The Sea Tyrant's Obsession (PJO x ROR) *18+* WTM/WTS Book 1

*Anthony Does Obedience School

Note: BAM! Another chapter! Took me a day to finish it because the canon chapter was short with not many important details to react to.

"Yeah, the thought of being forced to stretch my body or losing my legs gives me the shivers," Hephaestus agreed with Dionysus.

"It's a good thing Percilla didn't have to deal with that," Ares said.

New title appears on the screen:

Anthony Does Obedience School

The gods exchanged confused looks.

Apollo raised an eyebrow. "Obedience school? Oh, it's an institution to train pets, usually dogs. You know, teaching them commands like sit, stay, roll over..."

Athena's gaze narrowed thoughtfully. "Why exactly would my son be training pets?"

The sun god shrugged, his expression a mix of amusement and confusion. "Well, I'm not entirely sure; these kids probably got themselves into some weird situation."

We stood in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at gold letters etched in black marble: DOA RECORDING STUDIOS.

Underneath, stenciled on the glass doors: NO SOLICITORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING.

It was almost midnight, but the lobby was brightly lit and full of people. Behind the security desk sat a tough-looking guard with sunglasses and an earpiece.

I turned to my friends. "Okay. You remember the plan."

"The plan," Grover gulped. "Yeah. I love the plan."

"He don't sound confident about it," Shiva observed.

Anthony said, "What happens if the plan doesn't work?"

"Don't think negative."

"Right," he said. "We're entering the Land of the Dead, and I shouldn't think negative."

I took the pearls out of my pocket, the three milky spheres the Nereid had given me in Santa Monica. They didn't seem like much of a backup in case something went wrong.

"My counterpart's so-called gifts better not be useless," Poseidon muttered, his tone laced with skepticism as he eyed the pearls with disdain.

Anthony put his hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Percy. You're right, we'll make it. It'll be fine."

The sea tyrant's eye twitched at the audacity of the half-breed daring to touch her.

He gave Grover a nudge.

"Oh, right!" he chimed in. "We got this far. We'll find the master bolt and save your mom. No problem."

I looked at them both, and felt really grateful. Only a few minutes before, I'd almost gotten them stretched to death on deluxe water beds, and now they were trying to be brave for my sake, trying to make me feel better.

"I actually think they are good friends to her," Hestia said, though some of the other gods looked like they had swallowed a lemon, clearly showing their disagreement.

Her blonde younger brother was among those gods.

I slipped the pearls back in my pocket. "Let's whup some Underworld butt."

Hades chuckled at his niece, his deep voice echoing with amusement as he found her boldness both entertaining and endearing.

We walked inside the DOA lobby.

Muzak played softly on hidden speakers. The carpet and walls were steel gray. Pencil cactuses grew in the corners like skeleton hands. The furniture was black leather, and every seat was taken. There were people sitting on couches, people standing up, people staring out the windows or waiting for the elevator. Nobody moved, or talked, or did much of anything. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see them all just fine, but if I focused on any one of them in particular, they started looking ... transparent. I could see right through their bodies.