Chapter VII

"I've actually been meaning to ask, how did you find us in the first place?" Bianca asked, looking at Grover.

"Well I hadn't really been searching for you," He answered. "The Satyrs have been sent all over the country, a lot of Half-Bloods end up in military schools. Their parents aren't always ready to deal with the troubles that come along with them."

Bianca nodded in understanding, before continuing.

"So how did you know we were demigods? Zoë said something about a scent?"

"Satyrs can, for lack of a better word, smell demigods just like monsters can." I explained. "The more powerful the demigod gets, the stronger their scent, the same with gods or monsters, really all beings that aren't part of the mortal world."

"He said most there is to say already. It is tied together with the mist as well, just like it weakens when a demigod learns of their identity, your scent also gets stronger." Grover elaborated.

"Can you smell anything right now with all of us around?" Bianca asked curiously.

"More or less, the scent of those two is hard to ignore." He stated with a nod to me and Thalia. "But I've grown used to it."

That answer seemed to satisfy Bianca and for the next few minutes we drove in silence. Suddenly Zoë turned back to us, she had barely talked these last four hours, which I was partly glad about because from the way she was driving, I really didn't trust her to hold a conversation at the same time.

"We're stopping soon, so you can perform your tracking song again." She told Grover, who nodded.

He had performed it before once, though it hadn't been able to tell us much, it pointed us south-westward, which Zoë was unhappy about. She clearly had wanted to just cross the Appalachians and drive on till we hit the Pacific, but had begrudgingly accepted the result of the woodland magic.

"Finally," Thalia said, relieved.

We stepped out beneath a grey sky, it wasn't snowing today. While good for our progress on the road, it made the rest stop at the highway look even more depressing than it already was.

I watched with interest as the acorns moved on the parking lot as Grover played on his reed pipes. The song was hard to place, though it was clearly no modern melody, surely passed down over centuries or rather millennia even. I had to admit that I still couldn't quite wrap my head around the workings of woodland magic, but decided not to question it too much.

"We are here," Grover stated intuitively, pointing to one of the acorns. "Just short of Baltimore, which means that this," He pointed to another acorn. "is Washington, it's where Artemis first went. I can't say for sure, but it feels like it's somewhere central. I can say more if we get closer."

As impressive as it was I couldn't help but furrow my brows in worry.

"You have that scrunched up look on your face again." Thalia noted.

"I don't like this. If I assume that we aren't following some false trail, which would be just as bad, we are going along the coast. I had hoped we would move further inland, that would point to me being wrong." I explained.

"I hate to say this, but I agree, it seems like you were correct." Zoë said.

"Let's pray I'm not, but at least we would know what we are moving after."

"We continue in fifteen minutes." Zoë told us as we entered the small store.

As I had missed breakfast that day, due to my rather drastic approach, I had devoured two bagels within ten minutes and was currently enjoying a cup of coffee. I was leaning outside, happy to get some fresh air before being back in the car.

Subconsciously I shifted and looked around, I felt uncomfortable, as if someone was watching me. Dozens of people were around, not surprising considering we were on a rest stop along a busy highway in the holiday season. But none of them seemed particularly monstrous.

Call me paranoid, but as a demigod you could never be careful enough. If there truly was something lurking, I didn't want to be caught separated, so I went back to the others who were still in the store. I remained vigilant for the next few minutes, but nothing happened and I allowed myself to relax slightly.

"So, I take you've been to Washington before." I stated as I walked up to Thalia.

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"It's en route from Richmond to Long Island isn't it, just assumed you crossed trough while on your way to Camp."

"We've pretty much only passed through though, I never really got to see the city much."

"Let me guess, in a hurry because something was after you?" I asked and she nodded unsurprisingly.

"Of course, some big serpent monster had been following us since Fredericksburg, we killed it eventually."

"A big serpent monster you say, mind telling me more?"

Zoë moved to leave as she finished talking with Bianca, Grover followed.

"Seems that will have to wait, the van's probably better to talk about it anyways. Also you still have to tell me about that snail thing you fought with Percy, do you even know what that was?"

I shook my head as we followed the others out of the store.

"Grover, are you sure Washington is right?" Thalia asked concerned.

"Pretty sure, ninety-nine percent. Okay eighty-five." The satyr admitted.

"And you did this with acorns?" Bianca asked, disbelieving.

"It's a time-honored tracking spell. I mean, I'm pretty sure I did it right." Grover said, though he didn't sound all that sure.

"D.C. is about sixty miles from here," Bianca stated. "Nico and I…" She frowned. "We used to live there. That's… that's strange. I'd forgotten."

I raised a brow at that, but didn't mention it, Nico had had a similar moment before.

"I dislike this," Zoë said. "We should go straight west. The prophecy said west."

"Oh, like your tracking skills are better?" Thalia grumbled.

"You challenge my skills, you scullion?" Zoë challenged. "You know nothing of being a Hunter!"

"Oh, scullion You're calling me a scullion? What the heck is a scullion?"

"I think some kind of menial kitchen servant?" I muttered unsurely and saw Zoë nod.

"But I agree with Zoë," I agreed. "we have a pretty clear goal and even if we drive day and night we'll take at least two days to reach San Francisco and that is under optimal conditions."

"Still we should at least take a look," Bianca argued. "I think Grover's right, D.C. is our best bet."

"Fine by me," I said with a shrug. "It's on the way now anyways."

"Very well. Let us keep moving." Zoë said reluctantly.

"You're going to get us arrested, driving," Thalia muttered. "I look closer to sixteen than you do."

"Perhaps," Zoë snapped. "But I have been driving since automobiles were invented. Let us go."

"I could drive if you can't agree with each other, I actually have my license with me." I offered but Zoë just glared at me.

"Absolutely not, boy." Zoë snapped at me now.

"How do you have a license? You aren't sixteen are you?" Bianca asked as we piled back into the van.

"No, at least not actually." I admitted. "Legally speaking, however, it is a different story. The bureaucracy of the US isn't exactly infallible, especially not with a push in the right direction."

"Do you actually know to drive?" Thalia asked.

"Of course," I said with a scoff as Zoë hit the gas.

Thalia finished with telling her story, from the sound of it, I thought it perhaps had been an Indian dragon, though it must have been a young one, barely as long as a small bus. Zoë suddenly hit the brakes and stopped on the curb.

"Traffic is too heavy, we'll go on foot from here." Zoë commanded.

"So, any better directions now, Grover?" I asked the satyr.

"Yeah," He pointed to one of the big buildings. "There."

"The Air and Space Museum?" Bianca asked. "What would it be doing there."

Grover just shrugged. "I don't know, but the magic doesn't lie."

Thalia nodded. "Then let's go on a museum trip."

We entered without much of an idea what we were searching for, so we mostly just wandered through it. I really quite enjoyed it, the space race exhibitions seemed rather fitting, I guess we were racing to the moon currently as well. But even beyond bad jokes, it was rather interesting, though I could only look at it in passing as we walked through it.

Finally Grover stopped, near the middle of the museum.

"That's strange, it just ends here." He said confused.

"Are you sure it's in here?" I asked and he nodded.

"Pretty sure, it could be off though."

"We still should search the area, just to be safe," Zoë said with a sigh. "perhaps something is eluding us."

I nodded and began looking around. Admittedly quite a decent portion of that time was spent observing the exhibitions. I doubted that I would find anything useful at the them, but still couldn't resist looking at the historical warplanes around me.

Well perhaps I focused a bit too much on them because I didn't even notice someone approaching me from behind. I was currently busy admiring a Swordfish, my attention entirely focused on the torpedo bomber, when Bianca leaned on the railing beside me.

"Have you found any leads?" She asked.

"No nothing so fa-" I started but stopped as something caught my attention.

"What? Did you notice anything?" She asked confused.

"Maybe," I said as I looked on.

What had caught my eyes was utterly unspectacular, a door leading to the maintenance room, but it led me to another thought.

"D.C. is full of tunnels, not just the ones leading to the Capitol." I muttered.

"You're right, but I don't see how that helps us?"

"The sewers, if I am right what we are after is a sea monster, perhaps it entered trough the Potomac." I explained as I started walking towards Zoë.

The lieutenant was almost distracted as I was, sunken in thought as she was looking at a Zero, as if she remembered some past moment while looking at the plane, which wasn't too unlikely considering she was far far older than the rest of us combined.

"Zoë," I addressed her, breaking her out of her thoughts.

"Theseus." She acknowledged, less hostile than usual.

"I would like to take a look at the sewers beneath the city." I told her. "I think it might be more successful than searching here. Unless you have made any progress?"

"I have not," She admitted. "The sewers thee says? I could certainly see the merit of it, but where would thee even search."

"But are there even any sewage tunnels below the museum?" Bianca asked now.

She raised a fair point, surely there was some sewage system beneath us, but one big enough to fit it? I focused my senses reaching out through the building and the concrete beneath. I felt water rushing closely below in the pipes, but from this high up I could not reach much deeper than perhaps fifteen feet below.

"I can't tell if there is one from up here, I'll go downstairs to learn more." I stated and started making my way to the ramp leading down.

Suddenly someone ran into Thalia as they rushed up the ramp, sending her crashing into an Apollo mission space capsule. Before I had even realized who it was my sword was in my hand and Zoë and Bianca had their bows ready.

However, it was neither some confused hurried mortal nor a monster, instead someone far more familiar was standing in front of us, my brother.

"You! How dare you show thy face here?" Zoë demanded, bow still aimed at him.

"I'd say it differently, but I agree, what are you doing here." I asked. "Shouldn't you be back in Manhattan by now?"

"Percy!" Grover said. "Thank goodness."

The satyr was the only one of us that seemed truly happy to see him, but a piercing glare from Zoë made him change his words.

"I mean, um, gosh. You're not supposed to be here!"

"Luke." Percy started up out of breath. "He's here."

"Where?" Thalia asked, any anger at being slammed into gone.

Percy started to talk, fast, as he rushed through what he had witnessed. Concern grew on my face as he spoke. Atlas being free was no news of course, but him being here, it seemed surreal, not to mention incredibly dangerous. Zoë seemed even more disbelieving, though I felt like her judgement here wasn't exactly impartial.

The General is here? That is impossible! You lie." Zoë stated decisively.

"Why would I lie?" Percy said unnerved. " Look, there's no time. Skeleton warriors-"

"What?" Thalia demanded. "How many?"

"Twelve," Percy answered. "And that's not all. That guy, the General, he said he was sending something, a playmate, to distract you over here. A monster."

I sighed, things had been going far too well as it seems.

"We were following Artemis's trail," Grover said. "I was sure it led here. Some powerful monster scent… She must've stopped here looking for the mystery monster. But we haven't found anything yet."

"Zoë," Bianca said, "what if it is the General..."

"It's not impossible," I agree. "He is free, though I don't see what he would be doing here."

"It cannot be!" Zoë snapped. "Percy must have seen an Iris-message or some other illusion."

"Illusions don't crack marble floors," Percy retorted unnerved.

The risk of confrontation with him seemed to unnerve Zoë immensely.

"If Percy is telling the truth about the skeleton warriors," she said, "we have no time to argue. They are the worst, the most horrible… We must leave now."

"If there are Spartoi, we have little means of defeating them," I stated. "retreat is our only option."

"But we are six now, not five, we would be violating the prophecy." Bianca stated anxiously.

I looked at Percy. She was right, that certainly was a problem, although was it truly?

"Perhaps not, the prophecy only states five must go west and five went west. It's a loose interpretation and I don't like it, but it would work."

"Guys," Thalia said impatiently. "We have more important matters on our hands don't we? Let's get to the van, Percy is here now, we have to deal with it."

It was surprising to hear this from Thalia, but Zoë was having none of it.

"That is not thy decision!" She snapped.

"You're not the boss here, Zoe. I don't care how old you are!" Thalia said with a scowl. "You're still a conceited little brat!"

Before anyone could utter any more insults a roar sounded from below. I leaned over the railing and saw a mass of golden metallic fur bounding up the ramp.

"Nemean Lion!" I called, taking a step back as it arrived on the top.

The beast stood before us, towering over us. With it's size and invulnerability we might as well be facing a tank, though honestly speaking that seemed like a better prospect.

"Separate on my mark," Zoë commanded. "Try to keep it distracted."

"Until when?" Grover asked.

"Until I think of a way to kill it. Go!"

She didn't need to tell that to me twice as I rolled to the right. In the background I heard Grover play some song, as annoying as always, reed pipes were really not my jam. As arrows sailed past me, harmlessly bouncing off the lion's pelt, I spotted something. Glancing out behind the Lion's massive shape was something small, a red and white box, a fire alarm.

Surely such a big museum had an appropriate sprinkler system, I just needed to activate it and me and Percy would have a far better chance against it. Taking a deep breath I did something incredibly risky, taking a few steps back before sprinting forward.

"Hold fire for a second, please!" I called to the Hunters as I accelerated.

I jumped forwards, managing to land on the Lion's back, sliding over it, rolling off on the other end. In a fluid motion I rose up and pulled the alarm.

Sirens blared, the mortals panicked, water burst from the ceiling, in short chaos erupted. Though said chaos had the added benefits of the mortals leaving the premises, the security guards following them, not that I could blame them, I had no clue what they were seeing.

Angered by me using him as a slide, the monster turned around to me.

It rose to its hind-legs before slamming down towards me. There was room for maneuvering left, so I did something even more risky this time.

Planting myself solidly on the ground and with strength enhanced by the water I met it bearing down on me. I felt it's crushing weight on me as I pushed beneath it's front limbs. My shoulders felt like they were going to crack, but I kept my footing.

The original Theseus had wrestled the Minotaur and invented Pankration in the process and Heracles had strangled this Lion while grappling it. I doubted I could perform the second feat, but I could still win this contest of strength, I was quite sure of that.

Straining I pushed forward avoiding the Lion's teeth by a far to close call. I felt the Lion lose its grip before buckling backwards, smashing onto the ramp floor. Quickly it rose again, hissing at me.

"What?" I called towards it. "Want me to strangle you? I could try at least."

The lion didn't take well to the provocation and reminder of it's previous death. It now roared aggressively and I made myself ready to run, leading it on a chase through the museum.

But then Percy struck, Riptide slashing across it's side sending bright sparks flying all around. He did little but draw it's attention, though that seemed to have been his intention all along. The lion slashed for him, tearing trough his coat, as he was backed against the railing he turned and jumped.

He landed on an airplane dangling down a couple of steel ropes. The aircraft pitched, but Percy managed to keep his balance rather easily. This changed as the Lion decided to follow him. I assumed it found Percy as annoying as I sometimes did.

The steel cords began to screech, suffering under their combined weight on top of the aircraft. Percy jumped further downwards, landing on some prototype spacecraft, judging by the weird rotor design elements from the sixties. The Lion didn't follow this time, instead roaring again louder than ever, the building rumbling.

"Zoë!" Percy shouted. "Target the mouth!"

She didn't seem happy about listening to him, but to her credit she followed his orders. Readying her bow, aiming for it's head, Bianca stood next to her doing the same.

I have to admit, it wasn't something I considered before. Using past stories as reference I only considered brute force, sure it's skin couldn't be cut or pierced, but it's bones could be broken and it could be strangled. There was only one problem, the monster seemed quite aware of it's weakness, refusing to roar when too exposed.

But there was no time for strategizing as the monster lunged for Percy, forcing him further downwards. As he slid down a model of the globe, Thalia and me wordlessly took the same decision.

I leapt over the railing and hit the floor, Thalia standing a few feet to my left. I circled around the Lion, we were threatening it from three sides and it seemed terribly confused who to go after.

"No clear shot!" Zoë yelled from above. "Get it to open its mouth more!"

Percy looked around, stopping for a moment, before turning to us.

"Thalia, Theseus, keep him occupied!" He called as he took off towards the gift shop.

That was easy to say when you didn't have to do it yourself, but I decided to trust Percy.

As Thalia jabbed forward sending a bolt of lighting into the Lion. The Lion growled at her and moved in on her, only kept at bay by the sight of Aegis.

Trying to draw the attention from her, I made a wide arcing motion with my offhand. The water that had rained down till only a few seconds ago followed my motion and like the worlds largest and nastiest whip, cracking against the side of the Lion.

I grinned with satisfaction as it turned around furiously, even if it didn't show, that definitely must have hurt a lot. My grin faded though as the Lion snarled and made itself ready to pounce. I doubted I could meet the Lion's strength and weight again, but I couldn't run, I had to keep it busy and at the same time not get shredded.

Luckily my defense wasn't put to the test again as Percy dashed out of the store, holding some strange silvery glittering packages.

"Hey!" He called to Lion and something bronze flew through the air.

Was that Riptide? What was Percy doing? Despite its tactical questionability, it drew the Lion's attention. It charged at him and strangely enough Percy did the same. I was already thinking of what to say in eulogy at that point, but it seemed all according to plan. The Lion opened its mouth to sink its fangs into him and Percy lobbed one of those silver packets into his mouth.

Whatever it was, the Lion was utterly disgusted at it as he swallowed it and I realized what it was, space food. The monster was disgusted so much that it seemingly forwent any motion of attack.

"Zoë, get ready." Percy called up and the lieutenant nodded.

The Lion roared at him and Percy sent another packet into his mouth, followed in quick succession by another one. The Lion was gagging and rearing at that point but my brother had no mercy sending another two more into his mouth, I was really hoping we wouldn't have an animal cruelty lawsuit on our tails by the end of this.

"Now!" Percy yelled.

Zoë and Bianca sent a good ten arrows into his maw, the beast trashed and struggled but finally stopped moving. Slowly it started dissolving as the two Hunters jumped down.

"That was… an interesting strategy." Zoë stated.

"Hey, it worked." Percy said with a shrug.

"Usually I would tell you something about your stupid strategies, but it worked, so good job." I said approvingly.

"Who of us just wrestled the Lion again?" Percy retorted.

"Hey! I managed did I not?" I complained with mock-offense.

Said Lion had by now dissolved entirely and only its pelt was left, though it also had shrunken down, though it kept its metallic glitter.

"Take it," Zoë said to Percy.

He looked at her perplexed. "What, the lion's fur? Isn't that, like, an animal rights violation or something?"

And there it was again, I felt like Percy's brain sped up massively while in combat and in turn slowed down outside. How could an experienced demigod pose a question like that.

"It is a spoil of war," Zoë said to him. "It is rightly thine."

"You killed it," He argued but she shook her head.

"I think thy ice-cream sandwich did that. Fair is fair, Percy Jackson. Take the fur."

Percy accepted his prize finally, he was sometimes far too humble for his own good if you asked me. As he lifted it, its shape shifted to that of a golden brown duster.

"Not exactly my style." Percy muttered.

"Don't worry I'll get you a cowboy hat to go along with it for Christmas." I said with a smile.

"Hah, hah, very funny."

"We have to get out of here," Grover stated. "The guards won't stay away for long."

"You did that?" Percy asked, surprised.

"They were already scared and confused, a minor panic song, it didn't take much for them to run." He said embarrassed.

"Not to dull the mood, but shouldn't we be leaving?" I interrupted.

"Yes," Zoë looked. "Look."

She pointed outwards and I spotted a dozen skeletal figures in military uniform moving towards us. They were gazing at Percy, entirely focused on him.

"They are after you aren't they?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I'll go, distract them."

"No," Zoë said. "We go together, let us just hope thy brother is right, you are now part of this quest."

"Zoë by all means, I am just guessing, we could be taking a huge risk."

"There is a reason fate made him come here, I won't leave him behind." Zoë said decisively.

It was strange hearing something like that out of the lieutenant's mouth, but I wasn't going to argue further. Despite my cold treatment of him yesterday, I still was happy to have him along deep down.

The Spartoi were gaining ground quickly and we didn't idle any longer, rushing into the van. Zoë hit the gas and started driving like a demon again, though this time I was extremely thankful for her lack of respect for the rules of the road as she swerved and weaved between cars.

"There's a helicopter behind us." Thalia stated with worry.

I looked out of the back window, there just behind the bridge over the Potomac a Blackhawk had risen just like at Westover Hall and again it was heading towards us.

"They know the van," Percy said. "We have to ditch it."

"You are right," I said with a nod. "I don't think they'd attack us while we are on the highway in the city, but as soon as we are out..."

The message was clear enough even without me finishing. I anxiously clutched my helmet as I listened to Thalia pray to her father.

Thalia had a strange relationship with her Dad, she was proud of heritage, as was obvious enough by her invoking him in her battlecries. He seemed to care about her as well, as least as much as a godly parent could, saving her from death and leading her to Camp and all that, but still to see her pray to him was a rare occurrence to say the least.

Zoë sped up but it was no use, even if we had had the road to ourselves and could drive at top speeds the helicopter would quickly reach us.

"Maybe the military will shoot it down," Grover said hopefully.

"The military probably thinks it's one of theirs," Percy said. "How can the General use mortals, anyway?"

"Mercenaries," Zoë answered. "It is distasteful, but many mortals will fight for any cause as long as they are paid."

"But don't these mortals see who they're working for?" Percy asked. "Don't they notice all the monsters around them?"

"Some of them do perhaps, some don't," I said. "These are mortals willing to back dictators and kill civilians, what difference does a Cyclops or a Hellhound make there?"

I looked back out, in the short moment that had passed the helicopter had almost halved its distance to us. Things were looking grim, if that gunship caught up to us I doubted we'd be able to lose it.

"There!" Bianca said. "That parking lot!"

We'll be trapped," Zoë stated.

"Trust me," Bianca insisted.

Zoë did as Bianca asked, ruthlessly swerving across two lanes and off a highway exit. We left the van chaotically standing in the parking lot, following Bianca who let us down some stairs.

"Subway entrance" She stated as we descended. "Let's go south, to Alexandria."

"Anything," Thalia agreed.

"Perhaps we should wait a while, take a later train. I don't think they'll follow us in, let them lose the trail." I proposed but Zoë shook her head.

"And what if they do? We would be trapped, worse than before. No, we are taking the next train."

I nodded, I didn't agree, but I trusted Zoë's judgement to at least not get us killed, even if it wasn't optimal. So we bought our tickets, I relaxed slightly the train doors closed, but I wasn't going to celebrate yet, with our luck the Washington subway tunnels were home to a Drakon.

AN: And that's another Chapter done, not much to say,

so thanks for reading as always, please review!