Annabeth Chase and the Sea of Monsters

Chapter 6 - We ride a supernatural taxi

It wasn't the first time we had a man hunt after us. On our quest last summer, Percy was believed to be a terrorist and the country's number 1 fugitive. So now, it reminded me of good times.

I stopped at the corner of Thomas and Trimble, a good enough place to lay low for a minute.

"Here," I said, fishing around in my backpack for a drachma. "I hope I have one left," I muttered to myself.

"What are you looking for?" Percy asked, his eyes narrowed as if he was studying me.

I ignored him.

My hands touched a smooth cool coin and I pulled it out in triumph. "Found one. Thank the gods."

Percy frowned. "Annabeth, New York taxi drivers won't take that."

As if I didn't already know that. But I kept ignoring him. I couldn't forget how annoyed I was at him. And his "friend".

"Anakoche." I yelled. "Harma epitribeios!" Stop, Chariot of Damantion!

I threw the coin into the street and watched as it melted into the tarmac, growing to cover an area as large as a taxi. I'd never summoned the Grey Sisters before, but Chiron had explained it to me. I just hoped it worked.

The tarmac started bubbling and a smokey form rose up. It was a taxi, but grey and looked transparent. There were words printed on the side which I couldn't read but I assumed said GREY SISTERS. I had a horrible feeling that I'd done something wrong, or misheard Chiron, but I just decided to go through with it and hope of the best.

A woman's head popped out of the passenger window. She was hideous, her grizzly hair covering her whole face so her voice came out all mumbled.

"Passage? Passage?" she croaked, making me cringe.

"Three to Camp Half-Blood," I requested, opening the cab's back door and waving Percy in. He stared at me like I'd grown another head.

"Ach!" the old woman sudden to shrieked. "We don't take his kind!"

She pointed at Tyson. Percy looked ready to break out his sword and unleash some demigod fury.

Smart sisters, I thought. But, unfortunately, I couldn't leave him behind.

"Extra pay," I promised. "Three more drachmas on arrival."

"Done!" the woman screamed.

Percy didn't look happy about it, but he crawled into the cab. Tyson followed, taking up at least half of the room and I managed to squeeze in last. My breath hitched as I was forced against Tyson, his hairy skin feeling rough against mine and his horrible garbage smell assaulting my nostrils.

I had to take deep breaths to steady myself. Today was not my favourite day, so far. But I knew it could only get worse.

Looking around the cab, I saw that it looked like most cabs with a cracked seat and cramped quarters. There was no Flexiglas screen separating us from the three Grey Sisters. I wish there was so my eyes weren't assaulted also.

They all looked identical, same mop of hair covering their faces, wrinkled skin, bony claw-like hands and sackcloth dresses that was coloured black. They repulsed me almost as much as Tyson. Almost, but not quite.

"Long Island!" screamed the old hag driving. "Out-of-metro fare bonus! Ha!"

She slammed her foot on the accelerator, causing us to all be thrown backwards against our seats. Tyson practically fell against me, causing me to whimper.