Child of the Moon

We Enter The Sea Of Monsters

We'd just finished a ship tour we didn't want, through dark rooms overcrowded with dead sailors.  We'd seen the coal bunker, the boilers and engine, which huffed and groaned like it would explode any minute.  We'd seen the pilothouse and the powder magazine and gunnery deck (which was Clarisse's favorite) with two Dahlgren smoothbore cannons on the port and starboard sides and a Brooke nine inch rifled gun... all specially refitted to fire celestial bronze cannon balls.  Everywhere we went, dead Confederate sailors stared at us, their ghostly bearded faces shimmering over their skulls.  They approved of Annabeth because she told them she was from Virginia.  They were interested in Percy, too, because his name was Jackson, like the Southern general, Thomas Jackson, but then he ruined it by telling them he was from New York. They all hissed and muttered curses about Yankees.  Tyson was terrified of them.  All through the tour, he insisted Annabeth hold his hand, which she didn't look too thrilled about.  I chuckled at her, which made her even more upset.  Finally, we made it to the cafeteria, where we were served peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, and soda.

Clarisse: Tantalus expelled you guys for eternity.  Mr. D said if any of you show up at camp again, he'll turn you into squirrels and run you over in his SUV.

I sighed.

YN: Yeah, that sounds about right.  So I'm guessing dad gave you this ship?

Clarisse nodded.

Clarisse: The spirits on the losing side of every war owe a tribute to Ares.  That's their curse for being defeated.  I prayed to my father for a naval transport and here it is.  These guys will do anything I tell them.  Won't you, Captain?

The captain stood behind her looking stiff and angry.

Captain: If it means an end to this infernal war, ma'am, peace at last, we'll do anything.  Destroy anyone.

Clarisse smirked.

Annabeth: Clarisse, Luke might be after the Fleece, too.  We saw him.  He's got the coordinates and he's heading south.  He has a cruise ship full of monsters-

Clarisse: Good!  I'll blow him out of the water.

Annabeth: You don't understand.  We have to combine forces.  Let us help you-

Clarisse pounded the table with her fist, cutting Annabeth off.

Clarisse: NO!  This is MY quest!  Finally I get to be the hero, and you four will NOT steal my chance!

Percy: Where are your quest mates?  You're allowed to take two other people with you.

Clarisse: They didn't... I let them stay behind.  To protect the camp.

YN: You mean even the people in your own cabin hate you?

Clarisse: Shut up, LN!  I don't need them!  Or you!

YN: Great.  Where can I get some sleep?

Clarisse: Captain, take him to the barracks.

Captain: Yes sir.

The captain led me to the barracks, where there were bunk beds.  I thanked him and he saluted, leaving the room.  I laid down, closing my eyes and instantly falling into a deep sleep.

I woke up to Annabeth shaking me.

Annabeth: Finally!  Get up, we need to get to the deck.

I realized the entire boat was shaking, and the engine room down the hall was making concering screeching noises.

YN: What's going on?  Is this a hurricane?

Annabeth: No, it's Charybdis and Scylla.  We're going between them.

I shot up, my eyes widening.

YN: We're going where?  Is Clarisse insane?  Actually, don't answer that.

We ran up to the deck, and what I saw was concerning to say the least.  Right as I got there, something green and brown shot from the sky, grabbing the captain and snatching him off the deck.  All that remained were his boots.   It happened again.  I couldn't make out any of Scylla's features, just scales and teeth.

Annabeth: We have to get off the ship!  Where are the lifeboats?

Clarisse: They'll never get past the cliffs.  We'll all be eaten.

YN: Percy, where's Tyson?

Percy: He's in the engine room, trying to fix-

Percy was suddenly grabbed and pulled into the air as Annabeth and I were climbing into a lifeboat.  I pulled out my bow and fired, nailing Scylla in the eye.  The monster roared and dropped him, and he plummeted into the water.  Annabeth ragged me onto one of the lifeboats and pulled out one of the thermoses.  Percy climbed into the boat and Annabeth opened the canteen, and we went rocketing away on the waves as the CSS Birmingham exploded behind us.