I do not own Harry Potter or Percy Jackson.
Chapter Seven: Moving West
The next morning, only Percy required the bucket of water dumped on him. He woke, trembling, eyes wary.
Chrysa was immediately concerned.
"Percy?" she asked, kneeling beside his bed. "Did you have a dream?"
"N-no," he tried to say.
Chrysa gave him a look.
"Percy, demigod dreams are often not just dreams. Tell me, what did you see?"
He was silent for a moment, before admitting, "I was in a dark cavern. There was a gaping pit right in front of me. The spirits of the dead were all around me, tugging at my clothes, trying to pull me away from the pit. I don't listen though. I walked to the very edge. It was so dark…bottomless. There was something in it, something trying to get out, something huge and evil."
Chrysa felt her blood go cold.
"There was a voice…it was ancient – cold and heavy. It told me I was weak, and young, and it offered me my mother if I would help it rise. It wanted the Master Bolt. It tried to use me to pull itself out. The spirits of the dead woke me up," Percy confessed.
Chrysa felt herself go pale.
"Are you certain, Percy? The spirits of the dead were around you at the entrance to a bottomless, black pit?" she asked urgently.
He nodded, then asked, "That…thing…in the pit. What was it?"
Chrysa remained silent for a long moment, lost in thought.
"Evil," she finally told him. "Evil that I will not speak of here, not while we are in danger. Even saying its name could summon a host of monsters."
She stood from her kneeling position and offered Percy a hand up. He took it.
"I've made breakfast," she offered. "There's fresh clothes in the dresser. Take a shower, too. Make it fast, though. There's an Amtrak station nearby, and we need to be on the train leaving at noon."
Unfortunately, they were too late to get berths in the sleeper car, but Chrysa was still able to get them a row of seats each. That would allow them to stretch out while they slept.
Since all their things had been destroyed, all three kids were very bored staring at the scenery for hours on end. Chrysa quickly produced multiple board games from her bottomless bag so that the ADHD kids would not drive her crazy.
It was during their first night on the train that she overheard a conversation between Percy and Annabeth. Chrysa did not sleep well in moving vehicles, and the shadows only gave her strength, so she was only pretending to nap.
"So," Annabeth asked, "who wants your help?"
"What do you mean?" Percy tried to evade.
"When you were asleep just now, you mumbled, 'I won't help you.' Who were you dreaming about?"
Percy quietly related his story of the voice in the pit. Annabeth was silent for a long moment.
"That doesn't sound like Hades," Annabeth finally said. "He always appears on a black throne, and he never laughs."
"He offered my mother in trade. Who else could do that?" Percy questioned.
"I guess…if he meant, 'Help me rise from the Underworld.' If he wants war with the Olympians. But why ask you to bring him the Master Bolt if he already has it?"
There was slight movement behind her, as if Percy was shaking his head.
The satyr mumbled something about vegetables in his sleep.
"Percy, you can't barter with Hades," Annabeth said firmly. "You know that, right? He's deceitful, heartless, and greedy."
Chrysa clenched her fists at the slander towards her beloved.
"I don't care if his Kindly Ones weren't as aggressive this time…"
"This time?" Percy asked. "You mean you've run into them before?"
Thalia, Chrysa thought, heart aching slightly at the mention of her lost sister.
"Let's just say I've got no love for the Lord of the Dead. You can't be tempted to make a deal for your mom," Annabeth warned.
"What would you do if it was your dad?" Percy demanded hotly.
"That's easy," Annabeth replied. "I'd leave him to rot."
"You're not serious?" Percy asked in shock.
"My dad's resented me since the day I was born, Percy," Annabeth said, voice steely. "He never wanted a baby. When he got me, he asked Athena to take me back and raise me on Olympus because he was too busy with his work. She wasn't happy about that. She told him heroes had to be raised by their mortal parent."
"But how…I mean, I guess you weren't born in a hospital…." Percy stammered.
"I appeared on my father's doorstep, in a golden cradle, carried down from Olympus by Zephyros, the West Wind. You'd think that my dad would remember that as a miracle, right? Like, maybe he'd take some digital photos or something. But he always talked about my arrival as if it were the most inconvenient thing that had ever happened to him. When I was five he got married and totally forgot about Athena. HE got a 'regular' mortal wife, and had two 'regular' mortal kids, and tried to pretend I didn't exist."
Percy was silent for a long moment.
"My mom married a really awful guy," he finally said. "Grover said she did it to protect me, to hide me in the scent of a human family. Maybe that's what your dad was thinking."
"He doesn't care about me," Annabeth replied. "His wife – my stepmom – treated me like a freak. She wouldn't let me play with her children. My dad went along with her. Whenever something dangerous happened – you know., something with monsters – they would both look at me resentfully, life 'How dare you put our family at risk.' Finally, I took the hint. I wasn't wanted. I ran away."
"How old were you?"
"Same age as when I started camp. Seven."
"But…you couldn't have gotten all the way to Half-Blood Hill by yourself."
"Not alone, no. Athena watched over me, guided me toward help. I made a couple of unexpected friends who took care of me, for a short time, anyway."
That seemed to end the conversation.
Chrysa sighed, sat up, and turned to face them.
"I know where you're coming from, Annabeth. And I know where you're coming from, Percy. When my mother and adoptive father were murdered, I was left on the doorstep – literally left on the doorstep, all night long at the beginning of November. The Dursleys – my biological aunt and uncle – hated me with a burning passion. They hated that I was magical. They hated that I was beautiful. They hated that I outshone their fat pig of a son on all occasions. If they were in the Underworld, I would let them rot. When I was thirteen – almost fourteen, but my birthday's midsummer, my godfather gained custody of me. The abuse suit against the Dursleys went through. I know Vernon's still in prison; he had a life sentence plus fifty years. I think Marge is out, she only had ten years. I'm not sure about Petunia, she had at least ten years, but I'm not really sure about the charges. Child abuse and child neglect, most likely. If the Dursleys were in the Underworld? I wouldn't save them. If my godfather, his husband, or their son were there? I'd give everything to save them. What would you do if it was Luke, Annabeth?"
The girl colored, before finally admitting, "I'd want to save Luke."
"See?" Chrysa said. "It all depends on who we consider our family. You see your dad as your parent, but not family, so you wouldn't save him. Luke you see as your family, so you want to protect him."
Her words of wisdom shared, Chrysa laid back down and attempted to sleep once more. She heard the other two do the same.
The next afternoon, they arrived in St. Louis. Chrysa watched as Annabeth craned her neck to stare at the Gateway Arch.
"I want to do that," she sighed.
"What?" Percy asked.
"Build something like that. You ever see the Parthenon, Percy?" she questioned.
"Only in pictures," Percy replied.
"Someday, I'm going to see it in person. I'm going to build the greatest monument to the gods, ever. Something that'll last a thousand years," Annabeth said dreamily.
Percy laughed. "You? An architect?"
Chrysa winced. Insulting Annabeth's passion was the fastest way to set her off.
Annabeth flushed.
"Yes, an architect. Athena expects her children to create things, not just tear them down, like a certain god of earthquakes I could mention."
Percy turned to look at the churning water of the Mississippi River below them.
"Sorry," Annabeth said. "That was mean."
"Can't we work together a little?" Percy asked. "I mean, didn't Poseidon and Athena ever cooperate?"
"The chariot," Chrysa put in. "Athena invented the chariot itself, but Poseidon created horses out of the crests of waves. They had to work together to make it complete."
"See?" Percy said, nodding to Chrysa before looking at Annabeth. "They worked together. So we can cooperate too, right?"
Annabeth was intently watching the Gateway Arch again.
"I suppose," she finally said.
As they pulled into the Amtrak station in downtown St. Louis, the intercom announced that they had a three-hour layover before continuing on to Denver, Colorado.
The satyr stretched, moaning, "Food," as he woke up.
"Come on, goat boy," Annabeth said, prodding him. "Sightseeing."
"Sightseeing?" the satyr asked.
"The Gateway Arch," Annabeth said. "This may be my only chance to ride to the top. Are you coming or not?"
The satyr and Percy exchanged looks. Percy looked to Chrysa.
"Are you going?"
Chrysa nodded.
"I've gone on most of Annabeth's architecture expeditions. Might as well join this one."
The satyr shrugged.
"As long as there's a snack bar without monsters."
"That's the kicker, isn't it," Chrysa said. "Do you remember that time in Barcelona, Annabeth?"
The girl groaned.
"How could I forget that time in Barcelona? We almost died a dozen times! In one day!"
Percy and the satyr both turned to stare at Chrysa. She shrugged.
"I promised Annabeth a trip to Barcelona for her last birthday. It was Luke, Annabeth, her brother Malcolm, and I who went. We spent the whole time looking at architecture. The first two days were fine, but the third day we were attacked by monsters every time we breathed. Chiron was furious with me when we got back."
"She didn't tell Chiron she was borrowing us for three days," Annabeth said helpfully. "And we came back with scrapes and bruises."
Chrysa waved a hand in dismissal as they disembarked the train.
The Arch was about a mile from the train station. Late in the day, the lines to get in were not very long. They threaded their way through the underground museum, looking at covered wagons and other artifacts from the 1800s. Percy and the satyr both looked bored, but Chrysa was reading the information on nearly every card, sometimes aloud so that Annabeth could hear as well. The daughter of Athena kept commenting with interesting facts about how the Arch was built.
Percy seemed to be examining all the other people in line with them.
"You smell anything?" Chrysa heard him ask the satyr.
The satyr sniffed.
"Underground," he said distastefully. "Underground air always smells like monsters. Probably doesn't mean anything."
"Guys," Percy finally said. "You know the gods' symbols of power?"
Chrysa had been in the middle of reading Annabeth information about the construction equipment used to build the Arch, but they both looked over.
"Yeah?" Annabeth asked.
"Well, Hade…" Percy began, but the satyr cleared his throat.
"We're in a public place," he reminded. "You mean, our friend downstairs?"
"Um, right," Percy said. "Our friend way downstairs. Doesn't he have a hat like Annabeth's?"
"You mean the Helm of Darkness," Annabeth said. "Yeah, that's his symbol of power. I saw it next to his seat during the winter solstice council meeting."
"He was there?" Percy asked.
Annabeth nodded.
"It's the only time he's allowed to visit Olympus – the darkest day of the year. But his helm is a lot more powerful than my invisibility hat, if what I've heard is true…"
"It allows him to become darkness," the satyr confirmed. "He can melt into shadow or pass through walls. He can't be touched, or seen, or heard. And he can radiate fear so intense it can drive you insane or stop your heart. Why do you think all rational creatures fear the dark?"
"But then…how do we know he's not hear right now, watching us?"
Annabeth and the satyr exchanged looks.
"We don't," the satyr said.
"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better," Percy said. "Got any blue jelly beans left?"
The satyr passed him more jelly beans.
"There is a very low probability that he is here," Chrysa stated with a roll of her eyes. "The Lord has much better things to be doing than watching us. Besides, the umbrakinesis isn't just from his helm."
"Really?" Annabeth asked.
Chrysa nodded.
"Oh, yes," she said. "Control of the Underworld comes with some propensity for shadows, but the most powerful users of shadows are Nyx and Erebos, of course, being the Protogenoi of Night and Darkness. But the goddess of shadows – Titaness, originally, was Leuke. Leuke was Hades' first consort, which automatically gave him some control of her domain. When she died, most of her power went to Hades as her Consort."
"I thought Persephone was Hades' wife?" Percy asked in confusion.
"Of the Big Three, Poseidon is the only one who still has his first wife," Chrysa stated. "In the first war against the Titans, three of Rhea's attendants, Titanesses all, aided Zeus from the beginning. They were sisters, Oceanides, daughters of Oceanus and Tethys. Amphitrite was the youngest, the Titaness of saltwater and sea creatures. Metis was one of the middle children, the Titaness of good counsel." She turned to look at Annabeth. "Metis was the consort of Zeus, and your grandmother, Annabeth."
"I know that story," Percy said, face scrunched slightly. "Zeus turned her into a fly and swallowed her, and then Athena was born from Zeus' skull."
"That's right, Percy," Chrysa praised. "The eldest of the Oceanides, however, was Leuke. She was raised by Gaea and fostered by Nyx and Erebos. She was the Titaness of shadows and secrets, and was once counted first among the Council of Olympus."
"What happened to her?" Percy asked.
Chrysa was silent for a moment.
"She died," she finally said. "And Hades changed. Olympus changed. Metis was dead by that point. Amphitrite and Hades were both kicked off the Council. Hades grew withdrawn. He stopped leaving the Underworld. He grew bitter that no one helped him after Leuke's death. Very few on Olympus will speak of her. She was greatly missed."
They made it through the elevator queue, and ended up shoved inside with a fat lady and her Chihuahua. Chrysa could sense the aura of 'monster' about them.
"No parents, dears?" the lady asked as they were about halfway up.
In her mortal guise, she had beady eyes; pointy, coffee-stained teeth; a floppy denim hat, and a denim dress that bulged s much, she looked like a blue-jean blimp.
"I am adult enough to watch over my cousins," Chrysa said with a smile.
The Chihuahua growled.
The woman said, "Now, now, sonny. Behave."
The dog had beady eyes like its owner, intelligent and vicious.
"Sonny," Percy said. "Is that his name?"
"No," the lady said with a smile.
The observation deck at the top of the arch was similar to a tin can with carpeting. Rows of tiny windows looked out over the city on one side and the river on the other.
Annabeth was talking about structural supports, and how she would have made the windows bigger, and designed a see-through floor. She was interrupted when the park ranger announced that the observation deck would be closing in a few minutes.
Percy steered Annabeth and the satyr towards the exit and loaded them into the elevator. There was no more room for him and Chrysa, as there were already three other tourists inside.
"Next car, sir," the park ranger said.
"We'll get out," Annabeth said. "We'll wait for you."
Percy glanced at Chrysa beside him before saying, "Naw, it's okay. I'll see you guys at the bottom."
The pair in the elevator looked nervous, but they let the elevator door slide shut. Their car disappeared down the ramp.
The only people left on the observation deck were Chrysa, Percy, a little boy with his parents, the park ranger, and the probable-monster-lady and her probable-monster-Chihuahua.
Percy smiled uneasily at the lady. She smiled back, her forked tongue flickering between her teeth. The Chihuahua immediately jumped down and started yapping at Percy.
"Now, now, sonny," the lady said. "Does this look like a good time? We have all these nice people here."
"Doggie!" said the little boy. "Look, a doggie!"
Before he could get any closer to the monster, his parents pulled him back.
The Chihuahua bared his teeth at Percy, foam dripping from his black lips.
Chrysa flicked her wrists, and she had her wand in one hand and a dagger in the other in a second.
"Well, son," the fat lady sighed. "If you insist."
"Um, did you just call that Chihuahua your son?" Percy asked.
"Chimera, dear," the fat lady corrected. "Not a Chihuahua. It's an easy mistake to make."
Chrysa cursed inwardly. The Chimera and Echidna. How did Percy keep facing the worst monsters possible on his first quest?
Echidna rolled up her denim sleeves to reveal her scaly green arms. She smiled, and her fangs were revealed. The glamour on her face melted away, showing that the pupils of her eyes were reptilian slits.
The Chimera barked louder, and with each bark, it grew. First to the size of a Doberman, then to a lion. The bark became a roar.
The little boy screamed. His parents pulled him back towards the exit, straight into the park ranger, who stood, paralyzed, gaping at the monster.
The Chimera grew to be so tall that its back rubbed against the roof. It had the head of a lion with a blood-caked mane, the body and hooves of a giant goat, and a ten-foot-long diamondback for a tail. The rhinestone dog collar still hung around its neck, and the plate sized dog tag was now easy to read: Chimera – rabid, fire-breathing, poisonous – if found, please call Tartarus – ext. 954.
Percy was so shocked, he hadn't even uncapped his sword. Chrysa nudged him and hissed, "Sword! According to the laws, I can't help you until it attacks me personally!"
Echidna hissed in laughter.
"Be honored, Percy Jackson. I am so rarely allowed to test a hero with one of my brood. For I am the Mother of Monsters, the terrible Echidna!" she proclaimed.
Percy stared at her, before asking, "Isn't that a kind of anteater?"
The monster's face turned brown and green with rage and – embarrassment?
"I hate it when people say that!" she howled. "I hate Australia! Naming that ridiculous animal after me. For that, Percy Jackson, my son shall destroy you!"
The Chimera charged at Percy, its lion teeth gnashing. Percy managed to leap aside and narrowly dodge the bite. However, that caused the Chimera to hit Chrysa, its teeth scraping her shoulder. Chrysa shadow-traveled over to where Percy was. He had ended up next to the family and the park ranger, all of whom were screaming as they tried to pry open the emergency exit doors.
"Go!" Chrysa yelled to him. "I'll get them out of here! You distract it!"
Percy uncapped his sword, ran to the other side of the deck, and yelled, "Hey, Chihuahua!"
The Chimera turned rapidly to face Percy and breathed a column of poisonous fire towards him.
Chrysa did not look to see if her cousin had escaped the flames. She trusted his reflexes. Instead, she snapped her fingers in front of the poor mortals trapped there.
"You were trapped up here when a madwoman and her dog attacked a boy and a teenager girl. You managed to escape down the emergency exit, but you don't know what happened to the boy and girl," she ordered, manipulating the Mist to change their memories.
As soon as their eyes slipped into that glassy state, Chrysa waved her wand and magically unlocked and opened the emergency exit door. As soon as the park ranger and his family were out, she sealed the door again.
She heard Echidna cackling, "They don't make heroes like they used to, eh, son?"
She turned around to see Percy standing just in front of a hole in the Arch that looked like it had been made by the Chimera's breath. There was blood from a snakebite dripping down Percy's leg. His sword was nowhere to be seen.
The monster growled.
"If you are the son of Poseidon," Echidna hissed, "you would not fear water. Jump, Percy Jackson. Show me that water will not harm you. Jump and retrieve your sword. Prove your bloodline."
Percy glanced down at the water, then back to Echidna. The Chimera's mouth glowed red, heating up from another attack.
"You have no faith," Echidna taunted. "You do not trust the gods. I cannot blame you, little coward. Better you die now. The gods are faithless. The poison is in your heart."
"Percy," Chrysa said firmly, drawing everyone's attention to her. She had daggers in either hand, one of celestial bronze and one of Stygian iron.
"Jump," she ordered your cousin. "Into the water. You are the son of the Sea God. Water cannot harm you. Go!"
Percy gave her a searching glance, then swallowed heavily. He turned and jumped out of the Gateway Arch even as the Chimera sent a column of flame towards him. His clothes caught fire, but Chrysa expected that the wind and the water would put them out soon enough.
Before the monster could turn and charge her, Chrysa charged it.
She threw the bronze knife into the monster's left eye. As it let out a terrible roar, her knife of Stygian iron landed perfectly in Echidna's throat. The Mother of Monsters screamed as her essence was absorbed into the blade.
By the time the Chimera realized what was happening, Chrysa was upon it and had summoned the knife back to her hand. She leapt onto the monster's back and slammed the knife its skull. The monster roared again, even as it dissolved into dust and its essence was absorbed into the blade.
Chrysa quickly replaced both knives in their sheaths, then moved into the shadows of the Arch. She cast an unlocking spell on the emergency exit door, then melted into the shadows as the door slammed open.
She wandered through the shadows back down to the ground, and remained in them as she searched for her company.
A policeman shouting, "Gangway!" caught her attention. Chrysa melted out of the shadows to join the crowd as they parted, and a pair of paramedics came through, rolling a woman on a stretcher. Chrysa immediately recognized her as the mother of the little boy who had been on the observation deck.
She was saying, "And then this huge dog, this huge fire-breathing Chihuahua…"
Chrysa winced. She thought her skills at memory manipulation were a bit better. Maybe this was just a woman capable of seeing through the Mist.
"Okay, ma'am," the paramedic said. "Just calm down. Your family is fine. The medication is starting to kick in."
"I'm not crazy!" the woman exclaimed. "The monster was attacking the boy and girl… the boy was distracting it while the girl got us out, but those kids were still up there." Something on the other side of the crowd caught her attention. "There he is!" she yelled, pointing away from her. "That's the boy!"
Chrysa looked intently, and caught sight of Percy, Annabeth, and the satyr, moving rapidly away from the area. She followed close behind.
"What's going on?" Annabeth asked, just before she reached them. "Was she talking about the Chihuahua on the elevator?"
"Yeah, it was actually the Chimera, and the lady was actually Echidna, and Chrysa's still up there, we have to do something!" Percy exclaimed.
"It's alright, Percy," Chrysa said. "I'm fine."
All three jumped and whirled around to face her. Annabeth's hand had gone to her knife, while Percy had his pen in hand again. He quickly shoved it back into his pocket and then leapt at her, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"I thought you were gone," he said, his voice muffled by her shirt. "I didn't want to lose more family."
Chrysa wrapped her arms around him in reply and kissed the top of his head.
"It's alright, Percy. I'm fine. Your distraction helped quite a bit. I was able to stab and kill both of them before they could react. Then I just charmed myself invisible and flew down to join you all," she said.
"Did you say you flew?" Percy asked with interest, leaning away slightly so he could look up at her face.
"I did," Chrysa confirmed. "I can show you later. What happened when you jumped?"
Percy quickly related the story – backing up slightly in the telling in order to explain what happened on the Arch platform to Annabeth and the satyr – of how he jumped off the Gateway Arch and met an underwater lady who was a messenger from his father.
"Whoa," the satyr said. "We've got to get you to Santa Monica! You can't ignore a summons from your dad."
Before either Annabeth or Chrysa could say anything, they passed a reporter doing a news break. What he said almost caused them to freeze in shock.
"Percy Jackson. That's right, Dan. Channel Twelve has learned that the boy who may have caused this explosion fits the description of a young man who went missing in a New York car crash nine days ago. Both Percy Jackson and his mother, Sally, have been missing ever since. There was also said to be a teenage girl on the platform, also involved in the incident. Preliminary reports say that her appearance matches that of Amy Potter-Black, the young heiress whose car was found totaled in New Jersey three days ago. While not a teenage girl as was initially reported, Amy Potter-Black has been noted for her youthful appearance. Jackson and Potter-Black appear to be travelling west. For our viewers at home, here are photos of both Percy Jackson and Amy Potter-Black."
The four ducked around the news van and slipped into an alley.
"First things first," Percy stated. "We've got to get out of town!"
He looked over at Chrysa.
"Is Amy Potter-Black you?"
Chrysa sighed and nodded.
"My full name is Amaranth Chrysocomê Potter-Black-Lupin. Since Potter and Black are the two Noble Houses I'm a part of, the media usually refers to me just as Amaranth, or Amy, Potter-Black. I really hate being called Amy though. If you have to use my first name, it's Amaranth, not Amy," she stated. "We'd better hurry. The train will be pulling out soon."
Somehow – through liberal use of Notice-Me-Not charms – they managed to get back to the Amtrak station without being spotted. They made it on board the train just before it pulled out for Denver. The train trundled west as darkness fell, police lights still pulsing against the St. Louis skyline behind them.
They didn't reach Denver until the next afternoon. Continued use of Notice-Me-Not charms had kept the train staff from identifying either Percy or Chrysa as the missing persons reported for being somehow involved in an explosion at the Gateway Arch.
Thanks to Chrysa's magical purse, they were well-fed, but they still hadn't showered since Half-Blood Hill, and it was beginning to become obvious.
"Let's try to contact Chiron," Annabeth said to Percy as they got off the train. "I want to tell him about your talk with the river spirit."
"We can't use phones, right?" Percy asked.
"I'm not talking about phones," Annabeth replied.
"Ah yes, we haven't introduced Percy to the wonders of Iris-messaging yet," Chrysa said with a smile.
"Iris-messaging?" Percy asked, looking even more confused.
"You'll see," the other three chorused.
They wandered around downtown Denver for half an hour before finding an empty do-it-yourself car wash. They veered toward the stall farthest from the street, keeping their eyes out for patrol cars. Hanging out at a car wash without a car was slightly suspicious, especially when everyone involved looked like teenagers.
"What exactly are we doing?" Percy asked as the satyr took out the spray gun.
"It's seventy-five cents," he grumbled. "I've only got two quarters left."
Before he could say any more, Chrysa handed him a full roll of quarters.
All three people stared at her.
"You carry that around in your purse?" Annabeth asked incredulously.
"Heiress," Chrysa reminded. "Filthy, stinking rich over here. And my boss is literally a god. He can afford to pay me a high salary."
The satyr shrugged and dropped three quarters into the machine.
"We could do it with a spray bottle, of course, but the connection isn't as good, and my arm gets tired of pumping."
"What are you talking about?" Percy demanded.
The satyr turned the settings dial to fine mist.
"I-M'ing," the satyr stated.
"Instant messaging?" Percy asked, still looking horribly confused.
"Iris-messaging," Annabeth corrected. "The rainbow goddess Iris carries messages for the gods. If you know how to ask, and she's not too busy, she'll do the same for half-bloods."
"You summon a goddess with a spray gun?"
The satyr pointed the nozzle in the air and water hissed out in a thick white mist.
"Unless you know an easier way to make a rainbow."
"At some point, Percy will most likely be fully capable of manipulating water molecules in the air to form a rainbow, but he's still a few years away from that," Chrysa pointed out.
The late afternoon light filtered through the vapor and broke into colors.
Chrysa fished a drachma out of her purse and announced, "O, Iris, goddess of the rainbow, please accept our offering."
She tossed the drachma into the rainbow and it disappeared in a golden mist. She then gestured for Annabeth to take the lead.
"Half-Blood Hill," Annabeth requested.
The mist melted into an image of strawberry fields and the Long Island Sound in the distance. The image was being projected from the porch of the Big House. Standing with his back to them was Luke. He was dressed in shorts and an orange tank-top, and had a bronze sword in his hand. He was staring intently at something down in the meadow.
"Luke!" Percy called.
Luke turned, eyes wide.
"Percy!" he cried, breaking into a grin. "Is that Annabeth too? And Chrysa? Thank the gods! Are you guys okay?"
"We're…uh…fine," Annabeth stammered.
She was madly straightening her t-shirt and trying to comb the loose hair out of her face.
"We thought – Chiron – I mean…" she said.
"He's down at the cabins," Luke said, smile fading. "We're having some issues with the campers. It's probably a good thing neither Percy nor Chrysa are here. Listen, is everything cool with you? Is Grover all right?"
"I'm right here," the satyr called. He held the nozzle to one side and stepped into Luke's line of vision. "What kind of issues?"
Just then, a big Lincoln Continental pulled up, stereo blaring some hip-hop music.
Chrysa pulled out her wand and cast a Notice-Me-Not and a silencing charm around their area.
"Chiron had to break up a fight," Luke said. "Things are pretty tense here. Word leaked out about the Zeus-Poseidon standoff. We're still not sure how – probably the same scumbag who summoned the hellhound. Now the campers are starting to take sides. It's shaping up like the Trojan War all over again. Aphrodite, Ares, and Apollo are backing Poseidon, more or less. Athena is backing Zeus. I don't know if it would be better or worse if Percy and Chrysa were here."
"I shudder to think that Clarisse's cabin would ever be on my dad's side for anything," Percy said drily.
"It happens," Chrysa shrugged. "Ares is pretty back and forth where wars are concerned. He usually likes to back whoever will be the most inflammatory."
"So, what's your status?" Luke asked. "Chiron will be sorry he missed you."
Percy began relating everything that had happened to them on their journey, including his dreams, which Chrysa did not think was the best idea. Yes, she had known Luke for several years, but Wormtail was the perfect example of how a traitor could still be someone you've known for years. And Luke had plenty of cause to hate the gods. Chrysa didn't think he had done anything, but it was still better to be safe than sorry."
"I wish I could be there," Luke said after Percy finished. "We can't help much from here, I'm afraid, but listen…it had to be Hades who took the Master Bolt. He was there at Olympus at the winter solstice. I was chaperoning a field trip and we saw him."
"But Chiron said the gods can't take each other's magical items directly," Percy pointed out.
"That's true," Luke said, still looking troubled. "Still…Hades has the Helm of Darkness. How could anybody else sneak into the throne room and steal the Master Bolt. You'd have to be invisible."
Everyone seemed to realize what he said at the exact same moment. Annabeth was fuming.
"Hey," Luke protested. "I'm sorry, Annabeth, I didn't mean you. I've known you for forever, you would never do anything like that. You're like a little sister to me."
"Thanks, Luke," Annabeth said unhappily. "I'm going to go buy a soda. Grover, give the nozzle to Chrysa and come on."
The satyr handed over the nozzle, and the pair walked quickly to the vending machines on the other side of the parking lot.
"I did not mean it that way," Luke said guiltily. "I love Annabeth."
"We know, Luke," Chrysa replied gently. "Our time's almost up," she reported.
"Percy, listen," Luke said quickly. "Are you wearing the flying shoes? I'll feel better if I know they've done you some good."
"Oh…uh, yeah!" Percy said, even though Chrysa was perfectly aware that it was the satyr wearing the flying shoes, not her cousin. "They've come in handy."
"Really?" Luke grinned. "They fit and everything?"
The water shut off. The mist started to evaporate.
"Well, take care of yourself out there in Denver," Luke called. "And tell Grover it'll be better this time! Nobody will get turned into a pine tree if he just…"
The mist disappeared and Luke's image faded to nothing.
"He should not have brought that up," Chrysa growled as Annabeth and Percy came around the corner, drinks in hand.
They stopped short upon seeing their companions' faces.
"What happened, Percy, Chrysa? What did Luke say?" Annabeth asked.
"He just brought up things he shouldn't have brought up," Chrysa muttered. "Come on, let's find some dinner."
A few minutes later, they were sitting at a booth in a gleaming chrome diner. They were surrounded by families eating burgers and drinking malts and sodas.
Finally, the waitress came over. She raised her eyebrow skeptically. "Well?"
"We, um, want to order dinner," Percy said.
"You kids have money to pay for it?" the waitress asked.
"Do you accept credit cards?" Chrysa asked sweetly, flashing her black AmEx card.
The waitress's eyes widened. "Y-yes…ma'am. What can I get for you?"
Suddenly, a rumble shook the whole building; a motorcycle the size of a baby elephant had pulled up to the curb.
All conversation in the diner stopped. The motorcycle's headlight glared red. Its gas tank had flames painted on it, and a shotgun holster riveted to either side, complete with shotguns. The sea was leather – but leather that looked like Caucasian human skin.
The man on the bike would have made pro-wrestlers run for Mama. He was dressed in a red muscle shirt and black jeans and a black leather duster, with a hunting knife strapped to his thigh. He wore red wraparound sunglasses and had the cruelest, most brutal face to ever exist. He was handsome, but wicked, with an oily black crew cut and cheeks that were scarred from many, many fights.
Chrysa knew immediately who it was.
"Annabeth, dear, go sit by Percy," she ordered with a steely voice.
The girl looked confused, but had just relocated to sit alongside Percy and the satyr on the other side of the table when the man walked into the diner.
A hot, dry wind blew through the place at his entrance. All the people – besides their table – rose, as if they were hypnotized, but the biker waved his hand dismissively and they all sat down again. Everyone resumed their previous conversations as if nothing had happened.
The waitress blinked, as if somebody had just pressed the rewind button on her brain. She asked again, "What can I get for you?"
"A little of everything, I think," Ares said as he took Annabeth's previous seat beside Chrysa.
She was forced to move closer to the window to avoid being touched by her odious elder brother.
Ares looked up at the waitress, who was gaping at him, and said, "Are you still here?"
He pointed at her, and she stiffened. She turned as if she'd been spun around, then marched back toward the kitchen.
Ares looked at Percy. Chrysa could see Ares' usual emotional manipulation flash over Percy's features.
"So, you're old Seaweed's kid, huh?" Ares asked.
"What's it to you?" Percy asked hotly.
Annabeth's eyes flashed.
"Percy, this is…" she began.
Ares raised his hand.
"S'okay," he said. "I don't mind a little attitude. Long as you remember who's the boss. You know who I am, little cousin?"
Percy studied him for a moment before saying, "You're Clarisse's dad. Ares, god of war."
Ares grinned and took of his shades.
"That's right, punk. I heard you broke Clarisse's spear."
"She was asking for it," Percy shot back.
"Probably. That's cool. I don't fight my kids' fights, you know? What I'm here for – I heard you were in town. I got a little proposition for you."
The waitress returned at that moment with heaping trays of food – cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, and chocolate shakes.
Ares handed her a few gold drachmas.
She looked nervously at the coins. "But, those aren't…"
Ares pulled out his huge knife and started cleaning his fingernails.
"Problem, sweetheart?" he asked.
The waitress swallowed, then left with the gold.
"I could have paid for that," Chrysa pointed out.
"You're officially missing, li'l sis. You really want the cops hunting you down because you used your AmEx?" Ares asked.
"You can't just threaten people with a knife!" Percy exclaimed.
Ares laughed.
"Are you kidding? I love this country. Best place since Sparta! Don't you carry a weapon, punk? You should. Dangerous world out there. Which brings me to my proposition. I need you to do me a favor."
"What favor could I do for a god?" Percy asked warily.
"Something a god doesn't have time to do himself. It's nothing much. I left my shield at an abandoned water park here in town. I was going on a little…date with my girlfriend. We were interrupted. I left my shield behind. I want you to fetch it for me."
"Why don't you go back and get it yourself?" Percy asked hotly.
Ares' eyes glowed fierily.
"Why don't I turn you into a prairie dog and run you over with my Harley? Because I don't feel like it. A god is giving you a chance to prove yourself, Percy Jackson. Will you prove yourself a coward?" Ares asked, leaning forward. "Or maybe you only fight when there's a river to dive into, so your daddy can protect you."
"We're not interested," Percy said, clearly trying to clamp down on his Ares-inspired anger.
Even when the war god wasn't intentionally manipulating others' emotions, he still inspired the feeling of wanting to punch him in the face. Leuke had given in to it several times, and Chrysa had once. Ares probably hadn't forgotten that.
"We've already got a quest," Percy continued.
Ares snorted.
"I know all about your quest, punk. When that item was first stolen, Zeus sent his best out looking for it: Apollo, Athena, Artemis, and me, naturally." He glanced over at Chrysa, and jerked a thumb in her direction. "And the halfling. Probably why she came along this time. If I couldn't sniff out a weapon that powerful…" he said, licking his lips. "Well, if I couldn't find it, you got no hope. Nevertheless, I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. Your dad and I go way back. After all, I'm the one who told him my suspicions about old Corpse Breath."
"You told him Hades had the Bolt?" Percy asked.
Chrysa mentally catalogued that information. Ares shouldn't have said that in front of her. It was just like him to attempt to start a war though.
"Sure," Ares said. "Framing somebody to start a war. Oldest trick in the book. I recognized it immediately. In a way, you got me to thank for your little quest."
"Thanks," Percy grumbled.
"Hey, I'm a generous guy. Just do my little job, and I'll help you on your way. I'll arrange a ride west for you and your friends."
"We're doing just fine on our own," Percy replied.
"Yeah, right. Money you can't spend without being tracked. No wheels. No clue what you're up against. Help me out, and maybe I'll tell you something you need to know. Something about your mom."
That caught Percy's attention immediately.
"My mom?" he questioned.
Ares grinned. "That got your attention. The water park is a mile west on Delaney. You can't miss it. Look for the Tunnel of Love ride."
"What interrupted your date?" Percy asked.
Ares bared his teeth, but it wasn't as menacing as he hoped.
"You're lucky you met me, punk, and not one of the other Olympians. They're not as forgiving of rudeness as I am. I'll meet you back here when you're done. Don't disappoint me. And for a little extra insurance…I think little sister here is going to stick with me for the time being."
Ares grabbed Chrysa's arm roughly and flashed away.
AN: Hope you all enjoyed! The next chapter is titled "Visiting Family", so there's a hint as to where Ares took Chrysa.