"HOOVER DAM," Thalia said. "It's huge."

  The naiads dropped them off at the edge of the river. They all stared up at the crescent moon of concrete that loomed inside of the cliffs. People wandered along the top of it, so small that looked like mere specs of dust.

  "Seven hundred feet tall," Percy said. "Made in the 1930's."

  "Five million cubic acres of water," Magdalena said.

  Magnus ran a hand through his hair. "Largest construction project in the country."

  Zoë looked at all of them. "How did you know that?"

  "Annabeth," Thalia said. "She was nuts about architecture."

  "Loved monuments," Percy added.

  "Spit facts out like it was nothing," Magnus said, sniffling harshly. "So annoying."

  "I miss her," Lena said sadly. "She should be here to see this."

  Everyone nodded. Zoë was still staring at them weirdly, but no one cared. It seemed like a sick joke that they'd arrived at the Hoover Dam, one of Annabeth's favorite monuments, and she wasn't with them to witness it.

  "We should go up there," Percy said. "For Annabeth. To say that we've been."

"You are crazy," Zoë stated. "But, that's where the road leads." She gestured to a parking garage near the top of the dam. "So, let us do some sightseeing."

They walked for an hour before they made it to a path that led them to the main road. After they made it to the east end of the stream, they dragged themselves back to the Hoover Dam. The air was cold and the wind was howling. On either side of them, the river dropped seven hundred feet down into churning water from the dam.

Thalia and Magdalena steered clear of the edges, walking side-by-side in the center of the road. Grover looked anxious as he continuously sniffed the wind. He didn't say anything, but Percy knew he smelt trouble.

"How close?" Percy asked Grover, referring to the monsters he clearly sensed.

Grover shook his head. "They could be far. With the wind and the desert surrounding us . . . The scene could travel for miles. But, I smell it in every direction, which isn't good."

Percy agreed. They only had two more days until the winter solstice, and they still had a lot of ground to cover. They couldn't afford any more surprise attacks.

"They have a snack bar in the visitor center," Thalia informed the group.

"You've been here?" Percy asked.

"One time. To see the guardians." She looked across the dam, at the very end. Etched into the cliff-side was a small plaza with two large bronze statues. They reminded Lena of an Oscar's statue with wings.

"They were a dedication to Zeus after the dam was constructed," Thalia continued. "A gift from Athena."

There was a crowd of tourists surrounding the statues. They all seemed focused on the statues' feet.

"What're they doing?" Magnus asked.

"Rubbing their toes," Thalia said. "They believe it'll bring them good luck."

"Why?"

Thalia shrugged. "Mortals have strange beliefs. They have no idea that the statues of sacred to Zeus, but they know that there's something special about them."

"Did they say anything to you when you came?" Percy asked.

Thalia's face darkened. Clearly, she'd come here for that exact reason— hoping for a sign from her father. "No, they didn't. They're nothing but two big metal statues."

"We shall find the dam snack bar," Zoë said. "It'll be best to eat now, while we have the chance."

Grover stifled a giggle. "The dam snack bar?"

Zoë turned to him. "Yes. What is funny?"

"Nothing," Grover said, failing to stop the grin on his face. "I could go for a dam cheeseburger."

Magnus snorted. "Or maybe a dam milkshake."

Thalia couldn't even help herself from smiling at that. "And I need to use the dam bathroom."

It could've been the fact that they were all sleep deprived and emotionally unstable, but Magdalena started to crack up, Percy, Magnus, Thalia, and Grover all laughing with her. Zoë just stared at him. "I am confused."

"I'm so dam thirsty," Grover said.

"And . . . " Thalia was struggling to speak through her laughter. "I want to buy a dam T-shirt."

Magdalena and Percy busted up at the same time, and they could've kept going on with the joke all day, but then Percy heard a noise:

"Moooo."

Percy's smile dropped. His head turned inquisitively turned where the sound had been heard, and he wondered if the others had heard it too. But then he saw Grover had stopped smiling with him, looking around in confusion. "Did I just hear a cow?"

"A dam cow?" Thalia snorted.

"No," Grover said. "Seriously."

Zoë focused. "I do not hear a cow."

Lena was staring at Percy. "Percy, are you okay?"

"Yeah," Percy said, clearing his throat. "You guys go get some food. I'll be right behind you."

"What's the matter?" Magnus asked.

  "I'm fine," Percy said. "I just . . . Need a minute to think."

  The group looked reluctant to leave him, but he looked pretty upset, so they eventually left him for the visitor center. Magdalena, on the other hand, stayed behind. Percy wasn't even surprised.

  "Lena, I swear I'm— "

  "Yeah, yeah," Magdalena waved him off. "You're fine, and I should leave you to your thoughts. Right?"

  "Right."

  "Wrong," Lena rebutted flatly. "I'm not letting you wander off by yourself— not with how strong the monster scent is here."

  "You really have that little faith in me?" Percy asked, putting his hands on his hips. "I'm not a child, Lena."

  "You certainly act like one sometimes."

  Percy's mouth dropped. "Excuse me?"

  "Percy, we don't have time for this," Lena rolled her eyes with a dramatic wave of her hand. She was acting like she wasn't the one who started the conversation in the first place. "I'm coming with you— end of discussion."

  Percy, with a dramatic sigh, stared at the girl. "You are so stubborn, it kills me."

  Magdalena looked at him with an innocent smile. "I'm glad," she said, to which Percy just closed his eyes and shook his head.

  "Unbelievable," Percy muttered, turning around to start making his way over toward the north end of the dam, Lena right on his heels.

  "Moo."

  Percy and Lena leaned over the edge, Percy seeing the cow instantly. Lena wasn't so lucky, as she didn't have the same abilities as Percy did when it came to water.

  "What are you doing here?" Percy asked the cow.

  Lena turned to him. "You know the cow?"

  Percy glanced at her, nodding. "Yeah," he said. "That's Bessie."

  "Bessie?" Lena repeated. "You named it?"

  "She," Percy corrected. "And yes, your point?"

  For once, Lena didn't have any response to give. She shook her head slowly. "Nothing," she said in defeated acceptance. "Carry on."

  Percy turned back to the water when Bessie let out another Moooo!

  The cow sounded urgent, like she was warning Percy about something dangerous.

  "How'd you end up here?" Percy asked. They were a long way from Long Island, where he'd last seen her, and hundreds of miles from the shore. It was impossible for Bessie to have swam the whole way there, but yet, there she was.

  Bessie did a circle in the water, knocking her head against the dam. "Moo!"

  She wanted Percy to come with her. She was urging him to hurry.

  "I can't," he said. "I have to stay with my friends."

  Bessie stared up at him with sad brown eyes. She bellowed a final urgent "Moo!" Then flipped over in the water and disappeared.

  Percy knew something was wrong. He could tell that was what Bessie was trying to warn him about. But then he tensed, and he looked to see Lena having the same reaction. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled. From down the east road of the dam, they saw two men making their way towards them. They had on gray camouflage that shuttered over their skeletal figures.

  They walked straight through a pack of children, shoving them aside. "Hey!" One of the kids yelled, which led to one of the skeletons turning around, flashing his skull-face at the kid.

  The kid screamed in terror, the entire group backing away.

  "What do we do?" Percy asked Lena.

  "Run."

  Magdalena grabbed Percy's hand, and they ran for the visitor center.

  They had almost made it to the stairs when they heard the squeal of tires to their right. At the west side of the dam, a tinted black SUV was stopped in the middle of the road, almost wiping out an entire crowd of tourists.

  The doors swung open and more skeletons flooded out. They were surrounded.

  "New plan," Percy said, and he gripped Lena's hand tighter as they turned and bolted down the stairs and into the entrance to the museum. One of the security guard's patrolling the metal detectors yelled, "Hey, get back here!" But they didn't stop.

  They tore through the exhibits and hid with a tour group, frantically searching for their friends. They were no where to be seen. Where was that dam snack bar?

  "Stop!" The security guard yelled.

  Lena and Percy had no where else to go except the elevator with the tour group. They lunged inside just before the doors shut.

  "We are descending down seven hundred feet," the tour guide said enthusiastically. She looked like a park ranger, with her long hair pulled back and tinted glasses. Lena and Percy assumed she hadn't noticed that they were being tracked down by security. "Nothing to worry about, people, this elevator hardly breaks down."

"Does this elevator lead to the snack bar?" Percy asked.

Some of the tourists chuckled. The park ranger turned to the two demigods. Her gaze made Lena feel like she was being dipped in ice water.

"We're heading to the turbines, young man," she informed them. "I explained that in my fascinating presentation on the main floor. You were listening, right?"

"Oh, yeah. Sure. Is there any other way out of the dam?"

"It's a dead end," one of the tourists behind them said. "For god's sake. The only way out is the other elevator."

"Asshole," Magdalena muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Excuse me?" The voice said sharply from behind them.

Magdalena turned around to face the guy who'd said that, her expression unnerving. Percy inwardly sighed, already knowing that Lena was going to say something. He mentally prepared himself for the moment he was going to have to wrestle the girl away from a fight with a middle-aged man.

  But before she could say anything, the doors opened, and Percy elbowed Lena in her rib cage, shooting her a look that said, cool it. Now was not the time to pick a fight with a grown man in a cramped elevator. Especially not when they're already getting hunted down by a small army of skeleton warriors who wanted nothing more than to bash their brains out.

"Head on out, folks," the tour guide said. "There will be another ranger waiting for you at the end of the hallway."

The two half-bloods had no other choice but to follow with the tour group.

"You two," the park ranger called. Lena and Percy turned. She'd taken her glasses off, revealing a pair of startling gray eyes, dark than storm clouds. "There is always a way of escape for those clever enough to find it."

The doors to the elevator shut with the tour guide still inside, leaving Percy and Magdalena on their own.

But before either of them could discuss anything about the peculiar tour guide, a ding sounded from around the corner. The second elevator had reached their floor, and the two demigods heard an all-to-familiar sound— the chattering of skeleton teeth.

"Come on," Percy said, ushering Magdalena forward as they raced after the tour group, running through a tunnel shaped from solid rock. The tunnel seemed to go one forever. The air around them was static from all the electricity around them, the sound of roaring water incapsulating the entire area. Percy and Lena popped out into a U-shaped balcony overlooking the entire warehouse. Below them, ginormous turbines hummed with energy. The room was large, but there were no other exits in sight.

"We're trapped," Lena concluded, speaking the blatant truth. "We trapped ourselves in a hole seven hundred feet underground."

"Let's not sign our own death certificate's yet," Percy muttered, even though he'd been thinking the exact same thing. He grabbed Magdalena's elbow and started to work his way through the crowd, noticing a hallway on the opposite end of the balcony. Maybe they could find a place to hide out. Lena and Percy both had their hands on their weapons at the ready.

By the time they reached the other side of the balcony, both Lena and Percy's nerves were completely fried. They backed themselves up into a small hallway and kept their eyes on the tunnel they'd previously come from.

Then, directly behind the two demigods, a sharp Chh! sound echoed in the small area, like the voice of a skeleton.

Magdalena and Percy both moved at the same time. Without thinking, Percy uncapped Riptide and lashed out with his sword. Alongside him, Lena pulled out her bronze dagger from her waistband and threw it directly at the source of the sound.

The poor girl who Percy and Lena had both just tried to kill screamed and dropped her tissue.

Lena's dagger had went straight through the girl's head, impaling the stone wall behind her with a thud. She'd thrown it with so much strength that small cracks expanded in the rock from where the knife had struck the wall.

"Jesus Christ!" She yelled. "Do you two always resort to mutilation when someone blows their nose?"

Magdalena stared at her, blinked twice, then gave the girl a tight smile. "Sorry?"

Percy had a more exaggerated reaction, staring at the girl in shock. "You're mortal!"

The girl stared at Percy in disbelief. "What the heck is that supposed to mean? Duh, I'm mortal! How did you guys get your . . . Weaponry through security?"

"We didn't— " Percy paused. "Wait. You see our weapons?"

The girl rolled her eyes. They were emerald green, and she had frizzy burgundy-colored hair. She had a big maroon Harvard sweater on that hung over her paint-stained and hole-filled jeans.

"Well, that thing in the wall behind me is either a dagger or a really big, bronze butter knife," she said. "Speaking of which, that dagger should be lodged in my forehead right now. Good aim, by the way— you hit right between my eyes. But how did it not hurt me? I'm not complaining, of course. Who even are you guys? And wow, dude, what are you wearing? Is that a mink?"

She was rapid firing questions at the two demigods so fast, Lena and Percy could hardly keep up. Percy looked down at his jacket to see if it'd returned back into fur, but to him and Lena, it still looked like a regular brown coat.

Magdalena and Percy didn't have time to answer the girl's questions. The skeletons were still hot on their tail, and they needed to keep moving if they wanted to get out of there.

But, just as Lena was about to excuse her and Percy from the conversation, Percy snapped his fingers beside her.

"You didn't see a sword," Percy said to the girl, concentrating hard. "This is a ballpoint pen."

The girl stared at him. "Uh . . . No. It's a sword, weirdo."

Magdalena sighed and pinched her nose between her fingers, muttering, "Dear gods."

  "Who are you?" Percy demanded.

"Rachel Elizabeth Dare," she said through a huff. "Now, will you two answer my questions or should I blow my rape whistle?"

"No!" Percy said quickly. "I mean, we're in a bit of a rush. We're in some deep trouble."

"In a rush or in deep shit?"

"Both," Magdalena replied.

Rachel glanced over Lena's shoulder and her eyes turned into saucers. "Bathroom!"

"Huh?"

"Bathroom! Right now! Behind me!"

  Percy and Lena listened to her, slipping into the boy's bathroom, leaving Rachel Dare alone outside. Think back on it, that seemed pretty cowardly to both Magdalena and Percy. But, it also probably saved both their lives.

  The sound of the clattering and clicking of the skeleton warriors got louder.

  Percy and Magdalena both had their hands on their weapons. Lena had now unsheathed her regular sword, since her small-range dagger was still lodged in the wall outside. They both were preparing to fight— knowing they should've never left that mortal girl alone to die. But then, Rachel began talking like she had before to them— full on rapid-fire machine gun style.

  "Wow! Did you guys see those weirdos? Took you long enough to get here. They tried to kill me! They both had huge, probably illegal, weapons, for heaven's sake. How can you even call yourselves security when you let two sword-wielding maniacs into a national monument? Like, seriously?! They ran back towards the turbines. I'm pretty sure I saw them go over the balcony. Maybe they fell."

  The skeletons chattered in excitement, then they raced off.

  Rachel opened the door. "You're safe, for now. But you two should hurry."

  She looked pretty shaken up. Her face was paler than sheet paper. Lena took this time to take her dagger out of the stone wall, the sharp blade leaving a gash in the rock. She wiped the blade on her jeans and sheathed it into her back pocket this time.

  Percy and Magdalena saw the small group of warriors running off to the other side of the turbines. That gave just a few moments to get to the balcony.

  Magdalena turned to Rachel. "You're a legend, Rachel Elizabeth Dare."

  "Yeah," Percy agreed. "We owe you one."

  "What are those things?" She asked. "Are they really— "

  "Skeletons?" Percy asked.

  Rachel nodded nervously.

  "Look, forget you ever saw us," Percy said. "Forget everything. It'll be in your best interest."

  "Forget you both tried to murder me?"

  "Definitely that too."

  "But who even are you guys?"

  "Magdalena," Percy pointed to the girl. "I'm Percy— " he stopped when Lena grabbed his arm and pointed. The skeletons had turned around and were coming back in their direction. "Gotta go!"

  "What kind of name is Percy Gotta-go?"

  They bolted for the exit.

  THE SNACK bar was filled with tourists enjoying their dam lunch. Percy and Lena saw their group just then sitting down at a table with their food.

  Magdalena flung herself straight into Magnus, who dropped his burrito on to the table. "Lena, what the— "

  "We've got to go," Percy gasped. "Now!"

  "But we just got our food!" Thalia said with a frown.

  "We have more pressing matters," Lena said, leaning on her brother for support as she heaved for air.

  Zoë rose, muttering a curse. "They are right! Look."

  The café had surrounding windows all through the observation floor, giving them a gorgeous panoramic view of the skeleton army that can come to kill them.

  Lena caught sight of two on the east end of the dam, cutting off the road to Arizona, and three over in the west, blocking off Nevada. They were all armed with rifles.

Those warriors were a later problem. The group's current issue were the three skeletons who'd been chasing Lena and Percy in the turbine room below the surface. They had made it back up, apparently, and spotted the two from across the café, their teeth clattering.

"Elevator!" Grover yelped. They ran toward it, but the elevator opened just as they reached it, and three more skeletons came out. Every single skeleton was counted and present, excluding the one Bianca had vaporized back in New Mexico. They were trapped.

Then Grover came up with a fantastic, totally Grover-like idea.

"Burrito fight!" He screamed, and chucked his Holy-Guacamole Grande at the closest warrior.

Future note to self: don't ever get struck in the face with a flying burrito. It had to be up in the top percentile of most deadly projectiles, competing with grenades and missiles. Grover's burrito knocked the skeleton's skull straight off its neck. What the mortals saw from that, nobody knew, but it caused an uproar of flying burritos and screaming children as they pelted each other with their food.

The skeleton's attempted to shoot them with their rifles, but there were too many obstacles. Food and drinks were sailing everywhere, blocking a clear shot.

In the midst of the chaos, Magnus and Percy tackled two of the skeletons that had been by the staircase, sending them straight into the drink station. Then everybody sprinted downstairs.

"Plan?" Grover asked as they busted through the doors.

Percy didn't answer. The other skeletons blocking the roads had them trapped on either side. The demigods raced across the street toward where the bronze statues were placed, putting their backs against the mountain.

The skeletons advanced, surrounding them in a half-circle. The others from the snack bar were quickly approaching to join their brethren. They had burritos lodged in their ribs and an assortment of different condiments spray-painted on their bones. They didn't look too pleased on their current state of cleanliness.

"Six versus eleven," Zoë said grimly. "And the latter of the two cannot die."

"We had a good ride," Grover said, his voice shaking.

"Whoa," Percy said, looking over at the bronze statues' feet. "Those are really bright toes."

"Percy, now is not the time," Thalia snapped.

Percy ignored her and kept staring at the statues.

"Thalia," Percy said. "Send a prayer to Zeus."

Thalia scoffed. "Why? He won't answer."

"Do it," Lena said. She had also been looking at the statues, thinking back on what the tour guide had said to her and Percy— with her gray eyes and cunning smile. There is always a way of escape for those clever enough to find it. "This time, I think . . . I think these statues might send us some luck."

The skeletons raised their weapons. They began to close in on the group.

"Thalia, do it!" Percy demanded.

"No!" She snapped. "He doesn't answer me!"

"This time will be different!"

"Says who?"

Magdalena looked at Thalia. "Athena."

Thalia looked at the two of them like they'd gone insane.

"Thalia, just do it," Magnus said hardly. "We're dead whether you do it or don't."

Thalia scowled, but she shut her eyes, her lips moving in silent prayer. Magdalena sent a prayer to Athena, Annabeth's mom, praying that it really was her in that elevator— that she'd been helping them to save her daughter.

But nothing changed.

The skeletons closed in on them. Magnus and Magdalena raised their swords, Percy with Riptide, Thalia raising Aegis. Zoë shoved Grover behind her and notched an arrow into her bow.

A shadow closed over them. The shadow of a wing. The skeletons were too late to react— looking up just as a flash of bronze swept down and knocked baton-wielding skeletons off the balcony.

The rifle-wielding warriors opened fire. Magdalena ducked for cover, but there was no need. The bronze angel's blocked the gunfire with their bodies, standing in front of the group line shields. The shots bounced off them harmlessly, and the two statues slashed out at the skeletons, sending them down the road.

"Man, my legs needed a stretch!" One of the angels said. His voice was rusty, like he was in severe need of a drink of water.

"Look at these toes!" The second said. "In the name of Zeus, what was going through these tourists' mind?"

As baffled as they were about the angles, the skeletons were the more concerning issue. They were starting to reform again, their disassembled hands searching for their guns.

"Problem!" Percy warned.

"Can you fly us out of here?" Thalia yelled to the angels.

"Zeus's daughter?" Both angel's asked, staring down at her.

"Yes!"

"How about a please, Miss Daughter of Zeus?" An angel requested.

"Please!"

The angles turned to one another and shrugged.

"Some fresh air sounds nice," one said, shrugging.

And before they knew it, Thalia, Zoë and Grover were getting swept up in one hand, while Magnus, Magdalena, and Percy got grabbed by the other, and they launched straight up in the air, flying over the dam and stream, the skeletons disappearing into nothing but specs as the popping of gunfire echoed through the mountains.

"TELL ME when it's over," Magdalena said. She had her eyes squeezed shut, her arms wrapped around the Angel's arm like her life depended on it. It didn't, since the statue had them held tight enough to wear they wouldn't fall, but to Lena, it made all the difference.

"Everything's fine," Percy reassured.

"Are we really high?"

Percy glanced below. A long stretch of mountains spread of miles below them. Magnus extended his leg out and knocked a tuft of snow off the peak of one of them.

"Nah," Percy said. "Not high at all."

"We are flying over the Sierras!" Zoe announced. She and Thalia were held in one hand with the other statue, while Grover relaxed in the other. Thalia seemed to be in a similar position as Lena— her eyes shut tight and arms clenched around the statue.

Percy didn't blame them. This truly was a personal nightmare for anyone who was afraid of heights.

"The Hunters have scouted in these mountains!" Zoë continued. "At this rate, we should arrive in San Francisco within a couple of hours."

"Aye, Frisco!" Percy's angel laughed out. "Chuck! We've got to go visit the guys at Mechanics Monument while we're there! They threw some serious parties!"

"Oh, word on that!" The other angel agreed. "I'm so down!"

"You guys have been to San Francisco before?" Magnus asked.

"Us automatons deserve some fun every now and then, don't we?" Their statue said. "Those mechanics showed us around the de Young Museum and led us around with these marble lady statues. And— "

"Hank!" Chuck, the other angel, interrupted. "They're kids, dude."

"Oh, right." If bronze statues could blush, they were pretty sure Hank did. "I'll stick to flying."

They picked up the speed, which made it clear the angels were excited. The mountains slowly melted into hills and valleys, then they fell further into farmland and prairies, with roads and towns cutting through.

Grover whistled some tunes on his pipes as they traveled, while Zoë was sniping arrows at billboards to cure her boredom. She hit the bullseye of every single Target department store they passed by, shooting three perfect shots at once going over hundreds miles an hour.

Magdalena hadn't opened her eyes once since they'd started flying. She was taking slow, deep breaths, like she was doing breathing exercises to keep herself calm.

"How did you guys escape those skeltons down in the turbine room?" Magnus asked from where he was hanging from the right hand of the Angel. "You said you guys got cornered."

Percy told Magnus about Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the weird mortal girl who'd been able to look through the Mist. He was sure Magnus was going to call him a maniac, but he nodded.

"Some mortals are like that," he said. "No one knows why."

Percy thought on it, but then he suddenly realized something. His mom was like that. She'd been able to spot the Minotaur that night she'd driven him to Half-Blood Hill, and knew what it was. She hadn't been shocked in the slightest when Percy told her how Tyson was a Cyclops. She could've known the entire time. It was no wonder why she'd been so afraid for him when he was younger. She'd been able to see through the Mist more than he ever could.

"The girl was annoying, anyways," Percy said. "But, at least Lena and I didn't vaporize her. That wouldn't have been good."

Magnus chuckled. "You'd need a really good story to plead innocent out of that murder trial."

"Lena would think of one," Percy shrugged, glancing down at the girl next to him, who hadn't spoken yet. "She's better at talking her way out of situations than I am."

Magnus nodded in agreement. "You and me both."

Percy readjusted in the bronze Angel's hand so that he was sitting more comfortably instead of pin-straight with his legs dangling in the air. Magdalena was pressed against his side due to the lack of space, but neither of them were too concerned about it. Mostly because Lena was too focused on not passing out to care much.

"You doing okay?" Percy asked.

Lena nodded, her eyes still closed. "Yeah," she said. "As long as I don't look down."

Percy nodded. "Okay," he said. "Make sure to not look down, then."

Percy could've sworn he saw Magdalena roll her eyes, even though they were still closed. "That's good advice, Percy," she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Thank you."

Magdalena could feel Percy's chest vibrate from laughing, and that made her smile a little.

  They didn't have to talk very loud since they were so close to each other, which was nice. It was like the two of them were in their own personal wind tunnel, with all other sounds blocked out unless they were loud enough to hear over the wind. In any other circumstance, Percy would've probably been freaking out with how close Magdalena's body was to his, and how he could practically feel her heart drumming against her chest just from the minimal proximity between them. But, throughout this entire quest, any time Percy and Lena ended up within six inches of each other, there hadn't really been a good time to think over it too much— since they were either plummeting to their death or about to get mauled by a Nemean Lion or a blood-thirsty Blessing of the Wild.

Besides, Magdalena hadn't really thought anything of these . . . Situations, like Percy had been. At least, from what Percy could tell, she hadn't been. As he'd previously said before, Magdalena was a hard person to read. He truly could never tell what she was thinking or feeling, even more so now than last summer. It was strange— it seemed like these past few months had changed Magdalena's personality. He hadn't known her for long, last summer, but he gotten to now her well enough to get a feel for the certain qualities and traits she had possessed. The traits that defined her.

Don't get Percy wrong, Magdalena hadn't changed much. She was still the same girl he'd grown to be close friends with last summer, it was just now she seemed more . . . Closed off, in a way. She was more on edge; alert. She didn't give away how she was feeling from the looks on her face like she used to. She had more confidence, but also more rigidness. She'd gotten to be less carefree. Percy knew these little details were probably just things he'd been overthinking about, but he wasn't too sure.

Percy was almost positive something more was going in Magdalena's life outside of Camp Half-Blood. He'd deducted that almost immediately after she'd confessed her problems to him that night in Westover Hall. She wouldn't tell him what was happening, but Percy knew it was serious just from the way she'd stiffened when she mentioned it. How her tone had changed from lighthearted to low and nervous.

It worried Percy. He knew it shouldn't, but it did. Lena was a strong girl; he knew she could handle herself. But, he couldn't help but wonder if she was going through something bad— something that she needed help with. He wanted to reach out and help her, but he couldn't. She wouldn't let him.

  "Get some rest," Lena said quietly, her voice slipping underneath the strong rush of the wind around them. This brought Percy back out of his inner thoughts.

"You should too," Percy responded, his eyes trailing over the features of her strewn-together face.

Magdalena scoffed, which Percy took as a laugh. "Yeah, right," she mumbled.

"We're not going to fall, Lena," Percy promised. "You can relax."

"It's not that simple," Lena responded, taking another deep breath.

  "You know I won't let you fall, Sunshine," Percy replied, a hint of teasing in his tone. Lena opened her eyes for a moment just to see the boy's grin on his face.

  "You're an idiot," Lena replied, but she kept her eyes on him. Percy assumed that was because she refused to look below her, but he didn't care.

  Percy's grin widened. "An idiot," he agreed. "But not a liar."

  Magdalena couldn't help but smile at the look on his face. She hated to admit it, but Percy's words did make her feel a better. Even if it was just a little bit. "Whatever you say, Shark Boy."

Percy rolled his eyes at the nickname, all the while a boyish smile still remained on his face. He shifted in his spot again and leaned his head back onto the curve of the Angel's pointer finger, and closed his eyes.

From beside him, he felt something press against his shoulder. Percy cracked an eye open to see Lena's head resting right above his collarbone, her eyes closed and arms pressed tight against her body. Percy's heart beat accelerated, no doubt, but he managed to keep himself calm. He just smiled, then leaned his back against the cool metal behind him, and fell into slumber.

  "WHERE SHOULD Chuck and I drop you guys off?" Hank asked as Percy woke up from his nap.

  Percy glanced down. "Whoa."

  Percy had seen photos of Sam Fransisco, but in person, it was probably the prettiest city he'd ever seen. Percy saw it kind of like a smaller, more eco-friendly Manhattan, if Manhattan had green hills and fog around it. There was a glittering bay filled with ships and sailboats, the Golden Gate Bridge protruding from of the fog.

  "Over there," Zoë pointed. "Near the Embarcadero Building."

  "Smart choice," Chuck said. "Hank and I can blend in with the pigeons."

  Everyone stared at him.

  "Joking," he said. "Geez, can't statues have a sense of humor?"

  It turned out that there wouldn't be any need to blend in. Dawn had just passed into the early morning, so there weren't a lot of people around. They scared off a homeless man when they landed on the ferry dock. He yelped when Hank and Chuck struck down in front of him, and ran off screaming about metal angels from space.

  They parted with the angels, who went off to party with their other mechanical friends. And that's when everyone realized they hadn't figured out their next move.

  They'd gotten to the West Coast, where Annabeth and Artemis were supposed to be. But they had no ideas on how or where to find them, and they were running out of time. Fast. The winter solstice was in on day, and they still had no clue on what the monster Artemis was hunting could be. It was supposed to find them on this mission. It was prophesied to "show the trail" and never did. And now, all they had was one another on a ferry dock, with no money and no idea on where to go.

  After a group discussion, everybody agreed that their first priority is to find out what this monster was.

  "But how?" Percy asked.

  "Nereus," Magdalena said.

  Percy turned to her. "What?"

  "That's what Apollo told us to do," she said. "Find Nereus."

  Percy nodded, looking like he'd just remembered their last conversation with the sun god.

  "The old man of the sea," Percy said. "We supposed to seek him out and force him to tell us what he knows. But where can we find him?"

  Zoë's lips curled down. "Old Nereus, huh?"

  "You know him?" Thalia asked.

  "My mother was a sea goddess. I know him well. Unfortunately, he's not very difficult to seek out. Just follow the smell."

  "What are you talking about?" Percy asked.

  "Follow me," she said unenthusiastically. "I shall show thee."

  They followed Zoë a few blocks down the road, and Percy knew he was in trouble when they came to a stop at the Goodwill drop box. Within ten minutes, Zoë had fitted Percy up in a ripped flannel, jeans that sagged down so low he could feel his hip bones exposed above the waistband, bright red sneakers, and a floppy rainbow hat.

  Magnus looked like he was about to start crying out of amusement. Him and Thalia were both holding their breath, trying not to crack up.

  Magdalena adjusted the hat on Percy's head so that the wide brim didn't fall over his face. When she lifted it above his eyes, Percy saw that she was trying her best not to laugh.

  "Oh, yeah," she said, her voice faltering as she stifled a giggle. "You look inconspicuous now."

  Zoë nodded in agreement. "A typical male vagrant."

  "Gee, thanks," Percy grumbled. "What is the reason for all this, again?"

  "As I told thee. Thy must blend in."

  "Here, man," Magnus said, digging back into the drop box and fishing out a pair of hot pink heart-shaped sunglasses. The grin on his face was filled with sheer amusement as he held them out to Percy. "Just incase the rainbow hat doesn't give you enough shade."

  Thalia bursted out laughing at that, and Lena had to put her hand over her mouth to control herself. Grover giggled into his shirt, and Percy just glared at Magnus. He didn't look very terrifying, unfortunately. The rainbow hat sort of took away any menacing flare Percy tried to give off.

  "Funny," Percy snapped. He slapped the sunglasses out of Magnus's hand and readjusted the hat on his head with a sharp twist of his hand, which made him look like some sort of angry hippie-mom. Magnus busted up so hard he nearly doubled-over.

  "Get yourself together, boy," Zoë ordered to Magnus, looking irritated. "We have work to do. Let us go."

  Zoë directed them back to the pier, and they searched the docks for at least an hour until Zoë stopped and pointed toward a group of homeless people huddled near a soup kitchen, waiting for it to open.

  "Nereus will be around there somewhere," Zoë said. "He doesn't stray far from the sea. He enjoys sunbathing during the day."

  "How will I know which one he is?"

  "Be discreet," Zoë said. "Act homeless. You'll know which one he is. He will smell . . . Different."

  "Great." Percy chose not to ask for specifics. "And when I see him?"

  "Grab him," she ordered. "And do not let go. He will do whatever it takes to get rid of thee. Make him speak about the monster."

  "We've got your back," Thalia reassured. She plucked a large clump of fuzz off the back of his shirt. "Actually . . . You can keep your back. But we'll be cheering you on."

  Magdalena grinned at him. "Knock em' dead, Sharkie."

  Grover gave him a thumbs-up with a smile. Magnus clapped Percy on the back with a shit-eating grin.

  "You're gonna kill it, dude," Magnus reassured. "Especially with those shoes. They'll blind anyone who looks at them too long!"

  Thalia smacked Magnus upside the head, effectively shutting him up.

  Percy muttered how grateful he was to be super-powerful friends. Then he made his way down the pier.

  They watched as Percy pulled his rainbow hat over his eyes and stumbled around like he was drunk, or about to collapse. Magdalena figured it wasn't too hard for him, considering how exhausted all of them were.

  "You really think this is going to work?" Grover asked Zoë.

  Zoë pursed her lips. "It must," she said. "There is no other option."

  "That's reassuring," Magnus grumbled.

  They continued to watch Percy make his way further down the pier until he stopped at the end of the pier.

"You think he found him?" Thalia asked.

Not even ten seconds later, a screamed rip out from the end of the pier. "Help me!" A homeless man cried out as he wrangled Percy Jackson to death.

"I'd say so," Magnus replied.

"That's a crime!" Another homeless guy accused. "Kid rolling an old guy like that!"

Percy rolled, all right— all the way across the dock until his head ran into a lamppost. Percy felt woozy for a moment, and Nereus's hold on him loosened. He was trying to run for it. Percy tackled the old man from behind before he got a chance to run.

"I'm broke! I've got no money!" He screamed, trying to break free and run, but Percy linked his arms around Nereus's stomach.

Percy and Nereus exchanged a few more words that Magdalena couldn't hear as they continued to roll around the dock. Nereus was yelling, trying to shake Percy off his back— but Percy held onto him like a leach. Nereus bounced and threw Percy around, sending the boy into the air with every other step, but he held on. They began to stumble toward the water.

"Um . . . Should we go help?" Grover asked, looking to Zoë nervously.

Zoë shook her head. There seemed to be a hint of amusement glittering in her eyes as she watched Percy wrestle the old sea god. "No," she said, her lips tugging upward the slightest amount. "Percy has this handled."

Magdalena couldn't help but smile as she watched Percy bounce up and down against Nereus's back, like he was giving the old sea god a piggy-back ride. She tried not to laugh, but it was hard. It was times like these where she wished she had a camera on her to record and save this memory for herself. She knew Annabeth would've never let Percy live this down if she got to see it.

"Oh, no!" Percy cried out. "Don't go into the water!"

Whatever plan Percy was thinking of, Lena prayed it would work, but Nereus let out a cry of victory and jumped into the bay with Percy on his back.

Zoë took a long breath. "I hope thee knows what he is doing," she muttered to herself.

Magnus nodded. "Percy's a son of Poseidon," he said. "The ocean will help him."

I hope, Magnus muttered under his breath, but only Grover heard it. The satyr sent him a fearful look.

Two minutes into the group watching for Percy to come out of the water, they saw a silhouette of a killer whale burst out of the bay, with Percy Jackson holding onto its dorsal fin.

A large group of sightseers gasped. "Wow!"

Percy managed a wave at the group. Yeah, this is a daily show down in Frisco bay.

Thalia blinked. "Was that— "

"Yes," said Magdalena.

Another five minutes passed of the group anxiously waiting for Percy and Nereus to breach the water (hopefully, not on the back of a whale this time), until finally they saw Nereus collapse on the end of the dock.

Percy's friends all raced up to him.

"You did it!" Zoë said.

"You don't have to sound so shocked," Percy said dryly.

Nereus groaned. "Oh, great. An entire crowd for my embarrassment! The regular deal, I assume? I answer your dying question, and you free me in return?"

"I have a few questions," Percy said.

"One question per capture! That is the rule."

Percy turned to his friends.

That was a problem. They needed to find Artemis, but they also needed to know about what this mysterious monster was. They also needed to find out if Annabeth was still alive, and how she can be saved. That can't all be answered with one question.

Percy turned toward Lena and Magnus, who both had the same look in their eyes. They wanted to ask about Annabeth, just like he did. But, they all knew what she'd say to them— she'd never forgive the three of them if they'd chosen to rescue her and not Olympus. Zoë would want to know about Artemis. But everybody knew the monster was the most vital question that needed answering.

Percy's shoulders sagged. "Nereus, tell us where we can find this beast that is destined to destroy the gods. The monster Artemis was hunting."

Nereus grinned, putting his crilly, moss-filled teeth on display.

"Well, that's easy," he chuckled. "He's right there."

Nereus pointed below at the bay.

"Where?" Percy asked.

"The deal is done!" The old man concluded. With a snap, Nereus transformed into a guppy and flipped into the sea.

"You liar! You tricked me!" Percy shouted.

"Wait." Thalia stared down at the water. "What is that?"

"MOOOOOOOOO!"

Down below them, circling around in the water, was Percy's pet cow-serpent, Bessie. She pushed her nose into Percy's shoe, looking at him with her sad brown eyes.

"Ah, Bessie," Percy sighed. "Now's not a good time."

"Mooo!"

Grover faltered. "He said his name isn't Bessie."

Percy turned to him. "You know what she's . . . I mean, he's, saying?"

"Yes," Grover said. "He speaks an ancient form of animal language. He says he is the Ophiotaurus, not Bessie."

"The Ophi-what?"

"It's Greek for serpent bull," Lena said. "What is he doing here?"

"Moooooooo!"

"He says Percy's his protector," Grover translated. "And he's trying to hide from scary people. He says they're near."

Percy was curious on how Grover got all of that from just one moooooo.

"You know this creature?" Zoë said to Percy.

Percy impatiently filled them in on the story.

Thalia stared at him in disbelief. "And you just chose to not bring us up until now?"

"Well . . . Yeah."

"I have been foolish," Zoë said. "I know this tale!"

"Tale?" Magnus questioned.

  "From the Titans War," she said. "My . . . Father spoke of this story eons ago. This is the creature we've been seeking."

  "Bessie?" Percy looked at the cow. "But . . . He's adorable. How could he destroy Olympus?"

  "That's where we have been mistaken," Zoë replied. "We've been preparing to face a dangerous beast, but the Ophiotaurus does not destroy Olympus that way. He must be sacrificed."

  "MMMMM," Bessie lowed.

  "I don't think he likes the S-word," Grover said.

  Percy rubbed Bessie's head, trying to keep him relaxed. He let Percy scratch under his chin, but the cow was shaking.

"How could anyone kill him?" Percy said. "He's harmless."

  "There is power in killing the innocent," Zoë said lowly. "Horrible power. The Fates set out a prophecy long ago, when this beast was created. They said however destroyed the Ophiotaurus and sacrificed its entrails to flames shall have the stretch to kill the gods."

  "MMMMMM!"

  "Perhaps we can also avoid the discussion of entrails," Grover added.

Thalia eyes were glued on the Ophiotaurus. "Power to end the gods . . . What even is it? How would it happen?"

"It is a mystery," Zoë said. "The Ophiotaurus was killed by a giant in the First Titan War. But, before its entrails could be properly sacrificed, Zeus sent an eagle to to retrieve them. But now, the beast has been reborn, three thousand years later."

Thalia crouched, placing her hand on the cow serpent's head. Bessie trembled under her touch.

The look on Thalia's face made Lena feel uneasy. She looked . . . Hungry.

"We need to keep Bessie safe," Percy said. "We can't let Luke get a hold of him."

"He wouldn't think twice in slaying him," Magnus said, his jaw clenched. "The power to destroy the gods . . . He'd do anything for that."

"Yes, indeed," a French man's voice said from behind them. "A power that you, daughter of Zeus, shall behold."

Bessie let out a muffled yelp and flipped back underwater.

They'd gotten distracted, let themselves get caught up in conversation. The group had fallen right into an ambush.

Standing in front of them was none other than Dr. Thorn, the manticore himself, smiling victoriously.

  THE MANTICORE could've easily passed as one of the homeless people waiting by the soup kitchen with how horrible he looked. His hair was greasy and untamed, his old Westover Hall uniform stained and wrinkled. He looked (and smelled) like he needed a shower.

  "Isn't this convenient?" Dr. Thorn said smugly. "You see, the gods exiled me to Persia, many eons ago. I was nothing but a scavenger— living on the edge of the world, hunting and hiding through the forests. I never had the opportunity to battle such brave heroes. I was not fear, nor was I praised, back in any of the old tales. That is going to change! I will be given honor from the Titans, and feast upon the flesh of half-bloods!"

  There were two armed mercenaries on either side of the manticore, along with two more stationed on the dock next to them. There were people all over the pier, shopping, eating, sightseeing— but that didn't matter. Dr. Thorn would kill all of them the minute he saw a chance.

  "Where are your skeleton friends?" Magnus asked.

  Dr. Thorn hissed. "The deranged undead are nothing! The General sees me as weak, but he is going to be show differently when I feast upon you six!"

  "We've beaten you before," Percy pointed out.

  "Bah! You hardly made it out alive with a goddess fighting alongside you! And, unfortunately, that goddess is . . . Unavailable, to bring you support, now."

  Zoë pointed her bow straight at the beast's skull. The mercenaries immediately pointed their guns at the group.

  "Stop, Zoë!" Percy blurted out.

  Dr. Thorn grinned. "Listen to the boy, little Hunter. I'd hate to have to kill you before you saw Thalia's victory."

  "What victory?" Thalia growled, both her spear and shield ready to attack.

  "How it not be clear?" The manticore said. "This is the entire reason Lord Kronos revived you. This is your time. You shall make a sacrifice of the Ophiotaurus and bring its entrails to the hearth upon the mountain. From that, you shall gain the power to destroy the gods. When you turn sixteenth, your gift will be the overthrowing of Olympus."

  It was silent. The worst part was, it made sense. Thalia was a child of the Big Three, turning sixteen in less than two days. And the choice was upon her— the decision that would bring upon an end to the gods. It was exactly as the prophecy foretold.

  Thalia didn't say anything. She had been stunned into silence.

  "You know it is the truth," Dr. Thorn said. "Luke Castellan knew it. Your friend, who you will be brought back with once again. You two will conquer this world beneath the patronage of the Titans. Zeus has forgotten you, Thalia. He does not care for you. Take this power, and crush him under it! Take Olympus! It is your right— summon the beast and it shall come to you."

  "Thalia," Magnus said, his voice dead serious. "Come on, get out of your head."

  Thalia stared at Magnus— her expression the same as it was that morning on Half-Blood Hill— scared and dazed. "I . . I can't— "

  "Your dad sent the angels," Percy said. "He answered your prayer. He preserved your life by turning you into a tree."

  Thalia swallowed, her grip tightening on her spear.

  In this moment of hesitation, Grover took over. He quickly played a riff on his pipes.

  "Stop him!" Dr. Thorn cried.

  The planks on the dock began to grow vines and wrap around the guard's feet. Magdalena knocked their guns out of their hands and threw them into the ocean while Zoë shot two arrows at their feet, the arrows exploding into a cloud of dark yellow smoke. Fart arrows— genius!

  "Grover," Percy said. "Tell Bessie to stay below the surface!"

  "Moooooo!" Grover bleated.

  "Bessie . . . " Thalia whispered, still staring down at the water.

  "Let's go!" Magnus wrapped his arm around Thalia's shoulders and ushered her along as they bolted toward the shops on the pier. There were cries from tourists as the guards blitzed off blind shots in their direction.

  The group find a small kiosk that sold wind chimes and porch-decorations and ducked behind it. With the view they had in front of them, it was hard to not want to sit back and take it all in. But, the fact they were getting chased by a flesh-eating manticore and two armed guards sort of took the beauty out of it.

  "Jump into the sea!" Zoë ordered to Percy. "You can flee, Percy. Pray to thy father. You can save the Ophiotaurus if you escape fast enough."

  "I'm not abandoning you guys," he said. "We're in this together."

  "But you have to tell camp about this!" Grover said. "They need to know what's happening!"

  Percy's eyes drifted to the fountain a few feet away, then to the crystal wind chimes making rainbows in the sunlight.

  "Tell camp," Percy murmured. "Right."

  Percy swiped Riptide at the fountain and the top of the water spicier bursted up. Water shot out from the broken pipe and began dousing the group.

  "What's wrong with you?" Thalia demanded as she got sprayed with water. That seemed to have snapped her out of her daze.

  Grover threw a golden drachma into the mist, immediately understanding what Percy was doing. He yelled, "O, goddess, accept my offering!"

  The mist rippled.

  "Camp Half-Blood!" Percy said.

  The message was received, but it didn't exactly meet Percy's expectations. Shimmering in the Mist, Mr. D was rummaging through the camp refrigerator, clad in his usual leopard print track suit.

  Dionysus turned to them. "Can I help you?"

  "Where's Chiron?!" Percy yelled.

  "What ever happened to hello?" Dionysus said through a belch. He had a quart of grape juice in his hand.

  Magnus looked mortified. "This has to be a joke."

  "Hello," Percy amended. "We need Chiron, now. We're about to die!"

  Dionysus pondered this. The manticore's footsteps were getting closer, along with the sound of shooting and gunshots.

  "About to die?" Mr. D repeated. "How thrilling. I fear Chiron is not available at the moment. Can I take a message?"

  Percy looked at the group. "We're dead."

  Thalia had her usual angry look back on her face. "We go out fighting, then."

  "Such bravery," Dionysus said through another belch. "What exactly is the issue, here?"

  Percy filled him in on the Ophiotaurus, though he figured it wouldn't a difference.

  "That's it?" Mr. D continued to inspect the fridge. "Okay."

  "This was pointless," Magnus said angrily. "He couldn't care less! He would love to watch us die!"

  "Hmm. Should I do pepperoni or veggie pizza for dinner?"

"There!" The manticore cried. They were trapped. He had his four guards with him again, two by his side and two on the roofs above them. The manticore shimmered into his true form, nasty claws and poisonous tail growing into view.

"Perrrrfect," he purred. He scoffed at the vision of Dionysus in the Mist. "Completely surrounded, with no help. How wonderful!"

"Say please, perhaps," Mr. D muttered, his lips quirked up amusedly. "Ask for help."

Percy scowled. Like hell, he thought. He refused to die begging on his knees to a coward like Dionysus, only for him to just laugh at their expense.

Everybody had their weapons raised. There was a fear that trickled down Thalia's face. This exact moment had happened to her— all those years ago, on Half-Blood Hill. She gave her life to save her friends that night. This time, she couldn't.

Lena looked to Percy. She had her sword gripped in her hand. "Percy," she whispered. "Please."

Percy held eye contact for another split second. He knew Lena was right. They couldn't let this happen to Thalia. Not again.

"Please, Mr. D," Percy muttered. "Help."

As expected, nothing happened.

Dr. Thorn laughed. "Don't touch Zeus's daughter. We will have her with us soon enough. Blast the others."

The soldiers pointed their guns at the group. But then, it almost felt as if time stopped. The air around them turned purple, and it felt as if all the blood had rushed to Magdalena's head. The scent of grape juice and fermented wine blew through the wind.

SNAP!

That was the sound of madness. The soldiers fell into chaos— their minds slipping away from themselves. Their guns dropped, one of them crawling around with their pistol in their mouth like a dog-bone, the others doing cartwheels and waltzing. The other was doing some sort of ballet routine. The sight would've been amusing if it hadn't been so horrifying.

"No!" The manticore cried in rage. "I'll handle you myself!"

He went to strike, but vines began to shoot out from the wood beneath his feet, twisting up his body until the monster was completely covered in a bushel full of purple grapevines. After a few moments, the struggle within the mass of vines subsided, and Lena had a preposition that Dr. Thorn was no longer alive.

Dionysus sighed. "That was . . . Exhilarating."

Percy looked mortified. "How . . . How did you— "

"So grateful, you lot," he muttered. "Those soldiers will regain their bearings. I'd rather not have to write a report to Father if their condition had been made permanent."

Mr. D looked to Thalia, resentfully. "It isn't easy to resist power, is it, girl?"

Thalia stared down at her shoes, ashamed.

"Dude," Magnus chuckled. "You saved our asses, Mr. D."

"Don't ever call me dude, again," Mr. D miffed. Then he rolled his eyes. "But, you are right. Don't make me wish I hadn't. Now, get moving, Percy Jackson. I have given you guys a couple hours at best to get ahead. Don't waste it."

"What about the Ophiotaurus?" Percy asked. "You could bring it to camp, right?"

Dionysus scoffed. "I'm not a barnyard truck. That is your concern."

"We don't even know where to go," Magnus said.

Mr. D looked at Zoë. "I believe the huntress knows. If you do not arrive by sunset, this will all be for nothing. Ta-ta, now. My pizza is burning."

"Mr. D," Percy called.

Dionysus arched an eyebrow.

"You called me Percy Jackson," he said. "You said my real name."

"I believe the lack of sleep is getting to you, Peter Johnson. Now shoo!"

He slapped the Iris-Message and he disappeared from the mist.

Magnus turned to Zoë. "Mr. D said you know where to go next?"

Zoe swallowed, her face ashen. She looked across the bay, off in the distance, where one large mountain rose above the fog.

"Home," she said grimly. "We must go to the garden of my sisters."

  ANNA'S NOTES!
Rachel Dare they could never make me hate you

This entire chapter is Lena being 🙄😐😒 to Percy and Percy being 🫥😧🤬 to Lena