Chapter 10: Las Vegas
Annabeth's POV
I was jittery in the train. Of course I always was, but now more than ever. My eyes drifted towards Percy, who was boredly watching out of the train. Hmm...
It's been three days since we boarded this train and four days left till doomsday. And the show I've seen that night was quite... unsettling. Percy's eyes were bright green, right? So why did his emerald eyes morph into chocolate brown the same time the earthquake and the rock spires appeared? It's as if he did that. I shook my head. This guy in front of me right now is my brother, and we all know that random earthquakes, tidal waves, and thunderstorms have been raging all over the states. It could have been a trick on my eyes. But Percy's face was close to mine. The chances of me mistaking it would be very minimal. His eyes were so bright that you could see it shining in the dark. No chance I could be mistaken. Unless...
The train lurched into a stop. Grover snapped open his eyes, suddenly alert. "We're here." I nodded. We all got our belongings and climbed down the train. "Where?" I asked Grover. He sniffs the air. "Follow me." He led us towards Vegas' very confusing traffic system, when we ended up on a dead end.
Lotus Casino
Lights reflected on us. "Grover, let's head back up, there's nothing here." Percy nodded. "No... it's here... come on." Percy and I looked at each other. Should we beat up Grover and drag him to oblivion? Percy mentally asked. I snickered and shook my head. Something about the casino seemed familiar, though... something in Odysseus's story... Ugh. I just can't put a finger on it. I followed Grover inside, Percy mumbling something about unsupportive siblings and teenage rebellion.I rolled my eyes.
A man welcomed us in. "Welcome, Sir, Ma'am. Shall we go to your penthouse suite?" Percy looked confused. "But we didn't—"
"It's been taken care of, Sir, now, your cash cards." He held up a green credit card. I looked at the lotus flower design. Something in Greek Mythology...
We headed up to our suite, and gasped at the luxury. Three Four-poster beds, a bathroom for each of us, a mini refrigerator, and the best of all, a small library for Architecture. I wanted to live there. If it wasn't for... for whatever reason we went here. The three of us enjoyed exploring the suite, taking a bath, watching in the plasma TV, when Percy held up a green card. "Game time." I resisted the urge to whack them both in the heads. Boys.
But seeing that we have no deadline... we don't have one, right?
I went with them. Bingo. A smiled widely when they have a room reserved only for architectural, logic and mind games. That is my place. I said bye to Percy and Grover for a while and head to the games. I was playing for.. I don't know, when a Woman's voice entered my head. "Annabeth. Snap out of your daze. You are meant to be intuitive. Use it now. Where ARE YOU?" I turned around. That voice... It was ATHENA'S!
I hurried off to find Percy and Grover. How could I have forgotten? We were in a deadline! And then, the name suddenly made sense to me.
Crap! We're in the territory of the Lotus Eaters! I need to find Percy and Grover! Where, where—
I spotted Percy's mop of a hair and rushed off to him. He was playing something that identifies marine biodiversity. Marine Biodiversity? It's not something children of Athena would do—
Oh shut up! Stop accusing your brother! You need to find the next weapon!
But isn't it peculiar—
.NOW.
I chided myself. Now is not the time to have a fight with my brother. I shook him. "Percy. Stop it, now!" He didn't listen to me. I spun him around, and forced his blank emerald eyes to look at me. "You. We need to find Poseidon's trident, and Zeus' Masterbolt!" I hissed. Something seemed to return to his eyes. "Oh gods. Where is..." He held my hand and rushed off. "Where are you—?"
Then I noticed his blazing eyes. "I should have known! It was HIM!" I frowned. What? "Percy, what are you talking—"
"It's the minotaur, Annabeth. It's him. He has the trident!" His eyes seemed stormy, one indicator that he was angry. But for?
He unsheathed his dagger. "And I saw him talking to Grover. But people here have been wearing costumes, so I thought Grover was socializing. He has Grover!" I put my hand in Percy's chest—rather reluctantly, though.—"Percy. Calm down. We'll find him. Do you know where the trident is? Probably Grover is there too."He nodded. "In the third floor, west wing, by the large black Mahogany door." I frowned again. How could he know that? Before I could question him, He dragged me of again. "Percy!" I hissed as he passed many people, pushing his way through. "I can feel it, Annabeth! We're almost there!" We stopped by the door Percy has described. "Percy—Wait!" He kicked the door.
We met a terrible sight. Grover was on his knees, blood pouring from the corner of his mouth, and beside him sat the Minotaur, holding the trident sitting on something that looked like a throne. I didn't even have time to blink. The Minotaur shot a jet of blue light towards Percy, who crumpled against the wall. I wanted to help him, only that the hellhounds in the room chose to appear at the same moment. I was hard-pressed to save my life. Out of my periphery, I saw Percy rising off the floor, steam rising from his clothes. Another blue jet hits him, and he slams against the wall. I shriek and try to run to his aid only when something slashed at my shoulder. I wince and fall on my knees. Stupid, evil hellhound! Percy looked up at me.
His eyes narrowed. Another claw slashes at my ribs, so I did not see what happened, or whatever it was that made the room destroyed.
A big rumbling sound was the only thing I've heard.
The next thing I know, Percy's cold hand was on my shoulder, and he was forcing squares of... ambrosia through my mouth. "Come on, Grover. Are you okay?" I heard Percy handing something to him, but when I heard the mighty CRUNCH!, I figured it was a tin can.
"Are you alright?" I looked up at Percy. He looked tired, and his eyes were a dull shade of green, looking almost like blue. He looked up the sky, which was now opened. "What happened?" percy looked back at me, then help me sit up. "Lightning."
"It's alright, Annabeth. I have the trident." Percy paused and put it into the bag that Chiron gave us. Looking back, I never took notice of it. It looked like a normal backpack, but Percy explained that it was an enchanted one that would only give you an item when the person who is in possesion of it calls for the item.
In short, the bag is steal proof, even from Power-hungry gods.
We hastily went out of the Casino, Percy running to a nearby newspaper stand. "Oh dear gods." He looked up at the sky, which immediately began to darken, as soon as I looked up too. "What is it, Percy?" He looked at me with his half-dead eyes.
"We were in the Casino for 3 days, Annabeth. Tomorrow is the deadline." I sucked at the air.
We're doomed.
I do not own PJO! R & R!