Heir of a Titan - Book 2 PJO

Chapter 20: I Help Kidnap Percy

We emerged in Central Park just north of the Pond. Mrs. O'Leary looked pretty tired as she limped over to a cluster of boulders. She started sniffing around.

Percy went to protest but I waved a hand and Nico said, "It's okay. She just smells the way home."

Percy frowned. "Through the rocks?"

I nodded, and Percy frowned looking back and forth between us. "This how you got to the underworld?"

I nodded.

"The Underworld has two major entrances," Nico explained. "You know the one in L.A."

"Charon's ferry."

Nico nodded. "Most souls go that way, but there's a smaller path, harder to find. The Door of Orpheus."

"Something to do with music..."

Nico nodded again. "He used his music to charm the earth and open a new path into the Underworld. He sang his way right into Hades's palace and almost got away with his wife's soul."

Percy frowned, looking at the rocks. "well I ain't singing!" He signed and crossed his arms.

"I can't sing..." I signed and my shoulders dropped.

Nico went bright pink.

"You're the son of Hades and all."

"It's not so easy. We need music."

"Lier. You sang last time."

"Last time it was just you. And you couldn't hear."

"Nico! You must have a lovely singing voice if the rocks opened just for your voice!"

"Ain't gonna happen Piccolo Demone."

"Emo Grandpa."

"I got a better idea!" Percy signed, catching my attention. He turned and cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled.

"Uhh what's he yelling for?"

"He called for Grover."

"Grover?"

Nico just nodded. We waited for a long time. Mrs. O'Leary curled up and took a nap. I could see the little light night bugs and other insects coming out at night. I could feel the rumbles if traffic. And the snors from Miss O'Leary. I glimpse through the trees a mounted police, who I'm sure would love to find some kids hanging out in the park at one in the morning.

"It's no good," Nico said at last.

Percy shook his head and pulled his eyebrows together. He finally closed his eyes, squeezing them closed. His hands formed tight fists and he remained still. Nico and I glanced at each other and silently agreed to wait. He clearly felt very strongly about this. Maybe his empathy link was on high alert.

It took a while he flinched a few times and then suddenly Percy yelped and almost fell over.

"What happened?" Nico asked.

"I got through. He's... yeah. He's on his way."

A minute later, the tree next to us shivered. Grover fell out of the branches, right on his head.

"Grover!" Percy yelled. I raced over and helped him to his feet.

"Woof!" Mrs. O'Leary looked up, probably wondering if we were going to play fetch with the satyr.

"Blah-haa-haa!" Grover belated.

"You okay, man?" Percy asked, clapping his on the shoulder.

"Oh, I'm fine." He rubbed his head. His horns had grown so much they poked an inch above his curly hair. "I was at the other end of the park. The dryads had this great idea of passing me through the trees to get me here. They don't understand height very well."