Young Gods | pjo & ror (Discontinued)

I PLUNGE TO MY DEATH

We spent two days on the Amtrak train, heading west through hills, over rivers, past amber waves of grain.

We weren't attacked once, but I didn't relax. I felt that we were traveling around in a display case, being watched from above and maybe from below, that something was waiting for the right opportunity.

"Good," Hercules nodded after what they had read so far; it was probably for the best.

I tried to keep a low profile because my name and picture were splattered over the front pages of several East Coast newspapers. The Trenton Register- News showed a photo taken by a tourist as I got off the Greyhound bus. I had a wild look in my eyes. My sword was a metallic blur in my hands. It might've been a baseball bat or a lacrosse stick.

The picture's caption read:

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson, wanted for questioning in the Long Island disappearance of her mother two weeks ago, is shown here fleeing from the bus where she accosted several elderly female passengers. The bus exploded on an east New Jersey roadside shortly after Jackson fled the scene. Based on eyewitness accounts, police believe the girl may be traveling with two teenage accomplices. Her stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, has offered a cash reward for information leading to her capture.

"That mortal dares," Poseidon snarled loudly, glaring at the screen as ice formed on the walls. The demigods shivered due to the sudden temperature drop.

The other deities shared his anger and had no problem expressing their displeasure, as many yelled and looked ready to curse someone.

"Don't worry," Anthonius told me. "Mortal police could never find us." But he didn't sound so sure. The rest of the day I spent alternately pacing the length of the train (because I had a really hard time sitting still) or looking out the windows.

Once, I spotted a family of centaurs galloping across a wheat field, bows at the ready, as they hunted lunch. The little boy centaur, who was the size of a second-grader on a pony, caught my eye and waved. I looked around the passenger car, but nobody else had noticed. The adult riders all had their faces buried in laptop computers or magazines.

"That's really rare," Nico commented, surprised, considering that centaurs don't usually allow themselves to be seen.

Many of the deities sneered or glanced at the screen with indifference and disdain. None of them was fond of centaurs.

Another time, toward evening, I saw something huge moving through the woods. I could've sworn it was a lion, except that lions don't live wild in America, and this thing was the size of a Hummer. Its fur glinted gold in the evening light. Then it leaped through the trees and was gone.

"Is that?" Thalia asked hesitantly, unsure of what she was seeing on screen. Percy and Anthonius tended to leave out major details when debriefing their quest; it was honestly ridiculous.

"Yeah," Percy confirmed. Thank the gods; they didn't face it at that time. Poseidon's eyes narrowed slightly at the exchange between the two.

Our reward money for returning Gladiola the poodle had only been enough to purchase tickets as far as Denver. We couldn't get berths in the sleeper car, so we dozed in our seats. My neck got stiff. I tried not to drool in my sleep, since Anthonius was sitting right next to me.

"You are so sweet, dear," Rhea sighed as she gazed adoringly at her granddaughter. Percy blushed at the compliment, causing Poseidon and Hades to smile when they saw her expression.

"How adorable," Parvati cooed softly, earning nods from those around her. Many couldn't help but find her expression endearing.

Poseidon and Hades found their dislike for the half-blood increasing. Percy was simply to kind and thoughtful; she should have prioritized herself. After all, she clearly needed it much more, as she was so fragile.