Demonology (a Percabeth AU)

Ella's Bookstore

Annabeth smiled as Percy approached her. He was wearing a t-shirt for the local aquarium and black jeans. All he needed to complete his skater boy look was a skateboard. Annabeth hooked her arm around Percy's. "I'm excited to see this bookstore you were telling me about."

Percy smiled and his sea-green eyes lit up. "I'm sure you'll love it. It's cozy and filled with nice books. The owner, Ella, is like a walking encyclopedia and there is even a cat named Aristophanes."

"After the Athenian comic playwright?" Annabeth asked.

Percy nodded. "Ella loves reading more than anything. She even likes reading the fine print on coupons and every word of those long, tedious agreement forms."

Annabeth laughed. "It sounds like she would make a great lawyer."

"Yeah, she's book smart to the core," Percy said, "but she wouldn't want to be a lawyer. This guy named Phineas was responsible for her sisters being sentenced to four years in jail for stealing from food trucks."

Annabeth smiled widely. "How do you know so much about this time if you just got here?"

Percy smiled back. "It was my business to know all the ins and outs."

Annabeth laughed. "Does Heaven keep a record on everyone?"

Percy raised both eyebrows. "What else do you think we do with all of eternity?"

    "Something more angelic than stalking humans," Annabeth said.

    Percy nudged her. "Angels do lots of other things."

    "Like what?" Annabeth asked, nudging him back.

     "Flying around," Percy said. "Shaping dreams. Guiding people."

    "That sounds like a full-time job," Annabeth said.

    Percy nodded. "That's why I need an education first," he said, "and my time on earth is sorta like your capstone project."

     Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Come on, Seaweed Brain. I want to see the books."

***

    Ella's Bookstore was Annabeth's version of paradise. The door indulged as they walked through. It was cozy and awash with natural light. The shelves were crammed full of books. Some of them looked extremely old with yellowed paper, while others were in immaculate condition.

    A grey and white cat purred andwive around Annabeth's legs. "Hello, Aristophanes," Annabeth said as she squatted down to pet the cat.

    Aristophanes purred and closed his green eyes. A slight redhead approached them. "Hello, welcome to my bookstore," she said. "I'm Ella and I see that you've met Aristophanes. If you need anything, I'll be at the front desk."

    Annabeth nodded and looked around. The nonfiction books were organized by subject, while the diction books were organized by author. "The only thing that would make this place perfect," Annabeth whispered into Percy's ear, "is the Dewey decimal system."

     Percy laughed. While Annabeth first browsed through books on ancient architecture, he went straight to the graphic novels section. They spent nearly two hours there. In the end, they both bought books. Percy chose a book on giant squid, while Annabeth bought three books: David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell, a book on Inca architecture, and Peter Johnson and the Rainstorm Robber.