Running the Gauntlet

Just a big ol puppy dog!

Garden

We stood in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at gold letters etched in black marble: DOA RECORDING STUDIOS.

Underneath, stenciled on the glass doors: NO SOLICI-TORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING.

It was almost midnight, but the lobby was brightly lit and full of people. Behind the security desk sat a tough-looking guard with sunglasses and an earpiece.

"So, did Crusty have anything on him? Like money or something expensive?" I asked.

"A couple drachma oh and he had this watch." Percy said, pulling a nice looking watch out of his pocket. "You want it? Watches aren't really my thing." He dropped the watch into my hand.

"Yeah, I'll take it." I said slipping the watch on. It was a solid black, with some silver circling around the top of the watch. On the inside were roman numerals. With a man riding an armored elephant with three roman soldiers armed surrounding it. There was also a mountain range behind it all. Two clock hands ticking.

In all it was a very nice watch.

"Thank you Percy." I said

"It's no problem man." He smiled.

Percy turned to the others. "Okay. You remember the plan."

"The plan," Grover gulped. "Yeah. I love the plan."

Annabeth said, "What happens if the plan doesn't work?"

"Don't think negative."

"Right," she said. "We're entering the Land of the Dead, and I shouldn't think negative."

"You know as the Prince we should get the full red carpet treatment. Maybe they will even let you in Brains." I said smirking to her, causing me to get pinched. "It's just a joke." I said rubbing my arm.

Percy took the pearls out of his pocket, the three milky spheres the Nereid had given him in Santa Monica.

They didn't seem like much of a backup in case something went wrong. And there were only four of them which wasn't a problem, I'll make sure that the three of them get out fine.

Annabeth put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Percy. You're right, we'll make it. It'll be fine."

"Brains' is right, we've got nothing to worry about." I said and nudged Grover.

"Oh, right!" he chimed in. "We got this far. We'll find the master bolt and save your mom. No problem."

Percy gave us a grateful look, I think he's starting to realize we'd do just about anything for him.

He slipped the pearls back in my pocket. "Let's whup some Underworld butt."

I held the door open as the others walked into the DOA lobby.

Music played softly on hidden speakers. The carpet and walls were steel gray. Pencil cactuses grew in the corners like skeleton hands. The furniture was black leather, and every seat was taken. There were people sitting on couches, people standing up, people staring out the windows or waiting for the elevator. Nobody moved, or talked, or did much of anything. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see them all just fine, but if I focused on any one of them in particular, they started looking ... transparent. I could see right through their bodies.

The security guard's desk was a raised podium, so we had to look up at him.

He was tall and elegant, with chocolate-colored skin and bleached-blond hair shaved military style. He wore tortoiseshell shades and a silk Italian suit that matched his hair. A black rose was pinned to his lapel under a silver name tag.