do with Olivia."
"But what could 'it knows what you need' mean, then?" Percy questioned.
Olivia seemed to be realizing something. Suddenly, she grabbed Percy by the arm. Before he could yelp in surprise, her eyes turned a bright blue color that slowly filled with the same emerald green color that the Oracle's mist had been. Percy felt both awkward and nervous, wondering what the hell was going on.
"She's triggering a premonition," Alice said. "Looking to see if you're right."
A moment later, Olivia pulled back. "My father is a liar," she hissed, her dark eyes narrowing in annoyance.
The sun seemed to darken, as if Apollo had been offended by what she'd said.
"He told me those were lines from a prophecy that came true years ago," she continued. "But you said the Oracle just told you that."
She glared up at the sun, staring it head on. With a huff, she looked at Chiron. "I saw the quest in my premonition. Me, Annabeth and Grover walking around Los Angeles with Percy. We're all supposed to go."
"But—" Chiron reasoned.
Olivia smiled and Percy had to blink to adjust to it. "I know what I'm doing," she said. "My premonition was all gray."
She emphasized the word strangely. Percy didn't say anything.
"E... excellent," Chiron hesitated. "This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own."
Lightning flashed. Rain poured down on the meadows that were never supposed to have violent weather.
"No time to waste," Chiron said. "I think you should all get packing."
🌣⸻➳⸻🌣
SNACKS, SPARE CLOTHES, EXTRA CASH, HYGIENIC PRODUCTS, A SKETCHBOOK, A SONGBOOK, AND HER PHONE.
That was all Olivia needed to bring with her, stuffing it into her enchanted bag, embroidered with her father's nickname for her—Sunshine. She looked her phone over, blue with a yellow case. searched for Luke and Paris, neither of whom could be found. They were last seen heading into the forest, according to Connor and Travis. Olivia decided to meet with the others at the Big House. The camp had given Percy a hundred mortal dollars and twenty golden drachmas for non-mortal transactions—whatever that meant. Chiron gave each half-blood a canteen of nectar and a Ziploc bag full of ambrosia squares for emergencies.
Annabeth was bringing her magic Yankees cap, Athena's twelfth-birthday present for her. She also carried a book on famous classical architecture, written in Ancient Greek, to read when she got bored, and her celestial bronze knife, hidden in her shirt sleeve. Grover wore his fake feet and his pants to pass as human. He wore a green rasta-style cap so his horns wouldn't be revealed in case it rained and his hair flattened. Olivia wondered if mortals would even notice his goat legs if he just wore shorts.
His bright orange backpack was full of scrap metal and apples to snack on, courtesy of Alice, who liked him best of all the satyrs at camp. In his pocket was a set of reed pipes his daddy goat had carved for him, even though he only knew two songs: Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 12 and Hilary Duff's "So Yesterday."
He had an older taste in music, which Olivia could respect. The problem was that both songs sucked on reed pipes, but Olivia didn't have the heart to tell Grover that.
The group waved goodbye to the other campers, took one last look at the strawberry fields, the ocean, and the Big House, then hiked up Half-Blood Hill to Thalia's pine tree. Chiron was waiting for them in his wheelchair. Next to him stood Argus. He was wearing a chauffeur's uniform, so Olivia only saw extra eyes on his hands, face and neck.
"This is Argus," Chiron told Percy. "He will drive you into the city, and, er, well, keep an eye on things."
Olivia giggled at the choice of words. Footsteps behind them made her turn around. Luke was running up to them, carrying a pair of basketball shoes. Alice was walking behind him very casually.
"Hey!" he panted. "Glad I caught you."
Annabeth blushed, the way she always did when Luke was around. But Paris showing up behind Luke quickly turned her smile into a scowl.
"We just wanted to say good luck," Luke said. "And I thought... um, maybe you could use these."
He handed Percy the sneakers, which Percy stared at in confusion. "Maia!" Luke called.
White bird's wings sprouted out of the shoes, made from the laces, startling Percy so much that he dropped them. The shoes flapped around on the ground until the wings folded up and disappeared.
"Awesome!" Grover cheered.
"Mid," Alice decided.
Luke smiled. "Those served me well when I was on my quest," he said. "Gift from Dad. Of course, I don't use them much these days..." His expression turned sad.
Percy stared the shoes for a long time before smiling at Luke. He was blushing almost as much as Annabeth. "Hey, man," he said. "Thanks."
"Is it just me or is Luke really ugly?" Alice murmured to Olivia. The daughter of Apollo gave her a look and she shrugged. "Don't look at me like that. I'm just saying that if I can objectively think guys are cute, I can objectively think they're hideous monsters."
Olivia shoved Alice lightly and the daughter of Dionysus only laughed as she rolled her eyes.
"Livvy," Paris said, pulling Olivia to the side. "Here, take this."
She offered her hand to Olivia, a crystal in her palm.
"A diamond?" the brown-eyed girl questioned. "Really?"
"I'll take it if you don't want it," Alice mused.
"No, dummy, look at the thing," Paris said. "It's blue. You should know me by this point, Livvy. Diamonds aren't my best friends. Sapphires are."
She smiled now, holding it up. "It's a clarity crystal. This should help you out in the long run at some point. Look through it and you should be able to see through things that the Fates might use to trick you."
Clarity crystals. A gift from Aphrodite to Paris after Luke's quest. Each one helped you find your way through things. Holding it up to your eye and looking around would show you clues about the world around you.
"Really?" Olivia asked. "You're giving me one of these?"
Paris gave her a soft smile and a nod, and the daughter of Apollo hugged the hazel-eyed girl gratefully. She pulled back as Luke shook Percy's hand, patted Grover's head between his horns, and gave a goodbye hug to Annabeth, who looked like she might pass out.
"See you around, Olive," Luke said, pulling her into a hug and ruffling her hair. "Don't get yourself stuck in the Underworld or anything."
Olivia smiled at him cheekily. "Me?" she asked, fighting the urge to blurt out stuff her mother never wanted anyone to know. "Hades could never trap me in the Underworld."
"I know," Luke said softly. "Good luck, guys."
"Bye, losers!" Alice called over her shoulder. "Don't die!"
Once they were all gone, Percy turned to Annabeth. "You're hyperventilating."
"Am not," she denied.
"You let him capture the flag instead of you, didn't you?" Percy asked.
"Oh... why do I want to go anywhere with you, Percy?" Annabeth complained.
She stomped down the other side of the hill, where a white SUV waited on the shoulder of the road. Argus followed, jingling his car keys.
"You're going with him because you need him," Olivia said, going after Annabeth.
Annabeth glared at her, but Olivia knew she was right. Grover suddenly flew by, screaming as he headed toward the van. Olivia fought the urge to laugh her ass off.
She got to the bottom of the hill, where they all waited in a comfortable silence for Percy to arrive. Well, silent except for Grover flying around and screaming. Eventually, Olivia grabbed him and was able to secure him just in time for Percy's arrival. The quartet all looked back at Thalia's tree. Chiron was now standing in full centaur form, holding his bow high in salute. The kids nodded in acknowledgment.
And then they were off.
🌣⸻➳⸻🌣
ARGUS DROVE THE QUARTET OUT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AND INTO WESTERN LONG ISLAND. It was evident that being at camp had affected Percy and Annabeth. Percy kept staring at the smallest things: McDonald's, people walking down the street. It was almost cute, seeing the wonder in his eyes as he adjusted back to the world he knew before. Annabeth was taking in the sight of restaurants and stores she'd never seen before, a strange curiosity in her eyes.
"So far so good," Percy said, documenting yet another mile. "Ten miles and not a single monster."
Olivia whipped around to give Percy a side eye. "Don't you say that," she lectured him. "Bad luck. You're ruining our future."
"I thought you didn't believe in luck," Percy said.
Olivia frowned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I never said that," she disagreed. "I only said that I see the future, so I know the difference between fate and luck. Tyche has a sense of humor, Percy. Be careful what you say."
"She's right," Annabeth agreed, giving Percy an irritated look. "It's bad luck to talk that way, Seaweed Brain."
"Remind me again—why do you hate me so much?" Percy asked Annabeth.
She scoffed. "I don't hate you."
"Could've fooled me," Percy said.
Annabeth folded her cap of invisibility. "Look... we're just not supposed to get along, okay?" she said. "Our parents are rivals."
"Well, my dad exactly doesn't get along too well with satyrs ever since he flayed Marsyas alive, but Grover and I are best friends," Olivia said, smiling at the satyr in question. "You guys can make it work."
Grover smiled at Olivia, and she returned the gesture.
"Why are our parents rivals?" Percy asked.
Annabeth sighed. "How many reasons do you want?" she questioned. "One time my mom caught Poseidon with his girlfriend in Athena's temple, which is hugely disrespectful. Another time, Athena and Poseidon competed to be the patron god for the city of Athens. Your dad created some stupid saltwater spring for his gift. My mom created the olive tree. The people saw that her gift was better, so they named the city after her."
"They must really like olives," Percy muttered.
Olivia nearly snorted.
"Oh, forget it," Annabeth said.
"Now, if she'd invented pizza—that I could understand."
"I said forget it!" Annabeth shouted.
"Both of you, cut it out," Olivia said warningly. "I did not come onto this quest to listen to arguing for ten days."
She glanced at Percy. "If it helps you feel better, Percy, our dads get along pretty well. When the gods unsuccessfully tried to overthrow Zeus, both of our dads got punished by having their powers and god status taken while they were forced to be laborers. They kind of bonded. They're pretty cool now."
Percy nodded. "At least I know somebody on this quest besides Grover will actually be nice to me."
From the corner of her eye, Olivia could see Argus smiling. He didn't say anything, but one blue eye on the back of his neck winked at Percy.
Traffic eventually slowed them down in Queens. By the time they were in Manhattan, it was sunset and starting to rain.
Argus dropped the group at the Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side. Olivia happened to look and see a flyer taped to a mailbox, wet from rain, Percy's picture on it with the words: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY?
Before she could mention it, Percy ripped it down. She supposed he didn't want to think about it, so she decided not to bring it up.
Argus unloaded their bags, made sure they'd gotten their bus tickets, and drove away, the eye on the back of his hand opening to watch the kids as he pulled out of the parking lot.
Percy and Grover had some kind of brief conversation Olivia didn't hear before they finally acknowledged the rain that was still kept coming down.
Impatiently, they started playing Hacky Sack with one of Grover's apples while waiting on their bus. Olivia and Annabeth, agile and quick-reflexed as they were, could bounce the apple off their knees, elbows, shoulders,not anything else. For someone with limited experience in the game, Percy was pretty good, too.
The game ended when Percy tossed the apple toward Grover and it got too close to his mouth. Just one mega bite later, their entire game was gone.
Grover blushed, trying to apologize, but the three half-bloods had begun laughing hysterically. They were cracking up until the bus came, and even until they got ready to board. But as they stood in line to get in, Grover started looking around, sniffing the air.
"What is it?" Percy asked him.
"I don't know," the satyr said tensely. "Maybe it's nothing."
Olivia glanced behind her, feeling an eerily familiar presence, the way she did when the hellhound attacked.
They found seats together in the back of the bus, Annabeth wanting them to sit where they could see everyone. The others stowed their backpacks, but Olivia refused to, clutching it in her hands.
"It's just a bag," Percy said, frowning. "It'll just take up more space."
Olivia frowned, her lips fixing into a pout as she narrowed her eyes. "I'm not putting it down," she said, plopping herself between Percy and Grover, Annabeth sitting on Percy's left. Annabeth kept slapping her Yankees cap nervously against her thigh.
As the last passengers got on, Annabeth clamped her hand onto the son of Poseidon's knee. "Percy."
Olivia startled, looking at Annabeth as if she'd lost her mind. She followed the blonde's gaze to the front of the bus, where three middle aged women boarded the bus, wearing hats with brims that covered their faces. They all wore black with velvet and lace gloves, and they all carried paisley purses. When the first one, wearing a hate with a deep red sash tilted her head up, her black eyes glittered, and Olivia felt her heart stop for a brief moment as she recalled Thalia's death.
Alecto.
She'd carried a harsh hatred for the Furies ever since she witnessed them assist in killing her friend, no matter what anyone said. Not even her parents could shake her hatred of Alecto or her sisters.
They sat in the front row, right behind the driver. The sisters—Tisiphone wearing a hat with a green sash and Megaera wearing one with purple—crossed their legs over the walkway, making an X. While it looked casual, it had an obvious meaning: nobody leaves.
The bus pulled out of the station, and they made their way through the slick streets of Manhattan.
"She didn't stay dead long," Percy breathed, slouching in his seat. "I thought you said they could be dispelled for a lifetime."
"I said if you're lucky," Annabeth replied, scoffing. "You're obviously not."
"Furies never stay dead for long regardless," Olivia added. "If they did, I wouldn't see them as much."
"All three of them," Grover whimpered. "Di immortales!"
"It'll be okay," Olivia assured Grover.
"Yeah, it's okay," Annabeth said. "The Furies. The three worst monsters from the Underworld. No problem. No problem. We'll just slip out the windows."
"They don't open," Grover groaned.
"A back exit?" Annabeth suggested.
Olivia checked. There wasn't one.
"They won't attack us with witnesses around," Percy said. "Will they?"
"Yes, they will," Olivia said.
"Mortals don't have good eyes," Annabeth reminded Percy. "Their brains can only process what they see through the Mist."
"They'll see three old ladies killing us, won't they?" Percy asked.
Annabeth thought about it. "Hard to say. But we can't count on mortals for help. Maybe an emergency exit in the roof... ?"
Just their luck. They hit the Lincoln Tunnel, and the bus went dark except for the running lights down the aisle. It was eerily quiet without the sound of the rain.
Alecto stood up. In a flat voice, she announced: "I need to use the restroom."
"So do I," said Megaera.
"So do I," said Tisiphone.
Together, they walked down the aisle.
"I've got it," Annabeth said, holding her cap out. "Percy, take my hat."
"What?" he asked.
"You're the one they want," Annabeth said. "Turn invisible and go up the aisle. Let them pass you. Maybe you can get to the front and get away."
"But you guys—" Percy protested.
"There's an outside chance they might not notice us," Annabeth insisted. "You're a son of one of the Big Three. Your smell might be overpowering."
Percy shook his head. "I can't just leave you."
"We'll be fine," Olivia promised.
"Yeah, don't worry about us," Grover said. "Go!"
Hands trembling, Percy slowly grabbed the hat, putting it on and hopefully escaping up the aisle. Olivia watched with baited breath as the Furies made their way to the back of the bus. At some point, Alecto stopped, sniffing the air and pausing as she looked to the side. But she found nothing of value, so she and her sisters kept going.
Olivia glanced down at her yellow scrunchie, fiddling with it in her hands. She needed a bow, but which one? She could try her usual one, or the second, but she doubted she could get away with using anything besides celestial bronze or moonlit silver without causing issues. Before she could think, she heard hideous wailing from the sisters.
She looked up at the Furies. Their faces were the same, but their bodies had shriveled, leathery brown and haggard with bat's wings and hands and feet like gargoyle claws. Their handbags had turned into fiery whips.
The Furies surrounded the trio, lashing their whips, hissing: "Where is it? Where?"
It?
The other passengers on the bus were screaming and cowering in their seats. Olivia briefly wondered what they saw.
"He's not here!" Annabeth yelled. "He's gone!"
The Furies raised their whips, but Megaera gasped and tapped Alecto and Tisiphone. They both glared at her until she subtly gestured, making their eyes widen.
Annabeth drew her bronze knife. Grover grabbed a tin can from his snack bag and prepared to throw it. Olivia summoned her silver Hunter's bow, made by her aunt in an attempt to persuade her to join the Hunters. The arrow she notched did not match the silver, but she wasn't going to think about that right now.
"You wouldn't, Miss," Alecto gasped.
"You're right," Olivia said, glaring. "I won't miss."
She went to fire the arrow, but at that moment, the bus hurled to the side, and Olivia had to fight to keep the arrow from misfiring and hitting an innocent mortal. Everyone was suddenly thrown to the right, the Furies smashing against the windows.
"Hey!" the driver yelled. "Hey—whoa!"
The bus slammed against the side of the tunnel, grinding metal, throwing sparks a mile behind them.
They were out of Lincoln Tunnel and back in the throes the rainstorm, mortals and monsters being thrown around the bus and cars plowed aside like bowling pins.
Somehow, the driver managed to find an exit. The bus shot off the highway, through half a dozen traffic lights, and ended up barreling down a New Jersey rural road. There were woods to their left, the Hudson River to their right, and the driver seemed to be veering toward the river.
Then the emergency brake got hit. The bus wailed, spun a full circle on the wet asphalt, and crashed into the trees. The emergency lights came on. The door flew open. The bus driver was the first one out, the passengers yelling as they stampeded after him.
The Furies regained their balance. They lashed their whips at Annabeth while she waved her knife and yelled in Ancient Greek, telling them to back off. Grover threw tin cans. Olivia brandished her arrow again. "Leave," she said. "You should know that I rarely miss a target."
Megaera hissed. "Thief!" she cried.
Olivia spat at her clawed feet.
"Hey!"
Olivia turned to see Percy, Annabeth's cap in his hands, glaring at the three sisters. "What are you doing?!" she snapped.
The Furies turned, baring their yellow fangs at Percy. Alecto stalked up the aisle. She flicked her whip, and each time, red flames danced along the barbed leather. Her sisters hopped on top of the seats on either side of her and crawled toward Percy like giant demon bats.
"Perseus Jackson," Alecto hissed, sounding strangely southern now. "You have offended the gods. You shall die."
"I liked you better as a math teacher," Percy shot back.
She growled in response.
Olivia walked forward lightly, holding her breath as Annabeth and Grover moved up behind the Furies with her, looking for an opening. Percy took a ballpoint pen out of his pocket and uncapped it. It elongated into a shimmering double-edged sword. For a moment, the Furies hesitated.
"Submit now," Alecto said. "And you will not suffer eternal torment."
"Nice try," Percy told her.
"Percy, look out!" Annabeth cried.
Alecto lashed her whip around Percy's sword hand while the Furies on the either side lunged at him. Percy managed to keep his hold on his weapon as he stuck Tisiphone with its hilt, sending her toppling backward into a seat. Olivia used the chaos of the others to her advantage as she unveiled her dagger and struck the Fury through the chest with it.
"Wait, Miss—"
As soon as it hit her chest, Tisiphone screamed and exploded into dust. Annabeth got Alecto in a wrestler's hold and yanked her backward while Grover ripped the whip out of her hands.
"Ow!" he yelled. "Ow! Hot! Hot!"
Olivia saw Megaera jump at Percy. She launched herself onto her back and held her still long enough for Percy to swing his sword and she broke open like a piñata. Meanwhile, Alecto was trying to get Annabeth off her back. She kicked, clawed, hissed and bit, but Annabeth held on while Grover got her legs tied up in her own whip. Finally they both shoved her backward into the aisle. The leader of the Furies tried to get up, but she didn't have the space to flap her wings, so she kept falling down.
"Zeus will destroy you!" she promised. "Hades will have your soul!"
"Braccas meas vescimini!" Percy yelled.
Olivia was pretty sure that meant eat my pants.
Thunder shook the bus. Olivia looked around nervously. "My bag," she said to herself. She jumped to the back of the bus and grabbed her bag, hastily slinging it over her shoulder.
"Get out!" Annabeth yelled from the front of the bus. "Now!"
Olivia kicked the window open twice and it shattered from the force. She quickly dived out and managed to find the others as they rushed out the door.
The other passengers were all either walking around in a daze, arguing with the driver, or running around in circles yelling, "We're going to die!"
Some guy in a Hawaiian shirt took a picture of the others right before Olivia found them.
"Our bags!" Grover realized. "We left our—"
BOOOOOM!
The windows of the bus exploded as the passengers ran for cover. Lightning shredded a huge crater in the roof, but an angry wail from inside confirmed Alecto was was still very much alive.
"Correction," Olivia replied softly. "You left your bags. I told you to keep them on you."
"Run!" Annabeth shouted. "She's calling for reinforcements! We have to get out of here!"
They bolted as the rain poured down, the flaming bus behind them and the darkness of the woods ahead of them.
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