Cecilia Holmes, Daughter of Minerva (Sherlock/Percy Jackson crossover)

Chapter 27

    Nemesis flicked a few switches and the TARDIS jerked. I stared at her in disbelief.

    "You can fly the TARDIS?" I asked, leaning onto the control panel to catch my balance. She snorted at me, but didn't respond. Then she turned toward the open doors, and I noticed that the screams had stopped.

    "Hey! Minions!" she shouted down one of the open corridors. "Isolate the captives in different cells and make sure the doors are locked securely. Understand? I don't want them escaping. That would ruin everything, wouldn't it?" She looked back at me and smiled, evilly. But then she paused and looked back through the doorway.

    "Oh, and send up Claude!" she shouted. "Tell him an old friend of his is here."

    I frowned. Does she mean me?

    Down the open doorway I heard a yell.

    "Let me go! You can't- you can't lock me up in my own TARDIS! I- " There was a loud slam, followed my several others. Nemesis walked back toward me.

    "You have minions?" I asked, trying to get my mind off my captured friends.

    "They're my children, for the most part," she said with a roll of her eyes, "and some other random demigods who wanted my help and traded it for a few months of service." She stared at me.

    "Is that what I will be doing?" I asked, trying to sound indifferent.

    "Sort of," she said, walking around the TARDIS console, "but you won't be doing what they're doing."

    "What do you want me to do, then?" I demanded, walking after her. But then there was a creaking noise behind me. I whirled around.

    "You summoned me?"

     Standing in the doorway was a tall boy who couldn't have been much older than myself. He was obviously emo, with his black skinny jeans, black hoodie, black t-shirt, black converse, and wavy black hair to match. Or maybe he just loves the color black. His long hair shadowed most of his face, but I could still see his bright blue eyes beneath. I assumed that he was Claude, the minion she called. He looks exactly like a minion should, I thought, trying hard not to smirk at him. He was really tall, way over six feet, but was kind of hunch over and had his hands in his pockets. His long, sharp nose finished the look.

    He glared at me momentarily, as if he knew what I was thinking, but a split second later that glare suddenly melted into a look of shock. He looked at Nemesis and then back at me.

    "What is she doing here?" he snapped, his eyes narrowing again. I blinked twice.

    "I'm sorry," I snapped back, crossing my arms. "Have we met?"

    And then he winced, and it looked like Achlys herself possessed him.

    "She... she doesn't... know me?" he said, his deep voice cracking as he looked at Nemesis.

    She flashed a cruel smile as she walked toward him.

    "Not yet," she said, patting his cheek. "But you know her, don't you?"

    He diverted his eyes to the ground. Nemesis chuckled. I just watched them, speechless.    "Cecilia," she addressed me. "This is my son, Claude."

    I stared at him for a long moment.

    "Nice to meet you," I said, not sure what else to say. I  cautiously held out my hand. He took it, not lifting his eyes.

    "Claude, you're going to be Cecilia's... ahm..." the goddess smirked. "I guess you're going to be her minion for awhile. She's got some... ah... difficult tasks ahead of her and will need guidance from someone experienced in the revenge business."

    Claude didn't respond but just scowled at the ground. His eyes glinted, and I thought for a moment that they might be watery, but he lowered his head further, and his hair covered his face.

    "What are the tasks?" I asked Nemesis, glancing at her. "Quit being all mysterious and get to the point."

    "The point is, Cecilia," she said, coming to stand beside me, "That I have six of your friends and to release them, you must do six tasks for me."

    "Ok, that sounds fair," I said, though I knew there must be a catch. "What are the tasks?"

    "I would so love to tell you," she said sarcastically, "But unfortunately I've wasted enough time here as it is. I'm already late for a few appointments so, here," she reached into her pocket and pulled out a fortune cookie. She tossed it to me.

    "There's your first one," she said, turning and pressing a few buttons and toggling a few toggles. The TARDIS made it's signature sound before coming to a halt.

    "Report to me when you're done with each task and I'll give you the next one. But for now I gotta run. Help her out, Claude!" she smirked at him as she turned and hopped on her motorcycle, which I hadn't noticed was there until just now.

    She was gone in a poof of dust.

    I looked down at the fortune cookie, and then at Claude. He folded his arms.

    I knew I had to break the ice, no matter how awkward it was.

    "So, son of Nemesis, huh?" I said casually as I cracked open the cookie. "What's that like?"

    He didn't respond but continued to glare at me.

    "How old are you?" I asked. He stayed silent.

    "Oh come on, just because your mom hates me doesn't mean you have to, too," I said, though I knew perfectly well that there was more behind his fierceness than I realized yet. "At least tell me whether you're Greek or Roman."

    "Greek."

    I nodded.

    "Well, just because I'm Roman doesn't mean we can't get along," I said, trying to lighten the mood. I patted his shoulder.

    "Just read the task," he growled.

    Not a physical touch person, then. I'll have to remember that. I thought as I pulled out the strip of paper from the cookie. I guess working for the goddess of revenge would make anyone grumpy. I snuck a peek at him. Son of Nemesis. Hm. I wonder if he is an outcast, too.

    I held up the slip of paper.

   Focus, Cecilia, and stop being all dramatic. I smirked. Finding my family has made me very dramatic, hasn't it? I mean, look at me. About to do some crazy, random act of revenge to free one of six.

    I read the task.

    And then I read it again.

    I looked at Claude in bewilderment.

    "She will release one of my family members if I do this?" I said, holding up the paper. He took it, read it, and then nodded with a shrug. I took it back from him and read it again.

    "You've got to be kidding me."