The Hidden Goddess

Chapter 2: I Inhale Mustard Monster Dust

Have you ever looked back on a situation and thought, I could have avoided so many problems if I hadn't [insert stupid decision here]?

Just me?

Darn. Anyway, that's my mindset toward what I do next. The smart thing would probably be be to run. Run away from the vultures, leave Sorin to deal with whatever happens next, and save my own butt. But I make stupid decisions a lot, so of course right now is no exception. I don't even have the decency to hide. Wherever my brain is in this moment, it somehow concludes that the most reasonable survival tactic is to blurt out, "Me?" and step out of the bathroom armed with nothing but a three-foot-tall plastic spoon.

Eirene, Charikleia, and Isidora laugh, and Sorin stares at me. Not in a judgy way, but like he's trying to figure out why I'm telling him the grass is pink so he can teach me all the reasons that's factually incorrect. There's a rip in his shirt's shoulder that drags about six inches downward, and it seems to be bleeding. If I had to guess, I'd say it was from a vulture lady's talons that scratched him while she was flying.

"Yes, you," Charikleia hisses. "We've been smelling the sea god on you for weeks."

"Uh, what?"

"The sea god! You are his child!"

"Um, I think you're thinking of my brother," I tell them. "I'm mortal."

"Impossible! You see us, don't you, girl?" Eirene cries.

"Um...I'm talking to you, so I'm going to say...yes?"

Sorin starts edging his way backward. I don't give any inkling of it away to the vultures, hoping that he's going to find a way to help me.

"You cannot be mortal, then," Isidora says. "Who is your brother? Perhaps we can eat him, too!"

"His name's Percy," I tell her.

Charikleia and Eirene's eyes widen. "Perseus Jackson?" They say in unison.

A couple seconds later, Isidora's eyes widen and she says, "Perseus Jackson?"

"Shut up, Isidora!"

Isidora pouts.

"We know Perseus Jackson," Charikleia says, almost reverently, but more mocking.

"With all due respect, which I don't think is much, he's never mentioned you," I reply.

Sorin's mouth twitches upward behind the vultures. He seems to be fighting either a smile or a grimace, but I can't tell.

I cross my arms. "You must not be important if he's never bothered to talk about you."

"Not important?" Eirene shrieks. "We are important!"

"So important," Isidora agrees. "We've eaten so many—"

"Don't say we've eaten any, Isidora," Charikleia says. "You'll scare away the snack! I mean, mortal!"

Behind the three pruning birds, Sorin bends down and grabs something off the floor—a golden arrow. I tear my eyes from it and shrug at Charikleia, who seems to have the most woundable pride.

"You know, Percy talks about all the monsters he's fought," I tell her as seriously as I can. "He says he only mentions the ones who were worthy opponents." Percy's never said anything like that, ever. "Wait, I think he mentioned one of you," I say, pretending to remember. "Oh, wait, yeah! He talked about a monster named Eirene who was really powerful and memorable." 

There's no way they're buying this.

Charikleia hisses. Fast as lightning, she pins Eirene to the floor. "How could anyone think you're stronger than me?" she shrieks.