Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
CHAPTER SEVEN vii. one dead person to another _______
As soon as Iris told them what Frank had gotten himself into, the remaining three ran from the shop and to the clearing. Honestly, Sebastian was expecting to find Frank dead, but no. He was stood, perfectly fine, with the snakes nowhere in sight.
He had to admit he was impressed. Frank wasn't particularly known for being a warrior but he was also the definition of underestimated. Sebastian was just cursing himself for not realising what was going on earlier. He'd been so immersed in his conversation with Fleecy that he hadn't been listening in to his surroundings.
Frank turned around on hearing their footsteps behind him. They ran into the clearing, Percy now looking a lot healthy with a tie-dyed satchel from the shop. They were all holding their weapons, only to find they didn't need them.
"Are you okay?" Hazel asked.
Percy turned in a circle, looking for enemies. "Iris told us you were out here battling the basilisks by yourself, and we were like, what? We came as fast as we could. What happened?"
"I'm not sure," Frank admitted.
Hazel crouched next to the dirt where Gray disappeared. "I sense death. Either my brother has been here or... the basilisks are dead?"
Percy stared at him in awe. "You killed them all?"
Frank swallowed. Sebastian paid more attention to the surroundings. Similarly to Hazel, he could sense the overwhelming feeling of death but there was more than that. A malevolence he hadn't felt in a long, long time. It had to do with Mars, Sebastian was sure of it. Only the god of war and blood-lust emitted such an aura.
"Frank, are you okay?" Hazel questioned when the boy didn't reply.
"I'll explain later," he said. "Right now, there's a blind man in Portland we've got to see."
Soon enough, they were back on the Pax, much to the dismay of Sebastian and Hazel though neither of them argued with it, knowing it was the best way forward. Percy guided the boat through the strong currents off the Northern California coast.
Meanwhile, Hazel and Frank traded stories about the events at Rainbow Organic Foods which Sebastian was listening in to. Frank explained about the blind seer Phineas in Portland, and how Iris had said that he might be able to tell them where to find Thanatos. Sebastian was not looking forward to that encounter.
When he was done, Hazel told Frank about their time with Fleecy.
"So this Iris-message worked?" Frank asked.
Hazel gave Percy a sympathetic look. She didn't mention his failure to contact Annabeth. Sebastian had come back from his talk with Fleecy just to see his disappointed expression and he would admit that it made Sebastian want to give him a hug which was pretty out of character save for a few special cases - Fleecy and Iris included.
