It didn't take me long to pack. I decided to leave the Minotaur horn in my cabin, which left me
only an extra change of clothes and a toothbrush to stuff in a backpack Grover had found for me.
i did the same thing as Percy leaving my own minotaur horn in my own room .
now i was wearing a dark orange jacket while over it a long dark red coat was placed as well .a pair of dark orange jeanse as well as sneakers .
all in all i liked my new look since it was quite awsome and even better it had quite alot of orange which was my favorite color .
after being done with looking in the mirror i took my weapons that had been given to me by my mom .
they where the same dark staff with a big sun like mark around it smaller rings being seen as well as a sword .
i held them in my hands while a back pack that was dark blue was on my shoulders in there being a chainge of cloths for later .
walking out from my cabin i walk around wanting to go to the gate where the entrance /exit to the camp was .
i observed the looks that where given t ome by the other campers and they made me feel a bit embarest but even more i was feeling a bit elated by the said stares for i wanted to look quite cool in their eyes .
i did not knew if this worked or not but at least i was hoping despite the hope being small .
The camp store loaned me one hundred dollars in mortal money and twenty golden drachmas.
These coins were as big as Girl Scout cookies and had images of various Greek gods stamped on
one side and the Empire State Building on the other. The ancient mortal drachmas had been
silver, Chiron told us, but Olympians never used less than pure gold. Chiron said the coins might
come in handy for non-mortal transactions—whatever that meant. He gave Annabeth and me
each a canteen of nectar and a Ziploc bag full of ambrosia squares, to be used only in
emergencies, if we were seriously hurt. It was god food, Chiron reminded us. It would cure us of
almost any injury, but it was lethal to mortals. Too much of it would make a half-blood very, very
feverish. An overdose would burn us up, literally.
Annabeth was bringing her magic Yankees cap, which she told us had been a twelfth birthday present from her mom. She carried a book on famous classical architecture, written in
Ancient Greek, to read when she got bored, and a long bronze knife, hidden in her shirt sleeve. I
was sure the knife would get us busted the first time we went through a metal detector.
Grover wore his fake feet and his pants to pass as human. He wore a green rasta-style cap,
because when it rained his curly hair flattened and you could just see the tips of his horns. His
bright orange backpack was full of scrap metal and apples to snack on. In his pocket was a set of
reed pipes his daddy goat had carved for him, even though he only knew two songs: Mozart's
Piano Concerto no. 12 and Hilary Duff's "So Yesterday," both of which sounded pretty bad on
reed pipes.
when i saw my friends being ready i smiled brightly at them ,they all looked at me with intrigued looks as did mr Chiron for they observed my outfit which i hoped was making some waves even if it was quite strainge .
i saw that Percy gave me a grin even if he shaked his head a bit probably for the outfit i had was a bit to much on the dark and orange ,Grover simply stared at me smiling ,while Annie was giving me a look as she gazed at me ,making me feel flustered by the look she was giving me .
it was quite sad that she said nothing but her look alone said something like my outfit having to much dark as well as orange ,i smiled akwardly at her even if i said nothing for this was not my fault at all .
she in the end stop with her critisizing expresion turning her head to the side looking at something else . that made me quite glad for i was quite nervouse while being looked up by her .
she was a preaty girl after all so it was only obviouse that she was probably trying to see how i looked ,i did not bother to much about this for it was quite wierd but i did felt that maybe Annie despite being very smart as well as very preaty still being a girl she might try to show interest in these kind of things .
i shrugged not really wanting to think about this for it was simply just a small thought and nothing more and chose instead to try and focuse on what was more important meaning the quest we where about to embark .
We waved good-bye to the other campers, took one last look at the strawberry fields, the
ocean, and the Big House, then hiked up Half-Blood Hill to the tall pine tree that used to be
Thalia, daughter of Zeus.
Chiron/mr Chiron was waiting for us in his wheelchair. Next to him stood the surfer dude I'd seen when
I was recovering in the sick room. According to Grover, the guy was the camp's head of security.
He supposedly had eyes all over his body so he could never be surprised. Today, though, he was
wearing a chauffeur's uniform, so I could only see extra peepers on his hands, face and neck.
"This is Argus," Chiron told me. "He will drive you into the city, and, er, well, keep an eye on
things."
we bought snickered at the joke even if it was not that funny after all .
we suddenly heard foot steps behind us so having our attention cought we turn wanting to see who it was .
Luke came running up the hill, carrying a pair of basketball shoes.
Percy was a bit surprised like i was but i now had my guard around Luke for i knew the guy despite being nice he was faking it ,meaning he was not nice at all but he was just playing pretend so i simply stared at him quite hard .
as i eyed the box i wandered what was inside there something told me that it might be a dangerous object that was probably meant to hurt us in our quest but i held my thoughts about this not wanting to be paranoied .
still i did not dismissed the posibility for that to be true at least even if it was a small chance .
i chose to ignore these thoughts for the moment not wanting to let Luke get suspicious of me for being or at least trying to let him think that i was maybe on to him and tried to expose him some how for being a traitor to the camp .
"Hey!" he panted. "Glad I caught you."
he told us as he gasped me and Percy smiled at him not really having a problem with that ,though i smiled a bit forcebly for i was now starting to not trust Luke for he did gave that aura like he was a bad guy despite trying to pretend he was nice .
in a way i felt pity if not bad for the guy since he really was a nice person deep down and he cared about those around him but he probably was to wrapped up in his own guilt as well as bitter feelings to see that he was not alone in this strainge world we where living .
we saw Annie/Annabeth blush the way she always did when Luke was around.
right away i started to get a bit annoyed so i gave Luke a glance when i walked twoards Annie as she as well as Percy ,Grover and mr Chiron looked at what i was doing the three where quite amused by my sudden actions while Annie was a bit intrigued but i did observed she was slightly amused as well despite being probably surprised by what was i doing .
ignoring the looks i stood next to Annie and simply stared annoyingly at Luke starting to give him warnings wanting him to not get any funny ideeas for i was not about to let him have Annie for i liked her so he was better off with out trying to get to close to her despite he was way to older for her anyway .
i saw the guys simply smirk or snicker at me annoying me even more for this was not funny for me since Annie was in dagere her and they where laughing at my actions in trying to keep her safe from grubby paws that probably wanted to sink their claws in her hoping to have her for themselves .
something that i did not wish to give up no matter what since well to be honest i was starting to like Annie and it was not in the way like i did twoards a girl friend but it was more like i was really liked her ,so i wanted the others to understand this and back off before i was going to get mad and really show what was going to happen when i was geting mad at some one .
i was snapped out of this sudden reaction by Luke who was giving me a smirk annoying me even more wanting me wish to get really phisical with the guy and punch him a few times for smirking like that at me but i ignored him for i knew he was not really worth the troubel .
we heard him talk further as he looked at us still smirking making me grumbel under my breath making me wanting to either prank or start beating the crap out of the guy for still keeping that annoying smirk on his face .
i huffed and ignored him not wanting to snap at him and start to do who knows what for this was not the time or the place to do things like these .
"Just wanted to say good luck," Luke told me. "And I thought ... um, maybe you could use
these."
as he said this we saw him open the shoe box and a pair of shose was taken out ,they looked like normal sneakers but i was wanderying about them ,still not really having a thing on them i simply thought they might be plain despite probably having something like magic or what ever on them .
He handed me the sneakers, which looked pretty normal. They even smelled kind of normal.
Luke said, "Maia!"
White bird's wings sprouted out of the heels, startling me so much, I dropped them. The shoes
flapped around on the ground until the wings folded up and disappeared.
to be honest that was quite cool and i was about to thank the guy for trying to land them to us but suddenly as if something was a bit wierd or bad like i felt as if i had a tummy ache i with draw my thought and stare at Luke in wander now small shivers suddenly starting to flow through me for some reason .
i did not knew why this was happening for what Luke did was nothing bad but as i felt this strainge odd bad feeling like i thought if not the guy had a reason to hand us these kind of sneakers for despite looking normal they had wings which meant that they where able to fly .
at this nothing was bad but thinking a bit and also to who the guy was giving the box suddenly i was starting to have a very bad feeling my eyes started to open wide as i had a feeling like i kind of knew what Luke was probably up to as he gave the shose to us since if these things really where able to fly and the box was given to Percy who was the son of mr Poseidon then to me this was obviouse what Luke was probably hoping to happen .
right away what the oracle as wierd and creepy she was was starting to make sense at least when she told us that we might be betrayed by a friend ,for Luke was trying to have Percy killed in this quest so that we will not succed and let war happen .
right away i clentched my fist for now i was mad since here we where trying to go out and try to stop this crazy stuff from happening thanks to a big fluff drama queen and one of our own or at least that is what me and Percy as well as probably the entier camp felt towards Luke was betraying us ,wanting war to happen .
at these thoughts i really was annoyed angry and sad for this guy was doing this ,sure he did not had to care about me or Percy but this guy was trying to turn his back on everyone for who knows what reason and this to me was not right since there was going to be a lot of people who will be sad as well as angry with Luke .
"Awesome!" Grover said
at the words i grumbell about this now really showing Luke an annoyed look that surprised him as well as my friends as they saw me do this with out a reason ,well that is what they where thinking for they did not knew that Luke was a traitor like i was starting to see him even if i did not wished ,despite this being wrong as well as sad it was a bitter trough for the guy was angry and despite having a right to do this he was taking his anger on everyone and thing .
Luke smiled. "Those served me well when I was on my quest. Gift from Dad. Of course, I
don't use them much these days..." His expression turned sad.
that was true for the others but i saw him and that was not good for the guy despit being sad he was angry as well as spitefule a strainge feeling of anger and also superiority suddenly made it self present as i looked at the guy i was reminded of Sasuke for even if he was cold broody and alone the guy had this dark aura around him that was hard for others to get near him .
this was the same feeling that i was geting from Luke at the moment and this was not good for me since was really bad i did not want to think like this and even wished to think trhis wierd feeling that i was suddenly having was just my imagination or something but sadely it was not for ,the guy really did looked like Sasuke did after what had happen to his familly who had been killed by his elder brother and this was not good at all for Luke despite being angry and probably vengefule was also seeking power ,power to destroy who ever made him feel like this and this was not good in the least .
i shaked my head wanting to get these strainge thoughts out from my head but even so they where still there ,i wanted to not listen to not think that Luke might want power at all cost but something in my gut told me that i should listen to this strainge feelings that i was starting to have as i was around the guy for they felt some what real even if i did not wished to think like this about this whole matter regurding Luke .
I didn't know what to say. It was cool enough that Luke had come to say good-bye. I'd been
afraid he might resent me for getting so much attention the last few days. But here he was giving
me a magic gift... It made me blush almost as much as Annabeth.
"Hey, man," I said. "Thanks."
"Listen, Percy ...Naruto'' Luke looked uncomfortable. "A lot of hopes are riding on you. So just ...
kill some monsters for me, okay?"
i said nothing for i was now on guard around Luke but i gave a nod same as Percy who was quite greatfule for this since he smiled apreaciatively twoards Luke .
We shook hands. Luke patted Grover's head between his horns, then gave a good-bye hug to
Annabeth,/Annie who looked like she might pass out.
After Luke was gone, I told her, "You're hyperventilating."
hearing this i grinned a bit for it was true since Annie did looked like she was about to hyperventilate and pass out but not wanting to think about this i retorted wanting to stop Percy from trying to tease Annie about this .
''hey Perce come on don't say that i mean sure you might be right about this since Annie did look like she was about to pass out but really stop saying that for it's not funny ok besides if there is a person Annie should act like this when being around it should be me got it not some one like Luke so i will apreciate if you will do your self a favore and shut up about this thing got it ,or i might shut you up the hard way .''
as i said this Percy stopped talking and now was staring at me as if i said something wierd and now was wanderying if i was really serious but got nothing for i was starting to get annoyed as i was thinking what that guy was doing to Annie when it should had been me who should make Annie act like this and not that guy who was way to old to be with her .
''woah hold it Naruto i was only joking man i was not really serious so there is no need to be this serious ,ah i get it you are mad because Luke had huged Annabeth instead of you hm Naruto you really are something aren't you already wanting to hug Annabeth you really have quite the crush on her don't you ?''
i said this for it was surprising to hear Naruto talk like this as well as see him quite mad at me for even bringing this up .right away i grinned for i knew why he was mad and told him about this wanting to see what his reaction will be .
and like i thought he was stunned and had a red face while his eyes where open wide but he was not the only one for Annabeth was just as embarest as he was as the two heard me out .
''w what ? hey what are you talking about sea wead brain you better start making sense and fast or i might show you what will happen if you talk about stupid things when you should not !''
Annabeth said now showing bought intrigue as well as annoyance i was a bit surprised but still smile smirking ,Naruto was now staring at me showing he was annoyed by my teasing words and was trying to not look at us for he was embarest which was wierd as well as interesting to say the least .
''ah why should i it is quite obvious isn't it ? i mean Naruto here dose not like when some one else tries to go close to you so you should figure things on your own wise girl .''
right away Annabeth gave me a look as did Naruto bought being annoyed at me ,Naruto for saying that and making things quite akward while Annabeth was more embarest for her cheeks where starting to gain a small shade of pink showing she was embarest by my words .
''Percy /sea wead brain shut up ''me and Annie told Percy talking in sync wanting him to shut up we looked at one another right away being quite surprised by this when we bought started to laugh since this was quite funny as well as unexpected .
''uh ok fine i will shut up but i will not retract what i said especially after this ''i told them while smirking at them ,they bought looked at me as if they wanted to hit me for trying to tease them but nothing happened to my luck .
''ugh really Perce you are so lucky that we are best of friends ''i told him since i had nothing better to say after what he told me and Annie ,he smirked at me as he heard the words but said nothing for a few moments though .
''ahm ahm by the way Annabeth when we played captured the flag you let Luke try to capture the flag instead of you isn't it ?'' i said this for i wanted to see her reaction and it was not disapointing for she right away stood straight and showed a red face becoming quite flustered as well as annoyed at me for trying to still tease her .
even Naruto was looking at her with surprise wanderying if what i said was true i saw him starting to think about this for a few moments when he looked at Annie who did the same but the contrast was very diferent for Naruto was quite annoyed after hearing this and looked like he did not wished to hear me out for he did not liked that Annabeth had let Luke get to the flag instead of her .
Annabeth instead was flustered as well as intrigued by seeing the annoyed look that Naruto was giving her as if he was blaming her about doing something she should not have done even if she wanted too .
this was so funny to see that i started to smirk then laugh at the two since they where very amusing acting like this .
"Oh ... why do I want to go anywhere with you, Percy?"
Annie said and i agreed with her even if i was annoyed by this for i did not liked what she did in that game i did not care or at least thought i did not but it was quite obvios that some how or for some reason i was bothered by this for i did not liked it at all .
''Annie is right why should we go anywhere with you ,and stop laughing at us for this is not funny just so you know ''i said this with a grumpy tone showing that i was annoyed at Percy for laughing at Annie and me .
he stopped but smiled amusingly at us anyway making me sigh and ignore him .
we bought saw Annie starting to stomped down the other side of the hill, where a white SUV waited on the shoulder of the
road. Argus followed, jingling his car keys.
''ah hey Annie wait for me ''
i suddenly shouted starting to run after her once i realised that this was a small oportunity to walk alone with out Percy or any other annoying guy standing around to interfere or try to interupt us .
I picked up the flying shoes still smiling at how Naruto and Annabeth where acting when suddenly i had a bad feeling about them as i kept them in my hand I looked at Chiron. "I won't be able
to use these, will I?"
He shook his head. "Luke meant well, Percy. But taking to the air ... that would not be wise
for you."
I nodded, disappointed, but then I got an idea. "Hey, Grover. You want a magic item?"
His eyes lit up. "Me?"
Pretty soon we'd laced the sneakers over his fake feet, and the world's first flying goat boy
was ready for launch.
"Maia!" he shouted.
He got off the ground okay, but then fell over sideways so his backpack dragged through the
grass. The winged shoes kept bucking up and down like tiny broncos.
"Practice," Chiron called after him. "You just need practice!"
"Aaaaa!" Grover went flying sideways down the hill like a possessed lawn mower, heading
toward the van.
Before I could follow, Chiron caught my arm. "I should have trained you better, Percy," he
said. "If only I had more time. Hercules, Jason—they all got more training
"That's okay. I just wish—"
I stopped myself because I was about to sound like a brat. I was wishing my dad had given
me a cool magic item to help on the quest, something as good as Luke's flying shoes, or
Annabeth's invisible cap.
"What am I thinking?" Chiron cried. "I can't let you get away without this."
He pulled a pen from his coat pocket and handed it to me. It was an ordinary disposable
ballpoint, black ink, removable cap. Probably cost thirty cents.
"Gee," I said. "Thanks."
"Percy, that's a gift from your father. I've kept it for years, not knowing you were who I was
waiting for. But the prophecy is clear to me now. You are the one."
I remembered the field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, when i was about to vaporized Mrs.
Dodds. Chiron had thrown me a pen that turned into a sword. Could this be ... ?
I took off the cap, and the pen grew longer and heavier in my hand. In half a second, I held a
shimmering bronze sword with a double-edged blade, a leather-wrapped grip, and a flat hilt
riveted with gold studs. It was the first weapon that actually felt balanced in my hand.
"The sword has a long and tragic history that we need not go into," Chiron told me. "Its name
is Anaklusmos."
"'Riptide,'" I translated, surprised the Ancient Greek came so easily.
"Use it only for emergencies," Chiron said, "and only against monsters. No hero should harm
mortals unless absolutely necessary, of course, but this sword wouldn't harm them in any case."
I looked at the wickedly sharp blade. "What do you mean it wouldn't harm mortals? How
could it not?"
"The sword is celestial bronze. Forged by the Cyclopes, tempered in the heart of Mount Etna,
cooled in the River Lethe. It's deadly to monsters, to any creature from the Underworld, provided
they don't kill you first. But the blade will pass through mortals like an illusion. They simply are
not important enough for the blade to kill. And I should warn you: as a demigod, you can be
killed by either celestial or normal weapons. You are twice as vulnerable."
"Good to know."
"Now recap the pen."
I touched the pen cap to the sword tip and instantly Riptide shrank to a ballpoint pen again. I
tucked it in my pocket, a little nervous, because I was famous for losing pens at school.
"You can't," Chiron said.
"Can't what?"
"Lose the pen," he said. "It is enchanted. It will always reappear in your pocket. Try it."
I was wary, but I threw the pen as far as I could down the hill and watched it disappear in the
grass.
"It may take a few moments," Chiron told me. "Now check your pocket."
Sure enough, the pen was there.
"Okay, that's extremely cool," I admitted. "But what if a mortal sees me pulling out a sword?"
Chiron smiled. "Mist is a powerful thing, Percy."
"Mist?"
"Yes. Read The Iliad. It's full of references to the stuff. Whenever divine or monstrous
elements mix with the mortal world, they generate Mist, which obscures the vision of humans.
You will see things just as they are, being a half-blood, but humans will interpret things quite
differently. Remarkable, really, the lengths to which humans will go to fit things into their version
of reality."
I put Riptide back in my pocket.
For the first time, the quest felt real. I was actually leaving Half-Blood Hill. I was heading
west with no adult supervision, no backup plan, not even a cell phone. (Chiron said cell phones
were traceable by monsters; if we used one, it would be worse than sending up a flare.) I had no
weapon stronger than a sword to fight off monsters and reach the Land of the Dead.
"Chiron ..." I said. "When you say the gods are immortal... I mean, there was a time before
them, right?''
"Four ages before them, actually. The Time of the Titans was the Fourth Age, sometimes
called the Golden Age, which is definitely a misnomer. This, the time of Western civilization and
the rule of Zeus, is the Fifth Age."
"So what was it like ... before the gods?"
Chiron pursed his lips. "Even I am not old enough to remember that, child, but I know it was
a time of darkness and savagery for mortals. Kronos, the lord of the Titans, called his reign the
Golden Age because men lived innocent and free of all knowledge. But that was mere
propaganda. The Titan king cared nothing for your kind except as appetizers or a source of cheap
entertainment. It was only in the early reign of Lord Zeus, when Prometheus the good Titan
brought fire to mankind, that your species began to progress, and even then Prometheus was
branded a radical thinker. Zeus punished him severely, as you may recall. Of course, eventually
the gods warmed to humans, and Western civilization was born."
"But the gods can't die now, right? I mean, as long as Western civilization is alive, they're
alive. So ... even if I failed, nothing could happen so bad it would mess up everything, right?"
Chiron gave me a melancholy smile. "No one knows how long the Age of the West will last,
Percy. The gods are immortal, yes. But then, so were the Titans. They still exist, locked away in
their various prisons, forced to endure endless pain and punishment, reduced in power, but still
very much alive. May the Fates forbid that the gods should ever suffer such a doom, or that we
should ever return to the darkness and chaos of the past. All we can do, child, is follow our
destiny .
"Our destiny ... assuming we know what that is."
"Relax," Chiron told me. "Keep a clear head. And remember, you may be about to prevent
the biggest war in human history."
"Relax," I said. "I'm very relaxed."
When I got to the bottom of the hill, I looked back. Under the pine tree that used to be Thalia,
daughter of Zeus, Chiron was now standing in full horse-man form, holding his bow high in
salute. Just your typical summer-camp send-off by your typical centaur.
Argus drove us out of the countryside and into western Long Island. It felt weird to be on a
highway again, Annabeth and Grover sitting next to me as if we were normal carpoolers. After
two weeks at Half-Blood Hill, the real world seemed like a fantasy. I found myself staring at
every McDonald's, every kid in the back of his parents' car, every billboard and shopping mall.
"So far so good," I told Annabeth. "Ten miles and not a single monster."
She gave me an irritated look. "It's bad luck to talk that way, seaweed brain."
''uh guys stop don't start fighting we should be a team isn't it ? and Perce Annie is right about this we should not really think like this i mean you do rember what happen when we where about to reach the camp right ?''
i said for i did not want these two to start arguing already when the time was not needed ,Percy had any right to feel optimistic for we where on a good start but Annie also had a point in her trying to look out for any potential monsters for they might show up trying to stop us from reaching our goal that was to stop this stupid war .
they gave me looks Annie was annoyed and a bit embarest that i said this but remained silent while Percy shuted up him too being a bit embarest as he did rembered what happen when we where on our way to camp that was not a good time for having to deal with that thing was not funny especially when mrs Jackson was taken away while we where unable to do a thing but watch as she had been taken away right before our very eyes .
"Remind me again—why do you hate me so much?"
i suddenly asked wanderying about this .
Annabeth as well as Naruto where looking at me as i said this when she responded feeling quite calm at the moment .
"I don't hate you."she said but i did not really belived her ,even Naruto had a bit of a hard time beliving her despite how he was acting most if not all the time .
"Could've fooled me."
we saw her starting to fold her cap of she responded as she looked at us again not really feeling aminosity twoards me but she simply did not liked me very much unlike Naruto .
''Look ... we're just not supposed to get along, okay? Our
parents are rivals."
as Annabeth /Annie said this we bought asked for this was quite stupid to act twoards some one just for the simple fact that the parents did not get along .
"Why?"
we saw her suddenly giving us a sigh "How many reasons do you want? One time my mom caught Poseidon with his
girlfriend in Athena's temple, which is hugely disrespectful. Another time, Athena and Poseidon
competed to be the patron god for the city of Athens. Your dad created some stupid saltwater
spring for his gift. My mom created the olive tree. The people saw that her gift was better, so they
named the city after her."
we bought stared at her as she said this i winched a bit at the girlfriend part for i did learned about Medusa and that was not cool but i had my doubts about this for something was quite funny regurding this whole thing with the woman who had been turned in to a monster that turned people to stone .
the rest to us was quite well wierd for we did not really cared about what Percy or Annie's mom did for this was in the past so it was like ancient history already ,very ancient history .
"They must really like olives."
we snickered at this for it was funny but Annie was not amused for she replied wanting us to stop .
"Oh, forget it."
Now, if she'd invented pizza—that I could understand."
Percy said when i had a confused look after he said that word for i did not knew what that was i was wanderying about it thinking that maybe it was some kind of food but i did not knew what type of food was to begin with .
''I said, forget it!"
Annie said with an annoyed tone wanting this to stop already she was quite funny in my opinion since she looked more cute when she was upset or mad ,i blsued right away and shaked my head not wanting to think about stupid things like that since this was wierd and silly but even so it was true .
''you know you are quite cute when you get mad Annie i hope you won't take this in a wrong way since i said it .''she right away gave a surprised look showing she was a bit embarest by my sudden words .
''ah w what the heck are you saying wiskers you are so wierd you know talking like this from time to time .''
i had a small blush since this was true and now tried to corect my self for saying that out loud since it was simply stupid .
''ah so this means you like angry mad girls isn't it Naruto then i think Clarisse might be quite a good match for you as well ''
Naruto right away gave me a look as if he was not amused and even made an expresion that looked like he was about to barf as i said this and tried to tease him about him being quite a good match with Clarisse ,i did not blamed him for even i felt that the girl was a bit to much .
''Perce you are my best friend but really stop it for i do not like war girl like that got it she is like a wierd bear girl who might maul anyone who gets to close to her so i hardely think she might like me in that way ,and even if she might i will not be stupid enough to tangel with her for she is very hard i mean you saw how she is when she is mad as well as most of the times isn't it ? i don't hate her but she is a bit to much for me to handel so no thanks i don't want some one who is way to rough .''
saying this made Percy nod even if he smiled amusingly at me much to my small annoyance even Annie was intrigued by this and was now looking at me with a teasing expresion something that made me wanting to groan and hope that the ground will take me away for this was not good if Annie was in as well as Percy and wanted to tease me as well about this .
''ah so you think Clarisse is to rough for you huh well well wiskers i did not knew that you are the sensetive type seeing how you are way to energetic and seem to have almost unlimited ounce of energy ,i mean with how you act i think you might handel some one like Clarisse very easily but if you are saying she is to much for you !''
Annie said now having something to poke fun at much to my embaresment i gave her as well as Percy who was snickering a look showing that i was annoyed at the two of them for the words that had been said .
''arg shut up the bought of you so what if i feel like that about Clarisse huh ? why did you brought war girl suddenly in to this huh she is at best a friend well i think she might be ,but this is not important i mean i don't even like her and so your words are invalide when talking about war girl got it so stop it .''
after saying my pieace i huffed turning my head away from the two starting to mumbel under my breath when suddenly i heard Annie snicker earning my attention making me wander what was she thinking about that she felt it was so funny .
''pfff you really are wierd wiskers acting like this we where only teasing you nothing more but you are so defensive what are you so worked up about this ,you think that we might poke fun at you liking Clarisse or something like that ?''
right away i looked at Annie with a shocked almost horrorfied expresion for i did not liked Clarisse nor i did wish to think about her in the same way i did towards Annie since we where just friends and wanted to remain like that at least on my part for i did not knew how she felt about me nor i wanted to know hoping for this to be better left unknown .
''please stop it i don't like war girl like that ok so this is not funny alright ''
Annie sighed even if she was still amused and was now staring at me still showing a small smirk in her said smile ,i tried to ignore her but she was making things quite hard since she was not stoping with her smirking at me .
''ok what do you want Annie for your smirks are quite annoying do you want to tell me something or what ?''i said to her when she suddenly pretended that she had been surprised by my tone as well as expresion .
''oh wiskers but what got you on a bad mood that you are answering like this ,i mean i just wanted to say that despite being annoyed you really are something when you get mad aren't you ? you are quite cute when you are angered or annoyed did you know that ?''
Annie told me as she spoke though the way she was looking at me left me wander about what was she up too for she was not acting like her normal self but she was smiling teasinly at me as if she was playing or something like that .
''uh are you ok ?Annie cause you are acting wierd you know !''i said to her and she looked at me when she stopped now showing her normal expresion instead of her strainge one from a few moments ago .
''ugh honestly wiskers can't you understand what flirting is ,not that i really meant to do that for i was not but i simply tryied to have a bit of fun at your expense for the moment since you are quite easy to get under when you get mad .''
i stared at Annie not beliving what she had told me even Percy who was quiet deciding to listen was quite surprised but he then grinned at Annie as she said what she tried to do to me .
''huh ? you tried to flirt with me ?''
Annie sighed as if i said something quite obviouse stoping suddenly not wanting to talk about this anymore .
Percy as well as Grover snickered at us but we ignored them wanting to just enjoy the rest of the ride .
In the front seat, Argus smiled. He didn't say anything, but one blue eye on the back of his
neck winked at me as well as Naruto .
Traffic slowed us down in Queens. By the time we got into Manhattan it was sunset and
starting to rain.
Argus dropped us at the Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side, not far from my mom
and Gabe's apartment. Taped to a mailbox was a soggy flyer with my picture on it: HAVE YOU
SEEN THIS BOY?
I ripped it down before Annabeth and Grover could notice.
''that guy gabe huh he really is a jerk isn't he man what i would wish to put that guy in his place !''i said when Percy smiled at this agreeing with me regurding that guy for he really was a pig as well as a jerk who deserved to be roughen up a bit or a lot more till he was not going to be such a smart greasy ass .
''yeah he is but i don't care about that guy he can rot for all i care ''i said feeling no sympathy to that guy who was a jerk to me as well as my mom .
i noded agreeing for that guy really was that kind of person ,i wandered if my mom was probably going to help if i where to ask her to do something about that guy Gabe but then i thought about mr Hades and i wandered if perhaps he might do something ,the thought of that sleazy man having a some what peculiar accident where he was going to simply just end up vaneshing was not so bad .
we walked away from the maile box wanting to not get to far away from Annie or Grover for we did not wished to be left behind by our friends .
Argus unloaded our bags, made sure we got our bus tickets, then drove away, the eye on the
back of his hand opening to watch us as he pulled out of the parking lot.
I thought about how close I was to my old apartment. On a normal day, my mom would be
home from the candy store by now. Smelly Gabe was probably up there right now, playing poker,
not even missing her.
Grover shouldered his backpack. He gazed down the street in the direction I was looking.
"You want to know why she married him, Percy?"
we bought stared at him as he said this earning our attention .
''Were you reading my mind or something?"
''yeah cause that would be quite cool ''i said as i thought about this but Grover who smiled responded .
"Just your emotions." He shrugged. "Guess I forgot to tell you satyrs can do that. You were
thinking about your mom and your stepdad, right?"
i was a bit disapointed while Percy was a bit intrigued by this but said nothing about it .
I nodded, wondering what else Grover might've forgotten to tell me.
"Your mom married Gabe for you," Grover told me. "You call him 'Smelly,' but you've got no
idea. The guy has this aura…. Yuck. I can smell him from here. I can smell traces of him on you,
and you haven't been near him for a week."
"Thanks," I said. "Where's the nearest shower?"
''Perce is right we need to find one around here and fast for that guy really reeked and i mean it ''i replied with an amused expresion even if Grover nor Percy liked my joke about how that guy Gabe smelled but i felt like saying it any way .
"You should be grateful, Percy. Your stepfather smells so repulsively human he could mask
the presence of any demigod. As soon as I took a whiff inside his Camaro, I knew: Gabe has been
covering your scent for years. If you hadn't lived with him every summer, you probably would've
been found by monsters a long time ago. Your mom stayed with him to protect you. She was a
smart lady. She must've loved you a lot to put up with that guy—if that makes you feel any
better."
at the words i as well as Percy who was sad as well as bitter agreed with Grover for she really did loved him habing to put up with a guy like that for so long .
It didn't, but I forced myself not to show it. I'll see her again, I thought. She isn't gone.
I wondered if Grover could still read my emotions, mixed up as they were. I was glad he Naruto and .
Annabeth were with me, but I felt guilty that I hadn't been straight with them. I hadn't told them
the real reason I'd said yes to this crazy quest.
The truth was, I didn't care about retrieving Zeus's lightning bolt, or saving the world, or even
helping my father out of trouble. The more I thought about it, I resented Poseidon for never
visiting me, never helping my mom, never even sending a lousy child-support check. He'd only
claimed me because he needed a job done.
All I cared about was my mom. Hades had taken her unfairly, and Hades was going to give
her back.
You will be betrayed by one who calls you a friend, the Oracle whispered in my mind. You
will fail to save what matters most in the end.
Shut up, I told it.
The rain kept coming down.
We got restless waiting for the bus and decided to play some Hacky Sack with one of
Grover's apples. Annabeth was unbelievable. She could bounce the apple off her knee, her elbow,
her shoulder, whatever. I wasn't too bad myself.
this had been the first time i played like this for i never had done something like this and it was very fun ,we trully have been impressed with how Annie was doing in this game for she trully was amazing ,
i was not half bad since i manage to move the appel but i was not as good as Annie or Grover even Percy was quite good at this type of game .
The game ended when I tossed the apple toward Grover and it got too close to his mouth. In
one mega goat bite, our Hacky Sack disappeared—core, stem, and all.
Grover blushed. He tried to apologize, but Annabeth Naruto as well as my self were too busy cracking up.
Finally the bus came. As we stood in line to board, Grover started looking around, sniffing
the air like he smelled his favorite school cafeteria delicacy—enchiladas.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I don't know," he said tensely. "Maybe it's nothing."
''don't say that for with how are you acting at the moment it surely look like you might have smelled something ,i hope it's not like last time ,for if it is then this won't be good ''
now Percy ,Grover where looking at me wanderying about what was i thinking when they widen their eyes realising where i was geting the two showing that they did not like things as they knew what mostely happen the last time we drive a buss .
''ok that will be like really bad just so you know ''i said to my best friends who nodded agreeing with this hoping that this was not going to happen again .
''if it dose then we are so screwed i mean how bad will our luck really be ''.Grover said when we smiled akwardely at that since that was quite bad .
''ok what are you three geting jumpy for huh cause i really want to be on the loop and not left out ''.
Annie said to us showing she was a bit annoyed that she was kept out of the loop .we looked at one another wanderying if we should tell her or not ,after a few moments Annie who waited starting to get impacient as she looked at us wanting for one of us to tell her something i decided to tell her what was the figety feling we all had at the moment .
''ok don't freak out but the reason we are kind of worried is that we are wanderying if not we are going to meet a monster or monsters in particular right as we started the quest what i am geting at is those three monsters who are guarding the underworld and they work for you know what god .''
i said not wanting to tell her out loud that we where worried about meeting the three furies right as we started the quest i was not that worried but still if we where to be surounded by normal people we where not really able to just swing our weapons out and kill three monsters for who ever might be on the buss with us might freak out as they might see what we could do .
''w what ? a are you kiding me or are you serious ? i mean why would the three kindely ones be on a buss with us ?''
as Annie asked this we where suddenly nervouse about this for even if it did not happen in the buss Grover sure did acted like we where going to be attacked by them .
''cause our luck sucks and there are monsters who are out to get me just for being alive ''
i said when Grover ,Naruto looked at me with plaine looks for this was not funny .
Annabeth gave me a blank look when she retorted as she heard this .
''ok i don't know either to tell you that you are very terible at making jokes or you are serious .''
i had a nervouse smiling expresion for i knew i was not joking about this and nither where Naruto or Grover ,for they where not laughing but keeping their straight expresions .
we right away started looking over our shoulders .
I was relieved when we finally got on board and found seats together in the back of the bus.
we stowed our backpacks only Naruto for some reason decided to keep his close by .
. Annabeth kept slapping her Yankees cap nervously against her thigh.
As the last passengers got on, Annabeth clamped her hand onto my knee. "Percy."
An old lady had just boarded the bus. She wore a crumpled velvet dress, lace gloves, and a
shapeless orange-knit hat that shadowed her face, and she carried a big paisley purse. When she
tilted her head up, her black eyes glittered, and my heart skipped a beat.
It was Mrs. Dodds. Older, more withered, but definitely the same evil face.
''oh come on how is that fair i mean what is this ,this is so unfair Percy for the record if this might get worst that it is i will blame you for it ''
i complained as i saw mrs Alecto standing in a seat on the same buss as us i was not afraid of her but she sure knew how to make her self notice since she really brought out the evile granny vibe very well .
''really wiskers you just had to say it didn't you ?''Annie said as she looked at me ,i was not about to take my words back for they where true .
''what don't blame me for this being true blame who ever it might be behind this since he or she or rather them think this might be fun ,sure this will be so much fun ,lets have fun with the three evile grannies ,ugh i so hate this thing about being a demi god ,when we will find that stupid bolt i will shove it down that guy's ass so hard that he might have to stick it out the hard way .''
i said not really liking this one bit for this was not fair ,now Annie was almost about to snort same as Percy and Grover who listen to my rant about this and also about to what i was about to do to that guy who was in so his called home probably having a laugh at us thinking we where stupid for doing this instead of him doing it on his own .
''Naruto you really are annoyed by this aren't you ''Grover said showing an amused expresion but i ignored him ,Percy did the same talking about this .
''well we can't blame him for being like this since this sucks but hey at least our brave leader spoke his feelings out .'' i said wanting to laugh about this but i was ignored though Annabeth suddenly perked up and give me a look showing she was not agreeing with my teasing words about Naruto being our leader .
''sorry sea wead brain but none of you are good to be leaders of this quest for that responsability will be best fit with me ''
we rolled our eyes at Annabeth /Annie when she said this for this was quite obvious why she had said it since she wanted to show off in front of us for she was in the quest .
i for one did not care who was the leader wanting this to be over already ,ok i was a bit ticked off but that was because this was so unfaire meeting three monsters already when this should had been done much later and in a far more better if not cool way instead of a boring way as this .
''sure Annabeth /Annie what ever you say ''we told her me with an annoyed tone while Grover,Percy with smirks .
we saw her right away starting to pout kind of like me and she gave us a stinky eye not wanting to coment on what we said ,wanting to grumbel about this instead .
Behind her came two more old ladies: one in a green hat, one in a purple hat. Otherwise they
looked exactly like Mrs. Dodds—same gnarled hands, paisley handbags, wrinkled velvet dresses.
Triplet demon grandmothers.
They sat in the front row, right behind the driver. The two on the aisle crossed their legs over
the walkway, making an X. It was casual enough, but it sent a clear message: nobody leaves.
The bus pulled out of the station, and we headed through the slick streets of Manhattan. "She
didn't stay dead long," I said, trying to keep my voice from quivering. "I thought you said they
could be dispelled for a lifetime."
"I said if you're lucky," Annabeth said. "You're obviously not."
Annie said when i snorted annoyingly at the words repliying as well .
''gee what gave the ideea the fact that we have three evile grannyes here with us that is an understatment ''.
i replied and Percy was a bit embarest for he made himself look a bit small ,Grover flinched a bit at my annoyed tone but he was giving a look wanderying what got me in a bad mood ,while Annie was looking at me as well wanderying just what the heck was my problem since i answered to her like that .
''hey wiskers come on it was just a question you did not have to try biting my head off about this ,and anyway what is wrong with you for acting like this ?''
i gave Annie a look at first saying nothing when after a moment i responded .
''oh there is no problem here Annie if you are wanderying but you know it's just that well ,it just so happen that we have three freaking grannies that are not that ,the three of them right of the bat do you get me , i mean how fair is this ,ok i get it quests or what ever have to be like this but really three monsters right away ,why not send a whole bunch after us to make this far better ,ugh this is so uncool .''
i said complaining i knew this was stupid but my problem was not that we meet the furies right away but it was rather how we meet them since we wanted to make this a clean heads up but that was screwed right away after maybe less than half an hour in our quest and even more we where in a place filled with normal people so we where kind of trapped that being more bad than meeting the three grannies .
''ok fine i get it you might be upset about this but that is how quests are so you have to deal with it .''i grumbell as Annie told me this for it was still annoying she sighed deciding to ignore me for this to her was probably silly or simply stupid to deal with and turn in to an argument .
''you know as fun as this is ,there is a point in here i mean what the heck are we going to do if they might attack or try to find us .''i said despite this being fun meaning listening to Naruto and Annabeth starting to argue for a strainge reason this was quite entertaiming but i did not knew why ,i felt that maybe my head was a bit screwed if i was actually liking or more like started to find how my best friend and Annabeth where interacting interesting than it was in trough ,just cause it was probably fun in some way .
"All three of them," Grover whimpered. "Di immortales!"
"It's okay," Annabeth said, obviously thinking hard. "The Furies. The three worst monsters
from the Underworld. No problem. No problem. We'll just slip out the windows."
"They don't open," Grover moaned.
"A back exit?" she suggested.
There wasn't one. Even if there had been, it wouldn't have helped. By that time, we were on
Ninth Avenue, heading for the Lincoln Tunnel.
"They won't attack us with witnesses around," I said. "Will they?"
''who knows maybe they will maybe they won't if they will try something then we will stop them some how if it might come to a fight then maybe i might try to talk with them and stop it ''.
saying this was stupid i knew i did it once but that was simply for the fact that i did not wished to see mrs Alecto eat Percy for break feast as well as me so i thought that if she where to hear what my mom told me then maybe she might leave us alone ,now i was not so sure about this ideea since it was all three in the same buss with us but i had to try at least before something was going to happen .
''what ? are you out of your mind wiskers they are monsters why do you think they will listen to what you have to say !''Annie said showing she was against this ideea even Grover and Percy did not liked my plan but i had to at least try if not who knows what was going to happen to all of us .
''listen i know this might be a bad ideea but what ever they are here for maybe if i might talk with them then we can get out of this with out having to fight i mean look around we are trapped what are our options here Annie ,fight and kill us all ,this is not an option not at the moment so you just have to let me get this one so as to not have to get hurt and bring these other guys in to the fry as well .
saying this the others where staring at me with quite the impresion i was a bit embarest but i wanted to not have a fight no matter how much i wanted that for this was a way to small space to move and simply involving others in to this was not really an option either .
''ok fine we will go with your plan but if it won't work we will deal with them the hard way !''
Annie said and i nodded as well as Percy who was quite unsure but wanted to take action and Grover who looked quite glad about what i had in mind not really wanting us to fight them or be near them for that matter .
"Mortals don't have good eyes," Annabeth reminded me. "Their brains can only process what
they see through the Mist."
"They'll see three old ladies killing us, won't they?"
She thought about it. "Hard to say. But we can't count on mortals for help. Maybe an
emergency exit in the roof ... ?"
We hit the Lincoln Tunnel, and the bus went dark except for the running lights down the
aisle. It was eerily quiet without the sound of the rain.
Mrs. Dodds got up. In a flat voice, as if she'd rehearsed it, she announced to the whole bus: "I
need to use the rest-room."
"So do I," said the second sister.
"So do I," said the third sister.
They all started coming down the aisle.
"I've got it," Annabeth said. "Percy, take my hat."
"What?"
"You're the one they want. Turn invisible and go up the aisle. Let them pass you. Maybe you
can get to the front and get away."
Annie said as she had an ideea it was a good plan but i knew that Percy like me was going to worry about us instead of going along with this plan ,having a plan of my own i remained silent for a bit wanting to let Percy talk at first before i was going to make my own move .
"But you guys—"
i said when Annabeth spoke as she thought about something as she was looking around as if she might had found some way for me at least to get away with out being noticed by the three grannies .
"There's an outside chance they might not notice us," Annabeth said. "You're a son of one of
the Big Three. Your smell might be overpowering."
"I can't just leave you."
i told them arguing about this for i did not wished to do this leaving them to fend for themselves against the three monsters .
"Don't worry about us," Grover said. "Go!"
as Grover shouted at Percy that was my key to make my own move so i suddenly spoke geting the others attention .
''give me the hat Annie i will deal with this on my own and stop them you just stay put and look for any thing that might be usefule for us ok .''
the three looked at me with quite the surprised looks not really geting what i was trying to do .
''no Naruto don't let me do this i have a better chance you guys just find a way to deal with this .''i said againd this not feeling good for me since i felt like i was leaving my two best friends behind .
''ugh really ? you will have a better chance ? to do what ? slip past them and then what are you going to do huh ? Percy ,you might try to stop the buss ,that might be a good ideea but this might also back fire on us ,look not all has to be solved with battels got it i am not saying this since i am scared but if we fight we might make things worst so if i go alone and talk with them negociate then maybe we might be left alone as well as the other passagers ,i will not let them be endagered because of a stupid bolt as well as quest to heck with what that guy wants as well as this quest to find his stupid bolt ,i do things my way and my way is that no one who is not involved as well as us will have to be hurt ,you don't like it then fine do things your way but i won't fight pointellesly and kill a bunch of people just for some guy that can't keep his damn things under wrapps .''
i said this being serious for i did not wished to let the passagers be hurt having quite enough of this as well as how my best friends kind of tried to let the others on their own while thet had nothing to do with this made me mad for this was ridiculous since i had the feeling that maybe the buss might be placed in danger if we where to mess around instead of being serious .
so haivng quite enough i slightly snapped at them and chided that stupid guy as well as the quest and his stupid bolt for i did not wish to have a damn thing to do with all of this for i wanted to just learn about what the heck i was as a demi god instead of having to go out and fight monsters and trying to bring a stupid bolt to some stupid guy who lost it like a moron ,starting to throw a fit becasue of this .
''Naruto,wiskers !''Grover,Percy and Annie said calling me out they wanted to probably make me reconsider but i was decided to defend these people and if they where not going to do it then i was even if i had to do that all by my self .
''sorry about this really i will not walk out of this but i will not let these people fend for themselves so if you don't mind i have some people to stop from being hurt by those grannies ,so Annie if you would please !''
i said making my intentions known as well as how serious i was about not wanting to have casualties at the moment when we where able to stop this one way or another ,as i glanced twoards Annie who was quite stunned same as Percy and Grover who where silent after listening to my words as she heard how i asked for her cap she simply looked at me .
this would had been probably embaresing but at the moment i did not cared about that for i had something better and more important to do that being to look after my best friends and the person i started to like as well as the people who where with us for they where inocent in this whole mess and probably they had lives and loved ones as well so i was not about to ruine their lives just for us to get away from this sticky situation .
''ah well uhm here and be carfule ok wiskers !''
Annie told me showing she was a bit worried about me as i took the cap i responded to her wanting bought Percy and Grover to hear me out as well .
''don't worry about me ,for i will not fail ,i will stop this with no casualties having to be need for i am a ninja and i will not quit nor run or hide i will defend you guys no matter what and that is a promise and i won't break this promise no matter what .''
as i said this stunning my best friends as well as Annie who looked at me as if i was quite nuts while my best friends where simply silent but smiled right away since they knew i was that kind of guy as well as person ,i took bought my staff and unsheathed my sword earning gasps from Annie who was staring at me ,same as Percy and Grover who where stunned as well as they saw me helding the two in my hands a serios as well as calm expresion being present on my face at the moment .
''you just stay put i will deal with this and that is a promise ''i said this taking the cape and turning invisible ,i started to walk twoards the three furies wanting to stop them .
''wow that guy must be one of the most craziest demi gods i had ever meet in my entier life .''
Grover said and i was agreeing with him for Naruto sure was acting very wierd he allways acted like this but never was he this serious in wanting to deal with three monsters all by himself .
''wiskers what the heck are you thinking off wanting to deal with three kindely ones all on your own !'
i heard Annabeth wisper making me look at her i was surprised to see her being quite worried ,for this was a first for me ,even Grover was acting wierd all of a sudden but he said nothing .
''hey come on guys this is Naruto he will be fine don't worry ''i said wanting to not let the two worry to much about him but they did not felt really reasured at my words .
i did not blamed them for even i was feeling like this we saw Naruto walk straight towards the three grannies .
Mrs. Dodds as well as her sisters started to sniff the air making us almost catch our breaths but they stopped since they did not found a thing at least that was what they belived since Naruto was in their faces even if they where not able to see him .
Apparently she didn't see anything. She and her sisters kept going.
we looked at this now knowing that Naruto might had let them pass probably for wanting to see what they where up too or something like that .
We were almost through the Lincoln Tunnel now. when as we saw the three old ladies looking straight at us making us feel uncomfortable ,we suddenly heard a hideous wailing from the back row.
The old ladies were not old ladies anymore. Their faces were still the same—I guess those
couldn't get any uglier— but their bodies had shriveled into leathery brown hag bodies with bat's
wings and hands and feet like gargoyle claws. Their handbags had turned into fiery whips.
The Furies surrounded Grover ,Annabeth and me lashing their whips, hissing: "Where is it?
Where?"
The other people on the bus were screaming, cowering in their seats. They saw something, all
right.
just as we thought that we are about to be done for we saw the siloueth of Naruto who runned twoards us stoping behind the three monsters .
''THAT IS ENOUGH STOP YOU THREE RIGHT NOW I MEAN IT ''
i shouted at the furies stoping them as well as my best friends who where looking at me along with the other passagers who where frighten by probably seeing the three furies transforming showing what they really where to them .
i took the cap Annie gave me showing my self to them when mrs Alect who saw me as well as her sisters spoke .
''we meet again son of lady Amaterasu ,you must stay out of this young demi god for our busnis is with your friend .''
hearing her say this i stared hard at the three of them for i was not about to let thrm hurt my best friends as well as Annie .
''sorry but that won't happen ,what ever you have against Percy might have to wait for this is not the place nor the time so i will say this only once turn your selves in to your human forms and lets talk about this like normal persons and be all on our way or i might have to force you to do this either way you will listen to what i have to say wheater you like it or not .''
i said being very serios i knew this was very bolsy starting to order the furies around and they where indeed not happy about my words for it was obvious they did not liked to be told what to do especially if it was a kid like me but i did not care about that for i wanted to talk with them with out growling ,hissing or what ever else these three monsters wanted to do at the moment for this was not the moment nor the place or time to be doing this .
even Percy ,Grover as well as Annie where gaping at me as they heard what i have said the three or at least two probably thinking that i was not in my right mind and probably had a death wish ,to be honest i was not probably going to deny that maybe i did had a death wish but i wanted to stop something that was un necesary for our quest so if this was what i had to do then i had no problems what so ever if i had to yell and look as if i was some kind of big shot trying to order mythological beings around as if it was that easy .
''hehe you have spunk son of Amaterasu but be head we will not tolarate you talking in such a way to us for we are very important and feared monsters so you will do respect us or you will regret it .''
the middel fury said with a matter of fact tone showing she did not liked what i said ,i did not caved for i was not about to give them the satisfaction and they where quite surprised by me not cowering before them like many would probably be .
''ok i won't if you return to being grannies again and have a talk nothing more ,is that so bad i mean i think i get why you are here ,but as i said we do not have the helm ok ,we really don't beside what would we do with it pull pranks on people ,that might be fun but it is a godly object isn't it ,that thing might kill us in the end so why use it beside why steal if we could ask to borrow it in order to scare people a bit ,not that mr Hades might give his helm for this unless we might give him something in return for that or do something for him ,so if it isn't these things then we are not needing the helm you are lookig for .''
i said talking with the furies they where quite intrigued as well as surprised by how i was talking with them as if i was not afraid at all .
''what the gods am i seeing right now ,Grover sea wead brain is this real like very real please tell me for i am seeing wiskers talking with the freaking kindely ones as if he is talking with us and he is not afraid of them at all going as far as to talk like that to them .''
hearing Annabeth talking like this was sure a very surprising reaction as well as funny for now she was seeing just how peculiar Naruto trully was for here we where in a very dangerous situation and our best friend was turning this around like it was nothing .
talking with three feared monsters as if they where nothing more than three ordinary despite being very creepy and wierd beings .
''uh well that is Naruto for you he sure is one strange littel dude i will give you that much .''
Grover said while smiling as i agreed for this was true even if it was wierd .
''yeah Grover is right i mean heck Naruto some how managed to have one of the most ugly pick pocketing girl to like him and he did not even knew about this ,and he even went as far as not be afraid of the fates as he told us even wierd he some how made them to show themselves as diferent persons instead of wrinkelly old grannies and one of them even winked at him .''
i said this to Annabeth and she stared at me as if i was insaine she was simply gaping not beliving my words not that i blamed her for this was very odd in it self to be honest .
''by the just what the heck is your best friend anyway ,there is no freaking way that he might be just a demi god for come on a girl who might be acting like Clarisse fine i can get this ,bu this as well as the fates ,the fates Percy ,and you are telling me he was not afraid of them and they shaped shifted and did this to him ,ok this is just unbelivable ,just freaking unbelivable .''
Annabeth was now almost about to break or have a serious melt down as she heard what i told her about Naruto now i smirked at this while Grover smiled finding this to be funny straingely the danger we felt was over in a small way thanks to what Naruto did .
we now looked at him as he still stood still looking at the three furies with no fear in his expesion what so ever .
''hehehe this boy is funny isn't he sisters he is not afraid of us but rather he is brave very brave ,very well son of Amaterasu we will honer your request and have a chat as you call it .''
the third fury said now showing a creepy but wierd amsued expresion even if mrs Dodds and her sister did not felt the same for they where simply impasive they turned back in to their wrinkelly old selves making things more better for us .
as we saw Naruto still trying to deal with the three furies we saw something that really made our jaws to almost hang at least in my case for when it came to Grover and Annabeth they where already having hanging jaws and shocked expresions .
that was for we all saw the furies turning back in to grannies and where walking away as if what happen a few moments ago did not even appeared to be have been real .
''w w w WHAT THE FREAKING BLOODY HADES I HAVE SEEN G GROVER D D DID YOU SAW THAT PLEASE TELL ME YOU HAD JUST SAW WHAT I DID ,T THIS CAN NOT BE HAPPENING NO WAY NO FREAKING WAY THIS IS IMPOSIBLE ,THERE IS NO FREAKING WAY THAT WISKERS IS TALKING WITH THE BLOODY KINDELY ONES THIS IS NOT POSIBLE .''
Annabeth now after what we have seen was screaming almost becoming histerical drawing attention to ourselves we stared at Annabeth who was starting to crack and showed a side that we did not knew about it .
''u uh A Anabeth m maybe y you should s stop shouting like this i mean y you are drawing attention to us you know ''
Grover told her with a weak tone but she simply gave him a look that made him wanting to run away from the buss to be honest the look she had at the moment was good enought to make me run away from her as well .
for she had a very wiled expresion that was almost about to go in to crazy if not even more her eyes where about to if not they where already blazing as if they where not human to begin with while her jaw was very tight so with this Annabeth was very frightening not to mention that a strainge wierd aura was around her making things even worst than they where .
''O OH Y YOU ARE TELLING ME TO STOP SHOUTING I WILL SHOUT AS MUCH AS THE HADES I WANT YOU TWO SAW THAT I KNOW YOU DID ,AND DO NOT TELL ME OTHER WISE OR SO HELP ME I WILL SHOVE MY DAGGER DOWN YOUR ASSES THAT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO STAND STRAIGHT FROM NOW ON ,NOW I WANT FREAKING ANSWERED HOW THE TARTARUS WAS WISKERS ABLE TO TALK WITH THE FREAKING KINDELY ONES AS IF THEY WHERE SIMPLY NYMPHS MAKING THEM ACT LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE ANSWERE ME AND RIGHT NOW .''
Annabeth growelled at us histerically making us stand still we where quite if not, ok i was freaking scared of her right at the moment for she was acting like a crazy girl shouting and cursing ,that being a first for me at least but even Grover was very surprised to see her act like this .
''woah woah calm down will you for you are making a scene really i mean look around ,and as for what you said i don't know maybe that is who Naruto might be i don't know what to say really ''
i told Annabeth hoping she was going to stop shouting like that and calm down for this was not only embaresing it was simply plain wierd seeing her act like that .
Annabeth was still looking at me with a very demaning look but as she stopped a bit and looked around observing what she did she right away started to blush in embarest ment and remained quiet since she probably had seen what she had done as now people where not only wary of us but they where wispering as well.
''oh by the what have i ,i never acted like this ,this is wiskers fault , i mean how was he able to talk with those three monsters so easily , i mean they are the freaking kindely ones not some niades or wood nymphs ,the kindely ones freaking tortures they sure looked quite glad to be hurting and no less probably enjoying torturing us and wiskers talked to them as if they where not those scary monsters .''
Annabeth who now was very embarest spoke out as she held her face in her hands we bought smiled at this for it was funny but said nothing about it not wanting to et her mad again .
as she spoke she did had a point about mrs Dodds and her sisters for they really did looked like they where not having that much of a problem in wanting to hurt us in some way ,but they where stopped because of Naruto who stepped in wanting to stop them from hurting us .
''like i said this is who and how Naruto is he really is wierd but also he means very well i mean he saved me from mrs Dodds ,if it wasn't for him i would had been hurt or worst and even now he stepped in again wanting to stop a fight from happening , i have to say that he was kind of right for if he did not did that steping in i mean i would had done something stupid .''
i told Annabeth as she listened now being quite intrigued by this even if she said nothing she gave me a small smile surprising me for this was a first from her but i had nothing against this for it was more nice than being looked like i had done something bad towards her .
we looked twoards Naruto who now was talking with the furies really showing he was something else as he did something that most people would probably be afraid and run away he was simply conversing as well as showing he was enjoying their company not even being afraid of them what so ever .
now after siting down i began to talk with the grannies telling them that we did not had the helm but wanted to find the one who had it as well as the bolt wanting to stop a stupid war that was going to be made by the two elder brothers for almost nothing .
''ok we understand ,we might tell our lord he might not be to pleased about this but if you are trully saying you do not have his helm then we do belive you ,now we will leave you but be on your guard for there are monsters and forces that will mostely try to stop you from acomplish your goal young heros .''
the three sisters told me worrying me a bit but i was not going to let that stop me and my friends , i gave a nod and i in a way decided to give the three elder sisters despite being monsters a bow for i wanted to show that they did matter despite doing what they where .
the three where sure quite surprised for they did not expected that from me but i did not mind or care since this was something i wanted to do out of my own acord wanting to show my own respect twoards the three despite what they where doing and wanted to do in the buss we where all still riding .
with that i took my leave leting them on their own .
''what a strainge young demi god he sure acts diferent from diferent heros ''
the elder sister spoke earning the attention of the other two who straingely agreed .
they all vanished in a very peculiar way leting no sign that they where on the buss .
as i made my way back to my friends i was thankfule for this mist thing for it hid my weapons returning to our seat earning the attention of the orthers who where quite glad to see me as i was as well i returned the cap to Annie who was looking at me for a few moments even if she said nothing then turn away still saying nothing but she straingely showed a small blush on her cheeks that surprised me ,not that i wanted to know what that was about .
as i sat down i sheathed my sword back now wanting to just take a break from what just happen .
well that would had happen if it would have not been for a freaking lightning as well as thunder that came right at us .
right away as i saw this as well as my friends having a bad feeling we got up wanting to get out from the buss before we where going to be killed .
not wanting to leave the others inside for they where going to die with us i shouted as loud as i could earning the attention of the other passagers as well as the driver who being startelled as well as scared just like the others right away started to pull on the right .
once the hissing of the doors was heard we all got out not wanting to be blasted by the thunder .
just as we thought it all happen in a flash and the buss where we all were ended up exploding scaring the passagers while us we where quite rattelled by this being thankfule that we got out in time or we would had been done for .
Grover started to waile that we left our bags inside which was true in a way at least i held by back pack on unlike Percy ,Annie and Grover who placed theirs up only to now end all in smoke and ash .
after that momsnt we plunged into the woods as the rain poured down, the bus in flames behind us, and nothing
but darkness ahead.