I had Nocturno take Bianca and Nico to Camp so I and the others could figure out what to do.
We had one day left to prevent the destruction of our world. So we decided to hurry
Luck was on our side cause we were able to get a taxi that took casino debit cards. When the driver swiped it, an infinity symbol came up. So we would get to the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angelos with no problem.
He called Annabeth "Your Highness", got the specific destination, and started to drive. Annabeth fed that to her ego a little bit too much.
Percy then decided to tell us about his latest dreams, even though it sounded like the Lotus Casino short-circuited his memory.
"...I swear the invisible servant's voice seemed familiar to me, he called the voice a title but I can't remember, and then there was the fact that it was dark and the voice was coming from a pit."
"Well, Hades is known as the Silent One or the Rich One," said Annabeth
"And the environment you described is Hades's go-to domain," said Grover.
"That's the thing. It didn't feel like a god's voice," said Percy.
"And Hades is underground, not in a pit, right?" I asked.
"True...but it has to be Hades. I mean the earlier dreams you had were a voice from the shadowy underground egging your father and Zeus on. The only one who comes to mind is Hades," said Annabeth, even though it sounded like she was trying to reassure herself. She was very pale.
Me and Percy looked at each other. That didn't really sit well with us. Ever since coming to camp, the way people thought about Hades always confused me. I mean sure he kidnapped his wife, but other than that, everything else he ever did was always a result of how others treated him. In fact, he's actually the best god around, besides Hepbaestus, even causing his wife to fall in love with him. He's had the least children out of all the gods, he provides an essential service to the mortal population, and he's caused the least amount of shenanigans over petty things, even being lenient when it's clearly not the offender's fault.
"Annabeth, I get what you saying and I can see most of the proof points to Hades, but don't you think you're assuming it was him a little too quickly? I mean Hades has had the least amount of petty shenanigans out of all the gods, hasn't he?" I said.
"And yes he did kidnap Persephone, but didn't Aphrodite practically cause the birth of the minotaur? People love her more 'cause she's pretty."
"I'm just trying to rationalize. Did you forget the only reason we were going to the underworld in the first place is cause your father and uncle told us to?" said Annabeth, "All evidence points to Hades being the one who sent the thief to retrieve it, but something went wrong and he failed to bring it to Hades, meaning he either lost it or had to hide it. I mean didn't you ever consider that why the Furies were following us? They probably thought we were trying to retrieve the bolt."
"Yea, but we already proved we don't have the bolt. If we did, why would we go to the Underworld in the first place?"
"Most likely to bribe or blackmail him to get your mom back," said Grover, "Or threaten him."
"You know, despite being a goat all about preserving nature, You have some pretty evil thoughts," muttered Percy.
"You flatter me," chuckle Grover, "Listen, I know you guys like giving people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes you don't have time for that in the mythical world."
"But even you have to admit, the Underworld deities get a bad rep only for their domains and duties, even more than gods who've done worse," I said, "I mean The entire Trojan war started cause Eris was the only god not invited to a wedding. Apollo can predict the future, so how come he didn't vouch for Eris and invite her? No matter how you look at it, he or other prophecy-based gods could have prevented a war that killed the son of the married couple from said wedding. How do you think the couple who got married felt when their son died cause of the people at their own wedding?"
"There are unspoken rules and laws that shouldn't be broken and an unspoken balance that must be kept. Preventing EVERY single war could upset war gods, which would cause them to cause one themselves," said Annabeth,
"Ok, but why do people not give the underworld the credit it deserves? Think about it, Their deities have caused the least trouble and take the jobs that no one else wants but need to be done," said Percy. Annabeth raised an eyebrow at him.
"Since when are you capable of such deep thinking?" notes Annabeth with narrowed eyes.
"What do you mean, 'Deep thinking'? In history class, all I've ever heard is what the Olympians do and all the drama they cause. Meanwhile, I don't hear anything about Persepjone cursing other women and driving her stepchildren to kill their family or turn g them into monsters," said Percy.
"He's right though. People at camp fear all the Underworld deities, without having actually met them. Like for instance, Thanatos and Charon. They're just doing their jobs. Yet instead of having respecting them, people are downright afraid of them, even weirder Thanatos is described as ruggedly handsome, but he is always assumed to be a skeleton. Or Melinoe, Goddes of Necromancy, Nightmares, Ghosts and Spirits, and Funeral Rites I think. For all we know, she could be a kindhearted person, not the angry half-rotted demoness portrayed by myths. Or has anyone ever considered that if you treat gods like Eris or with respect and kindness instead of fear, maybe, just maybe, you could get more out of them?"
"You're only saying that 'cause Melinoe is your favorite goddess," said Grover. "Guess you never left your Danny Phantom phase, huh?"
"Shut up," I said, feeling red-faced.
"What about Hephaestus? It takes a special kind of kindness to forgive the person who, after creating you out of revenge against someone who clearly doesn't care, threw you off a celestial palace cause you weren't good-looking, then some years later after seeing the craftsmanship you're capable of, wants him back for what he can do, not cause of who he is. He's married to someone out of duty and she has no respect for him. And he's crippled even though he's a god. Yet despite all that, he and all his children are kind and considerate. I mean I watched Charlie Beckendorf ask out 10 different girls and get rejected while smiling instead of getting angry if they called him ugly." said Percy.
"To be fair, that's only cause Silena has a crush on him. She made an unspoken claim on him which causes every girl he asked out to say no cause they don't want to make her mad," said Grover.
"I understand your frustration. But we can't do anything about it. Do you honestly believe EVERYONE at camp isn't aware of the things wrong with our system of Gods?" whispered Annabeth, "No one says anything cause it could get them killed and no one can actually do anything."
I sighed, "Ok but how can they just accept the blatant injustice?"
"Know anyone better?" asked Grover sarcastically.
That one got us. It also changed the conversation, as Annabeth started discussing strategies for the Underworld.
After a while, we arrived at the Santa Monica Beach. It looked like the movies and the smell was worse.
We went down to the edge of the surf and wondered what to do next.
However, Perch stepped into the surf.
"Percy?" Annabeth said. "What are you doing?"
He kept walking, up to his waist, then his chest.
I needed to keep an eye on Percy, so I followed him into the water.
She called after us, "You know how polluted that water is? There're all kinds of toxic—"
Then our heads went underwater.
I looked around as I swam down to the shoals. As expected, I couldn't see shit. I was holding my breath because I didn't know how long that would last.
I felt Percy grab my arm as I could no longer hold my breath and everything changed. I could see, but not much as well as also being able to breathe like normal.
"Sweet, I didn't think that would work," said Percy. I could hear him clearly.
"Can you hear me?" I asked. He chuckled, "Yea dude. Are you seeing this? Everything so clear and vibrant, glowing a little even."
"No, I can barely see anything. Must be a Son of Poseidon thing," I said, looking around for what he was talking about. Everything was bland and dirty.
"Well, I g—AAAH!" Yelped Percy, "What th—?!"
We looked down a saw a five-foot-long mako shark. Now I'm not a marine nerd, but I'm pretty sure sharks attack anything after sniffing blood. I immediately started checking myself to make sure there was no blood.
"Dude, what are you doing?" Asked Percy.
"Sharks go crazy at the scent of blood," I said, looking at myself frantically.
But instead of attacking, It was nuzzling Percy.
It swam around us and rubbed our legs affectionately. It swam away then looked back at us and came back, trying to push us in a direction.
I calmed down as Percy grabbed its dorsal fin, "I think it wants to take us somewhere,"
It took off, pulling me along with Percy with surprising strength despite its luggage. It left us at what I can only describe as the Grand Canyon at Midnight. I knew the void was there, even if I couldn't see much of anything.
It was the edge of the ocean proper, where the sand bank dropped off into a huge chasm. Despite the clear danger, I didn't feel any bad vibes.
Then I heard a woman's voice who sounded like Mother's call us, "Percy Jackson and Zarion Maelstrom."
I froze. No one's called me that name since me and Momma dipped out of Alaska.
"That's the name I h—"
"—had before you and your mom had to change your name and move out of Alaska," said Percy.
I looked around until I saw something glimmering in the darkness below, growing bigger and brighter as it rose toward us.
The voice that came from the void was a woman. She was riding a stallion-sized seahorse, but I barely could register that cause of the light that flickered around her and her beautiful eyes. Her hair was black, flowing like waves and she wore a green dress made of silk.
She dismounted and the sea horse and the mako shark zipped away, speeding around while playing something that looked like tag. The underwater lady smiled at us. "You've come far, Brave Bonded"
I raised an eyebrow at that.
Percy bowed, pulling me down a little. "You're the woman who spoke to me in the Mississippi River."
I didn't like it, but I bowed with him. We're in her home territory, so who knows what she could do to me.
"Yes, child. I am a Nereid, a spirit of the sea. Your past endeavors in cleaning rivers and caring for the environment have brought you some good words and faith among countless nature spirits, especially sea spirits, for it is not easy to appear so far upriver, but my freshwater cousins, the naiads, help sustain my life-force, even though they do not serve in his court. They're spurred on even more by the ones who've taken a liking to you two."
"Oh," I felt the blood rushing to my face. I didn't have to look at Percy's face to know he was blushing too. I knew both of us were thinking the same thing: Man I love that girl.
Percy had a hard time with words "W-well, d-do you serve in D—Poseidon's court, Misssss...?"
She stifled a laugh. "My name is irrelevant, but yes. Many of my brethren have watched you with great interest as it has been a long time since the birth of a child of the Sea God. Even more mysterious a child claimed by the unknown. Very intriguing."
Percy jumped up, "Aha! I knew it! I told you I wasn't crazy! I told you I saw faces in the waves off Montauk Beach when I was a little boy,"
I rolled my eyes.
Percy always claimed he saw Female faces in the rivers we were cleaning. And sometimes I saw them too, smiling as if they were thanking us. I always chalked it up to some chemicals in the river causing hallucinations.
"But why couldn't he come to speak with us?" I asked.
"Yea, If he is so interested, why didn't he come here himself?" Said Percy. "Why can't speak to me face to face?"
A cold current rose out of the depths.
"I implore you to give the Lord Of The Sea the benefit of the doubt," the Nereid told me. "His situation is dire, as he faces the growing possibility of an unwanted war. His inability to help you directly isn't his choice, as Gods are forbidden from showing direct favoritism to mortals due to all the trouble it cause in the past."
"We're their children though," Percy said Astounded.
"Especially to their children. The gods have worked via indirect influence for eons for a reason," chided The woman.
"But being related to them restricts us from things all normal kids can enjoy. We're constantly being hunted just cause of our divine blood, we have never had a cellphone, and Percy isn't allowed to go to anyone's funerals. Barely any of us are granted powers you know they could give us to survive, so don't you think they could do something more? Cause at this point, they owe us," I said.
The woman just smiled, "I can see why our princesses have taken such a liking to you two. That is why I give you a warning and gifts."
She held out her hands. 5 white pearls flashed in one palm and two ping-pong ball size sapphires appeared in the other.
"Your deaths would sadden the nature realm more than you know. Therefore, the nymphs you saved would like to bless you," said the woman, handing us the sapphires. They glowed sea green, like a personal aurora borealis.
"Can we refuse? Cause they don't owe us anything. Cleaning rivers was our biggest escape from...problems at home. It was genuinely our pleasure," I said, despite the fact I was mesmerized by the moving lights inside the gem.
Shinyyy. Me want shiny
"They insist, I'm afraid. In fact, I was told to restrain and force-feed you these should you refuse. Not to mention our princesses, your betrotheds, were in favor of the last option should you refuse. The Lord of The Sea blessed and approved of these gifts himself," said the woman, chuckling softly."It would be best to eat them willingly."
Me and Percy looked at each other, then looked at the woman, who seemed quite serious. We gave in and ate them, which was amazing cause they were delicious, like blueberry pancakes. Percy said, "Well what do they do?"
"I can not say, as your betrotheds wanted to 'teach' you themselves," said the woman with a sly smirk. "However you are free I experiment as you please. Like for instance, Percy let go of Zarion."
He let me go, but I didn't feel any different. I expected something to happen until I realize it already did and I was breathing and floating underwater without Percy's assistance.
"Sweet," I said, moving around in the water like Percy. I also noticed my vision was better. I could see everything in a much better light, as everything has an abnormally low vibrancy now.
"My body feels weird," muttered Percy. He seemed out of it.
"Your bodies will need time to adjust to the new abilities. Percy already has at least half of what you've been given, so those abilities were enhanced."
She gave us the pearls.
"I know of your quest to Hades realm," she said. "The mortals who succeeded are very few: Orpheus with his powerful music, Hercules who had godly strength; Houdini, who could escape ANYTHING, even the depths of Tartarus. Do you have these talents?"
"I meannnnn, he has godly strength. I think," said Percy, nodding to me. "I got nothing like that so far."
"Ah, but you do have something, Percy. You've only scratched the surface of your gifts, along with gaining new ones. Should you reach manhood, you were foretold to have a great and terrible future by the oracle. Poseidon would rather give up his throne before he has you die, especially before your time. Therefore take these, and when you are in need, smash a pearl at your feet."
"What will happen though?"
I would rather not end up putting my trust in something that could make the situation worse.
"That," she said, "depends on the need. But remember, children: what belongs to the sea will always return to the sea."
She looked at me, "That includes you as well, child. Welcome To The Realm Of The Sea.
"What about the warning?"
Her eyes flickered with green light. "Go with what you feel is right and listen to your heart, or you will lose all. Hades feeds on doubt and hopelessness. He will trick you if he can, make you mistrust your own judgment. Once you are in his realm, he will never willingly let you leave. Keep faith, young heroes."
She turned to me, "The power you received from Scorpius, known to many as Scorpio, resides most in the child of wisdom, but her fear of arachnids will prevent her from using it to its full potential. Your abilities are connected so if she ever overcomes her fear, I do not know what will happen to the abilities you have. You also have the same gauge as her, but it's just on your chest where you were stabbed."
She summoned her sea horses and pointed to my trident key necklace which was glowing, as it rose from under my shirt, "That isn't just a key. One day it would save you when you least expected," and rode toward the void.
"Wait!" Percy called. "At the river, you said not to trust the gifts. What gifts?"
What is he talking about?
"Farewell, young heroes," she called back, her voice fading into the depths. "You must use and listen to your hearts, as I've been told it's your greatest and most powerful weapon" She was gone, becoming a glowing green speck that got smaller until it disappeared.
I looked at Percy. I could tell he want to follow her, to see his father in his court, but we didn't have the time, as we could see the sunset darkening on the surface and we knew our friends were waiting.
We kicked to the shore and as we swam up, I looked around and could see what Percy was talking about earlier.
I could somehow tell where everything was, even though the water was so murky. I could sense the rolling texture of the bottom. There were sand dollar colonies along the sand bars and I could even sense the rolling texture of the bottom. I could even see the currents. It was so mesmerizing to see warm and cold streams swirling together.
Our clothes and skin were instantly dry when we reached the beach. When we told Grover and Annabeth what happened, they didn't seem as upbeat as us.
Annabeth grimaced. "No gift comes without a price."
"They were free."
"Yea, besides I feel like this entire quest is the price. When you look at it from a different perspective, this is fair."
"Unfortunately, no." She shook her head. "There's an ancient Greek saying 'There is no such thing as a free lunch.' that translates pretty well into American. There will be a price for the pearls. You wait. The sapphires were free out of payment of gratitude, but the pearls weren't."
Using the spare change from Ares's backpack, we took a bus to West Hollywood, but when we showed the driver the Underworld address slip Percy had gotten from 'Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium', he said he never heard of DOA Recording Studios, so we thanked him and got off quickly at the next stop.
Me and Percy were paranoid cause the guy thought we looked like someone on TV so Percy had to say we were Stunt Doubles for a bunch of child actors.
No one seemed to know where DOA was, even though we wandered around and asked for hours. It wasn't even in the phone book.
Twice, we ducked into alleys to avoid cop cars.
I was hungry and tired. Percy was restless, irritated, and hungry, starting to ruffle his hair like a man possessed and my eyes were twitching like crazy.
However, what nearly made me and Percy explode was an interview of someone very familiar being played on a TV in an appliance store— Smelly Gabe.
The whole scene made me sick to my stomach. The fat fuck was being interviewed like some kind of celebrity. He was in Percy's apartment talking to Barbara Walters, in the middle of a poker game, with a young blond lady sitting next to him, patting his hand. There's obviously something fishy going on between them.
He was clearly fake crying, saying, "My stepson and his friend took everything from me. I'd be a wreck if it wasn't for my grief counselor Sugar here. My wife . . . my Camaro . . . All gone. I—I'm sorry, I can't do this. I'm not at my best right now."
I clenched my fist. Percy started ruffling his hair. I love Momma and Mother. They raised me. I would never hurt them. If anything, I'd hurt people for them.
"A very sad story to see indeed, America." Barbara Walters turned to the camera. "Imagine. Two Adolescent boys with serious issues tearing apart someone who's supposed to be their family, what is the world coming?"
Then the screen cut to two grainy shots of us, one where we were talking to Ares outside the diner in Colorado and the other when we were outside with Bianca and Nico, with numbers to call under them.
"Who is the man in the first photo? Who are the other children with them?" Barbara Walters asked dramatically. "Is the Demon Duo a pair of terrorists, delinquents, young mobsters, or perhaps brainwashed victims of a frightening new cult? We chat with a leading child psychologist. Stay tuned, America."
Faster than I thought possible, Annabeth caught Percy's fist, stopping him from breaking his hand and the glass, "Don't. You'll draw attention to us."
"C'mon," Grover told me. He hauled us away before I could punch a hole in the appliance-store window myself.
The more time we spent, the more anxious me and Percy became.
L.A. was hard to move around in. For L.A. being big wasn't enough. It was chaotic and spread out, and had to prove it was big by being loud, strange, and difficult to navigate, too. Like Ares, Cause there was nothing to work with.
Everything made sense back in New York. Things like the subway patterns, streets, and bus routes all had a system to them. As long as you were stupid, you wouldn't get lost no matter how big the city was and you would be safe.
The more bums, gangbangers, and street rats we walked past, the more uncertain I became that we would ever fun the entrance to the Underworld by the summer solstice tomorrow.
I had my hood on and was on my guard too, as seemed like the people around were trying to decide whether to mug us or not. And sure enough, people tried.
A voice from the darkness of an alleyway we were scurrying past said, "Hey, kid."
Percy stopped. Like an idiot.
We were all surrounded before I knew it. A gang of 7 teenagers circles us, all mean-faced white boys with expensive clothes, Like the kids at Yancy Academy: rich brats playing at being bad boys.
Percy instinctively pulled out Riptide.
"That hood you're wearing looks expensive. Hand it over!" said who appeared to be the leader.
However, I recognized him, someone from a school neighboring the last one I went to in Alaska. I formed a plan. A very stupid plan, but a plan nonetheless.
PERCY, follow my lead. I have an idea, I thought.
Idea? Wtfdo you mean by "idea"? Our weapons don't work, dumbass, and we have little time left, thought Percy. I could feel his anger. Dad was right, he could go nuclear any day.
Bro just trust me, I thought.
Smirking, "Now Davy, I thought you learned your lesson the last time!"
Said person froze, "L-last time? Wait, y-you can't b-be—?!"
I pulled my hood off and smiled at him, "Nah nigga, it's the tooth fairy. But yes, it's me. Though I gotta say, I'm surprised to find you here of all places. Stealing. Again."
"You know this pipsqueak, David?" said one of the other teens, the biggest one there.
All the color left his face, the scars I gave him on his cheeks bone white, "W-what are you d-doing h-h-here?"
"Come on, Davy boy! You've seen the news. We're obviously on the run! My brother over here, his mom owes some people a lot of money!"
I looked at Percy for feign confirmation, "500 grand, right?"
Percy narrowed his eyes at me and looked at David, "550 grand,"
He looked at David, "Listen you overgrown volcano-faced fuck, I'm not in the mood. I've been through hell to get this money and I will cut everyone in my vicinity to complete this quest.
I turned to David, pointing the to backpack Percy was wearing, "We gotta get this money to Antonio or our ass is grass."
Unfortunately, the other kids hear nothing but 550 grand and the bigger said, "They're a bunch of little kids. You can't be scared of one little kid. Even if they're bluffing, that hoodie has got to cost at least a few thousand with the right person."
He tried to walk forward, but Donovan stopped him, "Don't"
"Bitch, are you scared of a middle schooler?" Said another one.
David looked at the guy like he was crazy, "That's not a middle schooler. That is a demon in human form. You have no idea what he's capable of"
They all laughed. David remained silent.
I looked at him and said "Listen. Me and my friends are going to leave this place unharmed. You guys go one way and we go the other. I'm trying to give you a chance to leave. Last time I was in...a difficult state, so I wasn't thinking straight. Do I need to remind you of what happened the last time?"
All his friends were chuckling now, the bigger one saying, "What did the pipsqueak do? Bite your ankles?"
David stared at his friend for a second, then looked at me, "Can I leave?"
"Sure, but if I find out you didn't clean up your act, I will find you and put you in a casket instead of casts like the last time," I said, pretending to study my nails.
This left his friends in confusion, the biggest one saying "Dude I thought you said you got into an accident. You mean to tell me you got bodied by an elementary school kid? You're a whole bitch, bro."
David then just turned around and practically ran away.
"Wow, you're a bitch," said the biggest one. He looked at Percy and made a grab for his backpack. However, I was faster. I grabbed his wrist with my left hand, elbowed his face with my right elbow, Uppercutted his elbow, then kicked his knee.
He fell over, screaming in pain, "FUCKKKKKK, YOU LITTLE SHIT! AAARRGHHHH! HE BROKE MY KNEE AND ARM!"
Another dude grabbed Percy's backpack, but with speed I didn't know he had, Percy grabbed his fingers, twisted and broke them, punched the guy in the face, then kicked the guy in the knee, leaving him on the ground squirming around, groaning, and clutching his knee. Percy looked at his hands in shock, not believing he actually did that. I guess muscle memory is quite the trend
"You guys run along and get Antonio his money. I can handle these guys," I said. Percy immediately hurried Annabeth and Grover along.
Now it was just me and the four unsure dudes, who were backing away.
I tsk-tsked, "That's not a good look on you guys. I can see the headlines now, 5 High Schoolers Taken Down By One Middle Schooler," making dramatic hand notions.
They all charged at me at once. However cause of training at camp, I saw they were all so slow and sloppy. I dodged the first punch, then bitch-slapped the fuck outta him with all my strength in my right hand, resulting in a sound that made the other guys flinch but they kept going. He flew back, landing next to a dumpster.
Two of them grabbed me, but I let that happen, getting them to let their guard down. The last one grabbed my shirt and punched my stomach, which did hurt a little, but I head-butted him in the head and kicked his left knee, breaking it.
Using the surprise of the other two, I stepped back and pulled the two on either side of me together, making them crash their heads into each other.
When I was done, three were out cold and the other three were groaning in pain.
"Tch, amateurs," I said. I took a moment to calm myself. I looked at my hands and saw they were shaking. I couldn't get them to stop.
My emotions were a whirlpool of insanity.
There was no time for this. I immediately ran in the direction of my friends, only to find them waiting for me. Annabeth had her arms folded, "Explain."
I pursed my lips, "Whatever do you mean?"
"Put your hands together in front of your face," said Annabeth. I did as she said and she clapped my hands, "Sonova—?! OW!"
"Oh hush, your hands aren't shaking anymore, now explain what that was back there."
"Not now, Baby Brain. We have a quest to finish. After we save the world, then you can ask questions," said Percy. He was starting at
the only store that looked open, its windows glaring with neon.
"I saw something weird move in there."
"And that's our problem why...?"
He looked and me and said, "It may be a monster, so we have to go kill it."
"This isn't the time to be horror movie white people, Perc, we have to finish this quest," I said, irritated.
"You got a better option? We can't let it go for the next innocent person to die," muttered Percy, pushing his glasses back.
I check the sign above the door, which said something like SUTRCY'S TERWA EDB LPAEC.
"Crusty's Water Bed Palace?" Grover translated.
I looked at Percy, muttering "We better not die," and walked in.
Everywhere we looked were all water beds. All different kinds you could imagine:
There was every kind of water bed you could imagine: different kinds of wood, different patterns of sheets; queen-size, king-size, emperor-of-the-universe-size.
A voice behind us boomed, "I know, right?"
Behind us was what I could only describe to be a leisure suit-wearing raptor. His clothing could've come from the Lotis Casino cause it looked like something from the 1970s. It was a half-unbuttoned silk paisley shirt with a velvet jacket that had lapels as wide a standing strips. He had no hair to speak of and had too many silver chains around his neck for anyone to count.
He had leathery gray skin, thick-lidded eyes, and a cold, reptilian smile. He moved slowly towards us, but his height of 7ft told me he could move faster if he wanted
"I'm Crusty," he said, with a tartar-yellow smile. I choked, trying not to laugh and say 'Yes, yes you are'
"You hiding from those no-good kids?" he grumbled. "Even thought I get a lot of people thanks to them, I do not enjoy moneyless customers. Say, why don't you check out one of my waterbeds?"
He placed his hands on Annabeth and Grover's shoulders and steered them deeper into the showroom. Me and Percy couldn't leave them since the guy was obviously a monster
His inventory was impressive. I had never seen so many water beds in my life: all kinds of sheet patterns, sizes, fabrics, and pillows. There was even a futuristic one with a built-in TV
Crusty came to a bed will built-in lava lamps. The sheets were black satin and the mattress vibrated so it looked like black jello, "This model has the best reviews."
He spread his hands proudly over it like it was his latest masterpiece.
"I've got no business today, so lay on it, take a nap, have lunch on it, hell you could jump on for all I care, but it has a million-hand massage system so I wouldn't recommend it," Crusty told us. "
We can NOT get on that bed, Thought Percy, "Actually we nee—!"
Grover didn't share his mindset causes he immediately collapsed and tiredly sunk into the vibrating cushions.
Grover moaned "I wish we-aaaag-had things like thiiiiiis back ho—ohhhhhhh-oooooome."
Crusty stroked his leathery chin, "Almost. looks like you need adjustment."
"Adjustment? Adjustment for what?"
"Uhuh. Hun, try this one here for me. I think you might fit," said Crusty, looking at Annabeth.
"What? Wait, wh—", said Annabeth, as he led her over to another model after reassuringly patting her on the shoulder.
It was the Safari Deluxe model, with a leopard pattern comforter and teakwood lions carved into the frame. Annabeth resisted, however, so Crusty pushed her.
"Hey!" she protested.
Crusty snapped his fingers. "Ergo!"
Ropes sprang from the sides of the beds Annabeth and Grover were laying on, lashing around them and holding them to the mattresses.
"Awww c-come o-on!" he yelled in a vibrating voice, "Can w-we for o-once n-not h-have to d-deal with a m-monster?"
I could feel the anger rising in Percy. He needs to get a handle on himself.
Well damn, dude. Chill out so we can find a way out of this. I thought
I'M TRYING, thought a seething Percy. The ground was starting to shake. I grabbed his shoulder, gritting my teeth while whispering "Cut. It. Out!"
"Almost, dammit it," muttered Crusty while looking at Annabeth. However, he looked and me and Percy and grinned.
Lightning quick doesn't even begin to describe how fast his hand shot out and clamped around the back of my neck."Whoa, kid. Be patient, we'll find you guys beds for you. Don't worry."
"Let our friends go first."
The amount of venom in Percy's voice was enough to make me flinch.
"Oh, I'll let them go after I make them fit first" Crusty was either ignoring Percy's anger or just didn't care
I'm calmer, thought Percy
"What do you mean?"
"Look at the size of the beds. All of them are exactly 6 feet. Your friends are both too short, so they need to be adjusted."
Annabeth and Grover kept struggling.
Crusty muttered. "Ergo!"
"Imperfect measurements bug me the most"
As a new set of ropes sprung out from both ends of the beds, wrapping around Annabeth and Grover's ankles and armpits, I was trying to come up with a solution where we all come out alive fast cause the ropes were starting to tighten, pulling our friends from both ends.
"Trust the process," said Crusty reassuringly, "This is what stretching jobs are. Add an extra three inches to their spine, you know? Who knows? They might even live. Now why don't we find a bed you like, huh?"
It was the fact he said all this from the mindset of an actual salesman who thinks he's actually selling a good deal that disturbed me so much
As our friends we struggling and time is of the essence, Percy said "Your real name isn't Crusty, is it?"
Technically, legally speaking, it's Procrustes," he revealed.
"The Stretcher," I said while looking at Percy. I remembered the story: a giant who'd tried to use excess hospitality to kill Thesus while he was on his way to Athens.
"Yeah, but It's bad for business, you know?" the salesman said. "I mean, who can even pronounce it? 'Crusty' is something anyone can say and it has a nice ring to it."
"Not gonna lie, it does have a good ring to it. Isn't that right, Percy?"
"Oh, absolutely," Percy said. "And the workmanship on these beds? Fabulous!"
Crusty's eyes lit up. "You really mean that?"
Percy put on quite the show, "Hell yeah! I mean, the craftsmanship is in a league of its own."
Despite his beaming grin, the grip he had on our necks didn't loosen.
"I always let my customers know that. I mean how many headboards have you seen with built-in lava lamps?
"Not too many, now that I think about it," I said, trying to rain calm
"That's right!"
"You guys!" Annabeth yelled. "What are you dumbasses doing? This is no time to be going mattress shopping!"
"Don't worry Annie, we're almost done with Business," I said
"Ignore her," Percy said. "She's impossible."
The giant chuckled. "In this business, all customers are. They complain about fitting even though they're the ones who are never exactly six feet."
"Out of curiosity, what's the go-to after you find out they're longer than six feet?" I asked.
"Oh, I'm glad you asked. It's a simple fix, really and it happens all the time."
Before we could react, he let go of our necks and reached behind a nearby desk, pulling out a huge double-bladed brass axe.
He said, "I lop off whatever hangs over on either end, after centering them the best I can, of course"
"Ah," I said, looking at Percy. "Seems sensible."
"Thanks! You know, you guys should go into the bed business. You're pretty intelligent."
I could tell Annabeth and Grover didn't have much time so me and Percy had to be quick
"So, Crusty . . ." I said, remaining calm
"I have a cousin who had back issues, ummmmm... what's his name?"
"You talking about Terry? Didn't he just have surgery for scoliosis?" said Percy, playing along.
"Ah yes," Crusty said, physically directing us by our necks to a lumpy bed with an onyx black wood. "I believe this is what you're looking for,"
"Yeah, but he's about your size. Would it work even for him?" said Percy.
"Guaranteed."
"I don't believe it."
"It's made for people with sensitive backs. It automatically adjusts to the way your back should be"
"Prove it. Lay down on it"
He sat down eagerly on the bed and patted the mattress. "No waves. See?"
I snapped my fingers. "Ergo."
Ropes lashed around Crusty and flattened him against the mattress.
"Hey!" he yelled.
"Center him just right," heard Percy as I immediately ran to cut Annabeth and Grover free.
"Clever, but be faster next time," said Annabeth, as Grover groaned
We looked as Percy offed Crusty while he was trying to bargain
"I'll give you 30% off on any model you want,"
He said
Percy raised his sword, "I think I'll start with the top."
"What about No interest for six months!"
He swung his sword and Crusty stopped making offers.
We took 5 mins to settle and calm down. Percy looked at Annabeth and said, "Wow. You look taller"
"Shut it, Seaweed Brain"
"Dude your ring is glowing," said Grover, pointing at Percy's ring.
"Huh. That's odd. It's never done that before,"
Help me...Someone...anyone...please
"Hey, do you guys hear that?" I said, looking around.
"Whatever it is, we don't have the time," said Annabeth.
"Annie, it's a voice calling for help," said Percy. "I thought you would show a little more compassion"
"What voice?" said Grover.
I notice the ring glowed a little bright when Percy wave his hands In the direction of a door in the back.
"I think it's related to the door," I said, leading Percy to it as his ring grew brighter.
"You do realize it could be a real?" said Annabeth. We were all at the door.
"And what if it's not? We have to live with letting whatever horror this person was going through, knowing we could have stopped it." I said, opening the door.
What we saw made my blood boil. The ground started to shake, as Percy looked ready to slaughter someone after seeing what we saw.