Chapter Nineteen
Out of the Fire and Into . . . Something That's Worse than Fire
Magnus POV
When I came to, Sophia and Alex were staring into my face with concerned expressions.
"Hello," I managed, my throat feeling dryer than the ground at Death Valley.
Alex released a huge breath. Sophia smiled a bit and looked up at her.
"He's awake now!" She bubbled.
I groaned and sat up, rubbing the back of my head as I winced. Glancing around, I noticed we weren't surrounded my hot magma anymore. We were in a hotel room and I had a great view out the window. In fact, we were in New York. Alex wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Thank the gods, Magnus. I could feel your pulse, but you never know what something like that could do."
I attempted to hug her back, but I still felt weak. I ended up just patting her elbow.
"Magnus, it's okay. Keep resting, you need it."
"What happened?" I asked.
"Alright, well, after you cut down that tree, Ymir disappeared and a giant portal opened in the air next to us. It looked kind of like a sci-fi movie where the fabric of space and time rips in half. You know what I'm talking about?"
I nodded.
"Those are the best. Really stupid, cheesy effects."
Alex nodded as well.
"Yeah, so entire place was shaking, and we figured the hole in the Universe was the best place to step into, so we did and now we're here in New York. I found us a little hotel for the night. I don't really understand it myself, but that's how it went down."
"Ah."
We sat in silence for a moment while I stared out the window.
"Well, we're back home and we need to find those Nids that Ymir talked about. But first, we need to get someone back to their mother."
I looked at Sophia and she nodded emphatically. I reached out and tousled her hair and she batted my hand away playfully. I smiled faintly at her. Then I got an idea.
"Alex, can't we try one of those Iris message thingies?"
"The rainbow-in-the-mist trick Annabeth showed us? Um, yeah, I can try to get a mist going. Just let me get some towels on the ground."
She came back moments later and covered the floor and my couch in towels. Then she went to the kitchen area and sprayed the nozzle in the air. I reached into my wallet (don't ask me how it stayed in tact after everything) and pulled out a golden drachma. Annabeth had told me to always keep at least one on me at all times. I flipped it into the water.
"Um, Iris, O Iris, rainbow goddess. Um, take this coin and show me Annabeth Ch- Jackson,"
Gods, I really couldn't remember what I was supposed to say. Much to my surprise, the message went through.
"Magnus! Oh, thank gods! I'm so glad you're okay! Is Alex doing well? Sophia is missing, too – "
She was talking rapid-fire, it was hard to keep up. On cue, Sophia jumped into the view of the Iris Message.
"Mama?"
"Sophia! Oh, gods, Sophia! Oh, baby, are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Sophia bounced up and down giddily. Her eyes sparkled for the first time for days.
"I'm okay, Mama! I miss you!"
Sophia looked about ready to cry. I could tell Annabeth was trying to be tough as well.
"Where are you, Baby? Magnus, where are you?"
"Uh, we're in a hotel,"
I checked a pamphlet laying next to me on the table. Alex mouthed the room number to me.
"The Sheraton. Downtown Brooklyn, room 306" I finished.
Annabeth scrunched her nose and churned something over in her head.
"Okay, good, good. I can be there soon. Stay put and I'll be there. I love you, Sophie."
"I love you, Mama," Sophia replied, a yearning visible in her eyes.
Annabeth swiped through the message and it dissolved. We sat back and waited for her to arrive. I entertained Sophia by losing at Tic Tac Toe 5,000 times in a row. The worst part is, I wasn't even letting her win. An hour or two later, there was a knock on the door. Alex opened it to reveal Annabeth, along with Percy's mother. Annabeth took a quick glance around the room before her eyesight settled on Sophia. Her eyes lit up. She knelt down, stretched out her arms and waited for Sophia to run into her embrace. Annabeth, Sally, and Sophia all started crying as Annabeth held onto her daughter tightly. Alex sat in my alp and put her arms around my neck. She leaned into body and for a moment, we all enjoyed having some peace amongst the chaos.