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chapter fourteen ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
014. Percy's Definitely on Santa's Naughty List

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Cassie was gonna collapse from the adrenaline rush. She was stuck in the hand of the angel statue and just waiting to be let go. The brunette wondered what would happen if she stood on its back as it flew. Air surfing!

"Tell me when it's over," Thalia pleaded with her eyes squeezed shut. The statue was holding them tightly, so there was really no way they could fall. Yet the daughter of Zeus was frozen with her arms wrapped around the statue's, holding for dear life.

"Everything's fine," Percy tried to reassure her, he shared a look with Cassie who only raised an eyebrow.

"Are... are we very high?"

Cassie gazed at the mountain range below her. The peaks were covered in snow and she couldn't resist the urge to kick it.

"Nah, totally not. Depends on your definition of high." She muttered the last part while Percy covered up his snickering.

"We are in the Sierras!" Zoë informed them, from her place in the other statue arm with Grover. "I have hunted here before. At this speed, we should be in San Francisco in a few hours."

"Hey, hey, Frisco!" the angel carrying Cassie cheered. "Yo, Chuck! We could visit those guys at the Mechanics Monument agan. They know how to party!"

"Oh, man," the other angel whooped in agreement. "I am so there!"

"You guys have visited San Francisco?" Percy questioned, obviously surprised.

Cassie looked up to see Not-Chuck scoffed, "We automatons gotta have some fun once in a while, right? Those mechanics took us over to the de Young Museum and introduced us to the marble lady statues, see. And—"

"Hank! They're kids, man." Supposedly Chuck interrupted.

'So that's his name," The daughter of Ares thought.

"Oh, right." His face turned a darker shade of bronze, "Back to flying."

Cassie didn't know if statues could blush but whatever happened between them and the marble lady statues she sure as hell didn't want to know.

The angels picked up the pace, eager to be in San Francisco. The tall mountains began to shrink into rolling hills, making the ground seem much farther away. Soon the land shifted into farmland and even towns with busy highways.

Grover occupied himself by playing tunes on his pipes. Zoë would shoot random billboards every so often, always hitting them perfectly. The poor Target store signs were aimed at the most and hit shockingly right in the center, even with them flying a hundred miles an hour.

Thalia had her eyes sealed the whole trip. She'd mumble to herself, Cassie assumed she was praying not to fall.

"I'm proud of you Thals, you did good. Zeus actually listened for once." The brunette offered Thalia a dorky smile, not that she could see it.

Cassie couldn't tell what she was thinking since her eyes were still closed.

"Maybe. How did you get away from the skeletons in the generator room, anyway? You said they cornered you." The punk girl said.

Cassie explained to Thalia about the clear-sighted mortal, Rachel Elizabeth Dare. It was strange how some mortals could see right through the Mist. Thalia wasn't phased but this was new news for Percy.

"Wait what?" he blinked incredulously.

"Yeah, some mortals are like that. Nobody knows why." Thalia nodded.

A thought dawned on Percy. Sally Jackson was one of those mortals. She had seen the Minotaur and knew exactly what it was. She wasn't shocked when he had told her Tyson was really a Cyclops. She had been so scared for him growing up cause she knew the whole time. She could see through the Mist better than he did.

"Well, the girl was definitely something. It's a good thing I didn't cut her in half. Imagine the legal issues. That would've been bad."

Thalia laughed but seemed to agree. "Must be nice to be a regular mortal." The way she said it made it clear this wasn't a first time thought.

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Cassie had fallen asleep sometime during the flight. Who knew a bronze statue's arm could be so comfy.

"Where you guys want to land?" Hank asked, once she had rubbed her eyes awake.

The sun's bright rays resulted in Cassie putting on her shades. She gazed down at the city through her blood-tinted glasses.

"Whoa," Percy admired from beside her.

San Francisco was one of the prettiest cities by far. It was smaller but way cleaner than Manhattan. The surrounding hills were covered in fog but left room for a huge bay. Ships, islands, and sailboats were out in the distance. The Golden Gate Bridge poked out of the fog.

Cassie stuck her open hand out and Percy placed her polaroid camera in her palm. She snapped a pic and saved it for later. The son of Poseidon suggested writing something like: Greetings from Frisco. Haven't Died Yet. Wish You Were Here.

"There, by the Embarcadero Building," Zoë offered.

"Good thinking. Me and Hank can blend in with the pigeons." Chuck grinned.

The five shot him looks.

"Kidding. Sheesh, can't statues have a sense of humor?" That earned him a grin from Cassie.

Turns out they didn't need to blend it. Since it was still early morning not many people were out and about. Though they did make a poor homeless guy wet himself in fear when they landed. He rushed away at the sight of the statues, screaming bloody murder about metal angels from Mars.

They bid the angles goodbye, thanking them for their help and leaving them to go party. Percy just realized he had no clue what was next.

Finally they were at the West Coast where Artemis was and Annabeth too, Cassie could only hope and pray. But how would they find them was Percy's question. The winter solstice was tomorrow. Also what was the monster Artemis had been hunting, it was supposed to "show the trail," but it never had.

Now they were on a ferry dock with barely any money, left, no friends, and certainly no luck.

After a brief discussion, it was clear that the mystery monster was a main priority. They needed to know what it was.

"But how?" Percy inquired, finding the situation helpless.

"Nereus," Grover replied.

Percy was more confused. "What?"

"It's what Apollo told me remember? Find Nereus?" Cassie reminded him, she had spoke with a lot of gods this quest.

That did the trick, Percy seemed to recall. "The old man of the sea right?"

Cassie hummed as confirmation. "We're meant to find him then threaten him till he tells us what he knows."

"But how do we find him?" The son of Poseidon wondered.

Zoë pulled a face. "Old Nereus, eh?"

"You know him?" Thalia assumed.

"My mother was a sea goddess. Yes, I know him. Unfortunately, he is never very hard to find. Just follow the smell."

"What do you mean?" Percy stupidly asked

"Come, I will show thee." Zoë beckoned them after her.

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Cassie was out the second she saw the Goodwill drop box and it wasn't because she didn't like raiding donations. She did have her camera out and ready thought once Zoë had finished Percy's makeover.

The son of Poseidon donned a tattered flannel shirt with some oversized jeans. Her favorite part had to be the bright red sneaker and funny rainbow hat.

"You're stunning Perc!" Cassie laughed, snapping a polaroid.

Grover tried to hold back from snickering, "Oh, yeah, you look completely inconspicuous now."

"A typical male vagrant." Zoë was satisfied.

"Thanks a lot," Percy scoffed, "Why am I doing this
again?"

"I told thee. To blend in." She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, the huntress tended to do that.

Zoë led them and returned to the waterfront, searching the docks. Eventually she came to a stop and gestured to a bunch of homeless guys. They were wrapped in blankets and close together, waiting for lunch from the soup kitchen.

"He will be down there somewhere. He never travels very far from the water. He likes to sun himself during the day." Zoë informed Percy.

"How do I know which one is him?"

"Sneak up. Act homeless. You will know him. He will smell... different."

Cassie nose screwed up in disgust. Percy would have to sniff his way to Nereus, fantastic.

"Great." The son of Poseidon didn't want specifics, "And once I find him?"

"Grab him and hold on. He will try anything to get rid of thee. Whatever he does, do not let go. Force him to tell thee about the monster."

This sounded... interesting. Cassie was glad Percy was taking one for the team cause she'd love wrestling but not with a smelly sea god.

"We've got your back," Thalia reassured him, but she quickly took back her words. There was a big weird clump of fuzz on the back of Percy's shirt. Thalia flicked it off, repulsed. "Eww. On second thought... I don't want your back. But we'll be rooting for you."

Grover offered him an enthusiastic thumbs-up and Cassie just grinned.

"Don't worry Kelphead, I'll slice them to bits if they do anything." She twirled her sword in her hand before poofing it away.

"Thanks Casanova," He grumbled, complaining about how great it was to have super powerful friends under his breath.

Percy made his was to the dock stumbling. He pulled down his hat and tried to seem like he was on the verge of passing out. It was easier than it seemed when you were as tired as him.

The homeless guy from the Embarcadero was still trying to warn his buddies but none seemed to listen or care. Metal angels from Mars weren't the most believable apparently.

He smelled... gross, but not different so Percy moved past him.

Some of the homeless men gave him a once over when he came close. They had plastic bags on their heads and Cassie would've said it was a safety hazard.

"Beat it, kid!" one of them tried to scare him off.

Percy backed away, not wanting to start something unnecessary. They stank, but just a regular bad smell. Nothing unusual.

One lady was pushing a bunch of pink plastic flamingos in a shopping cart and glared daggers at Percy. Almost as if he'd steal her birds.

Then at the very end of the pier was a guy so old he looked like he'd turn into ashes at any moment. He was snoring in a little patch of sunlight. His pajamas and once fuzzy bathrobe were stained and nasty. He was, well fat and his white beard was now yellow.

Percy could imagine him as Santa Claus, if Santa had flopped out of bed and been dragged through a landfill.

But the worst part was his smell. He smelled a different type of bad, ocean bad. Like hot seaweed and dead fish and brine all combined. He was the ugly side of the ocean to put it lightly.

The son of Poseidon did his best not to gag and sat himself down next to trash Santa. The homeless guy opened an eye, inspecting him but Percy didn't look up. He just muttered about stupid school and parents, trying to seem convincing.

Santa Claus made the mistake of going back to sleep.

Percy glanced around, this would look strange and alarm the other homeless people. But he jumped Santa Claus.

"Ahhhhh!" he yelped, grabbing a hold of Percy. It was supposed to be the other way around but this worked too. Santa hadn't been asleep and didn't seem weak. His grip was so tight Percy was being squeezed to death.

"Help me!" he screamed, not looking like he really needed the help.

"That's a crime!" one of the other homeless guys defended. "Kid rolling an old man like that!"

Percy got the idea and rolled him and Nereus' down the pier into a post. He saw stars for a second before regaining himself as Santa tried to run for it. The sea did was tackled from behind before he could get far.

"I don't have any money!" He cried out, wanting to be left alone and trying to get away. But Percy held on tight doing his best to ignore the rotten fish smell.

"I don't want money," The son of Poseidon contradicted as the two struggled, "I'm a half-blood! I want information!"

That seemed to set Nereus off more as he struggled harder. "Heroes! Why do you always pick on me?"

"Because you know everything!"

Nereus growled and began thrashing around. Percy felt like he was trying to hold onto a roller coaster. The way the sea god shook made it impossible for the demigod to stay on his feet, but he held tighter. The two neared the pier edge and an idea dawned on Percy.

"Oh, no! Not the water!" He pretended.

It worked. Nereus shouted victoriously and jumped off into San Francisco Bay.

Percy felt strength course through his body and he held Nereus even tighter. The boost of strength seemed to surprise Santa Claus but he had his own surprises too.

Soon Percy was holding onto a smooth black seal. Those jokes about trying to hold a greased pig were nothing clutching to holding a slippery seal in the water. Nereus plunged deeper, spiraling into the dark water while still putting up a fight. Percy was thankful to be Poseidon's son for once.

In a whirl of water Nereus turned into a killer whale, yet Percy held on to his dorsal fin as the two burst from the water.

A group of tourists gasped, "Whoa!" and Cassie cheered at the sight of him, "Go Percy!" He waved to her, somehow managing to smile. This was just your usual occurrence every day in San Francisco.

Nereus shifted into a slimy eel this time and wriggled around. Percy began tying him into a knot when he changed back to human form.

"Why won't you drown?" he whined, decided to throw his fists at Percy instead.

"I'm Poseidon's son," Percy revealed.

"Curse that upstart! I was here first!"

Finally he gave up, collapsing on the boat dock.

Above them was a tourist pier lined with shops, almost as if the mall was floating on the water. Nereus was gasping for breath and Percy felt refreshed. He couldn't gone all day but decided to spare the god's ego and make him feel he put up a good fight.

Cassie was the first to appear, pushing past some oblivious tourists. She was followed by Thalia, Zoë, and Grover. The satyr apologizing to whoever the brunette had shoved.

"You did it!" The daughter of Ares laughed out, proudly.

"You got him!" Zoë admitted somewhat surprised.

"You don't have to sound so amazed," Percy stated.

Nereus moaned in agony. "Oh, wonderful. An audience for my humiliation! The normal deal, I suppose? You'll let me go if I answer your question?"

"We've got more than one question."

"Only one question per capture! That's the rule."

His face fell and he looked to his friends. They had many questions, how could they choose just one. Artemis needed to be found, knowing the doomsday creature would be helpful, Annabeth was definitely on someone's mind. How could that be asked in one question?

Percy noticed Cassie stepped forward a bit. "Wait," the girl interrupted.

She seemed frozen in thought. To Cassie there was only one question that mattered the most. The only thing she really cared about most. Her head was telling her to convince Percy to ask about Annabeth.

Well... maybe it wasn't her head. No her head could imagine Annabeth's disappointment if she learned the girl saved her over Olympus. Her head knew Zoë would want Percy to ask about Artemis but Chiron advised them that the monster was even more important.

So it wasn't her head Cassie wanted to listen to. It was her heart. She desperately wished the blonde was safe. She needed to know. She cared in ways beyond how a friend should and that terrified her. Cassie Carter yearned for Annabeth Chase, in her heart nonetheless. But she knew better.

A hand brought Cassie from her thoughts. She glanced to Zoë's palm on her shoulder and blinked back into reality.

Her face heated and she stepped back, "Uh... never mind."

Percy met her eyes and an understanding passed through the two. He could she was thinking about Annabeth, but he watched her mouthed 'the monster' and made up his mind.

The son of Poseidon sighed. "All right, Nereus. Tell me where to find this terrible monster that could bring an end to the gods. The one Artemis was hunting."

Nereus smiled wickedly, his mossy green teeth on display. "Oh, that's too easy. He's right there."

The old sea god pointed to the water below Percy's feet.

"Where?" Percy asked.

"The deal is complete!" Nereus gleamed, popping into a goldfish and backflipping into the ocean.

"You tricked me!"

Thalia's lighting blue eyes went wide, "Wait. What is that?"

"MOOOOOOOO!"

Percy's whipped below him, to where his cow serpent friend was, wadding in the water. She head-butted his shoe and gazed at him with sad brown eyes.

"Ah, Bessie. Not now." Cassie gaped as Percy ushered Bessie away.

"Mooo!"

Grover sucked in his breath. "He says his name isn't Bessie."

"You can understand her... er, him?"

The satyr nodded. "It's a very old form of animal speech. But he says his name is the Ophiotaurus."

"The Ophi-what?"

"It means serpent bull in Greek. But what's it doing here?" Thalia clarified.

"MOOOOOOOOO!"

"He says Percy is his protector," Grover declared, translating for Bessie. "And he's running from the bad people. He says they are close."

'How'd he get that all from a single mooo,' Percy wondered.

"Wait. You know this cow." Zoë interrogated.

"That's what you're worried about?" Cassie let out in disbelief.

Percy huffed impatiently but told the story anyways.

Thalia looked at him incredulously. "And you just forgot to mention this before?"

"Well... yeah." Percy hadn't thought of Bessie as anything important with how fast things happened. The Ophiotaurus seemed like a minor detail.

"I am a fool," It dawned on Zoë. "I know this story!"

"What story?"

"From the War of the Titans," she explained. "My... my father told me this tale, thousands of years ago. This is the beast we are looking for."

"Bessie?" Percy stared at his completely innocent-looking friend. "But... he's too cute. He couldn't destroy the world."

"That is how we were wrong. We've been anticipating a huge dangerous monster, but the Ophiotaurus does not bring down the gods that way. He must be sacrificed." Zoë told them, aware of their misinterpretation of the prophecy.

"MMMM," Bessie lowed.

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

"Shit," Cassie let out and they all whipped their head to her.

Percy pat Bessie's head to soothe him while sending a questioning look to the daughter of Ares. The Ophiotaurus trembled under his palm but let Percy scratch his ear.

"What was that for?" Zoë asked.

Cassie rubbed the back of her head bashfully, "Sorry, couldn't help it."

They rolled their eyes at her antics and returned to the topic at hand.

"How could anyone hurt him? He's harmless." The son of Poseidon reasoned.

Zoë agreed. "But there is power in killing innocence. Terrible power. The Fates ordained a prophecy eons ago, when this creature was born. They said that whoever killed the Ophiotaurus and sacrificed its entrails to fire would have the power to destroy the gods."

"MMMMMM!"

"You're freaking out the cow serpent," Cassie retorted, she had sat on the dock and was patting Bessie's head.

"Um, yeah. Maybe we could avoid talking about entrails, too."

Thalia stared at Bessie a little too long. "The power to destroy the gods... how? I mean, what would happen?"

"No one knows. The first time, during the Titan war, the Ophiotaurus was in fact slain by a giant ally of the Titans, but thy father, Zeus, sent an eagle to snatch the entrails away before they could be tossed into the fire. It was a close call. Now, after three thousand years, the Ophiotaurus is reborn." Zoë seemed to know everything when it came to Bessie.

Thalia set herself next to Cassie and reached her hand out. Bessie came to her happily and the daughter of Zeus placed her hand on his head. The cow serpent shivered.

Cassie watched, slightly concerned with the hungry expression on Thalia's face.

Percy shared a glance with the brunette before speaking to Thalia, "We have to protect him. If Luke gets hold of him—"

"Luke wouldn't hesitate. The power to overthrow Olympus. That's... that's huge."

"Yes, it is, my dear. And it is a power you shall unleash." A man with a heavy french accent said out of nowhere.

The five jumped, Cassie almost fell into the water if Thalia hadn't caught her arm. The Ophiotaurus smartly ducked under water after whimpering.

They had been so caught up talking that they weren't aware of the ambush. Behind them was Dr. Thorn, his unsettling two-color eyes and manticore self. Gods did Cassie want to beat his face into a pulp.

"This is just pairrr-fect," the manticore smiled sinisterly.

He had some ratty black trench coat covering his Westover Hall uniform, which happened to be torn and stained. His once military hair cut was longer, very spiky and greasy. There was also a slight stubble growing where he obviously hadn't shaved his face. He could fit in with the homeless guys back at the soup kitchen.

Dr. Thorn began telling them his sob story of a past, "Long ago, the gods banished me to Persia. I was forced to scrounge for food on the edges of the world, hiding in forests, devouring insignificant human farmers for my meals. I never got to fight any great heroes. I was not feared and admired in the old stories! But now that will change. The Titans shall honor me, and I shall feast on the flesh of half-bloods!"

Cassie had to keep herself from falling asleep, she didn't want to seem disrespectful. It's not everyday some monster threatens their lives... oh wait it is.

Thorn had security guards on either side of him. They were the mortal mercenaries from D.C. Two were further back on the next dock in case they tried to make a run for it.

There were so many tourists, all shopping at the pier above them near the waterfront. Of course that would stop the stupid manticore from possibly attacking.

"Where... where are the skeletons?" Percy questioned, gazing around for the undead soldiers.

Thorn was insulted and sneered. "I do not need those foolish undead! The General thinks I am worthless? He will change his mind when I defeat you myself!"

So that's what this was for, to prove himself because "the General" tossed him aside. Percy needed a moment to think. He had to save Bessie but jumping into the ocean and escaping with a five-hundred-pound cow serpent didn't seem efficient. And he'd be leaving his friends.

"We beat you once before," the son of Poseidon threatened.

"Ha! You could barely fight me with a goddess on your side. And, alas... that goddess is preoccupied at the moment. There will be no help for you now."

Zoë had an arrow notched and aimed right at the manticore's head while Cassie's sword was pointed at his throat. Both were scowling and about to strike, but Thorn's guards raised their guns.

"Wait! Cassie, Zoë, don't!" Percy called out.

The manticore chuckled with an eery grin. "The boy is right, Zoe Nightshade. Put away your bow. And you Cassandra Carter, drop the sword. It would be a shame to kill you two before you witnessed Thalia's great victory."

"What are you talking about?" Thalia ordered holding up her shield and spear.

"Surely it is clear. This is your moment. This is why Lord Kronos brought you back to life. You will sacrifice the Ophiotaurus. You will bring its entrails to the sacred fire on the mountain. You will gain unlimited power. And for your sixteenth birthday, you will overthrow Olympus." Thorn described the process and what the Great Prophecy had said.

Everyone fell quiet, it was all making sense. Thalia was sixteen in two days, a child of the Big Three, and know she had a terrible choice to make. One that could lead to the end of the gods.

It was just like prophecy said. Percy was feeling a lot of emotions at once, turns out he wasn't the prophecy kid. But Doomsday was happening right now.

They expected Thalia to deny Dr. Thorn, but she stayed frozen in complete shock.

"You know it is the right choice. Your friend Luke recognized it. You shall be reunited with him. You shall rule this world together under the auspices of the Titans," the manticore droned on, "Your father abandoned you, Thalia. He cares nothing for you. And now you shall gain power over him. Crush the Olympians underfoot, as they deserve. Call the beast! It will come to you. Use your spear."

"Thalia, snap out of it!" Percy begged.

The look she gave him reminded the son of Poseidon of the day he found her, waking up on Half-Blood Hill. She was uncertain and almost in a trance, as if she didn't know him. "I... I don't—"

"Your father helped you. He sent the metal angels. He turned you into a tree to preserve you."

The daughter of Zeus held her spear tighter. Percy glanced to the rest of his friends desperately. Cassie whispered in Grover's ear and the satyr began blowing into his reed pipes.

Dr. Thorn watched and shouted, "Stop him!"

The guards whose guns were still pointed at the girls saw a slightly sadistic grin stretch across Cassie face as branches grew from the wooden planks of the dock and wrapped around their legs.

Zoe released two arrows that exploded and left a cloud of sulfur-yellow smoke at the guards' feet. Fart arrows! The guards began coughing as they breathed in the smoke. Dr. Thorn let some of his sound fly at them, but they just bounced off Percy's lion's coat.

"Grover, tell Bessie to dive deep and stay down!" the son of Poseidon ordered.

"Moooooo!" Grover translated, hopefully Bessie understood.

"The cow..." Thalia mumbled, not quite snapping out of her daze.

Cassie grumbled but grabbed Thalia's arm. "Come on Pinecone, we don't have time for this!" She dragged the punk girl through the pier and into one of the stores.

"Get them!" the manticore demanded to his minions. The guards open fired and tourists were sent in a panic.

They weaved through the panicking crowd to the end of the pier. Cassie kept Thalia close, not wiling to lose anyone else. The five ducked behind a kiosk containing souvenir wind chimes and dream catchers made of crystals. It sparkled in the sun.

The water fountain beside them reflected the sunlight and spout water from the top. The barking of sea lions could be heard below where they were sun bathing on the rocks.

If they weren't about to die and the world wasn't about to end, the view was actually pretty nice. All of San Francisco Bay was on display. From the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz Island and the green hills hidden in fog to the north.

Zoë found the situation mostly helpless. "Go over the side! You can escape in the sea, Percy. Call on thy father for help. Maybe you can save the Ophiotaurus."

It was the smart thing to do, but Percy couldn't do it.

"I won't leave you guys. We fight together." he replied.

"You have to get word to camp! At least let them know what's going on!" Grover protested.

Something caught Percy's eyes and he noticed the drinking fountain next to him. The crystals in the display made rainbows in the sun-light.

"Get word to camp. Good idea."

Percy cut the top of the water fountain off and Cassie had to refrain from asking what it did to hurt him. Water sprayed from the slashed pipe and soaked them.

Thalia finally snapped out of it when the water hit her face. Her eyes were no longer foggy.

"Are you crazy?" she asked.

"Somewhat."

But Grover got the idea and drew a coin from his pocket. He tossed it into the mist-made rainbows and prayed, "O goddess, accept my offering!"

A ripple flowed through the mist.

"Camp Half-Blood!" Percy yelled.

Camp shimmered into frame and they were met with the last person Percy wanted to see. Mr. D was busy scavenging the refrigerator in his leopard-skin jogging suit.

He groaned lazily. "Do you mind?"

"Where's Chiron!" the son of Poseidon questioned.

"How rude." Mr. D paused to drink some grape juice. "Is that how you say hello?"

"Hello," Percy corrected himself. "We're about to die! Where's Chiron?"

That seemed to catch Mr. D's interest. He stood there considering the information and Percy wanted to yell at him to hurry. Footsteps and shouting neared as the manticore's troops were closing in.

"About to die" Mr. D. pondered. "How exciting. I'm afraid Chiron isn't here. Would you like me to take a message?"

Percy sighed. "We're dead." He told the other four.

Thalia held up her spear back to her usual angry self. "Then we'll die fighting."

"How noble," Mr. D admired, covering up a yawn. "So what is the problem, exactly?"

There was no use but Percy informed him about the Ophiotaurus.

"Mmm." Mr. D was distracted by the fridge again. "So that's it. I see."

"You don't even care!" Percy accused, "You'd just as soon watch us die!"

"Let's see. I think I'm in the mood for pizza tonight." He badly wanted to disconnect the message but there wasn't time.

Once Dr. Thorn shouted, "There!" they found themselves surrounded. Two guards were behind the manticore and another two were on the roofs of the shops above them.

The manticore shed himself of his coat and transformed into his true self, his lion claws grew and his tail whipped around, bristling with poison barbs.

"Excellent," Thorn chuckled before noticing the message and snorting. "Alone, without any real help. Wonderful."

'This guy really likes talking to himself,' Cassie thought almost aloud.

"You could ask for help," Mr. D whispered to Percy, he found himself so funny. "You could say please."

Percy kept from scoffing, he was not gonna die begging for a slob like Dionysus to save him. Especially not if the god would just laugh as they got killed. Zoë drew her arrows, Grover brought his pipes to his lips, and Cassie made her sword appear. It crackled in all its glory with red electricity.

Thalia held up her shield and Percy watched a tear fall down her cheek. His eyes widened in understanding, this was deja vu for the daughter of Zeus. She had willingly given her life back on Half-Blood Hill when her friends were cornered. This time there was nothing she could do.

Percy couldn't let that happen to her. He wouldn't.

So he sucked up his pride, "Please, Mr. D. Help."

He wasn't surprised when nothing happened.

The manticore wickedly grinned. "Spare the daughter of Zeus. She will join us soon enough. Kill the others."

Cassie felt awfully dejected but her heart was pounding from the guns pointed right at their heads. Then something weird occurred.

It was like that feeling when all the blood is rushing to your head from being hung upside down to long then flipped right side up quickly. The rush was all around them and a huge sigh could be made out in the chaos. The smell of grapes and something bitter—wine hit their noses. Even the sunlight had a purple tint.

SNAP!

Many minds broke in that moment at least that's what it sounded like. Just as many expectations were proven too low. The sound of madness reached their ears.

One of guards dropped to all fours and held his pistol in his mouth, pretending to be a dog. Two others interlocked their arms and began to waltz. The fourth ran around dancing an Irish jig.

Percy was terrified, but you could always count on Cassie to burst out laughing. They would never see the subtle quirk of the wine god's lips at the sound.

"No!" the manticore was furious. "I will deal with you myself!"

The spikes on his tail flared to strike, but he was interrupted by vines erupting from the planks beneath him. The wound themselves around the monster and grew new leaves and clusters of green grapes. The fruit ripened as the manticore panicked.

The vines continued to wrap around Dr. Thorn's body until he was buried in a huge mass adorned with purple grapes. When the grapes stopped shivering they knew the manticore was gone.

"Well" Dionysus shut his refrigerator. "That was fun."

The son of Poseidon only blinked at him, horrified, "How could you... How did you—"

"Such gratitude." Dionysus sighed, "The mortals will come out of it. Too much explaining to do if I made their condition permanent. I hate writing reports to Father" There was bitterness in the way he stared at Thalia "I hope you learned your lesson, girl. It isn't easy to resist power, is it?"

Thalia's face flushed, ashamed.

"Mr. D," Grover spoke in awe. "You... you saved us."

"Mmm. Don't make me regret it, satyr. Now get going, Percy Jackson. I've bought you a few hours at most."

"The Ophiotaurus. Can you get it to camp?" said boy asked.

Mr. D looked at him distastefully. "I do not transport livestock. That's your problem."

"But where do we go?"

The god glanced in Zoë's direction. "Oh, I think the huntress knows. You must enter at sunset today, you know, or all is lost. Now good-bye. My pizza is waiting."

"Mr. D," Percy called him one last time. He got an eyebrow raise in return.

"You called me by my right name. You called me Percy Jackson."

"I most certainly did not, Peter Johnson. Now off with you!"

Before he could disconnect the call, Cassie was the last to speak. "Thank you, Mr. D, truthfully."

He gazed at the brunette for a few seconds and all he gave was a slight nod of his head. Then he waved his hand through the message and he disappeared.

They were left surrounded by the manticore's minions going nuts. One of them was encouraging that homeless guy to tell him all about the metal angels from Mars. Real serious conversation there. The other guards were harassing tourists, acting like animals and grabbing people's shoes.

Percy turned to Zoë. "What did he mean... 'You know where to go'?"

It was the lieutenant's turn to grow pale. She raised a finger to the distant bay, beyond the Golden Gate. A single mountain peaked through the clouds.

"The garden of my sisters," Zoë answered. "I must go home."

_________________________________________

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ author's note

guyssss!! i'm back on the writing grind it's amazing? my plan is to get act 3 done by the time i go back to school or at least on the first actual week

also i have a little surprise planned for the end of the act! it could also count as a 100k special if we get there lol! but ill save the sappy stuff for the end of the act

for now expect an update next sunday too and some double updates coming ur way after that!

also pause, cassie's little realization moment?? anyone else see that 🤭

but as always thank you so much for reading! and i do hoped u liked it <3

—Just Another Overthinker