In which Percy Jackson finds himself tied up with the mischievous daughter of Apollo.
or
In which Juliet Alexander would do anything to make the son of Poseidon smile.
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❛𝟎𝟏𝟑❜
❝𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐭❞
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They 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 SOLICITORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING.
It was almost midnight, but the lobby was brightly lit and full of people. Behind the security desk sat Charon and Juliet had to do a double take at how hot he looked, like a posh CEO from one of her dramas that had the deepest voice ever.
Percy turned to them. "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."
Percy took the pearls out of his pocket, the four milky spheres the Nereid had given him in Santa Monica. They didn't seem like much of a backup in case something went wrong. Annabeth put her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Percy. You're right, we'll make it. It'll be fine." She gave Grover and Juliet a nudge.
"Oh, right!" he chimed in.
"We got this far. We'll find the master bolt and save your mom. No problem." Juliet added,
Percy slipped the pearls back in his pocket and said, "Let's whup some Underworld butt."
They walked inside the DOA lobby. Muzak 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 her eye, Juliet could see them all just fine, but if she focused on any one of them in particular, they started looking . . . transparent.
