𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟓: 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐓

"It's like the Fates want me to die! Why does everyone want me to die?!"

THEY ENDED UP SPENDING THE NIGHT IN THE COLD WOODS. Because Annabeth didn't want to draw anymore attention from monsters she refused to let anyone light a fire so Eris Lewis, who was already naturally cold, spend the night shivering. But she didn't complain; she didn't want to be a bother.

They decided that someone would keep watch while everyone else slept and the first person was the trouble-maker himself:Percy Jackson.

"Sweets," A voice whispered as someone's hand nudged her shoulder.

Eris blinked slowly and flinched when she noticed sea green eyes. "Pe-Percy," she squeaked, crawling away from him backwards. "What's wrong? Is it my turn t-to watch?"

Percy quickly shook his head. "No, you're shivering," he said, "Are you cold?"

She rubbed her arm. "Ye-yeah but don't worry about," she said hurriedly. "I'm-I'm fine."

He eyed her before shrugging off his dark blue jacket and holding it out. "Here, take it."

Eris shook her head and pushed it away from her. "No-No thanks," she said quietly flushing deeply. "I don't wanna be a bother."

"Just take it," he insisted. "I don't get cold easily, I'll be fine."

"No really-"

"Sweets," he said sounding exhausted, "just take the jacket."

With hesitant hands Eris took the jacket and put it on. It smelled like salty sea water. She zipped it up, laid down, and closed her eyes.

In her dreams she dreamed of the sea.

PERCY JACKSON WOKE UP TO SOMEONE POKING HIS FACE.

"Percy," a shaky voice whispered. "It's um...time to get up."

He already knew who it was just because of how nervous they sounded. His eyes shot open and found Eris crouched in front of him with her finger a centimeter away from poking him in the face again. She held her hand against her chest before backing away to sit next to Annabeth. He couldn't help but notice she was still wearing his jacket.

"Well," Annabeth said, "the zombie lives."

"How long was I sleep?"

"Long enough to cook breakfast," Annabeth tossed him a bag of nacho-cheese chips they stole from Aunty Em's snack bar. "And Grover went exploring. Look he found a friend."

Percy's eyes drifted to Eris who was uneasily petting something fuzzy on her lap. It was pink and it looked dirty.

He squinted and found that the fuzzy thing on her lap was a pink poodle who had apparently taken a liking to Eris judging by how happy the poodle seemed to be from her petting him. Eris looked terrified at the poodle even though it was being nice to her but then again Eris always looked terrified.

Next to her was Grover who was sitting cross-crossed to next to her, facing the poodle.

The poodle's eyes turned to Percy and it tapped suspiciously. Grover said, "No, he's not."

Percy blinked, "Are you talking to...that thing?"

The poodle growled at him and Eris flinched so hard Percy was sure the poodle almost fell out of her lap. The poodle was surprisingly able to roll it's eyes and snuggled into Eris' arms again much to Eris' dismay.

"The thing," Grover warned, "is our ticket west. Be nice to him."

"You can talk to animals?"

Grover ignored the question. "Percy meet Gladiola. Gladiola, Percy."

Percy stared at Eris and Annabeth, wondering when they were going to start cracking up laughing and tell him it was all a joke. But Annabeth looked deadly serious and Eris looked like she wanted Gladiola anywhere but her lap.

"I'm not saying hello to a pink poodle," Percy said. "Forget it."

"Percy," Annabeth said. "I said hello to the pink poodle. Eris said hello to the pink poodle.
You say hello to the pink poodle."

The poodle growled and Eris yelped as it dug its claws in her thighs as it stood.

Percy said hello to the poodle.

Grover explained that apparently he met Gladiola in the woods and that apparently the poodle ran away from a rich family that had posed 200$ for its return. The poodle didn't want to back to its family but if would it would help them get some cash. Also he learned from Grover that the reason Gladiola was attached to Eris was because for some odd reason dogs were just attracted to her and judging by Eris' terrified face she did not enjoy it. He wondered if it had anything to do with who her father was?

"How does Gladiola know about the reward?" Percy asked.

"He read the signs," Grover said. "Duh."

"Of course," Percy said dryly. "Silly me."

"So we turn in Gladiola," Annabeth said firmly. "We get money, and we buy tickets to Los Angeles to get to the Underworld. Simple."

"No-No more buses," Eris spoke up for the first time, her voice was as quiet as a mouses'. "Please."

He nodded. "Not another bus."

"No," Annabeth agreed.

USING THEIR REWARD MONEY THEY SPENT TWO DAYS ON THE AMTRAK TRAIN, HEADING WEST. They hadn't been attacked by monsters in those two days and Eris couldn't hide her relief.

She was a peacemaker and very much against violence. She was not built to fight monsters.

She was lover not a fighter....mostly because she was a coward but her point still stood.

Still in the back of her mind she couldn't help but feel uneasy at the thought of monsters waiting to sneak up on them when they were vulnerable.

The thought nearly made her burst into tears.

   Over those two days Willow hadn't appeared at all. Eris wondered if she was okay it wasn't the first time Willow had disappeared for days at a time but it still made Eris uneasy.

  Eris spent all two days wishing for a hot shower and curled up in the seat next to Percy as she gazed out the window. One time she woke up from her nap only to find out she had slept with her head on Percy's shoulder for a solid two-hours after that she made a point to scoot to the farthest corner of her seat; she had turned so red that Percy almost mistaken her for a cherry. Percy who sat next to her didn't mind that she fell asleep on his shoulder though and was a decent seat-mate even if he talked in his sleep a lot. She tried not to pay any mind to it, she didn't like to complain.

   Next to Annabeth, Grover was fast asleep and kept waking people up from his loud snoring. Once he moved around in his sleep and on of his sneakers fell off. Eris watched from the seat next to Percy as Percy and Annabeth quickly wrestled to put his shoe back on.

   "So," Annabeth started say when they finished putting Grover's shoe back on. "Who wants you're help?" She asked Percy.

   Percy frowned. "What do you mean?" He asked.

   "When you were asleep just now you muttered 'I won't help you'. Who were you dreaming about?"

   He sighed. "I heard a dark voice in a pit in my dream last night...they were laughing and offered my mom as a trade. They were dark...evil. They wanted the master bolt."

   Annabeth was briefly silent. "That doesn't sound like Hades. He always appears on a black throne, and he never laughs."

  "He offered my mother in trade. Who else would do that?"

   "Ex-Excuse me," Eris said uneasily and they turned to her. "It's just uh," she began to fiddle with her fingers. "Maybe it's something from Tartarus. Some-some type of monster do-down," she stopped, getting annoyed at her own stuttering. "Down there may be trying to-to start some type of war," she spat out quickly before noticing their stares. She looked down, "Ne-Never mind...I'm just being stupid, sorry."

Annabeth shook her head. "No. No, Eris you're not being stupid at all. I was thinking the exact same thing. But why would they ask Percy to bring the master bolt if he already has it?"

Grover snorted his sleep and turned his head as he muttered something about vegetables.

Annabeth readjusted his cap so his horns were covered. "Percy, you can't banter with Hades. You know that right? He's deceitful, heartless,and greedy. If I didn't care his Kindly Ones weren't as aggressive this time-"

A part of Eris disagreed with Annabeth. Yeah, Hades was the lord of the dead but from Eris' knowledge Annabeth had never met Hades. What if Hades wasn't mean or cruel he was just lonely guy who was shunned by all his siblings? Eris understood what if was like to be lonely, she had practically been alone since Willow died.

"This time?" Percy asked. "You mean you've run into them before?"

   Eris flinched at his question. Everyone knew about Thalia Grace's tragic death. Everyone except Percy Jackson apparently.

   Annabeth's hand crept to grab into her camp necklace. "Let's just say I've got no love for the lord of dead. You can't be tempted to make a deal for your mom."

   Percy frowned. "Well what would you guys do if it was your parents?" He asked without thinking.

   Eris continued to play with her fingers. "I don't know," she said quietly, adjusting her glasses. "I've ne-never met mine so-"

   He winced.  "Oh gods. Right, sorry."

   She shook her head "It's fine," she said quietly.

   "My answer is easy," Annabeth said seriously. "I'd leave him to rot."

   "You're not serious," Percy said.

   Annabeth's harsh gaze turned to him. "My dad resented me since the day I was born," she said. "He never wanted a baby. When he got me, he asked Athena to take me back and raise me on Olympus because he's too busy with his work. She wasn't happy about that. She told him heroes had to be raised by their mortal parent."

   Eris' gaze softened and she forcibly blinked back tears. She cried too easily; she really needed to work on that. From what she was hearing Annabeth's dad sounded like an ass. Who wouldn't want your family? Weren't they supposed to love you no matter what? She didn't have the any experience with what having a family was like other than Willow but from what Willow showed her it meant to love each other no matter what.

  Percy blinked. "But how...I mean I guess you weren't born in a hospital..."

   "I appeared on my dad's doorstep in a golden cradle, carried down form Olympus by Zephyr the West Wind. You'd think my dad would remember that as a miracle, right? Like, maybe he'd take some digital photos or something. But he always talked about my arrival as if it was the most inconvenient thing that happened to him. When I was five he got married and totally forgot about Athena. He got a 'regular' mortal wife and had two 'regular' mortal kids, and tried to pretend I didn't exist."

   Eris thought about maybe telling her about all the foster homes she's been in and decided against it. She didn't want to relive any moments of foster care.

  Percy paused. "My mom married a really awful guy," he said, "Grover she did it to protect me, to hide me in the scent of a human family. Maybe that's what your dad was thinking."

  Eris did not agree with that. She just thought Annabeth's dad was an asshole.

   "He doesn't care about me," Annabeth said, "His wife—my step-mom—treated me like a freak. She wouldn't let me play with her children. My dad went along with her. Whenever something dangerous happened—you know something with monsters— they would look at me resentfully, like, 'how dare you put our family at risk'. Finally I took the hint, I wasn't wanted and ran away."

   "How old were you?"

    "Same age as when I started camp, seven."

   He frowned. "But you couldn't have gotten all the way to half-blood hill all by yourself..."

   Did he ever know when to stop talking?

   Eris shook her head and lightly tapped his shoulder. "Per-Percy don't-"

   "Not alone. No. Athena watched over me, guided me towards help. I made a couple of unexpected friends who took care of me, for a short time, anyway," Annabeth replied. She looked away, seeming to be lost in sad memories and Eris' heart went out to her. She'd hug Annabeth if she didn't dislike physical touch from anyone but Willow.

  Eris sighed and looked out the window; wishing more than ever that she had her sketch book to draw true beautiful view.

ON DAY TWO OF THE TRAIN RIDE, JUNE 13:

Annabeth stared out the window, looking to see the Gateway Arch monument. "I want to do that," she sighed.

"What?" Percy asked. Next to him Eris was scribbling on a napkin with a pen she borrowed from a train attendant.

"Build something like that," Annabeth said, "You guys ever seen a Parthenon?"

Eris didn't look up from her drawing. "No," she said quietly. She didn't even know what a Parthenon was. Truthfully she didn't have much to say she just wanted to focus on her art.

"Only in pictures," Percy replied.

"Someday, I'm going to see it in person. I'm going to build the greatest monument to the gods, ever. Something that'll last thousands of years," Annabeth said passionately

    "I thi-think you'll be a great architect, Annabeth," Eris said meekly. She hated the way she talked, she hated the stuttering. She already had a naturally soft voice so the shy way she spoke only made it worst.

   Annabeth smiled a bit, "Thanks, Eris."

Percy laughed. "You? An architect?"

   Eris' head snapped up. Did he really think it was funny to laugh at Annabeth's dream?

Annabeth blushed. "Yes, an architect. Athena expects her children to create things, not just tear them down, like a certain god of earthquakes."

   Percy looked down.

   "Sorry," Annabeth said sheepishly. "That was mean."

"Can't we work together a little?" Percy pleaded. "I mean, didn't Athena and Poseidon ever cooperate?"

Annabeth paused to think. "I guess...the chariot," she said tentatively. "My mom invented it, but Poseidon created horses out of the crest of waves. So they had to work together to make it complete."

   "Then we can cooperate too, right?"

   Annabeth looked out the window, "I suppose."

   Eris sighed in relief. With all the stress she was under she didn't think she could take those two arguing again.

   They pulled into the Amtrak station downtown. The intercom told them they'd have a three-hour layover before departing for Denver.

   Grover stretched in his seat and the first thing out of his mouth after waking up was: "Food."

   "Come on, Goat Boy," Annabeth said. "Sightseeing."

    "Sightseeing?"

     "I don't know guys," Eris said quietly, fiddling with her fingers again. "Can't we stay down here or at least can I stay here?"

   She was fine staying there. There were no monsters and they were finally having a calm moment in the entire quest. What if they left only to be attacked by monsters? She felt nauseous at the thought.

   "C'mon, Eris, it's just the Gateway Arch," Annabeth said. "This may be my only chance to ride the top. You don't want me to go by myself do you?"

   "No," she murmured. She really needed to learn to stop being a push over. She knew Willow would be scolding her if she was here no doubt she'd be telling Eris she needed to grow a back-bone but Eris didn't like upsetting people. She hated conflict.

   Grover and Percy exchanged a look and Grover shrugged. "As long as there's a snack bar without monsters." He said and Eris flinched.

  Annabeth grabbed Eris' hand and Eris quickly shoved the napkin she was drawing on in her pocket before Annabeth tugged her along.  They walked through the underground museum it was covered in wagons and stuff from the 1800s that Eris could careless about. Annabeth kept sprouting off interesting facts about the Arch was built and Eris had to resist the urge to fall asleep. Though Eris liked Annabeth she didn't think she could take another moment of Annabeth telling her architecture facts.

"Guys," Percy said suddenly, "You know the gods' symbols of power?"

Annabeth who had been reading over a passage about the construction equipment used to build the Arch looked up. "Yeah?"

"Well, Hade-"

Grover cleared his throat. "We're in a public place...you mean our friend downstairs?"

"Um, right," Percy said, "Our friend way downstairs. Doesn't he have a hat like Annabeth?"

" You mean the Helm Of Darkness?," Eris replied shivering at the thought. "It's really powerful."

"It's his symbol of power," Annabeth said, "I saw it next to his seat at the winter solstice council meeting."

   "He was there?" Percy asked.

    Annabeth nodded, "it's the only time he's allowed to visit Olympus—the darkest day of the year. But like Eris said his helm is a lot more powerful than my invisibility hat, if what I've heard is true..." she trailed off.

   "It allows him to become darkness," Grover said, "He can melt into shadows or pass through walls. He can't be touched or seen or heard. And he can radiate fear so intense it can drive you into insanity or stop your heart. Why do you think all creatures fear the dark?"

Eris thought Hades' symbol of power was the best out of the rest of the Big Three. Sure, Zeus could make lightning with his and Poseidon could control the sea but Hades couldn't even be touched with his. As scary as his Helm of Darkness seemed it also seemed cool.

"But then...how do we know he's not here right now? Watching us?" Percy asked.

Eris rubbed her arm, "We...we don't know," she said hesitantly.

"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better," Percy said sarcastically, "Got any blue jellybeans left?" He asked Grover.

They continued walking until they found a tiny elevator car that would take them to the top of the Arch. They squeezed into the tiny car where this overweight woman with her dog sat. The dog made eye contact with Eris and she automatically scooted closer to Percy.

Eris was scared of dogs and it just made things worst that for some reason they were naturally attracted to her. Even the other day when Gladiola forcibly climbed on her lap though type dog was nice to her she couldn't help but be scared it would bite her. Contrary to popular belief the smallest dogs were the scariest dogs. The fat lady eyed them and a queasy feeling started to build in Eris' stomach. She squeezed Annabeth's hand.

"No parents?" The fat lady asked them. She had beady-eyes, yellow sharp teeth, a flip denim hat and a large denim dress.

"They're below," Annabeth told her, "Scared of heights."

"Oh, the poor darlings."

The chihuahua growled and Eris yelped as she curled up in a small ball trying to make herself invisible. The woman said, "Now, Now, sonny. Behave."

The dog's eyes were terrifying with beady eyes that screamed intelligence and aggressiveness.

"Sonny is his name?" Percy asked.

"No," the lady said shortly. She gave him a creepy smile.

They reached the top of the Arch. The observation deck was filled with rows of tiny window that looked over the city on one side and the river on the other.

Annabeth started to ramble on about structural supports, and how she would've made the windows bigger and designed a see-through floor. She looked like she could've stayed up there forever but the park-ranger announced that the observation deck would be closing in a few minutes.

Percy lead them all to the exit and they started to get into the elevator but by the time Percy was ready to get on it was already filled.

  "Next car, please," the park ranger said.

   "We'll get out," Annabeth said, "We'll wait for you."

   "Naw, it's okay," Percy shrugged. "I'll see you guys at the bottom."

   The queasy feeling in her stomach started to build like it was warning her 'DANGER! DANGER! EVACUATE! EVACUATE!'
 
   In a very stupid moment of trying to courage Eris tried to do what she thought Willow would do if she was there. She stepped out of the elevator, "I-I'll stay," she said, "I know I can't do much but...It doesn't feel right leaving you here by your-yourself."

   She was already useless on this quest the least she could do was try to look out for Percy.

   Annabeth frowned, "But-"

   "Don't worry, Annabeth," Percy said, "I'll take care of her. We'll be fine. What's the worst that could happen?"

   Annabeth and Grover both looked nervous but before they could protest the elevator doors slid close. Their car disappeared down the ramp. Leaving the only people left as the fat lady and her demon dog, a little boy with his parents, the park ranger, Percy and Eris who looked like she regretted everything.

   Eris instantly regretted staying as watched the fat lady smile at them. What was she thinking? What if a monster came? She didn't even realize how far above ground they were until she glanced out the window and into the ocean. It was at least a 40-meter drop if she fell out the window. Oh, gods, what if she did fall out the window?!

   "Thanks for staying," Percy said, "I have a bad feeling about this place."

   Eris looked down, "I know...something it-it doesn't feel right." She reached in her pocket and pulled out the napkin she had drawn on previously she looked over her drawing.

  It was a quick drawing of a girl with dark skin and chunky dark hair falling out of the air and toward the ocean and frightening speed with a boy falling above her with his arm reached out trying to catch her. She glanced over all the crooked lines and inaccurate proportions she drew accidentally, feeling insecure she quickly shoved the napkin back in her pocket. It was terrible to her.

  Percy smiled at the lady uneasily and the fat lady smiled back, showing off a forked tongue. Eris didn't think much about it until she did a double-take when she remembered people didn't have forked tongues.

  Son of a-

The chihuahua jumped down and started yapping at Percy.

   "Now, now, sonny," the lady said, "Does this look like a good time? We have all these people here?"

   "Doggie!" The little boy squealed. "Look, a doggie!"

   Eris tugged on his shirt, "Uh...Per-Percy," she stuttered, "I think...I th-think we need to go."

   She looked around, looking for any exit but the only thing she found was the windows that lead out to the freezing river outside. No way in hell was she jumping out of the window.

  The dog bared his teeth, foam started to form over his lips and Eris gulped.

   "Well, son," The fat lady sighed. "If you insist."

   Percy swallowed, "Um, did you just call that Chihuahua your son?"

   "Chimera, dear," the fat lady said and Eris' eyes widened. "Not a Chihuahua. It's an easy mistake to make."

   "Oh, god," Eris choked out, "We're gonna die."

   Percy shoved Eris behind him and uncapped Riptide as the fat woman rolled up her sleeves revealing leathery green skin. She smiled, revealing ugly fangs. Her pupils were slits similar to a lizard.

   Eris' eyes filled with tears as the Chihuahua barks started to turn into loud roars as it grew into the size of a lion. The Chimera grew so large it almost reached the roof. It had the head of a lion with a bloody mane, the body and hooves were that of a goat, and a serpent as a tail. The dog collar hung on its neck with the words: Chimera—Rapid, Fire-breathing, Poisonous—If Found Please Call Tartarus—EXT.954
  
  How could I be so stupid?

   Eris stood behind a frozen Percy as the snake lady made a hissing sound, "Be honored, Percy Jackson and his little...friend I assume. Lord Zeus rarely allows me to test a hero with one of my brood. For I am the Mother Of Monsters, Echidna!" She said it like a crappy comic book super villain.

   Eris couldn't make out words as tears slowly started to fall down her face. Sweat poured down her face and she couldn't stop the trembling feeling that filled her arms and legs. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking even when she grabbed her dagger.

   "Isn't that some kind of Anteater?" Percy asked dumbly after a moment.

  She howled. "I hate when people say that! I hate Australia! Naming that ridiculous animal after me! For that, Percy Jackson and friend, my son shall destroy you!"

   The Chimera lunged and Percy tackled Eris to the ground, she hit her head so hard against a window that it shoved wide open and she almost thought she had a concussion. They ended up next to the family and the park ranger who were yelling as they tried to pry open the elevator.

   Percy's chest heaved up and down as he turned to Eris, "Stay here," he ordered and ran to the other side of the deck. "Hey, Chihuahua!"
 
  The Chimera turned to him with lightning quick speed and lunged. She watched with terrified eyes as Percy brought up his sword to swing but it opened its mouth and shot a flame of fire in Percy's direction. Percy was barley able to dodge. The area he previously had been standing in was now a large gaping hole that lead to the river.

  Percy slashed it's neck and his blade sparked harmlessly off the dog collar.

   With wide eyes Eris watched as the serpent tail of the Chimera whirled around and opened its mouth as it sung in the direction of Percy's leg. "Percy!" She yelled, "Watch out! Your leg!"

  It was too late. The serpent sunk its teeth j to Percy's calf and he howled in pain. He tried to jab his his sword in the mouth of the Chimera but the snake wrapped around his legs and forced him onto the ground. The blade flew out of his hand and out the hole and down into the Mississippi River.

   She placed a hand on her chest as she tried to stop hyperventilating.

   Do something you coward!

   What are you doing?

   You're really just gonna let him die?

   He gave you his jacket when you were cold and this is how you repay him? What the hell is wrong with you?!

    Useless!

    Worthless!

    Coward!

    Cry Baby!

    What would Willow do?

    WHAT WOULD WILLOW DO?

   With teary eyes and snot running down the lower part of her face Eris shakily stood up. With a battle cry she jumped onto the back of the Chimera. The Chimera roared as it wiggled and bucked trying to knock her off, it was like riding a bull-riding-machine . She raised her dagger to stab it as hard she could only for the serpent tail to wrap around her waste and threw her off. But instead of throwing her to the ground it threw her out the same whole Percy's sword had gone, the hole that lead to the Mississippi River. Eris Lewis was gone.

   "Eris!" Percy screamed as he stumbled to stand up. The Chimera turned to him. He looked out the wide hole and saw Eris falling faster and faster towards the river at a frightening speed.

  He looked at the Chimera and did the only thing he could think of to save both his and Eris' life.

   He jumped and started to plummet toward the river with his hand reached out.

Thank you so much for reading. Thank you the people who commented it really helped me stay motivated to continue writing this story! Reading the few comments I had really brought a smile to my face. I'm sorry if you don't like this chapter I did my best. Please let me know what you think.