❝In a fight, they're lethal. Around each other, they melt❞
"I'm fine." I said, trying to hide the frown and tears that threatened to spill.
Percy looked at me once.
"I'm not going anywhere, unless you tell me what's wrong," he declared and I would h...
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I love New York. You can pop out of the Underworld in Central Park, hail a taxi, head down Fifth Avenue with a giant hellhound loping along behind you, and nobody even looks at you funny.
Of course, the Mist helped. People probably couldn't see Mrs. O'Leary, or maybe they thought she was a large, loud, very friendly truck.
Percy took the risk of using his mom's cell phone to call Annabeth for the second time. We'd called her once from the runnel but only reached her voice mail. He'd gotten surprisingly good reception, seeing as we were at the mythological center of the world and all, but I didn't want to see what Percy's mom's roaming charges were going to be.
This time, Annabeth picked up.
"Hey," Percy said. "You get our message?"
"Nova."
"I'll fill you in later. Where are you?"
"Trust me. We'll see you there."
Percy hung up. His hands were trembling and I took one of his in mine, setting it on my thigh so we could be more comfortable, hoping to calm his nerves. I wasn't sure if it was a leftover reaction from his dip in the Styx, or anticipation of what we were about to do. If this didn't work, being invulnerable wasn't going to save him from getting blasted to bits.
"You're going to be fine." I murmured to him as the taxi dropped us off at the Empire State Building and we stepped out. He didn't pull away but I did get odd looks at the outfit I was wearing. I had ditched the crown in favor of a black headband with a golden chain on top that my mother had gotten for me before she was killed. My hand was itching to press in the onyx eyes on my snake ring and be covered in my black sleek armor instead of this.
"I know." He responded even though his voice quivered a little. I smiled at him and pressed in the eyes. The black armor slid over my body and he looked it over. My dress changed into camo cargo pants and a tighter black top. "You really got all that from a snake ring? You'll have to find me one."
"A magician never reveals her secrets, Percy." I smiled and the ponytail bounced a little as we walked.
As we continued down the street, I noticed Percy giving me a weird look.
I frowned. "What is it?"
"What's what?" Percy asked.
"You're looking at me funny."
"It's, uh, nothing."
I let it slide but promised myself to keep an eye on him.
Mrs. O'Leary bounded up and down Fifth Avenue, licking cabs and sniffing hot dog carts. Nobody seemed to notice her, although people did swerve away and look confused when she came close.
