Disclaimer: I wish I was Rick but I am not. Sorry!
Author's Note: Love you, readers!
35 - The Sand Clock
I saw Keto moving the sand clock and it was now or never. I have to attack or something bad it would happen. I looked at Tyson and said low: "Tyson, you go to the entrance and I want you to talk like dad. We need a distraction"
"Said what?" said Tyson.
"Talk about… how mad you are at me" I said. It really didn't matter what he said. I just needed a distraction.
"Ok, Percy, be careful" said Tyson leaving me. I swam to the other side of the room ready to attack from behind. I just needed Tyson to make noise.
The sand inside the clock was emptying quickly and Pearl, Amphitrite and Triton were starting to look paler. The clock was sucking their strength and life force.
"Triton, Percy Jackson, are you here?" yelled Tyson sounding like dad.
Melia and Keto were alarmed and stared at each other.
"I thought you said that he was going to be on the Olympus" said Keto looking for an exit.
"He was. Who is Percy Jackson?" said Melia.
"Some dumb son of him. Why would he doing here?" said Keto.
"Pearl... she is his sister. We better hurry. Call your children to make time" said Melia looking at the clock.
"Sure" said Keto and concentrated hard rubbing her temple.
I swam behind the clock ready to destroy the fish bowls. I slashed the Triton's bowl and the farthest with my sword but nothing happened. Triton woke up and stared at me confused.
"I am taking you out" I muttered and he nodded. I wished I knew how. I started kicking the bowl and nothing.
Suddenly, Tyson blasted the door and entered caught by a sea snake embrace.
"You are not him" said Melia at Tyson.
"Sorry" said Tyson still sounding like dad.
I was running out of time. Triton looked at me dozing off again.
"Who are you?" said Melia.
"A stupid error son of him... Baby you can eat it but leave some space for dessert" said Keto to Melia then to the snake.
I gasped afraid and swam to the upper side of the bowl and pulled the lid with all my strength. It wasn't giving in. I had to release Triton and help Tyson. Then I had the right idea. I concentrated all my power and froze the bowl making loud cracking noises.
Keto and Melia must have turned at me because they yelled at the sea snake: "Get him"
I slashed again the bowl and cracked enough so I kicked it breaking the glass. Triton swam out of the bowl.
"What's going on?" said Triton a bit dizzy.
The sea snake was coming fast at us and I just moved Triton out of the way. I faced the snake alone. The snake opened his mouth ready to bite me but I dodged just in time. Triton got out his trident and attacked the snake.
"Free Amphitrite" said Triton looking at me ready to strike at the snake. I nodded and swam to the other bowl. I concentrated once in the bowl but another snake appeared and hit me. The snake caught me in his tail and took me in front of Keto and Melia. There were around twenty snakes in the room, Keto's kids, ready to strike at us.
"Percy Jackson" said Keto
"So this is the brother. He doesn't look powerful but I bet he is tasty" said Melia.
"Put him on the bowl with the girl. We must do something about your nephew" said Keto.
"Your kids will do just fine" said Melia while the snake dragged me to the bowl.
Triton was fighting against the snakes but more kept coming. I couldn't see Tyson. I didn't know if he was eaten or escaped. I needed to escape to. I concentrated my power. I made the snake and myself swirled fast enough to be released.
"Stop him" yelled Melia.
The snakes swam quickly at me and I wasn't fast enough to outrun them. I ducked and dodged them but soon one would catch me. Pearl and Amphitrite were looking paler every passing second.
All of sudden, one snake trapped me tightly on its tail. Triton also was contained. I could see his determination to free himself. I felt the same way. As much as I tried, the snake grip was strong.
"What are you doing?" said Triton.
"We are cooking" said Keto fixing her glasses.
"Cooking what?" I said loud and surprised.
"You dummies. I must say two demigods and two minor gods, one traitor included, will make a tasty treat" said Keto
"For what?" said Triton.
"For my Father Oceanus" said Melia.
"Hey, wait. I thought we were doing biscuits for my kids" said Keto surprised.
"Of course not my sweetie, this will heal faster my Father" said Melia sweetly.
"You tricked me" said Keto annoyed
"Like you haven't tricked me before, remember the races back in the Mare Nostrum" said Melia. Keto wrinkled her nose thinking.
"Yeah, I think I owned you this one. Next time, it's for my kids" said Keto
"Deal" said Melia.
"How did you catch Mother?" said Triton.
"That's easy. Some nightshade on her morning tea. Your mother is a mermaid of habits particularly drinking her morning tea no matter the place. So I found her in the canyon drinking and I joined her. It was so easy to slip nightshade to her tea" said Melia.
"Why the full moon?" I said.
"Everything taste better when you cook with moonlight and full moon is the sweetest" said Keto sounding so nerdy for my taste.
"Don't worry, boys. Soon, the girls will be drained and it will be your turn. Just wait" said Melia. Keto looked at the clock.
"Maybe five more minutes" said Keto. I turned to see the clock it was 1/3 full. We were losing time. Pearl almost looked like her mother on the morgue scaring me to Hades... and Amphitrite wasn't any better.