Author's Note:

I'M AWARE IT'S NOT SATURDAY! I WAS WORRIED I WOULD FORGET TOMORROW FOR PERSONAL REASONS, SO I'M POSTING A FEW HOURS EARLY! That being said-

There are two chapters (including this one) before the part one finale! I'm excited, are you? Excellent. Without further ado, let's see how our favorite rag tag group is doing!

Cheers!

justapercyjacksonfan

Chapter 19:

The bus took them to Miami. Despite it being night time, and everyone wanting some sleep, Ian insisted they try and find some way to get to the Bermuda Triangle.

"And where are we supposed to find that?" Caleb had asked

"A long time ago, Percy and Miss Annabeth had a quest into the Sea of Monsters." Bri recalled.

"Great!" Jess replied in mock enthusiasm, "But we're talking about the Bermuda Triangle."

"Same. Thing." Bri continued, her voice completely level. It was like she was refusing to show any emotions at all. "They told me that you have to sail between Scylla and Charybdis to enter. We won't be able to just board a mortal ship and stowaway until we get where we need."

"On that note, the Bermuda Triangle is huge." Jo joined in, "How are we supposed to know where this island with a maze on it is?"

"There has to be a way." Ian replied. "Bri, how did Percy and Annabeth find where they were going?"

"Percy's dad is Poseidon? He has perfect bearings at sea. And they knew where the cyclops's island was from…"

"From where?"

"From the Grey sisters. We might be able to ask them, but they only serve the greater New York areas."

There was a silence. They had been sitting at a picnic table in the bus terminal, pouring over a map.

"Anyone else who might know?" Jess asked.

Bri gave it some thought, before answering, "Nereus. But you have to catch him first."

"Let's get him!" Caleb answered

"He's in San Francisco."

More silence. "There is one other way." she answered tentatively. "The Nereids. The nymphs of the ocean. They're the daughters of Nereus. The wisest." Bri shifted her leg, and winced. "The wisest was Thetis. She usually stays in Poseidon's court but her sister Calianassa is supposedly off the coast of Florida. If we can summon her, maybe she could help us, or find Thetis to help us."

"That's a big if." Jess replied skeptically.

"An if is all we have right now." Ian replied. "Let's go summon a Nereid."

The five stood at the water's edge, staring towards where the Bermuda Triangle was, far off in the distance.

"So how do we summon a Nereid?" Jo asked for the millionth time

"I know the incantations. Chiron made us memorize what I thought was a lot of stupid stuff we'd never use, but now I'm glad he did." Bri replied, her tone once again missing it's usual sass. "But we need an offering."

"Like a human sacrifice?" Caleb asked, alarmed

"Nothing of the sort. A spoil of war would be good. Has anyone got anything from the monsters we've fought?"

There was a silence. Finally, Jess reached into her bag, and pulled out a talon. "This is from the harpies. Will it do?"

"I'd say Callianassa would have to have weird taste, but in all honesty, yeah. Just drop it into the ocean - not now! When I say!"

Bri bent down as well as she could with her half-healed leg, and began muttering something. She spoke for almost two minutes non-stop, before wildly gesturing for Jess to throw the claw, all the while not slowing her speech.

There was a tense minute, where everyone stared at the water expectantly, waiting for an oceanic nymph to show up. After nothing happened, Bri gave an exasperated groan, and grumbled, "To Hades with you Callianassa! Why can't you even show up?"

"Well in that case, I think I'd better leave. I'd hate to think I made a special trip for nothing." an annoyed voice came out of the depths.

Everyone turned in surprise to see a lady with blue tinted skin, and long black hair glowering at them from the shore. "It's been an entire, let's see, never since I specifically have been summoned. And summoned is a misnomer, demigods. It gets my attention, but I most certainly didn't have to come. So be polite. Because I'm in a good mood, I'll hear you out. Why do you want me?"

"My lady!" Bri replied, and bowed her head. The others followed suit.

"Bowing is good." The Nereid answered, "You know, even in ancient times, I was never honored. Amphitrite, of course. Thetis, definitely. But little old Callianassa? Hardly. It's refreshing."

"We are on a quest into the Sea of Monsters." Ian stepped forward. "We're looking for an island with a maze on it. We're trying to find Instinct, but we need transportation and the location."

Callianassa wrinkled her nose. "I see. And what makes you think I can help you?"

"Well...you're a Nereid. You're very wise, and you live among the waters. If anyone would know, it's you."

"That's all true. I'm wise and I know where you want to go. But direct interference goes against ancient laws. Gods can't interfere on quests."

Jess shot Ian a look that conveyed, "Let me try."

"My lady." Jess said and bowed again, before approaching. "What if we did you a favor? If you were repaying a debt, surely it wouldn't go against ancient laws?"

Bri shot her a look that said, "Nice going. Now we have to do something for her? Real smart." in not so many words.

"Surely there's something you want?"

Callianassa looked thoughtful. "Well, yes. There is something I want. But I don't think you'll be able to do it."

"It can't hurt to ask." Jess replied

"I listen to the mortals on the beaches. I often hear them mention something called iced cream. I want you to go and find Ice Cream, and bring her back to me. I think she's lost. They keep saying, "I'm going to go find ice cream for us." Being an ocean nymph, I can't be on land for long enough to find Ice Cream."

Caleb raised a hand, trying to get Callianassa's attention. "Um, my lady, ice cream is a food."

"Oh. Well then I want you to get me some."

The five exchanged a shrug. "As you wish, my lady." Bri responded, "We will return with ice cream, and meet you here."

"Easiest. Side quest. Ever." Jo muttered to her brother, as they made their way back up the beach to see the waiting Nereid. Caleb had been elected to hold the cone of rocky road ice cream, because of his ability to keep it cold. He handed it to Callianassa, who looked at it sceptically.

"You lick it." Ian explained. When the stuff inside it is gone, you eat the cone."

The Nereid's eyes went wide at the taste. "This is the best thing I have ever eaten since Poseidon opened the buffet in Atlantis. Oh yes, this deserves a reward." She snapped her fingers. "I've summoned some hippocampi for you. They know the way. I'd recommend entering the Sea of Monsters through the Clashing Rocks, rather than Scylla and Charybdis. If you time it right, you'll get through fine. Then, you just have to rely on Instinct's Labyrinth. Can't help you there."

"We have to navigate the Labyrinth?" the child of Zeus asked

"Not the Labyrinth. Instinct's Labyrinth. Totally different. Well, Instinct's Labyrinth is pretty confusing anyway. And it's also a maze. But they're different entities entirely."

"How do we navigate the maze?" Jess asked

"I told you. Yes, I'm pretty sure I told you. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go tell Thetis about this. It needs to be added to the buffet line. Best of luck demigods. And I do hope you manage to find a way back from the Sea of Monsters once you're done."

And with a wink, she dissolved into the water, a shimmering patch floating away from them. Coming in the opposite direction were five wake lines that eventually became visible as fish-horses.

"Hippocampi." the leader said. "We have a way to Instinct's Labyrinth.

Author's Note:

There's that one. So close to the first pillar of creation. And a lot less drama than last chapter.

So literally no one has answered me about who their favorite is, which leads me to the conclusion that you hate all of them. Anyway, moving on.

Nothing new on the review, favorite, follow front. Hoping to say something to y'all next week.

Have a lovely day!

justapercyjacksonfan