𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐀 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 - 𝑷. 𝑱𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒐𝒏

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐧𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

Argus drove us out of the countryside and into western Long Island.

Annabeth rode shotgun, then it was me by the window, Lilith next to me, and Grover squeezed in at the end like an overstuffed backpack.

"So far, so good," I said, mostly to fill the silence. "Ten miles, not a single monster in sight."

Annabeth turned in her seat to glare at me. "You do realize that's like begging the universe to ruin our day, right?"

"Remind me again—why do you hate me?"

"I don't hate you."

"Could've fooled me."

She sighed and folded her Yankees cap. "Look, we're just not supposed to get along, okay? Our parents are rivals."

"Why?"

Annabeth gave me a deadpan stare. "How many reasons do you want? One time, my mom caught Poseidon with his girlfriend inside Athena's temple, which is just wildly disrespectful. Another time, Athena and Poseidon competed to be the patron god of Athens. My mom created the olive tree. Your dad made a saltwater spring."

"They must've really liked olives."

"Yeah. That's the takeaway."

"Now, if she had invented pizza—that I could understand."

"I said, forget it."

Traffic slowed down in Queens. By the time we reached Manhattan, it was sunset and starting to rain.

Argus dropped us at the Greyhound station on the Upper East Side, not far from my mom and Gabe's apartment. Taped to a mailbox was a soggy flyer with my picture on it: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY?

I ripped it down before anyone could notice, but Lilith raised an eyebrow.

"Wow," she muttered. "They really nailed your bad side."

Argus unloaded our bags, made sure we had our bus tickets, then drove off, the eye on the back of his hand watching us as he left.

I stood there for a second, staring toward my old apartment. On a normal day, my mom would be home by now. Smelly Gabe was probably in there playing poker, not even pretending to miss her.

Grover followed my gaze. "You want to know why she married him, don't you?"

I turned to him. "Were you reading my mind or something?"

"Just your emotions." He shrugged. "Satyr thing. You were thinking about your mom and Gabe, right?"

I nodded, wondering what else Grover had forgotten to tell me.

"Your mom married Gabe for you," Grover said. "You call him 'Smelly,' but you have no idea. The guy has this aura... yuck. I can smell him from here."

"Fantastic. Where's the nearest shower?"

"You should be grateful, Percy," he insisted. "Your stepfather stinks so bad, he masks your demigod scent. If you hadn't lived with him, monsters would've sniffed you out years ago. Your mom knew that. She stayed with him to protect you."

I swallowed hard. It didn't make me feel better, but I forced myself not to show it.

I'd see her again. She wasn't gone.

Lilith, who had been unnervingly quiet, finally spoke. "Give him a break, Goat Boy. The guy's had a week. Let him wallow for, like, five more minutes before you drop another tragic bombshell."

To pass the time, we played hacky sack with one of Grover's apples.

Annabeth was unbelievable—knee, elbow, shoulder, whatever, she could bounce it like a pro. I wasn't too bad myself.