Sea Princess

Chapter 22

We were flying through the cold, icy clouds trying to keep up with the Camp Half-blood van. I was huddled up next to Percy on Blackjack's back. If I ever had my way again, I was never going to travel via Blackjack ever again. My butt was numb from the saddle but also because I was going numb all over from being cold this high in the atmosphere.

"You good?" Percy asked as he glanced back at me as I huddled closer to him. I shook my head.

"How much longer?" I said as my teeth chattered against each other. Percy shrugged but soon after I had asked, he landed near the Chrysler Building. I looked at him with this look and he just shrugged giving me this smile. I rolled my eyes.

"You're cute, smartass." I muttered.

"I try." He smiled at me. Then he looked around and spotted the van and then watched as they went past the bus station.

"Where's Argus taking them?" He muttered.

"Zoe's driving." I said. Blackjack nodded and Percy glanced back at me, and I shrugged at him.

Hey look there's a donut shop down there! Can we get something to go? Blackjack asked. I just rolled my eyes. 

"Blackjack focus..." I muttered. I watched the van as Percy explained to Blackjack how we couldn't go down there with him without giving everyone a freaking heart attack. The mist would probably cover up his wings, but I didn't want to say anything because then he wouldn't shut up about going down to get something to eat.

"Well, let's go!" I said. Percy nodded and right before we were to jump off the building Blackjack jerked back, and I grabbed onto Percy trying to stay onto the horse. Percy went to grab Riptide and when he glanced down his eyes widened. I glanced down to see vines.

"Shit," I said realizing they were grape vines, and we were in the company of Mr. D. The vines had grounded us for the moment and when I glanced up, I saw Mr. D watching us.

"Going somewhere?" Mr. D asked. He was leaning against the building in a god-awful leopard skin warm up suit which he so did not need to be wearing. I was going to have nightmares for months with that leopard suit in it. 

God alert! It's the wine dude Blackjack yelled. I rolled my eyes at Blackjack.

"The next person to call me the wine dude will end up in a bottle of Merlot." Mr. D threatened. I thought about it for a moment and decided that wouldn't be such a bad thing to end up in a bottle of Merlot.

"Mr. D, what do you want?" Percy asked as the vines continued to wrap around his legs. I felt a few start to wrap around my ankles and I for one wasn't okay with that feeling of entrapment. 

"What do I want? You thought, perhaps, that the immortal, all-powerful director of camp would not notice you two leaving without permission?" He asked looking at both of us. I just shrugged nonchalantly.

"Well...maybe." Percy said.

"Technically I'm going on my quest. I just didn't tell you I was going on it so therefore not in trouble." I said. Mr. D rolled his eyes at me.

"I should throw you both off the building without the flying horse and see how heroic you sound on the way down." Mr. D said. I gaped at him like he was insane. There was no way in Hades I was going to go back to camp or letting him throw me off this building.

"Why do you hate me so much? What did I ever do to you?" Percy snapped. I looked over at him with wide eyes. He was treading in dangerous water.

"You're a hero. I have no other reason." He said. I glared at him, and Percy shook his head. Shut up Percy before we get tossed off the building without Blackjack beneath us.

"I have to go on this quest! I've got to help my friends. That's something you wouldn't understand!" Percy said.

"And this is my quest so mine." I said crossing my arms over my chest. Mr. D's gaze flickered over to me and then looked back at Percy.

Boss, seeing as how we're wrapped in vines nine hundred feet in the air, you might wanna talk nice Blackjack reminded. I patted Blackjack on the side comfortingly, or what I hoped was comfortingly. I watched the van get smaller in the distance and I saw the vines tighten around Blackjack and Percy. I even started to feel one tugging on my shoes. Then Mr. D launched into this big story of Ariadne, his now immortal wife, Princess of Crete, had her heart broken by a son of Poseidon, Theseus. He said that she was waiting for him, and that hero's wouldn't change anytime soon, because we just use people and whatever we want and then we betray everyone. He even brought up Zoe and I felt my heart give a loud thump in my chest as I thought of her and Luke. I shook my head as I felt the vines uncurl from around my legs.

"Go. Follow your silly friends." He said. I looked at him skeptically. Percy glanced over at me confused before we looked back at Mr. D. 

"You're letting us go?" I asked carefully.

"Well, the prophecy says at least two of you will die. Perhaps I'll get lucky, and you'll be one of them. But mark my words, Son and Daughter of Poseidon, live or die, you will prove no better than the other heroes." Mr. D said. Then before I could come up with a retort he disappeared with a snap of his fingers. My heart gave a good loud thump in my ears before Percy glanced over at me.

"I will not be like those other heroes Mr. D. Mark my words on that you'll be eating yours." I muttered as Percy looked back at me. I glanced over at him before he looked back over at Blackjack.

"Come on Blackjack, we'll get some donuts in New Jersey." Percy promised. He whinnied before leaping off the side of the building and diving down into the clouds again. We rode on Blackjack for a while following the van all the way down to Maryland where they stopped for a rest stop. Zoe was booking it down the highway and poor Blackjack hadn't gotten a rest yet so when we landed, I took the opportunity to stretch my legs. Percy looked over at me and nodded.

"I'm going to go scout. Just stay here." He said. I nodded and Blackjack started to nibble at the grass. I sighed and went rummaging through my backpack. I saw the converse sneakers I had stuff at the bottom. They had wings on the side and Luke had given them to me a while ago. I hadn't been able to fit into them until a few years ago and had been waiting to use them and I felt as if I needed them for this quest. I pulled out a pack of teddy grahams, the ultimate travel food and started to eat. I smiled as I put a few into my mouth. After about ten minutes Percy came back after taking Annabeth's hat off.

"They're heading to D.C. so let's go." He said. I nodded and stuffed my stuff back into my book-bag before climbing back onto Blackjack. We kept following them until we reached D.C., which was when Blackjack started to get closer to the ground.

"You, okay?" Percy asked Blackjack.

Fine, boss. I could...I could take on an army Blackjack panted. I looked at Percy and then at Blackjack and shook my head. That sounded really bad honestly. We needed to land and let Blackjack a good while. He sounded he was running on his last life.

"You don't sound good though." I said.

Don't worry about me, shorty! I'm a tough one. Blackjack said. I glanced at Percy as he shook his head. Then he glanced down and I looked down and noticed the van started to slow down. Then he looked at the sky as we started to get closer to the center of the city.

"Set me down there. That's close enough." Percy told Blackjack. He dropped by the Washington Monument and let us down off him. I looked up at the monument and whistled. I had only been in Washington a few dozen times because of mom and business. I had always had fun running through the museums here on the mall. I saw the van as Percy turned to Blackjack to tell him to go back to camp. I guess we were walking the rest of the way until we got up with the Hunters and then I was going to slip away silently. I quickly slipped off my vans and put on the converse before standing back up with Percy beside me. I glanced up to see everyone getting out of the van.

"Ready?" Percy asked. I nodded and went to step forward, but Percy grabbed me. He pointed to a black van that had the door pushed open. I stood there for a moment pulling on a Yankees hat and saw someone I was hoping to never see again. Dr. Thorn. He glanced in a few directions before heading after our friends which had just walked down the Mall. I looked at Percy and then I flicked my Yankee's hat, which had been another gift from Luke, and it made my hair blonde.

"Where did you get that trick hat from?" Percy murmured as he pulled out Annabeth's hat.

"...Luke gave it to me. It has more tricks up my sleeve. It can make me invisible like Annabeth's hat. I don't know how but he managed to get it. I don't know how long it will hold out for though so hopefully we'll be quick" I murmured. He nodded and put Annabeth's hat on before disappearing. I flicked my hat again and I lifted my arm up to see that I wasn't visible, but I felt something touch me. I jumped and I heard Percy laugh.

"Let me take your hand so we don't get separated." He said.

"Fine." I muttered. I let him take my hand and then we started to walk after him. He stayed behind everyone before they went into the National Air and Space Museum. I bit my lip and watched as they went inside but Dr. Thorn stopped before going across the street. Percy waited for a minute before tugging on my hand and we followed Dr. Thorn across the street to the Museum of Natural History. There was a huge sign saying that the museum was closed for a private thing, but Percy and I snuck in after Thorn. We walked through a huge chamber that I recognized and then I saw Thorn stop in front of two guards. I let go Percy and quickly as I could run and jump up. I felt myself get up into the air and as soon as the door opened for Thorn to step through, I carefully pushed my way into the room. I just had to find Percy now.

I glanced around the room I had just gotten into. There was a huge plot of dirt in the center, and I set back down on the ground quietly to see a balcony wrapping around the room. I saw mortals standing guard along with two dracaenas. I knew if they were here Luke wasn't too far from this place. My stomach tightened slightly as my eyes landed on him standing between the two dracaenas. He looked slightly paler than the last time I had seen him, and his hair had lost the shine that it had when I had been with him in my dream. A wave of sympathy went out to him. I pushed off the ground again and moved so that I was up in front of him but like ten feet away from him. I stared at him to see his blue eyes held the same anger but there was something else there. Then I noticed he had a necklace on with a dog tag on it. It was my sea princess dog tag. My heart leapt into my throat. 

I had lost it and I didn't know where it had gotten to. I guess I knew now that Luke had found it. I moved back slightly and noticed there was someone sitting beside Luke. He was huge and literally scared the shit out of me.

"Well?" the man asked next to Luke asked. I looked down to see Thorn taking off his sunglasses.

"They are here, General." He said. I looked at the man who was sitting beside Luke; so, this was the general that Thorn was talking about before. He didn't sound that familiar to me. I don't believe I had ever heard of someone like this.

"I know that you fool, but where?" He demanded. I couldn't see his face because of the shadows but I carefully set down on the ground. I glanced around the room. 

"In the rocket museum." Thorn said. I shook my head and then glanced down at myself.

"The Air and Space Museum." Luke said irritably. I glanced up at him as he talked. He looked like he was tired as hell. Thorn glared at Luke as he spoke. Well, I guess Thorn didn't like that Luke was higher ranked than him I took. 

"As you say, sir." Thorn sneered at Luke. I shook my head and then started to rock back and forth on my heels before stopping as I heard the wings flapping from the sides of the converse I had on. I paused hoping no one had heard anything as Thorn glanced back over his shoulder slightly before looking over at Luke again. I swallowed nervously. 

"How many?" Luke asked. Thorn didn't acknowledge that Luke had spoken to him.

"How many?" The general demanded. Okay so Thorn was still an ass, I could see.

"Four, General. The satyr, Grover Underwood. And the girl with the spiky black hair and the-how do you say- punk clothes and the horrible shield." Thorn said. I smirked slightly and shook my head. Oh, Thalia you will be forever remembered for your shield.

"Thalia." Luke said. I nodded and looked over at Thorn.

"And two other girls- Hunters. One wears a silver circlet." Thorn said. I glanced over at the General who had growled at the name.

"That one I know." He growled. Oh, so he knew Zoe, now all I wanted to know was how he knew this. Luke glanced over at the General before glancing down at Thorn again.

"Cassi?" Luke asked. Thorn sneered but shook his head. I bit the side of my mouth to keep myself quiet. 

"No, that little brat isn't with them. They probably won't let her leave knowing that you want her so bad." Thorn sneered. Luke looked ready to kill him but kept his cool and looked over to the General again.

"Don't call Cassandra a brat! But let me take them. We have more than enough-" Luke snapped irritably. I noticed his cheeks had taken on a red tint as he snapped. I just shook my head silently. The worst part is Percy was in the same room listening to them talk also. 

"Patience, they'll have their hands full already. I've sent a little playmate to keep them occupied." The general said. I started to move back towards the door because I felt something bad coming.

"But-" Luke protested but the General waved him off.

"We cannot risk you, my boy." The General said. I narrowed my eyes at Luke, and I swear he moved his gaze was looking directly at me.

How could you become so lost? I thought to myself as Thorn said something to Luke and the General. Then the General stood from his seat.

"You have already failed me, Thorn." He said.

"But General-!" Thorn protested.

"No excuses!" The general yelled. I flinched at the sound of his voice and then stared up at Luke. All I kept thinking was how we fit Taylor Swift's song 'You're Not Sorry' perfectly. I bit my lip and then glanced over at the General.

"I should throw you into the pits of Tartarus for your incompetence. I send you to capture the children of the three elder gods for both Lord Kronos and Luke and you bring me a scrawny daughter of Athena." The General said. My blood ran cold when he mentioned me. I glanced over at Luke who had his hand on the necklace spinning the dog tag around. He glanced down at it and I could swear I saw a look of longing in his eyes before the anger came back to them.

"But you promised me revenge! A command of my own!" Thorn said. I shook my head knowing that this General wasn't going to give him that just because he had failed him.

"I am Lord Kronos's senior commander, and I will choose lieutenants who get me results! It was only thanks to Luke that we salvaged our plan at all. Now get out of my sight, Thorn, until I find some other tasks for you." The General said. Thorn then turned and left the room after giving him a weird bow. I shook my head and then walked closer. It was time for me to leave before things went worse. 

"Now, my boy, the first thing we must do is isolate the half-blood Thalia. The monster we seek will then come to her." The General said. I paused in my quest for the door and turned to face Luke again.

"The Hunters will be difficult to dispose of. Zoe Nightshade-" Luke said.

"Do not speak her name!" The General yelled making me flinch again. God he was really touchy with Zoe's name.

"S-sorry, General. I just-" Luke said but he was waved off again. I knew that if this was just waving Luke's apology away what he had just said was nothing meant that Luke was high in the ranks and had a specific purpose. I frowned sadly. 

"Let me show you my boy how we will bring the Hunters down." The General said. He then pointed to a mortal guard on the ground which shocked me. I didn't think Luke like mortals. I don't know why he was working with them.

"Do you have the teeth?" The General asked as a guard stumbled forward with a pot in his hands. He nodded quickly. 

"Yes, General!" He said formally.

"Plant them." The General said. I looked at the guard as he went to the center of the room where a big circle of dirt was and took the teeth out of the pot and carefully pushed them into the soil before covering them with the dirt. I glanced back at Luke who was just staring at it.

"Ready General!" The guard said as he stepped away from the dirt. My eyes were glued to where the guy had just put the teeth into the ground. 

"Excellent, water them and we will let them scent their prey!" The general said. I watched the guard pick up a watering can and started to pour a red liquid out of it which I was guessing was blood. Of course, these people would be that gross. That's when I saw the soil begin to bubble. I took a unconscious step backwards towards the door. 

"Soon, I will show you Luke soldiers that will make your army from that little boat look insignificant." The General said. I saw Luke get angry and I knew he was trying to control himself.

"I've spent a year training my forces! When the Princess Andromeda arrives at the mountain, they'll be the best-" Luke started to rant.

"Ha! I don't deny your troops will make a fine honor guard for Lord Kronos. And you, of course will have a role to play-" He said. I looked at Luke to see him get paler if that was even possible. Oh, Luke what the hell had you gotten yourself into?

"-but under my leadership the forces of Lord Kronos will increase a hundredfold. We will be unstoppable and when you convince your girlfriend to join the cause and you take her as your bride things will be even more unstoppable. Behold my ultimate killing machines." The General said. Bride? Seriously they were still on that power trip. They really needed to build a bridge and get over that thought because it was never going to happen. The soil erupted and when I saw something struggling to get out of the dirt, I saw kittens. They were orange and tiny and if I wasn't invisible, I would've awed.

"What is this? Cute cuddly kittens! Where did you find those teeth?" The General roared. I watched the kittens play with each other and meowing softly. Honestly, I wanted to pick one up and take it with me on the way out they were that cute. I turned back to look at Luke.

"This is why I don't use mortals. They are unreliable." Luke muttered dismissively. 

"They are weak-minded, easily bought, and violent. I love them." The General said. I had to give him all those. They were just that but not weak-minded. They just didn't know everything going on around them. A few minutes later a guard came back in with his hands full of pointy teeth. I watched as the General got onto the railing of the balcony before jumping down. It was good twenty feet jump and when he landed, he cracked the floor. I pushed off the ground again and moved so that I was sitting on the balcony railing right by Luke making sure the monsters couldn't feel me. I saw one shift slightly but didn't say anything. Luke never even felt me. I saw the General walk to the circle of dirt and then plant twelve in. He pushed his arm out.

"Rise." He commanded. I bit my lip as a skeletal hand shot out of the dirt. I watched to my right as a dracaenae pulled out a silver scarf. I noticed it from being with the Hunters. Oh, shit they were going to track the Hunters.

"Excellent, once my warriors catch its scent, they will pursue its owner relentlessly. Nothing can stop them, no weapons known to half-blood or Hunter. They will tear the hunters and their allies to shreds. Toss it here!" The General said as skeletons erupted from the ground behind him. I watched in horror as they grew skin but if you looked at them a certain way you could see under the skin, like a translucent skin. I noticed they had clothing on that resembled army clothes, even with camo pants. I saw look directly at one spot and I knew Percy was there, but one also looked at me. They could see through the enchantments I realized. Luke looked at it carefully and tilted his head to the side wondering probably why it was staring at the empty spot beside him. 

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the scarf be released and it fluttered down towards the General. I grabbed it before they could do anything, and I was slammed into by an invisible force. Percy. I slammed into the ground losing my hat in the process and I saw the scarf flutter by itself. I scrambled up to my feet to go grab my hat that was sitting a few feet away.

"What's this?!" The General yelled. I grabbed my hat off the ground and looked back at Luke for a split second who had a shocked look on his face. I gave him a cheeky wink. I ran between the warriors and went to push off the ground and when I did one of them grabbed onto my jeans. I gave a grunt as one of the warriors slammed me back into the ground. I rolled away from them. I groaned before looking at them as they started towards me.