¹𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀. percy jackson

LVI.

ｔｈｅ ｌａｓｔ ｏｌｙｍｐｉａｎ

"NOBODY STEALS MY PEGASUS" Percy grumbled over and over as they ran for the river. He was outraged, fuming in fact. 

Lucia tried to reassure him that they'd get him back but he was so pissed off that he just kept cursing under his breath.

The traffic was horrible. Everybody was out on the streets gawking at the war zone damage. Police sirens wailed on every block. There was no possibility of catching a cab, and the pegasi had flown away. Lucia thought of the Party Ponies, but they had disappeared along with most of the root beer in Midtown. So they ran, pushing through mobs of dazed mortals that clogged the sidewalks.

"She'll never get through the defenses," Annabeth said. "Peleus will eat her."

Lucia and Percy looked at each other, they hadn't considered that. The Mist wouldn't fool Rachel like it would most people. She'd be able to find the camp with no problem, but Lucia was hoping the magical boundaries would just keep her out like a force field. It hadn't occurred to her that Peleus might attack. She wasn't the closest to the girl, but she sure didn't want to see her lifeless body on top of half-blood hill.

"We have to hurry," Percy glanced at Nico. "I don't suppose you could conjure up some skeleton horses."

He wheezed as he ran. "So tired . . . couldn't summon a dog bone."

Lucia rubbed his back as he caught his breath, "It's alright. Drink your soda, you need the sugar."

Nico looked embarrassed of her doting but without a word took a sip from the drink he had yet to throw out.

They scrambled over the embankment to the shore, and Percy let out a loud whistle.

Lucia knew he hated to do it. Even with the sand dollar he'd given the East River, the water was still pretty gross and polluted. But despite the risk of getting sick, the sea animals came when they were called by Percy.

Three wake lines appeared in the gray water, and a pod of hippocampi broke the surface. They whinnied unhappily, shaking the river muck from their manes. They were beautiful creatures, with multicolored fishtails, and the heads and forelegs of white stallions. The hippocampus in front was much larger than the others. Lucia recalled Percy telling her that Annabeth, Tyson, and he received help from them in their quest to the sea of monsters.

"Rainbow!" Percy called. "How's it going, buddy?"

He neighed a complaint.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," He said. "But it's an emergency. We need to get to camp."

He snorted.

"Tyson?" He said. "Tyson is fine! I'm sorry he's not here. He's a big general now in the Cyclops army."

"NEEEEIGGGGH!"

"Yeah, I'm sure he'll still bring you apples. Now, about that ride . . ."

In no time, Annabeth, Nico, Percy, and Lucia were zipping up the East River faster than Jet Skis. They sped under the Throgs Neck Bridge and headed for Long Island Sound.

It seemed like forever until they saw the beach at camp. They thanked the hippocampi and waded ashore, only to find Argus waiting for them. He stood in the sand with his arms crossed, his hundred eyes glaring at them.

"Is she here?" Lucia asked.

He nodded grimly.

"Is everything okay?" Annabeth said. Argus shook his head.