The next morning I woke up just as the sun was started to rise, and I felt something in my waist

I run my eyes and see Percy's arm snaked around my waist, my eyes widen and my cheek redden

I poked him until he groaned as he woke up, his eyes focused on his arm around my waist and my slightly red face, he quickly moved his arm

"I-uh"

"Yeah-I should-" we stuttered until I grabbed my bag and raced towards the bathroom, locking myself in as I got ready

I change into gray ripped jeans, a maroon tank top, and my leather jacket

I let my hair loose and put my old clothes in a separate part of my bag

Percy woke up Annabeth and Grover and they got ready, after they got ready we stuffed Medusas head in Grovers bag, after a long protest, and hit the road again

Annabeth and Grover up front, me and Percy in the back, again

It took a few hours but we arrived at the Parthenon in Nashville, and boy was the lawn in front of it packed

When walking there Percy put up his hood so no one would recognize him quickly

"Wow. That's amazing. A complete replica of the Parthenon in Nashville," Annabeth spoke

"All right, guys. Let's go get the pearl," Grover spoke as we approached the Parthenon

We open the doors and see a giant statue of Athena, I nudged Annabeth slightly

"That's your mom," I spoke

"I wonder if she really looks like that," Annabeth spoke

"We'll find out, you'll meet your mom Annabeth, I promise," I spoke, rubbing her shoulder

We looked at the statue a bit more, when I noticed the crown I saw the pearl inside the crown

"Guys, look. The pearl," I spoke, pointing at the crown

"That was easy," Grover commented

"Easy? It's 30 feet in the air, and this place is filled with tourists," Annabeth pointed out

"I got an idea. We'll come back after this place closes. Come on. Follow me," Percy spoke, I nodded and we followed after him

"Or I could just throw my crutch up there. In saying the pearl will fall out," Grover suggested

"Grover!" Percy scolded

"Perce, I'm just saying the... it's not a bad idea," Grover spoke

So we left and waited for night to fall in the bathroom, and the night came after a long time of waiting

We all walked out, "The parks been closed for an hour. Let's move," Percy spoke

"Yes, sir," Grover mumbled

"All right, this'll be easy," Percy spoke

"Okay," Grover replied

"Zays gonna fly up using her flight, and she's gonna grab the pearl," Percy spoke

As we walked out we noticed the janitors and stopped in our tracks, backing up quickly

"Okay, so what are we going to do?" Grover asked

"Alright, guys. I got this," Annabeth spoke

"You got what? Whoa, whoa!" Grover spoke as Annabeth pulled out a crossbow

"Hey, whoa, hey, listen...you want to kill the janitors?" Grover questioned

"Chill," Annabeth said

"Those are working-class Americans," Grover protested

"Relax, she's got this," I spoke, making him look at me wide eyed

She shoot all the janitors, making them fall to the ground

"Aw, why did you do that?" Grover asked

"They're not dead. They're unconscious," Annabeth spoke

"Told you she had this," I spoke, high-fiving
Annabeth

"We have 30 minutes, come on," Annabeth ordered

Grover dragged all the janitors somewhere while I put my bag down and prepared to fly

"You got this? Are you sure? Cause I can use Luke's shoes instead," Percy rambled

"Percy, I've got it, now back up," I ordered, they all back it of my way

I got a running started and started to float above the air

I was going to fast and I landed on the side with the shield with a groan

"Zay! You alright?" Percy yelled

"Fine! I'll grab the pearl, hang on!" I yelled back, I tried to get up but I couldn't, I looked down and saw my boot had gotten caught between the arm and part of the freeze, completely stuck

"Why aren't you moving! Hurry up!" Grover yelled

"I can't! My foots stuck! I can't get free!" I yelled

"What?! Hang on, I'm coming to get you!" Percy yelled

"Hang on to what?!" I yelled back, I couldn't hold onto anything since it was mostly smooth on on statue

"Alright, Zay I'm coming up, hold out one of your hands, okay? I grab you and pull you free!" Percy explained

"Okay, hurry up, my grip is slipping!" I yelled

I heard the shoes squeaking against the ground as Percy got a running start

He came close and I held out my hand, but he over shot and landing on her chest

"Get the pearl! Your closer to that than me!" I exclaimed

"Okay, I'll grab the pearl and then help you down," Percy spoke, I nodded

He climbed up the statue and got to the pearl, pulling it off along with a bit of the crown

He put it in he jacket pocket and climbed back down to reach me

He grabbed my leg and helped me get out, he grabbed my hand and flew me down with him

Grover tossed me my bag and Percy gave me the pearl, an I held onto it, waiting to put it away

"Uh-oh," Percy spoke as the five janitors woke and walked towards us

"Look, I got this, okay? Hey guys, I'm with Park Recreational Services. You guys have been caught sleeping in the job. You better be happy I'm not writing you guys up. Okay? This is the last time," Grover spoke

"We've been expecting you, Mr. Jackson," The janitors spoke at once

"Not again," Percy groaned

"Just give us the lighting bolt and we'll let you go," they spoke

"Look, I don't have the lighting bolt," Percy spoke

Then a janitor coughed and some fire came out, shocking us all

"Okay...this is bad," Grover spoke

Then the janitors faces and bodies started to burn as they morphed into something much bigger, a Hydra!

"Hydra! Guys! Watch out! The middle one spews fire!" Annabeth warned as we ran for cover

We each hid behind a pillar as the middle one spewed fire at us

My jacket caught in fire, making me scared and drop the pearl

"Crap! Guys, I have to get the pearl back, we need a plan!" I spoke

Percy than used a shield to block himself from the Hydra

I rolled up my sleeve, tapping the marking on my arm, "Aquila I summon you!"

On my shoulder appeared Aquila

"A Hydra?! How did you get in this mess?!" Aquila exclaimed

"No time now, Aquila I order you to turn into my eagle warrior protector!" I ordered

"As you wish," Aquila spoke, hopping off my shoulder

Aquila then transformed into my eagle warrior

With a silver and gold sword and a giant shield with an eagle on it, Aquila turned into a warrior at my command

"Aquila, protect my friends while I get the pearl back," I spoke, taking my sword from my bracelet

"My job is to protect you," Aquila spoke

"My job is to order you, help my friends, I need a distraction," I ordered

"As you wish," Aquila spoke, turning towards my friends

Aquila started to fight the head near him and my friends and Grover started tossing food in its mouth?

All I know is I ran behind Grover as a Hydra head chased me

It spewed fire at me and I rolled away just in time

I hid behind a smaller pillar and grabbed the pearl, and I noticed something else inside the pillar I was at

It was a red pearl, not bluish green like the rest, I pulled it out of the wall and put it in my leather jacket, zipping up the pocket and putting the other pearl in the bag with the rest

I got up and saw the Hydra defeated, but it wasn't really defeated, it was gonna come back

"Killed it?! You only made it worse," Annabeth exclaimed

"What are you talking about?" Percy asked

"Percy, when you cut off one Hydra head is grows two more back," I spoke, looking as the Hydra started to reassemble

"Get back!" I yelled, Aquila jumped in front of me, protecting me from a fire blast with his shield as he pushed us to a pillar

"We've got to get rid of that thing and fast!" Percy yelled

"I've got a plan, Zay burn the stumps with your fire. It will prevent them from growing back. Aquila and Percy try and cut the head fast. Grover and I will distract it," Annabeth spoke

"Got it!" I yelled, preparing my fire and flight

Aquila joined Percy at his pillar and Annabeth went in front of it to, Annabeth was shooting her bow and arrows at it, blinding its vision

Grover waited for his turn, but Aquila flew up and sliced an head, I followed after him and burned the stump, preventing it from growing another

Percy flew with the shoes and cut another off, it fell to the ground burning, I quickly burned the stump stopping it

This went on for a bit till there were four heads left, we decided it was enough and we should get out of here

We raced towards the door, the Hydra on our tails

"Come on, open!" Annabeth yelled as we struggled with the door

The beast came close, I went to block it when a giant ball of fire came at me, but it never hit me

Aquila pushed me out of the way just it time and took the hit, screeching in pain of the burns

"Aquila!" I shouted

He fell to the ground, squawking lightly from the pain, I fell to his side

Then Grover stepped up and took on the beast

"No one burns my best friends eagle!" He shouted, taking the Medusa head out of his bag

A ball of fire came at him but he used Medusas eyes, it stopped the fire and turned the beast to stone

"Aquila, Aquila open your eyes! You'll be okay, you'll be okay," I mumbled over and over

"This is my end," he coughed

"No, no, no, no, no. No, I refuse to let you give up, guys help me," I begged, clutching onto Aquila

Percy then kneel'd by Aquila, Annabeth and Grover crowded around us

"Please, do something," I begged

Percy then looked around and his eyes landed on the water fountain, he focused hard enough and the water in the water fountain broke free from it and came over to us

Percy held Aquila's arm and the water started to run along him, healing Aquila's burned wounds

It went all over his body, fixing every hurt wound, and Aquila started to morph back to his eagle self

He opened his eyes and squawked, making me smile with delight

"Aquila! You're alive!" I cheered as he stood himself up, flying to my shoulder and rubbing my neck lightly

He then went back to my mark and disappeared, we all stood up and I tackled Percy in a hug

"Thank you, Percy," I spoke as he wrapped his arms around my waist

"No problem, let's head out and grab something to eat," Percy suggested as we let go

We all nodded and went to the truck, same seats every time

We headed to a dinner called 'Music City Diner' we ate all our food while waiting for the park to close so we needed the energy boost

We sat down and ordered our food, once it came we started eating just as the news came on

"We interrupt our regular scheduled programming for this special report. Scientists are baffled by what now appears to be a single storm cloud that is expanding over much of Europe and Asia, moving towards the United States. Savage winds, rain, and mammoth waves are being reported along the coastlines of several continents. So far, no casualties, but countries everywhere are preparing for the worst," the TV reporter spoke

"The gods are angry," Annabeth spoke

"More like Zeus is furious, we need to get the last pearl. Where's the next location?" I spoke

"Yeah. Let's see," Percy spoke pulling out the map

"Well guys, we got ourselves a good one. We're going to Vegas," Grover cheered

It took most of the night, but we made it to Vegas

Me driving and Percy keeping me wake as I did, Annabeth and Grover in the back, marveling at the sight of Vegas

Driving past it was nice, very bright, but it's the city that never sleeps 

"There it is. Lotus casino," Percy spoke, pointing at the casino

I drove the car into the parking lot

"I've been looking forward to this. Look, guys, remember, always spilt the rights and never the tens, okay?" Grover spoke

"Were not here to gamble, Grover," Annabeth spoke

"We got poker. We got blackjack," Grover rambled

"Grover, we're not here to have fun. We just need to grab the pearl and go, okay?" Annabeth spoke

"All right," Grover mumbled

We walked in and everything looked amazing, they even had a car for a prize! Man, if only I could have been normal nights here would have been amazing

We walked our way through the crowded casino, tons of people having fun here

"Okay, this place is officially dope," Grover spoke

"Here's you complimentary Lotus Fun Book," A bellhop spoke coming after us

"Thanks, but we're not staying," Annabeth spoke

"Please, I insist. It's good for everything in the hotel and casino," He tried to persuade us

"Look, were not checking in, don't comp us," I growled, walking away with the others

"Okay, that guy was persistent," Grover spoke

"Yeah," Percy agreed

"Yeah, we're here for one thin and in thing only," I spoke

"Wow," Annabeth spoke, as we walked to a giant water fountain, this place looked like an amusement park!

"That is really awesome," Percy spoke

"Woah," I marveled, Grover chuckled

"Where would we find a green pearl in this place?" Percy questioned

"Um, maybe in a cocktail waitress or a showgirl. We should start there," Grover spoke, following a waitress with cocktails

"Can I get you something?" A blonde waitress spoke as we walked into her, "Try a lotus flower. They're so good. It's our signature dish."

Three other waitresses came over to us, holding out these Lotus flowers, "Oh. . . really? Signature? Is it good?" Grover spoke as he took two, the rest of us took one

"Thank you," Percy spoke as they walked away

"Yo, so we have to pay for this?" Grover yelled out

"I guess we don't," Percy spoke

"It's free," Grover spoke happily

All of them took a bit of theirs, I looked at mine weirdly, something seemed off

"Mmm! Hmm, that's really good," Percy mumbled

"Hmph. Mmm. Wow, this is the most delicious thing I've ever consumed," Grover mumbled

"I don't know, it looks a little, suspicious," I spoke, turning the flower in my hand

"Oh come on, Zay. You can't be a buzz kill and not try this flower," Grover groaned

"Fine, whatever, you guys enjoy you Lotus flowers, I'm gonna go find that pearl," I spoke, handing the flower to Percy and walked off into the casino, none of them calling my name to come back

I walked around, pushing past people and looking around for this stupid pearl, it could be anywhere at this point

"Try a Lotus flower?" A waitress asked coming towards me

"No thank you," I spoke, pushing past her and walking away

"Have a Lotus flower, they're our specialty," another waitress spoke, holding her tray to me

"I don't want on, thank you," I spoke, moving past her and continuing forward

"Lotus flower? It'll take your mind off stress," another waitress spoke, until the three of them crowded around me

"Look, I don't want one, will you guys just back off?" I questioned, getting angry

"Just try one, dear. It'll be worth your while," one of them spoke

"Fine, if it will get you to leave me alone," I growled, grabbing one of their try's and taking a bit

"How is it?" One asked

"Mmm, really good actually, why didn't I try one before?" I questioned myself, savoring the sweet tastes of the flower

"What do you want to do now?" A waitress asked, all the thing around me started to blend together into beautiful colors, making me giggle slightly

"Have fun!" I smiled, they waitresses smiled and handed me a book for the casino, unlimited poker games?! Sweet!

I played almost every game in the casino, and no I was dancing in the dance floor with some lady I didn't even know

But I was having fun, and I ran into Percy when I went to get another Lotus flower

"Zay, come on we have to go," Percy spoke

"But why! I'm having so much fun!" I giggled, swaying to the music

"No, we have to go now," Percy urged

"Oh come on, Percy. Let's have some fun, we could go play some games, just the two of us," I smiled, intertwining his fingers with mine

"Zay," he mumbled

"Come on, let's go have fun!" I squealed

"No, Zay these Lotus flowers are dulling your senses," Percy tried to explained

"Those things are delicious! Oh, I'll take another one," I laughed, grabbing two from a passing waitress

"Here," I smiled, hanging one to Percy, but he smacked both out of my hands

"Percy!" I yelled angered

He then grabbed both sides of my head, looking me in the eyes

"Zay, snap out of it. Where are you? Where's the Zay who pushes through everything, who fights without backing down, who wants to see her mom, where's the Zay I know and love!" Percy yelled, shocking me

'Love' such a strange word to hear from his mouth, obviously he caught it to, looking at me stranger than before, I was just someone he met and didn't know much about

Yet it pulled me from whatever happened, I felt slightly dizzy, holding his wrists to keep from falling

"Percy? What happened?" I groaned

"Zay? Is that you?" Percy questioned

"Who else would I be? Zeus? Come on, let's find the others," I spoke

"Yeah, yeah come on, we have to move quick," Percy spoke, removing his hands from my face and grabbing my hand, pulling me behind him as we pushed through the dance floor

We found Annabeth and dragged her with us, then we found Grover with a bunch of girls

We both quickly explained to them the situation, and saw a bellhop tell security about us, so we ran quickly

We had to fight security, and let's say they'd feel my wrath

Three cornered me, I smirked

As they came closer I stop me I kicked at one of them, sending him down with pain, I punched another one and then tossed him into the other guy, quickly picking my bag up that fell and ran after Percy

He grabbed the pearl and tossed it to me, I caught it and put it in my jacket pocket, zipping it up quickly

We ran to the car in display and hopped in, Grover in front, Annabeth in passengers, me and Percy in the back

Grover started the car and crashed through the glass doors, all of us startled until Grover finally drove calmer

"Woah! Not that's how you get out of the casino! That's how you drive!" Grover exclaimed

"Of course," Annabeth spoke, "Now that all makes since."

"What?" Percy questioned

"That was the lair of the lotus eaters. They've been luring people into their trap since ancient times," Annabeth explained

"Guys, look, tomorrow is June 21," Grover pointed out

"No, no, no, it can't be. Today's the 15th," Percy spoke

"No, tomorrow's the 21st. We were in there for five days," I spoke

"Felt like hours," Grover sighed

"Then tomorrow's the solstice. Our deadline is tomorrow at midnight," Percy spoke

"Okay, look, we got to move it. Where's Hades?" Grover spoke

Percy opened up the map and it showed Hollywood

"It's in. . . Hollywood," Percy spoke

"All right. I can get us there in four hours. Maybe three," Grover smirked, hitting the gas and taking off

Here we go, we're coming Hades