Percy's POV
So, I just had a conversation with Hermes, Theo's grandfather and Luke's father.
He ended up giving me a thermos full of powerful winds, four duffel bags, and a pack of multivitamins, and asked me to not give up on Luke. I don't know if that's even possible.
As the conversation ended, a cruise ship appeared in the distance.
I was staring at the waves when Annabeth, Theo, and Tyson found me.
Annabeth: What's going on? We heard you calling for help!
Tyson: Me too! Heard you yell, "Bad things are attacking!"
Percy: I didn't call you, guys. I'm fine.
Theo: Then who—
He noticed the four yellow duffel bags, then the thermos and the bottle of vitamins I was holding.
Theo: (chuckles) Hermes?
Percy: Yeah. Now listen. We don't have much time.
I told them about my conversation with Hermes. By the time I was finished, I could hear screeching in the distance—patrol harpies picking up our scent.
Annabeth: Percy, we have to do the quest.
Percy: We'll get expelled, you know. Trust me, I'm an expert at getting expelled.
Theo: Fuck that, Percy. There won't be a camp to be expelled from if we don't do this.
Percy: Yeah, but you and Annabeth promised Chiron—
Theo: We both swore that we'd keep you safe. We can only do that if we come with you.
Annabeth: Yeah. Besides, Tyson can stay behind and tell them—
Tyson: I want to go.
Annabeth: No! I mean...Percy, come on. You know that's impossible.
I wondered again why she had such a grudge against Cyclopes. There was something she wasn't telling me. I looked at Theo, who looked back at me, and he shrugged.
She and Tyson both looked at me, waiting for an answer. Meanwhile, the cruise ship was getting farther and farther away.
The thing was, part of me didn't want Tyson along. I'd spent the last three days in close quarters with the guy, getting razzed by the other campers and embarrassed a million times a day, constantly reminded that I was related to him. I needed some space.
Plus, I didn't know how much help he'd be, or how I'd keep him safe. Sure, he was strong, but Tyson was a little kid in Cyclops terms, maybe seven or eight years old, mentally. I could see him freaking out and starting to cry while we were trying to sneak past a monster or something. He'd get us all killed.
On the other hand, the sound of the harpies was getting closer...
Percy: We can't leave him. Tantalus will punish him for us being gone.
Theo: Besides, if we're going to the Sea of Monsters, we'll need all the help we can get.
Annabeth: Percy, Theo, we're going to Polyphemus's island! Polyphemus is an S-i-k...a C-y-k...
She stamped her foot in frustration. As smart as she was, Annabeth was dyslexic, too. We could've been there all night while she tried to spell Cyclops.
Annabeth: You know what I mean!
Theo chuckled a bit.
Annabeth: Don't you start, Miller!
Theo just shrugged with a smirk on his face.
Percy: Tyson can go if he wants to.
Tyson: (claps his hands) Want to!
Annabeth gave me the evil eye, but I guess she could tell I wasn't going to change my mind. Or maybe she just knew we didn't have time to argue.
Annabeth: Alright. How do we get to that ship?
Percy: Hermes said my father would help.
Theo: Well, you might want to hurry up and ask him, Jackson. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be harpy food tonight.
I'd always had a hard time calling on my father, or praying, or whatever you want to call it, but I stepped into the waves.
Percy: Um, Dad? How's it going?
Annabeth: Percy! We're in a hurry!
Percy: We need your help. We need to get to that ship, like, before we get eaten and stuff, so...
At first, nothing happened. Waves crashed against the shore like normal. The harpies sounded like they were right behind the sand dunes. Then, about a hundred yards out to sea, four white lines appeared on the surface. They moved fast toward the shore, like claws ripping through the ocean.
As they neared the beach, the surf burst apart and the heads of four white stallions reared out of the waves.
Tyson: Fish ponies!
He was right. As the creatures pulled themselves onto the sand, I saw that they were only horses in the front; their back halves were silvery fish bodies, with glistening scales and rainbow tail fins.
Annabeth: Hippocampi! They're beautiful.
The nearest one whinnied in appreciation and nuzzled Annabeth.
Percy: We'll admire them later. Come on.
Then we heard the harpies:
Harpies: There! Bad children out of cabins! Snack time for lucky harpies!
Five of them were fluttering over the top of the dunes-plump little hags with pinched faces and talons and feathery wings too small for their bodies. They reminded me of miniature cafeteria ladies who'd been crossbred with dodo birds. They weren't very fast, thank the gods, but they were vicious if they caught you.
Percy: Tyson! Grab a duffel bag!
He was still staring at the hippocampi with his mouth hanging open.
Percy: TYSON!
Tyson: Huh?
Percy: Come on!
With Theo's help, I got him moving. We gathered the bags and mounted our steeds. Poseidon must've known Tyson was one of the passengers because one hippocampus was much larger than the other two—just right for carrying a Cyclops.
Percy: Giddyup!
My hippocampus turned and plunged into the waves. Annabeth's, Theo's, and Tyson's followed right behind.
The harpies cursed at us, wailing for their snacks to come back, but the hippocampi raced over the water at the speed of Jet Skis. The harpies fell behind, and soon the shore of Camp Half-Blood was nothing but a dark smudge. I wondered if I'd ever see the place again. But right then I had other problems.
The cruise ship was now looming in front of us—our ride toward Florida and the Sea of Monsters.
Riding the hippocampus was even easier than riding a Pegasus. We zipped along with the wind in our faces, speeding through the waves so smooth and steady I hardly needed to hold on at all.
As we got closer to the cruise ship, I realized just how huge it was. I felt as though I were looking up at a building in Manhattan. The white hull was at least ten stories tall, topped with another dozen levels of decks with brightly lit balconies and portholes. The ship's name was painted just above the bow line in black letters, lit with a spotlight. It took me a few seconds to decipher it: PRINCESS ANDROMEDA.
Attached to the bow was a huge masthead--a three-story-tall woman wearing a white Greek chiton, sculpted to look as if she were chained to the front of the ship. She was young and beautiful, with flowing black hair, but her expression was one of absolute terror. Why anybody would want a screaming princess on the front of their vacation ship, I had no idea.
I remembered the myth about Andromeda and how she had been chained to a rock by her own parents as a sacrifice to a sea monster. Maybe she'd gotten too many F's on her report card or something. Anyway, my namesake, Perseus, had saved her just in time and turned the sea monster to stone using the head of Medusa.
That Perseus always won. That's why my mom had named me after him, even though he was a son of Zeus, and I was a son of Poseidon. The original Perseus was one of the only heroes in the Greek myths who got a happy ending. The others died-betrayed, mauled, mutilated, poisoned, or cursed by the gods. My mom hoped I would inherit Perseus's luck. Judging by how my life was going so far, I wasn't real optimistic.
Annabeth: How do we get aboard?
The hippocampi seemed to know what we needed. They skimmed along the starboard side of the ship, riding easily through its huge wake, and pulled up next to a service ladder riveted to the side of the hull.
Theo: Ladies first.
Annabeth rolled her eyes as she slung her duffel bag over her shoulder and grabbed the bottom rung. Once she'd hoisted herself onto the ladder, her hippocampus whinnied a farewell and dove underwater. Annabeth began to climb. Theo got off his hippocampus and followed. I let him get a few rungs up, then followed him.
Finally, it was just Tyson in the water. His hippocampus was treating him to 360° aerials and backward ollies, and Tyson was laughing so hysterically, the sound echoed up the side of the ship.
Percy: Tyson, shhh! Come on, big guy!
Tyson: Can't we take Rainbow?
Percy: Rainbow?
The hippocampus whinnied as if he liked his new name.
Theo: (facepalms) Oh gods, he named it.
Percy: (to Tyson) Um, we have to go. Rainbow...well, he can't climb ladders.
Tyson sniffled. He buried his face in the hippocampus's mane.
Tyson: I will miss you, Rainbow!
The hippocampus made a neighing sound I could've sworn was crying.
Percy: Maybe we'll see him again sometime.
Tyson: Oh, please! Tomorrow!
I didn't make any promises, but I finally convinced Tyson to say his farewells and grab hold of the ladder. With a final sad whinny, Rainbow the hippocampus did a backflip and dove into the sea.
(A/N: TYSON IS TOO PRECIOUS!!!)
The ladder led to a maintenance deck stacked with yellow lifeboats. There was a set of locked double doors, which Annabeth managed to pry open with her knife and a fair amount of cursing in Ancient Greek.
I figured we'd have to sneak around, being stowaways and all, but after checking a few corridors and peering over a balcony into a huge central promenade lined with closed shops, I began to realize there was nobody to hide from. I mean, sure it was the middle of the night, but we walked half the length of the boat and met no one. We passed forty or fifty cabin doors and heard no sound behind any of them.
Percy: It's a ghost ship.
Tyson: No. Bad smell.
Theo: I don't smell anything.
Percy: Cyclopes are like satyrs. They can smell monsters. Isn't that right, Tyson?
He nodded nervously. Now that we were away from Camp Half-Blood, the Mist had distorted his face again. Unless I concentrated very hard, it seemed that he had two eyes instead of one.
Annabeth: Okay. So what exactly do you smell?
Tyson: Something bad.
Annabeth: (sarcastically) Great. That clears it up.
We came outside on the swimming pool level. There were rows of empty deck chairs and a bar closed off with a chain curtain. The water in the pool glowed eerily, sloshing back and forth from the motion of the ship. Above us fore and aft were more levels—a climbing wall, a putt-putt golf course, a revolving restaurant, but no sign of life.
And yet...I sensed something familiar. Something dangerous. I had the feeling that if I weren't so tired and burned out on adrenaline from our long night, I might be able to put a name to what was wrong.
Theo: We need a place to hide. Somewhere safe enough to sleep.
Annabeth: Sleep...
We explored a few more corridors until we found an empty suite on the ninth level. The door was open, which struck me as weird. There was a basket of chocolate goodies on the table, an iced-down bottle of sparkling cider on the nightstand, and a mint on the pillow with a handwritten note that said: Enjoy your cruise!
We opened our duffel bags for the first time and found that Hermes really had thought of everything--extra clothes, toiletries, camp rations, a Ziploc bag full of cash, a leather pouch full of golden drachmas. He'd even managed to pack Tyson's oilcloth with his tools and metal bits, Theo's bow, quiver, and bracers, and Annabeth's cap of invisibility, which made them all feel a lot better.
Annabeth: Theo and I will be next door. You guys don't drink or eat anything.
Percy: You think this place is enchanted?
Annabeth: I don't know. Something isn't right. Just...be careful.
We locked our doors.
Theo's POV
Theo: I'll keep watch. You get some sleep.
I sat in front of the doors. Annabeth had her hand on the handle, then she let go and sat next to me.
Annabeth: I don't feel so tired anyway.
Theo: Ha. Bullshit. I could see you fighting to keep your eyes open.
Annabeth shook her head. I knew there was no convincing her, so I just let her sit next to me.
Annabeth: Theo?
Theo: What's up?
Annabeth muttered something, but she said it so quietly, I couldn't hear her.
Theo: I'm sorry, could you say that again? I don't have super-hearing.
Annabeth: Why were you willing to stay in the Underworld?
I raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Annabeth: It's just...I mean, I don't have much to go back to, Grover could just get reincarnated, that's why we were willing to stay. Percy had to get out of there to return the master bolt. But you...You have David. You still have someone waiting for you.
Theo: Well, I'd be a pretty shit friend if I had let any of you stay in the same space as Hades. wouldn't I?
Annabeth: Don't joke.
Theo: I'm not. You're my friends, simple as that.
Annabeth: (sighs) Yeah, but...
She tried to think of something to reply to that but couldn't. She just shook her head.
Annabeth: Just...I'm grateful that you're willing to stick your neck out for me...for us...Just please...Try to avoid having to do that.
Theo: I...I'll try.
Annabeth let out a contented sigh, but I heard her snore.
Theo: Annabeth?
I looked at her, only to see her sleeping with her head on my shoulder. I shifted my body so that she could get more comfortable.
I couldn't help but realize how nice this is.
Timeskip
After an uneventful night, I heard a ship's whistle and a voice on the intercom—some guy with an Australian accent who sounded way too happy.
Voice: Good morning, passengers! We'll be at sea all day today. Excellent weather for the poolside mambo party! Don't forget million-dollar bingo in the Kraken Lounge at one o'clock, and for our special guests, disemboweling practice on the Promenade!
I felt Annabeth lift her head off my shoulder with her eyes wide.
Theo: You heard that too, right?
Annabeth: Yep. Loud and clear.
We both got up quickly and went over to Percy and Tyson's room. I started slamming the door with my fist. The door unlocked, and Percy was on the other side, his hair looking like a bird's nest.
Theo: You heard the guy say, "disemboweling practice," didn't you?
Percy looked alarmed.
Once we were all dressed, we ventured out into the ship and were surprised to see other people. A dozen senior citizens were heading to breakfast. A dad was taking his kids to the pool for a morning swim. Crew members in crisp white uniforms strolled the deck, tipping their hats to the passengers.
Nobody asked who we were. Nobody paid us much attention. But there was something wrong.
As the family of swimmers passed us, the dad told his kids:
Father: We are on a cruise. We are having fun.
Kids: Yes. We are having a blast. We will swim in the pool.
They wandered off.
Crew Member: Hello.
I noticed that his eyes were glazed.
Crew Member: We are all enjoying ourselves aboard the Princess Andromeda. Have a nice day.
He drifted away.
Theo: What the fuck?
Annabeth: This is weird. They're all in some kind of trance.
Then we passed a cafeteria and saw our first monster. It was a hellhound—a black mastiff with its front paws up on the buffet line and its muzzle buried in the scrambled eggs. It must've been young because it was small compared to most—no bigger than a grizzly bear. Still, my blood turned cold. I'd almost gotten killed by one of those before.
The weird thing was: a middle-aged couple was standing in the buffet line right behind the devil dog, patiently waiting their turn for the eggs. They didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary.
Tyson: Not hungry anymore.
Before Annabeth, Percy, or I could reply, a reptilian voice came from down the corridor...
???: Ssssix more joined yesssterday.
Annabeth gestured frantically toward the nearest hiding place—the women's room—and all four of us ducked inside. I was so freaked out it didn't even occur to me to be embarrassed.
Something—or more like two somethings—slithered past the bathroom door, making sounds like sandpaper against the carpet.
Reptilian 2: Yesss. He drawssss them. Ssssoon we will be sssstrong.
The things slithered into the cafeteria with a cold hissing that might have been snake laughter.
Annabeth: We have to get out of here.
Theo: You think?
Percy: You think I want to be in the girls' restroom?
Annabeth: I mean the ship, Percy! We have to get off the ship.
Tyson: Smells bad. And dogs eat all the eggs. Annabeth is right. We must leave the restroom and ship.
You know it's really bad when Annabeth AND Tyson agree on something.
Then I heard another voice outside--one that chilled me worse than any monster's.
???: -only a matter of time. Don't push me, Agrius!
Fucking Luke Castellan.
???: I'm not pushing you! I'm just saying if this gamble doesn't pay off—
Luke: It'll pay off. They'll take the bait. Now, come, we've got to get to the admiralty suite and check on the casket.
Their voices receded down the corridor.
Tyson: Leave now?
Annabeth, Percy, and I exchanged looks and came to a silent agreement.
Percy: Not yet.
Annabeth: We have to find out what Luke is up to. And if possible, we're going to beat him up, bind him in chains, and drag him to Mount Olympus.
Theo: As long as I can do the ass-kicking, I can live with that.
Annabeth volunteered to go alone since she had the cap of invisibility, but I convinced her it was too dangerous. Either we all went together, or nobody went.
Tyson: Nobody! Please?
But in the end, he came along, nervously chewing on his huge fingernails. We stopped at our cabin long enough to gather our stuff. We figured whatever happened, we would not be staying another night aboard the zombie cruise ship, even if they did have million-dollar bingo. I made sure my flashlight was in my pocket. Tyson insisted on carrying all of our bags, and Annabeth told Percy not to worry about it. Tyson could carry four full duffel bags over his shoulder as easily as I could carry a backpack.
We sneaked through the corridors, following the ship's YOU ARE HERE signs toward the admiralty suite. Annabeth scouted ahead invisibly. We hid whenever someone passed by, but most of the people we saw were just glassy-eyed zombie passengers.
As we came up the stairs to deck thirteen, where the admiralty suite was supposed to be, Annabeth hissed.
Annabeth: Hide!
She shoved us into a supply closet.
I heard a couple of guys coming down the hall.
???1: You see that Aethiopian drakon in the cargo hold?
???2: (laughs) Yeah, it's awesome.
Annabeth was still invisible, but she squeezed my arm hard. I got a feeling I should know that second guy's voice.
???2: I hear they got two more coming. They keep arriving at this rate, oh, man—no contest!
The voices faded down the corridor. Annabeth took off her cap and turned visible.
Annabeth: That was Chris Rodrigues! You know—from Cabin 11.
I sort of recalled Chris from the summer before. He was one of those undetermined campers who got stuck in the Hermes cabin because his Olympian dad or mom never claimed him. Now that I thought about it, I realized I hadn't seen Chris at camp this summer.
Percy: What's another half-blood doing here?
Annabeth shook her head, clearly troubled.
We kept going down the corridor. I didn't need maps anymore to know I was getting close to Luke. I sensed something cold and unpleasant—the presence of evil.
Annabeth: Percy, Theo, look.
She stood in front of a glass wall looking down into the multistory canyon that ran through the middle of the ship. At the bottom was the Promenade—a mall full of shops—but that's not what had caught Annabeth's attention.
What did catch her attention was the group of monsters that had assembled in front of the candy store: a dozen Laistrygonian giants like the ones who'd attacked Percy and Tyson, two hellhounds, and a few even stranger creatures—humanoid females with twin serpent tails instead of legs.
Annabeth: (whispers) Scythian Dracaenae. Dragon women.
The monsters made a semicircle around a young guy in Greek armor who was hacking on a straw dummy. A lump formed in my throat when I realized the dummy was wearing an orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirt. As we watched, the guy in armor stabbed the dummy through its belly and ripped upward. Straw flew everywhere. The monsters cheered and howled.
Annabeth stepped away from the window. Her face was ashen.
Theo: Come on. The sooner we find Luke, the better.
At the end of the hallway were double oak doors that looked like they must lead somewhere important. When we were thirty feet away, Tyson stopped.
Tyson: Voices inside.
Percy: You can hear that far?
Tyson closed his eye like he was concentrating hard. Then his voice changed, becoming a husky approximation of Luke's.
Tyson: -the prophecy ourselves. The fools won't know which way to turn.
Before I could react, Tyson's voice changed again, becoming deeper and gruffer, like the other guy we'd heard talking to Luke outside the cafeteria.
Tyson: You really think the old horseman is gone for good? (laughs) They can't trust him. Not with the skeletons in his closet. The poisoning of the tree was the final straw.
Annabeth: Stop that, Tyson! How do you do that? It's creepy.
Tyson opened his eye and looked puzzled.
Tyson: Just listening.
Percy: Keep going. What else are they saying?
Tyson closed his eye again.
Tyson: Quiet! (whispers) Are you sure? Yes. Right outside.
Theo: Fuck! Run!
Too late.
The doors of the stateroom burst open and there was Luke, flanked by two hairy giants armed with javelins, their bronze tips aimed right at our chests.
Luke: Well, if it isn't my three favorite cousins. Come right in.