Percy and Annabeth sat across from each other in a room in the Big House set aside for their search. Behind Annabeth was a wall-sized cork board with a plethora of documents and images pinned to it, connections between them marked out with coloured thread strung between the pins, making the wall look like an unraveled sweater had been dumped on an exploded scrapbook. Annabeth admitted that by that stage, even she had lost track of what she was doing. In front of Percy, however, was simply a map of the United States, with no markings beyond those printed by the manufacturer.
Having failed to make any progress cross-referencing old records, Annabeth came up with an alternative idea, relying on geography instead. If the East Coast was an analogue to Greece, and Mount Olympus was in New York, then the equivalent of Athens would be to the south – Washington D.C. The equivalent of Eleusis, where the cult would be based, would be nearby, in Maryland or possibly even Virginia. The hunt for clues could be made from there.
Although this was far from a perfect plan, fortunately for the two, they had until the end of July – three whole months – to carry out their search. Chiron came in to review their progress, but was stunned speechless by Annabeth's evidence web. Raising his eyebrows curiously, he made an awkward nod before wheeling back out again. Percy suppressed a round of hysterical laughter, but Annabeth was almost dozing off.
"I heard somewhere you could visit every apartment in New York City in just a couple months if you walk 8 hours a day," said Percy, "but I don't think we could cover two whole states in that time." Annabeth only yawned in response, but was actually listening as intently as she could.
"Do you think your dad might be able to help? You went to live with him again in Virginia, right?" Annabeth shot up irritably.
"Not anymore." Her tone was clipped and resentful. "He got a new job in San Francisco." She spoke the name as though she threatened to spit on the floor at every mention of it. Percy, however, just chortled.
"What's so bad about San Francisco?" Annabeth just gazed at him, astounded.
"What's so bad about San Francisco?" She was almost fuming by this point. How the Hades does he not know? "San Francisco, and in fact all of California, is where the residual energy from the fall of the Titans is. Almost every monster that reforms in Tartarus emerges in California, which means it's also where most of the minor monsters gather. The entrance to the Underworld, the Garden of the Hesperides, and Atlas' mountain are all there. Staying would be suicide. So, I ran away again."
Percy couldn't decide whether he was more disappointed that Annabeth had run away again, or that it seemed everything was conspiring to keep her at camp. He decided to change the subject, wary of bringing up anything serious again.
"Look. We have plenty of time. Let's work out some options and meet up again later." Annabeth nodded, and Percy left with a sad smile in her direction. Annabeth, however, did not leave. She took to her notes once more, in this case a family tree. Eumolpus was clearly highlighted, as was his father, Poseidon, but the name of the cult leader's mother was faded and in minuscule writing. Annabeth could only barely decipher it, but as soon she did, the gears in her head, once worn down by the fruitless search for Eumolpus, turned again with vigour, this time in search of a new target.
