Cp 11

"Ok, that's it." Lilith said, upset. "Cover your ears." We did as she told. Then she stomped over to the pudgy babies and put her fingers to her mouth. Even with my ears covered, I hear the piecing whistle escape from Lilith's lips. The babies—which I figured out were karpoi, squirmed under the sound of her whistle. One squeaked. The other squealed.

We unplugged our ears slowly. "Ok… I didn't know she could do that. But, now what?" Nicki asked.

I was sick and tired of the monsters coming after us. I took some sawed off rope from the ground. It was long enough.

I stomped to the karpoi and tied them to each other, restraining their wings in the process. They squirmed, muttering about wheat and barley. I was careful not to touch the teeth because, well, I still valued my fingers. When I was done, I blew a stray hair from my face.

The sun was now half way up the sky. If I had to guess, it was probably 3:30. We needed to hurry or we would get caught sneaking to New York. I turned back to the demigods and did a head count. Everyone was there, but everyone was also knocked out. "Slap them. Hard." I told my friends. I couldn't have them asleep the entire time. They seemed unsure about the order but they did as I told.

Nicki seemed wary smacking legendary heroes, but she did it anyway. I could feel the slap. She did the same to the rest of Jason's group. They all stirred and they're eyes fluttered open. Lilith and Cassie did the same for Annabeth's group and Hazel and Frank. All of them shot to their feet ready to fight the already defeated dracaena. Hazel and Percy took a moment to find their weapon.

They still looked a bit drowsy, but their adrenaline seemed to help with that. "Chillax, we took care of it." Cassie assured them. Jason raised an eyebrow. "2 powerful dracaenas without any weapons?"

"Actually, we did borrow some weapons and not just dracaena." I said pointing at the karpoi behind me struggling to escape and to Hazel's spatha and Percy's sword.

Piper and Hazel smiled. "Wow, that's amazing!" Nicki shrugged shyly. "I mean, you guys are the professionals." Jason shook his head. "We are, that's why we could've taken them alone." His tone of voice hurt. Piper tried to calm him down. "Well, I'm sorry for saving your life!"

I didn't realize I said it. Jason's electric blue eyes clouded over. "Look, you guys aren't demigods, we could've handled them without getting hurt." I was about to say we didn't get hurt, but then I noticed him looking at my arm. The dark blue fabric was soaked with blood. There was a gash underneath my sweatshirt.

I slowly took it off. My upper hand had a deep cut that was dripping maroon. I gasped. How did I not notice it before? I thought. "See? If it were one of us, we could've gealed it with ambrosia and nectar."

He made a point. "So? She saved your life! All of you! And you still haven't even had the decency to say thank you." Nicki shouted angrily. I smiled gratefully at her. Jason didn't know what to say at that. The demigods stared at their shoes quietly. It felt awkward having them be quiet because me.

Lilith picked up one of Franks bows from the ground and took my sweat shirt. She cut some of the sleeve off. She raised my arm and tied the blue cloth around my wound. "That should stop the blood," She whispered.

"Um-we still have time, my parents usually wake up at around 7:00, so you can still get the Bugatti." Lilith helped me up. "Hey, thanks." Percy said. I shrugged, then winced from the injury. They muttered their thanks, while Cassie cleaned up the porch.

Piper walked over to the karpoi and frowned. "Where were you going to send us to?" Her charmspeak washed over me. I wanted to answer her question badly, but I didn't even know the answer.

The Karpoi on the left giggled as he said, "Palm Springs."

Suddenly the ground started to shake and Piper scrambled back quickly. The Karpoi n the right gurgled. "Lord is happy," Then just like that the ground swallowed both the Karpoi.

"Uh, that just happened." Frank said, confused. "They didn't even say good-bye. Rude." Leo said.

"Guys, we shadow traveled to Palm Springs un-intentionally right? So, what if the guy who sabotaged our trip purposely somehow got me to Palm Springs?" Nico theorized. Lilith, Nicki and I shared a look.

"Look, guys. That stuff about someone sabotaging your vacation and the gods sending you to us and everything—was a lie. We get it if you don't trust us anymore, but take the car. It'll help halfway." I explained, ashamed. I couldn't bare the looks they were giving me.

I lifted my head, surprised to feel a rebellious tear slip down my cheeks. "I'm sorry." They stared at me, sad. Maybe I shouldn't have confessed, but I couldn't bare lying to them. Cassie, Nicki and Lilith looked equally as sorrowful.

"Well no need for that." A voice behind me said. The demigods' eyes widened. Me and my friends turned around and gasped.

Standing before us was the god Hermes.