ENTRAPPED ₂

104

MADELEINE WOKE QUIETLY. Jason was so ill that she did not bother attempting to get him up. Instead, she retreated to her cabin, dressed, and met Annabeth, Percy, and Piper in the hall.

Piper was recounting her dreams for Percy, but she started over when Madeleine joined them. They were all rather disturbing, yes; but after Tartarus, Madeleine's capacity for disturbing was not so easily filled.

Percy, however, was much less calm about the whole thing. In fact, when Piper was done speaking, the ship's toilets exploded.

"No way you three are going down there alone," Percy said.

Leo ran down the hall waving a wrench and carefully avoiding Madeleine's eyes. "Man, did you have to destroy the plumbing?"

Percy ignored him. Water ran down the gangway. The hall rumbled as more pipes burst and sinks overflowed. Madeleine guessed that Percy hadn't meant to cause so much damage, but his glowering expression did not reassure her. He had become just as volatile as her since Tartarus, and she knew how damaging she could be when Percy wasn't around to keep her in check. She figured he was the same way.

Madeleine gently laid a hand on his arm. "Percy, knock it off. Leo has enough on his plate."

Percy's expression softened ever so slightly. The rumbling stopped.

"We'll be alright," Annabeth told him. "Piper foresaw the three of us going down there, so that's what needs to happen."

Percy glared at Piper like it was all her fault. "And this Mimas dude? I'm guessing he's a giant?"

"Percy, knock the accusation out of your tone," Madeleine told him. "Do you get angry at Rachel for issuing prophecies?"

Percy looked mollified. "No." He took a deep breath, looking away from Piper. "Sorry."

"It's alright," she told him, looking relieved to no longer be under his glare. "Um, yeah, I'm guessing Mimas is probably a giant. Porphyrion called him our brother."

"And a bronze statue surrounded by fire," Percy said. "And those... other things you mentioned. Mackies?"

"Makhai," Piper said. "I think the word means battles in Greek, but I don't know how that applies, exactly."

"That's my point!" Percy said. "We don't know what's down there. I'm going with you."

"No," Madeleine and Annabeth chorused at the same time.

Annabeth sighed. She rested her hand on her boyfriend's arm. "If the giants want our blood, the last thing we need is a boy and a girl going down there together. Remember? They want one of each for their big sacrifice."

"Then I'll get Jason," Percy said. "And the two of us―"

"Jason has a stab wound," Madeleine snarled, and her voice was so harsh that Piper and Percy actually flinched. "He's not going anywhere."

"Besides," Annabeth said, "are you implying, Percy, that two boys can handle this better than three girls?"

"No. I mean..." Percy glanced at Madeleine and saw the look on her face. "No. But―"

Annabeth kissed him. "We'll be back before you know it."

Piper followed her upstairs. Before Madeleine could finish their party, Percy grabbed her arm.

"Please―I―" his voice cracked a little.

"Percy," Madeleine said, gently but firmly. She turned and wrapped her arms around him. "Percy, everything is going to be okay. I'll watch out for Annabeth, alright?"