As incredible as this cruise ship seemed, it was downright creepy. Everyone felt like they were in a trance of some kind, completely locked in their own little word and drifting through a foggy haze. It really put me on edge and now I was starting to fiddle with my Amaryllis charm and my camp bracelet out of nervousness, tempted to pull the weapon free and carry it around in my hand just to feel safer. Although we moved around the ship, Percy took a moment to note how well I was managing, naturally moving to avoid things and people as if I could see plain as daylight. "I don't know what it is, but I just feel like I know where everything on the ship is. Like there's some kind of schematic or map in my mind." Of course this didn't make any sense, but Annabeth pointed out that this could be useful if I was right. We made our way towards the cafeteria but when everyone froze around me I didn't realise at first what for until I felt Percy grab my hand in order to yank me back, whispering rather fearfully that there was a baby hellhound eating the scrambled eggs. Okay, so no eggs for breakfast today.
When the sound of a hissing voice sounded from down the corridor, I immediately thought it might have been Lamia already back from the dead and backed up, throwing out my arms to shield the others until Annabeth pulled us all into a bathroom, which again I strangely knew was the girls' bathroom. We listened to them as the two slithering forms passed and my ears tingled from the sound, hoping that it wasn't actually Lamia, because that would be seriously bad luck for her to have already reformed from where I'd smushed her into Jell-O only a few days ago. As I listened, however, the voices didn't sound exactly the same, though they were talking about six more joining them and that he was drawing them here. I had no idea who he was, but I honestly did not really want to know. When they passed, we all crouched in silence for a few moments just to make sure they were gone. "We have to get out of here." Annabeth announced clearly, and I couldn't agree more. I wonder if Snowstorm could still hear me if I whistled? She'd always said that she'd know when I called for her. I just hope she was good on her word.
"You think I want to be in the girls' restroom?" I swung out my hand and managed to clip my brother around the head.
"She means off the boat, dummy. Come on." I urged and reached out for Tyson who whimpered, telling me that it smelled bad and that the bad dog ate all the eggs. Poor guy, he must be hungry. Halfway pulling Tyson to his feet I almost dropped him again, because a voice came from outside that all of us who had heard it before instantly recognised, despite the fact that it was muted and not entirely clear.
"…only a matter of time, don't push me, Agrius!" A swarm of emotions rushed over me all at once, so swift and hot that I couldn't distinguish between them. I froze, same as everyone else, as we heard Luke speaking and realised that this was his ship. Or at least, he'd commandeered it from these poor tourists.
"I'm not pushing you! I'm just saying, if this gamble doesn't pay off…"
"It'll pay off." I didn't like the sound of what I was hearing, and the guy Luke was talking with sounded like the mean sort, so I guessed he was another monster of some kind. "They'll take the bait. Now, come, we've got to get to the admiralty suite and check on the casket." Yeah. Definitely didn't like how that sounded. Now I know why Hermes gave me the weapon. He must have known all along that Luke was here, he'd timed it to ask for my help and Percy's just as it so happened that Luke was cruising past nearby. I take it back. Hermes wasn't so cool after all. I hate being manipulated. I took a quiet but deep breath, steadying my nerves as I felt Percy shift beside me so I felt for his hand and, when I curled my fingers around his, felt the scar from where the pit scorpion had poisoned him last summer.
"Leave now?" Tyson asked hopefully, but unfortunately for the big guy, we weren't going anywhere. At least, not yet.
"We can't." Percy told him as I heard Annabeth near enough growl.
"We have to find out what Luke is up to. And if possible, we're going to beat him up, bind him in chains and drag him to Mount Olympus." I heartily agreed, and secretly hoped Hermes wouldn't mind me kicking Luke's ass despite our deal, because quite honestly he deserved it. We all went together because there was no way we were going to let Annabeth go alone. We made our way prettily easily forwards and I walked with confidence, ducking out of sight with the others whenever someone approached but we didn't seem to have been discovered yet. Huge emphasis on the yet. The further we went however, the more we heard and the others saw. We even hid in a closet when a couple of people came towards us, and I recognised one of the voices as Chris Rodriguez, Annabeth recognising him too. As it turns out, monsters weren't the only thing Luke had been collecting. It did not bode well for us, and feeling increasingly uneasy the closer we got to the admiralty suite, I started to fiddle with my bracelets again.
The two snake ladies we'd heard earlier turned out to be Scythian Dracaernae, according to Annabeth, who described them as dragon women as they had two snake tails instead of one. Suddenly I thought I'd much rather fight Lamia again seeing as she had only had one tail to contend with. We continued forwards until Tyson informed us that he could hear voices in the suite ahead, though much to our shock and even slight horror, he started to mimic the voices he heard. It was unsettling to hear Luke's voice come out of Tyson's mouth, and I had to fight off the instinctive shudder though it seemed to freak Annabeth most of all. I couldn't quite explain it, but Annabeth seemed to more than simply dislike Tyson. I think she may have even feared him a little, or at least, she had a very strong aversion to Cyclopes. Tyson stopped because he became confused, thinking that he was helping but Percy quickly urged him to carry on, so Tyson mimicked the voices he heard again, starting with the deeper voice which had been talking to Luke earlier saying to be quiet. Then Luke spoke again. "Are you sure?" Oh crap, I think that means they heard us.
"Run for it!" I whispered frantically, grabbing at the air until I found Tyson and Percy. Percy turned first, but Tyson was a little slower, too slow even, because just as Percy also caught onto what the conversation meant, I heard a door fling open and a sinister voice speak from within, one that caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.
"Well. If it isn't my three favourite cousins. Come right in."