Chapter 12:
I stood listening, aware that Triton left in disgust after Poseidon called me his favorite son. My father was staring at me in wonder, making me uncomfortable. Just try and picture an adult staring at you - remember that you two are by yourself. Now picture the adult being a greek god and about ten feet tall. Uncomfortable right? Poseidon took a deep breath then started to talk.
"This daughter of Athena, you really seem to like her," my dad said folding his handing into his lap.
I could feel my ears turn bright pink. "Y-yes," I stammered.
"I was hoping for no but in that case." Poseidon stretched his arms out wide and a tidal wave started to form.
"What the . . ." I started to say.
In the middle of the wave was a tiny seahorse. The sea creature was so small, I almost didn't see it. The blue and purple animal was swimming circles around the sea god, making him laugh. What the Hades was going on here! Poseidon must have seen my face because he started the explain the hipper seahorse.
"This, Percy, is your guide." But, he made it sound like I was suppose to know what that meant.
"My guide," I repeated in disbelief.
"To finding Annabeth." When he said her name my head snapped up so quickly I could have broken my neck.
"Annabeth?"
"Now you must go, but remember: you're journey is just beginning."
And with that I left the underwater palace. My head broke the surface and I started swimming for shore. Nico and Thalia were quietly arguing when I reached them. I stuck my hand deep into my pocket to discover the seahorse that I'd seen at the palace. Yeah right, like this little thing was going to help me find my best friend. I shoved the sea animal deep into my pocket and went to go break up the fight.
". . . well maybe if you didn't look so gothic people would talk to you!" Thalia yelled at Nico.
"And maybe if you weren't so aggressively rude people would want to talk to you!" Nico spat.
"You wanna dance, ghost breath!"
"Bring it on, lightning hair!"
"Guys." They ignored me. "Guys . . . GUYS!"
That caught their attention.
"Stop fighting! That isn't going to help us find Annabeth any faster," I angrily seethed.
They both grumbled something about me finally saying something right. I started to walk away, not bothering if the were following behind me. Once I made it up to Pelus, the guard dragon, I glanced behind me. And there were the two bickering sisters, Nico and Thalia. At least they can get along long enough to save Annabeth, I hope.
"Where are we going, Seaweed brain?" Thalia asked, putting extra sarcasm on Annabeth's nickname for me. I let it slid.
I remembered the seahorse in my pocket. I stuck my hand down and grabbed it. Spinning it a couple times in my hand didn't help but I couldn't think of anything else to do with it.
"What the Hades is that thing?" Nico asked, pointing to the dried up seahorse.
"Our ticket to Annabeth." Was all I said.
I said a prayer to my father, then things got weird. The horse started to more. It was . . . getting bigger. Also, it had started to feel wet, alive, again. I almost dropped it when it squirted water at my face. Thalia and Nico were being unusually quit so I took it as to they were watching. The thing grew to be the length of my arm when I finally put it on the ground. I thought things couldn't get any stranger, then it talked to me.
"Hello Perseus. I am here to take you to your destination."
I jumped backward almost hitting Nico. He gave me a look then muttered something that sounded like "great, now we have a talking fish." I laughed a little then turned back to the seahorse.
"My destination?"
"The place you seek, master," It said mater-of-factly.
Before I could answer, or proses what it had said, the thing started to walk. I don't know if walk is the right word to describe what it was going. Maybe gliding on the grass is a better term. Anyways, I looked back at Nico and Thalia, shrugged then started to follow it. They were quietly walking behind me, except for the occasional comment like "what are we suppose to do with the walking GPS" or "can we eat it."
If it was going to take me to Annabeth I didn't care if it had one eye and three legs. Annabeth. I wondered how she was coping. That boy, Matt, was going to pay. I would also love to speak with his brother Kade to know why he wanted her alive, not that I object.
The last thing I thought about before getting ready to fight at any moment was that Annabeth better be okay or there would be some serious head bashing going on when this seahorse brought us to our "destination."
Don't worry, Annabeth, I'm coming to get you.
Im super sorry it took so long and that this chapter is short but at least it is better than nothing. Please review and read my new story about them reading the last two books. That chapter will be up shortly as well. Review and thanks for reading.