Disclaimer: I am not Rick Riordan.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading. ROBO: thank you for the love!
34 - Outside and Waiting
Finally, we arrived to outside the palace after hours and hours of riding. We found a hill to observe the palace. It looked like a small fortress hanging on the edge of the cliff. It would be hard to attack on our own.
"How are we going do it?" I said to Triton.
"It's difficult to say. There are not a lot of guards but we could get lost and lose time if we don't know exactly where they are" said Triton.
"So?" I said.
"We wait" said Triton looking at the palace.
"We wait?" I yelled.
"Do you have a better idea?" said Triton raising his eyebrow.
"I go in, find my sister and leave" I said standing up.
"Go and get killed, better for me. It will distract them, so I can find my Mother" said Triton throwing a wicked smile.
"That's a good plan. Sorry to disappoint you but I will return and kick you two-tail ass" I yelled and swam to the palace.
"Percy, wait for me" said Tyson right behind me.
I swam carefully hiding in every rock, coral or hill I could find to get near to the palace. Tyson followed me very nice for such a big guy. After one hour, we got close enough to break in through a window. I was ready to do it but I heard some noise inside. I waited and listened carefully. Two telekhines were making guard and swam right beside us.
As soon as they were far enough, Tyson and I entered to the palace.
"Where to?" said Tyson.
"I have no idea. Probably to the throne or ball room but I don't know where it could be" I said.
"I know. Palace is like daddy's palace" said Tyson excited.
"So?" I said.
"The middle. We go here" said Tyson and leaded us to dark corridor.
After some dark corridors, three times almost got caught by the guard and two death ends, we found the second floor with an amazing and strategic view of the throne room. Tyson and I hid under a big pillar and waited for anything. If Keto was coming, someone had to meet her in here. Keto herself wasn't dangerous, but her kids like shrimpzilla were.
For what it seemed hours, nothing happened. It was boring to wait. For a couple of times I was tempted to make noise to get notice just to do something. Tyson dozed a couple of times sitting with his head on his knees. I probably dozed too.
Abruptly, a door opened with loud bang. I was startled and just in time I covered Tyson's mouth to stop him from yelling loud.
"Shhh" I said to Tyson and raised my head to look on the throne room below.
Keto entered with around a dozen of telekhines. Keto was wearing a gray traveling hood and ponytails. She looked like an underwater red riding hood. The telekhines were carrying three big human-size fish bowls and a bigger sand clock. Were those the ones on Pearl's dream?
"Keto, good to see you. A bit early I am afraid." said the mermaid in my dreams greeting her.
"Good to see you too, darling. You know early eel eats the fish. How is everything?" said Keto.
"Good. Tea?" said the mermaid.
"Yes, please" said Keto.
"Perfect and be nice. She doesn't have a clue and it's better this way. OK?" said the mermaid and walked back to wherever she came from.
Moments passed and the mermaid returned pushing a tea cart with Pearl at her side.
"Boys, bring a table and chairs, please" said the mermaid to the telekhines who brought the fish bowls. They ran out of the door.
"Pearl, say hi. Come on, sweetie. Don't be shy" said the mermaid pushing Pearl near to Keto. Pearl was fine at least. Keto smiled at her.
"Hello, Pearl. What a beautiful name. I am Keto" said Keto. Pearl nodded.
"Pearl, where are your manners? Greet her and shake her hand" said the mermaid scolding Pearl.
"Hi, Lady Keto. Is it true that you are the mom of a lot of sea creatures?" said Pearl.
"Yes, I am" said Keto fixing her glasses.
The telekhines returned with chairs, table even a tablecloth.
"Please, sit down" said the mermaid. Keto and Pearl nodded and sat down. The mermaid served the tea. Pearl took a sip and made a disgusting face. A giggle left my mouth and a telekhine turned at our direction.
"What's wrong, sweetie? You don't like tea?" said the mermaid.
"It's bitter, auntie" said Pearl looking at her.
"Don't worry, Pearl. I have just what you need" said Keto and looked in her pockets to draw out a little glass. "It's sugar for your tea"
"Thank you, Lady Keto" said Pearl taking the glass. She poured a bit and drank her tea.
The mermaid and Keto exchanged wicked smiles at each other. Probably, there was something in the tea. Pearl started rubbing her eyes and yawning loud.
"Auntie. I'm tired" said Pearl pulling the mermaid arm.
"I see that. Why don't you sleep in my lap? Come on" said the mermaid moving Pearl on her lap. Pearl closed her eyes and slept. Keto and the mermaid didn't talk for some minutes. They just drank her tea and stared at each other.
"How is the treacherous wife?" said Keto.
"Knocked out cold. I think we should bring her before she wakes up. She won't be happy" said the mermaid looking at some telekhines. They nodded at her and left the room.
"How much time?" said Keto.
"Just a couple of hours. I hope this works" said the mermaid.
"Of course, it will. We have all the ingredients and equipment. We just need to cook" said Keto sounding so intellectual like a science teacher.
"I think I will put the girl on her last bed" said the mermaid carrying Pearl. She put my sister inside one of the fish bowls and closed the lid.
The telekhines returned carrying Amphitrite highly guarded. She was still unconscious.
"Put here in there" said the mermaid. The telekhines placed gently Amphitrite inside a fish bowl and closed the lid.
"We are still missing one" said Keto.
"Don't worry, sweetie. Knowing him, he will be here soon if he is not already. Let's get everything ready. It's almost time or we will lose the tide and the moon rise" said the mermaid.
"Sure, thing. I only put the tubes in place and we are ready to cook" said Keto moving around the fish bowls and the sand clock. She placed flexible tubes attaching the fish bowls to the lower side of the sand clock. It only took her some minutes and I was waiting for the moment to attack.
Suddenly, I heard fighting noise outside and the door opened with a big bang. Triton entered the room with a spear ready to strike and surprised Keto who cried scared and hide behind a pillar and the mermaid.
"Aunt Melia" said Triton perplexed focusing in her aunt.
"Nephew. I was expecting you. I thought you were going to be earlier. You are kind of late by the way" said Melia without losing her cool.
"What is going on? Where is Mother?" said Triton swimming to the middle of the room. He was really surprised to see her aunt that he didn't notice Keto at all.
"Your Mother is quite well as you can see" said Melia pointing to fish bowl containing Amphitrite. Triton saw his Mother and advanced at her.
"Keto" said Melia camly. Keto took out a blowgun from her pocket and aimed at Triton. He left the sting and fell down completely unconscious.
"He is a bit dummy sometimes. I wonder if all his kids are that impulsive and brainless… That's great, but I maybe I should shot him after we put him in. He is quite heavy" said Keto.
"Don't worry" said Melia and the telekhines got Triton and put him on the last fish bowl.
"We are now ready. Let's cook" said Keto and moved the sand clock turning it upside down.