The Titan's Curse [Book Three]

The Nemean Lion.

     On Zoe's signal, everyone scattered. As her weapon materialized in her hands, Reagan had jumped backwards. Except it wasn't far enough. The Nemean Lion's claws slashed into her leg, tearing the pant leg to shreds. Droplets of blood formed, seeping the torn cloth. That leg buckled, and Reagan threatened to topple over. However, she stayed in the kneeling position and held her spear out. The flame grew into monstrous size, and Reagan jabbed at the lion to keep it at bay. Fortunately for her, the flames kept the monster back and its claws out of reach. Percy shouted and cut at the monsters sides to get its attention, only for the creature to turn on him. Grover scampered over to help her, but she waved him off.

"Get the mortals away."

     He nodded his head quickly and began to play a loud and wild tune on his reeds he always wore around his neck. She smiled at the memories of two years ago, Grover playing a song on his reeds to keep a Fury busy on the bus while Percy escaped. Her reminiscing thoughts were quickly punctured when she heard Percy shouting at the Hunter's who were firing arrows one after the other at the Nemean Lion.

"Aim for the mouth!"

Zoe shook her head as their arrows harmlessly shattered off of its impenetrable mane. "We can't get a clear shot! Try to get it to open its mouth!"

     Easier said then done. But Percy ran into the gift shop, leaving Reagan and Thalia to keep the Nemean Lion busy. Reagan limped over to stand next to Thalia, her shield doing a good job at keeping the monster out of reach, Medusa's head glinting in the artificial lighting of the museum. Reagan tried to stab the Nemean Lion in the eyes, but it was starting to get smart to their idea. It's eyes were narrowed to the point that she wasn't sure how it could even see anything. In a flash Thalia was swatted away, hitting her head hard against a Titan rocket. Her body slumped to the ground.

"Percy, whatever you're doing, do it fast!" Reagan shouted over her shoulder.

     The Nemean Lion roared in her face, and she kept her spear raised high as she backed up. It pressed her, taking large steps forward and and swinging its massive paws at her. Right when it seemed that she was backed up into a corner, Percy came running out of the gift shop holding an armful of these silver packets. He threw a packet into the Nemean Lion's mouth. It gagged, trying to hack up whatever the hell Percy just threw into its mouth. Like dry swallowing a pill, the lion coughed and then roared in their faces. It seemed more angry at being force fed dry space food more then anything else. As it roared angrily again, Percy began to throw more silver packets in one after the other without stopping. The Nemean Lion reared back on its hind legs. Just then Bianca and Zoe let off a shower of arrows into the monsters mouth. It swayed on its hind legs then tumbled to the ground. Thalia was helped up by Grover, fortunately she wasn't injured at all, just a little dazed. As the monsters body dissolved, leaving behind a fur coat the size of a normal human being and not a giant, the Hunter's climbed down from their archery spot to meet up with the others.

"Take it," Zoe said.

"Isn't that, like, an animal rights violation," Percy said as he eyed the fur coat.

"It is a spoil of war," she corrected him. "Take it. It is rightly thine."

"You killed it."

She shook her head, almost smiling. "The ice cream sandwich probably did that. Take the fur, Percy Jackson."

     He hesitantly put it on, and it shifted into a light brown - golden duster. Reagan tried not to laugh too hard at how he looked.

"Let's get out of here now. The guards won't stay confused forever," Grover said.

"You did that?" Reagan asked, sounding impressed.

     He smiled slightly and nodded. Their victory was short lived though. Pushing their way through the crowds of people were these men dressed in muscle shirts and camouflage shorts. Percy stared at them, and began to move his feet restlessly, wanting to leave immediately.

"The security guards will be the least of our problems in a moment," Zoe said, pointing to the men as well. "Look."

"You guys go," Percy said. He uncapped Riptide again. "They're after me anyways."

"No," the Hunter lieutenant said. "We are leaving together. You both are apart of this quest now, there's no changing fate."

     Reagan grinned, following the group as they raced out a different exit and back to their van a few blocks away.

"Annabeth, here I come."