The Ocean's Glare - The Lightning Thief

Chapter 28

Chapter 28 - Early christmas present

YEAH! Wait, no spoilers! Read da chapta.

After about 30 minutes we were back in New York. Don't ask me how. It is pegasus magic. Also, random fact, Pegasus is my... yeah never mind.

"Girl, you are injured. Are you sure you can make it to camp?" Alexandra asked me.

"I know of a place we could go. But it definitely isn't my first choice." I grumbled. I was picturing Gabe's face if I knocked on the door with three friends and a broken rib that he didn't cause. Eh, we gotta go anyway because the clothes I'm wearing are the only ones I have.

"What is your first choice?" asked Connor.

"Make it until we get to camp." I replied.

"Not an option. Girl, just take us!"

"Fine!" I grumbled, then I leaned down to Guido's ear and whispered the address. Do pegasi have internal GPSs? Turns out we don't. It also turns out that if you saw a car driving up the street the wrong direction on the news on the summer solstice in Manhattan, that may or may not have been us.

After an hour of me giving bad directions to a pegasus we finally found the apartment.

"Thanks Guido, I think we can get to camp from here." I told the pegasus.

"See ya Lady Peyton! You ever need me again, just whistle!" Then the pearly white horse flew away. It's crazy to think that Guido is my nephew.

I stared up at the apartment building, "You guys should stay here."

There was a range of protests: "why" to "No way" to "But we need food!!!" The food one was Connor.

"Fine, but stay invisible." I handed Alexandra my glove.

She struggled to put it on while I started walking up the stairs. About halfway up I changed my mind and climbed back down.

"What are you doing?" hissed Travis.

"Using the fire escape." I replied. I got to the fire escape and tried not to wince at every creak and crack. When I finally got to the right window I jerked it open and slid inside as gracefully as you can with a broken rib. I also stepped on a broken beer bottle.

"Man, this room has gotten worse since we left." I muttered. I scrambled around the broken glass and cigarette buds to the closet. Neither me or Percy's stuff was anywhere and that was the only place I could think to look for it.

I found my suitcase in the closet along with all of Percy's things.

"Geeze, this is not a fixer upper. This is a burner downer." said Alexandra as she came through the window. For a second Travis and Connor were visible but the second they climbed into my window they lost their visibility.

"Tell me about it!" I said. I had grabbed a spare pair of clothes and some medical supplies I had brought with me just in case, "I will be in the bathroom. If you destroy anything or get caught in here you will get hurt. And, I won't be the one that inflicts it."

Before any of the invisible people could respond I noticed a package on the bed.

The gods, 600th floor, empire state building, new york city, best wishes, Percy Jackson.

"And do not under any circumstances open that box." If I come back to find a statue it is their fault, but I should probably warn them, "It has Medusa's head in it."

Then I left.

The clothes I put on were a camo crop top with a black tank top under it and some gray camo pants. Before you even think it, yes they were military school issued and yes they are way too obsessed with camo. I also had on my brother's black and blue hat that I bought him.

When I was on my way back to the bedroom I heard something that chilled my blood, "Sally, your little brats are dead. Stop worrying about them and make me some guacamole."

That was when I had an idea. It was a very horrible idea. But, it was also pretty great.

I rushed into the bedroom, grabbed the still closed package, a piece of paper and a pencil from all the crap on the floor and wrote out, "Mom, Merry christmas, this is medusa's head. I would use it on Gabe myself but I have a feeling that you want to do it more. Tell me when you do it! - Peyton."

I set it on top of the box and said to the air, "Alexandra, give me my glove for a second."

I also grabbed my casino card from my old pants and my dagger.

I set down the card with the note and my dagger next to the box.

"What are you gonna do?" asked Travis.

"I'm gonna give my mom an early birthday present." I said, pulling the glove on.

"You are gonna use the head on your mom!?" Travis asked.

"What does the head do?" Connor asked.

"NO! I am giving it to her so she can use it to get rid of my step-father Smelly Gabe." then I scooped up the package and raced into the living room.

There was my mom. Sitting on the same couch as Gabe. Trying to get as far as possible. And failing. Gabe, he was playing poker with the building superintendent. The old one was pretty annoying and let Gabe get away with just about anything. If this one is playing poker with Gabe then he is probably pretty similar.

I set the box in my mom's lap who looked startled for a second before she read the card.

"You're welcome!" I whispered in her ear before rushing out of the room.

When I got to my- well Percy's- room I took off the glove and opened the chest from when I was 7.

"Geeze, what is all the little kid stuff?" asked Travis looking over my shoulder.

"This stuff used to be mine. It was before- anyway, I need a ribbon. Preferably black but any ribbon should work."

"This is not the time to do your hair!" Connor protested.

"It is for my dagger! I don't have any pockets!" I said slightly irritated.

I could hear a little bit of arguing from the living room before it went silent. I smiled to myself before continuing to dig around in my chest. I finally found a ribbon when the door burst open.

Everyone froze.

"Peyton!"

"Mom!" I said, I got up and rushed up to my mom who embraced me in a bone crushing hug that actually broke my bones.

"Ah, broken rib!" I said, backing out of the hug and clutching my side.

"Hey, Pey's mom, do you have any food?" Connor asked.

"Who are your friends?" asked Mom.

"Uh, the shorter brown head is Connor, son of Hermes and a 10 year old, the taller brunette is Travis, also son of Hermes 12 years old, and the black haired girl, Alexandra, is unknown age and a daughter of hecate." I introduced.

"I'm Sally, Peyton's mom." Mom stuck out her hand for them to shake.

"How did you know I was still here?" I asked.

"Call it a sixth sense. You will have one too when you have kids." My mom waved it off.

"Did you use the head?" I asked.

"I did, actually." she looked like she was trying to seem sad about it but couldn't find it in her.

"Do you have any cookies?" I asked.

"No, sorry. I would offer to whip up a batch but you will probably be gone before they are done." she said disappointed.

"That's ok." I said. I hugged her.