I 06. I

𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔

❝ those amethyst eyes ❞

ARIADNE WAS SLIGHTLY PISSED. Zeus has tried killing them with a lightning bolt. She could still feel the electricity through the air, and it sent a full pain throughout her body.

But the girl was angry. Really angry. Angry at the god for almost killing them. Angry at how the Furies attacked them. Angry at how everything had gone all wrong and it was only the beginning of their quest. She hated to say it, maybe Percy did not have any good luck. Maybe he was a bad luck charm.

The girl's eyes widened once she realized she had stuffed the Walkman and necklace into her jacket, thankfully, they were both there.

Somehow, they managed to survive with no damage. Unlike her. She had multiple burns and lashes from the whip, scratches and bite marks from the Furies as well.

A fireflies was their only source of light, fluttering throughout the woods while they made a steady path to find a way out of the woods. But the terrible smell of the Hudson was flooding their senses, and the urge to run back to New York City was high.

Of course, they couldn't. They would be failures if they did.

Grover, who was shivering from the cold and battle, spoke with a quivering voice. "Threw Kindly Ones. All three at once."

"Come on!" Annabeth commanded them, trying to keep the spirits high. "The further away we get, the better."

She had a point. If they got far enough from the  bus crash, the Furies would have a lot of trouble tracking them down again. But that didn't stop her from frowning due to her blistering feet.

Percy seemed keen on reminding her of what happened, "All our money was back there. Our food and clothes. Everything."

Ariadne grit her teeth, "Well, maybe if you hadn't decided to jump into the fight—"

"What?!" He snapped, surprised by her outburst. "I wasn't just going to let you all die!"

The girl shook her head, feet stomping in the mud. "Whatever, Jackson." She spat out, "We were fine."

"No you weren't."

"Yes, we were. You just jeopardized the whole plan because you wanted to act like the hero."

"This is my quest isn't it?"

By now, the two had stopped walking, facing each other with sopping wet hair and heated glares.

Ariadne let out a bitter laugh, "Yeah, it is." She pokes her finger against his chest, "But just because it is, doesn't make you a hero."

"Well," Percy growled. "You told me it was fine if you were left behind, which wouldn't be fine at all!"

"For good reason. This quest only needs three people anyways."

Percy gaped at her, "You helped save us!"

"Yeah. And you were just stupid."

"Well you're not exactly a hero either. You acted like a lunatic back there when you said those things."

And that was when Grover and Annabeth knew he had crossed the line.

Something inside her snapped, a switch in her brain flipped. She stopped arguing, becoming emotionless while her eyes became stone cold.

Percy's anger watered down, he stepped forward to place a hand on her shoulder to see if she was okay but the girl moved away, continuing to walk without a care in the world.

Ariadne glances over her shoulder, "You're right, Percy, I am. I was wrong. You are exactly like Theseus."

The boy flinched slightly, the malice and hate in her tone hurt his heart. But he had no clue why. Why was he so hurt by her words? Maybe it was because she had become his first demigod friend. Maybe, it was because she had protected him at camp.

Grover gulped slightly, he could feel Percy's flood of emotions and his head throbbed. Percy cared a lot about what the brunette thought of him, which was weird to in the Satyr's opinion.

Annabeth strided towards her friend, her head twisting to whisper towards her while Grover accompanied Percy. The two dips walked in silence, only slight mutters of frustration from Annabeth mixed with hints of sadness from Percy.

Ariadne ignored Annabeth, her gaze set on the fireflies, wishing she could just fly away from the conversation. "Aria," Annabeth called out, "Ariadne."

"What?" She snapped, the blonde rolling her eyes at the girl. She knew the word hurt the brunette, seeing as that was what her mom called her every day of her life.

"He didn't mean it. He didn't know."

The brunette sighed, tearing her bun down and letting her hair fall in front of her face. "I know, I know." She hesitated, "I just... I don't know how to tell him, I don't think I can."

Annabeth tilted her head, "You don't have to, you can wait until the right time."

"But I feel like this is the only time I can."

She groaned, but her eyebrows furrowed once her foot sunk deep into the mud. The girl pulled but her foot wouldn't release, eyes found Annabeth's who just walked away, Grover accompanying her. Which only meant...

"Here." Percy spoke up, grabbing her arms while he yanked her out of the mud. She stumbled but he caught her, letting a smile rest on his face. "I'm sorry. For whatever I said."

But she couldn't let it go, years of trauma flying back. So she shoved him away and walked forward, ignoring his sad expression and the hurtful tug on her heart. She ignored the mud that seemed to soak her entire shoe, and the tears that coated her eyes before blinking them away.

Grover fell back with Percy once again, seeing as their plan didn't work. The Satyr noticed his friends sad eyes, his ocean eyes still, nothing crashing behind them.

"She'll come around." He spoke up, limping slightly with his fake feet.

Percy glances over, heaving a sigh before shaking his head. "Doubt it. Whatever I said must have been pretty bad."

"She's been through a lot. Being dropped off at camp when she was five, never really knowing the mortal world. Takes a toll on your mind."

"But she seems—she seems so happy all the time."

Grover sighed, "Just because she's happy on the outside, doesn't mean it's like that on the inside."

And Percy realized what he meant. Because she laughed at something Annabeth said, he saw her eyes and her smile. They seemed to be bright with amusement, but I reality, those amethyst eyes were dark and gloomy.

The boy had come to the conclusion that Ariadne was more than just a camper and daughter of Dionysus, a mystery surrounded by rumors and compliments. And he was making it his mission to make her smile. A real smile. One that made her feel happy on the inside, so that the girl he knew she could be would shine through.

Next thing he knew, Grover had pulled out his reed pipes, playing a shrill tune. "Hey! My reed pipes still work! If I could just remember a 'find path' song, so we can get out of these woods."

Ariadne bit her lip to contain her laughter once he played another few notes causing Percy to slam into a tree. It was almost comical the way he did, wandering around in a daze before trading it for a bad mood.

They walked for another mile or so before bright neon lights alerted them of a place they could stop, their stomachs grumbling loudly while their feet blistered even more.

The smell of fast food was intoxicating, the quartet following their noses as they walk through the woods. They came across a destroyed two-lane road that looked like it was in a nighties-movie.

But onsite as of finding a diner, they found a shop full of garden supplies. The long, winding building was surrounded by what seemed like acres of statues. Little pink flamingos in the front lawn, along with with a lot of spiritual stuff.

She shared a look with Annabeth, both eyeing the sign which they couldn't read due to their dyslexia.

NTAYU MES EGDARN GOMEN MPERIOMU.

Percy was struggling as well, "What the heck does that say?"

"I don't know." Annabeth shrugged, her blonde ponytail hanging low as it needed to be retied.

The two glanced over at Ariadne, who only looked at Annabeth, which caused Percy to sigh at. "I have no clue."

Thankfully, Grover could read properly. "Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium."

Ariadne was starving, her stomach was eating itself. She couldn't help but take a few steps forward with Percy to cross the road, her eyes set on the entrance which had two garden gnomes sculptures flanking it.

But Grover was as keen as they were, "Hey..."

"The lights are on." Annabeth reasoned, which the other two demigods nodded at with a dazed expression.

"Snack bar." Ariadne said wistfully, her head only thinking about food.

"Snack bar," Percy agreed.

Grover looked like they were the three heads of Cerberus, "Are you three crazy? This place is weird."

And Ariadne couldn't help but agree, but her other senses overpowered her intuition. So she crossed the road with the other two demigods, Grover following behind.

The front was filled to the brim with a variety of statues, from animals to children, there was even a Satyr playing his reed pipes. Grover was not so pleased about that once. "Bla-ha-ha!" He bleated, and if she wasn't so hungry, Ariadne would laugh. "Looks like my Uncle Ferdinand."

Annabeth disagreed, "Your nose is clogged up from the Furies. All I smell is burgers. Aren't you hungry?"

Grover looked aghast, "Meat! I'm vegetarian."

Percy raised an eyebrow, "You eat cheese enchiladas and aluminum cans."

"Those are vegetable. Come on. Let's leave. These statues are... looking at me."

Ariadne sighed, spinning around with her hands on her hips. "Calm down, Grover. We're at a garden emporium, not surrounded by monsters."

"You don't know that!" He shot back, arms out.

"You're hungry, we're hungry, we're all hungry. Nothing will go wrong. We can go back to fighting monsters after this."

His eyes widened, "You made it so much worse. Bla-ha-ha!"

The door creaked open, showing a tall, Middle-Eastern women. Her gown was pitch black, reaching her feet as it dragged across the ground. A net covered her face, hiding most of her fingers minus her eyes which glinted slightly. Ariadne couldn't help it, but she felt odd in front of the women.

A dove swooped down, talons scratching at her face. She swiped at it before the bird did the same to Percy, who yelled out for it to leave. Once it did, they focused back on the women.

"Children," her accent was heavily in her words. "It is too late to be out all alone. Where are your parents?"

Annabeth panicked, "They're... um..."

She glanced back at the other three, thankfully, Percy had a good day. That night was full of surprises. "We're orphans!" But he was a bit to enthusiastic about it, so she almost facepalmed.

The women was not convinced, "Orphans? But, my dears, surely not!"

Ariadne nodded, and just by luck, some part of her became an actress. "We got separated from our caravan." She put a saddened look on her face, lip quivering as she spoke. "Our circus caravan."

She knew Percy was questioning what the hell she was doing, but it was working. "The ringmaster told us to meet him at the gas station if we got lost, but he may have forgotten, or maybe he means a different gas station." Her voice broke in the middle, letting it seem as if they were distraught.

The women contemplated the answer, Percy spoke up. "Anyway, we're lost. Is that food I smell?"

"Oh, my dears." She spoke up, opening the door wider so they could enter. "You must come in, poor children. I am Aunty Em. Go straight to the back of the warehouse, please. There is a dining are."

Once they entered, Percy walked next to her. "A circus, really?"

"Oh, like you had better ideas, Kelp Head." She spat, he rolled his eyes, done with her attitude.

"Don't call me that."

She smirked, "Do you prefer, Fish Face?"

"Whatever." He huffed, and Ariadne rolled her eyes at him.

Statues watched as they walked by, the kids not knowing the fate that awaited them. Each had a different expression, some with giant grins while others with eyes full of terror. They were about the size of them, some taller.

But her hunger masked her suspicion, which was not okay in that situation. They didn't notice how Grover was whimpering, or how Aunty Em locked the door behind them.

She didn't even notice how the dove from earlier scratched at the windows, or how Aunty Em glared at it before covering the glass panel.

Once they reached the dining area, Ariadne almost fainted into Percy's arms. It was full of all the fast food you would ever want, a grilled soda fountain, a pretzel machine and a nacho cheese dispenser. She felt like she was in heaven.

"Please, sit." The women told them, and you didn't need to ask them twice.

They were sat at a steel picnic table, Ariadne sat next to Percy slowly since Grover and Annabeth made sure to sit next to each other.

Percy grinned, "Awesome."

Grover seemed as if he was trying to find a way to make them leave, "Um," Grover started, "we don't have any money, ma'am."

Annabeth gave him a glare, but Aunty Em spoke up. "No, no, no, children. No money. This is a special case, yes? It is my treat, for such nice orphans."

Ariadne gave her a grin, purple eyes causing a smile to grace the women's lips. Those eyes.

Annabeth was grateful, "Thank you, ma'am."

Aunty Em stiffened once she spoke, but relaxed after a second. Ariadne found it odd, but she didn't question it. "Quite alright, Annabeth. You have such beautiful grey eyes, child."

And with that, she disappeared behind the counter and started fixing their food. Ariadne glanced at her friend who held a calculated stare, how had she known her name?

The room was quiet for a bit, that was before Aunty Em started talking to the brunette-haired girl. "I haven't seen eyes like yours in years, Ariadne." The way she said her name sent a shiver down the girls spine. "You know the story behind your name I assume?"

She nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

"No need to call me ma'am, Ariadne, especially not you."

The girl tilted her head, acting as if she didn't suspect anything. Aunt Em walked back over with plastic tray's overloaded with food, and once again, their senses were blocked.

Ariadne almost drooled at the sight of the double cheeseburgers, vanilla shakes, and XXL sized fries.

Percy stuffed his face with food, except it was nothing compared to what the brunette had already eaten. She was already finished with her burger, now she was eating her fries.

Grover was pale, nibbling at the fries on his tru. The Satyr was pale, almost as if all the blood had been drained from his body. "What's that hissing noise?"

Ariadne couldn't hear anything. Percy just shrugged while Annabeth shot them both a disgusted look, she was the only one eating respectfully. Both of the the demigods shared a glade, a smile crossing their face as they both realized they had fries sticking out of their mouths.

"Hissing?" Aunty Em asked, "Perhaps you hear the deep-fryer oil. You have keen ears, Grover."

"I take vitamins. For my ears." He spoke nervously,

"That's admirable. But please, relax."

The women hadn't touched any food, kept her hands folded under her chin as she watched them eat. She hadn't removed her headdress at all either, which Ariadne started to find even more peculiar as time went on.

Percy tried making conversation, "So, you sell gnomes."

"Oh, yes," she seemed they were talking about her job. "And animals. And people. Anything for the garden. Custom orders. Statuary is very popular, you know."

"A lot of business on this road?"

She shook her head, "Not so much, no. Since the highway... most cars, they do not go this way now. I must cherish every customer I get."

Ariadne sipped her shake, narrowed eyes watching the women with an uneasy feeling resting in her stomach.

She scanned the room, her eyes resting on the statue of a women with long hair. Her face was twisted into a grin, but the eyes were terrified, like she was in a horror movie.

It didn't sit right with her, so she shifted uncomfortably, placing her drink down while her hands rested in her lap.

Aunty Em sighed sadly, "Ah. You notice some of my creations do not turn out well. They are marred. They do not sell. The face is the hardest to get right. Always the face."

Ariadne gulped, her eyes shifting back towards the women. "You make the statues yourself?"

"Oh, yes. Once upon a time, I had two sisters to help me in the business, but they passed on, and Aunty Em is all alone. Then, a 'friend' came around, she left as well. I only have my statues. This is why I make them, you see. They are my company."

Her breath quickened, two sisters.

"Two sisters?" Annabeth asked, stopping her eating to lean forward.

"It's a terrible story. Not one for children, really. You see, Annabeth, and bad women was jealous of me, long ago, when I was young. I had a... a boyfriend, you know, and this bad women was determined to break us apart. She caused a terrible accident. My sisters stayed with me. They shared my bad fortune as long as they could, but eventually, they passed on. Such a price."

Ariadne leaned forward as well, "What about the friend?"

A sad smile crossed the women's face, and it seemed genuine. "She crossed my path years ago, saying she was running from a group of people. I let her stay here, I learned about what had changed where she loved, her life. She even had a child which sadly passed. Then, she left with just a note."

That felt like cold water dumping over her, Ariadne nodded her head stiffly. But she realized the statues, the story, the veil, and her name were all connected.

Aunty Em stood for Medusa.

Annabeth nodded to Percy, so the brunette tried getting his attention. "Percy," but he didn't respond, so she pinched him harshly.

"Ow!" He rubbed the spot she had pinched, "What was that for?"

She glared at him, "We need to go. I mean, the ringmaster will be waiting."

He had to know the story. His father caused Medusa to become the way she was, because he lusted for her and ruined her maiden status. Athena turned her into a Gorgon because she wasn't one anymore and that was her temple.

Annabeth was worried about Grover, who was chewing on the wax paper that came with the tray.

Medusa was gazing at Annabeth, "Such beautiful grey eyes. My, yes, it has been a long time since I've seen grey eyes like those."

Her eyes shifted towards Ariadne, "Your eyes are so familiar. But your face, a perfectly sculpted face. Yes, familiar, like..." her hand reached out to stroke the girl's cheek but Annabeth stood up, making a show of it.

"We should really go."

Ariadne nodded, agreeing with her. "Yeah, it's best we go."

Grover stood up as well, "Yes! The ringmaster is waiting! Right!"

Percy frowned as he looked between his friends and Medusa, a confused look on his face as he did so.

But Medusa was insistent they stay. "Please, dears, I so rarely get to be with children. Before you go, won't you at least sit for a pose.

"A pose?" Ariadne questioned weakly, eyes widening a bit.

"A photograph. I will use it to model a new statue set. Children are so popular, you see. Everyone loves children."

She shook her head, grabbing Percy's arm while trying to get him to stand. "We're really sorry. I dont't  think we can... the ringmaster would want to find us. Come on, Percy—"

"Sure we can." He interrupted, Ariadne almost throttled him right there.

"No, we can't."

"It's just a photo, Ariadne. What's the harm?"

We get turned to stone.

Medusa seemed to think that was a great idea, "Yes, Ariadne, no harm."

The girl sent a look of help towards Annabeth, but the blonde had  a 'trust me' look on her face. "It can't hurt."

They followed Medusa through the building, ending back up at the front and outside in the garden. She directed them towards the patch bench next to the Satyr statue, Ariadne was becoming even more uneasy while she stood next to it.

Medusa gave them a smile, "Now, I'll just position you correctly. The young girls in the middle, I think, and the two young gentlemen on either side."

Ariadne say on the left, Grover next to her. But the monster didn't like that. "Grover, dear, switch sides with Percy."

So they did. Percy placed a hand on Ariadne's shoulder, squeezing it slightly once she ignored him. "Not much light for a photo." He commented, eyes scanning the garden.

The monster didn't mind his observation, "O, enough. Enough for us to see each other, yes."

Grover almost bleated, "Where's your camera."

Ariadne shifted, for once, she was scared. Even when they faced the Furies, she wasn't as terrified as she was in that moment. The idea of watching other people end up with the same fate as you, and you're stuck inside a stone casket. She had her life ahead of her, and eve if she died at sixteen like most do, she would at least die having experienced more than she was at twelve.

"Now," Medusa started, taking a step back. "The face is the most difficult. Can you smile for me please, everyone? A large smile?"

Grover ignored her, "That sure does look like Uncle Ferdinand." He mumbled.

"Grover, look this way, dear."

No camera in sight.

"Percy—" Annabeth started, but he wouldn't listen. And as much as Ariadne didn't want to talk to him, she had too.

"It will just be a moment. You know, I can't see very well in this cursed veil..."

"Percy," he glanced over, "something isn't right. She's—"

Medusa started to undo her veil, "Not right? Not at all, dear. I have such noble company tonight. What could be wrong."

Grover's eyes widened, "That is Uncle Ferdinand!"

Annabeth shoved her Yankee cap over her head, "Look away from her!" She pushed Grover off the bench once she became invisible, Percy dove to the floor, scrambling away.

Ariadne was right behind him, running around blindly through the sculpture maze. She hated mazes. But the girl opened her eyes to the terrified look of a girl, who looked their age.

Her hands skimmed the girls shoulder before taking off, the sound of snakes alerting her that Medusa was growing closer to the girl.

So she took off, ducking and hiding behind the cement figures while her heart beat wildly in her chest. The girl prayed that her friends were safe, that Percy hadn't listened to her and opened her eyes, that Grover hadn't got caught, or that Annabeth wasn't already a statue and crushed under Medusa's fist.

A raspy sound sounded like it was right behind her, so Ariadne clenched her eyes shut. She heard nails scratch against the statue she hid behind, breath left her body.

"Such a pity to destroy a handsome young face." Medusa purred, and it was obviously directed at Percy. "Stay with me, Percy, maybe your Satyr friend will be spared. All you have to do is look up."

She heard Percy grunt, but the monster was still trying to convince him. "The Grey-Eyed One did this to me, Percy. Annabeth's mother, the curse Athena, turned me from a beautiful woman into this."

Annabeth was running around while in her invisible state, "Dont listen to her! Run, Percy!"

"Silence!" Medusa shouted, Ariadne could only assume that she had a scowl on her face. "You see why I must destroy the girl, Percy. She is my enemy's daughter. I shall crush her statue to dust. But you, dear Percy, you need not suffer."

"No." The boy muttered, the brunette gulped while keeping her eyes closed.

Medusa laughed, "Do you really want to help the gods? Do you understand what awaits you on this foolish quest, Percy? What will happen if you reach the Underworld? Do not be a pawn of the Olympians, my dear. You would be better off as a statue. Less pain. Less pain."

Soon, a hiss and slash was heard. Ariadne gasped, Percy had gotten away, that was good. But the sound of snakes grew closer to her, and she felt once slither on her shoulder.

"You want to know how I recognized you, Ariadne?"

The girl grit her teeth once she felt a nail drag down her cheek, "I'm not famous, so I have no clue."

"You are, dear child. The friend I mentioned earlier, that was someone you knew very well." The monster sighed, "But alas, she left. And my only joy now is that I would be able to have a statue of you and the Poseidon son, along with crushing the Athena daughter's statue."

"Maybe, Athena only transformed you into what you are on the inside. So an ugly monster with snakes for hair works out just fine in your case." Ariadne shot back, her jaw was gripped roughly.

Medusa snarled in her face, "Come now, I wish to see those amethyst eyes, the same eyes of your father."

Ariadne spit in her face, following where the voice was. "Never."

So the monster threw her to the ground roughly, stinging pain on her side as she scrambled to her feet.

The girl felt around, looking for one of her friends before hands grabbed hers. Someone pulled them into their chest, her back against it as he placed a hand over her mouth.

"Shh..." Percy whispered, his hand released form her mouth, but he kept an arm around her waist while the two hid. "What did she say to you?"

Ariadne shrugged, eyes watching out for the women. A buzzing was growing near to them, like a hummingbird on crack. "Percy, Ariadne!" Grover shouted, "Duck!"

The word almost sent an automatic response from the girl, she almost responded with goose but knew it was not the time.

Grover was holding a tree branch with his eyes shut tight, head swiveling from side to side. "Duck! I'll get her!"

Percy pushes her down onto the ground with him, diving to the side as Grover zipped past them, swinging the tree branch around.

Ariadne hissed at the rocks digging into her side, if she could just reach her ring, she could kill Medusa.

THWACK!

She sighed at Grover who must've hit a statue, but a roar followed the sound. It shook the ground and she knew that Medusa was just knocked down by a flying Satyr and a branch.

"You miserable Satyr," she roared, "I'll add you to my collection."

Grover shouted back, "That was for Uncle Ferdinand!"

Percy once again took charge, pulling the girl up while they raced around the sanctuary, Grover taking another swing at the monster.

Ariadne tightened their hold, swerving so Percy didn't hit a statue. She pulled him this time, ducking behind the statue of a women and a man holding hands.

She gasped as Annabeth's voice spoke in front of them, "Ariadne, Percy!"

"Whoa!" Percy let out, pulling Ariadne behind him as though he could somehow protect her. "Jeez! Don't do that!"

The brunette pulled her hand from his, feeling weird when she held it. Annabeth yanked her hat off, becoming visible once again. "You two have to cut her head off."

Percy shook his head, "What? Are you crazy? Let's get out of here!"

Ariadne sighed, "She's right." He went to argue but a glare silenced him, "That's how Perseus killed her, we need to do the same."

Annabeth shivered, "Medusa is a menace. She's evil. I'd kill her myself, but..." Her hands fiddled with her cap, "But you two have the better weapons. Besides, I'd never get close to her. She'd slice me to bits because of my mother. You—you've got a chance."

"What? We can't—"

The brunette sighed, facing the boy properly so he was only looking at her. "Look, do you want her turning more innocent people into stone." Her head motioned towards the statue they were hiding behind, the couple embracing each their at their last moments. That seemed to have sparked something, because the oceans in his eyes rose up, crashing against his eyelids.

Annabeth grabbed a green ball off a pedestal, she bit her lil while handing it to him. "A polished shield would be better. The conceding will cause some distortion, obviously. As the color and the substance inside is—"

"Would you speak English?"

"I am!"

Ariadne sighed, stepping between them before a stoic look crossed her face, the sword fighter part showing through. "Just keep your eyes on the glass. Never look at her directly. If you need help, Annabeth will be running around, I'll..." she dragged off, and Annabeth knew what she was thinking. "I'll be distracting her, I'll make noise to gain her attention, you can swing then."

He opened his mouth but Grover yelled something throughout the sanctuary, "Hey, guys! I think she's unconscious."

But Medusa definitely wasn't, she roared at wherever he was. Ariadne flinched slightly, twisting her ring into her golden sword.

"Maybe not."

Annabeth turned quickly, "Hurry," she told them. "Grover's got a great nose, but he'll eventually crash"

The two demigods nodded, taking deep breath before they left, trying to find the monster.

Ariadne glanced at Percy, the two about to part so she could be the distraction. She stopped walking, her grip on her sword tightening. "Percy," her voice was soft, "be careful. Please."

He gulped, "I thought you didn't like me right now."

"Just because I'm upset, doesn't mean I wish you were dead."

Percy nodded, "Don't die, Curly Fry."

"I won't, Kelp Head."

The two left, Percy hiding behind statues while Ariadne went another way, heading straight to the monster. She was in time, as Medusa grasped the branch Grover was holding and threw him away from her.

"Hey!" Ariadne yelled, a dangerous look in her eyes before she shut them as the monster glared over. Her sword glistened in the night, fear flashing across Medusa's face.

She had heard of the girl, all monsters had. The sword itself was made for her, and it was extremely powerful. It had the ability to bring down monsters with one swipe, vines following its command and they die with the scent of grapes. Everyone knew it was held by the daughter of Dionysus, a demigod who would do amazing things.

The girl lifted her sword, letting it clang against stones as she waited for Medusa to take the bait. "Silly, demigod, you will die today." She hissed and Ariadne let her powers travel through the ground.

She let vines wrap around the women, who screamed out at the plants attacking her. Her screaming became slight purrs, but it held whimpers underneath. "You wouldn't harm an old woman, Percy. I know you wouldn't."

Ariadne ducked behind a statue, keeping her powers moving as the vines held down the women. Percy had advanced a few meters, but he hesitated.

The girl shook her head to him, "Don't listen to her!"

"Too late!" Medusa laughed maniacally, "Cut me free, Percy."

She tightened her hold on the monster, the vines squeezing her as the women screamed out. Then, a swipe filled the air as Medusa's head popped off her body and rolled onto the ground.

The brunette didn't look at it, focused more on then body as it disintegrated in her vines hold. She let them retreat back into the soil, but many of it wrapped around the statue of a girl, so she let them be.

Ariadne felt her stomach churn at the steaming and gurgling sound from the head laying in the floor, her body moved towards Percy, who stared away from the head as well.

The boy was as pale as can be, contrasting his usually tanned skin. He took a deep breath while capping his sword, it transformed back into his pen.

"Are you alright?" She asked, looking over his face carefully.

He stared at her eyes, the amethyst color holding concern rather than anger. "Yeah." He gulped, "Are you?"

She glanced at her bloody hands which held cuts that matched her face, "Yeah. It's alright, they'll heal."

"We have no more ambrosia and nectar."

"I'm human." She shrugged, "I'll heal."

Grover twisted in the arms of the statue he was thrown onto, "Oh, yuck. Mega-yuck."

Annabeth crouched down, eyes on the ground as she pulled Medusa's veil over the eyes. "Don't move." Her hands scooped it up as green juice dropped from the cut, Ariadne grimaced at it.

Percy tilted his head, "Why didn't... why didn't the head evaporate?"

She sighed, "Once you sever it, it becomes a spoil of war. Same as your Minotaur hot . But don't unwrap the head. It can still petrify you."

Grover stumbled from the statue he had landed on, a welt in the middle of his forehead while his green cap rested on one of his horns. His fake feet had been knocked off amidst the battle, so the flying shoes circled around his head like you would see in those cartoons.

"Red Baron." Percy spoke up, "Good job, man."

Grover blushes with a grin crossing his face, "That was really not fun, though. Well, the hitting-her-with-a-stick part. That was fun. But crashing into a concrete bear? Not fun."

Percy stuffed his pen into his pocket, Ariadne shifting her sword back into her ring while she slipped it on.

Annabeth carries the head while they walked through the warehouse, she found some grocery bags behind the counter so she stuffed the head into multiple bags.

They placed the head onto the steel picnic table they ate at, letting their bodies slump against the benches while they sighed out of exhaustion.

Percy placed his head in his hands, "So we have Athena to thank for this monster?"

Annabeth gave him a mighty glare, offended but his statement. Ariadne beat her to the defense, "It was your dad's fault, you know that right?" He gave her a sour look before she continued, "Medusa was a maiden for Athena's temple, their virgins if you didn't know." He huffed while she fiddling with her camp necklace, "Your father was always after her, so he cornered her and... he took away what made her a maiden. Athena wasn't pleased, so she turned her into the monster she is now. Her sisters became monsters as well, so they became the Three Gorgons."

Percy furrowed his eyes, "But why? If it was my dad's fault, why turn them into the monsters."

"Protection?" Ariadne shrugged, "I like to think of it that way. Take away her beauty and she wouldn't be subjected to facing thousands of other men who would want a go with her against her will. Her sisters were most likely turned so they could be together, but Medusa never saw it that way. Saw it as a nerd for revenge, but some people can't be convinced of the truth."

"But why did she like me?"

"I have no clue. Maybe, in some sick and twisted way, she is sweet on your dad despite what he did, what trauma he caused her."

The boy nods his head, taking the answer but she wasn't done. "And if we had left when we needed to, maybe this wouldn't have happened."

"What?!" He glared over at her, "O, so it's my fault we met Medusa? Didn't you agree with me to come here?"

She scoffed, "I was hungry! I was at a weak state! Also, 'Its just a photo, Ariadne. What's the harm?' Like seriously?!"

Percy growled, his fists clenching as Grover and Annabeth rubbed their temples, growing aggravates by the arguing. "Shut up. You're impossible."

"You're insufferable." She bit back, her arms crossed while her nose flared at him. The oceans battled against the cave of crystals in her eyes, ready to tear them down.

He shook his head, "Grape Face."

"Kelp Head."

"Curly Fry."

"Fish Face."

"You—"

Grover was over them, "Guys! You two are giving me a migraine, and Saytrs don't even get migraines."

Annabeth huffed, her eyes glaring daggers into their brains. "Yeah, shut up. I'm tired of my head throbbing from both of you."

Ariadne and Percy sent each other glares, the brunette eyeing the bag with disinterest. She just wanted to sleep. "What are we going to do with the head?" Annabeth asked, her heads still on her head.

The brunette didn't know, and right now, she didn't really care. A small part of her wanted to grab the head and use it on Percy, but she shot that idea down quickly.

She sighed while placing her head on her arms, groaning slightly while she thought of what her brothers were doing. If they were asked in their cabin, or practicing new plays, or just laughing with one another.

Ariadne wondered if her father was moping about no alcohol again, or if Chiron and him were playing a late night game of pinochle.

The girl let her eyes go and imagined what it would be like if I'm the quest was a success, they wold be applauded and draped in gifts by the camp, maybe the gods would thank them.

But if they failed, if something went wrong, nothing good would come out of it. A war would rage upon the run, the demigods having to follow their parents on whatever side they have chosen. Campers turned against one another, no doubt Dionysus would side with his father, but would Ariadne side with hers?

She wouldn't. Because Percy didn't take the bolt, he was innocent. So she would fight to prove he wasn't, even if it was against her brothers and friends, even if the world of hung on a thin thread of yarn, ready to be cut off at the brink of a civil war.

Thread like Ariadne's method to help Theseus. It always came back to haunt her. Would Poseidon accept her? Would her father hate her along with her brothers? With Zeus and the other gods who sided with him?

Negative thoughts plagued her mind until Percy stood up, "I'll be back."

"Percy," Annabeth spoke back, "What are you—"

The boy kept walking, entering what seemed to be Medusa's office. Ariadne watched him before glancing back over to Annabeth who had her thinking face on. "Somethings not right."

"Huh?" Ariadne questioned, leaning against the table as she watched Grover and the blonde.

Her friends leaned forward as well, "Remember the Furies?"

"Yeah." Grover shook slightly, like he was prepared for them to pop out at any given moment. "All three..."

"Exactly. Why weren't they so aggressive? They could have easily slashed us to pieces. They were holding back."

It made since. They wouldn't have lived if they were at full force, definitely not. But something from what Ms. Dodds said stuck out, "They kept on asking where it was."

Annabeth nodded, but Grover was confused, "What?"

"They asked where it was. If Hades did indeed have the bolt, wouldn't his tortures know? Why were they asking?" Ariadne spoke up, a slight urgency in her voice, trying to tell them before Percy came back.

And she was successful in informing her friends, right as the son of Poseidon return from the room. In his hand, a brown, cardboard box that was used for shipping.

He didn't seem to notice they had quickly stopped talking once he arrived, which was good for them. A slip for Hermes Overnight Express was clenched in his other hand as he grabbed Medusa's head and angrily slammed it into the box.

The boy filled out the slip while the other three stayed silent, mostly questioning why he looked angry.

The Gods

Mount Olympus

600th Floor,

Empire State Building

New York, NY

With best wishes,

PERCY JACKSON

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