2 years ago

"Okay class, as you all know we have a field trip to the New York Aquarium today. Everyone has reminded their parents and gaurdians, I'm hoping. I'm looking at you Misses Chambers." Mrs. Devi sternly looked at Angelica Chambers who blushed. Percy and I stood behind everyone else with Kira a few feet in front of us.

"I don't want to go. I hate how they are just show casing perfectly healthy marine animals." I grumbled, crossing my arms. "I'm scared to hear how they are being treated."

"Trust me, I know." Percy sighed.

"Well, they do have those injured ones there, too. You know, to nurse them back to health." Kira turned to face us.

"Yeah, I know, but what do some of those workers do once they are back to health? Keep them at the aquarium. Why can't they just let them go back to their homes?" I asked, clearly upset about the whole situation.

"Maybe because some get used to the habitat. I don't know." Kira truthfully said, shrugging.

"Alright, kids-"

"We're not kids." I muttered, rubbing my forehead. I'm already growing a headache.

"Let's get on the bus. Remember your seats!"

▷

"Okie dokie!" The tour guide clapped her hands together. On her blue vest, her name tag read "Daphane" while the other guide's spelt out "Rick". "We're going to seprate into two groups! Just in between those two."

"What?" Percy questioned with wide eyes. He waved his finger between the both of us. "Us two?"

"Yes dear, you two." The guide sweetly smiled. I looked at Percy in fear. I don't want to face all of the marine animals talking to me alone. I won't be able to handle their pleas to leave this place and Percy knows it.

"Um, can we go together? Please." I practically begged.

"Do you have seperation anxiety?" Mrs. Devi questioned. She walked toward us, with her hands on her hips.

"Well, no, not exactl-" I stuttered out, latching my hand around Percy's arm. Percy placed a protective arm around me, pulling me closer into him.

"Then you two will be fine. It's just for a few hours. You'll see each other at home. Now go along into your assigned groups." Mrs. Devi seperated the two of us, almost pushing me towards my group. I looked over my shoulder and gave my brother a frightened look.

"You'll be okay." He mouthed to me. To top it off, he gave me a thumbs up. I gave him a look.

"You okay?" Kira asked. I looked towards her and slowly nodded my head. "You sure?"

"I'm sure." I shakily breathed out. "Let's get this over with."

▷

I was so close to tears towards the end of the tour. Most of these animals were begging me to go take them back home to the ocean. My group was currently in the Glover's Reef building.

"Lady Nevah!"

Ignore it. You can do this.

"And this stingray over here is-"

Concentrate on the tour.

"Please help us!"

You can do this. You are a tough demigod.

"Their diet consists of shrimp, sea worms, clams, small fish, mollusks, and, at times, small shelled animals too."

"We want to go back home!"

You are a strong demigod. You have fought many monsters on the streets. This is nothing.

"They live in the ocean floor-"

"I haven't seen my child in years! He's still back in the ocean. How am I supposed to know if he is alive or safe?!"

Don't budge. No wait, why are you crying? Why am I crying?

"Fun fact about stingrays. They are closely related to sharks! Did anyone know that?"

Pssh, yeah. Who do you think I am?

"Please Lady Nevah! We want out of here."

"Don't guilt me please." I sniffled softly, wiping my tears away. "I could get into trouble for doing that."

"But my Lady! Please. I beg of you. We just want to go home. Back into the Atlantic. Back to our families and schools."

"Nevah, are you alright?" Kira whispered to me. I nodded fratically. She gave me a look, not believing me. "Okay...if you say so."

"Alright, gang! Let's head to the shop now." Daphane said, waving the group out. I bit my lip and turned toward the fishes, eels, and stingrays.

"Please...we just want to see our family. I haven't seen my momma in ages." One of the eels told me. Oh great, here comes the water works.

"Okay, okay. I'll get you guys out of here. But you better keep watch." I wagged my finger at them. The marine animals cheered, doing tricks in the water. A smile fell upon my lips. "Alright, let's do this."

I stood on my tip toes to see the entire group leave the building. Doing a fist bump, I ran over to the stingrays and eels first since it was open and not closed like the other tanks.

"Okie dokie,let's see how I'm gonna get you out of here." I muttered to myself. "Okay, okay. I think I have an idea. Pray to my dad that it works guys."

Taking one more look out the windows to see if the coast was clear, I willed the water to circle around the stingrays and eels. The ball of water swished as the marine animals happily swam around. I laughed.

"Oh! This is so exciting!"

"Alright, now stay still. I don't want to cause a scene." I told the fishes. Holding one hand to control the water, I used the other to open the door. Once I saw the abandoned side walks, I carefully took the fish out of the building. With that, I ran towards the boardwalk, having the sphere of water a few feet ahead of me.

"What is that?" A little girl asked her mom as I sprinted past them. She pointed her finger at the ball of water.

"Huh?"

"There's a ball of water with fishies inside them momma! Look! Look!" I heard the girl call out in excitment. Ignoring her, I ran faster.

"Can they see us, Lady Nevah?"

"Hopefully not." I panted out, side stepping an elderly couple. Almost there. With a grin on my face, I near the edge of the boardwalk, away from the people, and lowered the ball of water into the ocean. With a splash, the stingrays and the eels happily swam in their home.

"We're home!"

"Okay, go swim home. I got to go free the other fish. Be becareful!" I told them as they started to swim off. With a huff, I ran back towards the aquarium, heading straight for the other fish. I slowed down to a walk as I entered the aquarium, to make myself an innocent viewer. Pushing the doors open, I walked into the building.

"You came back!"

"Are they safe?"

"We're going home!"

"Shh, let me concentrate. I gotta see how I'm going to get you guys out of here." I told them, holding a finger against my lips. The fish followed my orders, staring at me as I tried to figure out a way to help them. There has to be a way to feed them. Duh, look for a door to the back.

I scanned the builind, looking for a door that said "Employees Only". Aha! Found it! With a smirk, I walked  towards the door. I peeped my head in as I opened it, seeing no worker in sight. Hmm, this is easy.

Walking in, I saw the steps that led to the top of the tank. Oh, so it is an open tank. The fish excitedly swam towards me.

"Can you get us out?"

"I can try. There's so many of you. I don't know how I will be able to take all of you in just one giant water bubble without causing a scene." I tapped my finger against my chin. "I'll most likely have to do rounds. Carry a few fish at a time. But even then, it's risky."

"Uh, Lady Nevah?"

"Yeah?"

"Someone is standing beind you."

"Who?" I spun around to see a security guard with his arms crossed. He raised an eyebrow at me. I sheepishly smiled and waved. "Hi."

"What in the hell are you doing back here kid?"

"Would you believe me if I told you I was just talking to the fish?" I nervously grinned.

"Not even a bit." He walked towards me, wrapping his chubby fingers around my arm. "Let's go."

"Ah, okay." I winced. He dragged me out of the back. "You, uh, have quite a strong grip there buddy. Do you work out?"

"Flatery isn't helping ya today kid. Now shut up."

"Well, first off. Flatery always helps me. I ain't gonna stop until it works. And second off, how rude!" I scolded, tapping at his hand. He narrowed his eyes at me and tightened his grip. "Ow, okay, you know what? Yeah, I'm not going to give you positive feedback to help boost your self-esteem. Oh no. I'm gonna do the opposite. You are a big mean bully who loves to pick of people have their size!"

"You're a kid, of course you're half my size." The guy grumbled.

"I'm not a kid!" I cried. "And I can so beat your sorry as-butt."

"Sure kid, I'll like to see ya try." He snorted, pushing the front door open.

"You sure? I'm not gonna hurt your ego?" I bit back a smirk.

"Nope. I'll even get you off the hook if you knock me down."

"You swear it?" The guy nodded, a smug look on his face. Oh, how badly I want to wipe it off. "Okay buddy, you asked for it."

"Sure." He rolled his eyes.

"Wait, we need a witness. I'm holding you to your word. Hey you!" I yelled, pointing to the woman a few feet away from me. She furrowed her eyebrows and looked around, pointing at her self. I nodded. "Yeah, you. Come here, please. Can you be a witness for me?"

"A witness? For what?" she asked, a scared look on her face.

"I want you to witness that this security guard swore to let me off the hook if I knocked him down."

"Off the hook?" I nodded. She hesitated and slowly agreed. "Okay, umm sure."

"Alrighty, sir! Say your statement."

"If this kid manages to knock me down, I'll let her off the hook." He said, rolling his eyes.

"Great! Thank you!" I beamed. I turned to face the woman. "You might want to step back a few steps, ma'am. I don't want you getting hurt. Oh, and sir? Don't go easy on me. I hate winning if it's easy."

"You sound so full of yourself."

I gave him a wink and than ran at him. The guy sighed and braced himself, expecting me to run into him. With a grin, I side stepped him and crouched down, swinging my leg at his ankles. He let out a yelp, falling onto his back. Gasps were heard from the stand-byers. I stood up and walked over to him, extending my hand out with a grin.

"Didn't see that comin' did ya?" I helped the poor guy up onto his feet.

"Nevah Vis!" Mrs. Devi came stomping over to me. I looked over towards her with wide eyes. Oops, forgot I had a field trip. "What is the meaning of this? What happened, sir?"

"Well, you see I kicked his-"

"Woah! What is that seagull eating!?" Percy suddenly shouted. He pointed in a random direction. Everyone looked in the direction, trying yo spot the seagull. He ran over towards me, cupping a hand over my mouth. As the crowd was distracted, he pulled me aside and hissed at me. "What in the Hades did you do?"

"The eel guilt tripped me."

"The eel? Wait...Nevah you didn't.."

"Sneak out the stingrays and eels back int to the ocean? Nope, not at all." Percy narrowed his eyes at me and sassily placed his hands on his hips. I squinted my eyes and wagged my finger at him. "Don't give me that look. They wouldn't stop! They pulled the family card on me."

"Okay," Percy sighed, raking his hand through his hair. "Let's go see how much trouble you are in."

"I'm not in trouble." I grinned, rocking back and forth on my feet.

"You're not?" Percy perked an eyebrow.

"Nope! The security guy swore, if I knocked him down I wouldn't get into trouble." I beamed.

"You-why? Seriously, Nev? The poor guy didn't have a chance." My brother scolded at me. I rolled my eyes and flicked my hand.

"Pssh, he asked for it. He was rude."

"Yeah, sure. Let's go." Percy said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. We started to walk back to the group.

"He was!"

"Not."

"Percy, I swear on the river St-" A hand covered my mouth again. I narrowed my eyes at him and shoved it off.

"Nope! No more swearing for you!"

"I'm innocent!"

"Says the fish smuggler!"

"You know what?" I grabbed a hold of his wrist and leaned forward, yanking Percy over my shoulder. He let out a yelp as his back hot the ground. I stood above him with a smirk. "Want to run that by me again?"

I HAVE GREAT NEWS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ALREADY!

I JUST PUBLISHED A NEW TEEN WOLF SERIES! THE BOOK IS CALLED DITHER AND THIS IS THE COVER BELOW. I SHOULD HOPEFULLY START WRITING IT IN TWO WEEKS AFTER MY COLLEGE FINALS.

p.s. I hope you liked it