Chapter 7

Percy's POV

A coral door? seriously, Leo gave me a colorful coral door? The coral door made me look like some prissy girly boy. Why couldn't I have gotten something flashy like Thalia's golden door? Or maybe something cool like Nico's obsidian door? I don't even know why I'm making such a big deal on doors.

I sat on my bed. The inside of my room was okay I guess. A normal full sized bed with navy blue bed sheets. The mattress was memory foam and everything. The floor was decorated with quartz tiles. I had my own personal bathroom, which included a sink, a mirror, a toilet( don't ask me where it goes ) and a shower. I don't know where Leo got the idea but he added a fish tank to my room, witch I can't complain because when the light reflects off of the water, the water's light shows all around my room which gives it this peaceful aura. The walls were greenish blue. I had a white nightstand with a sphere like lamp. I had a drawers that held my extra clothes and of course, the super secure seat which is needed to be used when taking off, landing and diving. The room was about eight feet wide, and ten feet long.( Yea, imagine how big Festub is ) Including the bathroom. It was quite cramped but it was livable.

I got bored of watching the reflection of the water. I sat up and scowled once more at my coral door before pushing it open. Annabeth was sitting at the ivory table staring intently at her notebook, scribbling whatever and torturing her pencil. I decided to not bother her. I sat down at the leather couch with Thalia, who was watching the news.

" This just in. Doctors are reporting in on a new disease of what they call Pandemonium, because it has caused confusion and a uproar of questions. This disease seems to have no pattern on where it starts. People all over the world have gotten this disease. Thirty from America died from this. Twenty in China, forty in Brazil, and more to come. Scientists think this might have something to do with the atmosphere-"

" You actually watch this stuff?" I asked Thalia.

" Shhh!" Thalia hissed, and then focused on the TV once more.

" -and have constantly checked the ozone for any signs of harmful radiation reaching the Earth."

I sighed. This was getting so boring. I went back to my room and pulled out my homework. It was so confusing. Annabeth wanted me to take Precalculus, but I don't think I'll survive one day in that class. I suddenly remembered my promise to Annabeth that I wouldn't worry her anymore. Going on this quest definitely called for some worrying.

I didn't have time to feel guilty. The flying sub shook, and Festub roared. I dropped my math books on the floor and ran out. Thalia and Annabeth reached for their weapons. Nico and Leo came out of their rooms.

Leo rubbed his eyes." Up the hatch! Go go go!"

Annabeth ran the the throat and came back with a ladder. She positioned it against the hatch. I quickly climbed it. Another bump, this time, everyone was prepared. I pushed the hatch open, and I climbed up the the back of Festub. It wasn't as balanced as the Argo ll, but I got the hang of it after a while. Thalia was right behind me, but the moment she poked her head out, she turned paler than Nico and started sinking down a little. I remembered Thalia was afraid of heights.

" P-Percy, heights, those are Stymphalian Birds." Thalia muttered.

" What birds?"

The monsters just ahead of me were hideous, they all were. They had bronze beaks and sharp metallic feathers. And there were about five of them. They were moderatly small so I thought this was gonna be easy.

Wrong.

" Percy! Stymphalian Birds are man eating birds!" Annabeth cried out.

" Oh, wonderful."

I fast walked across Festub's back. I looked down. We were just above the Missisipi River. One wrong move and I'm dead. I uncapped Riptide.

The Stymphalian Birds stopped pecking at Festub's armor and looked at me with glowing red eyes. They screeched and lunged at me. I slashed at one of them and dodged another's metallic feathers.

" Daughter of Zeus! I could use some sky help here!" I said while stepping back a little so I could get some space between me and the Stymphalian Birds.

Thalia groaned and slowly pushed herself above the hatch and weakly raised her hand. I felt a refreshing gust of wind, but that was it.

Three of the man eating birds tackled me again. One lunged at me with beaks open. I jabbed my sword into it's mouth. For the other two, I wasn't so lucky. The second one tore a bit of my arm flesh and the other one slashed it's wings at my leg. Blood dripped down my arm and leg. I started to feel a little lightheaded but I've survived worse.

" Stop!" I turned around. Thalia was completely on Festub's back now, though she was hugging it like her life depended on it.( Which it did. )

" The right hand of Artemis commands you!" She sounded confident though I was sure she was horrified.

The Stymphalian Birds hesitated for a moment. Then the largest one landed right next to Thalia.

" We no longer serve Artemis." It hissed." She abandoned us and we fled from her wolves. We serve a new master now."

Thalia looked shocked, I guess I could relate.

" Then the daughter of Zeus commands you to stay down."

The largest Stymphalian Bird squawked, as if laughing." We serve a new master now."

Thalia must've been really mad because she forgot about the heights and charged at the Stymphalian Birds. Some of them flew off of Festus. That didn't stop Thalia. She took two arrows from her quiver and aimed her bow. Boom, two dead birds right there.

The other three charged, including the biggest one. I took Thalia's back. I expected them to bite or slash at me, so I was ready to use Riptide like a shield. Instead, they pushed me off Festub. I saw Annabeth running up the stairs, Thalia screaming my name, and myself stabbing the chicken that pushed me off while falling.

I was positive I was going to die. Just below me the Mississippi looked like a welcoming death. Oh, wait. That's water. I felt so stupid. I remembered back when I was falling down to Tartarus with Annabeth. How I manipulated the river of despair to save me. I concentrated on the water and pictured the shape to become like a geyser. Sure enough, the water came at me with full force. I made it go strait up, back to the dragon. Going up was worse than going down. I felt like gravity was pulling me down. At times like these, I wish I had Jason's power to fly, instead of making such a huge gravity defying waterfall.

I arrived and the same moment I heard a screech. Perfect timing, I just missed the action. Everyone seemed suprised to see me. I jumped off of my ride and without giving me a moment to breath, Annabeth hugged me. I could feel the strain on my ribs.

" I think you'll break something of mine." I gasped. She quickly let go.

" Seaweed Brain." Annabeth muttered.

" Love you too, anyway. Leo, you gotta make Festub's back more fightable. By that I mean like more balanced, I was lucky because we were just above a river, but if anyone like Annabeth or Nico-"

" Hey!" They both said at once, then stared daggers at each other and turned away.

" Okay, I get it, I get it. But a inventor only has so many precautions." Leo huffed.

We all headed down to the belly again. Thalia offered ambrosia to me, but my wounds healed by itself when I was in the water.

By now, I could see a faint orange hue in the sky. We ate homemade tacos on the ivory table, mine was blue of course. I suddenly thought about my mom, how worried she must be now that I went on a quest without telling her. I felt guilty for not thinking about it earlier. Then there was Annabeth. I couldn't resist feeling a little mad at destiny for making me part of another great prophecy. That was just unfair. Didn't I go on enough danger to last a lifetime? The sooner the prophecy is fulfilled, the sooner I can make up to them.

I lowered my taco." Guys, I have to tell you something."

Leo paused in mid bite. Nico fully came out of the shadows. Annabeth and Thalia looked at me with full interest.

" Go on." Annabeth said.

I took a deep breath." I got a little sidetracked when I mentioned the part about someone tearing Nico's heart out."

Leo coughed." I'm sorry, WHAT?!"

Nico glared at him with his famous son of Hades glare." Shut up."

" Anyway, the full prophecy went like this: five shall start to find the first gift, found within a paradise for nature. She will give, you must tame. A friend of Angel will turn, and tear his heart out...three more shall join you, one of them is the enemy."

Nico suddenly stared darkly at the eight doors. He probably thinks one of the three coming was gonna tear his heart out.

" Oh! since it's secret sharing time, Calypso gave me the blueprints of making this sub, and it contained eight rooms in it. Probably not a coincident." Leo added.

" So two more will join us." Annabeth mused.

Suddenly, Nico melted into the shadows. Thalia and I exchanged confused looks. Moments later, we heard a scream. Nico jumped out of the shadows, he unsheathed his stygian iron sword. A girl about his age leaped out after him. She had celestial bronze twin knives that she used skillfully. She slashed at Nico and he jabbed at her. If they didn't have such murderous looks on their faces, I could've mistaken them for dancing. They moved with perfect rhythm and they couldn't seem land a single hit at each other, the girl would lunge, Nico would dodge. Nico would slash at her, but the girl used her knives like a shield. I would've jumped in and help Nico, but I was dazed by her beauty. Leo didn't move either so I guessed he was in the same boat as I was. Thalia was the first to make a move.

" Stop!" Thalia yelled forcefully.

Nico paused, the girl hesitated. But they both didn't completely lower their weapons, as if they were waiting for the other person to make a move.

" Merope! What are you doing here?" Thalia demanded.

Merope shot Nico one last death glance before sheathing her twin knives and bowed respectfully to Thalia.

" I'm sorry my lady, but I had a dream. I sneaked aboard this dragon and hid in the basement, I didn't dare budge because any movement might make me noticed." Merope looked one more time at Nico." When I heard you talking about three more coming along, I wanted to come out. But the moment I moved. This dark one appeared out of no where and attacked me." Merope said pointing at Nico, who scowled." Just so you know, if I hadn't been cramped under this dragon for several hours without food or water, I would've shredded you."

" And if I was on my natural element, earth, I would've dragged you to the Underworld." Nico hissed back.

" You're a son of Hades then? And someone is gonna tear your heart out?"

Nico glared at her, but it didn't seem to effect Merope.

" Aren't you supposed to be dead? You know, if you weren't part of this quest, I would send you back to Asphodel. Or better yet. The Fields of Punishment." Nico threatened.

It has been literally two minuets and I could already feel some negative atmosphere between them.

Thankfully Thalia broke them up." Okay guys, lets not kill each other right now. Merope, why don't you pick a room and we can call it a night?"

I was kinda upset. I was supposed to lead this quest, but then I realized it must be genetic. Zeus and Poseidon had been at each others throats for thousands of years. The same this happened with Jason.

Suddenly I heard a loud CLANG. I inched for Riptide, but Nico calmly shook his head. Next to me, the basement hatch opened. Out came a boy around 15, he had shaggy blonde hair, and a slightly athletic build. I recognized him immediately.

" Will Solace." I said. People were popping up everywhere and I can't seem to control it.

Will looked around nervously. " Hi, I had the a dream too, so I sneaked aboard. I hid in the basement but I didn't know you were there." Will said looking at Merope.

" Okay, I need to put a video camera in the basement too. Anyone else wanna pop out of the basement?" Leo asked.

Silence. I wondered why they didn't just come to us in the first place. Or why the prophecy had them sneak aboard. Either way, I was glad for an extra fighter and healer.

Merope chose to stay in the room with the emerald door and Will Solace chose the one with the pearl door.

I yawned. I really needed sleep.

I looked at Singapore. The vibrant colors and the odd shape of the buildings were a sight to behold. I was dreaming. I walked around a little bit before going on a bus. I sat down at the nearest available seat. And I closed my eyes just for a little bit.

My eyes snapped open, I was outside now. There were horses everywhere. They all seem to be yelling the same thing: Save us, my Lord!

I wanted to help them, but my hands passed right through them. The scene changed again. I was now at somewhere darker, like a cave, but I couldn't make out the structure. But I could hear two voices, both female.

" Are you sure? Giving one of the chosen this would make me part of the prophecy?" Asked a really uncertain voice.

" Yes, of course dear. If injected or drunken by one of the chosen ones, you will take their place." Said another, her voice was so smooth, I wanted to believe her, though I didn't know what she was talking about.

" But the best choice is Nico di Angelo, right?" The uncertain voice asked again.

The other voice didn't answer right then." It doesn't matter who you chose. My master is playing a dangerous game. He wants to make it fair fight, so he offers these gifts to the chosen ones. But honestly, it could've been anybody. Like you."

I realized the woman was charm speaking. Like really good charm speaking. Whoever she was talking to, that was the person who was gonna tear Nico's heart out. I suddenly felt a chill down my spine.

" We're being watched dear." The charm speaking woman said.

" By who?"

I could imagine the woman smiling." Why by the infamous Percy Jackson dear."

I heard the other girl gasp, and me praying to Hypnos to wake me up.

I sat up on my bed suddenly. Someone was knocking on my disgusting coral door.

" Yea?" I asked, massaging my face.

" Good morning Sleeping Beauty. Just a heads up, we'll be diving soon. I suggest you to strap in and try not to crash onto the ivory table again."

" Very funny Leo, how did we reach the Pacific already?"

I heard Leo sigh." Well, actually you've been out for two days."

I froze." What?"

" Yea, two days. But when a demigod goes to sleep for that long, they usually have an interesting dream. I think we'll have quite the story this breakfast.

Chapter 7 end.