𝕍𝕖𝕟𝕚 𝕍𝕚𝕕𝕚 𝕍𝕚𝕔𝕚¹ | ᴘᴇʀᴄʏ ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ

12. Damn it yellow jellybeans are my favourite too

ꕥ The group had run into the cart in front of them, and Annabeth locked the door.

Lorelei eyed the stinger in Percy's shoulder and, without any warning, yanked it out.

"Fucking shit- OW?" Percy exclaimed, grunting in pain. "A warning could have been nice."

"Aw, sorry," Lorelei said with a fake pout. "Do you feel like I betrayed you?"

Percy looked at her and huffed out a breath. "I already apologised for that! Are you going to keep this against me?"

Lorelei sniffed and ignored him. "Grover? Do you have any idea what monster this belongs to? Annie?"

Annabeth shakes her head while Grover sniffs the stinger.

"It's most likely nothing good," Grover said. Lorelei hums and turns back to face Percy.

"You feel dizzy? Nauseous? Like you want to die?" Lorelei asked.

"I feel fine; thank you for your concern." Percy huffed out. "Why? You think it was poisoned or something?"

"What are you doing?" Lorelei asked Annabeth, ignoring a spluttering Percy.

"Putting as much space between us and them as I can," Annabeth said.

The train came to a slow stop, and the group got off and began running.

.・゜✧﹒☁﹒✧゜・

"They are going to catch up with us sooner or later," Grover said as the group ran down the street and into an alleyway.

"We need a safe space or a temporary sanctuary," Lorelei said.

"That would be good." Percy panted out. "Got any idea where we can find one of those? Mabe a magic spell or something?"

Lorelei shoots him a look, but Percy just shrugs.

Annabeth's eyes lit up. "Come on. I know where we can go. A sanctuary of Athena was built by one of her children. Construction finished in 1965."

"And she's in architecture mode," Lorelei mutters as she and the group weave their way through the crowds.

"There's a hidden Athenian temple in downtown St. Louis?" Grover asked in disbelief. "I can't believe that."

Lorelei was inclined to agree, but she had learned never to question Annabeth's knowledge, especially when it came to architecture.

"Yes, except for the hidden bit. It's in plain sight." Annabeth said.

The group turns a corner and is met with the sight of a giant arch.

"Ugh, I can't see the top because of the sun," Lorelei complained. "Apollo, think you could tone it down a notch? I think I'm going to go blind."

Lorelei rubs her eyes and hears a snicker behind her. She slowly turns her head to see Percy laughing at her.

"Lord Apollo? I take it back. Can you send a sunbeam right into Percy Jackson's eyes, just this once, please? I'll tell Will how you helped me and I'll give you all my yellow jelly beans for the next month. Please and thank you."

"Do you really think Apollo is just going to - Fuck!" Percy yells.

A sunray shines straight into Percy's eyes. Lorelei's eyes widen in delight and she laughs, taking in the sight of Percy with tears in his eyes, furiously blinking as he tries to get his eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness.