CHAPTER 1 - I Take the Hardest Survey of My Life
I sat there wondering, is it possible to die of boredom? I had been sitting in my room for what seemed like an eternity. Staring endlessly at this manifest called the SAT-Prep Booklet.
Calling it a booklet does not do it justice. A booklet is like a small informational pamphlet that you don't actually read, rather you just browse it for the pictures. This was definitely not a booklet. I was afraid if i threw the book at the wall, i would end up with an eviction notice from my mom's landlord for property damage.
"ARRRGH", I wished my girlfriend was there to help me. Annabeth had taken the SAT's last month and managed to get a PERFECT SCORE. I doubted i would even be able to fill in the bubbles correctly for my name.
Sadly though she was currently in Boston, a family emergency she said. I had tried to pry some more info from her but she gave me that look that said, "ask again and you'll die". I decided i liked living more and dropped the issue. I learned that when Annabeth doesn't want to talk about something, the best thing to do is not talk about it.
It didn't help that my mind was also still racing, trying to figure out what was going on with Apollo and Camp. Just a couple days ago the former God Apollo had shown up at my apartment with some new half-blood. Meg i think her name was...or was it Mel? I don't remember but bottom line, a giant statue, which strangely resembled Apollo had marched on Camp and nearly crushed it to pieces. Luckily only the pavilion was destroyed. Poor year rounders. I wondered where they would eat for the time being. I had Iris Messaged Annabeth and told her about the events that transpired. She said she would be back soon to design a "better", more "architecturally sound" pavilion. To me all you needed was a bunch of picnic tables.
Under normal circumstances I would of helped Apollo without a second thought, but after being forced into a demigod version of "Wife Swap" with Jason Grace, a demigod from the Roman Camp, i decided it was time to go on a demigod break. I had a future i needed to worry about and that meant scoring decently on the SAT's. Annabeth and I had decided we would both attend New Rome University, on a full scholarship (you get those when you save the world). The only way they would honor it though would be if I scored at least a 1,000 on the SAT, a score Annabeth scoffed at.
I involuntarily groaned at the book in front of me. "I need a study break" I decided as I slammed the book shut and began trooping my way to the kitchen.
My mom and step-father Paul had gone out for the night. My mom was due with my half-sister in a couple of weeks and Paul had wanted to take her out for the night before it got too close to her due date (Paul did not want his kid born in the third aisle of a movie theater).
Luckily for me my wonderful mom had put on a batch of cookies in the oven before she left and they would be done any minute now. As I eyed the oven timer I heard a knock on the door. Either my mom and Paul couldn't find a good movie to watch, or Annabeth had come back from her trip to Boston.
I scurried to the door, anxious for some company after enduring a long session of solitary confinement with the SAT. When i looked through the door peephole I was disappointed to see neither my mom or Annabeth. Instead I saw a middle aged women. She had her autumn colored hair tied back into a tight ponytail and wore business casual clothes. Slung over her shoulder was a large brown purse. If it wasn't 9 o'clock at night i would of thought she was trying to sell me something. Kneeling beside her was a cute little black labrador, wagging its tail back and forth in a ferociously adorable way.
This wouldn't be the first time I met a strange women with a seemingly innocent dog by her side. I remember back when I was only twelve years old. I had gone on a quest for Zeus's stolen Master Bolt. Long story short, the encounter resulted in me jumping off the Space Needle in Seattle.
"Hello". She began to knock again. "Is anyone home".
I opened the door slightly, not undoing the lock but opening the door wide enough for me to slip half of my face out the door to make eye contact. I was surprised by the color of her eyes. They were strikingly bright blue, I felt as if she was piercing my soul with them when we made eye contact.
"Um… it's kind of the middle of the night… are you trying to get a donation or something" I asked.
She retorted my question with a smirk and her dog gave a little yelp of joy. "No my dear, i'm here for a quick survey. My boss has been pressuring me to meet my quota for the day and you would be my last surveyor".
I didn't believe it one bit, I replied, "Isn't it a little late for that".
"I understand it's late but New York has a lot of apartment complexes, it takes a long time knocking from door to door. You must understand. Please my boss has threatened to fire me if i don't reach my quota. I'll have to give up poor little Leia" she said as she looked at her dog which had now whimpered with the mention of losing its owner.
I didn't want to turn her down but something seemed off about the way she looked. She didn't seem like a normal monster, if she was one she probably would of already ripped the door off and gnawed at my face.
I did a double take at her dog and began to falt. "I'm sorry miss but my parents aren't home. I can't let a stranger in without them knowing".
"Oh i'm not stranger" she replied. With that offered a business card which i begrudgingly took.
"FOX POINT PREDICTIONS"- The card read on the front with an address in small print on the bottom. With my dyslexia I could barely make out the print but i recognized the street name, i had seen it in downtown Manhattan before. I vaguely remember seeing multiple investment firms stocked up along that street.
She began to speak, "See dear, I work for an investment firm and your answers are needed to complete my research on investment plans".
"I'm sorry, I really am but I can't just let you into my house. I believe you-" I actually began to believe her, "but my parents would freak if something were to happen".
"Dear, it will only take a couple minutes. I promise." She gave me a large, pleading smile.
Maybe I could help her out and not have her come in. "Is it possible for you to just ask me the questions through the door and I can answer that way." I compromised.
"Dear my feet ache from walking in these high heels all day"- it did look pretty painful- "it would be much easier if I had a surface to write on. I left my clip board at the office".
Well she definitely didn't seem like a monster, maybe she was a goddess in disguise, trying to test me. Juno, Hera's Roman form had once made me carry her a half mile to Camp Jupiter. I was under the impression I was helping a homeless hippie. Gods can work in strange ways.
"Well I guess if you make it quick I can let you in" I said as I opened the door welcoming her in.
As she stepped in my apartment I noticed more features about her. She had pointy ears and a sharp nose. My friend Leo had pointy ears which made him look like an elf. She didn't reassemble an elf at all. She almost looked like a fox-
"Okay, now let's get started" she announced as her and the black Labrador headed past my small living room space into the kitchen where she sat down and took out paperwork.
I was beginning to regret my decision to ever open up the door. Hopefully the survey would be quick, part of me hoped I would get a small reward at the end. Even if it was a small knick-knack toy. I had loved getting prizes. I used to beg my mom to buy me those over priced McDonald's Happy Meals. I could of cared less about the food I just wanted the toy inside.
I took a seat myself at the table and noticed a nametag that read "Tammy". She shuffled through her purse, "Ah-ha" she exclaimed as she pulled out a pen. "Okay Dear. Lets begin!".
Tammy began to sprout questions at me left and right. How many in the household… favorite kind of movie genre… do you plan on investing in stocks… what model is your fridge. It was like a rapid fire questionnaire.
"Great you completed the first part" Tammy exhaled. "Now it's time for the second secret section. I must warn you though. These next questions can become very difficult to answer".
"Secret section" I asked puzzled. "Do i get a year's supply of something for completing this".
"No Dear, I'm sorry but my company is short on money. I would love to offer you something but we did just shut down 5 years ago".
Ice ran through my veins at that. I had remembered seeing on the news years ago that some large investment firm in Manhattan had taken a huge risk on a product and it flopped tremendously causing the firm to shut down. She didn't work for an investment firm. Sadly i figured that out a little too late.
Tammy stood up and gave out a large howl. I watched in horror as her appearance shifted from a human. No longer did she look like a casual business women. Her face morphed into that of a fox's. With a long snout with a small black nose tip and long pointy ears. Her clothes had ripped off leaving a furry body also resembling that of a fox. Her fur was thick and appeared as the same color as her humanoid hair was- autumn.
Normally when you see a fox, they are on all fours. Not Tammy. She stood straight like a person. Even when i stood up and pulled out my trusty pen Riptide and uncapped it to a sword, Tammy still hovered a good foot over me.
Her dog Leia had changed from a cute black lab to large hound, easily the largest dog I had seen. Leia barred her long sharp teeth at me and growl viciously as if she was ready to bite my face off.
"Not now Laelaps" Tammy said. "We need some more answers first. Now Dear Percy, I hope you can sit down and answers some more question for me. If you cooperate i will make your death a lot less painful than it has to be. Still painful though".
Laelaps… I had heard that name before. There was an ancient Greek Myth about a dog Laelaps. It was a gift from Zeus. It could hunt down whatever it was searching for and it would always succeed. But wasn't its purpose to hunt down the Teumessian Fox.
I looked at Tammy "You're the Teumessian Fox".
"Oh what gave it away" she mocked slyly. "Is it my ears? Or what about my nose? I've been trying to get a nose job for years but everyone refuses to serve a fox. At least they made a tasty meal".
With that her fox abdomen had let out a very unlady like growl. "Oh look. It's almost time for me to eat again".
"Wait...wasn't your dog Laelaps created to hunt you. Why is it helping you now."
"Dear, I am the one who is supposed to be asking the questions. But if you must know, Laelaps simply adores these doggy treats i bought decades ago. Zeus never gave Laelaps treats, all he did was give her new targets to hunt down. After a while even a dog's loyalty can falter when not cared for". Tammy then whipped out a doggy treat bag - DOGGY BITES - from her purse and fed it to Laelaps who was waiting anxiously with his mouth open and engulfed the whole bag.
In the moment Tammy was distracted I attempted to slash through her with Riptide. Unfortunately Tammy had the speed of a fox. Just when my sword was inches from her face she dipped down, dodging the arc of my swing. She swiped my arm causing me to drop my sword and let out a yelp of pain as claws raked my arm leaving trails of blood.
"Now Dear that wasn't nice" she smiled. "There's a reason no one can catch me. If only your silly Hunters of Artemis knew. I've been leading them on a wild goose chase all across America. By now they are probably somewhere in Indiana thinking they've been closing in on me. I will always be two steps ahead".
I grabbed a dish towel from the counter top and wrapped it around my arm. Those claws had pierced my skin good and caused my arm to gush out blood. I really need to stop getting blood all over my mom's good dish towels.
"What do you want" I inquired. "What information do i have that you need so badly".
"Well that's another question Dear. I thought i told you to stop asking questions, that's my job". Laelaps inched closer to me and let out a deep growl. "I know you have been to your father Poseidon's palace. You know the layout. More importantly you know his throne room. We need you knowledge".
I looked at her with my best impersonation of Annabeth's death glare. "What makes you think i would tell you anything".
Tammy broke out a large smile- if foxes could even smile- and reached into her purse, pulling out what looked like a skateboard helmet but much deadlier. Large sharp needles protruded from inside where the earholes should of been. On top of the helmet there was a small TV screen connected.
"I'm guessing that's not for cleaning ear wax" I said.
"Of course not dear. This little contraption will tell us everything we need to know. Maybe a little more" she winked.
My face went cherry red thinking about my memories with Annabeth. I had to think fast or i wouldn't be having any more memories with my girlfriend.
Tammy began to approach me with the helmet. "Don't make this any harder than it has to be. Just let me put this on and I won't have to order Laelaps to restrain you".
"Wait". An idea began to brew in my mind. "Laelaps can hunt down anything right".
"Of course she can. No one and nothing can hide from her". Tammy said proudly as if I had insulted her precious dog.
"Really because I don't believe you" I said looking at Laelaps, who had now began to bark sporadically. "In fact, i guarantee that i know something Laelaps can't find".
"Impossible!" Tammy shrieked. "My dog can find anything. Nothing can hide from him!"
I lifted my good arm and wagged my finger. "Nope. There's something i know not even Laelaps can find".
"Preposterous" Tammy started, "Name it and Laelaps can find it". With that Laelaps turned to its owner and began pant waiting- as if it was ready for Tammy to throw it a bone in a game of fetch.
"I don't know" I said. "I wouldn't want to ruin Laelaps reputation. No one cares for a dog who can find almost anything. That'll make Laelaps no different than a normal dog".
"How dare you say that" Tammy declared. "I demand you name something and Tammy will track it down within seconds".
"Well there are many things i doubt Laelaps could track down" I began. "But i'll go easy on her. I bet she can't find the upcoming SAT test answers".
Tammy's face gaped open like a fish and like out a small laugh. "Silly demigod, test answers are the easiest to find. Laelaps will have no problem finding answers to that useless mortal test". Tammy reached in her purse and pulled out black, sleek laptop. It reassembled the laptop that Annabeth had gotten from Daedalus. Top notch technology.
Tammy opened the laptop and laid it on the table. Laelaps jumped on the chair and began typing away with its snout. Normally this would of looked cute but when you life is on the line there's no time for cuteness.
Tammy looked at me. "Laelaps will find track down these answers in minutes" she assured.
I didn't know if Laelaps would be able to find the answers or not. All i knew is i had bought myself some time and i needed to act fast. I could feel Riptide had returned to my pocket but trying to lash out again might put me in an even worse position. My arm had gone from being cut up to going numb now. I needed to act fast.
Laelaps had now let out a fierce growl and began to speed up the mashing of keys on the laptop. Finding the SAT answers would be harder than actually getting a perfect score on the test. Tammy had started to gather a look of doubt on her face.
Just then the oven timer went off signaling the cookies my mom had began baking earlier were done. Tammy and Laelaps looked up from the laptop startled. Tammy turned to me "What was that" she growled. "Are you trying to pull a fast one on us Percy Jackson?"
"Oh no, not at all" I responded. "Those were just cookies in the oven. I can go pull them out". I didn't see how I would be able to pull them out, my entire right arm had gone numb and i'm pretty sure the pan was too large to be lifted with only my left.
"No" Tammy spatted. "You stay there, don't move a muscle. I will go and check that signal. I need to make sure you aren't alerting your other demi-god fools".
Tammy approached my oven cautiously. As if the oven was a time bomb that would explode any minute. Her dog Laelaps was still heavily focused on searching for those SAT answers with to avail.
Now was my chance. The smell of freshly baked cookies filled the air as Tammy opened the oven and bent over, putting her face just far enough away, allowing her to inspect the contents but not smear off her whiskers.
I dashed over before she could react and kicked her from behind forcing half her body to be slammed into the oven. She screamed in pain as heat caressed her body. I pulled out Riptide with my left arm and flicked the cap off turning the pen into a celestial bronze sword. I impaled Tammy in the center of her back, easily slicing the sword through her body causing a pile of yellow powder to be where Tammy once was.
Laelaps had now brought its attention away from searching for SAT answers and looked at me with a murderous look as she realized i just vaporized her owner. The dog leaped from the table and landed in front of me, ready to rip me to shreds with its teeth.
I realized the only reason Laelaps had a sense of loyalty to Tammy was because of the dog treats she got fed. Laelaps did like or care about Tammy, she just wanted more goodies.
"Calm down girl" I tried to soothe. "I know something even better than dog treats". With mentioning that Laelaps' growling began to weaken and her head tilted with curiosity. I put Riptide down on the countertop and held my hand out to signal peace. Slowly and cautiously I reached in the oven, making sure not to burn my hand off. I pulled out one of my mom's famous blue cookies which was now scattered with Tammy's remains.
Once I got a cookie out of the oven Laelaps snatched it away with its teeth, nearly champing off my fingers. I watched as the dog devoured the cookie, even faster than my half brother Tyson and he's a cyclops… long story.
At first I was sure I was dead. Then Laelaps demeanor changed from hatred to happiness. The dog's tail wagged back and forth excitedly and yelped for more. I pulled out the tray and shook all the cookies to the floor. Laelaps went to work on those cookies and before i could blink they were all gone. Laelaps had just eaten the remains of it's owner.
Laelaps form had changed from its monstrous hound back to the little black lab. She looked up at me once more realizing there was none left and let out a little puppy squeal of sadness. She barked once more at me and ran to my door, nudging its nose between the door and the frame, opening the door wide enough for it to get out and run away.
I looked at the scene in front of me and realized how much trouble i would be in when my parents got home. I needed to clean up and fast. I didn't want my mom to know about the monster attack, she was due soon with my sister and i was pretty sure stress wasn't good for pregnant women.
My mind was still bouncing with questions. I wondered why she wanted to know about my father's underwater palace. What could she do anyway? That palace is so heavily guarded I doubted even with the knowledge of the layout, that she would be able to get in. Foxes are sly I remembered. Tammy was so fast she could probably slip through guards in the blink of an eye and being a mythical creature I bet she could breathe underwater. Maybe she didn't want the information for just her. What if she was working alongside someone- someone hidden behind closed doors waiting for the right time to reveal themselves.
Too many thoughts were filling my mind. I was supposed to be on a demi-god break. So far this didn't seem like much of a break. I had to talk to someone about this encounter and the only person I could think of was in Boston.
With a jolt I remembered my arm which had gone completely dead on me at this point. I ran to my room, careful not to dip blood anywhere, and reached into the top shelf of my dresser where i kept my stash ambrosia. I pulled out a small ambrosia spray bottle, courtesy of the Hephaestus cabin.
"TWO PUMPS"- was written on the bottle. Anymore and I would probably burn up. Ambrosia was for the gods but demigods could be exposed to some for healing purposes.
As I sprayed my sliced up arm, I watched as the open cuts began to close. My arm began to feel much better as if life was re-inserted.
Now I would have to get to the cleanup part of the job. That's the part I hated the most. Usually it was a lot of sweeping yellow dust and hiding broken furniture. It's like making a sandwich and then realizing you have to put the bread and meat away before you can dive in.
Just as I headed to clean up, I heard a shriek come from the living room followed by a loud bang. Someone had walked in.