𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

11 - mabel gets caught caring (embarrassing!)

˖*࿐ •*⁀➷

MABEL HATED THIS PLAN. Percy was stupid, a moron with one brain cell that he seemed to typically use to stare at her, which was gratifying until he made idiotic plans like this.

But, it was their only shot, unfortunately, and the fact made Mabel want to punch something (her first target was likely to be Phineas).

The seer was right where they'd left him, on the picnic bench, kicking his bunny slippers back and forth as he ate a plate of greasy kebabs. His weed whacker sat at his side, only inches away from getting covered in barbecue sauce.

"Welcome back!" the old man called cheerfully. "I hear the flutter of nervous little wings. You've brought me my harpy?"

"She's here," Percy acknowledged, though his stare was hard.

Mabel crossed her arms, her shattered-glass eyes gleaming and sharp. "But she's not yours."

Phineas licked grease off his fingers and Mabel pulled a face. His milky eyes seemed fixed on a point just above Percy's head, his expression mildly amused. "I see... well, actually, I'm blind, so I don't see. Have you come to kill me, then? If so, good luck completing your quest."

Setting his jaw, Percy stepped closer. "I've come to gamble."

The old man's mouth twitched like he found this funny. He put down his kebab and leaned in Percy's general vicinity. "A gamble... how interesting. Information in exchange for the harpy? Winner takes it all?"

A memory of a melody flickered through Mabel's head, bringing her back to summer nights before the war, when she'd drag Jason to watch Mamma Mia with her at the drive-in near Camp Jupiter. The loser has to fall. It seemed appropriate enough for this situation.

"No." Percy's voice was firm, showing that wasn't even an option. "The harpy isn't part of the deal."

Phineas laughed as if he knew that couldn't be true. "Really? Perhaps you don't understand her value."

"She's a person," Percy cut in. "She isn't for sale."

"Oh, please! You're from the Roman camp, aren't you? Rome was built on slavery. Don't get all high and mighty with me. Besides, she isn't even human. She's a monster. A wind spirit. A minion of Jupiter."

Her glare sharpening further, Mabel's fingers tightened into fists at her sides. She couldn't fucking stand this guy. Rage bubbled in her stomach, hot and scalding, rising toward her throat like acid.

Ella let out a nervous squeak. Just getting her into the parking lot had been a struggle, but she was starting to back away, muttering, "'Jupiter. Hydrogen and helium. Sixty-three satellites.' No minions. Nope, none."

Hazel put her arm around the harpy. Mabel wasn't sure if it was her comforting aura or maybe the fact she was a girl, but Ella seemed a lot more comfortable around the daughter of Pluto. Frank stayed on Percy's other side, his spear ready, as if the old man might charge them.

His lips tightened into a slight frown, Percy brought out the ceramic vials. "I have a different wager. We have two flasks of gorgon's blood. One kills. One heals. They look exactly the same. Even we don't know which is which. If you choose the right one, it could cure your blindness."

Phineas held out his hands eagerly, making grabby fingers like a toddler. "Let me feel them. Let me smell them."

"Hold on, cabrón," Mabel snapped. Her patience, already scarce, was really running thin. "First you need to agree to the terms."