𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚔𝚒𝚍 - percy jackson x oc

012

XII - PROMOTING CAPITALISM

AS THEY RACED across the sea, they tried to send an Iris-message to Chiron. They figured it was important they let somebody know what Luke was doing, and they did not know who else to trust.

The wind from the thermos stirred up a nice sea spray that made a rainbow in the sunlight—perfect for an Iris-message—but their connection was still poor. When Valeria threw a gold drachma into the mist and prayed for the rainbow goddess to show them Chiron, his face appeared all right, but there was some kind of weird strobe light flashing in the background and rock music blaring.

They told him about sneaking away from camp, and Luke and the Princess Andromeda and the golden box for Kronos' remains, but between the noise on his end and the rushing wind and water on their end, they were not sure how much he heard.

"Percy," Chiron yelled, "you have to watch out for—"

His voice was drowned out by loud shouting behind him.

"What?" Percy yelled.

"Curse my relatives!" Chiron ducked as a plate flew over his head and shattered somewhere out of sight. "Valeria, you shouldn't have let Percy leave camp! But if you do get the Fleece—"

"Yeah, baby!" somebody behind Chiron yelled. "Woo-hoooooo!"

The music got cranked up, subwoofers so loud it made their boat vibrate.

"—Miami," Chiron was yelling. "I'll try to keep watch —"

Their misty screen smashed apart like someone on the other side had thrown a bottle at it, and Chiron was gone.

An hour later they spotted land—a long stretch of beach lined with high-rise hotels. The water became crowded with fishing boats and tankers. A coast guard cruiser passed on our starboard side, then turned like it wanted a second look.

"That sign...does that say Virginia Beach?" Valeria wondered. "We were just in New York! That is like—"

"Five hundred and thirty nautical miles," Percy said automatically.

Valeria turned to him. "You are certain? How...?"

"I—I'm not sure."

Valeria frowned and suddenly realized something. "What is our exact location?"

"36 degrees, 44 minutes north, 76 degrees, 2 minutes west," he said immediately. Then he shook his head. "Whoa. How did I know that?"

"I wonder why," Valeria deadpanned. "It cannot be because you are the son of the Sea God."

Percy rolled his eyes.

Tyson tapped his shoulder. "Other boat is coming."

They looked back. The coast guard vessel was definitely on their tail now. Its lights were flashing and it was gaining speed.

"We can't let them catch us," Percy said. "They'll ask too many questions."

"We shall find a place to hide," Valeria said. "Onward."