Book Cult (New and Improved)

Piper XLVI

"Piper XLVI," Lacy began.

Air traffic control didn't want to let an unscheduled helicopter land at the Oakland Airport—until Piper got on the radio. Then it turned out to be no problem.

"Why can't charmspeak be a child of Hermes ability?" Connor complained.

"Because then nobody would be safe." Katie said solemnly.

They unloaded on the tarmac, and everyone looked at Piper.

"What now?" Jason asked her.

She felt uncomfortable. She didn't want to be in charge, but for her dad's sake, she had to appear confident. She had no plan. She'd just remembered that he'd flown into Oakland, which meant his private plane would still be here. But today was the solstice. They had to save Hera.

"If there's time left." Hera grumbled. "Just drop him off on his plane and come rescue me."

"It's not that easy!" Aphrodite protested. "Somebody has to take care of him, he's in no condition to do it himself!"

"If they don't save me by the end of the solstice, we'll all be dead!" Hera snapped.

They had no idea where to go or if they were even too how could she leave her dad in this condition?

"First thing," she said. "I—I have to get my dad home. I'm sorry, guys."

"She can't leave!" Hera yelled. "The cage can only be broken by her and Leo together!"

"I knew they should've brought me instead." Drew smiled smugly.

"She doesn't have a choice, her father needs her." Aphrodite stressed.

"The world needs her!" Hera argued back. "She can't go back against the prophecy!"

"Why doesn't she just ask Coach Hedge to take care of him for her?" Percy asked, as if the answer was obvious.

The readers froze and looked at Percy as if he had said something really stupid.

"You honestly think Coach Hedge is going to give up fighting monsters and saving the queen of gods to babysit a mortal?" Thalia asked slowly. "You really think he'd do that?"

Percy rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, he probably wouldn't want to do it, but he has to take one for the team, right? He's the only one that wasn't mentioned in the prophecy." And let's face it, he'd probably get in the way if he was there.

"That sounds like a good idea." Annabeth agreed, much to his relief. "But I don't think Piper would want to shoulder her responsibilities onto somebody else."

Percy frowned. "That's true." He'd feel the same way about his mom or Annabeth.

Their faces fell.

"Oh," Leo said. "I mean, absolutely. He needs you right now. We can take it from here."

"Pipes, no." Her dad had been sitting in the helicopter doorway, a blanket around his shoulders. But he stumbled to his feet. "You have a mission. A quest.

"Exactly." Hera agreed.

I can't—"

"I'll take care of him," said Coach Hedge.

Eyes widened in surprise.

Percy smirked at Thalia.

"Looks like you owe me and Coach Hedge an apology." he said smugly.