𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

40

Look! Frank said.

Outside the glass, Keto was leading Hadrian through the amphitheater, lecturing him on something while he nodded politely, adding a few words where he thought it was necessary. Even without his charmspeaking, Percy knew he was good with words, with swindling others, manipulation.

Hadrian! Percy yelled. Then he realized it was hopeless. He couldn't hear telepathic yelling.

Frank bumped his head against the glass.

Hadrian didn't seem to notice. Keto walked him briskly across the amphitheater. She didn't even look through the glass, probably because she assumed the tank was still empty. She pointed to the far end of the room as if saying, Come on. More gruesome sea monsters this way.

Percy realized he had only a few seconds before Hadrian would be gone. He swam after them, but the water didn't help him move as it usually did. In fact, it seemed to be pushing him back. He dropped Riptide and used both arms.

Hadrian and Keto were five feet from the exit.

In desperation, Percy scooped up a giant marble and hurled it underhanded like a bowling ball.

It hit the glass with a thunk—not nearly loud enough to attract attention.

Percy's heart sank.

But Hadrian, maybe sensing something was amiss, glanced over his shoulder. When he saw Percy, his expression went through several changes in a matter of microseconds—incomprehension, surprise, outrage, then a mask of calm.

Before Keto could notice, Hadrian pointed to the top of the amphitheater. Keto was shorter than Hadrian, so he didn't even have to lean up or down when he whispered something in her ear.

Percy knew Hadrian was powerful, but charmspeaking a goddess? They watched as he lay a hand on her shoulder. It looked creepy, Hadrian clearly wasn't doing it because he enjoyed it.

Keto turned. Hadrian smiled at her and said something. Immediately, her eyes rolled over and Keto crumpled to the floor.

Hadrian ran to the glass. Percy had never been gladder to see anyone with blue hair (He loved people with blue hair) He held up his palms like: What are you doing in there, Jackson?

Percy pounded his fist on the glass and mouthed: Break it!

Hadrian yelled a question that might have been: Where's Frank?

Percy pointed at the giant koi.

Frank waved his left dorsal fin. 'Sup?

Behind Hadrian, the sea goddess began to move. Percy pointed frantically.

Hadrian flexed his fingers impatiently, as if trying to decide whether to punch Keto or not. He didn't seem like the kind of guy who would resort to punches, but Percy knew looks could be deceiving. Charmspeaking once was fine, but they couldn't keep doing that forever. Since she was immortal, she wouldn't stay down, and it wouldn't get them out of this tank. It was only a matter of time before Phorcys came back to check on them. But Hadrian didn't look like he was going to punch Keto.

On three, Percy mouthed, holding up three fingers and then gesturing at the glass. All of us hit it at the same time.

Percy had never been good at charades, but Hadrian nodded like he understood. His hair was rapidly turning darker, a shade of blue like a sea at night. His hair looked like waves, Percy didn't want to think of water while stuck in an aquarium.

Percy hefted another giant marble. Frank, we'll need you too. Can you change form yet?

Maybe back to human.

Human is fine! Just hold your breath. If this works...

Keto rose to her knees. No time to waste.

Percy counted on his fingers. One, two, three!

Frank turned to human and shoved his shoulder against the glass. Hadrian drew his bow faster than Percy could track. The arrow hit the spot where Percy and Frank were aiming as well. Percy used all his strength to slam the marble into the wall, but he did more than that. 

He called on the water to obey him, and this time he refused to take no for an answer. He felt all the pent-up pressure inside the tank, and he put it to use. Water liked to be free. Given time, water could overcome any barrier, and it hated to be trapped, just like Percy. He thought about getting to know Hadrian, their late night talks on the deck, the way he talked about Achilles and Patroclus. He thought about Annabeth, whether she liked him, whether she took him down to the stable to kiss him that night. He thought about destroying this horrible prison for sea creatures. He thought about shoving Phorcys's microphone down his ugly throat. Fifty thousand gallons of water responded to his anger and frustration.

The glass wall cracked. Fracture lines zigzagged from the point of impact, and suddenly the tank burst. Percy was sucked out in a torrent of water. He tumbled across the amphitheater floor with Frank, some large marbles, and a clump of plastic seaweed. Keto was just getting to her feet when the diver statue slammed into her like it wanted a hug.

"Jackson!" Hadrian spit our salt water, he had slight nicks and cuts all over his arms, blood drops forming on the cuts. "You just drenched my best outfit"

"Phorcys!" Percy spluttered. "Trap! Run!"

Alarms blared as they fled the exhibits. They ran past the Nereids' tank, then the telkhines. Percy wanted to free them, but how? They were drugged and sluggish, and they were sea creatures. They wouldn't survive unless he found a way to transport them to the ocean.

Besides, if Phorcys caught them, Percy was pretty sure the sea god's power would overcome his. And Keto would be after them too, ready to feed them to her sea monsters.

I'll be back, Percy promised, but if the creatures in the exhibits could hear him, they gave no sign.

Over the sound system, Phorcys's voice boomed: "PERCY JACKSON!!"

Flash pots and sparklers exploded randomly. Donut-scented smoke filled the halls. Dramatic music—five or six different tracks—blared simultaneously from the speakers. Lights popped and caught fire as all the special effects in the building were triggered at once.

Percy didn't look behind, he grabbed Hadrian's hand and they stumbled out of the glass tunnel, finding themselves back in the whale shark room.

The mortal section of the aquarium was filled with screaming crowds—families and day camp groups running in every direction while the staff raced around frantically, trying to assure everyone it was just a faulty alarm system.

Percy knew better. He and his friends joined the mortals and ran for the exit.