Hey guys! Thanks for all the reviews last chapter! Time for some responses! Yes, I am aware that the chapters feel short. I'm really sorry about that, honestly. I don't want to extend the update window, because I feel that four days works best. I don't want people to forget about this story, and I feel that if I made the window larger, I would procrastinate until the day or two before, giving you guys a crap chapter. I don't want to do that. Plus, no matter what, you can't escape the cliffhangers. Even if the chapters are 10k words, the cliffhangers will be at the end. There's no way around that, really. Sorry for the inconvenience, guys. Dave may or may not be the chosen one. We just have to see what happens! It won't be Percy though. He has a different destiny. ;) Again, sorry about the cliffhangers (no I'm not). There's no away around that pain. Be glad the update period isn't longer, otherwise I'd have the make the cliffies twice as bad! ;) Sorry also that last chapter was more of a filler, plus that beginning scene with Hestia and Zoe. We have to set up for the action! :D And school does suck, but Thanksgiving break doesn't! So at least I have that to look forward to. Except for all the work they'll give me regardless. Anyways, I own nothing but please enjoy this chapter! :)
Third Person POV
Perseus and Dave were left alone, the two of them still inside the van. "I guess it's just the two of us, then," said Percy.
"Are you ready to see some history?"
The two boys walked into the museum. Its entryway was impressive, dotted with aircraft from years and decades past. The two stood for a moment in the middle of the path right inside the doors, staring at the high-ceiling room and several staircases.
"Where are we going to go first?" Dave asked, excited. He had been on a quest once, a few years ago, but it was a minor one. Not one that had taken him any farther than Pennsylvania. He wondered if that meant something, especially since everyone claimed that he was the child of the prophecy. As the son of Zeus, he was indeed a child of the eldest gods. Nonetheless, he was thrilled to be welcomed on the quest by the surly huntress and traveling across the USA.
Perseus, just as surly as his sister could be, shrugged noncommittally. "I don't care."
Moving to the side of the path to make way for a family blabbering on in a language he didn't know (but guessed was from somewhere in Asia), Dave frowned at the son of Atlas. "What do you mean, you don't care?"
Perseus followed, shrugging again. "Look, kid, I don't want to be here. I don't want to be on this quest, and I certainly don't want to be anywhere near Zoe Nightshade."
Dave eyed the cloaked man, frowning deeply. "Why? She seems nice enough, especially for a Hunter of Artemis. What do you have against her?"
Perseus was silent for a moment. Finally, he sighed, saying with a tone of finality, "I need to get some shit together and she's one of the few people that can ruin everything."
"... Well, ok!" Dave said, unsure of how else to respond. He feared that if he said nothing, the mysterious man wouldn't say anything either, and they'd be stuck there in the National Air and Space Museum forever. Especially if the rumors were true... No one knows for sure if Hestia's champion has partial immortality.
That's not true. Obviously, Hestia and her champion both know if he has partial immortality, and maybe a few others know too. But Dave didn't know, so therefore very few people must know.
"Should we wait for the girls or explore on our own?" Dave asked after Perseus remained silent.
The son of Atlas started at the sound of Dave's voice, having gotten lost in his own memories briefly. "Sure," he muttered.
"Sure?" Dave repeated, wondering how in heck that answered his question. "What-"
"Atlas, Dave," Zoe said, breaking free from the crowd and jogging up to the two boys. Behind her, Amanda and Cassidy followed.
"Hi, Dave," Cassidy murmured shyly, turning a little pink.
The son of Zeus didn't notice her bashfulness. "Hey, Cassidy. You made it to the bathroom ok?"
Turning a shade of bright red, the daughter of Demeter meekly nodded her head.
"That's good," Dave said, voice trailing off at the end. He blinked, looking at around at everyone staring at him and Cassidy. Perseus wanted to face palm, the conversation was so cringey. Either Dave was extremely oblivious, or he didn't return the girl's affections.
Zoe cleared her throat, clearing the awkwardness in the air as she did so. "Shall we explore a bit? Do some sight-seeing?"
Dave looked delighted. "Yes!"
"Sounds like it could be fun," Cassidy told her shoes.
Amanda nodded, not much of a conversationalist, while Perseus shrugged. In all honesty, he would've preferred to keep moving. If one was to perish at a parent's hand, it would be harder to target them if they were in a moving vehicle. Perseus may not have a connection to Dave, Cassidy, or Amanda, but he still didn't want to see any of them hurt.
He definitely did not want to see Zoe hurt. He didn't believe that Atlas would be capable of hurting his youngest daughter, but why was she even out of the garden? Maybe he could come up with a discreet way to ask.
The group started to explore the museum, Zoe leading the way and Perseus bringing up the rear. Just as they were passing the Einstein Planetarium on the second floor, Zoe noticed the lonely son of Atlas and, recalled Hestia's words, dropped back to speak with him.
"Atlas," Zoe said, the name still tasting foreign in her mouth, but she forced it out. "Are you okay?" As much as it hurt her ego to ask a male if he was all right, it had to be done. For the sake of Hestia's faith in her and to satisfy the strange voice within that told her to cheer up this man.
"I'm fine," he snapped back, the cloak responding to his aggression and whipping the air.
Zoe faltered in her step. Perseus kept steamrolling on by, never stopping to admire the attractions. "You don't sound fine. Is something wrong?"
"No," he spat. "I said I'm fine. Leave me alone, Zoe."
The lieutenant of Artemis grabbed Percy's sleeve, yanking him to a stop. "Atlas."
Perseus stopped, but only so she didn't rip his shirt sleeve. His mind couldn't comprehend why she was suddenly taking an interest in him. She couldn't possibly know who he was, could she?
His heart began to speed up, his breath coming out in short gasps.
Zoe noticed the effect she had on the cloaked man by laying a hand on his arm. Immediately, she let him go and it was as if he had never lost his composure.
"I told you that I'm fine, huntress," Perseus said coldly. "I don't need a babysitter, as I am no doubt older than you are."
The lieutenant scowled. "I highly doubt that, Atlas. I-"
They would have certainly argued more, continued for hours, but the eardrum-shattering roar of a beast caused the daughter of Atlas to stop mid-sentence. The two siblings exchanged a glance before taking off in the direction of the roar.
There was a thudding of footsteps following them, which they hoped came from their three traveling companions.
The two dark-haired immortals ran to the staircase leading down to the first floor, skidding to a stop at the edge of the balcony. Their twin pairs of combat boots, Percy's pure black and Zoe's with silver stitching, screeched as they burned rubber.
"Is that-?" someone murmured behind them in disbelief.
Perseus turned around to look at three pale faces. Amanda was the one that spoke up, so he addressed her.
"If you were going to ask if that's the Nemeon Lion, then you are indeed correct."
"How do we defeat it?" Dave asked, putting on a brave face. Perseus admired the effort, but knew it was all for show. He had been around long enough to tell that David was terrified beyond belief.
"Its pelt makes it invincible," the daughter of Demeter mumbled in the back of the crowd, getting jostled by the occasional screaming passerby. Everyone in their small group stared at her.
"That's right," Zoe praised. "You'd make a good huntress."
Cassidy looked up to give a sincere smile to the lead huntress, but the touching moment was ruined by another furious roar from the monster. It swiveled its head around, as if it could smell the five half bloods but couldn't pinpoint where they were. If they didn't show themselves soon to satisfy the beast, someone was going to get hurt.
Ever the leader and hero, Perseus stepped forwards (figuratively, as if he literally stepped forwards, he would topple over the edge of the balcony). "All right, I have a plan."
"I'm the quest leader, here." Zoe scowled at the man that dared try to take charge during her quest.
Though no one could see it, Perseus rolled his eyes beneath the black hood. "Right, how silly of me to have forgotten that in such trivial a moment, when the fucking Nemean Lion could come kill us all at any second. Please, Lieutenant, carry on."
Zoe crossed her arms and glared. When she said nothing, Perseus continued with relaying his battle plan.
"As I was going to say before I was so rudely interrupted, I don't really care what the rest of you do. I know for a fact that if that stupid cat doesn't see a demigod in front of him in the next minute, he'll start going for the mortals. And although I'm no good Samaritan, I'd love to stay out of the Fields of Punishment when I eventually die. So, I'll hop on down there and hold off Mr. Fuzzy Pants for as long as I can. And if I'm not dead, I'd love it if you could come up with your own plan and help me out."
The four stared at Perseus, jaws dropping slightly.
"You're going to take on the invincible Nemean Lion alone?" Dave asked, incredulous.
"Yep. Now, let's hope that he's not specifically looking for demigod." With those words said, Perseus turned to face outwards from the balcony. He hoisted himself up onto the ledge and leaped off. Cassidy nearly screamed, but then the insane immortal grabbed onto a hanging aircraft, swing himself a little ways farther, then let go. He landed on the back of the Nemean Lion.
"Holy shit," Dave couldn't help but mutter in awe at the man's impressive display.
Zoe, also amazed though she was never admit it, cleared her throat. "We have to work fast. Here's the plan."
Hey guys! Homework sucks and do a lot of things. (Like school in general, and auditions, and volunteering for hours at a time when you should be working on the other two) Anyways, promise that they will fight the Nemean Lion next chapter. Wanted to get it in but... See previous statements. Anyways, next chapter will be Saturday, since I have something early Saturday morning that needs a lot of concentration so I'm taking Friday off. Anyways, thanks! :)