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Chapter 9: They're coming for us
I woke up to the sound of the alarm. I read the clock, 6:30 p.m. Atlas had ordered all of us to put alarm clocks so we can rise early. Recalling the event yesterday, I groaned knowing that Bianca had indeed gone over to the gods. I couldn't blame her. I didn't know how to be mad at right now. Luke for telling me to not love? Atlas for keeping me from comforting Bianca and Nico? Bob for insulting Bianca and Nico? Thalia for making the mood worse? Me for being a coward? All those thoughts surrounded me as I was hit by a massive headache. I heard knocking on the door.
"Come in!" I yelled.
The door creaked open and I expected Luke or Atlas, but I met Thalia. She was already up and ready to go.
"You ready for today?" Thalia asked, staring at me with yesterday's ferocity.
I couldn't meet her eyes because I knew I would cower under her stare.
"I guess so," I replied.
"Listen Percy," Thalia told me, "I'm not mad anymore. It was really stupid to get mad. I just met Luke and yesterday's event just rattled me and I unleashed it there. I get angry pretty easily and I have a hard time controlling it."
"Is that your fatal flaw?" I asked. Annabeth had told me about fatal flaws during the trip to the Sea of Monsters. Annabeth's fatal flaw was hubris or pride. Not to be confused with that delicious dip, hummus. Yes, I got confused between those two.
"I'm not sure that is," Thalia answered, "It's pride. That's why I yielded when you said I would get power. I love Luke, don't get me wrong, but being a daughter of Zeus, it would be only fitting for my fatal flaw to be power."
I nodded in understanding.
"Breakfast!" Luke's voice echoed down the stairs.
"We should get going," Thalia nudged me as we raced downstairs.
We were laughing by the time we sat down, much to the amusement of Luke.
"Did you guys have fun in there?" Luke asked wryly with a twinge of jealousy.
Thalia hit Luke hard, "No you sicko. We didn't do anything, except talk so shut up and eat your breakfast before I kick your butt all the way to Hades."
Luke raised his hands in surrender and resumed eating his cereal.
"Froot Loops?" I asked as he nodded.
"Pretty tasty," he answered, "Better than what Willow and Bob are eating."
I turned to them.
"What kind of cereal are you eating?" I asked them.
"Honey Oats," Willow smiled.
"Fruity Pepples," Bob also said, "Thanks to Willow. I really don't like Demeter and her fetish for cereals."
Willow whacked him hard as Thalia cracked a grin and Luke began choking on his cereal.
"Ow what was that for?!" Bob asked indignantly.
"Don't insult my mother," Willow growled.
"Well, it's true," Luke said, "She loves cereal too much."
"Whatever man," Willow replied, "Jerk."
"I'm not getting into that argument again," Luke hummed.
"Scared?" Willow asked smiling smugly.
"No," he said, "Just don't want to drag this argument for 30 straight minutes."
I looked at Luke incredulously.
"True story," he told me, "I lost my voice for a day. Never ever get into an argument with Willow unless you want to grow gray hairs by the time your 20."
I wrinkled my nose.
"Let's go get cereal Percy," Thalia told me as we rose up and made our way to the breakfast aisle.
"Good morning y'all," the chef greeted as we raised our hand, "Sleep well?"
We nodded.
"Good, good," he replied, "What can I get you guys?"
"I'll have Lucky charms," Thalia answered.
The chef nodded as he gave Thalia lucky charms.
"Do you have any bacon?" I asked.
"Why of course!" he replied.
"Then can I have bacon, scrambled eggs, and orange juice please?" I asked.
He nodded as he whiffed the meal out pretty quickly.
"Bon appetit!" he said as we returned to our seat.
Luke, Bob, and Willow looked at me incredulously.
"Where'd you get the bacon?" Willow asked.
"Where'd you get the orange juice?" Luke asked.
"Where'd you get the scrambled eggs?" Bob asked.
"I just asked the chef," I replied.
"Oh," was their only response as I began eating happily.
I swear they were looking at each other with grins.
"Percy?" Willow asked sweetly.
"Yeah?" I answered.
She snapped her fingers as vines began wrapping around me.
"W-what are you doing?" I asked.
"Oh, just wrapping you with vines," she replied in a duh voice.
"What? Why?" I said to her.
"Because of this," she answered as she took a bacon and popped it in her mouth.
"My bacon!" I replied, playing on. I struggled, but those vines were tight and my hands were restrained.
I looked on helplessly as Luke took a long gulp of the orange juice. Bob stole the scrambled eggs and Willow took another bacon. Even Thalia got in on the act, sipping orange juice and stealing a bacon.
"Let me go!" I struggled, "A growing boy has to eat!"
The vines finally unwrapped as I only had a piece of bacon. In a flash, I picked it up and popped it in my mouth. Laughter rung out as I realized what I had done.
"Please just shut up," I told them and they stopped, thankfully.
"Everyone, we're arriving at the National Museum of Natural History located in Washington D.C in approximately 5 minutes," the captain spoke, "Please pack up and make sure you don't leave any of your personal belongings. Thank you for riding the Andromeda and we hope you have a nice day."
The intercom shut off as Luke rose.
"Looks like we're here," Luke sighed, "Atlas says he has a plan, but I'm not sure what it is. I just have to tell you that this is where things get real. You will see the true horrors of war and it won't be pretty."
The ship rested on the dock as monsters began piling out.
"Good day," Atlas told us as we nodded, "Follow me, I have some bad news as well as some good news."
Mortals gave us no mind as hundreds of monsters began entering the museum. Some mortals saluted Atlas who waved them off. We went deeper into the museum and soon found a hidden room. Atlas opened the room and we were greeted by huge cheering. I saw many more monsters. My heart felt like it was crawling out of my throat. With an army as huge as this, I knew we couldn't lose. Atlas made his way to a huge chair as we stood around him. When everyone was ready, Atlas, pounded his fist on his chair, silencing everyone.
"Friends, I have some bad news for you," Atlas spoke to us, "The campers are on a quest to save the goddess Artemis. They are Nico, Bianca, Phoebe, Grover, and..."
Atlas was silent for a while, worrying us.
"What's wrong sir?" a woman, very beautiful, but with donkey legs...asked.
"My traitorous daughter is also going on the quest," Atlas growled.
"Zoe?" Luke asked as Atlas turned to face him, glaring murderously.
"Do not speak of her name!" Atlas bellowed.
"I'm really sorry," Luke replied.
Two thoughts raced in my head. One was about Bianca. She left and we were being sent out to possibly kill all of them. I knew there would be no way I could kill Bianca. The other thought was how this quest was doomed to fail. I just heard from the fates that the Great Prophecy was fake and that I controlled my own destiny. Even I didn't know the outcome of this brewing war. The only thing I knew was that it would be really chaotic and bloody on both sides.
"Percy!" I heard Atlas call my name.
"Uh, yea?" I replied bluntly.
"You zoned out for a while," Atlas said, calmly.
"Oh, I was just thinking about...Bianca?" I replied, making it seem like a question.
"You can't develop a soft spot for her soldier!" Atlas roared, "She is the enemy and she and her brother must be destroyed! Do not fail me or Kronos. Do you understand?"
I gritted my teeth and replied, "Yes sir."
"How are we to destroy the Hunters?" Thalia asked, "After all, they are powerful."
She said powerful like it left a bad taste in her mouth.
"And that my dear, I have the solution," Atlas told us, "Bring the dinosaur teeth!"
"Yes sir!" a guard said and raced off. He came back moments later with a teeth.
"Plant it in the ground!" Atlas ordered as he planted the seed. The guard got a watering can and tilted it towards the soil. Instead of water, red liquid came out. The ground shook as we except Atlas, took a step back.
"Meow," a cute kitten purred as it began licking it's paws.
"Awwww," Willow cooed as Atlas' face burned with rage.
"Cute cuddly kittens?" he roared, "You incompetent fool, I said the teeth of the dinosaur!"
"I thought you said-" the guard began, but Atlas raised his hand.
"I said dinosaurs!" he yelled, "Get those infernal creatures out of here and never show your face again!"
The guard scooped up the kittens and ran away.
"You, get me the right teeth, now!" Atlas commanded as another guard saluted and raced away.
"Fools," Atlas muttered.
"That's why I don't use mortals," Luke replied, "So useless and foolish."
"Mortals are weak minded, violent, and easily bought. I love them!" Atlas answered.
"Here it is sir!" the other guard said.
"Excellent," Atlas nodded.
The guard planted the seed and I expected another failure, but a skeletal hand shot up. We jumped back in horror as skeleton warriors began emerging from the ground.
"The scent, now!" Atlas ordered as the woman with donkey legs threw down a piece of fabric.
Atlas gave it to the warriors who sniffed it. Their bones clattered and their pupils dilated.
"Hunt them down and kill them," Atlas said as the skeleton walked out of the museum, "And I will have another playmate to distract them."
Atlas whistled as a huge lion began barreling in.
"What is that?" I asked as it growled.
"It's the Nemean Lion," Atlas replied, "A lion that was once killed by Hercules. He is so fierce that I'm sure the lion will take care of the quest members. I'm also sending you Percy to fight them. The skeleton warriors will be the last resort. If by any chance the lion gets killed, I want you to go in and finish them off. If the lion makes it and kills the group, return to me. Don't develop a soft spot for that Hades spawn."
I bowed awkwardly and left with the lion, while Bob, Willow, Thalia, and Luke gave me worried glances. We rushed to National Air and Space Museum as I saw the 5 relaxing in the cafe.
"Wait here," I whispered to the lion as it growled, but nodded.
"Hey, guys!" I yelled as they drew their bows while Grover got out his reed pipe.
"Percy?" Bianca and Nico spluttered as the Hunters were glaring at me. Grover looked at me sadly.
"So it is true," I said to Bianca, "You guys left."
"And you didn't try to stop me," she replied, "I thought that you would help us, but you didn't come."
"I'm sorry about that," I replied, "It was orders and it was a dumb mistake."
"Don't be sorry," she said, "I have no intention of joining you...yet, but we don't have to be enemies. Come back to us. The gods will have the heart to forgive you."
"Well said sister," Zoe answered, "But I don't agree with the come back to us and the gods will forgive you part."
"Sister?" I asked, "Your in the hunt?"
Bianca nodded as I felt rage growing in me.
"Why?!" I asked.
"They accepted me while you didn't!" Bianca yelled right back.
"I had no choice!" I told her, "The general told me not to go."
"So you chose your duty over me?" she asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" I answered, internally wincing at how mean I sounded to her.
"Your not the person I thought you would be," she whispered, "You told me that I was beautiful and all those compliments so I could stay on your side. You lied about everything."
"What I said was the truth," I said.
"Oh really now?" she taunted, "You said the gods were no good. Look at the Titans! They are no better either. I would rather serve the gods rather than the Titans. The gods opened their arms and my father does care about me. You are a fool Percy."
"Wait!" Zoe exclaimed, "Before we castrate that...filthy pig, tell me Bianca, who is this general?"
Bianca raised her eyebrows and answered, "Atlas."
Zoe's mouth opened wide.
"Traitor," I hissed at her.
"I'm not on your side anymore," she replied bitterly, "And I'm happy with the gods. Enough talk, are you ready to be castrated and strung up like a pig?"
I stared at her in awe and finally, rage overcame me. I took out Hellfire as everyone trained their weapons on me.
"Don't you dare hurt my sister!" Nico boldly said while standing in front of Bianca.
I let another opportunity slip up, another possible relationship broken. I whistled as the Nemean Lion popped out with a roar.
"Sick em'" I whispered as the lion lunged, baring it's sharp teeth and claws.