the archer, percy jackson

011. medusa's curse ii

chapter eleven
011. medusa's curse, part two!

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    THEY SAT in a tense silence back in the day carriages on the train, on constant watch by police and security officers as the woman who supposedly saw them trash their night compartment answered their questions. Wendy narrowed her eyes at her back, trying to figure all of this out▬and to come up with a plan to somehow get them out of here and back on track. The last thing they needed was to be stuck at the St. Louis police station when they needed to get to the Underworld by the solstice. 

    Beside her, Percy didn't look too happy. He leaned forward and scowled after the police officer who passed them▬keeping watch on them like some guard dog. "So, we're just killing time 'till we find out that guy's like a werewolf or something, right?" he muttered to them. 

    "He's not a werewolf," murmured Wendy, also glancing at the police officer with a scrutinising gaze. "Lycaon and his sons don't often leave the mountains."

    Percy glanced at her. "Wait, what?"

    "Lyacon," explained Wendy in a soft voice so none of the officers would overhear. "You know, the guy that fed Zeus human flesh and then got himself and his sons turned into wolves as punishment."

    The face Percy made was a mixture of disgust and confusion. 

    Annabeth glanced over her shoulder at the police officer, as well. She then shrugged and looked at Grover. "Does he smell like a monster?"

    "Hard to say," muttered the satyr, sniffing at the air. Satyrs could catch the scent of monsters like monsters could demigods▬it was one of the reasons why they were appointed the protectors of demigods. "I can smell ... something, but it could be anything▬trains are filled with bad smells."

    Percy pursed his lips and tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the table as he leaned in even closer, speaking in a hushed tone▬he was restless. "Well, if he's not a monster, what's going on here? Why would anyone tear our room apart?"

    "Maybe they were looking for something," whispered Grover. 

    "We don't have anything."

    Annabeth arched a brow at him. "The people who think you stole Zeus's master bolt might disagree."

    Percy slumped in his seat and sat back, his leg bouncing▬eager to get out of here. "Right, of course," he muttered, rolling his eyes. 

    Grover noticed the look on Percy's face and held out a hand to him, gently trying to soothe the tension and anxiety festering between them all. "Well, look, they're not gonna find something we don't have."

    Wendy sighed and slumped forward, resting her chin on the palm of her hand and meeting Percy's gaze. "Either way, we can't spend the day answering questions in the St. Louis police station. We have to find a way out of here..." 

    Her words fell away when someone walked up to them and tapped Annabeth on the shoulder. Wendy sat up straighter, confused and immediately on alert to see the same woman from before▬the woman who had accused them of destroying their compartment. She had a sickly sweet smile on her face, dressed in an obnoxious tweed jacket, blouse and jeans.

    "D▬Do you mind if I sit?" she asked, and Annabeth shared a dubious look with the rest of them. The woman didn't wait for an answer, setting aside her carry-on bag and taking a delicate seat across the aisle. Inside her bag, there was the sound of a small animal whimpering▬the short bark of a little dog.