I RUIN A PERFECTLY GOOD BUS
"Oh, this is gonna be good." Apollo says looking amused.
"Finally, something happens." Ares grumbles.
It didn't … had found for me.
"You didn't have much." Hazel says.
Percy shook his head. "No more than I had at camp Jupiter."
Hazel nodded.
Poseidon frowned. He didn't like the idea of his son not having anything at camp.
The camp … Building on the other.
"Those are good." Travis said.
"I borrow them all the time." Connor smiles.
"Yeah, borrow." Katie says smacking their arms.
The ancient …whatever that meant.
"They sure did." Grover says remembering Charon.
He gave … burn us up, literally.
"Has that ever happened?" Frank asks looking around.
"Once or twice." Dionysus says with a hand wave. "Maybe four or five."
Everyone stared at him before turning away. Percy continued reading quickly.
Annabeth was … through a metal detector.
"Nope, no mortal detector would go off." Annabeth says.
"Actually, remember the underworld? I was right!" Percy says pointing at her.
Annabeth thought for a moment before sighing. Technically, her boyfriend was right. "You win this one."
Grover wore his … bad on reed pipes.
"Hey!" Grover exclaims.
"You've gotten a lot better!" Percy says quickly.
Grover mock glared. "Nice save."
We waved good-…daughter of Zeus.
"Thanks for thinking of me." Thalia says wiping a fake tear away.
"Sometimes I still hear her voice." Nico says dramatically.
Thalia whacked his arm.
Chiron was …hands, face, and neck.
"I wonder if he can see the future with all those eyes." Leo says.
"I've always wondered that too." Will says.
"This is Argus," Chiron told me. "He will drive you into the city, and er, well, keep an eye on things."
Apollo chuckled. "Love a good pun."
"It's so funny I forgot to laugh." Artemis sighed.
I heard …Luke was around.
"I did not!"
"You did." Grover confirms.
Annabeth sputtered before crossing her arms. Percy pecked her on the cheek and she smiled at him, leaning into his side.
"Just wanted to … kind of normal.
Grover shuddered. "Evil. Pure evil."
"What happens?" Jason asks.
"You'll find out eventually." Grover says.
Luke said, "Maia!"
Everyone looked to Hermes.
"What?" the god asked.
"Why aren't you flying?" Hades asked.
"My shoes only respond to my voice." Hermes says. "To prevent you all from activating them."
Athena nods. "Smart.
White bird's wings …"Awesome!" Grover said.
"Not awesome."
Luke smiled… much as Annabeth.
"He probably thought you were going to die." Annabeth whispered.
Percy nodded. She was probably right.
"Hey, man," … for me, okay?"
"Hope for the wrong side." Clarisse mutters.
"Sides? What's going on in the future?" Aphrodite asks.
The demigods look to each other.
"We probably shouldn't tell you too soon." Percy says before continuing to read.
We shook hands. … with you, Percy?"
"Because you love him." Thalia said in a singsong voice.
Annabeth threw a pillow at her head.
She stomped … use these, will I?"
"Probably not the best idea boy." Zeus says.
"Flying never ends well for us." Poseidon says.
Percy just smiled. Oh he wondered how the king of the sky would react when he learns they've been living in a flying ship.
He shook his head. … want a magic item?"
"No." Grover mutters. "Stupid dragging shoes…"
Percy covered up his chuckle with a cough.
His eyes lit up… like tiny broncos.
Laughter filled the room at the image planted in everyone's minds.
"That was one of the funniest things I've ever seen." Percy chuckles.
"I live to entertain." Grover says.
"Practice," Chiron …toward the van.
"Maybe it is because you're not wearing the shoes." Athena says.
"Grateful for that." Grover says. "Didn't like those shoes anyway."
"You've made that clear." Nico says.
Before I could follow… Annabeth's invisible cap.
"I think I got the coolest gift." Percy says.
"I'll challenge that." Frank says pointing to himself. "Elephant."
Percy nods. "You're right."
Ares looked to Frank. That's right, his family is the one with the shapeshifting gift. His kids are so cool.
"What am I thinking?" … Probably cost thirty cents.
"A pen." Leo says.
"The best pen ever." Percy says, twirling it through his fingers. "Remember the first chapter?"
"OH!"
"Gee," I said. … You are the one."
"I am always 'the one'." Percy mutters. "Why not Travis for once."
"Hey no." Travis points at him. "I would not be able to do what you do."
"Do what?" Hermes asks looking between the two.
"Be absolutely awesome and save the world." Travis says.
"What?" Hermes asks even more confused.
Percy just kept reading. No need to go into detail about his life before he had to.
I remembered … balanced in my hand.
"The only weapon that will be balanced." Poseidon says.
"The one downside to it." Percy says.
"The sword has ….Greek came so easily.
Hazel looked to him. "So did Latin."
The gods looked at Percy. He was starting to look like a pretty powerful demigod. They'll have to be wary about him.
"Use it only … How could it not?"
"Learned that at the dam." Percy says.
"With the dam snack bar?" Grover asked with a grin.
"And the dam burritos." Percy laughs.
Thalia grinned. "I wish I had gotten a dam t-shirt."
The three started cracking up remembering that part of their quest. It had been one of the best moments.
It took a minute for them to calm down only to be met with weird stares.
"Inside joke." Thalia waves them off. "Percy keep reading."
"The sword is celestial … twice as vulnerable."
"So much fun." Will mutters.
"Good to know." …"You can't," Chiron said.
"He can read minds!" Travis, Connor, and Leo exclaim.
"Probably." Apollo shrugs.
Everyone looks to him. Apollo just smiles.
"Can't what?" … the pen was there.
"Now that's handy." Jason says.
"Wonder if I can figure that out." Leo says.
Ares nods. He'd have to get his weapons to do that.
Hephaestus, thinking along the lines of his son, was trying to come up with ways to make that happen on his creations.
"Okay, that's extremely …Mist?"
"You were so behind." Thalia shakes her head. "It's a wonder you survived."
"Honestly." Percy says.
"I don't like that." Poseidon says.
"Yes. Read The Iliad. …version of reality."
"A long way apparently." Annabeth says thinking of the battle of Manhattan.
I put … Land of the Dead.
"I still don't believe this is your easiest quest." Frank says. "It can't be."
"It is." The trio who went on it confirm.
"The books will tell." Demeter pipes up.
"Chiron ..." I said. … before the gods?"
"A mess." Hera sniffs.
"Dreadfully boring." Hades says.
"We're so much more fun." Apollo and Hermes say smiling.
"Sure." The demigods say.
Chiron pursed his lips… cheap entertainment.
"I wish he had realized." Thalia whispers sadly.
"We all do." Nico says back.
"Would have saved us so much."
It was only in … civilization was born."
"Wooo!" Apollo cheers.
"Stop cheering for yourself." Artemis scolds.
"But the gods can't die … up everything, right?"
"We were so innocent." Percy says thinking of his present time.
Chiron gave me a … follow our destiny."
"Hate destiny." Percy says. "What happens if we ignore it?"
Everyone looked to him, some concerned.
"Nothing good." Apollo says seriously.
"Hmmm." Percy hums.
The demigods looked to each other. They couldn't decide if this was a bad sign or just plain curiosity.
"Our destiny ... assuming we know what that is."
"Chiron knew." Clarisse says. "He always seems to know."
"Relax," … human history."
"Ha." Percy huffs. "Second."
"Relax," I said. … your typical centaur.
"Very typical." Apollo nodded.
Argus drove us … and shopping mall.
"It really is a weird feeling." Clarisse nods.
"It's like camp is frozen in its own little bubble." Will says.
"So far so good," I told Annabeth. "Ten miles and not a single monster."
"NO!" came a shout from almost everyone in the room.
"You jinxed it!" Hermes wails dramatically.
Percy waved his hand. "We were fine."
She gave me … "Could've fooled me."
"You guys really didn't get off on the right foot did you." Hazel says looking at them.
The two chuckled.
"Try being stuck with them." Grover grins.
"Four. Years." Clarisse emphasizes.
She folded her cap of invisibility. "Look ... we're just not supposed to get along, okay? Our parents are rivals."
"That's a stupid reason to not be friends." Jason says. "Your parents are not you."
Annabeth nodded. "We eventually came to that conclusion."
"Why?" …"They must really like olives."
Poseidon nodded. "They really must have."
Athena huffed in her seat but elected to not start an argument. See, she was the responsible one.
"Oh, forget it." … back of his neck winked at me.
"Seriously can he tell the future?" Leo asks looking at the couple.
"Looks like it." Piper mutters.
Traffic slowed us … Grover could notice.
"We did." Grover says. "Just didn't say anything."
"Thanks." Percy says with a smile.
Argus unloaded our … even missing her.
There were many angry faces around the room. This 'Gabe' wasn't going to live long if something didn't happen to him by the end of this book.
Grover shouldered his … mind or something?"
"Emotions." Dionysus says lazily, still never looking up from a magazine.
"Just your emotions… forgotten to tell me.
"Hey! Have a little more faith in your goat man." Grover says.
Percy chuckles. "I have a lot of faith in you."
"Good."
"Your mom … near him for a week."
"Your mother is incredibly intelligent." Athena says.
"She really is." Percy says with a smile. He wondered when he would be able to see her again before sighing. It was going to be a while still.
"Thanks," I said. …feel any better."
Poseidon smiled wistfully. He wished he could go see her, giver her the palace she deserved. But she was a very stubborn woman.
It didn't, but …this crazy quest.
Annabeth held her boyfriend's hand gently. He smiled down at her as she laid her head on his shoulder.
The truth was… he needed a job done.
Percy felt those old emotions well up inside and he tried to push them down. He didn't resent his dad. Not anymore.
Poseidon looked down shamefully where he sat. If it weren't for his stupid brother he'd have been there much more.
All I cared about … give her back.
Hades snorted. "Good luck."
Percy just gave him a smile.
Hades shuddered.
You will be …matters most in the end.
"I wonder who it is." Aphrodite says quietly. It can't be anyone here.
Shut up, I told it… I wasn't too bad myself.
"That was fun, we should play again sometime." Annabeth says.
"Just not with an apple." Percy laughs looking to a blushing Grover.
"Shut up."
The game … busy cracking up.
As were many of the people in the room after that sentence.
Finally, the bus came… "Maybe it's nothing."
"It's definitely something." Frank says. "This should be fun."
Percy made quotations with his hands. "Fun."
But I could tell … against her thigh.
Percy's leg started bounding and he was tense, as if ready for a fight.
As the last … the same evil face.
"Again!?" Poseidon yelled, looking at his brother.
Hades decided that not replying was the safe option if he wanted to live.
I scrunched … demon grandmothers.
"ALL THREE!"
Hades cowered behind the couch.
Meanwhile, Percy was getting more tense as they got closer to their fight with the furies.
They sat in the … for a lifetime."
"You are really unlucky." Apollo says. "Really unlucky."
"We know." Every demigod who's ever been on a quest with Percy says.
Percy just shrugs. He really was.
"I said if … out the windows."
"Onto the road?" Piper asks, concerned for her friend's safety.
"Wasn't thinking about that at the time." Annabeth says.
"They don't open….the Lincoln Tunnel.
"You guys are screwed." Leo says throwing his hands up.
Percy just grins, still tense.
"You had a crazy idea." Thalia says.
"Possibly." And he continued reading.
"They won't … through the Mist."
"Denial." Ares sneers.
"They'll see …emergency exit in the roof ...?"
"Let me guess." Will sighs. "There wasn't one."
"Nope." Grover confirms.
We hit the Lincoln Tunnel, … use the restroom."
The room started to fill with tension.
"So, do I," … down the aisle.
"Oh no." Hazel whispered to herself. She looked to her friends to remind herself they were all right.
"I've got it… and get away."
Athena was nodding. Get rid of the person they were looking for and hopefully they'd leave the rest alone. But, of course, they were monsters and could hardly be trusted.
"But you guys-" … just leave you."
Fatal flaw. Went through the minds of everyone in the room.
"Don't … cap and put it on.
Percy's hands started shaking so he clenched them on the book, hoping they'd stop.
When I looked down, my body wasn't there anymore.
They all looked to Percy just he stayed visible.
"Probably because you're not wearing the cap." Annabeth tells him.
He nods and he continued reading.
I started …heart was pounding.
Percy tried to keep reading in a steady tone, but everyone could hear the tension in his voice.
Maybe he shouldn't read considering he was the main character, and it seems like he's been through a lot.
Apparently she didn't … wailing from the back row.
"Oh dear." Athena frowns. They, in fact, did not leave the others alone.
The old ladies … fiery whips.
"Oh, those hurt." Grover says wincing.
"Don't remind me." Percy says.
The Furies … "Where is it? Where?"
"It? Did it say 'it'?" Hazel asked.
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover looked to each other.
"We were so stupid." Grover says.
"Yes, we were." Annabeth nods.
"Could have saved us a lot of trouble." Percy sighs.
The other people … something, all right.
"I always wonder what they see." Leo says.
"He's not here!" … prepared to throw it.
"Easiest." Frank mutters. "How in the gods' names is this the easiest."
What I did next … poster child of the year.
"I'm pretty sure I got that on lockdown aquaman." Leo says.
"Just you wait." Percy smiles.
The bus driver …against the windows.
"Yeah no you win." Leo says. "Never done anything like that before."
"And yes, it was the furies." Annabeth says whacking his arm.
"Sorry." Percy laughs.
"Hey!" the … mile behind us.
"Sounds fun." Ares smiles.
"Not really." Grover says. "Was not fun."
We careened … toward the river.
"At least you'll be okay." Connor says.
"Going for the river an all." Travis nods.
Katie smacked both their arms.
Another great idea: I hit the emergency brake.
"You are going to kill yourselves." Artemis scolds.
"We're fine." The three say.
"Of course you are."
The bus wailed… the first one out,
"Despicable." Artemis sighs.
the passengers … invisible cap. "Hey!"
"You are going to get yourself killed one day." Will says.
Percy shrugs as if it wasn't a big deal. The others just kind of stare at him for a minute before paying attention to the book.
The Furies turned… along the barbed leather.
"Hate that thing." Grover says again with a shudder.
"You and me both." Percy nods.
Her two ugly … You shall die."
"That's not new." Percy says.
"How can he get away with that." Hazel wonders.
"I liked you better as a math teacher," I told her.
"She still hates you for that." Nico tells him.
"Good."
She growled. ….double-edged sword.
"Magic sword!" Travis, Connor, and Leo shouted.
The Furies hesitated. … seeing it again.
"And she hates that too." Nico informs them all.
"Submit now," … I told her.
"You just like to taunt everyone." Hazel says.
Percy nods. "It's fun."
"You're crazy."
"Maybe."
"Percy, look out!" … wrapped in molten lead,
Percy stifled a gasp, pain shooting through his arm, a burn starting to form. He stopped reading for a second and took a deep breath.
Apollo was half out of his seat before Percy waved him off and continued reading, albeit in a slightly strained voice. This didn't stop Will, who was next to Percy, from applying a cream and ice.
but I managed not … whip out of her hands.
The demigods cheered for Grover, who blushed at the praise.
"Ow!" he yelled. … Annabeth off her back.
"You." Thalia says pointing to her friend. "Are awesome."
"You all are crazy." Frank says. It seemed all his friends have done crazy things before meeting them.
"The Greeks know how to party." Ares sneers.
She kicked, clawed… kept falling down.
"Run while you can dears." Demeter says. Everyone stared but then she continued. "Then get some cereal it'll help you." They all looked away.
"Zeus will … vescimini!" I yelled.
The gods looked to Percy.
"How did you speak Latin?" Jason asked.
Percy shrugged. "Just came to me."
I wasn't sure where the Latin came from. I think it meant "Eat my pants!"
"It does." Jason confirmed with a small chuckle.
Thunder … any encouragement.
"What's happening?" Poseidon asks.
"Nothing good." Hephaestus mutters, throwing something behind his back.
We rushed outside … could recap my sword.
"That's not good." Thalia says.
"It made our quest much more interesting though." Percy says.
"Your interesting is very different than mine." Thalia deadpans.
"Our bags!" Grover realized. "We left our-"
BOOOOOM!
"All your stuff." Katie says. "How did you guys do this quest."
"Sheer dumb luck." Athena says.
The windows of … not yet dead.
Poseidon glared at Zeus but didn't say anything as hjis son kept reading. Zeus pointedly ignored his brother.
"Run!" Annabeth …but darkness ahead.
"And all that was in the first day?" Frank asked.
"The days not over yet." Percy says, sighing as the burn started fading. Will took the ice away.
"Oh, that's right." Annabeth says. "Dear old Aunty."
Grover groaned. "That'll be fun."
"Y'all need to stop getting hurt." Will says. "You do it enough at camp."
They just shrugged with smiles.
"Who next?" Percy asks with a smile.