A Prophecy of Two Boys

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Harry's Point of View

After Percy's recklessly Gryffindor fight with Ares, we had some more planning to do. We still had the majority of the money that camp had lent us, so it wasn't so much the cost as to how and which way we needed to get back to New York. We only had four days! Add in stops to eat, sleep and other delays (aka monster attacks) then it appeared to be that all the fates were against us.

Eventually we decided to spend what was left of the day arranging preparations to travel for tomorrow. Annabeth was all for getting a taxi as far as we could, then arranging something else when it came to that.

"We need to consider the now. If a taxi can get us half way back, then brilliant! I say we deal with our problems as we come to them. The fates only know we can't predict them."

Percy had, unsurprisingly, agreed whole-heartedly. I figured it made sense, but it wasn't exactly what I would have done. It there was a train, or bus, that could have taken us all the way back to New York then that would have been much better. Still, I concluded, Annabeth and Luna know the country much better than we do so… Who was I to suggest anything otherwise?

Percy laughed at me. 'Cheer up, misery guts! It'll be fun. Besides – when have Lily or James ever let us do anything this exciting? James even banned us from entering the Forest!'

'True.' I grumbled. 'But I still can't help thinking that this is just asking for trouble.'

Percy laughed. 'Life like you're going to die tomorrow – isn't that the saying? Loosen up! I mean, really? Just how badly can this actually go wrong?'

Famous last words if ever I'd heard them.

Not an hour later, when we were searching for a taxi company, we ran into trouble. It started when a gang of school boys cornered us in an alley. Being the hopeless fool that he is, Percy swung Riptide, forgetting that it can't harm mortals. The blade simply misted through the older boy, surprising the gang for a couple of seconds.

In that couple of seconds, we decided to dash for it, sprinting down the dark damp alley, dodging the garbage and dark sludge that littered the pavement. The end of the alley was another small street, the tall buildings reaching up to block out the sky, creating a twilight setting. A man from up the street hailed to us, then herded us into his store.

'Crusty's Waterbed Place.' I muttered to Percy. 'I have a bad feeling about this.'

Percy gulped nervously. 'You had to say it didn't you? So do I.'

The tall sales man stood a good seven feet tall, and dressed as if it was still the seventies. No joke, I don't think I'll ever be able to burn that image out of my brain. Anyway, Crusty decided to show us round some.

"Now, this here is our unique massage mattress – care to give it ago?"

Grover volunteered happily, jumping into the large comfortable looking bed. He all but bleated in delight as the massage started. Crusty suddenly got a distant glint to his eye, as he guided Annabeth over to another bed, pushing her back onto it.

"Do me a favour Darling and try this one over here. Might fit..."

Annabeth hesitantly laid down, and I saw her eyes mist over. Good. Luna noticed things differently to the rest of us. If something was wrong…

As she laid down you could Luna didn't quite fit the bed, which you'd think would be expected since she wasn't yet fully grown.

"Hm… so inconsiderate these people. Never the perfect height! No matter how many times I make beds for people six feet tall, they're always too big or too small!" The man mumbled to himself. Then he suddenly snapped his fingers. "Ergo!"