I 013. I

𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔

❝ waterbed ❞

     ARIADNE WAS SQUASHED AGAINST THE WINDOW AND PERCY. Annabeth has loaded them into a cab, with her LotusCash card in hand. The brunette didn't know if it would work, and if they didn't, she wasn't sure how they would get to L.A.

"Los Angeles, please." Annabeth said.

The cab driver had a cigarette in his mouth before eyeing them, "That's three hundred miles. For that, you gotta pay up front."

Ariadne leaned forward, "You accept casino debit cards?"

"Some of 'em," he shrugged. "Same as credit cards. I gotta swipe 'em through, first."

Annabeth handed him her card, which he took before shaking his head while swiping it. The machine shook, lights flashed before an infinity sign appeared next to the dollar sign.

"Where to in Los Angeles... uh, Your Highness?" He asked her, which she sat up a bit straighter at.

"That's Santa Monica pier. Get us there fast, and you can keep the change."

Ariadne rolled her eyes at the blonde's chin in the air, slumping in her seat with her arms crossed. She grumbled under breath as Percy gave her an amused smile, the girl was annoyed she hadn't been called 'Your Highness.'

The driver sped down the street, and if she hadn't been strapped in tightly with her seat belt, she would have flown out the window. Percy kept an arm across her lap, to steady himself and her.

Percy then explained his most recent dreams in hushed whispers, looking to Ariadne for help.

"A title?" She furrowed her eyebrows with a small frown, "Um— how about the Silent One?"

"The Rich One?" Annabeth's said, "Both of those are nicknames for Hades."

Percy looked down, "Maybe..."

"The throne room sounds like Hades's. That's usually the way it's described." Grover explained, and she thought back to how she awoke in a throne room with a women after her heart stopped.

"Somethings wrong," Percy said. "The throne room wasn't the main pet of the dream. And the voice from the pit... I don't know. It just didn't feel like a god's voice."

Ariadne froze a bit while Annabeth's eyes widened. The brunette gulped slightly before shaking the cold feeling out of her bones, and the shadow that she saw looming over her mind.

"What?" He asked.

Annabeth shook her head, "Oh... nothing. I was just— No. It has to be Hades. Maybe he sent this thief, this invisible person, to get the master bolt, and something went wrong—"

"Like what?"

"I-I don't know. But if he stole Zeus's symbol of power from Olympus, and the gods were hunting him, I mean, a lot of things could go wrong. So this thief has to hid the bolt, or he has lost it somehow. Anyway, he failed to bring it back to Hades. That's what the voice said in you dream, right? The guy failed. That would explain what the Furies we're searching for when they came after us on the bus. Maybe they thought we had retrieve the bolt"

Ariadne felt the hair on her neck stand up, and her purple eyes looked out the window and the whole world was purple. She blinked at it was gone, I'm going crazy.

"But if I'd already retrieved the bolt," Percy said, "why would I be traveling to the Underworld?"

"To threaten Hades," Grover told him and the brunette raised an eyebrow.

Percy let out a whistle, "You have evil thoughts for a goat."

"Thank you."

Ariadne leaned towards the window, her vision going purple again and she swore she saw something running alongside the car.

"You have an idea what might be in the pit, don't you?" The boy asked Annabeth, "I mean, if it isn't Hades?"

The blonde paled a bit more, "Percy... let's not talk about it. Because if it isn't Hades... no. It has to be Hades."

"But—"

"Percy," Annabeth said, she looked sick and ready to vomit. "Whatever it is, I don't think you want to know. Come on, let's talk about fries or something."

Ariadne leaned back in her seat, gazing out the window thinking over the last few days, or, the days before Lotus happened.

Nothing made sense. And she was the daughter of the god of madness. Her head was spinning at how this whole situation was too confusing or too simple, all because some gods wanted to fight. Well, she wasn't sure why Hades took the bolt. But he sent the Furies after them even after he was the thief, not Percy. And they were yelling at them about where it was, as if they didn't have it. And yes, Annabeth was smart and her idea was plausible, but she was not sure that was it.

And her vision was going purple again. Which was weird because that had never happened before. There was a key piece missing from this puzzled and at the beginning of the quest she was so sure it was Hades they were after, but maybe, he wasn't. Maybe, there was someone else the cause of this. But if she even proposed that idea, she knew Annabeth would retaliate. But why had the blonde looked so pale as if she realized something, the brunette herself had yet to tell anyone of the same voice Percy had heard. And maybe, that's sent the smartest thing to do.

Once they made it to Santa Monica, it wasn't pleasant stepping out of the car. The smell was terrible, which she didn't understand because there were people who weren't affected by it. Carnival rides lining the boardwalk, palm trees along the roads, surfers attempting to show off and the homeless asleep in between sand dunes.

They stood at the edge of the water, gazing out at the far off horizon. "So..." Annabeth said, "What now?"

Ariadne stared out at the gold sun fading behind the ocean, colors streaming across the sky as night chased them out. She could only imagine Apollo driving the sun away before sighing.

Her head decided that now was a good time to remind herself why she never learned to swim. Why she never bothered to learn after her mother left. It was because her mother had taken her to the beach once, the first and last time that had happened. She was five, a couple days before being abandoned. Her mother had flown them to Miami, where she slapped at small puddles in the sand while her mother held her in the water.

But her grip wasn't that great, and she slipped under. And she went tumbling through the currents, water filling her lungs before it pushed her out. Her mother cried once she resurfaced, because her child was safe. Maybe that's what pushed her mother over the edge, maybe she was crying because if her daughter wasn't a demigod, and for some reason Poseidon pushed her out of the water, she would have drowned while freeing her mother from the burden that she was.

But she was brought out of her thoughts once she noticed Percy walking into the water, which she frowned at.

"Perc? What are you doing?" He ignored her and continued, the water reaching his chest before she called out again. "You do know that water is, like, extremely polluted, right? Kelp Head—"

His head went under and she huffed, "Have I ever told you how annoying you are?" She shouted at the water in hopes he heard it, so she stood there before walking a bit further down from Annabeth and Grover, not that fat big enough for her to be alone.

Annabeth was building a sand castle while Grover tried helping, only to give up as she snapped at him causing a tower to crumble.

Ariadne hugged her knees close to her chest as they waited in the dark, eyes watching the waves crash against the shore. She let out a small smile once she heard the familiar melody in her head, the melody of "Can't Help Falling In Love."

Her mom used to hum it everyday, and she started too. She learned the words with her mom, in fact, her first words was 'river.'

"Wise men say, only fools rush in. But I can't help falling in love with you." She sang softly, not even realizing the winds carried the words into Annabeth and Grover's ears, who smiled at their friends angelic voice.

"Shall I stay? Would it be a sin, if I can't help falling in love with you?" And her words reached the surf, floating beneath the waves as Percy was talking with the Nereid.

"Like a river flows, surely to the sea. Darling so it goes, some things, are meant to be. Take my hand, take my whole life too. For I can't help falling in love with you."

Percy stopped swimming towards the surface as he heard it, thinking it was the Nereid he turned around, but she wasn't anywhere near. "Like a river flows surely to the sea, darling so it goes, somethings are meant to be. Take my hand, take my whole life too. For I can't help falling in love with you."

She sighed, "For I can't help falling in love with you."

Those sea-green eyes entered her mind and she smiled. That boy with the wind blown raven hair who could breath underwater, the same boy who asked so many questions that she could almost hit him because of it. He had saved her twice already and she was sure it would be at least one more on this quest. And the trust she had for him was high, and it confused her.

It confused her how she was nervous and blushed easier when he was around, or how every time he held her hand she felt better than when she didn't, or how if he wasn't around she felt antsy. Maybe it was because she was just protective over her friends, but it definitely didn't mean she liked him... right?

Percy resurfaced above the water, missing the sweet voice he had heard when he was underwater. Annabeth and Grover stood from the sand, followed by Ariadne who walked over and looked at the four glistening pearls in his palm.

And he told them of the Nereid he talked to and Annabeth made a face, "No gifts come without a price."

Percy tilted his head, "But they were free."

"No. 'There is no such thing as free lunch.' That's an Ancient Greek saying that translated pretty well into American. There will be a price. You wait."

They turned to walk away but Percy stayed rooted in his spot, "Wait," he called out which stopped them. "There was this... voice when I was underwater, it was singing. What does that mean?"

Ariadne blushed slightly as Annabeth sent her a smirk, Grover opened his mouth but she beat him to it. "Probably just your imagination." She told him before turning away quickly.

Grover leaned towards him, "Don't tell her I told you, but she can sing really well." He patted his friends shoulder who gave the brunette a shocked look behind her back.

There was some spare change in Ares's backpack, so they used it to get a bus into West Hollywood. Annabeth showed the driver the Underworld address that they had gotten from Aunt Em's, but he frowned. "Never heard of it."

Percy shared a looked with Ariadne before sitting down, they traveled until the next stop before walking around L.A. for miles until the boy stopped in front of an appliance store. On the TV was an interview:

A man — who was extremely ugly — sat at a poker table in an apartment talking with Barbara Walters. There was a blonde women consoling him as tears ran down his face, but the brunette knew they were fake.

"Honest, Ms. Walters," he gave her a false sniffle. "If it wasn't for Sugar here, my grief counselor, I'd be a wreck. My stepson took everything I cared about. My wife... my Camaro... I-I'm sorry. I have trouble talking about it."

Barbara Walters spun to the camera, seeming to be gullible enough to believe his act. "There you have it, America. A man torn apart. An adolescent boy with serious issues. Let me show you again, the last know photo of this troubled young fugitive along with missing persons, Ariadne Phoenix, taken a week ago in Denver."

A terrible photo appeared on screen of her, Percy, Annabeth and Grover talking with Ares outside the diner. Ariadne realized the man on TV was Percy's step-father, and she felt her anger spike up.

Barbara continued, "Who are the other children in this photo? Who is the man with them? Is Percy Jackson a delinquent, a terrorist, or perhaps the brainwash victim of a frightening new cult?"

"And new information about Ariadne Phoenix. The young girl who has frightening anger issues, diagnosed with Intermittent Explosive Disorder, and is walking the streets with Percy Jackson. Is she influencing him? Are her anger issues ending in destruction across the nation? Did she dispose of her mom like Percy did with his? When we come back, we chat with a leading child psychologist. Stay tuned, America."

Ariadne clenched her fists, " 'Did she dispose of her mom like Percy did with his?' No! What kind of questions are these?"

"C'mon," Grover pulled Percy away from the store window as Annabeth did the same to the brunette, not wanting to see her friends destroy the window in anger.

It was dark outside and they were four kids roaming the streets of L.A, a sight for sore eyes. Many strange people passed them, multiple grown men eyeing her and Annabeth, to which Percy glared at as he pulled both of them closer. She wasn't scared, just angry. L.A had already proven to be chaotic for them, and the street lights dimming just made her hold on Percy.

"Hey, you?" A voice spoke out of a dark alley once they walked into it. But Percy was stupid enough to stop walking and they were surrounded.

And although she had her sword, she couldn't use that against them. But Percy didn't think about that, he uncalled Riptide and every one of the white kids in rich clothing jumped, minus the gang leader.

He pulled a switchblade from his sleeve, flipping it open as he swung at them. Ariadne was pulled behind Percy who swung is sword, only for it to go right through the kid's stomach. "What the..."

"Run!" Percy yelled and they took off out of the ally, racing down the street until they turned the corner.

Annabeth pointed to a store that looked open, "There!" The sign above the doors was neon and neon signs seemed to be their downfall. It read something along the lines of CSRTUY'S WATREDEB ALPACE.

"Crusty's Waterbed Palace?" Grover frowned.

They burst through the doors, hid I'd have behind a bed and away from the view of a window. And just as they did, the gang of lis ran by.

Grover sighed, "I think we lost them."

"Lost who?" A booming voice asked from behind them.

Ariadne spun in the air as she jumped to see a very tall man. He had no hair on and was standing in a leisure suit, his skin looking like grey leather with a smile like a snakes.

Her guard was up as she remembered the snake lady from the Gateway Arch. He moved towards them slowly, seeming to glide along the floor. His clothes looked as if he was from the 1970's, with a silk shirt unbuttoned halfway down to expose his hair chest which she grimaced at.

"I'm Crusty," he gave them a smile with his yellow-stained teeth showing.

"Sorry to barge in," Percy told them, "We were just, um, browsing."

Crusty knew better, "You mean hiding from those no-good kids. They hang around every night. I get a lot of people in her, thanks to them. Say, you want to look at a waterbed?"

Ariadne opened her mouth to decline it he had already guided them towards his showroom, stepping behind them.

Her eyes looked at all the waterbeds there was, and there was a lot. If you even had one specific request he probably had it in a bed. Different wooden headboards, patterns of sheets, different colors. There was queen sized, king sized, double-king sized.

"This is my most popular model," he showed them a bed covered in black sheets, lava lamps in the headboard. "Million-hand massage. Go on, try it out. Shoot, take a nap. I don't care. No business today, anyway"

Grover launches himself onto the bed, "Million-hand massage! Oh, you guys! This is cool!"

Crusty put a hand to his chin, "Almost, almost."

Percy frowned at his look, "Almost what?"

The man turned towards Annabeth, "Hmm... do me a favor and try that one over there. Might fit."

"But what—" She protested but he just patted her backs and led her over to the Safari Deluxe which had lions carved into the headboard and a leopard-patterned bedspread. When she refused to lay down, he pushed her.

"Hey!" Ariadne yelled before he grabbed her arm, Percy tried pulling her back but his strength was overpowered.

She was thrown onto the bed he called Purple Haven, which had vines carved into the wooden board and lavender lights glowing. The sheets had green leaves with purple flowers, she might have to ask the Hephaestus cabin to make her bunk similar to this when she gets back to camp.

Crusty snapped his fingers, "Ergo!"

Ropes sprung from the sides of the beds, tying her, Annabeth and Grover down. She tried wiggling out but it didn't work, and she couldn't reach her ring to cut herself out.

"Let us go!" The brunette shouted, but the man gave Percy a grin.

"She's gonna have a lot of work."

Ariadne was offended, "What does that mean?"

Crusty wrapped his hand around the back of Percy's neck before he could step away, "Whoa, kid. Don't worry, we'll find you one in a sec."

"Let my friends go."

"Oh, sure I will. But I got to make them fit, first."

"What do you mean?"

Crusty muttered to him, "All the beds are exactly six feet, see? Your friends are too short. Got to make them fit." Ariadne gulped at his words, she was five foot three, and becoming six feet would need her to be stretched. "Can't have imperfect measurements. Ergo!"

More ropes sprouted from the top and bottom of the beds, wrapping tightly around the three demigod's ankles and armpits. "The brunette's gonna need a bit more work because of her short size, so once your other friends are fit, I'll let the go."

"Hey!" She yelled out, "Just because I'm short doesn't mean that's a bad thing!"

Her body felt as if she was laffy taffy, pulling her joints out of place and dislocating all her limbs from her body. So she clenched her eyes shut as she tried not to scream, digging her fingernails into her hands.

"Don't worry," Crusty said. "These are stretching jobs. Maybe an extra eight centimeters on their spines. They might even live! Now, why don't we find a bed you like, huh?"

"Percy!" Grover yelled out.

Ariadne had to let out a scream, her spine popping slightly. "Percy! Do something!"

Percy was frozen, "You're names not Crusty, is it?"

"Legally, its Procrustes." And she had an ah ha moment, the giant who tried killing Theseus with over-hospitality. And she's meeting the monster of her least favorite hero.

"The Stretcher," the boy said.

"Yeah. But who can pronounce 'Procrustes?' Bad for business. Now, 'Crusty'... anybody can say that."

"You're right." Percy told him, "It's got a good ring to it."

Ariadne almost yelled at him again, what was he doing?

Crusty grinned, "You think so?"

"Oh absolutely. And the workmanship on these beds? Fabulous!"

She had no clue what he was doing. Yes, she trusted him but at that moment her trust was being taken over by how stupid he was.

Her ankles kicked slightly but that only made them tighten, creating a red mark on her skin. "I tell my customers that," Crusty said. "Every time. Nobody bothers to look at the workmanship. How many built-in Lava Lamp headboards have you seen?"

"Not too many," Percy shrugged.

"That's right!"

"Percy!" Annabeth yelled out, "What are you doing?"

Ariadne nodded the best she could, "Yeah, Percy, help us!"

"Don't mind them. They're impossible, especially her." Percy grinned as he pointed towards the brunette who yelled out.

Crusty nodded, "I can tell she is. But all my customers are. Never six feet exactly. So inconsiderate. And then they complain about the fitting."

"What do you do if they're longer than six feet?"

"Oh, that happens all the time. It's a simple fix."

The giant let's go of Percy before walking to a desk and pulling out a double-bladed brass axe. "I just center the subject the best as I can and lop off whatever hangs over in either end."

"Ah, sensible."

"Not sensible!" She yelled out, "not sensible at all!"

"I'm glad to come across an intelligent customer!"

Ariadne grit her teeth, close to breaking them as blood dropped from her nails that's once dug into her skin. Annabeth was pale and looked ready to pass out while Grover made gurgling noises, like he was to bleat.

"So, Crusty," Percy spoke as he motioned to the Honeymoon Special bed. "Does this one really have dynamic stabilizers to stop wave motion?"

The brunette tried to reach her ring but she couldn't, she felt helpless and she hated that feeling. "Absolutely! Try it out!" Crusty told him.

Percy shook his head, "Yeah, maybe I will. But would it work even for a big guy like you? No waves at all

"Guaranteed."

"No way," he grinned.

"Way."

"Show me."

Her arms felt ready to pop off and her spine ready to snap in half, it hurt so much. And the purple lights were in her eyes, the bed moving slightly as she tried to wiggle out of the rope.

Crusty sat down on the heart shaped bed while patting the mattress covered in red sheets, "No waves. See?"

Percy smirked and the girl knew what his plan was all along, "Ergo!" While snapping his fingers.

The giant was strapped to the mattress by ropes that laced around his body, "Hey!" He yelled.

"Center him just right."

Crusty was in the center of the bed, ankles and head hanging off of the mattress. Ariadne was still being stretched, but her eyes watched as Percy uncapped Riptide as the monster cried out. "No! Wait! This is just a demo "

"A few simple adjustments..." Percy said.

"You drive a hard bargain " Crusty said. "I'll give you thirty percent off on second-floor models."

Percy raised his blade, "I think I'll start with the top."

"No money down!" The giant said desperately, "No interest for six months."

The demigod let his sword fall.

She heard Crusty's head hit the floor with a thump! Her body was still being stretched, and so was her friends. Percy cut off the ropes that tied Grover and Annabeth down, they jumped up from the beds while they stumbled slightly.

Percy quickly headed towards her, no regret in his eyes at what he had done. His eyes were waves crashing around, and for some reason, she blushed once he cut the ropes off of her and helped her up.

Ariadne leaned against him while hissing slightly, her joints and spines sighing in relief at no longer being tortured to