PJTLT Annabeth's POV 1

Disclaimer: I don't own any on PJO or HOO, that's Rick most of the lines in this story are Ricks, so I don't own them either.

allen r: thankyou for reviewing

10. Percy Blows up a bus

I went to my cabin and packed an architectural book, some plans a second set of clothes and my yankees cap, I didn't leave anywhere without it, I also brought my bronze knife, the knife Luke gave me when we first met. I hid the knife up my shirt sleeve.

At the camp store they gave us each one-hundred dollars and a pouch full of drachmas.

Drachmas were half-blood money, they were gold, on one side it had one of the twelve Olympians and the empire state building was on the opposite side.

Chiron told Percy all about the Drachmas, from ancient times till now.

Chiron gave me and Percy each a flask full of nectar, and an airtight bag full of ambrosia.

These would help us if we got hurt. He told us the precautions of the nectar and ambrosia, I already knew, but I listened anyway.

Grover was taking his reed pipes, although he wasn't really that good, but I wouldn't ever tell him that.

We waved goodbye to the other campers and made our way up to the top of the hill where Thalia's pine stood. I couldn't help thinking about that moment everytime I saw the tree.

Chiron was waiting for us in his wheel chair form with Argus, the head of security, he had eyes everywhere all over his body, but today he was wearing a chauffeurs uniform, so I could only see the eyes on his hands face and neck.

'This is Argus,' Chiron told us. 'He will drive you into the city, and, er, well, keep an eye on things.'

Maybe a bit more than one eye, I thought.

I heard footsteps behind us, I turned and saw Luke running up the hill, he was carrying a pair of basketball shoes.

'Hey!' He panted.

I blushed and looked down, why did I blush.

I didn't have any feelings for him did I, I had mixed for Percy, sure I hadn't seen Luke in days, but that wasn't a reason I should blush.

'Glad I caught you.' He said trying to catch his breath. 'I just wanted to say good luck,' Luke told Percy. 'And I thought...um, maybe you could use these.'

Luke gave Percy the sneakers, they didn't look any different from normal sneakers, but I knew they were.

'Maia!' Luke said, white birds wings sprouted out the heels of them.

Percy was startled so he accidentally dropped them, I would have dropped them if it was my first time I saw them.

The shoes flapped around on the ground, untill the wings folded in and disappeared.

'Awesome!' Grover said.

Luke smiled making his scar widen. 'Those served me well when I was on my quest. Gift from Dad. Of course, I don't use them much these days...' He now looked sad.

Percy looked awe-struck, he was speechless, he blushed pink in Luke still liking him, as if he expected Luke to dislike him.

'Hey, man,' he said. 'Thanks.'

'Listen, Percy...' Luke looked uncomfortable, as if he wanted to go on the quest. 'A lot of hopes are riding on you. So just...kill some monsters for me, okay?'

Percy shook hands with Luke, he patted Grover's head between his horns, he gave me a hug.

I stood there frozen with my mouth open in shock.

Luke ran down the hill and I felt my breathing getting faster.

'You're hyperventilating.' Percy told me.

'Am not.' I snapped back.

'You let him capture the flag instead of you, didn't you?'

He had figured it out, it took him ages.

'Oh...why do I want to go anywhere with you, Percy?' She asked.

I stomped down the hill, not bothering to look back to see if anyone was following me towards the white SUV. I heard the jingling of the car keys, Argus followed me and opened the door, allowing me to get in.

I heard Grover wail as he was dragged through the grass. He tried to say Maia, but he s face was almost buried in the ground.

'Maia.' I said.

Grover thanked me and we both went into the van

I looked through my bagpack to check I had everything, I hadn't left anything I needed behind.

I couldn't think of anything else I would need. I took my magic cap out and put it on my lap.

I was thinking about all the people at camp wondering what they were thinking, I looked up at Thalia's pine tree, what would she say to me.

I looked up at Percy I saw him throw something, but I couldn't see what it was.

Percy talked to Chiron a bit more before he came down the hill.

Percy was fascinated by everything he saw, I was too, I hadn't seen the real world in a few years, I felt like a little kid, looking out the window wondering what these places were.

'So far so good,' Percy said. 'Ten miles and not a single monster.'

He shouldn't have said that.

'Its bad luck to talk that way seaweed brain.'

'Remind me again - why do you hate me so much?'

I didn't hate him, I was still unsure of him.

'I don't hate you.' I stated.

'Could've fooled me.' He said.

I can imagine why.

I folded my invisibility cap, on my lap and wondered what other lecture was I going to give him. 'Look...we're just not supposed to get along,okay? Our parents are rivals.' I told him.

'Why?' He asked.

I was expecting that response.

There we're loads of reasons how Posiedon disrespected Athena. I sighed. 'How may reasons do you want? One time my mom caught Posiedon with his girlfriend in Athena's temple, which is hugely disrespectful. Another time, Athena and Posiedon competed to be the patron god for the city of Athens. Your dad created some stupid salt water 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.' I told him.

'They must really like olives.' He said.

What did I just say, I thought.

'Oh forget it.' I told him. It was impossible to tell him something that he would be serious about.

'Now, if shed invented pizza - that I could understand.'

Yep typical Percy Jackson.

'I said, forget it!' I almost yelled.

I saw Argus smile.

We slowed down the traffic was pretty bad in Manhattan.

It was sunset and I saw that it started to rain.

Argus dropped us off at a bus station. Percy looked like he knew it well.

I saw there was flyer, it was all soggy and would have been ripped off soon. It was a picture of Percy.

Percy ripped it off, hoping we wouldn't see.

I did, but I'm unsure whether Grover did or not.

Argus unloaded our bags, he made sure we'd get our bus tickets.

He drove us away.

Percy looked in a direction.

Grover slung his backpack on his shoulder.

'You want to know why she married him Percy?' He asked.

I didn't have a clue what he was talking about.

Percy looked back at Grover. 'Were you reading my mind or something?' He asked.

'Just your emotions.' Grover replied and shrugged. 'Guess I forgot to tell you satyrs can do that.' He continued. 'You were thinking about your mom and your step dad right?'

Percy nodded, but he looked at Grover like he'd forgotten to tell Percy a bunch of other things.

'Your mom married Gabe for you,' Grover told him. I was a bit confused. 'You call him "Smelly", but you've got no idea. The guy has this aura...Yuck. I can smell him from here. I can smell traces of him on you, and you haven't been near him for a fortnight.'

'Thanks,' Percy said. 'Where's the nearest shower?' He asked.

'You should be grateful, Percy. Your stepfather smells so repulsively human he could mask the presence of any Demigod. As soon as I took a whiff inside his Camero, I knew: Gabe has been covering your scent for years. If you hadn't lived with him every summer, you probably would've been found by monsters a long time ago. Your mom stayed with him to protect you. She was a smart lady. She must've loved you a lot to put up with that guy - if that makes you feel any better.' Grover said.

I didn't think Percy feel any better, he tried to show us he felt better.

I felt sorry for Percy, he had to put up with this smelly person since he was little. I now knew him better.

I think my crush I had on him before capture the flag and during-up untill I found out who his father was-had returned. I mean before I didn't know what to make of him, he was frustratingly infuriating, he was quite stupid, I needed to teach him everything, he already knew too much for the orientation video, but too less for me to tell him. He accepted everything that Chiron told him, but what I told him made no sense to him.

I was getting agitated while waiting for the bus, so we decided to play Hacky Sack.

I didn't think I was bad, I hadn't ever played before, Grover told how to play, basically we had to bounce a round spherical object anywhere off of our bodies, while making sure it didn't touch the ground.

The closest thing to a sphere was Grover's apples so we played with that instead.

Grover was good, I'm sure he was better than me, after all he suggested it so he must have had practice. I didn't think Percy was bad either.

The game ended once Grover swallowed the whole apple.

He tried to apologize, but I didn't hear him, I was laughing along with Percy.

That was the most fun I've had in a long time, a few years at least.

The bus came a few minutes later.

As we lined I heard sniffling, I knew it was Grover. I was sure we were in the wrong place, a monster must be close by.

'What is it?' Percy asked.

'I don't know,' Grover said. 'Maybe its nothing.' I could tell it wasn't nothing by the tone of his voice.

We showed the bus driver our tickets and we found seats at the back of the bus.

I put my backpack at my feet.

I was really nervous, I knew we could be in trouble, what if the monster boarded the bus.

I saw Percy was less tense now, Grover was as nervous as I was, he was looking around the bus for any sign of monsters.

I was slapping my cap on my thigh nervously, now I felt in danger, the first time in a few years.

I saw the last passengers get on the bus, they were three old ladies.

I didn't see their face, but I knew who they were.

I clamped my hand on Percy's knee, it was a reflex. 'Percy.' I told him.

He looked at the old Lady.

It was his maths teacher, as he called "Mrs Dodds", her real name was Alecto.

Percy went down in his seat, trying to hide. Like that would help.

In behind Alecto came two other old ladies.

Alecto had a shapeless orange hat while the one of the other old ladies wore a green hat, while the other wore a purple.

They sat in the seats, just behind the driver, two of them made an "X" in the isle showing that no-one would lose.

The bus pulled out of the station and we'd headed through Manhattan, I was waiting for them to take their chance to attack, us, but it was hard to predict what the mortals would see.

'She didn't stay dead long.' Percy said. I knew who he meant. 'I thought you said they could be dispelled for a lifetime.'

'I said if you're lucky.' I told him. 'You're obviously not.' He is the son of the sea god.

'All three of them.' Grover whimpered, as if he was about to get hit. 'Di immortales!'

'Its okay.' I said, all the gears in my head were spinning wildly, I was thinking as hard as I could trying to think of something. 'The Furies. The three worst monsters from the Underworld. No problem. No problem.' I needed to think of something. 'We'll just slip out the windows.' I suggested.

'They don't open.' Grover stated.

'A back exit?' I asked.

I didn't get any answer, but I guess I already knew the answer.

Even if we had a back exit it wouldn't help, not when we were heading for the Lincoln Tunnel.

'They won't attack with witnesses around. Will they?' Percy asked.

I already had a debate on this and came up with no conclusion.

'Mortals don't have good eyes,' I reminded him. Their brains can only process what they see through the Mist.' I said.

'They'll see three old ladies killing us won't they?' He asked.

I thought about it for a second.

Its not very easy to predict that. 'Hard to say. But we can't count on mortals for help. Maybe an emergency exit in the roof...?'

That's when we entered the Lincoln tunnel.

My great plan washed away.

It turned dark, apart from the lights in the tunnel, I was nervous with the eerie silence.

I saw Alecto get up, this is it, they're going to attack us.

'I need to use the restroom.' She said to the whole bus as if shed spent ages rehearsing for this moment.

'So do I.' Said the old lady in the green hat.

'So do I.' Repeated the old lady in the purple hat.

They started coming down the aisle making their way towards us.

All they wanted was Percy. I had an idea.

'I've got it. Percy take my hat.' I told him.

'What?' He said as if he hadn't heard me properly.

'You're the one they want. Turn invisible and go up the aisle. Let them pass you. Maybe you can get to the front and get away.'

'But you guys -'

'There's an outside chance they might not notice us,' I interrupted him. 'You're a son of one of the Big Three. Your smell might be overpowering.'

'I can't just leave you.' He persisted.

'Don't worry about us,' Grover said. 'Go!'

He took the Yankees cap from me and put it on.

Suddenly he was gone, I didn't know if he still stood there.

'Percy?' I whispered under my breath, keeping my eyes on the old ladies.

No reply, it must meant he had listened to me.

Alecto stopped and looked into one of the rows.

Percy must have been there, I hoped they didn't know he was there.

Alecto kept walking towards Grover and I.

Once the old ladies reached us, they wailed, they looked like huge pale brown bats with wings that were so thin, you could see their veins, their faces we're liked squashed skulls, they were a lot thinner, like chimpanzees. Their Purses had now transformed into black whips with fire flickering off the end.

They kept lashing their whips near us.

'Where is it? Where?' Alecto demanded.

The mortals on the bus were screaming, and cowering.

'He's not here!' I yelled at them, trying to keep my confidence. 'He's gone!'

It was only then I realised they asked "where is it". Not him.

The Furies raised their whips while I brought out my dagger, Grover pulled out a tin can, what good it would do, I don't know.

At least he was trying to help.

The Furies lashed their whips again.

Suddenly the bus jerked to the left.

The Furies hit a window.

It didn't smash though.

The bus kept jerking to the left and right for a while, I knew it was Percy, I would kill him later, if he hurt me.

We came out the Lincoln tunnel and a few seconds later we were heading towards a river.

The bus's tires screeched, and after the bus spun and crashed into the trees. The door flew open and everyone ran out.

I hoped Percy had gotten out.

I tried to hit the Furies with my dagger, but I couldn't get close enough when their whips lashed at us.

I saw Percy at the front of the bus, with my Yankees cap in his hand.

'Hey!' He yelled.

The Furies turned towards Percy, all three of them.

I knew it would be easier to attack them from behind, but they could turn really quick.

Alecto stalked up the aisle, while her sisters hopped onto the seats on each side.

Alecto flicked her whip towards Percy.

'Perseus Jackson,' Alecto said with a venomous tone. 'You have offended the gods. You shall die.'

'I liked you better as a maths teacher.'

That was his remark, she's not going to like it.

Grover and I were slowly moving behind the Furies, ready to attack when they were off guard.

Percy took out a bronze ballpoint pen.

He took the cap off and it became a meter long celestial bronze sword, I'm sure Chiron had that.

The Furies stopped for a second.

'Submit now,' Alecto hissed. 'And you will not suffer eternal torment.'

'Nice try.' Percy said.

I saw what Alecto would do before she did it.

'Percy, look out!' I cried.

Alecto lashed her whip around Percy's sword hand. The Furies on either side lunged at Percy.

I don't know how, but he managed to defend himself from two Furies.

Percy hit the first Fury with the hilt of his sword while the other was struck by the celestial bronze blade.

I jumped on Alecto trying to yank her backwards, she tried to claw at me, scratch me, she tried everything to get me off.

Percy destroyed the other Fury and Grover was wrapping Alecto's legs with her own whip.

She tried to get up, but she couldn't find any room.

'Zeus will destroy you.' Alecto told Percy. 'Hades will have your soul!'

'Braccas meas vescimini!' Percy yelled back.

Thunder shook the bus.

'Get out!' I yelled to both Percy and Grover. 'Now!'

We all ran outside and all the other passengers were wandering around, arguing with the driver, or running around in circles yelling, 'We're going to die.'

'Our bags!' Grover realized. 'We left our -'

BOOOOOM!

The windows of the bus shattered at the glass fell to the floor as the bus exploded.

There was a huge hole in the roof.

Alecto wasn't dead yet, she was wailing in distress.

'Run!' I said. 'She's calling for reinforcements! We have to get out of here!'

We ran into the woods, the flames of the bus were left behind us as we plunged into the darkness that lay ahead.

Tell me what you think.

Please R&R