ENTRAPPED ₂

113

MADELEINE WASN'T SURPRISED WHEN THE SNAKE PEOPLE ARRIVED.

When the ship docked at the harbor in Piraeus, on the outskirts of Athens, Madeleine breathed a sigh of relief. They had finally reached their destination. Somewhere nearby―past those rows of cruise ships, past those hills crowded with buildings―they would find the Acropolis. Today, one way or another, their journey would end.

So of course Madeleine was expecting something to go terribly wrong at the last minute.

Piper was on watch while everyone else geared up for combat―checking their weapons and armor, loading the ballistae and catapults. As Madeleine secured her breastplate, she heard Piper calling, "Um... Annabeth?"

Annabeth and Percy retreated upstairs. Madeleine, sensing the unease in Piper's voice, followed them.

Three snake-humanoids slithered along the docks, winding through crowds of mortal tourists, seemingly headed for the Argo II.

"Oh, great," Percy said. "Dracaenae."

Annabeth narrowed her eyes. "I don't think so. At least not like any I've seen. Dracaenae have two serpent trunks for legs. These guys just have one."

"You're right," Percy said. "These look more human on top too. Not all scaly and green and stuff. So do we talk or fight?"

Madeleine was tempted to say fight. After all they had gone through to get here, she didn't want to risk their chances by being tricked by these men. 

Oddly enough, the one in the lead reminded Madeleine of the posters she had seen of Piper's dad. The snake man held his head high. His face was chiseled and bronze, his eyes black as basalt, his curly dark hair glistening with oil. His upper body rippled with muscles, covered only by a Greek chlamys―a white wool cloak loosely wrapped and pinned at the shoulder. From the waist down, his body was one giant serpent trunk―about eight feet of green tail undulating behind him as he moved.

In one hand he carried a staff topped with a glowing green jewel. In the other, he carried a platter covered with a silver dome, like an entree for a fancy dinner.

The two guys behind him appeared to be guards. They wore bronze breastplates and elaborate helmets topped with horsehair bristles. Their spears were tipped with green stone points. Their oval shields were emblazoned with a large Greek letter K―kappa.

They stopped a few yards from the Argo II. The leader looked up and studied the demigods. His expression was intense by inscrutable. He might have been angry or worried or terribly in need of a restroom.

"Permission to come aboard." Hs rasping voice made Madeleine think he was a very heavy smoker.

"Who are you?" Piper asked.

He fixed his dark eyes on her. "I am Kekrops, the first and eternal king of Athens. I would welcome you to my city." He held up the covered platter. "Also, I brought a Bundt cake."

Piper glanced at her friends. "A trick?"

"Probably," Annabeth said.

"I think we should kill him," Madeleine murmured. "I don't like the way he's looking at you."

"Hey," Percy said, laying a hand on Madeleine's shoulder. "He brought dessert." He smiled down at the snake guys. "Welcome aboard!"

⎯⎯ ୨ entrapped ୧ ⎯⎯

Kekrops agreed to leave his guards above deck with Buford the table, who ordered them to drop and give him twenty push-ups. The guards seemed to take this as a challenge.