HORIZON ⸺ jason grace

xi. frank becomes the snack that smiles back

NOTE TO SELF: if you have the chance, do not follow the weird-looking crab man into his aquarium tunnel. Your friend could turn into a goldfish.

The aforementioned tunnel was pretty claustrophobic, and ran through a gymnasium-sized tank. Except for water and some cheap decorations, it seemed completely empty. Odd.

Violet guessed that there were about fifty thousand gallons of water over their heads. If the tunnel were to shatter for some reason...

It would be fine, Violet assured herself. It's just like being in the ocean. This is my home turf. But she still felt on-edge.

Percy looked much worse. His hands were clenched in tight fits, and Violet could see a bead of sweat running down his forehead. His sea-green eyes that usually twinkled with mischief were wide and alert. He looked about ready to pass out.

She caught his eye, raising a concerned brow. Percy just shook his head.

Phorcys stopped in the middle of the tunnel and spread his arms proudly. "Beautiful exhibit, isn't it?"

Violet didn't really see the beauty in an empty tank of sea water, but demigod life had found her in weirder circumstances. In one corner, snuggled in a forest of fake kelp, was a life-sized plastic gingerbread cottage with bubbles coming out of the chimney. In the opposite corner, a plastic sculpture of what she assumed was her dad knelt beside a treasure chest, which popped open every few seconds, spewed bubbles, and closed again.

Littered across the white sand floor were glass marbles the size of bowling balls, and a strange assortment of weapons like tridents and spearguns. Outside the tank's display wall was an amphitheater with seating for several hundred. Violet frowned.

"What do you keep in here?" Frank asked. "Giant killer goldfish?"

"The snack that smiles back," Violet said in a singsong voice.

Phorcys raised his eyebrows. "Oh, that would be good! But, no, Frank Zhang, descendant of Poseidon. This tank is not for goldfish."

At descendant of Poseidon, Frank flinched. He stepped back, gripping his backpack like a mace he was prepared to swing. Percy, if possible, grew paler. A sense of dread trickled down Violet's throat, like the grape cough syrup her grand-mère gave her as a child. Maybe even worse.

Unfortunately, it was a feeling she was used to.

"How do you know Frank's last name?" She demanded. "How do you know he's descended from Poseidon? I just found that out!"

"Well... the same way I know about you and that little necklace of yours," Phorcys shrugged, trying to look modest. "It was probably in the descriptions Gaea provided. You know, for the bounty, Violet Monet."

Percy and Violet summoned their weapons. Her voice shook. "Don't double-cross us, Phorcys. You promised some answers."

"After the VIP treatment, yes," Phorcys agreed. "I promised to tell you everything you need to know. The thing is, however, you don't really need to know anything."

His grotesque smile stretched wide. "You see, even if you made it to Rome, which is quite unlikely, you'd never defeat my giant brothers without a god fighting at your side. And what god would help you? So I have a better plan. You're not leaving. You're VIPs—Very Important Prisoners!"

Violet and Percy lunged. Frank hurled his backpack at the sea god's head. Phorcys simply disappeared.

The god's voice reverberated through the aquarium's sound system, echoing down the tunnel.