𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 • 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧 ¹

𝐕𝐈𝐈

Percy burst out of the doors in a sprint and I took off after him. Once we made it through the admissions area, Ginger was perched on my shoulders, laying there unruffled, Percy pulled off his invisibility cap and I became visible. Ginger didn't apparently feel the need to also become visible.

The main part of the museum was one huge room with rockets and airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Three levels of balconies curled around, so you could look at the exhibits from all different heights. The place wasn't crowded, just a few families and a couple of tour groups of kids, probably doing one of those holiday school trips. I wanted to yell at them all to leave, but I figured that would only get me arrested. I had to find Thalia and Grover and the Hunters. Any minute, the skeleton dudes were going to invade the museum, and I didn't think they would settle for an audio tour.

Percy ran into Thalia- literally. He was barreling up the ramp to the top-floor balcony and slammed into her, knocking her into an Apollo space capsule. I became invisible again and walked up behind the Hunters.

Grover yelped in surprise.

Before Percy could regain his balance, Zoe and Bianca had arrows notched, aimed for his chest. Their bow had just appeared out of nowhere.

When Zoe realized who he was, she didn't seem anxious to lower her bow. "You! How dare you show thy face here?"

"Percy!" Grover said. "Thank goodness."

Zoe glared at him, and he blushed. "I mean, um, gosh. You're not supposed to be here!" "

"Luke," Percy said, trying to catch his breath. "He's here."

The anger in Thalia's eyes immediately melted. She put her hand on her silver bracelet. "Where?"

Percy told them about the Natural History museum, Dr. Thorn, Luke and the General.

"The General is here?" Zoe looked stunned. "That is impossible! You lie."

I stepped next to Percy, slowly becoming seeable again. "He isn't. I was there. I even got a new pet out of it."

Ginger decided it was time to become visible again and I smiled.

"How did you- what?" Thalia stammered.

' "Look, there's no time. She'll explain later. Skeleton warriors-"

"What?" Thalia demanded. "How many?"

"Twelve," Percy said. "And that's not all. That guy, the General, said he was sending something, a 'playmate,' to distract you over here. A monster."

Thalia and Grover exchanged looks.

"We were following Artemis's trail," Grover said. "I was pretty sure it led here. Some powerful monster scent... She must've stopped here looking for the mystery monster. But we haven't found anything yet."

"Zoe," Bianca said nervously, "if it is the General—"

"It cannot be!" Zoe snapped. "Percy or Nova must have seen an Iris-message or some other illusion."

"Illusions don't crack marble floors," Percy told her.

Zoe took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. I didn't know why she was taking it so personally or how she knew this General guy, but I figured now wasn't the time to ask. "If Percy and Nova are telling the truth about the skeleton warriors," she said. "We have no time to argue. They are the worst, the most horrible... We must leave now."

"Good idea." Percy said.

"I was not including thee, boy," Zoe said. "You are not part of this quest. Neither of you are."

"Hey, we're over here trying to save your lives!" I exclaimed.

"You two shouldn't have come." Thalia said grimly. "But you're here now. Come on. Let's get back to the van."

"That is not thy decision!" Zoe snapped.

Thalia scowled at her. "You're not the boss here, Zoe. I don't care how old you are! You're still a conceited little brat!"

"You never had any wisdom when it came to boys," Zoe growled. "You never could leave them behind!"

Thalia looked like she was about to hit Zoe. Then everyone froze, I heard a growl so loud I thought one of the rocket engines was starting up.

Below us, a few adults screamed. A little kid's voice screeched with delight: "Kitty!"

My feet lifted off the ground as I registered what was bounding up the ramp. It was the size of a pick-up truck, with silver claws and golden glittering fur.

"The Nemean Lion," Thalia said. "Don't move."

The lion roared so loud it parted Percy's hair. Its fangs gleamed like stainless steel.

"Seperate on my mark." Zoe said. "Try to keep it distracted."

"Until when?" Grover asked.

"Until I think of a way to kill it. Go!"

I shot towards the lion as arrows whistled past me and Grover plated a sharp tweet-tweet cadence on his reed pipes.

"Kitty, come here!" I called, flying past it. It began to chase me and we climbed farther into the air. It was using the exhibits to climb higher and higher, all the while, being shot at and swiping at me. When we made it to the top of the room, I stood on the rocket ship, waiting for the lion to join me. It crouched, leg muscles tensing. Just as it pounced, I fell off the back before circling back onto the ship as it fell down to the others who began to attack it.

Grover was trying to herd a group of kids, who were running around screaming, away from the monster. I gilded down and tried to calm them.

"Hi little ones." I smiled, hovering over the ground a bit as they gasped.

"Are you a superhero?" I laughed as kids clawed at my legs and slowly lowered me to the ground.

"No sweetheart. But you know what would be really cool?"

"What?" They exclaimed and I smiled, herding them towards the exit.

"If you guys went outside with me so we can wait for your parents."

That's how I found myself sitting on a curb outside the space museum with a bunch of children sitting around me. They wanted me to do tricks so I did while we waited.