I Consult A Mortal

I sat in the camp van, listening to the raindrops poor on the window. We had just entered Manhattan and Argus had agreed to let me off at my house. The whole ride was quiet and when I stepped out of the van at my apartment, I was immediately drenched in a down poor of rain. I thanked Argus and ran up the stairs and into my family's apartment.

My mom and Paul were on the couch, watching T.V. When she saw me, my mom jumped up off the couch and smothered me in the biggest hug ever. I mean, Bigfoot couldn't do a better job at trying to break all of my ribs.

"Percy!"

Well, she finally let me go… Did I smell blueberry waffles?

"Oh, Mom," I said snapping out of my revere, "I need my car keys."

She got this funny look in her eye and said, "Why?"

"Because I need to drive my car."

"But Percy… it's raining out, and you only barely passed your driver's test! You still need more practice!"

I turned to Paul, who had come to stand behind my mom. "Tell her that I don't need anymore practice."

He looked uneasy. "It wouldn't hurt, Percy. Don't you at least want to dry off first? Wait until the rain stops?"

"No. I can't. I'm on a quest." I pushed past them into my room and grabbed the keys of the kitchen counter. I left the room and opened the front door, but I stopped… and closed it. I turned around.

"Mom, I won't be there for the wedding. Just know that I love you and only want you to be happy." I turned to Paul. "Take care of her for me."

He still look hesitant, but nodded and put his arm around my mother. I almost couldn't bare to look at her, but I had too. Hurt was written all over her face and she looked close to tears. "Gods…"I thought, "take care of her for me." I don't know if they heard my prayer or if Zeus was just in a bad mood, but a crack of thunder rolled of the New York skyline and rattled the buildings.

I gave a small, sad smile… and left.

Δεν βρέθηκαν λέξεις

I was cold and wet, yet I still drove on, with the heat raging and the stereo blazing in my original blue Comaro. I had called Rachel Dare and agreed to meet her at the same café as last time. Oh, joy.

Rachel's fiery hair was wet and wind-strewn. She looked like a wet fox. No offense intended to her. "Hey, Rachel."

"Hi, Percy! What's up?"

"I've got another job for you to do…"

Δεν βρέθηκαν λέξεις

Rachel took a deep breath. "Okay."

My eyes widened. "You'll actually do it?"

"Yeah. It's not like I have anything better to do. Who else is coming?"

"No one."

She gave me a funny look and said, "Why?"
I took a deep breath. "It's a bit complicated."

"You can tell me."

I shook my head. "I'm sorry, but no. I don't want them-" I cast a look at the ceiling to indicate the gods- "to hear."

She nodded, understanding.

It took us and hour to get back to the labyrinth entrance. I placed my hand on the mark and the door swung open. We stepped in and were plunged into total darkness.

Δεν βρέθηκαν λέξεις

I don't know how long we were down there before we found it. My body's inner clock said somewhere around three days. We had to take long detours due to caved-in tunnels and large blocks of rock and gravel that made footing treacherous. We had to sleep on the uncomfortable ground, conveniently forgetting the sleeping bags.

We finally made it to Daedalus' workshop.

It was a mess. All of his computers were destroyed, the tables overturned, and his easels of artwork were thrown on the floor. Paint was splattered everywhere in a calossal mess.

I heard a sharp intake of breath from Rachel. She walked to one of the work benches and crouched down beside a demolished easel. I thought I saw a trace of salty tears on her cheeks.

I climbed the metal, spiral staircase, avoiding books and paper strewn about, and ascended onto the second floor. I cast my gaze around the room, examining the walls for any sign of a door. Nothing.

I stepped closer up to the walls and ran my hand against the smooth surface. Something to the right of me caught my eye. There! The symbol of Daedalus. The Ancient Greek Delta.

I pressed my hand to it and it slid open with ease. The room was cold and dark. When I walked in, the air felt cold and damp, like it hadn't been open in centuries- which, come to think of it, probably hadn't. The room was long and narrow with torches burning at intervals of about six feet.

The walls were lined with shelves that stretched on for what seemed like forever. They weren't dusty like I'd expected them to be, instead they were filled with countless things that looked like parts of weapons that had fallen apart. This place even had automatons that Hephaestus would stare at in awe.

I walked past row after endless row of shelves before I found it. I would have missed it if I hadn't known what I was looking for. It as a simple metal box with the words Super Grenade: Trial 26. I picked up the box and headed back into the workshop.

Δεν βρέθηκαν λέξεις

I passed the window on my way to Rachel, who was still sitting on the floor, in the middle of a ring of demolished work tools. I cast a glance out of the window and froze dead in my tracks. I saw the skyline of New York City from the view of Mount Olympus on the six-hundredth floor of the Empire State Building.

I stepped up to it and gazed out, wondering if any of the gods were seeing the same sight and, if so, if they knew where I was and what I was doing. Would they ever forgive me for my betrayal? I'm not really betraying them, I told myself in pleading thoughts. I wouldn't get thrown into Tartarus for saving them, would I?

A deep rumbling filled my ears and I was thrown of my feet as the whole workshop shook. Rocks were falling all around us, and I heard Rachel scream.

A/N: Okey-dokey. So here it is. Sorry it took so long, but my muse temporarily left me... she was seeing another person... I feel so unloved.

Nico: I love you

LBP: *smiles at Nico and wipes away tears*

So there wasn't too much dialogue or action in this one, but I did manage to make a cliff hanger!!!

LBP&Nico: REVIEW!!!

Nico: Or else... *cracks nuckles menacingly*

Review, dudes