2826 words

"Raiden's plan is crazy," Percy said as we approached the fence. "I like it!"

I nodded but said nothing. I'd placed nose plugs over my nostrils so I didn't pass out from the horrible stench (Yes, I carried nose plugs. You'd be surprised how horrible a smell gets when you have enhanced senses). And now my voice sounded really weird, like a mix between a cow mooing and a goat bleating. As Percy, he'd pulled his camp shirt over his nose to block out the smell.

When we arrived, a stallion looked over. He whinnied angrily and trudged through the muck over to meet us. He opened his mouth, revealing sharp teeth like a lion's.

"Hey," Percy called, "we're going to clean your barn! Isn't it that great?"

Yep! the horse neighed. Come in! Swallow you! Yummy half-bloods!

The other horses echoed his desire to eat us.

Percy looked at me. "Can you calm them down?"

I pursed my lips. "I can try, but it's unlikely they'll listen."

"But your mom's the goddess of wild animals!"

"Right, but these guys aren't entirely animals. They're technically monsters, but I might be able to calm them. I did it once with a wild pegasus in Alberta. Just don't freak out."

Percy arched an eyebrow. "Why would I freak out?"

"Oh, you'll see."

I stepped right up to the edge of the fence and inhaled deeply. Then I turned, gave Percy a thumbs-up, and vaulted over the fence.

***

Of all the crazy things I've done, jumping into a corral with horses who wanted to eat me is definitely in my top ten. It's right up there with the time I stole a car from Toyota in LA and led the police on a forty-mile pursuit before Raiden forced me the stop (And no, I am not a good driver if that's what you're thinking). The two of us had to Lunar Travel away before I was arrested for reckless driving. Oh, and the time I made a Canadian goose angry in Ottawa.

I landed on the other side of the fence, right next to the stallion. He neighed, Food!

Food? The other horses looked up. Food!

"I don't think so." I sprinted away from the stallion at the fence.

"Ainsley, what the Hades are you doing?" Percy yelled. "You're going to get yourself eaten!"

"I know what I'm doing, Percy!" I shouted over my shoulder. "Just stay there!"

The stallion galloped after me. I passed by the rest of the herd, who'd been approaching the fence, and they turned right around and pursued me. It was a good thing I had practice running through swamps in Florida, so I was able to maintain my footing while racing through the waist-high poop piles. I reached the end of the corral in seconds (thanks, superspeed) and turned around.

The horses continued to stampede toward me, nostrils smoking. I inhaled deeply again and concentrated. I channeled the power I wielded as the child of the goddess of wild animals, exerting my will over the equines, commanding them to stop. They...didn't stop. If anything, my attempt to tame only angered them further.

The lead stallion snorted, flames shooting out his nostrils. Food! I get first dibs!

"No!" I shouted. "Stop!"

Once again, they refused to listen. I was about to climb the fence so I could exit the corral when I got an idea. A stupid idea, but then again, when are demigod ideas smart? I remembered what Dad had once told me about bullies: If you have to fight, go for the leader. You take out the biggest, nastiest bully, then the others will back down. The same might be true with this herd.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered. "Thanks for giving me your crazy genes, Dad."

I charged at the lead stallion. He snorted in surprise. I dodged around another horse, ducked under another's kick, and jumped into the air. I seized a handful of the lead stallion's mane and raised myself halfway onto his back.

The food is on me! The stallion reared. Get it off!

A mare snapped at my leg, but I glared at her, and she retreated. The only problem was, that there were about ninety-five more horses that wanted to eat me, and they were closing in.

"HEY!" Percy was standing on the opposite side of the corral, waving his arms over his head. "Hey, horses, over here! Seafood! Fish kebab! Ainsley, forget what I said about taming the horses. We're running out of time. Just get out of the corral!"

I glanced up at the sky. Percy was right. The sun was nearing the horizon. We only had about two hours at best before sunset, our deadline.

"Alright!" I shouted.

I released the stallion's mane and landed in the muck next to him. I was instantly swarmed by six more horses. I dodged another jet of fire and a kick. "Okay, time to go!"

I jumped into the air and transformed into a peregrine falcon. I quickly soared up and out of the horses' reach. Naturally, the equines reversed course and charged at Percy. The son of Poseidon turned tail and sprinted for the fence. "Ainsley, a little help would be nice!"

I dove for the ground. Fun fact about peregrine falcons: they can dive at two hundred miles per hour. So, basically, I was a feathery missile on a collision course with Fish Jesus Junior.

I got you! At the last second, I transformed into a giant eagle and snatched Percy up in my claws, much to his displeasure. "I don't like flying unless it's on a pegasus!" he shouted. "Go back to the ground, please!"

Fine, I said, although Percy only heard an eagle's screech.

I soared to down ground and released Percy from my talons. I turned back into a human, grinning. "So, that answers that question: flesh-eating horses can't be tamed."

"It also confirms the fact that you're crazy," Percy muttered.

"That doesn't need confirmed, Percy 'cause everyone knows it's true. Anyway..." I glanced at the sky. "We should start cleaning."

"Yeah, we should. We can use the river."

"Absolutely not."

Percy knit his eyebrows. "Why not?"

"Because if we use the river to clean out all the poop and muck, where do you think it goes?"

"Oh, duh. Into the river. It'll pollute it. You're right; we can't do that, but then, what do we do?"

I smirked. "I'll show you."

"I don't like where this is going."

I transformed into a palomino pegasus. Hop on. It's time you get a little lesson in Chemistry, son of Poseidon.

Percy hesitated then climbed onto my back. "What do you—WOAH!"

He seized my mane as I blasted off from the ground.

***

"Okay, why do I need to learn about chemistry?" Percy asked. "I haven't even started freshman year yet."

We were in the clouds. White tufts drifted past, sprinkling my face with water. All I could see was endless white.

"Chemistry..." Percy prompted. "We're running out of time."

Right, right. Welcome to Chemistry 101. I'm your teacher, Professor Theron, and we—

"Ainsley!"

Okay, okay, cool your jets. I stopped in midair, flapping my wings to stay airborne. So you know about water vapor, right?

"Yeah, it's vapor that's water."

No. It's the water that's in the air and these clouds. I gestured at the white tufts with my muzzle. Now, I want you to do something for me. Close your eyes and concentrate on the clouds around you. Since the water in the clouds and in the air.

"Okay." He shut his eyes. For a moment, nothing happened. But then, many clouds surrounding us became water that then fell. I suspected that we were making it rain.  "I get it," he said.

Yeah? You can sense all the water around you?

"Yes."

So you know what we have to do, then?

"Yep."

Okay, let's do it then.

I dove back to the ground. I landed beside the corral. Percy dismounted, and I turned back into a human. We both closed our eyes. I concentrated, remembering the taste of mountain water against my throat, the coolness of the ocean. I concentrated on the water, picturing a rainstorm, the droplets hammering against the material of my tent. I felt the familiar tug in my gut that I got when I manipulated gravity.

"Woah!" Percy exclaimed.

I opened my eyes.

SPLOOSH!

Hundreds of gallons of water cascaded out of the air and clouds right onto the stables, thoroughly soaking the horses. The poop dissolved into the ground, leaving a sparkling clean stable. The horses began freaking out, slipping and falling in the wet mud. No more cleaning! they wailed, teeth gleaming from their bath. No more cleaning, please!

"Only if you stop eating people," I said.

"Yep," Percy agreed. "Only if you eat the food your caretakers give you, not humans! If you don't, we'll be back!"

We promise! the horses wailed. We won't eat humans anymore! We'll be good flesh-eating horses!

"Good." I turned to Percy. "We have to go now."

The sun was touching the horizon. If we didn't get back quickly, our friends would be given to the Titans.

I turned into a horse. Get on.

Percy climbed on, and I galloped off at full speed toward the ranch house.

***

I could smell the barbecue from the river. It filled my nostrils and flooded my mind with memories of the campfire meals with the Hunt. That just made me even angrier, on top of the animal abuse and homesickness. The porch was decorated for a celebration, with balloons and streamers wrapped around the railing. Geryon was cooking burgers on a large barbecue constructed from an oil drum. Raiden leaned against the railing next to him, chatting unconcernedly, sharpening her axe. Agro sat at her feet, fangs bared at Eurytion. The cattleman lazed across the picnic table, looking bored. Orthus snuffled the burgers and ribs cooking on the grill. And then I registered our friends (well...not Nico): he, Grover, Tyson, and Annabeth sitting at another picnic table.

I knew immediately something was wrong. How did I know? Firstly, Annabeth and Nico were ADHD, like any demigod. And let me tell you, none of us can sit still for more than a second when waiting, so that was the first warning sign. Secondly, our friends' demeanor wasn't relaxed. Nico's face was frozen in an expression of fury. Annabeth's shoulders were tensed and her nostrils were flared as though she was about to breathe fire. Finally, as Percy and I neared the porch, my skin tingled, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight on end. I sniffed the air, and a sharp metallic scent filled my nostrils: magic.

I galloped up the front steps, leaving hoof imprints in the wood. "We did it!" Percy yelled. "Your stables are clean! Now let our friends go!"

Geryon rotated around. He donned an apron on every torso, a single word on respectively, so that they read together: KISS—THE—COOK. "You did, huh? And how'd you do it?"

I snorted impatiently and transformed back into human form. "We don't have to you anything."

"Except you do," Raiden said coldly. "You made a deal with Geryon, and if you hadn't forgotten"—she sneered and gestured at our four trapped friends—"I'm the only one who can free your friends. So, I suggest you tell us how what you did."m

My eye twitched, and I suppressed a shudder. I had to remind myself of Raiden's plan. She sounded so much like Kronos that it was hard to play along.

"Fine," I growled, giving Agro a look that told her to stay. Percy and I told them what we'd done.

Raiden arched an eyebrow and sheathed her axe. "Interesting. What do you think, Geryon?"

The rancher nodded approvingly. "Quite creative, though I would've preferred they used the river and poisoned that annoying naiad, but it doesn't matter."

That final sentence pushed me over the edge. Some of the anger I'd been fighting for months finally burst through the dam in my chest. I transformed back into a horse, did a one-eighty, and sent Geryon sailing over the porch railing. As I was doing this, Agro pinned Orthus to the ground, and Raiden tackled Eurytion, putting him in a chokehold.

Stay here! I commanded Percy. I'm going to kill that stupid rancher!

I stormed forward and jumped over the porch railing. I landed on the ground below with a thud, adrenaline coursing through my veins. Geryon staggered to his feet. There were two hoof-shaped dents in his middle chest. His aprons were smeared with mud so that they now spelled out: IS—H—OO. His face was contorted in fury. "I'll kill you, half-blood!"

I reared angrily. No, you won't! I'LL IMPALE YOU!

I charged. Geryon hurled a barbecue fork at my face, but I dodged. I recalled the story of Heracles and Geryon's cattle and knew what I needed to do. I waited until I was a foot away from the rancher before I changed shape, becoming a rhinoceros. I dodged another strike from the rancher, positioned my tusk, and then thrust it forward.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

I'd impaled Geryon right through his three hearts with my tusk.

Geryon stopped dead. "No. You wouldn't fight me. They told me Jackson would..."

His face became sickly green. The rancher crumpled to his knees and started disintegrating into the sand until only his trio of aprons and XXL cowboy boots remained.

***

My friends were free when I arrived back. Eurytion was too, although he was rubbing his neck and looking warily at Raiden. She and Agro jogged over to check on me. "You okay?"

"Fine," I said, my voice steady. I was extremely relieved she'd finally dropped her act. "Why'd you let Eurytion go?"

"I don't like Geryon anywhere than you do, miss," Eurtyion answered. "You did me a favor by killin' him."

"Then why haven't you left?" Raiden asked.

"I'm kinda stuck with him. Began life as a normal half-blood but accepted immortality from my dad. I regret it. I've leavin' and quittin',' but it just doesn't work."

"Try changing things," Percy suggested.

The cattleman arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Actually tend to the animals, and then maybe they'll follow you. Don't sell for food or make deals with the Titans anymore."

Eurytion thought for a moment. "I could do that."

"Speaking of the Titans," Annabeth chimed in, scrutinizing the cattleman, "did the Geryon Iris-message them about Nico already?"

"Nah," said Eurytion. "Geryon was standin' by until the barbecue was over. They don't have a clue he's here."

"Good," Nico said. "I have to go."

"You can't go back into the Labyrinth, Nico," Percy insisted. "Not alone. It's not safe!"

"I don't care if it's safe or not, Percy!"

"But this isn't what Bianca would've—"

Nico covered his ears as if to block out Percy's words. "Don't talk about Bianca!" he yelled. "You didn't know her like that! You didn't care about her!"

"We did, Nico," Raiden said, her face pale.

"No! You didn't!"

"I did, son of Hades." I gripped the pommels of my daggers to stop myself from punching him. "I care for my Hunters, including Bianca. I would've saved her if—"

"Stop it!" Nico shouted. "Stop it! Stop acting like you cared about Bianca or knew her! I cared about her; she's my sister, and I will bring her back!"

Raiden placed a hand on Nico's shoulder. "You can't bring back the dead, Nico. Believe me, I wish I could."

I wondered if she was referring to her mother.

"Yes, you can!" Nico insisted, pointing at a shaking finger. "She came back to life, so why can't Bianca?"

No one had an answer. Percy's brow was furrowed, evidently thinking hard. Raiden looked pained, angry, and worried simultaneously. I was just worried, although I couldn't outwardly show it.

"Let's see what Bianca thinks," Percy said.

Nico's shoulders slumped. "I've already tried, but she won't respond."

"Retry. I'm pretty sure she'll respond while I'm here."

"And why's that?"

"Because she's been reaching out to me," Percy said, "through Iris-messages. Bianca's been trying to alert me to your plans, so I can look after you."

"Not possible," Nico said with a head shake.

"Well, we'll find out soon, one way or another. You told me you're not scared." Percy faced Eurytion. "We'll need a hole or pit—a grave, maybe, along with drinks and food."

"Percy," cautioned Annabeth. "This doesn't seem like the best—"

"Okay," Nico said. "I'll give it a shot."

Eurytion itched the back of his neck. "We got a hole in the back dug for a septic tank. Try that. Grab my cooler from the kitchen, Cyclops boy. I hope ghosts enjoy root beer."