~Millie’s House~

‘You’re not heavy, are you?’ Jason asked Calypso as he fidgeted with his sword sheath.

She raised an eyebrow, ‘You really know how to talk a girl up, don’t you?’

Jason sighed, ‘I’m not the flirty type. Sorry, I was just trying to make conversation.’

‘And I was just poking fun at you,’ Calypso grinned. ‘Leo was right, you need to lighten up.’

Jason rolled his eyes, ‘Leo, of course. I bet you learnt loads from him.’

‘More than I thought I would,’ Calypso agreed. ‘Now, are we going to put this plan into action or are we going to stand here like mops?’

Jason laughed, impressed, ‘Leo has taught you a lot. We’re just waiting for Piper, she was talking to Annabeth.’

‘Hey,’ Piper jogged up breathlessly. ‘Sorry, once Annabeth gets going, only Percy can make her stop. Are we ready?’

‘Just waiting for,’ Jason whispered, looking up at the moon high in the sky. ‘Okay, Calypso, grab on.’

Calypso hook her arms around Jason’s neck and Piper stiffened. Jason noticed and leaned forward to kiss his girlfriend on the nose, ‘You’re next.’ Piper smiled.

Summoning the winds, Jason shot up into the air, Calypso clinging onto him. They hovered outside the bedroom window, peeking in at the sleeping girl. Jason reached out and pulled the luckily unlocked window open. He realized they hadn’t contemplated what to do if the window was locked. They flew in and landed softly on the carpet. The girl stirred in her bed but didn’t wake.

Jason quickly spotted the glass tank and pointed it out to Calypso, ‘Frank should be in there, I’m going back for Piper.’

Calypso nodded in ran lightly to the tank, peering inside at the blinding white rabbit. She whispered, ‘Hey, Frank. I’m a friend. I just need you to stay still for a moment, okay?’

Frank’s head bobbed up and down, showing he understood. Calypso concentrated and moved her hands in a motion like she was weaving. A pale green ball of light appeared and tendrils shot out and copied the movements of her hands, slowly but surely forming the shape of a glowing green rabbit.

Jason glanced over his shoulder before diving out the window like a high diver, scaring Piper out of her mind. She hissed at him never to do that again and he chuckled.

‘Annabeth stationed Nico, Hazel and Leo in the garden, and Percy and herself in front of the house in case of another monster attack,’ Piper relayed as Jason wrapped an arm around her waist and glided to the window. ‘We have to be in and out as fast as possible.’

‘Calypso,’ Jason whispered. ‘How’s that replacement coming?’

‘Slowly,’ she replied lowly. ‘But I think she’s going to wake up.’

‘Piper, stand by the bed in case she does,’ Jason instructed. ‘Charmspeak her into going back to sleep.’

‘Mortals are so easy to charmspeak,’ Piper commented calmly. ‘Shouldn’t take more than a few words.’

She walked over to the bed and read the name printed on the bedhead, ‘Millie. Pretty.’

‘Isn’t that the name of Coach Hedge’s girlfriend,’ Jason recalled.

Piper moved her head in that yes/no, nod/shake motion, ‘Close. Her names Mellie. Remember, she’s my dad’s secretary.’

Millie shifted in her sleep and called out in fear, twisting beneath the sheets like they were strangling her. Piper watched the tormented sleeping child for a moment before laying a hand on her forehead and whispering with charmspoken words, ‘Shh, sleep soundly.’

Millie fell still, the features on her face relaxing and snuggling deeper into her oversized pillow. Piper smiled, satisfied.

‘Almost got it,’ Calypso mumbled.

The rabbit was mostly formed, but still green. As Calypso waved her hand over her creation, lime sparks drifted off the bunny revealing white fur beneath. The real Frank’s nose twitched excitedly, but his ears drooped. His friends had come, but he was leaving Millie behind. Even though they had a replacement and the girl wouldn’t know the difference, truth be told Frank had fallen for the lonely child with her love of flowers and pink, and her kindly nature.

‘Getting there,’ Calypso said.

Out back in the garden, Leo sat against a tree, tossing one of its apples back and forth. He followed the motion with his eyes, the stillness driving his ADHD brain insane. Hazel watched him in irritation.

‘Could you stop that?’ she asked eventually. ‘You’re going to drive me crazy.’

Leo shrugged, ‘Do you have a better idea to awake?’

‘As a matter of fact, I do,’ she said. ‘Watching for monster attacks.’

Leo sighed but put the apple down and stood up, spreading his hands innocently for Hazel. She simply rolled her eyes and paced up and down the carrots. Nico came back from around the corner.

‘Something’s up,’ he said. ‘I can feel it, something’s not right.’

‘Nothing is ever right with you, man,’ Leo grumbled. ‘You’re monster sense is probably still clogged up from our trip. I know mine is.’

‘You have a monster sense?’ Hazel asked in disbelief. ‘That’s interesting.’

Nico grimaced, ‘Make all the fun you want, Leo. Doesn’t change anything.’

Leo backed down and turned away, walking along the hedge rimming the fence line. He glanced up and felt a shiver run down his spine.

Outside the front of the house, Percy and Annabeth stood back to back, their weapons sheathed but  in hand.

‘Was it really wise to station Leo out back?’ the daughter of Athena asked doubtfully.

‘Would it have been wise to station him in front?’ Percy countered.

Annabeth shrugged and smiled in surrender, ‘There’s no wise place to put him. He’d cause trouble if he was on the moon.’

Percy chuckled quietly, ‘Don’t tell him that. He’ll probably try to go to the moon.’

Annabeth nodded, laughing soundlessly in response. They stood in silence for another few minutes, their hearts beating steadily, their demigod instincts working overtime. They looked around in sync.

‘You feeling the same I am?’ Percy asked eventually.

‘Like there’s a monster?’ Annabeth guessed. ‘Yeah, I am.’

‘Should we warn the others?’ Percy wondered.

Annabeth hesitated before shaking her head, ‘We need to stay here in case there is a monster. They can handle monsters by themselves.’

‘So can we,’ Percy said, nudging Annabeth.

‘We sure can,’ Annabeth agreed with a laugh.

Suddenly, four sets of glowing red eyes appeared out of the gloom. They stared right at the two demigods menacingly, prowling out of the shadows and licking the lips like they’d finally cornered their pray.

‘But this may be difficult,’ Annabeth admitted, exchanging a look with Percy.