𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 • Heroes of Olympus

VII

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 the first time since they set out on the quest, Andy slept without nightmares and woke up feeling rested.

Leo docked the ship at a pier in Charleston Harbor, right next to the seawall. Along the shore was a historical district with tall mansions, palm trees, and wrought-iron fences. Antique cannons pointed at the water.

By the time Andy came up on deck, Leo, Jason and Frank were already ready to leave.

“We’ll be back at sunset,” Leo assured her with a hug. 

“Assuming we don’t end up joining the Confederate ghosts,” Jason added, staring at the shore with a saddened expression, most likely remembering his last visit here. He turned to Andy, completely serious. “Be careful with that spirit, Andy.”

Despite the nervousness in her stomach, Andy grinned. “Rest assured, Jason Grace. It takes more than one Southern belle to get me.”

Jason’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

***

Andy and Hazel had been chatting for a while when Annabeth finally came upstairs. 

The blonde went over to Percy, who was leaning on the starboard rail, gazing over the bay.

She took his hand. “What are you going to do while we’re gone?”

“Jump into the harbor,” Percy said casually, tucking a stray curl back into Annabeth’s ponytail. His fingers hovered over her gray streak which matched his own.

When the two of them were fourteen, they’d taken turns holding the weight of the sky. The strain left them both with some gray hair. The matching gray streaks had become a kind of symbolic bond between the two.

“I want to try communicating with the local Nereids,” Percy said. “Maybe they can give me some advice about how to free those captives in Atlanta. Besides, I think the sea might be good for me. Being in that aquarium made me feel… unclean.”

Annabeth kissed him. “Good luck, Seaweed Brain. Just come back to me, okay?”

“I will,” he promised. “You do the same.”

Andy would’ve been lying if she denied the warm, fuzzy feeling she had right then.

Annabeth turned to Andy and Hazel. “Okay, ladies. Let’s find the ghost of the Battery.”

***

If she was being completely honest, Andy would've preferred the museum full of ghosts.

Not that she minded hanging out with Hazel and Annabeth. At first, they had a pretty good time walking along the Battery. According to the signs, the seaside park was called White Point Gardens. The ocean breeze swept away the muggy heat of the summer afternoon, and it was pleasantly cool under the shade of the palmetto trees. Lining the road were old Civil War cannons and bronze statues of historical figures.

Charleston Harbor glittered in the sun. To the north and south, strips of land stretched out like arms enclosing the bay, and sitting in the mouth of the harbor, about a mile out, was an island with a stone fort. Andy vaguely remembered Jason mentioning something about the fort being important in the Civil War, but she didn't dwell on it.

They turned away from the seawall and explored the inland side of the gardens. 

The park wasn’t crowded. Andy imagined that most of the locals had gone on summer vacation, or were holed up at home taking a siesta. They strolled along South Battery Street, which was lined with four-story Colonial mansions. The brick walls were blanketed with ivy. The facades had soaring white columns like Roman temples. The front gardens were bursting with rose bushes, honeysuckle, and flowering bougainvillea. It looked like Demeter had set the timer on all the plants to grow several decades ago, then forgotten to come back and check on them.